The Missionary Review of the World — September 1938
SEPTEM8~
The Crisis-Looking Toward Madras Paul W. Harrison With Tibetans at the Crossroads E. B. Steiner Some Problems of a Midwest City L. Merle Rymph '
Why I Believe in Jesus Christ Chiang Kai..shek The Story of Meshed, The Sacred City Dwight M. Donaldson , The Modern Challenge to Christianity William Paton The Sunday Schools Over the World .
Robert M. Hopkins Practical Value of Missions to Pastors Archibald G. Adams 25 Cents a Copy $2.50 a Yea,.
I Church Management
For 1938 and 1939 IF YOU are considering the A Preaching and Worship Manual for the Year publication of a book, pamphlet, or tract, why not PRICE POSTPAID. $1.00 let us make it for you? Our facilities are most modem, (A full credit coupon in each book gives you a $1.00 and our location is at the credit on a Bubscription to "Church Management") "heart of distribution." Estimates on your particular re- ADDRESS quirements, with expert counsel, will be gladly fur- CHURCH MANAGEMENT nished on request. Auditorium Building Cleveland. Ohio e~ 8~ October 5 to 12-United Lutheran Obituary Notes p~ Church in America, Biennial Con- vention, Baltimore, Md. Dr. ~vi~on D. Lord, for over fifty years pastor of the First Baptist EFFECTIVE PRINTING AT October 6 to ll-International GOOd- church of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, N. ECONOMICAL PRICES Y., the president of the American will Congress. Palaee Hotel, San Baptist Home Mission Society and re- The Evangelical Pre•• Francisco, Calif. cording secretary of the Federal October 9 to II-Home Missions Council of Churches of Christ in Jr_-.,. 2'1oe"""s"-i"e"u0I/0 / . For14 Conference. Bu1falo, N. Y. America, died in Brooklyn, on July October 14 to 20-American Luther- Third and Reily St…. an Church, Biennial Convention, 18th at the age of seventy-nine. Dr. H.rri.J,urg, Pennaylv.nia Sandusky, .ohio. Lord was born in Hillsdale, Michigan, October 20-Baltimore, Md., Insti- and was graduated from Union The- tute for Church Women. Mrs: ological Seminary fifty-five years ago. Bruce H. McDonald, 616 West Fay- He was instrumental in effecting the ette Street, Baltimore, Md. union of the Free Bapti8t Church, of October 23 to 2~Home Missions which he was a member. with the D.e. to Remember Conference. Cleveland, .ohio. • • Northern Bapti8t Convention in 1911. October 30 to Nov. I-Home Mi8- September 11 to 13-Italian Baptist 8ions Conference. Kansas City, Mo. • Convention o;f America. Cleveland. Dr. Lemuel Call Barnel, formerly THE PRESBYTERIAn secretary of the Department of Eng~ September 26-Home Missions Con- lish-speaking Mis8ions and Indian ference. St. Louis, Mo. • The only weekly in the Work of the American Baptist Home Presbyterian Church. Mission Society, died in Yonkers, N. September 11 to 16-International Y., on July 18th at eighty-three years Convention of the Disciples of • Its message is based upon of age. Dr. Barnes was born in Kirk- Christ. Denver, Colo. the Revealed Word. of God. land, .ohio, was graduated from Kal- amazoo College, Michigan, in 1876 September 19 to 30 (tentative)- • Goes into every state in and from Newton TheoloJieal Sem- School of Missions. Mrs. Mitchell, the Union, U. S. possessiOns inary in 1878. After servIng pastor- Langdon, Tex. and many foreign countries. ates in St. Paul, Pittsburgh, Newton Center and Worcester, he became the September 21 to 28-General Council, Subscription rate – $2.50 eftlclent field 8ecretary of the Amer- United Church of Canada, Toronto, Ministerial rate – – $2.00 ican Baptist Home Mi..ion Society Canada. from 1907 to 1917. He was the author SOc. extra–Canadian postage of 8everal volume8, including "Two September 26 to 30-Southern Cali- $1.50 extra– Foreign postage Thousand Years of Mission8 Before fornia (Los Angeles) School of Carey" and "Baptist Work Among Mission Study. Mrs. H. M. Horn, THE PRESBYTERKIn American Indiana." His widow, Mary 1811 Huntington Drive, South Pas- Clark Barnes, survives her husband adena, Cal. 121 7 Market Street after nearly sixty years of married Philadelphia. P •• life. September 27 to. 21i'-A Second In- ••• terdenominational Women's Insti- Dr. Paul Rader, the well-known tute is to be held in the McCormick "cowboy evangelist," fonuerly pastor Memorial Y. W. C. A., Chicago. of the Moody Memorial church in Chi- Dr. T. H. P. Sailer, Dr. Arthur E. cago, (1914-1921), died in Hollywood, Holt, Prof. Samuel Kincheloe, Mrs. California, on July 19th, at the age E. E. McClintock and Miss Esther of 68 years. He was born in Denver, McRuer will be the leaders. Dr. H. Colorado, and in early youth was a cowboy. His father, Rev. Daniel L. —–Paul Douglass will conduct a semi- Rader, was a Methodi8t minister and nar on church unity and Dr. E. K. Paul became interested in evangelism Higdon, formerly of the Philip- at the age of thirty-one. He began pines, will conduct a seminar on preaching on street corners in Pitts- the Madras Conference. Dr. Sam burgh and afterwards he fllied pas- Higginbottom will speak at an eve- (CO'1/eltuled on pa,ge 887.) ning mass meeting.
October 4 to ~Warren, .ohio, School of Mi8sions. Mrs. George Konold, 814 Scott Street, N. E., Warren, .ohio.
and because O'f the fine print-
THE MISSIONARY ing, paper and pictures used to' illus- REVIEW OF THE WORLD trate its articles."
DBLAVAN L. PIBBSON, BcUtor (2) "THE REVIEW gives a gO'O'd ac- cO'unt O'f different fields O'f missiO'nary VOL. LXI SEPT., 1938 No.9 wO'rk. I vO'te this as the best when Publication and Business omce– Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. cO'mpared with all O'ther missiO'nary Editorial and Executive omce– magazines. I like the way in which 156 Fifth Avenue, New York CltT. it handles each subject." . ~ Entered as second-class matter at (3) "THE REVIEW is a magazine;bf Post Omce, Harrisburg, Pa., under Act of March 3, 1879. the three-star variety. All the main 25 cents a copy-$2.50' a year. articles are O'f timely interest. This Foreign Postage, 50' cents a Tear. Published monthlT, except August. interdenO'minatiO'nal REVIEW gives an All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1937. British agents – Marshall, Morgan unbiased view O'f the great issues at· and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, stake." . London, E. C. 1 shilling per copy, 10' shillings a year. (4) "I place THE REVIEW first MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- amO'ng missiO'nary magazines. The LISHING CO., INC. department of Wa.ys of Working is BOARD OF DIRECTORS ROIIERT E. SPBER, Prellidcmt an effective feature fO'r the far- A. L. W ABNSHl1IS, ViC7e-Praridmt WALTER McDoUGALL, Treasurer sighted pastO'r. The World-Wide Out- DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretof'll look is alsO' far abO've all O'thers in giving wO'rld news. The magazine is PAUL J. BRAlSTED SAMUEL McCREA CAVlIlRT evangelical withO'ut being narrow." D. J. FANT MRS. ORRIN R. JunD Personal Items Malwa-the Great Temple WM. B. LIPPHARD ERIC M. NORTH Miss Anna Belle Stewart, for many When Ihe good wOl'k SAMUBL M. ZWBMBll years a very effective missiO'n wO'rker calls you Basi … sail Editorial Chat among the mO'untaineers O'f the SO'uth, is retiring frO'm active service under p&O Since nO' August number O'f THE REVIEW was published both July and the Presbyterian BO'ard O'f NatiO'nal 1938 begins a second century of P & 0 September issues are enlarged in size. service to the lands beyond Suez! When- If the subscribers will nO'te this it will MissiO'ns, having reached the age ever you are called to the other side of save extra cO'rresPO'ndence. the world, choose this traditional route. limit. Miss Stewart did a remarkable Cross to England by Cunard White Star Our October number O'f THE RE- ••. and then embark in a great liner of VIEW will be devO'ted to' India, the fO'r- wO'rk at ColcO'rd, West Virginia, and the P & 0 and British India fleets, led eign missiO'n study subject fO'r the by the new 23,SOO·ton Stratheden and cO'ming year, and a large number O'f fO'r the last few years has been pi- Strathallan, featuring air- conditioned very valuable and interesting subjects O'neering in the Smyrna CO'mmunity dining saloons in first class, hot and cold are in view. The main tO'pics and au- running water throughout, built·in outthO'rs are nO'ted O'n the third cO'ver O'f Center, Byrdstown, Tennessee. Her of·door swimming pools, children's playthis issue. These include articles by rooms! Regular service to Egypt, Sudan, outstanding authO'rities, bO'th Indian wO'rk is to' be taken up by Grace Jus- Persian Gulf, India, Burma, Ceylon, and fO'reign. Straits Settlements, China, Japan, Aus- tice, whO' has been associated with tralia, East and South Africa, Mauritius. *** Special reductions and generous bag- Miss Stewart as a vO'lunteer, and has gage allowance for missionaries. N O'W is the time to' O'rder quantities O'f this issue O'f THE REVIEW in O'rder shO'wn the ability, understanding and Convenient through bookings can be arto' take advantage O'f the special price ranged by your travel agent or any office of and to' avO'id the danger O'f waiting Christlike spirit that fit her fO'r this until the editiO'n is exhausted. CUNARD WHITE STAR LINE resPO'nsibility. *** General Agents Dr. E. Stan*ley*Jon*es O'f India, will Pastors and professors of missionll 25 Broadway and 638 Fifth Avenue, N. Y. in theO'IO'gical seminaries will be espe- address a meeting O'pen to' all mincially interested in the article in the present number O'n "The Practical isters in Marble CO'llegiate church, Value O'f MissiO'ns," by ProfessO'r Archibald G. Adams O'f Temple Uni- New YO'rk, at 10: 30 a. m., MO'nday, versity. In a persO'nal letter to' the EditO'r, PrO'fessO'r Adams quotes the September 26. He will participate in O'piniO'ns O'f many O'f his students as to' the interest and value of THE RE- the University Christian MissiO'n VIEW in keeping them in touch with wO'rld events and in helping them to' which will be cO'nducted this autumn educate their people and to' prepare at 14 American cO'lleges and univermissiO'nary sermO'ns and addresses. AmO'ng these O'piniO'ns O'f theO'IO'gical sities. •*• students are the fO'llO'wing (stated in substance fO'r brevity) : Dr. Douglas Horton, minister O'f Hyde Park CO'ngregatiO'nal church, (1) "THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF ChicagO', has been elected secretary O'f THE WORLD is rated high because O'f the General CO'uncil O'f the CO'ngregaits cO'ntent which is O'f wO'rld-wide tiO'nal and Christian Churches to' suc- ceed Dr. Charles EmersO'n BurtO'n, retired. Dr. HO'rtO'n was educated at PrincetO'n, Edinburgh and OxfO'rd Universities; has served as chaplain in the U. S. Navy, trustee O'f the American University in CairO' and at- tended many internatiO'nal cO'nfer- ences.
*** Capt. Ellis Skolfield, O'f the GO'spel Ship in the Philippine Islands, whO'
has been in America because of the ill health O'f his sO'n, has nO'w returned to' the SO'uth Seas to' cO'mplete plans fO'r taking the ship to' New Guinea and adjacent islands O'f the Dutch East Indies, as a preliminary to' O'pen- ing a permanent wO'rk there. It is expected that this survey trip will re- (Concluded on page 386.) [385 ]
I Itemi retary to the Board of Foreign Mis- What Shall We Study?
(Concluded from page 385.) sions of the Presbyterian Church, The American City and Its Church U. S. A. He assumed his new office (Kincheloe) presents the missionary quire about three months, after which on July 15, and is in charge of the task as emergent, with our rapidly in- Capt. Skolfield will return to America work in China. creasing urban population, treating to make his report and lay plans for ~!,mn5 the subject vigorously and construc- the future. *** tively. (Cloth, $1.00; paper, 60 cents.) City Man (Sears) is a special edi- Dr. Charles E. Maddry, Executive tion of a recent book that provides Secretary of the Southern Baptist of tbe Foreign Mission Board, who attended valuable supplemental material for the study topic. ($1.50 and 75 cents.) the Baptist Union of Italy in Rome, ctCbrl£ittan Urban Scene (Bro) presents the sailed from England for West Africa city today and its church in striking to visit Southern Baptist work in Ni~1 photographs, maps, pictorial statistics, geria. He expects to be back in Rich- 1Lt ~'f~ brief, gripping statements, etc. Inmond, Virginia, in September. dispensable for groups of all ages.
*** (25 cents.) ell BOOK of worship in song, com….. The foregoi,ng are for adu~t Mr. William Albert Harbison has resigned as treasurer of the American bining a hymnal for general groups. SpeCIal young people s >: Mission to Lepers and is succeeded by books are: Mr. W. Espey Albig, deputy manager A Course for Young People on the of the American Bankers' Association. Church in the City (Geer), which fur- church use and a song book for evan- ~elist. iC ~u'rposes: Onl d song~ • soun *** an the faith and Inspirational an char- nishes a guide to study, discussion, Dr. H. H. Underwood, President of acter included—emphasizing Evangel- worsh!p and. service, is based on The Chosen Christian College, Korea, has ism, Missions, and the Deeper Life. A merwan Ctty and Its Church and been elected President of Severance M any of the new—the best of the old. UrCblt;ttny SScheandeo. ws(25(Sceeanrtlse.)) – a coHec- Medical College, Seoul. At one time, tion of true stories challenging to Dr. O. R. Avison was President of 504 Songs Responsive Readings keenest interest. ($1.00 and 60 cents.) both institutions and under Dr. Underwood's administration these two Topicallndex Gold Embossed Street Corner (Hunting), a reading schools will continue to cooperate. and source book by which juniors ex- Published in round notes and Roxite cloth plore a city ($1.00 and 50 cents.) *** edition only at $65.00 per 100—an especiall~ low price. Single copy, 8Sc postpaid. My Community, My Church and Me Write today for returnable sample copy The Rev. Dr. Lloyd S. Ruland, for (Hallenbeck) is a helpful guide for eleven years pastor of West Presby- CHRISTIAN PUBLICATIONS, Inc. city groups in studying their own com- terian Church in Binghamton, New 1502 NORTH THIRD STREET munities and developing a program of York, has accepted a call to be sec- HARRISBUltG, PA. local service. (35 cents.) HAVE YOU READ?
THE LIFE OF GEORGE BOWEN OF BOMBAY By ROBERT E. SPEER The biography of a remarkable missionary whom the (then) Prince of Wales visited in Bombay at the request of his mother, Queen Victoria.
What some readers say of this book: Robert Speer's "Life of George Bowen of Bombay" is one was so far-sighted and so deep-seeing !-the former because of the richest of missionary biographies. the latter. If one wants to sum up the interests of our DR. J. LOVELL MURRAY, Director of the Canadian School of Missions, Toronto. students today-:-Biblical, social, theological-Bowen is a What a life! He was old enough to know why he went, representative figure. And what a lesson in apparent failure! . . . I ·feel strongly that every student and alumnus of our and bad enough to know the meaning of salvation. One by- Seminary needs this book. What better book to lead them to product of his experience was his wonderful humility-noth- feed on the Bible. One hears so much "vestibule religion"- men pointing to the door and taking their people as far as the ing in the show window and himself in the remote back- threshold, but no opening up of the treasures within the ground. It is inspiring. Father's House. Read the topics of current sermons, and . DR. GEORGE P. PIERSON, formerly of Japan. Bowen's expositions are precisely what Christians need in order We must all be grateful for this revealing of the main- to grow from puerility into spiritual maturity. Here is no springs of Bowen's character, his abiding faith in God, his adolescent, but a man in Christ. This is no volume to be earnest purpose to be a true and faithful follower of Jesus read and dismissed, but to be marked and to be turned to Christ; and his deep-seated conviction that the Gospel of Christ could meet the religious needs of India's people. repeatedly. HENRY SLOANE COFFIN, WILLIAM HAZEN, President of Union Seminary. Missionary in Sho/apur, India. The Memoirs of George Bowen will continue to be for A biography of one of the saintliest figures of the nineteenth century. I could not put the book down. There is a years to come a searching manual of devotion. He has set fascination and a depth in this man's soul which held me in before me an ideal which few could attain; his life is a scathdevout attention. I found myself marking his moving sayings which would serve as starting points for chapel talks. He ing rebuke to our ease, comfort, self-indulgence and inef- ficiency. J. Ross STEVENSON, President Emeritus, Princeton Seminary.
Send $2.50 to-day for your copy of this latest book by Dr. Speer THE MISSIONARY REVIEW PUBLISHING CO.
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Notes bined the supervIsIon of a Boy's The great white Empresses
School with evangelistic trips. Mrs. every speed record to and from (Concluded from .2d cover page.) Derr gave her time to personal evan- the Orient. 10 days direct to gelism, teaching girls' industrial Yokohama by Empress of Asia torates in Boston and Chicago. From classes and training Bible women. or Empress of Russia. Or only 1921 to 1923 he was President of the three days more via Hawaii by Christian and Missionary Alliance *** Empress of Japan, largest and and later was President of W orld- fastest on the Pacific, or Empress Wide Gospel Couriers, a Chicago mis- Miss Lucy H. Dawson, formerly of Canada. Connect at Honolulu sionary society. Mrs. Rader and three from California ports. daughters survive him. General' 'Secretary of the Presbyterian Woman's Board of Home Missions, From Vancouver and Victoria *** died in Baltimore, May. 22, after an to Yokohama, Kobe, Nagasaki, illness of· several years. Her mission- Shanghai, Hong Kong, Manila. Fred S. Goodman, for many years ary service included volunteer work Details from YOUR TRAVEL a member of the International Com- in city missions in Baltimore, re- AGENT or Canadian Pacific.: mittee of the Y. M. C. A. and for ligious work director of the Y. W. 41 offices in U. S. and Canada. some years an invalid, died at his C. A., in the Presbyterian Training home in Monclair, New Jersey, on School for Christian workers, the July 12th at eighty years of age. Mr. Daily Vacation Bible Schools and Goodman was born in Rockport, Illi- various women's missionary organizanois, in 1858 and was graduated from tions. After the consolidation of all Kalamazoo College, Michigan. He en- home mission agencies into the Board tered into Y. M. C. A. work in 1881 of National Missions, Miss Dawson and became associated with the In- became Promotion Secretary for ternational Committee twenty years women's work. later. During the World War he served on the World War Council and THE CITY had charge of the Religious Work Institutes for training those engaged The city-what is a city? in Y. M. C. A. war work. He was A city-that is where both Dives and retired in 1922 and then for ten years was American Secretary of the Wal- Lazarus live. densian Aid Society. He is survived A city-that is where men die of loneby one son, a daughter and eight grandchildren. liness in a crowd. A city -that is the land of plenty *** where men die of starvation. Dr. Charles C. Selden, formerly of A city-that is where a thousand peo- Canton, China, died suddenly in Oberlin, Ohio, June 15. He was an affili- ple live on an acre of ground that ated missionary of the Presbyterian they never see. Board, and devoted his personal for- A city is where thousands live in a tune and his life to work for the in- single block and never know they sane and the blind of China. He never have a neighbor. accepted any salary and lived simply A city is a place where may be seen in order to make conditions easier for both the glitter of vice and the the unfortunates. He retired in 1932. glow of virtue. but continued to live in China until A city is a place where vice centers in last March. sunless spots, and where virtue shines in secluded places. *** A city is all desert for some, all oasis for others. Mr. Walter W. Gethman, General A city is a place which some greet Secretary of the World Committee of with a cheer; others endure with the Y. M. C. A. from 1926 to 1936, tears. died in Geneva, Switzerland, July 8. But a city may not be characterized Mr. Gethman followed his war service in epigram. with the "Y" by founding a Y. M. C. A. in Czechoslovakia. He remained -CHARLES H. SEARS, in the there until taking up his post in Biblical World, October, Geneva. 1916.
*** Wherever the State claims to give Rev. J. H. Cope, American Baptist a theology to its people, or to set a principle of education, or tries to ormissionary to the northern Chin peo- ganize a conscience or impose a myth ple in Burma for thirty years, was upon the people, there you. will find stricken while on tour and died at the ultimate menace to the Christian Haka in the Chin Hills on June 13. Church.-Adolf Keller, G en e v a, Hundreds of converts and many Switzerland. churches organized among the Chins are testimony to the quality of his The fellowship of all the members service. In addition to preaching and of Christ's spiritual Church with one teaching, he translated the New another, overleaps all denominational Testament, Scripture portions and lines and all national boundaries.- Pilgrim's Progress; and also pre- President J. R. Sampey, Louisville, pared hymn books and school texts up Ky. to fourth grade in four dialects of Chin. The problem of more union among the churches of Christendom is not *** one of legislating ourselves together but rather that of the slow process of Mrs. Charles H. Derr, Presbyterian growing together.-T. S. Eliot, Lonmissionary to Chenchow, China, died don. in a sanatorium at La Vina, California on May 12. With her husband [387 ] she went to China in 1904, and located at Chenchow .where Mr. Derr com-
SANG TEACHING IN CHINA TELLING THE GOSPEL STORY IN
A WOMEN'S BIBLE CLASS IN KOREA WITH OVER 1 ,000 MEMBERS A SUNDAY SCHOOL IN NAZARETH, pALESTINE JAPANESE CHILDREN LEARNING OF CHRIST SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK AROUND THE WORLD (Bee arti ole by Robert M. Hopkins, page 402) electronic file created by cafis. org REVIB ORLD VOLUME LXI AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER 9 SEPTEMBER, 1'938 Topics of the Times SOME THOUGHTS ON EVANGELISM There must follow guidance as well as training in the practice of devotion (Bible study and The University Preaching Mission has defined prayer) building up a Christian character, and its objective to be "to lead students to faith in finally help to enable the convert to give articulate God through Jesus Christ." If in this definition expression of his new found faith in service to his one were to substitute "men" for "students," one fellow men. Only then is the task of evangelism, might so define evangelism. However, when so so far as the convert is concerned, completed. doing, one should stress the fact that the term Faith without works is dead and of no avail. The "men" as used, refers to all men, male and fe- real test of faith is seen in the effect on a believer male, old and young, Jew and Gentile, black and and in what it impels and enables him to do.
white, agnostic and atheist, Buddhist and Mos- No doubt most people will agree on a basic lem without any exception whatsoever. This em- definition of evangelism and will probably admit phasis is essential in these days, when many its validity. Real difference of opinion arises foster a fellowship of religions, in which all re- when the question of methods of evangelism is ligions are more or less placed on a par, and who considered. Billy Sunday's high-pressure meththerefore protest against efforts to evangelize ods are not approved by some. The use of Bibmen as unwarranted "proselytism." The initial lical prophecy and scriptural appeal would be task of evangelism is to lead men to faith in God opposed by others; still others would claim sterthrough Jesus Christ. This task is not complete ility for any evangelistic effort that failed to until it has also helped such men to make a full stress personal sin, Christ crucified and redempsurrender to God and to articulate their faith, tion through His sacrifice. first to Him and then to. their fellow men in particular and to society in general. The intense emotionalism of many of the pre- war evangelistic campaigns and revivals are To lead men into faith in God through Jesus largely taboo' today. Such emotionalism is sup- Christ involves what is called conversion. Con- posed not to be in accord with present-day psycerning conversion Rabbi Solomon B. Freehof chology, practice and sophistication, though it is in his book "Stormers of Heaven" says: still used in certain Christian circles and appar- ently with success. No doubt the old revivals did There seems to be a uniqueness in the nature of Chris- often overstress the emotional appeal to the negtian conversion. Judaism is patient discipline, and Chris- lect of the appeal to reason. But today the tianity is sudden deliverance; Judaism is concerned with pendulum seems to have swung to the other exsocial development, Christianity is personal revolution. treme with intellectualism overemphasized al- 'fhere is explosive power in the Christian faith which can most to the complete exclusion of the appeal to the capture the souls of men in the calmest moment of their heart and conscience. True evangelism embodies self-contentment, tear down their spiritual organization, both. However much we may think and seek to and build it upon a new plan. understand God and our relation to Him, such an experience becomes ,articulate in life only when Would that more Christians had such convincing one feels it sufficiently to act. Mere argument faith in the explosive power of their Christian and apologetic, however convincing, rarely confaith! This tearing down of a man's "spiritual verts; invariably it is the Christian witness of a organization and building it upon a new plan," life that brings the'result. to use Freehof's words, is conversion or regeneration; this, is the first step in evangelism.
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Followers of Christ cannot evangelize others As we face the increasing human need in the until they themselves are more completely Chris- wake of wars, racial discrimination, social in- tian. Thus evangelism involves a further re- justice, moral relapse, and economic maladjust- sponsibility; it must include efforts to bring more ment, we are assailed by a sense of futility and Christlike reality into the lives of those already helplessness. What is the use of human efforts, known as Christians. This is of great impor-:- however sincere and energetic the individual may tance. We hear many criticisms of Christianity, be? Here one is forced to rely on God and away but few of Jesus, Christ. Many Jews, even the from dependence on man. As Fritz Beck writes: atheist type, assert that if Christians were more "A man without God, but with a knowledge Christlike, there probably would be no anti-Semi- of present world conditions, must surely despair."
tism, and more Jews would become Christians. At such times as these one realizes our utter de- Very true; but does not such assertion imply a pendence on GqQ and the need of Christ-centered remarkable faith in the power of the person of lives, projected out in service on the battle fronts Jesus Christ to mold lives and to influence human of human needs. Apart from God there is no relationships for good? hope or help for mankind.
One more word! God needs no proving. God One last word. Psychology stresses integra- is whether we are able or not to prove Him. Let tion of personality. That is essential. But inte- us not therefore be overanxious to prove His ex- gration of one's personality within one's environ- I istence by logic and apologetic. Let us not fall ment would seem to be of even greater impor- into the error of believing that God is simply a tance. In our world today, constituted as it is, one satisfying means of explaining an otherwise in- of the most difficult things is to be one's self, that explicable universe. God exists irrespective of is, to be an individual or to maintain one's dis- man's views or understanding of Him. And be- tinctive individuality. Independence of thought cause God is, I am. is not easy in the face of the intellectual "goose- IRRELIGION AND PAGANISM stepping" that is being enforced. We tend to conform to type and convention, like sheep which Today one encounters a lot of apparent irre- follow the bellwether. This is often especially ligion, if not out-and-out paganism. Experience true of the Christian. Some one has said "you reveals this to be very largely a veneer. Scratch it, cannot be Christian in this unchristian world and and you uncover great personal need and spirit- hope to survive." In other words, "Except a ual hunger. Men are hungry for spiritual and grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it soul-satisfying food. Many suffer from a spirit- can bear no fruit." How many are prepared to ual vacuum which craves to be filled. To others, go all the way with Christ? How many of us life means little or nothing beyond "eat, drink would do as the apostle Paul, or Kagawa, or and be merry, for tomorrow we die." They talk Schweitzer or Niemoller have done?
of the failure of the Church but hope against President Robert J. Hutchins of Chicago Uni- hope that the Church may somehow satisfy their versity, when speaking to a recent graduating personal and spiritual needs. Modern and so- class, declared: phisticated man still longs for guidance, for as- My experience and observation lead me to warn you surance, for a power that will give him victory that by far the greatest, the most insidious, the most where now he suffers defeat. He knows that paralyzing danger you will face is the danger of corrup- tion. Time will corrupt you; your friends, your wives or "the world within us means more than all the husbands, your business or professional ambitions will worlds without." " corrupt you. The worst thing about life is that it is demoralizing. One may well wonder whether all the interest, feigned and real, in world affairs, such as prob- Life was never more demoralizing than now.
lems of war and peace, of racial discrimination Never was there more need for Jesus Christ than and of economic maladj ustment, is not largely a now-not vague or general religion~but a per- smoke screen to hide this ache and yearning in sonal Christ and Saviour. To give men such a men's hearts. Christian Evangelists must deal Christ is the task of evangelism noW as ever in with these world issues, but our interest in them the past. CONRAD HOFFMANN, JR.
must not be a beating around the bush and an evasion of other essential factors. We need to THE YOUTH FOR CHRIST preach Christ and the forgiveness of sin. After conversion, then is the time to give needed ex- We thank God for youth. They are to the pression to the faith that has been born, and Church and the State, what fresh young shoots then it is necessary to project that conversion into are to the future harvest. Everywhere we hear service for others. But there is no first and of "Youth Movements."
second here in order of importance. We must do It is estimated that there are nearly twice as the one and not neglect the other. many people in the world under thirty-three as
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
over that age. It is a well-known fact that there the youth of the world wants is to be given a high is ten times as great a likelihood of a young man standard to imitate. or young woman yielding to the claims of Christ under twenty years of age as there is when they Primitive people look to those of more advanced are older. Youth is the time for taking new countries. India has copied England, Japan is steps, the time of adventure, the time of growth, imitating Germany; China is seeking a model in the time when foundations are laid and when the United States. Good patterns must be set in habits are formed. art, in literature, in education, in politics, in so- cial life and in religion if the world is to make And yet is not youth today largely wasting its progress and is not to slip back into barbarity. energies and opportunities? The spirit of ad- Inventions, discoveries and modern machinery venture is too often spent in seeking thrills in will not produce purity, peace, brotherhood and illegitimate and dangerous paths. Natural curi- love. All peoples are truly hungry for clear osity and the desire to investigate lead too fre- knowledge and for a better way of life. To inquently to spiritual skepticism and blindly look- spire them to higher things the youth need: (1) A ing for truth about God without finding Him. good example of unselfish service; (2) a good How often the strength of youth is wasted in fool- example of unpatronizing friendliness; (3) an ish self-indulgence. opportunity to learn and to improve their condi- tion; (4) the knowledge of God as revealed in And yet, humanly speaking, youth is the hope Jesus Christ. of the world. The young people of today must be the parents, the teachers and preachers, the All creeds and all "isms" are contending for the scientists and artists, the authors and leaders of enthusiastic and devoted support of youthtomorrow. If the youth of today are not won to though that support may not be intelligent and Christ what will become of the church, the school, unselfish. There is no ideal, no inspirational exthe home, missionary work, and still more im- ample and no assurance of power to attain ideals, portant what will become of the youth as they that is equal to those found in Jesus Christ. In pass through this life into the eternity beyond? Him and in His program are combined all the ele- ments that appeal to the best in youth of all ages. In ·the face of some disconcerting signs in the And youth is responding to the challenge in their world today, there are many encouraging signs of readiness to enlist in sacrificial missionary servpromise. All over the United States and Canada, ice at home and abroad. many thousands of youth are gathered every summer in Christian camps and conferences. No JAPAN'S LOSING BATTLE less than a half-million young people come together, under trained leaders, for physical and , In spite of Japan's military advantage in modspiritual recreation. At a thousand or more re- ern equipment and trained soldiers, her military sorts these multitudes of earnest young people party is waging a losing battle in China. This meet to listen to inspirational addresses and to is becoming more evident as the months pass. learn what life and service mean. Japan has disregarded justice and mercy, has alienated other nations that are not ruled by the Similar gatherings are being held in foreign same ideals, and she depends on deceit and force lands, not only in Great Britain and many parts to keep her people in line at home. While China of Europe, but in practically all the mission fields. has now the most enlightened patriotic and able There were pra.ctically no such Christian gather- rulers in her history, Japanese leaders in power ings for youth fifty years ago. They have grown exhibit less intelligence and more cruelty than has up as the result of the growing consciousness of characterized her and puts her dependence on the necessity for giving a Christian training _to armed force. The general sympathy of the world the youth of today to prepare them to be the -inactive as it is-is with the Chinese in their leaders of tomorrow. The Bishop of Uganda desperate struggle for life and peace. While the writes of African youth: conflict is welding China into a united country, it is sowing seeds of discontent in Japan; while Dr. Aggrey used to say that he would like to have nine China is becoming more Christian and is even lives if he could be sure that in each he would be an suggesting opening their schools to the teaching African and born one after the other in Africa in this of Christian truth, Japan is becoming more pagan present century. The future of the world lies largely and is forcing her Christian people to worship at in the hands of the youth. Very much, however, depends the shrines of the Sun Goddess; while China is on the next few years. Primitive youth is imitative-it showing mercy to the enemy, scattering peace is important that the youth of England and America leaflets in place of bombs by airplane over Japan, should give them a good example to imitate. Youth is the Japanese continue to spread destruction in perceptive: he looks below the surface and very quickly China by bombs and machine guns that ruthlessly sums up what a man really is.
There is a passion for reality in youth. People cannot "get away with" shams and "window dressing," at any rate for long; but youth is impulsive and so is easily influenced temporarily by an emotional appeal. What
bring death to multitudes of men, women and Thus failure to comply with the demand that all J apachildren; while China is looking forward to re- nese participate in certain Shinto ceremonies may be reconstruction after the fighting is over, Japan is garded as a good reason for withdrawing the privilege becoming more and more impoverished physically of freedom of religious belief. and spiritually; while China appeals for peace on the basis of justice and friendship, Japan seeks It is natural that special efforts should be made to control by conquest and alienates those who would secure the obedience of subject peoples when it comes to be her friends. Shrine observance. This has become an acute problem in Korea and Formosa, and will be so in Chinese terri- Other nations in past centuries have tried J a- tories which come under the control of Japan. pan's tactics and have failed, even when they have seemed to win a temporary advantage. If the Japanese realized what their military leaders are doing and planning in China we be- The situation in Japan is revealed by a letter lieve that they would rise up and overthrow the just received from one who has lived there for present regime… But they are misled by governtwenty years and who knows and loves the Jap- ment censorship and propaganda. They are told anese people. (The letter could not be mailed in that China must be protected from Communism Japan on account of the government censorship.) and liberated from the Nanking regime and from The Japanese themselves are kept in ignorance General Chiang Kai-shek, their Christian ruler. of the facts and the military propagandists pro- Staged motion pictures are used to show that the claim that ignorance, fear, selfishness and jeal- Chinese are welcoming the Japanese soldiers as ousy are the motives that actuate all foreigners liberators and benefactors rather than ravishers, who oppose the program of the Japanese mili- terrorists and spreaders of venereal disease and tarists. narcotics.
The letter (dated in Japan, June 12, 1938) is In the meantime the common people in Japan in part as follows: are suffering from economic depression through high prices and many restrictions. They are told We can easily understand the causes of the rising tide that such suffering and self-denial are patriotic. of anti-Japanese feeling in other lands. While the The work of missionaries of Christ, presenting Japanese' people themselves are conscious of the antago- His ideals and message of life, is more than ever nism of certain foreign nations, it is attributed in the needed and is welcomed. The Japanese are hunmain to Chinese propaganda and the jealousy 0:1; the gry for life and peace. It is a great opportunity powers who are losing their economic spheres of influence in China. . " The people here only know what for the missionaries who show spiritual life and appears in the newspapers, and the result is that they power and have the message of God's love and are the victims of a propaganda which interprets the salvation. And the missionaries with reduced war in terms of a righteous crusade "to deliver China forces and income are busy teaching, conducting from the peril of communism." They know nothing of conferences and summer camps, and working the ruthlessness which has apparently characterized the through the churches and Sunday schools. The operations of the army and believe that the conduct of Japanese are responding with larger attendance the war has been above reproach! at evangelistic services, and with increased en- As is the case in all wars, the common people are the rollment in mission schools and colleges. Dr. ones who bear the burden and they are the ones who Toyohiko Kagawa, and other Japanese Christians, suffer. In thinking of Japan we trust that you will dis- express the feeling of the sense of shame and tinguish between those who are leading the nation in chagrin that "Christians are so impotent to stem paths of conquest and the great mass of people who are the tide of militarism in Japan." in the dark and are having to submit to increasing regimentation and more personal self-sacrifice. The people ,Evidently humanity must learn lessons through are in darkness and need desperately to be "translated warfare and suffering that they are not willing into the kingdom of God's dear Son." The fact that to learn through peace and prosperity. Among militarism is in the saddle is no reason for reducing mis- these lessons are the futility of selfish warfare, sionary interest in J.apan. Recent developments here and the superiority of spiritual forces over the main other countries present a challenge to the Christian terial, the supremacy of true love over the seIf- Church to increase their missionary interest. seeking human ambitions. Christ did not estab- lish peace in the Roman world but He did sow the The Japane~e Christian Church is finding itself in an seeds of life and of peace and victory in the hearts increasingly difficult position. This is in spite of the fact that Japanese Protestants have always been distinguished of His followers. Among His last words to His by their loyalty to Emperor and nation, by their obedi- disciples were these: "These things have I spoken ence to law and integrity of character, and by their faith- unto you that in me ye may have peace. In the fulness in the performance of the various, duties imposed world ye have tribulation but be of good cheer, I by the State. But officialdom has not been satisfied with have overcome the world." . This is the peace and this and has seen fit to make the observance of the various the victorythat the world cannot give and cannot ceremonies of State Shinto the 'sign of good citizenship. take away. They have put believers who regard the observance of State Shinto as idolatrous in the position of appearing disloyal. The Imperial Constitution provides that: "Japanese subjects shall, within limits of law, not preju- dicial to peace and order, and not antago!listic to their duties of subjects, enjoy freedom of religious belief."
A Crisis-Looking Forward to
By PAUL W. HARRISON, M.D., Muscat, Arabia Author of "The Arab at Home"; Missionary of the Reformed Chutch in America A WORLD Missionary Conference is to be held will the Conference be a success. To the degree this year in Madras. The hope is that the that it fails to do this, the Conference will be a whole Church of Christ may focus there failure. her thanksgiving for the past, and her intercession for the future. Most of all we hope that God Nor is this something only for the few who go will give us guidance for the present. Certainly, to that South Indian city. Now is a time for us hitherto hath the Lord helped us, and we have all to bow down and pray for guidance and power come a long way in carrying out the command, from God. With our attention focused on gain- "Go ye therefore and make disciples of all the na- ing God's guidance, and bringing our work into tions." We will stand with the Apostle Paul in line with His will so that we can go forward in Madras. In every direction, a great door and ef- His power, this should be a day, above all things, fectual is opened unto us "and there are many for reverent and careful study of God's Word that adversaries." If the Apostle could actually speak we may learn how He would have us carryon His to us, he would perhaps tell us that he faced no work. We need profound and prayerful studies such wonderful open doors, nor such appalling of the mind of Christ in regard to our missionary adversaries. problems. We must penetrate below the surface and understand what the Holy Spirit has to teach This is not the day of the grinning stone image. us in the life and policies of the Apostle Paul. We deal with emotional idols, terribly alive all of Different men will discover many different things them, fashioned after the likeness of Mohammed- in this Book which God has given us. No one anism~ Men and women and children, from the man will understand it all. Indeed, reflecting least to the greatest, deliriously worship some God's mind as it does, all of us together will enter class or race or nation, sure that thereby they be- only the fringes of the Divine revelation. God come the elite of the universe. Worship of that wants us to see visions and dream dreams out of sort must have an object of pers.ecution as well His Word. Thus He will guide us and give us as an object of worship. Jews serve the purpose power in carrying His message to a turbulent and excellently. So do Christians. Those of us who distressed world. work in the arid desert into which Mohammed transformed a sixth of the human race, look out Christ's View of the Kingdom on the nations today with a feeling very close to terror. It is a very dreadful disease that is spread- In the thirteenth chapter of Matthew we find ing over the world, but it is not a new one. And a remarkable group of parables in which Christ when this outbreak has run its course, and men's shows us the essential nature of the missionary enterprise. He was speaking of the Kingdom of hearts have hardened into shape under its pride God. The phrase has puzzled us and from it have and falsity, will it again be a thousand years be- been developed most diverse and complicated and fore the Good News of God's love finds its way materialistic notions. But evidently in Christ's into men's hearts once more and the first convert mind the idea was as simple as sunlight. Wher- is won to Christ? ever God rules over the human heart as king, No! It will not be even a thousand days for there is the Kingdom of God established.
when "the enemy comes in like a flood," the Spirit This was something new which Christ brought of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. -a gift from Heaven. With Him came the glori- But we must realize, with a deep and terrible ous opportunity of being under the direct and realization, that we on the mission field today genuine rule of God. Christ spent His time pro- need two things, and only two. We need God's claiming this good news of the possible realization guidance and we need His power. It will be only .of the Kingdom. He sent out His disciples two by to the degree that the Madras Conference sensi- two to carry the message further. He left us to tizes us so that we can hear and obey the Divine finish the task through the centuries, and finished voice, and opens. the windows of Heaven so that it will be, for "this good news of the Kingdom God can pour out a blessing,only to that extent shall be preached in all the world for a witness [393 ]
to all the nations." Here is a simple message: a seed which will grow in men's hearts. Indeed "The time is fulfilled, the Kingdom of God is at that seed grows. up to be Christ Himself abiding hand. Repent, and believe the Good News." in us. It is thus that God rules.
Christ emphasized three things about this King- Good news of that sort is not much of a seed, dom. In the first place it is open to all men. The philosophically and scientifically. Christ explained entrance requirements are simple. "Repent ye"~ carefully that it is "less than the least of all seeds" leave your old life; "and believe the good news" which are sown so assiduously in men's hearts. -accept as genuine and true this announcement It takes no extraordinary insight to see the truth that men can actually come under God's personal of that. Any monist has us beaten philosophically control. The offer is for every man to the ends before the debate begins. Any second-rate idol of the inhabited earth. It is an ecumenical thing. temple can surpass our most ehtborate rituals, and emotionally, ~_mpared with communism, and In the second place, this wonderful opportunity, fascism, and emperor worship, we are most prethis door to an eternal destiny linked to God cisely the least of all seeds. We feel a great urge himself, is to be found only in Christ. Even the to assert that the Gospel is really good seed, and God-given Jewish religion could not provide it. we spend much time measuring its philosophical Salvation to a few, that religion certainly did and scientific dimensions and convincing ourselves bring, but apparently not to many. This Kingdom of its impressive character. However, the Gospel of God that He preached was a new thing. Christ seed is really most unimpressive, as Christ told brought it, and its lowliest member stands above us long ago. Its virtue is in its vitality and in the highest of the prophets. The implications of the astonishing result that it can produce when this are tremendous. Even with the light of the sown in men's hearts. Epistles and of the Acts, we can grasp only a few of them. Christ, however, shows us the simplicity As God looks down on a faithless and perverse and unity of the wisdom of God. One thinks of generation, perhaps few things seem so incon- Fujiyama, as he meditates on it. gruous as the audacity of men who produce a showy and resplendent philosophy out of Christ's The third characteristic, in its way as remark- teaching, but lack faith to believe that God who able as the others, is that this Kingdom is to be spread merely by proclaiming the Good News of has embodied Himself in it, can by its means over- God's gift. The Kingdom of God is like sowing a come the idols of our time. We must pit the very seed. There is food for deep meditation in that power of God Himself against the terrifying teaching. It is a message much needed in these forc·es of evil which have become so strong. There days when the missionary finds himself confused is one way to do that, and only one, in season and and perplexed. Whatever else is true of our work, out of season, and that is to sow the Good News it must always be the proclamation of the Good of the Kingdom in the hearts of men. News of the Kingdom of God. That good news is CHRISTIAN MISSIONS-BANE OR BLESSING?
Why should we make sacrifices to support foreign missions? One great reason is because of the results of this work. Had there been no Christian foreign missionaries, then Cyprus, Ephesus, Philippi, and Berea would never have heard the Gospel of Christ. Except for mis- sions the message of Life which He came to bring would not have reached Rome, and from Rome could not have spread into Spain and Gaul. Without missionaries, Great Britain and America would not have heard the message of Christ; India, China and other lands would have no Christians and no Christian enterprises. Had there been no missionaries, there would be no Christian Church today. Most, if not all, of the humanitarian and philanthropic organ- izations that now minister to mankind would never have been established. Hospitals, homes for the aged, orphanages, colleges and public schools all have had their first inspiration in the ideals of life and service taught in the New Testament. History shows clearly that these un- selfish ministries of love did not exist prior to the coming of Christ and apart from the spread of Christianity. They are due to the revelation of God and His ideals for man as revealed through Jesus Christ and as they have been imparted to His followers.
'BY THE LIPU LEKH PASS INTO TIBET-ALTITUDE 16,750
With Tibetans at the Crossroads By REV. E. B. STEINER, Dharchula, United Provinces, India Missionary of the Tibetan Border Mission TIBET-called the "Roof of the World"-is and consist of peas, barley and some type of grain the loftiest country on the face of the globe. which. can be ground and made into very coarse The line of vegetation lies at 13,000 feet alti- bread, which the ordinary European stomach is tude. Tibet has successfully kept herself aloof not able to digest.
from the outside world for centuries, and because Tibetan traders are more numerou.s than farmof this has had a tendency to draw the country ers, especially in the south. They are made up of into seclusion. two classes-Khampas and Dokpas. The former spend summers in Tibet and winters in India. The Tibetan is what he is because of four fac- Leaving Tibet in October, they cross the Himators-altitude, lack of vegetation, seclusion and layas for their trading in the foothill cities of religion. His characteristics are the product of India. After bartering they return in March, these factors, particularly in that region over entering Tibet over Lipu Lekh Pass in June. They against Bhot on the south central border of Tibet.
This country can be conquered, not by war, but speak Hindi and other Hill languages. by the Gospel of Jesus Christ that will change The Dokpas cross by Lipu Lekh Pass into India these backward Tibetans into progressive citizens. only to near-by towns in the Upper Himalayas. Tibetans may be divided into four classes: They speak Tibetan only. These traders export farmers, traders, robbers, lamas. Farmers in wool, salt and borax; they import wheat, rice, Tibet are the least prominent of the four classes. dal, sugar and cloth. They reside in valleys only; their crops are few The Tibetan robbers are called Jokpas in our [395 ]
area. In India they call at our bungal.ow and beg and another 5,500. (We do not vouch for these alms and food. In Tibet they rob us, but not in figures.) India because the British Government would im- Lamaism is a religi.on of works. The word prison them. As liquor dealers in America pay "grace," as understood in the Christian religion, license to the government and are permitted to is not found in Lamaism. The doing of religious .operate drinking establishments, so in Tibet a acts is believed to be the means of entitling a per- robber buys a license to rob whomsoever he son to a place in the Tibetan heaven. Everything pleases. a lama does-whether worship, prayers, reading, In 1930 the Tibetan Government granted Mrs. eating, sleeping or working-is a religious act.
Steiner and the writer a passport to travel 145 The spirit of the mind or the condition of the miles in Tibet. We were accosted by robbers heart has nothing to do with securing merit for twice during our twenty days in the country. the Tibetan heaven. The larger number of acts One Saturday aftern.oon suddenly three Tibetan a lama can do in a given time, the greater his robbers galloping on horseback,with flags floating merit and the Lama can accumulate far greater and guns raised, rushed out from between moun- merit by prayers than in any other way. It makes tains, calling to our Christians who were half a no difference for what he prays or how; the thing mile behind: that counts is that he performs his prayers. Be- "Halt, you are traders; you have money; open cause of this erroneous conception, the lama re- your bags! And over there is a white man and sorts to all sorts. of devices for prayer to assist a white woman; they are traders; they have in the accumulation of merit. Am.ong these de- money; open your bags." vices the most common in our area of Tibet are They continued talking roughly and yelling. prayer-wheels, prayer water-mills, prayer-flags Soon those Tibetan robbers began to talk less and prayer-walls.
roughly and finally they rode away without tak- Every lama possesses a prayer-wheel which he ing anything. holds in his right hand and revolves it as rapidly A month later we received a letter from a wom- as he can. In the wheel is written a prayer and an in Indiana who said she was praying for us. each revolution counts for merit for the owner of That letter was dated JUly 17, 1930, the very day the prayer-wheel. Large lamasaries have made that we were accosted by those Tibetan robbers. huge prayer-wheels called "Sipo Khorlo," inter- preted, "Wheel of Life." We saw one prayer- Ten days later, just as we were breaking camp, wheel seven feet in diameter in the lamasary at a robber party of twelve appeared. One robber Taklakot. On his way out of the lamasary a lama examined Mrs. Steiner's coat sleeve and after- gives the huge prayer-wheel a couple of turns, and wards my water bottle. Seeing his primitive gun I began to examine it in turn. He was pleased S.o it registers prayers to his credit. The lama and looking into my face he smiled. After that he would not rob me. While .our party .of ten does not need to say a word for the prayer-wheel Christians stood with bowed heads in silence in does the praying for him. Inside of this wheel is our morning worship, these ten robbers stood a paper on which is written that meaningless there on the side listening. Mter prayer they prayer, "Om Mani Padme Hum," interpreted in passed on and we went our way. English: "0 Jewel in the Lotus Flower." We do not know why this prayer has been adopted as the The Buddhist Lamas lama's formal prayer, save that the Tibetan be- lieves that Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, The fourth class of Tibetans, and by far the sprang from the lotus flower. About the year most prominent, are the Lamas or Buddhist 400 A. D. a great lama adopted this prayer as a Priests. The home of lamas is called a lamasary model for his followers and it has been used ever and the religion of Tibet is called Lamaism, a since.
form of Buddhism. Many lamas attach dozens of "prayer-flags"
The first-born son of each Tibetan family must to a cord or rope that stretches from one building be surrendered to the lamasary to be trained as to another, or to a tree. These prayer-flags are a lama. As all families are small, the percentage small pieces of cloth six or eight inches long in of lamas is great. A lamasary is a training school strips, on each of which is written this same . as well as a church, and some are in training for meaningless prayer-"Om Mani Padme Hum."
twenty or thirty years. The women lamas are When there is no wind these prayer-flags are silent sometimes called nuns. They are not permitted and therefore produce no merit; but when the to marry. Lamasaries are therefore like medire- wind blows, these flags flutter in the air and pile val monasteries, and sometimes the number of up millions of prayers to the credit of the owner.
inmates runs into the thousands. One lamasary Riding on a pony a hundred miles into Tibetan in Lhasa is said to admit 1,100, another 3,300, territory, we came to numerous "prayer-walls,"
WITH TIBETANS AT THE CROSSROADS
four to eight feet high, made of stone. On each Lekh Pass; our two stations,Dharchula and was inscribed this same prayer. Some of these Sirkha, are located on this highway and all who walls were twenty feet long, some fifty or a hun- travel to the plains of India must pass our way.
dred or two hundred feet. As we traveled, I no- Many call at our bungalow for alms or for med- ticed that my horseman, a Tibetan, owner of the ical aid. Each call brings a contact and makes an pony, always passed on the left side of the walls, opportunity. To many we give a Christian tract never on the right. When we came to another and to some we tell the story of salvation by prayer-wall, I said: "Go on the right side," but Christ. Most of these Tibetan travelers halt near he only smiled. Coming to the next wall, I spoke our Sunday School for four or five days at a time firmly, "Why don't you pass on the right side?" and some draw near to see what it is all about.
He paid no attention. My cook, a Mohammedan They may remain for the hour. Our Tibetan evan- from that area, told me that if this Tibetan passed on the right he would receive no merit but, pass- ing on the left, each stone with that inscription (and there are thousands on a wall 200 feet long, on its four sides and on top), produces. merit to his credit. It is the movement of something that counts, not thoughts. of the heart.
The Dalai Lama, the ruler of Tibet who lives at Lhasa, is the head of this land of seclusion reli- giously and politically. Dalai Lama means "Ocean of Virtue." He is helieved by Tibetans to be an incarnation of Chewasi, the son of the God 0 Pak Me, "the Buddha of Boundless Light." They be- lieve that "0 Pak Me" has been reincarnated again and again; being an incarnation, they think that the Dalai Lama cannot sin. It is likewise believed that each is an incarnation of that same god and therefore does not sin.
Many Tibetans practice polyandry. A woman marries the oldest brother in a family and thus automatically becomes the wife of all the brothers.
Consquently morality among the Tibetans is low, and their conception of home and family life are vague. These concepts of loose marriage rela- tions even creep into the Christian Church. Some twenty years ago two Tibetan brothers became Christians; one was married; the other was a widower. It was claimed some years ago, al- though not proven, that when the married brother was. absent from home for a month or more, his wife lived with the other brother as his wife. A TIBETAN LAMA AND HIS FAMILY About three years ago a Tibetan Christian sought a wife among Bhotiya Christians for his nephew. gelists and Bible women preach in their camps, He had difficulty in persuading members of one and our Tibetan Christians have friends among family to give their consent so he came to us. We some and invite them to their homes. Our work- suggested that he try to secure the daughter of ers also display their Tibetan scriptures and tracts one of our Tibetan Christian widows. But the on a blanket to attract passing Tibetans. We are widow said, "He who marries my daughter, mar- not permitted to preach to the Tibetans inside ries me also." Is there any doubt as to the need Tibet, but on our evangelistic pilgrimage to Mt.
of Tibetans for Christ and His Gospel? Kailash, 60 miles inland, there were ten Christians , We are sometimes asked how we make contacts in the group, four of whom were Tibetans. The with Tibetans in order to win them to Christ. We government cannot prevent us from worshipping are located in Bhot, that triangle in India on the our God as we choose and therefore on Sundays borders of both Tibet and Nepal. Lipu Lekh Pass, in Tibet, we have services and Sunday school for at an altitude of 16,750 feet, is one of the six main ourselves. Tibetans often stand around listening.
outlets of Tibet; the great Tibetan highway of The ruler of Taklakot gave us permission to this part of India passes through Bhot. Hundreds visit the lamasary in his city and there we found of Tibetans annually travel out and in over Lipu 300 lamas, men and women, boys and girls-aged electro nic fil e created by cafis.org
6 to 60. In one room we heard a Christian hymn. A family of ten pure Tibetans, devil worshipers, Upon inquiry, we learned that the lama had heard left their home, sear.ching for the true God. One us sing that song last year in India. I recalled of the number, our Tibetan cook, tells the followthat the year before, I had sung this hymn at ing story: "My grandfather was a priest of the every camp along the Tibetan highway as I was devil. Often have I seen him beat his body with returning from Naini Tal. The wonder was that heavy cords until it bled. Three times did the this Tibetan, hearing this hymn but once, was devil demand everything we possessed. After the able to remember both the words and melody. third time, we began to think that there must be Leading lamas followed us, pleading that we sing, a God somewhere who would not make unreasonand there, beside the huge wall of that lamasary able demands. Ten of us left in search for this in that land where we were forbidden to preach, true God. We wandered around Tibet. Then an four of us sang a Christian hymn. These lamas epidemic overtook us, killing six of our number, then begged for tracts. They sent two messengers including both-iny parents. My grandparents, my to our tent and we gave them forty-eight tracts. aunt and I only were left. iWe continued our search and passed through vast areas. Our food A year later I toured along the Indian side of was gone and we could get none. We came to the the Tibetan border. From Kuti, the last town, I Holy Region, Mt. Kailas, the Lakes and Taklakot, ascended a mountain up ·to 16,000 feet, coming to but we did not find the true God in this so-called a large open plain where we camped. Here an- 'Holy Region.' Then we came over Lipu Pass nually Bhotiyas and Tibetan traders meet for bar- and down into this Kali River Valley to Sirkha. tering. Among other Tibetans, were ten wealthy The Bhotiyas told us not to go near the Mission traders with 7,000 sheep, who came across the Compound or we would be made Christians. We border from their Tibetan town some twenty days' did not know what kind of wkked people Chrisjourney distant. Before we could pitch our tent, tians are, but they visited our camp and invited us these Tibetans crowded about, gazing at me, for to come to the mission. They did not look like they had never before looked upon a white face. bad people, so we thought we would go and live A peculiar feeling comes over one to think that in the Mission Compound, but would not go to one's white face is the first such face another hu- their meetings. Then we heard singing which man being has seen. sounded good and we thought that this might be the place to find the true God. We sat outside to We were hungry and tired, for we had made listen and later we went in and sat in the rear. this ascent of 4,000 feet and had had nothing to Then we found the true God we had been seeking eat since seven in the morning. Our helpers con- and we forsook Buddha for Christ." The grandcluded that this was the time to conduct a service parents have passed on, but our Tibetan cook has for these Tibetans, and each in turn gave a mes- entered deeply into the Christian life and is now sage-including my Tibetan cook, a boy of seven- one of our strongest Christians. teen. The Tibetans listened eagerly and then bought every Gospel and tract we had. They A Tibetan lama student in one of the leading wished to buy also my Tibetan hymn book and lamasaries in Lhasa for twenty years left the offered me twice its value. We forgot our hunger, lamasary because he felt that he was not sinless. but I never before saw such hunger for scriptures He married and wandered around for three years and tracts. with his wife, who contracted tuberculosis. To- gether they came over Lipu Lekh Pass into our We have been told that in certain areas, pure valley as far as Sirkha, and there his wife died. Tibetans cannot be won for Christ, as their hearts Our Tibetan evangelist, Chirring, befriended this are impregnable to the Gospel. We have not lama, Lobsang, and invited him to our Mission found it so. A Tibetan widow with two little sons Compound. Lobsang was impressed and finally came begging alms of Dr. Sheldon thirty-three renounced lamaism in April, 1929. He is now years. ago. She was told the story of Christ and conducting a Tibetan school and preaches the was asked to give up her beggar life, but she Gospel. In 1937 Lobsang and his family made an would not. The next year she came again and evangelistic tour into Tibet and brought back a yielded herself to Christ. She remained true to pure Tibetan, who came from a town eight days' her Lord for thirty years, first as matron and journey north of Lhasa. This man was baptized later as Bible woman, until she went two years on January 16th. Lobsang is now trying to win ago to be with her Saviour. Dr. Sheldon died in another Tibetan, who came a couple of months 1912', but Bunden continued as Bible woman all ago from the interior of Tibet.· Was it worth these years. One of her little sons is now a Tib- while befriending Lobsang? etan evangelist and the other a Christian tailor.
Modern Challenge to
By the REV. WILLIAM PATON, London Secretary of the International Missionary Council W HERE does the Christian missionary a world there may be religion, but religion will enterprise stand in this world of national- have become like other things just one among the ism, racialism, economic struggle, and other parts of life, ruled by its own law, an interauthoritarian states? It is not enough to show est among the many interests of man. I know no that mission hospitals do much good and that more terrible example of the secular spirit than Christian schools in the East and in Africa are the acceptance by religion of a specialized place lifting the burden of illiteracy from thousands. among the affairs of men. When religion, and In our typical modern struggles. is the missionary above all the Christian religion, abandons its enterprise relevant? claim to shed light and guidance upon the whole What is the characteristic modern issue? Let life of man and becomes one professionalized in- us go back a little in our own history. There was terest among a mass of others, we have the once something called Christendom. The word supreme secularism.
covered the idea ofa region of the world in which This was our state until these last years; but there was a civilization dominated by a single we are not facing that sort of world now. The great view of the world. In that medireval Europe, disintegration of human culture and the fading there was a common faith, a single Church, a gen- away of the central and life-giving belief in God erally accepted philosophy, and a recognition of was not an affair only of the scholar; there set in the unity of life, in such wise that, whether or not a deep disintegration of society. The World War men kept the Christian moral law, it did not occur hastened the process. One can speak only with to them to suggest that, for instance, the world of great sympathy of the situation that faced Ger- economic life lay outside the boundaries of moral many, for instance, in these post-war years. To and spiritual rule. In that sense the whole of life see their country losing all its coherence and dig- was integrated around the truths of Christianity. nity may well Ikive men to desperate remedies.
We know how that world broke up; I am no And in many lands today, as we know so well,.
medirevalist and I am not suggesting that we there has come into view the new type of integra- regret that vanished world. There came the Ren- tion, or more truly the new type of religion. No aissance of learning and the Ref.ormation; nations longer do we face a negative kind of secularist arose in Europe and separate churches came into temper; we face the bold attempt to regiment the being. Natural science was reborn and as the life of man around the primacy of the nation, or years passed science was harnessed to production of blood, or of class, or of the State. This is what and industry and we had the industrial revolution. is meant by that ungainly word the "totalitarian"
Life became far more complicated as well as much State. It is more than merely nationalism or class- richer. But one great consequence followed. The loyalty. It is the claim that devotion to this cen- world of men-our Western world at least–':'no tral standard-race or blood, community or state, longer was integrated round the Christian view or class-has absolute worth, and that in obedi- of life. The life of European man became divided; ence and surrender to it man finds his whole the world of economics was believed to have its meaning.
own law and to be separated from that of ethics; In modern Germany we have a classical instance what was true there became true of all the parts of the struggle which such a mode of life must of life, and the characteristic of our Western entail upon the Christian Church. The Church in world was that it had no common governing idea that and in every land has two essential features and was not ruled by any universally accepted which make it the enemy of the totalitarian state.
view. Each part of life became a law to itself. They are, first, that every local or national Church This is what I understand by secularism; the is not only local or national but also a part of the loosening 'of the parts. of life from their proper universal Christian fellowship. It is therefore a uniting centre in the will of God, so that not only constant reminder of a fellowship and loyalty is there no God acknowledged but there is no wider than that of the nation. But the other rea- other dominating idea to take His place. In such son goes. deeper. It is the fact that in the last r 399]
analysis the Church is' not a human society only- work, only more rapidly than in the West. Among not a sort of club that we have formed to carry educated Hindus today one finds everywhere a out purposes of our own, but is a society divine lack of belief and a communal loyalty that has as well as human. It is human and therefore nothing at all to do with true religion. In such a stained with the sins of humanity; but its origins country as Egypt you will find Moslems of educa- lie in the Divine love and it is still the Body of tion and earnestness, but for many of them, real Christ in which His Spirit dwells. So that in the faith has gone and what is left is a keenly national last resort the Church of Christ can only obey consciousness cloaking itself in religious dress.
God first and can never assent to any other pri- In such countries it is inevitable that the same mary loyalty. sort of process should be followed as we have If we look at the world of our Western life, we traced in our Western world. A force of integra- see a society that once was Christian and now is tion there must be; life must have a common pagan, with Christian forces and groups at work energizing centre. Thus we find the old cry of within it; that the emptiness' of a purposeless Pan-Islam wholly discredited in the Mohammedan society is being for myriads today filled by the countries, and nationalism or, as in Turkey, a keen worship of new gods; that these gods are in fact racial loyalty taking its place. In India you see only Man himself, worshipped in some group such a portent as the opening and consecration of manifestation; and that as against all this there a temple in which there is no object of worship is today only one force, small and weak as it may except a great marble relief map of India- seem, that is inescapably committed to a wholly Mother India, into which the spirit of the god is different view. That force is the love of God in called as in other idols of Hinduism.
Christ with the transformation of life and the In Japan and her empire we see most plainly total view of the world ·and the active fellowship the rise of the new nation-state worship. It is an that accompany it. The Church with all its weak- ancient thing there, for the doctrine of the divine nesses is still the fellowship in which men cannot Emperor, his descent from the Sun-Goddess, and be thought of as submerged in racial or commu- the divine quality of the Japanes.e nation go back nity groups, or as mere automata in the interplay to the dawn of Japanese history. Yet is it not of economic forces, because men 'are known as certain that a country like Japan, in which there those whom God made for Himself and for whom is an almost unparalleled concentration of wealth Jesus Christ was content to die. in a few hands, must be exposed almost more than But this attempt to analyze our modern prob- others to the social strains that aooompany such lem has referred only to what used to be called an economic organization? It can hardly be a Christendom. What of the rest of the world? mere coincidence that in this modern world, sub- Do we realize to what a vast extent this same ject universally to the influences I have tried to process of disintegration and this same drift away sketch, there should be felt in Japan the need to from the religious centre of life have appeared in strengthen the claim of the nation-state and to the East also, and in Africa? In Africa the mat- use the old doctrine for this purpose.
ter is perhaps. plainer than in any other place. So it is that in Japan itself, and far more reso- One does not need to have lived in Africa to com- lutely and indeed ferociously in Korea, Formosa prehend something of what it means that, for and in the nominally independent but actually instance, tribesmen come great distances to labor puppet state of Manchukuo, we find the rites of in the copper mines, there to exchange the life of emperor worship, or a rite akin to it, pressed upon the tribe, in which the individual hardly exists the schools and the colleges. It is explained that and the tribal group is everything, for the life of the rites are not religious, but merely patriotic.
a modern industrialized settlement where a man This is not the place to argue this matter in detail, is forced to become an individual. But consider but I feel that when this claim is made it is meant the countries with the ancient religious cultures. really that the rites defined as patriotic, are more Hinduism has never been a religion only in the important than religion. It is the determination sense that it offered a religious consolation and of those who rule events in that empire to lay guidance to the individual; it has been a social down as the foundation of life the absolute accept- system and upon its precepts and governing ideas ance of the State. When you have that, then you a whole society rested. The word "caste" will may have your private religion – your sectarian suggest all that is. bound up in this statement. Or Shinto or your Buddhism or your Christianity.
again Islam has never been a reJi.gion in the nar- But that absoluteness of claim and of range which row sense; it has claimed to provide an under- we associate with religions is reserved for the standing of the whole of life. It has indeed been patriotic claim symbolized by the patriotic rite.
a boast of Moslem scholars. that Islam offered a It is therefore no matter for surprise that the synthesis of sacred and secular. But today we see Christian Church in these lands should be suspect.
exactly the same process of disintegration at I would only say here–for there are many things
THE MODERN CHALLENGE TO CHRISTIANITY
it is not expedient t.o say-that my own touch in .of economic forces, or a pawn in national policy, recent months with them left me with a clearer or that He is. in fact these and these alone. The and a more poignant sense of the meaning of the Christian faith, in basing man's dignity on God's Church in the modern world than I have ever had. love, offers the only ground on which that dignity and freedom can be maintained. Can we now gather up something of what this rough and most imperfect sketch suggests? Sec.ond, the Christian Church offers in the Christian fellowship something that transcends It is the inescapable and eternal paradox of the barriers of nations, race, and class. Where man's life that he cannot find peace within him- it fails to do this it is plainly false to itself; where self but only as. he returns to God. When he de~ it does this it is plainly true to itself and its parts from God-and even from the gods of the Founder. .old faiths of the East-he finds that the disorder of his life demands a commanding centre, and he Third, and here we touch the centre of the makes a god out of some part of his human endow- Christian struggle in our modern world, the ment-race and blood, or class, or nati.on. But Christian Church is a society not only human but that god not only leads him to war and strife and also divine, owing allegiance to God and pointing internecine feud, it demands also the total sub- beyond all human associations and loyalties, merging of the individual in the grQUp .or mass claims and obligations, t.o the unshared majesty or totality. of God and the absoluteness of His will, the pri- macy of His kingdom. The Christian asserts three things in opposition to this modern idolatry: First, we declare that In this struggle there is no East and West. It man is created by God, in His spiritual image, tQ is the peculiar significance of the Christian misdo His will in loving obedience, and that in the sionary movement that it symbolizes the univerpassion and death of Jesus Christ there is ex- sality of the Christian Church and provides the hibited the value that God set upon man. It is means whereby the older church can aid and not possible for Christians to agree that any .one, strengthen the younger in facing what is essenfor whom the Lord Jesus Christ was CQntent to tially and .universally a common task. die, should be a mere racial unit, or a plaything TRENDS IN MODERN MISSION WORK By THE REV. CORNELIUS H. PATTON, D.D.
Formerly Secretary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.
1. Transfer of leadership and ownership to the national Christians of each land at the earliest possible moment.
2. Recognition more fully .of the responsibility of governments and to cooperate with them in so far as fundamental Christian principles allow.
3. Efforts to encourage and conserve the values of indigenous religion and culture wher- ever found, seeking always to domesticate Christian ideals and institutions in the environment and tradition of each land.
4. Purpose to maintain, as may be necessary, the distinction between Christianity and so- called Christian civilization.
5. Interpretation of the Christian message in such a way as to make it applicable to the total life of a people.
6. Desire to make evangelism complete byemphasizing the Christ-spirit as the saving ele- ment in all processes of social improvement.
7. Stressing the improvement of rural communities as the special need of the hour.
8. Endeavors to offer motive and guidance in the effort to save the people of the East from the mistakes of the industrial order of the West.
9. Work for the consolidation of the Christian forces throughout the world.
10. In the selection and training of missionary personnel, insistence upon the highest de- gree of efficiency attainable. .
11. Preaching the eternal Gospel by word and in terms that men and women of this age will understand.
12. Attempts to find in the leadership and saving power of Christ the only hope of a dis- tressed and bewildered yet spiritually hungry world.
Sunday Schools Over the World*
By REV. ROBERT M. HOPKINS, D.D., New York Secretary of the World's Sunday School Association A S WE look over the world today it is increas- Word to the people than the Sunday School. Even .l'. ingly difficult to decide which nations may in the lands ""here antagonism to the Bible prebe called Christian and which are non- vails, Sunday School pupils grow up to have a Christian. Some lands that have had within their very keen appreciation of the Book. An illustra- borders a preponderance of people affiliated with tion will be helpful. In spite of the fact that the Christian Church are today following pro- Puerto Rico has the largest Sunday School enrol- cedures that are decidedly not Christian. Other ment of any Spanish-speaking area in the world, lands that have been known as, "heathen" are there is a distressing lack of copies of Spanish today conspicuous. for their forbearance and other Bibles throughout the Island. A little girl, whose Christian virtues under the most difficult circum- parents are affiliated with the Roman Church, stances. somehow found her way into an evangelical In lands that have been known as "heathen" Sunday School, and with the consent of her par- and where the Christian Church is young, and ents she became a regular attendant. As her the vast majority of the people have not as yet birthday approached, her father and mother pre- openly identified themselves with Christ, the Sun- pared a party, with invited guests and special day School 'is a great factor in the spread of the refreshments. When asked what present she de- Gospel and in Christian training. It is chal- sired most of all she said, "I want a copy of the lenging at the outset to learn that in Africa, Latin Bible." This request grew out of her attendance America and Asia the Sunday School is making at the Sunday School. Her parents discovered its greatest numerical advance today. In Africa to their amazement that they were unable to buy during the past fou.r years the Sunday School has a copy of the Bible in any of the regular book made more than half the net total gain of the stores, but she was not satisfied until a copy was entire world; South America came second. What procured. Thus the Word of God found an hon- are some of the reasons for such progress? ored place in an influential home that had hitherto First, the principal constituency of the Sunday not possessed a copy.
School is the children. Young people and adults Various kinds of related Christian literature mayor may not be enrolled in mission lands, ac- have also grown up with the Sunday School move- cording to whether the standards that prevail ment. Ofttimes in mission lands Lesson Helps have come from America or Great Britain. But were at first mimeographed copies of the patient everywhere the Sunday School serves the chil- work of some missionary. Frequently the surplus.
dren. Thus its contrihution is made in the plastic materials are sent from Sunday Schools in more period of life. A single illustration will suffice. favored lands. These are greatly in demand, par- In a Sunday School rally in Aleppo, Syria, chil- ticularly the colored picture charts and picture dren came from a wide variety of home back- cards. In the village of India, the forests. of Af- ground. When asked if any child wished to send rica, the crowded lands of Korea, especially in a message to the Sunday School children of the lands like the Philippines where English is known, world, a little lad arose and said in Arabic that such used materials are never sufficient to meet he wished to send the message : "We ought to love the demands. The street Sunday Schools in Egypt one another." This boy had been raised in a and Wayside Sunday Schools in other lands are Yezidee home where the basic doctrine is one of made possible by grouping the children for the hate, rather than love. He had learned the mes- first time about the picture rolls, and by giving sage of love in the Sunday School. out Httle picture cards.
A second reason is that the Sunday School is A recent report from China indicates that the concerned with the study of the Bible. Many National Committee for Christian Religious Edu- agencies are uniting to spread the Christian cation has published ever since the outbreak of Scriptures around the world, but none make their hostilities, a special Sunday School paper giving task more directly related to the teaching of God's simple teaching material for use in refugee camps.
• See Frontispiece. One copy of this publication has a picture of the r 402] soldier camp in the background, while a little National Committee for Christian Religious Education in China Chinese lad gives thanks for the bowl of rice of which he is about to partake. Thus,even in times Congo Protestant Council (Sunday School Committee for of war and distress, the children are taught to the Belgian Congo) thank God for the temporal blessings of life. Sunday School ASEOciation in Czechoslovakia Egypt and Sudan Sunday School Union Latin America has oeen one of the leaders in Esthonian Sunday School Union the development of indigenous Sunday School lit- India Sunday School Union erature. A graded series of lessons has been pre- National Sunday School Association of Japan pared, most of it written by Latin American au- Sunday School Association of Jugoslavia thors and largely published on presses in Mexico, Korea Sunday School Association Latvian Sunday School Union Puerto Rico, Argentina, Chile and other Latin Madagascar Sunday School Union fields. Brazil has also developed its Portuguese Concilio Nacional De Iglesias Evangelical (Mexico) literature, the demand for which has exceeded Bible Lands Union for Christian Education (Palestine, the Sunday School enrolment, since many outsiders are eager to have the lessons. Syria and Transjordania) Alianza Evangelica De Peru Philippine Committee of Christian Education The Sunday School has been greatly blessed as Sunday School Association of Poland a means for securing cooperation among the vari- Comrr.ittee on Christian Education of the Association of Evangelical Churches of Puerto Rico ous denominational churches. The World's Sun- National Christian Council of Siam day School Association is a federation of fiftyone national (or in a few instances international) We have not called the roll of the cooperating organizations each of which represents the organizations in lands where the work of the churches within a given area that desire to coop- churches has been long established. To include erate in Christian education. No ecumenical or- them would bring the number up to fifty-one con- stituent units of the World's Sunday ganization is more widely representative. In many School Association.
lands cooperation began in a An especially gratifying outreach of the Sunday School union. Sunday School movement has recently A recent visit to Cuba re- been witnessed in lands where the East- vealed the way this move- ern Orthodox churches have predominated.
ment is going forward. There Early approaches of West- is no organization there that ern missionaries were often brings Christian churches to- resented as proselytizing. In gether to consider their com- recent years the organization mon task. A conference held within the Orthodox church- in Havana upon the invita- es has opened new doors.
tion of the World's Sunday One of the first approaches School Association, resulted of the Sunday School was in a representative attend- SUNDAY SCHOOL BOYS IN INDIA made to the ancient Church ance from the seven evangel- of Armenia in the Near East.
ical churches. There was an outspoken desire to A loyal son of the Apostolic church, Levon Zenian, have some agency created that would enable them eager to serve his people, was introduced to the to work together in the task of Christian edu- Armenian prelates in 1929 and with their cordial cation. approval began the organization of Sunday The Sunday School has been thus at the very Schools. His work has been inspiring and has heart of cooperation in the Christian enterprise made· possible many new bonds of fellowship.
in many lands for half a century. It seems easier Within the Greek Orthodox Church the Zoe move- for Christian forces to unite for the Christian ment, stimulated in part by what was occurring education of their children and youth than in any in other Eastern churches, has resulted in the other Christian activity. This has been especially true in mission lands. Note this inspiring list of organization of many Sunday Schools in that organizations charged with responsibility for co- ancient body. Following the historic example of operation in the work of Christian education: Robert Raikes in Gloucester, England, the Greek Orthodox Sunday Schools were first limited to Council of Religious Education in North Africa (Algeria) boys, but recently they have included girls. The EI Comite De Cooperacion De Las Republicas De La Plata leaders of the Zoe movement are in cordial fellow- (Argentina-Paraguay-Uruguay) Conselho Evangelico De Educacion Religiosa De Brasil ship with Sunday School leaders of other churches Burma Sunday School Union and attended the last World's Sunday School Con- Ceylon Sunday School Union vention in Oslo, with the sanction of the Holy Comision De Educacion Religiosa Del Comite Consultor Synod. If a banner had been awarded at the Oslo De Cooperacion de Chile electronic file created by cafis. org
Convention to the city which reported the largest movement for religious education has been wiped proportionate gain in its Sunday School enrolment out. Also the totalitarian states in many parts of during the previous four years, that banner would Europe are now drastically retarding the growth have gone to Athens. . of the Sunday School. In America the growing Another very vital contribution to Christian spirit of secularism has likewise slowed down the progress in mission lands has been through the rate of previous progress, while in Great Britain, pioneering of World Sunday School Conventions. where the modern Sunday School had its origin, Twelve of these world .gatherings have been held losses rather than gains· are recorded. It is rein the past fifty years and each was widely repre- markable that, in the face of such adverse condisentative of the Sunday Schools in many nations. tions, there has been gain at all around the world. Three World Conventions have been pioneers in their respective lands-Jerusalem in 1904 in the This has been due to the so-called non-Christian Near East, Tokyo in 1920 in the Far East, and lands. In ~_me Latin American countries the Rio de Janeiro in 1932 in Latin America. These Sunday School enrolment has doubled within four representative gatherings of Christian leaders years. This movement is thus proving to be the from around the world have made great contributions to the lands visited. For the fourth time the medium whereby there is achieved a continued net gain of the total movement in behalf of Chris- tian education around the world today. .
Movement is proposing to pioneer with the first representative world gathering of Christian lead- ALL HAIL TO THE WOMEN! ers on the continent of Africa. The next World's The Central Committee on the United Study of Sunday School Convention is announced for Durban, South Africa, July 22 to 28, 1940. Thus one Foreign Missions This remarkable organization of women for the promotion of the study of foreign missions and the publication of missionary literature was or- ganized at the time of the Ecumenical Conference in New York in 1900. Now, after thirty-eight years of very effective service, it has closed its work of pUblication (July 1) and has turned it over to the Missionary Education Movement, with which the Central Committee has been cooperat- ing. Miss Abbie B. Child was the first chairman of the Committee. Mrs. Peabody, one of the or- ganizers, was the efficient chairman of this Com- mittee for thirty years. Miss M. H. Leavis has been the agent for the literature and is largely re- A SUNDAY SCHOOL IN LAPAZ, BOLIVIA sponsible for its successful business operation.
century after Livingstone left Scotland to make Other women leaders who have been very active his first momentous journey to the then almost include-Mrs. John T. Gracey, Miss Margaret unknown Dark Continent, a pilgrimage is planned Hodge, Mrs. Helen B. Montgomery, Mrs. Fredin which thousands of Christian workers from erick G. Platt and Miss Gertrude Schultz (the many lands will trek to Africa, now the continent most recent chairman). The Committee has pubwith the largest actual gain in Sunday School lished forty-eight senior textbooks, besides hymadvance of them all. nals, junior and kindergarten books and a chil- dren's magazine Everyland. The total number of We must not overlook the contribution which Committee books sold number 3,770,947 copies. the spread of the movement in mission lands is Three of the textbooks have been translated into making to the Christian cause ata time when in one or more of the following languages: Chinese, so many parts of the world Christianity seems to Japanese, Tamil, Urdu and German. The books be retrograding. The report for the last Conven- published by this Committee form a remarkable tion, held in Oslo in 1936 (gathered by World missionary library, covering practically the whole Dominion Movement at the request of the World's world, viewed as a Christian mission field.
Sunday School Association), was in many ways the most comprehensive review of Sunday School In one New York public school a recent religious census progress ever compiled. It showed a total Sun- showed that out of 457 "Protestant" pupils only 33 had day School enrolment for the world of 37,285,519. religious instruction in any church school. The New York This is a net gain of 894,579 over the report for Federation of Churches estimates that only one-half of the previous quadrennium. At the same time it the children of the city are receiving any religious train-. should be remembered that in Russia the entire ing under church auspices-Protestant, Roman Catholic or Jewish.
Practical Value of Missions to Pastors*
By PROF. ARCHIBALD G. ADAMS t Chair of World Religions and Missions, Temple University Philadelphia .nA.S A MISSIONARY for twelve years, bO'rn with preachers who are mostly underpaid, as they and bred and almost buried in the mission- see money gQing for unseen, unappreciated needs ary tradition and purpose, I am vitally interested in interesting young ministers in mis- elsewhere while their O'wn needs are sO' painfully sions, even more than I am in securing new re- present and felt. As prQtagonists. O'f the missioncruits for WQrld service. It is a difficult task, and ary cause, they are defenceless against the critifor several reasons. First there is the depressiO'n cisms O'f their people whO' seek every excuse to which has driven many churches tQrO'b Paul, the escape gIvmg. Thus they endanger their popmissionary, to pay Peter, the preacher. An Epis- ularity by supporting missions. copal Bishop was visiting the rector in one O'f the parishes of his diQcese, and as he left his auto- Moved by these conditions and cO'nsiderations it has been my purpose to' be as practical as posmobile he carefully lO'cked it. The rector ex- sible in ,presenting the .subject to my classes in claimed, "You don't need to' lock your car arO'und Temple University. I recall the resentment I felt here, Bishop, we're all honest." "I'm not sO' sure in college on being compelled to take courses that of that," replied the Bishop, "hasn't your church seemed of nO' possible use to me in my life work, been taking the missionary money for current ex- and the joy I experienced in the theological sempenses?" inary because all my studies were more or less geared into my preparation for service. There- SecO'nd, the effects of the Laymen's inquiry re- fQre it has been my intention to present the subport, "Rethinking Missions." Its unfortunate ject of missiQns in the most practical way in order publicity played up the failures of missionary work and soft-pedalled the successes. to' meet the O'bjectiO'ns to' missions and to' meet the need of ,pastors for information and training in Third, the keen competition in the ministry, missionary sermQn preparation. compelling young seminary students to bend every effort to prepare themselves for the demands of The Need for Information About Missions the pastorate, leaves, little time for so unrelated an interest as world missions. From my experience in teaching missions to As a pastor fO'r eleven years, I can sympathize high school students I did not expect to find much with the difficulties pastQrs experience in interesting their people in a subject on which the pas- knowledge of the subject on the part of seminary tors themselves are very slightly informed, and often greatly misinformed. There is hardly a students, but I was not prepared to find so little. subject on which the O'rdinary pastO'r feels it his None had ever heard of Adoniram Judson and duty to preach, or is compelled by his church rules to preach, which he finds SO' hard, dry and lifeless O'nly a few had heard of David Livingstone! At as the missiQnary sermQn. This attitude is naturally reflected in the sermon, and his people come least there would be novelty in the subject for the to' share his attitude. Then, too, in these days, O'f reduced income, one cannQt help sympathizing students, and their surprised delight at finding the subject so interesting was most encouraging.
Their need for information has been met in my classes in the following ways: (1) The history of missions has been made in- teresting by likening it to' a Prayer Rosary. This is an appropriate figure because most religions • CQndensed frQm a paper read at a HartfQrd Seminary CQnfer- use rosaries and the Prayer Rosary is a way by ence Qf ProfessQrs Qf MisslQns, 1938. which Christians have been helping to answer t the'Ir prayer: "Thy KI' ngdom, Corne."The lI'nks TahnQdugfhorI mhaanvye tyaeuagrhs t haadvuelttaBuigbhlet cmlaissssieQsnsmOinore ytQhuanng hpaeIQt pmle'ys f the ChaI'n h ave b een supplI' ed'In the connectI' ng life, 0 summer assemblies, I dQ nOot pretend tOo be a specialist In the field facts of each periQd Qf histQry; each student has Qf teaching. I Qwe my apPQintment tOo the Chair of WOorld RellgiQns and MissiQns at Temple University tOo the fact that I have spent a supplied a pearl in the chain, each pearl being the quarter of a century Qn the fQreign mission field, half as a bQY receiving vivid impressiOons Oof Qld China, and later as a missiOonary critical and atpapkreenciaf trQivme recponosret couft. Itvhee lip. feerloofdssomI.ne fQr 12 years tOo Western China, the rapidly changing China Oof tQday. mi"SSIQnary I attacked my new task at Temple University in the same way in Church history. These reports were read in class which I apprQach this subject, nQt as a specialist in educatiQn, careful tOo Qbserve the laws Oof pedagQgy, but as a missiQnary first, f::dt';~ N~ini~~k ~~~~~:~t!~.~~~ g~sl.eleven years have been spent [405 ]
at their chronological place in history. Each source of great satisfaction. One actually bought report of from 2,500 to 3,000 words covered the for his own library everyone of the eight mis- following points: a brief outline of the mission- sionary books assigned for his reading, after he ary's life; the influences which led him to enlist had read the library copies.. Of Morrow's life and his preparations for service; a description of Judson, entitled "Splendor of God," another of the most worth-while accomplishment of the student wrote in his review, "Thank you for put- missionary ; criticism of the least praiseworthy ting this on the required reading list. It is abso- missionary methods and attitudes; the suitability lutely the most -inspiring and gripping book I ever of his message in the light of present-day stand- read." Another said that missionary biographies ards; lastly, a portrayal of the most inspiring and "had so stimulated his thirst for more" that he impressive characteristics of the missionary. was reading biographies which had not been as- As far as possible each student chose the mis- signed, duri~_ his vacation, for pleasurable in- sionary he preferred; only a few had to take sec- spiration. .Another outstanding senior enthused ond choices. At each of our two-hour sessions over Brockman's "I Discover the Orient," saying throughout the semester a paper was read, taking that it had opened a window to better understand- about half an hour. In spite of a limited mission- ing and appreciation of the Chinese. A serious- ary library, by the end of the semester the stu- minded student wrote: "The life of Adoniram dents had come to know about sixty home and Judson by his son, Edward Judson, challenged me foreign missionaries, half of them thoroughly. with the question, would I be willing to serve They were assigned readings in other missionary Christ at such sacrifice? I thank God for having biographies, besides their individual assignments. read this book, and hope that if such a command (2) The students' need for information was comes I will be found in His will and not my own."
also met by the study of some fourteen mission- Yet another student laughingly declared that he ary magazines. They had to appraise these mag- always left his mission assignments to the last, azines, and classify, giving their reasons. Then because his weariness of mind and flesh from as- they described an ideal magazine that they be- signments in other courses would always be dis- lieved would meet all needs. In this way they in- pelled by the inspiration in his miss,ionary read- directly gleaned much information and learned ing. He would retire refreshed in body, mind and where more could be secured. The examination soul ~rom the stirring information he had secured.
called for a letter to the editor of each student's After making due allowance for a desire to get denominational periodical, making criticisms and a good grade, the character of students making suggestions. such testimonies, convince me that missions, if (3) Information was also imparted through given half a chance, can be made most interesting the eye-gate, both by the professor's own stereop- and inspiring. But the subject must find good ticon slides and, in one course, by the missionary soil in which to bear fruit. It is usually the most slides secured from various denominational head- intelligent, earnest and slerious-minded students quarters, the students delivering the lectures who respond most enthusiastically to the appeal themselves during the first half hour, followed by of the heroic in missions.
criticisms from other students. We must let missions slpeak for themselves in (4) For one course that presented "A minis- the following ways: ter's brief for world missions," information was (1) Reading good biographies of missionaries. provided in lectures and by 'assigned readings.. (2) Reading stories and bi,ographies of native (5) In the course on a "Critique of Modern converts to Christ. Bishop Frederick B. Fisher, in Missions," based on the Laymen's Report, a criti- his testimony to ministers of Buffalo at their ancal judgment was developed to evaluate informa- nual retreat some years ago, said: "When I went tion, and data on the outstandingly successful to India as a missi,onary my heroos were all ,of my missionary enterprises was given to the students own race: Livingstone, Carey and Judson. Now through missionary periodicals. my Christian her,oes are of another race: men In these five ways much information has been like Kagawa of Japan,and Sadhu Sundar Singh supplied in interesting ways. of India, and Sun Yat-sen of China."
The Students' Need for Inspiration (3) Many stories of missionary heroism and sacrifice were gleaned from the lives of my own To save missions from its reputation of being parents and other missionaries I have known.
one of the dryest subjects taught in seminaries it There are books like "Waste Basket Surgery" by was with no little concern that I undertook' to Dr. Gordon Seagrave.
make the subject inspiring to our School of The- (4) A study of Christ's missionary spirit, ology students. That most of them found the teaching and practice as the minister's chief missions courses unexpectedly inspiring was a source of inspiration.
THE PRACTICAL VALUE OF MISSIONS TO PASTORS
The Pastor's Need for Missionary Defence JudsQn's challenge to missionary effort, they grew by leaps and bounds until today they are 90 times At the outset of a course entitled "The Minis- as great (9,000,000) in a little over 100 years. ter's Brief for World Missions," the class was We read that in the Baptist churches in Lincoln's asked to bring in all the criticisms they have home town in Illinois, the majQrity refused to supheard in opposition to WQrld missions. These port foreign missions. Today thQse anti-missionwere met as fully and frankly as possible; then ary-minded churches are practically dead, while a series .of lectures followed which aimed to do the missionary minded churches have over 50,000 two things.: (1) to provide the students with the members in .one ass.ociation. most convincing arguments for maintaining world missions; and (2) to provide them with the foun- What would Sunday school teachers do without dation supports fQr a year's series of monthly ser- missionary stories? mons, which, with topical variations, could last them for a life time. Grenfell's mother was right when she said: "Labrad.or has doOne much more for my son than In selecting the eight most cogent arguments my son has done f.or the Labrad.or." for missions I am aware of what my friend Guy W. Sarvis, formerly a missionary in China, writes If there were no missions in the Christian in his review of Sewell's "China Through a, College Window." There Sarvis says: "The time Church we would have to invent s.omething like has passed to defend missions on the basis of Biblical texts and abstract ethics. They must be them to keep the Church alive and growing. evaluated for their worth to the persons and communities. directly involved as well as for their (3) Because we owe a debt to the past t.O pass significance in international relations at a time on the Gospel to the future. A mother and child, when the world is contracting physically in in East Aurora, New York, attended a missionary airplane tempo, while doctrines of national sep- service. When the mother put nothing in the colaratism are supplanting the ideal of human broth- lection basket, the child said: "Mother, aren't you erhood. The missionary process is essentially one going to pay for me?" Could that mother ever pay of the impingement of cultures, inevitable in the for her Christian home, husband, church, land and modern world, good or bad in terms of concrete Gospel? Never, yet someone had to pay! "The effects." noble army, men and boys, the matIlon and the maid," martyrs and pioneers, all the way back to While we attempt to apply this truth we do not the Cross, where the greatest price was paid, tesabandon the authority of the Bible as part of the tify that "We are not our own; we have been defense of missions, because in the rightly selected bought with a price." G€neral Pershing, when passages we find the support which Jesus Christ he laid the wreath at Lafayette's tomb in France, gave to world missions in spirit, teaching and said, "Lafayette, we are here." Should we not practice. Hence the first argument, practically say to the dead champions of the faith, pioneer the only Biblical one, is: missionaries who gave their all, to Christ and to spread the Gospel we now enjoy: "Pioneers, (1) Because Jesus taught and practised world we are here" ! missions. In this lecture the student is shown, in some cases for the first time, how Jesus gave much (4) Because the sacrifices of missionaries must of His time and effort to preaching to the Gentiles not be in vain. Using the theme of Col. John Mcof His own country. As He was almost lynched Crae's poem: "In Flanders Field": by fellow townsfolk because He said He was going to preach to the Gentiles owing to the Jewish To you from failing hands we throw the Torch; Be yours to hold it high! indifference and unresponsiveness, so the preacher If ye break faith with us who die of today, to be truly like his Master, must expect We shall not sleep, though poppies grow in Flanders field. to meet opposition from unenlightened fellow Christians to the world missionary program. But We read of heroic sacrifices of missionaries, of we must not, for that reason, desist from earnest missionary mothers, missionary children, of pareffort to spread the Gospel. ents at h.ome who have given their children for foreign service; sacrifices.of devoted Christians (2) Because the Christian Church needs world in the h.ome churches, to supp.ort missionaries. missions to keep it Christ-like and growing, by the As Paul said: "I .take pleasure in necessities for challenge of a great task, such as world missions Christ's s·ake." If soldiers, explorers, and scienpresents. "They who live unto themselves, die tists are ready to make sacrifices f.or their coununto themselves." TQ deny is to die, to give is try, why should we not be ready to sacrifice for to live. This is true of churches as of individuals. Christ? Baptists in 1818 numbered only 158,000. But, mainly because .of the spiritual effect of accepting (5) Because we should give of our best to atone for the w.orst we have given. Review of the his- tory of the white man's invasions of colored races -American Indian; African slave trade; parti- tion of Africa; Mexican conquest by Spaniards;
South American conquest; the occupation of In- lined in the previous. headings) so that they can dia, Australia, New Zealand, and other parts of repeat the main theme with variations made effec- Oceania; the semi-partition of China. Albert tive by fresh illustrations. These can be obtained Schweitzer of Africa says: "A heavy guilt rests from missionary magazines. More than forty stu- upon our Christian culture," and he adds that he dents voluntarily took out a year's SUbscription to is there to try to make some atonement. a missionary magazine, and have been enthusiastic (6) Because those who sit in darkness deserve readers of it.
to share in the light of the world. Multitudes Popular magazines also sometimes supply mis- earnestly follow what light they have, though this sionary stories and articles. These are at work is often superstition; many have an earnest in minds of people who never read a missionary hunger for the truth; they are ready to make magazine. Missionary books, especially biog- sacrifices for their own religions; they suffer raphies of nY.ssionaries, are a fertile source of through ignorance, superstition, and wrong. The inspiring illustrations-stories of work, stories of least we can do is to share with them the greater converts, the products of missions. Other good light we have from Christ. missionary literature can be secured from denom- (7) Because when they have the light non- inational headquarters.
Christian peoples often rn,a,ke the best Christians. The suggestion is also made that five minutes While it is all that American Christians can do to may profitably be devoted during the Sunday get an hour or two of religious programs a day morning service to reports on missionary events over the air, the Chinese Christians of Shanghai and progress, under some such title as, "The March have their own broadcasting station and fill the of Missions" or "News Not in the Newspapers."
air with Christian messages all day long. If made brief and pointed, such a feature will edu- (8) Because the kingdom of G,od cannot come cate and inspire the congregations.
fully anywhere until it comes everywhere, and it Good missionary drama is immensely effective, cannot be accomplished without the help of Chris- and suggestions are made as to ways in which this tians of every race and nation. America could can be used. Lists of recommended missionary not be kept "dry" under prohibition, largely be- drama (one is by Rev. La Rue Cober of Colgate cause of wet Canada to the north and Mexico to Rochester Divinity School, Rochester, N. Y.) are the south, and wetter Europe across the Atlantic, distributed to the students and they or their wives so no land can ever beoome fully Christian until urged to try their hands at similar drama. every land has accepted Christ and His way of life. As Lloyd George said to Stanley High: "If The Need for Example and Practice missions fail, the rest of us will have to shut up shop!" , The seminary chapel furnishes an opportunity for the students to hear missionary speakers, as The Need for Missionary Ammunition examples of how (as well as, how not) to preach "The best defence is an offence," militarists tell on mISSIons. One speaker, using stereopticon us. The preacher needs ammunition for mission- slides, unsllspectingly furnished a good opportu- ary sermons and guidance in dropping his bombs. nity for the students to criticize pro and con, in The strategy of the Trojan horse is a wise prece- the light of their class training.
dent for the .general who would take the enemy of Only practice makes perfect. The practice pro- missions unawares. When one student started vided for the students was in sermon construction, his sermon with the bald statement: "This is a and in presentation of missionary lectures with missionary sermon," he was warned that he had stereopticon pictures in the classroom, and sermon made a tactical error before he had a chance to delivery in their own churches.
be heard. Opponents of missions close their ears Sermon construction was after this manner.
and hearts at the outset, while others need not be The professor assigned missionary books on told. The "Trojan horse strategy" is to iriter- which sermons were to be written, then to be sperse sermons with int~resting missionary illus- preached by those students who were supplying trations, occasionally at first, until an appetite for pulpits. Thus they "killed two birds with one such food has been stimulated, and a demand is stone," a feat which students alw'ays appreciate.
created for missionary sermons. Then give mis- Those students who had churches where they sionary sermons attractive, catchy titles, such as could preach the sermons prepared in class, re- Modern Miracles of the Master; Good News from ported impressions made upon their congrega- Far Countries; Saddle-Bay Surveyors of the tions.
Kingdom; Jesus the First World Missionary; At the beginning of each two-hour class half an Are Christians Color Blind? hour was given to stereopticon lectures by the Students are urged to collect clippings and students two at a time, each taking turns prac- notes on each of the arguments for missions (out- ticing the mechanics of running a stereopticon
RELIGIOUS PROBLEMS OF A MIDWEST CITY
lantern, andgIvmg the message. At the close sermons, because they have information and inthe students criticized the presentation and the spiration, and confidence in their ability to put mechanics, before the professor made his contri- the message across. bution. One of the examination questions called for a list of instructions as to the physical, mental Great encouragement to this method of teachand spiritual preparation for the presentation of ing missions comes from the fact that one student missionary lectures to guide the novice. Students was so much interested in his study of the history were also asked to criticize the quality of mission- of missions in the Caribbean islands (on which no ary lectures supplied by their denominational book has been written so that no little research headquarters, and to compose a letter to the au- on his part was necessary) that he submitted a thorities making suggestions. master's thesis, illustrated with handmade maps of every Caribbean island. The assignment had Thus the students are helped to become efficient been for a 3,000 word paper, and the student had in the presentation of missionary material so that not yet graduated. To have aroused such interest they will no longer dread that duty but will look in a missionary subject is one indication that the forward with pleasure to preaching missionary methods work.
Religious Problems of a Midwest City By REV. L. MERLE RYMPH, Wichita, Kansas President of the Ministerial Association and Minister of the Fairmount Community Church, CongregatiQnal W HAT are the religious problems of a Mid- Street and Douglas Ave. According to the story west city? Even a superficial study of of pioneers, Douglas Avenue became the prized facts, made by a casual observer, would business and residence street by a mere chance reveal a series of religious problems in a city like circumstance, in that the cowboy surveyor who Wichita, Kansas. These problems grow out of flung his rope across Douglas Ave. used a 114-foot five contributing social factors: (1) the rapid rope instead of a 100-foot rope as intended. Be growth of the city, (2) the missionary zeal and that as it may, this prairie city developed as most optimism of its pioneer founders, (3) the rapid prairie cities tend to develop in the form of a shift of its population from an agricultural econ- "cross" with the original business center at the omy and life to an urban economy and life, (4) the intersection. Douglas Avenue, being the wider secularization of its common life, and (5) the ex- and more beautiful street, attracted the more perience of chastened optimism during the more desirable business and residential development.
recent depression years. Main Street became the center of industrial de- I velopment north and south, as well as the center of the less desirable business and residential de- In less than seventy years the virgin praIrIe velopment. That fact has had its bearing today has been overlaid with a city population of 117,000 on the types of churches and the success of church residents. In the year 1867 the spot on which the developments in the various sectors of the city.
city of Wichita now stands was vis,ited by a corps In considering the city's phenomenal growth, of government surveyors. and this territory was it is well to remember that the city's growth to a laid out in government homesteads, laying the large extent has been the result of the develop- foundation for the rigid pattern of the City's north ment of the Southwest trade territory. The trade and south, east and west streets. The shallow territory in a very real sense made the city. In ford and the grove of cottonwood trees at the 1871,·800,000 cattle were driven through this city intersection of the Little Arkansas and the Big to the nearest market. When the Santa Fe Rail- Arkansas Rivers was a normal meeting place and road was extended to Wichita in 1872, two mil- trading center for homesteaders. In the year lion dollars changed hands in Wichita in the ship- 1870 the two original town plots, laid out by two ping of cattle. In the next few years most of the pioneers, Munger and Griifensteing, were joined immediate trade territory was homesteaded. By and incorporated as the city of Wichita, fixing the 1885 the Board of Trade in Wichita was adver- two main business streets of the city as Main tising the southwest territory, as "the cream of
the Southwest, . its land as rich as the plains As evidence of the underchurched situation that of Belgium, its breezes laden with the perfume is ours, I submit some facts revealed in a study of wild flowers and apple blossoms as sweet as of Week-Day Religious Education in Wichita as ever blew over Ceylon's isle, . . . its corn fields made by the Board of Week-Day Religious Edustretching mile on mile, which will ere long be cation in the year 1935. That year 10,950 elekeeping rhythmic time to those breezes." Such mentary children were eligible to attend W. D. optimism, such faith in the Southwest, such busi- R. E. schools in the churches, for one hour one day each week. Of these 10,950 elementary chilness and commercial enterprise set the stage for dren that were eligible for such instruction, only the rapid development of the Southwest and in 5,371 were in public schools adjacent to churches turn the rapid growth of the city itself. It is that were able and willing to offer facilities and against this background of individual enterprise, leadership f~. such instruction. Five thousand agricultural and business advance, that the five hundred and seventy-nine other elementary churches of Wichita have functioned until recent children were enrolled in public elementary years. schools either not adjacent to churches or adjacent What has the rapid development of the South- to churches not able and willing to offer this inwest, and the rapid growth of the city, meant to struction to these children. The proportion of the the church life of Wichita? It has reflected itself children that should rightfully be looked upon as in the mood of the churches. The churches expect a Protestant opportunity and responsibility is to grow. They expect to be fed continuously by the transfer of members from the great Southwest indicated by the fact that of the 5,371 who had -hence the success of those churches in the South- the privilege of attending W. D. R. E. in adjacent west as feeders into the church life of Wichita has churches, able and willing to offer them instrucbeen of no small consequence. The churches like- tion, 4,032 accepted the opportunity offered them. wise have expected the wealth of the Southwest The lowest percentage attending from any public to transfer itself to Wichita and express itself in school where the privilege was offered was 84% the building of great churches here. The wealth of cattle, and wheat, and oil has been a major con- and the highest percentage 96 %. These pertributing factor to the financial prestige of many of· our city churches, and not a single established centages indicate the measure of Protestant opchurch continues to function today entirely inde- portunity in Wichita, if only Protestantism was pendent of the wealth of Wichita's trade territory. organized and eager to serve the city, i. e., if the city was adequately churched. In the number of churches that have been founded in Wichita and in the number of Prot- I know that there are those that argue that estant sects and churches that are endeavoring to such things as Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, and W. D. continue to serve the city, it would appear that R. E. are not necessary features of the church much of the religious faith, so expressed, has been program. I know that there are those who still ill-advised. With the hopeful expectancy that fol- contend that a Sunday church program is suffilows pioneer individual enterprise, Protestant cient. Let me call attention to the fact that Sunchurches were established throughout Wichita day School attendance is not sufficient. I have with reckless abandon. Today we have, accord- only the figures on Sunday School enrolments at ing to the Saturday Church Page, 114 Protestant hand, and could only make a guess as to the regchurches and sects trying to serve the city. The ularity of Sunday School attendance. I would omit the wild guess in favor of the hard, known city may be, as some claim, 80 % Protestant re- facts. The study made in 1935 previously referred to also reveals the fact that throughout the city sponsibility, nevertheless, it would appear that it the average percentage of elementry school chilis beyond reason to expect 114 churches to accrue dren enrolled in Sunday School is only 58ro, the sufficient leadership and financial strength to adequately serve the needs of city people. Many of greatest percentage in any sector being 63 % and the churches are so weak and feeble that whole areas are unserved by the Boy Scout and Girl the lowest being 44 %. . Certainly these percent- Scout organizations. Many other churches make no attempt to set up Week-Day Schools of Reli- ages leave a clear picture of the underchurching gion because they feel themselves too weak in of Wichita by our present program of Sunday leadership and financial resources. Still other religious education through our Sunday Schools churches carryon very inadequate and low-grade in these 114 churches. Sunday programs of religious education and worship. Wichita is now underchurched because it A study of the relative childhood responsibiliis overchurched with inadequate church organiza- ties of neighborhood, subcenter, and downtown tions. churches is still more revealing. The same study referred to in the above paragraphs reveals that it took four downtown churches with a total mem- bership of 8,900 to care for 1,284 pupils in the Week-Day Schools of Religion. The study also
shows the fact tha.t at the same time three sub- ties. Right now the sense of competition exceeds center residential churches with a total member- the sense that is ours of cooperation in meeting ship of 1,750 were caring for 341 pupils in Week- our common religious civic responsibility. Day Religious Education. More surprising still is the revelation we find in the studies referred to, The Influence of Sectarianism that three outlying re!>idential churches of 1,400 total membership were supplying Week-Day Here one may face frankly the heritage that is ours of our frontier missionary zeal in the Religious Education facilities for 601 pupils. establishment of denominational and sectarian Certainly the cost of Week-Day Religious Educa- churches. On the Saturday Church Page of the tion and the leadership of these schools is not Wichita Eagle the 114 Protestant congregations very equitably divided in the system of W. D. R. E. are listed under 36 different denominational and as it now stands in Wichita. I understand that sectarian captions. I suspect that this listing since 1935 two of the downtown churches have minimizes the actual number of sectarian groupaccepted the responsibility of helping finance and ings. Protestantism in every city has its myriad types of churches and Wichita is no exception. promote schools in outlying unserved districts. All home mission boards in the early days were Yet only one-half of our elementary children are offered these opportunities of religious instruc- eager "to possess the land" and to gain their tion. Surely no one will deny the fact that a greater statesmanlike churchmanship must be ex- rightful place in this metropolitan center. A pressed if Wichita children are to be offered this study of the Saturday Church Page reveals that minimum of religious instruction. the individual with the most rare and sensitive taste should be able to find the congregation of In a Midwest city like Wichita, all churches his choice here. We have our defenders of the are accessible to the adult population on Sundays. faith and we have churches' most tolerant and lib- From the most distant outlying point the down- eral. We have rigid sectarian churches and we town sector can be reached by bus in 15 minutes have churches that practice intercommunion as and by car in 12 minutes. The Sunday program well as open communion. We have our highly liof churches then is highly competitive and. each turgical churches and our non-liturgical churches. church finds itself in real, though friendly com- We have national cultural churches transplanted petition with every other church in the city. The from European scenes and we have typical Amerbigger downtown churches have the prestige of ican churches. We have country churches that years, of central location, of greater numerical have merely moved to town and we have highly and financial strength, and of a more highly paid ,adapted city churches. We have the more regular staff. The outlying residential church has the typ,es of Protestant churches like Methodist, Bappower of neighborhood appeal, the social power tist, Presbyterian, Congregational, etc., and we of contiguous and intimate family and age-group have a more or less irregular list including Penterelationships, and the warm spiritual appeal of costal, Tabernacle, Mission, Spiritualist, The- osophy and Unity. We have churches that insist intimate understandings. The subcenter residen- on being known as Trinitarian and one that above tial churches, many of them, face the area of all things is' Unitarian. Then beyond Protestantgreatest human need as' indicated by juvenile de- ism are the seven Roman Catholic churches and linquency, transciency, low rents and divisive the one central Roman Catholic Cathedral. Bereligious competitions. Having served for 11 yond this the two Jewish synagogues, the orthoyears as pastor of the Fairmount Community Con- dox and the liberal, with which some measure of gregational Church, a residential church five miles fellowship exists through the local Round Table from the heart of the city, I am most familiar of the National Conference of Jews and Chriswith the adaptations that such a church must tians. make, majoring in its community responsibilities The problem of fellowship and cooperation in throughout the week, without minimizing those such a myriad situation at times becomes a most opportunities that remain for intensive religious baffling one. Some of the more recept questions work on Sunday. For my own part, I ch,eri@the that ,ha:v/il come up in cooperative church fellowspiritual heritage that is ours of religious''iree- ship cit.cles are these: "How can church groups dom, with the right of people to worship and;;erve work odt an effective cooperative publicity and wh.en and where they choose; but I do hope t.hat promotioriprogram?" "Just what churches should along with recognition of that freedom as Prot- be represented in the Council of Churches-more s,pecificalIy, are churches such as "The Reorganestants we can so enhance our sense of shared ized Church of the Latter Day Saints" and "The social and religious responsibility that the needs Unitarian Church" sufficiently like-minded and of residential, subcenter, and downtown churches alike in faith and practice to be welcomed into the will be adequately met, that these several types of churches may fulfil their God-given responsibili-
fellowship of these already in the Council?" churches which were thriving churches in 1888 "Just how far and in what way should the Prot- were so depleted in 1892 that the only way they estant ministerial group share its fellowship with could see their way clear to carryon was to merge the Liberal Jewish Rabbi, who is most fraternal their forces into one church. Some churches have and eager for greater fraternity?" "What part been left stranded, located in the center of illshall Protestantism play in championing the reli- advised real estate ventures that failed to work gious rights. of minority religious culture groups ?" out. Other churches have been made by being Finally this most perplexing modern problem: located in the center of rapidly developing resi- "How can the radio time offered by the two broad- dential territory. In the main all those churches casting stations be most equitably and effectively located in good time in the heart of the "city divided among the various religious groups within cross," north and south, east and west, have the city?" If the reader of this, article is inclined grown by leaps and bounds regardless of their to feel that these questions have no real signifi- denomination~t affiliation. The only churches to cance, it would be well to sit in on some of the exceed them in growth have been those first estabconferences where these items· are inadvertently lished and centrally located downtown near the and unexpectedly brought to the fore for solution. heart of the business sector. Location means Here they must be faced as factual and emotional much to a church. Nowhere is this more evident realities. Sometimes the emotional factor is the than in a growing city like Wichita, with its varymajor factor. The religious problems that now ing types of residential and industrial developcome to a focus in this post-home missionary ex- ment schemes. pansion period are the problems that arise out of the Babel of sectarians that insist on their rights Just a word about the mind-set of the people of being heard on the city's streets, yet are more who move from the farms to Wichita, for to a or less desirous of finding their unity of expres- very large extent the city is made up of those who sion with others at the point of common under- have moved here from its trade territory. The standing and purpose. population is homogeneous and, for the most part, native American stock. Some come from the rural The Changing City Populations area, crowded off of the farms either by the mech- anization of those farms or because of the fact In dealing with the religious. problems that that the families have been too large for homearise from a shift from an agricultural economy stead farms to support all members generation and life to an urban economy and life, many things after generation. They come to Wichita full of come to my mind, but I shall limit this treatise expectancy and hope, expecting to be absorbed in merely to those problems which arise out of real the industrial and commercial life of the city. estate promotion schemes and those that appear Many of them do find their permanent place in the in the mind-set of the city man, recently trans- work life of the community. Some rise to high planted from the rural to the urban scene. places in civic and religious leadership. Others are absorbed in the city's industrial and commer- When one begins to study the different real estate promotion schemes that have had their day cial activities for a time only. Many are "let out" in Wichita, one begins to suspect that at least in at 45 and younger. Then it is that the sense of this respect Wichita has just grown up "like lostness and conscious maladjustment seizes them Topsy." Many subdivisions of the city have been and they suffer severe disillusionments, growing sanely promoted and have come as a normal result out of their own false hopes and the inadequacies of the demands of a growing city. Charts made of our modern city civilization in making perfor the city planning commission as early as 1923 manent room for them. One could not catalogue indicate some 23 different city plots that were the personal, the home, the social and the spirannexed, undeveloped, tax delinquent, and va- itual difficulties that the alert pastor must face in cated. Since that time many of these have been the fulfilment of his day-by-day pastoral duties, reannexed and developed as residential sectors. ministering to city dwellers today. The burst of the real estate boom in 1887 was purely a resultant of wild land speculation that One tremendous opportunity that the city brought a stalemate to city growth for ten years. church has today is the religious opportunity of Fifty church fammes from one church group influencing various professional groups through alone moved their residence from Wichita to the channels of religious inspiration and counsel. Eureka because they thought it offered more se- This seems to be the growing edge of the church's curity for their religious colony, and a more per- responsibility in civic life. So much of the work manent location for a denominational school of the Christian pastor in these days must be done center. The church of which I am now pastor as a professional religious adviser on the city came into being in those years, when two young streets and in the marketplace. Jesus found the condition quite different in the temple of Jeru-
RELIGIOUS PROBLEMS OF A MmWEST CITY
salem and on the streets of the Holy City from inadvertently. Adults are caught today in the what it was on the plains of Palestine and along throes of diversified and competitive Sunday pulls, the quiet shores of Galilee. The city pastor today, until Sunday for many has become a nightmare, likewise, finds the demands of the city quite dif- instead of a day of rest and worship. Schools, ferent from that of the more distinctly rural field. particularly universities, tend more and more to Religious work in the city must be adapted to the use Sunday for extras such as rehearsals, open highly specialized interests represented in city house and public concerts. Recreational groups life. The churchman in the city must face with and institutions, particularly those heavily com- courage and vision the demands of the city and mercialized, make their appeal more and more to adapt the work of his organization to the meeting Sunday crowds. Certain industries and commer- of those apparent spiritual needs, if the church of cial enterprises feel that they must open Sundays, the city is to have transforming and redemptive and the fact that people, including some church power. The city religious worker, today, who is people, patronize these businesses would indicate true to his trust, will face fearlessly as Jesus did that there is a public demand for Sunday open- the clannishness, the bigotries, and the self-suffi- ing. Then as a more recent development is the ciencies of privileged city classes, as his Master growing practice of professional and civic groups did before him. Likewise, he will follow the foot- to use Sundays as their big days for opening and steps of his Lord in entering sympathetically into closing their festivities. One divisive pull alone the problems of the underprivileged, the confused, would not be so devastating to the work of the and the harassed individuals who walk the city churches-but the aggregate of all these divisive streets without a real sense of security and "at pulls make it most difficult for churches to carry homeness." The spiritual service man renders to on consistent and constructive work on the day common humanity is still the best indication of that was once recognized as the Lord's day, and man's divinity. the day of the church's major opportunity.
The Secularization of Life What is the church to do about the seculariza- tion .of Sunday? Some churchmen are militant The secularization of contemporary urban life about the situation – and seek legislation, safemanifests itself in a number of ways, but no mani- guarding the Lord's Day for church purposes, festations of that secularization are more signifi- particularly certain well established hours. Some cant in the demands upon the city church for are troubled in the face of the situation-and seek urban adaptation than those that grow out of counsel. Some are intensely serious in the face (1) the secularization of Sunday and (2) the secularization of youth's sense of relative values. of the situation and are seeking ways to make Sunday more meaningful and ways also to sup- The secularized competitive usages that city plement th,e church's Sunday work with mean- people are bringing into their week-end and Sun- ingful week-day activities. Who is there who day experiences handicap the work of city does not recognize the gravity of the situation churches more than any reader of this article fully realizes. The chart made by the Week-Day sufficiently to realize that the church's one day of Religious Education Board reveals the percentage major opportunity has been and is being ruth- of attendance of elementary children in attend- lessly dissipated by many thoughtless and needless ance at Week-Day Schools of Religion in 1935 and competitive usages? Easter Sunday, our churches . in Sunday Schools for the same year. The aver- were crowded to the doors. One member of the age percent for Sunday School attendance stands regular Sunday worshipping congregation was at 58.70, ranging from 44% to 63%. The average heard to remark: "This shows how many people percentage in attendance at the Week-Day can go to church when they really want to."
Schools of Religion, 90%, ranging from 84% to I wonder just where are we going, and what 9670 in the different schools. Many factors enter are we going to do next Sunday, and the next into the fact that a greater percentage go to Sunday, and the next. In Wichita, we are for- W. D. R. E. than to S. S.; among these factors tunate enough to have both a board of education are "clothes," "the gang spirit," and the fact of and a city council that are sympathetic to the "no collection"-all in the favor of the W. D. R. E. church's problem. The publicly owned buildings school-but beyond these factors is the factor of Wichita are not open to the public on Sunday that parents. do not take the children away from for commercialized, competitive programs. Some the public school and the W. D. R. E. school for professional groups have given consideration to picnics, visiting and rural outings-as they take the church's need of a real opportunity to carry them from the Sunday School and the Sunday on its constructive and creative work by recog- worship program of the church. nizing Sunday as primarily the church's day. In But children are not the only ones who have the the main, however, it must be confessed that the influences of Sabbath observance taken from them problem has not seriously been faced by most in-
dividuals and groups within the city that should to be as group- and class-conscious as the Chamber be most concerned. of Commerce. A city-planning commission has been working since 1923 to effect a more whole- The other aspect of secularization I feel led to some city life. In times past the problems of face is also most real-I refer to the subconscious Wichita have been problems of its youth, exsecularization of our youth that takes place when pressed in growing pains. The problems today youth is educated only in and by our public school are the problems of middle age. Day after tosystem. Such education, valuable as it is, alone morrow they will be the problems of age. Right is not enough. The public schools, the high now interest is being manifest in filling in the schools, and the municipal university in this mid- gaps in city development by encouraging the erecwest city are so big, that the youth program of tion of diagonal streets to the four corners of the our churches appeal to the youth as too small and city. One of these has already been constructed, insignificant, unless the youth program of our terminating 'tlJt the airport. Another, soon we individual churches really does for these youth trust, will terminate at the Municipal University. what no public school, no matter how big, can ever Individual, unrelated real estate promotion do. Life to be healthy and whole must be under- schemes are giving way to city plannng and cogirded both by an adequate religious faith and an operative promotion enterprises. One cannot lisadequate religious experience in real spiritual fel- ten in at Democratic meetings these days and hear lowship. The church that meets this two-fold the words "the present recession" and at Repubneed will have the loyalty of its youth. The lican meetings and hear the echo, "the Roosevelt church's opportunity seems to be in those small depression," without feeling that the buoyant ingroup and age fellowship organizations where a dividualism of the past is really giving way to a type of religious. work and experience is nurtured sense of chastened optimism and perhaps also a quite comparable to the experience and work sense of somewhat restrained social responsibility. Jesus shared in the intimacies of fellowship with His disciple band. This likewise is true of the The Church in these days is caught up by the Christian Youth Council and the "Y" organiza- mood of the times. No great church buildings or tions. cathedrals are now being built in Wichita. No church is rushing into. new territory. The Council Looking Into the Future of Churches is not reaching out to take advanced ground with the boundless enthusiasm of the days I began this paper with an expression of bound- of its youth-yet it is conserving its status and less optimism, growing out of the consciousness it is undergirding itself for real work ahead, as that Wichita has been a rapidly growing city, are many of the churches. The Council of from the time of its founding until now. A new Churches grew out of a sense of shared church factor, however, has come into our common ex- responsibility some 18 years ago. The principle perience in more recent years. These depression of unrestrained individual church freedom had and recession years have disciplined our minds as Wichitans, as it has the minds and spirits of men run its course, and through the vision and courage and women the world around. Weare beginning of men like A. A. Hyde, Wichita's chief philanto recognize that the problems we now face and thropist, and Ross Sanderson, Wichita's pioneer are destined to face in the future will be more cooperative statesman; the Council of Churches difficult and baffling, for they will grow out of a was organized on a sane and constructive basis. more static situation. We already have one-fifth Last fall the National Preaching Mission conof our population on relief-in that we are one ducted in Wichita demonstrated the increased with our nation. Our sense of self-sufficiency has spiritual power that is released within a city like been somewhat broken in recent years as we have Wichita when churches join wholeheartedly in watched great dust clouds roll in from the South- united Christian effort. The growing sense of west and· as we have watched government agency interdenominational interrelatedness that is ours after goVernment agency established with head- today is a powerful and latent spiritual force quarter§: in our city for the relief of those in need undergfrding the churches for better days ahead. of govenhment subsidy. Kansas wheat farmers, historic~1ly individualistic and independent, have The future is uncharted. Spiritual needs will sensed their dependence and their interdepend- forever manifest themselves as real and all-com- ence, and have been learning to cooperate to pelling: The spirit of the Christ in the churches forward common interests and welfare of the com- will forever rise up to meet those needs. Just so .mon weal. Then, too, group- and class-conscious- long as the church, as "the body of Christ," emness has been growing within the city itself. bodies His Spirit and adapts itself to the changing Under the Wagner Act, labor g"roups are coming needs of the city, just so long will spiritual transinto a consciousness of group needs and bid fair formations take place and Christ's redemptive power wiiI be felt in the life of this midwest city.
I Believe in Jesus
I I~.- –tijf By GENERALISSIMO CHIANG KAI-SHEK* of China · AITH and superstition are two entirely dif- did he receive a so-called higher education. He ferent things. We must all realize that super- was born in an ordinary home of the laboring class, the son of a carpenter. Because He per- Pstition is not faith, and that those who really have faith will not wander off into vulgar super- ceived that His nation was on the verge of ruin, stition. If a man lacks faith he can accomplish that Abraham's seed was about to be destroyed, nothing; nor can he accomplish anything if he He courageously decided to undertake the arduous admits superstition into his life. Men nowadays task of restoring His nation; He dedicated him- often regard faith as superstition, and supersti- self wholly to the cause, and resolved to struggle tion as faith, and because the two are confused, sacrificially for the salvation of his people; more those who oppose superstition also discard faith. than that, to save all mankind. So He led his fol- We should all know that the success of any lowers throughout the land, and by means of enterprise means that faith is indispensable. In preaching and healing, and through His divine these days when principles are in eclipse and de- wisdom and His unequaled power to present the sires run riot, when government is torn up, when three great themes of truth, righteousness and the people are suffering, and the nation is strug- life, He awakened His nation, He led His people, gling in disaster, how can we be saved from un- to bring about national revolution.
paralleled calamity unless there is vigorous faith Social Significance of the Gospel and confident assurance of victory? On the one hand we must break down all superstition, and Second, believe in Jesus because He was a leader on the other hand we must all the more exalt a of social revolution. The causes of a nation's de- cline are indeed many, but failure to remedy, by positive faith. For example, if we can believe in orderly change, the people's economic life is one the "Three Principles" first enunciated by Sun of the chief causes of national downfall. So who- Yat-sen, we can go and practice them. Because ever would promote a national revolution must we firmly believe the truth and righteousness. of first completely eradicate the ignorance, the corthe "Three Principles," we fear nothing. And ruption and the disorders of society, its selfishness this psy;chology of not being afraid, this spirit of and greed; then with a new spirit he can build fearlessness, comes from faith. up a new life, abundant, expanding and ascending. Thus he will seek the emancipation of His people. Jesus the Revolutionary First, believe in Jesus because He was a leader Jesus attacked with all his might the evil forces of national revolution. When Jesus came to earth. of His day; He tried with all His power to over- the Jewish nation was daily growing weaker. It come its pernicious mores. His purpose was none had suffered the full measure of insult and oppres- other than by means of His leadership and ideal- sion from the Roman imperial authority. From ism to deliver His submerged people out of dark- history we can see that the Jewish people, stag- ness so that they might become a new people. He gering under the violence of their enemies, were laid the foundat'ions of social revolution.
no different from cattle and slaves; all liberties Third, believe in Jesus because He was a leader had been taken away from them and all power put of religious revolution. Jesus saw the rottenness into the hands of Romans. At that time not only of religion in his day, the evil customs, and per- could Jewish national independence show no re- verted beliefs; the leaders one and all cheated the sistance, but even the will to resist had vanished. people, and imposed on them their false beliefs, Fortunately, at this point in the course of events seeking only their own selfish profit. Autocracy in Jesus Christ was born. the Jewish church, and the hollowness of its rit- He was not a scion of the nobility. He was ual, pained and deeply grieved Jesus. He recog- without temporal position and worldly power; He nized that unless the perverted beliefs and the did not grow up in a home of wealth, and still less hypocrisy were done away with He could not re- * A radio address broadcast fronl Hankow, China, ,on Easter eve, vive His prostrate people, and still less could He spread abroad and exalt the true spirit of religion. April 16, 1938. Translated into English by Prof. Warren H. Stuart So He constantly rebuked those who vaingloriof the College of Emporia, Emporia, Kansas. Reprinted from The Chl'istian Century.
[415 ]
ously prayed at street intersections; he vigorously China and C~ristianity opposed those who in the name of religion would Now look at our nation. Suffering the last hundeceive the people-evildoers who undermine so- dred years from the corruption and weakness of ciety. He cast out the traders and overthrew the the Manchus, its condition bears striking resemmoney changers' tables; by means of a parable blance to the situation in Jesus' day. He exposed the wicked husbandmen, brought to book the wicked tribute-eollectors, and rebuked Sun Yat-sen, cherishing love for God and man, the covetous capitalists. suffused with the revolutionary spirit of Jesus, and motivated by universal love, followed the path All these efforts were solely to lead his people of revolution for forty years as if but for a day. out of darkness into light, from defeatism into With utter self-sacrifice He sought freedom for active struggle, from riotous living into decency, the Chinese people. At last in 1911 the Manchus' from greed and corruption into frugality and holi- imperial rule was overthrown, and the Republic ness. This work of reforming religion and cleans- of China broul'ht into being. Thus was the work ing away its evils – how important it was, and of national revolution achieved. what a Herculean task! How daringly and decisively, and with what utter abando~, Jesus en- As Sun Ya.t-sen's successor, I look ahead into deavored to rescue the Church and SOCIety of that the consequences of the people's revolution and day from its myriad ills to awaken the masses think over the causes of our present spiritual defrom their ignorance! So Jesus was a leader of pression, I firmly believe that in seeking to bring religious revolution. national recovery and social progress, we must advocate Jesus' spirit of universal love and of Love the Law of Life sacrifice. I feel that whatever one does, whether As I constantly study the basis of Jesus' revolu- dealing with men and situations, or commanding tionary spirit-where it was actually rooted-I and carrying on the government, in all forms of feel that the basis lay entirely in His spirit of love. service, only love and peace are the foundations of He a.imed by this spirit of universal love to expel human life; and struggle and sacrifi·ce are a revo- lutionary's duty. This was the attitude of Jesus. the wrong thinking of men, to abolish their unj ?st This was my meaning on a former occasion when systems, to make it possible for everr man to .enJoy his God-given rights, and the blessmgs. of lIberty . I said, "Until peace has become hopeless, never and fraternity. Jesus felt that "all within the forsake peace; when sacrifice has become necesfour seas are brethren," so he wanted men to sary, then sacrifice without reservation." draw near and love one another, sharing in time During the last few years, whenever at leisure of trial, helping one another in time of illness. from pressing duties, I have been promoting a Between nations He wanted to promote peace and social movement which has produced some wide- spread results. I refer to the New Life Movejustice, so all his life He opposed v!olence and ?I?- held fair dealing. He always cherIshed the SPIrIt ment. I am well aware that in this movement the of mercy, and helped the weak. His ~ords an.d superficial aspects may easily be emphasized while deeds manifest at every point the realIty of HIS the heart of it is neglected; it is easy to stress its universal love, and His spirit of revolutionary material phase, while overlooking its spirit. Now I have something new to add: that is to say, self-sacrifice. Because Jesus desired to fulfill His heaven-ap- if we are really going to practice the new method of living, not only must we have a new spirit, we pointed mission to save mankind, h.e held. fast to must have a New Life. This new life must have an indomitable resolve, an unwavermg faIth; He Jesus' spirit of universal love, and His determinamaintained an attitude of perfect good will, even tion to sacrifice Himself; only thus can this qualat the cost of life itself, not hesitating to sacrifice ity of new life be obtained. all so that his courageous. heart might struggle to th; end. And even when He faced the cross, with In brief, the spirit of Jesus is constructive, sacits unparalleled torture, he still remained un- rificial, holy, true, peaceable, forward-looking, full moved, unshaken by his trials. He maintained of eager striving; and it is revolutionary throughsupreme loyalty to ideals and duty, supreme mag- out. My fellow countrymen, let us cherish the nanimity toward friends. and comrades. Such de- idea of a "new birth"; let us maintain the resovotion and sympathy are the more precious be- lution of "sacrifice." Let us hold Jesus as the goal cause so difficult to attain. Then see Him nailed for human living; let us keep the mind of Jesus high on the cross, asking His heavenly Father to as our mind, the life of Jesus as our life. Let us have mercy upon His foes because of their igno- bravely go with Him to the cross, to seek the everrance. Behold how limitless is His spirit of uni- lasting peace of mankind, and the renewal of our versal love! nation of China.
Jesus' creative revolutionary spirit is founded The economic mess in which the world finds itself today just on this, His spirit of universal love. is more a mess of sin than a mess of economic ignorance. ·-Professor John Baillie.
Transformations in West
By G. C. BEANLAND, Nkolmvolan, Cameroun.
THERE is warfare which is far more subtle out, then carry them to their towns where they and engaging than any military campaign; are planed and prepared for these new buildings the warfare carried on between the soldiers and for attractive furniture. Others are learning of the Cross of Christ and the hordes of evil in the art of burning brick and tile, with which they all parts of Africa. Here is the great adventure are constructing very durable and serviceable for the Christian Church. It is a difficult task to houses. Still others are learning to build houses overthrow the evil, superstitious practices of with mud walls, which, when whitewashed with paganism and supplant them with the truths con- white clay taken from the beds of the streams, cerning God, man, and nature. The missionaries' make very attractive houses. part in this great work is that of teacher of hand, Another change is noticed in the dress of the head, heart and health. His work is never done. He must be continually on the job and no matter people. Our Industrial School conducts a tailorin which of the four categories of mission work, ing class in which young men have been taught industrial, medical, evangelistic or educational, to make clothing like that worn by the white man. his work lies, all his talents must be engaged all After an apprenticeship of sufficient time, these young men graduate and, on returning to their of the time to be able to see hts cherished plants towns, set themselves up as "village tailors" and grow and flourish. very few of them suffer from idleness as they Cameroun Colony on the West coast of Africa, have all the work they can do for their towns- where the work of the American Presbyterian people. Chauffeurs and mechanics are trained in Church is carried on, is a mandated colony under our Industrial School who are in great demand to the care and protection of the French Govern- care for and drive the many motors which have ment. It was a German colony prior to the great been brought out by traders and government World War, and after the war was mandated to officials. In order for these motors to function France. Mission work was greatly hampered and properly, of course, there must be good roads, impeded during the struggle but the natives were and the old trails of former days have given way led to realize our great dependence upon God and to modern gravel roads threading the country and His protecting power over all of us and we suf- connecting the different administrative points and fered comparatively little during those terrible days. Changing regimes brought about many commercial centers. Our medical department ad- ministers to the many sick people who are broug~t changes in our mission work but we adjusted in to our hospitals from all the regions round ourselves to the new government and we have had about, so that the natives who are suffering from very cordial and sympathetic relations with the the various tropical diseases can have medical French administration since their occupation of attention. This is bringing about a great change the colony. in the health conditions of the country.
Certain changes are noted in which the mission Since the introduction of our mission schools, and missionaries have had some part since the which at first had a very skeptical reception, work of the mission was established along the there has been noticed quite an intellectual change West coast of Africa about fifty years ago. One among these people. They are a people of marvelnotices today new and attractive homes of some ous memories, keen perception and very vivid of the natives which are being built along the imagination. They are not such philosophers as motor roads of the country. The young men have are the sons of Shem and Japheth but they are learned in the carpenter shops how to saw the nobody's fools. They have a very rich storehouse planks from the great timbers of the forest and of folklore and traditions and much of their how to build their homes with these planks. Not past is to be known only as one draws it out of being able to haul their timbers to the sawmill, the older people in conversation. To introduce they resort to the primitive method of digging a our schools to them we had at first, of course, to pit and rolling a section of the log over the pit reduce some of their language to writing as they ancl with large saws laboriously rip the planks have never had any method of writing or record- [417 ]
ing their language. It has been merely handed of the hardest fields of the mission. He and his down from father to son through countless faithful wife were sent far away into the heart generations. After the first translation of some of a very heathen tribe and there they established parts of the Gospel, and after the school children a home and set up their family altar. Soon word had become able to read and write their own came down saying "I have one convert." Later language, the schools took care of themselves. on he gained others and slowly he built up a little Word spread to many of the tribes that the mis- nucleus of believers about him. Other evangelists sion was able to teach the children to read and were sent up into that tribe because the people, write and soon schools were asked for by many of through the influence of this first evangelist, be- the chiefs of the different tribes, until today our gan calling for them. Finally it was deemed ad- schools are scattered throughout the entire area visable to establish a church in that tribe and of South Cameroun, even to the border. today there is one of the strongest churches in Not only did we give them our schools but we Cameroun in "hat locality, which was formally have given them a literature. At first the Gospels a superstitious, pagan, cannibalistic tribe.
and Acts were translated and later the whole of Another young man, Ze Esim, is a very lovable, the New Testament was given to them in their Christian character. He came to us from one of own language and put into the schools as a text- the older mission fields and was placed in the book. Now we have about finished the translation center of a very wicked tribe as there were a few of the entire Bible. Other literature, such as boys there who were inclined towards the things Pilgrim's Progress, school books, pamphlets for of God. Ze scoured the country round about and distribution in the towns and a monthly· news attracted scores of children to his school where sheet are some of the materials which have been he saturated them with the Gospel and taught gotten out on our well equipped Halsey Memorial them verses of Scripture to carry away in their Press. The printed page is going into the homes hearts. Opposed by some of the old heathen men, of most of the people who have learned to read he would preach to them and pray with them until and it is having its effect of spreading the news several of these men came over into the camp of of the Kingdom of God into many parts of the Ze's God. "Pray for me," wrote Ze, "as old land. Satan is trying to tear up my work, but I know Besides the physical changes and the intellectual that if I am faithful and persistent, Christ will change of the people we notice a spiritual change give us the victory for has He not said, 'Lo I am as well. These Bantu people are animistic and with you always even unto the end of the world.' "
have nothing in their faith that we may class as Craving more learning and a better way to preach a religion, but there is a superstitious fear of the Word of God, Ze is preparing himself for the the Great Spirit (Zambe) who made the world pastorate. With such a spirit he is bound to win and peopled it. There are many lesser gods and many more souls for the Kingdom of God.
their idea of worship is only some method of On such men as these, whom we can number appeasing the wrath of the Great Spirit or of by the scores, we are depending to build up the these lesser gods by sacrifice of fowls or animals; Kingdom of God in Cameroun. It is told that the consequently the old Jewish custom of sacrifice authorities in one of the African ports desired to as an atonement for sin has a special appeal to build a wharf alongside of which ocean-going them. We have, however, sought to teach them vessels might tie up and discharge their cargo of the great sacrifice made once and for all for and take on other cargo, so they ordered great those who believe in the strong Son of God. This timbers from Europe. These timbers were sunk Good News has laid hold upon thousands of these into the mud at the mouth of one of the big rivers natives and for them there is joy and happiness and their wharf built upon them. Soon the ter- in the new found life in Christ. Young men and mites began to eat into these timbers and they women are turning away from their old fetishes crumbled away into the river. Then the authori- and are giving allegiance to the Man of Galilee ties went into the great forest adjoining and cut who "came not to be ministered unto but to min- down some of the fine old mahogony trees, squared ister and to give His life a ransom for many." the logs, and, bringing these down to the coast, There was a fine young man who entered our sank them into this same mud and built their village school. He came from a very pagan tribe wharf upon them. There they stand because they and, by persevering in his studies, progressed are indigenous to the country and the termites rapidly and later asked to be admitted to the theo- cannot destroy them. The foundations of the logical school. He was a bright, inquisitive fellow Church of Christ are strong and we have faith to and tried to carry out the instructions of his believe that the faithful, Christian men and wom- teacher very faithfully. He was noted for his en of Cameroun will withstand the ravages of all piety and prayerfulness and when licensed by the destructive agencies for they are built upon Presbytery to preach, he asked to be sent to one the solid Rock.
A MOSLEM FEAST IN GOLDEN BANQUET HALL OF IMAM RIDA
The Story of Meshed, a Sacred City y the REV. DWIGHT M. DONALDSON, -.<!Ii{ Meshed, Iran A.uthor of "The Shi'ite Religion",. Missionary of [ : the Presb'yterian Church, u. S. A.
THE modern province of Khorasan has an area This is the third largest city in Iran and lies of 150,000 square 'miles. This is a little less about as many miles east of Jerusalem as Rome than one fourth of the entire area of Iran. lies to the west. Among the Jews of the Disper- Its population, notwithstanding its vast stretches sion, who returned to their homes after Pentecost of desert, is about equal to that of the fertile prov- with the marvelous news of. the risen Christ, were ince of Azerbaijan (1,500,000). While in Azer- Parthians, liedes and Elamites, and dwellers in baijan, in the northwest, American missionary Mesopotamia. It must have been shortly after the work was begun as early as 1835, in Khorasan, writing of the great report of St. Paul's mission- the large province in the northeast, bordering on ary jour~ys and preaching in Rome, that other Afghanistan and Turkestan, there was no mission believers, 'such as the Apostle Addai and Tatian, work established until the opening of Meshed in made their way East with the Christian Gospel.
1911. This is the largest and most significant pil- We know that before the overthrow of the Par- grimage city in Iran. Preliminary itinerating thiandynasty in A. D. 225, there were more than journeys were made by American missionaries in twenty Bishoprics in Mesopotamia and in Iran.
1878, 1894, and 1905, and finally in 1911 Rev. Furthermore, at an Eastern Council in A. D. 424, Lewis F. Esselstyn, D.D., was ,sent to occupy delegates came from the distant cities of Nisha- Meshed. pur and Herat and Merw.
[419 ] electro nic fil e created by cafis.org
In spite of the severe persecutions of Christians which has acquired this significance because it by the Sassanian kings, there were still communi- has been taken from near the tomb of the Imam ties of Christians in Iran at the time of the rise Rida, whom he trusts as his Friend, his Guide, of Islam in the seventh century, but the power of hi~ Mediator, and his Master.
the old Sassanian Empire was completely over- It is believed to be a special advantage to be thrown, and the forces of Islam pushed rapidly to buried near the Imam, in order to rise along with the East. Arab influence swept across Iran and him on the Judgment day, and be thus rated Afghanistan and on to India. Devastating wars among the friends and supporters of the Prophet and famines followed, so that by the time of Mohammed. Accordingly, for nearly a thousand Harun aI-Rashid (who died A. D. 786), who years, high prices have been paid for cemetery showed marked hostility to his Christian subjects, privileges near the grave of the Imam. For ages the remote communities of believers in Khorasan were almost wiped out.We read that Christian camel caravans have wended their way on long doctors took part in meetings that were held for desert j ourne~' that ended in Meshed, and frereligious discussion before the Caliph Ma'mun quently, in addition to their loads of merchandise, early in the ninth century in Merw. they have brought the bodies of good Mohamme- dans who died in distant places but who had ex- The Imam Rida pressed the wish to be buried in the great ceme- tery here. It is the custom also for corpses to be Harun al-Rashid's last military expedition was carried in solemn procession around the Imam's to quell a rebellion in Khorasan, but when he tomb before burial. About this tomb successive reached the city of Tus he fell ill'and died.' He kings of Persia, (Iran) have built a magnificent was buried in a garden sixtl'len miles away, and . shrine, with a dome and minarets of gold. Behis son Ma'mun moved on. .with the troops. to side ·it is. a, mosque, with a still larger dome of Merw, where he established his capital and main- tiles of turquoil?e blue. The sacred center of the a tained the authority of the Abbasid Caliphate in city is thia;;shrlrte;area. Devout Moslems stop as the East. Ma'mun made what he thought was a they cross st:reetthat leads to it, and bow to- politic effort to unite the great schism in Islam be- wards its resplendent golden dome.
tween the Sunnites and the Shi'ites by designating Changing Time as his heir apparent to the Caliphate the highly esteemed lineal descendant of the "prophet" Mu- A new day has now come in Meshed. On the hammad, the Imam Ali al-Rida, who was the other side of the city from the tomb of the Imam, recognized spiritual leader of the Shi'ites. This but with money from the Shrine endowments, a expedient proved to be exceedingly unpopular large modern hospital has been erected. The gov- among the Sunnites, however, and when the army ernment is systematically administering Shrine was on the return journey to Baghdad, it is said funds for public welfare, and among the efforts that the Imam Rida fell ill from eating grapes thus subsidized is a school for boys, with an im- that had been poisoned. As he died during the posing building that resembles the main building days of the encampment at the tomb. of Harun al- of the American College in Teheran, a curriculum Rashid, the Caliph Ma'mun had him buried with for 12 classes and an attendance of over 700 boys.
conspicuous honor at this place, in the garden of There is a similar school for girls, all in the name Sanabad, which later came to be known as the of the Imam Rida, with money exacted from the mashhad, or place of martyrdom, of the Imam Shrine authorities by the government.
Rida. Meshed~The Shrine City In order to accommodate automobile traffic the streets of Meshed have had to be widened, and to In the ravages of the Mongol invasions in the the amazement of everybody a great thoroughfare thirteenth century the city of Tus was destroyed, has been cut directly through the famous old cemeand a new city gradually grew up aro~nd the tomb tery on the north side of the Shrine, and hundreds of the Imam. This was the city of Mashhad, of the flat tombstones were used to pave the new which foreigners have come to call Meshed. sidewalks. Stories were told of miracles of healing through After ten years of work; in rented houses, the prayer in the name of the Imam, or through drink- missionaries in Meshed secured the present coming water mixed with dust swept from the tomb. pound of something over fourteen acres. It lies The very clay from the garden was reported to inside the city and is within view of the Shrine. have magic powers, and tablets of it are regularly used in the ritual of the daily prayers. The wor- Formerly it was land used for truck-gardening shiper lays the clay tablet on a cloth or prayer-rug but now there are trees and lawns and it is known that lies before him, and in the prescribed pros- as "The American Garden." It was purchased at trations he touches his forehead to the sacred clay, forty cents a square yard, but now it is appraised at four times as much.
THE STORY OF MESHED, A SACRED CITY
On this land there are five missionary resi- the Mission compound. It has enrolled a small dences, a fifty-bed hospital, and an elementary but homogeneous group of boys, in spite of serious school for boys. At the entrance to the compound opposition from Moslem parents .and the keen there is a Reading Room, which is a center for the competition of government schools. The reasons sale and distribution of evangelistic literature, for the existence of Mission schools, both for boys with a room where individuals come for Christian and for girls, are at least as strong as the reasons instruction. Another small building, near the for such schools in any other city in Iran. There football field, is used as a recreation center. is no other mission school within a radius of al- Medical work was begun in 1915, in a rented most six hundred miles. Well within that circle Iranian house, with one doctor and no trained as- lies the great province of Khorasan, with a fourth sistants. After steady development there is now of the area and about a sixth of the population of a well-planned hospital with good modern equip- all Iran, and including about a dozen smaller cities ment and trained workers. In addition to the tens that would send some of the best of their boys of thousands of patients who have been treated in the base hospital at Meshed, many more thousands have been helped on itinerating trips to other cities in the province of Khorasan. In 1924 a trip was made to Herat in Afghanistan and an- other a few years later.
Patients include many Iranians, Turks and Afghans, as well as some Indians and Arabs, Rus- sians and other Europeans. The great majority are Moslems, but there are also Jews, Hindus, Sikhs and Christians, as well as some who have no religious belief. It is the aim of the hospital staff that all should receive loving care in the name of the Saviour of mankind. Many pilgrims to the Shrine also come to the "American Chris- tian Hospital," and when they return to their far- off villages they sometimes take with them, not only gratitude for physical improvement, but a new spiritual hope.
The hospital also provides medical care for lepers who live in a village two miles outside the city. This is the only organized work for lepers in all Iran. There have been some actual cures from the dreaded disease, and treatment almost always stops its progress and relieves acute suf- MOSQUE OF THE BLUE TILES .aT ME'SHED fering.
The hospital maintains a standard of medical and girls to Mission schools in Meshed if they work that may serve as an example to the na- were developed so as to have boarding departtionals as they build their own hospitals. To co- ments, a secondary school, an industrial branch, operate with the Iranian doctors there are med- and such other facilities for work as would be ical conferences and public health meetings to commensurate with the strategic location and the stress matters of hygiene, sanitation and pre- unique opportunities of Meshed. ventive medicine. Infant and maternal mor- tality, though slowly decreasing, is still appalling, The Church in Its Khorasan Environment and much attention should be given to the instruction of mothers in child-care, midwives should be The fresh-water streams of Khorasan disappear trained, and constructive public health programs in the great salt desert, for they flow from the should be inaugurated. Along with this growth upper plateau into the central depression, known are even more favorable opportunities for the as the Great Kavir. This may serve as a parable presentation of the Christian message of hope of much missionary effort which seems to have and salvation. been in vain. New converts from Islam may show Christian educational work was begun on a a kind of ecstasy and enthusiasm while they are very small scale, with classes in two hospital among the hills of vision, but too often their rooms; then the school moved to a rented building Water of Life seems to be lost as they come down and finally in 1929 a good building was erected on to the problem of making a living in Moslem SQ- electro nic fil e created by cafis.org
ciety. For several years the number of converts as their Saviour, may give more effective testiwho have been kept together in the Church group mony in their present occupations. Those Chrisin Meshed has been made up almost entirely of tians who are artisans and small tradesmen must those to whom the Mission or missionaries have be able to withstand petty persecution and boybeen able to give employment. Happily some of cotting and win their way by honesty and forthese have rendered faithful service and have bearance to recognized Christian influence. made progress in Christian living, but in the case of others, when Mission employment has not been It is said that the horses of Khorasan, the faavailable their loyalty has waned. mous Turkomans, have by adaptation to their environment become "bony and clumsy-looking At the present time there are significant changes quadrupeds, with marvelous power of endurance." in the social life in Iran and we believe that the The camels of Khorasan also are celebrated for time has finally come when it is altogether pos- their size and strength. "They have very long sible for Moslems who have become Christians to hair and beat"·cold and exposure far better than find employment without working for the Mission. the ordinary Arabian or Iranian camels, which With industry, foresight,· thrift, patience, and carry only 320 lbs., whereas the Khorasan camels other virtues that make for Christian stamina this will carry from 600 to 700 lbs." In like manner can be done. Nevertheless, these Christians, in it is greatly to be desired that the converts from their capacity as pioneer missionaries among their Islam in Khorasan, and likewise the missionaries own people, need much sustaining love and prayer who are sent to this distant province, will so adapt that those of them who became Christians as themselves as to take root as Christians in this young men in mission schools may continue to be difficult environment, and in consequence may known as Christians in the cities where they go develop exceptional powers of endurance with a to work and that those who were patients or help- strong faith to carry cheerfully extra-heavy ers in mission hospitals, and who accepted Christ burdens.
A Church Serving the Whole Community By the REV. WILLIAM C. MUNDS, Corpus Christi, Texas f3.- Rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd ,:' of splendid educational buildings and parish houses closed from Sunday to Sunday. That is I N VIEW of the communal life upon which so- why the Church is often looked upon as purely a ciety is organized and in view of the service one-day-a-week institution. In the use of its equip- ideal which undergirds all Christian activity, ment, the Church must lose its smug, ecclesiastical the whole community is the definite responsibility life in the effort to have the spirit of Christ per- of the Church. If this be not so, the Church has meate every phase of our every-day life. The no reason nor excuse for its existence. Church must become an integral part of the life of man. In assuming responsibility for the whole One of the outmoded concepts of the Church's community, the Church must set up a compre- mission is that the Church is merely a preaching hensive program. This will vary in different station. According to the Gospel record our Lord types of communities, therefore we shall suggest preached very little, but he did a great deal. The a variety of activities in the hope that those in- Church should concern itself less with words and terested may find some helpful suggestions. more with deeds. The work of the Church in the ; foreign field for the past quarter century is a con- To begin with, the Church needs to understand crete illustration of this method. its community. This can best be accomplished by careful survey to determine the community's We must also cease stressing the importance of needs. Many splendid programs have failed for denominational loyalty to the exclusion of a pri- the reason that they were conceived without any mary loyalty to Christ and His way of life. This reference to actual conditions. Since the trend larger view is necessary as one cannot think in today is in the direction of highly institutionalized terms of community interests if he is first forced programs, the temptation is strong to make our to hurdle denominational barriers.
Church buildings must serve community needs. It is nothing short of a disgrace to see thousands
A CHURCH SERVING THE WHOLE COMMUNITY
churches beehives of activity. But little is accom- The crux of the community problem is here. It plished through such activity unless it effectively is not possible to raise the general moral level of a serves a definite purpose. The wise minister will community until the basic causes for juvenile know his community. That is the first step. delinquency are eliminated. It is utter stupidity and neglect of duty to assume that the general In making a survey, it is also necessary to know moral tone of a community can be improved until the assets of a community as well as its liabilities. more attention is given to the underprivileged There are usually agencies doing splendid work groups. Leadership for such work should come both in the character building and in the general from our churches. health field. The Church should use these agencies and bring people in contact with the organizations The city slums constitute a terrible indictment best fitted to serve their needs. It is a sinful against the Church, for often individual church waste of energy and money for the Church to members are responsible for the continued existduplicate work already being done efficiently by ence of such areas. Every social study reveals others. Our communities need today wise social the downward pull of the slum areas upon the engineering, and the Church can make a valuable moral tone of a community. The slums are the contribution in the field by supplying the initia- breeders of every known type of crime, and they tive and leadership. must be eliminated before civilization can be pulled up to higher levels. That is a responsi- Responsibility Toward Youth bility of the Church.
But there are many other contributions that the The Church and Moral Evils Church can and should make to the life of a community. The list that we shall discuss will not be The Church, being responsible for the whole comprehensive, but merely suggestive. The most community, must assume some obligation for the important phase of the Church's responsibility for evil conditions, as well as for developing the the whole community is towards its youth, and forces that are good. It is fallacious reasoning to being responsible for youth, the Church must as- assume that God will be satisfied to receive a sume the responsibility for the whole life of youth, chosen few into close fellowship with Himself social and recreational as well as religious. The and not be concerned with the multitudes who, prevailing theory of Christian workers is that if because of unspeakably bad social conditions, are youth is given proper spiritual foundations, other outside the circle of His divine society on earth. phases of youth's life will take care of themselves. Christianity is not only a personal religion, it But such a theory does not work, for youth de- is also a social religion which touches every area mands more than religious training. A whole- of life. As our Lord so trenchantly said, "I am some, social and recreational experience is needed not sent but unto the lost sheep." and if the Church does not supply it, the youth will go elsewhere to find it, and much of the com- One of the most degrading and injurious elemercial, social and recreational activities offered ments of any community is prostitution. This sin to youth is unwholesome, even harmful to char- only encourages the beast in man, destroys the acter. The time has come to face this situation idealism of youth, harbors the criminal, spreads frankly and inaugurate a youth program which gonorrhea and syphilis to a degree which is alarmwill provide wholesome social and recreational ing, but it injures the home and takes toll· in huexperiences as well as religious. training. man life that is enormous. Far from protecting virtuous womanhood, prostitution threatens her An increasingly large number of parishes and life and happiness. Whenever it is abolished, sex congregations are now conducting socials for crimes are reduced to a low level and the moral young people with splendid results. Other forms tone of the community is raised. Nothing is acof amusement may also be provided: girls' and complished by merely publicly protesting against boys' basketball teams, choral societies, young the existence of this institution. Far better for people's service leagues, dramatic clubs, Boy the churches to employ trained experts to handle Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, and a score of other ac- the situation. Prostitution can be removed from tivities that not only fill a real need but also serve a community and it is the Church's duty to help to tie young people closer to the Church.. remove it.
In thinking through its responsibility for the If it is true, as someone has said, that "it is the whole community, the Church must also minister duty of the Church to always concern itself with to the underprivileged groups. There are chil- the social problems that harass humanity," then dren and young people who need the Church, but the Church should instantly concern itself with who belong to the group not often welcomed by the divorce problem, a problem that is threatenthe Church. Admittedly, there are very real prob- ing the stability of the American home. Christ lems presented, but such problems can be solved. cannot be a dominant factor in homes that are
being broken up by divorce. Here again preach- viding the young people with wholesome social ing will accomplish little. The roots of the divorce and recreational activities. Desiring t{) meet this problem lie deep and the Church must adopt a need, at least in part, the Church of the Good c{)mprehensive educational program if construc- Shepherd, Episcopal, decided to build a Parish tive results are expected. Since marriage is a House. Several civic-minded citizens, who were serious undertaking, greater care must be used not members of the Episcopal Church, petitioned in preparing young people for it. If ministers the Church of the Good Shepherd to allow this everywhere would refuse to perform a ma.rriage building to be used by the whole community. The ceremony until they were convinced that the con- Parish was immediately faced with the question tracting parties were well qualified to undertake as to the Church's responsibility to the whole the venture, many hasty and ill-advised marriages community. would be av{)ided. An increasingly large number of churches are offering courses for young people After carefully considering the problem, it was on "The Preparation for Marriage, Home and decided that t'he community's needs must be con- Family," with surprisingly good .results. The sidered before parochial needs. A separate cortime is near when such courses will become a poration was formed, and an Operating Board recognized part of every Church School cur- was also appointed which included members from riculum.* practically every church in the city. While it is not officially an inter-church project, yet it is an Then there is the field of mental health. Every evidence of the splendid cooperative spirit which clergyman is now called upon to deal with people exists among churches of this city. who need the services of a psychologist or a psychiatrist. While he may be able personally to The Corpus Christi Civic Center is a building handle some of these cases, yet most of them will dedicated "To God for Youth." That is its prineed the services of experts. By putting those in mary purpose although it will serve a variety of need of this type of service in touch with the uses. proper agencies, the Church gives evidence of its concern for every form of human need. Some The building has a large auditorium seating churches have sponsored mental health clinics about 500 people and a stage for amateur drawith excellent results, especially where there is matics. It will be an ideal place for lectures, conno other agency doing this type of work. certs, and particularly socials for the young people. A fully equipped kitchen will serve 200 How One Church Served the Community people. Offices are provided for the Camp Fire Girls, Y. M. C. A., and other agencies. The base- It may prove helpful to relate how one Church ment contains a handball court, shower baths and accepted responsibility for a whole community locker rooms, free clinic for indigent children, a and is seeking to fulfil its obligations. game room and two parlors where various civic clubs may meet. A survey of the city {)f Corpus Christi, Texas, revealed a deplorable lack of facilities for pro- While this building will in no wise be able to serve the needs of the whole community, yet it is • Some communions require their clergy to give some type of a step in the right direction. There was a need. instruction to all those who apply for marriage. Individual The Church felt a responsibility to meet that need ministers of many communions have long offered such courses to and then did something about it.
prospective brides and bridegrooms. Few clergymen, if any, are In Corpus Christi there is another communal project. The missionary societies of six different qualified to give technical instruction on sex matters, but in every churches support and manage a Community Mis- sion in the Mexican section of the city. Each large city there are maternal health clinics available for such .pur- church is responsible for the religious services poses. In smaller communities progressive physicians will be glad conducted at the Mission for one month at a time. A trained Christian worker is soon to be employed to cooperate. Also there are splendid books on marriage that will to work among the people of that section.
prove helpful to those who read them. Every clergyman should have Each Church, as has been said, must study its particular community, and work out its own such books in his library to lend those who are to be married. program.
Obviously, none of these services can be rendered so long as the Church and her clergy refuse to assume a responsibility for dealing with this problem. The Church has an obligation which is some- thing far greater than actually performing the marriage ceremony.
Many communions realize the seriousness of this problem and are taking steps to safeguard the stability of the .home. At the last General Convention of the Episcopal Church a measure was intro- duced forbidding any clergyman of that communion to marry any couple until they had presented him with a certificate of health which included a Wassermann test against syphiIls. The measure was defeated by a small majority and wl!l undoubtedly be passed at some subsequent convention. The home is an institution which is vital to every community. Sinee the Church sanctifies the mar- riage relationship, it must help to make it a more intelligible and a more harmonious relationship. W. C. M.
Too many Christian bodies of various kinds are spending more time and effort today in winning members one from the other than in winning souls from the darkness of the King- dom of Evil.
Christ Found a Mexican Colonel*
This is the story told to Rev. N. W. Taylor, of Mexico City, by Colonel Rodolfo Curti V., formerly an army officer and then chief of Traffic Department, Police Force, Mexico City. Now he is on the Military Headquarters Staff, the Garrison of Mexico City.
TWELVE years ago, when stationed with my carrying out this commission that I received the regiment in the Mixtec region of the State of commendation of General Calles. I received praise Oaxaca, I was taken very ill and in my suf- also and promotion for my part in the organization fering, my thoughts naturally turned to my young of the Traffic Department and for other things wife and our four-months-old baby, who were done in the interest of the welfare of the city.
then in the city of Puebla. As I became worse I But then came disillusionment! I resigned from cried to God, asking that he spare me to them. the Traffic Department and for a time it seemed Finally I sank into a state of coma and the people that I had been forgotten by the Government in the village thought that I had died. I was pre- which I had tried to serve faithfully. I was even pared for burial and surrounded with candles. tempted to commit suicide. This was God's op- After some hours I regained consciousness and portunity.
sat up, causing terror among those who were in One night I dreamed that I was hurrying down the room at the time. a narrow, dark, tortuous street. I met a group of It was thought that the only chance to save my people and inquired, life was to take me as quickly as possible to "Have you found Him?"
Oaxaca City for an operation. But the village, "No," they replied.
where I lay sick, was four days' ride from the "Then let us seek Him together," I answered.
railroad and, as, the heat was intense, it seemed We threaded our way along the narrow street impossible for me to make the trip unless they for an interminable time it seemed and our anxiety could keep ice packs on me continually. But there increased every moment. At last we turned a was no ice in this mountain village nor in the dis- corner and saw in front of us a figure sitting on trict. The General commanding the State advised a low bench in front of a closed door. His head us by telegraph that he would send ice from the was resting on his hands but as we approached he city as rapidly as possible, but it was questionable looked up and I recognized Him as Christ. His whether any ice would last long enough to get me face shone and His hands and feet glistened like to the city. The first day, while we were waiting mirrors. I fell on my knees before Him; and all for the ice, a heavy cloud overshadowed the part His goodness, from that day in the Mixtec village of the town where I was lying and hailstones, so when the hailstones fell, flooded my memory and great that they killed chickens and turkeys, fell I burst into tears.
heavily for some minutes. The people hurriedly I awoke crying and the burden of my ingrati- filled sacks with the hailstones and I was placed tude and sin seemed unbearable. For the re- in a litter and the journey to the railroad began. mainder of the night I could not control myself I recovered but so great was my unbelief I forgot and continued crying like a child. When morning my prayer to God and ascribed the hailstorm to came I was like one in a daze. I could not even mere chance. remember the name of my only daughter whom I A few years later, when stationed in Guadala- love dearly. This condition lasted for three days.
jara, I was passing an evangelical church and I was in an agony of grief and sorrow and walked heard them singing "Nearer My God to Thee." up and down my living room or in the garden for Something seemed to grip my heart and I could hoursi at a time, crying, "My God, help me. My not restrain the tears. However, feeling that such God, help me."
emotion was unworthy of an army officer, I hur- Then I procured aNew Testament and began ried away. Later, my wife and I attended a serv- to read. Still no light or peace came. At last ice but did not understand the message. there came to my mind the words of the hymn I Then I was called to Mexico City to aid my Gen- had heard in Guadalajara and I remembered eral in the reorganization of the police force. At where there was an evangelical church in the city.
that time it fell to my lot to superintend the clos- I attended a service without getting any peace.
ing of all the Roman Catholic churches in the city I went a second time but still could not understand on the 31st of July, 1926. So zealous was I in the Way of Salvation. On the third occasion the * From The Philippine Evangelist, May, 1938. speaker was giving a Bible study on sin. As the [ 425 ] •
different sins were written on the blackboard I The following Sunday was Easter. We atsaid to myself, "Someone must have told about tended the morning service at which we learned me," for it was a perfect description of my condi- that some new members were to be baptized that tion. At the end of the meeting an invitation was evening. After prayer, my wife and I decided to given and I went forward. As I knelt there at ask to be received into the church in order to make the rail to my joy found my wife was kneeling our public confession and thus cut all that bound beside me. That night the pastor of the church us to the old life. That evening we publicly took led us into the Light and peace came into our our stand for Christ. In the four months which hearts. have passed since then we have been experiencing the truth of Paul's "If any man be in Christ, he Then came a great struggle. To go on with is a new creature; old things are passed away; Christ meant breaking with the old life. Christ behold all things are become new." All things must be all or nothing. There could be no half- have become l1oriously new for us and we are hearted surrender. But what would be the re- seeking to follow His Will. suIts? Would it mean losing position, rank and friends? I walked up and down my garden fight- *** ing it out and then like a flash there came to my mind the words, "Be of good cheer; I have over- The only knowledge Colonel Curti had of the come the world." I hurried into the house and Gospel story was through a very slight contact called my wife. with Roman Catholicism, which, in Mexico, em- phasizes a suffering or dead Christ, not a glorified "It is all settled," I said to her. "Christ has one. How was it that in his dream he saw a resurovercome the world and nothing can touch us ex- rected and glorified Christ? cept as He wills." From that moment we have tried to give our all to Christ, to do His will each Today Col. Curti is active in personal work day and have determined not to let a single day among the military and political leaders of the pass without trying to win one soul for Him. country.
Enlisting the Privileged to Help the Underprivileged By the REV. SAMUEL E. WEST Rector of St. lames Episcopal Church, Wichita, Kansas T HE sort of church of which I am rector is alike repeat the words too glibly. I have caught easily labeled as "privileged" by the news- myself talking to children about their privileges papers. They revel in announcing "A fash- and urging them to realize their responsibilities ionable wedding of socialites in the swank, to the underprivileged, and then wondering if in exclusive Episcopal Church on the HilL" It is a so doing I was not actuaJly aiding and abetting form of reporting whioh is exasperating to say the the subtle process of creating snobs.
least. By the same token there are still many people As a matter of fact this congregation represents left in the land 'who, despite the fact that they have been up against it, are senSitive and have a a cross-section of substantial middle-class business lot of self-respect; they by no means wish to be and professional people, with a fringe of wealth classed among the "underprivileged." Would it and another fringe of poverty. One of my faith- not be much better to use a good old scriptural ful laymen is a WPA worker and another is a expression, such as "we that are strong ought to janitor working for $60.00 per month. We have bear the infirmities of them that are weak." It eighty employed women and girls in a communi- is true that there are in all of our cities many cant membership of seven hundred. strong self-supporting parishes and likewise many weak, struggling, mission churches. By all of Personally I am inclined to think that we over- the precepts of the Christian religion, the strong work the phrase, "privileged and underprivileged." Religious leaders and social workers
ENLISTING THE PRIVILEGED TO HELP THE UNDERPRIVILEGED
should do all in their power to help the weak. The ago, when churches were having a hard time raisdifficulty which most of us experience in enlisting ing their budgets, we were discussing missionary the so-called privileged is probably due to the ab- quotas. One of the Vestrymen said, 'I don't see sence of the personal element, rather than to any why we should continue to send money to the other factor. This is true in regard to the mis- Chinese when we are so hard up ourselves. Why sionary enterprise and to the great programs of not forget missions until times are better?" I social welfare. To many people, missions and said to him, "Would you apply that same prinphilanthropy today seem to mean programs and ciple to our own Bishop and his program in the quotas rather than personal service. Something Diocese?" He replied, "No, dog-gone it, we can't must be done to remedy this condition. let the Bishop down. I wish I were not so fond of him; then it would be a lot easier to cut out During the recent Lenten season we tried an our Diocesan Assessment." The man knew, of experiment along this line in the Diocese of Kan- course, that the Bishop was vitally concerned sas. Bishop Wise suggested that in all of the about his mission clergymen and their congregaparishes and missions we conduct a series of mis- tions. Sometimes I ask myself if I am really in sionary book reviews. I invited six women to earnest in appealing for the missionary enterundertake these reviews and a number of men to undertake a similar task for the Men's Class. We prise. Do I really care about the advancement of have had such noted personalities presented as the Kingdom, or am I motivated rather by paro- Bishop Schereschewsky, Bishop Hare, Dr. Albert chial pride? We all need to ask oUI'selves ques- Schweitzer, Bishop Franklin Spaulding, Bishop tions of that nature. We can appeal, plead, cajole, condemn, denounce, argue and quote Scripture by Talbott, Dr. Grenfell of Labrador, and David Liv- the yard, but if we ourselves are not thoroughly ingstone. In every case both the men and the converted to the cause of missions all of our pulpit women who undertook the task have, I think, been thumping will fail to produce results. The telling thoroughly converted to the cause of missions, and of a story of missionary endeavor and personal I believe that they were able to communicate their adventure is more effective in enlisting the interown enthusiasm to the others. The lawyer who' est and support of the local congregation than all reviewed the life of Livingstone made the most of the high-powered arguments of ecclesiastical complete commitment to the cause of missions, at spellbinders. the conclusion of his review, that I have ever heard from a layman. The woman who was to tell But I wish to tell about the relationship of this about Albert Schweitzer happened to be in New parish to a struggling congregation of colored York the week before her review was scheduled, Episcopalians in the city. It may not be common and had an interview with Madame Schweitzer knowledge that we have no separate denominawho was in America at that time. This woman tional organization for colored Episcopalians. had accepted the assignment rather reluctantly as They are under the same jurisdiction, are reprea '~church duty," feeling it would be dull and tire- sented in the same Diocesan Convention, are some but she kept the .other women on the edge of their seats when she told the story. To "per- confirmed by the same Bishop and many of their sonalize" missions, philanthropy and the relation ministerial candidates attend the same Theological of the strong city church to the weaker mission Seminaries as the white Episcopalians. Conseis a difficult undertaking, but in some way it must quently the relationship of the mission for colored be done. The well-to-do members of our churches people in this city to the two self-supporting white are, I believe, no less generous than they used to parishes is just the same as that of a mission for be, but they are more careful. They have lost white people. At the present time these colored much of their own security and some of them feel Episcopalians are fortunate in having a priest of that they are contributing a good bit to the under- their own race, but from time to time during privileged through taxation. However when I years past they have been without pastoral overhave a personal problem which must be presented sight except from the two white rectors. It has as such, I find that the purse strings are open. been my privilege for several years to minister to Recently a young man in my parish was ordered this congregation but it is not of this pleasant by his physician to move to another climate. He personal relationship I wish to speak. was almost entirely without funds and appealed to me. I, in turn, appealed to two laymen over We have in this parish four licensed lay readers, the telephone, and within five minutes the neces- all of whom, with one exception, have served an sary amounts were forthcoming. apprenticeship in conducting services at the col- ored church. The Daughters of the King, a group One of the important factors in "personalizing of women who have charge of altar work, from the need" is the personality, enthusiasm and sin- time to time have supervised the colored women cerity of the leader. One evening several years in the care of their own altar and finally organ- ized a similar group for them.
,In our parish we have a tradition that we thought in helping to solve the problems of this carryon no money-raising activities for the sup- weaker mission church. Our aim has been to port of the parish by dinners, bazaars, rummage- avoid pauperizing the mission congregation. sales or anything of the kind. The one exception Their membership of not more than fifty is made is that once a year the women give a Musical Tea, up of school teachers, chauffeurs, porters, domesthe proceeds from which are sent to the Bishop tic servants and some business men. But their for support of missionary work within the Dio- greatest need is not for money but for personal cese. On two occasions several hundred dollars leadership and genuine friendly interest on the from this source have been used for the support part of the stronger white congregation. They of the local colored congregation. The women of are now approaching the time when they can soon the parish also help the colored women byemploy- support themselves, but they will continue to look ing them to serve possibly half of the parish din- to their many friends in this parish for guidance. ners given in this parish. Incidentally t~s cooperation has undoubtedly helped to ease the tension which so frequently Three years ago this mission congregation was exists between the two racial groups. in great need of a parish hall, for their ramshackle structure was about to fall to pieces. They took Whatever success we have had in this respect the matter up with some of us in this parish and is due to the enlistment of so many of our white we were able to secure a loan from the American laymen for personal service to the weaker congre- Church Building Fund and also a temporary loan gation. Had it been our policy simply to make a from the Bishop of the Diocese. These loans were grant of money each year to the colored brethren, made on condition that the people themselves raise very little would have been accomplished. The a certain amount, namely, $500.00, in about eight most intensely personal story in the New Testamonths. I shall never forget a day when the ment is the parable of the good Samaritan. In committee from the mission church met me in a that story we are told that the Samaritan, who local bank with the $500.00 in hand to apply on was undoubtedly a privileged person, when he the note. When the time came to build the parish came to the man who had fallen among thieves, hall one of the members of our white congregation did several things of an intimate personal nature donated his services as a contractor and gave a -"He saw him, he was moved with compassion, great many days to the supervision of the work. he came to him, he bound up his wounds, he Later another layman, an architect, gave his time poured on them oil and wine, he set him on his in further improving and beautifying the church own beast, he brought him to an inn, he took care structure. Another member of my congregation, of him." And after all of that he told the inna lumber dealer, has helped very generously in keeper that he would stand good for the expenses their purchase of supplies for the church and the and would come back to see how the poor fellow parish hall. was getting along.
Last year the vestry of the mission church ap- It is that sort of thing which we have largely pealed for help and we appointed a committee to lost in these highly specialized modern days. give them what leadership we could in conducting Somehow we must recapture the method of pertheir own Every-Member Canvass. The joint sonal service both in religious work and in social meetings of the two committees have been held in welfare, and when we do recapture it, I am conmy study and again I find the business men of my vinGed that we will have no difficulty in enlisting own parish are willing to give of their time and the privileged to help the underprivileged.
MORAL OR FINANCIAL DEPRESSION?
Many plead hard times as their reason for failing to support the Church and to give to benevolent causes. As a matter of fact, Government reports show that income is not a cri- terion of the gifts that may be expected. In the year 1936, taxable incomes in the United States increased 30 per cent over the previous year, but for the same period contributions for religious education and public welfare work decreased. The United States Treasury statis- tics for 1936 show a total declared net income (exclusive of tax exempt income) of $19,069,- 137,719 as compared with $14,212,403,587 the previous year. The contributions reported for the same year amounted to only $388,142,000 or about 2 per cent of the taxable income. The highest percentage of contributions to charity ever recorded by the Treasury came in the darkest depression years (1930-1934). On the gross incomes reported to the Government, the contributions amount to less than 1.8 per cent. Contributions through the churches in 1936 were less than at any time between 192'0 and 1934, being 40 per cent less than they were in 1928. Moral depression is more difficult to overcome than financial depression.
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II Effective Ways of Working 'rested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MISS GRACE MCGAVRAN, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA ~~=================~~ How Awaken Interest BOOKS ON CHINA of its civilization. Its pictures in Books? HOUSE OF EXILE, by Nora range from the old court to mod- ern factories. A study of the missionary li- WaIn – a very sympathetic picbrary at the church was discour- ture of upper class country life That is enough to give an exaging. Old books; out-of-date in China, by an American girl ample of what was done. Sevbooks; books that not even the eral women have taken to readmost ardent missionary worker who lived for a while as an ing widely the library books on could call interesting! Worst of adopted member of the Chinese the subject of whatever country, all, fifty women supposed to do family. Read it for contrast race, or nation is being studied. missionary reading and no with Pea r I Buck's "Good The mission study books proper, money to buy new books. Earth." and books of missionary stories worth buying have, conse- Here is what the group lead- LIVING CHINA, by Edgar quently, had behind them a much ers did. more fundamentally prepared Snow – translations of modern group of readers than was pos- The few interesting, recent Chinese short stories, written sible before. and worth-while boo k s were pulled out. There were new and published in China for home Even where the public library members in the group who had consumption. They contain some d.oes not have much that is modread nothing. They could start things you will find it hard to ern, there are chapters in recent with these. books which may have decided stomach. But here is modern China, in at least some of its phases, as seen by the Chinese themselves. Read it to help you Four people were asked to buy decide whether China has any bearing. For example, in Dr. for themselves and then loan to real need of the Christian mes- Heiser's "Oddyssey of an Amerthe missionary society one each ican Doctor," the chapter on lepof the best new books bearing on sage and Gospel. rosy and the colony at Culion, the subject of the current Philippine Islands, is excellent studies. HO-MING: GIRL OF NEW background for a consideration CHINA, by Elizabeth Lewis (chil- The public library was ap- dren's library), a story which of missions to lepers. you will find interesting light proached, and a committee of reading, to give you a picture of Kn.owledge awakens interest. capable women chose and read young China in transiti.on. Read For a club paper many a woman those books which seemed to it because you want to know will read background books for have promise of being at least something of young China in the months. Why not as much for good background books; i. e., terms in which young people a talk in the missionary society? those which in addition to beirig read of each other. The deeper the knowledge, the vivid, interesting and accurate, WHAT AND WHY IN CHINA, by deeper the interest. gave a picture of home, school, Paul Hutchison – an answer to town or country life; or a back- the puzzle which modern Chinese How Get New Members ground of the country, race, or history is to most of us. Clear, One young women's missionnation; or, an interpretation of concise, and interesting, though ary group has an unusual prothe people; or, a picture of their very brief, it gives us an excel- portion of new working-memneeds; or, any other specific lent summary.of China's politics bers. They have a sort of unpresentation which would give to 1927. Read it for clearer written rule that no one is ever women a background pattern understanding of some of asked to join their missionary against which their program China's present difficulties. society. Instead, a prospective talks and considerations would LOTUS PETALS, by Princess member is asked to come as a stand out. The very best of der Ling-most interesting com- guest to one of the regular meetthese were listed. ments on va rio u smatters ings; she is greeted as a guest Mimeographed sheets, bearing Chinese by one who was first- of the one who has brought her, the following sort of informa- lady-in-waiting to the old Em- and is treated as such. She is tion, were given out at the early press Dowager. Read it so that asked by the same person to fall meeting, where background you may see China through Chi- come again, perhaps not next reading was stressed. nese eyes in yet another aspect time, but soon. She is welcomed [429 ]
as a visitor for as long as she ship plays when· well produced. the draping of the graceful garwants to come. Then, as she becomes a familiar guest, she is We also know how hard it is to ments of India. asked to help with this or that. And then, sometime, quite cas- discover from the printed de- Why not secure, in your disually, she is asked if she would like formally to join the group. scription of a play just what trict or state group, a demonstra- If she does join, it is because effect it will have. And even tion program of plays and dramshe knows the group, likes the fellowship, is interested in the after reading a play it is a bit atizations, suitable for use durmeetings, and has done some work in connection with them. hard to know what impression it ing this next year? It should be She knows, through regular reports and minutes, about the will give. held at least a month before such educational and financial aims of the group, and is already taking Why not have a demonstration plays will be given in the local time to attend. There is, thus, no influx of new members to be night for missionary plays and churches. coddled along. There is no un- playlets? A district or state con- .W~y not send someone to ~ee willing member who has joined vention is a fine place to do this. ~IssIO~ary plays that ar~ bemg because she was pestered to be- An institute or young people's ,~_gIven m other churches m .y.our come a member. Anyone is welcome as a perennial visitor to conference is also excellent. A own or near-by commumtIes? that group. But no one is asked to join until she has shown a de- county interdenominational Sun- Send someone who can coach a sire to become a working mem- day school council meeting gives play for yoU! ~roup. ber of the organization. . another opportunity. Why not Jom WIth other mlS- P. S. Oh, yes, its quite true that this group has an unusually Here are two examples of how sionary groups or churches to good time together, has good this has been done very success- ask a drama~lCs club to prepare programs, and carries an inspir- fully. The Boston University and pr~sent, m each of yo~r I?roing financial responsibility. But School of Religious Education grams m turn, the b~st I?IssIonthen, you know, so could your society. used to have one month before ary play or dramatIzatIon you Improving Missionary Christmas an'd one month before can find? P!o.duce t~at play! Easter, a program of plays, You can Meetings music and other items, given as Or you can Jomtly .wlth some "If we don't stop taking so demonstration, to which were o~her group secure Its ~rodu~ much time for business," sighed tIon. A~d you can be gUIded m a bored member of a missionary invited representatives from the your chOl~e and h~ve your p~th group, "I'm going to quit com- city's churches. Two or more ~ade eaSIer for ItS productIon ing." She was right. The busi- plays, of differing difficulty and If y:ou arrange for an~ual, or ness seemed interminable. The secretary's reports were espe- type, were given each time-new cially boring. Attack at that point seemed strategic. At the plays which were available for semI-annual demonstratIOns. by next election, one of the church's most devoted club-women, was, use that season. How much bet- competent amateurs, at pomts with her previous consent, elected secretary. Her minutes, ter they could be judged, when where many are together who brief and to the point, gracious in their necessary acknowledg- produced on the stage than in can use such plays. ments, and in perfect order, have been a joy. It is noticeable that any other way! Ideas were Looking Ahead when this new secretary is oc- gained for costuming, for lightcasionally not able to be present, there is no slipping back into old ing, for music, for setting, all October is the special issue on ways. An ideal has been set up within the ability of the ordinary India. All the glamour and color for making the minutes a real church and yet stressing simple of the Orient can be introduced contribution rather than a detri- and dignified treatment. ment. into your meetings. And against A second example, which bids When You Produce That Play! fair to become a yearly custom, it you will present the tragedy is the presentation of two dem- and the hope of that ancient We all know the effectiveness onstration playlets, one on the land. We shall give some of the of missionary and world-friend- ways in which m iss ion a r y home missions theme and one on groups and leaders here and the foreign missions theme, at a there have made India a live luncheon program of the Mis- issue in their meetings.
sionary Institute of Indianapolis, In November we hope to have Indiana, early each May. It some very helpful suggestions would be interesting to know in for developing a sense of stew- how many missionary groups, ardship among the people of our missionary groups. Stewardship over Indiana and in adjacent is more than a faithful presenta- states from which delegates tion of the regular dues. It is an come, those little playlets. with their missionary message are attitude of life. And a very im- given in the missionary year portant part of Christian educa- tion is the nurture of individuals which follows; and just because and groups in that attitude. they were demonstrated there in a fashion which could be fol- Christmas and World Peace lowed in the smallest church. seem more and more to be joined in our thoughts.. We like also to For the current year, 'such a think of Christmas around the demonstration might include the world. In our December issue correct winding of a turban and we shall have some very definite
EFFECTIViE WAYS OF WORKING
suggestions for making the A missionary in Mexico, not Such a project can become Peace emphasis effective, and for long ago, found no welcome in a part of the stewardship training achieving a deeper sense of the certain village. So she moved of the children. Through it they real meaning of Christmas. over there to live, as a neighbor, become aware of the needs of Some avenues of service will be in a tiny Mexican "adobe" hut- others, they review their own regiven which other groups have to be, not a missionary, but a sources, decide to part with some found meant much to their own neighbor. She did not know things dear to them through asdevelopment. whether during the few months sociation, yet too often "hung she planned to be there, she onto" for only that reason, and Ventures in Understanding would find more than one or two they give time and money and curious children who would be effort to make the things "as A young women's missionary friends with her and to whom good as new" in order that they guild were studying the living she could be a friend. She ar- may be useful gifts to make, valreligions of the world. When rived with some trepidation. ued by those to whom they are they came to Judaism, they in- But the village people, hitherto to go. vited a young Jewish social hostile, welcomed her as they worker to come as a guest of one would have received one of them- Seven Rules for a Good of the members. They met her selves. Great things arose out Meeting socially before their supper, of that determination to give chatted with her during the herself, in their own manner, to 1. Be friendly. The regular member meal, and later listened with friendship. Is there anyone of who is retiring can be as lonely deep interest to her talk on your group making herself a as the stranger-almost. Great Jewish Women. For the member of another group, for an first time, for many of them, the hour, for a day, for a week? Is 2. Begin on time. Announce, "Thurs- Jew was linked with modern so- anyone putting herself in the day at 2: 00 P. M., with the procial reform. They began to real- position of needing from them gram beginning promptly at ize that Jews are a force for that same friendliness which she 2: 15." Stress the earlier hour, righteousness in America today. hopes to give them? for the greeting of friends and Theirs was more than a dispas- strangers is as important as the sionate study of Judaism that A New Avenue for Children's rest of the business, but begin night. They had a personal ex- Giving the program very promptly at perience in deepening their the time set. understanding of and liking for In connection with your study the Jew. What such experiences of the City, it might be wise to 3. Conduct all business with dispatch. in understanding are you plan- find out about Toy Libraries in Having planned a proportionning for your group during the your own or in some adjacent ately suitable time for the businext few months? city. Many city children in the ness, do not let it infringe upon underprivileged sections have the rest of the program. If it is *** not one toy of any sort. One of running over, analyze your tech- the interesting newer projects is nique and improve it. A young people's world friend- the establishment of a "Toy Liship group meeting included a brary" in some such district 4. See that the devotional period is Chinese boy and a Japanese girl. where children may withdraw a short but reverent in every way. What happened? Sparks flew! toy for a week, gs they would Stress simplicity and dignity; Some regretted that the two had withdraw a book from a library. and frown upon starting with an been invited at the same time. excuse for lack of preparation, But others realized, as never be- Where such a Toy Library facetiousness, or last – minute fore, how pride of race can cre- exists, an excellent avenue is passing of hymn books, etc. If ate antagonism even when Chris- open for a service project for the hymns 'are familiar, announce the tian brotherhood exists. From children of more privileged verses to be sung and sing withthat situation rose a deeper areas. Most of these children out books, not adding the hope understanding of the problem of have toys – such as scooters, that the hymn is known to everyracial antagonisms, and a sleds, roller skates, .and games one. If not familiar use books stronger desire to meet such an- which they have outgrown but or do not have group singing. tagonisms in the spirit of Christ. which are, basically, still sturdy This alone can produce. as it did and good. Dolls, games, toy fur- 5. Give sequence to your study. Rein that group, a greater senti- niture, puzzles, and other play- mind the group of the general ment than that of race, and things are lying in attics or on theme of study or program being draw alien peoples together. Are back shelves. Why not have a followed. Review in a sentence you keeping your group clear of "Paint and Scissors Club," meet- or two the ground already covsituations which might prove ing weekly for a few weeks, to ered in past meetings. State the embarrassing? Or are you out which will be brought these old aspect of the subject to be conto demonstrate, right within but good toys, to be renovated sidered today. Introduce each your own circle, that the most there by the Juniors under the item of the program with a word difficult race relationship can be direction of one or two adults or as to its bearing on today's desolved if courageously faced and young people? velopment of that aspect. met in the spirit of our Lord? 6. Relate the offering to life itself. At the time of its presentation, have a two- or three-sentence preSentation of some service the group is rendering through its gifts. Have a prayer dedicating the day's offering to its use.
7. Close on time. Never run past closing time. A meeting which closes on time has a rhythm and effectiveness which is lacking where it just runs on and on. Prompt closing makes for much more careful preparation.
BULLETIN
Council of Women for Home Missions EDITED BY MISS EDITH E. LOWRY, 297 FOURTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N. Y. I ==================I~'
SETTING-UP CONFERENCE The central theme run~ing FOR EASTERN MIGRANT ""–through the w.orship serVIces STAFF was the need for spiritual re- Hartford Theological sources in the midst of a c.om- Seminary plex and confusing world – "I JUNE 16-19, 1938 can do all things thr.ough Christ As Seen by Two Leaders who strengtheneth me."
The fourth annual Setting-Up THE STAFF OF THE NEW YORK AND The cl.osing session was held Conference for the workers in NElW JERSEY CENTERS; MISS HELEN Sunday morning in the Semthe Migrant centers .of the East- inary Chapel preceding breakern Area was held this year, WHITE, SUPERVISOR fast and was led by Dr. Miller. June 16-19, at the Hartford In that early morning hour the Seminary Foundati.on, Hart- message of the joy of service ford, Connecticut, when Dr. J. Quinter Miller, Executive Sec- in crafts, recreation, s.ongs, nurs- fell upon minds and hearts alretary of the C.onnecticut C.oun- ready prepared. And as these cil of Churches, his able assist- ery school methods, child care, highly endowed young people ant, Mr. R. Stanley Kendig and camp sanitation, first aid, be- Miss Vera MacCracken, Secre- haviour problems and religious had themselves been ch.osen tary .of the Hartford County education methods made a rich largely because of the privilege Y. W. C. A. proved to be m.ost program. genial and perfect hosts. of their experience, they left The earnest and energetic Hartford newly commissioned Thither they came – 40 Col- staff .of young men and women and eager to go out to serve. lege students representing the had crammed noteb.ooks, broad- ShaufHer College of Religi.ous ened minds and understanding Into my hearl's treasury I slipped a and Social Work, Pennsylvania hearts. There was a strong feel- State, Bennett College, Kansas ing .of fellowship and unity. coin State Teachers College, Bucknell University, Virginia State Am.ong those who were .of That time cannot steal nor thief pur- College, Kalamazoo College, very special help were Mrs. Maryville College, Muskingum Phyllis Williams, of the Insti- loin, C.ollege, Oberlin College, Amherst College, Yale University; tute of Human Relati.ons .of Yale o better than the mining of a gold- Divinity Students from Hart- University, who gave an inter- crowned king ford Seminary F.oundation and pretation of 'the Folk ways. of Andover Newton The.ological the Italians; Miss Lola De- Is the safe-kept memory of a lovely Seminary; and experienced Grille, of the International Inkindergartners, recreational and stitute .of New York, interpreted thing. -Sara Teasdale. home-economics folk, as well as Polish f.olk; Mrs. John Ainley, sch.ool teachers. Many were who taught songs and also gave LAURA H. PARKER, new to the work while others meth.ods in song leading; Miss PETRICHA E. MANCHESTER. had had much experience, for one of the sl.ogans .of Migrant Frances Hedden with concrete As Seen by a Worker Workers is "once a Migrant, al- and practical suggestions. in reways a Migrant." Here they ligious education; Miss Marie Sharecropping and its horr.ors .assembled to receive training in Gaertller in nursery scho.ol have been studied and effectively "center" technique, to plan f.or methods; and Miss Agnes Diehl dramatized to the country. Yet the current season, and to ex- the migration of w.orkers from change helpful experiences. community to community seek- Lectures and dem.onstrations ing new employment, supple- menting irregular employment at customary occupations, or habitually following seasonal employment is an accepted phe- in the field of crafts. nomenon in contemp.orary in- Saturday night the picnic sup- dustrial society.
per with the singing, camp fire Consci.ous .of the extent of the and worship service br.ought to problem .of migratory labor in all a nearness of God through the United States, the C.ouncil the great .outdo.ors and a realiza- of Women for H.ome Missi.ons in tion, by contrast, .of the severe 1920 established centers for the care of migrant families. It was and sordid things that would the staff .of these centers in the have t.o be faced during the ex- East which met at Hartford perience of the summer.
[432 ] electro nic fil e created by cafis.org
BULLETIN: COUNCIL OF WOMEN FOR HOME MISSIONS
Theological Seminary fro m grant ranks. The emplQyer June 16-19, 1938. looks at his migrant laborers as It is evident that a s'Ocial prQblem as comprehensive and people "whQm he gets cheap." basic as migratory lab'Or- 'Originating from a search for Hence, there is n'O coordination economic security and creating or cOQperatiQn among the groups. further problems of disintegratiQn 'Of family life, inadequate The good migrant social worker child care, poor housing c'Ondi- can and must break down these tions with consequent health problems, lack of sufficient edu- barriers. This was discussed by cati'On 'On the part 'Of children and adults, lack of time fQr Mrs. Manchester, Messrs. NewrecreatiQn and aesthetic expression, lack of opportunity fQr field, Glick, and Dr. Miller. participatiQn in dem'Ocracy, and a feeling 'Of intolerance–has n'O The migrant mQvies and the 'One final answer. Hence, the conference could best be viewed visit to the tobacco plantatiQn by stating its issues in terms of fundamental questions. expressed more adequately than It appears that a rather vital words the actual physical needs pre-supposition that undergirds of the migrant. each 'Of the issues, and is im- THE STAFF OF DELAWARE AND MARY- LAND CENTERS; MRS. P. E. Definite prQgram suggestions plied in each is: that the educa- MANCHESTER, SUPIDRVISOR tional and religiQus processes and helps were given in the should it be arran~ed? What which culminate in creative in- should be its extent? periods. with Misses Hedden, telligence and human under- 5. In facing the problem of healthstanding can transcend the cul- What can we do as inexperi- GordQn, Diehl, Gaertner, Mrs. ture and develop it. Upon one's enced, untrained people in giving reaction to the pre-supP'Osition first aid, camp sanitation, ar- Maramarco, and Messrs. Thomhangs the hQpe 'Of the social mi- ranging meals, summoning the grant worker. For, as seen aid of county agencies ? sen, North, and Kullgren when 6. Accompanying the maladjustment through: the issues and the dis- in labor and home, certain unde- we learned (bQth through hearcussion 'Of them, the migrant so- sirable and abnormal behaviour patterns are developed. How ing and d'Oing) something about cial worker is expected t'O be shall we meet them? an educator, religi'Ous director, 7. The migrants represent every cul- children's work; folk games and nurse, home economist, libra- ture. One works best with those rian, musician, and business he knows and understands. dances; homemade games; eveman. Unless he has faith, then, What are the folkways of the migrants with whom we are to ning, Sunday and rainy day pr'Oin the power 'Of a creative dy- work? namic educati'On coupled with grams for yQung people and the Qmnip'Otence 'Of God, he is as Let us develop these issues briefly as they were discussed at adults; and crafts. . a lost sheep. the c'Onference. ThrQugh the help of D'OctQrs With this in mind some basic The seven-minute presentaquestions and issues which were tions 'Of the four areas discussed Calverly and Clifford and Mr. cQnsidered are: picturesquely and interestingly by the Misses Vera MacCracken, Scott V e were ,able to feel that 1. What are the duties and problems Mary Cannon, CarQI Ferwerda of a migrant social worker? and Gladys Corkum prQvided an untrained health educatQrs could How does his work differ from excellent backgrQund orienta- the social case worker? tion for the understanding 'Of do something. the duties and problems of the 2. The migrants-How do they live? migrant socialwQrker. How Inspired, challenged, and defi- What are their needs? different her work is frQm a city sQcial case w'Orker! HQW much nitely helped by the experiences 3. What are the values of the migrant is involved! No longer are y'OU program for the employer, com- a case worker, or a nurse, or a of the conference we strove to munity, migrant? What should teacher, 'Or religi'Ousdirector- be the relationship between the but you must be a combination plan 'Our programs. Balanced migrant and community, em- of them all. ployer and migrant, social work- as they may be, we can still feel er and community, social worker Because any successful pro- and employer, migrant and so- gram 'Of migrant education must a lack, f'Or our prQgrams cannot cial worker? Where should the represent this cQmbinati'On, it focus be? What are some of the must include the empl'Oyer and get at the real roots of the prob- methods of attack? the community as well as the migrant. There exists, undoubt- lem. It· is evident that the old 4. Our program-What should it in- edly, a feeling 'Of intolerance clude for infants, children, among the community folk be- econQmy, attitudes land educa- young people, adults? · How cause they dQ n'Ot understand their migrant brother. There tion are inadequate, but the is, therefore, "a man without a country" attitude within the mi- problems of migrancy can be abolished is our cry.
May we keep always in 'Our hearts the spirit 'Of the "Work- er's Prayer" which we felt at the close of the conference.
Lord, speak to me, that I may speak In living echoes of thy tone; As thou hast sought, so let me seek Thy erring children, lost and lone.
Oh, teach me, Lord, that I may teach The precious things thou dost im- part; And wing my weirds that they may reach The hidden depths of many a heart.
Oh, give thine own sweet rest to me; That I may speak with soothing power A word in season, as from thee, To weary ones in needful hour.
-F'rttnces R. H avergal.
DEBORAH CANNON.
World–wide
A Missionary Newspaper of Current Events .~ EDITED BY MRS. HENRIETTA H. FERGUSON, XENIA, OHIO 1 ~'='===—-=-===–=-=======~ J APAN-OHOSEN who is a Christian and I see eight out of ten, because of the sQmething in his face that is dif- Japanese insistence on attend- A Soldier's Penance ferent. I want it." AnQther ance at the shrines. These were The United Church Record wrote: "I was riding a bicycle, "-great institutions wit h fine reports the following incident, told by the pastor in whose returning tQ my home from buildings, a good reputation, a church it .occurred: school. You gave me a tract. I capacity student body, and ap- A Japanese soldier came to a little chapel at Pingting, a rural town in believe now in the true God. I parently a future of great useeastern Shansi, on Christmas Day. He knelt and prayed before the Cross have .one friend who believes fulness. But it became imposwhile the pastor looked on with a great alsQ, and we gather the village sible to preserve the Christian deal of interest. children t.ogether sometimes and c.ontent of the sch.ools and at the Rising, the soldier approached the pastor and handed him a five-dollar talk to them about God." same time meet demands made note, explaining that he and three of -Presbyterian Survey. on them which loyal followers his comrades wished to donate this to the church. He Never Met a Ohristian of Christ would find impossible to meet with.out comprQmising Asked what was his calling before An .old man in the country their consciences, so we had no the war, the soldier revealed that he was converted by reading the choice left save tQ follow the and his three friends were all evan- Bible before he ever met a orders of our Executive Comgelists before they were conscripted. Christian. Hearing of Chris- mittee and make this great sac- Why didn't his friends come to the tianity, and thinking it sounded rifice for the sake of our convicchurch too? The answer was: They reasonable, he wrote to a city tion that we, as Christians, had no "face" to come to the church friend who sent him a Bible and should serve only one God, and after all the sinful things they had a Christian newspaper. After that our deepest soul loyalty bedone in invading China and killing the reading these he asked where he longs to Jesus Christ. Chinese people. They thought they could meet a Christian and was could not present themselves in front told there were some in Hamada. "There is still a strong native of Jesus Christ. Finding some of the Christian church that is witnessing for wQrkers holding an open-air Jesus Christ. It is working and He, however, decided that he could service, he joined heartily in the growing. There are also still at least atone for his sins by coming singing, making a joyful noise wide open fields for evangelism. to worship in the church, especially quite out of tune, and laughed The Gospel can be preached as since it was Christmas Day. He and chuckled all through the freely as ever, and people listen hoped that with the love of Christ the talks, so that the wo r k e r s as gladly. WQmen's work offers world might be changed, all national thought that he was mentally many opportunities for Chrisdifferences sunk and all human suf- deficient, until they realized that tian service in home and comferings avoided. it was his overflowing joy at munity. All the hospitals are meeting fellQw Christians for filled, and witnessing for Christ The Printed Word the first time in his life! He has is being emphasized in each of never turned back from the them. More extensive Bible Japan has one point of ad- faith he entered intQ through training is being planned, SQ vantage over all other mission reading the Bible. When he that every church may have fields in that practically every prays he follows no conventional competent leadership." Japanese can read. Education method, but sits down with open there is compulsory. A mission- eyes and chats to his unseen Presbyterian Survey. ary, therefore, can write out Friend as if he could see the .one anything he wishes to tell to the to whQm he talks. A Oommunist Oonverted thronging multitudes whQm he passes in city streets, or to Korea Mission Losses A United Church of Canada farmers he meets along country missionary visited a Korean palanes, and hand it with a smile Rev. L. T. Newland, D.D., .of tient in a hQspital and noticed a and a greeting, and know that the Southern Presbyterian Mis- copy of Luke's Gospel laying on it will be read and understoQd. sion at Kwangju, writes: "With- the bed. Upon being asked what As a result, letters come tQ the he thQught of it he replied: "I mission, confessing sins, telling used to be a cQmmunist. I .of dQmestic problems, asking thought the wQrld was in such hQW tQ be forgiven or how to find peace. One man wrote: "I in the last few months the a bad state that only by destroygQt yQur tract. I know a man Southern Presbyterian Mission ing everything and beginning in Korea has lost its schQols, all over again could things be [434 ] set right. Since I have been here deeming love is read with great two or three portable steel I have been reading this book, interest and appreciation. houses that will be set up by -Bible S.ociety Record. R. G. Letourneau, Inc. One of listening to the hospital evan- gelist, and have had time to NORTH AMERICA these will be used as a dwelling think. .I am now convinced that for exhibition purposes; another the Jesus' way is the only way Christian Youth Council will be the headquarters of the Christian Business Men's Comthat will work, that of changing Problems of war, poverty, un- mittee, while it is likely that a the world by first changing the hearts of men, and I have de- employment, slum living, race third will house a Bible exhibit. termined first of all to become a prejudice, crime, in d u s t ria 1 -Alliance Weekly. strife, alcohol and political cor- Christian myself." -Korea Mission Field. ruption cannot be solved by any- New England Bible thing less than a united Chris- Demonstration ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC tian movement, according to the At the Metropolitan Theater consensus of opinion among al- Bible Distribution in Hawaii most 3,000 Christian educators, in Providence, R. 1., this sum- Thirty thousand children in representatives of forty-one de- mer 3,500 Evangelical Chris- Hawaii's public s.chools have each received a copy of the nominations in the U nit e d ti·ans lifted their Bibles high Gospel of Luke. This was in response to a request of the chil- States and Canada, who came above their heads and repeated dren themselves, and the earnestness of the request was :r together in Columbus, Ohio, for three times: "The Word of the proved by the enthusiasm with which the gift was received. the twentieth quadrennial con- Lord endu~eth forever." he Some of the teachers wrote: vention of the International demonstrabon passed resolutIOns "The children are very much Council of Religious Education· recalling people everyw~er~, "~o pleased. Many read these little volumes during the free-reading in July. The delegates discussed a reverence for the BIble m period."-"Since the arrival of such problems as Christian fam- these ~ord~: "We again a!fi.rm the Gospels of Saint Luke a new ily life, Christian leadership for ~)Ur f~uth m. the . au~henbclty, interest in religious literature has been shown."-"This school the modern world missions and mtegnty and msplrabon of the wishes to express i·ts thanks and missionary educ~tion, drama, Holy Scripture as. being the ~ne appreciation for the wonderful story in the form received. A visual education, temperance and final authorIty. for. faith dozen different nationalities attend this school, and to many education, education and gam- and conduct; that, m VIew of this is a new book and a new story. We feel that much bene- bling, Christian education and the desperate need of the world fit will follow; for surely the industrial _economic problems, ~oday, we go on ~ecord as send- Word will bear fruit." Christian education and race re- mg forth from thIS rally a clear, Messages. like these cam e from the pupils: a Portuguese lations, and world peace. Facts pl·ain and forceful call to the about the world situation were world to return to that rever- presented, not by theorists but ence f?r the Bible w~ich sh.all by experts speaking b e for e result m earnest readmg, bellef small groups that took advan- in i~s rede~ptiye message and tage of the opportunity for ques- ~bedlence to Its mvaluable.teach- tions .and discussion. The task mgs."-Watch'lnan-Examtner.
of Christian education was viewed as one that concerns . Readjustments in Presbyterian Christian attitudes in facing our Foreign Board critical problems. Because of the retirement of girl remarked: "The first night Christianity on Exhibit several members of its staff, the I read four chapters to my whole Presbyterian Foreign Board is family. I shall read the whole At the Golden Gate Interna- readjusting the duties of other tional Exposition in 1939 an ap- members. Rev. William P. book for them."
An eighth-grade Japanese boy peal for Christianity will be Schell, D.D., continues as· chairproudly remarked: "Thanks for made to those who take no man of the Home Base Council the story. I carry it in my thought for religion. About and a new division of special pocket and read it every chance 8,000 square feet of outdoor gifts and annuities; Miss Ger- space will be leased, upon which trude Schultz remains in charge I get." A Japanese girl declared: will be erected a large steel audi- of women's work in the Home "Even though I believe in the torium, and in this Mr. Irwin Base. Rev. Charles T. Leber, Buddha, yet I like this story of A. Moon will present several D.D. has been transferred from times daily his "Sermons from the secretaryship for Japan, the Christ." These children carry the Science," a series of spectacular China, Siam and the Philippines Word of God to their various scientific phenomena used to il- to the promotional work of the homes-in the city, plantation lustrate spiritual truth. After Home Base, with a supervisory center, fisherman's hut, labor eight years of preparation, Mr. connection with young people's camp, homestead shack and Moon seeks to present the first work. Rev. Willis C. Lamott, primitive native houses, scat- century Gospel with twentieth D.D., of the Japan Mission, has tered from ocean shore to moun- century illustrations. In con- been asked to assume responsitain peak, where the story of re- nection with this exhibit will be bility for publicity work while
Miss Mary Moore, one of the appointed to deal with problems Church Cooperation and Union.
secretaries f.or y.oung people's of harmonizing rituals, co.ordi- Bishop Perry presented a resolu- work, will go to San Francisc.o nating pr.ograms and merging tion passed by the General Con- to replace Miss Marcia Kerr, organizations of the Methodist vention in Cincinnati: wh.o comes t.o New Y.ork t.o as- Episcopal Church, Methodist The General Convention of the sist Dr. Young in the new de- Episcopal Church, South, and Protestant Episcopal Church in the partment .of missi.onary person- Meth.odist Pr.otestant Church. U. S. A., acting with full realization nel. Rev. S. Franklin Mack will Other questions considered were of the significance of its proposal, church extension, missions, hos- hCehruebrcyh ininvthiteesU. tSh.eA. Ptoresjobiyntewriiathn give his entire time to directing pitals, education and young peo- it in accepting the following declarayoung pe.ople's w.ork.
Rev. George T. SC.ott, D.D. is pIe, pensions and publication tion: chairman .of the F.oreign De- work. A small committee .of The two churches, one in the faith lawyers will furnish counsel in onfatetheWLoordrd oJfesGusod,Chrreicsot,gmt~z~mginctahrepartment C.ouncil, with special alliega} matters. The next meet-"'·-Holy Scriptures as the supreme rule responsibility for interdenomi- national relationships. Rev. ing wIll be held January 24, of faith, accepting the two ~acra- LI.oyd S. Ruland, D.D., of Bing- 1939, at Jackson, Miss. minegnttshaotrdtahienevdisbibyleCuhnriistyt, aonfdCbherliisetv'shamton, N. Y., a former mis- Church is the will of God, hereby formally declare their purpose to sionary in China, becomes secre- School for Missionaries achieve organic union between their tary for China. Pending the The first Iowa School for Mis- respective churches. election .of a successor t.o Dr. Leber, Rev. J. L. Hooper, D.D., si.onaries will be held January -The Churchman. of the Philippines, will serve as 23 t.o February 18, 1939, at Iowa secretary f.or the four countries' State College, Ames, Iowa. The Library, and Racial Problem recently under Dr. Leber's su- first three weeks will be devoted t.o classes in the following sub- Here is what can happen pervision. jects: sociology and rural or- when a mission study class ganizati.on, agriculture and ru- learns something and acts upon Lutheran Unification ral education, foods and nutri- it. The minister of a Colored tion, family life and health, and church in Portsmouth, Va., city Delegates to the Eastern Dis- agriculture. The aftern.oons will of 50,000, told a white mission trict Convention .of the Ameri- study group that the Colored can Lutheran Church voted to be devoted t.o conferences and people of the city had n.o access put aside "doctrinal differences" field trips. A two-day rural mis- to a library. This was news to with .other Lutheran churches sions conference will be held many of the white people. and to unite "in fell.owship .of pulpit and altar" with them. during the course .of the school. The mission study class inves- The vote foll.owed long discus- The fourth week c.oincides with tigated, secured the cooperation sion of the reports of the Ameri- Iowa State Farm and Home of the National Youth Adminiscan Lutheran Church Commis- Week, the lectures and exhibits tration, which made the desired sion on Fell.owship with the .of which will be open t.o the mis- library a pr.oject, obtained aid United Lutheran Church in from the PWA, was given space America and with the Lutheran sionaries. The Iowa School for in Mr. Birchette's parish h.ouse, Synod of Missouri, Ohio and Missionaries is being carried on received gifts from citizens for .other states. by the Iowa State College at the lumber, paint, labor, and some request and with the co.opera- but n.ot yet enough furniturre T.h e Evangelical Lutheran an,d b.o.oks (the Church Periodi- Synod of Missouri has churches ti.on .of the Rural Missions C.o- cal Club assisting) and put a in every state of the Union, and .operating C.ommittee, repre- trained librarian in charge. a total membership .of 1,305,000 senting some eighteen foreign in the United States and Can- The library was opened by a ada. At the recent Triennial missi.on b.oards in the United States. -Agricultural Mission Notes.
Conventi.on the Syn.od auth.or- Presbyterian-Episcopal program inc Iud i n g eight ized a drive for a thank offering s pee c h e s by representatives Negotiations to commemorate the hundredth from co.operating groups.
anniversary .of the arrival in the A delegation fr.om the Pres- Border Cooperation United States .of the Saxons who byterian Church U. S. A., met f.ounded this church. The sum Every Texas city of moderate sought will be in addition to the last December with Bish.oP Per- size has its "Little Mexico," cut annual budget of $1,500,000. ry and Dr. Howard C. R.obbins .off from the rest .of the town by of the Protestant Episc.opal The- United Methodism Meets ological Seminary to confer on invisible but definite lines that a closer union ·of the tW.o b.odies. are seldom crossed except by The first large j.oint meeting Representing the Presbyterian teachers, missionaries or occa- .of Methodists held since unifi- Church were Dr. L. S. Mudge, sional tourists. Few of the cation was approved by the stated clerk of the General nearly 7,000 Mexicans in Texas Methodist Episcopal Church, Assembly and Dr. J. Ross Stev- speak English: they have their South, took place in Columbus, enson, chairman of the Presbyte- own stores, newspapers, church- Ohi.o, in JUly. C.ommittees were rian Assembly's Department on es. While the majority are
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Roman Catholic, every Mexican notified the large canneries at ment is given for an hour three center has a struggling evangel- Ho.onah and Yakutat that no na- times within one week, and then ical mission, and the American tives need bother to apply for the patient is allowed to rest for Bible Society tries to provide work either as laborers in the a month before the treatment is Spanish Scriptures at cost. Sec- canneries or as fishermen, for continued. retary Marroquin, American Bi- they would n'Ot be hired." The A wealthy philanthrQpist 'Of ble Society's Mexican agent, a natives in that region, threaten- Brazil has offered a set of the few months ago made a two- ing to take things into their own apparatus to the United States, weeks' tour of the centers of hands, are prepared to fight, if for use at the Leper Clinic in Mexican population in Texas; a necessary, fQr their right to Carville, La. journey of over 1,500 miles, work. The largest cannery in -The Christian Advocate. with stops in various centers Alaska, located at Kassan, has where local c'Ommittees had definitely decided not to reopen. Thr.ough Brazil with the Bible previously planned interdenomi- Others may do likewise, rather national meetings to hear his than yield to the unreas.onable An outstanding piece .of work during the year has been the reillustrated lecture. He shows demands of the labor unions. markable journey through Brahis audience how colportage Unless the deadlock is broken, zil of two colporteurs, George work is done in Mexic'O, takes Glass and the redoubtable Antao them over mountain passes, on thousands of Alaskan families Pessoa. They c'Overed 5,000 burro back or oxcart; and tells will suffer. them how, under the present Mexican g'Overnment, the circu- LATIN AMERIOA miles, mQstly by mule back, but lation 'Of the Bible increased the SQme 1,300 miles was in a "dug past year by 10,000 copies; how the Scriptures are being trans- Educati.on in B.olivia out" and almost 250 miles on lated into the native tongues of foot. There were perils to face, 3,000,000 Indians .of Mexico The public school teachers of such as terrific cataracts, rapids, who do not speak Spanish; how Bolivia have petitioned the wild beasts and hostile tribes, the 130,000 Protestants of that g.overnment to use for public the latter sunk in poverty and country contributed 4,152 pesos schools the money now given to ignorance. Once 'On trek they (over a thousand d'Ollars) to the support the State church. The came to an abandoned region support of the Bible Society; Roman clergy have jointly is- ruled by a murderer who tried how even the illiterates often sued a pastoral letter to all Bo- to get them in his p.ower, but buy copies .of the Bible, in the livian citizens warning them with the c'Onnivance of two 'Of hope that someone will read that their religion is in danger, the man's own cut throats they aloud to them-so great is their that Communism is just arQund managed to escape. desire for the Word of God. the CQrner. and that they should The largest sales were made c'Onsider very carefully for in the priest-ridden town of Eighteen such meetings were whom they cast their vote. This Campinas. One very suspicious held, and 'Over 7,000 Mexicans year 1938, may prove a momen-· old lady refused to touch the heard 'Of the work of Bible dis- tous .one for Bolivia, especially books, but as the colporteur read tribution, while 14,000 Gospels were left with local pastors to if the Congress and the Senate one passage after another she be given out. should decide on the separation began to make exclamatiQns of -Bible Society Record. of Church and State, which ac- apprQval, and finally bought a tion is not altogether improb- copy, say i n g apologetically: able. "You see, I thought the bOQk -Baptist Missionary Review. was Protestant." The lurid pic- Alaskans in Distress tures 'Of Protestants, painted by Oxygen f.or Lepr.osy the priests, had filled the people Native Alaskans, who depend Brazil is said to lead the wQrld with dread. entirely upon the fishing in- in the fight against leprosy, and dustry for their living, are fac- These two intrepid men had ing a desperate situati'On grow- a new treatment being tried ing out of the activities of the there is reported by Dr. H. W. many adventures and escapes, Wade, of Washington, D. C. It labor unions in the United but the greatest experience was States who seek to control the consists of the administration fishing and canning industry of oxygen under pressure, and the satisfaction .of circulating throughout the Alaskan Terri- the inventor is Dr. Ozorio de 100 Bibles, 700 Testaments and Almeida, wh.o first thought of it 3,000 Gospels in 'One .of the dark- est regions 'Of the earth.
-The Neglected Continent.
tory. Demands of rival labor as a means 'Of treating cancer. Five Year Increase in Brazil unions have prevented the re- The patient is placed in a tank opening of the canneries. These into which pure 'Oxygen can be The Presbyterian Church of unions insist upon determining introduced and the pressure Brazil reported at the annual who shall be employed, discrim- gradually increased until it General Assembly held this year inating against native Alaskans. reaches an atmosphere and a in FQrtaleza that there are now A correspondent of the Presby- half (some twenty-one pounds 266 organized churches and 140 terian BQard of National Mis- to the square inch) ab.ove the .other groups, exclusive of 1,522 sions writes: "The C. I. O. has normal pressure. The treat- places where the Gospel is regu-
larly preached. These churches EUROPE heads of families-men in good are organized into three synods Mohammed's Birthday Cele- standing with the governmentand are ministered to by 183 or- must be presented for approval. brated in London dained ministers and nine licen- tiates. There are 43,100 church On May 12, a group of Mo- Calvinistic Congress members, and a Sunday school membership of 47,939. It will hammedans in London cele- The fourth Biennial Calvinbe seen by comparison with the brated the birth of their prophet istic Congress met in Edinburgh figures published in 1932 in the World Dominion Survey of Bra- and Dr. Samuel M. Zwemer was in July, and created "no small zil that this is an all round increase during the last five years. invited to attend. Two hundred stir" in the city. An announce- This church has maintained a persons were present, of whom ment of a "Nazi ban on Edinworker in Portugal for some nearly half were women. SO!lle burgh Congress" drew attention time, and it is hoped that a col- of the men wore the Pers~an to meetings which might otherleague will be sent to him from headdress, a few the IndIan .wise have passed with less nothe Brazilian Church shortly. turban, but as to the rest they tice but the added interest was -World Dominion Press. might have been any group of justified. Four German pastors cultured London people. About were refused permission by der three-fourths of those pr~s~nt Fuehrer to be present, the reason were Moslems. :r'he presldmg being that the Congress was ex- officer was a R.usslan a~d prayer pected to take a sympathetic at- Cooperation in River Platte was offered III ArabIC by an titude toward the Confessional Republics Egyptian. One speaker declared Church as did the World Con- A new epoch in cooperation Mohammed to be "the redeemer ference' on Faith and Order at among Evangelical forces in Argentina, Uruguay and Para- of womanhood, the light of the :n Oxford last year. However two world and the glory of civilizaguay is believed to have begun tion" ! !-Religious Digest. Germans of the Ref 0 r e d Church were present, but took as a result of a conference called Bans and Concessions in by the Committee on Coopera- Roumania no part in the program. tion in Buenos Aires. This Con- The Congress was made up of ference considered the question The Religious News Service about 130 delegates, and inof organizing a Confederation reports that the Roumanian cluded a number of Europe's of Evangelical Churches in this Government has made it illegal foremost theologians. Holland area, and a committee of nine for eight different religious sects and Hungary sent some of their was appointed to draw up plans to continue the practice of their best thinkers, and others came for such a federation. faiths. . from France, Czechoslovakia, Switzerland, South Africa, New Of the forty-five pastors and The sects banned are: the Mil- Zealand, Australia, America, laymen in attendance, repre- .lenium group (which, .according Eire and Northern Ireland. The senting sixteen church bodies to the decision includes the In- general topic was "The Reand organizations, twenty-two ternational Students of the Bi- formed Faith and its Ethical Consequences" in the Individual, were nationals; eighteen were ble, Jehovah's Witnesses and the Family, the Church, in So- ciety, the State, in Economics, missionaries of North American others) the Pentecostalists, the in Art. It was emphasized that the world must get back to the and British Boards; and five Tremblers, the Church of God vital principle of Calvinism, the were ministers to non-Spanish- the Apostle, the Penitent Naza- sovereignty of God.
speaking groups in Argentina. renes, the Reformed Adventists, -The Christian.
It was regarded as the most rep- the Illistii, the Innocents and the resentative group ever meeting Stilisti (the Old Stylers).
in Buenos Aires to discuss At the same time, the official decision granted new concesmeans of closer cooperation. Reformed Church of France An "Evangelical Youth Con- sions to Baptists, Seventh Day gress," held in Rosario, Argen- Adventists and Evangelicals. The Reformed Church of tine, last year revealed an in- Baptists received special men- France, which now unites the creasing solidarity among young tion, the last clause of the long four principal French Churches, people. Strong leadership was decision stating that they will will officially function in its unimanifest; the delegates declared be permitted to organize church fied form on January 1, 1939. their allegiance not only to the communions throughout the The new organization will be Church and its place in deepen- country by fulfilling certain con- marked by a work of conquest, ing the spiritual life, but also ditions, which in countries like consolidation and forward evanadopted important resolutions the United States and England gelism. in the field of social action. would be considered imposi- The churches in Paris are These young people edit and tions; for example, a minister seeking to spread among their publish two excellent periodicals must confine his activities to the congregations a desire for Bible in this district and share in a four walls of the recognized study, carried on by groups radio preaching broadcast twice "prayer house," and before such meeting daily in places of worweekly. a house can be lawful a petition ship. The great success which -The Christian Century. bearing the signature of twenty has resulted is due to a deep de-
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
sire to know better the Word olics are not concerned, since AFRICA of God in order to spread this they concluded a concordant knowledge throughout ,France. nearly ten years ago. Jewish Islam's Sudan Campaign The fall in the value of the problems appear to be more po- As a result of Egypt's ac- franc and the rise in the cost of litical than religious.. knowledged rights in the Sudan, living presents a troublesome The head of this new depart- Azhar University in Cairo is deproblem to all the churches, and ment has traveled widely and is veloping a Moslem missionary es.pecially to the Paris Mission- conversant with all these prob- enterprise for various countries, ary Society with its large com- lems at first hand. and proposes that young Sudan- mitments in British Sou t h There will be seven divisions ese be trained at the University Africa. It will force them to in the new department, each in the technique of teaching Isconsider seriously the salaries under the direction of a special- lam to the pagans of the Sudan; of pastors, their pensions, and ist in such fields as education, and that they imitate Christian the maintenance and current ex- religion, labor, culture and eco- missionaries in acquiring the penditure of all Christian ac- native languages of these people. tivities. Yet the church has nomics. In spite of various discour- unanimously decided upon ad- The Gospel for Refugees agements, Christian missions in vance. the southern Sudan are meeting -World Dominion Press. In spite of the difficulties with great response. In some which beset the Russian Gospel areas, thousands attend the Sun- Evangelism in Greece Movement, conversions and bap- day services, and native Chris- A small group of Grecians, tisms are continually taking tians have started hundreds of converted to evangelical faith place among refugees. in various bush schools throughout the through reading the Bible, were country. charged by the Orthodox Church parts of Europe. Evangelistic with illegal proselytizing, for meetings are held regularly at Danger in Half Knowledge which the penalty is banishment. A Greek lawyer, now Montbard, France, where there Rev. P. A. Unwin, of the studying in England, was em- are numbers of refugees. The C. M. S., says that with the ployed to defend them and was Movement is responsible for the preaching of the Gospel there so impressed with the unfalter- must be systematic Christian distribution of a magazine and education, and clinches the point quantities of Gospel literature, mostly Scripture portions and ing faith of these unlettered books. with the following story: "A men that he entered into a During the International Ex- workman, educated in a governdee per spiritual experience position in Paris last year, more ment technical school, came to through their testimony, and is than 15,000 tracts in French and my room a short while ago. 'I now devoting his life to the Russian were distributed. Large want to see the thing which Lord's work. He reports that texts were on display, where makes the noise inside that box,'
this little group has started a they could be read by visitors. he said, indicating the wireless church which is growing stead- In this connection, it is start- set. I took off the back and ily. One old, illiterate woman ling to note in a report of the showed him all I could; but I asked a neighbor to read a Bible National Lutheran Council that am ignorant in such matters. chapter to her every day, and the 1938 budget of the Godless Then he railed at me and the gist half the village was converted of his remarks was this: 'You through this one instance, one of organization in Russia amounts English are all the same ; you the converts being a man who to 65 million rubles. Of this had spent seventeen years in sum 42 millions are contributed keep the African back. You do not want him to learn lest he prison. by members and 23 millions de- rived from the sale of anti-reli- should govern himself and you After completing his studies gious literature. During the would be deprived of the shillin England, this lawyer plans to year 14 millions will be allocated ings which you get from native return to Greece and help to to subsidize activities of the In- taxes. The Mission is the ear shepherd this flock. ternational Godless committee, of the Government. You are as and the remainder will be uti- bad as the rest. Have you not Situation Eased in Roumania lized for propaganda purposes refused to tell me how the wire- less works? Did they not refuse All religious questions have within the country. It is ex- pected also that a contribution to tell me how to make electricity been taken out of the office of will be sent to aid in financing at the technical school? And the Minister of Cult, and a the International Free Thinkers' why do you not let the African special department has been cre- congress to be held in London make his own shillings as you ated by the Roumanian Govern- next autumn. This amounts to do yourselves?' " ment to handle all minority a total of $13,000,000, of which questions, including religious -C. M. S. Outlook.
and ethical. This move is high- $2,800,000 is designated for Education Proceeds Slowly ly pleasing to such minorities as "foreign missions" in the United the Baptists, Evangelicals, Re- States and other Christian na- A diagram in the Gold Coast formists and Adventists. Cath- tions. Annual Education Report shows.
the total number of children at- man it was not for them to say WESTERN ASIA tending school for the past no. Hebrew University twenty-five years: according to the ratio of increase, it would Bantu Sunday Schools The Hebrew University in Jetake approximately 600 years before a child-population of the The s,econd Bantu Sunday rusalem, when founded in 1925, present size would be attending school. School Convention in Johannes- consisted of one building, a li- burg was attended by 117 dele- brary of 74,000 volumes, a fac- A further diagram, taking galtes from 43 centers in all ulty of 30, a student body of 64 into. account increases of population, shows the percentages of provinces of the South Africa and a curriculum of four departchildren of school age attending school to the total child-popula- Union, Basutoland and Swazi- ments. Today, on Mount Scotion year by year for the 25-year land. ~us there are 12 buildings, a period; and shows that it would take over 3,500 years before The Convention endorsed the lIbrary of over 350,000 volumes, primary education would be made available for the whole recommendation of the Inter-De- ",",a student body of over 800; a of the child-population of the partmental Committee on Na- faculty of 110.; and a currICU- Gold Coast. Figures for the tive Education that native edu- lum on a par! III both scope ~nd whole of Africa would be even cation should continue to be sta.ndar?~, WIth .that of leadmg more startling. centered in religion. It urged umve:;slbes. WIt.h some of. the upon the administration of Na- world s ou~standmg ~ ~ WI S h -World Dominion Press. tive Education and the teaching ~cholars on Its facu~ty, I~ IS mak- body to make religious educa- mg ~emarkab~e strIdes m schol- Pioneering in the Congo tion worthy and effective, and arshlp and sc!ence. . . Perhaps no type of mission- that every subject in the school In. connecbon Wlt~ t~e Ulllary service makes a greater ap- curriculum should be made a verslty, a great sClenbfic repeal to the imagination than pioneering. Rev. Malcolm Guthrie medium for the teaching of re- search activity is being deof the English Baptist Society writes an account for The Life ligion. veloped. This includes special of Faith of a pioneer trip in the de~artmen~s of ~rchreology, edu- Belgian Congo, when he covered Grave concern was expressed ~abon, sOCI~1 SCIence and agrar- 315 miles in less than four at the growing evil .of gambling Ian economIcs, as well as a deweeks, walking or cycling. "In among children both native and part!llent of par~sitol?gy, wh~re the most distant villages," he European. Chu~ches were asked specIal rese.arch IS bemg carrIed says, "they had not only never to give definite teaching on the heard the Gospel-they had never even heard of people with subject, and the Government on concernmg leprosy and cana Gospel to preach. The only was urged to curb gambling by cer.-Hadassah News Letter. white men they ever see are the government doctor who comes all possible means, and to de- Challenge to the Christian twice a year, and the tax col- stroy the facilities for the evil. Church lector once a year." -World Dominion Press. Most people showed a real desire to understand the message. Laborer Starts a Church An Arab Christian leader in In the first village visited, two Palestine writes the following boys wanted to go back with Mr. A young Portuguese, with his Guthrie in order "to get wis- wife and family, has gone to Sao letter: dom"; others asked for an evan- Tome, Portuguese Africa, to gelist to come and live among strengthen a work that was What can one say about Palestine them, and there were discus- started by an indentured la- at present! It is a country torn to sions as to how his belongings pieces by strife, hatred, rioting and could be conveyed such a long borer who had been converted aggression. Materially as well as distance. At Bokwo, another to evangelical Christianity in morally the country is on the eve of village, the people ran away in Angola; and whose initiative a total collapse, and what is still fright, and during the two days' resulted in the formation of a more painful is the fact that the services nobody took any notice small group of Christians. They troubles of the country may be traced at all. Later, a solemn conclave had no Scriptures to instruct back to racial ambitions based on was held to determine whether them, but found some fragments religious tradition and history. Jews an evangelist should be allowed of a Bible in some waste paper. as well as Arabs hold fast to their to locate in the village, and they These they copied by hand and claims in this respect, while the Chriscame to the conclusion that if distributed. At first they were tian Church has not yet come forward Mr. Guthrie wished to send a persecuted, but later it was with proposals to reconcile matters on recognized that the evangelicals the basic principle of Christianity, were the best workers, and they In the meantime unemployment and were no longer molested. what it entails is growing rapidly, suffering, hunger, dissatisfaction with This young Portuguese work- life, etc. Yet missionary activities, er has been commended by all hospitals, orphanages, welfare centers the denominations in Portugal, continue their work, often under very and it is hoped that the work In strained conditions and financial dif- Sao Tome will be adequately ficulties, particularly those who de- supported. pend for their support on Middle Europe. But nobody sees how this -World Dominion Press. country's affairs may be settled, there is not one, ray of hope that matters will clear up in the near or distant future, and I think that all of us have failed in the paramount duty of pray- ing constantly for this holy land, as
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
God only can send peace and He will meeting. "I have written the the divine power of the Good undoubtedly do so in His time if we unite in prayers to Him. music for the Lord's Prayer," he News. said, and handed me a neatly -Near East Christian Council.
Iranian Christian Art written sheet of music. "Will INDIA AND BURMA you sing it for us· tonight?" I Recent relaxation of the Mos- asked. He agreed, and later on lem rule in Iran against displays impressed us all deeply by sing- Legislators Face Problems of Christian work has been fol- ing "Our Father which art in Indian legislators are finding lowed by the use of Christian Heaven" to Iranian music of his pictures in educational p r 0- own composition. Then he gave that their economic and social grams. An Iranian was asked to a splendid testimony, telling the problems are not capable of select from a catalogue of Perry others what God had done for speedy solution. Mr. Gandhi's pictures those best suited to his him. educational proposals are called people. Unerringly, he picked impractical; and obstacles cononly great masterpieces, and one Field Widens in Arabia result has been increased sales tinue to arise in regard to childof Christian literature. Dr. Paul W. Harrison outlines marriage laws. The usual dis- some reasons for encouragement turbances involving Hindus and Converted By a Dream in medical work in Arabia. One Moslems result in clashes here of these is the steadily improv- Rev. W. McE. Miller, Presby- ing equipment. Better build- and there. However, most obterian missionary of Teheran, servers agree that the experi- ment of self-government is working not too badly. Iran, tells the story of one of the ings, instruments andautomo- A halt has been called in the latest converts, a man about 30. biles all contribute to the doc- prospects of any large communal He came to a meeting for in- tor's efficiency, but more im- movement of the d e pre sse d quirers and introduced himself portant than buildings and in- classes. Dr. Ambedkar is out at the close. He had been seek- struments, better trained men for guarantees that if any gen- ing the truth for five or six are now available, and with eral movement should take place, years, but had not found it. better training come increased assurances must be forthcoming Finally, one of his friends sug- resources of medicine itself; for that the political rights and sogested that he read the New anemia, they now have some- cial and economic well-being of Testament. He came to the gate thing better than powdered his community shall be conof our Mission where there is a shingle nails. served.
small bookshop and bought the As the friendlines:s of the peo- The general attitude of these book, and was profoundly in- ple grows, the field for medical classes is favorable to the recepfluenced by Christ's teaching. A work widens. Some have come tion of Christianity wherever year passed, and he did not be- to suspect that dirt is as much missions are in effective touch come a Christian. Finally, he to blame as the evil eye in mak- with them, and this work prohad a dream. He saw a great ing babies sick, and some of the ceeds in proportion to the abilmultitude, dressed in various most picturesque smells in the ity of missions to buy up the costumes, following a float on Near East are about to pass opportunity. The various "mass which a majestic Person was en- away. With all this have come movements" are proceeding· throned. A voice said to him, enlarged opportunities, and it is apace. The movement in the "Follow the teaching which is the day of beginnings for the Bhil area of Central India is exruling the world today!" He Christian Church. ceedingly promising, and if the tried to go nearer, but the crowd There are regular preaching missions were in a better posi- services where men and women prevented him. After ten days hear the good news about tion to follow up what is an unthe dream was repeated, and the Christ. Some of these are held doubted desire on the part of voice said, "Why do you hold in the Hospital compound, and these people to become Chrisback? Follow this teaching!" some of them in the little houses tians, there is almost no limit to the degree in which these This time he found himself quite near the glorious Person. He of the hospital helpers. There 2,000,000 people could be rerealized it was Christ, and he are social evenings where Chris- ceived into the Christian Church. determined to become a Chris- tian men and women learn how The five – year evangelistic tian, so on the advice of his Christ wants them to associate movement continues to occupy friend he had come to church, with one another. These are the attention of the churches, and the sermon had made a deep church affairs. The outside with notable results in many impression. We suggested that world is not invited. They are places. Conferences of farhe yield himself to Christ at hilarious and useful. The sum reaching importance are being once, and he said he was ready, total of all this is that the held in preparation for the so we prayed together, put his Church is emerging, and slowly Madras World Missionary Conhand into the hand of Christ, taking shape and growing, not ference, and there is a new spirit and he arose with a new light in because of any exhibition of hu- of optimism growing up in many his face. Next week he was the man skill or efficiency or wis- quarters. -World Dominion Press. first to arrive at the inquirers' dom, bp.t simply as a result of
Fighting Fear and demonstrated at a meeting of could be done for them, are now Superstition the Kolapur Church Council at being treated successfully. The C. M. S. Schools in Srinagar Sangli, when the eight or ten addition of this deep X-ray is are teaching their pupils to live up to their motto: "In all things missionaries present marvelled probably the hospital's greatest be men." Superstition and the at the progress made by Indian milestone in years, while for the fear of doing what "is not done," are twin evils in Kashmir. The Christian women in the past first time in its forty-five years' fear of public opinion is very strong, but the following inci- fifteen years since their first history an ambulance makes dent shows how this fear is being overcome. Those who lived participation in this organiza- possible more village work. The near the lake at Srinagar considered it useless to learn to tion. It was not just an occa- office has been made into a censwim because the "djinns" in the water would pull them down. sion to get together and talk; a tral unit, a cash register in- To disprove the theory, a yearly swim across the lake was organ- great deal of constructive activ- stalled to simplify routine work ized. Howe v e r, the "djinn" ity was reported. One village and a central storeroom makes woman reported apologetically. for greater efficiency and econ- for her group: '~'- omy. Plans are under way for I am only a country woman and I a second operating room and a library. can't read, but I'll tell about our so- -Western India Notes. ciety. We live in the country and Cholera Outbreak there is no one to help us or show us how we ought to do things. We don't even know how to pray proper- worshipers were not satisfied. ly, as we've never had a real opportu- In the recent outbreak of "It is true you have conquered nity to learn anything much, but we cholera in the United Provinces, the day-water 'djinns,'" they met regularly anyhow and did the 15,000 cases, out of 30,000, are best we knew. reported to have died. Fortysaid, "but how about those who four out of forty-eight districts inhabit the water at night?" The Here is a list of activities, are affeded. According to the challenge was accepted, and taken at random from reports Associated Press, entire villages thirteen boys swam safely across read: the lake at midnight. have been wiped out. Giving information regarding tem- The first crew of boys to pad- perance and missionary work of other India is one of the world's dle a boat through the city, lands. greatest cholera danger spots, about thirty years ago, hid them- Supporting Christian p rim a r y with more than 400,000 cases selves under b I a n k e t s, so schools for non-Christian children. every year. The ignorance and ashamed were they as sons of the educated to be seen engaged Helping support widows and or- superstition of the common in manual work. In various phans by sewing and other activities. ways the school is modifying people hinder the efforts of the the social customs of Kashmir. Conducting a nursery school in a officials to cope with the disease. For example, the rule that boys needy neighborhood. Native custom requires that under 18 who marry must pay double fees to enter the school Doing voluntary evangelistic work, bodies of cholera victims be is an effective method of reduc- usually in villages. thrown into streams, instead of ing the number of early mar- being buried or burned, and any riages. More than fifty widowed Conducting Sunday schools. attempt on the part of the govgirls have remarried in the past Supervising primary schools. ten years-another old custom Selling Christian literature (one ernment to prevent this is met dethroned. There is a new atti- enterprising woman sold over 100 tude toward the suffering of ani- Christian booklets to delegates in one with opposition. However, the mals; many boys are entering day). government is making every ef- Teaching illiterates to read. Teaching sewing, crocheting, knit- fort to deal with the problem on ting, etc. a large scale by using mass in- Helping small village societies to oculation and disinfection of conduct their meetings. dwellings as rapidly as possible. Cleaning the church, each woman voluntarily taking a turn.
-Western India Notes.
the veterinary profession. Bet- Bright Spots at Miraj Converts Walk 100 Miles ter still, more consideration is being shown the sick and afflict- Miraj Hospital is known all It is news when we hear of ed. There is a marked spiritual Christians so anxious to attend influence in the school, where over the world as one of the few a Christian service they will 1,400 boys and 280 girls are be- self-supporting mission instituing prepared for life. tions, and is unique in its being walk one hundred miles in order the only hospital to support a to be present. A group of eleven -The Christian. medical school. It is especially men in the Telugu area agreed Women to the Fore known for its surgery, a repu- they would walk the fifty miles tation which the late Sir Wil- there and fifty back to attend Daily papers in India indicate liam Wanless and Charles E. the conference in Hindpur. Then how rapidly women are coming Vail established. Notable acqui- they decided to make an evanto the front in politics, education sitions of the past year were the gelistic campaign of it so and social service, while their deep X-ray and the ambulance. preached in the villages en progress in the field of Christian Patients suffering from deep- route, and in order that they religion is becoming more and seated cancer, who were turned might reach as many villages as more noteworthy. This was away formerly because nothing possible with their witness, they
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
decided to return by a different Evangelism Among Bunnans result will be is not yet foreseen. route. Not only did they walk Educators find themselves in an 100 miles but it cost them at A writer in the National impossible situation. On the lease nine days' wages for the Christian Council Review asserts one hand, they face the humiliprivilege of attending the s e that Burma is today as strongly ating demands of the arrogant meetings. The leader of the Buddhist as it has ever been; invading army. On the other, group, who is a cripple, told and if the non-Burman Christian they must reckon with the risfriends how God had supplied community were removed, the ing tide of Chinese patriotism all their needs and kept them Church would number not more which suspects every attempt at from harm along the way, his than 15,000. Some have main- accommodation with the conface fairly beaming as he told it. tained that the time has come to querors as incipient treason. abandon work in Burma· and Sooner or later, the missions -Darkness and Light. concentrate upon more respon- will find it impossible to main- sive peoples, such as the Karens tain even a semblance of neu- Santal Christian Council and Chins, and thus form a ring trality under such conditions. of Christian people around the For the mission colleges in the An unusual feature of the land, trusting that the evangel- Peiping area, that time has evi- Santal Christian Council held ization of Burma will ensue. dently arrived. last February was that all the sessions, both devotional and The Burman cannot be said -Christian Century. business, were held in the Santal to be antagonistic to Christianlanguage. There were 14 Euro- ity. The message does not Farm Cooperatives for pean and American, and about arouse opposition. The Burman Refugees 40 Santal representatives pres- is influenced by public opinion ent. An entire session was which regards Christianity in a Plans are being developed to given to a discussion of the Sad- political rather than in a reli- form cooperative communities hu Movement. Sad h u s are gious light. The Burman Bud- of farmer refugees. It is estiknown as "clean people," and dhist attitude toward Burmese mated that between fifteen and they urge the Santal to give up Christians is that they have cut twenty million Chinese have eating unclean things, chickens, themselves off from the life of been driven off their lands in pigs., goats and sheep being their country by associating the devastated war zone, and classed as such. They urge the with the foreign cult. Preach- only heroic efforts by the Inter- Santals to worship the sun. The ing and routine work will not national Red Cross and similar fact that they respond to this bring the Burman into the agencies can save most of them teaching is proof of a heart Christian Church. He will from starvation before the end hunger which makes it all the change his religion only if he of next winter. Something more more imperative that they be cannot get away from the fact is needed than merely to feed given a chance to hear the that the new religion is better and clothe these helpless hordes, Christian message. than the old in the quality of and this something is now be- character it produces. ing sought by setting up in Two other subjects. discussed sparsely settled parts of China, were rural education and evan- CHINA AND TIBET far removed from the battle gelism. The following points lines where the likelihood of inwere indicated as essential: Japanese Orders Defied vasion is sma II, cooperative farming settlements. The money Training in handwork as well as Three Christian universities required to start these is coming academic subjects. in Peiping have risked their fu- in part from the Chinese gov- ture existence by refusing to ernment and in part from Chi- The use of materials easily avail- comply with orders to partici- nese banks. able in the district in which the school pate in celebrations of the Japis located, such as date palm leaves, anese occupation. The schools This establishment of farm jute and bamboo. involved are the Protestant cooperatives may have a far- Yenching University, the Ameri- reaching and permanent social Opportunities for gardening and can Catholic Fujen University importance in China. Perhaps the study of methods of improving and the French Catholic Peiping this may be one of the ways in agricultural work. University. The presidents of which an unexpected good may all three were ordered to hoist come out of the present evil of A cottage plan of hostel especially the flag of the puppet provision- war. for girls, and training in domestic al government, to make speeches science and the care of children. against Chiang Kai-shek's gov- Emergency Fund for Colleges ernment, to call on Japanese Opportunities for self-government army officers and tender official Nearly 4,500 individuals and in the hostel; responsibilities in the "thanks" for the Japanese in- organizations in the United Church and of service in· the village. vasion, and to send telegrams to States have united to raise an Chinese abroad denouncing Chi- emergency fund of $300,000 to The need for a positive faith, ang Kai-shek as "the arch crim- ensure the continuance of the 13 backed up by the testimony of a inal of eastern Asia." What the American – supported women's Christian life, was emphasized, as was also the need for a program of adult education among rural Santals.
-N a t ion a l Christian Council Review.
and coeducational colleges in Shantung Christian University, dhist theories in the form of a China, as the consummation of a seven months' campaign. The and the Central Government "Wheel of Life." The six reproject was undertaken by the National Emergency Committee University at Nanking have all gions of rebirth are painted on for Christian Colleges in China. moved to Chengtu. Dean S. N. a scroll which ranges from two This Christian educational work was begun by Americans Cheer, noted Chinese medical feet to several feet square, and as early as 1864. Some of the thirteen institutions have been educator and graduate of Har- which can readily be rolled and forced to leave their buildings temporarily; others have been vard, who has been in charge of unrolled. It occurred to misbombed, and are now in dugouts on the campus, but all of them the government medical school sionaries in Tibet that a Chrishave managed to maintain some, or all of their programs through- at Nanking, has been placed in tian Tibetan scroll on the lines out the past year. The total annual budget of the 13 colleges is charge of outpatient and inpa- of those used in the country normally about $1,600,000, of which a little more than $1,000,- tient clinical instruction at would be a novel and effective 000 comes from western sources and the remainder from Chi- Chengtu, thus centering almost way of presenting the Christian nese resources. Prevailing war conditions have reduced radical- all Chinese medical education in ". message. Services of Mr. John ly their income from Chinese sources, necessitating this spe- this one institution. ""Carey were secured, and he has cial fund of $300,000 both to replace losses of normal income -Christian Advocate. made some very beautiful paintand to meet heavy emergency expenditures. ings showing the life of Christ Another Rockefeller Gift Evangelizing Tibet and some of the parables. A lo- cal touch is given by depicting The Rockefeller Foundation Mass movements are not like- the learned men questioning J ehas made a grant of $35,000 for ly to occur in Tibet where travel sus in the temple as dressed like new buildings and modern is difficult and villages are sep- the lamas of Tibet. equipment at the University arated by mountainous districts. Hos.pital of West China Union Furthermore, the people are The scrolls, six of them, are University, Chengtu, Szechwan like the soil on which they live each sewn on to material of yel- Province. In addition to this -arid and stony. Statistically, low, blue and red, the colors gift, the University has received there is not much to show for used by the lamas. Each scroll $50,000 fro m an American the effort put forth to spread is carried in a sheath made of Methodist and $175,000 from tin with loops so that a string or sources in China. With its new the knowledge of Christ; yet leather strap can be attached equipment the University Hos- there is no doubt that the evan- when the evangelist goes on pital will have 275 beds and gelists who live among the peo- tour. -Moravian Missions. educational facilities for 150 ple and show the Christian medical students in nor mal times. In the present war emer- example are exerting a strong MISCELLANEOUS gency it has 325 medical stu- influence. An experiment is bedents from all parts of China. ing tried by opening a Gospel World Outlook for West China Union University, Inn for pilgrims and travelers Christianity "isolated" in the recesses of West China and far from the to and from Central Asia. The The World Alliance of Rewar area, is now the acknowl- object of this venture is to pro- formed Churches appraised the edged educational center of the vide lodging for these people, outlook for evangelical Chrisnation. It is a missionary in- and to tell them the Good News, tianity, and finds that in some stitution in which American besides distributing the Scrip- countries it is improving, in Methodists and Baptists, the tures to them on their depar- others declining. Adverse con- United Church of Canada, the ture. It is hoped later on to ditions affect the evangelical Friends of Great Britain, and keep an evangelist permanently churches in Italy, Germany, the Church of England combine posted in the Gospel Inn, and Ethiopia, Egypt, Chosen, Forto maintain. Faculties and stu- improve its usefulness as an mosa, Manchukuo, Russia, Spain dents of the University of Nan- evangelistic agency as circum- and Belgium. Protestantism, king, the School of Medicine of stances permit. however, is either growing or holding its own in Scandinavia, Another is the industrial proj- Holland, Switzerland, France, ect, intended to help indigent Czechoslovakia, Poland, Ruma- Christians to tide over a period nia, Greece, Hungary, India and of financial hardship, but the Africa. Finding a "marked re- isolation gives ve r y limited vival of Calvanism in the scope for such an enterprise. It Ref 0 r m e d and Presbyterian is encouraging that the little churches of Europe," the report attributes this in part to "the group of Christians in a village influence of the writings of Karl called oSheh are planning to build Barth." There is no doubt that a small church, independent of the attack of neo-paganism on any help from the Mission. -Baptist Missionary Review.
Christian Tibetan Scroll the Christian Church is driving evangelical church bodies in Eu- The traveler in Tibet frequent- rope back to the Biblical and ly meets in villages a pictorial spiritual fundamentals of their representation of current Bud- faith.-Watchman-Examiner.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
By-Product of Missions baptized converts among the year over 1936," the report states. Married women com- Missionary activity is not heathen and Moslems in the prised' 73 per cent and single limited to the field of religion, same period was 2,000,000, or women 17 per cent of this total, but flows over into other realms, one to every 525 of the heathen widows and divorcees making up and one important by-product and Moslem population. The the remainder. Their average is the contribution which mis- same degree of success among age was 41.5 years, the youngest sionaries have made to science, heathen and Moslems as among being 25 and the' oldest 65. Last especially in such fields as phi- Jews would have shown 7,000,- year's total is 115 per cent lology, geography, anthropology 000 converts, instead of 2,000,- greater than that of 1933, and and the study of ethnic religions. 000. Three times as many Jewish 159.5 per cent above the average Their contributions have often converts enter the Gospel min- yearly total number of women been of eminent importance, be- istry as of converts from among patients during the period from cause they have usually grown the heathen. A careful com- 1916 through 1936. out of a long personal contact parison of facts shows that no with the subject treated and mission field of modern times Turtle Eggs-Novel bear the stamp of a thorough has been so fruitful as the J ewand minute acquaintance, in viv- ish. Contribution id contrast with so many weak, theorizing productions of the se- The Great Delusion Dr. Albert W. Beaven, who cluded study rooms of univer- has made a recent visit to Bapsities. The New York Sun reports tist Missions in the Far East, these facts for those to ponder says that one of the queerest in- Progressive Ministry to Lepers who have thought that the li- cidents of the trip was one censing of strong drink would man's contribution of 4,000 tur- A summary of the past year's help America financially and tle eggs as his offering toward work of the Mission to Lepers otherwise: the Burma Baptist Convention. evidences an increasing scope of Some churches responded by this Christ-like ministry. Here In three years the Federal sending bags of rice, some a are some of the advances: in- government was defrauded of whole ox, while another church creased accommodations and $1,800,000 in alcohol taxes, and sent 2,000 ducks for entertain- New York State of $900,000. Five illicit stills were discovered, larger numbers in its institu- with capacities ranging from ing the 4,300 delegates. But one tions; a steadily increasing num- 200 to 500 gallons. More than man who specialized in turtle ber of out-patients; more service 500,000 gallons of alcohol were eggs sent 4,000 of them. These, for healthy children of lepers. distributed annually by the ring. being very perishable, had to be This work is developing rapidly Whiskey dispensed consisted of kept in wet sand in the basein India, especially. In China the a blend of alcohol, water, some ment of the church, and because need for such work is becoming coloring matter and a portion of of heat and humidity had to be more and more apparent, and in so-called "cooked whiskey." In turned over every ten hours to the widely affected areas of Af- this way 500,000 gallons of al- keep them from germinating. rica it is now realized how much cohol were converted into 1,000,- The entire time of two people can be done in this direction. 000 gallons of bad whiskey. It was required just to turn turtle The Children's Hospital Home was used chiefly by bars and res- eggs. in Uganda is an outstanding taurants to refill empty bottles Much has been written about example. Transcending all this that bore advertised brands and the missionary giving of the alleviation, is the spiritual com- labels of popular liquors. Karens, their self-supporting fort that is being brought to the Here was a triple delusion. churches and their evangelistic sufferers. This phase of the The government was cheated out work. Dr. Beaven was amazed work is proven of value in pro- of tax revenue. The legalized to find, instead of the bamboo, moting physical recovery. liquor industry suffered from thatch-c 0 v ere d shed for a -Life of Faith. illegal competition. The drink- church, a magnificent concrete ers were deceived into thinking and b ric k structure, seating Some Facts About Jews the bottles handed them by bar- from twelve to fifteen hundred According to the J ewish Year tenders contained what the la- people and with a pipe organ that probably cost about $15,000, Book the number of Jews bels said. throughout the world is over The K eel e y Institute at all paid for by the Karens 16,000,000. In the nineteenth Dwight, Illinois, reports that themselves. The seven or eight century 72,000 Jews accepted more women alcoholics took the other buildings, including high Protestant baptism, not to men- Keeley cure in 1937 than in any schools and dormitories, were tion the 132,000 baptized into previous year since 1915, and built 'and paid for by Karen the Greek and Roman Catholic the total number of patients of money. This in the face of the Churches. This is one Protes-' both sexes last year was the fact t hat the average Karen worker's income is from eighttant convert to every 156 of the largest since 1907. Jewish population at the end of "Women patients at the insti- een to twenty-five cents a day.
that century. The number of tute'increased 57.6 per cent last -Watchman-Examiner.
Missionary
Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information A History of the Expansion of Chris- jacket Df this vDlume which ….ance and especially what they tianity. (Vol. II.) The Thousand bears the symbDls Df falling pil- called the HDly Spirit-by their Years of Uncertainty-A. D. 500 to lars Df Crusader and MDslem very nature led to' variety and A. D. 1500. By Kenneth Scott La- tourette. Maps, Chronological Table warriDr; but the CrDss sur- to' extensive prDliferatiDn." This and Index. pp. 492. $3.00. Harper & Brothers, New York. mDunts the crescent and there is in line with the prDfessed in- are stars in the night-sky. One tentiDn Df the writer to' be "his- The first vDlume O'f this unsurpassed histO'ry Df the ex- reads these chapters with kin- tDrical and whDlly Dbjective" in pansiDn O'f Christianity was dling faith; thDugh God may his treatment Df the subject; reviewed at sO'me length (see December REVIEW, page 573). hide Himself, yet His truth and but his statement dDes nDt satisfy The purpDse and SCDpe Df the great wO'rk remain the same and right will win the day at last. Christians. every page bears the marks Df schDlarship and wide research. The treatment of sO' large a . Elsewhere the authDr ex- PrDfessor LatDurette has a clear theme is topical rather than presses his cDnvictiDn that Dnly style and does not waste wDrds. chrDnological. In the Introduc- thel"impDnderable"JDrces (sure- He Dmits nO'thing essential Dr tion we read: germane to' his theme and gives ly he means the HDly Spirit) "gDDd measure, pressed down, shaken tDgether and running First we will describe the conver- kept the Church alive and alight Dver" with very valuable fDO't- sion of those peoples who came into in medieval darkness. In dealnDtes. ing with the witness Df the the faith through Roman Catholicism, The title Df ProfessDr Latour- next of those who derived their faith martyrs and the patience Df the ette's book is arresting. The from Greek Christianity, and then re- saints during these dark days millenium Df racial migratiDns, count the territorial progress of the we IDng fDr a flash Df light and barbarian invasiDns and Islamic Nestorians and of the Syrian and fire. Even the stDry Df RaycDnquests seemed to be highly Coptic J acobites. Then chronologicalunfavDrable to' the spread Df ly we will double back on our tracks mund Lull is tDld in a rather Christianity. The hearts of the and tell of the spread of Islam and of lukewarm fashiDn, althDugh the faithful were perplexed. "At the the reverses which it brought to facts are faithfully chrDnicled. clDse Df the fifth century, Chris- But as Dne reads page after page tianity had becDme master Df Christianity. Next we will narrate the of the stDry Df the spread Df RDthe Mediterranean wDrld, which efforts of Christians to regain the was still, in spite Df its decay, ground lost to Islam and to carry man CathDlic Christianity in the majDr cultural centre Df their faith beyond the eastern bounds Spain, Gaul and NDrthern Eumankind. Within the next three of Islam into the lands of the Far rDpe, Df the missiDnary wDrk Df centuries it had IDSt abDut half East. Finally we will note the fresh this area and in the pDrtiDn outbursts of Moslem peoples which in the NestDrians in Ambia, Cenwhich still prDfessed the faith the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries tral Asia, China and India, Dne the level of civilizatiDn had dis- wiped Christianity from the map in is cDnfirmed in the cDnfessiDn: tinctly fallen." much of Asia and threatened it in "I believe in the HDly CathDlic Southeastern Europe. Following this The story Df these thDusand account of the varyin~ fortunes in the Church." years is black with tragedy, but expansion of the faith we will adnDt withDut rays Df hope. dress ourselves to the questions of the This secDnd vDlume Df PrD- effect of Christianity upon its en- Thrice blest is he to whom is given vironment and of the effect of the fessDr LatDurette's magnum The instinct that can tell environment upon Christianity. opus is a specific against all the That God is on the field when He Is most invisible. And the marvel is that such parDchialism and prDvincialism wealth Df material, such a sweep The entire hymn by F. W. Fa- across Europe and Central Asia, Df thDse whO' sDmetimes seem to' ber might have been put on the such a crDwding Df a thDusand years intO' Dne day, in Dne bDDk, think that Church history be- does nDt apparently Dver-tax the writer nor weary the reader. It gan with the RefDrmatiDn Dr is a great achievement. One sentence in the IntrDduction we with the DisruptiDn in SCDt- regret, where the author speaks Df the FDunder Df Christianity: land! Our LDrd Jesus Christ "The experiences which came to' His disciples after the crucifix- was head Df His church all iDn – the resurrectiDn appear- thrDugh all these thDusand dark years and made even the wrath Df men to' praise Him. He was cDntinually working Dut his eternal purpDse Df IDve in the midst Df human failure and un- certainty. S. M. ZWEMER.
[446 ] S. J. W. Clark. A Vision of Foreign presented here, are his lack of Forward Through the Ages. By Jesse emphasis on the importance of R. WHson. 139 pp. $1.00. The Missions. By Roland Allen. 12mo. prayer, his failure to state the 170 pp. 28. 6d. World Dominion Judson Press, Philadelphia. 1938. Press. 1938. This small but important book This unusual story of a Chris- necessity of the spiritual new contains a readable summary of tian business man should be read birth and the spiritual qualifica- "missions and missionaries of by every missionary and every tions for missionaries; there is yesterday and today." Mr. Wilexecutive of missions. In seven also no clear statement as to our son has written out of rich exjourneys, (from 1905 to 1924) dependence on the Holy Spirit in perience, first as a missionary in Japan, then as general secretary Mr. Clark looked into foreign the calling and preparation of of the Student Volunteer Movemission work as a pioneer "fact missionaries and in the actual ment; since 1936 he has been finder." He formed his own work that is being done on each western field secretary of the opinions as to the results of the field and in the offices at home. American Baptist Foreign Miswork and the way in which mis- Mr. Clark had positive convic- sions Society. It is an excellent sions should be conducted effi- tions and courage; he stood for book to put into the hands of ciently to be in accord with the new and better methods, rather young people and members of teachings of Christ and the ex- than for more life and better missionary societies. Even those ample of the early Apostles. As personnel; for finer mechanics who are well read in missionary a result, he severely but con- rather than for greater dynamic: literature will like its admirably structively criticized the work of clear and sympathetic survey mission boards to their face. He Der Arbeitslohn in China. By Prof. and evaluation of foreign miswas convinced that too much at- Dr. Paul Arndt, Dr. Djini-Schen sions, past and present. tention has been given to "dig- and Dr. Chii-Fen-Lo. Hans Buske. ging in" on the mission field, and Verlag. Leipzig. A. J. B. too little to surveying the fields in order to understand the need .Every missionary to China Who Is the Holy Spirit? By Henry and to evangelize the vast un- ~Ill find profit from reading this W. Flrost. 12mo. 124 pages. occupied areas. He believed that $1.25. Fleming H. Revell Co., New the Gospel of Christ must be mformabve boo k, evidently York. 1938. widely scattered as "living written after much knroeswelaerdcgh~ Many Christians are like the Seed," that the Bible must be and fro m first-hand disciples at Ephesus in that they of the field.
given to all mankind as the Word The 3,000 years of feudalism have scarcely "heard whether of God. He advocated the use of in China duplicated many condi- there is any Holy Spirit." Much "simplified script." Mr. Clark tions found in the world today, less do they understand His naheld that native leaders must be and suggests the way to organic ture, offices and relation to trained and indigenous churches cooperation among various eco- themselves. It is one of the most should be established and taught nomic groups. The study of important subjects in Christian to be self-supporting from the wages is fruitful for the scholar theology and life. Huge volumes start; and that these Christian the agriculturist, the mechanic: have been written in attempts churches must be the real agen- the tradesman and other work- to interpret the Scripture teachcies for the evangelization of ers, but not to the militarist ings. Here is a simple, clear their own people. What he stood whose life is built on the phi- and practical study that takes tip for deserves the attention of mis- losophy of force. briefly the Spirit's personality, sionary executives today. When This book traces the primal offices, baptism, filling, em- Mr. Clark died a few years ago social cell of China to ancestral powering and other subtopics. he left his fortune to make pos- relations, and then through prop- It is wholly Biblical with a few sible the world surveys of the erty holding, bartering and the -too few-facts of Church his- W 0 rId Dominion Movement. problems of industrial difficul- tory and personal experience to Mr. Clark's main principles in- ties. In an estimated population show how the Holy Spirit has cluded: (1) an organized, well- of 474,820,000 there are about been carrying out the predicconsidered plan for the evan- 78,568,245 families, of which , tions of the New Testament. Dr. gelization of the whole world; 80 % are active in agriculture. Frost 'has rendered a real serv- (2) cooperation and coordina- ice, especially to pastors and tion among all evangelical Chris- The economic facts help the young Christians, in giving us tian forces; (3) special empha- missionary to gauge not only the this illuminating and undersis on evangelization, rather condition of the people but the standable presentation of what than on institutional work; (4) possible support that may be ex- is to many a difficult or negan unpaid native ministry and a pected for the Church and its in- lected-but very vital-subject. stitutions. While there is no self-supporting native church from the beginning; and the de- direct reference to the Christian Following in His Train. By Mrs. J. missionary enterprise, every- W. Cox. 8 vo. 217 pp. 60 cents. velopment of truly indigenous thing in the book bears some re- Boardman Press, Nashville, Tenn. churches, independent of foreign lation to missions and to all life 1938. control. as related to sound economic Mrs. Cox, the wife of a deacon The essential elements that we principles. in the First Baptist church in miss in Mr. Clark's program, as JOHN M. G. DARMS. Memphis, Tenn., was for a time
President of the Woman's Mis- by friends and critics, by evan- would not accept her as a mis- sionary Union. Her chronicle gelists and by men of little faith sionary until she was twenty- of the women's missionary work in the things for which D. L. five, so she filled the intervening of the Southern Baptist Conven- Moody stood committed. These time with the study of medicine, tion is filled too much with seek to set forth the man, his and sailed for Africa in 1919.
names and dates to be popular message, his achievements and Her life was crowded with rich in style, but it gives evidences the secret of his power. All see experiences and achievements, of devoted service and real in him a great man who wielded interestingly recorded in this achievement. a vast influence and left a last- biography. Miss Veenstra died ing impression, but all are inade- in 1933, but the work goes on Dannie and the Alabaster Box. By quate. with signs of blessing.
Constance Savery. 12 mo. 62 Mr. Wilson, a Christian jour- H. H. F. pages. 9d. Pickering & Inglis, Glasgow. nalist, who never knew Mr. ""l'he Presbyterians: The Story of a Moody but has seen the results Stanch and Sturdy People. By An active, mischief-loving boy, through the dramatic, vivid of his work and sympathizes William Thompson Hanzsche. 194 stories of a former missionary, pp. $1.25. The Westminister with his faith and purpose, ha~ Press, Philadelphia. 1938. here tried to interpret the becomes enthusiastic in the "Meaning of Moody." He suc- Ministers, members of Prescause. When Dannie was kept ceeds in giving us many interat home by illness and could not esting glimpses of the man and byterian churches and other stu- attend the big Missionary Ex- some idea of the secret of his dents of religion will doubtless hibition, "Uncle Arthur" made power, but they are only frag- agree with Professor Gaius up for his disappointment by mentary glimpses and ideas. Jackson Slosser of Western telling him thrilling stories of Most of the biographical ma- Theological Seminary, that this Red Tiger, the converted robber terial given here deals with Mr. "is a distinct contribution to of India. He suggested ways Moody's early years, before he historical literature." In brief by which even a small boy could gave all his time to evangelistic compass it gives the main facts earn money to help send the work-in other words to the first regarding the founding and de- Gospel to people whose religious half of his life. velopment of Presbyterianism in beliefs often caused them to Mr. Wilson clearly points out treat even little children cruelly. that D. L. Moody's one aim was the United States, with some ac- count of home missions, but A treasured "Alabaster Box," only a short reference to the brought from India by Uncle Arthur, was chosen by enthusi- to exalt Christ and to win men extensive foreign missionary astic Dannie to hold their gifts to Him – not to himself. He w 0 r k 0 f the Presbyterian says: "I am one who doubts that Moody will ever pass out of the Church. The author, who is a and Dannie enlists his sister, pastor in Trenton, N. J., and a Charlotte, and many 0 the r friends in the good work. His picture. I doubt it because former edito,r of The Presbyenthusiasm, coupled with his Moody was never in any picture terian Magazine, has written in love of mischief, gets him into some pretty serious situations, that did not include the Cross of a fine irenic spirit, declaring and invites frequent correction. Christ. It is not Moody's par- The children are so bluntly that, while "we need to hold to truthful, that they often cause ticular job that explains his great amusement. meaning. It is the fact that he our standards in a world which became big enough for whatever job might be ahead of him. 'God apparently has no standards at is able,' he would say. Love will all, we need to be sympathetic find a way; and this means that to the viewpoint of other Chris- tians." A. J. B.
The small boy seems almost a man filled with the love of God Youth in the Toils. By L. V. Hartoo well informed, and too well becomes the capable man that rison and P. McN. Grant. 167 pp. acquainted with books, for a the world needs." $1.50. Macmillan, New York. 1938. child of seven but the story is bright, interesting and dramatic. Johanna of Nigeria. By Henry Beets. This study has two objectives: 8vo. 228 pp. Grand Rapids Print- to state a very real social proband should help any child or ing Co., Grand Rapids, Mich. 1937. lem of every large city, and to a d u I t to become missionary stir public sentiment to the point This is the life story of a of dealing with it. Mr. Harrison Ir.inded. L. W. P. Dutch Mary Slessor. Johanna is an outstanding criminologist The Meaning of Moody. By P. Whit- Veenstra was born in Paterson, and Mr. Grant has devoted his well Wilson. Illustrated. 12mo. N. J., of sturdy Dutch parent- life to boy probleIru3. The book 151 pp. $1.50. Fleming H. Revell age and at the age of sixteen includes actual stories of delin- Co., New York. 1938. worked in the Gospel Mission quent boys, some told in their One of the evidences of the conducted by Peter Starn. One own language, showing what greatness of D. L. Moody is the day at a Training Institute she made them delinquent. These fact that no biographer, and no heard Dr. Karl Kumm explain "case studies" indicate how difnumber of biographers do justice his idea of a chain of. Christian ferent handling might have to his life and work or fully por- missions across Africa asa bul- made good citizens, in place of tray him. We have "Lives" by wark to stem the tide of Islam. criminals. It is a timely book his two sons and his son-in-law, The Sudan United Mis s ion for this present day. H. H. F.
Book. Chiang Kai-Shek: Soldier and States- Foreign Missions Conference
man. Hollington K. Tong. 2 vola. North America. Report of Forty- 322 and 359 pp. Each vol. 158. fifth Annual Meetin(r. 188. pp. Missionary Arrives in Brazil A. T. Hum & Blackett, London. $1.35. Foreign MiSSIOns CoBler- Bentley Duncan. Svo. 192 pp. ence, New York. 28. 8d. Pickering & Inglis, London. Strong Man of China: Storr of Chiang Kai-Shek. 288 pp. ,3.00. W orId's Need of Religion, The. Pr0- New Testament, The. John Wesley's Houghton Mimin, New York. ceedings of World Congresa of Translation. Introduction by George Faiths, Oxford, 1937. 189 pp. 68. C. Cell 891 ])p. John C. Winston Christian Missions in Mid-India. J. Nicholson & Watson, London. Co., Phi1adelplUa. W. Pickett. 111 pp. 12aB. Jub- bulpore Mission Press. Educational Missions at Work. Ed- Forward Through the Ages. Jesse R. ited by H. P. Thompson. DIu. 128 Wilson. 189 pp~ $1.00. Judson Niger Ibos. G. T. Basden. Map. Il- pp. lB. 6d. S. P. G., London. Press, Philadelphia. Ius. 448 pp. 2lB. Seeley, Service, London. Buddhist Sects of Japan. E. Steinil- E,!aqelize or Fossilize. Herbert her-Oberlin and Kuni Matsuo. Lockyer. 92 pp. Bible Institute, Gambia: Country, People and Translated from the French. 308 Chicago. Church. John Laughton. DIus. 38 pp. 108.6d. Allen & Unwin, Lon- Seeing London With My Young pp. 6et. S. P. G., London. don. Friend&. C. A. Puncker. 144 pp. Drama of Madagascar, The. Sonia F. 28. Pickeding & Inglis, London. Howe. 359 pp. 158. Methuen, Christianity Explained to Muslims. L. Bevan Jones. 225 ])3). Rs 8. Roman Catholicism and F.reedom. London. Y. M. C. A. Publishing House, Cal- Cecil J. Cadoux. 207 pp. 58. In- cutta. dependent Press, London. Interpretative Statistical Survey of the World Mission of Christianity. An Open Letter to J ewa and Chris- Church Can Save the World, The. Edited by Joseph I. Parker. 331 tians. John Cournos. 188 pp. Samuel M. Shoemaker. 162 pp. pp. $5.00. International Mssion- $2.00. Oxford University Press, $1.60. Harper Bros., New York. ary Council, New York. New York.
Century of Mission Work in Basuto- Directory of World MiNions. Ed- Some ASl!ects of Religious Liberty land. V. Ellenbe}"ger. 882 pp. ited by Joeeph I. Parker. 382 pp. of Nationals in the Near East. Sesuto Book Dept., Morija, Basuto- $2.00. International Miseionary Compiled by Helen C. M. Davis. 182 land. – Council, New York. pp. ,3.00. Harper Bros., New York.
Children of the Rising Sun. Willard Sir, We Would See Jesus. D. T. Church and the Tribulation, The. Price. 816_ 3)p. $3.00. Reynal & Niles. 128 pp. 28. Student Chris- C. F. Hogg and W. E. Vine. 68 pp. Hitchcock, New York. tian Movement, London. 6d. Pickering & Inglis, London.
Send in Your Order Now for The October-Special India-Number of THE MISSIONARY ~'VlRID Some Leading Articles by Leading Authors with Maps, Chart., Illustrations INDIA AS A MISSION FIELD TODAY ……………… Alexander McLeish WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE FOR INDIA …………………… A Record THE UNTOUCHABLES AND THE GOSPEL ………… Bishop of Domakal • INDIAN RELIGIONS TODAY …………………….. Nicol Macnicol ATTITUDE OF INDIAN STUDENTS TOWARD CHRIST …….. A. Ralla Ram. OUTLOOK FOR CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA ………….. E. Stanley Jones.
INDIAN ASHRAMS AND SADHUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. Father Lash • HOME MISSIONS OF THE INDIAN CHURCH ………….. Thomas David CHRISTIAN VILLAGES IN INDIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J. Z. Hodge OUTSTANDING INDIAN CHRISTIANS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. D. Devanandham NOTABLE MISSIONARIES TO INDIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C. E. Abraham INDIAN ATTITUDE TOWARD CHRIST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E. N. Wells • Expected but not yet received.
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Edilor.. SA..,.UEL M. ZWEMER, EDWIN E. CALVERLEY SOME ARTICLES IN THE JULY NUMBER Islam a Sevenfold Problem Samuel M. Zwemer "Some Libraries of _Cairo ,William M. Randall Islam in Sumatra Raymond L. Archer Allah Before Islam F. V. Winnett AI KUmai1: Companion of die Secret Dwi&ht M .. Donaldson 'The Moslem Antagonist Robert S. Darbishire Sins and Their Punishment in ISlam Francis T. Coo'lce Church and State in the Near East • Alfm-d Carleton A Theological Poem ' I. Lowrie Andenon Book Reviews-Current Topics ,f Survey of Periodicals Sue Molleson Foster _ ~ SUBSCRIBE NOW I( II[ '0 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 It SCOTT, 12 Patemoster Buildings, London, E. C. Price in Great Britain, Eight S~gs a Year, net THE LIFE OF GEORGE BOWEN, OF BOMBAY By ROBERT E. SPEER 'Ibis 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"c;alled him, "The White Yogt..
When George Bowen died i~ 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. ADecisive Year, 1849. II. Boyhood and Youth. XII. From 1850 to 1855. III. Three Years Abroad. XIII. Ten Years' of Independent Work. Life in New York, 1840-1844. XIV. The Bombay Guaraian. IV. Illumination of a Hopeless Love. XV. Relations with the American Board. V. Conversion to Christianity. XVI. Association with the Methodist Church. VI. At Union Theological Seminary. XVII. Bowen as a Writer. VII. XVIII; Correspondence with Henry W. Rankin. VIII. His Missionary Appointment. Cosing Testimony. IX. The Voyage to Incha, 1847. XIX. X. Beginning Missionary Work.
This latest work. by Dr. Speer may be ordered at $2.50 per copy from THE MISSIONARY REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY- 186 Fifth Avenue. New York
The Missionary Review of the World — April 1938
1938
How the Indian Church Reads the Bible Marguerite Grove Modak A Cathedral on Wheels in Ohio Norman R. Sturgis Mansur Sang.-.-.-Christian Dervish J. Christy Wilson The Holy Cities of Islam in Iraq Calvin K. Staudt Black and White in South Africa Kenneth G. Grubb The Pastor and Missionary Education Jesse H. Arnup 2S Cents a Copy $2.50 a Yea,.
D.te. to Remember PLAN NOW to Spend Next Summer's Vacation with
ica's Greatest Theological Teachers. April 28-General Conference, Meth- odist Episcop·al Church, South, Bir- Winona Lake School of Theology, Winona Lake, Indiana mingham, Ala. For Ministers, Teachers, Missionaries, Sunday School Worker. and Laymen May 12-16-Southern Baptist Conven- tion, Richmond, Va. Courses leading to Regular Theological Degrees • Cost Reasonable 50 July 12 to August 17- Two Terms 15 Days Each· Interdenominational May 18-22-General Missionary Con- Free ference of the Woman's Missionary Evangelical Faith and High Scholarship Combined Rooms Union of Friends in America, Whit- tier, California. Mrs. Virginia Dr. W. E. BiederwoU, Director (Asic: for free Prospectus) Dr. J. A. Haffmu. Doaa Peelle, Wilmington, Ohio, President. nal at 24, and was private secretary to deeply interested in the Y. M. C. A. May 19-General Assembly, Presby- and Y. W. C. A. and in THE MISSION- terian Church in U. S., Meridian, President Benjamin Harrison in 1889, Miss. died at Leonia, New Jersey, on Feb- ARY REVIEW.
May 22-Rural Life Sunday. ruary 27th, at the age of 95. George Foste*r P*eab*ody, noted phi- May 25-General Assembly, United Colonel Halford was very active in lanthropist and churchman, died at Presbyterian Church of North Pine Glade, Warm Springs, Ga., on America, Cleveland, Ohio. church work and in the Y. M. C. A., March 4th. He was 85 years of age. and was a memb~r of the Board of May 26-General Assembly, Presby~ Foreign Missions of the Methodist Mr. Peabody had a keen interest in terian Church in U. S. A., Philadel- the welfare of the Negro. He gave phia, Pa. Episcopal Church. time, attention, and money to various He was born in Nottingham, Eng- organized efforts for the advancement May 31-June 4-Triennial Conven- of the Colored people. For many tion, and 50th Anniversary, Wom- land, in 1843, and was brought to the years, he was a trustee of the Amer- an's Missionary Society of the ican Church Institute for Negroes. General Synod, Evangelical and United States in 1848. He was a Reformed Church, Akron, Ohio. delightful personality and was deeply Mr. Peabody was born in Columbus, Ga., on July 27, 1852, the son of June 2 – General Synod, Reformed interested in Christian work. For George Henry Peabody. Church in America, Asbury Park, N.J. s·ome years he was active in the Amer- He often said that he was grad- uated from the Y. M. C. A., declaring June 15-22-General Council of Con- ican Mission to Lepers. he obtained the equivalent of a college gregational and Christian Churches, education in its libraries and lecture Beloit, Wisconsin. *** rooms.
June 18-25-Geneva Summer School Dr. John R. Fleming, emeritus sec- *** for Missionary Education. For in- formation address Mrs. Paul H. retary of the Alliance of Presbyterian Amy Blanche Greene, Director of Wezeman, 1177 S. Humphrey Ave., and Reformed Churches, died suddenly Young People's Work for the Greater Oak Park, Ill. New York Federation of Churches in London, December 28, at nearly 80 since 1933, died on March 2, in New June 25-July 2-Interdenominational York. She was a graduate of Miami Conference of Missions, Eagles years of age. Dr. Fleming was born University, the Chi c ago Divinity Mere, Pa. School and Union Theological Sem- in Fifeshire, Scotland, and was edu- inary. June 28-July 3 – Twentieth Interna- tional Convention on Christian Edu- cated in Edinburgh. He was one of cation, Columbus, Ohio. the first Scottish supporters of the July 12-August 17 – Winona Lake School of Theology, Winona Lake, Christian Endeavor Movement, and in Ind. 1902 was elected its national presi- dent. Among his books are The Burn- September – General Com mit tee, ing Bush and History of the Church World's Student Christian Federa- tion, Japan. in Scotland. *** December 13-30 – International Mis- sionary Council, Madras, India. Rev. Levi B. Salmans, M.D., first Obituary Notes medical missionary to found a hospital The Rev. Dr. J. Sumner Stone, a in Mexico, died in Pasadena, January Methodist Episcopal clergyman and missionary for more than fifty years, 29, aged 83. He had retired in 1927, died in New Rochelle, New York, on February 18th at the age of eighty- after 42 years of medical-evangelistic I SERVICE I two. work. *** A native of Wheeling, W. Va., Dr. Stone studied medicine at the Univer- , Mrs. Nora Jones Bowen, wife of sity of Pennsylvania and, after his graduation in 1879, he went to Cal- the former President of Nanking Uni- IF YOU are considering the cutta, India, as a missionary for eight years. He then returned to the United versity, died January 14, in Altadena, States and did mission work in New York before assuming his first pas- California. She had gone as a mistorate. sionary under the Methodist Board in publication of a book, He retired nine years ago after having served nine churches. He was 1897, retiring in 1930. pamphlet, or tract, why not for a time the president of the International Missionary Union. *** let us make it for you? Our *** James H. Post, one of the most facilities are most modern, generous givers that America has ever Lieut. Col. Elijah Walker Halford, known, died on March 5th, at his home and our location is at the who rose from "printer's devil" to be- in Brooklyn, N. Y. Mr. Post had lived come editor of The Indianapolis Jour- an abundant life of Christian service, "heart of distribution." Esti- both in personal ways and in move- ments for the welfare of his fellows mates on your particular re- and for the evangelization of the world. He had given largely to many quirements, with expert missionary enterprises, notably the Laymen's Missionary Movement. Mr. counsel, will be gladly fur- Post and his wife, Louisa Wells Post, a daughter of the Rev. John D. Wells, nished on request. I'li D.D., a former president of the Pres- byterian Board of Foreign Missions, e~ B06Iu have generously cooperated in the p~ undertakings in home and foreign lands. They founded the John D. ~FF~CTIVE PRINTING AT Wells School in Seoul, Chosen, and the ECONOMICAL PRIC~S John D. Wells School in Siangtan, Hunan, China, and aided substantial- The Evangelical Press ly MacKenzie College, in Brazil, and many other undertakings in various Printers of missions. Mr. and Mrs. Post were The Missionary Review of the World Third and Reily Streets Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
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REVIEW OF THE WORLD Twain once received a letter from a every speed record to and from subscriber complaining that he had the Orient. 10 days direct to DBLAVAN L. PIBRSON, lfditor found a spider in his paper and ask- Yokohama by Empress of Asia ing the meaning of it. The editor or Empress of Russia. Or only VOL. LXI APRIL, 1938 No. 4 replied: "Dear old subscriber: Find- three days more via Hawaii by ing a spider in your newspaper was Empress of Japan, largest and Publication and Business Ollie&– neither good luck nor bad luck for fastest on the Pacific, or Empress Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. you. The spider was merely looking of Canada. Connect at Honolulu over your paper to see which mer- from California ports. Editorial and Executive Ollie&– chant is not advertising so he can go From Vancouver and Victoria 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. to that store, spin his web over the to Yokohama, Kobe, Nagasaki, Entered as second-class matter at door and lead a life of undisturbed Shanghai, Hong Kong, Manila. peace ever afterward." Details from YOUR TRAVEL Post Oftlce, Harrisburg, Pa., under AGENT or Canadian Pacific·: Act of March 3, 1879. *** 41 offices in U. S. and Canada.
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MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- *** LISHING CO., INC. A reader in Kansas recently wrote BOARD OF DIRECTORS to the Editor: "The first time I ever ROBE'RT E. SPBER, Pre8ident looked into your magazine was today. A. L. WARNSHUIS, VicfI-Pre8ident I was glad to see the stand you took WALTER MCDoUGALL, Treasurer concerning your conviction that Christ DELAVAN L. PIBRSON, Secretary deals primarily with the spiritual needs of the world." PAUL J. BRAIBTED SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT *** D. J. FANT This is true for Christ sees that the spiritual needs underlie and per- MRS. ORRIN R. JUDD meate all others. He is also concerned WM. B. LIPPHARD for man's material needs, as He showed when He was on earth, for Emc M. NORTH the supply of these needs has much to do with man's character and wel- SAMUEL M. ZWEMEB fare and his efficiency in the service of God and man. Editorial Chat *** The annual meeting of The Missionary Review Publishing Co. was Another reader writes: held at the Parkside Hotel, New York, at 1 p. m., March 28, 1938. At this "I have always had an intense inmeeting reports for 1937 were given, terest in mission work and missionary directors were elected for the coming problems. Only recently, however, year and the future plans for THE has your publication come to my at- REVIEW carefully considered. Matters tention. I assure you that I am glad of vital interest concerning THE RE- to have discovered it. The articles I VIEW were given much thought and find definitely interesting. The secthoroughly considered. tion entitled "Our World Outlook" is particularly instructive and enlight- *** ening. It covers such vast ground that one cannot but realize how well The June number of THE REVIEW the idea of Christ has gotten to the will be devoted to the Home Mission remotest corners." study topic-"The City." Articles are planned to show the great need of the JULIUS S. MILLER, modern city for the Gospel of Christ, Dillard University. the various agencies that are seeking to solve the problems – especially New Orleans, La. those that touch spiritual needs, and the results of such work in the transformation of individuals, homes and communities. Send in your order now in advance – 25 cents a copy, $20 a hundred.
USED IN OVER ONE MILLION CHRISTIAN HOMES HURLBUT'S STORY OF THE BIBLE By.JESSE LYMAN HURLBUT. D.O. Recommended by all denominations for Its freshness and accuracy, for its simplicity of language,for itsfreedomfrom doctrinal discussion.
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RELIGIONS OF THE
The .twelve leading religions of the world which have persisted through a succession of centuries are, in the order of their origin: Animism, Hinduism, Judaism, Shinto, Zoroastrian- ism, Taoism, J ainism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, Islam and Sikhism.
Numerically, Christianity has the largest following of any religion, with more than twice as many adherents as Confucianism, the next largest. .
The 1937 World Almanac gives the following statistics: Christianity, 682 million; Confucianism and Taoism, 351 million (about 43 million of these are Taoists) ; Hinduism, 230 million; Islam, 209 million (most authorities give 240 million, placing Islam third in the list) ; Buddhism, 150 million; Animism, 136 million; Shinto, 25 million; Judaism, 15 million. The number of adherents of th~ three religions not listed by the World Almanac are commonly estimated as: Sikhism, 3 million; J ainism, 1 million; Zoroastrianism, one hundred thousand.
Islam is the only r.eIi~on which started in opposition to Chri~tianity.
Only three of these religions claim to have a universal claim on mankind – Islam, Buddhism and Christianity. Islam excludes its women, approximately half its adult followers, from full participation in its privileges and responsibilities.
Four religions are strictly monotheistic: Islam, Sikhism, Judaism and Christianity. Only Christianity presents a loving deity who actively seeks the redemption of the world and who is represented in human history by a Person of the same high moral character and purpose.
Four non-Christian religions claim in some form supernatural birth for their founders: Buddhism, Taoism, J ainism all(~ Zoroastrianism.
All the living religions, except Animism, have sacred scriptures: Hinduism, the Vedas; Judaism, The Law, The Prophets and The Sacred Writings; Shinto, Ko-ji-ki (The Records of Ancient-Matters) and Nihon-gi (The Chronicles of Japan); Zoroastrianism, Avesta; Taoism, Tao:"Teh-King (The Canon of Reason and Virtue); Jainism, the Angas; Buddhism, Tripitaka (Three Baskets) ; Confucianism, The Five Classics, and The Four Books; Christianity, the Bible; Islam, the Koran; Sikhism, the Granth.
All report some miraculous happenings of religious import in connection with the life of the founders.
Seven religions have teachings approximating the Golden Rule as teaching right relations with others.
Hinduism: "Do naught to others which, if done to thee, would cause thee pain: this is the sum of duty."
Buddhism: "In five ways should a clansman minister to his friends and familiars by treating them as he treats himself."
Confucianism: "What you do not want done to yourself, do not do unto others."
Taoism: "To those who are good to me, I am good; and to those who are not good to me, I am also good. And thus all get to be good."
Zoroastrianism: "That nature only is good when it shall not do unto another whatever is not good for its own self."
Judaism: "Whatsoever thou wouldest that men should not do unto thee, do not do that to them."
Christianity: "All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them."
There is a like precept in Greek philosophy: "Do not do to others what you would not wish to suffer yourself.'" …
All living religions hold some belief concerning a future existence, though they differ widely as to its character and even concerning its desirability.
Dr. R. E. Hume, in summing up the essential features of Christianity which are not paralleled among all the religions of the world, states three distinct characteristics in terms of the Christian belief concerning God: (1) In God there is something eternal (God as the creator and universal, loving Father); (2) In God there is something historic (the incarnation of God in the Son, Jesus Christ); (3) In God there is something progressive (the continuing, available, transforming presence, known as "The Holy Spirit") .-World Call.
[162 ] REVIB ORLD VOLUME LXI AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER 4 APRIL, 1938 Topics of the Times THE ONLY NAME – IN INDIA them th3it are bruised.' He gave the invitation, 'Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy "The problem of the uniqueness of Christ may laden and I will give you rest.' . . . His Sermon perhaps have only an academic interest for those on the Mount is a unique enunciation of eternal who were born in a society where the people en- ethics.
joy their elementary birthrights of the equality of 5. "He is unique in His claims to divine author- man. But to us Indians, it is one like the new dis- ity and power. (See John 8: 51; 14: 6; 11: 25; covery of a great treasure of Itornugthcetnhtautrlh·eas" s. been Ma6t.t."2H4e: 3is5.u) nique in His claims to be one with hidden away in the earth f or These are the opening sentences of an article God. (John 10: 30; 14: 9; 15: 23; 5: 21; Matt.
on "The Uniqueness of Christ" by Bhagat Ram 10: 37 ; J 0 hn 5 : 25.) in The Indian Witness of January 20, 1938. He 7. "He is unique in healing the wounds of the says: "In Christ this writer, who has been long brU.lsed. (Matt. 11 : 28 ; J 0 hn 6 : 35 ; 2 Cor.5: 17.) walking in darkness, has seen a great light." He 8. "He was unique in changing the world for then proceeds to set fOllth thirteen aspects of womanhood..,. ~ He regarded women equally Christ's uniqueness. with men, as capable of full intellectual and spir- 1. "His life and teachings are unique in that itual apprehension, as responsible for the exercise they are of a different order from the world's de- of the highest intellectual and spiritual faculties.
batable theories and ideals. . . . In a complex .. . . This message of His brought a liberty that world He gave us simple, basic truths upon which made available to her such service in the home and life is founded. society as has accomplished great things for the 2. "The central place He occupies in the history world.
of mankind. . . . Christ is the central figure of 9. "He is unique in finding the great spiritual the universe. Christmas, the day of His advent value in child life. (Matt. 8: 3.) in this world, has come to be recognized as the 10. "He was unique in bringing a new concep- universal day of exchanging joyful greetings of tion of fitness for leadership. (Mark 10: 43.) good will and peace. 11. "He is unique in that He rose again from 3. "The unique purpose with which He came the tomb and is ever alive.
into the world. . . . Christ brought a new dy- 12. "His unique character.
namic of love. . . . My Hindu brethren tell us 13. "Christ is' unique in His influence on the that Lord Krishna came 'for the destruction of world tod'ay."
the wicked and the preservation of the good.' But And the writer concludes: "Now, of the evi- Jesus Christ came to turn the wicked into good; dence from His disciples, His life, His teaching, to give them both the desire and the power to His regenerating power in' individuals, and even conquer sin. from the evidence of the avowed enemies of His 4. "He set forth His unique mission to the world mission, any rationatbeing with a brain to think as follows: 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me and a heart to throb in his heart of hearts must because He has anointed me to preach the gospel conclude that Jesus Christ is God as the one Man.
to the poor; He has sent me to heal the broken Very hard indeed must be the person who is not hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and attracted and captivated by the story of His life recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty and death."
[163 ]
This is a voice from within the Christian com- Lord, can form a regenerated world and bring muni,ty in India. The same voice speaks from universal peace and righteousness, with a release within the Hindu community. The Statesman of from selfishness and fear.
India recently published a two-column article en- The latest overturning in Europe is but another titled "Jesus Christ, the Saviour," written by illustration of the failure of human diplomacy and Swami Apurvananda at the Rama Krishna Mis- the inability of any League of Nations to guarsion, a Hindu ascetic monk, in which he declared antee peace or the "self-determination" of weaker of Jesus, "He is the golden link to bridge the nations. Austria, formerly united to Germany hiatus between this mortal world and the King- but for over one hundred and thirty years an indom of Heaven. . . . We worship Jesus of Naz- dependent nation, was taken over by Hitler's Nazi areth as God incarnated on earth to save human- forces on March 12th and without a battle has ity. . . . There is nothing in history so sublime, been made a part of Germany. Thus the German so majestic. He stands there above all as the nation, that was stlpposed to have been made in- King of mankind, the Son of God, the Lord Him- capable of defying Europe, has defied the world self, beckoning all, with bleeding hand, towards by force of arms and selfish "self-determination." Heaven." European governments are now waiting anxiously Indian literature is full today of testimonies to to see what will be Germany's ne~t move. Will Jesus. One more may be quoted. It is from a Czechoslovakia and Danzig, with their large Gerlittle book, "India's Response to Christ," by P. K. man populations, be absorbed by the Reich? Will Sen, a Hindu of Calcutta, who writes: "I believe Italy also attempt to absorb more coveted terriin my heart of hearts that India cannot escape tory in order to increase Mussolini's prestige? At Christ. No one can escape Christ. So has it been any rate, the map of Europe continues to change with me. The hostility to Christ that made itself .-and will change until the kingdoms of this manifest in the first clash of East and West has world become the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus disappeared. Years have passed and Christ has Christ. slowly and silently entered the hearts of the thinking section of the people. Slowly and surely He What have the unrest, the wars, and thechangwill enter the hearts of all. For Christ is such an ing governments in Europe and Asia to do with one as cannot but be accepted. . . . One sees Him Christians and the Christian program ? Naturally and simply cannot escape Him." every Christian is disturbed, saddened and aroused by the sufferings of those affected by .Every such sign is welcome, but Christ's day is war, greed and injustice – whether in Asia, Eustill not come. There is still no answer in these rope, Africa or America. The two hundred thousigns to Narayan Tibah's question: sand Jews in Austria will suffer, like those in When shall these longings be sufficed Germany, and can find no peace out of Christ. That stir my spirit night and day? True followers of Christ in Europe will suffer for When shall I see my country lay their uncompromising loyalty as the Evangelicals are suffering today in Germany and in Korea. Her homage at the feet of Christ?
Yea, now behold that blissful day There may come still more bitter persecution When all her prophets' mystic lore from those who are opposed to the sovereignty And all her ancient wisdom's store of God and the Spirit of Christ. All this is pre- dicted in the New Testament. Evangelical mission- Shall own His consummating sway. ary work is naturally being hindered by the forces ROBERT E. SPEER.
CHRISTIANS AND THE TURMOIL of unrighteousness but Christians are being chas- IN EUROPE tened and tested and their testimony will not be silenced.
Unrest, uncertainty and fear characterize the What then shall be the attitude of Christians in situation in Europe. Statesmen who thought that these days of change, turmoil and trial? "When the "Peace of Versailles" would bring peace if not the foundations are destroyed, what can the right- good will among men have been sadly disap- eous do 1" They can still be loyal tc, Christ; they pointed. Those students who expressed the con- can refuse to compromise; they can suffer for viction thirtY,or forty years ago that the Kingdom righteousness sake; they can help the needy and of God and the reign of Christ was already estab- afflicted and encourage the faint-hearted; they lished on earth and would prevail by the gradual can witness to God's love and supremacy by their dissemination of His spirit and teachings, find words and their Christ-like lives; they can trust that neither the Bible nor history confirm their and not be afraid. Jesus Christ and His disciples expectations. It becomes clearer every day that in the early days were not disturbed by political only truly regenerated men and women, and the turmoil and by changing human governments in universal acknowledgment of Jesus Christ as Judea and Galilee. They submitted to their
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
L'TBtlAN7A'~~ R U S S I A . i,i . ~~~, .;.J • MOSCOW· • , ._.'~L" ,…..~ ~."'.-…
i uK RAIN.E Scale of Miles 100 31,0. 30, 0 40$0 THE THEATER OF TURMOIL IN EUROPE TODAY A Herald-Tribune map showing the German absorption of Austria and the position of surrounding "interested observers"
earthly rulers but were controlled only by the claims of Jesus to be the true revelation of God, supreme sovereignty of God. The same principles the Father. The Scribes and Pharisees, the Sadwill guide true Christians .today. The nations ducees and Herodians, may have had different may rage and rulers take council against God and reasons for opposing the teachings and claims of against His Anointed, but "the Lord will have Jesus but they were all united in opposition by them in derision." He who rules the universe pride in their intellectual acumen, by their desire must ultimately prevail and His people will share for personal honor and by consciousness of what in .the victory. Is there anything for Christians acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah must cost to do in the present time of testing other than to them. They therefore rejected Him and influenced be loyal and unafraid, to live lovingly, righteously the Jewish people to rej ect Him on the ostensible and godly in this present world and to continue to ground that He came from obscure Galilee, that witness by word and deed to the saving, directing He mingled with despised Publicans and sinners, and keeping power of God? that He did not conform to their interpretation of the Old Testament prophets, tha.t none of the THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CRITICS Jewish rulers followed Him, that He did not suffi- ciently respect the temple or the laws and cus- When Jesus Christ came into the world, He toms of the Hebrew writers and tha.t He claimed came to His own people, but they did not receive that God was His Father. The immediate result Him. At first the multitudes crowded around, was Jesus' rejection by the multitudes, His final even going out into the desert and hillside to listen condemnation by the Jewish and Roman courts to His teaching. Why then did they not receive and His death on the cross. Jesus' self-appointed Him and accept what He offered? The respon- critics were humanly responsible for the fact that sibility rested largely on the shoulders of Christ's severe critics, the Jewish leaders. They set them- Jewish multitudes did not receive Him. selves up as interpreters of the Jewish law, as intellectually superior and able to decide on the Is not a similar situation found today, both in America and in other lands? A missionary to
Moslems in Central Africa, A. R. Pittway, writes OPPORTUNITIES IN IRAN of the difficulties put in the way of the acceptance of Christ by Moslems. Self-appointed critics- Rev. William M. Miller, Presbyterian missionnot only Moslems but also some who claim to ary in Iran, writes in the Presbyterian Tribune: be Christians and who take to themselves the role of rationalistic judges – hinder many from ac- I accompanied a group of Meshed evangelists cepting the authority of the Word of God or the to a village in the mountains where the people are claims of Christ and faith in His redemptive extremely friendly, and where a Christian Church work. Mr. Pittway says: will soon be established. The first person to carry the Gospel to these people was Mansur Sang, the Obviously in our approach to Islam there are many diffi- Christian dervish. (See page 182.) We were inculties. Among them are some which are of our own mak- vited into Christian homes for meals; they always ing. For instance one finds, in a study of Islamic litera- asked for hymns and a talk, and we had the opture published in England and elsewhere for educated portunity of giving our message to the family and Moslems, that the attack upon the Bible is mainly based to forty or fifty nei~hbors as well. At night they upon the written and verbal statements of professing would come to our tents, and our singing and Christian leaders, whose theology is of a rationalistic na- preaching would continue as long as we had a ture. Again and again Moslem leaders have brought such voice left. How they did sing the hymns! statements to me with the question, "Are not these men the leaders of the Christian Church? Are they not your Everywhere these days it is possible to tell the teachers? Do not their statements show that your Scrip- Good News. In one town I was called to the police tures are not trustworthy?" Our rationalistic theologians office because I gave a few tracts to a man by the have, by their declared attitude towards the Bible, made a wayside. I was detained for three days while the difficult task still more difficult. matter was referred to the Capital, and I was examined at length by the officers in charge. This Then again, there is abroad among many Moslems, a gave me an excellent opportunity to give my mesconception concerning the doctrine of the Trinity which is sage to them. One of them listened with deep inentirely false, but one for which that section of the Chris- terest, and after my return to Teheran I received tian Church is to blame, which calls Mary the "Mother of several letters from him in which he expressed a God." I have been told many times by Moslems that the desire to give himself to Christ. Trinity in which we believe and which we worship is the Father, the Mother (Mary), and the Son (Jesus) I-a In October, I saw for the first time the famous thoroughly heathen conception; but who is to blame? mosques of Isfahan. A few years ago it would Surely the responsibility rests on the Christian Church have been impossible for a non-Moslem to set foot which allows such false teaching to be propagated by its inside them, for Iranian Moslems consider all representatives. non-Moslems unclean. But they have now been taken over by the Governmen.t and repaired, and There must be a recognition of the fact that the battle they are to be kept as specimens of the best is a spiritual battle. "If our Gospel is hid, it is hid to Islamic architecture. Three of us, a convert from them that are lost, in whom the god of this world hath Judaism, a convert from Islam, and I, went toblinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light gether from one lovely structure to another, and of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, as we entered one large room which much reshould shine unto them." sembled the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem one idea came into the minds of all three of us- The Bible, the claims of Christ and the disciples "What a. wonderful place for a Church!" "Let's of Christ need not fear any honest, unprejudiced, see whether the acoustics are good or not," said constructive criticism. All-important claims the preacher, and going to the far end of the room should be carefully examined but heavy respon- he repeated in Persian the best beloved verse in sibility rests on those whose desire for leadership, the Bible, "For God so loved the world." "We intellectual· pride or false standards cause them heard you perfectly," said the other two, "and that not only to reject Christ and the Word of God for was the first time those words were ever spoken themselves, but who raise barriers that cause in this building." others to reject those just claims. THE SECRET OF SUCCESS IN MISSIONS The credentials of the Bible as the inspired and infallible Word of God, and the claims of Jesus Missions are the special work of the Holy Spirit. No Christ as the Son of God and only Saviour for sinful men, are so well set forth in their very one may expect to be filled with the Spirit if he is not nature and in Christian experience, that openminded, intelligent and honest investigation re- willing to be used for missions. No one who wishes to moves doubt. This has been proved through twenty centuries. On the other hand does not work or pray for missions need fear his feebleness or povany leader who awakens doubt and hinders any man's acceptance of Christ, assume tremendous erty: the Holy Spirit is the power that can fit him to take responsibility and fall under the condemnation of Christ for preventing others from entering the his divinely appointed place in the work. Let everyone Kingdom of God? who prays for missions and longs for more of a mission- ary spirit in the Church, pray first and most that in every believer personally, and in the Church and all its work and worship, the power of the indwelling Spirit may have full sway. ANDREW MURRAY.
THE BIBLE
How an Indian Church Read the Bible Through in One Day A Christian Adaptation of an Indian Custom By MARGUERITE GROVE MODAK,* Ahmednagar, India "IN THE beginning, God,,-uThe Spirit and the Pride filled me but now I am humbled, Bride say, Come." Thy disciple, thy humblest, I. . The opening words began on Wednesday mornmg and the closing triumphant invitation Pride deceived, parting me from thee; was given on Saturday night. The reading had Now slave of Thy name am I. not stopped during the whole day, except for a moment while one reader after another took his Void I am of strength, thought, knowledge. place before the open Bible. Thou, 0 Thou alone art my refuge, 0 Christ.
A low platform was placed under the Cross in Men took the leading part in the Saptaha as the prayer-room of the Hume Memorial Church they do in Indian churches, but many women of Ahmednagar, India; a silk rug was spread came and a few took their turn in the reading. over it, the platform and a small table six inches Leaders were appointed for two-hour periods; high was placed at the front to hold the Bible. they chose three helpers and these four kept the Incense was kept burning according to the Indian reading continuous. Never were there less than custom; flowers were placed beside it by the peo- twelve people present even during the hours after ple who came to hear the reading, a fresh garland midnight. High school boys prepared tea during of flowers was hung over the Cross each morning. the night and saw that no one monopolized the The people sat on the floor, a few following the reading. reading in their own Bibles. Each reader closed his reading by starting the singing of one of the The closing three hours were highly impressive. best loved hymns: Two hundred people collected, sitting on the floor in silence and in rapt attention. The pastor, who From this time henceforth, 0 Lord, I cling to thy feet had read the first five chapters of Genesis, read alone. the last five of Revelation. His voice was full of triumphant emotion as he read those magnificent A waste, barren waste, my life 'til now. words: * Mrs. Marguerite Grove Modak Is the American wife of the Behold I am come quickly; and my reward is with me To render to each man according as his work is. Indian pastor of the Hume Memorial Church, Ahmednagar.
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I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the loved the foreign hymns they had been taught End. from childhood. Indianization was not appre- ciated by the mass of the Indian Church. Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right to come to the Tree of Life, Not many missionaries can do more toward put- ting the church in its national setting. than by And may enter in by the Gates of the City. showing their willingness to cooperate in what- ever way the Christians of the land choose'to do it. With the last words, "Amen and Amen," he closed Being a Westerner, I did not warm to th~:Saptaha the Bible. A tremulous sigh of satisfaction was as proposed by the Ahmednagar Churyh. What heard to pass through the crowd. The pastor good could come from reading the geneologies and raised his hands to his face for prayer, and the some of the chapters in which moral delinquency people bowed their heads to the floor. Then one is portrayed? But God gave me the grace to reof the elders came forward with a final garland frain from e~pressing my objections and I folfor the Cross, one for the pastor and others for lowed the Saptaha through, attending four to six retired ,pastors. Here and there people rose and hours a day. I read through in my English Bible came forward, dropping a few flowers on the as I grew tired of following the Marathi, from Bible or placing baskets of sweetmeats before it. Genesis through the Songs of Solomon. Several When all the gifts had been presented the pastor of ,the books were not highly edifying but I got a presented them to God in a dedicatory prayer. telescopic picture of the Hebrew people which I One by one the people came forward, held out had never had before. What Bible student ever their hands, and received a piece of sweetmeat- reads these books through in so short a space of prasad it is called, "the gift of God," a peace of- time? It was a useful event in the life of the fering given to Him and returned by Him to the church and it was gratifying to see so many peopeople, doubly blessed. After the benediction the ple, young and old, listening to the Word of God people retired to the church auditorium to listen and to see the spirit of fellowship engendered in to a bhujan – admonitions and stories sung by the group as they united in this eighty-four-hour one man, accompanied by an orchestra of boys. project.
This is a genuine Indian ceremony adopted for Further, it was a project in Indianization in the Christian purposes in the church. It was adapted people's own way. The form of the Saptaha could from the Hindu practice called Saptaha or "seven have followed more closely the Hindu manner of days of continuous religious exercises." It is cele- having the scriptures expounded verse by verse brated in many ways. Sometimes the people or by singing the scriptures in kirtan where a gather in the dry bed of the river during the hot whole book is sung by one man. season, thousands of them, only repeating the name of the god "Ram" for seven days and nights. There is the matter of hymns in the church- At other times they gather in temples for eight or when one is thinking of Indianization. Any nine hours during seven days to read certain sec- hymn singing is a western innovation in Indian tions of their sacred scriptures as the books are worship. Congregational singing is a special featoo voluminous to be read entire. On these occa- ture of socialized religion. The first hymns used sions usually one man reads a small portion, fol- in India were necessarily translations of western lowed by an explanation. Whatever the form of words with western tunes. Latterly there has been the Saptaha it is followed by Prasad, a gift to God a movement by missionaries to discard them for returned to the people. They feel exalted as they purely Indian compositions. However if the peoeat, even as Christians feel uplifted upon receiv- ple prefer to sing western hymns why should they ing Holy Communion. not do so? It is difficult, if not impossible, to ex- press some qualities of the Christian life by In- A few years ago "Indianization of the Christian dian rhythms and similes; qualities which are Church" was on every missionaries' lips, and 'was peculiar to the Christian heritage, expressing echoed with various degrees of intelligence by such great central truths as distinguish Chris- Indian leaders. Few had very concrete ideas as tianity from the eastern religions, namely, the to how this was to be carried into practice but vicarious suffering of Christ, God's loving Fatherthere was much talk about Indian music and In- hood, forgiveness for sin, the Resurrection, vicdian-composed hymns, about Indianizing church torious faith and the work of the Holy Spirit: architecture. Some carried this to an extreme, the mission of the Church. Indian rhythms and one group of missionaries going so far as to build similes do not express these concepts. "A mighty a small Hindu temple for the worship of God. fortress is our God" – can you imagine those These early attempts of the occidentals to put the words set to any Indian music or that concept put Christian religion in its national setting were not into an Indian simile? And yet American and understood by many Indians. Some older Chris- British Christians would experience a sense of tians felt that they were being led back to Hinduism from which they had recently escaped; others
HOW AN INDIAN CHURCH READ THE BIBLE THROUGH IN ONE DAY
loss if we could not sing it for fear of insulting sionaries, he read a book throughout the service. our nationality! But there are other thought- Finally he withdrew entirely to the great relief of forms that are better expressed in Indian con- his Indian brethren to whom that book was a concepts and rhythms than in English. For ex- stant insult. ample, the hymn, already quoted, badly translated as it is. , An account of the Saptaha was listened to by one missionary with sad shaking of the head The Christian Church in India will ultimately which was equally insulting. "If the reading of settle itself into its national setting as missionary the Bible had been followed by Bible study," he control and influence recede. There was a time said, "it might have been worth while, but what when I believed that missionaries should become good is it merely to read the Bible without undermembers of the Indian churches and take a nor- standing it." Such criticisms of the efforts of the mal part in the church work but since I have church give no encouragement to go on to somejoined the Indian Community I have come to feel thing better. They are sources of great irritation that many churches are not on their own feet suf- to the Indian churches. ficiently to make this either helpful or advisable. There may be more stages in church development Indian employees of the mission naturally find than we had thought. Perhaps there is a stage it difficult to express opinions contrary to those where missionaries should withdraw even from of their employers. A few days ago this comment membership on governing bodies to avoid embar- was made by an Indian clergyman : "The Bishop rassment to Indian church membership. Indian is calling a meeting of his clergy next week but it members must learn to govern their churches as will be the same old experience we always have. they wish. When churches are composed of He sets before us high ideals of service and we sit mostly second- and third-generation Christians quiet and unresponsive. How can we discuss who are rising in the social scale they are ready these things with him? If we tell him that our to carry on their own affairs, even though their people cannot live up to the ideals he expects, he way may not satisfy the western standards of will say that we are not faithful and will soon lose highly trained and privileged missionaries. In his faith in us; then what about our jobs?" This one church where the preaching did not satisfy the fear for the safety of their daily food is one of intellectual and spiritual needs of one of the mis- the greatest hindrances in the way of Indianiza- tion of the church.
A TESTIMONY FROM FOREIGN WAR VETERANS The following is a letter recently sent by the Walter G. Allen Post No. 743, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, to the Rev. R. Park Johnson, of Yeadon, Pennsylvania, on the occasion of the pastor's departure to take up missionary work in Teheran, Iran. These Veterans, who are often considered militaristic, nationalistic, and irreligious, show appreciation of things truly Christian. The letter reads, in part: "As you sail forth to your new field of Christian work, in Teheran, we wish to herein convey to you the earnest wish of every member of this Post that you and your family may have a pleasant and safe journey. We admire your courage in carrying the message of Christ to distant fields and know your efforts will be productive of good, also, that it is a most important mission. The sooner the whole world embraces, truly, the vital principles and intents of the doctrines of Christ the sooner will peace come. Noone yearns for peace more than the Veteran who has been through the heat of modern battle. And, it is our genuine belief that peace treaties, conferences, and diplomatic delegates thereto, are not the answer or the media to realize it – but rather by the every-day living of the teachings of Christ. It is claimed that, irregardless of races, the blood of all is inherently the same, but there is some virus in the blood stream which causes hatreds and stri.fe; this can only be eliminated by the renovation of the individual. When man treats man like his own brother and follows the Golden Rule of Christ and adopts the attitude of the Maker, in the parable of the Vineyard, respecting the labor of man's hands, will a better understanding come in the world.
"It is needed sorely in every nation, and the good old U.S.A. is not excluded. So you see we place more importance in your mission that we do in some Peace Conference delegates and hence speak for you health, power and fruitful effort in the service of Christ. . . .
"Sincerely yours, "J. R. MORGAN, Commander."
PAUL'S WAYSIDE CATHE'DRAL ON
A Cathedral On Wheels in Ohio 11 By NORMAN R. STURGIS, A.I.A., R.A. II~ THE Episcopal Church of Southern Ohio is should spend or where the Cathedral should be fairly typical of most dioceses in the Middle placed. It would be very difficult to select a si,te West in that the population is very largely which 50 years. from now would be sure to be still suburban, widely scattered in small towns and the proper one for the Cathedral. villages, and the parishes are comparatively small and poor. In Southern Ohio, the Diocese is led by The Bishop conceived the idea of a movable Cathedral which would make itself felt by visiting a Bishop with youthful enthusiasm and with quali- the outlying parishes and make them feel that ties of leadership and vision. they were part of a great organization vitally interested in their welfare. The Diocesan Con- The Cathedral in Cincinnati, bunt shortly after vention in Columbus in April, 1937, most enthuthe Civil War, was not only poor in design, but siastically received this proposal in spite of the was becoming expensive to maintain on account of its age. That part of Cincinnati which it served unique implications. The Aerocar Company was has changed considerably during the past twenty- commissioned to build the trailer along standard five years, with the result that the number of lines structurally similar to the fuselage of an communicants has been steadily declining as the airplane. It is towed by a coupe, into the rear outlying suburban parishes increased. In other deck of which the nose of the trailer is fastened words, the Cathedral, in the Bishop's opinion, had so that all road shocks are cushioned on air. The outlived its usefulness. exterior is sheet steel with a backing of Masonite.
The natural solution tOo this problem might have The interior fittings were installed by the been the abandonment of the present Cathedral oldest woodwork manufacturing company in the and the building of a new one in a better location. United States. The walls are covered with walnut This would have meant the raising of a large veneer. The trailer will seat about 25 people, building fund, and even if this had been possible, some accommodated on the seat which runs the Bishop would not have known hOoW much he across the trailer at the front end, and others on [170 ]
A CATHEDRAL ON WHEELS IN OHIO
pews which fold, when not in use, into recesses "This Wayside Cathedral is a symbol of the under the automobile windows. missionary spirit of this Diocese," Bishop Hob- son explained. The sanctuary is at the rear end. The rest of the space on both sides is taken up by storage cup- "Just as this Wayside Cathedral is dedicated to a program of seeking those living without Christ, boards, bookcases, and a hot air heater. The altar and bringing them into His fold, so the Diocese is is movable and for outdoor servkes can be re- ready, through prayers and pledges, to aid the versed in order to face outward through the missionary program of the Church throughout the double rear doors. The carved front panel of the world." altar is removable in order to provide storage space for a Hammond organ console, which can INTERIOR OF THE WAYSIDE CATHEDRAL be wheeled out into the body of the .coach. A One of the Cathedral projects, sound movies, portable standard mkrophone is carried. received special praise at the various meetings. Provisions are made in the forward end for the This use of sound movies in the missionary pro- gram marks a forward movement in the Church's storage of a moving picture projector, and for this plan to strengthen missionary and religious eduand the organ 110 vol,t outlets are available which cation through visual education. can be connected to any available current source Outdoor services preceded the regional meetthrough an extension cable. The circuit also feeds ings, and demonstrated there was a great opporindirect tubular lamps installed in the cove of the tunity of reaching persons in this way that other- wise would not have been touched by the Church. cornice. The coach can be lighted by six-volt ceiling fixtures fed by an auxiliary battery carried in the deck of the tow car.
Ordinarily the Cathedral is accompanied by a clergyman in general charge and two or three as- sistants representing missions, religious educa- tion, social service, and evangelism. Exhibits of the activities of all diocesan departments will be carried in the storage space provided.
All the windows are plain glass with the excep- tion of two small fixed openings closest to the altar which are filled with stained glass panels.
One of these depicts St. Paul as a teacher, and the other St. Paul as a preacher. .
Every effort has been made to make the Cathedral primarily an efficient and" dignified expression of what Bishop Hobson feels is a new trend in the Episcopal Church. It is not so much a church on wheels as it is a mobile headquarters designed for modern needs.
"St. Paul's Wayside Cathedral" completed its first missionary tour in Southern Ohio and indi- cations are that this new Christian adventure will be decidedly successful. With the Wayside Cathedral went a team of missionary speakers to four regions of Southern Ohio as a follow-up to the recent General Convention.
"God's love puts a new face on this weary old world, in which we dwell as pagans and enemies too long. . . . Love will accomplish, by imperceptible methods – being its own ful- crum, lever and power – that which force could never achieve. Have you not seen in the woods, on a late autumn morning, a plant without any solidity – one that seemed nothing but a soft jelly – by its constant and gentle pushing manage to break its way up through the frosty ground, and actually to lift hard crust on its head? This is the symbol of the power of loving kindness. Once or twice in history love has been tried in illustrious instances, with signal success. Our great overgrown dead Christendom still keeps alive at least the name of a love of mankind. If men will become true lovers of God and of their fellow men, then every calamity will be dissolved in the universal sunshine of God's love."
Missions in a Realistic
By REV. HOWELL D. DAVIES, Chicago, Illinois Regional Secretary, Missions Council of the Congregational and Christian Churches Secularism of its frontier work in terms of what it will have .to do with these same new forces: Scientific ag- T HE life that now is, existence on earth, is the nosticism, mater1alistic determinism, political all-absorbing interest of most men individ- Fascism, and moral iconoclasm." ually and nationally. The market is dull for the chief commodities of missions-God and per- The effect on missions is deadly. If this ma- terial life is all, then only fools will do anything sonality values. but labor for mammon! All programs not in line A ruthless realism is upon us-even in missions with a selfish struggle for existence will seem both itself, for some would cut off all support to any futile and wrong as not in harmony with so-called enterprise that cannot attain self-support on "nature." To help the weak, to serve the under- schedule time. (1) Science is "pope." Facts, privileged, to enlighten the ignorant, to raise the their classification, physical forces and their ap- status of those whom nature has placed low, to plication are paramount – all for a program of spread love and tender consideration and to recogphysical enrichment, good enough in itself. Air.;. nize personality constitute an unlawful insurrec- conditioning has it all over soul conditioning. tion against the Brahmin order of material privi- (2) Biological necessity, with survival of the lege and rebellion against the God of things as fittest, is the cry. The first article in the new they are. Congregational creed is larger Congregational How do missions meet this challenge of secular- families. Horace Bushnell's thesis of the outpop- ism? The basis of Christian missionary work is ulating power of the Christian stock is taken from wholly different-personality and God-not mat- the attic, dusted off and put on the mantel for ter. Property rights are secondary to personal consideration. Thus are super-men and super- welfare and our relation to God. Persons are imnations developed. Put your money on blooded portant everywhere and must be recognized and stock in the struggle against all scrub stock. developed. Human individuals are creation's goal (3) It is felt futile to interfere with the work- and crown. The world can only be more and more ing of natural forces. Let them have their way. a madhouse as this is progressively forgotten.
What must be will be. At bottom more people Therefore, children have the right to be well-born are fatalists than we imagine. The world turns to physical, mental and spiritual development the on its physical axis, its instinct axis, its psycho- world over, not less in India than in America.
logical axis, and its social axis, and what can we Women have equal personal rights with men. do about it? (4) Marxian dialetical materialism Men of humble estate are entitled to respect and is widespread – even outside of Russia, though not to be exploited for the enrichment of the more otherwise labeled. History is the story of the powerful; none are to be regimented as subinterplay of material forces – nothing else. (5) personal units for the glorification and so-called There is precious little apocalypticism or other- success of any State, political system or social worldliness today. Heaven as a compensation, an scheme. Christ's mission was to turn the world escape or a model is little known. "Henceforth upside down so that it may be right-side up.
there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness" Every crown and throne must perish until perand "Father into thy hands I commend my spirit" sonalityas such "wears the purple." Missions is are but the pallid straw-grasping op.timism of ,the symbol of the assurance that the world will beaten souls. (6) The material world itself has finally be adjudged sane. become spiritual. Atoms are miniature solar sys- The goal of missionary work is to create Christtems or whirligigs of electrons around protons. like manhood and character, the ethical and spir- Electricity has become the father of our spirits. itual completion of the unfinished personality. So, what shall we do to be saved? Plainly, become Characters, self-controlled, right-motived and electrically minded. A Christian Chinese profes- well-willed are .the chief ends rather than their sor wrote Robert E. Speer: "Christianity must economic or social rights. Being, not having, ignore the incapacitated ethnic religions and think with Jesus Christ as exemplar, is the goal.
[172 ] This work is based on love as the ultimate cording to the blueprints of the future, while sec- arbiter and dynamic, not biological warfare. We ularism still follows the plans of the primitive see scant hope in the loveless socialism of Russia man of the past. Missions believes a better man as it makes for class war. The best hope is an can be built in India, in Africa, in China and in order where the Christ-like impulse is to share the uttermost part of the earth.
rather than grabbing one's share, individually, or ,-Secularism prolongs selfishness. Missions pro- groupwise. When a delegate at the Conference motes the highest and the most needed unselfish- at Lake Geneva defended the American Legion ness-world neighborliness, fully as important as and said, "We live in a world of reality," the home neighborliness.
speaker replied: "The basic reality of the world Secularism sees no forces at work but the secis not fear and hate but love." Christian love is a ular, the common instincts of man, cultured aspower. Love is wise. Love can help the weak piration and imitation, the general increase in without weakening society. It can direct strength knowledge, the occasional shocking into new realfrom destructive to constructive ways. izations, the continual working of expediency, Secularism is selfish and deteriorating. F. W. action and reaction, thesis, antithesis and synthe- Robertson, of Brighton, in his Advent sermon on sis, etc. This is humanism. Missions witnesses the Roman as the secular type, says: to the working of an outside force. It perceives And whatsoever is only of this earth is destined to de- something beyond natural evolution at work. It cay. The soul of the Roman, bent on this world's affairs, notes redemptive evolution. Missions does not became secularized, then animalized, and so at last, when wait for the untouchables to have a remote chance there was little left to do, pleasure became his aim, as it to drift upward but takes them by the hand and had been the Grecian's. Then came ruin swiftly. by the Power of Christ gives them a certain lift If the things of this world are our only posses- upward here and now. How long would it have sion, we will naturally pursue them avidly, hold taken the Fiji Islanders to rise naturally from them tenaciously and release them reluctantly- ciimibalism? In the New Hebrides, John G.
so reluctantly that war may issue. It is increas- Paton, as an agent of redemptive regeneration, ingly dangerous to be worldly as the unappro- led savages upward. "Missions" implies being priated part of the world becomes smaller. If sent and also a sending Person. This brings in all having is all, then the "have-nots" will ever those empowerings from outside that go with a scheme to be among the "haves" and the "haves" soul attachment to Jesus Christ in the effort to will ever scheme to hold. We blame much the ac- be like Him. Japanese secularism makes the la- quisitive instinct, but it will be strengthened boring man a hopeless slave. Kagawa, as a Chris- rather than otherwise by a continuing secularistic tian redemptive force, entered upon the scene and philosophy. The central idea of missions is shar- organized the labor movement. Likewise good ing what God has given, rather than shearing, and Christian women applied redemptive love to the giving rather than getting. This is based on the white slaves of Japan. "Christianity lives and idea that there are spiritual values greater than thrives only as long as its apostles and ministers the secular. It is more important to be just than are heroic adventurers," says E. Stanley Jones.
to get one's just share, to be sainted than to be The challenge of secularism is particularly stim- sated, to be inspired than to be amused, to be Ulating because it comes from the Christian scien- great rather than to be comfortable, to be bound tific countries. Let us keep our churches from to a cause rather than to be free from all obliga- opportunism and secularism by making them tion, "to be a miserable man than a happy pig," centers of "redemptive love."
to feel restive over the precariousness of other Social Emphasis in Missions lives than to feel rested in the midst of one's own security, to have an outgoing hear,t rather than an "Rugged individualism" in religion, as in com- ingrowing provincialism, to work for the future munity life, is discounted. This bears on mis- good of all rather than to grasp all possible pres- sions. Is the missionary movement to be over- ent good for oneself alone. shadowed by the general social program? Is Secularism studies a great textbook, "Material sociology to supplant evangelism? Is the world Nature," but neglects the higher post-graduate to be saved simply by spreading the cooperative study of human nature in its deeper aspects, and movement? Shall we concentrate on peace, race especially its deepest aspects as found in Jesus relations and economic justice and consider the Christ. Missions inquires of the mind – not of winning of men to Christ and His program an the cave man, the Demas-man, the Epicurean man outdated program?
or the Cresar-man, but of the mind of Christ in Missionary work has always had a social em- casting its horoscope of the future man. Christian phasis. William Carey, who went to India in missions would build more stately mansions ac- 1793, fought suttee with all his might, and the proclamation abolishing it was issued in 1829. trial and economic order, and revolutionize it, Alexander Duff founded educational missions. humanize it, Christianize it. To the expansion of Livingstone was a medical missionary and threw Missions is now added this intensification. Mishis might against the slave trade. Social work sionaries, as naturally alert, sense all this. They became an early necessity of every pioneer mis- helped end the Belgian Congo injustices, are worksion, for it was obviously impossible to "save" the ing on rural reconstruction, adult education, and ignorant, the diseased, the destitute, by mere welfare work. Emphasis is being laid less on evangelism. Dr. Peter Parker opened China to ameliorative work and more on rebuilding the sothe Gospel at the point of his lancet in 1834. cial fabric. But more is needed and quickly. And Joseph H. Neesima established the Doshisha Uni- Dr. D. J. Fleming warns, "when it comes to speversity in Japan in 1874-the year after the edicts cific programs of social and economic reconstrucforbidding Christianity were removed. Alex- tion the missionary enterprise in the church can ander Mackay was a great mechanic missionary, scarcely go furthe;r than the church itself." So it engineer, builder, physician and surgeon under is the church at home that decides how much so- King Mtesa in Uganda. Cyrus Hamlin, in Turkey, cial action can be done on the mission field. invented the modern washing-machine, with a revolving beer-barrel, to launder the vermin-in- There is also need of developing our home fested clothing of British soldiers in Crimea when churches socially. A 50% church cannot send a the washerwomen of Constantinople would not 10070 Gospel abroad. A church without a social touch them. The three volumes by Dr. Alfred passion has a lame enterprise that cannot walk. Dennis on "Christian Missions and Social Prog- This does not mean that the church must be comress" are an encyclopedic account of how mis- mitted to a particular economic theory, especially sions have been working on all social fronts since if untried, though it should unhesitatingly conthe beginning. This is going on today. Note demn all that is unbrotherly in social relations and Wolsted's farmers' cooperatives in India, Higgin- insist on that order which is plainly Christian. bottam's silo system for famines, Laubach's lit- There is need of developing a new type of indieracy campaign, Ray Phillips' social work among vidual Christian. There may be debate as to how the Bantu, and Mt. Silinda Industrial Mission, much social action the church as an organization medical missions, Kagawa's cooperatives, schools should undertake, but there can be none as to the everywhere. Modern missionary work promotes greater socialization of the individual member by community enterprise. enlarging his horizons, reducing his provincial- ism, getting his mind off himself more and de- The social emphasis is a part of the Gospel of veloping his imaginative capacity to put himself China. "Bear ye one another's burdens." The in the place of others so that he can better pracbook of James is against a selfish, individualistic tice the Golden Rule. Gospel. The four Gospels are full of social implications. And there is call for newer applications "We Preach not America but Christ" of them to newly industrialized centers on the mission fields. Slums, exploitation, wages and So pressing is the social question that we are working conditions, are vital questions. The Gos- told that we had better make America more Chrispel should everywhere befriend the oppressed, tian before trying to convert India and China; seek to promote justice and to provide all privi- that our race prejudice, economic injustice and leges implied in men's status as children of God. militarism and imperialism invite the taunt, "Phy- The Jerusalem Council of 1928 urged "the neces- sician, heal thyself" and hamstring our efforts sity of a comprehensive program for those larger abroad. On this principle of making the sending sections of the population in any country who country thoroughly Christian first the Gospel labor for mankind in field or factory and who . . . would never have left Judea and Galilee where are without many of the conditions necessary for there were all of the evils that afflict America. that abundant life which our God and Father de- Noland at any time can be fully Christian. Moresires for all His children." The National Chris- over, it is provincial and egotistical to assume that tian Council of China has for 10 years had an America's example can settle all world affairs. active committee on Christianizing economic rela- An educated East Indian who objected to lynchtions. The National Christian Council of India, ing was asked if he would became a Christian if Burma and Ceylon resolved as far back as 1924 it were abolished, and replied, "Never. What you to inaugurate "a study of industrial conditions in do with the Negroes in America is your own prob- India with a view to creating a more vigorous lem. We shall have to solve ours along our own public opinion and advancing Christian standards lines. The genius of our country lies in some kind in regard to industrial reform." A leading Jap- of caste organization. We shall stick to that." anese missionary says the missionaries are chal- War cannot cease in America until it ceases all lenged "to come to grips with the existing indus- over the world. We preach not America but Christ to people everywhere. America will not show itself Christian until it helps other nations. Prince Albert and stove-pipe hat preaching the It is simply not true that the Gospel is not mak- creation of the world in six literal days to nearing progress in the Orient because of the sins of nudist natives who are skeptical because they the West. The church in India made a 32.5 '1'0 could not make even a canoe in less than two gain in a decade, 20 '1'0 being from other faiths. weeks. Over against all such we can put the judg- ment of first-hand able observers. The missions cause is helped by the Christian social emphasis. The more the church at home is Robert Louis Stevenson said, "I suppose I am concerned to bring about social righteousness in in the position of many persons. I had conceived America the more welcome will its representatives a great prejudice against missions in the South be in India and among all nationals working for Seas. I had no sooner come there than that prejuthe betterment of their own country. The more dice was reduced, and then at last annihilated." socially minded we are, the more missionary He regarded James Chalmers of N~w Guinea as minded we will be, for the missionary program "a man that took one fairly by storm for the most is surcharged with the social emphasis. World attractive, simple, brave and interesting man in friendship will be furthered by every form of na- the whole Pacific"! tional brotherhood. The fact is that in social emphasis' the church at home has yet to catch up When Darwin saw the work among the Indians with the missionary cause. And, too, the social of Tierra del Fuego, he said, "I certainly should action enthusiasts can find plenty of outlets and have predicted that not all the missionaries in the channels for their energies through any estab- world could have done what has been done." lished missionary society. On the other side, the social emphasis can enrich the program of the Ex-President Taft could not praise too highly missionary society and thereby interest more local the missionary work he observed in ,the Philipchurch people in it. Social justice is one of the pines when he was governor. first outcomes of the missionary message. E. Alexander Powell (author and traveler) But with all the social emphasis we do not for- said: "I have observed the results of their labors get that the fundamental objective of missions is in every great field of evangelistic endeavor and to extend faith and devotion to Christ and the fel- it angers me to hear missionaries and their work lowship among Christians in all the world. condemned."
Criticism of Missions The Governor of Bengal reported: "In my judgment the Christian missions have done more This is nothing new. It is naive to suppose that lasting good to the people of India than all other all went swimmingly until the "Laymen's Inquiry" agencies combined." was launched. The East India Company refused passage to missionaries and stigmatized missions Chas. A. Selden says: "After 30,000 miles of as the most fantastic and lunatic idea that ever en- travel and something like 300 interviews, my tered the human mind. Ridicule was common. prejudices gave way to great respect for the mis- Typical was the attitude of the early Massachu- sionaries and their work." setts senator who said: "Here you propose to export religion, whereas there is none to spare at Wm. Boyd, Advertising Manager of the Curtis home." A list of objections a century back is Publishing Co., wrote: "I believe that every dolalmost identical with what is heard today, inti- lar invested in foreign missions has produced mating that we have so many needs at home, that greater returns than any dollar invested in any we should not interfere with the religions of human enterprise." others, and that their own religion is best suited to them; that missions are paternalistic and pau- 2. There are criticisms of ardent nationalists, perizing; that foreign peoples should help them- like Gandhi who object to proselyting. Should selves; that we shouldn't meddle and disturb courtesy keep us from offering the Gospel, therethose already contented; that they do not want fore, in India? No, for it can be offered without us anyway; that missionaries cause trouble; that objectionable proselyting. Moreover, the Gospel they destroy native culture; that they are all is not one culture displacing another and it beagents of American imperialism. longs no more to America, England, or France than to India itself. The Gospel has no less right We can classify criticisms. 1. There are those of way than science, commerce or education. It hostile to Christianity itself. People who see no will help India's true nationalism in the higher value in the Gospel will see no value in missions. sense. It is doubtful if many, if any, Hindus re- Such a playas "Rain" and such articles as those gard their religion as for others. in the American Mercury ridiculing missions in the South Seas are only caricatures like that of (3) Those ignorant of the whole idea. All ob- Jack London who pictures a missionary in a jections based on misconceptions are invalid. On any such theory all life would stop, for there is nothing against which objections based on igno- rance are not directed. Both Democrats and Re- publicans will tell you this. Prejudice being the thing that begins where your information leaves off, no enterprise should halt for just that. Pre- verdict was: "The mission must go on and there sumably it is those who take the Gospel and those is enough in its program to bankrupt Christendom who receive it who are most competent to judge if we try to do all that is, calling to be done." of it. None apparently are dissatisfied with the article sold them and want to return it. Rather In brief, most negative criticisms of missions they recommend it to their friends as something are, at bottom, ratio.nalizations of prejudice, ignosuperior to what they have had before. The Jap- rance or selfishness. Mission work welcomes inanese list six points of superiority of Christianity vestigation, knowing this means vindication and to Buddhism. God, as personal. God seeking men. interest. Worse than to be criticized is to. be The sense of personality. Practical, convenient ignored, and most of all to be ignored by church Scriptures. A superlative ethical sense. Social people. But it may be safely said that missions justice and service. cannot and will not be ignored by those who know the God who is the God of all the earth and not (4) There are the criticisms of those who judge the God of a tribe., whether it be a family tribe, a everything by a single unfortunate detail, such as community tribe or a national tribe. an ignorant o.r tactless missio.nary, an unwise local policy, a bungled program, a wasted dollar. Pessimism and Optimism Judged by this standard, "Who or what, 0 Lord, shall stand anywhere"? One poor farmer is not There is doubtless some on the mission field itsufficient to condemn agriculture, a poor preacher self, where difficulties are o.bstinate and results the ministry, a fake mining scheme the whole min- are slow. But this is nothing new. Moriso.n, ing enterprise, a poor student flunk all education, waiting 7 years for the first convert, said, "0 nor a quack doctor the whole medical profession. rock, when wilt thou break?" Livingstone was appalled at the prospect of trying to. heal the open (5) The lawsez-faire objections of those who sore of the world. Henry Martyn said that if a want things left alone-all forces and factors, to high caste Hindu were ever converted, it Wo.uld work out themselves. But laissez-faire never be as great a miracle as if one were to rise from built a school, founded a hospital, or developed a the dead. Yet the rock did break, the sore is belighting plant and water system at a conference ing healed, and the dead do rise. But the pescamp. The consistent laissez-faire critic will simism on the field is small. recognize Christianity as a force with the same rights as any other force. There is too often pessimism at ho.me (1) among church leaders who see receipts fall over (6) The cro.ss-fire based on the idea that we 50% and, worse, who see anti- or non-missionary have only a social Gospel to offer and that nearly pastors; (2) among pastors who face hostile, proevery effort is o.f a political scheming sort, gate- vincial church officers and callous unimaginative crashing and imperialistic, the work of reactio.n- members; (3) among lay leaders of heart and ary, self-centered or even villainous denomina- visio.n who vainly attempt education, organization tional Boards. The answer is that the motive and and appeal; (4) among men, especially, who are movement o.f missions are lo.ve and friendship, crushed by the belligerent, caustic, cynical o.Pposihowever inadequate be the channels through tion of their fellows. which it flows. The earthen vessel is only too apparent but in it is the treasure o.f divine redemp- Pessimism is not so bad if it sends us to God, tion. and if, Moses-like, it feels the support of the Aaron o.f truth on the one side and of the Hur o.f love on (7) The criticisms o.f uninformed and selfish the other. There is an eternal difference between church people. Education, persistent and kindly, the discouragement of those who. yearn and toil can help the former and more Christian grace the for the Kingdom and that of the quitters who latter. The trouble is to connect information and have given it all up. If we must abide in the love with these parties. All that can be said for shadow, it is better to abide in the shadow of the the Gospel itself can be said for missions, and cross of crucified love than in that of the palace shall it not be said? There is a sufficient answer of a selfish, materialistic, disillusioned, cynical to every criticism honestly and sincerely proffered. Cresar. But better than all answering of objections is an infusion of Christlike love. Our great need is to Missionary work finds much to encourage: make mo.re church members into Christians. (1) The Gospel is spreading o.ver all the world, (8) The criticisms of sincere friends of the so. that nearly o.ne-third of the people of the world cause. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend." All constructive criticism can do only good. The are at least nominally Christian with every proscause most to be pitied is the o.ne that has lost the capacity to criticize itself. The church of the 16th pect of continuance. On the foreign field it has century was saved by the self-criticism of Prot- had a perio.d of remarkable expansion in this cenestantism. And this goes for missions too. The tury. Between 1907 and 1925 the number of mis- sionaries increased from 12,000 to 20,000, the number of communicants from 1,800,000 to. 3,000,- 000, and the total Christian community from 4,000,000 to 8,000,000. There are doubtless cycles one denomination more is contributed by native in missions and we now see a slowing up. This Christians abroad than by all living donors at may be good by diverting us from superficial sta- home. The China Inland Mission called for 200 tistical missions and compelling us to go deeper new missionaries and got them and the money to before we go further and getting the church in other lands to strike its roots deeper both in the send them. spiritual life of its individual members and in its (3) A great ally is the spread of the cooperatransforming power in its local community. Prof. Schermerhorn, of Evanston, says, "Christianity's tive idea. Truly some of it is on the low plane of growth is characterized by periodicity, with ex- cooperating for cost reductions, but much of it is pansion and arrest. Now is a ,time for a mora- for helping the needy. torium on statistics and attention to inner life rather than outward expansion." (4) Jesus of Nazareth is today gripping the heart of youth and of new groups everywhere. (2) The work is holding up well despite the de- His Gospel is seen as the practical need of the pression, benevolences falling little more (54'1'0 to world. He is the great Social Engineer who can 40 %) than current expense. Total giving to For- reverse the stream of life from selfishness to shareign Missions in North America fell only from ing and service. $Z8,523,939 in 1929 to $27,164,572 in 1931. In (5) This is God's program; Christ Jesus has promised to be with us in the enterprise and He cannot and will not fail.
Is Islam Awakening?
By the REV. SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, D.D., Princeton, New Jersey Editor of "The Moslem World"
T HERE is "in the Arabic-speaking Near East truths of Christianity will in the long run even a strong religious, ethical, and social revival there prevail." Such judgment may be prophetic of Islam," says Dr. Kampfmeyer, "and this but it is undoubtedly premature.
revived Islam is taken to be the basis of a renewed Islam faces a crisis in the lands where once it national life." His conclusion is that "the conver- was dominant. Its efforts in India and Africa sion of an Islamic community to the Christian "remind one of those sparse green twigs some- faith is now impossible." The conclusions of Dr. times still appearing at the extreme ends of half- Kampfmeyer have been challenged, however, by dried-up boughs in trees whose core has for long Dr. Arthur Jeffrey, a leading Christian Oriental- been decaying from old age." ist in Cairo who states that "his picture is entirely out of perspective and omits all the important fac- In Turkey Islam suffers by being viola.ted in its tors." Last year's report of the Board of Foreign own bosom; in Russia from Soviet persecution; Missions of the Presbyterian Church says: "There and in Persia from a revolt against the Arabic is now abundant evidence that the religion of language and tradition. Mustapha Kemal raised Islam is slowly disintegrating." . . . great expectations, but Ataturk turned out a bit- ter disappointment for all Moslems. The disen- The collapse of the caliphate and the failure of chantment was cruel but complete. The high all attempts to revive it would lead to the conclu- hopes fixed on Ibn Saud to revive the caliphate sion that Pan-Islamism is dead. The policy of the were blasted. The Moslem World Conference new government in Turkey and the complete sec- proved a failure and none of the resolutions was ularization of the republic points in the same di- carried out. Professor C. C. Berg speaks of "derection. The Turkish press utters severe judgment structive forces that are at work against Islam on Islam and its Prophet, while one by one the old all over the world." sanctions and customs of religion are publicly dis- carded. A few years ago a British official of high The geographical expansion of Islam in Africa standing actually wrote to me: "Islam as we once has been exaggerated and the latest statistical sur- knew it is dead in Turkey, it is dying in Persia, it vey shows a smaller proportion of Moslems to has ceased to carry real weight in Egypt, it may nearly every area in North-central Africa. Dr.
survive some generations in Arabia, but the basic Deaville Walker wrote recently: "Within a comparatively short time, we pictured of Ramadhan is being less and less faithfully kept. great pagan populations being rapidly Islamized. Are the uniting forces that remain, the Arabic I am convinced that the position is wholly differ- language and culture, the sense of brotherhood, ent today. Careful personal investigation in the press and Al Azhar of Egypt-are these forces Sierra Leone and Mendeland, the Gold Coast and strong enough to counteract the disintegrating Ashanti, Nigeria, and in the French ·colonies and factors? Will the progressive secularization of protectorates of Dahomey, Togo,and the Ivory Moslem life rob all life from the religion of Islam? Coast, have made it very clear to me that the ad- Will .the waning of the Dervish orders and their vance of Islam is being definitely checked, and suppression, as in Turkey, continue? that today we are winning far more Africans to the faith of Chris·t than the Moslems are winning A careful study of all these questions leads to for their Prophet. Startling as this may sound, the belief that, as a cultural and even as a political force, there is yet a future for Islam, but as a I believe it to be absolutely true." religious force the future does not look promising. Islam has been severely wounded in the house of What elements in Islam are today resurgent-:: its friends. The younger Egyptian modernists, Does Mohammedan law or jurisprudence any instead of building carefully on the foundations longer prevail under the new nationalism and the of reform laid by Jamal-al Din-al Afghani and new state? Or has the purely Islamic-governed the great Mohammed 'Abdu, have ruthlessly state disappeared even in Arabia and Afghani- undermined what remained intact. Mansur stan? Fahmi, in his doctor's thesis, proved that Islam was progressively responsible for the degradation Has the social structure of Islam withstood the of womanhood. Dr. Taha Housain raised a storm feminist movement and female education any- of hostility by a book proving that much of early where? Can we seriously speak of "resurgent Islamic literature was a forgery fabricated to prop forces" as regards polygamy, slavery, concubi- up the Koran and tradition. The story of Abranage, and the seclusion of womanhood? Was the ham and Ishmael building the Kaaba is all fiction. suppression of the age-old Moharram celebrations in Persia a sign of vitality in Islam? Is the reli- When ,the best thinkers in Islam accept an hongion of Islam showing a new vitality when three est historical research of all her spiritual property of its "five pillars" are crumbling? The daily it will mean a revelation of bankruptcy. "When prayers are no longer observed as they were ten the foundations are destroyed, what can the rightyears ago. The number of pilgrims to Mecca, in eous do? Only the real gold, the theistic spiritual spite of new facilities by motor-bus and steam- values of Islam, will be able to withstand the heat ships, has dwindled from 250,000 to 80,000. of this inevitable furnace. Mecca is losing its importance and the annual fast The Movement for World Christianity -'-e!ill By PROF. JULIUS RICHTER, D.D., Berlin, Germany 1l!Jt-·- THE "Foreign Missions Inquiry" of 1932 in friends if I, as an outsider who for fifty years has two directions has aroused a far-reaching eagerly watched the missionary movement in interest. On one side there has been a defi- Europe and America, present my objective estinite division of opinions with regard to the doc- mate of the situation. trinal points developed in the first four chapters of "Re-Thinking Missions." They have been re- After a nation-wide propaganda for their manigarded as a manifesto of liberal Christianity or of festo, "Re-Thinking Missions," our modernist a new modern type of foreign missions. The well friends, in May, 1935, started a "Modern Missions established conservative Christian leaders have in Movement." As this first start was not too sucdecisive terms declined to follow this new move. cessful, perhaps in connection with some awkward This clarion call of the conservative group was a criticisms on both sides, they changed their leadchallenge to the liberals to develop their views. ing committee and now call themselves "The This has gone on actively for the last four years. Movement for World Christianity." They pub- It may be of some interest to my American lish a quarterly, "World Christianity," in the form of a digest. Two other periodicals, the Christian
THE MOVEMENT FOR WORLD CHRISTIANITY
Century and Christendom, are opening their files cognition and on feeling; they are the positive to statements of their views. The foreign secre- attachments which the soul must win toward what tary of the Congregational Foreign Boards, Hugh is supersensible and real; 'they are its hold on Vernon White, has also written "A Theology for God. And enter, this conscious demand-which Christian Missions" to lay a broad theological specifies an active historical church as an organ foundation for such modern concepts. For their of individual religion-marks a difference between Executive Committee they have a panel of leaders Christianity and any other of the great religions. like Dr. Douglas Horton, Dr. E. C. Lobenstine, Bishop William Scarlett, Dean Luther Weigle and We do not enter into a theological discussion of Miss Ruth Woodsmall. The various theological the merits or demerits of these and similar points views of this group renders an objective survey of view. We only state that though Dr. White of the situation difficult. No very clear line of and Prof. Hocking acknowledge at least the superdemarcation in the theological camp is now vis- sensible God and Jesus Christ as His interpreter, ible. Yet there is a strong group of theological they leave out many points which we of the conliberals whose views are expressed in Prof. Archi- servative group would regard as indispensable and bald Baker's "Christian Missions and a New fundamental-the self-revelation of Almighty God World Culture," Dr. Hugh Vernon White's "A in the continuous scheme of redemption; Jesus Theology of Christian Missions," and Prof. Wil- Christ as God's only begotten Son and not only liam E. Hocking's "Evangelism." our teacher and companion but our Lord; the atonement through His death on the cross; His Professor Baker's view of the "world in two bodily resurrection and our hope of a similar flats" – a transcendant superworld above our resurrection; the objective reality of the Spirit sense-world-is out of question. There is here no of God and His work within the Church; the two room for the self-revelation of Almighty God. sacraments as pledges of divine grace; the glori- He believes in a continuous process of creative ous consummation of the Kingdom of God in the evolution. We as Christians are convinced that parusia of the Lord. It is of no use to enter into we have in Jesus Christ the highest form of reli- a discussion about them; we do not share them gion, and claim the right to share this with other by theological or philosophical principle. Yet it nations. Prof. Baker claims that the old form of is very important, perhaps decisive, to keep in missions is passed and that now we must exchange mind that not all members of the "Movement for contributions with other religions. World Christianity" share such radical theologi- cal views. Dr. White states that modern missions began a theological point of view which has now been radi- We have had in Holland as well as, in Germany cally transformed. He raises the question: Is a similar wave of liberal missionary movements, there truth in the realm of religion? And says in the Netherlands in the midst of last century, that the answer can no longer be made in terms in Germany fifty years ago. For both cases the of an alleged divine revelation, or of the authori- overwhelming mass of missionary people have detative word of a Church. It must be found in the clined the neology and. those societies and boards nature of religion itself and in the interpretation which stood fast for the Biblical Gospel came out of religious experience. He believes. that the victorious from the contest. We are deeply conquestion is not, therefore, whether truth is to be vinced that at the end the same result will be apfound only in Christianity, but whether Christian- parent in America, too. But in a curious way at ity has some fundamental truth which will be present in the U. S., the question of modernism in found adequate and which is not in any other re- missions is closely connected with a thorough-goligion. He conceives this truth to be that the ing change in the missionary background at home life of active trust in God and love for all men is and abroad. There are four important factors eternally right and represents the purpose of God which more or less deeply influence the missionary for mankind. That truth Jesus lived and is and activities of the ch.urches. The first is the dethis life pattern Christian missionaries are seek- plorable dwindling of the income of the foreign ing to implant in men. mission boards. The American Missionary Con- ference is publishing regularly in its year-book a Prof. Hocking stresses the view that our mod- financial survey. From living donors these boards ern evangelism must be modern and embody the in 1930-that is in the first year of the disastrous abiding essence of Christianity contained in the depression – received $33,131,245; in 1935 this four words: repent, believe, love, enter. Repent income had dwindled to $18,543,329. This shrinkthat is – bow decisively and whole-heartedly to ing is even more evident if we look at some of the God instead of worshipping a false God, placing greatest foreign boards: some creature (such as science) in the place of the Creator. Believe and love, these two demands From living donors the Methodist Episcopal go together; they are the requirements placed on Foreign Board and the closely connected Women's
Board received $4,945,987 in 1930 and $2,483,771 the younger churches. They want and in many in 1935. The Presbyterian Church, North, re- cases need full autonomy. And the old churches ceived $3,339,918 and $2',030,967 in those same are quite willing to give them all they want. Yet years. So it is more or less with all foreign mis- after all the membership of these younger sion boards, a loss of from 30 to 45 per cent of the churches is representing only from five to one income they could command eight years ago. The per cent or even only one per mille of the non- Presbyterian Board, North, in 1929, had an in- Christian population. The baptized constituency come of $7,527,079, and in 1935 hardly more than of the Protestant Churches may be between four two million dollars. It is evident that that neces- and six hundred million souls against one billion sitates a thorough-going reduction of the expense, four hundred million non-Christans, so that there and the inability to send out necessary recruits, is the danger of their reabsorption, and their miscrippling of the budgets of one mission after an- sionary vigor, in spite of such wonderful achieveother, perhaps giving up whole fields. Of course ments as the Kin~om of God Campaign in Japan it needs the most careful deliberations in every and the Five-Year Movement in China, is lacking missionary committee how best to adjust to this or intermittent. changed condition, and to prevent the life nerves of the missionary enterprise from being damaged How, then, shall the Prote~tant missionary or ruined. movement go on? What ways and methods of cooperation between the older and the younger The second fact is the radically changing en- churches should and can be developed? vironment of the missionary movement. In the nineteenth century foreign missions were advanc- There is no question that the younger genera- tion in almost all countries is not in agreement ing on the crest wave of a rising tide. There was and sympathy with the traditional lines of Church a general culture hunger in the non-Christian work either at home or abroad. In Germany and countries. They were eager to assimilate as thor- in some other countries a glowing nationalism has oughly and as fast as possible the achievements got hold of them and is sweeping the millions in of Europe and America. The missionaries were its flowing ardor. In Russia communism has been able to generate a similar enthusiasm for social regarded as the most appropriate and the most justice. In America, men like the President of welcome teachers of the new era. Christianity Princeton University, who are able to feel the was rightly or wrongly regarded as the richest pulse of the younger generation, tell me that there exponent of that highly developed modern civ- is a good deal of real and sound enthusiasm, but ilization. This situation, as everybody knows, is it is not in line with traditional churchism and radically changed. In the old "Christian" coun- with the slogans of the missionary movement a tries, secularism is raising its ugly head. In generation ago. Dr. Charles' Fahs writes: "To Russia, atheism is the watchword of the day. In be sure, certain of those of the post war, and now Germany, one non-Christian school or philosophy specially of the depression, generations do not is emerging after another. In France, govern- really know or seemingly greatly care what is ment and masses were estranged from the Church happening of vital significance in missions or anylong ago. Science in almost all branches simply where else. . . . Economic cooperation? Yes. is' glorying in its complete independence from Interracial justice? Yes. International forth- Christian influence. The non-Christian world rightness and fellowship? Yes. World peace? knows this situation. Opposition against real or Yes. Foreign missions? No sure note in the reapparent imperialism of European or American plies now." This changing outlook of the younger powers, intensified race feeling of nations which generation, of course, is of the utmost significance more or less' feel injured or exploited by EurQpe and importance. It must be carefully studied and or America, a revival of the traditional non-Chris- pondered over. New ways of approach must be tian religions, a definite reassertion of national discovered. On a higher place of theological and pride and superiority feeling, all combine to force philosophical thinking these currents of mind the missionary movement into the background, to must be integrated into a real and living Christian slow down its advance, to hinder the free activity consciousness', as Christianity for two thousand of one agency after the other. Of course, that years has been able to assimilate and integrate means a very careful deliberation again as to what the highest aspirations of different nations. ways and means are at disposal-if methods effective or at least useful a generation ago are ad- Of course, these four facts are not overlooked visable under these changed conditions or if new by the foreign mission boards; there has been for methods have been discovered, perhaps by the years much heart-searching and praying over rapidly advancing electrical technique, such as them. Yet after all, if a new group with a good radio and navy. knowledge of the facts, a vivid interest in the mis- sionary movement, and a burning zeal for the A third fact is the growing independence of
Kingdom of God is taking them up we shall only men, out of their penetrating thinking and their be grateful for any and every contribution they deep insight, have to say. It is the common cause may be able to supply, only that not theological of all Christians in whatever camp, and it is the modernism may confuse the issue. We are fairly clarion call: "Onward, Christian soldiers." We sure that a missionary theology, like that of Dr. must remember our Lord's commission: "Ye shall White, is not furthering the cause. Yet we shall be witnesses unto me unto the utmost part of the always respectfully listen to what whole-hearted earth."
Misery Among Migrant Workers By the REV. MARK A. DAWBER, D.D., New York Executive Secretary of the Home Missions Council The migrant labor situation is getting worse Texas, also from the dust bowl and drought secevery year. Time was when this was for the most tions of the Dakotas and western Kansas are pourpart a problem of a few foreign-speaking groups, ing into California at an alarming rate and are Mexicans and Filipinos being the major nationali- creating a terrific .problem for the relief agencies. ties. But now it is a general problem, including Most of these migratory families are ineligible for all races and with an increasing number of Ne- local aid because they are unable to meet the regroes, also white farmers who have lost their quirements imposed by state, county, and local farms; or agricultural laborers who until recently authorities. were working regularly on established farms and who themselves had a settled abode. Many factors are contributing to this develop- ing migrant problem, such as the increase in The tragedy of the new migrant movement is farm machinery; the rising tenantry in agriculthat it now includes a large numb~r of persons ture; the continuing drought and dust in the who were accustomed to a home of their own, or middle west. But the chief thing is the movea settled residence; who were home-lovers and ment of certain types of agriculture from the also were citizens of a definite community which southeast and the south to the west. Gerald W. they were helping to build. Thousands of these Johnson, in his recent book, "The Wasted Land," families are now transient, moving around from paints a sordid picture. "It is assuming no great place to place, glad to. get any opportunity that risk of prophecy to say that the end of another ten presents itself for occasional work in the fruit, years will see cotton farming so precarious and vegetable or cotton sections of the West. unprofitable that only victims of due necessity will undertake it." He is writing of the south- California, Oregon and Washington are the east and the south where some twenty-two million states where these migrants are found in the acres of cotton land have been destroyed by wind greatest numbers. A recent survey reveals that and water erosion and by a system of agriculture some fifty thousand people from Arkansas alone that has been recklessly prodigal with the natural moved into California in a year. These are mostly resources, and in particular, the soil. As this tide "share-croppers" who are no longer assured even of soil erosion has developed, so human erosion the precarious existence that "share-cropping" has accompanied it, and the further loss of huhitherto provided in their own state. man resources by migration to the west.
Social conditions among these groups are such The federal and state authorities are doing that the federal authorities are alarmed. Dr. something to improve conditions in the camps and Owen Mills, regional economist for the Farm Se- to make possible a minimum of education and socurity Administration, has just completed an in- cial care for the children of migrants. With the tensive field study in California and reports "a present influx, a greatly enlarged program and large number of families living in miserable leadership is necessary and it is now necessary squatter camps consisting of dirty, torn tents and to arouse the Christian forces in the territory makeshift shacks in a sea of mud." He reports where these migrant problems exist and to solicit also alarming conditions of hunger, privation and the cooperation of pastors and churches to minmisery among the farm workers in the San J oa- ister to these neglected people. Their spiritual quin Valley and other agricultural districts of destitution is even greater than their economic California. extremity.
New migrants from Arkansas, Oklahoma and
Sang-A Christian Dervish*
I 1)1- -e( By the REV. J. CHRISTY',WILSON, D.D., Tabriz, Iran M ANSUR SANG'S life story is unusual. He Teheran. His wife finally left him and Mansur did not know the date of his birth, but it Sang journeyed to Resht as a trader in small was probably a little before 1870. His articles. He got into touch with Christians there father kept sheep and goats, and sold hay and and wished to be~ome a member of the church.
grain in the city of Meshed. His mother was a Before his probation time had elapsed he left Kurd, a descendant of those who were moved by Resht, returned to Teher.an, and later went to Nadir Shah from the western frontier of Iran to Meshed.
the Meshed region. Mansur Sang often said that In the city of his birth Mansur came into touch the blood of Iranian Moslems, Kurds, Zoroas- with the Christian church and with missionaries.
trians, and Arabs ran in his veins. Receiving further instruction, he was finally bap- As a boy he was apprenticed to a butcher and tized and began his career as .a "Christian deralso worked for a time with a gold- and silver- vish." This calling took him on foot or by any smith. At the age of twenty-five he went to transportation he could get, over deserts and Russia where he worked as a day laborer. He mountains, and into almost every part of Ir.an. fell in with Bahais in Bokhara and Samarkand We can give here only a few interesting details and finally went on a pilgrimage to Acca, where of his career.
he remained for two years. He was at last per- How little Mansur cared for the ordinary comsuaded that there was no hope of salvation or forts of life is illustrated by a story he told me. peace in Bahaism, so he returned on foot to Iran. "I had been traveling through the forests and vil- Again he visited Russia, and in a Trans-Caspian lages of Mazanderan, down near the Caspian Sea, city made the chance acquaintance of Benjamin and decided to go back over the mountains to Badal. This great Christian colporteur told him Teheran to see my friends there. I was climbing the story of Christ and sold him a Testament in up a steep mountain pass when I lost conscious- Persian. In that chance interview Mansur Sang ness and fell beside the road. I do not know how saw the first spiritual light that his soul had ever long I lay there, but finally I was awakened by known, and he longed for a clearer vision. cool rain falling on my face. I began to think when I had last eaten and then remembered that The young man could not read, but he kept the I had had nothing that day nor the day before. Testament and at times had others read it to him. I went on and soon came to a tea-house where I He became especially fond of the verses: "The ate some bread and drank tea. It is true that Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath man shall not live by bread alone, but we should annointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; not try to get along on spiritual food alone either." He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovering At one time Mansur invited one of the missionof sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that aries to lunch with him. Among other things he are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the had locusts and noticed that the missionary did Lord." not seem anxious to partake of this particular viand. Mansur said, "If locusts were good enough In Teheran, about 1915, Mansur came in touch for John the Baptist are they not good enough for with American missionaries to whom he told of you ?" He was a great admirer of John and his the little light he had found and was further in- desert life and never ceased to wonder at the fact structed. He later confessed Christ, but his bap- that although John was such a great prophet yet tism was put off, principally because of family the least in the Kingdom of God was greater than troubles. Mansur was married and had several he. Mansur used to say: "The word for prophet, children. A boy and a girl died, leaving one pegambar, means !One who carries a message' daughter who attended the mission school in and I am that." And indeed he did carry God's * Some time ago a letter from a c(}Ueague in Teheran brought this Message to hundreds of places where no Christian news: "Mansur Sang died quietly and in faith, in our h(}spital a evangelist had been before him. ,.
few days ago. He Was ready to g(} and had n(} fear of death. Poor old man, he had suffered much, may his reward be great." Thus Although Mansur could not read, village people has passed a most extraordinary character-the Christian dervish. d'd no t d!' Scover t he f act I' N(}w that he has gone to be with Christ the Church shJo.ulCd. kWn.ow for he could open the more of his llnllslIal story.
[182 ] MANSUR SANG, THE CHRISTIAN DERVISH, EXPLAINS THE GOSPEL TO AN IRANIAN STUDENT AND A BEARDED MOSLE'M DERVISH New Testament and quote from memory the pas- 'distributing his tracts and Gospels among the wild sage he wished to teach. He carried with him on tribesmen. Someone started the rumor that these his tours a few simple medicines and made his were books of the foreigners, against whom there living, largely by pulling teeth. He became adept was high feeling at the time. All the Scripture at this with his fingers, but if a stubborn molar portions were gathered and burned. Mansur reresisted his efforts, or if he wished to make an ceived news of what had been done, and pushing impression as to his professional ability, he would his way through the crowd, put out his hands over produce a rusty pair of forceps given him by one the ashes and prayed in a voice that all could hear, of the missionary doctors. Like the Canadian "0 God, forgive these people for having burned mounted police, "He always got his man." One thy Holy Word. In their ignorance they have of the English missionaries in southern Iran, who committed this great sin." The wild men of the accompanied him on a village trip, saw him ex- tribes stood about in silence, awed by his courage tract eighty-seven aching teeth in a single day. when he J<new that at any moment they might But always most important was the "Seed" he treat him as they had his books. But no hand carried-a pack of Scripture tracts and Gospels. was raised against him. He was so zealous an evangelist that a missionary was heard to say, "I am sure Mansur Sang has On his return journey, Mansur met a refugee brought the message of Christ to more people in from Russia. It was cold and the stranger had Khorasan this past year than all the members of no coat. The dervish gave the refugee his large our station." sheepskin coat, or pustin, which served him as bed and bedding as well as protection from the At one time Mansur met, in the village where cold. He slept for some time without any coverhe happened to be touring, the missionary who ing and later became seriously ill, probably from had baptized him. After their greetings, the this exposure. He recovered and started off on friend noticed that from long travel in the villages the road again for southern Iran where it was the shirt the Christian dervish was wearing had become rather soiled. After some admonitions as warmer. to Christian cleanliness, the missionary volun- Our Christian dervish was visiting a certain teered to purchase a new shirt for his friend. Later Mansur returned, very pleased, and wear- village in the south. He wished to sell a man a ing the new garment. The missionary was also Bible, but the latter said: "No, I have a much pleased, until by chance he found that the dervish finer book than this, with a wonderful leather still wore the old shirt underneath. binding and an illuminated title page. It has come down to me from my father and grand- Mansur Sang was traveling along the border of father." Mansur replied: Afghanistan during the revolution there, and was "Yes, I know, the book is a Koran and no doubt its decoration is wonderful. I will tell you a
story. I knew a man who had two daughters. sionary friend came from Shiraz and found Man- One was most beautiful and the other was ex- sur working among the patients in the Isfahan ceedingly plain. He had the homely daughter hospital, lustily singing. The missionary repaint her lips and cheeks, blacken her eyebrows marked, and fix herself all up, but he couldn't get anyone to marry her. He did not need to decorate the "Why Mansur, you don't sound married." other girl at all and could hardly keep the suitors "N0," he replied, "you see it was like this. I away from his door. Now this Bible I offer you said to the lady, get your things packed so that is the truly beautiful daughter. It needs no fine we can be married and start out on a tour of the cover or decoration. It is the Word of God." villages. But she objected that she couldn't pos- sibly leave Isfahan. I couldn't possibly stay in In another village Mansur was stoned and one place, so we parted the best of friends." beaten because of his open witness for Christ. Many times the Christian dervish was put in An old blind man who had been a leader in start- jail for his faith;lohut as one prison keeper said: ing the trouble was beating the air with his stick, since he could not see the dervish to hit him. "It does no good to put that fellow in jail. He When the latter saw the situation he pushed the is just as happy inside as out, and he starts trying others aside, saying, "You are all selfish indeed, to make Christians of all the prisoners." give this old man a chance to ease his wrath." So the evangelist took the stick and laid it on his In one large city a police officer, who was a own head, saying, "There is my head, brother, member of the Bahai sect, thought he would have beat it until your feelings are relieved." some fun with Mansur. Calling him from his cell, he took a small book out of the pack that had been In one village the quaint evangelist was again taken from the dervish, and asked: beaten and stoned and the old women ran after him to spit upon him. He said later, "I don't mind "What book is this and how much do you sell being beaten, it is a wonderful thing to have fel- it for?" lowship in the sufferings of Christ, but I don't like to see the old ladies spit. I don't think it is "That is the Gospel according to Matthew," polite, do you?" . Mansur replied, "and I sell it for four shais" (about two cents). In another place where he was preaching and was ·continually hackled by his hearers, one strap- The officer laughed and said: ping young man well over six feet tall, was im- "Yes, you are right. Your so-called 'Gospel' is pressed and bought a Gospel. Reading it that only worth two cents. You have put the right nighj;, he was convicted of sin, saddled his horse value on it." early in the morning, and hurried on to the next Then he picked up a small tract and asked what village. There he found Mansur and constrained that was and its price. him to return with him to his village and later "That is Christ's Sermon on the Mount," the take.him to the missionary in the city. There he prisoner answered. "I distribute that free." confessed, "I have been a highwayman and have The officer, almost convulsed with laughter, rerobbed and stolen and wounded people and beaten marked: them, but thank God, this man with the words of Christ found me before I had killed anyone." He "Correct you are, you yourself admit that these confessed faith in Christ and went back to his books you distribute are worthless-you give them village but could not live there. He took up life away. Perfectly right, you ought to do so since among the roving Kashgai tribes, went on with they are worth nothing. If you wanted to get a his study and was later baptized. The former copy of our holy book you would have to pay five highway robber is now a radiantly happy Chris- or ten dollars for it. It is valuable." tian. He referred to the Aqdas, copies of which are Mansur used to walk in the streets and public rare. gardens swinging his walking stick from side to side, saying, "Sword, a sword." Someone would "I beg pardon, sir," Mansur replied "but what say, "Why man, that's not a sword, it's only a is that above your desk?" cane." He would immediately produce the New Testament and say, "No, that is not a sword, but "That is an electric light," the officer answered. here is the Sword of the Spirit." "Does it cost money to burn that?" the dervish asked. At one time the Christian dervish confided to "Why of course," the man said with a smile, some friends that he had found a Christian woman "that is a good thing. It's worth while and we -or rather she had found him-and they intended are glad to pay for it." to be married. Sometime later a very close mis- Mansur pointed out the window of the office and asked: "What is that up there 7" "Why that's the sun," answered the officer. Mansur pointed his finger at him in a character- istic jesture, when in deadly earnest, and said:
THE HOLY MOSLEM CITIES OF IRAQ
"Yes, that electric light is like your book. Man He always magnified his office and was ready made, and you have to pay for it. That sun out to witness anywhere to Christ, his Lord. there is a gift of God, it is free, just like His Word." Much more might be t()ld of the Christian der- vish, but the incidents related show his character. On one occasion Mansur Sang visited us for He has gone Home, but his influence will live several weeks, at the end of that time I went with long. He was unique in the Christian Church in him to request a police permit for him to leave the Iran. He could not sign his name, but he carried city. He was asked a number of questions and a small seal, in the center of which was a cross, when the query came as to his business, imagine and around this was engraved, "Mansur Sang, the surprise of the desk sergeant when he replied, slave of Christ." There is great need of more such Christian dervishes in every Moslem land. "I am an amb!;tssador of the Lord of Glory."
THE MOST SACRED MOS'QUES OF THE SHIAS IN WHICH ARE VALUABLE TRE'ASURES-AT NAJAF The Holy Moslem Cities of Iraq )5t- -tE{ I By the REV. CALVIN K. STAUDT, Baghdad, Iraq THE, most interesting, the most formidable, The Shiah religion forbids its followers to have the most wicked and the most fanatical places any dealings with "unbelievers" and if an "in- in Iraq are the four Holy Cities of the Shiah fidel" drinks or eats from a vessel it becomes Moslems. In each one of these cities (Kadhemain, polluted and must at once be broken and thrown Samarra, Kerbala and Najaf) there is a golden- away. domed mosque to an Imam (Holy Man) who is supposed to be buried there. Boys have come from Kerbala is surrounded by gardens and palms two of these cities to the American School in and as there is much water, the situation is very Baghdad. beautiful; real Persian gardens have a profusion and variety of flowers. The shops are interesting,
having all kinds of tempting things for the pil- sages in some cases that run into the desert outgrims. side of the city. Sometimes there are three or four surdabs (cellars), one below the other, and The city is built around the golden-domed in these are subterranean wells, which are also mosque of Hussein, the son of Ali. Another connected all over the city and through which curmosque, with a golden dome and golden minaret~, rents of cool air pass, making living possible underground. These communicating cellars and cisterns offer illimitable opportunity for plotters and criminals to meet and escape capture. The wickedness of Najaf is like that of Sodom and Gomorrah, and is very degrading; lust, murder and all the crude sins that flow from avarice. Najaf;" encourages "temporary mar- riages," mostly for pilgrims; they may be for an hour or for months. Children born from these unions are distinguished by wearing a single ear ring, a custom that undoubtedly goes back to Babylonian times when temple girls were em· ployed in the temples.
The fabulous treasures of Naj af are said to sur- pass the wealth of Croesus. The rich jewels and robes of crowned heads in Europe are insignifi- cant compared to those in the storerooms of the mosque. At a visit of Nasreddin Shah, many cen- turies ago, the treasures of Kerbala and Najaf were opened and it was reported that the silver and gold alone weighed seven tons – besides the precious stones and silks. Every Shiah, whether THE ENTRANCE TO THE MOSQUE AT KERBALA rich or poor, makes a contribution to this sacred shrine.
is the mosque of Abbas, Hussein's half-brother. If Sayyid Abbas, the keeper of the treasures, with a Shiah swears by Abbas he will never violate his whom I stayed in Najaf, is a typical Moslem poli- oath; it is said that a man once swore falsely and immediately his head flew off and embedded itself in the ceiling where it is still seen!
The drive from Kerbala to Najaf is over the smooth desert. The city, with its high wall and .golden minarets and dome, looms up out of the golden sand. Najaf stands isolated in the desert with not a green thing in sight; a formidable wall protects its treasures rakher than its people. It is the most fanatical and the most wicked city in Iraq-a city where only Shiahs live and where no Christian is supposed to enter. It containscthe shrine of Ali, who was mortally wounded in the mosque at Kufa, a town seven miles away. The story is that Ali, when wounded, was put on a camel and here is where the body was later found and buried. This is the cause for the building of this city in the desert. It now has a teeming pop- ulation of 45,000 crowded inside a wall, the cir- A STREET SCENE IN KERBALA cumference of which is not more than three miles. What must this dty be like on feast days when tician who knows how to keep the flow of treasthe population swells to 150,000? ures coming to Najaf. Because of this flow the Iranian government forbade its pilgrims to come No one knows Najaf unless he has seen the to Iraq. He has two wives and a home for each. underground city where the people dwell in summer to escape the unbearable heat of the burning Najaf is the center of Shiaism and the seat of desert. It is a net work of catacombs, with pas- the Mujtahid who is like the Roman Popes who
A PASTOR AND MISSIONARY EDUCATION
enjoyed temporal and spiritual authority. He is tive religions, there is slight connection between chosen because of his learning, rather than be- religion and morality. A religion which is devoid cause of his spirituality. He interprets the Ko- of morality is a poor sort of a religion. ranic and traditional law and also makes new laws. To disobey him is believed to result in The transformation of these Holy Cities will be eternal damnation. through the slow and silent process of Christian education. Boys going to Christian schools from The Shiah fanaticism is breaking down. Mrs. these cities will be the leveling influence. Staudt and I could walk the streets of Najaf, look into the mosque as we passed by the gate, be enter- Kerbala and Najaf are shrines that are symtained by the Killidar, who is next to the Mujti- Bolic of vicarious suffering. Both Hussein and had. This we could not have done a few years ago Ali died in behalf of a cause. Tradition has it and live to tell the tale. Now the people do not that Hussein, before setting out from Kufa, always obey the Mujtihads. prayed to Allah: "I am going forth to die for Thy (God) people." Is it not possible to bring These Holy Cities thrive on religion. The reli- byr tact and patience, and through Christian edugious standards for the Shiah world comes from cation to the Shiahs, the news of a Mediator, bet- Najaf. They are very religious, but like in primi- ter and truer than the one whom they know?
A Pastor and Missionary Education By JESSE H. ARNUP, ll..,D., Toronto, Canada Missionary Secretary of the United Church of Canada THE missionary impulse is first of all a reli- recently aroused religious feeling, arose the world gious impulse; missionary endeavor is the movement of modern missions. Similarly, during outward projection of heart-felt love for God a period of expanding settlement on the American and man. The logical end of a religious revival continent great religious revivals issued in nais the beginning of a missionary campaign. In tion-wide expansion of home mission effort in the the sequence of church history great missionary United S,tates and Oanada. movements have arisen out of creative periods in the life of the home church. Any course of mis- With these facts in mind we can see how a pubsionary education which fails to take account of lic school lesson in geography or history, in so far this central fact will lack the primary impulse to as it helps to produce a world view, may make a missionary service, the spiri,tual glow without valuable contribution to missionary education: which no missionary enterprise can hope to suc- Here, also, we find justification for a program of ceed. Conversely, every quickening of Christian missionary information and education, both inlife or strengthening of religious purpose in an side and outside the curricula of organized reliindividual or a congregation provides a fresh op- gious education. The church which has set herportunity for successful missionary education. self to make this a Christ-like world must accept it as a primary duty to let her membership know For the religious impulse must needs be fer- what the world is like today. Details of the pictilized by the missionary idea if it is to bear fruit ture must be filled in so that real understanding in missionary service and suppor.t. Sometimes may produce sympathy and fellowship between that idea seems to lie inherent in the circum- the Christian church and all communiUes, peoples stances of the hour. The eighteenth century re- and areas of life that are without Christ. vival went flaming through England at the very time when the British Empire, through her sol- Two other elements in the missionary equation diers and sailors, was reaching out to the ends of exactly match each other: they are the purpose the earth. The new Gospel message was literally of God and the needs of man. Ultimately, the carried around the world on the wings of the wind claim of Christian missions rests down upon the and the waves of the sea. Explorers like Captain unity of God and his eternal purpose for the world Cook became indirectly servants of the Gospel, of men. Over against that purpose lies the need pointing the way to its world-wide application. of our common humanity. The answer to that Out of these numerous world contacts, acting upon need can be summed up in the one word, redemp- tion. It is impossible to think of God as divided:
He is the one Father of us all. Jesus Christ like- fundamental social proces'ses have 'been set in mo- wise spoke always of His own revelation in terms tion which when complete will bring about condi- that applied to the whole world. These two fea- tions more nearly resembling the rule of God in tures provide the missionary message of the Bible: human life.
the universality of God and Christ's sufficiency The meaning of all this for the Christian min- ister, and its application to his efforts on behalf to meet the universal needs of men. Take the mis-. of missionary education, are not far to seek. What we have outlined is op, one hand the unisionary message out of the Old Testament and you have taken out the heart and meaning of it. The New Testament is from first to last a missionary versal message of the Gospel and on the other it book. Leave out its missionary message and its is the practical program of the Christian minister implications and what you have left has lost its in the interests of the world of men. On what power and appeal. So it is with the Church. foundation rests the minister's claim to authentic Rob it of its missionary purpose and passion and proclamation and eff~tive appeal to his own conyou remove both its right and its power to carry gregation if not on his knowledge of the eternal on. Regarding the experience of the individual pu~pose of Almighty God? What other salvation Christian one has recently written, "The ultimate dare he offer to mortals than that of a univers1al in individual self-fulfilment is found in s·haring the Saviour, whose provision reaches to the uttermost divine self-giving." In the words of Henry van of human need? In a world which is rapidly be- Dyke, "We are chosen, we are called, not to die coming a unit how can he hope for solution of any and be saved, but to live and save others." God's ,major human problem on anything less than a eternal purpose finds expres·sion by way of indi- world basis,? Whatever may be said of men in vidual human experience and missionary devotion. other relations, the Christian minister is inextri- The needs of men are of infinite variety but cably involved. in the presentation of the world even the least of them is included in the loving mission of Christianity and the missionary effort provision which God has made for His children. of the Christian church. The issue of success and The operation of sharing Christ with others in- failure, in the ultimate meaning of those terms, will rest upon his faithfulness and efficiency in volves the sharing of all those blessings which fitting to local conditions the larger setting of a world-wide and age.J.ong undertaking. For, takhave come to us through the effect of His life and ing it by and large, the progress of the average congregation in spiritual sympathy with the world teaching upon the conditions and standards of enterprise of Christ, in intelligent understanding of the operations of the Church and in response to human living. Missions are more than a philan- the material needs of the world, will be measured thropy but they form the most important philan- by the vision and intelligence and faithfulness of thropic effort in the world. It is written of Jesus the minister. that "He went about doing good." Lord Irwin, late Viceroy of India, has this to say of His modern representatives in that land: "Among outcastes and lepers, among criminal tribes or aborig- inal dwellers in jungle tracts, I have seen men Prayer for Missions and women s·laving devotedly to translate the message of Christ into the practical language of Him One of the greatest opportunities of serving the who went about doing good. They are doing work missionary cause comes to a minister through of quite incalculable value in India and their most public prayer. Probably the congregation forms powerful sermons are their lives." its idea of what is vital in a preacher's life and ministry quite as much from his- prayers as from It was ever thus. The Good News includes re- his sermons. What a man habitually carries on lease from all forms of captivity. The emancipa- his heart will come out in his prayer. What he tion of women throughout the world has alone really cares about sooner or later will have a place been worth all the money and all the labor spent in his petitions. Yet how many prayers in the on the missionary enterprise since its beginning. congregation are concerned with no one outside If you seek a verdict, ask the women of non-Christian lands whether Christian missions are worth the four walls of the church and touch no interest while. Slavery has been fought ever since Living- beyond the confines of the parish! The usual peti- stone cried out, "I call down Heaven's blessing on tion in the mid-week service is entirely local. If anyone, be he Englishman, American or Turk, a pastor really desires his congregation to catch who will help heal this open sore of the world." a world vision and yield themselves to it in loving The practice of witchcraft in its varied forms· is service he will lead them in prayer to the Cross yielding to the light of the Gospel and the influence of One who died for the whole world. For the of the Christian school. Among primitive folk world purpose of Christ is, still unrealized and He new arts ,and industries have been introduced; still is straitened until the object of His suffering the tumult of tribal warfare has been stilled and and death be accomplished. Our prayers, both
BLACK AND WHITE IN SOUTH AFRICA
public and private, should somehow reflect that that the missionary thinking of the Church has attitude of the Master's mind and heart. fallen far behind the present-day operations and objectives of the missionary movement at home Every minister can keep himself and his congre- and abroad. For that reason we have lost to some gation informed about the progress of Christian extent the interest of our young people and espemissions, both as a world movement and as an cially of students. These young idealists have enterprise of his own Church. The Gospel lends given themselves in thought and purpose to such itself to missionary illustration and application. objectives as the elimination of war, the improve- Many ministers habitually enliven and enrich ment of race relations, and the reconstruction of their preaching by frequent reference to the diffi- our social and economic order. Ministers can take culties and successes of the Gospel in the mission advantage of this enthusiasm by showing the relefields. It pas'ses comprehension why some of the vance of the Gospel in its application to these "teaching elders" of the Church should labor so problems. How else dare we assert that our hard to master the details of church history in Christ is sufficient for all the needs of men? past ages and neglect the church history of equal or greater s'ignificance that is being made in vari- The missionary question thus assumes a vital ous places round the world in their own time. relation to the success of the home church. It is said that we live in an age of transition. A period But preaching, though always of the utmost of transition is, usually a period of confusion, but importance, is only one means of missionary edu- it may also become a period of new creation. In cation. The minister who desires to have his con- this hour when the Christian Church stands at the gregation intelligent in matters affecting the crossroads, leading to world succes's or universal world-wide work of Christ will foster missionary defeat, shall it be said of us that, unaware of the education in all the organizations of his church. significance of the issue, we sought to explain and Outstanding opportunities' are presented through extenuate our apathy to the great purpose of our the Church School, the Young People's Society, Lord by the lame apology, "The missionary enterthe Men's Club and the various organizations of prise doesn't seem to make the appeal it used to the women. Among young people and adults it will make." We have no such poor opinion of the be the peculiar function of the minister to show ministers of the Christian churches in the United the importance of the missionary enterprise to the States and Canada. life of the world in our day. It is our conviction Black and White in South Africa The Responsibility of the Christian Community By KENNETH G. GRUBB,* London 1r )1- Of the World Dominion Movement ~==========================~ C LIMATE and the course of history have at times injected into the relations between these ordained that the most numerous and most two peoples, so different in language, general in- active Christian population in Africa terests, political attitudes, and, in their types of should be the European community of the Union Christian culture. Nevertheless, it may be of South Africa, numbering two millions. It can- doubted if so strong a European community could not, therefore, be altogether a waste of time to ever have existed and maintained its position note its relation to the evangelization of the na- without a degree of tension which has produced tive peoples, not only in the Union but also in a virile character, and has created a powerfully Africa as a whole. assertive type of European civilization, which owes its very strength to a variety of outlooks The European community in South Africa is and habits. composed of two different national stocks, the Dutch and the British. The tension between them The effect of this is seen in the religious sphere. has been acute at times, culminating in the Anglo- There is a strong religious life among the Euro- Boer war; even today an element of bitterness is peans, particularly among the Afrikander folk; while among the British, the Church of the Prov- • Mr. Grubb has recently returned from an extensive visit to ince of South Africa (Anglican), the Methodists South Afrlca.-EDITOR.
and other "Free Churches" command a popular dan. Apart from these Dutch churches are two following. This active religious life has enabled others: the "Hervormde" Church, the official these people in some measure to resist the fatal Church of the old South African Republic; and temptations and allurements of the prosperity in- the "Dopper" or "Gereformeerde" Church. But to which the gold-mining industry has dragged even these organizations, which have traditionally many families. Of recent years the religious ten- represented the most rigid racial views, have unsion has been increased by the rapid advance of dertaken at least some mission work. The Dutch Roman Catholicism, by its progress in native mis- churches, notwithstanding their well-known racial sions especially in Basutoland, and by the increase attitude, have undertaken mission work both within its already considerable provision of high-class in and outside the Union of South Africa. educational institutions for European children. The most powerful church in the British com- In face of this situation the problem before munity is the (Anglican) Church of the Province those interested in missions is therefore: How of South Africa>~ The first bishop of this church can the religious energy that results from this had been strongly influenced by the Oxford Movetension be used for a more earnest and thorough ment, and the church, although it contains some evangelization of the Africans? Second: How evangelical parishes, is a good exponent of Anglocan those who have lapsed among the European Catholicism at its best. It still receives substan- Christians best be reclaimed? Finally, how can tial assistance from England, and is therefore by the prayer of our Lord for spiritual unity among no means so fully rooted in the country as are the His people be answered in South Africa. Dutch churches; neither is its hold over its peo- ple as firm. But this church has developed a re- Foreign mission work (American, Scandinavi- markable native mission work with a vast number an, French, German and Swiss), cannot be ex- of outstations, and some excellent educational and pected to remain in South Africa indefinitely. medical centers. Much of this work is in the Many have very considerable responsibilities in hands of the Anglican religious orders, such as Asia where there is no immigrant European the Mirfield Fathers, the Society of the Sacred Christian community of any size in proportion to Mission and others. the total population. On the other hand, so long as South Africa remains a land of white men as The Methodist Church of South Africa also carwell as black, the Bantu Church will need the ries on a very extensive native mission work, cooperation of the indigenous European churches. which is now almost entirely independent of any It is, therefore, the European Christian commu- grants from Great Britain. It is the church which nity that must prove their willingness to play a has the most numerous following among the Banvital part in the evangelization of the Africans. tu population, and the quality of its native min- istry is such as to command respect. The whole The most important European churches are the church is permeated by a keen evangelistic spirit, Dutch Reformed. They are the most closely iden- and certain of its missions, such as that on the tified with the general development of the country; Rand, furnish a good example of the response of they command, to a remarkable extent, the loyal- the native population to the Gospel. Many other ty of their people; and they have developed types South African churches carryon evangelistic of religious life which admirably suit the aspira- work, although on a smaller scale, among natives. tions of their Christian community. There are four European Dutch churches in the Union, These two churches, the Methodist and the namely the four synodal churches in the provinces Church of the Province, contrast strongly with of the Cape, Natal, Orange Free State and Trans- the Dutch churches in their organization and the vaal. These churches are for Europeans only, and nature of their religious appeal. The differences they delegate only certain very limited powers to between the Dutch churches and the Church of a Federal Council. It is, therefore, not strictly the Province are especially noticeable and from correct to speak of the Dutch Reformed Church some points of view are regrettable. It is of the of South Africa. Corresponding to these four utmost importance for the Christian future of European churches there are three "mission South Africa that there should be a clear underchurches": that in the Cape is a church among standing between the Dutch churches and the Colored folk, with a Christian community of over Church of the Province. This situation offers a 120,000; those in Transvaal and the Orange Free real problem for the newly formed Christian State are native churches. These "mission Council of South Africa, but it is one which will churches" are entirely independent, although they be solved more by personal contact and spiritual receive subsidies from the European churches. interchange than by organization. Each European synod has a permanent committee on missions, and through these committees an ex- When we consider the attitude of the Church tensive work is maintained in Nyasaland and to the racial problem, the contrast remains be- Southern Rhodesia, and a smaller one in the Su- tween the Dutch and the other leading Christian churches. The Dutch do not permit Black to wor-
ship with White in the same place; in fact, they senting to the native a wholly barbaric and lustful are opposed to any form of equality between Black picture. It is they who have mitigated the threatand White either in Church or State. The prob- enrngs of war by the message of the Prince of lem is, of course, by no means confined to South Peace. Dispense with their labors, and it is Africa, but the numerical relation of the commu- doubtful whether the native of today would have nities there, where Black outnumbers White by any educated leaders at all. In modern times more than three to one, makes it singularly acute. when, under the influence of close contact with The question has been repeatedly debated from a European civilization, the ancient sanctions of score of different angles, and it is unnecessary to native life are being swept away, the Message of recapitUlate the arguments here. An extreme the Gospel has taken fruit in the realization of a policy of geographical segregation is no solution Christian community, a form of spiritual fellowto a problem which is fundamentally one of ship and cohesion that, amidst the confusion of the inner attitude rather than geographical position. times, offers salvation to the bewildered African Neither hatred nor love are created or removed by from his heart's long torment and the anarchy of distance alonli. Rather, the churches of South his own desires. Africa, whatever be their actual machinery of organization for dealing with the racial problem, But the old paths are being broken up in South will be increasingly driven to echo the conviction Africa as elsewhere; the old order is passing of Shelley: away. The mines, the farms, and the towns all bring White and Black into constant contact. In- We – are we not formed, as notes of music are, creasingly it will become evident that although For one another, though dissimilar; color may be made the basis of an aesthetic judg- Such difference without discord, as can make ment, it cannot be the foundation of a religious Those sweetest sounds, in which all spirits shake one. If six~and-a-half million Bantu are in con- Like trembling leaves in a continuous air? tact with two million Europeans and remain in any large part non-Christians, it can only be be- The point to emphasize here is that the racial cause the latter are in large part non-Christians problem of South Africa, in its implications for themselves. There are two million potential misthe Christian community, is not so much a prob- sionaries in South Africa. In face of this fact we lem for the foreign missions, as for the indigenous have to ask whether, through the testimony of European churches of the land. The missionary European Christianity, the native community is can never view such a problem with the same feel- to be won for Christ or repelled from Him. If it ings as he whose whole past is bound up with local is not won, then the future will witness the traditions, whose father or grandfather was per- mingling of two paganisms to form one neopaganhaps slain, or may be saved from death, by a na- ism. The cynical indifference of the civilized tive warrior, and whose land was once occupied European, who has no reverence and no fear, no by a primitive or warlike tribe. These things be- purpose, no convictions and no religious beliefs, long to history, but their effect remains. The will mingle with the secularized native who has present with all its difficulties has been molded cast adrift from the old moorings and is afloat on and created by the past, and only those, the roots the sea of uncertainty. Of these two paganisms of whose life are in the soil of South Africa, and the second, being the paganism of ignorance, is to whom all other shores are foreign strands, can the more pardonable. determine these issues. To answer the questions we have raised we The contribution which foreign missions are have first of all to pray for a revival of true faith called upon to make is, therefore, to create the in God and true devotion to Jesus Christ among Christian community among the native peoples. the two million persons of European descent, Racial questions, and all questions affecting the nearly all of them nominally Christians, in South relations between Black and White, will be Africa. We may then expect that in their inbrought vastly nearer solution when they can be evitable contact with the native peoples, by the treated as problems between fellow Christians. day-to-day testimony of a Christ-controlled life, They will then be transferred to the sphere of the the Gospel will receive an impetus which the la- Church: that will not, of course, mean that they bors of missionaries alone could never bring. will be automatically solved, but their solution Finally, in order to eliminate useless strife and will be brought sensibly nearer, in so far as they wasteful competition among those who call themare handled by men who are consciously led by the selves disciples of our one Lord, there is a great Spirit of God. work of fellowship and cooperation to be patiently and carefully undertaken. Two years ago the South Africa owes much to the devoted labors Christian Council of South Africa was organized of missionaries. Through their presence and la- and should bring about helpful cooperation. It bors the harsh asperities of the pioneer age of is evident that the field is lying open before it. occupation have been sensibly mollified. It is they who have saved European civilization from pre-
Ways of
'Tested Metlwds for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MRS. ESTELLA S. AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO MISSIONARY TOURS joining "tent" (room) a typical day from noon till the evening Arabian luncheon was served, ';' assembly, with guides and inter- "Tours of Moslem Lands," the cost being covered by an of- preters in each ,.room. Notewith costumed impersonations fering. The same plan was worthy were the exhibits of and characteristic luncheons, used in all of the programs. the Episcopal Church activities have been featured in four Details of costumes and lunch- throughout the world, shown at monthly visualizations by mem- eons will be furnished for a the Chicago World's Fair; the bers of the Presbyterian church, stamped and addressed envelope, miniature replicas of the Amer- Quincy, Illinois. Arranged by by writing ,to Mr. Githens, 318 ican Mission to Lepers; the Harry W. Githens, the church's So. 4 St. Complete programs Centennial exhibits of the Pres- Dramatic Director, the pro- will be typed for a fee of $1.00. byterian Board; appealing photograms were sponsored by the graphs from the Baptists; the Women's Missionary Society and the Christian Endeavor Society, A WORLD'S FAIR Chinese exhibits of the Methodin an effort to reach a larger OF MISSIONS ists, .and the lighted panels and group in studying the current By GRACE H. HONDELINK posters of the Reformed Church Boards. Daily missionary motheme. Missionary-minded persons from other .churches also The World's Fair of Missions tion pictures drew large groups held in Salem Evangelical and were invited. The programs be- to the room devoted to this feagan at 5 p. m. on Sunday eve- Reformed church, Rochester, ning, and averaged about two N. Y., January 19 to 23, was the ture. most comprehensive and com- First of the ten sessions of the hours each, so there was no con- pelling missionary review ever flict with other services after 7 projected in western New York. Fair was a luncheon on Wednes- Sponsored by the Rochester day noon, attended by over 500 o'clock. women. The speaker was Dr. Mary Ely Lyman, on the theme, Sailing on the Steamer "Mis- Council of Church Women and "Thy Kingdom Come." Another sions," a worship service was assisted by the Rochester Fed- social event was the Women's conducted by the pastor, Rev. eration of Churches, the Federa- International Dinner on Thurs- W. N. Dewar, as Chaplain. The tion of Men's Bible Classes, and day evening, with hostesses and first country visited was Arabia, the Monroe County Youth Fed- tables gay in costumes and dec- "Land of Romance." The next eration, nearly 200 churches of orations of many nations. About three visits were to Syria, "The thirteen denominations shared 400 women listened to the speak- Land Where Jesus Lived"; Iraq, in this project for bringing fresh ers, from China and Japan. A "The Cradle of Civilization"; enthusiasm for missions to all somewhat smaller group at the and Iran, "Land of the Lion and church members. men's dinner on the same eve- the Sun." En route to these Eight rOOInS of the spacious ning heard a past president of three countries the worship serv- church plant were given up to the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, ice was supposed to be on either exhibits grouped according to on "A Business Man Looks at a Desert Bus or a Railway train. countries, with two rooms filled Missions." The president of Arriving in Arabia the tour- with materials appealing to chil- Colgate – Rochester D i v i nit y ists went immediately to the dren and their leaders. Home School, just returned from a "tent" of Sheik Ilderim (which and foreign mission boards gen- round-the-world trip, gave latest had been erected from brown erously lent their best in the news from the mission field. burlap, in another room) where way of pictures, literature, pos- Afternoon teas on Thursday missionaries and native students ters, banners and curios; the and Friday gave opportunity for (the latter in costume) pre- Rochester Museum of Arts and fellowship with missionaries and sented an interesting program Sciences loaned large contribu- acquaintances, as did the buffet which told of the historical, geo- tions from its collections, and supper on Friday night. graphical, economic, and reli- many friends in Rochester of- Inspiring music was furnished gious conditions, with a vocal fered their art objects for the for the various meetings by talsolo by the Sheik host as ,a spe- week of the Fair. ented soloists, a Negro baritone, cial feature. Then, in an ad- The exhibits were open each a quartette from the German [192 ]
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
Baptist Theological Seminary, modate the crowds of interested FROM ONE BOOK-END the mixed chorus of Jefferson listeners. TO ANOTHER High School, an Antiphonal Friday evening's forum on The following combination of Choir of 400 voices, and the choir "World Christianity and Human monologue and dialogue has of Salem Evangelical-Reformed been prepared to give publicity Church. The high point musi- Needs" was led by the President to the Interdenominational Concally, however, was the presenta- of the Rochester Federation of tion of Mendelssohn's "Elijah," Churches. There were four ference of Missions to be held at in the dramatic adaptation ar- speakers, each one followed by the Hotel Raymond, Eagles ranged by Rev. Phillips E. Os- discussion from the floor. An Mere, Pennsylvania, June 25 good, D.D. This was given by Episcopalian bishop spoke on the fifty-voice Rochester Chapel "The Church's Need of World to JUly 2, 1938. The same type Choir. The sanctuary of the Vision" ; a missionary from of sketch may be used ,to angreat church proved utterly in- nounce any other conference, or adequate for the throngs that China, on "The World's Need of wished to enter. Christian Education"; a gifted to present mission study book woman from India, on "The Re- reviews. The group adapting Stirring addresses were given sults of World Christianity"; on Thursday, Home Missions the idea may prepare the book Day, by an Alaskan (Aleut) and an exchange student at Waminister and an Indian mission- seda University, Japan, on "The reviews. ary. The eminent pastor of a Challenge of World Christianity The idea is to give the effect Negro church gave readings from the works of James Weldon on the Threshold of Service." of a row of books held in place Johnson and Paul Lawrence . by book-ends. The "book-ends" Dunbar. Home missionaries introduced to the audience included are two girls, sitting in identical workers among the Indians, On Children's Day, Saturday, positions, one at each end. Southern Mountaineers, in city children in convenient groups missions, and on the far western were conducted through differ- First Book-End is dressed as frontier. ent rooms, where they were in- a girl of an American city. troduced in turn to story-telling, Friday afternoon, Foreign games, folk songs, costumes and Second Book-End wears a col- Missions Day, brought speak- customs of missionary countries, orful sari of India. If a sari is ers from Chosen, the Women's finally gathering in a large as- not available, use seven yards of Christian Union Colleges of In- sembly for a drama centering bright-colored material draped dia, and Nellore, South India. around the picture, "The Hope as follows: Hold one end in left The Missionary Commission was of the World." hand at waistline in front. Pass given by Mrs. Laura Hyde goods tightly around hips in Foote, 81 years old, pioneer med- Saturday evening was Youth front. Tie upper corner in firm ical missionary, who appeared Night. A most impressive dra- knot to upper edge of goods held on the p I a t for m with her matic devotional service, fea- in right hand. Bring cloth daughter and granddaughter, turing a processional and pleas snugly around body once, then representing the tradition of of the nations, and an antiphonal lay the long line in pleats to generation after generation in Youth Chorus, were followed by within three or four yards of the missionary service. an address by a speaker from end. Tuck these pleats in over Iran, on "New Horizons." the knot in the middle of the Hymn singing was led by the front. Pass the loose end of City-wide Missionary Sunday cloth on over the left hip, up former pastor of the Union was observed with missionary under right arm and over left addresses by missionaries, board shoulder, bringing it up over the Church, Kobe, Japan. Over a secretaries or the pastors in head and letting it fall over the score of foreign missionaries, practically all of the Protestant right shoulder. A plain waist garbed in the costumes of their churches of Rochester and vicin- with short sleeves may be worn underneath sari. The Books are adopted countries; some mem- ity. At Sunday afternoon's ves- girls holding in front of them bers of foreign mission boards, per service, the former executive long narrow posters lettered to secretary of ;the Rochester Fed- imitate the backs of books. As and several mothers and sisters each girl speaks she may step eration of Churches brought the challenge of personal responsi- upon a hassock so that her head bility, and a local pastor con- appears above the poster. ducted the closing devotional of missionaries now on the field, 'Service. were presented in a recognition The World's Fair of Missions *** Girl of India: (After sitting service. The meeting closed was the culmination of many still long enough for audience to with the Lord's Prayer, re- months of work by some 150 get the effect, moves about rest- peated, "each in his own women, serving on various com- lessly, then stretches arms wide) (adopted) tongue." These after- mittees. The outstanding suc- Ah-h-h! (Yawns, peeps around noon meetings had been sched- cess of the venture, both in corner at her neighbor at the uled for the Bible class room, numbers attending and in the other end, who does the same.) seating 300, but it was found spiritual tone of all the meetings, Oh, how stiff I am! I wonder necessary tg move to the church argues well for the future of what would happen if I -should auditorium, in order to accom- missionary interest in Rochester. move. (Leans forward; end
book immediately leans too) Oh, ing on a vacatio.n? They sound way to solve all problems, dear, no! They can't stand up, very serious-minded to me. whether of the East or the West, poor things, without me. But I What sort of place is Eagles is the same, by following the One am stiff! Mere? who came out of Nazareth to be City Girl: Stiff! I'm b,o.red City Girl: Look, here's one the whole world's Saviour.
stiff! I like books well enough, called "The Good Times Book." Girl o.f India: Hark, I hear but this thing of just sitting be- Give it a tap and see what it has someone coming. We'll have to to say. go back to our places. (Resumes side them all this time- (Peep- position as at first, very deing at her neighbor again). Oh, The Goo.d Times Bo.o.k: I mure.) you're from India! I know it by can't keep quiet any longer. Where have you been that you City Girl: Goodbye for the your beautiful dress. (Rises, don't know Eagles Mere is just present. Let's try to get toholding one hand against nearest the most beautiful mountain re- gether at Eagles Mere, when book to support it, looks at Girl sort in Pennsylvania? these neighbors of ours won't of India.) have to be in a stiff row all the Girl o.f India: (Apologeti- time. (Waves hand and takes Girl o.f India: Yes, I'm from cally) I've been in India. position as at first.) India, but (also rises, same ac- The Bo.o.k (somewhat molli- JANE GILBERT, tion as City Girl) I've seen fied) We-ell, of course, you American girls like you travel- might not hear about it in India. Member o.f Co.nference ing in my country. I wonder Co.mmittee. City Girl: I live in New York. why these books are standing in SUGGESTIONS FOR a row like this. (Gazes at The Bo.o.k: (Sniffs) Oh, New INVITATIONS books.) York! They are always so superior! Well, anyway if you Picture of drum and sticks, City Girl: (Same action) I flew over Pennsylvania and saw with the inscription, "Drum up a lake right on top of a lovely a crowd for" (time, place and heard someone say they were all mountain, like a sapphire sur- title of meeting) . going on a vacation together, to rounded by emeralds- A mirror on the bulletin board a place called Eagles Mere. City Girl: (Whispers across Girl o.f India: (Touching to Girl of India) Guide-book nearest book) This one is called with cover drawn over its face "Moving Millions," but it doesn't move a bit while I hold it. City Girl: I wish one of them stuff ! The Bo.o.k: (Ignoring inter- and the words: "Look inside would speak. ("Moving Millions" speaks ruption) You might think a bit and you will see the picture of of the sky had got stranded someone invited to the next briefly, then disappears.) Girl o.f India: That's a book I there, but when you came down meeting of" (society, place and must read for myself. There're to see, you'd find Eagles Mere! date) . things in it I probably don't And when you came closer, you'd Large sketch of finger ring, know even though I live in In- find rubies and rose quartz here with diamond, and the words: dia. It seems several people and there in the emerald setting, "You are engaged to . . ." or, wrote it. for the laurel and rhododendron "Your engagement is announced City Girl: Here is another grow close to the edge of the with the Young People's Misbook about India. "The Church lake. And the fun you can have sionary Society for" (date and Takes Root in India" by Basil in the lake! Then there are all place). Mathews. sorts of hikes through the woods, and of course tennis and golf- Sealed o.rders-Sketch of large ("The Church Takes Root in well, a week won't be nearly hand with tiny envelope held be- India" speaks.) long enough to enjoy all the good tween thumb and firs,t finger times to be had at Eagles Mere. (through slit in paper). Inside Girl o.f India: That's interest- the envelope place the names of ing. But I'd like to hear some- (City Girl and Girl o.f India two women to be won for the thing about your country. What stand in same position, looking next missionary gathering by is this next one? (Leans over up at the book after the head has the recipient of these "orders." to read title) Oh, yes, (reads disappeared, and then the W o.rtitle) perhaps it will speak too. ship Bo.o.k speaks.) Personal invitations written on outline sketches of the state (First book on The City Wo.rship Bo.o.k: Of course, or states whose Home-missionspeaks.) there's another book that every- ary work is to be studied, and one will take to Eagles Mere leaflets enclosed with them. City Girl: Dear me, I live in which is not on our shelf. the city but I believe there are Everyone will study the Bible Sketch of heart with words: still some things for me to learn. every day. There will be lead- "Take this invitation to heart" Wait, here's another one about ers who know the Bible and (add information). to make remarks. Sketch of a girl sitting at a (Second book on The City know how to make it real and telephone apparently calling up speaks.) living to young and old. When recipient; the accompanying de- Girl o.f India: (Doubtfully) these other books spoke, did you tails of the invitation should be Are you sure these books are go- notice, they reminded us that the in telephonic terms.
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BULLETIN Council of Women for Home Missions EDITED BY MISS EDITH E. LOWRY, 297 FOURTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N. Y.
~,=-=================~ INTRODUCING While in Paris she was also erend Cornelius P. Trowbridge President of the Woman's Guild is the Canon of St. Paul's Cathe- Mrs. Augustus Trowbridge, of the American Cathedral. dral Church in Boston. President of the Council of Women for Home Missions During the war she was ac- Under her leadership the tive in Red Cross work and Council of Women for Home The Council of Women for served a term as Chairman of Missions looks forward to con- Home Missions is honored to in- the Red Cross Committee in tinued opportunities for usefultroduce to the readers of this Princeton. The New Jersey ness and deeper dedication to Bulletin, its newly elected Presi- Church Mission of Health has the cause of Unity in Christian dent, Mrs. Augustus Trow- claimed her attention and en- service for all church women. bridge. Elected in Annual Meet- thusiastic support for many ing, January 9-12, 1938, in New years. As a member of the MAY LUNCHEON York City, she succeeds Mrs. Board, and for a time its chair- Millard L. Robinson, retiring man, she has worked for the re- Tuesday, May 3, 1938 President. Mrs. Trowbridge has claiming as useful citizens young been a stimulating member of girls who, as unmarried mothers "UNITY IN CHRISTIAN SERVICE" the Council's committees, taking found themselves in need of active part in the Migrant work much sympathetic guidance. For years the Council of and peace work of the Council, Women for Home Missions has and for the past year as Second In 1937, she attended the announced in these columns in Vice-President assisting in the twelfth Conference on the Cause April plans for the May Lunchformulation of policy and fur- and Cure of War, in Chicago, as eon held annually under its austhering the meaning of home proxy for Mrs. Millard Robin- pices for closer fellowship of mission work through the Coun- son, President of the Council of church women of its twentycil of Women for Home Missions. Women for Home Missions, and three constituent denominations, her appraisal of the Conference and better acquaintance with A member of the Episcopal called forth praise from church their common tasks. Last year, church, Mrs. Trowbridge has women of many denominations you may remember, marked a participated in the work of the and challenged church women to definite advance in fellowship in Woman's Auxiliary wherever strengthen the spiritual ties of that other national church orshe has lived. Her interest in women round the world building ganizations joined with us and peace and among young people for peace. sponsored this luncheon at the brought her into service as a Biltmore Hotel, in New York member of the Board of the Stu- Her connection with the City. It was a signal success dents International Union where Young Women's Conference at and the succeeding months have she retains active membership. Northfield, and at one time been spent in planning how to F'or many years she made her chairman of its Program Com- extend the enthusiasm and inhome in Princeton, New Jersey, mittee, has kept her in close spiration of such meetings to where her husband was a mem- touch with the thinking and ac- church women all over the counber of the faculty of Princeton tivities of young people. try. It is with a sure knowledge University, the last four years of therefore of what similar gathhis life serving as Dean of its A woman of keen insight, in- erings of church women in all Graduate ColI e g e. For five terested in all that goes to make of the communities of the counyears she made her home in for universal Christian brother- try may mean to those commu- Paris, where her husband was hood in a confused and material nities that the Committee on Director for Science (in Eu- world, Mrs..Trowbridge says of Women's Work of the Foreign rope) of the Rockefeller Foun- herself that her "chief inter- Missions Conference, the Nadation. It was at this time that ests have always been in church tional Council of Federated she became very much interested work and minor positions in the Church Women, and the Council in the International Migration church." This is evidenced by of Women for Home Missions Service and she is now a mem- the fact that her two sons are under the banner of "National ber of its New York Committee. both ministers: the Reverend Council of Church Women" urge George A. Trowbridge is the the holding of interdenomina- Rector of All Angels' Church in New York City, and the Rev- [195 ]
tionalluncheons, simultaneously, close the meetings in Riverside Council of Women for Home in all communities on Tuesday, Church. The"A d v e n t u r e Missions. May 3, 1938, to consider together through the Years" depicted the Unity in Christian Service. development of the home mis- The topics discussed during sion enterprise. The pageant the business sessions of each day Those who attended the con- provides admirable material for included such themes as "Social ferences in Oxford and Edin- use as a whole or in part by Frontiers," "Child Labor," "Juburgh last summer have already church groups. venile Delinquency," and the a vision of what may be accom- "Underprivileged Migratory Laplished by church women in all On Monday, the two Councils, borers," indicative of the larger parts of the country, in similar meeting in Marble Collegiate implications of the missionary gatherings, and at the same church, held separate executive enterprise in the complicated sotime, earnestly thinking together sessions until the evening. Then cial structure of the present day. of their relation to the affairs of a panel discussion of the eco- The problems of the city as the church, the nation, and the nomic and spiritual needs of the viewed from the chair of the world, and of ways in which we migratory laborers presented to 'liayor of New York City were can jointly attack those prob- the j oint session of the Councils admirably presented by Mayor lems. It is suggested that all the complexities of the migrant Fiorello H. La Guardia. In this groups hold to the same theme problem. Participants in the single metropolis is concentrated for the luncheon programs and panel included Mr. Courtenay a population greater than that make them as uniform as pos- Dinwiddie, Executive Secretary in anyone state, yet its form of sible. An outline program is be- of the National Child Labor government is similar to that ing prepared that will be sent Committee, Mrs. Petricha E. for a city of 10,000 to 100,000. free on receipt of a stamped and Manchester, Executive Secretary addressed envelope (size 5"x of the Consumers' League of The memorable days came to 10") to the National Committee Delaware, Miss Barbara Stokes a climax with the Anniversary of Church Women, Room 63, 297 and Mr. Leon Dickinson, two dinner. Three remarkable ad- Fourth Avenue, New York City. student workers in Migrant Cen- dresses comprised the program. Will you encourage friends in ters who related their experience Dr. Robert W. Searle, Execuother communities in your and recorded the gratitude of tive Secretary of the New York county to plan such luncheons in migrant families for the inter- City Federation of Churches, their communities? Aim to est demonstrated on their behalf. speaking on the question "What have an inter – denominational Miss Edith E. Lowry, Executive Constitutes a Mission Field?" church women's luncheon on Secretary of the Council of made an impassioned plea on be- May 3rd in every city, town and Women for Home Missions, half of the city for home mission village in your county. Send proved the problem to be one of service. Mrs. Millard L. Robearly for the outline program. national proportions and of in- inson, the beloved president of creasing magnitude, and stressed the Council of Women for Home THIRTY YEARS OF COOP- the gratifying response of the Missions, reviewed the "Thirty ERATION IN HOME Council of Women for Home Years of Working Together MISSIONS Missions to the call of need in through the Councils." The clos- the increase from seven centers ing address by Dr. Charles E. The annual meetings of the in three states to the present pro- Schaeffer, former president of Home Missions Councils (the gram in fifty centers in thirteen the Home Missions Council, paid Home Missions Council and the states.. tribute to the outstanding lead- Council of Women for Home ers, each of whom by character, Missions) held January 9-12, The inter-relation of the Coun- personality and devotion had 1938, in New York City, cele- cil of Women for Home Missions shaped the service of the Counbrated the thirtieth anniversary with other bodies was forcefully cil. He closed with a ringing since their organization in 1908. shown in the annual report of challenge to advance in the spirit Miss Lowry. Almost without of the founders, ever pioneering, The meetings of Sunday were exception, the program com- striving, straining toward the held in Riverside Church. A mittees for the year 1937 were goal of making our country conference for young people joint or cooperating with some God's country. and their denominational leaders other national religious organsought for solutions to the baf- ization. The effectiveness of the The Council of Women regretfling questions of the "Social Council's work among migratory fully released its president, Mrs. Frontiers," as illustrated in the families received recognition in Millard L. Robinson, who, havproblems of the Negro, the In- a resolution of the Inter-Council ing given two years of devoted dian, the Mountaineer, the Mi- Field Committee which repre- service felt compelled to retire. gratory Laborer. sents seven national interdenom- Mrs. Augustus Trowbridge was inational organizations, which elected to serve as president. A worshipful pageant pre- called upon ,their field units to She enters upon her office with pared and directed by Miss direct that all such work under- assurance of support of her as- Nancy Longenecker of the First taken by religious agencies be sociates in the Council. Presbyterian Church in Brook- done in cooperation with the lyn, New York, brought to a MRS. ORRIN R. JUDD, First Vice-President.
World–wide
A Missionary Newspaper of Current Events EDITED BY MRS. HENRIETTA H. FERGUSON, XENIA, OHIO INDIA-BURMA-OEYLON of the Mission to Lepers in In- cure are usually convincing; dia, over 700 children have, since even more so is the demonstra- Women Leaders Ask Reforms it was founded, been rescued tion of Christian living by "un- from leprosy, and have gone out touchables." This is so genuine Now that India's Parliaments to take their places in the healthy that caste people who knew them community. In one place there before are coming to the Bishop include over 50 women members, is a self-supporting village of of Dornakal and his clergy in one may expect to see some Christian families, who are de- hundreds for instruction for greatly needed reforms for the scendants of those who them- baptism. "The Indian Church selves were the rescued children will have to extend itself to the benefit of women and children. of lepers. limit of its powers in order to One woman reformer recently do its duty by the host of illiterurged that for every five square -The Chronicle (L. M. S.). ates now streaming into it- 7,000 every month," says The miles there should be one ma- "Band of the Oross" Untouchables' Quest. The s e ternity home. When women are amazing results have come dur- The Sialkot Convention of ing a time of world depression seriously ill, men say that God 1937, held at the United Presby- when the supplies of men and is able to cure them; but when terian Mission Compound, was money have been inadequate. marked by clear evidence of the men have even an ordinary ail- work of God's Spirit. A revival, A further result has been the ment they run for doctors. The which took place some months birth of a new sense of responsicondition of women in purdah is ago in the Christian village of bility by individual Christians much worse. Martinpur, contributed much to and congregations to witness by this result. The situation in this word as well as by life. Another Indian woman legis- village, often discouraging from lator has been drawing attention a spiritual viewpoint, underwent -The Open Door. a marked change last summer to the problems of Hindu wid- under the influence of Mr. Bakht Girls and the Best Seats ows. The appalling situation is Singh Chhabra,the Punjabi illustrated by the following fig- evangelist, who s e preaching, It is the Bible period for a prayers and faith, were re- girls' class in Forman School. ures from the 1931 Census Re- warded by many changed lives Those who have the best seats port: and relationships. Under his want to keep them, and a situa- leadership a group of about tion develops that calls for a Ages No. of Widows sixty men and boys, calling demonstration of Christ's prin- themselves the Salibi Jatha, ciples for an age-old problem. 0-1 1,515 "Band of the Cross," left Mar- Mrs. J. M. Benade writes: "We tinpur ten days before and have a spirited discussion. 1-2 1,785 marched 130 miles to be present Those who have the good seats at the convention, preaching, say, 'We got them first, we have 2-3 3,485 praying and singing God's praise a right to them.' Then we talk as they went. about cooperation; we talk about 3-4 9,076 India's national aspirations; we At the close of the Convention, talk about 'in honor preferring 4-5 ……………. 15,018 this Band continued this pro- one another' and then as frankly gram on the march home, carry- and as powerfully as I know 5-10 ……………. 105,449 ing the Gospel message to all how, once more I try to present 10-15 ……………. 183,998 they met, Christians and non- Jesus and why I believe that 15-20 ……………. 514,394 Christians. only His way of life can help es- tablish justice in our midst- 20-25 ……………. 846,959 -Christian Union Herald. whether in school or in the na- tion. As I talk I feel a new atti- Saving Leper Ohildren "Living Epistles" tude creeping over the group. Soon, one who has been defend- Increasing attention is being Advertisements which picture given to treatment of children "before and after" effects of a who have incipient leprosy. Christian missions are in a posi- [197 ] tion to render valuable service in mission homes and through mission work in the villages of Asia and Africa. The success that has followed the rescue of healthy children of lepers from leprosy in India is outstanding.
It was a woman worker of the London Missionary Society who, sixty years ago, suggested this work, and gave a practical example of it in her own work in North India. At one home alone,
ing her right to a good seat, preparing for the crucifixion, the need for prompt aid is imspeaks up, 'Let the other girls soldiers came and rescued him. measurably great. Millions of have our seats.' I ask, 'Do you people have fled from their say this just because you think After the death of Thra Nga homes. Great cities and towns I am insisting on your giving up Lay, his son, Thra Ya Loo, was and villages over large areas your places?' She replies, 'No, the pastor until he died. Then have been depopulated, and these but when one's heart bears wit- his son, Thra Han Bo, was their multitudes are without food, ness that a certain action is pastor. His son, Thra Hla clothing and shelter in a cold right, then one must do it.' " Gyaw, is the present pastor. The winter. He expressed the ear- former pastors would have been nest hope that a great wave of Eventually, a committee was deeply impressed, could they real sympathy and Christian formed to work out a way to give have seen the 5,000 Christians love would bring a response to everyone a chance at the good at the Centennial, singing the the Red Cross appeal that would seats. "We will settle it all our- hymns they love, without fear of ex:ceed the President's expectaselves," laughingly agreed the the Burmans. -Missions. tion several fold. A recent regirls. port from an authoritative CHINA American committee in Shang- Handicaps in Ceylon hai has asked for not less than Ministry to Refugees $3,000,000. Such a gift from In Ceylon, the general attitude America can be efficiently adof the government is undergoing Chinese Christians have main- ministered by existing organizaa change which is not altogether tained milk stations in three tions in China. favorable to Christian institu- chapels in Peiping for refugee tions. Amendments to the Code children. The "milk" is a soy Christian Education Goes of Educational Policy give less bean product, with the same Forward and less opportunity for work food value as cow's milk-a rare among non-Christian children, article in China. Between three China has never before exparticularly in the field of reli- and four hundred children have perienced such a national congious education. Two-fifths of been fed each day. A relief com- sciousness as has been brought the children enrolled in Sunday mittee, composed of Chinese and about by the Japanese invasion. schools are of non-Christian foreigners, follows up neighbor- Dr. C. S. Miao, of the National parents, and the Sunday school hood cases and brings in under- Committee for Christian Educais one of the few avenues open nourished children. tion, is seeking to utilize this to reach non-Christian children growing spirit of unity to offset in Ceylon. The Ceylon S. S. Another valued service is ren- the interference which military Union publishes three Sunday dered by the China Travel Bu- operations has brought. As a school journals in Singhalese reau – a department where all result, literature sales have inevery three months, with lesson refugees can register their creased. Materials for parent helps for each Sunday. names and addresses, in order education, including "Standards that relatives and friends who for Christian Homes," have been In Burma-100 Years have lost track of one another published and two additional may regain contact. Thousands units are in course of publica- The Karen Baptist Church, at of refugees from war-torn dis- tion. Four numbers of the Re- Thay-ghay-ko, Bur m a, cele- tricts have been pouring into the ligious Education Quarterly have brated its centennial last year. Wuhan area, and in the confu- been issued. It is sent to every During these one hundred years sion numerous missing persons member of the Religious Educathe church has had only four have thus been found. tion Fellowship, of which there pastors. are several hundred, and per- In Shanghai, more than 100,- haps as many other subscribers The church was organized in 000 children in 181 refugee are receiving the magazine. troublous times. When the Bur- camps of the city are nowattend- There has been among the mans heard that the Karens ing school two hours daily. churches an awakening interest were accepting the new religion, Plans have also been made for in the vital necessity for Christhey used every opportunity to mass education among the 137,- tian education, and this new persecute them. Meetings had 000 adults in the refugee centers. quarterly has been seized upon to be held in the jungle, with The Salvation Army and the Chi- as the best medium of commuwatchers on guard. Should any nese Y. M. C. A. camps are hold- nication. of the men on watch see or hear ing adult classes, and movies are a Burman, he would coo like a being shown to the refugees Position of Missionaries dove and all the people would through the cooperation of the scatter. Educational Movies Association. The Anking correspondent of the L i v in g C h u r c h writes: Burmans kidnapped the first Appeal to Aid Distress "When China was in the first pastor, Thra Nga Lay, and car- throes of nationalism in 1927, ried him off, bound hand and Dr. A. L. Warnshuis, one of she was inclined to protest the foot. They planned to crucify the secretaries of the Internahim if he would not give up his tional Missionary Council, says faith in Christ. While they were that reports from wen-informed missionaries in China show that
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
domination of outside influences; Will Tibet Be Open? worded statements prepared in recent months by the churches and missionaries, as representa- The Dalai Lama, temporal tives of an alien power, were head of Tibet, who died in 1933, and the National Christian persona non grata. It was then has not yet been replaced. The Council show the Japanese the part of wisdom to turn over Panchen Lama, spiritual head of Christians to be not onl~ pamission property to the care of triotic and loyal but ChrIstIan Chinese Christians, who were the land died last November. in their attitudes with respect to thus enabled to assert them~elves He had been in exile for some the present situation. as both Christian and natIOnal- years, and as his recognition of ist. the reincarnation of the succes- The present crisis is demon- sor of the Dalai Lama was thus strating the strongly developed "Today, the situation, is re- unavailable, it was impossible versed. Missionary leaders:- humanitarian side of Japanese clergy, doctors, teac.hers, by VIr- to choose one should he be found. Christianity. Recruits for ~he tue of their educatIOn and pro- Tibetan history records no pre- army represent a cross-sectIOn gressive leadership, are in most vious case when the death of of Japanese life; they are taken danger from a power that wishes both these important characters to set the clock back, and bring from every rank of society, from China to her knees. The revival left the country of some three the farm, the shop, the stor~, the of Confucianism is a means to millions with no official head. professional office, the busmess this end. . . . It may develop office the faculties of schools. that leadership in the Church, so A missionary on the Tibetan No church, no school, no family, ably carried by Chinese Chris- border says (in the New York tians, may have to be returned to Times) that rites are being held but can count by the dozen its the missionary." to determine a ruler and that a friends who have gone to the boy, in whom it is claim~d the front. The welfare of these Dalai Lama has been remcar- men, the care of the families left nated, may be accepted. In this at home, the comfort of the be- Persecution in Yunnan event, there would be a renewal reaved-such matters have been a primary concern of the church of the conflict between age-old in the crisis.
Word comes to the World Do- exclusiveness and a measure of -Japan Christian Quarminion Press that in the extreme modernization, which a "Young terly.
southwest of Yunnan terrible Tibet party" is 3:dvocating. .It Korean Mission Schools is an opportune tIme for ChrI~- persecution is going. on a~ai~st . tian missions to press theIr The latest statistics of the the American BaptIst MIss~on claim. Federal Council in Korea, which Christians among the Wa trIbe include the figures for the six near the border of Burma. The JAPAN-CHOSEN Chinese soldiers seem in~ent on destroying every vestIge of Open Doors Not Lacking constituent Missions and the two Christianity in that tribe. Re~ National Churches (Presbyteresentations through the AmerI- The "Omi Brotherhood" becan Consul have proved worse lieves that in spite of the politi- rian and Methodist), indic3:te than fruitless. This is not, how- cal turmoil throughout t~e that there is a total of 768 mISever, typical of the attitu~e of world or perhaps because of It, sion schools with an enrolment the Chinese Government, eIth.er there 'is no lack of openings for of 86,552 pupils of all ages an? civil or military, towards mIS- grades. Of these, 340 are prIsion work in Yunnan, for in al- spiritual service, or of responmost every place there is tolera- siveness to religious work. The mary schools, up to .the 6th tion and even friendliness. Many Province of Omi, after long ef- forts· on the part of Christians garreade~enw'ist h 47,500 pupIls; two of the officials are either Chris- and social-minded leaders, has at colleges with about tians themselves, or friendly to last voted to abolish licensed Christian propaganda. prostitution; all brothels I?u~t 500 pupils, and one is a wome~'s be liquidated by 1940. ThIS IS It is probable that Yunnan has perhaps the biggest forward step college with about 300 pupIls. more aboriginal Christians than in more than 30 years' work of all other provinces together. T~e the Brotherhood. It is, no doubt, a safe estimate American Baptists alone m southwest Yunnan have baptized A large number of baptisms to say that there are a thousand about 28,000 aborigines, and and additions by letter to the many other missions have con- church in Omi-Hachiman are schools of all grades and kinds also reported in the Omi Mussiderable work among them; for tard Seed. in Korea giving education under instance, the English Method~st Christian auspices to about 100,- 000 pupils annually.
sMioisnsiothn~ the China Inland MIS- Japanese Christians in Then there are the hundreds Pentecostal Missionary the Crisis of pupils in the other priva~e and the government schools m Japanese Christians, although Korea who constitute a chal- lenge to the Christian Church and offer an opportunity to it.
tUhneibSn~etdhieshAFssreemebMlieisssioofn Gao~dd, These students are rapidly inthe German Vandsburgher MIS- Christian, are Japanese. A creasing both in numbers and sion. -Baptist Review. study made of the carefully importance. What they are d?- ing and thinking, a~d what ~s being done for and WIth them IS
of great concern to both the Mission Schools to be Closed work, for it was at Somosomo church and the state. Whatever happens to these schools in the According to the Korea Mis- that pioneers faced their severest future, we shall be grateful for trials. It was the first place in the wonderful opportunities dur- sion Field, official applications Fiji to have a mission burial ing the past fifty years and for the fruitage of those years. for closing Soongui Girls' School grounds. Near the church is a -ROSCOE C. COEN, in The and Soong Sil Academy, Pyeng- small mound that might pass Korea Mission Field. yang (Heijo) were made on Oc- for a flower bed, but is a most Student Evangelistic Bands tober 29, and application was historic spot. It has been called The younger people of the Korean church have not fallen made for closing the Union "the mustard seed," for it marks behind their elders in their zeal to make Christ known to their Christian College in the same the actual site of the first Misfellow young people and students in the church schools have set city on account of the "shrine" sion House at Somo.somo. Early the pace for others. question.. The Presbyterian missionaries explained to the na- In the Northern Presbyterian tChuh.usrch~loIsIIestheedUu~.ah~o. nAal. Mission, evangelistic bands have (PN) tives that the work they were dogone out during summer vaca- work ,.jng might not appear to be of tions and sometimes during the WhICh It ha~ CarrIe? on for over much importance, but in God's winter vacations from the fifty years III the CIty of Pyeng- good time it would grow and Chosen Christian College, the Union Christian College, the yLaeneg.ChoAngKm~onre!anwlhaoymfaonrm, eMrlry. transform Fiji. This prophecy Soong Sil Academy in Pyeng- has been fulfilled, for a number yang and from the Sinsung Academy (boys) and. the Po- gave half a mIlho? yen for rural of important achievements had sung Academy (girls) in Syen- dona~e their beginnings at the very chun. These schools have also work, has promIsed to me~ s done a large work in the Daily 1,200,00.0 yen to star.t a spot known as the mustard seed. Vacation Bible Schools. college III Pyengyang, of a dIf- -The Missionary Review fer~nt . type than the college (Australia). These bands consist of from WhICh IS to be closed. Two other two to six people. In the larger bands there are two or three for Korean Christians have an- T. h preaching, two or three for nounced that they would sponsor Where Christianity rlUmp s music, and one for work with children. Their trips last about a new boys' school and a girls' The island world of the Neththree or four weeks, usually higher common school in the erlands Indies has a total popwith only one day at a church, city. but sometimes three or four ulation of more than 60,000,000, days. Usually they go to the smaller churches located in some 42,000,000 of whom live on out-of-the-way places and in ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC .the island of Java and the small mountain regions sometimes separated from each other by Stirrings in the Philippines contiguous island of Madura. distances of twenty to seventy or eighty li, which must be trav- Considerably over a year ago About one-half of the total Chieled by foot and often in the an evangelistic program was nese population of 1,250,000 also rainy season. launched in Filipino churches with a fourfold aim, listed in live on these two islands. These The members of the men's the order of urgency: to awaken tropic lands have become one of bands spend an hour or two in individuals, churches, communi- the most important meeting the evenings calling at the ties, and the nation. houses of the villages within a places of Christianity, Islam and radius of four or five li from the There has been a general feel- paganism in the world. church giving out tracts and in- ing of ineffectiveness among viting the people to church. Christian workers in the face of Paganism progressively crum- Usually the attendance is sev- such a stupendous four-year eral times more than the task. But Dr. E. Stanley Jones bles before the advance of churches have at their regular has stirred the nation with his Christianity and Islam, and now services. life and message. He touched maintains itself chiefly on the all classes of people who are now -E. M. MOWRY, in The Ko- ready to go further in the way small islands of Bali, Lombok, rea Mission Field. of evangelism and social and Soemba, Soembawa and Timor, economic reform. With the in- spiration received from him, it also in the interiors of the is expected that local churches larger islands of Sumatra, Bor- will go forward in an aggressive neo, Celebes and New Guinea. and creative evangelistic effort The triumph of Christianity is reaching all classes of people, using every member of the everywhere apparent. Aft e r church, and adapting all legiti- little more than a century of mate methods of evangelism to Protestant missionary effort, make the movement successful. nearly 1,500,000 native Chris- tians have been won. One of its hardest tasks was on the island of Java, whose people are en- tirely Moslem, and here it has displayed one of its greatest tri- umphs. More than 40,000 Jav- anese, all Moslem converts of The Mustard Seed in Fiji the last eighty or ninety years, are Protestant Christians, and Somosomo, capital of Taveuni, in addition Roman Catholic mis- Fiji Islands, is referred to in sions claim more than 27,000 every account of early mission converts on the island. Every
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
year the number of Javanese It is hoped that attention may The financial objective is $10,- Christians by conversion from be focused on the vital problems 000,000, to be raised from indi- Islam is increasing by many of the day, and that both enthu- viduals and not from churches, hundreds, and the rate may be siasm and inspiration will come as the Board is anxious not to expected to increase. with the knowledge that so many interfere with the normal pro- -World Dominion Press. in all parts of the country are gram of the General Assembly.
simultaneously gathering for NORTH AMERIOA earnest thought of their relation Lutheran Ohurch in Sound The Great Delusion Picture to the affairs of the Church, the nation and the world.
The Evening Standard of Lon- To the Lutheran Church of don says that the people of the Reformed Ohurch Oentennial America goes the credit of pro- United States in 1937 purchased 1,000,000 more cases of Scotch The Board of Foreign Mis- ducing the first religious sound whiskey than they did in 1936. sions of the Reformed Church film ever presented in this coun- So great is the demand that Brit- will celebrate its Centennial this try by a Protestant denominaish shippers cannot sat is f y year. Plans for its observance tion. This production documents America's requirements. Ac- are grouped around four topics: the history of their church from cordingly it has been decided to education, finances, missionary Luther to the present day. Four commence this season's distill- day and other meetings. By edu- more films are planned and it is ing in Scotland much earlier cation is meant preparing for hoped they will equal, if not surthan in former years. the observance, and of first im- pass, the present one. The spirit portance is prayer; next, study of a crusading church runs American beer drinkers, says for which the Board expects to throughout the film. an Associated Press despatch issue a book giving a complete from Berlin, consumed 597,088 record of the Church's mission- -Presbyterian Tribune. gallons of German beer imported ary work. into the United States in 1937, Needy Mining Oommunities as compared with 56,126 gallons The slogan for the Centennial in 1934, an increase of more offering is "A Cent a Year for a Rural mmmg communities than 1,000 per cent. A still Hundred Years." In other present the most difficult of all higher record is predicted for words, a dollar a member for the home mission tasks, and are the this year. whole Church. This is the most needy. They have all the amount of the Foreign Mission disadvantages of both city and Advocates of repeal assured apportionment. It is hoped that country, without the advantages the American people that the many will want to contribute a of either. Taking H a r I a n legalization of liquor would hundred nickels or a hundred County, Kentucky, as an exbring prosperity to the United dimes or a hundred half dollars, ample, we see a community that States. The fact is, vast sums or more. has for years bled with strife. of American money are being Here the Congregational Church sent to Europe to make Scotch The Board of Foreign Mis- and the Methodist Episcopal distillers and German brewers sions was organized in the First Church, after two years of planprosper. Church in Lancaster, Pa., on or ning, have joined in a coopera- about the 29th of September, tive parish. Mine owners, man- Women to Oonsider Present 1838, and the Centennial cele- agers and leaders of the local bration service will be held there unions, join hands with the Problems at that time this year. Other Church and other social and wel- meetings will be held in various fare agencies in this organiza- Three national church wom- church centers, with outstanding tion, pledging their support and en's organizations-the Commit- missionary speakers. expressing their interest. tee on Women's Work of the Foreign Missions Conference, the Council of Women for Home Sesquicentennial Fund A similar development is go- Missions and the National Coun- ing forward at Van Hornesville, cil of Federated Church Women American Presbyterians gave N. Y., where Baptists and Meth- -are uniting in an appeal to the Foreign Missions Centennial odists, with the cooperation of church women in all the commu- Fund the right of way in 1937, Mr. Owen D. Young, whose innities of the country, said to deferring the Sesquicentennial terest in this community has number 77,000, to hold similar Fund for Christian Education, g a i ned national recognition, interdenominational luncheons approved by the 1936 General have pooled their interests and on Tuesday, May 3, 1938, to con- Assembly, until the years 1938, resources in the employment of sider together "Unity in Chris- 1939 and 1940. This Fund will a special worker in religious edutian Service." This is in accord- be used to stabilize the finances cation. Miss Elizabeth Harris, ance with a custom of the last of Presbyterian Colleges. It a well-prepared teacher in the few years in New York City, will furnish an opportunity to field of religious education, is when a May Day luncheon has strengthen Christian education giving her whole time to the been held for Protestant church which may not recur for a gen- boys and girls of this commuwomen. eration. nity.-Home Missions Council.
Largest Church School place in that regard also. The country districts by v a rio u S Baylor University, Baptist in- program for young people has means of travel, and has had unstitution at Waco, Texas, is credited with being the largest in the also advanced, including contin- usual acceptance from all classes world under church direction. It attracts students from seven ued emphasis on the conference of society. foreign countries and twentynine states. Its enrolment is program and the preparation of The work of translation of the more than 2,100. China has sent a delegation of six, Japan two, materials for young people's Scriptures into the languages of and Hawaii two Japanese. These students have been quite sociable classes and activities in local the indigenous populations has despite the warfare of their relatives in the homeland. Six of the churches. A magazine for young been continued and, in the case seven Puerto Ricans transferred people, Adelante, which means of some books of the Bible, has from the University of Madrid, Spain, from which they were "Forward," follows the world- been completed. This type of driven by the Spanish Civil War. There are three students from wide Christian Endeavor topics work among the native Indians Brazil, four from Mexico, and two from India. and gives regularly short, pithy of Central America has unusual -Watchman-Examiner. articles dealing with young peo- significance. pIe's problems. It is applicable " Student Manifesto to all Spanish-speaking coun- Colombia-Important At a recent meeting of pres- tries. -W. S. S. A. News. "About fifty per cent of the byteryof the United Church of Canada, in Edmonton, B. C., a In Mexico missionary force in Colombia group of students from St. serve towns which together con- Stephen's Theological College One of the accomplishments tain about 10 per cent of the presented a manifesto calling of the Cardenas' regime in Mex- population. There are 52: 'muupon the Church to take its ico has been the opening of Christian profession seriously. nearly 6,000 new rural schools, nicipalities' in the country, with They based their statements a 75 per cent increase in three between 20,000 and 100,000 popupon the following quotation years, with nearly 750,000 chilfrom Dean Inge: dren. There are still 1,500,000 ulation in each, but in some children of school age for whom thirty or more of these there is "Religion embodied in institu- there are no educational facili- no evangelical witness at all. In tions is like those chemical sub- ties, while secondary schools and this nation of nearly nine milstances which are never found the university are beyond the pure. . . . The religion now reach of all but a handful of the lion souls there are under 2,000 identified with the institution very well-to-do. Sixty per cent evangelical communicants, after mixes itself with certain forms of the population is illiterate. eighty years of endeavor. Much of belief and traditional modes of worship; it finds room for of the existing work is 011' a primitive superstitions and hal- small scale with weak resources, lowed traditions . . . it is often and in some instances efforts entangled with the tortuous policy of a hierarchy greedy for Infant mortality is nearly have been abandoned after a power and pelf; it is drawn into secular policies and identified three times as high as in the promlsmg opening. There is with non-religious interests." United States, and disease is evidence that Colombia is today The students felt that this has happened to the teachings of far too common. Even in Mex- ready to respond to the Gospel Christ. ico City, two-thirds of its mil- in a greater measure than ever -Christian Union Herald. lion people live in sub-human before. Probably three-quarters LATIN AMERICA conditions, preyed upon by tu- of the population are beyond the Puerto Rico's Many Children berculosis, typhoid, typhus and reach of the present provision Puerto Rico has the largest Sunday school enrolment of any rickets. It is obvious that much for evangelization, and the coun- Spanish-speaking country in the world, and with the growth of work remains to be done by try is still the most important the Daily Vacation Bible School movement will soon take first Christian churches. unevangelized field south of -Episcopal News. Panama." -Kenneth G. Grubb.
Advance in Guatemala Campa Indians, Peru In spite of many problems, very real advance has been made Of all the Indian tribes that in the Guatemala Mission dur- live in the Peruvian jungle, the ing the past year. A wide ener- Campa is the largest and most getic evangelistic campaign has savage. The jungle provides the been maintained, and, through Indian with everything he needs the Synod, the Mission has been for his daily life, except Christ, able to cooperate in various ways and He is not there. Perhaps with other Christian organiza- one may "find God in nature,"
tions. Schools have registered but while no one lives closer to the usual full attendance. Fu- nature than these wild savage ture evangelists are being pre- Indians of the jungle, no one is pared, and m e d i c a I work, more absolutely without God and centered in the Hospital in more ignorant of Him than they.
Guatemala City and including Campa Indians live in sin and the training of nurses, has been degradation, knowing nothing of carried on both in city and God, and unaware of their need
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
of Him. It would be difficult to Voice of the Andes in the Flemish posts of Ichfind a people more ignorant of teghem and Genck-where chilall spiritual values. "The Voice of the Andes," dren of Protestant parents had evangelical radio station, is con- been refused admission to the -Inland S. A. Union. tinuing with a full, and valuable public schools. Equipment and program. Each morning there funds for these day schools are Religious Freedom in Brazil is a fifteen-minute devotional coming from Dutch Christians reading, every week-day there is and from the parents of the chil- Although centralized author- an open forum and on Sunday dren themselves. ity is the keynote of the new con- there are two Gospel services. stitution of Brazil, President Regular listeners in Peru, Co- A Christian literature depot Vargas assures the continuance lombia and Central America has been opened at Eupen, where of religious freedom. Article 32 have expressed appreciation of the open Bible in a display winof the constitution reads: these messages. dow attracts much attention.
"It is prohibited that the Perhaps the most valuable Christian Union in Holland Union, the States or the munici- part of the program is the open pal authorities . . . should es- forum. An office has been Holland Christians are feeling tablish, support or hinder the opened in the center of Quito, keenly the danger which conexercise of religious worship." Ecuador, to which listeners are fronts the churches on the Con- Article 122, section 4, adds to invited to come for discussion tinent, and are expressing their this statement: "All individuals and personal instruction. Dis- desire for more unity in visible and religious. sects can exercise cussion groups have been formed ways. A recent example was the their beliefs publicly and freely, which have included professional great assembly for a united serv- I forming associations for this men and members of the Gov- ice in the Cathedral of Utrecht. purpose, and may acquire prop- ernment, the subject being the The service was conducted erty, in accordance with the person and work of Christ. jointly by an Old Catholic and a common right and the demands Protestant. The sermon was of public order and good cus- Newspaper evangelism is preached by a representative of toms." closely tied up with this; three the Dutch Reformed Church and daily papers in the three main dealt with the service of the As for religious teaching in towns of Ecuador have signed Christian Church in the modern the schools, it is stated that this contracts to publish Gospel arti- world. A later address dealt shall be regarded as part of the cles on alternate days. Wireless with the specific tasks of unity. curriculum of all primary, nor- sets are being lent to Christian The Dutch newspapers record mal and secondary schools, but families, in order that they may more interest in this expression that attendance shall not be com- gather their friends together in of ecumenical Christianity than pulsory. their own homes to hear the Gos- on any previous occasion. pel, and colporteurs are sent out – World Dominion Press. with sets to relay the messages -Advance. in villages. North Brazil Itinerary Waldensian Church Alive -World D.ominion Press. A worker of the Evangelical February 17 marked the nine- EUROPE tieth anniversary of the estab- Union of South America, as- lishment of freedom of worship "After Many Days" for the Waldensian Church of sisted by a native evangelist, has Italy. Today, the church is very Gospel plantings are coming much alive. There is standing undertaken an itinerant work in up in Belgium. One of the Di- room only at their services, and rectors of the Belgian Gospel in congregational singing fora North Brazilian field, consist- Mission, John C. Winston, re- eign visitors find them superior ports coming across early con- to any church in Christendom. ing of ten cities, sixty villages, verts of Ralph C. Norton every Their ministry as a group are now and then. Mission workers, the best trained, hardest workand "hamlets and other small as they go from house to house ing and lowest paid of all evan- and village to village, are find- gelical preachers. Most of their districts without number," with ing those who received the word theological students have had during the war, or before, and one or more terms of study a total population of more than have since come into newness of abroad, chiefly in Edinburgh. life. Just before his death, Mr. Their younger ministers as a 280,000. Ralph C. Norton had the joy of rule hold the degrees of Doctor leading a man to Christ to whom of Letters or Doctor of Laws Initial meetings on the border he had once given a New Testa- from one of the Italian universi- ment in an army camp eighteen ties. They are making worthof Pernambuco were most suc- years before. while contributions to the cul- tural life of the Italian people cessful, and about 300 people at- Last fall evangelical day schools were opened for children tended; but on the third evening the parish priest gathered a crowd, and tried to break up the meeting, without success, since most of the listeners were in sympathy with the missionaries.
At another point, intensely Cath- olic, ignorant and lethargic, there was no response. Work in other centers has been opened, and two families have been con- verted. -Life .of Faith.
through original work in poetry, Cairo, Helen J. Martin, presi- arated from the support of famusic, history and philosophy. natical believers. Perhaps a dent. passing trader, qua:r:tered in the They are faithful pastors and In the religious instruction neighborhood for a time, had visit regularly in the houses of turned them to Islam. It may be their parishioners, though their which has a central place in the that they know little Arabic; people are widely scattered. As curriculum, Christ the Saviour, they cannot read; they are far for the laity, many of them hold from a sheik or religious leader. high positions in Italian life as as well as Christ the teacher and These do not offer as strong opjudges, university professors, guide, is made known to the stu- position to the claims of Chrisphysicians, teachers, Govern- dents. The following is an tianity as do their more active and educated sectarians. Such ment officials, officers in the analysis of the student body by are the Mohammedans of Ethioarmy and navy, nurses, bankers, religions and nationalities: -pia. A conservative estimate of manufacturers and business their number would be between men. Everywhere in Italy they Religions Nationalities one and two million. They are ,are eminent for their trust- not well organized or educated; 245 Moslems 383 Egyptians for the most part, without effecworthy Christian character. 43 Protestants 20 Syrians tive leadership. 'They are pioneers in modern 15 Greek Ortho- 14 Armenians 12 Italians Many of them mix strange l>hilanthropy in Italy. Further- dox 9 Greeks pagan beliefs with their Mohammore, their religious education 99 Copts 8 Turkish medanism to such an extent that program, coupled with home 13 Armenians 3 Trakian they are really closer to the training, is establishing the 31 Jews 2 French pagans. Before Italian occupa- 9 Roman Cath- 2 Palestinian tion, Christianity was making young people in Christian atti- 8 Hegazi great inroads among the Mohamtudes and a working knowledge olics (Arabian) medans in Ethiopia. The govof the Bible. 3 Syrian Or- 2 Zanzibar ernment was Christian; modern education was Christian; the -Robert W. Anthony. thodox 1 Persian missionaries were Christian; the 1 Bahaist 1 Roumanian hospital and other philanthropic 1 Christian 1 American institutions w ere Christian. Christian pressure came from Scientist every side.
Total……………. 460 -Women's Missionary Magazine. -Christian Union Herald. Ethiopian Refugees in Kenya Russia Orders Religious Sudanese Young Men Census Permission has been granted As one outcome of the visit of the Bible Churchmen's Mission- From behind the thick screen Dr. John R. Mott to the Sudan ary Society to commence work last year the Unity of Fellow- among Ethiopian refugees in 'of Russian propaganda comes a ship, which includes men of all Kenya. About 8,000 of these Christian communions except refugees have made their way most significant story. It has to the Roman Catholic, has started across the border into Kenya, monthly meetings for young men and they have been accommo- ,do with the much publicized in Khartoum and vicinity. About dated by the British Government 200 assembled for the first meet- -at Isiolo, where the District census which was to have been ing. They are looking forward Commissioner resides. to having a Young Men's Chris- 'completed and announced re- Mr. David Stokes was leader tian Association. of the Society's former work in 'cently. But suddenly it was In North Sudan the churches Addis Ababa, and he has under- taken this new responsibility. abandoned and a new one or- are undertaking responsibility for sending evangelists to cities -The Life of Faith. -dered. Why? It seems obvi- of the Sudan who have no Prot- estant Church. It is the plan Walls Cut Away to Admit ously because it revealed some that the pastors of the five Crowd churches will take turns, so that very uncomfortable facts. It a monthly visit is made to some When World-Wide Commun- of these centers. These trips ion Sunday was observed by all showed, for example, that, trust- are financed by special offerings Presbyterians on October 29, taken in the churches, and the those present at Abong Mbang ing in the promise of religious Women's Missionary Society of (West Africa) Church num- the K h art 0 u m Evangelical bered nearly 1,200. Long befreedom, supposed to be assured Church has contributed money to make one trip possible. in the new Constitution, so many -Christian Union Herald. millions of citizens recorded themselves as believers that the government could not afford to have the failure of its anti-reli- gious work so definitely estab- lished. One careful estimate puts the number of believers at about one hundred million- more than one half of the popula- tion. Uprooting religious faith is not so simple a ma,tter as was supposed. -Advance.
AFRICA Islam in Ethiopia Many Races in Student Body A United Presbyterian mis- sionary to Ethiopia, C. F. Ken- Fourteen different nationali- neweg, differentiates between ties, professing ten different reli- entrenched strongholds of Islam gions, are to be found in the and its outlying fringes, where student body of the American its nominal followers are sep- Mission College for Girls, of
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
fore the service began elders ran relatives and friends that he was turned away from our boarding· to the missionary saying: "What going to die, saying that God schools. One of us took a truck shall we do? The house is packed had told him so. When his rela- load of girls to the nearest town' and the second drum has not tives wept he said: 'Why do you so they could scatter out to their· sounded. Shall we cut away the cry? If I am going a journey homes, as they had come withoutside walls?" In a thatched to visit my earthly father you out first making arrangements. church this is a simple matter, would not cry, you would say and not all could possibly be acand all went to work with a will. Kwenda muzuri (good jour- commodated. We wish the work After serving the required ney); and now that I am going could always be lasting, but we: three years of preparation, 20 to my heavenly F'ather you cannot use the word "always." were admitted to membership; should do the same.' He sang But twenty fine young men and 60 were passed into the "second- hymn after hymn on the day of women were graduated from the year class" and 183 enrolled in his death, and exhorted all the Training School, most of whom people to make their peace with have caught the vision of servthe first year. -Monday Morning. God." ice. Two girls have been sent In Nasir Land out as Bible women, making five Training the Children Lottie M. Adair, United Pres- now at work. Their program in- byterian missionary in Nasir, The women's session of the cludes class meetings, children's Congo Native Council, held at Sudan, tries to make her home Leopoldville, Belgian Congo, was a center of servi~e. After being meetings, Sunday-school classes entirely in the hands of native away for seventeen months, she Christian women. One of the returns to find evidences of and teaching Bible in day findings of this session was: Christian growth in the lives of schools. Some assist in the day, "We must teach our children the people, with a deepened sense to pray to God. A mother can of responsibility for the spiritual schools. All of them, as far as. start teaching her child when it life of their neighbors. "But cannot even talk, by praying at they are able to find materials, bedtime and at meals. We can many still doubt the missionary's tell them stories of the childhood motives," she says. "When we have sewing classes. of Jesus and other Bible stories urge village schools most of the that are suited to them." parents still think that it is a "Their religious meetings are -Watchman-Examiner. scheme to get their boys away quieter, not so much demonstra- from them. Others do not want Stories from the Congo to take orders or work for any tion and more depth. Meetings Here are a few sidelights from white person, either for cash or throughout the year were much the Belgian Congo, showing how for cows. One father whose son the Gospel is entering hearts of was a boarder encouraged his helped by the ministration of black men: son in irregularity. He said to him, 'We do not need anything Bishop Springer who is also an "I found an old man sitting in the doorway of his hut and he of whites, we are not a poor fam- evangelist. At Chiduku he slept said, 'I have heard your news ily. Why should you go to often and often, and I have been in a grass hut with a pile of watching, and everything you school?' Others question, 'What people say comes to pass, so we grass for his bed, but that was know that you are people of will we get out of it?' truth.' Then he burst out, nothing, as he had more than 'Madamo, I want Life; I want "Our educational program inthese things of which you are cludes not only reading, writing thirty years of that before he telling me.' and arithmetic, but an apprecia- became a Bishop. Weare enter·. "I met a woman while going tion of such useful arts as they through a stretch of forest, to already have, and their enlarge- ing the new year with faith and whom I explained the Way of ment. Agriculture, as they in a courage." ' Life. As I started to move on, she said, 'I am not going to limited way practice it, is being WESTERN ASIA move. I am going to stand right improved slowly, but steadily, here while you tell me more. I through the work they are ac- Handicaps in Hospital Work want to know what this Heaven tually doing under supervision. We emphasize the dignity of The Syrian idea of a hospita} is death's ante-room. This is one labor. We also have a health of the missionary's most dis- program, which goes contrary to heartening problems, for not infrequently a patient prefers; their age-old ideas." remaining at home for certain death, rather than trust the haz- -Christian Union Herald. ards of a hospital. For the most part, the hospital physician is of which you are speaking.' " never sees the disease in its, "Two evangelists went down early stages.
Mrs. Glenn Rost, R.N., of Aleppo, gives a concrete example of this in Aboud, an eleven-year- old boy, whose parents brought him "three days walking" to see Crowded Schools at Umtali the American doctor. This lad presented a very severe infecto Bomili district for a month. Pearl Mullikin, of the Meth- tion of the left foot and leg, rap- On their way they stopped at the odist's Umtali Mission, sends a idly extending. When the fam- village of a Christian and found review of last year's work. ily were offered surgery (free of him very ill. He had told all his "Great crowds are being charge) the parents refusedI
When told that the boy should for their Lord they are often renewed interest in Jesus Christ be hospitalized, they refused. crucifying Him anew, and very on the part of the Jews. As one Likewise when offered the free nearly denying Him. One such of the evidences he cites an aruse of the hostel on the com- rare Christian is Vartuhi, which ticle in the December, 1937, Atpound, hoping thus to be able to is Armenian for Rose. When lantic M 0 nth 1y, entitled "An control his care in a measure, it missionaries first came to Kir- Epistle to the Jews," writen by was refused and they took the kuk, her town, she said: "For one John Cournos, a Jew. Again, boy home to an inevitable and two years I pray to God to send Rabbi Isserman, of St. Louis, rapidly approaching termination missionary to Kirkuk, and when speaking before the Chicago -death. The only value gained I hear you have come I say, Sunday evening Club, stressed by such a trip seemed to be the Glory to God." the necessity of the Jews' remeager advice one could give to- claiming Jesus. In New York, ward his care at home. This widow of an Armenian Rabbi Rosenbloom spoke in a pastor and mother-in-law of the similar vein, though he was bit- However, once they make up man who was later to become an terly attacked by another rabbi. their mind to enter the hospital evangelist had been holding In all these references, the emthey give themselves completely weekly prayer meetings for phasis is on Jesus as a great and trustingly into the care of women. prophet of Israel, but in no sense the doctors and nurses, and for a Redeemer. the most part are very coopera- Her chief ministry is visiting tive. On several occasions when the sick and troubled. With -Monday Morning. asked: "Would you like to get feeble step she gets into every up?" a patient has replied, "If corner of Kii·kuk and never The Second Hundred Years you want me to." misses anyone in need of en- couragement and prayer. Often We are told that "the first Mourning Technique in she takes a group of church hundred years are the hardest." Near East women to the sick room, to sing Dr. J. Ross Stevenson, President- the hymns, read the Scripture emeritus of Princeton Seminary, The same perfunctory wailing lesson and review the message lists several reasons why, in the follows the "Great Reaper" in from the morning service, no case of foreign missions, the secthe Near East as one reads about matter what the race or creed of ond hundred years will be the in the Gospel story of J airus' the person visited. hardest: a vast, unevangelized daughter. It is always carried population in every mission on by the women. There are A year and a half ago she was field; a growing spirit of nationthose who make it a profession, hit by an automobile in Baghdad alism seeking to establish a state and can be hired to lead the and received a bad fracture of religion subservient to civil and weeping and swell the volume. the upper left arm. Owing to military authority, but tran- The ceremony is put on with her weak heart the doctors at scending all other faiths; a desuch abandon as to leave the par- the government hospital feared cline in the prestige that ticipants completely worn out. to subject her to the operation Christian nations have had, and They work themselves into a necessary for the proper repair a consequent loss in moral infrenzy, tear their hair and beat of the splintered bone. During fluence; secularized education their breasts for perhaps ten her· suffering she continually which antagonizes or ignores reminutes, and then can be heard read her Bible and prayed. Once ligion; a rejuvenized paganism talking naturally as they walk when the pain became unbear- that directly attacks the Chris- .about. able she asked the nurse for tian faith. relief and the nurse angrily re- This procedure is the standard plied, "Oh, pray to your God and "Mary Reed Day" for Lepers ,custom; it would be considered let Him heal you." Soon after .sacrilege to omit it. The mourn- that they brought her home to Mary Reed, pioneer in leper ing is carried on for three days Kirkuk where purely by the work, who has devoted nearly and at the end of that time the grace of God she did recover and fifty years to that service in Inwomen of the household are ex- what is more, has the use of her dia, under the Methodist Womhausted, to say nothing of the arm and hand again. She is an's Foreign Missionary Society, little children who have wit- filling an important place in celebrated her eighty-third birthnessed the proceedings, often in Kirkuk in this voluntary service. day on December 4. Churches in great terror. her home city, McConnellville, -Outlook of Missions. Ohio, celebrated the occasion. -PresbyterianBoard News. MISOELLANEOUS Despite her age, Mary Reed is Faithful Witness in Iraq still at Chandag Heights, India, Jews Renew Interest in Ohrist continuing her ministrations to It is rare to find a faithful, the lepers. Rev. George C. witnessing Christian among the Dr. Conrad Hoffman, secre- Southwell suggests the annual Armenians of Iraq. Persecution tary for Jewish Work under the observance of "Mary Reed Day," .and massacre have either made Presbyterian Board of National on the Sunday nearest her birththem bitter or so filled them with Missions, has written the mem- day. fear, that far from witnessing bers of his advisory committee that there are many evidences of
Missionary
Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information "Goforth of China." By his wife. or social service might be. He lics are popUlated by a mixed lIlus, 8vo. Price, $1.50. The Zon- had a divine passion for souls population of Indians, Negroes dervan Publishing House, Grand and was persuaded that the only and Mestizos or Ladinos. Social Rapids, Michigan. 1937. means of salvation is the cruci- fied and regnant Christ. He conditions are low and religion It is not often that the con- would go into heathen areas and is largely superstition. amongst men of dense prejudice, tents of a book may be antici- superstition and opposition, and The maps in this volume are pated by its cov~r. But,it i~ so proclaim the Saviour as .if his clear and informing, showing all in this case, for Its covermg IS a listeners knew all about Him, or, the principle mission stations of if not this, must know all about parable, the meaning of which is Him. God confirmed his faith some twenty societies. The and daring, for rich and poor, Protestant or E van gel i c a I clear. The jet black cloth sug- high and low, were saved, and a Churches number 108,600, of gests the dark!less ~f heath~n multitude of Christian churches whom 41,188 are communicant ism; and the bright gIlt lettermg were organized in China and Manchuria. He thus taught the members. They comprise about of the title proclaims the glory missionary body a great lesson, one in every 78 of the popula- and one which God's servants tion. of God, such as surrounded will do well to take to heart. There are general chapters the earthly life of Dr. Goforth Mrs. Goforth has not written covering all the republics and of herself, but between the lines and now enshrines his Heavenly we can perceive that her life has others dealing with each of the been as devoted and beautiful as six separately. The appendices life. This is an arresting qual- that of her husband. and diagrams deal with statistics ity of the volume and it becomes H. W. FROST. that show the work and fields of each mission, the converts, and a constraint to the one who holds Religion in Central America. By adherents, medical and educa- tional work and the languages it to read its pages eagerly and Kenneth G. Grubb. Illus. 8vo. used. There is a good index and the pictures show the people, the carefully. . 147 pp. 5sh. World Dominion It is a daring thing for a wIfe Press. London. 1937. attractiveness of the scenery and to write the life of her husband, Here is another valuable sur- vey volume, with chapters, for one is likely either to write maps, diagrams and statistics that show the past progress, the too frankly or not frankly present situation and the pros- pects for Christian missions in enough. But Mrs. Goforth has the six republics of Central A meri.ca. been guided by the Spirit into a The history of this part of middle course. She adored her America goes back to the Maya PARENTS … husband and greatly admired his civilization nearly two thousand missionary zeal', but she saw his yeals ago. The Maya architec- In the Foreign Mission Field faults and speaks honestly 0f ture and SC.lent·Ific achl'evements Endorse Calvert: School them. Her portrayals, therefore, still awaken admiration. These are sincere and true, with the re- people worshiped the gods of Home St:udy Courses suIt that she presents a man who earth and sky, with temples and I'S definl'tely human. Thl's I'S well, elaborate ritual. Then came the For Children retrogression which Rom a n for we humans are most in- Catholics from Europe did not I fluenced by the example of other overcome. Today the six repubhumans. But we want the hu- tCioanlveDret pSacrhtomo~lntt,hrowuigllh giit,s:eHoymouer cnhsitlrdu,ca- superior elementary education ',' • by mall, man, whoever he is, to be in- regardless of where you may live. Moddwelt and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Dr. Goforth, as de- escrnh~olapaprreovbeedingcouusrseeds bfyropmaretnhtiss aflal moovuesr scribed by his wife, becomes more than an example " he is an the world with outstanding success.
inspiration. Give your children the advantages of these The paramount lesson of the interesting lessons, carefully chosen ~ook~, book is the necessity and worth of direct evangelism. Dr. Go- and attractive materials. Instruction ,IS forth never allowed himself to uCnadlveer rtth'se ppreormsoinnaelngt uainddanscueccoefsstfeualchperi:vsaItne be turned aside from the simple day school in Baltimore. preaching of the Gospel, however tempting educational work Write today for booklet of complete in- formation. Costs are low.
, CALVE~T SCHOOL 180W. Tuscany Road '
Baltimore + Maryland Any of the books noted In these columns will be sent by the REVIEW publishers on receipt of price, [207 ]
some results of mISSIOn work. The Open Door in China. A Spir- istic theories as to the origin and Everyone interested in the itual Interpretation of Missions, by development of all religion, illusevangelization of Central Amer- Martin A. Hopkins. (Paper.) Re- trated in the history of the ica will find this new survey of ligious Tract Society, Hankow, world's chief religious beliefs. real value. China. 1937. He briefly surveys man's search for truth in Babylonia, Egypt, For the Mountains. An Autobiog- These furlough addresses, raphy by William Goodell Frost. With Introduction by Albert Bush- given at various conferences, Greece, Rome, India, Persia, nell Hart. Illustrated. Indexed. 352 pp. $3.00. Fleming H. Revell. deal with the Open-Door policy China, and Arabia, and as it is New York, London, Edinburgh. for a Lost World, The Real Rea- seen in Modernism.
1937. son for Foreign Missions, The From the treatment here one A former president of Berea Premillenial Hope and Missions, might easily get the idea that gives here the whole story of his life, which to him has been char- T.he Bible as the Basis for a .R.e- different civilizations produced acterized by a marked unity. In vIval, ??rayer, The Holy SPIrIt, the various great religions, so far as any eager spirit is ever ~alvat~on by G~ace, The Church .•.whereas, as Dr. G. M. Grant, of satisfied, he views his earlier m Chma, Go~ s. Ideal Servl;tnt Queens University, Canada, has years with satisfaction. Of his and The AfflIctIons of qhr~st. pointed out, "Every systematized youth he could sincerely say, These. addre.sses ~re. co~vm~mg religion has given birth to a civwith Wordsworth, "Fair seed- an~ stImulatmg, ~Ibh~al m Vl~W- ilization." It would have been time had my soul"; and his p.omt and practIcal I~ apphca- more satisfactory to deal directly young manhood is to him both a tIon. They. are well Illustrat~d with the different theories of the happy flowering of :the seed and promise for the time of full fruit. fro!ll experIence at home and m origin of religion, and draw il- Then follows in detail the account of the later twenty-eight Chma. lustrations from the great reliyears when he was largely instrumental in bringing Appala- The Story of Topsy. By Mildred gions of the world. chian America into recognition, Cable and Francesca French. Iland in opening that section to lustrated. 8vo. 212 pp. 5 sh. net. Unfortunately the author's education through Berea College. zeal for truth inclines him to Hodder and Stoughton, London. The story is one of intense ac- occasional acrimonious exprestivity, often under difficulties, 1937. that involved weariness and dis- sions such as are too often found appointment. Tremendous zest is seen in Dr. Frost's manner of Miss Cable and Miss French in discussions involving differwriting: in rapid-running sen- are already well known for their ences of religious opinion. Aptences, with their frequent fascinating books of missionary parently the proofs were careinitial "ands"; in unwearied de- adventure in the Gobi desert and lessly read, as various sentences tail and comment. "Such ex- Central Asia; also for their "The are incomplete. periences push into forgetfulness all pains and hardships," says Making of a Pioneer" and "Am- Dr. Whiteley has included the author, but really, says the bassadors for Christ." The lat- much that is worth while, both reader, into their own place in a ter is an unusually fine book for in information and criticism. life felt to be good. Dr. Frost missionary volunteers. Now Perhaps his most valuable point enjoyed it all greatly. His cen- comes a story for young people, is his emphasis on the fact that tral achievement was creative. one with the same charm, the monotheism was not the result Possessed of traditions in educa- same evidence of Christian love of an evolutionary process, betion but not bound by them, he and courage and fidelity to ginning with the most primitive freely combined and adapted his Christ, as we have found in the superstitions; but that the origmaterials; the result was orig- missionary pioneering narra- inal religion was monotheistic. inal. tives. It is the story of a young He calls attention to the now begger girl, deaf and dumb in growing view that belief in one The book has documentary her early years, rescued from Supreme Being preceded polysignificance other than auto- abuse and poverty, won to theism, a view supported by evibiographic. Those interested in Christ and lead out into a beau- dence quite apart from the Berea College will find here ma- tiful Christian life. There is testimony of divine revelation. terial previously scattered, not also much interesting light on The author also stresses the widely accessible, or not in print. the life and customs of Central fact that the nearer we approach Here are Berea's background, Asia. It is an especially inter- the origin of any religion the early history, and .development esting book for young girls. until Dr. Frost's retirement less corrupt it appears, this fact from its presidency in 1920. in itself pointing to a pure foun- MARY B. SMITH. Reaching Upward, or Man's Age- tain as its source, and con- long Search for Truth. By Charles D. Whiteley, D.D., Pastor, 'First versely.
Presbyterian Church, Albemarle, Even with the limitations in- N. C. 182 pp. $1.50. Zondervan dicated, there is a large amount Publishing House, Grand Rapids, of historical information in this Mich. 1937. modest volume, as well as sug- Here is an excellent plan in- gestions for special Bible studies differently carried out. The au- and study courses. Although the thor seeks to show the contrast book is not well documented, between Christianity, the one there are numerous quotations. revealed faith, and the natural- ROBERT M. KURTZ.
Books TI-IE IDEAL GIFT AT ALL
Bible Problems Solved. George H. GOD'S MINUTE ••• A. Spiritual Gudebrod. 385 pp. $2.75. Put- thoughtJor nams. New York. Here is a marvelous collection of 365 Daily Prayers, every day each 60 seconds long, written by 365 of the most emi- George Bowen of Bombay. Robert nent preachers and laymen in the world. Cloth. 60 • E. Speer. 366 pp. $2.50. Mission- cents; Limp Leatherette. $1.00; Art Leather. $1.50. ary Review Pub. Co. New York. A. daily GOD'S MESSAGE •• reminderoJ Five Minutes to Twelve. Adolph Keller. $1.00. 125 pp. Cokesbury 365 prominent clergymen have chosen their favorite the giver Press. Nashville. Scripture passage, and, with this as a text, have written a Message that quickens faith. brings comfort. Cloth, How Tbey Live in Congoland. W. F. 60 cents; Limp Leatherette. $1.00; Art Leather. $1.50. P. Burton. 159 pp. 2s. Pickering & Inglis, London. THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO., Winston Bldg., Phlla.
Mission Memoirs. R. Petter. 79 pp. latest news of the work of Pres- For next day's trip-at dawn the call Mrs. R. Petter, Lame Deer, Mont. byterian missionaries and Chris- ,arouses, tian nationals? They are printed The Qur'an. Volume I-Surahs on the field and mailed direct to When all you want to do is to lie 1-XXIV. Richard Bell. $6.00. 343 the subscriber. They are: Co- still. pp. Chas. Scribners, New York, lombian Clippings, The Drum and T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh. Call (Africa), Guatemala News, If you can take a school of little chil- Korean Mission Field, Mexican dren, The Rapture of Saints. Dr. Herbert Moments, Philippine Presbyte- Lockyer. 126 pp. ls. Pickering & rian, Siam Outlook, Syria News And train their minds and teach of Inglis. London. Quarterly and West India Mis- Jesus too, sion Notes. Gambia. John Laughton. 36 pp. And watch them grow as they con- S. P. G. London. "If"-A Missionary Version fess the Saviour, Studies in the Book of Daniel. Sec- If you can rise up early in the morn- And bring to other children the ond Series. Robert Dick Wilson. ing, good news too. 286 pp. $2.50. Revell. New York. To hear the sound from front and If you can take your work with all its Moga – Training School for Village back porch too failures, Teachers. 1. M. and A. E. Harper. 163 pp. 25 cents. Publicity Dept., Of little girls and boys, with needs too The task unfinished -leave with Presbyterian Board of Foreign Mis- numerous, Jesus too, sions, New York. For soap and salt and books and Yours is a peace and satisfaction, but Poison Peddlers. Dan Gilbert. 102 clothing too. what is more, pp. 35 cents. Zondervan Pub. House. Grand Rapids. If you can then sit down and eat your You know the joy that missionaries breakfast do. Prophecy and the Tottering Nations. Keith L. Brooks. 100 pp. $1.00. With mind upon a dozen things -MAY F. TAYLOR-With apol- Zondervan Pub. House. New York. outside, ogies to Kipling.
Long Suffering Love. Paul M. Of school palavers and disputes to Personal Item. Tharp. 144 pp. 35 cents, paper; settle, 75 cents, cloth. Fundamental Truth Rev. M. E. Dodd, First Baptist Publishers. Findlay, Ohio. Needing the wisdom of Solomon to Church, Shreveport, La., is on an air- decide. plane tour of South American Baptist Educational Missions at Work. mission stations. He will report his Edited by H. P. Thompson. 128 If you can then start out to the dis- findings to the Southern Baptist Con- pp. ls. 6d. S. P. G. in F. P. pens'ry vention. London. Where sick and suffering await you Dr. Arthur H*. C*omp*ton, 1937 Nobel Magazines Printed on the Field at the door, prize winner and co-chairman with How many know that there And search your mind to know how Dr. John H. Finley of the laymen's are nine foreign countries in you may help them, committee of the $10,000,000 Presbywhich monthly or quarterly mag- terian Sesquicentennial Fund for azines are published giving the Praying you will not kill off one or Christian Education, has succeeded more. the late Newton D. Baker as Prot- FEATURES: estant co-chairman of the National Introduction, by George Shaw, B.D. If you can hurry back to find an Conference of Jews and Christians. The Lesson Verse by Verse, byD.J. Fant,Jr. orphan, Le..ontfromtheLesson, byl.E. David,Ph.D. President Ha*ch*iro *Yuasa, of Do- The Beginners J Class, by E. M. Jones. "The mother died and what are we The Primory Class, by S. M. Rudy. to do?" shisha University, Japan, recently The Junior Class, by A. M. Frencb. tendered his resignation to the Board The Intermediate Class, by M. E. MacPhee. And ask yourself, as tempted .to re- of Trustees. It is reported that the The Les.on IUustrated, by A. M. French. ject it, resignation has no connection with the difficulties from reactionary elements Soad "Now if He were here, just what which have beset the path of the would Jesus do?" president since his assumption of office. The trustees of Doshisha re- If you can take a trip to Nanga- gretfullyaccepted the resignation. EbOko . The Rev. G. *W.*Bo*uldin, D.D., the With school girls and porters not a few, former president of the Seinan Col- lege in Fukuoka, Japan (Southern And go from town to town and give Baptist), has returned to take the the gospel, pastorate of the Yokohama Union Church, which ministers to the for- And climb the hills and wade the eign community of the city. rivers too.
If you can then sit down in small bark houses, And visit with the people, dispense pills.
/)0. NotMU4 THE MOSLEM
PUBLISHED BY THE HARTFORD SEMINARY FOUNDATION Editors: SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, EDWIN E. CALVERLEY SOME ARTICLES IN THE APRIL NUMBER "With All Boldness" Samuel M. Zwemer Islam in the Chanson d'Antioch Robert S. Darbishire Ethiopia: Moslem or Christian? • Paul Simpson McElroy The Nubians of Today S. J. Enderlin Woman's Status in Islam Begum Sultan Mir Amiruddin The Moslem Convert and Polygamy Gerrit J. Pennings The Prophet of Islam Arthur Jeffery Dr. Alphonse Mongana C. P. Groves Pakistan: The Rebirth of a Nation G. L. $chanzlin Book Reviews~~~Current Topics Survey of Periodicals Sue Molleson Foster :. ~ SUBSCRIBE NOW ;fi .: 50 Cents a Copy. $2.00 a Year (postpaid) In combination with __ THE MOSLEM WORLD THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF fHE 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 LIFE OF GEORGE BOWEN! OF BOMBAY By ROBERT E. SPEER This is the biography of a very remarkable Christian missionary to India and for twenty years the influential 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. From 1850 to 1855. III. Three Years Abroad. XIII. Ten Years of Independent Work. IV. Life in New York, 1840-1844. XIV. The Bombay Guardian. V. Illumination of a Hopeless Love. XV. Relations with the American Board. VI. Conversion to Christianity. XVI. Association with the Methodist Church. VII. At Union Theological Seminary. XVII. Bowen as a Writer. VIII. His Missionary Appointment. XVIII. Correspondence with Henry W. Rankin. IX. The Voyage to India, 1847. XIX. Closing Testimony. X. Beginning Missionary Work.
This latest work by Dr. Speer may be ordered at $2.50 per copy from THE MISSIONARY REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY 166 Fifth Avenue, New York
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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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.
MISSIONARY PARENTS
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"
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The Missionary Review of the World — April 1937
1937
India Advances in Politics and Religion J. R. Edwards When a Korean Magistrate Went to Church William Scott A Chinese Concubine Tells Her Story James P. Leynse A Caravan in the Australian Bush Marjorie A. Burton An African View of Africa's Needs s. s. Tema A Golden Anniversary in Evangelism A. C. Snead Youth and the Christian Frontier Charles A. Platt 25 Cents a Copy $2.50 a Year
to Remember THE IDEAL GIFT AT ALL
May ll–General Conference, United Brethren in Christ, Chambersburg, Pa. GOD'S MINUTE ••• May 18-21- National Convention of Here is a marvelous collection of 365 Daily Prayers. A Spiritual the Evangelical Women's Union, each 60 seconds long. written by 365 of the most emi. thoughtfor St. Louis, Mo. nent preachers and laymen in the world. Cloth. 60 every day cents; Limp Leatherette. $1.00; Art Leather. $1.50. May 20-25 – Northern Baptist Con- • vention, Philadelphia, Pa. GOD'S MESSAGE •• A daily May 26 – General Assembly, United 365 prominent clergymen have chosen their favorite Presbyterian Church, Oak Park, Dl. Scripture passage. and, with this as a text. have written reminder of a Message that quickens faith. brings comfort. Cloth. May 27 – General Assembly, Presby- the giver terian Church in U. S. A., Colum- bus, Ohio. 60 cents; Limp Leatherette. $1.00; Art Leather. $1.50.
June 3, 1937-General Synod, Re- Iiii_ _ _ _ _ THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO., Winston Bid"" Phil•• formed Church in America, Asbury Park, N. J. would have retired as secretary for active service in 1982, he had spent rural church work of the Presbyterian his time in translating and editing. . June 3-8, 1937 – World's Woman's Board of National Missions. Dr. Christian Temperance Union, Wash- Warren H. Wilson was born on May A PLEA FOR THE "IMPRAC- ington, D. C. 1, 1867, at Tidioute, Warren County, TICAL" Pa. He received the B.A. degree from June 23-30, 1937 – Alliance of Re- Oberlin in 1890, the B.D. from Union Men said Jesus was "impractical." formed Churches Throughout the Theological Seminary in 1894, and World Holding the Presbyterian was ordained to the Presbyterian min- He preached a Gospel which men System, Montreal, Canada. istry. Dr. Wilson's first charge was Christ's Church at Quaker Hill, N. Y., called too idealistic. July 3-10, 1931- Association of Ex- near Pawling. From there he went ecutive Secretaries of Councils of to the Arlington Avenue Church in He said: "Love your enemies." Churches and Religious Education Brooklyn, and in 1908 took charge of Employed Officers' Association, work in rural fields. He was presi- Practical men have said: "In a Lake Geneva, Wis. dent of the International Association competitive world you must be armed of Agricultural Missions from 1919 to July 7 – August 11- Winona Lake 1929. Dr. Wilson was the author of to fight tour enemies. That is the School of Theology, Winona Lake, several books on country churches and safe way.' Ind. their problems. Surviving are his The World War cost to all partici- July 16-22-World Conference on Life pants $200,000 for every bour since and Work. Oxford, England. Jesus was born. .
August 3-18 – World Conference on widow, Mrs. Pauline Elizabeth Lane The next war will probably wreck Faith and Order. Edinburgh, Wilson, and two sons. civilization. Scotland. *** Practical men have had their way August 11-22-Winona Bible Confer- for many generations. It would be ence, Winona Lake, Ind. Canon P. Stacy Waddy, Secretary worth while to try Christ's way.-The of the Society for the Propagation of Indian Social Reformer.
CONFE'RENCES AND SCHOOLS the Gospel, died in the Hospital for II If you use OF MISSIONS Tropical Diseases, London, on Feb- ruary 8. Not only the Anglican Council of Women for Home Mis- Church, but the whole cause of Chrissions and Affiliated with the tian missions, has lost a notable Committee on Women's Work, worker. Canon Waddy had just re- Foreign Missions Conference turned from a visit to the Gold Coast PRINTING of Africa and had been seriously ill June 26-July 3-Eagles Mere, Pa. with malaria on the return voyage.
July 7-15-Northfield, Mass. He was born at Carcoar, New South YOU will profit from an ac- July 17-24-Mt. Hermon, Calif. Wales, on January 8, 1875, son of quaintanceship with us. We July 19'-23-Bethesda, Ohio. Lieut.-Col. R. A. Waddy. He became do the job complete in our own Canon of St. George's Cathedral, plant. whether it be large or Jerusalem, in 1919, and was Arch- small. deacon of Palestine from 1922 to 1925, when he came to England to be- Obituary Note. come secretary of the S. P. G. While our specialty is Books, Maga.tines and Pamphlets. yet Rev. Dr. Warren Hugh Wilson, for *** we have a variety of modem almost thirty years in charge of rural equipment to meet all the rechurch work in the Presbyterian Dr. Clarence A. Barbour, president quirements of your particular Church and a leader in the efforts to of Brown University since 1929, died job. You will find our service revive rural churches, died March 2, on January 16 at his home in Provi- prompt, careful and courteous. at 69 years of age. For several dence, R. I., at the age of 69. Dr. decades Dr. Wilson had been recog- Barbour had been active for many Will you allow us to estimate nized as an authority on religious and years in educational and religious on your next printing ? We beother problems of rural life. He work. It was under his leadership lieve you will be delighted with helped to develop the "larger parish that Rochester Theological Seminary our product, price and service. system" for combining country par- merged with Colgate to form the presishes. In 1908 he was appointed by ent Colgate-Rochester Divinity School.
President Theodore Roosevelt as a *** The EVANGELICAL PRESS member of the Country Life Commis- Rev. Thomas J. Porter, S.T.D., sion. In 1930 he was sent to India Print…. of for a survey of rural life for the Na- who had served under the Presby- The Missionary Review of the Warld terian Church, U. S. A., since 1884, tional Christian Council of In4ia. In as missionary in both Persia and two months Dr. Wilson would have Brazil, died suddenly in California, PLANT AND MAIN OFFICE Third and Reily Streell reached the 70-year age limit and December 26. Since he retired from
MISSIONARY USED IN OVER ONE MILLION CHRISTIAN
REVIEW OF THE WORLD HURLBUT'S STORY OF THE BIBLE By.JESSE LYMAN HURLBUT. D.O. DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor Recommended by all denominatlonsforitsfreshness and accuracy, for its simplicity of language, for its freedom from doctrinal discussion. VOL. LX APRIL, 1937 No.4 THE BEST GIFT FOR YOUNG AND OLD Publication and Business Office- Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. FOR TEACHERS-STUDENT8–FOR THE HOMEAND SCHOOL Editorial and Executive Office- One hundred and sixtY-<lightstories, each complete in itself, yet form- 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. ing a continuous narrative of the Biblefrom Genesis to Revelation. Entered as second-class matter at Each ofthe world-old stories is told by the noted author in a manner thatia vitally interesting and instructive to young and old alike. Post Office, Harrisburg, Pa., under Act of March 3, 1879. Biggest _d Best Illustrated Book Ever Sold for the Price 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. Beautifully illustrated with 281 pictures in colors and in black and Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. Published monthly, except August. white; over 100 famous Leinweber paintings. 759 pages. Price ..$2.00 All rights reserved. Gopyrighted 1937. British agents – Marshall, Morgan' At all bookstores or froTn the publishers and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, London, E. C. 1 shilling per copy, . .__ THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO., Winston Bldg., Philadelphia _ __ 10 shillings a year. I would simply have to drop all the Personal Items MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- work I am doing in various groups. LISHING CO., INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Yesterday we finished a course on ROBERT E. SPEER, Pre8ident Africa. I gave everyone 'home work' Dr. George S. McKune, President A. L. WARNSHUlS, Vice-President to do-taken mostly from THE RE- of Union Christian College of Pyeng- WALTER MCDOUGALL, Treasurer DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary VIEW. All went at it with a real zest. yang, Chosen, has been forced by the I've 'talked' about Africa in Methodist Japanese to resign because of his re- SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT and Baptist groups also – in Xenia and neighboring towns and – once fusal to do homage before Shinto WILLIAM I. CHAMBERLAIN more-it has been THE REVIEW that shrines. He regarded the act as one D. J. FANT supplied most of my 'background.' I find the current issues are nearly al- of worship. In a respectful letter to MRS. ORRIN R. JUDD ways out of the library." the Governor-General, he asserted his loyalty to the government, and stated WM. B. LIPPHARD that he taught his students such ERIC M. NORTH MRS. D. WALTER FERGUSON. loyalty, but that as a Christian he SAMUEL M. ZWEMER Xenia, Ohio. could not bow in worship to the dead men whose spirits were supposed to Editorial Chat *** De present in the temple.
THE REVIEW endeavors to be up-to- CORRECT10N *** date in publishing articles on important current events and Christian The caption to the picture on page Dr. Paul deSchweinitz, for many world movements. As a matter of 79 of the February REVIEW, illus- years Treasurer of Missions of the fact, a seeming delay in such com- trating the article "Christ Comes to Moravian Church in America, is rements may, in reality, be due to the the Navajo," should read "Governor tiring from that office on May 1. He fact that we have been ahead of the B. B. Moeur of, Arizona and two was consecrated as a bishop of the other periodicals. For example: the Navajo Nurses, Ganado." Moravian Church at a service in the "New Life Movement in China," spon- Central Church of Bethlehem, Pa., sored by General and Mme. Chiang *. * * Kai-shek, which is just now receiving much pUblicity in America, was fully WANTED: By a correspondent vol- on March 14. All honor to Bishop described in the July, 1934, issue; the umes II to X of THE M[SSIONARY deSchweinitz. "Zoa (Life) Movement" (in the Greek Church) now first noted in the daily REVIEW OF THE WORLD. Can any *** press, was fully.described in THE RE- reader supply them? Please commu- VIEW in August, 1928; the Moody nicate with ·the Editorial Office, 156 Rai Bahadur A. C. Mukerjee is re- Centenary recently widely advertised Fifth A ven~-e, New York. tiring as General Secretary of the and observed was dealt with by Dr. National Missionary Society of India, John McDowell in our May, 1936, *** after a period of marked service to number. Read THE REVIEW to be up~ the Society and to India. He is now to-date on important matters relating Two sub~cribers write: at work up'on a plan for occupying a to the Kingdom of God. field where a mass movement toward "I can't do without your wonderful Christianity is taking place. *** magazine,'and what puzzles me is how any good missionary Christian can." Have you ordered your June (Rural Life) Number of THE REVIEW? Se- • MRS. AGNES HAZARD. *** cure copies for all in your mission Bouliler, Colo. study groups. This will be a great . Archdeacon John Batchelor, vethelp. Note what one enthusiastic .';,.. '" * * eran worker of the C. M. S. among the reader says: Ainu of Northern Japan, was the first "Enclosed $– is to be applied to missionary to take part in a television "The March REWIEW is especially program, Januar:v 20. Dr. Batchelor fine-Dr. Speer's article being 'tops.' my l.!ubscription as long as the money has worked for more than sixty years I am very sure I could not get along among the primitive Ainu of Hokat all without the REVIEW. Without it will last. This will save the work kaido. Although 83 years old, he has connected with the annual renewal, recent:ly returned to Japan to con- tinue his work. and serves as evidence that the RE- VIEW is much appreciated."
N. NIELSEN, PH. C., M.D. Siu-Yen, Manchoukuo.
*** PLAN NOW to Spend Next Summer's Vacation with Amer. Rev. Frank Houghton, editorial sec- ica's Greatest Theological Teachers. retary of the China Inland Mission in Winona Lake School of Theology, Winona Lake, Indiana London, has been made bishop of a new diocese created by the division of For Ministers9 Teachers, Missionaries, Sunday School Workers and Laymen SO the Diocese of Szechuan into the Free eastern and western. The eastern is Courses leading to Regular Theological Degrees, Cost Reasonable staffed by the China Inland Mission, July 7 to August ll···Two Terms 15 Days Each···lnterdenominational Rooms the western diocese by the Church Evangelical Faith and High Scholarship Combined Missionary Society. Dr. W. E. Biederwolf, Director (Ask for free Prosl>ectus) Dr. J. A. Huffman. Dean [ 177]
VILLAGE OF SAMHO, CHOSEN, WHERE "THE MAGISTRATE WENT TO CHURCH"
(See page 187)
NARY
REVIB ORLD VOLUME LX AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER 4 APRIL, 1937 Topies of the Times CAN CHRISTIANS BE NEUTRAL nation bind itself ;to do so irresJ)€ctive of the moml issues involved? Neutrality is now a major Subject in press, Con- To the first questiDn, the answer of the best in- gress, peace societies, labor disputes, and in many formed students .of internationa] affairs is negachurch assemblies. Its slogans are popular: tive. They tell us ,that the circumstances that led "Keep us .out of war," "Let us mind .our own busi- us into the World War of 1914-1918 wDuld in- ness," "Other people's quarrels are not .our af- evitably draw us into another general conflict; fairs." While some .of this demand for "hands that international relations are now so interwDven off" is motivated by selfishness, much of it is that a strong nation cannot possibly maintain an prompted by a real desire for harmony. Mission- isolated position; that actual neutrality would ary wDrk, both home and foreign, is involved in mean no freedom .of the seas for American ships, peace promotion, since war demoralizes it, diverts no passports to Americans traveling in war zones attention and cripples its support. Boards and or on ships of a natiDn at war, no loans to belmissionaries and their supporters are theref.ore ligerents, no trade with them in food .or war ma- concerned in the question: When should Chris- terials, or with neutral agencies for reshipment tians be neutral in disputes and conflicts and when to them. This would mean the closing .of many should they take sides in the contrDversies that manufacturing plants and very widespread unare agitating the Church, nation and the world? employment. When the results .of such neutrality Neutrality, is certainly sometimes wise. FDr thus become clear to the American people, the example, most Americans do not strongly take business and labor interests affected would bring sides in the present internecine strife in Spain, such pressure to bear on Congress that politicians realizing that the outcome will probably be either would not dare to resist. Few, if any, students a Fascist government under a military dictator, of the problem believe that America would be or a Soviet government .of a communistic type. willing to pay the price, especially as popular feel- It is significant that Germany and Italy openly ing might be inflamed by the sinking of an Amer- encour.age the "insurgents" and that Russia as ican ship, or the loss of American lives .on a toropenly encourages the "loyalists." But France J)€doed neutral ship.
was not neutral in America's war for independ- The second question cuts deeper. When an ence and Americans were not neutral when Italy atheistic government attempts tD extirpate all re- invaded Ethiopia Dr when Japan bombed and ligion in Russia; when Jews are being inhumanly killed civilians in Shanghai. The fact that the persecuted and Christian churches are being made American Government did not invoke the "sanc- vassals of a totalitarian state as in Germany; tions" in either case does not imply that Amer- when Christian schools are forbidden to teach ican citizens were neutr,al, save in a technical Christian truths, as in China and Mexico; when sense of not taking active sides. palpable injustice is being perpetrated every- The pending issue, in America however, is not where, we believe that Christians should be outone .of popular sympathy but of national policy spoken in protest. Under such circumstances neu- expressed in law. This raises two questions: traIity would be culpable. Few Christians are Could America keep out of another world war if prepared to say that, no matter what wrong may one should develop? Even if it could, should our be inflicted by a strong nation upon a weaker .one, [179 ]
or by a powerful individual on a weaker 'One, he that the conference was entertained by the Ma- will, like the priest and the Levite in 'Our Lord's harajah of Mysore, himself a Hindu, is one indi- parable, "pass by on the other side." It was Cain, cation of the great change that has taken place in the murderer, who said that he was "nQt his the attitude of Hindus toward all that is labeled brother's keeper." Christian. The basis of this new tolerance and Bat taking sides against wrong does not neces- cooperation is seen in the address of the Dewan sarily mean war. The applicati'On of "sancti'Ons" of Mysore, Sir Mirza Ismail, who said: "You are in such circumstances are simply the exercise of deliberately planning an offensive against the the same kind of police power in international af- warring powers of evil, whose threat is now more fairs that every civilized state and cQmmunity deliberate and threatening than ever before. You exercises against lawless evildoers within its own stand for ideals that inspire us also-the freedom borders. Is it not high time that Americans of spirit, and unity and peace. And we are not should stop criticizing the League of NatiQns for merely your hosts; we are with you in this fight."
weakness in dealing with international disputes The delegates came from many nations and for which their own refusal to join is the chief represented different racial, cultural and early re- cause for failure? ligious backgrounds, but there was remarkable In the sphere of morals and religion, there is unity in worship, for all acknowledged allegience certainly nD proper place for neutrality when to Christ and were bent on discovering and doing there is a clear issue between right and wrong. the will of God. The general theme was: "The A man is either moral or immDral. In religion, Youth, the World and the Future."
the supreme Authority for the Christian has very Many grave problems were presented for dis- plainly said: "He that is not for me is against cussion, especially as they relate to young men of me." "Ye cannDt serve God and mammon." Any today. A study of seven main themes had been compromise with· the wDrld is sharply rebuked in made in advance and these were brought up for the. Bible and in the Epistle 'Of James we read: discussion by seven Commissions into which the "Kno'Y ye not that the friendship 'Of the world is delegates were divided. enmi,ty with God ?" In this time of rampant god- First, there is the problem of International Reless pOlitical evils, there is urgent need that the lations. The question was raised as to whether the Y. M. C. A. should take active part in organfollowers of Christ should repudiate all compro- ized movements to prevent war or should be con- tent with promoting the spirit of brotherhood and mises with wrong and should boldly stand for the advocate peaceful settlement of disputes. Should the Association endeavor to stop fighting or right and for right alone. If we cannot win on mainly serve the contending factions and aid the wounded in time of war? Can the Y. M. C. A. this issue, we cannot win at all. God himself will inaugurate and promote economic, social and political reforms that will remove causes of war, not bless such neutrality. "Because thou art or should it confine its endeavors to spiritual work lukewarm," He said to the church at Laodicea, "and neither cold n'Or hot I will spue thee out of my mouth." Christians cannot afford to do other- wise than to stand unequivocally for the right as God has revealed it. ARTHUR J. BROWN.
THE WORLD Y. M. C. A. CONFERENCE with individuals and Christian character build- IN INDIA ing? Some delegates asked for an immediate call for a World Congress to express the mind of the For the first time in the history of the Young M'Ovement 'On international issues and even ad- Men's Christian Association, the scene of the·· vocated a permanent bureau to watch the situaworld conference has been shifted to Asia, and tion.
one-half of the delegates came from Africa and Second: the Race Relations section was pre- the Orient. Here is an indication of the increas- sided over by J. H. Tobias, an American Negro.
ing importance of the youth of Asia in world af- One result was a resolution adopted to the effect fairs. This twenty-first world conference was that no one should be excluded from the Y. M.
held in Mysore, India, from January 5 to 10 and C. A. and its privileges on the ground of race or was attended by 200 selected delegates represent- color.
ing thirty different nations, races and tongues. Third, Difference in Religious Faiths. The Most of the delegates were over fifty years 9f age. Y. M. C. A. was founded by Sir George Williams Dr. John R. Mott, the President of the World's Al- in 1844 for the purpose of promoting the cause of liance, was chairman and was unanimously asked Christ among young men, by prayer, Bible study to continue as president of this youth movement, and personal work. Recently, however, even vot- although he is now over threescore and ten years ing power is not always based on public con- of age. The value of the wisdom and experience fession of faith in Christ. Jews and those of of "Elder Statesmen" is still recognized. The fact other religions are now admitted to active mem-
TOPICS. OF THE TIMES
bership and in many non-Christian lands there man's personal relation to God governs all his has been a strong move against "proselytizing" or standards, is the source of power and determines seeking to persuade men to change their religion. his relationship to others. Christ is the secret of It is not surprising, therefore, that at the Mysore strong, fruitful living and He offers the great Conference many held that a share in the control challenge to Godlike life and service to fellow men. of the Y. M. C. A. should be offered to members who are not Christians. This we believe to be a The Y. M. C. A. was founded to bring young grave mistake, since the movement should be kept men into vital personal relationship to God, definitely. and openly Christian. through Christ. The "Paris Basis" for member- ship is still the same as adopted in 1855. Various Fourth: On National Problems and Responsi- related ideals and activities may rightly be added bilities, the main question is whether situations so long as these do not conflict with or displace arise where a Christian should choose to follow the main purpose; but if Christ is left out of the the revealed will of God even where that is in con- Y. M. C. A. then the institution will be spiritually flict with the requirements of his national govern- dead and forfeits its right to the name Christian. ment. This problem is acute in Russia, in Ger- Other groups are free to found and support a many, in Japan, in Italy and in other lands dom- "Young Men's Religious Association" and to reinated by materialistic, militaristic or non-Chris- ceive members who do not acknowledge allegiance tian rulers. While the Y. M. C. A. should train to Christ, but it is not honest for others to "steal" men to be loyal to their rulers and to serve their the Y. M. C. A. and to attempt to change its charcountry, these duties cannot supplant obedience acter and purpose. to God, as He is revealed in Christ. In his opening address at the Conference, Dr. Fifth: The Need for Building a Better Social John R. Mott sounded a note that may well serve Order is evident. The feeling at Mysore was as the basis for all Y. M. C. A. membership and strong that the Y. M. C. A. should work definitely activity, in every land. He said: for economic betterment and social justice. Demands were formulated for action to "abolish "Our governing objective in the Y. M. C. A. is rights of property divorced from function"; to to make Christ known and trusted and loved and eliminate the "profit motive" from industry and to exemplified (as personal Saviour, Son of God, and adjust the conflicting interests of various classes Lord), not only in the whole individual range of in the economic order. This subject naturally individual life, boy, mind and spirit, but in all our deeply concerns the rising generation and calls for human relationships and with special reference to reforms. It must be kept in mind, however, that youth." new laws alone have not proved effective; there must also be a new, unselfish spirit instilled into Are we honestly seeking to discover and to do individuals to change human nature. This is ac- the will of God? That will mean something revocomplished by a new life motive, with power re- lutionary in every life. Let the Y. M. C. A. conceived through union with Christ. tinue to be positively, intellectually, evangelically and aggressively Christian in all of its ideals and Sixth: The Church and Her World Mission was activities. Then it will continue to live and grow another topic discussed. What is the relationship and be effective in the lives of young men and in of the Y. M. C. A. to the Church? How can they the world. work together effectively in the interest of boys and young men? One whole day was given at the THE NEED FOR A CHRISTIAN Conference to discuss the needs of the boys of the INTERNATIONALE world and youth representing six nationalities spoke on the varied problems but universal needs. More and more we are discovering that the In India the child suddenly becomes a man, while world is not made up of watertight compartments. in England many years are spent in preparing There is a real solidarity of human welfare or the boy for manhood; in the Philippines boys are woe. No man liveth to himself and no nation is ignorant of their own country's history while in independent of its neighbors. We are all of one Germany and Japan they are taught to worship blood and our present economic social and politinational ideals and heroes. Since youth is the cal problems are interlocked. period when the coming generation must be prepared to take their places in the Church, the na- The Communists are working on the principle tion and the world, the Y. M. C. A. should furnish that Communism, to be successful, cannot be contraining for these responsibilities. fined to the U. S. S. R., but must extend its in- fluence and ideals everywhere. This is the motive Seventh: The Challenge of Personal Life is the back of the Third Internationale and the presentroot of all other problems. Without ideal men and day world-wide propaganda from Moscow. Monwomen it is impossible to have an ideal world. A signor M. d'Herbigny, writing in the Revue des Deux Mondes, exposes the program which the
"militant godless" propose to follow in their sec- he noticed that the flag with its sickle and hammer ond five-year period. This plan for the "liquida- was unfurled only on special occasions. He says: tion of religiol}" is carefully studied and con- "When not unfurled it was protected by a canvas stantly brought up to date. There are special case made out of a waterproof oil painting of our seminaries for the training of antireligious Com- Lord's birth which I believe was taken from the munist workers to organize "cells"; they have Gospel Hall at Pensui. On the painting could be also opened museums in which Christianity and seen Bethlehem, the shepherds with their sheep, other faiths are exposed to ridicule. An atheistic and the star." Mr. Bosshardt was led captive bepress and colored posters are everywhere in evi- hind the Red flag, but the flag itself was embraced dence, copied from the Bezbozhniki and Die by the love manifested in Bethlehem. Kampfende Gottlosen. We quote from their manual: The great Slavic race with its religious tradi- tion, its remarkable literary genius, and its ca- A sympathizer with the U. S. S. R. is anyone who, with- pacity for suffering is surely not beyond the love out definite political tendencies, feels by intuition or re- of Christ. What a challenge the Communist flection that something interesting is going on in the Party of the U. S. S. R. offers to the pioneer mis- U. S. S. R., and that it would be a good thing to profit sionary spirit. Who will show them the Star of thereby. Consequently anyone is a sympathizer with the Bethelehm? Who will help organize, by prayer Communist Party who, having sympathy with the work of and a faith that prevails, a Christian Internathe Soviet Union, ;whether he goes or not to meetings of a tionale, a true and universal brotherhood of social party-cell or of a nucleus of sympathizers, readily accepts justice and divine compassion, with Christ as the the revolutionary party-orders and has the intention of center? The tragedy of the present situation is executing them, as far as lies in his power. that these lands where atheistic Communism is centered are not on the program of missionary While Protestant Christendom is planning for advance. To meet such an opportunity there must an Ecumenical understanding and an advance be the united cooperation of all the churches. program at Oxford and Edinburgh this coming Members of the Protestant Church need to recogsummer, the Central Committee of Atheists have nize the fact that, before the Reformation, many held a World Congress at Moscow in February, faithful members of the Oriental and Roman 1937, with the following program: churches that impinge upon this vast area, with- stood the terrific impact of Islam, and born wit- 1. Founding of an office for the antireligious propaganda ness to Christ by martyrdom. Now in many of the world. places members of these same churches are seal- ing their testimony with their own blood in the 2. Founding of an Atheist-Internationale conducted by the struggle against Godless Communism. Soviet Russian Atheist Union. S. M. ZWEMER. 3. Organization of a systematic antireligious propaganda in all countries.
4. International exchange of experiences in the struggle of the atheists.
5. Financial support of the Atheist Organizations.
In preparation for this Congress a powerful radio THE GREAT TEMPLE IN MADURA, IKDIA station was to be erected to be used exclusively for atheistic propaganda. The fool no longer says only in his heart, "There is no God"-he broadcasts his foolish blasphemy. In Madrid, Prague, Mexico, India, Northwest China, and closer home, in the United States, the fight against all religion is carried on with united front.
Shall we as Christians sit still when our brethren in many lands are living and dying as martyrs to God's truth? R. A. Bosshardt, of the China Inland Mission, who was for eighteen long months a captive of the Red Communistic army in western China, relates an incident which is illuminating. Marching in fetters behind the standard bearer,
Advan'ces in Politics and
By the REV. J. F. EDWARDS, Poona, India Recently Editor of Dnyanodaya I N THIS age of dictatorships and antireligious against possible breakdowns, that the most fully movements, India is making solid progress in organized party, the Congress party, talks of re- both politics and religion. Consider the po- jecting it with contumely. This same party, howlitical outlook of this great oriental country. ever, is straining every nerve to capture every possible seat and will take the oath of allegiance, A New Constitution leaving till later the decision whether to accept office. This April India enters upon a new and great chapter in its history by the inauguration of a The framers of the new constitution say that new political constitution which bids fair to make such, "safeguards" are meant only for crises and this land the first democracy in Asia. that they are necessary and indeed inevitable in these days of unstable government the world over. If the latest estimates of China's population be This is especially true as fourteen per cent of the correct (342 millions, including Mongolia and people are being given the right to vote in a land where only eight per cent know how to read and Tibet *) then India's 353 millions t means that write.
this is the largest human family on earth. Thus The autonomy bestowed upon the nine major one person out of every six in the world belongs Provinces into which India is divided, each havto India. ing its own separate government, is so far-reach- ing that one trusted leader, Dr. Natarajan, the William E. Gladstone used to say that "the task veteran editor of the Indian Social Reformer, of statesmanship is to discover where God Al- holds that the authority should have been more mighty is going the next fifty years," If India's centralized to prevent the Provinces becoming so new constitution does all that its framers hope many unrelated units. for, then it will become one of the mightiest powers for good in the Orient. While these two factors of responsibility and autonomy have been steadily developing ever since The democratic provision of the New Consti- the political reforms of 1919, when many imtution, enabling 35 million people to vote, will en- portant departments of Government, such as sure the dethronement of the Brahmin. This fact liquor and education, were transferred to Indian in itself marks a new epoch in India, and some statesmen, the third factor of an all-India federaunprejudiced observers believe this als'o helps to tion is wholly new, having come to birth during explain, in part, the unpopularity of the new con- the Round Table Conferences in London. By this stitution to many of the higher caste people. Some federation, the two great sections, called British of these would say with Goethe, "The century has India and the Indian States, are to be welded into given birth to a great epoch, but the great moment a unity that has never before existed. finds a petty generation." Uniting Two Indias Into One We have been watching the great constitutional argument in India for more than twenty-eight It is often forgotten in America that there are years, twenty of them as a missionary editor for 675 Indian States, comprising some 45 per cent six missions, and believe that both British and of India's area and nearly 25 per cent (over 81 Indian statesmen have been sincerely aiming at millions) of India's population. The rulers of India's welfare. these states may rule as they like, except when cases of grave miscarriage of justice cause the These three words may be said to sum up the British Resident to intervene. If, in the last reaims of India's new political constitution. sort, justice is not assured to the citizens, the Viceroy (representing the King-Emperor's Para- As to the first, the responsibility for governing mount Power) offers the defaulting ruler the the most complex nation in the world, which has alternative of a trial by his own fellow-Princes been placed in the hands of the people's leaders, is surrounded with so many "safeguards" to guard • Professor Wilcox, of Yale, maintained at the Conference on Pacific Relations a few years ago that China's population had always been grossly exaggerated. mirl~~;. 1931 official census, while the present estimate is 370 [ 183 ]
or a voluntary abdication; one of the recent cases constitution. They even hope that at the last in which abdication ensued was that of the Ma- some factor may lead the Princes to withdraw. harajah of Indore, well known by his marriage Our own hope is that, by working in close associato the American citizen Nancy Miller. Many in tion with the democratic councils in India, the India believe that, for the sake of India's people, Indian Princes may be led to liberalize their rule. direct intervention of the Paramount Power How essential such liberalization is for the fushould take place oftener than it does. ture of Indian democracy will be realized when we realize that no amendments to the new con- The new constitution brings under one scheme stitution can be carried out without the unaniof self-government the people all over India, and mous approval of the whole body of Indian rulers. that the new unity of India is officially regarded The only alternative for one who disapproves is as one of the greatest achievements of the new to secede from the Federation. constitution. It must have been some such hope as ours that This much is certain, that to continue much led the editor of the Indian Christian weekly longer the arrangement of two Indias, British Guardian of Madras to say: India ruled by the British, and the Indian States ruled by the Princes, would be to risk a destruc- If a place has to be found for them (the Indian tive civil war. When it is remembered that the States) in a self-governing India, it necessarily implies total population of India is nearly three times that their association would to some extent curtail the that of the United States, though in area it is only freedom of British India at the start. Their medieval about half, it will be realized how great the character, with but a few exceptions, must be recognized; dangers of delay might be. and their paralyzing effect upon British India must be faced and overcome. The sooner the Indian States and The Price of India's Unification the communal groups are brought into the current of na- tional administration, the better hope there is. But the unifying of India in one all-Indian Parliament is to be purchased at a heavy price. Here The Autocracy of India's Princes we begin to understand something of the forces moving behind the clash between the British Gov- The foregoing facts do not set forth the full ernment and those Indian leaders who desire sep- price being paid for the unification of India under arate independence. one supreme Indian Government. These 675 In- dian Princes, who are well organized in an Indian The Indian Princes are probably not only the Princes' Chamber of their own, have put a ban richest but the most reactionary rulers on earth. on India's separate independence by stipulating A few years ago that fearless journal of India's that the basic condition of their joining the allprogressive leaders, The Servant of India, af- India federation is that the connection between firmed that the most advanced Indian States are India and Britain must continue, and that on no below the level of British India, that "everyone account will they sign their new treaties or agreeof the Indian States without exception is miles ments with India's Parliament but only with the behind British India," that "the only two States King-Emperor direct, through his representative which approximate to the British Indian stand- the Vicerby. The reason is that they distrust ard of administration are Mysore and Baroda," their own fellow-countrymen, both Hindus and both of which were "under direct administration Moslems, whose failure to conclude an agreement of British Government for some time in their his- between their two communities regarding the tory," and that "even these lag behind British basis of representation in the councils, does not India in the matter of constitutional develop- encourage the Princes to make any agreement ment." with them on still larger questions.
Indian rulers of course have their own point of These Indian rulers have steadfastly refused to view, but Britain's democrats are deeply troubled allow their own representatives in the all-India in their minds over this aspect of the question, Federal Legislature to be appointed by election, as was shown by the leader of the British Labor thus denying the vote to their citizens. This Party, Major Attlee, in the House of Commons means that the representatives of Indian States when he asked "how long British democrats would in the Parliament will be nominees of the Princes, continue to maintain autocracies without some which means their palace favorites, and that these' better guarantee of what was happening inside will sit side by _side in· the all-India Parliament them." with the representatives from British India who have been elected by the 35 million voters of the Some Indian patriots (how many it is hard to more democratic part of the country. say) go the length of saying they wish the Indian Princes had not suggested this federation for all British Commonwealth of Independent Nations India, because the price India is paying for the cooperation of the Princes is a less democratic In 1931 there was passed by the British Parlia- ment an extremely important measure called the
INDIA ADVANCES IN POLITICS AND RELIGION
"Westminster Statute" which sets forth the far- How nobly India's own sons are fighting against reaching significance of that elastic term "Do- caste-inhumanity is shown by what Gandhi said minion Status." This Act made clear that all the at Faizpur where the Indian Congress was held countries forming the British Commonwealth are in the last week of 1936: "I went to your Local free and independent peoples and are at liberty to Board, well situated just near the Harijan (outleave the Commonwealth any moment they wish. caste) quarters, and I inquired if the Harijans It was not long after the important legislation of were allowed to draw water from that well. I 1931 that the Indian constitutional question as- was told they might not do so, but that they were sumed crucial importance. The Dominion Pre- suffered to take water out of an open trough from miers clearly intimated they were not willing to which cattle also drunk their water. How dare concede to India the "Dominion Status" of full you, who want to win swaraj (autonomy) suffer nationhood represented by full membership in the to keep your own brethren on a level with cattle?" Commonwealth. This has been a great blow to Yet in that same village of Faizpur Rs. 30,000 India's pride. The Right Honorable Srinivasa (over 10,000 dollars) were collected as gate-money Sastri, early in 1935, pleaded that Federation and to attend the Indian Congress that was crying Dominion Status could exist side by side, but that out for independence, and 25,000 people were the free and independent Dominions making up fed daily for a week. the British Commonwealth of Nations were not willing to receive India into the inner family Why then is there such appalling poverty as circle of the Commonwealth until India shows prevails in India? There are two reasons at least: more fitness for self-government. The Indian So- one is India's worship of the cow; for while 64 cial Reformer recalled that in connection with the definitions of Hinduism all differ, yet all include conflict between British and Boer in South Africa, cow-worship as essential. However decrepit or the world-renowned phrase was coined that "good milkless a cow may be, it must never be killed even government is no substitute for self-government." by a merciful anresthetic, but must drag on its weary existence under the hot Indian sun. India's Capacity for Self-Government It is estimated that in British India alone there Opinions greatly differ on the question as to are twenty-four and a half million useless cattle, how far the Dominion Premiers' position is justi- the maintenance of which costs India 176 crores fied by India's fitness, or unfitness, for complete of rupees (or more than 650 million dollars) self-government. There is evidence on both sides. every year. When we pointed this out, Mr. Gandhi replied that India ought to pay something Much has been made of the alleged inefficiency for its religious principles. Whether such prinand alleged nepotism of Indian Ministers in ciples are behind another cause of India's poverty, charge of various departments of government. India's money lenders, we know not, but it is not The reforms of 1919 provided for a large majority uncommon for them to charge 75 to 150 per cent of Indian members in every Council, Provincial or more for their loans. and National, with a large number of nationbuilding departments transferred to Indian con- India's Influence on the West trol. India has a very noble culture distinctively her The most capable judges of the results are the own. The influence of that culture is increasing British members of the Indian Civil Service. One in the West as is indicated by the recent appointof them, Sir John Thompson, says: ment of that renowned Indian scholar, Dr. Sir S. Radhakrishnan, to the newly instituted Spalding It would be unjust and ungenerous, especially in those Professorship of Eastern Religions and Ethics in of us who once helped to control the departments now the Oxford University. This eloquent scholar transferred to Ministers, not to recognize what they have rightly affirmed in his inaugural address: "Redone and where they have gone beyond what we were aJle ligion has been the master passion of the Indian to effect. Let me mention one or two points. The villager mind." Should Dr. Radhakrishnan repeat in with a sick wife or baby now finds that medical relief has England his well-known defence of idolatry, as been brought nearer to his door. The number of hospitals being an infant state in religion and to be tolhas increased by 35 per cent. The man with children to erated as such, we have no doubt the philosophers educate finds things made easier for him. In ten years of Epgland and Scotland would know how to deal the number of schools went up by 24 per cent, the number with him. of pupils by 50 per cent, and the number of girl pupils by 80 per cent. Even in the last five years the number of Indian Christianity and Indian Nationality girls in the secondary schools has risen by over 100 per cent and the number of girl graduates by nearly 80 per All would-be vindicators of Indian idolatry are cent. answered by Indian citizens themselves, as is Over against this fair picture are such blots as the inhumanity of the Indian caste-system, and the superstitions and evil practices that lie at the root of India's poverty.
shown by the returns of the 1931 official census years (from 6,062 in 1931 to 4,467 in 1935), on which indicated that over a million and a half account of decrease in funds from Western lands, had been added to the Christian Church during has some compensation in the steady growth of the preceding decade. This means an average of voluntary service in many sections of the Indian 12,855 additions to the church every month, and Church. the present (1937) monthly increase is probably at least 15,000. Indian Christians are not overlooking their duty to India's national movements. They are to Nor is this the only index of an advancing In- be found in almost every political party in India. dian Christianity, for thousands of caste-people One of Mr. Gandhi's right-hand men is Mr. J. C. are every year entering the Indian Church and Kumarappa, an Indian Christian, occupying the are giving as their reason that they want the help strategic post of organizing secretary to the Allof the same Lord who is transforming so many India Village Industries Association. Several In- Indian outcastes and is transfiguring their homes dian Christian leaders are candidates for seats in and villages. India's Provincial and all-India Councils in the present general election. The influence of Jesus Christ and His message is also making itself felt upon every public move- Happily the day is past when Indian Christians ment in India. The searchlight of His personality can be left out of India's nation-building organizaand teaching is revealing some of the darker as- tions. One of the best known of India's Christian pects of India's time-worn faiths, so that a silent leaders, Dr. S. K. Datta, President of Forman revolution is being effected in these faiths. More- Christian College, in a notable speech in the Allover, educated Indian Christians say they see clear India Legislative Assembly at Delhi, told the Britsigns of a "mass movement of the Spirit of God ish and Indian statesmen gathered in India's Paramong the educated people of India." These vari- liament, that if they wished to see Indian democous factors are contributing to the building of an racy at its best they should see it at work in the enduring Indian Church. Even the reduction of Indian Churches, which he described as "so many missionaries in India by 1,595 during the past few little Indian republics."
THE IDEAL MISSIONARY FOR TODAY By THE REV. D. S. HIBBARD, D.D., PH.D.
"What kind of a man or woman should be sent out to the younger churches of Christ?" The missionary has the only God-given world message, but he is human. He talks with God, but he must deal with men. It must, therefore, weigh heavily upon anyone who is in any way responsible for choosing a foreign missionary.
David Livingstone was one of the greatest, if not the greatest of all missionaries. _But if he could be brought into the Philippines today with only his former preparation, he would be badly handicapped.
And yet I must frankly come out and state before I retire that the modern missionary in the Islands has to be a bigger and better man than those who came over in the early days, or he is doomed to be a dismal failure.
We had wonderful opportunities and privileges in those early days. The facts of change and of new ideals in the government opened the way for the preaching of the Gospel.
The people listened, and were willing to study the Bible of which they had heard but never seen. The Roman Catholic Church had failed to hold all of its members. Many of them, insurgents at heart, now broke away from that body. It was easy to teach, to preach, and to heal.
Today these conditions are materially changed. Instead of an uneducated younger genera- tion, we find holders of the master's degree, and even some with a doctorate from the best institutions in America, scattered throughout the Islands. And college graduates are every- where. The school system here is the best in the Orient. Printing presses,good and bad, are running full time.
Briefly then sermons, which would have held the attention and won approval of an audi- ence a generation ago, will not be effective today. There must be true vitality, intelligent pres- entation, practical relationship to life, and sacrificial service in the ideal missonary and in his Christian message for present-day needs at home and abroad.
the Magistrate Went to Church*
What Happened to Magistrate Kim Seung Myung in Korea -t€{ I Told by himself and WILLIAM SCOTT I )Be- I~==============================~ I T WAS a hot summer day and I hesitated to go, his conversion. The church was crowded, and for church openings, at the best of times, are among the audience were many of elder Kim's old long and tedious. But Samho, I reckoned, cronies,. still in their pagan unconcern. He ad- would be different. Samho Christians are rugged dressed himself particularly to them.
fisher folk, who pit their strength against the ele- The Story of His Conversion ments and wrest a living from the sea. When pagan, they were gloriously pagan; when they "You all know me for what I was and what I became Christian, life was still an adventure car- am," he began. "Money was no concern to me.
ried through with the old lt came easily; I spent it energy and daring. There freely. My chief concern before one's eyes stood a was the public good. I witness to this fact. They served you long and well as were only a fishing village, village h e a d man and as and only a handful of county magistrate. Yonder Christians, yet they had hill belongs. to the village dared to build the finest because I fought the Gov- church in all our section of ernment for it. I gave the Korea. On this particular public cemetery in which day they had met to dedi- you bury your dead. I built cate their church to God your first school and made and to honor the man whose you send your sons to it. I enthusiasm and generosity fathered a dozen projects had made it possible. for your good, till our vil- Elder Kim lage became the pride of the province. You, in your Elder Kim was the man, turn, were good to me. You and a fitting tribute asso- honored me and trusted ciated his name with the me. You raised a magnifichurch. A tablet graced cent stone to perpetuate my one of the walls, "In honour name.. I sat on the Goverof Elder Kim, a Christian and a Public Benefactor." nor's council. I was chosen His name was on the pro- to visit the palace and to gram to lead in prayer, MAGISTRATg KIM, NOW ELDER KIM receive some silver wine and this is how it ran: CUPSI as a token of respect.
"0 God, I thank thee for taking a man like me "Then came the Christians. You remember -a haughty, brawling, drunken man like me- how I hated them – upstart fellows who babbled for cleaning up my life and making me the man I about God and Christ and thought we were all am. I thank thee for putting it into my head sons of the devil because we drank and smoked to help build this church. May it be used to and enjoyed life. You remember how I set the Thy glory, and to the saving of many more like police on them, dogged their steps wherever they me." went, refus·ed to sell them land for a church, and Having unburdened his heart to his God, he threatened to drive them out of the village. Even wiped his eyes and turned to the congregation: when I went to the city I would walk through "I'd like to say a few things before I sit down," dirty narrow lanes and climb a fence rather than he remarked, and proceeded to tell the story of pass a foreigner's house or a Christian church.
• From Ko.rean Echoes, published by The Korea Mission of the "But they beat me to it in the end. My own United Church of Canada (October, 1936). nephew was converted; one of my own stock [ 187 ]
whose business it is to get things done. They might do. I said we were all proud to have such a bought land for a meeting place~the brow of a building in the village, and ended by wishing them hill that nobody wanted. They built a church and all success. Next I turned to you fellows who had boasted of its size. They put up a bell to ding in brought me to church. I said it was a disgrace to our ears, and finally they sent out invitations to dedicate a building to God with a debt on it, and all and sundry to attend the opening. It was a that it was up to us to do our bit. I promised to give three hundred and fifty yen, if you would pay the rest. It was my turn to chuckle as I made you open your purses and pay heavily for the prank you had played on me that day.
Magistrate Kim Cleans House "By this time I was thoroughly sober and a great decision was forming in my mind. You re- member it wen. I took you all to the wine shop.
'Boys,' I said, 'drink to your heart's content. I pay the bill. But remember: this is the last drink you'll ever get from Magistrate Kim. I'm through with it for ever. No man ever did me a better turn than you did when you filled me with liquor and took me to church. It's not the old Kim that's talking to you now. From today on I travel a dif- ferent road." I left you there befuddled and scep- THE' ORIGINAL CHURCH AT SAMHO, KOREA tical. God forgive me for filling you with drink that day, but you would have got drunk anyway.
great day. The whole town was agog with excite- , You didn't believe me then, and you may not be- ment. Perhaps the feast that was to follow ap- lieve me now, but I want to tell you that from pealed to some of you. As for me, I stormed and that day until this not a drop of liquor has passed fumed and threatened; too proud to acknowledge my lips. The very taste of it went out of my life defeat. Then some of you came to my office and that day and has never returned. And that's dared me to attend the ceremony. It was my eighteen years ago."
duty, you said, as headman and magistrate to do At this point the speaker paused, visibly moved the honors for the community. But I only laughed at the memory of the miracle that had trans- and drank to their confusion. And then you played your trick. You plied me with wine and still more wine until you got me gloriously drunk.
Then you carried me bodily to the church door and chuckled as my own nephew took me in hand, thanked me for coming, and led me staggering to a prominent place.
"Well, thank God for that day. Something so- bered me where I sat. It may have been a sense of shame. It may have been resentment at your handling of me, and a desire to get even. It was likely more than that, for I found myself thinking that these Christians were really men after my own heart. The courage with which they had car- ried on, despite my threats. The way they took our snubbing and persecution. The energy and enthusiasm they put into their church building.
The tremendous earnestness with which they TEE NEW CHURCH AT SAMHO, KOREA faced us with the need of religion. Even to that long, lanky foreign fellow who pleaded for help to formed his life. The day was hot and gave him pay the deht on the church, telling us that he who an excuse to mop his face and incidentally to wipe gave was not losing his money but only putting it away a tear. But he soon forgot himself again in the Bank of Heaven. All that somehow got me. in his tale, the audience following with keen I threw all caution to the winds and stood up to interest.
congratulate the Christians. I extolled the virtue "I don't wonder that you thought me crazy; of religion. I spoke of the good a Christian church the very children used to talk of the queer things
WHEN THE MAGISTRATE WENT TO CHURCH
I did. I called my family and relatives together done magnificently, and raised more than their and told them that I was now a Christian, that share. But a debt still remains, as on that day they were all Christians, and that if anyone long ago. Fourteen hundred yen must be raised wished to disagree he was at liberty to do so, but today. I'll give a thousand if you raise the four that henceforth he would be no connection of hundred here and now. It's a joy to do it. I've mine. I then wrote my eldest boy, at college in done many a good thing for the village, but the Japan. I told him what had happened and added, greatest good that.r have done, and the one which 'Son, you've got to become a Christian or you no brings me greatest satisfaction, is my share in the longer belong to me. I will wait your answer be- building .of this church. They have raised a tablet fore I send your next allowance.' His answer to my honor. My first impulse was to tear it came soon enough and showed that he really was d.own, but I finally consented to its remaining a son of mine. 'Dad,' he wrote, 'I knew how you there that it might be a lasting memorial of what hated the Christians and I kept it a secret from the grace of God did for Magistrate Kim. I only you, but I've been a Christian for over a year. wish that you could share the j.oy that came to me I've been praying daily for you, and I'm more that day you brought me to church against my than glad to hear you've come across.' will."
"I had set my own house in order. Now I Elder Kim sat down amid a round of applause. turned to public affairs. I may have been too He had stood up to pray; he had added a glorious hasty, but this new interest I had found seemed testimony. The church was duly dedicated and to come like a flood, sweeping my past life away the remaining four hundred yen fully subscribed like-a thing of straw. I resigned from the mag- by the congregation-part of it from non-Chrisistracy, and from the governor's council. I paid tian sources. The three hours of ceremony had men to pull down and bury the stone you had no dull moments, and was brought to a close with raised in my honor. I even destroyed my precious a strong appeal for decisi.ons. Elder Kim was silver wine cups. It was my way of breaking with again on his feet-his vigorous personality domthe past. Then I went to the city, no longer afraid inating the proceedings, and his oldtime magisof the missionary. I bought Bibles and hymn terial authority carrying some wavering ones over books for all my family and hired a man to teach the line. us to sing. How the town laughed when they heard of it. But there was laughter in my soul I was glad I went to Samho. The new church too, for a new strange joy possessed me. From is an honor to the Christian cause. Built of red that day until now my supreme aim in life has brick with two graceful towers flanking the enbeen to honor Christ." trance and capped by pointed spires, it stands on Building the New Church an eminence which overlooks the beautiful bay and the village which hugs the shore. It will long "That brings me to this day. There stands the remain a landmark to guide the fishing fleets old church, a silent witness both to my shame and home. It will be a perpetual reminder of God to my glory. I love that old church. But it has who ruleth over all. It is a fitting memorial to grown too small. We must replace it with some- the devoted group of men and women who built thing bigger and better, they said, and I knew it-among whom towers Elder Kim. God bless that my chance had come to do one more good the day that Kim the magistrate was brought to thing for the village. I would bear half the ex- church. His name belongs with those "whose pense, and I put my name down, as you know, for righteous deeds have not been forgotten, whose twenty-five hundred yen. The church people have name liveth to all generations."
MISSIONARIES ARE AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST, NOT DIPLOMATS OF THE CHURCH; THEY ARE SENT TO PREACH AND TEACH- Not human experience, but divine redemption Not social reform, but spiritual salvation. through Christ. Not a new organization, but a new creation. Not economic deals, but the Gospel of Christ. Not the benefits of civilization, but the bless- Not human culture, but spiritual conversion. ings of Christ.
Not personal reforms, but liberation from sin. -Adapted from R. P. Richardson, North K iangsu, China. Not laws of earthly progress, but God's for- giveness for sin.
A Prison Shaken in
By REV. ANDREW GIH, Bethel Mission, Shanghai, China I N THE city of Hankow, the so-called "Chicago saved the penitent thief on the cross! They con- of China," the church was packed every night fessed their sins and we taught them to pray so with eager listeners and the Lord worked with that many sad, hopeless sinners and criminals power. Many came with the burdens of sin on were soon rejoicing in the salvation offered by their hearts and went away happy in forgiveness. Him who came "to set the captives free." If we When the HQly Spirit works, people who have had not seen their prison garb we would never done wrong want to make it right. As a result have guessed that they were convicts! About things stolen were returned, old debts were paid, seventy truly accepted the Lord Jesus as their enemies who had not spoken to each other for personal Saviour and their faces shone with light years were reconciled. ' f r o m above.
Earnest-hearted pastors sent messengers to the As we were about to close the meeting one of outlying churches inviting them to send in dele- the officers stepped to the front and, in a choking gates and more than 100. responded so that it re- voice, asked to say a few words. He was trem- quired hundreds of dollars to entertain them for bling and his face was deathly pale, and there two weeks. The pastor and I took the matter to was a strange look in his eyes as he faced that the Lord and the next day a church member said prison audience. Then he said: to the pastor: "I have received a great blessing "God's Spirit is moving me mightily. My heart during these meetings and would like to do some- is pounding. I have no peace. I must confess thing for the Lord in return for what He has done my sins to you men. I have been crooked in my for me. I want to pay whatever you lack for feed- dealings with you. I have extorted bribes from ing these people; but please don't mention my your friends who come to visit you. I have been name to anyone." cruel and overbearing to you."
At the close of the campaign, twenty volunteer It seemed that something within him was driv- preaching bands were organized and at their con- ing him on as he turned from one side to the secration service crowded onto the platform carry- other and cried out in a voice that rang to all parts ing white flags on which were written the motto of the hall: "Will you forgive me? Will you for- of each band. They then went out to preach. give me?" The campaign in the church was over. Then The prisoners listened in astonishment as their something happened more wonderful than our officer confessed his wrongdoing and asked foreyes had ever witnessed. The Christian warden giveness! Such a thing had never before hap- of one of the great city prisons had attended many pened in a prison. Amazement kept them silent of the meetings and received a great blessing. a few seconds and the room was so still that one After that closing service he begged us to preach could almost hear the heart throbs of the agonized to the men in his prison. Speakers had occasion- officer. Then the response broke forth from these ally addressed the men on political subjects but a shackled ones who themselves had been forgiven Gospel service had never been held, as that was and delivered from sin that day. "We forgive not part of a prison program. The warden said: you!" "We forgive you!" came the response over "God has so blessed me in these meetings that I and over from all parts of the room.
dare not deprive the men of the privilege of hear- The officer, apparently unconscious of everyone, ing the same message, though I may risk my posi- fell on his knees before them all, while we knelt tion by inviting you." beside him and prayed. There must have been a So the next morning found us in the prison, with wonderful Hallelujah chorus in Heaven that day, all the men gathered in the hall used for instruc- for we are told there is "great joy in heaven over tion. The warden introduced us by saying: one sinner that repenteth." . "God has sent these men with a wonderful mes- The following afternoon, at the request of the sage. You must listen carefully and I hope you will accept what they preach to you." warden and this converted officer, we outlined a course of Bible study for the prisoners, to be con- We first taught the men a Gospel chorus, "I ducted by earnest pastors of the city. Will you am so glad that Jesus loves me," and in a few min- pray for these Bible classes in the Hankow prison utes practically every man was joining in the sing- and for God's blessing on the work of the Bethel ing. Then, as we gave the Message, we saw many Mission Bands for the evangelization of the of the prisoners in chains turn to the Lord who Chinese?
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A Chinese Concubine Tells Her
-~I I~- By the REV. JAMES P. LEYNSE, Peiping, China i ~==============================~ I T WAS early in the morning when I entered my Opportune Rain, the proprietor. After much talk, study and found young Mrs. Chung already the price was settled and it was arranged that I awaiting me. Demurely she sat in a big chair, go to his home as his concubine number four.
her simple sea-green robe immaculate, her face "My lord proved to be a magistrate. His· pen frowned with care. Listlessly her hand moved a was powerful and he wrote excellently. He under- painted fan forth and back. The sounds of the stood how to stand between court and man, and heavy gong of the famous Lama Temple faintly he was friend to many high and mighty all filled the room. through the land. He did not weary of thinking Politely Mrs. Chung rose and bowed deeply; for of ways to earn much money; yea, did not count as long a time as it takes to walk a mile, she it hardship to tire himself doing so. But his deeds shielded the real object of her visit behind a of mercy were also many and they were talked clatter of polite vocabulary. Her voice rose and about beside river and lake. Many people thought fell in soft cadences over the four tones of the that good luck had come to me; but in the rice I Mandarin language, the Italian of the Orient. ate at his home there were many husks and Without any sign of impatience I waited. Then pebbles.
with a timid smile she began in more serious vein: "None of my master's other wives had a son, "I came on purpose to call upon you, Shepherd and when a year after my arrival, I presented my Teacher, as my heart is heavy with a problem that lord with the first-born one, their jealousy knew eats away my peace. I am ,burdened with a ques- no bounds. I called my precious one by Ii. girl's tion truly too big for me to solve, and I feel like a name, 'Autumn Pattern,' so that the demons in sparrow that has to battle with an eagle. the air would ignore him, thinking him to be a "When I was still a young child my father sold maiden. My little son, the only one in the family, me into the Hall of Lingering Perfume, a house of grew up a priceless possession in the eyes of my wine and pleasure. I had heard the flying gossip lord. But, as for me, I was but a thing who ate of such places but I never imagined the bitterness bitterness from dawn to dusk on account of the I would have to cover up there behind winning darkish ways of the women's quarters. Often I smiles. Everybody called me 'Sweet Water Pond,' poured out my hatred of the other wives before but Lake of Bitterness would have been a more the altar of the King of the Devils in the temple appropriate name for me. Ai ya! that life was hall at the end of our street. I filled the hand of my only means for food and clothing and it the priests with many gifts but they couid not aid brought my father a bag full of good pieces of me against the other women. If I made an error, silver which he used to start a small business that but as small as the half of a grain of rice, my lord filled the family rice bowls. What more need there would be told all about it many times over. By be said about this. Let these things be hidden be- day and by night I ever feared that my lord might hind a jade screen. be displeased and tire of me. I became ill with "One day when I had seen but nineteen New weeping because of my bitter fate, and my cough Year moons and had spent all of six years of serv- would not leave me; through all the hours my ice in that house, I was ordered to attend the man blood ran feverish in my veins. In vain I offered who now is my lord and master. When I first saw much good money and incense to the God of Medi- him, he wore an incense-eolored robe; upon his cine; without result I swallowed the large pills feet were white cloth stockings and silken shoes of herbs and took dried lizards which the nuns and in his hand he carried a painted fan. Straight- advised me.
way I saw that he was a man of good learning and "At the homes and courtyards of other ladies that his silver would roll freely. Many a time he they urged me to go to a Western hospital. I had visited me in the Lute Pavilion and all the maids heard many a good thing about the hospital of the talked about him into my ears until I was fairly Presbyterian Mission here in Peiping. On street made deaf with the clatter. Several months later and road it is told that your doctors are true over a pot of warm wine he talked about me with guardians of life and warmth of heart in stretch- [ 191]
ing forth hands skilful in medicine. Therefore ing and reviling are now heard only from the lips my lord paid out some silver pieces for me and I of the servants. Even that will change if the entered your hospital. There they healed my body ladies of our household truly believe in Christ. and moreover they prayed with me. Step by step they led me to know the only living God and Jesus "But, oh Worthy One, there is a problem daily Christ, my Saviour. Kneeling in prayer, my life before me, and what must I do? The Christian became to me as insignificant as a firefly's light. Way of Life does not allow a man to have several But Jesus regarded me with the forgiving eye of wives; neither should a Christian woman be a God and I learned that He Himself atoned for all concubine, yet here I am, a lowly sinner, concubine my sins and washed me white as snow. I became number four. It frightens me and often in prayer a new being, truly reborn, and I changed my name my heart falls to pieces. This lowly one knorws to Pervading Peace. her fault, but I have gone into a blind alley and do not see a clear way out, neither a path to con- "With a happy heart I returned home, a newly tinue on. I am of one heart with our household made soul, and with a healed body. The first and our master looks upon all of us with favor morning when it was my turn to burn incense be- and kindness. Willingly he uses silver high and fore the household gods I testified of my newly low for me and the others. Every day the maidfound faith in Christ. I refused to bow down any servants enter our women's quarters carrying in longer before idols made by the hands of man. their hands plates of good meat, dishes of fish The ladies of our household, known to be ardent fried with swee-sour sauce, bowls of rice and plat- Buddhists, made a big flutter about it, running ters of warm steamed bread. It is not as if I am back and forth and shouting that they were horri- afraid to eat course food, work hard, and wear a fied and that calamity would come to our house. coat of common cloth, but from childhood I never But I stood where I stood and did not light any was taught to provide for my own living and earn incense. Then the women busied themselves aU pieces of money. the more to give the gods and all the vessels of worship an extra dusting. They put the gong, the "I am but a feeble woman and my learning is bronze incense burner, the pewter candlesticks little. I know only what is connected with the and the paper flowers in especially good order. duties of a wife and mother. Our ways in China For many days they caUed the attention of my are not the bold ways of Western lands where a lord to the fresh peaches of long life which they woman is taught to stand by herself and, yea, even put daily before his favorite idol. compete with a man for a living. If I should leave the lord of our household, another man would put "Then it came about that all those in the wom- forth his hand before the next moon could shine en's court hated me with a strong hatred. They and would place me in his house. Clearly I could dispised my Christian religion, yet faithfully I not stand out against my father and uncles in such read my Bible and prayed for them. Months a thing, and they surely would want to put me passed by and gradually, in answer to my prayers, into another home. the atmosphere around me was changed. No longer did the women scold me when they saw me "You, Shepherd Teacher, are greatly learned reading God's word. The first lady of the house about the way of life, the will of God, and the allowed aJl of us to go once a week outside our teaching of Christ, therefore tell this lowly one gate to visit friends, and that allotted time I used what to do. I will let it be as you decree, and will for attending the church service. then make my bow of farewell and depart. It will be to me as if Heaven sent me the mess.age "When you, Shepherd Teacher, announced that through your lips. Dr. Sun was coming to hold revival meetings I redoubled my prayers, with a strong heart asking A VALID MISSIONARY MOTIVE God that I might be allowed to attend all the meetings. Great was my joy when the first lady spoke Albert Schweitzer, of West Africa, says that to our lord saying that it would be all right with he is there, at least in part, because he must make her if I went every day to the services. Yea, the up to those black people some of the wrong that third wife even went with me each morning and his brother white men have done them. Almost evening. The Living God answered my prayers every contact on the continent of Africa, other and her heart became so moved that now no longer than that of the Christian missionary, has· been does she contribute to the Temple of the Precious for exploitation, or at least for selfish acquisition. Pear. Together we are reading the Bible and to- The missionary more than anyone else stands as gether we pray at dawn and dusk. It seems to me the unselfish friend of the man who is in need. that heaven is going to use us to lead the others This would be a sad world if there should be taken to a belief in the Jesus, the Son of the Living God. out this supremely sacrificial service, but the true Our household is changing already so that scold- motive and power come through Jesus Christ.
A Caravan in the Australian Bush*
~I~=========B=Y=M=A=R=J=O=R=IE==A=.=B=U=R=T=O=N========~I~ "I SHOULD do so much hetter if only there dence, and then proceed to furnish the altar, give were three of me!" expresses what a Bush out books, and greet his congregation as they ar- priest of Western Australia often feels, for rive. Yet often in these Bush services a real he has a parish the size of two English counties. atmosphere of devotion will be found and people That is why we have a mission caravan, for there will drive many miles to get to them: although are twenty-two such parishes in the Bush. The one parishioner did sum up things by saying, "I caravan, staffed by two women workers, visits wish we could get a church of our own here; you any parish at the rector's invitation, so that with can't possibly feel devotional kneeling on a stale an extra vehicle, driver and teacher he is, in some jam tart!"
small measure, enabled to have "three" of him for a few weeks.
The caravan is a house on wheels, complete with two beds, cupboards, table, and locker; all these are fixtures, and every added box or suitcase has to be made a fixture by means of straps and cords before the caravan moves.
The main Bush roads can be pretty good, but they can be very bad. In dry weather the sur- face corrugates, and the van has to slow down to ten miles per hour. While my driver became an expert in dodging corrugations where possible, I became an expert at securing the cupboard with one hand when the fastening shook loose, the while I pushed a suitcase into place with one foot and a bookshelf with the other! In wet weather greasy roads and bogs have to be contended with.
The main roads mostly follow along beside the rather primitive railway lines, crossing them here and there. Along these roads the little townships may be found, ten, twenty, thirty or more miles apart, each with its railway siding. A Bush parish is formed, not of one or two such town- A MISSION CAR IN THE AUSTRALIAN BUSH'
ships, but of six or eight as well as of the other It is to parishes and people such as these that centres, far from any railway, consisting of a the caravan is invited, either for an ordinary school and all the neighboring farms, be they visit, a special visit, or a mission visit. eight or ten miles from it. In the ordinary visit one is simply unofficial The main township of the parish has, besides curate for a few weeks. This usually includes the railway siding, a church, rectory, hospital, day-school teaching, Sunday school teaching, talkdoctor, bank, post office, hotel, roads-board hall, ingat Mothers' Union, guild or other services, school, and from five to fifteen shops. The church sometimes the brief training of future Sunday is frequently the only church in the parish. In the school teachers, and unlimited visiting, a few days other centres services are held in the hall. When being spent in ea'ch district of the parish. the rector arrives on Sunday morning the hall may be open and ready, or he may have to fetch I arrived just before nine one Monday morning the key, arrange the benches, sweep the floor clear at a school which was reassembling after a week's of the remnants of last night's dance, heave table holiday. When I asked the teacher whether I and kerosene boxes into place for altar and cre- might take the children he simply leaped at it. He had ended his week's holiday by traveling all • Condensed from pamphlet published by the S. P. G. "World night, and had arrived back at 5 a. m: He didn't 'Vide Series," London.
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wait to enquire which of the children took reli- schools, visiting, services, etc., the van may be ingious instruction; he went to bed and left me with vited for a special purpose. A rector coming new the whole school! to a parish is often glad of extra help in his early months. In the caravan we undertake anything I have been to a school in a district that bor- that he wants done in the way of blazing the trail ; dered two parishes; it had first belonged to one map out his unknown districts, take greetings to parish and then to another. The parishes, too, his parishioners, assuring them that he will call had changed hands, with the result that this dis- as soon as possible, find out existing Sunday trict had had no service for over a year and one schools and possibilities of starting them where celebration of Holy Communion in the last seven they do not exist. years. Could one expect much of the children in the way of religious instruction in that school? In one very isolated district where there were many would~be candidates I was giving some in- But I have been to schools where the children tensive confirmation instruction in the few days know nothing of the Christian faith, and where I was there; boys and girls at school and after the teacher has said to me, "Before I came here s'chool, adults in the evenings. At their request I there was only one family that knew the Lord's returned on Sunday afternoon to instruct them on Prayer." Holy Communion. As it was the Sunday before Christmas, we started with a Christmas prepara- I have been to a school where, as I was teach- tion service. In a schoolroom that accommodated ing, I realized that the children were hearing for ten children there were now ten children and ten the first time of Calvary and the Resurrection. adults. Most of them had driven three or four These are children of a nominally Christian race, miles on open lorries and the thermometer regiswhite children, English-speaking children of tered 106°! After the preparation service I sug- British descent. But how they listen! Not infre- gested that anyone who wished to go could do so quently the teacher will sit down and listen with before our final instruction. Noone moved; all them. twenty stayed throughout; and we were there an hour and a quarter in all! Visiting in a Bush parish is also very varied. One house may be well and solidly built of sun- Then lastly there is the mission visit. From baked bricks, with a wide verandah all round; the many parishes where one has been for an ordinary next-a mile or so away from its neighbor, if you or special visit, an invitation comes for a return are out of a township-may be of weatherboard visit to conduct a mission. A children's mission or galvanized iron, while others are built of wheat is a joyous affair. The usual procedure is: Prepbags stretched on upright poles. A wall of one aration service the first evening; then, during layer of wheat bags does not offer very sound pro- each day of the mission, prayers at 8: 30 before tection, but inner and outer layers stretched firmly they go to school, fifteen minutes' blackboard inon each side of the poles and whitewashed make struction in church when they come out at 12, and quite a comfortable and attractive house. thirty minutes' mission service after afternoon school. This is sometimes followed immediately, In visiting one finds names of would..be con- or later in the day, by "quiet time," a very infirmation candidates, or of the unbaptized, or of formal time when the children are free to copy those who would like to join the Sunday school by blackboard illustrations, make their self-examina- Post. Usually we are warmly welcomed and of- tion, write intercessions and thanksgivings, or fered tea and cakes. Once I was met outside the come and discuss anything they wish. house by the mother of an unbaptized family, and we held our conversation there, not much assisted I have also taken children's one-day missions by two very butting goats; we finished the discus- behind the caravan at remote Bush schools far sion on baptismal regeneration with the mother from any church, where listeners sit on rugs (not holding the horns of one goat while I held the for damp.,proof but ant-proof purposes), and inhorns of the other! terviews are carried on in the caravan.
At one house the husband welcomed me with, "I'm so thankful," said one mother, "that my "I was glad when I saw it was two ladies coming; Ken has got into touch with the Church; he's been my wife never sees another woman, for our near- a different boy at home." est neighbor is seven miles off and has a little baby and can't get out." "I think," said one mother, Scorching sun and unending wind, hideous galafter we had talked and talked, "that God must vanized iron and revolting flies, but endless sparks have sent you to me; I'd got right down and was of keenness and new life, and the chance to lend needing someone to help me pick up again." This a hand in helping to build up the Church and to was not just a pious utterance; it was the normal see it witnessing in places where it did not; and, expression of what she felt. in spite of innumerable setbacks and disappoint- ments it is tremendously worthwhile. But besides these ordinary caravan visits to a parish, with the daily and weekly round of
African View~of Africa's
By S. S. TEMA -.e( A Minister of the Dutch Reformed Church,. at Present Assisting )at- at the Bantu Men's Social Center in Johannesburg, C. P.
A FRICA has just awakened from a deep sleep. white man's philosophy of life, but that it is Di- vine truth for all the world. The greatest need .i"1 She finds nations, great and small, on the then, is to bring to my people, as clearly as pos- march of civilization. She has now just sible, the truth that Christianity is no white man's joined the march, though well in the rear of the theory of what life should be; but that it is the caravan of civilization. She was called "Dark real, true, pure and best teaching about life, im- Africa," and rightly so. Today she may be called parted by Christ Himself, the Founder, Master "The Awakening Africa." The impact of West- and King. ern civilization is so great that the "real" that is in African life is at present put back, and we are The ground on which Christian principles are really oscillating between Africa and Europe. Our resting in the mind of Africa is rather unstable. greatest battle today is how to adjust ourselves We want something solid and firm, something to this civilization that is deeply influencing Afri- which would keep us going even if all the missioncan culture. We feel we are fast losing our foot· ary activities were to go on holiday for centuries ing. -something which would make the missionary bodies in Africa happy over the good work they We need then those elements and qualities have been doing. The African must learn above which make life worth living-justice, good will all to worship God as an African believer, not as and real happiness. Africa needs to develop spir- itually, intellectually and temporally. She is with- a Christian imitator. We must learn to deal diout doubt poor in mind and spirit. She is a slave rectly with God as a prayer-hearing God, as a God intellectually, and to a far greater extent is spir- of the impossibles and above all as a wonderful itually imprisoned. As a people we need spiritual God Who can guide and protect a nation, but Who stability, spiritual independence, intellectual inde- in turn demands that He shall be given His place pendence, and temporal independence. Do the in its life. Africa needs to be taught that she has present world trends promise Africa these? responsibilities to carry, and her spiritual respon- sibilities are not the least of her duties. Africa First of all is spiritual independence, which means the complete dependence on God and in- must still learn to trust God as her own God, a dependence of man. My people view Christianity God of the very poor, backward, black and needy as the white man's religion. They do not feel it souls in the heart of a dark, hot continent. is their religion. Some go so far as to say Chris- The second great need I have called intellectual tianity is but another way of the white man for independence. To me intellectual independence getting the best of the native. means that my people need to be taught how to When they look at the manner in which the think for themselves. They must learn to do Europeans are dealing with the many problems of things for themselves and by themselves. They life-political, industrial, educational, economic, must be creative, self-reliant, constructive and and even social-and realize that things are not self-supporting. Today we are but little more than what they think they should be, they are skeptical. machines taught certain principles and doctrines, They wonder why it is the Golden Rule is not good and merely doing or saying what we have learned.
enough for the Europeans. They begin to loosen The African needs originality in all the plans of their grip on the reality of Christian standards. his life. He also has to learn the importance of Enthusiasm dies away when they see nothing but cooperation and unity, which are so indispensable. shame. They say like the Israelites, "For it were to the whole system of life. The Africans must better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we learn how to fill in for themselves the gaps in the should die in the wilderness." Africans measure molding of their own destiny. The need is to Christian standards by the failure of Western teach the African to use his own resources. He civilization. Europeans gave us very fine and has mental gifts just as well as any human being. lofty ideals, but why can they not live up to these But he has not known how to use them. Africa ideals? The Bantu do this because they do not needs to be inspired with the truth that as a peorealize the great fact that Christianity is no clever pIe she has great possibilities in both the religious [195 ]
and the intellectual fields. Have we no contribu- to save the situation? Another thing that is dotion to make in science, art, philosophy and in ing my people a certain amount of harm is deother spheres of life? We need to learn how to nominationalism. Our religion was a socio-relihave faith in other peoples, but more how to have gious system, or a relig~()-social system. Today faith in ourselves as a people. Let Africans learn we are broken up into denominations, all working to trust, and to be trusted by other races, then we on different lines and more or less on policies and have Africa developing for the good of humanity. doctrines which are in some cases contradictory. They cause bitterness and schisms in the lives of We cannot depend on the Europeans and re- people who w~re used to the old tribal family sysmain a spoon-fed nation. Africans should be tem. The common spirit of the joint family ties taught how to govern themselves. They must is gradually undermined, and the people are loslearn to direct their own affairs, and to become ing the real spirit of brotherhood and unity. Dethus an asset and not a liability as today. When nominationalism does more than that; it brings shall we grow to maturity? Some say we must in overlapping. The danger in the political world take about two thousand years because the Euro- seems to be a mania for colonial expansion, and I peans took that time. From the European point believe the danger in our religion today is overof view, we are only about two hundred and emphasized denominationalism with its doctrinal eighty-four years old, so that we are surely very differences. These things make an opening for young. Nevertheless, it is time we learned to sects, separatists, Roman Catholicism, and perwalk, and to stand on our own feet in upbuilding haps later even for such dangerous religions as and maintaining ourselves. In a half century or Mohammedanism. Why not give Africa the pure so we will be far from the stage we are in now. Gospel and leave out minor differences? Africa What is being done by those who are the trustees, is crying for the living God. Give Africa Christ the guardians, of Africa to prepare her for ma- and the new life He offers. turity? In Christianizing Africa, let us not forget that Missionary Work Africa has her own peculiar customs, beliefs and traditions and you cannot uproot all of these be- I believe I express the real feelings of Africa, cause they are deeply fixed in the minds of the religious or irreligious, when I say there is no African. Can we not find out by more research better memory in any true African than the those things which were part and parcel of primimemory of missionary work. What could Africa tive African religion and recognize in our work be, or do, if it were not for the work of Christian those sound principles which made our people a missionaries? No history of Africa can be com- people even before the arrival of Western civplete if it does not bring in the missionary as part ilization? and parcel of it. The chief need in making her whatever she should be is to allow missionary in- Africa wants to see Christ in Europe. We do fluence to become more dominant than it is today. not want to hear of wars, crises, economic depres- sions, unemployment, racial greed and pride. We In doing things, God has been using ordinary do not wish to hear of dictators and wild, brutal men, and ordinary men are not angels. They make war. These things make us think that Europe is mistakes, and so it is with the -missionaries. They planning and scheming things without God, or at made mistakes, and are still making some. As a least they do things first and then ask God to result we have had certain problems. These have bless them. We want only the best from Europe, come in the form of Ethiopianism, in the form of and to fuse these with the best that we possess. those undesirable separatist movements which are Africans want to be given a share in the spiritual, today very common in the South here. Many the intellectual and the temporal wealth of humansects are growing like mushrooms. There is also ity. We want a Christianity which will help us the problem of the rising generation of Africans to adjust ourselves to the overpowering prestige who are fast losing confidence in the Church. It of Western civilization. is difficult today to get the more educated youth of Africa to give the Church her rightful place in Missions in Africa can be improved by using their lives. The more they are educated, the more the African himself in Christianizing his own irreligious they seem to become. What are we go- people. Africa has very few leaders of her own ing to do with this growing skepticism in the edu- today. -Many of her present leaders are not the cated youth? best for us, but Africa needs the best. Our cry; then, is for the training of Africans of ability, Western civilization has brought a change in vision, faith and of love to God and Africa. Rethe life of Africa, but this change has done us ligious problems, social problems, and moral probsome harm. We have lost customs, traditions and lems are now so much one and the same that we laws, and even our very moral standards are need in Africa men of a special type to lead us. shaken. Demoralization is resulting in the growing generation. Can the Church not do something
Daniel-A Congo Apostle*
By JOHN MORRISON I }5t-.- American Presbyterian Congo Mission, ~ THE silence of early morning was broken by it all. Soon word came drifting in of a new force the mournful death wail which came from working for Christ in and around Luebo. He be- one of the little mud huts. The natives turned gan to travel farther afield, and on his own initiauneasily on their rough mats and shivered. It tive, many times in hut-to-hut visitation, brought was no uncommon noise, yet one could not still the together little groups for worship, often leaving shiver that crept up one's spine as the wailing them to form the nucleus of a future church.
sound rose in the air. But at intervals, pene- Mweka, a mushroom town on the new railroad, trating even the lamenting voices, a shrill cry be- was drawing away many mission boys in its de- tokened the presence of a little baby in the midst mand for labor. In towns of this kind there is of that awful sound. Such was Tshisunga's en- always great opening for the devil's agents and, trance into the world! The wasted body of his in spite of an evangelist being there, we knew heathen mother lay before him in the hut, sur- rounded by a group of heathen women, one of whom held the baby in her arms, rocking him to the swaying rhythm of her body as she lifted up her voice in valiant effort to drive the spirits from the hut wherein death had laid its hand.
When the hasty funeral was over there still re- mained the problem of the disposal of the child.
Many relatives raised their voices in the death- chant, but these same voices were still when a guardian was solicited for the new-born child.
Tshisunga's chance of learning much more about this world was a slender one until some one hit upon a happy solution. "Don't they care for orphan babies up there at the mission ?" Thus God prepared the way and the tiny babe was carried up the hill to become an inmate of the little home established by Miss Thomas and Miss Fearing.
As time went on Tshisunga became a school- teacher and later he entered our Industrial School, where his natural ability showed itself in his apti- T SHI SUNGA DAN I E L – A CONGO APOSTLE tude for fashioning little ivory curios out of ele- phant tusks and in acquiring a rough knowledge that many of the boys who had been reared on the of mechanics which served him later on. mission station were subject to sore temptation. Then Tshisunga took a hand. He had an old, He grew restless, however, and accepted an broken-down bicycle, which he patched up, and offer to work for a trading company on Lac Leo- one day off he set for Mweka, forty miles away. pold II, a spot several hundred miles from the He spent the week-end trying to enlist services of mission. Here for a considerable time he became some of the old mission boys in forming a Chrisindifferent to the claims of Christ and drifted tian Endeavor and succeeded in interesting about along with no definite aim in life. twenty. He came back to Luebo, but next week- end he returned and spent his time in going from One day at Luebo, however, as Mrs. Motte Mar- house to house until he had over a hundred who tin pled with him to come back to Christ, the promised to come out on Sunday to church. He shackles fell from his soul and he stood forth a kept up his visits there until he had some 200 soldier of the Lord Jesus. It seemed as if he re- going to Christian Endeavor, and when he left, gretted every moment that he had spent away from Christ, and was determined to make up for • Condensed from Congo Missi on News. there was a flourishing meeting run by its own [197 ]
native officers, many of them boys who, had they painful attacks of elephantiasis, when his leg bebeen left to themselves, might have been lost to came so swollen that even while resting he suf- Christ forever. He was so delighted with the suc- fered much, he still persisted in carrying on his cess of this first venture that he repeated his ef- work of soul-winning. I met him one day as he forts in several other places. came hobbling along after having been to see an old heathen woman. Poor old soul, she was cross Tshisunga's custom on Saturdays is to go to the with the world, and who can blame her? She native market, held not far from the mission, and lived in a little tumble-down mud hut, and toiled talk with anyone with whom he can strike up a painfully each day to the forest for firewood and conversation, telling him of Jesus and the way of to the spring for water. Each day meant a labosalvation. As he walked off from the market rious journey down a very steep hill, and a toilplace one day, he noticeq a woman carrying a some climb back with her heavy burden on her number of articles on her head, as is the native head. Uncared for, the only thing left for her was custom. When he broached the subject of Jesus, death, death without hope. It was just after one his Master, she laughed at him. of these expeditions that Tshisunga met her for the first time, and perhaps the time was a little "What do I want with Jesus; He is nothing to inopportune to speak to her at all. One job must me!" always follow another, she probably thought, as she was trying to repair her scanty fence. Tshi- He endeavored to say something more, but she sunga gave her "Good-day," and received a grunt. stepped out and left him. He kept on his way, He asked her if she knew Jesus; she glared at stopping to chat with people now and again, but him, and told him to be off about his business. As his heart was full of the woman who had spurned he didn't move quickly enough, she seized her staff his Master saying, "He is nothing to me!" He and drove him off. But he was undaunted. The prayed within himself, "Oh, God, help her to see old woman resumed her work on the fence, and the light." About two hours afterwards he came Tshisunga moved along to the other end, and to a village six miles farther on, and noticing a without further word started repairing it from group of women seated in the shade of a hut, he that end. She glanced at him from time to time went over to bid them "Good-day." He then no- as much as to say, "What game are you trying to ticed that the woman to whom he had spoken on play with me?" But he never looked her way. At the road was among the group and he spoke with last they met in the middle and the job was done. her again, but she mocked him. He sat there for "Well, that's one job done," said Tshisunga smila while praying silently: "Oh, Lord, do not let ingly, and the old woman smiled in response. this woman leave without accepting the Lord Poor woman, she had little chance to smile in this Jesus," and as he spoke to her, his innermost self life, and the help she received from others was communed with the Holy Spirit, striving to bring very little. They sat down to rest while Tshisunga His aid in helping the woman to see the light. told her of an old, yet new, Friend. Satan was loath to let go, but the faith that can remove mountains was his adversary. The woman Having been a backslider himself, he knows the grew silent, seemed to meditate; and then others wonderful peace and joy that a return to Christ who composed the group broke in. brings. He started a meeting for. those who had fallen by the wayside, and soon it grew so popular "Weare Christians," they said. "Why don't that the open spaces around his house were you accept Jesus?" crowded every Sunday evening with hundreds of people. He made the meeting as attractive as pos- Yet still the woman sat on, and still Tshisunga sible. He has a good ba8's voice and has sufficient prayed within himself, while pleading the Cross. ingenuity to construct a native xylophone. From At last the woman rose and moved off to another time to time he has added fresh attractions. He hut. She stood for a moment irresolute, then taught a number of boys to play simple reed inasked for a drink of water, and as the little group struments made from a native reed, and trained a watched her every movement, they saw her face choir of other boys and girls. He finally found break into a smile and turning, she came towards an old cast-off folding organ, and worked at it them. until he_ could accompany his choir. The main purpose of his meeting was never forgotten, and "Yes," she said, "I want to know Jesus, but how each evening a plea was made for all backsliders can I learn about Him? There is no one near us, to return to the fold. Many of them openly confor I live in a little village twenty miles from fessed their sins, and prayer was always made for here." them, and they were asked to stay behind when Tshisunga talked with them personally. He fol- She sat down again and Tshisunga told her of lowed up his work by going to their huts in the the wonderful love of Jesus, and when she rose to go she said: "I have no one to teach me, yet I will pray every day and God will send me help."
Tshisunga shows infinite patience and is never put out by refusal. He has suffered from very
A GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY IN EVANGELISM
village, and many a sinner was brought back to the satisfaction of playing it in the Second Church the fold in this way. The meeting still flourishes at Luebo, and of being choir leader and trainer in and, notwithstanding the fact that it has been go- that church. He has a good working knowledge ing on for some years, is still as popular as ever. of English and French and has not hesJtated to In fact, there are other places within the radius use this talent in the Master's service. In our of our Luebo work that have Sunday evening native service we were surprised to see two Pormeetings which they call "Tshisunga Daniel tuguese traders attend one Sunday morning and meetings." they have since become fairly regular attendants. Tshisunga had spoken to them of Christ. Surely the true value of a man's service will come out in his own household. His wife, Madia, He carries a little notebook and jots down the says, "I was always too timid to speak to others names and villages. of his converts, so that he can about their soul's salvation, but Tshisunga kept remember them in prayer. I asked him if he had urging me and I kept on trying. It was difficult any record of the number who had accepted for a long time, but now it gives. me great joy." Jesus through his ministrations. "Well," he said, Tshisunga conducts women's meetings at which "I can count only this year." That number was he teaches the Christian women how to do per- 2,145, and others had promised to learn. sonal work among other women. Would that we had more Tshisungas, white and He practiced hard at the organ, and now has black!
A Golden Anniversary in Evangelism Fifty Years Work of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, Founded by the Late Dr. A. B. Simpson By the REV. A. C. SNEAD, New York Foreign Mission Secretary of the Alliance FIFTY years ago, at Old Orchard, Maine, there ice, giving glory to God. China, the Tibetan was formed "a simple and fraternal union of all who hold in common the fulness of Jesus in border, India, Annam; Africa – Congo, Sudan, His present grace and coming glory." This simple union developed into The Christian and Mission- Timbuctoo; Latin America and the Isles of the ary Alliance, "pledged to take the whole Gospel to the whole world till Jesus comes." The "whole Seas called urgently and with whole-hearted en- Gospel," as presented by Dr. Simpson is a "fourfold Gospel" – including redemption, sanctifica- deavor he responded. The record of occupation tion, divine healing and the Second Coming of Christ. and achievement in Alliance Missions today is a This year the Golden Jubilee anniversary is be- roll call of places and lands over which he yearned ing celebrated in the twenty fields into which the Alliance has gone with the Gospel. As one result and for whose evangelization he prayed. of this work the baptized membership of 44,497 in the foreign fields is now (in 1935) greater than "The Christian and Missionary Alliance is not the total membership of these churches in the United States and Canada. Rev. A. C. Snead says: a missionary movement only, but it is called of "Dr. A. B. Simpson, like Abraham, when he God to declare at home and abroad the message of was 'called, . . . obeyed, . . . went out, . . . sojourned,. . looked,' and God gloriously the fulness of Jesus. We not only have a work to blessed him. And because He blessed him, the movement grew and spread far and wide. Since do but we have a life to live, and only as we truly the Founder died, the work has further increased and the movement goes on in scope and power, the live this life – Christ in you – can we surely do ministry continues in humble dependence upon God, and the message is still Christ Himself. Dr. this work in the regions beyond. By the grace of Simpson lived and wrought by faith that the grace of God might be fully manifested and the God, and through grace in the loyal, loving minglory of God fully revealed. He waxed strong in faith and pressed onward in the world-wide serv- istries of thousands at home and in the foreign fields, the missionary work of the Alliance has grown and borne fruit in goodly measure.
"The following figures show the growth of the work in the last fifteen years: 1920 1935 Number of fields ………………. . 16 20 Number of missionaries …………. . 342 508 Native Workers ……………….. . 715 1,527 Baptisms during year …………… . 1,649 6,187 Inquirers during year …………… . 3,993 21,759 Organized churches …………….. . 130 473 Church Membership …………….. . 11,923 44,497 Sunday Schools ……………….. . 162 935 Sunday Scholars ……………….. . 8,949 37,098 Stations ……………………… . 111 134 Outstations …………………… . 475 1,344 Bible School students …………… . 241 362
"The Christian and Missionary Alliance is now as we increase in the knowledge and fulness of working among ninety-five languages and prin- Christ can we increase in the scope and fruitfulcipal dialects. Twenty-four of these were entered ness of our service for Christ. Surely in this before the end of 1919, the year that Dr. Simpson Jubilee Year God wants us to continue and indied. The other seventy-one have been entered in crease our obedience to Christ's command, 'Go ye.' the years 1920 to 1936, inclusive. In about thirtysix of these languages and dialects The Christian "Let us go forward by preaching and pen, by and Missionary Alliance is the only evangelical prayer and purse. We must send forth the workwitness. The population for which The Alliance men by prayer and purse, that they may make is responsible in its mission fields is 72,643,000. God known to men and bring men to God."
"The Alliance, in its foreign work, ministers We also quote as follows from the Golden Anthe Word of God to men and women among all niversary Booklet: the great racial and religious groups of earth- Indians in South America, Negroes and pagans in "The Golden Anniversary of the Alliance this Africa, the peoples of India, China, Japan and the year will be observed throughout the fellowship Isles of the Sea, among many others. Roman by a renewed emphasis on prayer and evangelism. Catholics, Syrian and Greek church groups; Mos- With God's blessing organized evangelism will be lems, Jews, Tibetans, Confucianists, Taoists, energized by the working of the Holy Spirit and Buddhists, Hindus; Animists and pagans of many the harvest will be of God's own gathering. The kinds are found in our world-wide parish. Missionary Training Institute at Nyack, New York, is a vital link in doing effective missionary "God has set the Alliance in strategic crossways work. Throughout the United States and Canada of the world for work among tribes and peoples the anniversary is being commemorated in a Bible yet unevangelized. In a recent trip in Kwangsi, and Missionary Crusade which will be featured South China, two missionaries, a new recruit and in the Annual Council in New York City in May an older veteran, met people of six different tribes and throughout the summer conventions. Misand had previously visited those of a seventh. sionary conventions will also be held in thirty or The tribes are: Chwang, Timber Yao, Dog Yao, forty principal cities of America and definite ad- Black Miao, White Miao, Tung, and Red Yao. In vance is planned in reaching new objectives and Kweichow-Szechuan are eleven counties with opening pioneer areas to the Gospel. their vast multitudes of Chinese and tribespeople and as yet the Alliance has opened work in only "The intent of Dr. Simpson was not to found a four. French Indo-China presents three great new denomination, but to bring about an Alliance racial groups, totaling more than twenty million of those who would cooperate in taking the fullsouls, and in addition eighty or more tribes and orbed message of the Bible to the unreached peomany dialects. In the Southern Philippines are ples of earth. The General Council of the Somany Moslem and pagan groups and work is being ciety, in 1934, passed a Special Resolution bearing done in seventeen languages and dialects. In the on the broad fraternal relations of the work as Netherlands East Indies, six languages are being follows: regularly used and many others are represented in our Bible School. In French West Africa, Al- "The Society is not merely an organization but a moveliance responsibility is for five million out of the ment, and God is not interested in the preservation and twelve million total and for more than one-third of perpetuation of organizations as such, but in the blessing the 103 tribes. Already the witness is being given of great movements that honor Christ in all His Scripin thirty-one languages or dialects. In the new tural fulness, and are loyal to His calling to world-evanfield of French Gabon, six tribes are represented gelization. . . . The statement of objects in its Constituat the station and other tribes are yet to be tion clearly indicates the fact that the Alliance earnestly brought within the range of the Gospel. The desires the full fellowship and cooperation of Christians three missionary couples are studying respec- everywhere, in the great program of a full Gospel mestively: Massango, Banzebi, and Yipounou. In sage to the world and of prosecuting an intensive mis- Colombia, Ecuador and Peru are other tribes of sionary advance. mountain Indians and denizens of the jungles, while in all of the twenty fields of the Alliance "Areas newly opened by the developments of there are hungry hearts and needy lives to whom world trade, tribal chiefs bewildered by the imwe must minister. pact of civilization; independent kings puzzled by the urgency of world events, exploration of hidden "We have a work to do, a commission to obey, highways in the dark heart of Gontinents, and the a message to proclaim, which can only be accom- roar of aeroplanes that are making the inaccesplished by God Himself working in us and through sible a commonplace of travel, call us anew to an us to will and to do of His good pleasure. Only unfinished task. . . . God grant that the obedience of God's people shall move to bring His blessing down upon a sin-sick, weary world." * • The anniversary objectives include 100.000 prayer partner,. $700.000 for Missionary Evangelism. and 30.000 subscribers to The Alliance Weekly.
on the Christian
I By REV. CHARLES A. PLATT, East Orange, N. J. I~ _…et Assistant Minister of the First Presbyterian Church ~==========================~ I F YOU want to know the power of Christ in produce in the youth of America a missionary zeal this modern world, go out on the frontiers .of that will lead them to accept Christ as their Lord Christian thought and action. Look at our and to spread the vital, dynamic world-brotherreligion as it comes face to face with the majQr hood that He represents. problems which confront human life. How does it measure up in comparison to the other two II world forces, Communism and Facism? What is it doing to promote world peace and good will PrQbably the best method of understanding the among the nations? The best way to answer these power of Christ in the world today is to approach questions is to study the missionary enterprise. our present problems from the frontier angle. What has Christianity tD .offer a mDdern, indus- I trialized, interrelated mass of peoples? Why should we nDt all turn cDmmunist and dedicate . One .of the most erroneous ideas about Chris- our lives to the crushing of all unsympathetic tian work tDday is that missions is an appendage groups and to the glorification of the proletariat? .of the Church. Many are apt to think of religiQn Why should we be concerned with the problems as consisting of theolQgy, educatiQn, social proh- .of the wDrld, why nQt build up a colossal defense lems, and worship activities of the average Amer- in our own nation and then defy the rest .of maniean church, and we think of missionary activity kind? as some additional service-rather magnanimous but unnecessary. To hold such a view is to miss Looking at such questions from the Christian the whole spirit of Christ and (what is just as missionary angle has two distinct values. In the first place, we see Christianity stripped of past serious) to neglect the best available .medium .of momentum, standing on its own twentieth-eentury religious and Christian education. feet. On the frontier .our Christian life must go For fifty-one weeks we have been studying mis- forward to victory or must go down in inglDrious sions, with a group of young men and women in defeat. Secondly, the missionary enterprise is our church. Why? In order that we might under- seen to be an international institution already stand Christianity! We want to see Christianity functioning, and capable of exerting a tremendous on the firing line, not as it exists behind a mass influence in many .of the conflict areas of the .of traditi.ons and well established institutiQns. world. We want t.o know what Christianity has to offer Not long agD an outstanding church leader was when Communism is calling youth to follow a asked: "Can the Church be a force in the estabmaterialistic cause. We want to know Christ's lishment of world peace tDday?" His answer was answer when nationalistic forces, fill youth with an unqualified, "No!" But many thinking young ambitious ideas as to the supremacy of one nation people are thankful that they have a different or one race. idea. They say, "Look at the great number of out- posts of Christianity in countries like Persia and The youth of America seem to be placidly talk- China and Mexico where the influence of Coming about world friendship, while the youth of munism is being felt. Think of the mission staother countries are being filled to the bursting tions in Chosen and Japan and Cuba where napoint with nationalistic propaganda. Will this tionalism is the order of the day. The Church on wave of acute nationalism sweep America into the firing line offers one of the greatest .oPporwhat will be virtually another "holy war," s,imply tunities for fostering the cause of world peace because Christian youth has not caught the ideals that we have." and enthusiasm of Christ? The one world Leader who came to bring peace is receiving less support Youth is learning to expect great things from from the youth .of today than are any of the other the missionary enterprise in the way of influencworld leaders who seem to be hurtling civilization ing the international activities of various countoward another horrible struggle. What can we tries. It is the best program yet devised for the do to change this, condition? The answer is to education of all peoples to a sense of W.orld broth- [201 ]
erhood, and to the Christian (not Western) way will enable the Christian to face the world and its of living. We do not need more peace agencies! problems, and to triumph? To answer this phase We have enough overhead organization! We of Christianity it is again necessary to look have made enough resolutions! What we must do through the eyes of the missionary. What would is to give a more whole-hearted support to those you do if you were a missionary in a land where Christian missionary agencies that are already Christ is almost unknown? What are the qualifiset up, and which can do a most effective piece of cations of the missionary that enable him to prework when backed by the Christians of the world. sent Jesus Christ in a vital, appealing way? And What keeps the missionary going in the face of III incredible odds?
Furthennore, missions is our only hope for These questions bring us face to face with our pl'ogress toward the supremacy of Christ. We own spiritual needs. Viewing the whole matter hear many prophecies these days concerning the of personal religious life from the standpoint of future of the world. Whatever else may be said, "frontier life" enables us to see more clearly that it is certainly obvious that as the years go on the the Christian's devotional life is the power-station Orient will play an ever increasingly important of successful endeavor. Our great task in the part in international affairs. Does not this offer home church is to inspire in our youth that devoto us a great challenge? Some say that the next tion-to -Christ and that missionary zeal which will world empire will be that of the yellow race: transform character. China-Japan. This is only a human prediction. But the fact remains that the future of the world, Christian frontiers present the most vital kind in its uplifting aspects, depends largely upon a of Christian activity for thinking youth today. Christian Orient. How can this be brought about? Out there is no dependence on the momentum of Missions is our best and most practical answer. the past. There, we must do or die. Christ is the only One who is sufficient to meet the needs of the But let us get back to the next immediate step valiant souls on the mission fields. Is He not suffiin Christian progress, What is the Christian dy- cient also to meet the needs of those of us who namic of life? What are the qualifications which remain at home?
Missions and the Critics* By the REV. HOWELL D. DAVIES, Chicago, Illinois Regional Secretary of the Congregational and Christian Churches CRITICISM of missions is nothing new. It is should help themselves; that we shouldn't med- naIve to suppose that all went swimmingly dle and disturb those already contented; that they until the Laymen's Inquiry was launched. don't want us anyway; that missionaries cause The East India Company refused passage to mis- trouble; that they destroy native culture; that sionaries and stigmatized missions as the most they are all agents of American imperialism, etc. fantastic and lunatic idea that ever entered the human mind. Ridicule was common. Classify the Criticisms "Here you propose to export religion, whereas 1. Those hostile to Christianity itself. People there is none to spare at home," said a Massa- who see no value in the Gospel will see no value in chusetts legislator. His attitude was typical. Missions. Such a playas "Rain" and such articles as those in the American Mercury ridiculing mis- A list of objections a century back is identical sions in the South Seas are only caricatures like _ with what is heard today: that we have so many that of Jack London, who pictures a missionary needs at home; that we shouldn't interfere with in a Prince Albert and stove-pipe hat preaching the religions of others; that their own religion is the creation of the world in six literal days, to best suited to them; that missions are pater- near-nudist natives who are skeptical because they nalistic and pauperizing; that foreign peoples could not make even a canoe in less than two weeks. * From The .Missionary He,raId, Boston.
MISSIONS AND THE CRITICS
Over against all such we can put the judgment those wh'O receive it who are most competent to of first..hand, able observers. judge of it. None apparently are dissatisfied with "I suppose," said R. L. Stevenson, "I am in the the article sold them and want to return it.
position of many persons. I had conceived a great Rather they recommend it to their friends as prejudice against missions in the South Seas. I something superior to what they have had before.
had no sooner come there than that prej udice was The Japanese list six points 'Of superiority of reduced, and then at last annihilated." Christianity to Buddhism. God, as personal. God "A man that took one fairly by storm for the seeking men. The sense of personality. Pracmost attractive, brave, and interesting man in the tical, convenient Scriptures. A superlative ethical whole Pacific," he said of James Chalmers of New sense. Social justice and service. Guinea. 4. The criticisms of those who judge everything "I certainly should have predicted," said Darwin by a single unfortunate detail, such as an ignorant after seeing the work among the Indians of Tierra or tactless missionary, an unwise local policy, a del Fuego, "that not all the missionaries in the bungled program, a wasted dollar. Judged by world could have done what has been done." this standard, "Who or what, 0 Lord, anywhere, shall stand?" Ex~President Taft could not praise too highly the missionary work he observed in the Philip- One poor farmer is not sufficient t'O condemn pines when he was governor. agriculture, a poor preacher the ministry, a fake mining scheme the whole mining enterprise, a stu- "I have observed the results of their labors," dent flunk all education, nor a quack doctor the wrote the author and traveler, Alexander Powell, whole medical profession. "in every great field of evangelistic entleavor, and it angers me to hear missionaries and their work 5. The laissez-faire obiections of those who condemned." want things left alone-all forces and factors, to work out themselves. But laissez-faire never built "In my judgment the Christian missions have a school, founded a hospital, or developed a lightdone more lasting good to the people of India than ing plant and water system at a conference camp. all other agencies combined," stated the Governor The consistent laisseZ-faire critic will recognize of Bengal. Christianity as a force with the same rights as any other force. "After thirty thousand miles of travel and something like three hundred interviews," wrote the newspaper correspondent, Charles A. Selden, 6. The cross-fire based on the idea that we have "my prejudices gave way to great respect f'Or the only a social Gospel to offer and that nearly every missionaries and their work." effort is of a political scheming sort, gate~rashing "I believe that every dollar invested in foreign and imperialistic, the work of reactionary, self- missions has produced greater returns than any centered or even villainous denominational dollar invested in any human enterprise," said Boards.
William Boyd, Advertising M.ana,ger, Curtis Pub- The answer is that the motive and movement lishing Company. of missions are love and friendship, however in- 2. Those of ardent nationalists like Gandhi who adequate be the channels through which it flows. object to proselyting. Should courtesy .keep us The earthen vessel is only too apparent but in it is the treasure of divine redemption. from offering the Gospel, therefore, in India?
No, for it can be offered without objectionable 7. The criticisms of uninformed and selfish proselyting. Moreover, the Gospel is n'Ot one cul- church people. Education, persistent and kindly, ture displacing another and it belongs no more to can help the former and more Christian grace the America, England, or France than to India itself. latter. The trouble is to connect information and The Gospel has no less right of way than love with these parties. All that can be said for science, commerce or education. It can only help the Gospel itself can be said for missions, and India's nationalism in the higher sense. It is shall it not be said?
doubtful if many or if any Hindus regard their There is a sufficient answer to every criticism religion as for others. . honestly and sincerely proffered. But better than 3. Those ignorant of the whole idea. All objec- all answering of objections is an infusion of tions based on misconcepti'Ons are invalid. On Christlike love. Our great need is to make more any such theory all life would stop, for there is church members into Christians.
nothing against which objections based on igno- 8. The criticisms of sincere friends of the rance are not directed. B'Oth Democrats and Re- cause. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend."
publicans will tell you this. Prejudice being the All constructive criticism can do 'Only good. The thing that begins where your information leaves cause most to be pitied is the one that has lost the off, no enteliprise should halt for just that. capacity to criticize itself.
Presumably it is those who take the Gos,pel and The church of the 16th century was saved by
the self…criticism of Protestantism.· And this goes gation, knowing this means vindication and infor missions too. The verdict was: "The mission terest. Worse than to be criticized is to be must go on and there is enough in its program to ignored, and most of all to be ignored by church bankrupt Christendom if we try to do all that is people. calling to be done." But it may be safely said that missions cannot *** and will not be ignored by those who know the God who is the God of all the earth and not the In brief, most negative criticisms of missions God of a tribe, whether it be a family tribe, a are at bottom rationalizations of prejudice, igno- community tribe or a national tribe. rance and selfishness. Missions welcome investi- Combating Communism With Christian Service in Kiangsi* By GEORGE W. SHEPHERD, Kienning, Fukien Secretary of the North China Christian Rural'Service Union A FEW years ago some missionaries met at training that type of men: the Union High School Kuling to discuss communism. We invited in Foochow." Madame Chiang Kai-shek and asked her what she thought about how to overcome com- The government of Kiangsi expressed itself as munism. "I would like to ask this question," she determined to replace crooked politicians and corsaid; "what are we Christians doing? Do we rupt magistrates with men who have a definite not have some responsibility toward the needs of interest in the welfare of the people. China ?" In addition to supplying the government with "We are not an official body," we replied. men and women of integrity and training, the "Then pass it on to an official body." Church decided that it ought to respond to the The challenge was passed on to the National challenge to help reorganize society in the recov- Christian Council, and this body invited its rural ered communist areas, and to lend a hand in worksecretary, Mr. Chang Fu-liang, and myself, mis- ing out some of the acute economic and social sionary of the American Board, to report to an problems of the toiling masses. enlarged meeting in Nanchang, Kiangsi. A thorough investigation convinced these Chris- The Kiangsi Christian Rural Service Union was tian leaders, that the government had already em- organized and the National Christian Council apbarked upon a program for the improvement of proved the plan agreed upon: the life of the people, and that the invitation extended to the Christian forces was no political That it should be people-centric, rather than move, but was actuated by a sincere desire for the centered in an institution or the government; well-being of the farmers and workers. that it should train local leadership; that it The government leaders argued that the should test and adapt results of successful experi- Church and its institutions had men and women ments already under way in China; that it should of character and training, who ought to be re- work in a limited area; that it should assist local leased for remolding the life of the people in war- leaders in carrying out a program within the ecotorn Kiangsi and adjoining territory. nomic capacity of the people to support; that it "Do you have three hundred young men," asked should give the Christian religion an important the Commissioner of Education, "such as are place in serving the whole man and the whole trained in the Union High School in Foochow? community. Men who could come into the business of rural reconstruction under the government?" The central feature of this proposed project was "No! there is only one school in China that is to be the training of indigenous leadership by a traveling normal school of experts through serv- * From The Missionary Herald. ice-in-training and supervision of work.
The lines of service were intended to include vil- lage organization, agricultural extension, public health, the development of village industries, or-
COMBATING COMMUNISM WITH CHRISTIAN SERVICE IN KIANGSI
ganization of cooperatives, and the teaching of sician, who came highly recommended by her religion. school, went out into the area and began by treat- At the head of the traveling normal school were to be two executive secretaries, a Chinese and a ing disease. One pair of hands could not wait on missionary, to spend most of their time on the all who came to her, so her business was to find field, directing the work of the project. out the things she could teach the farmers to do The area selected for work was Lichuan, a Hsien forty miles from the American Board Mis- for themselves, such as to put drops into their sion at Shaowu. It is impossible to convey to outsiders the depths of human misery which have own children's eyes. . been accepted as the common lot of almost every human being born into Lichuan society. Through "Go into the villages and find out some things corrupt administration, banditry, and Communism the people have been reduced to extreme poverty. they need," we said to the college girls. They dis- It is a good place for the Church to tackle the covered that none of the women could cut out and economic, social, and religious problems of the make their children's clothes and had been empeople, who declare that, given peace and security, they can make a living. ploying traveling tailors. These tailors had been The question arose-how to finance this work a pesky nuisance for a few hundred years. with trained men? Doctors, nurses, agriculturists, specialists in industry, chemistry, and rural The college girls got those farmer women toeducation-college graduates-were needed. gether and cut out women's and children's gar- Christianity has a program for China and workers were invited to volunteer for service, for ments. their expenses. No farmer in that district has tools with which I was asked to come and speak to the boys for to make or mend his own baskets. We called in two hours at the Central Political Training Academy in Nanking, where all the diplomats and key- a man to teach them. men of the Chinese Government are trained. The We felt that we ought to appeal to Chinese President said that he wanted these young men, the future leaders of China, to know what the Christians to support this work and were sur- Church is attempting to do. Only one other foreigner had ever been invited to speak there, prised at the response. Muriel Lester of London. "We will give you half your budget of $100,- We had so many volunteers for service that we 000," said General and Madame Chiang Kai-shek. were perplexed and surprised. The National Mass Education Movement, of which Dr. James Yen is "I will give $5,000," said one man. "If you the director, sent three experts to organize a rural school and direct mass education. Yenching Uni- don't raise your budget come back and I will give versity, through its Department of Political Science, put two men in the village of Lichuan. another $5,000." That five-year work budget of Ginling College put two women graduates on the field and Nanking Theological Seminary sent one $100,000 is now practically assured. of its graduates to take charge of religious education under the direction of Professor Frank The National Economic Council and the Pro- Price. vincial Government are both deeply interested in the work at Lichuan and expect to utilize methods The young volunteers were asked to move out into the villages, live where there were nothing and materials that may be of value to other combut dirt floors, and to sleep on camp cots or pine planks. munities.
"We had no idea that the people of China lived The influence of this experiment upon the naas these people live," they said; "not even ancient Chinese culture is here, to say nothing about mod- tional program has far exceeded its intrinsic ern China." worth. Springing out of this move toward a fuller Some members of the group said: "We don't need $30 (Mex.) a month living expenses; we life for country dwellers is a widespread detercan live on $20." mination to abolish corruption and insist upon a How does the group work? The woman phy- fair deal for toilers. For the first time in the history of modern China the nation has a sufficient number of tech- nically trained men and women to fill important government positions. It is noteworthy how large a proportion of these are graduates of Christian colleges and universities. The people in our group justify our claim that a man who has had Christian experience should have a higher type of character than any other person in the world. Some institutions in China are academically the equals of Christian colleges, but are they producing character? Many in China say that they are not. This first year we will begin to give Christian teaching to the farmers who have been Commu- nists for a long time. Little booklets by Frank Price on the relationship of citizenship and char- acter make a very good approach. Much of the Christian religion is introduced and readers are
invited to come to special classes for the definite struction which will effectively neutralize Comstudy of Christianity. munist influence. An enormous amount of money and energy has been unavoidably devoted to the This project was launched as a venture in former of these which General Chiang and his Christian faith and we are being given an oppor- colleagues would otherwise have expended on the tunity to prove that we are followers of our latter. But with perhaps less of the former men- Lord, who was rich, yet for our sakes became ace hereafter to be feared and a sobering realizapoor, that we through his poverty might be rich. tion of the urgency of agrarian and other eco- nomic improvements, this Government has Dr. Leighton Stuart, President of Yenching achieved so much thus far in the face of stagger- University, Peiping, writes: "No more construc- ing obstacles that I have full confidence in its tive service could be rendered by Chinese intel- ability and intention to undertake the progressive lectuals than in the clarifying of these two issues measures which become more possible with grownow so confused – the protection of territorial ing confidence among its own people and less of administrative integrity from Japanese encroach- foreign interference." ments and an enlightening policy of social recon- Pioneering in a Cairo Slum* ~ ~.. I By MISS M. C. LIESCHING, Cairo i }lJE-•.- ~==========================~I BOULAC is the most thickly populated and the school. In those days every little pupil came with poorest part of Cairo. It is the haunt of a baby brother, or sister, hoisted up astride her vice, fanatically Moslem, and a place where shoulder. These filthy mites, generally full of the unfortunate drug addict abounds. Most fam- sores, and with fly-infested eyes, were the next to ilies live in one room, with no water supply and ·claim our attention. Government baby welfare no sanitation. Water has to be fetched daily from centres were only just being thought of in Egypt public taps, and paid for; so it is not surprising (it was the C. M. S. in Old Cairo that had the that cleanliness is at a discount. Rubbish is either honor of opening the pioneer welfare), and they thrown out into the streets, where it lies all day had not reached Boulac. rotting and collecting masses of flies, or it is left on the roof to dry, to be used later as fuel. So we started a Baby Welfare, with a clinic open twice a week, and systematic visiting in the The Ragged Sunday School homes on four other days. But what a business it was gaining the women's confidence and overcom- We looked from the windows of the C. M. S. ing their suspicion! High School in Boulac into this slum, and thus its existence was forced upon our consciousness and It takes a very long time for a new idea to peneour consciences. We began to fear that we might trate the mind of a Boulac woman, or of any other be allowing our girls, themselves receiving a first- uneducated woman, sufficiently for her to act rate education, to think of Christianity far too upon it. "How much better," we said, "to premuch as something which flowed into one, and not pare the future mothers than to repair those in through one to others. So we took them out, under whom wrong ideas are ingrained." chaperonage, into the almost unpenetrated fastnesses of Boulac to open a Ragged Sunday school The Little Girls' Club for little girls in the most despised section of this despised neighborhood. Two years pre- Thus we were led to the opening in 1~31 of what viously the C. M. S. had opened a boys' club in a is now known as the Little Girls' Club. We have rented coffee house, and it was in the same prem- some fifty children who come daily from 2 to 4 ises that we started the School of Love. "Sunday p. m. to learn reading and writing, hygiene, and school" would convey nothing to the people. the care of the home and baby. Each child is en- gaged at present on making a set of baby clothes, For some years it was more like a zoo than a and six at a time take turns in attending the wel- fare twice a week, to help in the bathing room and • Condensed from Church Missionary Outlook. to watch treatments. Last year we added another
A CHINESE COMMUNIST FINDS CHRIST
educative agency in the form of a children's have some real alleviation to offer that one feels prayer corner, i. e. a place set apart for quiet and is not just charity. with such an arrangement of beauty as to suggest worship and reverence. It is proving a real The Nursery School help to the children's prayer life, and indeed to all .of us. This year we have been able to start among The significant years between two, when the the senior girls who have learnt to read, both baby leaves the welfare, and six, when she can Moslem and Christian, a branch of the Bible Read- enter the club, were, however, not cared for. Last, ing Fellowship, using notes on Course C which we started, two years ago, a nursery class, the have recently been published in Arabic. first of its kind in Egypt. Elder girls from the club find here another practising school, by acting The Embroidery Industry as voluntary helpers with the toddlers, a most val- uable training for future motherhood. The med- We want to help our girls to deal with the two ical inspection that watched over the first two big problems of their life, boredom and poverty. years of the baby's life through the visits of the It was to find a solution to these that Miss Elsie welfare doctor, is now continued through mem- Anna Wood started an embroidery industry, using bership· of the nursery class. The happy home the beautiful eastern designs and coloring. This spirit and individual care that characterize the work is sold; a proportion of the profits goes to Nursery School are due to the personality of its the girls, and the rest helps to make the club self- superintendent, the babies' beloved "Sitt Linda," supporting. A most interesting development has an Egyptian girl, herself a trained welfare been that some of the poorest of the welfare moth- worker, who combines a deep spirituality of char- ers begged to be taught the embroidery'too, and acter with a most practical efficiency of detail. through its means have been able to live through long periods when their husbands have been out Thus we can now through the Baby Welfare, of work. They themselves greatly benefit by the the Nursery School, and the Little Girls' Club mental and social uplift of the work; and what an bring Christian influence to bear on every year immense help it is to us as we go about, meeting of a Boulac girl's life from birth to marriage. We on all sides such hopeless, grinding poverty, to must bring living water to the girls of a Cairo slum, as our Lord long ago offered it to a woman of despised Samaria.
A Chinese. Communist Finds Christ The Story of a Young Chinese Who, in Times Past, Had Participated in Some of the Communist Attacks upon Christian People in Shensi By the REV. JOHN G. MAGEE Church of the Triumphant Way, Hsiakwan, l~anking, China A CHINESE youth who belonged for six years the subject for that day was Jesus as the Saviour. to the "kill-or-be-killed" group of Commu- He was deeply impressed and began to read the nists in Shensi, went last year as a dele- Bible. Later he came to a missionary and said gate to the secret Communist meeting in Peking. that while praying he had seen Christ, who told Upon his return he was arrested by Chinese offi- him that he must fast and pray for a whole week. cers but escaped execution through a confusion of At the end of the week the boy told him that it names. While in prison he began to think seri- had been the greatest experience of his life, ously of the past years and realized that, though that hereafter he belonged to Christ and would his motives were to help China, the whole cam- preach the Gospel. He immediately began to paign had only caused more suffering. In prison preach publicly and to denounce the Communists. he read Karl Marx and Confucius, but received He is now in a Christian university and hopes no help. He was in despair after his release after five years to go back to Shensi to preach the from prison he attended a Bible School where Gospel. Effective Ways of Working 'fested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home I EDITED BY MRS. ESTELLA S. AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO d~,.,=============================================== MISSIONARY PLANS FOR was being used by the woman's Stuart visits us about every two society of the church. Most years. He speaks Sunday mornings ALL CHURCH WORKERS plans and programs featured in and then meets groups, particularly this Department under a wom- in the homes. In this way the foreign Among ihe life renewals of an's signature might be used mission appeal becomes concrete and equally well by "the brethren" personal. This is the best kind of the season is the springtime and vice versa. Pastors take thing we do in our church. notice! forecast of fresh endeavors Lacking a personal represenamong local missionary organ- Undergirding Principles tative on the field, any pastor or other church leader may secure izations whose plans and pro- There should be a united aim, such "living links" from time to gram building must take their all the way from beginners. and time and arrange opportunities primary tots up to pulpit 'en- for contacts with every age keynote from the new mission deavors, namely: So to present group in the church. In the instudy books and their presenta- a missionary theme as to give terim between such visitations, an .appreciative understanding the use of impersonations (costion in regional conferences soon of the people under considera- tumed or otherwise) of workers to be held. If nature is to set the tion, feel our kinship with them living or dead whose biographies pace, a mere duplication of last and realize the opportunity for can be obtained from most de:' sharing with them the task of nominational publication headyear's procedures will be inade- building the Kingdom of Jesus quarters warms up and vitalizes quate; for nature is cumulative Christ on earth. Away with the informational matter. There is in her output, whether it be of idea of racial superiority and the no substitute for life or as near weeds or useful vegetation. In gesture of patronage. Even if an approach to it as possible, in view of the resemblance of ruts it were consistent with the spirit motivating missionary activity. to graves, the Department Edi- and teachings of Christ, it would Plans for visualizing or dramator renews her plea for diversi- have become obsolete in the pres- tizing the new missionary topics fication and the adoption of im- ent state of mind of all "foreign" will be given in succeeding proved "ways of working" each peoples. They are all poten- issues. year. In this and the succeeding tially our equals, and the task of issue timeless principles and actuating that potentiality is It may seem redundant to plans mainly of a universal our privilege and obligation. mention as a second undergirdmould will be considered; and The ways of bringing to pass ing principle the value of swingwhile some suggestions may be that "appreciative understand- ing into line with other evanspecific to definite age interests, ing" form the motivation of all gelical folk by adopting the the majority can be adapted to plans and programs. It is not United Mission Study texts and their purP9ses by pastors, Bible for any of us finally to evaluate helps. But the contents of the school workers and a variety of those ways, but a paramount one Department E d ito r 's correlocal organizations. And by the is that of furnishing opportunity spondence file would surprise way, isn't the label "women's" for personal touch with live mis- you in their revelation of the and "men's" this and that be- sionary workers. number of inquirers who are coming a bit passe? Save for still in the hop-skip-and-a-jump certain adolescent features in Justin Nixon, pastor of the wilderness and have not heard unripe youth, is not teamwork Brick Presbyterian church 9f of any union highw.ay. In addirather than sex segregation our Rochester, N. Y., said in a recent tion to the advantage of finding ideal? Our pace setting young letter to the Editor: available the great volume of people would dub you a "back textbooks, suggestions, programs number" if a sex label were made The appeal of foreign missions to and other helps on the united a discriminatory measure in sub- the 25-45-year-old group is the appeal themes each year, there is the ject matter or methods. An ad- through person~lities. For instance, paramount value of a common vance step was taken by the in our church we support President J. atmosphere, of coordinated ac- Men's Missionary Lea,gue of the Leighton Stuart of Yenching Univer- tion, of good fellowship and United Presbyterian church in sity at Peiping, China. President Elyria, Ohio, when they took for their mission study text the [208 ] book, "Congo Crosses," which
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
teamwork throughout Christen- ary organizations in the i r are sent each month, to be kept dom that you can't afford to churches. for 30 days, the postal departmiss. Never before were neigh- ment giving the plan the library borly borrowings of missionary A third undergirder is the privileges of three cents for the plans and programs so free and holding of a definite mission or first pound and one cent for each so helpful. Only those hope- World Friendship school at additional pound. The Convenlessly bogged down in denomina- whatever seems the most propi- tion pays the postage one way tional religiosity can fail to see tious period in the course of the and the church meets the return that we are now meeting new year. It yields returns far postage at the library rate by and emergent world conditions greater than any series of pro- using the enclosed sticker. The for which only a Christ-led, grams, though both have their local Reading Contest Secretary united Christendom can be ade- place. For plans and instruc- attends to the circulation of the quate; and for any denomina- tions, see this Department in volumes and their prompt retion to remain outside of such a THE REVIEW for January 1936 turn, whereupon a fresh supply union of forces is suicidal. and February of the present is sent. The Baptist Missionary year. Reading courses for cred- Reading Contest books serve as The new topic in home mis- its, such as a number of denom- a general guide in the selection sions is "Rural Life," and the inations now maintain, or the of the volumes, although some foreign, "The Moslem World." vigorous promotion of a circu- others are included. It is an il- Textbooks for the various age lating library of selected books, luminating fact that the women groups and coordinated helps are in a Sunday school class, a group of Vermont captured the silver usually ready by June or possibly organization or a department of cup of the New England district earlier. Send for lists of these the Bible school, is a corollary in the reading contest as a reeither to your own denomina- of the annual missionary school. sult, apparently, of the use of tional missionary e d u cat ion this circulating library. headquarters or to the Mission- Missionary Reading As a Promotional Plan On the Master's Waterways ary Education Movement, 150 Church leaders will find that Under this title the Woman's Fifth Ave., New York, and also little permanent interest in mis- Society of the First Baptist sions can be maintained without plan to send one or more repre- the use of reading matter. The church of Santa Ana, California, sentatives to some good summer effect of even a rousing booster have sent out their 1936-37 an- meeting will soon evaporate un- nual outline of activities which conference where the themes are less the new enthusiasm and truly is "a thing of beauty and interest are continuously nour- charm" as expressed in its into be discussed and materials ex- ished. The Baptist State Con- troductory literature, and em- vention in Vermont tried an bodies not so much a program ploited. (See "Dates to Remem- experiment which is yielding in- schedule as a policy and an ideal. creasing dividends in the way of Its theme and make-up are symber" on inside cover page of THE missionary zeal. For some years bolic. On a silver background, back a circulating free library of the cover presents a full-rigged REVIEW for location of many of good missionary books has been ship passing a lighthouse on a maintained. Previous to the de- promontory, and this design is these conferences.) As usual pression the library was financed delicately etched in green on entirely by the Convention, in- every inside page. The delightthe June issue of THE REVIEW cluding two-way postage on the ful surprise in keeping the whole volumes. Necessity altered this thing secret until its release at will feature the home mission plan, both as to purchase of the opening autumn meeting books and their transportation. added to its welcome. Infinite topic and the October the for- Baptist women hit upon the plan labor and pains must have been eign topic, although the home of having a penny collection dur- expended upon the preparation ing the dinner hour at all Asso- of the little 47-page booklet, for mission plans and programs in ciational meetings and urging the keynote, the opening poem, upon the local missionary or- Van Dyke's "0 Maker of the this Department cannot appear ganizations to solicit offerings Mighty Deep," "The Sailor's for new volumes. A sizeable Prayer," "Our Sailing Song," as in any great number until the fund comes in each year from well as all the headings of de- these sources. With annual re- partments and programs form a September number, due to the vision to delete out-of-date vol- fine anthology of prose and umes, a library of many hun- poetry centering upon the sea. fact that program builders never dreds of volumes is in continuous circulation. Each church is Among the policies reprehave their material ready as asked to appoint a reading sec- sented are those of a very broad retary to whom 10 or more books community service; caring for early in the spring as copy must the general social life of the be sent, and the Editor is obliged to wait until she can browse around at summer conferences. If not a subscriber to THE RE- VIEW, be sure to place your order for those two paramount issues early, at 25 cents per copy. It gratified the writer to note among the denominational leaflets and programs sent her last year what a large amount of REVIEW material or references thereto was included. Pastors will find an abundance of the best material in the magazine for their sermons, mid-week services and the various mission-
church (the "all church party" ship Port (Christian friendliness In October a speaker from Los in October being termed "Head- meeting). Angeles presented the issues of the in' for the Big Round-up," for coming election as they affected the purpose of better acquaint- Cotton Blossom Lunch . . . Negro Christian citizens (men at this meetance); coordinating the work Mariners (home mission theme). ing) in a setting representing a ship's and interests with those of "the railing extending across the deck, brethren" in that the men of the Dixie Dinner . . . Up the Bayous steamer chairs, life preservers, etc., in church are made special guests (home mission theme with young evidence. Patriotic decorations and at some of the luncheons and people's organization). flags were everywhere displayed. programs; "Husbands' Day" as Eight Bells-Ship's Rations . . . Hos- For November a Congo River observed at one of the executive pital Ship (White Cross work). jungle scene of tropical plants, a board luncheons; the society canoe, etc. The luncheon tables were sponsoring of some of the eve- Chart and Compass Lunch. . . Chart- decorated with miniature African huts ning church services; loans ing Unknown Seas (foreign mismade to University of Redlands sions-Albert Schweitzer). students, etc. This merging of the interests and endeavors of Lunch in Harbor Cafe . . . Western and figures nestled among bamboos men and women is a hopeful sign Har.Jors (Negro work in S. Cali- and palms. Tropical fruits served. of the day when invidious distinctions are to be wiped out. fornia). Decorated gourds as collection plates.
Apt nomenclature and rhetori- Eight Bells-Captain's pinner . . . The Student Counselor arranged the cal figures are used throughout. Through the Customs (installa- plan for the December meeting, a The official personnel is listed tion of officers). worker among the Negroes who had under "Our Ship's Officers"; the recently visited their southern schools standing committees are "Able Seamen"; the executive board is The devotional topics, taking being the speaker. "The Ship's Crew"; the presi- The Southern California Director dent's opening message, "We the meetings in the same order,' of Christian Friendliness (former Break New Seas Today"; the are: Christian Americanization work) social gatherings are "Pleasure Trips"; the financial plan is the Beacon Light-Clear Vision. Provo spoke in January. synthetic erection of a light- 29: 18; Acts 16: 9. house; the complete membership The setting for February was the I'oster is "The Passenger List"; Tower Light-Breakers Ahead. Isa. deck of a boat sailing on southern the programs are "The Monthly 55: 7; Provo 14: 34. waters. At the luncheon much cotton Sailings," etc. At these latter, was used in the table decorations. all the morning sewing sessions Running Lights – Beware of Sandare designated as "Seamen at bars. Heb. 12: 1, 2; Mat. 26: 41. The meetings in March and April Work," all business sessions as are to be in charge of the World Wide "Sailing Orders," the song serv- Harbor Lights-Quiet Waters. Mark Guild (girls) and the Children's ices as "Waves of Melody" and 4: 34-41; Ps. 107: 29, 30. World Crusade, each navigator being the devotionals as "Guiding advised by a member of the general Lights." Luncheons are coor- Signal Lights-Ship Ahoy! Provo 18: program committee so the session will dinated as far as possible with 24; 1 John 1: 3-7. program themes for the day, and Buoy Lights-Rocks and Shoals. Ps. be fitted into the year's theme. members whose birthdays fall in 19: 9-14; 119: 132-135. In July, the baggage of officers and each successive month sit together at one table with a special Pier Sighted. Acts 21: 1-8. chairmen will be examined carefully birthday cake as an extra. Search Light-Throw Out the Life- 0y the customs officer or baggage line. Ps. 103: 1-4; Rom. 16: 1, 2. master (historian) and the members The correspondence of lunch- will learn from their annual reports Starlight-Steer by the Stars. Dan. eons with topics is as follows, 12: 3; Mat. 2: 1,2. what has been accumulated during the beginning with September and tours on the Master's Waterways. Channel Lights-Deep Water. Provo The president will read her annual extending through July: 18: 4; 1 Cor. 2: 9, 10. report as "The Log of the Ship Serv- Landing Lights-Drop Anchor. Ps. ice," then the good vessel will go into dry dock during August. 91: 1,2; Heb. 6: 19, 20.
An outstanding feature for the year All program leaders are desig- will be the month-by-month building nated as "Navigators," the pro- of the financial "Lighthouse." This gram committee having entire completed will be a cylindrical model charge of the first meeting and standing six feet high, the additions the officers of the last. Special of a door, windows, foundation, lamp, plates, etc., being placed as they are music is on marine themes; and paid for month by month. At the first meeting the lighthouse has a firm as the luncheon tables are being foundation (rocks of papier-mache) cleared away the pianist plays and a lamp which is waiting for the Southern melodies or Negro cap before it can revolve. The mem- songs, Negro singers so far as bers waited with interest the succes- sive additions to the structure as fi- possible being also introduced nancial goals were attained. In addi- into the programs. It i·s mani- festly impossible to give a de- tion to this a Treasure Chest receives the offerings from the special gift tailed outline of all the programs boxes each month. It is always a prominent feature of the decorations. Bon Voyage Luncheon . "All but the following hints may . Our illustrations show- the lighthouse Aboard." prove suggestive to any societies wishing to build outlines sim- at the start of the year, also the set- Eight Bells, Luncheon on the Prom- ting for the September meeting. enade Deck . . . Ship of State (Civics meeting). ilarly: Jungle Lunch . . . Cruising on the The September meeting took the A few extra copies of this out- Congo (foreign mission theme). form of a play entitled "Sail On" and standing year book and the play, Plantation Dinner … Floating Uni- was held in the garden of the presi- "Sail On," are available and may versity (Christian e d u cat ion dent with marine decorations repre- theme). sentative of a deck. The theme was be had for 25 cents by address- most adroitly and helpfully elab- ing Mrs. E. L. Morris, 812 E.
Lunch in the Pavilion . . . Friend- orated. First St., Santa Ana, California. BULLETIN OF The Council of Women for Home Missions EDITH E. LOWRY, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 105 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK ~'~I~==~~====~~~~=~ FOR ALL MOTHERS of their beloved sons by the est maternal mortality rate of hideous institution of war; all.civilized countries. From slowness of heart to comprehend what is divine in the We beseech Thee to hear us, We think especially of the Indepth and constancy of a Moth- good Lord. dian and Migrant mothers for er's love; whom the Council has an imme- That it may please Thee also, to diate responsibility. Good Lord, deliver us. lay upon our conscience the un- The death notice in the county From the unreality of superficial equal lot of the Mothers of the paper was not more than two sentiment, from commercial ex- poor, the underprivileged and inches in depth but it had neverploitation, and from all lip serv- the unemployed; theless its modest headline: ice to Motherhood while we neglect the weightier matters of We beseech Thee to hear us, PEA-PICKERS' CHILD DIES . , . justice and mercy and love; good Lord. . the shallow headline of Zetilla Good Lord, deliver us. That it may please Thee to kindle Kane, the seventh child and only within us divine discontent with daughter of Joe and Jennie Bell By our remembrance of the any social order which tolerates Kane. Mother of our Lord standing by war or poverty, or any preventthe cross of her well-beloved able suffering among the Moth- "We come from Texas," Joe son: ers of the world; Kane had told the "lady from the ,government." . . . "We been Good Lord, deliver us. We beseech Thee to hear us, back three times in the five years good Lord. we been messin' 'round like this That it may please Thee to open without no home." … our ears that we may hear the That it may please Thee to Saviour's word from the cross, hasten the coming of the divine He glanced around the tent Behold thy Mother; society, when every Mother shall with its three cots for the family be secure, encompassed by lov- of nine – eight now – with its We beseech Thee to hear us, ing provision for all her need; stove that once had been a gaso- good Lord. line container, with its oilcloth- We beseech Thee to hear us, covered table on which was a That it may please Thee to give good Lord. pan of boiled potatoes black with us grace from this hour, with flies. . . . the swift obedience of beloved In the name of the Father, and disciples, to take unto our own of the Son, and of the Holy "Back in 1930 things had got every woman widowed, bereft, so doggone tough we sold off our hard-pressed in life; Spirit. Amen.* furniture and radio and cow and chickens and all and pulled out We beseech Thee to hear us, On May 9, thousands across of Texas for Missouri. . . . good Lord. our country will pause in rev- erence to honor their mothers. "We started on down toworge That it may please Thee to touch How much this Day could mean Texas. We got in a little cotton our hearts that we may behold if these thousands would express our Mother in every woman; in this love in help to the thousands women who toil in the factories of mothers who are physically and on the farms, in office and broken, socially outcast, economshop and home; in women of ically caught and spiritually alien race and foreign clime, in starved. It is reported by the women of every creed and color Maternity Association, New and condition; York City, that 8,000 mothers in the United States die needlessly We beseech Thee to hear us, every year and this is the high- good Lord. * From "Prayers for Self and Society," by That it may please Thee to excite our pity for all Mothers robbed James Myers. Industrial .Secretary, Federal Council of the Churches of Christ In America.
[211 ] pickin' but cotton was sorry and "These hard times sure ain't ment, "Christian Youth Building we seen there wasn't no chance made none of us no younger," a New World" to make a trade for a place to she sometimes said in apology. The United Christian Adult Movement stay another year, and we heard The Protestant Laymen's Commission pickin' was good over in Ari- "The old will be young there on Character Building zona. Well, we went and it forever," they sang. Missionary Conferences wasn't but we got in enough to keep us eatin' off and on, and we A woman had brought a tight The plan will make these sevrun into a fellow that said fruit bunch of wild flowers-lupin and eral field enterprises mutually pickin' was good out here, so we California poppies and baby- supporting and enriching. It come on to California. We been blue-eyes – wrapped in a news- will avoid duplication and the messin' along like that ever paper for Zetilla's grave. Ze- irritation of unrelated promotion since, pickin' hops and cotton tilla's mother stooped when the in the field. It will make possible and oranges and peas, prunin' a song was ended and took four an orderly sequence of field projlittle and spacin' peaches and of the blossoms. She looked at ects and an efficient use of field cuttin' lettuce and workin' at one her husband. Then she put her personnel, better equalizing field crop and another, and then flowers back with the others, on service and providing a more movin' on some more. We the mound of earth beside the balanced field program. might's well be gypsies and be grave. done with it. When Zetilly was The United Christian Advance born we was campin' on a picnic- "I might's well leave 'em," she may ultimately include all the ground up in Washington. We'd said brokenly. "I wouldn't have programs and field enterprises been up to see could we get on a no place to press 'em. Back of the participating national homestead." home we ust to press 'em in the agencies. While its initial ap- Bible." proach in the field is being made His voice shook and, waiting during the ensuing year, it is asto gain control of it, he bent to THE UNITED CHRISTIAN sumed that as many as possible straighten the stove-wood at his ADVANCE of the ongoing enterprises will feet. "Zetilly was born on the be caught up and carried forroad and she died on the road. It is increasingly apparent ward as an integral part of the The undertaker's is the first that the functions of preaching, United Christian A d van c e. house she's ever been in, and pastoral guidance, m iss ion s, Those which cannot be so insome say the County don't aim Christian education, evangelism, tegrated will presumably confor us to be there when she's social service and social action tinue their regular procedure. buried. She sure did hate being are mutually interdependent and left by herself. She was such a therefore inseparable in the The initial approach involves little thing and she wouldn't program of the church. The primarily those cities or areas hardly rest a minute lessen some wholesome trend toward unity in which a Preaching Mission of us had holt of her. Do you and comprehensiveness in the has been held or will be held this reckon it's so that they don't aim church's program should be sup- year. In this initial approach for us to be there?" ported by the unifying of field the United Christian Advance activities and approaches affect- will include three major phases. It wasn't. ing the church and community. While these will be mutually in- terdependent and supporting Joe and Jennie Bell Kane and The United Christian Advance they will ordinarily be planned their six sons went to the brief responds to this need as a plan so as to follow a sequence of emservice at the undertaker's, fol- for unifying into one "grand phases as follows: lowed Zetilla's body to the small strategy" the major field activigrave the County had prepared ties being projected by the fol- The National Preaching Mis s ion for it. Deacon, his wife and five lowing national agencies: (Evangelism) other pea..,pickers went also. Deacon was short and white- The Federal Council of Churches of Schools in Christian Living (Teachhaired and walked with a Christ in America ing) limp.. The International Council of Religious Projects in Building Together the The minister from the local Education Christian Community, Local and church said a prayer and spoke Worldwide (Action) briefly to the little group at the The Home Missions Council undertaker's.. In next month's Bulletin plans The Council of Women for Home Mis- Jennie Bell Kane uncovered sions for the Conference on Life and her face and pushed back a brittle strand of blonde hair that The National Council of Federated Work, Oxford, England, July 12 was streaked with grey. She Church Women was thirty-four. Whenever she ttohe2~6ea1n93t7i,mwe iwllebreecreopmomrteendd. In told her age to the women in the The Missionary Education Moveme:t:lt the camps they shook their heads and made lamenting sounds. The Foreign Missions Conference following study in preparation Among the field movements or for the Conference: "Christ's activities involved are the fol- lowing: Way and the Worl d's -In The National Preaching Mission Church, State, and Society," by The New Home Missions Advance The United Christian Youth Move- Henry Smith Leiper; 144 pages, paper cover 65 cents, cloth 90 cents.
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~ oUfM!:~r~~':!!~:cu5?t~~~~ok J1i EDITED BY MRS. HENRIETTA H. FERGUSON, XENIA, OHIO l @7' '~l§i INDIA largest gathering of I n d ian to perform the rites, and, even Important New Trends Christian women in the history after remonstrance from others, of the South India Baptist Mis- would not yield. Finally, he One of the most obvious trends in Burma, India, is the absorb. sion took place. Over 500 wom- asked the principal for an intering interest in rural work. Daily papers are full of rural findings, en, representing 80 different vil- . view, and told him that he was rural experiments, rural reports from all parts of the country. lages, met at the 4th Women's no longer satisfied with Hindu- The new viceroy is interested in improving the breed of cattle, Convention on the Madura field. ism. The principal, in a rage, inquires into the condition of the local milk supply, has the mu- These village women, who 20 burned the Bible and the young nicipality give free milk to poor children to see the effect on their years ago were almost wholly, man fled. health and mentality. Rural Uplift committees are organized illiterate, conducted the sessions Here is the sequel: A worker all over the provinces. entirely by themselves and con- in the "Regions Beyond Mission- This logically tends to bring tributed 112 rupees to the work. ary Union" writes, "One Sunabout cooperation bet wee n It should be remembered that day morning, a young man Christian and non-Christian; both are reading the same books, village women seldom have any dressed in the saffron robes of serving on the same committees, attending the same meetings and money. -Missions. the Sadhu came to our service, discussing the same problems. Indian Gospel League and asked for a talk. We sat There is also a tendency to down, and for about two hours voice in open forum' fearless The Indian Gospel League was conversed together. A few days criticism of Hinduism. One founded for the purpose of later, the Sadhu surrendered his might also mention trends along spreading the Gospel of St. John life to Christ"-Life of Faith. the line of temperance work in which the Government gives in everyone of the 300,000 The Most Christian Mission money to work against alcoholic towns of India. Together with Field liquor, which is a Government tracts on the Christian life, "The monopoly; women voting and serving on public committees; Way of Life and the Way of In the Guntur North and intercaste marriages; interre- Death," and "Which Route to South Godavery mission field in ligious marriages; marriages of Madras Presidency, the propor- East and West; researches along Take," a letter of explanation the lines of nutrition; the ad- entreating each recipient to read tion of Christians to the total vances made in the cure and con- the "Gift of the Gospel," the population of the district, won trol of leprosy: and also the con- from heathenism, exceeds the stant raising of standards in books are sent all over the counteaching, in medicine and in try. The Hoskote district, where ratio of Christians to general nursing. 400 villages are waiting to be population in all other parts of evangelized, is engaging the spe- India. According to the 1931 -Woman's Missionary census, one in every nine citi- Friend. cial attention of the League at present. A gospel car is used, zens in the Guntur District was Telugu Women Advance and some of the workers are a Christian. In the entire Ma- equipped with bicycles and dras Presidency, including na- If a group of village women tive states, one citizen in every can develop such initiative as did blankets, in order to reach vilone at Ootcur, South India, there lages off the highway. twenty was a Christian. For is hope for a Christian India. the entire Telugu country the In this village last year the -Life of Faith.
A Hindu Finds Christ census reported one in thirty- The son of a rajah's priest in seven a Christian. In British a .native State some distance India, including the native from Chapra, North India, was states, there is a Christian pop- studying for the Hindu priest- ulation of 5,961,794. These mil- hood. After five years' study he went to the Panjab for examina- lions have been won during the tion, and while there met a mis- past 135 years. sionary from whom he bought a Bible. As he read, doubts re- Another notable feature of the garding Hinduism came into his Gospel's influence within the mind. A climax came when one Guntur-Rajahmundry field is the of his friends died; he refused fact that these converts all be- long to the "Panchamas," sub- stitute term for outcastes. There has also been an advance among [213 ]
the Sudras. Statistics for 1932 World Congress, due in the year which they are supporting. an.d show baptisms in that field 1944. -London Missionary reports show over 1,000 patIents totaled 7,075; the following with 1,400 on the waiting list. three years also brought contin- Herald. -Christian Advocate. uous increase. First Christian Church -Lutheran News. in Sikkim CHINA Trends in Mungeli Sikkim is one of the Hima- Prayer Brings Victory layan states where Christian Chinese officials ordered Lisu At Mungeli the work of the work has had to be carried on Christians to tear down their Disciples Church is largely under severe restrictions. For chapel. After twice rebuilding the last 36 years the small group it, an official demanded, "Whatamong the Satnami Chamars, of Christians who have come ever made you Christians thi'nk one of the most approachable into existence there as the result I gave permission to rebuild the peoples of Central Provinces. chapel? You must tear it down They are Untouchables who of the work of a Scotch Mission at once." When the Christians about 100 years ago broke away has been asking peI:mission of refused to do so, he put two of . the Maharaja to erect a church the leaders in prison. They said, from their ancestral religion, "You may kill us if you like, but trying to find a way up to the in Gangtok, but without avail. you cannot force us to tear down light. But without books or But at last permission was given the chapel again." All joined the missionaries in prayer and teachers, and surrounded by and on October 30 the dedication fasting. Three days passed, but Hinduism they drifted back to of the first Christian church in even the heathen sent food to idolatry. In 1890 Hira Lal, a Sikkim state took place. The these prisoners. When their Satnami boy, was converted and Maharaja not only sanctioned friends came to the bars to comjoined the mission staff at Mun- the erection of the church, but fort them, they would laugh and gave the piece of land upon geli. He won all the members of his immediate family to which it was built. -Christian Century. Christ and has labored inces- santly for the conversion of his Singapore Churches say, "Don't worry about us." caste fellows. His faithfulness, One of them said, "Be sure to integrity and earnest Christian Ralph A. Felton tells some take good care of our missioncharacter won for him added re- ways in which churches in Sing- aries, as we are not home to look sponsibilities in the Mission, and apore differ from those at home. after them." The other said, "I in 1925 he was ordained. By One is that they are run by felt this trouble was coming and 1916 there were 52 villages in young people, for in the ordinary have stored up plenty of food which there lived Christians. In church there are more youths and firewood for my family, so several places large groups had than adults. The explanation I am quite willing to remain here professed the Christian faith. for this is found in the fact that as long as God wishes." Between 1914 and 1924 there the church conducts primary On Monday evening the offiwere 890 baptisms. But there and secondary schools in every cial's heart softened, and he was a downward movement. In- section of the city. These mis- said, "I'll let the prisoners out, terest is again stimulated in sion schools meet the govern- and the Christians need not tear Mungeli, hopes revived. The ment standards, and teach reli- down the chapel. But you must workers believe that there are gion during these formative not call the building a chapel. thousands-one missionary says years so that religious education Call it a dwelling, and have 20,000-Satnamis who in their is a part of the whole process, someone live there." hearts believe that Christianity and not merely a Sunday morn~ Since then a man, claiming he is for them the only way out and ing project. was sent by the official, tried to up, and it seems probable that Another difference is that the tear dow n another chapel. when the first 500 are won other Christians asked the official thousands will hasten to declare congregations are interracial; their faith. -World Call. the Sunday school and worship about it. Instead of defending service may be in Chinese from the man, the official put him in 8: 30 to 10: 30. English may be prison. -China's Millions.
New Baptist Union the language for the next two Chinese Leaders Condemn .War hours and Malay in the after- The recently formed Baptist noon. The same minister may From Chengtu, China, there Union of India, Burma and Cey- have two of these groups and comes a "Statement of Conviclon expects to be fully organized sometimes the third. Race does- tions" signed by fifty-three lead-. and at work some time in April. not matter-only language. ers, Chinese and Westerners, de- The first general gathering is nouncing war as un-Christian planned for 1938, and the hope Six out of ten churches in and unmoral, and calling for is being widely expressed that Singapore are self-supporting. world-wide condemnation of it. the Union may find itself able to Those receiving mission help are The statement originated at a invite the Baptist World Alliance the newly organized ones. Some conference of the Fellowship of of the Chinese laymen have to come to India for the seventh started an anti-opium clinic Reconciliation, and has been is-
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
sued in Chinese and in English. 1932-33 …. 64 328 139 467 Such missionary journeys across 1933-34 …. 96 748 326 1,248 These leaders in China believe 1934-35 …. 119 816 211 1,027 Turkestan and the Gobi Desert "in the moral order of the uni- 1935-36 …. 129 1,652 711 2,363 by cart are now becoming imverse and that man is included possible. Special danger comes in that moral order. We are -Presbyterian Tribune. from bands of wild people who, convinced that war is an offense Act of An Apostle more than ever since the recent to God." revolution, ravage the country- The manifesto concludes that "Can a Chinese business man side raiding caravans for a liv- "warfare, armed or economic, become a Christian?" Rev. An- ing. There is also the danger of as a method of settling interna- drew Thomson, United Church death from thirst, because the tional or national disputes, is in- of Canada missionary at Taokou, water stages are being left to fill compatible with the teaching has an answer. In January he up with sand. The only safe and example of the great moral distributed 500 suits of winter way to cross the Gobi desert in clothing among the flood suffer- future will be by motor truck, leaders of all ages."
-The Churchman. ers of eastern Honan, the gdt of and this is no good to mission- Leper Work a Hankow business firm. These aries because they cannot stop were quite unsolicited, and were off at all the oases and talk to the The China Inland Mission only a fraction of their total do- people and distribute the Scrip- Hospital in Kaolan (formerly nation for this purpose. After tures. called Lanchow), is the only in- the distribution was completed, This was the fifth time the stitution attempting leper work Mr. Thomson received the fol- three women had crossed the in the whole of Northwest lowing letter: Gobi. They found people at the China. They have about eighty DEAR MR. THOMSON: different oases thrilled to see leper patients, more than thirty them again, for when the mis- I am very happy to receive your sionaries last passed through, in of whom are Tibetans. The lett.er of 24th February and hereby the other direction, they were men have been classified into offer my sincere thanks to you, your· running away from the Mohamfive groups – two Chinese, two associates and the Magistrate for the medan General, Ma Chong lng, Tibetan and one Moslem. Two services in the distribution. the Thunderbolt, as he is called. At Tungwang, the City of Sands, services are held each day, one We feel grateful that God minisin the morning attended by all, tered seed to us for sowing and put in our heart to make winter garments for the flood refugees. So we seized the travelers heard rumors of and one at night especially for the opportunity as per Galatians 6: 10 communist activities in Kansu Christians. There are now more and made 4,800 suits (principally for Hupeh districts) entirely financed by and when at last they reached than twenty lepers asking for our firm ,with the twofold object to Suchow, their old C. I. M. stabaptism, and of these the majority are Tibetans. Bible classes cause thanksgiving to God and to . tion in the northwest of that have been arranged for the spe- supply the want of the poor. Now province, the city was under with your cooperation through Mr. cial instruction of those asking Stewart's introduction the work was martial law and they soon refor baptism. completely done. Christian unity is ceived the order to leave. They -Moody Institute Monthly. essential; as there are many mem- thereafter returned to Europe bers to one body, one can not dispense by the Trans-Siberian route. Christian Schools with the other. These her 0 i c missionaries The national secretary of the Again thanking you for your. serv- have, between them, given 108 China Christian Educational As- ice and wishing you abundant blesssociation says that Christian ing from God upon your work and years of service in China. For schools as a whole are making a yours. the last 16 years th~ have had large contribution to China's with them in their adventures a life. They have considerable Yours very truly, little Chinese deaf and dumb prestige, are well managed, and LI JUl. girl, whom they found as a baby, are growing steadily. "In our 13 Christian colleges and univer- -United Church Record. left by its mother on their doorsities, there are 6,700 students; step, and whom they named and in the approximately 250 The Gobi Trio Topsy. She has recently learned high schools about 250,000 stu- to speak a little to the great asdents. The number of primary Miss Mildred Cable, Miss tonishment of the simple people school students is about 125,000. Evangeline and Miss Francesca The stl1dents in colleges and high French, "the Gobi Trio" of the living in the oases of the Gobi. China Inland Mission, have re- "The missionaries' words are turned to England from their true," they said, "their Lord can last adventurous journey to make the dumb to speak." China. In the summer of 1935 schools are nearly 10 per cent they received a permit to cross Chinese Light Shines of the total number in the whole Russia and traveled by the country." Turkish – Siberian Railway, en- The ambition of Mr. Shan, A few years ago it was feared tering Turkestan fro m the Manchurian Christian, is to see that the day of Christian educa- north. From Chuguchak, they a house of worship in his home tion in China was over. But the went to Urumchi where they town before he dies. To this end number of baptisms in Christian found wonderful opportunities, he has contributed liberally.
high schools is as follows: and stayed for some months. Three years ago he made his
first contribution, $100; last mens. Dr. Lewis B. Franklin makes the Japanese feel the year he gave $200 more and re- visited this mission on his recent Church is their own, and not an cently an additional $60. He tour of the field. outside agency.
has frequently been reviled; once he was thrown into prison Tent Mission-Thirty Converts Night Clubs-Korean Style for a month because he had in "One of the most blessed and The original Night Club for his possession a Christian maga- encouraging tent missions we Boys was organized in 1930. Its zine published in China some have ever held," is thus de- success led to the formation of years ago. He was released another group to include gMiorrls~ scribed by Miss M. A. Burnet,' and meeting in day time. when missionaries vouched for of the Central Japan Pioneer his high character. Mission. It was conducted by than 150 boys and girls were two native evangelists in Mita- soon enrolled, and the title was The money he has given dur- gaya, a tiny village. The tent changed to Pioneer Clubs for ing three years is approximately was pitched in rice fields, with Korean children. In the fall two scarcely any houses in sight. Pyengyang churches organized the amount of his whole earnings Prayer preparation had been groups and in the following in one year.
-Evangelical Christian.
JAPAN-CHOSEN made by a Christian doctor born spring others were formed. Politics and Christianity in the village, who gave his testi- The movement was prosper- mony at the first meeting; and ing when a new Director of Edu- cation began to ask questions. Nearly 100 Japanese delegates by a young farmer, who has not "Pioneers" was also the name of attended the 14th annual meet- only prayed but worked. He ing of the National Christian has for several years sold forty a youth movement of commu- Council in Japan just before Gospel papers a month, accom- nistic Russia. What about these Christmas. The outstanding panying the sales with personal Korean "Pioneers"? What was message to the gathering was -talks wherever possible. Night going on? The purely evangelisthat the secret of power in the after night the tent was filled to tic purpose of the work, its world today depends upon per- overflowing with an eager and metho~ of C.hristian training, sonal spirituality. Plans, meth- attentive congregation, number- and Its antI-communistic inods, even duties are secondary ing between 150 and 200. Bi- fluence were explained at length. to the need for the Holy Spirit. cycles were stacked up outside Finally, at the suggestion of the One speaker opened the question the tent. Thirty confessed of peace, a subject which occu- Christ and sixteen have made offidals, the name "Pioneer" was pied the minds of all the dele- themselves responsible for hiring changed to "Bible Clubs." By gates. "The world is armed and an empty house to carryon regarming today as never before," ular meetings. An evangelist is 1935, there were fifteen such he said. "We who believe in the going to Mitagaya each week for groups meeting every day in Prince of Peace, what shall we the present, to shepherd this do? The peace of the world still little flock. -Life of Faith. Pyengyang, with about 1,500 children enrolled. Inspection rests with the churches. Japan's Day occurs every five or six fundamental spirit is peace, Literature of Their Own weeks. Leaders examine the children for their intellectual though Japanese patriotism is The Protestant Episcopal For- and physical improvement, innot yet true patriotism. Only in ward Movement has not only the spirit of Christ's self-sacri- translated the booklet, "The spect hands, faces and necks, and fice is there hope of peace." Coming of the Light," but has conclude with a "consdence in- redrawn the illustrations to con- spection," when the children are -World Dominion Press. told to look into their hearts, and then in prayer confess their evil deeds and thoughts to God and form with Japanese life. More before their playmates. "De- Opportunity in Rural Japan than 40,000 copies were distrib- cision Day" is the grand climax A little Japanese country mis- uted. A Tokyo writer in The at the end of the year. sion of the American Episcopal Living Church says: Church, which began to develop The whole Forward Movement has No Perseverance among the farmers and fisher- proven to be one of the most stim- men at Isoyama after Deaconess ulating, educational and spiritual Pak was a Korean bead Ranson went to live there, illus- forces in the Church. . . . Some of maker, and for 20 years had trates the opportunity now the most cheering letters of apprecia- been .working in the ~ame town, awaiting the Church in rural tion have been received from men and formmg glass into beads with women workers in all parts of the Japan. Thirty miles from any Empire, and in all dioceses a large his little blowpipe and lampresident pastor, a church has number of the parishes, missions and been built and dedicated by the institutions are now buying the book- for American five-and-ten-cent Episcopal Mission. At the dedi- lets for their members' daily use. stores. One day a colporteur called with a set of Gospels.
cation thirteen adults were bap- The fact that this literature is "I can't read those any more," tized and confirmed, six children printed in their own country and Pak said. "I read one of them were baptized, and seven per- presented in their own language once and it made me think too sons were admitted as catechu- wit h Japanese illustrations much of my sins."
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
"But if you keep on reading trips east and west on the coast tionship of this work with govand learn to pray, you will find ernments and disabilities ima way to get rid of your sins." about twenty miles each way, posed upon aborigines.
"That's just the trouble – I and so satisfactory is his over- Under the heading "Pacific," have no perseverance." The col- the Conference will study coopporteur pondered a moment and sight that the government med- eration, the attitude toward nathen said, "But you've been tive customs, and education and working at this same job-how ical patrols do not operate over evangelism. Methods, training long?" of missionaries and .the relative this section, content to leave the emphasis of different phases of "Twenty years." the work will be discussed under "In that case, you have perse- oversight of these villages to the Home Base. verance enough to read the Gospel." him. -The Chronicle. -Australia Missionary Pak is reading. Review. Javanese Christians -Monday Morning. Koreans in Hawaii The mission of the Reformed Korea Needs More Missionaries Church in Middle Java reports Since 1930 a mass meeting of that the number of Javanese Young Koreans of Hawaii, fea- The progress of K 0 rea n Christians increased in 1935 to turing oratorical and song conchurches, great as it is, has not 13,893, a growth of 1,842 in one tests among various church been sufficient as yet to warrant year, or 15 per cent. The Jav- groups, has been held at least the assumption that they can anese Christian sets a high value once a year. The last meeting, carryon successfully without on baptism. At present, there in the Mission Memorial Hall, missionary aid. The Christian are 2,076 people in the course Honolulu, was sponsored by the constituency in Korea is only of instruction for baptism who Korean University Graduates' about 500,000 out of a total pop- in a short time may be baptized. Club with Dr. Y. C. Yang, Presiulation of more than 22,000,000. There is great interest also dent, as the master of cere- The young churches need and among the young people, of monies. More than 500 young desire the continued cooperation whom it appears 5,637 are regis- people with their usual enthuof missionaries in the task of tered as catechumens; this is' siasm assembled to discuss the witnessing to these multitudes upwards of 40 per cent of those question, "Can youth improve concerning Jesus Christ. in the Javan.ese churches. and maintain Korean institu- tions in Hawaii?" – World Outlook.. Medical work is also expand- ing. There are nine hospitals, This hopeful second genera- ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC and the number of patients is tion, though U. S. citizens, re- constantly increasing. main loyal to their ancestral Papuan Medical Service background. Fiji Centenary Church All London Missionary Society Imported Sects in the appointees to Papua receive ele- The Fiji Methodist Church has Philippines mentary medical training at Liv- received the voluntary gift of ingstone College, London, before £1,000 from the Fiji Govern- The number of sects imported going to their field. The last ment for assistance in the build- to the Philippines from the few years have brought marked ing of a new centenary church. United States is becoming a matimprovement i n government The Methodists were the pioneer ter for concern. Filipinos edumedical service in Papua, one missionaries in the Fiji group. cated in America, and missionfeature being trained natives as This Memorial Church will be aries working independently are medical patrols. Cases beyond erected at Suva, capital of Fiji, introducing the Four – Square their power are taken to the to celebrate the centenary of Gospel, the Church of God, the nearest hospital where there is their advent to Fiji, at an esti- Church of the New Jerusalem, a European doctor. mated cost of £5,000. This is a the Pentecostal Church and mark of appreciation for the other similar organizations. In- Lameka, a Papuan lad only a contribution of the Mission to- stead of inquiring about the second generation from canni- ward educational uplift and good most needy parts of the archibalism, showed such aptitude in government. pelago and beginning work in his medical training that the unoccupied fields, they break government authorized the -Australia Missionary into well-established territory building of a small hospital Review. and undertake to set up new conwhere he could exercise the heal- gregations. ing art, the government assum- Australian National Council ing the cost of upkeep. A missionary of "the Four- From April 5-9 the National Square Gospel" who went to For ten years the little hospi- Missionary Council of Australia Laoag last April was asked to tal has been a center of help and will hold a Conference in Sydney confer with representatives of healing. Lameka runs the place, when three general topics will the National Christian Council, assisted by his wife and by a be considered: the Aborigines, younger lad whom he has taught. the Pacific, and the Home Base. Periodically he makes patrol Ques.tions involving the aborig- ines have to do with the half- castes and the ideal policy for Christianizing them; the rela-
who pointed out the great prog- religious groups on the campus. ganized basketball teams, physiress made in the last fifteen Records at the office of the dean cal training, adult education in years toward mutual under- show that of the 2,458 under- citizenship and current social standing, good will and Chris- graduates enrolled, only 147 problems, mothers' club, clinic tian cooperation, and asked in have no definite affiliation with for children, Boy Scouts, Girl the interests of Christian har- a religious denomination. More Scouts, home visitation, commumony, that this missionary with- than 1,000 are members of nity meetings, personal probdraw to territory where no either the Y. M. C. A. or the lems, daily vacation Bible school, other Protestant church is at Y.W.C.A. entertainments, manual trainwork? .Her reply was that her ing, sewing classes, dramatics, superintendent had assigned her – Watchman-Examiner. labor problems, kindergarten, to Ilocos Norte and she must do playground from June to Sephis bidding. The superintendent The Christian Observer tember, recreation for all ages, is a Filipino with a Mexican library for all age groups. wife. The Converse family has con- Through the whole program tinuously owned and edited the runs a golden thread of syste- NORTH AMERICA Christian Observer for one hun- matic Christian instruction. dred and ten years-since Feb- Income and Giving ruary 17, 1827. This Southern The community has responded Presbyterian weekly was found- until an enrolment of 2,300 has Returning prosperity is not ed by Dr. Amasa Converse, who overtaxed the capacity of the reflected in the philanthropies of was editor for 45 years. His building. -C. L. Zorbaugh. United States citizens, according grandson, Harry P. Converse, to Mr. C. V. Vickrey, President has been business manager and Indian Need of Christ of the Golden Rule Foundation. then managing editor since There was more generous giv- 1899. Chief Umpathtuh, last sachem ing in the deepest depression of the Mohicans, a graduate of year, 1932, than in subsequent The Religious Remembrancer Carlisle University and a strong years. In fact, that year marked appeared September 4, 1813 and advocate of Christianity for his the highest percentage of contri- later its name changed to the race, believes that unless there butions to religious., educational, Philadelphia Observer. The n is a change of heart among the scientific and other forms of two papers were merged under Indians through the acceptance service for society. On the the name· Christian Observer, of Jesus Christ as Saviour, the whole, the social services have which through all the years has education given them by the received approximately two per stood squarely for the integrity United States would be wasted. cent for a period of twenty of the Word of God, the deity of He says: "The Government years, which is one-fifth of the Christ, the reality of the atone- means well, but if education of biblical standard of the tithe. ment, and the purity and peace the soul does not go along with Giving is not according to in- of the Church. education of the mind, the recome, for more than one-half of sult for the Indian will be disasthe 1935 contributions declared The City Ohio Forgot trous. An educated Indian is in the income tax reports came liable to be a bad Indian, without from about four million persons Some ten years ago Youngs- religion." He pointed to his own whose net incomes averaged less town, Ohio, shocked the church tribe, now dwindled to a small than $5,000 a year. However, and the nation by a bloody strike number, as 75 per cent Christian forty-one persons who had an and disastrous fire. The Chris- and 100 per cent American. income of more than $1,000,000 tian conscience was aroused. each in 1935 claimed tax exemp- Here was a neglected city of new -United Presbyterian. tion on contributions totaling Americans employed in the steel $4,454,000, or 6.049 per cent of mills for whom the churches had Community Church in Alaska their declared net taxable in- felt little responsibility. As a come. The National Committee result among others, the West- Christmas, 1936, was more for Religion and Welfare Recov- minster Presbyterian church of than Christmas for the settlers ery is carrying on a countrywide Youngstown started a Sunday in Matanuska Valley, Alaska. It educational program to stim- school, putting $50,000 into a was the day of their first service ulate higher standards of philan- lot and a "Neighborhood House." in their new church, built of logs thropy. -Boston Transcript. A young Hungarian Christian, hewn from the "forest primeval" Mr. Zotlan Irshay, was put in by the men of the congregation, Campus Christian Training charge. This section of Young&- taken to the sawmn-l, faced on town, with its 14,650 people, al- two sides, and carried by theITl Twenty-six religious denom- most solidly foreign, is called to the site of the church. inations are represented at Duke Campbell. University, North Carolina, and Evenings aft e r working more than 94 per cent of the stu- The list of last year's activi- hours, the Young People's Sodents are members of some ties at "Campbell Christian ciety cleared the plot, dug the church. There are 15 organized Neighborhood House" give an basement, and hauled gravel for idea of its scope: Sunday school, the cement work. All together religious education classes, or- the congregation worked by shifts during the short days of
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
the fall and early winter. The day on some occasions. Lay tions." Six were "to live a life missionary pastor, Rev. Bert workers and young people's so- of service," "to end class distinc- Bingle, writes: "We look for- cieties were used effectively. tion in Colombia," "to help ward to a great work among' Brief services of ten or fifteen others." Several hoped "to make these unafraid people in the minutes were held in each home, Colombia a Christian nation." tracts distributed, invitations These young people have Northland." given and personal work done. charge of the Sunday night serv- LATIN AMERICA Results were very encouraging. ice once a month in one of the Two young pastors visited suburbs. Bible Distribution in Mexico several untouched places in Jan- -Colombian Clippings.
The house-to-house distribu- uary. Several small preaching Colombia's National Church tion of the Gospel in Mexico has stations were opened. It is met with opposition in some planned to cross the island from A little over ten years ago, places. A. B. De Roos reports: Havana to the south coast, Colombian and American Prot- touching man y communities estant leaders met in Medellin, In the first rural district in which a center of the Roman Church, the distribution was undertaken the where no Christian worker has yet gone. head of the village said, "We will not to exchange ideas regarding the Religion in Brazil Schools organization of the Presbyterian permit such propaganda, for we have The director of public instruc- Church in Colombia. Lack of all sworn not to accept any religion." ordained ministers prevented Only 30 Gospels were distributed there and throughout the district there is great suspicion. In twelve days tion of Rio De Janeiro has issued organization of presbyteries, but instructions to the principals of a rudimentary one took the thirty-four villages and ranchos were name "Council of the Coast." covered, in the midst of difficulties,. government schools to provide a Increasing needs of this group place and time for religious in- Yesterday we visited a number of villages, and going from house to house, a gendarme accosted us, rifle struction, other than Roman led to the organization of the in hand, asking us what we were do- Catholic, wherever the parents Church in Colombia on a real ing. I told him our mission, and he of 20 children desire it. Catholic Presbyterian basis. Last July said we must leave the place at once. religious instruction has been ten ordained ministers, four mis- "No strangers are allowed and no such propaganda is permitted, by requested by 70 per cent of' the sionaries and six Colombians order of the military chief of the district." parents of Catholic children. met again in Medellin and after This instruction is being given careful study decided: In one place we were subjected to a rigorous questioning, and our packs largely by priests. The director were searched for ammunition. When has asked Protestant groups to To adopt the Constitution of the Presthey had finished looking over our suggest the manner in which byterian Church, U. S. A., as the things I asked them to give me their the instruction 'requested by basis of the incipient Church. attention for a moment, and I read them shall be given. them Paul's sermon to the Athenians. To organize three presbyteries cov- I dwelt at length on the God Unknown -United Presbyterian. ering the states in which the but revealed in Jesus Christ through Presbyterian Mission is working. the Word. In conclusion I offered Young People in Bogota them "The Way of Salvation." They These presbyteries would be formed answered, "Yes, we'll take this, but Every Friday evening thirty by ordained ministers, without not the New Testament, as we have to forty young people of Bogota distinction of nationality, and been forbidden to take it." meet for a social and devotional licentiates residing in the respec- evening. Interest and enthu- tive territory, together with one -Scripture Gift Mission. ruling elder from each organized church. siasm have developed this or- ganization into a real force in To invite the Cumberland Presby- the evangelization of Bogota. terian Mission in the south- The Challenge of Cuba The object of this society, western part of Colombia to join this movement. A Mississippi pastor who re- To call a meeting of this same Ascently visited Cuba said the idea sembly to be held in Ibague in July, 1937, to take action toward prevails in his section that Cuba pledged by each person who beis almost a finished missionary comes a member, is (1) to pro- the organization of the "Synod of the Presbyterian Church in task; that great progress had mote all activities that develop Colombia."
been made, and Cuban Chris- a Christian life among its mem- With this Synod, the organiza- bers, by means of Bible study tion of the "Presbyterian Church tians are almost, if not quite, and meditation; (2) to develop in Colombia" will be completed, able to take care of their own Christian friendship and to take evangelization and other reli- part in activities of service. In and she will thus join the ingious work. The visitor was creasing fa mil y of national soon convinced that this is very a recent meeting those present churches that have been organ- were asked to write briefly their ized in Mexico, Guatemala, Brafar from being true. During this year much at- main ideal in life. The result zil, India, Siam, the Philippines, tention has been given to per- was interesting. Seven were China, Chosen and Japan. -Colombian Clippings. sonal house-to-house evangelism. "to get the most out of life," "to Cruces, in Santa Clara province, be intelligent," "to be something For Indians in Chile took the initiative, organizing worthwhile." Five were "to be- the forces of the congregation to come more spiritual," "to know Rev. Charles A. Sadleir many make several hundred visits a peace," "to conquer tempta- years ago founded a mission to
the Araucanian Indians of Chile. seven centers and the execution soil. They are largely literate, His son is continuing the work of others has been reported. but primitive, and enjoy few ma- and writes in the Evangelical Many are imprisoned and other terial comforts. Mr. Rahneff Christian: evangelicals are in hiding. Gen- works exclusively among these eral Franco is said to have stated humble villagers. Within less We now have three men working be- publicly that in the future Spain than a decade he has opened 50 sides myself, including our old helper would be "one nation, united in little churches, which have 5,000 Espinoza, who is in charge of the one faith – that of I sabel la adherents, almost entirely peas- press work. Domingo Carilaf, the Catolica." -Alliance Weekly. ants. This is the largest evan- first of our evangelists, has done and gelical group in Bulgaria. Rah- is doing excellent work in visiting the nlodern nlartyrs neff receives about $50 a month houses of the people in Witramalal, salary. Most of his preachers Chomio and two other reserves east Dr. John S. Bonnell, pastor of nave no regular pay. He seeks of Metrence Station on the railway Fifth A v e n u e Presbyterian little for himself, spends most of line. These reserves had never before Chureh in New York, likens the his time in the field, and works been visited by evangelists, 'and the German Christians of today to indefatigably. When n i g h t Indians there are showing great in- the martyrs of the early church. comes he asks his village hosts, terest, , . . The Capuchin Friars are "It is heartening to know," he who usually sleep on mattresses the bitterest enemies of our work says, "that the German Church on the floor or on a low platform, among the Indians, and will stop at is not a whit nearer surrender to shove over a little so that he nothing to hinder us and prejudice the today than three years ago. The may lie down beside them. Indians against us. Some of the tales German people today, in the they tell people are unbelievably ab- hour of persecution, are show- His services are revival meet- surd, and are only accepted by some ing a true unity and exhibiting ings. He invites his hearers to because of the superstition in which a fortitude and courage similar come forward and begin a new they live. to that which marked the early life. Many do. They become martyrs. Little did we think at "God's children." Hundreds Congregations vary from twenty- the beginning of the twentieth have been transformed. They five to sixty Indians, and while re- century that the relations of are turned into active, ardent, sults are hard to see, there are sev- church and state would become aggressive Christians and tell eral who are very much interested, one of the paramount issues of their good news to others. Vil- . and ask to hear more and more about the century. This question was lages become cleaner, more pros- the way of salvation. settled for Christians 1,900 perous, more orderly. This work years ago, when Jesus said: is .as modern, and as old fash- EUROPE 'Render therefore unto Cresar ioned as St. Paul's. the things that are Cresar's and "Christian Communism" unto God the things that are Pan-Orthodox Congress God's.' These words acknowl- A remarkable new religious edge the fact that the state pos- The first Pan-Orthodox Con- movement in France is called sesses certain rights over its gress of Theology, which was Christian Communism. It is led citizens, but they also make it held in Athens last December, jointly by Catholics and Prot- clear that there are bounds be- dealt with such subjects as the estants; its symbol is the Cross yond which the state must not position of theology and science of Divine Love on which are go in the coercion of Christian in the Church; Biblical criticism placed a sickle and a hammer, conscience. The principle enun- in its relation to revelation and and its quarterly magazine, The ciated by the founder of Chris- to ecclesiastical authority; the New Earth, has a circulation of tianity denies the right of a relation of the Church and so- 15,000 copies. The Christian totalitarian state to render the cial problems; the relation be- Communists are opposed to Christian Church impotent by tween religion and culture, be- the godlessness of Communism. making it merely the mouthpiece tween the Church and State and They derive their principles of dictatorial leaders. That is questions of doctrine. It was from Marxism, but they deny the religious issue which is para- wide, indeed, in its scope. The that this is "anti-God." They mount in Germany today." purpose of this first Congress believe that the moral principles was not, however, to solve these which underlie Christianity are -Presbyterian Banner. problems, or even to discuss compatible with those of Marx- them exhaustively, out to begin ism. They oppose violence, but A Successful nlissionary _ the work of discussing and solv- point out instances where it is ing some of them. Considered in justifiable. They do not wish to A correspondent in the Chris- this light, the Congress had a "reform the church," but rather tian Century tells of a young striking significance in that it to "free it from the capitalist pastor-missionary in Bulgaria, focused the mind of the Church regime." Paul Rahneff. Most of the upon the theological and prac- 6,000,000 Bulgarians are quite tical problems of the day. -Presbyterian Tribune. poor and four-fifths of them live in villages, where they work the -The Living Church. Spanish Evangelicals Suffer There seems a general tend- ency on the part of the insur- gents in Spain to put the Prot- estant element in an impossible position. Eleven evangelical workers have been killed in
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Hardships in Russia listen to their teaching. Guards ham is the general director. British and American repre- Mr. I. V. Neprash, Director of were placed at the end of the sentatives at the capital pro- Russian Missionary Service, street to turn people back, and tested but to no avail. When publishes a bulletin called The men even came into the waiting- asked what was to become of a Link, from which we quote the room and tried to drag the pa- score of missionary workers, following: mostly women, who had been tients out. In spite of all this driven into the capital by war A Russian Christian from New the numbers kept up, and the conditions there was no reply Jersey went to Russia to see his aged women would slip in by side- but a shrug of the shoulders. father. Upon reaching Moscow he "For many weeks," writes a searched for some Gospel service, and streets; although they were missionary, "we have lived with after much hunting discovered that afraid to listen to the Gospel as many as twenty in one native the only place in which the believers message. hut. The mission station at were permitted to worship was the Lambuda has been completely space up under the roof of a Greek Then, gradually, a change destroyed and practically all the Catholic Church. It was a cemetery homes in the Gudella area have church, very inconveniently located, came. One day, in the middle of been burned." with narrow steps on the outside of a message, a woman jumped up the building. About 400 were present. Fighting Yellow Fever The people were constantly afraid and said, "Tell me again the that the beams of the ceiling would name of the One who can save Great Britain has invited Dr. give way and the whole crowd smash me,and keep my heart clean." Victor G. Heiser to make a spein a heap on the cement floor beneath. Turning to the others she said, cial study of the possibilities of "Listen, my sisters, to these controlling malaria and yellow From Moscow this man went to fever in British Africa. Dr. Leningrad and found that the largest wonderful words and take heed Heiser has spent thirty years preaching hall in Russia had been to them, for they are the truth." warring against plagues in all confiscated, and is being used as a parts of the world. He is recogmariner's clUb. He went next to a One by one they are turning nized as outstanding in the field country town where his father lives. to the light. -Life of Faith. of medical engineering. There was a group of believers there, but no services for fear of unbearable World's Youngest Elder The airplane, it appears, has persecutions. The coming of a Chris- become a potential disease cartian brother from the outside world In the Lokoja district of rier. European planes making was too great an occasion, and so they the regular journey to Brazil, finally decided to have a service. Nor,thern Nigeria the major part via the west coast of Africa, They gathered in a private home, have taken with them from Affrom three to five a. m., windows cov- of the Church responsibilities rica a new type of malaria that ered, with just one small oil lamp so is doing much damage in Brazil. that the visitor could read his New and organization falls upon one British health officers are anx- Testament. ious to prevent the spread in lady missionary. There are India from those areas in Africa At five a. m. the meeting dispersed, in which the host mosquitoes and it was well it did, for some spies ninety-two churches and only flourish. -Alliance Weekly. had already discovered them, and about ten minutes after the close of two catechis,ts with the help of Heathen in Union of S. A. the meeting the police were there. The man from New Jersey was then an African clergyman who pays The Union of South Africa has on his way to another town and not an approximate population of even his father knew which way he a visit once a quarter from the 9,479,985 persons, of whom more had gone. than two-thirds are nat i v e s. other side of ,the river. Since There are more than 3,000,000 AFRICA heathen in the Union; more this one missionary cannot visit heathen today than when the Work for Women missionaries began their work all the churches she adopted the over a century ago. One ex- A Girls' School and a Dispen- planation is the lack of a missary are firmly established in plan of caUing together two sionary spirit in the native Abu Hammad, under the control church and. a diminished evanof the Egypt General Mission, elders from each church in gelistic zeal on the part of nain a village of 5,000 Egyptian in- tive pastors. Furthermore there habitants. It was occupied by groups of 40 ata time, and giv- is among Europeans in South missionaries several years ago, Africa a widespread fear of the but opposition was so bitter that ing them a two-day course of competition of the black man, retreat became necessary. In should he be encouraged along 1934, a clinic was opened by mis- instruction. On one of these ocsionaries and soon many women were attending, both Egyptian casions, a boy of eleven apand Bedouin. As the numbers increased, act i v e opposition peared. When asked why he sprang up and spies were sent to the clinics. The work was de- had come he replied that he was nounced in the mosques, and pamphlets were printed and dis- a church elder, and so it proved. tributed, warning the people not to go near the missionaries or He frequently took the morning service,as he could read better than anyone else in the village, and he reminded the missionary that she had given him a New Testament four years previ- ously. -Eastward Ho.
Mission Property in Ethiopia The Sudan Interior Mission issues a report from its Toronto office that Italians in Addis Ababa have demanded all of the buildings, including headquar- ters and the leprosarium owned by the Sudan Interior Mission, of which Rev. Rowland V. Bing-
the path of progress. He is year ended without a single case under the rule of other Euro- more readily exploited when of default, or delayed payment. pean powers. Of the remaining -Christian Advocate. 34-35 million, Dnly those in Turignorant. -Alliance Weekly.
key, Arabia, Afghanistan and What Only Missions CanDo The Good Shepherd in Iran Iran are under Mohammedan rule. They no longer have a Northern Nigeria, equal in Most of the patients in a mis- sionary hospital of Iran are Mo- caliph; in 1924 the Ottoman calsize to the South Central U. S., hammedan. The medical superis Mohammedan and has been iphate was abolished with one entirely closed to missionary intendent asked his nurses to work. Some British leprosy try various schemes Df religious stroke of a pen, and the other teaching, and note the results Dn workers were allowed in govern- their charts just as they would Mohammedan states have never ment leper camps with the distinct understanding that they do nDte a rise in temperature or since been able to agree upon ap- other physical symptoms. The no religious work. pointing another. Then Dr. A. D. Helser, of the most successful was found to be the nurse's repetition of the Par- Moslems are themselves de- American Mission to Lepers, able of the Good Shepherd. The stroying their specifically Ismade a survey of this area. It patients became eager to hear revealed a growing dissatisfac- the great words, and soon lamic intellectual and spiritual tion on the part of the govern- learned them by heart, so that leadership. The great Azhar ment with its own efforts in when the "nurse departed from dealing with leprosy. In Sokoto, the true text, they would correct University, fDunded nearly one her. The explanation? The where the Sultan is the head, the parable supplies what is lacking thousand years ago, has for most government doctor was so dis- in Mohammedanism. Allah is of this time been the center from couraged that the leper camp great and powerful, in the minds which orthodox Islam derived its was closed down entirely. An- of his followers, but never tender other medical officer expressed or sympathetic. dynamic. The Azhar has IDSt himself as believing that "the first 40 per cent of leprosy treat- respect; it is continually mod- ernizing its curriculum. But missionaries dD not rejoice that modernization is takng the place of the old Islam, if it means their falling a prey toO Western ma- terialism. GEORGE SWAN.
ment lies in instilling hope in the -Christian Advocate. Annotated Testaments heart of the leper." The gov- Fernand Faivre, of Huguenot ernment now recognizes that MISCELLANEOUS descent, gave up the prospects missions can do that in a way Haven for Jews of a brilliant business career to that others cannot, and proposes that if missions will put a full- The New York Herald-Trib- devote himself e n t ire I y to time doctor in each camp, they une states that the French Min- preaching the Word. He has will finance him. ister Df Colonies has proposed been engaged for Dver 45 years The Sudan Interior Mission is that some colonies-specifically in evangelistic activity in southespecially eager to take advan- Madagascar, the New Hebrides, west France. tage of this opportunity to open F'rench Guiana, and New Cale- In 1922, he brought out the northern Nigeria to missionary donia-be thrown open to immi- first editiDn of his "Annotated effort for the first time. grants largely made up of Jews. New Testament," designed espe- -Mission to Lepers. This colonization is to be largely cially for evangelistic work. but not exclusively, Jewish; the Since then it has been issued in WESTERN ASIA immigrants must have capital Spanish, Italian, German, Por- and be prepared to work on the tuguese and other languages. Cooperatives in Palestine land or in other productive ac- Hundreds of copies have been The British Government is tivities. The plan is receiving shipped to the Cameroon, West helping to organize credit unions the careful attention of both Africa, where they have been and thrift societies among the Polish and Jewish press. used in the American Presby- Arabs in Palestine. There are It has also been proposed to terian Mission field. They were 74 societies, with 2,422 members settle Jews in the island of Cuba. adopted as textbooks on PrDtand capital of 1,709 Palestinian estant doctrine fDr native evanpounds. Borrowings amounting The plan has been laid before gelists. the President Df Cuba for conto 39,013 Palestinian pounds sideration and has the approval Rev. Andrew Gih, of the were made in one year by Bar- of President Roosevelt. Bethel Mission, S han g h a i, clays Bank at six per cent, and China, has translated the nDtes the societies reloaned to mem- The Moslem World Today – into Chinese (Mandarin). He bers at nine per cent, the cur- contemplates a first edition of rent charge made by the banks Of the approximately 235,- 20,000 copies, but wishes it were to borrowing bodies not Drgan- 000,000 Moslems in the world to- possible to have 150,000,000 ized as cooperative societies. day, 106,000,000 are under copies printed. Pastor Faivre Personal advances for seasonal British rule; 39,000,000 under offers toO pay one-half the cost of periods and medium-term loans Dutch rule; 32,000,000 under printing 100,000 cDpies ($6,250) up to five years are made. The French rule and 23,000,000 if the other half is provided.
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I Our Missionary Bookshelf Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information ~'i~================'~ The Way of the Witnesses. By Ed- sealed orders." These first wit- from quotations from other ward Shillito. Pages viii, 152. nesses to the crucified and risen writers, with whom of course Cloth, $1.00; paper, 50 cents. Christ began at Jerusalem and Dr. Speer is in agreement. These went as far as Rome. In obey- quotations are of real value and . Friendship Press, New York. 1936. ing the call they came to know more of the "mystery" of the na- show wide and discriminating This "New Testament Study ture and purpose of their Lord. reading, but they are not the in Missionary Motive" is by an They founded churches and fos- author's personal testimony. Oxford graduate who was a min- tered them, by visits and by letister in various parishes in Eng- ters, to meet the inevitable trials The first chapter, dealing with land and for some years Literary and dangers. They made prog- Christ's earthly life and its Superintendent of the London ress through conflict, as did the meaning, gives clearly the evi- Missionary Society before com- churches which they fathered. dences for the deity of Jesus. ing to America as a lecturer in In the Gospel of John, "the Gos- The second chapter, on the our colleges and theological pel of the Holy Spirit," the new "Person of Christ," points out schools. He is the author of generation "found a bridge be- that the whole essence of Chris- "Nationalism-Man's Other Re- tween their own day and that of ligion," and other works. Jesus their Lord." In its name tianity is in this God-man, rather the new society "claimed all the than in any philosophy, social Mr. Shi1lito's brief Introduc- world and all the ages." "The program or human organization. tion sums up the whole book, pattern of the New Testament," We do not agree with Dr. Speer, "The New Testament does not revealing "the love of Christ, un- however, in his view that "when contain a section given up to searchable and passing knowl- Christianity becomes a religion, . missions; it is a missionary edge," without that love "is book. . . . From cover to cover broken into fragments"; but the it ceases to be Christianity." it deals with one new fact – a constraint of that love will make That depends on one's definition power newly revealed and newly every Christian a missionary, a of religion. But the reviewer released in this human scene. A witness to all the world. new age begins. The revolution agrees that Christ is the essence is not of man, though it changes We would like to see this little of Christianity and without Him the life of man, but of God, book read by everyone interested there is no Christian religion. whose glory had been seen in the in missions, then placed in each face of Jesus Christ." But the one's lending library to be The chapter on the "Death of New Testament is not the end of recommended to every Christian it. It "deals with mankind and friend not yet interested. Mis- Christ" is a valuable contribuclaims the world for its scale." sion Study Classes will find it tion to this deeply mysterious The missionary is simply the attractive and inspiring. but most important subject. The servant of a world kingdom who author shows the deadly conflict "believes that a word meant for COURTENAY H. FENN. between two personalities-God all men should be offered to all and Satan – a conflict in which men." The Meaning of Christ to Me. By Satan seemed to be victorious Robert E. Speer. 12mo. 102 pp. but was definitely defeated at It is impossible to set forth in $1.50. Fleming H. Revell Co., New Calvary. Dr. Speer says: "The a brief review a hundredth part York. 1937. death of Christ reveals both the of the arresting thought, the con- limitlessness and the limitedness vincing argument, and the in- Here is a personal testimony of God, and also shows what he spiring challenge which the au- that is characterized by capital has done and will do for us." A thor has compressed into this "H" rather than by a capital railroad brakeman is quoted as small book. He pictures vividly "I"; "He"-Christ-is magni- expressing the truth when he "the first impressions of a pa- fied, not "I," the writer. For the said: "He (Christ) died my gan" on reading the New Testa- most part, the testimony is clear death for me, that I might live ment. Such a man is brought but only indirectly personal. His life for Him." face to face with a historic Jesus Some readers w.m wish that Dr. who committed His message of Speer had made it more direct The chapter on "The Resurthe Kingdom to witnesses whom rather than so largely made up rection of Christ" shows that He sent into all the world "under this is conclusive evidence of Christ's deity, and proof of man's immortality. The resur- rection imparts vitality to the Gospel and to be "risen with Any of the books noted in these columns will be sent by the R:o;vntw publishers on receipt of price.
[223 ]
Christ" means eternal life to the cares for the unemployed and capable of taking the conscious- Christian. ness of Christ as taught in the redeems the loss caused by "The Lordship of Christ" oc- panic." If it is true, as Dr. New Testament into their lives." cupies another chapter in which Kagawa repeatedly urges, that With the ultimate objectives the author shows that this means the recognition of Christ as the social reform must be motivated of Kagawa – the uplift of men supreme divine teacher, leader, by the Christian Spirit, then it overseer, owner of all who be- is highly important to know just and the introduction of a better long to Him. He is King of life. social 0 r d e r – there can, of what is the character of this im- course, be no disagreement. His Dr. Speer's most personal tes- pelling motive and how it is retimony is found in his final chap- sincer.ity and tireless energy ter on "The Second Coming." ceived. But here there is much also command admiration. It is This doctrine, belief, hope – is uncertainty as to the author's unfortunate, however, that he proved to be "an integral part of our Christian faith," clearly and position. No light is shed on the does not unite with these qualifrequently taught in the Scrip- problem by this further state- ties a clearer perception of tures, and of infinite importance ment: "If religion concerns itto every Christian. self only with the salvation of in- Christian truth, more of eco- nomic wisdom, and a truer his- Anyone who reads these dividuals and does not permeate torical perspective. studies carefully will find them society, it has but one result, the spiritually stimulating, encour- HUGH R. MONRO. aging, interesting, informing deepening of individuail conand convincing. They will prove sciousness." Or the following: 1936 Handbook of the Christian a blessing, not only to pastors, "The belief that the redemptive Movement in China under Protteachers and missionaries, but to estant Auspices. 8vo. 352 pp. every thoughtful reader who is love of Christ is united with the $3.00. Published for the National ready to accept the testimony of true nature of God gave birth to Christian Council by the Hsueh the Scriptures and of enlight- the doctrine of the divinity of Pub. House, Shanghai, China. 1936. ened Christian experience. Christ." The latest China Mission Brotherhood Economics. By Toyo- There can be no impeachment Yearbook includes information hiko Kagawa. 200 pp. $1.50. on the evangelistic, educational, Harper & Brothers. New York. of Dr. Kagawa's sincerity and, social, literary and medical 1936. in the light of what he has ac- work. Suggestions on "How to complished in dealings with out- use the book" are helpful, as well This volume has two distinct as the brief "HistorJcal Backvalues: first, it assembles a cast men and women in Japan, ground" and the "Interpretalarge amount of interesting in- there must be a certain grasp of tion." Since the first Protestant formation concerning the coop- missionary entered China in erative movement and its expan- the underlying truths of the 1807, the communicants have sion throughout the world; sec- Gospel. Nevertheless, his vo- grown from 100 in 1807 to 600,- ond, it presents the philosophy cabulary seems confusing and 000 in 1936 and the Christian and outlook of this outstanding strange to the intelligent Chris- community of all sects numbers Christian leader and social re- at least 2,000,000 Chinese. The former. Dr. Kagawa writes tian reader and the impression Handbook is mostly made up of with the evident conviction that will increase that this eminent lists of 68 missions with 1,207 the Church is under deep re- resident stations and 5,816 misproach by reason of failure to reformer fans to relate in any sionaries. Information is also translate its message into terms given on literature, cable adof economic life. Here is a adequate way the fruits of social dresses and institutions. It is a typical statement: "I believe efforts to the roots. A coopera- valuable book for reference. that instead of keeping this prin- tive is not necessarily a brotherciple of Cross-embracing love as Southern Baptists in World Service. a theological theory in the pul- hood, in the Christian sense. By E. P. Alldredge. Cloth, 60 cents; pit, we must put it into the When Dr. Kagawa deals with paper, 40 cents. 172 pp. Sunday whole social life of man. Right economic questions there is much here lies the principle which de- that is suggestive, but a some- School Board, Southern Baptist mands that the essence of Chris- Convention. Nashville. 1936. tianity must become the essence what similar lack of coherence. of the economic movement." There is recurrence of well- All phases of the denomina- The ambiguity of this state- known terms, some with a rather tion's enterprises are discussed ment is more or less character- radical connotation, and an adistic of the book. What is Cross- vocacy of theories of finance, in- in detail in eight chapters, in embracing love? In one place it surance, and distribution of is defined as "a great love which this handbook, designed to in- commodities which would hardly commend themselves to a well- struct the young people in informed economist. Dr. Kag- Southern Baptist churches con- awa passes a severe and not too discriminating judgment on the cerning the what, why and how Christian Church in this lan- of Southern Baptist world-serv- guage: "The majority of church ice. The material is well ar- organizations today are depend- ranged; Bible study is encour- ent, unfortunately, on the privi- leged class of profiteering so- aged by frequent references to ciety. When selfish profiteers, Scripture; questions for review who are of the same stock as barbarians, d 0 min ate the and answers are added to each churches, they are rendered in- chapter. B. G. JUDD.
Wonderful Women. By E. conference. "The Religious Na- A N 0 P P 0 R TUN I T Y
H. Farrance. 96 pp. Illus. lB. ture of the Negro," "The Im- Pickering & Inglis. London. 1936. portance of Understanding Na- for Pastors Desiring SONG BOOKS tive Customs," "The Effect of . Brief biographical sketches of twelve women whose lives have Industrialism on the Congo at counted in worthwhile service. Katanga," "The Right Attitude The list includes Harriet Beecher Stowe, Fanny Crosby, Mary toward Native Chiefs," "The A collection of n of the Moody-5IIn"'y Slessor and Ann Judson. The Psychology of Conversion," "The Evangelistic Campaign Song. u…. during material is not new or skilfully Place of Sports and Athletics in the Founder'. Week Conference. presented but the assembling of Missions," and "The Self-Sup- $ 5 0 0 PER HUN D RED these sketches in one volume is port of the Chur~h" – s.uch are ",..".'d. Slightly u••d. 1I0t impressive. some of the subJects dIscussed with considerable wisdom. Con- D. L MOODY CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS Sheaves After Harvest. By Dr. An- servative evangelical mission- 163 Instltllte Place drew A. Bonar. 12mo. 126 pp. Chicago, III. lB. Pickering and Inglis. Glas- gow. 1935. aries will find little here to criti- – – – – – – – – – – – cize and much to approve. Dr. Bonar was .a famous City Man. Charles Hatch Sears. Scotch preacher of over a gen- S. M. ZWEMER. 236 pp. $1.50. Harpers~ New eration ago, whose addresses repay reading today. Pentecost, York. Praise, The Second Coming, The Holy Spirit and similar topics New Boole. Frances Ridley Havergal. Esther E. are Scriptural, practical and in- Enoch. 95 pp. lB. Pickering & spiring. Beyond Statistics. The Wider Range Inglis. London. ' of World Missions. Stephen J. Corey. "Are You Awake?" By Florence E. 188 pp. $1.00. Bethany Press. St. A Hundred Years in Fiji. J. W. Marshall. Pamphlet~ 96 pp. 50 Louis, Mo. Burton and Wallace Dean. 144 pp. cents a copy, $30.00 a hundred. 222 3s.6d. W. Main St., Lansing, Michigan. 1936. Samuel Logan Brengle. Portrait of I Live–Yet Not I. George Goodman. a Prophet. Clarence H. Hall. 254 96 pp. lB. Pickering & Inglis. These clever verses set forth pp. Salvation Army, New York. London. the virtues of abstinence from 1933. alcoholic drinks. They are Missionary Stories to Tell. Various catchy and popular and useful Christian High Schools in India. authors. 178 pp. 50 cents, paper; for Sunday schools and other Alice B. Van Doren. 170 pp. Rs. $1.00, cloth. Missionary Education temperance work with boys and 2-12. Y. M. C. A. Publishing House. Movement. New York. girls. Calcutta, India. Master of Money – A. A. Hyde. Exspectatio Gentium. Compte Rendu The Glorious Revival Under King George Irving.' 157 pp. $1.00. de la XIIIe Semaine de Missiologie Hezekiah. Wilbur M. Smith. Pam- Revell. New York. de Louvain. 330 pp. 35 francs. phlet. 54 pp. 35 cents. Zondervan Paris: Desclee de Brouwer & Cie. Publishing House. Grand Rapids, The Meaning of Christ to Me. Rob- 1935. Mich. ert E. Speer. $1.50. Revell. New York. Under this striking title we have the twenty-fourth publica- Dwight L. Moody-;A Mighty Man North Pacific. Edward Weber Allen. tion on Christian missions by of God. A. Chester Mann. Pam- 300 pp. Illus. $2.50. Professional the Museum Lessianum. A few phlet. 27 pp. 20 cents. Zondervan & Technical Press. New York. years ago another volume ap- Publishing House. Grand Rapids, peared entitled La Conversions Mich. One Hundred Years. Arthur Judson which dealt with methods of Brown. 1140 pp. $8.00. Revell. evangelism and the winning of Pools on the Glowing Sand. Story New York. converts in every missionary of Karl Kumm. Irene V. Cleverarea. don.. 194 pp. 58. Specialty Press. John E. Williams of Nanking. W. Melbourne, Australia. Reginald Wheeler. 222 pp. $2.00. The present volume consists Revell. New York. of seventeen papers by Roman 1936 Handbook of the Christian Catholic missionaries read at Movement in China. Charles Lu- Jungle Friends. G. A. West. 63 pp. the missionary conference of ther Boynton and Charles Dozier lB. S. P. G. London. Louvain last year. Ten are in Boynton. 352 pp. $3.00 (Shanghai). French; and seven in Dutch. Kwang Hsueh Pub. Co. Shanghai, Moslem Women Enter a New World. The papers merit perusal and Ruth Woodsmall. 431 pp. $3.00. show how the same missionary China,.. Round Table Press. New York. problems that perplex Protestant missions are faced by the White Missionary Plays and Pageants. Fathers and the Jesuits in Af- Fannie Smith Gray. 277 pp. $2.75. rica. Asia and the island world Western Baptist Pub. Co. Kansas were evidently left out of this City, Mo.
William Quarrier and the Story of the Orphan Homes of Scotland. Alexander Gammie. 196 pp. 2s. 6d. Pickering and Inglis. London.
Awake! An African Calling. 56 pp. Is. Church Missionary Society. London.
1936 STUDIES IN CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE James Hudson Taylor. James J. Ellis. Is. 96 pp. Pickering & Inglis. London.
Four Parts-52 Lessons. Part I, The Bible-The The Blessing of the Tribes. E.
God 01 the Bible. Part II, The Christ 01 the Bible Bendor Samuel. 28. 160 pp. Pick- -The Holy Spirit. Part III, Man-Sin and Redemp- ering & Inglis. London. tion. Part IV, The Church-Future Events. Send 15c in stamps for cunent issue. Full Assurance. H. A. Ironside. 75 cents. 126 pp. B. 1. C. A. Chicago. HRISTIAN PU8L1CATIONS.IN<: Kill or Cure? Muriel Lester. 135 pp. $1.00. Cokesbury Press. Nash- 1502 N. Third St., Hlrrlsburg, PI. ville.
NOT'
THE MOSLEM WORLD SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, Editor Some articles in the April number : THE CROSS AND ISLAM' Edwin E. Calverley A JOURNEY THROUGH NORTHWEST CHINA Claude L. Pickens THE WORSHIP OF ADAM BY ANGELS . Samuel M. Zwemer ILLUMINATION—A SUFI DOCTRINE Edward J. Jurji ALEPPO AS A MOSLEM CENTER Alford Carleton SOME ARAB FOLK-TUNES . W. Idris Jones OLD ISLAM ~ OLD TURKEY . Lootfy Levonian THE FINAL WORD OF THE AHL-I-HAOO Charles R. Pittman ISLAM IN TRANSITION Paul S. McElroy NORTHERN NIGERIA Benjamin J. Marais Book Reviews Current Topics Survey of Periodicals ORDER THE SPECIAL RURAL NUMBER The Missionary Review th~ World The June Number will contain special articles on "CHRIST AND RURAL AMERICA"
Achievements in Rural Churches From a Colporteur's Notebook Challenge of the Rural Community Solving Some Rural Problems Rural Trends in Twenty-five Years The Youth and the Country Parish Cooperation in Rural Parishes A Rural Pastor's Job The Rural Community Church Some Unchurched Rural Districts Evangelizing Rural Foreign Born Responsibility of the City Church The Larger Parish Project Woman's Work in a Country Parish Order These Copies Now for Yourself and for 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
The Missionary Review of the World — November 1936
1936
White Men and Missionaries Oscar Emil Emanuelson Pioneer Mission Work in Africa Herbert Smith A Church That Gives and Likes It George C. Southwell Hindrances to Mission Work in Africa c. S. Jenkins Islam and Christianity in Africa Today Samuel M. Zwemer More Africans on the Witness Stand Various Authors A Converted Priest in Venezuela By a Correspondent 25 Cents a Copy $2.50 a Yea1'
to Remember Obituary Note. of Asia several times and gave
November 15 – Men and Missions Mrs. O. R. Avison, a retired Pres- to the work of Christ both at home Sunday. byterian missionary to Korea, who and abroad. had served with her husband, Dr. November 23-24 – Stewardship Con- Avison, for forty-two years, died *** ference under the auspices of the September 15, in Cape Cod, Mass. United Stewardship Council, Day- Dr. and Mrs. Avison recently cele- Dr. Edmund B. Chaffee, Director ton, Ohio. brated their Golden Wedding. They of the Labor Temple of New York went to Korea in 1893, arriving nine City, died suddenly while making an November 23-25 – National Confer- years after Dr. Horace N. Allen, the address on September 15 at the Min- ence on the Rural Church, Ames, first Protestant missionary to enter nesota State Conference of Social Iowa. the "Hermit Kingdom." Dr. Avison Work in St. Paul, Minn. Dr. Chaffee became physician to the Korean Court was 49 years of age. He was born in December 9-11- Biennial meeting, and president of Severence Union Rose Center, Michigan, was graduated Federal Council of Churches, As- Medical College and was founder and from the University of Michigan in bury Park, N. J. president of Chosen Christian Col- 1909 and from Union Theological lege. Mrs. Avison visited hospitals, Seminary in 1916. Fifteen years ago January 11-14, 1937 – Annual Meet- trained women in Bible study, and he became director of the Labor ings, Home Missions Council and performed other missionary work. Temple which is conducted under the The Council of Women for Home auspices of the Presbytery of. New Missions. Asbury Park, N. J. Mrs. J. Livin*gsto*ne*Taylor (Sophia York. He has been a very active, liberal social reformer advocating free February S-13-International Council Strong Taylor), a very warm friend speech and taking the part of labor- of Religious Education, Executive of missions and one of the original ers and foreign-born Americans, many Committee and Associated Meetings. stockholders of THE REVIEW, died at of whom resided in his parish. He Chicago, Ill. her home in Cleveland, Ohio, on Sep- was editor of the newly established tember 25, at the age of 75 years. Presbyterian Tribune. NATIONAL PREACHING Mrs. Taylor has been very active in MISSION the business world, being the presi- **• dent of the department store of Wil- Nov. 1-4-Vancouver. liam Taylor Son & Co., of Cleveland, Dr. Jonathan Goforth, for forty- Nov. s-S-Portland. since the death of her husband in eight years a missionary in China and Nov. S-ll-San Francisco, Oakland. 1892. Mrs. Taylor took a very active recently retired, died on October 8 in Nov. 12-1S-Los Angeles. interest in the Y. W. C. A., standing Wallaceburg, Ontario, at the home of Nov. IS-IS-Dallas. strongly for the maintenance of a defi- his son, Rev. J. F. Goforth. He was Nov. 19-22-Chicago. nite Evangelical purpose and mes- 77 years of age, and went out to China Nov. 22-2s-Washington, D. C. sage. She visited the mission fields under the Presbyterian Church of Nov. 26-29-Raleigh. Canada in 1888. Mrs. Goforth, who Nov. 29-Dec. 2-Philadelphia. went to China with him, survives. Dec. 3-6-Boston. They accomplished a remarkably spir- Dec. 6-9-New York City. itual work in China and Manchuria.
DO NOT MISS THE MOSLEM WORLD SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, Edil:or SOME ARTICLES IN THE OCTOBER NUMBER: SURAT AL·IKHLAS …………………………….. .Samuel M. Zwemer JESUS, THE WORD OF GOD ……………………….• .5. A. Morrison THE CRISIS IN ISLAM ………………………….. D. Van der Meulen TEMPORARY MARRIAGE IN IRAN ……………. Dwight M. Donaldson BLESSINGS ON THE PROPHET ………………………. James Robson WHY COPTS BECOME MOSLEMS ………………….. .Qummus Sergius CONTRASTS IN IRAN …………………………… .Herrick B. Young MOSLEM RELIGIOUS EDUCATION ………………….. Murray T. Titus PRE·ISLAMIC USE OF THE NAME MUHAMMAD …….. .Edward J. Jurii SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK IN THE NEAR EAST ……. .Ralph McLaughlin THE ADVANCE OF ISLAM IN NIGERIA …………………..L. Hickin CURRENT TOPICS-BOOK REVIEWS SURVEY OF PERIODICALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sue Molleson Foster INDEX FOR THE YEAR _.-~) SUBSCRIBE NOW ~o(-_.
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REVIEW OF THE WORLD subscription to your magazine. I have IMPBISS DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor let it lapse, thinking I could not af- ford it, but I need it, in the knowledge Real Comfort it gives and the inspiration I get from reading it." MRS. H. M. DElRONDE. by the VOL. LIX Nov., 1936 No. 11 Personal Items Fast Short Route publication and Business Office- Rev. Paul deSchweinitz, D.D., of Reach Yokohama in 10 Jays. It"s the Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. Bethlehem, Pa" treasurer of the mis- fastest, shortest Pacific crossing. Go sions of the Moravian Church in on the sister·ships, Empress of Asia Editorial and Executive Office— America, recently celeorated the fif- or Empress of Russia. Or take the 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. tieth anniversary of his ordination Paradise route via Honolulu. Only Entered as second-class matter at into the Christian ministry. Dr. de- 3 days longer. Go on the Empress of Post Office, Harrisburg, Pa., under Schweinitz has not only rendered re- Japan (largest, fastest liner on the markable service as a Moravian min- Pacific) or the Empress of Canada. Ac2t 5ofceMntasrcah 3, 1879. a year. ister of the Gospel but has been a very copy-$2.50 effective worker for missions through Very low round-trip fares. Lux- Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. his executive work and as a counsel- urious First Class. Popular Tourist Published monthly, except August. lor. Twenty-two years ago it was he Class. Also, low-cost Third Class. who proposed the formation of the All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1935. Committee of Reference and Council Frequent sailings from Vancouver British agents – Marshall, Morgan of the Foreign Missions Conference, (trains to ship-side) and Victoria. and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, of which he has long been a member. Orient fares include passage to and London, E. C. 1 shilling per copy, Of the original members of the com- from Seattle. California sailings mittee (1904-08), he only is still on connect with Empresses at Hono- 10 shillings a year. the committee. Dr. deSchweinitz has lulu. Orient ports-of-calI: Yoko- always been a warm friend and sup- hama, Kobe, Nagasaki, Shanghai, MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- porter of THE REVIEW as of every Hong Kong, (lnd Manila. LISHING CO., INC. other cause working effectively for • Also, Independmt World TOllrs the extension of Christ's Kingdom. as low as $579.90, Combination BOARD OF DIREC1'ORS of Classes. *** ROBERT E. SPEER, President Booklets, information from YOUR A. L. WARNBHUIB, Vice-president Miss Edith E. Lowry, director of OWN AGENT or Canadian Pacific: W ALTER MCDOUGALL, Treasurer the migrant work of the Council of New York, 344 Madison Ave.; DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary Women for Home Missions, has suc- Chicago, 71 E. Jackson Blvd.; San ceeded Dr. Anne Seesholtz as Execu- Francisco, 152 Geary St.; and 38 SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT tive Secretary of the Council. Miss other cities in U. S. and Canada. WILLIAM I. CHAMBERLAIN Charlotte Mary Burnham, who has long experience in religious education ~@a4<: D. J. FANT and Christian social service, becomes Miss Lowry's associate. TO THB MRS. ORRIN R. JUDD *** OBIINT WM. B. LIPPHARD ERIC M. NORTH Dr. Frank A. Smith has retired from his position as Secretary of the SAMUEL M. ZWEMER Department of Missions and Educa- tion of the American Baptist Home Editorial Chat Mission Society. In view'of his long experience in the interests of Negro Already a thousand extra copies of education, the Board has asked him to our October special number on Africa be its special representative in this have been sold and the demand still field. continues. It may soon be out of print as is the case with our June number. *** Better order now. Several articles on Africa appear in this issue and others Bi[hop Frederick Rogers Graves, may be expected in December. senior bishop of the Episcopal Church in China, has retired from active serv- *** ice. He has been one of the outstand- ing figures in the modern missionary Weare already planning the special movement. numbers of THE REVIEW for 1937. The Home Mission topic will be *** "Christ and Rural Life in America." It is a fruitful theme on a long-neg- Edward Hunter, M. D., of Wesley lected field which has recently been Hospital, Nigeria, has been made a receiving much attention from the native chief, the highest honor the Christian leaders in America. King of Ilesha, Nigeria, could confer. His title is "Oluawo, chief of native The Foreign Mission topic will be doctors." He is the only missionary "Christ and the Moslem Wodd To- to Nigeria, except Mary Slessor, to day." Great changes are taking place receive this honor. among the followers of Mohammed and the lands where Islam has long *** held sway are already yielding to the impact of Christianity and modern Dr. John R. Matt, Chairman of the civilization. This will be a very im- International Christian Council, has portant study which should attract the sailed for India to attend the Interattention of Christians everywhere. national Conference of the Y. M. C. A. Do you know where Islam is yielding This is the first meeting of this ormost to Christian influence and what ganization that has been held in the is the attitude of present-day Mos- Far East. It is expected that some lems of the younger generation to important decisions will be reached. Dr. Mott will later visit the Near Christ? East.
*** [513 ] It is time to think of Christmas and of Christmas gifts to missionaries and to friends at home. Note our special Christmas offer on the back cover of THE REVIEW. Make your Christmas remembrance of the birth of Christ one that is worthy of Him.
*** A recent letter enclosed with a subscription reads as follows:
A BIBLE STORY TO A GROUP OF WEST AFRICAN
Photograph by C. E. Whittier EVANGELISTS' CLASS, DUGER BIBLICAL SE'MINARY, CAMEROUN, WEST AFRICA PROGRESS IN TRAINING AFRICAN CHRISTIANS REVIB ORLD VOLUME LIX AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER 11 NOVEMBER, 1936 Topics of the Times TURMOIL IN SPAIN through some desertions from the Loyalists.
War for mastery of other men's property and Observers declare that the contest for the control a desire to rule brings out the most cruel and of the country is likely to be prolonged. In the beastly elements in human nature. This has been meantime lives are being taken ruthlessly, valuevident in the World War, in Russia, and the Far able property is destroyed and normal life is dis- East, and now in Spain. It requires an almost rupted. The coming generations will pay a heavy superhuman leader and an unusually worthy price in taxes, poverty and moral degeneration. cause and noble spirit for combatants to resist the It is reported that already, after four months of temptations to lust and heartless murder and pil- fighting, 60,000 Loyalists and 80,000 Revolutionlage when the passion for conquest is unleashed. ists have been slain-many combatants and non- How slow ,men are to learn from past experience! combatants being cruelly slaughtered. Loyalists The more deadly the weapons of warfare the more are said to kill all "cowards" and plotters, and one inhuman is the conflict. rebel leader has declared: "My men take no pris- oners and leave behind no living men among the The news from Spain, where the fratricidal wounded." The effect on women is degrading. strife for mastery continues, brings a blush of They take their places with the men and are shame to every Christian. Both sides seem to be among the most fiendish fighters; on the Loyalist equally ferocious and heartless. The Spanish side many are bitter opponents of God and the Government forces – called Loyalists – include Church. Hundreds of priests and nuns have been Socialists, Communists and anarchists. They seek massacred and much church property pillaged and to maintain a government which will control cap- destroyed. ital and industry and will give the workers a better opportunity. They are opposed to the power Evangelical Christian work in Spain is natof the Roman Catholic Church and some are urally hindered by the conflict. The Life of Faith against all religion, therefore their cause is fa- (London) says in a recent issue: vored by Soviet Russia, by Mexico and by the ,From most of the stations of the Spanish Gospel M.ission Communists and Socialists in France. still under control of the Government all foreign workers have been ev~cuated. Meanwhile the work of the mission, The Revolutionists-or rebels as they are called so far as CIrcumstances permit, is being continued by -are fighting to establish a Fascist government Spanish evangelists and colporteurs. Where the Governwhich will be dictatorial and nationalistic. They m~n~ is in control Pro~estants have complete liberty for are friendly to the Catholic Church and have in Splr1tu~1 work. In SeVIlle, however, which is in the hands their ranks many Royalists who favor the return o~ t~e msurgents, one ~f the most promising of the misof the Spanish king. If the Revolutionists are vic- SIOn s younger evangelIsts was shot down with others torious a dictatorship is likely to be established. while standing in a bread line. This side is favored by Italy, Germany and Portugal, all of which are accused of supplying war Mr. Lawrence Elder, a representative of the mission materials to the Revolutionists. The rebel forces known as "Helpers Together" for Spain, was in Badajos seem to have the advantage in the conflict and of at the outbreak of t~e Civil War, and left the besieged forty-nine provinces only eighteen are counted town the day before It fell. He states: "Circumstances loyal to the present central government. The have changed since we left. The occupation of Badajos creirbcellisngocMcuapdyrids.eveTnhteeiern rapnrokvsinacrees baenindg asrweeIeIend- by the rebels was accompanied by fearful bloodshed. As the rebel movement is a militarist-clerical movement it is' probable that Protestants will suffer all over Spain."
estIannpt aprltasceosf othf ewcoorusnh~irpy,halvoeyaslutfofetrheed Gbuotvesrlingmhetlnyt., Prot- [ 515]
Evangelical forces are facing, on the Govern- teen hundred years they and the Turks have ment side, the communistic element that would do almost continuously controlled the land which God away with all religion, and on the rebel side, they gave to Abraham and his seed "forever." face the clerical party opposed to all Protestant religious activity. Since the close of the WorId War Palestine, while under a British Mandate, has been disturbed Spain, the home of the Moorish "Alhambra" by frequent conflicts between Jews and Moslems. and other historic buildings, is a land with a The latter have never shown ability to develop checkered history, beautiful scenery, and rich re- the land agriculturally or economically or to train sources. Most of its 23,000,000 inhabitants are their people educationally and socially and are still poor and illiterate but the past half-century now aroused because of the rapid influx of Jews, has been marked by an encouraging struggle for who dispute with them the right to develop the liberty and learning. The religious life and much land which is theirs by right of possession. On of the wealth, the political power and education the other hand the Hebrews claim that Palestine have been controlled by the Roman Catholic was given to their fathers Abraham, Isaac and Church. As in Mexico and other Latin American Jacob and their descendents by Divine Mandate. countries this control has not brought liberty and The Jews are being evicted from Germany and prosperity to the masses so that there has been a are unwelcome in many other lands. The Balfour revolt against the Papacy. Declaration promised them a home in Palestine and over three hundred thousand Jews have The Evangelical mission work today is carried settled there in the past eighteen years. They on by twenty-five missions, five of them American have bought property and have shown their pro- -the Congregational Board, the Methodist Epis- gressive spirit by building cities, developing copal Church, the Assemblies of God, the Southern farms, establishing schools and colleges and carry- Baptists and the Seventh-Day Adventists. Other ing on trade. Their increasing numbers and insocieties are British, German, Swedish, Dutch and fluence alarms their Moslem neighbors so that Spanish. The results of the work reported show the Palestinian Arabs have dynamited railroad an Evangelical community of only about 22,000 bridges and trains, bombed busses, destroyed or one in a thousand of the population. The Prot- farms and attacked Jewish residents, creating a estant Sunday schools enroll 7,000 and their day reign of terror. Italy is charged with helping to schools 7,500. The total number of Evangelical stir up strife in order to create trouble for the missionaries from outside of Spain is only 123, British who are determined to maintain order, reof whom eleven are American; most of these so- cently declaring marshall law. Many Moslems, cieties help only to support the Spanish Evan- Jews and some British soldiers have been killed. gelical Church. A National Committee for the Fortunately the Moslem "strike" has been called Propagation of the Gospel, representing the lead- off and conditions are becoming more normal. ing Evangelical forces, was formed in Madrid five years ago and has promoted Evangelism by many The sympathy of most travelers is with the public meetings. When peace is once more estab- Moslems who see their land occupied and business lished this Committee may be expected to take captured by Jews who are still coming at the rate steps to proclaim the Gospel more freely and vig- of 1,000 a month. On the other hand, the symorously. Spain needs the rule of Christ to bring pathy of most Bible students is with the Jews who peace and to establish liberty and justice, right- are not only driven out of Europe but who show eousness and prosperity. themselves better able than the Arabs to develop their ancient ancestral home. They are willing THE OUTLOOK IN PALESTINE to live at peace with their neighbors.
At the crossroads between Asia and Africa, and A recent visitor to Palestine, Rev. Walser H. next door to Europe, lies Palestine (the "Land of Allen of the Moravian Church in America, has Wanderers"), the birthplace of three great reli- this to say of the situation: gions and the theater for many religious, racial and political conflicts. Until the time of Joshua, About 750,000 Arabs live in Palestine (which is about about 1,400 years before Christ, the land was di- the size of the State Qf Vermont and much less fertile). vided between many pagan tribes, some of whom Three British Royal Commissions that have been sent out had reached a considerable degree of civilization. to study the situation have reported that Palestine is un- Then for a thousand years it was possessed and able to support more than the present population. It is peopled by the Hebrews. For the next thousand also claimed that tb.e late Colonel T. E. Lawrence promyears it was under Assyrian, Persian, Greek, ised the Arabs, as a reward for helping the British in the Roman or other foreign governments, but still World War, that an all-Arab Federation would be formed, was mostly peopled by Jews. Then came the including Palestine. As a result of the Balfour Declara- Moslem conquests and settlement, so that for thir- tion the Arabs are exceedingly bitter against both Jews and British. The Arabs admit that the Jews are smarter than they and have more wealth but they believe that if Jewish immigration continues the country will be com- pletely dominated by them.
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
It is true that the Arabs have, for the most part, lived have become wearied of prospectuses and plans in old ruts for centuries, while Jewish colonists have, in and pleas. But now and then one comes into a few years, made the desert to blossom as a rose. Some existence because it is definitely needed. Remindof their accomplishments have been tremendous. The ers of the large percentage of unchurched chilgreat Hebrew university in Jerusalem is one of the finest dren in America have been common, but a movein the world. The problem is very complex. ment with a comprehensive plan for reaching them is still sufficiently new to attract attention The Moslems, in a recent conference of 350 and sufficiently important to demand the considerleaders, adopted seven resolutions with a view to ation of the whole Christian Church. If the maintaining their prestige: Church cannot evangelize the children and young people, on whom is it going to depend for its mem- 1. Boycott foreign materials and use homemade goods. bership in another generation? This question alone is enough to awaken a concern which the 2. Establish more Moslem schools to combat mission figures involved must greatly deepen. schools. The movement to meet the spiritual needs of 3. Prevent Jews from buying land and encourage Moslems America's unreached millions of children, from to cultivate their own holdings. whom our armies of atheists, criminals and dan- gerous radicals are chiefly recruited, has already 4. Establish a fighting fund, with contributions from enlisted at least six denominations, which have every Moslem. officially endorsed it. The International Council of Religious Education has also done so, giving it 5. Increase Moslem preachers and teachers in towns and the indirect endorsement of some forty other de- villages. nominations. The special committee on the Christ for Youth Movement, of the General Assembly of 6. Insist on only Moslem teachers for Moslem youth. the United Presbyterian Church of North Amer- ica, in its report presented last May went into the 7. Discourage all modern non-Moslem customs. subject very thoroughly. Its opening paragraphs furnish these sentences of value and interest, and They also demand of Great Britain, as a price show the genesis of this definitely organized effort, of peace: (1) that all Jewish immigration must which at once began to be taken up by other stop; (2) that sales of land to Jews must be churches: restricted; (3) that a national Palestinian government must be established. The past two years have witnessed the most significant movement among Protestant churches in America that has From a Christian viewpoint the present out- ever taken place, looking toward universal Christian teachlook in Palestine is not bright. A recent com- ing for children and youth. The startling fact is that mission, sent out by the Church of England, visited schools and hospitals and agricultural col- twenty million boys and girls are growing up in this counonies, with a view to promoting evangelism among try as practical agnostics. They are ignorant of God and the Jews, most of whom are materialistic and irreligious. The Commission reported great difficul- His laws and His help, because no one has taught them. ties facing Christian work and said that the most Crime is costing sixteen million dollars every day, or six effective way to solve the problem is to work billions annually. Ninety-five per cent of the crime is comthrough Christian friendliness, extending help to mitted by those who have not had Christian instruction. those in need. Christian communities should be The financial cost of crime is only a fraction of the real established, with homes and institutions that will offer an opportunity for all to earn an honorable cost. livelihood. Experience proves that these unchurched children are Christian missionaries and travelers agree that accessible. All that is needed is an awakened concern and Palestine today is, perhaps, the most difficult place purpose on the part of our Christian churches. Christian on earth for the Gospel of Christ to make real instruction can be given to the whole twenty millions not headway. Even Christian Arabs are alienated by receiving it for one per cent of what crime is costing in their feeling that a Christian government is giving their country to aliens and enemies. cash. It costs less than $3.00 a pupil per year to give such instruction to three hundred thousand children in four It is our conviction that the one hope for peace and prosperity in Palestine, as in other lands, is hundred communities that have undertaken it. for all classes to recognize in Christ the Son of God, the potential Saviour of all men, and the Back of the action of our General Assembly one year giver of peace on the basis of righteousness and ago in appointing this special committee on unchurched love. The return of the Jews to Palestine is children, lies a historical setting which helps to interpret stirring up Moslem opposition but the fulfilment of prophecy will ultimately establish the reign of its importance, and our Church's Providential relation to Christ. the whole national movement. On August 14, 1934, the FOR OUR UNEVANGELIZED YOUTH one who has been since appointed chairman of this special There are movements and movements, and there committee sent out an appeal for prayer for a nationare organizations and organizations, until we wide movement in behalf of the millions of unchurched children in America. So far as we can discover, this was the first definite proposal of this nature that has been made. R. M. K.
~1ll0 MANYAPPEALS~ and the sinister ministrations of the witch doctor. The missionary's message was life-changing, 'BLED WHITE!/ revolutionary. Life has been made worth living. ''CAN'T GIVE The loving Father God has been made the per- ANOTHER sonal friend of legions of His African children (thirty-four per cent of the native people in South CENT" Africa are members of Christian churches to- day). Individuals have been freed from slavery (Courtesy oj tb. Golden Rule FOllndatlOn) to enervating tradition and an ancestor-controlled social order, and have already risen high in vari- FACTS vs. FEELINGS ous vocations and professions. For all this the new African is gra1teful. If I could control my feelings I never would But he is frankly puzzled today at what is takhave any bad feelings, I would always have good ing place before his eyes. The white missionary and the church have followed him to the highly feelings. Satan may change our feelings fifty industrialized urban area. He had felt that he was joining a great body of people which repretimes a day, but he cannot change the Word of sented that brotherhood of men and women under a common Father God about which the Apostle God; and what we want is to build our hopes of Paul said so much.
Heaven upon the Word of God. When a sinner is "The Church refuses to face or is slow to try to meet the problems of the people. It preaches coming up out of the pit, and is just ready to get impractical maxims and does not seek to prove Christianity in the Monday struggles of the peohis feet upon the Rock of Ages, the devil sticks ple," says the principal of a school.
out a plank of feeling, and says, "Get on that," In South Africa there is an element of urgency about the problems facing the Christian Church and when the sinner puts his feet on that, down arising from the very large number of African youth who are being exposed to disturbing condihe goes again. Take one saying of Jesus, "Verily, tions. In no country in the world are so many individuals of a backward race meeting face to I say unto you, he that heareth my word and be- face with so many individuals of the white race and having personal dealings with them. lieveth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, In no country in the world are so many native and shall not come into condemnation, but is Christians being put to quite so severe a test of their newly found faith. And in no country with passed from death unto life." That rock is more which the writer is familiar is there such a de- mand as in South Africa, and by native Chrisstable than my feeling. D. L. MOODY. tians, for a program of social action on the part of a united Christian Church. LOOKING AHEAD IN AFRICA In the next decade it will be a race between The new African, the product of missionary such action and such unity of endeavor by the schools and colleges, looks back and recalls the Christian Church and the relegation of the Church fearsome, deadening, spirit-controlled world of to the sidelines of interest-at least on the part his fathers, and he is grateful for the early work of educated African men and women who are of the missionary pioneers who liberated the peo- making the cities and towns their homes. ple from bondage to tribal and ancestral spirits RAY EDMUND PHILLIPS.
WHAT MISSIONARIES ARE SENT TO PREACH Not human experience, but divine redemption. Not economic de!!.ls, but the Gospel of Christ. Not culture, but conversion. Not personal reforms, but liberation from sin. Not laws of progress, but forgiveness for sin. Not social reform, but spiritual salvation. Not a new organization, but a new creation. Not the benefits of civilization, but the blessings of Christ. Weare ambassadors, not diplomats.
R. P. RICHARDSON, North Kiangsu, China.
Mission Work in
By HERBERT SMITH, D.D., Bolenge, Coquilhatville, Congo BeIge, Africa I F YOU are sent to do pioneer work at a new One learns that in Africa today most colonial missionary station, the very best thing that governments have a real concern for the village can happen to you is that you should forget people. Most missions have made a name for that you are in so elementary and yet so impor- themselves. They come not only to build a, church tant work. If you should begin to think that you where the Gospel will be preached, but they will were sent there because you were important, the have a school where the people will learn to read future will be much in doubt. The natives with and write and where other things will be taught. whom you must work would soon sense that you They will have a hospital and also some plan for regarded yourself as being of more consideration vocational work, in either agriculture or industry. than they, and such an attitude would be fatal. The colonial government usually welcomes a mis- These native people are good judges of character. sion that can look forward to a fully developed They can read the motives of many a man even work. The one-man mission is not now very popthough he and they speak different languages. ular with them because one man is unable to This does not mean that the native will not re- preach and do well all the work mentioned. Most spect you. They respect their elders and rulers, mission stations need several missionaries who but every newcomer is just a person to them, and have varied talents and can render different types you have to win them. When you have done so of servicp. in the Name of the Master. the way is open for the very best kind of future work. The Daily Problems Begin Obtaining a Mission Site The steamer landed us at the new station in the late afternoon. The natives gathered hur- Occasionally we hear of the missionary who riedly on the beach when the steamer whistled. goes among a people, settles in their village and What a strange group! They wore little clothing; almost forces his Gospel down their throats. In there was not a shirt among them; their bodies reality such a thing is impossible. In most Afri- were smeared with red powdered wood used as a can colonies, before a missionary can begin to live paint; their hair was matted, and had not been in any village, or even near one, he must obtain combed for months. Every man had some weapon permission twice over. He visits the place where in his hand, either a bow and arrows or spear he would like to settle. He asks the chief and the or large fighting knife. The women had babies on elders of the village if they will permit him to re- their hips and the bodies of the little children side near them. If they will, he then proceeds to were covered with yaw sores. Yet we learned to the administrative authority of the colony and love quite a few of that first crowd. Many have makes the same request. If the native people said become Christians, and we have seen them they did not want a missionary to live near them, clothed, have heard them pray, and have seen the matter is ended; he will not be allowed to them do deeds of kindness because of the Good force himself upon an unwilling people. But if News that comes with the Christian missionary. the villagers have agreed that he should come a In that village it would be almost impossible now government officer goes to see the site and holds to find a baby with yaws. a council meeting with the chiefs and elders to see if they understand what they have. done. If the Morning seemed to come too soon. The goats matter seems to be in accordance with the policy we took with us were tied outside the hut because of the government, permission may be given to there was no other place. The first male of the take certain portions of ground. This permission flock was dead. The steamer was getting ready for temporary residence can be confirmed later or to leave. Some of the natives, especially the old may be withdrawn. It must also be remembered chief and the women, had now got right near to that the government may not give permission, the steamer and were talking to the crew. They even though the native people have offered a site were quite interested in all they saw. The captain for residence. suddenly saw a chance to have some fun. Up went his arm and he blew a blast on the whistle. The [ 519 ]
women fled for their lives and the old chief just would say, "Where is the owner?" Then she about outran them. He explained later that he would have to admit that he was working in the was getting out of the way of the women. But forest or garden and that he might not be back the crowd was not going home and they were not for an hour or two, but that she would be glad to going to allow anything to keep them from satis- receive any gift they might want to give. To this fying their curiosity. the man would say, "You are a woman, what do you know about such things?" We took an American stove, which was set up in the open. The cook had an appreciative audi- The lady was always equal to such an occasion ence. He lighted the fire, having told them what and always said, "Thank you. Won't you sit would happen, so that all eyes were on the end of down and wait until the owner comes?" Then the stove pipe. Suddenly the smo.ke appeared and she would try to get the women to talk. Up until away went the women again, laughing and shout- now they had never said a word. Now they giging, half in fear and half in ridicule that the white gled and answered questions by shaking their man had to have a contraption like that to cook heads, wiggling their bare toes and putting their his food. The chief did not run that time. He hands over their mouths, but not a word would was getting wiser, making game of his wives and they say. Perhaps this lady with great guile would asking if they were babies that run at the sight entice these women into the house and let them of smoke. stand so they could see themselves in a large mir- ror. One would not recognize her own picture Ground had to be· cleared for a temporary at first but she would that of another wife. Then house. We opened a box of long knives known as there would be a roar. They would beat their matchets and used for clearing underbrush and breasts and slap one another on the back and from cutting smaller trees. The chief had never seen now on they would talk a streak. The old chief a boxful of knives before. He promptly put out who had been left out of this would stand it no his hand, expecting one as a present. Gifts that longer. He would want to come in and see what early in the morning were out of order, so he had it was all about. They would show him a picture to wait until later. We had taken a number of of himself in the looking glass and ask him if he workmen with us from one of our other stations. knew himself. After awhile he would realize he Like us, they were housed in huts of the village. was looking at himself and consent to smile, but We built our temporary houses as fast as we could. he would refuse to make the fuss the women did. In a week we had a roof over our heads. This After looking awhile he would say, "I wonder roof was made from palm leaves and was fine dur- where that road goes to?" With that he tried to ing quiet sunshine, but when a storm raged these get into the bedroom to find out. He thought the leaves would stand up on end, allowing the tropi- mirror was a path into some other house. These cal rain to pour into our bedroom. You then chiefs and their wives gave us many moments of pushed your bed over in the other corner, and humor as well as serious thought. It was neces~ hoped the sun would shine next day. It usually sary for them to know us as well as for our does do that most of the time. Such weather was tongues to begin to stammer out some of their very hard on books, clothes and the little furniture language. we had. When Christmas Came Native Hospitality Christmas came, and we invited a number of The natives soon wanted to show their hospital- chiefs and others to a service under the great tall ity. This consisted in bringing presents and mak- trees. Things went all right while we sang and ing speeches of welcome. Unfortunately we could told the Christmas story of the birth of Christ, not, at first, understand the speeches. The chiefs but when we tried to close the meeting with from miles around came to bring these gifts and prayer that was another matter. The native evanto make speeches. The chiefs always wanted the gelist said, "Now let everybody close his eyes man of the house to receive these gifts. In fact while we pray." The oldest chief, who was decked they refused to give them to his wife. They would out in a hat of feathers, refused to close his eyes ask her, "Where is the male?" She would look but he put his hand over his face and looked out of the door, and there standing was a man through his fingers. That would have been all with a spear in his hand, a loin cloth for clothing, right if some women had not seen him and begun and a monkey skin for a hat. Behind him were to giggle. Thinking to maintain his dignity he three or four women. Each of these women had called out in a loud voice, "You women, can't you a basket on her back which was filled with plan- stop laughing for just a short time? Aren't you tains and dried meat of the forest. Always five ashamed at spoiling the meeting of the white or six chickens dangled head downward from one man ?" The damage was done. Everybody knew of their hands. If the lady missionary greeted that he was afraid to shut his eyes in a public them without answering the question the man
PIONEER MISSION WORK IN AFRICA
meeting. He looked all around him to see that no was his own affair." "No it wasn't. If you had one was going to work a charm on him, and the not taken him to your house and if Mamma had whole crowd began to laugh. It was impossible not cooked for him we would have had to furnish to pray, so we said "Amen" and ended the meet- paddlers, and they would have been gone for days. ing. We would learn, however, how to handle a You helped us then." Because of this and similar crowd that could laugh and be serious at the most events almost all the villages there received the simple things, all inside of a couple of minutes. Gospel in due season. They tried hard to under- As soon as the meeting had broken up the head stand our broken language and when we failed to chief and others followed us to our mud hut and make things clear the native evangelist who was said, "White man, we have corne a long way to with us, in many eloquent speeches and sermons this meeting of yours. Now what is our pay for brought the beauty and salvation of the Gospel. coming?" We would learn things the longer we lived among these forest people. We did not pay The wives of the local chief received the Gospel them for coming to church. Years afterwards we one by one, with the permission arid consent of learned that our every action was noticed and their husband. He seemed to welcome the idea talked about in the village. The man missionary of having them become Christians. We then made the garden, and his wife did not. According found out that he thought there was hope for him to native custom the woman is the gardener. The in the faith of his wives. It was a shock to him missionary husband and wife ate together at when the matter was fully explained. He carne every meal; in fact, the wife was served first. If many times to talk it over with us, and all his they walked down a path they walked side by side wives carne too. He was most sincere in his quesand not as the native, with the man in front and tions regarding his obligation to these women and the woman behind. We did so many things in a how he should become a Christian. He was told way that was quite contrary to their customs. there was but one way. A chief, or any man or woman must receive the gracious salvation in just Meeting the State Officer the same way. One day he asked, "If I become a Christian which one of these women is to be my Steamers and canoes passed our village horne wife? I love all of them, and they all love me. very seldom in those days. One morning the drum What am I to do?" of a canoe was heard, and soon it was announced that a State officer was coming. He landed at This was a hard question, and I did not want the native village near by. We went to meet him, to decide for him. After many days of thought but before we reached the beach he had ordered he said, "My first wife has a child, and the others that the village furnish a number of paddlers to have no children. I will take that woman as my take him further on his journey. We invited him Christian wife, and the others can marry whom to our new home, which was not very much to they will in my family who are Christians, or relook at, but he seemed glad to accept the invita- turn to their own families, just as they wish." tion. He accepted also an invitation to dinner and That settled the matter. It was the happiest day stayed with us several hours. We asked him about in that man's life when he was baptized in the his journey and how the paddlers he had ordered water of the great Congo River. Other chiefs from the near by village would get back horne came to witness the service and marveled at his again. It was really none of our business, but he joy, but they shook their heads and said, "He is replied as best he could. We then accompanied quite happy, but he is a fool. Why, he gave up him to his canoe, and he announced to the sur- his wives to become a Christian." prise of the villagers that he would take no paddlers from that village, and in a moment was The Help of Palavers gone. We returned to our work and forgot the incident, but the natives did not and this is how they I spent many hours in palavers about their brought it up years afterwards. quarrels, and I did it by request. The main reason was to get to know the people. Usually it was "White man, we decided you were our friend a dispute about wives or debts or inheritances or long ago. Don't you remember the day the State hunting and fishing rights, and also adultery and officer came and asked for paddlers from our vil- thefts. The word palaver seems to belong to lage and you took him home to your house. You Africa. It usually means disputes and almost and Mamma were living in a mud house then. every man, woman and child has some kind of Mamma cooked some dinner for him and when he palaver, so one has plenty of practice trying to returned to our village he said he did not want straighten things out. During those early days, our paddlers." "Yes," I said, "I remember, but when people asked me to do this, I said, "Why do I never had anything to do with the State officer you come to me. I have no authority to carry out changing his mind about your paddlers. That a decision. If both parties will agree to the ar- bitration in advance I will see what I can do." I
have often wondered since how my recommenda- News, and you share it with no one. Here we live tions sounded to those native ears. I knew very in villages all around here, and none of you come little about native customs or native unwritten to visit and teach us. If we die as we are you law, but I tried to be fair in what I suggested. will be to blame." The listeners were quite stirred They usually attempted to follow out the decisions up and they excused themselves by saying, "The I made. Often one had to read between the white man has not sent us to you. If he will send speeches to get at what they intended you to know us we will come willingly. We will ask him about and what they intended to hide. Nor must you it at the next weekly meeting." suppose that these palavers were conducted without heat. Half a dozen wanted to talk at once, The next meeting found this subject the first and they would get to calling each other liars, topic. The blame for these other villagers being offering at the same time to fight it out right without Gospel teachers was now placed on the there. The rule was that no palaver should be missionary. They asked him, "Why do you refuse held until all weapons had been put aside, so most to allow these people the privilege of Gospel of the boasting was to get rid of steam. After teachers ?" awhile the facts of the case would emerge and a decision could be given that seemed fairly satis- "Now," we said, "wait a bit. We may share factory. this responsibility somewhat. But it seems to be your own affair before it is ours. These villagers After we got a permanent house built, with are your friends, are they not? Perhaps they are steps leading up to the porch, the old men had to your very own relatives, maybe mothers and falearn how to climb those steps. They came up the thers and brothers and sisters. If anyone should first time on their hands and knees, and we had be anxious for them to have the Gospel it surely to help them down. They liked to get up there, should be you yourselves." however, and to be given an old porch chair to sit on. One old man in particular came often. He "Do you mean to. say," they asked, "that if we brought little gifts of sugar cane, or perhaps an find someone to go you will send them?" "That egg or two. He wanted salt and tin spoons or tin is what I mean," I replied. "If there is someone forks in return. One day he said he was going to worthy and capable and can have the approval of church with me. He had often refused our in- both Christians and missionaries we will be glad vitation, but this time he was willing to go and to see that work start." asked if he could take the chair he was sitting on to church. He seemed to pay attention to the The work began in the near by villages inside of service and after the meeting I expected to see a week. As a ~esult of that weekly meeting hunhim return the chair, but he had other intentions. dreds have been sent out, and great numbers have A small boy came running saying the old man been won for Christ through that kind of cowas taking the chair home and telling everybody operation. I gave it to him. We asked him to return the chair to our porch, and explained to him that if he car- The missionary force was augmented through ried off that chair we would have great shame the the years by the educator, who taught the people next time he came to see us because we.would have to read the Holy Scriptures and gave them much no chair to offer him to sit on. He returned the general knowledge. When the doctor and nurse chair and came often, but in spite of our hope arrived a new day was surely at hand. Now there that he would one day understand the Gospel mes- were health studies and help to those in pain and sage he never did. He was held fast with his distress. Little children no longer suffered the heathenism. long painful scourge of yaws, but were healed in a couple of weeks. Helping to Carry the Message One of the finest things that has come to these It was one of the pleasures of the work that Christians is to discover that there are many other newly made converts were anxious to go out to people in Africa who are Christians too. Forvillages, both near and far, to tell the Gospel story. merly there was no means of travel. It was dan- It began in this way. We had a weekly custom of gerous to go very far from home; hence it was meeting with Christians to learn about their not possible to have friends very far away from growth in their new faith and also how the new the village in which you were born. Now these leaven was working in other places. Visitors con- newborn Christians read about other people who tinued to come to the village, some of them to are really of another tribe in the flesh, but who call on the missionaries, but many of them to see are of the same tribe in the Lord. This is a very the new Christian village that was slowly grow- great gain to the African. ing. One day some of these visitors said to the Christians: "This is not fair. You have this Good Native Christians are not yet ready to stand alone. They have come a long way in the brief time they have had a chance to hear the Gospel, but they will need more guidance and fellowship for a long time to come.
A Church that Gives and Likes
By REV. GEORGE C. SOUTHWELL, Cleveland, Ohio, Secretary of the Cleveland Office of the American Mission to Lepers W HEN the Rev. Herbert Mackenzie had Dr. McConaughy asked him what the church been pastor of the Gospel Church of spent on its local expenses, and he found that, Cleveland, Ohio, only six weeks, the church generous as the missionary gifts had been, the organist, a beautiful Christian girl, died suddenly. amount was much smaller than that contributed The young people's society, the Bible School, the for local expenses. Mr. Mackenzie felt a real jolt, church trustees, and several groups started funds when Dr. McConaughy said: "I don't believe you to purchase beautiful floral remembrances for the ought to boast about your missionary giving until funeral, but the pastor felt that a living gift you spend more on 'others' than upon yourselves.'?
would be better than flowers that perish. A short time after this Dr. Henry W. Frost, of With the consent of the family the announce- the China Inland Mission, remarked to Pastor Mackenzie that "a spiritual interpretation of ,the ment was made that "flowers should be omitted" Scriptures would make a church missionary conand, at the pastor's suggestion "The Hazel Cain scious more quickly than the telling of thrilling Fund" for the support of a Bible woman in China, was soon subscribed. missionary stories."
That was the first missionary project of the Gospel Church, and it has been maintained for many years.
The pastor's first missionary vision came to him in London, Ontario, ' where he was a mission church pastor, serving without stated salary. The first week he received $2.00, and the first year, $225.00; but when clothes were needed, or food, they came unsolicited, just as they were needed and not before. Pastor Mackenzie was reminded of Job, who said: "Have (I) eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless have not eaten thereof." He desired to share his spiritual bread with the multitudes who were famishing. A missionary day was appointed, with a goal of $50.00 for missions. This seemed a large amount for his small and poor mission church. Prayer days were appointed and the gifts amounted to $296. In twelve months they raised $1,200.00 for missions, and the pastor's support was adequate for his needs. Next the mission moved out of the old building, and purchased a fine abandoned church structure.
From this fruitful Canadian pastorate Mr. Mac- kenzie was called to the Gospel (undenomina- tional) Church in Cleveland, Ohio. There, too, mission days and goals were set, preceded by days of prayer – not incidental prayers at a crowded midweek meeting, but all-day prayer meetings with men and women attending. Gifts to missions REV. HEmBERT MACKENZIE increased to such an extent that the pastor, being human, expressed his satisfaction to Dr. David McConaughy, one time as they walked together.
[523 ]
From the Lord's great commission: "Go ye money to open five stations at $1,000.00 each in into all the world and preach the gospel to every the last seven years. creature," and Solomon's proverb: "Where there is no vision, the people perish," the pastor found The Bible School has its own missionary with the texts which, with many others, became the in- whom it keeps in touch by regular correspondence. spiration for his famous expository sermons. The missionary cause is always before the people, These were the forerunners of the winter and for prominently displayed in the front of the summer Erieside Bible Conferences, and mission- church is a world map with little burning electric ary conventions, which have brought to Cleveland lights, each representing a missionary and his or some of the greatest Bible teachers of America. her field of service. Here is a literal version of the words: "Let your light so shine before men Sam Higginbottom, the well-known missionary that they may see your good works, and glorify of Allahabad, India, came to the Gospel Church, your Father which is in heaven." married a daughter of "Elder" Cody and they became the first missionaries of the church. Soon Some one of the many missionaries of this church is always at home on furlough, and is THE GOSPEL CHURCH, CLEVELAND invited into the homes of the members, so that the children grow up in a missionary atmosphere. other young people in the congregation volunteered for missionary service, and one by one, The church holds a missionary conference each were accepted by missionary boards and sent year, in addition to cooperating in the Erieside abroad. Bible Conferences, founded by the pastor. A four- page folder, containing pictures of its mission- The funds for transportation, outfits, and sup- aries and interesting facts about their work, is port came from the members and some outside published by the church. friends. Nigeria, Africa, called seven members; Argentina, South America, called two others; On invitation of the mission boards, Pastor Abyssinia called two; Rhodesia, one; and the Mackenzie has made visits to missions in Africa Chicago Hebrew Mission, another. Some mem- and South America and his personal reminiscences bers have assumed full support of certain mis- add to the missionary flame. sionaries. One supply teacher in the Sunday school, herself a school teacher, has provided the The Gospel Church has continued to grow and is occupying its third building in thirty years. Two other churches in, or near Cleveland, have also grown out of it.
Dr. Mackenzie has never had a stated salary, but depends on the free will offerings of his peo- ple. There are only 200 members but the pastor believes that for every ten members there should be one missionary on the foreign field and the church is now supporting eighteen. Four other young people are in training for mission work. Gifts to missions have increased from $200.00 to $10,000.00 per year. During the past twenty- six years these people, none of whom are rich, have contributed $200,000.00 for missionary work.
When Dr. Mackenzie was asked for the secret of the missionary achievements of this church he replied: "Consecration, vision, prayer, and faith." The Scriptures are the lamp that lights his leader- ship. In a recent issue of the Church Bulletin we read: "If ye shall ask … I will do" (John 14). Man, in his own strength, can do nothing constructive -"Power belongeth unto God." Our part is to ask. How? In faith (James t; 6). In great faith? No. Faith is more precious than gold that perisheth, and Christ said, "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place and it shall remove" (Mat. 17: 21). Let us ask daily.
to Mission Work in
By REV. C. s. JENKINS, Manjacaze, Gaza, Portuguese East Africa .r-. AFRICA, with its 11,412,320 square miles of On the other hand we know that no living soul is territory, and its 170,000,000 people! Each really satisfied without communion with his Cre- section presents its peculiar difficulties. I ator. We know that he is not satisfied, but he think that, in pointing out the following hin- doesn't. He has to be made to see that Jesus is drances which I present for your consideration, I his need. The time required to do this varies, ac- am stating, more or less, the condition in Africa cording to the missionary and the section in which as a whole. he labors.
It has been my joy to give the past sixteen years Lack of appreciation: The religion of Jesus to service in this so-called Dark Continent. Per- causes His people to "do good unto all men." The haps I cannot speak with absolute authority, but missionary tries through ministering to the body I bring to you in this article the results of careful to reach the soul. These efforts have met varying and prayerful observation after these years of degrees of success. Many times, to our surprise, labor for the salvation of the African. After all, they have not been rewarded by the appreciation there is but one real hindrance, and that is the which we would expect. Not that the missionary presence in the world of the archenemy of God expects rewards in this life, but he is pained and all righteousness. In this article I am en- many times by this lack of response. And what deavoring to state, as I see them, a few of the missionary has not awakened to the fact that he many specific difficulties. It is not practical to is now expected to care for the bodily needs of try to give them in the order of their significance the people? Has not God sent him for this pur- as many are of much the same importance. pose, that is, as a convenience? It is a shock at I. Natural Propensities of the African first, but after prayer and commitment it does not become a check. I do not mean to imply that His superstitions: He is the personification of as a result of' cases of lack of appreciation the superstition. He was born in it as were his an- missionary ceases to minister to the body. No, cestors. It is in the fiber of his being. He is but he becomes much wiser in the administration taught that everything ill comes from evil spirits of temporal things. I would not leave the impres- which are always trying to do him harm. Crop sion that the African is not appreciative. We failures, sickness, death, all come through witch- have seen hundreds of evidences of appreciation craft. He is a fatalist in every sense of the word. and gratefulness among them. We find, however, If it were possible we could make a long article that this is when grace has touched their hearts on this point alone. and the eyes of their understanding have been The African is naturally suspicious: He is sus- opened.
picious of the missionary when he first makes his II. Missionaries appearance. The founder of our work in Swazi- land labored three years before the first convert You will no doubt be surprised at my stating was made. He had to break down this suspicion. that missionaries themselves can be a hindrance As a drawing card to get the children to come to to the work of evangelization in Africa. When I the mission station he gave out picture cards. say "missionaries" I mean some missionaries-a Upon seeing them the parents immediately burned very few missionaries. I hesitate to say this, but them, saying that the missionary was trying to I am sure that many of my fellow missionaries bewitch them. In some sections there isn't a doubt will agree.
that the native's suspicions of the white man are Missionaries who do not enter into native life: well grounded. To the shame of the white race There are missionaries in Africa, a few whom I this is true in some sections where the white man have met personally, who do not learn the lan- preceded the missionary. guage of the people with whom they labor. This Self-satisfaction: Sometimes it is stated that means that they cannot know the African. It is the African is waiting with outstretched hands impossible to enter into the native life without a for the Gospel. Most of us have not found this knowledge of his language. This acquisition to be fully true. He is generally quite satisfied makes the missionary one with his people as noth- with his condition; that is, he takes it for granted. ing else could. A native will seldom bring his [525 ]
private difficulties, doubts and fears to a mission- the work by himself. I am sure that I am safe ary with whom he must speak through an inter- in saying that scores of missionaries in Africa preter. As a rule when one unburdens his heart started missionary work in the wrong way. We he doesn't wish for a third person to be present. preached the Gospel and many believed. God Interpreters have sometimes not interpreted cor- called some as preachers, and we trained them rectly. We know of such a case. Often when the and sent them out. This was good, but where we missionary was preaching and touched upon made our mistake was that these preachers were things of which the interpreter was guilty he gave supported entirely from overseas. The preachers an interpretation to suit himself. A missionary did not ask whence came this support, and some may live in the midst of his people, but still live seemed to think that the supply was exhaustless. a long distance from them. That is, he shuts him- The depression came and cuts were made. It was self away from them either consciously or uncon- a shock, and in some instances the workers did sciously. not take too kindly to it. Some missionaries, the writer included, felt that this was the time to do Low standards of teaching and living: I am not what we had wanted to do for years, but had not speaking of immorality and other outright sins. known how, and in some instances had feared to I am referring to standards which are not Gospel do. The task of correcting mistakes at this point standards. Church forms may be followed very has not been easy, either for the missionary or the carefully, while very little change is wrought in native worker, but the results are gratifying. I the heart. This is a hindrance to the spread of am certain that if our founders (may God bless the Gospel. We have seen Africans educated to their memory) had started with the indigenous a very high degree-and we believe in education church in view we never would have had some of -but with a very little knowledge of the Lord. our present difficulties. The end of all missionary endeavor should be the changing of men's hearts. Anything short of this The free-lance missionary (so-called): I hesiis building with wood, hay, stubble. Was it not tate to discuss this subject for fear of being mis- Jerry McAuley who said, when referring to edu- understood. Will you allow me to make it clear cation without God, "An uneducated man will that I do not necessarily mean the so-called indesteal your watch, but an educated one will steal pendent missionary. The missionary to whom I your daughter." refer may either be independent or belong to a denomination. He is "independent" whether con- Pressing Western ways upon an Eastern peo- nected with a denominational mission, an interdeple: I doubt the wisdom of this policy. None of nominational mission, an undenominational misus would say that everything Western was so near sion or carrying on a work of his own. What I perfect that it would be desirable for an Eastern, want to say is, that this missionary will not work primitive people. Along some lines, no doubt, together with anyone. He will go in with his par- Eastern peoples can teach us some valuable les- ticular church where the field is already well ocsons. Naturally the native will adopt the customs cupied and sometimes overcrowded. In some which come from the land of the missionary, such cases he builds up this new church with those who as dress. He not only takes on the ways of the have been disciplined in other churches. This missionary, but unhappily he takes on too many kind of work makes it very difficult to administer of the ways of the white man whom he meets. He the discipline which will build up a strong body has to learn that there is a difference between the of believers. Only missionaries working on the missionary and many of the white settlers. We field know just what this means. are thankful to say that there are some godly settlers, but they are far too few. More especially III. Godless European Civilization would I emphasize the danger of the missionary trying to Westernize the native beyond what is It will be agreed by all missionaries that it is good for him. We are not called to Africa to make far easier to reach the African who is entirely unwhite folks out of the natives, but to make Chris- touch by so-called civilization than those whom it tians. A Christian African is a beautiful char- has reached. This is a shame and disgrace upon acter. How our Lord must rejoice over him! us as a white race. Some years ago as I was trek- king through a certain district, I greeted an old We come not to establish a Western church, be woman who was plowing in her garden. She an- . it ever so fine, but to Christianize the African and swered my greeting by saying, "Shewane, muthen let a church develop along African lines. lungu" (greetings, white man). I had a native Should it not be our purpose to build up an Afri- young man traveling with me, and upon hearing can church which will eventually be a self-govern- her greeting he said, "He is not a white man; he ing, self-supporting, self-propagating church? We is a missionary!" What he meant by this was should not build in such a way as practically to that there was too great a difference between the make it impossible for the African to carryon
HINDRANCES TO MISSION WORK IN AFRICA
missionary and the white man. This ought not not allow freedom of conscience. She will take to be so, but, sad to say, it is. We call ourselves any and every means to hinder the work of the a superior race, but in some cases the white man Gospel. In the section where the writer is workwill sink to lower levels than the native. The word ing we are now feeling this opposition. Children "ka/fir" comes from the Dutch and means dog. are forced in many instances to attend Roman Missionaries never use the word, speaking of the Catholic schools. When they do so they are no natives. Imagine the depths to which one white longer allowed to attend church services in any man had gone when he received from the natives other church, even though their parents are Protthe name of white "ka/fir!" It is not pleasant to estants. Even in sections of Africa where the dwell on this point, but in considering hindrances government is nominally Protestant the Roman it must be mentioned. Catholics are a hindrance to Protestant work. They readily accept the freedom which they re- IV. Native Movements fuse others.
The aim of all missionary work should be ulti- VI. Nationalism mately to establish an African church. To this we all agree. There are times when some native This may be expressed in various ways. For leaders, having more in their heads than in their instance, if mission work is being carried on in a hearts, break away from the Church governed by self-governing territory this may work as it does the white missionary and start a native move- in Mexico; that is, only nationals are allowed to ment. I am not referring to the African branches carryon the work. If the people are a subordiof the Church which have been set apart by sev- nate people this spirit may be manifested in aneral of the larger denominations working in this other way. Sometimes this nationalism means land. I am referring to the independent native Catholicism. In the territory where the writer churches which have been started by disgruntled labors the Roman Catholics are nationals and the native leaders. Very often they are simply racial Protestants are foreigners. One can easily see and political, with the slogan, "Africa for the the problems this presents. Church and State African." They go about spreading dissatisfac- have always been one; they are supposed to be tion among the believers and gather unto them- separated now, but the union is still apparent in selves kindred spirits. spirit. Therefore, it is believed, Protestants who are foreigners must of necessity represent a for- We have at least one notable case in Portuguese eign government. One can see that this line of East Africa. An ordained native minister of one reasoning is not conducive to missionary progress of the Church's great denominations, a denomina- in such countries. Then we have seen this nationtion which pioneered the work in a part of this alistic spirit manifested among the Africans colony, became dissatisfied and separated himself themselves. The slogan, "Mrica for the Afrifrom that church. He started a native movement cans," is no mere byword. In the religious realm and headed it as a self-appointed bishop. The these movements have manifested real hatred tonatives were told that this was God's way of de- ward the missionaries themselves, who were the liverance for them from the thralldom of the means in other years of bringing to them the glowhite supervision, and he promised them that this rious Gospel of emancipation. movement would sweep the country. The only sweeping it did was to sweep from some churches I realize that I have drawn rather a dark piccertain undesirable members. After a while the ture. The nature of my subject has rather neces- "bishop" was accused of immoral conduct. He sitated this. Thank the Lord, there is a brighter was brought to trial by the church which he had side. How mighty have been the triumphs of the started, when it was found that no provision had Gospel in Africa! Were it within the bounds of been made in the church rulings for the trial of a this article how my soul would revel in the privibishop! He had carefully seen to that. Then lege of recounting a few of these wonderful viccame a separation. And so it goes on. This sort tories wrought through the preaching of the Gosof thing is a serious hindrance. pel of the Son of God! I will have to forego this joy. Handicaps? Yes. Opposition? Yes. Vic- V. Roman Catholicism tories? Multitudes! Perhaps these very things which we have numbered as hindrances to the To those laboring in Roman Catholic countries progress of the Gospel have in reality been step- I need to say nothing more. Just to state the case ping stones to greater attainments than would would be sufficient. If the people are self-govern- otherwise have been possible. ing and are Roman Catholics the difficulties are of a certain character. If they are a subordinate God loves Africa; Jesus died for Africa; the people and ruled over by Roman Catholics then Holy Spirit works in Africa. Therefore, there is, the problem is different. If possible, Rome will and must be victory!
Men and
By OSCAR EMIL EMANUELSON,* New Haven, Conn.
I T WAS an old Zulu who once said: "There are day. The writer is restricting his remarks to the two kinds of foreigners in our country-white Union of South Africa, the area with which he is men and missionaries." This statement is sig- most familiar; but what follows would probably nificant for it points to the distinction which apply to Southern Rhodesia, Kenya, or any other every Mrican has sooner or later to discover, part of Africa where white settlement is permanamely, that the missionary does try to govern his nent. whole life by the teachings of Christ, while the average Christian layman is too often content to To the average native living near a mission stapractice his religion only on Sundays. tion in a rural area, the missionary is a person to go to in time of trouble, whatever the nature of The difficulty is a real one; for, to the Afri- that trouble. It may be that a loan is needed for cans, as to most so-called primitive peoples, re- the payment of overdue taxes, or for the purchase ligion is something that permeates the whole of of food at the stores where further credit is no life. For example, in the case of the Zulus, re- longer obtainable; it may be that a serious misligion plays an important part in tribal warfare, understanding has arisen between the native and in tribal first-fruit ceremonies, and in every crisis his white employer, or between the native and the in the life of the individual. The ancestral spirits government officials in connection with regulaare constantly looked to for help and guidance, tions for the control of epidemic animal diseases; and are propitiated with offerings. The ordinary or it may be that a child or a valuable ox or cow European in Africa, on the other hand, may open- is ill and in need of immediate attention. Of ly claim to have no time for religion; or he may course, the native in trouble often goes to his discuss Christian brotherhood in a very emotional white employer or an official and obtains both manner on Sundays and still use very questionable advice and assistance; but, as a general rule, it methods in dealing with his "brothers," particu- is still the missionary who is called on for help; larly his colored African brothers, in business and this is usually forthcoming, unless the mishours on week days. sionary's slender resources are quite unable to bear the strain placed upon them. Even non- The first permanent settlers came to the Cape Christian natives are frequently helped by misof Good Hope in 1652, more than one hundred and sionaries in circumstances like those just outfifty years after the Cape had been discovered; lined. Such is the position in the rural areas, to Natal the early settlers came in 1823, some where the so-called "raw" natives do definitely three hundred years after its discovery by the believe that missionary white men are different Portuguese; while the Transvaal and the Orange from, and superior to, ordinary white men. What Free State were settled by dissatisfied Dutch of the urban areas? farmers who started leaving the Cape as late as 1835. Missionaries were early on the scene in What the Africans Say each of these four territories, and they came in The distinction just outlined between "white the interests of the natives, to whom they wanted men" and "missionaries" seems perfectly natural to bring the Gospel of Christ; whereas the set- to some people; but beliefs are not held by everytlers entered these areas in their own interests. body for all time, and what seems axiomatic to This initial difference between settlers and mis- one person in one generation may stimulate doubt sionaries persists to a remarkable degree, even to- • Mr. Oscar Emil Emanuelson, the son of Swedish missionaries to and inquiry in another. It was in a spirit of in- qUI'ry that a qu-estl'onnal're was prepared and sent . the natives of Natal and Zululand, Is a district inspector of native out to representative natives in the largest urban schools in the service of the Natal Government Education Depart- area in South Africa. Among the questions asked were the following: "Are you a member of a ment. He secured the B.A. degree in 1919, and the M.En. degree in ChrI•s•tian church?. WhoICh one.? Are the ChrI'S- 1927, from the University of South Africa. Through the generosity tian churches losing or gaining influence among of the International Institute of African Languages and Cultures, urban native residents today? Why is this? he was enabled to spend the academic year 1934-35 in studying anthropology under Professor Malinowski at the University of London; and by the award of a Carnegie fellowship In Race Relations he was enabled to spend the academic year 1935-36 at Yale Univer- ~7. i~aa~::I~~~c~~o1b~~tt~~ ~f~i~YH°,;w~'au~~~o1:~~nRg;~e~~~a~l~~~ s~~~~t~~ri~~~ race relations In those countries before returning to [528 ]
WHITE MEN AND MISSIONARIES
Please let us have your honest opinion (perhaps enough already and should withdraw from mison a separate sheet of paper) of the work of the sion work among the natives; four thought that churches at the present time: their leadership, the missionaries were losing their influence bemethods, and value to the community." Three cause of the bad example set by the whites who of those who replied were sure that the churches did not attend church and who showed their inwere gaining influence, twelve were uncertain as difference to religion in other ways; four attribto what answer to give about the value of the uted the decrease in the influence of the missionmissionaries to the natives, and forty-two were aries to the counter attractions of liquor, dance sure that the missionaries were either useless or halls, and theaters; two explained matters by harmful to the native community. In other words, saying that the "educated" natives, especially of the missionaries of today in the urban areas do the younger generation, were indifferent to renot rank nearly so high in the opinion of the na- ligion; two thought that much could be accounted tives as did the early missionaries in the pioneer for by the presence of "formalism" in the mission days, before the building of large towns and cities. churches; while two complained of the absence of love from all churches and of bad treatment of From those who spoke definitely in favor of the natives by Christian whites. missionaries and their work, came the following comments: That the missionaries are on the Some Bantu Grievances whole good friends to the Africans, that the Christian mode of life is far superior to the heathen In connection with these adverse comments way of living, that the missionaries interest them- upon the missionaries and their influence, the conselves in both church and social questions, that sidered opinion of D. D. T. Jabavu is worthy of the missionaries do not keep all the best posts in close attention, for he is an Mrican author of sevthe church for themselves, that Christianity re- eral important books on a variety of native matduces the fears of the Africans, that the mission- ters. In his chapter on Bantu Grievances in a aries still do much more for native education than recent book, "Western Civilization and the Nathe government does, and that the churches are tives of South Africa" (edited by 1. Schapera; gaining more in influence than they are losing in Routledge, 1934), Jabavu says: "In religious numerical strength. circles, too, the color obsession is not wanting. In combined social functions, the Nordic races Twenty-six considered the missionaries to be fall far behind those of Southern Europe in soseekers of wealth, either for themselves or for ciability. Promotions to positions of responsibiltheir own denominational funds; sixteen believed ity due to our more advanced pastors are often that the churches were losing their influence, be- withheld because 'they are not yet fit for responsicause of the poor training which many of the mis- bility'; and it is odd to see our elderly ministers sionaries and other church workers had received; with ripe experience serving as underlings to very ten thought of the missionaries as plain hypo- young white ministers fresh from their theologicrites; ten felt that the missionaries were losing cal college. We see no progress made to enable their power, on account of their acquiescence in our men to qualify for this fitness, the determinacolor bars within the churches and the schools tion of which is left to the judgment of their under church control; ten maintained that em- white brethren." phasis on spiritual matters and neglect of social welfare work were reducing the efficiency of the Broadly speaking, the missionaries have been, churches; six believed that the missionaries could and still are, opposed to what are termed "repulnot become a power in the land until they were sive" heathen customs and beliefs; and in this prepared to sink denominational differences and the missionaries have the general white public abandon interdenominational strife to the point with them. To this extent, then, there is simiof amalgamating the churches; five could not see larity rather than difference; but the efforts of how the missionaries could have any influence the missionaries are also directed along another over the natives, when the churches followed pub- line, the replacement of faith in ancestral spirits lic opinion, instead of leading it and having a real by faith in Christ, and the general white public effect upon government legislation on native mat- is doing practically nothing to give direct help in ters; four accounted for the decreasing influence this task. For example, white farmers will ridiof the missionaries by the increasing unwilling- cule native belief in magic in the field of agriculness of the missionaries to trust and consult na- ture, but few of them will take any real interest tives in matters of church finance; four felt that in the adoption of Christianity by their servants; the missionaries had confused Christianity with yet the government and the general white public European culture, and had done their own cause are compelled to give support to the missions, harm by unnecessary interference with native especially when the lives of missionaries are in customs and the power of the native chiefs; four danger in periods of unrest. argued that the missionaries had stayed long
Criticism of this general tendency to condemn should be forthcoming locally if the natives are to native customs and beliefs comes from students be won for Christ. But that happy state of affairs of functional anthropology, who insist that these will not be realized in the near future, and the matters should be most carefully studied before mission societies will therefore continue to be dethey are interfered with in any way, lest the re- pendent upon support from overseas for some sults of such interference be far different from time to come. Local support will never become those anticipated. Missionaries have actively op- adequate without supervision and control of misposed the whole system of "bride price payments" sionary activity by the whites in Africa; and and the general practice of polygamy, even to the these will give neither the money for mission exextent of demanding that a native man should penses nor the time for mission supervision until keep only one of his wives and send the others they are persuaded, not forced, to follow the giveaway; while the anthropologists point out that and-take principle by giving a little more and takthe "bride price" is really a public seal to a con- ing a little less. It certainly seems futile to extract between the two families to which the bride pect the whites to follow in their daily lives a and bridegroom belong, and very similar to the philosophy which they do not whole-heartedly "dowry" so well known in some European coun- accept. Yet it might be objected that this is tries. The "bride price" usually takes the form exactly what the ruling whites expect the ruled of a small herd of cattle. natives to do.
As the natives of South Africa do believe in a In their attempts to do this persuading the mis- Supreme Being they do not oppose and resent the sionaries may be accused of "pussyfooting." In teaching of the missionaries concerning God. fact, they are being accused of that very practice. What they resent is interference with the old so- Witness the comments by natives quoted at the becial organization and the traditional practices and ginning of this paper. This matter calls for comcustoms; hence many of the Christian natives ment on the history of mission policy in South bring into their new religion the lack of sincerity Africa. At one time a certain group of missionand the stress on formalism which characterized aries, those who believed in the "noble savage" their old religion. At the same time, the mission- and stressed the struggle for political rights, aries have in a way become tribal officials who gained ascendancy over another group, those who worship "the unknown god" on behalf of the tribe. believed in the motto of ora et labora, and sought In other words, the missionaries get quite a great to secure spiritual and material development deal of recognition from the heathen members of rather than political and social status. This asthe tribe and even more recognition from the cendancy of the one group over the other is the Christian members, with the result that the aver- basis of much of the present unwillingness of the age missionary is an honored guest in the ordi- whites to "give" in matters affecting the natives. nary tribe. For this reason it might be argued that the mis- sionary "victory" of those early days is the cause Although many of the natives of South Africa of missionary "defeat" today-if the missionaries are still heathens, there can be very few natives are suffering defeat today, and that time alone who are absolutely unfamiliar with the main can show whether "pussyfooting" to secure willteachings of Christianity and also, unfortunately, ing and friendly consideration of native claims with the great difference between these and their will not prove more effective than direct attacks. general application in the daily life of the average white Christian. The natives realize only too well Even the worst enemies of the missionaries, that Christian pririciples apply better among the past and present, will agree that, however great Europeans themselves than they do between race may be the mistakes which have occurred, the and race, that Christianity as practiced by the missionaries have made valuable scientific conwhites does not help the weak of the land-the tributions to knowledge in the realms of ethnology native peoples, and that missionary effort is tol- and ethnography, and that, in spite of the apparerated by the whites in Africa so long as most of ently disruptive effects of missionary enterprise the money and the missionaries come from over- on native social organization, the work done by seas. missionaries to foster and preserve native lan- guages, reduced to written form by the mission- White Churches and Missions aries, is today -having an undoubted integrating. effect upon native society quite unlike anything In fact, the dualism between the white churches being done directly or indirectly by the general in South Africa and the mission societies there is white public. And the impartial observer would so glaringly apparent that it cannot be overlooked go further and say that the missionaries are still by even the most unobservant native. The white serving essential needs of the natives in the field churches should practice what the mission so- of religion itself. With this view the writer of cieties preach; the necessary sympathy and mis- this paper whole-heartedly agrees. sion workers and daily justice and mission funds
Christ Has Done for My
By BERNARD MOLABA, 1)1- Bantu Presbyterian Theological Student at the South African I Native College, Fort Hare, South Africa I T IS not easy within the compass of a brief ity and of the scientific treatment of disease will article to do justice to a wide subject like this completely disappear. -What Christ Has Done for My People-the Bantu of South Africa, and Africa's greatest need In a word, we can assuredly say that the Good of Him. It is indeed an attempt to reduce a News of the Man of Galilee is becoming effective whole book to a short article. But as I am limited among the Bantu. As He said, He came to preach, to this space I shall in passing only mention what teach, heal and free. Christ has already done, and I shall mention only The preaching of the Good News is being car- ried on every day and nearly everywhere among those needs which are of paramount importance. The state of affairs among the Bantu prior to the advent of Christianity is well known. True, the Bantu had religious ceremonies and observances, but these were accompanied by superstition and mystification, and were attempts to propitiate angry and fearful spirits. When Christianity with its cornerstone of love came, many of these mystical rites disappeared.
Three main things which have been definitely removed by Christ can be mentioned at the outset.
First, there were the intertribal wars, often accompanied by much bloodshed and misery.
Christ has now united these tribes which were at variance one with the other, and although they retain their separate totemistic clans they nevertheless feel that they belong to a wider racial circle which includes all the different little circles, BERNARD M'OLABA and that they are all one in spirit and purpose and need not destroy one another. The old destructive days have passed away.
Second, there were the tribal hatreds, spite, contempt, and disunion. All these destructive ele- ments have vanished. There was a time when a the Bantu. From the large cities to the remotest member of an alien tribe was your rightful foe, rural areas faithful worshipers of Christ gather but now we feel we are joined, not by those tan- to praise His Name for the salvation which is gible bonds of blood and flesh, but by eternal and theirs. They are called to worship by tower bells spiritual bonds of love and peace and good will in the cities, and in the villages by hand bells or and common purpose. We feel We are one in an old ploughshare struck by a hammer. They Christ. listen eagerly to the message, and thank the mis- sionaries who dared so much to bring Christianity Third, there were cruel and repugnant customs, like the slaying of twins, the sacrifice of children to them. It is true that we still have heathens, for the propitiation of angry spirits, and the but their numbers diminish with time. I am sure smelling out of witches. Through Christ these that even in old countries unbelievers are still have been removed, and where formerly was found. cruelty and bloodshed is now love, peace, and good Teaching has likewise been making progress.
will. Throughout South Africa, from the towns to the True it is that superstition still lingers in many lonely rural places, you find mission schools; and a village, but this with the progress of Christian- here secular education is based upon a solid foun- [531 ]
dation in Christ. Many heathens send their chil- is shown in various aspects of their lives. In agdren to mission schools, and these children in most riculture, education, literature, music and induscases refuse to go back to the old life. Generally try new ventures are being made. Some men say speaking every Bantu man realizes the benefits that the belief in witchcraft is still unshaken, but of education, and hence many children from hea- this is not entirely true. Young people now scorn then homes attend schools and ultimately become and ridicule this absurd belief, and it is no doubt followers of Christ. vanishing.
Within a short time education has made won- What Is Needed to Win Africa derful strides. Through missionary enterprise village schools have been founded, later institutes In the first place, some Africans cry out that and finally colleges. when the white man came to Africa he had the Bible and we had the land; now we have the Bible I am writing this article in the South African and he has the land. Weare crammed in a small Native College, at Fort Hare, which has a mar- piece of ground, here to perish with our cattle, velous history. Within the twenty-one years of but one European owns twice as much land as a its existence it has produced about sixty Bachelors whole village. They say that Christianity is a of Art and two Bachelors of Science, apart from drug to keep us silent and in hope of compensation eighty fully qualified doctors who completed their in the future world, that Europeans preach what courses overseas. No man who had not the Spirit they do not practice, and that they say, "Do as I of Christ could have convinced the government tell you and not as I do." These and many other that a native youth, given the opportunity, could complaints are voiced by discontented agitators, do any mental work which a European youth and, unless the Church wakes up definitely to face could do. We thank missionaries for dispelling them, Christianity may lose even the ground it by practical examples the idea of an inferior men- has. tality in the native. The idea that the native must be treated dif- The writer remembers well the time he spent ferently from the European is wrong. What is as a lad in the "cattle-posts." To have seen a good for the native is good for the European, and European then was a topic for weeks, to have vice versa. Christ treated all men alike, and spoken to him was a boast unbearable by other talked with the despised Samaritans. Our govfellows, and to have shaken hands with him was ernments are called Christian. One reads, for ina great honor; but within such a short time, stance, that the Union Government follows the through Christ, we do not only speak with them lead of the Almighty in all that it does. Can the and shake hands with them, but we have realized repressive legislation and color bars originate that black and white are brothers in Christ, and from God? These destructive measures are prothat there is a purpose for each here in South ducing a bitter attitude in the minds of Africans. Africa. White preservation and domination seem to be the main policy of our government, and these meas- We write the examinations in the same lan- ures are creating a new outlook in the minds of guages, and experience the same difficulties. All the Africans. This year, 1936, in South Africa a this has been done through Christ, in whom there most un-Christian act, which deprives the Bantu is "neither Greek nor Jew, bond nor free." of the rights of full citizenship, has been passed by a majority of 169 votes against 11. The Afri- Healing too is being fulfilled. Missionaries cans do not ask for social equality or indiscrimihave established hospitals, such as Lovedale, St. nate mixture; in all matters purely social we Matthew's, Lemana, Fraser Memorial, Jean would be as separate as fingers on the hand, yet Furse, and others. These are doing wonderful in principle united and with one purpose in view work to relieve pain and suffering among the -for Christ, for humanity, and for peace. Bantu. For long the government has left this work in the hands of the missionaries, and it is We see how memories of history are forgotten only now that it is waking up to its responsibility as far as white and white are concerned, but they and is providing clinics and hospitals. This has are ever green as far as the native is concerned. been wrought through the agitation of the Until the Spirit of the Master leads our legis- Church. lators, Africa will not be won for Him. His was' a method of love, of peace and of prayer, not of Christ came also to set free those who were in force, domination and punishment. bonds. Before He came among the Bantu, superstition was rife. This hindered progress in that The second need is union among the churches. men feared to make new ventures; it also hin- The African often wonders why, if we worship dered initiative because anything out of the ordi- one God, we should have different methods. And, nary and not traditional was viewed with fear and moreover, this denominational spirit is at times suspicion. But through Christ the Bantu are now breaking new and hitherto unknown ground. This
MORE AFRICANS ON THE WITNESS STAND
un-Christian. It is accompanied by rivalry, ha- the Abyssinians, and prayed on their behalf. They tred, spite and resentment. "Why," says an watched the events and marked how the League African, "these Christians are no better than our- of Nations kept on delaying and disagreeing in selves; they preach love, but they hate each other the application of sanctions which they had like fighting dogs." We pray for the time when agreed to apply to an aggressor. They read about union among the churches will be achieved. At the slaughter of women and children including present the Church is a divided house, and we all the sick in hospitals. No wonder some Africans know the fate of such a house. said that it was a war between black and white.
One cannot ignore the effect of the Italo- Africans, even the most illiterate, in the remot- Abyssinian war on the African mind. The war est corners of the African colonies, discussed has created a new outlook in him. From the be- these matters; no doubt these things have creginning of the war the Africans identified them- ated a new problem in seeking to win them to selves with the Abyssinians. They prayed with Christ.
More Africans on the Witness Stand THE Editor of THE REVIEW sent to several missionaries a request for articles by natives to show their views of the greatest needs of Africa and the value of missionary work, and to give their own reactions to the Gospel. The answers were translated by the missionaires, and from them we select for this number those below. The missionaries who so kindly secured this very original material are: Dr. James Dexter Taylor, Superintendent of Transvaal and Inhambane Districts of the American Board Mission in South Africa; Rev. R. H. W. Shepherd, Lovedale Institution Church, of the Bantu Presbyterian Church of South Africa; Rev. R. S. Roseberry, Chairman, French West Africa Mission of the Christian and Missionary Alliance; Rev. John T. Tucker, Missao de Dondi, Angola. These testimonies come from members of the Theological and Biblical class at Dondi Institute, Dondi, Angola.
1. How Christ has helped the Ovimbundu: We there are many districts where they have never recognize well that Christ has helped the Ovim- yet heard the word of the Gospel. Workers are bundu because in olden days our fathers knew needed. If you travel over all of Africa you will God only as they recognized Him through the find many countries where the people are like things He created, but they lacked the true knowl- sheep without a shepherd. They need the help of edge of His power. Now, however, we recognize the Word. The Umbundu Church is not strong Him because the Lord Jesus has shown Him to enough yet; it is still a child. us and has made us recognize by the Spirit all the good that God has done for us. Not only that, ANTONIO CHICO NUNDA. but He has raised us from the dust and shown us a true Way and has drawn together all the tribes 1. The Word of Christ has helped us in this of the Ovimbundu by His blood. Even though way, that we are now no longer as we were bethat union is not yet quite complete, still there is fore we believed. Of old we had no love for one much love and we expect that it will abound another, no joy or peace, between the tribes toamong the black peoples. ward the Coast and the Biheans upcountry. In those days we were always fighting, but when 2. What we expect that Christ will do for us: the missionaries brought us the word of Jesus Now that we are already on the path of salvation, there came love and peace, so that the tribes of what is now lacking is love among all the races the Ovimbundu became as one tribe, as we are toof the earth, so that white and black races may day here in Dondi. There are students from have one brotherhood. (John 15: 17.) And so if Bailundo, from Camundongo, from Chissamba all races have love one for another, they will be and Chilesso, from Chiyaka, from Galangue, from able to cooperate in things of the heart, because Hualondo Chilonda and other places, and we have our Leader, Jesus Chris~, goes before us and we all become brothers in Christ. shall all follow Him together in faith and will enter with Him into glory. (John 14: 1.) 2. Our hope is this, that God may help us now to enthrone Christ supreme in our Umbundu 3. What is lacking in Africa: The Word of God tribe. And that we who have already recognized is here, and there are some parts of the country Christ as the Living One who gives life, may which have believed, but they lack understanding carry to our comrades His word of salvation and of the Word of God and true faith in it. But grace.
3. There now remains to be done this, that with
one heart we pray to God, that even though we 1. In ancient days our forefathers knew indeed that there is a God, but they did not know what Ovimbundu have not yet made great progress, He was like. However, they named Him in all their big things. God's mercy is especially maniwe may yet be able to help together with our mis- fest in that He sent His own Son to bring us into His family. He has shown us God. He has desionaries to plan a way in which all of Africa livered us freely.
may be reached with the Gospel of Jesus and that 2. Our great hope is that God will enthrone Christ here. We ourselves cannot do this, but we may say, Lord, I am Thy servant; wherever our hope, set on God, is that Christ will reign supreme here. If He doesn't reign, we are as dead you send me, I will go. JOAO BATISTA. men. All true Christians look for Christ, that He will redeem His people from slavery. He alone 1. How Christ has helped the Umbundu tribe: is our hope. We can say that, even though other tribes have reason to give thanks for the help that Christ has 3. The things lacking in Africa are many: given them, our Umbundu tribe has greater reason for thankfulness. a. Those who have already believed should save others who are afar off and have not heard. a. Ever since ancient times we have been backward in everything; today because of Christ we b. All, missionaires and believers here, should have become able to come forward. be of one heart and mind to push forward the Word. b. Even our chiefs in olden times did not have knowledge of the best; today we have begun to c. We pray that God will send many more misknow the truth. sionaries to work among us. Many lands are quite untouched. All should be brought into the c. In olden times only the great and important fold of life; they are His sheep. people had joy and peace; today the Lord Jesus has brought joy to us all. JOAO KAPUKA CHITENDE.
2. What Christ can do for us in these days: 1. Christ has greatly helped our race. His sal- We pray this prayer, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy vation has come to us, hence the fear of death will be done in our country, in our hearts." We greatly desire that Christ may be made known, has been taken from us, even as He said, "He may be trusted, mllY be held in reverence and truly loved, and that we may no longer do our who believes on me shall not die any more." From own wills. ancient days the fear of death has been a night- 3. What yet remains to be done: a. That the missionaries and the Church should mare to our Umbundu family; today that fear work together, helping one another with one heart has gone. Christ has helped us too in that He and one mind. has brought us the blessing of being able to read b. We need love in order to spread abroad the Word of God to the many countries that lack the the Bible, and to write and to go ahead in things Gospel message. that help the body too. Our ancient chiefs, Katia- ALBERTO CANHANGA CATEMA.
1. The Word of Christ has greatly helped the vala and Ekongo, saw nothing of these things; Ovimbundu for originally we lacked cooperation. Now Christ has brought us the word of love with- we, their children, see them because of Christ. out stint. That love has bound us to Him and has taught us to help one another. Even those 2. Our hope is that our family will awake and who belong to another tribe we see are our brethren. will go ahead like other races. We know that 2. We trust Christ that He will stir up amongst Christ will do this for us because He has begun it. us Ovimbundu the desire to urge one another to go ahead and spread abroad His word among Looking back on what He has done gives us conthose who have never heard it. We trust that He will make us true workers for Him, helping, and fidence that He will continue to do it for us albeing helped by, our teachers from the foreign country. ways.
3. Here in Africa there is a lack of teachers 3. The greatest need of our country is that from abroad, as many lands have not the Gospel. Here in Angola untouched tribes are: Esele, the Word of God should be preached in all parts, Nyemba, Kuanyama, Luimbi, Gonzelo, Chilenge, Humbi, Luseke and many others. Let us work for there are many who as yet have never heard while there is light. it. Our prayer is that God will bless the churches RAUL KAMBISA MUKINDA. in the foreign country so that none will even think of reducing the number of missionaries who come here, but rather increase their numbers so that.
they and we may work together. Africa needs badly many teachers of the Word, also doctors.
The work is going forward rapidly now, but much remains to be done. We trust that God will put this thought into the hearts of the people in the foreign lands. ISRAEL C. CASSOMA.
A Converted Priest in Venezuela*
Transformed by the Power of God ELIECER FERNANDEZ was born and raised made director of the Sucre College and chaplain in the city of Cumana, the capital of the State of the town of Los Dos Caminos. He also held of Sucre, on the northern coast of Venezuela. conferences for the purpose of denouncing the This city has good federal schools and boasts of Protestants, edited two papers and a "Parish society and night life, and is quite a manufactur- Sheet," all dedicated to the destruction of the work ing town, as well as a busy seaport. His parents of the Gospel in Venezuela.
were Roman Catholics by birth, but as is generally Contending Against "Heretics" the case now in South America, neither went to church except on the great feast days. Being On the island of Margarita, just off the northern fairly well off financially, the parents sent Eliecer coast of Venezuela, Mr. and Mrs. Van V. Eddings, to the federal schools where he received a good the first resident Protestant missionaries had laid education. He studied also the Bible and philoso- the foundations and made plans for a chapel. In Puerto Fermin, a small fishing town on nthaetivceoabset~ phy and was altar boy in the Roman Church. this Gospel chapel had been built by the When he was fourteen years old, the Bishop lievers themselves, a native worker was in charge from Ciudad Bolivar visited Cumana and persuaded his parents to give Eliecer to the Church. and the work was spreading throughout the island. Thus, in blind faith he put on the black robes and became a "familiar" of the Bishop of Ciudad To this island came the young priest Fernandez, Bolivar. For two and a half years he was chaplain of the Cathedral Choir, where his work was then twenty-seven years old. Evidently news of so meritorious that he was then sent to Caracas and placed in the seminary by the Archbishop. He the Gospel work being done had reached the ears soon became head of the students and at twentyone years was ordained subdeacon. A year later of the bishops of Venezuela, for, after a conference the Nuncio (the Pope's personal representative) ordained him Deacon, and he showed such zeal at the capital, they made inquiry of Fernandez that when only twenty-three the Archbishop secured special permission from the Pope to ordain concerning the spread of Protestantism on the him as a priest. (The rule of the Roman Church does not permit ordination to the priesthood until island. As a result of his report they purchased the age of twenty-five.) for him, at the cost of some $720, the title of "Spe- At Caracas Fernandez won a scholarship in the Seminary at Rome, but he refused to go, because cial Missionary of the Holy See of Rome in Marhe could see no good resulting to other priests who had gone. His next office was that of Secretary garita against Protestantism." This title gave of the "Curia Arzobispal" (the Tribunal of the Church) which deals with the personal character him the privilege of speaking in any church on and reputation of the priests in all Venezuela, and thus he came to know personally all the priests of Margarita at any time and the priest made use of Rome in that country. He built the Church of Santa Rosa in Caracas and a chapel, "Capilla del ~t ze~lously, holding special services every night Carmen," and as a result was given a special two .years' course of lectures by the Archbishop and III dIfferent towns, warning against the deadly Nuncio, entirely devoted to opposition to Protestantism. The zealous priest began a vigorous min- heresy of Protestantism. Fernandez fired the peoistry against the Protestants, going first to Puerto Piritu, where he held conferences and built a ple with such hatred against the huneraentnicos~ntcheadt the chapel. Next in Miranda he founded a new par- Gospel services had to be held beish and was made Vicar of Ocumare del Tuy where he finished the church building and hind closed doors. With some one hundred and preached with such zeal that the Brethren missionaries from Caracas had to leave the town. fifty followers, he attacked the home of one of the The next year he was again called to Caracas and believers during a service, pelting the house with mud and stones. Being urged to more drastic steps by letters from his bishop, he decided to do away with everything Protestant in Margarita.
He had the Christians put in jail, forced them to work on the roads, carry his organ, bells, etc., in- cluding the images, as he went from place tkoepptlahcie~' taught the children to insult them and followers watching their every little act in order to find some cause for an attack.
Before the Protestants built their chapel in Puerto Fermin, the Roman priests had scarcely come to the town, but now Fernandez began to bu~ld a church there near the Gospel· Chape1.
PrIest Vasquez, vicar of the island and priest of "The Virgin of the Valley of the Holy Spirit"
(probably the best paying position in Venezuela) was made treasurer of the enterprise. One week the priest sent to the treasurer for money to pay • An article sent by a correspondent in Carupano. the men but the vicar claimed he had no money [535 ]
left in the treasury. Fernandez knew this could he immediately called together the eight men who not be true, so gave each workman an order on were his voluntary fellow-prisoners and swore be- the vicar for the amount due him. .These orders fore them that when he got out of jail he would were not honored and after much correspondence leave the Church of Rome, because she had failed between the priests and the bishop, the matter was to support him at this time. The remainder of his dropped, Fernandez deciding that it was simply a six weeks in jail were spent in reading the Bible personal grudge of the vicar. After the receipt of to the other men and writing twelve articles another letter from the bishop telling Fernandez against the infallibility of the pope and other Ro- that it was "now time to do away with Protestant- man doctrines.
ism on Margarita," the priest made plans to carry When taken ill, he was allowed to rent a house out his instructions literally if possible. Conse- in the town and stay there under guard. His fa- quently, on the fourth of July, 1921, aided by a ther came from Cumana to care for him and he company of people who had come from the adjoin- received many visitors, but absolutely refused to ing country to hear more about the errors of the see any priest or bishop. The bishop who had Gospel, he literally wrecked the little Gospel written him urging that the Protestants on the chapel, with clubs, picks, bars, etc., then set fire island be done away with, came to see him, but in to it, using every hymn book and Bible on the spite of his father's pleas, the priest refused to place. The little company of Christians fled to the see him. Soon after this he was at liberty and ac- hills where they spent the night. The next morn- cepted an invitation to spend a few weeks in a ing when Fernandez went to view the wreckage private home near Carupano, on the mainland.
he found a woman with the large pulpit Bible One year before the burning of the chapel on Mar- which had escaped the flames because of its heavy garita, the Orinoco River Mission had been estab- covers. She was just starting to burn it, but he lished, with headquarters in Carupano. Fernan- stopped her, saying that he wished to keep it as a dez was expecting to rest while in San Jose and remembrance of the occasion, and took it home, to consider the steps necessary for leaving the carelessly throwing it on the table where he kept priesthood. He was urged to serve the people as his writing materials. priest and did so, though he continued reading the Much to the surprise and chagrin of the young Bible and renounced alI" his titles. He visited his fanatic, about ten o'clock that morning special parents, informing them that he was going to take police came down from Asuncion to take him to off his robes and three times visited Rev. Van V.
jail. The people protested and would have mobbed Eddings, Director of the Orinoco River Mission, the police for taking the "padrecito" to j ail, but at Carupano. One afternoon Mr. Fernandez Fernandez quieted them with a word and accom- walked out of his house without his robes. Soon panied by eight men who volunteered to share his this was known all over the country. After this bonds started on the long, hot walk to Asuncion. he visited the mission at Carupano more fre- When they were quartered in the jail, Fernandez quently, even testifying in the Protestant pulpit realized that his stay might be prolonged so sent that he had left the Church of Rome because of its for the books on his table with the paper and ink. corruptness and was looking for the Way of sal- When the books came, with them was the pulpit vation. God was speaking to him but the priest Bible from the little Gospel chapel. He threw it was not yet truly converted.
into the corner and there it lay for two days. He Excommunicated called two lawyers to work on his case, but had no funds to pay them, so sent them to the Vicar Vas- Then followed a year of unrest, sorrow and sin- quez, who again refused him any funds. That fulliving. Upon refusing to return to the priest- afternoon, Fernandez sighted the Bible and began hood, he was excommunicated from the Church of out of curiosity to read it. Inside was a tract with Rome and banished from the State of Sucre for a list of Roman customs and practices, opposite one year. He went to a distant town, rented a each the Bible reference refuting it. After read- little house, furnished with three empty boxes, a'
ing and studying these for a few hours, he again native hammock and a Bible. He began to prac- threw the Bible down, but was rather frightened, tice law, living meanwhile illegally with a young for he now had his first doubts of the infallibility girl whom he could not marry because of the law of his Church. The lawyers returned with the forbidding a priest to marry. The girl died there report that the vicar had again refused to help and soon afterward Fernandez was allowed to re~ him but that the people of Fernandez' parish had turn home where he stayed for some months. Ac- paid the $120 necessary to start his defense. This cepting an opportunity to go to Trinidad, he found did not make the priest feel any too grateful to- employment in a department store, living mean- wards Rome. In this frame of mind he again read while a very worldly life. Some months later he the Bible, this time about the conversion of Saul was legally married to the sister-in-law of one of of Tarsus. Such was the effect upon his mind that the partners of the firm, a well educated woman
A CONVERTED PRIEST IN VENEZUELA
of much finer type than most Venezuelan women, of those listening went to the "society" with a rewhose father is an Englishman and mother a Ven- port that he had insulted them and had told what ezuelan. The young couple became constant read- they had confessed to him while a priest. The City ers of the Bible and soon gave evidence of changed Council took up the question and some wanted to arrest him but the Lord raised up two friends, lives. lawyers, who told the Council that they did not Later Mr. Eddings received a letter from Mr. believe he had told anything personal. Finally a committee went to the capital of the state and Fernandez, stating that he was assured of the tried to influence the governor with the help of the truth of the Gospel and wanted to return to those bishop. The governor would not listen to them. whom he once persecuted and reviled, in order Almighty God intervened in answer to prayer, or that he might preach the truth to them. Of his Satan would have caused serious trouble. own accord the expriest had given up drink, smoking, theater-going and spent all his spare time In due time both Mr. and Mrs. Fernandez were studying the Word of God. Broken by God's love, baptized. He began to preach in some of the they were truly saved by His grace, through faith small towns around Carupano. One night he in Jesus Christ. For months they studied dili- spoke in Playa Grande and some of the more fagently and through every testing time, proved natical men formed a committee and came to their real change of life and heart. Carupano, lodging a formal complaint against Fernandez. This resulted in two opportunities to Finally, without any promise of support or help, give the Gospel to those in high places. Mr. Fergiving up a good position, leaving friends and nandez demanded that his accusers meet him face relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Fernandez went to Caru- to face and again he was cleared of guilt and gave pano, to take up more definite study in order to be a powerful testimony. He knew the law better prepared for Christian service. They are living than those who were against him, and parted comin part of the mission home at Carupano, helping pany with them having made friends. in the daily work of the mission, and proving to all their changed hearts and lives. Mr. Fernandez Mr. Fernandez had continued his studies and is took charge of the day school and is making good a very energetic Christian, able to enthuse Chrisprogress with his young pupils, who otherwise tians to greater efforts for the Master. He has would have nQ opportunity for education. given many proofs of his desire to do the Lord's will and has been used for the spread of the King- The people of the town soon knew that Mr. dom. In September, 1927, they went to Piritu, in Fernandez was there at the mission and the next the State of Anzoategui, for a month's vacation. evening the chapel was crowded and the doorways While there he held several services, in one of packed with people. The midweek services were them there were 42 of his relatives present. Upon also well attended. He spoke to a respectful audi- their return they were stationed at Margarita, on ence and told in very simple language the story of the Gulf of Cariaco, to take up the work and build how God had touched his heart and of his deter- up a church. mination to follow Christ. Dangers lurk on every side, ready to attack this The following week he spoke of the evil pre- fearless follower of our Lord and Saviour Jesus vailing in society. He told how some of the "best" Christ. This man is a challenge to every praying people of Carupano used to come to him in the Christian. We must surround him and his faithconfessional, invited him to their banquets, and ful wife with a wall of prayer that nothing and no considered him almost a demigod, while all the one may hinder his public testimony and ministry time his priestly robes covered a multitude of sins. when the time is ripe for him to go forth with the Now that he had taken off the gown, and with it blessed Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus had discarded the old life of hypocrisy, lying, evil Christ, throughout Venezuela, where he once deeds, many of those same people were calling helped to keep the people blinded and ignorant. him sin verguenza (without shame), almost the worst name that can be applied in Spanish. Some AN AFRICAN MESSAGE TO AMERICAN YOUTH An African woman in the Congo-BeIge sent this message to the youth of America: "Tell the young people of America that they came in the past and awakened our sleeping souls. Tell them we have peace but we also have unrest – unrest because multitudes of our people are lost. Tell the young people of America to come, not cringing and hopeless. Tell them to come without clouds in their eyes. Tell them to come looking at the light that is on the face of Jesus Christ and knowing how to laugh at impossibilities in His name."-Dawn.
and Christianity in Africa
By the REV. SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, D.D., Professor of Missions and the History of Religion t~o.- in Princeton Theological Seminary SOUTH AFRICA is the land of an established one dating from 622.A. D. and one from the birth Christian Church; Central Africa of an in- of our Saviour. Outside of Khartum, in the vast digenous church won from paganism; North Sudan, Islam still seems to be chiefly a veneer, and Africa has well been called the "land of the van- the Negro blood carries with it a characteristic ished church." Here is where Islam devastated jovial friendship and responsiveness to approach; the heritage of Christ and swept like a sirocco blast from the Nile to the Atlantic, wiping out churches-whose memory lingers in the names of Augustine, Cyprian and Tertullian.
Our Saviour found refuge in Egypt in his early childhood, and at the last an African from Cyrene bore His cross to Golgotha. But the work of the early Church is now only a memory. That Church disappeared for three reasons: The Scriptures were never given to the great Berber nation in their own tongue; the missionary spirit grad- RlLIGlOl,:S Cor-:Qlf….. r ually faded away; and the Church itself ceased to be truly indigenous and became dominated by _ l.ont" IJr ' I"N1mm.:tbn Con1)Oltd;uiun Greek and Latin theologians. Therefore it declined; at last the Moslem invasion of the seventh _ _ l.onl of ~I()hammedan Ad".lnc.: _ ' ….n" o{ ChrbtLlII AJv;mn."
_ "..II(":(,'Chri)t~lnt:lJo",,lIJ.tn..,"
century destroyed it. The Coptic Church of Egypt AFRICA which gave the people the Bible survives to this day. For twelve long centuries three religions .~h J<IC ~prno:nI' ~ !''''''UU1lI have struggled for the mastery in the Dark Con- oll"""n ""film h;i'm~ In ~…dtlh.r … :tl 1._10: .lno,' .omcriQn. Europr•• n.
.w_" ." "h".. Sc''l"h .-fri.,.", 1 • tinent. Three types of culture have striven for its inhabitants. THE RELIGIOU.S ADVANCE IN AFRICA The great Sudan is an example. Islam, Chris- North Africa-Moslem Consolidation; North Central-Moslem Ad- vance; South Central-Christian Advance ; South Africa-Christian tianity, and Paganism, and three races – the Consolidation. Dots represent Protestant missionary residences. Egypto-Arabian, the Sudanese, and the British- here have to live in harmony. Addressing a meet- but in Khartum and Omdurman Islam is stiffening of Arab notables in Omdurman at a tea-party ing and deepening its grip on the people. in the American Mission garden in 1926, I quoted Al Mutannabi's well-known lines: What is true of Northern Africa is, alas, true also south of the Sahara. Islam is everywhere I am known to the night and the wind and the steed, active. In Dahomey, on the West Coast, there are To the sword and the guest, to the paper and reed, no less than one hundred and fifty-four Koran schools, and Islam is rapidly winning its way and and added that these lines summarize the recent strengthening its grip. In Ethiopia the Gallas history of the Sudan: the night of pagan igno- and some other tribes have become Moslem and rance, the coming of the swift cavalry of the the inferior strata of the population seem more Arabian conquerors, the fire and sword of the and more ready to adopt the cult of the prophet.
Mahdi and his Khalifa, and finally the British Concerning the -province of Jimma Abagifar in "guests" with their new administration. Khartum Southern Ethiopia, Dr. T. A. Lambie wrote a few offers, as many another center in Africa, the con- years ago: "I saw something there that I never trast of two religions, that of the mosque and of heard of, namely, the Mohammedans sending out the church, of the Crescent and of the Cross, the actual mission colonies to the heathen Gallas."
standards of the prophet of Mecca and of our The conquest of Ethiopia by Italy has worked Saviour Jesus Christ. The city has two calendars, ill for the cause of Christian missions, for the new [538 ] rulers have given special legal privileges to Islam wholeheartedly by us. In compliance with this Declaraeverywhere. Arabic has been declared the official tion we solemnly sacrifice all our properties, real and perlanguage in Harar Province and schools and sonal, of whatever nature, even to the last penny in the mosques are being built in the chief centers, and cause of Ahmadiyyat. We further offer all our earthly special treaty rights given. connections, i. e., our dear wives, parents, children, male and female, our body and its life-blood, our honor and From Zanzibar, on the East Coast, the mission- above all our very souls, in the same holy cause. aries report a revival of active Moslem propaganda, enforced by many newcomers from Cairo From Southern Nigeria the Rev. L. C. Hickin writes (March, 1935) : AFRICANS READING THE MOSLEM OUTLOOK It comes as a real shock to hear that after eighty years of missionary effort Islam is still making headway in the south. It is to a certain extent accounted for by the activity of the Ahmadiya movement. They have copied our institutions and adopted much of our terminology.
The central mosque as Lagos is known as the "Cathe- dral" mosque (an indication of the way in which the building of our Cathedral has struck the African imagina- tion); it has a choir and "choir practices" take place on certain nights of the week just as at the Cathedral. A good example of this imitation of our methods is furnished uy the following notice taken from the Nigerian Daily Times of November 3, 1934: "In commemoration of the Lailatul-Israi-wal-Miraj, the Zumratul-Islamiyyah will hold a watchnight service at the Wasinmi Mosque tomorrow, Sunday, when Brother Abdul Ganiyi LawaI will deliver a lecture on the occasion, under the chairmanship of Mr. Alimi Baruwa, supported by notable Muslim savants and gentlemen. In continuation of the celebration, the Society will hold Revival Meetings . . . and The Clarion-Call of Islam will be the subject of the lecture at each centre."
who are trying to rouse the somewhat lethargic According to Dr. Julius Richter, Islam is pene- Mohammedans of Zanzibar into greater activity. trating with blighting influence through Tangan- In Liberia, on the West, the Government reports yika into the heart of Africa. Two millions of the that the Mohammedan Negroes are steadily pene- population are already nominally Moslems, "they trating into the hinterland. They cut down the represent an advancing host intent on occupying forests and take possession little by little, driving all the main roads and the main areas of the Terthe forest dwellers toward the interior. But espe- ritory." cially in the vast Anglo-Egyptian and the French Sudan, in Northern Nigeria and in West Africa, North Africa is now a highway to the Sudan Islam is the great problem. and motor traffic crosses the Sahara. The Niger valley, like that of the Nile and of the Shari, is We must turn to statistics to realize the serious- already an open road for the advance of Islam. ness of the situation. A recent study made by Only in Uganda and in Nyasaland are there ef- Monsieur A. Corman for the Bulletin de l'Union fective barriers for the continued spread of Islam Missionaire du Clerge Belge (July, 1936) gives in central Africa. There native Christian schools the total Moslem population of all Africa as fifty- have blocked its penetration. three millions, of which twenty-three millions belong to the Bantu races of what is generally con- The actual statistical situation can be studied in the accompanying table. But it is more imporsidered pagan Africa. That is, 34 % of the total tant to arouse the Church to the dynamic situa- tion. There are three factors that require empopulation of Africa is Mohammedan. In French phasis: West Africa alone, according to recent reports (June, 1936), there are 7,583 Koran schools w.ith 1. Islam has a carefully prepared program for the religious education of all Africa that has m59~v3e7m8epnutpsilusp. poOrntedthbeyGIonlddiaCnoMasotstlheme sAihsmalaadrlmya- never been investigated by a Phelps-St.okes Com- mission. At the important Le Zoute Conference ingly active. A remarkable letter appeared in only Pagan Africa had the right of way on the The Sunrise (August, 1936) written by a group program. In the popular mission study of Negroof new converts from Ashanti: Africa the textbooks generally ignore this factor. Yet to one who visits Khartum, Omdurman, Kano, We the undermentioned members of the Ahmadiyya Timbucktu, Capetown, or Johannesburg, it is clear community of Kumasi (Ashanti) do faithfully promise as the day that Islam is on trek into the Bantuand declare on our own accord that the great message speaking world. The Arabic-speaking area of the brought to us at Kumasi today from our Master, Hazrat Khalifatulmasih in India, through his accredited representative Alhaj Maulvi Nazir Ahmad, has been accepted
continent is expanding from the northeast toward always includes the Arabic speech and letters, the southwest. One is startled to learn that the which are spreading today in Africa. In Cape- base of this movement includes twelve countries town the Arabic character is used to print a Dutch where over ninety per cent of the population is (Afrikaans) commentary on the Koran!
Moslem: Morocco, Tunisia, Rio de Oro, Egypt, Islam's Advantages Libya, Tripoli, Mauritania, Zanzibar and British, French and Italian Somaliland. In these lands III. Islam has advantages because it offers the Islamic culture is dominant. Islamic ideals in- African entmnce into an exclusive cosmopolitan spire youth. The Koran has its way in primary brotherhood. education. In seven other countries fifty per cent The cosmopolitan character of the Islamic of the people are Moslem, namely, Algeria,Sene- brotherhood in Africa is emphasized by the use gal, Guinea, the Niger province, Northern Ni- of the same character in writing and the same geria, the Chad-district and Eritrea; while four speech in prayer and public worship. The wooden countries count over thirty-three per cent Moslem. slates in the hands of children at Fez, Timbuctu, The total Christian population of Africa both Mponda, Zanzibar,. Lagos, and Capetown, have Catholic and Protestant including Europeans, is the same copy and the same script: "Bismillahi- not over eleven million.* From these statistics ar-rahman-ar-rahim."
one can see that Moslem religious education, which Religious pride is the strength of Islam in begins with early childhood, has numerical advan- Africa, while racial pride is the peculiar weakness tage over the mission school. of Christianity in Africa. On these two state- II. The Arabic alphabet and language are still ments one could hang all the chapters of recent the vehicles of Islam in Africa. Louis Massignon religious unrest in the Dark Continent.
of the College de France points out that the so- The Mohammedan who witnesses for Islam has called close connection between "arabization and certain apparent advantages over the messenger islamization" is a false inference. The centers of of the Cross. He is in most cases a native of propaganda today in the world of Islam are in Africa and understands the language and habits non-Arabic-speaking lands. The Arab world is of its peoples. The ethnical gulf is not wide; and not exclusively Moslem, nor is the Moslem world the ethical gulf not deep. A government official specifically Arabic. Nevertheless, he admits that in Nigeria points out how the social ideals of in Africa, Arab influence is predominantly Mos- Islam help in winning native races to the accept- lem. And Cairo remains the center of this reli- ance of this new faith: gious propaganda. A letter just received states Polygamy has always been a rock, the wrecking rock, in that "eight of the best Arabic books published last the path of Christianity's advance amongst the native year were biographies of Mohammed and that the races in Africa. The pagans are polygamous, the Mohambroadcasting station of Cairo gives Koran selec- medans are polygamous, everybody accepts polygamy, entions twice a day and thrice on Sunday. Two dorses polygamy, practices polygamy-everybody, that is, thousand nominal Christians embraced Islam last except the Christians. year." The Moslem press was never more active and virulent toward Christianity in spite of its There are certain respects, indeed, in which own dissensions and disputes. Islam is a far better creed than Animism. Those who embrace its teaching make one great bound Tourists in Cairo seldom wander to what may forward and upward fr·om idolatry and its dark be called "Paternoster Row," the booksellers' degradation into the light of Islamic theism. In quarters. Here, near the Azhar University, piled some parts of Africa Islam has suppressed canhigh, you may see huge parcels of Arabic books nibalism and human sacrifice; it has removed addressed to Kordofan, Timbuctu, Capetown, some of the coarser features of priestcraft and Zanzibar, Sierra Leone, Mombasa, Madagascar. witchcraft. It has professed to enforce abstinence Islam pours out literature and extends the area of from strong drink and has generally succeeded. Arabic-literates every year! It has taught the sinfulness of gambling. It has inculcated the three positive duties of formal While at Zomba in Nyasaland, in 1925, I walked prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. some miles through the jungle to a Moslem village where I was expected to make an address through But on the negative side it produces a religious a Christian interpreter who spoke Yao. On ar- pride and arrogance that is characteristic of this rival, the courtyard before the mosque was faith everywhere. It has tolerated and encour.: crowded. I received a warm welcome, but never aged human slavery and worst of all by its theory used my Christian interpreter. The Imam and his and practice it has degraded womanhood. It also son had been to Mecca, spoke perfect Arabic, and gives a distorted view of Jesus and of Christianinterpreted for me into Yao. Islamic civilization ity. There is no hope for Africa in Islam; which is always a barrier and not a stepping stone to the • For detail see Zwemer's Across the World of Islam, pp. 188, 189. . Gospel message.
ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY IN AFRICA TODAY
But today Christianity is gaining strength in A MOSLE"M MOSQUE" IN CAPE"TOWN every part of Africa. Islam is losing its former prestige and power; it no longer has the support Country Total Percentof Colonial governments it once had. Moreover Population Moslems age Islam only spreads but Christianity penetrates. French Guinea ……. . It creates new life and a new literature. Ivory Coast ………. . 2,095,988 1,600,000 70 Dahomey …………. . 1,724,545 The question is how can we develop a strong Haute Volta ………. . 189,699 11 Christian church on the border-marches of Islam? French Nigeria ……. . 979,609 Such a Church, indigenous to the soil, independent Liberia ………….. . 3,018,191 70,000 7 in its soul and awake to the call for immediate Gold Coast ……….. . 1,220,000 evangelism, would be irresistible. The Christian Togo ……………. . 1,700,000 444,000 15 Church of African birth already numbers nearly North Nigeria …….. . 1,500,000 four million and has peculiar qualities adapted to South Nigeria …….. . 1,032,000 952,000 78 this great task. What it needs is leadership. This Camerun …………. . 9,000,000 is especially true of the Coptic Christians. Oubangi-Chari …….. . 7,858,689 200,000 11 Among the special endowments of the Negro race Chad ……………. . 2,530,000 are a lively sense of God's personality and the ob- Nyasaland ……….. . 75,000 5 jective character of His manifestations; strong Union of South Africa 606,644 emotional experience; musical talent and the ex- Mozambique ………. . 1,271,371 30,000 3 pression of religion in song; social capacity and Madagascar ………. . • 1,218,238 sympathy; and an appreciation of authority. Reunion Island ……. . 5,973,394 Mauritius ………… . 3,120,000 If the Christian Church in Africa could be ZanziiJar …………. . 3,545,575 aroused to use these gifts in its present opportu- Tanganyika ………. . nity; be healed of its needless divisions (e. g., in Uganda ………….. . 173,000 South Africa); present a united front and pro- Kenya .. .. …. … …. . 385,000 claim a living Saviour, she would carry victory Italian Somaliland …. . 199,462 everywhere. Already ninety per cent of the edu- British Somaliland …. . 4,000,000 cational program for Africa south of the Sahara French Somaliland …. . 3,318,271 Eritrea ………….. . 2,500,000 IS in missionary hands. Every school produces Abyssinia ………… . 350,000 300,000 new readers; and they are all taught to read in 210,000 their own tongues the Book which is "as a hammer 406,000 and as a fire" to break down superstition and 8,000,000 kindle the flame of a new and purer life. The missionaries in Africa, and not Moslem dervishes, are laying the foundations of a literary education for the Negro races. In the schools of the Protestant missions in Africa there are nearly a million pupils – Christian, Pagan, Moslem children.
We must bring this glory and honor of all Africa into the New Jerusalem – the City of God.
5,855,000 64 Islam in Africa* 1,940,000 25 500,000 25 Total 25,000 5 Population country Percent- 920,000 72 6,063,496 Moslems age Algeria ………….. . 2,159,708 160,000 10 Tunisia …. . ……… . 4,750,000 5,174,872 82 Morocco ………….. . 1,932,184 93 45,842 1 Rio de Oro … …….. . 50,000 4,607,500 97 Egypt …………… . 14,186,898 60,000 2 Anglo-Egyptian Sudan . 50,000 100 Tripoli ………….. . 6,469,041 11,658,148 91 669,200 18 Barqa …………… . 569,093 Senussi Emirat ……. . 255,000 2,800,000 40 3,000 2 Mauritania ……….. . 20,000 553,081 91 Senegal ………….. . 261,000 252,450 99 44,955 11 French Sudan …….. . 20,000 100 1,318,287 254,000 99 199,462 100 2,737,119 915,000 68 684,280 25 400,000 10 600,000 20 1,000,000 40 350,000 100 300,000 . 100 210,000 100 • The following statistical summary is based on the best avail- 261,000 64 able sources. E"specially the Statesman's Year-Book and the "Anllualre du Monde Musulman" by Louis Ma88ignon, 1925 (E"rnest 3,000,000 37 Leroux, Paris) . The natural Increase of the population during the past ten years would make the total for all Africa over fifty-two 106,075,574 49,005,673 45 millions.
Ways of
'rested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home s. EDITED BY MRS. ESTELLA AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO ~,=,=============I~ AUTUMN GLEANINGS mated conversation about their ex- asking them to pick out all that per- periences on the field. Upon leaving tains to Africa – jewelry, automobile A tiny methods suggestion the train at Vacationland, strips of tires, dyes, ivory toilet articles and will often set your mind to work- items to be guessed are tacked on innumerable other items. ing to better purpose than a well rounded plan could do. Glance trees and shrubs, those guessing the Hold a combination home and forthrough these gleanings from greatest number aright being privi- eign meeting in which you consider many sources and find some- leged to sit in the Pullman section on "Africa in Africa and in America," thing which meets your mission the way oack. A variety of other feagroup's needs: showing how if you take "me" out of tures may be added. "America for Christ" you have "Af- List the new people in the autumn congregation. Invite them to your During the social period of a meet- rica for Christ" left. home for a "hobby party." After each tells what her pet avocation is, state ing, use African sayings as proverbs Sell "A Cure for the Blues" in pill that you have a friend whose hobby (see "Congo Crosses" for suitable or powder boxes, pricing them at $1.00 is missions and that you have asked quotations), shaking them out of a each and vending the wares either her to speak on the theme for a few among extension members (shut-ins minutes. Then reap a little harvest round box. of members for a missionary organization. One worker who tried this Have we any superstitions like those for various reasons) or at a public organized a young woman's mission- benighted Africans? Ask your audi- meeting. If the latter, have boxes ary society at the close. ence and hear their bombardment- opened simultaneously, but for the black cats, Friday, the thirteenth of former advise that they be not opened A unique birthday celebration is the month, throwing salt in the fire until an attack comes on. Sample furnished by having each member of after a "spill," seeing the new moon powder: "When you find yourself the missionary society bring in a new over the right shoulder, sitting 13 at getting blue, something for somebody member on her own birthday. As a else go do." In the open meeting, the wind-up, hold a birthday festival at table, etc., etc. leader announces after the opening, which such old members bring their new recruits and sit with them during Ask your librarian to let you consult "Now you are all cured of your 'blues.' an appropriate celebration. the National Geographic Magazine Here is a project list to choose your Don't allow offioes to become heredi- for June and July, 1935, when pre- work from." One organization netted tary. The speaker thus admonishing paring this year's foreign programs. $24.00 this way and doubtless hartold of a missionary society in which vested a goodly amount of fresh enan annual function was held wherein The numbers are full of maps and deavor besides. each officer had a candle lighted for pictures of Africa. everyone of her years of incumbency. (All the foregoing suggestions were One officer proudly stood in the glow Play the game of Who's Who, using of 35 candles! There was nothing in the names of Livingstone, Schweitzer, taken from methods .talks by Mrs. H. this organization for the younger etc., as found in current study books. M. Le Sourd at the Lakeside, Ohio, members to do. Death finally removed "Where's Where" may utilize geo- conference of Methodist Episcopal forthe president, but nothing ~uld re- graphical queries as, for instance, eign mission women of the Cincinnati move the others! "Lord, teach us to where is the only piece of African district.) resign !" land not held under a protectorate? The Men's Council of the Mondamin The late Mrs. Katherine Cronk said she had learned not to pray for more (Liberia.) "What's What" may deal Christian church, Des Moines, Iowa, is strength but for the ability to put 10 other people to work. with a 1936 model of something. A now three years old and has a mem- For a July meeting hold a train man and a woman may give a skit in bership of 60 men. It is divided into party for those who did not go away for a vacation. Arrange chairs with which the former says he is "not in- three sections, each of which holds a an aisle through the middle as in a railroad coach. Have missionary terested in missions." She may reply chapter meeting monthly. These men questions written on baggage or wrap checks. A fruit boy goes through the ruling out of his life all that comes cooperate with the Women's Council train, also a newsboy handling missionary magazines and other litera- from Africa, as material or finished in sponsoring an annual school of misture. Impersonators of missionaries sit as passengers and engage in ani- product-and he thus loses his tooth- sions. The men support home mis- brush, the piano keys, his auto which sion projects and have a budget for cannot run without rubber tires, his general missions. A similar Men's ring which containR hoth gold and a Council exists in the Osceola Christian diamond, his much-loved breakfast church at Osceola, Iowa. It holds cocoa and a hundred other items. monthly missionary meetings and sup- This is sure to affect the future mis- ports its definite piece of work on a sionary outlook. "How's How" may mission field. It was organized less deal with material on page 89 in "How than a year ago and has 20 members.
to Use" (booklet giving teaching- Thus are "the brethren" invading points for "Congo Crosses") – how some of the last territory formerly would you travel? etc. allocated to women!
"The Finding-Out Box," by Kath- "Sphinx" is the new game being erine Cronk, while written especially featured this year by northern Bap- for children, will give valuable ma- terial for the suggested skit. tists to combine missionary informa- tion and interest with entertainment Have a Newspaper Party, distrib- around the fireside, for Sunday after- uting newspapers to the members and noons at home, for Sunday school [542 ]
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
classes, young people's groups, schools brought from the lawn of each signed their responsibilities and of missions, ch arch socials, men's classes, women's circles-yes, and pas- home represented among the 25 spent several weeks in study for tors' conferences! Someone chosen as their parts. Two girls in costhe Reader first reads aloud very children and five teachers, to tume met the guests as they ar- these being added soil contribu- slowly a list of 52 questions so that all tions from Sugar Loaf-a prom- rived: two others told stories to others – known as Listeners – will know beforehand what they are ex- inent hill often used in cere- show customs of the land and pected to remember. Next the Reader monials and local gatherings, the help Christianity has brought gives a booklet, "Developing Africa's from several of the Denison to them: a demonstration Chi- Riches in Christ" clearly and delib- University fraternity houses and nese school was conducted to the erately, this requiring 21 minutes. Sheets of the questions are then dis- from the grade school attended amusement of all present: Chitributed among the Listeners and they by the children. There were fill out all the answers they can in 10 further imbedded with the roots nese games were supervised by another pair of girls, while the minutes, each working independently. a clam shell from Rhode Island, remainder of the group served On the check-up, each one making 50 bits of granite from Massachu- the "tea" (chocolate milk in tea points is counted a Good Listener. A score ranging from 50 to 75 points is setts, a Texas centenary stamp, cups) and puffed rice balls. This marked "A Very Good Listener." shell money and a stamp from work has thrilled the girls and Over 75 points is counted "An Excep- the Belgian Congo, Africa, a bit I am sure their interest in the tional Listener." Figures in paran- of writing from India, a letter rest of the world is more pertheses after each question indicate the from Burma, stones from East sonal than it would have been in number of points to be awarded for and West China and tiny pieces a more formal method of study. correct answers. The questions cover of pottery from Mexico. Then the continent, the region in which the planting was consummated. MRS. H. E. BLOUGH. Baptists are working, the specific Though others will call it a for- Clear Lake, Iowa. missions, evangelism, education, med- sythia bush, the children will alical work, personnel and general in- FROM OUR LIBRARY formation. Booklet, question and an- ways refer to it as "Our World swer sheets may be obtained from The TABLE Woman's American Baptist Foreign Friendship Tree." See America First (Home Mission Mission Society or the American Bap- MRS. HELEN LEACH, tist Foreign Mission Society, 152 Madison Ave., New York City, for 5 Junior Superintendent. study): Sketch or cut out picture of cents to cover mailing. young woman seated in comfortable Lesson outlines on "Consider Af- A PLAN FOR INTER- chair reading a book. Print: "Travrica," as taught by their author at a MEDIATES eling via Arm-Chair De luxe at (time, Leadership Training Class at the date, place)." Draw map of states Winona Summer School of Missions A group of intermediate girls included in territory under consideramay be obtained from Mrs. Garret have been studying world fellow- tion. Print: "Come, Clasp Hands Hondelink, 417 Alexander St., Roch- ship indirectly. Meeting twice a with Some of Our Home Missionester, N. Y. Price, 10 cents plus 6 month they prepare handwork aries," adding place and date, this to cents for postage. These outlines for the primary classes, have be under large sketch of hands cover appropriate Scripture, clear demonstration lessons of meth- clasped across the map. analyses of the text, devices such as ods in primary teaching and do "check tests," "opinion tests," "true individual research w 0 r k in In the program, aim to get across and false tests," etc., and assignments world fellowship. The latter the spirit of the theme as well as the such as: Who has gained the most consists of projects, individually subject matter. Put over to those who from Africo-Western relations – the and as a group. During vaca- are to take part that they are taking black or the white man? Prove your tion Bible school a map of our a trip "staying at home." '" Make point. missionary fields was placed on seven books any size out of paste- the bulletin board with "The board. Paste between covers extra Do the happiness and well being of Hope of the World" mounted pages for pictures of scenes and mis- Africa mean anything to the rest of sionaries. U sing black ink, print the world? "See America First" on all of them in as large type as the size will allow. What can we do to help solve the Have girls prepare to give biographindustrial problem in Africa? ical sketches in their own words.
What effect if any will our dealings The setting is simple. A large slipwith Africa have on the attitude of above it. As the girls told stories covered chair from home or a big one Asia toward Christianity? from the church platform, covered Is education a blessing or a curse of the various fields they placed with a sheet or any gay, cool material representative pictures around will do. On a small table by the chair to the African. the map. It now stands to keep have pitcher of ice' water or lemonade. What kind of education does he the children interested in the A foot stool completes the furnishings. world children they met in the You may have enough chairs to go need? stories. around and let the girls stay in com- fort instead of leaving them when AN ADVENTURE IN A Chinese party was the through talking. Use large map and HORTICULTURE largest group project. The invi- point out places as they are men- tations were written on a piece tioned. Have enough reserve lemonade A "Friendship Tree" was to go around after the program.
planted last spring on the parish of paper folded and cut to repre- Devotional may be on "Christ the house lawn at the Baptist church sent a Chinese tea cup. The Missionary," as follows: in Granville, Ohio, this being the outside cover was decorated with First girl says "Christ was a misclimax of a year's mission study Chinese characters and the in- sionary to the poor when he opened the eyes of the blind beggar." Second by the juniors of the Sunday side contained the invitation in girl reads John 9: 1-7. First girl: school. A bag of dirt was jingle form. The girls were as- "Christ was a city missionary when
he taught in Samaria." Second girl the salvation of our countrymen-yes, the Burlington District in the Iowareads John 4: 39-42. First girl: "Christ was a missionary to the rich for the whole world. Des Moines conference. Its topics when he opened the spiritual eyes of Zaccheus." Second girl reads Luke Tonight we resume our journey were developed under the heads of "A 19: 1-10. First girl: "Christ was a through Home Mission fields by way Look at Ourselves," "Our Work," missionary on the cross to the robber of the arm chair, knowing that intiand his last commission was the Mis- mate stories of the missionarv friends "Our Purse," "Our Youth," "A Look sionary Commission." Second girl can be found on the page of a book Together," and "A Backward Look reads Mat. 28: 19, 20. Prayer for when to unearth them on a hurried missionary zeal. visit would be impossible. We shall for Forward Thinking." A pene- meet three of these friends and trating "Look at Our Embarrassing Leader introduces topic by remarks glimpse their fields. on interest of Americans in travel; Heritage" was taken by the local pasthe large number of Christian tourists Girls enter as before, one bearing girdling the world for and with God, tor. The session closed with the disstill others having been equally zeal- trict superintendent's message, "Look ous in their globe trotting; a majority, however, resorting to the very to the Light." pleasant method of arm-chair traveling. Advantages of this method- book on "Cuba, Island Queen," in simple, easy dress, a footstool, accessibility to cooling lemonade simply by orange ink, another with "OF Man MOTIVES OUTRANK raising one's arm to a tall pitcher River and the Chinese," in yellow ink. METHODS (pours sip of lemonade), ease with which mind can embellish details and the third with the name of a noted where fancy wishes, etc. Therefore we shall visit some of our Home Mis- itinerant missionary preacher and or- There are many missionary sion fields from inviting depths of the ganizer of Sunday schools. methods and many minor moslip-covered arm chair. tives, but there is only one su- Leader sums up the high lights of First speaker enters here carrying the journey and asks girls to pray for cardboard book with subtitle, "Indian the work and the workers to which the preme and compelling mission- Reservations" (or any desired desig- journeys have introduced them. nation) printed in red ink. Settles ary motive-the dynamic wantherself in chair, opens book and -Adapted from "The Window speaks, turning its pages as she pro- of Y. W. A.," August issue. ing which all else is vain. The gresses, as if actually reading. Gives thing that has most impressed colorful, informal sketch in tourist terms (as in a diary or travel note- Through Eye-Gate. It is note- me in the widespread discussion book) of journey through fields in worthy how much of the plat- of the future and predicted fate which her denomination has mission form work is now being done by of foreign missions is the failure work. Seems to see illustrations as means of demonstrations, vis- to mention the basic missionary the "reading" progresses. "Now if I ualizations and picturesque, motive upon which the whole were traveling in the West in any imaginative imagery. The fol- enterprise depends. We have other manner than Arm-Chair De luxe lowing glimpses taken from the been told repeatedly that the pro- I should not have had this detailed gram and policies of foreign misstory about so-and-so." summer and September numbers of "Woman's Home Missions" sions must be radically recon- Second speaker comes in with book will enable others still devoted structed if the enterprise is to whose subtitle is "Leading Sights in to the "call- a – spade – a – spade" French Louisiana," in purple ink. method to shape up their presen- survive and succeed. The mass Similarly sips lemonade and tells her tations more attractively: of critical opinion, much of it story. pessimistic in tone, has caused At a North Carolina meeting the de- no little disturbance of mind and In like manner as many "books." partment secretaries presented all reeach titled in appropriate color of ink, ports in demonstration form, closing loss of confidence on the part of are introduced by their readers as the with a play, "More Than a Name." many who do not know what to program is designed to cover. think. . . . By far the most im- The theme, "A Year of Vision," portant part, to my mind, is the Leader closes with remarks on the was carried through the program of call for a new emphasis on the delight of this method of travel and anticipation of another meeting of the a convention at Cozad, the devotions too often neglected and obscured same character. being under the title "Looking Up," missionary motive. Jesus Christ implanted this in the Great Traveling Home Mission Trails, for the financial report featuring "Look- Commission, and it is equally the ensuing meeting, follows a like ing at Our Business," the organizaform. Its devotional is on "Jesus Sets Forth His Life Principle"-Luke 4: tional describing "Looking at Our De- 17-19. This was to give life to the partments," others being "Looking at imperishable – one changeless poor, hope to the broken hearted, free- Our District," "Looking at the World dom to the enslaved classes, sight to of Our Auxiliaries," "Looking at God's thing in a changing world. . . .. the blind, a rich, full life to all, here Little Ones," etc. The round table He (the missionary) makes and hereafter. (In each case apply discussion was on "Looking at Our known a Saviour such as no the objectives to modern conditions, Problems." The closing address was other religion can offer. For such as folk crushed by our economic on the main theme. system, slavery to machinery, blind- Christianity alone offers in Jesus ness to one's own moral state, etc.) Another picturesque annual meet- For all our progress, world in much ing was conducted in Brooklyn (N. Y.) Christ the one Redeemer and the same condition as to its needs as South District with the topics center- personal Friend who not only rewhen Christ came-selfishness, wars, veals the Way of Life but who immorality, worldliness. Do we be- ing upon "Building" – "P I a n sand gives His disciples power to lieve there is still sin? Then we Specifications," "Foundation," "First should adopt the proclamation of the good tidings as a life principle for Floor," "Second Floor," "Roof," "Cu- walk in it. . . . While I have pola," "Weather Vane," "Pillars," "Garden," "Tools" and "Prospective thus purposely centered atten- Building." tion upon a single point, I am "Through the Looking Glass" fea- _not unmindful of the many ques- tured various actual kinds of glasses tions raised concerning neces- with which to view past, present and sary changes to meet new mis- future. sionary conditions. But when "Kaleidoscopic Views" was the title under which a district president gave all has been said the pivotal our annual address. thing is the motive.
"Through the Window" was the HOWARD B. GROSE, in subject used at the annual meeting of "Missions" Magazine. The Council of Women for Home Missions ANNE SEESHOLTZ, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 105 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK ~~I~~~~~~========================~ "Thou Art the Christ, use throughout the year but -Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii especially preceding February the Son of the 12, 1937. Around the world creased by the number of Chris- there is now a fellowship of tians who anticipate the Day Living God" prayer among Christians who and by flexibility in plans. The have agreed to pray on each local World Day of Prayer Com- In 1920 the first Fri- Monday throughout the year for mittees should plan and secure day in Lent was se- the World Day of Prayer and material several months before lected for the "Day of the brotherhood of man. Will February 12. They should se- Prayer for Missions" you join through prayer either cure the participation of men when man y church as an individual or with a group, and women, young and old, and women of many de- which you may form? should not forget the children, nominations in Canada for "of such is the Kingdom of and the United States The picture on the program Heaven." A poster in every joined in com m 0 n and the poster for February 12, church, and every church open prayer. The Call to 1937, is a photograph of "the for meditation throughout the Prayer was sent out Easter Morning Cross," on top Day! A program for everyone by the national wom- of Punchbowl, the extinct crater participating would make pos- in the heart of Honolulu where sible extension of the influence en's missionary organ- hundreds of nationalities gather of the prayers for more than a izations, hom e and for worship early Easter morn- day. foreign. The theme ing. The World Day of Prayer prowas "The World to The program this year is pre- gram is secured and published Christ We Bring," and pared both for young people and each year by the Foreign Mis- adults. The program is to be sions Conference of Nor t h the Call was for meet- adapted to the community and America, 156 Fifth Avenue, ings to be held "in the persons attending the inter- New York City, and the Council cities, towns and vil- church meetings. The effective- of Women for Home Missions, lages, morning, noon, or in the ness of the observance is in- 105 East 22d Street, New York, evening, to ask God's mercy N.Y. upon the troubled and confused [545 ] nations." The thought of a day of prayer spread until at the request of far-away friends, the World Day of Prayer was first observed in 1927.
For the observance of the World Day of Prayer on the first Friday in Lent, February 12, 1937, the program was written by Miss Mabel Shaw, founder of the Livingstone Memorial Girls' Boarding School at Mbereshi, Kawamba, Northern Rhodesia, Africa. Miss Shaw went to Central Africa in 1915. She is the author of "God's Candlelights" (1935).
The program, "Thou Art the Christ, the Son of the Living God" is being used on the same Day in various forms in more than fifty countries.
Of the Call to Prayer over 500,000 will be distributed in the United States. These are for "Neither Lost Nor Stayed" Inner Strength fulfillment here and beyond our The National Kagawa Coordi- In a recent editorial of The ken. nating Advisory Committee with New York Times, "I nne r "Now we see in a riddle, but present headquarters at 285 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn, Strength" was the heading of an then, face to face: now I know New York, has issued Discovery, article beginning wit h the in part; but then shall I know A Manual of Prayer for the fully even as also I was fully Kingdom of God. "That cause words, "In a jittery world." The can neither be lost nor stayed" content was a report of the "Sec- known. is a Danish hymn, included in the manual, which emphasizes retary of State, Mr. Hull's re- "Trinity in Midsummer" the truth that "each noble service that men have wrought was strained and thoughtful address Please turn to The New first conceived as a fruitful before the Good N e i g h b 0 r Yorker of August 29 and read thought" ; and "each worthy League." The purpose of this for yourself the eight-column recause with a future glorious, by statement is to indicate the sig- port of the Sunday morning quietly growing becomes vic- nificance to the country of "inner services on a midsummer day in torious." Hence no storm can strength" which was defined as old Trinity, Wall Street. You dismay one's faith in the harv- requisite in a people if their gov- will find that St. Clair McKelest, and the scattering of thou- ernment is to have a satisfactory way did not just go "look-see," sands of seeds, nor is any cause foreign policy. The qualities re- but he stayed through the servlost "which takes the course of quired are "patience, sympa- ices and describes the members what God has made." thetic understanding, s tea d y of congregation and reports the poise, and ass u red inner hymns and sermon and lingers Dr. Kagawa's vision of world- strength" which the editor said later to secure accurate inforwide economic reconstruction are demonstrated in Mr. Hulls mation, so that what he wrote through Christian brotherhood, own personality. or economic cooperatives rein- might be true. Though only forced by religious spirit, won the continuing interest and serv- eighty – five worshipers we r e ice of many Americans. The manual, Discovery, uses an ad- The Fellowship of Action present and not any "whom you dress of Dr. Kagawa which deals would call young," he makes with the way to put this plan Who are these that go about clear that "the services at Trininto action beginning with directed prayer. the streets of the city and upon ity Church are continued with- As a part of the follow-up pro- the paths of the world? The out interruption throughout all gram to conserve and further develop the impress of Kagawa Word of God is in their mouths, the months of the year, the only in this country, C h r i s t ian s should study courses, as Carl the bread in their hand, they change in the summer being the Hutchinson's Seeking a New World through Cooperatives. It share, they bind up the wounded omission of the sermon on Suncosts but twenty-five cents and is available at the Methodist and comfort them that mourn. day afternoons. There are five Book Concern, 150 Fifth Avenue, New York. Who are these? services every Sunday and four Literature and bibliographies These are the stewards of the every week-day, at all of which should be selected and placed at the disposal of church leaders. loving-kindness of God, and the everyone is welcome and the The best introductory pamphlet costs but ten cents; it is A day laborers in his Kingdom. pews are free. This church is Prayer for Consumers by Dr. B. Y. Landis, Association Pre s s. They are the harvesters of here to serve all those who have The Cooperative League, 167 children, the saviors of the sick, need of it." West 12th Street, New York City, has excellent material and theconsolers of the desperate, One of the mission children information concerning cooperatives. the friends of the prisoner and was baptized after the services.
Here is a call to Christian peo- the family of the poor. The curate knew the name of the ple everywhere to come alive to the possibilities at hand for a They are of every race and child, who was "from a family new world order, and a new interpretation of the Lor d's every tongue, and they are un- of the parish." The phrase, "a Prayer. destructibly one. mission for the people of the They are the pioneers of peace parish," catches the imagination.
and the fellows of Christ in ac- Surely that seems to be missions, tion. – Jean Kenyon Mackenzie, beginning at home. You may in "Women and Missions" (Pres- not enjoy all that you find in the byterian, U. S. A.), October, article but the moral of the tale 1930. is clear, if one wishes to find it.
Jean Kenyon Mackenzie, Ed- And the old couple who knelt mund B. Chaffee, Fred B. Smith, all during the service, the vestry- S. Parkes Cadman, and others of man with the large white mus- our fellowship, leaders in real- tache who attends almost every izing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Sunday, the colored clergyman have recently joined the host of – pleased with his interview with God's children active in other the curate, the gentle-looking realms of the Kingdom of God. man dressed "g r a vel y – for Like the ascension of Jesus, our church," the boy sopranos, the Lord and Master, their going Japanese observer-all these in- from our midst leaves us griev- cluding the reporter himself ing and yet, wondering over the make a good company, for whom Glory of the Light shown in life's the Church exists.
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OU£M!~r~~:!~:cu~~!~Ok I EDITED BY MRS. HENRIETTA H. FERGUSON, XENIA, OHIO ==================================~~~ WESTERN ASIA curing that native Christian that the "untouchable" exodus leadership which is the out- .from Hinduism has not "been Leper Home in Jerusalem standing need of every mission worked up but has grown out, The enmity between Jew and Arab in Palestine has not af- field. inspired by God. It is the outfected the Leper Home. But both nurses and patients keep as growth of Christian missions." much as possible within the boundaries of the home, on ac- INDIA, SIAM AND And a writer in the Indian Witcount of the danger of riots. CAMBODIA ness says: "God is in it. Let us Extensive building in suburban Jerusalem has led to an Plea for Unity be careful lest we thwart God's offer being made for the site of will and God's way of bringing the home, with the suggestion of a new site on the road from One of the strongest pleas for India to Himself by our fears, Jerusalem to Bethlehem. The union which has yet been voiced our hesitations, our delays." matter has not yet been decided. is the appeal of 163 missions in One significant outcome is a -Moravian Missions. India for some form of church "Youth Movement" among un- unity. Missionaries on the field touchables. In certain places, Changing Thought in Iran declare that only a united youth have collected and burned The Bishop of Iran writes in Church can hope to win India sacred books to show their con- The Life of Faith of radical for Christ. The appeal points to tempt of Hinduism. changes that had taken place during his year's absence. Most the slow progress which Chris- Without any knowledge that striking of all he found, upon tianity has made in India, where, this secession from Hinduism his return, women sharing in after two centuries of mission- was coming, Miss Clementina the family and social life of the ary effort less than two per cent Butler, a former Methodist miscountry almost as if it had been their normal habit from the be- of the population is Christian. sionary, had 18,000 prints of ginning. Husbands and wives "The Good Shepherd" ready for come together when invited to a The denominational differences distribution among these shephome. herdless people. Through her which may have significance to initiative a committee has been "Corresponding with these the Western churches are not changes one is conscious of a even understood by native Chris- formed in America to produce change of thought and attitude. tians, and serve only to confuse It is hard to define exactly what them. The presence of mission- the inexpensive chromo picture it is, but it is perhaps a sense of aries of the different denomina- -dear to the Indian heart-porfreedom and of satisfaction at tions raises the question in the traying scenes from the Gospels; accomplishment of what many mind of Indian Christians why evidence, as one of the workers of the more advanced and these groups worship the same said, that God has His own calthoughtful have for some time God, yet remain apart from each endar. felt to be a necessary reform. . . . I am full of admiration other. The break-up of Indian at the way in which these great religions and the mass movement Christian "Mela" Sets a Goal social reforms have been introduced." among the depressed classes who The annual Christian mela of are turning toward Christian In Teheran, the bishop sees missions for social and spiritual Belgaum District brought tosigns of a movement among the emancipation, the impatience of gether representatives from 21 more thoughtful, educated men Christian youth in India at what Christian villages of the district, to study Christianity. If this they consider narrow restricmovement spreads to other tions of official Christianity are who came filled with zeal to towns and is fostered and deep- make the mela a success. Reened it may prove a means of se- other arguments offered by the vival meetings were conducted missionaries who plead for per- by a young Christian sadhu, mission to form a union among with the result that many were themselves, without separating greatly strengthened. A magic from their various mot her churches in the West. lantern lecture was given on the Life of Christ, and pictures of -Christian Observer. prominent I n d ian Christian leaders and of village improve- Reaching the Untouchables ment schemes were shown. The following aims were set Dr. Murray Titus, a Methodist for next year: village Christians missionary in North India, says and the workers to become per- [ 5471
sonal soul-winJ?-ers; to sell.more uncanonical interpolations or er- mixed European and Singhalese or Indian parentage. His son, G.ospels; to buIld churches III the, roneous transcription, as in the Arnold Paynter, is continuing vIlI~ges, to see th~t regular o~- case of suttee. Meanwhile, as this task and now has about 80 gcoanmdzuecd~,edsyasttemevaetrIcy worshIp IS the legal approach is at best young people in the orphanage place with uncertain, Christian preaching and homes at Nuwara Eliya, solemmty and rev~renc~. Ceylon. Here the boys were and teaching on this evil must taught the building trade, while -Ind7an Wttness. continue. the . girls learned gardening, cookmg and domestic duties. Christian College Jubilee In the Kond Hills Such work cuts across a 200- year-old tradition, for hitherto Isabella Thoburn College, the A hundred years ago nothing it was an unheard-of thing for first college for women in all was known about the people in E.urasians to labor with their the Kond Hills, although they hands. Later, the problem arose Asia, is celebrating its fiftieth" as to the future of these young year. The enrolment this year were on the map, some 400 miles people and it was decided to is the largest in its history, but southwest of Calcutta. It was form a colony on the slopes of the fact that it is only 188 is in- only when the ruler of a small the Himalayas. Accordingly in dicative that only a small per native state, having refused to 1~32 Mr. Paynter set out, with cent of India's girlhood have as pay his taxes, took refuge among SIX young people between the yet the opportunities, or the the Konds, that these people ages of sixteen and eighteen, on a 2,000-mile journey to the expreparation for college. In fact came into notice. While seeking treme north of India, where they only 2% of India's women ove; the offending rajah, government have established themselves in a twenty can read or write. As six-roomed house, built by their yet it is difficult, however, to find officials learned the terrible con- own inexperienced hands. At ditions a~ong the Konds,-hu- first they subsisted on fish, game openings for the graduates aside man saCrIfice of the most ghast- and wild fruit. As more colofrom the teaching and medical ly sort, infanticide and degraded nists arrived the government professions. Some have mar- heathenism. The British Gov- granted additional land. Two ried men of wide influence. One ernment at once took steps to weddings have taken place, and of last year's graduates is Y. W. stop these inhuman customs thus the young people are set- and after some years succeeded tling down in their new homes, C. A. secretary in Calcutta. Sev- in doing so. But except in so far removed from their former eral graduates are full members far as they have come under the temptations and handicaps. All of the Lucknow Conference. influence of missionaries, these were won to Christ before going to the Himalayan colony. Fam- Child Marriage people are today much the same ily prayer is held morning and as they were a century ago. evening, and there is also a serv- ice on Sunday mornings. Spir- It is more than sixty years They are still animists, and ituality is a marked feature of therefore live in constant fear the life of the colony. The work since Malabari, Parsee reform- of evil spirits. has received the highest com- mendation from Government ofer, introduced a bill to deal with The British Missionary Soci- ficials, and from leaders of the ety is the only organization at chief missionary societies. The child marriages. When nearly work among them. In the very Secretary for Ceylon believes it grove where human sacrifices to be the solution to the problem accepted it had to be withdrawn were formerly offered there now of Eurasians in Ceylon, and stands a Christian church. There many Anglo-Indians in India. to placate Hindu opposition. A is the beginning of a Christian literature, including a hymn -The Christian. Miss Sorabji in a letter to the book. There are eleven schools Is Tibet Going Modern? London Times, sets forth some wit h twenty-nine Christian Even in Tibet conditions are of the grave difficulties that teachers, and over 700 scholars looking up. The town of Lhasa in attendance. G 0 v ern men t is now lig~ted by electricity, inwould arise even if amending gives grants-in-aid while at the stalled entIrely by Tibetan elec-" same time allowing absolute tricians. A not her recent legislation to make the 1929 Act freedom in regard to religious achievement is the completion teaching. A number of young of the whole Bible in the Tibetan effective were placed on the language, a task of thirty years' men trained in the mission are duration. It is the work of a statute book. The difficulties teaching in government schools. succession of missionary schol- At present there is a Christian embrace such points as these: community of over 2,000.
how could such legislation be en- -The Christian.
forced by police methods? How could reliable evidence of age be secured? How could evidence of intended marriages be ob- tained. Miss Sorabji considers that the only possible sound re- form must come hferocomopewriatthiion~ and that without t of the Hindu priests little can be done. She suggests that San- Eurasians in Ceylon skrit scholars should be set to work upon textual examination A few years after his arrival of the Hindu religious books in in India in 1882, a young Eng- the expectation that the doctri- lishman, Arthur Pay n t e r, nal sanction of child-marriage founded the India Christian Mis- can be found to be based upon sion on behalf of children of
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
ars, with the invaluable aid of a and helps with the Bible teach- missionary careers in China was Tibetan Christian pastor of the ing in the schools. He has also that of Dr. Rosewell H. Graves, Moravian Church. made eighteen tours to more dis- of Baltimore, who reached Can- tant places with gratifying re- ton in 1856, and stayed by his Open Hearts in Cambodia sults. Trips to nearby places post for fifty-six years. He was out of the city are made regu- a physician by t r a i n i n g, a Though the doors are still larly with members of the VOl- preacher of note, a litterateur closed in Cambodia, the Holy unteers. They go out somewhere and translator of outstanding Spirit is at work. Last summer every week, and always have a ability, and laid the broad an elderly Cambodian came to good hearing. During the year foundations of the work in and the home of Rev. F. C. Peterson 5,553 Scripture portions have around Canton, w her e the in Kompong Trach, to learn been sold, the income being some Graves Theological Seminary about the Gospel. From his lit- seventy-five ticals. The "market and the Graves Memorial Church tle hut in the rice field he had chapel" is kept open as a read- are named in his honor. walked about four miles in the ing room, and attracts many hot sun, seeking peace of heart. young people. The Southern Baptist Board As a Buddhist priest, he had has extended its efforts into gone through all the rites of Work in the two schools has Shantung, Anhui and Honan, Buddhism, and now after nearly gone on most favorably. There and the Northern Baptist work seventy years spent in that reli- has been no trouble with the has reached out into far away gion, he still lacked what he new government regulations Szechuan. Baptist C h u r c h sought. A few years ago, he said, and the standard of work has members in more than half the his son had bought a "heart improved, as well as the attend- eighteen provinces of China, tract" in Takeo, and after read- ance. number not less than 70,000. ing this, he concluded it con- Two institutions have been fostained the message for which his Dr. Boon Itt was asked to tered jointly by the Northern heart was longing. It was no teach in an Institute for Doc- and Southern boards – the Unieasy matter to give up Buddhism tors which was held for fifteen versity of Shanghai and the as error, and turn to a new mas- days in Pitsanuloke. All the China Baptist Publication Soter. Finally the Holy Spirit won government doctors in the coun- ciety. The English Baptist Misthe victory. It was a joy to kneel try gathered for instruction. sion cooperates in the work of with him and point him to Christ Two high government medical Shantung Christian University, who takes away the sins of the officers have visited the hospital and the Northern Society in the world. and expressed satisfaction at West China Christian Univer- the work being done. Regular sity in Szechuan. It has been a joy to watch this days for visitors have been arman grow in the knowledge of ranged, and many have taken ARTHUR R. GALLIMORE. God. He sits down with his New advantage of this and given Testament and reads many chap- money to help in the work. The Government Asks for ters at a time. He witnesses hospital is full to overflowing, Missionaries faithfully in his village and ex- and the table of statistics for the pects many others there to turn medical work indicates an in- The National Christian Counto the Lord ere long. He is faith- crease along almost every line of cil of China asks for a hundred ful in walking the long distance treatment. -Siam Outlook. missionaries to work with boys to our home for prayer meeting and girls of the Government and Bible instruction. We were CHINA AND MANCHURIA schools. They are promised unhappily surprised the other day bounded opportunities outside of to hear him quote from memory Century of Baptist Missions school hours for guiding youth many verses from the Bible. Re- in their recreation, their adjustcently some Buddhist priests Baptists are this year com- ments and life. came to visit us while he was memorating the hundredth annihere; it did our hearts good to versary of the beginning of their Rural reconstruction has passhear him preach the Gospel to mission in Macao. It was in ed the experimental stage and them with no uncertain sound. reality an outgrowth of William has become a national movement. Carey's mission to India in The Christian Far mer has -Alliance Weekly. 1792, in the support of which 40,000 readers and 2,000,000 Baptists in America found an people come under its influence Work in Siam Goes Forward outlet for their missionary zeal. and mass education movement is Carey had felt, when his son preparing thousands to read. The Home Mission Committee went to Rangoon, Burma, that of the National Church of Siam this might be the precursor of an This Year's Famine now has the oversight of all entrance into China. Macao, in work done in Pitsanuloke sta- 1836, was a flourishing Portu- There is famine every year in tion. Aside from his regular guese Colony. Later, in 1843, some part of China. This year duties as pastor of the church, medical work under the Baptist it is affecting 30,000,000 people Rev. Seng Saa Chairatana does Board began in Ningpo. in Szechuan and Honan provreligious work in the hospital inces. Repeated floods and un- One of the most remarkable usually dry summers, and at-
tacks of Chinese Communist walls bare, so things suggestive JAPAN-CHOSEN soldiers bring about this condi- of the Christian life are substi- Nation-Wide Evangelism tion. Starving parents in some tuted. It is important that a cases have sold their children to Christian atmosphere be cre- A Commission on nation-wide buy food. Dogs and cats have ated in the home. After these evangelism has completed its orlong since been eaten, and it is preliminaries, an altar is set up ganization, and is asking Chrisreported that some of the na,tives in the guest room and a service tians throughout the empire to have resorted to cannibalism. is conducted, with an appropri- remember this movement in This section of China in previous ate talk to the family and their morning devotions, and years has had plentiful crops. friends who have assembled for also to organize groups which In some sections more than 70 the occasion. Bible women visit will undergird this evangelistic per cent of the towns and vil- in these homes as often as pos- effort with a volume of united lages have been destroyed by the sible and try to carryon a defi- prayer. A budget of 5,000 yen Chinese Communist soldiers, nite program of instruction for has been adopted for the present who are, themselves, starving the women. Families are urged year. It is hoped that during the since no government is back of to attend the short term schools, first year of the movement spethem. -Watchman-Examiner. to become familiar with Bible cial campaigns may be conducted ideals. -The Living Church. in the empire's six major cities "Normal Contagious" – Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Changsha reports an analysis Inspection Trip in Manchuria Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe-and in six of church membership wherein near-by cities. members are classified as "in- Rev. Charles Leonard of the active," "active but ineffective" Southern Baptist Mission, sta- -World Outlook. and "normal contagious." The tioned at Harbin, after a tour of church officials are working def- mISSIOns located at Mishan, Christianity on the Increase initely to bring a larger propor- Tungning, Suifenho, Lishuchen, tion into the "normal conta- and other points in the large Dr. Kagawa declares that gious" group. Inactive members area east of Harbin, reported Christianity is on the increase are sought out and followed up. that said area has suffered more in Japan. As proof he cites the For the "active but ineffective," than any other during these past doubling of the Christian comdirect challenge is made for few years from bandi.try. For munity in the last ten years, the deeper personal Christian liv- three hundred miles it is moun- phenomenal growth of the deing, with more time taken for tainous, wild country, in much mand for Christian literature, prayer and Bible study. Mean- of which roving bands of robbers the conversion of leading govwhile the "contagious" Chris- have held sway for many years. ernment officials, including memtians, perhaps simple country Following the change of govern- bers of the nobility, and the fact women, perhaps highly educated ment numerous trains we r e that the indigenous religions are university men, continue about wrecked and looted; villages increasingly influenced by Christheir Father's business of mak- burned, homes destroyed; thou- tianity. Buddhists have adopted ing Christ known to all with sands killed; garrisons, groups Christian hymns, frequently use whom they come in contact. and individuals kidnapped and the Bible and are introducing tortured. At present, however, the cross into their temples. -Monday Morning. conditions are improving. As re- gards Lishuchen, Rev. Leonard – Watchman-Examiner. "Cleansing Services" states that this coal-mining town Open Door Clubs Sixteen groups of students "When a family becomes in- has its own railway line, over have organized "Open Door terested in Christianity and which many have come these Clubs," each with its own offiwi she s to affiliate with the past several years to push their cers and staff. The regular pro- Church," writes an Episcopal way as settlers into the farthest gram includes a study of various missionary at Changshu-Ku, "we steppes of northeast Manchuria. phases of religion, prayer, Bible, go to the home and hold what During past years two Russian worship. Nearly every group we call a cleansing service. All Baptist families connected with meets once a week. Out of these the idols, superstitious pictures, the mines had assisted in raising meetings have come some sigetc., are carried out and burned, funds for purchase of a place for nificant and hopeful things. even the ancestral tablets are Chinese and Russian evangelistic Members spread the news and removed. In place of all these meetings at the coal-mine town. recently a new g r 0 U P was are installed things of a Chris- But as these Russians have left, formed. Twenty-six young men tian nature; a picture of Christ one family migrating to Brazil- came at once asking to be led in . occupies the most important with other Russian Protestant Bible study. Only two of the position on the wall; then there families, and the town proper, group had ever seen a Bible beare pictures illustrating family Lishuchen, having grown, it has fore, but all were eager to know unity, and attractive scrolls been decided to move the meet- its contents. Students and fac- with Scripture passages written ing place into the heart of said ulty members of the Imperial on them. We must not leave the town. -China Weekly. University are being reached
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
and are becoming interested. men, unmarried, banded to- the other hand, if the bride is One recently came asking for help and saying that unless he gether in Francis of Assisi fash- lazy, or in other ways unsatiscould find the thing he needed in Christ, he would have to com- ion, supported by a peach factory, she may be sent back to mit suicide. He found what he sought and left with courage orchard, and preaching the Gos- her people; and the purchase great enough to face his problems. pel. A furniture factory was price must be refunded. Since, -The Presbyterian Banner. found unprofitable but they are however, the money has prob- Suicide "Specialist" now tearing away the earth ably been divided among many, Japan has a "Suicide Preven- from the side of a sheer preci- some ill-feeling is engendered tion Society," with a suicide clinic, under the direction of a pice and filling in a barren salt and the girl falls into disfavor. man known as "the suicide specialist." This new society seeks field, in the hope that when their' Responsible relatives train both the establishment of proper institutions for the prevention of arduous task is finished they youths and girls in the obligaself-destruction, to sponsor investigations, to publish litera- may raise rice, settle down and tions of marriage. ture on the subject, and show motion pictures. A memorial marry and preach the Gospel to -The Australian Missionservice for the young men and women who have committed that area of the Inland Sea as- ary R.eview. shiniu or love suicide together was held in July. It is estimated signed to Baptists. These men that 20,000 persons commit suicide annually in Japan. are not yet bapti~ed, but they are Sunday Schools in Fiji -Alliance Weekly. ready to enter the church at any Rev. H. Chambers, of Davui- time, and have been doing mis- levu, Fiji, says that this field has United Children's Service sionary work for a long time. the largest Missionary Training Christ Church, Yokohama, re- Anglican World Conference Institution in the South Pacific. cently held a united service for It comprises five institutions, Sunday school children. In addition to the children from this The first world conference of namely, the Theological Instituchurch, there were present more Anglican churchmen in Asia is tion, the Village Pastor Trainthan 200 children from Yoko- to be held in Tokyo in May, ing Institute, the Teacher-Trainhama Union Church, St. An- 1940. The date has been set to ing Institute, the District 'Boys' drew's Japanese Church, Yoko- coincide with the international Technical School, and the Prihama Chinese Church and the exposition now announced by mary School. Sunday school Kawasaki Anglican Church. At Japan to commemorate the must be written in the plural, one point in the service a Jap- 2,600th anniversary of the for- for the Sunday schools at Davuianese girl, a Chinese boy and an mation of the empire and to per- levu are as numerous as its insti- American girl read Gospel pas- mit attendance of about 200 tutions, with one in additionsages. The address by Bishop bishops of North and South the Kindergarten. A Prepara- Heaslett was given in alternate America who will be going to tion Class is held on Friday Japanese and English. London to attend the Lambeth nights, when the lesson is given Conference, called every ten verbally, after which the full The collection went toward years by the Archbishop of Can- notes which have been put up providing a place for Christian terbury. Plans are being made on the blackboards earlier in the worship in Sanjo. to accommodate 1,000 church- day, are copied by the teachers. men. -The Living Church. -The Australian Mission- Self-Supporting Evangelists ary Review. Rev. H. O. Sisson, writing for the Watchman-Examiner, gives ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC Bible Study in the Philippines a striking example of self-sacrificing leadership in Japan's In- Defense of a Native Custom Two or three years ago about land Sea where the barren hill- 210 high school students enrolled sides are so valuable that they Students of social customs in a six months' course Bible are terraced all the way to the among primitive peoples find study and 120 received the Suntop to produce what slim crops that some ideas, repellant to the day School Union diploma. This are possible. Here he found ten casual observer have a useful year three new features have purpose. For example, when a been introduced: the study is man buys his wife the "pur- made intensive by meeting from chase" is the very thing which three to five times a week; prevents his abusing her. The teachers went to the pupils' price is a guarantee of good homes, instead of asking them faith since, after marriage, if to come to the school, and gen- the young man is cruel to his eral courses have been offered in wife, she returns to her people; addition to technical stu d y. but the youth's relatives cannot, There were 300 students en- under the circumstances, de- rolled. About 225 completed mand the return of the payment. their studies and took the exam- Since economic sanctions make ination; 190 passed. Next year remarriage difficult for the di- it is planned to have four or five vorcee, the bridegroom is en- three-week periods of Bible couraged to behave with consid- study. eration towards his wife. On
Oannibals Learn Gospel Songs Interracial Relations; W 0 rId There are in the United States Relationships; the Church; and 8,676,000 Catholic youth under twenty- A group of cannibals heard the Church's Adult Program. five years of age, and of this number the Gospel for the first time on only 1,870,000 are enrolled in any a recent Sunday afternoon when The conference was called by parochial or other religious school three canoes arrived at the "Unevangelized Fields Mission" sta- the committee on religious edu- under the auspices of the Catholic tion in Papua, containing nearly cation of adults of the Interna- Church. So 78.4 per cent of the youth forty of these men, who ex- tional Council of Religious Edu- of the Catholic Church are not being plained by interpretation that cation. they had come to sell sago, and reached by the Church. There are in not to fight. They then told the -The Presbyterian Banner. missionary that they wanted a the United States 1,630,000 Jewish teacher, and were willing to children under twenty-five years of build a house if one would come. They remained one night, and age, of which number 1,543,000, or the opportunity was taken to 95.2 per cent, are not enrolled in any teach them some choruses, "Yes, Mobilizing Spiritual Forces Jewish synagogue or other educational Jesus loves me," and "All the way to Calvary, He went for The National Committee for agency under the auspices of the me." This tribe, living 200 miles Religion and Welfare Recovery Jewish Church. There are in the from the mission station, fre- United States 42,891,825 children who quently raids other villages for consists of more than four hun- are Protestant, or nominally Protheads and food. estant, under twenty-five years of age, dred leaders from the major re- and of this number 28,529,950, or 66.5 -The Christian. per cent, are not enrolled in any Sun- ligious faiths, and includes 61 day school. Netherlands Mission bishops, Catholic and non-Cath- olic, 65 pastors, priests and In twelve separate fields Gos- rabbis, 25 college presidents or Put this alongside the statepel work is being carried on by other educators and 143 national ment of Supreme Court Justice the Netherlands East Indies officers of church and benevolent Lewis L. Fawcett, of Brooklyn, Mission. Mr. R. A. J affray re- boards, in addition to a consider- with eighteen years of experiports great blessing in the four ence on the bench, that "Of 5,000 fields in Borneo, where no fewer able number of laymen. than 8,000 Dyaks have come to The program is educational boys less than twenty-one years Christ. Nearly 100 students and cooperative but not adminis- old who have been arraigned behave recently entered the Bible trative. Emphasis is placed fore me, only three were mem- School, and many are already upon the efficiency of existing bers of Sunday school at the occupied winning souls. The re- church and welfare agencies, time of committing their crime. maining eight fields of the mis- without any attempt to create a Of 1,092 boys who were sension present a more. difficult superorganization or federation. tenced to go to Sunday school problem, for Mohammedanism The Committee calls all church and bring a written attendance is strongly entrenched in them members and sympathetic citi- report from the minister, only all, and there are millions of peo- :?ens to rededicate both life and ninety-two of them ever apple in the islands to whom no substance to the service of God peared in court again; out of missionary has yet been sent. and their fellowmen, and to 1,092, 1,000 were cured by the recognize that the recovery of Sunday school treatment. -The Christian. material prosperity will avail Pioneers of Today NORTH AMERIOA little without sound foundations United Adult Movement of religious faith and unselfish A newly appointed worker in Over two hundred leaders in moral purpose. Idaho describes the situation he special fields of adult activity, pastors, religious education spe- A Ohallenge to Every found: cialists, and delegated lay work- Oommunity ers, assembled recently at Lake In the presbytery the population is Geneva, Wisconsin, to confer so scattered and so transient that in upon a proposed plan of work through nine commissions cov- "If you were to make a house- many large sections there are no minering: Personal ReI i g i 0 u s isters, no Sunday schools, and no re- Growth; Christian Home and to-house canvass of your com- ligious teaching of any kind. There Family Life; Education, Character and Community Life; Eco- munity," says a writer in the is only one resident minister in the nomic Life; Leisure Time and Christian Observer, "you would Cultural Life; Inter-Group and perhaps discover that the great large county of Owyhee, a Congrega- majority of the children of your tional minister with a small church. Every school in this county is a one- teacher school. In the county of own community were not in Sun- Boise there is but one resident min- day school." ister, and he is blind. There is no minister in the county seat. In the There is a challenge in the county of Elmore there are many towns with no Sunday school. statement that nineteen out of every twenty Jewish children under twenty-five years of age It is difficult to organize Sun- are not enrolled in any Jewish- day schools because the adults.
school; that three out of every have not had religious training, four Roman Catholics of the and are not prepared to fill places same age are not in any Catholic of leadership. Through leader- school; and two out of every ship-training co u r s e s in the three Protestants of the same points he can reach, this mis- age are not in any Sunday sionary hopes to develop leaders school. To go more into detail: who will become interested in
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Sunday school organization, and period of four years will be position to the ecclesiastical auhungry for a knowledge of the 1,000,000 such donors or a total Bible. -Presbyterian Banner. of $12,000,000 a year. thorities is unquestioned, do not Bible Society's New Home Methodists will seek to relate hesitate to deplore a system of the life of their church to social After occupying the old Bible and economic problems besetting education which ignores the res- House on Astor Place, New York modern civilization. They will City, for eighty-three years the also seek to deepen the personal thetic and spiritual needs of American Bible Society is now piety of Methodists. located in a new home at the humanity. corner of Park Avenue and -Presbyterian Tribune. Fifty-seventh Street. The six- A sign that the Government is story building, purchased in Staff Increased at Sage 1935, has been altered to pro- Hospital feeling secure in its position is vide for the Society's activities in supplying Scriptures through- Sage Memorial Hospital at the fact that President Cardenas out the world. It gives accom- Ganado, N. M., is the only Indian modations to the retail store of hospital in the Southwest fully has recently authorized the rethe Eastern Agency, as well as accredited this year by the offices and storage space. There American College of Surgeons. opening of certain Cat hoI i c is on exhibition a large illumi- The recent addition of two docnated world map showing the tors to the staff has made it pos- Churches which were closed by location of all the Society's home sible to add a regular full time and foreign agencies, a twenty- program to the pioneering field order of President Calles in one foot chart containing the work reported for the first time names of the 972 languages and a year ago. Each doctor in ro- 1934. -World Survey. dialects into which the Scrip- tation has spent his entire time tures have been translated, and for a month in field visitation, Christian Literature in Mexico electrically lighted dioramas pre- clinics and examination and senting the work of translation treatment of children in the In Mexico, crisis means, as the and distribution in for e i g n eight Government day schools Chinese say, "both danger and lands. The building will be for- within a twenty-five mile radius opportunity." Political movemally dedicated in November. of Ganado. This service is ex- ments are producing a wholly ceedingly important from the unexpected interest in the Chris- For the past eighty-three point of view of remedial and tian message in its bearing on years the output of Scriptures preventive health work. It gives social and economic problems. from the old Bible House has the mission contact with many In 1931, the Christian literature been enormous. The volumes families not reached through publishing interests were "at the printed, purchased or imported any other activities. Another bottom." Now the union pubthat passed through the Bible new service this year is a per- lishing agency under Baez Cam- House in the past eighty-three manent dental clinic. The School years to December 31, 1935, the of Nursing, the only training argo is meeting with remarkable grand total was 134,179,512, or school for Indian nurses in the success. The v 0 I u m e "Has at a rate of about three every country, continues to grow in Science Discovered God?" has minute, night and day. popularity and range of influ- been avidly read. Atheistic and ence. Started in 1930, and now communistic literature has flood- Methodists Seek $12,000,000 fully accredited by the American ed this and other Latin Amer- Medical Association and the Na- ican countries, but minds are Methodist leaders met in Evan- tional League of Nursing Edu- open, and there is a demand for ston, Ill., July 8th, for "The cation, it enrolled this year nine- such books as "Christ and Hu- WorId Is My Parish" movement, teen students from twelve dif- man Service," the "Life of Kaa special effort to continue ferent Indian tribes scattered gawa," "Science and the Invisible through four years for the ex- from Alaska to Arizona. World." Missions have been retension of the missionary and -P1"esbyterian Board News. stricted in some types of work, benevolence enterprises of the but are putting greater effort denomination. One part of the LATIN AMERICA into literature and social service. plan is the enrolment during the The people are eager for the first year of 500,000 persons, Wider Tolerance in Mexico Gospel. groups and organizations in local churches who will subscribe There are unmistakable evi- Youth in the Caribbean one dollar a month or twelve dences that there is a reaction dollars a year to the missionary among thinking Mexicans from The Church in the West Indies and benevolence program. The the extreme materialism so much is well on the way to being a goal sought for the first year is, in evidence during recent stages young people's church. The thus, $6,000,000. The goal for a of the Church and State con- young people's conferences, first flict. Educational writers of held in the three islands only a recognized standing, whose op- few years ago, have grown in- creasingly popular. The results of these summer conferences are making themselves felt in the communities to which the dele- gates return. A group of Cuban young people, for ins tan c e, wanting to put into practice some of the ideals inspired at the conference, organized for the purpose of serving their communities along material and
spiritual lines. Puerto Rican the Presbyterian Church in Misplaced Reverence pastors also reported that the Colombia, has formed a group Charles W. Clay, in World conferences inspired a higher of young men in his church into Outlook, tells some things he saw standard of work and a new will- a Bible school, and is training here and there. A shop selling ingness on the part of the young them to preach from notes he cheap perfume does business people to assume responsibility took in the Costa Rican school. under the sign, "Good Jesus." for church activities. Domingo Fernandez, class of In Para there is a restaurant, 1934, is evangelizing in Spanish called the "C a f e Baptista," -The Presbyterian Banner. villages. which displays a large sign showing John the Baptist, in Sunday Schools in West Indies A man and wife, both trained heaven surrounded by angels, in this Institute, started a little telephoning to the "Cafe Bap- The progress of Christian edu- school and have not only sup- tista" to send up one hundred cation in the sixteen islands and ported themselves, but gathered pounds of their coffee, for it is island groups of the West Indies together a group of people into the brand which has entrance to is shown by a net increase of 49 a thriving evangelical congrega- heaven! A further illustration per cent in Sunday school enrol- tion. Two young women grad- of gross irreverence in advertisment since 1932. The Bahamas, uates, working in different coun- ing is the following doggerel nowhich should benefit by direct tries, maintain themselves by ticed in a street car: and invigorating influences from taking children whose parents the United States, show, how- desire that they be taught the "Are you sad my dear? ever, a decrease of 7 per cent Bible. Have you a cough or bronchitis? over the same period. There are Institute students evangelize It's a law of our Saviour some troublesome impediments while studying. They carry The only cure is 'Contratosse.' "
to a general advance of the West packs with necessary belongings -World Outlook. Indian peoples which may only and Scripture portions. In one be removed by an indoctrination place the priest told the people of their youth with new think- that it would be no more sin to EUROPE ing. The lack of sensitiveness in the social conscience with re- kill them than to kill a dog. Evangelism in Spain and gard to an astounding ratio of Throughout the country are iso- Portugal illegitimacy in many of the lated believers, twos and threes, won by this itinerant method. Mr. H. Martyn Gooch, Generislands is an example to the al Secretary of the World's point. Youth, with an enthu- -So S. Times. Evangelical Alliance, has made siasm for doing the right thing an extended visit to Spain and Needy Colombia Portugal. He believes that poand a will to break from custom litical conditions in both councan alone change a discreditable Leaders of the missionary en- tries are helpful rather than a situation. terprise have not been as active The Islands have a Protestant in Colombia as are commercial hindrance to evangelical work, community of 1,873,216, a body interests. Colombia has vast and in reply to the question "Can which if united in purpose could potential wealth and produces Spain and Portugal Be Evangelachieve anything needing to be everything that is grown in tem- ized 7" says that the answer condone. They send only 277,680 perate and cold climates as well cerns the spiritual equipment of children to the Sunday schools, as all tropical fruits; Protestant forces, rather than although they have 468,400 of But there is as yet little effort Roman Catholic opposition. Althem under 14 years-a leakage to give the Gospel to the millions so, a united front is of supreme of nearly 200,000. Problems in Colombia who have no oppor- importance. Mr. Gooch adwhich are the despair of the tunity of hearing it. There are dressed many gatherings, and churches will only begin to show only about 90 Protestant mis- met with clergy, ministers and a solution when the importance sionaries in the whole country, other representatives of Protesof youth and the child is more with a mere handful of native tant organizations. His visit to clearly understood. workers. One missionary to one Madrid coincided with the visit of Professor Baez Camargo of -World Survey. hundred thousand p e 0 pIe is about the proportion but one- Mexico, and they shared in a One School's Work fourth of the total missionary warm welcome on the part of force is on furlough, and a fair the Committee of the Spanish The Latin American Bible In- proportion are new people stilt Evangelical Alliance at special stitute in Costa Rica has put struggling with the language. gatherings arranged in the two, seventy workers in the field. Four-fifths of the missionaries largest Evangelical churches. Alfredo Cardona, now preaching in Colombia, has raised up The Portuguese Evangelical Alseveral congregations of be- are along the Pacific Coast, leav- liance, the British and Foreign ing much of the country without Bible Society, the World Domin- any Gospel teacher. ion Movement and the United lievers i n t 0 self – supporting -Latin American Evan- Society for Christian Literature churches. Hernan Bautista, of gelist. all are at work on a cooperative
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
basis. Six evangelical churches steenberghe is known as an greatest historical importance- in the north of Spain are threat- eloquent speaker, and is hoping "A question whether the Chris- ened with extinction through the to visit America for deputation tian faith shall continue to have withdrawal of financial support work. The buildings owne.d by rights in Germany." Attacks hitherto available from Ameri- the Mission, covering among upon Evangelical beliefs and ca, and the help of the World's other places Brussels, Bruges, practices were exposed and de- Evangelical Alliance has been G hen t, Antwerp, Charleroi, nounced. The declaration af- sought in an endeavor to enable Tournai, are all free of debt. firms that "in the country of these churches to continue. Ro-· Workers, including wives, num- Martin L u the r, Evangelical man Catholic forces would re- ber 130. The two Bible Train- Christians are prevented from joice in their demise. ing Schools are guided by com- bearing witness to the Gospel in -The Christian. petent leaders and the various public meetings." A spiritual administrative posts are in the demand is made that "the inces- Paris Student Union hands of approved workers. sant interference" by the State While a student at the Sor- -The Christian. shall cease, and that liberty shall bonne, Miss Agnes D. Stoneham be granted to the people to atwho was formerly a North Afri- Beatenberg Conference tend Gospel services, and to the ca missionary, realized the need pastors to proclaim the truth as for an Evangelical Union to In one of the most beautiful it is in Christ Jesus. work among the students. Un- spots in Switzerland, at Beatenable to return to North Africa, berg, 150 people of about twenty The protest was made with she felt the call of God to estab- nationalities recently gathered full realization of what the cost lish such a work. In a little over to pray for world revival. The might be, for it concludes: "We two years young people from conference was divided into four call upon the servants of the twenty-three nationalities have groups, two speaking German, Church to bear witness to the been helped in their spiritual the others French and English. Gospel of Jesus Christ without life. It was urged that all Christians compromise and without fear of must know in their own experi- men. Many have been sent to The student population of ence victory over indwelling sin, prison and concentration camps, Paris numbers 50,000, of whom and fully understand the minis- have had to suffer expulsion and 8,000 are from overseas. The try of God the Holy Spirit. other trials. We do not know vice-president of the union is a what may still be in store for us. Japanese student. The story of Immediately following the But whatever this may be, we one member, an Armenian doc- Convention, a students' confer- are bound to be obedient to our tor, is stirring. A nominal ence was arranged under the heavenly Father." Christian, he was brought into auspices of the Intervarsity Felblessing through the Union. He lowship of Evangelical Unions, -The Life .of Faith. is now a keen soul-winner, and to consider how best to bring a looks forward to his return deep spiritual revival in Euro- Anatolia College Jubilee home to engage in evangelistic pean universities. There were work in his hospital and univer- representatives there from Brit- The Golden Jubilee of Anasity. Until recently, various dis- ish, French, German, S w iss, tolia College, Salonika, Greece, cussion groups and meetings Dutch and Hungarian univer- was celebrated on June 20th. were held in drawing rooms sities. Reports from Hungary An address was given by Dr. kindly lent by friends, but re- and other countries of Europe Wright, the new president of cently the Union has rented its indicate that this is a day of Robert College, Istanbul. The own ,room, admirably suitable great opportunities for reaching procession was led by Pastor for the work. students with the Gospel. This George Anastasiades of the first Beatenberg Conference did much Anatolia College Class, of 1887. -The Life of Faith. toward helping to unite Chris- Doctors, lawyers, teachers and tians throughout Europe. business men, graduates of the Belgian Gospel Mission college, gathered to pay tribute -The Christian. to their Alma Mater. King Future direction of the Bel- German Evangelical Manifesto George II of Greece was also gian Gospel Mission, since the present at the celebration and death of Mrs. Ralph C. Norton on July 19, devolves upon two The most courageous protest showed deep interest. The presable and experienced workers, yet heard in Germany against ident of the college is Rev. Er- Mr. John C. Winton and M. O. the repressive Nazi policy to- nest Riggs, a grandson of the Vansteenberghe. The former is ward the Evangelical Church famous Elias Riggs, for many a man of gracious personality was made in a manifesto which years an American Board misand unique administrative gifts, was read in every Evangelical s ion a r y at Constantinople. and M. Vansteenberghe is equal- Church acknowledging the Con- Among the pressing needs of the ly qualified to maintain the high fessional movement. This stated college are a boy's home, an standard of executive ability dis- that the German people are con- Alumni Hall, and a retirement played by Mr. Norton. M. Van- fronted with a decision of the fund for the college staff.
Christian Heroism entering Russia on the ground mIssIOn is that of the United that they are considered by the Presbyterian Church. In Soviet Russia 47 pastors Soviet authorities as enemies of have been suffering for years in B 0 Ish e vis m. Pastors and A large increase in Roman concentration camps, on the churches in Russia, in addition Catholic converts is anticipated White Sea, or in Siberia. Two to persecution and extinction, under Italian domination. In were recently condemned to are heavily taxed. This tax fact, the Catholic population death; others have been forced seems already to have gained by to stop their work. Probably money is furnished by free-will less than 20 evangelical pastors gifts. Recently two old men, 400,000, for Mussolini has anare still at work in Russia out of more than seventy years of age, the 300 who formerly preached nounced that 400,000 Italian solthe Gospel there. Two Christian were given a sentence of three diers and laborers would remain colporteurs not long ago were years in the penitentiary for preaching in a village. Suddenly having given money to the permanently to colonize Ethioone fell, shot through by a bul~ pia. let. His comrade immediately took the Bible from the mar~ church and not to the state. The Catholics Propose Conquest tyred man, and continued Soviet has issued a handbook en- of Ethiopia preaching to the frightened lis~ titled: "What Shall I Do in Case teners. His heroism made such My Parents Try to Force Me to The Vatican, which placed no an impression that a revival be~ Go to Church?" The advice giv- obstacle in the way of Mussogan in the village, and spread en includes the following: Re- lini's conquest of Ethiopia, is far beyond. port the case to the authorities; now pushing a religious con- -Church Missionary Gleaner. call the police, bring action be- quest there. Bands of Salesians fore the courts. The punishment and Capuchins, already known Russia and Religion is loss of work, starvation and in Ethiopia, are following close death. behind the Italian columns, as The dechristianizing of Rus- they proceed with the difficult sian school children goes stead- AFRIOA business of mopping up. These ily on, though still is far from being completed. At Saratov it Religious Outlook in Ethiopia missionaries are provided with is reported that 49 per cent of all the means they need to carry the children still live "in the old World-wide interest in Ethi- their message to the most disreligious superstition." Fifty opia draws attention to religious tant and primitive peoples. They per cent still pray at home. conditions there. The Indian Witness states that among the have the funds to open schools An order was issued on De- estimated Ethiopian population and hospitals. Other missioncember 1, 1 9 3 5, t hat all of slightly more than 10,000,000, aries are being trained by the churches, chapels and prayer there are 5,000,000 Coptic Chris- Sacred Congregation for the houses must report to the civil tians, 150,000 Jews, 3,000,000 propagation of the faith. But authorities or be closed. No new Mohammedans, 2,000,000 pa- anything that would suggest the buildings may be erected to gans, 16,000 Roman Catholics serve as churches, synagogues and 12,000 Evangelical Chris- imposition of Catholicism on the or mosques. An exception is tians. During the 300 years that Ethiopians by force is to be made for foreigners who speak followed the meeting of Philip English. They may have their with the eunuch a large part of avoided, in accordance with own churches and worship as Ethiopia b e cam e Christian. Mussolini's promise that there they please. Thus, an American Then came the long theological would be genuine religious free- Roman Catholic church is now being built in Moscow by Father dom under Italian rule. Brown. A Protestant church is -The Christian Advocate. also to be erected there for Eng- 1ish-speaking people. The work controversy over the question Medical Missions in Morocco of closing the churches is going steadily on. The Reformed whether Jesus had a single or Church at Odessa has been made a theater. The chapel at Pris- dual nature. For nearly 1,000 Morocco has always been one chib has been torn down. St. Michael's Cloister at Kiev is years the church in Ethiopia of the most difficult of Mohamabout to be sacrificed. Another cloister in that city has become was isolated from the rest of medan mission fields. F. J. a factory building. Christendom. About the year Scrimgeour writes of a visit he According to a new ruling, pastors from foreign lands from 1500 Catholic missionaries again has made to southern Morocco, now on will be prohibited from entered the country. In 1830 now a protectorate of France.
the Church Missionary Society Eight stations were visited, un- of England sent two mission- der the South Morocco Mission, aries. From that year may be established about fifty years ago, dated the modern work of mis- and the Bible Church Mission- sions. The Bible has been trans~ ary Society, which has opened lated and is now available in 20 – work in some of the larger vil- .
languages. Until the war com- lages during the last ten years.
pelled the evacuation of some Although motor roads cover the stations, Protestant missionaries country and educational train- totalled 184 at 35 stations, while ing is available, fanatical Moroc- Roman Catholics had a force of co continues much the same. 45 foreign priests and 30 native Legal restrictions and prohi~ priests. The largest American bitions of action imposed by the
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
French authorities have ham- The Message Refused leaders in the fight, and one of pered efforts at direct evangel- the Methodist black men adization, stopped all school work Mr. Jenkinson, of the Unevan- dressed the House of Assembly except classes of very elemen- for nearly an hour in executive tary teaching, and no~ t~reat~n gelized Fields Mission, at a re- session. to close all medical mISSIOn dISpensaries as they are at present cent meeting in London told how -Christian Ad'vocate. conducted. Under French administration an official medi~al he arrived in an African village Christian Council for service is being developed WhICh extends into all the cities, towns one afternoon and realized that South Africa and larger villages. R.egulatio~s have been issued whIch forbId much good might be accom- The first steps toward formmedical practice to those who ing a Christian Council in South are not legally qualified to prac- plished there. "The chief was Africa were taken in May, 1934. tice in their own country, be After two years, negotiations they British or of any other na- not sober, but came and sat are nearing completion. On tionality. This applies equally June 24, over sixty representato nurses, midwives and chem- down on the veranda of the rest- tives of churches and missionists, and the terms of the law are ary societies met at Bloemfonso worded that doctors may not house where I was staying. I tein to consider the proposed supply or dispense their. own constitution, which was finally prescriptions unle~s ~here IS .no talked to him for two or three adopted. The functions of the chemist's shop wlthm a mIle. new Council are: But H. M. Consul-General inter- hours, and by that time he ~as vened, and a concession ,,:as. ar- (a) To bring together for periodiranged whereby those mISSIOn- practically sober. Then he saId: cal conference and counsel representaaries who were actively engaged tives of the churches, mission sociein giving medical treatment to a"Wll eylOl~ white man, I have heard ties and other Christian agencies of the Moors in the year 1913 are have to say. I will have South Africa, particularly for consulpermitted to continue to do so tation upon matters bearing upon the until they retire. Dispensaries the drums beaten tonight to tell spiritual and general welfare of the more recently established-as non-European races. those of the B.C.M.S.-may also all my headmen to come and give medical relief with simple, (b) To promote, through commitnonpoisonous remedies; but. the hear this message, and they can tees, commissions or otherwise, study Consul-General deprecates the and investigation of the problem of extension of such work. decide whether they want to evangelizing and Christianizing the people of South Africa. -E. M. M. S. Quarterly. hear further, or whether they (c) To take joint action on any Seek to Evangelize Moslems would rather you go away." matters within the scope of the au- thority that may be given to the A recent development in the The drums were beaten, and Council by its constituent bodies. field of missions is the lively interest in the evangelization of early next morning the people (d) To promote cooperation in mis- Moslems in their North African sionary work, especially in evangelisterritories, shown by the Protes- began to arrive. The headmen tic, educational, medical and social tant youth of France. The work, and in the production of ver- Young Men's Christian Associa- came carrying their spears, nacular literature. tion, the Student Christian Federation, Association of Scouts their' wives walking behind. (e) To promote such fellowship and Guides and missionary among the churches as will create an groups have since 1932 been They talked for some time, but atmosphere of respect and confidence united in the "North African and will lead to united thinking, inter- Sheaf." A missionary camp is in the end their decision was: ceding, planning and action on the held in September at Constan- part of the Christian forces of the tine, Algiers, or Oran. There "We do not want you; we do not country. are also fifteen groups of the Young Women's Christian Asso- want your message." It seemed (f) To represent the Christian ciation in large centers like forces of South Africa in their rela- Tunis, Constantine, Algiers, as if the powers of evil were tions with the International Mission- Oran and Rabat, doing splendid ary Council and with national Chrismissionary and social work. loosed in that village. Mr. J en- tian organizations in other lands.
-World Survey Service. kinson continued: "I would ha,:,e -South African Outlook.
done anything to reverse theIr MISCELLANEOUS N decision but it could not be Promoting Race Harmony done. ext morning I went The History Society recently sadly away, and so far as.I know sponsored a contest on the sub- ject "How can youth develop co- the Gospel has never agam been operative and harmonious rela- tions among the races of the preached there. It is only earth ?" open to those under thirty living in Africa, Austra- prayer that can overcome these lia, Canada and New Zealand. The winner, Mr. Tsotsi, a twen- things." -The Life of Faith.
Race Question in Cape Colony In the Union of South Africa the race question is a burning issue. The Government has P!O- posed to abolis~ the Cap.e natIve franchise. ThIS met WIth s~ch opposition that the. premle.r withdrew the bill. HIS substI- tute measure does not recognize the right of the native to att.ain full citizenship. The Methodls~s of South Africa have made theIr influence felt in this controversy. The Conference declared, "The African people form an integral part of the Union, and they are entitled to the opportunities of attaining citizenship." Natives flocked to Capetown during the discussion. Methodists were
ty-one-year-old South African in Denmark, Norway, Rumania Too many times missionaries try to Negro, suggested the denuncia- reproduce their own parish life as they and Yugoslavia. Meanwhile, tion of all statements that inten- Tunisia has sent in 9,500 signa- knew it at home. Thus, we do not sify race feeling, the boycotting tures and in Ceylon the Wom- produce a native church but a trans- planted one. Under the circumstances of all books and films that preach en's Political Union has voted its we should not wonder why our conracial domination and the encouraging of all that demon- endorsement. verts show so little initiative and sense strate the advantages of cooper- -The Churchman. of responsibility for self-support and World Statistics self-propagation. The unity we main- The Statistical Institute of the tain is one of Western customs and League of Nations estimated the ative action. As if with one world population at approxi- practice. By maintaining this kind of voice, all the papers called for a mately two billion. The popula- uniformity we have avoided heresy fair system of government un- tion is increasing. annually at a and schism, but thereby we have also der which everyone would have little more than eighteen mil- prevented the creation of a native thean equal opportunity to learn lions or about 50,000 a day. Fig- ology. Because there has been so little and to serve. gures for the continents are as creative thought on the part of the follows: Asia, Russia not in- mission church, there has been little Mr. Tsotsi is of the Xhosa cluded, 1,710,000,000; Europe, missionary zeal and little sense of retribe and is a teacher at Blyths- fifth in size, 382,000,000; Rus- sponsibility for self-support…. wood Institution in Butterworth, sia, alone, 164,000,000; Africa, a town of 575 inhabitants. He both white and black, 143,000,- The early church was a Koinonia, traced many of the causes for 000; North America, 135,000,- a fellowship, before it was an ecclesiu, racial antagonism to the fact 000; United States, alone, 127,- an organized body. We must restore that in Asia, Africa and Ameri- 000,000; South America, 85,- to the <::hurch its primary duty of ca there was "the anomaly of 000,000; Central America, 35,- evangelization. Our task is one of white capital and colored labor." 000,000; Australia and Oceania, inspiration, not institutionalism. We He will receive $300 as his prize. 10,000,000. Population in Rus- need to rely more on the Holy Spirit. sia is increasing faster than any -New York Times. Faith Missions Mandates Against War A recently published pamphlet summarizes the service of pop- People's mandates against ularly called Faith Missions. war is an international move- The Interdenominational For- eign Mission Association of North America was formed in ment. In Hungary seven large place else on earth, 4,000,000 a 1917 by a group of foreign misassociations are collaborating. year or at the rate of 2 per cent. sionary societies that were not In Holland the text of the Man- denominationally related, but date was reprinted in 600 news- New Newspaper Evangelism which held identical doctrinal papers. In Sweden 100,000 peo- Newspaper evangelism, first convictions and adhered to simple signed the Mandate at 200 tried out in Japan, is steadily ilar missionary principles and reaching into other countries. practices. Prayer fellowship, peace meetings. In China, the movement is still conferences concerning mission- In Czechoslovakia 30 impor- new, although two Hankow ary policy, and united appeal for papers have carried daily adver- world evangelization are aims tant organizations are enlisted tisements about Christianity for of the organization. in this cause, while in Finland months, and a number of en- 16 groups are at work. Syria quiries have been received. In Listed in the order of their reports 18 groups with 30,000 India, a weekly article inserted inception, the sixteen societies in a Karachi paper has brought that are now members of the signers. enquiries from people of all Association are: The Woman's In Australia the text of the classes and faiths. An experi- Union Missionary Society of ment in Christian journalism is America, the China Inland Mismandate has been spread on also being carried on in Moham- sion, the India Christian Mispostal cards and in Greece six medan countries; while in Spain women's organizations are col- the editor of El Popular, a wide- sion, the South African General laborating. Work has also be- ly read paper, has agreed to P!lb- Mission, the Central American gun in Egypt and in Spain. lish a Christian article of 1,000 words every Sunday for a year. Mission, the Sudan Interior Mis- In France more than 30 organizations representing 600,- -Report. sion, the Ceylon and India Gen- 000 members, as well as 60,000 Missionary Institutionalism eral Mission, the Africa Inland other individuals, have voted for Mission, the Bible House of Los the Man d ate. Conspicuous In a most able and persuasiveamong the signers here are ex- address Bishop Ludlow, of the Angeles, the Inland South Amer- Protestant Episcopal Church, service men. made some far-reaching state- ica Missionary Union, the Bo- In Great Britain 28 societies ments concerning the conduct of livian Indian Mission, the North the church's missionary endeavand 1,027 meetings had signed or. He said in part: East India General Mission, the· up to last March. These meet- Evangelical Union of South ings were arranged by women's America, the American Euroassociations, the Labor Party, pean Fellowship, the Orinoco religious groups, the Society of River Mission, and the Latin Friends and by the Liberal America Evangelization Cam- Party. paign. The campaign has also begun Our Missionary Bookshelf Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information I ~,===========-=–,~ Puritans in the South Seas. By Louis and tireless-not the foolish and the daily life of the fellahin, the B. Wright and Mary Isabel Fray. selfish, uneducated and selfish Illustrated. 8 vo. 347 pp. $3.00. zealots here depicted. downward drag of Moslem en- Henry Holt & Co. New York. 1936. Some critics of missions fur- vironment and the trials of new The authors of this story of nish interesting and useful read- Christian missions in Tahiti, ing, for they write facts and de- converts. The book is very read- Raratonga and Hawaii cannot scribe scenes dramatically and hide their antipathy to the Puri- with a sense of humor. These able and will awaken interest tans, their disapproval of mis- authors are dry and give pracsions and their lack of sympathy tically no information of value and intercession. S. M. Z. with Christian standards and in regard to the islands and the ideals. While they claim to have people. They repeat the same The Story of the American Negro. written without prejudice, their cynical criticisms over and over By Corinne Brown. The Friendship whole attitude and the words again ad nausium-missionaries Press, New York. 208 pp. $1.00. they use reveal their lack of 'uneducated; seeking to create knowledge and their antagonism markets for European goods; Perhaps no better textbook to the whole enterprise: "Zeal- tempted by the easy morality of for the study of the racial prob- the South Sea women; super- lem in America has appeared ots" impose their religious and ficial in their work, etc., etc. from the press for a decade. It social points of view on a primi- is based on authoritative sources, tive people; "popish supplies to It is unfortunate that "Puri- it traces the story to its sources keep away scurvy"; "mission- tans in the South Seas" could and is unpartisan. It is brief aries had come to T,ahiti in the not have been written judicially but not scrappy and holds the expectation of turning an honest to reveal the mistakes and the reader's attention. The writer is penny"; "the work of the Lord achievements of the early mis- a recognized leader in the pres- sionaries and to show some of ent younger generation and by proceeded on a solid foundation the lessons learned and put into birth, training, wide travel and of real estate." These are some practice in later years – in the real sympathy is qualified for of the phrases that occur in the way of dress, education, the ap- her task. The ten chapters tell first few pages and similar ones preciation of native character us how and why the Negro came recur many times throughout and customs and the develop- to our shores, and what were the the book. In fact, the evident ment of Christian life and conditions in his ancestral home; aim of the authors is to hold mis- service. what the colonial pattern of sions in the South Seas up to slavery meant for master and ridicule. While they quote from The Soul of Egypt. By Allison slave; how it was modified by missionary letters and reports, it Douglas Boutros. Marshall, Morgan the industrial era followed by is to give unfavorable views of and Scott, London. Zondervan Pub- the breakdown of slavery and a lishing House, Grand Rapids, Mich- civil war which did not emancithe work and workers. When igan. 126 pp. 40 cents. pate in the tragic era of reconthey quote other authors, they struction. We learn of the never quote friendly and sym- A vivid portraiture of the land struggle for freedom, the Black of the Nile as a field for evan- Man's burden and the emergence pathetic reports like that of gelism by an independent mis- of "Brown America" with its Robert Louis Stevenson. sionary who through marriage chief problem – how to live to- and close contact with the gether or apart and to love each Honest, constructive criticism Egyptian people writes with other. A full bibliography, notes, of missions is welcomed. Mis- knowledge and sympathy. The references and a good index comtakes have been made in men note of personal experience is plete this unique study. and women sent out, in methods dominant and there is little used, and in aims held in view. about the work of other missions S. M. ZWEMER. The way missions were con- carried on for many decades, ducted a hundred years ago were nor much breadth of outlook on A Preface to Racial Understanding. different from the way they are the strategy of missionary occu- By Charles S. Johnson. Friendship pation and administration. Press, New York. 206 pp. $1.00. conducted today. The Puritans were strong but uncompromising There are telling chapters on The author is director of the and at times were without sym- Department of Social Science at pathetic understanding, but as a Fisk University. He has served rule they were brave and true as Director of Research and In- vestigation under the Carnegie Any of the books noted in these columns will be sent by the REVIEW publishers on receipt of price.
[559 ] Foundation and is editor of the the development of personality. among the natives, but after all magazine Opportunity. This, . . . Only as men are regenerate it is only as men are delivered his most recent work on the can they build a regenerate so- from the "Power of Darkness, American Negro, bears a modest ciety." The author has never al- that Old Serpent, the Devil,"
title and covers an enormous lowed mere "story-telling" to ob- that we can hope to see the "new field of investigation. A recent scure the great spiritual burden order of life" which is "Christ in bibliography of the Negro in on his heart. He says also: you, the Hope of Glory."
Africa and America contains "The spiritual enters profoundly Second, the author might have 17,000 titles. The bibliography into the complex reactions of made more prominent, especially here selected suggests less than human life, in sickness as well in the appeal of his last chapter, threescore books, of which the as in health, and the physician that the missionary's endeavor gist can be found in these eight (the author is a physician) first, last, and always is to save chapters. They relate the story whose ministry is merely to the souls unto eternal glory. True, of the Negro, his social life, edu- body is rendering only a defec- eternal issues are being decided cation, contribution to American tive service." here and now, but this present civilization, and give examples Anyone not familiar with na- life is not The Life, that eternal of Negroes who attained in tive life in West Africa will find life. There should be not less church and state. The last chap- her e picturesque descriptions stress on cooperation, councils, ter is practical on the Conquest and information which gives a schools, etc., but more stress on of Racial Prejudice. The lit- clear understanding of the situa- the experience of the new birth; erary contributions of the Negro tion, together with folk tales and for thousands of natives who to American life and especially stories that relieve the common- have accepted Christ nominally, to music are described at some place. as yet know little or nothing of length. The author holds that It has been interesting, as a the "power of His resurrection." the greatest contribution of the fellow missionary, to observe dif- Dr. Lerrigo has addressed church to the Negro has been ferences in methods of work in. himself to a great problem, and the work of pioneer missionaries the Congo Mission and in the has tried to make other people since the days of reconstruction. Cameroun stations of another see what he has seen in his re- The Negro church today has a society but such details in no cent tour. He says, "The Chrismembership of over five million wise disturb the general sim- tian cannot assume that he is the and expended in one year for its ilarity of mission work. The only single-hearted person in the upkeep more than forty-three author shows himself intimately world. Other great idealistic million dollars. It is unfortunate acquainted with the main cur- movements have arisen in comthat even today less than twenty rents of life in the Congo, and petition, and the genuine comper cent of the Negro clergy hold its problems, government policies munist or even the socialist is academic or theological degrees. and projects, and the present de- likely to laugh at the mild ideal- The church of America is the termined effort of the Church of ism of the traditional Christian testing ground for the great Rome. Says he, "A few white who has taken his conviction moral issue of racial understand- folks coming with a great spir- second-handed, and whose reliing and the conquest of racial itual me s sag e have found gious habits are copies of a pre- S. M. ZWEMER. response, comradeship and af-. vailing type. This sort of Chrisprejudice. iection among these folks of tian experience does not get one Omwa? Are You Awake? By P. H. another race, and t h r 0 ugh very far." Dr. Lerrigo sees J. Lerrigo. self-effacing toil have released clearly that a time may come This book should accomplish springs of initiative and power when "for Thy sake we are killed its purpose to awaken the mis- which have already carried the all the day long" (Romans 8: sion-minded constituency of great Negro community far 36). Continuing, he says, "But churches in America to a new realization of what the mission- along the road to self-under- if it ever does come, I believe soary enterprise is about, and how standing, self-control and a new called Christian people will imperative it is to maintain the order of life and growth." quickly separate into three al- Christian message among the most equal classes: Those who unevangelized "while it is yet On two points I could wish promptly and cheerfully abanday." that the author had placed more don their religious profession to stress: First, the chapter on go with the tide; those who halt The reviewer, as a mission- "Worship : Outdoors and In" between two opinions and suffer ary for thirteen years in West should have included some de- profoundly in the process; and Africa, I can testify that the au- scription of the "principalities finally those whose Christian thor's descriptions are true to faith is steadied and quickened the original settings and the in- and powers" of the demon hosts until they are ready to die for ferences have been clearly de- against whom the missionary it" (page 170). All in the homeduced. must contend. All the accessory land, who name the name of enterprises of mission work, Christ as their veritable Master, such as schools, hospitals, agri- cultural institutes, etc., are Dr. Lerrigo says: "The mis- necessary to bring about "self- are urged to be "stripped and sionary contribution to Congo's understanding, self-control, and equipped for Christ's service." life has to do preeminently with a new order of life and growth" L. PAUL MOORE, JR.
Book. House. Press and Publications CALVERT'
Board. London. Valorous Adventures: A Record of "The School That Comes Sixty and Six Years of the Wom- Shaping the Future: A Study in To You" an's Foreign Missionary Society, World Revolution. Basil Mathews. Methodist Episcopal Church. Mary 160 pp. 2s. 6d. S. C. M. Press. No matter where you live, you can Isham. 446 pp. $1.25. Woman's London. give your child a superior education Foreign Missionary Society. Bos- from kindergarten to high school with ton. With Christ Into Tomorrow. Hun- Calvert school home study courses. ter B. Blakely. 160 pp. 50 cents. First, the Kingdom I The Story of Presbyterian Committee on Publica- Recommended by Mission Boards, Robert Fletcher Moorshead, Phy- tion. Richmond, Va. Educators, State Department and SICIan. H. V. Larcombe. Illus. Army and Navy Officials. 184 pp. 3s. 6d. Carey Press. Lon- The Dawn of Religion. Eric S. don. Waterhouse. (Great Religions of Daily lessons, selected books, station- the East.) 134 pp. 2s. 6d. Ep- ery, special materials and personal India. Part I, to 1837; Part II, worth Press. London. guidance . . • by mail . . • from our 1858-1936. H. H. Dodwell. (Mod- prominent and successful private day ern States Series Nos. 9 and 10.) Christianity and the Malays. Lawr- school in Baltimore. 131 and 274 pp. Each 3s. 6d. Ar- ence E. Browne. 78 pp. Is. S. P. rowsmith. London. G. in Foreign Parts. London. Write today for illustrated catalog.
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PRINTING Stories of Korea: Lessons for Little JUST OFF THE PRESS! Children. K. O. Brightman. 28 pp. YOU will profit from an ac- quaintanceship with us. We S. P. G. in Foreign Parts. London. ~!,mn~ do the job complete in our own plant, whether it be large or Secrets at Sidleigh. Margaret P. small. Neill. 252 pp. 2s. Pickering & While our specialty is Books, Inglis. London. of tbt Mag~inu and Pamphlets, yet "I Am Jesus." And Other Evangel- we have a variety of modern istic Sermons. J. C. Massee. 117 equipment to meet all the re- pp. $1.00 cloth, 65 cents paper. ((bri~tian quirements of your particular Zondervan. Grand Rapids. job. You will find our service prompt, careful and courteous. The Living Christ. Will H. Hough- 1.ift ton. 133 pp. 75 cents. B. I. C. WU! you allow U8 to estimate Assn. Chicago. elf BOOK of worship in song, com- on your next printing? We be- bining a hymnal for general lieve you will be delighted with Preaching Christ in Corinth. Klaas church use, and a song book for evan- our product, price and service. Jacob Stratemeier. 114 pp. $1.00. ~tic purposes. Otily songs sound Zondervan. Grand Rapids. m the Faith and inspirational- in char- The EVANGELICAL PRESS Portraits of Christ in the Gospel of acter included—emphasizing Evangel- PrinteT. of John. Harold S. Laird. 126 pp. The Missionar,y ReOli…, of rile World 75 cents. B. I. C. Assn. Chicago. ism, Missions, and the Deeper Life.
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The Missionary Review of the World — October 1936
1936
THE AFRICA NUMBER Progress and Challenge in Africa Alexander Mcleish An African View of Indigenous African Religions Donald G. S. M'Timkulu The Gospel Among Primitive Peoples John S. Hall Revival in Central Africa Andrew MacBeath The Gospel and the Women of West Africa Jewel H. Schwab The Church of Christ in Uganda J. J. Willis Material Progress and the Africans John M. Springer The PrintedWord Among the Bantu Robert H. W. Shepherd A Medical Missionary on Tour Albert D. Helser The Unoccupied Fields John Steytler Africans on the Witness Stand Various Authors 25 Cents a Copy $2.50 a Year
to Remember executive secretary of promotion. He International Dollar
will serve as chairman of the joint October 12-18–International Con- staff of the missions council and pro- Approved by Women's Boards of For- vention of the Disciples of Christ. motional units of the American Board eign Missions to meet the Grave Emer- Kansas City, Mo. and the Home Boards in the Congre- gency caused by decreased appropriations gational Church. for Vellore Missionary Medical College October 14-15 – Annual Meeting, for Women. Unless friends will help American Mission to Lepers, New The Rev. Gr*ant* K*. Lewis, Secre- quickly through the York City. tary of the Home Department of the Good Samaritan Dollar Bonds October 21-24–National Council of United Christian Missionary Society Young Men's Christian Associa- of the Disciples Church, has resigned. Dr. Scudder must close some of the work tions, Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. G. Orissa*Ta*ylo*r, born in India, and turn away eager Indian Christian stu- November 17-19 – National Confer- dents who long for training as doctors. ence on the Rural Church, Ames, has been appointed deputation travel- Already one Roadside Clinic is closed. Iowa. ing secretary of the Zenana Bible and Medical Mission. Dr. Taylor worked One Hundred Million Indian November 23-24 – United Steward- at Chittagong Hill, India, as a B. M. Women ship Council Meeting, Dayton, Ohio. S. medical missionary, was invalided ho~e, and for twenty years was su- will die without medical or spiritual aid CONFEREI'TCES AND SCHOOLS permtendent of the Islington Medical unless we meet the need quickly. Send OF MISSIONS Mission. Then, five years ago, he and for free literature and Bonds to Mrs. Mrs. Taylor went back to India again Henry W. Peabody, Chairman, Beverly, Affiliated with the Council of Women to work with the Nilgiri Medical Mis- Massachusetts. She will also send Prize for Home Missions and the Com- sion. Offer for those who will sell Bonds. mittee on Women's Work, For- eign Missions Conference Dr. Harold A*. M* oo*dy, of London, A Superior Education Houston, Te~a8 – September 28 – Oc- a Jamaican Negro, took office last Offered by Calvert Courses tober 2. month as president of the British Dean – Mrs. A. B. Hynes, 618 Christian Endeavor Un ion. Dr. FOR CHILDREN Highland, Houston, Texas. Moody is a practicing physician and founder and president of tbe League More than 50,000 children have ac- Warren, Okio–October 6-7. for Colored People of England. quired a superior elementary education Mrs. George Konold, 814 Scott . . . in their own homes • . . in this St., N. E., Warren, Ohio. Obituary Note. interesting and simple way. Recommended by Mission Boards, Edu- Baltimore, Md.-October 19-21. Fred B. Smith, author and former cators, State Department, and Army Mrs. David D. Baker, 410 N. Cal- moderator of the National Council of and Navy Officials. houn St., Baltimore, Md. Congregational Churches, died at his Daily lessons, selected books, stationery, home in White Plains, New York, on special materials and personal guidance Personal Items September 3d, at the age of seventy … by mail … from our prominent years. He was born in Lone Tree, and successful private day school in Dr. C. T. Wang, former Foreign Iowa, and spent one year at the State Baltimore. Minister, has been named Ambas- University of Iowa. After his con- Write today for illustrated catalog. sador to Washington to succeed Dr. version at the age of twenty-five he Sao-Ke Alfred Sze. Mr. Wang is a entered Y. M. C. A. work. He was M~!.~~~~~.!i~~~~~me , graduate of Yale, and was at one chairman of the World Alliance for Instruction time a Y. M. C. A. secretary. He is International Friendship and chair- 1810Tuscany Road, Baltimore, Md. now a member of the ruling Kuomin- man of the religious committee of the tang party's central executive commit- Y. M. C. A. during the World War. Planned along ad. tee. He is fifty-four years old. He is survived by his wife, two sons vanced peda;ogical Unes and three daughters. to provide both Home and Cia.. *** for the pupil. Varied (Continued on page 449.) such as Quizzes, Reading Tests, True Mr. John H. Reisner is spending False Test.. and Completion Tests, eight months in Africa under the LET YOUR GIFT the pupil to work out each lesson from auspices of the Agricultural Missions PAY YOU Bible for himself. Foundation and the Rural Missions Cooperating Committee. His itinerary A LIFE INCOME Interesting -:- Inspirational -:- In.hu"H",. includes Gold Coast, Nigeria, French Cameroons, Belgian Congo, Angola, I YOAUNR~UGJITfTY OPLNANTHE ~ SeM 8c in .bmp' lor curr_t in". Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rho- – will provide b you Sample. oj Oour S,.II'1d..y School pubhc.Uon••nd desia, Nyasaland, Portuguese East lind your dependeab Africa, Union of South Africa, Kenya Bible CO&rae.lor YCNRV People', Societi.. and Uganda. He expects to reach I.~' UlIChAanSau{unr8e aInd~ Mnt ft.. Oon ,,,,,,,••t. New York about January first. fully guaranteed by ~ serve funds required by EST.ISBS The Rev. W.*Y.*Ch*en has been ap- – New anYnourikt·ie"sjiIta.p.teromlaWptllloy All CHRISTIAN PUBLICATIONS.lN<! pointed General Secretary of the Na- paid "Inee 1876. tional Christian Council of China, By your CIft 700 Wlll 1502 N. Third St., Harrisburg, Pa. succeeding Dr. Cheng Ching-yi, who stiare tn world-wide resigned in 1984 to become General Christian work of the Secretary of the Church of Christ in ChurCh•. China. I'Dr ",,1 ialDriuIloII fWIu *** ~….:t~1~~ The Rev. Leonard M. Outerbridge, formerly a missionary of the American Board in North China and recently Associate Secretary of the American Board, has been appointed
MISSIONARY How African Evangelists are
REVIEW OF THE WORLD Trained, by L. Paul Moore, Jr. High Speed DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor What Christ Has Done for Afri- at Low Cost cans, by Bernard Molaba. VOL. LIX OCT., 1936 No. 10 Speed is often so important when Pioneering for Christ in Africa, crossing to the Orient. That's why Publication and Business Office– by Herbert Smith. busy travellers go by Empress. You Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. go faster … in maximum comfort The Greatest Need of Africa To- . .. and at surprisingly low cost. Editorial and Executive Office– day, by S. S. Tema. 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. Only lQ days to Yokohama by Entered as second-class matter at We deeply appreciate the general Empress of Asia or Empress of cooperation of missionaries and other Russia. Or via Honolulu in just 3 Post Office, Harrisburg, Pa., unde, friends of Africa in the preparation days more by Empress of Japan Act of March 3, 1879. of this special number. Busy workers (largest, fastest liner on the Pa<:ific) have freely given of their valuable or Empress of Canada. 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. time to record the progress and prob- Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. lems of missions in Africa as they Low round-trip fares . . . First, Published monthly. except AUghst. have seen them. They throw much Tourist and Third Class. All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1935. light on the Africans themselves, both British agents – Marshall, Morgan Christian and non-Christian and de- Regular sailings from Vancouver scribe the methods and difficulties met and Victoria in Canada's Evergreen t~~d~~~t~. 1~. p~te~~~~~~~ ~~;ld~~;:: in the work. Weare especially glad Playground. Orient fares include to have a large number of African passage from and to Seattle. If you 10 shillings a year. Christians contribute articles on what sail from California, connect with an Christ has done for them and for Empress at Honolulu. Orient ports- MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- Africa. This is a most fascinating of-call: Yokohama, Kobe, Nagasaki, LISHING CO" INC. field, immense and varied in its ex- Shanghai, Hong Kong and Manila. BOARD OF DIRECTORS tent but very fruitful in the results • World Tours . .. $579.90 up, that have followed the faithful wit- Combination of Classes. Write for ROUERT E. SPEER. l'r" .•ident nessing for Christ. folder of six most popular routes. A. L. WARNBHUIB. Vi06-Pre8ident Vv· ALTl<~R MCDOUGALL, '1'rew.;urer Obituary Notes Booklets, information from YOUR DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary AGENT or Canadian Pacific: New (Continued from second cover.) York, 344 Madison Ave.; Chicago, SAMUEl. MCCREA CAVERT 71 E. Jackson Blvd.; San Francisco, Mrs. Calvin Mateer, who, fifty- 152 Geary St.; and 38 other cities WILLIAM I. CHAMBERLAIN seven years ago, as Miss Haven, vol- in the United States and Canada. D. J. FANT unteered for missionary service in MRS, OHI<lN R. JUDD China, died in Peiping on August by WM. B. LIPPHARD first. She was born in Brookline, Mass., in 1850, and later married Dr. ~(fa4c ERIC M. NOR'fH Calvin Mateer, a missionary of the SAMUEL M. ZWEMER Presbyterian Board of Foreign Mis- EMPRESSES sions. Mrs. Mateer taught in mission Editorial Chat high schools, prepared textbooks, and translated a numoer of volumes into We would express our sincere grati- Chinese. Later she taught in the tude to Mr. Robert M. Kurtz for Women's Bible Training School in kindly undertaking to put through the Peiping, and after her honorary relast of the September number and for tirement in 1924 continued teaching his effective editorial work on the and writing. present issue of THE REVIEW. This is especially important as it is the mis- *** sion study number on Africa and will be widely used in mission study Missionary Muller, of the Hercircles. Already our extra edition of mannsburg Mission in Gallaland, the June American Negro Number West Abyssinia, lost his life at the has been entirely sold out. It will be hands of rioters and robbers who inwell for those who desire extra copies fest that section. He thus becomes the of the October REVIEW to send in their first martyr of this mission in that orders immediately so that they will area, which, because of its remoteness not be disappointed. from the capital, has not yet been placed under military law. *** *** Owing to limited space and to the failure of some promised articles to Miss Grace Stephens, Anglo-Indian reach us on time, a number of articles missionary, who began work among planned for the October number must the women and girls of India fifty be held over until later. Some of these years ago, passed away May 30, in the are very important and we expect to Ellen Thoburn COWen Hospital, Kolar, print them in November and Decem- India, at the age of eighty-five. At ber. They include the following: one of her zenana parties in 1892, where four hundred women had gath- Roman Catholic Activity in Pa- ered and were seated about on the gan Africa, by Kenneth G. floor, she stealthily sent for Bishop Grubb. Thoburn. When he appeared, many of them, purdah women and Brah- Hindrances to Christianity in mans, looked askance, but after a Africa, by C. S. Jenkins. time more than a dozen women pushed through the crowd at Miss Stephens' The Influence of White Men in invitation and shook hands with the Africa, by Oscar Emil Eman- bishop. It was a considered a great uelson. triumph and no unhappy results fol- lowed. The Progress of Islam in Africa, by Samuel M. Zwemer. (Concluded on page 512.) Missionary Work as Seen by an [449 ] African, by John L. Dube.
Achievements in West Africa, by R. S. Roseberry.
Some Results in Central Africa, by Virginia M. Clarke.
Missions in the Congo BeIge, by Thomas Moody.
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T&Il&,ie ..R.ut:i.j..a Or ~~ ..f '" s asta ane"tt& -.— usa f' ' ,. Casablan 0 SF.. '~A Con&ta"oBiskra I UNI _,,. eo <f A • M.kirl!l • L G E R I A. l.'T Sf" .~"..•'.'-''.y ", ._.thardaia,.. 0 MOROCCO Gabes • Morocro .r;' .. .' Agadlr – – -) Colomb • • ___ – Bechar ~:hadames ,._.J RlODEOJ !' . LIB Y A , . o Murzuk I Kh"gaO ) , .J. ,'— ~ ~. "' . , L'.-._.-.A-sw.a~,.. W.dyH,lfa ( " Oongof,o Port Sudan FRENCH WE S T AFRICA < "("'> Dakar Timbuklu O JI..::U "Kayes °Sinder • ."- "'."……–..~ ~< EIObel Kuka aBamako I i oW.gadugu 0 Abeshr. SUDAN Ko . " ,. _ . ,• J.:.. I. anD .Yakuba ( ..: 1 Kon~o i !? ,,' N I G E R I A " 0:: ·1-..I. JS ,.)' r I /GOLD . 🙁 IOHesha @B K l a . ~ …… /Kumassi Q • "'fbada" '.. '. (ETEI1 J'IA) • Cd'AST • oAsaba , "'sagmo _ _ _'!"'oo&..;A;;;k",k~~~~ ; ; Bangui . ___~ ~ ·(Bra~n·o~'~.~r<?~!¥' ~ .' 0 Upolo ~~.. ir '"– ._., .-) '·…. :~4J Ynd 0' ~ au ~~DA) " (.:.' ._. ~nteb~{>"~BRITISH ~" ,! StanleyvilleO * – Vir/orio ~ 4. J'/ BELGIAN . 'E'A0~ °l am, oKindu '
B"Z"'~ CON G O . TAGANYlKA ' I N DI A N ~a CABIXDAl • .wl~ A T LA N T I c ,'-'-''l Kongotoo • oc EA N EAN 0 0 ' ( . ~ ••…1•…, "-·'~.1 ~ loand. Cassani' j • ~ Matanle '> ' – – . "flit"ab.!.~Y/~eo · A No G 0 L A ,….,I' ~. ~E v ;''I f~.;z. 4J Bihe . 'l or-:: I NORTHEll~', "-c-~ .0;.. …B.la.nt~ yr,~.olombal).'" Mossamed •__. _ ~ . i il2M ' " , "" ~ I • .-…… …..,lSOUTHERN . v r ' – ' , RHODESIA ~ G,.,gtfont.in j " 'r' ' SOUTH WEST BECHUANALAND' 0 Bulawayo. 0"'l 01" r-s '!@.dh~ Palapye '~. o I O ~./ ;;; /. ~,{TRANSVAA~ I loh/a'n;l..l.e'.iy?~JI,'~~: '. ouren'" nhambane I" ~ ~q~ II ~ &..,.,," t… " _/'Gf.~"'r."'.p '",•..,' B..Kciomnbsefrt"eyl~~,~"~~"~.:N;" oLJdysm,ih oPrelirmantzbu'g o Paas,i o0~~Be~au'fco-rt"~.~~~~~'a/s.t;Londonurban ~~ CLEARTYPE ~oo,~ .., '1A/f'fd i'lizabeth II.. u.s. " •. 0#.
Principal Cities Map of *KEY TO POPULATION NOTICE Over 100,000 nlth ……¥~h.od_… n.. …. ~"" …. AFRICA S 20,000 to 100,000 ;::-:::::::::'COZ'"::t.":i.i;!;~ o Less than 20,000 MAP No. 966 Capitals of Countries (underscored) Scale of Miles COfJ)Tialu 200 Amuican Mao Company. '"e.• N .Y ..- 8392. . ORLD VOLUME LIX AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER 10 OCTOBER, 1936 Topics of the Times WHY STUDY AFRICA One answer, or rectification rather, to that question is that no great human agency is any There appears to be a special opportunity and longer justified in attempting to maintain bounduty before the Christian Church to study Africa. daries between "home" and "foreign" needs. What is done about American race relations will In a sense, not true of any other great world profoundly affect Africa. What is done about unit, human or geographical, there is no one, any- African economic questions will continue greatly where, effectively to think and plan for Africa as to influence American living. And so throughout a whole. Africans cannot do it yet. Eight hun- the earth. dred languages, as many tribes, a millennium of almost complete tribal isolations prevent. The six But the basic reply to that question is that the European powers governing in Africa, and the problems in many of their aspects are universal, one striving to return there, will not do it. One and that Christianity has the answers to them need only name them-Britain, France, Italy, wherever they occur. They are by no means con- Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Germany-to make fined to America or to Africa and those nations clear the improbability of their presently agree- which have given themselves burdens in Africa. ing on anything, much less on the future of the They are universal. And the Church, by its very Africa which is so rich in raw materials and claim to universality, or better, by its very unihuman power as nearly to have precipitated an- versality, finds itself sharing those burdens. other great war this past year, when the world was crying out against all war. The "gratuitousness" of the Church's continued and increased intervention in African affairs is No, there is no prospect of unity of thinking thus also answered, with the added observation about Africa-unless it be that the Church shall that, in practical human relations, mere political do it. Therein lies a great challenge and oppor- control of a territory has seldom operated to pretunity, not only for performing a beneficent serv- vent ideas and pressures from nations other than ice for Africa and the world, but for exercising the one in authority entering and influencing the and strengthening within the Church those quali- country, sometimes very deeply indeed. ties of spiritual and moral leadership which remain so often latent and are. yet so sorely needed In the case of Africa, for example, where the in the world. United States has not a mile of territory and but relatively small financial investment, American Many American Christians may feel that it is education, American philanthropy, American gratuitous, even impossible for the Church, of medicine and methods of public sanitation, Amerwhich they are a part, to project its thinking and ican agricultural experience, American transporideals concerning a future Africa into those quar- tation material, American accounting devices, ters within and without Africa where that future American mineralogical engineering, Americanwill be determined. the list could be continued in a well-nigh exhaus- tive enumeration of human experience-have al- How can a church, some will ask, which has not ready affected fundamentally nearly every part yet achieved a common front on such "domestic" of Africa. The precedent is abundantly fixed for fields as race relations, cooperatives, public own- American participation in African matters. As ership, economic security, armaments, class ex- for the Christian Church, probably no single inploitations, hope to attain such on a "foreign" field?
[451 ]
fluence has thus far been greater in transforming strengthened. And, beyond the slightest doubt, the internal life of Africa. the animistic Africa of today can be transformed into the Christian Africa of tomorrow. What is now needed, besides the continuance of that internal transformation, and what is posted EMORY Ross. as a great challenge to the Christian international, is the forming and directing of world policy THE GODLESS MOVEMENT concerning Africa, and in Africa, so as best to aid Africa and the African to develop in both in- In this country until lately many remembered ternal and external relationships. World policy the atheist as one of the local "characters" of their is certainly not so directed now. Correctly speak- home town. He might make a professed convert ing, there is no world policy regarding Africa, now and then, but he seldom greatly disturbed the unless indeed it be expressed as universal white religious life of the community. But now atheism, domination. like all sorts of propaganda, has become an or- ganized and aggressive foree, not only national, In some respects it would be ruinous for Afri- but international, in scope, another of the world's ca, and in other respects it might well prove dis- great evil forces that challenge the right of the astrous in world relationships, for the sum of Church of Christ to live. One wonders at the present policies toward Africa to continue. singular mentality that can become so hostile to the preaching of the Gospel-which no one is Within Africa, they have already set up in many obliged to accept or even to consider-as to make places such strains, racially, economically, social- of him a monomaniac. Indeed, whether one bely and in some cases religiously, that the structure lieves in a personal devil or not, when he exbeing creakingly reared threatens even now to amines the activities and sacrifices of organized fall. anti-Christianity and hears or reads its blasphe- mous utterances, it seems as if the idea of Satanic Outside Africa, the world's attitude and actions leadership is the simplest and most logical. extouching Africa have on at least four occasions planation of these manifestations. The Presbybetween 1897 and 1935 nearly resulted in armed terian has republished this item, credited to I. C. European clash, plus the tragic African events of P. I. S., Geneva, which gives some idea of the zeal 1936 which appear to have resulted in the post- that is going into international atheistic work: ponement and increased preparation for war, rather than in averting it – just as in 1911 the The periodical, Antircligio'snik, published in the U. S. Agadir crisis was adjourned to 1914. . . . S. R. by the Central Council of the League of the Fight- ing Godless, includes in a recent issue an article on the There is in all this need the possibility of an then impending international congress held in Prague. unique and inestimable service to be rendered by In this article, the task of the Free Thinkers' Internathe Christian Church to Africa and the world. tional is put forward as that of fighting for democratic To render that service, or even intelligently to rights and freedom of conscience, for economic and culargue against the possibility of its being rendered, tural progress against clerical reaction, and for the cothe Church must study Africa. ordination of the godless all over the world. The article further states that in regard to the colla'Joration of the In America not without reason is Africa various Free Thinkers' Associations with the Godless thought of, more than any other continent, as Movement, and in relation to the struggle against Fascism, "mysterious," "darkest," "remotest," "unknown." war and clericalism, fundamental agreement has already It is unknown in many of its elements. We are been reached. Similar views have been expressed by the generally quite unaware of how profoundly Africa League of the Fighting Godless, in the A'pril issue (page already affects our life. Still less are we conscious 2) of Bcsbcschnik, published by the Soviet Union. In the of the inevitability with which it will continue meantime, the fusion of the Brussels Free Thinkers' Inand increase its influence in the whole range of ternational with the Proletarian Free Thinkers' Internahuman affairs. How widely is it realized, for ex- tional has taken place, thanks, not least (according to ample, that in certain important and real senses, "International Correspondence" of May), to the active Africa is the richest continent, the most produc- collaboration of the Soviet delegation, which was composed tive continent, the coming continent? of Professor Lutaschewsky, representing the League of the Fighting Godless in the U. S. S. R., and Professor Let us study this continent, not only during the Savadowsky, President of the Ukrainian Godless League. months just ahead of what we call mission study, The reports of these members of the congress "made an but in the days beyond that when Africa and its essential contribution to the clarifying of the basic quesneeds will continue to grow and its influence con- tions of the Free Thinkers' Movement." Professor Savatinue to mount, voluntarily and involuntarily, for dowsky, it is further stated, declared in his address that good or for evil in world relationships. "it is only today that it is possible, with the union of the two Internationals of Free Thinkers, to estimate the whole If we study, and are convinced, and act, the value of the assistance rendered by the liberated science "African problem" can be solved, and with it will of the U. S. S. R., to the ideological struggle of the Free be solved many other problems, now fearfully con- Thinkers against Fascism and clericalism." The merging fronting individuals, nations and the world. Our of the two Internationals of Free Thinkers is not to be own Christianity can thus be expanded and regarded as an aim in itself, but as a means of coordinat-
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
ing "the best forces Qf progress and of science in the after commenting on harvest conditions as he had noticed them when crossing the country: struggle for Socialism." R. M. K.
MILLIONS OF SHEPHERDLESS SHEEP May r remind you of another kind of harvest which seems to have been shunted into the background? r am The anxious demand for economic security is speaking to you as a fellow American who during the at the bottom of the prevailing social unrest. This social conflict differs notably from the age-old last two decades has spent most of his time outside the struggle for political freedom. The latter was the concern of citizens within a nation. In one coun- borders of our country on duty in Europe and the Far try they might enjoy a high degree of political liberty, while those of a neighboring state were East. Each return to America reveals marked changes greatly oppressed. But now the world has been so brought into communication that the strife not only in the physical appearance of the country but over social and economic theories has overflowed boundaries between nations, and great interna- in the mental and moral climate which show now and tional groups are beginning to overshadow the old national parties. When the masses come to think, again a spiritual drought of wide areas of American life. and act, internationally the world has reached a critical point in its history, and one which the r find myself especially impressed by the fact that you Church cannot ignore. and others, who are my countrymen, are placing undue But the Christian Church will not meet its op- portunity and accomplish its appointed work by emphasis upon the lifting of the standards of economic entering any heated secular debate. It can fulfill its Great Commission only by bringing men to life. Weare being told on every hand that we need to realize that they live not by bread alone. It is quite evident, from the present emphasis upon the seek economic security and that when that is achieved all "social gospel," that the central Christian message . of redemption through the Cross is not very popu- will be well. I find myself definitely calling in question lar, but that is no reason for neglecting to press it upon men's attention. Rev. Dr. D: E. Hart- that conclusion. Davies, of Edinburgh, Scotland, in a sermon re- cently delivered in New York, put the situation in We have lifted the standard of economic security very these words: much in the last few decades, but we definitely lack ·that something which can bring peace, prosperity and happi- ness. There is need for much further planting of spiritual seed in the hearts of men so that along with the harvest in the fields there may be likewise the harvest of cultural and spiritual gifts and graces. This, and this only, will lead the people of America intQ that quest of real life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. R. M. K.
The world of humanity may be likened to a vast Oriental THE CHURCH AND THE YOUTH wilderness upon which millions of shepherdless sheep are MOVEMENT grazing. One of the phenomena-perhaps, rather, one of the symptoms-of our times is the prominence of I never go into a big city like London, Glasgow, Bir- youth, to the extent of almost making them a dis- tinct social class. This is very naturally leading mingham, Chicago or New York without feeling my own youth to take itself with exceptional seriousness, so that in its mass expression it is inclined to put helplessness as I look upon the masses of the people close in "a very large order." An instance is this stateup. Though their aims are manifold, there is an intensive ment from a declaration of rights adopted at the passion for leadership. Meanwhile, the Son of God has third American Youth Congress, held last July in Cleveland: appeared and made the great claim of the ages, "I am the light of the world. He that followeth me shall not walk "Our generation is rightfully entitled to a use- ful, creative, and happy life, the guarantees of in the darkness but shall have the light of life." which are full educational opportunities, steady employment at adequate wages, security in time Your eternal salvation and mine depend ultimately upon of need, civil rights, and peace."
this one simple thing: the personal appropriation of the Excepting infants, people of any age are right- fully entitled to much the same things. The sad Son of God as the shepherd of the soul. R. M. K. thing about this rather complacent claim upon life is, that it is stained with the blood and tears of OVEREMPHASIS ON ECONOMIC many generations of men who have demanded of STANDARDS life just such benefits, only to find that, taken to- gether, these boons spell Utopia, the undiscovered One who visits a country at intervals of years country. What life really gives is discipline, now has unusual opportunities to observe and appreci- more severe, now less, but discipline always. Beate various changes. They are presented to him cause youth is proverbially hopeful and the dewith a vividness that the citizen who has seen the pression has so blighted youthful hopes and gradual progress of things fails to sense. Such thwarted youthful ambition they need all the an observer is Bishop Edwin F. Lee, of the Meth- sympathy and help that their elders can offer. odist Episcopal Church, who has charge of its However, that does not mean that sound judgment work in Malaysia and the Philippines. In a ser- should give way to an emotional attitude that may mon delivered in New York last August he said, mislead considerable numbers of young people into thinking that somehow the working of eco-
nomic laws can be modified to suit their very real everywhere else, it will seek to win the youth, we needs. Of course, this is a weakness not confined to the young, but marks people of all ages who have an added incentive to bring young people the have never become mature enough mentally to save themselves from social and political dream- world over, as well as at home, to know their ers and false prophets. The truth is, that unnumbered thousands of youth, unknown and unsung, Lord and to see human life in all its interest as have always had to face such difficulties in their individual lives as trouble millions today who find He would have them see it. R. M. K. a bond in their common sorrows and their united efforts for betterment. NO MERE ACADEMIC MATTER The problems of these millions will be met much There is a disheartening amount of adverse as those of the thousands before them have been. Faith in God, patience, perseverance and the criticism of the present condition of the Churcn, other virtues can win comfort and peace-though some hopes will fade. But unsound theories, even from within, and it is to be feared that much radical mass movements and ill-advised revolutions are not going to change human nature or the of it is well founded. How can things be made underlying principles of things. Of course, we must recognize the evidence of a changing social right? They say that one of the best ways to order, apparent at home and abroad. To natures that are well-balanced this means a time for cau- learn is to teach, and that one of the best ways to tion and careful study. But it also means the great opportunity for the social and political ex- keep one's body in trim is to engage in active tremist, who finds valuable allies in discontent, discouragement, and despair. work. Teach and work. So, then, how can the But another serious factor is beginning to be Church renew her life and power in any better noticed among the more than six million unemployed Americans under twenty-five years of age, ways than by teaching-and so relearning-the and that is a disposition to refuse the responsibility for improving things. More than this, much basic truths of her faith, and by energetically radical propaganda that appeals powerfully to young people of unfavorable background, does not working to put them within reach of all men seriously seek real improvement of the economic order. Instead, it proposes the appropriation of everywhere who have never heard them? the best material advantages in the present order for the less fortunate. Hence the demands for In our generation there is an appalling lack the confiscation and redistribution of wealth. These disturbing tendencies are becoming more of knowledge, or else only the vaguest knowledge, and more evident in America, but they are present the world over wherever youth finds it~ way of the meaning of such mighty terms as "incarnablocked by general conditions. tKiionn~daotmonoefmGeondt,." redemption, regeneration and The Church cannot settle the economic prob': But knowledge of thel'le things lems the times present for youth. But it can and must boldly urge the high moral claims of Chris- will never come by sermons and study cOurses tianity which include the cultivation of that very sense of responsibility just referred to. It was and programs that deal with everything save the intended in the moral economy of God that men should regard themselves as their brothers' keep- Church's supreme concerns. If the Church has ~rs. It is this moral responsibility that is to be laid upon the hearts of youth. But the particular any great service to render to the world it is to political or social systems or methods or schemes by which this obligation is to manifest itself is deliver to all men everywhere the good news not the burden of the Church. the Lord has given her for them. What is more Now, since we are finding that such anti- Christian agencies as communism are invading necessary for the Church than to be made to realeven the great mission field of Africa, where, as ize her responsibility for obeying Him in this matter? How men can be lifted out of the selfish- ness that is threatening civilization is shown by contributions to this issue of THE REVIEW.
But the Church's lessened vitality, serious though it be, does not reveal how critical the situ- ation really is. Weare not experiencing merely an ecclesiastical depression; the Church is ap- proaching a great religious crisis, of profound im- portance to civilization itself. Dr. Samuel Henry Prince, Professor of Sociology at King Univer- sity, Halifax, N. S., while preaching in this coun- try last summer, observed that religion had "con- tributed mightily to the survival of the individual and the human race, and a failing Christianity will presage a decline of the West." And he con- tinued: "The decline of the West is no longer a matter of mere academic consideration, of interest to the followers of a Spengler. It raises the whole question of the factor of religion in social con- tinuity. Whether Christianity shall be allowed to collapse or shall reconquer the Western mind and redeem it of its secularism, megalomania and self- complacency is a greater issue than an American labor schism or a Spanish civil war." R. M. K.
and Challenge in
By REV. ALEXANDER McLEISH, London, England Survey Editor, World Dominion Movement T HE hope of the Church in Africa lies in its and medical work missions have also pioneered becoming a truly indigenous African Church. the way for governments which are rapidly tak- Let us glance at the Protestant occupation ing over these responsibilities. Evangelistic work of Africa in its main geographical divisions. carried on for more than fifty years has resulted Ohristians in the creation of the largest Christian community Mission- Per in any mission land, now numbering, according Population aries Ohristians Million 676 48,150 1,528 to the latest computation, 7,904,514.3 North Africa .. 31,503,298 East Africa … 25,935,548 824 172,302 6,643 The Moslem infiltration from the north con- West Africa .. , 44,463,884 1,140 1,130,529' 25,425 tinues, but has been held up by the Coptic Church Central or Equa- of Abyssinia, by the great progress of missions in 24,439,048 1,479 739,379 30,254 Uganda, and by the chain of mission stations torial Africa. 20,460,759 3,473 4,000,000' 173,408 stretching across the Sudan. Along the old slave South Africa ..
146,802,537 7,592 6,090,3612 38,448 route in Tanganyika, however, Islam is extending The slow progress in Moslem North Africa is its influence again as well as along the coast as far south as Lourenco Marques. at once apparent, and becomes more striking when Roman Catholicism has launched a new and it is remembered the Christians are drawn mainly vigorous campaign for the conquest of Equatorial Africa. The ambition of Cardinal Lavigerie has from the Copts of Egypt. been largely realized and one of the greatest con- solidated spheres of Catholic missions has been If this occupation be distributed under the vari- built up, stretching south from Anglo-Egyptian Sudan to Northern Rhodesia, and west from ous governments it appears as follows: Tanganyika through the Belgian Congo to French West Africa. Rome claims over four million Cath- Ohristians olics in Africa, more than half of whom are in Equatorial Africa. Mission- Per aries Christians Million Africa, however, has proved the most respon- Population sive to Protestant missions of the great world British …….. 4,820 4,564,602 ' 73,347 French …….. 56,225,671 720 933,930 24,359 38,351,128 Portuguese …. 342 285,000 33,290 Belgian ……. 8,561,545 Spanish …… . 13,328,601 1,012 221,000 16,582 .. Italian …….. 1,678,846 22 1,399 834 2,534,814 International 33 3,110 1,226 51,000 Independent … 26,070,932 16 20 392 627 81,300 3,310 fields. David Livingstone, dying upon his knees, 146,802,537 7,592 6,090,361 2 38,448 is forever the symbol of a church sustained in The impact of the European powers has had many an hour of persecution and difficulty by tremendous repercussions in Africa. The recent divine power. Madagascar, Nigeria, Uganda and centenary (1933) of the abolition of slavery in South Africa show the most remarkable progress. the British dominions is a reminder of a hundred The tragedy of North Africa is its vanished years of steady transformation. Native opinion Church. That Church was without an equal in in the south has been profoundly stirred over the Christendom from the second century to the fifth.
color bar legislation. In other parts of the conti- Even in the fifth century, though already in denent the years since the War have seen an increas- cline, it still numbered over 500 dioceses. Its decay ing sense of trusteeship among foreign govern- was due to three significant things: The Scrip- ments, which, however, has received a severe blow tures were never given to the great Berber nation in recent days. Governments have dealt more ade- in their own tongue, the missionary spirit graduquately with educational and social problems. ally faded away, and the Church itself ceased to Four-fifths, however, of the education of the Afri- be truly indigenous and became dominated by can is still in the hlmds of missions. In social Greek and Latin theologians. Therefore it de- clined, and the Moslem invasion of the seventh 1 The British (and the Dutch) have been the only Protestant colo- century completely destroyed it. The Coptic nizing powers in the continent, and it may be seen how predominantly the Protestant Church is established in those territories where 3 This does not include the Coptic Church of Abyssinia and Egypt they have held or still hold sway. Comment is needless. or European Christians scattered over Africa.
2 This number (1936) is now 7,904,514.
[ 455]
Church of Egypt, however, which had given the does the evangelization of the land of Simon of people the Bible, survives to this day. Cyrene hang!
Throughout the Dark Ages and until today the A few years ago, out of the population of thir- Moslem has been the religious dictator of North teen million in Egypt there were nearly a million Africa. The Crusades did not shake him, and Coptic Christians, 66,000 Protestants, and 117,000 almost the only missionary was the lonely but un- Roman Catholic and Uniat Christians. The daunted Raymond Lull, martyred in Algeria in Christian population chiefly resides in upper 1315, and who ever was true to his own motto, Egypt. Between Cairo and the Mediterranean, "He who loves not, lives not." The millions of among six million people, there are only one-quarthese regions still unevangelized remain a per- ter of the Protestant Christians. The Coptic petual challenge to the Christian Church. If to Church is one of the ancient Christian churches, this be added the other Moslem populations of very similar to the Greek Orthodox. Since the Africa, we are faced with almost half the total British occupation of Egypt (1914) the Copts population for the most part still unreached by have mingled much more freely with the Mosthe Evangel. lems, and not a few have gone over to Islam. The Coptic Church does not view with favor the work The partition of North Africa 4 began in 1830, of Protestant missionaries. The Moslems number when Algiers fell to the French, who today govern ninety-one per cent of the population of Egypt. Tunis and the Protectorate of Morocco also. Spanish Morocco is relatively small. Italian Trip- There are about 440 missionaires and 20 misoli and Cyrenaica are vast, but sparsely populated. sionary societies in the country. Forty per cent French administration has been enlightened and of the missionary force is in Cairo, and there are thorough, but it has not helped to solve the reli- 33 other missionary residential centers. Much gious problem. Illiteracy throughout North Africa evangelism' has been carried on among the Copts amounts to about ninety per cent among the men, since 1859, and a very large part of the Protestant and is almost universal among the women. Church has been built up from among them. Progress among Moslems' has been exceedingly Roman Catholic Christianity in North Africa slow, but the present situation is viewed hopefully. does not really assist the Moslem to accept Christ; Many social and educational reforms are being its ceremonies and images are foreign to him. carried out in the country today, but there are Protestant missions, most of which are interde- powerful elements which view with apprehension nominational, were started about fifty years ago. any weakening of the traditional Moslem position Their work is threefold: that among the Jews, and prestige. of whom in Tunis and Algiers alone there are over 200,000; that among the European colonists, Turning to East Africa,5 let us consider the French, Spanish and Italian, in some cases also situation in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan.6 The numerous; and, finally, that among Moslems. River Nile is the unifying highway of the Sudan. The tribes have no affinity, either racially or tem- Work among Moslems has been, and is extraor- peramentally, with the peoples of Egypt. The dinarily difficult. The number of missionaries country is today experiencing a new development. considerably outnumber the number of converts. The future, in the material sense, would seem In Morocco, for example, out of six and one-half promising for the Sudanese. As for the Christian million persons, five and one-quarter million live Church, there are about 100 missionaries and sevoutside the centers of missionary occupation. eral thousand communicants. Six provinces with Evangelization does not really depend upon more a population of over 1,200,000 are practically unforeign missionaries, but upon the sacrificial touched. There has recently been considerable prayer of Christians everywhere and the emer- progress in numbers and influence, and in Bible gence of Spirit-filled indigenous evangelists. The translation, and in the pagan parts of the south work must be largely that of men, but at present many have been pressing into the Kingdom. Conwomen workers predominate. Of the total work- siderably more than half the population is pagan, ers in Morocco, three-quarters are women. For and only the few mission stations oppose the onthose who know the constitution of Moslem society ward march of Islam. The southern Sudan may this needs no comment. well be one of the desperate battlegrounds of the future between Christianity and Islam. The occupation of the field, too, is unequal. In all Tripoli and Cyrenaica there is only one medi- Abyssinia, or Ethiopia, has a population of from cal missionary-in Tripoli city. The Italian gov- eight to ten millions, of which probably one-half ernment had put severe restrictions on religious are pagan and the remainder equally divided beliberty. Two very small groups of Italian believers have been organized. On such small threads 6 Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Abyssinia, Somaliland, Eritrea, Kenya, Tanganyika (area, 2,267,708 square miles; population, 25,727,684; 4 Modern Populations: Tangier, 51,000; Spanish Morocco, 720,273 ; density, 11.3). French Morocco, 4,500,000; Algeria, 6,553,451; Tunis, 2,410,692; Lybia, 719,663; E'gypt, 14,217,864. • Area, 1,008,100 square miles; population, 5,728,551.
PROGRESS AND CHALLENGE IN AFRICA
tween Islam and the Abyssinian Church. The over two million Moslems, but many think that the last few years saw a great advance in the work number of real disciples is not more than 300,000. of Protestant missions. A new spirit among the What is certain, however, is the rapid superficial priesthood, a general readiness to hear the Gos- increase. Roman Catholicism is represented by pel, and the printing and publishing of the New about 700 workers and 200,000 Catholics. It is Testament by the government press were out- pursuing an active and aggressive policy, greatly standing facts. This progress has been arrested hampering the work of Protestant missions. meanwhile, and it is not known what the future of Protestant missions will be. Missionary work There are 13 Protestant missions and a Chrisdates from 1830, and before the recent war there tian community of 125,826. The German miswere eight societies, with a staff of about 200 sions, excluded in the Great War, were permitted missionaries. to return in 1925. Probably the areas of least progress are in the Eastern and Western prov- This will remain for long a very needy area and inces. The former borders the Indian Ocean, must be included in the unevangelized area of and among its half million people there are under Africa. Missions may be able to continue their 1,500 Protestant Christians. The latter lies along work in cooperation with the Waldensian Prot- Lake Tanganyika. The Lake Province, the most estant Church of Italy, which views with sym- populous, contains a large number of unevangelpathy and concern the condition of the Evangeli- ized tribes. It is important to note that no defical Christian communities in Ethiopia today. nite steps have yet been taken for the evangeliza- tion of the Moslem populations. Eritrea (Italian) and the SomaIilands (British, French, and Italian) are grouped around Abys- The history of West Africa 10 has been marred sinia in the "horn" of Africa. The population, by slavery. Slavery is still said to survive in which is Moslem, is small.7 Moslem bigotry pre- Liberia. Missions and governments are now desents special difficulties in the way of missionary voting all their energies to native interests. Islam work. Only in Italian territory has evangelism has made great inroads from the North. In many actually been carried on by the National Evan- villages, formerly pagan, the call of the muezzin gelical Missionary Society of Sweden. This work floats from the minaret. Yet the Church has has now been suspended. made much progress, particularly in British ter- ritory. In British West African colonies there are Kenya 8 is a young country. Thirty years ago some 252,000 Christians, and in Nigeria nearly a Nairobi, the capital, was an experiment in tin million. All this ground has been won at great shacks; today it is an up-to-date city. Its high- sacrifice, in the loss of missionaries by sickness lands are suitable for white settlers. The difficul- and in the sufferings and persecutions of the naties between them and the natives have been tive Christians in the past. greatly exaggerated, and even the trouble with the natives over the discovery of gold in 1932-33 has The task of Africa's evangelization is not only been satisfactorily settled. There are eleven mis- that of the foreign missionary. The Church has sionary societies in the colony, and much progress not been without its own leaders, and in more rehas been made. The territory is fairly divided cent times "prophets" have arisen here and there. between these bodies, and the unoccupied fields Some of these have been men of little worth, but are to be found mainly in the north where, how- one deserves more than a passing reference. The ever, the population is not dense. Work has re- "prophet" Harris was a Liberian of the Grebo cently been begun in these regions. The unhealthy tribe. As a young man of twenty-one he felt the regions of the coast have still many neglected call of the Holy Spirit. Of his early years of groups. In the west the influence of the great ministry little is known; but in 1913, when he work that has been done among the tribes of was about sixty, he came to the Ivory Coast, and Uganda has been strongly felt. God began then to use him in a remarkable way. His message was simple, his life apostolic, and he Since 1920 Tanganyika Territory 9 has been ad- was undoubtedly taught of God. A Bible and a ministered by Great Britain under a mandate of bamboo cross were the insignia of his mission. the League. The administrative reconstruction of His converts on the Ivory Coast are variously the region has been carried out with special ref- reckoned up to a 100,000. Persecution fell on the erence to the welfare of the native peoples, and Christians, but the majority refused to comproseeks to stimulate native authority. A living issue mise. Harris himself was deported in 1915 to in the religious field is the progress of Islam. Liberia, where he later died. Zanzibar and the East African coast are almost completely Islamized. The last census records Nothing was known of this to the missionaries at this time. Strange stories came to them of a 7 Eritrea, 621,776; Somalilands: British, 344,70'0; French, 68,965; Italian, 1,010,815; Island of Socotra (British), 12,000, 10 French, British (InclUding Nigeria), Spanish and Portuguese territory and Liberia: Area, 2,458,745 square miles; population, 8 Area, 224,960 square miles; population, 3,091,064; density, 13,5. 42,432,017; density, 17.3.
o Area, 366,632 square miles; population, 5,022,640; density, 13.7.
work in the interior which passed human analysis, are only one or two stations. Most of the mission- of fetishes destroyed by thousands, of churches ary effort in the vast stretches of the interior is which had never seen a missionary. When in- very recent. The Christian and Missionary Alli- quiry was made it became clear "that right along ance has taken a considerable share in pioneering, the Ivory Coast, and up into the interior, there but the six societies in this large region today had been such a mass movement as had never been have only 30 stations. French West Africa is, to heard of in the history of modern missions." a large extent, still spiritually destitute.
With all its inadequacies-and they were many- Of the population of the interior fully forty per here was a stirring in the African soul which cent are Moslems. The most important tribes are came from God. In recent years the Methodist probably the Fulani and the Mosai, numbering Missionary Society has taken over the care of about two million. In the past the Fulani influ- large numbers of the "Harris Christians." ence has been the stronger, and they were the A few figures must suffice to describe the situa- chief bearers of Islamic culture. On the great tion in West Africa today. Let us take British bend of the Niger stands Timbuktu, long since territory first.ll Nigeria ranks third in popula- shorn of her former glories. West and north in tion in the Empire, after India and Great Britain. the desert live the Veiled Folk, the Tuaregs, once Of the 899,000 12 Christians of Nigeria, 188,000 perhaps a Christian people. Wide indeed is the are Roman Catholics. The enormous majority of field here and vast the task to be undertaken!
the Christian community is in the Southern prov- In Spanish 14 and Portuguese15 territory in inces, nearly 700,000 coming from the lbo, West Africa there is a small work on the Cape Yoruba, and Ibibio groups alone. The north is Verde Islands and a station is projected in Portu- less occupied, and here Islam is strong. Christian guese Guinea.
schools in the south enroll 176,886 scholars and The independent state of Liberia is about the in the north, 5,969. Moslem school enrollment in size of England, and is a member of the League the north is 183,374, and in the south nil. of Nations. It was founded in 1822 by liberated The Northern provinces are of great interest. slaves from the United States, who were assisted Roughly seven and one-half millions are Moslems by American philanthropists. Today there are and about four millions pagans. Up to 1901 there about 10,000 Americo-Liberians, 60,000 others was only one mission station established; now who are civilized and also use English, and about ten societies are at work, reaching over 160 tribes, 200,000 who are partly civilized. The remainder totaling some 3,000,000 souls. What is needed is of the estimated population of a million are il- not so much the advent of new bodies, but the ex- literate. Many missions, mostly American, have tension of existing work. The unreached popula- worked in the republic, and the Christian commu- tion is mostly in the Mohammedan emirates. For nity is over 30,000. This is practically confined a long time, evangelization was prohibited in these to the English-speaking population. Very little is areas by the government, but this prohibition is being done to reach the population of the interior, now removed. On the whole the outlook is en- and the state of many of the existing churches is couraging; in 1932 the whole Bible was published very low. One authority writes: "There is no in Hausa, one of the most widely spoken languages vision, no discipline, no authority in the churches."
of West Africa. Four stations have recently been opened in the As for other British territories: In Gambia hinterland, and the churches are being encour- there are some 2,000 Christians; in Sierra Leone, aged to support themselves and to evangelize their about 40,000; in the Gold Coast, 200,000; and in fellow countrymen.
British Togoland, about 10,000. The hinterlands The Union of South Africa presents many prob- of all these territories are still largely unoccupied lems. In the provisional census of 1936 there by missions. were over 6,529,784 Bantu, 755,282 "colored," and French West Africa 13 is an immense territory, 215,529 Asiatics. Europeans numbered 1,979,390.
equal in area to India. Of the 60,000 Christians, The native population has increased by thirty-nine 45,000 are in the Ivory Coast, the fruits of the per cent since 1921. Afrikaans has become the long unknown labors of the "prophet" Harris. common language.
Nearly all the remainder are in the coastal ter- The Bantu are unquestionably a people with a ritory of French Togoland and Dahomey. In great future, and today they are combining with.
Mauretania there is no work, and in Senegal there the "colored" folk in defense of their rights.
About 2,000,000 are still living the tribal life. The 11 Nigeria, 91,928,171; Gambia, 20'0,000; Sierra Leone, 1,768,479; present land policy, as seen in the allocation of re- Gold Coast, 3,040,446; Togoland, 293,714. 12 Census, 1931. serves to the natives, has not given very satisfac- 13 Population: Mauretania, 323,819; Senegal, 1,584,273; French 14 Rio de Oro and Adrar, 495,000; Ifni, 20,000. Sudan, 2,853,655; Upper Volta, 3,000,243; Niger Territory 15 Portuguese Guinea, 364,929; Cape Verde Islands, 153,70'0. 1.542,714; French Guinea, 2,236,968; Ivory Coast, 1,866,316: Togoland, 750,065; Dahomey, 1,112,000.
PROGRESS AND CHALLENGE IN AFRICA
tory results. Of the acute race problem and the of missions followed, and today there is a Protescolor bar legislation all that can be said here is, tant Christian community of over 120,000. The that nothing would so much contribute to its solu- Presbyterian work has grown steadily and has retion as a deep and widespread revival movement. sulted in the formation of a Central African Na- tive Presbyterian Synod. It is interesting to note The leading church among the whites is the that, in contrast with Rhodesia, Islam has spread Dutch Reformed, with nearly a million adherents. widely in Nyasaland, the Moslem population being A very large number of denominations and mis- reckoned at 73,000. sions work among the Bantu and colored peoples; and this "fragmentation" from abroad is outdone Portuguese East Africa 20 lies adjacent to by native enthusiasm. "Separatist" movements Nyasaland and South Africa. There are large are many and frequent. In Johannesburg alone stretches of entirely unoccupied territory in the there are said to be 121 denominations among North, for the missions are almost all in the South. African Christians, and in 1932 Professor Brookes Special conditions attend missionary work in these compiled a list of 326 native sects. Notwithstand- Portuguese colonies which need careful study being this, there has been much real progress. About fore new work is begun. There are about 20,000 2,500,000 Bantus are Christians, and there are Protestant Christians in the colony. some 40,000 Bantu workers. In some churches Bantus have a large share in church government.16 In the history of African missions few stories are so stirring as that of Madagascar. The Lon- A,r,eain Popula- Density Protes- don Missionary Society founded a station there in tion 1818, and the witness rapidly spread. By 1834 Sq. Miles 48.8 tants there were 30,000 pupils in its schools. Then ter- 571,600 0.5 rible persecutions fell upon the Christians. Mis- Basutoland ….. 11,716 160,000 140,000 sionaries were driven out. Men and women were Bechuanaland … 275,000 123,320 18.3 16,000 slain by the spear, hurled over precipices, sawn Swaziland …… 6,704 27,000 asunder, burned in the fire, or sold to slavery. And yet persecution stimulated the growth in Basutoland and Swaziland are, relatively speak- numbers, so that by 1861, on the death of the cruel ing, the most occupied regions of Africa, while queen, the Christians had increased tenfold. At substantial progress has been made in Bechuana- last in that year freedom was proclaimed.
land. The reconstruction began in 1861, and the work Southwest Africa 11 is administered by the has continued ever since. Difficulties have been many, but the triumphs have been an abundant Union under a mandate of the League of Nations. reward. Widespread and rapid church building Of vast size, but very sparsely populated, it is one has been a keynote of the work. In one period of of the most fully occupied mission fields of Africa. ten years since the war over a thousand new Christians number 85,000, of whom about 10,000 churches were organized. Today there are some are Roman Catholics. There are 381 missionaries 720,000 Protestant Christians.21 More than oneper million people, or 910 when Roman Catholics third of the total number of churches in Africa are found in this island. are included. Rhodesia 18 is a vast territory, as yet thinly Any reference to Central Africa may well begin with Uganda.22 A long line of remarkable names populated. The pacification and evangelization of marks the progress of the Gospel there. H. M. the natives, together with the colonization of the Stanley, the explorer; Alexander Mackay, the country, forms one of the romances of African pioneer; Hannington, the martyred bishop; Pildevelopment. Today the administration faces kington, the brilliant linguist; and many others questions of land, color, and industrialization, but are among them. When King M'tesa heard from it has the experiences of South Africa from which the first Church Missionary Society missionaries to learn. The number of African Christians in the name of Jesus, of whom Stanley had previ- Southern Rhodesia is only 86,000, of whom nearly ously spoken to him, he caused a salute to be fired 30,000 are Roman Catholics. In N·orthern Rhodesia the total is 142,000, and of these somewhat .0 Portuguese East Africa: Area, 297,657 square miles; populamore than half adhere to the Roman communion. As there are 14 missionary societies in the North tion, 3,995,831. and 15 in the South, there is no call for additional organizations. The evangelization of the country ., Roman Catholic adherents number 460,000. It is worth noting awaits the extension of the e~isting work and the that the Comoro Islands (population, 130,253), adjacent to Madagasgrowth of the missionary spirit among the Afri- car, are unoccupied.
can Christians. Reunion (French): Population, 197,933. The population Is Roman The land around Lake Nyasa 19 :was first ex- Catholic. There is no Protestant work.
plored by David Livingstone. The establishment Seychelles (British): Population, 27,786. Two missions are at work. 16 Basutoland, Bechuanaland and .swaziland are native protectorates. Mauritius (British): Population, 400,904. Christians number 122,836, of whom only 5,345 are Protestant. 11 Area, 322,394 square miles; population, 273,876; density, 0.8. 22 Uganda: Area, 94,204 square miles; population, 3,584,758. 18 Northern and Southern Rhodesia: Area, 438,744 square miles; 1.population, 2,502,340; denSity, 5.6. Nyasaland: Area, 37,596 square miles; population, 1,609,915.
for joy. Under M'wanga, his son, the Church was spiritual desert, and around them a thirsty land baptized with fire, but stood firm. The threat of where many tribes know nothing of the Light.26 Islam and tbe strife with Roman Catholicism were challenges she was called on increasingly to meet. Remarkable progress has been made in Angola27 But today the Church of Uganda is a mighty (Portuguese West Africa) jn the face of many Church. There are well over half a million Chris- difficulties. One mission alone witnessed 900 tians today, and, although there is some discrep- church members increase to 9,000 between 1921 ancy in statistics from different sources, they seem and 1931, and there are today eleven missions to be about equally divided between Evangelicals with 240 missionaries at work in 51 centers. and Roman Catholics. Catholics in the same decade increased from 77,000 to nearly 300,000. Yet both in the North- Belgian Congo23 is a vast territory, nearly east and South of the colony there are populous eighty times the area of the home country, but tribes and large areas still untouched. The Protwith a relatively small population. Its past has estant Christian community numbers 240,000, of been melancholy, but today roads traverse its ter- whom nearly 3,000 are Christian workers. ritory, mines penetrate its ground, and the government is making increasing provision for the The whole situation today in Africa may be welfare of its native peoples. The jubilee of Prot- summed up briefly. The Roman Catholic populaestant missions in the Congo was celebrated in tion of Africa amounts to about 4,304,222, in the 1928, and the picture was a very different one proportion of 4 to North Africa, 22 to Central from that of the days when George Grenfell con- and West, 8 to East, and 9 to South. The Protstructed his little steamer, the Peace, with his own estant population is 5,638,252, in the proportion hands, the two Scotch engineers having died be- of 0.5 to the North, 18 to Central and West, 2.5 fore reaching Kinshasa. Today there are some to East, and 35 to South Africa. From this it 43 societies with about 900 missionaires in this will be seen that the Catholics are strongest in the field, and between 1920 and 1930 church members Central, East and West, and the Protestants in increased from 55,000 to over 200,000. Many un- the South. The Christians number 10,000,000 or evangelized regions still remain, but they consti- about 7 per cent of the total population. This is tute a challenge to existing bodies rather than a 1 to every 14 people, which may be compared with call for new missions. Catholics are variously China proper, where there is 1 to 500 people, or estimated from half a million to two million, and India, where there is 1 to every 56 people. There the sudden growth and influence of Catholic mis- are over three times as many missionaries to every sions is seriously embarrassing the evangelization million people in Africa as compared with India, of the colony. but, owing to its large area, only one-seventh the number to each 1,000 square miles. Out of Ruanda Urundi/4 with its small area and dense Africa's 65 territories, 42 are inadequately occupopulation, became a mandated territory of Bel- pied, 23 are adequately occupied, but 15 of these gium after the War. A Belgian mission has taken are excessively occupied if 1 missionary to 20,000 up part of the former work of the German mis- people per 1,000 square miles be taken as the sions, and the Church Missionary Society has been standard. extending its work southwards from Uganda. With the addition of two or three small Protestant Whereas there are 15 missionaries to the milmissions this is the extent of Protestant effort in lion people north of 10° N., there are 148 south one of the least occupied areas of Africa. The of 10° S., and between 10° N. and 10° S. there Roman Catholic missions are making great prog- are 50. The missionary occupation is, therefore, ress and aim to capture the whole area. very unequal, being three times more in the South than in Equatorial Africa, about 10 times more in French Equatorial Africa and Cameroon 25 to- the South than in the North. gether comprise an enormous area of over a million square miles with a scattered population. It The same is true of the distribution of the stretches from the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan to Lake Christians, who are in the proportion of 146 in the Chad, from Libya to the Belgian Congo. Only South to 28 in equatorial regions and 1 in North in the south (Gabon and Cameroon) are missions Africa. at all well established, and even there much remains to be done. For the rest a few lonely pio- These facts reveal at a glance the regions of neer stations appear on the map as oases in the greatest need, and should determine all plans for the evangelizafion of Africa. 23 Belgian Congo: Area, 918;000 square miles; population, 9,485,091. 2. Rio Muni and F'ernando Po are Spanish colonies. Rio Muni: Area, 10,036 square miles; population, 140,000; 2< Ruanda Urundi: Area, 20,550 square miles; population, density, 13.9. 3,500,000. Fernando Po: Area, 795 square miles; population, 23,846; density, 29.9. 2r. Area, 1,078,538 square miles; population, 5,477,236. The Methodist mission works in Fernando Po and a live develop- ing work exists in Rio Muni under the American Presbyterians.
27 Angola: Area, 323,295 square miles; population, 4,141,730,
PROGRESS AND CHALLENGE IN AFRICA
South Africa is fully occupied, and for our pur- Sudan call for reinforcements, and on the West, pose has ceased to be a foreign mission field. The Belgian Congo and French West Africa, owing to activities of its 3,547,892 Christians should cover their large areas, are still very needy. the unreached sections of the population, which should be regarded as their home mission field. The great Moslem countries of North Africa must still be considered as the most needy part Basutoland and Swaziland, which fall within of Africa. this area, are excessively occupied as mission fields. The first has 67 missionaries to 571,600 British territory, owing to greater facilities people, of whom 136,332 are Christians; the sec- available, is now probably adequately occupied, ond has 80 missionaries to 123,320, of whom and attention should increasingly be given to the 25,818 are Christians. Southwest Africa is in territories of the French, Portuguese and Belgian much the same position with 105 missionaries to colonies till these also are evangelized. 267,905 people, of whom 73,412 are Christians. Bechuanaland, with 17 missionaries to 160,000, This in a word is a bird's-eye view of that great and 15,200 Christians is too well provided for. continent which only sixty years ago was indeed the Dark Continent, but which today is well on A move northwards of a large number of the its way to becoming the most enlightened of all. foreign missionaries to the unoccupied regions of The great cleavage at the heart of the enterprise Portuguese territory, East and West, to Ruanda between Roman Catholics and Protestants casts a Urundi seems called for. The Rhodesias, Mada- dark shadow over the landscape, but the virility gascar, and Nyasaland are probably as well occu- of African Christianity and its power to organize pied as the situatian calls for. On the East, itself along its own indigenous lines promises well Tanganyika, Abyssinia, and the Anglo-Egyptian for the future when Africa shall have become, as it certainly will, a Christian continent.
ST. PAUL'S CATHE'DRAL. MENGO, UGANDA, LOOKING EAST (See page 478)
African View of Indigenous
Religions * By DONALD G. S. M'TIMKULU New Haven, Conn.
To THE ordinary man who has heard about same way as I would behave to my own brothers . Africa the phrase, "African religions," con- and sisters. In this way the family circle is ex- jures up a confused mass of superstitions and ceedingly increased, and the kindred are bound curious beliefs which seem to him very childish, together in a very close and intimate way. In if not entirely foolish. To some it might even most African societies, however, preference is seem like straining the connotation of the term given to one set of kin at the expense of another; unduly to call this hotchpotch religion. It is not L e., either to the mother's people or to the fa- necessary here to prove that suclJ. opinions are ther's people. This is the basis of the clan, or sib, the results of generalizations based on very inade- which is a strong group of people claiming to be quate data. Those who have tried to understand intimately related either on the mother's side or the Africans and to see life as they see it have on the father's side.
found that they possess not only well developed The clan is not only the most important group religious systems, but a religion which enters far in the African kinship system, but also the pri- more into their day by day conduct than is the mary religious group. Since all members of the case among the peoples of the West. clan are linked together through their ancestors, In spite of the vast expanse of Africa and the the ancestors come to take a most important place variation in cultural features presented by its peo- in the life of the group. They founded the clan, pIes, it is still possible to speak of the country as gave it life and made it what it is. The present a whole, on account of a number of fundamental generation, therefore, owes all that it has to those principles which underlie the social structure of who have gone beyond. The ancestors are thus the whole of tribal Africa. This is particularly as much a part of the clan as the living; they. are true of the Bantu tribes, and it is with the religion as interested in its welfare as those who still walk of these peoples that I mean to concern myself in thIs earth. For, according to African belief, "the this paper. dead are not lost to society, they are merely in- A great part of the religious life of the African itiated into another part of the society, the spir- centers round the worship of ancestors, but such itual unseen part." Thus the clan with its begin- a statement needs some elucidation. To under- nings far in the dim past can only make secure stand truly what the cult of ancestors means to provision for the future by consulting and work- the African we must probe deeper into his social ing in harmony with those whose wisdom is un- background. The social and economic unit in doubted, and who now can tap sources of power Africa is the individual family. To bind the fami- which are not available to mortal man. The es- lies together in a larger social unit, the intimate sence of ancestor worship lies in the effort on the and binding family ties are extended outside the part of the living, by various acts of remem- immediate family. .For instance, my father's brance, to maintain friendly relations with those brothers are my fathers; I call them so, and I, who are now of the spirit world, and thus to se- behave to them in the same general way that I dq cure their help and guidance.
to my own father. Similarly, my mother's sisters True enough, fear enters into the worship of are my mothers, and their children are my sisters ancestors, the fear of consequences that will fol- and brothers; I behave to them in exactly tlie low any failure_ on the part of the living to per- • Donald G. S. M'Timkulu Is the son of a well-known Methodl'st form their pious duties. But we would be greatly' in error if we assumed that the religious motive in pastor in Durban, South Africa. He received his high school education at Adams Mission and at Lovedale before proceeding to Fort faenacre.stoTrhewoArfsrhicipanisreaallll ysupmutm' s ehdIS up in the word Hare College, where he received his B.A. in 1927, securing a "double trust in the anfirst" In English and ethics. On the strength of this he was awarded cest ors, and h"IS f al"th I"S a 1IV""lng everyday fal"th" a university scholarship (the first of his race) to read for his M.A. The Afr"Ican a1so be1 lev"es"In a great "Sp"lrItua1 (English), which he received in 1931. Since then he has been power, a Supreme Being, more or less personified, teaching at the Healdtown Missionary Institution in the Cape Province and at Adams College in Natal, where he is now head of the high school department. He was editor of the (Jape African Teach– e,rs' Association Journal until his resignation to come over to Yale University, where he now holds a FellOWShip in Race Relations.
[462 ] who made the world and created all living things, illness by manipulating the all pervasive "Pobut has since had no direct dealings with man. tence" against him. For the African believes that Now and again one may hear his angry mutter- some people are able by long training to make use ings in the roar of the thunderstorm, as he hurls of this spiritual power in the universe either for forth his thunderbolts at some individual who has good or for evil. This is the basis of the Afriangered him. can's belief in witchcraft and the efficacy of charms. For to protect myself against the machi- Among some of the southeastern tribes, how- nations of the wizard, I must have some object in ever, he is regarded as a great chief of the spirit which is concentrated a stronger power than that world, Unkulunkulu (the greatest of the great), which the wizard can direct against me. Without who is so great that ordinary men cannot ap- this I am at the mercy of my enemies. Thus the proach him for any favors. Amongst these tribes African has ever haunting him this fear of unseen the ancestral spirits have come to be regarded as powers working around him, and perhaps against mediators at the court of the Great Chief. Those him; for this reason he clings tenaciously to his who were great in this life, the chiefs, are much witch doctor, who is the only man who can give more likely to be in the inner circles of the Great him sufficient protection to make life worth living. One, and thus can do more for the people by pleading with the Great One in the traditional manner Let us next consider how far these beliefs and that marks the successful and polished councillor. practices are influencing the lives of native Chris- In times of calamity, therefore, the spirits of the tians in Africa. While it is no doubt true that the greatest chiefs of the tribe are invoked to help form that the Christian Church in Africa will ultheir children and save them from disaster. These timately take depends, in the last analysis, on ceremonies are always conducted by the para- what the Africans themselves make of it, it is mount chief of the tribe, in whom, by reason of none the less also true that Christian Africans his birth, is concentrated the highest spiritual must accept the fundamentals of Christianity unpower man can have, and who is the recognized diluted, as it were, if they are going to live Christintermediary between the people and their most like lives. As Archbishop Temple says, it is futile powerful spirits. The power of the chief, there- to consider whether the message of the Gospel fore, is based ultimately on religious sanctions. suits the African or not. If the Gospel is true, He is not merely the political head but the high then it is true for all men, be they black or white. priest of the tribe, and thus the dependence of the If one, however, is thinking of Christianity mere- African on his chief is a very real one. ly as a drug for the curing of social diseases, then one might well ask if it suits the African. If, on Apart, however, from this belief in a first cause, the other hand, Christianity is a Way of Life for the Africans believe in a Potence, an Energy, that all men, then we must recognize the fact that is imminent in all things, intangible and yet all- there are certain fundamental beliefs and points pervasive. While drawing itself into a focus in of view in African religion which are incompatible certain objects, it is, at the same time, sensitive with the Christian spirit. These must be shed, if to human conduct, so that irregularities in the Christianity is to mean anything for the African. world of men react immediately on the world of nature. In African societies, as Mrs. Hoernle While thousands of true and fervent Christians says, "events in the world of nature are inter- are to be found in most parts of Africa, it is neverpreted entirely from the point of view of their in- theless a fact that for many other thousands fluence on the life of the society; the world of Christianity is no more than a veneer, a top dressnature and the world of man are one, changes in ing, which peals off just when it is most needed. the world of man are inevitably accompanied by In the real crises of life they turn to their beloved changes in the world of nature, and vice versa, ancestors in whom they still have the utmost faith, and the laws governing the one world are con- although outwardly adopting the forms of the ceived of as being the same in the other." If, for Christian religion. Many a Christian family when instance, the harvest is poor, it is because the in trouble will secretly sacrifice a beast to appease proper rites have not been performed, or because the injured spirits, so that they may remove the someone has sinned or done wrong, and his wrong curse and establish friendly relations once more actions are somehow preventing things from tak- between the dead and the living. ing their proper course. There are other Christians, however, who have Because of this firm belief the African can definitely set their faces against the old tribal rites hardly conceive of anything happening naturally, and ceremonies; but this is about all they have i. e., uninfluenced by the actions of men, either liv- done. In these lives Christianity has only replaced ing or dead. If a man gets sick, for instance, his one set of taboos by another. This attitude has sickness is either the result of his neglect of some not been a little encouraged by the numerous customary ritual or some duty to the ancestors, "don'ts" which have formed the greater part of or else some evilly disposed person has caused the the "Christian message" of some missionaries.
The Christian in Africa has thus become a man the machinery of Western civilization, whose ex- who does not do a great number of things. The ponents are out to get as much as they can from African can understand such a religion, for it is the dark races.
just his old religion with the dire consequences On this account they have dubbed Christianity made a little less immediate. "the white man's religion," and they will have But the real persistent evil in the African Chris- none of it. This conviction is not lessened by the tian Church is that old belief in the powerful fact that many white missionaries identify their mystic forces of the universe which are ever ready strait-laced Christianity with Western civilization.
to do men harm at every turn. Accusations of The African is continually being told how lovely witchcraft and sorcery are not uncommon even in and beautiful everything is in the white man's our oldest mission stations. Venerable old preach- garden, and how weedy and ugly his own is in ers or deacons will tell you of one of their number comparison. The disillusionment that follows, of who keeps a baboon on which he rides out every course, is not very pleasant either for the mission- night to do his nefarious work. Many a fond ary or the African.
mother, for instance, will not dare to bring her The criticism of the unbrotherly attitude of the child to church for baptism, unless he has been white Christian gains more point when it is lev- thoroughly "doctored," lest the influence of some elled against the missionary himself. It is no other child who has been "doctored" cause a fis- doubt true that the spirit of Christian brother- sure in her child's skull which inevitably brings hood which characterized the life of the early mis- about his death. sionaries is slowly dying out. Social snobbery The old beliefs in witchcraft, therefore, are not and a certain irritating aloofness is not uncom- only still with us, but the practice of witchcraft mon among modern missionaries. In traveling is thriving under new forms showing an excellent round the mission stations one hears such signifi- adaptability to new conditions. Witch doctors cant remarks as this from the old people: "Oh, are doing a better trade today in the towns than we do not knock at the front door of the mission they ever did before. The old technique of try- house now, we have to go to the kitchen door."
ing to pooh-pooh these ideas and laugh them out One hears also of missionary teachers who fail to of court is futile. These beliefs are deep rooted recognize their fellow African teachers as soon as in the African, and now he not only feels he has they are outside the bounds of the mission station.
Biblical authority to support him, but also a fund These may seem like trivial considerations, but of anecdotes in which Christian ministers have they are just full of meaning for the African- been worsted in the fight against the wizard. The they are the straws in the wind. Is it any sur-, missionary, therefore, must concentrate on chang- prise, then, to find that the African in the older ing the African's unscientific view of the world. missionary fields is gradually losing his confidence "Nothing less will do than the gradual revelation in the white missionary?
of the complexity of the universe. Let the Afri- And yet all thinking Africans deplore this can once realize that the universe runs its course tendency; first, because it does not take into ac- by immutable laws which he cannot alter, and he count the great contribution that missionaries will be relieved of an incalculable burden of the have made and are making to African welfare.
spirit." Without this changed outlook the Chris- Second, and perhaps more important, is the fact tian missionary will be building his house on sand. that there is a danger that, with this loss of con- There is a new threat to the life of the Christian fidence in the white missionary, the African may Church in Africa, to which we now turn. In those also lose his hold on Christianity. For, as we parts of Africa where the natives come into very have sought to show, Christianity is still very close contact with the whites there is growing up, much of an exotic plant in Africa.
among some of the leaders of the people, a spirit The present tendency, therefore, among some of revolt against the Church. These men feel that missions to root Christianity in true native soil the Church is not living up to the spirit of Christ's has great possibilities for the future. For, it teaching in its attitude towards the race question. seems to me, the very highest ideal that missions They declare that color bars are rigidly enforced can hold for the future of Christianity in Africa even within the very precincts of God's house; in is the creation of a truly native church, "whose many churches the African clergy are merely the motivation will be emotional rather than mainly "boys" of their fellow white clergymen; some of intellectual, which will take cognizance of native the white men who stand high in the Church are psychic and mystic experience, whose forms and in no way different in their treatment of Afri- functions will be rooted in native life, background cans than any other white man. In these and in and environment, and whose leaders will be true many other ways, they declare, the Church has natives, integrally a part of the community and shown that even within its fold there is no broth- not mere preachers cut in the image of white mis- erhood for the black man. It is merely part of sionaries."
Gospel Among Primitive
By REV. JOHN S. HALL, I Sudan Interior Mission, Kaltungo, Nigeria 1)1- ~==========================~ THE country of the 40,000 Tangale-speaking to another man, that we may feast upon another people is in Nigeria, West Africa, inland one goat." Farthest reaching of baneful practices thousand miles northeast of Lagos, chief sea- was that of the parents, who threw the children of port of Nigeria, which is an important Protector- both sexes together for immoral purposes, all with ate of Great Britain and boasts a population of a view to enlisting the boys for labor on the farms twenty millions. The Tangales had their first of the girls' parents.
sight of the white man only thirty years ago, and A corresponding situation was to be found in their first contact with the Christian missionary the religious sphere. The Tangales' spiritual ten years later. The white ruler's advent ended heritage is cumbrous. Recognition is made of the a strange age-long cycle of seven years of inter- Supreme Being, Yamba, but no worship offered to tribal war alternating with seven years of peace, him. All shrines and altars are dedicated to other and ensured the gradual extirpation of cannibal- spiritual beings-demons, ancestors and haunting ism. Cloth was rare. Leaves sufficed for cover- human spirits. The primitives may not be so ing for the women, while the men used little cov- lacking in many things as superficial observers ering beyond occasionally wearing tanned hides say, claiming that they are without this, that and of animals hung by forelegs from the neck. the other, but omitting to observe that they have Their story is interesting, especially regarding powers that with us are dormant or dead. They Christian missions, and the fact that the condi- are, however, without the most satisfying and en- tions obtaining among them are typical of those nobling of human wants. For they have no hope among all primitive peoples. Illiteracy prevailed, and are "without God in the world." With no with the absence of books and the arts of reading books, they have not the Book, with its Messianic and writing. Their difficult and wonderful lan- light and life in prophecy and history. They are guage had only oral use. The world for them did without the dynamic of the preaching of the cross not exist beyond the extremities ofa fifty-mile and of the Spirit. The emotional reactions to the line, where heaven met earth and was upborne by spiritual environment are those of uncertainty strange, conveniently dwarfed beings around the and dread.
meeting line, holding sky-supporting sticks aloft. Sent by the Sudan Interior Mission, C. G.
With limited horizons of knowledge, the tribe Beacham and the writer settled among the Tan- moved as one man in a narrow orbit, unprogres- gales in February, 1917, and began to learn their sive, static. language. Three years later the Gospel of Luke There was that in their "moral" codes which, in Tangale was in print, published by the British without elevating or quickening the tribe, pre- and Foreign Bible Society. Successively, till served it as a unity, with a sturdy sense of iden- 1930, ten more books of the Old and New Testa- tity and independence. Marriage by uniform pur- ments were translated and in use in print, to- chase was recognized and was made honorable gether with the complete New Testament in by laws of legitimacy and inheritance. Laws ap- Tangale in manuscript. The British and Foreign plying to consanguinity and incest assisted in up- Bible Society undertook the cost of an edition of holding marriage and maintaining purity of tribal 2,000, so that the complete printed New Testa- stock. Over against these helpful things lay many ment in Tangale was in circulation in 1932. To antisocial habits. The bonds of marriage were date half of the edition has been sold, and as only uncertain, owing to the polygamous tendencies of readers, professing Christians, buy the book the men and women, and from easy temporary unions reading public in that once totally illiterate tribe and prevalent promiscuity. Illuminating is the amounts to a thousand, and the Lord's following prayer always made when the large goat from the reaches the same number.
bride-price payment was being eaten by the men School work, simply the teaching of reading of the maiden's hamlet in the sacred grove: "We and writing in the vernacular and of the Scrip- have just begun to eat her [i. e., the woman was tures, was begun only after two years. The en- an occasion of feasting]. Incline her soon to run rollment for a year thereafter was two. The next [465 ]
year it increased to three, and the following year by the young people themselves, who follow them. to eight. The enrollment now is 2,000. The first The Gospel was made for that kind of situation, seven years passed before any girls of the tribe where it can be trusted to be God's power unto came to school. Now the enrolled women and salvation. Moreover, the Africans can be trusted, girls nearly in number equal the men and boys. having "received Christ Jesus the Lord, to walk Of necessity at the first the teachers were the mis- in him, rooted and built up in him, and stablished sionaries. Now the teaching of reading and writ- in the faith, as … taught." To withhold from ing is left to the Christian natives, of whom one them that confidence or to make concessions to . hundred are 'under regular appointment to super- supposed weakness or peculiar wants injures and vise, in thirty-eight "schools," without remunera- slanders them and dishonors Christ and His Gos- tion. With a speeded-up farming schedule and a pel. The privilege and duty rather are, to uphold great saving of time formerly given to growing the New Testament demand and standard as re- much grain for beer, they follow their accus- gards purity and spirituality, together with an in- tomed farming, devote certain time to systematic tensive New Testament indoctrination. It is a Bible study and, with regulated substituting ar- senseless, heartless procedure to ask monogamy rangements, see to the manning of these teaching or one-until-death unions from people whose codes posts. . To evangelize farther outposts, ten mar- never included these conceptions, unless New ried couples in fellowship standing in the churches Testament doctrine and dynamic are intensively gave up home and farm and went where taking imparted and fully conveyed. Hence the Bible root afresh would be slow and toilsome, where schools, with their whole-church enrollment and privation would sometimes be their lot, and where systematic opening of the Scriptures. Hence the their only, but most glorious, reward would be magnifying of the church, the local assembly, as souls won for Christ. the school, the home of the saved community as a community, the sphere of mighty movings of God R. J. Campbell, in his Life of David Living- and the birthplace of saving outward movements stone, mentions the attraction his lantern lecture of wide reach. Hence, too, the simple and ex- was to the Africans, and adds that that was the clusive character of the mission's principles re- only Christian propaganda Livingstone was ever specting "education," with a nonsecular program asked to repeat. The Tangales have not yet seen and curriculum best fitting and generally lantern views. God's Word has been put into strengthening the believers for every spiritual their hands, and they have built two Bible schools and secular contact. where they gather to study the Scriptures. When we saw these buildings rise and asked, "What To an extent not always realized social pressure time will you give to the study?" the whole read- and safeguarding rules assist straight living any- ing, godly community of men and women enrolled where. In Tangale teaching is shaped and rules for regular attendance through nine months of framed to induce the right social pressure in the the year, every Monday and Tuesday mornings Christian society. Some of these rules are, that from 9 to 11, with daily sessions through a period boys may not meet with girls anywhere at night of four weeks twice a year. or in enclosed places, as huts, through the day; and that every Christian is responsible for rebuk- This spring we had the third of these four-week ing and reporting breaches of that rule and will periods in the two Bible schools, the average daily be held by the church as culpable as the offenders attendance being 525. The Epistle to the Hebrews if he does not meet this duty. Sense of personal was taught, with analytical outline, careful exe- and mutual responsibility and keenness of pergesis and application. Blackboard and notebooks sonal and social conscience are developed in this were used, and examinations given. The enthu- way. siasm and the mental and spiritual growth accom- panying that daily work within the cool, spacious In Tangale, as has been mentioned, the girls did grass-roofed buildings, with the high sun's heat not come to services or school until the seventh outside, cannot be computed or verbally conveyed. year of the work. The young men who came, Under what a spell the mystical Melchizedek held besides adjuring the practice of early sexual rela- these black students until, as they gave earnest tions, were taught to wait for domestic partners heed to argument, warning and entreaty, he to until they and the partners-to-be were baptized. their view dissolved into the Divine Prophet- Some did not wait; others did, and gave a noble Priest and they were strengthened and rejoiced lead. One of these first ones waited seven years to follow Him! "The Word to us is mother's from his first confessing Christ to gain a girl nurse," they cried. "Give us more; you stop too baptized one week before their marriage. An- soon! Hurry back!" other, a big muscular fellow who had waited five years from his first testimony, was similarly I have already alluded to the moral situation united then to a baptized Christian maiden. These created by parents in their handling of youth and
THE GOSPEL AMONG PRIMITIVE PEOPLES
weddings had profound effects; as from that time tian lives and their own Heaven-blessed home. the marrying age among believers advanced con- Then there is Shebu, who was living with an siderably, and the stability, security and satisfaction of marriages of baptized to baptized became unmarried woman and had a child by her. Both manifest. began to confess Christ through the testimony of a volunteer teacher. We said they should sepa- The case of one Shombo is interesting. He had rate and prove Christ singly, looking forward to two wives. They all heard the Gospel from an their Christian marriage duly. They stayed apart early convert. Shombo and his second wife, whom twenty months, were instructed and grew in grace he liked the better, came under conviction and and knowledge of Christ, then were baptized and began to confess Christ. They rightly reasoned came together through a Christian marriage. Shombo should have just one wife, and she the one first wedded, no matter that she seemed the THREE COUPLES IN CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE ON THEIR least attractive and had no heart for Christ. It WEDDING DAY. LAYUNGDUNG AND HER HUSBAND took a struggle, but they parted, and the young AT LEFT woman, Layungdung, went to live with her "problem" and her testimony at her brother's. After Glorious results followed in the domestic sphere. some days, finding her brother's wife vexatious, Shebu's mother, sister, two brothers, an aunt and she quarrelled with her, and she, her brother and a cousin all sought the Lord and were baptized. sister-in-law came together to us with their trou- The cousin and the sister have married Christian ble. We were from 7 p. m. till 1 a. m. smoothing men; the two brothers remain unmarried until it out. We counselled forbearance and forgive- they can be suited with baptized wives; Shebu's ness, which Layungdung thought too hard, but at boy, happily named Paul, is choosing wisdom's 12 : 45 a. m. we knelt together and praised God ways; a considerable group in Shebu's hamlet, for victorious grace. Layungdung returned and old and young, and among them an old blind lived with her brother and sister-in-law, till she woman, have been baptized. And Shebu and his saw them confessing Christ and, with herself, wife also serve Christ freely now in a needy out- post. baptized. Pagan men, who could not endure seeing a young woman unattached, pestered her for Christ's Gospel has given to a multitude in marriage, until all attempts ceased because it was Tangale newness of life, a new orientation of publicly known that they had failed. She was mind, soul, spirit and social life and habit. waiting God's time and for a baptized companion. God's time-though after two years-came, and also the companion, a young widower faithful in witness. And these two are one of the couples who, with their family, have sacrificially migrated with the Gospel to an outpost.
Shombo himself now loves his first little wife, who has received salvation and baptism. Both his mother, a former spiritist medium, and his influential seventy-five-year-old father are baptized and in the Church, as is also his younger brother. His children, also, two dear girls, are readers of the Word and happy confessors of Jesus. And in Shombo and his wife we have another couple who have given up all and have gone to an outpost, 20 miles distant, to serve souls with their Chris- A NATIVE EVANGELIST'S APPRECIATION "There are many things that tempt a servant have good chairs to sit on, not just boxes. As a of the Lord," said a native evangelist one Sunday rule they have good looking wives and children. in his preaching to the other evangelists. "For Often they have a horse or a bicycle, too, and yet us black people the spirit of pride is a great dan- with all this you cannot find any pride among ger. However, when I look at the white mission- them on this account. They are just as pleasant aries, then I can't help but thank God for them. and friendly. Yes, I have noticed that the more They may have two or three coats to put on and they have of such things, the more kind they are more than one pair of shoes. Sometimes they to share with us black natives."-Reported by L. have both a sun hat and an ordinary hat. They A. Tweiten, in The Missionary Broadcaster.
in Central
By REV. ANDREW MacBEATH, B.D. I Ii- Baptist Missionary Society, Bolobo, Belgian Congo THEY say that the darkest hour is just before locusts. We turned once again to the Book of the dawn. When things are at their very Joel and read of the locust hordes, and our read- worst we have the more reason to expect a ing took us on to the promise of the outpoured change for the better. January, 1935, certainly Spirit. Little did we realize how near the fulfilwas a dreary, almost a desperate, month in Bo- ment of the latter promise was. The floodtide of lobo, Belgian Congo. Our deacons had sought to blessing began to come in February. resign in a body, and the monthly communion service was suspended until some better under- A young carpenter in mission employ read a standing and confidence was established between little booklet, in the middle of 1934, which told of Sammy Morris, a Kru boy from Liberia, who the church members and their missionaries. Sus- traveled to America with a hungry, overmastering picion and bitter criticism were rife. How was desire to taste the full life that God offers in the it that things had reached this point of strain? Holy Spirit. The story of that boy's hunger for For several years our hearts were burdened the living God, and the brief but glorious course with the low spiritual level of our church fellow- he ran as a fervent evangelist to others, fired our ship. There were twelve hundred communicants, young carpenter's heart. He saw that God does but we felt that very little of sterling quality could not need to wait for worldly advantages of breedbe claimed for their Christian faith. Every ing, wealth or education. Wherever He finds a month a saddening list of names was read out, man ready to concentrate on God and give Him a the names of church members being suspended highway through his life, God has His chance. from fellowship because of some serious moral Our young carpenter brooded over giving God lapse. The white missionary who sought to know such a chance in his life.
the inner side of village life came to feel that there At Christmas a missionary pageant was prewas an impenetrable wall of secrecy which dea- pared by the school children, showing the condicons and deaconesses made it their business to tion of children in many lands. The lads from maintain in front of their white missionaries. At the Pastoral Traini:ng School represented scenes last, in October, 1934, a conference with native from the life of William Carey, showing his paschurch leaders was arranged. It was hoped that sion to take the Gospel to India. The theme song the frank interchange of opinion about the exist- around which the action was grouped was the ing state of things in the church would arouse missionary hymn, "Far, far away, in heathen them to a sense of their responsibility and fur- darkness dwelling." The effect of this missionary ther the cause of cooperation. From the very pageant on the soul of the young artisan dreaming beginning of that conference, the indigenous lead- dreams of serving God with all his powers was to ers met their missionaries in a spirit of antago- bring him to the point of crisis. During the weeks nism. A questionnaire had been prepared to of January an intense inward conflict developed.
stimulate their reflection on some of the unsatis- He dreamed of making Christ known to the farfactory elements in our church life, elements of off heathen, but God told him first to be reconciled evil which quite paralyzed the effectiveness of our to his own father. The struggle robbed him of witness among the heathen. Instead of giving sleep, but he could get no peace until, down on his calm or prayerful thought to the questions at face with tears he promised to buy his father a issue, church leaders and church members turned blanket as a reconciliation present as soon as dayround and told their missionaries some of their light came. The flood of joy that burst over the outstanding failings. young man's heart, once he had given up his con- After that conference three more months troversy with God, knew no bounds. passed, the road winding "uphill all the way." Meanwhile the situation in the church had been Then in January came the ultimatum of resignation from the deacons in a body. And in the end growing almost desperate. To make confusion worse confounded, swarms of locusts were all of January our district was invaded by hordes of around us, wearing us out with the effort to keep [468 ] them from alighting on our gardens. And then The preacher, exhibiting the dinner knives and the young carpenter asked permission to speak in later showing the absurdity of toiling away with public. He was given permission, but the experi- a mere ax head in the hands, showing too the long ence of which he tried to tell was too great for wooden handle inserted in the ax head that enhim. He could not articulate the story. At his sures swift and powerful strokes, was that mornsecond telling of it, he began an exposure of the ing convincing the reason and firing the imaginasecret sins that were destroying the church's life tion of his audience. They saw the truth. And and sapping the vitality of the community. the climax came when he used a pictorial phrase which put his closing appeal in a nutshell. "God A few young men gathered round him in pri- gave each of us two legs," he said, "but we have vate to learn more of what had happened to him. been stupid enough to suppose that with two legs Older men were skeptical and superior. They de- we could travel at the same time on two roads. rided him, especially because his new walk with We church members have had one leg on the way God made it necessary for him to do his daily Heavenward, and with the other leg we have been work conscientiously. Many declared that his traveling the world's way." brain was decaying or that sleeping sickness had him in its grip. Long ingrained habits of secrecy One could almost hear the strokes of a scythe and deceit made our people construe as madness that was gathering in golden sheaves for God's any willingness to admit a fault and confess it. granary. There were over thirty young people One deacon thought he had effectively vanquished who went forward at the close to occupy these the young man's crusade when he showed, as a empty forms on the platform, to signify that they stalwart Protestant, that confession of sin was a were out for the consecrated life that has given peculiarly Roman error! up half-measures and hypocrisy.
But the ferment had been thrown into Bolobo's From that moment we knew that harvest time life. The unheard of began to happen. People had come. We had heard the sound of a going in were disturbed in their dreams or kept from the tops of the mulberry trees, and we knew to sleep by the accusing voices of their sins. Young bestir ourselves. When the men gathered in large men, gathering round our splendid native pastor, numbers in their afternoon service, the appeal were looking up in the New Testament what God was made to the older men and deacons to range had to say about their sins, and the way of release themselves alongside the eager young men who that He offers. On February 24, the church was were pressing forward, and the question was put packed when the morning service began, and we in this form: "Shall the Isaacs offer themselves noticed that the native pastor had arranged some willingly and go up the Moriah road, but shall forms behind him on the platform. These forms Abraham hold back?" The older men explain that remained vacant during the service, and we real- the putting of that question roused them from ized that they were not placed there simply for sleep. At first it puzzled them. What more reuse in case of overcrowding. We had never dared mained for them to do? Were they not church to try an upstanding appeal amid an African members? Had they not been baptized? audience, nor had they ever seen a penitent form. Yet the pastor's inner ear had been prepared to They remained to an aftermeeting, and after hear, and he had come to preach that morning that the group went to the preacher's house, resure of results. Had he himself not come through questing that it be made plain to them what furthe Holy Spirit's searching scrutiny, and found ther gift God was offering them and what further how He burns up all our refuges of lies? Never claim He was making on them. At last hearts did anyone wield more effectively the rapier of were open and ready to take in the truth. God's the Spirit than he did that day. It pierced to the gift of fulness of life in the Holy Spirit was set dividing asunder of joints and marrow. It dis- forth. From that time onward never a day passed cerned the thoughts and intents of many hearts. but souls were coming through crises and conflict to freedom and fulness of joy. Their faces told Showing in one hand a rust-corroded knife and the story before they reached the missionary's' in the other a shining knife of stainless make, the presence. Going to the hospital that night, one pastor asked his audience what kind of Christians heard the sound of weeping in the doctor's private they wanted to be. Bringing out an ax head from room. One of the native male nurses had come under his table, he asked the woodcutters present to confess that he had pilfered medicines from the if, when they felled giants of the forest, they dispensary, and he had brought 25 francs in paywent at their work merely clutching the iron ax ment. People who had been living in enmity were head between their hands; "Hasn't God in His humbling themselves in seeking reconciliation and Holy Spirit offered us a helve for our ax head forgiveness. Stolen articles began to come back which will put force into all our labor in the in a stream. tangled forest of sin that we are to clear away?" A testimony meeting was held Monda.y evening,
and there the thoughts of many hearts were re- transformed by the love of Christ and sitting bevealed. The truth was out, told by black people fore His table to partake of their first communion, themselves. Their sins were finding them out. was to feel that Heaven had come down to earth, Meanwhile prayer and supplication became a and that grace had swallowed up sin and death mighty stream. All who had realized the ending in victory. One could not but think of the aged of life's discord began to pour out their hearts in Simeon and his satisfied request for removal; he intercession for their friends. One knew at last could depart in peace, for his eyes had seen God's what God-inspired prayer is, and how irresistible salvation. With a score of such new-born souls in its sweep. Two missionaries had met with the before us, we realized anew what it means to "denative pastor every morning for two years to pray part in peace." For them Jesus has robbed death for revival, but they were amazed to see how, of its darkness and robbed it of its sting. when revival came, they themselves were carried along as on a mighty stream of prayer. Much more remains to be told. Other mission- aries would learn much if one told of the prob- The evangelistic and missionary passion of the lems and difficulties that the revival created, as young carpenter's heart was communicated to all well as of the marvelous doors it opened and the who tasted the Heavenly gift, and folks in the opportunities it brought. Yet mention must be villages of the hinterland became aware that made of one result which will prove of far-reachsomething had happened because, as they them- ing importance. The revival brought out the censelves put it, young fellows who had formerly trality of the cross as the core of our message. been chiefly interested in swaggering about town It made prayer and Bible study the very breath on a Sunday afternoon in showy clothes and were and daily nourishment of Christians. It brought quite incapacitated for'life by their own conceit, the promise of the Holy Spirit out of the dim and suddenly seemed to feel concern for other people hazy background of truth right into the center of and took the trouble to walk through the forest life as a throbbing reality. And, quite decisively, to other villages to proclaim the good tidings..The it made the triumph of the Resurrection stand out impression was immediate and widespread. There as the corner stone of a Christian message that is was a common impulse to relieve the burdened to win Africa. conscience and the uneasy mind by public confession, and the crowds frequenting the services In the early days of the revival a Christian made it necessary everywhere to enlarge the vil- died, and the way in which the Christians made lage chapels. that funeral a triumph will never be effaced from memory. The problem had hitherto been to per- One of the most wonderful events of all has just suade church members to cut adrift the old had its sequel, a year later. Once the church heathen mourning customs, and we had failed. members cleared their lives of deceit and sham, Wailing and noise and confusion seemed inevitathe heathen became uneasy and stirred in their ble, till on one glorious day the Christians rose sleep, and awoke. The old people, the people most as one man and said, "Never again." That tristeeped in heathenism, began to "ask the way to umphant funeral of a believer has set its seal on Zion with their faces thitherward." Once they the community's life. Now the women gather in had seen fellow villagers who had been reputed to their, brightest clothes, sit in rows around the be Christians really making a clean break with house and sing hymns. Some stay to uphold the witchcraft by bringing out and casting away their chief mourner when the corpse is removed, and secret fetishes, the heathen opened their eyes and all the others follow to the place of burial singing opened their hearts. The story of their awaken- hymns. Who told them to do this? "They shall ing is a constant source of wonder to us. It was be all taught of God." Things we had labored marvelous to see great-grandfathers and great- to .instill into public opinion by preaching and grandmothers in inquirers' classes where the teaching became a public possession overnight. story of Jesus was told to them "simply as to a We who had formerly felt so conscious of labor little child." and sorrow, who had called ourselves workers for God, realized that we were but spectators. "What On Sunday, March 1, the first of these aged hath God wrought!" folks from the town of Bolobo itself were baptized and received into the fellowship of the Into Africa went the Christ twenty centuries ago, when' Church. They numbered twenty. A great crowd gathered on the beach when they were baptized, his own folk sought to slay him. for it was a wonder of wonders to the natives. To see the women who had been most prominent Out of Africa came the Christ, sheltered and safe, to at all heathen funerals and the most adept in all mourning orgies and dances, and well acquainted live his mission and die his death, that the world might with palm wine or sugar cane beer drinking, be saved.
Into Africa may he go again, proclaimed by eager and impelling disciples.
Out of Africa-may Christ come, with a continent fol- lowing after. EMORY Ross.
on the Witness
WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE FOR ME are set forth on a new path of righteousness and By REV. JAMES J. R. JOLOBE, B.A., devotion to higher things.
A survey of the influence of Christ in Africa Presbyterian Church of South Africa cannot, however, be complete without mentioning PERHAPS to one born in a Christian home it education. We owe a debt of gratitude to the may be a little difficult to appreciate fully missionary enterprise for the enlightenment what Christ has done for one; but the life which is rapidly helping us adjust ourselves to from which the Christian religion has helped us modern conditions and to civilized standards of to emerge may help one to realize in some meas- living. It is true there are some who would have us develop along our own lines. If this means ure the gains brought to Africans by embracing preserving all that is good in our past we welcome the Gospel. In the primitive stage of our exist- it. But if it means that we should be content with ence, neutralizing the good things which were a the old primitive life, in other words to be misfits blessing and should be preserved, were attendant in an advancing world, inefficient in an efficient evils ingrained in the social system which, though in a way supporting it, threatened to undermine the vitality of the race mentally and morally.
Among these was superstition. It is only when one actually comes into contact with those en- thralled by this evil that he can appreciate fully what Christ has done and is doing for our people in connection with superstition. The constant fear of imaginary harm, the suspicion engendered against innocent people, and the unwarranted hate against supposed agents of witchcraftthese and many others were the things which were not conducive to the growth of personality.
Christ has liberated us from this bondage and set Africa free to develop to the highest degree with- in her reach.
Again, Christianity has enhanced the value of human personality. On the whole, among our peo- ple life was sacred and the individual had a cer- tain amount of value as a member of a tribe, but REV. JAMES J. R. JOLOBE, B.A. this new religion intensified and widened this conception. In a practical way this was achieved by denouncing polygamy and proclaiming in no un- society-if it means this, we emphatically refuse certain voice that a man should have only one to accept the idea of developing on our own lines. wife. With us, in some cases, several women We feel we have benefited by the assistance of were permitted to one man. This new teaching Christianity, which has helped us, through edu- not only raised the status of woman, but it was cation, to emerge from primitive ideas to a civi- also a blessing to a people who were soon to be lized outlook. We are told, and we see it for ourlaunched into a whirl of economic conditions selves, that it is the fittest that survive under under which a man with a very large family, as modern conditions, and to be fit our race must in polygamous society, would succumb. avail itself of all the best, materially, mentally Africans are human, and being so have their and morally, which mankind has gained down the full quota of the frailties which bring guilt to the ages. Education is doing this for the African, soul, which guilt can only be removed by the for- and we thank the missionaries upon whom this giveness offered man by God, in giving His Son duty devolved for many years past. Even if the to be a propitiation for our sins. Christ has met idea of developing in our own lines were taken in the supreme need of Africa-a Saviour. By the its best sense, we claim that we have a right to cross many are being raised from a low life and know first the universal standards in order that [471 ]
even what is distinctly African may be governed ences, and most unfortunately Africa has im. by them in order to be recognized by the world. proved upon the original. This has resulted in arresting the real work of evangelization, while a I believe the summary of the influence of Christ great deal of energy is being wasted in petty camin Africa is after all a summary of individual ex- paigns of mutual proselyting. Church loyalties periences. If there is an indigenous church grow- are taking the place of loyalty to the Founder of ing up in Africa it is because individual souls the Church. A united church would, I believe, have been touched by the healing hand of Christ. eliminate this, and besides would have greater May I give this witness? I recognize Christ as power and prestige in the eyes of the still nonmy Saviour. He has given me a purpose in life Christian Africa. Moreover, by pooling its reand strength to struggle towards the attainment sources it would be better able to meet the extenof that purpose. Moreover, I am of that class of sion of the rule of Christ. our people which is in the transition stage. These people have inevitably severed their connection But, great as is the need for extensive work, I with many of the old customs and traditions and think the need is greatest for intensive cultivation consequently have lost the salutary restraints de- in church work. The victories won must be solidirived from these, because they were upheld by fied. It grieves one to find that sometimes in old unconvincing sanctions. It was therefore oppor- mission stations, after the second or third gentune that, when these restraints were beginning eration of Christians, a reaction to the old life to be shaken, Christ came and furnished us with sets in. This seems to point to the need of more restraints supported by higher and better sanc- intensive work. To gain this end I think Sunday tions. This saved us from drifting aimlessly. school facilities must be exploited to the full in The best of our people realize more than ever to- Africa. The preparation of candidates for the day that our only salvation as a race and our only full membership of the Church must be long and condition of progress lies in accepting the new thorough, and in the services the preaching must restraint-Christ. In one word, therefore, Christ be more instructive in tone. When people have is my anchor, and not only that, but also my been converted their question naturally is, "What haven, and the wind to help me sail toward that must we do?" The preaching in the churches haven. must seek to answer these questions intelligently and convincingly. From this we can see that, But when we have mentioned all that Christ though it is true that Africa must be evangelized has done for Africa, we find that a great deal still by Africans, she needs a fully trained and well remains to be done. It is true that in Africa educated ministry. Christianity has produced some men of sterling Christian character and women of outstanding In closing may I say that the period we are witness, but the gains registered must be multi- passing through as a people is a difficult one, and plied throughout the whole race. Vast numbers it will take a strong and efficient church to tide of our people live and die without Christ, and this us over it. Our people are rapidly leaving behind points to the need of more extensive evangeliza- the old primitive life. Christianity, education, tion. As the result of missionary activities in- and contact with civilized races are responsible digenous churches are rising up in Africa, but the for this change, and we welcome it. We, however, work still to be done is greater than these bodies regret that with the old order go also the recan accomplish without outside assistance. I be- straints which were furnished by old customs and lieve there is still room for the mother churches traditions. Under these circumstances, therefore, to work among us by guiding the infant churches our hope lies with the Church of Christ. The and by continuing financial help to maintain full- task is big, but we believe that if she addresses time workers in heathen areas. It is just here that herself to it with faith, courage and intelligence our indigenous churches fail. Their funds are she can cope with it. Christ, the Redeemer of the sufficient only to keep going what has already world, is equal to any situation, in any race, and been done, and that with difficulty. They lack the in any age, as He is the same yesterday, today surplus funds for launching aggressive campaigns and forever. of evangelization. Whatever work of this nature is done by them is only on the fringes of their WHAT CHRIST MEANS TO ME pastoral charges. – By BOKARI SABA, However, even with sufficient funds, I believe that the task of evangelizing Africa is beyond a Sangha pres Bandiagara, French Sudan, divided church. The need for union is urgent in French West Africa this country. Europe has rendered us great service by bringing us the Gospel, and we are thankful I AM a fisherman. For years I walked in darkfor this; but with this she has bequeathed to us ness, offering sacrifices to the Water God and a bitter legacy in the form of religious differ- praying Mohammedan prayers, but that did not help me to get rid of my load of sin. One day
AFRICANS ON THE WITNESS STAND
I heard the Word of God-one cannot accept Saviour of the world. Whosoever believeth in God's Word until he hears. I believed that Jesus Him shall not be destroyed, but whosoever does Christ was my Saviour. My load of sin fell off, not believe Him the wrath of God abideth upon and I entered into light. During the first year, him." however, I did not have much strength and still continued to fight with people. Because of this I The commander asked me who was my witness. fasted and prayed. God filled me with the Holy I did not have anyone with me, so I replied, "Com- Spirit and gave me power in my life. mander, I am doing the will of God. I have no witness here, but God is my witness. He sees my I returned to my father's house, and my people work." The commander bowed his head for a wanted me to join in sacrificing a black goat to time and then replied: "I do not see any lie in the Water God as is their custom. I told them you, but I cannot let you go as you have two witthat Jesus gave His life for the world and we nesses against you. I will give you five days in should not offer sacrifices any more. They said I prison." I prayed to God that He might give me would not gain any fish. I replied that I knew wisdom to look to Jesus, and He helped me in a that He whom I follow would help me. However, wonderful way. Good food was sent in for me, my heart was burdened as I had been away from and He caused the guard to trust me, putting me my country for some time and was no longer over several other men during the working hours. skilled in spearing fish and drawing in the net. But best of all I was able to preach to the other We began to fish. I fell into the water three times, prisoners, and two accepted Christ. I was reand they all laughed. I prayed to God and asked leased after five days, but returned once more to Him to give me sense. I did not fall into the the prison to further testify about Jesus to those water again, and before morning my boat was full who had accepted Him. of fish. Everybody was astonished, as I had gained more than they all. I went back to my father's house during the rice harvesting season, and while there received a My arm became swollen, and everybody said it letter asking me to come to Sangha. From the was because I had not made a sacrifice. I said, beginning of my life I had always been near the "Jesus, Thou art my doctor. Here is my arm." water and now I was asked to go away from the It healed quickly and did not hinder me from river, to the rocks of Sangha. I said, "God, let working at all. Thus God strengthened my faith Thy will be done," but Satan tempted me, saying, in Him. "How will you, a fisherman, live if you do not get any fresh fish." When I prayed, God said to me, One day I received a letter requesting me to go "Look at the cross of Jesus, how He died for you." to the San district to tell others about Jesus. I At that time I worshiped God for thus showing prayed for three days and God showed me that me the love of Jesus, and my heart was at rest. He had work for me there. With my wife, Pali, Here at Sangha I do not get any fresh fish, but and two children I went to San, about 250 miles joy is in my heart always. God has blessed me from my home. There my little boy, Mousa, be- among the rocks and in the plains. In numbers came very ill. I prayed and said, "Lord, let Thy of villages there are those who have now heard will be done, not mine." We took the child to the the message of salvation and have repented, burndoctor and he treated him, but the third day the ing their Mohammedan and fetish charms. I child died. The tears flowed, but God lifted the thank God that He helped me, in the Name of the burden so that I could say, "Thank God, Thou Lord Jesus. who has given hast taken away. Bernde am woyi konno bernde am dyalli." (My heart cried, but At Sangha, too, we have had our testings, but my heart laughed). I knew that my Lord had God has given deliverance time after time. One given His life for me. My heart was sweet for I day a Mohammedan teacher from Mecca, and knew God was the rewarder. To this day the greatly revered, passed by our house. When he Lord is blessing mightily in that district, and saw that my wife was pregnant he said, "Take s,cores of souls have found Christ as their Sav- out a sacrifice and give it to me or your wife will iour. I know it was not by my power or thought, 'die." I replied, "I will never take out a sacrifice but by the power of the Holy Spirit. Before I again, for the Lord Jesus is my sacrifice." Anleft this place God had given me another child. other Mohammedan teacher came, and in my ab- sence gave a charm and holy water to PalL When Later I was sent to the Dedougou Circle to I came home she showed them to me and I said, testify. Here Satan caused two men to tell lies "This is Satan's work." I tore the writing and about me to the French commander. One Sunday broke the bottle. I prayed to God to give me while I was preaching a guard came and seized power over Satan. I called the Mohammedan and me. I did not know what I had done and was talked with him, and the next day he left the coundeeply burdened, but I was conscious that Jesus try. One Sunday morning while I was preaching was with me. The commander asked me what I I asked the people to pray for PalL Before the was teaching, and I said: "Jesus is the Lord, the
service closed a Christian woman came with the At the time of my birth my father and mother news, "Praise God, Pali is delivered." All were were in the Catholic religion. I was also baptized surprised, saying, "Even before we finished in that faith and received the name Augustine.
speaking God worked." All the town who knew When I grew up and saw their works I perceived about the prophecy of the big Mohammedan that they had very many objects of worship, teacher marveled and came to greet Pali. Thank Jesus, Mary, Peter and many like them. They do God, I know that His blessing is with me at not give God's Word to men. And also, I was Sangha, and this increased our faith in Him. taught that one can give money to "the father,"
The Habbe people of Sangha as a tribe are who is able to grant him a period of time in fetish worshipers, and they too tempt us. Last which he may commit any sin he likes and he will month, as their big yearly celebration drew near, pray for him. A religion like that does not save their representative, Antando, met me on the one. I forsook that forever.
path. He said, "Bokari Saba, I have come to ask After that I entered Mohammedanism and re- you something hard, but something easy." mained in it for seven years. I saw in that also I said, "Is it peace?" that one could commit any sin he liked, just as He replied: "Peace. We have inquired from long as he was faithful in doing the salaams five the sacred fox, and he says that a fisherman is times a day, facing the East. Why? Because to open our celebration this year. If you will kill there is a stone in Mecca which is the big Moham- the chicken as a sacrifice and walk around our medan object of worship, and Mohammed's grave.
idol three times we will give you grain and They give one a charm called lisimoun, to put on chickens. " for a protection. When I heard the Word of Light I said: "Antando, if I could I would break and took account of my ways, I saw that we wor- down your idol to say nothing of worshiping it. shiped nothing less than Satan and idols, and bur- Do not talk to me again about this matter. I am dened ourselves with much we could not carry.
a fisherman, you a Habbe. Weare sister tribes. Mohammedan teachers also say that we must not Anything in my house that you want you can observe their works, but believe the word of the come and take, but do not speak to me about hon- Koran only. Why? Because their works are evil.
oring your idol. If I have my way, I will destroy There is no end to secret matters with them in it." such a religion of deception. I forsook that for- Praise God, I will not approach a fetish again ever. It does not save one.
with a sacrifice, for I know that Jesus Christ, I saw truth and love in Jesus, which are not in whom I love, is my sacrifice. I need chickens any other road. What is God's will? "And this and grain, but God gave me strength to refuse is the will of my Father, that everyone that be- them when offered in this manner. holdeth the Son, and believeth on him, should Pray much for me that I may not look at the have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the things of the world. I do not have any strength last day" (John 6: 40). I also saw that trouble of myself, but I know God will give it to me as I and persecution were with Jesus on earth.
pray to Him. He has given me His promise that "Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep whatsoever I ask in the Name of the Lord Jesus and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye I shall gain. The promise stands true. God has shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be given me the witness in my heart. Praise God turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail because of the blood of Jesus, for the blood of hath sorrow, because her hour is come; but when Jesus took off the old garment of sin from my she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no neck and gave me a new garment of righteous- more the anguish, for the joy that a man is born ness. I want to go forward doing His will till into the world" (John 16: 20-21).
He come. Amen. I saw another thing on the Jesus road which is not in any other road. If a person says to you, WHY I ACCEPTED CHRIST "Throwaway your coat," but does not give you By JEAN KEITA, a new one, will you not take the old one again? But if he gives you a new one, you will have no Siguiri, French West Africa use for the old one. Praise the Lord because He THE first thing I saw in Jesus was a revela- gives His own a new spirit and helps him to con- tion of myself. I saw that Jesus is the light, quer himself, Satan and the world, and enables· myself a sinner. The works of darkness him to walk with God. Otherwise none of us filled my heart; I did not know that I was so could walk God's road. "But ye are not in the wicked until Jesus showed me myself. After I flesh but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of saw His love and goodness I earnestly desired God dwelleth in you. But if any man hath not Him, but I could not have Him until I forsook my the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Romans own will and the love of the world. 8: 9). SOME TYPES OF WEST AFRICAN WOMEN The Gospel and the Women of West Africa By JEWEL H. SCHWAB Presbyterian Mission, Cameroun, West Africa I N ORDER to appreciate the changes the Gos- fear of malignant spirits always hovering about pel has wrought in the lives of the women of at the stream or in the forest at sundown, or at that part of West Africa with which we are midnight in the hamlet, waiting to seize her or familiar, a brief survey of their state before the her children; fear of childlessness, that she be "Words of God" came to them is essential. without anyone to care for her in her advancing years-fear might be said to have been the Zeit Significant are these words spoken by the at- motif of their lives. Also significant is the sobritendants when a girl child is born, U tan u tora, quet applied to a girl child in contrast to that of ba koba we u hemle, which translated means, a boy. The latter is known kek Ii njok, the molar "Deny, deceive, but if they catch you in the act, confess." A woman must always be on the de- tooth of an elephant-a prized possession; a girl, fensive, and so as one of her weapons she is ad- kop ba sem-a fowl to be sold or sacrificed.
vised by her sex from birth to admit nothing un- Thus was bred in Basa womankind an inferior- less actually found out. Fear of what might fol- ity complex, a secretiveness and a suspicion mak- Iowa confession of being the host of a witch, thus ing for a conservatism that has in the past acted unwittingly causing the sickness or death of hus- as a barrier to their acceptance of the Gospel. It band, relative or child; fear of consequences, such was youth, their sons, those prized possessions as wounds inflicted, being hung over the fire by who attended mission schools, who first success- the thumbs, if angering her husband; fear of be- fully broke down the barriers and won them to ing killed or buried alive if her husband died; the hearing of the Gospel and later the surrender- [475 ] ing of their hearts. A Basa boy's best friend is stretched, preventing them from going on. Her his mother; as the Basa proverb has it, "A son husband said to the apparition, "Are you blocking does not exchange his mother for the most beauti- the path because of my sins? If so, then let my ful girl," and so he wishes to share his "pearl of wife pass; her heart is cleaner." She went on, great price" with her particularly. As the "Good and the beauty of that better life was unfolded to News of the Words of God" became more widely her and the time when she would inherit it was known and accepted, women of their own volition revealed. Some time later Ngo Tjomp's husband began to follow the "path of God," making their died and was given a Christian burial, but the choice deliberately, confessing their sins openly fact that both she and her husband had been and fearlessly that they might begin their jour- Christians for many years did not prevent some ney with a clean heart, putting their trust in God of his relatives and friends from taunting her. that He would sustain them. A friend came to sit with her one day, as is cus- One such woman was cruelly beaten by her hus- tom during the nine-day period immediately folband. "Are you sorry you confessed?" she was lowing death, but instead of speaking words of asked. She replied, "My body is sorry because it comfort she accused Ngo Tjomp of desiring the is full of pain, but my heart is glad because for death of her husband, and even of being the cause the first time I have found peace." Her husband of it. Ngo Tjomp sat with bowed head, silent continued for a month or more to beat her each under the abuse, missing her husband, who altime she returned from attending service in the ways had been her helpmeet on the farm, and little chapel built on the outskirts of their village. shared the burden of carrying firewood and food over the long narrow path back to their hamlet. AFRICAN WOMEN ON THEIR WAY TO MARKET Months passed; then late one afternoon Ngo Tjomp appeared, her face radiating a new-found Daily he picked up the earthen pot containing tid- peace. "0 mother," she said, addressing her misbits she had prepared for him and smashed it to sionary friend, "Christ says, 'Bless those who perbits on the floor. He expected her to become secute you'; He has given me strength to follow angry, to refuse to bring him his daily food, but this teaching. Ngo Ngaga [the one who had she was silent and respectful always, each day taunted her] has an ulcer on her foot. She canbringing another pot or dish of well cooked food not leave her house. I gave her a copper to buy for him. Finally he succumbed. If her Christ medicine for it and prayed with her that God was able to· inspire such endurance and love in would bless and heal her." His disciples He must be worth knowing. Today this man may be seen coming out from under the Tjega stood tall beside his buxom little wife at overhanging eaves of his little brown hut, when the altar, each with a child in arm, a boy and a the call drum's clipped tones break the hushed girl, to consecrate the twins to the Lord. "We silence of grey dawn, together with his wife and have named the boy Moses," beamed the mother, children, to join the line of worshipers filing along "for we are giving him to God that he may lead the path on their way to morning prayers. Woman his people on the path that goes to our Father's is not only becoming emancipated from her fears town." Eight years previously Ngo MbOt had and developing a will and ideas of her own, but mothered another little lad, not her own, but a in this new freedom that is hers the heart of the weazened six-month-old starveling that had been Christian woman, bathed in the warm sunshine nourished on palm wine since the death of its of Divine love, is slowly unfolding, developing into mother. When he was brought to the mission staa sweet scented flower of wondrous beauty. tion a wet nurse was sought for the child in vain. Noone was willing to risk illness or death for her- Ngo Tjomp had a dream. She and her husband self or children, which is believed to be meted out were walking along a lovely level, grassy clearing to the foster mother by the angered spirit of the in the forest when suddenly an arm appeared, out- dead mother. Finally Ngo MbOt was approached. She replied, "I am in the Lord's hands. I do not fear. With His help I will care for the child as my own," and she took the child. A few months after this she became quite ill. Her neighbors predicted her death, and it was ,suggested that she return the child or refuse to nurse it. To all this. advice she merely said with unshaken faith, "God has put this child in my care. He will take care of all of us." And He did.
"I am going down to my son's town to die," as she hobbled along the forest path under giant trees, meaning she would stay for the rest of her
THE GOSPEL AND THE WOMEN OF WEST AFRICA
life. Her only child, a boy, she had left many girls sell food they have raised and prepare and years ago in the town to which she was now so carry palm oil and palm kernels to trading cen- eagerly hastening, when she ran off with another ters. man to his hamlet. So many years had rolled by since then that she had forgotten her misdeed and This new found freedom for women is a bless- thought only of the fact that she had a son, flesh ing only in so far as it is a controlled freedom, of her flesh and bone of her bone, who would care consecrated to the Lord. Only those whose lives for her in her last years. How her heart sang as have been given direction and an ideal for which she thought of the greeting awaiting her after to strive are going to be benefited by it. A girl this long separation! In anticipation she was from one of our Eastern colleges remarked that warming her stiffening joints at the comfortable she would like to go to Africa to do welfare work fire under the roof of her boy's home. How she among the women and girls, but it must be solely strained her eyes as she neared the town for a welfare work entirely divorced from religion. possible glimpse of him! At last she saw him in There has been a tendency to consider social servthe court of his hamlet. "0 my heart, my son, my son, your mother has come! Your own Courtesy of The Missionary Herald. mother who bore you, she has come! Myself, it is she !" Her son, grown to manhood, made sure he ice as sufficient to raise a people to a higher level had heard aright and then turned his back on the of living; but it has been our experience, and the approaching woman and entered his palaver experience of others who have lived and worked house. She had deserted him when he needed with African women, that it is the woman who her, now let her suffer. has been won for Christ first who is susceptible to suggestions and willing to improve her living Heartbroken, she threw her old wrinkled body conditions. Without the stimulation which comes on the ground and sobbed forth her disappoint- from a changed and purified inner spiritual life ment and humiliation. Soon a crowd gathered. she is not willing to defy age old customs and The son forbade anyone to take her home to care habits, be they ever so unhygienic. The African for her, threatening them with a heavy fine if they woman must first be led to the feet of the Master, did so. The Christian women in the community who alone can set all captives free, before she can tried to intercede for her. He was deaf to all en- help to win Africa for Christ. treaties. Finally they told him that, if he refused to care for her, they as Christians could not let her suffer. Suiting action to word they built a little house for her, carried firewood and food to her daily, succeeding at length in lighting the fires of another love, a greater love, in this African woman's heart.
Economically there have also been great changes. Laws governing marriage and divorce, the opening up of roads giving free communication and the establishing of courts with the final appeal to the European officer, who tries to decide cases justly, has made for a measure of freedom for womankind. But this freedom, unless controlled by inner promptings of the heart, is not entirely beneficial, as is indicated by the flocking of girls and young women to trade centers to become "company women"-prostitutes now licensed and inspected by the government. The young woman running away from home and husband, who greeted Miss Mackenize on the path one day with, "Mornin' Matches, I am flee!" was one of the many who are turning this freedom into license-freedom to flee from home and responsibilities. As women must pay a government tax as well as men, those whose husbands do not provide for them-and they are manymust earn money to pay it, as well as buy the clothes necessary for themselves and sometimes for their children. To do this the women and
Church of Christ in
By RT. REV. J. J. WILLIS Recently Bishop of Uganda; Assistant Bishop of Leicester THE story of Christian missions in Uganda is It was through the influence of Stanley that one of the best known of all the romances of Mutesa's famous appeal to Christian England the mission field. Few missions have, in their came to be written. The appeal, published in the early days, come nearer to disastrous failure; few Daily Telegraph in 1876, led to the sending out by have, in so short a time, achieved a more con- the Church Missionary Society, in 1877, of the spicuous success; few have exhibited on so large first missionary party, to be followed two years a scale the perils of an easy triumph; and none, later by the first representatives of the Roman perhaps, have shown more clearly the hand of God Catholic White Fathers' Mission. Himself guiding, preserving, and out of weakness making strong. The early effort came perilously near to dis- aster. Of the eight men who formed the original To Krapf and the pioneer German missionaries party at one time only one was left in Uganda. in East Africa, in the early half of last century, Under pressure from the Arab traders and his must betraced the impetus which led to the dis- own pagan and Moslem chiefs, Mutesa again and covery of the Victoria Nyanza, and, on its north- again wavered in his loyalty to the mission which western shores, the kingdom of Buganda. The had come to the country on his invitation and as first European traveler to enter Buganda was his guests; he remained on the whole friendly, Speke, in 1861. He was followed in 1875 by H. but never himself joined the Christian Church. M. Stanley. Both men were impressed with the When he died, and his son, Mwanga, reversed his outstanding qualities of the people of Buganda father's policy, and turned savagely on the deand the possibilities of their country. Brave, in- fenseless infant Church, when the missionaries telligent, highly organized and disciplined, they were expelled from the country, and the Chrishad long since passed from the patriarchal stage tians scattered and in hiding, it looked as if the to the monarchical. Clothed from head to foot, Christian effort were doomed to failure. If the clean, and with perfect manners, they presented hand of God may be seen in the discovery of a striking contrast to the surrounding tribes. Uganda and in the visit, at the critical moment Speke saw at once the possibilities of such a peo- of Stanley, it is seen even more clearly in the surple from the point of view of civilization; but vival of the Church, when, without European Stanley realized the possibilities of this dominant leaders, and with nothing more than a single Gosrace, led by a progressive and all-powerful king, pel, St. Matthew, to inspire, it passed through the from the point of view of the Kingdom of God. fires of persecution, and emerged a larger and a Such a people, brought under the obedience of stronger Church than at the beginning. "The Christ, would, he saw, be an incalculable influence bush burned with fire, and the bush was not conthroughout central Africa. sumed," because God Himself was in it.
Buganda, or in its Anglicized form, Uganda, Since those early days of persecution the was at heart pagan. But at the time of Stanley's Church in Uganda has passed through many vavisit a thin veneer of Mohammedanism had been ried experiences. Three religions have struggled, laid :<,)Ver the country. Arab traders had influenced as in so many parts of Africa, for supremacy, and the King, or Kabaka, Mutesa, and under his the victory of Christianity over its rivals has, to orders chiefs and people had hastened to declare all appearances, been complete. In Buganda today themselves Moslem. But all was as yet superficial; paganism is almost out of sight, and Moham- Uganda was still malleable, and had not yet hard- medans are a small minority. Christianity has ened into the bigoted hostility of a Moslem state; been divided as-a house against itself; Protestants but had Stanley come later, or had he been a man and Roman Catholics have fought one another in of a different type, the whole future of the coun- a war which was at least as much political as retry would have been strangely different. Stanley ligious. Again the "French" party, the Roman arrived at the right psychological moment, and, Catholics, have combined with the "English" by sheer personal influence turned the tide and set party, the Protestants, in common hostility to the it in the direction of Christianity. Mohammedan and pagan parties. At one time a [478 ] Moslem king, at another a pagan and at another missions are working independently over the same a Christian, has sat on the throne. ground. There are three strong Roman Catholic But steadily and increasingly Christianity has missions, a French mission, an English mission, won its way, and no one could question the domi- and an Italian mission. These divide up the coun- nant position it now occupies in the thought and try between them; but the native Anglican life of the people, not only of Buganda but of all Church organization covers the whole area, and the surrounding tribes, for a radius of hundreds the Synod of the Church is representative of every of miles. The first two bishops of Eastern Equa- part of the Protectorate.
torial Africa died before reaching Uganda. Bishop Hannington was murdered, in the time of the per- secution, in 1885, within sight of Uganda; Bishop Parker died of fever on his way to the country.
When the third bishop, Tucker, reached Uganda, in 1890, the adherents of the Church Missionary Society mission numbered a bare 200; when he retired in 1911 they numbered 70,000.
For years the work was confined to the imme- diate vicinity of the capital, Mengo (or Kam- pala) ; today the furthest occupied stations lie 600 miles away, in Belgian Ruanda and Urundi, and the whole intervening country is covered with a network of churches, schools, hospitals, dispen- saries and welfare centers. Great cathedrals, Anglican and Roman Catholic, crown the hill tops in the capital; Christian teaching permeates the thousands of schools which have brought educa- tion within the reach of practically every child in the country; Christian homes are beginning to make their influence felt in the new world which has been created. It is difficult to realize that Christianity is still such a new thing in Uganda and that men and women are still living who themselves passed through the furnace of perse- cution in the days of Mwanga.
It is worth while considering what it is to which, under God, this very remarkable change is due, for to Uganda has been given a success out- ward and visible not ordinarily given to missions.
1. The Kingdom of Uganda occupies a strategic position in Africa. Its people are a people of out- standing natural intelligence, a dominant race.
The seed was sown on fertile ground. TEACHING CHILDREN IN AFRICA 2. Christianity in Uganda was first in the field.
Western civilization, with its more materialistic 5. British rule, again, has created conditions al- outlook, followed later. European and African most ideally favorable to missionary work. Doubt- first met on the higher spiritual plane, a fact less Christians missions would have survived and which has colored all their subsequent relation- in the end would have won their way, but it would ships. have been impossible for the Gospel to advance 3. The Christian appeal was first made, as in with anything like the same rapidity had there England, to the king and chiefs. Missions en- been no British administration in the country.
tered Uganda on the invitation of Mutesa, and the Law and order, communications with the outside missionaries were there as his guests. Christian world by railway, internal communications by chiefs have been from the first the acknowledged road, active cooperation in education, the sympa- leaders and whole-hearted supporters of the thetic attitude of officials, general prosperity and Church in Uganda. Their influence among their industrial development have all contributed to- people has been a decisive factor in evangeliza- wards the progress of the Gospel. What the Ro- tion, in education and in medical development. man government meant to Christianity in the first 4. Uganda has been kept from those difficult century, as it swept along the highways of com- problems which arise when a variety of different merce and captured the strategic centers of civi-
lization, that, and much more, has British admin- of the Church. Indeed the whole history of that istration meant to the Church in Uganda. Church might be written around the names of its 6. The Bible has from the first held a pre-emi- leaders, some of them men of outstanding ability, nent place in the life of the native Church. It some men of no obvious importance, yet made was Stanley who first brought before Mutesa the great by the Spirit who dwelt in and inspired Book on which his own faith rested. Mutesa's them. And in that succession of leaders not the first question to the first missionary party to ar- least have been those saints and humble men of rive was, "Have you brought the Book?" Chris- God, as Apolo Kivebulaya, of the Pygmy Forest, tian converts have always been known in Uganda whose simple faith and utter devotion have been as "readers." From the time of Pilkington, in the very life blood of the Church.
1897, the Baganda have had the whole Bible in The natural advantages of the country, the con- their own vernacular. It has been translated in ditions created by a strong and sympathetic gov- whole or in part into at least ten languages in the ernment, the personality of the leaders, the policy Protectorate. No adult convert may be baptized adopted, all these have had their place in the prog- (unless manifestly too old to learn) unless he is ress of the Gospel in Uganda, but above all there able to read the Gospels in his own language. The has been the hand of God Himself, and few mis- Bible, read in the homes and taught in all the sions in the world have called forth more interest schools, is molding the character of the rising and sympathy and prayer than has Uganda; to generation. The voluntary abolition of slavery, that prayer is due whatever of the seeming suc- the social uplift of the women, the eager evangel- cess proves to be real and permanent.
ization of hitherto hostile tribes, the devotion and But rapid success carries with it inevitably its self-sacrifice shown in medical service, have all own dangers. An East African Bishop, visiting been inspired directly by the study of the Book. Uganda, summed up his impressions in the words The place given to the Bible goes far to explain of the Queen of Sheba: "'The half was not told the decisive influence of the Church Missionary me'; the best and the worst exceed all that I had Society in Uganda. heard." It is fatally easy, in our appreciation of 7. The Church in Uganda is essentially a native the success, to lose sight of the other side of the church. Very early in its history, when it was account. But when Christianity has become popu- still in its infancy, European leadership was per- lar, when a mass movement, led by Christian force withdrawn, and all through the dark days chiefs, is sweeping over the country like a prairie of persecution the Church had to depend, under fire, when a Christian name is almost necessary to God, on itself. Church councils have played a con- any social status; and Christian education is the spicuous part all through its history-parochial highway to promotion, it would be strange indeed councils, diocesan councils, synods, in all of which if Christianity kept pure. Like weeds, springing natives form an overwhelming majority. The al- up with the first rains, old superstitions and old ready existing native political organization, with immoral practices that had seemed dead spring its system of native courts and native chiefs, made again to life. Converts who have endured without the organization of a self-governing church a com- flinching the ordeal of persecution fail and dis- paratively easy matter; and Bishop Tucker's,,·su- appoint under the harder test of popularity and preme contribution was the organization of a prosperity. Familiarity with holy things may Church which was entrusted with real responsi- easily breed contempt, and a generation arises bility and was, to a marked degree, "self-sup- which is Christian not by conviction but by birth.
porting, self-governing, and self-extending." The further the boundaries of the Church are 8. The Uganda Mission has been blessed with a extended the more difficult becomes the task of succession of missionary leaders whose names effective shepherding. And, with the introduction have become household words; Bishop Hanning- of Western civilization, counter attractions mul- ton, the martyr bishop, who by his tragic death tiply, and temptations become inevitably greater.
on the threshold of his life work accomplished A church in its adolescent stage needs perhaps more perhaps than might have been effected in a not less, but more, care than a church in its early long life; Alexander Mackay, the Scottish mis- childhood; it is less interesting, but its position sionary, who was the life and inspiration of the is more dangerous.
Church in the days of its martyrdom, who worked A great work has been done in Uganda. The for fourteen years without once returning home Gospel has proyed its power in the face of bitter and died at his post; George Pilkington, who in opposition; it is left to us, in our day and genera-'
seven short years gave the Baganda the Bible in tion, to see that the ground so hardly won is not their own language, and when his life work was lost, and that the Church in Uganda is so trained done was killed in his thirty-third year; and many and equipped that it may fulfill in Africa the great another lesser known man and woman whose per- task that now lies before it, that the purpose of sonalities inspired and molded the growing life God in it and through it may be realized.
Progress and the
By REV. JOHN M. SPRINGER, D.D.
Bishop for Africa of the Methodist Episcopal Church I s MODERN material progress a bane or a into cloth, and molded clay into pots for cooking blessing to the African? Like so many other and for containers. The more skilful blacksmiths questions, the answer cannot be a mere un- attained the making of razors, needles and other qualified yes or no. Losses of one sort are bal- fine tools. Cotton was quite widely found and was anced by gains of another, and gains are balanced spun into thread, and here and there looms were by losses. A brief consideration of the typical vil- fashioned to make cotton cloth. Many different lage and economic life of the African is necessary musical instruments were made to express the inin order to come to a right judgment of the ques- nate melody of African souls to while away the tedium of the journey or of idle hours and to give tion. rhythm to the dance. But, nevertheless, the life The African maintained a fairly uniform and of the African was simple in the extreme. He sat on the ground, he slept on the ground, he ate from unchanged status of existence for undetermined the ground. His cattle, when he had any, were of generations. His was a self-contained economic little or no industrial use. They supplied meat for order; he needed no intercontinental or international commerce to supply his few necessities; they were obtained locally. The neighboring tribe in most cases was as far as he needed to go to barter for things he required. If no trader from outside his own community came his way, it usually did not matter much. His necessary tools were few, a hoe, an axe, a knife, the latter length- ened to a spear. His ancestors had come to a continent where iron ore is found in nearly all parts and in high and low grades. If some tribe chanced to settle where not even the low grade iron was to be found, necessity for tools would drive them to a tribe more fortunately situated. Or members of that more fortunate tribe or else professional traders would be stirred by the commercial in- stinct to wander afield with their wares. In the NATIVE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS village spaces. or at the recognized market centers Three primitive "pianGs" – marimbas with wooden keys and or by the wayside there would be dickering and gourds of various sizes bargaining, and the trader in due time would depart with a few goats or chickens, or with mats, his feasts and constituted units of value for marpots, and so on, made by local artisans. But to riage portions, to pay fines or to purchase articles. affect this exchange it was necessary as a rule to contact only a neighboring tribe. Was the African content with his mode of Africa is widely and, as a whole, abundantly existence? To many a passing visitor who saw supplied with raw materials, thus constituting a him in his casual, lighter moods and chanting in rich prize that Europe covets, has sought for and his moonlight dances he has seemed to be happy. is still haggling over. The African, though more But to those that have penetrated below the sur- or less belated in industrial development, has the face and have seen his response to a fuller life, rudiments of all the arts and industries in his ele- it has been revealed that deep down there was a mentary life. With his primitive tools, hoe, axe great restlessness and discontent. As a result, and knife, he has gotten his food from the ground with the early trader who penetrated Africa, bear- -not forgetting that in Africa it is the woman ing articles of trade – cloth, blankets, beads for with the hoe-his meat from the veldt, his honey ornament, mirrors, soaps, scents, modern hoes and from the hollow tree; he constructed his home, guns of wonderful power – there came to the vil- • prepared grass and other fibers and wove them lagers an urge to possess these things that started [481 ]
a procession of youths out from the villages. This grass or harsh bark cloth, and wanting clothing, change has come to be so widespread that it is the not only for comfort and utility, but for ornament rare village that has not contributed its quota to as well. The supporters of the second thesis of the modern army of industrial workers in Africa. the old time debate as to whether man first wore And it was not merely to secure these new articles clothing for utility or for ornament would in that Africans left the old life. In the cases of Africa find much to sustain his contention that very many there was an attraction and a holding the vanity of man has more than a little to do with power in the employment he found with the Euro- determining his attire. pean, in kitchen, on trek, on farm, in shop, that So there has been an enlarging number and held him through years of service. The dull and variety of articles of foreign manufacture de- nonprogressive round of village life had no fur- manded by the African, and notably by his wife, ther fascination for him. until today they are customers, not only in the Has the new day brought with it more of bane "Kaffir Store," the store for natives, but also in or of blessing? We need to consider this subject the stores kept primarily for Europeans, and the as it concerns not only the stay-at-home villager range, quality and extent of their purchases of arand the village life, but also the natives, including ticles of world production are limited only by the the women, that join the urban mining and indus- amount of cash in hand or by the credit they can obtain. As to tools, from using almost exclusively crude homemade ones, today in many villages it is hard to find any homemade tools, and the sub- stitution of imported ones is extending across the continent.
The sons of the Lomani blacksmiths who used to win their iron from bog deposits, transform it into steel in their crude furnaces and turn out from their very simply equipped smithies well wrought tools and implements are mainly the ones who are tending the blast furnaces at Lubumbashi and Panda. They are skilled in handling daily hundreds of tons of ore, instead of making the few simple articles that rewarded their labor of many OLD POTTERY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE BASIN, days as they toiled with their fathers. The clay IN WHICH THE DAMP POT RESTS cooking pot has given way to the aluminum one, the earthen water jar is superseded by the enamel trial group. The two cannot be wholly separated bucket or pitcher, the grass basket is being rebecause of the constant movement back and forth placed by the wide enamel basin. And so has disof the individuals and of groups. appeared the demand for one native article after another. A missionary living close to the people Consider the village life first of all. The articles and who was keenly alive to what was happening of daily use have changed almost completely with- in village life stated that one art and industry in a generation. Europe not only wants raw ma- after another was rapidly being dropped and disterials for the factories manned by her teeming appearing entirely from the life of the people. populations, but she wants markets, and she seeks these markets keenly. To have these markets dis- Dame Fashion also steps in and holds sway in turbed and lost brings consternation, and some- Africa as among all other humans. When one times decisive action. For decades Italy supplied woman in a village becomes possessed of one of the larger portion of the fabrics purchased by these new and more desirable articles, a spirit of Abyssinians. A few years ago Japan invaded that envy is at once awakened in that community and market and largely captured it, as she has done continues until everyone has the same article. in other parts of Africa, to go no farther afield. Blue beads of a certain sort once ruled the day. Who will say to what extent the loss of this There was a change of style, and we not only market may have been a factor leading to Italy's found our stock useless for barter, but the dames recent decision and policy and the course she pur- and damsels of those interior villages, so remote sued? Think of a market such as Africa offers, that they were-"back of beyond," disdained to do' a hundred million and more people scantily more than glance at them and refused to accept clothed at best, many not clothed at all, but all them even as gifts. wanting clothing and blankets, and a goodly supply of all, and preferring to purchase the imported Not only in the industrial realm has life changed, but also in the tribal and social. The article as against the homemade fabric of coarse old primitive life was not wholly bad by a good
MATERIAL PROGRESS AND THE AFRICANS
deal. It is the rare tribe that has not had some edge and by the experiential mastery of forces good traditions and customs which were definitely and causes, will not do it. The instance is known taught to the youth, male and female. There was of a native who, unchanged as many are from an initiation which took place usually no later their old animistic beliefs, but skilled in detecting than during the age of puberty. Some features faults and frictions in very complicated machinof it were good, some decidedly bad. During re- ery and used to applying scientific tests all day cent decades it has been the rare youth who was to locate the trouble, returned to his hut one night in his village during this period, so, on his return to find his wife ill. What was causing her sickfrom industrial centers, he has been in no small ness? Not having accepted the Christian faith sense a stranger, unrelated to the community life he was stilI gripped by the old idea of spirit posand interests. So he has often made light of the session and, disregarding the medical service proold ways and customs and displayed his knowl- vided by his company, he sought out a witch docedge of the new ways of the town to advertise his tor, practicing secretly now, to smell out the witch own self-importance. In the old life there were that was causing the trouble. That is but a typirestraints generated by the fear of evil spirits, it cal case. is true. With those fears lessened or eliminated by new associations the individuals violated old The native woman joining the industrial group customs and codes. So was lost, in measure, re- is placed in particular temptation through the spect for elders, devotion to tribal affairs and in- transition from an economic order, in which she terest in tradition. Formerly thieving from strangers was approved, particularly if done so OLD S TAMPING MORTARS AND BASKETS. NOTE BICYCLE cleverly that the thief was not caught; but fear AND MODERN CLOTHES of known charms of alleged potency used by neighbors and the desire to live at peace in the was the main tiller of the soil, needing to grow home village largely worked for the protection of food for herself, for her children, and more or less property in the community. for her husband according to the number of wives he had, to the conditions obtaining in the Euro- As regards material blessings of this new age pean centers. Here, if married, she needs only to of industrial penetration of Africa, until the de- cook the meal, meat and other food rationed out . pression took away so largely, at least for a time, for her husband and his family. The firewood, the markets for labor and for produce, the Afri- formerly gathered mostly by herself, is generally cans were moving steadily toward a more abun- provided. Water is piped to near-by faucets, and dant life. The people, even the children, were she has a minimum of general work to do. "Satan being clothed quite generally, some of them elabo- still finds mischief for idle hands to do." And rately. There was developed a sense of ability mischief aplenty abounds in these centers. As for to do things, as the rawest villagers became with- the unmarried girl or woman, tired of the monotin a few years chauffeurs and machinists, clerks ony of village life, especially with so many of and telegraphers, engineers and medical assist- the men gone, and attracted to the garish centers, ants. That Divine discontent that drives men on where she becomes the concubine of a white man, to better and greater things has taken hold on with usually every want supplied, or plies her Africa. There is a growing and intense desire trade among men of her own color, she is a sad for education, and, on the part of many, for the object, at best, especially after a few short years highest. The educational value of work, of learn- when her charms are gone and venereal diseases ing to do skilled and more highly paid work, is have left their marks on her body. The natural seen to be a stimulus to general education. heart of the African man, and woman, as of un- The dead level of native life is being broken up and individuals no longer need fear to go ahead, to emerge above the crowd. The intermingling, through industrial life and wider travel, of the different cultures developed in the various tribes is producing new standards. Evil, too, travels and spreads as well as good and creates new problems. While lessening the old tribal control, the total process is .gradually cementing the different tribes into a new oneness and into a consciousness of being a common African people.
What will eliminate the gripping fear that controls so generally in native life? The scientific factor alone, as represented by the greater knowl-
regenerated man generally, is desperately wicked, control of enlightened, well disposed government, whether in the isolated village of the backwoods as in most parts of Africa today, and accompanied or in the pulsing industrial centers. Changes of by a presentation of the Gospel of God's love and geography do not effect changes of heart and life salvation from sin, it can be and actually is a great in Africa any more than elsewhere. benefit to the African.
What modern industry does to the African de- But it is not a case now whether modern induspends not a little on what sort of African is in- try shall invade Africa. That decision, whether volved, whether he is still gripped by the fears for good or for bad, was taken decades ago, and that have ruled society there for generations, or such a development was inevitable in a rapidly whether, having been delivered from that thrall- shrinking world. The entire continent of Africa dom by the new birth, he has now gained a knowl- is in the process of industrial transformation. edge of the Great Good Spirit that made the world Governmental activities control well nigh the full as being love, a faith in Jesus Christ and a heart one hundred per cent of the peoples of the contiso filled with love that fear has been cast out. If nent, all but the one million people of Liberia behe has had this new spiritual experience he faces ing under European governments. Industry dithe world and life with confidence and with a rectly or indirectly reaches on toward approxikeener outreach for increased knowledge. Indus- mating the same percentage. The Christian try in and of itself is not a spiritually transform- Church has enrolled approximately five per cent ing agency. It never was the Divine intent that only of the population and constantly or occasionit should operate alone. It is but one of the three ally contacts perhaps up to twenty-five per cent. major factors of religion, government and indus- When we shall discharge our obligation in reachtry found in every group of people the world ing effectively anywhere near the total group we around. Conducted alone, modern industry may believe that the modern industrial penetration of be and undoubtedly would be more a bane than a Africa, instead of being a bane, may and will be blessing to the African. Carried on under the a real blessing to the Africans.
The Printed Word Among the Bantu By ROBERT H. W. SHEPHERD Director of Publications, Lovedale, South Africa JUST over one hundred years ago the eastern nothing could be done, and after a stay of a little portion of Cape Colony in South Africa was in more than a year he withdrew. Some fifteen years a ferment. The Bantu tribes had pushed down later there arrived, as Vanderkemp's successor, from Central Africa, had ousted the original in- Joseph Williams, who is notable as the first man habitants of the south, the Bushmen and Hotten- to give his life for the evangelization of the native tots, and had advanced as far as the southern sea- peoples of South Africa. Following two brief board of the continent on its eastern side. Being years of labor Williams died through ill-health stopped by the sea they turned to go west, but and disheartenment. When, however, some five soon found their progress blocked by the advance years after, the first converts among the Bantu guard of European civilization spreading over were baptized it was found that they had been from the Cape. War succeeded war. It'is inter- won for God through the instrumentality of Wilesting now to note that the two races faced each liams. Few pieces of Bantu literature existing other in territory which includes the land on today are more noteworthy than a hymn composed which the Lovedale Missionary Institution now by one of Williams' converts. It is perhaps the stands. noblest of all Xosa (Kaffir) hymns and has been sung for more than a century by Bantu congre- . Early Missionaries gations. A translation may be of interest: Toward the close of the eighteenth century Dr. He is the great God in heaven. John Vanderkemp, a Hollander, acting as a mis- Thou alone art the Shield of truth. sionary of the London Missionary Society, came Thou alone art the Refuge of truth. as the first bearer of the Gospel to the Bantu. So Thou alone art the Hiding-place of truth. unsettled were the tribes, however, that he felt Thou alone dwellest in the highest.
THE PRINTED WORD AMONG THE BANTU
THE BOOK STORE', LOVEDALE INSTITUTION He is the Creator of life, He created above. few days after Ross' arrival, December 16, 1823, This is the Creator Who created, He created the Heaven. "On the 17th we got our press together; on the This is the Maker of the stars and of the Pleiades. 18th the alphabet was set up; and yesterday The star shot forth. It spoke to us. (19th) we threw off fifty copies." It was inevita- This is the Maker of the blind also; He did it of purpose. ble that the missionaries should begin with the The trumpet spoke, it summoned us. alphabet, for the Amaxosa tribe of the Bantu, He is the Hunter, hunting for souls. among whom they had settled, although speaking He gathers together the flocks that do not agree. a wonderfully flexible and expressive language, He is the Leader; He led us. had absolutely no knowledge of writing. He is the great robe which covers us. Thy hands are wounded. This early determination to provide the printed Thy feet are wounded. Word has been a marked feature of South African Why didst Thy blood gush out? history. Soon after the setting up of the press at Thy blood wast shed for us. Gwali, later known as the Lovedale Press, the This great price have we called for it? Methodists were operating a press at Mount Coke, This village here have we summoned it? about fifty miles to the east. The Paris Evan- gelical Society, which entered Basutoland in 1833, The Fi'rst Printing Press has made a special feature of its publication work. Other societies, such as the American Board, have In the early twenties of last century the London shown similar diligence. Dr. Westermann has de- Missionary Society, the Engli-sh Methodist clared that the literature of many African tribes Church, and the Glasgow Missionary Society of can be carried in a lady's pocket handkerchief! Scotland almost simultaneously placed mission- The charge cannot be levelled at South African aries in the field. The coming of the third of the missions. In the valuable "Bibliography of Chris- Scottish band is one of the romances of modern tian African Literature," published in 1923, with missionary work on the literary side. The Rev. its supplement of 1927, something like one hun- John Ross brought with him a printing press dred publications each are listed in the Xosa, which, after the voyage of 6,000 miles by sea, he Zulu and Suto languages, and about fifty in conveyed by ox wagon a journey of 600 miles Chuana. These are the principal languages of the more from Cape Town to Gwali, ten miles from southern end of the continent. . the present site of Lovedale. John Bennie, a catechist, who had arrived two years before, wrote a
The Bible Translated ants; wherever they lead he must follow. If my son is willing to go, I make no objection, for no The aim of the pioneers was not merely to pro- harm can befall him even across the sea; he is as vide as soon as possible some printed word, but much in God's keeping there as near to me." Tiyo the printed Word. Rev. J. W. Appleyard, a Soga, one of thirty-nine children of a polygamist Methodist minister, early translated the Bible headman, afterwards became the earliest ordained single-handed into Xosa, and his translation is missionary to his own race and did magnificent popular even today. A board composed chiefly of work. His translation of the first part of "Pil- Scottish and German missionaries produced a grim's Progress" is acknowledged to be a masterscholarly version in the same language. As to the piece of Xosa prose. The second part of the same other South African languages a similar story can book was translated into Xosa a few years ago be told. The work of the American and British by one of Tiyo Soga's sons, who has followed in Bible Societies deserves hearty acknowledgment. his father's footsteps by devoting a large part of Largely because of this determination to put first his missionary service to the production of literathings first the Bible remains the best seller in ture for the Bantu. the various South African vernacular tongues. The Position Today It is also the best evangelist, for it carries within its covers the very Gospel message and brings Today the tide of literacy is rising among the Christ to men and men to Christ. The British Bantu, and with it have come increased opportuand Foreign Bible Society and the Scottish Na- nities for the ministry of the printed page. Untional Bible Society have in recent years made it fortunately literacy is bringing also increased oppossible for a book caravan to itinerate through- portunities for appeals of a different kind, so that out the district which was formerly the scene of the situation is becoming critical. For example, the wars between the Bantu and colonists. The to the writer's desk there comes every month the driver-colporteur is not content merely to sell magazine of the Communist party directed to the books, but conducts services in three languages. educated classes among the Bantu, a pUblication The Scripture Gift Mission of London and the altogether true to type. While the Christian Lovedale Press have also been publishing tracts agencies are teaching vast numbers to read, it is in South African vernaculars, solely in the words our duty also to see that it is not left to the nonof Scripture. Christian and even anti-Christian elements to sup- ply the reading matter. We must supply more Religious Classics and better books.
As in many other parts of Africa, Bunyan's Thousands of Christians would find their faith "Pilgrim's Progress" was early translated, and deepened, love increased, and service made more the spiritual life of multitudes of Bantu Chris- effective if wholesome reading became part of tians has been nourished on this book. The Xosa their daily life. And beyond these stand hundreds version was admirably rendered by the Rev. Tiyo of thousands still unwon. The day has dawned Soga, the first ordained minister among the Bantu, for a forward movement in good literature whose history has more than usual interest. In throughout southern Africa. The situation calls 1846 war once more broke out between the Bantu for action and not merely resolutions. The Jeand the colonists. The missions lost heavily in rusalem meeting of 1928 said of the production, property, and Lovedale Institution, which had publication and circulation of Christian literabeen opened five years before, was turned into a ture : "It is generally recognized and admitted fort. Among the Christian refugees at another that this is the most neglected part of the missionfort was a godly native woman named Nosutu, ary enterprise. There is possibly no other miswho came with her son, Tiyo Soga, a pupil at sionary subject on which so many resolutions have Lovedale when the war broke out. In the dreary been passed and so few put into effect." The prosurroundings of the fort the lad contrived to pur- duction and distribution of books must have an sue his studies. Since he had no means of pur- increasing place in the thought and work of the chasing even a taper his mother daily collected missionary forces, especially in view of the rising sneezewood splinters to burn so that her boy tide of education and the anti-Christian propamight see to read his books during the long win- ganda being c!irected towards the Bantu. ter nights. This fact has been realized in recent years and Later it was proposed to Nosutu that Tiyo ac- some steps taken to meet the new situation. Those company Rev. Williams Govan, the first principal leading in the movement have been greatly heartof Lovedale, to Scotland and there complete his ened by the visit of Dr. John R. Mott, under education. To this the mother replied, "My son whose leadership the subject received considerable is the property of God; wherever he goes God attention. A South African Christian Council is goes with him. He is the property of God's serv-
being brought into being, one of the secretaries and in the day of his extremity this man was forof which will have this matter as his special saken by kindred and friends. By means of a charge. Missionary societies, American, British trick he was finally cast into prison, but through and Continental, will be urged to cooperate and all his faith 'remained undimmed and his deterto make arrangements to assure the production of mination unshaken. Today, some ten years later, the best literary work. Meantime several presses he remains a flaming evangelist among his people, are seeking to cope with the situation. One mis- adorning the doctrine of God, his Saviour, by his sion press last year published and sold 70,000 daily life. The significant fact is, that when encopies of vernacular books, besides innumerable quiry was made as to what led him to be at the pamphlets and books in English. church door on that first Sabbath morning it was learned that it was the Book. At school a brother Pressing Needs had been presented with a Bible as a prize. The reading aloud of the sacred page in the dark, mud- Some of the most pressing needs of today are walled hut at home became for the elder brother vernacular commentaries, Bible dictionaries, daily a life-giving ministry of the Word. readings, and other helps to the study of the Scriptures, including helps for preachers, Sunday In the press we have one of the most powerful school teachers and other Christian workers, at- of Christian agencies; and as education spreads tractive Biblical literature for the young, tracts that agency will become mightier. The missionary and pamphlets for evangelistic work, translations as a personal factor, the living voice, must always of religious classics, the wider use of newspaper be a dominant influence, but the printed word has evangelism, good recreational literature, such as its peculiar power and function. As Dr. J. H. inspiring stories, high class pictures, literature Ritson has declared: "It can be read and reread suitable for youth movements and a Christian and pondered over; it can reach a vastly greater newspaper. congregation than is to be found within the sanc- tuary; it can accompany the hospital patient to One of the encouraging present-day features is his home; … it can travel forth as the pioneer that many Africans are offering manuscripts for where the climate is deadly and the population is publication. These deserve encouragement, and sparse and conditions are unfriendly and hostile. advantage should be taken of their efforts to pro- The printed page alone is the ubiquitous missionvide facilities whereby they may influence their ary." fellow Africans for God. A BLACK FISHER OF MEN The Supreme Need In one of our conferences a young man stood But in all efforts to carry out a more masterly up to testify to the saving grace of God, saying, and united plan we must never lose sight of the "I am not as well educated as some of the rest of fact that our dependence is on the Holy Spirit you, but I can read that Jesus Christ died for my working in the individual heart. The Saviour's sins. I can also read that Jesus said, 'If you folhope for a redeemed world is through individual low me, I will make you fishers of men.' By God's men and women. A printing office becomes trans- grace I will be a fisher of men." figured only when we see its products owned and used by the Spirit of God. One Lord's Day morn- One March evening in 1927, I stood before a ing the writer went to deClare the Word of God group of people with this young man by my side. at an outstation in a remote part of Tembuland. The spokesman for the group said, "We believe Sometimes it was difficult to prevail on two or the words you have spoken to us, but where shall three to enter the little church building in that we find Christ? Show us the way and we will district. On the morning iIi question a man, clad follow." only in a blanket, the badge of heathenism, was lying at the church door waiting for it to be Turning to the fisher of men I said, "This is to opened. As the service proceeded no listener be your work. Can you lead these people to could have been more eager than this man on Christ?" whose countenance was stamped generations of paganism. Within a few weeks he confessed a "By God's grace I can try," was the simple desire to follow Christ, and thereafter every Sun- reply. day morning, and on many week days, he could be seen coming down the valley and entering the Five years later, March, 1932, I was back in little church that he might, sometimes all alone, this same village and with me again was this same converse with God. black son of God. He had called me to dedicate their first church, only a thatched roof mud-build- So complete a break with the customs of a ing, but nevertheless a house built for God by grossly heathen district could not pass unnoticed. those that he had led to Christ.-Clarence E. Carl- Persecution sprang up as if out of the ground, son, in Gems of Cheer.
A Medical Missionary
By REV. ALBERT D. HELSER, Ph.D. Kano, Nigeria, British West Africa, Missionary in West Africa Since 1922 W E ARE just back from a medical preach- rotting flesh and dead bone she groaned and called ing tour, on which Mrs. Helser and David, on God to help her bear the pain. Several men aged four, accompanied me. We went by who had followed me urged me to leave her and Ford, horseback and on foot. A man named said repeatedly, "Save us from the curse of a liv- Dankandi had invited us to visit him and to sleep ing death." As I told of Christ's love for her and in his house. The way was longer than we had of His power to help, a smile softened her tight thought, and it was dark when we reached the mouth and she said, "Will He not help me?" As home of this seeker after God. We had never I was on my knees dressing the foot the mother seen him, but the Eternal Spirit had been working knelt by me and said, "If you will be patient and in his heart and he wanted to be in his house with help my child, I will give her to you that where God's messenger. Before the camp beds and our you go she may go so that she may be like you." few belongings were put away, he whispered to Each week I go to this area some twenty miles his new friend, "Come with me into the stable, I away and as the great open sore heals her little have something to tell you." At first I was tempted heart thrills to the story of Christ's love for helpto say that we could talk the next day, but when less children.
I thought of the great first work of the Church We would like to enlist prayer helpers in the and saw Dankandi's eager face, I went with him. battle for souls here in North Central Africa. We saluted one another, and then ever so· tenderly Hundreds of men, women and young people are this bearded African told me of his love for Jesus, dying every day who have never had a chance to his Saviour. All he knew was that Jesus died for hear the glorious message of redeeming love. They him, and his face was aglow even in that dark have never had a chance to hear how God's own stable as he pressed closer to me and told of how Son went to Calvary's cruel tree in their stead. a great peace had surged through him every day Somehow more and more we feel that God would since he surrendered his all to Christ. This simple have more prayer power brought to bear on sinblack man was not only himself at the gate of ners who have no consciousness of sin. We need Heaven, but he took me with him. prayer helpers who will pray that a consciousness of sin may come into these pagan hearts and make As I sat on the seat provided for the chief's them cry out for mercy. We need some friends guest in Gun Dutse, a child's voice kept calling, who know what Christ has done for them to give "Let me in, let me in." Friends were being greeted and medicines were being prepared for themselves to prayer. various ailments, and no one had time to pay any Kussari is a young man about seventeen. He attention to the slip of a girl though she was sick was desperately sick some weeks ago. Nobody unto death. Then as she was being ordered to be knew what was wrong with him. Some said that quiet and to hide herself, I caught these words, he had an evil spirit. Others said one thing and "Will he not help me?" My first thought was, another. We went to our knees for Kussari. As another beggar or another insane child, but I prayed a pagan nearby cursed and scoffed. Just Christ's love would not let it rest at that. The as surely as God brought down fire on Carmel He least of these need Him most. I left the impor- heard our prayer, and those wild eyes became tant men about me and went out and found a little steady, and that twitching body found rest and girl about eleven who needed loving care for her peace under God's mighty power. Praise God broken body, and especially as a great ulcer was with us for Kussari. rotting away her left ankle. She trembled as I examined her, and my mind went to our own little Take the case of a leper family. The father's girl, who is now eleven, and I loved this helpless hands are both off at the wrists, and his feet off one all the more. Her eyes kept asking, Will God's at the ankles. Leprosy has actually eaten them messenger help me? The mother said, "She is as away. The mother's hands and feet are partly gone already. The little girl, about seven years good as dead." When I began to pull away the old, seems well, but two leper spots show already.
[488 ] courtesy of Missions A BELGIAN CONGO BABY CLINIC AT LEOPOLDVILLE When she was born she was perfect, for leprosy noon and night. The Spirit of God moved on the is not inherited, but by living with her leprous people of Shapa. A man named Audu was saved, parents she has contracted this awful disease. A and the miracle God wrought on his body brought little girl about two and a half, with pearly teeth, others to their Saviour. Audu was left to die; is almost sure, unless we can do something soon, his body was swollen and his eyes would not close to get this same disease. Pray that some way may even when he seemed to sleep. The first four to be found to heal the father's painful, open sores, confess Christ, and other interested friends, went and not only help him to find Christ but also ren- with me to his lone hut. All other friends had der him noninfectious. Pray that some way may deserted him. As we prayed and administered be found to save what the mother has left of her medicine we felt Heaven's power in answer to our hands and feet before they slough off. (I can prayer-helpers' earnest intercession on our behalf. hardly bear to see those filthy hands taking up A prayer-helper had provided for the medicine that precious child.) Pray that some way may be and had backed each tablet and each drop of medifound to treat the seven-year-old girl, who some- cine with prayer. Each morning we went to the how tells me by her eager eyes that she expects us sick one for prayer, and many times during the to save her from the fate of her parents, who have day medicines were sent. Some of the believers given way to despair. Pray that some way may made chicken soup for the forsaken one. He said be found to rear the tiny tot for Jesus and away on the fourth day, after declaring each day that from the danger of contamination. he could not live another day, that he had found a new world with new pe.ople in it. What a change Our hearts overflow as we write. A policeman Christ makes when He saves a lost sinner. When by the name of Ali, who gladly testified both in we left Shapa he came to say good-bye. Several public and private and was baptized some time villagers said, "Under the power of Christ and ago, has since been dismissed from the service be- His servants' medicine the hopeless are given new cause of his stand for Christ. He goes on rejoic- hope, new bodies, new minds and new souls." ing. He laughs and says: "Christ is enough for "Born again" is what Christ says about such as me. Since He has taken possession of me I lack these. God has now given us a new post in Kano, nothing. He is my all in all." in the midst of 3,000,000 souls. Less than a hun- dred natives have accepted Christ. What a par- During a recent village preaching campaign we ish? By His grace and your help many of these held fifty-four services in fifteen days. God honored your prayers by saving twenty-seven souls. shall experience the power of the blood. We lived in their midst and preached morning,
Unoccupied
-<!III By JOHN STEYTLER* IIll- HISTORY tells us that the Christian Church, trade and the practices of the witch doctors. He established in North Africa during the first was followed later by Stanley, who also opened century, flourished until the sixth century, up fresh trails to the interior. Missionaries rewhen disaster overtook it, and it was destroyed by sponded to their appeal and followed them. Pio- Islam. These North African churches have lost neer missionaries moved into Nyasaland, Uganda, their vitality, some think, because they were more Congo, Kenya and Rhodesia. Gradually the mis- concerned with theological discussions than evan- sion movement gained momentum, and numerous gelizing the pagans. Whatever the reason may other mission stations were opened in the interior.
have been, the natural expansion of Christianity, These missions can be compared to shafts of radiating from its source, Palestine, through light penetrating far into the domain of darkness, North Africa southward, was cut short before it superstition and fear as they penetrated deeper penetrated far inland. and deeper, ever expanding and spreading their Afterward nothing was done for evangelizing influence over wider and wider areas, building Africa till the time of Henry the Navigator, when churches, schools, hospitals and trying to bind up the early Portuguese explorers began to feel their the terrible wounds of Africa. Today it is esti- way south along the African coasts. They car- mated that there are nearly 11,000 organized ried with them the cross, the emblem of Christian- Protestant churches and about 2,000,000 profess- ity, and planted it at various points on Africa's ing Christians. The achievement has been im- inhospitable shores, but no attempt at mission mense, considering the time in which it has been work was made. The Dutch colonists were the accomplished; and on the face of it, it would first to try to introduce the Gospel to the natives seem as if Africa has been occupied.
of southern Africa (1665). They were followed But if achievement be appraised from the by the Moravians (1737) and the London Mission- standpoint of the numbers of profes;ing Chris- ary Society (1789). In central Africa the Roman tians, it is very insignificant, for the Christian Catholics opened a mission near Tete on the communicants only form two per cent of the total Zambesi River (1750), but for the rest the in- population of the whole continent. It would there- digenous peoples of equatorial and southern fore appear that missions are only in their youth, Africa remained untouched by Christian influence. and have taken only a step, the first step. Though With the opening years of the nineteenth cen- millions live in the areas that can be considered tury there was a great awakening of missionary virtually occupied, there are still millions that are zeal in European countries, many mission societies as yet untouched by the Christian message. If were established, and pioneer missionaries were Christian missions and their spheres of influence sent in increasing numbers to all parts of the could be thought of as points of light, then view- globe, including Africa, but for half a century ing the map of Africa, it would resemble the pat- little beyond the coastline on the west and south tern of light and shade, which a leafy tree, stand- was reached. The unexplored hinterland, tribal ing in bright sunshine, might throw on the wars, the gloomy forests, the malarial swamps ground. The darker areas would represent those and the sun-scorched plains discouraged attempts areas where populations are still held in the thrall at occupation. of witchcraft and superstition, where disease is In 1852 the intrepid explorer, David Living- rampant and Jesus Christ is not known.
stone, braved the dangers of Africa and laid bare Even in the areas which are considered occu- the wounds of the Dark Continent. What he saw pied, the Christian influence is often very limited.
filled him with profound pity, especially the ter- In the northern parts of Nigeria there is one rible suffering and iniquity caused by the slave Christian to 20,000 people; in the southern dis- • Mr. John G. Steytler graduated from the University of Stellen- tricts of the same country, one Christian to 31,000 people; in French West Africa there are less than bosch, South Africa, in 1917. After teaching in the Cape Province a thousand Christians to 14,000,000 people; in for five years, he joined the staff of the Dutch Reformed Church the Provl·nce of Khartoum there are less than Mission in Nyasaland, East Africa., where he has been head of the twenty missionaries to 1,000,000 inhabitants; in yDeeapras.rtmTenhte ogfenEedruocsiattyionof wtihtheinCathrneegMieissCioonrpfoorratitohne hlaasst mthaidrteeeint ~f:~!b~~/~~llh~'r 1t~3~:Udy at the Graduate School, Yale University, [490 ] Tripoli one missionary to 1,000,000 people. These In the Tete district of Portuguese East Africa were the estimates in 1926, but the position would which adjoins Nyasaland, till 1907 no Christian be more or less the same today. work was done among the 150,000 people living in that area. There was one Roman Catholic mis- Leaving out of account these areas where there sion, which had been established on the Zambesi is definitely some Christian work being carried River about 300 years ago, but it did not try to on, however inadequate, there are others where extend its work beyond the borders of the mission nothi.ng is done at all. Mr. W. J. W. Roome, that station. The Dutch Reformed Church, which had indefatigable traveler, who has on behalf of the a mission in Nyasaland, just across the border, British and Foreign Bible Society traveled tens was repeatedly asked by the natives to extend its of thousands of miles in Africa, gives a list of work among them too, and attempts were made to these fields in his book, "Can Africa Be Won?" secure the permission of the Portuguese officials. From this I select the largest areas mentioned: Permission was consistently refused for several years, but constant dropping can wear away even 1. Abyssinia, which is largely an unreached land with the stony hardness of a Portuguese official, and eight to ten millions of people. permission was eventually given. While these ne- gotiations were proceeding, the government urged 2. Tanganyika, west of longitude 32 east to the shores the Roman Catholics to forestall the Dutch misof Lake Tanganyika, a distance of about 300 miles. sion, and survey parties were sent out to choose a site for a mission in the area where the Dutch 3. A very large area confined between the following mission intended going. The latter managed to boundaries: From the River Tana in Kenya to the Abys- secure from the Roman missionaires a written sinian border, west to Mount Eglon and then north as far agreement as to the boundaries of the spheres of as the Sobat River, a tributary of the White Nile, the field influence, and for a time all went well. lying between Abyssinia and the Nile. Then suddenly, like a bolt from the blue, all the 4. West of Uganda between Lake Albert and Lake Ed- teacher-evangelists of the Dutch mission, totaling ward and stretching 400 miles into the Congo. sixty-five, were arrested by the authorities on the grounds that they did not know Portuguese. Of 5. Another is to be found from the point where the three these teachers seventeen were already in possescQuntries, French Congo, Belgian Congo and Anglo-Sudan sion of Portuguese certificates, and all the others meet, northwards into the Umbangi Province in French were studying the language. Protests were of no territory. This area lies between 20° and 25° east longi- avail, and all were deported to Mozambique and tude and approximately 5° to 10° north latitude. This part were forced to work on sugar plantations. Some is aptly called the "heart of Africa." Its situation justi- managed to escape, others died of hardship, it is fies the title. said, and a few were deported to the Portuguese islands of Panjim and Timor in the West Indies. 6. The middle part of eastern Congo between 20° and After many years some returned to their waiting 24 ° east longitude and 1° to 4 ° south latitude. families, but in 1925 four were still missing, and in 1934 one returned from Panjim Island. 7. From the Lualaba River in the southeast corner of Belgian Congo northward and west of Lake Mweru to the It seemed as if the promising work was ruined shores of Lake Tanganyika. because churches, schools and dwelling houses were left to fall into ruins, but the natives who 8. Portuguese West Africa, especially the southern and had accepted Christianity during the short time northeastern regions. the mission operated, carried on the work of Christianizing their fellow tribesmen in secret. 9. All Portuguese East Africa excepting near the coast. Meetings were held, and are still being held, in 10. The Cameroons, all east of 12° longitude. secret in the leaders' huts at night, or during the 11. The northern territories of the Gold Coast, Togo- day in the bush. One leader was discovered, arland, Dahomey, including the bend of the Niger River. rested and jailed. His Bible and hymn book were 12. The northern section of Liberia, Portuguese Guinea destroyed and he was threatened with more severe and all the French territories of the Ivory Coast, French punishment if he continued his work as Christian Guinea, Senegal and south of that river and the Niger. teacher. This has had the effect of stimulating Christian endeavor, as is evidenced by the fact Within these areas there are 30,000,000 people that every few months scores of Portuguese naabsolutely beyond the reach of the effort of exist- tives who have been taught as described above, ing mission societies. The question arises, Why come across the border into Nyasaland to be exhave these areas not yet been occupied? There amined and taken up into the churches there. are to my mind four main reasons: A more or less similar experience has been the 1. Governments often restrain missions from entering certain fields. In northern Nigeria, for instance, missions have not been allowed to enter the emirates of Kano and Sokoto on the ground that the Mohammedan emirs were told that, when their countries were brought under administration, there would be no interference with their religion by the government. Such restrictions, probably for political reasons, apply with added force to the Portuguese territories. The writer has personal knowledge of the extreme and unreasonable lengths to which such restrictions have been pushed in Portuguese East Africa. The following bit of history will serve to illustrate this.
lot of the mission of the Church of Scotland work- formed which holds regular meetings, and plans ing among the Lomwe tribe in the Quelimane are being discussed for the occupation of Portudistrict further north. Since the European mis- guese East Africa through African evangelists. sionary· has been made to suffer all manner of Two Africans who have offered themselves for hardships and indignities and his work has been "foreign" service are at present studying Portuhampered as much as was possible within the law, guese at Lourenco Marques. One of them, Paulo the mission has been withdrawn temporarily. MiIoto, is a chief in Portuguese East Africa, and There are other missions working near the coast, he has voluntarily given up his chieftianship and and they seem to be less harried, but always they is going to devote his life to the evangelization of are confronted with a hostile government. The his fellow tribesmen in the present unoccupied result of all this has been that Portuguese Africa field of the Tete District. is today still a virtually unoccoupied field. The population is about 3,500,000. The writer does not know whether or not this has already been done in other parts of Africa. 2. Another reason why fields are often unoccu- He, however, feels convinced that that is the evenpied is malarial climate or the prevalence of sleep- tual solution of the problem of spreading the ing sickness. The European missionary is not as Gospel of Christ into areas which are today out resistant to these diseases as the native African. of reach of existing societies. If the history of Thousands of graves remind us of men and wom- the Church in Africa has a lesson to teach, it is en who have, in spite of the danger to which that the church that has no missionary zeal is they exposed themselves, consistently put service doomed to unfertility and eventual stagnation. before self and have given their lives for the The churches in the home lands have to be on Cause. This difficulty is being gradually overcome their guard against this danger, so have the inby the enormous advances made by medical sci- digenous churches in Africa. The ideal of all the ence. The medical missionary more than anybody churches of Christ, in America, Europe and in else has opened up Africa and has made it pos- Africa, is to spend themselves for the cause of sible for the white man to live where it would have making Christ known and regnant in the hearts, been impossible twenty to twenty-five years ago. not only of civilized peoples, but also of the mil- lions of Africa in the occupied as well as the un- 3. Opposition from the natives themselves has occupied fields. until recently kept missions from certain areas. This opposition is still active where Mohammedan CHANGING RACE DIRECTIONS influence is predominant. But this, too, is breaking down. Missionaries from all territories testify Once the missionary to Africa faced chiefly that the doors are open wider today than they pure native problems-superstition, sin, disease, have ever been before. ignorance. The coming of modern industry is so changing great regions that he faces a different 4. Lack of funds is increasingly becoming the race, struggling with the old adverse influences main reason why missions cannot extend their in- still and many new and complicated ones. Rose fluence in the areas where they already exist and Henderson, writing upon the subject, "Modern over the borders into the unoccupied fields. The Industry Changes Africa," in The Southern W orkserious reduction in the budgets of the home boards is endangering the mission enterprise in man, gives this glimpse of new conditions in the field after field. One wonders what the reason for this may be. To the writer it seems like an great copper mining region: act of Providence for bringing the missions to the situation where they will be forced to look more Lying 2,300 miles north of the Cape of Good Hope and to Africa than to Europe and America for help. at about equal distance uetween the Atlantic and Pacific The time has not yet come when the Africans can Oceans, the copper mines employ some 35,000 native workcarryon the work alone, and they will need th~ men and supply a third of the world's copper. Here in help and advice of the white missionary for many the midst of the bush jungle which, two 'or three decades many years. Yet the center of gravity must grad- ago, was hardly inhabited, millions of dollars have been ually shift to the indigenous church, and missions expended by white capitalists and thousands of Negroes will increasingly have to follow the policy of dev- have stepped from primitive jungle huts to modern mines olution. and machinery. Native villages have sprung up, along with hospitals, schools and recreation centers of the mine An encouraging beginning has been made by owners. Black men from ninety different tribes, speaking the Presbytery of Mkhoma, Nyasaland, where the ninety different languages and representing as many difindigenous church has begun its own foreign mis- ferent cultures have been brought together in the employ sion, which is organized, controlled and financed of white capitalists. The result of this industrial developby the Africans, with the help and advice of the ment, as complete as any of its kind in Europe or Amerwhite missionaries. A "home" board has been ica, is a realignment of peoples, a transformation of the continent. The balance of native life has been upset. The direction of human races has been changed. Roads and villages have shifted, customs and beliefs have been up- rooted, ancient cultures and ideals are being destroyed.
CALL
The Drums of Congo and the Gospel By VIRGINIA M. CLARKE, Bolenge, Africa A MONG the Bantu people living in theequa- In many mission stations a special house has .r.. torial forest of the Belgian Congo the been erected to hold a number of these drums signal drum is now being used as an aid which are used regularly to call the people to the to the spread of the Gospel. In a land where it Sunday school, the church services, elders' meetis impossible to see for long distances the only ings and mission school classes. Often it is the way to send a message without a messenger is by special pride and joy of the young boys in the sound. Formerly the chief purpose of the drum boys' boarding schools to beat the message on the was to call people together for fighting. What a big drums which will start old and young hurry- triumph for Christ is this new, peaceful use of ing along the village paths leading to God's the drum! house.
When a missionary is itinerating through the Among the Bankundo, who are found along the tropical forest his heart is gladdened as he wearily equator where the Congo River crosses it for the approaches a village to meet a band of villagers second time, a particular group of phrases is used singing Christian hymns. They come joyfully to to call people to a Protestant church service. In . greet him and to make him welcome. Usually the their language (Lonkundo) it is: "Ikongo ifonge evangelist is in the lead, followed by the Chris- kukola baseka enganbe ea njambola, lotakana, tians and inquirers seeking baptism. On asking lotakana. Tokende bonteke bolosambo bole nda the evangelist how he knew of his coming, the ikongo ifonge kukola." Translated rather freely missionary is told that the drum in the village this means: "Protestants, come together, come which he visited the preceding night had boomed together. Let us go to the church service which through several miles of jungle and swamp to ap- is where the white man is found." prise them of the arrival of the "man of God." Perhaps in the near future the Christian lead- While the missionary is resting before his hut the ers of Congo will find new ways to use their won- evangelist is beating out the call to all the Chris- derful drum language in telling the story of tians to gather for the evening service. Christ's love for all men.
[493 ]
Ways of
'rested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MRS. ESTELLA S. AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO ~'=I======================~==~ A CLIMBING RACE of missionary interest and en- nominational headquarters. The deavor. value of united, sequential study Slow moves the pageant of a climb- need hardly be dwelt upon, with ing race; Toward this end your Depart- the abundance of helps and sug- ment Editor has striven earnest- gestions available in magazines Their footsteps drag far, far below ly to assemble worthful material in correlation with the themes. the height, from· many sources to supply If the world is ever to be won leaders of the several group in- for Christ it will be by united, And, unprevailing by their utmost terests with plans and sugges- synchronized effort, not random, might, tions for shaping up programs, individualistic attempts to obey studies, discussions and projects. the Great Commission. Seem faltering downward from each Space will admit of little more hard won place. than citations for these; but it INFORMATIVE MATERIAL may be taken for granted that No strange, swift-sprung exception although a number of different The volume of this is almost we; we trace denominations are involved, unlimited. Your Department nothing is mentioned herein Editor can mention only such A devious way thro' dim, uncertain which is specifically denomina- helps as have been sent in for light. tional. Such details as do appear her personal inspection, as fol- in a few may easily be elimi- lows: Our hope through the long vistaed nated or replaced with the de- years, a sight sired data. As classification ac- "A Course on Africa for Young cording to type of subject matter People" (P), 25c. Of that our Captain's soul sees face is most efficient and saves space, to face. please note that (B) stands for "West Africa Mission" (P), lOco Baptist, (C) for United Chris- "The Road to God's Town" (P), lOco Who, faithless, faltering that the road tian, (L) for Lutheran, (LE) "Africa Journey" (P), lOco is steep, for Miss Leavis, who is litera- "To Africa! To Africa" (for chil- ture secretary for the Central dren) (P), lOco Now raiseth up his drear, insistent Committee on the study of For- "The Pageant of a Climbing Race" cry? eign Missions, (M) for Meth- (C)-yearbook of Home and Foreign odist Episcopal, (P) for Pres- Programs, 5c; packet of activating Who stoppeth here to spend awhile in byterian, and (M.E.M) for material. 50c for either, or 75c for set. sleep Missionary Education Move- Not ready until January. The studies ment, all of whose headquarters for young people alone have been Or curseth that the storm obscures addresses appear at the close of changed to include only the foreign the sky? this article. Nearly all publica- theme. Packets covel' not only infor- tions from nondenominational mative material but dramatizations, Heed not the darkness round you, dull sources may be obtained from poetrv, discussions, etc. and deep; your denominational literature "Missionary Facts on Africa" (B) headquarters, as the "tools in -story material for use in opening The clouds grow thickest when the type" are in reciprocal, neigh- and closinl; exercises of S. S., 15c. summit's nigh. Ready in December. -Paul Laurence Dunbar. borly use. Booklet of Leader's Helps accom- panying each textbook, 15c. The current year's study of THE STUDY BOOKS "Africa View"-book by Julian "the climbing race," particularly Huxley, $2.50. in its foreign aspects, affords an It will not be necessary to take "Education of Primitive People," unusual opportunity to attract space to enumerate these, as by Albert D. Helser, $3.00. the uninterested and enlist the they have been mentioned many "The Remaking of Man in Africa," indifferent. The subject matter times in this and other mission- by J. H. Oldham and B. D. Gibson, is rarely colorful with its appeal ary magazines, and free cata- $1.25. to the exploring impulse; the logues inclusive of descriptive Other auxiliary material will qe universal use of the narrative material are available at de- listed later. form which is indigenous to the African whether in argument, [494 ] PROGRAMS description or instruction-the story is always dominant; the "African Palavers" – a program vivid settings and background plan book (M.), 20c. For young peomaterial; the warm human in- ple but easily adaptable for women's terest; the profound problems organizations. A complete year's outpertaining to development of lines beginning with "The Assembling primitive minds and native leadership, the raising of standards; and most of all the adj ustment of races in a perfect maze of conflicting interests, temperaments and political manipulations. Every wideawake church has its paramount chance to use Africa as a lure into the realm
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
of the Tribes" in September, continu- "Consider Africa" (M.E.M.), 25c. "How to Make an African Village" ing through chapter-by-chapter stud- ies of Margaret Wrong's "~he L~nd A course on Africa by Mrs. Margaret -patterns and directions for making and Life of Africa" and mcludI!lg and setting up; to be used by leaders "The Tribute Festival"-a specIal Holly Tuck. , of boys' and girls' groups (M.E.M.), thank offering program, "Jungle Jam- 25c. boree" for a missionary party, rally "'the Story of the American Negro' or banquet a special "June Palaver," "Pattern Sheets"-African wood an "Intern'ational Program" in July (M.E.M.), 25c. Young People's course carvings; flags of African prote~tor and an "Outdoor Safari" (expedition and mealie roast) for August. The by Ina C. Brown. ates; map of Africa for enlargmg; colorful programs are reple~e with African call drum sketch; nut or native nomenClature and storIes, cos- "A Preface to Racial Understand- tumes, rituals in African fashion, of- candy holders like African hl:1ts; ficial titles such as "keepers of the ing" (B), 15c. Programs by Mrs. wooden articles received from AfrIca; fires," "story tellers," etc., use of util- elephant; hibiscus; dance drum, etc. ities such as the call drum, games, Augusta Comstock. demonstrations, dramatizations etc. (M) 10c. Has the true African atmosphere. Other program s.eries, as s~nt in~o "The Healer"–colored poster, 21 x this Department, wIll ,oe mentIOned m "Six Missionary Programs and 28, showing doctor working with s0l!le Eight Teaching Outlines" (Anna Can- later numoers. native Africans with a shadowy PICada Swain) (B), 15c. Based on ture of Christ standing in the back- "Omwa? Are You Awake?" Pro- DRAMATICS ground. Very beautiful and impresgrams excellently adapted for both sive. (St. Philip's Society, 1664 Glenyounger and older folk and c.over the "Africa Gives Thanks" (L), 10c. worship period, abundant mforma- Pageant for thank offering meeting or mount Ave., Akron, Ohio), 85c, but a tional matter, visualization~ and oth~r study class; 11 characters;. simple work of art. entertaining features, natIve musIC, setting and costumes; symbohc. Very special set of 10 English postdiscussion topics, poetry etc. Topics "Robert and Mary" (M.E.M.), 25c. are: "A Treasure Hunt," "Listening Thirteen characters; true story of ers of African life in choice, natural Ears" "Bridges," "Call a Doctor," Moffats; one hour. colors size 15 x 20. These rc'l'ltarkable "Buiiders " and "Studies in Black and pictu';es are used in the schools in the White." 'The study outlines are for "Through the Dark" (M.E.M.), 15c. Congo and 'Were seen by Miss Marlocal church groups using the text- One-act play; 4 characters; medical garet Wong, who had them printedJri mission setting. book. They analyze the subject mat- quantity in England. .An expl.anattqn ter comprehensively. "Ordered South" (M.E.M.), 15c. written by Dr. Cathertne Mabte (mw- Project for enlistment for African sionary) will accompany the set. En- Six Programs on "Congo Crosses," mission work; 3 scenes; 6 adults-4 tire set $1.00, or 5 (not selected but by the same author (B), 15c. For men and 2 women. taken by rote) for 50c. Counting women's missionary societies, business postage, this is actual cost, as all and professional women's groups and "Kanjunda" (M.E.M.), 25c. Shows orders requiring more than 15c postsenior young women's societies. Titles: waning of witch doctor's power; 15 age will be sent at a loss. (LE) "Stop Look, Listen"; "Always Prob- characters; one hour. lems—-'-Even in Primitive Congo"; Attention is called again to the long "Do You Care?"; "Here Comes the "Livingstone Hero Plays" (M.E.M.), Bride"· "Fact Finders of 1937"; 15c. Four dramatizations of Living- list of African program materials aI?-d "On Their Knees." The discussion stone stories which may be used sepa- novelties given in this Department m topics are particularly suggestive and rately or consecutively; for juniors; heart-searching. 40-50 minutes. the July issue of THE REVIEw.a!ld ob- tainaule from LE. In addItIOn to "Lights Aglow in Congo"–outline "Alexander Mackay's Han d s" those mentioned previously, Miss for young people's programs (ready (M.E.M), 10c. Leavis adds a choice leaflet, "The in January) (C) . Titles: "ABo, Glowing Ember of Prayer," by Jea,n Congo!" – showing the importance, "In Our Land It Is Very Dark" position and potentialities of Africa Kenyon Mackenzie, priced at 2c. ThIS in the world today; "Paths in the (L")A,2ncn.a InspI.res a M"IssIOnary C·Irc1e" is a wonderful devotional reading. Dark"-presenting problems crea~ed (Powell and White, 528 Walnut St., by the industrial conquest of AfrIca Cincinnati, Ohio), 15c. Maps and charts, particularly the and the need for education; "Sinister picture maps of Africa with shee~s of Shadows" – social problems which "In Congo Land" (B), 15c. cut-outs to be pasted on progressIvely grow out of impact of Western civi- "Livingstone and Stanley Meet and as different features and regions are lization upon age-old customs; shows Part" 15c. that there must be a give-and-take or "Robert Moffat Returns with Afri- studied, may be purchased at pracsharing as a new world is built; caner," 10c. tically all the denominational head- "Lamplighters"-picture of mission- quarters. The usual price is 50c f.or ary work in Congo, showi~g. ~h~t the "The Teeth That Did Not Drop the map and 10c for the separate PIC- African has all the posslblhtles of Out" (L), 2c. tures. other human beings as well as a passion for developing them; "Around "Our Husband" (C), 25c. Don't try to teach with words only. the Camp Fire"-intended to create a "An African Village Trial" (P), 5c. Visualizations and project work are bond of fellowship between young peo- Sketch presenting the African Chr~s particularly fitted to elucidate African ple here and in Africa who have had tian Church and the problems of ItS studies. like experiences through summer con- young members. Six principals and ferences and "akitelos," and to im- 10 or 15 secondary characters. press others as to what that experience can mean to them; "Lights STORIES ADDRESSES FOR MATERIALS Aglow"-to help the young people see "Peter, the Chief's Son"; "A Li?,u Baptist: Baptist Board of Educatheir responsibility in industrial and Hunt"· "Captain John's Mother ; social relationships with their own "Malin'da"; "The Lamp in the Des- tioLn~t1h5e2raMn:adiWsoonmAenv'es.,MNiesswioYnaorryk.Soand other races and countries; to cast ert"; "Just Like Women"; "The Boy ciety, 723 Muhlenberg Bldg., Philadelout greed and prejudice and to pat- Who Won a Town"; "The House of tern their actions after Christ's. Their Hands"; "The Verses That phia, Pa. , Made Livingstone Brave" (L)-2c Methodist Episcopal: Women s For- each. eign Missionary Society, 420 Plum "Even Unto Death" (P), free. "The Congo Woman's Way" (B), 2c. St., Cincinnati, Ohio. .. A wealth of other narrative mate- rial may be obtained from denomina- Christian: The United ChrIstIan tional literature headquarters, some of which will be listed in our later Missionary Society, Missions Bldg., issues. Indianapolis, Ind. . VISUALIZATIONS AND Missionary EducatIOn M~vement: PROJECTS 150 Fifth Ave., New York CIty.
Picture Sheet of Africa, for use in Miss M. H. Leavis (designated scrap books, posters, and to paste on maps of Africa (M.E.M.), 25c. previously as LE) : 186 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, Mass. . Presbyterian: Board ?f ForeIgn Missions of the PresbyterIan Church, 156 Fifth Ave., New York.
Gleanings from the Editor's "Costumes – How to Make and New York, has been experiment- Notebook Wear Them" is a cover-all pamphlet ing with a new program which inclusive of detail from many foreign has some most attractive fea- Spending the entire summer fields, obtainable at the BaptIst Board tures. It is designed for chap- at Lakeside, Ohio, with its of Education at 25c. ters who wish to meet weekly wealth of summer conferences, instead of monthly. It extends the Department Editor's note- This board also handles a "Catalog the Hero Courses into projects book overflowed with sugges- of Plays and Pageants," which is a and is built on a Four Point tions for making current studies selected, classified list according to Project basis. The following ex- attractive and forcible. These country and subject, with names of ample using Livingstone as a will be doled out from issue to authors and publIshers. Its 24 pages subject is illustrative: issue during the year, but a few cover more than 400 plays and pagitems of miscellaneous but help- eants, lOco 1st week (Skill Meeting): ful character may be given here- Map-making project. with. Look these over, for you The play listed previously as "An may find just the methods African Village TrIal" illustrates the 2d week (Study Meeting): "gadget" that you need. way in whiCh an ordinary Sunday Hero Program – Life story of school class may change itself in a one whose success depended on Mrs. Kellersberger, author of moment into an African village by ability in map-making. "Congo Crosses," is giving her ~nt,ire shift of furnishings and play of honorarium to the Protestant MIssIon imagination, with no properties or cos- 3d week (Service Meeting): Council with headquarters at Leopold- tUming. Making map of Paul's journeys, ville, Africa, for work among the of missionary fields, of local women and children. She keeps not a Poetry and Music: Both ~re invalu- community, etc. single cent for herself. Isn't this an able in presenting essentIal Negro object lesson in devotion? character both in our land and Africa. 4th week (Inspirational Meet- While more expensive song books may ing): Ceremony of Maps, us- Incidents easy to dramatize are not be practical for the average ing Livingstone and Africa; found in abundance in the study group, "Southland Spirituals," ar- Paul and the Inland Sea; Chris- books "Consider Africa," "Christ in ranged by the Rodeheaver Co., and tianity and world map. the Great Forest," "We Sing Amer- sold by all denominational literature ica " and other Friendship Press books headquarters at 25c will serve the pur- With each missionary hero a on 'current studies. You may get help pose admirably. An abundance of in making your dramatizations in Negro poetry-mostly concerning th,e different project is introduced. "Meet Your United States," by Mary American Negro but true to the UnI- For example: Chalmers-Proj- J ennes (cloth, $1.00; pa~er,. 60c ~ ; versal type – may be found in, pal- ect in swimming and life-saving. and in "Informal DramatIzatIOn III verton's "Anthology of AmerIcan (He was a swimmer and saved Missionary Education," by Elizabeth Negro Literature," 95c; "Singers in boys from drowning); Grenfell Miller Lobingier (paper, 10c)-both the Dawn," compiled by R. E. Eleazor, – Boating and shipbuilding. from the Friendship Press. Scribner'S and sold at the Conference on Educa- (He was a builder); Ian Keith have a more ambitious work entitled tion and Race Relations, Atlanta, Ga., Falconer – Cycling. Paton- "Ventures in Dramatization," by for lOCi James Weldon Johnson's Farming. Whitman-First aid. Hulda Neibuhr ($1.75). "Book of American Negro Poetry," Morrison-Woodworking. $2.00; and "Caroling Dusk," edited Bear in mind a few pointers in pre- by Countee Cullen and sold at $2.5.0. -Missions Magazine. senting Negro dramatizations, how- Your own publishing company WIll ever. usually secure for you standard, books A Circulating Library like the expensive ones above CIted. Rigidly avoid caricature in costume, For a number of years the manner or "blacking up." Negroes Manner and Motivation of Negro Women's Department of the may be brown, their impersonatio~s Presentations: A leaflet by the M.E.M. Baptist State Convention has being taken by brunettes, or the skm of the United States and Canada says: operated a circulating library. may be left white rather than to elicit The work of circulating the the merriment caused by the "black- A program on the Negro should be books has been under the direct face." what any program should be. It supervision of the State Reading should tell something that is worth Contest Secretary. A definite Is it fair to show only the illiterate, passing on; something that one group amount is allowed each year for superstitious, ignorant types, the wants other people to know; some- the purchase of new books and "savages," as representative of Afri- thing that makes them think and feel postage incurred in mailing can population when picturing com- the way they wish them to feel. If them to the various churches. munities that have educational and the members of any group have The rule is that the church using intelligent industrial types also? drawn inspiration from Negro poetry the books should pay return and music, and have come to respect postage. There is no time limit While Negro spirituals are invalua- and admire Negroes as a race and as for keeping the books, as it has ble for atmosphere both with Ameri- indivduals, then it will be easy to pass been found by experience th~t can and African Negro studies, should on those facts and inspirations and at- it is better to allow each church they not be sung with true devotional titudes. . . . You may decide that the privilege of keeping the spirit, as they were originally sung, Negroes will fill Negro roles more ef- books as long as they are being rather than to create laughter by fectively than white persons made up. read. When no longer in cir~ "acting up"? And you will be right about this. , , . culation they are returned to the If your group has no Negro members State Secretary. An attempt at Negro dialect may but has Negro friends who would like lead to the same serious error. Never to help out, it would be wise to invite -Missions Magazine. betray your programs into the hands them to do so. But do not ask any of the "Amos and Andy" type of per- Negro to participate unless .you a!"e formers. If you do you will lose all sure that he will be treated WIth courmissionary effect. tesy and respect not only by the mem- bers of the group but also by the Dramatic Helps: Reasonable brown audience. skin effects may be obtained from Steain's Preparation for Theatrical ANew Educational Program Work available at drug stores or in mail order houses. Rev. Theodore L. Conklin, High Counsellor for Eastern
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BULLETIN OF The Council of Women for Home Missions ANNE SEESHOLTZ, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 105 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK "WHERE MY POOR LIVE"
"Once, a long, long time ago, God feelin' tired, went to sleep an' had a nice wee nap on His throne. His head was in His han's an' a wee white cloud came down and covered Him up.'
Purty soon He wakes up an' says He: "'Where's Michael?'
"'Here 1 am, Father!' said Michael.
" 'Michael, me boy,' says God, '1 want a chariot and a chariot- eer!'
" 'Right ye are!' says he, and up comes the purtiest chariot in By courtesy of Art Exten&ion Press, Inc., Westport, Conn. the city of Heaven an' the finest charioteer. CRElATION OF FLOWERS – DRAWN BY AN AUST R I AN CHILD " 'Me boy,' says God, 'take a Prayer for Slum Clearance* the special strains and irritations, and million tons of th' choicest seeds the moral exposures of crowded quar- of th' flowers of Heaven an' take Father of all mankind, who hast ters; by our pleasure in the joyous signally blessed the human family as play of our happy children in God's a trip around th' world wi' them. the cradle of divinity, and hast out-of-doors, do Thou lay upon our Scatther them,' says He, 'be th' granted to us the security and conscience the plight of countless roadsides an' th' wild places of strength, the joy and comfort, and the families whose lives are cramped and th' earth where my poor live.' supporting goodness of our homes, do thwarted for lack of space and air in Thou forgive us that we have been which to live, and play, and grow in " 'Aye,' says the charioteer, content to accept these precious gifts stature and in favor with God and of life but have taken little thought man. 'that's just like ye, Father. It's th' purtiest job of m' afther life of those whose lot confines them to the By the anguish of our prayers for slums of our cities. our own children, that they may be an' I'll do it finely.' saved from sin and may grow in grace "'It's just come t' me in a Give us, we pray Thee, a vivid sense and goodness, do Thou make us ashamed of our toleration of the dream,' says th' Father, 'that of the little children condemned to live slums, which in disproportionate in crowded tenements and to play measure continue to make criminals th' rich have all th' flowers down amidst the traffic of the streets, de- and prostitutes of many boys and there and th' poor have none at prived of the simplest elements of girls who never had a chance. 0 God all. If a million tons isn't human health and happiness, rojbed of love and justice, we acknowledge even of the common heritage of pure before Thee our personal and !orpoenough, take a billion tons!' " air and sunshine. Make us conscious rate responsibility for the sins of At this point I got in some of the preventable disease which such perverted lives. breeds in the narrow alleys, and in questions about God's language the dark inner rooms where sunlight Grant us grace at this time to gird and the kind of flowers. never comes. "Well, dear," she said, "He ourselves for action. May our city spakes Irish t' Irish people. . . . By our hope of Thy mercy as we sit and the nation put their hand to the "Th' flowers," she said, "were concerned by the sickbeds of our own clearance of the slums and to the little ones, may we be willing in love building of homes more fit for the primroses, buttercups an'daisies, to share the anxiety, the anguish, and children of God. Vouchsafe to us in . . . an' from that day to this the grief of the parents of the poor this task of Thy kingdom a special there's been flowers a-plenty for as they watch by their sick or mourn sense of Thy nearness and Thy love, the death of those who need not have inasmuch as we would do it unto Thee. us all everywhere." sickened or died but for the conditions For Jesus' sake, Amen. Thus, "My Lady of the Chim- in which they are oJliged to live. • F rom "Prayers for Self a nd Societ y, " by ney Corner" told her ninth child, In the measure of our longing for James Myers ; As sociation Press, N. Y.; 15c. Alexander Irvine, of the crea- a happy home for our dear ones, with space for gracious living, free from tion of the flowers.
[497 ]
ARE YOU PRAYING? "A LIFE TO GIVE" Missions, on the theme, "The Negro in America." Even the For the observance of the In "God's Candlelights," writ- catalogue is good reading.
World Day of Prayer on the first ten by Miss Mabel Shaw, and "Glimpses of Negro Ameri- Friday in Lent, February 12, available for one dollar in cloth, cans" is a 24-page illustrated 1937, the program was written Friendship Press, New York, booklet giving in concise form by Miss Mabel Shaw, founder of the Livingstone Memorial Girls' the author relates: facts about eight areas of Negro Boarding School at Mbereshi, Kawamba, Northern Rhodesia, One clear evening I went life today: Where Are They? Africa. down to the leper camp at the Who Are They? Where Do end of our village. There were They Live? How Do They Sup- very few of them there. It was port Themselves? Where Do In accepting the invitation to not a pleasant place. . . . And They Get Their Education? prepare the world program, yet they gave me a glad wel- What About Their Health? Do Miss Shaw wrote, "You will be come. They had many needs to They Go to Church? Are They interested to hear that Mbereshi make known: not enough fire- Citizens? The booklet closes 'kept' the Day of Prayer this wood, no salt had been given with a section asking, "Where year. There was prayer in the with last week's rations, they Do You and I Come In?" in school chapel, unceasing from were naked, could I not see? . .. which the interracial movement dawn till set of sun. The girls were there in small groups; even They told me a lion had been is described and the opportunity the little children took their part. At sunset there was a about. . . . before the churches is pointed gathering of all the Christian women in the village church." At last I rose to go. I gave a • out. 6 cents a copy.. $4.00 a When it is ten o'clock, morn- last word and greeting, promised hundred.
ing, in New York, the .tiI?e of I'd remember all their needs, The Department of Race Relations, day in Northern RhodeSIa IS five and was just about to mount my Federal Council of Churches, has colo'clock in the afternoon. bicycle, when out of one of the lected pamphlets from various sources. There are two packets. Packet No. 1 A CALL TO PRAYER little houses came, the old leper contains the pamphlet described above, head-man. He held a spear be- "Amer ica's Tenth Man," and "School tween the stumps that once were Money in Black and White." 15 cents hands, and he went h0bblI' ng a single packet. along the path in front of me. I called to him, and he stopped and Packet No.2 is supplementary ma- looked round. terial for leaders of groups; for ex- Together let us "Where are you going?" ample, a 43-page booklet on cotton- growing communities in rural Amer- Thank God and praise Him for the ica. 30 cents a single pack et. manifestation of Himself in Jesus Christ, and in the abundant life; "I am going to escort you to ……;==::::;] Thank God and praise Him for fol- Mbereshi Village, you can't go alone with lions about/' lowers of Jesus Christ who have made Him known; I smiled at him. "But on my Thank God and praise Him for the world f ellowship of prayer-and bicycle I'll be there in a minute." let each seek a new consecration to Jesus Christ. He would not have it, it was not fitting for me to go alone. I Together let us pray looked at him, a feeble old man, That the church be strong and cou- rageous; handless, feet half-eaten, his whole body covered with marks That the missionary zeal of Chris- of disease, and his face most tians be purified and spread pitiful. through all the world; That the community in which we I said to him half-banteringly, live be recreated through the con- secrated service of God's children; and with a smile, "Now what That our nation measure all activi- could you do if a lion came?"
ties by Christ's law of love and He drew himself up, and with universal brotherhood; a quiet dignity said, "Have I not That the whole earth be filled even a life to give?" in this our day with the knowl- I was silent, seeing a Cross. I edge of the living God, and of His followed him to the village, Son, Jesus Christ.
The World Day of Prayer is thanked him and came home, sponsored by the Council of having met with God face to Women for Home Missions, 105 face. . ..
East Twenty-second St., New ARE YOU STUDYING? York, and the Foreign Missions Conference, 156 Fifth Ave., New Good reading, as well as edu- J. R . S oo tlord York. The Day is observed in cational in content, are the new DOR CH EST E:R AC AD E MY SCHOOLGIRL. more than fifty countries. books published by the Mission- ary Education Movement and McI NTOSH, GEORGIA The program material for F ebruary 12, 1937, is ready. the Council of Women for Home
i OuJM!:~r~~~:~feCu~~~?Ok I '~II=.======================================
.it EDITED BY MRS. HENRIETTA H. FERGUSON, XENIA, OHIO "
~11=========~==========I$ii)§i AFRICA back to Ethiopia after furlough ment. Twice follow-up meet- in America, have been able to ings have been held with the re- One By One Work in Egypt continue their interrupted jour- sult that hundreds of the rather Missionaries in Egypt deplore ney. -The Life of Faith. wild mountain Bakiga are flock- ing to the churches. Large the lack of desire to win "other Christian Police Association bands are going out teaching. sheep," even on the part of born- One outcome has been that na- About a thousand new mem- tive church collections increased again Christians. Words flow bers joined the International by about half during the last easily, but there is little definite Christian Police Association in three months of the year. It is praying for the conversion of South Africa last year. About expected that the Diamond J ubisouls. A few years ago a coun- ninety police stations and depots lee may be celebrated in 1937. terpart of the English "One By at different places in the Union were visited by the Traveling -C. M. S. Outlook. One Band" was started, and the call to individual work was p:r:e- sented. It was urged that it Secretary, and the most encour- The March of Progress would be a help to be definite in aging feature is that so many prayer if answers were recorded men have accepted Christ as A significant evidence of in the little book "Throne of their Saviour. change in West Africa is seen Grace"; many have now joined The membership of the I. C. in the attendance of the native the Band and some have had an- P. A. in South Africa is now King of Oyo at the reunion of swers to prayer for individuals. about 3,800. During the year old students of St. Andrew's 1,000 New Testaments have been College, Oyo. In all the years of A little group of Egyptian' circulated, besides thousands of the college's history it has never "One by One" members now ex- tracts and leaflets, and many let- been visited by a king. He is ists at almost all the stations of ters of thanks have been re- regarded as too sacred to be the Egypt General Mission, com- ceived from those who have re- looked upon by the common peoposed of teachers, Biblewomen ceived blessing through these. ple, and always when giving auand a few Christian women in The strength of the European the districts. At a testimony force of the South African police dience his face would be hidden meeting of members among the is between 7,000 and 8,000, plus by a veil of coral beads suswomen in Zeitoun last October, the native police, which is be- pended from his crown or coral one told how she had long prayed tween 3,000 and 4,000. headgear. But even the most for a brother who had been ter- strongly entrenched customs of ribly opposed to even the men- -The Life of Faith. the old days are giving way betion of Christ or religion, and fore the march of progress. To- how her prayer had been an- The C. M. S. in Uganda day the theory is gaining ground swered by the brother's conver- that as a king is supported from sion. Dr. J. E. Church of the C. M. the taxes paid by his people, the S. tells how one and another of people should both see and know -Egypt General Mission News. the Christians in Uganda and the man whom they support as Missionaries May Remain in Ruanda have been led during their ruler. Ethiopia the past six years into a new and -C. M. S. Outlook. deeper knowledge of Christ, and Dr. T. A. Lambie, Director of have a keen desire to bring oth- Open Doors in Nigeria the Sudan Interior Mission in ers to Him. "Those who had The Northern Provinces of Addis Ababa, writes that he has this new experience returned to Nigeria-Kano, Sokoto, Katsina obtained permission from Gen- their homes or to visit friends and Bornu, with some other Mo- eral Graziani, the Viceroy, for at other stations, and caused a hammedan sections-have been the missionaries of the Society stir by their obvious joy and en- strictly closed against the misto remain and carryon their thusiasm. Following a conven- sionary and his message. Ef- work. As a result of this news, tion at Kabale last year a move- forts have been made to secure Mr. Eric Horn, a New Zealand- ment of individual conviction religious toleration, and in 1933 er, and his wife and three-year- and repentance began, and in and 1934 sites were given the old son, who were held up in the 250 out-schools this became Sudan Interior Mission in Kano London last April on their way in some places a mass move- and at Garko, thirty-six miles [499 ]
from Kano City. This year the Cameroun Churches WESTERN ASIA Mission has been granted further openings into the once There has been a gain of about Keith-Falconer Mission Jubilee closed areas, and sites are prom- 1,000 in the communicant memised in each of the provinces bership of Pre s by t e ria n The Keith-Falconer Mission above named. One site has been churches in the Cameroun, in South Arabia completed 50 selected at Roni, seventy miles bringing the number to 37,935, years of service in 1935. Today, northwest of Kano City. with a gain of nearly 2,000 in the mission station at Sheikh the number of catechumens, who Othman is many times the size Recently, one of Northern number 52,782. The average of the small grass hut in which Nigeria's leading Emirs said; Sunday attendance for the sixty- Ion Keith-Falconer started his "I would welcome missionaries four churches with their 1,230 work; but it has approximately anywhere in my territory, even outposts is 115,000. Christian the same site. The medical staff in this town where I live, and work is harder than in earlier comprises two male doctors and any of my people who wish to days, due partly to the contact one woman doctor, two nursing become followers of your faith with a civilization shot through sisters, and an Arab staff of sixwill not be hindered in so do- with evil, the deplorable fact teen. The boys' school has fifty ing." Negotiations are under that second generation Chris- boys and four teachers; and way for missions to take over tians are in general less depend- there is a small girls' school. the provincial leper camps, now able than first and the large The influence of the mission is under government supervision, number who make a start then felt throughout the Aden Prowhich will mean a further open- leave the Christian way. tectorate and beyond; patients ing of the Moslem areas to mis- come by the hundred for treatsions. Nearly 7,000,000 people But over against this is the ment from the mountainous and are now brought within the pos- splendid force of native Chris- fertile Yemen. They carry back sible hearing of the Gospel. tian assistants, many of whom to their homes the example of are as earnest and as loyal to the Christian service and the seeds -The Christian. cause as the missionaries them- of Christian truth. There are at selves. These native workers least three small dispensaries Sleeping Sickness Problem are not confined to the evangel- staffed by mission-trained boys. istic force, but are in the educa- The Nlong River with its tional, the medical, the indus- Literacy is rare in South Arabranches is literally the valley of trial, and all lines of missionary bia, so that as yet Gospel distrithe shadow of death because it work, w h i I e throughout the bution cannot be a hopeful way is thickly infested with the tset- churches are many men and of Christ's entry. The simplest se fly-carrier of trypanosomi- women giving much time and possible primary schools are a asis, or sleeping sickness. Be- effort to Christian work. Mis- crying need. fore treatment by Europeans sionary societies organized by began, every infected person the Africans themselves send Arabia Goes Modern succumbed. The French medical catechists to unoccupied fields, service has many doctors in the carryon their support, and in Arabia, in company with all field giving their whole time to some cases have built chapels to Near East countries, is being diagnosis and treatment of this care for the groups thus col- rapidly modernized, and harddisease; they have healed many. lected. ship is resulting to many who have not yet reacted to the There are three large centers Medical Work in Tripoli change. Usages of almost sacwhere the principle part of their rosanct significance are being work is to care for and treat the The medical mission in Tripo. put aside. In the sacred sanctupatients. In some of the camps li, of the North Africa Mission, ary electric light has been inas many as 500 patients take a which has been running for stalled, and the men who tended three months course of treat- nearly fifty years, was in dan- the hundreds of olive oil lamps ment. Several remedies are ger of being closed by the Italian are no longer needed. Motor cars used, nearly all forms of arsenic, authorities. Dr. James Liley, now carry the pilgrims to the which seems to be most effec- who is in charge, has, however, holy cities of Mecca and Medina, tive. These are injected at in- been duly recognized and regis- and the thousands of camels and tervals of from five to ten days. tered in Rome, which carries their attendant army of camel- The treatment sometimes causes permission to practice in Italian men, formerly employed, are not blindness, but it is either blind- colonies. A hampering regula- now required. The Hejaz Govness or·death, for without treat- tion is one which does not per- ernment is reported to have 300 ment there is only one outcome. mit a doctor to compound medi- cars in use, and King Ibn Evangelists throughout this re- cines even for his own patients. Saoud's own procession of cars gion live with, and minister to This must be done by a chemist, may be anything up to 150. the people. Missions have a and consequently adds to the share in combatting the disease, cost of treating the crowds of Diminution of the number of but government forces are well indigent sufferers who come for pilgrims is so great that the organized, so that no place is help. thousands of Arabs in sacred uncared for. cities who lived by serving them -World Survey Service. are now destitute. Medina -The Drum Call.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTOOK
which before the War may have ic institutions, such as schools agricultural impleme~ts and other rural acceSSOrIes. Mr. had a population of 80,000 is and hospitals." Such in brief is Case led the group in prayer and the cavalcade moved on. The now estimated to have 8,000. the summary of a significant band came early into action and we dashed through the town to Such is the etfect of electricity statement made to Bishop Moore the unexpected but inspiring strains of 'Marching Through and motor cars. of the C. M. S., by some of the Georgia.' Citizens said: 'There -The Indian Witness. leaders of the Ezhavas, a com- goes Padre Case to build a new Burma.' When the band tired munity numbering well over two playing, it took to singing, 'Counting Its Blessings" and Situation in Palestine million who reside in Travan- 'Gathering at the River,' in hopeful mood. Arriving at the There appears to be no appre- core and the surrounding dis- village the group resolved itself tricts. They are described as a into Boy Scouts, Sunday school ciable improvement in the sit- virile people, with a strong com- teachers, Passion players and uation in .t'alestine. More troops . munal consciousness, and a de- friends of everybody. Games have been brought in and thus termination to rise. Many have were organized and the village tar authorities have been un- education, good houses and children entered in shoals. Mr. able to establish order. The fear lands; and there have been Case busied himself visiting continues among Jews that Brit- among them lawyers, poets, doc- school gardens, where some ain may yield to the Arab de- amazing triumphs of agriculturmand for the setting aside of tors and religious leaders. al ingenuity were on view, inthe Balfouy declaration which specting his 'Christian pigs,' promises to facilitate "the es- Early in the year their execu- giving a blessing here and a tives, by a vote of twenty-six out warning there. The day ended Lablishment in Palestine of a of thirty resolved on the Ezha- with a religious play, very well National Home for the Jewish vas embracing Christianity. A done by the members of the People" (this being followed by band, in which the foes of rural the words, "it being clearly un- referendum reveals that in most progress and the way to overderstood that nothing shall be localities from 60 to 90 per cent come them were depicted in favor the proposal. ways familiar alike to the resi- dent peasant and the wandering done which may prejudice the If the decisive step of adopt- secretary." ing Christianity is taken, the civil and religious rights of ex- task of imparting adequate in- Significant Event isting non-Jewish communities struction to multitudes of conin Palestine"). The Arabs de- verts will tax to the uttermost The Watchman-Examiner reclare that they will die rather ports an event of extraordinary than give up the battle. The the resources of the missions significance for India. A young which are carrying on work Brahman, a graduate of Madras Government recently decided to there. The Christian congrega- Christian College, was stationed appoint a royal commission for tions in those parts are small at J anumpet as the new postthe study of the whole situation master. After watching and in Palestine as soon as order is and weak, and not well fitted to talking with the Christians of cope with such a situation. Hap- that section he came forward established. The Arabs declare pily some help is available from for baptism. This was adminthat they have· already had istered by one of the pastors, a the stronger Christian commu- Mr. Paul who is an outcaste. enough of commissions and will nity in the Tamil country far- Then this young man became indo nothing to cooperate in sus- terested in Mr. Sunkiah's daughpending the "strike" in order ther south; and parties of vol- ter, a young widow living with that the proposed commission untary workers, such as school her parents. The marriage ceremay look into things. Wide- teachers on holiday, have been money was performed by Mr. spread anti-Semitism partly ex- already coming at their own ex- Paul :-a convert from the high- pense to render assistance for a est caste baptized by a convert plains the deadlock. from the outcastes and married short period in this great work. to an outcaste, and a widow! B ish 0 p Freeman, of the -Original Secession Magazine. American Episcopal Church, Argument for Unity and others have petitioned the Rural Reconstruction Recent events in India have British Government to stand brought into sharp relief the fact that the attractiveness of firm in its policy respecting Pal- In 1917 American Baptist estine and the Jews. Christian missionaries took to farming Arabs, with a representation of and acquired five acres of land Roman Catholics, have sent a for demonstration. The venture protest urging more accurate ac- prospered and in 1922 the govquaintance with Arab griev- ernment leased 180 acres to the ances. -United Presbyterian. Mission, enabling them to open INDIA-BURMA a school which has proved a hap- py instance of cooperation. In the Baptist Missionary Review, The Ezhavas Look Toward J. Z. Hodge describes a weekly Christ rural pilgr1image in which he "Weare dissatisfied with Hin- joined.
duism; we admire Jesus Christ; "We started early, and in we appreciate the lives of the state. A trailer attached to the Christian missionaries; we ad- car contained the school brass mire the Christian philanthrop- band, distributed among various
Christ and His Gospel depend ing murder sentences. The one chow, for up to about three very largely upon the conduct who at first was chief objector years ago it was forbidden by and character of the Christian to Christian teaching is now the the Government. Today there Church. When, eight months most diligent learner. She can is an up-to-date broadcasting ago, Dr. Ambedkar called upon repeat from memory the fif- station in Foochow itself, and the 60,000,000 untouchables of teenth Psalm, the Lord's Prayer practically every other house in India to give up Hinduism and and other Bible verses given her. this crowded city has its own embrace some other religion that In addition, she has assumed the wireless. The programs include will give them opportunities for responsibility of teaching the educational lectures, top i c a I a fuller life, a leader of the de- other women who cannot read. talks, Chi n e s e music, the pressed classes said that his peo- When one of the prisoners was weather and news. Mission ple hesitated to adopt the Chris- released, she took with her schools are asked from time to tian religion, because, whereas copies of hymns, verses. and time to put on a musical pro- they were one solid, united com- tracts, promising to carry the gram, and no obj ection to sacred munity under Hinduism, they light to others. . music is raised. Last Christmas feared they would be divided and – Watchman-Examiner. a sermon was put on.
scattered among numerous sects -C. M. S. Outlook.
when they became Christians. Siamese Church Progresses Poverty Increases Opium The force of this argument must Consumption The two years' history of the be admitted when one sees the Church of Christ in Siam is The secretary for Chinese af- Christian Church split into 163 proving it capable of self-gov- fairs in Straits Settlements in units in India, in America 250 ernment and self-support. In reporting on the opium situation most of the ten stations, new to the International Labor Office or more, some serious rivals, fields have been opened, or new at Geneva, maintains that the others claiming exclusive pos- church buildings erected to care harder and more killing the la- for growing congregations. In session of the truth. -The Living Church.
Gandhi's Son Embraces Islam Kiulungkiang Station, Dr. Cur- bor, and the more beastly the tis Galt lists himself as "straw conditions in which the laborer Mahatma Gandhi seems to boss," with the work of the hos- lives, the greater the temptation sense no religious conviction be- pital and the responsibility for to become an addict. A similar hind his son Harilal's conversion the local church on the shoulders report was made for workmen to Islam, and says that "those of his associate, Dr. Kateya, and t h r 0 ugh 0 u t the Far East.
responsible for his acceptance of Siamese-trained colleagues. The "There can indeed be little doubt Islam did not take the most or- dedication of the new Cantonese that the opium problem would dinary precautions as to the Church in Bangkok took place lose much of its intensity," the genuineness of his profession. during the winter, and Chieng- committee declared, "if the con- Surely conversion is a matter mai reports four new chapels ditions of work and life of the between man and his Maker who dedicated and four others under workers affected were improved alone knows His creatures' construction. Most of these are by such means as the adj ustment hearts; and conversion without permanent buildings. The Pet- of hours of work to the normal a clean heart is, in my opinion, chaburi Churches collaborated physical possibilities of human a denial of God and religion." with the government in holding labor, a medical organization He asks his Moslem friends to an agricultural fair which drew capable of insuring adequate examine Harilal in the light of some 20,000 people. In only one treatment of illness, the adjusthis immediate past, and if they town has there been any definite ment of wages to a level suffind that his conversion is a soul- persecution of Christians. In ficient to allow a standard of livless matter, to tell him so plainly six of the stations there are ing consistent wit h normal and disown him, and if they dis- either groups of lepers, or sep- health and comfort, the estabcover sincerity in him, to see arate leper churches. In Srita- lishment of facilities for lathat he is protected against marat, fully half of the lepers borers to be accompanied by temptations so that his sincerity are not Siamese, but Mohamme- their wives and families when results in his becoming a God- dan Malays, who have a vigor- employment involves protracted fearing member of society. For ous prejudice against Christian- absence from their homes, the many years the son has led a ity; or Chinese who do not settlement wherever possible of profligate, dissipated life. understand Siamese, so that op- such laborers on land in which -Dnyanodaya. portunities·:.for evangelism are they would cultivate food sup- Women Prisoners in Assam limited, tho ugh persistently nlies, and the provision of in- used. -Foreign Missions. creased facilities for the utiliza- A group of Bible women have CHINA tion of spare time." been going regularly to the Gau- -Christian Advocate.
hati jail in Assam to carry the Broadcasts from Foochow Rural Projects Christian message to women prisoners, numbering from five Broadcasting is a compara- In a letter from the field to to eight, some of whom are serv- tively recent innovation in Foo- World Call is reported some of
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTOOK
the work being done by Mr. To Teachers: of the pupils were such little Wang Chi-tien who was sent The disciplinary influence of a girls that the Religious Educato Hofei to undertake a work of teacher is great, but seldom of value tion secretary said: "How can reconstruction from the Chris- if exerted through corporal punish- these children get anything? tian point of view. He has se- ment. Sympathetic guidance will do This is a class to train leaders, far more to mold a child's character lected one village near enough to than force can ever hope to do. not a children's meeting!" But Luchowfu to make pos3ible the Tactful cultivatio_n of good habits there they were, apparently abuse of the various institutional sorbing very little. Later, a resources and specialists of the will greatly strengthen a developing school was asked for by the peo- character.
Children whose mentality is below city, and some of the steps al- normal need special understanding ple in Wang Family Village and ready taken are: and sympathy. Every effort should be made to develop in them the will the "too little" girls scrubbed 1. An improved school for the boys to study and persevere. and made ready a room. They and girls of the village has been began by having a daily Bible A good teacher's pride is in the started with a Christian teacher in mental development of his pupils class, to learn how to be Christcharge. The school is practically self- rather than in their scholastic success. like. supporting. To Socia·l Workers: -Woman's Missionary Friend. 2. For the many poor children who cannot pay even the small fees of this The social worker's first aim should Baptist Centennial school, two hour classes are taught by be to provide for children who are the pupils of the regular classes, thus homeless or whose homes do not offer Canton extends a special welmaking education possible for even the necessities for their moral and come Oct. 13-18, 1936, to all visthe poorest child in the village. physical development. itors for the Centennial pro- gram, commemorating the first 3. Medical service, medicine and There is ample scope for the estab- hundred years of American, health education are provided at a cost lishment of welfare centers, children's British and Swedish Baptist within the reach of all at the clinic refuges and hospitals, healthy play- Mission work. In Canton one established by the Luchowfu Christian ground and recreation centers, etc. may see the fruits of the labors Hospital. of I. J. Roberts of Tennessee, In many places effective measures who was the first foreigner to 4. The young men of the village are are not yet in force for prevention of live outside of the restricted organized into a class in the evening. the ill-treatment or neglect, kidnap- area. One of the strongest ping or selling of children. churches in Canton, the begin- 5. Women's classes are held twice nings of the printing of Chriseach week to teach better home-mak- The task of caring for and educat- tian literature and indigenous ing. ing the thousands of underprivileged medical work eventually de- children in this country, training them 6. Means are provided for economic to loyal and useful citizenship, is a improvement through the service of tremendous one, but on it depends the the government reconstruction unit. future strength and vitality of China. Improved seed and improved stock may be obtained by the simple means -China Bookman. of exchanging their poor seed for the Radiating Knowledge improved, and breeding their own One of China's outstanding veloped from his labors. stock to the improved stock without educationalists, T'ao H sin g – Watchman-Examiner. cost. Many hundreds of new trees are made available for the village, Chih, started the idea of pupils Opium Slaves Set Free and will be planted at Arbor Day festivities. in school teaching other people. The Salvation Army main- As a teacher your success he Sequel to "Children's Year" thinks, is measured not by what tains a refuge for opium addicts you have taught your pupil but in China. Since last September "Children's Year" began in by what he has taught another twenty-four men have passed August, 1935, but political un- and what that second has taught through the refuge, and twelve rest and illiteracy have ham- a third and what the third has have been perfectly cured. The pered the movement. Never be- taught the fourth; in short by War Cry tells of one who had fore has such a campaign been the number of generations of traveled many miles to take the launched. The government, in pupils that you have to your cure. Returning entirely free giving its support to this phys- from the curse he showed hi3 ical, intellectual and moral up- credit. Five years ago Old friends the copy of the Scriplift movement, enumerates some Grandfather Yang helped his tures which had been given him, essential points: daughter to teach a class of and had become well marked To Parents: thirty-five in their own front through use. This was his testi- room, till fifteen had finished the mony: "On arriving home, my The influence of home and environ- advanced course. They had paid ment is stronger than that of educa- no fees, the teacher received no friends and neighbors all retion. salary. Then these fifteen were marked about the great change, ready to be teachers for others. commenting on my healthy color Hygienic and healthy surroundings aid the growth of sound minds as well W hen Religious Education and fat face. They were asking Training Institutes were held in what had happened to me, as not· as strong bodies. Changli, Grandfather Ya n g on'lywas my appearance changed, Control of a child's will and guid- hitched up the family donkey but my nature and disposition- ance in the formation of his moral conceptions are among a parent's first duties. and brought these teacher-girls in fact I appeared a new man. A child's personal observation of his along with his daughter to the Then I told them that it was Je- institute. One of them started a sus who had wrought the parents' words and conduct influences class in her home village and two change." his sense of moral values more than any amount of teaching can do.
JAPAN-CHOSEN courses in literature, philosophy The Overseas Evangelistic theology, pedagogy and other Association, an indigenous so- Christian Prospects subjects, according to need and ciety working among Japanese circumstances. emigrants, has fixed a budget of Dr. E. E. Helms gives this Y4300 for its work in 1936. estimate of the prospects Chris- -International Christian Press. tianity has in the Sunrise King- -International Review of dom: Nation-Wide Evangelistic Missions. Movement Because there are but 350,000 Chris- Nationalism, or Loyalty tians in Japan out of a population of Practically all denominations to God? 65,000,000, many count the work of have decided to participate in Christianity in the Empire a failure. the nation-wide evangelistic St. Paul's University, Tokyo, One of Japan's leading dailies recent- movement and to provide the is the most recent target for the ly said editorially: "The question is funds tentatively apportioned Nationalist marksmen. It is remoral rather than numerical. Chris- among them for financing it. ported that the dean of the tianity is giving to the nation a new university read the imperial reconscience." A high official said The committee planning the script on education with some- Christianity has rendered a service movement has issued a state- thing less than the decorum far out of proportion to the number ment to the nation, which, after desired by certain reactionary of its adherents. sketching the present situation students and alumni, and a pro~ in Japan, states: test strike from classrooms wa~ In 1873 there were signs on the the result. That the strike came roads running out of Tokio, "Death "In this crisis we firmly be- just before the term examinatQ All Christians," "Death to Christ lieve that only the Gospel of tions and that the students in Himself If He Comes This Way." Christ can be the safe guiding addition to asking the dean's Now Christianity, by Imperial edict, star for the people's thinking resignation are expecting to be is one of the three official religions of and bring eternal welfare to the excused from the exams until Japan- Shintoism, Buddhism and fatherland. autumn indicates that patriot- Christianity. Last year a Christian ism may not be the only element daily was launched at Tokio, named, "Zealously therefore we bestir in the situation. It definitely ourselves, and. emphasizing the shows also the levels to which The Christ Religion Newspaper. love of God and the grace of nationalism will stoop to win its Christ we proclaim this Gospel point. A compromise will prob- The Christmas story is told each to our fellow-nationals. In so ably be effected to save face all Christmas Eve over a national hQok- doing we would correct the pres- around, but this will only postup, and last year this was climaxed by ent perilous thought – currents pone the head-on collision bethe singing of the "Hallelujah Chorus" and provide a basis for foster- tween loyalty to God and duty by a trained choir of 1,000. The ing a devout and unalloyed senti- to national policy which Chris- Mikado is a total abstainer, and each ment among the people." tians are anticipating and which of his personal bodyguard of 300 will probably occur first in the picked soldiers mnst take a total ab- The movement 0 pen e d on Christian and private schools of stinence pledge. Thomas Carlyle said: April 28 with a mass evangel- the land. "Christianity cannot be counted, it istic meeting in Tokyo. must be weighed." This is the leaven -The Christian Century. that will leaven the whole Japanese In connection with the movelump. ment, a conference for educators Islam in Favor was held in May in Osaka, to -Evangelical-Messenger. consider the place of religion in A writer in The Indian Re- the training of youth, and the view thinks that the conquest of Proposed Union Christian means of inculcating religious China is not the only goal that University truth and developing the reli- Japan has in mind. He says: gious life in schools and colleges. Last April the presidents and In June a special conference for "One of the things that struck representatives of the various factory owners and managers me when I was in Japan at the Christian schools of higher edu- was held, to study the question beginning of this year was the cation in Japan met at Atami of evangelism among factory great interest that the Japanese for a two days' conference under workers. A union Christian were taking in Mohammedanthe auspices of the Executive of training conference is planned ism and building mosques in difthe Christian Educational Asso- for October and a union service ferent parts of their Empire. In ciation of Japan. Considerable of worship for November. pre-war days when I was there time was devoted to the often I came across hardly any J apadiscussed question of the need The Kingdom of God Weekly nese Moslems, but this time I to form a Union Christian Uni- is still sponsored by a committe~ met quite a good number of versity. A proposal was made chosen by the National Chris- them. A fine Moslem seminary for the establishment of a tian Council, the Kyo Bun Kwan has been established in Tokyo, Scholastic Center for the whole and the Kagawa Group. In under the guidance of Imam Christian Movement in Japan, order, however, to cut down Khurbangali, who enjoys the to be devoted to the investiga- overhead expenses and avoid tion and study of subjects per- deficits, the National Christian taining to man's spiritual, moral Council office has assumed the and social welfare. The plans entire work of pUblication. for the development of such a scheme would include the institution in Japan's capital city of a one department University of Literature and graduate
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTOOK
confidence of both the Moslem be put out; it is an original then village, he is overpowered and non-Moslem Japanese offi- work, not a translation and with the prevailing filth. His cials. From this center Islamic therefore closer to Japanese life first act, then, is to line up all literature is circulated all over and thought. the children and march them off the world. In pre-war days it to a clear mountain stream was difficult to come across any -Japan Christian Quarterly. where he scrubs them thorough- Japanese who knew Arabic, Per- ly with a coconut brush. Next sian or Turkish, and there were ISLANDS OF THE SEA he puts the men through a simhardly any chairs for these Is- ilar laundering. The women are lamic languages in Japanese Visiting the New Hebrides doubtless advised to a like universities. But now one meets course. Then his audience being quite a number of Japanese who Rev. Fred Paton of the John outwardly clean he proceeds to are intimate with those lan- G. Paton Mission, New He- preach a cleansing Gospel for guages, and chairs for them brides, writes in The Life of the inner man. Villages thus have been founded in a great Faith: transformed outwardly and inmany J a pan e s e universities. wardly are "living epistles." Why?" A contingent of natives came from Not uncommonly a stranger will Southwest Bay, and when I told them come to a missionary home in "Dry" Experiments a new missionary had been appointed Papua with the remark: "I have their faces lit up with happiness. heard that you live a Christian The number of "bone dry" They have had a hard, lonely time, life. I want to stay with you a villages has reached twenty. and it is a great relief, as they need few days to witness it." A strik- Tomi Oka village in Miyagi pre- help. Once a quarter I see little, ing contrast was afforded those fecture put the scheme to test for lonely villages for a few hours, and present at the mission's Christone year. So good were the re- the people welcome me. mas celebration, when a group sults that the villagers voted to of heathen were asked by some go dry for five years. Nagoya When the seas are rough, it is im- thoughtless person to give the village in Saga completed its first possible to land, but the teacher and Keveri war cry. It was a bloodperiod of three years and has a few natives scramble aboard. We curdling yell which rose in clivoted to extend the dry regime try to give a little bit of tea and sugar max and then· passed into the for another three years. This is and a few matches, and perhaps a few distance. A moment of silence a fishing village, and in spite of sweets and a ball to the children; then and then the Kwato Mission great poverty used to spend yen we back out and they are left three choir, which happened to be 20,000 a year on alcohol. Miho months alone. near, burst out with Gounod's, village in Nagano has completed "Send out thy light and thy three years of a dry experiment The teachers and their wives do not truth, let them lead me." and has extended the period for think they are heroic. They have another five years. heard of Jesus, and some of them vol- -Sunday School Times. unteer to go to the training institute -The Chronicle. for four years, then to return-not to Some Impressions of Australia their homes, but in many cases to an Spread of Christian Literature out-station and occasionally to die Mr. J. Edwin Orr, evangelist there. We have medicines, but if in New Zealand and Australia, General prosperity has caused there is an epidemic the supply runs gives some of his impressions in a rise in the sales of Christian out. The Christian. literature. During 1935, the Christian Literature Society New Christian Oollege in The twin sins of Australia are gampublished 1,046,100 books and Manila bling and pleasure-craze. Australians periodicals. Over 12,500,000 gamble all the time-it is heartbreakpages of Christian literature It is announced from Manila ing. Gambling pervades the air, and went out. Magazines carry the that the Christian college in taints even churches. Well-known Gospel into nearly a million that city has now been organ- church leaders are seen at the races. homes. They go into every cor- ized under Filipino auspices. Many ministers ignore the gambling ner of Japan, to the South Seas, All the boards concerned have menace: in some churches raffles are to the Malay Peninsula, to advised against the organizing a form of church support. America, to Europe, taking the of the college, and have intiword of God to Japanese scat- mated that they will not be pre- The average Australian is not retered all over the world and link- pared to make appropriations ligious: he is not antireligious either: ing all together. Christians are for it. The mission has granted he is just indifferent. The Commonbeginning to use Bible notes and to the college the use of the wealth of Australia seems to be far commentaries. rooms in the Theological Sem- behind New Zealand in religious in- inary building which have been terest. The worst condition of all is Daily Strength for Children heretofore used by the seminary displayed by the outback-isolated has texts for every day in the for its college work. The new communities growing up without the year with a simple, charmingly institution is now under way Gospel. The Gospel is preached by written talk upon each one. This with Dr. Enrique Sobrepena as some societies to the aborigines: but is the first book of this type to its president. their problem is nothing compared to -Presbyterian Board News. the scattered settlements. The atti- tude of denominational leaders to A Preface to Preaching evangelism is encouraging. There is remarkably good feeling between Bap- A recent report of the Kwato tist, Presbyterian, Churches of Christ, Mission describes evangelist Methodists and the rest. All over Davida's preliminaries to his preaching. Going into a hea-
Australia are found prayer groups for The church is on the eve of its home of the medicine man. revival. The Evangelicals know their greatest period of prosperity." What a difference in the recepneed. The subject of revival is dis- This prediction is based upon tion! "Come in," invited the cussed everywhere, and there is in- Mr. Babson's studies of both man cordially. As they entered creasing desire for blessing. economic and religious move- the home, the woman placed ments of the.past three centuries chairs for them and listened at- The younger generation is making of American life. tentively while the missionaries its influence felt. Several of my best sang two gospel hymns in the campaigns were run by younger – Watchman-Examiner. Indian tongue, then to the Christians. The generation born since prayer, and later to a sermon by 1900 means business; a hunger and Forward Step for-Chinese each missionary. The evangelthirst for revival is evident. Christian Community istic meetings were attended by Endeavor is encouragingly progres- such crowds that each evening sive in most states. Campaigners for The Presbyterian Board of many could not get into the Christ are beginning to make their National Missions has approved church. In all, forty conversions weight felt. the sale of the property of Ming were reported. Other villages Quong Home, Oakland, Calif., wanted the evangelists to hold NORTH AMERICA to Mills College for a sum suffi- services there, but time and cient to provide for the reestab- funds would not permit. To Promote Paganism lishment of the home in two -Presbyterian Board News. units, one for the older girls in The Moody Institute Monthly the Chinese section of Oakland, Alaskans Make Progress wonders whether the evident at- and another for the younger tempt of the office of Commis- girls at Los Gatos, a rural com- As already noted, the Presbysioner of Indian Affairs to pre- munity where the home's special terian Hospital at Point Barrow, serve, and even revive, the health work for the children who Alaska, was turned over to the heathen religious beliefs and are under par physically is now government on July 1. Plans practices of our Indian popula- carried on. provide for an enlarged medical tion, particularly in the western program: a resident physician and southern states, means that Ming Quong, or "Home of Ra- and nursing staff at the hospital; the United States government:.is diant Light," came into being in a field nurse who will travel by . going to violate the first amend- 1925, on a site given for the pur- dog team with an Eskimo guide ment to the Constitution by em- pose by Captain Robert Dollar. to the coast villages east of barking upon a program involv- A suburban white community Point Barrow; rehabilitation of ing the teaching of religion, and has grown up around the home, the hospital building and addia debased heathen religion at the inmates are the only Chinese tion of modern surgical equipthat. children in the public schools, ment. The transfer of the medi- while the Chinese church is six cal work makes possible the ex- It appears that certain gov- miles away. The new set-up, tension of the Board's evangelernment officials profess a deep providing an Oakland and a Los istic program, with a full-time interest in the quaint customs Gatos unit, will remedy this service of itinerant evangelism and practices of primitive peo- handicap to the development of among the Eskimos in the negples, and evince a concern to an effective program. The Oak- lected area east of Point Barrow cater to the curiosity of the rap- land unit will be located in the to Barter Island and Demarcaidly increasing army of tourists Chinese community, wit hi n tion Point at the Canadian borwho desire to see Indian life in walking distance of the Chinese der, in addition to regular its original state and setting, church. preaching and pastoral service and witness snake dances, war -Presbyterian Publicity Sheet. at Barrow and Wainwright. The dances, etc., with all the paint entire evangelistic program will and feathers. To carry out such The Scene Changes be under the supervision of Rev. aprogram would involve the em- Fred Klerekoper, who succeeds ployment of government schools, A year ago a missionary called Dr. Henry W. Greist, recently as agents in reviving and per- at a Papago medicine man's retired on account of broken petuating the old tribal life, with home in San Miguel, Arizona, health. the use of federal money. On on the Mexican border, and the whole, the government's con- asked to be allowed to tell the Rev. Russell Pederson says tribution toward making the In- Gospel story. The Indian's wife that Alaskans have made mardian an intelligent and decent went into the house and brought velous progress in the past deccitizen has been nothing to boast out a gun. "Now, go away!" ade. Most communities now of. she said. And the missionary have up-to-date libraries and went, but not without stopping reading rooms. Radios are con- Is A Revival Coming? at the gate for a word of prayer stantly being installed, and pro- for the man and his wife. grams in English help to edu- Roger Babson, noted statis- cate and entertain. The day is tician, makes a confident predic- Some months later a series of practically past when an intertion in his recent book, "A Re- evangelistic meetings were held preter must be used in giving vival Is Coming," that a great for the Papago Indians scattered spiritual awakening is jus t all over that vast desert. The ahead. He says: "All signs in- missionaries again called at the dicate that America will soon again be swept by a spiritual revival. Nothing can stop it. . . .
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTOOK
the Gospel in Alaska. Seldom paintings depicting the history too small already. A lot has been does one find an Alaskan who of the English Bible from the given in a good location and does not understand English. time of Caedmon. plans for a building are under Alaskans are also seeking to end way. Work is progressing at the sale of intoxicating liquor to -The Christian. several branch stations; at most their people. of them plans are going forward -Presbyterian Board News. Better Movie Campaign for enlarged, or additional build- ings. , Invite Government Employees Dr. Fred Eastman, one of the to Church editors of the Christian Cen- Hopeful Signs in Mexico tury, is still campaigning to im- The Committee on Religious prove American movies. Film The Presbyterian Board re- Life in the nation's capital an- producers consider him their ports that its Mexican Mission nounces that, in cooperation "Public Enemy No. 1." Motion is reduced to the smallest terms with the United States Civil picture magnates have insisted in numbers, but is undiminished Service Commission, welcoming they are entertainers, not edu- in activity. While tension on re- letters will be sent to all new cators, but Dr. Eastman has con- ligious questions has relaxed un- employees in the classified serv- fronted them with the fact that der the more liberal attitude of ices of the government. This they are educators whether they President Cardenas, the Mission will mean about 8,000 letters a know it or not; and that in this has been obliged to spend many year. country we are maintaining two months of anxiety and parleying educational system in conflict- over property questions. It is expected to develop this the public school system and the service of making strangers in motion picture industry. In reorganizing to meet pres- Washington feel at home in some ent conditions, the mission has place of worship of their own "Roman Catholics, it will be followed two general principles: denomination or preference and remembered, took the initiative All work is to be considered as of supplying information re- in cleaning up the movies about a project, with definite aims and garding the location of churches, five years ago; Protestants and goals; and no missionary is to church schools, Bible classes, and Jews joined them, so that in one assume responsibility which can other religious activities; and year the film industry lost $10,- be carried by a Mexican col- to extend it to include employees 000,000. The result is that much league. These principles have in the larger nongovernmental debasing stuff has been elimi- worked out, thus far, not only agencies, such as the American nated from films shown in to the extension of established Federati~n of Labor, the Na- America. But the producers work, but even to the opening of tional Educational Association, have not had a change of heart. some new fields. Two years ago, the United States Chamber of They have only been spanked." the progress of missions in Mex- Commerce, and any other new- Meanwhile the problem is being ico seemed blocked at every turn. comers to Washington. approached from another angle. Today, "mission" as an organ- Some hundreds of high schools ized and foreign-controlled en- -The Living Church. in America now have classes in terprise is still blocked, but the motion pictures appreciation, Christians have found their way Texas Bible Exhibit and this idea will probably de- to the hearts of others. velop. The American Bible Society Work among young people in is showing a remarkable collec- LATIN AMERICA Mexico is taking on increasing tion of Texas pioneer Bibles at importance, from babies on the Dallas Centennial Exposi- The Brethren Mission in through college age. Group tion. Copies of a "Breeches" Bi- Argentina training in music, especially ble, published in 1615, and a hymns, has been the service of Czech Bible, published in 1613, The Foreign Mission Society one missionary as she has con- are of particular interest. The of the Brethren Church assumes ducted these classes for young latter was buried in a field for responsibility for evangelizing a people in churches within reach safety during the persecutions strip of Argentina about 200 of the capital. Another new ven- in BoHemia, and was later miles in width and between ture is a church camp for girls brought to Texas by Moravian three and four hundred miles in and still another is student evan- settlers. Other exhibits of note length. Of the hundreds of gelism among young men at- include old photographs and thousands only a few hundred tending colleges in Mexico City. documents which tell the story have a saving knowledge of of the Society's work in Texas Christ. Rio Cuarto is the logical Christianapolis-Model during the last 102 years, por- and geographical center of this Village traits of the first agents and field. It is a growing city, with workers, colored slides showing a promising future. At Hernan- Mr. F. C. Glass recently made the processes of translation, do is the largest congregation. a long trip alone through a sec- publication, and distribution of Some remarkable conversions tion of Brazil, several hundred the Scriptures, more than 7,000,- have taken place, the testimony miles northeast of Garanhuns, 000 volumes of which are sent given is genuine, and the work and found a large and wide- out annually, and a frieze of is growing rapidly. The hall is spread community of Christians
living under conditions that re- made a grant of 18,000 marks the Church Mission to Jews in mind one of the life of the early toward the building. Upon the Poland. A writer in The Chris- Puritan fathers. He says that site a "dignified place of wor- tian tells of seeing this work, a happier, healthier or cleaner ship" will be erected by the State and of being deeply impressed lot of folk would be difficult to building administration aided by the sane methods used by the find. by church members, the Reich missionaries. Their English Government of Prussia, and the class, ostensibly for teaching In another state in the distant National Trades Union. It ap- English, is also used as a means south is a large village called pears that the Prussian Ministry of preaching the Gospel. Those Christianopolis, built in a forest of State recently conferred upon who come are all told very plainclearing and laid out as Faith the Russian Orthodox diocese ly that the missionaries are not Street, Joy Lane, Con cor d the legal rights of a constitution- taking this class only to teach Square, etc., and where only al body in which the Orthodox English, but to introduce to Christians may dwell. They churches in Germany "retain a them the claims of Christ, and have their own shops and little state-recognized and state-pro- the response is gratifying. trades, and possess a church tected form in which the followseating 500 people which is al- ers of this faith can live in close "In personal talks with one ready far too small for their re- communion with their fellow be- and another," says this writer, quirements. They do not smoke, lievers from other countries, es- "I could see how the Spirit of drink, dance, nor is a cinema pecially from the Balkan coun- God was working – breaking allowed to corrupt their morals tries, now living in Germany." down prejudice, and awakening and lure them back to the world. a desire for Christ as their Sav- They hold an annual convention Church Union in France iour, as well as their Messiah. of a Keswick character, when There is no doubt that among huge crowds gather for °a week, French Protestant Churches, their number there are some to study God's Word. chiefly represented by the Re- who are secret believers, and formed and the Reformed Evan- who are weighing up the conse- -The Christian. gelical bodies, have practically quences of baptism. Mr. Par- agreed to unite. By-gone causes sons ought to have fifty aggres- Tent Campaign in Puerto Rico of division are no longer under- sive evangelists and colporteurs stood or appreciated. It is ex- A Sunday school missionary pected that National Synods among the millions of Jews in Puerto Rico tells this story in will shortly reach a definite there." the Presbyterian Banner: agreement. Jews Going to Spain Near Bartolo a Christian brother A financial forward movement began to hold meetings in a large is in progress, and French gen- The legend of "The Wandering farmhouse. Many people gathered, so erosity is open handed. Before Jew" is no myth. From many a a request was sent for the Sunday the fiscal year of the Society of land Jews have had to flee from school missionary to come with his bus Missions closed in March, a mil- persecution. Strangely enough, and gospel tent equipment. We lion francs were received, which one of the lands that is opening packed our bus to the very top with closed the year without a deficit its doors to persecuted Jews is canvas, poles, boards for seats, baby -an experience known only once the land where four and a half organ, literature, stereoptican ma- before in thirty years. Mission- centuries ago their forefathers chine, military cots, gasoline lanterns, aries are returning to their sta- endured the indescribable crueland the hundred and one things neces- tions and no fields are to be ties of the Spanish Inquisition. sary for a fifteen-day campaign. abandoned. The 800,000 francs It is said that government of- accumulated deficits of the Soci- ficials and the people of influ- Those sturdy-headed, reckless peo- ety of Missions will, it is con- ence in general regret the part ple came in crowds to the tent; they fidently hoped, soon be cleared were respectful and interested, they off. The Reformed Evangelical taken by their country in the exwere stirred to the depths, and 103 Churches have launched an ap- pulsion of Jews in the fifteenth confessed Christ as their Saviour. A peal for 3,000,000 francs and in century, and in every way are desire for a chapel grew in their three months have received seeking to convey the impreshearts. A prominent man gave the nearly one-third of it. site and a group of young people from sion that today there exists no the Marina church in Mayaquez -World Survey Service. prejudice against the Jews or helped launch the campaign for rais- any other race. Within the past ing money. Enthusiasm grew, and Poland and the Jewish two years a considerable numout of their great poverty, with plan- Problem ber of Jews from Nazi Germany ning and sacrifice, the Bartolo people are finding their way into Spain, are building a house of worship. A The largest number of Jews large class of candidates is being pre- in the world is found in Poland, a perhaps the largest groups gopared for church membership. which is largely the fountain head of world Jewry. Jews ing to the south. Seville has EUROPE form one-seventh of the popula- growing Jewish population, with tion in Poland. Rev. Martin scattered communities through- A German-Russian Church Parsons is directing the work of out Andalusia.
The Living Church reports As a people, Jews are not that the Nazi ~overnment on identified wit h communism. July 3d placed a building site at Their traditions are all to the the disposal of the Russian Or- contrary. thodox diocese of Berlin for the reconstruction of the Russian Orthodox cathedral, and has Our· Missionary Bookshelf Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information BOOKS WORTH READING Omwa? Are You Awake? By P. H. Black and White in East Africa. ON AFRICA J. Lerrigo. 175 pp. $1.25. Revell. By Richard C. Thurnwald, with New York. 1936. chapter on "Women" by Hilde By REV. EMORY Ross Thurnwald. 218. Geo. Routledge Intimate, human and discern- & Sons. London. Western Civilization and the Natives ing sketches of the life of Afri- of South Africa: Studies in Cul- cans and foreigners in Congo- Detailed study of perplexing ture Contact. By I. Schapera. 158. industry, government, religion, problems emerging from the Routledge. London. 1934. medicine, education, folk-tales- contact between black and white by a man who has both knowl- in Africa. An important reference work. edge and insight. Some conception of the cultural The School in the Bush. By Victor shock now being experienced by The Golden Stool. By Edwin W. Murray. $5.00. Longmans Green Africa is necessary for proper Smith. $1.50. Harpers. New & Co. New York. 1929. understanding of that continent. York. 1928. A qualified outsider's view of Christ in the Great Forest. Felix Not to be missed by one who African education. Comprehen- Faure. 181 pp. $1.00, cloth; 60 would have, in a very readable sive. Provocative. cents, paper. Friendship Press. form, an introduction to the New York. 1936. African of today against the The Gospel and the African. By background of yesterday. Alexander Hetherwick. 176 pp. Fifteen case histories that 48. 6d. T. & T. Clark. Edinburgh. show Christianity's impact upon God's Candlelights. By Mable Shaw. 1932. Africans in the Gabun. M. 197 pp. 28. 6d. Edinburgh House Faure has been for thirty years Press. London. Friendship Press, Half a century of missionary a French Protestant missionary New York. $1.00. 1936. experience was the preparation in West Africa. for this study of African reli- A discerning teacher's story gious life and the changes African Bridge Builders. William C. of how Christ helped the African brought by Christianity. Bell. 168 pp. $1.00, cloth; 60 girls build God's village – the cents, paper. Friendship Press. girls' boarding school at Mbere- Literature for the South African New York. 1936. shi, Northern Rhodesia. Bantu. By R. H. W. Shepherd. 81 pp. 18. The Carnegie Corporation A collection, skilfully and The Life of Dr. Donald Fraser. By Visitors' Grants Committee. Precompactly edited, of stories by Agnes R. Fraser. 326 pp. 78. 6d. toria, South Africa. 1936. and about Africans, taken from Hodder and Stoughton. London. that splendid series, "Little 1934. A comparative study of Negro Book for Africa." literary achievements – in Af- rica and the United States.
Modern Industry and the African. The life story of one great Apolo of the Pygmy Forest. New By J. Merle Davis. $2.50. Inter- African missionary written by and Enlarged Edition. 82 pp. national Missionary Council, New another-his wife. C. M. S. London. 1936. York. 1932. Sons of Africa. By Georgina A. Gol- The fascinating story of an The most comprehensive study lock. 241 pp. Map. 75 cents, African missionary to Africans. yet made of that baffling tri- boards; 50 cents, paper. Friendangle: Church – industry – ship Press. New York. 1928. Among Congo Pygmies. By P. Sche- Africa. Relates particularly to bester. 188. Hutchinson. London. the world's largest mines – of Life stories of great Africans, 1933. diamonds, gold and copper, in more than a score of them, from Africa. the Askia (Usurper) of the 15th About the only full-length century, who founded a great book yet written dealing scien- tifically with those shy people, The African Today. By Diedrich dynasty, to Aggrey of the 20th, among the world's most primi- Westermann. $3.00. 343 pp. Ox- 'Yho did more. tive, the pygmies of the Ituri ford University Press. New York. forest. Aggrey of Africa. By Edwin W. 1934.
Able survey of African condi- Smith. $1.00. Friendship Press. Liberia Old and New. J. L. Sibley tions by one of the directors of New York. 1929. the International Institute of and D. Westermann. $3.00. Smith.
Best modern biography of an New York. 1928.
African Languages and Cul- African. Aggrey was remark- Good short treatment of the tures. able; the book is excellent. Negro Republic. Mr. Sibley Any of the books noted in these columns wi11 be sent by the ReVIew publishers on receipt of price.
[509 ] died in service as the govern- portunity. Mr. Ross, for twenty ciety describes in popular form ment's educational adviser. years a missionary in Africa and recently secretary of the Congo the romance and reality of pro- Forest Hospital at Lambarene. By Protestant Mission Council, here Albert Schweitzer. 191 pp. $2.00. describes the land, its people, ducing Christian literature and Holt & Co. New York. 1931. problems, mission work and fu- Bible translations in new lan- A medical mission to Africans ture – not by a recital of dry discussed by a well-known medi- statements but by picturesque guages that have never been re- cal missionary philosopher. facts, descriptions and incidents. The colored map and reading duced to writing. This is one of Surveys Made by World Dominion list add to its value as the senior Movement. London and New York. study book for the year. the most important parts of the A valuable series of books on D. L. P. missionaries' task. Mr. Smith various African areas, dealing with missionary occupation, sta- tells how men who have gone to tistics, government problems, education, medicine, the Church. Central Africa, the Islands of Africa View. By J. Huxley. $3.50. the Sea and elsewhere, without Harpers. New York. 1931. any knowledge of the language A leading British scientist ex- amines Africa. Stimulating. of the people, have patiently and The Partition and Colonization of Congo Crosses. By Julia Lake KeI'- with ingenuity learned to speak Africa. By C. P. Lucas. $4.20. Oxford University Press. New lersbergeT. $1.00, cloth; 50 cents, with the natives, have reduced York. 1932. paper. Friendship Press. New the languages to writing and A well told story of the Euro- pean grab of Africa. York. 1936. have finally translated the Bible.
Boomba Lives in Africa. By Caro- Mrs. Kellersberger is already Many humorous experiences are line Singer and Cyrus LeRoy Bald- ridge. Holiday House, London. widely known in America for recorded due to mistakes in pro- 1935. her stirring addresess on the nunciation or to misunderstand- Story of a ten-year-old West African boy. For children. Congo, her missionary field. ings. In Uganda the word for Full page drawings by Mr. Bald- ridge. Here she describes the land on "wizard" (forbidden in the Bi- Haile Selassie Emperor of Ethiopia. which s hi n e s the Southern ble) was used for medical mis- By The Princess Asfa Yilma. 305 pp. $4.00. Illus. and maps. D. Cross; the trails and landscapes sionary and added to the diffi- Appleton-Century Co. New York. 1936. of the Africans – heathen cus- culties. Among the Shans of An excellent volume on Ethio- toms, slavery, climate, wars, Burma the same word, with dif- pia, with all its aspects discern- ingly discussed up to early part witchcrafts, hard labor, and pov- ferent tones, means man y of 1936. The writer is a half- British Ethiopian p r inc e s s, erty, which constitute their in- things. "Ma rna rna rna rna" European educated. dividual and tribal crosses, and may be translated, "Help the The Golden Legend of Ethiopia. By Post Wheeler. 183 pp. $2.00. D. finally the Cross of Christ by horse, a mad dog comes." Appleton-Century Co. New York. 1936. which Africans are being re- The book is exceedingly inter- The traditional romantic story deemed for time and eternity. esting and shows the great im- of Makeda, Queen of Sheba, and King Solomon, told by an Amer- This book, especially for women, portance of accurate language ican career diplomat, recently minister to Albania. How the is unique, well illustrated and work in order to get at a peo- ark came to Ethiopia, and other . Ethiopic traditions which have informIng. D. L. P. ple's soul and to give them the greatly helped to mold the Ethiopian nation. The Land and Life of Africa. By Gospel so that they will under- Margaret Wrong. IlIus. Map. Out of Africa. By Emory Ross. 12mo. 144 pp. 28. The Living- stand. D. L. P. $1.00, cloth; 60 cents, paper. 216 stone Press. London. 1935. pp.; map. Friendship Press. New Consider Africa. By Basil Mathews. York. 1936. Here is an excellent introduc- Maps. 12 mo. 181 pp. $1.00 cloth, tion to the study of Africa. Miss 60 cents paper. Friendship Press. Noone will wish to miss this Wrong is a well-informed, a New York. 1936. graphically written volume on clear, illuminating writer. She Africa, the continent of adven- pictures vividly the town and Weare debtors to Africa for ture, romance, tragedy and op- village life, not by an array of the gold, the ivory, the dia- impersonal facts, but by describ- monds, the copper, coffee and ing the experiences of individual cotton, palm oil and cocoa, and Africans. She tells also of the skins of all kinds that have journeys through the bush on come from that rich continent; foot, by rail and motor car and we are debtors to the Africans, airplane. African races and even more because of past ex- history, governments and edu- ploitation of these primitive peo- cation are treated in separate ples – an exploitation and op- chapters. It is not a report of pression that is still going on. missionary w 0 r k but gives It is a country of romance and graphic glimpses of the influence adventure of vast variety and of Christianity and reveals the far-reaching possibilities. The background in which missiQn African is a deeply interesting character, of many tribes and work is conducted. D. L. P. races, of varied characteristics, customs and beliefs. But Africa The Shrine of a People's Soul. By and the Africans are changing. Edwin W. Smith. 208 pp. 28. As a rule they are still primitive Edinburgh House Press. London. and childlike but multitudes are 1929. seeing new light and hope and are becoming leaders of their The Editorial Secretary of the British and Foreign Bible So-
OUR MISSIONARY BOOKSHELF
people. This is the country and of the interesting stations vis- terial, including African games, people, south of the Sudan, that ited was that of Dan Crawford, stories, proverbs, music, sugges- form the foreign mission study so that we have an independent tions for dramatization, refresh- topic for the coming year. Basil view of the work of this mighty ments, etc.
Mathews has given us a most missionary. The whole diary Thinking with Africa. Edited by interesting introduction to the and the photographs enable us Milton Stauffer. Boards, 50 cents; subject. It is less a study book to travel with Miss Dunkel- paper, 25 cents. New York. 1927.
than a popular description of the berger, to see with her eyes, feel African thought interpretea African, his country and char- with her heart and sympathize by Christian nationals and misacteristics. Here we see him with her spiritual reactions. sionaries. with his shining body and ready D. L. P. The Moffats. By Ethel Daniels Hublaugh, his expressive dance and BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEO- bard. Cloth, $1.00; paper, 75 cents. PLE AND CHILDREN New York. drum; his bondage to supersti- Camp Fires in the Congo. By Mrs. Popular life of Robert and tion and fear. We read of the John M. Springer. 128 pp. 75 Mary Moffat, pioneer mission- cents, cloth; 50 cents, paper. The aries in South Africa. African labor problem-so dif- Central Committee on the United Study of Foreign Missions. Bos- Livingstone the Pathfinder. By Basil ferent from American and Eu- ton. 1936. Mathews. Cloth, $1.00; paper, 75 cents. rope – the native moral weak- This is one of those books, os- tensibly written for children The most popular biography nesses and imported white man's which their elders will not read- of Livingstone. ily lay aside, if they once begin vices; the cruelty and oppres- it. But a narrative skillfully Uganda's White Man of Work. By told is one of the best ways to Sophia Lyon Fahs. Cloth, 50 cents; sion of European. conquerors carry important truth. Mrs. paper, 25 cents. Springer's style is direct and and the changes that are taking vivid. Few words are wasted The life of Mackay of Uganda. in abstractions or generalities. place. Finally we read of the That is, it is the style most at- In the African Bush. By Jewel tractive to young people. The Huelster Schwab. coming of the Christian mission- six chapters cover a great num- ber of incidents, which give one Stories of African life for ary and the results of the Gos- juniors.
pel. It is a book worth reading FOR PRIMARY CHILDREN AND BEGINNERS -one that whets the appetite for a better acquaintance with marvelous Africa and the fas- cinating people. A valuable bib- liography and index,· and a good colored map are included. . D. L. P.
Crossing Africa. By Stella C. Dunkelberger. Illus. 8vo. 105 pp. an intimate view of the thoughts Children of the Chief. By Mary $1.00. Mission Office. 147 W. and customs of the Congo peo- School Lane, Germantown, Pa. Entwistle. Cloth, 50 cents; paper, ple. In fact the book contains a 25 cents.
The D. M. Stearn's Fund has surprising amount of informa- The Red Friendly Book. By Muriel ministered to missionaries all tion on the people of the Congo. R. Wray. Boards, 40 cents. over the world for some forty years. After serving for twenty- There are many excellent illus- Kembo: A Little Girl of Africa. five years as home secretary, trations, printed on paper best By Winifred E. Barnard. Boards, Miss Dunkelberger decided to adapted to bring them out. This 50 cents.
visit some of the African mis- book is a fine addition to mis- Efiong: A Little Boy of Africa. By sionary literature, and, indeed, Ella B. Floyer. Boards, 40 <'ents.
sions she had helped, and trav- to popular literature u p 0 n SUPPLEMENTARY eled across Africa by way of the Africa. Congo River and Elizabethville R. M. K. MATERIAL to Portuguese East Africa. These diary letters, with over OTHER FRIENDSHIP Africa Picture Sheet. 25 cents. one hundred pictures, tell the PRESS BOOKS story. It is very enlightening A folder of pictures for class- The Land and Life of Africa. By to share her many interesting room use. experiences, by boat and car- Margaret Wrong. 138 pp. 50 riers of various kinds, as she cents, paper. 1936. Africa Picture Stories. Spedal price, visited the missions in out-ofthe-way stations, saw the na- An accurate account of daily 25 cents the set. tives in the raw and as trans- life and thought, religion and formed by the power of Christ. work in Africa. Recommended Five pictures and a story Some of the photographs are especially for young people and clear and instructive. It is a adults, including leaders of all about each picture. personal narrative, in which age groups. many unimportant items are in- Boys and Girls of Africa. 15 cents. Fun and Festival from Africa. By Catherine Miller Balm. 25 cents, Six sheets of African pictures paper. New York. to be colored.
Directions for Making an African Village. 25 cents.
A set of drawings to be cut out and assembled.
Loose-Leaf Series No. i-Africa. 15 cents. .
cluded and some details of value Pamphlet, by the author of An illustrated pamphlet of are omitted – including the ex- Chinese Ginger and Joy from games, songs, handcraft sugges- act names of workers met. One Jap(m, contains a wealth of ma- tions and folk tales from Africa.
New Books Obituary Notes Mrs. Carrie Ballah Harrell, writer and missionary, said to have been the Lights and Shades of Christendom to (Concluded from page 449.) first white child born in Japan, died A. D. 1000. H. Pakenham-Walsh. July 13th, in Baltimore, Maryland, at Maps. 368 pp. $4.00. Oxford Uni- Miss Jean Kenyon Mackenzie, for the home of her daughter, Mrs. H. versity Press. New York. Donovan Swann at the age of seventy- twelve years a missionary of the Pres- four. The History of the Universities' byterian Church to the Bantu tribes Mission to Central Africa. G. Her- of southern Cameroun, Africa, died Mrs. Harrell was the daughter of bert Wilson. Illus. 278 pp. 2s. 6d. the Rev. James H. Harrell, who es· U. M. C. A. London. September 2d in New York. A native tablished the first Protestant church in Japan, on the treaty ground es- Christian Materialism: Inquiries In- of Elgin, Ohio, and the daughter of ta',Jlished by Admiral Matthew C. to the Getting and Spending and Perry, at Yokohama. Giving of Money. F. J. McConnell. Scottish parents, Miss Mackenzie at- 167 pp. $1.25. Friendship Press. tended school in San Francisco and Mrs. Harrell's introduction of the New York. Braille system into Japan, and her later studied at the Sorbonne, in Par- work among blind and deaf mutes The Social System of the Zulus. E. is. When her father became pastor won her the honor of being received J. Krige. Illus. 420 pp. 25s. Long- by the late Emperor. mans. London. of the Rutgers church, she volun- teered for missionary work and in PROMISE Papuan Wonderland. J. G. Hides. 204 pp. 8s. 6d. Blackie. London. 1904 was sent to what was then the To Read German colony of Kamerun. During The History of Jewish Christianity: and Keep From the First to the Twentieth the next ten years Miss Mackenzie Century. H. J. Schonfeld. Illus. Circulating 256 pp. 7s. 6d. Duckworth. Lon- saw service in four outposts, all but don. one of them ",.lush" towns in the in- Dr. R. A. Torrey's "HOW TO The Way of the Witnesses: A New terior. An internal injury-suffered PRAY," a notable 128-page Testament Study in Missionary Motive. Edward Shillito. 158 pp. one day while riding in a one-wheeled book, and receive copy for 2s. Edinburgh House Press. Lon- African cart-compelled her retire- don. this purpose FREE. ment in 1916. Interpreters: A Study in Contempo- In 1923 Miss Mackenzie attended • rary Evangelism. Max Warren. 142 pp. 2s. 6d. Highway Press. Lon- the Le Zoute Conference to discuss BIBLE INSTITUTE COLPORTAGE don. the future of mission work in Africa. ASSOCIATION Report on the Religious Life in the Here her long friendship with French, 849m N. Wells St., Chicago, Illinois Christian Colleges in China. 45 pp. China Christian Educational Swiss and German mission forces was Assn. Shanghai. brought into play to help the confer- Christian Union in South India: An ence avoid misunderstandings at a Adventure in Fellowship. W. J. Noble. 94 pp. 2s. Student Chris- time when the World War was still tian Movement Press. London. only five years past.
The Encyclopredia of Islam. Edited Miss Mackenzie wrote many books by M. Th. Houtsma, A. J. Wen- sinck, H. A. R. Gi',Jb, W. Heffening about Africa. Among them are, and E. Levi-Provencal. No. 53: Panguli-Rabb. 1025-1088 pp. Sup- "Black Sheep," "The Trader's Wife," plement No.2: Djughrafiya-Kas- sala. Plates. 65-112 pp. Each "An African Trail," "African Adven- 7s. 6d. Luzac. London. tures" "Friends of wAasfraic~ae"mb"eErxi0l1e Is Christianity Unique? A Compara- and Postman." She tive Study of the Religions. Nicol the editorial staff of Listen which M'acmicol. 222 pp. 6s. S. C. M. Press. London. provides news and interpretation of Apollo of the Pigmy Forest. New and international affairs in simplified Enlarged Edition. A. B. Lloyd. Is. 82 pp. C. M. S. London. English for children and those un- African Bridge Builders. Edited by familiar with the language. Wm. C. Bell. 168 pp. Friendship Press. New York. Surviving are her mother, Mrs. Robert Mackenzie, and two sisters. Across the Years-An Autobiog- raphy. Chas. Stedman Macfarland. gorging the (!]hain of 367 pp. $2.75. Macmillan. New York. CHRISTIAN LOVE The Bible Triumphant. C. Urquhart. encircling the C@orld 144 pp. 2s. 6d. Pickering & In- glis. London. Consecrated Missionaries of the Congregational and Chris- Jacob Burkhard. Mary Yoder Burk- tian Churches serving in home and foreign fields are hard. 214 pp. $1.00 cloth, 60 cents paper. Published by author. Gosh- golden links in the chain of International Friendship. So en, Ind. are the thousands who read the MISSIONARY HERALD at Home and Ahroad — the magazine that has worked ceaselessly for 132 years in hehalf of greater tolerance, more kindly understanding, and for the spirit of true hrotherhood inspired hy Jesus Christ. , We earnestly solicit your subscription, believing that it is your desire to be well-informed concerning world conditions.
The rate is $1.25 a year for a single subscription; $1.00 a year in groups of five.
A sample copy will be sent gladly upon request.
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OMWA? AN IRISHMAN IN THE (ARE YOU AWAKE 1) JUNGLES OF AFRICA P. H. J. LERRIGO, M.D. Edited by RUTH BURNS MAGUIRE ttOmwa ? Are you awake?" is a native The wonderful career of Gabriel Reid salutation used in Central Africa. The author has utilized this expression as a Maguire, who was a missionary, preacher thread to bind together thIs study deal- ing with the major problems, religious, and pastor, for nearly forty years. "A political, social and mdustrial, confront- mg the great emerging continent today. great and unusual contributIon to the Human interest stories and folk tales illuminate the themes. Illustrated $1.25 missionary literature in which our churches are interested just at this time."-Watchman-Examiner. With an introduction by President Austen K.
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'('But What Am I to Do?"
~ (EW YEAR'S DAY. The gateway of the Metet Leper Colony, Cameroun, Africa· '-a'l9 Clustered about it a pitiful crowd. Some sit, some lie down, some crouch.
Those nearest the gate take an attitude of supplication–dumb, passive, resigned, enduring. Suppliant—but only as a dog is suppliant when he has been beaten and begs, with his eyes open, for the passing of your anger.
The gate opens. A stir among those who wait, like a very faint puff of wind over dead leaves. An American man and woman and an African come out. Very gently, as if trying to say by their motions what they could not speak.
The African stops near one, then another, then another, of the waiting forms. He touches them, speaks a word. They rise with hardly a change of expression and pass inside the gate. Too dazed even to be happy! Six, eight, twelve, fifteen go in like that.
"That is enough, Mfe'e," says the doctor. "There is no more room. We are sorry, Mfe'e. Oh, tell them we are sorry!"
Mfe'e, his hand on the shoulder of an old, old woman, stops and turns toward the gate. Slowly the missionaries walk down the road.
Suddenly there is a cry. They turn.
It is the old woman. She is half standing, half crouching. Her hands are stretched out.
"But what am 1 to do? What am I to do?"
So long as they live, the missionaries can never forget that cry.
CAN YOU?
—————————————– THE AMERICAN MISSION TO LEPERS, Inc. Room 1119-R, 156 Fifth Avenue, New York o Because I too do not forget, I enclose $40 for the admission and one year's care of the old woman at Metet or some one like her o o $15 for a small house for four lepers $10 for medicines for two years–some- o $1 for a month's food times enough for a cure o Name _____________________________________________________________________ Address____________________________________________________________________ City________________________________________________ Staw__________________
The Missionary Review of the World — June 1936
1936
?2e QmefticaK 9ftO ?2umbeft BEACON LIGHTS OF NEGRO PROGRESS Charles H. Wesley HELPS AND HINDRANCES TO PROGRESS Reverdy C. Ransom TWO GENERATIONS SINCE EMANCIPATION Monroe N. Work SOME OUTSTANDING NEGRO CHRISTIANS Channing H. Tobias THE GREATEST NEED OF THE NEGRO C. L. Hill DANIEL PAYNE: CHRISTIAN EDUCATOR Josephus R. Coan NEGRO YOUTH AND THE CHURCH TODAY Martin L. Harvey WHAT NEGROES ARE DOING FOR NEGROES L. L. Berry EXPERIENCE IN WORK WITH NEGROES Frederick L. Brownlee OTHER LESSONS FROM EXPERIENCE John Little NEGRO YOUTH CHALLENGES WHITE YOUTH J. S. Ledbetter 25 Cents a Copy $2.50 a YeaT
to Remember Mt. lAke Park, Md.–July 10-16. eial weekly periodical of the Meth-
Mrs. B. H. Sincell, 103 2d St., odist Episcopal Church, is one of a June 4-9-General Synod of the Re- Oakland, Md. number of Advocates published in dif- formed Church in America. Ro- ferent parts of the country with a chester, N. Y. Northfield, Mass.–July 6-14. total circulation of 170,000. Dr. Joy Miss Amy Ogden Welcher, 796 is seventy-two years of age, having June 10-17 – Ann u a I Conference, Prospect Ave., Hartford, Conn. been born in Groton, Mass., and was Church of the Brethren. Hershey, graduated from Yale University in Pa. Southern California (Los Angeles)- 1885. He is still in good health and September 21-25. wields an effective pen. His successor, June 16-24-General Council of Con- Mrs. H. M. Horn, 1965 Carmen Dr. Harold Paul Sloan, was elected at gregational and Christian Churches. Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. Mt. Holyoke College, South Hadley, ., . . the Quadrennial Conference of the Mass. Warren, Ohio-October 6-7. Mrs. George Konold, 314 Scott Methodist Church held in Columbus, June 23-28-Christian Youth Council St., N. E., Warren, Ohio. Ohio, early in May. of North America. Lakeside, Ohio. Rev. F. W. S. O'Neill, missionary Winona lAke, lnd.–June 24-30. in Manchuria since 1897, will be the June 27-July 4-Geneva Summer Mrs. Lulu C. Hunter, 1021 So. moderator of the general assembly of School for Missions. Lake Geneva, Elmwood Ave., Oak Park, Ill. the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Wisconsin. this year. Mr.- O'Neill is the author The Gospel in Print of several books which are a distinct June 29-July 10 – Indian Missionary contribution to missionary literature. Conference and Annual Meeting of Sound Evangelical Literature the National Fellowship of Indian for the Million ••• Workers. College of Agriculture, Rev. William C. Kerr, who has Madison, Wis. Books, Pamphlets, Tracts and Wall Mottoes served as Presbyterian missionary in Jor .11 .g••, cl……nd n••d., also Seoul, Korea, for 18 years, has been July 6-12 – Twelfth World's Sunday' Bibles, Testllments, Gospel "portions" honored with the decoration of "the School Convention. Oslo, Norway. fourth order of merit with the sacred lind Hymn Books. CI. Suppli•• Eor Chri.- treasure" by Emperor Hirohito of July 9-August 12-Winona Latte' Japan. School of Theology. Winona Lake, ti.n Worlc.r.-colporters and eVllngelists ••• Ind. Rev. Nelson Bitton retired on April .specillily. CI. Book Mi..ion.ri•• w.nt.d 30th from office as Home Secretary August 16-23-World Missions'Insti- of the London Missionary Society tute, Chautauqua, New York. in every community, for entire or pllrt time; fllir finllncilll remunerlltion. CI. Work after thirty-eight years' service as missionary and secretary. One of the CONFERENCES AND SCHOOLS Jound.d by D. L. MOODY in 189lJ. special'services he rendered was his OF MISSIONS -Th. M….g•• oJ Good Book. H.v.r visit to Samoa in 1932. Other activi- Die.- ties included participation in the Affiliated with the Council of Women L. M. S. China Council, the Anti- for Home Missions and the Com- Write to", Opium Campaign, associate editorship mittee on Women's Work, For- of the Chinese Recorder, as well as the eign Missions Conference Bibl. Inll:. Colportag. AII'n work of the Christian Literature So- • ciety of China. • • Baltimore, Md.-October 19-21. 843 N. w.n., Chic.go Mrs. David D. Baker, 410 N. Cal- Per.onal Item. Dr. David McConaughey, vicehoun St., Baltimore, M,d. chairman of the World's Stewardship Dr. M. T. Rankin. missionary Bethesda, Ohio–July 20-24. teacher in the Graves Theological Union, is now in Europe, having been Seminary at Canton, China, has been invited to address a series of steward- Miss Mary I. Scott, 310 Tomlin- elected secretary for the Orient of the shi:p "clinics" with church leaders in son Ave., Moundsville, W. Va. Southern Baptist Board, to serve as SWItzerland, France and Great Brit- a connecting link between the mis- Boulder, Colorado-June21-27. ain. Among the other gatherings he • • sioJts and the Board. is to speak on stewardship before the Mrs. Henry F. Hoffman, 741 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Adams St., Denver, Colo. • Church of Scotland.
Cha,utauqua, N. Y.-Institute of Dr. Roy G. Ross, a missionary sec- World Missions (August 16-23). retary of the Disciples' Church, has been elected executive secretary of the Mrs. F. C. Reynolds, 309 Wood- International Council of Religious land Road, Roland Park, Baltimore, Md. … Education, to fill the position made Eaglesmere, Pa.–June26-July 3. vacant by the resilPlation of Dr. Hugh THAT TEACH Mrs. E. B. Breeding, 24 Rugby S. Magill. Lane, Scarsdale, N. Y. THE BIBLE , Used in thousands of Sunday Schools Houston, Te~~ – September 28:" Oc- where leaders believe in the inspira- tober 2. ' , Miss Lillian Nichols, head of Hols- tion of God's Word. ton Institute, Songdo, Korea, has been Dean – Mrs. A. B. Hynes, 618 cited for 26 years of meritorious serv- FREE PROSPECTUS of department Highland, Houston, Texas. ice to this Methodist School. in which you are interested and sam- ple lessons (Graded or Uniform) will lAke Geneva, Wis.–June 27-Jrily 4. *•* be sent on request. Desk MR-6. Mrs. T. A. Freeman, 427 Green- wood Ave., Evanston, Ill. Dr. James R. Joy, for 21 years Editor of The Christian Advocate of Minnesota, (Minneapolis,-St. Pa'l!-l)- the Methodist Episcopal Church, and September 21-25. ' previously eleven years assistant edi- tor under the late Dr. James M. Bulk- Ex. Sec. – Mrs. C. E. Heard,' ley, has announced his retirement 3020 Colfax Ave., Minneapolis, from editorial work on June 1st. Dr. Minn. Joy has held a position of large re- sponsibility and wide influence in the Mt. Hermon, Calif.-July '25-Aug- church. His paper, which is the omust 1. '
Mrs. N. J. Forsberg, 325 Dorantes Ave., San Francisco, Calif.
MISSIONARY Obituary
REVIEW OF THE WORLD Mrs. Dan Crawford, widow of the .When your Call DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor famous Central Africa missionary who was author of "Thinking Black" comes from the East … VOL. LIX JUNE, 1936 No.6 and other volumes, died on April 13th. Mrs. Crawford went out with her SAIL BY P&O Publication and Business Office- husband 37 years ago to Luanza, Cen- Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. tral Africa, and there did effective Choose the convenient and traditional pioneer work. She was a wise coun- way, to whatever part of the East the Editorial and Executive Office- cillor and a remarkably able worker work of the Faith may take you … to 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. in Bi10le schools and in Gospel evan- Egypt, Sudan, the Persian Gulf, India, Entered as second-class matter at gelism which helped to transform so Burma, Ceylon, Straits Settlements, many lives. The work is still carried China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Post Office, Harrisburg, Pa., under on as an independent mission, most East or South Africa. Just cross to Act of March 3, 1879. of the workers being associated with England by Cunard White Star and the Plymouth Brethren. sail from there in any Liner of the 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. great P & 0 fleet … including the new Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. *** sister-ships Strathnaver, Strathaird Published monthly, except August. and Strathmore. You'll enjoy the ut- All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1935. Dr. John C. Berry, distinguished most comfort of this western world, British agents – Marshall, Morgan medical missionary to Japan, who in- all the way East! and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, troduced the first trained nurse into London, E. C. 1 shilling pel' copy, that country, died in Worcester, Convenient through bookings can be arranged 10 shillings a year. Mass., February 8th, at the age of 89. by your local travel agent or any office of In addition to his medical work, Dr. MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- Berry was instrumental in effecting CUNARD WHITE STAR LINE LISHING CO., INC. a comprehensive and permanent work of prison reform in Japan. At a re- General Agents BOARD OF DIRECTORS cent convention of social workers in 25 Broadway and 638 Fifth Avenue, New York ROBERT E. SPEER, President Tokyo, attended by 3,000 delegates, he A. L. WARNSHUIS, Vioo-President was hailed as the "Founder of Social WALTER McDOUGALL, Treasurer Service in the Nation." DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary Dr. Judson C*. K* ing*, Baptist med- SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT ical missionary in the Belgian Congo, WILLIAM I. C'HAMBERL,oUN died March 27th, at Sona Bata. The crowning achievement of his mission- D. J. FANT ary service was the founding of Sona MRS. ORRIN R. JUDD Bata Medical School in 1932.
WM. B. LIPPHARD J ames Cruic*ksh*ank*, of Cairo, as- Emc M. NORTH sistant to the Chief Mechanical Engi- SAMUEL M. ZWEMER neer of the Egyptian Railways, died February 10th. Mr. Cruickshank was Editorial Chat (Conc:uded on 3d Cover.) Here is our special number on the American Negro. It has food for The Presbyt:erian thought and prayer. Our readers will appreciate the ready response of the A weekly religious newspaper in authors who have contributed these papers in response to our invitation. . its lo6th year of continuous pub- It will lend additional interest if the reader can try to distinguish, from lication under the same name. the style and spirit and thoughts expressed, which are white of skin. It It is conservative and evangelwill be seen that color is only skin deep, provided that the soul has not ical, gets its news by telegraph been oppressed or embittered by injustice or lack of opportunity. and keeps abreast of the times.
Some of the important promised It goes into every state of the articles, we regret to say, have not reached us in time to be included. Union, the District of Columbia, These may be looked for in later issues of THE REVIEW. These articles and U. S. possessions. are intended to supp:ement the textbooks published by the Missionary It goes to Asia and Africa, South Education Movement for adults, young people and children of various America, Canada and New Zealand grades. They offer a large and rich and into twelve countries of ~u assortment. rope. *** Subscription Price, – BOUND VOLUMES WANTED Ministerial Rate, The library of Emory University, 50c. extra—Canadian postage Emory, Georgia, asks for the follow- $1.00 extra—Foreign postage ing numbers of THE REVIEW to complete its files: THE PRESBYTERIAN November and December, 1925. 1217 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pa. January, February, May, July, 1926. January, 1927. December, 1929.
They might be interested to secure the entire years 1925, 1926, 1927 and 1929 in bound volumes.
Kindly write to Miss Elizabeth Royer, Librarian, Emory University, Emory, Georgia.
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"Harper's Weekly" Drawing by 801
TYPICAL SCENE FROM NEGRO' CAMP MEETING IN THE SOUTH SIXTY YEARS AGO'
EAGER SEARCH FO'R KNO'WLEDGE~LO'RIMElR SCHOO'L, ED~STO' ISLAND, SO'UTH CARO'LINA EVIDENCES OF PROGRESS AMONG AMERICAN NEGROES REVIB ORLD VOLUME LIX AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER 6 JUNE, 1936 Topics of the Times OUR INTEREST IN THE NEGRO The Negro is a living soul made capable of re- ceiving the impress of the likeness of Christ. There are more Negroes in the United States What then is the great hindrance to Negro dethan comprise the population of Egypt or Ethio- velopment in America? Undoubtedly it is racial pia or Siam. Many of these Negroes are as poor, prejudice and discrimination. We may not apas ignorant and as spiritually destitute as are the prove of it theoretically, or be ready to acknowlunderprivileged of many lands to whom we send edge it, but practically every white man is inmIsSIOnaries. Christians in these United States fluenced by this prejudice, especially in communihave a special responsibility for helping Amer- ties where Negroes are numerous. The reason ican Negroes since these people are descendents of for this discrimination is another matter. It is men and women who were taken from their na- not innate; children have no such prejudice until tive land by force and were brought to this coun- it is put into their minds by their elders or by try against their will to work for the white man some unpleasant and unreasoning experience.
without pay. Many of them were treated worse Negroes have racial characteristics which have than cattle. As a result of prejudice and lack of proved valuable assets to State and Church.
opportunity, multitudes of these Negroes are still Their natural good cheer and sense of humor, subject to unfair discrimination and their phys- their music and other talents, their ability to ical, mental and moral welfare are neglected. work, their devotion to those who show them kind- These conditions form a menace to health, social ness, and their religious sense and response to security and Christian progress in the communi- the Gospel of Christ, are all evidences of God in ties where these people live, not because they are them. Negroes but because their ignorance and the crowded, unsanitary, one-room cabins cannot but The study of the Negro is worth while. The spread physical and moral disease–whether they mission books of the year and this number of are inhabited by white folk or black. THE REVIEW provide the opportunity. Here are set forth the characteristics of the race, the prog- But such a condition is not characteristic of all ress made in the past two generations, the great Negro communities today. With good, steady achievem~nts of individual Negroes and the posjobs, an opportunity for education, and fair treat- sibilities for advance. Such a study will increase ment, the Negro has proved his ability to advance interracial understanding and sympathy and and to serve his generation unselfishly and effec- should stir Christians with a determination to tively. Such men of African descent as J. E. K. give adequate economic and educational oppor- Aggrey, Chief Khama, Bishop Samuel Crowther, tunities, to promote social justice and to recog- Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Booker T. Washington, nize the Negro as a brother man. There is no Richard R. Moton, and hundreds of other Negro reason to obliterate social barriers or to advocate men and women, are proof of what valuable an interracial marriage. The most intelligent Neasset to humanity the African may be. America groes do not desire such a movement but they ask, is indebted to the race for service in many lines and have a right to expect, equality of opportuand everywhere they may be an asset to the nity, impartial justice, friendliness and Christnation. like interest in their temporal and eternal wel- fare.
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ETHIOPIA – A PREY solini has proclaimed religious liberty, as Haile The Empire of Ethiopia, practically the last in- Selassie had done, but experience in other Italian dependent African-ruled territory, has finally be- colonies does not give great encouragement to come a prey to the Roman Eagle. With the fall hope that the ten Protestant societies, with some of Addis Ababa, the capital, on May 3d, and the one hundred and forty missionaries working in flight of Emperor Haile Selassie to Palestine, thirty stations, will be free from interference or Ethiopian independence came to an end and discrimination. No Protestant missions are per- Premier Mussolini has declared the country to be mitted in Italian Somaliland or in Tripoli and Italian territory. The victory, after seven the few mission workers in Eritrea have been exmonths' warfare, brings no honor or credit to pelled. If the Italian Evangelical churches were Mussolini and the Italian armies. A strong na- strong enough they might be able to establish tion, with an effective army and navy, equipped work in Ethiopia. with modern guns, tanks, airplanes and gas bombs, has indeed overcome a weak but brave The unofficial plan, outlined in Rome for the nation which had an untrained army, no navy, conquered territory, includes the following proand almost no modern military equipment. The visions: Italians have descended like wolves upon a sheepfold. This conquest of a weaker member of the 1. Native chiefs, with Italian civil commis- League of Nations, by an aggressive and self- sioners and district military commanders, are to seeking conqueror belonging to the same League, be set up in each province. There is no thought has again revealed the ineffectiveness of the of continuing an even nominal native dynasty, as League and their inability to cooperate unselfishly the Japanese have done in Manchukuo.
2. Civil and religious liberty is proclaimed, with the abolition of slavery.
in order to stop a strong nation from violating 3. A native mercenary army, under Italian of- covenants. Partial trade "sanctions" and moral ficers, may be organized to police the country as disapproval have not been effective, but a united in other colonies.
stand by members of the League, backed by mili- 4. Roads, airports and a new railway will be tary measures, would no doubt have put a stop to built, and commerce will be developed.
Italy's program. America, like the other Euro- Dr. Charles J. Rolls, a representative of the pean' nations, was unwilling to resort to war to Sudan Interior Mission, who recently visited make the League covenants effective. Ethiopia during the Italian invasion, writes as follows in the Evangelical Christian: The rainy season and the roadless mountains were Ethiopia's best natural defences but these Italy deems the best course to take for reforming failed to stop airplanes equipped with machine Ethiopia is to conquer its people by atrocious warfare guns and bombs. Without respect of persons, that violates more princip:es of righteousness than all the non-combatants and Red Cross units suffered wrongs she declares need to be eliminated. . . . The Di- along with the military forces. Two missionaries vine method of transforming a people is not by bombs and were killed accidentally-Dr. Hockman by a bomb, ·tanks and by turning machine gun-fire from airplanes on villages and Red Cross units, but by opening up wells of and an Adventist, Mrs. Stadin, by a stray bullet. Salvation. Several Red Cross workers were also killed or wounded. WHAT IS WRONG WITH AMERICA? The terms of conquest have not yet been pro- claimed. Italy has promised to give Ethiopia a Views as to the present situation in North more stable modern government than was pos- America, and in the world at large, vary accord- sible for Haile Selassie and his tribal chiefs. This ing to the chief interests and viewpoints of critics.
will depend on the Italian's ability to win the co- Newspaper and magazine articles, sermons and operation of the people and their ability to pay the addresses are full of warnings or optimistic state- cost of good colonial government. Their experi- ments as to the political, economic, social and re- ence in Eritrea, Somaliland and Tripoli does not ligious outlook. That many things are wrong and give much reason for confidence. Slavery has should be corrected all will agree but there are already been abolished by Italian decree, as Haile differences of opinion on the causes and the rem- Selassie had already attempted to do. Lake Tana, edy. Those who are committed to God and His the headwaters of the Blue Nile, will be a point standards for-life, as ~evealed in the Bible, gen- of friction with Egypt and Great Britain and in- erally agree that there has been a great lowering ternational trade presents many a problem. The of moral standards and a disturbing failure in nations of the League have thus far refused to religious education of the youth of the present acknowledge Italian sovereignty. generation. The results are seen in many ways, The effect of Italian occupation on Protestant especially in the lawless attitude of youth, even missionary work, it is difficult to foretell. Mus- of the so-called "best families," toward all restric-
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
tion in what they consider personal liberty-as to are expected to include the following speakers- speed limits, use of intoxicants, marriage and sex- Dr. E. Stanley Jones, of India, author of "The life, property rights, tax returns and the laws of Christ of Every Road"; Dr. T. Z. Koo, the well- God. The best thing about the youth today as a known Chinese Christian leader; Dr. George W.
whole is probably their frankness and readiness Truett, of Dallas, Texas; President Albert W. to risk all to carry out whatever ideals they have. Beaven, of Colgate-Rochester Divinity School; But one of the greatest needs of the day is the Dr. George A. Buttrick, of New York; Dean Lynn training of the youth in respect for law, in rev- Harold Hough, of Drew Theological Seminary; erence for God, in knowledge of His revealed will, Dr. Ivan Lee Holt, of St. Louis; Bishop Arthur J. and in self-discipline and the putting of first Moore, of San Antonio, Texas; Rev. Daniel A. Poling, of New York; Miss Muriel Lester, of things first. Dr. William Merrill Vories, founder of the Omi- London, and some twenty others. Hachiman Mission, Japan, has recently revisited The purpose of the Mission is stated briefly as America and has traveled extensively over the follows: country. Like Mrs. E. Stanley Jones, he is dis- The Mission shall therefore seek to teach and preach in turbed by the signs of retrogression in the spirit- its fulness the Gospel of our common Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ; to confront through group contacts and uallife of the people-especially in women. Form- public meetings as well the clear thought and courageous erly they were the moral backbone of the country, will of the American people as their finer feelings and the spiritual strength of the Church and the chief best tradition; in a civilization which irreligion is on the promotors of its missionary work. Today Dr. verge of destroying, and in the midst of which it has Vories sees them generally spending lavishly on become an imperative necessity in the high cause of the cosmetics, cigarettes and strong drink, talking future that Christianity shou:d gird itself for a real freely of sex, living loosely and devoted more to struggle, to stress once more the reasonableness of the "bridge" and the theater than to children, their Christian faith in die Personal God, its aptness to the deepest needs and farthest aspirations of human life, and homes, or the church. He sees many churches life- its redemptive, creative power in the organizing and shaping of a bewildered society toward the standards and less and preachers too often seeking popularity ideals of the Kingdom of God. with men, rather than desiring to be true prophets of God; he notes the absence of a clear and effec- The emphasis will be upon the Gospel of Christ tive message of salvation for this sin-sick and dis- as the unchanging need of every age and espetracted world. Even Christians are charged with having forgotten their chief business in life-the cially needed to solve the problems of the present carrying forward of Christ's work-and of being day. guilty of settling down to ease or hopeless discouragement. Christians everywhere are requested to pray earnestly that the blessing of God shall be upon But in the youth of today and tomorrow we the undertaking and the workers; and for the find cause for real encouragement-if they can be revival of true Christian faith and spiritual life turned Christward. There are signs of awakening in this time of crisis and the world's need. here and there among them, bOut with powerful materialistic forces holding them back or drag- Preparations for this Preaching campaign will ging them down to ruin. The youth of today need be followed with prayerful interest. Clearly the new life, vision, an incentive to sacrificial service, Gospel of Christ needs to be preached more faithand wise, inspirational Christian leadership. The fully and powerfully than it is preached in most remedy for present evils can only be found in churches today. His power needs to be mani- Christ. fested by regenerated lives for more than is evident in most Christians in America. But a re- vival cannot be "worked up"; that experience must come by the power of the Holy Spirit, work- A NATIONAL PREACHING MISSION ing through lives surrendered to God. The suc- America needs a spiritual awakening. That cess of this or any other work for spiritual cannot be denied; but how is it to be brought awakening will not depend on organization or on about? In the autumn, between September 13th famous speakers; it must depend chiefly on four and December 9th, the Federal Council of things: Churches is planning a united campaign to deepen 1. The character of the messengers-whether Christian faith and life throughout North Amer- they are truly Spirit-filled men and women, with ica. A team of preachers will visit some twenty personal experience of Christ, a passion to win of the larger cities, spending four days in each men to Him, and a whole-hearted belief in the city, and holding popular mass meetings and power of the Gospel. .
smaller conferences in order to make an impact 2. The message they reach-whether it is truly on the spiritual life of the community. The teams the Gospel of Christ, unclouded with doubts, and
mixed with a discussion of international ques- sonal talks, (5) lantern lectures on the Life of Christ. Results were reported to be remarkable. tions, economic problems, social service and other In Hyderabad and elsewhere teams of preachsecondary considerations. ers and lay workers have distributed Gospel por- tions at melas, a cinema projector has been used 3. The receptive attitude of the audiences and to attract people and the Gospel was proclaimed in song. Many villages were visited and even the zeal of local workers-will their expectation those from high castes were reached in large numbers. be a thrill from eloquent preachers or will they The main points of the program for the movecome hungry for the Word of God and an ex- ment are: the observance of a special time of preparation, annual "Weeks of Witness," and the perience of new life in Christ. setting aside by each Council of two workers to forward the work; newspaper evangelism, Bible 4. The power of the Spirit of God must be evi- and tract distribution and preaching missions.
dent in speakers, committees, personal workers The Chhindwara Retreat for Prayer and Con- sideration of Mass Movements in Mid-India, held and hearers. Prayer and the "still small Voice" in 1935, calls attention to eleven principles to which they subscribe. It is possible today for in this enterprise are more important than preach- whole castes to be won for Jesus Christ. "We hold that the present situation is nothing less than ing. Vital personal work is more effective than a call from God to disciple entire castes number- ing hundreds of thousands of souls." Large popsermons that draw large crowds. The tfme to ulations have been christianized, not through the conversion of the upper castes first, but through begin to pray and prepare for a revival is now, that of the Depressed Classes. It is, therefore, wise strategy to concentrate attention on the more not next September; and the place is not in large approachable castes. To do this a greater mo- bility of missionary forces is needed. There meetings but in individual homes and hearts, on should be cooperation in revival, a reallocation of resources, and, in some cases, of territory. our knees. . Dependence must be placed on the preaching of FIVE-YEAR EVANGELISM IN INDIA God's Word. "We believe that merely living the Gospel, and mere humanitarian projects to relieve Christian leaders in India have united in a call human ignorance or suffering are, when taken for a definite Five-Year Evangelistic Forward alone, entirely inadequate to bring men and Movement, inaugurated by seven weeks of prep- women into the great salvation." At the same aration, in each district, with the following topics time, the convert must be enabled to give proper suggested, one for each week: expression of his new-found spiritual experiences among his neighbors. Following baptism, ade- 1. The primary duty of Christians to witness. quate instruction and guidance must be given to 2. Successful personal evangelism. new converts. Finally, the present opportunities 3. Churches and United Witness bearing. constitute a great call to all Christians for new 4. Witness of the Christian home. consecration. 5. Evangelism by literature. 6. Education and evangelism. The editor of The Indian Witness writes: 7. Evangelism and social service. "Everywhere Christians are found to be deeply This movement is being promoted by the Na- concerned with their own spiritual condition and .tional Christian Council of India, Burma and Cey- that of those around them. Everywhere we hear lon, which is calling all churches to witness in the hope expressed of a spiritual revival among their own areas. A definite aim and program is Christians…. Reports reach us of awakenings advocated "to enlist all Christians – men and in many place-s-in schools and churches and rewomen, students and officials, boys and girls – in treats. . . . If the Christians of India everyone great army of volunteer evangelists, each where will show the love of Christ in testimony bringing his or her own talent to the task. Some and through their lives, the blessings to themwill preach, others will sell Gospels, some will selves and to others will be innumerable." sing, still others will do personal work with individuals."
A special "Witness Week" has already been held in Dornakal, after which the field was divided into six parts under the care of six groups. Each had a leader and the congregations were divided into four age-groups. Children had banners made with these words inscribed in Telugu: "The Lord Jesus, the Saviour of the world." The leaders met each morning for prayer and consultation, and in the evening went in groups to the villages assigned. The work consisted mainly of (1) distribution of handbills and tracts, (2) sale of Gospel portions, (3) witness bearing, (4) per-
Lights of Negro
By CHARLES H. WESLEY, Washington, D. C.
Professor of History in Howard University NEGROES have been associated with the changes, economic, religious and educational achievements of the American people from trends and cultural progress. These are beacon the earliest years, both as individuals and lights which point the way through the maze of as a racial group. One of the noted early explor- complex changes. ers and pioneers was Estevan who led an expedi- Population Changes-During the 'one hundred tion in the sixteenth century from Mexico into and forty years from 1790 to 1930 the Negroes the territory of the Southwest and discovered have increased from three-quarters of a million what we now call New Mexico and Arizona. From to nearly twelve millions. The increase from this period to the time when Matthew A. Henson, 1920 to 1930 was greater than the entire Negro a Negro, accompanied Commander Peary in his population in 1800. In 1860 the total number discovery of the North Pole, Negroes have been of Negroes was 4,441,830, and in 1930, it was associated with some of the outstanding American 11,891,143. In the meantime the percentage of pioneer efforts. From the time when twenty Ne- the Negro to the total population has shown a groes were brought to Jamestown, Virginia, in decrease, from 19.3 per cent at the first census 1619 to the most recent of the developments in in 1790 to 9.7 per cent in 1930. the South, the Negro has helped with his labor in producing the agriculture and the economic Prior to 1910 about 89 per cent of the Negro and social life of the Southern states. From Cris- population lived in the South Atlantic and South pus Attucks, a Negro who shed the first blood Central states. A majority of these lived in the so-called Black Belt. In several counties the Ne- for the American cause in the Boston Massacre groes outnumbered the whites. In 1930 of the in 1770, to the Negro soldiers who fought in the total Negro population, 78.7 per cent were in the Civil War to the number of 178,000, the courage Southern states, whereas in 1910 they constituted of Negro troops has been highly praised. 90 per cent. In the last twenty~five years over In literature, song and cultural progress Ne- a million Negroes have left the farms for the cities groes have made distinct contributions to Ameri- of the South and over a million and a half have can civilization. They had also improved their migrated to the urban centers of the North. economic status and were engaged in numerous The greatest change in the distribution of the gainful pursuits prior to 1865. There were 59,557 Negroes came in the decade 1920-1930, during free Negroes in America at the first census in which there was a shift northward. This migra- 1790 and in seventy years this number increased tion began with the opening of the World War to 488,070. Contemporary observers stated that in 1914, and continued with the cessation of imthere were among them persons of "education, migrant labor and the rise of the demand for refinement, sound sense and correct morals." This Negro labor. The peak of this migratory moveis corroborated by the historical facts. ment was reached in1~17-1921. More than two- thirds of the increase in the Negro population It is absurd to assume that all the Negroes during the last two decades has taken place in the were degraded until the issuance of the Emanci- Northern states; but the percentage of Negroes pation Proclamation and the passage of the Thir- teenth Amendment. There were inefficient and in the North in 1930 was only 3.3 per cent. At unworthy Negroes just as there are the same the- same time over 40 per cent of the Negroes types in any group today. By their own efforts, were still in Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, North and with the aid of sympathetic friends, indi- Carolina and Texas. The largest number of Nevidual free Negroes were attaining economic in- groes in the North are in Pennsylvania, New dependence and making personal progress before York and Illinois. 1865, when the group as a whole was made phys- Many believe that this newer distribution of ically free. Decades prior to this period, thou- Negroes will make the problem of their presence sands had freed themselves from human slavery among Southern whites less acute, but others and economic want. maintain that it has added to the strained race relations in some of the Northern and urban The Negro's progress since emancipation centers. Wherever toleration and Christian inshould be examined as it relates to population [279 ]
fluences have been at work the change has been cent were Negroes, the percentage of Negroes on ultimately beneficial to the Negroes and the com- relief in proportion to the population, being almunities have registered no loss by their presence. most twice that of the whites. In January, 1935, The dangers have been found to be more imagi- there were 3,500,000 Negroes in families receivnary than real. ing relief or 29 per cent of the entire Negropop- ulation. This is an indication of the deepening of Economic Progress-The aggregate wealth of the economic plight of black Americans. While the Negroes has increased from 1860 to the pres- 20 to 25 per cent of the white workers are un- employed today, from 40 to 50 per cent of the TYPICAL HOME OF A NEGRO TENANT FARMER Negro workers are unemployed. There has been IN THE SOllTH progress, but there has also been retrogression.
ent time from about $20,000,000 to perhaps $2,- Just after emancipation there was only one 000,000,000 or about 100 times. There were about bank in which Negroes were active as workers 20,000 farms operated independently by Negroes and depositors. The Freedman's Savings Bank in 1865. Now they operate about 880,000 farms. had white officials until the last year when it was In 1920 there were 925,608 Negro farmers who almost ready to fail and Negro officials were inoperated 41,432,182 acres, 23.6 per cent being troduced. In 1924 there were 73 Negro banks owners. Ten years later (1930) the Negro farm- with $6,250,000 in capital and $20,000,000 in reers had decreased to 882,850 and their acres in sources. Some of these banks are still in active operation had decreased to 37,597,132. operation, although they operate on small capital. Negro life insurance companies have enjoyed un- The depression, together with the accompany- precedented growth and expansion from 1920 to ing hard economic times, was responsible for these 1929, when difficulties began. Fifteen companies decreases in the usual upward trends in Negro operated old line legal reserve insurance in 1920, agricultural life. The crop reduction program, with policyholders' surplus in excess of $100,000; tenant evictions and unemployment for Negro in 1935 these had decreased to eight; seven had agricultural workers have made these conditions disappeared, three had failed, three had amalgaworse, especially among sharecroppers and tenants. Negro land tenantry as a result of fore- MODERN TYPE OF NEGRO HOME IN THE CITY closures has influenced the formation of sharecroppers' unions and of cooperative associations mated, one had changed to a mutual company. upon racial and interracial bases. The capital and surplus of these fifteen companies in 1929 was $2,903,228 and in 1935 was $2,046,- Of the gainfully employed Negroes in 1930, of 214. These companies have given opportunities whom there were 5,503,532, there was 36.1o/e to Negroes for experience in business managewho were engaged in agriculture and 63.9 per ment and control, and have given employment to cent in industrial and urban occupations. There hundreds of young Negro college graduates. has thus developed a trend towards industrial life. The factory workers have increased continuously, and the period since the World War has brought about a more extensive increase of semi-skilled and skilled workers. The labor unions, however, have not welcomed Negro workers and some unions have excluded them.
Since the economic crisis of 1929, the numbers upon relief have increased so that in 1933, there were approximately 13,600,000 persons on relief, of which 81.3 per cent were white and 16.7 per
1936J BEACON LIGHTS OF NEGRO PROGRESS
Negro retail business has greatly increased College graduates continue to enter the ministry, since emancipation. In 1865, it was estimated and while there are relatively more Negro min- that there were 2,100 Negro business concerns, isters than white, in proportion to the popula- and in 1936 there were over 70,000, with sales tion, it is also a fact that there has been an ad- amounting to over $100,000,000 in 1930. The vance in the intelligence of the Negro ministers.
principal businesses were grocery stores, 'filling However, only 38 per cent of the pastors of Negro stations, restaurants and lunch rooms, tobacco churches are either college or seminary graduates.
There were 42,585 Negro churches at the last religious census. The Negro membership was 5,203,487, or 9.5 per cent of all church members in the United States. These members were dis- tributed among the denominations as follows: Negro Baptists, 61.4 per cent; African Methodist Episcopal Church, 10.5 per cent; African Meth- odist Episcopal Zion Church, 8.8 per cent; Epis- copal Church, 6.4 per cent; Colored Methodist Episcopal Church, 3.9 per cent; Roman Catholic Church, 2.4 per cent; Protestant Episcopal, 1 per cent; and all other denomihations, 5.6 per cent.
These churches contribute annually over $250,000 to home missions and over $150,000 to foreign missions. There are large denominational publi- cation houses furnishing these congregations with RURAL NEGRO CHURCH RECONSTRUCTED religious literature. FROM AK OLD BARN Education-In 1860, the vast majority of the stores', and barber shops. These serve especially Negroes were illiterate. Decade by decade, this the Negro communities of the large urban centers has been reduced so that by 1930 Negro illiteracy and give employment to hundreds who would find was only 16.3 per cent. Of these illiterates, 93.6 difficulty in obtaining employment in similar fields per cent were in the South. This reduction in in the older American stores. illiteracy has been made in spite of the fact that the Negro separate schools have been invariably In spite of numerous handicaps Negroes have inferior to the white schools in the same areas. become a part of the economic life of the nation. Nineteen of the 48 states provide by law for the In agriculture, industry and business they have separation of the races in the schools; this has become more important factors with the passing years. Whether the present economic changes will make their lot better or worse is problemati- cal. It seems clearer each day, however, that their economic status is closely allied with that of the whites and that the interracial relations of whites and blacks on the lower economic levels are as important as these relations are for the higher levels.
Religion-It is difficult to chronicle the advance in religion, which is often personal in its opera- tion rather than organizational. There are fac- tors other than numbers which deserve considera- tion. The total number of Negro church mem- bers, according to the most recent figures, is a 5,187,500 in a total Negro population of 11,891,- 143. This leaves non-church population of 6,703,643 Negroes. All agree, however, that as a group, Negroes have been fundamentally religious A MODERN NEGRO RURAL CHURCH and have responded readily to religious appeals. resulted in gross inequalities in expenditures and There has been a continuous advance since free- equipment. For instance, in 1930 the per capita dom in the methods and improved practices in expenditure for the average white child enrolled religious worship. Less emotion and more rea- in schools where separation was mandatory was son are shown today. $44.31, while the per capita expenditure for the The Negro ministry has improved in quality average Negro child was only $12.57. During as well as in numbers since the days of slavery. the past 30 years these disparities between ex-
penditures for the education of whites and Ne- is regarded as the highest degree conferred by groes have increased more than fourfold. These any university. There were 16 of these degrees increasing inequalities are reflected in Negro given in the natural sciences, 15 in the social sci- crime, delinquency and maladjustment. It is un- ences and 14 in the languages including English.
fortunate that these are placed to the Negro's White friends have contributed directly and discredit as a race rather than to the conditions indirectly to the progress of Negro education, and out of which these results arise. In spite of this seven educational foundations have worked for discrepancy, there has been remarkable improve- the advancement of Negro education in the South ment and cooperation between white and colored since the Civil War. They are the Peabody Edupeople in the extension and development of Negro cation Fund, the John F. Slater Fund, the Geneducation. eral Education Board, the Anna T. Jeanes Foun- There are about 25,000 Negro students in insti- dation, the Phelps-Stokes Fund, the Julius Rosen- tutions above high school; 22,500 are in Negro wald Fund and the Commission on Interracial institutions, while there are about 250,000 white Cooperation. These foundations have brought students in the colleges of the South where the inspiration, expert direction and material support average ratio of whites to Negroes is about 4 to to the education of Negroes when it was greatly 1. It should be especially noted that there is not neglected.
one state-supported institution in the Southern Negroes have contributed more than $3,000,000 states in which Negr~es may be admitted to pur- for the support of their schools, it has been esti- sue either graduate or professional education. mated, yet this is only a fraction of the pos- Due to court action, brought last year by the Na- sibility. The Negro religious denominations sup- tional Association for the Advancement of Col- port about 175 schools; the African Methodist ored People, a Negro student was admitted for Episcopal Church contributes about $500,000 an- this school-year to the University of Maryland nually to its schools and colleges. Assistance is Law School. State support of Negro mechanical also given by the Negroes of local communities and agricultural state colleges and normal schools to the building and maintenance of schoolhouses has been increasing year by year, although'their and social organizations.
support is by no means proportionate to the taxes Cultural Progress-Politics, literature, art, mupaid by Negroes or to their educational needs. sic, amusements and organized social efforts have Advance in Education shown a marked advance. Though at first wedded to the Republican party by tradition and by an In spite of these limitations Negro education acknowledged debt, the Negroes today are voting has continued to advance. In 1865 there were and working for every ticket as American citi- very few schools for Negroes, but there are today zens. There are some so-called radicals who are about 25,000 elementary schools, 1,400 high stimUlating the thought of Negro life as never schools, 500 universities, colleges and normal before and a Negro was selected as the candidate schools. There were less than 600 Negro teachers of the Communist Party for the Vice-Presidency in 1865 but today there are more than 50,000 of the United States in 1932. But there are rela- Negro teachers with approximately less than 500 tively few Communists among Negroes at present.
white persons teaching Negroes exclusively. Col- In literature, there is a Renaissance of producleges for Negroes are gradually being placed un- tion which since the WorId War is most noticeder the control of Negro officials and teachers. able. Poetry, novels and volumes of serious In the days immediately following the Civil War, scholarship are pouring off the press, until the white teachers volunteered for service in Negro few published prior to this period may seem very education and through the subsequent years there small. In art, always the last of civilizing activihas been a continuance of this service, but as ties to appear, individual attainments are beginemployment for Negroes becomes more restricted ning to be made. The names of H. O. Tanner, E. and opportunities for whites among their own M. Bannister, R. S. Duncanson, William Edward group are more general, there is a tendency to Scott, Meta Warrick, May Howard Jackson, Aureplace white presidents and teachers with Ne- gusta Savage, Edmonia Lewis-these are the new groes in Negro schools. evidences ot distinction in this field. In music, In the decade 1860-1870, there were only 44 attainments were made prior to freedom in the Negro college graduates; but from 1900 to 1910 folk melodies, the work songs, the minstrel songs there were 1,613 and in the one year 1925, there -which are the original contributions of the Ne- were 675, who received the bachelor's degree. gro to American life. Negro musicians, among This number has steadily increased. Prior to whom are H. T. Burleigh, Roland Hayes, Marion 1931 sixty Negroes (52 male, 8 female), have Anderson, J. Rosamond Johnson, Nathaniel Dett, gained the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, which William Dawson, William Grant Still and others
BEACON LIGHTS OF NEGRO PROGRESS
are using these themes very effectively in public A MODERN NEGRO CHURCH RElCREATIONAL CENTER presentations.
Great advances may be noted in the publication of newspapers and magazines. One has only to look at the Negro newspapers of twenty years ago and the same papers today, or to have visited the pUblication plants of twenty years ago and then compare them with the plants today in order to note the advance.
Many eloquent white spokesmen and courageous leaders have shown the measures of the Negro's advancement. They have spoken with great respect of Booker T. Washington who has left a deep impression upon American education. Richard Allen, Frederick Douglass, James Varick, Daniel A. Payne, J. W. C. Pennington, Soujourner Truth, Harriett Tubman, J. C. Price, M. C. B. Mason and hundreds of others, in the church and in public activities of various types, have demonstrated the capacities of the Negro for citizenship and the privileges within the gift of the nation.
Behind these individual leaders, there are the masses who, through social organizations such as the Y. M. C. A., theY. W. C. A., fraternal organizations and welfare associations, are giving continuous evidence of a progressive advancement. These beacon lights in Negro life should not be neglected. Let us face these neglected beams of light as we express the fervent hope that the spirit of Christian brotherhood may make possible greater achievements by the Negro and by.all minority social groups in American life.
The Word of God as a Missionary Man is sometimes bound, "but the Word of God is not bound"; the restrictions and restraints which limit and fetter man do not touch the Book. The lapse of time and stretch of space do not affect it. It utters no unwise word, takes no wrong step, forms no indiscreet alliances and lowers itself by no political entanglements or worldly compromises.
This Missionary is never weak nor weary, needs no rest and is unaffected by climate, diet or local surroundings.
A stranger alike to external hardship of internal disquiet, this Messenger of God never halts in obedience, hesitates in aim nor stumbles in action. It speaks as powerfully to the ignorant as. to the educated, the poor as the rich, the low-born as the high-born; is not intimidated by threats, dismayed by persecution nor destroyed by violence.
It claims to have in it, as His Living Book, God's vital power and to be life-imparting, so that men are born from above through it as God's "seed." (Acts 7: 38; Hebrews 4: 12; 1 Peter 1: 23; James 1: 21.) The history of missions puts these claims to the test and proves God's Book to be his chosen channel whereby his Spirit pours life into human souls. Hence, even where living men have not yet borne their witness, his Word has often won its triumphs.
-Arthur T. Pierson.
THE BOOKER T. WASHINGTON AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL ON WHEELS Reaching the Negroes where they live and teaching them how to live better THE STRONG GO ON!
By EDWARD E. BLAKE, Washington, D. C., in Twentieth Century Progress In the fight 'twixt Truth and Error when the As the surging battle thickens, and the cohorts of Right opposes Wrong; the foe When the friends of Light seem weakest and the Make assault with seeming triumph dealing heavy hosts of Darkness strong; blow on blow; When the way grows harder, rougher, and the 'Spite of darkness, doubters, weaklings, and cor- clouds are black ahead; ruption's sordid crew; When the timid doubters question, and the weak- 'Spite of greedy, trimmers, traitors; with cour- lings stop with dread; ageous faithful few -the strong go on! -the strong fight on!
Though the Church deserts her standard and be- Still with faith in Truth triumphant and in Right. fore strong Error quails; dynamic, strong; When allies desert, surrender, and expected suc- Like the pow'rful few of Gideon crushed the many cor fails; weakly wrong; When the sneering liquor foeman hurls his shafts Mighty as the pen of Lincoln 'gainst dark Slav'ry's of bitter hate; futile sword; And through servile venal parties overwhelms the Ever forward, ever onward, battling Rum's sa- Ship of State; tanic horde; -the strong march on! -the strong go on-to vict.ory!
Helps and Handicaps to
By BISHOP REVERDY C. RANSOM, Wilberforce, Ohio President of the Fraternal Council of Negro Churches N EGROES and their white fellow country- twenty-four Negro religious denominations in the men are so closely bound together in the United States, not counting the hundreds of store- currents of our national life, that it is diffi- front churches and missions scattered through- cult to specify the "helps and handicaps" that out the country. These denominations have ap- may not apply equally to all groups. proximately six million members, but more than As a result of his inheritance from American six million Negroes in the United States do not chattel slavery, as well as from his present social belong to any church. These constitute both a and economic plight within the nation, the Negro problem and an opportunity, not only for the is encumbered with certain handicaps which, Negro church, but for all American Christians.
either through circumstances or design, apply Many grave problems confront both the Amer- particularly to him. ican government and the church, but none is more No nation, not even in the days of the Apostles, serious and challenging than that which relates has ever had laid upon the steps of the altars of to the social, economic and political status of religion a race as susceptible to the appeal of the Americans of African descent. This question Gospel message as is the case in the United States. strikes at the heart and spirit of both American The Negroes brought here from Africa were in- democracy and American Christianity. The prob- deed crude material, fresh from the jungle and lem is not so much one of evangelism as one of the desert, with no sacred books, no written sys- freedom, justice and opportunity. American tem of ethics, science or philosophy. They were Christians must face the question of applying the a highly emotional people of vivid imagination, Gospel of Christ to uphold the spirit of 'American warm in their friendships, eager to respond to democracy in the vital test of the social status cordial overtures, and filling with music, laughter and economic opportunities of our Negro popula- and song the days of their captivity in a strange tion. It strikes a disturbing note when, either land. Within the past three hundred years, what from the rostrum or the printed page, this whole is the harvest of souls gathered from a so-called question is stripped of its disguises and we are "heathen" or "inferior" people by American forced to look upon it as millions are compelled to Christians? The American Indian has given see it for what it is, every day of their lives.
Christianity a negligible, a cold and indifferent Americans at heart desire the progress and response; on the other hand, in the face of denial well-being of all groups of citizens; and in the in the beginning, the Negro, as a slave, almost spirit of Christ, particularly in the case of the immediately sought to become a baptized member Negro, we have gone far to assist that progress.
of the Christian Church. It seems a providence There is nothing more beautiful in history than of God that the Negro, among the most backward the service rendered by the consecrated white of the races of men, should be linked, almost from men ap.d women who went south at the close of the beginning, with the birth of American de- the Civil War, under the auspices of the American mocracy and should be brought under the in- Missionary Society and boards of some of the re- fluence of American Christianity. ligious denominations, to prepare the recently lib- The Negro population of the United States to- erated slaves for the duties and responsibilities of day is three times larger than the entire popula- citizenship. Many of these young men and wom- tion of the United States in 1787 when our Fed- en, in complete self-forgetfulness, remained until eral Constitution was framed. Today, Negroes they grew gray in that constructive service. Their in North America number about twice the entire action touched the heart of philanthropy, it en- population of the New England states. There are couraged statesmanship, it stirred aspiration, three times as many Negroes in the United States and gave hope and courage to an aspiring race.
as there are Jews. They make up a population As the result of this Christian service, we have six times larger than the Indian, Mexican, Jap- in the United States today 118 Negro colleges, anese, Chinese and Filipinos combined. There are where, in the year 1933, there were 54,166 stu- [285 ]
dents. In 1935, the degree of B.A. or B.S. was braries in some of the states, and in but few granted to more than three thousand Negroes. places may they have free access to witness the There are more than four thousand practicing best plays, hear the 'best music and see the great Negro physicians and surgeons, and more than works of art. All of these handicaps are being fifty thousand Negro school teachers in the United increasingly overcome by efforts on the part of States. This is but a part of the leadership being Negroes through the churches, schools and social furnished within the race to permeate and uplift agencies as well as through a growing culture the entire mass of the people. Of course, it is and a freer expression of the mind and spirit in inadequate, but is none the less a miracle wrought the realm of music and the arts. by the Christian spirit and cooperation of white men and women who started the work amid the "For" or "With" the Negroes wreckage of slave-pens and the dying embers of the Civil War. The schools and colleges established by white philanthropy for Negroes have been of inestima- 'Negro Christian Leadership ble value in assisting them to achieve a higher and better life, but today they fall short of the Negro Christian leadership, today, through mark by only doing things "for Negroes," instead catering too largely to the religious forms and of doing things "with Negroes," in the spirit of customs of the era of slavery, is losing its hold Christian cooperation and friendliness. The Neand influence over the growing body of intelli- gro educators may train the mind, but they cangence in the race as a whole. This group is not free the spirits of their people unless they largely drifting, without spiritual chart or com- are taught to openly challenge, by peaceful methpass, in peril of shipwreck, upon the rocks of in- ods, the degrading social and industrial conditions differentism, atheism or communism. They are that are thwarting or hindering their progress. the most fruitful soil in America for the seed of any doctrine that promises to give them social We should have some choice white men and and economic deliverance and opportunity. women on the faculty of every Negro school and college. Among the religious denominations, each Negro Christian leadership has not seriously one of their general boards, agencies or organizaassumed responsibility for the fact that almost tions should include some Colored men and womthe entire load of the social, moral and spiritual en of intelligence and understanding in its memrescue and guidance has been placed upon their bership and thus lead the way to unified shoulders.' Sympathetic friends may pray for cooperation and sympathetic understanding. them and extend material aid, but the actual personal contact and service must be performed by The most hopeful and forward-looking movethemselves. ment among Negro Christians is the "Fraternal Council of Negro Churches in the United States" If the Negro youth is to be educated in schools which was organized more than a year ago by and colleges, separate and apart from the white some of the leading representatives of all the youth,. and if religious training in Sunday schools distinctly independent Negro denominations. and the various young people's Christian organ- Without attempting to duplicate or parallel the izations is also the responsibility of the Negro work of the Federal Council of Churches of Christ teachers and leaders, a people so recently removed in America, some aims of the Fraternal Council from slavery, and still largely submerged in ig- of Negro Churches are, as stated in its "Annual norance and poverty, presents a problem and an Message to the Churches": opportunity sufficient to engage the heart of an angel. It seeks to become a rallying point for fearless action in behalf of the interests of our people where religious There are today approximately 1,500,000 -Negro beliefs and denominational interests and ambition shall youths in the United States between the ages of not be permitted to enter to divide our councils, and where ten and nineteen years. These bring us face to partisan and political divisions shall have no place. face with' the question of recreation and amusement. It is here that religious training and in- If the Negro Church is to survive, it must offer the :tfuence meet one of their earliest as well as se- Negro youth of today something more than a home in verest tests upon the life and character of the heaven. We urge our ministers to study their Bibles with youth of today. The common recreational facili- particular reference to the presentation of the teachings ties and outlets provided by public parks, swim- of Jesus, regarding social justice and brotherhood, and ming pools, bathing beaches and other centers of we call upon our own people, the Negroes of America, to recreation are denied to Negroes in the southern be more loyal to their churches of whatever denomination, states,.and they find themselves either unwelcome, to attend their services and abide by their rules. or flatly excluded, in other sections of the country. They may not have access to our main public li- We call upon ministers and lay members in all the churches to cross the boundary lines of their denomina- tionalism, to join the common task of working in the pres- ent to secure the future peace and justice, not only of our race, but of all underprivileged and oppressed. We aI'ilo urge that our people be encouraged to organize, wherever they can, to study and be instructed in the fundamentals
SOME HELPS AND HANDICAPS TO PROGRESS
of our social, political and economic life that they may do not touch his political disfranchisement or his properly understand their relations to American and world life. economic disinheritance. They hope to do so in Negroes left to themselves cannot assure the the long run, because they have the usual faith spiritual and moral future of the tens of thousands of Negro high school and college graduates in the power of education and moral suasion to who are to have the moral, social and spiritual leadership of this people in the next generation. soften the heart of the white man. This faith is As I see it, the question comes back primarily to one of social justice and economic opportunity. filled with many illusions, as such expectations To show to a people the fruits from a land they are not permitted to enter, to lift them up to heav- always are. However large the number of indien where they may see all the glories of business and economic opportunity, and then to cast them vidual white men who identify themselves comdown to the bitter hell of exclusion and denial intensifies the seriousness of America's most vital pletely with the Negro cause, the white race in problem. Unless the white American pUlpit rids itself of its silence and timidity and boldly faces America will not admit the Negro to equal rights the situation in the name of Christ, it is but a cross upon the backs of Negro Christian leader- if it is not forced to do so. Upon that point, one ship, the weight of which may cause them to faint, if not to despair. may speak with a dogmatism which all history We have among Negroes "a spiritual leadership justifies. that is intellectually weak; and an intellectual leadership that is spiritually weak." If we would If present conditions continue, both Commusee China, India and Africa brought to Christ, our Christian faith and service should first achieve nism and Socialism will increasingly appeal to the test of permitting six million Negro Christians to stand erect in every section of our com- Negroes, the people farthest down, and the most mon country, free to go forth unhindered and make their contribution to our national well-be- flagrantly disinherited. Communism offers racial, ing, unhindered in the avenues of social and economic opportunity and freedom. social and economic equality, and in Russia, it is The reason that Negroes are not a disappearing attempting to practice what it preaches. Chrisrace in America, but increase with each succeeding decade (Negro population census 1790 was tianity is founded upon the doctrine of goodwill, 757,208; in 1930, it was 11,891,141) is because both in slavery and freedom they have attained brotherhood, peace and love among all men. a fine technique in practicing non-resistance, without resorting either to noncooperation or violence. Never before in the history of the world was Dr. Reinhold Niebuhr in his book, "Moral Man and Immoral Society," says "It is hopeless for Christianity furnished with so complete a laborathe Negro to expect complete emancipation from the menial, social and economic position into tory for demonstrating these doctrines. All of which the white man has forced him, merely by trusting in the moral sense of the white race. the human ingredients are here, only awaiting The Negro schools, conducted under the aus- the kindling spark which alone can be struck by pices of white philanthropy, encourage individual Negroes to higher forms of self-realization; but the followers of Jesus, submitting themselves to they do not make a frontal attack upon the social injustices and political rights for the Negro with- God's transforming and overcoming power out arousing the antagonism of the whites. They try to enlarge, but they operate nevertheless with- through faith in Jesus Christ. The task and the in the limits of the "zones of agreement." test of Christianity in America is to absorb the This means that they secure minimum rights for the Negro such as better sanitation, police Negro into the' body of our society on the basis protection and more adequate schools. But they of justice, righteousness and good. will. Negroes are a peace-loving people. The spirit of the good neighbor pervades the race. How far mutual dependence and common poverty are responsible for this, I do not know. But grasping greed and insensibility to the condition of the weak and unfortunate is not a characteristic of the Negro race. The thing that sustained the Negro in slav- ery, the thing that brought him through the pe- riod of Reconstruction and the thing that chiefly sustains him now, is faith in God, faith in his future and faith in himself. Like Abraham, he has gone forth and continues to walk by faith, believing that God will give him a better heritage and a brighter day.
The Christiari hosts that are on duty all along the firing line against social, moral and spiritual.
foes, have in the Negro division a great army held in reserve. These soldiers of the Cross should be thoroughly trained, equipped and armed for active service in a battle that must be fought to a de- cisive conclusion. It may be, in the providence of God, the spiritual reinforcement they shall bring will strike the decisive blow to the forces that openly challenge the authority of the State and the strength and influence of the Christian Church. .
NEGRO POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES-1900 TO 1930 Section 1930 1920 ,1910 1900 Total ……………………….. . 11,891,143 10,463,131 9,827,763 8,833,994 The North ………………………. . 2,409,21S 1,472,309 1,027,674 880,771 The South ………………………. . 9,361,577 8,912,231 8,749,427 The West ……………………….. . 78,591 7,922,969 120,347 50,662 30,254 TOTAL AND NEGRO POPULATION BY STATES AND PER CENT OF NEGRO POPULATION IN EACH STATE IN 1930 States Total Negro Per Cent Negro PerCent Population Population Population Illiterate New England 1,096 0.1 4.8 890 0.2 3.9 Maine ……..•……………………. 797,423 568 0.2 4.9 1.2 5.4 New Hampshire …………………… . 465,293 52,365 1.4 8.1 Vermont ………………………. , .. . 359,611 9,913 1.8 4.9 Massachusetts …………………….. . 4,249,614 29.354 3.3 2.5 RhQde Island ……………… , …….. . 687,497 412,814 5.2 5.1 Connecticut …….. , …. ' ………….. . 1,606,903 208,828 4.5 4.2 431,257 Middle Atlantic 4.7 6.4 309,304 3.5 6.0 New york …………………………. 12,588,066 111,982 4.3 3.6 328,972 3.5 3.0 New Jersey ………… " …………… 4,041,334 169,453 0.4 4.4 Pennsylvania ………………………. 9,631,350 10,739 0.4 2.0 0.7 5.4 East North Central 9,445 6.2 8.8 17,380 0.1 3.4 Ohio ……………………………. . 6,646,697 223,840 0.1 2.2 Indiana …………………………. . 3,238,503 1.0 3.9 Illinois ………………………….. . 7,630,654 377 3.5 5.9 M~chiga~ ….•…………………….. 4,842,325 646 13,752 13.6 13.2 WISconSIn ………………………… . 2,939,006 66,344 16.9 11.4 27.1 4.1 West North Central 32,602 26.8 19.2 276,379 6.6 11.3 Minnesota ……………………….. . 2,563,953 132,068 29.0 20.6 Iowa …………………………….. . 2,470,939 650,165 45.6 26.9 Missouri …………………………. . 3,629,367 114,893 36.8 19.9 North Dakota …………………….. . 680,845 918,647 29.4 18.8 793,681 South Dakota …………………….. . 692,849 1,071,125 8.6 15.4 431,828 18.3 Nebraska ………………………… . 1,377,963 35.7 14.~ Kansas ………………………….. . 1,880,999 226,040 50.2 477,646 26.2 South Atlantic . 944,834 25.8 23.2 1,009,718 36.9 Delaware ………………………… . 238,380 J 6.1 478,463 7.2 23.3 Maryland ………………………… . 1,631,526 776,326 14.7 District of Columbia ………………… . 486,869 172,198 9.3 Virginia …………………………. . 2,421,851 854,964 0.2 13.4 0.1 West Virginia …………………….. . 1,729,205 1,256 0.6 4.6 North Carolina …… , ……………… . 3,170,276 668 1.1 4.2 South Carolina ……………………. . 1,738,765 0.7 4.2 1,250 2.5 3.9 Georgia ………………………….. . 2,908,506 11,828 0.2 0.6 6.0 Florida ………………………….. . 1,468,211 2,850 3.2 10,749 0.4 1.5 East South Central 0.2 1,108 1.4 2.9 Kentucky ………………………… . 2,614,589 516 2.2 3.1 Tennessee ………………………… . 2,616,556 6,840 A~ab:,-~a : ………………………… . 2,646,248 2,234 MISSISSIPPI ……………………….. . 2,009,821 81,048 West South Central Arkansas ………………………… . 1,854,482 'Louisiana ………………………… . 2,101,593 Oklahoma ………………………… . 2,396,040 Texas …………………………… . 5,824,715 Mountain Montana ………………………….'. 537,606 Idaho ……………………………. . 445,032 Wyoming ………………………… . 225,565 Colorado ……………………… , … . 1,035,791 New Mexico ………………………. . 423,317 Arizona …………………………. . 435,573 Utah ……………………………. . 507,847 Nevada ………………………….. . 91,058 Pacific Washington ………………………. . 1,563,396 Oregon ………….. , …………….. . 953,786 California ……………………….. . 5,677,251 NOTE: Thus the greatest Negro illiteracy is found in South Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and North Carolina-where the Negroes form from 29 to 50 per cent of the PQPulation; the greatest literacy among Negroes is in Northern and Western States where they form only from one to four per cent of the total popUlation.
OF NEGROES IN THE TOTAL POPULATION, BY STATES
(District of Columbia, 27.1 per cent. not shown ~eparately on the map) CJ UNDER I m~ I TO 6 a 5 TO 12~ ~ 12" TO 2S 00 25 TO 37~ 37~ TO 60 50 AND OVER THE HEAVY LINES(_) SHOW Q£OCR"~HIC DIVISIONS Two G~nerations Since Emancipation By MONROE N. WORK, Tuskegee, Alabama Editor of the Negro Year Book PROGRESS IN SEVENTY YEARS-1866-1936 W E ASSUME that individuals and groups do make progress. If one took into ac- Economic Progress- 1866 1936 Gain in Seventy count only what has happened to Ameri- Homes Owned …..•. 12,000 750,000 Ye(1J)"S can Negroes in the recent depression years he Farms Operated ….. 8,80,000 could easily present facts to indicate, at least 20,000 738,000 from an economic standpoint, that the group had 70,000 860,000 lost much of its gains of the previous decade. To Businesses Conducted . 2,100 $2,500,000,000 get a more accurate measure of the progress of 67,900 the Negro group in America it is necessary to Financial Strength … $20,000,000 $2,480,000,000 take a long time view. Seventy years (1866 to 1936) has elapsed since slavery was abolished in Educational Progress- 10 90 80 the United States and under freedom Negroes 15 800 785 have had opportunity, in spite of handicaps and Per Cent Literate ..•. 100,000 2,500,000 restrictions, to demonstrate their capabilities. Schools for Higher 600 55,000 2,400,000 $60,000 $65,000,000 54,41)0 We are too prone to measure achievements in Training* …….. . $700,000 $61,700,000 economic terms. There are other values-moral, Students in Pub I i c $80,000 $3,500,000 $64,940,000 spiritual and intellectual, to be taken into ac- $61,000,000 Schools ………. . Teachers in all Schools $3,420,000 Property for Higher Education …….. . Annual Expenditures for all Education .. Amount R a i sed by Negroes ……••..
Religious Progres8- Number of ChUrches .. 700 45,000 44,300 4,700,000 Communicants ….•.. 600,000 5,300,000 Sunday Schools …… 36,000 35,000 Sunday School Pupils • 1,000 2,200,000 2,150.000 50,000 $210,000,000 $208,500,000 Value Church Property $1,500,000 • Includes Public High Schools. count. These are difficult to present in a factual [289 ]
manner, but some indirect evidence of such prog- Years N umber Receiving gress is indicated in the emphasis which, through 1901-1905 the years, the group has placed upon home build- 1906-1910 ……………………………. 1 ing and the imparting of moral and spiritual pre- 1911-1915 cepts to the children in the home. 1916-1920 ……………………………. 3 1921-1925 ……………………………. 4 Intellectual progress is indicated in the record 1926-1930 ……………………………. 9 of the achievements of Negroes in all the fields 1931-1935 ……………………………. 12 of intellectual endeavor, as shown in the various ……………………………. 18 editions of the Negro Year Book under "Inven- ……………………………. 63 tions" and "Scholastic Achievements." They relate particularly to what Negroes have done in Total ……………………………. 117 open competition in the best high schools, colleges and universities of the country. In the high Thus from 1867 to 1930, 54 Negroes received schools are found an increasing number of Negro Doctor of Philosophy degrees, whereas in the five students getting the highest ratings,. becoming year period, 1931-1935, there were 63 Negroes the valedictorians of their classes, receiving schol- receiving this degree. arships, prizes and other awards. Many have graduated cum laude and magna cum laude from Negro Drift to the Cities such leading universities and colleges as Syracuse, Bryn Mawr, Smith, Bates, Tufts and Harvard. The Negro population is still, in the main, rural, Negroes have achieved scholastic distinction in but in 1930, only 56.3 per cent was rural, as comall the fields of learning, in the humanities and pared with 66 per cent in 1920, and 72.7 per cent in the social and physical sciences. in 1910. This indicates the increasing movement of Negroes to urban centers, and if the trend The following tables show first, the number of continues it is probable that by 1940, the Negro, Negroes elected to Phi Beta Kappa in the sixty- like the white population, will be predominantly two years, 1874 to 1935 inclusive; and second, urban. the number who have been awarded Doctor of Philosophy Degrees in the sixty years, 1876 to The general trend of the Negro movement has 1935.* been from rural areas and small urban centers to cities of 100,000 or more inhabitants. Between NUMBER OF NEGROES WHO HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO MEM- 192'0 and 1930, the Negro population of urban territory increased from 3,559,473 to 5,193,913, BERSHIP IN THE PHI BETA KAPPA FRATERNITY 1874-1935 while that of rural areas decreased from 6,903,658 to 6,697,230. The Negro population of cities, with Year8 Number Elected 100,000 or more inhabitants, increased approxi- mately 1,200,000 during that same period.
1874-1880 ……………………………. 4 NEGROES IN UNITED STATES IN URBAN AND RURAL 1881-1885 ……………………………. 1 COMMUNITIES per-eent 1886-1890 ……………………………. 0 Year Urban Rural Ur<ban Rural 1891-1895 …………….•.•.•••••••.•••••• 5 1930 5,193,913 6,697,230 43.1 56.3 1896-1900 ……………………………. 1 1920 3,559,473 6,903,658 34.0 66.0 1901-1905 ……………………………. 7 1910 2,684,797 7,142,966 27.3 72.7 1906-1910 ……………………………. 6 1900 2,005,972 6,828,022 22.7 77.3 1911-1915 ……………………………. 10 1890 1,481,142 6,007,534 19.8 80.2 1916-1920 ……………………………. 24 1921-1925 ……………………………. 21 In 1930 there were 2,881,790 Negroes in the 93 cities having a total population of 100,000 or 1926-1930 ……………………………. 40 more. Seven cities-New York, Chicago, Phila- delphia, Baltimore, Washington, New Orleans 1931-1935 ……………………………. 32 and Detroit-had more than 100,000 Negroes each and over one-third of the Negro population Total ……………………………. 151 in the North was concentrated in the above four northern cities. Negroes' represented more than It is to be noted that almost as many Negroes, 38 per cent of the total population in Birmingham 72, were elected to Phi Beta Kappa in the ten and Memphis; over 33 per cent in Atlanta, Jackyear period, 1926 to 1935 as were elected, 79, in sonville and Norfolk; more than 25 per cent in the fifty-two year period, 1874 to 1925. Washington, New Orleans, Richmond, Nashville and Chattanooga; and more than 20 per cent in NUMBER OF NEGROES RECEIVING DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF Houston, Miami and Tampa. In almost every southern city, the proportion of Negroes in the PHILOSOPHY-1876-1935 total population has been decreasing, while in the northern cities the proportion has been increas- Ye'ar8 Number Receiving ing.* 1876-1880 ……………………………. 2 1881-1885 ……………………………. 0 1886-1890 ……………………………. 1 1891-1895 ……………………………. 2 1896-1900 ……………………………. 2 • Membership in the Phi Beta Kappa Fraternity is cO'nferred in • See "Negroes in the United States," 1920-1932 (page 48). the leading cO'lleges and universities O'n undergraduates whO' are amO'ng the best scholars and is for scholarship only. The degree of DoctO'r of PhilO'sophy is the highest earned degree conferred by educational institutions.
Negro View of the White Man*
By REV. HAROLD M. KINGSLEY, Cleveland, Ohio Pastor of the MI. Zion Congregational Church "WE HAVE lost faith in the white man's what the resentment in the colored man's mined religion and morals," exclaimed a Negro when he thinks of the white man's attitude. at an informal conference in the South Possibly no Anglo-Saxon ever put the issue a few months after the World War. Excitement quite so bluntly and boldly as does William James had not yet died down ; blood was at a fever heat; in his letters when he asks, "What right of emimen were wrought up with great expectancy and nent domain has the white man over darker a new self-appreciation; the rights of oppressed races?" He beseeches his fellow men of the white minorities were being championed by the fore- race to cease their "snivelling hypocrisy" and not most world leaders; men of our race had made to cloak economic exploitations with fine phrases the supreme sacrifice; the disappointment of and soft platitudes. Here he indicates the very those who were tacitly given to understand that kernel of the matter and reveals a most unusual the war made no difference, that they were ex- ability for seeing one's self as others ~ee one. pected to resume an oppressed, a backward status Those who doubt the truth of other statements in -in other words, that the war had brought no this article, will do well to ponder the words of improvement in the status of the Negro in Amer- William James. ica-struck home with sharpness of a sword and the bitterness of gall. The man who expressed The challenge is not so much that of the rethis sentiment to the Negro conference, and to demption of the black man, as that of the redemptwo white delegates honestly seeking a basis of tion of the black and white, working together, understanding, was not a radical but a thought- through an actual practice of Christianity. There ful, conservative, life-long friend of the white is still in the minds of belated races a doubt as to man and one of the steadiest champions of peace- the honesty of the white man's religion. Thus ful Christian race-adj ustment. the situation that confronts the white man today for his own salvation is that of practicing the The white visitors were surprised to find that kind of Christianity he preaches, and to erase, by the Negro not only expected a larger life as a re- a new demonstration of Christianity, a doubt sult of his sacrifices and loyalty during the war, which is not only humiliating to the conscientious but that resentment had been aroused by the new white man, but is detrimental to the honest black wave of oppression and violence 'that swept over man. Let us together restore confidence, not in the country, manifested as it was, in Washing- the white man's Christianity or the black man's ton, Chicago, Omaha and St. Paul, and that, with Christianity, but in the power of the religion of bitterness in his soul, he was beginning to doubt Jesus Christ of Nazareth, which includes a practhe integrity of the white man, his sincerity of tice of the doctrine of brotherly love to embrace purpose and the genuineness of his moral and re- all men. ligious professions. Perhaps no more self-revealing and truthful sentiment was ever uttered than To be concrete, in suggestion, I would point out this regretful indictment by this black friend of that in addition to the splendid publicity campaign the white man. carried out by religious organizations North and South, that the Home Mission Study Course pre- Picture a race the victim of caricature and fun- sents probably the finest approach for the young making, judged by its lowest and most inferior mind that has ever been presented to the public types, after the Civil War the object of a brutal in such a form, and that the Interracial Commisopposition to all fundamentals of progress, and sion of Atlanta and the Commission on Church later, after overcoming this opposition to an ex- and Race Relations of the Federal Council of tent and pushing upward to a surprising degree, Churches are all together, with other similar to be made the butt of cruel jokes, the object of agencies, presenting a program and a solution coarse ridicule, and you may understand some- that will bring better understanding, more help- ful appreciation and a real working fellowship 19;2~eprlnted from the MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD, June, which will help to change the Negro's unfavor- able estimate of the white man.
[291 ]
Negro as a Human
Are We Making Progress in Better Race Relationships By WILL W. ALEXANDER, Atlanta, Georgia Executive Director of Commission on Interracial Cooperation SVCH a term as "race relationships" appears eraIly, the idea that the Negro is a normal human in the language and comes into common being. This is not to say that there may not be usage without being adequately defined. The out of the African background certain influences term means different things to different people. that persist among American Negroes at the pres- Perhaps to most people in North America it means ent time. It is to say that these influences are some sort of indefinite relationship between white superficial and that the fundamental explanation and colored people. To be more exact, it prob- of the present condition of American Negroes has ably would mean the relation of Negroes to the grown out of their social inheritance, rather than general cultural and economic structure of Amer- out of inherent biological qualities.
ican life. In the American mind there came over from Progress in relating Negroes to this general slavery numerous widely held ideas about the social and economic structure would best be tested peculiar characteristics of Negroes. Long years by the extent to which it is possible for them to ago a great national leader said that if it could find an opportunity in America for the full de- be demonstrated to him that a Negro could master velopment and unhindered expression of their the higher mathematics he would believe that the capacities as human beings. It might be said that race had real intelligence. There is a widespread progress is measured by the extent to which belief that Negro children generally can be taught Negroes as a group and in their individual sta- as other children are taught up to the age of early tions are thought of as persons, and not as spe- adolescence and after that, because of certain cial kinds of persons. The difficulty has been that inevitable biological tendencies, that they cannot most white people have thought of them as spe- go through the normal educational experiences cial kinds of persons, and involved in this think- that are open to other children. An extreme and ing has been the belief in the inherent racial in- almost incredible example of this habit of attrib- feriority of Negroes as a group. As a result, it uting special racial characteristics to Negroes is has been supposed that Negroes are incapable of found in the belief that there are certain types acquiring the tools of culture necessary for full of Negroes known as "blue-gums," whose bite is participation in American life. Because of this as poisonous as that of a serpent! One can still assumption, Negroes generally have been assigned find this belief in some sections of the South.
to an inferior status. Discrimination has been There is a large body of tradition about Negro justified on the ground that it was inevitable be- health, which assumes that because of biological cause of this inherent racial inferiority. This old inheritances Negroes react to disease in ways that argument by which slavery was justified is used white people do not. Many articles have been to explain any retardation that may be found to written in a serious attempt to maintain this be characteristic of Negro Americans in any field. thesis. These assumptions have given rise to the All shortcomings in the Negro community, idea which is generally accepted that in most whether high death rate, high incidence of homi- fields of human achievement a colored person who cide, or irregular domestic relations, are explained shows particular aptitude must have white blood on this ground. in his veins. The tendency to give a racial explanation to Some really pious people support their belief in everything distinctive in the Negro community in the Negro's variation from the normal human America is, like many other folkways, entirely type not by biology but by the Scriptures. In the unscientific. The best students of anthropology South, and in other sections of the country, there find less and less that is purely biological in the are literalists who find in the story of Ham a basis differences between human beings. The first task, for the belief that the Negro group suffers from therefore, in improving race relations in America a special divine curse which makes them entirely was to establish, in the thinking of people gen- different and, of course, inferior to other human [292 ] beings. A friend of mine-a college graduate and able to acquire and contrih'ute to the culture by a fervent and active lay evangelist-declines to which they are surroijnded. The less effective have anything whatever to do with Negroes and schools have fallen by the wayside, but the better believes that they should not be encouraged to par- ones have survived and many others have been ticipate in anything but the most unimportant added. Educational opportunities for Negroes human activities. He is sure that they are di- are better today than ever before. vinely assigned to a position of inferiority and that no human effort can alter this. He holds White and Colored Students that nothing can be done to improve the condition of Negro life until Christ returns bodily to the Recently, over a period of three years, it was earth to reign-that He will then change the color my privilege to participate in the selection of some of their skin, straighten their hair, and give them seventy young people from colleges of the South an opportunity to become as other human beings. for graduate study in the best schools in this coun- It would seem that most white Americans have try. The number was divided between white and been preoccupied almost to the point of an obses- colored on the basis of popUlation. The careers sion with finding the ways in which Negroes dif- of these students were followed with great care. fer from other human beings. Although most of them had difficulty in meeting the requirements of the graduate schools, the diffi- There always have been white Americans who culties of the colored students were no greater were unwilling to accept the belief that Negroes than those of the whites. Each year some of the were racially inferior. The early educational op- students selected did distinguished work, and a portunities for Negroes were developed on the fair number of Negroes were always found in assumption that they had the capacity to acquire this group. This undoubtedly indicates that the the tools by which to participate in the civilization best of the colored colleges in the South are now of which they were a part. It must be remem- doing work of a high grade-some of them, work bered that this effort began less than a hundred equally as thorough and excellent as that of any years ago. Of course, during the period of slavery other educational institutions in this section. A Negroes incidentally and imperfectly acquired few distinguished centers of education for Necertain of these tools, but it is only since the Civil groes are being developed in the far South. Out War that anything like an adequate opportunity of all this will come an increasing number of men for education has been available for them. In and women who are able to make real contribuspite of this late beginning, there are today groups tions to the development of American life and to of Negroes in America who have acquired the the enrichment of American culture. tools of learning and who are doing excellent work in every field of human endeavor. The number of Twenty years ago the great graduate schools these is increasing every year and the examples outside the South were reluctant to accept Negro of Negro achievement in the field of human learn- students, and very few such students were ening are becoming more and more striking with rolled in these schools. This was perhaps due to each generation of college students. Slowly some extent to hesitation on the part of the col- Negroes themselves are refuting the popular be- leges to face the complications that might arise lief as to their inferiority. Intelligent Americans from the introduction of Negroes into their stuwho have made any careful observations no longer dent bodies. In addition, however, their experidoubt the ability of Negroes to participate fully ence had been that the Negro students who apin our American culture and to meet successfully plied for admission were not well prepared. That the discipline which this culture imposes. There has changed, so that in practically all the leading is an increasing number of white Americans who graduate schools of this country Negroes are to view Negroes as normal human beings. This is be found in increasing numbers, and many of a great step forward in race relationships. them are doing creative work of a high order. These graduate schools now welcome well-pre- Perhaps no educational effort ever yielded pared Negro students. greater results in so short a time than the schools for Negroes which were established in the South Higher education for Negroes was offered forafter the Civil War. In most instances the in- merly only by schools that were supported by the struction was excellent. However, these schools mission boards and philanthropic agencies. This were not always wisely located, and there was is no longer true. There has been a great increase wasteful duplication because of the lack of denom- in state-supported institutions of higher learning inational cooperation. They were never ade- throughout the South. The primary task of these quately financed. There was a lack of libraries institutions has been with the preparation of and laboratory equipment. Yet, as a result of teachers. The academic standards are constantly this effort, it was demonstrated that Negroes are being raised, and as the depression lifts an in- creasing amount of money will be available out
of tax funds for these state institutions of higher education of this great number of white people learning. This is a significant indication of the has been a significant factor in preparing the way growing recognition that Negroes are capable of for better race relations. As education becomes acquiring the tools for full participation in Amer- more pervasive and realistic, tolerance, restraint ican life and culture. and appreciation for Negroes will increase among So much has been written about Negro educa- whites.
tion in the South that those who have not made a One of the most significant things that has hap- detailed study are likely to assume that the edu- pened in the South in the past fifteen years is the cation of the masses-of Negroes is well provided increasing attention which has been given by the for. A visit to one of the better supported Negro colleges to the social sciences. These courses in- colleges may be very misleading to the uninitiated. evitably have taken into consideration the Negro One will find an alert and well-trained faculty and as part of the social structure. In almost every an eager and able student body. Here the best white college in the South today there are courses fruits of Negro life are concentrated-a life not in race relations in which the students are being essentially different in any way from the life on challenged to view the presence of Negroes in the the campuses of other American colleges. Look- population in the same objective way in which ing upon a group of this sort, the uninitiated is they would view any other social phenomena. Of likely to feel that ample provision has been made particular significance is work of this sort which for educational opportunities for Negroes in is being done in the colleges for the training of America. The fact remains, however, that the white teachers. Courses of study calculated to great masses of Negroes in the South are yet of- give these future teachers intelligent and under- fered only the most meager opportunities for edu- standing attitudes regarding Negroes are pro- cation. The tax funds available for all education vided, along with instructions in using the day-by- in the Southern states are lower than the average day experiences in the schoolroom in such a way for the nation. Although the South spends a as to build tolerant attitudes on the part of white larger per cent of its public money on education children. All this means that out of the white than other sections of the country, only a small schools of the South-college and elementary-are proportion of this is spent on the Negro children. coming groups of younger citizens who are open- This results in inadequate buildings, poorly minded, sympathetic and socially intelligent, and trained teachers, and usually no libraries. As who are ready to accept Negroes as human beings dramatic and encouraging as have been the re- with the capacity for contributing to the develop- sults of Negro education,-adequate educational op- ment of civilization and the enrichment of life.
portunities are only beginning to touch the fringes At the moment the greatest difficulty in relating of the Negro communities in the South where the Negroes to the social and economic structure in masses of the Negro population are concentrated. American life is to find adequate opportunity for Improvement in race relations will be possible to the creative ability of these people into whose the extent with which this opportunity for acquir- hands are being put the tools of knowledge. With ing the tools of knowledge is extended to the the exception of the remarkable group of men and masses of Negroes. women of distinction in the various fields of art, The founders of Negro schools in the South the largest opportunities that are open to Negroes after the Civil War seemed to assume that the of education and training are in service to their task was wholly one of educating Negroes. This own people. This means that a great number of was not the case. There were in the South large the most inspiring fields of human endeavor are numbers of white people whose education had closed to Negroes, and that with the exception of been almost as completely negected as that of the fields of art and education Negroes are being the Negroes. At the end of the Civil War there offered very limited opportunities for self-expres- was no system of elementary schools such as had sion. They are demonstrating their capacity for been accepted as a matter of course in most full participation in American life very much American communities. Illiteracy was general more rapidly than opportunities are being offered among the great masses of white people in the for adequate self-expression. Undoubtedly Ne- South. The aftermath of the War was such as to groes are capable of acquiring the tools of Amer- make it impossible to view the educational task ican culture. A hopeful beginning has been made of white and colored in the South as one; conse- in providing opportunities for them to do so.
quently, the idea of white education and Negro Means must and will be provided in American life education developed as separate tasks. Slowly a by which the varied abilities of these Negro Amer- public school system – first largely for whites – icans may be adequately expressed. This is the was established in the South. This is still inade- next step in the improvement of race relations in quate in many sections, but it is growing and the America.
D. JONES-Educator HOWARD THURMAN-Preacher
Some Outstanding Negro Christians -"if By CHANNING H. TOBIAS, New York National Council of the Y. M. C. A.
I T IS difficult to select six outstanding Negro ida Baptist Academy, then located at Jacksonville. Christians from a large number, almost any He was a serious student but showed keen interest one of whom might qualify for such a place. in questions not directly related to his class work. I approach the task as the football coach might, He was the chief promoter of voluntary religious who is about to choose his All-American te~m activities in the Academy and a debater of more from a large number of eligibles. After review- than ordinary ability. Upon completion of his ing records of achievement and other factors, I preparatory course he entered Morehouse College finally chose those that appeal to me personally. "in Atlanta, Georgia, where his work was so out- By Negro Christians we are not limited to pro- standing that he was held over for a year of teachfessional Christian workers but include also ing before he entered the Rochester Theological Christians in various fields of useful service. My Seminary. list, therefore, includes a preacher, an educator, a musician, a scientist, a club woman and a busi- During his three years at Rochester he so disness man. tinguished himself as a speaker that he was in great demand as a chapel and conference preacher Howard Thurman – Preacher in many of the leading colleges of the East and West. As a matter of fact, few men in their stu- Though still under forty years of age, Howard dent days have been as well known and favorably Thurman stands in the front ranks of the preach- received beyond their campuses as Thurman. ersof this generation, regardless of race. I met him first as a boy in his teens attending the Flor- Upon completion of his work at Rochester, he accepted the call of a small church in Oberlin, [295 ]
Ohio, where he combined study at Oberlin College Wesleyan and was graduated in the class of 1911. with his church duties. Soon after going to Ober- He was called to the attention of Dr. John R. Mott, lin he married, but unfortunately Mrs. Thurman then executive secretary of the Student Departfailed in health in the first year of their married' ment of the International Committee of Young life. It became necessary for her to go south, so Men's Christian Associations, and immediately it was decided that she should go to her native upon graduation, was invited to join the staff of town of La Grange, Georgia, and at the same the Student Department as an associate of Wiltime Mr. Thurman accepted a call to become liam A. Hunton, the only Negro member of the preacher for Spelman and Morehouse Colleges of staff. He accepted the call and served as visiting Atlanta. During his first year there Mrs. Thur- secretary to Negro schools and colleges in the man died, leaving a baby daughter. Always of a Southern states. In this connection he was one mystical temper.ament, this sorrow led Mr. Thur- of the organizers of the Kings Mountain Student man into more complete fellowship with his Lord, Conference which has for all the years since renand resulted in his getting a leave of absence to dered the same type of service for Negro students spend part of a year in meditation and study with as has been rendered for students in general by Rufus Jones, the great mystic of Haverford. En- the Northfield and Lake Geneva conferences. riched by this experience, but desirous of still more quiet and meditation he went to Scotland the After three years as a student secretary, Mr. following summer, and there combined study and J ones was called to the secretaryship of the Colpreaching with his meditations. On returning to ored Men's Branch of the Young Men's Christian America he resumed his work at Atlanta for an- Association of St. Louis, Missouri, where he other year and then accepted a call to the School erected a $300,000 building and built up a large of Religion at Howard University of Washington, membership and community following. After ten D. C. This position he still holds. Soon after he constructive years at St. Louis, he entered busiwas married to Miss Sue Bailey, a secretary of ness for a brief period and later served for a year the National Board of the Y. W. C. A. as field secretary of the Commission on Interracial Cooperation with headquarters at Atlanta, At the invitation of the Student Christian Georgia. Movements of North America and India, Mr. and Mrs. Thurman for the past i+ve months have been There was need for a first-class college for engaged in an evangelistic tour of the college cen- Negro women in that section of the South and ters of India. Enthusiastic comments on the ex- in 1926 Mr. Jones was invited to reorganize Bentraordinary services rendered on this mission nett College, which had existed for more than have come not only from Indian leaders but from thirty years as a small coeducational institution Dr. Stanley Jones and other well-known mis- under the Freedmen's Aid Society of the Methsionaries. odist Episcopal Church. With the assistance of Dean Holgate, of Northwestern University, as The Federal Council of Churches of Christ in adviser, he set to work with a handful of students. America has extended an invitation to Mr. Thur- At the end of ten years, what do we find? A beauman to join the National Preaching Mission that tiful campus with ten buildings to serve the acawill tour the principal cities of the United States demic and dormitory needs of nearly three hunnext autumn. dred college students; a faculty of highly trained Christian men and women; an "A" classification David Dallas Jones – Educator granted by the accrediting board of the Southern Association of Colleges; community good will for Although Bennett College for Women of the college expressed by white and black alike; Greensboro, N. C., over which David D. Jones enthusiastic support by the sponsoring church presides, is only ten years old, the place that it boards; the gift of three buildings by two dehas achieved in that time shows that he merits voted Christians – Mr. and Mrs. Henry Pfieffer, a place in the vanguard of Christian educators. proprietors of the Hudnut Perfumery Company of New York, and substantial operating aid from Born of humble Christian parents in Greens- the great educational foundations. Closely assoboro, N. C., forty-eight years ago, Mr. Jones re- ciated with President Jones in this remarkable ceived his early training in his home town and accomplishment has been his efficient wife, Mrs. in New Orleans, Louisiana, where later he lived Susie Williams Jones, a graduate of the Univerwith his older brother, editor of the Southwestern sity of Cincinnati. During these busy years, Christian Advocate and afterwards bishop of the President Jones found time also to pursue grad- Methodist Episcopal Church. Young Jones did uate studies at Columbia University where he resuch creditable work in high school at New ceived his A.M. degree in 1930. He is a member Orleans that his brother helped him to go on to of the Wesleyan University chapter of Phi Beta Wesleyan University, at Middletown, Connecticut, Kappa. to pursue his studies. He worked his way through
SOME OUTSTANDING NEGRO CHRISTIANS
HARRY T. BURLE'IGH teacher's orchestral compositions. The melody of these Spirituals made such a deep impression Harry T. Burleigh – Musician upon Dvorak that he wove them into what has be- come his most popular composition, "The New In commenting on the life of Burleigh, one World Symphony." writer has said, "If Harry Burleigh's musical gift had been less genuine it might have been smoth- After completing four years' work at the Conered by the difficulties of his life, for this com- servatory, Burleigh's great moment came, in poser-to-be was born and reared in deep poverty, 1894, when the position of baritone soloist became with the added handicap of Negro blood." vacant in St. George's Episcopal Church in New York – one of the largest churches in the city. Born in Erie, Pa., seventy years ago of poor Mr. Burleigh was the only Negro among the sixty parents, his early youth was spent in sandwiching applicants, but he had the voice desired and Dr. in a public school education between selling news- Rainsford, the rector, and the vestrymen did not papers, running errands and working at odd jobs allow the color of his skin to prevent him from to help his mother care for a family of five chil- serving. He has remained a member of this choir dren after the early death of his father. His for forty-two years. For over thirty years of school-teacher discovered in him a passionate love this period, he sang also at Temple Emanuel, one for music and encouraged his mother to let him of the largest and most influential synagogues in hear the performances of great artists who visited the nation. On one of Burleigh's several Eurothe city from time to time. Among those artists pean tours he sang for King Edward VII, and were Madam Carreno and Mrs. MacDowell. Soon the heads of other European governments. He he began to sing in church choirs on Sunday and has composed music for more than two hundred in Jewish synagogues on Saturdays. At the age songs and has written scores for a volume of of twenty he studied stenography and worked as Negro Spirituals. In spite of this, he modestly a stenographer until he was twenty-six years of insists that he is not a composer, yet when one age: When he heard that the National Conserva- thinks of his popular arrangement of "Deep tory of Music in New York City had offered River," his "Little Mother of Mine" which is the scholarships, he at once determined to try for one. song most in use on Mother's Day, his popular He went to New York and was given an audition ballad "Jean," and his "Ethiopia Salutes the and awarded a scholarship. Dvorak, the noted Colors"-a setting of Walt Whitman's poem, we composer, then director of the Conservatory, be- are compelled to insist that he is not only a comcame so much impressed by the young Negro that poser but a distinguished one. he gave him considerable time outside of class hours. Burleigh played and sang for Dvorak the George Washington Carver – Scientist Negro Spirituals and also copied many of his George Washington Carver was born about sixty-nine years ago of slave parents on the Mis- souri farm of Moses Carver. His earliest recol- lections were the death of his father and the steal- ing of himself and his mother by a band of raiders in the last year of the Civil War. Moses Carver gave a race horse valued at three hundred dollars to redeem young George and had him returned to the Missouri farm where he was reared.
His early training consisted of the mastery of the famous old blue-backed speller. Lodging in the cabins of friendly Negroes, sleeping in open fields or in a hospitable stable, he continued his studies for a year, keeping ever close to the soil. The wanderlust seized him early, and he set out toward Kansas, "the home of the free." For nine years he worked as a domestic servant at Fort Scott, studying day and night as his employment permitted. His next move was to Minneapolis, Kansas, where he finished a high school course, and entered Iowa State College. He met his school expenses by managing a laundry. On completing the work for his Bachelor's and Master's degrees, he was made a member of the faculty in charge of
Mary McLeod Bethune – Educator Mary McLeod Bethune was one of a family of seventeen children, born of slave parents in an humble cabin on a rice and cotton farm near Mayesville, S. C. When she was about eleven years old a little school was opened near Mayes- ville by the Board of Missions of the Presbyterian Church and Mary was among. the first children who walked the four miles to school and back.
Her mother said, "We had to make some of· the children go but it seems that Mary, little as she was, understood what it all meant." In a few years the little school had done its best for Mary, and one day Miss Wilson, her beloved teacher, told her that Miss Mary Crissman, a dressmaker in Denver, Colo., wanted to pay for a little girl's schooling at Scotia Seminary, in Concord, N. C., Mary was chosen to go and in the autumn she bade good-bye to old friends and took her first railroad journey to Scotia Seminary. Here she was awkward and shy at first, but met every slight and every criticism with unfailing good humor and soon won the hearts of both teachers and stu- dents. At the close of her work at Scotia Sem- inary she received a scholarship which enabled her to continue her studies at the Moody Bible In- stitute, Chicago. At the end of two years at this GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER institution, she hoped to fulfill a long cherished desire to go to Africa as a missionary, but learned the Green House, the Bacteriological Laboratory and the Department of Systematic Botany. Soon he was discovered by Booker T. Washington who called him to his lifework at Tuskegee Institute, where he still labors.
During his long stay at Tuskegee, he has had tempting offers, one of them from Thomas A.
Edison, but he has promptly turned them all down because of his desire to cooperate in the training of his own people. He has been honored by elec- tion to membership! in the Royal Society of Lon- don, and to this day does not know who suggested his name. He has discovered hundreds of uses for potatoes, peanuts and pecans, freely giving his formulas to the public without attempting to commercialize his findings. He is in demand as a lecturer on the platforms of white as well as Negro colleges of the South and has appeared be- fore committees of Congress in the interest of the agricultural development of the South and in the interests of his own people. In spite of all the honors that have come to him Prof. Carver is a devout, humble Christian and attributes his scien- tific success to his close communion with God. He is fond of quoting the passage, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the Lord who made heaven and earth." MARY McLEOD BETHUNE
that all the colored stations in Africa were filled. At an early age, however, he sought relief from She was therefore appointed a teacher at the the daily routine of farm life and joined his uncle, Lucy Laney School in Augusta, Georgia, and there a practicing physician, in Durham, N. C. His she labored faithfully for a year or two by the first job there was a dishwasher in the Durside of Lucy Laney, a great Negro teacher who ham Hotel, for ten dollars a month. He was soon had a profound influence on the shaping of Mrs. promoted to head bell boy and then side waiter, Bethune's life. but found that he could not attend school while holding these jobs, and took a position as cook for Her great pioneer venture took place at Day- a distinguished judge whom he served for two tona, Florida, where in October, 1904, she began years while going to school. Upon graduation a small institution for Negro girls. Five little from the graded school he accepted a job as mangirls responded to the first call of her school bell ager of a grocery company into which twenty-five in a cabin room of what was Mterwards to become of Durham's leading colored citizens had put ten the Daytona Educational and Industrial Training School. The opening exercises consisted of the CHARLES CLINTON SPAULDING reading of the Twenty-third Psalm, the singing of the old hymn, "Leaning on" the Everlasting Arm," dollars each. When the company got into finanand a fervent prayer to God for help and guid- cial straits the other members withdrew their inance. On that same site today stands Bethune- vestment, and Spaulding was left with bare Cookman College, with thirty-two acres of land, shelves and three hundred dollars indebtedness. fourteen buildings and a plant estimated conserv- It took him five years to work out of this situaatively at $800,000. tion. Just at that time his uncle and another friend decided to make an effort to launch an in- The personality of Mary McLeod Bethune was surance company and Spaulding was called in to too dynamic to be confined to a single college help. With such funds as they could spare he campus and soon she was in demand as a speaker launched the company, serving as office boy, janion many platforms of her own race and of the tor and manager. He sold all of the policies, colwhite group. Now she is regarded as one of the lected all of the premiums and kept all the records. most attractive speakers in America regardless Out of his first travels over the state grew the of sex or race. I have heard her at Carnegie structure of the North Carolina Mutual Insurance Hall, along with Rabbi Wise and other distin- Company, founded in 1898. guished speakers, and on another occasion on the same program with Carrie Chapman Catt, and This company has weathered the depression always she has impressed her audience not only with the force of her eloquence but the sincerity of her spirit.
She was the leading spirit in establishing a home for delinquent Colored girls in Ocala, Florida. She has served as president of the Southeastern Federation of Women's Clubs and as president of the National Association of Colored Women. Recently she was made a member of the National Advisory Committee of the National Youth Administration, and a year ago she was given the Spingarn Medal, which is the highest distinction a Negro can claim.
Charles Clinton Spaulding – Business Man Born on a small North Carolina farm, Charles Clinton Spaulding manages today the largest insurance company operated by members of the Negro race. The company maintains an agency force in eight states and has headquarters in a $250,000 modern, seven-story office building in Durham, N. C. Last year it paid policyholders a total of $1,440,965, and the total insurance now in force amounts to $36,683,621.
As soon as Spaulding was able to do a day's work in the field he was sent out with the other boys of the family to take his turn at the plow.
and stands today as the leading Negro business Church of Durham; he also serves as a member concern in America. A loan of approximately of the Board of Trustees of Shaw University, Ral- $300,000, secured less than three years ago from eigh, N. C., and of Howard University, Washingthe'Reconstruction Finance Corporation, has been ton, D. C., and is a member of the Executive Compaid back in its entirety-which is somewhat un- mittee of the National Negro Business League. usual in these difficult times. He is deeply interested in helping to lift the masses of his people to a higher plane of living, In spite of the heavy responsibilities resting and is known for his cooperation with white and upon Mr. Spaulding' as president of the North colored people in efforts at better interracial Carolina Mutual Insurance Company, he finds understanding. time to give service to the White Rock Baptist THE NATIONAL NEGRO ANTHEM Hymn Composed by James Weldon Johnson; Set to Music by His Brother Lift every voice and sing Till earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of Liberty; Let our rejoicing rise High as the list'ning skies, Let it resound loud as the rolling sea; Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; Facing the rising sun Of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory is won.
Stony the road we trod, Bitter the chast'ning rod F1elt in the days when hope unborn had died; Yet with a steady beat, Have not our weary feet Come to the place for which our fathers sighed? We have come over a way that with tears has been watered, We have come, treading our path thro' the blood of the slaughtered, Out from the gloomy past, Till now we stand at last Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way; Thou who hast by Thy might, Led us into the light, Keep us forever in the path, we pray, Lest our feet stray from the places, our God; where we met Thee, Lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee; Shadowed beneath Thy hand, May we forever stand, True to our God, true to our Native Land.
Great Need· of the Negro
The Training of Christian Leaders By DEAN C. L. HILL, Atlanta, Georgia Turner Theological Seminary, Morris Brown College PERHAPS the greatest need of the Negro mi- ing consciousness of the worth of training on the nority group in America today is a trained part of the Negro masses, when he sees the in- Christian leadership. Nor is this a mere creasing numbers of boys and girls who yearly sweeping generalization. There are many press- are streaming forth from the halls of the institu- ing problems confronting the black man in Amer- tions of learning all over the length and breadth ica. There are the maladjustments of a social of America? Certainly there is a demand for set-up which is, in many respects, anti-Christian. trained and effective Christian leadership among There is the cruel and bloodless economic scheme Negroes today.
which, especially in the Southern states, has re- This call to Christian leadership means a call to solved the life of the black man into a program preparation. It presupposes the possession of in- of bald economics and a concomitant tendency to tellectual and scientific culture. The Christian regard the life he lives as merely synonymous leader is in no small measure an interpreter of with vegetation. In other words, the popular the age in which he lives. He is a sort of "specphilosophy of life among a vast majority of black tator of all time and existence." He deals prifolk is that expressed by Feuerbach: Mann ist marily with the spirit of the times. He must was er isst-"man is what he eats"-, and the therefore be conversant with the thought and Negro in the terrific struggle for mere biological tendencies of the age.
existence is determined to vegetate at any cost. Moreover, each age has its peculiar challenges This attitude is largely the result of the poor to culture, and in order to meet these challenges, wages earned by Negro laborers and also the dis- the Christian leader must be thoroughly trained crimination that has attended many of the eco- and prepared. There are, too, those periodic nomic programs affecting the populace within the thrusts of unbelief aimed against the bulwark of last five years, particularly in the Southland. Fi- the Church and ordered society, seeking to disnally, there is the problem touching the political rupt the very foundations of the Church and activity of the black man: mobocracy, mock jus- gnawing at the viscera of civilization. In order tice in the courtrooms, and a general denial of to stem the tide of the atheistic, cynical, anti- the inalienable rights of all men, theoretically Christian and anti-American waves of thought, guaranteed by the Constitution of the United the Christian, and leader must be "fitted unto States of America. every good work."
But none of these, I believe, constitute the most The very nature of Christianity presupposes preeminent, the most imperative, the most urgent trained leadership. Our faith is not a religion of problem before which the Negro of today stands. forms and imaginations. It is not something His greatest need is for trained and capable Chris- spun out of the vagaries of human speculation.
tian leaders; a leadership that understands his It is a revelation of essential, absolute truth; of plight, that sympathizes with him, and possesses historic, rational and moral truth. It has to do sufficient clarity of vision to point the way out with life and reality, not with appearance. In of his dilemma, on the basis of the Christian order to seize upon the central germ of Christian world-view. truth, life and reality, the Christian leader must Another factor that demands a trained Chris- be trained in the rudiments and fundamental principles of historic Christianity. tian leadership is perhaps the most elemental of all : the growing consciousness of the need and Show me a Christian leader with wide culture; worth of education on the part of the masses of a man who is at home in philosophy, and whose black folk. A trained following certainly demands friends are the poets; a man who bristles with a trained leadership. To educate the laity and to knowledge and information, and I will show you neglect the clergy is not only folly, but is a great a powerful and dynamic incentive to his feH<?wtragedy. And who will deny that there is a grow- men.
[301 ]
There is a very definite and widespread de- two are under the supervision of the M. E. Church mand for trained Christian leaders among Ne- (White), while Morris Brown College is solely groes. There is a growing need for efficient and under the auspices of the African Methodist Epis- capable Negro leadership. The next question nat- copal Church of Georgia.
urally follows: What are we doing to satisfy this These institutions work under an affiliated re- need? lationship. Gammon Seminary is devoted entirely All over America institutions of learning have to the training of Christian leaders, pastors and been established by and for Negroes. Especially mIsSIOnaries. The other colleges confine them- numerous are these institutions in the South selves solely to educational curricula as such, with where there is no mixed education among the the exception of Morris Brown and Morehouse, races. Therefore, almost every southern state both of which operate theological seminaries in has its own colleges and seminaries for the reli- connection with the regular college work.
gious and educational training of Negro leader- Each summer there is held an Interdenom- ship. inational Ministers' Institute, whose faculty is The various Christian denominations are rep- drawn from Gammon, Turner Theological Semresented in this great enterprise. Schools have inary of Morris Brown College, and the Morebeen founded by the following branches of Chris- house Divinity School. The Institute is run for a tianity: Episcopal, Lutheran, Congregational, period of four weeks, and attracts students from Baptist (white and colored),· Presbyterian, Ro- all the southern states. The enrolment has man Catholic, M. E. Church (North and South), reached as high as seventy-five young men and C. M. E. Church, A. M. E. Church, A. M. E. Zion women, who are otherwise engaged during the winter terms and consequently cannot attend a Church, and the Holiness Church. seminary, but who take advantage of the summer Toward Mutual Understanding Institute, to better prepare themselves for ·Chris- Northern philanthrophy has been especially ac- tian leadership. tive in the furthering of Negro education in the Of all these noble experiments, the most strik- South. Nor have the more enlightened and Chris- ing is that of Morris Brown College. For over tian whites of the South held themselves aloof fifty years this college has been engaged in prefrom this enterprise. Many have thrown off the paring men and women for leadership in the shackles of color prejudice, have risen above the Christian world. Its many struggles and vicissiartificial walls that have for so long separated the tudes and its unfaltering faith in the ability of blacks from the whites, have torn down the middle the Negro to do something for himself, have walls of partition, and have dared to cross the earned for it the name: "The noblest of noble boundary lines separating their Palestine from experiments"; for it is the total embodiment of our Tyre and Sidon, indeed have crossed the the real philosophy of the black man in America borders with Jesus of Nazareth and have minis- -self-respect, self-help and initiative.
tered to the needs of an underprivileged minority Thus both whites and blacks are combining group. For all of this we are deeply thankful. their efforts and centering them upon the train- We regard this as a great step toward mutual ing of Negroes for Christian leadership. We understanding, and a contribution toward the cannot here enumerate and discuss the many in- solution of the problem between the races in stitutions doing constructive work along the line America, which after all, must be fought out with of Negro education. Suffice it to say that the peaceful means on southern soil. Negro is beautifully cooperating with all outside But knowing, as I do, the struggles and heart- forces that are seeking to ameliorate his condiaches and heroic deeds of a people attempting to tion.
do something for themselves, I am inclined to be- What now is the philosophy for the education lieve that the most noble experiments in the train- of the Negro underlying Christian leadership?
ing of Negro leadership are those being tried by What principles are being inculcated in the hearts institutions owned, operated and controlled solely and minds of N~gro youth? There are several.
by Negroes for Negroes. The first aspect of this philosophy of Christian The center of Negro higher education in the education may be described by the words of Dr.
south is the city of Atlanta, Georgia. Here are Emil Brunner in his famous book, "The Media- to be found the following institutions: The At- tor": "The problem of Crisis, which is the prob- lanta University, Spelman College, Morehouse lem of God." Negro Christian education is College, Morris Brown College, Clark University, throughout fundamentally theistic. This consti- and Gammon Seminary. Of these colleges, the tutes the very ground-plan of its system. We first three are and have been backed by educa- teach that there is and there can be no truth tional funds and the Baptist Church. The last which is not founded on the immutable will and
THE GREAT NEED OF THE NEGRO TODAY
character of God. He is the source of all truth, fore, our Ne'gro Christian leaders must inveigh heavily against our common enemy, sin. all reality, all certainty. And a world without The last fundamental aspect of Negro Christian God is a world in which riddle and enigma reign education is the idea of the Kingdom of God. If the Creator-God is a universal Father, if all men supreme. possess personalities or souls dear to this Creator- God, and if confusion and misunderstanding have Nor does Negro Christian education teach a risen out of "sin," then the logical conclusion is the need for some ideal quantity, in which all men God of mere intellectual faith. We seek not the can participate in a fuller life and freer light. Aside from the general characteristics given to God of science or philosophy. We seek the God the "Kingdom-concept" found in the Gospel tradi- tions of Jesus, by the various New Testament of human experience. And this God we find in scholars, such as esthatological, apocalyptic, char- ismatic, spiritual and futuristic aspects, Negro Jesus of Nazareth. We teach the God on whom Christian education assumes the attitude that if the Kingdom of God means anything, it means Paschal called in a moment of spiritual weakness: brotherhood. The Kingdom is a spiritual world, in which all men are brothers in Jesus Christ, "Not the God of the philosopher or of the scien- sons of one common Father; and if solutions for our human problems are to come, they must tist. But the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." emanate from this Kingdom of God controlled and enlightened consciences. We personally be- A firm belief in a good, righteous, just and merci- lieve that a "Christian World" is a misnomer, a dream, a fancy, a phantom. The world has never ful God who, in the language of Jesus is "Our been Christian, is not now, nor ever shall be. But we believe in a "world of Christianity," and this Father," is the fundamental aspect of Negro for us, is the Kingdom of God. Wherever there are Christian endeavors, Christian ambitions, Chris- Christian education. tian literature, Christian sermons, Christian schools and colleges, there may be found the Another aspect ot' Negro education is the belief "world of Christianity" and consequently, the Kingdom in which all men ought to cooperate with in the dignity and worth of human personality. God for the common good.
This good and righteous God, this Creator-God, Coming to the Light regards all human beings as equally precious in What are the results of Negro Christian educa- tion? Since its incipiency the Christian Church His sight. He is no respecter of persons. All are has been, in a large measure, the torchbearer of civilization. Having received its light from the potential sons of God. Here there is no color line. "central sun of righteousness, Jesus Christ," it has passed this torch on to others. Wherever the Here there are no distinctions based on creed, flag of Emanuel has been planted, there the scin- tillating hues have penetrated the murky darkness color, conditions of servitude. The good Shepherd of ignorance and people, who aforetime sat in darkness, have seen a great light. The majority jeopardizes His own life to save one sheep, even of schools, colleges and universities, were founded by Christian scholars, or in a Christian atmosthough that sheep be black. We teach that no phere. The Church has blazed a trail of light and culture; has dug through the rubbish and debris man is so intrinsically evil that he cannot become of ignorance, and has set up eternal monuments to its genius in co}.leges and seminaries, monuacceptable to God. The universality of redemp- ments that shall never die.
tion covers all, even black men. And a black man From the halls of those educational institutions, founded and operated by the Christian Church for redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ is not just the training of Negro leadership, there files a long procession of sable sons and daughters who, fired another black man, but he is a personality pre- by the inspiration received behind the walls of these sacred institutions, go forth into the world cious to the heart of God, purchased from the slav- ery of sin and become a sheep of the fold. – The Negro Sense of Sin A third aspect of Negro education is the deepseated consciousness of the heinousness of sin. Here there must be no palliation. No definition of sin is satisfactory that overlooks its positive evil. Sin is not the mere maladjustment of sociology; nor the pathological mystery of medical science; nor the "not yet" of biological evolution; nor the "abnormal workings of human reason and a spontaneous declension from the moral law" (with Kant); nor the traversing of the Divine consciousness by the individual consciousness, creative of remorse (with Schleiermacher) . Sin is satanic rebellion, a plague, a sickness, a disease, a bite, a sting, a leprosy, a load of curses and calamities, everything that all good men hate; it is death itself. From it spring war, confusion, greed, lust, hypocrisy. In short, it is the death of the soul. It can oniy be overcome by that exterminating change called regeneration. We teach that from sin arise all the social evils of society-the war between capital and labor, racial antipathies, war, social injustice, political injustice, and everything ungodly. There-
to make their contribution to the religious, politi- sented by the systems now in vogue in Russia and cal and social orders of mankind. Germany, the revival of Renascence Humanism garbed in a new dress, with its deification of hu- The most lasting result of the training of Ne- man nature and its banishment of God from the groes for Christian leadership, is the decidedly throne; in a word, this procession of modern Christian world-view that is instilled in them. gods, forged in the furnace of present-day There never has been a period in human history thought, demands a Christian leadership that poswhen so many challenges have been hurled simul- sesses keen insight, a healthy optimism, an intaneously at the Church and religion in general, domitable will, and a sufficient motive power for as the present. This is an age of criticism and the solution of these problems. This is the genius inquiry, and the very substance of religion is be- of Negro Christian eduoation, that it provides ing seriously questioned. such weapons as these, with which Negro youth can engage iIi battle with the subversive currents Moreover, the degenerating influences of west- of modern thinking, and therefore can "wage a ern civilization upon the more backward peoples, good warfare, holding faith and a good conthe rise and growth of nationalism, the passion science." for innovations created by industrialism, the appearance of godless political theories as repre- Daniel Payne: Christian Educator By JOSEPHUS R. eOAN, Atlanta, Georgia Professor of Old Testament Theology and Religious Education, MOTTis Brown College THE African Methodist Episcopal Church, sailed for New York where he came in touch with with a membership of 600,000, operates eigh- the Society of Inquiry on Missions and was offered teen colleges and secondary schools and a scholarship to Gettysburg Seminary. After two twelve seminaries. For seventy-three years this years ill health forced him to leave Gettysburg policy of Christian education has contributed in and so ended his formal training. no small way to the education and Christianization of the Negro race. She has trained lay and The third period began with his first pastoral ministerial leaders and has instilled within her charge over a Presbyterian church in Troy, New constituency the ideal of self-help. York. His second charge was Israel A. M. E. church, Washington, D. C., and his third was What was .the genesis of this influential work? Bethel A. M. E. church, Baltimore. How did the African Methodist Episcopal Church begin her program of Christian education? The The fourth period includes his experiences for answer centers around the life and works of fifty-three years as a bishop, in which office he Bishop Daniel Alexander Payne, a man of self- was one of the most commanding figures in the sacrificing spirit and untiring labors. A. M. E. Church. He served all of the episcopal districts organized at that time and profoundly The life of Bishop Payne may be divided into influenced many lives. He brought the A. M. E. four periods. First, his early life and youth Church and its ministry to a position of power (1811-1835) began on February 24, 1811, in the and became an able university administrator. city of Charleston, South Carolina, where Payne was born of free parents. At seven he had In the church where Bishop Payne labored for neither father nor mother, and was cared for by fifty-three years, he is known as the "Apostle of an aunt and some members of the Brown Fellow- Christian Education." His fundamental problem ship Society, a social and benevolent organization was the elimination of the evil of race conflict in among the free Colored people of Charleston. The America and the building up of a social order Minor Moralist Society, another benevolent enter- based upon the principles of Jesus Christ. Moved prise, operated a school which the boy attended by the "calamitous fact" that his people were "enfor two years. To support himself at the age of tombed in ignorance and oppression," he labored twelve, he secured a job as apprentice to a car- for their enlightenment. His ultimate goal bepenter. Following his conversion at eighteen he came thatof a gradual change from injustice and organized a school which he conducted for five oppression. to one of justice, fellowship and recyears. onciliation. He was deeply concerned with "God's purpose for the redemption of the world," The second period includes his student days at and "transforming the dark earth into the Holy Gettysburg Seminary. Immediately after the un- City." fortunate close of his school in Charleston, Payne He became interested in educational and evan-
DANIEL PAYNE: CHRISTIAN EDUCATOR
gelistic work as a result of his conversion. The Payne's decision to join the A. M. E. Church in outcome was his consciousness of the Divine call 1841 was tremendously significant for the educato be an educator to his people. He wrote: tional policy of the church. Prior to this there is only one recorded instance of definite action re- Several weeks after this event, between twelve and one garding the educational program of the denomo'c;ock one day, I was in my humble chamber pouring out ination, but one year after Payne's affiliation with my prayers to the l.istening ears of my Saviour, when I this church he organized the "Theological Assofelt as if the hands of a man were pressing my two ciation," the object of which was "cultivating bibshoulders, and a voice speaking within my soul saying: lical knowledge and the collateral sciences." "I have set thee apart to educate thyself that thou mayest be an educator to thy people." Later he wrote a series of articles on the "Edu- This summons became his dominant purpose cation of the Ministry," which brought forth a throughout his life, in spite of repeated and severe shocks. storm of criticism. He went to the General Con- ference of 1844, and offered a resolution which The first attempt to realize his purpose was brought into existence the course of studies for experiments with a school opened in Charleston A. M. E. ministers who, at that time, were ignowhen he was only 18 years of age. During this rant and discredited. He then instigated a Genperiod he came up against situations which called eral Convention of the church to launch educafor the exercise of the strongest moral stamina tional work for the denomination. This helped to and religious dynamic. The first barrier was his mould the development of her educational policies. limited education which at that time consisted of only two years of formal training. This difficulty Bishop Payne's educational influence was most was overcome by securing books and mastering far-reaching through his work for Wilberforce their contents sufficiently to put new courses into University. This was founded in 1856 at Tawawa his curdculum. The story of his laborious studies Springs (Sweet Water) where there was an elereads like a novel. mentary school under the auspices of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. In 1863 the trustees, fac- The lack of building and equipment and support ing bankruptcy were forced to sell the institution, formed another obstacle. The first year Payne and the trustees offered it to Bishop Payne for received only $3.00 per month for teaching. Had the A. M. E. Church for $10,000. Payne asked not a slave woman given him food occasionally, time to consult the members of his conferences he might have starved. But the great hindrance but the trustees demanded "now or never." As to his educational efforts was the South Carolina an act of faith he took the responsibility upon law of 1834 which prohibited the teaching of all himself saying, "In the name of God I purchase Negroes, either free or slave. It terminated for Wilberforce for the A. M. E. Church." The inat least one generation Payne's educational worK stitution was reorganized into a university with in the South. seven departments, Bishop Payne becoming the first president (1863 to 1876). This was the first Early in 1840, following his resignation from Negro university in the world. More than that his church in Troy, Payne founded an elementary he gave to the Negro race the philosophy of "selfschool in' Philadelphia. The school became in- help, self-initiative and self-confidence," for creasingly popular until the spring of the year which Wilberforce University, at Xenia, Ohio, 1843, when Bishop Morris Brown appointed stands as a unique symbol. Payne pastor of Israel A. M. E. church in Washington.
American Negro Churches, Membership and Contributions Taken from the 1926 Census as Reported in "Negroes in the United States"
Negro Negro Improvements Missions and and Denominations Churches Members EJ<penses Benevolences Adventist Bodies (2) ………. . 99 5,297 $94,550 $167,665 3,254,035 16,284,320 2,469,184 Baptist Bodies (4) ………. .. 23,173 7,312 38,267 7,038 Christian Church ……….•..• 68 30,263 394,773 90,384 16,000 295,446 20,388 Church of God in Christ ……. . 733 37,325 239,279 33,125 Congregational Church …….. . 155 5,997 62,632 7,191 Disciples of Christ ………… . 487 545,814 6,205,632 1,257,397 Lutheran Bodies (2) ………. . 456,813 4,091,023 70 202,713 1,934,540 662,993 African Methodist Episcopal 350,879 3,506,114 417,038 6,708 1,127,320 606,238 53,294 176,043 African M. E. Zion ………… . 2,466 51,502 438,912 124,324 913,914 87,826 Colored Methodist Episcopal … . 2,518 1,594 89,731 59,235 8,314 Other Methodist Bodies (6) … . 3,934 215,065 1,879 58,785 Presbyterian Bodies (4) ……. . 724 Protestant Episcopal ………. . 287 Roman Catholic Church ……. . 147 Spiritualist Bodies (3) …….. . 26 All other Church Bodies (26) .. . 1,040 Total all Denominations •..• 42,585 5,203,487 $35,749,951 $6,152,905
Youth and the
-.1 By MARTIN L. HARVEY, Hempstead, New York Director of Christian Education of Y outh, A. M. E. Zion Church,. President of the Christian Youth Council of North America "THE Church is an outworn institution, it vancement of the race, and can make many val- has had its day." So said a young man uable contributions to their own lives. recently. Undoubtedly this statement represents a Young people must be helped to understand that slightly extreme view, but it is indicative of the the Church was the first institution owned and trend of thinking in the minds of a large group controlled by the members of the Negro race in of young people. Although many would not ex- America. That even during the dark days of press this opinion so strongly, their indifference slavery, it was the one training ground for leadtoward the church, and their lack of interest in ership. Many of the great leaders of the race its activities speak more loudly than mere words. not only received their inspiration, but acquired their training from some backwoods church. Why is this attitude held by many young Negroes, more or less closely associated with the The Christian Church has also inspired many church? who have made their mark and rendered valuable service in other fields, particularly music. Many First: In far too many cases the minister of of the great Negro musicians received their intheir church has had no more, and oftentimes has spiration and start from some church group had less education than many of his young people. which believed in them and gave them an oppor- The results are obvious; his ideas are often in tunity to exercise their latent abilities. conflict with those taught in the public schools. There are other contributions that the Church Since this institution has better-trained teachers, can and must make to the lives of young people and since more time is given to secular than to today. religious education, the minister usually comes First: The Church as an institution can give out second best. a meaningful interpretation to life. Young peo- Second: The work and program of the major- pIe are living in a world of cynicism and despair; ity of churches are planned for the benefit of the a world in which, as one cynic expressed it, "life adult members of the congregation, with little is just a contest between jackals and jackasses; thought given to the needs of young people. The a world which says that life is only a period besermons are usually prepared for those who want tween creation and annihilation; a world which an assurance of comfort, if not here, then in a functions on the creed that the purpose of life is place beyond the skies. The week-day activities the acquisition of as much earthly possessions as are often archaic, and too frequently are largely possible in as short a time as possible, regardless for the purpose of raising money. The old emo- of the methods. tional forms of religion have little appeal for most young people today. Words and phrases which In such a world the Church must offer a differthrilled their fathers and forefathers strike no ent interpretation of life. It must say that responsive chord in the hearts of their children. abundant living comes from God and is achieved by losing oneself in the service of others. The Third: The tasks assigned to young people, in Church must teach that life is a glorious adventhe majority of cases, are not commensurate with ture stretching into eternity, and that the purtheir abilities. In many churches the only re- pose of life is not to get, but to give. Moreover sponsibilities given to young people are passing the Church must insist that men can overcome the collection plates, or ushering dear old saints their difficulties, and that no matter how discourto pews. Youth demands tasks which are deemed aging the present situation may be, truth, .goodimportant, and which offer a creative challenge ness, and righteousness will ultimately triumph. to their abilities. Such a message is certainly needed by young We must help young people who possess these people today. They find themselves in a world points of view to understand that, although there where hatreds of class and nation and race divide is some validity in the position they take, the men; where young people are denied the chance Church has made many contributions to the ad- to prepare for a life work. If they do so prepare [306 ] themselves they too often find themselves in the relationships with others whom they do not see.
long lines of the unemployed, unable to marry, They must be guided beyond the merely tradi- build homes, and rear children, because they have tional missionary emphasis, a,nd must become con- not sufficient economic security. cerned about all with whom they have indirect In the light of all these conditions, the Church relationships. They must become interested in must offer a meaningful interpretation to youth, the physical and spiritual conditions of the work- insisting tha,t difficulties be viewed in their proper ers who cultivate the food they eat, who manu- perspective; there must be a creative challenge facture the clothing they wear, and who contribute of faith, such as that which inspired Abraham of in other ways to their welfare.
old, who "went out not knowing whither he went." Such a task is challenging. Young people are Second: The Church must insist that individ- not lost to the Church. They are viewing the uals are of supreme worth. The world today Church with hopeful as well as critical eyes. A makes human personality the cheapest commodity few who are looking beyond the Negro Church, on the market. It is sacrificed to efficiency, to are rather skeptical of the sincerity of organized profits, to national glory, and to the selfish ambi- Christianity in general, when it tacitly condones racial discrimination and is complacent in the face tions of national leaders. The leaders in Church must seize every oppor- of social injustice. But they are hopeful that the tunity to emphasize the supreme worth of every situation will be improved. They want the Church individual. Capital punishment, mob rule result- to work with them rather than for them. ing in lynchings, labor disturbances,are violations Their optimism and faith will be justified if the of human brotherhood, and such incidents must Church is willing to evaluate its program in the be used, like a lighthouse in the midst of a raging light of the present-day needs of young people; sea, to point out that personality is worth more if it will look forward as well as backward; above than anything else in the world, and that its values all, if it will develop trained leadership adequate must be conserved. In many cases the Church to present-day demands and consecrated to the must look at itself, and clean its own house, mak- tasks of tomorrow. ing sure that all its employees from the minister In an increasing number of churches there are to the janitor are treated in the light of this ideal encouraging signs-young people are hopeful that these will increase. The greatest challenge to the of human brotherhood. Third: The Church must offer young people Church today is the enlistment of its youth in the adequate experiences for group worship. Of Kingdom-building enterprise.
course there are those who insist that they can worship adequately by themselves, and no one In America causes similar to those operating in will deny the value of private devotions, but there Africa have been at work to create discontent and are certain distinctive values to be gained from race feeling-social ostracism of the Negro, polit- worshipping together with kindred spirits. The ical disability, economic exclusion from high approach to God may be had through different grades of work, a whole body of custom and law features of the service-through music or the at- that sets up different standards for the Negro and mosphere of a beautiful edifice, through the ritual for the white.
or through the sermon. If we ask, "What does the American Negro The implications of this are obvious; hymns want?" the answer is quite clear. First, educamust be chosen which are in line with the thought tion. Secondly, equal industrial opportunities; patterns of intelligent Christians, and which in- i. e., "equal opportunity to 'work at just wages and clude not only individual redemption but look under fair conditions." Thirdly, a share in electalso to the redemption of society. Sermons must ing their government. Fourthly, security from draw on the experience of the past and must in- mob violence and prejudiced legal decisions. terpret present-day problems in the light of the Fifthly, and this lies at the root of things, they teaching and spirit of Christ. desire passionately to be freed from the perpetual Fourth: The Church must broaden the outlook ostracism and degradation that labels them as of young people. We now understand that we though they were members of another and a live in a world which has become a neighborhood, lower, almost a sub-human species. It is impor- and yet the outlook of many young people is too tant to appreciate this issue from the Negro narrow. They must become concerned about their point of view. BASIL MATHEWS.
Negroes are Doing for
By REV. L. L. BERRY, D.D., New York Secretary of Missions of the African Methodist Episcopal Church THE Negro in America has been largely on upon it as a Shekinah for guidance in the un- the receiving end of things. Having been known estate which freedom had bequeathed to brought from Africa, in spite of all his re- him. sistance, and having been subject to the will of others for nearly two and a half centuries, he be- The main problem, and at the same time the came accustomed to a system which supplied his central objective, of this leadership of the Church minimum physical needs while his cultural life, was to help the Negro forget the handicaps under social instincts and intellectual desires were ig- which he had suffered, and the legacies left by his nored and even suppressed. Slavery assumed bondage. He must be inspired with hope and faith in the possibility of grasping and exercising that these aspirations were entirely lacking in the his full manhood rights. Agencies had to be es- Negro since it best served the ends of slavery to tablished for his benefit, and to enable him to acconsider him merely as a human chattel. Only quire the knowledge that would fit him into the in religion was a little latitude allowed as a vent social economy of which he was now a legal entity. to his spiritual yearnings. Early in his career as a minister, Richard Out of such a system the Negro emerged with Allen started a school in Philadelphia, and a natural disposition to lean upon others. For- throughout his life, as a bishop of the Church he tunately, however, all his self-reliance and inde- had established, he emphasized education for the pendence of spirit brought over from Africa was Negro as far as public opinion and laws would not killed. A faint spark of manhood still re- permit. Other churches and free blacks followed mained in him and he apprehended, withal dimly, in his footsteps. Frederick Douglass, self-eman- the truth of the philosophy that "God helps those cipated and self-educated, stood out as a shining who help themselves." This expression was in- example of what education could do for the Negro, terpreted in a militant sense by such black heroes and because of the compelling logic and oratory as Nat Turner and those who followed the in- displayed in his long battle for the freedom of trepid John Brown to his doom at Harper's Ferry his race, he became the Negro's ideal and idol, in their bold attempt to abolish slavery. It was manacled though he still was by the shackles of interpreted by others to apply more forcibly to slavery. matters of the mind, soul and spirit; and so we have, during this same blighting slavery period, Thus it came about that, in the battle that lay Richard Allen founding the African Methodist before the Negro in fitting himself for the rOle Episcopal Church, and James Varick establishing of a citizen, and the enjoyment of his status as the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in a free man, the Church brought up its battery of response to the unquenchable yearnings of the schools in its first attack upon the handicaps of ignorance that barricaded his progress. When Negro for untrammelled religious and cultural schools were first opened to Negroes an almost expression. 100% illiteracy might be said to have prevailed.
Even though these Negro religious denomina- That has now been reduced to 16.3 %, while in tions were severely restricted by rigid laws which made it a crime for Negroes even to preach to the top bracket of the principal professions of Negroes in some sections, to say nothing of teach- clergymen, college presidents and professors, dening Negroes, by the time slavery was abolished tists, doctors, trained nurses, musicians and music the organized Negro Church had become a real teachers, school-teachers, judges and lawyers, we lifeline to him in his helpless situation.. Having find 104,755 standing out to indicate what the become his source of greatest hope and inspira- Negro has achieved for himself. In the thick of tion during slavery, the Negro looked upon the this battle, the Negro Church was encouraged Church as providing the broad avenue for the at- and aided by the noble sacrifices and contributions tainment of his suppressed aspirations when he of white denominations and organizations of the finally escaped from his thralldom. So the Negro North in conducting schools for the freedmen of the South.
spontaneously rallied to the Church and looked In the early years following emancipation the [308 ] Negro newspaper was a rarity, so the Negro of something like 130,000. This Negro group minister used his pulpit as a broadcasting station supports entirely out of its own pocketbook a day and constantly kept before the eyes of his people nursery, a hospital staffed by Negro doctors who the outstanding accomplishments of the race give free clinics, an old folks' home and a recregroup. Negro orators and lecturers were given ation beach. This might be styled as non-statistithe keys to the pUlpit. Budding Negro businesses, cal work being done for Negroes by Negroes very many of which had their birth within the which every community conducts without any church, were advertised freely and often from the relation necessarily to any other community. pulpit. Negro doctors, dentists, lawyers and other pioneer professional men had liberal access Present-day social service setups generally have to the pulpit as a springboard from which to a very coherent and, in many cases, dependent launch themselves into the stream of gainful oc- relationship to every such unit wherever estabcupation. Fitness to serve the race in matters lished. This is true of such organizations as the that had only been performed by the white race, Y. M. C. A., the Urban League, Boy Scouts, Girls' was vouched for by the pulpit, which fact at once Guides and numerous others. These are governed established that confidence in the ability of these and directed mainly by centralized authority, and professionals so necessary to success. for this reason more or less reliable statistics re- garding their operations, are obtainable. If these The church was the Negro's social club. It was independent efforts of the Negroes for the wellhis nursery for business ventures, and the center being of Negroes could be tabulated, undoubtedly of his cultural hopes. It was a sort of trellis upon the results as to the work involved and the amount which he trained his budding enterprises and of money spent in its maintenance would be stagexercised his powers of organization. All of his gering. activities and endeavors clustered around this institution of the church, and from it radiated his Much that the Negro is doing for the Negro paths of adventure into the numerous fields of does not stand out and capture the attention for industry and labor in which we now find him en- another reason. Today he is doing a tremendous gaged. Thus we find that most of the successful amount of social good in cooperation with whites, organizations run by Negroes today still have a rendering contributions which implement in a very definite and important relationship to the large way the agencies which have been estabchurch, particularly insurance companies and fra- lished for Negroes by white philanthrophy. This ternal orders. is true mainly in connection with schools of higher learning established by northern churches and Starting with the church as a point of impulse, philanthrophy, and, in a lesser degree, with instiand with its sponsoring influence ever acting as tutions like the Y. M. C. A. In a very real sense, a spur to higher endeavors, the Negro has ad- the Negro provides most of the resources for the vanced in a fan-shaped formation of self-help and continuance of such work, and in estimating what conquest that has amazed the world. he is doing for himself, a sizeable percentage of the budgets of such institutions should be credited Negro Work in America to the Negro. • What the Negro is doing for Negroes in Amer- In the realm of business, note should be taken ica may be somewhat difficult to reduce to sta- of the National Negro Business League, founded tistics that would accurately tell the whole story. by the late Booker T. Washington. This league, Like streams which run along the surface for a started as a booster movement for stepping up the distance and then disappear under ground to be business adventures of the Negro, is still exerting lost to sight though still supplying moisture to a powerful influence on Negro enterprise that is vegetation, so much of the noble and self-sacri- undoubtedly reflected in the large and increasing ficing work of Negroes, supported entirely by number of retail businesses conducted today by themselves, is unseen by the compiler of statistics. the Negro. The movement known as Negro I here refer to such institutions as old folks' Health Week, now under the functions of the homes, day nurseries, burial societies, homes for U. S. Department of Health and nationally obwayward boys and girls and kindred institutions. served each year, was originated by the National In most instances these institutions are sponsored Negro Business League. directly by churches, or have some tangible relation to them. In the field of political and social betterment there are many organizations of Negroes, but An illustration of this might be found in any none has exerted greater pressure for the recogcity where there is a considerable Negro popula- nition of the basic rights of the Negro as a citizen tion. For example, let us survey briefly the city under the Constitution than the National Assoof Norfolk, Virginia, which has a Negro contin- ciation for the Advancement of Colored People. gent of approximately 45,000 in a total population This association has branches in practically every
large city in the United States, and is ever alert for its maintenance which this body is making. in the championship of the just interests of the It may be seen from the above outline of Negro Negro and in defense of his common rights. The birth of such movements as the Urban League and achievement and activity that he very early recoginterracial societies may be directly traced to the nized his responsibility for working out his own program of equal justice in our social economy salvation, and that he has exerted himself in a which has been the keystone purpose of the very tangible way to bring this about. He is NAACP, which is supported almost entirely by grateful and appreciative of the large coopera- Negroes. tion and inestimable help he has received from the white group, but he is sensible of the fact that While statistics do not give the whole story of more and more he is expected to and must assume what Negroes are doing for Negroes, what the the burden of doing things for himself. His· ef- Negro has accomplished in his own right, and forts are tending in that direction with greater owns and controls as a race group, should be elo- momentum. As has been true in matters of reliquent testimony of what he is doing. This is re- gion, fraternal societies and burial associations, vealed in the figures gathered by the painstaking the Negro is becoming organization-minded in all agents of the United States Government and matters affecting his well-being. which are embodied in its census of the Negro for 1930. (See pages 279 to 291.) In religion, he is becoming fraternal to the end that greater good may be accomplished by coop- American Negroes in Africa eration; in business, he is forming groups for the benefits that may come from the emphasis on Some of the "followers of Richard Allen" were common interests; in politics, he is dividing his among the first settlers of the Republic of Liberia vote that he may derive the largest considerations when a census was taken of its population in the from our system of government; in the educafirst year of the founding of the colony. Ever tional and social field, he is keeping elbow contact since the year 1822 the African Methodist Epis- with the professionally trained men and women copal Church has been interested in the redemp- of his race through fraternities, sororities, medtion and advancement of Africa, setting an ex- ical associations, teachers' associations and kinample which other Negro bodies have followed. dred organizations, that he might promote the general welfare of his submerged group in this Negro churches spend annually something like welter of American society. These efforts, sep- $6,152,905 for missions, approximately $2,500,000 arately, may not be registered accurately on the of this being spent for missionary endeavors in graph of human statistics, but collectively they foreign lands, especially Africa. The major Negro loom large in so far as they are related to the denominations supporting missionary work in depths from which the Negro has risen and his Africa are the African Methodist Episcopal hopes and possibilities of greater achievement. Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion, the National Baptist Convention, Inc., and the It is a long way from Jamestown, Virginia, in Lott Carey Baptist Convention. 1619, where the Negro began to learn his first les- sons in the school of hardships, to the present The African Methodist Episcopal Church con- time. In his early beginning in America he lived ducts several educational institutions in Africa. and served on the banks of the historic James In Sierra Leone there is the Girls' Industrial and River, to see and be influenced in many respects Literary School, and a school for boys; in Liberia by the Indians who were the aborigines of that is Monrovia College and Training School, the section. But instead of taking on their habits of main building of which was erected at a cost of merely hunting and fishing, he listened to the $70,000, while in South Africa there is Bethel In- music of the rushing waters to which his soul restitute at Cape Town, and Wilberforce Institute sponded in agonized memory of the Africa from at Evaton, Transvaal. which he had been snatched and passed down to his sons and daughters the Spirituals as one of The A. M. E. Zion Church has activities in Ni· the most glorious contributions of rhythm and geria and the Gold Coast in Africa, but has em- symphony which have enriched the world. phasized its work at Mount Coffee, in Liberia, where a commendable school has been established From these songs such institutions as Hampton, for religious and industrial education. Tuskegee_and Fisk have benefited in this contri- bution from the Negro to the Negro. But the The National Baptist Convention, Inc., has work Negro did 'not merely sing, "You May Have All in South Africa and several units in Liberia. Its outstanding achievement here is a well-staffed the World Just Give Me Jesus," he demonstrated hospital of about 60 beds. Although the Govern- his ability and faith to hold on to Jesus Christ as ment of Liberia has a hospital in Monrovia, this his Saviour and Lord, and to acquire some of this hospital established by the Baptist denomination world's blessings which he has passed on to his is rendering a recognized service that is worthy kindred. of note, and amply justifies the expenditure
in Work With
By REV. FREDERICK L. BROWNLEE, New York Executive Secretary of the American Missionary Association THERE is much that is fundamentally sound panionship, but it's worth all it costs." Evidently and reliable in lessons learned from experi- that is what Tagore means by "sacrifice" and the ence. Volumes could be written on the er- "spiritual plane." rors of working for people versus working with them. It is a strange paradox that the religion In one's approaches to a genuine fellowship he of Jesus Christ, who knew so well how to live and discovers certain basic facts as to thorough-going work with people of all "races, nations and interracialism. The chief of these is the fact of classes," became in time-'- particularly through how far human likenesses transcend racial differthe missionary enterprise-a work of one group ences. In an address at Talladega College a few for another group. What futile and stupid at- years ago Professor Kilpatrick said, "According tempts have been made by some Christians to im- to every available scientific authority the extent pose their religion "on the heathen"! The best of such differences (differences of innate ability that one can hope to do is to impart his Christian among races) is, at most, if any, small in comknowledge and faith. And even here one ought parison with the spread of difference within either to be willing to be a perfectly good sport accord- group compared. Not a few of the best authoriing to the Golden Rule, taking as well as giving. ties deny that such difference of innate ability has ever been shown or probably exists." A Student Volunteer once wrote Rabindranath Tagore concerning his going to India as a Chris- One learns that lesson from experience in work tian missionary. Tagore wrote back, with Negroes. When the sense of race conscious- ness is lost in a struggle for common values, be Do not be always trying to preach your doctrine, but give they a square deal in economic and social relations yourself in love. . . . Preaching your doctrine is no sacri- or a more complete understanding of truth or a fice at all-it is indulging in luxury, far more dangerous richer appreciation of beauty, then one knows bethan all the luxuries of material living. It breeds an yond a shadow of a doubt how much alike are all illusion in your mind that you are wiser and better than members of the human family. Such fellowship your fellow-beings. is deeper and finer and richer than the usual blood ties of family relationships. One may have such If you have in you pride of race, pride of sect and pride fellowship with blood relatives. But one may not of personal superiority strong, then it is no use to try to only have such fellowship outside the bonds of do good to others. . . . On the spiritual p:ane you cannot blood ties but one more frequently has it outside do good until you be good. than inside such ties. The same is true outside of versus inside of racial ties. You have repeatedly said that your standard of living is not likely to be different from that of the "natives"- Another destroyer of Nordic egotism is the rev- but one thing I ask, will you be able to make yourself elation that comes through experience that it is one with those whom you call "natives," not merely in not the ambition of every Negro to become white. habits but in love? How generally the white man has presumed to the There we have the preeminent lesson that one learns from experience in working with Negroes.
Fundamental to all constructive human relations contrary! He has been sure that the height of is the question of mutual respect and confidence. ambition of every Negro is to marry a white per- It is a universal fact. How well I remember my son. There are reasons why Negroes might wish first visit to Puerto Rico and the beginning of to change the color of their skin. Society being friendships with its gracious citizens. He was set up as it is, one can gain so much and get away indeed my friend who said to me, "The poorest with so much with a white skin. Two Negroes peon has his center of dignity. If you wound that were overheard discussing white people. One of you are done for." Respect for the center of dig- them said, "White people have everything."
nity becomes the open sesame to fellowship in "Yes," said the other, "white people have every- Puerto Rico's delightful "Society of the Simpa- thing but the grace of God, and some of them ticos." have even got that."
A friend wrote recently, "It is a long road to Outside of the material advantages of being that inner niche of mutual fellowship and com- white, in a world largely dominated by the white [311 ]
race, I know personally no Negroes who are capable individuals of his race. The reverse is ashamed of the color of their skin or would ex- true for the Negro. It is common for him to have change it for white skin if they could. Why ascribed to him all the vices and inabilities of the should one feel any more pride or shame in the worst and most incapable members of his race.
color of his skin than he does in the color of his In other words, the Negro suffers from "mass hair or his eyes? Dark little cherubs are just as condemnation versus individual appraisal," as dear as white ones and vice versa. Why not? . discriminating Negroes frequently put it.
"Some prefer blondes, others brunettes, others Experience in work with Negroes proves the chocolate browns and still others the darker contrary. It is here that one finds the most sig- hues." This is the way one comes to feel about it nificant evidence of Professor Kilpatrick's state- after years of working with rather than for ment that racial differences, so far as innate abil- Negroes. ities are concerned, have never been scientifically One more lesson from the school of experience. proved. Asa matter of fact, experience proves I do not know who the white man was who coined that color or the lack of it is no guarantee of the expression, "All Negroes look alike." I do brains. Original contributions have been made to know that such a statement is as untrue as it is all arts, sciences, religious beliefs and philosophies superficial. It has led to one of the greatest diffi- by men and women of all races. Said an Eskimo culties with which the Negro has to contend.. It to the famous arctic adventurer, Peter Freuchen, is common for a white man to have ascribed to "If a man is born white he may still be born him the virtues and abilities of the best and most stupid."
Other Lessons from Experience By JOHN UTILE, Louisville, Kentucky Superintendent of the Presbyterian Colored Missions For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is perience as preachers, but they believed that "the the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth, Gospel is the power of God unto salvation." to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1: 16. Thirty-eight years have passed and on the first THESE words were in the minds of six the- Sunday afternoon in February, 1936, the writer ological students when they walked out of the saw a thousand Colored people in that Sunday Presbyterian Seminary in Louisville, Ken- school and heard them pour out their hearts in tucky, on Sunday afternoon, February 4, 1898, to songs of praise to their heavenly Father. Directstart a Sunday school for Colored children. Plans ing the music was a young woman who had grown had been discussed for several months and they up as one of the pupils, had gone to Fisk Uniwere now ready to put the Gospel to a test. They versity and taken special training in music, is had consulted with a number of Christian friends now teaching in the Municipal University in in the city, and upon the recommendation of a Louisville. Sitting at the piano was another group of Colored and white ministers, they had young woman who had grown up in the Sunday rented a little store room on Preston Street. It school. It was a marvelous experience for those was in a tenement district, surrounded by saloons, present to hear this chorus of a thousand voices gambling dens and houses of prostitution. They swell out with the words: had gone through this neighborhood, visiting in the homes of the people and leaving cards an- Oh, walk togedder, children, don't you get weary; nouncing the opening of the Sunday school. Dere's a great camp meetin' in de promised land!
Only twenty-three Colored children were pres- Oh, a feel de spirit a-movin', gwine to live with God forent on the first day and it seemed indeed a small ever; beginning. The writer was surprised to find that not one member of his class had any knowledge Dere's a great camp meetin' in de promised land! of the Bible or any acquaintance with the life of Jesus Christ. The students accepted their task It was one of their Jubilee songs, composed by a and conducted an ordinary Sunday school with company- of slaves who gathered and sang and preaching services on Wednesday and Sunday shouted for joy and gave God honor and praise. nights, each student taking his regular turn in preaching. They had little training and no ex- The first equipment in this little tumble-down storehouse on Preston Street was pathetic in its simplicity. A worn out organ donated by a friend was the only musical instrument, and a table and a few chairs were the physical equipment. The
OTHER LESSONS FROM EXPERIENCE
HOPE NURSERY SCHOOL FOR COLORED CHILDREN THE .BEGINNERS' DEPARTMElNT IN GRACE SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK IN THE CARPENTElR SHOP FOR BOYS COOKING CLASS FOR WOMEN AND OLDEIR GIRLS
house had formerly served as a lottery office for Space forbids going into detail about the nu- the community, but the Gospel, taught in its pur- merous activities that have found a place in our ity, simplicity and power, began to shed abroad weekly schedule. Twenty-two different types of its influence in the community. Among the pupils work are now carried on and there are sixty dif- were some who welcomed with joy the teachers ferent clubs and classes and services, all of which and the message and they became faithful attend~ are operated in the two institutional churches ants on the services. The building soon was which have developed. out of one small Sunday crowded; the workers ceased their efforts to school started thirty-eight years ago.
enroll new pupils and devoted themselves to the Recently, I sat in the home of a woman and instruction of those under their care. The lame, the halt and the blind came in and every conceiv- asked her questions about the value of our instiable problem of human need presented itself and tutions to the community. She said: received careful and sympathetic consideration. "Yours was the first Sunday school that I ever attended. I came on Wednesday night and lis- As the years have passed, volunteer teachers tened to the prayer meeting and I became inter- have gradually been added to our teaching staff, ested in the Bible. I could ask questions and the until today there are more than two hundred peo- prayer meeting service was the one that did me ple, representing many religious denominations, the most good."
having their share in the operation of the two I thought of the history of that family. The Missions which have been maintained-the first father was a drinking man and they were very since February 4, 1898, and the second since April poor. There were four children who all slept 2,1899. crossways in one bed. The mother made a living The founders of this work had no theory for the by taking in washing yet always kept her chilsolution of the "Negro problem," but they believed dren clean and neat and insisted on their going to the Gospel message was intended for the Colored school regularly in spite of their poverty. The race and many Christian men and women organ- older brother died with tuberculosis, but we seized classes for Negroes, to meet during the week. cured a doctor and a tuberculosis nurse and the disease was arrested before it spread to the rest A.note from two Colored girls contained the re- of the family. The three girls graduated from quest: "Will you please start a sewing school for high school, secured positions as domestic servthe little ragged children on Pearl Street." Two ants, saved their money and bought a home, put- Christian women started such a class on the fol- ting the deed in their mother's name. The oldest lowing Saturday morning. It was a small begin- girl said she would like me to see the home. When ning and a work of faith but now there are more I replied: "The important thing is to have it a than five hundred women and girls who come in Christian home," she said: "We read the Bible during the week to receive instructions in sew- every morning." Before the mother died, I had ing. The reflex influence of such work shows in the privilege of receiving this mother into the every service and class held in our buildings. church and her daughters, now grown women, at- Girls and women who come to Sunday school and tend Sunday school where their children have alchurch wear the dresses they have made. The ways been Honor Roll pupils. sewing classes meet an economic need of the people, for mothers can make their household linen This family is a concrete example of the power and their children's garments. Last week, in the of the Gospel. The original home was located in dressmaking class I saw a mother who had one of the worst slum districts in our city. There were four saloons on the four corners of the block brought her old cloak, had taken it to pieces and and every day the children were subjected to every was remaking it on a smaller pattern for her form of temptation. They entered Sunday school, daughter, with the assistance of a competent believed the truth they were taught and it gave Christian. them inspiration and courage to become decent, One of the best housekeepers in Louisville real- industrious citizens and an economic success in life. They were regular attendants in the Sunized the value of wholesome food in the homes, day school, the sewing and cooking schools, the and invited a group of Colored girls to meet her Boys' and Girls' Clubs and the playground, and one day during the week and gave them instruc- accepted and used every opportunity that was extion in the preparation of foo~l. She furnished tended to them by a Christian institution. . them recipes that would enable them to vary their menus and prepare food in a more wholesome and appetizing fashion. Again we had entered a field One other concrete example: a small boy came of Christian labor that was not included in our into the primary class and from the very first original plan and yet we found a wide field of op- proved himself a regular attendant. His name portunity for practical Christian service by intel- and his sister's name headed the Honor Roll until ligent and consecrated women. he graduated from high school. He then entered
NEGRO YOUTH CHALLENGES WHITE YOUTH
Fiske University in Nashville, Tennessee, and intended to go to Hampton Institute. He saved while there in their music courses he developed a his money, attended Hampton Institute and rewonderful tenor voice. They selected him as a ceived a certificate from them as a carpenter. He member of a quartet and sent him out to sing for now lives in Philadelphia, is married, owns his the school. With the quartet, he spent fourteen own home and recently brought his family down months in Europe, visiting fourteen foreign countries and appearing before the royalty of Europe. in his automobile to visit his parents in Louis- One day I was standing on the platform and no- ville. I invited him to speak to the Sunday school, ticed him enter the building and I invited him to and in a slow, drawling voice he told his simple sing for the Sunday school. He readily consented story, closing with the words, "I now have my and the audience was thrilled with his music. He own home and have family prayers every mornselected, "Open the Gates of the Temple," and as he sang the closing words, "I know that my Re- ing." He has gone to live in a distant city but he deemer liveth," I realized what he was doing. He still comes back to give his testimony to the had been away from us for ten years and had power of the Gospel as he learned it in our Suntraveled all over the world, but when he came back and again stood on the platform of the Sun- day school.* day school in which he had grown up, he brought them the message, "I know that my Redeemer * A joint committee of Presbyterian laymen and ministers, ap- liveth." pointed by the four branches of the Presbyterian and Reformed I remember a small boy who, many years ago, Churches of Louisville, form a governing board of the Presbyterian Colored Missions. This committee Is Incorporated and owns two was a regular attendant in the Sunday school. pieces of property-a modern institutional church building which When we gave the invitation to come forward, he has a recreation hall, bath house, rooms for sewing, cooking and united with the church. He heard me give a various social activities. Two regular churches, with ordained minstereopticon lecture in which I told the story of isters and their Boards of Elders and Deacons, direct the church Booker Washington and how, as a young boy, he worship. determined to get an education and I said, "Any boy in this room can do what he did." At the This work, which was started in a very smalI way, has grown to close of the lecture, he came forward and said he a point where there are 2.000 different people coming to the two buildings. There are seven religious services on Sunday, including a Sunday school. regular preaching services and four groups of youn!>; people who gather in the evening for their own worship service.
A blind woman, when asked to describe the missions, said: "They are lighthouses in the community."
There are 200 white people who give their services voluntarily in the Sunday school, the sewing classes, and in the supervision of other groups which meet In the building.
Operated by "The Committee on Colored Evangelization of the Presbyterian and Reformed Churches of Louisville, Incorporated."
Correspondence is invited with the Superintendent. The missions are always open to any viSitor, stranger or friend who desires to inspect the work.
Negro Youth Challenges White Youth* I -4Ef/ By J. S. LEDBETTER, Traveling Salesman 1Ji.- I ~==========================~ [EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article comes from a traveling section of North Carolina, in an eloquent and imsalesman of the Buick Motor Car Co., who mails it "en route from passioned plea, challenged the 1,600 or more stu- Berea," with the statement that "as a traveling salesman and ob- dents of Berea College in an address entitled, server" he had chanced to drop In. uninvited, on the chlpel service "What the Negro Youth Expects of the White of Berea College, because he heard that a Negro woman for the youth in Their Tomorrow." first time was to speak there. The article Is a copy of the notes he took, with incident Impressions and convictions.] This Negro woman was the first woman of her group to bring a message to these students. Pres- I N THE chapel at Berea College, on December ident William J. Hutchins, who by way of intro- 14, was enacted a scene which promises a duction in the weeks that preceded the visit, had change in the attitudes and thinking of thou- given a partial history of her achievements in sands of white youth, not only from the hills and education and interracial goodwill. Now he prevalleys of Kentucky, but from the ten or more sented Dr. Brown as one of the outstanding other Southern states represented by the students. women of America.
In a scholarly and dignified manner, with a cul- As an onlooker and listener it was pleasing to tivated voice and gestures of unusual significance, contrast the gentle welcoming applause with the a little black woman, who has won the title of Doc- thunderous ovation which followed her last words, torate from one of the outstanding universities of "Will you meet us half way?" her people, Charlotte Hawkins Brown, protegee of Alice Freeman Palmer, founder and promoter of After expressing her delight in the opportunity an unique school for her people in the Piedmont • From Advance, Boston. January 31, 1935.
to be at Berea, of which she had heard much dur- ington for the porter and had asked "George" to ing her New England childhood, in that delightful carry his baggage, and Dr. Washington carried it, brogue flavored by a little of the North Carolina and on refusing to accept a tip revealed his iden- musical twang, she proceeded thus: tity, to the man's shame and confused apology.
"There is no gift within the range of the Amer- The speaker said that race prejudice is neither ican people that cannot be yours as American inherited nor inborn; it has to be taught or cul- white boys and girls. The industries, the institu- tivated; Negro women have the hardest time, be- tions, the wealth, and the government are already cause white people generally feel that they can bequeathed to you. Tomorrow the reins will be easily be prostituted.
put into your hands. From the position of Presi- Dr. Brown emphatically stated that the Negro dent, Senator, and Congressman, to the smaller does not want to be white, that he is not seeking but ever more important offices of county sheriff intermarriage. "Marriage," she said, "is compli- and city councilman, you will have the adminis- cated enough as it is, without adding the extra tering of the affairs of the American nation. The burden of racial mixture. Furthermore, Negro youth of my race, a minority group tied to you, in men and women need not go out of the race for spite of whatever may be said, by 250 years of white skin, because slavery produced a sufficient the unrequited toil of their forbears, are wonder- supply of mulattoes for their children, and their ing if, in your effort to achieve a greater civiliza- children's children, if they want light-colored tion, you will ride roughshod over them, or if in mates. Negroes want a chance for self-expres- Christian institutions like this, built around a re- sion, fair play, and equal opportunities for pro- ligion intelligently conceived and passionately be- tection and advancement."
lieved, you will develop that sense of fairness and The last ten minutes of the address was a rapid justice, that expression of neighborly-mindedness review of the founding of the Palmer Memorial that will include them in your plan and program Institute at Sedalia, N. C., the financial and racial for the development of a finer and better America struggle under which it had been developed from in which to live." a church for a schoolhouse, a log cabin as a dormi- The students' eyes were fastened on the speaker tory, to its half-million-dollar plant, its significant and for full forty minutes she held both teachers and interesting interracial program, and its sucand students to an almost uncanny silence in her cessful endeavor to enlist the interest of its white appeal for justice for her people. neighbors.
What Negroes Want The recital brought vividly before the group the fact that, notwithstanding her achievements, Dr. The main points emphasized in these expecta- Charlotte Hawkins Brown must still suffer the tions were a guarantee of full protection of the indignities and prejudices heaped upon the illiterlaw under any and all circumstances. Dr. Brown ate and undisciplined members of her race. Edusuggested that they exhibited weakness when they cation and culture make little difference. substituted mob law for the civil law which they themselves instituted. She also asked for the for· There stood this Negro woman, an example of lowing things: what a Negro may achieve in culture and educa- tion, her own best appeal and challenge to the 1. An opportunity for Negro youth in any and white youth of America for fair play and justice all vocations for which they show an aptitude. to her people. When in her closing sentence she 2. Equal educational opportunities. said, "I promise God to teach my youth to strive 3. A proper evaluation of human personality· to establish understanding, sympathy, and interunderneath black skin. (She stated that failure racial goodwill," with a voice quivering with deep in this brought about lynching and flagrant in- emotion, she flung out the challenge to the youth justice to people they regarded as not fully created of Berea, "Will you meet us half way?" Tears human beings.) filled the eyes of old and young, and the burst of 4. The abolition of purely Negro jobs and an sustained applause that shook the building was an open door to earn a living, with equal wages for indication that this woman, a credit to her race equal work. and to American womanhood, had struck a deep 5. The same respect for members of the Negro chord in the hearts of white youths of the South, race that white people feel entitled to from the to whom Berea College itself is a challenge. .
Negro race. The day ended with a conference of the com- She gave striking illustrations of how lack of bined faculty of 150 or more members, who, after ordinary courtesy to human beings because their poignant and searching questions, voted that day faces are black causes the looking upon color as as one of the red-letter days of the year, and many the badge of a servant always. She told the story were heard to say that a great forward step in of how a traveler had once taken Booker T. Wash- race relations had been taken. –
Ways of
Tested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MRS. ESTELLA S. AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO ~~I=I ========================~~========~~====~~~~ FRESH MATERIAL FOR The Women's Home Mission- "Mather, a Continued Story" (free) ary Society of the Methodist telling of the work at the school es- PROGRAM BUILDERS Episcopal Church, 420 Plum St., tablished in 1867 by Rachel Crane Cincinnati, Ohio, has an excel- Mather at Beaufort, S. Carolina, is At the opening of summer, lent four-cent leaflet on "Ne- already available, and a play dealing with the appearance of the new groes in the Economic Struc- with the same school, and written by study themes and the added ture," by Will W. Alexander, Mrs. Augusta Comstock, will soon be leisure for program making, we Executive Director of the Com- ready. (A small charge is made for present an assortment of plans mission on Interracial Coopera- plays.) "Baptist Missionary Piowhich have already proved their tion. The chairman of the For- neers among Negroes" (cloth, 60 value in practical use. The ward-Looking Committee of the cents; paper, 35 cents) and "A flood of year books and pro- Society attended a student con- Heroine of the Cross" (cloth, 75 grams which have come to hand ference "Appreciation Hour" at cents; paper, 50 cents) by Grace M. attest the widespread use to which a Negro student from a Eaton, and "Race Grit" by Coe Hayne which they have been adapted. large college read selections (price, 65 cents) are now available If your denomination does not from a variety of poems by for the year's study. The Woman's seem to be receiving its meed of Negro writers; this led to nam- Baptist Home Mission Society has attention, it is because the mem- ing the M. E. women's forth- also an annual pamphlet entitled bers are not letting their light coming studies "Appreciation "From Ocean to Ocean" which gives shine! Year." This material, inclusive concrete reports of all their work in- of a masque on the plan of clusive of that among Negroes (price, We regret that plans and sup- "Every Woman" and dealing 30 cents). Order all free material plementary material for pre- with My Child, Every Child, from The Council on Finance and senting the new study themes etc., also an "achievement pos- Promotion, 152 Madison Ave., New are not ready for use in the va- ter," will be reviewed later. The York City, and pay literature from rious denominations until the special course in leadership The American Baptist Publication summer conference, hence it is training on "Christian Brother- Society, 1701 Chestnut St., Philadelimpossible to secure this ma- hood" is not a study of the Negro phia, Pa. terial in time for our J une issu~. but of all groups in race rela- They will appear at the earliest tions. "It will be as useful for "The Finding Out Box" gives possible date thereafter. The our Negro constituency as for six object lessons for boys and following are the only advance the white folks, because some girls, by Katherine Scherer data your Editor has been able Negroes are the victims of race Cronk, and is an excellent leaflet to secure in response to her prejudice in their own hearts. on Negroes, for children's somany inquiries: They have plenty of cause for cieties or Sunday school classes. it, but it is injuring them defi- Order from The Women's Mis- The Presbyterian Board of nitely as it is the white man who sionary Society, United Lu- National Missions, 156 Fifth is ill from the same attitude to- theran Church, 1228 Spruce St., Ave., New York City, has a set ward the Negroes or other Philadelphia, Pa. of 10 enlarged pictures entitled groups." "Sepia Tones" (16 by 2'0 inches) Pending our later presentawhich rent at 25 cents plus post- (Quoted fram letter from Mrs. J. N. tion of the new study plans, the age both ways. These fit the Rodeheaver, of the M. E. Woman's Board.) following program suggestions theme, "The American Negro." will be widely acceptable: A ten-cent play which is a gen- Miss May Huston, of the Baperal racial study (tentativelyen- tist Board of Missionary Educa- Foundation Work titled "Under the Skin"), two tion, gives the following items: sets of stereopticon pictures and A friend in the Reformed two motion picture reels on the We expect to have programs and Church sends a leaflet by Flor- Negro (one in color, for chil- discussion Questions prepared on "A ence Gordon, a worker in Grove dren) are in preparation for Preface to Racial Understanding" and Reformed Church at North general use. A set of programs to use them with a series of leaflets Bergen, N. J., from which we and a Negro map, while pointed prepared by the Home Boards on cull the following basic suggesspecifically to the Presbyterian their work among the Negroes. The tions: work, may also be suggestive. leaflets are free in packets made up for those using the study book. A missionary program does not "grow," like Topsy. It is born of [317 ] prayer and study and determination, and brought up in patient, persistent planning. A good meeting begins long in advance of the day and hour set, and ends-never. Some part of
it stays with someone forever in per- have Martha hands but let us pray to Another feature suggested by manent enlargement of heart and keep our Mary minds. spring is the Butterfly Luncheon as view. God gives such a meeting in- used. with variations, along the lines crease. . . . We must "sell" our We can give the support of this of one sent in by a Washington, D. C., speaker (or other feature) by good thorough preparation, this atmos- correspondent. It was the culminapublicity in order to secure a wide and phere-creation, this careful execution, tion of a campaign begun the previous responsive audience. Part of the to our home-ta.ent speaker as well as autumn to secure new members for preparation will be in creating the our board or missionary visitor. A the woman's organization. Each right atmosphere. The physical as- lot of work – all this preparation? member had been given privately the pects are important. Need we have But it is the Way of the Lord which name of a non-member whom she was our chairs in straight, school-like we prepare. to cultivate in a variety of underrows? A semicircular or circular ar- cover ways-with invitations to the rangement is more intimate and sug- To the above, the Editor would add meetings, holiday and birthday greetgests hands – around – the – world. A the desirability of "time-budgeting" ings, etc., in each case signing herself smooth-running meeting may be much speakers and performers. Most ail- merely "Your Butterfly Friend." The advanced by having the complete ing missionary meetings are maimed spring luncheon was the time of revorder typed or mimeographed in ad- by being held over-long. On ordinary elation; for then "The Birth of the vance, supplying each guest with a occasions, one hour is enough-all that Butterflies" was announced to occur copy as she enters. can be commanded in the complexity at a gathering where all the couples and difficulty under modern conditions paired off openly. The luncheon tables Then supply color. Devotional of "living on 24 hours a day." The were beautifully dec 0 rat e d with service, incidental music, background plan of turning a flashlight quietly spring flowers, artificial butterflies, may all be correlated. If Negro work on a program participant (after pre- napkins bearing the same winged is the topic or race relations in the vious notice) which she has, herself, symbols, etc., and at each place was a U. S., our best voices will be delighted used for severa! years past does not boutonniere of gay posies. The toasts to prepare a group of spirituals or give offense if in general use, and it cleverly carried out the butterfly we may all sing one of the familiar does ensure the return of an audience motif: "The Cocoon of Life," "The ones. The "lonesome tunes" and bal- for another meeting without fear of Chrysalis," "Wings," etc. lads of our southern mountains give being detained unduly. One hour is the spirit of the people. American enough, and will do more good than Flag Day or any other national Indian melodies are not hard to come twice the time with a restless and im- holiday may be capita:ized for misby. At one Japanese meeting a lul- patient audience. sions in some such way as this one relaby was sung in the original after it ported by the Program Secretary of had been read in translation, and all Capitalizing Occasions Missions: Mrs. J. T. Crawford, of stood during the singing of the na- Topeka, Kansas, arranged an intertional anthem of Japan, with the flags This gives added receptivity esting program on Missions Magazine. of Japan and our country in one Jap- for the subject matter. For in- Cut seven long strips of red paper anese holder, the Christian flag the stance, May parties and brides and six of white. On the back of each uniting link between them. . . . A just naturally fit into the pres- paste a message from the current iswealth of illustrative, atmosphere- ent season. Mrs. B. P. Heubner sue of the Magazine and fasten the creating material is available – pic- sends a lovely program folder as strip to a firm background. For the tures in magazines and newspapers used at a spring World-Wide blue field (placed in one corner) give and paper-clipped to pasteboards, Guild banquet in the First Bap- "loyalty" items, also from Missions. supplying an art gallery suggesting tist church in Galesburg, 111., To complete the flag, have a roll call the land under discussion and often with explanations as follows: of 48 missionaries. As each name is providing a point of departure for the called, a member places a star in the speaker. (NatilJ'lWl Geographic Mag- The flower-basket idea was used, b'ue field. In closing sing "The Star azines, Sunday school supply catalogs, each talk presenting some Guild qual- Spangled Banner" or "America," fol- ity or purpose under the figure of a lowed by the bugle call, "taps." Misetc., are mentioned as affording fas- flower-"Mistress Mary," cornflower, sionary leaflets rolled in red paper cinating maps, posters, pictures of violet, lily of the valley, lilacs and make fine "firecrackers" to be used as persons and villages, and the like. roses, iris, fruit blossoms, morning souvenirs for a July meeting. "Fresh Some junior group in the church glory, flowering currant, ivy, jack-in- Chinese rolls" (or any other variety, might get these features ready for the-pu:pit and white rose. The per- according to the country studied) are use.) We have Mexican-drawn work, sons impersonating the flowers talked further suggested by Mrs. Crawford Indian pottery, southern qui Its, under the figures of their respective for use in handing out leaflet literacandlewick bedspreads in our homes blossoms, Jack-in-the-pulpit being the ture at a meeting in the progress of that can be related to the program. pastor and the White Rose presenting a program. Have even your collection box har- the closing consecration and installamonize – a Chinese p·ate, a Japanese tion service. The tables were centered The annual meeting is one often relantern or an Indian jug. The with small baskets of flowers to con- quirin!; tastv features to render it aphostesses may wear costumes of the trast with the large one on the speak- petizing. Here is a p'an which was countries considered. Dates and a ers' table, into which the speakers put explained at a conference of Methrice dish may suggest Arabian rice their flowers. There were also stream- odist women of the Cincinnati diswafers and sponge cakes, Japan, etc. ers of ruffled blue crepe paper on a trict, held at Lakeside, Ohio: Now your music, setting, decorations, wider strip of rose pink, with here all keep within the picture presented and there a bud corresponding with Mother Calico, the District Presiby your speaker. the one on the place cards, the buds dent, made ready for the homecoming being made of various colors of paper. of her 11 daughters. All came The wise chairman will have her Mint cups had frills of b:ue and white dressed in calico and responded to ficentire procedure for the afternoon paper. The outside of the program titious names which would represent written down. Should the King's bore a water-color tinted young wom- their various offices. business be hit-or-miss? . . . The an with a May basket on her arm. business meetings may be a danger And on the inside, in addition to the (1) The Recording Secretary came point. If they can be wholly segre- program, was typed the verse: gated, all the better. At least they with a big book in her arms and told can be kept within their time budget .Among the changing months us of her arduous duties and that we and all business tabled that is not May stands confessed, might find a record of all the meetdisposed of in order that the speaker's ings we had held in her district from time be not dissipated. Keep the tone The sweetest and in fairest time immemorial. She was known as of the meeting in harmony with the Colors dressed. "Rebecca Record." great objective. (Avoid fussy dis- -Thomson. cussion of trivial points.) We must (2) The Corresponding Secretary entered with 120 little lanterns strung around and around her neck, also with two huge pockets in her dress filled
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
with them. These were the new mem- tion properly-and how that will af- Observe Laymen's Missionary Sunbers she had to present. She hung fect the whole body I day according to the booklet and sugthe lanterns across the front of the gestions of the Laymen's Missionary church. Her name was "Cora Spond." We will now hsten to Dr. A- (the Movement each year. vice-president of the society), asking (3) The Young People's Secretary her some statistical questions. How Use the stamp co:lecting page in was known as "Mary Youth," and many corpuscles in the blood stream The Herald (and other publications). described her work among her blos- of the Foreign Mission Society? soms. (Members.) How many are still in A Missionary Letter that could be need of specia; treatment? (Unin- read in 10 minutes was sent by Rev. (4) The Junior Secretary, "Char- terested or inactive.) Who may be- Charles Gerlinger of the Sioux Falls ity Childs," told of her Buds. long to that blood stream? (Qualifi- Congregational church, to a circle of cations for membership.) 10 as a round robin with a list of (5) The Mite Box Secretary was names at the bottom, each man to "Blessing Box." With mite boxes Next, let us call the Special Sur- check off his name as he passed the strung around her, she showed how geon of Stewardship. What treat- letter on to the next person. This mighty the little mites may become. ment or operations will be necessary letter made the rounds completely and to bring in these 1,000,000 uninter- was sent to a second circle of men. (6) The Extension Secretary, ested members? "Goldie Extension," was clothed in a See Dr. Lobinger's pamphlet, "Misdress covered with gold stars. She The secretary will now read the sionary Education among Men." told how many zeroes had been re- minutes of Dr. B-'s survey of the moved in the district. last clinic. (Report of previous Let the men's club fo,:low the ex- meeting.) Dr., can you suggest ample of a South Carolina church (7) The Stewardship Secretary, something to improve our patient? men's club which has the rule that "Sally Steward," stressed the facts of two of its 12 meetings each year are Prayer, Personality and Possessions. Similarly doctors impersonated by to be distinctively missionary. the Secretary of Literature, the (8) The Field Support Secretary Treasurer (money :ying nearest the The Anamosa, Iowa, Congregational was "Faithful Fields." Reporting heart and so involvin~ heart ail- church woman's missionary society e~ for the special work in the district, ments), the Extension Secretary tertains the husbands twice a year she urged more auxiliaries to assume (who gives absent treatments), two with a program of dinner, games, field support. doctors for the Program Committee talks, etc. Very popular. The homes (programs aiding digestion, not being are packed and the men always look (9) The Literature Secretary was meant to sleep and dream about, etc.), forward to the next one. "Magie Zine." She entered with arms the Secretary of Membership who loaded with magazines of various ministers to malnutrition, the Leader The Elyria, Ohio, United Presbykinds. We represented ourselves as of Groups who acts as an interne, terian church has a Men's Missionary being more interested in tales of ad- etc., diagnose and prescribe for com- League with a complete organizaventure, fashions, movies, etc., than mon ills. tional setup. It meets monthly, rein the denominational publications; porting real success. [This is one of but in spite of our indifference she Clinic adjourns after prescribing the first we have heard of.-ED.] persisted in selling her literature. for all patients daily prayer and Scripture reading. A diagram may Prayer for Absent Ones (10) The Treasurer was "Hopeful well accompany this. Dollars," and Mother Calico asked her Tune: "Art Thou Weary" to give the "Glad Tidings" as the Mrs. B. H. Daugherty, of Warren, treasurer ca]ed for them. Ohio, was the author of the unique Holy Father, in Thy mercy plan. Hear our earnest prayer: (11) The Publicity Secretary, "Polly Publicity," came with arms That Grab Bag Again Keep our loved ones, now far absent, filled with newspapers and showed 'Neath Thy care. how many different papers over the From Rev. H. D. Davies' Misdistrict had published· the notices of sionary Grab Bag, mentioned Jesus Saviour, let Thy presence the missionary meetings and seem- last month, we take the follow- Be their light and guide; ingly were just as willing to make ing tidbits: room for these as for reports of club Keep, 0 keep them, in their weakness, meetings, etc. Ha,ve the yaung folks themselves At Thy side. give short talks before the Bible A MISS'lONARY CLINIC school, furnishing them the material When in sorrow, when in danger, that they can master and tell in their When in loneliness, This plan, from the same group of own way. women at Lakeside, gives a unique In Thy love reach down and comfort program outline for any meeting in Have panel discussions of world Their distress. which the inner workings of a mis- questions such as communism, race sionary organization-male or female relations, peace, economic justice, etc. May the joy of Thy salvation -are to be explained. Briefly, it ran Be their strength and stay; thus: Have a weekly World News Reel from the Christian viewpoint. A May they love and may they praise How many have ever wished to be Christian "March of Time" feature Thee, present when the doctors ta:ked about is a possibility. our "insides"? Imagine the Foreign Day by day. Mission Society (substitute any de- Have a race relations program ussired name) is laid out on this table ing Nationals of the community to Holy Spirit, let Thy teaching about to be dissected. Many disbe- sing their songs, etc., in costume, pos- Sanctify their life; lieve in vivisection, but adequately to sibly with folk songs and dances. analyze a subject one has to do some The idea is to provoke respect for Send Thy grace that they may concutting. First, imagine the Foreign people who are different yet talented quer Mission Society of the world, then we in their own way. shall cut off this section for our coun- In the strife. try. Next divide this into branches, Have tableaux depicting historical ours being the C- branch. There occasions such as the haystack prayer Father, Son and Ho:y Spiritare 28 auxiliaries functioning in this meeting, the meeting of Livin<!stone God the One in Three, district. See how small a part one and Stanley, etc. A Livingstone plays – it has to be put under a monologue giving the mental debate Bless them, guide them, save them, microscope to see it. But if it hap- as to whether to return to England keep them, pens to be a germ-infested part in one or continue in Africa would be imsmall organ, the whole will not func- pressive. Near to Thee. The Council of Women for Home Missions ANNE SEESHOLTZ, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 105 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK "~»I~~~~==~~~==~=======~ A GOOD STORY DO YOU KNOW HIM? A SHORT LITANY In a book full of action, known Charles Lamb, in talking to Help us, Our Father, to real- ize that Thou art the Father of as "The Acts" we read at the a friend one day, said "I dislike all children of whatever race; beginning that a little company Mr. So and So very much." Response: Increase our viof men and women were told by "Do you know him?" asked his sion, Lord. Jesus, about to begin his heavenly journey, himmelfahrt as friend. Let no prejudices, false pride, "N0," replied Charles Lamb. or feeling of superiority enter into any of our relationships the Germans name the event, "Well, if you knew him you with members of other races; "not to depart from Jerusalem . would like him, for he is a splenbut to wait for the promise of did young man. I should like to Response: Increase our vithe Father." And they, con- bring you two together." sion, Lord. trariwise to many who recently "No," said Charles Lamb, "I followed in thought and prayer don't want to know him, for if I Open our minds that we may the life of Jesus through Geth- did, I'm sure I would like him." realize what happens to a persemane, Golgotha, and Easter To what extent does this typ- son when he is continually remorn, waited, "continuing sted- ify our attitude toward people buffed; fastly in prayer, with the wom- of other races? Do we know the en, and Mary the mother of finest types among them? Do we Response: Increase our vi- Jesus, and with his brethren. want to know them? sion, Lord.
And Peter "stood up . . . Race prejudice is not limited Grant that we may always reit became known. . . they to anyone race nor to anyone spect the sacredness of personwere all together in one place country. It is world wide, but is ality; . . . they were all filled with very tense in certain parts of the Holy Spirit and began to America; in the east it is Response: Increase our vispeak . . . there were added against the Jew and Italian; in sion, Lord. unto them in that day about the south, the Negro, the souththree thousand souls. And they west the Mexican, and the west, May we become increasingly continued stedfastly." This is the Orientals. aware of the great injustices done to those of other racial the opening of a rapidly moving groups in our community.
story filled with choices and ac- Response: Help us, 0 Lord. tions that turned the world up- Prayer (in unison): side down and redirected the o God, who hast made man in course of events even to our day. thine own likeness and who dost What about ourselves? It is love all whom Thou hast made, suffer us not, because of differnow so many days since the cele- ence in race, color or condition, bration of Easter. We have in to separate ourselves from oth- ers and thereby from Thee; but our churches heard the story of teach us the unity of thy family. As thy Son our Saviour, was the Ascension and we now cele- born of a Hebrew mother and brate Whitsuntide. Will we be ministered first to his brethren of the House of Israel, and also conscious of such overwhelming rejoiced in the faith of a Syropower within us, that in our day phenician woman and a Roman new ventures in right living will soldier, teach us also while lov- ing and serving our own, to enbegin? If not, are we dead? Or, ter into the communion of the whole human family. And forare we acting in accordance with bid that, from pride of birth and hardness of heart, we should deour strength to foster the good spise any for whom Christ died life for ourselves and for our or injure any in whom He lives. Amen. MORNAY WILLIAMS. immediate neighbors?
Are we making a good story of our living these days?
"We hear these men talking of STUDENT. BALLARD NORMAL, the triumphs of God in our own MARION, GA. languages!" (Acts 2: 11.) [ 320 ]
BULLETIN OF THE COUNCIL OF WOMEN FOR HOME MISSIONS
CAN THIS BE TRUE? do.es life mean to. me?" Let us In a leaflet published by the put o.ur experience into. wo.rds; Co.mmissio.n o.n Race Relatio.ns, no.t necessarily in verse but Federal Co.uncil o.f the Churches within a hundred wo.rds. Then o.f Christ there are sto.ries be- let us co.nsider what we have lieved to. be true and to. be typi- written, and ask, Can this be cal o.f what is happening in true? And what have I, a Chrismany parts o.f so.-called Chris- tian, do.ne to. be wo.rthy o.f life? tian America – no.rth, e a s t, What abo.ut the sto.ry o.f o.ur so.uth, west. The purpo.se o.f the lives, when day is do.ne?
leaflet is to. stimulate a real WHAT THE GOVERNMENT study o.f the situatio.n in every IS DOING co.mmunity where Negro.es are (East Tennessee News, Jan.
living, particularly in regard to. 16, 1936) the health facilities, the ho.spital In the annual repo.rt of the situatio.n, the Negro do.cto.rs Department Qf Co.mmerce are available, and the type o.f serv- included the fQllowing develQP- ice rendered by the citizens ments in the DivisiQn o.f Negro.
thro.ugh public funds. Church Affairs: members have influence no.t o.nly The Negro. bureau's wQrk has thro.ugh church o.rganizatio.ns co.nsisted Qf furnishing infQrma- but as vo.ters, as taxpayers, as J. R. Scot/ord tiQn Qn the race's eCQnQmic sta- contributo.rs o.f mo.ney and sup- ON FARM. AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSO- tus. This has included lists Qf CIATION. BRICKS. )lORTH CAROLINA publicatio.ns, theaters, h 0. m e plies to. ho.spitals, as members o.f women's clubs, and o.ther co.m- Qwnership and tenancy, furnishmunity o.rganizatiQns. SINGERS IN THE DAWN ing o.f infQrmatiQn to. citizens Qn The edito.r believes the fo.llo.w- man y government alphabet ing quo.tation to. be a true sto.ry. Selectio.ns fro. m American The co.llege dean o.f wo.men re- PQets, Phillis Wheatley, Paul agencies, estimates and analyses ferred to. was a perso.nal friend Laurence Dunbar and Qthers o.f the purchasing PQwer o.f the and a Christian leader effective race, addresses to. business gathin changing life bo.th fo.r her are available in a pamphlet (10 erings, etc. Secretary RQper white and co.lo.red f r i end s, cents per co.py). with the title, amo.ng who.m she numbered Singers in the Dawn – A Brief lists additio.nal develo.pments Chinese and Indian leaders. during the year, including the The sto.ry is headed "It Never Supplement to. the Study o.f emplQying of mo.re than 2,000 Occurred to. Them" – "F 0. U r American Literature, prepared yo.ung peo.ple, three o.f them stu- in 1934 by RQbert B. Eleazer. It in tempo.rary white co.llar pro.jdents and the fo.urth their co.l- is published by the CQnference ects during the year, establishlege dean o.f wo.men, moto.ring ment Qf the Qffice Qf Specialist thro.ugh a rural section o.f the on Education and Race Relaco.untry – a co.llision with an- tiQns, Standard Bldg., Atlanta, in Negro. Statistics with Charles o.ther car – the dean and a stu- Geo.rgia. E. Hall in charge, a bibliQgraphy dent critically injured – picked up by kindly hands and rushed Do. yo.u kno.w Paul Laurence Qf Negro. business, a rQster o.f to. the nearest tQwn-the best Dunbar's "Life"? physicians giving their service Negro. air pilo.ts and a list of in emergency treatment. Here co.nventiQn dates. Advice has the picture changes. FrQm the do.cto.rs' Qffices they were taken LIFE also. been given to. perso.ns interto. a small co.ttage, where o.ne was put in a bed, the o.ther Qn a A crust of bread and a corner to sleep ested in entering business, an co.uch, in the care Qf a 'practi- in, assistant business specialist was cal' nurse. Near by stood a well equipped ho.spital. It never o.c- A minute to smile and an hour to appo.inted, a study was begun o.f curred to. the kindly docto.rs o.r weep in, licensed Negro. air pilo.ts to fur- A pint of joy to a peck of trouble, And never a laugh but the moans ther the develQpment Qf flying, and a PQlicy was adQpted o.f us- come double: ing co.lQred enumerators and su- And that is life!
A crust and a corner that love makes pervisQrs in the census Qf Amer- precious, ican business nQW being under- With the smile to warm and the tears taken thrQugho.ut the cQuntry.
to refresh us; The Charles Lamb story and the And joy seems sweeter when cares litany are quoted from Suggestions come after, for Building a Program in Race Re- And a moan is the finest of foils :(or lations for Young People, prepared laughter: to.wnspeo.ple to ask fo.r the ad- And that is life! for the observance of Race Relations Sunday, February, 1936. Meetings missio.n o.f these dying wo.men to. No.w that we have read this based on a community survey, a panel the ho.spital, where scientific expressio.n o.f life based Qn ac- discussion and an opinion test are facilities and expert care might also suggested in the leaflet available have saved at least o.ne life, be- tual experience, the necessity at 105 East 22d St., New York, for cause that ho.spital'do.es nQt re- 3 cents each or $2 Der hundred. The ceive colo.red peo.ple.' " arises fo.r each tho ugh t f u I material is good· for any day in the reader to. ask himself, "What year.
~'I===============
II! Our World–wide Outlook A Missionary Newspaper of Current Events .:It EDITED BY MRS. HENRIETTA H. FERGUSON, XENIA, OHIO "
~I~~===~–====~=-~=========~ AFRICA results from lack of religious Testaments, Gospels and other Scrip- teaching and they said that tures where no one has ever gone be- Religious Liberty in Egypt there is only one way of com- fore, a great, new field. Again and bating this constantly progress- again the devil tempted me to give up, King Fuad, of Egypt, died on ing evil-"The Word." A non- but the prayers of those at home April 28th, and his sixteen-year- reading population has no he:ped me to keep going. . . . old son, Prince Farouk, a stu- resources to fall back upon when dent in England, has succeeded the floods of evil break in. There I met a man whom I baptized when him. has followed a revival in Arabic at Tamanrasset years ago, and am reading. The desire to read has delighted to find him going on well Fourteen – fifteenths of the extended even to women, and and studying the Scriptures. population of Egypt are Mo- many girls are now going to hammedans. The State religion Koranic schools. At the meeting I am busy translating portions of is Islam. The constitution of mentioned above, a woman de- Scripture and visiting camps of 1922 guarantees religious lib- livered a "Khutba" (Mosque Tuaregs, with medicines and Scriperty, but that does not mean all sermon) creating quite a sensa- tUres. The chiefs have given me a that we in America understand tion. good reception. I have met Arabs by liberty. There is adequate from Nigeria and Lake Chad, and legal procedure for a non-Mos- This movement is full of pos- many Tuaregs who have previously lem to become a Moslem and sibilities for every new reader received Scriptures. Almost every hundreds of the poorer classes of the Koran may become a day visitors come and request Scripeach year embrace Islam. This reader of the Gospel. Every tures. is to be expected in a country reader of Moslem literature towhere all preferment in govern- day may become a reader of Evangelizing a Large Tribe ment, society and even in busi- Christian literature tomorrow. ness is given to members of the The World Survey reports dominant faith. But the Mos- -Blessed Be Egypt. that the native church in the lem authorities take the position Mossi tribe of French West that it is inconceivable that any Opportunity in the Sahara Africa has begun to expand. Moslem would desire to become The tribe is one of the largest in a Christian. Apostocacy from Mr. Dugald Cam p bell, French West Africa and is Islam is still punishable by F.R.G.S., an agent of the Na- mostly found in the Upper Volta death though this penalty is not tional Bible Society of Scotland, Territory. It numbers approxiofficially recognized. describes his recent journey mately 1,500,000 or more. A from Morocco across the Sa- good deal of the New Testament Too many difficult questions hara: has already been translated into are involved for British authori- the Mossi dialect, and is availties to deal with the situation, I am in one of the hottest corners able for the native church. A and the law giving a Moslem the in Africa, after crossing a most ter- beginning has been made with right to become a Christian can rible desert. Once or twice I won- other literature. Reading classes be evaded, or nullified in prac- dered if I could ever get through are held at all mission and outtice. The real solution lies in the alive. It was over 1400 in the sun stations, and Bible training creation of enlightened public and 120 0 in the shade. On the last schools are held at each mission opinion. day, I galloped on my racing camel station where there is a resident ahead of my caravan, hopinp' to reach mIsSIOnary. The young men In Algiers the oasis where distant palms spoke who have attended these Bible of water. I have been drinking the schools are now realizing that Last November there was in most horrible liquid, smelling and the evangelization of their peo- Algiers an important gathering tasting like nothing natural, and my ple rests upon them and not exof the "Ulema" and Moslem mouth and palate were shrive:led up. clusively upon the missionary. celebrities, who came from all When I got to this oasis the Tuareg This beginning of widespread parts of Algeria. There was in chief brought me delicious sour progress in the Mossi tribe has all the speeches the same note of curdled milk, well watered, that tasted aroused some opposition from concern – even alarm over the like nectar. I sat on my mat singing Roman Catholics. The village devastating impact of modern and shouting, "Praise the Lord" in work is more progressive than civilization. All agreed that this Arabic. that in the larger centers of pop- ulation, and the Mossi people as Through the 60 oases of Touat was a whole are open to the Gospel. a time of unique opportunities and Every effort is being made to good work for the Master, and of teach the native Christians to pioneering for the Gospel. It has been a joy that I have circulated Bibles, [322 ]
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
read and to build up a literate wife of the Government Agent mighty surgings toward a new Church. for South Africa. It is in charge and better hfe. The old order is of a C. M. S. missionary, Dr. doomed and the shackles of big- Hausa Bible Bears Fruit Alma Downes Shaw, and she has otry, intolerance, ignorance and been assisted by British, Indian superstition are everywhere be- The "Hausa" Bible has al- and African helpers. So far, ing broken. Syria is awakening ready brought excellent results the accommodation for in-pa- from the long sleep of the cenin Nigeria. During 1932, when tients is very limited, but there turies, and everywhere we see it first appeared, there were 60 have been more than 3,000 at- abundant evidence of a new and decisions for Christ at J os, in tendances of out-patients. better day." Southern Baptists the Bishara day school and have work at two centers: a church. During 1933, there A free lending library in the small Baptist church in Beirut were 61 decisions; in 1934, 103, out-patient waiting-room con- and one between the Lebanon and for 1935 the number re- tains copies of the Scriptures in and anti-Lebanon mountains. corded is 143. The great ma- a ¥ariety of languages and other jority of these were young men Christian books in English, Kis- – Watchman-Examiner. who had been reading the Hausa wahili and Gujerati. The doc- Bible. From among them con- tor finds a warm welcome when Rapid Growth of Haifa verts have gone to other regions, she is able to visit her patients. helping others to read and wit- Some one following the exnessing for Christ while they -The Life of Faith. ample of Paul, "to the Jew first," work for their daily bread. led a young rabbinical student WESTERN ASIA of Jerusalem to Christ. He came At a gold mining camp, the to America, graduated from the proprietor had put up a sign: What Every Turkish Girl Moody Bible Institute, then re- "N0 missionaries allowed," but Should Know turned to his own land to witthese young men went in as ness to his people; He is now miners and worked as mission- In a drive to improve their located in Haifa. Of this city he aries also. The Hausa tribe is students' moral outlook, the writes: largely Moslem. headmasters of all girls' high schools in Smyrna have jointly "Haifa is rapidly enlarging its -Evangelical Christian. sent a number of recommenda- borders and the eyes of the in- tions to parents. According to coming Jews are being set to- Idols Destroyed these, no schoolgirl should go to wards it. Little suburbs are be- a cinema unless she goes with ing built up around it. The Former pupils of the Etinan her school or is accompanied by Jews from· Germany are build- Bible Institute, Qua Iboe Mis- an adult member of her family. ing a nice little settlement on the sion, central Africa, are in If men try to talk to her on the Haifa Bay. Near our house a charge of schools of their own. street she ought to tell her par- new quarter came into being A missionary writes: "It is an ents or the headmaster. She under the charming name of encouragement to us to see these should not talk to a young man Kiriath Eliahu (Elijah's City). pupils going on faithfully with on the street, even if he happens As a matter of fact, every street their work amid growing diffi- to be a relative, unless he is her has new houses on it. What is culties. They work in much the own brother. She ought always true of Haifa is true of other same spirit, and use the same to wear her school cap, to pre- cities that are open to the Jews." methods that have been a fea- vent her being taken to a police ture of our Institute. Our wom- station in case she chances to be -Moody Institute Bulletin. en's Sunday school goes on stead- included in a police raid! The ily. The members contributed parents' attention is called to the Education in Iran over £3 during the year for evan- fact that the Turkish woman's gelism in Igala." The elders of real beauty resides in her sim- Constant progress in educathe Etinan church have ap- plicity. Their daughters should, tion is shown by the fact that in proved 800 candidates for bap- therefore, refrain from wearing 1910 the number of primary tism, after examination. loud colors, extravagant orna- schools numbered only 112, with ments, rings, earrings, or to 10,531 pupils, of whom 2,167 Eleven boys have been sent paint their faces and nails. were girls. The two secondary out to unoccupied villages, and schools in the country enrolled almost everywhere they have Syria Awakening 154 pupils. Higher education preached, idols and ju-jus are was limited to a faculty of medibeing burnt, and large numbers Dr. Charles E. Maddry, Ex- cine, a polytechnic and a miliare attending the services. ecutive Secretary of the South- tary school. Under the reign of ern Baptist Foreign Mission Shah Riza Pehliwi, the number -The Christian. Board who is visiting the mis- of schools has increased to well sion fields, writes that Syria is over 4,000 with over 200,000 New C. M. S. Work in Kenya in the midst of a rebirth. "It pupils of whom one-third are is an old land in the count of girls. Secondary and higher In February, 1935, a hospital years, yet along with many other education have registered a corfor Indian women and children old lands today, it is in the responding advance. was opened at Mombasa by Lady Singh, a Christian Indian lady,
INDIA, BURMA AND SIAM cided there were certain things the Depressed Classes," with a they must know," says a writer fund of a million rupees ($375,- World's Largest Hindu Temple in World Call. "One was the 000) and 1,000 Moslem evan- Lord's Prayer. Experience is a gelists, each giving 20 years of A new temple is to be erected great teacher and we soon found his life to work among the 54,- in Benares, near the Hindu Uni- that they were not able to learn 000,000 outcastes. versity. The building, designed that at once. Therefore we by Calcutta architects, will em- chose this sentence prayer, 'Oh, Life without caste is difficult body the best features of Hindu God, make my heart clean. In for them to comprehend. Said architecture and will cost about Jesus' name.' This was learned an Indian to a missionary re- $750,000. It is expected to be by all of the women including cently: "When one believes in the largest temple in the world, some of the non-Christians. Christ and wants to follow Him and will draw many more pil- Now a number of the Christians do you bring him into Christ's grims to Benares. know the Lord's Prayer and the caste?" rest are learning it. Missions asks whether this Through One Man's Witness new temple may possibly fore- "Recently one of these nonshadow a revival of Hinduism. Christian women, who has al- About two years ago, a Cha- ways attended the meetings, mar, who had been led to Christ Famous Norwegian Missionary brought her daughter-in-law to through a Christian sweeper, the hospital in Bilaspur. Just started a movement among his Paul Olaf Bodding, Lutheran before the operation, Dr. Nicho- own class. Through this man's missionary to Santal, went to son explained to them how they testimony Chamars from neighthat field from Norway in 1889, always prayed to God before boring villages became inquirwhen he was 24. Here are some starting the work and asked ers. A group of about forty of the things he has done in 46 them to bow their heads. The men and women from two vilyears: mother-in-law said, 'Oh, yes, I lages expressed their desire to know what it is to pray.' She become Christians. Later, fierce (1) He made and revised a com- stood very reverently and when persecution from the caste peoplete translation of the Bible into the prayer was finished, she her- ple partially stamped out the Santhali. (2) He revised a San- self prayed, 'Oh, God, make my movement; but during the past thali dictionary of 13,500 words. (3) heart clean. In Jesus' name.''' year it has revived and has He has written a standard book of spread from village to village. doctrine. (4) He has published a Depressed Classes on the Move Mrs. G. S. Ingram writes of this volume of studies in Santal medicine work in the C. M. S. Outlook: and folklore. (5) He has collected Since the movement of the and placed in Oslo, Norway, the Depressed Classes away from "Many of the new Christians largest ethnographical museum of Hinduism, under the leadership have grown in grace during the Santals in the world. (6) He is an of Dr. Ambedkar, invitations past months in a way that has authority in census taking. (7) He have been given them to join amazed us, and filled us with has published a Santal hymnal. Mohammedanism or Buddhism. thankfulness. They are learn- Large numbers in North India ing to pray; the few who can All these tasks are by- had previously become Moham- read are not only feeding on the products of his ministry. His medan, attracted by the fact Word of God themselves but are chief work has been that of the that Mohammedanism does not teaching others; they are learnordinary missionary-teaching, recognize caste. ing to give to God's work out of preaching and various acts of their deep poverty, to stand permercy. He has received recog- If the present ferment is secution, and to win others for nition in various ways: King merely a social or political up- Christ. None of them has yet Haakon made him a Knight of heaval, obviously C h r i s t ian been baptized, except the orig- St. Olav; King George gave him forces can play no part in it. inal Chamar." the Delhi Royal Medal. He is Nor do they want the Harijans an honorary member of the Brit- to feel that Christianity can be Movement Toward Union ish and Foreign Bible Society bartered for mass conversions and of the Norwegian Academy but that conversion is a purely A movement for union of of Science. He is a Fellow of spiritual change of heart in the Anglican and Met hod i s t the Asiatic Society of Bengal individual. Churches in Burma, along the and a member of the Council of line of the South India plan, is this Society and its anthropolog- A Hindu newspaper recently being held up owing to the postical secretary. He is a member had a cartoon picturing Dr. Am- ponement of negotiations in of the Royal Asiatic Society, the bedkar as a judge with a gavel, South India. The Methodist American Oriental Society, of while all around are groups rep- Mission is working solely in the the Bihar and Orissa Research resenting the different religions dry zone, or central belt of Society and the Bombay An- making flattering bids. Moham- Burma. The Anglican Church thropological Society. His motto medans have a "50 year plan" is working largely in Lower is Luke 17: 10. calling for 100,000 members in Burma through the Society for a society named "The Moslem the Propagation of the Gospel, -Lutheran News Service. Mission for the Emancipation of which also has a strong mission Learning to Pray "When the Murhipar women started to accept Christ, we de-
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
in Mandalay, the Methodist operative rate being only one is a passport to regions which headquarters. In the far north, and a fifth per cent. Loans have otherwIse he dare not visit. -E. M. M. S. Quarterly. as well as in the coastal district also helped to build dwellings of Arakan, it is also represented and pay children's tuition. Healing on Wheels through the Bible Churchmen's Mr. Wang hopes for the day Rev. George W. Shepherd and Missionary Society. The latter when all the members will be Dr. Clara Sargent Shepherd, of free of outside debts and can Lichwan, Kiangsi, China, have mission has now been at work borrow for constructive or pro- received the gift of an up-to-date for eleven and a half years in ductive purposes. He adds: motor ambulance from Edsel hitherto untouched areas; there "We hold fast to our conviction ~'ord for country work in China. is a growing Christian commu- that the cooperative movement Five minutes after its arrival it nity of some 300 converts of 18 has its share in bringing China was on the road to Kiangsi. It different races. The Bishop of to Christ and building HIS King- had to "ford" rivers, wait for Rangoon, formerly a jungle mis- dom on earth." broken bridges to be repaired, sionary to the K are n s, is and narrowly escaped capture strongly in favor of developing Medicine – A Door for by bandit troops said to be comthe indigenous Church along the Gospel munistic. The Shanghai Muself-supporting lines. nicipality gave the Shepherds There were no doctors among license plates and drivers' li- Effort also was made to ef- the pioneers of the China Inland censes free of charge. Up to fect a Baptist union of India, Mission which Hudson Taylor January 1, this health car had Burma and Ceylon, at a meeting tounded in 1865. It was not traveled over 1,200 miles on erin Balasore, February 16, 1936, until 1880 with the arrival of when a simple constitution was drafted.
CHINA Dr. Harold Schofield that med- rands of mercy. ical work was attempted. The -MissiotUZry llerald.
Millions Without Food attitude of Hudson Taylor to- The New York Times (April ward medical, and all auxiliary Country Evangelism 19) reports wholesale suicides work was, in his own words and "mercy" slayings in Szech- "that everything that is human, World Call tells of the Young wan f'rovince, which is suffering everything outside the suffi- People's Christian Fellowship of the worst famine in China's his- ciency of Christ, is only helpful Nantungchow, w h i c h divides tory. The authorities fear 15,- in the measure in which it en- into two groups to visit near-by OOU,OOO will die unless the en- ables us to bring the soul to Him. villages in rotation on Sunday tire resources of the nation are . . . If our medical missions afternoons. Each group has a devoted to relief. With tree draw people to us, and we can leader, a nurse and singers. bark, roots and grasses long present to them the Christ of They carry a medical hit, posters since exhausted, dying thou- God, medical missions are a and song sheets. On arriving at sands allegedly are reduced to blessing; but to substitute medi- a village some members of the cooking and eating human flesh cine for the preaching of the group visit in the homes to get from the bodies of relatives, gospel would be a profound mis- acquainted, while the nurse dead through starvation. Par- take." opens the medical kit. This soon ents are said to have slain their draws a crowd, among whom children before ending their Rev. F. Houghton, editorial are sure to be those needing secretary of the C. 1. M., spent medical attention. After a busy own lives. most of 1935 traveling in 12 hour of clinical work which in- Chinese provinces, and reports cludes the distribution of free Officials say that the situation instance after instance of preju- hospital clinic cards to those in primarily is a result of Com- dices removed and new doors need of further medical attenmunist incursions during the opened through medical work, tion, members of the band form past two years, in which the of men and women whose phys- a circle, sing a song or two, un- Reds overran the land. The area ical healing has prepared them roll the poster, give the story today is barren. Not a sheep, for the salvation of their souls, with a simple gospel message, pig, fowl or crop remains. The and of Chinese doctors occupy- and teach the children how to invaders .took all of. these and ing positions of leadership in the sing an easy song. ate the seed grain. churches. One doctor, whose A Christian Cooperative hospital was closed through the Newchwang Bible School approach of Communist armies, The pastor of St. Lioba's Epis- refused to allow his activities to The sixth year of the Newch-= copal Church, Wuhu, has helped be curbed, and in country itin- wang Bible School, Manchuria, to organize a credit cooperative. erations among p eo pIe who has been marked by many out- The burden of debt is heavy would have feared to visit the standing evidences of success. among the Chinese; most of the hospital he treated over four The student body of 1935 was loans have been made to clear thousand patients. Another, on representative of ten different up debts for which a high rate the Tibetan border, is constantly missions. In the first half of the of interest was charged, the co- discovering that his medical skill year there were 100 students in
the school. Twelve graduated in Special permission is given to Japan Diet held its first session the summer: one is working missionary workers to board the and the Emperor's Edict on with the Canadian Mission, an- large passenger liners which Education was issued, clarifying other with the American Re- visit ports on the Pacific coast. Japanese ideas toward educaformed Presbyterian Mission, These liners carry up to 1,200 tion and stimUlating interest in three with the Scottish Mission, passengers. Some are lonely it. When Miss Bigelow, the and seven with the Irish Mis- and fearful of the hidden future, "mother" of this school, was sent sion. Altogether 53 students and therefore doubly receptive from Tokyo to take up the duties have graduated from the school of a friendly greeting and the of Principal in 1899, fear was since it started. In the autumn loving gift of a Gospel. Many expressed for "such a young 31 new students entered, and of them travel home again, and lady in such a remote mountaintwenty-four students of the fifth therefore carry the Word of God ous place." However, armed class went out for a term's evan- to their distant homes. with the first teaching-license isgelistic work. One of these went sued by the Minister of Educato work among the Mongols. A Oustom Worth Oopying tion, Miss Bigelow was in no During the past six months he danger of failing, as her fortyhas traveled on foot 700 miles, They have a custom in the four years of varied service have and preached the Gospel to Mon- little Japanese church at Ko- shown. The honor she received golians of seven different dia- machi that might well be copied from the Government in 1920 lects. Two others went to work in America-that of giving spe- and from the Tokyo Women's in North Manchuria; one has cial gifts of money as expres- Union in 1925, and the many held meetings at six centers, has sions of gratitude on different gifts showered upon her by preached the Gospel in forty- occasions. Practically all of the graduates, teachers and students seven villages, and paid visits to members give birthday money, upon her retirement in 1930 are 1,700 homes. Through his work says Miss Katharine Merrill, of only a small indication of how over 200 people have put away Matsuyama. A list of some of well she has succeeded. their idols and turned to the the "specials" includes: "25th Lord. wedding anniversary," "f irs t Ohanged Lives in Hakodate birthday of a baby daughter," Students manifest a keen "wedding gift," "fifth anniver- Floyd Shacklock, Methodist evangelistic spirit. Each day sary of a husband's death" (in missionary to Japan, tells of a they take part in some Christian memoriam) ; gratitude for "safe recent visit to a social center activity, such as Gospel-hall arrival in Tokyo," for the "grad- opened in the worst slum section preaching, open-air work, cot- uation of a son from high of Hakodate, after the disastage meetings, hospital visita- school," "gratitude gift from an trous fire when 100,000 people tion and personal dealing. Many unbaptized young Christian," were made homeless and several of them spent their holiday pe- "gift of thanksgiving" from a thousand were dead or missing. riods in evangelistic work. A deacon whose church has just prayer atmosphere pervades the been able to get a regular pastor. In the kindergarten and day school. The leader of the women nursery, children who n in e students' Prayer Groups reports -American Board News. months before were antisocial 100 definite answers to special little s a vag e s, fighting and petitions, some of them most re- The "Light and Salt School" throwing sand and calling vile markable. -The Christian. names, now join in cooperative In Shimonoseki an earnest games and handicraft. This JAPAN-OHOSEN Christian, interested in religious refugee community was dis- training for girls, founded a tinctly hostile to Christianity Ways of Spreading the Gospel school which he called The when the work was begun after "Light and Salt School" and the fire, but now the barriers are In Japan there are eight which, in 1881, he moved to down. Boys' clubs, girls' clubs standard classes for scholars Yamaguchi. He began his teach- and adults' groups carryon a learning to read, and the system ing of English in a temple, and varied program. Though many of education in reading is highly patiently worked on until he of these slum people are stilllivcomplicated and difficult; so managed to get a school license, ing at so Iowa level that it is almuch so that there is need for a although there was great opposi- most revolting, they are facing Scripture translation in collo- tion since there was already a toward the more abundant life. Quial Japanese. This is now small school for girls in that available through the Scripture city and another was thought -The Christian Advocate. Gift Mission and a Japanese unnecessary. It happened that Christian translator. This Mis- the Governor of the province Enlists Youth Against sion is taking advantage of the had had two years of study in Oommunism opportunity to distribute Gos- America and was a good friend pels among the large numbers of of the "father" of the school, so Prof. Paul Rusch, of St. Paul's Japanese who are migrating he gave the license without con- University, Tokyo, believes that from the homeland, chiefly to sultation, merely informing the the world battleground against Brazil and California. officials that it had been granted. communism is certain to be the This was the year in which the Orient. There is increasing evi- dence, he said, that a war with
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
communism will be fought in the Bible institutes and girls from a sea captain cruising around Far East, and that Japan will the higher Bible school and their bent on conquest; such is Palabe the buffer against its growth. Bible institute have regularly wan, southwesternmost and one The chief element which has an worked. Tent evangelism has of the largest of the Philippine opportunity to combat commu- been taken up within the last Islands. The census records nism in the Orient, he declared, two or three years. It has about 75,000 people in the provis the Christian youth move- yielded wonderful results in ince, but the true figure seems ment. He has recently an- Chairyung and Taiku fields, and to lie nearer 175,000, certainly nounced that he will enlist to some extent in Chungju. over 150,000. Nobody knows 100,000 young Japanese in a how many are in the wild and Christian movement to combat Every hospital in Korea has ever-moving tribes of the mounthe red menace. one or more evangelists work- tains. Only one tribe has a ing in their wa:iting rooms and written language. Aside from Strange Sect Dissolved wards. Scores of new churches a haphazard planting of rice have grown from this work. In they take no interest in the cul- Japan has a queer religion Pyengyang, each month 5,000 tivation of foodstuffs, being called Omotokyo which has been copies of a little paper called the satisfied with what the ground described as "a combination of "Light of Pyengyang" are sent brings forth – roots and nuts, Shintoism, Chauvinism, mega- out. Special workers circulate and such meat as they are able lomania and mesmerism, found- among the homes where stu- to capture. ed by a half crazy, illiterate old dents are boarding and try to woman and propagated by a win them. Thus in many ways The apostle to Palawan is shrewd man of the world." Its the work goes steadily on. Capt. Ellis Skoefield, and he remembership has been estimated ports steady growth. Christian to be as high as two millions. -The Presbyterian Banner. believers at this center are erect- But its supporters r e c e n t I y ing a building for church servfound that divine reincarnations ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC ices. From another center it is sometimes have their disadvan- reported that eighteen were retages. Since the leader of the The Sarawak Field cently baptized, and the memsect claims to be the reincarna- bers there have donated a lot on tion of a primeval god of Japan Sarawak in Borneo is one of which they have almost comwho preceded the sun goddess, the most unique pieces of mis- pleted the erection of a chapel, ancestress of the present im- sion work that the Christian all the expense of the work beperial family, the sect was dis- Church has to its credit. Thirty- ing met by local Christians. In solved, and its leader held on five years ago Chinese Christian the northern part of the island charges including lese majeste. colonists began to settle in Sara- special meetings have been held, wak. A year after these people with as many as 200 gathered to -The Living Church. landed, James M. Hoover, a hear the Word. you n g Methodist missionary A Year of Jubilee from Malaya, volunteered to go -Moody Institute Monthly. to Borneo to work with them. The year 1934 was really ,a Working practically alone Mr. Alliance Mission in J 010 jubilee year in Korean churches. and Mrs. Hoover have developed The General Assembly of 1935 a Christian community up and The Christian and Missionary reported 25,544 additions to the down the Rejang River that is Alliance report a large, new total of 1934 – 298,431 adher- a r em ark a b I e achievement. church built in Jolo, P. I., dients. In the 3,252 Sunday Forty-six school and church cen- rected by a capable native passchools, 296,492 pupils were re- ters now stand as a monument tor. Two new chapels have been ported. Four hundred and to their thirty-four years of built and a new district opened twenty-six pastors were in active faithful and efficient service. in the Cotabato Province. In service besides 62 retired or the Margosatubig field there temporarily without c h a r g e. At the age of 64, Mr. Hoover were 97 baptisms. Thirteen Four hundred and ninety-four succumbed to malignant malaria, convicts in the San Ramon other salaried men workers and but anticipating the need for Prison were baptized during the 524 women served the church. younger shoulders to carry the year, the result of the Sunday Fully 200. new churches were burden he had selected a couple school classes held each week at erected. The new believers were from Malaya to begin work in this institution. Twenty-five not won in mass conversion, but 1936. They are now enthusias- converts were baptized in the each one independently made his tically serving in this challeng- Sulu District. Full gospel tracts, . or her own covenant with the ing field. Plans include the es- in five dialects, have been Lord, each witnessing to his tablishment of a new station 160 printed and sent into homes. neighbor. miles up the Rejang River. Five young native pastors Street evangelism has been in -Malaysia Message. were ordained this year, the operation the past 10 years, and first ordination service in the theological stUdents, boys from Pioneering in Palawan history of the Alliance Philipthe college and academy and pine Mission. Plans have been A great lonely island, tens Of formulated to carry the gospel thousands of aborigines with bows and arrows and blow guns;
to unreached pagan sections this sion in giving hit bottom in authority of the Scriptures. (2) 1934 and turned upward in 1935. The Trinity, including the Deity year. -Alliance Weekly. Total gifts last year increased of Christ and the Personality of over the previous year for the the Holy Spirit. (3) The fall Missionary Home Needed first time since 1928, a'ccording of man, his moral depravity, and to an analysis by the department his need of regeneration. (4) The Christian group in Hono- of research and education of the The Atonement through the sublulu believe that an interdenom- Federal Council of Churches. stitutionary death of Christ. inational missionary home and (5) Justification by faith in a Bible school at this strategic During the seven-year slump, Christ, apart from works. (6) crossroads of the Pacific would contributions for congregational The bodily resurrection of render a valuable service. Such expenses stood up better than Christ, and also of the saved and a home would afford an oppor- gifts for benevolences. the unsaved. (7) The unending tunity for missionaries to rest life of the saved and the unendin a congenial atmosphere before The Moravians set a record ing punishment of the unsaved. continuing their arduous work. for per capita giving in 1928 (8) The personal, bodily and Many have no reason to come all when collections a v era g e d visible return of Christ. the way to America for their $72.53 a member. No other furloughs. group in any year approached -The Presbyterian. that mark. There is also great need of a Methodist Union Voted Bible school for young people, How the Churches Gave mostly Hawaiian, Chinese, Jap- The quadrennial General Conanese, Korean and Filipino, The U nit e d Stewardship ference of the Methodist -Episamong the 85,000 students in the Council reports the gifts for re- copal Church which met recently public and private schools, who ligious purposes of the leading in Columbus, Ohio, voted to would like to prepare for full- denominations in the United adopt a plan for union with the time Christian service in the States for the year 1935. Per Methodist Episcopal Church, Islands and in the Orient. There capita gifts for all purposes of South, and the Methodist Protare several well-equipped Bible some of the larger denomina- estant Church if this plan is teachers in Honolulu who teach tions were as follows: United adopted by the other two Meththe Bible as the Word of God. Presbyterian Church, $21.56 ; odist Assemblies. The merger The missionaries also might the Presbyterian Church in the will be completed in 1940. The serve as teachers, with little or United States, $19.03; the Pres- Methodist Protestant Church no salary, on the faculty of such byterian Church in the United split from the American Metha Bible school. States of America, $18.56 ; odist in 1921 because of dis- Methodist Episcopal Church, agreement in regard to lay rep- -The Presbyterian. $14.15; Methodist Episcopal resentation. Their General Con- Church, Sou t h, $9.36; the ference will vote on this at their NORTH AMERICA Northern Baptist denomination, meeting in High Point, N. C. $11.34; the Southern Baptist The Methodist E pis cop a I Campaign Against Atheism denomination, $5.76. The larg- Ghurch, South, broke away in est per capita gift of any denom- 1845 on account of disagreement At a recent meeting held in ination listed is that of the as to slavery. They will not Richmond, Va., in old St. John's Church of the Nazarene, $26.77. meet to vote on the plan of re- Church, made famous by Patrick The lowest is that of the South- union until 1938. In case the Henry's speech, "Give Me Lib- ern Baptist denomination, $5.76. union is completed, the united erty or Give Me Death," a cam- The total gifts for all purposes church will number about eight paign was launched against of twenty – five denominations million members. The plan is atheism and communism in the listed were $304,692,409.21. chiefly opposed by Negro Meth- United States. odists because it proposes to set Union of "Faith Missions" up a jurisdictional Negro Con- Among the leaders behind the ference which will segregate movement are Bishop Freeman, The International Foreign them from the rest of the Methof Washington; Bishop Tucker, Mission Association of North odist Church. of Virginia; Bishop Edwin America brings together for Mouzon, of the Methodist Epis- counsel and reference sixteen Largest Church Federation copal Church; the Rev. John nondenominational mission en- Fraser, Baltimore University terprises. More than two thou- The Chicago Federation ,of Baptist Church; Max Reich, sand missionaries are sent but Churches is said to be the President of the Hebrew Church under these sixteen Boards. largest and most influential city Alliance, and' others. Efforts They administer over a million federation in the country. A rewill be made to enlist all clergy- dollars annually, and go into ligious census just made of Chimen in a fight against commu- many of the out-of-the-way cor- cago indicates that there are nism and all forms of atheism. ners of the world. The doctrinal 1,437 Protestant churches in the basis of them all is: (1) The metropolitan area, with a mem- -The Living Church. plenary inspiration and divine Upward Trend in Giving Gauged by contributions to Protestant churches, the depres-
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
bership of practically 600,000. chapel group, of which there are Church to Jom the Baptist The membership of the Chicago sixteen, may more completely Church, saying: "After reading Church Federation has risen understand and enjoy their serv- the Scriptures we have confrom 850 two years ago to 1,049 ices. cluded the Roman Church is not churches, representing 18 dif- the one instituted by Jesus ferent denominations. The total Goodwill Industries is a wel- Christ." number of Protestant ministers fare organization sponsored by serving churches in the city and the Home Missionary Society of A Baptist pastor writes that suburbs is 1,765. the First M. E. Church, of Los one evening last May a farmer Angeles. It is interdenomina- called and asked him to preach Mr. Walter R. Mee is Execu- tional in scope and provides in the village of Ste. Rosalie tive Secretary of the Federation work for men and women who where about 90 families were inand is now in the 18th year of are for the most part incapaci- terested in hearing the Gospel. his service. He has done a most tated for other work. After many weeks and after remarkable work in bringing further invitations by letter this the churches together in a uni- Home for Indians pastor went to the village, and fied program, and in keeping a found a real desire to know the balanced budget. -Advance. Friends' work among Indians truth. is not new, but that in Los An- Help for Miners' Children geles it is new. It was begun by The work has expanded, and Myra Frye, full-blooded Kicka- neighboring villages have asked "Save the Children," an or- poo Indian who was reared and for Protestant preaching. ganization with national head- educated by two women missionquarters at 156 Fifth Avenue, aries in what was once Indian Chinese Want Consolidation New York, which has long been Territory. Myra prepared for doing an extensive work among missionary work among her own Several denominations now the neglected children of the people, but finding no open door have Chinese missions in Cali- Southern mountains, is contem- came to Los Angeles in 1930. fornia. With refugees escaping plating a child welfare project from Mexico and awaiting dein the coal fields of southern Il- According to the U. S. Indian portation to China, the missions linois, where a survey has re- Placement Bureau in Los An- have had much social service to vealed the necessity for the type geles, about two thousand In- perform. Chinese young people of service that has proved so dians are registered with them. of the third generation, college effective in Kentucky and Ten- Of this number about eight hun- trained, are asking that the vanessee. The organization has dred are girls, most of whom do rious Pro t est ant Chinese been assured of the cooperation housework for a living, and have churches consolidate. There are of the citizens of Herrin, Har- no home in the city. Very few, 3,000 Chinese in Los Angeles. risburg, and other parts of the except Catholics, go to any The Los Angeles Church extensouthern Illinois territory. church; they do not feel at home sion board is asking $1,500 more among the "paleface." When to develop the work and to bring "Save the Children," of which off duty, on Sunday and Thurs- Evangelist Gee to it. Dr. John R. Voris is president day, they have no wholesome and executive director, endeav- recreation, no place to meet -Presbyterian Tribune. ors to supply food, clothing, their friends, to spend their shoes, medical service and other time or to rest, and no religious LATIN AMERICA welfare help, with educational, service. recreational and character-build- The Situation in Mexico ing programs for twenty thou- In April, 1935, a place was sand children in isolated regions offered where vesper services Churches in the Mexican of the southern mountains. might be held on Sunday eve- states of Campeche and Sinaloa nings but this was not enough have been allowed to open in ac- Chapel for Deaf Mutes to meet all their needs, and cordance with a recent state- again the Lord a n s w ere d ment by President Cardenas One of the most unique reli- prayers, and rooms especially that there would be a relaxation gious services in California has well suited for all purposes were in the government Church polbeen inaugurated in a series of secured on faith. Additional icy. A Catholic leader said that daily chapel services for deaf rooms were opened last August. there had been no developments, mtues who are workers at Good- Many of the Indians are begin- however, to justify belief that will Industries. The service con- ning to feel that this is home, the government would grant real sists of the reading of hymns, a a truly Christian home. religious liberty, pointing out passage of scripture, a prayer that four churches in the State and a talk by a worker in the -Friends Missionary of Mexico had been seized reshoe department, all given in the Advocate. cently, two of them by armed sign and lip language. The Federal troops who padlocked same worker is also teaching a Stirring in Quebec tp.e buildings. According to this class in the sign language one spokesman, in at least eight of noon each week in order that the A group of eleven French the twenty-eight Mexican states, Canadian men and women in all churches are closed, and Quebec have left the Roman
fewer than 200 priests are al- that have come out of that group tober, foreign priests and minlowed to officiate in the entire are very remarkable. isters must cease their activities Republic. Other Roman Cath- before the end of April, 1936. olics viewed the situation more Mention was made recently of Churches and other buildings optimistically. the building, formerly used by used for religious purposes, even the Catholic Church, which has though built by private contri- A colony of Mormons in the been turned over to the largest butions and on privately owned State of Chihuahua felt the Presbyterian congregation in all land, will be nationalized and weight of antireligious groups Mexico to replace the old build- become government property. in Mexico w hen agrarians ing occupied by them for over seized the land of the colony and fifty years in another part of the Evangelicals in Brazil forced the Mormons to sell it. city, but destroyed by govern- Mennonite leaders also prepared ment orders a year ago in order An Evangelical Congress is to to move a colony of 7,000 from to make room for the widening be held in Brazil in the latter Mexico to escape religious re- of a street. part of June, organized by the pression. Confederation 0 f Evangelical This congregation bears the Churches. Evangelization is the -The Living Church. name of "The Church of the Di- first of the subjects which will vine Saviour." It has a mem- come under review, and an im- Encouraging Signs bership of over seven hundred portant place is being given to and a total constituency that questions relating to w 0 r k The National Baptist Conven- would probably reach two thou- among youth and the production sand, scattered from end to end and use of literature. The Evantion of Mexico supports ten col- of this great city of a million gelical Confederation was or- people. Attendance at Sunday ganized in 1934, drawing its inporteur – evangelists, m 0 s t of school rarely falls below 300. spiration from a previous move- ment tow a r d s cooperation, them in States where the pop- A Pause That Challenges which in the main exhibited a marked missionary influence ulation is predominantly Indian. The year 1936 marks the cen- from abroad. The present Con- tenary of the foundation of per- federation is primarily a Bra- Because an altar and a sanc- manent Evangelical missions in zilian movement, drawing its in- Latin America. Mr. Kenneth G. spiration from the desire of Bratuary are not indispensable for Grubb, in South America, lists zilian Christians to forward the the accomplishments of the cen- evangelization of their country. their ministry, they do not suf- tury and adds: -The Christian. fer from governmental restric- "We have reached a pause in the de- velopment of evangelical work in a EUROPE tions as seriously as do the Ro- large part of Spanish-speaking Amer- ica," and refers particularly to "a England and Tithing man Catholic priests. They use problem of Church and State," with which he couples "the familiar difficul- A move tantamount to partial the homes of friends as centers ties raised by the spread of 'antire- disendowment of the Church of ligion.' . . . In Mexico, Venezuela, England was made by the Britfor spreading the gospel. Guatemala, Costa .Rica, Ecuador and ish Government last March, other republics, there are either signs when a report of a Royal Com- In Mexico City the Baptist or else achievements which show that mission on the "Tithe Rent the State is going to exercise much Charge" was adopted, elim- Sunday school has outgrown its closer restriction over the rights of inating this charge over a pe- religious and educational bodies in its riod of 85 years. building. This church has just midst." Again referring to what he calls "a pause," he asks, "Is it a pause The tithe rent-charge was a built a chapel in a suburb of the at the center of a whirlwind of mighty tax to the value of some two- events around us which will shortly pence an acre collected in procity, where a mission Sunday crush us out of existence? Or is it duce from agricultural areas wherein we hear the still small voice until 1836, when the fee became school has now become a Bap- of God bidding us again go forward payable in cash. Although called and conquer? . . . Is it, in fine, a a "tithe" it was apparently very tist church. A weekly prayer pause of poverty, or a pause for seldom equivalent to ten per power? cent. It applied to certain meeting is held in the Baptist lands, the income from which Ecuador Fights Ecclesiasticism was thus taxed for the support Church in Mexico City, attended of the Church or of lay institu- According to Associated Press tions – schools, colleges, hospiby Mexican pastors of all de- reports, Ecuador joins the pro- tals, asylums, etc. cession headed by Russia, Turnominations. -Missions. key and Mexico in seeking to up- root organized religion. As in The Spirit's Breath Mexico, the Roman Catholic Church is involved. By govern- The Presbyterian Board re- ment decree issued late in Ocports that things are happening in the Protestant Church in Mexico. Someone has said: "When opposition drives Christians to their knees in prayer to God, with tears, you may be certain there is going to be a revival." Just this has happened in Mexico. More prayer is going up to God than for many a year. Prayer circles are springing up all over the land. In Mexico City a group of Mexican pastors and foreign missionaries meets every morning befor"e breakfast for prayer together. The experiences and answers
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Since this move automatically theological instruction at the 19. Worldly parents. cuts the revenue of the Church universities. 20. Wrong home environment. or other lay institution which 21. Lack of evangelism suited to was beneficiary under the old For Russian Refugees plan, the state will undertake to youth. make up on a predetermined Mr. George Urban, Superin- 22. The sex problem. basis a portion of the loss, which tendent of the Russian Gospel is estimated to be about $67,- Movement which works among Some of these propositions 000,000 for the Church alone. refugees in France and Belgium, overlap, but summed up it ap- reports that at the mission's pears that a severe condemna- London Methodist Mission church in Paris, thirty-nine new tion is made of the three great converts were baptized during institutions, the home, the school There are t wen t y – f 0 u r the last six months, and twenty and the Church. branches, ninety – six centers, others have expressed their desixty ministers and a great army sire to publicly confess Christ as -Moo.dy Institute Mo.nthly. of deaconesses, doctors, nurses, their Saviour, in baptism. Indispensers and voluntary work- quirers are seeking salvation at WSSA Reviews the Year ers comprised within the Lon- nearly every evangelistic meetdon Mission of the Methodist ing-at one recent gathering ten The World's Sunday School Church. The work is the same responded to the Gospel invita- Association reports that during in the poorest mission and the tion. A Russian Jewess was 1935 some very significant finest suburban church. The re- baptized; also a Moslem. Over achievements w ere mad e in cently erected Central Hall cost one-third of these believers be- Christian education around the £68,000, and will be dedicated long to the intellectual classes of world. No greater opportunity free of debt. Shop rents will former Russia. Others are for the promotion of the evansupply an annual income of farmers, workers and artisans. gelical faith is to be found in £1,000. This church expects to This movement sends literature Europe than the wide open door do three main things: (1) to into more than thirty countries. in Spain. Appointment of a win outsiders to worship; (2) full-time Sunday school missionto secure the conversion of the -The Life o.f Faith. people; (3) to build the Church ary py the WSSA is one of the of Christ. -The Christian. MISCELLANEOUS progressive steps taken during German Church Situation Youth Problems the year.
Present indications are that Rev. T. D. Abels, of Ports- In no other church in the Near the German Church situation is mouth, Ohio, while instructor in East can one find today better about to return to much the same a Bible Institute, made a survey organized Sunday schools or status as that in which Hitler of youth problems to determine more thoroughly trained teachfound it, without much active the conditions that must be met ers than in the Church of Argovernment control and without by young people who are trying menia. any religious interference with to live the Christian life. The governmental policies. A new following were submitted by a In Egypt, Sheikh Mitry S. organization has been formed, class composed of those engaged Dewairy has continued his reknown as the "Council of the in the Christian education of markable street Sunday schools, Lutheran Church in Germany. young people: as well as other agencies for Three bishops are in complete Christian teaching. control of funds and administra- 1. Absence of Christian home traintion in their respective dioceses, Prayer of the Race that God and the other three members of ing. Made Black the Council are men of considerable importance in church af~ 2. Absence of the family altar. By LUCIAN B. WALKINS, fairs. The new organization, a Virginia Negro while definitely independent of 3. Wrong companions. the government, represents in We would be peaceful, Father – but its personnel a compromise be~ 4. Parents not concerned about when we must, tween the implacable policies of the Confessional Synod, which child's morals. Help us to thunder hard the blow is now largely controlled by the that's just. "left wing," represented by the 5. Too much leisure time. Rev. Martin Niem6ller, and the We would be manly, proving well our submission originally demanded 6. Preachers not scripturally sound. worth, by the Hitler government. 7. Inefficient Sunday schools. Then would not cringe to any god on The government attitude to- earth. ward religion in general is re- 8. Passing of Bible from public vealed in their crusade against We would be loving and forgiving, schools. thus 9. Changing social conditions. To love our neighbor as Thou lovest us. 10. Irresponsibility of the Church. We would be faithful, loyal to the 11. Dangerous social conditions un- Right, recognized by many. Ne'er doubting that the day will fol- low night. 12. Unchristian teaching in high We would be all that Thou hast meant schools and colleges. , for man, 13. Youth given too much liberty. Up through the ages, since the world began. 14. Youth do not see "separated life" God, save us in Thy Heaven, where lived before them. all is well!
15. Unchristian attitude of parents. We come, slow-struggling, up the hills of Hell. 16. Lack of Christian education and training in former generation.
17. Popular worldly amusements.
18. Lack of good home influence when away from home. Our Missionary Bookshelf Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information ,~ WHITHER BLACK may be understood. Like Dr. the life of this distinguished AMERICA? Woodson's work, it is honest and American of African descent. without either fulsome praise or Not only was Allen a great and A shelf full of books by Negro captious criticism. wise leader in his race, but he authors and others, dealing with was a distinguished man re- Negro life with emphasis upon Divine White Right. By Trevor gardless of race. Never ashamed the American Negro. Bowen and Ira Reid. 309 pp. $1.75. of his own, he compelled reluc- Institute of Social and Religious tant admission of his worth and By REV. WILLIAM LLOYD IMES, Research. New York. 1935. leadership from the churchmen of his day who felt that Negro Minister of St. James Presby- This obviously ironical title life should be wholly adminis- terian Church, New York City comes with good grace from the tered within the church by coauthor whose account takes up others than his own racial lead- The Negro and the Church the first two-thirds of this ers. The story of Allen and worth-while book. He himself others kneeling in old St. The History of the Negro Clturch. belongs to a nation that has George's, Philadelphia, has been By Carter G. Woodson. 330 pp. learned to criticize itself rather often told, but never with $2.65. Associated Publishers. Wash- severely, both on general prob- greater skill nor with better un- ington, D. C. 2d edition. 1929. lems of human welfare, and on derstanding of the ecclesiastical race prob~ems. Mr. Bowen is trends of' that day, respecting To anyone who does not know interested in a study of race dis- the color problem. The diary of of the wonderfully helpful serv- crimination in religious institu- Bishop Asbury is an excellent ice to America by Dr. Woodson's tions, and he does it without source, and Professor Wesley persistent and careful research sparing the high places into uses its first-hand material with into Negro life, this pioneer which such discrimination has skill. Richard Allen is seen not work in a field notably neglected gone. Dr. Ira Reid, well known only as a church official, but as a will come as a rare treat. Highly for his research work with the man and humanitarian, as for and sensitively descriptive, it National Urban League, and instance, in his extraordinary also interprets the beginnings now head of the Department of usefulness in the yellow fever and development of Neg r 0 Social Sciences in Atlanta Uni- epidemic in Philadelphia of the church organizational life in re- versity, supplies the definitive early nineteenth century, and ligious matters. The first work study in the final third of the also in his pioneer work in the of its kind since W. E. B. Du- book, and does it with charac- Free African Society. Bois' Atlanta University study, teristic care and insight. The "The Negro Church" (mono- authors have approached this From the Farm to the Bishopric. An graph), early in the present cen- question with clear-eyed cour- Autobiography by Charles Henry tury. age, and if this be the swan- Phillips. 308 pp. Parthenon Press. song of the Institute publica- The Negro's Church. By Mays and tions, it is a worthy note indeed. . Nashville, Tenn. 1932. Nicho'son. 321 pp. $2.00. Institute of Social and Religious Research. Richard Allen: Apostle of Freedom. As an illustration of the kind New York. 1934. By Charles H. Wesley. Associated of material which will be in- Publishers. Washington, D. C. creasingly valuable to throw A great deal of material that 1935. light on the Negro Church in would naturally be expected to coming generations, this acfollow the first pioneering. Here is the kind of brief biog- count of Bishop Phillips' life and These young scholars have done raphy which is not the less yal- work in the Colored Methodist both descriptive and definitive uable because it is a "he who Episcopal Church is noteworthy. work of a careful sort. What runs may read" type. Its brev- It is only by the gathering of they desire to give is both the ity is not an indication of lack many instances of notable lives raison d'etre for the Negro of thorough acquaintance with of religious officials and leaders Church as an institution, and sources, but the scantiness of like this that a complete picture then to tell its story and analyze adequate authentic sources for will some day be possible. its life so that its work and place in contempomry America Any of the books noted in these columns will be sent by the RIWIF,W publishers on receipt of price.
[332 ]
OUR MISSIONARY BOOKSHELF
Religious Instruction of the Negro. The fact that the Chicago Riot America usually tries the plan of (1830 to 1860, with special refer- some time before had left citi- having the non-Negro popula- ence to South Carolina.) By Lu- zens there and elsewhere de- tion do the Negro's, thinking for ther P. Jackson. Monograph in Vol. sirous of knowing the social con- him. This book ought to help, XV of Journal of Negro History, dition of the family life among if we have a sense of humor left pp. 72 to 114. those most seriously handi- after the strain of interracial capped, will give the lead toward misunderstanding and strife. Excellent for giving the back- understanding this book. It is ground of pre-Civil War condi- interesting to note also that very The Rural Negro. By Carter G. tion of Negro life in respect to recently, 1935-36, Dr. Frazier Woodson. 304 pp. $2.50. Assoreligion. While dealing particu- has been appointed to collate ciated Publishers. larly with the South, yet gives and analyze the findings of the valuable light on neglected sub- Mayor's Commission on Condi- The records of the U. S. Buject. tions in Harlem, following the reau of the Census were used outbreak of a riot in New York's carefully, in addition to personal The Negro in American Life Harlem area. This latter ma- visits of the author to many terial, it is hoped, will be pub- rural communities, particularly The Negro Citizen of West Virginia. lished if the public will demand in the South, where the largest By Thomas E. Posey. 119 pp. it, as it should. single unit in the rural popula- $1.00. The Press of West Virginia tion is overwhelmingly Negro. State CoI:ege. 1935. Black Manhattan. By James Weldon Johnson. 284 pp. $2.50. Alfred A. The Negro Wage Earner. By Loren- Interesting as a typical study Knopf. New York, 1930. zo J. Greene. 350 pp. $3.25. Asof sectional matters dealing with sociated PublisherS'. race. A fine descriptive narrative, telling the story of the Negro in This is valuable because of the The Negro in South CaroEna During the heart of New York City with need for knowing in what occu- the Reconstruction. By A. A. Tay- appreciation of what his life has pations the majority of our lor. 341 pp. Association for the meant to the metropolis of Negro citizens may be found, Study of Negro Life and History. America. Many facts about the and the conditions of their work. Washington, D. C. 1924. artistic life of the Negro in New Questions of skilled and un- York are not to be found else- skilled labor bulk large, with em- An able account by a painstak- where. phasis upon domestic service ing scholar and investigator; and agriculture as the two throwing real light on the sub- The Negro in Our History. By Car- largest fields numerically. ject, as opposed to many current ter Godwin Woodson. (Sixth ediaccounts showing the Recon- tion.) 700 pp. $4.25. Associated The Negro Professional Man and struction Negro in false light. Publishers. the Community. By Carter G. (See also note on DuBois' "Black Woodson. 365 pp. $3.00. Associa- Reconstruction." ) Any reference to Dr. Wood- tion for Study of Negro Life and son's eminent position in the History. Washington, D. C. 1934. Free Negroes and Slaves in Tennes- field of Negro history is unnec- see. By Wm. Lloyd Imes. Mono- essary to well-informed people. One need not wonder about graph in Journal of Negro History, It is enough to say that this the value of any such inquiry. Vol. IV, pp. 254 to 272. book, despite the voluminous The author's name is guarantee output from his tireless pen, is of honest and careful effort to The author traced source ma- in a real sense his Magnum ,opus, present the major facts availterial regarding little-publicized and those of us who know him able now, at least in outline. matters of value regarding ra- feel that he would like to be cial history, legal status, and so- known by it for its honest effort The United States and the Caribbean cial development in the middle to get at the difficult but reward- Area. By Dana G. Munro. 322 pp. South. ing task of interpreting Negro WorId Peace Foundation. Boston. life in terms of its integral part 1934. A Century of Negro Migration. By in American development. A Carter G. Woodson. Associated reference work of high value, If any reason is needed for the Publishers. Washington, D. C. and a study text of dependa- introduction of a book on this bility. theme into this review, it will The Negro Migration During the be amply known when one con- World War. By Emmett J. Scott. Social Status of the Negro siders that one of the areas touched by this author is Haiti, The Negro Migration of 1916-1918. What the Negro Thinks. By Robert the Black Republic so near our By H. H. Donald. Russa Moton. 267 pp. XII. $2.50. own, and which has been treated Doubleday Doran. New York. 1929. with none too gracious neigh- The Negro Peasant Turns Cityward. borliness by both our govern- By Louise V. Kennedy. 270 pp. One of the most important ment and our business interests. $4.25. Columbia University Press. statements of the Negro himself Professor Munro does not have New York. 1930. which has been made since the to strive to establish this thesis famous declaration of Booker T. as a part of his book. It is a These are grouped together Washington at Atlanta in 1895. part of the whole melancholy because they form a whole picture of one of the eventful social trends both of the 19th century and the 20th in the United States.
The Negro Family in Chicago. By E. Franklin Frazier. 294 pp. $3.00. University of Chicago Press. 1932.
A sociological study, taking a great city as a field of study.
record of our attitude toward the race problem. Here one of The Evolution of the Negro College. weaker peoples and races, and the ablest of them tells the story By Dwight O. W. Holmes. 221 pp. the facts speak more loudly than forcefully. Bureau of Publications, Teachers' the professor's words. CoJege. New York. 1934. The Trend of the Races. By George Negroes in the United States, 1920- E. Haynes. Missionary Education It is inevitable that doctors' 1932. By Charles E. Ha:l and Movement. New York. 1922. theses should reflect the current Charles W. White. (Compiled from modes of thought, and so, since statistics in the Bureau of the Cen- Dr. Haynes, by his long and racially separate education has sus, U. S.) 845 pp. $2.25. U. S. earnest work in the Federal been in the ascendency in Amer- Government Printing Office, 1935. Council's Department of Race ican life whether we like it or Relations, has wo~ the right to not we must deal with it. Dr. To anyone who knows the be heard on what IS known pop- Hoimes does this in first-rate former volume, "Negro Popula- ularly as the "interracial move- fashion. And, since we have the tion in the U. S., 1790-1915," ment," in overcoming race an- rather regrettable necessity for this added work will have new tagonisms. As one of ~~e able~t separate institutions because of significance, and this statistical of the conservative CrItIcs, thIS deep-seated prejudices, may we record in handy form is a neces- book (still a helpful reference not take the good things of this sity to anyone who would know book as a record of the early treatise, and look toward the day the social measurements of post-War situation in American of larger things? Negro life in recent years. race matters) will place him and the viewpoint he represents, The Racial Myth. By Paul Radin. Black Reconstruction. By W. E. B. fairly and fully, as protagonist 141 pp. $1.50. McGraw-Hill Co. DuBois. 1935. for cooperation. New York. 1934.
One does not know whether to Blind Spots: Experiments in the This anthropologist's work call this Dr. DuBois' greatest Self-cure of Race Prejudice. By needs no praise nor apology. It work or not. In a sense it is, Henry Smith Leipe!. $1.00 cloth. speaks for itself. With no less for it treats of a racial matter MIssionary EducatIOn Movement. acumen than Boas of Columbia a that has been the subject of the 1929. generation ago, this younger Negro's misrepresentation for scholar throws down the gauntmany years. Historians in mapy This may be regarded as a let before a world that seems large universi,ties have vied wIth companion book to ~r. Haynes' bent on Nazism, Fascism and each other in telling the Negro's tthreeatsisie~ilaarndatatistudwer,Ittweinthfreomm- all other varieties of misguided ineptitudes, veniality, decadence, phasis upon self-critic~sm; hen~e Nationalism, all exhibiting raetc., etc., ad nauseam, until it the subtitle, "ExperIments III cial animosities of various sorts. was high time some able social the self-cure of race prejudice." It is good to have a clear and critic like Dr. DuBois should unafraid voice from honest take the matter in hand, with Negro Education seientific labors. Dr. Radin held documentation, and all, and the research chair of Anthromake them eat their words. The Negro Education: A Study of the pology at Fisk University, a Reconstruction Negro neither Private and Higher Schools for Col- Negro institution, for several wants to be lauded to high heav- ored People in the U. S. By The years. He is now professor in en, nor damned to the lowest Phelps-Stokes Fund, Thomas Jesse the University of California. hell. He was just a human be- Jones, director of the study. 2 Vols. ing, like any other in. a similar Published by the Dept. ?f the In- Negro Biography situation. That he dId as well terior, Bureau of Educatlon. 1917. as he did in the most trying time Life and Times of Frederick Dougin 19th century America, is the Valuable for information as lass. finest tribute to him that could to variety, extent and standards be given. of Negro schools up to the early An autobiography by a leader period of the World War. Later of outstanding genius of the Social Attitudes. A Symposium ed- publications have supplemented Abolition and Reconstruction ited by Kimball Young. 383 pp. this. Here, as in other Gove.rn- eras. XII. Holt. New York. 1933. mental publications, is the Im- mense advantage of having ade- Up from Slavery. By Booker T. Helpful for its two chapters quate statistical material at Washington. by Herbert A. Miller and Ed- hand. Dr. Jones, a pronounced ward B. Reuter (Chapters 13 "right wing" adherent, has given Easily the most significant biand 14 respectively) which deal an objective study. The mono- ography of any Negro since with the relation of culture to graph by George S. D!ckerman Frederick Douglass' account of race, and the application of this in Vol. 1, pp. 244-295, IS ~f ~eal his life and times. discussion to Negro life. interest and has a good bIblIog- raphy of the source material: Letters of Theodore Dwight Weld, Black America. By Scott Nearing. Angelina Grimke Weld, and Sarah 275 pp. $3.00 Vanguard Press. Land-Grant Colleges for Negroes. Grimke. Edited by Gilbert H. New York. 1929. By John W. Davis. 73 pp. :West Barnes and Dwight L. Dumond. 2 Virginia State College Instltute. Vols. Vol. 1, pp. xxxvii, 510. Vol. The left wing (radical) critics 1934. 2 pp. x, 512. American Historical of the social scene in America Assn. D. Appleton Century' Co. must have their hearing, and not A description of this interest- New York. 1934. the least of their message is on ing field, from the Morrill Act of 1862 to the present. An interesting the 0 r y is evolved from these letters and
related anti-slavery documents, Negro Musicians and Their Music. that Negro life i,'3 neither all to the effect that it was the By Maud Cuney Hare. 433 pp. comedy nor tragedy, but it has American churches and allied $3.25. Associated Publishers. 1936. its human oneness with all other forces that made the abolition of life. Miss Fauset has written slavery inevitable. Also these There is only one regret in this some half-dozen or so novels, letters have value from their as- work, that its gifted author and is the most prolific writer sociation with the f a m 0 u s passed from. this world of haunt- in this field since Charles W. Grimke sisters, women of great ing beauty and sorrowful loveli- Chestnut's tales of the 19th cenability and devotion to humani- ness before it came from press. tury Negro life appeared, in retarian crusading against slavery She did read the first proof on construction and postreconand its .attendant evils. The ro- her deathbed. She "being dead struction days. mance of their lives is only ex- yet speaketh" in this great labor ceeded by the distinction of their of love. Those of us who knew Unfinished Cathedral. By T. S. Stribfamous nephews, Archibald and her can but rejoice that she was ling. 350 pp. $2.50. Doubleday Francis Grimke, whose lives spared to give us this great leg- Doran. Garden City, L. I. 1934. have .been among the very few acy. distinguished statesmen and While dealing with different clergymen who have wielded un- Plays and Pageants from the Life of material, this non-Negro author told influence for the defence the Negro. By Willis Richardson. tells of his own South's terrible and development of Neg r 0 Illustrated by J. L. Wells. 373 pp. inj ustice to the Negro with a rights and advancement. x. $3.15. Associated Publishers. horrible and fascinating attrac- 1930. tion that will amaze one. It is Along This Way. By James Weldon a long mile from the usual type Johnson. 330 pp. $3.50. Viking Taken with other books of of condescension, contempt, and Press. New York. 1933. similar purport like "Plays of determined tragedy of most non- Negro Life," by Locke and Greg- Negro authors. Interestingly written, giving ory, and the Drama section of the account of a distinguished Calverton's "Anthology 0 f Readings from Negro Authors for man in the fields of literature, American Negro Literature," Schools and Colleges. By Otelia law, consular service, Negro this fills a real place of help to- Cromwell, Lorenzo D. Turner, and rights, art, social criticism. Dr. ward understanding the dra- Eva B. Dykes. 388 pp. $1.50. Har- Johnson is now professor of matic art as an exponent of Ne- court, Brace. New York. 1931. Creative Literature at Fisk Uni- gro life. versity. This is probably the best all Anti-Slavery Sentiment in American around anthology of Negro lit- Booker T. Washington: Builder of Literature Prior to 1865. By Lor- erature yet published. It is care- a Civilization. By Emmett J. Scott enzo D. Turner. 150 pp. $2.15. fully edited, as those who know and Lyman Beecher Stowe. 331 pp. Associated Publishers. this trio of well-trained scholars Doubleday Doran. Garden City, would expect. While Calverton's L. I. 1916. From Cotton Mather and J on- popular-sized and priced anthol- athan Edwards to Emerson and ogy (Modern Library) is useful, The name of the educator of Lowell, Dr. Turner traces the and there are some others, espe- Tuskegee never fails to evoke thread of anti-slavery thought. cially of Negro poetry, yet none the memory of a man of real It is fascinating and rewarding. have given the description, balgenius, and perhaps no two men ance and charm of Negro litin America were better fitted to The Negro Author. By Vernon Log- erary expression as these auwrite of his character and gins. 480 pD. $5.00. Columbia thors have done. No American achievements than one who was University Press. New York. 1931. student, regardless of race, his secretary for years, and an- should be ignorant of its conother who is a descendent of a If you would know the heart tents. famous abolition family. of the man or woman who puts life into documentary form for For Children and Youth Negro Life in the Arts present and succeeding genera- tions, here is the revelation of In Spite of Handicaps. By Ralph W. Afro-American Folk Songs. By Hen- that inner life, as far as the Ne- Bullock. $2.00. Association Press. ry E. Krehbiel. G. Schirmer. New gro is concerned. A most use- New York. 1927. York. ful and valuable guide in this field. These excellent short bio- No one who knew the incisive graphical sketches, with quescriticisms of Krehbiel in the Comedy: American Style. By Jessie tions for discussion following New York Tribune of a genera- Fauset. Stokes. New York. 1934. each chapter, will make young tion ago could slight this book. people think, as well as enter- His acknowledgment of his debt Miss Fauset is the most com- tain them. to great musicians like Harry T. petent novelist of African des- Burleigh, Lafcadio Hearn, Maud cent today who is not afraid to The Picture Poetry Book. By Ger- Cuney Hare,· and others, is at go against the current of tradi- trude Parthenia Brown. 73 pp. once the mark of sincere scholar- tion that only lowly peasant life $1.10. The Associated Publishers. ship and genius. It is still the or slum life of the city may be 1936. authentic work of a master- pictured in novels of Negro life. critic; No maudlin sentiment. It is refreshing to get away Here is an unusual effort, and Solid learning. from the Peterkin-Bradford- a good one, to gain the interest Hayward school of thought of very little children, and to about Negro life, and to know
give them right ideas about Ne- the North, Problems of Admin- rather than critical. Billy Sun- gro life. It deserves attention istration and Guidance, the So- day preached the Gospel and of right-thinking mothers and cial Setting and Educational though at times his pulpit antics teachers of little children. Planning. somewhat disturbed critical We Sing America. By Marion Cuth- There is a very full bibliog- members of his audience, the bert. Missionary Education Move- "common people heard him ment. New York. 1936. raphy on the education and life gladly." Men and women of all of the Negro. This Mission Study book, for classes "hit the sawdust trail" 1936:"37, comes from a well-ma- From Fetish to Faith. By W. J. as evidence that they had de- Platt. Paper. 12mo. 28. The cided to begin a new, born-again tured mind that can present Livingstone Press. London. 1935. life. The book will repay readstory material and history of Fifty years ago .Africa was ing and circulating. racial life so that children of the almost wholly pagan and primielementary grades will love it. tive, except in the extreme north Facing Facts. A Century with the More power to such authors! Sioux. By F. R. Riggs and other and south. Fetishism was the Reports of the American Mission- African Myths. By Carter G. Wood- prevailing religion, with Islam ary Association. New York. 1935. son. $1.10. The Associated Pub- and Christianity striving for lishers. Washington, D. C. 1936. supremacy in some sections. The century of work among the Indians of North Dakota, A splendid collection of lEsop- Mr. Platt, who went out to West made famous by the story of like fables and folk-stories that Africa as a missionary in 1914, "Mary and I," is an inspiring have been put in attractive form record. The author of this acfor children of the English- took active part in the struggle count is a third generation Riggs speaking world. They add much for eighteen years. Today who recalls 60 years of service to our help with material for fetishism is dying; what will among the Sioux. We have children's education. here also the story of the work rise from its ashes? The author of Dr. Charles L. Hall, founder ON OTHER TOPICS sees the conflict to be between of the mission to the Arickara Christianity and materialism. and other Indians, and other in- Education of the Negro in the Amer- He writes impressively of the teresting records of the work of ican Social Order. Horace Mann the A. M. A. for the past year. Bond. 500 pp. Prentice-Hall, Inc. present crisis in Africa and New York. 1934. shows how the missionaries are By Ways Appointed. By Briggs P. seeking to meet it by laying Dingman. 12mo. 127 pp. 75 The book is divided into three cents; paper, 20 cents. Bible In- Christian foundations and build- ing up churches. There are na- tive prophetic movements in West Africa but the only hope sections – History, Economics of the Africans is in yielding stitute Colportage Assn. Chicago. and Finance, Current Problems. fully to the claims of Christ. 1935. Under History the early efforts Mr. Platt writes clearly and A wholesome story of a for educating the Negro are pre- from experience, with a knowl- young man, discharged from the sented, and the awakening of edge of facts-not from a nar- army after the World War, who private conscience. Here are row denominational point of entered college to prepare for described the work of Tuskegee view. the Christian ministry – with- and the various educational Billy Sunday: The Man and His out much idea of its real sig- Message. By William T. Ellis. nificance. His love story, with foundations and funds estab- intellectual difficulties, spiritual lished for the education of the Illus. 8vo. 519 pp. $1.50. John experience, and final victory and Negro. Many tables give the C. Winston Co., Philadelphia. 1936. service are easy but stimulating rate of expenditure for white Billy Sunday's fame as a base- reading for young people. children and Negro children in ball player and dramatic Gospel the same localities; also a com- revivalist is world-wide. Opin- Anthea's Ambition. By Beth J. parison of white teachers' sal- Coombe Harris. 12mo. 188 pp. aries and those where Negroes ions as to his methods differ but 18. 6d. teach. he reached immense crowds and thousands of lives were trans- Gwyneth at Work. By Margaret P. Section II deals with Migra- formed through his ministry. Neill. 12mo. 320 pp. 28. 6d.
tion, Industrialization and Ur- Here is the authorized biog- Pickering and Inglis. Glasgow. banization of the Negro; the raphy by a skilled observer and These wholesome stories for Economic Background of Edu- writer who knew the man and boys and girls are not marked cation in the South and the Fi- saw his work at close range. by literary merit but are a vast nancing of Separate Systems of The volume includes Billy Sun- improvement on much modern Education. day's autobiography, many of juvenile fiction. The first is a Section III deals with current his most effective messages, a missionary book in which true problems-the Teacher, the For- chapter by Mrs. Sunday and a stories are interwoven. The gotten Child, Cap a cit y for tribute by Rodeheaver, the sing- second volume tells of the ex- Learning, the Achievement of ing evangelist. Dr. Ellis has perience and struggles of some Negro Children, Higher Educa- given us a vivid, discriminating young girls in Christian life and tion for Negroes, Education in picture of the man, sympathetic work in England.
Books Obituary
(Concluded from page 278.) The Apostle to the Chinese Commu- . a Christian engineer in a Moslem nists. Daniel Nelson. $1~00. 139 pp. Augsburg Pub. House. Min- land devoted to the cause of missions neapolis. for 25 years. … … With the use Arthington's Millions. A. M. Chirgwin. 2s. Livingstone Press. Lon- R. A. Doan, of Westerville, Ohio, 01 this Course. every don. died on March 18th. About 20 years Young People's Society may ago he began his service to the Chris- Carey. S. Pearce Carey. 129 pp. 40 tian Missionary Society, Disciples or- be converted into a School for ganization, as laymen's secretary, Bible Training. without salary. He continued this cents. Marshall, Morgan & Scott. service for many years, and was also 1936 STUDIES IN CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE London. . a leader in Bible class work in Nel- sonville, his home town. Mr. Doan GFooudroPf athretsB-5ib2le.LePssaortnns. Part I. The Bible-The A Comradeship of Service. Report was a stockholder in the Missionary The Christ 01 the Bible Review Publishing Company. of Friends Service Council-1935. -TheHoIySpiril PartmMan-SinandRedempo … … … Friends Service Council. London. lion. Part IV. The Church-Future Events. Dr. John Henry House, missionary Christ in the Great Forest. Felix of the American Board and founder Send ISc in stamps lor current issue. Faure. 180 pp. $1.00. Missionary Education Movement. New York. HRISTIAN PUBLICATIONS. INC: Consider Africa. Basil Mathews. 1502 N. Third St., Herrlaburs, Pe.
180 pp. $1.00, cloth; 60 cents, of the American Farm School at Sa- whom, Charles L. House, succeeded paper. Friendship ·Press. New loniki, Macedonia, died there on April his father as head of the Farm York. 19th at 90 years of age. Dr. House School in 1910. Dr. House has been was born in Painesville, Ohio, the son decorated with the Grecian Gold Christian Materialism. Francis J. of John and Jane House, was grad- Cross of the Cavalier and on his 90th McConnell. 167 pp. $1.25, cloth;' uated in 1868 from Adelbert COllege, birthday, May 29, 1935, received nine 60 cents, paper. Friendship Press. now Western Reserve University, ana bound volumes of greeting cards, each New York. later from Union Theological Sem- containing 90 greetings from friends The Epistle of the Eternal Life. inary, New York. In 1872, he went George Goodman. 64 pp. 6d. as a Congregational missionary to . in all parts of the world. Five thou- Pickering & Inglis. London. Bulgaria and endeavored to hel~ the Five Foreigners in Japan. Herbert poverty-stricken people by glving sand dollars was also presented to the H. Gowen. 285 pp. $2.00. Uni- them a scientific knowledge of agriversity of Washington. Seattle. School at that t…ime in… his name. culture. It was not until 1873 tnat . Bishop McKim. of the Protestant The Great Company. Report of the he was able to secure a tract of de!Sert Episcopal Church, and until last year National Bible Society of Scotland. land near Saloniki and opened the BIShop of North Tokyo, Japan, died 200 pp. Edinburgh. Thessalonica Agricultural and Indus- on April 4th in Honolulu. He was trial Institute, now· known as the born in Pittsfield, Mass., July 17, Hearts That Understand. .Louise American Farm SchooL Dr. and ¥rli. 1852, and went to Japan in March, Harrison McGraw. 292 pp. $1.00. House have spent 64 .years in the 1880. In 1893, he was consecratea B. I. C. Assn. Chicago. Balkan States, first at Samokov, J)u1- bishop for the Japanese district and garia, later at Constantinople, .nd has hved an eventful life, seeing the Heaven. All That Is Revealed About finally at SalonikL His widow and It. Hy Pickering. lB. 128 pp. seven children survive him, one' of • • young Japanese Church develop. Pickering & Inglis. London. If you use • Kagawa in Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii. Edited by Helen Top- The ;Rev. Fruier S. Herndon, for ping. 184 pp. Kobe, Japan. many years an honored missionary of the Presbp;eri,n Church to the Mystery at St. Olaves. Winifred American Indians, died April 6, 1936, Pearce. 95 pp. lB. Pickering & in Tucson, Arizona. Mr. Herndon's Inglis. London. field of labor was not an easy one. Traveling with team and wagon, he Moral and Material Progress and PRINTING and his devoted wife went from vil- Condition of India. S. F. Stewart. lage to village among the Papagos in 196 pp. 3s. 6d. H. M. Stationery the heat of summer and the cold of Office. London. winter, bearing to those neglected peo- A New Day in Kenya. Horace R. A. YOU will profit from an ae- ple the Gospel message. He won the Philp. > 188 pp. 3s. 6d. World Do- confidence and esteem of thousands of minion Press. London. . .. ' quaintanceship with us. We the 'Indians, and many accepted do the joh complete in our own Christ as their Saviour. The Plight of the Share-Cropper. plant, whether it he larle or Norman Thomas. 36 pp. 10 cents. small. THREE KINDS. o.F GIVERS L. I. D. New York. There are three kinds of givers- While our specialty is Booles. ''the flint, the sponge and the honey- Revolt Among the Share-Croppers. Magatine.s and Pamphlets. yet comb." Howard Kester. 98 pp. 50 cents. we have a variety of modern To get anything out of a flint you Covici Friede. New York. equipment to meet all the re- have to hammer it, and you can only qUirements of your particular . get chips and sparks. Recapturing the Missionary Passion. job. You will find our service To get water out of a sponge you Stephen J. Corey. 20 pp. United prompt. careful and courteous. Christian Missionary Society. In- dianapolis.
Safe Through the Blood of Jesus. must squeeze it, and the more you William Reid. 95 pp. lB. Pickering & Inglis. London. : Will you allow us to estimate squeeze the more you get. on your next printing 1 We he. But the honeycomb just overflows The Shrine of a P~ople's Soul. Ed- lieve you will be delighted with 'lin W. Smith.' 208 pp; 2s. 3d.' with its own sweetness. Edinburgh House Press. London. our product. price and service. .' Some', people are stingy and hard. They give nothing away if they can help it. What Happened to Peter. Grace The EVANGELICAL PRESS Others are good-natured; they yield &PeIttnmglains.. L1o7n6dopnp.. .2.s:. P.ic.. k….er..i.ng .. . Pri"tn. of. , . t!LPlllIlSUl'e, and. the. more they are Students and the Christian World The MiI.iOtla,., Review of eM W ….1d pressed the more they will JP.ve.
Mission. Edited by Jesse R. Wil- A few delight in giving WIthout be- ing asked at all; and of these the son. 233 pp. $2.00. Student Vol- PlANT AND MAIN OFFICE third end R.n, Str••ts Henl. ." 'e. unteer Movement. New York. Bible says" "The Lord loveth a cheer- ful giver."-Wesleyan Methodist.
and Reality in
Viewed by Africans and Missionaries ILLUSTRATED WITH MAPS, CHARTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS UNOCCUPIED FIELDS IN AFRICA By ALEXANDER McLEISH THE AFRICAN'S VIEW OF AFRICA By VARIOUS AUTHORS-PREPARED BY J. D. TAYLOR AFRICAN LIFE AND THOUGHT By DIEDRICH WESTERMANN GREAT HINDRANCES TO CHRISTIAN PROGRESS By C. S. JENKINS VICTORIES OF THE GOSPEL AMONG AFRICANS By THOMAS MOODY AND OTHERS AFRICAN VIEWS OF JESUS CHRIST By THE BISHOP OF UGANDA POLITICS AND MISSIONS IN AFRICA By CHARLES T. LORAM THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN AFRICA By KENNETH G. GRUBB THE CROSS AND THE CRESCENT IN AFRICA By J. J. COOKSEY ===== SEND YOUR ORDER NOW ===== 25 Cents a Copy $20.00 a hundred $2.50 a year Special Price in Quantities if ordered hefore Septemher 10 THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD Third and Reily Streets, Harrisburg, Pa.
Robert E. Speer, PreJident Delavan L. Pierson, EditOI'
The Missionary Review of the World — December 1935
1935
When You Think of Africa Emory Ross Lighthouses in the Mountains J. W. O'Hara Triumphs in the Solomon Islands v. M. Sullivan Morocco: Change and Opportunity James Haldane Where Christ Is Not Known in China J. Howard Jeffrey The Movement of the Spirit in Mexico Norman Wilde Taylor A Challenge of Students to the Church Wilmina Rowland 25 Cents a Copy $2.50 a Year
to Remember Christmas Gift
December 7-Universal Bible Sunday. C. T. Studd, Cricketer and Pioneer December 27-30 – National Confer- The epic story of C. T. Studd, the famous ence of Theological Students. But- ler University. Indianapolis, Ind. cricketer, will appeal to all lovers of missionary December 28, 1935-January 1, 1936- biography. "C. T." was one of the best all-round Student Volunteer Convention. In- players that the game ever produced, and re~ dianapolis, Ind. nounced wealth and position to answer the call December 30-31-Conference with Dr. Kagawa on the Relation of the of God to foreign service. Courageously he faced Churches to the Cooperative M.ove- ment. Indianapolis, Ind. a life of hardship and danger with remarkable self~denial and endurance, first in China and then January 8-10-Foreign Missions Con- ference. Asbury Park, N. J. in the very heart of Africa, pioneering for God.
January 12-17-Home Missions Coun- Illustrated, $1.25. cil and Council of Women for Home Missions Annual Meetings. Wash- The Triumph of ington, D. C., Headquarters Cal- vary Baptist Church, 8th and H John and Betty Streets, N. W. The program is planned around the theme "The Stam TNt Rural Church Today and Tomor- row" and the National Conference By Mrs. Howard Taylor TRIUMPIi Of on the Rural Church will form a JOliN ANDBETTY yAM part of the program. You have read newspaper accounts of John _ _ MRS January 15-17 – National Conference and Betty Stam, who were martyred by Chinese MOWA.RD TAYLOR on the Rural Church. Washington, D. C. communists last fall. Now read this permanent July 6-12-Twelfth World's Sunday record of consecrated lives. It is particularly School Convention. Oslo, Norway. recommended for young people. Cloth, 75 cents.
Personal Items Stories ofthe Great Hymns of the Church Dr. John R. Mott celebrated his By Silas H. Paine 70th birthday on the Pacific Ocean on —–_J A monumental work in his way home from the Far East. • The present year brought not only hymnology. A beautiful gift ……. book, de luxe edition, printed on Bible paper, full gold Dr. Mott's 70th birthday, but the 50th edges, flexible red binding, with stamping in gold. 795 pages. $3.00.
anniversary of his Christian conver- "Eye" to "Aye"
sion, the 40th of the foundation of the World's Christian Student Federation with which he has so long been identi- By Paul H. Graef "EYE" fied, and the 25th anniversary of the An unique presentment in pictorial I organization o~ the Int.ernatio~al M~s TO fashion of God's great plan of salva~ ~ "AYE" sionary Councll of whIch he IS chalr- ! tion. 132 display pages, five in color. tl~ Ml"l,. H. CMEI'
man. To take part in international Two editions: Cloth, $1.00; paper, 50 cents. :~~E~~:;;~?:~::~:.::~;,!r:o~l:;;:;~~~~:>;~~;~;;~!;,:~~::.:,.~:'~,:~~ i~'
conferences, Dr. Mott has crossed the Christmas Card Box Assortments '! II Atlantic Ocean about one hundred !Ii times. ••• '1 11; ..h~I~="….,- No. 50. A popular priced assort- b ;"
Dr. Charles W. Iglehart, of the ment with 15 beautiful Scripture cards – Methodist Episcopal Mission, is chairman of the Federation of Christian and folders, each with matching envelope. 50 cents per box.
. Missions in Japan this year. This or- No. 100. Our de luxe selection of 21 beautiful Christ- mas designs with 8 distinctly Birth-of-Christ pictures. All ganization has representatives from designs are new, artistic and appropriate, and have short twenty-eight mission boards. Scripture portions and suitable sentiments. Matching en- … … velopes. Retails Professor W a 1t e r Livingston at $1.00. Wright, Jr., has been appointed president of Robert College and the Amer- Scripture Text Calendar ican College for Girls at Istanbul. Dr. Wright became familiar with the For almost a quarter of a century, Messen- Near East as teacher for several years ger's Scripture Text Calendars have been at the American University of Beirut. spreading Christian light and comfort through~ From 1928-1930 he studied in Turkey out the nations. They are known everywhere on a Princeton University Fellowship. for their beauty, completeness and religious in- He is author of a history of the spiration. No home is quite complete without the Christian influence of these beautiful pic- Turkish govern.m.. en…t. … tures and carefully selected Scripture verses.
Dr. S. K. Datta, principal of For- Single copy, 30 cents; 4, $1.00; 12, $3.00, 25, man Christian College, Lahore, who is $5.75; 50, $9.00. All prices slightly higher in now visiting America, has been elected Canada. president of the National Council of the Y. M. C. A.'s in India, Burma and THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD Ceylon. THIRD AND REILY STREETS HARRISBURG, PA.
(Concluded on page 561.)
MISSIONARY DR. IDA SCUDDER liTo the Orient"
REVIEW OF THE WORLD The Woman Who Saw -in Chinese One Hundred Million Women DELAVAN L. PmBsON, Editor Without Medical Aid! GOrAST TO THE ORIENT VOL. LVIII DEC., 1935 No. 12 She planned, with her colleagues, to meet the appalling need ot 10 DAYS TO YOKOHAMA .. .fastest, Publication and Business Office– Indian women, as her Master shortest Pacific crossing … by the Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. would meet it. Empress of Asia or Empress of Russia. Or via Honolulu in 3 days Editorial and Executive Office– Send for the story told in the more on the Empress of Japan 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. beautifully illustrated booklet. (the Pacific's largest, fastest liner) Entered as second-class matter at Read and pass it on to others; or, or the Empress of Canada. if you prefer, send names to LOW ALL·YEAR RO UND·TRIP Post Office, Harrisburg, Pa., under FARES. Outstanding First Class; Act of March 3, 1879. MRS. HENRY W. PEABODY, comfortable Tourist Class; low-cost care of Miss Hilda L. Olson, Third Class_ Still lower Summer 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. round-trip fares to the Orient. Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. Marmion Way, Rockport, Mass. FREQUENT SAILlNGS … from Van- Published monthly, except August. couver (trains to ship-side) and All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1935. (Booklet sent free on request.) Victoria to Yokohama, Kobe, British agents – Marshall, Morgan Nagasaki, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, Penonll Items Manila. Orient fares include pas- London, E. C. 1 shilling per copy, sage to and from Seattle. California 10 shillings a year. (Concluded from second cover.) sailings connect with "Empresses" at Honolulu. MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- Dr. George W. Truett, President of • Also. ,.low-cost Independent LISHING CO., INC. World Tours. the Baptist World Alliance, and Dr. BOOKLETS, information … from BOARD OF DIRECTORS YOUR OWN TRAVEL AGENT or any J. H. Rushbrooke, General Secretary, Canadian Pacific office: New York, ROBERT E. SPEER, President are visiting Baptist mission fields in Chicago, San Francisco, and 34 W'M. I. CHAMBElRLAIN, Vice-Pre8ident Asia during this winter and the com~ other cities in the United States WALTER MCDOUGALL, Treasurer ing spring. and Canada. DELAVAN L. PmRSON, Secretary SAMUEL MCCREA CAVE'RT Dr. and Mrs*. E*van* Morgan, who MRS. ORRIN R. JunD WM. B. LIPPHARD went to China as Baptist missionaries ERIC M. NORTH JESSE R. WILSON in 1884, like to say that between them A. L. W ARNSHUIS SAMUEL M. ZWEMER they have served over 100 years as Editorial Chat ambassadors of Christ in China. Of We wish our readers all over the their three sons, two are in India and world a very happy Christmas. May it be a day of loving service, a day of one in Canada. Dr. and Mrs. Morgan peace and Christian fellowship, in the uttermost parts of the earth, as well have now returned to England to as in the homes of America and Europe. spend their last years in their own land. ' *** THE REVIEW carries the Christmas Obituary Notes message to its readers all through the year-the message of Jesus Christ Mrs. Susan Waddell Chu, wife of the Son of God who came to reveal God and to bring eternal life to all Dr. Hsu Shih Chu, a professor at who will receive and follow Him. Central University at Nanking, China, *** To send THE REVIEW to a pastor, was found slain October 15, apparently a teacher, a missionary, or to some other Christian interested in the strangled by bandits, near Nanking. things of the Kingdom of God, will be a most useful and welcome Christmas For 12 years, Mrs. Chu had been a gift-not only on December 25th but, medical missionary in Chin~ under the like the Tree of Life in Paradise, yielding its fruit every month. Board of Foreign Missions of the *** Presbyterian Church. Susan Wad- ,What our readers think is shown in letters. A business man writes: dell, a graduate of the University of "Each time that I read THE REVIEW I regret that every member of every Pittsburgh, had been in laboratory church does not share the privilege. Its editorials and trenchant articles and research work in the Orient and by leaders of Christian thought, and its news items on the progress of our had planned for a -further career in Lord's work, make it a mine of information of unusual spiritual power." China, where she hoped to establish HORACE N. DOUGHERTY. medical stations in some outlying *** regions. *** "We greatly appreciate the fine articles appearing in THE REVIEW and Rev. William A. Sunday (popularly such a rich store of missionary information as it brings." known as "Billy Sunday"), the fa- JOHN EGGER, mous evangelist and former profes- Newton, Iowa. sional baseball player, died suddenly of a heart attack in Chicago on No- vember 6th. Mr. Sunday was born in Ames, Iowa, on November 19, 1863, and a year or two later his father was killed in the Civil War. In 1886, while playing professional baseball, he was converted in Chicago and im- mediately became a Christian worker. It is reported that over 500,000 peo- ple professed conversion in his meet- ings.
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ISLANDERS-A GROUP OF HEATHEN ON KE'NNELL ISLAND (See page
AMERICAN HIGHLANDERS-A CONFERENCE OF MOUNTAIN SCHOOL TEACHERS IN NORTH CAROLINA (See page 577) A CONTRAST IN HEREDITY, ENVIRONMENT, IDEALS AND OPPORTUNITY REVIB ORLD VOLUME LVIII AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER 12 DECEMBER, 1935 Topics of the Times THE REPORT OF A FRIENDLY CRITIC Dr. Barnhouse did not confine himself to Presby- For some years past the foreign mission enter- terian missions but his report deals particularly prise has been under fire, not only from those with the work and workers of the church in which who have little or no sympathy with the work of he is an honored minister. Dr. Barnhouse visited winning the world to Christ by proclaiming His about eighty Presbyterian stations in nine dif- Gospel, but also from those deeply interested in ferent countries. He interviewed many in each this work but who charge that it is not being mission, his stenographer taking down verbatim carried on as effectively as it should be. These notes and in many cases reading these back to the latter criticize the aims, standards and methods one interviewed for confirmation or correction. of some Mission Boards at home, the qualifications His conclusions are worthy of careful consideraof certain missionaries sent out, the character and tion not only by his own Board but by all Mission ideals of much of the work on the field, the large Boards and societies. Dr. Barnhouse's report inexpenditures, the union enterprises, and the lack cludes the following statements* : of spiritual results. Some of these criticisms I found the situation on the foreign field theologically seem, on their face, to be too general and sweep- much better than I had anticipated, spiritually about what ing, due to a lack of information or to a spirit of I had expected. It is my opinion that the accusation of hypercriticism. But other criticisms and charges the Laymen's Committee in "Rethinking Missions" con- cerning the low calibre of the missionaries at work on the cannot be dismissed so easily. They come from foreign field is entirely erroneous. The missionary body as a whole is undoubtedly more alert than the leadership missionaries and travelers who are well informed and who are evidently spiritually-minded and de- of the Church at home. . . . . voted to Christ. They accept the New Testament standards and are eager that all people shall be I am personally convinced that the vast majority of our missionary body is personally devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ. I have every reason to believe that most of our speedily won to Christ and His Way of Life. missionaries hold to the historic truths of the Christian These critics sympathize with the ideals of such faith as expressed in the creedal statement of our denomhonored missionaries as William Carey, Adoniram ination. . . . Judson, Hudson Taylor, Henry H. Jessup, Henry The solution of every problem on the foreign field is one of personnel. No matter what work is to be done, the Richards, Mary Slessor, Fidelia Fiske, William efficiency of that work depends upon the attitudes and Goodell and others who have followed Christ and aptitudes of the person who is to do the work. Therefore, the early apostles. any kind of mission work which is carried on by a gifted and yielded missionary will be well done, while the same One of these friendly critics of modern missions type of work carried on by one of different attitudes will has recently spent over a year visiting Asiatic have different results. I have been asked what I thought mission fields, examining carefully into conditions of the medical work and educational work, as legitimate and personnel, interviewing missionaries and fields of missionary enterprise. The answer depends enothers to gather the facts. He is Dr. Donald tirely on the doctors and teachers who are doing the Grey Barnhouse, a Philadelphia pastor, who has work. . . . recently presented a very careful and detailed re- In many places the missionary work suffers from the lack of knowledge of some of the workers as to the ob- port of his findings to the Presbyterian Board of jectives of Christian witness. As in America, some do Foreign Missions. This report creates confidence not seem to have a clear view of what constitutes salvain the Christian spirit of the investigator, his tion. . . . courage and courtesy, his intelligence, fairminded- Now a missionary, by the very nature of the case, should n.ess and care l'n substantl'atl'ng hl'S statement s. * For the complete report see The Presbyterian (Philadelphia) for October 31, 1935, from which these extracts are taken.-EDITOR.
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be a specialist with a full knowledge of every spiritual men and the work which has been so wen begun and to force and law in any wise connected with the new birth. expect from the Board as a right that a small minority He should also be trained with the full knowledge of the on the field or their supporters in this land should not be means of the spiritual growth of the young believer. The permitted to detract from the worth of the cause as a fact is, however, that the mission field has relatively few whole. of these spiritual scientists, though it may have many Ph.D.'s in Education and experts in other lines. . . . I It might be well if every Mission Board could believe it would be a good thing to accept no application send to its fields some spiritually sympathetic and for the foreign field from any person who could not bring clear-headed, courageous, fair-minded and wellat least two people in America with a written testimony informed investigators to gather facts and report of how they themselves, had been led to Christ by the one back. Untrained or prejudiced observers are inwho is a candidate for the foreign field. adequate and even Board secretaries may be so taken up with special problems and a desire to The second part of Dr. Barnhouse's report takes encourage their workers on the field and their up some conditions that he believes should be cor- home constituency that they fail to discover, acrected-work that is not sufficiently evangelistic, knowledge and remedy weaknesses. Experience enterprises that are not fruitful because of wrong teaches that there is no substitute for the Gospel ideals or methods, or union with those who have of Christ and that if the work is to be effective in not a clear Christian faith and true missionary winning men to Him every missionary worker purpose. He declares that some of the more re- must be primarily an evangelist, fully convinced cent missionaries especially are "modernistic" in that Christ is God manifest in the flesh and that the sense that "they do not accept the absolute salvation through Him is the only hope for sindeity of Christ and the necessity for redemption ning and suffering humanity. through the vicarious, substitutionary death of Christ on the Cross." He says that some mission- PRESENT OPPORTUNITIES IN MEXICO aries who are honest and Christian in spirit evidently have no clear, intelligent ideas on the fun- The Presbyterian Mission in Mexico, as a result damental teachings of the Christian faith. He of recent surveys, is convinced that, in spite of cites in detail four cases (apparently carefully au- difficulties in the way of Christian work, Mexico thenticated) and refers to others. where mission- is in reality more open than ever before to the aries acknowledged openly their lack of faith in message of the Gospel when presented in a direct, one or the other of these two cardinal doctrines personal way, apart from nonessentials. The opof the Church under which they are sent out and portunities for personal work are unlimited. From supported. Some of these workers have appar- all sides comes the testimony that it is easier than ently changed their beUefs since going to the field ever to interest people in the Bible and that if the while others either failed to state their positions missions and churches take advantage of the presclearly in their candidate papers or were not ex- ent opportunities, astounding results will be seen amined with sufficient care before being sent out. in the next few years. Present difficulties have Where faith is faltering or lacking the under- to do chiefly with the impossibility of continuing lying difficulty seems to be the tendency to sub- certain old methods of work in some parts of the stitute the conclusions of human philosophy and field, rather than with the essential matter of the experience for the divinely inspired statements of spread of the Gospel itself. the Christian Scriptures. Dr. Barnhouse says in conclusion: The primary missionary task is to make Christ known. It is true that a recent amendment to the It is my studied opinion that the Board of Foreign Mis- Federal Constitution proposes to root out "fasions has infinite cause to be proud of the missionary per- naticism," and there is a group within the official sonnel as a whole, but it is self-evident that one of the circle that wishes to wipe out all religion in the great needs in our Church today is that this Board should country. But another powerful group within is admit that there are wrongs and set out to correct them. definitely aiming to exterminate the fanaticism There should be, in addition to the elimination of the un- engendered by the Roman Catholic system, while faithful minority, a stiffening of the spiritual and doc- leaving the people free to find true religion.. The trinal requirements for all candidates to keep pace with new constitutional amendment permits this, and the other high requirements which our Board has so since the enabling legislation has not yet been rightly set up. If the existence of wrongs is admitted enacted it is too early to say which of the tendand if the spiritual barriers between a candidate and the encies will prevail. foreign field are raised and if the Board can be further strengthened by the addition of more members possessing In the meantime the law is interpreted differthe fun confidence of the more conservative element in ently in various parts of the country. Missionary the Church, we ministers could face our congregations activity possible in one section is not possible in with much more peace of mind as we ask them to con- some other. For example, it is increasingly diffi. tribute money for this great cause.
In the meantime, the Church at large owes it to the faithful host at work on the foreign field to support the
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
cult to carryon mISSIon schools in the Federal than upon institutions or special plans of work.
District and adjacent regions, while the inter- The opportunity for personal evangelism is pretation of the law by State officials in Yucatan greater than ever. We need to search for new and Oaxaca seems to leave the door open for such ways of making contacts, and that will be effec- work in those States. No foreigner can preach on tive in clinching souls for the Saviour.
a religious theme in public on the Peninsula, while 3. Quantity of work must be subordinated to in many parts of the mainland such activity is continued by missionaries. Christian projects in quality. We need to do more of the kind of work different parts of the country seem feasible in that will stand the test of time and persecution. view of the varying circumstances. We need to guard carefully against trying to do too much, and to concentrate on that which each In these days of atheism, when the old ties with of us can do best and that will count most for the the Catholic Church are being dissolved as never Kingdom. Everyone should have the time needed before, it would seem that more than ever there to deepen and strengthen his own spiritual life, to is an obligation to make Christ known and extend do personal, hand-to-hand work to save individ- His Kingdom. uals, and to give needed spiritual help to Chris- tians. 'Retreats have demonstrated the value of While self-support and effective self-govern- time taken now and then for a group to go aside ment among Protestant Christians have made real and get God's point of view. The pressure of roustrides forward, yet the Mexican Presbyterian tine has often interfered with that which would Church would feel keenly the withdrawal of the be most effective for the Kingdom. moral, spiritual and economic aid given by the Mission. The ecclesiastical bodies are chary of 4. More than ever machinery and organization making official references to the foreign missions, should be subordinated to the real work. Mayet in many ways the Church has shown its desire chinery should be simplified as much as possible, to continue to receive the cooperation of the Mis- and as little time as possible spent on it. sion. Influential members of the Executive Committee ,of the Mexico City Presbytery heartily ap- 5. The work should be judged by its results, prove plans which would take them into more and should be put on the basis of the "project active cooperation than has been experienced for plan," with frequent checking up of results. These several years. recommended projects include: (1) A hostel for girls in Mexico City to enable selected girls to take The ultimate aims of every piece of work under- advantage of the educational advantages of Mextaken by the Mission should include one or more ico City and at the same time to be in a Christian of the following: atmosphere. (2) Student evangelism among students from all parts of the Republic; these stu- 1. To bring individuals to a definite experience of the dents are the future leaders of the nation and Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour from sin and Lord of their most of them now profess no religious belief; this lives. evangelism may be carried on through literature, 2. To further the full development of individual Christians in their Christian experience and service.
3. To strengthen the Mexican Church in such a way clubs, discussion groups and meetings in Chris- that it may increasingly be able to carryon its work with tian homes. (3) Evangelism through music, its own resources of money and personnel. teaching hymns, choruses and pageants to chil- 4. To remove prejudice against the Evangelical work dren and groups. (4) Develop village social and and message, and inspire confidence in it, as well as to evangelistic centers, with medical clinics in rural create the desire to learn the inner secret of its ethical and sections. This includes house-to-house visitation. spiritual effectiveness. (5) Camps for young people to win them to Each project should be evaluated as to its ef- Christ, to deepen the spiritual life of youth and to fectiveness in carrying out one or more of these train them for His service as Christian leaders.
aims. (6) The translation of the New Testament into The guiding principles for the Mission as a other dialects and Scripture distribution as widely whole, designed to make our work as a whole more as possible. (7) To stimulate Christian life and efficient, are as follows: faith in the present Mexican ministers and church 1. To strengthen the churches, as the perma- members.
nent Christian body in Mexico. Consequently, in These are only a few of the twenty-four projects so far as is possible, to train Mexicans to do the suggested by the Presbyterian Mission. The aim work involved, even though they may ask the mis- of each project is to win individuals to an intelli- sions to do it. gent and vital faith in Christ, to train future 2. We must depend upon personal seeking of Evangelical leaders, to strengthen the Church, and souls for Christ, and upon personal dealing with to interest Mexican Christians in the evangeliza- Christians to strengthen and build them up, rather tion and development of their own people.
ANNIVERSARY OF THE ENGLISH BIBLE Can anyone count the number of books that have the Bible and its teachings as their theme; or the No book or group of books has ever been sub- number of sermons and addresses given to listenjected to such careful scrutiny as to its text, its ing millions week by week every year? The voice authorship and its meaning as has the Bible. No of God in the Bible has called preachers, like book has been so fiercely attacked by those who Spurgeon and Moody, has sent out missionaries, would discredit its authenticity and authority; like Carey and Livingstone, has given courage to and yet today, over eighteen hundred years after martyrs, has brought new life to defeated sinners, its completion, no book or group of books has such and has built up strong useful characters out of wide and profound influence on human thought the wrecks that men had made of their lives. The and life as the Bible–even its enemies themselves Bible is the Magna Charta of Christian missions being judges. No book has been translated into so many languages and dialects and none has been and its appeal and power are world-wide.* so widely distributed-not only this year but for the past hundred and fifty years. In whole or in CHRISTIAN INDIANS THINK MISSIONS t part the Bible has now been translated into 900 languages and dialects so that it is in the tongues Indians are told to hold on to their Christian understood by nine-tenths of the earth's populace. tenets and still to think that a great part of Indian Not only do the great national Bible societietl traditions and Indian religions fulfilled the spirit print, sell and otherwise distribute millions of and purpose of Christ Himself. Development will copies each year, but hundreds of private pub- be by the slow evolution brought on by the people lishing houses issue various editions as commer- themselves as distinguished from that of propacial undertakings. In the year ending March 31, ganda and outside influences, outside influences 1808, the total number of Bibles, Testaments and meaning white civilization and church activities. portions issued by the British and Foreign Bible The present government administration of Indian Society was 81,157; in the year ending March Affairs is definitely and openly committed to the 31, 1935, the number was 10,970,609. During the idea that while Indians will be permitted to adopt same year the number issued _by the American modern ways, at the same time a strong fight will Bible Society was 7,517,548. With growing lit- be made to preserve the integrity of Indian social eracy in the world the number of Bible readers life founded on the old order. will greatly increase. Our Nez Perce people have been rea(ly to lay This year marks the four hundredth anniver- down their lives if need be in defense of their sary of the first printing of the Bible in English. faith in God and His Word, and to separate Chris- It is also the 1200th anniversary of the first trans- tianity from paganism and the evils of a false lation of the Gospel of John into Anglo-Saxon, by worship. Will they lower their standard now? the Venerable Adam Bede, and the 1500th anni- No, they refuse to go back. versary of the translation of the Bible into the Armenian tongue. These events are being widely Last year the Administration sent out an order celebrated in America and Great Britain. relating to religious liberty. It was sent to gov- ernment officials, employees and to missionaries. There was a time when men considered it harm- It was to the effect that the pagan practices must ful or sacrilegious to translate the Bible into the not be interfered with, and will be protected if language of the common people. It was read by conducted under the cloak of religion. priests in an unknown tongue, as are the Coptic Scriptures today. Myles Coverdale, in the preface If the old heathen relations are retained, this to his English translation in 1535, disproved that is striking at the very heart of Christian work contention and opened the way for many improved among Indian people. It will tie the hands of translations to follow. Can anyone measure the every missionary if he or she is not allowed to influence that has been exerted by the English denounce sin-and this includes limiting the In- Bible alone? Multitud~s of authors, like Ruskin, dian missionaries who do evangelistic work among Stevenson and Bunyon, have acknowledged their other tribes. indebtedness to its elevating thought, its pure style and simple English. Artists, like Michael- If heathenism has its way, and it always does angelo, and poets, like Whittier and Browning, unless the Gospel of Jesus Christ changes the have received their inspiration from its beauty heart and enables the Indian peopie to come out and truth; lawmakers, statesmen, teachers, phi- of it, then it will tear down every church, destroy losophers and reformers have found in the Bible every home and debauch every Indian boy and. their standards and inspiration.· In the home girl. and in the church this Book has been for centuries the guide of life and builder of character. • The American Bible Society (Box 36, Station D, New York) has prepared 80me valuable leaflets and programs. Send for them.
t The SUbstance of a paper presented to the Presbytery of North- ern Idaho by the United Sessions of the Six Nez Perce Indian Churches. Printed in The Presbyterian, May 30, 1935. It is signed by the members of the United Sessions of the Six Nez Perce Indian Christian Churches.
of the Gospel in the
By V. M. SULLIVAN, Mailita, Solomon Islands Missionary of the South Sea Evangelical Mission TODAY in the Solomon Islands, as it was in the power of the Gospel he became not only the the days of the Apostles, the Gospel of Christ teacher and spiritual leader of his people, but a is the power of God unto salvation to every true shepherd of souls and a father to the vilone that believeth. This Gospel has transformed lagers.
degraded cannibals, who thirsted for men's blood, They have no word in their language which ade- into evangelists who now thirst for men's souls quately expresses the idea of forgiveness. In his for Christ's sake. It has changed lawbreakers unregenerate state a native never forgives .an ininto law-abiding men. It has made savages into jury; on the contrary he will hold a grudge in his saints. heart for twenty years or more until he finds an I It is not civilization that changes men's hearts. opportunity for taking his revenge. But when he Thirty years ago many of these Islanders were is born again of the Spirit of God he experiences .. employed on the sugar plantations of Queensland. the greatest joy if he can carry to his former Those who had been civilized, but not regenerated, enemies the message of peace and love contained returned to their island homes and took up again in the Gospel of Christ.
the old life of savagery and cannibalism. No Word for Love On Malaita, one of the three large islands on Here is one instance. The enemies of one man which the South Sea Evangelical Mission is work- had tried to murder him and, although not sucing, there is a tract of country known as the Koio district. This is inhabited by a fiery, warlike cessful, they managed to maim him for life. When tribe the doors of whose country were fast closed his son became a Christian he had an intense longto the Gospel. About six years ago two Govern- ing to bear the Gospel message to his father's ment officials, with their armed native policemen, enemies; great was his joy when this desire was had come to this district upon Government busi- fulfilled. ness. At a given signal this tribe made an attack These people have no word which adequately on the party and the two white officials, as well expresses love, yet we have constantly seen these· as fourteen native policemen, were murdered; Christians quite broken down as they were gath- seven others of the Government party were seri- ered round the table of the Lord, and as they ously wounded. A punitive expedition was sent meditated upon the love of the Father in giving to the tribe responsible for the massacre and over His Son to die for them, and upon the love of two hundred prisoners were taken and sent to Christ which caused Him to go to Calvary for Tulagi. Two native Christian teachers were them. taken from Sinarango to act as interpreters and The constraining love of Christ impels the one of them, named Peter, was permitted to visit Christians to go out and tell others of His love, the prisoners and preach the Gospel to them. The and thousands have been turned from darkness to Government officials were so impressed with his light. This is not done without cost to themselves, work that, after he had returned home, a native for it often subjects them to hunger, privation, Christian employed at Tulagi was given permis- and opposition from the heathen. If they go to a sion to carryon the work of preaching and teach- distant island, it means that they cut themselves ing among the prisoners. A number of these men off from their own folk. They go to a people who accepted Christ as their Saviour. Some of those speak another language and with customs and who had been taught returned with the message manners different from their own. At a prayer of salvation to their own distant island. Thus meeting on one occasion, I heard a man pray in pidgin-English: "0 Lord, people belong me stop these once fast closed doors were opened to the heavy long heart belong me, all same me carry one Gospel. heavy bag full up long cocoanut. No matter me One of our teachers is a man who, in his heathen tired; no matter me hungry; no matter me die; days, took part in seven cannibal feasts. Through me must carry the Gospel to them."
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Some years ago three native teachers heard teacher is often provided with extras, such as a God's call and volunteered to carry the Gospel to working knife or axe, by some of his young men Rennel Island, knowing that this would be at the who have worked for a period of two years on a risk of their lives. A few days after landing all cocoanut plantation.
three were murdered. The question may arise in the minds of some, One of our teachers on hearing of the death of "If you do not pay your teachers how do you his sister who, with her three children had ac- control them? Teachers can go off and leave their companied her husband when he had gone to an- work when they wish to do so." .
other island as a messenger of the Cross, said: This is true, and the work is not without its "It is better to die on the Lord's battlefield than to difficulties. Sometimes the temptation has come stay at home and do nothing." to lower the standard of self-support for the na- None of our Christian teachers or helpers are tive Church, but God has always shown a way paid. The teacher, who is also pastor and evan- by which the native Church could support its own gelist, is able to support himself and his family workers. A few go off to earn money on planta- by growing his own food; and he can still spare tions, but in practically every case someone steps time to go out and preach to the heathen. A in to fill the gap. Nevertheless a large majority stick faithfully to their work until the Lord calls them Home. If teachers get cold at heart, the subject of remuneration for Christian work comes up. This can only be dealt with by showing them the Scriptural methods, and it ensures having in the work only those whose supreme motive is love for Christ and the salvation of souls. It is necessary to keep constantly before our minds the ideal of a self-propogating, self-supporting and self-governing Church; this can only be attained by developing the native leaders, and by the self- effacement of the missionaries.
Even the permanent teachers in our Central Training School for native teachers and evan- gelists receive no payment. If they did so their influence with the people being trained would be nil, for they would say that the teachers were do- ing the work for what they could get out of it.
As it is, their lives are a power for God, for the people know that the constraining love of Christ is the impelling force in their work. One of our head teachers in the school, J. Maedola, who has always been ready "for all manner of work," re- cently had been unable to procure five shillings required to pay a Government tax. He had been doing extra work as launch boy and for this serv- ice we tried to persuade him to accept payment.
But he resolutely refused to accept our offer, say- ing that he had promised the Lord when he joined us in the work eight years ago that he would never accept payment for any service rendered to the mission. A few days later, a letter came enclos- ing the sum of seven pounds from a little com- pany of native Christians who were in Govern- ment employ. They wished this money to be used towards the h~ad tax for needy teachers. One pound they wished given to J. Maedola, and the· other to our second head teacher. When the money was handed to J. M. he was so overcome at the thought of the Lord's remembrance of his need that he was too much moved to speak.
ONE OF THE UNCONVERTED ISLANDERS The offerings of the Christians are steadily in-
TRIUMPHS OF THE GOSPEL IN THE SOLOMONS
creasing, and the people employed on plantations court of appeal. A few incidents will illustrate are contributing their quota. Gifts are given in the place the Word of God has in their lives. money or in kind; the latter are used for local needs such as the care of the sick, the poor, J. Filoa, one of our teachers, had .two children widows, or to help a teacher start a food garden who died within a week of each other. Much to in the new place to which he is going to preach the amazement of the heathen, who could not the Gospel. If he goes at the invitation of the understand why he sorrowed not as those who heathen, they will sometimes help him with food have no hope, he went on with his daily teaching until his own garden comes into bearing. But in and preaching. They asked why he and his wife a great many cases he goes uninvited. Permis- were not wailing as is the custom of the heathen; sion is gained to clear some ground for planting, this gave him an opportunity to tell them of the and for a house. What is he to do while he is Father's House with many mansions, and of the waiting for his garden to come into bearing? To certain hope he had of meeting his children again. tide over this period, the local church from which When he came to see me, he said, with a smile he has been sent forth provides him with money which had gained in sweetness since his bereavewith which to purchase a garden in bearing, and ment, "You know that verse, 'God shall wipe away also helps him with gifts of food. all tears from their eyes?' God has done that for me already." Entering a Heathen Village There had been a craze in the school for put- In most cases access to a heathen village is ting lime on the hair and ·M. Kalea, our cook, folgained by Christians who come from other places lowed the prevailing fashion. When lime which where they have preached. The new people be- had been on his hair was found in our soup, an come interested, and one of their number may be persuaded to go to our Central Training School JOASH FILOA AND HIS WIFE for two to three years. He comes to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and at the end of his term, goes back to his own people with the message of salvation. In all probability they will be ready to start a Christian village, with this man as their teacher and are the more ready to listen to one whose changed life they see. At first, meetings are held in the house of the teacher; when a sufficient number have joined him, a church is built of native materials. In course of time a little Christian community is built up and one of this number may be sent to the Training School. Thus are the natives brought to a knowledge of Jesus Christ. Those in training grow food to help towards their support and Christians are encouraged to send from their villages supplies of native food, and sago palms for buildings. We hope these gifts will increase.
The teachers are not educated in the ordinary sense, and thus are not lifted out of their own environment. Wherever possible they live as in their own villages. Our aim is the salvation of souls and the building up of Christian character. They are taught to read and write, and as far as time will permit, are grounded in the Word of God and taught to apply its teaching to their own lives and conditions. From the Word of God they are taught principles of church government and church discipline.
The outstanding characteristic of this native church in the Solomons is their acceptance of the Bible as the inspired Word of God, and their application of it to their own lives. The Bible becomes their rule of life, and is always the final
ultimatum was issued that there was to be no the Lord, if He wants the boy we cannot say 'no' more lime on his hair while he was cooking. If to Him." put on it must be done at night, and washed off in the morning before coming into the kitchen. The other two children, one aged ten and the The next morning he said: other eight, were told and they made the same reply. The little family then committed the sick "Me can't put lime on hair belong me now, be- child into God's keeping. That evening the crisis cause me find one verse long Word belong God, came and the little one recovered. where He stop (forbids) this thing." The Place of Prayer When we inquired with great interest where this verse was to be found he turned up Matthew Prayer has a large place in the lives of the na- 5: 36, "Thou canst not (which he took to mean tive Christians. In the Central Training School, shalt not) make one hair white or black!" When one whole day a month is set apart for prayer, in he found that verse the question of lime on the addition to the two prayer meetings each week. hair was for him settled forever. At these meetings a steady stream of prayer as- cends to God. On the day of prayer the afternoon SOLOMON ISLAND CHUR CH AND CHRISTIANS is given up to intercession for others. . In many' of the villages they are now having these days of One more incident: An address had been given prayer monthly. I heard a youth of eighteen on 2 Peter 1: 11, "The Abundant Entrance." To years of age .offer a prayer which I have used illustrate this the speaker told of a ship entering many times since: "Lord, give me more love for port with sails set, flag flying, and a joyful com- Thee, more love for Thy Word, more love for pany on the wharf to meet it. In contrast with souls." It is a touching sight to watch them rethis was a ship which came in with sails torn, the sponding to the call of the "Quiet Time Bell" and whole ship badly battered, and the crew busily going off, Bibleunder arm, every day to the place bailing out to enable her to limp to a place of where they meet with their Lord. This hallowed safety. The first ship had "an abundant en- place may be a stump of a tree in a secluded spot. trance," the other had merely "an entrance." These people are worth saving. They are poor At the close of the address, T. Anilafa was and iIIit~rate, and are considered by some white asked to pray. In a choked voice he said, "0 Lord, men as the base things of the world, yet when give me an abundant entrance; don't let me enter they become new creatures in Christ Jesus, they heaven like a poor old battered ship. Do what are capable of attaining to wondrous spiritual you like with me; send sickness, pain, sorrow or heights. trouble, as long as I have an abundant entrance." But there are thousands still unreached. This That night one of his children, a boy of six is a spiritual warfare and the enemy of souls is years of age, was taken ill with malignant malaria. active. . "We wrestle not against flesh and blood Did the father mean what he had prayed. One but against . . . spiritual wickedness in high wondered if he would stand the test. On the third places." . Therefore earnest prayer is requested day he was told that the child was dying, and, for the native Christians that they may be given calling his wife, h~ said: "I think the Lord Jesus power over all the power of the enemy, and that wants our little Sipolo. What are we going to they may be kept stedfast, unmovable, always say to Him?" His wife replied, "He belongs to abounding in the ~ork of the Lord.
THE GOLDEN PRESENT Today is mine, not yesterday, Nor yet the day to be; I cannot now retrace my way Nor can I paths foresee; .
But this one day is surely mine- o God, may it be wholly Thine!
No gift-is mine which lies behind, And none which lies before, But in this present day I find A full and precious store Of all my life and heart can need: . With this, I am content indeed.
H. W. FROST.
Christ Is Not Known in China*
Extracts from an Interesting Story of Pioneer Work in New Territory Between West Szechwan and Tibet -'~IbII====B;;o;;Y;;o;;D;;o;;R;;o;;';;o;;J';;o;;H;;o;;O;;o;;W=A;;o;;R;;o;;D;;o;;J;;o;;E;;o;;FF;;o;;R;;o;;E;;o;;Y===~1I~'- t ST September the door opened for us to take sorbed by marriage relationships into the general a long journey through regions to the north, mass of the Chinese. Around these five colonies largely unknown to and unvisited by Occi- are a number of Rung states brought into subdentals. In two and a half months we must have jection to China but still retaining their autonomy, travelled on foot by yak train, by mule, on horse- though their princes acknowledge themselves sub- back, and by water in skin coracles between six ject to China and pay regular tribute to their con- hundred and one thousand miles. Medical sup- querers. Since the revolution this tribute has plies were low, but we attended to the sick as far passed into the hands of local military leaders, as we were able at the places visited. The work and has been the cause of much intrigue and civil provided us with valuable experience for the war.
future. The Lama's Offer Medicine seemed to serve as a passport into al- Above Ts'onghua the road passes a lamasery most any territory and was certainly an aid in which, when the Kinchwan was conquered, was reaching the hearts of the people. We ought to heavily subsidized and made the centre to which spend a few weeks or months in one place, then the surrounding princes were required to come move on to spend a similar period elsewhere. annually to "worship." This implied recognizing This method should be the best for the medical the authority of the abbot, who in turn had to work, and also the best method for giving the own allegiance to China. Now revenues, still Gospel to the sparse nomadic population of the legally due to the lamasery, are being misappro- Tibetan grasslands and the lonely settlements of priated by the local Chinese officialdom, so that the Rung. at present the place is largely broken down, and the present abbot lives rather a solitary life, seem- I am encouraged, by the assurance from many ingly in poverty. This man was engaged in doing prayers being made for God's work in the Sino- what some think is the lama's chief occupation Tibetan marches, to write of the work out here when "in residence," namely, looking out of a and show how these prayers are being answered window. beyond my wildest expectations. Mr. Amos, when he first caught sight of that Mowkung is the Chinese capital of the Kinch- lamasery, prayed aloud that God would do great wan, which is a system of deep fertile valleys be- things there. Within half an hour he was invited tween Tibet and China proper. It was originally into the abbot's own apartments and was telling inhabited by a people of Tibetan affinities called him the Gospel story. The previous night I felt Rung, of whom the Kiarung are the most num~r driven to pray for the Kiarung states, hitherto ous. About a hundred and fifty years ago Chma closed to the Gospel. It was in one of these that finally conquered these regions and set about their Mr. Edgar of Tatsienlu was imprisoned with a colonization by establishing five military colonies homicidal madman years ago, when he sought an (spoken of as the Wu-tuen), Mowkung, Tanpa, entrance there. Now, next day, like a bolt from Fupien, Ts'onghua, and Hstich'ing in the Kinch- the blue, the abbot announced that he controlled wan, and to make room for these, exported S9me "eighteen princes" and that he could give us a of the original inhabitants to territory to the passport if we wanted it, which would take. us northeast, where they form "five colonies of bar- through all their territory! barians" as the Chinese call them. The Chinese from these five centres, given the status of cities, We could hardly believe our ears, for this inhave so possessed the land that the original Rung cluded all the closed states! The abbot became have been driven back to inaccessible mountain enthusiastic about our visiting these places, but heights, while many have been or are being. ab- he wanted to know why we wanted to go, and we • Condensed from China's MilU,ons. told him plainly it was to "propagate religion"
[571 ]
and heal the sick, and not to trade. This was very gave us. We were shown into a guest room in his virtuous and he became still more enthusiastic, castle decorated in Chinese style. We had time to though he had come to see plainly that Christian- notice that all the walls were hung with beautiful ity and Buddhism are opposite, or back-to-back as scrolls of red satin inscribed with characters of he put it. One day he explained that he was giv- gold, that the windows were of glass, that there ing us the passport because "Our hearts were knit was a map of the world on the wall, and that on a together" (explaining this by hooking two fingers shelf over the seat of honor were three handsome together) and adding in a strange mixture of clocks, none of which was going, while the hands Tibetan and Chinese, "Kon-chhog, t'a tsu tih- of one were broken. As we were opening out our God has done it!" He spoke more truly than he passports and arranging our complimentary scarf, knew. the prince himself walked in, and with a cheery "How are you?" held out his hand in Western The Wild Valley Journey fashion for us to shake it! He spoke excellent Chinese. He entertained us to tea and then two Some time was spent preparing for our pro- good Chinese meals with about an hour between, posed journey, getting coarse woolen Kiarung and finally let us return with the further passport gowns made, and then on September 24th we we required and a good present of butter and eggs. set out for Ts'onghua again with four horses, two carrying Tibetan literature, one carrying medical As a boy he had come in contact with M. Wilden, and surgical supplies and tent, and another our the present French Minister to China, Consulpersonal effects. Crossing the K'ongk'ori shan General Brown, of Great Britain, and other forwe arrived at the Ts'onghua lamasery and were eigners whom he had found to be men of integrity. received by the abbot himself, and given quarters He was later educated in the provincial capital of in his own house. It still seems impossible to Chengtu as a Chinese. He is a wise and enlight- "hustle the East," and it was nine days before we ened ruler, with a great liking for things Western. were on the road again. There had been further Though living two days from Lianghok'eo, the political trouble and the local official with his fam- nearest place reached by the Chinese postal servily and attendants were again seeking safety with ice, he keeps himself as well informed as possible the abbot. A few days later he left Ts'onghua, of movements in the outer world and is concerned dismissed from office, and a new official arrived. just now about the "Red" menace in Szechwan. The abbot could not give himself to the weighty From among his, possessions he showed two pairs task of writing out a passport for us, but the time of field glasses, a Mauser pistol, a sword which came when it was actually written and two great might be Russian, an album of views of London seals (one Chinese and the other Tibetan) being and another of views of a town in Germany! He produced with much show, the imprints were also has a camera and enjoys photography as a placed on the document. hobby, doing his own developing when he can ob- tain the material. That we had adopted the dress From Ts'onghua our road had lain roughly of his own people, and were prepared to deal with northwards up the wild valley of the Ta-kin ho. them as equals with ourselves and his overlords, We continued further up this for a day or two and the Chinese, seemed to appeal to him greatly. then crossed the river by coracle into the State of Zung-kang. Here we had to spend some hours To the Capital of Ngaba climbing up a very wild track to the first settlements, perhaps 2,000 feet above the river. Our We spent five days in Amchhog and then set loads were carried here on men's backs, as ani- out for Ngaba, which we reached after a day and mals could not have ascended such a track. We a half. For two nights running, our encampment were given hospitality in one house, and sat with had been raided by bandits, and a third raid was our carriers on the floor round the great open expected that night, but the Lord "giveth His behearth in the centre of the kitchen, while a meal loved sleep," and we lost none from anxiety. was being prepared. We delayed a day while Early next morning, we saw some armed men animals were being procured to take our goods ride along a near-by ridge and were told they over a pass to Zung-kang, the capital of the state were the bandits. of this name. The people were much more friendly than those of Choschia, and invited us to We reached Mesang, the capital of Ngaba, about come back. noon next day and were received courteously by the prince, a brother-in-law of the prince of' We walked a further twenty li or so to the Chogschi. We were told we might pitch our tent capital of Chogschi to request a passport from outside the palace for the time being. A few days this prince to pass through his dominions to later we moved into a room lent us by royal com- Ngaba. He was considered a very excellent prince mand in a near-by lamasery. but we were hardly prepared for the reception he The people of Ngaba are not Kiarung and speak
WHERE CHRIST IS NOT KNOWN IN CHINA
what I will call Northeastern Tibetan. These Buddha. He entered our room with other visitors houses differ from those of the Kiarung in being one evening. Born at Tatsienlu, he prostrated built of mud instead of stone. The parapet-less himself over the whole of the road from that city roofs project slightly over the walls, which slope to Lhasa, setting out when aged thirteen and takinwards. The houses are excellently built, more ing eight years to reach his destination. From or less square, two or more stories high with there he took two and a half years further prosfloors and internal structures of excellent wood- trating himself to some place in Inner Tibet. work. There is not a tree to be seen, but such From there he went on foot into India. Here his timber as is required is dragged over a relatively mother, who had accompanied him all these years low mountain range to the south. The houses are carrying his bundle for him, died from the bite dotted up and down the Ngachhu basin and where of a cobra. He carries part of her skull with a number happen to be a little closer together, a him. He recently returned from India and went name is given to that group. Mesang is such a to Mesang, from which place he was thinking of group. There is no attempt at forming streets. setting out shortly for the sacred Mount Omel in The inhabitants are a wild freedom-loving people West Szechwan, and then going north again to the but are ruled with a firm hand by their prince. temple on the island in Koko Nor, prostrating Probably this basin is all over 12,000 feet in alti- himself over the whole distance. tude. The estimates of altitude in this letter are based mainly on the height of the tree line. The Few would call the Chinese a religious nation, people were quite friendly towards us. We did a but the Tibetans are, and intensely so. Surely fair amount of medical work among them and people who will endure so much in an attempt to put copies of the Scriptures into the hands of obtain peace in their souls and to better their posihundreds. A few years ago, Mr. Eckvall, of the tion in their next life, should be given the knowl- Christian and Missionary Alliance, and Dr. Rees, edge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We gave him of the C. I. M., visited Ngaba from Kansu. Their copies of the Gospels and prayed that he might visit was still well remembered, and Mr. Eckvall read, and be enlightened! We long for the day is now living only about eight days away on the when we shall be able to speak the language of Kansu border. the people and, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, explain the meaning of the Living Word to those There were reasons which decided us against who are dying without Christ! going either east or west from Ngaba just then, and this helped us to decide to press north, if pos- Ere setting out we prayed that when we resible, to meet Mr. Eckvall and talk with him about turned from our journey we might leave the doors missionary work in these parts. We waited over open for another occasion. The doors are open! fifteen days to join the first large company travel.,. Chogschi, with a population of 10,000 Kiarung ing northwards, for the road was not considered safe for small parties. But to travel further we families, is wide open and we are informed we needed to change our rupees into lump silver, and could rent property there. In Zung-kang, some this we could not do. Thus the opportunity of gave us an invitation to return. Choschia, the company on the road was lost, and we felt we must most extensive of the Kiarung states and with a now turn homewards again, the more so as we considerable grassland population must be worked had the opportunity to travel with a caravan go- with care, but is not closed to us. In Tampa, with ing south. While we were in Ngaba, the prince's a population of only six· hundred families or so, son was married, amidst national rejoicing and the people showed themselves quite friendly. holiday making. Nor must I stay to write of the Ngaba is a Tibetan state. There the possibility colony of Moslem traders there save to mention of another visit from us was freely spoken of but that they received us most kindly. The ahung, an the Gospel will be more strongly opposed in open-minded man, quite on his own, asked me for Ngaba than in the Kiarung states. Lamaism a copy of the Bible in Arabic, which has since seems particularly strong there. Medical work is been sent to him. On the morning of our de- wanted, but not Christianity. parture, he said to Mr. Amos: "Why don't you come and settle amongst us and teach us the What of the 2,720 copies of the Gospels we gave Christian religion 1" The idea of going about away through the generosity of the National Bible healing and teaching especially appealed to him Society of Scotland 1 Some will be destroyed; as being according to the example of Christ. numbers will be used to paper lamasery walls and windows; perhaps less than half will be read. A Prostrating Pilgrim But to the Lamaistic mind, the understanding of a book seems of little consequence compared with is Thomthi, a melancholy wistful faced young man the mere reading of it. Therein lies its magical whom our interpreter regarded as another Living power, the lama thinks. Thus, for Tibetans espe- cially, evangelists are necessary to explain the Scriptures as did Philip to the Ethiopian eunuch.
Christmas-Why They Did It*
-~II By MONETA TROXEL, M. E. Mission II¥.J.– A CHRISTIAN minister from America, trav- upon the Adjutant who telegraphed to them by eling through the flood districts of Central smiles of encouragement that the fine name of China, asked an old boatman, "What first their school rested upon their good responses. At interested you in Christianity?" The answer a signal every little fellow was down on his knees, came, "It was seeing the Christian doctors going and immediately a small voice piped up in a about their work. I could not imagine why they prayer which thanked God for giving the Baby did it." Jesus and the friends that had come to them that On a cold, gloomy, rainy afternoon near the end afternoon. A few of the girls sang for the small of December, when term examinations had been folks, and then the boys stood and hurled forth a finished and teachers and students of Ewha Col- volume of Christmas music with all the abandon lege, Seoul, would ordinarily have been taking the of lusty-lunged children.
first trains for home, more than two hundred of "Several in the group were newcomers in the them set forth to plough through the muddy Home. Many of them had been homeless waifs streets to places of wretchedness, loneliness and picked up on the streets of Seoul by the Salvation pain, dreariness and distress. Army workers. One lad, not in school uniform, The Y. W. C. A. of the college has sponsored a and very yellow with underfeeding, had been a collection of food and clothing for the poor, but beggar in the city. Each Sunday he had attended this year brought the first whole-school participa- the Army Sunday school, and when the collection tion in White Christmas activities. Each class was taken had droped in one of the coins out of group chose, from a considerable list of possible his ragamuffin-store. When asked why he gave, activities, the one in which it was most interested, it was learned that he had come from a Christian and made plans for carrying it out. So it hap- home in the south, where his parents had taught pened that on this stormy Friday afternoon groups him to give to the Lord. But they were both dead, set out to visit more than forty dugouts, distrib- and he had made his way up to Seoul, 'where the uting rice, warm garments, and a little money; first thing he had done had been to search for a to provide a Christmas program in three lan- Sunday school.
guages for the one hundred and fifty Korean, Jap- "There were forty little fellows in the chapel anese and Chinese workmen in our new college meeting; but in the workshops of the school were building in Sinchon; to take gifts of apples, pea- fifty others, all older lads who were learning nuts and oranges to the ex-beggar boys in the trades. The visiting students were amazed to see Salvation Army home; to sing Christmas songs, the gloves, the shoes and the clothes which these tell Christmas stories, and distribute Christmas boys were able to make.
treats to the children in Dr. Oh's orphanage and "The girls and their teachers with great diffi- in the wards of Severance Hospital. culty made their way down the winding, slippery Each group had its own sad-glad experiences, hill path. All felt that it was glorious to be able but the report of the visit to the Beggar Boys' to share even a little with these small lads who so Home, written by Miss Blanche Loucks, will show needed Christmas cheer."
what these bits of Christmas meant, both to the Why did they do it? Because they served Jesus givers and to the receivers : as their Lord and Master; because the love of Him had entered into their hearts and filled their "Forty small, grey-garbed, black-stockinged lives, and opened their eyes to needs which others little lads sat perfectly quiet on stiff, hard benches, never see; because they had found that there is while the Salvationist in charge told why they had no joy comparable to that which comes from met together that Friday afternoon in December, "causing light to appear in people's faces" and in and why the walls were lined with rather teary- the dark corners of people's hearts and lives~ eyed young Korean women who were watching Light received and Light given. Is it too much them so intently. to hope that some rays of Light found their way into the minds, of the onlookers, the passers-by, "Not one little chap looked back to see the pile as they saw groups of young women bound on of good things that had been deposited for them within the chapel entrance. Their eyes were fixed .. From The Korea Mission Fiela. errands of Christmas'love?
[574 ]
A Chinese Nurse–Evangelist·
Told to Rev. James P. Leynse by Dr. Clementine Bash, of Peiping, China MISS HO, a graduate nurse of the Presby- took pains to guide carefully his new life. Perse- terian Douw Hospital of Peiping, is little cution from the shop proprietor, however, became of stature, but her faith is great and her almost unbearable. heart is full of love for wandering souls. . She Unexpectedly Pure Mountain was called back to could work in a comfortable city hospital but she his home to settle his share of the meagre estate prefers to be a light shining in a street gospel left by his father. He found his relatives quar- hall out in the country in North China. There reling fiercely over the small inheritance. His she ministers daily to crowds of people unfamiliar grandfather, grown indifferent to the son by a with elementary hygiene; and there every eve- lifelong struggle for bare existence, ignored him ning her voice rings out in a testimony full of and strove for his. share with the persistence of understanding, power and persuasion. old age. His uncle, weakened by the prolonged Pure Mountain, a lad of eighteen, can hardly use of heroin and made heartless by a very im- wait each evening for the sun moral life, stretched greedy to go down to close with a bang hands for the deed of the land.
the wooden shutters of the drug His aunt, a woman with the store where he sells pills of strange mixture. It takes him a mouth of a Buddha and the only a few steps to reach "The heart of snake, secretly sharp- Hall of Happiness," where Miss ened a butcher's knife intend- ing to do away with the lad at Ho explains the Jesus way of night. Soon the quarrel reached Life. He had watched her at the height of uncontrolled emo- the clinic treating diseases, skil- tion, and intervention by the ful and kind. He wondered police seemed inevitable. Then why she had no trade secrets as Pure Mountain astonished them has the usual Chinese practi- by calmly giving up his claim, tioner, and why she was not saying: "You may have the afraid that others would learn land, I have my Redeemer. A her skill. He marvelled that by thatched room will be enough her help chronic complaints for me and a heart freed from cleared up, that havoc wrought sin makes even cabbage roots by trachoma disappeared and palatable." Joyfully he testi- that horrible wounds changed fied of his new faith in the Lord into clean scars. of all things, and in the Father Pure Mountain was gripped by the simplicity of mankind. His relatives were dumfounded and of Miss Ho's teaching and he became convicted of stopped their quarreling. Never before had they sin and desired to follow the Way of freedom. heard such strange words. Never before had any- One evening Miss Ho made him a present of a one been known to sacrifice a just claim to pre- little Testament telling him that it contained cious land for the sake of harmony and moved by "Precious words for hungry souls." He sat up love of Jesus Christ.
reading it until his candle allotted for the week When Pure Mountain was back at work in the was burned up. Faithfully he attended the meet- drug store, the proprietor called him to his room.
ings but the opposition of the shop proprietor was Pounding his fist on the table, he expressed his aroused and he was forbidden to leave the prem- disapproval of such a stupid procedure in sacri- ises. But walls carry sounds and the preaching ficing good land. Sternly he forbade the young from the Gospel Hall next door drifted over to the man to follow the foolish Jesus way, threatening open yard behind the shop. There, one evening to bring him before the village guild as an im- in the moon-lit courtyard all alone, guided by the practical candidate. Calmly the young man stood voice of the little nurse-evangelist he found his his ground. "Look at what I was before I met Saviour. In a beautifully worded letter he told Jesus," he said, "and see what I am now. 1 often her that he was "born again." Miss Ho, knowing pretended to be busy when you were around but well that acorns do not grow into oaks overnight, loafed when you were absent. I frequently stole [575 ]
money out of the till to gamble with; and I used Koreans living in Manchuria may become prosheroin without your' even suspecting me. Jesus perous financially and both education and religion has changed my heart and has taken away·even bid fair to make great strides. the desire to sin. Shall I go back to myoId ways, to idol worship and a life of sin and misery, or In Mukden First Church the Sunday offerings shall I go on following the living God, the One amount to between fifty and sixty yen and in the greater than our ancestors, and a constant help three-months-old Second Church, in a district in need?" Quietly the proprietor listened, mar- where there are many desperately poor, there is veling that religion could make a person confess already an attendance of eighty. When I came undetected sin and could change human nature. to Manchuria, five years ago, there were five city "Go, my lad," he said, "follow the Jesus' way, as congregations, in places like Mukden and Dairen, you desire. I am a man grown, but I have noth- and ten country groups; only three out of the ing to say against it." total of fifteen owned their own buildings. Now twenty-three have their own buildings, some of Later Pure Mountain was baptized in the little which are brick structures. village gospel hall together with fourteen other persons. After the service the proprietor of the In 1930 our adherentage was 280, whereas Gendrug store stepped forward and wrote his name eral Assembly statistics for 1933 show an adon the blackboard with the mimes of those who herentage of 3,500. Our Officers' Class in 1930 also wanted to study to know Jesus. Little Miss took as its text John 17: 21 and it has been our Ho goes on ministering to the needs of souls and bodies. Faithfully she is gathering around her the children to study the Bible and a group of volunteer lay-workers to help her spread the Gospel. She knows that the Chinese saying that where two or three are of one mind clay may be turned into gold is also true in tne spiritual realm of life.
AMONG KOREANS IN MANCHURIA* By REV. C. D. KIM FONnerly a Helper in South Gate Church, Seoul, Who Has Been in Manchuria Since 1930 As a Home Missionary When I went to Manchuria in January, 1930, A Chinese Dealer in Medicine the work in the Mukden district was not encouraging, but from the time of the Manchurian Inci- ideal to so work that the world may believe that dent in September, 1931, thousands of Koreans God has sent us. In our union classes for men who were forced to leave northern and eastern and women as many as 500 have gathered to Manchuria flocked south, while hundreds of new study. Christian Endeavor and Sunday School immigrants came from Korea itself. In Mukden Unions have been established. there were in 1930 something over 3,000 Korean residents. Today they are said to number over In 1931 over a hundred and forty women gath- 20,000. ered for a general class for women and a Presby- terian Missionary Society was established. Korea is a land of mountains, Manchuria one of plains. Labor is, therefore, less arduous in The Mukden church in 1934 established a Bible comparison to the harvest to be reaped. Chinese Institute and there were forty students, men and farmers had been in the habit of sowing broom women. This church conducts also a kindercorn, field corn and beans, but Koreans began at garten and a kindergarten normal school. once to reap excellent rice crops, and some are becoming prosperous. When I first'"went to Manchuria, travel before. 9 A. M. and after 3 P. M. was difficult on account There is always a close relation between eco- of bandits. At times on lonely byroads and even nomic prosperity and support of religious work, on trains it seemed that only by a miracle did I so that self-support is now becoming an accom- escape harm. plished thing. In ten years more, many more • From The Korea Mission Field.
MARS; HILL COLLEGE IN THE MOUNTAINS, NORTH
Lighthouses in the Mountains -4&{11 By J. W. O'HARA, Candler, N. C. 11JBt– T HE Appalachian Range begins in Maine. and and began to plan for the children as the nation's extends to the foothills in Alabama and greatest asset. Religious workers and philan- Georgia. In the Virginias and Kentucky, thropists began establishing schools. Those estabthis Range divides into the Blue Ridge and Big lished by various denominations were known as Smoky Mountains in North Carolina and Ten- Christian academies. Among these were the nessee, and the Cumberlands in Kentucky and schools of the Presbyterians, Baptists, Method- Tennessee. In these ranges of mountains, there ists, Disciples, Episcopalians, Congregationalists, are approximately six million people. In the West, Seventh Day Adventists, and others. in the Ozarks, a range in Arkansas, Missouri, and The early efforts were limited by lack of funds, Oklahoma, are approximately one and one-half impassable roads, indifference, hostility and million people. limited vision. However, rays of light were pene- Fifty years ago the educational advantages in trating the darkness, and a virile people were these mountain fas,tnesses were very meagre. The gradually being awakened. Many ins,titutions of public schools were in session not over two or learning, from the elementary school to college three months in the year, and were taught by in- grade, were established. Mrs. John C. Campbell, adequately prepared teachers, many of whom Brasstown, N. C., prepared for the Russell S::tge would not remain to the close of the session. Con- ~oundation a list of these schools in 1930, showsequently, the mountain people became a retarded ing 124 schools of elementary and high school race, with latent, undreamed of possibilities. grade, of which 30 were Baptist, with 16,340 There were also in the mountains other undiscov- pupils, and 39 institutions of Junior and Senior ered assets in the way of iron, coal, timber and College grade, of which six were Baptist, with metals. 12,343 pupils. Since most Junior Colleges. at that time had some high school work, there were prob- Men and women of vision began to see and talk of these assets as they travelled back and forth ably 17,000 boys and girls in these institutions among the people of the outside world. They laid operated by eighteen denominations. Methods great stress on the young people of the mountains, and policies differed widely, but all had in mind [577 ]
the same end, namely, to offer advantages to as- from the mountain home to the schoolhouse, and piring youth, and to train head, hand and heart. have traveled it. A saved soul, a sound body and a trained mind was the cherished goal. Recent years with rapidly These schools have created a larger vision of growing state schools, together with a false phi- life for young people. Until recent years, there losophy and decreasing funds, have greatly re- was almost no communication between the mounduced this number of schools while many continue tains and !the outside world. There were no their work with difficulty. The contribution made radios, no telephones, no rural delivery, very little by these schools to boys and girls of the mOun- travel, impassable mountains and roads, consetains is notable. quently there was nothing but community happen- ings. Young people married early, and thus an- They have opened the way for boys and girls other family was started in the same small circle. from the obscure mountain cabin to the school- The Bible and a hymn book were about the only books. A girl of seventeen who came to one of DR. R. L. MOORE, OF MARS' HILL our schools was eagerly reading books in the library. When she came she had read only a house, and have given them a chance. Only those small, cheap paper-back novel, but by the time the who have been back in the mountains know what sessiQnwas about one-third gone she had read this really means. With families large and in- twenty· or more books. When she enrolled she come small, it was well nigh impossible for boys knew nothing about the outside world with its and girls to enjoy educational advantages. The opportunities but her life became greatly enriched. visit of members of consecrated faculties, or the testimony of some enrolled boy or girl, not only Another girl wrote that her Alma Mater "had helped to create a thirst for something better, but shown her how to live and to select the worthshed rays of light on how this might be achieved. while things in life." The life of the teachers, the The father of a bright lad in the Tennessee Moun- contacts with other boys and girls, the reading of tains frequently said that had not the school been books in the library, the religious activities of the built in his community, he would never have edu- school, the occasional visits of church representacated his children. This lad became the Associate tives, all contribute to the enlargement of ideas, Editor of one of our great Southern dailies, and and broadening of life's outlook and possibilities. was a regular contributor to the leading magazines of the nation. This is only one of the many The schools and colleges have contributed a soresults. Boys and girls have had the trail blazed cial, economic and religious uplift. One may travel from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia to the foothills of Alabama, and from Old Hog Back in South Carolina to the Ozarks in the West, and note easily the homes where a boy or girl have attended one of these institutions. Such homes have a different atmosphere, more attractive premises, flowers that beautify, buildings re- paired, and a general appearance of neatness. A business man in Asheville told of an automobile trip from Atlanta to Asheville. As he traveled through the mountains of Georgia, he noted the cheap construction and shabby appearance of the cabins and cottages, gates off hinges, buildings unpainted, yards bare and desolate. Making a turn around the point of a hill along the winding stream, he saw an attractive cottage, painted, yard clean, flowers on porch, floors clean, children neatly dressed, everything appealing. He ap- proached the mother on the porch, and asked, "How is it tnat your home is so different from others ?" She replied that she and John had a few acres of land and the cottage free from debt. They would later add another room, and possibly buy a few more acres of land. The reason for the improvements was revealed in the fact that she had been to Hiawassee Academy where they taught her how to make a home. John had gone to Young Harris College where they taught him
THE MOVEMENT OF THE SPIRIT IN MEXICO
how to build and repair, and they have tried to Such have been the influences which have gone put in their home the things they had learned. from institutions exerting a purifying and uplift- The children in that home were given better ad- ing force. vantages in life because the parents had been privileged to attend institutions which gave light These schools have greatly bettered economic and leading. conditions. They have proclaimed a regenerating and uplifting Gospel. They have cleansed and The schools have also served as a mighty force ennobled sodal life. They have trained and have in driving back spiritual darkness and bringing given vision to hundreds of bright minds and about better law enforcement. Crime has been have produced strong lives. They have been a immeasurably reduced where these lighthouses benediction and blessing during the entire period have shed their rays. Feuds, except for occasional of their operation. Increasing educational progkillings, are practically a thing of the past. In ress, in State institutions and diminishing denomone school community, the jail remained vacant inational funds have greatly reduced the number for many months. Immorality and similar forms of these Christian schools. but there is still great of vice are virtually unknown in that community. need to provide for unprivileged boys and girls, A District Attorney said that North Greenville and to serve as a blessing to community, state Baptist Academy, located in the "Dark Corner;' and nation. Better methods and equipment, use- South Carolina, had put him out of business. ful legislation and generous State appropriations Formerly he had to spend two weeks clearing the can never take the place of these religious institudocket, but now he could finish in a few hours. tions nor can other agencies render the service In another school community, a friend of the they have given to mountain youth. Those schools school said that he had known the community for that remain should be strengthened; they should years and was familiar with its lawlessness and be better equipped and endowed, and better supcrime. Even day travel had been unsafe but ported. Their light still penetrates the darkness, "since the school has been built, there is not only puts to route superstition and ignorance, ;and a reduction in lawlessness, but women may travel points the way for the sons and daughters of the day or night, unattended, with perfect safety." hills to shine as the stars forever and ever.
The Movement of the Spirit in Mexico _.11 By NORMAN WIIDE TAYLOR, Moxic. City 11j!>- T HAT "man's extremity is God's opportunity" held up in Vera Cruz, no religious papers, lesson has been proven many times in the past and helps and tracts circulating through the mails, is being seen today in Mexico. The increas- and with the failure of human agents to bring reing restrictions on religious activities, the limita- lief, the Church was thrown back upon God. And tons placed upon the ministers, the closing of the God was not deaf to the increasing volume of churches in outlying states, and the threat that prayer going up from Mexico, the United States, this policy might spread throughout the Republic, and other countries, on behalf of the Cause of drove the Christian people of Mexico to their Christ here. knees last year. Not only was there an increasing burden of prayer among the Christians, but Suddenly, in the latter part of June, a crisis on the first of December, the day President Car- came in the Government and the President dedenas took office, the Protestant Church observed manded the resignation of his cabinet. Three a day of special prayer. From early morning days of suspense followed. Would the new cabiuntil late at night people gathered in the churches net be more radical? The Christians turned to pray for Mexico and her new President. afresh to God for help. When the new appoint- ments were made it was immediately seen that the The President's first official act, the closing of radical, atheistic element had been eliminated. two palatial gambling centers, seemed to portend Two days later the President, by special decree, good, but as the weeks passed the shadows deep- removed the restrictions on the mails, allowing all ened with increasing restrictions which culmi- religious literature to circulate freely. A week nated in the closing of the mails to all religious before this crisis occurred the horizon was black literature. With a much needep supply of Bibles and even the most sanguine observer would not
have dared to prophesy such a change. What as they knelt or sat in the church and some were wrought this change? Those who see beneath the won for Christ. This realization of the personal surface will answer unhesitatingly, "The Spirit responsibility of Christians to win others is an of God" added indication of the movement of the Spirit.
The movement of the Spirit of God can be seen In certain sections of the field there has been even in the restrictions on Christian work, for notable growth in the church. In Yucatan the these have driven workers into new and rich fields Presb)'lterian Church, in cooperation with the of service. Many mission schools and other in- Pioneer Mission Agency, has made a special effort stitutions had to be closed because of the restric- to reach the Maya Indians of the interior. Since tions and some began to fear that missionary 1931 twenty-nine new congregations have been work in Mexico was at an end. But as the mis- formed and in the past year one hundred and sionaries prayerfully sought God's Will for their thirty-one new preaching points were opened.
lives, the Spirit, not being limited to time-honored This Maya church now numbers more than four methods, led them into new avenues of service. thousand. The experience of some of the Indian These include personal work among the students workers, who have gone into the interior, reads in government schools, evangelism through music, like a modern version of the Acts of the Apostles.
social and personal work in rural districts, and Time and time again apparent defeat has been evangelistic work among neglected classes of so- turned into victory by the Spirit of God.
ciety. Although there were problems to be solved In Nonchurch Groups and difficult adjustments to be made, the majority of the missionaries have found real joy in their There is also evidence of the working of the new labors and, perhaps as never before, are con- Spirit of God in groups outside the church circles.
scious that God is leading them forward. A few months ago a young man from Puebla came This is equally true of the national ministers. to one of the pastors seeking advice. He was Some years ago the Methodist and Presbyterian leader of a group of young men, whom we would Churches became self-governing, self-propagating consider radicals, who were meeting each week and practically self-supporting. This great re- to study the New Testament. Another group in sponsibility, assumed voluntarily, began to deepen the city of Toluca had asked him to guide them the lives of the leaders, and the events of recent in a similar study and he had come to the pastor years have continued the process until today there for counsel. Both these groups are outside the are in the Mexican Church men of vision and con- church but they recognize a lack in their lives secration, of which any church might be proud. and are seeking Christ. A run on a book in the However, old grievances divided many ministers Evangelical bookstore revealed another class of and Christians, and hindered the working of the persons searching for Light. The continual de- Spirit. Last fall many of these old differences mand for copies of "Mas Yo Os Digo" ("But I were healed through some special meetings con- Say Unto You"), by Dr. John A. Mackay, led the ducted by Miss Martha Moennick, of Shanghai. manager to investigate, and he found that a group Practically all the Christian workers of the Fed- of Catholic women had taken this as a study book eral District met day after day to seek more from and it was leading them to the Bible. The inter- God. The Spirit of God was present, and convic- est in spiritual things of one in a still different tion of sin and failure came upon the gathering. class was brought to my attention some months III will and differences were confessed and for- ago. In Mexico City a prominent young lawyer given, and the ministers were drawn together in has on his desk continually a New Testament and a new way. This spirit has been maintained by a copy of "The Way to God," by D. L. Moody. I special meetings for prayer. One of these, at 6: 30 was in his office a few weeks ago and he said to each morning, has gone on for months for the me, "Each morning I allow no one to interrupt purpose of praying for a real revival in Mexico. me until I have spent fifteen or twenty minutes Already some remarkable answers have been seen. with these two books." This brilliant young The effect of the deepening of the spiritual life lawyer, although outside church circles, surely is of the ministers has been visible in the life of the not far from the Kingdom, and there are many church. In many churches there has been a re- other intellectuals like him. May the Spirit of emphasis on personal work and corps of workers God continue to work among such groups until hfj,ve been trained for this purpose. For instance, they accept Christ as Lord of their lives!
one cpngregation, which occupies an old Catholic There has also been a movement of the Spirit church, knew that during Holy Week numbers of among some of the classes neglected in the past.
Catholics would visit the church, not knowing that Over two years ago work was begun among the it was now occupied by Protestants. A special soldiers of the Mexican Army. The Gospel has group of workers were trained to deal with the been presented to hundreds of soldiers in the out- vil;!it9rs. With great tact they approached them posts which guard' the highways radiating from
A CHURCH "ON THE JOB" IN MEXICO
Mexico City, and, for the first time in the history One day last Mayan old, white-haired Christian of Mexico, has been preached to regiments drawn woman was in the penitentiary visiting a prisup on their own parade grounds. At the time of oner. As she passed down a corridor, she was writing (August, 1935) over twelve hundred sol- stopped by a general. After inquiring who she diers have made a public profession of faith in was, what she was there for, what the book (the Christ. That a goodly portion of these decisions Bible) under her arm was, he asked her if she are real would seem to be indicated by the sale was connected with "Los Americanos" who were of God's Word to the converts. These men, from working among the troops. Upon learning that their all too scant centavos, have bought almost she was a friend, and that she was bringing the nine hundred New Testaments and Bibles. Thus same message of salvation to this one prisoner, God is working among a class of men whom he told her he would arrange for her to visit all everyone thought would be the last to be open to the prisoners. This he did and she has found an the Gospel. unexpected spiritual hunger among these men and women. She has shown us many lists of per- Closely connected with this movement is the sons who have accepted Gospel portions and have conversion of Colonel Rodolfo Curti, whose story asked for prayer that they may find Christ. One appeared in the MISSIONARY REVIEW, November, list contained more than a hundred and twenty 1934. He is active in trying to win the higher names. military officers and politicians, and many who have had the claims of Christ presented to them Thus the Spirit of God is moving in Mexico, have accepted and promised to read copies of the bringing spiritual blessings out of tribulation. Word. Through this man, who was converted by Problems and difficulties remain which seem ina dream, God is touching men whom we could surmountable but they are not beyond the renever hope to reach otherwise. sources of God. And God is working! Will you not pray that He may continue to work until this Work has also been begun among the five thou- land, which has known only a dead, powerless sand prisoners in the penitentiary. Up to a short Christ, shall see the mighty, Resurrected Christ time ago, every effort to obtain permission to come in power. work among the prisoners had proved unavailing.
A Church "On the Job" in Mexico -~II By REV. R. C. MORROW, Zitacuaro, Mexico 11f.le-·- I N SPITE of the many obstacles and difficulties what Jesus Christ has to say about socialism, etc. confronting Evangelical missions in Mexico, We have heard of groups of young people, in no there is much to fill the missionary's heart way connected with the Evangelical Church, enwith hope and courage. One of the most helpful gaged in systematic study of the New Testament. results of the years of revolution and reconstruc- In spite of antagonism on all sides, the religious tion has been the widespread awakening of her appeal is a strong one. Mexico is seeking light. masses to ,spiritual as well as to economic and social needs. Even the so-called persecutions of the The great need of the Evangelical Church is an Church and the limitations placed upon religious increased awakening to the real attitude of the activities are serving to keep the people awake people and to the opportunities that surround her. and sensitive to religion's claims. The widespread She needs an ever-increasing number of strong, propagation of Marxism, socialism, atheism, Rus- patient, consecrated leaders to guide seekers to selism, and many other "isms," stimulates thought the truth. The National Evangelical Church is and investigation along religious lines. Mexico's awake to the need and is shouldering her responpeople are alert and ready to look into every new sibility in a commendable way. She realizes that, thought and theory presented, and to sift, as far under the present religious laws and the nationas their limited educational advantages permit, alistic tendencies of the day, the brunt of the burthe true from the false. den falls upon her. A new spirit of self-reliance and an evangelistic enthusiasm is manifest in On all sides we find the people asking what many places, from the large city churches down these discussions are all about, what the Bible to remote rural congregations. It was the writreally is, what the Evangelical Church teaches, er's privilege to spend a Sunday recently in the
large Divino Salvador Church in Mexico City, are engaged in more helpful activities, than any and he shall take that church as an example of the other organization of the church. Besides giving National Church "on the job." liberally to the support of the pastor and general expenses of the church, they are vitally interested The Sabbath school opened at ten o'clock with in several other enterprises. They have helped an attendance of 450 or more. The church bul- to found and support a Bible Training School for letin distributed at the door gave a full list of the young women which sends out a number of well- church's organizations and complete programs of trained, consecrated young women for the Mas- the day's activities. There were some twenty ter's service. They have also sent one of their . well-organized classes in the various departments. own number as a missionary to the Indians of The morning preaching service followed the Sab- Oaxaca. They publish a monthly religious paper bath school and the maj ority remained. The audi- for women, the organ of their society, which torium of the church was well filled, and while reaches Presbyterian homes in many parts of the the service lasted until one o'clock, it never lagged. Republic. Besides their general meeting each There was good music, good congregational sing- Monday afternoon, they maintain small prayer ing and a sound Evangelical sermon. A visitor circles in many parts of the parish on other week from the North once said (speaking of the pastor) days. that he had to come all the way to Mexico to This church's most unique organization is the PART OF THE MEN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY, SAN PABLO Men's Missionary Society, "San Pablo," composed of twenty-four consecrated laymen, all working "meet a genuine old-time blue-stocking Presby- men, who find time during the week and especially terian." on Sunday, to go out two and two into the high- ways and byways and organize small family The Junior Christian Endeavor Society held its groups for prayer and Bible study. This society weekly worship service in another department at meets every Monday evening for worship and the same hour as the morning service. In the study; they form their own weekly program, giv- afternoon from four till six, the Adults', Young ing much time to prayer, the study of the Bible People's and Intermediate Societies were in ses- and Westminster Shorter Catechism, and the dis- sion. The active membership of the four Chris- cussion of problems in their work for the Master. tian Endeavor Societies is about 250, and besides Some evenings the pastor or assistant pastor leads the usual activities each society has a special out- them in the discussion of how to meet incredulity, side interest at home or abroad toward which to atheism, and the many false doctrines abroad in devote its efforts and gifts. this land today, or helps them with the interpre- tation of difficult Bible passages. Thus week by For some years the Sunday evening service has week this consecrated group of business men con- been evangelistic, with an appeal, followed by an tinue to prepare better for the Master's service. invitation to all to confess their Saviour before They visit the needy districts and suburbs of the men. From week to week "the Lord has added city and work among the floating population. The unto them such as are being saved." seed is sown and sometimes takes root and springs into a permanent mission. Already the mother The, most active organization of this church is church has four active "daughters," organized its Women's Society, the ideal of which is to keep congregations with their own chapels and regular every woman of the congregation interested and worship. Some have their own pastors, while active in some service. They never resort to others are supplied by volunteer workers from church suppers, bazaars, sewing classes or any the mother church. other indirect method of raising funds. By their free will offerings they handle more funds, and The work bears testimony to the efficiency and consecration of the pastor, his officers, and assist- ants. Every organization can count on the sym- pathy, guidance and cooperation of the pastor.
There is still plenty of work for the missionary who can cooperate with the National Church, and funds are needed to help reach the great unevan- gelized areas, but the leadership in the Evangelical work and the human responsibility for its success rests upon the National Church of Mexico. We rejoice therefore when we see the Church accept- ing her responsibility and carrying on so efficient- ly in His name.
A Challenge of Students to the
By WILMINA ROWLAND Traveling Secretary, Student Volunteer Movement GENUINE missionary passion in the hearts have studied at the Sorbonne in Paris. Another of college men and women has never ceased comes from a rural background and has a prac- to exist; and many persons in touch with tical and a theoretical knowledge of agriculture.
American educational institutions are convinced All have had experience in religious and social that there is today an increasing consecration to work – preaching, church and vacation school the world mission of Jesus Christ. One of the teaching, boys' and girls' club work, summer most interesting incidents in the response of camps, work in industrial centers and hospitals, young people to the call of missions is being en- home mission work in the Tennessee Mountains acted in these very days. A group of men and and among the Indians of New Mexico. Probing women known as the Hartford Mission Fellow- into their biographies reveals a wide assortment ship is throwing out a challenge to the Church of other occupations, from bookkeeping and stethrough its deep consecration to a courageous nography to salesmanship and giving cooking plan of missionary work. Though one is im- demonstrations!
pressed with the admirable preparation of the These young people are thoroughly normal as group in terms of technical training and acquaint- is shown by the type of extracurricular activities ance with the theory of modern missions, one is in which they engaged during their college years, far more impressed with the remarkable spirit of when they ran the gamut of dramatics, music, art, the group. Raymond Lull's famous words, "I literary clubs, college publications, religious ac- have one passion, and that is Jesus Christ" is the tivities and sports. They are a well rounded group deep feeling of each member of the Fellowship. -intelligent, able, attractive – the sort one re- The Hartford Mission Fellowship came into be- joices to see planning for mission work abroad.
ing in 1934 out of the intimate friendship of the Eight of the group are now engaged in grad- Student Volunteer Group at the Hartford Sem- uate study which is planned with work in China inary Foundation. They were captured by the definitely in mind. A majority are enrolled in the vision of pioneer mission work which they might Hartford Seminary Foundation where their work carryon as a group. They conceived as an ideal includes courses in Chinese History and Culture.
that each member should be a specialist in a dif- Comparative Religion, History of Missions, Prac- ferent line so that as a unit they might be pre- tice of Missions, Missionary Character and Effi- pared for a comprehensive and well-balanced piece ciency, Methods of Education in Foreign Lands, of mission work in some neglected field. Diplomacy and Missions, Phonetics and Linguis- The group at first felt very strongly the ap- tics, Social Change and Reconstruction, Applied peal of work in Tibet regardless of the obvious Hygiene, Ethnology, as well as the social sciences, difficulties it presented. They consulted with per- religious education, and Bible.
sons experienced in mission work; and the advice The Fellowship desires to center its Christian of these friends eventually confirmed their own work in China in Rural Rehabilitation, in some increasing conviction that their best service could region in which very little is now being done, be rendered in a place more strategic from a world similar to that undertaken by the Kiangsi Chris- point of view. Accordingly they are now looking tian Rural Service Union. Such a reconstruction toward China as their field. China's great need, unit could be observed and guided by national and the influence she is having in world affairs, and missionary groups in the vicinity, thus contrib- the present decisive period in the Chinese Church uting to the continuity of the total Christian have influenced their decision. enterprise.
The Fellowship is an interesting and varied Six principles, in addition to the basic one of group. There are three men and six women at careful planning, underlie the Fellowship's prespresent in its membership. One is the son of for- eign missionaries, another a daughter of home ent conception: missionaries; one was born in Belgium and came 1. The work should be comprehensive, interto America when one year of age. Several have preting the Gospel of Christ in every realm of viI- been reared in highly privileged homes, and two lage life.
[ 583]
2. The work should be intensive, concentrating self-conscious group they met in informal conferon a small area and seeking to be permanent and ence with fifteen repr·esentatives of various thorough. boards. These men and women showed their in- terest in the project by appointing an unofficial 3. The work should be international both in committee which has since given advice and help. personnel and supervision, consciously trying to The members of the group appeared before the further the reciprocal appreciation of American Foreign Missions Conference of North America and Chinese culture as well as to express the uni- last January and an official committee representversal Fatherhood of God. The Fellowship ex- ing seven denomfuations was authorized to probe presses itself as looking forward to the time when more deeply into the proposed project and the they may join or be joined by Chinese who will problems involved, and to direct the group in share in and perhaps lead in the venture. their further work. Problems there undoubtedly are, and these YOlIng people desire the counsel of 4. The work should be interdenominational. mature leaders of missions in facing them wisely The group believes that mis,sionaries should be and realistically. They are happy that the Chidominated by their loyalty to Christ rather than nese Christian Council has expressed approval of the plans and has offered advice and counsel. MEMBERS OF THE HARTFORD MISSION FELLOWSHIP Furthermore, the North China Rural Service Union has invited the Hartford group to work to any particular denomination. Already the within its territory. Fellowship includes representatives of six groups: Presbyterian, Friends, Congregational, Mennon- What may be the future of the Hartford Misite, Methodist, and Episcopalian. sion Fellowship no one can tell. One has a feel- ing, however, that their demonstrated intelligence 5. The work should be marked by simplicity. and courage in the planning of their training and It should not be highly institutionalized or expen- in the facing of present difficulties shows a spirit sively equipped. The members are realistically that will lead them through to their goal. When planning to live very frugally, sharing as far as to these qualities is added a passionate and consepossible the daily life of the people. Their aim is crated devotion to Christ and .the will of God, one "self-help, with intimate, expert counsel." can feel confident that before many years the Hartford Mission Fellowship will be able to carry 6. The work should be done as a unit in a way out its deep desire to have a share in the spreadnot foreign to the indigenous community. The ing of that Kingdom which is a kingdom without deep devotional fellowship of the group will no frontiers. doubt make a valuable contribution to their unity on the field. MISSIONS AND COMMON SENSE While the Fellowship is now committed to these If we want to clear a field of weeds, the quickunderlying principles, it shows real statesmanship est way to do it is to start fires in many places. in refusing to be bound by any that prove to be If we want to bring the world to Christ, the quickuntenable. They have pledged themselves to be est way to do it is to begin and maintain operaguided by the critical judgment of American lead- tions to that end in as many places as possible. ers in the missionary enterprise and of leaders in the Chinese Christian Church and by what they The world will never be what it might be until learn from the further study of the history and the majority of people in a majority of countries practice of missions. accept a common standard of ideals. We believe that the Christian ideals are the noblest ever Some months after the Fellowship became a given to man.. Believing that to be true, it should be one of our greatest ambitions and joys and privileges to spread those ideals throughout the world, that they may win the countless millions of people all over the world. It seems to me that if one is truly interested in Christ and his Gos- pel, if one is truly desirous of winning the world for Christ, he must believe in missions. He cail do no other. If one is loyal to the Master and willing to obey his commandments, he can do no other. Missionary work is plain, common sense. It is practical business; it is genuine Christianity. -Rev. Granville Taylor.
Morocco: Change and
-41 By JAMES HALDANE, Ma"'gan, Mmocco 11.- A FTER twenty years development under the Such an event is not without significance for .i'. protection of France where does Morocco missionary work. Certain tribes, and districts stand today? The question has a vital such as that of Soos, have been hooped round by bearing upon Christian mIssIOnary work, for military restrictions and marked "insecure zone."
whether we treat civilization in its relation to its These districts have been closed to merchant and play upon primitive and semiprimitive people, as missionary alike but the impact of military opera- a distinct boon or of doubtful benefit we cannot tions, begun in Soos some two years ago, has escape its influence. pushed all the creaky doors open against the wall.
The difference between the old Morocco and the Traders are now busy selling their goods, build- new is as the difference between a placid pond ing contractors in some parts have their hands with scum floating upon its sur- full, and m iss ion a r y work, face, and a river rushing to- though not so conspicuous upon wards an objective. this virgin soil, has made a start.
The problem facing the Chris- We have now four workers sta- tian Church in this land is not tioned there, a mission car be- whether we should welcome or ing at their disposal for village resist these changes – since our and market work. A way has choice would not alter the fact been 0 pen e d up and if the that they are here to stay – but Church will take the opportu- it is to find out what changes in nity it may well prove to be the ourselves and methods are neces- highway of the Lord.
sary to enable us to use as an A second feature of develop- auxiliary the forces which, in the ment is the manifest desire on providence of God, are now oper- the part of many natives for ating around us. education. When the French When I arrived in Morocco authorities opened schools for more than twenty years ago and natives they had to dangle bait began to work among Moslems to attract even a few boys. The there was no possibility of get- core of every subject, said the ting a wheeled vehicle of any Moor, is in the Koran, which type to take one south; the coast contains not only the final word towns were reached by steamer, on theology but is the acme of the interior by animals. Today wisdom on every subject worthy one has a threefold choice for of man's attention.
journeying – railway, automo- A GLIMPSE OF OLD MOROCCO The few boys in each centre bile, or aeroplane. A good road who attended European schools runs all the way from Tangier to Tiznit, a small after completing their course found jobs in offices; walled town sixty miles south from Agadir. others having learned to write and count opened Some months ago, after the completion of the shops for the sale of cheap imported goods, while military operations in the extreme south of Mo- some found posts as interpreters. This meant rocco, which takes the name of Soos, the French good wages. While the full significance of this authorities planned to cut a route right through did not drop like a bolt from the blue upon the to Timbuctoo. The local papers hailed the news heads of those still clinging to the old methods, it with enthusiasm, gave long articles on the signifi- nevertheless came rapidly. It became clear that cance of such an artery, and published a map to those who were making the Koran the sole stand- visualize the vastness of the undertaking. Thou- ard of education would be left behind. In a short sands of natives are now busy working at the time the European schools became taxed to ca- scheme. Things move rapidly and soon we shall pacity, and the constant stream of applications have a route beginning at Tangier, passing on to for entrance necessitated large extensions. It Taroudant, thence to Tiznit, on to the small desert was astonishing to see old conservative Moors, town of Tindouf, to terminate at Timbuctoo. whose chief occupation since the European in- [585 ]
vasion was to gloat over the "pinnacled glory of sift the evidence on the part of the masses, and the past," cuffing their boys in the street to hand refusal to do so on the part of those who could them over to the schoolmaster. do so, has blocked our way and at times brought us to the verge of dispair. Next the unpredictable happened; schools were opened for girls and parents sent them also to be The old conservative Moors, whose education taught. Who could have envisaged twenty years consisted in memorizing the Koran, usually ago a crowd of Moorish girls romping out of a showed their resentment to our message by meet- French school with something of the same high ing it with silence. The illiterate veered to the spirits as their sisters in Europe? other extreme and checked us by vociferation. Now these classes, though not by any means ex- The time was ripe for night classes. Men in tinct, are waning and the growing generation is every town, whose school days were now past, imbibing more and more knowledge, adapting claimed the right to a higher education than had itself to European standards. The new generabeen afforded them in their youth. The authori- tion knows that neither silence nor brawls are ties began evening classes and are now making strong enough weapons to defend Islam against the penetrating inquisitiveness of the modern A STUDENT IN MOROCCO TODAY mind.
an effort to teach these men the French language. An example of the aggressiveness of the stu- Then several colleges were set up at different dent class may be seen in the following incident. centres and a large number of young Moors have I was preaching to a group of men in the street, already completed their studies and are engaged when a young man, fresh home with college in service for the government; others have been laurels, joined us. Resenting my ·efforts to win to France to receive special instruction in farm- his coreligionists to Christ he gave us a synopsis ing. of Arab history which he had unearthed from his studies. He told how their forefathers built uni- In the past we have bemoaned the fact that our versities, taught philosophy and science at a time chief obstacle to advance has been ignorance, and when Europe was in darkness, raised great this ignorance has been the more formidable in armies, organized military operations on a scale that it has been coated with a prejudice that re- that reached from Delhi to Morocco, conquered sented any poking process. calculated to rouse Spain, crossed the Pyrennes and threatened them from their age-long slumber. Inability to France with invasion.
This type of mind, which manifests intelligence even if accompanied by some show of opposition, is much more interesting and hopeful than the other class, because a combination of these two qualities is not so formidable as ignorance and prejudice. Granted adequate equipment, and workers with the proper training, the Church has now an opportunity to turn what at the mo- ment is but a perceptible straw on the stream into an aggressive advance.
Enlightenment sometimes brings its embarrass- ments as well as its benefits, but where the mis- sionary is properly trained for his work these need not hinder advance. Take the story of Mo- hammed's night journey to heaven. If we are to treat this narrative as a piece of clumsy nonsense we must prepare an intelligent reply for our op- ponents who will want to know why, while re- jecting this incident, we continue to believe in Elijah's ascension to heaven by a chariot of fire.
We cannot ~helve answers by disapproving of the questions, because the present generation will' not allow the missionary to proclaim the heart of his message until he has explained the larger cir- cumference of his theology. We must thread our way through the preliminary difficulties if the final thrust is to prevaiL A balanced appraise-
MOROCCO: CHANGE AND OPPORTUNITY
IN A PUBLIC PLAZA IN NEW MOROCCO ment of our message becomes impossible until When a lead of this kind is given by those in high there is at least the admission of it possibly be- places the crowd in lower ranks soon push mating true. Anything therefore we can do by love ters much further. Had this kind of thing been and patience to call forth such admission is the done by religious leaders when I first arrived in first important step towards our goal. Morocco the whole population would have been inflated with suspicion. Another important development of these past years is what one might call religious elasticity- Justification for this changed attitude is sought the feeling that just as civilization has compelled in calling forth fanciful interpretations from pasthem to break away from many of the customs sages in the Koran despite the fact that such inand regulations that once characterized their terpretations rob the original text of all meaning. existence, so in matters of religion there must be One could fill pages to illustrate this changed attirelaxation to meet the new conditions. No one tude towards their book, but one incident must can fail to see the incompatibility between the two suffice. systems, but many young people desirous of wriggling their way into European society have shut "You smell of wine," I said to a young Moor. their eyes and succumbed to the seduction. He admitted the indulgence. I went on to say that according to the Koran that was a luxury While the attitude of these young people may reserved for them in Paradise but forbidden on be susceptible of easy explanation, the compromise earth. "True," he replied, "but the new method is likely to have damaging effects on their future. of pruning vines, introduced by Europeans, allows The scissors which they now handle to snip off a the prohibited element in the drink to escape bebit here and a bit there of this and that prohibi- fore the grapes are formed." Surely it is not too tion, that forms a barrier in the way of their ob- much to say that when people are pushed to such jective, may yet fall into other hands that will do extremes their last stronghold is threatened. more clipping than was originally intended. The interplay of these two forces-civilization Even the most vigorous champions of Islam and Islam-is not team work tending towards harcannot altogether escape these religious compro- mony, but rather the harnessing of two forces mises, for there are state functions where they that conflict in their ideals. It may yet work out are, either by courtesy or compulsion, found be- like this: A friend of mine made a cart. With side the Christian priest. The same thing hap- the primitive tools at his disposal it cost him a pens at distinguished marriages and funerals. lot in labor. I was present when for the first time
he yoked a young bull to it. The animal sniffed, the great door, richly studded with brass nails, shuffled, pawed the ground and suddenly bolted. opened slightly and an outstretched arm placed a Bit by bit the cart went to pieces so that when the handful of barley meal in his lap. A few days bull was brought to a standstill it had nothing but later the inmates of the house heard a sound at the two shafts left dangling by its sides. If their door as if some one were dealing blows at Islam has not yet bolted with civilization there is the stone archway. On opening the door they an ominous unrest which suggests the likelihood found the old beggar trying to demolish the doorof such a happening. way with a pickaxe. To the question, What are you doing? he replied: "You don't require a door While things are in this fluid condition must of such dimensions to pass out a handful of meal. the Church stand aside and wait till they solidify I am going to demolish it and give it proportions somewhat before striking? We think not. The to harmonize with your liberality." old mold is melting, but unless the Church seizes the opportunity to give it direction and shape, it The Church of God has a great doorway studded may solidify into something more misshapen and with beautiful language about our Lord and His awkward than its original. The last state of this salvation, but so far as North Africa is concerned man may easily become worse than the first. all that has passed through it is a handful of meal. Once again we appeal to the Christians for a "Give me what belongs to God" cried a beggar larger measure of her support for the evangelizawho sat on the doorstep of a rich man's house. tion of this once Christian land. He was about to walk away in despondency when THE STEWARDSHIP OF PRAYER No more sacred trust is given to man than the personal fellowship with God the Father through prayer. Christ teaches us the stewardship of private prayer in these words: "When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to the Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall recompense thee."
Jesus says to His disciples-and to us today-there must be some place where you hold fellowship with God alone. Such a place may not be easy to find, but he that willeth to have a secret place, will find such a place. Each of us must choose that secret place where he may meet Him. From time to time the place of prayer may have to be changed, but there must be somewhere the secret spot if we are to learn of Him.
One poor woman, who lived in one room with three small children, when asked where she could find a secret place in the crowded little room, she threw her apron over her head and said: "Behind this apron is my secret place. It shuts the world out and shuts Christ and me in."
Behind our closed doors-the world shut out and the Father and His child shut in-we, too, may behold Christ and come to long for His loveliness to be manifest through our life. Here, in the pure light of the Sun of Righteousness, hidden sins are revealed, and hearts are made pure again. It is here that we hear Him speak words of encouragement to our hearts. It is here that we see His face, become conscious of His spirit, receive His power, learn His will, gain His abiding presence and thus learn to live for His glory.
Sometimes it may seem hard to enter the secret place, because we feel that we have so little to bring to Him, but it is not what we have to bring that is important but what He has to give to us and to others through us. The Father's heart is longing to give us something that can be released only in that secret place of prayer. Let us be true to our stewardship in prayer and daily enter the secret place to receive rest in Him, to behold His beauty, to hear His voice, to gain His power, and be prepared to go out and live conscious of His controlling companion- ship in all of life and its possessions.
TESTS FOR THE STEWARDSHIP OF PRAYER Do I pray in secret every day, remembering His directions about private prayer? (Mat- thew 6: 6.) When I enter the secret place, do I shut out worldly thoughts and realize God's presence only?
Do I believe that God has something to give me which can only be released in the secret place of prayer?
Has the time that I have spent in secret with Him given evidence of this belief? Do I not desire to prove a more faithful steward of prayer in the secret place?
J. W. MCCUTCHEN.
A Day With Farag Abdalla*
I-<Ell By WILLARD PRICE, Now Yo,k II~ D AWN in Egypt. The stars draw a veil over "Then let us go to the market," he said. He their faces. The swift-flowing Nile changes gathered up his books, untethered a little donkey, from black to silver. A faint hush of rose placed his books in the panniers, climbed to the in the East foretells the coming of the Egyptian saddle and set off down the winding street.
sun. There is a clear call from the minaret. The Every ten feet or so the donkey must stop.
village of Beni Mazar stirs in its sleep. Dogs Donkey-like, he was quite willing to do so, and bark, roosters crow, donkeys bray. White clouds remained as still as a graven image while his of egrets drift through the palm trees. Street master, using the saddle as a pulpit, discussed the criers begin to chant. Water carriers fill their Scriptures with fruit sellers, grocers, hardware goatskins at the river's brink. Soon the streets, merchants, postal clerks, students, peasants, camel empty a few moments ago, swarm with turbaned drivers. Now and then a well-dressed sheikh figures. On every hand is heard the salutation, would pause, listen, argue, and probably buy. On "May your day be happy!" the whole a surprising number of books were sold Where death is always standing at one's elbow, and a most lively interest displayed. The Amer- where polygamy is common, where divorce may ican bystander gained the vivid impression that be performed merely by repeating the three words, the Bible is still decidedly a living book that makes "I divorce you," where education is almost beyond itself the center of modern discussion, struggle reach, where fanaticism and fear take the place and progress. Stolid self-content is disappearing of spiritual forces, there is good reason for the in Egypt. Fanaticism is fading. Even the closed plaintive morning greeting, "May your day be Moslem mind is now flowering, reaching out for happy!" sun and air. The Christian Gospel is found to Who will make it happy? contain the answer to many searching questions Here is a man who knows. "In this little book," of the new day.
he calls to the passers-by, "is the story of Him At last, the market. What a crowd! What vocal tumult! Each vendor seemed to be trying who brings joy and peace." The speaker holds in to out-yell his neighbor. The cobblers, the iron- mongers, the bakers, the barbers, the tattooers, his hand a New Testament printed in Arabic. On the sellers of sugarcane, chickens, cheese, skins, eggs, cattle, buffaloes, sheep, flutes, pottery, medithe ground before him are spread his wares- cines, fortunes, charms for camels' necks – all proclaimed their services at the top of their lungs. Gospels, Testaments, Bibles. This picturesque How could a gentle colporteur make his message heard? character, in blue burnoose and white turban, who Into the mass Farag rode and held up a Gospel. looks as if he himself had stepped out of a Bible He did not speak-he could not have been heard. He trusted the little book to speak for itself. It story, is a colporteur of the American Bible So- did. There was a sudden hush. Immediately the Gospel had made itself the center of attention. ciety. His name is Farag Abdalla. His mission Then voices broke out again, but now they conis to help bring to the men and women of these cerned the Book.
poor villages the abundant life. "It's the 'Jesus Book'!" "Drive him out!" We found him at sunrise, already at work. We "We'll teach him to come here!" "Pull him off his donkey!" had come from Cairo-the agency secretary of No sooner said than done. Farag was dragged to the ground, mauled and punched. Gospels were the American Bible Society and the American lay- taken from the saddlebags and flung into the air. "Shall we go in to help him?" the American man who was interested to see what happens in the ordinary day's work of a colporteur in a far land. The secretary explained to Farag that we expected to follow him all day. ~ "I shall be most happy in your company," re- plied Farag, "provided I may proceed as usual.
I have much to do this day." He was assured that it was exactly the usual day's work that we wished to see and that there would be no interference with his plans.
• Reprinted from The Bible Society Record. asked.
[589 ]
"Farag is in no danger. But if foreigners be- the doorway with children clustering around, they gan mixing in there might be a real riot." listened to his story and frequently bought books.
Farag did not strike back. The injustice of the At one house a fine-looking Arab gentleman situation quickly appealed to the crowd. There opened the door. When he learned the colpor- were cries of "Let him go-never mind him." A teur's errand he was much interested. "Let us talk about it," he said, and invited Farag and his American friends to enter. Tea and cakes were served. There was a spirited and intelli- gent discussion. Then, "Permit me to bring my family together so that you may read to us all."
On an upstairs verandah of this spacious home the family assembled-three generations. To a curious Arab melody, Farag sang selec- tions from the l03d Psalm. The family, al- though not familiar with the words, joined in the chant. Then Farag read from the Gospel of St. John. Frequently he paused to make vivid comments, applying the story' to the life of modern Egypt. Even the smallest children were charmed by his personality and paid close attention. Then all stood and the Bible man led in prayer.
FARAG ABDALLA ON A TOUR The sheikh was profuse in his thanks. This was not his first contact with Christianity and powerful sheikh pushed back the tormentors, say- he had become persuaded that it was his way ing, "If you would all read that book you would of life. He now bought many books. Then he be better off." Three men picked up Farag and asked how he might establish a proper place planted him on his donkey's back. Many of the of worship in the vicinity. Farag and the Bible scattered Gospels were returned to him-but not Society's agency secretary talked with him long before they had been curiously examined. and earnestly. They had already sold books. Why did they "This is ridiculous," said one, reading the in- wait? Because these men of the Book do not scription on the title page. "It says here, limit themselves to the sale of Scriptures, however 'The Book of the New Covenant of our Lord important a service that might be. They regard and Saviour Jesus Christ.' How is He my Saviour? Can He save my arms or legs or GIVING THE GOSPEL TO A MOSLEM FAMILY anything ?"
The crowd guffawed. Then Farag began to speak. He told of the Saviour, and His love for those whom He had come to save. For half an hour he spoke while business stood still in that part of the market. More important business was in hand. When he had finished there was a demand for books. Thirty Gospels, twenty Psalms and aNew Testament were sold. Questioners would hardly let Farag go, but he finally departed, taking the good will of the crowd with him.
After a simple luncheon of sunbread and buffalo milk at the home of the Christian pastor, Farag led the way once more, this time going through the residential part of the town, visiting the homes. Because of harem custom, the women who responded to his knock did not admit him. Standing in
THE BIBLE AND SOUL WINNING
the germination of new churches as distinctly a The Copt read. The robber was interested. part of their task. Later he came in contact with evangelists and mis- sionaries and was converted. He called together Farag has started many churches during his his robber band. "I've always dealt squarely with thirty-five years of service. We journeyed on to you. Don't be afraid I'll squeal on you. But from see one of his latest achievements-a church of now on I don't know you and you don't know me." twenty-five members, about to call a pastor. In the meantime Farag preaches there. We visited He became a devoted Christian elder and helped another meeting place, not yet organized. There to build this church. also, Farag preaches. *** At the little village of Daquf, in the almost horizontal rays of the setting sun, Farag held an Night. We travelled back to Cairo. It seemed open-air service. Then he took us across the brook as if we had seen a lifetime in a day. Farag had to a small place of worship, and, laying his hand not only sold sixty Psalms, fifty Gospels, two affectionately upon the worn door, he told us the Bibles and aNew Testament – but through his story of this little church: ministration and the medium of his rich, Christian personality he had touched thousands of lives. A robber chief stole a Bible from a colporteur. Who could estimate the harvest of that one day's No Moslem could read i.t to him. Finally one said, work? And when we realize that there are around "There's a Copt who can read it." the world more than two hundred devoted colpor- teurs of the American Bible Society giving their "Here, read this," throwing it into the Copt's lives to such work, having an important share in lap. the distribution of the eleven million volumes of Scriptures annually put in circulation by the "Oh no, I can't." American Bible Society, teaching, preaching, and "Why not?" ministering as they go, we catch a vision of what "The Coptic priest would excommunicate me." is being accomplished by the men of the Book. The robber brandished his club. "Well, choose: if you read it, the priest will excommunicate you-if you don't, I'll kill you."
The Bible and Soul Winning* By the REV. WILL H. HOUGHTON, D.D., _.<tijf Chicago, Illinois President of Moody Bible Institute T HE Bible is uniquely a personal book. It before them; but when some Philippian jailer as contains governmental laws and imparts a lone soul asks, "What must I do to be saved?" principles which, properly interpreted and they have not the answer. applied, would bring right adjustments in every social relationship; but it is, after all, a book The revival in the church is always the making with· a message to individuals. Each one reading personal of the Bible message. As long as the it can say, "This means me." Bible is the private possession of the king, of the church, or of the scholar, the Book fails of its end Thousands in every generation have found com- and purpose. But, let the releasing of it come fort in the realization that, not only the Lord is and let it reach the hearts of the people, and a the great shepherd of his people, but "the Lord spiritual awakening has begun. is my shepherd." When Tyndale and his associates gave the Bible . It is this appropriation of the personal message to the people of England in their own tongue, he of the Bible that this age seems to have lost- opened the door to a spiritual awakening. The even those who are faithful in proclaiming that nave of St. Paul's Cathedral in London held the "God so loved the world, that he gave his only first five or six copies, and the multitude turned to begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him this church to hear the Word of God read. Later should not perish, but have everlasting life." the Bible was reproduced in such fashion that it The "whosoever," the universality of it, is always could enter the homes of the people; and out of an atmosphere of coldness and corruption a reli- • A message, issued under the auspices of the National Com- gious revival was born. memoration Committee, celebrating four hundred years ·or the printed English Bible.
The revival of the Puritan period was due to Scriptures. The useful servants of God in dis- this giving of the Word of God to the common tant and recent generations have been Bible-born people one by one. Many find it amusing today and Bible-bred. It may be a Wesley in his day, to ridicule the Puritans; but, as some one has said, or a Moody in his; but the operating agency is "Better the age of the Puritans than the age of the same-the Spirit of God through the Word of the impuritans." God. The Apostle James says (1: 18): "Of his Geneva has had the fortune to be the center of own will begat he us with the word of truth."
the world's interest for many reasons, but none When Charles H. Spurgeon was enlarging and more significant than its association with the remodeling his great Tabernacle in London he name of John Calvin. He was the man who helped went to the platform to test the acoustics. Think- students for the ministry .to realize the power of ing that the auditorium was empty, he lifted his the Bible in personal life. They called Calvin powerful voice and repeated John 3: 16. High up "the man of one book." Students gathered with on a bit of scaffolding was a workman just finish- him for the study of the contents of that book, ing his task. This Word of God found its place and soon the awakening came. in his heart at that moment, and he became a John Wesley found the church ignoring the born-again Christian.
Bible and he brought its power to bear on indi- The blessing of God is on his Word, according vidual lives; a revival was the result. to his own declaration to Isaiah: "For as the rain Every student of missionary history knows the cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and re- story of Madagascar. When the Christian mis- turneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and sionaries were ordered to leave, they hurriedly maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give finished the translation of the Scripture and seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall placed copies of it here and there. Later, when my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it the door of Madagascar was again open to the shall not return unto me void, but it shall accom- Gospel, it was found that the Bible had done its plish that which I please, and it shall prosper in work, and many Bible-born Christians were the thing whereto I sent it" (Isaiah 55: 10, 11).
awaiting the missionaries. Our age is not new in its needs. What other Weare fortunate in our day that the Bible is ages required, we require. What has brought made available to everyone in his own tongue. blessing to other men, will bring blessing to us.
But a Bible distributed and a Bible read may be The Holy Scriptures are still "able to make thee two different things. It is the Bible read, re- wise unto salvation through faith which is in leased, received, that operates for the salvation Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3: 15).
and sanctification of life. How can a powerless church find new power?
The ministers of today might well heed the How can a scorned church find new victory? How words of McCheyne: "It is not our comment on can the indifferent be aroused, the skeptical be the Word that saves, but the Word itself." How convinced? Where is a spiritual awakening to frequently in The Acts we read that the early be found? What will produce the faith which Christians "spoke the Word," and "went every- transforms character and gives life point, pur- where preaching the Word." Paul exhorts young pose, poise, and power? All the answers are in Timothy to "preach the Word," and reminds him the one answer: "Faith cometh by hearing, ~nd of how much this Word has meant in the lives of hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10: 17).
Timothy's mother and grandmother, as well as The Bible has always been the instrument for in his own life. soul winning, whether in the period of revival or In the eighth chapter of The Acts, one person, in the gleaning of quieter periods. God has used Phillip, brought the sacred Scriptures to bear his Word and He will use his Word.
upon the life of another individual, the Ethiopian, in such a way that the Ethiopian was brought to "God is love." This is :the last revelation of His the knowledge of the Divine Lord and Saviour- character. Long before, in His Word, He had Jesus Christ. This is the method and means of been presented as Righteousness, Fountain of revival that we call evangelism. Life and Light, the Holy One. But it is given to The Word of God is "quick and powerful" says John, at last, to give this new name, and :to de- the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews. The clare not that He is lovely or loving, but is love- word "quick" is old English for alive. The the incarnation of unselfish benevolence. Weare Apostle Peter calls it the "living Word." It pos- therefore dealing with One who is too wise to err sesses life, and also imparts its life, for in the in judgment, and too good to err through malice.
same letter (1 Peter 1: 23), he says that we are In His hands we may safely trust ourselves, wel- born again by this Word. coming His discipline and confident that in doing Church history is the corroboration of the fact as He pleases, He will please to do only what is that men may be born from above through the the very best. ARTHUR T. PIERSON.
You Think of Africa*
By REV. EMORY ROSS, New York -<t£f Formerly a Missionary of the Disciples of Christ in Belgian Congo W HEN you think of Africa, of what do you and early evening if it were not for canned goods think? quickly served to a more or less starving family Swamps, deserts, rivers? on her late return?
Rift valley, and Mountains of the Moon? And canned food needs cans, and cans are made Elephants, rhinos and hippos? of tin and to make tin a good hot yellow bath of Dugout-log canoes, pigmies and poisoned ar- palm oil is required, and Africa every year ships rows? thousands of tons of palm oil in United States Baboon, gorillas-and Congorilla? Shipping Board bottoms to the tin-plate mills of Trader Horn, Tarzan, Schweitzer and Living- Pittsburgh and Sparrow's Point.
stone? / Sixty-five per cent of your breakfast cup of Darkness, adventure, disease, mystery? cocoa comes from one British African colony, the Superstition, cannibals and sudden death? Gold Coast. When you "pound the ivories" you All of these and many other things may be are touching Africa, The world's largest supply thought of quite conectly in connection with of gold also comes from Africa.
Africa, but let me ask you this: And to cap it all for the future, Congo, Belgium's Did you ever think of Africa, distant Africa, African jewel, possesses some 22% of the total remote and "darkest" Africa, to reutter the old potential waterpower of the world' (American In- phrase, as being so closely tied in with American stitute of Electrical Engineers' figures) in that life, that our life would be quite something very rushing torrent of the lower Congo, where 1,250,- different were it not for Africa. 000 cu. ft. of water a second falls 800 feet over a The brilliant electric lights we owe partially, series of seven rapids in the last 250 miles of the and will owe in increasing measure in the future, Congo River.
to Africa-for Africa has the largest and richest But America's closest and most intimate tie copper deposits jn the world, and every year in~ with Africa is in the persons of more than 12,- creases her dominance in copper wire production 000,000 of our fellow-citizens direct descendants and the general copper markets of the world. of that mighty continent. Our fruitful relation- If your wife requires a luminous-dial clock in ship with them has profomidly affected United order to feed the baby promptly at 2 a. m., or a States' politics, society, economics, music, art, re- member of your family needs treatment for a ligion. And it is destined to continue profoundly malignant growth, you are immediately dependent to influence our whole future state.
on Africa-for Congo produces most of the radium Africa was the dark continent.
of the world. Young couples also turn to Africa Africa today positively glistens.
to get conventionally engaged-for Africa fur- It glistens with the diamonds, the radium, the nishes most of the world's solitaire diamonds. copper, gold and electricity which we have men- We could not assemble in conferences by bus tioned.
and automobile, were it not for Africa. For Con- But most of all does it glisten with the faces, go produces nearly all the cobalt of the world, and the eyes uplifted, the souls of 140,000,000 of the without cobalt pres,ent-day high-speed tool steel earth's emergent peoples, sturdy stock from which would not exist, and without high-speed tool steel our Negro fellow citizens have grown. From the the modern mass-production automobile, or mass- forests, the rivers, the swamps, the elephant grass, production anything, would not be. from the coastal plains and the inland uplands From what one hears, even women's clubs and they rise. They' catch the glow of a new dawn.
feminine bridge drives might not flourish as they The dawn of what? The answer is not yet do in these fair United States, were it not for sure. But whatever it is to be, you are bound to Africa. For how could mother play all afternoon help frame it. The United States may seem a good- ly distance off from Africa. Actually, in many Ch•icAagno,aMddaryes2s-5g,iv1e9n35a. t the Younger Men's Missionary Congress, ways we are with Africa as closely II'nked and as [593 ]
interdependent as our individual states are one tions with Christian whites, and its body social with another. is even yet pierced and raw. The worst war Africa has ever experienced was the gift of Chris- Twenty-three years ago I left Central Illinois tian civilization. for the first time for Africa. For months I packed and planned and girded for the journey. I bade Africa is suffering rudest shock. Consider what my parents, my fiancee and my friends good-bye is happening in Congo, typical of Negro Africa. with utter finality. Anything might happen on so long and hazardous a journey! No generation until our own knew Congo. It was the last great sweep of populated country to Last year I had occasion to go back to Africa on move from the obscurity of the unknown on to a sort of quick commuting trip. I bought a sec- the widening stage of the world's knowledge; to ond-hand Chevrolet in Cleveland, hooked on an be discovered, uncovered, opened. The year that Ohio license plate, rolled across to Central Illinois, happened was 1877. threw some clothes and correspondence in the back of the car, told my wife and children good- In the fifty-eight years since then the whole bye with a deal of funning in the front yard while impact of the world's most complex and speedy my brother-in-law made a movie of the scene, and civilization has hit one of the world's lowest and headed for US 40 to drive to Africa-and did it, most leisurely. Twelve million human beings are except for the ferry trip from New York to the right at the point of the blow. Biff! And untold mouth of the Congo. In Africa I drove 7,000 miles generations of accumulated sanctions and social in three and one-half months, sold the car for ties are shattered. An old life is being ground to more than rd paid for it in Cleveland, and ferried bits. First-generation sons whose fathers had back to New York. never seen a wheel are today driving all the loco- motives in Congo, assembling Fords and Citroens, Africa Has Changed running delicate cotton looms, operating Bucyrus steam shovels, building passenger airplanes. Sons Africa has changed, and is changing, just like of witch doctors sit with trained and knowing that. And it is doing it in a single long genera- eye looking in high-power microscopes and pick tion. A century ago it was all but unknown. Fifty trypanosomes, the organism of African sleeping years ago it was the territorial grab-bag of Eu- sickness, out of blood smears. Sons of cannibals rope. Thirty years ago it became the political preach-and live-the teachings of Jesus Christ. manreuvres ground. Cabinets, navies and armies were constantly in it, on it or about it. In this veritable welter of change, the Church of Christ has two supreme opportunities challenging Out of it they converged head-on upon what the it in Negro Africa: world will doubtless hereafter ever know as the Western Front, that ghastly gash which engulfed To replace the world's lowest religion, or one a world and nearly a civilization. of them, animism, with the world's highest, Chris- tianity, in a space to be measured by years, not Against all volitions of its own, Africa became generations; a major cause of the World War, a recruiting base for volunteer armies, a battle-ground, a vast sup- And, second, to so present Christ to Negro plier of the sinews of war, and a mandate-coated Africa that He may become there, possibly for spoils for the victors. It remains the greatest ex- the first time in history, a complete way of life ploitable area of the world, therefore the possible for a whole people. occasion of another war. To take this latter first: animistic Africa is We have thought of Africa as a cruel and piti- prepared for such a whole-life Christianity. less land, torn and bleeding from fierce inter- Animism does now control in just such fashion. tribal wars, and we have boasted of the "peace" Every phase and activity of life is conditioned by the white man brought it. God help us! animism. No department of life is too intimate, too ramified, too trival for it to enter and conduct. Africa never knew war, real, dirty, bloody war, until we began to show it her in 1914. I was in Nothing is outside religion. Their religion is a Liberia when the war broke out, and heard of it complete way-for a complete life, with almost no a week later from the lips of a Liberian native. I variables permitted. They would almost certainly was deep in Congo when it ended, and heard of make of Christianity, themselves, just such a that ten days later from the crew of a passing whole-life religion. little palm-oil steamer. But-will our Western, compartmentalized con~ In the years between, the white world had done ception and practice of Christianity permit this? things to relatively peaceful Africa whose damage It has not, so far, but in rare and incomplete inonly future generations can accurately measure. stances. In this a great, a really great, and pos- Pagan Africa had been forced into bayonet rela- sibly unique, opportunity lies at the hands of the younger laymen and ministry of the church.
WHEN YOU THINK OF AFRICA
The other challenge this very night of Negro day along twisting paths to low-wing monoplanes.
Africa is to replace the low-scale religion, anim- They drop their short-handled hoes for the wheel ism, by the world's highest, Christianity, in a of a long-coupled Caterpillar to plow their erst- measurable period of time. This can be done. while land.
Every swift new factor in African life is tending Never having seen a written word or a printed to break down animism. For countless thousands page before this generation, they have "Punch"
it is already gone. For other millions it is on its and the Bible and L'Illustration from Paris of- way out. fered for their purchase. They find themselves But the African remains a religion-thirsting jumped from fetishes and knuckle-bones and soul. With all his nature he craves something bet- witch doctors to microscopes and centrifuges and ter to replace the blank fearfulness of repres- African M.D.s.
sive animism. That's why the largest Presbyterian There are almost no intermediates in all this.
church in the world has grown up in this last gen- There is no ascending ladder from the 2-inch soft- eration in Cameroun, and why the Disciples of iron axe head insecurely stuck into the terminal Christ have their largest church in Congo. knot of a short club, to the motor-driven band A religion of deadly fear confronted by a re- saw, the 2,000 r. p. m. planer and the drum sander. ligion of godly love has no real chance whatever The same chap who in boyhood learned the use for survival. Nor will it survive if this Congress of the axe as the only tool anywhere then availand this generation of our Church puts its hand able to him for making rough necessities from collectively upon this second of the two present wood, now in young manhood skilfully moves among the whirring belts and meshing gears of great opportunities in Negro Africa. the machines and turns out satin-finished bed- In past history a people's life has been a thing room suites and ebony chess tables inlaid with slow to change. The movement, whether forward ivory or anything else which you'd wish to deor backward, has been all but imperceptible to a scribe or blueprint. living eye. It has required the successive lifetimes of several observers to measure the change, even But more staggering still is what is going on in sometimes to tell its direction. the life of the people. Guy ropes have been cut and even the flimsy shelters thrown up by primi- The Impact of Civilization tive life as a protection, and a defense against the disintegration of the group, are threatened and No such orderly advance has been allowed some of them already down in the mighty gusts of Africa. In this respect it came at a bad moment foreign penetration. Harbor moorings have partupon the world scene: just when machines were ed and the little barks of African life are far beginning to demand gorgings of raw material, out on, to them, chartless seas in the trade winds which Africa has, and when populations were be- of the West. African life is adrift. Old tribal ginning to search for spill-over territories, which sanctions and restraints have broken down com- Africa has. pletely in the lives of many and partially in the These two conditions combined with incohesive lives of nearly all. There is less and less that is Africa's heli)iessness to seal her fate. The normal firm and solid in the old life for this generation developments of a thousand years were for her to tie to·. largely to be rammed-jammed into fifty. The French and Belgians call these people de- The western world found Africa desirable, pro- racines, the uprooted, the unrooted, the rootless.
nounced her necessary and proceeded to take her Taken literally, that is too strong a term. There in a way no continent had ever been taken and to are still roots, of course. But as a figure it is apt, force her people's culture in a way no great hu- true.
man mass had ever been dealt with. Almost every element of African life is being The Dark Continent and the millions of its peo- isolated and tested. Keen young Africans are in ples, among the most primitive left, are having the vanguard of those whose slogans are, Whence?
nearly all natural growth roots trimmed and most and How? and Whither?
of the familiar soil removed, and, with some hast- One hundred forty million people are on trek, ily-grafted roots, are being transplanted, or, more emerging from the unknown, moving into the un- accurately, replanted on the spot, in the foreign- explored. In an unusual sense a whole people earthed forcing beds of a civilization hundreds of seeks a Way, a Guide, and a Life now and ever- years older and hundreds of times faster than lasting.
their own, and altogether different. "And this-and this-is life eternal, that they From dugout-log canoes Africans step to the should know Thee, the only true God, and Him decks of 1,000-ton steamboats; from 15-miles-per- whom Thou didst send, even Jesus Christ."
Books for Africa*
By MARGARET WRONG Secretary, International Committee on Christian Literature for Africa I N AFRICAN villages when dusk has fallen and could let him have more books, because in his the village fires make points of light in the mind books were inseparably associated with mis- darkness, the old grannies sit beside them and sions. tell stories to the children. African leaders are asking for books and pic- In Central and South Africa until the white tures for educational purposes. An experienced man came there were no books written in the African teacher asked for a book for the women eight hundred to nine hundred languages spoken "which will teach them all they should know about by the many peoples and tribes. Today the the care of children, the care of the house, and African, as well as the white man, is asking that the growing of food."
books should be created. The number of literate people, who will read Missionaries are the pioneers in the making of what they can, be it good or bad, is increasing, books, for they were determined that everyone and the responsibility of the missions to provide should have the Bible in the mother tongue. The good material in school and circulating libraries result is that the Bible has been translated in must be faced, unless it is to be said that Chris- whole or in part into 239 African languages, and tians have taught the people to read but left it to each year the Bible societies bring out some new non-Christians to supply the literature.
versions. Missionaries started schools to teach A major problem of supplying literatUre is the people to read the Bible, and these schools have number of languages. On a day's march of fif- grown and developed until today they include both teen miles in Liberia I have passed from one lan- elementary and higher education. From them guage area to another so that our carriers greeted have gone out Africans who are leaders among the people of the village where we halted at night their people. Even today, when governments are in English, because they could not speak the tribal starting schools, ninety-two per cent of the educa- languages.
tional work for Africans in Africa is in the hands When agreement is reached. as to which lan- of the Christian missions. With the spread of guage is to be used, authors and translators, both literacy comes both the desire to read and the pos- African and European, have to be found. Books sibility of spreading knowledge through books- already written in some vernaculars need to be books about Christianity, books for schools, books retranslated into other vernaculars, and many new for general reading. Missions have spread lit- books are needed.
eracy and provided the first books; they are now Suitable material is not now in existence, for faced with the task of creating a literature for .the background of books in European languages the continent. is foreign to the African. Some time ago I lis- Books are closely associated in the mind of the tened in a Gold Coast school to a small boy spell- people with Christianity. One late afternoon in ing out in English the story of a hansom cab lost Angola we were delayed by a puncture on a lonely in a London fog! What was a hansom cab?
road. No village was in sight. But in a few min- What was a horse? He did not know. On the utes the usual crowd appeared and watched the other hand, a reading lesson about the seashore proceedings with interest. We heard a familiar or the cussedness of the elderly goat at the school hymn tune. One of our party hummed the same door would have related his study of English to tune, whereupon a tall lad turned on his heel and the life he knew.
disappeared round a bend of the road, to come An effort is being made to get schoolbooks in back with a hymn book of an American mission English which deal with the life and interests of whose central station was over a hundred miles the people, and are illustrated with drawings of away. He had tested us with the hymn tune to Africa. A series of readers, published for Li- see if we were missionaries. Having decided that beria (African Life Readers, New York, Ginn) we were he produced the book and asked if we have proved of use in many parts of Africa.
• Condensed from The Spirit of Mil/sions, New York. Whatever language is used, it is important that [596 ] books for schools should be related to the life and as a subcommittee of the International Missioninterests of the people. ary Council. Between twenty and thirty Amer- ican and British societies, the Bible society, and Another problem to be faced is that of distribu- religious publishing houses are cooperating in its tion. Roads, waterways, railways, and the air support. Continental Protestant societies are also are opening Africa to the outside world and mak- sympathetic and all Church of England missions ing travel from one part to another possible. Men working in Africa are cooperating actively. of many tribes come from the far interior to the coast with produce and return with merchandise. There is also need of simple periodical litera- They camp in villages by the roadside. News is ture, and through a grant from the American passed from one to another and carried far afield. Committee on Christian Literature for Women Those who can read will read aloud around the and Children in Mission Fields, it has been posevening fires. Books and leaflets for them which sible to publish a little magazine, Listen, intended deal with vital matters are of increasing interest for school and village people. Listen is used in for, as literacy spreads, literature will penetrate English and in vernacular. Plans are on foot for through such travelers to places where mission- the development of similar periodicals in other aries have never been. There is no more adven- languages. turous and fascinating opportunity today than to discover how these highways of trade and com- Several needed books have been written at the merce in Africa can be made highways for the instigation of the committee. It has also been spread of Christianity through the distribution possible to arrange for the publication of picture of Christian literature. c.harts of village life for the teaching of reading, which were prepared for one station of an Amer- It is evident that literature cannot be developed ican mission in the Congo. These are now availsatisfactorily by each mission independently, and able for the whole of Africa. Missionaries have also that much work has been done in different awakened a desire for books, and are now faced missions which will be of use to others. The need with the great opportunity offered by that awakfor literature is great. The International Commit- ening through the length and breadth of Africa. tee on Christian Literature for Africa was founded This desire should be satisfied with good books.
REASONS FOR JAPANESE-AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP After his latest visit to the Orient, John R. Mott summed up his reasons for confidence in the continued friendly relations between Japan and the United States: 1. Basically our economic interests will continue to be best furthered by a policy of peace, goodwill and cooperation.
2. The great majority of the people who make up the real body and life of our nations desire nothing but friendly relations.
3. In the cultural realm, and in present-day intellectual cooperation, our friendship and collaboration repose on solid foundations.
4. There are twenty influential voices and pens today speaking and writing for right international relations, where there was one forty years ago.
5. The two nations are coming to understand each other better. The real America and the real Japan are peace-making, and their influence is destined to become greater.
6. Personal contacts between our peoples continue greatly to multiply, and the network of personal friendship is strengthening from year to year.
7. The fact that so many discerning and unselfish leaders of our countries are keenly aware of the dangers and perils which beset present-day international relations in general, and our nations in particular, and are determined to avert or overcome them, is in itself most reassuring.
8. The fact that the world in recent years has been so busy in building up the structure of larger and more profound international understanding and cooperation, and the further fact of the tremendous growth of peace sentiment, agencies and programs within the last few years, is unmistakably making for greater amity and for more fruitful efforts to eliminate causes of distrust and ill-will.
9. It is of the greatest significance that the Christian forces of our two countries are positively and aggressively doing so much to foster understanding, fellowship and united action.
10. It would be difficult to exaggerate the steadying and anchoring influence of the first treaty between Japan and the United States. The language of that historic instrument has never been surpassed as the expression of the finer feelings and deeper convictions of our people, namely, to maintain "perfect, permanent and universal peace, and a sincere and cordial amity between the United States of America on the one part, and the Empire of Japan on the other part, and between their people respectively, without exception of persons or places."
-Federal Council Bulletin. Effective Ways of Working 'Tested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MRS. ESTELLA S. AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO ON EARTH, PEACE Attention is called to The Fel- (Quoted from a panel discus- lowship of Reconciliation which sion for the Disciples young peo- How shall we plan to celebrate is one of the most active peace pIe.) Two of the publications Christmas – with the rustle of agencies in our country. Have recommended for this program tissue paper, glittering tinsel, you sent for any of their leaflets? are "The Turn Toward Peace," greeting cards that run the Address them in New York City. by Boeckel (60 cents) and "Men gamut of every emotion but Conquer Guns," by Van Kirk Christian joy, an orgy of recip- How Best .Link Up Peace (20 cents), which may be orrocal gift-giving, or with the dered through your own literaspiritual emphasis befitting the With Christmas? ture headquarters or from The meaning of the day? Gift-giv- United Christian Missionary Soing, motivated by love held in Start a campaign of peace ciety, Missions Building, Indianproper proportion, is a meaning- education. A warless world apolis, Ind. The pastor and layful expression of Christmas must be born of mental disarma- men may use the material as sentiment. But is it not high ment. The young folks are ready well as young people. time that church folk redeem the for it. Their especial study celebration of Christ's birth book, "Christian Youth Building Post a list of the best peace from its overstress of mere aNew World" is full of it, par- publications on your church bulgaiety and commercialism? In ticularly Chapter IV. youth letin board or in some equally home, pulpit services and the wants no war in its "new world" prominent place and call attenprograms of the various mis- now building. Start the study, tion to the matter in various sionary organizations worship or at least feature the subject services. Among these may be may well be the keynote: but matter in December meetings mentioned: even then let us be watchful lest and programs. the spirit of Christmas evap- "Is War the Way?" by John Leslie orate in sentiment as we linger Line up with The Christian Lobinger (Pilgrim Press, 35 cents). too long in Bethlehem for the Youth Movement or The United best interests of Ethiopia, India, Youth Program which is "A pro- "Merchants of Death," by H. C. Africa, Russia and all the dark gram for Christian youth shared Engelbrecht and F. C. Hanighen places· of the homeland where by many agencies working with (Dodd, Mead & Co., $2.50). the yuletide evangel needs to be young people, such as the Intertranslated into action. national Society of Christian "National Defense," by Kirby Page Endeavor, the Missionary Edu- (Farrar & Rinehart, $2.00). All goodwill projects may ap- cation Movement, student move- ments and different church "Power of Non-Violence," by Richpropriately be stressed in De- groups, all cooperating through ard B. Gregg (J. B. Lippincott & Co., cember, for the lack of goodwill the International Council of $2.50) . is at the root of every horrid evil Christian Education. The proafflicting the world today. To gram seeks to stimulate and "Religion Renounces War," by this end many churches are guide Christian youth and in- Walter W. Van Kirk (Willett, Clark shaping up their programs for deed all youth in a serious at- & Co., $2.50). the month toward peace projects tempt at practicing Christian and demonstrations: and what ideals, teachings and principles "The Jew and the World Ferment," more appropriate celebration of in all areas of their everyday by Basil Mathews (one of the new the birthday of the Prince of life and to stir them to build a study books available at all denom- Peace could we have in our war- world society which will em- linationaI headquarters at $1.50 in smitten world, particularly in body these ideals, teachings and cloth and 75 cents in paper). view of the rather general plan principles. It is, therefore, esto enlist young people in definite sentially missionary." No reor- This last volume does not deal study and projects for world- ganization is necessary, as the directly with war but rather the wide peace beginning in Jan- program is an emphasis, an aim, fundamental of a better under- a plan for existing organizations. standing between Jews and uary? Christians, which understanding [598 ] is the common need among the nations.
Ask your pastor to preach the best sermon he can linking up Christmastide with peace edu- cation and action. What minis-
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
ter, familiar with the spirit of pr.oject. "One g~.oUP of young Guide a weekly discussion at your dinner table on some international Christ, can refuse? Shape up pe.ople," says Laura E. Aspin- current event. the various missi.onary programs wall in a leaflet of the United Christian Mh;sionary Society, Write to Washington when interfor December toward working "has altered an attitude toward national questions arise. Let them for w.orld peace, and if possible, know you stand for international co- present a peace pageant as y.our war through.out a wh.ole state. operation. Address the President and main Christmas pr.ogram. Here Ab.out tW.o d.ozen young students also your senators. Dr. Mary E. Wooley, our former are some of the materials avail- studied the causes of war and representative at Geneva, as quoted able, alth.ough many equally ways to peace. They prepared in THE REVIEW last January (p. 37), W.orthy have not been brought to speeches .on this subject and asks us to assure the President of our the Department Editor's atten- S.ought engagements to speak in active, personal support of a prac- tical, permanent peace program, and ti.on: L. Glover high schools, clubs and churches further, not to hide our light under a throughout the state . . . con- bushel as far as our senators and "Four Peace Plays," Desee (Abingdon Press, 156 Fifth ducting open forums and help- representatives are concerned, nor yet Ave., N. Y. City, 35 cents). ing many pe.ople understand the to join a "deafeatist group."
"Mother Earth and Her Children," futility .of war. These y.oung Other practical plans for acti- Barbara Abel (Woman's Press, 600 vating the angels' message on Lexington Ave., N. Y. City, 30 cents). pe.ople believed that their state the first Christmas m.orning may university .ought not t.o compel gr.ow out of y.our December ac- "Times Have Changed," F. B. y.oung men t.o take military Boeckel (National Council for Prevention of War, 532 17th St., N. W., training. They saw t.o it that pressure was br.ought to bear tivities this. year. Meanwhile Washington, D. C., 15 cents).
"The Pageant of Brotherhood," upon the administration of that are you asking, "What has all Anita B. Ferris (Representation of this to d.o with missions ?" interdependence of nations and work- university through letters from Everything. N.ot .only was the ers. 100 young people and children. birth .of Him who gave the Great llA, hours. Missionary Education educat.ors, ministers and .other Commission heralded by a proc- Movement, 150 Fifth Ave., N. Y. City, leaders in the state expressing their disappr.oval .of military 35 cents). training and particularly .of its lamati.on of Peace and Goodwill, "The Way of Peace," L. S. Copen- compuls.ory features. In that but He was the first great leader haver and others (Large number of university now students may wh.o dared envision a warless characters, 1% hours. Woman's Missionary Society, United Lutheran substitute a difficult course in W.orld attuned to br.otherhood. Church, 723 M'uhlenburg Bldg., Phil- peace education for the old Strife am.ong individuals, naadelphia, Pa., 25 cents). goose-stepping; and young peo- ti.ons, races, is rooted in ill will "The Conquest of Peace," by Annie ple themselves, by vision and and f.orms the greatest obstacle Hobbs Woodstock – an elaborate and hard work, have brought ab.out very impressive pageant dealing with this change." to the activation of the Commiswar and peace from the angles of His- si.on. N.o br.otherhood can exist tory, Scripture, Reason, Education, Lora Blount C.onn.or, in an- where the will t.o war dwells.
Industry, Finance, Science, Music, .other leaflet of this S.ociety, asks Our foreign missi.onaries' hands Poetry, Art, Youth, various racial whether. women can aid world are tied by the scheming, greedy, groups, boy and girl scouts, campfire peace and suggests the f.oll.owing crafty, avarici.ous, antag.onistic girls, blue bird groups, Sunday school practical ways for prom.oting it: and junior missionary organization, a attitudes of the nati.ons to which "World Spirit" and "World Peace." Study through a peace class or a they bel.ong and among which Marathon Round Table, the subject of they lab.or. Racial antagonisms, Of a: dignified and inspirational char- world peace, the League of Nations, even .on the h.ome field, are but World Court, Kellogg-Briand Peace war in miniature. Make Christacter suitable for a major church serv- Pact, international relations, histor- mas a Peace Celebrati.on. ice. Action not difficult. (Woman's ical backgrounds, etc. Home Missionary Society, 420 Plum Other Christmas Plans St., Cincinnati, Ohio, 15 cents.) Talk, after being adequately in- formed. "A Japanese Madonna" is a simpler Christmas-peace pageant of the same publishing house, priced at 5 cents.
"Education for Peace," by W. B. Choose some person to keep your Atmosphere for any program: Curry, and "War-Put Up Thy group abreast of developments. Have the person who reads Isa. Sword" are informational leaflets of Attend your local council on Inter- 9: 1-7 dressed as a pr.ophet and the same organization and priced at national Relations. 2 and 3 cents respectively. Urge your minister to preach on the read from a scr.oll. Mary, im- A "World Peace Worship Service" subject. personated in c.ostume, recites by Coy (not dramatic but devotional) Luke 1: 46-55. Have a "shep- Promote public displays of posters may be had from The Baptist Board and literature on world peace. Free herd" recite Luke 2: 8-20, and a of Education, 152 Madison Ave., N. Y. literature can be kept on a table at "wise man" give Mat. '2: 1-11, City, at 5 cents. the rear of the church. A vacant store window can bear this poster: "War in appropriate costume. Use After informing y.ourself thor- helped make this place vacant. Two- starshades .on y.our lights. C.over thirds of all our taxes go for war. .oughly, try to think your way Reduce armaments and save money. the principal light with a b.oX thr.ough to a decision as t.o the Peace pays." stand y.oU would take in a war out .of wh.ose sides is cut a star crisis – for it will be too late Solicit your local editors for edishould the crisis arise. Then en- torials against war. .outline, a covering .of silver list in some W.orthy anti-war paper f.or the box adding artis- Never say "The next war." Public try. (Suggesti.ons taken fr.om opinion can block it. The Window .of Y. W. A.)
A children's meeting: Using matic exercises and pageants, 4. What are we going tQ do the topic, "Around the World at with ample data as to their sub- about it? List projects adapted Christmastide," have costumed ject matter, etc. These are to location. adapted f'Or churches, schools field representatives of any num- and clubs. If given earnestly Under "Some Things Any ber of mission fields-hQme and and with a purpose, truth in the Group Can Do" are: Make a foreign – carry in 'One hand a dramatic form is powerful. friendly approach to minority racial or religious groups, study- Bible and in the other a small Side-Stepping the Race ing conditi'Ons and moving with Christmas tree with unlighted Question tact and care. Visit and report candles, as they take their parts. on the underprivileged and dis- A globe of the world resting on Among plans fQr young peo- possessed by the various govern- ple's work among the Disciples mental and charitable agencies a pedestal in the middle of the of Christ there is an outline for in your community. Find what a "Let-Us-Find-the-Truth Peri- the police court is like, what stage, Christmas trees in the od" – one 'Of many current at- happens when the under-privifour corners and the flags of all tempts to debunk church thought leged fall into the hands of the the nations impersonated (sus- and observances. Five questions police, at the family welfare sopended frQm the ceiling) form are asked as a basis for consider- ciety, the juvenile detention atiQn and research, after which home, the dQmestic relations the setting. A chorus is seated there are to be reports, discus- CQurt. What opportunities are in front. The Spirit of Christ- sions and an attempt to "follow offered to minority groups in the these trails as we daily put our matter of work, advancement, mas reads Mat. 2: 1-14, intro- lives into action" : etc.? What about housing, recduces herself and her mission reation, public utilities, sanitaand mentiQns the lack of Christ- 1. How does my church treat tion and health of the minority the Negro? Many Scripture ref- groups, comparing the conditions mas joy in many. parts of the erences furnish the starting of the poorest group with those world. The chorus sings softly, point to determine Bible teach- of the wealthy, the middle class "Silent Night." Each represent- ing as to human, nQt race, rela- and the poorer native white pop- tionship; Jesus' belief in such ulatiQn? Find what happens to ative then steps forward in turn teachings, likewise Paul's. Then a Negro lad who lands in the and gives her message 'Of joy and comes the query: Would this town a stranger, as to lodging, church in which we are meeting meals, community privileges and need, in a few sentences, the fellowship a Negro group? A protection. What are religious chorus singing appropriately Jewish? A foreign? How often 'Organizations of minority groups in the past year has its pulpit like as to leadership, churches, from time tQ time. The speakers stressed racial brotherhood? Did meeting needs 'Of young people, then form a circle around the the church observe Race Rela- etc. ? globe, the Spirit 'Of Christmas tions Sunday? If not, why? Is the church side-stepping the race Pioneer Program Accessories handing a lighted candle to the issue by maintaining a longfirst speaker (America), who range brQtherh'Ood program? Current church missi'Onary Does it send money to convert helps are replete with suggeslights all the candles on all the black men in Africa while it re- tions for handling the home mistiny trees, repeating "Jesus said, fuses black men here the right sion topic, especially 'On the key- I am the Light of the WQrld," fellowship? A Negro friend note of pioneering. For banquet could not accompany the writer favors, covered wagons made 'Of etc. Chorus sings, "The Whole into this church. How does this safety match boxes turned up- square with the teachings of side down with curved tops of Wide World for Jesus." Amer- Jesus? heavy brown paper are sugica clQses by saying that as the gested. Wheels may be made of 2. How does my city treat the cardboard with rims, spokes and light of Christmas now shines all Negro? Its policy regarding hubs crayoned in red and fast- hospitalization, hot e I service, ened with pins run through their around the world, let Christians labor, etc.? Uncle Sam, the hubs and then into the box. Inof every land do their best to tell greatest employer of Negro la- serted in the IQwer front edge of bor at our capital, follows a seg- this wagon is a tongue three 'Others in the far-off, untouched regation policy. inches long and half an inch corners of those lands. (From wide, also cut from brown paper. World Comrades.) 3. How do I treat the Negro, A unique feature would be tiny the Jew, the foreigner? Is there colonial bouquets wrapped in Plays and pageants: Write to in my life a difference between lace paper doilies, the flowers to my religion and my organized be made of gumdrops enclosed yQur own denominational head- expression of that religion? If in paraffine paper. A tin foil so am I not what Jesus called a quarters for Christmas dramatic hypocrite? material. The 'Only new plays which have been sent for review in this Df)partment are "The Gold-Diggers' Christmas Club"
(three scenes, suitable for a group of 'teen age girls) and "The Radio Speaks" (a fifteen- minute exercise for five or six women ·and an indefinite number of younger people off stage to represent the broadcasts), price 5 cents each, at Woman's M. E. Home Missionary Headquarters as listed previously. In addi- tion, The Woman's Press, 600 Lexington Ave., N. Y. City, has a free catalQg listing many dra-
stem and a gay gauze bow com- knowing very little about the familiar. (3) Determine careplete an attractive corsage or plans and hopes of the Kingdom fully where to go. Try to deterboutonniere. The caterers may enterprises yet being quick to mine where Jesus would go if he add to the atmosphere by serv- criticize all who are working were in your circumstances. ing corn bread, apple sauce, and to see the places where they Special times such as birthdays, hominy, doughnuts, pumpkin pie make mistakes without knowing anniversaries, times of success and the like. The little Perry or trying to know how to do any and sorrow alike may be capitalpicture entitled "Pilgrims Going better. Luke warm-people be- ized. Look out for all new peoto Church" (a penny each) coming enthusiastic so that when ple moving into the community. would make good place cards. stirred by some sudden interest Respond to special needs. (4) These suggestions are taken they will make an offering but How shall we go? As helpers. from a program entitled "Arts otherwise forget it; attending Go with happiness and joy. Enand Crafts," by the Baptist pro- meetings of a missionary organ- courage and sympathize in a way gram builders. ization when especially attracted to cheer instead of making peo- only; praying as a mere matter ple feel sorry for themselves. Increasing Temperatures of form, etc. Warm-giving in Carry Gospel tracts and be fa- small proportion to total posses- miliar with their contents so as World Comrades, a young peo- sions and praying at times but to bestow wisely. Do not be conple's publication of the Southern not ready to work or sacrifice, tent with one visit but go again Baptists, suggests a meeting the Kingdom receiving some at- after a suitable interval. Follow with the above title and a "Per- tention but not full loyalty. up the work until results appear. sonal Service Thermometer" for Blood heat-full of enthusiasm the illustration, the proposition which is not spasmodic and Reading or singing of the being to demonstrate "how to which continually finds expresmake the thermometer climb." sion in praying, giving and hymn, "All of Self and None of This thermometer may be made working systematically and lib- Thee" will be effective in the of poster paper with a red rib- erally, there being full dedica- course of the program. Then bon run through a slit at the tion of the life to the Master. bottom and so attached that it have the Personal Service Comcan be raised by degrees as the Query: If our lives are not up mittee ready to give out Personal meeting progresses. The stew- to standard, what can we do to ardship devotional affords the make the thermometer climb? Service cards or copies of a Perfirst increase of temperature. (1) Make a definite dedication sonal Service report. Have a Hymns such as "Give of Your of self. (At this point sing definite assignment planned then Best to the Master," "He Lead- "Wash Me, and I Shall Be and there for each person to eth Me" and the like continue Whiter Than Snow.") Christ undertake, and follow up the enthe rise. The talks and other does not assign us a little piece deavor to find how much is done. features complete the climb to of work to do but makes each whatever temperature (blood person truly born again a co- World Comrades is a publicaheat) and its corresponding life- worker with Himself. It is a tion among southern Baptists. goal have been determined upon. poor sort of missionary spirit If such definite evangelistic· Material for this program may that will give for people in far- missionary plans as these can be be built around these points: off lands and forget the people made to work in the South, is next door who may be hungry, there any reason why the North Personal means one person sick or anxious to know the working with at least one other Master. No matter how well should fall behind in the meth- -in direct conversation or close educated these people may be, if ods of the Master? relationship. Service is the de- they lack Christ they are lost. votion of the heart and life to (Song, "It May Not Be on the *** God and includes obedience to Mountain's Height.") (2) Read His commands in a happy spirit. Score One for the Chinese: The It means giving of one's energy James 1: 27 again. The first procedure of teaching the parent to to another for Christ's sake and teach the child is merely reversing the brings double pay – to the one thing is to pray and in this way process used so widely by the nationserving and also to the one alist government in China. The Chiserved. So this Personal Service to learn God's will for our work, nese method in many areas requires Thermometer measures the in- each school child to take under his terest not in people nor in work then start out to win souls for tutelage one adult – for instance a but in Jesus Christ Himself. grandmother-to whom he must daily Him. This will take study and pass on the lessons he learns at school. The degrees of the ther- The child is given no credit for his own mometer include: Freezing- preparation. (Have some one arithmetic paper until he also brings the individual against Christ'::; his grandmother's paper, no reading program and everything con- at the meeting to tell experiences credit until his grandmother also can nected with the advancement of read, no graduation unless his grandthe Kingdom. Cold-the person in learning to win souls, also mother can also pass the examinations. Seriously administered, the system is books on personal work, in order excellent. It works. Conversely, if a Protestant American parent found that definite training for the en- himself without status in the church until he could make religious experi- deavor may begin.) The best ence meaningful to his child, religious education might take on a deepened book is the Bible, and its pas- validity.-The Christian Century.
sages concerning the Way of Salvation should become very The Council of Women for Home Missions ANNE SEESHOLTZ, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 105 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK 1 ~,,,,,,,,,,,~~==–==-=-=–~~==–=~-==-=-~==–==I~ "THE CHRIST CHILD do always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven." COMES" Pray God that we Christians Beginning with the first Sun- remember that the children in day in Advent the members of our midst, who love us, will aclocal congregations in Germany ceptas truth from our lips any are wont to greet each other in hostile, exaggerated statements market places, as well as in we may carelessly make of folk homes, with "The Christ Child of other lands. Let us plan now Comes." It places the child in to keep Christmas as a Festival the foreground of Christmas for the Children. Instead of preparations, and reminds Chris- mechanical toys, even though tians that their Lord and Saviour educational, instead of tin solwas once a little child, lovingly diers and machine guns, let us cared for by Mary and Joseph, use consecrated imagination and under whose direction Jesus supply shepherds and sheep, the grew "in wisdom and stature Inn with the manger in the shed and in favor with God and near by, the adoring wise men man." with their gifts, and above all, the Star unlike the myriads of Last December, a copy of a other stars. Let the children modern Chinese Madonna was participate in the beautiful story published in these columns. This by being Mary with a soft blue year, the Madonna i~ a Ger~an shawl, Joseph, the wise men a:Qd scissor-cut presentatIon. Durmg shepherds. Let us sing carols the World War, some one outside with them all through the month. of Germany asked if the fairies Material for "a creche" is found were dead in Germany. A stupid in many five-and-ten cent stores. question, in truth. If fairies and Wise use of pictures throughout children are killed by war, so are the month might announce to our their parents. This year, it is children, not "Santa Claus is well for Christians to meditate coming," but "The Christ Child on the fact that there are chil- Comes" ! dren in Germany, Japan, Italy, and Ethiopia. May we older The Children's Service of Christians remember that some Worship prepared specially for of the most beautiful Madonnas interdenominational use on the were given to the world by next World Day of Prayer, Feb- Italian artists, and that many of ruary 28, 1936, may well be used the most beautiful Christmas hymns, like "Away in a Manger" in churches during December, as and "Holy Night" come from an excellent preparation for a German hearts and minds. community observance by the Read in Matthew xviii Jesus' children of all churches on the answer to the inquiry of the dis- World Day of Prayer. The ciples, "Who then is gr~~test i!l theme is "Come unto me, chilthe kingdom of heaven? MedI- dren of every land, my own to tate on the "woes" he expressed, be." and then the counsel- Dear Lord Jesus, hear our prayer "See that ye despise not one of for all the boys and girls in the world. these little ones; for I say unto May Thy Kingdom of Love come soon, you, that in heaven their angels so that there be no more war, and only [602 ] happy lands. Amen.
BULLETIN OF THE COUNCIL OF WOMEN FOR HOME MISSIONS
"On Earth Peace, Goodwill Is It a Dream?
Toward Men" Is it a dream-and nothing more -this faith You are invited to unite in a world-wide fellowship of worship That nerves our brains to thought and prayer on the World Day of -our hands to work Prayer, the first Friday in Lent, February 28, 1936. For that great day when wars shall cease, and men Let us thank God for the growing and deepening consciousness Shall live as brothers in a unity of the need for peace, and for the Of love -live in a world made personal knowledge of Him who brings peace on earth. splendid?
Let us ask our Father to bless Is it a dream-this faith of ours all peoples and their governments -that pleads in their efforts to secure peace; may nations reconsider their ways And pulses in our hearts – and and prepare for peace. bids us look, Let us pray for the missionary Through mists of tears and time, enterprise and for all who share to that great day therein. When wars shall cease upon the Let us pray that the Church as earth, and men the body of Christ may stand firm against race discrimination, so- As brothers bound by love of man cial injustice, and war. and God, Let us pray that we as indi- Shall build a world as gloriously viduals may be willing to walk the fair Way of the Cross to secure peace in this our day. As sunset skies, or mountains when they catch The World Day of Prayer Offering In the U. S. A. helps to maintain mission- The farewell kiss of evening on ary work among Migrant children in their heights? the United States. Indian American boys and girls in Government schools, -G. A. Studdert-Kennedy. Christian Literature for children in other lands, and Women's Union Chris- From "One Hundred Poems of tian Colleges of the Orient. Peace." Compiled by Thomas Curtis Clark and Winfred Ernest Garrison. Willett, Clark & Company, Chicago, 1934.
PROGRAMS FOR THE WORLD DAY OF PRAYER The program "On Earth feel any sense of doing what and United Churches. Miss MacMurchy, of the Committee, Peace, Goodwill Toward Men" ought to be done." wrote as matter of interest that was prepared by Senorita Laura the proportion of programs used Jorquera of the Church of the Mrs. Howard Wayne Smith, in U. S. A. to the population is Saviour, Santiago, Chile. It is one to every 4161;2 inhabitants, now b e i n g translated and President of the Committee on and in Canada, one program is adapted in more than fifty coun- used to every 143 inhabitants. tries. Mrs. Daniel A. Poling, Women's Work of the Foreign President of the Council of The programs as prepared are Women for Home Missions, in Missions Conference, in leaving to be followed in spirit and in writing from Jerusalem and theme in order to unite us all later from the Kashmir tells of in October for mission fields took around the earth in about forty groups of Christian women in hours of continuing prayer. The both the Near East and Far with her the World Day of form of the programs should be East now making preparation adapted to the community and to even "out through the villages." Prayer material to exchange the size and membership of "More and more" she writes, "I groups using it. In many places am convinced prayer is our with the groups in other lands. several meetings of varying greatest instrument for peace length are held and provide for and how hard we ought to work The Children's Program, with hours of meditation and prayer to enlist others to pray with us throughout the day, as well as on the World Day of Prayer. I the theme "Come unto me, chil- for the united service of worship. cannot begin to tell you how deeply I have been stirred and dren of every land, my own to Supplies: how we have been challenged to our depths to understand all we be" is described on the preceding The Program, "On Earth Peace, see with our human eyes. Only Goodwill Toward Men," is 2c. each, by constantly devoting ourselves page. $2.00 per 100; Young People's Proto the principles of Jesus Christ gram, 2c. each, $2.00 per 100; Chilin the light of our knowledge of The Service of Worship for dren's Program, 1c. each, $1.00 per His way and guidance can we 100. The Call is free. The poster oYoFuathth, ewr,itihn the theme "Lead us, (llx17 inches), like cut above, is 5c. the paths of peace" Supplies should be ordered from Mis- sion Boards. was prepared by Miss O. Mary Hill, M.A., at the request of the Inter-Board Committee of the Women's Missionary Societies of Canada, who are constituent members of both the Foreign Missions Conference and the Council of Women for Home Missions. The Inter-Board Com- mittee of the Women's Mission- ary Societies of Canada include representatives of the Anglican, Baptist, Disciples, Presbyterian.
"Carry the Word" wife that our boys have never had t~
be requested not to play on that day. How Many Christians? The Pocket Testament League My early religious atmosphere brought The Living Church, after seek- comes of age this year. The me up to respect Sunday, to remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy, to ing an answer to this question, League was founded as a result 'make it a day of rest for mind, body and spirit. concludes that there are about of the efforts of Helen Cadbury 692,400,000 Christians in the (Mrs. Alexander-Dixon). When The Missionary Spirit world, of whom 522,596,000 or a schoolgirl hin Englan~, she about five-sevenths, belong to the tried to win er compamons to The young daughter of Con- gregational missionaries now on historic Catholic communions- Christ, and persuaded many to furlough wrote the following let- ter to the Board, after overhear- Roman, Greek, Coptic, Arme- carry a Testament and read a ing her parents discuss the prob- ability that funds would be innian, etc.; 169,802,000 or about chapter daily. Great progress sufficient to return them to the field: two-sevenths, to two hundred has been made in Scotland, and odd Protestant denominations. within two years some 65,000 As this leaves about 1,167,610,- men were enrolled as members 000 non-Christians, or nearly of the League. Since then it has . a,s". thos~ h 11 become truly international, with t WIce as many w0 ca. many thousands of members in I am the daughter of , and th.emselves ChrIstIans, there IS . the United States. There are I write to ask you if you couldn't, stIll an ampl~ field. a~d urgent also strong branches in Holland, please, try to send us back to India.
call for ChrIstIan mIssIOnary en- Germany, Belgium, France and The Indian people love us so, and we deavor. The Protestan~ nu~- Scandinavia, among other coun- love the Indians.
be:s would be doubled aIsf.ISthte~Ier tries. In Sweden, Prince Oscar I know it costs a lot, but I will try chIldren were counted, Bernadotte; brother of the pres- to pay you back when I grow up.
My father and mother are good mis- case in the Roman CatholIc ent King, was the first to enroll. sionaries and they work hard so I Church. -The Christian. think it's a shame not to send them back.
The Home's Importance Although I am but eleven years old, "What is the greatest hin- No Sunday Cricket I can work hard and I will gladly do drance in the life and work of your churches?" A group rep- Dnyanodaya commends the all I can to help. resenting 40 churches on the famous English cricketer, Jack Pacific coast gave the following Hobbs, on his refusal to play in -Missionary Herald. answer to this question: "The Sunday games. From the chapnoncooperative home and the ter "I Visit India" in his auto- A Word to Graduates home whose influence is directly biography Hobbs says: against religion and the Church." President Robert M. Hutchins, When invited to make the tour, I of Chicago University, is not Florida pastors consulted on had lost sight of the fact that all the concerned about the economic five vital problems facing their big matches there were played on future of the University's gradchurches, and ranked "home and Sunday. Consequently, as I didn't uates, but about their character. family religion" as the first play on that day, we had a break in Here is the advice he gave the problem. When asked why this the match and played Saturday, Mon- last graduating class: problem scored so high, the fol- day and Tuesday, instead of Saturday, lowing answers were given: Sunday and Monday. . . . I should My experience and observation lead "This is the weakest point in like to place on record how readily the me to warn you that the greatest, the the ministry of the church"; "it Maharaj Kumar respected my con- most insidious (if I may borrow a is the point of greatest need in victions and fell in with my wishes. word), the most paralyzing danger the general social breakdown to- He never at any time brought the you will face is the danger of corday" ; "the home is failing to slightest pressure upon me to play. ruption. Time will corrupt you. function as an agency of train- Quite apart from the religious issue, Your friends, your wives or husbands, ing in religion"; "here is our there is no excuse for a professional your business or professional assogreatest educational opportu- wanting to play Sunday cricket. I do ciates will corrupt you; your social, nity" ; "all our church leader- not think that he should; he has political and financial ambitions will ship comes fro m Christian enough of it all the week. He cannot corrupt you. The worst thing about homes." get the best results if he plays on life is that it is demoralizing. Sunday, because one day's rest each week is essential, and to insist on it is This university will not have done only fair to his country or club. . . . its whole duty to the nation if you I have never played Sunday cricket give way before the current of con- and never shall. It has been a great temporary life. Believe me, you are source of pleasure to me and to my closer to the truth now than you ever will be again. Do not let "practical" [604 ] men tell you that you should sur- render your ideals because they are
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
impractical. Do not be reconciled to 30 to February 2; and from practicing in the Southern states. dishonesty, indecency and brutality February 3-5 in or near Kansas The populous Negro settlements because gentlemanly ways have been City. From February 6-12 he of New York, Chicago, Detroit discovered of being dishonest, indecent will be in Illinois, and will then and Philadelphia are their most and brutal. As time passes, resist the begin an itinerary in the north- lucrative field. They are at a corruption that must come with it. west. From February 29 to disadvantage in that only a few Take your stand now before time has March 8 he is to be speaking in hospitals admit them as internes, corrupted you. Before you know it, Ohio, Indiana and Michigan, and there are but thirteen acit will be too late. Courage, temper- after which he goes to the south- credited colored hospitals. ance, liberality, honor, justice, wis- west, and returns to the eastern dom, reason and understanding; these states from April 14-17. After Six desires are in the minds of are still the virtues. In the intellec- delivering the Rauschenbusch this professional group: tual virtues this university has tried Lectures at Rochester Theologto train you. The life you have led ical Seminary, Dr. Kagawa will (1) That they be recognized as here should have helped you toward sail for Europe, where he is to physicians, without qualification; (2) the rest. If, come what may, you study health insurance schemes. that they be admitted as physicians to hold them fast, you will do honor to The primary purpose of all these hospitals admitting Negro patients; yourselves and to the university, and addresses is to link more closely (3) that they receive recognition of you will serve your country. the cooperative movements and their interest in health problems espe- the churches. "Somehow," he cially affecting Negroes; (4) that col- All Get Something wrote to John R. Mott, "these ored patients be referred to them, un- two agencies must be brought less the white physician is willing to Says a writer in a Kentucky together to the end that coopera- give his best service; (5) that the infarm paper: tives become Christian, and that adequate hospital facilities for Ne- churches become cooperative." groes be recognized as a community From a bushel of corn the responsibility and not the sole burden distiller got four gallons of Boys' Logic of a disadvantaged group; (6) that whiskey, which retailed at $16.80 their efforts to remove superstition Why should boys go to Sunday and raise standards of healthful liv- The farmer got ……….. . 0.25 school? The senior boys of St. ing be met by a community interest in The U. S. Government got .. 4.40 David's Episcopal C h u r c h equitable educational facilities, and in The railroad got ……… . 1.00 School, Austin, Texas, have lined increased economic opportunities for The manufacturer got …. . 4.00 up six reasons: their people. The drayman got ……… . 0.15 The retailer got ………. . 7.00 1. The little ones ought to go to -Christian Advocate. The consumer got ……… . Drunk learn the Bible stories, and the big The wife got …………. . Hunger ones as an example to the smaller New York's Mormon The children got ………. . Rags ones. The politician got ……… . Office Monument 2. So they can enter a spiritual at- NORTH AMERICA mosphere hard to find in the modern The plates of the Book of Mor- home. mon are said to have been writ- Hebrew Christian Church ten by a prophet and priest of 3. So they can learn the Church rit- the name of Mormon, who gath- The first Hebrew Christian ual early so they will always feel a ered the records of his ancestors, Church in America has been close tie to familiar surroundings in a made a short history of them, opened in Chicago, at the Peniel church, no matter how far from home and gave the plates with the his- Community Center. There are and friends they might be at some tory inscribed thereon to his son 41 charter members. Situated future date. Moroni. Moroni hid them on in the heart of the Hebrew dis- Cumorah Hill, near Palmyra, trict, and fashioned after the 4. It is the only way to learn N. Y., and fifteen hundred years pattern of the Hebrew Christian church music and songs, which means later appeared to Joseph Smith, Church in Jerusalem, it is de- so much in life, and might keep a fel- telling him where to find the signed to call the attention of low going right. plates. In the box which held the Jewish nation to the Mes- the plates was a pair of specsiah. This church is under the 5. To gain an intelligent under- tacles, one glass of which was auspices of the Church Exten- standing of the Bible, without which called Urim and the other Thumsion Board of the Presbytery of no education is complete. mim, by the use of which Smith Chicago and the Board of Na- was able to translate the plates, tional Missions. Its elders and 6. To strengthen the highest prin- and issue the Book of Mormon. deacons are to be ordained in ciples parents are trying to teach In honor of that event, a monu- October. -Alliance Weekly. their children. ment to the angel Moroni has been erected on Cumorah Hill, Dr. Kagawa's Itinerary -Episcopal News Service. in the form of a shaft forty feet high, surmounted by the figure This famous Japanese Chris- Our Negro Physicians of an angel with the book in his tian leader is to speak at the hand. Elaborate ceremonies will Student Volunteer convention in A paper read before the Vir- shortly mark the dedication at Indianapolis, Dec. 30 and 31. ginia Interracial Commission re- Palmyra. The monument will be From January 4-17 he will tour cently brought out the fact that lighted at night, and will be visthe southeast, followed by a there are 3,805 Negro physicians ible for miles. series of addresses along the At- in the United States today, fourlantic seaboard. He expects to fifths of them trained in How- -Alliance Weekly. l;>~ in the St. Louis ar~a January ard and Meharry M e d i c a I Schools. Comparatively few are
A Japanese Anniversary Protestant forces are making Mexico Definitely Atheistic use of this laboratory for ex- The First Japanese Reformed The American Committee on periments in cooperation, and Religious Rights and Minorities Church in San Francisco celebrated its 25th anniversary in progress, though not rapid, is sent a special committee com- October. The Woman's Mis- posed of a Protestant, a Catholic being made. One promising feasionary Society of the Reformed and a Jew to Mexico last summer Church in the United States took ture of the work on the island is to inquire into the status of rethe initiative in founding this ligious liberty in that country. the McLean Conference Ground, work, and assumed the financial This committee which presented obligations. The first pastor, a tract of four acres eighteen its report in October finds that Rev. J. Mori, did not confine his miles from Rio Piedras in the the Mexican Government no labors to San Francisco, but fol- longer recognizes its constitu- mountains. Wit h additional lowed his Japanese brethren to tional guarantee of religious other places. He made frequent housing facilities it will afford a freedom. Its own enactments trips to Los Angeles, where, on desirable place for the larger in- show that "the deliberate pur- February 1, 1920, the second pose of the government policy is Japanese Reformed Church was terdenominational gatherings of not merely the correction of alorganized with a charter mem- every sort, and offers a fine op- leged abuses, but the extirpation bership of s,ixty. of all religion in the country." portunity to serve the whole Evangelical group in the island.
The seminary is well conducted and a tower of strength to all the churches. -World Call.
The "Exclusion Act" of 1925 Schools in Mexico The Committee holds that this changed the whole situation and policy is but a manifestation of emphasis was shifted to the Several members of the staff a world-wide recrudescence of younger generation. of Asheville Farm School, N. C., an intolerant spirit. Dr. Arthur under the Presbyterian Board of J. Brown, who wrote a foreword -Outlook of Missions. National Missions, visited Mex- of the Report, points out that ico last summer to study rural since the return of the deputa- Point Barrow Mission education there. Most of the tion further confirmation of its time was spent in the states of charges is given "by President At the news of the tragic Tlaxcala, Puebla and Michoacan. Cardenas's decree in September deat.h of Will Rogers and Wiley for the nationalization of church Post near Point Barrow, Alaska, Mexican schools differ widely properties, which is one of the the eyes of the world turned to from those of the U. S. Since harshest and most oppressive this seldom-heard-of community the last revolution the people are anti-religious laws ever passed in the Arctic Circle where Dr. learning how to act under the in any land." Greist, a Presbyterian mission- new responsibility. They have ary, is interpreting Christ's mes- had little or no education, but Gospel by Radio sage to the Eskimos. The serv- now the schools are teaching ices rendered by Dr. Greist in them everything. Their schools Dr. W. M. Montano, of Peru, that tragedy give interest to the are the center of all the good writing in The Neglected Confact that Point Barrow Mission Is 300 miles within the Arctic Circle. things of the Mexican commu- tinent, believes that God has put Is 2,100 miles from the North Pole. nity. Sanitation is being taught the radio into man's hand with Is on the farthest north land in and epidemics are taken care of, the express purpose of hastening North America. cooperatives are established, Is in a town of from 400 to 600 the proclamation of His message residents. nurses supplied, crafts taught to every creature. For the first Is equipped with three buildings– and homes visited. Primarily, time in the evangelical history of Peru the radio has begun to the hospital, the church, the manse. the schools are trying to bring be used in preaching the Gospel. The mission staff consists of the up the standard of living in the doctor, his wife who is the nurse, a native nurse, and a janitor. rural community. The health de- The most powerful station has partments of the different states The hospital had a total of 2,847 invited Dr. Montano to lead a patients during the church year 1934- get serum for v a c c ina t ion weekly conference and Mrs. 1935. against different diseases, and it Montano to sing from the radio -Presbyterian Banner. is the duty of the school to get station OAXAB. It is signifi- LATIN AMERICA the people to be vaccinated. cant that in this Catholic coun- Cooperative Center in The Francis I. Madero School, try there is hearty appreciation. Puerto Rico which is located in a bad section of Mexico City, has student gov- Restaurants, hotels and homes Mingled Islanders from all the ernment and has built up – a tuned their radios in to that sta- Caribbean area, as well as con- wholesome environment. Adult tion, and people gathered in pubtinentals from both North and education is also sponsored. The South America, form a ready- schools are built and maintained lic places where there was· a made laboratory for the develop- by the people; the government ment of a new technique for Pan- supplies the teachers. radio, to listen to the Gospel American harmony and brother- message. The mayor of Callao, well-known physician, declares hood. these broadcasts bring consola- tion; while Haya de la Torre, -The Owl and Spade. one of the greatest political lead-
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
ers in Latin America, said after 1881 the Bible Society published land and Denmark. A larger hearing the evangelical pro- the Gospels of Luke and John in representation-some 170 people grams: "Will you accept my their language – the Yaghan. from twenty-one different coun- gratitude for the spiritual mes- These people were very low in tries – gathered at Beatenburg, sages that you have been broad- the scale of civilization, and both Switzerland, during the early casting? I congratulate you. treacherous and cruel. Although days of August. Bible classes This is the best thing that you the climate was unsuited to the were conducted in French, Ger- can do for the benefit of our peo- white man, and hardship and man and English. The last two ple." A significant letter was isolation were extreme, mission- days were devoted entirely to received from Bishop Ayacucho, aries lived with these savages, prayer. -The Christian.
84 years old: translated portions of the Bible My DEAR DOCTOR MONTANO: into their tongue, taught them to "The World for God" read, and some of them became Last night I listened to your force- Christians.-Alliance Weekly. One year from the date of her ful and interesting conference about election to command of the Salthe divinity of Jesus Christ. These Homes for Jewish Refugees vation Army, General Evanconferences are so much more impor- geline Booth set out in Septemtant when the extreme ignorance that reigns in matters of religion is con- With Dr. S. G. Inman, James ber on an evangelistic crusade by sidered, not only among the illiterate G. MacDonald, the League of people, but also among many of the Nations High Commissioner for motor. It is said she addressed intellectuals. It is because of this five open..air meetings every day, ignorance that the present wave of Refugees, visited recently six- speaking at least 30 minutes at materialism menaces and almost sub- each. This tour was intended as merges the cities. Please accept con- teen different countries in Latin an introduction to a "World for gratulations not only for the clarity of the presentation of truth in your America for the purpose of find- God" movement, which the Gen- ing homes for Jewish refugees. conference, but also for the spiritual The governments of Paraguay, eral has planned, urging her renewing that you can convey to so soldiers to work towards the inmany souls of this country and others. Colombia, Nicaragua, Guate- gathering of a million souls by mala, Chile and Ecuador offered openings. The Government of the end of 1936. Much interest Optimism in South America Ecuador officially authorized the in the Army's message was evi- "My first visit to South Amer- placing of 1,250,000 acres of denced by young people in their ica," writes S. Guy Inman, "was land at the disposal of various teens, and at every meeting in 1914 and since then I have Jewish colonization agencies. place many publicly expressed returned every two or three About 50,000 Jewish families, a desire to serve Christ. years. I am astounded at the especially German Jewish refu- -The Christian.
way the cities grow – Buenos gees, are soon to be settled here Aires with two and a half mil- in the colonies, which will be A Central Mission Building lion people, where the intellec- conducted a Ion g cooperative About 200 missionary societies tual currents of the world meet; lines. Spanish is to be the col- and philanthropic organizations Rio de Janeiro, with a million onies' official language, and the and a half population, the most colonists are to be allowed to have their headquarters in Lon- purchase their land on liberal don. A provisional plan is under beautiful city in the world; old terms within a period of five consideration, to provide a cen- years. -Alliance Weekly. Lima transformed with its mod- tral building as a common meetern buildings and paved avenues, EUROPE ing place for all these societies. The plan offers many advanbut still scented with the charm- PraYeT for Revival ing ancient colonial atmosphere. tages, such as saving in over- Since the International Prayer head charges, avoidance of waste Airplanes, radio, giant ocean Conference at The Hague, in and overlapping, a rallyingliners, with the zeppelin connect- October, 1933, a growing num- ber of Christians have been place for the religious life of ing Brazil with Berlin in three praying for revival in Europe. London, and a common center to and one half days, have elim- The first Tuesday of each month inated distances. is set apart for prayer, privately, some extent for missionary serv- and in groups. Approximately ice and fellowship. There would "But what impresses me most 1,500 in Europe, and another 500 is the tremendous optimism of in the United States, are thus be separate office suites, but ten- waiting upon God in united in- ants would share in the common the people, compared with the tercession. use of a number of committeepessimism one meets in Europe rooms, board-rooms and halls. and Norih America. They are Facilities would be provided for so busy building great, new na- such auxiliary services as bank, safe-deposit, post office, with tions they have no time for those who say the world is entering telegraph and telephone services, another Dark Age."
A Dying Tribe Three-day conferences, inter- restaurant, etc. There would be national in character, for the nothing to interfere with the Only 23 persons survive a fast gaining of inspir,ation and in- autonoIl18 of any society; on the dying, savage tribe at the south- form.ation, have from time to other hand, such a center of ern tip of South America. In time been held in Belgium, Hol- Christian life and activity, with
its world-wide i n t ere stand ginning with a communion serv- nominal Christian countries- stores of information, should be ice in which thousands took part. Italy and Ethiopia – fighting a stimulus to religious activity The president of the Council of agains,t each other is not an evi- in London and far beyond. State paid hearty tribute to the dence of brotherhood. "It is in- -The Life of Faith. characteristic doctrines of the creasingly difficult," Mr. Smith Reformation-the sovereignty of continues, "to win Moslem youth Congress of the "Blue Cross" God, the authority of the Bible, to the Christian point of view and salvation by grace. There regarding God and life." In The French "Society of the was signing by massed choirs of Egypt they are suspicious of Blue Cross," for the reclamation 1,200 voices in front of the great "Christian" institutions and are of drunkards on a religious monument to the Reformation, urged to join "Moslem Young basis, held its 20th congress in and recitation by the poet Fran- Men's Associations." It will be Paris, July 13 and 14. The cois Franzoni of his "Ode to the necessary for Christians to pre- "Blue Cross" in France has Glory of the Word of God." sent vital problems and prac- 3,222 members (including 633 This was followed by a demon- tical solutions in order to attract reclaimed drunkards). Colonial stration of 40,000 young people Moslem youth today. They are sections are also growing up. from all the churches with flags, more interested in how to re- The financial year closed without music and general enthusiasm. move poverty than in the cure a deficit. The congress regis- -So S. Times. of war; they think more of the tered a strong protest against AFRICA ravages of disease than of sin the law of June 25, 1935, con- and the claims of politics are ferring on General Councils the growing more insistent than power to grant permission to A Holy city in Ethiopia those of religion. Egyptian Mosdistil alcohol to private distilleries. It a p pea 1e d to the Lallibela is a city of Ethiopia, lems would like to see England churches· to be increasingly embroiled in war so that Egypt watchful against the ravages of sacred to the Oriental Christians might break away from British intemperance, and urged the of that church as is Mecca to the control, but Egyptians are natfaculties of theology to include Mohammedans. Pilgrims visit urally pro-Abyssinian. In spite instruction on this problem in of counter currents there is a their courses. On the day fol- holy Lallibela, which is older growing spirit of inquiry as to lowing this Congress, "L'Espoir" than Mecca, to pay homage be- truth and better ways of life. (The Hope), a Christian movement for protection of the young fore the church which has been The Gospel for Nubians against alcohol, held its 15th na- carved out of red sands,tone tional assembly. This organiza- Up to 1912 there were translation has an active membership mountain in a style of architec- tions only of the four Gospels. of 906. ture unknown to Ethiopians of In the notes of a former evan- gelist of the Sudan Pionier Mis- Protestant Church for Moscow today. Some say that the style sion, Ali Hussein, there were was borrowed from Babylonia. also translations of the epistles The Christian World, London, of Peter, James and Hebrews. reports that a Protestant church This church is located in the This evangelist, com m 0 n I y for all English-speaking non- mountains covered with cedar known as Samuel, has finished conformist denominations is be- the translation of the entire New ing established by American or- and wild olive trees. There are Testament in the period between ganizations in Moscow. At pres- twelve of these churches named April, 1912, and June, 1913. A ent the British colony is without for various saints and angels and missionary worker, Miss Noack, a church of its own. The num- the Virgin Mary as well as for has now completed a multi- some mythological heroes. The pilgrims who visit these shrines, especially at Christmas time, prostrate themselves and kiss the threshold of each church in- side of which is a tabot or ark of the covenant, holding the comber of American adherents of mandments written on parch- graphed copy of the entire New the free churches is small, and ment. Most of the worshipers Testament of Samuel Ali Husthe American church is to re- are ignorant of the true way of sein in order to give the Scripceive support from the United salvation as revealed in Christ tures to the people among whom States. although they revere Him and she is working.
many are eager to know more of Another missionary woman, Honoring Bible at Geneva the Gospel. Gertrud von Massenbach has Next year will mark the 400th Views of Egyptian MoslelI!s also completed a dictionary and anniversary of the coming of a grammar of the Nubian lan- Calvin to Geneva and the adop- "Moslems regard war as the guage. Both works have already tion of the Reformation by that will of God," writes Wilbert B. been printed and the technical city. A preliminary celebration Smith, of the Cairo Y. M. C. A. value of these works has been was held this year in the old Ca- Therefore they do not question -recognized by authorities in thedral Church, St. Pierre's, for the right of Christians to fight, the language. It is being ac- Christians of all connections, be- but the demonstration of two knowledged that these books will
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
prove basic for the work among Missions Defended Doing the Impossible the Nubians for many years. ~~esiding at a meeting of the The missionaries to the Gour- BrItish and Foreign Bible Soci- It is a fine mark of the scholar- ety in Cape Town, when 2,000 ma. tribe in Nigeria, West ship of these women mission- AfrIca, were the first white pe0aries that they have been able people assembled in the City to produce works of such merit. Hall, the "Judge-President" ple to learn the vernacular to re- duce that language to writing, Biblical Training, West Africa said: "You hear people who say and to commence translation of the Scriptures. Gourma is a After many years spent by in- that it is a mistake to send mis- rich language, except in words sionaries to the natives and who div!dual members of the Presby- speak with contempt of their essential to the unfolding of ~hristian truths. How tell of a terIan West Africa Mission to work. I can understand an athe- Just God, when justice is un- known among the people? How train future pastors, the Dager ist saying that but it seems to speak of God's forgiveness of sin me to be absolutely impossible Biblical Seminary was estab- to say it if you are a Christian. when forgiveness is not granted among the natives except on relished in 1923. The School We hear it said that Christianity ceipt of a bribe from the of- fender? opened with two departments spoils the natives and that re- ligion and education makes . No word existed for resurrecone for theological students and criminals of them. I suppose tion. One day we heard a native one for evangelists. In 1930 a there is nobody in this hall who use a word new to our ears in speaking of Christ's second comthird department was added for knows more about crime than I ing. We discovered that it was do-and the idea that Christianwomen, to improve the spiritual a word for reincarnation and izing the native leads him into this native, with others, actually life of evangelists' wives. At- thought that when we spoke of cr:ime is a lie. Of course you tendance is compulsory. From ~Ill find the educated native go- Christ's return, we meant that mg wrong; of course you will He would be reincarnated. 70 to 80 are now enrolled. Five find that if he had not been edu- For the most part such diffiof the evangelists help with the cated he would not have been cu!ties as these are overcome by teaching, which ranges from ab}e to commit a particular usmg the word which most crIme-but the same thing apreading and writing for begin- plies to the white man. No nearly described what is wanted, and by constant explanation that ners to intensive courses in the Christian can possibly say that word will convey to the native mind what we wish to express. New Testament for advanced spreading the Gospel or educa- After five years, tentative trans- tion among the natives is going classes. Many of the women to ,harm them. It. is not the lations of several Gospels have whIte. man's Christianity that is been made. had lacked a vision – they were harmmg the natives; it is the -Mrs. T. D. Hume. simply wives of mission work- white man's un-Christianity that is doing it." ers. But now they are coming -South African Outlook. to see themselves as servants of the King of kings, examples to others and real helpers of their husbands. -Drum Call.
"Those of Jesus" Fifty years ago, a missionary of the American Board baptized Another Need Met Women Witness in Jungle the first 14 converts of the Ovim- ~undl! tri~e, West Africa; today, A school for African Medical Under the leadership of Marm thIS trIbe, there is a church Workers was opened in October guerite Eldredge, of the Amerwith 7,000 communicants, the at Dondi, West Africa, offering ican Baptist Mission, twentylargest Congregational Church a three-year course and fitting two Congolese women, from named "Those of Jesus." One young natjve men and women to eight different villages, volun- ~housand members were added serve their own people along teered to spend a part of last m 1934. The pastor is one of many health lines. This School May in evangelizing other disthe original 14 first members. will be taught by doctors in the tant villages. They traveled on l;1ission giving up a month's foot, carrying only simple neces- From this center, w 0 r k sities. During the first two reaches out into hundreds of vil- time each year, a real sacrifice weeks over 2,000 adults and lage~.. Instead of establishing a under present conditions, and children of school age heard the ChrIstian community inside a the students must come recom- message from these apostles heathen village, the custom is to mended by their own church and with smiling faces and clean start a n~w village near by, with the missionary in their area. clothes. Men, women, children, good dramage and attention to The student is responsible for heathen raonydalctoym, mviollnagfeolkchgieafvs~ ~ll principles of hygiene. Life his own bedding, clothes, dishes pygmies m these model villages centers and other personal effects. The close attention.-S. S. Times.
about isthaelso"smcheoeotiln, gandhoaubsoe~t" hospital will furnish food and African Prophet Dies which lodging. Tuition is about $35 the preacher's home. American money. A prophet of a purely African -The Chronicle. -Overseas News. type died in Natal last May from
an insect bite – Rev. I s a i a h best, and which are best suited League of Nations Health Com- Shembe, founder and head of the to their educational and cultural mission, has almost done away Nazarenes, with a following es- needs. with malaria in Palestine. The timated at 30,000. Shembe rose from shepherd boy to leader of The Malagasy Bible university also has a cancer in- stitute and the beginnings of a this sect of his own devising. It The Associated Press has re- school of sub-tropical medicine. is said that, when a young man, ported from Tananarive, Mada- Both students and professors. are he was struck by lightning and gascar, that the centenary of the hard at work producing better was paralyzed, but that when the first translation of the complete grades of citrus fruit, planting tribal witchdoctors came to treat Bible into Malagasy was cele- forests, developing irrigation him he drove them away saying brated with great fervor by the projects, cultivating crops that he would place himself "in the 3,300 Protestant churches in the are new to this region. hands of the Lord." He saw a island. The Malagasies are stu- -Christian Advocate (Quoted vision in which he was urged to dious readers of the Bible. Of "go East and preach." His all books the Bible has the in Indian Witness).
paralysis left him and he set out largest sale among the native Across Arabian Trails on this mission. He claimed population. Back of this is a powers of healing and many na- story of persecution and mar- Few Christians have traversed tives were brought to him for tyrdom for the first quarter of the interior of Arabia. The opcure. Mass dancing had a place the century, but the remarkable position of fanatical Moslems, in his rituals; the special feast fact is that at the end of the pe- the long desert trails, and other day on July 25 each year at- riod of torture and suppression difficulties make it a dangerous tracted large numbers of Euro- there were 10,000 Christians, as undertaking. Dr. Harold Storm, pean and Bantu onlookers. against 1,000 at its beginning. of the American Ref 0 r m e d His followers supported him The single factor was the Bible. Church Mission in Arabia, has as they would a great chief, and William Canton, historian, says: recently completed the journey out of his abundant income he "For a quarter of a century from east to west, through Ibn built a number of schools, yet it the Malagasies had no spiritual Saud's Arabia, to Jeddah, the is reported that he died the rich- teacher but the Scriptures; no seaport of Mecca, and Yembo EI est native in Zululand and Natal. friend or counselor but the Bahr, the seaport of Medina. -South African Outlook. Scriptures; no light in darkness, On the way he and his three hos- no strength in weakness, no con- pital helpers stopped for six Developing African Movies solation in trouble, no hope in weeks at Taif, a strategic center death but the Scriptures. They in the Hedjaz, and there gave The first complete film to be were read in secret, buried in the 4,475 medical treatments, inmade under the Bantu Educa- earth for safety, treasured more cluding 87 operations, and maktional Cinema experiment in jealously than gold. As the ing many valuable tribal con- East Africa is being shown to sacred volumes grew scarce, tacts. Both gold and oil are renative audiences of different passages were circulated in ported to have been discovered types in Northern Rhodesia. writing, and, prized as precious in Saudia and this, promises to The two-hour program consists seed for the sowing of new har- revolutionize the situation there. of drama, farce and instruc- vests."-Bible Society Record. Dr. Storm has made valuable tional material. The first test surveys as to leprosy in Arabia audience of 3,000 natives re- WESTERN ASIA and has proved the need for med- ceived it with immense enthu- Palestine's Hebrew University ical mission work in this unocsiasm. Mr. G. C. Latham, for- cupied field. He plans to travel merly Director of Native Educa- On top of Mt. Scopus, over- on down the west coast from tion in Northern Rhodesia, acts looking the valley of the Jordan J eddah to Aden by way of as film director, and his business is the world's youngest univer- J eigan, hoping then to go on to is to show it to native audiences sity. It was opened ten years Hadramaut coast, southeastern of different types, and to note ago with only three courses and Arabia and so back to Muscat. carefully their reaction to the 141 students. Today it has The Wahabi King, Ibn Saud, different films. African native scores of courses and more than is much in favor with all in Hedaudiences are, it seems, accus- 400 students from twenty-one j az, in spite of his strict ideas tomed to provide a running com- countries. Seventeen dis t i n- and iron rule. He has a strong mentary to any performance. guishedGerman professors and character and is a genius. He The whole experiment is ex- scientists are among the mem- recently decreed that radios pected to take about two years, bers of the faculty. These stu- could not be used except for and at the end of that time it is dents and teachers are helping listening to news broadcasts and hoped that the experimenters to solve the industrial, agricul- to the reading of the Koran. will have arrived at an accurate tural and health problems of Runners go through the bazaars idea of what kind of films native Palestine and the whole Near of Taif, calling the idle to Africans, the most primitive and East. The malaria research sta- prayer and any neglecting to rethe more sophisticated, enjoy tion, partly subsidized by the spond are put in jail.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
INDIA AND BURMA it was supposed to be impossible of America. This Negro delega- Five-Year Forward Movement for a woman to go. Miss Scott tion will probably be the first of has even penetrated into a vil- its kind in India's history, and Protestant Christians in India lage where professional mur- its program is as follows: have made definite plans for a derers not infrequently offer Travel through most of the student Five-Year Forward Movement poisoned tea to strangers. There centers in India, completing the task in Evangelism. These are under she has nursed and cared for in the early part of March, 1936. the direction of a committee of The itinerary includes Trichinopoly, the National Christian Council, some of the children. She has a Madura, Palamcottah, Nagercoil, Tri- school in her house with eighty vandrum, Kottayam, Ernakulam, AI- Bishop Azariah of Dornakal be- waye, Mysore, Bangalore, Madras, pupils, in spite of the fact that ing chairman and Bishop Ban- she is known among the natives Vellore, Guntur, Masj.lipatam, Rajaherji, assistant in Lahore, a mem- as the jackal incarnate in human mundry and Cocanada (all before ber of the committee. Dr. Stan- form, come to steal their girls. Christmas). After attending a South Indian Conference and paying a brief ley Jones is also a committee The ruler of Sikkim has finally visit to Rangoon, the delegation hopes member. given permission for the build- to arrive in Calcutta on January 12, As the Council represents sev- ing of a church. 1936, and to visit Serampore and Bol- pur, Dr. Tagore's famous World Unieral communions, detailed plans -So S. Times. versity. Then follows a three weeks' are left to each one, the Council tour of the United Provinces and the committee suggesting only the Nipani and Its Hospital Central Provinces including Benares, broad outline. This includes a A self – supporting I n d ian Lucknow, Cawnpore, Allahabad, Jubpreparation period of seven church at Nipani has taken over bulpore, Agra and Aligarh; next the weeks, starting in October; the charge of Lafayette Hospital leaflets for guidance of pastors; which had been founded by a Punjab and the Northwest Frontier church in Buffalo, N. Y. This is Province, visiting Ludhiana, Lahore, an annual "week of witness" in the second project that Nipani Peshawar, Rawalpindi and Sialkot. each mission and church; re- Church has undertaken, the first The Negro pilgrims hope to reach treats and conferences for min- being a primary school. Control Delhi on February 20, and Nagpur on February 25. In the Bombay area isters and theological students. of the hospital is now under- the cities to be visited are Bombay, -The Living Church. Poona, Miraj and Kolhapur.
-Dnyanodaya.
Experimental Prayer taken as a five-year experiment; Crawling to Win Salvation the property involved is re- One day a Mohammedan came garded as loaned to the Church Two Hindus undertook to to the American Presbyterian for the experiment. crawl hundreds of miles to the Girls' School at Saharanpur and The hospital is in good condi- sacred temple of Badrinath, on asked to see the principal, say- tion financially. Christian peo- a 23,400 feet peak in the Himaing, "My daughter is very sick; ple used to feel that they should laya Mountains. One of them, she has had fever for weeks." receive medicine free, but now Mulchand, a middle-aged man, The principal explained that this they are learning to take pride crawled 150 miles from Patali was not a hospital, but a school, in paying for it. Now they can in Jaipur state to Delhi in two and told the man to go to a hos- feel that their few pice are help- and a half months. He was pital and see a doctor. He re- ing to bring success to a project joined at Delhi by Bhikamal, a plied, "I have seen three doctors, that is their own. A recent gov- sweetmeat seller in the city. and my daughter has eaten a ernment grant makes possible Badrinath is 550 miles from great deal of medicine during free inoculations for lepers. The Delhi. They were accompanied these past weeks. I have brought government is also contributing by a Brahman priest who jourher here to be prayed for." So toward the traveling expenses of neyed on foot, ministering to the man and his daughter were those who go to the hospital for their needs. These pilgrims said invited into the prayer room and inoculations. -Dnyanodaya. that they considered crawling to the missionaries and students the temple the best way of pleas- prayed for the girl in the name Friendship Pilgrimage ing the goddess. If they died on of Jesus Christ. A few weeks In 41 years India's Student the way they believed they would later the man came to church Christian Movement has grown be taken straight to heaven. to a membership of about 5,000 and said his daughter was bet- university students, both men Bibles by Caravan ter, and now he would send her and women. Its aim is charto school. He has been attend- acter – building i n accordance The Secretary of the :aritish with the ideals of Christ, inter- and Foreign Bible Society auxing church ever since. iliary in Bombay, Mr. Stephen -Presbyterian Banner.
Doing the Impossible national fellowship on the basis Cox, announces the success of of justice, goodwill and peace. the Society's motor caravan.
A Scotch noblewoman, the This is the aim of the forthcom- "The Bible Society Motor Cara- Hon. Mary Scott, is pioneering ing visit of a Negro delegation van has finished its tour in in the state of Sikkim within on a· pilgrimage of friendship to Western India, and has been a sight of the mighty Himalayan India, Burma and Ceylon from success. . . . The total of 1,500 Mountain, Kunchinjinga, where the Student Christian Movement Scriptures sold during the hot
weather month may be regarded work. Dr. W. Y. Chen is a lead- guages can be regularly emas quite encouraging. When the ing Chinese psychologist, who ployed in addition to Chinese- van set out from Bombay to- has recently been acting Presi- English, French, Russian, Ger- wards Nagpur at the end of dent of Fukien University. Dr. man and Japanese. A choir of 'June it was our hope that a new Y. C. Tu, head of the Physics Russian Bap.tist refugees con- record would be established, and Department of the University of ducts a sacred concert every thanks to the splendid coopera- Shanghai, has had considerable Wednesday. Mr. Garnier, lead- tion of missions and churches all experience in educational, stu- ing Baptist worker in the Chris- along our route the total sales dent and Y. M. C. A. work. tian Literature Society, has for July reached the high figure Though a professor of science he given a series in English, French of 6,037 books. One of the most "has a passion for religion and and Chinese for seekers after encouraging features of this part youth." Dr. Wu Lei-chuan, the truth, on "The Reasonableness of the tour was the number of third member of this team, has of the Christian Faith," based Bibles and New Testaments dis- been Vice-Minister of Education on Dr. Cairns' book, a devo- posed of ;78 and 209 respec- and Chancellor of Yenching tional series on the life which tively. During the early part of University, Peiping. His part is has Christ as its center, exposi- November it will be our aim to to i n t e r pre t Christianity in tions of Christian hymns, illus- place a Gospel portion in the terms of its orientation to the trated from a Yorkshire choir by hands of every literate person in best in China's culture. a Shanghai business layman, and Western India." Signs of New Life the story of how the Bible has -Dnyanodaya. been transmitted.
A notable evangelistic cam- -B. M. S. Report.
Burma Gospel Campaigns paign is going on among the Both Burmese and Karen lan- English Baptists of She n s i. The Great "Yellow Dragon" guages have a new word-"cam- Church members have been or- Within a few hours after a paign." Workers report that ganized in groups for visitation, break occurred in the dyke of the hardly a church in all the 900 two women with one evangelist. Yellow River, "China's Sorrow," and more has not experienced The favorite song of the cam- 800 villages were destroyed. A the meaning of that word. In paign is a Chinese adaptation of recent letter to the Presbyterian seven years G 0 s pel Teams, the hymn, "Must I Go and Board says that 8,000 villages chiefly from Rangoon and In- Empty-handed ?" Over a thou- are affected and no one knows sein have had over 700 cam- sand people have been moved to how many are utterly destroyed. paigns with thousands of de- confess their faith in Christ. In That means that everything is the city of Sianfu the campaign gone, homes, cattle, crops for cisions. Many of these campaigns con- called forth the active service of this year and next Spring. Most ducted by jungle schools are fifteen voluntary lay preachers. people escaped with only the crude enough, but they are a It is said that in many clothing on their backs. The insign of life; many a rural churches of Manchukuo, stand- undated area extends over an church has been strengthened by ing room only is left at Sunday area of 4,000 square miles, and them. These Burma Teams services. Thirty inmates of a it is estimated that there are have inspired Siamese Chris- country prison have so impressed now 500,000 people who are tians to undertake a similar the prison governor by the change homeless. work; while from Vellore and in their character and conduct The government is planning to Lucknow come reports of Gos- since conversion that he has take care of them for the winter pel Team work. -Koinonia. taken off their chains and al- -1,000,000 refugees. They are lowed them to move freely with- sheltered in mat sheds, and are in the prison. They have a given four to eight large biscuits CHINA Christian Endeavor. meeting a day and hot water. Needless New Day in Evangelism weekly in the prison lecture to say, conditions among these room. -So S.Times. The Chinese Recorder says refugees are unbelievable. There that one evidence of a new day Developing Radio Gospel in China is seen in the appear- is practically no medical work How it would have stirred the ance of a group of Chinese Chris- hearts of early missionaries to being done for them. The Chitian intelligentsi,a, carrying the China if they could have fore- nese people have risen to the seen that the Gospel would-he Christian message to their peers. emergency, and are caring for the physical wants with no con- This is part of the second year fusion at all.
of the Youth and Religion Move- carried every day through the Hybrid Religions ment being carried on by the air! The Christian Radio Com- Y. M. C. A. The fall campaign pany, of Shanghai, of which Several non-Christian reliin student centers was conducted mention has been made in these gious movements are thrusting by a group of four Chinese pages, has been further devel- themselves upon the scene. The Christian laymen, each of whom oped. In such a cosmopolitan most prominent seems to be a has been engaged in educational center as Shanghai, several lan- combination 0 f Confucianism,
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Taoism and Buddhism, and is letters furnish glimpses of their traveled 20,000 miles to attend. sponsored by many leaders in student life: There are saId to be 3,000,000 Chinese official, commercial, fi- The classrooms, laboratories, and Koreans in Manchukuo, and the nancial and educational circles. general equipment are similar to those trains are crowded with immi- in any well-planned American insti- Its chief exponent is a man ac- tution. Our dormitories are as noisy grants, who find work in the rice claimed as "the only sage after as any at home. . . . Rice Hall is an plantations, which are on virgin Confucius and Mencius." They appropriate name for the student soil. Planters are prospering, call him Tuanfucius. His heart mess. Dishes of Chinese food are put and the churches should soon be in the middle of the table and conis said to be "filled with the love sumed in communal style, each person self-supporting. Services are of Jesus and Buddha; his words held in rented halls, even in Harare prophetic, and his prophecies plunging in his chopsticks and trans- bin and Hsinkiang, for lack of ferring the catch to his rice bowl. It always come true; difficulties is unwise to ask any of the Chinese proper churches. students to explain the contents until and calamities invariably move -The Christian Advocate. his heart to prayer; while his after the food is consumed. . . . J APAN-CHO'SEN We owe more than words can exspirit of sincerity is that of the press to our roommates, splendid fel- gods." His followers are seek- lows everyone of them. They saw A Spirit of Cooperation ing to organize what they call a that we were. started off on the right "World Peace Prayer Confer- foot, helping us to understand more A group of parents of students ence," at which their Sage will about China from people of our own in St. J;>aul's University in age, who are interested in the welfare expound "Confucius' Cosmopoli- of their country in relation to the Tokyo, founded by the Episcopal other nations of the world. tanism," and pray for world Church, decided to eliminate the peace. It is not clear to whom -Presbyterian Tribune. poor housing facilities at the the prayers will be addressed. Results in Honan Junior College and prepared a -China's Millions. statement which was signed by Why Nestorian Missions Dr. Murdoch MacKenzie, of 200 parents.
Changte, Honan, writes in the The time has arrived for the J ap- anese to relieve our American friends Failed United Church Record of a re- of some of the responsibility for pro- cent evangelistic tour through viding new equipment and buildings. The Christian religion was the country districts east of Especially is this true now when first brought to China by Nes- Changte. In one place over one America is suffering from a severe torians 1,300 years ago. The hundred persons attended a depression, and our American friends new religion gained ground and daily Bible study class, and on are not in a position to carryon all held it for centuries, then faded the Lord's day, there were be- their foreign mission work. We Japand all but disappeared. Why? tween four and five hundred anese parents of students now being Dr. Kenneth Latourette sug- Christians present for worship. educated at St. Paul's University feel gests three reasons: (1) Most The service had to be held in the the institution must not hope for inof the converts were not Chinese open air, as there was no build- creasing aid from foreign lands, and but foreign residents; (2) the ing large enough to accommo- therefore we feel it our duty to aid in missionaries were far from date the congregation. In an- the future development of the univertheir home base and had to work other center, an equally large sity at this critical time. Our immewithout assistance, and (3) the congregation assembled, and diate objective shall be the raising of missionaries eventually compro- about one-half of those present funds for the permanent junior colmised with native non-Christian sat at the communion· table. lege building. f a i t h s. Furthermore, the y neither built up a Christian lit- There are five 0 r g ani zed Activities during the summer erature, nor translated the Bible churches in the district visited, resulted in raising 32,000 yen. into the language of the people. ministered to by three Chinese It was expected that by the end pastors; constant additions are of October one-half the total ob- -The Chronicle. being made to the membership jective of 100,000 yen would be secured. The university au- rolls, and schools are held in thorities have in addition a total many districts with a steadily- Exchange Students in Canton increasing number of promising of 100,000 yen in hand. Thus a pupils. The morning watch is reenforced three-story concrete Lingnan University, known being observed regularly in some structure is promised within the formerly as Canton Christian churches, and much emphasis is next few months to give the College, has been experimenting being placed on prayer by the junior college its own permanent for two years in reversing the Christian leaders. classrooms. tide of student migration, by bringing American students to Korean Methodists in -The Living Church. China. This year eleven full- Manchukuo tuition scholarships were In Northeast Korea granted to exchange students from America, selected with The Korea Mission of the United Church of Canada is the great care. They were scattered So scattered are the stations youngest of that Church's mis- in the different dormitories and of the Korean Methodist Church sions, except the one in South each had a Chinese roommate. in Manchukuo that the 35 dele- China. Splendid progress has The following extracts from gates to their last conference been made in Korea; the work
is largely self-supporting. Kor- Indian population is slowly but ment in the Philippines? (2) ean Christians erect their own surely overtaking the native pop- What topics would churchmen in churches, pay many of their pas- ulation, offering a serious prob- the Philippines like to have dis- tors and spend both time and lem before many years elapse. cussed in a World Consultation money in the task of evangeliz- The statistics are as follows: in 1938 to convene somewhere in ing non-Christians. The Ca- 1921 1934 Asia?
nadian Mission has sole respon- Europeans …•…• 3,878 4,763 In answer to the first the Comsibility in northeas·t Korea, a 2,781 region where the Christian pop- Half-castes •.••.•• 3,717 mittee considered as most essenulation numbers only 170 in Fijians …..•….• 84,475 98,479 tial: Christian leadership, new Indians ………. . 60,634 83,289 approaches and new emphases Polynesians …… . 1,564 1,866 2,500,000. Most of this 170 are Rotumans ..•….. 2,235 2,486 in method and message, a self- Chinese ………. . 910 1,486 of the poorer classes, who can- Others " …….. . 789 1,351 supporting Christian college in not shoulder responsibility for Manila, religious education in evangelizing the other 9970. Totals ………. 157,266 197,449 . the public schools, and special at- The Mission is appealing to the -Australian Missionary tention to the place and mean- Canadian Church for adequate Review. ing of the Lord's Supper in wor- support to meet the challenge or A New Song in Bali ship and life.
a great industrial expansion in The group suggested in ref- North East Korea. Hundreds Much has been written about erence to the second query: of thousands of Koreans are Bali, where four years ago the world-wide application of Chrispouring into Manchukuo imme- name of Christ was unknown. tianity, effective evangelism, the diately north of the Lungchingt- Missionaries were forbidden to cause and cure of war, temperdun field. These new settlers are enter; then the Gospel was ance,cooperatives, race prejuopen to the Gospel. brought by a Christian Chinese. dice, and Communism, Fascism About two years ago R. A. Jaf- and Naziism in relation to -Korean Echoes. fray, of the Christian and Mis- Christianity. sionary Alliance, addressed the Women's Bible Institute Balinese converts as follows: A Doctor for Kwato The Women's Bible Institute of Korea was founded 25 years "Two years ago there were no For forty-five years the work ago, and last year attendance Christians in Bali, nor was one of Kwato Mission has been carwas the largest in its history. In able to sing these songs of 'the ried on without a trained phythe regular course, 187 were en- Lamb of God that taketh away sician on the field. There has rolled, and 18 in the graduate the sins of the world.' Now, been no doctor nearer than Sacourse, making a total of 205. you know what it means to trust marai. In times of severe illness, Dormitory space is greatly in the Lord Jesus for the for- Mrs. C. W. Abel has been obliged taxed. During the 25 years, giveness of your sins and the to go to Australia, sometimes in there have been over 250 grad- salvation of your souls. I love an open sail boat. Even though uates who have gone out into all to hear you sing these wonderful the missionaries have been parts of the country and to ad- songs from the heart. How skilled in combating epidemics jacent countries, well prepared many of you, notwithstanding all and simple diseases, the natives to carry the Gospel message to the suffering and persecution have suffered much from lack of those who have never heard, and that believing on the Lord Jesus medical attention and advice. to instruct them in the funda- has meant to you, are glad that But last July, Dr. Berkeley D. the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Vaughan, with his wife and mentals of the faith. -Alice M. Butts, Principal. Christ came to Bali? If you are three children, arrived from glad, testify to it by raising your England, and now the hospital, hands and saying, 'Praise the built ten years ago, can become ISLANDS OF THE SEA Lord !' As soon as the message a real center for medical minis- Fiji's Population got around to their language, try, and for nurses' training.
A definite increase in the na- every hand went up promptly, Mrs. Vaughan is a graduate tive Fijian population is re- and there was a full chorus of nurse. It is hoped that tours of ported, due largely to the in- 'Praise the Lord' from all lips." outlying districts can be made, creasing attention being paid to to give instruction. in hygiene sanitation and child welfare, and -Sunday School Times. and sanitation. to the campaign by the Govern- Burning Questions -Kwato Mission Tidings.
ment of vaccination against ty- Two questions claimed chief Baptisms in Bali phoid and smallpox, as well as attention of the Philippine Na- special treatment for dysentery. tional Christian Council's execu- Rev. R. A. Jaffray felt led to It is also shown that the Indian tive committee at their annual write to the Governor-General of the Netherlands East Indies at population is slowly overtaking meeting.
the Fijian, forecasting a compli- (1) What are the issues, sub- Batavia, and request that the cated problem in the future. jects and problems most vital to prohibition to baptize· in Bali The figures show also that the the future of the Christian move- be withdrawn. At the same time
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
he wrote to the Prime Minister first two students to complete the dred yards from a Christian in Holland, Dr. Colyn, to the course were sent to China, and mission school. same effect. The permission two who had graduated for was granted and the mission- Home service were appointed as Pupils come from towns all aries have been allowed to bap- deaconesses. As time passed over south Sumatra, some as far tize those who were waiting, and some found work among the as 500 miles. Some of these to date 127 new converts have Maoris, some under the L. M. S. boys live in a small room for been baptized. Dr. Donald G. and kindred societies, and others which they pay from forty to Barnhouse, on his world tour of under the Presbyterian Foreign fifty cents a month rent. They missions, was in Bali at the time Missions' Committee in China do their own cooking in order to of these baptisms. and India. live as cheaply as possible and thus have enough money to pay -Evangelical-Messenger. Seed Sowing in Sumatra their school fees. While the parents know that every pupil is A New Zealand Institute Palembang, in South Sumatra, required to study the Bible, the is a conservative and fanatical principal says no parent has In 1903, the Presbyterian Mohammedan city where ninety ever voiced an objection. A half Church of New Zealand ap- per cent of the population are hour is spent in Bible study proved the establishment of the followers of the prophet. Their every day. Presbyterian Women's Training large mosque is only two hun- Institute. Two years later the -The Christian Advocate.
CHRISTMAS PIGS Excitement and dismay reigned in the leper colony. The next day would be Christmas, but the pig, so carefully fattened for the long-anticipated feast, had escaped from his pen and trotted off in the direction of the village. The patients could not follow without breaking faith with their beloved doctor.
When meat comes your way only once or twice a year, it is something to be dreamed about beforehand and remembered longingly for many a day. Someone had given these Chinese leper patients a little live pig at the beginning of the summer, and they had cherished him zeal.:. ously with visions of how he would look, crisp and brown, decked with flowers and with a ruddy apple in his mouth.
But now this delectable vision was fading, for the pig had run away, and on the very day before Christmas. There was only one thing to do. The aged Head Man of the colony called the patients together to pray over their troubles. All sat on the ground while Brother Sit Ling spread out his mutilated hands and began to pray. He told of their trouble, how when food was scarce they had often gone hungry, how providential the gift of the pig has been, and how they had planned to share the meat with some homeless lepers near by for whom there was no room in the colony. He closed his petition with the simple plea, "Lord, please direct this pig's steps back home."
Just before nightfall a great commotion was heard and the lepers rushed out to investigate. A wheelbarrow was approaching and on it the squealing, protesting pig. The villager, who had found the runaway rooting in his garden, had recognized him as the colony pig and returned him.
Was there ever a roast pig which tasted quite as delicious as the prodigal pig which graced .the feast at the leper colony next day? A generous portion was reserled for the wretched group waiting patiently outside the gate in the hope that some day there would be funds so that they, too, could come into the colony.
*** There are other pigs too which are having a part in making Christmas a happier day for the leper. These are the 84,000 Pete pig banks of the American Mission to Lepers, which are fed with coin so that the leper sufferers whom Christ especially mentioned may have a share in the brightness of the Christmas message which has brought a new hope to all mankind.
The Mission to Lepers is the auxiliary of every foreign mission board and of every missionary who is working for lepers. Twenty dollars will give a Christmas dinner to a whole colony of patients. Twelve dollars will feed one patient for an entire year. Fifty cents will give a leper a pair of sandals to protect the bandages on his mutilated feet and help him to get about. Other amounts will care for untainted children or will purchase cherished presents such as soap, blankets and medicines, which seem luxuries to the lepers.
Anyone can bring joy this Christmas to the most friendless sufferers on earth by sending a gift through the American Mission to Lepers, 156 Fifth Avenue, New York. Our Missionary Bookshelf Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information The Furtherance of the Gospel. By the sudden and simultaneous German Society for the Science William Owen Carver, Th.D.,D.D. exercise on the part of a number of Missions, under the editorial 145 pp. 60 cents, cloth; 40 cents, of Mexican states of the right management of Dr. M. Schlunk granted by the Federal Consti- in Tiibingen. It therefore comes paper. Sunday School Board of the Southern B apt i s t Convention. tution to apply in their own way under the encouragement of Nashville, Tennessee. 1935.
All students of missions are the provision regarding the prominent authorities in Ger- acquainted with the "History of status of religion. It was also many. The translations are Missions" by Professor Carver due, and perhaps chiefly, to the based on the renderings of Rich- and other books from his pen. intense subterranean struggles ard Wilhelm, but a number of Here we have a compact, concise going on between President quotations from English and training course for Christian Cardenas and Ex – President French versions have been ren- workers on the principles and Calles. Since the book was pub- dered in German by the author.
method of missions. The author lished, this tremendous tension Following the investigations bases everything on the Scrip- in Mexican politics has been re- of A. Jeremias on the extratures and the solidarity of the lieved by the elimination of Biblical hope of a redeemer in race through creation and re- Calles and a number of his satel- the Mediterranean area (Ausserdemption. Three chapters are lites, especially the notorious biblische Erloser – Erwartung) devoted to the reason of mis- Garrido Canabal. As a result of and the book of Evnil Abegg on sions, three to the conduct of the the fall of Mexico's "strong "Messiasglaube in Indien und enterprise, and three to the un- man" the situation has become Iran" we now have this splendid changing message amid chang- much more clearly defined. study of the expectation of a ing conditions. Each chapter is Dr. Macfarland, in spite of the Redeemer in China. This point followed by questions for review brevity of his association with was neglected in the discussions and reflection, and there is a Mexico and the use of the j our- of the religion of the Chinese. brief bibliography. The au- nalistic style and method, sup- Rosenkranz gives us in this book thor's definition of missions is plies the reader with valuable a thorough investigation. Conworth memorizing: "Missions is data about Mexico, during one fucianism divided all humanity the work by which God pro- of the strangest and most sin- into three c I ass e s: Ordinary claims and extends his kingdom ister moments in that country's Mortals, Nobles (among whom of love, redemption, and right- history. The author interrogated Confucius classes himself) and eousness among men, by means the spokesmen of the several Holy Ones who were great of men whom he has redeemed trends in Mexican life and figures of the more or less mythand commissioned as his repre- thought, and tabulated and ap- ical past. The argument of sentatives. This is the essence praised their viewpoints. Those Rosenkranz now is, that in the of missions always and every- concerned about the future of Chinese religion a redeemer was where." Would that all mission- Christian missions will find here awaited with increasing intenaries and missionary leaders at much of value regarding the sity by the religious writers and home were true to suclY ideals! tendencies of a modern totali- that with the advent of such a S. M. ZWEMER. tarian state in relation to reli- redeemer was coupled the hope gion, while the reader interested Chaos in Mexico. By Charles S. in Latin American affairs will be of a glorious consummation in supplied with fresh insights into Paradise. While the roots of Macfarland. Illustrated. 8 vo. 284 the life of the most original such a teaching exist in early pp. $2.00. Harpers. New York. Confucianism, they were more 1935. member of the Latin American The Mexican situation in re- family. J~HN A. MACKAY. or less covered up in the later cent years has been bewildering forms of Confucianism and Tao- and enigmatical. It has been Der Heilige in den Chinesischen ism. The future hope is very full of contradictions to the ex- Klassikern. E i n e Untersuchung fully developed in the present perienced student as well as to iiber die Erloser-Erwartung in Kon- book; but the author points. to the casual observer, but it has the necessity of developing it fuzianismus und Taoismus. Gernot been chaotic. The appear- hard Rosenkranz. 188 pp. Mk. still further in a separate work. ance of chaos in the early months 9.80. J. C. Hinrich. Leipzig. The book is replete with in- of the present year, when Mexico This book is volume nine of formation and is written in a came under the scrutiny of Dr. the Missionswissenschaftliche lucid and convincing style. It Macfarland, was due in part to Forschungen, published by the contains a full bibliography of Any of the books noted in these columns will be sent by the Rlwn;w publishers on receipt of price.
[616]
OUR MISSIONARY BOOKSHELF
the sources in question and is losophy and program of the in- volved.· He believes that, "the also a defense of pure Confucian- terracial agencies: present and future leadership in ism which the author thinks was 1. The Commission on Interracial Co- race relations is being recruited far more religious than is gen- operation. from southern colleges and uni- erally believed. C. T. BENZE. 2. The National Urban League. versities." He concludes on the 3. The Commission on Race Relations one hand that there are at pres- Schoolhouse in the Foothills. By ent "tendencies which point to Ella Enslow and Alvin Harlow. of the Federal Council of the development of a definitely Churches of America. 4. The Interracial Department of the Illus. by Thomas Benton. 12 mo. National Council of the Y. M. biracial soc i e t y in America C. A. 239 pp. $2.00. Simon and Schuster. 5. The Interracial Work of the within a period from twenty- New York. 1935. five to fifty years"; but that Y. W. C. A. there are other agencies, "work- Here is a fascinating and true 6. The Society of Friends. ing for the integration of Ameraccount of the trials, adventures 7. The Fellowship of Reconciliation.
and victories of a Christian 8. The American Civil Liberties ican life and the absorption of Union. the Negro into the institutions young woman who undertook to and organizations of the coun- 9. The National Association for the try." His prophecy is that "it teach in a backward town in the Advancement of Colored People. Tennessee mountains. It is a 10.. The International Labor Defense.
story full of wit and wisdom, of is probable that the next generatragedy and comedy. Miss Ens- The methods of work of these tion will witness an intensificalow met opposition, suspicion, various organizations is de- tion of the present biracial ignorance, bullying and dire pov- scribed and we are told what has stratification of society, but that erty with fine courage, Christian been done by one or more of ultimately continued cultural faith, unselfish service and intel- them in different concrete situa- contact will issue in a practical ligent planning. Several men tions which have arisen. If one amalgamation of the races." and women had been compelled wishes to know the latest infor- It is evident that the problem to resign from the school before mation about the Scottsboro of race relations is coming into this young inexperienced moun- case, the efforts to secure the increasing prominence and tain teacher tackled the job. In franchise in the Texas primary, should have the careful study of the end she won pupils and par- or the exclusion of Judge Parker every thoughtful patriot and ents by her brave struggle from the Supreme Court Bench, Christian. Here is a useful or a description of the race riots against ignorance, poverty, dis- handbook for all interracial ease, prejudice and in spite of which occurred at Tulsa, Chi- workers. threats of violence. To read cago or elsewhere, or about the these vividly pictured experi- conflicts relative to segregation WM. HALLOCK JOHNSON. ences opens our eyes and stirs our hearts to the need for giv- or discrimination, he will find Lincoln University, Pa. ing I a r g e r opportunity and greater sympathy to these moun- here a mine of information. The With Christ in Soviet Russia. By V. tain people who have so much author says, "In dealing with a Ph. Martzinkovski. Rearranged, strength of character, with inde- race conflict, a person is not abridged and translated from Ruspendence, courage and loyalty. sian by the Rev. Hoyt E. Porter. dealing with sane, normal, well- 364 pp. Nile Mission Press, Jeru- salem. balanced people, for individuals who are sane in every other This stirring account of a area of life may be psychopathic Russian Christian's personal ex- in interracial situations. The periences of the power of the Negro-White Adjustn.ent: An In- Negro and the white man in Gospel, both as a free man and vestigation and Analysis of Methods in the Interracial Movement in the America do not face each other when suffering imprisonment United States. By Paul E. Baker, as human beings;' they face the and persecution, was translated fictions which they have built up from the R u s s ian language, M.A., Ph.D. 1934. Association in their minds about each other. printed in Czechoslovakia and is Press, New York. Price, $3.00.
Those who are interested in They are fighting a straw man, sold by the Nile Mission Press in the problem of the races in an entity built from the imagina- Jerusalem. The volume has al- America and in the promotion of tion, who, nevertheless, is just ready appeared in five other helpful and friendly relations as real to them as if he truly between the white and colored existed. The Negro is just as translations. Although its story people will find in this book a confused about the white man as useful storehouse of facts. Dr. the white man is about the goes back to 1918 and is chiefly Baker was born in Texas, Negro." concerned with the early days of studied in the North, was pastor for some years of a Presbyterian The author thinks that the the revolution, it is brought up church in New York City and church should take a 'much to date by a supplementary was afterward director of reli- bolder stand upon race issues chapter on Religion in the Rusgious education at Fisk Univer- than it now does, and he finds many ministers to be restless sia of today. With a background and chafing because the church of university life and work among students in Moscow, Pet- rograd, Kief, Odessa and Sa- mara, the author attempts "to sity. He gives a careful de- is so slow to take a forward describe the religious movement scription of the history, phi- move in the moral issues in- in Russia, and to show the dif..
ferent stages through which it under the nom de plume of Bau- a setting the way of response for has been passing. Naturally, re- tista Rinorosa, is R. S. Hosford, a Christian to his Saviour took ligious activity at a time of anti- Honorary Director of the Insti- shape and gave the Church a religious agitation brought much tute Evangelico of Rosario de type of worship which could be opposition. This, too, it is my Santa Fe, Argentina. A brief universally adopted. purpose to relate, and in passing sermon theme is followed by a touch upon important historical clear analysis of the text. Mis- In this dramatic liturgy the events which were of especial sionaries working in Spanish- Church is mustered to act over significance in relation to the in- American countries might find again two events of its Lord's tellectual and spiritual life of the little book very useful for life-the triumphal entry from Russia, and which were subjects their evangelistic work. Bethany to Jerusalem and the of my own observation and ex- Feast spread at the Last Supper. perience. My narrative must C. T. BENZE. In the setting thus projected by necessarily be to some degree the author's interpretation of one-sided, for I am only a drop Sunshine Country. By Cristina Roy. the Book of Revelation the Anin the great ocean of Russian 189 pp. 18. 6d. Pickering an4 glican Liturgy is introduced, life. But he who has keen Inglis, London. Translated from whereby the participants in the enough senses can, from the Slovak by Wm. M. Strong. eucharist reenact the drama of taste and smell of the drop, form worship as produced by the early some conception of the character The author of this refreshing Christians. Such a dramatic of the whole enormous sea." story is in charge of a small hypothesis favored by a series of home for orphans in Czechoslo- students is regarded by the Bib- The book breathes the spirit vakia. It has been translated lical scholars as being artificial of ear I y Christianity. The also into German, French, Span- and missing the real character writer loves his enemies and ish. A little boy, lost to his par- and purpose of the Apocalypse. prays for those who persecute ents, remembers his mother's Furthermore, Dr. Waddy's view him. There is little or nothing story about a land called "sun- of the Lord's Supper is not that against the Soviet Government shine country." Wandering of the Protestant Church, whereas such. The book is not political about the mountains, he thinks in Christ Himself is the chief propaganda for or against Bol- he finds it and in a cave he comes actor and the communicants are shevism or Communism. The upon a book with the inscrip- recipients, but is that of the Roauthor probes deeper and writes tion : "Whoever thou art that man mass, an oblation made by as an apostle of truth. takest this sacred book in hand, a congregation under the leader- read it line after line! It will ship of an officiating priest. "Russia is sick – sick u n t 0 show thee the way to the land death. But over her dying form where there is no night and An Anglican familiar with the silently the figure of Christ where the sun never goes down." liturgy of the Catholic Church bends. He lays his healing may derive some spiritual profit fingers in the bleeding wounds, Palko, the child, went back to from Dr. Waddy's theatrical inand covers them with his own the cave at every opportunity terpretation of the Book of Revclean vestments." and studied the Book; and hav- elation and labored attempt to ing learned its truths, became a couple with it the drama of the The lesson for us to learn is: Christian and was the means of eucharist. An Evangelical Chris- converting rough woodsmen, his tian will find more satisfaction Conquer atheism at home, in Eu- master, and even the village in regarding the Apocalypse as rope, and in this way you wiU help to curate. the message of a prophet and not overcome it in Russia. Conquer it in of a priest. Such an one parthe sphere of the inner life by fur- The story is full of human in- takes of the Lord's Supper not nishing answers to the questionings terest and is charmingly told. as an offering from man to God of honest, conscience-clean doubt. but as a gift from God to man. Somewhere in America a church was The Drama of the Eucharist As Set burning down at night. A crowd Forth in the Book of the Revela- J. R. S. gathered. Among the spectators the tion of St. John the Divine. By pastor saw a well-known atheist, a Stacy Waddy, M.S., D.D. 107 pp. Ambassadors for Christ. By Mildred resident of his parish, and said to him, 28. 6d, cloth. S. P. G. House, Lon- Cable and Francesca French. IUus. "While the church was standing in don. 1934. 8 vo. 159 pp. $1.00. China Inland good condition you did not attend it, Mission. Phila. 1935. but now, when it is on fire, you come." Dr. Waddy, following the dra- matic interpretations of the These two members of the "If your church had always been on Apocalypse as given by such China Inland Mission have not fire, I would have attended regularly," writers as Archbishop Benson only a gift for writing but they the other replied. and Dr. Frederick Palmer, finds have something worth telling. in this encyclical letter addressed Former volumes have dealt with S. M. ZWEMER. to the seven churches of Asia a their missonary adventures in "dramatic liturgy." He regards China and Mongolia, this one is a Una Alajaba de Flechas para los it as the Church's first worship very clear answer to young peo- Arqueros del Senor. Bautista Ri- book used in the eucharist serv- ple who have asked them, while norosa. 120 pp. Instituto Evan- ice. Since John supposedly lived on furlough, to explain about the gelico. Rosario, Argentina. for many years in the home of missionary call, its demands, the mother of the Lord, in such This booklet contains about fifty outlines for sermons – "a quiver of arrows for the Lord's archers." The author, writing
privileges and problems, the mis- are gateways to searching expo- Christ in the early Church, and sionary's relation to the home sition and powerful spiritual ap- finally as the Christian prisoner, Board and to the work on the peal. The mirror of divine prophet and seer in Patmos.
field-all as an "ambassador" of Truth is held before the sins and Here is a wonderfully reward- Jesus Christ. This book is an frailities of saint and sinner with ing study-throwing much light excellent com pan ion to Dr. telling effect, but not without a on the New Testament and the Brown's longer treatise "The faithful unfolding, also, of the problems of the early Church, as Foreign Missionary," and will be Gospel of Grace. The themes are well as on the character of particularly helpful to those who both arresting and practical, as Christ's most intimate companare ready to consider the mis- will be judged by the mention of . ion. The bibliography is very sionary call. a few of the titles: Clean Hearts complete, with references to over and Right Spirits; When the 250 volumes on John and Johan- Die rechtliche Stellung· Christlicher Wagons Came; The Motherhood nine literature. It is the rich Missionen in China. Dietrich Huse- of God; Groping in the Dark; mann. 116 pages. R. M. 6. Pub- A Happy Home; Something for fruitage of a lifetime study-es- lished by Carl Heymann, Berlin, Nothing. pecially valuable to pastors and 1934. other Christian students. A book of such penetrating This "contribution to the study and unmasking character is That Strange Man Upon the Cross. of the protection granted to for- hardly destined for wide popular By Richard Roberts. 12 mo. 135 acceptance; nevertheless it has pp. $1.25. The Abingdon Press. eigners," is devoted principally a greatly needed message for the New York. 1935. present day. It is valuable as a to the status of Christian mis- treatise on the Way of Life and These are devout, Biblical adsions and missionaries in China. as a guide to holy living. dresses on Christ-the Man, the After an introductory discussion Teacher, the Worker, and the of the idea of missions and the H.R.MoNRO. Crucified One. The lectures stop extent of modern mission work, short of completeness since the Epochs in the Life of the Apostle Risen, living Christ is not the book is divided into two John. By the late A. T. Robertson. clearly presented. A Christ on parts, the first comprising the 8 vo. 253 pp. $2.00. Revell. New the Cross is essential to the Gosperiod of 1842-1903, the second York. 1935. pel but this is not the true clithe period of 1903-1932. There max. Dr. Roberts says, "We find A book by the leading New ourselves saying with the people is also a good bibliography and a Testament scholar in America is who heard his living voice, supplement. an event. Dr. Robertson was 'Never spake man like this man,' well-known as a professor of and perhaps at the last falling at Naturally the discussion on New Testament Greek in Louis- his feet and saying, with his the relations of missions to gov- ville Theological Seminary and skeptical disciple, 'My Lord and as the author of a number of My God.''' While we cannot ernments involves a discussion books on preaching and the min- agree with every statement of of what is meant by governments istry and on the history and ex- Dr. Roberts, his studies are themselves. The citation of the egesis of the New Testament. stimulating and bring the reader legal agreements makes the book His death last year was a great into fellowship with the cruci- loss to the Church, but he has left fied Christ, as "the last word of very useful. The author, who behind him abiding evidences of God to a wayward race." his scholarship and evangelical lives in China, discusses such standing. Christ and the Student World. By questions as the right to propa- Robert P. Wilder. 80 pages. 18. In this posthumous volume Dr. Simpkin Mashall Ltd., London. gate Christianity, the right to Robertson unhesitatingly· iden- 1935. live in China and to acquire tified the Apostle Paul with the property there, the French pro- writer Qf the fourth Gospel, and The practical value of these of the epistles and Revelation- messages has already been tested tectorate of missions, the protec- and with good reason. His book and proved. They were con- is the result of a life-time of ceived through years of prayer, tion of missionaries and con- study of the J ohannine problem. verts, the official rank of Roman Catholic missionaries, the right of Christian missionaries to engage in non-missionary pur- suits. Legal documents are quoted in original English, French or German.
C. T. BENZE.
The Sins of Saints. By Herbert Lock- First Dr. Robertson presents the Bible study and spiritual ex- yer. 1 8. 124 pp. Pickering & In- "Beloved Disciple" in his per- perience and came into being to glis, Glasgow. sonal characteristics and sur- meet the definite needs of stu- This little book of 126 pages is roundings as presented in the dents. They have been greatly almost pure gold,-not in the lit- New Testament and described by blessed in America, Europe, erary or exegetical sense, but in the Early Church Fathers. He Egypt and India where intellithe fidelity with which the truths makes a careful study of John as gent young men and young womof Scripture are applied to the a trusted follower of Jesus, a en have been brought out of common weaknesses of our hu- close companion of Peter and the darkness and despair into light man life. The thirteen texts o the r apostles, a missionary and hope.
which form the chapter headings leader and clear interpreter of There are eight brief studies
-The Fight for Character, The est, the reader gains a keener in- Uniqueness of Jesus Christ, We sight into the very heart of KAGAWA Would See Jesus, Bible Study India, and finds a spiritual tonic ~onG5 for Spiritual Growth, Prayer, out of the heart of this extraor- f1Om tHE Guidance, What Is a Missionary dinary group of women in Lud- SlUm~ Call, and The Risen Lord. hiana Hospital. ~EMS written by the great Toyohiko Kagawa, today the outstanding Christ and the Bible are the DAVID MCCONAUGHY. sociologist, humanitarian and author of foundation on which Dr. Wilder the Orient, during the fifteen years he lived as a pauper in the notorious pestbuilds, but wide reading and ex- Twice-Born Men. Compiled by Hy hole of the Kobe slums. perience furnish rich material Pickering. 12 Mo. 144 pages. 1 Christians the world over will thrill to shilling. Pickering & Inglis. Glas- these astounding word-pictures, painted for effective, careful and logical gow. 1934. originally in brush letters on sheets torn construction of his thought. Stu- from old magazines, by this son of the This is not related to the vol- mystic East, who later rose to a position dents and other earnest-minded ume of the same name by Harold of international leadership. young people will find them espe- Begbie. It is a compilation of In these poems are revealed his emotions stories of the conversion of one and experiences as, smitten with tubercially valuable. culosis, all but blinded by trachoma, he plunged among the twenty thousand The Rediscovery of the Spirit. By hundred men in different walks derelicts of Shinkawa to share his all William Owen Carver. Fleming H. of life, in different lands and with humanity'S outcasts. widely separated in time. They A wonderful gift book. Profusely illus- Revell Co. $1.50. trated and beautifully bound.
This book is a tonic for those include stories of Sir Robert An- your bookwho have been under the influ- derson, formerly head of Scot- seller or land Yard; F. S. Arnot, mis- from the ence of the cynical materialistic sionary to Africa; Dr. T. J. publisher. Barnardo, "Father of Nobody's views which have been widely Children"; D. L. Moody, the COKESBURY PRESS prevalent, but which, the author evangelist; J. Pierpont Morgan, Nashville, Tenn. finds, are now giving way to a the banker; A. J. Gordon, the Baptist preacher of Boston, and more spiritual and therefore Arthur T. Pierson. Most of the subjects are well known and more hopeful conception of life. these stories furnish good mate- He presents the evidence of a rial for sermons and other ad- revival of confidence that life dresses.
has real meaning and purpose. He does much more than this- he lays the foundations for an adequate Christian philosophy and shows that the Christian ex- "Eye" to "Aye." By Paul H. Graef. 8 Vo. 127 pp. $1.00. Christian perience and the Christian reve- Publications, Inc. Harrisburg, Pa. 1934. lation do not have to wait for the word of the scientist and the By the use of display type and psychologist before having valid some colored charts Mr. Graef, a businessman, presents the Gosassurance that in its relation pel message of the New Testa- with God the soul is in contact with reality.
SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT. ment. The main parts are Scrip- ture quotations on sin and Unto the Skies. By Lillian G. Carle- salvation, showing clearly the ton. 12mo. 207 pp. $1.00. Pickering & Inglis. Glasgow. 1934. way out of darkness to light, or from .death to life. Mission This cluster of stories from workers and other personal life gives vivid pictures from the workers will find it emphatic, childlife of boys and girls treat- clear, concise and appropriate. ed in the Memorial Hospital of the Medical College at Ludhiana, The Flying Boat. By Robert N. Mc- North India. Miss Carleton is Lean. 8 vo. 184 pp. $1.00. Friendherself· a part of the picture, ship Press. New York. 1935.
having been for years a nurse The author of "The Jumping intimately associated with Dr. Bean" here tells the story of life Edith Brown, the founder and and work among Mexican chilstill the dynamic genius of this dren in Arizona. It is a roman- great Christian institution. Next tic story in which adventure, love to seeing that busy beehive-as and Christian service are min- has this reviewer-and getting gled. It has the flavor of old and the "close-up" of it all, is the new Mexico with Spanish spices, reading of the stories found in tomale and tobasco mixed. It is these glowing pages. For out of worth reading-for young and this composite of human inter- old.
Books
The Basic Beliefs of Jesus. Bishop FOUR CENTURIES in English of the Ten Paul B. Kern. 246 pp. $2.00. Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount! Cokesbury Press. Nashville, Tenn. Four centuries in English of the 23d Psalm and the 14th of John! Four centuries in English of Micah 6: 8 and John The Bible in Our Day. A symposium. 3: 16! Four centuries in English of the Golden Rule and the 184 pp. $1.00. American Bible So- Great Commission! Four centuries in English of the Word ciety. New York. of Godl Calendars. Daily Meditation, Is. 6d.; THE ENGLISH BIBLE has brought its helpful messages of comfort, coun- Golden Grain, Is. 3d.; Golden Text, sel, challenge, and redemption to hundreds of thousands. You are among 18. 3d.; Daily Manna, 18. Pickering those who have tested its truths, lived by its light, and proved its promises. & Inglis. London. BUT RIGHT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES there are many The Conquering Christ. Inabelle G. without the Bible; in far away lands there are countless thousands who Coleman. 92 pp. Foreign Mission have never seen even a single Gospel; there are hundreds of languages in Board, Southern Baptist Conven- which no part of Scripture has ever been translated. tion. Richmond, Va. AND THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY IS EQUIPPED and ready Gold by Moonlight. Amy Carmichael. to speed the translation of the Bible into other tongues, to publish it in 182 pp. 58. S. P. C. K. London. inexpensive editions for missionary use, and to make the loved heritage of the English Bible the possession of multitudes both in this country and I Discover the Orient. Fletcher Brockman. 210 pp. $2.00. Har- abroad. * But to do this requires funds. pers. New York. AS CHRISTMAS' APPROACHES can you think of a better way of show- Miracles in a Doctor's Life. Walter ing your gratitude for your own Bible than by helping others to have the Lewis Wilson. 120 pp. Paper. Scriptures? A gift to the American Bible Society will do just that. Moody Bible Institute Colportage Assn. Chicago. THE BIBLE IS YOUR HERITAGE. TO GIVE IT TO OTHERS IS YOUR PRIVILEGE. The Netherlands Indies. WorId Do- minion Survey Series. Joh. Rauwes, MR '1 H. Kraemer, F. J. F. Van Hasseltz, N. A. C. Slotemaker de Bruine. AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY I 186 pp. 58. and 38. 6d. World Do- minion Press. New York and Lon- Bible House. Astor Place, New York. N. Y. don. I Dear Friends: Out of gratitude for what the Bible has meant to me and in recognition Points for Emphasis. A Vest Pocket Commentary. Hight C. Moore. of four hundred years of the printed English Bible, I am sending you herewith 192 pp. 35 cents. Sunday School $………………………………….. that I may share this precious heritage with others. Board, Southern Baptist Conven- I tion. Nashville, Tenn. NAKIC ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. I Philosophical and Biblical Reflec- tions on World Peace. John Boven- ADDIlItSS …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… I kerk. 31 pp. 35 cents. Zondervan Pub. House. Grand Rapids, Mich. CI'l'Y AND STATIC …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. J Studies in Romans. B. H. Carroll. • Last year the Society distributed 7.517.548 Bibles, Testaments, Gospels, and Portions, in 119 pp. 60 cents, cloth; 40 cents, 148 languages, and in more than forty countries. paper. Sunday School Board, Southern Baptist Convention. Nash- ville, Tenn.
The Solitary Throne. Some Religious Beliefs of Mahatma Gandhi in the Light of Christ's Teachings. Bishop Brenton T. Badley. Lucknow Press. Lucknow, India.
The Shepherd King. John Clover Monsma. 268 pp. $2.00. Zonder- van Pub. House. Grand Rapids, Mich.
Tarbell's Teacher's Guide – 1 9 3 6. Martha Tarbell. 432 pp. $2.00. Revell. New York.
The Turkish Transformation. Henry Elisha Allen. 251 pp. $2.50. Uni- versity of Chicago Press. Chicago.
With Christ in Soviet Russia. V. Ph. Martzinkovski. 364 pp. Nile Mis- sion Press. Jerusalem.
John White of Mashonaland. C. F. Andrews. 205 pp. $1.50. Harpers. New York.
Year Book of Negro Churches. Com- piled by Bishop Reverdy C. Ransom. :'.11 pp. Wilberforce University. Wilberforce, Ohio.
"GIVE US LI FE!"
pleaded four ragged, barefoot lepers at the en- trance of the Soonchun Leper Colony, Korea, one bitter wintry night.
HThere is no room," said Rev. J. Kelly Unger, Superintendent. "We can scarcely feed and "'Give U. Life/".. shelter the patients we now have.
"All night long they lay there in the snow, beneath my window, pleading, 'Oh, give us life!'
"The next morning, with breaking heart, I watched them wind their way back into the mountains,- doubtless to die and never to hear the name of Jesus Christ.
"They had knocked on the very doors 0/ Christianity and had been turned away."
*** Your Christmas Gift Will Help To Give Them Life WILL rou FEED A STARVING LEPER ($1 a month) ?• PROVIDE A WARM BLANKET ($2) GIVE A CHRISTMAS DINNER TO 200 ($20) CARE FOR A LEPER ONE YEAR ($40) American Mission to-Lepers, Inc.
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The Missionary Review of the World — October 1935
1935
Latin Am.erica Nutnber The Latin American Lands Mary Wilhelmine Williams The Need for the Gospel Edward M. Haymaker Unevangelized Areas in Latin America John Ritchie The Indians South of the Rio Grande Joseph H. Davis Emerging Latin American Youth S. Franklin Mack Religious Education……Old and New Homer C. Stuntz Growth of Religious Liberty Charles S. Detweiler The Influence of the Printed Word H. C. Tucker A Living Church in Latin America Kenneth S. Grubb Cooperation and Unity Webster E. Browning Twice Born Latin Americans Various Authors 25 Cents a Copy $2.50 a Year
Notes Dates to
menever Rev. William Gunn, M.D., a Scot- September 27-0ctober 6-Interna- tish missionary who spent over half a tional Committee of International the Call comes from century in the New Hebrides, died at Missionary Council. Northfield, Sydney, Australia. Most of Dr. Mass. EAST OF SUEZ Gunn's life was spent on the island of Futuna, but his fame as a surgeon October 5-6-Loyalty Days. sail by and physician spread far beyond this island. He was well known in Aneit- October 15-20 – International Con- p&O yum and many other stations of the vention of the Disciples of Christ. John G. Paton Mission to the New San Antonio, Texas. To whatever part of the East the work Hebrides. of the Faith may take you ••• Cunard October 16, 17-American Mission to *** Lepers. Annual Meeting, New White Star and P & 0 combine to York. Tuesday – Medical Confer- Rev. W. Kendall Gale, L. M. S. ence, 156 Fifth Avenue. Evening make the way easy• You cross to pioneer in Madagascar, who died meeting at Madison Ave. Baptist England by the largest fleet on the June 7 after an operation, was prob- Church, Rev. and Mrs. R. C. Rich- Atlantic ••• then sail eastward on the ably the founder of more churches ardson of Miraj, India, will speak. new s.s. Strathnaver or s. s. Strathaird than any other missionary; he had TVednesday-All-day meeting at the or any other fast luxurious P&O liners. not far from 300 on his roll in the 27 Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church Thus you use throughout the two years of his service. House. Speakers – Rev. J. Kelly Lines preferred by travelers since Unger of Korea; Dr. E. R. Kellers- *** berger ,of the Belgian Congo, and 1840 • • • on the Indian and Pacific Miss Alma Dodds of Tenghsien, Mrs. Thomas H. Candor, over 40 China. as well as the Atlantic oceans. Tra- years a Presbyterian missionary in ditions of seamanship and service that Colombia, South America, died at her October 22-Five Years' Meeting of have endured for nearly a century, home in Pasadena, Calif., July 30. the Friends. Richmond, Ind. are your assurance of a safe and Mrs. Candor was first appointed as a supremely comfortable voyage. missionary to the Seminole Indians, in October 28-November 1- Houston, 1879. Texas. Mrs. E. B. Mohle, 2309 PENINSULAR AND ORIENTAL Robinhood, Houston, Texas. AND *** BRITISH INDIA November 3-9-Christian Home Week. Tom Noonan, known to thousands STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANIES as the Bishop of Chinatown, New November 17-Men and Missions Sun- York City, died last August in a Long day. Topic: "Jesus Christ and the P & 0 liners sail regularly from London to Island Hospital gasping for air and World Today." For source material Egypt, Sudan and the Persian Gulf, to India, murmuring about "the brightest light write to the Laymen's Missionary Burma and Ceylon, to the Straits Settle- he ever saw." He was a man re- Movement, 19 S. La Salle St., Chiments, China and Japan, to Australia and deemed from a life of sin and who cago. New Zealand, East and South Africa, devoted himself to serving Jesus in Mauritius, etc. Convenient through book- the Rescue Society Mission. Tom November 28-Thanksgiving Day. ings at attractively low fares can be arranged Noonan was born, he said, "somewhere by your local travel agent or any office of . on the sidewalks of New York 57 December 7-Universal Bible Sunday. Cunard White Star Line. years ago." Mrs. Maud Ballington Booth was his friend and helped him December 28, 1935-January 1, 1936- up until he devoted his life forever Student Volunteer Convention. In- to the business of leading the under- dianapolis, Ind. world of Chinatown to Jesus. " If you use ** * PRINTING Dr. James M. Gray, until recently the president of Moody Bible Insti- Y OU will profit from an ac- tute, Chicago, and well-known as quaintanceship with us. We author and speaker on Biblical do the job complete in our own themes, died in Chicago, on Saturday, plant, whether it be large or September 21st. Dr. Gray was eighty- small. four years of age and for the past forty years has been connected with While our specialty is Books, the Moody Bible Institute. Dr. Gray Magazines and Pamphlets, yet is survived bv three sons. we have a variety of modern equipment to meet all the re- quirements of your particular job. You will find our service prompt, careful and courteous.
Will you allow us to estimate on your next printing? We be- lieve you will be delighted with our product, price and service.
Complete informationfrom Your Local Agent or The EVANGELICAL PRESS CUNARD WHITE STAR Printers of The Missionary Review of the World GENERAL AGENTS PLANT AND MAIN OFFICE 25 Broadway New York 638 Fifth Ave. Third and Reily Streets Harrisburg, P••
MISSIONARY of South America," "The Lowland In- "To the Orient"
REVIEW OF THE WORLD dians of South America," and "South -in Chinese America-the Land of the Future." DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor GO DIRECT The Rev. S. Franklin Mack has just TO THE ORIENT VOL. LVIII OCT.,1935 No. 10 returned from visiting the mission stations of the Presbyterian Board in ONLY 10 DAYS TO YOKOHAMA .. . Publication and Business Office- Latin America. He traveled some fastest, shortest Pacific crossing .. . Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. 25,000 miles, 8,000 by air, and took by the sister-ships, Empress of hundreds of feet of film and many Asia or Empress of Russia. Or via Editorial and Executive Office- photographs to be used in making Honolulu in 3 days more on the 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. known the work of the Board. Empress of Japan (mighty speed- Entered as second-class matter at queen of the Pacific) or the Em- The Rev. Chas. S. Detweiler, who press of Canada. Post Office, Harrisburg, Pa., under is superintendent of Baptist Missions LOW ALL·YEAR ROUND·TRIP Act of March 3, 1879. in Latin America, is well known to FARES . .. outstanding First Class, our readers as the author of many attractive Tourist Class. Low-cost 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. articles on Cuba, Puerto Rico, etc. Third Class on all "Empresses." Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. Summer round-trip fares to the Published monthly, except August. The Rev. H. C. Tucker, D.D., re- Orient even lower. All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1935. tired this spring after forty-seven FREQUENT SAILINGS from Van- British agents – Marshall, Morgan years of service as agent of the couver (trains to ship-side) and and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, American Bible Society in Brazil. Victoria. Orient fares include pas- London, E. C. 1 shilling per copy, His work brought him in touch with sage to and from Seattle. Orient 10 shillings a year. the general religious, educational and ports-of-call: Yokohama, Kobe, civic life of the people among whom Nagasaki, Shanghai, Hong Kong, MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- he worked. His concern over sanitary Manila. LISHING CO., INC. and civic conditions led to activities oAlso .. •low-cost World Tours. which shared in the establishment of BO OKLETS from YOUR OWN AGENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS hospitals, children's playgrounds, or Canadian Pacific: New YQrk, ROBERT E. SPEER, President nurses' training and the curbing of Chicago, San Francisco, and 34 WM. I. CHAMBERLAIN, Vice-President yellow fever. other cities in the U. S. and Canada. WALTER McDOUGALL, Treasurer DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary The Rev. Epaminondas M. Do Amaral is General Secretary of the SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT Evangelical Federation of Brazil. MRS. ORRIN R. JUDD His article was translated into Eng- lish by the Rev. C. Godinho. WM. B. LIPPHARD The Rev. Hugh C. Stuntz, B.D., a ERIC M. NORTH son of Bishop Homer Stuntz of the JESSE R. WILSON Methodist Episcopal Church, has been engaged in religious educational work A. L. W ARNSHUIS in Latin America since 1920—{)rgan- izing Sunday schools in Chile, serving SA~1UEL M. ZWEMER as president of the Theological Semi- nary at Buenos Aires, and since 1934 Editorial Chat president of the American Institute at La Paz, Bolivia. m;" We were so richly blessed with Dr. Webster E. Browning, for many terial for the special number on Latin years a Presbyterian missionary, is America that all of it could not be representative of the Committee on Cocrowded into this number. Among the operation in Latin America, at Buenos articles that are held over and will Aires. He writes from wide and long appear in November are: experience on "Unity and Coopera- tion." He is the author of "The Re- "The CrlJcial Issue in Latin Amer- public o:t Ecuador," "New Days in ica," by John A. Mackay. Latin America," and a collaborator on several reports of surveys. "A Church on the Job in Mexico," by R. C. Morrow. *** "The Movement of the Spirit in "I used lots of your June issue in Mexico," by N. W. Taylor. my Methods periods and folks bought a number of copies of the magazine "Some Results of the Gospel," by for the suggestions in the Effective George A. Miller. Ways of Working Department and the special home mission articles. It's "Some Social and Religious Prob- a fine issue." lems," by Pedro Zottele. MRS. B. P. HEUBNER, Teacher of "William Bagby-Pioneer in Bra- Standard Mission Study Courses. zil," by Inabelle G. Coleman. *** *** "Mrs. Elaine Goodale Eastman, CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE speaking of the article on 'Federal Favor for Fetishism,' has written to Prof. Mary W. Williams, in addi- several New England papers advising tion to her teaching experience and that it be read. Already the Springher special study of the past and pres- field Republican and another newsent history of Latin America, has vis- paper have printed her letters. Rev. ited the twenty countries at various G. E. E. Lindquist was much pleased times. Her book, "The People and with the article and will be circulating Politics of Latin America," is widely it as he goes about among the Inused as a textbook in many colleges. dians."
Rev. Edward M. Haymaker, D.D., [449 ] has spent nearly fifty years in Latin America, most of the time in Guatemala, as a missionary of the Presbyterian Church. In 1933 he was honorably retired but continues to live there and edits the mission papeF, Guatemala News.
Kenneth G. Grubb was formerly a missionary in South America. He has traveled extensively in all Latin America for the World Dominion Movement and has prepared many surveys published by the Movement, among them, "The Northern Republics
A WAYSIDE SHRINE ON THE STREETS OF CUZCO, PERU THE VIRGIN OF
DANCING BEFORE THE SHRINE OF THE VIRGIN OF COPACABANA ROMAN CATHOLIC WORSHIP IN LATIN AMERICA ORLD VOLUME LVIII AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER 10 OCTOBER, 1935 Topies of the Times WHY SEND MISSIONARIES TO to certain ideals. No. The great and only suffi- LATIN AMERICA cient reason for Protestant miSSiions to Latin Americans is that of the 115,000,000 people living Out of 682,400,000 nominal Christians in the in those countries at least 50,000,000-a conservaworld, probably over 500,000,000 would say there tive estimate-have no saving knowledge of Christ is no need for such an enterprise as Protestant and His Gospel; this is according to the testimony missions in Latin America. A map of the world of their own people.' Note these facts: religions shows Mexico, Central America and most of South America as Roman Catholic. This 1. There are in Latin America at least 15,000,- Church accepts the Bible as the inspired Word of 000 Indians who are still practically pagans.
God, Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Saviour Many have been baptized as Catholics but with- of men through His death on the Cross, the Holy out any understanding of the Way of Life in Spirit as the divine guide and giver of power to Christ. They are as superstitious as before, even men. These doctrines of the Gospel are accepted though they may attend festivals and observe the by Roman Catholics even more generally than by ritual of the church. Hundreds of thousands of Protestants. Why then should we send Christian them live in the interior and have never come into missionaries to Latin Americans, at an expense contact with white people, much less with repre- of millions of dollars, in spite of the opposition of sentatives of Christ.
the Roman Catholic Church that has dominated 2. About one-fourth of the people of Latin Latin America for four hundred years? Is this America are atheists or agnostics. Their families effort justified? may be conne~ted with the church but they them- If so, it is certainly not for the same reason selves have given up all faith in God and prac- that Mussolini claims justification for sending his tically never attend religious services. They have military mission to Abyssinia – to extend the not been attracted by the kind of Christianity with borders of his kingdom, to give occupation to his which they have come into contact.
soldiers and to strengthen fascist morale. The 3. Even the members of the Roman Catholic Evangelical Christian Church is not merely seek- Church who are faithful in its observances and ing to extend its borders or increase its adherents. are loyal to the priests are, to a large extent, un- Nevertheless for one hundred years Protestant educated as to the teachings of the Bible and the missionaries have been going to the Latin Amer- Way of Life offered by Christ. They place the icans to preach the Gospel of Christ; they have Virgin Mary above Christ as an intercessor and sacrificially expended money and life; they have make their petitions almost exclusively to her and endured opposition, misrepresentation and perse- to numerous saints. They have been taught that cution; they have called together leaders in con- salvation is obtained through baptism into the ferences at Panama, Montevideo and Rio de Ja- Catholic Church and that good works are even neiro to plan for more effective advance. Why all more important than is faith in the finished work this expenditure of money, effort, life? of the Redeemer. Many of the priests who rep- The reason is not merely because large num- resent to them the authority of the Church are not bers of the people in those countries are back- worthy of respect. These uneducated church peo- ward, illiterate, or living in poverty; it is not be- pIe are more sinned against than sinning. They cause of the political unrest or failure to live up are religious but not Christian.
[451 ]
4. The results of Evangelical Christian work in: made up of what we try to sell them-automobiles, Latin America show its value. While the number typewriters, threshing machines? of those who have been baptized into Evangelical Church membership has not been large, the testi- Our missionaries are not impertinent intruders mony of Latin Americans show that they have in Latin American life. In the first place, most found new life in Christ through the Gospel. all the southern countries have invited the mis- There is abundant evidence that Evangelical mis- sionaries in a rather direct, semi-official way to sion work is owned of God. come. And missionaries have gone to live with the people, learn their language, study their life, These are sufficient reasons to convince loyal share their burdens and help solve their problems. Christians of the need for including millions of When you visit the missionary in Latin America Latin Americans in the number of those who still you find him living among friends. These regard need to be evangelized. The Gospel of Christ pre- him highly and appreciate deeply that here is one sents the true hope not only for eternal life but who represents the best in his own country and for development of character and for stabilizing with whom they can discuss those great spiritual governments and the reformation of society. questions which are the most important in life.
SHARING OUR BEST There are many other reasons for North Amer- ica sending missionaries to Latin America, but Fundamentally, for the same reasons that we those who are cognizant of all the evil influences send missionaries to the big cities or the far West exported to Southern America by this fair land of of the United States, or to China or to Africa- ours should be especially anxious to help share we want to share with Latin Americans the love of with them the best in our Christian religion. Christ which means so much to us. But, further, because of the other influences we send to Latin SAMUEL GUY INMAN. America. We have sent our marines. With machine guns and bombing planes our soldiers have ARE FOREIGN MISSIONS A LEADING hunted the "natives" and when off duty have ENTERPRISE? often engaged in the most repulsive orgies in dives and saloons. They have often suppressed The missionary spokesmen in some denominaliberties and ruthlessly wrested every measure of tions have been projecting their fallacies upon the democracy from the lands they have invaded. apparent assumption that the foreign missionary work of these denominations has reached its We have sent Latin America our bond sales- zenith and is henceforth to decline. Is this a men. These have combined with ruthless South valid assumption? Whether or not it is so in any American dictators to fasten great debts on the one denomination is a question which probably people, at times using direct bribes for the pur- the leaders of the missionary cause in that depose, and in many ways corrupting government nomination are best qualified to say. And time officials and setting up false standards of value. will inevitably bring its answer.
We have sent Latin America our munitions But if we have regard to the nature and misdealers, who have urged on the makers of war, pit- sion of Christianity in the world, to the need of ting one government against another in spending men and nations for the true Gospel of the Son of their small budgets in war materials with the false God and the Saviour of mankind, and to the prachope of winning in an armament race. Bribes tically untouched resources of some Christian comand deception have been the morals too often munions, the idea that the work of foreign mistaught by North American salesmen of munitions sions has reached its maximum development and in dealing with our southern neighbors. is henceforth to wane becomes intellectually and morally untenable. We have sent Latin America thousands of reels of moving pictures which exalt gangsters, lewd It is, indeed, possible, if not also desirable and women, deceit and murder. Not a city in all these inevitable, that some of the forms and methods of southern countries where children and adults alike the missionary enterprise should change, but unare not having their ,characters shaped by the til in every land agencies are brought into being motion pictures sent from the United States. which can rightly be expected to take over the whole task of national evangelization, the duty of We have sent them our night club hostesses, the Christian churches of other lands to share in jazz-bands and ballet dancers, our shady show- the task is not open to evasion or avoidance. men, shysters and bathing beauties, and a terrible lot of pornographic literature. There may be bodies of Christians who think that their share in the task is done. They will Do we want our southern neighbors to think have to answer themselves to the Head of the that the above represent our country? Are we church for their judgment. And it is clear enough willing to have them believe even that our life is that in some lands some forms of work are no
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
longer possible. But in not one of the countries to fascism at home in the heat of patriotic mili- in which the foreign missionary work has been tary fervor, and insuring a further term of per- done in the past is the task accomplished, while sonal dictatorship.
in some of them new need has become manifest Sixth, it is almost ideally situated to complete and in other lands Christianity has been set back a powerful Italian empire in Mediterranean in ways that demand a resolute purpose of re- Africa, thus at one stroke giving Italy a voice in covery. Africa comparable to that of France and Britain, If the missionary enterprise is now to recede it a strength in the Mediterranean rivalling Britain, will not be because of diminished need, or of the and a threat at Suez and the Red Sea-Britain's accomplishment of the work, or of the discovery vitally important and jealously guarded route to of defect or inadequacy in Christianity, but it will India.
be as the result of waning faith or of relaxed One need not be unduly cynical about Britain's grasp of the essential nature of the Gospel or of a strong protective protests thus far in Ethiopia's relaxed will of sacrifice and devotion, and such behalf, to suggest that the tap root of British in- recession can be only temporary. It will be suc- terest in the whole matter is to be found in this ceeded in due time by a recovery of faith and a sixth and last enumeration of things which make fresh outburst of the Christian purpose to make Ethiopia so expensively important to Italy.
Christ Lord of all. ROBERT E. SPEER. The threat which has now come to the entire peace of the world should reinforce the prayers THE ITALO-ETHIOPIAN SITUATION and the determination of Christians everywhere From the European point of view, there is in- that Ethiopia shall not be wiped out, but that she volved in what has come to be called the Italo- Ethiopian situation enormously more than the may have continued opportunity and increased mere fate of Ethiopia. Otherwise there certainly would not have been much more effective effort aid in developing her own culture and solving her at Geneva and elsewhere during the past few weeks than there was when the Japanese con- own numerous internal problems. quest of Manchuria was being prepared and effected. She has welcomed the Protestant missionary Various elements in Ethiopia's importance to work which in recent years is being so splendidly Italy and the rest of the world may be stated as follows: done within her borders. The Emperor has First, Ethiopia is a rich country both as to soil evinced utmost confidence in the missionary leadand subsoil. Platinum, gold, copper, coal, sul- ers devoting themselves to his people. The churches of America have a heavy responsibility toward this oldest Christian nation which stretches forth at this time its hands in what is probably the most critical hour of its long and eventful history. EMORY Ross.
phur, iron and other rich minerals are known to A CHALLENGE TO FOREIGN be there. Its plateaux of 6,000 and 8,000 feet are MISSIONARIES! well watered, fertile, capable of multiplied pro- duction of cotton, wheat, rubber, wax, coffee, to- A generation ago foreign missionaries were sent bacco, oil. Cattle thrive. It is a rich country. forth from America through the great evangelistic Second it is sparsely populated and has large faith of the Protestant churches. Convinced areas open and suitable for European coloniza- Christians took up with enthusiasm their re1Pon- tion, an outlet Italy's expanding population sorely sibilities of making Christ known in all parts of needs. the world. Today the missionary movement is Third, it controls the waters of the Blue Nile, able to continue only through the sustained efforts necessary for Britain's cotton-growing expansion of sincere evangelistic Christians. To in<;rease in the Nile Valley, and therefore is an invaluable their number, especially among the younger gen- trading pawn for Italy to use in getting conces- eration who must take the place of the missionary- sions out of Britain in other territorial or political minded men and women of yesterday, is the fundaspheres. mental requirement for a forward movement in Fourth, because of the still-rankling 1896 de- missions. Missionary methods are important but feat at Adowa, it is a splendid scene for a dra- an evangelistic dynamic is essential.
matic Italian victory-at-arms. The churches in America have suffered a severe Fifth, it was doubtless conceived by Mussolini attack from behind their lines. The skepticism to be about the least dangerous ground in the of modern philosophers, novelists, and critics has world on which to stage a slashing return to the poisoned the springs of public opinion until to- old days of a conquering Roman empire, thus day many former church people are losing sight achieving unity by action, burning up opposition of the significance of Jesus Christ for themselves
and for humanity. Life has lost its meaning and human hearts to transform lives and to prepare Christianity is understood only as a social tradi- men for service. These last factors are too often tion and not as a living dynamic power in per- overlooked or minimized by travelers who seek sonal and social life. Foreign missionaries have to appraise missionary work. A mission cannot been trained to confront non-Christian religions be judged by its denominational affiliation, its inwith the vital message of Christ. From their ex- dependent character or even by its ideals and perience they can tell of what Christ means and claims. No better standard of judgment has been does in the life of individuals, in the home, in so- discovered than that indicated by Christ: "By ciety, and in the nation. Have they not a great their fruits ye shall know them." contribution to make in confronting the non-Christian forces at home and the churches themselves Many stations in mission fields are worthy of with this same great message? study as spiritual power houses. One is described by the Rev. Kirkland West-the Weihsien Station, The furloughed missionary has a great oppor- Shantung Province, China. In brief he outlines tunity to bring a message to the Church at home. the work as follows: The Church needs cheering and aid in resisting the attack from behind its lines at home. Dr. E. "Weihsien Mission Station is located about two Stanley Jones has shown us what a wide response miles from the city and is a little village by itself awaits such a message. The vitality of the Church which we call the mission compound, all the propis measured now as it always has been in the past erty being enclosed by a wall. The community by its missionary zeal. So is it not the great op- of people includes some five hundred students in portunity of foreign missionaries today, not the primary and high school with the teachers merely to seek support for some specific piece of and their families; some fifty Chinese nurses, work, but to demonstrate the power and meaning student nurses, doctors, laundrymen, cooks and of their message and arouse the Church in Amer- coolies who look after fifty or sixty patients in ica to a renewed evangelistic purpose? In thus the hospital and clinic; fifty young women who strengthening and clarifying the Church's vision study to learn how to carry the Gospel to country of Christ the foreign missionary would also dem- women; three Chinese pastors who look after onstrate the universality of the Christian message spiritual needs in the station and in surrounding and the world need for it. America needs its for- country districts; thirteen American missioneign missionaries. Will the furloughed mission- aries with their children. aries meet the challenge? A. L. WARNSHUIS. "We at Weihsien are working together as a A MISSION STATION AS A POWER HOUSE Gospel team. Our daily routine carries us into various departments of work, and we meet to- Many visitors to mission fields are impressed gether each noon day to pray for one another's chiefly by the material equipment – that which problems, and remember that we are all engaged represents money and physical labor-the schools, in God's work-which is one." hospitals, church buildings, bookshops, missionary residences and industrial shops, if any. There are many other missions of outstanding These are important but they may mean anything character as "power stations" – such as Pyengor nothing from a Christian missionary point of yang, Korea; Meshed, Persia; Maimyo, Burma; view. Dohnavur, India; Hillah, Iraq; Kwato, Papua; Camaroun, West Africa. In every mission field Much more important is the personnel-the mis- these "power stations" are characterized first of sionaries, evangelists, teachers, doctors, nurses, all by loyalty to Christ, as Saviour and Lord, and and other workers. Their number and intellectual to the Word of God; second by believing prayer training are of secondary importance to their as the chief means of solving all problems, healspiritual life, power and purpose but unless there ing the sick (physically and spiritually), casting is a third factor they are useless as missionaries. out demons, winning souls, receiving guidance, This factor consists of the people among whom overcoming opposition and obtaining support for and for whom the missionaries work-the pupils, the work. Every station and every mission home patients, families, visitors, students in training, may be a "power house" where spiritual contacts pastors, Bible women and the Christian constit- are kept alive and where power is received, transuency. Here is the visible evidence of efficiency. formed and passed on to give warmth, light and But other factors even more essential to success energy to all the workers, for all the work of God, are the spiritual forces that are discernable only in all departments. But the opportunities for to spiritual eyes-the faith, prayer-life; spirit of "power houses" are not confined to the mission love and the power that show God working in field. Is the Christian family, the church, the business office, the mission board with which you are connected at home a spiritual power house?
r-rhe Latin American
By DR. MARY WILHELMINE WILLIAMS, II~'- Baltimore, Md.
Professor of History in Goucher College; Author of "The People and Politics of Latin America"
,~==============================~ THE region called Latin America, lying. be- bows of butterflies which play in the warm golden tween the Rio Grande and Cape Horn, covers sunshine. about nine million square miles, an area approximately three times that of the United States Most of the twenty Latin American countries of America. Its widely diversified climate includes lie under the direct rays of the sun. Only little Arctic cold on the lofty peaks of the Andes, Uruguay is wholly outside of the tropics; but scorching heat in the deserts of northeastern Chile and Argentina are largely in the south tem- Brazil, steaming humidity along tropical coasts, perate zone. From these three lands of April and on the high table-lands within the torrid zone autumns are sent many commodities similar to a reign of perpetual springtime, where flowers of those from the United States. Argentina and the temperate zones flourish side by side with Uruguay export cattle, hides, and meats-frozen, blossoms indigenous to sunnier regions. canned, and dried, and in the form of extracts. The Argentine has likewise a surplus of wheat In the warmer belts the poinsettia becomes a and flax. Chile sends out fruits of various kinds, tall, stately shrub, which may be seen on the up- and nitrates-in abundance. The highlands of lands of Guatemala in August, crowned with southern Brazil, and also Colombia and various flaming scarlet whorls almost as large as dinner Central American states sell coffee to the outside plates. The tropics offer hundreds of varieties world. Ecuador's most important crop is cacoa, of palms which produce everything from cabbage but, like many of the other tropical states, it proand cocoanuts to the raw materials for shirt but- duces vegetable ivory from the tagua nut. Peru tons and Panama hats. But the lover of arboreal is noted for copper; Bolivia for tin; Colombia beauty is mo~e attracted by the majestic ceiba, or for emeralds; Mexico for silver. From Mexico silk cotton tree, which, with its straight, silvery and Brazil come likewise a distracting variety of trunk bearing a vast umbrella of branches, towers semi-precious stones. The countries of the Cariblike a guardian giant above the other leafy in- bean export cocoanuts, bananas, and other tr@ihabitants of the jungle. In the more temperate cal fruits. The jungles of Brazil and of many of climes of southern Brazil and Paraguay one soon its neighbors supply dyestuffs and some of the comes to count also as a friend the lofty arau- finest cabinet woods as well. Formerly, all of caria pine tree. Its dark, peculiarly horizontal these countries brought back in their ships carbranches, which appear jet black against the goes of manufactured goods; but the World War bright southern skies, suggest gigantic candel- stimulated industrialization in many republics of abra. Unlike the gregarious pine, down in the Latin America, which are now far more nearly Argentine, is the ombit, an isolationist, whose self-sustaining than they were twenty-five years great curved mass looms on the horizon of the ago. This is especially true of Brazil, which manpampa like a lone sail on a vast ocean. ufactures sheer cotton cloth as well as fine furni- ture, and turns out products of metal ranging In the Latin American animal world one will from paper clips to motor cars. probably be less interested in the quadrupeds,- even in the herds of timid, silky-coated vicunas Before the Day of Columbus which in Peru flee over the hills at the approach of the train-than in the winged creatures. The Yet, in some ways these lands, now called flocks of free, shining green parrots in the Plata "Latin," are not quite up to the cultural standards basin remind one of the Emancipation Pro:::lama- found there many centuries before Christopher tion. The rose-colored and white flamingoes on Columbus sailed westward to seek Cathay. It Lake Titicaca are a fascinating surprise, for they was in the part of the New World to the southseem to belong in Africa. The tropical humm;ng east of the Rio Grande that the highest aboriginal birds, living, darting clusters of jewels, are an lln- development, material and intellectual, took place. failing delight, as are likewise the flickering rai!'!- As much as a thousand years ago the peoples of [455 ]
the coast of Peru were doing unsurpassed work population revolted in behalf of liberte, egalite, in textiles, weaving the silky hair of the alpaca fraternite, and drove out the whites, and on Januinto fabrics of exquisitely-colored designs. The ary 1, 1804, established the second independent Incas, who rose later into prominence, were the nation in modern America. ablest stonecutters that the world has seen. Furthermore, they developed a system of paternalistic Political Revolutions socialism wherein the strong labored for the weak and wherein no one suffered want. But it was Brazil was originally a possession of Portugal the Mayas of the present western Central Amer- and, like other European colonies, was adminisica and eastern Mexico who reached the highest tered in the interest of the producers and mercultural point. Not only were they able builders chants of the mother country, until 1808. In in stone, and artists in form and color, but they that year the Portuguese royal family and court, had also gained much astronomical lore,had de- fleeing from the armies of Napoleon Bonaparte, veloped a system of numeration based upon the arrived in Rio de Janeiro. After a few years the zero principle, and had evolved a calendar more vast colony was raised to the status of a joint accurate than that possessed by Europe at the kingdom with Portugal. But in 1821 King J oao time of the Spanish conquest of the Maya lands. VI returned to Lisbon, and the Brazilians, finding their liberties in peril, set uP an independent em- 50:111 A~1ERIC." pire under J oao's son, who became Dom Pedro I of Brazil. Monarchical government persisted in IJH..Ot:)'~ ………;.. the former Portuguese colony until 1889, when a military faction drove into exile the g·reat and 1OU._..a.- good Dom Pedro II and set up a federal republic.
-,.., '1:116 Political change came last of all to the part of America called the "Spanish Indies." The revolts _ »1"61,D"6J4:I which began in 1810 against Napoleon Bona- parte's domination of the mother country were _…. '" _64101211 soon converted into a struggle for complete inde- .1_"'~~ pendence. A liberal uprising in Mexico under a Roman Catholic priest, Miguel Hidalgo y Cos- The Spaniards were, indeed, the original white tilla, who had more than once been summoned by rulers of the area at present included in nineteen the Inquistion, was crushed and its leader was of the Latin American countries: Mexico, Guate- shot. The same fate befell his successor. But in mala, Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa 1821 a conservative revolt in Mexico against tem- Rica, Panama, Cuba, Santo Domingo, Haiti, Co- porary liberalism in Spain was victorious, and its lombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, ambitious leader, Iturbide, was crowned Emperor Argentina, Urguay, and Paraguay. Haiti, how- Augustin I. He was quickly overthrown, however, is now Franco-African in culture; for in ever, and since then nominal republicanism has the seventeenth century it came under control of prevailed in Mexico, except for the brief empire Louis XIV. In the period of the French Revolu- of Maximilian in the 1860's. tion the numerically predominant Negro slave Central America was freed from Spain partly through the aid of Augustin's soldiers, and started its sovereign career as the United Provinces of Central America; but these fell apart in the 1830's. The present Santo Domingo broke away from Spanish control at about the same time, only to be conquered and ruled oppressively by Haiti for more than twenty years.
Northern South America was freed under the leadership of the Venezuelan creole, Sim6n Boli- var, and the southern part of the continent by troops commanded by the Argentine, Jose San Martin. By 1825 all of the American colonies of Spain were lost to her, except Puerto Rico and. Cuba, which remained under her rule until 1898. All became unstable republics.
The Mixed Multitudes Though various of the colonies cooperated to win independence, soon afterwards they fell
THE LATIN AMERICAN LANDS
apart, and since then they have been united only more than two millions; and Cuba somewhat less by common speech, tradition, and religion. As than four millions. Haiti, with an area a little time has passed, climate, immigration, and other larger than Massachusetts, claims to have a popu- factors have tended to add to the original differ- lation of more than two millions; whereas Santo ences insured by variation in aboriginal popula- Domingo, with almost twice the area, has only tions. In Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, the in- about half that number of people. Mexico, seven digenous inhabitants were scattered and back- times the size of Italy, has but seventeen million ward and the climate was attractive to Europeans. inhabitants. Bolivia and Peru could each contain Therefore, great streams of immigrants from two states the size of Texas, and yet Peru, the across the Atlantic have made these lands pre- most populous country of northwestern South dominantly white in population. Most of the America, has only about six million inhabitants.
other Spanish-American nations are, like Mexico Uruguay, the smallest South American country, and Guatemala, largely aboriginal, or have a is about as large as North Dakota and has a popu- strong indigenous strain. Along the coasts of lation of almost two millions. Chile, so slender many of the tropical countries there is a mixture as to be called a "populated splinter," is, never- of Negro blood. Santo Domingo is perhaps more the less, twice the area of California, and has Negro than Indian in composition; but there is about 4,500,000 inhabitants. Argentina, nearly a considerable infusion of white blood. Haiti is two-thirds as large as the United States of Amer- predominantly Negro; it is the "Black Republic." ica, has one-tenth as many people; and Brazil, Brazil is especially notable as an ethnic mixing which exceeds the United states of America in bowl, a melting pot. In the depths of the Amazon area, has about forty-five million inhabitants.
basin the inhabitants are still largely aborigines, Their small populations and unsound finances, and along the coast, especially in the north, Negro combined with political turbulence resulting from blood, from the former slave population, domi- inexperience in self-government, made the Latin nates; but dozens of lands besides Africa and American countries, first, the prey of the "mani- mother Portugal have contributed to the inhabi- fest destiny" emotion of the United States and, tants. The German influence in the state of Rio later, the victims of its imperialistic policy.
Grande do SuI is marked. A sprinkling of Scan- Mexico lost half of her territory to her northern dinavians has settled in the pine forests further neighbor. President Theodore Roosevelt "took"
north. The Latin countries of southern Europe the Isthmus of Panama from Colombia. Cuba's have supplied the majority of the immigrants, independence was impaired by the Platt Amend~ recently, with Italians in the lead. From western ment. Vera Cruz, Mexico, was bombarded and Asia have come Syrian pack pedlars, and from occupied by American armies, under orders from Japan more than a hundred thousand little brown President Wilson. In rapid succession, Nica- folk, most of whom are expert and thrifty farmers. ragua, Haiti, and Santo Domingo were occupied These twenty countries which straggle towards by American marines, who remained for from the southeast from the Rio Grande to Cape Horn eight to twenty years. The "Yankee peril" was have an area, as already remarked, equal to three a grim reality in Latin America.
times that of the United States of America. Their About ten years ago the tide of imperialism total population, estimated at about 115,000,000, began to turn, largely in response to American is sparse in proportion, since it falls short by public opinion. Cordial relations now exist with some millions of that of their Anglo-American Mexico; the Platt Amendment has been abro- neighbor. A glance at the statistics for indi- gated; and· no American marines now march in vidual lands may be helpful. Most of the countries will seem surprisingly large in extent. EI Latin lands. By specific pledges given at the Salvador, the tiniest, covers more than seven thousand square miles and would make three states Montevideo Conference in 1934, the present adthe size of Delaware, with a large territorial remnant to spare; but its population is only about ministration is committed to the "good neighbor" a million and a half. Costa Rica, though having more than three times the area of EI Salvador, policy. . has only a third as many inhabitants, or about five hundred thousand. Panama, with a somewhat How can North Americans help make this pol- icy permanent and comprehensive? By trying to understand Latin America, through studying its history and literature, manners and customs. Also, by refraining from trying to transform larger area than Costa Rica, has a slightly smaller their neighbors into Anglo-Americans; for the population. Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, two peoples are fundamentally different. Gracias and Cuba are each about the size of Pennsylvania; aDios! Let us rej oice in the otherness of others!
but Nicaragua has only 750,000 inhabitants; Let us be glad for the persistent, stimulating va- Honduras about 850,000; and Guatemala slightly riety which characterizes the human family!
LIFE IN THE STREETS OF PAYTA
@ BrolDll GfI4 Daws03 AN I N DIAN MARKET IN PEHU OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GOSPEL IN SOUTH AMERICA
Need For the
By REV. EDWARD M. HAYMAKER, D.D., _•..g{ Guatemala City Missionary Emeritus of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A.
"THE Gospel for Latin-America? Why, they hot plate does not wriggle from racial tempera- have it," says the Roman priest; "these ment. When we reflect on the universal struggle are Catholic countries; we look after in all these countries between civic and religious them." authority; on the abnormal proportion of the "They have it," said a prominent American bus- population buried in the suffocating fog of ignor- iness man fifty-one years ago. "Every nation and ance and illiteracy; on the almost universal per- race already has by natural selection the religion dition of the true family ideal; on the high per- that fits it." centage of murder; on the paralyzing, degenera- "They have it," said Andrew Carnegie; "why tive and destructive forms their superstition takes disturb the nations with our religion?" . . . one is forced to exclaim, "They do need "They have it," say many who are nonsympa- something different, and they need it badly."
thetic with the whole idea of foreign missions. Diagnosis – What Is Wrong? "They have their religion, they are contented, let them alone." The doctor is right; diagnosis, then cure. Any But all these are the opinions of foreigners, of one familiar with Latin America knows they are alien interests, of nonresidents. They think from a religious people; that the all-absorbing element outside. What do the Latin Americans them- of their life, infinitely more important to them selves say? than business, politics, learning, society or any- President Rufino Barrios, one of the greatest thing else, has been their Church. The Church statesmen of Latin America, thought they needed has permeated all life insinuating its formative something else, and, though a good Catholic, influences on activities, language, educational brought down the first Protestant missionary and ideals, thought and instinct. If we seek the roots helped him establish a mission. of the major evils they suffer, we are sure to find Antonio Lazo Arriaga, a staunch Latin Amer- them in their religious life, not elsewhere. If we ican Catholic, and diplomatic representative in wish to discover what gospel they need, we must Washington for many years, when told of the study thoroughly, dispassionately, sympathetical- arrival of a Protestant missionary, spoke to him ly this religious life, with a cool careful tracing of and said, "I am glad you have come! My country their troubles to their causes in such a way that needs you, and especially my religion needs yours any liberal Catholic could and would accompany badly." us hand in hand.
Dr. Lorenzo Montufar, Latin American Cath- The writer does not belong to that number who olic, historian of international fame, statesman find no good at all in Catholics, their organization of the first order, said, "We need Protestantism or methods. Many of our best friends are Catho- here !" lics, some of them priests. That Church is a The enlightened liberal Catholics all over Latin marvel of organization and adaptation to its pur- America say, "We need something," and they poses. The self-sacrificing devotion of many of have felt the need so keenly that they have carried its missionaries and priests can well put to shame out the liberal revolution in every country south not a few Protestant missionaries, by their denial of the Rio Grande in order to clear the way and of self-comforts and training in hardship to "in- get what they need. carnate" with those they are trying to reach.
We flippantly interpret their revolutions as an "Besides innumerable trials, hardships, tortures expression of an innate racial spirit of insubordi- and sufferings, no less than 99 Catholic mission- nation, forgetting that their religious training aries lost their lives trying to establish their re- has made them the most obedient people in the ligion among the Indians of the United States"* world. It is not insubordination, but simply that We know of no more intense training in loyalty their conditions are insupportable. A worm on a • Cath. Encyclopedia. under Missions.
[459 ]
than that of the Catholic Church. Now these are olicity of those enfolded in the love of Christ; the good traits, and any gospel sent to Latin America padre who claims to be '"God on earth" for the should conserve them without loss. Spirit's comforting inspiration. The visible hab- it is cultivated, the invisible habit suppressed. It But along with its merits, this organization, is hard to realize, without years of observation, like all others, has certain fundamental defects to the extent to which this psychological vice can which many evils can unerringly be traced. Here queer and stupefy all the life of a people. are a few:- 4. A frightful popular immorality has resulted. 1. The union of Church and State, the Church A shrewd lie is an attainment, not a disgrace and rclaiming to control the State as the soul the body, sin; assassination is a natural and justifiable con- (Encyclical of Leo XIII), has always in the end sequence instead of a crime, hence when angry made trouble, and is primarily responsible for the you fight with daggers, machetes or revolvers to revolutionary conditions of all Latin America to- kill, not with fists to humiliate; dishonesty does day. It is neither fiction nor accident but clear not take the form of scientific burglary, but of retiology, that Latin American politics always has shameless graft and generalized sneak-thievery; the religious struggle at the center, the visible the Christian family is almost a "total loss"; phases of it ranging from the Inquisition to athe- commercial life is not honest enterprize, but trick- istic communism. ery that paralyzes true business like an anesthet- ic; appeals to chance have been cultivated clear 2. The spirit of hierarchy distorts and colors up to universality and until the idea reigns that all life and impresses its abnormal artificiality on life itself is but a huge gamble. We describe the society, government, education, morals-every- popular conception. thing. Above the masses the hierarchy rises from the wife of the village sexton when her husband The damning feature of all this is not the is away with the priest, all the way to the throne statistics, but the fact that the situation is ac- of God, and for inveterate Catholics, beyond that cepted as natural and normal by everyone, except to the throne of the Holy Virgin, and from the a few careful thinkers, and society and the Church bottom to the top it is a system of political "pull" have settled into a lethargic condition that auto- rather than either justice or a square deal. matically trains the masses into this state of mind. Were this but a matter of dogma it could be overlooked; but the trouble is, it permeates all 5. The commercialization of religion has oc- life with a spirit of favoritism, partiality, gam- curred in spite of Christ's command (Mat. 10: 8) . . bling, injustice and hopelessness. The common The priesthood is entered like farming or law, as comeback to any exhortation to morality is, "I'm a mere calling in which to make a living, or if no saint!" as who say, "How can you expect a shrewd, a fortune. Sin is actually capitalized in poor devil like me to act as if I were one of the the same sense that war and liquor are capital- canonized away up yonder?" This is a dangerous ized in our more civilized (sic!) land: the more popular attitude that stratifies society, kills moral war, the more profits in arms, munitions, steel and spiritual initiative and generates popular and ship building; the more drunkenness, the despair, just as the spirit of the Pharisees did in more profits for liquor manufacturers and deal- the time of Christ. ers; the more narcotization, the more tobacco profits; the more sin, the more money for the 3. The spirit of dramatism prevails. By this priest in commutation of penances, priestward we mean an exaggerated emphasis on appearance windfalls, poverty and transferable alms, and as the thing that counts and the eclipse of reality. above all masses to get grandma out of purgatory. This comes from making religion a show rather It is the identically same thing it was long before than a life. In education this takes the form of Judas Iscariot sold innocence, principle, charac- ostentation instead of learning; in politics, of ter, mercy and charity into crucifixion for 30 graft and dictatorships instead of public weal; pieces of silver. It is this quasi holy and unreal- in science, of technical loquacity instead of accom- ized capitalization of sin that causes the accumu- plishment; in commerce, what you can sell, not lation of ecclesiastical wealth in every Catholic what will give satisfaction; in society, display not land, with enormous mort-main holdings by the character. Church till the. proportion becomes so oppressive and impossible that explosion ensues; directed by' All this is mothered naturally and necessarily the Catholics themselves in a liberal revolution. by the spectacular religious teaching that concen- trates not on the unseen God, but on visible im- We must tell the truth to the doctor, and he ages; that elevates the visible Host in place of must receive and weigh it professionally. We the "remembered" sacrifice offered "once for all" ; Protestants study Catholicism sometimes with substitutes the visible, infallible Pope for the our bristles up. CathoUcs and even their clergy risen, invisible Companion and Guide; the intol- erant visible church for the all-embracing cath-
THE NEED FOR THE GOSPEL
are not half as bad people as we too easily assume. en the public conscience out of its lethargy and These mistakes have' been grown into uncon- lead it to strive for the invisible ideals; that will sciously through generations and often with the offer the fullest wealth of heaven to the most best of intentions, by admitting mistaken prin- , wretched sinner on earth, when, repentant, he ciples into the Church. They were all simple comes stumbling back to the Father; a gospel enough and innocent looking in their beginnings, that will begin where Christ himself placed the but now that we can trace their growth and real- foundation stone of His work, "Verily, verily, I ize their consequences, only the fanatical can com- say unto thee, except a man be born again, he mend them. If only we could penetrate the immo- cannot see the kingdom of God."
bility of Rome, and once get that great Church This is a large order. I know of but one to admit the correction of a few mistaken prin- Gospel that will fill the bill . . . it is the one ciples the reunion of Christendom on apostolic clearly revealed to every sincere reader in the lines could be guaranteed. pages of the Evangelists, and this is true whether The Gospel Oure we study doctrine, methods, plan or approach. I repeat, the Saviour of the world knew men and What gospel? Some recommend a sympto- their needs better than we.
matic treatment: "Give them culture, modern life, science, better living conditions, education; suppress the evangelistic element for the nonce OONFESSIONS FROM OHILE and concentrate on civics."
A few say, "Give them the gospel of industry; "I believe that one explanation of our lack of teach them to work." progress (in Evangelical missions) is to be found Some who have been reared in a super-emo- in low moral values. Some of our members have tional religion are trying to meet the demand by lost moral standing in the community, and others a kind of holy-rollerism. have left for the same reason. There are very Some recommend a "better Catholicism," for- few who work to bring others to a knowledge of getting that that church refuses to admit any Christ. . . . We produce good administrators, better or worse, they are one; and forgetting that but poor propagandists. . . . Another explana- even the best, as we see them, tenaciously retain tion is to be found in the fact that our ministers the same basic causes that have made the trouble are in many ways deficient. This is due to the for the worst. old system according to which it was believed Each of these gospels has some good results that a shoemaker or any other workman could be and all are better than what is, though in cor- taken, and, with but little preparation, turned into recting some evils, they are liable to plant others. a preacher. We now recognize the enormity of But those who have studied the conditions most that error…. The Church has lowered its stand- profoundly realize that no method of approach ing as to quality. . . . Those who attend the serv- or body of teaching that has yet been proposed is ices are simple people, of the lower classes, and any improvement on the simple plan of Christ, of but scant education. Those who are more in- who knew human needs and the human heart tellectual have left the Church because they found better than the most erudite investigator of today nothing in the sermons to satisfy their intellec- possibly can. Our concept of foreign mission tual craving…. It is not Christ who is preached, work used to be that of a kind of theological foot- but much emphasis is laid on sin. This is good ball game in which we entered as players with for new people, but the older members need some- practically certain confidence in our superior thing more substantial-real spiritual milk.
science and strength. But the years have with- "I believe that the Evangelical Church ought to ered that idea of our call to Catholic lands. What broaden its sphere of action, undertaking to do is needed is to carry into realization the unspeak- something for the cultured classes. There are able solicitude and gentle, loving persuasion and elements among those classes which respond to sacrifice of the Master as He went about capti- an intelligent presentation of the Gospel. The vating the multitudes with his irresistible per- present evangelical workers are not prepared to sonality and his self-denying example. undertake this advance. In order to secure men Latin Americans need a Gospel that separates for such work, we should select a few of the most Church and State; that is democratic instead of capable, give them a full course of study here, imperialistic; that will emphasize reality and and then send them to Buenos Aires or Montevideo forget appearances; that will bring the joy of for further preparation. By doing this we would redemption to replace the cankering doubts of a soon see a decided advance of our work among the false humility; that will cut up sin by the roots cultured classes." – From "The West Coast Re- and plant the germ of a holy life; that will awak- publics of South America."
Unevangelized Areas of Latin
-e£1 By JOHN RITCHIE, Lima, Peru I Agent of the Scottish Bible Society For the purposes of this article, an evangelized area- dice; it is widened by racial tradition, nationalgeographical or social-is one in which there is an ade- ism, and social considerations and culture. quate witness to the community in general, to the good news of Christ as Saviour and Lord. The evangelized In these circumstances, a map of Latin America, area, therefore, is not coterminous with the "occupied" spotted out to show the places occupied by Chrisarea. tian workers, would convey an unduly favorable impression of the extent of the evangelized area. T HE past thirty years have seen a great ex- On the other hand, there are sections in which tension of the missionary occupation of Latin Gospel literature has been circulated extensively, America, so that now the populous cities in systematically and over a prolonged period, carrymost of the republics are occupied. There remain ing a presentation of the Gospel suited to a large great rural areas, with numbers of not unimpor- proportion of the literate population. And there tant country towns, still awaiting the coming of are now considerable regions in which the radio the evangelist. But to spot out on a map the listeners are being reached through this medium places where there is some evangelical witness, with the Gospel. In these ways the witness has would not convey a true impression of the extent reached regions where there is no resident worker.
of the evangelized area. There are places which Again, the Bible Society colporteurs go far and have had a resident missionary for years which wide over the unevangelized territory, selling are yet not evangelized, because the only persons thousands of portions of Holy Scripture every reached with the Gospel message are the few who year. From time to time there come to light cases have had the curiosity or the courage to attend of inddviduals, families, and even of more numer- the Protestant preaching hall. ous groups, sometimes in the most out-of-the-way Many missionaries acquire the language slowly places, who are rejoicing in the knowledge of the and imperfectly. During this preparation they Gospel and seeking to follow our Lord, as a result become accustomed to a certain remoteness from of this work. Thus the impression conveyed by the people. Many are conscious of a gulf between the spotted map would be unduly unfavorable in their own cultural preparation and that of the some regions. educated persons in the community. Some are inhibited by sheer poverty from attempting to Surveying the Missionary Map cultivate any social relations. For such reasons In reviewdng the missionary map it should be many foreign missionaries never establish con- borne in mind that there are extensive regions tact with any cirCle of natives other than that which are all but uninhabited. The deserts along which includes the evangelical meeting place in its the Pacific coast are inhabited only in occasional orbit. On the other hand, it is also true, that valleys or in isolated nitrate and mining camps.
there are Christian workers, especially in institu- The cordilleras of the Andes are in some parts un- tional enterprises, who enter into useful contacts inhabitable, while in others much of the populawith the natives on the level of human interests, tion is found at elevations which make life diffibut who fail to develop these contacts for any cult for a lowlander. The average period of residefinite evangelistic purpose. dence in such places is difficult to equate with the time required to learn a very difficult Indian lan- Moreover, it is generally true in Latin America, though there are exceptions, that Christian work- guage. Beyond there lies the vast Amazon forest ers reach only one social class. Thus there are whose meagre native population is rapidly disunreached classes, even where regular work has appearing.
been long carried on, notably the Indians at one MEXICO is for the present a land closed to the end of the scale, and at the other the intellectual foreign missionary. Any statement about the conand the wealthy who are hardly touched. To ditions there may be made out-of-date in the reach these an effort must be directed specially to course of a few months by a turn of the political them and suited to their mental attitude. The gulf wheel. Meantime a Spanish Gospel radio mis- to be bridged is not only that of religious preju- sion located near the southern border of the [462 ] United States, would appear to be the obvious eral times in these recent years, and most of the method for continuing and extending the Gospel territory has been visited at some time, while the witness in that troubled land. colporteurs cover the whole country with the Scriptures. But in no part of the territory is the CENTRAL AMERICA is covered by the general missionary occupation adequate. statement, which comes from the best informed source, that "Central America is fairly well cov- The 700,000 to 800,000 Quechua Indians of ered, and yet large towns and cities exist with very Ecuador, especially in Azuay and Imbabura, are little work done in them." On comparing the list of a fine type. The efforts to reach them with the of chief towns with the latest list of missionaries Gospel, while sacrificial and purposeful, have to in the six republics of Guatemala, Honduras, Sal- date been hopelessly inadequate in staff, resources vador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, it ap- and methods. pears that there are ten cities of more than 10,000 inhabitants which have no resident missionary. On the other hand, Ecuador has an effective Among these are such important centers as Santo Gospel radio broadcasting station in Quito which Tomas (19,000), Mostenango (17,000), and An- is being listened to all over the republic, and also tigua (14,000) in Guatemala, and San Miguel a local station in Guayaquil under Christian aus- (25,000), and San Vicente (18,000) in El Sal- pices which broadcasts the. evangelical services. vador. PERU. By the promotion of autonomous groups, COLOMBIA has been for many years an extremely organized wherever there is an interest in the hard field owing to the dominant influence exer- Gospel, without waiting for pastors or missioncised on the civil government by the papal hier- aries to lead them, an extensive network of meetarchy and the religious orders. It appears to ings under the name of the Evangelical Church of offer the most important unevangelized areas in Peru, has spread over most of the central area, Latin America. There is no settled missionary in although the missionary occupation of the region Magdalena, with a population of 283,000; in is negligible apart from Lima and Callao. Most North Santander (330,500) there is no mission- of the important cities are occupied by Christian ary except in the City of Clicuta; Santander, with workers. a population of 604,000, is described by one who has an interest in seed-sowing, as having "the sur- In the Amazonian forest region of Peru there face barely scratched." There is a missionary in are extensive unreached areas, but these have a the City of Bucaramanga. Bolivar, with 650,800, very meagre population. The missionary in Iquihas very little done or going on; Boyaca has 950,- tos looks northward over the extensive area of the 000 people practically untouched; Antioquia, with Napo, westward up the Marafion, and southward over a million souls, has very little to evidence over the vast region of the Ucayali, all unreached. evangelism, although some work has been going Along a few of the rivers there are Christian outon for years. A recent article in an important posts where devoted workers who count not their missionary magazine described the province of lives dear are spreading the Message over a local- Chaco as South America's neediest field. The ity amidst the vast darkness, while missionary Goajira peninsula is at present being investigated launches travel the navigable waters carrying the by workers who have gone there to begin work messenger, and circulating the Scriptures and among the Goajiras and Motilones who form a other Christian literature. The workers settled considerable part of Colombia's Indian population. in communities are often hindered by the planters from evangelizing the Indian peones. Much has As Colombia has a population of some 8,000,000, been said and written about reaching the unit is only exceeded, among Latin American re- reached forest dwellers but the efforts to carry out publics, by Argentina and Brazil. As it has only the enterprise have encountered great difficulty 9 per cent of Indians, it offers a homogeneous lan- in locating a sufficient number in anyone place guage field. The recent changes in the adminis- to offer a field for a worker who has to contemtration, which gave the republic a liberal adminis- plate years of study to acquire their language. tration after half a century of Roman dominance, should make an effective and widespread Gospel BOLIVIA is the republic in which the distribution witness more possible now than at any former of the missionary forces is most satisfactory, due time in this generation. in part to the great elevation of the city which is the seat of government-La Paz. The areas which ECUADOR is a land legally closed to missionaries, are still unoccupied are, that east of Santa Cruzbut the evangelical witness is in no way hindered Charagua, and that west of the La Paz-Villazon by the civil authorities. The provinces of Carchi, railway. The population in both of these is sparse. Leon, Bolivar, Cafiar, Loja, Del Oro, Los Rios and The northern and the southern sections of the re- Esmeraldas are all without resident workers. public are very inadequately occupied. Loja has been visited by Christian workers sev- It has been wisely observed that the problem of the evangelization of Bolivia is not preeminently
one of further occupation, but of effective opera- evangelized area-the well educated and wealthy.
tions from the centers occupied, the widespread The prevailing view is well expressed in a letter use of the printed page, the introduction of the to hand from Colombia. "The big need in Colom- Gospel radio, and the multiplication of native bia, however, is not for missions to special classes, workers. but for men like Christ, able to go to any class, CHILE is a land fairly well occupied and evan- to be equally at home with Nicodemus or the Sa- gelized in so far as the working class is concerned. maritan woman. We need spade work by lots of Even the Indians and the soldiers are reached as ordinary missionaries to ordinary people." This in no other republic. Yet there are areas calling is a reasonable view. But Nicodemus should not for attention in the nitrate fields of the north and be left out in the night. The following excerpts in Southern Chiloe and Aysen in the south. from another letter written by a missionary of THE RIVER PLATE REPUBLICs-Argentina, Uru- long experience, throw light on the problems of guay and Paraguay are all occupied in their larger this important and almost untouched field. "When cities, but in each there are considerable rural you make specific reference to students and the areas, and many country towns which remain vir- well-to-do classes, you touch a responsive chord in tually untouched. In both of the seaboard coun- my heart. I was not many years in before tries, Bible carvans visit many of these rural dis- I clearly saw that our evangelical missions were tricts, so that the witness to the Gospel, while yet making no effort to testify among such. In 1912, leaving many unreached, is probably the best for on invitation, I began work in the English depart- rural areas in Latin America. ment of the university, and have found a great ",BRAZIL has a vast territory of which a great many opportunities to bear witness, to offer coun- pa'lt is covered by virgin forest, and much of this sel, to invite to Bible classes, etc. . . . The well-to- all but inaccessible, especially in the west and do have been completely abandoned by our mis- nor..th. There is established Christian work in sionary group in the large sense. With them there eve~ State, and the more populous towns are oc- is little social reciprocity, only occasional contact, cupied. But there remain many towns, and great and the missionary attitude is timid and apolo- areas between the lines of penetration, which still getic in the main. I have been trying to pioneer in await the Gospel messenger. The greatest need this sphere. Long residence, an office in the Ro- is in the northeast, including the States from tary Club, and a large circle of friendship, have Maranhao to Bahia, and the occupation of the given me entree into a number of homes where central region – Minas Geraes, Goyaz and Sao wealth and luxury prevail alongside the yearning Paulo – is described as "painfully inadequate." of unsatisfied hearts." .
Taking the republic as a whole, it is evident that "Why have we neglected these classes? Because some 1,200 Christian workers, native and foreign, we have failed to realize their spiritual destitution cannot possibly evangelize a population of over 41 and honest longing for Christ. We have too easily millions spread over so vast a country. transferred the accountability for their souls to VENEZUELA is also reached in so far as occupa- the R. C. church. . . . It requires faith to attempt tion of the principal towns is concerned, and evan- anything like the commendation of Christ to those gelistic work has been more successful than in who may be our superiors in culture, wealth, and the other republics of northern South America. knowledge of the human problem. There is no Yet there are several States still without workers, fellowship to which they can be invited, no pres- so that about one half ·of the population is not tige to be gained by holiness of thought and deed, systematically reached. The unoccupied States, and no organized work in which they can engage.
according to the data available, are: Falc6n, Za- The rank and file of Protestant missionaries do mora, Portuguesa, Cojedes, Anzoategui, Delta- not inspire the confidence and affection of this Amacuro, and the territory of Amazonas. Vene- class, and in no case can one enter into their inti- zuela, like Ecuador, is legally closed to the mis- mate problems without thorough mastery of their sionary, and the prohibition is more effective in language and easy familiarity with their social this case than in the other. procedure. In other words, such evangelizing THE ANTILLES. The larger islands of the Car- calls for special preparation, and we seem to be ibbean are well occupied. Christian work in these too busy with other duties or too shortsighted to islands has the advantage of better prepared na- spare time for-a paramount obligation. The result tional workers than are commonly available in is that we fail to maintain a working force which most of South America. exerts steady pressure on all the component sec- The Great Unevangelized Upper Classes tions of society. We fall far short of the dominant Church which sets men aside for special assign- Over the whole of Latin America there is one ments according to their gifts and training and class which constitutes the most important un- proved efficiency."
VISITING TRIBAL INDIAINS IN THE XINGU DISTRICT, MATTO GROSSO
The Indians South of the Rio Grande By REV. JOSEPH A. DAVIS, D.D.
Secretary of the Inland South America Missionary Union T HE Indian is the Hamlet among races. .AIOOf These ethnic groups are divided into linguistic and melancholy, he broods over his wrongs families of whom the most important recorded and is torn between resentment, with a number forty, embracing about 500 different lanstrong element of revenge and reprisal, and a guages and dialects due to separation of factions fatalistic acceptance of eventual racial suicide. from the parent body and becoming separate He has little reason to trust the white man. Co- tribes which developed dialects or languages by lumbus was received with friendly gestures at contact, intermarriage or incorporation into for- San Salvador yet within three years a slave ship, eign tribes.
filled with Indians, set sail for Spain. Some of these languages are vocalic and soft, The dominant ethnic groups of Latin America others wide in the range of sound, while a third as defined by ethnologists are the Nahuatla-Maya, group are harsh and gutteral.
for most of Mex:co and Central America; the Written language, with the Tribal or unassimi- Carib-Arawak, about the Caribbean Sea; the lated Indian, is still largely hieroglyphic-crude Chibcha-Quichua for the Cordilleras of South representations of fights, legends, and other ac- America; the Tupi-Guarani for the Amazon tivities pictured on robes, blankets, baskets and drainage; the Araucanian for the Pampas; the pottery. Communications between foreign tribes Patagonia for the peninsula; and the Fuegian in early times was, and still is with the Tribal or for the Magellan Strait. unassimilated Indian, largely through sign lan- In Matta Grosso, Brazil, are found varieties of guage. Clark Wissler says there were 113 lead- tribes that are included in the above classification ing linguistic stocks in Latin America. These and some which seem to have different character- stocks were broken up into hundreds of tribes istics from the general stock. and nations, each speaking its own language or The land in which each tribe or division lived, dialect. Some tribes are extinct, others are reits fertility, minerals or absence, the sort of ani- duced to a few thousand or a few hundred. The mals and birds, made some friendly, some hostile; Quichuas, Aymaras, Arawaks, Guaranis, Arau- led some to engage in virile occupation, others to canians and a few others are still very large. No follow more feminine pursuits. other race is broken up into so many families or [465 ]
has extended over so much territory as has the life some of these are agriculturalists, miners, Red Race. stock breeders, domestic servants, laborers, and are employed in small industries of their own. The most advanced civilizations in the Indian The chief vices of this class are alcohol, and in world in prediscovery days were those in Mexico, the Cordilleras to this is added the chewing of Central America and Peru. The descendants of cocoa. They are hard working, patient and longthese proud peoples have now been reduced to suffering, and in the majority of cases are faithhewers of wood and drawers of water. ful to the women of their choice. When they be- come Christians they live a consistent life. Few Who Are the Indians? of them, except the Christians, have escaped from witchcraft. Slave trading, mostly for women, is If we called all persons Indians that have a common among them. They believe that the natupercentage of Indian blood, we would take in a ral objects about them have spiritual essence, and majority of the entire population of Latin Amer- thus have an active part in their religious beliefs. ica. In the United States those who have one- Every calamity is credited to the work of an "evil eighth of Indian blood are called Indian. Dr. thing." Most of these Indians have some idea of Warren G. Moorehead defines as Indian anyone a God, but He is thought to be elemental, revengein whom the quantum of Indian blood is one- ful, vindictive. Even when the Indian becomes fourth or more. Dr. Thomas C. Moffatt considers nominally a Roman Catholic he is still swayed only those to be Indians in whom the quantum by his native witch doctor and his allegiance of Indian blood predominates. The twenty re- seems to be divided between the village priest publics composing South America have a popula- and the witch doctor. At the feast days of saints tion of approximately eighty million. Of this he dances his ancient pagan dances to the pipe of total the Stateman's Yearbook estimates that his pagan drums, fights and gets drunk. seventeen million are pure Indian, thirty million are mixed white and Indian, and 700,000 are The Tribal Indians mixed Negro and Indian. Other estimates of the number of Indians vary from fifteen to twenty The Tribal or Lowland Indians number nearly million for those of pure Indian blood; and from four million and are divided into over three huntwelve to seventeen million for those of mixed dred tribes. Many of these tribes are now being white and Indian blood. subjugated by the whites. Some of these are huntsmen and fishermen and nomadic in habit; It is impossible to get an exact census of the others live in settled communities. Some are hosnumber of pure blood Indians in Latin America. tile, others friendly. Dr. Moffatt's estimate is fifteen million, divided as follows: The tribes are organized into clans, the head- ship of which is sometimes hereditary, sometimes Mexico and Central America-7,000,000. elected. All cooperative activities are regulated The Highland Indians of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and from the tribal basis: marriage and speech and common industries are under its sway. Bolivia-Quichuas, 3,000,000; Aymaras, 500,000. Colombian Indians-500,000. With them war is little more than a raid. They The Lowland or Tribal Indians, uncivilized compared hunt for enemies much as they hunt animals and in war dances many tribes disguise themselves as to the Highland Indians and mostly in a savage and animals and the pantomime is a mimic hunt. They primitive condition-nearly 4,000,000, are divided have some knowledge of fortification. as follows: They are well versed in the knowledge of the Brazil-l,300,OOO. air. Heat and cold, rain and drought, the winds Peru-700,000. in their relation to the points of the compass are Ecuador-700,000. never out of their thoughts. They find the best Bolivia-400,000. springs, the best paint, the best clay, the best Venezuela-300,OOO. stone for sculpture and hard stone for tools. They Chili-100,000. are likewise familiar with the vegetable kingdom; Colombia-100,OOO. edible plants and those for diet and medicines are Paraguay-50,000. part of their knowledge. They use wood for tools, Argentina-30,000. utensils and weapons. They know poisonous' The Guianas-40,000. plants and can eliminate or use obnoxious prop- erties. They understand the nature and habits of The Mestizos and Assimilated Indians animals and their migrations and can interpret their voices. The mestizos, of mixed Spanish and Indian blood, compose a large proportion of the popula- Otis Tufton Mason points out that the religion tion. There are no social bars to the:r advance- of the Indian is what the tribes believe about ment and many become lawyers, physicians, priests, officials and capitalists.
Of the other Red Men of Latin America the assimilated Indians (civilized or semi-civilized) number some eleven million, and embrace the tribes of the Cordilleras, and the majority of the Indians of Mexico and Central America. In civil
THE INDIANS SOUTH OF THE RIO GRANDE
spirits or shades of the spirit world, and what In Bolivia the Methodist Episcopal Church, these beliefs involve. Their form of belief is North, is stationed amongst the Aymaras and the called animism-everything alive, sentiment, Bolivian Indian Mission ministers to the Aymaras thoughtful, wilful. Thus the majority of phe- and the Quichuas. nomena are lifted out of the physical world and placed in the spirit realm. Thus theology and AN INDIAN OF BOLIVIA science are one. Their worship combines religious drama, amusement, gambling and other social In Peru the Evangelical Union has an interestcustoms and fetishes. ing experiment among the Incas. The Inland South America Missionary Union works among The evangelization of Tribal Indians presents the Chamas and Campas. difficulties so great that a new technic and new methods are required, such as are not common in In Colombia the Inland South America Missionother fields. Converts obtained in one section or ary Union is beginning a work among the Goterritory disappear a few months later as the ajiras, Motilons and Aruacs. tribe moves on. The missionary has no permanent station, but must keep moving with the In- In Ecuador the Christian and Missionary Allidians. This explains also the very uncertain ance has missionaries among the Jivaros. numbers given to various tribes who move about and melt one into the other, in many cases even- In Chile the Protestant Episcopal Church works tually to return to their original territory, habits amongst the Araucanians. and numbers. Mr. Kenneth Grubb, addressing the Foreign Missions Conference of 1927, said: In Brazil the Evangelical Union of South Amer- "The Indian of the interior is in an entirely sav- ica works among the Carajas. age state. For instance, in June, 1925, I was offered human flesh by the Indians. Among the The Inland South America Missionary Union same tribe I was finally robbed of all my posses- has missionaries to the Terena, Bakairi and sions and turned out naked in the forests." As to Xinguano Indians and is opening a post in the the language, he continues, "Some years ago I pub- Xingu River district amongst ten other tribes. lished a map presenting linguistic classification of 350 different tribes speaking different dialects, not In Venezuela the Orinoco River Mission is evanall of them, of course, radically different. They gelizing among the Guauqueri. belong to about fifty well marked different linguistic stocks." In Paraguay the Church Missionary Society of London has had remarkable success with the In- The evangelization of these Indians has scarcely dians of the Chaco. been started. In fact, tribes and peoples disappear who have never been evangelized. Attempts to To date only faint efforts have been made to reach these Indians have reported many sad fail- send the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to Latin ures. This field has been outside of established American Indians. Over three-fourths of the asmissionary work. A missionary to the Indians similated, but pure blood Indians, have no Protmust sustain himself, and for the most part live estant mIsSIOnary. Over seven-eighths of the off the land, and yet cannot always remain in a Tribal Indians, buried in vast forests, in unexsettled spot; and he must be ready to encounter plored or semi-unexplored regions, are as unpestilence and fever and a great variety of insects reached by the white man as they were four hunand pests. There are rivers there in which one dred years ago, and still remain without God and can get lost because of their width of twenty miles without hope. It is one of the supreme missionor more. The transportation problem is to a large ary challenges of our day and generation, one of extent the problem of water transportation be- the world's remaining pioneer fields. It is ancause the rivers are the highways. other Dark Continent that awaits a Livingstone.
Missionary Societies at Work In Mexico work has been done amongst the Xapotecs and Tarahuamas by the Baptists, and amongst the Mayas (Mexican) by the Reformed Church in America. At present all work in Mexico is, at least temporarily, discontinued.
In the Central American Republics there is the Baptist mission amongst the Pipils; and the Central American Mission works with the Cakchiquels, Mams, Quiches and the Del Nortes.
A Living Church in Latin
By KENNETH G. GRUBB, London, England World Dominion Movement "THE Church—::;~hat a word was there; richer sorts and conditions of men. Almost all classes of than Golconda and the treasures of the mankind who have their exits and their entrances world! . . . Strong was he that had a on the stage of life are represented in the churches Church. He stood thereby, 'though in the centre of Latin America. Today, as always, the common of immensities in the conflux of eternities,' yet people receive Jesus gladly, and it is they-to the manlike towards God and man. The vague, shape- eternal credit of Christianity, who form by far the less Universe, had become a great city for him, a most numerous representation. But there are dwelling which he knew." So wrote Carlyle, and prominent lawyers, one or two prominent polino one who knows the churches of Latin America ticians, leading physicians, state employees, school will reverse his verdict. In them, and through principals and educators, merchants and bankers, their ministry the vague, shoreless outline of eter- tradesmen, offi·cers of the army and navy, writers nity has become for thousands of seeking souls a and poets among the membership. There are city which hath foundations whose builder and farmers and porters, chauffeurs and sailors, street maker is God. It will not then be altogether out peddlers and carpenters and a score of other oc- of place if we consider briefly some of the char- cupations. I knew a man in one of our churches acteristics of the churches of Latin America. who made his living by writing letters in the Without entering into unnecessary discussion it is market for the illiterate-a common profession in , sufficient for the purposes of such a bird's-eye many republics. Another man, up to the time he view, to consider as a church any group of be- was converted, used to go to prison to earn his lievers, baptized into the Body of Christ, regularly living although never himself the criminal. It is meeting together for worship, prayer and due and still permitted in some parts for a man who has proper celebration of the sacraments with the at- been found guilty of certain offences to pay for tendant discipline. someone else to remain in jail in his place!
Such churches are found in every place. In the Anglo-Saxon Protestantism does not go to Andes they exist three miles above the level of the church if it is wet; it turns on the radio at home.
sea, and the gringo, when he addresses them, must I have known Latin American Christians travel pause to take his breath. Down in the Amazon ten miles on foot in the rain (single journey) to lowlands there are churches to which on Sunday attend Sunday service, the woman, perhaps with mornings the members will nearly all come in a baby on her back. One man on Sunday morning their canoes. In Guatemala City there is a church heard that the bandits were on the trail between on the central plaza and adjoining the Presiden- him and the village church. He resolved, however, tial Palace. In Spain there is a church which to go and was held up; he promptly invited his meets regularly in a cave-the church "which is captor to the service. The bandit went hoping, of in thy cave." And for church buildings there are course, to hold up the whole church. He was so edifices in pseudo-Gothic or in the modern style impressed with what he heard that he left with- for auditoriums. There are churches built of five- out even touching the collection!
gallon gasoline tins hammered flat. There are Most of these churches are not large; the aver- churches walled with cactus and thatched with age membership of 300 churches in different re- banana leaves. Both in Mexico and Spain there publics of South America proved to be 55. In the are former Catholic churches now dedicated to country the sparsity of the population and the dif- Evangelical worship. And finally, there are scores ficulties of travel tend to make the churches small. of house-churches – churches meeting in some The Latin American is often, also, a strong indifaithful brother's home. I have partaken of the vidualist and ta hold together a large church re-, sacred elements with an ordained minister pres- quires more training in leadership than some of ent, floating down the river on a large raft. That our pastors possess. Some of the city churches, group, not strictly a church, was, at least, a going however, are very large. There are three churches concern, in spite of the fact that it was drifting. in Rio de Janeiro of about 1,000 members each, The membership of these churches includes all and there are other churches in the republic of [468 ] this size. There are two churches in Guatemala Adore Him." Both the prose and the poetry of City of about 500 members in each. There are the religious writers of the Golden Age of Spain some large churches in Mexico. I have been pres- breathe the incense of the sanctuary. Even Ruben ent at a communion service when over 700 per- Dario, the famous Nicaraguan, not generally consons took part, and the occasion was not a special sidered a religious poet, has some pieces which one. Large churches in Latin America offer very are marked by a fervent spiritual aspiration. An serious problems and provided there is an ample Argentine once said to me: "I cannot make up my spirit of cooperation it is often preferable to have mind whether your Protestant churches are really several medium-sized churches in a city than one intended for worship, conversation, exercise or large one. Both in Central and South America financial transactions." The latter reference was there are some large rural churches; sometimes a probably to the custom of taking change out of whole village or community has received the Gos- the collection when the plate is passed around. pel in a wave of spiritual awakening. The criticism was not just, inasmuch as it failed to appreciate the real connection which exists be- Only a few churches, comparatively, are self- tween the inward and the outward life; but it was supporting in the sense that they have both built suggestive. their templo and maintained their minister. Many others support their minister, either congrega- There are some fine spiritual leaders among the tionally or indirectly, through their central pastors and ministers of our Latin American church organization. Experience shows that it is churches. Mexico, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and not common for a church of under two hundred the River Plate region can all show men who have members to be able to undertake the whole sup- added competence to devotion and consecration to port of a full-time minister. Naturally this prob- natural gift. Many of these men receive salaries lem must be viewed in a totally different light in which a sausage-seller in Anglo-Saxon countries the towns and in the rural districts. Many rural would scorn. Having said this, however, it is churches are served by lay workers and evan- necessary to notice that the ministry presents one gelists, being occasionally visited by an ordained of the most serious evangelical problems of Latin minister: Moreover, rural communities will not America. In some cases there has been, for a infrequently build their own churches, the mem- variety of reasons, a lack of vocation among the bers supplying both the material and the labor. younger men. But it must be confessed that our In the cities it is often desirable that the church theological colleges or seminaries have not fulshould meet in a suitable and dignified building. filled their purpose. The seminary problem is al- There are not wanting cases, however, where ways with us in Latin America; it hangs around handsome city churches have been built mainly the corner of every conference and discussion like by the voluntary contributions of the congrega- a hungry dog at the street corners. For the most tion. A beautiful spirit of sacrifice is often shown part we have failed to combine a deep devotional in the building of the rural church. One very old spirit with a high standard of training. We have man once said to me: "I cannot do much, but I produced some narrow and carping mentalities; sit on the ground and hold the foot of the ladder and the shallowness of our own spiritual life, our while my son climbs up with the adobes." lack of personal sacrifice and the superficiality of our own thinking have been reflected in those Blessed are they who not only in their dreams whom we have taught. It is also true that most but in their deeds, humbly hold the ladder on of our pastors do far too much; it is difficult to which the angels of God ascend and descend be- blame them. As a result they. do not give adetween heaven and earth! quate time to meditation and prayer. The results of a recent inquiry into what evangelical ministers The Church in Action read during the course of a year were, in the' ma- jority of cases, disquieting. It is obvious that It is timely to speak in brief of the church in under such circumstances the Evangelical moveaction, and here, perhaps, a word of friendly ment tends to become a movement of activities. criticism may not be amiss. Many of our churches are not so much places of prayer as places of There is some. rich material in nearly all the preaching, or teaching. We tend to exchange the republics in lay workers and lay leaders. Intimate devotional spirit for the didactic 'lpirit. This is contact with the leading laymen of our churches very natural amid people who are destitute of nearly always increases one's respect for them. Scriptural instruction, but it is regrettable. As a Recently in Mexico I asked a layman why he gave matter of fact there is often a fine devotional so much time to the church. He replied very strain in the Latin American soul if it can be simply and earnestly: "I cannot but share my evoke.d. It was a Portuguese king who wrote the bread with the hungry." Latin hymn which has passed into the universal possession of Christendom: "0, Come, Let Us One man in Brazil brought over seventy differ-
ent adults to church or Sunday school for the first dispense if need be with its buildings of concrete, time, in a year. Another man, a chauffeur, and as it is founded upon a Rock. It is the depository owning his own car, gave himself and the car and minister of the unalterable truths of peace, wholly to the Lord's work on Saturday and Sunday every week, paying for his own gasoline. This meant a very serious loss for him commercially. Another layman, of humble origin, finding himself in charge of a congregation in the prolonged absence of the minister, organized a graded Sunday school, and selected and trained, in a simple fashion, the necessary teachers. It would be possible to multiply these examples.
Two Serious Difficulties South America It Vould not be fair to present this picture of Twice the .ize of the church in Latin America without mentioning Europe, two serious difficulties which constantly occur in local churches: moral difficulties and divisions. Thrice China, The former problem is well known to all who have Four time. India, had the most superficial contact with evangelical Sixty time. I he work in Latin America. The fact that it is a problem at all is a high testimony to the standards of British Isle• . righteousness set among our congregations. In no other circles of Latin American society is it TIr: obol.'c fnflp u J,oJI,I.'n to leul:. recognized as such. Often converts are not received into membership because of the difficulty — – of straightening out their marital and moral relationships. Not infrequently there are serious SOUTH AMERICA HAS A POPULATION OF 80 MILLION lapses among the members and sometimes even in the pastorate. The Indian in these matters PEOPLE WHILE THE POPULATION OF INDIA AND generally shows a better record than the Mestizo. BURMA AND CE'YLON IS 30'0,000,000 The second fault is also a serious one. It is not pardon and holiness, of the things which move altogether uncommon to find a church rent into with passionless authority and unchangeable mien local factions, generally grouping themselves through the profundities of our spiritual being, of around some brother who thinks that his impor- the divine message of salvation of all mankind. tance has not been sufficiently recognized. The personalism of the Latin American temperament THE MISSIONARY CALL is carried over into the church life and there are too many members who are Paulists or Apollo- By GEORGE ZABRISKIE COLLIER, Middlebnrgk, N. Y. nians. Sometimes this leads to actual division and secession of a group of members; sometimes (An antiphonal response to Tennyson's "Crassing the these divisions are due to a rising spirit of na- Bar.") tionalism. Undoubtedly also the denominational organization of our work makes it easy to conceive Sunrise and Morning Star! of multiplication of means of division. The How clear Life's call to me Amoeba multiplies thus; but it is a primitive form of growth. To send Christ's words of peace and love afar, Across earth's storm-tossed sea! The Church is the permanent form in which the results of evangelization are finally embodied. It Noon-tide,-again the bell,- is the agency by which the sovereignty of God op- "Work on,=–'tis not yet dark,- erates in this and every generation. It may be, as in Mexico, that government action will close With faith and courage; say not yet "Farewell," our schools, fetter our missionaries and limit all Nor disembark." forms of social penetration. It may even be that our church buildings may be closed. But the true To every land and each long-waiting race, church does not exist in these things. It is a spir- Life's flood will bear me far, itual edifice. It holds the promise: "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it." It can afford to My Pilot with me always, face to face, Before I cross Death's bar.
Youth in Latin
By S. FRANKLIN MACK, New York 1Ja- il Young People's Secretary, Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, U. S. A.
I N SPENDING four months in South America, their twenties. Later at Medellin when I found Central America and Mexico this past year, myself swept along in a stream of humanity at a my primary objective was to take motion pic- political demonstration honoring ex-president tures to be used with the interdenominational Olaya Herrera, the speakers were young men and study of missions in Latin America. To achieve most of the crowd were young. Age is still in this objective I journeyed over 25,000 miles by control, but youth is right up behind the saddle, land, sea and air. I learned a great deal about ready to take the reins. the geography, the climate, the customs of the I found only one well-organized political alliance people and the work being done by missionaries. of youth, the Federacion Aprista Juvenil. It is My appreciation of the vastness of the southern the youth section of Victor Raul Haya de la continent increased immensely. Respect for the Torre's APRA party in Peru. It is, however, no people, their ancient culture and their modern blindly partisan alliance of self-seeking political achievements grew apace. A veritable multitude amateurs. Every member not only contributes a of impressions of all kinds passed in kaleidoscopic modest weekly fee to the support of the party, review, not all of them favorable, but none failing but gives of his time as well, either teaching in to awaken interest and to suggest comparisons. night schools for the illiterate and uneducated, or Here was a new world, yet very old: the new and attending classes for self-improvement. In a land the old existing often side by side. Would the and on a continent where the double standard of new prove better than the old? Was all of this morality is the rule, and is acquiesced in by parmodernization, this wholesale importation of auto- ents, this youth organization pledges its members mobiles, motion pictures, radios and all the new to live clean lives, and to neither smoke, drink nor appetites that go with them-was it a good thing? indulge in social dancing. They pride themselves What does the future hold in store for these widely on setting such a high standard of physical fitdiffering republics, each with its peculiar history, ness, honesty, industry and morality, that they problems, aspirations? will be recognized as Apristas by their conduct. These were insistent questions for which it was "Prepare for action and not for enjoyment" is their slogan. The action envisaged is not military difficult to find satisfying answers. The modern- action. It is rather the living of an effective life ization, even in the large cities, is almost too new, and the dead hand of the past still too much in in the service of humanity and of the State. I control for the newer attitudes, forms and insti- found these young people taking an active part tutions to have become clearly defined as yet. So in the running of a cooperative comedor or eating I found myself searching for symptoms, and this place in Lima, where poor people could get a good inevitably led to the focussing of attention upon meal for the equivalent of six cents in our money. youth. Because of the rate of speed at which I They were busy in a night school teaching, readwas forced to travel, this was not an easy thing ing, studying the needs of Peru, preparing murals to do with any thoroughness, but I consoled my- to illustrate the ethical and moral ideals of the self with the thought that I was not so close to organization. They embarrassed me by asking the situation as to be unable to see the forest on whether young people in North America take an account of the trees: at least I had perspective! active interest in the affairs of government and in raising the status of the underprivileged. This Almost the first impression that I had of Colom- party, while it finds itself ranged against the esbia was that it is being run by young men. Many tablished Catholic Church, which has joined the of the customs men at Puerto Colombia were quite party of privilege in the defense of the status quo, young, and almost none of the sizeable group who is not antireligious. Haya de la Torre is himself assisted in the elaborate ceremony of tracing my Christian and Protestant, and while there is no lineage back through both sets of grandparents dictation as to what a man shall believe, there is and recording my ten fingerprints three times at definite recognition of the importance of religion the Baranquilla police headquarters were out of [471 ]
in personal and community life, and the strongest state of Yucatan during April of this year. Sim- kind of emphasis upon Christian ethics is to be ilar Christian conferences for study, worship and found in the code of the Federacion Aprista rededication are to be held near Mexico City this JuveniI. fall.
As might be expected, liberal and revolutionary The missions are also making provision for the ideas find their most fertile soil to be the minds of training of young people, not only for the minis- youth, especially the students in the schools and try, but also for Christian lay leadership. There universities. The government university at Lima, is a girls' hostel at Oaxaca from which many Peru, has been closed for some time because of Christian girls have gone out to be leaders in the the strong liberal complexion of the student body, educational, social and religious life of the sur- most of them sympathizers with the APRA party. rounding Indian communities. In other parts of I arrived in Merida, Mexico, just in time to wit- Mexico young men, trained by the missions, have ness the strike of high school students in the gov- given themselves to the establishment of rural ernment schools. Reflecting the spirit abroad in schools under the government's program for edu- the land they were demanding a larger degree of cational expansion into rural areas. A mission self-control, more holidays and shorter hours, girls' school at Quezaltenango, Guatemala, has a with school only in the mornings. A few days normal training department which is turning out previously they had stormed the local education Christian teachers to help man the government's headquarters, wrecked the office and burned all of schools. A nurses' training school in connection the records. They had forced the students at the with the mission hospital at Guatemala City is Turner-Hodge mission high school to join them, producing fine Christian nurses who are finding but the prospect of being photographed in motion employment all over Guatemala, everywhere earn- pictures, added to their lack of sympathy with the ing a reputation for character and efficiency.
strike, was sufficient to bring nearly 100% of the At Medellin, Colombia, there is a training mission school students back to their classes. school for Christian leaders where provision is There were a few tense moments when, with doors made for self-help, and where a premium is placed locked, we waited for the angry crowd outside to on industry as well as piety. Unique among the tire of their attempts to set fire to the window training institutions is the Methodist Episcopal awnings and to batter in the door. Elsewhere, in "EI Vergel" farm school near Angol in Chile.
varying degrees, there were signs of unrest and Here a fine upstanding group of young men is be- of dissatisfaction with ideas, attitudes and insti- ing prepared for leadership in the fields of agri- tutions of long standing. culture, horticulture and animal husbandry. The This questioning carries over into the field of school equips these students not only for the agri- religion. A type of Christianity which portrays cultural reclamation of Chile, but also for Chris- Christ as a dead figure in the distant past, and tian lay leadership. '
which places large emphasis upon ritual, the pay- There are Y. M. C. A. and Y. W. C. A. organiza- ment of dues, and unquestioning obedience to tions at work in the larger cities of nearly all of ecclesiastical authority, does not meet the needs of the Latin American Republics, and they are doing youth. Students seek spiritual satisfaction in the a great deal, as in this country, to supplement the study of philosophy or of oriental faiths. Many work of the Church in reaching and holding young have given up all religion. Nor does the stereo- men and women. It was my privilege while in typed, adult-centered program of the Protestant Lima to attend a Sunday mornirig breakfast con- church, too often limited to Sunday school, preach- ference at the home of the General Secretary of ing service and mid-week prayer meeting, meet the Y. M. C. A. to which some forty representative their needs any more than it meets the needs of younger men of the city come each week by invita- young people here in North America. New ways tion, to discuss the relation of Christianity to life.
must be found to minister to the spiritual needs of This morning the leader talked on the subject, youth if they are to be reached and held by the Una Maravillosa Manera de vivir-the abundant Gospel of Jesus Christ. life. Various members of the group asked The best technique discovered so far is that of thoughtful questions and others told quite simply the young people's summer conference. It has how their lives were being lived on a higher plane proved its value here, and it is now being adapted because of the_new outlook that Jesus Christ had with effectiveness to the needs of Latin America. brought to them. It was a notable illustration of For a number of years such conferences have been the determined effort that is being made to dis- held in Chile, and now a start has been made in cover effective methods of approach.
Brazil also. Mexico is becoming interested, a sig- Students at the seminary in Sao Paulo, Brazil, nificant week's camping conference with twenty- have been organizing teams to spend the summer two young men enrolled having been held in the months (December and January for them) in
EMERGING YOUTH IN LATIN AMERICA
preaching, teaching and helping with programs earned in the eighty and more years of their existfor young people out among the churches of the ence there, the receptiveness of the people to the Presbytery. This has added materially to the Christian message, the steadfastness of the Chriseffectiveness of their training and has been a great tian nationals in the face of opposition, and the boon to the churches. This mission, in particular, beginnings that have been made toward reaching is to be commended for the quality of its leader- and holding young people-these are tremendous ship among the nationals. One student whom I assets. Now, while things are still so largely in met, a Negro boy by the name of Valerio from far north in Bahia, has been amazingly effective A COLOMBIAN STUDENT STUD'YING FOR THE MINISTRY in the conduct of evangelistic services, proving acceptable not only in the smaller villages, but the formative stage, is the time to make a great with the cultured congregation of the city church advance in our missions' work in Latin America. at Sao Paulo as well. It was in this Sao Paulo church that I found a Sunday school enrolling 900, The future is full of promise if we can succeed six hundred being accounted for in little branch Sunday schools conducted on Sunday afternoon all in making Jesus Christ a vital reality to the youths over the city by teachers and young people from the parent church. of these republics, as they come into larger re- Perhaps it is because of the restrictions which sponsibility and leadership. This problem of how have been imposed in Mexico that I was most impressed with the work being carried on in and to enlist the energies and enthusiasms of youth in around Merida in the State of Yucatan. There one evening I had spread out before me a map of the build~ng of Christ's Kingdom is one which the the surrounding territory. Some fifty-two villages were indicated as places where there are churches of North and South America have in organized churches. They represent the missionary outreach of the work centering in Merida. common. As we find solutions to it here, we shall The man who supervises them all showed me pictures that he had taken of the different congre- be helping them to solve it there. . ga'eions. A large proportion in each instance were young people. There being but few ordained ministers available, the churches are manned largely by elders. Each church has from three to six little branches in near-by Indian villages, where the work is carried on by elders and the young people. The Merida pastor who took me to visit some of these congregations is only twenty-one years of age. Another young man not much older is at work there representing the American Bible Society. With the resourcefulness of youth they were responding to restrictions laid upon the churches by encouraging Bible study and family wor~hip in the homes.
There are many factors controlling the destiny of nations. We have spent far more money on the exploitation of Latin America's raw materials than upon making Jesus Christ known. The missionaries whom we have sent, and the leaders whom they have trained among the nationals are all too few for the greatness of the opportunity. But the goodwill which Protestant missions have c. .1 .. ——–~-~~.~.——–
QUOTABLE ITEMS ABOUT SOUTH AMERIOA South America, the Dark Horse among the continents. Twice the continental area of the United States. Possible growth during the next century staggers prophecy.
Colombia, the Republic of Two Seas – borders on the Caribbean Sea on the north and the Atlantic Ocean on the west. It is an awakening republic with enormous resources which have scarcely begun to be developed.
Ecuador, the Republic of the Equator. Furnishes ivory nuts for buttons for a third of the human race. Most of the population is Indian.
Peru, Land of the Sun. Central Railway leads up the Andes to a height of almost sixteen thousand feet, the highest point of any railroad in the world. Lima, called the Paris of the South, has a great university which was aged before the Pilgrim Fathers reached New England. .
Peru could comfortably swallow California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Idaho.
Bolivia, the Roof of the Continent. Highest inhabited country in Western Hemisphere. Ten degrees from the equator but colder than Maine.
Chile, the Shoestring Republic. Extends north and south as far as from New York to San Francisco; is as narrow as Lake Erie. Chileans are the Yankees of South America. A chain of wireless stations stretches from the tropical north to the Antarctic south.
Argentina, the Melting Pot of the South. More than half of the people are foreign born- Italians, Spaniards, French, and other nationalities. Buenos Aires is one of the most cos- mopolitan cities in the world.
Brazil, the Giant Republic. Larger than all of the United States (excluding Alaska). More unexplored land than in all the rest of the world. The Amazon can carry the greatest ocean steamers as far as from New York to Omaha, Nebraska.
Venezuela, the Neglected Republic. Lowlands, tropical climate and other characteristics make this land one of the most difficult on the continent.
Uruguay, the Modernist Republic. The smallest but perhaps the most modern of South Amer- .
ican republics-aggressive education, industries, politics and rationalism.
Paraguay, the Backward Republic. Has the fewest Protestants and shows least progress of any South American country.
The Guianas, the Foreign Colonies of South America. Controlled by England, Holland and France. * * >:; There are more ordained Protestant clergymen in the state of Iowa than in all South America, Mexico and Central America. In most of the ten republics of South America, a Protestant missionary could have a city and many towns for his exclusive parish.
Millions of Indians and other native peoples in Latin America have not been reached by the Christian message and are as pagan as any in the heart of Africa.
Of the 2,042,889 people in Buenos Aires there are probably only a few hundred men on any given Sunday at religious services.
There are over six million Africans among the thirty-nine millions of people in Brazil, and many of them are the crudest type of Negro on the American hemisphere.
The Amazon River system has over 50,000 miles of navigable waterway, equal to twice around the earth. It can be navigated for 2,500 miles by ocean steamers.
South America has the largest unexplored area of any continent. In Peru and Ecuador, only one person in 17 is white; nearly three quarters are Indian, the rest are Chinese and mixed. Not one third of South America's population is of pure white blood.
Thirty-eight out of every 100 persons you meet in Mexico are Indians, and 43 are of mixed bloods.
Practically the only Protestant mission work being done among the 50,000 Araucanians, de- scendants of the aboriginal Indian races, is that of the South American Missionary Society.
The Panama Canal cuts off 6,250 miles of the sea route from New York to Callao; 3,747 miles from the route to Valparaiso. It brings Liverpool 4,043 miles nearer to the port city of Peru.
Education-Old and
By REV. HUGH C. STUNTZ I~ The American Institute, La Paz, Bolivia I ~.- ~==========================~I A TAHUALPA, last emperor of the sun-wor- ducted in Latin, add further incomprehensible 1'"'. shippers in South America turned from his suggestions to uneducated minds so that the ancestral faith and accepted Christianity "Christian" Indians have practically no religious to avoid death at the stake. He was strangled in- education.
stead by a Dominican friar, Vicente Valverde, These natives of Latin America were denied and the hawk-eyed, cruel Pizarro. As in Mex- privileges of education afforded to sons of Spanish ico, so in South America, the Cross was planted amidst the ruins of a pagan empire by the power of Spanish greed.
Devastating victories these that brought a reli- gion of love on the point of the sword! They were followed by centuries of ruthless and heartless ex- ploitation, always in the name of Christ, always with pious subterfuge and holy absolution.
So complete was the victory of "Christianity"
that little was left of indigenous religion. Death became the penalty for all heretics, whether simple, superstitious Indians or cultured intellec- tuals. No wonder that the ancient cults of Mama- pacha, of Raymi and Coya Raymi-the worship of Earth, Sun and Moon-vanished. Thirty million followers of these religious ideas were reduced to less than eight million in the first century of "Christian" domination!
Traditions are not killed so easily as people, and in spite of persecution, death penalties and un- utterable cruelties, many religious. customs have been perpetuated either in secret, by rural In- dians, or have been silently absorbed into local Roman Catholic practices. Obedience to the au- thority of the Church has frequently been secured by just such unworthy means.
Today the Indians of the Altitudes, from Ecua- dor to Chile and Argentina, enjoy a mixture of religious ideas under the symbol of the Cross.
They have combined animism, superstition, fear and obedience into a weird jumble of beliefs that A MAY'AN-INDIAN TEACHER AT A MISSION SCHOOL center in the authority of the black-robed priest. IN MEXICO Religious education for these folk, under the dom- inant Church, has never mounted beyond an in- and colonial families. In the history of coloniza- sistence upon absolute obedience to ecclesiastical tion under Roman Catholicism, general education authority. God for them is still Viracocha, or has always been considered dangerous. Even Pachacamac; Christ is a strange unknown figure education for the selected few was strictly under of suffering and death, not unlike their ancestral, the watchful care of mother Church, and religious weeping God of Tiahuanaco. For these Indians, education was obligatory. Catechetical instruc- allegiance to the Church of Rome is but another tion in the dogma of the Church was the content superstition, another mystery. The services, con- of this education, made attractive and awe-inspir- [475 ]
ing by the experiences of first communion, mass has brought to replace the religious education of and confession. former years.
The wave of revolution that rocked the world at Sunday schools, similar in organization, purpose the close of the Eighteenth Century brought to and program to the Sunday schools of North Latin America freedom of thought along with America, have been the recognized Protestant other blessings and burdens. It was a golden method of religious education wherever missionmoment for religious awakening; old authorities aries have left their imprint. Most Sunday were discredited, new ideas and more noble ideals schools in Latin America have been supplied with were taking root in the minds of an unshackled study materials not prepared to meet their needs, people. But no religious movement proved strong without illustrations from Latin American life, enough or alert enough to gain ascendancy, and and frequently not answering the simplest relittle by little the religious allegiance of Latin quirements for curriculum. American peoples slipped back into the worn, easy grooves of authoritative, State religion. Educa- Many 'handicaps and difficulties have frustrated, tion continued in the hands of the clergy, and re- to some extent, the attempts of religious educaligious education remained a matter of instruction tion through youth movements. Lack of trained in dogmatics with almost no relation to the needs leadership, support and guidance have been the chief obstacles to overcome. Wherever national of everyday life. organizations have been formed, incorporating the The coming of Protestantism had little influence Protestant youth of various denominational groups, these difficulties have been met and largely on this religious and educational scheme. Itwas overcome. The enthusiasm of a united, group not until the currents of thought from Europe and working in a common program has overcome the North America began flowing into Latin America lack of support, and has usually developed leaderthat one finds a noticeable change in the attitudes ship. The national organizations in Mexico, Uruof Latin American States. The cultural revolu- guay and Argentina have achieved notable results tion followed slowly and long after the physical in promoting the cause of Christ. They have fir.evolution that cut the ties with Spain. nanced their own program, published their own literature, launched their own social reform move- Gradually the logic of religious liberty, the ments and have proven their vital Christian spirit. riecessjty of public education, the development of Latin American literature and culture opened the Religious education from the pulpit has suffered way .for changes, more radical and fundamental from a lack of well-trained, educationally-minded to 'the social life of Latin America than mere preachers. In most new missionary work it is change ofgovel'nment. For several generations necessary to employ preachers whose zeal often the Roman Catholic religion continued as the State outruns their knowledge. Missionaries frequently religion, but within the' past generation we have supplied this lack to some extent. seen the severing of this relationship in country ~ter country, and wherever the Church and State Drawbacks to effective religious education remain united, as in the Argentine, Bolivia, Peru fortunately do not completely fill the picture. and other republics, absolute religious liberty has From the Rio Grande to Tierra del Fuego the tale been accorded, and public education is under the of real spiritual progress is being told today in direction of the secular power. In some of these improved and largely extended Sunday school countries religious education by the Catholic efforts, in vigorous youth movements, in leaderclergy is still permitted as part of the public school ship training developments for preachers and lay curriculum. Such teaching is formal instruction leaders, in an increasing effectiveness of Protesin dogmatics, and both parents and pupils are out tant publications, and in the growing recognition of sympathy with this type of religious education. on the part of Protestant groups that religious The majority of Latin American countries have education is fundamentally as necessary to the absolutely divorced religion from education, and continued life and vigor of the Church as any the representatives of the Church on one side, and other phase of church activity. of public education on the other, are often hostile camps instead of allies in the building of stronger One of the most promising developments has been the cooperative effort on the part of a group citizens. of denominations to develop an indigenous cur- In later years Protestantism has been some- riculum of religious education for all Latin Amer- ica. In the course of seven years, cooperating what responsible for this separation. Preaching groups have been formed in Mexico, the Caribindividual liberty and responsibility to God to a bean region and South America to prepare these people steeped in authoritarianism, has its dan- materials for use in church, church schools, Sungers. Breaking down established traditions of re- day schools, youth organizations, and for pioneer ligious authority has had good and bad effects; work among unreached peoples. and we might well ask what Protestant teaching
Growth of Religious
..- By REV. CHARLES S. DETWEILER, D.D., New York Secretary for Missions in Latin America, American Baptist Home Mission Society T HE Roman Catholic religion is recognized sionary to Chile, has honorable mention as a as the State Church in Colombia, Venezuela, leader in securing civil marriage and civil ceme- Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentine, Haiti, teries in that republic. Before his death he ob- Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica. A peculiar tained an interpretation of the constitution that situation obtains in Guatemala, where there is a amounted to a guarantee of religious liberty. Dr.
concordat between the Republic and the Vatican, Thomas B. Wood, a Methodist missionary, was a under which the Church receives a small annual leader, at first in Paraguay and later in Peru, payment from a government which is strongly to obtain for Prote~tants the sanction of the civil anti-clerical. In this case the union of church and law for the foundation of their families. The state is more theoretical than practical. The fol- marriage oftwo Protestant foreigners in Lima in lowing governments have decreed separation of 1897 almost became an international incident.
church and state in the years as given: Mexico, Peruvian authorities declared the marriage in- 1857; Honduras, 1880; EI Salvador, 1886; Bra- valid because it had been celebrated in accordance zil, 1891; Nicaragua, 1894; Cuba, 1901; Pan- with Protestant rites. Newspapers in the United ama, 1904; Ecuador, 1906; and most recent of States published editorials with regard to the all, Chile, 1925. crying need of liberalizing the laws of South All of these countries inherited traditions of American states, and the President of the United intolerance from the time when they were colo- States was asked to use his influence with the nies of Spain. It was the policy of the mother governments of certain South American states in country to prevent at all costs the entrance of behalf of our citizens. Finally, after much oppoheretical ideas, and to this end commercial inter- sition of the clerical party, a civil marriage~law course with her colonies was limited to Spanish- was passed by the Congress of Peru.
built and Spanish-owned vessels. The immigra- Liberty to preach and to establish Protestant tion of foreigners was prohibited, and a Spaniard churches was far more difficult to win, and cost might embark for the Americas only after pre- the blood of martyrs. Noteworthy among these senting evidence that he was an orthodox Catholic. was the humble colporteur from Argentine, Jose This protection against heresy was further rein- Mongeardino, who in 1877 took the Bible into forced by the establishment of the Inquisition; Bolivia, and was assassinated for his pains. In at the opening of the nineteenth century there 1890 the Rev. Francisco Penzotti, an agent of the were tribunals of the Holy Office in Lima (Peru), American Bible Society, suffered imprisonment Cartagena (Colombia), and in the City of Mexico. for eight months in Lima for his missionary activ- These functioned until 1813. No book could be ities. A few years previous to that event he and printed in the Americas except by consent of the the Rev. A. M. Milne were denied admission to government. The ships of all Protestant nations Ecuador and were told by the customs official that must have been classed as pirates, for in the six- as long as Chimborazo stood, the Bible would be teenth century a law was enacted, providing for kept out of that republic. Ten years later a revo- the seizure of heretical books that might have lution occurred which brought the Liberals into been introduced by "pirates." power, and the door has been kept open for the After independence the struggle for religious Bible ever since.
liberty began in an effort to secure for foreigners Ecuador's history is an example ·of what has the right of maintaining their own worship and been a frequent occurrence in other republics; for the interment of their dead in public ceme- she has had presidents whose ideas of liberty and teries. This soon led to the extension of this right tolerance have been far in advance of the people.
to natives who might have professed some other In 1835 President Rocafuerte brought a Quaker than the Roman Catholic faith. The name of the to Quito and put him in charge of a school, but RP-v. David Trumbull, the first evangelical mis- was unable to maintain him there against the [477 ]
popular outcry. In the early years of this cen- all other churches. It seems to be natural for tury President Alfaro commissioned the Rev. the Latin American mind to pursue policies to Thomas B. Wood, of Lima, Peru, to equip three illogical limits and to provoke issues that admit normal schools with American teachers, agreeing of no compromise. In its effort to destroy the in the 'contract that they should be protected in political power of the Roman· Catholic Church, the right of teaching the Protestant religion out- the Government of Mexico has proposed to "de- side of school hours. Missionary teachers were fanaticize" the people, and has gone to the ex- brought from Chile for these schools, and contin- treme limit of imposing a "socialistic education"
ued for some years, but they were not able to do upon all the youth in public or private schools.
what they had expected to do outside of school The leaders of the State have boldly proposed to hours. In Venezuela Prof. Mecham tells of an take possession of the consciences of children and anti-clerical president, Guzman Blanco, who "in uproot religious ideas. Apparently unaware of, the hope of seeing Protestantism take root and or unwilling to recognize, any contradiction be- prosper in Venezuela, offered one of the confis- tween these decrees and its profession of religious cated churches to the Protestants, but as there liberty, it has even forbidden the use of the mails was no organization to accept the offer it was to religious publications. Freedom of worship and of propaganda is limited to the interior of church buildings, and no more church edifices may be built. Meetings in homes or in rented build- ings are illegal. Barriers have thus been erected against the further spread of the Gospel in Mex- ico except through private personal work.
The one item of Mexico's anti-clerical program most likely to be adopted by other republics is that which limits a religious ministry to native- born citizens. In Ecuador and in EI Salvador the immigration individually or collectively of foreign religious clergy is prohibited. This is now inter- preted as applying only to Roman Catholic priests and nuns. In Guatemala the entrance of foreign clergy of any religious cult is prohibited. This has made it impossible to send in new Protestant CHILIAN MISSION SCHOOL GIRLS missionaries, although replacements have been allowed and no obstacle is placed in the way of withdrawn." This was in 1874. The next in- those returning from furloughs. In Venezuela a stance of this kind occurred in Guatemala in law "prohibiting the entrance into the republic 1882. President Barrios asked the Presbyterian of foreigners dedicated to the service of any cult Board of Foreign Missions to open a mission in or religion" has been enforced in recent years that republic. "To show his interest the presi- against Protestant missionaries. These prohibi- dent paid the traveling expenses of the first mis- tions in at least one country arose from a desire sionaries, Rev. and Mrs. John C. Hill, provided to prevent the influx of priests who were refugees them with a place to live, and sent his own chil- of the revolution in Spain. They are also a mani- dren to the mission school which was established." festation of growing nationalism, in which the This mission has continued and prospered down immigration laws of the United States have to the present time. Many instances could be served as an example.
cited of governments that were determined to The attitude of the Mexican Government to- guarantee religious liberty and to protect the ward all religions should not cause us to forget right of Protestant preachers, and who promptly that in the greater part of Latin America there moved to prevent the unlawful interruption of is the fullest freedom for missionary activity. It their meetings. But effective religious liberty is an amazing reversal of history for the Roman has had to be won from the people by an exhibi- Catholic Church in Latin America to assume the tion of the spirit of meekness in suffering perse- role of the protagonist of religious liberty. There cution. In Mexico alone, more than sixty Prot- is no indication that she stands for liberty for all estant believers have laid down their lives as religions. The fact that her own children are victims of Catholic mobs. turning against her affords no comfort or encour- Now in recent years we are witnessing a grow- agement to Evangelical missions, but it rather ing movement of opposition of governments to urges us to press with more vigor the work of the Roman Catholic Church, which is involving evangelization while there is yet an open door.
ADMINISTRATION BUILDING OF WARD COLLEGE, BUENOS AYRES, CONDUCTED BY
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST AND THE ME'THODISTS Cooperation and Unity in Latin America By REV. WEBSTER E. BROWNING, PH.D., D.UTT., Buenos Ayres FORTY years ago, when the writer was about were altogether innocent of architectural embel- to begin his life work in Latin America, the lishments. word "cooperation" had not been written into As the natural result of this opportunist method current ecclesiastical vocabularies. of occupation, there was much overlapping of Those were the halcyon days of an accentuated territory and duplication of forces. Buildings of denominationalism, and the church board that rival denominations, even in small towns, were projected its work into a foreign field was obliged sometimes closely grouped together or near- to keep before its representatives in that land the just as in our home towns and villages-and a urgent need of lengthening its own rolls and sectarian press, instead of attacking, as common strengthening its peculiar bulwarks. Contrib- enemies, the religious indifference and extreme utors to the venture expected practical returns fanaticism of the period, soon found itself engaged from their investment, and the failure to report in a spirited exchange of theological amenities such gains with due regularity might have endan- that were not always complimentary, but must gered the financial support of the missionary. have given great joy to onlookers from the side- As a consequence, the occupation of the field lines.
was hasty and opportunist. With no previous However, early in the present century, better consultation among themselves, and with but a counsels began to prevail and one could note, here superficial understanding of the real needs of the and there, faint indications that gave promise of field, the various denominations, during the sec- future cooperation in what was slowly coming to ond half of the past century, occupied the most be recognized as a common task. Small groups easily accessible and most promising centers of of theological students, sometimes meeting at population in Latin America, leaving the vast different hours, in the same classrooms, but kept and then almost unknown hinterland of the con- carefully apart by their instructors, were united; tinent to the outcome of future contingencies. mutual attacks in the press became less frequent; Each of these denominations at once estab- and a partial though still reluctant consent was lished schools, began the publication of literature slowly won for the doctrine that good missionary that explained the unusual merits of its peculiar strategy demands mutual consideration in the 10- tenets, and undertook the preaching of the Gos- cation of denominational activities and equip- pel from pulpits hastily set up in buildings that ment.
[479 ]
The Edinburgh Congress, in 1910, had, for rea- complished in setting forward the Evangelical sons then considered valid, rej ected the considera- movement in South America since the Congress tion of problems related to missionary work in of Panama, held nine years before. The findings, lands where the Roman Catholic Church was dom- published in both English and Spanish, showed inant, and this attitude resulted in the calling, in great advance during that time and gave encour- 1916, of a special congress for the study of re- agement for the future.
ligious conditions in Latin America. This con- 3. A financial campaign in the United States, gress, held in Panama, was most opportune, in on behalf of educational institutions in South that it confirmed the little that had been done by America, known as Educational Advance, was ter- venturesome spirits and, by opening new avenues minated in 1930, and gave entirely new equipment for the exploration and application of the prin- to Ward College, in Argentina; the International ciples of cooperation, at once lifted the whole College, in Paraguay; Santiago College and In- question above the horizon and into the full light stitute Ingles, in Chile; the High School for Girls, of day. in Peru, and the American College for Boys, in The Committee on Cooperation in Latin Amer- Colombia, in addition to helping other institutions. ica, whose duties were to be similar to those of 4. A Committee on' Cooperation in Santo Dothe Continuation Committee of the Edinburgh Congress, was organized in Panama, on adjourn- mingo was formed several years ago, under the ment of the Congress, and, since that time, per- auspiees of the larger entity, by the several sociesuasively and consistently, has kept before its ties working in that island, by the pooling of their constituent groups, as also before the general pub- resources and the initiation of a union program lic, the absolute necessity of cooperation, if the for the promotion of educational, evangelistic, Evangelical churches in Latin America are to medical and literary work. As a result of this advance their work or even hold what has already organization, there is now but one recognizedly been won. important Evangelical Church in Santo Domingo, which counts on the hearty 'and sympathetic help Some Special Projects of the Committee of government and other authorities as it carries forward its fourfold program.
There is neither need nor space, in this article, 5. A Continental Program of Evangelization is to tell the full story of what has been accom- a more recent undertaking of the Committee, for plished by this Committee, in the now almost the purpose of making the Gospel known to the twenty years since its organization, but reference great unchurched class in Latin America, whose may be made to a number of special projects contact with Evangelical Christianity has been which have been organized and promoted under but slight or entirely lacking, and whose soul hun- its auspices. ger has found no satisfaction in the ministrations 1. The publication of La Nueva Democracia, a of the dominant church. This campaign, conmonthly magazine, in Spanish, which serves a ducted by a gifted evangelist, an Argentine by highly intellectual class Qf readers, giving them, birth, has already been carried into Colombia, as does no other publication, in their language, a Peru, Chile, Argentina and Uruguay, with en- Christian interpretation of present-day problems. couraging results. This magazine has been well received by government and educational authorities, throughout the 6. To work in connection with the Central Comcontinent, and, because of its vital and Christian mittee on Cooperation, whose offices are in New approach to questions of public interest, has done York City, a number of regional committees were much toward the creation of a friendly atmos- soon organized, in the most strategic centers, each phere for the development of Evangelical work. of which has contributed largely to the spread of the principles of cooperation in its own area and Many books have also been written by the sec- has cultivated many projects of a local nature retaries of the Committee, or prepared under which have created a better understanding among their direction, which deal sympathetically with the various denominations.
social, economic and religious problems in His- Local Situations panic America. A reference to a few of these cooperative un- dertakings in each of the various large areas will 2. In 1925, a Congress on Christian Work, with help the reader to understand more fully how, special reference to South America, was organ- widely the principle of cooperation has now exized and met in Montevideo, Uruguay. The pur- tended throughout the continent. pose of this congress was the study of problems that had, emerged in this part of the Americas, Mexico, in the far north, has always been fer- in the aftermath of the World War, and, more tile in the production of religious problems. A especially, the evaluation of what had been ac- thoroughly sectarian attitude characterized the
COOPERATION AND UNITY IN LATIN AMERICA
Evangelical churches working in that country, for cooperate with those of other denominations; many years, but, in 1919, a plan was adopted by (d) the distressingly large number of small and the various boards which established primary ter- independent groups, almost invariably under the ritorial responsibility, merged a number of com- control of leaders who are militant Fundamenpetitive printing presses and periodicals, and talists and hopelessly sectarian; and (e) the surorganized a Union Theological Seminary. prising fact that, as a general rule, the national ministers are less inclined to practice cooperation In Central America, where a Conference on than are the missionaries. This is probably due Cooperation was held, in Guatemala City, in 1920, to the fact that cooperation is too often looked delimitations of territory and definite commit- upon as something exotic and, hence, under susments, as outlined at that time, are still respected pICIOn. Also, many of the leading nationals of and the two large denominations, Presbyterians today were trained by missionaries of the old and the Central America Mission, work together school in whose terminology cooperation had no in full harmony. place.
In Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Boliv- Definite Results ia and Chile, there is no official office or secretary for the promotion of cooperation among' the vari- Nevertheless, in spite of these and other obstaous denominations, but, in all these countries, a cles to its progress, cooperation has made some good spirit prevails and, in some of them, there is act.ual cooperation. In Peru, three bodies coop- AN INTEIWENOMINATIONAL YOUNG PE.OPLE'S SUMMER erate in the publication ofRenacimiento, an evan- INSTITUTE', BUENOS AYRES gelical mo:nthly magazine, and the same groups sustain a union Bible School. In Chile, the Meth- very definite advance, and the following special odists and Presbyterians have a definite under- results may be mentioned: standing as to territorial occupation, so that overlapping is avoided, maintain a Union Seminary, (a) Opportunism has very generally disapand also have a friendly understanding as to peared, giving place to a more modern and more other activities. Christian strategy in the occupation of the field; (b) mutual recrimination in the Evangelical press In Argentina, the Disciples of Christ and the has almost disappeared, several rival organs of Methodists unite in maintaining Ward College, a publicity having been merged, in the interests of high-grade institution that registers about five both harmony and economy; (c) educational inhundred students in all sections, and a Union stitutions have also been merged, in a number of Seminary, which is also attended by students cases, thus forming one strong school instead of from other denominations. There are, too, a two or three weak ones; (d) a continental cam- Training School for young women which, al- paign of evangelism, now being conducted, is altothough sustained by the Women's Foreign Mis- gether nondenominational; (e) and, best of all, no sionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal doubt, the far-flung Evangelical work of the con- Church, is open to students of all Evangelical tinent, under the influence of this new spirit of groups and numbers on its faculty men and wom- friendly comity and cooperation, has regained en of different denominations; a union bookstore, much of the fascination of a great adventure as organized and maintained by some eight cooper- we go forward, in unity of spirit, to the God-given ating bodies; and a number of other organiza- task of making a nonsectarian Christ known to tions which care for work among the young peo- the peoples of Latin America, thus bringing appreple, for women, etc. ciably nearer the realization of His own prayer that we may be one, even as He and the Holy Brazil, in some ways, excels all other countries Father are one. of Latin America in the amount of Evangelical work done within its borders, and the spirit of cooperation is strong. An Evangelical Federation has recently been formed, in which six denominations, six missionary organizations, and three societies cooperate. Cooperation is car~d for through a section of this confederation.
Obstacles in the Way of Cooperation The principal obstacles in the path of cooperation are: (a) The swiftly rising tide of false nationalism; (b) the religious inheritance of the people in which there is no element of comity or cooperation; (c) the insistent refusal of a few mission boards to allow their representatives to
of the Printed Page*
By the REV. H. C. TUCKER, D.D., Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 'Agent of the American Bible Society Christian and Anti-Christian Literature A Brazilian of note wrote a few years ago under THE statement is made in Sartor Resartus: the caption, "What Our Fathers Read": "He who first shortened the labor o~ copyi.sts by device of moveable type was dIsbandmg "If the French, notwithstanding they are Cathhired armies and cashiering most Kings and Senates and creating a whole new democratic world: olic, yet read considerably, it. is due not only to he had invented the art of printing." the direct inheritance of LatIn culture and the In this new democratic age the press has become a most efficient and widely used agency for Renaissance, but to the influence of Calvinism, communicating both truth and falsehood; it is a power both for good and evil. ~arlyle says: "The very strong there in the sixteenth century, and true university of these days IS a collectIon of also to the spirit of Gallican independence. For books." The Protestant Christian movement, carrying a there can be no doubt that the Reformation by Book that contains its message for the world, re- the obligation imposed upon the faithful to read gards the printed page as an indispensable agency in the accomplishment of its task. The work of the Bible to which Latin Catholicism was always reducing spoken languages to written systems has in view the use of the printed page for setting hostile, dreated in modern Europe the habit of and transmitting information. Teaching the illiterate to read is consequently an outstanding reading; and this explains why the Protestant part of missionary endeavor. nations have much more this habit than the Cath- The discoverers and settlers of the New World found here tribes without any knowledge of let- olic. To learn to read is to the Protestant a reters or of literature. Teaching them to read was not a feature specially emphasized in the early ligious necessity; for his religious culture deattempts to civilize these indigenous elements. Consquently the percentage of illiteracy has been pends almost exclusively on the reading of the large and only in recent years is this being reduced at an encouraging pace. Official statistics, Bible. For the Catholic it is unnecessary as the statements in the press and public addresses justify the following from sympathetic writers, oral lesson suffices for his religious edification, who have observed for years in South America. One writes: even though given in a language he does not "Various estimates of illiteracy run from forty understand. The real causes why we read so little to ninety per cent, the average literacy being kept down by the millions of untaught Indians. Com- are those given in my previous article-the influpulsory school attendance laws are unenforcable for lack of equipment and teachers, and there are ence of Catholicism after the Reformation, hosstill multitudes of children wandering about the streets without a chance to acquire even the three tile to reading and distrustful of books."
A priest publishes this statement: "For a long time, it must be admitted, the Gospel was for the Catholics a closed book, an unknown book, and for this reason the God of the Gospel is becoming an unknown God. Even among pious persons, among those who most closely seek to follow Jesus Christ, there are few who read the Gospel."
Dr. John A. Mackay well writes: "The Roman Catholic hierarchy accepted the responsibility of forbidding the pUblication and circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Latin America. This measure prevented these republics having access to the only book that could have brought new life to their people through a radical rethinking of life as a whIot lee~calnuddesdo prepare them for true democ- racy. from the thought life of Latin America the greatest known stimulus to popular education."
R's." The printed page, presenting the Gospel mes- ' Another says: "Literacy in some countries sage, faces also the charge that the Bi?le contains drops as low as fifteen per cent." only a part of the truth. Latin AmerIcan peoples – – – • In attempting to write of the printed page in the Christian mis- have been taught that there is a body of essential religious truth unwritten, held alone by the IiIndsiroanwanrylaregnetleyrpfrriosme BinrazLila,tisnincAemmeyricoab,sefravcattsI,Onanadndfiegxupreesr,ienmcuesht avbee fallible Church and only handed on to men ora y. btheaenn ifnarotmhoerrepeaxrttsenosfivetheincothnitsinceonutn.-trHy. fCo,r Tn.early a half century [482 ] This tradition is deeply imbedded in the minds of In recent years, when a changed attitude with many throughout the continent. reference to the reading of the Bible by the peo- ple has been forced upon ecclesiastical authorities, The priest above quoted wrote: "Protestantism some editors have printed consecutively passages teaches that all the truths of faith are to be found of Scripture texts, generally taken from an unin the sacred Scriptures, and that we all have the authorized Roman Catholic version. right of interpreting them, according to the light of the Holy Spirit. While combating this dan- From the very beginning the Protestant Chrisgerous and deadly doctrine, prolific mother of in- tian mission has made special use of the printed numerable extravagant sects, contradicting them- page in the work. The missionary with the Bible selves, the Church does not purpose depriving us in hand offers it to all who can read and emphaof the Bible, always, on the other hand, con- sizes the opportunity and duty of searching the sidered as a luminous and most abundant foun- Scriptures to find eternal life and light upon the tain of divine revelation. On the contrary, not pathway and problems of life. only does the Church recommend, with importunity, the reading of the sacred books, but more- There are several Protestant printing presses over grants many indulgences to all those who at and publishing houses in South America sending least for a quarter of an hour read a passage of the Gospels." What Does South America Need Most?
The Cardinal Archbishop oj Rio de Janeiro in a letter to his clergy, authorizing and recommending the reading of the Scriptures re-edited by Franciscan Monks in the vernacular tongue, says, "At the moment in which we write these words of approval and apology of the work of popularizing the reading of the Holy Gospels, we judge it convenient to make them very clear, that our attitude can never be confounded with the propaganda that our separated brethren, the Protestants, are very actively making. No; they, faithful to their principles, wish to substitute the Gospels for the Church; they claim to find directly and exclusively in the Gospels the dogma of faith and the rules of living."
The Press and the Gospel Reprinted by courtesy of the Christian Worken Magazine Dr. Abdel Ross Wentz, in "Across the Barriers of Language," states eloquently a historic fact out an increasing number of tracts, books and when he says, "with Luther's translation the periodical literature containing matter and mesprinting press discovered the Bible, took it on its sages for the enlightenment and enrichment of wings and flew with it over the face of the earth. the mind and heart of the believing community It was not long until the Scriptures were making and for the evangelization of the masses who can their appearance in millions of copies each year." read. Schools are established to make wider use This miracle is being wrought throughout Latin of the printed page; children and illiterate adults America. are taught to read, and are induced to provide themselves with helpful literature and good books. Sections of the secular press in Latin America The printed page makes possible these two sucare favorable to the work of disseminating the cessful branches of missionary work, and appeals Gospel among the people. Some have opened for its increasingly wider use. Many have been their columns to Evangelical writers on religious induced to read a Bible, a New Testament or a topics, requesting generally that controversial and religious tract, who, for reasons not difficult to dogmatic subjects be avoided. These writers have understand, would not enter a hall or a church not been able generally to make use of these privi- to listen to the preacher's spoken message. The leges consecutively for a very long time since pub- rapid spread of education, an intellectual renaislishers have been advised to close their columns sance evident everywhere, and the multiplication to such communications under threat of seeing of printing presses continually open wider doors their circulation decrease. Even when Protestant writers have contracted to pay for space the threat of religious boycott has lead editors to cancel agreements.
for the entrance of the Gospel message by means received striking testimonies to the value of the of the printed page. work of Bible distribution. Many churches, now vigorous and growing, trace their origin to a copy The report of the World Sunday School Con- of the Scriptures carried far beyond the range of vention at Zurich truly says: "There is no greater the missionary and making for itself a lodging in missionary agency in Latin America than the some believing heart." Bible and no greater need than the circulation and study of it. We should give our help to all the Christian and Anti-Christian Literature agencies which are promoting the publication and distribution of the Scriptures in Latin America." Reference has been made already to the place and production in the Protestant movement. The Dr. John A. Mackay says: "The Bible was the variety and quantity of Christian literature availpioneer of the Evangelical movement in Latin able in South America is quite inadequate to meet America. Scarcely had Latin America attained the needs. Most of what appeared in the earlier political freedom when parcels of Bibles in Span- stages of the work were translations and producish and Portuguese began to be deposited in South tions from the pens of missionaries. In recent American ports by Christian sea captains." Per- years national writers are editing the church usal of reports of Bible societies and Protestant papers and Sunday school literature and are writmissions will enable the reader "to calculate the ing Evangelical books and tracts. Lack of funds forces of the spiritual impact represented by the discourages many who would otherwise supply coming of the Book of Books" to Latin America. material to meet the needs. Notwithstanding this drawback progress is being made in the quantity Writing of the mission and work of Bible so- and quality of Protestant Christian literature. The cieties he says: "These heralds of the Word and situation furnishes a great opportunity to those the Evangelical Church behind them can be satis- who might contribute of their means to print and fied with no less an ideal than the fulfilment of spread the Gospel and to build the Kingdom of the Chilean poetess, Gabriella Mistral's desire, Christ in the heart and life of Latin America. when she says, 'My passion for the Bible is perhaps the only bridge that unites me with the On the other hand the multiplication of print- Anglo-Saxon race, the piece of common soil on ing facilities throughout Latin America have which I find myself at home with this race. . . . made it possible to use the printed page to spread Some day I hope to see the essential Book in every positivism (the philosophy of Augusto Comte South American Catholic home-the Book which which takes the form of religion), spiritism, thecan as little be done without as our faces, which osophy, and various other cults. Such books, is as logical a necessity as our names-just as I pamphlets and other pUblications are found in see it in every North American home, where it abundance in bookstores and news stands of the meets us with its holy and familiar counte- cities and towns throughout South America. Many nance.' " are anti-Christian in teaching and are hostile to Christianity. The materialistic interpretaton of Many Evangelical churches throughout the life finds expression in a considerable measure country date their origin from a copy of the Bible and immorality in various forms of expression left in the hands of an individual. A Baptist mis- also seizes upon the printed page for its nefarious sionary evangelist writes: "In nine years of purposes. Pornographic literature of the vilest active service in the far interior I have never yet type is circulated privately and now and then gone into a place where the Bible had not pre- forces itsltlf in show windows and on counters to ceded me, preparing the hearts of the people for contaminate the public. Police authorities in rethe preaching of the Gospel." cent years are vigilant and active in their efforts to suppress the exhibition and sale of such One man had a Bible for about twenty years printed matter. before he met a Protestant preacher. When the missionary first visited the community he found The influence of the daily paper is a striking eighteen men and women who had experienced feature of the present-day life of Latin American conversion and were ready for baptism. They countries. Rio de Janeiro boasts of not less than were running a little day school to teach their ten popular morning and five afternoon papers, children to read the Bible. besides several daily sheets of less importance. Other Latin American cities and towns show a The religious question in Brazil is being fo- similar record. Some are anti-Christian in atticused more and more about the written Word of tude and most of these papers are under no domi- God. The Bible proves its spiritual value to those nant Christian purpose or control, except as it who read and meditate on its divine truths. The may be for political purposes. Many of the papers Book is finding its way into the libraries, coun- will, however, publish Evangelical news and other cils and courts of the country and is beginning to reading matter, including Bible passages. exert its influence upon the laws of the Republic.
A traveler who recently visited Brazil wrote: "From missionaries of various denominations I
Youth in Mexico
, By PROF. GONSALO BAEZ .CAMARGO General Secretary of Christian Education, Mexico City D EEP and powerful forces, springing up groups of Christian young people are thinking from the depths of human nature and his- and doing everywhere. Let me tell of a few signs tory, are eagerly seeking to remodel the clearly indicative that the Evangelical youth of world. Old traditions and concepts, and stand- Mexico is coming,up to face the opportunities and ards of behavior are being exposed to bitter criti- responsibilities of the present hour, when matecism. It is indeed an age of rebellion against the rialistic un-Christian forces are seeking to grasp past and of anxious searching for new ways to the control of the process through which a new substitute for the ways of old. Bold experiments nation is coming into existence. in ethics and social organization are coming to be the fashion of the day. It is almost taken for The National Union of Ohristian Youth granted that to be modern means to be uncon- For a long time a dispersed and divided Evan- cerned about the foundamentals of a good life, to gelical youth has been one of the main sins of delet loose the inner restraints that make for virtue nominationaIism in Mexico. As heirs of the traand self-control, to disparage all that was held ditions of their elders, the young people of the sacred by the previous generation. Even if we churches have been led into indifference or even confess to everything that was unsound and fal- prejudice and bitterness towards the members of lacious in the ethical standards of the past, it is other denominations. But for many years, here none the less true that the present generation is and there, a few enlightened leaders of youth have misinterpreting sincerity as cynicism. It is an been patiently endeavoring to bring the young age that still has to learn the enormous difference people of all denominations closer together and between a saint and a hypocrite, between a sin- to direct their energies in a united front attack cere, honest, simple-minded man and a cynic. on common problems. At last, in 1933, a national An age of change and misguided rebellion assembly of young people from eight different against what is conventional and unfounded, is denominations decided to constitute themselves also an age that calls both for plasticity and es- into a national Union of Christian Young People.
sential goodness. Plasticity is an urgent need if The Union issued a call to the youth of all deone is to find the right way amidst a changing nominations. The following excerpt from this world. To be stagnant and unreceptive, to close document will explain the central aim of the tight the windows of the spirit in the face of en- movement: "The Christian youth of Mexico … larging horizons, has always been a dangerous adopts as the principle and foundation of its work policy; but in the present world it is indeed espe- the following: cially deadly. It means to commit suicide. But "'To present the message of the Gospel of the living Christ to all the Mexican nation without distinction, agto be plastic alone does not save. There is only gressively and bravely, . . . considering as central the th b' dd d value of human personality and its salvation in Christ one thmO g at amounts to emg ea an that Jesus as the ultimate and supreme objective; to work for is being shaken and driven to and fro by every the application of Christian teachings and standards of behavior in all the realms of human life.' " wind. The newest has never been a safe criterion for the best. Plasticity must be directed and con- trolled by a deep capacity to recognize and follow Every year since, the Union has held a national what is really beautiful, and true, and good, and congress or convention. Their leaders keep by the ability to discover the essential and perma- abreast of present-day issues. Financial limitanent and highest values both in the old and in the tions have made the practical work slow and re- new. stricted. But the original note struck by the Youth is plasticity.' Christianity is capacity to Union has not been toned down and the movement discover the highest good and loyalty to it. We is gradually gaining strength.
may safely assert, then, that the present age is The Mexican laws prohibit any kind of religious a most strategical opportunity for the thought teaching in private schools. Refusing, as a matand action of Christian youth all over the world. ter of conscience, to subscribe to an educational It is encouraging to hear fresh reports of what policy not only neutral, but in a certain sense, [485 ]
even contrary to Christian faith, most of the tion and" direction of a national scout movement.
Evangelical schools have decided to close. This Using a native scout program called the "Tribes fact is making the Evangelical work face an en- of Mexican Scouts" or tequihuas (Indian name tirely new situation with regard to young people for scout) as a basis and infusing into it t~e in general and students in particular. The prob- Christian building of character, Mr. Velasco IS lem is how to extend the Christian influence to working out a fine educational program for adol- this promising section of the youth of the nation. ethsceenGt~nebroayls and girls. Under the auspices of Department of Christian Education One of the most interesting new agencies that are gradually emerging to take the place, to. ~ cer- he has organized several "tribes" (scout troops) tain extent only, of course, of the tradItIonal Evangelical school, now practically obsolete, is in churches and Christian hostels. This is anbeing tried out by Mr. T. B. Reifsnyder, a Pr~s byterian missionary. Using a fine group of ChrIs- other agency which in due time will take over a good proportion of the opportunities and respon- sibilities of the former Evangelical schools.
tian students, attending the public superior The Salvationist Patrol schools and the university, as a nucleus of influence, Mr. Reifsnyder gathers together once or Inspired by the work of the Salvation Army, twice a week a number of students for informal but in a real indigenous form, a young Christian discussion of religious topics. The meetings are leader, Mr. Alejandro Guzman, has organized held in the private dormitory of one of the alumni "The Salvationist Patrol," men and women who of an Evangelical school. Inquirers are welcomed have felt God's call to minister to the physical and encouraged, and the Christian boys speak of and spiritual needs of the underdogs in one of their belief and experience in a friendly and in- Mexico City's most vicious suburbs. Their work timate way. is a successful combination of social service and evangelistic soul winning. They have their head- Camp Work Among Young People quarters in one of the Evangelical churches, and For many years the Y. M. C. A. has been con- their groups of patrolmen and women are conducting camps for its members. The Y. M. C. A. stantly on duty day and night. also is operating a camp for girls. The General They do not wait for people to come, but go Department of Christian Education (interdenominational) started a camp work with the defi- out and seek the needy ones. They see that abannite purpose of training Christian leaders or the young people of the churches, and for extension doned, diseased people receive proper medical work among the non-Christian youth. Camp Tlanextepec-Indian name for "The Mount of the care, either through free home treatment by a doc- Dawn"-was established for the purpose in a beautiful spot on the slopes of snow-capped Mount tor or, in most cases, by arranging a place in the Ixtaccihuatl, some fifty miles from Mexico City. The first camp was opened in the spring of 1931, public hospital for them. They keep mformed of and for five consecutive years it has been in operation. Leadership Training Camps for boys and poor expectant mothers and make provision for girls, Intermediate Camps, a Father and Son Camp and a Christian Workers' (pastors and sem- free assistance by a midwife or doctor. And inary students) Camp have been held. Attendance at the three Leaders' Camps and the study all of these services are pervaded by the evangelof a six-units Training Course gives the right to a Young People's Leader Diploma. Fourteen istic passion, and new converts have been made campers have received such a diploma. through their instrumentality. They feel very The campers have organized themselves into two societies, the "Citlalpol" (meaning "Rain of happy, for instance, when they can point to old Stars") for girls, and the "Teotecuhtlis" (God's Knights) for boys. These organizations are help- Mrs. whom they picked up from the street, ing to tighten the bonds of fellowship among the campers and to develop the experiences of camp a drug addict, and now a regenerated woman and into practical Christian life and service. The movement is now well rooted, and is resulting faithful member of the local church. in great inspiration and stronger consecration. The self-denial of this fine group of young peo- ple, only about a dozen, is amazing. They sacrifice all they can on behalf of the needy ones. This work is supported by gifts from friends, and al- though sometimes the financial problem is very acute, they bravely carryon.
This is but a glimpse of the great opportunities and responsibilities that the youth of Mexico are learning to face and meet. There are terrific rumors abroad of the religious situation in Mex- ico. As a matter of fact, whatever the issues of the situation may be, one thing stands out as one goes over the reaction of the Evangelical churches to it; and that is, that the Evangelical youth is beginning to answer the challenge of the situation One of the Tlanextepec leaders, a Teotecuhtli, and is stepping forward to take a leading part in Mr. Nelson Velasco, is undertaking the organiza- the salvation of the country.
In Chile In the Early
-·<lijfll By LAURA JORQUERA, Santiago, Chile II~- T HE first An3'lo-Saxon to set foot in Chile dary. Their children, born in Chilean territory, came in 1819, the year that Queen Victoria according to her laws were citizens of Chile. That was born. She was my great-grandmother, meant that the children must be baptized in the and the first Protestant to establish her home in Roman Catholic Church and their names inscribed this land. in the parish registers. But their parents took She had adventurers' blood in her veins, and this as only a civil rite, and had everyone of belonged to that German family which gave to those children rebaptized as soon as an opportu- the Roman Catholic hierarchy the greatest of her nity came.
Popes, Gregory the Great. This family was A few happy years went by and then something among the first to embrace the Reformed faith else came to worry the parents. Every school was and when persecution broke out in the realm of either directly under the priests' or nuns' control Charles the Fifth, the Hildebrandts escaped to or its religious instruction was under a priest. England and took the name of Hilburn. As the This meant that every child had to go to confeswife of Jesse Taylor, an English officer, dainty sion, to confirmation and holy communion, be- Sarah Ann Hilburn came to the new world to sides being obliged to attend religious services, make her home in Chile. novenas, processions, etc. Not to do so meant public affront and expulsion from the school. Thus Chile was still in the throes of her war for the three little daughters and only son had only independence from Spain and had only a few their father and mother for teachers. months before fought her last battle. At the request of the Director-General of the new repub- By this time the foreign residents in Valparaiso lic, Lord Cochrane came to organize a navy which were numerous enough to have a burying ground might aid the republics along the west coast of of their own. The English-speaking residents South America to gain their freedom. The ter- also had a chaplain sent out from home, but servrible Inquisition in Lima, Peru, was always ready ices could only be conducted in English, behind to receive heretics to imprison them, and escape closed doors. In Santiago and in other cities those was well nigh impossible. In Chile the Inquisi- who died outside the pale of the Roman Church tion did not function as such, but there was a must be laid outside the public cemetery. The special court which arrested all accused of heresy heretics soon took the custom of burying their and dispatched them to Lima. dead on the eastern slope of the rocky mound known as Santa Lucia, which had been a Spanish Many Anglo-Saxons who came to fight against fortress from the time of Chile's conquest by Spain remained in South America and married Pedro de Valdivia in 1542. On this beautiful hill into native families. Among those who gave their one can now read on a bronze tablet these words: life for the cause of freedom was Jesse Taylor, whose pretty young widow married John Withers, Dedicated to the memory of the outcasts from heaven who had inherited the religious tenets of the and the earth who were here buried…. Scotch Presbyterians. Eventually "the three gringuitas" (little Eng- Those who have never lived in a Roman Cath- lish girls) were married, two of them to Englisholic country, where the Constitution declares that men, one to a German. This meant that their to be the religion of the State, and where the offspring held to their Protestant faith and to priesthood is in command, cannot understand their mother tongue. Their children, being citiwhat it means. My great-grandparents could not zens of the country of their birth, were desirous be married in Chilean territory unless they were of taking advantage of their political and civil first baptized as members of the Catholic Church, rights, and wished to broaden their circle of since the priests were the only ones authorized to friends and activities. They must, therefore, atlegalize a marriage. John Withers and Sarah Ann Hilburn had to wait many long, weary months for tend the national schools and take part in national a British man-of-war to arrive in Valparaiso so affairs.
that the chaplain could marry them on shipboard The boys fared all right, because the schools according to international law. they attended were State establishments and al- Soon they found themselves in another quan- ready religious instruction and requirements were [487 ]
not taken much into account. But there were their religious faith, when they might have been only private schools for girls, and those which educated in the costliest schools, worn fine dresses were not directly under the nuns must have a and jewels and married into the highest circles of priest to teach religion. Every class hour began the land! But they refused every invitation which with the wholesale repetition of the "Hail Mary," might lead to being spirited away to a convent.
four or five "rosaries," and ended with making Entering Politics the sign of the Cross. When a child did not comply with these rules, either the teachers or the Then the children and the grandchildren of pupils or both made "little hell" for her. many Protestant foreigners who had established One day my mother, just twelve years of age, themselves in Chile began to fake a hand in poli- was called to the headmistress' desk and publicly tics. A strong liberal party was established and expelled. When her mother went to inquire as to new laws were advocated. Marriage was sanc- the reason, she was told that any Protestant girl tioned by the civil authorities. A cemetery was was a disgrace to the school. opened where no one could be denied burial; More than once my mother and her sister and births and deaths were registered by the State.
cousins had the same painful experience. When No one must be questioned about his or her re- William Taylor visited Chile in 1878 and proposed ligious beliefs when entering a State establishsending missionary teachers to open English- ment or bureau. It was a long and bitter strug- speaking schools he found a warm reception, gle. Then the State and Church were separated which accounts for the origin of Santiago and and gradually a more tolerant spirit has come.
Concepc;ion Colleges and the American School for Now Evangelicals can have their own churches Boys. and schools; we are not obliged to kneel when One morning, when the sun was scarcely over the Host passes by, and church festivals are not the top of the Cordillera in Santiago, there came so much observed. Protestant Sunday school chil- a great banging and screaming at my grandmoth- dren are not stoned and pelted with mud as my er's house. Aroused out of sleep, they were aston- mother and her sister and cousins used to be !
ished to see some rough-looking men come in, How much, of this new liberty, how many of headed by a priest, who started throwing all the these liberal laws, owe their existence to the in- furniture through the windows or carrying it out fluence of Protestants and to the missionaries can to the street. Grandmother had Scotch blood, only be guessed, but there is one name that stands and was not to be browbeaten in that way. To out clearly, one man whom no one will deny the her indignant inquiries the men replied that she honor of having given his personal work and in- and her family were Protestants and heretics and fluence to such a cause: Dr. David Trumbull, the should be burnt at the stake. The landlord was first ordained pastor who arrived in Chile defi- a firm believer in confession and her priest had nitely to take up the work of evangelization. He given her orders to "put those people in the learned the language well, sought the acquaint- street." But the priest forgot the law, and the ance of prominent men, had a President for his judge made both him and the landowner pay a personal friend, and from him obtained official heavy fine for violating the rights of honest, well- support for the secularization of the birth, mar- paying tenants. riage and death registers. In exchange and ac- Church festivities were constantly interfering cording to his promise to the President, he imme- with business, stopping the traffic with their pro- diately requested his citizenship in the country.
cessions. As a little girl of ten I was often or- To him, more than to anyone else do we present- dered to kneel down in the street when a certain day Evangelicals owe the liberty we enjoy and the little bell rang. My mother's children never knelt hope of still better days to come.
as the Host passed them by, but we did keep quiet. This only refers to political or civil rights and I remember the black looks, the threatening words liberty. It is quite another story when a Roman I heard more than once. Catholic becomes a Protestant. To do so is to Perhaps the hardest thing of all for my grand- escape, literally, from a bondage which only those mother and her young daughters to understand who have experienced it can understand. was the offers made by more than one rich and aristocratic lady to adopt them, and to leave them a fortune if they consented to be baptized as Ro- In spite of all the atheism and indifference that man Catholics. Left a widow as a still young is sweeping Latin Americans off their feet, the woman, with few means of her own, my grand- power of the living Christ, 0 Cristo Vivente, when mother had a hard time to keep her children and once glimpsed, is sufficient to make men say with to hold steadily to her own faith. Her two pretty a certa;n Argentine lawyer, "There will always be girls, intelligent, and with a refined background, room in men's hearts for the personality of Jesus were obliged to work for their living because of Christ."-From "Latin American Backgrounds."
Testimonies to the Living
WHAT OHRIST MEANS TO BRAZILIANS* great inspiration which means a profounder brotherhood. BORN in an Evangelical community, which was already greatly under the influence of Although sincere in their aim, those who national leaders and of the pioneer mission- brought Protestantism to Brazil brought also unaries and their colleagues, we received the first religious impressions in an atmosphere in which, fortunate ecclesiastical divisions; and from that with evident exaggeration, the legal and forensic time they have to some extent stimulated the secaspects of Christianity were presented. Some generations of pastors were educated in this en- tarian spirit which often obscures the feeling of vironment. spiritual unity. It is the inescapable duty of the The emphasis which the unselfish missionaries churches of the present to make a sincere and in Latin America put upon the fundamental doc- continuous effort to remedy the evils of the prestrines was quite reasonable, correcting the excesses, doctrinal errors and practices of the domi- ent, in harmony with the spirit of the Gospel, nant religion. It was necessary to insist upon and as a necessity for the struggle against the the redemption offered on Calvary, as also upon the free nature of salvation and the meaning of enemies of the Kingdom of God. faith. But, as is natural, the emphasis was ex- The spiritual environment in Brazil is not natucessive and we have suffered the consequencesthe religious intellectualism, the spirit of polemics rally favorable to sectarianism. We have ethnical and a certain negligence for other sacred aspects of Christianity. Fortunately one can already factors and ecclesiastical education which for notice a reaction in the direction of a more spiritual interpretation of the religion of Christ which centuries have made Brazilian and Latin Amerseeks not only to save the individual but to solve ica's psychology opposed to the spirit of sepamodern social problems. Quite ample is the salvation which our Divine Redeemer offers us! ratism.
Christianity is for us the religion which sees The reaction to sectarianism is already felt. in Christ the Divine Master, Saviour, and In- The new generation abhors polemics; it is freespirer. There has always been zeal to proclaim the ethical value of Jesus' religion; and we shall ing itself from the obsession of attacking the never forget the good influence exercised upon a generation of theological students who used to dominant Church, and is anxious for a real movehear the preaching from a noble Brazilian Chris- ment in favor of the unification of the Evangelitian leader. cal churches.
As we grow in experience, our conviction be- On the top of the Corcovado Mountain, from comes profounder that only Christ can be our Master and sure Leader and Supreme Inspiration. which one can see a marvelous panorama, includ- "Christ taught little but inspired much," said a ing both the Bay of Guanabara and the city of great writer of the last century. The religious mistakes, the interdenominational struggles, the Rio de Janeiro, is raised the statue of Christ the shortsightedness of many are due to the lack of Redeemer. We hope that its true symbolism will understanding of Christ as the Master Who, with His eternal words, inspires in us that Spirit which be accomplished and that the Living Christ will we can get from no other source. gain the allegiance of the sons of this land. To Jesus Christ is our Great Brother, who reveals to us all the greatness of God's Fatherhood, who Him many will look in search of peace for their is His Father and our Father. He is for us a hearts, light for their soul, and inspiration for • It Is not possible, within the limits allowed us, to give even a life and sacrifice! short exposition about the meaning of Christ for us and for our people, according to the teachings of the New Testament, and the EPAMINONDAS M. DO AMARAL, ~~~~~~:~at~~ .;r;~ !~~~~:onaries who brought to us the Christian Rio de Janeiro.
*** FOR one who has been taught, ever since child- hood, the traditional religion of the Roman Catholic Church, with its ceremonies, prayers to saints, etc., the reality of Christ's personality, His saving love and fellowship, is most marvelous.
The discoverers of Brazil brought, not the Chris- tianity of the New Testament, but that of the Roman Catholic Church, which is everything ex- cept a saving Christianity.
I was brought up in a pious Catholic home.
My mother never let me go to bed without my spending half an hour in prayer to the saints the wanodrldeacohveor.ne She kI.nnveowkead st oa i nptr oftoecr t elv1'feerydunrel.endg, was the day and during the night. I was instructed [489 ]
in the practices of the Church, committing to He went to keep his appointment and on the memory the Latin phrases of the confessional way, at the place he had been advised the assasmass and the burial of the dead. I was supposed sins would be, he saw two men holding their guns. to be the most religious boy of my community, The missionary asked them if they were waiting but in spite of this I knew nothing about salva- for anybody and if he could render them any tion. As I faced the problem of the salvation of service. They did not reply so he told them that my soul, I found no possibility of escape. No one he was going to preach at a certain place and could help me, neither the priest nor my mother. invited them to attend. After he was gone the This fact took my sleep away, and my peace was men asked each other why they had not killed gone. The "flames of hell" got hold of my imagi- the preacher. Then one of them said: "Let us nation and there was but one relief-to banish go and hear him preach and see what is wrong religion from my mind. Soon my faith in the with the man we came to kill and did not." They Church, in the saints, in religion as a whole, was went and one of them was converted. We believe gone, yet there remained in the depth of my soul in the personal friendship of Christ and His help a longing for God, with no knowledge of how to in time of need. find Him. 3. Christ is to me and to my people the only One day I found an old Bible, and before I read way of salvation. Brazil has its own problems the New Testament through I found what I had and some of them are very serious. We have been seeking all my life. Since that day Christ, a new country, and have very serious and troublemy Saviour, has meant to me untold blessings. some problems to solve. We have men of the highest type, cultured, patriotic and anxious to 1. Christ is to me a personal Saviour. Personal solve these problems. But we are convinced that religion is a thing unknown in the Catholic nothing but the power of Jesus Christ can solve Church in Brazil. People are taught to believe them. It is not so much a matter of religion. As in the religion of their parents, without any idea a rule, the people are religious, but it is not reof personal salvation. For all believers in Jesus ligion that saves lost souls, it is the power of God Christ the reality of Christ in our experience is in the hearts of men that saves them and lifts up the most precious and unquestionable fact. We a country; this power my people have not and know Him, live in Him, and associate Him with know not where to find it. If we preach the Gosevery fact of life. No longer do we repeat the pel and the people believe it and live it, the probimpotent traditions told by our great grandfa- lems will take care of themselves. This is our thers. We know His salvation by experience and task. gladly tell it to others. Brazil needs education for its children, needs For me the most marvelous thing is the reality more comforts for its people, needs to improve its of Christ's presence in our life. The teachings of tremendous riches; Brazil has the resources to the New Testament and Christ's experience be- become one of the greatest nations of the world, come our experience. All make a living chain but nothing of that can be accomplished if its that links us to Christ of the New Testament. people are not led to accept Christ and His power That is the reason why we preach the Gospel to to save them from their sins. Blessed are those our people who know nothing of these blessed who have given the Gospel to Brazil. We acpromises of the Gospels. knowledge the great service of missionaries, but the work is only beginning. Our hearts are sad 2. Christ is to me a personal friend. Nothing as we think of forty million souls without the can be compared with the friendship of Christ. Gospel here in Brazil, and the relative few be- The Catholics try to make friends with the saints, lievers with so limited means of reaching them. but they do not trust in their protection. Evan- Pray for us. gelical believers (the name by which Protestants are called) believe with their hearts in the friend- ANTONIO N. DEMESQUIT A, A.B., TR.D ship and protection of Christ. "God shall break forth like the dawn and we One day a missionary was invited to go to shall see," said that noble knight, Don Quixote. preach in the suburb of the city. He was advised The dawn of God, a transcendent light to set the not to go because two men had been paid to kill goal of life and to show the way to life,-that is him on the way. He replied, "I will go as I prom- man's urgent need amid the confusion and gripised as the people are waiting for me." ping fears of the present time. Especially is this the need of the Latin American who has passed his "You should not go," said his friend, "your life days transfixed to the earth, with a marked natural means much to the cause and it does not pay to tendency to non-ethical, non-metaphysical. non-rerisk it." ligious existence.-John A. Mackay in "That Other America." "I will go," said the missionary, "for my Saviour will go with me and they cannot kill me unless the Lord permits."
Twice,Born Latin An1ericans
, which throughout his youth had prompted him to write verses and essays. Friends in the school, PROF. GONSALO BAEZ CAMARGO who have since become well known as educators OF MEXICO and writers, influenced him in such a way that these interests supplanted the half-formed ambi- A Sketch by MILTON DAVIS, President of Union tion to become a soldier. Soon after returning Theological Seminary, Mexico City to the normal school he was asked by Dr. Wolfe, the presiding elder, to preach each Sunday at a D URING the decade beginning in 1850, the village in the neighboring State of Tlaxcala. His movement toward intellectual and religious acceptance was due partly to this growing literary freedom came to active expression in interest, and to the appeal offered by the oppor- Mexico. This tendency was fostered by the organization of a number of groups throughout the country for the study and expression of liberal ideas. Such a group was formed in the city of Oaxaca, in the year 1858, chiefly for the purpose of studying the Bible. One of its founders was Dr. Felix Gonzalez Angulo, who with his wife joined the Methodist Church in Oaxaca upon its organization. Rosenda, their youngest daughter, taught in the Methodist school, and later married Guillermo Camargo, a teacher, poet and public speaker. Of the two sons-Guillermo and Gonsalo-the first died in early childhood.
The family moved to the State of Chiapas, where the father died of yellow fever. Returning to Oaxaca, the mother devoted all her strength to rearing her son. She was a devoted member of the Evangelical Church, and earnestly desired Gonsalo to dedicate his life to the service of Christ. By great sacrifice she saw her son finish the primary school before he was eleven years old. But the struggle had undermined her health, and she died a month later. Upon the mother's death, Dr. V. D. Baez, then presiding elder, gave the boy a place in his family, where Gonsalo shared with eight children paternal affection and Christian nurture. The following year (1912) Gonsalo entered the school in Puebla, but in the second year of his normal I course the school was temporarily closed because PROF. GONSALO BAgZ CAMARGO of the revolution, and at the age of fifteen years tunity for practice in public speaking. His work the boy entered the Constitutionalist Army. In a as student pastor revived his vision of a life given battle near Mexico City he received a severe to Christian service-a vision instilled in him durwound and lay down under a tree, where he lost ing childhood by his mother, and stimulated by consciousness, but was rescued by a soldier and the influence of the Christian home into which he taken to the military hospital. had been adopted.
The seemingly accidental manner in which his The Union Evangelical Seminary was opened life was saved made little impression upon the in 1917, as a part of the new plan looking toward young lieutenant, but the taste of the soldier's a more intimate cooperation between the Evanlife had brought about a change in his purposes, gelical churches in Mexico. Young Camargo, and he decided to spend his life in the army. Upon though lacking one year of completing his normal the reopening of the school in 1916 he again took course, was urged to enter the seminary. He did up his studies with the hope of becoming a mili- so rather unwillingly for he desired further acatary technician. But the atmosphere of the school demic training. Once there, however, he enjoyed gradually strengthened the literary tendencies the enlarging intellectual horizon offered through [491 ]
his seminary studies, and became more interested Montevideo, Buenos Aires and Peru, where he in the Christian ministry as a life work. In gave two weeks of service to the Peruvian Evan- October, 1920, he was graduated from the semi- gelical Alliance. Since 1930 he has been presinary, and his ambition was to study medicine in dent of the Central Committee of Religious Eduorder that by serving both as pastor and physician cation for Latin America. His literary works (all he could best follow in the steps of his Master. in Spanish) include, "Looking Toward Religious Renewal in Spanish America"; "The Reason for Broken health made it impossible to carry out Protestantism in Mexico" (also in English); these plans, for tuberculosis developed, and for "Principles and Methods of Christian Education" ; several months he spent practically his entire time "The Truths and Errors of Marxism." in the open air. One day, while reading his Bible, he came to the words, "I shall not die, but live, Prof. Bftez Camargo has expressed his own conand declare the works of the Lord" (Psalm 118: viction as to his call to Christian service: 17) . He resolved that, if renewed health should be granted him, he would devote his life entirely "As I have thought of the circumstances of my to the service to which the Master was calling life, more and more there has become rooted in him. There came to him the conviction that his my mind the conviction that the Lord has granted life, saved years before through the kindness of a me my life for a purpose and for a calling. Twice soldier whom he had never seen before, and now He has given me back my life when it seemed algranted him again in his deliverance from sick- most lost. God used the apparent nearness of ness, had been saved for some definite mission. death to make me understand, to the depths of my heart and experience, that life is really a gift His health continued to improve during three from Him. If God rescued from death a young years spent in the pastorate. In 1925 he was officer, wounded and unconscious, it was to make called to the Secondary and Normal Department of him a soldier of Christ; and if he rescued him of the Puebla School. There he spent four years. from the power of sickness, it was to place him During one of these, in the absence of Prof. M. under the greater power of an unchangeable pur- D. Smith, the Director, he served as Acting Di- pose of Christian service. Twice God has given rector of the institution. me my life anew. The least I can do is to con- secrate all my strength and my energy to His After Dr. Robert M. Hopkins, Secretary to the service." World's Sunday School Association, visited Mexico in 1929, Prof. Camargo was called to be inter- *** denominational secretary of religious education, secretary of the National Council of Evangelical DOUTORA CAVALCANTE Churches in Mexico, and manager of the Union Evangelical Press. His work thus touches varied A Sketch by REV. W. C. TAYLOR, phases of the Evangelical Church enterprise- Pernambuco, Brazil that of planning and organizing the program of Christian education; coordinating the work of the COVETED title of rare· dignity! The Braseveral denominations, and encouraging coopera- zilian graduates of all superior schools are tion between them; and the publication of litera- called "Doutor" (Doctor), or "Doutora" ture for leadership training and for Christian (feminine). The heroine of this little sketch was education and culture. the second Brazilian woman to graduate from one of the federal medical schools and in North In addition to these activities there have been Brazil she was the first woman physician. Everyopen doors of service in other fields, particularly one knew her as "Doutora," the brilliant, devout, through the Young Men's Christian Association courageous, versatile, aristocrati.c, humble, hardand the editorial department of Excelsior, one of working sister in Christ, Dr. Amelia Cavalcante. the leading dailies of the city, to which he contributes regularly, and in which he has charge of The revolutionary governors of both Rio de the department of bibliography. Janeiro and Pernambuco are of the Cavalcante family, mighty men in business, journalism, pol- He has also had recent opportunities to touch itics and revolutionary reform. But the first Christian work outside of Mexico: in 1929, as Evangelical Christian in the great family was president of the Evangelical Congress of Havana; the little woman of large will and independence. in 1930, in the convention of the International Council of Religious Education in Toronto; in Brazil won from the Vatican the coveted gift 1932, as delegate to the Executive Committee of of South America's first cardinalate. And the the International Missionary Council in Herrn- first Brazilian chosen for the high distinction in hut, Germany; in the same year, as delegate to Church and State, Dom J oaquim Arcoverde, was the meeting of the World's Sunday School Associa- a near kinsman of the young Amelia. He won a tion in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and in a visit to name for wisdom, moderation and tenacity in his. long career on Rome's behalf. When he died his. last will and testament was found to be a theo-
SOME TWICE-BORN LATIN AMERICANS
logical-civil document that, in some respects, was sonally for orphans, invalids and insane, and a transcript of his long and colorful experience. helped a variety of worthy causes. At last her There was enough theological error in it to sink frail body could no longer be driven by her iron a world in ruin, but mixed with it there was will while in utter cheerfulness she fought off enough saving faith to save a cardinal's soul. blindness. She was loved by her church and Here is the avowal of that faith: "I confess, from moved into some rear rooms of its building, where inmost conviction, that I cannot save myself by she held court for many grateful friends. Many mine own works; for this reason I do not put of these were prominent Roman Catholic women my trust in them, but only trust in the infinite of the city, who said: "We want to visit you and mercy of the Most Holy Heart of Jesus Christ minister to you but we will not enter a building and in the atonement by Him offered to his eter- of heretics." They finally persuaded her to let them rent her a convenient little home, and in nal Father for our sins." * that she lived her last year on earth and there died last fall. Whence came these reminiscences of Evangelical truth and vocabulary? Did the struggle in Even to the· last strong efforts were made to that notable Pernambuco family when the cardi- induce her to return to the Church of her fathers, nal was still a priest in North Brazil leave in his but bravely, calmly, sturdily she rejected them mind memories of the dialogues when a brave all, saying: "Nothing you own is any incentive. I young woman faced all dignitaries and their have everything in Christ and I am only waiting learning and stood loyally by her Lord? his call."
In Curityba, Brazil, ministering to its great *** foreign colonies and cultured Brazilian student class and all the people, is a radiant personality. A BRAZILIAN CHRISTIAN- A. B. Deter is the name. Away back in his THOMAZ L. COSTA youth this young enthusiast for Christ came north and preached his glorious Gospel of the happy O NE night, over forty years ago, a young God and it won all the young physician's heart man entered an humble room on the secand soul forever, and she gave herself utterly to ond floor of a house in Rio de Janeiro. King Jesus. There he heard, for the first time, the preaching of the Gospel. The preacher was Dr. W. B. The young woman, once won for Christ, became Bagby, now veteran missionary to Brazil. The a winner of souls. Her aged father became a be- next day the youth indignantly inquired of the liever. In her church, the First Baptist Church washerwoman who had urged him to go: of Recife (Pernambuco) there was a class of inquirers in the Sunday school where she was a "Why did you tell that preacher all about my constant witness to the Saviour and many were life and all the ugly things I ever did?" brought into the Christian life. To her amazed denial he said: She chose to minister to her own so neglected "But I know that preacher was talking straight sex in those days before the present remarkable to me, for he described all of my sinful life right development of Brazilian medicine and surgery there before everybody." had taken place. She helped bring into the world He accepted Christ as His Saviour, and since scores of children of missionaries and many of that day Thomaz L. Costa has humbly tried to the most eminent sons and daughters of Brazil, walk in the way of the Lord. and in all these kindly and aristocratic homes Dr. Bagby saw that he must have help for evanshe bore her radiant and assured witness to her gelistic work and so he gathered a group of the Lord. She was the physician of the college and young men into his home and taught them the seminary and Woman's Training School of her doctrines of the Bible and simple homiletics. In denomination during the woeful days of the that class were three young men who became "Spanish influenza" epidemic when all day long outstanding in the work of the Gospel in Brazil. the cobblestones rattled under the wheels of Dr. F. F. Soren, pastor for more than thirty years hearses and the city was one vast morgue. She of the First Baptist Church in Rio, was one of did not lose a student. Even to the last there them. Theodoro Teixeira, another of that group, were both men and women who sought her serv- is editor of the Brazilian Baptist Journal. He is ices, even after she became blind. Very slender deacon in that same church. The third was T. L. and sinewy, she went by day and by night, eating Costa, a clerk in a shoe store, who went to tropilittle, renewing her strength now and then with cal north Brazil, helping to develop churches a cup of hot water and a bit of sugar in it. wherever he went. Later he became proprietor of shoe stores in the city of Bahia and when Bra- Hers was a life of abounding charity. She zilian Baptists needed an executive secretary for educated youth, ministered to the poor, cared per- their Board of Foreign Missions-but without • "Sharing with Neighbor America," p. 56.
salary-To L. Costa was elected. The shoe busi- that they would go to the dedication since it ness grew and the foreign mission business grew would be something of an event in the town and to such an extent that Senhor Costa was unable he would get material for an editorial for his to attend to both. So he sold out the shoe busi- paper. He would also meet the minister whom ness, and gave all his time to foreign missions. he had known years before in the Evangelical In- His lovely Christian wife, Dona Sarah, is presi- stitute. dent of the Brazilian Baptista Women's Organization. Now, physically unable to continue as That night the truth went home to Orlando's executive secretary, Senhor Costa has been elected heart. Night after night he and his wife went president. together and when Sunday came Elza had per- mission to take the children to Sunday school. *** Orlando became an earnest inquirer, a diligent student of the Scriptures. His brilliant mind A TRANSFORMED LIFE delighted in the beauties of literature which he discovered in the Book, and its spiritual teach- By CLARA G. M. GAMMON, Brazil ings took root in his soul. Little by little he dropped his dissipated habits, as the Gospel truths Y OUNG Orlando was angry-violently angry. took possession of his life. There were times of His young wife, Elza, had again attended the doubt and indecision, and it was a year before detested Protestant meeting, and not only he yielded himself, heart and soul, to the Master. so but she had taken their little son to the Sunday But when he made the surrender it was uncondischool. Such a vulgar thing to do! The real tional, and he not only yielded himself but his elite would not be caught there. Again there was family and his business. A happy home, where a scene, and in his rage Orlando declared: "I'd love reigns, has grown out of one that had almost rather see you in your coffin than have you go to been wrecked. His newspaper has become an that Protestant meeting." His wife knew that he Evangelical organ, without lessening its service meant it! to the public and in every issue an article appears on some practical religious subject written by Elza's father had been converted to the Evan- himself or by an outstanding minister or Chrisgelical faith while she was still a little girl, and tian layman. When he was ready to make his had brought his family into that church. Both public profession of faith in Christ he announced Elza and Orlando had studied in the Evangelical it in his paper, inviting his friends and business Institute and she had taught in the girls' school acquaintances and the public to attend the service before her marriage. But she was young and gay, and hear the Gospel preached. It was a bitter and the attractions of the world had a greater experience for his mother, who felt that Orlando hold on her than the things of Christ, so she felt had betrayed all the family traditions. She went very happy in making this brilliant marriage. so far as to say that she would rather see him Orlando was rich, aristocratic and intellectual, wild and dissipated, as he had formerly been, though dissipated. Later she saw him in times of terrible testing and admitted that there was power in his faith When Elza found herself deprived of the re- in Christ which she had never found in her religious privileges which she had taken as a mat- ligion, and that he had a peace which she yearned ter of course, they became more precious to her; to enjoy. she longed to enjoy the services and to bring up her little son in the faith she now had to hide in Elza is today a happy wife and mother, and in her heart. her face one reads peace and joy as she leads the children week after week to the Father's House. Years passed, with their joys and sorrows. Orlando is not merely a church member, but is a Other children came, and Elza longed to take them true Christian, showing power in his life as a to Sunday school as she saw other mothers taking worker in the Sunday school, an officer in the their little ones. Now and then she would slip church, a tither, and an example of the transoff with them, hoping that Orlando would not find forming power of Christ. it out. He had become a leading citizen and business man in the town to which they had moved, God of our life! Thy lovingkindness is new the owner and editor of the local newspaper. every morning and thy faithfulness keepeth watch Family pride and religious prejudice, to say noth- every night. Our hearts, 0 Lord, would rise to ing of his position as man of affairs, would not meet thee when thou wakenest us to the service of permit him to yield to Elza's desire. thy will; and sink in trust before thee when thou leavest us only the shelter of thy rest.-James In course of time a beautiful new Protestant Martineau. church was built to supplant the meeting hall in a rented house. A minister from the capital city, who had been a school acquaintance of Orlando's, was coming to preach the dedication sermon and to hold services for a week. Orlando promised
Ways of
'fested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MRS. ESTELLA S. AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO i~"=1============================================~ GLEANINGS FROM SUM- studying "Women Under the with pictures and materials MER CONFERENCES Southern Cross" are: characteristic of the countries.
The increasing prominence of 1. A Good Will Tour (price If the meetings have to be held missionary education in the pro- 20 cents) which, under the fig- in the social hall of the church, gram of the local church was ure of an imaginary trip over noticeable as the Department good roads and bad, takes those booths may be used to represent Editor sat in the conferences of with adequate imagination "On various denominations last sum- the Highway through Mexico," the countries, and at the June mer; and with few exceptions "On the Approach to South meeting all countries may be the plans of one denominational America," "Through Colombia," group would fit equally well into "Through Peru," "In Camp at represented in a South Amerothers, with slight adaptations Lake Titicaca and on a Journey ican bazaar. as to minor objectives and spe- through Bolivia," "Through Urcifics. This is as it should be in uguay, Paraguay and Brazil," 2. Scrapbooks as a project. a neighborly Christian Church "Northward Bound, through "Scrapbooks of both North and whose families are on good Venezuela," on a "Home Comenough terms to lean over the ing" journey, at a June picnic South American life would give low doctrinal fences and discuss exhibiting trophies and select- the recipient a much better idea their common tasks and prob- ing the best diary kept through lems. Where outstanding pro- of the sister continent." An exgram outlines and activating the tour, and at an International change at Christmas time (almaterials are mentioned here, Citizenship meeting with a protheir prices are also given with gram on "The Good Will lowing ample time for transit) a view to furthering a Methods Bridge." Exchange among all Evangelical would afford material for use in denominations. The Depart- Supplies necessary for the schools. By marking the bunment plays no favorites. Any journey, with their counterparts groups not finding their litera- in items each society needs for dles "scrapbooks for school use" ture featured here are invited to a successful year are: Gas-En- (including old postcards, it may furnish samples for considera- ergy; Oil-Enthusiasm; Toolstion. This some have failed to Literature Budget, Goal Chart, be) they will not be counted do. Plan Book, etc.; Tickets-Dues Receipt Card; Schedule-Pro- dutiable. Oversight will be nec- All America for Christ gram Outline; Passport-Devo- tions Book; Diary-Scrapbook; essary in the use of suitable ma- "America, Both North and Kodak-An Inquiring Mind and terial in these books. Best South" is a taking theme song Its Pictures. The organization improvised by the Methodist includes a guide (counselor), movies, home life, school and Episcopal women for their driver (president), chief me- church life are among the most young people's department, the chanic (program chairman), adaptation being made by sub- hostess (meeting hostess), busi- desirable topics. stituting in "America the Beau- ness manager (treasurer) and a 3. An international tea, invittiful" the above words for the recorder (secretary). The difrepetitious phrase, "America, ferent homes in the membership ing each person to come dressed America," in the third line of to be used as meeting places may to represent some foreign couneach stanza. It furnishes emo- be named after the countries to tional stimulus for the under- be considered; or where more try, as well as to give a fact lying idea of the foreign mission than one country is to be visited, studies of the year. Among the the progressive party plan may about the country. The hostess specific plans for young people meeting guests at the door gives be used with a talk from the each a tiny flag of some country, guide on each location. Rooms are supposed to be decorated the one. receiving the flag being [495 ] expected to name the country later in the meeting. Many other clever devices such as this are suggested through the out- line, such as a "good will party,"
a play called "The Clarin," etc. 4. "What to Serve"-a fif- teen-page booklet describing specific South American foods and ways of serving them (price 5 cents).
5. "Pattern Sheets" of all the flags, characteristic flowers, cof- fee plant, humming bird, parrot, butterfly, banana tree, bag,
apron, mate cup, etc. Full di- cessful only in countries that have Associate Helpers' Department rections for making and color- passed through a deep religious exing are given. (Price 10 cents.) perience? Mrs. J. M. McEvoy, secretary of the Associate Helpers' De- 6. "Neighbors," a devotional Would the U. S. be justified in partment in the Woman's Misbooklet with outline for each making a protest against Mexico's sionary Society of the United month of the year. (Price 15 attitude toward organized Christian- Church of Canada, sends a decents.) Orders may be sent to ity? scription of the important work Woman's Foreign Missionary undertaken among shut-ins, Society, Methodist Episcopal Worship Service: The call to social women with small children or Church, Boston, Mass. justice. Amos 5: 10-15. Hymn, household responsibilities, busi- "When Wilt Thou Save the People, ness women, those living out of "That Other America" Lord?" reach of a local auxiliary or for any other reason unable to at- Mrs. Garret Hondelink, who The booklet of outlines sells for 10 cents tend regular meetings at the taught this study book at the plus six cents for postage. Address Mrs. church. Her leaflet statement Interdenominational School of Hond"lInk at 417 Alexander St., Rochester, says in part (adapted for brev- Missions at Lake Geneva, Wis- i'i. Y. ity) : consin, in a Leadership Training Class, and later at a conference Helpful Books These women should be listed as a of the Reformed Church of distinct group of Auxiliary interest America, at Holland, Michigan, In addition to "That Other known as Associate Helpers, with a has a few of her mimeographed America," by John A. Mackay, secretary who forms the connecting outlines left which will material- and "Women Under the South- link between them and the Auxiliary, ly aid not only in church schools ern Cross," by Margaret Ross and as many additional visitors as of missions but also in building Miller, the following will fur- needed. The secretary must be wellprograms in various church nish good reading and reference informed, a woman of prayer, willing groups. Her lessons not only material: "Makers of South to pray with and for others; a wombring out the aims and high America," by Margaretta Dan- an of tact and unfailing sympathy, lights, analyze the subject mat- iels; "Land of Women," by Kath- zealous in finding new ways to interter and suggest the best ways of erine von Dombrowsky; "Simon est women who lack the inspiration presenting it, but suggest proj- Bolivar, South American Liber- of fellowship to be enjoyed in gatherect work, map building, illustra- ator," by H. Angell; "Incredible ings of church women. tive material, discussion ques- Pizarro," by F. Shay; "The Othtions, debates, plays, devices, er Spanish Christ," by Mackay; The secretary keeps an up-to-date impersonations, cartoons, book "The Invisible Christ," by Ri- list, writing an introductory letter to reviews, round table discussions cardo Rojas; "Fire on the An- new prospects explaining the plan and worship services. A sam- des," by Carlton Beals, and "The and promising to call at an early date. ple lesson is as follows: Economic Geography of South This letter may be followed by others America," by Whitbeck, to be telling of an approaching season of CHAPTER III-SMOKING CRATERS found in public libraries. The mission study or of prayer, or of an Pan American Union, Washing- Auxiliary special event, thankoffering Aim: To come to an understanding ton, D. C., has many pamphlet meeting, etc. Copies of "A Guide to of the causes and methods of the publications of interest at nomi- Prayer," program folders or other frequent revolutions in Latin Amer- nal prices, these giving the schedules of study, special leaflets, ica and to consider a very significant greatest variety of information etc., are furnished from time to time. Youth Revolution Movement. all the way from geographical, Mission study books or other mate- historical and biographical trea- rial from the Circulating Library if Devices: A meeting open to the tises to articles on the varied there is one may be used to great adpublic with prominent speakers to productions of the countries, in- vantage. Some secretaries adopt the discuss revolutions in South America clusive of "yerba mate," the na- Circulating Leaflet Library plan for and Mexico. . . . Discussions from tive tea. this purpose. Special prayer lists of the floor on "Is the United States definite needs are mailed from time likely to run into revolution because Mate to time. The regular devotional studof social conditions here?" Closing ies engaged in by the Auxiliary may address on America's need for a spir- This Paraguay tea, the popu- also be taken to the department memitual revolution. lar drink of South Americans, bership. is a variety of holly whose infu- Additional Topics: What your de- sion is quite similar to our own Often members may be interested nomination is doing in Mexico; An- tea, though slightly bitter. It is in doing handwork such as sewing, cient Indian civilizations–Aztec, In- counted nourishing as well as quilting, making hospital garments or ca, Mayan; Indians of Latin Amer- refreshing. Many program mak- those for local charity, materials beica; Diego Rivera, and his mural ers will want to provide for ing supplied. Favors or delicacies paintings. serving this beverage at the from a social affair at the church, meetings. an outing in an automobile or the Book Review or Reading from offer of companionship for an after- "Lupita." It may be obtained from high grade noon or evening when the shut-in city groceries dealing in delicacies, would be alone, as well as special Play, "Monica" (Lydia GIover)- or ordered from Mrs. E. C. Krug, friendships and little attentions of a Methodist Book Concern. 2227 St. Paul St., Baltimore, Md., at personal nature are appreciat~d. 40 cents a quarter pound, 60 cents a Members of the mission circle or affil- Discussion Questions: Why were half pound, or a dollar a pound. It iated groups may 'cooperat~ by keeppast revolutions in Latin America is brewed in the usual fashion and ing babies or young children of a different from those in Mexico today? served with lemon or sugar. mother who wishes to come to the Auxiliary meeting for a special occa- Do vou agree with the Argentine sion. writer, Navarro Monza (p. 78) that democratic governments can be suc- Wherever this. work has been un- dertaken and faithfully carried on the
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
results have been wonderful. Its American mate mentioned in More Plans for Young People pledge card makes three requests of this year's studies while giving the signatory: To pray definitely for An attractive packet of plans the work, to contribute systematically an attractive digest of the pro- and activating material for by envelope or mite box, and to make gram matter. Holiday calls may young people taking up "Chrisherself conversant with the work by be capitalized in describing the tian Youth Building a New subscribing to and reading the Mw- WorId" has been brought out by sionary Monthly. denominational missionary fea- the Disciples denomination and tures con n e c ted therewith. may be had for 50 cents at their Mrs. McEvoy asks what simi- Pledging and prayer for mis- literature department in Mislar plans are in use in the Unit- sions Building, 222 Downey ed States. A variety have been sions become a natural sequen,ce Ave., Indianapolis, Ind. It inreported from different denomi- cludes panel discussions, dramatnations but none more compre- of such endeavor. Where the ic sketches, exercises, devotional hensive nor thoroughgoing than group plan of subdividing the leaflets, stories, conversations, the foregoing. Most women's patterns for decorations and famissionary organizations have church membership is not in use, vors, etc. their membership divided into this gracious ministry in the "circles" or "groups" numbered homes may be directed by a com- Excerpts from Mrs. B. P. or named specifically, for sys- mittee operating under the Heubner's course on "Christian tematic work and study, one of youth in Action," will appear these groups being "the evening church missionary committee. next month. circle" composed of business Still another well attested method is to pair off each shut- in or nonprivileged person with some active member pledged to do the relay work and become a women who can hold their de- living link with the mission votional, study and work meet- fields by way of the local church. From the Editor's Scrapbook ings outside of business hours It would be hard to determine The Life Tie: Have you ever tried and maintain a close connection which of two thus related se- a simple test. to see what your mem- with the main organization. cures the greater benefit. bers have learned? Have you ever This takes care of one nonpriv- reviewed a year's course to check up ileged element. An Evening Extension on the missionary intelligence of your members? The influence of attend- In many churches using the A good method for lining up ance at meetings is determined not every-member canvass plan for those engaged during the day, alone by what a member has learned comprehensive financing, the inclusive of the men folk, was but by what the person does. It is woman's organization has no sent in by Rev. David McCul- tying up with life that counts. Are membership dues or pledges but lough Beggs, pastor of the First attitudes changed? Are relationships automatically counts every wom- Congregational Church of Ana- better? Are church loyalties less an entering the church as a mosa, Iowa. He writes: wavering? Is there more kindness to member of the woman's society, the Oriental delivering groceries at to be rounded up and put to Several years ago the president of the door? More participation in comwork by the membership com- our missionary society conceived the munity projects for Christian admittee if possible. Thus the idea that it would be nice to have vancement? Have standards of stewsubdivision into circles includes some of the men of the church at- ardship been raised? Is there more the names of invalids, the aged tend the meeting occasionally, so she reading of missionary books and magand those shut in or out for any planned to have it at her home in azines? Better citizenship and better other reason, and the plans for the evening and all members were Christianity because of missionary rethe personnel of each circle cov- to invite their husbands and as many lationships? Tying up missions with er not only the benevolent sew- other men as might be interested. The everyday living is finally the real test ing and White Cross work, the meeting was a huge success. The of the effectiveness of our efforts. women had a regular missionary les- (Adapted from Mwsions.) son; and after some discussion lunch was served and the rest of the time Remembrance Gifts: A spe- cial card is used by the Wom- was spent playing games. calling and community service One evening we invited the Meth- an's Foreign Mission Society of under the direction of the par- the Methodist Episcopal Church ent society, but also the task of odist pastor to come and review a for use among people who, withkeeping in touch with all of its book which he had presented at a out having made a will, would union Sunday evening service. An- members unable to attend the other time I reviewed "Re-Thinking like at their death to furnish exmeetings. It thus becomes a Missions." We always planned for a pression of their missionary indefinite service to visit the shut- social time and light refreshments. terest by leaving a bequest, ins on the circle roll, furnish This plan has proved very popular large or small. "By filling this and lately some of the men have been them with missionary literature asking when we are to have our next card, the donor asks that at her and magazines, keep them in- missionary meeting. death her family pay the sum formed of activities and give How about using the forego- indicated to the treasurer of the them an allotment of sewing if ing plan for a monthly interde- W. F. M. S. One-half of the they are able to use their hands. nominational gathering in the card is to be filed with one's per- Special features of the parent social hall of one and another of sonal papers. The other half is organization are relayed to the the cooperating churches, ma- to be sent to the general treashome-bound from time to time, joring on Kingdom advances urer. Remembrance Gifts are for instance, holding little "aft- rather than denominational spe- wholly optional and not legally ernoon teas" using the South cifics? binding." BULLETIN OF The Council of Women for Home Missions ANNE SEESHOLTZ, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 105 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK ~~~~I~~~======~==~~~==~==~ Adoration of Jesus Christ We thank Thee that those who dwell the way for the young people of in Thee By A YOUNG MAN all denominations to participate. Maintain the divine faculty of youth Organization is secondary and I never cared, to see the best in men, program for action is primary in I never dared the movement. Committees exist To spend a whole night in prayer- To pierce through the outward layers to plan for advance together, He did. of weakness and sin young and old, in "seeking first To the pure gold of true manhood within.
I never tried, We thank Thee that they keep the the Kingdom of God and his I never cried, hopefulness of youth, righteousness." "God forgive them, they do not know." He did. Its resiliency of spirit, If you wish to participate in Its unconquerable optimism, I never fasted, Which rises again undismayed from this Christian Movement among I never wrestled the you n g p e 0 pIe of our Hours with temptation, all alone, disaster and defeat. Amen. He did. -John S. Hoyland. churches, send now to the Inter- national Council of Religious A Message to the Reader Education, 203 North Wabash I never thought, In 1930, the Christian Youth Avenue, Chicago, for "General I never taught Council of North America held Guide to Youth Action" (25 God's hungry children how to live. its first meeting in Toronto, cents), "Group Action in Build- He did. Canada. The members of the Council thought of the Christian ing a New World" (15 cents) ; I never prayed, way of life, as some of them "Youth Action in Personal Re- I never stayed phrased it, as a trail that led ligious Living" (15 cents); To hear my God speak clear to me. "from a wooden cross on Cal- "Youth Action in Breaking He did. vary among the hills of Jeru- Down Barriers" (15 cents), and salem down across the burning "Youth Action in Building a -Russell Dicks. sands and des e r t s of the Warless World" (15 cents). The world." … pamphlets were prepared by Blessed ar*e t*he* young who, church leaders of young people. In 1934, the Christian Youth seeing the Lord and giver of Council of North America met Furthermore, the Council or Life, follow Him and live among again at Lake Geneva, Wisconthe sons of men "with eternity sin. The young people and their Women for Home Missions and in their hearts." Each passing leaders took up that trail again, the Missionary Education Movemoment is spent as if they lived they looked about them, studied ment were fortunate to secure as forever, and they know that all their own hearts, turned their the author of the young people's the sons of God could likewise eyes toward the future, and study book for the year, Frank live in the Presence of Him talked about "Christian Youth W. Herriott, formerly a pastor "whose service is perfect free- Building a New World." and now a member of the facdom." Each has his place in ulty at Union Theological Semmaking real the Father's will on The Home Missions Councils inary, New York. The book, earth as in heaven. Each seeks now have three representatives "Christian Youth in Action" to grow up into the likeness of -Miss Edith E. Lowry, Mr. (60 cents) gives the answer to Jesus Christ, Saviour of men. the perplexing question, "What can Christian youth actually do This is the more abundant life.
Thanks for the Perpetual Fred R. Thorne, and Miss Sue to help build a Christian Amer- Weddell-on the Joint Commit- Youth of Those Who tee on United Youth Program ica ?" Examples of scores of Abide in God things that young people have and have through them, assumed Lord, responsibility to acquaint the done in various parts of the We thank Thee that with Thee there is country are here collected. I,n adult membership of constituent no growing old: Home Mission Boards with the the "Guide to Action, What Will That those who abide in Thee keep You Do About It?" (25 cents), their youth perpetually: purpose and program of the prepared by Frank W. Herriott Though their bodies grow aged, yet movement, Christian You t h and Sue Weddell, leaders of Building a New World; and at young people will find practical are their spirits ever radiant the same time, we hope to open suggestions for activities, with With the zeal, the enthusiasm, the glowing ideals of youth.
[498 ]
BULLETIN OF THE COUNCIL OF WOMEN FOR HOME MISSIONS
definite plans of procedure, out- meet with them as an advisory responsibility to be the superinlines for reports, and services of member. We planned the pro- tendent of an Intermediate C. E.
worship. Please order both gram as a community church Society in the United Brethren "Christian Youth in Action" and group, yet we saw that even the Church for the past three years "What Will You Do About It?" smallest church had some re- and it has been a great joy to me from denominational literature sponsibility. Because of school to watch young lives unfold and headquarters. And before turn- it needed to be an evening meet- grow in the Christian faith.
ing the page, please decide what ing. The school had already "Just now I am considering you can do to help in building a planned for a meeting of general the possibility of uniting in the Christian America. interest on March 8th, but the study of the book, 'Christian In Clay City, Indiana school principal was willing to Youth in Action.' " cooperate and not allow any- A Service of Worship for The following account of co- thing to interfere with Thurs- Youth for the observance of the operation by leaders and young day evening, March 7th. Thus next World Day of Prayer, Febpeople of a little town was writ- we were observing it perhaps at ruary 28, 1936, is ready for disten by Mrs. Jesse Schauwecker the same hour when many in the tribution. It was prepared this at the request of the Editor. Far East and the Islands of the year by Miss O. Mary HilI, M.A., Mrs. Schauwecker attended the western Pacific were turning at the request of the Inter-Board aside for prayer. Winona Lake Summer School of "The father of our leader, be- Committee of the Woman's Mis- Missions this June in order to sionary Societies of Canada.* secure inspiration and new ma- ing somewhat of an art i s t An increasing number of young painted a beautiful poster with people around the world join in terial for her home place: "During a revival meeting the words of 'A New Command- the observance of the Day, prayheld at the United Brethren ment.' This was displayed dur- ing "that the world may be Church last winter the Christian ing the entire service which was guided into the paths of peace." young p e 0 pIe of the town attended by ninety-two people, Could You Do This in Your worked together to bring their for the most part between the Town? friends to Christ wit h 0 u t ages of thirteen and twenty-five, thought of denomination. About with the pastors and a few A Peace Demonstration was this time I noticed that there was young peoples' leaders to en- held at Northfield Missionary a special young peoples' program courage. The entire program Conference. Briefly, there were prepared for the World Day of was in the hands of the young units which in order told their Prayer, and thought it would be people themselves. An offering story-such units as "Peace on splendid if the young people of three dollars was received and earth will come to men of goodwould unite in observing this sent in to be divided between the will"; "Peace in Pennsylvania day. I mentioned it to a few of foreign and home m iss ion for 70 years while other colonies the young people and their lead- boards. were fighting Indians"-"The ers and it met with their ap- "This was in Clay City, In- Quakers and Indians tried the proval. diana, a little town of about one goodwill way. (Quakers and In- "It happened that there was to thousand population, h a v i n g dians in costume.)" There was be a meeting on Sunday after- seven churches. Six churches a unit on "The WorId Today" in noon with the State W. C. T. U. cooperated in a splendid man- which Goodwill was bound with president as speaker. So I sent ner. The denominations were: black cords held by Evil, Fear, an announcement to each church Church of the Brethren, Free Greed, Hate, and Love stands on that Sunday morning request- Methodist, U nit e d Brethren, ready to cut the cords. Another. ing the young people, especially Methodist Episcopal, Assembly unit was a ship, "Friendship," the presidents of all interme- of God, and Presbyterian. These with nationals of other lands. diate and young peoples' organ- churches serve not only the little One unit Flanders Field and a izations in the churches to meet town but reach out in a radius gold star mother, and another, one half hour before the after- of five or six miles into the children bearing burdens of war, noon service. About twenty-five country. debts, disease, suffering were or thirty came; I briefly ex- "The meeting was held in the very effective. plained the WorId Day of Prayer Church of the Brethren with a The demonstration was preand they were heartily in favor Presbyterian young man as pared and directed at Northfield, of observing it. A leader was leader and a United Brethren Mass., by Mrs. J. H. Callister. selected (by the young people pianist and chorister. The rest There were 22 units and more themselves) . The presidents of of the program was similarly than a thousand persons particiall the young people's organiza- distributed. I believe that the pated. The material is adaptable tions (Christian Endeavor so- observance of this day among to indoor demonstrations. If incieties and young women's mis- our young people will do much to terested address the Editor.
sionary organizations) were to strengthen the spirit of love be- • The Women's Missionary Society of the act as a committee to assist the tween the denominations of to- Presbyterian Church In Canada, the Eastern leader in planning and prepar- morrow. Division of the Presbyterian Church, and of the United Church in Canada, are constituent members of the Council of Women for Home ing the program. I was asked to "It has been my privilege and Missions.
~''''''''''''''''~~~~~~~==-==~'~
L-J ., .~=O=u=r=WA=oMris=silonda=ry"N'e~wwsp=aipder=oef=COu=rruen=ttE=velnots=o=k=~~~.
LATIN AMERICA revered saint-a festival of fire- ways been aggressively evangel- Opening Doors in Mexico works, wine and dancing-today istic and missionary. -Presbyterian Banner. have been consecrated to a high- A Baptist medical missionary er life, to the improvement of Projects for Mexico in Mexico, Dr. O. G. Walters, homes and the building of writes: "One year ago I did not schools. The workers in Latin Amerdare to talk of Christ or try to ica are not disheartened. The give a Christian message be- "As Christians, we Evangeli- Presbyterian Mission in Mexico cause it would bring enemies cals believe that chaos will not has sent to the Board a list of and thus eliminate my opportu- last long. We believe that the projects which can be carried on nity to win them later. I was ignorance, the superstition, the in full compliance with the law. compelled to concentrate on stupor and abjection of our peo- They write: "Weare convinced making friends and wait for ple will not end in violence, but that from now on we must de- God to open the door for more in the establishment of a higher pend upon personal seeking of definite work for Him. It is and more spiritual type of re- souls for Christ, and upon perdifficult to give a word picture ligion. We do not believe that sonal dealing with Christians to of the change that has come our country will turn to cold strengthen and build them up, about in so short a time. The materialism; the Latin race has more than upon institutions or door is open and the real prob- a passionate soul." special plans of work. Our inlem is to enter with sufficient stitutions have a rather uncertact that Christ may be present- – World Outlook. tain existence at present, but the ed and antagonism avoided. I opportunity for personal evanhave been asked to start a Bible Puerto Rican Missionaries gelism and personal comradeclass for women, and the men ship is greater than ever. We are asking for a colporteur to The Presbyterian Mission in need to search for new ways of start a Bible class for them. I Puerto Rico is now planning to making contacts, and then make can talk freely of the love of carry the Gospel in Spanish to these truly effective in clinching Christ to any who come to my the Puerto Ricans who have col- souls for the Saviour." office. One or two children rep- onized in the Virgin Islands. resent the attitude of the ene- Whether this plan will be car- -Presbyterian Banner. mies by throwing stones in the ried out will have to be deterwaiting room as they pass, but mined by the financial outlook Evangelical Seminary of otherwise enmity is not ex- of the year, but in the meantime Puerto Rico pressed." representatives of the presby- tery have visited the island of The Evangelical Seminary of – Watchman-Examiner. Santa Cruz, have preached Puerto Rico is an interdenomi- there, and discovered that there national institution founded in Better Days Prophesied are 150 church members in the 1919 by the merging of four colony of several thousand. The training schools and by combin- Samuel Rocha, pastor of a request for this extension into ing the forces of seven denomichurch in Aguascalientes, Mex- the Virgin Islands is accompa- nations: Baptist, Christian, ico, sees better days ahead, "a nied by the interesting note that Congregational, Disciples of spiritual renaissance." He re- centuries ago the warlike Caribs Christ, Methodist, Presbyterian minds us that "the present rev- came from the islands of Santa and United Brethren. It is loolutionary movement in Mexico Cruz to Puerto Rico to destroy cated in Rio Piedras. Gradu- arises out of the restlessness the peace-loving Borinquenses ates of the seminary number which the Gospel message stirs who were residents of this is- 100 at work in Puerto Rico; up in the heart of man, and out land. The modern inhabitants seven in Cuba, five in the Do- of man's dissatisfaction with of Borinquen feel that it would minican Republic, five in Vene- himself as he contemplates his be a fine Christian service to go zuela, and five in the United lack of progress, and his inabil- back to Santa Cruz with the States. ity to face life. It is social as Gospel of peace. It was the There are in Puerto Rico 276 well as individual. Towns where Puerto Rican Church that was regularly organized Evangelical formerly the earnings of a year responsible for the opening of churches. These churches have were thrown away in one re- the work in Santo Domingo a 24,000 members, 559 church ligious festival in honor of some number of years ago. It has al- schools with an enrolment of [500 ]
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
45,000, 126 young people's so- and safe for progress. The swer to prayer several native cieties, 144 other societies, twen- thinking public is gradually get- young men had come asking, ty-two schools, including kinder- ting wise to the fact that the "May we go out to the other vilgartens, graded schools, two preacher'S method doesn't cost a lages of our people to preach?" high schools, one college, one tithe of the cost of the other. More horses were bought and theological seminary, and three several groups went out as hospitals which have about 200 -Guatemala News. preachers and personal workers. beds, and care for 70,000 pa- One group went to Cachoeirinha. tients yearly. Of the 251 preach- Cheer for Chile The meeting was in the main ers, more than 9370 are native street of the village, and as the Puerto Ricans. Not only has the Alessandri young Indian believers spoke of administration in the "shoe- "sin, of righteousness and of -Christian Advocate. string republic" set up limits be- judgment to come" there was yond which money-lending rates conviction, and at the close six Progress in Honduras may not go, closed beer and persons accepted Christ. They liquor shops for week-ends, pro- went on to another Indian vil- The Evangelical Women's hibited dog racing, suppressed lage. Here the chief flatly re- Union sponsored a project dur- gambling resorts, forbidden fused to let them speak to the ing 1934 to provide for the public officials to frequent races people. They then asked if they training of national workers in and casino dens, but it has fallen might sing a hymn. This was Honduras, including provisions in with certain admirable plans granted, and after the singing for training evangelists and advanced by the new parents' the old man relented and told nurses. The school for evangel- association. It has urged movie them they could have a meeting. ists was opened in 1934, and reform, and the municipality of At this service two of the old nurses' training began last Santiago, as a result has prohib- chief's daughters rose to their spring. Four or five girls en- ited the attendance of children feet in profession of faith in the tered the classes. under seven, and forbidden the Lord as Saviour. attendance of children under Work among Indians in Hon- fourteen at all night perform- Several Indian believers from duras is steadily growing. About ances. Burity have gone out from time 12 adults are in the baptism to time to work on the ranches class in Puerto Cortez. A Sun- -The Christian Advocate. round about. They sing hymns day school was organized there in the evening, and often preach in January, with 58 in attend- Educational Need in Brazil or explain the Gospel, according ance the opening day. Sunday to the occasion. school is at 6 p. m. A Spanish Considering the increased attranslation of the Gospel is tention being given to education -The Amazon Valley Indian. available for the blind in Hon- in Brazil, Dr. H. C. Tucker, of duras. Rio de Janeiro, believes that the "Enduring Hardness" support, for at least a period of -Moravian Missionary. five years, of a specially-trained Rev. Harold H. Cook portrays and fully-equipped Christian the life of an itinerant mission- Results in Guatemala teacher for the new School of ary in Brazil's interior. "The Education at Granbery College walls of the house where I am The Evangelistic Committee is of tremendous importance. writing are of rough, unplaned of the Central Presbytery or- boards, not placed close togethganized a ten-day conference in The present is a time of transition er. The roof is of wooden slats a little mountain town called "EI in the intellectual, moral, economic which do not always keep out Jute." The general theme was, and political life of the nation. The the rain. At the end of the larg- "The Victories of Christianity." united voice of Brazil is calling loud- est room there is one small win- The successful development and ly for adequately-trained leadership dow, without glass. There is no application of the theme is evi- in every department of national life. furniture of any kind except a denced by the results: 18 joined Public men, educators and others of table of three planks on trestles. the church, 6 were baptized, 32 patriotic mind are coming to realize Seating accommodation consists bitter enemies were reconciled the need for Schools of Education of loose planks placed on blocks by the gospel method in that re- with special courses. Protestant mis- of wood. Dogs, pigs and chickgion where the usual method of sion schools have made the largest ens wander in and out of the ending a quarrel is with a revol- contribution to the cause of education house. ver or machete and a funeral, in this country that has come from and then 48 brethren sat down any single source, according to the "The visit of a preacher in peace and unity at the Lord's testimony of competent Brazilians. brings folk from far and wide, table. No wonder the dailies are so that this and the other two praising the evangelicos as a su- Mission schools themselves are al- near-by houses are full to overperior moralizing force. A good ways sorely in need of well-prepared flowing. At night the people live preacher is worth a whole Christian teachers for their own stretch out on skins or mats, squad of police with their jails work; they are looking to Granbery each rolled in his own rug. and "pens" thrown in for mak- College and other schools to train and Many do not undress even when ing the country happy, peaceful equip the teachers needed in increas- ing number.
– World Outlook..
Amazon Valley Conversions A worker among the Amazon Valley Indians writes that in an-
at home, much less when on a The Gospel in Spain and $4,000 from mission socie- picnic like this. The most they Present conditions in Spain ties to about $40,000 from the do is to take off their boots-if make the presentation of the government and $20,000 from they have any! mission societies. Dr. Helser Gospel very difficult. The Con- sees the Mission's place as a "I am writing in the 'month very distinct·one (he calls it the of Mary' in this country. It is servatives (Clerical Party), ac- keystone) between the governdedicated entirely to the wor- cording to The Latin American ments on one side and the deship of the Mother of Jesus, and Evangelist, are busy with their nominational missions on the on the last day of the month propaganda without let or hin- other-to plan, unite, inspire, there will be a procession and encourage. He sees the ideal the crowning of the image of drance. They believe the time type of institution as a farm col- Mary as 'Queen of Heaven.' In ony, supported by a government Brazil no such homage is paid to is near when the ministers of and staffed by a mission society. our glorious risen Lord; but the Republic will be turned out once a year, at Easter, there is -Without the Camp. the sad and sorrowful celebra- and they themselves take the tion of a crucified and dead Sav- reins of power. If they do, they Open Minds in Sudan iour." will change the articles of the A marked change in the atti- EUROPE Constitution dealing with the re- tude of the people of Omdur- man, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, to- Disciples' World Convention ligious question. Meanwhile the ward Christianity is recorded by Roman Catholic clergy have re- a C. M. S. missionary. A grow- Delegates from 42 countries ing interest and readiness to assembled in Leicester, England, ceived large sums from the gov- August 7-12, for the second ernment; the Jesuits preach wherever they want to; the priests are openly defiant and are turning their pulpits into political platforms.
World Convention of the Disci- Scandinavian Missions listen to teaching concerning ples of Christ. America had Christ has been evidenced by the the largest organized delega- At the convention of represen- large attendance at a series of tion, numbering over 500. The weekly addresses. The speakers convention program considered tatives of these Protestant mis- included an Armenian, an Amer- sions during the summer, the ican, an Egyptian, an Englishmany international problems, following figures were reported: man and a Sudanese. A similar welcome to simple Christian such as world peace, race rela- Missionaries: Denmark, 240; Nor- teaching is found in the hospital tions, the economic situation and way, 400; Sweden, 700. important subjects that greatly Income (Crowns): Denmark, 1,- concern the Church, such as re- 750,000; Norway, 3,000,000; Sweden, wards, and in many homes to 4,250,000. which missionaries are invited. ligious education, stewardship, Not a few, however, draw back evangelism and missions. Baptized (1930): Denmark, 1,900; from further instruction when Norway, 11,000; Sweden, 6,000. -The Presbyterian Banner. Native Christians: Denmark, 29,- Forty Societies Confer 00; Norway, 156,000; Sweden, 85,000. they realize what would be in- volved in open confession of The annual parliament of AFRICA Christ. British missionary societies at Swanwick recalled that this con- Appraisal of Leper Work The missionary states: "The ference owed its origin to the Edinburgh Conference of 1910, Dr. A. D. Helser, lately ap- long years of patient, loving, so that it could also celebrate its pointed representative of the silver jubilee. Three matters American Mission to Lepers for tactful and sometimes apparentwere before the representatives West Africa, has just traveled of the 40 societies: "The rising 3,000 miles in Nigeria inter- ly profitless work of our predetide of neo-paganism at home viewing missionaries, governand abroad, the increasing evan- ment doctors and officials, and cessors, and the more senior of gelistic activity both in the mis- counts on covering 1,500 miles sion field and in the home more. The missionaries of the the missionaries here today, churches, and finally the need Belgian Congo are inviting him for a new effort on a world scale to tour their country also. He seems about to bear fruit. Opto present Christ to men." In writes with intense enthusiasm of what he feels is about to be position to our work has almost gone. Interest is apparent on every hand. Deep struggle and souI-searchings are going on in the hearts of some, perhaps in the hearts of more than we re-· alize." -The Christian.
such discussions there was al- done for the 200,000 lepers of Revival in Congo ways present the thought that Nigeria. The number under the younger churches of the mis- treatment, though small in com- The Swedish Baptist Missio11' sion field must cooperate with parison with the total, has risen in the Congo has an inland' field,.
the older churches of the West from 1,000 in 1931 to probably in the district of Lac Leopold IL in a great united effort. To at- 5,000 in 1935. In the same time Work began here in 1919;- tliere'
tain that objective a meeting in the amounts of money invested are now four stations: Rev. the Far East was proposed. in leper work have risen from Aron Anderson, who has' cliarge -The Christian Century. $10,000 from the government of both medical and evangelistic
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
work, tells of victories won for Kanyeba came one day with all her pIe, and has opened a new sta- Christ last year. tion at Mindolo. Work has been charms and filthy medicine and said, opened at three centers. Mr. When heathenism was at its dark- Moore is gathering the Chrisest, and no great difference in be- "I have accepted Christ as my Lord, tians into church groups, organhaviour between pagans and Chris- izing classes, welfare work, tians was observable, revival began and here are my medicines to prove schools for the children in the suddenly. It was like Pentecost. Two villages, and evangelistic work natives became greatly exercised it." Through this conversion many in the native locations outside about their souls, and after a few the mine areas. He has the help days the fire spread among all our others have destroyed their fetishes, of several African workers. Christians. Men and women met God in a new way to receive blessing. The and are becoming interested in the -The Chronicle. Holy Spirit revealed their lives to them; they saw themselves in that power that has made this diviner a Native Policy in Union of S. A. light and fell down before God, plead- new creature. . ing for pardon and grace. It was Igor L. Evans has made a almost impossbile to comfort them. Last Link with Livingstone study of native policy in the We asked them to confess their sins, Union of South Africa, and preand they did so, openly. They brought From Mombasa. comes news sents the results in a book under their idols and heathen medicine to of the death of Matthew Wel- that title. Different policies us, and they themselves destroyed lington, probably the last living were followed in the four areas great quantities. Whole villages were link with the great missionary. which came into the Union in cleansed. Men who had loved to sit He was thought to be about 100 1910. In the Cape Province the idly at home went out to the sur- years old, and is said to have goal was to make the black man rounding villages to preach the Gos- been one of the devoted band as much like the white man as pel. Everywhere crowds came to lis- who carried out the epic journey possible; in Natal, the official ten to the wonders of God. The re- to the coast, bearing the body of policy was to "maintain and vival spread to our other stations and their dead leader. It has been strengthen the tribal system in throughout all the villages. Thou- stated that he was present at the interests of the Colony"; sands of heathen believed in Jesus the meeting between Livingstone while in the Boer-controlled Or- Christ. We have new churches and and Stanley at Ujiji, but confir- ange Free State and Transvaal new members; and the old have be- mation of this is difficult to ob- little thought was given to nacome new. We baptized last year tain. Few of the African na- tive policy. In 1894, under' Cecil several hundreds from our field, and tives who had personal contact Rhodes' leadership a district in hundreds more are in classes prepar- with Livingstone lived on into the Ciskei was set apart for a ing to be baptized. We have opened the twentieth century. It is not thoroughgoing experiment in work in many new villages. long since the death of another detribilization. This aimed at of them, Lazarus Raikane, who giving the natives a share in -London Missionary Herald. lived to a great age. The death their local government through of these two is a reminder that the council system. The plan, Witch Doctor Made New the opening up of Africa is a which proved successful, has re- process of recent origin, and sulted in somewhat similar ex- The following modern miracle the bewildering changes of the periments in other areas of the of grace is told by E. R. Kellers- sixty odd years that have passed Union. The Native Affairs Deberger, American Presbyterian since Livingstone's death appear partment was established to unimissionary in the Congo. the more amazing. fy and administer native policy for the Union as a whole. The In this land the women, as well as -South African Outlook. record of the years shows steady the men, are witch doctors. There advance along several lines, nomay not be "women's rights" as far Copper Miners in Rhodesia tably in the increased interest as voting is concerned, but when it on the part of Europeans in nacomes to evil influence, these benight- One of the British Empire's tive questions, the organization ed heathen women hold the balance of largest industrial enterprises is of Joint Councils and the South power. Ntumba Kanyeba had been the northern Rhodesia copper African Institute of Race Relavisited by many people, seeking to field. It involves a multitude of tions. know why they were sick and what problems, since the workers, cut evil influence had caused their dis- loose from tribal moorings and On the other hand, there reease. She had a weird gourd cut into old standards, from any Chris- main several critical, unsolved a fantastic shape into which she tian influences that may have problems, principally the ineqpoured and mixed many medicines. previously helped them, usually uity in the distribution of land, Goat's horns stuffed with dirt, snake separated from wives and fam- the problem of native population skins, snail shells, sticks of wood, ilies, are flung into a whirlpool in great urban areas, and the chicken feathers, well mixed, form an of new ideas and forces, exposed policy in native education. Prior efficacious balm. Weare told that a to new temptations and given to 1922 native education was jaw-bone of a coney, if tied to the new opportunities for self-indul- recognized as a national obligaarm of a sufferer will cure an abscess, gence. Without tribe, chief, and that the bone of a monkey, if church or missionary pastor, worn on a string around the neck, they learn a whole new range of will cure a pain in the hips. Dried vices, and contract deadly disrats and the foot and tongue of a eases and habits. dead bird are also favorite remedies for various maladies. With incanta- The London Missionary Socitions, Kanyeba would say what ailed ety has appointed Rev. and Mrs. these benighted folk, and thereby Moore to minister to these peomade a good living. To become a Christian would mean the loss of her influence and all means of support, for she was a widow. Yet through faithful intercession of the evangelist,
tion and was financed from gen- estine, as a first step, and to unite whose life was slowly ebbing in eral revenue. Since 1922 any and encourage them to live open his tribal tent. Only one thing Christian lives. expansion in native education could save the youth's lifehas been financed by revenue 2. The Fellowship (as a group of transfusion of blood from the converts from Islam) will stand as a from native sources or by pri- testimony to the power of Jesus arteries of a healthy man. The vate charity. This limits the Christ to save Moslems by direct doctor, turning to the father, evangelization, and Christian living. educational advancement of the brothers and cousins of the poorest section of the population 3. To give facilities to Moslem in- young man, asked: quirers so as to lead them to a definite to the very limited financial re- acceptance of Jesus Christ as their "From which of you may I sources of that group. personal Saviour and Lord. take blood to pour into the veins of this youth and save his life?" In Southern Rhodesia there 4. To hold special meetings for seems to have been a more lib- Moslems at which the Gospel will be One and all refused to give eral native policy. Urban de- preached, questions and discussions en- blood, even for their own kin. velopment is only beginning, and couraged, and suitable literature dis- 'l'he white doctor saw one way. it should be possible to avoid tributed. He took his lancet and, baring some of the problems which his own body, poured out his have arisen in the great cities of 5. To try to obtain various employ- blood to save the young Arab. the Union. ments, so that the convert may learn The Arabs were astounded. to work and earn his living respect- Even the impassive Orient was -Missionary Herald. ably.
Twenty-five families of Haifa are associated with the Fellow- ship, and at present ten inquir- deeply moved. From that day WESTERN ASIA ers are being instructed. this American missionary doctor Nazareth Infant Welfare -Ghaleb Daher, Secretary. has been able to do what he will The Eastern Church with those Arabs, and no man The infant welfare work of dare lay a finger upon him. "He Emanuel Medical Mission at Charles Clayton Morrison, of is our brother now," they say, Nazareth continues to show ex- The Christian Century's edito- "his blood is in our veins." cellent results. The average rial staff, visited the Near East number of babies dealt with last spring. He writes: Loving His Enemy during 1934 has been about The Greek Church in Turkey is When my colleague was killed thirty at each clinic, held once a having a constricted and painful ex- by bandits, he said, with dying week. Each baby is weighed breath, "Everything is all right; once a week, and the mother is istence. The fact that the bulk of the everything is all right," and advised with regard to feeding, Church's constituency had been de- passed out without any bittercare of the eyes, and attention ness in his heart toward his to minor ailments. Eye trouble ported from Turkey to Greece in the murderers. A short time after is very prevalent. There have stupendous exchange of population that the leader of the bandit been several severe cases of in 1922 and 1923 had required a com- band who had killed the mission- "marasmus," causing extreme plete reorientation of the Church. ary was brought wounded into' emaciation. The mothers have the hospital at the Mission staall definitely tried to act upon Over a million Greeks were compelled tion. He was given the best the advice given. The real joy to pull up the roots of their family, service and attention and gradthey have shown each time they business and social life in Turkey, and ually nursed back to health. find that the baby has gained a sail to Greece, just as nearly a mil- When he was again restored and little weight is equally shared lion Turks in Greece were similarly about to leave the hospital he by us. Quite half a dozen seem- brought to Turkey. There remain was asked why he had killed the ingly hopeless cases of this dis- only about 60,000 Greeks in Turkey. missionary. He grew indignant ease have now reached almost and said, "Who said I killed the normal weight. The Greek Church in Russia sees missionary?" After they had -E. M. M. S. Quarterly Paper. the steady, fateful process of disinte- assured him that they had evi- gration going relentlessly on, carrying dence of his dastardly act, he Evangelistic Fellowship for off a population of 100,000,000 Chris- said: "What, do you mean to tians from the fold of the Orthodox Palestine faith. Thus the once mighty Church which before the War embraced 121,- 000,000 adherents, now contemplates a future in which its membership will hardly exceed 20,000,000.
In Greece itself the Orthodox Church is just now in an unusually popular position. No political func- tion is held in Greece without the presence of a representative of the tell me that all the time I lay Church. Laws have rEcently been Christian converts from Islam passed (or resurrected after a long here, helpless and in imminent in Palestine have formed an obsolescence) making it obligatory for danger of my life, you knew that undenominational Evangelistic students to attend church services, I was the murderer, and you Fellowship, with the purpose of which they do en masse. Everywhere churches are packed. The govern-_ cared for me enough to preserve upbuilding converts in the fuller my life and to bring me back to . knowledge of the Christian ment is supporting the Church, and health again? Why did you do the Church is giving the sanction and faith; and of presenting the blessing of God to the government. it?" "Jesus Christ," was the answer. "It is He who taught us Gospel to Moslems in Palestine. Of One Blood to love our enemies and to do Their objectives are: Basil Mathews tells of a good to those who revile and 1. To seek out all the secret and young Arab in Mesopotamia, persecute us." scattered converts from Islam in Pal-
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
It is needless to say that man's writers under the title Das teachers in the schools, there are heart was broken and pieced to- Werden einer jungen Kirche im more than 1,800 native teachers gether again with the mercy of Osten. This notice is not in- of different grades in the various God and the invincible love of tended for a review but it wishes institutions. Jesus Christ. to call attention to some out- -John Van Ess of Arabia, in standing facts connected with -Watchman-Examiner. the work of the Basel Society. World Outlook. Buddhist Priests Baptized It must be recalled that the INDIA-BURMA Basel Mission has worked in Dr. R. S. Buker, Baptist mis- India at times under great ad- sionary in Burma, writes: "At Changing Attitudes versities and with gigantic ef- a pageant held in Kengtung, not fort and that now as a result of long ago I sat near a pongyi who Rev. Prebendary Wilson Cash, the faithful labors of its mission- has passed the half century D.D., General Secretary of the aries, there has come into being mark. Over 30 years of his life C. M. S., writes: "On my recent a Christian church. There are have been spent in the garb of visit to India I was much im- about 25,000 Christians in 18 the priestly yellow robe. This pressed with the new openings great congregational districts, morning at 11 o'clock he changed among Mohammedans. In some gathered from all classes and to civilian clothes … and about places there seemed to be a real strata of the population. There a half hour later I baptized him movement of God's Spirit among is a mission school system of 106 as he witnessed before a group them. In Karachi, for example, schools with about 20,000 chil- of some 200 bazaar-goers that he we were told that more inquiries dren. had changed 'from the short came from Mohammedans than road of Buddha to the long road from Hindus. In Peshawar I The new church has also of Christ.' found that converts, after bap- adopted an unequivocal statetism, were allowed to live on in ment of faith based on the his- "Some time previously a Burtheir Moslem homes. Changes toric faith of the Reformation, mese pongyi had asked to be bapof this sort were very cheering." as contained in the Holy Scrip- tized, but before taking off his tures, the articles of the Apos- yellow robes he asked permis- -Fellowship of Faith. tles' and the Nicene Creed and sion to visit various Buddhist Luther's Small Catechism. The monasteries to tell his friends of Radio for Every Town doctrinal position is expressed in his decision and the reasons for seven statements. It is a clear it. Among his listeners was this Prince Nizam of Hyderabad expression against all forms of pongyi who was mentioned has given $500,000 to install a religious syncretism and con- above. Just two days after the community radio set in every tains a definite confession of the Burmese pongyi was baptized hi:;; village of his state. Three pow- revelation of God in Christ. The first convert was added to the erful broadcasting stations will organization of the church is ranks of witnesses of the faith." be built, each transmitting pro- similar to that which has taken grams in the three chief lan- place in the churches in Africa, -Watchman-Examiner. guages spoken in Prince Nizam's especially the Gold Coast. domains. He calls radio "the A Missionary Colonel voice from the sky," and be- Telugu Mission Report lieves it can do much to educate Five years ago the Bible his people. Last year was the 99th of the Churchmen's Missionary Society American Baptist Telugu Mis- of Great Britain established a Hyderabad is the richest and sion's activity. The year's re- medical mission among the remost populous Indian State, port shows that the men and mote and neglected tribes of the with an area almost twice that women from the United States Hukawng Valley, in the northof New York State and a popu- who are engaged in this Mission ern corner of Burma. Col. S. H. lation of 15,000,000. at the present time number Middleton-West, of the Indian sixty-nine, while the native medical service, journeys by ele- -New York Times. force of ordained preachers is phant or Chinese mule, among fifty-five. The native evangelis- the primitive tribes of the valley, The Christian Church tic workers are a force of 472 carrying with him a medicine men and 219 women. There are chest and a Bible. To this center The Basel Mission has com- 356 churches on the field; of the people travel from long displeted a span of a century in its these 208 are wholly self-sup- tances to receive treatment. work in India. In itself that porting. Added to the memberwould be a notable event; but ship of the churches by baptism "Unlike most tribes the world when one considers what this ac- in 1934 were 3,492, making in over," says this missionary coltive missionary association has all, 111,717 church members. onel, "these primitive folk have been able to do by the grace of no knowledge of medicine what- God, in this long period, one may The schools continue to be a ever. When they are ill, they well understand the importance great factor in the work. While sacrifice fowls, pigs, dogs and of a review of its work by those there are only sixteen American other animals to· the evil spirits most competent to speak for it. which they believe send them the In fact, a book has appeared illness; but now they are learnwith contributions from able
ing to come to the mission hos- blame his countrymen if they Demand Exceeds Supply pital for treatment. Their chief ran every missionary out of trouble is from opium. Where- China, as she felt they had no Nanking Bible Tea c her s' as in the rest of Burma the cul- business to meddle with the Chi- School reports that the twentytivation and consumption of nese religion. My ears stuck out five graduates of last June could opium is prohibited, in the Hu- like a donkey's to catch his an- have been placed twice over; kawng Valley opium is grown swer and he said, 'Madam, China there are so many calls for and consumed in large quanti- has no religion, nor have we any- trained workers that there are ties. The people know its de- thing else that restrains us from never enough graduates to supgrading effects, and many come doing evil; we have nothing but ply the need. The students of to us for treatment. We can kindly feelings for the mission- last year represented twenty-one help them with drugs, but we aries. They are our friends.''' different churches and missions, also tell them of the Saviour who and came from fourteen provcan enable them to master their Growth of Suicide Problem inces. Their average age was craving. twenty-seven years. The total The Central China Daily News number of years of service ren- "They do not suffer from the says that suicide is becoming dered by them before entering usual diseases of civilization, but popular in China as a means of the school was 308 years. In the mainly from malaria, skin dis- gaining freedom from the cares twenty-two years of the school''3 eases, poison from bites, bamboo and troubles of this life. The history, 298 students have gradwounds and ulcers." number of suicides in the six uated. Students come not only leading cities during the month from widely scattered areas, but -The Life of Faith. of March were: Shanghai, 74 from very different environ- J;llen and 40 women ; Nanking, ments and with greatly varied CHINA 40 men and 31 women; Peiping, experiences. In the present stu- 78 men and 58 women; Tsing- dent body are fourth generation China Village Uplift tao, 72 men and 39 women; Christians, and one student has Hangchow, 74 men and 15 wom- three generations of preachers Upon invitation of the vil- en, and Hankow, 53 men and 53 back of her. Then there are lagers, twenty Min g C h 0 n g women. Most of those who com- those who come from non-Chris- (popular education) s c h 00 Is mitted self-murder were still tian homes, whose coming means have been established in as many under thirty years of age, and struggle and sacrifice because of villages, as a part of an agricul- their chief reasons for taking the opposition, and often persetural, educational and religious their lives seem to have been fi- cution of their families. program. In cooperation, clinics nancial difficulties, unemployhave been established in two of ment, unhappy love affairs and -Women and Missions: the villages; these are free, ex- domestic troubles. In 24 of cept for a registration fee of China's principal cities there After Many Years five coppers. Money for drugs were 1,604 suicides in 1933. and supplies so far have been Thirty years ago in Chuhsien contributed by American friends. The problem is as old as the a man named Chu was present The village furnishes a room for Chinese race, only the method for the annual examinations for the clinic and one for the nurse has varied with the ages. In degree under the old Confucian to sleep in. former years, high government order. Passing a small pagoda officials took some kind of nat- by the roadside, used especially Other public health measures ural poison which they always for burning paper bearing writ- carried with them when they ten character, he saw a man include Well-Baby Clinics. The were about to be beheaded by thrusting a thick book into the the order of an Emperor. Now fire. He pulled it out, remarking first one was established three the preferred method is shooting that it was a shame to burn such in a modern hotel. a good book. It was minus its years ago; it is carried on only covers and some of the leaves, The explanation seems to be but he took it home, read it, and in the fall, winter and early that many educated, modern was intensely interested, though young people prefer money to he had no way of identifying it. spring. Still another institution soul, pleasures to moral prin- ciples, suicide to a simple and This year, in Kiangshan city, is the Mothers' Club, which humble livelihood. Sui c ide s he was standing on a street which originate from poverty corner when an old man came meets to discuss child health, are fewer than among the along with a thick book under wealthy, as the poor are used to his arm. Chu felt that this thick care and training. Once a year hardships. The need is evident book and his were somewhat that the sacredness of the soul alike, and that here was the soluall their children are brought for must be impressed upon modern tion of some of his problems youth. such as who this "God" could be; medical examination, vaccina- and where the book came from. -China Weekly Review. tion and typhoid-cholera inocula- tion. – World Call.
"They Are Friends"
A correspondent in World Call writes: "At the Century of Progress Exposition in the Chinese shops, I overheard an American woman telling one of the Chinese that she did not
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
He spoke to the old man, and val. There is a general feeling· Drug Menace Growing asked what the book might be. "It is the Holy Scripture." "Yes, that no moral training is possi- The drug evil is rapidly growbut what Holy Scripture might ble without Christian training ing in Japan. Rev. Michio Koit be and what are you doing and while the prohibitions of zaki, pastor of Reinanzaka Conwith it?" "Oh, I am going to Christian schools have not been gregational Church, is telling worship, and we use this book repealed, Christian schools are his compatriots what distressing in the worship of God." "And not interfered with. things he found being carried on where do you worship?" "At under Japanese patronage by the Jesus Hall, of course." "May The society reports that it has Japanese, Korean and Chinese I come along with you and see 3,893 Christian members and dope-rings in Peiping, Tientsin this worship?" "Yes, anyone is that during the year 211 were and vicinity; and Miss Muriel welcome," and Mr. Chu and the received by baptism. There are Lester, of Kingsley Hall, London, old man went along together to in all 6 ordained missionaries, is prepared to give the world a worship. There Mr. Chu met 21 evangelists, 20 teachers and sordid story of what she saw, Mr. Ting, the colporteur, who 66 elders. was conducting the worship for that Sunday in the Kiangshan JAPAN with almost unbelieving eyes, in Church, and he was able to ex- North China. The Japanese plain a little more to him of the way of life. Seven Cooperatives Proposed Government has made heroic ef- forts in the past to keep nar- -China's Millions. Kagawa, believing that coop- cotics from the Japanese people, eratives, working side by side but institutions for assistance of The Rhenish Mission in China with capitalistic units, could narcotic victims are now finding gradually and peacefully replace themselves too busy to handle all This mission reports for 1934 them, proposes seven different the tragic cases that come to that the year just closed was types of cooperatives. They are: their attention. In one well free from major political events, producers' cooperatives, credit known reform house in Tokyo, although the fight of the govern- unions, consumers' cooperatives, 95 per cent of the cases treated ment against communism is still mutual aid organizations, insur- are Koreans. carried on vigorously. The ef- ance groups, marketing cooperaforts of Gen. Chiang Kai-shek tives and public utilities. "Chris- -The Christian Century. have been successful in freeing the province of Kiangsi of this tian cooperative associations," pest. However, the communists he told an audience recently in Prank Creates Ethical Problem have now turned to other fields and are still a great menace in Honolulu, "are the alternative Doshisha University, oldest the lands north of the Yang-tse for revolution in capitalist coun- Kiang and the province of Set- tries." and largest Christian school in chuan. In these areas the missionaries have been compelled to He had something to say about Japan, planned to place within a vacate considerable territory and war, too. He blamed it on conseveral missionaries have been fused thinking, and added: recently completed building a kidnapped and also several mur- "Confused thinking is the result dered. Several workers of the of confused, irregular living. If memorial of Joseph Neesima, Berlin Mission have been in a man abstains from liquor and founder of the university and great dan g e r temporarily. narcotics and does everything famous J a pan e s e Christian Troops of the government in possible to help himself think leader. Before the memorial Nanking and Canton have taken clearly, he will see that peace is was installed, however, a stupart in activities against these practical." dent, thinking to playa joke, set communists. up a Shinto god-shrine in the -The Christian Advocate. place of honor reserved for Nee- In the face of these disturb- sima. Now the military authoriances the Rhenish Mission has ties in Japan, despite explanabeen able to work undisturbed. The missionaries are reporting Union Theological Training tions and apologies by the offendmuch concerning the so-called ing student and a petition from "New Life Movement," started by Gen. Chiang Kai-shek. It did A plan is under way, spon- the entire student body, have not proceed from Christians nor can it be called Christian; but sored by the Japan section of the ruled that it would be an indigit is friendly to Christianity. In the south it is prohibited. In International Christian Educa- nity to the sacred deities of the the province of Canton Confucianism is experiencing a revi- tion Commission, to provide Japanese nation to have the union theological education. The Shinto shrine removed. If the Tokyo and Yokohama members school authorities dare to make of this commission have taken any change, the military au- the following action: "We rec- thorities threaten to withdraw ommend as the first step the im- all recognition from the school.
mediate establishment of a union Evidently the threat has mean- theological course which shall be ing, for at last reports the shrine preparatory to the higher work still holds the place of honor in- of the various denominational tended for Neesima. Japanese theological schools, situated in rationalize the position taken by the area near Tokyo." the military department by in- -The Christian Century. sisting that Shinto is really not
a religiQn, and that there has tions have agreed to discontinue ations, are to be included in the therefQre been nO' interference all competitive mission work in same Synod. There will be a with cQnstitutiQnal guarantees this country. Representatives Qf reduction in the number of Qffi- Qf religiQus freedQm. But many five denominations – Baptist, cial bQards. Christians, missiQnaries and Congregational-Christian, Meth- Japanese, find their minds filled odist Episcopal, Presbyterian The merged denominations with misgivings as they see this and Reformed – signed t his have a membership of about ShintO' shrine set up in a Chris- agreement Qn May 17; the Dis- 700,000. Headquarters are to tian university in the place in- ciples Qf Christ and the Evan- be continued for the present in tended fQr a memQrial to' its gelical Synod have accepted the Philadelphia and St. LQuis. Christian fQunder. agreement and representatives of each have only to' affix their -Christian Observer. -The Christian Century. signatures. Other boards have it under consideratiQn. Scientific Faith NORTH AMERICA The agreement calls for joint Dr. Arthur H. ComptQn, of Character Education planning by the various bQards, the University of ChicagO', the who will work in cQnjunction student of the cosmic ray and A cQmplete failure Qf "at- with a Comity Committee of the the winner of the Nobel Prize in tempts to' achieve character edu- state home missiQns council; if 1927, expressed before an emicatiQn withQut the aid Qf reli- such a cQmmittee dQes nQt exist, nent grQUp Qf scientists in ChigiQUS mQtivatiQn" is repQrted by one will be formed. cagO', his belief in God and in the the Presbyterian BQard Qf Chris- intelligence and order of the unitian EducatiQn, which annQunces -Federal Council Bulletin. verse. plans fQr jQining aggressively in a cQQperative effQrt by 37 Qther Useful Missionary Society He tOQk the positiQn that churches in America "fQr the ex- "faith in God may be a thoroughtensiQn Qf Christian educatiQn to' The native mission church at ly scientific attitude, even though the milliQns Qf unreached chil- Metlakatla, Alaska, has cause to we may be unable to prove the' dren and' yQung peQple." Sun- be prQud Qf its missionary so- correctness of our belief." He: day church schQQls are still fail- ciety. Last year they worked said: ing to' enlist mQre than 40 to' 50 hard to raise their cQntribution per cent Qf their PrQtestant CQn- for natiQnal and foreign mis- "Science can have no quarrel stituency. MilliQns Qf nQminally sions, did sewing for Sheldon with a religiQn which postulates PrQtestant children in Qur CQun- Jackson School, and contributed a God to whom men are as His try are withQut any systematic fOQd for Haines House. They children. Not that science in any religiQus training. As fQr the also attended to many local way shows such a relationship. future, says the repQrt, it is cer- needs, such as prQviding clothes If a religion which makes such tain that vacatiQn and week-day fQr poor children, helping care an assumption does not have its, church schQQls will have a large for the sick, calling Qn the be- own evidence, it should not look part in the plan. A gain in the reaved, preparing lunches for to science. But the evidence for past year Qf 152 V a cat i 0' n men who were cutting WOQd for an intelligent PQwer wQrking iIT Church SchQQls cQnducted by the church, cleaning the church, the wQrld, which science Qffers,. Presbyterian c h u r c h e s is an- and raising $40 toward painting dQes make such a postulate: nQunced by the BQard. The tQtal the church. Their interest and plausible. . . . number Qf such schQQls was influence ext end s to every 3,358, enrQlling 235,393 pupils. branch of church work. "As we recognize the great- ness Qf the program of nature', MQre than 8,000 YQung peQ- -Presbyterian Banner. which is unfQlding before us, we; pIe Qf cQllege and high schQQI feel that we are part of a great age attended last year's Presby- New Evangelical and Refo'l'med enterprise in which some mighty terian summer cQnferences. The Church intelligence is wQrking Qut a hid- 8,000, the repQrt states, went den plan. back to' their hQme churches It was announced on July 13 with a new understanding ,of that the tentative draft Qf a new "Indeed, God has placed us iIT Christian living and Qf the work cQnstitution for the newly or- a position to help in furthering' Qf the Church, with new willing- ganized Evangelical and Re- His prQgram." ness to do church work and with fQrmed Church has been prethe i r characters increasingly pared. The new cQnstitution will A Study of Financial Trends steeled to meet their everyday cQntain many features that are prQblems. different from those of either of Dr. Charles Stelzle has made the former Churches. Provision an analysis of the ten-year pe- To End Competition is being made fQr a full-time riQd from 1925-1934, inclusive, president as the Qfficial head of to show how much members of The Home Missions Council the Church. All Qf the congre- leading Protestant c h u I' C h e s has wQrked out a plan under gatiQns in a given territQry, ir- throughout the United States which a number of denomina- respective of former affiliation, gave to the work of their language used, or other consider- churches during the past ten years. It is indicated that con- tributiQns per capita for all pur- poses declined 43 per cent. 0'1"
for worship, hand- Creative Learning. J. M. Price, J. L. America, arriving on March 13
work and games. Corzine. 75 cents. 268 pp. Bap- Eighteen months later Miss Carrie tist Sunday School Board, Nash- The Three-Cornered Continent. By ville. Elder joined him on the field and Margaret Applegarth. Cloth, 75 they were married in Cairo in 1876. cents; paper, 50 cents. Facing Two Ways – The Story of Dr. Alexander was stationed at As- My Life. Baroness Shidzue Ishi- suit College of which he later became A series of stories about South moto. 373 pp. $3.50. Farrar and president. Dr. Alexander is still re- America published by the Cen- Rinehart. New York. siding in Egypt. tral Committee on the United Study of Foreign Missions. Making the World Christian. P. E. *** Borroughs, Arthur J. Brown, John FOR PRIMARY GROUPS D. Freeman. 334 pp. 75 cents. Rev. George W. Gibb has been ap- Baptist Sunday School Board. pointed General Director of the China Around a Mexican Patio. By Ethel L. Nashville. Inland Mission to take the place of Smther. Cloth, $1.00; paper, 75 cents. Schoolhouse in the Foothills. Ella Mr. D. E. Hoste who has retired. Mr. Enslow and Alvin F. Harlow. 239 Gibb went to China in 1894 and was a This unit of work on Mexican pp. $2.00. Simon & Shuster. New notable success in one position and life, based on actual teaching ex- York. another and thus was recognized as a periences, contains ten suggested man who was steadily growing in sessions for the leader who de- Studies in Ephesians. E. Y. Mullins. sires definite procedures, and a 144 pp. Cloth, 60 cents; paper, 40 grace, knowledge and power. Upon synopsis of a fuller unit for the cents. Baptist Sunday School him devolved a large share of the leader who desires to build her Board, Nashville, Tenn. heavy burden of formulating the prinown course. The sources include ciples and promoting the program of informational material and a se- Old Testament Biographies. H. W. rial story which will appeal to Tribble, John L. Hill, Kyle M. the Forward Movement which the children of primary age. Yates. 329 pp. 75 cents. Baptist Mission decided upon in 1929. Sunday School Board. Nashville, Rafael and Consuelo. By Florence Tenn. *** C. Means and Harriet L. Fullen. Boards, $1.00; paper, 75 cents. 1929. They That Sow. Mary Warburton Dr. Julius Richter of Berlin is in Booth. 200 pp. 3s. 6d. Pickering America attending the meeting of the Stories and a project course & Inglis. London. on Mexicans in this country. International Missionary Council. He I Go a Fishing. John McNeill. 128 is available for addresses in October SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL pp. 1s. Pickering & Inglis. Lon- and November. don. Keswick. Fun and Festival from Latin Amer- *** ica. By Winifred Hulbert. Paper, Church, Community and State – A 25 cents. World Issue. J. H. Oldham. Rev. J. Kelly Unger, missionary to Pamphlet. 35 cents. Harper and Korea, is now in America and avail- Games, songs, program fea- Brothers. New York and London. able for addresses on missionary work tures, costumes, refreshments 1935. among the lepers. and suggestions for dramatizations. The Answer of God. Marshall Broom- *** hall. Seventieth Anniversar:ll; of Picture Map of Mexico. 30×50 inches; the China Inland Mission. London, President James H. Franklin of to be colored. 50 cents. Philadelphia, Toronto. 1935. Crozer Theological Seminary was Paper Dolls-Mexico. A sheet of Personal Items two paper dolls in color, with elected president of the Northern changes of costume. 25 cents. Dr. J. R. Alexander, of the United Presbyterian Church, recently cele- Baptist Convention for the year Latin American Neighbors Picture brated his diamond jubilee or 60 years Sheet. A folder of 16 pictures. 25 of service in Egypt. He went out from 1935-6. * * :{: cents. Home Missions Number Dr. Paul W. Rood, nationally Latin American Picture Stories. A known evangelist, has accepted the pamphlet of six short stories, suit- OUR JUNE ISSUE presidency of the Los Angeles Bible able for telling, accompanied by ClW e still have on hand a limited Institute. illustrative pictures about 9×13 quantity of the June issue of THE inches. 50 cents. REVIEW – our Home Missions *** Number. Ittakes up various phases Wall Map of Latin America. 36×46 of the work carried on among wild Rev. E. C. Lobenstine went to inches; locates nearly all Protestant Indians, among Negroes, Mormons China in 1898 as a missionary of the mission stations. 60 cents. and Orientals, among mountain- Board of Foreign Missions of the eers a n settlers on western prai- Presbyterian Church in the U. S. Large Outline Map of Latin America. ries; in Alaska and the West In- His principal contribution has been in 28×32 inches. 25 cents. dies; among immigrants in city building up Christian cooperation in slums and in mining towns. China. He is now retiring, after 37 Small Outline Maps of Latin Amer- years of service. ica. llx14 inches. 25 cents per ClDon't miss the value of a study of dozen. this subject such as the June 1935 *** issue affords. New Books === ORDER NOW=== Rev. Emory Ross, who was for The Bible and the Bible School. J. Single copies, 25c. In hundred lots, 20c each many years the able secretary of the B. Weathersoon, G. S. Dobbins. 280 Congo Protestant Council and the pp. 75 cents. Baptist Sunday The Missionary Review of the World editor of the Congo Mission News, has School Board. Nashville. been appointed executive secretary of Subscription CJJepartment Third and Reily Streets, Harrisburg, Pa. the American Congo Committee. Mr. Ross is also executive secretary of the I~ _ _-_____ _____________ newly organized American Committee on the Ethiopian Crisis which has been formed to aid in maintaining peace between Italy and Ethiopia; to aid Ethiopia by peaceful means in preserving her historic political and territorial sovereignty and to main- tain close relations with the Imperial Ethiopian Government, and in so far as may be mutually desired to act un- officially between its representatives and interested groups outside of Ethiopia.
-..- MISSIONARY -..- CHRISTIAN WORKER!
~ You Need ROBERT E. SPEER'S New Book CHRISTIAN REALITIES DON'T DENY YOURSELF the inspiration of Dr. Speer's greatest work, which should be in EVERY Christian's possession.
As one reviewer writes: "If there is anywhere in religious literature from Thomas a Kempis to date a finer narration than Dr. Speer's personal answers to 'What do I think Jesus is to me and does for me,' it has escaped my reading." $2.50 ——–OTHER IMPORTANT NEW BOOKS——–c Cleland Boyd McAfee, D.D. Mary Brewster Hollister Edith F. Norton The Foreign Missionary ~ South China Folks 1~ Ralph Norton a nd the Enterprise Belgian Gospel Mission Intimate stories of native life in 1 and Its Sincere Critics China today by an author who has A most interesting sketch of the won an enviable reputation as a sym- "Fills a long-felt want and to complete dlife oSf RhalIphTN'orton fwhodml the S'tu1nsatisfaction. Criticisms of foreign missions pathetic and interesting chronicler of T ay C 00 tmes on y entl es are plentiful-but Dr. McAfee knows. t ;present-day life in South China. "the greatest missionary statesman '11 fi d ' This book sympathetically read and fairly M' d of our generation, also, one of the interpreted will remove practically all of isslOn stu y groups Wl n It greatest soul-winners of our day."
these criticisms."-Presbyterian 13anne,'. well adapted to their course on Introduction by Charles G. Trum- $1.50 South China. $1.25 bull, Litt.D. Illustrated, $2.00 AT ALL BOOKSTORES FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY 158 -:::!~o!~ENUE DO NOT MISS THE MOSLEM WORLD SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, Edit:or SOME ARTICLES IN THE OCTOBER NUMBER: Mysticism in Islam and Christendom ……………… Duncan B. Macdonald Presenting Christ to Moslems ………………………. ,J. Christy Wilson Constructive Revolutions in Iran.. . …………………. Samuel M. Jordan Islam in Palestine ………………………………… Alfred J. Nielsen The Arab Nationalist Movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. Elizabeth P. MacCallum Maimonides and Islam …… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. Henry S. Gehman Some Old Turkish Documents ……………………….. Lootfy Levonian Missions in North Africa. . . . .. …… ………. . …. "An Old Missionary" Amongst Bulgarian Moslems …………………………James W. Wiles The Moslems of China Today. . . . . . . . . . . .. . ………….. George K. Harris Current Topics – Book Reviews – Survey of Periodicals – Index for the Year 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, N. Y. $3.50 a Year. (Foreign Postage, 50 Cents) British Agents: MARSHALL, MORGAN Go SCOTT, 12 Paternoster Buildings, London, E. C.
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The Missionary Review of the World — September 1935
1935
The Only Christian College in Iran Samuel M. Jordan Islam's Debt to the Bible Samuel M. Zwemer Federal Favor for Fetishism Flora Warren Seymour Always Something New in Turkey Charles Trowbridge Riggs What Is a Faitll Mission?
Robert Hall Glover Forty-seven Years Among Chinese Jonathan Goforth Front Page News-An Airplane Crash!
R. w. Hambrook 25 Cents a Cop, $2.50 a YeaI'
to Remember Obituary Note. Mrs. Lucy W. Peabody has
September 3-S-Negro National Bap- Miss Stella Relyea, who had served from the chairmanship of the Associa- tist Convention, 143d Street Armory, 37 years under the Baptist Board in tion of Baptists for Evangelism in the Harlem, New York. China, died May 7 at Clifton Springs, Orient. She has been succeeded in N. Y. In 1902 she became principal' the chairmanship by Rev. Harold T. September 16-23-School of Missions, of Chung Md Girls' School in Kinwha. Commons, of Johnson City, New York. Minnesota. Mrs. A. F. Auguster, The work of this Association is con- 1536 Van Buren St., St. Paul, Min- fined to the Philippine Islands. nesota. *** *** September 17-24–School of Missions, Warren, Ohio. Mrs. Geo. Konold, 314 Mrs. Archibald Hore, for many Rev. Paul Shinji Sasaki, professor Scott St., N. E., Warren, Ohio. years associate editor of the Spirit of Liturgics and Applied Theolog~-, of 1ldissions, died last June in Scotch Central Theological College, St. Paul's September 27-0ctober 6 – Interna- Plains, N. J., at the age of 86. tional Committee of International University, Tokyo, has been elected Missionary Council. Northfield, *** second Bishop of the diocese of Mid- Mass. Japan. He will be the fourth native Bishop Arthur Stanley Ward, of of Japan to be elevated to the Angli- October 15-20 – International Con- the Moravian Church, died May 27, in can espiscopate. vention of the Disciples of Christ. his 71st year. He was born in Ja- San Antonio, Texas. maica, where his father was a mis- * October 16, 17-American Mission to sionary. Bishop Ward was a member Rev. G. A. Riggs, Baptist mission- Lepers. Annual Meeting, New of the General Missions Board of the York, N. Y. Moravian Church. ary in Puerto Rico, is celebrating the October 22-Five Years' Meeting of :;: * * silver jubilee of his service in the the Friends. Richmond, Ind. Levi Mumaw, Yice-President of the island. * * '" October 2S-November 1 – Houston. Mennonite Board of Missions and Texas. Mrs. E. B. Mohle, 2309 Charities, diE'd at his home at Scott- Dr. T. L. Holcomb, of Oklahoma Robinhood, Houston, Texas. dale, Pa., .Tune 4. In addition to his City, has ~ucceeded Dr. L J. Van Ness duties in conncctilil1 with the mission November 17-Men and Mission Sun- activitics he was secretary-treasurer as Secretary-Treasurer of the South- day. Topic: "Jesus Christ and the of the Mennonite Publishing House at World Today." For source material Scottdale, and secretary of the Men- ern Baptist Sunday School Board. write to the Laymen's Missionary nonite Central Committee, a relief or- Movement, 19 S. La Salle St., Chi- ganization that carried on extensive * *' * cago. work in the Near East and Russia after the war. Dr. Daw Saw Sa, who is noJw in December 7-Universal Bible Sunday. private medical practice in Burma, '" * * takes an active interest in missionary December 28, 1935-January 1, 1936- work, and represented the National Student Volunteer Convention. In- Miss Elma French, missionary of Missionary Council of India, Burma dianapolis, Ind. and Ceylon, at the International Mis- the Reformed Prellbyterian Church in sionary Council Meeting at Lake Mo- the Levant, passed away April 26 at honk, New York, in 1921. She was Aleppo, Syria. Miss French had been formerly Head of the Lady Dutferin on the field about twenty-seven years. Hospital at Rangoon. The greater part of her work was in Mersine, Asia Minor, where she did ** outstanding work in the schools and for the refugees and Armenians Dr. J. J. Lucas, of the American through their trying years. Presbyterian Mission, who began his service in 1870, is the senior mission- ary of North India. He has beeR active with his pen and recently has published a history of the North India Tract and Book Society.
Printin Personal Items •*• When You Require It Dr. and Mrs. Daniel A. Poling, Dean L. S. Cozart, of Barber-Scotia President of the World Christian En- Presbyterian School at Concord, N. C., We wish to ext••d to you an invi- deavor Union, sailed from New York has been accorded several honors as a tation to become acquainted with on a round-the-world tour on July reward for outstanding service. The THE EVANGELICAL PRESS of 12th. Mter visiting Europe and at- Governor of North Carolina asked him Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. tending the Christian Endeavor Con- to serve as a member of a special com- vention in Budapest, they plan to visit mittee of fifty, composed of 25 whites Thousands of institutions and individ- Greece, Egypt, the Holy Lands, and and 25 Negroes, to gather facts reuals have accepted a similar invitation, go through Persia and Iraq to India, garding Negro teachers in North Caroand have enjoyed a profitable printing Siam, China, Korea, Japan, and Aus- lina. He was also asked by the State association for years. Department of Education to serve on Our specialty is Books, Magazines and tralia. Dr. and Mrs. Poling expect to the Textbook Committee, the first Booklets. We have modern equipment to meet all the requirements of your be in Hawaii in March and to return Negro in the history of North Carolina particular job. Our service is quick, to the United States in April, 1936. to be asked to' help select its textbooks. careful and courteous. ,. '* '" * ,. * Why not allow us to estimate on your next printing? You will be delighted Dr. James L. Barton has retired Dr. Harold A. Moody, Negro phywith our product, price, and service. from the office of President of the gov- sician in London, is the founder and erning boards of the three union col- president of the League of Colored The Evangelical Press leges for women in India, an office Peoples, organized in London four which he has held since their organiza- years ago to promote the economic, Printers 01 tion. He has also resigned as chair- educational, political and social inter- man of the trustees of the v,ralker ests of colored peoples in Great The Missionary Review of the World Missionary Homes, Auburndale, Mass., Britain and America. He has been after thirty-five years of service. elected president of the British Chris- PLANT AND MAIN OFFICE: tian Endeavor Union. **• Third and Reily Streets Harrisburgl Pa. *** Dr. Walter Van Kirk, Secretary of the Department of International Jus- Dr. Robert Cochrane has resigned tice and Goodwill of the Federal Coun- the medical secretaryship of the Brit- cil of ChUrches, has been designated ish Empire Leprosy Relief Associa- as the special investigator with regard to the possibility of establishing an tion to work as a volunteer for five American church in Moscow to serve years among lepers in India. He will members of the American colony. (Concluded on page 385.)
MISSIONARY Times may grow worse, but the RE- America and open fQr engagemet;lts
REVIEW OF THE WORLD VIEW grows better." during the autumn. Arrangements may be made through Dr. David Por- DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor REV. HOWARD A. ADAIR. ter, Headmaster of Mount Hermon Paterson, N. J. School, Massachusetts. Dr. Koo is VOL. LVIII SEPT.,1935 No.9 one of the mQst brilliant, eloquent and *** Publication and Business Office– convincing speakers who have visited Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. "The July issue has just come and America. He is especially effective is more fascinating than ever." with young people and miscellaneous Editorial and Executive Office– 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. REV. MARTIN P. SIMON. audiences. Entered as second-class matter at Eugene, Oregon. *** Post Office, Harrisburg, Pa., under *** Act of March 3, 1879. Dr. K. S. Oh, a Korean Christian The article on "The Spiritual Con- physician, has been elected President 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. dition of the Heathen," by Dr. Frost, of Severence Union Medical College in Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. in the July REVIEW, is the strongest Seoul, KQrea, as successor to Dr. O. Published monthly, except August. argument I have seen for the imme- All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1935. diate evangelization of the non-Chris- R. Avison, retired. Dr. Oh is a rep- British agents – Marshall, Morgan tian wQrld. It shows what God resentative of the Southern Presbyte- and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, teaches in His Word and ought to be rian Church. He was born in Korea London, E. C. 1 shilling per copy, widely read. on October 4, 1877, of Christian par- 10 shillings a year. ents, and after completing his course HORACE N. DOUGHERTY. at the Pai-Chai Middle School came MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- New York City. LISHING CO., INC. to America and studied at Center Col- BOARD OF DIRECTORS Personal Items lege, Kentucky, and the University of ROBERT E. SPEER, President (Concluded from 2d Cover.) Louisville, after which he returned to WM. I. CHAMBERLAIN, Vice-President WALTER McDOUGALL, Treasurer go to the Leper Settlement in Madras Korea. DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary for a five years' period of 'intensive research into the treatment of leprosy ••ttAWonderful Help SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT on the most modern lines. He will MRS. ORRIN R. JUDD live among the 750 patients at the onThe Foreign Field"
WM. B. LIPPHARD Settlement. * * * The School That Comes to You… By Mail!
ERIC M. NORTH Misses Mildred Cable, Evangeline "Your school is a wonderful help here on JESSE R. WILSON and Francesca French, the three in- the foreIgn held and I am so happy to have trepid piQneer workers for the China my children so well educated," writes a A. L. WARNSHUIS Inland Mission, who were held pris- parent whose children are studying Calvert oners three years ago in the Gobi Courses in far off China. SAMUEL M. ZWEMER Desert, returned to their work in northwest China last month. They For 28 years. Calvert School has had a part Editorial Chat are accompanied by "Topsy," their in educatmg the children of famIlies in sixteen-year-old deaf and dumb Chi- Missionary work . . . in giving them the Our June Special Home Mission nese adopted child. rich, cultural background of an Amencan Number has been enthusiastically re- private school. ceived. Now is the time to order *** copies for pastors and Mission Study No matter where your mission, Calvert Classes. This issue of the REVIEW, The Rev. C. Y. Cheng, D.D., LL.D. School will come to you with complete with its wealth of Home Mission in- (Dr. Cheng Ching-yi), has resigned courses of instruction for your children formation, will be a stimulus to many. as general secretary of the National from kindergarten to high school age. Special rates for quantities ordered at Christian Council of China. He has one time. been for 25 years a leader in China, All lessons, books, stationery and special remarkable for his winning personal- Calvert educational devices are supplied *** ity, broad statesmanship and marked from our rrominent and successful pnvate ability. He was chairman of the Chi- day schoo in Baltimore. As noted in our July issue, the Au- nese National Christian Conference in gust number Qf the REVIEW was omit- 1932 and has made several visits to These simple, understandable, moderately ted – to save expense and because Europe and America. He originated pnced Home Instruction Courses arc a many readers are away from home. the Five Year Program of Evangelism unique and satisfactory way of solving your To compensate for this the June, July, for China and has been moderator of b~l~~'s educational problem in the foreign September and October issues each the General Assembly of the Church contain sixteen pages extra. Do not of Christ in China since its organiza- Lessons MlY Be Storied It Any Time miss their wealth of material. tion. Dr. Cheng is now placing him- self at the disposal of the United Write today. Get full information about *** Church Qf Christ to work for the unity Calvert-"The School That Comes to and upbuilding of the Christian cause You." See what Calvert is doing for The REVIEW has been warmly rec- among his people. others . • • it will do the same for your ommended at many Qf the Summer Conferences and Schools of M.issions. *** – – – – – children. – – – – – – – – – – – If it is not on sale, or is not mentioned at any conference yQU attend, please Rev. James H. Nicol, of Syria, is CALVERT SCHOOL speak about it to leaders and write to temporarily filling the place of Dr. us that we may correct the oversight. Cleland B. McAfee, in the Presbyte- Mrs. G. S. Rhoads It is your magazine. rian Board of Foreign Missions, Dr. Director of Home Instruction McAfee being laid aside by illness. What you say*, a*nd w* hat others say, 189 W. Tusclny ROld *** helps the REVIEW and helps the Cause BALTIMORE, MARYLAND of Christ. Already we have been Dr. Toyohiko Kagawa, the foremost asked to reprint three articles fro'm Christian leader of Japan, is expected Name recent numbers. Notice what some to arrive in America in December for Address readers say: a six months' lecture tour. One of his principal addresses will be at the Stu- Child'. Age_ _ "The June (Home Mission Number) dent Volunteer Convention in Indianis especially strong and valuable. I apolis, December 28th. Dr. Kagawa's wish that all our Home Mission boards speaking engagements are being made would order a large number of copies by Miss Helen Topping, 2969 Vernon to distribute throughout the Church." Ave., Chicago, Ill.
JOHN McDOWELL, Secretary of *** Board of National Missions, Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. Dr. T. Z. Koo, the well-known Chi- nese Christian speaker, is now in *** [385 ] "I rejoice in the continued high character and helpfulness of the articles in the MISSIONARY REVIEW.
DAY FOR HEALTHFUL SPORT AT ALBORZ COLLEGE
STUDENTS OF ALBORZ COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL IN ASSEMBLY Note that Persian Students Wear Their Caps in Chapel TRAINING PERSIAN YOUTH IN BODY, MIND AND SPIRIT
NARY
REVIB ORLD VOLUME LVIII AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRES!'l NUMBER 9 SEPTEMBER, 1935 Topics of the Times NEED FOR REVIVAL IN EUROPE (5) Modern rationalism and humanism also deify humanity and humanize God. This tend- All Europe is like a volcano, a powder box or a ency leads to the exaltation of reason, science and cauldron "where the devil's broth is brewing." the material universe, and to the degradation of Miss Ruth Paxson, a well-known Bible teacher humanity by the worship of the creature rather and Christian ambassador, who has been spend- than the Creator. ing some months on the Continent, calls attention to the following outstanding antireligious factors (6) These influences lead to paganism with its that are working against Christ today: attendant nudism, loose sex relations and the exal- tation of pagan superstition and ancient deities- (1) There is the communism that deifies ma- as in Germany. terialism and seeks to destroy belief in God. Soviet leaders will fail to realize their aim to It is estimated that 375,000,000 people in "uproot religion," but a spiritual awakening is Europe need to be evangelized. Many know the needed to counteract that influence. name of Christ but show little or no evidence that they really know Christ as Saviour and Lord, or (2) Atheism has organized "The Alliance of that they have ever experienced spiritual life, or Militant Godless" which ten years ago reported know the transforming power of the Gospel. Mil- 120,000 members, five years later claimed 2,000,- lions of people in Europe today need to be evan- 000 and in another five years (1940) expects to gelized as truly as do the millions of Africa and enroll 20,000,000. Godless Russian groups are Asia. Dr. Karl Barth says that if Evangelical promoting atheism in thirty-nine other countries; Christianity is not to be utterly destroyed in thirty-five antireligious universities have been Europe, then the truths of the Protestant reforstarted and there are travelng antireligious mu- mation must be reemphasized. If the Christian seums and atheistic papers published in forty- Church is to survive in Europe then Christ must eight languages. be reborn in European hearts by the power of the Spirit of God. (3) Nationalism is another movement that is sweeping over Europe and is seeking to put the State above God. Hitler and Mussolini attempt RELIGION AND MISSIONS IN GERMANY to make themselves and their laws supreme. Mrs. Wasserzug, a German Christian, says: "The The situation in Germany does not seem to imleader principle means that the will of man is to prove. Not only is anti-Jewish persecution as rule absolutely in all spheres of life, so that the strong as ever but the Nazi's are campaigning Church becomes a servant of the State. It is anti- against Roman Catholics and all Protestants who Christ wanting to save man according to a human will not yield to the dictatorship of the secular plan. Christ is no more to be Head of the Church." State. The German evangelical Christians stand All this is leading to man-worship and idolatry. firm though threatened with the loss of property and the management of their own ecclesiastical (4) Fanaticism, in the form of superstition, affairs. These injustices and high-handed measignorance and bigotry, is another evil influence. ures on the part of the Hitler representatives are It may be in the form of mariolotry, Bibliolotry, causing Germany to lose friends in all civilized ecclesiasticism or any other formal religious be- countries, have brought about a threatened boylief that exalts something else in the place of cott of the Olympic games in Berlin next year, Christ.
[387 ]
and may bring retaliatory measures in other di- t1;ley must combine their spiritual forces with the rections. Some German leaders are still seeking "confessional churches." They have gone through to promote a return to the worship of all pagan one perplexity after another. After the World Teutonic Gods. Confessional pastors are also be- War there was the task to recover the lost mission ing persecuted. fields-a task in which they have not been com- German evangelical missions are still suffering pletely successful. * from financial depression, the attem!pted regulation of churches in Germany, and the Nazi finan- Then suddenly the disastrous inflation threatcial restrictions. Dr. Julius Richter, of Berlin, ened to put an end to all German mission work. writes as follows concerning the present situation This danger had hardly passed when the turmoil of church and missions in the Germany today: of the political and of the ecclesiastical develop- ments threw the missions again into great and The Protestant churches, as a whole, have not seemingly unsuperable difficulties. At present the been divided by denominational lines but by the missions face the perplexity of foreign exchange historic territorial divisions – the P r u s s ian and the government prohibition against exporting Church, the Bavarian Church, etc.-twenty-eight money from Germany. British and American of them. When the German Reich was forged churches, in spite of their own perplexing financial together it seemed desirable to the Government situation, have to some extent come to the help of to amalgamate those 28 territorial churches into German missionaries. God alone can preserve the one united "Reichskirche" since there was no de- work and keep alive German Protestant Chriscisive obstacle of creed or order. But this attempt tianity. has met with strong opposition. THE JEWISH QUESTION IN AMERICAt All the world over it has been a common experience that a vivid materialistic upheaval A very remarkable conference of well-known usually goes hand in hand with a religious revival. church leaders of many denominations was held This seemed within reach if all 65 millions of in Princeton in June to consider the attitude of Germans could be brought under the all-embrac- Christians and churches toward the Jewish people. ing enthusiasm of the national socialistic revolu- The Conference accepted the principle that a tion so that a strong religious rejuvenation might Christian approach to the Jews is an integral part follow the political and national reconstruction. of the Church's responsibility. Christian work The development has gone rather in an opposite among Jews has too long been regarded as the direction. Cinderella in the Church's missionary enterprises, lightly esteemed, scantily supported, and pushed In Germany, as in many other countries, there aside for what have been considered more imhave been many pseudo-religious movements such portant enterprises. The time has come to recogas spiritism, theosophy, anthroposophy, and Chris- nize the regal character of a ministry to the race tian Science. These substitutes for Christianity of Jesus, and to claim for it its rightful place in have made a move in line with the national revo- the life of the Christian Church. lution, have taken up the watchwords of race and blood and "Bode" and have started a dozen or a The right of the Church of Christ to include the score of old German or neo-pagan associations or Jewish people in its ministry should never be quesspiritual currents which curiously find favor in tioned. As Dr. Louis H. Evans, of Pittsburgh, extreme nationalistic circles. The pious Christian put it: "Christianity dm never fulfill its task if circles have felt all the more the obligation to it loses its sense of imperial universality, born of stand firm on the foundation of the Biblical reve- the fact that Christ is the need of every race. The lation and of the German reformation. At present power of evangelization is largely lost when we the "Reichskirche" is dead, yet there is a very approach our task with any sense of apology, or serious conflict between the divers currents of of embarrassment, as though what we had to neo-paganism and of the "confessional churches." offer did not justify the attention and loyalty of every human heart. Christ is the universal need. The Protestant missionary societies are not di- He is no more sectarian than sunshine or rain." rectly implicated in this ecclesiastical turmoil, but There should be no illusions as to the greatness • The Swiss Basel Mission has not recovered its flourishing work of the task of winning Jews to the discipleship of in the French part of the Cameroon mandate, the Bethel Mission Christ or of the difficulties that must be faced, but has not been given back its promising work in Belgian Ruanda, the we cannot avoid the duty because of its extent or Hermansburg Mission has lost its Telugu field. of the difficulties involved. There must be an earnest spirit of endeavor to accept the challenge The Rhenish Mission has transferred Its mission in Borneo to the and to gird ourselves anew for the task. Basel Mission Society; has transferred its mission in Southwest Africa and Amboland to the Finnish Mission Society; has trans- t Notes of a conference held at Princeton in June. ferred its mission in New Guinea to the United Lutheran Church of America.
The Berlin Mission has transferred its Kioutschou Mission to the American Lutherans.
The Breklum Mission has transferred its mission In Tanganyika Territory to the Newkirchen Mission.
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
There is, of course, great room for diversity with the Church if it does not recognize its opof opinion as to methods to be used in work for portunity. the Jews. But differences of view can be discussed with a real desire to understand and ap- "Unless the Church is made to feel its responsipreciate others' points of view. In Princeton bility for the Jews," said Dr. Wm. R. King, "there there was complete unanimity on one issue-the is no hope of an advance in our approach to them. Christian attitude toward antisemitism. The It must be confessed that the Church has not al- Church can never compromise with an attitude so ways gone about this work in the best ways. We foreign to the teaching and spirit of Christ. A must bring to the work sane and practical methmissionary, a pastor, a layman and a public school- ods, tried and tested techniques, and above all a teacher, each discussed most helpfully "The Im- genuinely Christian spirit of approach that is full portance of a Christian Ministry to the Jews." of promise for its future success." There was no disposition to minimize the value of the mission in a Jewish ghetto as a means of evan- WHITHER MEXICO? gelization but there was a keen recognition of the fact that the time has come when the Church it- Not many weeks ago, General Elias Calles, for self must undertake the task directly and by means a number of years the supreme stage director of of every agency at its command. With Jews liv- the Mexican drama, suddenly took a plane in the ing in 12,000 different places in the United States Federal Capital and flew northward to his native and Canada, and with at least 50,000 churches state of Sonora. This sudden and dramatic flight having Jews living in their parishes, besides hav- of "Mexico's strong man" marks the end of one ing many neighborhood houses, colleges, and other chapter and the beginning of another in the revoinstitutions in continual contact with Jews, it is lutionary history of the country. How are we to high time that the Church utilized its resources estimate the significance of this change in the in some adequate way to break down the barriers center of power in Mexican affairs? In the inbetween Jews and Christians and open a way for tervening weeks since the flight took place, a numthe Gospel. ber of happenings have occurred, sufficient to lift the veil from the Mexican enigma, and set in high The open forum, literature, the neighborhood relief the part played by Calles in the antireligious house, the local church and the Christian college, campaign of recent years, and the trend of the may be very effective means of approach. new government on the religious issue.
The high value of an educational program is The state of Tabasco, a quite unimportant reacknowledged, not only through the pulpit and gion on the geographical periphery of Mexico, will promotional literature, but through church study go down in history as the chief experiment station groups, and church literature. Dr. Park Hays where General Calles and his satraps permitted Miller, of the Board of Christian Education of antireligious policies to be worked out, expecting the Presbyterian Church, said: "In our interpre- to apply them at an opportune moment to other tation of the Bible we can and should endeavor to states. In April, 1928, General Obreg6n called be fair and to avoid creating prejudices. As an Tabasco the bulwark of the revolution. The Goveditor supervising Sunday school lesson materials, ernor, Garrido Canabal, had been assidiously clos- I have felt called upon to revise some manuscripts ing churches and expelling all clergy from the at this point when they unnecessarily stirred anti- territory. This identification of Obreg6n (an ex- Jewish feeling. This can be avoided without president of the Republic, and then candidate for weakening our Christian testimony. There is a second term), with the radical policies of the little use in avoiding opposition at the price of Governor of Tabasco, was an ominous sign of surrendering what we believe to be essential what might be expected when the new president truth." took office. Less than three months later the presi- dent-elect was assassinated by a young Catholic Contrary to the general impression, Christian fanatic. work for the Jews has not been attended with meagre results. Fruitful fields await only wise In March of 1934, another presidential candiand consecrated reapers. So many have been the date visited the state of Tabasco, General Lazaro converts in connection with Peniel Community Cardenas, his visit coinciding with that of the ex- Center, Chicago, that the Director is planning for president and then virtual dictator, General Elias the establishment of a Hebrew Christian Church Calles. The two men publicly eulogized the in October. Pastors bear testimony to the re- achievements of the Tabascan Governor, and held sponsiveness of Jewish neighbors to a friendly up Tabasco as the model state of the republic. Christian approach. The Spirit of God is mani- Less than two months later the exercise of the festly moving upon Jewish minds and hearts Christian ministry became illegal in Sonora, throughout the Jewish world and it will fare ill Calles' native state, where his son was Governor.
From then onward, until Calles took farewell of tion. The main radical policies of the governthe Mexican capital, one radical act followed an- ment will probably continue, but positive religious other with startling rapidity in different states of persecution will increasingly diminish. One of the Republic, and in the Federal Legislature. The the first acts of the president, after power was amendment to the Constitution (in October, 1934) fully vested in his own hands, was to rescind his made it a primary function of education to com- former edict which had banned religious literature bat all religious prejudice and fanaticism. Some states interpreted this as a charter to eliminate and correspondence from the mails. The presence religious ideas from the minds of children. All Roman Catholic Churches were closed in the State in the new Cabinet of General Cedillo, former govof Queretaro and Colima, while all religious services were suspended in the State of Chihuahua. ernor of San Luis Potosi, is evidence that a rad- ical policy will be followed along agrarian lines, The new president took office on December 1, but a liberal policy in everything relating to reliand on February 12, as a result of an alleged conspiracy against the state, the use of the mails was gious belief and worship. General Cedillo has condenied for religious literature and for correspondence which might involve propagation for any re- sistently refused to allow the Federal laws bearligious teachings. The notorious governor of ing on religion to be applied in his state. The new Tabasco had also come into federal politics, as chairman of the National Revolutionary Party Minister of Agriculture in the new Cabinet. He (ex-president Portes Gil) is one of the most libwas accompanied by a small army of "reds" whose eral elements in Mexico. He sympathizes deeply function it was to bait Catholics in the Federal with the Evangelical position and was at one time District. Some bloody conflicts took place and an official in Tamaulipas when Doctor Andres increasing restrictions upon religion in a number Osuna, a distinguished evangelical, was governor of states created a situation of growing intensity of that state. both in Mexico and in the United States. Nobody knew who was really responsible for this ultra- Meanwhile the strain and stress has tended to radical trend. Was Garrido Canabal the protege weld Mexican evangelicals more closely together. of Cardenas or of Calles? Was the antireligious In some states they have suffered religious recampaign, which continued in full force during strictions equally with Roman Catholics, but they the new president's first months in office, a delib- have great hopes for the future. For some time, erate policy of General Cardenas, or was it im- a prayer meeting, held each morning in the Fedposed upon him? The answer to that question has eral Capital at 6: 30, has been largely attended by been supplied by events in Mexico since Cardenas evangelical workers. Although the foreign misshook himself free of the tutelage of Calles and sionary aspect of the work, as carried on by evandefied his erstwhile chief. gelical churches in this country, has been greatly It is now clear that the major interest of Presi- curtailed, the Gospel has sufficiently taken root in dent Cardenas is not the suspension of religious Mexico to guarantee under God its continuance liberty, but the prevention of capitalistic exploitation. He thus appears as the new champion of and indigenous propagation. The next phase the Mexican workmen and agrarians, while his administration is denounced by Calles as radical should be the establishment of closer relations and anarchistic. Calles himself began as a poor schoolmaster in the early days of the revolution between evangelical communions in the United and is now a feudal baron with millions of capital. States and autonomous evangelical communions Among his immediate followers have been a con- in Mexico, so that together, in full Christian libsiderable group of socialist millionaires. The revolution undoubtedly gave back many wide acres erty, they may think and pray and work together to the people, but it also bas thrown up a new landed plutocracy. for the promotion of Christ's kingdom on both Nobody can confidently forecast what may take sides of the Rio Grande. JOHN A. MACKAY. place in Mexico, but if the Cardenas government succeeds in consolidating itself for a period of THE CRISIS IN ETHIOPIA years, certain actions of the president and the composition of the new Cabinet, warrant us to Ethiopia (formerly known as Abyssinia) is attempt a prediction. Mexico at present is not threatened with invasion by Italy, possibly with taking a swing to the right or to the left, but is a view to making it a part of the Italian empire, returning to the central position of the Revolu- at least with the hope of making it a protectorate. This mountainous country comprises 190,000 square miles-about one-fourth less than the area of Texas, nearly the size of Spain. Tradition says that the rulers are descended from Solomon and the Queen of Sheba and the Emperor is called "The Lion of the Tribe of Judah." The country has maintained its independence for over 3,000 years. The Abyssinian religion is traditionally Christian, having been introduced by the officer of Ethiopia in the first century A. D., as a result
of the preaching of Philip the evangelist on the from God, went through this province and made a great road from Jerusalem to Gaza. The people of the impression on these people. Almost to the last man they country are hardy, poor in this world's goods, and are devoted followers of the teachings of Asa. Among generally uneducated. The nearest neighbors to many other things, he told them that soon the white man Ethiopia are the British in the Egyptian Sudan would bring them God's Word, and to wait for it and beand British Somaliland, the French in French lieve it. And ~ it is not surprising that there are 150 to Somaliland and the Italians in Eritrea and Italian 200 people coming out on Sundays to hear God's Word. Somaliland. They will listen to a two-hour message, and then sit until three or four o'clock asking questions. Theirs is not merely Premier Mussolini, like a modern Cresar, hav- an idle curiosity, but a genuine intelligent interest. The ing set out to form a strong Fascist government, old men in the surrounding country come out, and many with a militarized people, apparently desires to have shown an amazing grasp of the atoning work of our enlarge Italian territory and is looking for some Lord. Until the old men have decided on the "merits" of way to use the growing Italian army and navy. this "new matter," the women and children must not Slight disturbances on the Italian Somaliland- listen, even for a moment. Abyssinian border have given an excuse for demands on Ethiopia and a threatened invasion. The friends of the Sudan Interior Mission re- Naturally not only is Ethiopia greatly disturbed cently sent a cablegram to the Ethiopian Minister but France and Great Britain also, especially as of Foreign Affairs expressing sympathy and say- Ethiopia is one of the chief sources of the Nile, ing that they were joining in prayer for Ethiopia. which is the life of Egypt. The arousing of A reply came from His Majesty, Emperor Haile Africans and other colored races, by a new evi- Selassie, expressing the gratitude of the nation dence of "white imperialism," also threatens to "which has lived through many centuries, guardstart a race war and possibly another world war. ing her independence. In the Name of our Lord Any Italian-Ethiopian conflict will be a blot on Jesus Christ, I beg you to continue praying for civilization and will set back the cause of peace her." and world brotherhood at least a generation. This is a matter of world-wide concern. For more than a decade the door into Ethiopia has been wide open to Christian missions. The Haile Selassie I has appealed to the League of Sudan Interior Mission alone, in the past eight Nations to prevent armed conflict. The Emperor, years, has sent in eighty-seven missionaries. upon whom falls the burden of governing and When the American Government requested that modernizing a medireval empire, is ruler of a war- American missionaries withdraw, the mission has like people, and he promises to lead his armies replied that mothers with children, and others with the "Ark of the Covenant" borne by the Ethi- electing to go, would be sent home but most of opian pope at his side, just as the ancient Kings them will remain at their posts. of Judea once went out to wage battle. Emperor Haile Selassie asks the world to note that Ethiopia Recently an American committee of the "Friends is progressing in civilization, is promoting educa- of Ethiopia" has been formed, with Dr. Thomas tion, that many slaves are freed each year and that Jesse Jones as chairman and Emory Ross as secspecial schools are opened for their instruction. retary. This is a national committee, representing many interests and religious creeds. The object Evangelical missionary work is carried on in will be to arouse Americans, British and others Ethiopia and is encouraged by the government. to the need for definite action to prevent a conflict. The British and Foreign Bible Society has col- An appeal is being made to various governments porteurs there, the Swedish mission has long been and to the League of Nations. established, the United Presbyterians (U. S. A.) have an excellent medical work and the Sudan WHISPERING CAMPAIGNS Interior Mission (international and interdenominational) is opening many stations as centers of An astonishing admission has come from a witpioneer evangelistic work. ness before the Senate investigating committee to the effect that he had recommended a "whispering If Italian domination should prevail in Ethiopia, campaign" as a means of combatting certain legisit seems probable that limitations would be put lation to which he and his friends were opposed. on evangelical mission work, as has been the case What this campaign was or why it was recomin other Italian territory in Africa. A glimpse of mended or inaugurated does not concern us here the type of work conducted by the Sudan Interior so much as the fact that the statements made in Mission is given in a recent interesting letter from the campaign were without foundation in fact, Mr. Harold Ste~t who has recently settled in a were intended to destroy public confidence in a new station at Shama, eighteen days' journey national leader and were given pUblicity for the southwest of Addis Ababa, the capital. purpose of winning support for the campaigners' cause. That such unscrupulous campaigns are About ten years ago a native religious teacher and possible is another sign of human degeneracy. prophet, named Asa, who claimed to have a revelation "Whispering campaigns" to discredit opponents are doubtless as old as history. They have been
used against Roosevelt, Hoover, Wilson and other WHAT AN AFRIOAN WOMAN THINKS presidents. They were used against St. Paul when OF A MISSIONARY* men said he was "mad" ; they were started against Jesus when His enemies said He had a demon and Mrs. Thomas Moody, for forty-four years an blasphemed God. They are used today against American Baptist missionary in the Belgian Christian ministers when, without proof, they are Congo, died on November seventeenth, following charged with being disloyal to Christ or unfaithful a two weeks' illness. Dr. Catherine Mabie, of the in their sacred office. "Whispering campaigns" same Mission, writes: "To know Mrs. Moody was are not only carried on against missions by un- to love her and she leaves a large group of col- leagues and friends; in hundreds of Congo vilsbeellfiiesvhearsndwhuonpcrloaidmuctthivaet,thbeutweovreknisCuhnriwstairarnasnwteild~ lages there is sorrow because the lightly tripping feet of 'Mama Moody' will never again be comfully arouse suspicion as to the orthodoxy, loyalty ing down the long trails over which they have or effectiveness of missionaries in general because so often passed during recent years. Both Mr. they think that some have proved unworthy of and Mrs. Moody have been intrepid itinerant their high calling. These "whispering campaigns" evangelistic missionaries. Three to four months are started through rumors which discredit indi- of each year they have spent out among the vilviduals, boards or causes with which the cam- lages, ministering to the deep need of the Chrispaigners are out of sympathy. The rumors may tian communities as well as winning many conhave some foundation but are insufficient to war- verts to Jesus Christ." rant the campaign. The worst of it is that the campaign is spread by thousands who pass on the One of the Congo Christian women, Elizabeth rumors but know little or nothing of the facts. Mangunga, came under the influence of Mrs. Moody and reflects something of Mrs. Moody's Such a "whispering campaign" was recently saintliness and serenity. She gives her testistarted by an anonymous editorial in a Christian mony (here translated) to what a missionary periodical. The editor thought he had reason to may be: spread charges as to certain missionaries' unorthodoxy and lack of evangelistic zeal. Readers Mama M'oody called home by God our Father in the accepted the report as true and it spread by word of mouth to the great detriment of the mission- Congo. She has gone to the Saviour, Jesus Christ, whom aries, the mission Board, and the cause of Christ. Subsequent investigation showed that the "cam- she loved so much. paign" was without any adequate basis, and the man who wrote the letter acknowledged that he Tata and Mama Moody, our helpers, came to this councould not substantiate his charges. Unfortunately much damage had been done, for falsehood is try to tell the Good News of God to us, but our fathers much more fleet of foot than truth that seeks to overtake it. in the early days opposed them and they endured many Followers of Christ should be energetically op- hardships. They were truly workers who sacrificed their posed to all "wliispering campaigns." Jesus himself did not approve of them when His disciples own desires to work for God our Father; they persevered were inclined to discredit those who did not agree with them in all particulars. The Christian will in showing the friendships of Jesus Christ, and our fathers make no compromise with sin or with falsehood but neither should he spread suspicion and doubt. came to know that they were people of love and finally It is best to deal with facts, tested facts, proved facts-the truth spoken in love-and trust God received Jesus Christ. to judge motives, loyalties, and results. After many years of close contact with missions we are Mama and Tata Moody loved us very much. They were convinced that, as a rule, no body of people in the world is so unselfish, so loyal to Christ and the zealous to tell the Good News of Jesus everywhere. They Word of God, so full of spiritual power and so effective in service as are the missionaries of never tired; they went to Lukunga, Bolenge, Mwanza, to ~hrist. It be~ooves us to uphold them in prayer, m understandmg sympathy and by sacrificial gifts the Bayaka and Bambala country, to Sona Bata, telling so that we m,ay be in partnership with God wherever He is manifestly working to transform lives the Good News. They continued zealously to tell the and to enlist men in His service. Let us beware of "whispering campaigns," but be diligent in story until Mama Moody finished her work here on earth spreading the Good News. and,went to her Saviour and to her God, whom she loved always.
In 1927 Mama Moody excelled in itinerating. I went with them to the Bayaka country. They had a very diffi- cult trip. When the carriers could find no food, they re- fused to carry tIle "Kipois," Mama was not discouraged, we walked along the road together.
She told me how much trouble and sorrow she had ex- perienced. She told me of the time her child died at Lukunga. She was all alone at the time, for Tata was at Leopoldville on a trip to the district there. "Y eCs~"ngMo abmuat Moody said, "we have had hardships here in never mind, all is well."
That night Tata read and talked about Philippians 3: 7-12. His teachings strengthened us at Zikomba and all through our trip, which was long and tedious. '
Mama never tired of working for Jesus and with a great love she loved us. The Sunday before she was taken ill she went out to a village Kinzila, to hold services. Now she is resting in heaven-Mama has finished washing her heart in the blood of Jesus Christ.
ELIZABETH MANGUNGA.
• Congo MisSion News.
HALL, ALBORZ COLLEGE, TEHERAN
The Only Christian College in Iran By SAMUEL M. JORDAN, D.D., LL.D.* President, Alborz College of Teheran MANY were surprised when the Persian gov- most outstanding feature of the landscape. This ernment informed other nations that from new name preserves the College monogram- March 22, 1935, the spring equinox on ACT, which has become the College slogan. Stuwhich the Persian New Year begins, that country dents and alumni say, "We Iranians have always is to be addressed by her proper Persian name, been famed for poetry and philosophy rather than Iran (pronounced "ee-rahn") , by which, from for practical action, but the students of our Colprehistoric times, she has been known to the in- lege act. We do things." They have acquired habitants and to her Asiatic neighbors. Iran is this reputation throughout the empire and are the land of the Aryan, in contrast to Turan the justly proud of it. land of the Turk. In the autumn of 1872 the American Mission Ninety-nine per cent of the people of the coun- was established in Teheran, the capital of Iran, try, if they heard the name Persia, would not by the Presbyterian Church, and the following recognize it. Cyrus and Darius were natives of March a school for boys was opened. This school the province of Pars (Fars today), from which, was at first of primary grade, but the standard through Greek and Latin, our English term "Per- was gradually raised as the demand for modern sia" has been derived. education increased. In 1901 it became a high school, in 1913 a junior college, and in 1925 a The growing nationalism of Iran is fUrther standard college. In 1928 the first B.A. degrees evinced by the fact that the government has re- were given under a temporary charter granted by quested foreign institutions to discontinue the use the Regents of the University of the State of New of foreign names. For this reason the name York. This charter was made permanent in 1932, American College of Teheran has been changed putting the American College of Teheran on a to Alborz College of Teheran. This is eminently level with first-class American colleges. appropriate as the snow covered Alborz range, rising like a mighty wall behind the college, is the For many years this Christian school occupied centrally located but limited quarters within the • President Jordan recently received the honorary degree of Doc- city. In preparation for the college-to-be a new tor of Laws from Washingtqn and Jefferson College. In the citation, Dr. Ralph C. Hutchison, the President. said: ··Great and beloved site, now comprising forty-four acres, was purteacher of the youth of Iran, tutor of princes, preceptor to sons of the desert, indomitable pioneer, ingenious moulder of bricks with- chased in 1913. At that time it was waste land oofutthsetratwho,ucgrhetataonrdoifdiaomsigonfifaicabnrot tahnedr psetroaptleeg, icspcioriltluegael , fraathreerscohf otlhaer of noml'nal va.lue,· but today ·l·.·t l'S ··perhaps the most c~~isl;,an, and powerful, happy, and veteran missionary of the valuable property in the.city. Located just north [393 ]
of the recently demolished city walls, overlooking picked up a flashlight and stepped out to show the entire city, it commands a superb view of him the way. It was this same young prince with mountain and plain. a large pail in his hand. I said, "Hello, are you on the water patrol this week?" He replied, "No, On this campus college buildings have gradually I am not, but a few minutes ago I went to the tank arisen until at present the plant comprises Rolle- to get a drink and found it empty. I brought a stone Hall, the main building with offices, library, pail instead of a cup so that if any of my friends auditorium, and classrooms for 600 to 700 stu- should want a drink the water would be there. It dents; a fully equipped, up-to-date Science Build- seemed to me a brotherly thing to do." I think ing; two dormitories with a combined capacity of we all will agree that it was a brotherly thing to 150 students; an infirmary; and three residences do, but a few years earlier no high-class Persian for professors. Three football fields, three basket- would have dreamed of "demeaning" himself by ball, four volley ball, and eight tennis courts, base- doing such a thing. ball diamond, and running track, provide for the physical education of the students. These col- Before the World War in the numerous schools lege buildings combine American ideas of educa- and colleges scattered throughout the Turkish tional efficiency with Persian architectural grace Empire, because of the bigotry of the Turk, the and beauty. They are considered the best modern enrolment was largely made up of the minority examples of the celebrated Persian-Saracenic peoples – Armenians, Greeks, Bulgarians, Ser- bians, Syrians, Jews; every race rather than the architecture. Turk, the ruling people. Naturally the students imbibed liberal ideas and became agitators for Prejudices Removed reform. Hence these colleges were looked upon with suspicion and distrust as fomenters of re- In Iran the different races-Moslems, Zoroas- bellion against the rule of Turk. trians, Armenians, Assyrians, Jews – have had separate schools. The result has been suspicion, One of the remarkable things about this College distrust, intolerance, and enmity. We have al- in the capital of Iran is the class of students enways enrolled students of all races, religions, and rolled. While many deserving poor boys have ranks of society without discrimination. They been accepted and trained-and a number of these have shared the same seats, sat beside each other today are found among the prominent leaders of in classrooms, rubbed shoulders on football fields the country-since the beginning of the century and basketball courts, and the result has been that a very large percentage, especially in the boarding all have learned to be friends, and to cooperate department, have been sons of prominent families; enthusiastically in service to their country. sons of royal princes, cousins of former Shahs, the only grandson of His Majesty, Reza Shah In 1928 three sons of one of the greatest princes Pahlavi, sons and grandsons of Prime Ministers in Iran were graduated from our Junior College. and other Cabinet Ministers, of Members of Maj- When one of them was about fifteen years old he less (Congress), of the great tribal chieftains, and was playing in a football match one afternoon. He of other influential men from every corner of the and another boy collided and they proceeded to Empire-boys who whether educated or not would scrap with all the vim and enthusiasm that Ameri- be in future years among the rulers of the land. can boys .would show under like circumstances. A The Persians suspect the citizens of all other nacousin on the side lines turned to the servant of tions of selfish motives. They do not suspect the princes, who had come with their carriage to Americans. All classes have confidence in our take them home, and exclaimed, "What a good- good intentions and our ability to give their sons for-nothing servant you are! You saw the son of the education they need to equip them forthe new His Imperial Highness struck by the son of no- duties of the new democratic age. Referring to body and you did not avenge the insult!" The Alborz College, the Persians say: "The Americans young prince overheard the remark. He stalked have a factory in Teheran where they manufacover to his servant and laid down the law thus, ture men." Because of the efficiency and trust- "When one of my friends and I have a difference worthiness of the men turned out, the College has of opinion on the football field, you understand it won its high reputation. Probably no other school is a friendly fight. If you ever dare to interfere in the world has ever enrolled so many of the sons and strike one of my friends, I will report it to of the leading men of any country as for the past His Imperial Highness, my father, and you will thirty years have been studying in this College get bastinadoed." He then turned back and re- in the capital of Iran. The result has been that sumed the game. many of the men educated in this College are prominent among the progressive patriots who Some five years later we were camping in the have cooperated to transform the medireval des- Alborz Mountains with the Boy Scouts. Late one night I heard someone going to the spring from which we got the drinking water.. Knowing that the lantern had been taken in for the night I
THE ONLY CHRISTIAN COLLEGE IN IRAN
potism of thirty years ago into the modern, pro- new campus. We need a football field. See this gressive democracy of today. stack of shovels. Here's the way to make a foot- ball field!" Suiting the action to the word, I threw Self-Support, Self-Respect, and Service a shovel across my shoulder and started off. The young American housemaster did the same. The Making people pay a fair price for what they boys without hesitation followed. We marched get is one of the best ways to teach self-respect out through one of the principal avenues, past the and self-reliance. Tuition fees are much higher home of the Prime Minister, and each boy was than other schools and the boarding department having the time of his life, for he was outraging has been more than self-supporting. We have the proprieties and conventions of a thousand years and he was enjoying it just as an American boy would. We put in three or four hours of good stiff work and at the end I said, "I hope you re- alize the significance of what we have done. It will go down in the history of the College that the first work on the campus was done not by down- trodden peasants receiving twenty cents a day,"- the usual daily wage-"but by the self-respecting, patriotic students who wished to testify by action as well as by word that a new day has come in Persia and any kind of labor is honorable." The young men who took part in that first "labor demonstration" more than twenty years ago never fail to mention it with pride as they return to the college. Some facetiously maintain that the num- ber who participated has materially increased with the passing of years. Numerous such de- IN THE CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT, IRAN COLLEGE charged nine sons of the wealthy and well-to-do DR. VESSASI, MEDICAL GRADUATE AT WORK enough to support ten. This has met with the full approval of the patrons. In this way we have partures from medieval prejudices have helped been able to educate a number of worthy poor to establish the dignity of labor. boys. Although the majority of the boarders are from wealthy families, the spirit of the institution The steadily increasing contribution of the is democratic. There is perfect equality. Each alumni to the development of the new national boy makes his own bed and takes his turn in wait- life of Iran becomes more impressive year by year. ing on the table. This is contrary to their old One alumnus-the only man who has been a memideas of rank and exclusiveness, but it has worked ber of every Majless (Congress) since the incepwonders in ushering in the new democratic age. tion of constitutional government in 1907 – con- In every department of the College we are teach- tinues to be (utstanding in the political and ecoing the dignity of labor. We are producing men who are both democratic and level-headed. We are training up a democracy that is safe for the world.
The dignity of labor has been instilled into the students by example as well as by precept. Shortly after the land for the present campus had been purchased, passing along the street T saw a mule loaded with the wooden snow shovels which are the ideal things for cleaning off our desert land. I bought the whole load and had them stacked up in front of our door. As it was Friday, the school holiday, I sent word to the housemaster of the dormitory to bring over his boys after luncheon. They all came anticipating something interesting. I said, "You know we have bought land for the
nomic life of the country; another for five years In 1914 when many were terrified by the imhas been the youngest member of Majless, though pending peril of a Jehad or Holy War, we posnot the least influential. The Minister of Educa- sessed our souls in peace, for we were sure that tion, his first assistant, the working head of the Persia would not go in, and, therefore, a Holy medical school, the legal advisor of the Ministry, War could not succeed. In her early years bolthe Governor and the Chief of Police of the shevism boasted and other nations feared that she wealthiest province, the Assistant Minister of the would make an easy conquest of Persia, and from Interior, the controller of the government opium there spread eastward into Afghanistan and Inmonopoly, the director of the mint, the financial dia, and westward into Turkey, Irak, and Arabia. controller of the new railroad, and the superin- Again we knew it would not happen, for we had tendent of the rolling stock, and hundreds of been selling the Persians a different brand of others as government officials and in every walk democracy, and the bolsheviks would find no purof life are rendering notably faithful and efficient chasers for their special brand. The political, service to the country, as physicians, lawyers, social, and international services rendered by this teachers, army officers, merchants, manufacturers, College are worth to the world many times all that bankers. It is a great joy to us to see how loyal has been spent in Persia in the last century-and our alumni are to the ideals of honesty, truthful- these are only by-products. ness, and hard work which were held up to them in student days. It is often said by those in high One of the reasons for the success of the school places that the greatest defect of the Iranians is is that we have always played fair. We accepted that they fail to cooperate. Frequently we hear the all races and creeds, and every social rank, and remark: "Noone in Iran knows how to cooperate naturally insisted that there should be liberty, except the young men who have been trained in fraternity, and equality. One of our first rules the American College." By means of football, was that no one, either student or teacher, should volley ball, basketball, and other group games, and make a slighting remark about the religion of the Boy Scouts, as w~ll as by classroom instruc- another. tion, our students have learned that cooperation is the only road to success, and so they are playing While there is religious liberty for all, the well the game of life. Christian character of the school has been positive and pervasive. A goodly number .of the students The College has always cooperated with the become Christians. As a rule this causes very government in every possible way. For many little comment o.r opposition. The Christian stuyears practically all the football games of the city dents have weekly Y. M. C. A. meetings; carryon were. played on our fields, our laboratories have personal work among their fellow students and been shared with the government medical school, evangelistic work for outsiders. The All-Persia members of our staff regularly assist in the an- Christian Student Conference initiated in 1928 nual government examinations, and in revising continues to conduct inspiring conferences each and drafting l1ew courses of study for the govern- spring. ment schools. ··.With the recent full recognition of our higher courses of study, the very favorable Inspiring the young men of Iran with the ideas attitude of those in authority, and the fact that and ideals, the principles and standards requisite one of our loy~l. alumni is Minister of Education for the regeneration of a nation; helping a nation prospects seem brighter than ever before. to move out of the middle ages into the twentieth century; training the men who are helping to .The best political news in the world today is mould the new life of Persia; counteracting that Iran, the 1,2000mile bridge between the Near numerous subversive influences; promoting inter- East and the Eftr East, is a nation of hearty good- national understanding and goodwill, and consewill. In the midst 'of ~ world gone mad with quently promoting world peace, this College is supernationalism Persia has kept her head better rendering a priceless service not only to Persia, than any of her neighbors. While maintaining her but also to the whole world. national integrity, and insisting that other nations shall treat her with due respect, she is not carry- If anyone of the 623 colleges and universities ing chips on her shoulders. She is eager to co- in America was forced to close its doors there would be 622 remaining, eager to welcome the operate with her sister nations for international students of the college that had closed. But Al- borz College- is the only Christian college in the fair play and international peace. This is largely Empire of Iran, the only Christian college in a stretch of 3,000 miles. This college needs help to due to the American Mission in general, and to continue its service. Do not let the fact that you the College in particular, which have convinced cannot contribute as much as you would like pre- vent your sending what you can. the Persians of the sincere disinterested friend- ship and goodwill· of America.
Favor for
The American Government and the American Indian By FLORA WARREN SEYMOUR, Chicago, Illinois U NDER the high-sounding slogans of "toler- dent that the opposition to many other features ation" and "religious liberty" missionaries would also prove a barrier to its passage. It was of all denominations working among the therefore withdrawn, and a substitute provided. American Indian are meeting with such obstruc- The religious feature was, among other things, tions to their work as have not been encountered eliminated. for more than a century past. Still Indian opposition to the bill has continued. The attitude of the present administration of At the last moment, when the session of Congress the Indian Bureau was made clear in the original text of the was almost at its final gasp, the passage of even this emasculat- Wheeler-Howard bill which ran Here is a striking and im- ed remnant became clearly im- its spectacular course during portant contribution. Mrs. possible. A hurriedly composed the spring of 1934. In this Seymour is an attorney at makeshift was then rushed proposed legislation it was ex- law, for twenty-five years has through Congress and sent to pressly declared to be "the pur- been a student of American the President for signature. It pose and policy of Congress to Indian life and history, and is became law on June 18, 1934.
promote the study of Indian the author of HThe Story of This last minute legislation con- CI.VI·1l·zat·IOn and preserve and tbhoeoksR. edSheMwaans,"a manedmboetrhoefr tained only a few of the pro- develop the special cultural the United States Board of visions of the original bill. It achievements of such civiliza- Indian Commissioners from was obviously a face-saver- tion including Indian arts, 1922 until it was abolished in something which should still crafts, skills and traditions." 1933. She has visited many bear the names of the original Such a purpose is far from of the Indian reservations and promoters and so relieve the ad- favoring "religious liberty" as schools and is thoroughly ministration of the onus of defined by the American Con- familiar with the situation complete failure. To those who stitution. Instead, there was in among the Indians and the had read neither bill nor the contemplation a deliberate pro- various efforts to improve substitute, the similarity in motion of "native religion" as their condition. What she name (Wheeler-Howard bill) opposed to the Christian faith wanrditeasctsheorfe thoef UtnhietedattSittautdees made it appear that success had learned by the Indian from Commissioner to encourage crowned the efforts of the pro- white missionaries. Here was the Indians to Hrevert to ponents of the original. That a direct challenge to those who type" should be read and impression was strongly fos- believe missionary endeavors carefully considered by all tered by a press release from to be justifiable and desirable. who are genuinely interested the Indian Bureau itself, pro- One denomination, and only in the welfare of the Red Man. claiming that the Commissioner one, realized this challenge of Indian Affairs was "the hap- fully and roused itself to meet piest man in Washington" on the danger. From one church and another in the day the bill was signed. If he read the final Michigan, from home mission clubs, from Sunday text which became law his happiness must have school groups, from young people's societies, pro- been sadly dimmed.
tests poured in to Congress asking that this sub- Succeeding events seem to indicate that the In- versive clause be removed from the bill. It was dian Bureau is still unaware that the deliberate made plain that there was strong opposition to fostering of native religions and primitive ritual- the deliberate official teaching of Indian traditions ism is not a part of the law of the land. For the and superstitions. official encouragement of shamanism, tribal cere- When the bill had'been three months before monials and the like, has gone on as strongly as Congress and before the Indians, it became evi- if there were legislation behind it. This attitude [397 ]
on the part of the Indian Bureau in Washington dermine the practice. The attitude of the Indian is a hindrance and a menace to the work of teach- Office was made clear before the Wheeler-Howard ers, extension agents, physicians and nurses, as bill was passed. On January 3, 1934, an order well as to the missionaries whose aim in life is signed by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs and to replace the old Indian magic and fakirism with countersigned by the Secretary of the Interior, the tenets and practices of the Christian religion. declared that "the fullest constitutional liberty in all matters affecting religion, conscience and cul- HOPI-INDIAN SNAKE DANC ER ture, is insisted upon for all Indians." A rattlesna k e is carried in the mouth of the priests in front while This sounds like a wide and generous gesture; the priest behind uses a whip of featbe rs. it is supplemented by something a bit more spe- cific: "In addition, an affirmative, appreciative at- From the nor.th woods a woman missionary titude toward Indian cultural values is desired in writes: the Indian Service."
The work here is getting very hard. Paganism is on the "Cultural" is an all-embracing word. In some increase. The children are being taught the pagan dances Indian tribes it includes polygamy; in others, and rituals. Our scout troop has been taken to a distant r,tual prostitution; in many, a pitiful terror of city to exhibit the Indian dances and the largest pagan evil spirits that supposedly keep baleful watch ritualistic service in our twentieth century was held two over every human activity. Fear of the dark, weeks ago. fear of a dead body, fear of touching even the hide of certain animals; fear of looking in the direc- When I came to this post in 1931 I went fearlessly all tion of one's mother-in-law; fear of dreams; fear over the reservation at any hour of the day or night. This of eat~ng fish-these are some of the many Indian is no longer possible. They feel that they are a law to taboos ' toward which employees of the Indian themselves and celebrate by getting and staying drunk. Service are bidden to take an "affirmative, ap- I am afraid to meet a drunken Indian after dark. Sober, preciative attitude." How much appreciation for they are both gentle and kind. . Indian customs can a teacher or matron manifest when a young girl begs to remain at school for the Under a previous administration provision was summer that she may avoid the submission of her made for the setting aside of one hour weekly, body to the elders and medicine men of the tribe? when pupils in the government schools might receive religious education, according to the de- The first Indian Bureau circular was followed a nominational preferences of themselves or their few days later by one which permitted "as a parents. Openly to abandon this would have been provilege" the use of a schoolroom for religious impolitic, but the same purpose could be served education by a missionary, "Including any repreby new regulations which would effectively un- sentative of a native Indian religion." It was stated that children were to receive instruction from missionaries only if their parents appeared before a superintendent and gave consent, or made request, in writing. To obtain such formal con- sent from illiterate parents, living at remote dis- tances from the reservation superintendent, would be difficult if not impossible. With the Indian Bureau employees formally warned to maintain an "appreciative attitude" toward native religions, the obtaining of parental consent would not be facilitated. As a result religious instruction lan- guished in many of the schools. The prohibition of "required attendance" was frequently if not always interpreted to mean that the religious hour was not regarded as an educational period at all and in some schools the new regulations brought about a discontinuance of all religious education.
On April 3.0 Secretary Ickes promulgated a cir- cular threatening with dismissal any employee of the Indian Bureau who should oppose the new policy, including "opportunity for them (the In- dians) to develop their own culture." That cir- cular still applies to any encouragement that gov- ernment employees might offer to missionary en-
FEDERAL FAVOR FOR FETISHISM
deavor. Some employees still attend churches, and rule is that the pupils should converse in their own contribute to their support, as has been their cus- tribal language, though that as a rule shuts them tom in the past. Others, not few in number, have off from communication with the teacher who is felt that their standing with the Washington of- supposed to be guiding them. How disastrously fice will be better if they withdraw from any con- this retards the school work is too obvious to need nection with religious activity. elucidation. It is a widening of the gap between the races. But the purpose of Indian schools is "My wife and I feel that we have a right to at- to narrow that gap. tend church when away from the reservation," The new day schools among the Navajos offer A TYPICAL INDIAN HOGAN (HUT) the solution for this problem. No books are pro- vided so the native mind is unsullied by their insaid a teacher of many years' service, "but here fluence. No blackboards on which a word might on the reservation it is best to refrain from par- be written, deface the unbroken whiteness of the ticipation in the work of the mission." schoolroom walls. There are no teachers to whom English is the native tongue. Instead, young While such participation has not been formally Navajo "assistants" conduct the affairs of the inprohibited, no doubt is left in the minds of Indian stitution-largely industrial-with the use of the Service employees as to the direction in which Navajo language. the wind is blowing. Even such apparently innocuous contact as might be involved in an em- One might assume that English would thus be ployee of the Indian Bureau explaining to a effectively barred. Strangely enough, in the very missionary gathering the purposes of the govern- few day schools that have so far been put into ment work on erosion control or agricultural ex- operation, the demand for English teaching has tension has been definitely discouraged. In other already come, in no mistakable terms, from pupils words, if a government employee values his job- and parents alike. The Navajo people themselves, and who doesn't, in these hard times ?-it is to though primitive, are intelligent and adaptable. his interest to remain silent and inactive in re- They realize fully the usefulness of the English gard to his own religious convictions. This in the language in their daily life. name of "toleration" for the native religion, we find to be a virtual denial of religious freedom to Nowhere, however, does the inconsistency of the government employee, whether white or In- the Indian Bureau reveal itself more clearly than dian. NAVAJO INDIAN GRADUATES OF A MISSION SCHOOL If this were all, it would be sufficient to show that the vaunt of "religious liberty" is a mere in the medical work among the Indians. "Native cloak for official opposition to Christian mission- religion," as all workers among primitive people ary effort. But the insistence upon the inculcation understand, usually includes medicine men, with of native culture goes much farther than this. their incantations, charms and ceremonies de- signed to relieve a patient from illness or disaster Heretofore the use of the English language has brought upon him by the ever-present evil spirits. been required in Indian boarding schools after the To foster the ancient traditions inescapably means pupils have become acquainted with the speech of to foster the traditional, primitive forms of treattheir teachers. A case can be made out for call- ment of disease and the ceremonials in case of ing this rule a hardship, but it is a hardship that death. is inseparable from effective education. None of us learn to speak a foreign language if we persist in using our own on any and all occasions. Yet such is the procedure now officially fostered. The
The Indian Bureau has accepted responsibility ual values to offer the Indian, then he should re- for such encouragement of shamanism. Faced frain from intruding upon him. In that case the with this question at an open meeting, the Com- sooner he withdraws his schools, hospitals and missioner of Indian Affairs told the inquiring churches, and leaves the native culture undis- physician that the "cultural unity" of the tribes turbed to work out its own way, the better it will must first of all be preserved. It is fully under- be for all concerned. But if he has a better way of stood, among employees of the medical service of living to present, either for this world or for the the Indian Bureau, that they are expected to co- next, then he should present it without apology, operate with the local medicine men – priests with the full consciousness that it is truly a better of the native religion. Too often such coopera- way and is entitled to supplant filth and ignorance tion means the removal of the patient from the and cruelty.
hospital at a critical period. He may then be the A Higher Way of Life subject of a bear dance or a four-day "sing" or some other typical tribal ceremony. Whether his Missionaries and those who support them are disease be tuberculosis or scarlet fever, a broken committed to the belief that there is a higher way leg or bronchitis, the ceremonies include the at- of life than that beset by shamanism and savage tendance at his bedside of as many interested fears. In that belief they should confidently put spectators as can be crowded into his smoke filled before the Indian what the white man can offer hogan or tepee or "wickiup." When the disease is in the way of relief from physical and spiritual contagious, the death of the patient may be only terrors. Missionaries giving their lives to such the beginning of the fatalities as a result of the work deserve the unqualified backing of the observance of native religious rites. boards and congregations farther removed from Handicaps of the Indians the actual problems. In the past two years that backing has not been so confident or so strong Fear and ignorance are too often accompanied as the faithful workers in the field deserve. In by cruelty. The spirit working these ills must eastern cities, far from actual conditions, men sometimes be exorcised by physical attacks upon and women listen to the specious cry of "religious the affected portion of the body. Beating upon a liberty." Some are deluded into thinking themtubercular spine, at the hands of the local medicine selves "broadminded" when they are merely negman, was the lot of one little girl. Another Indian ligent; tolerant when in fact they permit stumbpractitioner essayed to perform a major operation, ling blocks to be placed in the way of their chosen using for a knife a piece of a broken bottle. In representatives. both these cases death was a merciful end to hideous suffering. What does "cultural unity" "We white people have nothing to give you Inmean in the face of such preventable "tragedies? dians," the Navajos were informed at a council held last summer. Missionaries and employees An ancient tradition among the Navajos looks heard this from the lips of a man sworn to carry favorably upon the presence of vermin in the hair on the government's work among the Indian and upon the body. Many of the tribes have never tribes: "Our culture is a disintegrating thing. known what it is to be without body parasites. It Yours is an integrated culture. You must do your is difficult for those raised in our more modern best to preserve it." civilized ways to realize the religious and cultural significance of these small creatures. Even yet, Fine-sounding words: but what do they mean?
after two years of pronouncements on ancient In the final analysis, this-that both government rites and folkways, the average nurse or teacher and missionaries should cease their efforts to is apt to feel an aversion to them. After a pupil bring about any improvement in Indian life and or patient has been visited by members of his fam- thought. No longer should we impose upon the ily, there are often discovered tiny crawling in- Red Man our decadent notions of education and truders carefully placed by the visitors upon a sanitation and social values. We should retire and child's hair or clothing. Real toleration and a leave his integrated culture undisturbed.
properly "appreciative attitude" would· perhaps If the members of the Christian Church believe let such vermin remain; but this is broadminded- such a statement, all missionary activity should ness which few real friends of the Indians have as stop at once.- But if they hold the conviction that yet been able to attain. Christ has something of value to offer the Ameri- This conflict between modern cleanliness and can Indian, they should continue to make the offer; ancient "culture" is typical of the whole illogical, and should back up by word and deed and earnest unintelligent attitude which has prevailed in the devotion the work which is being done to bring Indian Office in the past two years. If the white the Indian into the fellowship of the faith and the man has nothing in education, sanitation or spirit- ways of Christian civilization.
Something New in
By CHARLES T. RIGGS, Istanbul Missionary of the American Board ST. SOPHIA changed into a museum! The be made for a limited time by the Grand National wonderful airy dome of this gem of Byzan- Assembly, allowing such garb for one representa· tine art, the church erected by Anthemius tive of each religious body. In a place where the and dedicated by the Emperor Justinian fourteen long flowing robes and peculiar headdress of each centuries ago, will no longer echo to the prayers one of a dozen or more different sects or faiths of the faithful of Islam. After nine hundred years have always been noticeable, such a law is drastic as a Christian church, and five hundred more as and causes much discussion and speculation. Will a Moslem mosque, the massive building is now the Roman Catholic orders acquiesce, and French closed to all visitors, to be reopened after exten- and Italian priests and nuns doff their garb? Or sive alterations, as a museum of Byzantine art, will they decide to leave the country rather than under the secular government of the Republic of submit? With most orders of nuns, the pure Turkey. Thus have the present rulers solved a white butterfly-winged hats are a part of their problem that has been for ages a source of trouble consecration vows; how can they abandon them? between Greeks and Turks. The Syrian Archbishop has already appeared in the streets in civilian garb; and the Gregorian One essential item on the Megali idea, or grand and Orthodox clergy will apparently offer no replan of the Greeks, was that when the city was sistance. For Evangelical Christian bodies, the again brought under the Greek flag,' the services new regulation makes no difference. in Agia Sophia, the Church of Holy Wisdom, in- terrupted on that fateful day in 1453 by the in- What is the purpose of this new ordinance?
rushing hordes of Moslems, when the officiating The Government gives no explanation, save that priest fled through the secret door, shall be re- it is determined to abolish all distinctions tending stored and resumed. The initiated believe that to establish a religious hierarchy. The fact that the priest will again come out of that same door· the new law affects many times as many Moslem to conduct the worship. The Turks for many clerics as all the others put together, seems an years excluded all Greeks from the mosque and indication that the step is rather for the purpose declared that it should be blown to atoms rather of striking another blow at the reactionary, ultra- than surrendered under any circumstances. But conservative Moslem element, than (as has also many will regret that the famous Night of Power, been suggested) to lessen the prestige of the Ital- the night of the twenty-seventh of Ramazan, with ian and French Catholics. When one considers its awesome mass of ten thousand worshipers go- the former domination of the Ottoman State by ing through the Moslem prayers together, will not the Moslem clergy, one is the more ready to con- again be repeated in this place. done such drastic measures. When an Evangelical In this transformation is there any resemblance clergyman was recently interviewed by some reto that of the Church of St. Michael in Moscow porters on Turkish dailies, as to the feeling of changed by the Soviet Government into a mu- Protestants toward this new regulation, they were seum? There is another change which, like this, surprised to learn that the Gospel gave no direcis attributed by some to the growing influence of tions whatever as to any distinctive dress for the the Soviet Government in Angora. A significant clergy, and were pleased to be assured that Protfact is that Comrade Karahan, who has recently estants as such had no peculiar religious garb. been sent there as Russian ambassador, is an When they asked the clergyman what were his Armenian. With grim sadness the remnant of own individual feelings about such a regulation, Armenians left in Turkey witness the predom- he replied: inating influence of an Armenian over Turkish "I am an American; and in my country any policies. This second change, rightly or wrongly clergyman can wear whatever he pleases, in the attributed to Soviet influence, is the ordinance street or anywhere else; there is absolutely no forbidding the use, by any cleric-Moslem, Jew, compulsion, everyone is perfectly free as to what or Christian-of any distinctive clerical garb out· he may wear. I only wish there were this same side of places of worship. A single exception may freedom from compulsion in every country."
[401 ]
Their reply was significant: "This present rule instrumental minor of western music, gives a preis one step for us in that direction." God grant vailingly melancholic effect; and the peculiar high that with complete freedom from ecclesiastical quavers form an art by itself. But henceforth domination and from all fear of it, may come also Western music is to be the standard; and in order complete freedom to preach and teach the Chris- to be acceptable, Turkish tunes must now be set to tian faith! harmony. No longer will the inje saz orchestras be heard; and for a while Turkish popular music Another extensive change of these days in Tur- is greatly hampered. The reason for the change, key is in the adoption of purely Turkish family as given in some newspapers-that this sort of names in place of the ancient system of "Ali, son music was inevitably associated with drinking and of Mehmet," and "Suleyman, son of Bayram." carousing, which must stop – is specious. The The law has now been promulgated that everyone true reason seems to be that those in authority beshall have a family name, which must be Turkish, lieved that Europeans were jeering at Turkish and not Arabic or Persian or other nationality. music as unmusical, and that therefore Turkey Thus the President, Mutafa Kemal, has become should conform to recognized Western standards, Kemal Atatiirk; the Prime Minister Ismet Pasha, to prove her high civilization. has become General Ismet Inonii; the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Tewfik Riishtii Bey, has adopted In the midst of all these Ghanges, woman seems the name Tewfik Riishtii Aras; the Turkish Min- to be coming into her own far more rapidly than ister to Rumania, Hamdullah Suphi Bey, is now in other lands. During last December a law was Suphi Tanriover. This is sufficiently confusing; passed, giving her not only the right to vote in but coupled with this has come the more surpris- national elections, but also the right to candidacy ing regulation abolishing all titles heretofore used. for the Grand National Assembly; and in the com- Not only have they discarded such titles as Pasha, ing elections for members of this parliament, we Hodja, Hadji, etc., but even the lowly Bey and shall probably see many women voting, and per- Efendi, which were no more than the equivalent haps a few elected to seats. One thing is certain, of mister; and Hanum, which was applied to all in general education women have made wonderwomen, old or young, married or unmarried. Such ful strides in these past ten years, so that perhaps titles, according to Turkish custom, were placed they are as well prepared to be electors as the after the name. Now, they are all dropped and average of the men. ancient Turkish words for Mr. and Mrs. (or Miss) – Bay and Bayan – are being adopted. The revolutionary-evolutionary process also in- These, moreover, are to be placed before and not cludes progressive steps in the development of the after the name. The military titles of Mushir and Turkish language. Further spelling reforms are Pasha must also now be replaced by Marshal and being introduced, which are real improvements General. So that Ismet Pasha becomes General over the system as first adopted six years ago. Ismet Inonii; and Halide Hanum becomes Bayan A commission is at work discovering and listing Halide, while Ali Efendi is Bay Ali. For a time for adoption hundreds of old Turkish words in this may lead to confusion; but in the end it will place of foreign words thus far in common use mean a great simplification. Some may like to see for very common things. Even highly educated in this a further indication of Russian influence Turks find this sudden bringing back into use of -like the universal adoption of "Comrade" and terms long rare and provincial, or even obsolete the abolition of titles of nobility. for centuries, most confusing. In their eagerness for a pure Turkish, these scholars are far more But perhaps the new ordinance that has caused anxious to get rid of Persian and Arabic terms the deepest sorrow to the heart fond of the ancient than of French or German ones; and the ordinary traditions and customs of the Turk, is the sweep- newspaper today, while it is very particular to ing abolition of traditionally Turkish music or avoid certain words of the former type, will have dozens of European words in every column. music ala Turque. On pipe and lute, the familiar In this connection it is providential that the new airs in a peculiar minor key which have held many translation of the Bible into modern Turkish, now in progress and of which certain parts have been a coffeehouse group spellbound, and have formed issued in tentative form, will take some years yet part of the entertainment at countless firesides, before it is ready for print; for by that time we are now forbidden to be played over the radio, or may hope ttl see a bit more of stability in the ,voto be used at any public gathering. This does not cabulary and spelling of Turkish words. Every effort will be made to keep up to the minute with for the present ban them in private homes; but it official changes, which have a distinct influence on puts the stamp of official disapproval on this brand the Turkish attitude toward all foreign ideas and of music. Typical Turkish music knows no four- customs, and a bearing on Christian missionary parts, or harmony of the European sort. Its work.
rhythm-often alternating measures of four and five beats-is weird; its minor key, resembling the
Turkey's Predicament*
-~I~=======B=Y=D=R=.=C=H=A=RL==E=S=C=.=M=O==Rru==S=O=N======~1I~ T HE government of Turkey is in form a re- Ataturk is unqualified. His support does not rest public; in reality it is a dictatorship. Its on force, though of course force is in the back- undisputed head is Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, ground; but the people's mood is spontaneous and the president of the republic. There is a parlia- genuine. They are grateful to him for saving the ment of one chamber, called the Grand National country from Greek domination and the domina- Assembly, which debates and passes laws, but it tion of the great powers. They recognize in him is strictly under the dictator's control. Its mem- a military genius and trust his devotion to the na- bership is determined by him through the one- tion's well-being. They support the reforms he party system which insures that the candidates has already instituted-even the abolishing of the selected by the party chiefs and approved by the fez caused a minimum of murmuring. If he does dictator will be elected. The members are allowed not become too ruthless in his collision with to debate certain measures upon which the gov- Islamic habits and institutions, the people will ernment is neutral, and to vote freely upon such tolerate his reforms and follow him. There is no measures, but measures considered vital by the clamor for a more real democracy. Sympathetic government are not debated, and there is no di- outsiders see a dictatorship in some form as in- vision in the voting. evitable for Turkey, and they would rather have Ankara, the capital, is a new city, in many Ataturk than a sultan or a Stalin.
respects, like far western American cities. The Assuming that the new regime is successful and government has established here a score of insti- attains its objective, what sort of society will it tutions for training a new generation of leaders produce-a communistic or a capitalistic society, in every type of economic and cultural need-agri- or something else? There is in the dictator's culture, industry, pedagogy, music, liberal arts, regime a minimum of economic dogma. The lead- various sciences, plant pathology, business admin- ers hold no brief for capitalism, though so far istration, accounting, stenography, and others. there has been no mortal wound inflicted upon it.
Thousands of students are drawn to Ankara from On the other hand, they are not afraid of doing every part of the nation and given free instruc- things which are characteristically communistic tion and free board and dormitory. Such students (or socialistic). The railroads and the banks are are under oontract to go, at the end of their train- owned (or controlled) and run by the government.
ing period, wherever they may be sent, with sup- The government is doing practically all the in- port but without salary, for a period of five years, dustrial developing that is being done. The lead- to teach locally the things in which they have been ers deny that this is socialism. It is looked upon trained at the government's expense. Thus the as necessity; it is common sense! If there is to government hopes to "rationalize" the economic be any industrial development in Turkey, the gov- life of Turkey and to quicken its cultural aspira- ernment must mother it and operate it, for the tions. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Tevfik very good reason that no one else can!
Riishtii Aras, is also president of the assembly of Turkey is poor. From the background of the the League of Nations. United States or Germany or even Italy, it is un- Americans and other foreigners, missionaries believably poor. It is predominantly agricultural and foreign business men, the Turks themselves, and even its agriculture is deflated. There is no officials, highly responsible citizens, and the man industry, in the modern sense. There are, in rough in the street, all tell essentially the same story as figures, 7,000 "industrial workers" in Turkey; there are 4,000 "factories." This means that the to matters of fact. so-called "factories" are for the most part one- man shops, most of them in the homes. It will be There is little criticism of the form of govern- clear, therefore, that the economic problem which ment. For the present stage of Turkey's develop- Turkey faces in bringing herself abreast of modment, it seems that no better form of government ern nations is tremendous. This lack of industrial could be devised. The popularity of President • Condensed from The Christian Century, June 19, 1935. development in Turkey greatly simplifies the eco- [403 ]
nomic problem on its theoretical side. There is market, a dumping ground for European manuonly one thing to be done – put the collective factured goods. She paid for these goods by her wealth of the people-that is the government- agricultural products, by the marvelous treasures behind a program for the creation of industry. of art which had been accumulated through the While you are doing this very socialistic thing, centuries of her own imperial prosperity, by her you can pass laws, and vigorously enforce them, woven things like rugs and tapestries into whose prohibiting socialistic or communistic propa- creation millions of hours of human toil was put ganda; you can do this without inconsistency be- at the most cruel of starvation wages, and by the cause the propaganda of any kind of economic piling up of a vast pyramid of debt to other nadogma only tends to clutter the necessitarian tions which only put her the more helplessly at the policy of the government. mercy of the vultures. Thus Turkey's impoverish- ment was made complete. Mustafa Kemal's prob- There is but little radical agitation and little lem was to turn a mere market, a dumping ground, likelihood of it, or of its opposite. The govern- into a self-respecting and self-supporting econment's assumption of the industrial burden is not omy. He and his regime are working at the probopposed by industrialists, for there are none; nor lem with true patriotism. by "labor," for there is none! That is to say, the Kemalist government can use its common sense in LAWRENCE OF AFRICA* developing industry, and will meet with no resistance such as is met in America or in any coun- Everyone has heard of "Lawrence of Arabia" try where industry has become a vested private (whose death has saddened the British Empire), interest and labor has become class conscious and but there is a Lawrence of Africa whose advenorganized. This simplifies the problem for the tures have been equally thrilling. Dr. William T. Kemalist regime. Lawrence has spent thirty-four years in the East Africa Mission of the American Board and speaks But it is easier tl} introduce collectivism in a with a smile of the hazards of living where lions society that has no machine industry, and it is and leopards lurk in the grass; where cobras pay more difficult to make that collective industry a social calls and where swarms of red locusts, four practical success. Machinery has to be procured inches long, sometimes take half a day to pass a from other countries. Materials for the construc- given spot, and break off branches of trees when tion of plants must also be imported, as well as they settle down on them. many raw materials for the manufacturing of commodities. How will you procure. this ma- Better roads have meant the difference between chinery and these materials? You can buy them. life and death to the kindly dispositioned Ndaus Yes, and how will you pay for them? Only by of this country. When Dr. Lawrence first went the export of your own agricultural products. But to Africa he traveled on foot, then on horseback, other countries, with a few exceptions, are not in on bicycle, motorcycle and now by auto. great need of your agricultural products – they have their own. Not only so, but in order to pro- We who live where a ring on the 'phone brings tect their own agriculture against competition, a doctor quickly, and where an ambulance rushes they have erected high tariff walls to keep yours a sufferer to a well-equipped hospital, cannot conout. And so your industrial program, backed by ceive the plight of thousands in Africa. For exthe unqualified collective good will of the nation, ample, a mother with a baby on her back, trying cannot even get started. to carry home a bag of grain, slips down a wet bank and breaks her thigh. What can she do but This is Turkey's predicament. Here success lie in agony? largely depends upon securing some degree of cooperation from other nations. She has effected Lions and leopards are particularly dangerous, certain trading arrangements with Germany and often roaring around the spring that supplies a Russia, but these, while better than nothing, are village with water, so that no one dare approach. all onesidedly unfavorable to Turkey and are quite Once they have tasted human blood these animals insufficient for the realization of her industrial are for all time "man eaters." The deadliest repaspirations. Responsible men whenever they ap- tile is the cobra, but another is the puff adder. proach the question of trade relations with 'other The amambla attacks without warning and death countries, see that their whole program depends ensues if tts poison reaches the blood stream. upon overcoming the economic isolation of Turkey. Dr. Lawrence not only has a hospital under his Kemal had on his hands a Turkey which was, care, but the health supervision of more than 400 economically, at least one hundred years behind boys and girls in mission schools; the training of the rest of Europe. Other countries had some natives in first aid and frequent trips through degree of industrial development; Turkey had jungles to outstation schools. none. Turkey had been a market, nothing but a * C'ondellseil from The Mi$$ionary H erakl.
Islam's Debt to the
_."'Ii! By SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, Princeton, N. J.
Editor of "The Moslem World"
JEREMIAH the prophet draws a clear distinc- Rome, have written books on the subject, prov- tion between false and true teaching, between ing their thesis by a wealth of new evidence. the revelation of God and the muttering of We notice that the influence of the Bible on self-deceived prophets, comparing them to the Islam began in the very life of its founder and his wheat and the chaff. (Jeremiah xxiii). This sharp family. Mohammed was, in a sense, the illegiti- contrast with the climax, in which he asserts that mate child of the Oriental Church, and Islam is a the Word of God is a fire and a hammer that Christian heresy. Two of Mohammed's wives were breaks the rock in pieces, reminds us of the phrase Christians. His cousin, Waraka, read the Hebrew of Karl Barth, "The Word of God or the word of Scriptures, and Khadijah, his first wife, was per- man." haps a Jewess. It is even held that Mohammed There are many voices on religion, but only one himself could read and write and that he heard Revelation. There have been many prophets, but parts of the Gospel read by Christians. So in only one Saviour. That is the eternal issue. "The many and mysterious ways the truth of God bored grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word its way from within.
of God abideth forever." Our New Testament is From the first the Bible, directly and iJildirectly, the supreme textbook of missions. The basis, the has exerted its power and has changed Islam. This aim, the goal, the motives, the triumphs of mis- is true, for example, in Moslem mysticism, which sions are what they are because God has spoken owes so much to early Christian teaching. Then once for all. In the last analysis all the sacred there was the influence of apostates, Christian books of the non-Christian religions are a chal- wives of Mohammedans, and Christian slaves who lenge to the supremacy, the finality, and the suf- embraced Islam. The traditions are in a measure ficiency of God's Word. the table-talk of these people who told what they This is especially true of Islam, for it is the only knew and did not know of the Gospel.
great religion that came after Christianity, and Christ, even though portrayed only in caricature the only one which has supplanted it in some parts in the Koran, cannot be hid. The light that was of the world. When Mohammed was born in under the bushel has burned the bushel! The fire 571 A. D., the New Testament had already ap- smouldered for centuries, then burst into flame.
peared in six translations: Syriac (Peshito) , Therefore today we see the result, and are face to Latin (Vulgate), Gothic, Armenian, Coptic, and face with a new situation, new toleration, and' new Ethiopian versions. Thus there were two versions manifestations of God's Providence in the history for Africa, two for Asia, and two for Europe. But of Islam. One example is the beautiful Mosque of it is the tragedy of the Near East that no version Santa Sophia in Istanbul (Constantinople), which existed in Arabic and that Arabia became the was built in 537 A. D., under Justinian, and for cradle of Islam through this neglect. nine hundred years was a Christian Church. In In the old city of Mecca and in sight of the the fifteenth century it was made a mosque and sacred Kaaba (where three Yemen Arabs recent- the precious mosaics were covered with plaster.
ly attempted to assassinate Ibn Saoud), Moham- Recently this plaster has been removed and the med gave out the Koran which professed to be a building restored to its original condition-not as new revelation from God, supplanting that of a Christian church, it is true, but as a museum.
Jesus Christ our Lord; from that day, down the Yet here the stones cry out to the Moslem visitor, centuries, the Koran has captured the tongues and proclaiming the "Old, Old Story," in symbolism minds and hearts of 250,000,000 people. In the and mosaic art-Jesus Christ, Good Shepherd, the Philippine Islands, under the American flag, there Alpha and Omega and the glory of His Cross and are 557,000 Moslems, and in India 77,800,000. resurrection victory.
Islam arose out of a Christian and Jewish en~ The Koran itself bears clear testimony to the vironment. Present-day scholarship is agreed that Bible. Other sacred books have no reference to the best elements in its dogma and ethics are due the Gospel or to Jesus Christ. But Mohammed to Nestorian Christianity. Professors Bell of Glas- could not escape Him. This is one of the most gow, Tor Andrae of Upsala, and Lammens of remarkable facts in the study of the non-Christian [405 ]
religions. Sir William Muir has collated all of tongue of the common people which men despised, these references and commented on their character he recreated the German language and the Gerand significance. There are 131 passages alto- man nation. When Tyndale and Coverdale gave gether, 65 of the Mecca period and 66 of the the Bible to England, they perpetuated the faith Medina period in the Prophet's life. The Old and of the Bible not only, but made its vocabulary and New Testament are highly spoken of as God's style penetrate and permeate English literature. earlier revelation and as "containing light and Shakespeare, Tennyson, and Browning are exguidance for the pious." amples.
Moslem Tradition About Jesus So when Dr. Cornelius Van Dyck and Eli Smith a century ago ended their "work of faith and labor Add to this fact the influence of the Bible on of love and patience of hope," translating the Bible Mohammedan tradition. There are six great page by page and verse by verse into the Arabic standard works numbering tens of thousands of tongue, they ushered in an era far more important pages. That vast, heterogeneous collection of laws than any dynasty or any change in governments and customs, of folk-lore and story, resembles the in the Moslem world, because they gave to 50,- Jewish Talmud. But in one respect it is very dif- 000,000 Arabic-speakhig folk the Word of God in ferent. Jesus is dishonored in the Talmud and a matchless translation. There is a proverb curwas cast out of the Ghetto. He is crowned and en- rent at Damascus, "Al 'Arabiya la tatanassar" shrined in the pages of the Koran. As Goldziher ("Verily, the Arabic language will never be Chrishas shown, the early Moslems borrowed very tianized") . But they no longer use it. Not only largely from the New Testament to build up the has the Arabic tongue been Christianized in an form and content of their faith. They spoke of excellent Bible translation, but there have been Jesus as a great prophet and miracle-worker. Then modern Christian poets and writers who have they took their colors from a Christian paint-box wielded this language with tremendous powerto portray Mohammed-his character, his sayings, Dr. Andrew Watson and Dr. Hogg, in Egypt; his ethics. Al Ghazali, the great theologian of the Dr. Jessup, Dr. Post, and Nasif-al-Yazigi, in eleventh century, is an example in his frequent Syria; Gairdner and Upson and Ibrahim Saeed, references to Jesus' teaching. Again and again he in Cairo; Dr. George Ford, of Sidon; and Miss says, "I have read in the Gospel."* Trotter, of Algiers. The Christian literature of the Cairo and the Beirut press finds its taproot in Now remember that for thirteen centuries these the Scriptures, and has gone to all parts of the pictures and stories of Jesus and about Jesus have Moslem world. circulated in the world of Islam. It is as if an advertising firm had circulated cheap and gaudy New Testament Influence prints of the Sistine Madonna, not at all a true representa.tion, but still calling attention to the Take another example. On the cover of an great original. In fact, the Koran references have led many toward Christ. Professor Mohammed Albanian translation of the Koran there is a re- Ismail, of Lahore, once told me of three things in the Koran which led him to Christ: the fact that production of an old German picture of Christ and all men are sinners; that Jesus Christ as pictured in the Koran is sinless; and that those who want the two disciples on their way to Emmaus. But to learn more about Jesus must read the Injil, the Gospel. the title reads: "Mohammed, Abu Bakr and Ali on Again the Bible in present-day literature and Their Way to Mecca"! So even Christian art is the press is more influential than ever before. It has been translated into all the languages of Islam being adopted by Moslems! and circulated everywhere. It is the hammer of God, more powerful than that of Charles Martel The leading Turkish novelist, Yakoob Qadri, on the battlefield of Tours. Missionaries were the first to capture the magnificent vehicle of the states that he owes his style to the Bible, and he is Arabic tongue for Christ, as Mohammed once used it to proclaim his religion. When Ulfilas, the great criticized in the press for using a Christian vomedieval missionary, came to Northern Europe he put the Bible into the language of the people, and cabulary. The leading Moslem poet of Egypt, the appropriated the Gothic tongue for Jesus Christ. When Martin Luther made the Scriptures use the late Shauket Bey, found much of the motif for • AI! the passages are given in full In chapter Ix of Zwemer's his national poetry in the New Testament. The A Moslem Seeker After God. Revell & Co. 1920. daily press of Cairo affords many other interest- ing examples. .
Sirdar Iqbal Ali Shah in his book, published in 1933, called Lights of Asia, writes of the precious blood of Christ in the words of a fundamentaHst: Whatever modernists may think about the Blood, God esteems it very precious. Saith the Word: "The blood is the life" (Deut. 12: 23). "Without shedding of blood is no remission" (Heb. 9: 22). "It is the Blood that maketh atonement for the soul" (Lev. 17: 11). God commendeth Hif; love to us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
WHAT YOUNG TURKS THINK OF MOHAMMED
And this from the pen of an Afghan Moslem prison. What a book is the Word of God! It abideducated in England! eth forever. It is God's spiritual dynamite in the hands of converts in India and Persia and North Think of the ever~increasing circulation of the Africa. Century follows century; the Bible re- Scriptures in Persia, Arabia, Moslem India, and mains the same. Empires rise and fall and are Egypt! Holy places which less than twenty years forgotten; it abides. Dynasty succeeds dynasty; ago could be visited only in stealth by Christian it rules hearts. Kings are crowned and unworkers now receive the Word openly-among crowned; it remains the same. Its enemies dethem Kerbela, Nejf, Qum, Riadh, Hail, and even cree its extermination; but it lives on. Taif, the neighboring city of Mecca. It is a seed that takes root and bears fruit in "So is the kingdom of God as if a man should every soil; an anvil that has broken a million cast seed into the ground," said our Master . . . hammers; a light that shines on "till the sun and then it brings forth "automatically." This grows old anq the stars are cold, and the leaves of Greek word is also used of the iron doors that the Judgment Book unfold." swung back when Peter was released from his What Young Turks Think of Mohammed* An Open Letter to Mohammed -"I By ERNST MAX HOPPE, Sofia, Bulgaria 1j;t- ~==========================~ "Well then, do you ever teach yourself, you teacher of religion is spiritual, a faith, a conviction. What! should other people ? You preach against stealing; do you steal? the faith or the conviction of a Moslem, or a faithful one You forbid adultery; do you commit adultery? You de- be in danger? It is not possible to take away the faith of test idols; do you rob temples? You pride yourself on another. the Law; do you dishonor God by your breaches of the Law? Why, it is owing to you that the name of God is Yes, something is in danger; but it is not religion. maligned among the Gentiles, as Scripture says! Circum- It is the interests of those who, under the name of Dercision is certainly of use, provided you keep the Law; but vishes and Hodjas, exploit the masses that are in danger, if you are a breaker of the Law, then your circumcision is and that in the name of Allah. It is these interests that turned into uncircumcision." Romans 2: 21-25 (Moffat's are in danger. Islam does not consider prayer as intranslation) . trinsically necessary where there is no water, nor is a mosque necessary for worship. Actually no true Moslem Jesus said: "Come to me, aU who are laboring and needs this disgusting class of intermediaries between God burdened, and I will refresh you." Matthew 11 : 28 (Mof- and men. The more the land progresses, the more does fatt's translation). this class lose its means of livelihood, for its religion con- sists only in material profit. CONCERNING Mohammed – his life, his times, his mission, his wars, his ostensible In late years there has been no lack of Turkish miracles and acts-many books have been voices that betray a search after a new religion written in the occident. The thing which has been and that rebel against Islam. Among them the interesting me more and more, while living in the following "Open Letter to Mohammed" is worthy Orient, was to investigate the present-day opin- of notice. The letter is a cry of the awakened ions concerning Mohammed and his teachings, young Turkish generation in these modern times. that engage the Moslem nations and peoples them- It appeared in the Stambul periodical Gendsh Diisselves, who formerly played an important part as hiindshiiler (Thoughts of the Young) and was pioneers in the spread of the Mohammedan faith. printed in three issues of the paper. I am quot- ing it unabridged in translation, as follows: The Turkish paper Aksham, in. Stambul, once published the following item about Islam in Open Letter to the Prophet Mohammed Turkey: o Apostle! In Turkish history the cry, "Religion is in dangerl" is well known. Ever and again, whenever this country has Thou must tell us the reasons why these decrees of the taken a further step toward civilization, this cry, "Religion Hodjas and MoUas (the religious leaders and teachers of (Islam) is in dangerl" has been heard. Islam) are so entirely unknown, although they have had an important influence for centuries upon the destinies Religion, as all people know, is not anything material, and the politics of the nation. which one can see or touch. Like all other hallowed things, Thou hast forbidden the worship of images and hast • Article translated by Dr. C. Theodore Benze, Philadelphia. even betrayed the worshipers of idols and images. But
notwithstanding, thy representatives have worshiped only within you, that I too belong to that class of dark scounthe external forms of thy work and have desecrated them drels, who use this world to build up the future world, for more than thirteen hundred years. Is it not an for I know very well, that unless an earthquake will shake abominable setting-up of idols, to kiss the pages of the that old building-a pile of stones and earth-whose sole Koran, to go into the wilderness of Arabia, to imperil value consists in its antiquity-it will not tremble. one's life there, to offer up money, in order to visit the four sid~ of the holy shrine (the Kaaba at Mecca) and o Apostle! to conceal one's hypocrisy under the cover of a pilgrimage? How can we deny this? Because thy softas, who forbid The Kaaba did not tremble when foreign unbelievers such a beautiful art as pictures and music, as being contrary to thy holy law, defend sheer idolatry. tried in their drunkenness to tread down thy building with If thou hadst had such a powerful spirituality distrib- their polished shoes. Why did not the heavens burst under uted over all the world, as thou hast a philosophy and ideas, thou wouldst surely not approve these things with these desecrations? Thy lazy softas always explained, a seeming approval. "No unbeliever may enter the Kaaba, the holy temple in Further yet! Does not thy silence express a clear approval? Let not thy silence be abused here, 0 Apostle of Mecca. Upon such desecration the suns will fall from God. Let it not be abused, because under the mysterious protection of thy holy law, the softas (perhaps holy for heaven in fiery masses and destroy the earth with fire." thee, but for us only disgusting cowardly rascals) commit hundreds and thousands of crimes and hypocrisies. Never- And yet the boots of the unbelievers trod the temple at theless they ascribe all their acts to thee and thy holy law. Mecca and committed all kinds of abominations under its o Mohammed, holy law-giver, is not in this case thy shadow. But nothing fell from heaven and nowhere did silence an approval? the earth quake. . o Apostle! With thy permission I will tell thee something and in- Did not the Kalifs, thy so-called rep.resentatives, and the form thee of a fact that will really make thee tremble. softas and the sheik-ul-islam, who worked in thy name, Thy softas with their great turbans, waving garments commit for centuries, following thy example, those abom- and fat necks, raised their heads and uttered prayers that inations of the harem, for which the whole civilized world thy sanctuaries and theirs should be trampled down. They and all humanity was aroused? All those corruptions and prayed to Allah for the slavery of Islam. Why? Because heinous deeds, which merely to name is a disgrace to the the unbelievers brought money. Is not gold a religion, human name and civilization, and which are hearths of the creed and the faith of them all? infection in a large community, thy hodjas call "Punna" (i. e., holy practices), enjoined by thee. More yet! The o Apostle! Kalifs and Softas, who for so many centuries could secure the perpetuation of their pleasures and their rascality, by How shall I make it known that even thy enemies are depriving these orphans of martyrdom of the last they ashamed because of the spiritual downfall of thy reprehave, call this thing "thy holy punna"! sentatives. But thy softas are never ashamed for this! Does thou see it now, 0 Apostle of God? o Apostle! Thou who sawest no wrong in adding several captured women to thy harem after thy warlike expeditions, thou Suppose we draw a dark curtain over all this and see hast approved of the abominations of these hodjas, softas it no more. We have already drawn a curtain and see and kalifs. And thou hast even made them legal by the nothing more of the abominations of thy softas, nor hear marriage rite. their sermons. Weare only suffering from the wounds of the past. Since thou hast been example and pattern for them, thou hast taught as a holy custom the marriage of I know not But what wilt thou do? Thou who hast always promhow many women with men, who did not even have the ised righteousness, uprightness, prosperity and happiness ability to earn their daily bread. Thou hast taught that by thy religion and thy laws! these things are meritorious actions in the sight of God and so thou hast been the cause of thousands, yea millions What wilt thou do, since that which the unbelieving of family tragedies. Thou didst cause that millions of could not do, in spite of their endeavors, in order to exchildren roamed abandoned in the streets and became terminate thy people during the last thirteen centuries, criminals, swindlers and voluptuaries. thy softas and sheiks have succeeded in doing, namely dragging down this poor Turkish nation into that deep Did not thy temple in Mecca tremble when thy soul did whirlpool, only because it adhered to thy religion! Benot do so? But do not let my words awake the thought cause hodjas and softas held the fort from within. The evil that the unbelievers were unable to accomplish, they did with pomp and delight.
And thou stoodest there as an unconcerned spectator and gavest approval to all the evil deeds and wickedness of these men! So many years, yea centuries did we wait for the promised Redeemer! We waited for Gog and Magog! No deliverer appeared. We even prayed for the deceiver to come; but alas! he too did not come to help us!
KUMANDAN OGLU KASIM TEVFIK.
This eighth chapter of Paul's "Letter to the Romans" gives us some conception of God's dealing with His children. The Spirit takes the little child of God, and leads him to the Fa- ther; then, as he approaches, and is a little timid, the Spirit of God whispers to him, just like. a mother: "Now, do not be afraid, remember that He is your Father" witnessing with our spirit that we are the children of God, and teaching us to say, "Abba, Father." Then as we approach God, and try to put before Him our requests, and do not exactly know how, the Spirit takes up the inperfect prayer and says, "Father, this is what the child really wants." Thus He interprets our desires in his own dialect in the Father's ears. ARTHUR T. PIERSON.
Is a Faith Mission?*
By REV. ROBERT HALL GROVER, M.D., D.D., Philadelphia Home Director of the China Inland Mission THE name "Faith Mission" was not chosen or undertaking for the evangelization of inland assumed by Missions which have come to be China. Thus was born-by the Spirit of God, but so designated. Rather was it given them by through the travail of the soul of His servant-the others on account of their distinctive policy and China Inland Mission.
practice regarding financial support. Nothing is But how was such a new enterprise to be sup- more remote from the mind of such Missions than ported? Every Board already carrying on mis- that they have any monopoly upon faith, or that sion work depended for its support upon the they necessarily exhibit any greater faith than churches of its own denomination. Mr. Taylor Missions of a different order. Keenly conscious was quite unwilling that a single shilling should oftentimes of the lack or frailty of their own faith, be diverted from these existing missionary chan- they take humbly the position of looking to God nels. More than this, he felt the importance of alone for the financial needs of their Christ-ap- safeguarding his new undertaking from any just pointed tasks. criticism on this ground. Accordingly he cove- The oldest Mission of this type today, and still nanted with God that he would solicit nothing much the largest in the number of its workers from man, whether publicly or privately, but and the extent of its work, is the China Inland would tell the needs of the new work only to the Mission. Begun in 1865, this Mission is just Lord in prayer and look to Him alone for its about to celebrate its Seventieth Anniversary. support.
Brought into being unquestionably by God, its In this spirit of implicit faith he walked into a human founder was Hudson Taylor, whose name London bank, and with ten pounds (fifty dollars) has become well-known throughout the Christian -all the money he possessed-opened an account world. . . . He had spent seven years in China, in the hitherto unheard-of name of the China Inand although he was compelled to return to Eng- land Mission. Fifty dollars to begin the task of land in broken health, the burden of China's un- evangelizing four hundred millions of Chinese on evangelized millions continued to weigh heavily the other side of the globe-what an absurdity! upon his heart. He thought of China by day; he Yet not so, for it was fifty dollars p~us God! And dreamed of it by night. And little wonder, when so wonderfully did God set His seal upon this attiwe stop to think of China's spiritual condition at tude and action of faith on the part of His humble that time! More than half a century since the servant that in the succeeding seventy years, as beginning of Protestant mission work in that the Mission has maintained unaltered its original land, and still there were only fifteen stations in financial policy and practice, approximately $26,- the whole Empire, all of them along the coast, 000,000 have passed through its treasury and been eleven out of eighteen provinces yet unentered and used in its work. Its first party of missionaries, lying in utter spiritual darkness, a mere handful eighteen in number, left England in the sailing of missionaries, and actually only 350 evangelical vessel Lammermuir on May 26, 1866. Such has Chinese Christians among 400,000,000 heathen! been the growth of the Mission through the suc- Mr. Taylor made the rounds of all the Mission ceeding years that its missionary staff now num- Boards in London that had work in China, and bers 1,368. These workers, together with nearly pleaded earnestly with each one to undertake a 4,000 Chinese colleagues, occupy 344 stations and penetration of the interior, but no Board saw its 2,000 outstations, distributed over all but three of way to respond. Finally, on a Sunday morning in China's provinoes and also her vast adjoining de- June, 1865, he fiung himself upon the sands of pendencies to the north and west. Brighton Beach . . . and cried to God in behalf of China. Then it was that God spoke and this It was not long before this new type of misgodly young servant of His received a never-to-be- sionary undertaking for China began to be duplidoubted divine call and commission to begin a new cated in behalf of other needy fields, and thus, one after another, new "inland" enterprises were • Condensed from ReVelation, Philadelphia, April, 1935. launched, such as the Africa Inland Mission, the [409 ]
Inland South America Missionary Union, the one to produce facts to prove the contrary. . . . Sudan Interior Mission, and so on. The list of such societies working in foreign lands has now Evangelistic missionaries, far from being mere grown to twenty or thirty. While these have no propagandists, are the ones in every mission field organic relation to one another, each being a sep- who are living closest to the people, who know arate entity, and while as to their organization their needs and problems most intimately, and and administration, and even their financial meth- who along every practical line are filling the role ods, there are differences in detail, yet in the main of the Good Samaritan toward them. For evi- they are patterned along the same lines and as a dence of this fact one need only point to the China group have come to be spoken of as "Faith Mis- Inland Mission as an illustration, with its 16 hos- sions." For purposes of spiritual fellowship, pitals, 106 dispensaries and 328 schools, its opium prayer and conference over common problems, refuges, leper asylums and orphanages, its spe- and mutual helpfulness in every practicable way, cial work for the blind, the deaf and dumb, the . a number of these societies on this continent are aged and infirm, and the victims of domestic now linked together in a purely fraternal union slavery, as well as the leading and costly part it known as the Interdenominational Foreign Mis- has taken, year after year, in relief work for suf- sion Association of North America. ferers from famine, flood, and pestilence. This is equally true of the other Missions of this class Distinctive Convictions of Faith Missions laboring in other fields. Yet none of these Mis- sions thinks for a moment of apologizing for the 1. As to financial support, they do not solicit fact that all such ministries in behalf of the funds or pursue popular methods of raising physical, temporal and moral welfare of the peo- money, but look to the Lord in faith and prayer ple are ever held subservient and made contribu- for the supply of the means to carryon their work. tory to the primary aim of seeking the salvation They do not go into debt or borrow money. Their of lost souls. . . . workers are not guaranteed fixed stipends, but all unite as a family in trusting God for their tem- We are of the opinion that any Christianity poral needs and accepting what He is pleased to which does not find practical expression in daily send them through the voluntary gifts of His peo- life is not the real article but only a spurious imi- ple. All share alike financially, no distinction be- tation. The Gospel which every evangelical mis- ing made on the ground of age, length of service, sionary preaches is something that prov,es its or position in the work. power by making those who embrace it better men and women, whether as sons and daughters or 2. As to doctrinal position, firm insistence is parents, as workmen or employers, as citizens or laid upon sound evangelical belief. No worker is rulers of the State. Nor do we know of any other accepted or retained who does not unequivocally potent means of lifting society to a higher and hold all the great cardinal truths of the historic purer level, and of making human relationships Christian faith with reference to the Bible, the what they ,ought to be, apart from the winning of person and work of Christ, the lost condition of individuals through this Gospel to a new life in man and his need of spiritual regeneration. These Christ the Saviour. Missions firmly hold that the old Gospel is the only Gospel, and they are absolutely opposed to 4. As to missionary policy, stress is ever laid "modernism" in any degree. by these Missions upon wholly unoccupied fields and unreached areas in fields already entered. 3. As to missionary method, these Missions They believe that the true objective in missions unite in the conviction that the terms of our Lord's is the evangelization of all men, rather than the Great Commission make the preaching of the conversion of anyone favored section or the edu- Gospel the primary and central task of missions cation of anyone preferred class. As set forth for all time. . . . In accord with these instruc- in the account given in Acts fifteen of that first tions, direct and aggressive evangelism was given great missionary conference of the Christian the central place in the missionary program of the Church, convened at Jerusalem, God is in this New Testament Church, and with attendant re- period of time-from Christ's ascension to His sults transcending those of any succeeding gen- Second Coming-"visiting the Gentile nations, to eration. In the face of the disposition today in take out of them a people for His Name." The some missionary circles to disparage and discard true ambition of the missionary today should evangelism in favor of a more popular program of therefore be what Paul's ambition was in his day, social service, higher education, and other things, "to preach the Gospel where Christ was not we boldly assert that the substitution of any other named" (1 Cor. 15: 20), or "in the regions be- policy or program of work has signally failed in yond" (2 Cor. 10: 16), inspired by the hope of achieving anything like equal returns for the reaching the last unevangelized region and tribe energy and money expended. We challenge any- on earth, and winning the last souls to complete
19351 DRAWING ON THE CHIEF TREASURER
the church, or "ecclesia" (called-out company), goodness that this testimony has been given. He which must be made ready for her Lord's return. has condescended to use these most imperfect and It is the consistent aim and endeavor of these unworthy agencies in some measure to carry out Missions ever to be pushing on into new territory His purposes and to show forth His faithfulness and reaching with the Gospel those who have and power. May He be pleased to use what has never had a chance to hear it. The China Inland been written to call forth more prayer both for Mission, for example, has within the last five years these Missions and also for all others that are actually opened and occupied eighty-two new striving to obey the Great Commission by taking centers in China as a part of its Forward Move- the Gospel of salvation to all those for whom the ment. Eight of these new points are in distant Saviour died!
Sinkiang (Chinese Turkestan) and on the borders of Tibet and Mongolia, while others are among the DRAWING ON THE CHIEF TREASURER* primitive hill tribes on the remote frontier of Burma. No less marked and worthy advances Is Christ the chief Treasurer who supplies the (although less familiar to the writer) have been missionary funds? Practically there is a wide made by other pioneer Missions into hitherto neg- difference of opinion upon this point.
lected areas in South and Central America, in "And Prudence sat over against the treasury, Nigeria, Abyssinia, the French Sudan and other watching the expenditures, to see that Faith did parts of Africa, in the Netherland East Indian not overdraw her account," would fairly state the archipelago, and in still other sections of the mis- financial method of many missionary committees.
sionary world. . . . "Faith in t~e work of preaching the Gospel, in- While much more could be written about the so- deed, but in administering the missionary ex- called Faith Missions, enough has perhaps been chequer, sound business principles, if you please."
said to set forth their more distinctive common So we have often heard it, and we do not dispute features. It may be well to add a few words the wisdom of the saying.
about the question of missionary reinforcements But we are conducting the King's business, let in the light of the present grave economic. situa- it be remembered, and in its transactions are no tion. . . . They (the "Faith Missions") have overdrafts of faith ever allowable? May the never concluded that their continuance or advance promises of God never be taken as collateral in need be gauged by prevailing financial conditions. this business? Is the Lord's servant forbidden to If God wants a certain work done, He is surely hypothecate the bonds of the everlasting covenant well able to provide the necessary means, whether as a security for a missionary contract when he little or much, and in times of prevailing plenty has no funds in the bank? The enterprise of misor stringency alike. If the work in hand demands sions is peculiarly the Lord's work and as such reinforcements for its effective advance and com- has guarantors and guarantees back of any that pletion, and offers of service come from those who are human.
give clear evidence, after thorough and prayerful The paradox, "Verum est quia impossibilia," consideration, of being called and fitted of God which Tertullian uttered concerning doctrine, it for such work, then would it not be contradictory is time for us boldly to apply to action, saying, "It to the very principle of faith upon which these is practicable because it is impossible," for, under Missions were founded to decide to decline such the dispensation of the Spirit, our ability is no applicants from fear or misgiving as to whether longer the measure of our responsibility. "The financial supplies will continue sufficient? Rather things which are impossible with men are poshas their policy and procedure been to accept such sible with God," and therefore possible for us who approved new recruits, and to look to the Lord have been united to God through faith. with them in prayer land faith for the provision of the necessary fundi" as a seal of His approval. Since the Hoty Spirit has been given, it is not sufficient for the servant to say to his Master, "I In this way the China Inland Mission during the ;:tm doing as well as I can," for now he is bound six years of depression has sent out over 500 new to do better than he can. Should ~*I;New York workers without curtailing the support of the merchant summon his commercial agent.in Bosexisting work and workers, and has thereby made ton to come to him as quickly as possible, would possible the most marked advance a,nd develop- he be satisfied if that agent were to arrive at the mentof its work in its whole history. Substantial end of a week, footsore and weary from walking reinforcements have also been sent out, and no- the entire distance, with the excuse, "I came as table field advances made, by other Missions of the quickly as I could"? With swift steamer or railsame group. It is with a spirit deeply humbled by an over- way express at his disposal, would he not be bound whelming sense of the Lord's exceeding grace and • From The Alliance Weekly.
to come more quickly than he could? And so, condition for attempting great things for God, with the power of Christ as our resource, and His we shall be disappointed; for that is not believing riches in glory as our endowment, we are called but bargaining. "Said I not unto thee, that, if upon to undertake what of ourselves we have thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory neither the strength nor the funds to accomplish. of God?" (Jno. 11: 40) . Shall we reverse this order, and believe only according as we have seen We have watched with the deepest interest an that glory? If so, He will give us little credit for experiment of enlargement which has come under our faith. Most significantly is it written: "Many our observation. A missionary treasury, taxed believed on his name because they saw the mirto the utmost for years to meet the demands upon acles which he did; but Jesus did not believe in it, was assessed at one stroke an extra fifty thou- them" (Jno. 2: 23, see Greek). sand dollars annually for a new work which God seemed to enjoin. Seven years passed since the I am more and more persuaded that the greatundertaking, and yet the treasury kept just as est things are possible if only we have His power full through all this period, notwithstanding the resting upon us. I have seen such a demonstraextra draft, as during the seven years previous. tion in my church when we met morning after Certainly this outcome does not seem like a di· morning in the early year, simply to pray for the vine admonition not to do so again, but rather like power of the Holy Spirit. We were looking for a a loud invitation to repeat the experiment upon revival. When I made a plea for foreign misthe first new call. When the bugle is sounding sions, I astonished my conservative brethren by for an advance along the entire line, we do well asking ten thousand dollars for our contribution. to mark the significance of such experiments. Only a few wealthy men among us, and they were Our Lord does not say, "Be it unto you according not likely to give largely. But when the offering to your funds," but "Be it unto you according to was gathered, twenty thousand dollars came; noyour faith." If He sees that we trust Him for body was personally asked; no solicitations were large missionary undertakings, He will trust us made. It was simply a great impulse of the Spirit. with large missionary remittances. If, on the contrary, we demand great things of God as a A. J. GORDON.
Seventy Years ofthe China Inland Mission* -ail By MARSHALL BROOMHALL, M.A., London, England / THE history of the China Inland Mission has Hudson Taylor has told us how an aged min- proved that to trust God for the supply of ister of the Gospel prophesied failure both to him temporal things is more than a pious idea. and to the Mission, when the Lammermuir party "How shall Jacob stand? for he is small," cried sailed. "You are making a great mistake in going the prophet Amos of old. And some such cry to China with no organization behind you," this might well have been uttered seventy years ago well-wisher said. "We live in a busy world, and when Hudson Taylor founded the China Inland you will all be forgotten, and the Mission won't Mission. The crisis at Brighton in June, 1865, live seven years." "That," wrote Hudson Taylor and the opening of a bank account in London two some years later, "was the prophecy of this good days later, in the name of the new Mission and man-and a wise one, too. But he was mistaken." with the small sum of £10, are well known. But as we look back over the seventy years, imagina- It is a good thing to remember that the Mission tion endeavors to recapture the human feelings of was not always a large and well-known organizaweakness associated with such a venture as Hud- tion, and th.at God answered prayer seventy years son Taylor then undertook. What prospect was ago in the day of small things as well as today; there that a new organization, founded by an un- But one word of warning is necessary. While God known man, for work in a distant and little known led the children of Israel through the Red Sea, the country, could stand and prosper? Egyptians, when they essayed to imitate them, were drowned. Even prayer must be God-guided, • Condensed from The Ohristian, London, May 9, 1935. not merely inspired by the spirit of imitation.
SEVENTY YEARS OF THE CHINA INLAND MISSION
The China Inland Mission today, though a large of China have been opened to the Gospel, but and now well-known organization, has no other what a history of prayer, of patience, of hardground or foundation upon which to build than ships endured, of mercies granted, and needs supthat which Hudson Taylor enjoyed. It has no plied lies behind that brief statement. other confidence; and the very magnitude of its work, as compared with seventy years ago, makes There are 345 central mission stations, and yet it more, rather than less, dependent upon God. the full story of almost anyone of them would fill The present Master of Balliol has truly said that a small volume. For twenty-five years unceasing "structures and systems are always asking us to prayer and persistent efforts were made to secure worship them, to forget the spirit that informed a footing in the hostile province of Hunan, before them, and to settle down for good in the per- entry was obtained. One 'man, Adam Dorward, manent camp. When that happens, when man's actually traveled in that province for eight years spirit worships its own creation, then structures without having a place which he could call his and systems become idols." The China Inland own, where he could lay his head. He died not Mission is nothing except what God has made it, having obtained a footing. Somewhat similar in answer to the prayers and faith of God's peo- stories could be told of most of the other provinces. ple. And it will only continue as that spirit prevails. Unless the Lord Himself had built the Mis- Times have changed but the difficulties and sion, Hudson Taylor had labored in vain. And trials cannot be said to have decreased greatly unless the Lord today keeps the Mission, its watch- with the passing years. Opposition has only asmen will be vigilant in vain. sumed a new form. In the early years outbursts of violence and local riots were a common experi- Changes in Seventy Years ence. These culminated in the terrible Boxer per- secutions, when nearly two hundred foreigners, The world of today has altered out of all recog- including children, lost their lives, as well as an nition since 1865. Then the Suez Canal had not unknown number of Chinese Christians. Of late been cut, and there was no cable to China. Then a new menace has raised its head, partly as the voyage to the Far East had to be made by sailing outcome of prolonged civil strife, and partly as the ships around the Cape of Good Hope, and it took fruit of communistic propaganda. It has become the best part of a year to obtain a reply by letter a far-too-common experience now for missionaries from one country to the other. Today the journey to be taken captive, and sometimes to be slain. can be made, via Siberia, in about a fortnight, Opposition to Christianity has become more subtle, and, by air, letters can travel even more quickly. more organized, and more ably directed. The News of the recent earthquake in Formosa was local riot has been exchanged for systematic antireported by wireless in England within an hour of Christian methods and bitter hostility. The natthe disaster! Such things would have seemed in- ural anti-foreign bias of the Chinese mind has credible to members of the Lammermuir party. proved a fruitful soil for the false reports of a militant communism, with its godless spirit. It is When the China Inland Mission was founded, therefore the simple truth to say that there has the greater part of China was unevangelized, and, been a life-and-death struggle for the soul of indeed, the interior of that great country in theory China during the last twelve or thirteen years, open by treaty, was extremely difficult of access. largely directly from Russian sources. There were then only fifteen Protestant mission stations in the whole of China, for the most part Yet, despite the formidable opposition-which on the coast. Seventy years ago the total number at times has made the evacuation of considerable of Chinese converts connected with Protestant areas inevitable-spiritual results have increased. missions, was about 2,000. Today the China In- During the first fifty years of the Mission's hisland Mission alone has 345 central stations, 2,000 tory, a period devoted in the main to breaking new outstations, reports over 160,000 converts. ground, 50,700 persons publicly confessed their faith in Christ by baptism; but during the last It is comparatively easy to look back and see twenty years that number has been increased by what God hath wrought, or at least see the super- an additional 107,000 souls, making a total of apficial aspect of what has been done, but it needs proximately 158,000 from the commencement of historical imagination to realize what those sev- the work. The promise that those who do not beenty years have meant. Some knowledge of the come weary in well-doing shall reap in due season trials and difficulties are essential to an apprecia- has been fulfilled. tion of the past. The future always looks more formidable than the past, and it is easy to forget If after these seventy years the China Inland the obstacles that have been overcome. Progress Mission were asked to give an account of its stewcan only be measured by difficulties surmounted. ardship, we should begin to ask: What contribu- It needs only one line to say that the closed doors tion has the Mission made to the Church of God generally? Its primary duty has been the evan-
gelization of China, but in seeking to be obedient come must speedily be transferred. The spiritual to this call, God has given the Mission a witness need and claims of China are still great, and if to bear concerning God's faithfulness in fulfilling God still has a work for the Mission to do, as we His promises. In a day when materialism is believe He has, we would make this time of celerampant, and when men are ready to deny the bration one of renewed dedication to the service presence and the power of God, the testimony as of Him who has blessed us hitherto. to God's trustworthiness in the matter of temporal supplies has strengthened the faith of many. WHEN A CHINESE "HEART.IS God's goodness in supplying the daily bread for His servants still continues a standing marvel, BROADENED" and those who know most about the Mission's financial history can rej oice in God. A mIssIOnary is exammmg an old woman of seventy-three for baptism and admission to the When the World War broke out in 1914, the church: human probabilities against the continuance of the work increased, yet the Mission was maintained "Who is Jesus?" throughout those difficult years. When the cost "Jesus died for me." of silver rose to unheard-of prices, and the con- "How did he die?" sequent need of a greatly increased income, in "I don't know." terms of gold, became necessary if the work was "Who were Jesus' disciples?" to continue, the total income of the Mission in- "I don't remember. I can't read." creased according to that need. When economic "Do you know the names of any of the books famine came to afflict all countries, though the of the Bible?" Mission could not expect to be immune from the "When one can't read. . . " general trial, the necessary bread was given, and "Where did Jesus live on earth ?" water was made sure. Though economies have Silence. had to be practiced-and the Mission has no de- The missionary stopped. The old woman had sire to escape from the trials experienced by so made a very poor showing. many of its supporters-and though faith has "This old lady is one of our most faithful Chrisbeen tested, the barrel of meal has not wasted, nor tians," said a deacon. "She always comes to our has the cruse of oil failed, "according to the word meetings, though she lives three miles away. She of the Lord." gives cheerfully what she can to every good cause. She used to have a terrible temper, but since she In other ways the Mission has been allowed to believed, she has become kind-hearted and patient. bear witness, as in the blessedness of an interde- Everybody knows about it." nominational fellowship, and in the possibility of The missionary looked at her. Seventy-three maintaining an international relationship even years old. She might be gone before he could through the war. The ideals of Hudson Taylor come around next year. He decided to go on with have not been proved impossible, but they have the examination. been embodied in life, and have stood the strain "Who is God?" and test of seventy varied years. "God is our heavenly Grandfather." "Where is He?" We cannot close without a word of gratitude to "Wherever I go, He is there." God for His goodness to the Mission in the matter "Can you talk to Him?" of leadership. The seventy years of the Mission Her face brightened with understanding : "Yes, history are strangely divided into two equal peri- I can." ods of thirty-five years each, with the Boxer crisis "When do you talk to him?" in the centre. From 1865 to 1900, Hudson Taylor, "Why, very often. When I am working in the the founder, was the leader of the Mission, and fields, when I am making bread, when I feel sad, from 1900 to 1935, that great responsibility has I talk to him and my heart is broadened." She rested upon the shoulders of Mr. D. E. Hoste. was now on familiar ground. "I talk to him when- God's best gifts are often found embodied in some ever I want to. Sometimes I have more to say consecrated personality, and the Mission cannot and talk longer. Sometimes I have only one or be too grateful to God for the long and devoted two thoughts and talk shorter. Whatever I have labors of those who have had the rule over the in my heart, I say." work. Mr. Hoste is now well over seventy years of age, and the time has come when he must lay From Jesse R. Wilson's new book, Men and Women of his burden down. The prayers of Christian Far Horizons (paper, 60 cents; cloth, $1.00), which is friends are asked for the one upon whom the published by the Friendship Press, New York. great responsibility of leadership in the days to
Forty–Seven Years Among the Chinese*
The Fruit of the Labors of Dr. and Mrs. Jonathan Goforth D R. AND MRS. JONATHAN GOFORTH re- compromise with sin, he is always very tender in turned to Canada early this year after dealing with sinners. forty-seven years of consecrated missionary Throughout these forty-seven years he has service in China and Manchuria. When Dr. and never lost that passion to save souls and to give Mrs. Goforth were in Canada nine years ago they the message of salvation to the unsaved. The met Allan Reoch, a young student just graduating hardships he has been willing to endure, the scars at Knox College and he returned to China with on his body (marks of the Lord Jesus), his ex- them. ample at the age of seventy-six, and blind, testify- Mr. Reoch has written the following illumi- ing for our Lord with the energy of youth are all nating study of Dr. and Mrs. Goforth who have proofs of this. Not only has his love for the left their beloved mission field in Manchuria to Saviour been the impelling motive, but also his return to Canada. love for the people. The Chinese aTE) intensely at- tached to him. What qualities have made Dr. and Mrs. Jonathan Goforth so outstanding and so marvelously Not only has he labored in season and out, to used in their work for the Saviour? I came across reconcile lost souls to God through the preaching the following "Seven Rules for Daily Living" of the Cross and shed blood of Jesus, but his work made by Dr. Goforth in 1894 and written on the in reviving backslidden Christians is too well fly leaf of his Bible: known to need further comment. His prayer has been, "0 Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the 1. Seek to give much-expect nothing. years." 2. Put the very best construction on the actions of others. 3. Never let a day pass without at least a quarter of an In all these qualities Mrs. Goforth has shared to hour spent in the study of the Bible. the full. All through the years she has been an 4. Never omit daily morning and evening private prayer able and loyal helper, rendering effective aid to and devotions. the cause of Christ amid dangerous scenes. While 5. In all things seek to know God's will and, when not able these last few years to engage as actively in the preaching as before, on account of ill health, known, obey at any cost. she has carried on an equally important work and 6. Seek to cultivate a quiet, prayerful spirit. 7. Seek each day to do or say something to further Christianity among the heathen. strenuous correspondence.
Dr. Goforth has lived up to these rules. He has After having worked with Dr. and Mrs. Goforth surpassed them. His love for the Bible is well for many years, all these qualities together with known, and he has taken every opportunity to read their obedience to God, strict honesty, generosity, it. Even after becoming blind he had a Chinese kindness, and benevolence remain as precious read to him at least twelve chapters a day. His memories. loyalty to the Bible as the Word of God, and his defense of the fundamentals of the faith have been Dr. Goforth held a week of special meetings just outstanding in his career. before leaving. The farewell service, which lasted four and a half hours on January 20 was attended He is a man of prayer, and through prayer and by many of our Chinese leaders. Bible study has sought to know God's will. It is this love for Bible reading and communion with Pastor Chiang, who represented the Christians God that has given him the power to move audi- from the North, struck a high note when he said, ences to a conviction of sin and repentance. At "Now that Elijah is leaving, we must all be Elishas and pray for a double portion of Elijah's all times he keeps self in the background and relies spirit." wholly on the power of the Holy Spirit to take of the things of Jesus and reveal them unto his Dr. Goforth, speaking from Acts 2, dwelt on hearers. "Not by might, nor by power, but by my the Promise of Power, and the necessity of being Spirit. . . ." These Scriptures have ever been filled with the Holy Spirit to save those yet in his battle cry. darkness. The Christians from every part of the field sent farewell gifts to Dr. and Mrs. Goforth. The silk banners were hung on the walls, while a Though Dr. Goforth's preaching contains a long table was covered with silver shields, all stern denunciation of sin, and in no case tolerates manifestations of their love for them personally and an expression of appreciation of what the • Condensed from The Sunday Schoo! Times, Philadelphia, May Gospel has meant to them.
25, 1935.
[415 ]
Everyone expects their forty-seven years of and gambling. He broke everyone of the ten eminently fruitful service in China and Manchuria commandments more than once. Among other to be crowned with rich blessing among the things, he sold opium and rented out his buildings churches in the homeland. for houses of ill fame. He was converted a year and a half ago and since then has been a tower of Some Fruits of Their Labors strength in the work. He has lived a changed life The result of this aggressive evangelism is that ever since, has provided buildings for a church, precious souls nave been won to Christ and have and gives testimony himself. Whereas before he the hope of eternal life. Some of the old Chris- never got up in the mornings until near noon, now tians we found in a backslidden condition have he is at the church at five a. m. for early morning prayer meeting. DR. AND. MRS. JONATHAN GOFORTH TODAY Mr. Sung, of Tailai, was not baptized when we been restored. One in particular who has been opened work there, but he was a nominal Chrisgreatly used in opening new centers, especially in tian, and his father was an elder. Living away the country districts, is Wang Teh HaL He was from home, he had not received much instruction, baptized about twenty-five years ago, but shortly but was anxious to help. He was seIling opium on afterward an unconverted deacon in the church the side, and, when reproved for his conduct, taught him the best tricks in gambling. Afterthis slapped faithful pastor T'ang in the face. But love Mr. Wang became the most notorious gambler in and patience won the day. Mr. Sung has been his country and was feared because of his con- made a new man in Christ and is a pillar in the stant lawsuiting. He had a fierce temper. One church. Last year, when the building of a church day while he was listening to the preaching of the was discussed, he sold five pigs and brought the Gospel, a pastor offered him a Scripture portion, money to the treasurer. but he threw it to the ground in a rage. The second day, however, his hardened heart was touched, Among the recent converts, Mr. and Mrs. Wang, and he has been out and out for the Lord since. of Tailai, are outstanding. When, in the autumn He said lately that in his unregenerate days, if of 1930, the missionary was doing evangelistic anyone stole a chicken out of his yard or a pump- work in that city, he went out with the colporteur kin off his window sill, he would stand on the selling Scripture portions. One of those to buy housetop and swear at the neighbors for three was a soldier. Later he went to a shop to find out days. Now he used his flow of language in telling what they were about, as he couldn't read. He the Gospel story. only bought them because they were so cheap. The manager in the shop said he didn't know and Mr. Tung is the most prominent and wealthy gave away the ones he had bought to Mr. Wang, layman who has joined with us. He was baptized who then went to the chapel and heard the Gospel three years before the Boxer trouble and remained for the first time. He was so impressed that he steadfast throughout that persecution. Later he decided to become a Christian. On reaching home became an official and rich in this world's goods. he smashed up his opium lamps, for beside being He fell from grace and took unto himself eight a soldier, he ran an opium den. Mrs. Wang bewives, spent his days in opium smoking, drinking, came as ardent a Christian as her husband. What a change the light and love of Jesus brought into that dark and sinful home! Now, four years later, we find Mr. Wang working as an evangelist. Mrs. Wang went to Bible college at her own expense and does voluntary preaching among the women. They are a marvelous couple, showing in their lives the power of the saving grace of God. . . . .
Another who has come out on the Lord's side, is Chang Pao Cheng. He was living in Szepingkai with his mother, wife, and family. When his mother became ill, his wife decided to consult a fortune-teller, as things were going from bad to worse in spite of her daily burning incense to pla- cate the gods.- Seeing her distress, and having listened sympathetically to her tale of woe, the fortune-teller said that their little daughter was the cause of all their troubles and that they would have to get rid of her. Mrs. Chang was to keep on a vegetable diet, burn twice as much incense,
FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AM;ONG THE CHINESE
and finally give him a liberal contribution for his the thirteen-year-old daughter of Mr. Sun, as he advice. grabbed her tightly around the throat.
For the next few days, Mrs. Chang could be "I don't know where my father is, and even if seen walking up and down the streets of Szeping- you kill me, I can't tell you where he has fled to kai, carrying her daughter in her arms. The child because I don't know," she replied in a calm voice.
was dressed in her best clothes with a piece of The unperturbed manner of this country girl straw sticking in a buttonhole. That was a sign in the face of danger was so different from what the girl was for sale. But nobody wanted to buy they had ever seen that one bandit asked of his the girl, and wouldn't take her even for nothing, companion in evil, "What kind of a girl is this?"
as every family had enough to do to make ends "I'm a Christian," she said, slowly raising her meet without adding to expenses. head (for she had been standing bowed in silent One day while looking for a prospective buyer, prayer). "I think you would like to hear me sing,"
Mrs. Chang stopped at the market place where a she ventured.
theatrical performance was in progress. The "Yes, sing us a song," the bandits shouted.
church had also put up a tent and, taking advan- She sang a hymn, and they were so pleased that tage of the large numbers present, preached daily they wanted to hear some more. "Wait until I to the crowds. Mrs. Chang heard the Gospel for call my cousin and we'll sing together. You will the first time, went home and told her husband.. like that better still," was her reply. When her The next day Mr. Chang went, and was even more cousin, a girl about her own age arrived, they sang impressed. They decided for Christ, went home another hymn, and the robbers were so delighted and smashed their idols, determined not to sell the that they returned all of her father's goods they child but to trust in Jesus for the recovery of the had stolen. "Please give back my uncle's things, sick. From that time on, the old woman began too," she boldly pleaded, and they did as she asked.
to recover, and is still hale and hearty. On leaving gave her two dollars as well.
Later Mr. Chang was made an elder at Szep- A Farewell Message ingkai. Now he is out preaching in a very wild district. When he was a young man living in A "Farewell Message from Dr. and Mrs. Go- Shantung, he lived a very bad life. How com- forth" sent to friends in January, just before they pletely he was changed by Christ! He became left Manchuria, contains the following: gentle and could be trusted absolutely and was As we lay down this work, we praise God for our faithconstantly sent to the bank on business. A year ful coworkers, the Rev. and Mrs. Allan Reoch and the Rev.
ago he returned to his old home for a short visit and Mrs. William G. Davis, who with some splendid Chi- nese leaders must now carryon. They have all along been and won family after family for the Lord. absolutely one with us in the aggressive evangelistic The Sun Girls and Bandits methods adopted from the inception of this work. Mr. Reoch is now Secretary-Treasurer of the Goforth Evan- A typical case of how the Christians stood firm gelistic Funds Account, from which nearly all our evanduring the chaotic conditions prevailing two years legists are supported. Address the Rev. Allan Reoch, ago may be seen in the case of the Sun girls. My Szepingkai, Manchuria.
notebook tells the tale better than memory could We plan to open a "Goforth Evangelistic Funds Acrecall. count" in the Canadian Bank of Commerce, Toronto, in which all money for this work will be deposited. Our "If you don't tell me where your father is, I'll home address is 47 St. James' Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, kill you," said a rough looking Chinese bandit to Canada.
A MISSIONARY'S PRAYER By VIOLA RICH SIMTH, Legaspi, Albay, Philippine Islands Oh, lift us heavenly Father, At noontide, with its scorching heat, And strengthen day by day From labor worn, we find The feeble thoughts that yearn toward Thee, Renewal, rest and'peaceful power, For we would learn to pray. At once with Thine Own mind.
We come to Thee at morningtide, "At even' when the sun is set," When skies are clouded gray; We bring our day to Thee, The howling winds of bitter fear And find its petty burdens gone, Thou clearest from our day. Ourselves, Christ-centered, free.
Letter to a New Missionary*
By ALEXANDER McLEISH, London World Dominion Movement YOU wish to know how best to set about your provide material for home letters, but your spir- work. To answer that is not easy, but there itual power, your success in creating a living are certain things which stand out prom- Christian fellowship, may be conspicuously absent. inently. First of all I would place at the center, One of your problems will be the use of money. as of primary importance, the influence of per- The amount the missionary spends on himself and sonality. One must keep the best of one's energy his household will seem prodigality to the poor for personal relationships. There must be un- villager so that you must make every effort to live hurried daily communion with God through Bible . simply and with as little display as possible. This study, meditation and prayer. You cannot live is the way of avoiding innumerable difficulties. on spiritual reserves, but on day by day "income." "Give us this day our daily bread" has a twofold The problem of a young missionary going to an old field is very different, and also very diffisignificance. cult. Here he finds work which is long estab- Secondly, every contact in any capacity is a lished, and the question will arise in his mind why, after thirty years or so, has it not been commissionary method, and therefore you are "on duty" 'every moment of the day. mitted to the people themselves to carryon i The Does anything else matter? In a sense, no! saying that "here we have no continuing city" is You may often be perplexed as to what you should true of the contact of foreign missionaries with do. The urge to get things done is Western and native peoples. The missionary is not intended to modern. As your object is to build up a truly in- be a permanent factor in the life of an alien peodigenous Church, you should aim principally at ple. His work is to make Christ the permanent winning the family to Christ. In the social sys- factor, and himself to pass on to other pioneer tems of India, China and Africa, the family and tasks as quickly as he may. The one thing wllich the communal life are the real units. As a general will justify your presence in an old field today is rule it is better to urge the individual to realize the strengthening of the indigenous Church to his Christian duty to the members of his family live its own life and to develop its own institutions and to seek to bring them with him before he is in its own way and with its own personnel. The baptized, for once baptized he will in most cases acid test of work today is whether it can stand be effectively cut off from further influence with alone in the absence of the missionary and withthem. A convert always finds it easier to wind out the help of foreign funds. his family before his baptism than after, and thus the social unit is won. This may mean in- It will be seen that a new missionary's task is no easy one. Every talent will be needed, and the tensive rather than extensive work. For this vital contact with the people the first more he possesses the better. A great deal of the requirement is intimate knowledge of their lan- paraphernalia of modern missions he will find to guage, customs and ways of thinking. To keep be of little use. He will find it best to study the first things first is no easy task. You may find Master's methods and closely follow them. When yourself running a printing press when you could confronted with the difficulties of your task aleasily get the work done elsewhere; you may find ways remember that Christ said, "Lo, I am with yourself hurrying off to a Fair with Gospels, be- you alway, even unto the end of the world." This fore you are able to answer the questions of your alone will give you the true outlook on the situa- hearers. All such activities may fill your day and tion, and will inspire you to press forward with • Condensed from The Burma News. the task of evangelism.
"Growds of young people are awakened to their dire need, and eagerly look to the Church for leadership. In thirteen years in Korea I have never seen such a favorable time as now for direct, aggressive evangelism. Never were the people more eager to hear the good news." -REV. C. C. AMENDT, Konju, Korea.
[418 ]
Page News-An Airplane Crash*
-ell] By R. W .. HAMBROOK, Washington, D. C. 11Jue– l'". AS A substitute for my chief in the United me to go Home to be with Him or whether he still States Office of Education, I spoke before had more work for me to do. His answer seemed members of the New York Teachers' As- to be that my work on earth was not yet finished, sociation at Syracuse, New York. Having been and therefore I sought His promises and found compelled to sleep on Pullmans for two nights, I comfort in John 15: 7-"If ye abide in me, and decided to return to Washington by air. A plane my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will was to leave at 7: 23 p. m., which would allow me and it shall be done unto you." I searched my own to spend a night in Newark, and reach Washington heart and then I said, "Lord, I will to live, if You the next morning at the same time as by train. will me to live."
It was snowing heavily when I reached the Syra- It may have been seconds or it may have been cuse airport, but the wind was scarcely evident. minutes after we brushed the top of the tree be- About 7: 30, after the pilot fore we struck other trees. We had made careful inquiry re- were in total darkness, but my garding weather conditions The secular press gave con- emotions were not at all disahead, and after being in- tinent-wide front-page dis- turbed, and I was noting carestructed to fly, we left Syra- play to the incident here re- fully the different events cuse with a pilot, co-pilot, and corded. While grateful to the which were taking place. The a passenger co-pilot, and my- men who, on land and in the nose of the plane turned self as the only paying pas- air, ran great risks or endured downwards and struck the senger. real hardships to effect their ground first, and then the We had been flying for rescue, and deeply apprecia- plane settled on the snow as about three-quarters of an tive of those interests, wheth- level as if it had been laid on hour when I became aware er private corporations or special foundations. Immedithat something was wrong. I ately the two pilots rushed indid not know that the left government owned, that· in a to the cabin and asked if anymotor had stopped in conse- single day burned up nine body was hurt. To the astonquence of ice, nor did I know thousand gallons of gasoline ishment of all, not a leg, nor that a small amount of ice had in their efforts to locate them an arm, nor even a finger was formed on the leading edge of by plane, Mr. Hambrook broken, nor was one drop of avows his supreme indebtedthe wings, resulting in de- ness to the Heavenly Father. blood shed, nor was one of us His compensation for the two creased wing efficiency. A days and two nights of phys- in any way stunned. I re- light burning in the front of ical suffering and nervous marked that God had an- the cabin said, in effect, "Do strain lay in the joy that he swered our prayer and had not remove your safety belt had in leading his three com- saved our lives. or smoke as long as this light panions to a saving knowlremains lit"; it had not been edge of Jesus Christ. Gasoline was pouring out of the left tank in the wing. We turned off as is the custom stepped out of the cabin door upon leaving an airport. The into snow almost to our knees cabin was growing cold through lack of heat from and stayed there until all gasoline had ceased run- the exhaust of the left motor. The plane throbbed ning; then we returned to the cabin, turned on somewhat, caused, as I learned later, from the the lights, and made a survey of our situation.
"missing" right motor. This motor had been The two active pilots spent the night in the open, supercharged and was working at its limit, but by the side of a small fire which they had lit, in yet the plane was losing altitude. hopes that someone might have heard the sound The first indication to me that anything serious of our crash and come to rescue us. The passenger was the matter was when we brushed the top of co-pilot and I spent the night in the cabin in a a tree. As a child of God, my thoughts naturally temperature somewhere between freezing and turned to Him, and I asked whether He wished zero.
• Reprinted from The Evangelical Christian, Toronto, Canada. The next morning the pilot and the passenger [419 ]
co-pilot decided to seek a way out to the north, available. We took the fifteen seat cushions and takmg the airplane compass to guide them. After placed them under our feet and in front and in going about two miles they decided to return be- back of our feet, and then we pulled off the cur- fore becoming completely exhausted. One of the tains from the windows and wrapped them around men decided to repair the radio, and found the our feet. The two blankets we shared among us.
antenna broken, but the battery still in good con- Never shall I forget the misery of that night, dition. Starting the generators, he called Albany, as the temperature reached 15 degrees below zero. giving the number of the plane saying that we I was so cold that it seemed as if my body must were all safe and not injured, stating our altitude, shake to pieces. Only those who have had similar and requesting assistance as soon as possible. experiences can understand what we passed Several calls were made at different intervals for through during that night. We had gone into the the purpose of directing the radio beam to chart cabin shortly after dark, and after we had been our location. shivering for a short time, I began to pray out Fifteen Degrees Below Zero loud, constantly referring to Scripture. I was most grateful that I had stored my memory with During the day a lean-to was made, using sap- multitudes of His promises. The prayers of that lings tied at the top and fastening upon them night have all been answered. We were still cold, fabric torn from the wings and fuselage of the but I learned again the infallible truth of Philipplane. The fabric was tied with strings to the pians 4: 6-7-"In nothing be anxious, but in ev- erything by prayer and supplication, with thankssaplings. giving let your requests be made known unto God, I prayed with the men and asked God to send and the peace of God which passeth all underdeliverance. In addition, I prayed many times standing shall garrison your hearts and your alone. Our lean-to was about ten feet in diameter thoughts in Christ Jesus." His peace filled my and a little over one-half of a circle, but it was soul. somewhat small for the four of us, so several times I left the other three to attempt to make a good Life Out of Death fire where several logs could be pushed together. It was a distressing night. I do not believe any Try as we would, however, we were unable to se- one of us slept for more than a few moments at cure wood that burned brightly, or made smoke. a time. Only God kept us from freezing to death. which would rise above the tops of the trees. A' Many, many times we referred to our watches to foot of snow had fallen during the night, and see how long before morning. Shortly after dawn, with the snow previously on the ground, made a we heard the sound of an airplane. All four of us depth of nearly three feet. With no shovel, no axe, immediately rushed out into the snow to see a and no food to give strength, it proved very ex- plane equipped with skis flying a few hundred hausting to secure wood from under this depth of feet above the trees, less than one-quarter mile snow. Our only means of removing snow was away. Although we waved our arms frantically, sheet metal cowling taken from around the motors. the pilot failed to see us. It seemed as if some of Numbers of times I knelt near this second fire to the 35 to 50 planes which were sent out to rescue plead with God for aid, but the heavens seemed as us were within sight of us a good part of the day.
brass, and no answers came. The sky was overcast When our plane crashed, the interior was in as all day Saturday, and no airplane came within good condition as when we left Syracuse, with the reach. We heard no sound of automobile horn, rail- exception of one seat a leg of which had pushed road train, or airplane. Again and again I sought its way through the floor. We used seat covers to the promises, and my thoughts turned to John 15: protect our ears and to cover our feet to prevent 7. I asked God if I were abiding in the Lord Jesus snow from getting into our shoes. We utilized and if His words were abiding in me, and I asked strips of curtains for tying the seat covers and Him to search my heart and see if anything as yet other material on our feet and legs. One man had was unconfessed to Him. . I wanted nothing to a pair of zipper overshoes, another had a pair of come between myself and God. Still the answers low rubbers, whereas the other two had nothing did not come. . more than low shoes. Pillow cases, towels and We made our plans for Saturday night so that pillows were all put into service in some way, we could secure as much protection from the cold Even the parcel rack material was ripped from its and assist each other, as far as possible. It was place and made into leggings and foot coverings.
impossible to secure wood enough to burn The leather backs of the pilot seats made good throughout the night. We could light no fire in the leggings when tied with strips of curtain material.
cabin without burning it. None of the fifteen seats One of the men said he was tempted to chew on could be removed because there were no tools the leather before using it for leggings, but de-
FRONT PAGE NEWS – AN AIRPLANE CRASH
cided the dye might be poisonous. Strange to say ferred to John 1: 12 again. He replied, "A son of we were not conscious of hunger. God." I asked whether he would thank God for this fact in his own words, and there in that deep About ten o'clock Sunday morning two of us de- snow, he, with a towel bound around his head, and cided that we had better make one more attempt I with a seat cover over my head, with our hats at finding our way out. Consequently we fitted off, he expressed his appreciation to God for the ourselves up to walk through the deep snow. We fact that he was now a child of God. had pushed through the deep snow, over huge fallen logs, over small hills and into hollows, for We trudged along. The thrill of that moment about a mile. Before leaving our camp I had asked is with me as I write. Numbers of times as we God (according to James 1: 5, 6), to give wisdom walked along my companion said, "Mr. Hamand to show us a way out, that we might bring brook, it seems so different n9w." help to the other two left behind. We stopped to rest a moment, and I challenged my companion, We came to what seemed to us a swamp. The saying, "lam concerned about your soul. Are you really satisfied that all is well?" He replied, MR. HAMB'ROOK WELCOMED HOMill AFTER THE CRASH "No, Mr. Hambrook, I am not satisfied." "Then," I said, "what is to prevent you from snow was deep, but we could travel in a straight making things right now, before we go any line. At one point, my pilot friend all of a sudden farther?" He replied, "Nothing, if you will slipped into water up to his knees. Wet legs and show me how." zero weather do not go very well together, so we turned back and continued on the same side of You can imagine the delight that was mine in the swamp until we reached a deer trail, the only knowing how to show him the way to salvation. sign of animal life that we had seen. While we I began with John 1: 12-"But as many as re- were contemplating crossing the swamp, our skiceived him, to them gave he power to become equipped airplane flew nearby, but failed to see us, the sons of God, even to them that believe on although later he told of seeing our trail in the his name." Then I explained by John 1: 1-3- snow. "In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the Word was God; the same was in the beginning with God; all things were made by him and without him was not anything made that was made" – whom it was that should be received-that it was Deity, the Christ of God. Then I passed on to John 1 : 14, "And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth," and pointed out from this the manhood of Christ. From there I referred to John 1 : 29, "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world," and explained how the blood of Christ was necessary to take away sin. Next reference was made to Romans 10: 9, 10, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved; for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
The question was put: "Will you accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour?" He immediately said, "I will." I then asked him if he would tell God this fact. He said he would repeat after me in sincerity such prayer as I would present to God. We both prayed around the Scriptures referred to above, and ended by a statement something like this, "I, in this snow, among these trees, accept You, Lord Jesus, as my Saviour." Immediately I asked him, "What are you now?" and re-
It was suggested that we go back to camp be- in 25 degrees below zero temperature. How we fore exhaustion was complete. God said, "Go back. thanked God for men with hearts like these men There are two more in the camp whom you must who rescued us. lead to Christ." We reached camp about 1: 30 p. m., and immediately I put the same questions to Between one and two o'clock in the morning, one of the other men, with the same result. At seven of the men went back, and two remained 1: 45 the third pilot came into our lean-to and I with us all night. After a while one of the pilots put the same questions to him, discussed the same said, "Don't you think we ought to thank God for Scripture passages, received the same replies from this?" So he prayed, and I prayed, and the other him. two prayed, thanking God for His wondrous kind- ness in saving us in our hour of need. Then I began to understand why God had not answered the praye'rs which had gone up to Him At eleven o'clock, an army plane flew overhead for rescue. Now all four of us were members of and dropped a parachute of food for us. Early the body of Christ and could go tod-od' in unity the next morning another plane dropped another and make request for rescue. We prayed around parachute and now we had enough food to start our small fire and told God that we needed His aid, a restaurant. In the morning men returned with that we had done all we knew how toward our a toboggan, boots, woollen socks, and other things, rescue, but now that He must take action. We to bring us out of the woods. The pilot was carrequested God to send help before midnight, as we ried on the toboggan; the co-pilot walked most of felt that some of us would have passed· into death the way, but was very weak, having bruised his before morning. face and injured his jaw in the crash.
It was growing colder every minute. The situa- On our way into Morehouseville, I was privition looked hopeless; but our trust was in God. leged to talk to the leader of the men who reached At dusk, when it seemed as if all search would us the night before. After discussing the same cease, we heard the noise of an airplane over- Scriptures with him, he held out his hand and head, and then saw its lights. As hastily as said, "I'll do that," and there in those woods, he fatigued bodies would allow, two of the men se- accepted Christ as his Saviour, and lifted his cured gasoline and threw it upon a tree, and then voice in gratitude to God. with an ember from the fire, lighted it. The flare attracted the attention of the pilot, and he began An ambulance was waiting for us at Moreto make circles around us. Our joy can be imag- houseville to take those who needed it to the hosined, for we knew that he would immediately radio pital. The two of us who had walked the entire to our relatives and friends that we were safe. way rode in the doctor's car to St. Elizabeth's All of us stood by the flare to indicate I'tliat all Hospital in Utica, where I shaved myself, took a four were able to stand up. bath, and left Utica on a plane at about six o'clock for Washington. The bad weather forced us down Saved At Last at Newark, and it was necessary for me to con- tinue to Washington by train. The first plane left us, after dropping a flare, but soon afterwards another airplane appeared. Was it worth it? An $80,000 plane was de- We did not know just what he was doing, but he stroyed except for some parts salvaged. The four continued flying over and at about 10 :,30 we heard of us suffered untold agony for two days and two a shot, then a shout.' Two of the men~n our party nights. Our relatives and friends went through went outside and shot off their revO,lvers, while great anxiety. Nine thousand gallons of gasoline two of us stayed in the lean-to next'~ to the fire. were consumed in one day by airplanes searching Never shall I forget how my whole being sobbed for us. in gratitude to God -for bringing aid.~ Jesus said, "What shall it profit a man if he In a few moments, nine men reached us, bring- gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" ing hot coffee, chocolate, bread, sandwiches, wool- (Mark 8: 36). If it ,had cost the whole world to len socks, blankets, and other things to make us win those souls, it would have been worth it. comfortable. Soon a big warm fire was burning and we were chewing slowly on the food. These Since the accident happened one of the pilots men did not know then that they were answering has publically given his testimony many times and our request to God in bringing help, for only those his :wife has recently been converted. A recent acquainted with these Adirondack woods can rea- letter from one of the men ends: "May God bless lize what it means to tramp through the deep snow you for showing me the Way." One of the resat night over rough ground for four or five miles cuers writes : "We rescued us and then you res- cued me." • Your cooperation in giving this thrilling testimony a wide distribution is most heartily invited. Price per copy 10c, 3 for 25c, I would not go through the experience again for $7.50 per hundred. Evangelical Publishers, 366 Bay Street, Toronto, millions of dollars, but I believe I would go Canada. through it again if' God wanted in that way to bring one more soul to Him.*
Challenge of Changing
An Address Delivered at the Younger Men's Missionary Congress. Stevens Hotel, Chicago, May 3, 1935 By GEORGE CRAIG STEWART Bishop of Chicago M EN talk of a coming revolution in the world from now on there's going to be a change!'" It order. We are in it. Men speak of the would be a dull world if there were no change. Day of Judgment. It is here. I entered It would be a mad world if there were no stability.
college in 1895. Christmas Ev·e of that year 2. Well, there is no danger of a static world. marked, I suppose, a very definite gateway into This era of ours is a very helter-skelter of change. a new universe so vast, and subtle and mysterious And I am glad to be alive in it. It is exciting, adthat all our conceptions have had to be recast. In venturous, perilous, challenging, and that fits my 1900 the dictionary did not include "radio" or religion. (Sometimes you know I am called a high "movie" or "chauffeur" or "aviator" or "jazz" or churchman. Very well, we have in the Episcopal "hijacker" or "rum-runner" or "income tax" or Church an interesting triplet,-"Low and lazy, "parcel post" or "fundamentalist" or "bolshevist" broad and hazy, high and crazy.") or "quantum theory,"-Pas rei. "Everything flows." The map of the world, the map of the uni- Jesus Christ came into the world to change it, verse; the map of life changes before the ink is to change lives, to change attitudes, to change indry on your old one. It is bewildering. And the stitutions, to change human relationships, to main features of these changes are- change the world. He refuses to be pocketed by any party or by any "ism," but He is and always 1. The narrowing world of communications. has been a revolutionary. Wherever He is the en- 2. The new emphasis upon the common welfare vironment changes. And there is no place in His of all the race. discipleship for those who want to settle on the 1. Now there is something in us that resists lees. "Let the dead bury their dead," He says, "go change and also something that demands it. Here thou and preach tbe kingdom." are two fundamental human bents-one for things as they are; one for things as they ought to be The kingdom is fresh seed planted in every and are to be. One side of us is with the past and soil and growth is change. It is light for every conservatism- darkness, and light is lively. I see the economic and social and political upheavals, the scientific So was it when my life began and philosophical and religious shifts and up- So is it when I am a man, heavals in the world today as the signs of God shaking the earth, sifting the nations, breaking up So be it when I shall grow old the old stale modes of thought, tearing down and one side of us is with the restless spirits who Rejoice that man is hurled, withering and sterile relics of empty tradition, From change to change unceasingly, and pouring His spirit into men, imperatively de- manding life-life more abundant. And to you His soul's wings never furled.
If one side of us has all the say we become old, and me He comes challenging us as His followers static, obfuscous, obscurantist, fossilized. If the sayingother has all the say we become noisy nuisances Look to your faith! Is it so anremic that it will committed to what Walter Raleigh called "the not stand going out of doors where the bright idiotic simplicity of the revolutionary idea." light of science beats and the tearing gales of a I remember once down in Memphis, Tennessee, new naturalism and skepticism come out of the many, many years ago hearing a Baptist orator northeast? A challenge faces your Christian eth- preaching a very eloquent sermon. He was all ics which you say are based on the character of flame. The only thing I remember was this, that God-can they stand the tests of new social vision, he compared England with America. "In Eng- or will they capitulate and be revealed as only a land," said he, "they say, 'as it was in the begin- kind of protective coloring for the old order?
ning, is now, and ever shall be:' but in America Is your Church the Body of Christ with the we say, 'As it was in the beginning, is now, but wounds full of the power of crucifixion and resur- [423 ]
rection, or is it a "subsidy of Caiaphas" and a bul- There is a crisis here today in the world. There wark of the privileged class? A challenge to your was once a crisis in Jerusalem. Uzziah the great creed! Is it the dry bones of formula, or is it the statesman king was dead. Then a young man, beblood in your spiritual veins, beating through your wildered like the rest, went to the temple to ask reason and firing your will? Can it be said of us God to raise up some one on whom they could lean. as of the apostles-"they thfl,t have turned the And suddenly God spoke to him. "Why not you ?" world upside down are come hither also"? The other day a young man, a Christian, came to me and said-"I believe the time is ripe for some 3. John Buchan, the new Governor-General of young man who actually believes in the risen and Canada, has just written another book-since his contemporary and reigning Christ to rise up and "Cromwell"-I mean "The People's King"-in sweep all young men of the country into following honor of the 25th anniversary of his gracious Him in establishing His kingdom." I said, "Why majesty, King George V. And in that book he not you?" brilliantly reviews the Georgian Era and its changes. Indeed he begins with 1834-100 years After all when I see Jesus Christ coming down ago, with a picture of young Gladstone and his the center of the world's stage the kindest, friendfirst t,erm in Parliament. Gladstone was only 25 liest, cleanest, gr,eatest, noblest, grandest figure years old. He returned to spend a week-end in of all ages, I observe that what He is really about Oxford. And what do you think his diary reveals? is calling for leaders. "Will you come? Will you He spent the week-end reading. Reading what? follow Me?" Pickering on "Adult Baptism!" "The name of the book," says Buchan, "moves me like a spell. And suddenly I hear a vulgar Philistine's Preposterous and yet magnificent! The symbol modern note, "What'll we get out of it?" of a lost security of soul long ago dropped by the wayside!" Then Buchan goes on to show the de- And His reply is the kind that challenges all veloping skepticism and religious languor of the that is finest in man-"Get out of it? You'll sleep end of the century. The manly humility, called the with me in the bracken. 'Foxes have holes and the fear of God, began to disappear. And then the birds have nests, but I have not where to lay my war-August 4, 1914. Sir Edward Gray looking head? Are you game? Drink a bitter cup! I out from his window in the Foreign Office as the must drink it. Are you able? I must go to the lights sprang out of the dusk said, "The lamps are cross and my followers too. Loneliness. Scorn. going out all over Europe: we shall never see them Opposition. Hatred. Death. Will you come?" lit again in our life-time." And then came the crashing of thrones and the filling of a world with "What if we are alone, and don't know the the noise and dust of them. And following the way?" war, the disintegration of morals, the flood of cloacal fiction, and petty petulant poetry, and joy- "I am the way. I will be with you to the ages of less gaity, and everywhere the familiar cliches ages." of decadence. "Where shall we go?" But now out of the depression-to be seen in facism, in communism, in nazism-everywhere "To the ends of the earth!" youth is springing forward with fresh willingness to sacrifice, with idealisms not to be denied, with "What shall we do?" a demand that the spirit shall be recognized. "Heal the sick, teach the good news, baptize 4. There is in the Christian faith the stability them into me and my kingdom !" not of stubborn death but of growing life. The larger universe has not destroyed God but enlarged You know what happened; a Power that went God. We need a bigger God than we have like wind and fire through Syria, through Greece, dreamed, and how the world today leaps to re- through Rome, and when Rome fell gripped the ceive Him. invaders, swept through France, England, Ire- land, Scotland, leaped to America, and is this Christ, as Tertullian said, is "not convention very day changing not only individual lives but but Truth." His shoulder, as Francis Thompson society itself in every part of the earth. said, is "too high for me to lean upon it," and yet how He stoops to us! Jesus Christ is bigger, vast- David Livingstone said, "We will go anywhere er, than we have dared to think, and yet as ever provided it be forward." I think of the three available to the hllmblest. The challenge is not young men who faced a wonderful picture in one from the new world to Him, but from Him to you of the galleries of Europe, "Come unto me." In it and me. one can see the sick, the sinful, the discouraged, the worldly -coming. But one young man stood longer than the rest searching the eyes of Christ, and letting his soul come up and speak and finally that young man did speak,- "0 Man of Galilee if I can help you in your great world job, count on me!"
– ¥;II &IA $
PAPAU TA CHAPEL – I N TERIOR; ALL-SAMOAN DESI GN A N D WOR KMANSHIP Building an All–Samoan Chapel * By EVELYN A. DOWNS 1·- L. M. S. Missionary, Papauta, Western Samoa ~==========================~ PAPAUTA L. M. S. Girls' School in Samoa is asked for a plan and took it away to consider now forty-three years old, and all through whether it could be constructed. A few days later those years the church services have been held he returned full of enthusiasm, saying that he and in the big schoolroom. The teachers and mis- his fifty men were ready to start immediately.
sionaries have talked often of a beautiful Samoan They would cut all the materials out of the forest, cruciform building for a church, in which only and would try to make everything as perfect as Samoan materials and workmanship should be possible. We had no idea of beginning so soon, used. but we felt that the opportunity might not come With this object the girls planted sugarcane again. So within a week we had fifty men in the two years ago, so that there should be plenty of compound with our plantation men. The old chiefs thatch if ever the dream were realized. At the of Saanapu decided to come to keep the boys in same time they began to plait sinnet from the order, and direct the work. The men were with husk of the coconut, for there are no nails in a us for six weeks and we had services together '
Samoan building; everything is bound together every Sunday. The boys as well as our own school- with miles of string. They are optimists, for girls caught the spirit of working joyfully to the times are hard in Samoa and at the beginning of glory of God. As the building grew, all seemed 1934 the church building seemed a far-away pos- to be conscious of the peace that pervaded it.
sibility. But God rebuked faintheartedness. The The foundation of a Samoan house is laid last sugarcane flourished as never before and the beau- of all. The heavy posts are first put in place, the tiful leaves were ready for mak,ing into thatch. beams hoisted on primitive levers made from Food plantations yielded more taro and bananas than usual, so that there was plenty of food for boughs of trees, and bound firmly to the tops of the carpenters who would live on the estate while the posts. After that all the work is in the roof. working. In June a famous Samoan carpenter We assembled for the raising of the first post, from the village of Saanapu, Iuma by name, came sang a hymn, and the Samoan translation of "God over the hills to visit and I asked him to come to be in my head and in my understanding." The talk of something new. There has never before posts are the trunks of large breadfruit trees been a Samoan building made with transepts. He brought down from our hillside plantations. The great crossbeams are coconut logs.
• R eprinted from The Ohr oni cle; April , 1935. While the young men were doing this heavy [425 ]
THE NEW CHURCH AT PAPAUTA WITH TRANSEPTS, PAPAUTA, SAMOA work, the older men sat under the trees and made Government High School offered to bring the the ribs for the roof, a long, tedious piece of work, while others shaped and spliced the rounded ends earth, and to build up the outside platform. The of the building. This was expert work, for all shaping was from rough logs, and measurements building looked something like a giant anthill, as only by eye. the two hundred boys and our own one hundred We had prepared 20,000 yards of sinnet (string), but we soon realized that there was not and fifty girls rushed backwards and forwards nearly enough. It is an expensive item if it has to be bought so we challenged the girls and asked carrying baskets of soil. them to make as much as they could in a week out-of-school hours. The compound resounded The girls had to go to a part of the beach nine with the thud of beating coconut husk, for the husk had to be gathered, washed, beaten, and miles away for a special kind of grey pebble for rolled before the plaiting could be started. Everyone, big and little, walked round for that week the surface, a species much admired by the with a bundle of husk, and the length of string grew steadily. There was tense excitement when Samoans. lit took two days to gather enough for we measured it a week later; even the tiny girls brought a few yards as their contribution. Alto- forty lorry loads. The village near by entertained gether they had made 26,000 yards in that one week and the sinnet, used in the entire building, the girls, and helped them with the work. is twenty-eight miles in length. The outside posts of the chapel are tree ferns, The girls also undertook to make the thatch, which is the leaf of the sugarcane twisted on to with a beautiful, rounded surface. There are a pieces of wild bamboo two and a half feet long. Some went into the forest to cut the bamboo, while hundred altogether, and they had to be brought others gathered the dried leaves of sugarcane. There are 8,000 pieces of thatch on the roof, made from a forest on a hill ten miles away. by the schoolgirls themselves. The girls helped also to make the lattice work When the building was completed, the next consideration was the floor, which must first be made and blinds, which are slats cut from the slender with heavy rocks, with a layer of beaten earth, and finally covered with a layer of small pebbles some wild coconut and bound together with string. six inches deep. The students of Malue offered to put in a day bringing up the heavy stones which They designed and made the basketwork lampthe girls could not lift; they worked very hard, but it was a merry time. Then the boys of the shades which cover the electric light and match the general scheme of the building.
To stain the woodwork we made a varnish from the bark of the mangrove, and darkened it, as it is red, with lampblack made from the candlenut.
There is very little furniture needed in our chapel, for the congregation sit in Samoan style on the floor for which old Papauta girls in the Tokelau Islands have made beautiful mats. The pulpit is of pomuli, a Samoan forest tree and the log had to be brought several miles. This was the gift of a friend of the school. , Now this truly Samoan chapel lies in the shadow of Vaea Hill, where sleeps Robert Louis Stevenson in his grave "Under the wide and starry sky"; and in front stretches a wide view of the sea beyond the white waves breaking on the coral reef.
Situation in Korea*
By C. BURNELL OLDS, Japan -<I£( Missionary of the American Board T HE process of Japanese assimilation is go- city of 150,000, are seventeen flourishing Pres- ing on in as healthy fashion as could be ex- byterian churches, half of them organized within pected. I heard some complaint from the the last fifteen years, while within the suburban missionaries that the attitude of the government area of the city are twenty-;five Presbyterian in compelling conformity to her program of shrine churches, with 350 country churches of the same worship and reverence for the Japanese soldiers denomination in the province.
who had been killed in battle in Manchuria, was On Sunday morning, in visiting half a dozen of not wise. these churches at the hour of Sunday school, I The government is making great strides in the found practically the whole church constituency Japanization of the population through her diligently engaged in the study of the Bible. No educational program. During the last year the church member or church adherent, old or young, number of primary schools under government is regarded as in good standing if he was not a supervision increased from 4,000 to 7,000. As regular attendant at Sunday school. In the first practically all the instruction in these schools is church visited, 1,115 children were gathered in carried on in the Japanese language this means well-organized classes, during the first hour of the that Japanese is fast becoming the language of morning, followed, the next hour, by 709 adult the country. women, while during the last hour, just before Since Japan is planning evidently to take over noon, there were 344 men gathered for their reg- into her own hands as rapidly as possible the en- ular class work. This made a total attendance at tire educational enterprise in Korea, the mission- Sunday school that morning in that one church, ary enterprise will of necessity have to undergo of 2,168, and that was only an average day.
considerable change. At present a number of sec- The preaching service is held regularly in the afternoon, but since this was a special day, in ondary and higher mission schools are doing work honor of the meeting of the General Assembly, a great mass meeting of all the Presbyterian of such excellent quality that the government may churches in the city was held on the playground of one of the large schools belonging to the misnot be able soon to dispense with them, but even- sion, and it was estimated that there were between 12,000 and 15,000 people present at that service. tually her own system will be so far perfected as This was followed by a parade through the city, in which some five or six thousand people parto make it difficult for privately controlled schools ticipated. Such is the strength of the Presby- terian church in that city, to say nothing of the to continue. Even now students of mission work of the Methodist churches which is, in some respects equally strong. The point to be noted is schools are put to a great disadvantage in view the universal emphasis put upon the work of the Sunday school, as the training school of the of the preferential treatment given to all grad- church. I was interested also to see how well or- ganized the work seemed to be. The classes uates from the government system. seemed to average between ten and twenty mem- bers, but even so, regardless of the large number The missionary in Korea, as compared with of teachers required, there seemed to be no dearth of teacher material. Hundreds of the teachers, I Japan, occupies a position of predominant in- was told, came from the boys' and girls' schools that the mission has in the city for some ninety fluence, though undoubtedly that is waning rather per cent of the student body in these schools is Christian and most of them are engaged in Sunthan waxing. The Korean Christians are begin- ning to chafe under the missionary's too persistent exercise of control.
One cannot but be impressed by the amazing efficiency of the organization that the missionaries have built up during this first fifty years in the Christian movement in Korea. • I was especially impressed by the strength of the organization built up by the Presbyterians and by the efficiency of the method developed by them.
To see the work of the Northern Presbyterians one needs to go to Pyengyang, the largest Pres- byterian mission station in the world. Here, in a • Condensed from The Japan Christian Quarterly. day school work.
[427 ] Effective Ways of Working j 'Tested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MRS. ESTELLA S. AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO ~=I================~====~======~ HOME MISSION STUDY the teachings of Christ are sufficient your church, locally and as a denomi- for meeting all the problems of the col- COURSES nation? lective life." 2. List activities and accomplish- The books issued annually for Devotional theme for the Course: the United Mission Study courses ments of your church which are funhave become increasing popular, "There remaineth very much land to damentally home mission and give not only for use in church or com- be possessed." Josh. 13: 1 c. (R. V.). reasons. List agencies in your community schools of missions but munity which illustrate the broader also in group study in Sunday Course Hymn: "America, the Beau- definition. Discuss the relation of the school, discussion sessions of the prayer meeting, as a basis for tiful." local church to these. programs in young people's and The Study Involves: A review of 3. Debate: The Church should conwomen's missionary organizations, and even as source mate- the pioneer home mission enterprise; fine itself to inspiring people to prorial for the pastor's sermons. Coupled with the reading courses an analysis of recent trends in our na- mote such activities as health and recin vogue in nearly all denomina- tional life as affecting and affected by reation centers, settlements, hospitals tions, they have made themselves the Christian Church; an appraisal of and clinics, rather than to engage in felt in church finances. One na- the present home missions program; a them as an organization. tional secretary of missionary consideration of the enterprise "in reeducation said that in her de- lation to the total task of the Church 4. Discuss the relation of the church nomination the relationship be- and to the inclusive purposes of the as an organization toward such evils tween study and financial re- Christian religion as these are under- as bad housing, civic corruption, liquor turns was direct and unquestion- stood and accepted by the Church." able. Whatever division of opin- and narcotics traffic, unwholesome ion there might be on the ques- Aims of the Course: tion of the continuance of for- 1. To review the history of home amusements, etc. eign missions, there surely can missions as a background for ap- 5. Make a study of one large city, be none as to the practical value praisal of the needs and opportunities of the home bookS" this year. indicating in parallel columns causes They have been linked up di- of the present. rectly with social, economic and 2. To consider the extent to which for growth, effect on industry, culture. religious issues of dominant im- distribution of population, etc., and portance. the existing home missions program is ways in which the Church tried to supplying spiritual ministry in Amer- meet new problems. Make a similar Toward a Christian America ican life. study of one rural field. by Hermann N. Morse affords 3. To define and assume our indi- Chapters 5 and 6 aim to discover excellent study or discussion material. Mrs. B. P. Heubner, of vidual Christian responsibilities in the areas in need of evangelization and to Galesburg, Illinois, sends the outline used by her as instructor in enterprise. evaluate the means available to meet the Boulder, Colorado, Summer Chapters 1 and 2 aim to discover the School of Missions. Only a few the needs. high lights can be used in our home mission motive and trace the be- Devotional Theme: "That all may limited space; but those wishing ginnings of the efforts. to secure the full outline may know Him." Rom. 10: 13-15. have it at cost price plus postage, Devotional The me: Yesterday's 15 cents, addressing her at 56 E. Spiritual Frontiers. Rom. 1: 13-25 Assignments: Fremont Street. (R. V.). 1. List methods used by your local The Key Quotation was: Home mis- Special Assignments and Devices: sions must think of the salvation of so- 1. A brief history of your church in 'churches to win men to Christ and conciety as well as of individuals, and that sider their effectiveness. America with attention to extensions in its program. 2. Original dramatization: A local church official board meeting with pas- 2. "The Missions Map Grows"-a tor discussing such questions as:- chalk talk indicating the settlement of How many of the present membership emigrants, approximate dates, indus- of this church are active in its work? tries affected by their coming and cor- How many do not attend services, give responding- missionary expansion. financial support or show interest in its program? Are there unchurched 3. Reading'S or dramatizations from people in the community? How can "We Must March" (Honore Morrow.). they be reached? What is our respon- sibility in their evangelization? In re- 4. "The March of Time," introduc- ing' the characters of Chapter 2. enlisting those on the membership list? 3. A review of your denomination's 5. "Thumb-nail statements" of pres- ent status of pioneer stations reviewed Christian Americanization work. in this session. 4. Story hour period of "human in- Chapters 3 and 4 aim to comprettend terest" narratives from such fields as the broadening scope of the ChurCh's function in American life. this session considers. 5. A thought question: Should the Devotional Themes: Today's Spir- itual Frontiers. Matt. 6: 33. (See Church carryon any activity which is text, p. 56.). The Christian as Inter- not in some way, directly or indirectly, preter. Isa. 40: 3. evangelistic? Chapters 7 and 8 survey the Church's Assignments: ministry of practical service as now 1. How have the forces summarized conducted and consider its relationship on page 52 affected the program of to the extension of a social welfare [428 ] program.
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
Devotional Theme: Jesus' posses- year was "Looking Upward- York City, marking package "Books sion of "new land" through service. Claiming Spiritual Treasures in for the Philippines," as many commu- Matt. 4: 23. (a) Bible Study; (b) Prayer nities are bookless although the people and Intercession; (c) Devo- love to read. Arrange a shower of Assignments: tional Books." This year's em- books and magazines (and magazine phasis is upon "Reaching Out- subscriptions.) for home mission insti- 1. Compile a list of home mISSIon ward-Seeking Living Treas- tutions. service agencies in your state. Is ure." The climactic note in 1936there duplication with similar govern- 1937 will be "Moving Forward- Set up an inquiry as to recreational mental or public agencies? Sharing Love's Treasures." This advantages, hospital facilities, etc., for year's emphasis is timely in view otHer racial or national groups in your 2. Use electrified map locating serv- of the study topics: "For the community and bring pressure to corice projects in your denomination. As ultimate measure of both our rect any inequalities. each light is flashed on, have a brief work in the homeland and our sketch of that project. Impersonate mission in Latin America must Sponsor a Church School of Misworkers at the various stations, giving be in terms of human lives and sions. information in the first person. human relationships. To a large degree the early exploration and Plan a Pan-American evening with 3. Review or readings from "Nurses colonization of the American an exhibit of pictures and objects illuson Horseback" (Ernest Boole) or continent were motivated by the trating home life, etc., in Latin Amer- "Clever Country" (Carolyn Gardner). search for material treasure. It ican countries and have a program in is the high mission of the Church keeping. 4. "Relay story," given like relay to rediscover America in terms race, of "Quare Women" or "The Glass of her living treasure." Coordinated with these programs is Window" (Lucy Furman). a leaflet packet interpreting each The September to January outlines month's theme by discussions, drama- 5. Exhibit of handicraft stimulated feature "Treasures at Our Door- tizations, stories, book reviews, panel by missions among Indians, Southern Awaiting the Pioneer": "In Rural discussions, conversations, selected Mountain People, West Indians, Mexi- Areas," "In Areas of Attitude and Ac- poems and the like, furnishing good cans and urban centers, its discussion tion" and "In the Paths of Peace." material for any denomination willing creating atmosphere and imparting in- Among the questions for personal to substitute its own specifics. formation about the various peoples. preparation are: Address the Society at Missions Chapters 9 and 10 appraise the prog- Do I, as an individual, enjoy any Building, 222 Downey Ave., Indianress made toward accomplishment of benefits as the result of home mis- apolis, Ind. the ultimate objectives of home mis- sions? What? sions. BULLETIN NUMBER Is my community a friendly place for Devotional Theme: Possessions to- the representatives of the various THREE gether in His Name. Heb. 11: 40 b; races and nations? Joshua 13: 1 c. Those who have used Bulletins How would these groups answer the Number One and Two of the Pro- Assignments: same question? fessional Advisory Section on Missionary Education of the In- 1. Survey of local social welfare A Christian order of society: what ternational Council of Religious agencies from standpoints of coopera- does this involve in regard to church Education (and the secretary retion, duplication or overlooking, and unity, race relations, housing, economic ports a large number of orders adequacy in meeting needs. conditions, etc.? from readers of THE REVIEW) will find the third issue, which 2. List important tasks in your com- What elements in our national life came out in July, of even greater munity which are done cooperatively retard efforts toward world peace? value, since it fits in with the two by churches and which can be consid- study themes for this year and ered as home mission tasks according January to June outlines feature provides excellent auxiliary and to the interpretation in this course, "Treasures Next Door-the Lay of the source material instead of spegiving attention to any tasks at- Land" : "Beyond the Rio Grande," cific methods as heretofore. It tempted competitively. "The Pearl of the Caribbean," "Cos- reports the main addresses given mopolitan Argoentina." "Libertv-Lov- at the February meeting of the 3. Study one cooperative orgoaniza- ing Paraguay" and "Treasures Sought Council and falls under the foltion like the Home Missions Council, and Found." Some of the questions lowing four heads: Federal Council of Churches, Mission- are: ary Education Movement, etc. 1. The address of Dr. T. P. H. What effect do the economic condi- Sailer of the Missionary Educa- 4. In parallel columns list the rela- tions of Puerto Rico have upon the tion Movement, on "The Situative advantages and disadvantages of Church? tion in China" and starts from denominational emphasis in the home this keynote: "The Chinese mission enterprise; of interdenomina- Has our country's attitude in the Church is too frequently giving tional cooperation. conflict between Paragouay and Bolivia its efforts to an imitation of been consistent with the teachings of the conventional forms of the 5. Discuss: If it could be demon- our missions? Church in the West rather than strated that it would be for the g'ood studying and meeting needs. of the cause of Christ in your com- How can the U. S. as a nation pro- Many Christian leaders, Chinese munity if your church were' disbanded mote friendly relations with Latin and foreign, gave testimony to and the members taken into another American peoples? this effect. . . . What should Protestant church, what &r'!'Uments be the Christian policy under for and against the plan would you ad- Some of the projects under "Reach- such circumstances?" The disvance? ing' Outwprd" are: cussion of this theme and also of Mrs. Heubner's complete outline Seek living treasures in your own gives many more assiO'nments and a church and community in a quest for very comprehensive biblioO'r3nhv. Ex- those who will share actively in memcerpts from her course on "Christi3n bership and service. youth in Action," l1S taugoht in July, at Lake Koronis, Minnesota, will ap- Send stories, books of travel, biogpear next month. raphy, handicrafts, the classics, etc., to the Methodist Episcopal Board of For- SEF.'KTN''''- T.TVTNG eign Missions, 150 Fifth Ave., New TREASURE Th~ United Chrh;tlan Mi<1sionary Society is working- lln~er a three-year program on "Treasure Seeking." The keynote last
the situation in Japan is detailed tive outline last year, their sub- -may be used to paste little outand authoritative and throws ject matter being divided into line bottles on whenever mismuch light on the matter of "Re- five- and ten-minute talks: sion stations at definite points Thinking Missions." are mentioned. Contrast with Opportunity. Vast, unchristianized the size of the world the few sta- 2. A panel discussion of home regions of our country considered and tions we maintain. missions participated in by Dr. pressing needs emphasized. Charles H. Heimsath; Dr. W. R. Expressional work may well King, Executive Secretary of the Charity. Large amount used in be the dressing of nurse and doc- Home Missions Council; Dr. J. medical mission work, etc. Brand in- tor dolls or the makiing of scrap- L. Lobinger, Chairman of the dispensable. books for children in hospitals Department of World Fellowship either here or in foreign lands. in the Congregational Education Spirituality. None of better quality. Visiting a real hospital, if one is Society; Miss Anne Seesholtz, Its company endeavors to make brand available, and making sunshine Executive Secretary of the Coun- more popular especially with students. boxes (filled with little toys, letcil of Women for Home Mis- (Deals with religious education, evan- ters, pictures, cards, etc., done sions; Rev. J. S. Stowell, Direc- gelism, etc.) up in separate packages and tor of Publicity of the M. E. marked to be opened at different Board of Home Missions, as well Unity. Increasing demand for this times) for use among crippled or as a number of people in the au- brand. Its lack one of greatest deter- charity patients would be a dience, the report indicating the rents to foreign missionary progress. prime expression. Some patients several contributions by identify- would be allowed to have fruits ing designations. Finer mate- Prosperity. Comparatively modern and candies. Playing games rial on the theme, "What is the brand grown by horticulturists under with the patients in hospitals for future of Home Missions in the direction of Christiani-tea Company. cripples is another activity, the light of the increased emphasis (Agricultural missions.) games being, of course, all of a on social relations"? can scarcely sort to be played sitting still. be found anywhere, and not only Brands of rival companies laymen but pastors and teachers were: Conformity (custom-fol- A suitable program for the inof mission study classes will lowing, as in China); Modernity spirational meeting might be as benefit by reading it carefully. (young China's flair for new follows : ventures); Infidelity (Russian 3. The address by Rev. S. brand in particular). A Chinese Hymn, "Rescue the Perishing," or Franklin Mack of the Presbyte- figure cut out of wall paper was "The Great Physician," followed by rian Board of Foreign Missions used to carry the program, name prayer. on his recent trip taking motion and date of each meeting being pictur€;s in Latin America for inscribed. Devotional lesson on "Jesus heals use in the interdenominational and then the disciples try." study of the current year dis- Crusaders of Compassion cusses at length (a) "The Re- Discussion of Presbyterian (or ligious Sit u a t ion in Latin This program for Juniors may whatever the denomination may be) America," and (b) "Protestant be held out of doors around a hospitals around the world, using map Achievements and Prospects" in camp fire, hence it fits in well as indicated. a fine, appreciative critique. with the present season. Stories of medical missionaries, taken Prayer for the sick, doctors, nurses, 4. A discussion by Dr. and from study books or the pam- native helpers, salvation of souls Mrs~D. C. Baldwin of their work phlet literature of your denom- through this ministry of healing, etc. among college students in Amer- ination may be divided into secica, with a view to throwing light tions and assigned to good talkers Dramatizations of little medical mison the facts as obtained from the in the membership; or if the sion incidents, in costume, may be students themselves, facing and stories seem a bit long, invite made very effective. analyzing the difficulties and sug- some intermediate members to gesting ways of meeting them. tell them. Seat audience around -Adapted from outlines by Miss College pastors and counselors a camp fire and have recreational M. Katherine Harris, in will find this particularly helpful. songs for the warming-up, then "World Comrades." lead into a good hymn before be- The mimeographed fourteen- ginning the program. After the J. Hudson Taylor said that the page report is sold at the cost story-telling, s,ing again, then following are necessary to the price of 25 cents. Address Miss quietly have your Scripture equipment of a missionary: Ruth HeinmiIIer, 2969 West 25th study and close with a prayer St., Cleveland, Ohio. before the social f eat u res. A life yielded to God and controlled Toasted marshmallows make a Christiani-tea Company good climax. Another group by His Spirit. might use the topic, "Bibles and The women of the First Bap- Pill Bottles," the program being A restful trust in God for the supply tist church of Hillsdale, Mich- written on paper cut in the igan, used the following attrac- shape of a pill bottle with pic- of all needs. tures of hospitals, nurses, etc., pasted on duplicate pages tied A sympathetic spirit and a willing- together with the colors of the organization. A good map of the ness to take a lowly place. world – homemade or otherwise Tact in dealing with men and adap- tability to circumstances. .
Zeal in service and steadfastness in discouragement.
Love for communion with God and for the study of His Word.
Some experience and blessing in the Lord's work at home.
A healthy body and a vigorous mind.
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BULLETIN OF ; The Council of Women for Home Missions ~=I=============================I~ ANNE SEESHOLTZ, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 105 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK'
Setting-Up Conference for group their experiences, point- The discussion of the use of ing out the importance of the re- the 1935 vacation church school , Migrant Work lation of the Council staff to the migrants themselves, to the em- text for nursery and kinder- A dream of the Council of ployers and to the local commu- garten school, "Let's Go Out-of- Women for Home Missions be- nities. Thus the group was Doors," was led by Miss Frances came a reality this year when oriented in a measure to the sitabout thirty young men and uation in which they would find M. Hedden, Director of Chilwomen, who were soon to serve themselves. Now they were dren's Work, New Jersey Counin migrant camps in the East, ready for help in building pro- cil of Religious Education. met at Salvedale Camp, Califon, grams for the various aged New Jersey, for the first setting- groups in migrant camps-pro- Then, Miss Jeannette E. Perkins, up conference for migrant work, grams that would really develop member of the Editorial Staff, June 22-26. These were to be physical, mental and spiritual Congregational Publishing Sodays of preparation for Chris- strength. The faculty, all spe- ciety, and head of the Primary tian service among the migrant cialists in various fields, did an people in Delaware, Maryland, outstanding piece of work. They Department, Riverside Church, New Jersey, New York and Con- caught the spirit of enthusiasm New York City, suggested ways necticut through the summer of the group. The first and sec- of using "Exploring God's Outand early fall. These young peo- ond evenings Miss Marguerite ple, graduates and undergrad- Hazzard, head of the Depart- of-Doors," the 1935 vacation u ate s, represented Columbia ment of Church School Music, church school text for primary University, Mt. Holyoke College, School of Sacred Music, Union Sarah Lawrence College, Syra- Theological Seminary, showed children. She also fascinated cuse University, Bennett College, how to teach songs to groups, the group with her lesson in State Teachers Colleges of New taught a number of songs that spatter work and blueprinting. Jersey and New York, Biblical they in turn could teach, and Seminary, New Jersey College suggested many others suitable As the majority of the chilfor Women, Bucknell University, for the various age groups. She dren at the migrant centers dur- Colgate – Rochester D i v i nit y helped the group to see the vital ing the daytime are of nursery, School, Yale Divinity School, part that music can play in the kindergarten and primary ages, Princeton Theological Seminary, program at a migrant center. Northern B apt i s t Seminary, Miss Marie Gaertner, head of Eastern Baptist Seminary, and [431 ] the Nursery School, New Jersey Hartford Seminary Foundation. Interesting also was the wide College for Women, gave the range of denominations repre- young people invaluable help in sented: Northern Baptist, Congregational – Christian, Pro t- methods of handling children of estant Episcopal, Mis sou r i these ages and various types of Synod Lutheran, United Lutheran, Methodist Episcopal, A. M. children-the friendly child, the E. Zion, Presbyterian U. S. A. shy child, the negative child, the and Reformed in America.
Although almost all were meeting for the first time, there seemed to be an unusual spirit of oneness in the group. For four days they worked, played, studied and worshiped together. Five former staff members who had served several summers in migrant centers reviewed for the
over-stimulated child, the fright- Work, led the group as they grower for his investment, risk, worry talked and thought together. and labor." ened child, the imaginary child, There were moments of quiet in the talkative child and the child the group, moments when each Experienced adult pickers are said with an inferiority complex. She one around that camp fire dedi- to make from $1.75 to $2.50 per day. cated himself to the task of mak- To those who say migratory workers illustrated story – telling and ing "more abundant" the lives should have more pay and better livshowed how to make toys and of the migrant people. ing conditions, the grower asks where playground equipment out of the additional money to provide these New Complication in the changes is coming from. He says with things at hand, such as cigar consumers in the cities demanding boxes, planks of wood, nail kegs Migrant Situation cheap food on the one hand, labor de- manding higher pay and better living and spools. The value of group The education, health, low conditions on the other, it is imposactivity with modeling clay was wages and living conditions, sible to satisfy both and stay in busi- have long been problems in the ness. Even today, the farmers say, also demonstrated. migrant situation. The relief the majority of their number are One evening Mrs. Newman, of program has brought a new com- heavily in debt. . . ." plication. To quote from the the Music Department of the New York Times, July 7, 1935: Labor Sunday Message, 1935 E. R. A. of New York City, Recent events in this extensive berry Excerpts from Message of demonstrated singing games and growing area (Hammonton, New Jer- Federal Council of Churches of community singing. At another sey) have focused public attention on Christ in America: session, Mrs. Pauline Rappaport, a situation that for many months has been the subject of much discussion in "But in the midst of our suf- Assistant Recreation Supervisor gatherings of fruit and vegetable fering a glorious truth shines of Bergen County, New Jersey, growers, whose crops are largely har- clear. For the first time in hugave excellent suggestions for vested by seasonal or migratory man history, man has the tech- workers. For many years labor of nical knowledge to solve his ecohandcraft both for little children this kind has been recruited without nomic problem. He can at last and older boys and girls. Prac- difficulty from metropolitan areas, en- provide sufficient material goods tically all of her suggestions tire families moving out into the coun- for an abundant life. Since the try to work as harvest hands as the depression the researches of could be followed out with very various crops matured. scientists and engineers, the findsimple equipment and could be ings of private and governmental Farmers contend that, with the ad- commissions, have been reiteratcompleted within a short space vent of emergency relief, it has be- ing this same basic fact. The of time, an important item with come increasingly difficult to obtain natural resources of the United harvest hands and other temporary States of America and the inchildren. labor. Matters came to a head here dustrial and agricultural equip- last week when, it is asserted, there ment are sufficient to give every While several of the other were not enough pickers available to man, woman and child the mamembers of the faculty touched move a raspberry crop variously esti- terial basis for the good life. Reon recreation, Mrs. Annetta mated to be worth from $300,000 to cent governmental estimates and Humphries, Recreation Super- $500,000. . . . other authoritative studies have indicated that had our plant been visor of Bergen County, New One criticism is that the farmer used to capacity in 1929 over Jersey, was exceedingly helpful underpays this help. This point has $4,000 in goods and services been made with respect to the two and could have been supplied to in showing how to teach games a half cents a pint the grower is pay- every American family. Neverto groups and she also taught ing for picking raspberries. . . . theless, 16,000,000 American families, or nearly two-thirds of games which were suitable for Another criticism the farmer has our people, actually received in the young people at the centers. faced bears on the living conditions on that year less than $2,000. . . . farms for migratory workers. From Health, a vitally important various sources it has been charged "Finally, the churches must that the camp-like environment in ceaselessly proclaim that out of part of the program was covered which the migrant workers live varies the heart are the issues of life. by Mrs. McLaughlin of the State all the way from "inadequate" to True religion must stand always Department of. Health in New "unspeakable." . . . not only against exploitation but against the very desire to ex- Jersey, and Miss Marie Doer- Support of the raspberry growers' ploit. The Christian religion mann, Specialist in Nutrition, contention that they cannot pay more demands now and must always Extension Work in Agriculture than two and a half cents a pint for demand that both human hearts picking was given by Professor J. and human institutions be conand Home Economics in New Harold Clark, small fruits specialist trolled and judged by that mind Jersey. Miss Doermann majored of the State Agricultural Experiment which was in Christ Jesus. . . ." on the planning of menus for Station at Rutgers University. Gross returns to the growers, he pointed out, Suggestions for the observance of lunches that would be tasty as have been six and a half cents a pint Labor Sunday and Bibliography may well as nutritious. Mrs. Mc- this season. Professor Clark said the be secured for five cents, from 105 Laughlin gave excellent sugges- grower would have to charge off one East 22d St., N. Y., N. Y. cent for the berry crate and boxes, tions for the care of babies in one-half cent for fertilizer, one-half the nursery, using a large doll cent for cultivation, hoeing and other for demonstration. growing costs, and another half cent for taxes, interest on investment and The last eve n i n g all met other overhead charges. around the camp fire to talk over the experiences of these days to- "This totals five cents a pint for all costs," Professor Clark said, "leaving gether, what these days of prep- one and a half cents a pint to the aration had meant, and the challenge of the task that each was about to undertake. Miss Laura H. Parker, Chairman of the Council's Committee on Migrant
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~~I_=====()==u=A=r=M=;xr=SiO=nO=ary=r=~d=ew=::V=~=!=~=:=c=ur=r~=mU=E=:=~~=s=o=k======_~~ JAPAN-CHOSEN John R. Mott in Japan than 17,000 members of the Union, which is established in The Far East Situa.tion As a result of Dr. Mott's re- many parts of the Far East. A cent conferences with the young J a pan e s e correspondent at Dr. Wynn C. Fairfield, Secre- Japanese, the following resolu- Tokyo states that Islam is still tary of the American Board, who tions were adopted and referred a long way from having any aprecently visited Asia, reports to the National Committee of the preciable standing in Japan. that, in general, Christian lead- Y. M. C. A. in Japan: Mohammedanism, he says, is ers take the whole Manchurian still classified in Japan among development as a fait accompli 1. Increased efforts to expand the the quasi-religions. unlikely to be reversed, and cer- work of the City Associations to new tainly not as a subject for con- centers, and to train the leaders for -Moslem World. tinued agitation on the part of such expansion. the Christian group. Even an Temperance League outstanding Christian, who care- 2. The adoption of a program that Anniversary fully refrained from defense of will elevate the quality of the present Japan, took the attitude that the student Associations. It is suggested Japan's Temperance League Christians had for years left the that the National Committee place a was 50 years old last April. The Manchurian question to the gov- student secretary in each important 16th National Conference was ernment. There is a general student center, or at least one man in held in Yokohama, where the satisfection with the successful each of the present districts. League was founded. The first negotiations for the transfer of session of the conference was in the Chinese Eastern Railway 3. Increase the number of student charge of the juvenile section of from Russia to Manchukuo. hostels. the League, and this was fol- This will clarify Japanese-Rus- lowed by a lantern procession in sian relations and make for 4. Adopt a program of leadership the evening. The public was peaceful understanding. training for Middle School Associa- surprised at the number of youth tions. enrolled in the movement, and The Christian group, as seen their ability and enthusiasm in in a number of personal inter- 5. A larger measure of cooperation promoting temperance. The views and larger conferences, with the various world-wide Christian N. T. L. is a reform movement seems to expect no further de- movements. of national importance, and with velopments in relation to China. government recognition is pro- Rather, the gaze is turned east- 6. Plan to establish Y. M. C. A.'s moting education for temperance ward, where the shadow of in industrial and rural regions. and purity in every nook and American militarism is pro- corner of Japan and her dejected. 7. Cooperate in the promotion of pendencies. ~mutual understanding among the na- Everywhere there was evi- tions of the world. Rebuilding Village Life dence of determined interest of Japanese, both Christian aI].d S. Study the possibility of pro- In proportion to her area and non-Christian, in better under- moting the Y. M. C. A. in Manchuria. population Japan has one of the standing and peacemaking. Rep- "Christian Leadership" and "Spiritual largest student bodies of any naresentatives of fifteen peace or- Habits" were discussed by Dr. Mott tion in the world. Tokyo alone ganizations met Dr. John R. with a force and persuasiveness that has 300,000 students attending Mott and expressed their strong moved every delegate to a new con- schools of various types and interest in the improvement of sideration of his own resources and grades. Japan has one of the understanding between Japan responsibilities. best organized educational sysand America. A representative tems in the world; her literacy of the Three Religions. Associa- Islam in Japan is 99.7 per cent. It is evident tions, formed in 1924, and in- that evangelism requires trained cluding Shintoists, Buddhists Almost 600 Moslems, includ- leaders. and Christians, quoted a Jap- ing Indians, Tartars, Turks and anese proverb: "If in a hurry, Japanese, have formed a Moslem Today, the Christian movego around." In international Union in Manchuria. The aim ment is reaching out into rural political matters, the way of is to preach the Koran in the Japan. During the past seventy rapid progress is to "go around" Far East, and the center of the years, Christian forces have through religion. -Advance. Union is at Tokyo. Little by concentrated their efforts in little they set up mosques and .schools in Tokyo, Kobe and other cities. The Japanese Govern- ment gave them free land for this purpose and provided teach- ers whose salaries were paid by the Government. In one of the Universities of Japan a special class with free scholarships to Moslem stu den t s has been opened by the Government.
At present, there are more [433 ]
cities and larger towns. Ap- entirely on the Presbyterian trained in Moo.dy Bible Institute, proximately 31,900,000 people Church in Korea and America. Chicago, and the Missionary live in 11,434 rural towns and The need for this Bible school is School of Medicine in Londo.n. villages. This inc Iud e s the great-to train Korean Chris- She Io.cated in Perigi, district of 1,450,000 fishing folk and the tian lay workers as evangelists Landak, built her own dwelling 450,000 miners, who are dis- and Bible teachers. and added a tiny dispensary. persed in these rural communi- She has also made prolonged and ties. Of the towns and villages, Some of the results of the arduous journeys into the far 9,127 lie beyond the range of work are shown in a letter from inland and untouched regions, by Christian influence. The Baptist the late Mrs. W. J. Anderson of means of coolies or bearers, Mission is in the initial stages Seoul: carrying food sup p lie sand of developing two Rural Life shelter. These journeys cover Demonstration Centers: one in Traveling over Korea the mission- new territory each time and last northern, and the other in south- aries frequently meet Pierson Bible as long as four weeks. Only the ern Japan. These projects aim School graduates who are doing effec- merest fringe of the territory at rebuilding the total life of the tive work. Mr. Oh, a blind student has been touched. village – agricultural, economic, had a class of twenty or thirty who social, moral and religious-on a met regularly at the Sung Dong The Scripture Gift Mission Christian basis and according to Church. The Koreans are great peo- sponsors this work and hopes to Christian principles. ple to follow the sun rather than the send another woman missionary clock, and on a dark, cloudy morning to join Miss van 't Eind. – Watchman-Examiner. service is very apt to be a half hour late in beginning; but these blind Suicide Among Dyaks Methodist Student Conference young men seem to have better sense of time than those with eyes, and they Unlike the Japanese who think The first All-Japan Methodist are always on time. After their Bible it co.urageous to take one's own Student Conference was held in study in one of the classrooms, they life, the Dyaks of Borneo think Tokyo during the summer, with come in to the church service. Mr. Oh it cowardly and shameful. The 60 delegates in attendance. married a widow with one little girl, following incident is to.ld in The a darling bright-eyed child dearly Pioneer: A committee was appointed to loved by all the blind boys. Her habit cooperate with the adult com- was to lead them into their places Some excited Dyaks summoned me mittees of the denomination in Sunday morning, always with a ra- to their long house and upon entering studying the needs, and ways of diant smile. I saw a strange sight. A Dyak woman meeting the needs, of students sat bolt upright against the wall. Her in Japan today, and particularly Rev. W. J. Anderson, of Seoul, eyes were closed, her head was tied to prepare for a larger and if is the new administrator of the against a board, her feet were tied possible an interdenominational Pierson Memorial Work. together, her hands were clasped bestudent conference in the near fore her. The woman was dead – a future. The significance of this Hospital Replaced suicide. I learned that because of first denominational national grief over the death of her husband student conference in this land Despite the destruction by fire and child she had drunk of the pulp lies in the fact that it testifies of the Southern Presbyterian of the tuba root, which brought her to the awakening of Japanese hospitals at K wan g j u and to a speedy end. churches to their responsibility Chunju, the medical work of the to students and youth; and indi- mission has had a most encour- I heard other Dyaks enter, then the cates that the churches as such aging year. At Kwangju a new sound of loud slapping and angry must hereafter be reckoned with building has already replaced the voices; the relatives of the suicide as important factors in the stu- old one, and the record for hos- stood over her corpse and beat it undent Christian movement in the pital operations was greater mercifully, accompanied with loud de- Japanese empire. than the total number during the nunciation of her action, inasmuch as previous two and one-half years. it was a disgrace to all her relatives. -The Christian Century. In cramped, temporary quarters, 137 operations were performed. Usually the Dyaks bury their dead Pierson Memorial Bible School in rough boxes made from trees. To There has been a marked in- sh6w their contempt in this case, they Owing to changed conditions crease in the members enrolled merely tied three boards together, in the church and missions in in mission schools. During the which served as a stretcher. The men Korea, the Methodist Missions year 1,451 communicants have hurried off with their sorry burden, (North and South) have with- been added, while 2,736 have off to a lonely grave apart from the drawn from the work of the been added to the catechumen others. There was no ceremony, no Pierson Memorial Bible School roll. The list of communicants lamenting, nothing but loud scolding. in Seoul and that institution is now stands at 13,318 in a Chrisnow entirely under the control tian constituency of 42,000. In the Dutch East Indies of the Presbyterians. This will • -Christian Observer. siUlPlify the problems of man- .In this area there are a comagement and teaching while it ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC paratively small number of well places the financial responsibility developed Reformed churches bf Untouched Areas a strict Calvinistic type and a few smaller groups, such as the About two years ago a new Adventists, with adherents prin- area was opened to the Gospel by cipally in humbler circles. By Miss Greet van 't Eind who was far the greatest number o.f the Christians belong to. the General
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Protestant Church. The old that he wanted to be christened largest Protestant denomination, East India Company had in its as soon as he was strong enough with 10,027,929 members. The time introduced the Reformed to walk to the church. Weare Methodists were second, with Church which was the prevalent especially rejoicing because this 8,976,492. The largest religious one at home in the Netherlands. man is influential in his commu- body in the country was still the The Company considered it to be nity." Roman Catholic Church, with its duty to foster not only the 20,398,509 communicants. matters of commerce and juris- The Year in the Philippines diction, but also those of religion. Contributions made by church It founded the first congregation The United Evangelical Church members for all purposes in in 1621 in Batavia. About the of the Philippines continues to 1934 amounted to $299,416,781, same time a Lutheran congrega- grow. Its slogan now is, "Uni- or $12.07 per capita. tion was organized. In the fication of all activities." The middle of the 19th century the organization of a National Chris- Church Effort for Children King of Holland succeeded in tian Endeavor Union and of sevuniting the Reformed and the eral district unions marks this The United Presbyterian Gen- Lutherans in one denomination. as a year of real progress for eral Assembly of 1935 appointed This church has done much good Christian Endeavor. One society a special committee to promote a in the course of three hundred has taken as its special project serious effort to reach all chilyears. The Dutch government the transportation expense of an dren in America with the Chrishas always fostered tbese church earnest Christian who goes each tian message. In Sterling Colinterests in the warmest manner, Sunday afternoon to the near-by lege, Kansas, thirty-four of the even in the case of occurring leprosarium and conducts a Sun- best students signed the followvacancies. In such times the day school for some of the 150 ing: government assumed the care lepers there. There were 9,429 for the vacant congregations, children enrolled in the 247 daily DECLARATION OF PURPOSE their church buildings and had vacation Bible schools in the even the cemeteries kept in area served by Presbyterian mis- It is my prayerful purpose to lead proper condition by prisoners. sionaries. In one congregation, at least 10 boys or girls into real 18 of the children so enrolled trust in Christ as Friend and Saviour Medicine Man Becomes united with the church. One through being a Leader of one or Christian section reports that accessions more Boys or Girls Clubs which I hope to organize. It is also my purpose to Dr. Hawkins K. Jenkins, of this year were 93 % more than help in all possible ways to extend the Saguda, P. I., writes of a signal knowledge and experience of Christ victory over native medicine the average for the seven years to all Children and Youth in America. men. preceding. There are 400 church-con- "One of them became seriously -Women and Missions. nected colleges in the United ill himself, and immediately be- States. If 34 students in each gan to offer sacrifices to evil NORTH AMERICA formed a similar resolution this spirits. He was a sincere be- would mean 13,600 volunteer liever in the teachings which he Churches Gain Over One leaders of boys and girls. had helped for years to pass on Million Members to those younger than he, so he Coverdale Bible Anniversary was quite puzzled when he found George Linn Kieffer, statistithat he derived no benefit from cian of the National Lutheran Over the signature of Robert the sacrifices. When it was Council and head of the Amer- E. Speer, John H. Finley, Wilquite evident that he would soon ican Association of Religious liam Allen White and Martha die unless something more effec- Statisticians, reports that church Berry, announcement was made tive could be done for him, he membership is increasing in the in July of the formation of a naasked to be brought to the hos- United States, and that the gain tional committee to sponsor a pital. There we found that he last year was the greatest since nation-wide commemoration of had a very large abscess of the 1930. the four hundredth anniversary liver, and advised that he be of the first printed English Bible. operated upon immediately. To There were 207 religious Dr. Finley, speaking for the comour great surprise he consented, bodies in the United States in mittee, stated, "On October 4, and now th!>t he is well again he 1934, with a total adult member- 1535, the first printed English is one of the most ardent sup- ship of 62,035,688. These bodies Bible, a translation by Myles porters of the hospital. Shortly added 1,222,064 members. The Coverdale, was issued from the before leaving the hospital he Methodist Episcopal Church, press. During the four centuries told me that he wanted to be- with an increase of 210,475, since that date, it has not only come a member of the Church, headed the list of Protestant de- surpassed in circulation any that he was no longer satisfied nominations. The B apt i s t other book in the world, but has with worshiping evil spirits and Church, which had previously profoundly influenced the lives been first, came second with a of peoples and the ideals of gov- gain of 161,720. The Lutherans ernments. Regional, state, city were third with 101,118. The and church committees through- Baptists continued to be the out the country will arrange suitable programs."
New Bible Society dren carrying heavy burdens of great need of new departments Headquarters pain, suffering, hunger, adnidsesaosre~ of research and medicine. The debt, ignorance, terror, Scudder family has given 400 The American Bible Society years of medical service through has purchased a six-story build- row. medical missionaries in India. ing at 450 Park Avenue, New York, as its general office, li- Rev. James Myers, in his ad- At another "Round Top" sesbrary and salesroom for Scrip- sion Mrs. Peabody spoke of the ture'S. The new location in a dress, said that "missionaries danger of war between Italy and fireproof building will not only Ethiopia, and said that the safeguard the Society's records have ~v.er been the shock troops Treaty of Bethlehem rather than and library containing Scrip- the Treaty of Versailles is the tures in 639 languages and dia- of relIgIOn. They are Christians only hope of peace, as the only lects but will enable it also to successful internationalism is make exhibits and displays of its unafraid, and know how to face that under the leadership of the rare manuscripts and editions Prince of Peace. which for many years have been loneliness, misunderstanding left for safekeeping with the Hungarian Church Celebrates New York Public Library. The persecution, danger, martyrdom' Society hopes to occupy the new The First Magyar Reformed building in the fall, so that it and death in the supreme loyalty Church under the shadow of may be used in connection with Cornell Medical Center in New the celebration of the Four Hun- to Christ. As the church turns York City, is celebrating three dred Years of the Printed Eng- anniversaries this year. The lish Bible from October to De- now with missionary zeal and work was begun 80 years ago cember. when Kossuth visited the United courage and sacrifice to the high States. Forty years ago the members of this church formed adventure of the abolition of war, we may look forward with renewed assurance to the final victory of peace and goodwill among men."
The 2000 people in the parade pledged themselves as follows: "Because I cannot reconcile the Way of Christ with the practice of war, I pledge myself before God to work for the abolition of war as a method of settling international dis- A Demonstration Against War putes and to insist upon the use by a permanent organization, and 20 years ago the new building A dramatic demonstration all governments of the machinery of was erected. against war was impressively peace to maintain international jus- tice and goodwill."
presented by the Northfield Mis- Women's Conference at Manhattan's Abyssinian Northfield Church sionary conference on July 11th. A special Women's Confer- The Abyssinian (Negro) The Peace Parade was hailed as ence was successfully arranged Church in Harlem, New York, this year in connection with the added 771 members last year "an omen of profound signifi- General Conference (July 27- giving the church an enrolled August 12). Mrs. William R. membership of 12,808. The cance in the religious crusade for Moody was chairman, with Mrs. church raised from all sources Henry W. Peabody cooperating, $33,120.76; $8,584.62 of this a warless world." and nearly 300 women regis- amount went to benevolences. tered for the morning sessions. The church ended its fiscal year The Parade for Peace started The general topic was "The Bi- with a surplus of $1,160. ble Our Message: Everyone a at Round Top, the grave of Messenger." This church has a staff of twenty-nine paid workers, in- Dwight L. Moody, pas sed Speakers inc Iud e d Mrs. cluding t'WJ missionaries in Li- Moody, Mrs. Peabody and Mrs. beria, Africa. It gave last year through the village of East Delavan L. Pierson, who has re- $900 toward the support of the cently visted New Guinea, India, Chair of Religious Education at Northfield and back to the camp- and other fields; Mrs. John F. Virginia Union University. It Williamson, of the Westminster owns a home for its aged memus. The Cross was borne in the Choir School; Miss Gnanadi- bers at 732 St. Nicholas Avenue, kam, M.A., of the Madras Wom,.. Manhattan, and all its properties front followed by the massed col- are free of debt. The pastor for an's Christian College, India. 27 years, Rev. A. Clayton ors of the Church, the flags of On August 4, meeting was de- Powell, celebrated his 70th birth- voted to the medical work of Dr. day anniversary May 5 and dothe nations, missionaries from Ida Scudder of Vellore, India, nated $1,000 to the Home for the who has spent thirty-five years Aged which is named after him. many lands, many nationals in in South India and has opened a native costume, students, nurses, delegations from churches with- in a radius of fifty miles and the 600 members of the Missionary Conference. Salvation Army bands furnished the music.
The most striking float de- picted Flanders Field with rows of crosses, each one bearing a silver dollar sign and the Dsolollgaarn~ "Munition Makers Reap -Others Reap Death." The bowed figure of a "gold star mother" in heavy mourning sat Christian medical college that in the foreground. The final has sent out nearly 200 graduate The First American Foreign float, with the slogan, "Genera- Indian women doctors, all of Missionary tions of Children Bear the Bur- them Christian. An endowment Susan Elizabeth Kaske, wife of dens of War" showed the chil~ is being sought and there is George Kaske, was the first na-
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
tive-born Protestant missionary Mohammedan Association (that strength of the institution. to go out from America to a for- is, Russian Tatar Moslems) in Starting with six members in eign land. The Moravian Church Brooklyn, a three-story wooden 1830 there are now over 700,000. of Bethlehem, Pa., founded in building; and the only Moslem With its branches and missions 1741, sent her with her husband newspaper is El Bayan, pub- it records nearly 2,000 church in 1746 to South America where lished in New York City, with a organizations. There are seven they served in British and Dutch circulation of 2,000. temples where the inner rites Guiana. Susan E. Funk was are performed. The church uses born November 18, 1721, in Ger- Leaders strive to present a the radio, printed page and the mantown and moved to Bethle- new and more or less enlightened rostrum as channels for its meshem in 1843. On May 12, 1746, Islam, keeping in the back- sage. There is a system of relishe married George Kaske, and ground aspects at variance with gious education second to none, they went to work among the modern ideas, e. g., the position starting with the Sunday school, Indians of South· America in of women. The number of con- continuing through the seminary Berbice, Demarara. They la- verts must be less than 10,000; for week-day religious instrucbored there until 1763 and Mrs. it is not to be expected that tion ; and cuI min a tin g in Kaske died in Bethlehem, Pa., on Islam can be more successful Brigham Young University. July 28, 1804. here than in Europe. -Presbyterian Banner. Recently on June 2, 1935, the -G. H. Bousquet, in "The Women's Missionary Society of Moslem World." LATIN AMERICA the Bethlehem church celebrated its 117th anniversary. Ozark Mountain Children Work for Puerto Ricans Taught Bible Moody Institute Lectures A united evangelistic cam- Hugh B. Reid, of Carthage, paign has been carried on in A new venture is to be Mo., writes that through the co- Puerto Rico in a very unique launched by the Moody Bible In- operation of rural public school way this year by the churches of stitute of Chicago, September 5, teachers he is reaching more five cooperating denominations. according to the President, Rev. than 11,000 children of south- These services, extending over Will H. Houghton, D.D. The western Missouri with a Chris- several weeks, p r act i c a II y plan involves the visit of a num- tian program. About 5,000 of brought the presence of Christ to ber of Bible teachers and church- these receive no other Christian the entire area where Protestant men of unusual prominence, each training. Mr. Reid reports that churches are located. The final serving a one-month lectureship. results' of this campaign have They will be especially stim- 585 families were called upon. not been tabulated, but Dr. Arulating and informing to pas- 460 pieces of clothing were given chilla reports that the number of tors, evanglists and other Chris- accessions should reach at least tian workers who aspire to a to the needy. a thousand. greater mastery of the art of 81 toys were given at Christmas. expository preaching. Among 470 addresses were made. The Puerto Rican church, althem are the following: Dr. Wil- 63,000 pages of reading material were ways aggressively evangelistic liam Evans, expositor, author and missionary, was responsible and lecturer on Bible themes; given away. a number of years ago for the Dr. B. B. Sutcliffe, Bible class 634 books, and more than 1,300 opening of work in the Dominiteacher; Dr. Harry A. Ironside, can Republic. The Presbyterian a clarion voice in the field of ex- Bibles, Testaments and Gos- mission is now proposing to position, pastor of the Moody pels were distributed. carry the gospel in Spanish to Memorial Church, Chicago; and 48 were added to Cradle Rolls, and the Puerto Ricans who have col- Dr. Wilbur M. Smith, editor of 92 to Young People's So- onized in the Virgin Islands if Peloubet's Notes. cieties. finances permit. Representa- 6 new schools, with an enrolment tives of the presbytery have vis- Islam in America of 216 were added. ited the island of Santa Cruz, 48 conversions resulted from 5 re- have preached there and discov- It is impossible. to know the vival meetings; and 30 from ered that there are 150 members exact number of Moslems in the 27 Vacation Bible Schools in of the church in the colony of United States; perhaps 25,000 which over 900 were enrolled. several thousand. is a fair estimate. The largest 169 took a leadership t r a i n i n g center is probably Detroit, with course. Baptist Work in Puerto Rico 10,000. There are about 2,000 10,700 Bible verses were memorized in Pittsburgh, 3,000 in Cleve- by school children. The Watchman-Examiner reland, 5,000 in greater New York, 8 institutes were held. ports advance on all fronts in 2,000 in Massachusetts, 500-600 7 teachers' conventions and Puer·to Rico. There were more in Rhode Island. The only real 145 rural public schools were vis- baptisms than for several years. mosque which exists today in ited. The Sunday school attendance is America is that of the Anglo- the largest in the history of the Mormonism work. Offerings have moved To most Americans Mormon- ism is a curiosity. "But," says Dr. W. M. Paden, "it is more than that. It is the largest, wealthiest, best located, best or- ganized, most aggressive of all the false religions of America." Not everyone is aware of the
upward and church membership The balance of their sustenance mander of Jutiapa was an enemy continues to increase. they make up by tenant farming of the gospel and when Don Jose and odd jobs. The Campaign began to offer Scriptures for During the year representa- shares in the expenses of fur- sale… the commandant took him tives of the various denomina- nishing free rent and firewood to jail, struck him twice on the tions working in the island made for the transients, and thus se- head, pulled his hair, and said, a tour, covering the greater part cures the opportunity of making "What do you mean by preachof the work of all denomina- suggestions as to sanitation and ing without my permission?" tions; this was followed by four of asking for reports on the Don Jose replied that the law days of conference – review of number and nature of the con- gave him perfect liberty to the past, evaluation of the pres- tacts made at each lodge. Cam- preach. "Oh," said the coment and plans for the future. paign evangelists make regular mandant, "you know more than visits to the lodges to help the I do." "No," responded Don Cuban Pastors' Conference lodge keepers make our Lord Jose, "you know that as well as known to the travelers, and then 1." The commandant hunted for Last winter Cuban pastors follow up prospects in their the jail keys. Don Jose told him called a meeting of representa- homes. Well located lodges are he would not run away, but the tives from every church organ- operating in s eve r a I places. keys were found and the doors ization throughout the entire Re- Since its opening in March the locked, and five guards placed in public to form an association of San Pedro house has been the charge! The faithful worker evangelical ministers and work- means of reaching 171 Indians sang hymns and read his Bible. ers for the purpose of promoting with the Word of God in direct In the morning he was released cooperation am 0 n g religious personal evangelization. and ordered not to preach, but to groups. Foreign missionaries leave town. Don Jose made no were invited to attend, but it was A Steadfast Indian promises, but went out and sent in every sense a distinctly Cuban a telegram to the President of movement. Plans are made to Work among the Cakchiquel the Republic, asking if he had a put this into effect throughout Indians of Guatemala was men- right to preach the gospel. The the six provinces of Cuba dur- tioned in the REVIEW some time reply came quickly and read as ing the next year. ago. About 100 preaching cen- follows: "You have liberty to ters are now estaollshed, and a preach the gospel as long as -Presbyterian Banner. Bible school has trained 25 grad- peace is not disturbed." uates. The quality of the con- "Over Night Lodge" verts is apparent in the story of Eventually,arrangements were Don Macario, evangelist. Some made for public meetings; at the The Guatemala News indicates years ago a man knocked at his first, twelve persons accepted the possibilities in a work called door about midnight. When Christ. "Flop Houses for Indian Tran- Macario opened the door he was sients." Migrant groups of In- struck with a machete which al- -Moody Institute Monthly. dian laborers and their families most severed a cheek bone from huddle around their little camp his face. He was taken to the White Ribbon Mission Work fires at night along the road- hospital at Antigua and after a sides, or in the public squares of few months returned home, Missionaries find that the the towns. The dirt floors of the healed but with disfigured face. Woman's Christian Temperance open thatch roofed sheds along He began preaching in his home Union is the right hand of the the highways are often very and a mob of several hundred church in many foreign lands. damp and always vermin in- tore down the house. But he has fested. .Even in the towns the the Indian persistency. The In Japan alone there are ten corridors of the public buildings house was rebuilt, and eventually thousand women members of where the Indians sleep on the the town ceased opposition to this brganization, and thousands brick paving are exposed to the him and his preaching. About of young people and children in fury of the elements and afford 125 worshipers assemble at his the various branches. Twenty little in the way of shelter. Ex- home every Sunday. thousand men are united in the haustion may induce a few hours masculine Temperance League, of disturbed slumber despite the -So S. Times. largely as the result of the efnight life of bugs, rodents, dogs; forts of the W. C. T. U. As a but between two and four o'clock Open Door in EI Salvador result of their activity, a law was in the morning the cold becomes passed in Japan a number of so pentrating that the migrants For some time special prayer years ago forbidding minors to are glad to be up and going. had been offered for Cabanas, smoke or drink. There are three with its population of over temperance periodicals-one for Christian evangelists have in- 66,000. men, one for women, and one for stituted the over-night lodge children. Besides the direct war which has become largely self- About a year ago a colporteur, against alcohol, tobacco and supporting. A Christian family Don Jose Escamill,a, made a drugs, members have attacked in charge does a simple lunch passing visit to Jutiapa, a town the social evil most vigorously, counter business which provides of over 3,500. The military com- have established rescue homes, for a part of their own table.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
two women's homes, hostels for and conditions in these homes has also a much improved rev- have shown improvement almost enue. On the other hand the factory girls, a sailors' resort, immediately. Methodist Society shows a deand a social centre, all of which ficiency of £ 5 8 , 0 0 0, but its is testimony to the fact that -Flora E. Strout, Rio de friends believe it is only a tem- Christians realize that social Janeiro. porary deficit. evils are among the greatest hindrances to the progress of the EUROPE Calvin Anniversary Gospel in Japan. Youth's Mission to Youth The summer of 1936 will wit- In Singapore, the W. C. T. U. ness a great pilgrimage to established child welfare work, The twenty-fourth anniver- France by American Presbyand in the exhibitions temper- sary of the National Young Life terians, Scottish Calvinists and ance always has a prominent Campaign of Great Britain members of Reformed Churches place. Colombo, Ceylon, has a brought out the fact that this in all parts of the world to comcounter-attraction to the saloons movement is definitely passing memorate the 400th anniversary in a large working man's resort, from the experimental stage, and of John Calvin's "Institutes of where three hundred men gather is becoming a strong evangeliz- Religion." It was in August, each day for the classes, lectures, ing agency. During the years 1535, that Calvin, then only 26 games and delicious refresh- since the War the N. Y. L. C. has years old, dedicated to King ments. In India, Egypt, Pales- developed in various ways, such Francis I, of France, his vigtine, in every place where the as the additions to headquarters orous exposition of the Christian Gospel is preached, the W. C. staff, voluntary evangelists, the faith. From March 15 to April T. U. assists in conquering the missIonary service and training 15 the French National Library social enemies of men, women fund for helping young people will feature a Calvin exhibition and children. to enter missionary service. of manuscripts, books and other Churches are according in- documents. There will be Cal- In 1894, the W. C. T. U. was creased recognition of the value vin memorial celebrations in born in Brazil. In 1925, it was of its service. other cities than Paris, notably reorganized under the name of Noyon, his birthplace, and Ge- UnHlo Brasileira Pr6-Temper- The number of actual cam- neva, Switzerland, where he anc;a with some of the most intel- paigns in the past year num- spent most of his life. ligent women in Rio de Janeiro bered fifty-seven, beside those on the national committee. It carried out by teams from the -Missions. influences all sorts and condi- London School of Evangelism tions of men even. For the last and a Liverpool team of young Russia Rediscovers Values three years during the carnival men doing similar work in their spare time. The income for the That a new Russia is emerging season, Government has not per- year showed an increase of £500. from the Soviet chrysalis apmitted anything stronger than The most encouraging feature is pears to some observers. Signs beer to be sold to the people on the increasing zeal for evangel- are multiplying that she is trekthe street and only allowed wine ism of the members themselves. king back to the safe and sane and champagne to be served There are now more than 300 principle that the family is the with food in the clubs. This who have entered either the min- corner stone of civilized society, year gambling was added to the istry or the foreign mission field and one of these signs is the prohibitions. since the War. fact that "Romeo and Juliet" may now be played in Moscow During temperance wee k, Increased Mission Funds theaters. Says the Boston Tranthere are talks over the radio, script: "People won't play at bemoving pictures on scientific For the most part the leading ing robots forever. They've got temperance, essay and oratorical missionary organizations 0 f to have music and novels and contests. The barracks are not Great Britain show increased in- plays and fairy tales and relionly open to talks at this time, come for the past year. The gion. The rulers of the Soviet but their own doctors give the London Missionary Society re- are, little by little, retreating soldiers and police accurate in- cords an increase of £6,324 in from their earlier position; they formation in periodical lectures. contributions during the past fi- are beginning to recognize that nancial year-the first increase man cannot live by bread alone." The schools are always open to after seven years, during which temperance propaganda, and the the income has been going down. Crowded churches last Easter, pupils become temperance mes- The bulk of the increase is from without consequent molestation sengers to their homes. So in- personal donations, but contri- on the part of government, seems formation grows and the results butions from the churches have to show that hostility to religion are little short of miraculous. increased as well. Baptists re- is weakening. Children who had port a £5,000 increase. The lately been rewarded for betray- In a very poor district, where C. M. S., which keeps its total ing their parents to authorities much of the poverty is caused by cash receipts together, has an must now be taught to honor drink, the children have carried increase of £51,654. The S. P. G. their fathers and mothers. information concerning the evils of alcohol with the result that cachac;a (national whiskey) has been banished in some instances
AFRICA fore next meeting of the confer- out how the cinema can best be ence three years hence, to evan- used as an instrument of adult Moslems Copy Christians gelize effectively the whole of education and recreation adapt- the large areas in their care; so ed to the needs and mental equip- Mohammedans are seeking to that it could be reported that ment of the African. African emulate Christianity in doing for every village and hamlet, even Missions have much to gain by the blind similar work to that every isolated farm or com- the success of this project, which being done in Egypt by medical pound, in these areas had re- should furnish them with a new missionaries. A note in Al Ah- ceived the Gospel. The growth instrument to use in their work. ram reads: "Students of the of opposing forces was the im- Specialists' Department of the pelling motive. South Africa Sunday-School Higher Training College at Shu- Association bra have formed a society for The question of one African combating blindness and in- Church for Nigeria has faced the Wayside Sunday schools are structing the blind. They ap- Conference for some years, and a prominent part of the work peal for the blind to be sent to it was agreed that the most carried on by the South African them." helpful course to follow in the National Sunday-School Associa- meantime would be to develop tion. In Port Elizabeth there Visit to Algeria among the Christians the con- are now thirteen such schools sciousness of unity that already with an enrolment of 7,000 chil- Rev. W. L. McClenahan, of exists, and to that end it was de- dren each Sunday, and in Cape- Egypt, writes of a visit in Al- cided to hold spiritual life con- town there are five with an avergeria, covering about 1,200 ferences, and to publish a Chris- age attendance of 400. One waymiles with a view to assisting in tian periodical in Hausa, which side Sunday school in Port Elizathe work of evangelization, to would give accounts of work and beth has gone so far as to hold a gain further knowledge as to the blessing all over the field, thus service every Sunday afternoon needs along that line so as to promoting the sense of oneness for Indian women, another conhelp in prayer those already on in Christ Jesus. ducts a wayside Sunday school the field; also to furthering in- on Saturday afternoon which has terest on the part of those who Twenty-seven delegates from an attendance of sixty or seventy might themselves go out and give six societies were in attendance. white children. Noon day lunch a hand in the work. meetings of Sunday school teach- -The Christian. ers is another feature of the As- "One thing that attracted our sociation's work. attention," says Dr. McClena- Motion Pictures for the Bantu han, "was the simplicity of the -The Presbyterian. methods used by missionaries in The International Missionary their work. The contacts they Council's department of Social F have with the people are ob- and Industrial Research has just tained through open-air markets, embarked upon an experiment to WESTERN ASIA visits in the homes, classes for provide good cinema films for women and children, and in a Africa, with the help of a grant Sabbath Observance in few places 'homes' for children from the Carnegie Corporation Tel-Aviv and hostels for lads. In no case of New York. I believe have they entered to Tel-Aviv in Palestine is the any large extent into the field The first step will be the pro- only one hundred per cent Jewof education and medicine. Be- duction of films performed by ish city in the world. Sharp difing in a section of 'the land of native actors, the subjects of ference of opinion and practice the Vanished Church' the mis- which will relate to life and with regard to the religious obsionaries there are in a some- scenes familiar to the African. servance of the Sabbath apparwhat different position from that Some will deal with such prac- ently exists among the Jews of those in most Arabic-speaking tical subjects as improved meth- there, for recently riots took countries, where there are an- ods of poultry keeping, cattle place in the course of which, accient Christian communities, and raising, etc.; others will relate cording to the Jewish Daily Bulare thus able to work along to culture and a few will be pure letin, several persons were insimple, New Testament lines in comedy. The films will be shown jured. Orthodox Jews, it seems, the planting of churches." to selected Bantu audiences to paraded the streets on the Sab- discover the appeal made by dif- bath, and began to break the -A Thirsty Land. ferent types of pictures, and windows of all Jewish shops will be accompanied by a talkie which were open. They inter- Far-Reaching Decision commentary produced by syn- cepted taxis containing Jewish chronised gramophone records. passengers with the result that At the triennial Conference of street fights broke out requiring Missions in Northern Nigeria, The fullest possible coopera- the intervention of the British held recently at Miango, a reso- tion of the missions and govern- police authorities. In commentlution was adopted, urging that ment departments (Native Af- ing on this disturbance Jewish all the societies in the northern fairs, Education, Health, Agri- writers point out that on the Provinces should endeavor, be- culture, Veterinary) is being whole Jewish youth in Palestine sought in this enterprise to find
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
is antireligious. The orthodox established Evangelical Church of Bible Motor Caravan Jews are particularly indignant Iran. over the fact that Jewish youth The British and Foreign Bible in Palestine carryon sport ac- The Assembly rejoices to welcome Society has des i g ned and tivities openly on the Sabbath. to the fellowship of the Evangelical equipped a motor caravan which Church throughout the world, this new is to tour India, and possibly 'I'he Plight of the Assyrians church of Iran so largely the product Ceylon, selling Scriptures and of the work of the missionaries of the generally forwarding the work The Assyrians of Iraq (Meso- Board of Foreign Missions of this As- of the Society. The van carries potamia) are Christians – un- sembly . . . and assures the Church a large stock of Scriptures, seleceducated it is true, but profess- of its affection and prayers, and trusts tions of which are attractively ing to be followers of Christ in that by God's blessing the most glori- displayed behind glass panels in spite of persecution. Groups of ous days of Christianity in past cen- the side. There is s'eating ac- Assyrian Christians have fled to turies may be surpassed by the service commodation for f 0 u r passouthern France, Syria, Iraq and and faith of this new Church in Iran. sengers, in addition to the driver, elsewhere and most of them are and a sleeping berth for use living in dire poverty. The On August 19, 1934, was held when necessary. It is also European office for International the first meeting of the United equipped with a gramophone, Church Aid – in Geneva – is Evangelical Church of Iran. and a magic lantern for showing seeking to help these groups. The moderator of the Church, as slides on the Life of Christ and Some camps have been provided he took the chair, called upon the the work of the Bible Society. for Assyrian widows and or- delegates to keep clearly in mind Later it is hoped to include a phans in Iraq but in the villages that the one purpose of the meet- portable cinema outfit. Two or north and south of Mosul, 35,000 ing was the advancement of the three months will be spent in are living in misery. Few lands Church of Christ in Persia. each main language area workare willing to receive them. The ing in close cooperation with Universal Christian Council has On August 23d, the date of the local missions and churches. been trying to find a new home closing, a communion service The initial tour began in the for these people – in British was held, exactly 100 years to Madras Presidency in January Guiana-but there the climate is the day, since Rev. Justin Per- of this year, and during the two unsuitable. Western Christians kins arrived in Tabriz under the and a half months spent in the should not rest until this prob- appointment of the American Tamil country over 10,000 Scriplem is solved. Board of Commissioners for ture portions were sold. Foreign Missions. The service, PROF. ADOLPH KELLER. therefore, was a fitting close of -Dnyanodaya. the century. The sacrament To Beautify Holy Ci.ty was administered by one or- The Literacy Problem dained missionary and one or- Announcement is made of a dained national. The past and India's illiteracy problem is "five-year plan" to make Jeru- the future were thus joined. colossal, nearly 92 per cent of salem as beautiful as in the days her people being unable to read of the ancient Hebrew kings. INDIA or write. During the last ten The municipality of Jerusalem years the rate of increase in lithas obtained a half-million dol- Boycott of Hindu Gods eracy in India is one per cent. lar loan to aid in launching a Taking into consideration the program of civic improvements. At a Harijan Conference last rate of natural increase of the The funds are to be used in pro- population also, one is not sure viding a park system and for the April, a delegate, in moving a whether the net result of progimprovement of sanitary condi- ress in literacy is not in fact tions in the city. resolution to the effect that the progress backward. Even at the present rate of one per cent in- Evangelical Church of Iran Harijans of Hyderabad State crease in ten years, it would take 920 years before illiteracy can The Presbyterian General As- should strive their utmost to be removed from India. Only a sembly took the following action very small percentage of public at its meeting in Cincinnati in eradicate untouchability from revenue is available for mass May: education. Hinduism, declared that there The General Assembly has learned -Christian Century. with joy of the establishment of The was "a ID;'eaningless superstition Evangelical Church of Iran with its Poona's Colleges independent Synod and three presby- among Hindus that if an unteries, and has been happy at this ses- Poona has the reputation of sion of the Assembly to approve the touchable entered a temple, the having more colleges than any transfer of the Presbytery of Eastern other city of its size in the Persia, heretofore connected with the god in the temple would be pol- world. Its, population in 1931 Synod of New York and with the Gen- was 250,000. What has been eral Assembly of the Presbyterian luted, and he advised them to Church in the U. S. A. to the newly boycott such gods as were pol- luted by their touch."
The Conference also exhorted Harijans to eradicate drink and other evil customs. It was re- called that the Nizam's Govern- ment had already ordered the prosecution of those who offered girls as devadasis to goddesses, and that they should help the Government by reporting such cases. ' -Dnyanodaya.
described as India's premier non- some' terse statements which ters of the Han and Yangtze official educational institution, summarize the progress made, Rivers. Fergusson College, is also in with Christian missions the es- Poona. Its jubilee occurred last sential element: Northern provinces also con- April. The influence it has in tinued struggling to imprison modern India is indicated by the Has the best government which she the raging waters of the Yellow fact that during the fifty years has known since the founding of the River, "China's Sorrow," as it of its existence about 70,000 Republic in 1911. roared headlong to the sea, students have received their edu- crushing its barriers to engulf cation there. The Deccan Edu- Forty thousand miles of new roads immense districts of farmlands. cation Society is the parent of have been built in the last five years. this college; it also sponsors an- The report from Red Cross auother Arts College and four high Broad avenues have been cut thorities in Hankow combined schools in Poona. through the poverty-ridden sections of with reports from neighboring many of her cities. areas indicate uncounted thou- -Dnyanodaya. sands of Chinese who have per- "Clean-up campaigns" have im- ished in the Han and Yangtze Jubilee in Western Tibet proved the sanitation of a host of floods. towns and villages. The remoteness of western Government authorities an- Tibet from the civilized world The railroads, telegraphs and mails nounced that five northern provdid not prevent its inhabitants grow daily more efficient. inces of China have been devasfrom joining other loyal British tated, leaving about six million subjects in celebrating King Increasing education is lifting the people homeless. George's Silver Jubilee. Kye- moral tone of the people. lang, a Moravian Mission Cen- Ohinese Ohild Welfare ter, has never known an occa- The "New Life Movement" is stimsion comparable to it.. Early on ulating many reforms, such as the at- The first national Child Welthe morning of May 6 the Chris- tack on the opium trade which has fare Conference was held last tians assembled in the church taken place in many provinces. October, with 134 delegates from for a thanksgiving service, while 14 provinces in at ten dan c e. the Buddhist clergy met in their Although numbering only one Branch associations have been monasteries to read passages in a thousand of the population, organized in Peiping and Luanfrom their scriptures which they the Christian group has supplied hsien, and plans are under way thought would be appropriate. an astonishing proportion of the for one in Nanking. The secre- The c e Ie bra t ion included leadership of the co u n try. tariat handled 123 cases of child speeches from the missionary Fifty-one per cent of the college protection. In June, 1934, the and the headmaster of the Gov- graduates listed in Chi n a's Association attempted to proseernment Middle School, parades, "Who's Who" are the product of cute a professional dancer for various competitive sports, bon- Christian schools and colleges. cruelty to a six-year-old adopted fires and native costume dances. daughter. Although the court Everybody was out to enjoy him- A Year of Opportunity found the defendant guilty, it self, and did. Unlike many of was compelled to waive jurisdictheir social functions which de- Two years ago the Honan tion, as the Association lacks the generate to orgies of lust and Mission of the United Church of right to prosecute in accordance drunkenness, there was not the Canada opened a small hospital with the present criminal code. slightest trace of these vices in Taokow. During the first The Association therefore has during the two days' rejoicings. year 5,443 treatments were petitioned the Juridicial Yuan registered; the total cost being for this right to be given to child The people here, living under $3,206 Chinese currency, of welfare bodies. the administration of the British which $1,521 was received in Government, are more world- fees, the balance being taken The Shanghai Child Welfare aware than their compatriots in care of by Canadian friends. Clinic treated 12,344 patients; other parts of Western Tibet. Over 700 flood refugees were 1,818 children were given free The medical, educational and cared for the past two years. In baths; 1,611 children particimilitary activities of the Gov- addition, 52 expectant mothers pated in health club meetings; ernment, not to mention the in- from refugee camps were cared nurses made 414 calls on pafluence of the mission, have re- for, and every baby saved. tients at their homes. Since sulted in an understanding of the Schools were organized for teen- March 1, 1934, 4,654 cases were influx of Western ideas. age boys and girls from these handled in extension medical camps. From one point of view, clinic work. A child tuberculosis -Moravian Missions. the flood has been a blessing; section has been erected at the these sufferers have come under Ching Chong Sanitarium at OHINA influences they would otherwise Kiangwan. have missed. There are some Evidences of Progress 2,000 villages in the Taokow April 4th was widely observed field. -Honan Quarterly. as Children's Day, and 1935 is The American Board, under to be a Children's Year. the title, "China Changes," gives More Deaths by Flood -Chinese Recorder. In July reports from China stated that 30,000 bodies of flood victims had been assembled in the Hankow area alone. This indicates the toll, taken in Cen- tral China by the receding wa-
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Through Eye Gate in Hong port shows how, at Yungkang, to send him as a Christian the aim of creating self-support- worker. He found a native hut Kong ing churches is being realized. in a splendid location near the Seven years ago the missionaries market, where he has been wit- Mr. H. Lechmere Clift of from Yungkang went home un- nessing for Christ ever since." Hong Kong, sees a unique op- able, for health reasons, to reportunity there, both of attract- turn. The Mission agreed not In another center a Christian ing the indifferent and of help- to send resident missionaries Annamese opened a barber shop ing missionaries. In a letter to there again, but to ask the work- in the market center, and wit- The Life of Faith he says: _ ers in Kinhwa to render what nessed to every customer who help they could. For one'or two came for a haircut. He gave his For years my dream has been to years not much happened, and home for a meeting place, and have a book-shop in the very heart of there were very little signs of thus a strong evangelistic center the business section of Hong Kong. progress. By and by, church has been established. The show windows of the shop are to leaders saw that they must have large open Bibles in English, either shoulder their responsi- -The Call. French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, bility and throw themselves into Urdu and Chinese. Passengers of all the work, or face the possibility Religious Life at Nanking nationalities here change their ships of its discontinuance. Men and University and come ashore to see the sights. women voluntarily went every- where preaching and teaching, W. Reginald Wheeler writes of On the mainland itself, in the thick with the result that the church progress in the religious life of of Kowloon's residential flats, we al- has gone forward by leaps and Nanking University. All chapel ready have such a shop: and the bounds. Eight or nine new cen- service and classroom religious books, pictures, posters and open Bi- ters have been opened, and this instruction is on an elective bles attract the attention of the year 97 adults have been bap- basis. crowds of Europeans, Americans, Por- tized. All expenses are met by tuguese and Chinese passing by. Then church members. There has been a subsidence of the there are throngs of tourists and we anti-Christian attitude of previous could reach them also. Some hun- -China's Millions. years, but there is much still to be dreds of pounds a year would be re- done and won, and the battle is not quired to run such a shop. It would The Cambodia Field an easy one, either for Christian stube not a paying business from a com- dents or faculty. Those who choose mercial point of view, but a spiritual Mr. Jeffrey, of the Christian the Christian way of life have enenterprise: not bringing in monetary and Missionary Alliance, says gaged in a real conflict "and there are gain, but saving immortal souls, and that the past year's results in many adversaries." Here is a student proving a marvelous witness in a French Cambodia have been who had decided to become a Chrisgreat city given over to money-mak- most gratifying. The previous tian and be baptized. He comes from ing and pleasure. year had seemingly been the a family of wealth and influence. darkest in that field, but work None of his family are Christians; his China Mission Losses was established in four new father learns of his contemplated step places last year ; at Prey Nop, and the boy is compelled to drop out Missionaries and missionary center of a large district; at of this Christian University and go enterprises in China lost heavily Kampot, capital of the province; to a government institution. Here is in the failure of the American- and in two villages; in each another student, with a shining face, Oriental Banking Corporation place the way was opened un- to whom I am instinctively drawn. and allied companies last May. expectedly. "We were refused After class he comes to me and says: This enterprise was promoted by permission to open a chapel in "I want to be a Christian. How do Frank J. Raven and was known Prey Nop," says Mr. Jeffrey, you be a Christian?" The boy has as a "missionary bank" since it "but one day we drove out there had a difficult path since that decision, catered to missionary patronage. in company with some of our but he has stood firm and has been The China Weekly Review, Cambodian workers. As we baptized into the new faith. Such ex- Shanghai, says: "Not only have traveled along, we felt led to periences are both a challenge and a mission organizations suffered stop the car in the shade of the reward. potential losses on invested forest for a season of prayer. funds from $3,500,000 to $5,000,- While we prayed, one of our In the faculty there has bepn real 000, but thousands of individual workers broke down in tears, religious activity, though we still have missionaries scattered over the and in prayer offered himself to far to go. During the year two "reinterior have their retirement, God as 'a living sacrifice' for the treats" have been held; one in a home-vacation and educational opening of the work in Prey picturesque Buddhist temple. Seventy funds locked up in these enter- N op. Although a Bible school of the faculty, Chinese and foreigners, prises. . . . One of the maj or man and well versed in the met in this temple. During- the sinl!'- casualties of the Raven bank- Word, he was willing to go there ing' of one of the hymns an old Budruptcy was the American Epis- as an ordinary farmer, since the dhist monk made his way to the altar copal Mission which has ap- Government would not allow us in front of an image of the Buddha proximately $700,000 tied up in and placed a single stick of burning stocks and bonds of the defunct incense there, as if afraid this new companies." religion might displace the worship of one who had lived and taught cen- Self-Support Achieved turies before Christ.
The following extract from the MISCELLANEOUS China Inland Mission annual re- A Survey of Progress Canon Stacy Waddy, Secre- tary of the S. P. G., visited the
United States on a world trip to Cases arrested without defor- (b) Golden Rule observance of visit Anglican mission fields. mity, i. e., symptom free. . .. 1,054 Mother's Day, He reports steady progress in many places, notably the estab- Cases arrested with deformity 359 (c) Religion and Welfare Recovery lishment of a new diocese in Program. West Africa known as the Gam- Of the remaining patients bia. Further progress is indi- some became worse, or station- 3. Allocation of relief and welfare cated by increase in numbers, ary, and a considerable number funds as grants-in-aid to instituconspicuously in D 0 rna k a 1, left or died; 704 of the cases ar- tions and agencies recommended where 12,000 were baptized in rested without deformity were by the Committee on Research the year and where an assistant, discharged and 126 of those ar- and Survey. Bishop Elliott, has just been pro- rested with deformity. In addivided to aid Bishop Azariah in tion upwards of 6,900 lepers 4. Administration of Trust Funds for the enormous work of that dio- were treated as out-patients. Philanthropic Purposes. cese. -Without the Camp. Each year the program be- Looking to the future, Canon comes more practical, varied, far Waddy points out two factors in GENERAL reaching and strategic. Among missionary procedure, not new the 1935 objectives are: Feeding but of great significance. One The Bible Needs No Witness the hungry, healing the sick, reis migration. Races and groups lieving the underprivileged in of people have always moved In a letter to the New York neglected areas, development of about over the face of the earth, Times, Dr. J 0 h n Hay n e s self-help, character building and acting as carriers, such as the Holmes recently offered a pro- religious and welfare recovery. Jews, the Tamils of South India, test at the representation of the and, particularly at the present discovery of porcelain archives, Dynamics vs. Mechanics time, the Chinese. There are almost 3,000 years old, as "of said to be some eleven million vast importance in corrobora- It is evident from the present Chinese outside China. Where tion of Bible stories." "Are we conditions that the primary hitherto the Church has worked never to learn," asks Dr. Holmes, problems of our day are in the in places, it now moves out to "that the Bible is itself a first- realm of dynamics, rather than work along lines of communica- class historical document, or col- in the realm of mechanics. The tion. There is also the increas- lection of documents, which no need of the hour is not more ing importance of printed mat- more needs confirmation than knowledge, but more action; not ter. To quote only one instance, Thucydides or Tacitus? . . . more campaigns, but more consenew ideas are p e Ii e t rat i n g Instead of saying that these cration; not more statistics, but throughout the Moslem world by archreological deposits in Pales- more spirituality; not more means of printed matter, and the tine confirm the Bible, why not councils, but more cooperation tremendous possibilities of this say that the Bible confirms these with the Holy Spirit. are seen especially in the fact deposits? It is the 'porcelain that printed matter can pene- archives' just unearthed that There is no dynamic power in trate among Moslems in lands need authentication, not the Christianity that has not staked that missionaries are still for- Biblical text. I count it high its very existence on belief in the bidden to enter. Other oppor- time that we drop our subcon- Holy Spirit. Without this the tunities, for active personal work scious suspicion of the Bible and Christian Church will be timid and for the use of printed mat- accept it without reserve for when it ought to be courageous, ter, are offered by the pilgrimage what it is-one of the most pre- bewildered when it ought to uncenters which are visited by cious and trustworthy records of derstand, stagnant when it ought thousands yearly, especially in human history now in possession to be alive. Belief in the Holy the Orient. of the race." Spirit means that the Christian Church is called to dare great Some Leper Statistics Golden Rule Foundation adventures and take tremendous risks. Only when the Christian Returns received from 50 dif- The Golden Rule Foundation, Church essays the impossible ferent stations in fndia, China, does it give God a chance; only Korea and Africa where the Mis- incorporated by special act of the when it achieves the impossible sion to Lepers maintains, or aids does it prove that the Holy Spirthe work, show the results of Legislature of the State of New it is not merely a theological leprosy treatment during the proposition but a living reality. year: York, March 29, 1929, seeks to It is not learning, or wealth, or organization, or equipment that Patients under treatment for serve the American public as "a will enable the Christian Church not less than three months .. 9,157 to conquer the world; it is ac- people's foundation," rendering tual belief in the Holy Spirit. If Number of above who slightly we would silence our theologic·al improved …………….. 2,800 to the average citizen a service controversies, our ecclesiastical rivalries, our counsels of expedi- Number much improved …… 2,772 which includes: – ency, our clamor for money, we might again "hear what the 1. Investigation of appeals as to rela- Spirit saith to the churches" tive need, efficient administration, more clearly than we hear Him and strategic importance. today. -John McDowell.
2. Stewardship education and stimula- tion of increased giving by pro- motion of: (a) International Go 1den Rule Week,
Missionary
Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information I===============================I~ Outline of Buddhism, C. H. S. Ward, The discussion of Nirvana will devoted uncompromising, con- sistent, loving, self-sacrificing pp. 149, % net. The Epworth Press, be found interesting and illumi- Christian parents. Here too we see (under God) hope for the umdon, 1934. nating. The author summarizes future church and the mission- ary enterprise – not in highly- This little volume is one of the very well the various views held trained specialists, but in well- Great Religions of the East se- educated youth who are "born ries, edited by Eric S. Water- of the Buddha's' concept of Nir- again" and who truly "seek first house, M.A., D.D. It has been the Kingdom of God and His said that he knows not England vana. righteousness." who only England knows. The same may be said of Christian- The book is well written and John and Betty Starn would ity. To understand Christianity have made their mark anywhere. it is necessary to understand well documented. It will be use- Betty had rare gifts as a poet other religions. The struggle of and writer and John was a Christianity with other religions ful for classes and study groups musician and trained for busiis not in the past, but it still is ness, but these and other gifts ahead of us in the future. At and should prove helpful to those were made to serve the cause of present nationalism and com- Christ. Here is a true romance, munism loom large, but the fun- who are at work in Buddhist a tragedy in human eyes but a damental attitudes of Buddhism triumph of faith and love. will have to be faced by thinking lands. The careful definitions Youth will find in this story the people. essentials to stimulate ambition, and exposition are valuable at courage and devotion. Buddhism is one of the universal religions. It must be un- present when so many ideas are Christian Realities. By Robert E. derstood by Christian mission- Speer. Pp. 258. Price, $2.50. Flemaries. This volume has for its presented in the name of Bud- ing H. Revell Company. New York. object the discussion of the type of Buddhism found in the Pali dhism. LEWIS HODOUS. In a recent sermon Dr. Fos- Pitakas and what is easily de- dick made a strong plea for realducible from them. It does not The Triumph of John and Betty ism in thought in religion: deal with Mahayana Buddhism. Starn. By Mrs. Howard Taylor. While this limits it to the Bud- 127 pp. 40 cents, paper; 75 cents, Pleasing sentimentality, wishful dhism of Ceylon, Burma and cloth. China Inland Mission. Ger- thinking, idealizations, comforting Siam, the book will prove of val- mantown. 1935. faiths; satisfying optimisms-these ue to those who are working in are the devils of the new generation. countries where Mahayana Bud- The main facts as to the mar- Nothing will do today except realism. dhism is practiced. tyrdom of John Stam and his wife, Elizabeth Scott Stam, at In the realm of theology, for ex- The aut h 0 r takes up the the hands of the Chinese com- ample, the liberals are being soundly sources of our knowledge of the munists last December, are al- trounced nQW by a group of men who Buddha and his teaching. Then ready well known. The wonder- call themselves realists.. The trouble he gives an account of the Bud- ful preservation of their three- which the realists find with the liberals dha's life. This is followed by a months-old "m ira c I e" baby, is serious. Against the background of Helen Priscilla Stam, has also the old theology, with the wrath of God discussion of Buddha's teach- become famous in the annals of and the fear Qf hell in the ascendency, ing and the order of Bud- mIssIOnary history, but this the liberals reacted to the opposite exdha's disciples. A sketch of the brief story of the early life, edu- treme. They ceased being grim and historical development of Bud- cation, missionary call, courtship became sentimental. dhism and a discussion of Bud- and two years of service in China dhism as a religion conclude the will be new to many. It is fold He goes on to say that when main part of the book. A selected by a very highly skilled and men become sentimental "they list of literature and an index of spiritually sympathetic b i 0 g- streamline their theology to renames and subjects complete the rapher. duce wind resistance."
volume. Here is a thrilling and deeply The present volume deals hon- significant story of two young estly and intelligently with reali- lives who II y consecrated to ties in the realm of Christian Christ and his service. As we read we see that consecrated parents can definitely count on h a v i n g consecrated children. The five Scott and the eight Stam children are all definitely Chris- tian and active in Christian work or preparing for it. Here we find the secret in united, sympathetic, Any of the books noted In these columns wlIl be sent by the REVIEW publishers on receipt of price.
[445 ]
thought and life. In his book a great book with a great mes- for a building for Colored men "The Finality of Jesus" Dr. sage for our own day. and boys. It is a remarkable Speer presented a strong apolo- fact that this offer should have getic for the Christian faith- S.M.Z. come from a man of another the Deity of our Lord, and the faith; but it clearly indicates the unchangeable character of the I Am a Chrj,s,tian. By Jesse R. Wilson. value which a man like Mr. Christian message. In these ad- Pamphlet. 25 cents. Student Vol- Rosenwald placed upon the work dresses, taken down as they were unteer Movement. New York. 1935. of the Y. M. C. A. His deep delivered, the emphasis is not on seated sympathy for the strugdogma, but on life. The unreal Today students and youth gen- gling Negroes of our country in the realm of fact is myth, but erally wish not only theory but however has been shown in many in the realm of conduct it is in- practical experience as a basis other practical forms of helpfulsincerity and hypocrisy. The for faith. Clear cut testimony to ness which never can be forgotfirst chapter answers the ques- such ideas and experience are ten. As a result of the offer just tion, "What is Christianity?" what the Secretary of the Stu- mentioned 25 Y. M. C. A. and two Dr. Speer says: dent Volunteer Movement gives Y. W. C. A. buildings have been us in this pamphlet, but the basis erected in cities like New York, We believe in an objective deliver- is Jesus Christ, the Son of God Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washance wrought on Christ's Cross and in and only Way of Life. Being a ington, Chicago, St. Louis, Los a living Presence, and we will not be Christian involves for Mr. Wil- Angeles, etc. Weare sorry to confused or misled, nor caused to doubt son at least four things: A note that only two (Atlanta and or deny. We believe in a Life rthat Christian experience, faith, phi- Dallas) are found in the deep was here and that we have seen at losophy of life and hope for the south, where most of the Negroes work in the world, and that we know world. These four essential eleto be here now; and that it works now ments he sets forth, explains and reside. in us, in the lives of 'men and women illustrates in f 0 u r chapters. Among other matters treated whom we know and love, and in whom They are simply and clearly and through whom we have seen God stated, practical and true and is the distinguished war service in our time in Christ. will be helpful, especially to in- rendered by Dr. Moton, Max telligent youth who are seeking Yergan and others, and Mr. Yer- In a following chapter the au- light. gan's later efforts for the stuthor presents from a personal dents of South Africa. The auangle what Jesus Christ means Life on the Negro Frontier. By thor in the closing chapters tries to him and does for him. Other George R. Arthur. 259 pages. $2. to face modern difficulties and chapters are entitled: "The Es- Association Press. New York. problems, and through a quessentials of Christian Disciple- tionnaire sent to the Rosenwald ship"; "The Perils of Being a This title gives no inkling of aided institutions to discover Christian"; "Living in the Care the fact that the purpose of the methods for their improvement. and the Will of God"; "Finding book is to portray the work of One's Self." The strongest of the Young Men's Christian As- R. M. LABAREE. the seventeen chapters, in our sociation among Negroes. The opinion, is that on "The Gains of author claims (and we think that Apolo, The Pathfinder-Who Fol- Conscious Unattainment." It is he is correct) that the large cities lows? By A. B. Lloyd. Illus. 12 heart-searching and heart-re- create for the Negro many of the mo. 68 pp. 1 s. Church Missionvealing. conditions which formerly pre- ary Society. London. 1935. vailed on the far western fron- As a matter of fact, the best man tier-the large number of new Apolo wa-s an African canon never does his best. That was the arrivals, many of them young of the Church of England-a agony of the life of St. Paul; he never men and women; the sudden s t ron g character and a true realized his ideals. He looked back break from old home ties and Christian who worked among the over his life, and always found some- conditions; the resulting demor- pygmies. His story is unusually thing that he had not succeeded in do- alization in manners and morals. impressive and shows the true ing. It is because of this similarity results of Christ's work in an that he justifies his title "Life on African heart. This converted Dr. Speer's theology does not the Negro Frontier." and educated African went as a include perfectionism. As we missionary into the trackless might expect, the last four chap- The Treatment of the subject forests of Pygmy land, worked ters deal specifically with the is largely historical and descrip- with his own hands as a pioneer missionary enterprise and tell of tive, showing the conditions un- pathfinder and prepared the way an adequate Gospel for the need der which the Negroes live, the for further advance. This is the of the whole world, of areas in origin and leadership of the Col- third book about Apolo. Read geography and in life still un- ored Y. M. C. A. work, and more the fascinating story and you claimed for Christ, of the present especially the most interestIng will agree with Bishop Willis of and stimulating support of it Uganda who says: "As truly as task that faces the Church, and given by Julius Rosenwald of Christ lived in St. Paul, so truly, of the undiscourageable convic- Chicago, when in 1910 he made if to a less conspicuous degree, tion that the missionary enter- the offer to give $25,000 to any He lived in Apolo of the Pygmy prise will not fail, but will come city in the United States which to glorious -I'ruition. Altogether would raise an additional $75,000 forest."
OUR MISSIONARY BOOKSHELF
The Conquest of Cannibal Tanna. By philosophy. After completing 1. Let the approach be unequivo- A. K. Langridge. Illus. 8 vo. 199 cally religious. pp. 2 s. 6 d. Hodder & Stoughton. his theological course at Prince- London. 1935. ton, he spent sixteen years as a 2. Let every Evangelical Christian missionary in Peru where he learn to think Eurindian (a synthesis The New Hebrides Islands of founded the Anglo-Peruvian Col- of European and Indian elements). Melanesia were made famous by John G. Paton whose thrilling lege. As a side issue he became 3. Let there be a profounder apprestories of missionary adventure a professor in the University of hension of Christ crucified. have captivated thousands. Now San Marcos, Lima and lectured the secretary of the John G. for seven years under Y. M. C. A. 4. Let the new Christian communi- Paton Mission briefly reviews ties be educated and equipped for servand continues the story. It was auspices in many cities in Mexico ice. nearly 100 years ago when the and South America. Besides his first Christian missionary ven- 5. Let the new frontiers be adetured among the fierce cannibal books in Spanish, his "The Other quately manned. islanders. John Williams was Spanish Christ," has given him murdered in 1839. Sam 0 a n wid e reputation as an inter- 6. Let all contacts between the Christians volunteered for serv- preter of Latin American in- Americas be Christian. ice in 1854 and many lives were sacrificed. Godless traders and tellectual, social and religious 7. Let us face the full implications raiders made the work much conceptions. This study is more of being Christian. more difficult. popular in sty I e but equally Those who read this illuminat- John G. Paton and his young worthy of careful reading. ing study will have a new underwife landed on Tanna in 1838. Dr. Mackay shows the two standing of Latin Americans and The story of his work is well the problems and opportunities known. Before he died fifty Americas and their peoples in that confront evangelical misyears later medical work had sionaries. The good index is a been started, a Church had been striking contrast. Latin Amer- help and the carefully selected built and the work was formally icans strongly dissent from the reading list invites to further established. In 1922 over 500 study. natives partook of the commu- U. S. A. habit of monopolizing nion. The story is deeply im- the name "American." To them India Calling. The Memories of Corpressive but would be more sat- "The Other America" is of much n~lia Sorabji. Wus. 8 vo. 308 pp. isfactory if the last twenty-five 12 s. 6 d. James Nisbet & Co. Lonyears of the mission had been greater importance. The vari- don. 1935. pictured with greater complete- eties of climate and physical feaness. tures are compared with the Born in India of high class, e d u cat e d Parsee parents, That Other America. By John A. characteristics and forces that brought up in intimate contact Mackay, Ph.D. 8 vo. 214 pn. $1 00. mark the people, their upheavals, with Hindus and Moslems, later Friendship Press. New York. 1935. educated in England, a cultured, ide a I s and institutions. Dr. widely traveled Christian lawyer Latin America is the topic for Mackay is especially illuminat- -such is Dr. Cornelia Sorabji foreign mission study this year ing on Latin American traits. who gives us the very readable (1935-6). Geographically it in- The chapter on their "Dawning story of her life, with intimate cludes the immense continent of pictures of India and her prob- South America (with 10 repub- Vision of God" is illuminating. lems. She reveals not only the lics and three colonies, besides The people have been clouded in influences that molded her own Panama and British Honduras) , life, but takes us behind the Mexico and the Caribbean Is- the past-by materialism, hu- scenes in India as only a woman man philosophy, false religious could-a pioneer woman lawyer teaching, and the failures of -lifting the veil to disclose the pleasures and sorrows, the hu- many professed Christian lead- mor and the tragedies of India's ers. As a result agnosticism and women and children. atheism have captured the intel- lectuals but there is growing evi- dence of the power of Christ to transform life and this is having its effect. Many examples are given.
lands. The variety of languages, The work of evangelical mis- Miss Sorabji studied law in climate, races and the political sions is presented, especially as Oxford, became a barrister and and religious problems make it it is today. Limits of space for- a doctor of laws, and has traveled essential that someone with a bid a detailed account of the mis- widely in Europe and America, clear head, and a knowledge of sion work in the different coun- addressing large audiences. Her the whole, shall bring order out tries but examples are given to friends include some of the most of chaos and point out the main show some of the methods, diffi- notable people of three conti- factors, forces and trends. culties, trends and results. A nents. She comes of an unusu- Dr. Mackay has produced a notable piece of work is that of ally talented family. Her father, very valuable study book, based Dr. George P. Howard, a pioneer Sorabji Kharsedji Langrana, on a clear Christian philosophy, evangelist in many parts of the who became a Christian at peril full of concrete facts and en- continent. In presenting "The of death, was a notable man of riched by personal experiences Challenge to Christian Action," property and standing; her and illustrations from Spanish- Dr. Mackay makes a strong ap- mother was a remarkable and American life. The author is a peal which he develops in seven beautiful w 0 man greatly be- Scotchman and an honor man in points: loved; one sister married Dr.
Pennell, the British missionary reform was to ignore the need The Responsibility of Success. By physician. of the Afghan Fron- for reform. It was put into Dr. W. Wilson Cash, Prebendary tier; another sister, Susie So- words by one of my charming of St. Paul's and General Secretary rabji, was the founder of the St. progressive Indian friends: 'Let C. M. S. 92 pp. Price, $1 or 1 shilling. Church Missionary So- Helena School for girls in Poona. them come into the open and take ciety, London. 1934.
There is a charm, intellectual what we have or die without.' In September, 1934, at Swankeenness and sterling character The new way is legislation- wick, a vital Conference was held by officials, members and about the Sorabji family that is compulsion to renounce the ties reproduced in this book. A true that bind. It has not succeeded. friends of the Church Mission- . . . The way for which I plead ary Society-a conference on the sense of value, touches of humor, state of the work and the prokeen insight and high ideals is, shortly, an understanding gram to be laid out for its ad- heart. . . . The emancipated make the narrative stimulating vancement in view of an acand fascinating reading. The have themselves been brought to cumulated deficit of 100,000 the place where they stand, not pounds and still falling receipts. seven girls and one surviving by compulsory legislation but by boy (two died in infancy), were The C. M. S. was founded in personal conviction based on edu- 1799, and its grave problem now brought up by English tutors, on cation. Only, their progress has is to care for the success which English nursery tales and with been rendered easy by the initial has come to its work under the English discipline and Christian cleavage with ties of their re- blessing of God. Lagging or ideals, but they lived in Indian ligion, where these ties remain, style and were obliged to learn failing work can be dropped is not a different rate of progress without concern, but when an the languages, literature and cus- indicated ?" toms of the people among whom they lived. Thus they were truly Something Happened. By Mildred enterprise is on the very edge of Indian in the best sense. When Cable and Francesca French. 11- great achievement how can it Cornelia Sorabji was only eight Ius. and map. 8vo. 320 pp. Frederyears old she determined to study ick A. Stockes Co. New York. 1934. be dropped or restricted? "The Church of God can never budget law in order that she might help Evangeline French was a ven- for retreat." Dr. Cash has forceher Indian sisters out of some of turesome, independent child, oft- fully described the present situatheir many troubles. She kept en in danger, full of life and tion in this small book. that aim in view and how she hard to manage. What took her realized it in a remarkable de- into the interior of China, as a Illustrations of the Bible from Pergree is told in this narrative- missionary, ready to travel hun- sian Life. By Annie Rhea Wilson. with many fascinating incidents, dreds of miles by mule cart and Pamphlet. 44 pages. 15 cents. the training in law at Oxford-a cam e I, suffering continuous Sold by the Board of Foreign Mispioneer worn a n student who hardship and privation? "Some- sions, 156 Fifth Ave., New York. broke all precedents-presenta- thing happened" to her and to 1935. tion at court, contacts with Eng- Francesca French and Mildred lish nobility and conversations Cable. What it was is told in this The Orient, especially the with members of Parliament. very captivating story of the Near East, throws much light The incidents about noted per- childhood, youth and later years on Bible history and the cussonages are many-some of them of these three interesting wom- toms and figurative language of too much in detail or too scrap- en. Each of the trio heard the Bible times. Mrs. Wilson, durpily told, and others with charm- call to China and went out under ing her life in Persia as a mising completeness. Her two vis- the China Inland Mission. They sionary, gathered many facts its to America are passed over were the heroic stuff out of and incidents that interpret lightly, with little detail. which true missionaries are Bible passages in a charming made and were full of faith and and illuminating way. She But the most effective part of devotion. Here is the story of knows her Bible as well as she the narrative is perhaps the training for service, at home; of knows Persia – customs and story of her actual forty year's their lonely pioneer days in the costumes, names and titles, symwork for her Indian sisters-the far northwest of China. There bols, similes and metaphors, are purdah women, who could not see they spent years of adventure, all paralleled and briefly illusa man lawyer face to face, and and fruitful service in stormy trated by pertinent facts, poems who needed some one to defend Shensi, working among Tibet- and incidents. For example them and to protect their prop- ans, among Buddhist pilgrims in she throws light on swaddling erty rights. Dr. Sorabji also is Sinhiang, among bandits cross- clothes, vows, ornaments, doora pioneer in social service for In- ing the Gobi Desert, and among keepers, water-jars, breaking dia's women and by Indian wom- Europeans on the Russian bor- bread, feasts, kissing, almsgiven. In c los i n g Dr. Sorabji der. The story is full of gripping ing, prayers, fasting, "evil eye," writes: incidents and reveals spiritual salutations, leprosy. She also illustrates symbolical language "The problem is how to lessen life and power at work in and -the door, the vine, the lamp, the shepherd, the Lamb, the cup. the gulf between the orthodox through these messengers of the This pamphlet whets the appe- tite for additional facts to illus- Hindus and the few thousand progressives. The old way.of Cross. It is worth reading. trate Bible truths.
i[bt 1Sing'~ 1Jju~int~~
ASTHMA aDd SUMMER COLDS are UDDec….ry. published by Complete r.li.f only $1.00 postpaid. Nothing .Ise to buy. O••r 40.000 HOLFORD'S WONDER INHALERS BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES sold 14st year alone~ Mail $1.00 today for full,euon'. relief to THE DANDEE CO., 252 HENNEPIN AVENUE, A monthly Bible Family Magazine with something in it MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., or write lor Fr•• Booklet. jor every member of tbe family circle New Books I SSUED for twenty-live years without interruption. THE KING'S BUSI- NESS has consistently represented the best thought of the funda- Around a Mexican Patio. Ethel L. mental Christian churches of the nation. In addition to its Smither. $1.00, cloth; 75 cents, paper. 120 pp. Friendship Press. interesting contributions by leading teachers, evangelists and pastors, New York. 1935. it prints every month several valuable departments, including: An Christian Youth in Action. Frank W. Herriott. 169 pp. $1.00, cloth; 60 International Lesson Commentary, Notes on Christian Endeavor, Daily cents, paper. Friendship Press. New York. 1935. Devotional Readings, Girls' Query Corner, Junior King's Business, and Chaos in Mexico. The Conflict in Helps for Preachers and Teachers. Trial subscriptions (3 months) 25c; Church and State. Chas. S. Mac- Farland. 284 pp. $2. Harpers. Annual subscriptions $1.50. The following premiums are at present New York. 1935. available free with annual subscriptions: a teacher's Bible, a copy of Eight Things That Matter. W. Graham Scoggie. 64 pp. 6d. Pick- lamison'S Bible Chdrt, or a copy of ObjectJ that Talk dud Tedch, con- ering & Inglis. London. 1935. taining 52 new and interesting object lessons. The supply of each of The Fine Art of Soul-Winning. Wil- liam Wistar Hamilton. 109 pp. 60 these premiums is limited, so order at once. cents, cloth; 40 cents, paper. Bap- tist Sunday School Board. Nash- Address: ville. 1935. rrbe 1&ing'5 18usineS5 Der Heilige in Dem Chinesischen Klassikern. Gerhard Rosenkranz. 558 South Hope Street Los Angeles, California 188 pp. M 9.80. J. T. Hein- richs'sche Buchhandlung. Leipzig. Gold Coast Methodism. The First Outline Chalk-Talks on the Spiritual 1935. Hundred Years, 1835-1935. Arthur Life. Abdul-Fady (Arthur T. Up- E. Southon. Illustrated. 158 pp. son). 38 pp. Nile Mission Press. I Am a Christian. Jesse Wilson. 25 Is. and 2s. 6d. 1934. Cairo. 1935. cents. Student Volunteer Move- ment. New York. Japan in Crisis. H. E. Wildes. 300 Die Rechtliche Stellung Christlicher pp. $2. Macmillan. New York. Missionen in China. Dietrich Huse- Into All the World. A. J. Brown and man. Carl Heymann. Berlin. 1935. John D. Freeman. 60 cents. Sun- History of Palestine. Th ~ Last Two day School Board, Southern Bap- Thousand Years. Jacob deHaas. These Sixty Years. The Story of the tist Convention. Nashville. 1935. 523 pp. $3.50. Macmillan. New Keswick Convention. Walter B. York. Sloan. 114 pp. 2s. 6d. Pickering Keeping Our Balance. Eva Taylor. & Inglis. London. 1935. 80 pp. 25 cents. Cokesbury Press. The Color Problems of South Africa. Nashville. 1935. Phelps-StokeS Lectures, 1933, deliv- Some Old Testament Parables. J. ered at the University of Cape Stuart Holden. 128 pp. Is. Pick- Forty-five Years in India. Memoir Town. Edgar H. Brookes. 237 pp. ering & Inglis. London. 1935. and Reminiscences of the Very Rev. 48. 6d. Paul Kegan. London. 1934. Principal Mackichan. Edited by The Triumph of John and Betty. David Williamson. 126 pp. 58. The Buddhism of Tibet, or Lamaism. Mrs. Howard Taylor. 127 pp. 75 Nicholson and Watson. London. L. Austine Waddell, 2d Edition. Il- cents, cloth; 40 cents, paper. China lustrated. 646 pp. 258. Heffel'. Inland Mission. Philadelphia. 1935. SA.fPUiS OF OUR SliNDA Y SCHOOL punucA.nONS, Cambridge. OR YOUNG PEOPLE'S DIBLF. STUDIES SE~l fREE O~ REQUEST Joseph Wolff. His Romantic Life A Pageant of Asia. A Study of Three and Travels. H. P. Palmer. 222 Civilizations. Kenneth J. Saunders. pp. 78. 6d. Heath Cranton, Ltd. 248 pp. $2.50. Macmillan. New London. 1935. York. Winning the Border. Una Roberts Faiths Men Live By. John C. Archer. Lawrence. 160 pp. Home Mission 497 pp. $2.75. Nelson. New York. Board, Southern Baptist Conven- tion. Atlanta. 1935. Lowell and Abigail. A Realistic Idyll. Mary Dillingham Frear. With Christ in Soviet Russia. By 325 pp. Privately printed. Vladimir Ph. Martzinkovski. Illus- trated. 12mo. 364 pp. 5 shillings. Lupita. A Story of Mexico in Revo- Nile Mission Press. Jerusalem. lution. Alberto Remhas. 180 pp. 1933. $1.00. Friendship Press. New York. 1935. Our Korean Friends. Frederick S. Miller. Illustrated. 8vo. 191 pages. Off to Panama. B. H. Pearson. 217 Fleming H. Revell Co. New York. pp. 35 cents. Harry Harper, Agent. 1935. Los Angeles, Calif. Waiting for the Coming. .John T. Over the Mexican Border. Hewitt Mawson. 12mo. 124 pages. 2 and Thomas. 138 pp. $1.00, cloth; shillings. Pickering and Inglis. 75 cents, paper. Friendship Press. Glasgow. New York. 1935.
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i; + T It What Do You Know About Those Other Americans? If TT i, ~ THE south of the United States of North America lie other "The ; tf l:}United States." There are sixteen republics, besides a number of colof t f nies, and island dependencies. More than 100,000,000 people who live there , are different in many respects from North Americans and yet they are kin. fT IT They include descendants of Anglo-Saxons, Portuguese, Spaniards, Indians, •t Negroes, Orientals and many mixtures. Most are nominally Roman Catho- It lics but millions of them are atheists or pagans. ','
Why should we send missionaries to Latin Americans?
'Ii Who are these people, and what are their customs and beliefs? How If II many Protestant societies and missionaries are working among them and what are the results in converts, churches and the transformation of society? I'
THE NEXT NUMBER OF THE REVIEW Ij . W ill deal w~thd fithlisd fashcinatin.g. sulbject-Ithedrevol.l~tions, thde.t~ansforhmations, It the unoccuple e s, t e po1lhca , mora an re 19lOUS con ItlOns; t e transi t formations that are taking place; stories of how the work is conducted. + I ! OUR LATIN AMERICA (OCTOBER) NUMBER !! Ii+ The Latin American Republics Religious Trends in Spanish America By MARY WILHELMINE WILLIAMS By JOHN A. MACKAY i t. Some Unevangelized Areas The Influence of the Printed Page i I+•I By JOHN RITCHIE +, By H. C. TUCKER Attitudes of Governments Toward t• Religious Liberty The Living Church in Latin America I, By C. S. DETWEILER By KENNETH GRUBB t. ReligiousHEducation in Latin America The Indians-Pagan and Christian I I•'. By UGH C. STUNTZ t + Emerging Latin American Youth By JOSEPH A. DAVIS Union and Cooperation in Latin i By S. FRANKLIN MACK t f+~ Next Steps in Evangelization America I•.. By RALPH E. DIFFENDORFER By WEBSTER E. BROWNING it I, The Gospel for Latin Americans Best Books on Latin America By EDWARD H. HAYMAKER By SAMUEL G. INMAN + There will also be series of sketches of outstanding evangelical Christians, stories of t I notable misisonary work, an article on "The Progress of Women in Latin America" and I,: "Spanish-American Views of Evangelical Work." : ORDER NOW It ~J Single copies, 2S cents $20 per hundred +t The Missionary Review of the World ………….. i if t; …………………._.. ._.T_.h_ir_d_a.n_d.R_ei.l_y..S.tr.e.e.t.s.,.H~_ar_ris._bu_rg_, _Pa…….~_ t