The Missionary Review of the World — December 1939
1939
•p India……Changes in Fifty Years A. c. Clayton African Views of African Life Samuel Wrestling..Beetles Zach. Body..Hardened Daughter of Elephant Esther One..of..Something Daughter of Parting..Cloth Daughter of the Rubbish Pile Rev. Gustave Esombe Otto Who ..Wilz..Climb "Each in His Own Tongue"
Eugene Nida Continued Harvests in India Charles W. Posnett The Pueblo Indian Religion Review by G. E. E. Lindquist The Youth Movement in China Samuel S. Chang Impressions of Buddhism in Japan Winburn T. Thomas 25. Cents a Copy $2.50 a Yea,.
to Remember in China, Mr. Hening was engaged in task of opening a,' new work in Ko-
the publication and distribution of the chow. Later he served in various exec- December 100Universai Bible Sun- Bible and at the close of the World utive capacities, including that of, day. War, directed Bib I e distribution Vice-president of the China Council, ,among Russian priests and other and Secretary of the China Famine January 12-16-Annual Meeting- exiles. Fund. Home Missions Council and the Council of Women for Home Mis- *** *** sions. In,<iianapolis, Ind. Miss Dorothy A. Stevens is the Mrs. Katherine S. Westfall, recent- ly executive secretary of the Woman's December 27 to January I-Student new Secretary of Missionary Educa- American Baptist Home Mission So- Volunteer Convention, Toronto, tion of the Northern Baptist Conven- ciety, died at her home jn Hollywood, Canada. tion, succeeding Dr. William A. Hill California, on October 9. Her first who retired in August. interest in missionary activities began *** in Sunday school with support of a Personal Items Burmese girl. Mrs. Westfall was an Rev. C. S. Chung has been elected active leader in various denomination- The Rev. Frederick W. Cropp, Bishop of the Korean Methodist al and interdenominational boards and D.D., has been elected a general sec- Church, succeeding the late Bishop committees until she retired in 1937. retary of the American Bible Society, C. O. Kim. His basic training was reto share with Dr. Eric M. North the ceived in close association with pio- * * *' oversight of the Society's world-wide neer missionaries. Rev. M. L. Vaughters, D.D., Ameri- can Bible Society agent among Colwork. He will have special responsi- ored people, with headquarters in bility for Scripture distribution in the Houston, Texas, died on September United States. Dr. Cropp was gradu- Obituary Notes 2. He was responsible for supplyated from the College of Wooster, Ohio, and Princeton Theological Sem- ing the Scriptures to Colored people inary. In 1929 he became pastor of The Rev. Ernest A. Yarrow, for in Texas,' Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklathe historic Fir s t Presbyterian the past eleven years field representa- homa and Kansas, until he retired ten Church of Wheeling, West Virginia. tive of the Hazen Foundation and for- years ago. He has been a successful leader of merly general manager of the Cauca- sus Branch of the Near East Relief, *** youth conferences for the Board of died in Middletown, Connecticut, on Rev. Wilson Stitt, Ph.D., Presby- Christian Education of the, Presbyte- October 26 at sixty-three years of terian home missionary, died at the rian Church, and for his services under age. Mr. Yarrow was graduated from age of 76 on September 8 at his the Red Cross during the Ohio River Mt. Hermon School for Young Men, home in French Creek, West Virginia. floods he was given the Distinguished from Wesleyan University in 1902, His twenty-five years of ministry were Service award in the field of religion. and later from the Hartford Theolog- devoted to the home missionary cause, ical Seminary. For about ten years for which he was given a medal of *** he was a missionary in Turkey under honor by'the Presbyterian Church. the American Board of Commissioners Mr. Kenneth G. Grubb, recently one for Foreign Missions. For five years *** of the associates of the World Domin- after the World War he gave his ion Movement of London, has been ap- services to the American Red Cross, The Rev. R. F.' Lenington, D.D., pointed by the British Government one with headquarters at THiis, Russian Professor of Church History in the of the supervisors of the Ministry of Caucasus. For his relief work in Theological Seminary of the Presby- Information set up in connection with Northern Persia that government dec- terian Church of Brazil at Campinas, the war. Mr. Grubb's knowledge of orated him with the Star of the Order Sao Paulo, and executive secretary of various languages and his acquaint- of the Sun and Lion. the Central Brazil Mission, died in ance with conditions in many lands Sao Paulo on October 19. Dr. Lenwill enable him to render valuable ington, the son of missionaries in Braservice in this position. The Rev. Sa*mue*l A.*Moffett, D.D., ,zil, was born there in 1871 and after *** his graduation from Illinois College for forty-eight years a missionary to and McCormick Seminary, Chicago, Dr. and Mrs. T. A. Lambie, recently Korea under the Presbyterian Board he returned as a missionary in 1896. of Ethiopia, have returned to :qJ.ission- of Foreign Missions, died in Monrovia, For many years he was engaged in ary service in the Sudan, under the California, on October 24 at the age evangelistic work but in 1931 became Sudan Interior Mission of which he of seventy-five. Dr. Moffett was a re- a member of the faculty of the Theohas been a Field Director. Dr. Lambie markable man and a very effective logical Seminary in Campinas. Dr. who became an Ethiopian citizen in missionary. More than anyone else, Lenington's brother, Rev. George C. 1934 has had his American citizenship he was responsible for the adoption Lenington, is working with the Forrestored. of the so-called "Nevious Method" eign Mission Board of the Reformed which made the Presbyterian Church Church in America. *** Dr. Paul C. Payne, pastor of First in Korea an intensely Biblical, evan- Presbyterian Church of Ithaca, N. Y., gelistic, self-supporting and selfhas been elected general secretary of governing Church. He was for some the Presbyterian Board of Christian years the president of the Union Chris- Florida Chain of Missionary , Education, to succeed the late Dr. tian College in Pyengyang but retired Assemblies Harold McAfee Robinson. Dr. Payne from active service about ten years ago City Date, 1940 has had national recognition as' a and later moved to California. His leader in Christian education, as brother the Rev. Thomas C. Moffett, Jacksonville ……•……Jan. 23-25 chairman of the Standing Committee. D.D., formerly one of the secretaries Daytona Beach ……….Jan. 24-26 Fifty per cent of the officers of his of the Presbyterian Board of Home Miami ……………•.•. Jan. 27-31 church in Ithaca are faculty members Missions, is now secretary of the Com- Ft. Lauderdale …•..•…. Jan. 28-30 of Cornell University, and more than mission on the Indians of Latin Amer- Palm Beaches ..•….Jan. In-Feb. 2 fifty per cent are students and faculty ica. Orlando-Winter Park •…. Feb. 3-7 members. ' Deland •…………….• Feb. 4-7 *** Ft. Myers …………… Feb. 7-9 *** Winter Haven . . . . . . • • . . . Feb. 10-13 Rev. Charles E. Patton, D.D., re~ Lakeland ……………. Feb. 10-13 Mr. S. E. Hening, author of "The tired Presbyterian missionary of more Tampa ……………… Feb. 13-16' Life of Christ in Simple Language," than 37 years' experience in China, Sarasota ……………. Feb. 15-16 has been elected treasurer of the died on October 7, in Pasadena, Cali- St. Petersburg •…•..•••• Feb. 17-21 ' American Baptist Home Mission So- fornia. After eight years in general Clearwater ………….. Feb. 18-21 ciety. While representing the Inter- evangelistic and educational work in Tallahassee ………..•. Feb. 25-26 national Committee of the Y. M. C. A. Canton, Dr. Patton was assigned the Quincy …..•.•………. Feb. 26~26
MISSIONARY Keep Us Building for the children's stories that have al'-
REVIEW OF THE WORLD peared in THE REVIEW. My own chil- We would be building; temples still dren have enjoyed them thoroughly. DELAVAN L. PIERSON. Editor undone; They have been well written and have presented a nice variety of themes. VOL. LXII DEC.,1939 No. 12 O'er crumbling walls their crosses scarcely lift; "The whole REVIEW is choice read- Publication and Business 01llce- ing and a real inspiration." Third and Reily Sts.• Harrisburg, Pa. Waiting till love can raise the broken stone, MRS. M. W. DOUGHERTY. Editorial and Executive 01llce- Morning Sun, Iowa. 156 Fifth Avenue. New York City. And hearts creative bridge the hu- Entered as second-class matter at man rift; Book Reviews Post 01llce. Harrisburg, Pa.. under We would be building, Master; let Christian Living in Our Community. Act of March 3. 1879. Thy plan Graded Studies. By Mary C. White and Mildred F. James. 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. Reveal the life that God would give Foreign Postage. 50 cents a year. to man. Old Testament Studies and You. By published monthly, except Augnst. Mary C. White. Cloister Press. All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1939. Teach us to build; upon the solid Louisville, Kentucky. 1939. British agents – Marshall. Morgan rock; and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, These are suggested practical London, E. C. 1 shilling per copy, We set the dream that hardens into Bible studies for Fifth and Sev- 10 shillings a year. deed, enth Grades in church schools- for pupils and teachers. They MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- Ribbed with the steel that time and are prepared for Protestant LISHING CO., INC. change doth mock; Episcopal churches, with stories BOARD OF DIRE'CTORS for the pupils. The authors ac- The unfailing purpose of our cept without question the posi- ROBERT E. SPEER, President noblest creed; tions taken by modern critics so A. L. WARNSHUIS, Vice-President that the weak points must be WALTER MCDOUGALL, Treasurer Teach us to build: 0 Master, lend guarded against. DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary us sight PAUL J. BRAISTED Believers and Builders in Europe. SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT To see the towers gleaming in the By Emma Parker Maddry. Illus. D. J. FANT light. Paper. Broadman Press. Nash- MRS. ORRIN R. JUDD ville. 1939. WM. B. LIPPH.ARD o keep us building, Master; may our ERIC M. NORTH hands Mrs. Maddry is the wife of the SAMUEL M. ZWBMER Executive Secretary of the For- Ne'er falter when the dream is in eign Mission Board of the South- ern Baptist Convention and has our hearts, traveled with her husband in Africa and Europe. Here she 'Vhen to our ears there come divine tells of her observations, espe- commands cially for youth, and gives a pic- ture of what Baptists are doing And all the pride of sinful will de- in Italy, Spain, Jugoslavia, Hun- parts; gary and Roumania. The story, Editorial Chat which Baptists especially should We build with Thee, 0 grant endur- know, is not in an easy, popular stylle for youth, but contains im- FAREWELL ing worth portant facts and interesting in- cidents. .. In some cases the unbelievable not Until the Heav'nly Kingdom comes Frontiers of American Life. By only seems possible but inevitable. on earth. Amen. Mark A. Dawber. Pamphlet. 25 cents. Home Missions Council. THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE New York. 1939.
WORLD, after sixty-two years of con- (1) supplying The Evangelical Chris- These radio addresses deal tian and Missionary Witness (pub- with America's new frontierstinuous service, in spite of many lished in Toronto, R. V. Bingham, the American Indian, Southern Editor); or (2) if preferred, The In- Highlands, Puerto Rico, City obstacles and influences that at times ternational Review of Missions (pub- Life, Mining Towns, Negroes, seemed to threaten its existence, is to lishedin London, Wm. Paton, Editor); Immigrants, Alaska, Church and or (3) making a cash refund to those State, Relief and Sharecroppers be discontinued with this present De- requesting it at 20 cents per month and What Price Christian Amer- for each issue of THE REVIEW still ica. They are brief, popular and cember issue. We have stated the due on prepaid subscriptions. In order full of interesting and useful case as clearly as we could in our to make it unnecessary for every sub- facts, especially for pastors and Editorial Topics (page 531). We can scriber to write us, we have planned, other church workers. unless notified otherwise, to send The only say that this course seemed to Evangelical Christian to subscribers other than libraries, and The Interbe the one in the line of God's leading. national Review of Missions to li- braries. Acceptance of the above pro- We did not believe it would be hon- posal will be appreciated, as it will continue the ministry of a missionary oring to Him and His great cause of magazine to subscribers, and obviate world evangelism that THE REVIEW the costly necessity of making small cash adjustments. The options (exshould either go into debt or cease to cept for foreign subscriptions) expire on December 31, 1939, as it will be serve effectively. Therefore THE RE- necessary to close the business of THE REVIEW at that time. American sub- VIEW, as an evangelical world-wide scribers will receive sample copies of missionary advocate and organ of the The Evangelical Christian before De- whole Christian movement, closes its cember 31. … … …
career. … … … Our deep gratitude goes out to our subscribers for their friendly coopera- There are, some fine opportunities tion and interest during the past offered that we cannot now accept– years. Many have expressed their such as publishing articles to review hearty appreciation of THE REVIEW the present missionary situation-and and their sorrow that they can no there may be obligations to authors longer continue to receive inspiration and publishers that we cannot now from it. The following are among the fulfil. If all of our readers, and others letters recently received: who value THE REVIEW, had been regular subscribers this step (of discon- "I wish to express my appreciation tinuing publication) might have been avoided; but many have received its [529 ] help through libraries and friends who have not helped to finance the publication. In many cases this has been inevitable. Weare thankful for all the ways and channels that have enabled us to serve Christ and His workers at home and abroad.
… … …
Our obligations to subscribers for unfilled subscriptions will be met by
AND CHILDREN AT LOLODORF, WEST
A TYPICAL SCENE IN A WEST AFRICAN VILLAGE (See articles on "African Views of African Village Life," pages 541 to 546) REVIB ORLD VOLUME LXII AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER 12 DECEMBER, 1939 Topics of the Times PRAYER-EVERY NIGHT, ALL NIGHT The benefit of this is both local and world-wide. The meetings, on successive nights, follow ac- Few people, even Christians, seem to realize cording to an alphabetical list of the towns and the immense importance of earnest, unselfish cities. Notices of these dates are printed in the united prayer to Almighty God in the Name and Alliance Weekly a month in advance and letters Spirit of Jesus Christ. Some of God's servants, are sent to pastors prior to the meeting dates. like George Muller of Bristol and others, known only to God, have proved the efficacy of prayer in The Foreign Department of the Alliance also the results reaching round the world, achieving sends out a Monthly Prayer Letter to more than the apparently impossible. Some Christians oc- 800 individuals and prayer groups, several huncasionally spend whole nights -in prayer when dred of which meet at least once a month or some burden lies heavily on their hearts. There oftener to pray for foreign missions. The Prayer are churches and missions, like the Kwato Mission Letter and Foreign Field Flashes, which accomof Papua, where a room is set aside as a "Power pany the letter, give prayer requests and inter- House" where prayer is offered to God continu- esting reports from the fields. Other requests are ally by successive intercessors or groups of prayer published each month in the Alliance Weekly. partners. Many Christians know the results that have followed the regular hours of prayer, be- God is making these methods fruitful in inhind a closed door, in the humble homes of .John creasing interest in missionary work and in spir- G. Paton, Hudson Taylor and others in all walks itual blessing to individuals, churches and mis- sion enterprises all over the world.
of life. LOOKING BACKWARD Today in America there is at least one com- THE MISSIONARY REVIEW was founded by the munion where whole nights of intercession to Rev. Royal G. Wilder in January, 1878. Mr. God are scheduled for every night in the year, Wilder had been a missionary in India first of except Sundays, when the whole day is largely filled with prayer and Bible stUdy. This plan has the American Board and then of the Presbyterian been inaugurated with the conviction that prayer Board for twenty-nine years (1846-1875). After is fundamental to the Christian life and to the retiring from the work in India he settled with missionary enterprise. It is therefore supremely his family in Princeton, N. J. Here he founded important that the ministry of prayer should be THE REVIEW in 1878 and it was edited by him and developed and increased among Christians both printed in Princeton until the close of 1887. In in private and in church groups. publishing and posting THE REVIEW Mr. Wilder was assisted by his daughter, Grace, and his son The Christian and Missionary Alliance is sys- Robert. After her father's death, Grace and her tematically promoting prayer by nights of prayer every night in the year. The home office in New mother returned to India and are buried there York arranges for each congregation of the AI- in Mr. Wilder's old station of Kolhapur. Robert liance in the United States and Canada to hold Wilder was the real founder, with John N. Forone whole night of prayer. These follow a def- man, of the Student Volunteer Movement for Forinite schedule on successive nights, so that every eign Missions and after a long life of rich service night throughout the year, except Sunday, is a among the students of India, Europe and America night of prayer in one or more of these churches. died in Norway in 1937. THE REVIEW was born [531 ]
of the surest Evangelical convictions and the seems practical, the magazine will end publication deepest spiritual consecration. with this issue.
On Mr. Wilder's death in October, 1887, the THE REVIEW has had a great history, for sixty- REVIEW was taken over by Dr. Arthur T. Pierson two years it has rendered a great service. We and Dr. James M. Sherwood as editors and the pray that some other magazine may take up the Funk & Wagnalls Co. as publishers. It was issued torch and continue the service in years to come. in enlarged form with a variety of departments If ever there was need of a missionary review and at once became recognized as the leading which would rest securely on the Biblical congeneral and interdenominational missionary mag- ception of the Christian faith and would call the azine of the world. It bore the new name of whole Church to a new devotion and sacrifice that THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD and it need is urgent now. It has been the resolute was worthy of its name and wider scope. From effort and purpose of the editor and his associates the outset the flaming zeal and wide knowledge to be absolutely and unflinchingly true to the New of Dr. Pierson gave the magazine a unique and Testament view of the Gospel and of the need of inspiring character. It had one great purpose and the world which the Christ of the Gospel came to it served that purpose with all its power, namely to promote the speedy evangelization of the whole save. In bringing their trust to a conclusion the world. In 1891 Dr. Sherwood retired from relationship to THE REVIEW and in the same year Mr. Directors of the Company desire to cite the unani- Delavan L. Pierson, who had been graduated from mous action of the stockholders at their final meet- Princeton University in 1890, became associated ing as follows: with his father and took over more and more of the editorial labor until his father's death in June In bringing to a close the publication of THE MISSION- 1911 when he became sole editor. ARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD under its present auspices, the stockholders and the Board of Directors of The Mis- The Funk & Wagnalls Co. continued to be the sionary Review Publishing Company herewith express to owners and publishers of THE REVIEW until Oc- Mr. Delavan L. Pierson, who has been the Secretary of tober, 1916 when The Missionary Review Publish- the Company and the Editor of THE REVIEW for the ing Company was organized, with an interdenom- entire period of the Company's history, their appreciation inational Board of Directors, and bought THE of his efficient and untiring work as Editor, their grati- REVIEW. Mr. Pierson continued as editor and tude for his devotion and self-sacrifice and their deep has served as such and as secretary of the Com- appreciation and regard. No one could have rendered pany from that day until now. A number of gen- more capable and loyal service or put himself and all his erous friends, by purchasing stock in the new time and powers into his work with more self-forgetfulcompany, provided the working capital for THE ness and consecration. In accepting his resignation as REVIEW, doing so with the understanding that no Editor, and joining with him in the dissolution of the Company which has worked with him, the stockholders dividends would ever be paid to stockholders and and Directors assure him of their lasting friendship and wish him God's richest blessing for the future years. that both the income of invested capital and the capital itself would all be used as might be found ROBERT E. SPEER. necessary in conducting and maintaining the magazine for as long a term of years as might THE EDITOR'S REVIEW OF THE REVIEW be possible. We present here the final number of THE RE- The end of this term has now arrived. The VIEW. It is. with real sorrow that we close this capital of THE REVIEW, augmented from time to world-wide service, but such a course seems intime by further generous gifts from friends, is evitable. now exhausted, and as it is no longer possible to continue THE REVIEW on the old basis, the Com- Nil desperandum, Christi sub Duce ("Despair pany has voted to dissolve. This is, therefore, the of nothing, under Christ, the Leader"). Such was last issue of THE REVIEW under the present Com- the motto printed on the title page of the first pany's auspices. issue of THE MISSIONARY REVIEW, edited and pub- lished by Royal G. Wilder from January, 1878, to For the last seven years the magazine has been December, 1887. It was then a bi-monthly and printed by the Evangelical Press of Harrisburg, the first year contained only 392 pages-devoted Pa. and which has also contributed to the editorial wholly to foreign missions. Ten years later the expense. There has been a hope that the Press magazine was enlarged to 976 pages. The definite might be able to take over THE REVIEW, both its aim of the magazine, as stated by Mr. Wilder, was editorship and its publication, and to a~sume "to help develop an interest in foreign missions every responsibility for its maintenance but under which will speedily double the present amount of present conditions that does not seem possible, giving, praying and working for this cause." This and as no other means of continuing publication aim was achieved-though not s.peedily. The total annual income of the Presbyterian Board of For- eign Missions was then $463,351; in 1929 it had increased to over $4,000,000. The Methodist
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
Episcopal Board then reported an income of Dr. Robert E. Speer, Mrs. Henry W. Peabody, $260,000; in 1929 this increased to $5,657,451. Walter McDougall, Fleming H. Revell, and others.
When THE REVIEW was founded the American The magazine grew in circulation and influence Presbyterian Church had 314 missionaries on the and had the confidence and cooperation of misfield; later the number increased to nearly five- sionaries of all lands and Mission Boards of all fold. Practically all of the denominational boards denominations, but it was not self-supporting and have increased their budgets fourfold in the past its reserve capital was rapidly diminishing. Spefifty years, but the memberships have also in- cial prayer was offered for God's guidance and, in creased proportionately. The number of mission- answer, friends were led to provide a "Maintearies and the fields occupied have also grown, nance Fund" to care for the annual deficit. Thus though not to the extent set by the hope and faith it continued for about ten years and then a falling of Mr. Wilder. The increase in missionary inter- off in these special contributions again threatened est, income, information and activity has been the physical life of the magazine. In 1932 there very large in the past sixty years. This has been seemed no way out but to discontinue pUblication. due to many causes, but THE REVIEW was one of Again we resorted to prayer and again God anthe very influential factors. swered by leading the Evangelical Press, of Har- In the early days the sixty-four page bi-monthly risburg, Pa., to accept financial responsibility for consisted of one or two editorials, four or five printing and circulation, with a generous contri- articles-largely statistical-Field· Notes, Letters bution toward editorial office expense. Drastic from Missionaries, Death Notices, List of Sail- cuts in the budget have enabled us to continue for ings of Missionaries, Questions and Answers, and another seven years-and, we believe, with con- Book Notices. There were no maps or pictures; tinued efficiency until the present time.
the magazine was ·outspoken in its criticism of Now the end of THE REVIEW, as a world-wide mission policies, but was kindly and constructive interdenominational missionary organ, seems to and grew in popularity and influence. be at hand. The present Editor has been with the THE REVIEW has since enlarged its scope to in- magazine for forty-eight years and the time seems clude both home and foreign missions, but its main to have come for him to retire from this major ideals, aims and principles have not changed. Each responsibility. It has been his hope that a younger successive editor has taken a world-wide view of man might be found who would be well able to the need of men of all races for Christ and the carryon the work effectively, but while several life He offers; the Gospel proclaimed has been have been approached, our search has been with- that of the New Testament; the Bible has been out success. The reserve funds are exhausted and accepted as the final authority on revealed truth; our efforts to build them up again sufficiently the power and leadership on which success de- have been unavailing. There is no feeling of dis- pends has been the Holy Spirit. The ideal has couragement or failure but it seems that God's been cooperation with all those who accept and time has come for the Editor and THE REVIEW to proclaim Christ as the Son of God and Saviour retire together from this field of missionary pro- of men through His sacrificial life and death. motion.
The history of THE REVIEW has been marked by Many signs seem to indicate this. The mis- several crises, which seemed to threaten its exist- sionary situation has changed so that pioneer mis- ance, but each time the way has been opened for sion work is not stressed by most of the Home a new advance. In 1888 Mr. Wilder, the Founder Church Boards. The executive personnel has and Editor for ten years, died. His work was changed and the secretaries belong to a new gentaken up by Dr. Arthur T. Pierson, who was al- eration that naturally seeks new contacts and ready recognized as a powerful advocate of mis- uses new methods of promotion. The union and insions. Under him THE REVIEW became a home terdenominational activities, which were almost and foreign missionary periodical. After three unknown sixty-two years ago, have now spread years Dr. Pierson went to London to occupy the over the Church and the world with national mispulpit of Charles H. Spurgeon, but continued the sionary councils, the International Missionary general oversight of the magazine until his death Council, the Federal Council of Churches and in 1911. Then the present Editor, who had already many union, educational and medical missionary been associated with the magazine for twenty committees to care for cooperative work. The years, became Editor-in-Chief. During the World Church Boards are also taking care of many ac- War, the Funk & Wagnalls Company decided to tivities which were formerly promoted by intergive up publishing the magazine, since it was not church organizations. As a result several of financially profitable. After much prayer and with these, such as the Laymen's Missionary Move- ment, have closed their work and have transearnest effort, a new interdenominational but in- ferred the responsibilities to the denominational dependent company was formed, with the help of
Boards or to the Foreign Missions Conference loved President of the Board, and Walter Mc- and Home Missions Councils. Others may follow Dougall, the faithful and beloved Treasurer.
suit. These two servants of Christ have seldom missed It is our conviction that there never was greater a meeting of the Board and have encouraged and need than there is today for consecrated and sacri- strengthened the Editor in every possible way- ficial missionary activity. There was never greater often at real sacrifice.
need to proclaim the "Gospel of Christ as the The subscribers to THE REVIEW, many of whom power of God unto salvation to everyone that be- have been readers and friends for a quarter of a lieveth." There was never greater need to stir century or more, are not forgotten. To them the up the Church at home to more earnest prayer, discontinuance of THE REVIEW will come as a real more sacrificial giving and more active coopera- loss-like the loss of a valued friend and helper. tion in the missionary enterprise. The Christians Missionaries in lonely outstations will miss it; also at home need to be reawakened as much as the pastors who have sought here material for serunevangelized need to have the Gospel proclaimed mons and addresses; leaders in missionary sociein the power of the Holy Spirit. ties who have depended on it; editors who shared The end of THE REVIEW may have come as a its contents with their readers; and friends of all missionary periodical, but the end of the Cause lands and walks in life who are interested in their for which it has stood has not come. And we con- fellow men and in promoting the work of Christ fidently believe that the influence of THE REVIEW throughout the world. will go on. Only God can tell the extent of its influence in the past sixty-two years-in interest Notwithstanding the strong desire of the Editor, awakened, in prayer stimulated and directed, in and other friends, to have THE REVIEW continue volunteers enlisted, in money contributed, in mis- its service at whatever cost to themselves, God has sionaries encouraged, in mission policies improved. not shown how this can be done to His glory and THE REVIEW has also set a high standard for the for the advancement of His Kingdom. We would literature of missions and has helped to improve not carryon in any other way. We do not believe methods of missionary promotion. He would be glorified or His cause promoted by go- ing into debt or by publishing a weak and sickly These influences will go on in the days to come. organ which might end its honorable career by The living seed that has been planted in human slow starvation and retreat. We would not have minds and lives will continue to increase and bear THE REVIEW transferred to any agency that might fruit. The career of THE REVIEW may be ended even appear to I'Itand for any other Gospel than but the work of Christ, the ideals and Power for that proclaimed in the New Testament, who would which it has stood will never end; they will be accept any other authority than the Bible as the filled full at the coming of Christ to subdue all Word of God or look to any other Power for rethings and to establish His control over all the generation, guidance and service than the Holy earth. Spirit.
* ** It has seemed clear to the Board of Directors The deep gratitude of the Editor goes out to and to the stockholders of THE REVIEW, that the God and to all who have cooperated with him, time has come to wind up the activities of the especially in the past twenty-eight years, to make corporation. On October 9th, therefore, the stock- holders voted unanimously to dissolve the corpo- THE REVIEW what it has been. We think especially ration and to cease publication with this December of the members of the Board of Directors, the issue. We are thankful that this can be done with Editorial Council, the Mission Boards, the For- a clean slate and without any financial obligations eign Missions Conference and Home Missions which cannot be fully met by the funds in hand. Councils, the Associate Editors and the authors, Subscribers will be given the alternative of rethe stockholders and contributors to the Mainte- ceiving some other evangelical missionary periodinance Fund, and the publishers.. All of these have cal in place of THE REVIEW, or, if they so elect, given of time and thought, and many of them have the Evangelical Press has agreed to refund the given money, without stint and without thought cost of their unfilled SUbscriptions. of personal gain. They have been sacrificial in their cooperation for they have worked to promote The time has come for the Editor's valedictory the cause of Christ. but this does not carry with it any sense of defeat We especially pay our tribute of love and ad- or any lack of blessing on the part of God. We miration to two friends who helped to establish pray that other lines of effective service may open the Missionary Review Publishing Company and that other agencies will carry forward vic- twenty-three years ago and who have continued toriously the work of THE REVIEW. Nil desparan- to support and promote it through all the days dum, Christi sub Duce-We will despair of noth- of trial and triumph-Robert E. Speer, the be- ing, under Christ our Leader.
CONTINUED PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH "Just as Jesus was persecuted by Herod soon after His birth, so His Christian Church and His faithful servants, teachers, and ministers will be perseeuted until the end of time. But what do the persecutors accomplish? Even though it should rain and snow down on the Christian Church nothing but stones and bullets; nay, if it rain nothing but devils and tyrants, and enthusiasts, and stocks, and gallows and though hundreds of thousands of martyrs were executed, yet the Christian Church cannot be wiped out. That must be our comfort in these last dangerous times in which Christendom lives and moves in manifold dangers and faithful preachers are persecuted, we should thereby not be enticed away from the Church, to false religion, or to a godless life. Whatever the privations and dangers, perseeutions must be endured. It is a fortunate misfortune when, as members of His Church, we suffer adversity with Christ. Have we not the comfort that Jesus Christ is with His believers every day even unto the end of the world? He is in our midst and will not allow us to slide. On the other hand, it is an unfortunate fortune if anyone seeks fortune or easy days with the Father of lies, with the world, or with false churches; for finally there will be an evil end when all such must depart from the Lord as hypocrites and evildoers; their lot will be in the abyss of fire and brimstone."-Martin Luther.
THEOLOGICAL SCHOOLS IN CHOSEN Women's Bible Institute and the Bible Clubs. As the missionaries could not conscientiously meet The demand that Korean Christians do obei- these dem'ands, it has been neeessary to close all sance at Shinto Shrines is being made by Japanese of these important institutions. The same is true officials on an increasingly large scale. At first of the Pierson Memorial Bible School in Seoul. only pupils in government schools were compelled to go to the shrines, then students in all schools, In September the 1939 General Assembly of the even Christians, were included. As a result Presbyterian Church of Korea met and after much the Northern Presbyterian, Southern Presbyte- discussion appointed a committee of twenty Korian and Australian Presbyterian Missions with- rean pastors to organize a Theological Seminary drew from secular education. Government officials in Pyengyang, and three other members were apstated, both publicly and privately, that this obei- pointed to represent the General Assembly on a sance at the shrines was only required 'of those in committee organized to start a similar seminary the schools. However, early in 1938 the same de- in Seoul. These new institutions must be ready to mand was made upon the Korean presbyteries, meet the Government's demands for attendance at the shrines. The latest reports indicate that it me General Assembly, some Bible Conferences will not be easy to secure the permission of the Government to organize these institutions. The and Bible Institutes throughout the land. After Presbyterian Council, which controls the original being threatened, even with bodily torture, many Presbyterian Seminary, now temporarily closed, church leaders yielded to what they believed to be is holding the property and using the faculty memout of harmony with unswerving loyalty to God; bers for translation and other important literary others stood firm in their refusal and either left work with the hope that the time will come when their churches and homes or were put under the institution can go on with her great work of arrest, with suffering of body and mind. training men for the Christian ministry. Medical work, visiting country churches, street and market Some of the Bible Institutes in different parts preaching, literary work and dealing with indiof Chosen had been ordered to attend the shrine; viduals goes on. Here is a situation that calls for but until the summer of 1939 the Bible Institutes, true faith, courage and prayer. the Bible Clubs, and the Women's Biblical Seminary in Pyengyang were allowed to carry on their THE PLIGHT OF EUROPEAN CHURCHES work. Then on the 21st of August, 1939, after the Presbyterian Seminary, a union. institution, The Provisional Committee of the World Counhad sent out notices announcing that the fall term cil of Churches in Geneva is considering what would begin on August 31, an official communica- can be done for the spiritual welfare of prisoners tion was sent to the Seminary ordering them to of war, and how the relief work for Christian secure a Government permit, involving approval refugees can be maintained. The European Cenof the faculty and curriculum, and obeisance at tral Office for Inter-Church Aid faces the emerthe Shinto Shrines. They were told that the same gency tasks such as aid for the Russian Orthodox requirement was to be made of the Woman's Biblical Seminary, the Men's Bible Institute, the
PUPILS GOING HOME FROM SCHOOL IN EGYPT (See article by E. W. Bailey. page 550) Academy in Paris, and for the Czech-Slovakian mense difficulties of all kind, and appeal to other congregation in Paris, which is cut off from its Protestants to make a special effort to aid orphan mother church in central Europe. congregations."
The European Central Office is greatly con- The Church of Christ in every land must help cerned for the maintenance of thirty Ukranian to keep fellowship in faith alive and to express evangelical pastors and their parishes in southern it by practical cooperation. ADOLF KELLER.
Poland and Wolhynia. These Ukranians must INDIA meet the hostility of the new Polish Government and are cut off from aid which hitherto has been A land of lights and shadows intervolved, granted by the European Central Office. Those A land of blazing sun and blackest night, in occupied territory are placed pnder the pro- A fortress armed, and guarded jealously, tection of the German army, and an evangelical With every portal barred against the Light. professor in Germany, who knows the language, has heen asked to care for these orphan parishes. A land in thrall to ancient mystic faiths, It is hoped that the German evangelical min- A land of iron creeds and gruesome deeds, isters and congregations in Poznan and the rest A land of superstitions vast and grim, of Poland may find the necessary protection by And all the noisome growths that darkness breeds. the German army in the occupied territory. Gen- eral Superintendent Blau says that two pastors Like sunny waves upon an iron-bound coast, in Bromberg have been murdered and that seven- The Light beats up against the close-barred doors, te.en others are missing. And seeks vain entrance, yet beats on and on, One of the most difficult tasks is to find some In hopeful faith which all defeat ignores.
way to continue relief which can no longer be given by the European churches. The French But-time shall come,when, like a swelling tide, churches can not now give much for the evan- The Word shall leap the barriers, and the Light gelical refugees in southern France and for the Shall sweep the land; and Faith and Love and thirty Spanish evangelical pastors who are not Hope able to go back t.o Spain. The French Church Fed- Shall win for Christ this stronghold of the night.
eration says: "Our churches have to face im- -John Oxenham, in The Open Door.
India-Changes in the Last Fifty
By A. C. CLAYTON, O. B. E., Recently of Saidapet, Madras For Thirty Years Tamil Literature Missionary in South India, Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society Two or three years ago a famous Balinese Outside more than one village, which I know, dancer from the Dutch East Indies performed are stones set up in memory of some pious widow before the Queen of Holland. The music who burned herself to death on the funeral pyre to which the girl danced came to Holland from a of her husband. The practice of "suttee," as we bell, gong, drum and xylophone band playing in call this, is now forbidden by law, but every year Java, seven or eight thousand miles away. or two cases come into court showing that widows have practiced suttee with the connivance of their In Tokyo there are skyscraper department relatives. stores with automobile garages half a dozen stories high. Such cases are reversions to an obsolete type of thought. They are very few. But the changes The modern pilgrim to Mecca crosses the desert that are taking place, especially in Indian village in a high-powered automobile. life, are not less than revolutionary, and they are very many. The three most significant of these An Indian doctor in Madras will fly in his own changes may be mentioned here. One has imprivate aeroplane two hundred miles to perform proved the health of the country. The second has an operation in the morning and return to his raised the status of a group of races totalling patients in Madras in the evening, as a matter of fifty or sixty millions. The third indicates a new routine. standard in ethical values.
The East is changing. When my slow steamer reached Madras harbor when I first went out to India almost 48 years ago, The Fight Against Fear I was taken ashore in a boat made of planks sewn together with coconut fibre, in the same way that Not far from where I lived when I first reached passengers were taken ashore centuries before India was the famous shrine of a demon Goddess. any Westerners reached India. There was not an A popular festival was held in the river-bed before electric light in the city, nor a motor vehicle; there her temple each Sunday during two of the hottest were very few "push-bikes." No one expected months in the year. As many as two thousand that the "changeless East," as we used to call it, sheep would be slaughtered in her honor on each ever could change. of these days. Because of the heat, the crowding and the lack of sanitation, there was nearly always Many things remain unchanged today. In this an outbreak of cholera in the surrounding villages. very year an old tiger in Assam is known to have The people believed that the Cholera Goddess mauled nineteen and killed eight Indians. Tigers caused the outbreak because she was angry with are tigers today just as they were fifty years ago. them. They did not know how to escape her wrath and they died in terror of it. Many villagers still fear that if the village Gods are angry they will cause the rains to fail and the crops to wither. Like their fathers before Today when there is fear of cholera, the Govthem, they believe that the way to placate the Gods ernment sends out supplies of anti-cholera vaccine.
is to sacrifice buffaloes to them; if that does not People by the thousands come to be "pricked by bring rain, then a man or a woman ought to be the needle" and the epidemic does not occur. offered. Some two years ago, in Bombay, a village Again, in those first days of my stay in India, headman and a village priest were convicted of as I went daily to the school where I taught, I kidnaping a young man of twenty-three from a passed a lepers' village, and saw one or more of neighboring village and cutting off his head as an these sufferers sitting by the road-side begging.
offering to an offended demon deity in order to Everybody in the place was a leper or expected to bribe it to send rain on parched fields. be a leper. There was then no known cure for This is not evidence of a widespread practice, leprosy.
but it is evidence that a very ancient superstition Today, the great leper settlement near Madras, is not extinct. supported by the Government but staffed by mis- [537 ]
sionaries, is a Home of Hope. It contains 800 Christianity was among the first of these. Howlepers. Outside the gates various groups camp by ever much some of the early missionaries might the roadside waiting to be admitted. They know hesitate to ignore the social stigma put on the that the disease can be checked and in many cases "outcaste" communities they did not fail to evancan be cured. gelize them. About fifty years ago there began the mass movements toward Christianity, better Disease has not been driven out of the villages called community movements, of groups of famof India. The villager still believes in the god- ilies and sometimes of whole villages.. Christ can desses of disease, but he is no longer paralyzed by speak to the Untouchable and many of them were his fear. Today a sick man or woman-sometimes and are His devoted disciples. Others have had very sick indeed-will journey on foot, or get lower motives. All looked on their new religion friends to carry him many miles to one of the as a way of escape from the degradation of untoo few mission hospitaLs. Thirty, twenty or even touchability. It awakened self-respect and hope, ten years ago this man or woman would have and, in the next generation, produced an impaaccepted death in hopeless apathy. tience with their hereditary serfdom.
When I first went to India that land was still (2) Schools-For centuries the pariah classes the India of the stories of Rudyard Kipling. No were looked on as hopelessly stupid, stupid as one imagined that in half a century the chief buffaloes; fifty years ago most of them, shrewd provinces of British India would be governing as they were in many ways, accepted the situation themselves. Some of the supporters. of the new and saw no use in schools for their children. But Congress governments in the provinces promised in our Christian mission schools we soon were that taxes would be cut down and that free loans able to prove, even to school inspectors who were would be given to help villagers to pay their debts Hindus, that Untouchable children could learn as and finance marriage ceremonies. But speaking well as other children. The Untouchable awoke generally the first two years of these new govern- to the fact that his children could be educated. ments has shown that there is good reason to In the second and third generations. of Christians believe that they will work well. from these classes large numbers have completely escaped from the ignorance that was the lot of New Hope for the "Untouchables" their fathers.
But the most striking social advance which (3) The vote-The reforms in the constitution has been made is in regard to the classes called of the Government of India, which began in 1920 "Outcastes," "Pariahs," "Untouchables," or "Har- and gave self-government to the Provinces of ijans." These folk, fifty or sixty million of them British India in 1937, gave also an unexpected throughout all India, are scavengers and leather impetus to the emancipation of the Untouchables. workers, village menials and the humblest of As a matter of course the British Parliament gave laborers. They live in squalid groups of huts the vote to all who were qualified for it, whether away from the houses of respectable Hindus. They high-caste or low-caste, men or women. Fifty were, when I began to be a missionary, forbidden years ago no one ever thought that the pariah to draw water from any wells used by Hindus of would ever have a voice in ruling India. It was higher class. Their children could not go to unthinkable that a man from the depressed classschool with their "betters." However clean they es should be a member of the Legislature, along might be, their touch defiled their "betters." In with landowners and lawyers and priestly Brahmy part of India, these pariahs were so despised, mans. But today the Untouchable rightfully takes that if I had gone into one of their hamlets I was his place in the Council chamber. And the world looked on as so defiled thereby that I might not has not come to an end, though the old pandit who visit the houses of their Hindu masters. taught me a little Sanskrit thought that it would.
Among the sixty-three saints venerated by (4) Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Ambedkar- Tamils only one is a pariah who purified himself Among the Untouchables most of the leaders are by throwing himself into a pit of fire. Fifty years men of local repute only. Among those of wider ago Hindu opinion banned all these Untouch- influence, M. C. Rajah, who was educated at two ables from the temples where the great gods were mission colleges in Madras, has an outstanding worshiped. Only seven years ago the authorities position in the South. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, an at the largest Temple of Shiva in the City of Untouchable who by magnificent effort won his Kumbakonam put up a notice at all the main Ph.D. at Columbia and his D.Sc. from the Unientrances prohibiting Mohammedans, Christians versity of London, and is now the Principal of and Untouchables from entering into that temple. the Government Law College in Bombay, is how- ever recognized throughout India as the chief Factors Making for Progress leader of the Untouchables. About four years ago he was so hopeless of ever changing the atti- (1) Christianity-There were, however, forces at work to compel a change in Hindu opinion.
INDIA-CHANGES IN THE LAST FIFTY YEARS
tude of Hindus of the higher castes towards the Untouchables ill many parts of India and are Untouchable that he renounced Hinduism and bringing whole communities into the Christian called on the Untouchables throughout India to Church. In the diocese of my friend the Bishop do the same. of Dornakal in South India there are two hundred It is only possible to summarize here what has thousand Christians where there were only a few occurred since. For many years Mahatma Gan- hundred thirty years ago. And that is only one dhi had done all he could to secure better treat- instance of the way in which these pariah multi- ment for the Untouchables whom he calls Hari- tudes are breaking the fetters of demon worship jans (Children of God). I remember one occasion and are seeking Jesus Christ.
when he had come to a place to make a great The Christian community in India is still very speech. He noticed that some Harijans had come small, only some six millions among nearly 350 to hear him but had been crowded away into a millions of Hindus, Moslems and peoples of other far corner. Promptly he went and sat down religions. India of 1939 is not Christian, nor dare among them and then made his speech standing I say that it will become Christian in my time. among them. That is typical of him, and has But the greatest change of all is more significant wonderfully impressed many of them. Gandhi than the community movements. Today when used Ambedkar's revolt as a final argument and Indians would describe a supremely truthful, selfcompelled even the most unprogressive Hindus to forgetful, brave and utterly sincere man-a leader see that, unless their treatment of their serfs like Mahatma Gandhi—,they do not say that he improved, these Harijans would cut themselves is like Rama or Krishna or any other of the old entirely adrift from Hinduism. This touched the gods of the land. With reverent voices they say, politicians, for the votes of the Untouchables "He is like Jesus Christ." would probably be lost if they did nothing for them. Gandhi's personality, perhaps more than his arguments, won the day. The orthodox but THE CROW AND THE PEACOCK enlightened Maharaja of Travancore, guided by his Brahmin chief minister-one of the ablest There is an Indian fable of a crow that lived men in India-permitted Untouchables to worship near some peacocks, and thought that the pea- in all the temples under his control. Other Prin- cock's caste was more excellent than his own. The ces have followed his lead. The authorities in crow therefore picked up a few of the peacock's many temples under private control have done cast-off feathers and stuck them among his own.
the same, and the Brahmin Prime Minister of He left his own family and in his new guise lived the Government of Madras has supported the trus- among the peacDcks for a few days. One day his tees of the famous Shiva Temple in Madura in voice was heard, and the peacocks said, "This is admitting Harijans to the Holy of Holies. One not a peacock. He has been deceiving us while temple in Kumbakonam has closed its doors to living among us." Then they all set upon him Harijans and "imprisoned the God," but in many with their beaks and spurs till, sore wounded and places the Untouchable can worship in the same ashamed, he sought to return to his own family.
temple with the Brahmin, just as he can sit beside The crows understood why he left them and why him in the Council. Though the old grievances he .wished to return. They said. "You despised of the Harijans survive in out of the way or ortho- us, thinking you would honor yourself by trying dox centres, the days of universal degradation are to join others. Go to them. There is no place fDr past. This is the finest victory that Mahatma you here. Be off! We will not have you among Gandhi has ever won. Only ten years ago no one us."
believed that he would ever so triumph. Over fifty years ago a Brahmin friend wrote to The Greatest Change of All Benjamin Robinson, a missionary who sought to adapt Indian customs and dress in order that he But apart from Dr. Ambedkar large numbers might be more effective as a messenger of Christ: of Untouchables have already sought a new faith. "Whatever you do, you cannot alter YDur birth.
In my first days in India we missionaries were However you dress and eat you will be known as often called "white pariahs" because we entered an Englishman. Your motives in change of dress villages of the Untouchables, made friends with will be misunderstood and misconstrued." This them, even took our meals in their huts. The judgment was confirmed from another source, religion of Jesus Christ was contemptuously for when he returned to a village which he had called "the pariah's way" because in the India of visited on his previous tour, a Sudra headman, 1892, dominated still by Hindu custom and preju- who had renounced idolatry said, "Don't you per- dice, many Untouchables were accepting it. But ceive, Sir, that if you dress as these idolaters, they the most hopeful of us had no idea of the wide will say, 'You ought to adopt our worship also.'''
mass movements which today are awakening the -National Christian Council Review.
A Chinese Christian's Testimony *
-.11.:1-===B=Y=MY=F=ANWY===w=o=o=D=,=p..e.l_,p_in_g,_Ch=in_a==;;lII,·- T HREE years ago Mr. Y. C. Ts'ai left Yen- Mr. Ts'ai writes of his Bible study while in ching School of Religion in Peiping to become prison, "I read the last part of all the Gospels, lecturer in New Testament in the South especially John 13-21, and my experiences in Fukien Union Theological College. Recently he prison helped me to understand and appreciate was asked to address a conference of Christian the suffering Christ and His Resurrection much students in Changchow on "The Attitude of Chris- more than before. Many of His teachings to tians to the National Crisis." He spoke on- which I had not previously paid much attention I. God's relation to men; Freedom. were brought home to me with new light and mighty power. All the while the great words- II. Man's relation to God; Faith. Love, Peace and Joy-rang like heavenly music (a) Fearless when calamity comes. in my ears. . . . The fruit of the Holy Spirit is (b) We are all to love our enemies'. the heritage of the children of our God and Fa- (c) God's love ultimately will certainly prevail. ther who is Love and Victory. May His name be glorified for ever and ever. Amen." III. Relations between man and man: Love. Christians are the messengers of Love.
IV. The Christian's outlook on the world; Hope.
V. The Relation of the Christian to himself; Nurture Mr. Ts'ai was kept in prison for twenty-two of his Spiritual Life. days. Writing a little later, he slays: "There Mr. Ts'ai's notes reveal a carefully thought- must be those who deal with the present, but there through statement which challenges Chris,tians to must also be people who point men to the future. practical expressions of the love of God, even in . . . We pray for the nation, but we must also the time of war. pray for the reign of God wherein lies the true welfare of the nation. Permanent world peace Nearly three weeks after the address, the local . . . cannot be possible without the religion of daily paper came out with an article giving a Christ. For He alone can redeem the world from garbled account and accusing Mr. Ts'ai of being selfishness and sin, which is the root of war. . . . a traitor to his country. Five days later, soldiers We must work for peace in the midst of war. It went to his home to arrest him, and he was tried sounds out of harmony with the thoughts of the before the local military tribunal. The officials time, but it is absolutely needed." asked him to write an outline of the offending address and they then proceeded to question him on When Mr. Ts'ai was released, his presence at the basis of the newspaper report. To all ques- court (at any time he might be recalled) was tions he gave quiet, orderly replies, which reveal guaranteed by the principals of the Christian Colclearly how consistent he is to his Christian prin- lege and schools in Changchow. In the original ciples. draft of this document of release, his guarantors were required to promise that he would not again He was imprisoned in a room ten feet by fif- say anything "unseemly." Mr. Ts'ai protested teen, with other prisoners numbering at various strongly against any such promise, "For," he says, times from two to fourteen. These included army "I would much rather stay in prison than have officers, bandits and suspected spies. He writes: that clause in the guarantee for release. I admit "I thanked God for granting me the opportunity that what I said was not in line with the trend of to live and work among them; to show them how, thought of this time, but I can never confess to even under the most trying circumstances, there anYibody that what I said was wrong. It was my is still the possibility of living according to the duty to preach as I was led, and I was ready to rules of a sanitary life; above all I am thankful take any consequences." for the opportunity to bring them the Gospel of Christ. And I was glad to see them cheered up, "In the time of national calamity all the more working gladly together to make the room clean should we preach Jesus." and tidy, getting rid of lice and insects, and living like men rather than sinking down to the level May the words of our Lord echo round the of mere animals,." world,and may Christians in every land bear an ever stronger witness in life today to the power of the Love of God; it is in that power alone that • From T1&6 London Missionary Society ChronicJe. we can pass through truth to freedom for service.
[540 ]
A VILLAGE STREET IN WEST AFRICA THE INTERIOR OF AN AFRICAN
African Views of African Life* The West African Home, Parents, Children and Schools -~~I-=-=-=B_Y_W_E_S_T_A_FR=-I_CA_N-=C=mu-=S_T_IA_N=S-=-=-=~II~ Behind Pagan Walls poisoning and death. Not until an animal was OUR ol~ s.tyle, one r?Om, mud walled Basa sacrificed to the sacred object, and the patient huts III West AfrIca were smaller than those of today. Some did not exceed ten sprinkled with its blood would the malady disapfeet in length or eight feet in width. The palm thatch roofs were so low that we could stand pear. We therefore believed and feared the cult upright only under the ridge pole. Within the one door hut of a pagan Basa was a clay mound bed. priests more than we do the white men who gov- Spears and a bow gun leaned against the wall. Fastened to the rafters was a bundle of carefully ern us today. tied sticks which was the owner's magic wand to keep away misfortunes. On the clay floor, in Not only did we believe that the priests commuwhich a fetish had been concealed, was a bark container for arrows and another for various po- nicated with departed spirits but we thought that tent charms. All were devices to keep evil spirits at bay and to bring to naught the machinations of they themselves were spirits. The officiating priest witches, the fear of which was ever present. of the men's Urn cult was a spfiermita. leThussp·itriht~· Spirits of our ancestors also were believed to the priest of the Nge was a male be all about and certain persons were thought to have the power to communicate with them and to men deceived the women and children greatly in transmit their blessings or their curses. These were the priests of the Nge and Urn cults. Men, order to put fear into their hearts. A woman who women and children all feared those who were associated with these cults and their rites. No un- refused her husband was threatened with, "The initiated was allowed to look upon the cult objects as the offender would sicken with the particular Nge will eat you." A child unwilling to carry cult sickness. In the case of Urn this took the form of the eating away of the nose or other parts messages was threatened in the same manner. If of the body by ulcers; in the case of the Nge, a wife continued in disobedience the Nge priests waited in ambush to carry her off secretly to kill her. When she failed to appear, the announce- ment was made to her people that the Nge had eaten her. .
Women were not allowed to be present at the grave during burial as the rites for the dead were in the hands of ,the Nge. Before laying the corpse in the grave a priest entered it and talked, trying to imitate the voice of the departed man to put fear into the hearts of his widows. Whenever the cult men danced all women and children were shut up in their houses. If a :woman bore a monstros- ity it was considered positive proof that she had MIS•S<IO?on,ndCenasmederofroonm. The Drum Cal!, Published by the Presbyterian surreptitI•ously witnessed cult ceremonies or trans- [541] ..
gressed other laws. Women were forbidden to eat tried to run away. Her father heard of it and the wild hog because its voice sounded like that of before she could go far he caught and brought the Nge. Fish were taboo for them because the most sacred of the Um cult objects was found in her back. the river. Those who obeyed all the tenets of the When my mother was about fifteen years old cults were told that blessings would follow them, such as: Birth of many children, health, riches, she was married to my father. She had two nickgood luck in the chase; but if they broke the laws names. One was Kinganngoi-the name of the and taboos, misfortunes as illness and death would wild red river hog, given to her because she was be their lot. celebrated for her beauty. In the village of her husband she received the other name, meaning The walls of our pagan homes shut in fear and "Weaver-birds-make-a-great-noise." She cooked superstition, keeping out the love and happiness much food for the many guests of her husband. that God offers. We thank our Father God that She prepared great feasts. Many women came He has caused to shine upon our homes His great to her to beg for food and she gave to all who light, the Good News of Jesus which is dispelling asked. For this reason there were always many fear in our hearts and homes and is sweeping people and the hum of many voices in the village away our superstition.-Samuel Wrestling-beetles. so that she became famous as a great worker and very generous. My Heathen Father My mother wore a black bustle made of string My father's children did not love him but they that she prepared from the new leaves of the raffia feared him very much. My sisters feared him palm. It took from fif,ty to seventy of these strings even more than we boys. If we offended him, such to form a bustle eight to ten inches long which she as drinking the dregs of his palm wine or stand- wore fastened to her belt of monkey skin or ing near any ·of his wives, he thrashed us un- braided fibres. Her leaf apron was made from the mercifully. We dared not lift our eyes when he leaves of the lagal tree. It was about two fingers was near. wide and was fastened to her belt; it was fringed at the end the length of one's middle finger. Her When he was a young man he first became a leaf apron, the one she wore to dances, she colored hunter. After he excelled in shooting a gun he red with powdered or ground chips from the redswore an oath that he would not marry until he wood tree. had killed a man of the Bakembe clan; so he went to the diviner whose advice he followed. After he Mother bore nine children and raised two genhad prepared the war feast, the invited warriors erations of orphans. She lived to see her own ate and danced in their ceremonial dress. This grandchildren and those of the other wives of her ritual performed, my father took his gun and husband. I loved my mother very much because crossed the river to the Bakembe clan and stealth- she taught me the things of women. She taught ily walked to a certain hut. He removed the bark us to be chaste and did not allow us to go about and there saw a man and his wife, fast asleep. visiting in other people's houses. When we chil- He prayed to his gun, "Oh gun, pick off this man dren were married she gave us many presents of and this woman." Then he killed the sleepers. household goods such as clay pots, water gourds, Immediately the hut caught fire and the whole baskets, wooden spoons, wooden dishes. We have family perished-not one was left to plant a lily a proverb: The wild vine comes to the yo yam; it bulb (commonly used to exorcise evil spirits). passes and reaches the sweet potato. This is to When he returned to his village my father danced say that the luxuriant and fast growing vine, and sang the songs of warriors for which he was representing the industrious person, comes to the given much goods. With this gift he obtained celebrated yo yam, meaning my mother, and then his first wife and became a warrior. goes on to the sweet potatoes (eaten by children only), meaning her children. Later, my father became a great medicine man and a priest of both the Nge and Um cults. He There was a shallow pit near my mother's even sacrificed his mother to become a priest of house in which were planted two lilies. Near the Nge. these were a snail shell and a stick on which was tied a bundle of leaves and sticks. A clay pot Father married twenty-four wives, but he al- near by contained water and some bark of trees. lowed only one of them to cook his food, for fear This was mother's place of healing. Many women of poisoning. One day he killed his brother be- and children came to her to be healed; she took cause he took from him one of his wives.-Zach- them to this shrine and sprinkled with water from ues Body-hardened. the pot. As, she did this she said, "Misfortune or bad luck you hear it from behind, good fortune My Black Mother reach out toward it." She prayed to the spirits to take away the sickness and to bring blessings to My mother grew up in her father's town. He the women (that is many children). Mother's did not wish her to be married but one day mother
AFRICAN VIEWS OF AFRICAN LIFE
search for life made her establish this sacred in his eyes because he had stolen something from place, but she afterwards found a better life than one of his uncles.
she was looking for when I was a child. She be- It was a Basa man's ambition to have a son came a Christian and gave up her superstitious who surpassed others in fighting. When boys practices. Her real name was Oh-skies. People grew to be old enough they were given machetes said that only in the skies was it possible to find to use in mock fighting. A stick was placed on anything lovelier and wiser than my mother.- the ground. One boy stood on one side of this Daughter of Elephant. stick and one on the other, each with a cutlass in My Baby Boy hand. Each in turn struck the other with the flat of the cutlass on his shoulder. The boys who "Molar tooth-of-elephant has been born." This fought against my brother always ran away from was what we sang in our hearts when a baby boy his blows. He became a great warrior and cap- was born. Mothers all desire a son to build us a tured many women when he went to fight the house when he grows up, to cut the bush and clear other clans.
the ground so we may plant a garden. We God has now put other thoughts in our hearts.
thought of the wives he would marry and the We coveted the nickname of "Snorting Leopard"
many grandchildren we would see in our village. for our sons because we wished them to be as Our husbands also said that it was "a molar- fierce as a leopard as well as strong as a "molar tooth-of-elephant" that must be born first. To tooth-of-an-elephant." Now, we rejoice if they are make sure that their desires would be granted known as "Kelle-quiet-waters," for as the waters they asked the diviner what they should do. of the Kelle River flow evenly and calmly on, so "Go to the grave of your grandfather," the di- shall our sons be peace-loving, their villages un- viner told my father, "make a sacrifice of a goat disturbed by brawls and wars.-Esther One-of- to his spirit; then make a fire on his grave with something.
ceclain leaves and sticks. Take fresh water from A Girl in the Home the stream in a new gourd and wash your hands over the fire so that all evil influences may be My parents were very much pleased when I banished." was born. They had two sons and they needed a My father did exactly as the diviner said. daughter who might be exchanged for a wife for His first child was a boy but people were told one of them or for goods to marry one. They "It is a girl." Father built a house with a tall called me Kop-i-sem, a "fowl to sell." As a girl fence around it in a secret place in the bush. must leave her home and go to live in the village There mother took her baby as father did not of the man she marries, where she helps to in- want the witches to know that he had a son. If crease the number of her husband's clan, she was they saw a baby they would fasten an evil eye on not considered then of as much importance as a the child, and he would sicken and die. Many boy who increases the number in his own clan.
children died, and people said, "Witches, there When a girl was born the midwife always said, are many of them. We must always keep fetishes "Deny; but if caught in the act, confess." Women about to chase them away so they will not kill were blamed for so many evils that mothers felt our children or ourselves." it necessary to teach their girls to be cautious Parents wished sons to grow up to be bold, when they were still very young. They said that brave men. My mother teased my brother when there were more women witches than men so girls he was still a baby so that he would know how had to be taught to be very modest and not give to get angry, kick and fight. Then when he grew offense.
up, if anyone tried to take anything from him, My oldest sister was married soon after she he would not let him. When brother was old had learned to walk. Her husband took her to his enough he stayed with father most of the time. village and there she grew up, living with one of Father showed him how to trap animals, fish with his older wives. She was taught to work hard in a net, make thatch for the roofs of our houses the garden every day, to draw water from the and weave hampers from the fronds of the oil spring and to cook, beginning from the time she palm. These are the things of men that all boys was four years old. My younger sister never mar- must learn. After they are ten years old boys do ried for my father said that she must stay in his not sit in their mothers' house or eat with them town and bear children there for him.
or they are thought weaklings. They eat with When I was a very small child I helped my their fathers in the community house. mother every day in the garden; I drew water One day mother and I heard my brother from the spring in a gourd she gave me. As soon screeching as if in pain. We ran to him and saw as I could use a knife I helped her peel potatoes.
that he was suffering torture and staggering Girls are taught to work very hard because a man about in the street. Father had put red pepper will give a bigger dowry for a girl who works
hard than fQr Qne whO' is lazy. It is the ambition taken frQm us, and we were given dry banana Qf every girl to' be desired as a wife. leaves to' wear. When it was necessary to leave the hut we were O'bliged to' walk bent Qver with My heart was filled with fear at night. When- faces to the grQund. I was fO'rced to' stay in the ever the sun went down mQther would awaken me widow's pen for fifty-four days. During all Qf if I were asleep as she was afraid the sun WQuld this time I was nO't allO'wed to' wash and my face carry my heart away. If children were awake became dirty with SO'Qt from the fire and my body when the sun went down they said that there white frO'm the ashes and clay where I lay. My was nO' danger. One night, after we had all been tears wore paths in the dirt O'n my cheeks. asleep fQr a long time, we awakened with a start. MQther stirred the lQgs that were burning between A widow, her mQurning O'ver, may choQse a new her bed and mine SO' that it was quite light in the husband. Her mO'uth is stoppered with leaves to hQuse. We heard SQmething fly frQm the rQQf Qf prevent her talking until she reaches his village. Qur hQuse. It was an owl but we were told that NO'W I have chosen a new Master, Jesus. He has witches CQuld turn intO' owls and they flew off washed away my sins and taken the stQPper from with the hearts of sleepers. my lips that I may praise Him. I am nO' longer a mere "thing left behind" but a real child Qf We children were very happy when the moon shQne fQr then we gathered in Qne Qf the hQmes GQd.-Daughter of Great-rubbish-pile. and listened to Qur mQthers telling fQlk tales. We told riddles toO' but did nQt dare tell these during Christian vs. Heathen Customs the daytime lest our mO'thers sicken or die. But the best time of day was the late afternQQn when The man whO' believes in God and the man whO' we children played games in the court before our does nO't are not the same kind Qf a persO'n. The hQuses. real Christian knO'ws that he ought to' keep his body' and his spirit clean, but the unbeliever dQes HO'W I cried when they dragged me from my nO't knO'w that. The things that O'ur fathers were mother's arms to take me to my marriage. I was happy to' dO' we Christians are ashamed to' dO'. Let not more than ten years old but I still remember Qne whO' dQes nO't knQw these things ask SQme O'f it as though it were yesterday. I realized that I the O'ld men to' relate them to' him. In Qlden times was a mere "fowl to be SQld." When I reached a persO'n did nQt bathe Qften, saying that if a man my husband's town I did not see that my husband bathed early in the mO'rning he WO'uld nO't be was an Qld man for my eyes were fastened O'n the strQng. If he bathed O'nce O'r twice a mQnth he ground when he came near. I was glad that she was dO'ing well. He WQuld bathe then O'nly because had taught me to' be generO'us, fQr it made my he was going on a jO'urney O'r to a feast. Now, mO'ther-in-law kinder to' me. Always in the eve- if we do nQt bathe and appear dirty befO're others, ning when I brought her some food from my gar- that is the height of shame. den she WQuld take me Qn her lap, blQW spittle Qn my fQrehead and bless me. That is Qur custO'm to What a man himself knO'ws, that he can teach this day.-Daughter of Parting-cloth. another; but if he does nO't knO'w, hQW will he be able to' teach? The Christian parent differs frO'm A Widow's Experience others in that he really tries to teach his children to speak the truth and punishes them when they Yik, "the thing left," is the word for widow in do nQt; he tells them, "Be truthful even thO'ugh our language. My husband, a rich man, had many yO'U are killed." A man Qf the world wants his wives and gO'ats. BefQre he died the diviner told child to win in a cO'ntrQversy even by falsehO'od. him that if he would kill Qne O'f his wives he When, by sO' dO'ing, his child gets the better O'f would nQt die. He lifted his machete to kill his adversary in a palaver the father says with "Weaver-birds-chatter" as she was bending Qver pride, "My child is a man, he will nQt get intO' to' serve him, but befO're the knife reached her trO'uble befO're the authorities fO'r he knQws hO'W he fell dead. to' twist things to' his advantage. The sO'n whO' knO'ws only to' speak the truth is a woman and nO't When a person dies the burden Qf the expres- a real man." sion of grief faHs UPQn the wO'men and immediately O'ur wailing burst forth. SQme O'f us wept Even as the Christian persO'n is nO't like the because O'ur husband had gone but mO're O'f us heathen, so also his family is nO't the same. wept because we feared his spirit wO'uld CQme to' Usually each pastO'r, teacher and catechist's hO'me persecute us O'r take us to' the spirit wQrld. I had is like a light set on a hill-a real example Qf sPO'ken disrespectfully to' "Great-elephant" (his what a Christian hQme O'ught to be. This hO'me hO'nQr name; wives are forbidden to' address their is happy. FQr the most part the Christian keeps husband by his real name). After Qur husband his house and yard clean; he tries to keep the was buried we widows were all herded intO' O'ne children clean and is the first to take them to a hut and left there to' sleep and sit on the clay doctQr when sick. He alsO' sends bQth girls and flO'O'r. Our raffia bustles and leaf aprO'ns were bO'ys to schQol, as a great many believers dO', to'
learn to read and write and to learn the things of education, the church is raising up a new genof God. He makes a real effort to arrange Chris- eration of girls who are demanding in marriage tian marriages for his children. The first ques- the privileges of Christian homes and husbands tion a father asks a man who comes to seek his whom they may call their own instead of sharing daughter in marriage is, "Are you a Christian? them with others. Show me your church letter." When a father, who is wealthy, having many There are many families in which only one wives and much goods, dies, all this property, inmember, the woman, is a Christian. The mother cluding his wives, goes to the oldest son. Freis pressed by the church to forbid any alliance quently a man has shown real Christian courage with unbelievers; the father, being interested and love for God at such times refusing even to go only in getting all the money he can, gives the home to settle the estate. Sometimes, however, daughter to the one promising the" greatest dowry, our hearts are heavy with sorrow when we see even though the prospective husband already has one who has had Christian training unable to many wives. Frequently a father forbids his girls withstand the temptation. He goes home for the to go to school. He argues thus: "What is the burial feast, listens to the advice of the old men use of teaching a girl? All she needs to know and falls a prey to the customs of his fathers, beis how to plant a garden, cook food for her hus- coming involved and thus severs his connections band and bear children. What else is there for with the church.
SOME PARENTS AND CHILDREN AT THE LOLODORF It is only thirty-five years since the first mis- HOSPITAL sionary took his life in his hands to bring to the Rasa tribe the Good News of what Christ has her? Whoever heard of a woman teacher? If she done to release them from all the fears which knows how to read and write she will know more held them and their children as slaves. Yet, in than her husband, and no man will give a dowry this short time, God has done great things for for a woman who knows more than he does; that the people. Instead of seeking ways to kill the is the limit of shame for a man." Sometimes the bringers of Good News, there are now thousands woman of faith either overcomes the objections of in all parts of the land who eagerly await and her husband or against his will and wrath sends welcome the coming of missionaries and teachers. her daughter to school and insists that she have a Christian marriage. When the unbelieving father Christianity is still in its infancy among us. sends his daughter into an unchristian marriage We pray that the things of God will grow and that against the will of the mother that he may get a the new foundation which Christ has laid for larger dowry, then much trouble has come to that our homes will remain unshaken, always increashouse. ing in strength. We know that the words of Jesus will spread throughout our tribe and that the hin- Sometimes a very young girl goes to the pastor drances to its diffusion in our hearts will end saying that she has run away from her home be- when the believers pray without ceasing.-Rev. cause her father has taken a dowry from a man Gustave Esombe. who is not a Christian. Since it is against the French law to give money for an immature girl The School and the Home the Mission often takes such a one and puts her into the girls' school at the station nearest her The school is like the shadow of a person. We home. Since neither party dares take the case to formerly believed the shadow to be a projection court the palaver is usually settled amicably and of the soul of the living. When a man died, we the dowry returned. Slowly, through the process said that his shadow had gone. So the school is important in the life of an individual. Its influ- ence lives on after a pupil has finished his course and begins the life ofa real person in his village.
A glimpse of the Rasa people and their homes of other days and those of today will convince anyone of the value of the school. In the days when my father was· a child all the village pa- lavers, quarrels and fears of witches were public property. When a boy came to be six or seven years old he spent much time in the community house where the men of the village lay sprawled on their beds or sat on them with a forked tree root at their backs to lean against. There he lis- tened to matters pertaining to marriage. Some- times the palaver concerned a girl who had run
away from her husband. She would stand cower- to take their rightful places as companions to ing in one corner while the discussion went on as their husbands, instead of being their slaves. to what punishment to mete out to her to prevent her from running away again. We did not know much about cleanliness in the old days. Our bodies we rubbed with redwood If a man was very angry he might wish to kill powder and oil but we did not bathe often. Sick his wife and considered her his chattel to do with persons never bathed until they recovered. The as he wished. At times there were heated discus- center post of our houses was used as a towel sions concerning the bride price of a mere baby. or handkerchief. We did not know that disease At any time a boy might see his little sister whom comes from filth and dirt. We thought that dehe had carried on his hip, while nis mother was parted spirits sent us misfortunes, sometimes to busy in her garden, taken away from his home to punish us for not sacrificing a fowl or goat to become the wife of a man who had numerous them. From many houses could be heard the other wives. There were many arguments con- death wail-a mother mourning for another little cerning debts and often a man's wife or daughter one or wives for a husband. was pawned to prevent the creditor from adjuring his fetish to kill the debtor. In the school pupils are taught hygiene. They learn that dirt carries disease germs and are I could write much concerning the things heard taught to keep their bodies clean. They learn that and learned by the small boy of school age in his a dog has eggs of worms on its tongue and that if contacts with life in his village when my father dishes are left for it to lick, instead of being was a boy. He learned to have impure thoughts, washed, as is the custom of some of our people, to value deceit and lying and to disrespect wom- the eggs will pass into the next person who eats anhood. He soon ceased obeying his mother. He food from such dishes. There are many other never shared with his sister but always expected things hygiene teaches us. and was given the best and biggest portions of food after his father had received his. When a family goes on a journey the head of the family takes his place last in the line. There The school has kept boys away from the com- he can see what dangers threaten ahead and promunity house at a tender age when they are most tect and care for the very last one in the line. susceptible and has gathered them together to I have kept the most important influence the learIli to think other thoughts and have other school has on our homes until the last. Jesus is ideals. This has been an invaluable help. But the Head of our schools. He is not the shadow there are other ways in which it has influenced but the very heart, itself, as we Basa say. Our our home. Girls sit in classes with boys and often pupils read God's Word in school and they see excel them in their studies. Their hours in school that their teachers try to follow Christ's teachprevent them fixing their attention on matters ings. They turn their hearts to God. It is the which made the past generation disdain woman- Christian school pupils who put into practice what hood, and they find that girls are their equals, so they learn of cleanliness and Christian virtues bethey have gained a respect for womanhood. Wom- cause their thoughts are turned toward helping en in a Christian community are now beginning their people to rise.-Otto Who-will-climb.
WHEN ESTELLE PRAYED We were holding a service at a soldier's camp in the heart of Africa. While we were in the midst of the meeting a Basonge woman, from 1000 miles away, stood up and prayed. She had one baby in a sling on her back and another one tugging at her skirts. I could under- stand only two words, "Jesus" and "Amen" but I knew that she was talking to God. The con- gregation was quiet and reverent. The woman who prayed was Fulu Estelle from the Swedish Mission station of Kingoyi.
That afternoon we had a baptismal and communion service. One couple, Movungu and Nianga Estelle, brought their son for baptism. There were 110 baptized Christians present for this service. After the baptism of her son, Nianga Estelle prayed. She comes from the same mission station as Fulu Estelle.
The service was conducted in four different languages, and eleven natives accepted Christ. Four babies were baptized; 15 little black children sang four songs for us, and one bachelor soldier sang a solo. Pray for our evangelist Kabunda and his wife Disank (Hap- piness) as they minister unto these soldiers. PLUMER SMITH, Mutoto, Congo Belge.
"Each in His Own Tongue"
How to Complete the Unfinished Task of the Bible Translator By EUGENE A. NIDA, M.A., Philadelphia, Pa. }a- Field Worker, Institute of Linguistics, Pioneer Mission Agency TODAY, after publishing the Bible or portions great damage to the message; others, though of it in 1,000 languages, the task of Bible conscientious, have failed to be accurate when translation is only half done, for there are accuracy was of utmost importance. For example, 1,000 other groups that should have the Word of one missionary discovered, after some length of God in their own tongues. The French Academy time, that his interpreter, who knew English inad- conservatively estimates 2,796 living languages equately, was rendering the expression, "only be- in the world. Several hundred of these languages gotten Son," by words in his own language which are spoken by very small groups of people, but would be a translation for "only forgotten Son."
there are still at least one thDusand languages He was nDt acquainted with the obsolescent word, which should be reduced to writing and intO' which "begotten," and substituted one which had a cer- the Bible should be translated. The American Bi- tain similarity and which he knew; but this ble Society states that there are "from five hun- involved a considerable confusion in the fadred to a thousand more forms of speech in the world in which new translations are needed." The task of the Bible translator is far from finished- in fact, at least half still remains-for the greater percenta'ge of these one thousand groups speak languages which have never been reduced to writ- ing, and the people themselves are uneducated and not capable of being translators.
Accurate fi~ures as to the exact number of tribes and languages in the various countries of the world are difficult to secure. Ethnological sur- veys of many regions are very inadequate but, at a very conservative estimate, we may say that some 100 language groups in Western China shDuld have, but have not yet received, the Word of GDd in their language. There are 90 similar TRANSLATOR WITH MEXICAN BOY groups in Indo-China and Burma, 150 in Malay and the South Sea Islands, 200 in India, 250 in vorite text of the missionary. If the interpreter Africa, at least 40 in Mexico and Central America, is already a believer in Christ, he can, with some 100 in South America, and 80 in the Soviet Union. training, preach and not need to act as an inter- And this number does not include groups in Tibet, preter. But this does not solve the problem, for Afghanistan, portions of the Near East and Aus- it is found that he must have some source of spir- tralasia, all Df which regions have a number of itual inspiration and must be able to feed his own language groups without the Gospel. soul upon the truth of God, in order to present this An answer which is often given to the problem truth with consistency and clarity, which a good of taking the Gospel to indigenous groups is that translation alone can enable him to do. If the of the extensive use of interpreters. Though at people of the language group to which a mis- times this is necessary, it is far from satisfactory sionary is ministering are to be expected to grow and should only be preliminary to the real work in their spiritual life, they need the Word of God of evangelization. How is it possible for an inter- in their own language so that they may read it preter, who may not himself be a believer, to for themselves. The gateway tDa person's soul explain the Gospel to his fellow countrymen, even is through his own language. An African chief- though prDmpted by someone else? Some inter- tain, when he first read the Bible in his own lan- preters have been known to falsify intentionally guage, exclaimed, "That God is black!" He thus the statements of the missionary and have done voiced his feeling of the profound meaning which [547 ]
the Word of God in his own language conveyed to fessor Kenneth Pike of the Summer Institute of his soul. A Zapoteco Indian of Mexico, who had Linguistics has been working, four words may be been educated in Spanish and read the Bible in transliterated into English with the letters huku, Spanish, was asked in which language he would but which different tones on the two syllables prefer to have the Bible, and he answered, "Of make the word mean mountain, ox-yoke, brush, course, in my own language, the Zapoteco." All and mountainous. This word changes from a the tribes around the world likewise are entitled noun, which is the first meaning given, to an to receive this priceless heritage of the Word of adjective merely by raising the pitch of the two God, a heritage which the missionary may leave syllables. In many languages the pitch is a comwith his people after he has gone, and by leaving plicated feature of the grammatical structure. it, will have helped to establish a foundation for a strong indigenous church. But complications of sound are slight as com- pared with the highly elaborate grammatical Many stupendous problems are involved in lan- structure of many languages. The Cakchiquel guage reduction and Bible translation. One must language of Guatemala, which Mr. Cameron have the courage and pioneer spirit of such men Townsend, director of the Summer Institute of as William Carey of India, Robert Morrison of Linguistics, reduced to writing and into which he China, John Eliot, who translated for the Amer- translated the New Testament, has as high as ican Indians,and John G. Paton of the New 100,000 different forms for the verb. These are Hebrides. One must be able to withstand the arranged with regularity and great preciseness hardships and difficulties encountered in living in of meaning. One word in the Tarahumara lanthe isolated regions of the world, and must have guage of Mexico, macugupabenima, actually the persistency necessary to learn new and diffi- means "already for the second time about to comcult sounds, to search out words, to master gram- mence the activity of bringing in wood." Each matical construction. He must be able to develop syllable has a definite meaning when used in the or borrow words for spiritual concepts, such as word, but these elements are meaningless if sepalove, faith, forgiveness-terms. which in many rated or uttered in any other than their particular languages do not exist with the correct spiritual fixed order. This language, with somewhat over values. one hundred suffixes and prefixes which may be attached to a stem, may have verbs of 50,000 Some Complicated Problems different possihle forms. Aboriginal languages are not primitive, if we mean by this word "sim- One who reduces an aboriginal language to ple," for, though many are less complicated than writing will encounter many intricate problems of these which we have mentioned, they all indicate sound and grammer. For example, in the Maza- a highly developed method of conveying meanteca language of Mexico, there are three words ing. Not all are complete in abstract words or concepts, but most of them have means by which which the untrained investigator would write ti, these concepts may be developed.
but which have three distinct meanings-boy, A Summer Institute of Linguistics rubbish, and round. These words are not identical in· sound, as one might first think, for one To meet this need of the missionary for tech- nical training in the science of language, the Sumhas a slight puff of air after the t sound, just as mer Institute of Linguistics was founded six years ago by Mr. L. L. Legters and Mr. Cameron Townwe pronounce the letter t in English; in the word send, under the sponsorship of the Pioneer Mis- sion Agency of Philadelphia. This Institute, which which means boy the t is pronounced as in Span- is also called Camp Wycliffe in honor of the trans- lator of the Bible into English, is now located near ish, a slight distinction which would usually be Siloam Springs, Arkansas, and each summer, missed by an untrained person. The word which from July till October, provides training for mismeans round has a slight puff of air just preceding sionaries going to various countries of the world. This Institute does not teach anyone specific lanthe t. If one does not make these distinctions in guage, but teaches the scientific basis for the analysis of all types of languages. Two and a writing, which may be indicated by some sign such half hours a day are given to a thorough training as a single apostrophe or a superimposed h, al- in the science of phonetics, which has to do with most unlimited confusion would occur for one the analyzing and making of sounds. It is necesattempting to read the language. Even greater sary both to hear accurately and to be able to rethan the difficulty of peculiar consonants and vow- produce accurately the very large number of els is that of the tone or pitch of the syllables in sounds and combinations of sounds which occur many languages. Chinese is noted for its ,complicated singsong pattern, and many languages of Africa and North and South America are even more complicated. The Geabo language of North Africa has as many as four pitches and twelve oombinations. One syllable, mu, occurs with eight tonal differences and eight different meanings. In the Mixteco language of Mexico, with which Pro-
EACH IN HIS OWN TONGUE
throughout the world. The problem of writing a turn and take advanced work in linguistic prob- correct alphabet, which is termed phonemics, is lems. Since the material which he has gathered also studied under the guidance of Professor Pike. will be in scientific form, due to his first summer's Time is also devoted to the study of the science training, he may then be helped to solve the par- of grammar. Analyses are made of the various ticularly difficult problems which occur in his own ways in which words are formed in the languages language.
of the world, and how a person goes. about analyz- No sacrifice or effort is too great to attain the ing the structure of a complicated language. How goal of presenting the priceless, life-changing and these words are put together into sentences is also light-giving Word of God. An Aztec Indian, after taught. Another course is given in the interpre- having read the Bible over a period of some weeks, tation of the Greek New Testament. A course in came to the missionary and inquired as to what a typical Indian language, Cakchiquel, is given had happened to him. He could not beat his wife, by Director Townsend. Lectures on general mis- get drunk, lie and cheat, as he had been accus- sionary problems and the spiritual aspects of the tomed to do before reading the Word of God, work are given by Mr. Legters, of the Pioneer which kept prompting him not to do these things.
Mission Agency.
Over thirty individuals who have taken the training course during the six summer sessions of the Institute are now working in various coun- tries – Africa, Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Philippines. Missionaries from other countries have availed themselves of the spe- cial training for their specific language problems.
This Summer Institute makes these opportunities available to any Mission Board and any prospec- tive missiO'nary at an expense amounting to $2.00 a week for room and board. All the other TRANSLATORS AT WORK ON A NEW TONGUE expenses are met by the friends of the Pioneer Mission Agency, who have undertaken this faith The missionary had the privilege of explaining work in order that the Word of God may be more that this Book was nO't like any other book, and speedily carried to' the thousand tribes that have that the Spirit of God spoke thrO'ugh it, so that not yet received it. God was speaking to his soul. This Indian ac- One special feature of the training includes cepted Christ and is now proclaiming the Gospel work with native informants, either Indians who with sincere zeal and effectiveness.
have been brought from Latin America or come A unique experience occurred to one of the mis- from tribes in Arkansas and Oklahoma. The sionaries and his wife when their native helper, student has the opportunity of working on the who watched them closely, asked what they were language problem just as he would in some mis- doing when they knelt down each night. Theyex- sion field, for he first writes various words in plained that they were praying. The native order to obtain a knowledge of the sounds; then thought that this meant reciting something, for he he takes down short sentences and phrases and could not dissociate praying from meaningless gradually, under the supervision of the instruc- ritual. When they finally explained that in their tors, works out a practical method for undertak- prayers they were actually talking to God, the ing the reduction of some new language to writing. Indian immediately answered, "Oh, sir, won't you Of course, it is impossible to teach sufficient in talk to God in my language so I may listen in!"
three months' time to enable the student to become This is the challenge of a thousand tribes an accomplished linguist, but the method is thor- around the world. If someone will speak to God oughly emphasized so that after the missionary in their language, they will thank God for the has been on the field for a short time, he may re- good news which comes through Jesus Christ.
THE NEED FOR CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Probably never since the Copernican revolution has the need for Christian education been so dire as it is today. . . . Obviously, if the church-related colleges are only replicas of the State and secular cO'lleges, their contributiO'n to Christian character will remain negligible. If the doctrines of Christianity are dealt with only on the level of intellectual exercises, like original problems in geometry, what hope is there?-Dr. Henry C. Link, the author of "The Rediscovery of Man."
Adults to Read •
111 -t&f I By the REV. E. W. BAILEY, Minia, Egypt 11'- I NCREASING interest is being shown in the life ways by which village children may be educated of the Egyptian peasant. Though he consti- and kept in touch with their village life while still tutes two thirds of the population and for cen- in school. A schgol garden, sewing classes for turies, yes for millenniums, has been the wealth producer for his overlords, be they Turk, Mame- luke, or large land owner, he has been looked upon by his masters as existing mostly for their bene- fit, rather than as having any place of his own.
Today a new spirit is moving through the land and there is a new concept of the need for a fuller life in the villages. One meets it everywhere, in the daily press, in the lecture hall, in Parliament, and in private conversation with leaders in vari- ous walks of life. Nor is it all talk. Thegovern- ment, some land owners, and many private socie- ties have taken steps to better the lot of the peasant villager.
In the past few years members of the American Mission (United Presbyterian of N. A.) have taken steps to make the Gospel of Christ meet the EGYPTIAN EVANGELIST AND HIS CLASS whole need of man. One of these steps is along the line of adult education; the other is a village girls, and furniture making from the palm branch school developed along truly rural lines. ribs, are activities which have already proved to In a village near the city of Minia, a young evan- be worth developing, in addition to the three R's.
gelist, under the supervision of Miss Jean Mc- Crory, has hit upon one important feature of the THE UNCHANGING WORD OF GOD successful plans to teach adults to read, namely that the teacher must be confident of the ability of The Bible is one of the solid facts of Christi- his pupils to learn and must inspire his class with anity. It is not aff·ected by what men think of it.
that assurance. Within a few months this evan- Changing opinions about the Bible do not change gelist had taught a class of ordinary peasant wom- the Bible. Whatever the Bible was, the Bible is.
en to read from their Bible with sufficient intelli- And what it is it has always been. It is not men's gence, so that they were able to conduct family thoughts about the Bible that judge it. It is the prayers. As they read they learned that many Bible which judges men and their thoughts. It customs handed down from their fathers were not has nothing to fear but ignorance and neglect.
right-particularly the funeral and mourning cus- And the Church need have no other fear on its toms-and they have had the courage to break account. The Bible will take care of itself if the away from them. Soon the example of the women Church will distribute it and get it read. Every inspired the men to ask for a class and now a pastor should present the duty of Bible distribu- group of husbands has been formed and is making tion and Bible study afresh to the Church and all excellent progress. its members.
In another village, in the same district, the wife It is the Bible from which the ideal of the home of the pastor undertook a similar task, though is derived and from which the forces for its real- working more largely with individuals than with a ization flow. And what the Bible is for the home, class. Her success was even more marked. it is for men and women one by one-namely, the The other activity that looks toward a new em- source of true ideals of character and the foun- phasis in missionary education in Egypt is in a tain of those energies in Christ by which charac- village school in Edmu, also near Minia, the pro- ter is won.-Robert E. Speer, American Bible 80- vincial capital. This school is attempting to find ciety.
~ 550 1
Harvests in
I I~.- -•…et By the REV. CHARLES W. POSNETT, Medak, India O NLY those who have lived and worked in "Many 'devil priests' and priestesses were res- India for many years can realize the almost cued, and it is an unutterable joy to visit one who unbelievable changes that have taken place became an evangelist's wife, and is now a great in the past fifty years. We note the improvement leader amongst the women in the countryside in economic conditions, with the extension of irri- where as a child she was dedicated to the service gation and the lessening of famine; the increase of Satan. But for the wonderful Gospel of Christ, in education and unification of the country by she would today be a drunken prostitute, instead peace and communication; the improvements in of this beloved minister's wife.
health, including medical care and sanitation, with "From the first, I was determined to train evan- the great diminution in plague and cholera; the gelists, and, almost the first year, started with relaxing of caste restrictions and injustices, so three students. We started the Medak Bible that many of the depressed classes are now School, which has grown until now we have 200 treated as human beings; the increase in political students; it is the most valuable and important freedom, with the right of suffrage and self-gov- part of all our work. We have given to our most ernment; the generally improved social conditions promising young men and women a thorough and the raising of the marriage age for girls; but training in the Bible; the Gospel in all its sim- most of all we note the changed attitude of all plicity has become the anchor of their lives. These classes toward Christ and His Gospel and Way of young men and women go back to the villages Life. where they were born, where they were consid- Many testimonials are given to the revolution- ered of less value than the animals; these un- ary character and effect of these changes, which touchable outcastes, who had been trodden down fifty years ago seemed almost unbelievable and for generations, have gone back to preach to their impossible in so short a time. The Rev. Charles own people the saving power of Christ. By their W. Posnett, who has labored in Medak, in the lives and their Christian homes they set such an Province of Hyderabad, for over forty-four years, example that they have compelled the village writes as follows: chiefs and the caste people to respect· them.
"Forty years ago, when I first went to Medak, "For twenty-five years the village leaders and there was hardly a score of professed Christians. the caste people thought that Christianity was be- Today there are about 115,000. In that first year, neath them. While they confessed that the new a few outcastes asked to be baptized at night in religion had made a great change in this "miry the forest, where no one would see them. Today, clay," it was still to them the religion of the they are being baptized in hundreds every week, Untouchables. with flags flying and drums beating. They walk "These poor down-trodden, friendless Untouch- into the river, and the service is watched by hun- ables, found that Christ brought them missionar- dreds from surrounding villages, who have come ies who came into their dark little hovels, and to see what is done, for they are usually hesitating talked to them of One who could lift them up and before making the great decision. Many of those be their Friend. Slowly the outcaste Church bewho so confess Christ in baptism now are caste gan to grow, first in scores, and then in hundreds, people. They still face much bitter persecution, and at last in thousands. The fear of public bapif they decide to become His witnesses. tism became a thing of the past, and they began "In my first years, we were faced with a ter- to be proud to be Christians, though it cost them rible famine. Starving children who would have bitter persecution from their masters and the vil- been sold and brought up as household slaves, lage chiefs. They were beaten, their land conwere taken by us, and one English lady volun- fiscated by fraud, their cattle were refused graz- teered to come and supervise their education. ing, and in scores of ways they were tempted to Miracles have been worked in what appeared then return to the village gods, receiving promises of to be the very poorest material. Some of those. peace and land and help.
famine waifs are now ordained pastors, respected "For twenty-five years, this harvest was entire- and loved. ly among the Untouchables, but as these gradually [551 ]
rose in the esteem of all, the caste people began the compelling power of a true Christian life has to think that this religion must be something won- brought others from all over the district, and now derful. this harvest is spreading everywhere and is ac- companied by bitter persecution. The village "Fifteen years ago, caste Hindus were invited chiefs, especially, hate the thought of their own to our headquarters at Medak. To our unspeakable caste people becoming Christians, and they have joy, about one hundred thirty men and a few used the vilest abuse towards those who have brave women came from places as far as 150 miles made their confession. Yet this year, four of away. Each came in the company of a conse- these very village chiefs who were among our crated evangelist, who, though an outcaste, had bitterest enemies have publicly confessed the evil won their affection. For three days they were they have wrought and the suffering they have with us in our compound and ate the food which caused, and have asked their people for pardon. had been cooked for them by two of their own people, so as not to spoil their caste. They lis- . . Every year the harvest is growing greater." tened to the wonderful story of Christ with pictures and the magic lantern. Fourteen of them *** came to ask for baptism after they had been up all night fighting their doubts and fears. I told We also note the New Life Movement in Trathem that they must go back to their villages vancore, inaugurated at the recent Mar Thoma and give their witness in their own homes, and Syrian Christian Convention in South India. A learn more of Christ, for we did not want any group of 2,000 in Dr. Stanley Jones' Bible class hasty conversions which might afterwards be was told about the New Life Movement in China, denied. They had to be tested in the furnace of and resolved to launch a similar campaign to suffering before we would dare accept them into change certain things in the corporate life of the Church. India. The following points were selected: "One of these people was a government re- 1. Wipe out illiteracy in every village. corder, a Brahmin of very high caste. He publicly 2. Cleanse all filth from the house and compound. broke his caste and after six months was pub- 3. Every Christian's clothes clean. licly baptized. Ever since he has been faithful to 4. No debts contracted through marriage. his vows, and has been of infinite help to us in 5. All disputes to be settled out of court. scores of ways. He is now an old man and one 6. Adoption of a salutation, folding of hands and saywhom I dearly love. At his baptism there was a great crowd of caste people. He turned and ing, "Namaskaram." said to them, 'I have studied all the Hindu scrip- 7. Teach punctuality. tures, but there is nothing in them to compare 8. Give up all tobacco from personal and social customs. with the Gospel of Jesus. I have read it over 9. Give up use of liquor entirely. and over again, and I cannot hold back any 10. Indulge in no expensive feasts. longer whatever it may cost me.' 11. Charge no excessive interest. 12. At least one-tenth of income given to church and "Since then this harvest has spread all over our mission field. At first it was entirely confined charity. to the caste communities in one part, but again 13. A cooperative established in every village. 14. Family devotions observed in every home. 15. Cottage industries carried on in every home. 16. No recreation that cannot be taken in the Name of the Lord Jesus. 17. Wipe out all remnants of caste from thought and customs.
THE POWER OF GOD IN MISSIONS By REV. C. F. ANDREWS, OF INDIA When you read Romans, 7th chapter, you see a Paul who is all weakness. But when you read Romans, 8th chapter, Paul says, "I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me." The power comes through a personal experience of Christ.
A few years ago, the people of the Fiji Islands were all savages. When I went there I found them all Christians, sending out missionaries to an island one thousand miles distant. They were g<;>ing to preach to savages and expected to lose their lives in the attempt. The farewell serVIce was the Lord's Supper and they sang their reason for going. "Come and help us. We are dying. Christ is calling. Come and help us."
In Uganda I went to a place where a stone had been erected to the memory of three Afri- can boys who were told by the African chief that unless they gave up Christ, they would be burned. They refused to recant and were burned. The chief watched them burning and commanded silence so that he might hear the boys crying for mercy. Instead he heard them singing, "Jesus, Lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly."
Pueblo Indian Religion*
A Review by G. E. E. LINDQUIST, Lawrence, Kansas -t£f Missionary·at·Large, Society for Propagating the Gospel Among }Se– the Indians I N PUEBLO Indian culture "art, morality and the Hopi Wuwuchim and Singer societies, who philosophy are one," according to Dr. Elsie "have the clowning traits of jesting with women Clews Parsons, noted ethnologist. Her recent society members or singing at them in obscene compendium on the "Town Indians" of the South- terms" (p. 974); and the sexual display of the west,* in all probability, is the most comprehen- Koshare (p. 438). "This type of behavior might sive analysis of these town dwellers of New Mex- be interpreted as phallic-but the copulatory bur- ico and Arizona thus far published. After the lesques of First Mesa (Hopi) or Koyemshi refer- Introduction which contains no less than 111 ences to bestiality must be described as obscene in pages, the author deals with the following sub- quite the same sense as we conceive of such sexual jects: expressions when designed for amusement" (p.
Ceremonial Organization for, according to the Zunis, 439) .
"poor people are people without ceremonial connection" In the files of the Indian Bureau at Washington (p. 112). there is a series of affidavits concerning some of the so-called "secret dances" of the Pueblos which The Spirits, whose number is legion, must be impersonated, "When the dancers put on their masks, they not only impersonate the kachina but Pueblo Indians believe are unprintable. Furthermore, Dr. Edward S. that they are kachina" (p. 170). Curtis, in his monumental work on "The North American Indian," Vol. XVI, p. 162, speaks in Cosmic Notions, include the emergence myth, "the story no unmistakable language of the effects (e. g., of creation as that of emerging from the underworld" child seduction) of these ceremonial practices, (p. 210).
Ritual, in which we are told that "Pueblo ritual is kaleidoscopic," embodies both the fixed and the mobile the authenticity of which, though challenged, (p. 268). has never been disproved. Teachers of long expe- rience in the Indian School Service have likewise Ceremonies which are numerous, and of which fourteen testified as to their observations relative to child are meticulously described. seduction. Perhaps Dr. Parsons has such obser- vations in mind when she speaks of "school taught Other sections are devoted to the Pueblo calen- attitudes" tending to break down Pueblo ceremodar, and historical and geographical "reviews" of nial life. (p. 1128.) "The self-consciousness 13 "towns." It is significant that 226 pages are shown by the younger generation toward their given to factors involving "processes of change" cults, more particularly in matters that school in Pueblo culture. Is this, perchance, a portent of teachers would consider superstitious or obscene, what is happening to break down the "social are largely acquired at school." (p. 1140.) cohesion and integrity" which some people seem to prize so highly?
In the closing chapters of her work, the author takes pains to point out that Protestant Christi- Aside from "the new found sense of shame"
anity has been a disintegrating factor in Pueblo (p. 1140), acquired by the young people and the life. She says: "Protestant sects contribute noth- alleged perils inherent in "the American schools ing to Pueblo religion but dissension and apostasy. and teachings" (p. 1155), other factors promoting They present so sharp a choice between the old the disintegration of Pueblo ceremonial life in- religion and the new that they are called 'crazy.' elude such economic changes as adoption of the Hopi converts move off the mesa and break en- wage system and the introduction of government tirely with the ceremonial life" (pp. 1112-3). flour mills (p. 1130). Perhaps the inconsistency That there may be obvious reasons why Protes- which would lead one to dance in propitiation of tant Christians must break with the old ceremo- the rain gods and at the same time rely on the nial life, does not seem to occur to the author, advice of the Department of Agriculture is a bit although she refers to certain immoral practices of mental coordination which the young Pueblo which are disgusting to say the least, e. g., the experiences difficulty in hurdling. Then, too, the rabbit hunt ceremony at Sa~to Domingo (p. 826), violence of witch-baiting has abated, due in part, — at least, to the influence of the American doctor • P1,eblo Indian Religion. By Elsie Clews Parsons. 2 Vols. $7.00. and Visl·tl·ng nurse (p. 1139). 1275 pp. University of Chical'lo Press. 1939.
[553 ]
Furthermore, the passing of certain societies tribalism and nationalism, its adequacies to meet like the War Society at Zuni, the Al-vo-na the needs of all men and of all races, that the mes- (Horned Ones) at Oraibi, also of jugglery, the sengers of Christ seek to preach the Gospel and commercializing of ceremonies, e. g., at Gallup, seek to propagate the Christian faith among the N. Mex., the growth of new towns outside the old Indians, including the Pueblos. villages, e. g., at Laguna,-all have a part in the eventual break-up of the old culture. And here it Every act of the old life of these people is bound may be well to remind ourselves that the Pueblos, up with their religious ceremonies so that the who more than any other Indian people, sought Christian Hopis (as noted by Dr. Parsons), who to build up walls of segregation and isolation, are a little handful at each Mesa, cannot live in confirming the same by religious sanctions, and their old homes any longer, but come down and build new homes near the mission. The followwho sought by means of their autocratic hier- ing words are especially penned by one of the archy to resist the normal influences of cultUre field workers: transfusion, now may soon see the framework of their carefully erected corporate structure totter. As I think of the needs of the Indian people, young and old alike, I am more concerned each day that we should Tribalism, inherent in the Pueblo religion, has bring to them larger knowledge of the Bible; that we been weighed in the balances and found wanting. should store their memories with more that will help them It cannot meet the tests of the trarisition period through the long silences and the days that are hard. in which the Indian now finds himself. It is be- They need to know the stories of the early Christians who cause of our conviction of the divine resources dared be true to Jesus in the midst of pagan surroundings, of the Christian faith, a faith which rises above for it takes sheer courage and a great conviction to remain a follower of Christ when all your people are against you.
Ten Good Reasons for Foreign Missions* By the REV. HENRY TOWNSEND BEATTY Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Hoboken, N. J.
W HY do I believe in foreign missions? 6. Because-I am a product of foreign mis- 1. Because-I believe in Christ. His sions. Were it not for the early disciples and belief in foreign missions is evidenced in other foreign missionaries, I would today be with- His incarnation, in His death on the cross, in the out the Gospel and the blessings of a Christian glory of His resurrection, in His final message on civilization. For "all that is best in modern civili- Olivet; as exalted Head of the Church, His belief zation is the fruit of the transforming power of has not changed. the Gospel."
2. Because-as a Christian I have caught some- 7. Because-as a debt of honor I must pay the thing of the spirit of Christ and, therefore, of His "debt of strength" to weakness; intelligence, to passion to seek and to save lost souls. Consequent- ignorance; wealth, to poverty; health, to sickly, it is my joy to imitate Him, to realize His ness; comfort, to sorrow; hope, to despair; and ideals and to extend His kingdom. the Gospel to a lost world.
3. Because-He bade His disciples proclaim His 8. Because-the only way I can pay this "debt Gospel to all the world. As I am one of His dis- of honor" to· those missionaries who suffered ciples, I believe this command involves me. His greatly in their stewardship of the faith that I wish is my pleasure, His will is my law. If He might know the Christ and be saved, is to pass says, "Do this!" I take him at His word and strive the Gospel on to others.
to do it. 9. Because-to evangelize humanity is to save 4. Because-I am a member of His church and the world from the tragedy of evil. To bring un- Christian nations into fellowship with the Son of am under vows to promote its growth and effi- Man is to create a new brotherhood of mutual ciency. His church is His method of proclaiming understanding, honor, protection, and righteous- His Gospel and saving the world. It is a united ness, thereby outlawing war and greed and a and organized effort to accomplish what no in- multitude of evils.
dividual could do. 10. Because—all Christian missions are one. If 5. Because-Christianity is a religion of expan- I believe in home missions, I must also believe in foreign missions. I must not neglect my homesion and must grow-or die. Therefore, as I land, but I must go beyond it. Beginning at Jeruwant it to live and to emancipate humanity, I must salem, I must go, or send, into all the world, proclaim and help others proclaim the Gospel until simply because He said so. the Kingdom of Christ shall encompass the world.
• From Women and Missions.
Difficulties in West China-II
By HOWARD THOMAS, Kiulungkiang, Yunnan Missionary of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A.
KIULUNGKIANG, YUN.NAN, CHINA, tIe, I had to carryon. I went to our headman VIA HAIPHONG AND SZEMAO and gave him the story. There wasn't any encour- March 27,.1939 agement. Finally, I said: THE traveling time from Rangoon, Burma to "Byaw Khum Bu, would it be unwise for me Kiulungkiang, China, is sixteen days. We to go to the Chow-fa with this problem? You can go from Taunggyi to Kentung by auto; know he has declared himself my friend. Chow the nine days' trip from Kentung here, we make Moung Hah (the provincial head) has also told me by pony. that he was willing to help me in any possible way. You know I can always go to the Chinese There is a custom of the people which offers officials. What shall I do?" a most remarkable evangelistic opportunity. When on tour, one is welcomed into every village He laughed and replied, "Bawou, (father, with open arms. Custom demands that a trav- teacher) if I write to the head of that village, the eler be entertained in the home of the headman. people can come." He wrote and the people came. One can even insist that food be brought, but we Half the village moved to our Christian village up always insist on paying for everything we re- river. ceive. It is quite proper to request that the village "Hurry Fast, Come Quick!"
elders be called to hear what the foreigner has to Just before Christmas a big fuss burst into say, and the sight of the village heads moving flames in one of our down-river villages and I re- towards the headman's house is a signal for the . ceived a call to "hurry fast, come quick." I has- entire village to assemble there. By taking the. tened to the river and boarded a raft. To make attitude of a learner, one finds that the people are this raft two small native boats are tied together ready to talk and hearts are open wide; when and a platform is thrown over them. On to this they have had "their say" we can preach the raft the boatman loaded people, packs, and ponies.
Gospel without reserve. Pray for us. My horse is a four-year-old stallion and has plenty Our present difficulty is the brother of the Tai of fire. I do not have much trouble with him ruler. He happens to be the head priest of a when he is alone, but when there are other horses corrupt and diluted Buddhism. When a man ac- around, he causes me plenty of trouble. On this cepts Christianity, he cannot continue to make particular crossing he nearly dumped us all into offerings to the "spirits" or support the temple. the fast flowing, deep, and muddy Mekong River.
If he ceases to do this, he is deprived of all land The twenty men yelled-fortunately a lot of rights. There is a custom here that relegates the words I didn't understand-and the hops (bas- ownership of all land to the Chow-fa, or head of kets) they carryon their shoulders, slid precar- the Tai people and one cannot hold land without iously about. I groaned and then we all laughed his approval. Religious liberty is supposedly as- -the danger was past.
sured in China, but it is not being practiced today After crossing the river there was a long trip here. There will be a great reception for the across the rice flats. As we were walking along, Gospel when these folk can accept it without los- one of the horses fell into a large hole that had ing everything they have. been made by ants. It is well nigh impossible to Two months ago a group of men came to call detect the presence of these holes until the unfor- upon me. They were visibly disturbed about tunate happens to step on one. The poor beast something. They addressed me in the usual could not get a purchase with his front feet and friendly manner and th~n launched into the heart he was having great difficulty in breathing. We of the problem. They wanted to move into a tried to get him out, but without success. The Christian village, but their headman would not saddle we broke, native ropes we broke, finally in allow them to take any of their goods with them. desperation we grabbed an oilcloth from one of It is my policy to keep out of politics, but since the loads and, putting it under his head, we this was another step along the front of my bat- tugged. Finally he got a foothold and out he [ 555]
Photo by Dr. Douglas Collier A VILLAGE STRmET SCENE IN WEST CHINA came. I thought for a while we would have to er to sleep in a dirtier, darker, or smellier place if I live to be a thousand. cut his throat and let him die. Shortly after this experience we began to The headman had been out fishing; and when he returned, he offered us a lot of snails. They climb such trails and such hills as I never saw be- wash the snails in cold water, cut off the top, and fore anywhere. It seemed that we went straight put them in warm water. They are then cooked, up, and I do believe that every third tree had taken from the stove and cooled. When dinner fallen across the trail. We must have gone fifteen is ready a large pot of rice is brought out and miles to advance eight. After about four hours set beside the table. Everybody dives in at once. we reached the top of the mountain and soon after With one hand grabbing rice and with the other we came into a mountain village. The children hand fishing for snails. The snails are sucked from screamed and ran, the women flew into their the shells with a long, loud, snore-like sound. houses, but the men approached us with some The louder noise one makes the more he is thought hesitancy. These mountain people are filthy, mor- to be enjoying his dinner. The dish neither ally and physically, and are demon worshipers. smelled nor looked inviting. My men relished the We went to the headmen's house and I hope nev-
TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES IN WEST CHINA-II
food and cast pitying glances in my direction About four that afternoon we began to ford when they saw that I passed up the snails. I streams. We had crossed three and were about drank a whole pot of his tea, which wasn't any across the fourth when an accident overtook me. too clean, but at · least the water had been well One of my pack ponies started up a bank that was boiled. soft and slippery. Somehow he got mixed up with soft ground and down he went. He landed The following morning we started about five at the foot of the embankment on top of my pack o'clock and reached our destination at about six and burst the packsaddle all to pieces. I thought that evening. The Christians, knowing that I was the horse had broken a leg, but he came out of coming, had a really big feast ready and I hon- the wreckage in fine shape. I had to load the stuff ored their cooking. on my riding pony and make a two man load to get to our next stop. The next day we called on some of the Tai officials and we were received warmly. One of our I remained in the leper village two days. Dr. evangelists showed some charts and spoke to a Nelson came along, as he was making a survey large group of people in the yard. When the officials heard what was going on they took leave of me and went out and stood in the sun listening as attentively as the others. Pray for these men. If God can break through to some of them the Gospel will have free course in the Tai country. Officials are afraid of the people; the people are afraid of the officials. A break must come soon.
Lepers and the Great Dragon A VILLAGE "SPIRIT-GATE" IN YUNNAN There were lepers present and I urged them to of the leper situation in that region. Doctor came come to our colony and receive treatment. They upon one village that was entirely leprous and flatly refused because they were afraid that we soon he is planning to establish treatment there. would take them and feed them to a great dragon. Please pray for him and his work. Then I helped the doctor with an operation. Out here one needs The Christians were having a harvest festival to be all things to all men. the next day, so I hurried back to the village. Just before the service began a mother brought a little We had devotional services with the men every girl up and laid her behind me among all the gifts evening, but the women wouldn't come. We sang that had been made to the Lord. The teacher told a song, prayed, read a portion of Scripture, then me that the little bundle of whimpers and sighs sang other songs and closed with prayer. This had been a fine healthy girl who ran laughing we did for two evenings. On the third evening I about the village. Now I looked at the helpless, asked if some of the people would tell me just crippled, blind little body and wondered. Some what Jesus Christ meant to them. Things began sickness had come and the mother had neglected slowly. Finally, the men got the idea. One man the little one. Every once in a while she would arose and said: moan and feebly cry out. Finally one of the women arose and wrapped her in a piece of cloth; "I am glad that the Lord took a big stick and another picked a banana from a gift bunch and punished me. When I had leprosy I found Jesus gave it to the poor thing. I felt tha.t the child Christ. If I should lose every one of my fingers might be a means of reaching those people. In my message I pointed out many of the things Christians have and for which thanks ought to be rendered to God. But I doubt that the people got my point. They are so accustomed to suffering that the condition of the child was the usual thing. She died that night. · They wrapped her in an old mat and buried her the next day in a downpour of rain.
Later in the week we set out for a new and small leper colony. They had begged me to come to their harvest festival. En route we came 'across a section where there were hundreds of leeches. They bite and suck a lot of blood out of a fellow. One of the carriers picked about 43 off his body during the day.
and everyone of my toes, I would still be true to feeling that I would confess Jesus Christ at every Him." opportunity.
Our teacher arose and said, "What do these The next day we started for home, so completcrooked and bent fingers and limbs matter '! When ing an eleven-day tour. We were very tired but my Father calls me home, He will give me a new happy to think of the great things that God was body and a home where there will be no more doing in this place. Pray for this work. There suffering or tears." are so many here without Christ, The leper whose disease has been arrested and A few Sundays ago Dr. Nelson came and asked who is head of our Ban Ann colony said: "You if I would go with him to a village where a mother all know me, don't you ? Well, if you know me you had been in labor for five days. We caught, sadknow what all the marks I have on my body mean. dled, and mounted our horses, but when we had You know what a wicked man I was. You know nearly reached the village, we were told that the that I gave my heart to Jesus Christ. Now he has woman had died. We could hear depressing wailremade me and I, who was bad have been given a ing. We found that there had been five native place of honor among you. You trust me. Yet doctors attending the woman who was about to it's not that you trust me but Christ who lives have her eighth child. in me. God can strike me dead, give me leprosy, but I will still be true to Him. Why? Because Pray for us and for the great mass of untouched He gave me hope, love, and peace when all the folk here. Several influential Chinese have inworld had turned against me." formed us that if we had a Chinese church here they would attend. The wife of our ex-magistrate The testimonies went on and on, many men went so far as to say that she would become a rising with tears falling down their cheeks, mere- Christian and others have promised to attend all ly saying: "I do love Jesus!" and then took their classes. God is opening doors but they seem to seats again, Others arose, but could say nothing, be opening faster than we can enter them. We sobbed, and sat down. I have never been in such have set ourselves to pray that God will cleanse a meeting before. It is a great thing to be able to and use us to win souls, to deepen our church leadpresent and serve a' Christ who can give men like ers, and that He will send a great revival. He these lepers such joy and hope. I left that place has already begun to answer our prayers.
The Youth Movement in China .By SAMUELS. CHANG "~"< THE modern youth movement in China is the two measures of reform, given lip service by high natural outcome of the conflict ·betw~!l the officials too old to change their attitudes, failed, old, philosophical, rural culture of China and but the last measure, educational reform, had farthe modern, scientific, and industrial culture of the reaching results. Once the system of examinations West. on Confucian Classics as a means for the selection of officials was abolished, and the system of mod- In the last decade of the 19th century, forward- ern education adopted, the tide of learning rose looking leaders in China advocated the adoption rapidly. Within the short span of twenty years, of Western scientific and industrial methods and 1901-1920, the number of students in modern techniques. But at that time the official hierarchy, schools increased from a mere handful to some from top to bottom, was ignorant, inefficient, and six million. corrupt. High officials not only did not believe in human progress, but failed to notice even the most Aside from progress made in the new learning advantageous aspects of Western culture. at home, the number of students studying abroad also increased from a few hundred students in The rise of the Chinese youth movement began foreign countries to approximately six thousand at the end of the last century, when China was de- young Chinese pursuing higher education in Eufeated by the Western powers in her struggle rope, the United States, and Japan. When these known as the Boxer Rebellion. This setback shat- students came into contact with foreign culture, tered the last vestige of the old regime, and made they naturally became more critical than those the officials realize the inadequacy of the tradi- staying at home. tional methods and the neces'sity of adopting Western civilization. Measures were adopted, dealing While the youth were working toward enlightwith political reform, administrative improve- enment and progress, there were reactionary ment, and educational reorganization. The first forces. The elders were still pursuing their daily
THE YOUTH MOVEMENT IN CHINA
life according to time-honored standards. Officials versity, it aimed at substituting the spoken for the still maintained the attitude of seclusion and false classical language. To the masses this classical pride in dealing with the foreign countries, while language was a dead language, and often required in dealing with domestic problems they adopted five to ten years for a talented student to master the method of suppression and oppression. it. In order that the youth movement might suc- As a result Chinese youth devoted their energy ceed, it was recognized that there must be a com- to political revolution as a means for reforming mon vernacular. This language movement was their country. Fortunately, in the late eighties of welcomed by the new leaders, and in two years'
the 19th century a group of Chinese youths had time, most of China's current literature was being already organized a revolutionary party which is written in the vernacular.
now known as the Koumintang or People's Party, When the Chinese youth caught the spirit of headed by Dr. Sun Yat-sen. His aim was to es- these forces their emotions ran high and they let tablish a republic based upon the principles of na- their idealistic enthusiasm run its course. Thus, tional independence, political democracy, and the within the short span of ten years from 1916 to economic welfare of the entire people. With the 1925 publications increased by leaps and bounds increase in number of modern students and the and the expressions. of the new era spread like advancement of the new learning, this revolution- wild fire. The whole atmosphere was filled with ary party grew in membership and strength and the expressions of discontent with the old scheme finally succeeded in 1911 in overthrowing the old of life and there was the longing for something regime. new to take its place. During the first part of the The triumph of the revolutionary cause sig- period, there was very little constructive help to nalled the release of new forces which took the be found in the movement. It is in the nature of place of the old and sought to reconstruct China things that when the thousand and one old con- as an independent nation, as a land of freedom ceptions-such as old customs of marriage, and with democratic institutions for the happiness of expensive funeral ceremony – were questioned, all the people. some better social arrangements would eventually But the control of the new Republic fell into result. This movement was the manifestation of the hands of officials and generals who, though a new intellectual consciousness in the young men championing the cause of republicanism, were re- and women of China. Education had revealed the actionary at heart. Yuan Shih-kai, one-time im- necessity of a new social order.
perial adviser, became president of the new Youth Awakens the Nation Republic and the revolution turned out a farce.
The presidency of the Republic became the foot- In the midst ·of such a new outlook, and revolt ball of ambitious warlords; and China came to be against the traditional, there came suddenly the the battlefield of rival armies. There was no one news that the German rights in Shangtung Prov- person or party strong enough to stabilize the ince were given to Japan by a decision at the Ver- country. For fifteen years chaotic conditions pre- sailles Conference. This stunned Chinese youth vailed in China. and soon the students of Peking were organized, While these .struggles were going on, social and 15,000 from thirty-three schools and colleges customs and traditions were daily becoming dis- in Peking paraded the streets as a demonstration organized. At first the Chinese youths were against the Shangtung decision. Students in Pe- restless and confused, for they lacked adequate king organized in a students' union; made leadership. Fortunately, at this time of restless- speeches in the streets; appealed to the people, ness the modernization of education produced a demanding the dismissal of the "traitors." Next few intellectual leaders who were mature enough the student body declared a general strike, and to direct the path of impulsive youth in the re- thousands massed in the streets and fiery speeches habilitation of China. were delivered. Within two weeks the students of These intellectual leaders perceived that China's all the big cities declared sympathetic strikes.
greatest need was to adopt boldly the democratic Furthermore, the merchants declared sympathetic institutions and modern techniques and that this strikes and hundreds of students' unions sprang adoption must be through the people and absorbed up in many places all over the country. "The Na- by them. As a result of their foresight and work, tional Chinese Students' Alliance" was organized a series of social revolutions took place which have in Shanghai in June 1919 and by the declaration come to be known generally as the Chinese Renais- of this national organization the nation-wide stu- sance Movement. dent strikes came to an end.
One of the most important phases of this move- From that time on China was transformed into ment was the literary revolution which changed a new nation-a nation of the people, by the peo- the entire outlook of the nation. Started by Dr. ple and for the people. Young China had turned Hu Shih, when he was a student at Columbia Uni- away from the old ways of living and old modes of
thinking. She was looking forward to a new and tionalist Government in 1927, the Chinese youth richer life. movement underwent a change. As the major obstacles to national unification had been removed, As China was thus awakened by the youth it was felt that the students once more should demovement, the people were on the march. Sub- vote their time to studies. The Government exersequent years were full of troubles, brought about cised its power to restore normalcy and to dis,courby the popular resentment against foreign dom- age any kind of agitation. As a result, it was with ination and against domestic problems. The first difficulty, that the Tenth National Assembly of great strike, assisted by the youth, broke out in student representatives was called in 1928. As 1922 among the Chinese seamen of Hongkong. the subsequent years saw national life returned to Inevitably the strike became a political struggle order, the National Student Assembly did not call against British economic control. Other strikes any more meetings. followed and crystallized resentment against s.pecial foreign privileges in China. This peace was short-lived. Suddenly, on Sep- tember 18, 1931, Japanese armies invaded Man- In 1925 revolt became revolution when in churia, and Chinese youth were on the march Shanghai the International Settlement police fired again. The military overlords of Japan were on students who were demonstrating in protest viewing with alarm the rise of the people of China. against the murder of a Chinese cotton mill The Japanese chose a time to strike when the worker by his Japanese employer. A half million world was paralyzed by depression and when workers in the city went on sympathetic strikes large parts of Chinese territory were flooded, and and Chinese merchants and even banks closed China was in no position to resist. Almost untheir doors. The outbreak spread to other cities. opposed, the Japanese war machine rolled on into A nation-wide boycott, organized by the students three northeastern provinces. The students reagainst British and Japanese goods, was launched sented the government's nonresistance policy and and a bitter struggle developed. again started a general demonstration, demand- ing the declaration of war .against Japan. Later As the Chinese youth had risen to such an in- the situation became so critical that government fluence, they struck the hour for the Kuomintang authorities decided to adopt drastic means. regime in Canton. In July, 1926, under the lead- Troops were called out to escort the students in ership of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, the the capital to their respective schools. The stunewly trained armies of the People's Party, dents, however, went to the countrysides to make marched north against the warlords. Before them speeches appealing to the farmers and arousing went youth as propagandists, organizing pea.."Iant their patriotism. Because of the work done by the leagues against reactionary landlords, winning the youth movement among the masses, the National support of the workers. The armies pressed on, Salvation Association, which advocated a united sweeping province after province into their con- front against Japan, was able to recruit members trol. When Chiang Kai-shek reached Shanghai from all the classes – peasants, workers, merthe workers, influenced by the students, seized the chants, and professionals. Mass education and city by a general strike and turned it over to the agitation spread. Again the people moved to com- Nationalist armies. mand their destiny.
During this period of upheaval, the Chinese Meanwhile China's youth began to understand youth movement turned its enthusiasm to many the intention of their government, which was. makdirections. First, there was the anti-religious ing rapid strides forward toward building a modmovement. Influenced by the scientific thinking, ern nation. They participated wholeheartedly in Chinese youth had been skeptical of the benefit of the task. The outstanding instance was the New all religions, especially Christianity, which had Life Movement originated by the leaders of the been most aggressively preached. They thought government. This organization aimed at the spirthat religion was opposed to science, that it makes itual reconstruction of the nation by teaching the for divisions and wars and that it had been made people the four fundamental principles–courtesy, the instrument of imperialism. As the result of justice, honesty, and honor. With the cooperation the anti-religious movement, foreign educational of the youth, this movement spread far and wide institutions were brought more in line with the and within the span of five years has had thou- Chinese Government regulations. sands of branches and millions of followers. This spiritual movement has greatly changed the entire Second, there was the anti-military movement. people in their personal cleanliness and mental The youth movement recognized the break-up of outlook. Furthermore, it has also aroused popthe country into great military centers as inimical ular sentiment against unhealthy surroundings, to the unity and progress of the nation. This and promoted education, playgrounds, clean city movement undoubtedly paved the way for the es- streets, sports and healthful activities. tablishment of the Nationalist Government at Nanking and the unification of the country.
After the Kuomintang Party established the Na-
IMPRESSIONS OF BUDDHISM IN JAPAN
While Chinese youth were working fervently Since the outbreak of hostilities, the majority for the modernization of their country, Japan of Chinese youth have been moving to hinterparts struck again on July 7, 1937, with the intention of the country which were formerly little touched of conquering the five northern provinces. But by modern civilization. They are carrying with this time she found a different China, a China them the germs of modern scientific thought, whose 'people were aroused and ready to resist to spreading them wherever they go. Before long the bitter end. Ever since that date, China has from the comparatively unknown and sparsely been fighting with great strength and confidence. populated areas of the interior of China will Japan is contending against a people of 450,- spring up a new civilization which will undoubt- 000,000 strong, who are determined to have a edly help to rebuild the nation, bringing a fuller and more modern life to all of her people. showdown.
Impressions of Buddhism in Japan* By WINBURN T. THOMAS Missionary of the Presbyterian Church, 1933, Kyoto, Japan AS A CHRISTIAN missionary, it is my pur- ture, philosophy, society, economics, and politics L. pose to preach the Gospel of Christ and to all show the marks of Buddhist influence. Per- haps it is too much to expect anyone foreign stu- spread the Kingdom of God. While this dent of Japanese Buddhism to be able to approach should be the purpose of all Christians, a mission- the whole subject sympathetically and impartially. ary is one who feels the urge to do so beyond the Sir Charles Elliott's study of Japanese Buddhism confines. of his home environment. Western is perhaps the most exhaustive work on the sub- Christianity is so enmeshed in the social, economic ject, yet its treatment is for the most part conand political systems of the Occident that it· is fined to an analysis of the history and teachings almost impossible for a Western missionary to of. the most prominent sects. completely divest himself of the cultural concepts of America or Europe. No such thing as "pure" A foreigner who has lived in Japan some years Christia.nity exists anywhere, for it has become recently remarked, "I don't see why missionaries involved in local culture, wherever it has spread. come to Japan, since Buddhism is essentially the Vital Christianity everywhere exerts an influence same as Christianity." on life and customs, not only spiritually but socially. As it is expressed in the thought and ac- F,ew students of comparative religions would cording to the psychology and needs of individuals make this statement. It illustrates the ignorance and groups, it gradually produces social, economic which prevails in some quarters as to the two and political changes. Lasting results are produced religions. only when it works slowly and persistently. In Japan its proponents and enemies have often tried I to use Christian ideas as dynamite, but the results have not been permanently successful. Chris- It is true that Christ and Buddha have some simtian missionaries, to work successfully for the ilarities.t Both sought to show the way of re- Kingdom of God in Japan, must understand the lease – one from sin and the other from pain. nature of the environment in which they work. Both point out to men the way to attain their end This involves a knowledge of many things, in- by sacrifice. The sacrifice of Jesus was in his cludingan understanding of the local religions. death. Buddha's sacrifi·ee was in his way of life.
Buddhism has had a profound effect u~on Japan, These two religions which developed about these as has been the case with Christianity in Europe two personalities also have points in common. and America. Japanese art, literature, architec- Neither of the leaders founded a complete reli- gious system, but their followers did. Buddha • English translation of an article which appeared in the Chugai pointed out a way of salvation independent of the Nippo, a Buddhist daily of 13,000 circulation ·and a popular peri- gods and dependent on human effort; Jesus odical among leaders nf all the religions in Japan. The edltnr once pointed the way to God, the Eternal Creator. Both remarked to the writer, "Many of my readers accuse me of being a Christian. " t The writer is indebted for the following line of thQught to Streeter's "The BUddha and the Christ."
Buddha and Jesus are looked upon as gods in the change with it. Most of the students who attend minds of millions of followers. The liturgies the Fellowship House:j: groups claim to be inwhich developed in Buddhism and in the Roman different to religion. Many young people in the Catholic church bear a striking resemblance, so West have also turned away from the religious much so that the first missionaries to Japan re- concepts of their fathers. Young people may not garded Buddhism as the invention of the devil be any more irreligious than other age-groups, but to mislead Christian believers. Hoben (the ac- many of the forms of religious expression do not commodation of a religion to environmental de- appeal to them. The existence of Mu-kyokai mands) has been a working principle of both (extra-church Christianity) among young people Roman Catholicism and Buddhism, both being in Japan reveals that Christ attracts many who willing to make compromises in the interest of do not wish to be identified with the existing popularity. Christianity and Buddhism are mis- churches. Because Buddhism is less flexible and sionary religions, being world-wide in their ob- more ponderous in Japan than Christianity, it jective-a characteristic shared only by Moham- faces a greater crisis in this res.pect than does medanism among all the other ethnic religions. Christianity. Both have been marked by rivalries and dissensions, so that sects are numerous. Contrasts-Buddhism and Christianity Man's natural propensity to find out about God There are also many contrasts between Chrisaccounts for some of the resemblances between tianity and Buddhism. Some are rooted in the backgrounds of Indian or Jewish thought; some PRIESTS ENTERING "HALL OF LIGHTS" AT MT. KOYA in the personalities of the two great religious leaders; some are due to the historical developthese two religions. Man attempts to express the ments of the two religions. There are many sects unexpressible in symbols. The Roman Catholic in both religions so that statements which one bows before the figure of the Virgin Mary; the group would approve would be disclaimed by the Buddhist prays before Amida; the Protestant others. We call attention to some contrasts that addresses God as Father. In each case the be- strike a general observer and do not present the liever is seeking to realize the divine character- conclusions of a scientific student of comparative istic of mercy and love. religions. What we see and hear from Japanese Buddhists and priests makes a deeper impression There is also a tendency for one religion to bor- upon us than volumes in Japanese. row from another. The alleged relationship between Nestorianism and esoteric Buddhism is a Christ's and Buddha's concepts of God are quite case in point. The Buddhist counter-reformation, different. Buddha, in his sermon at Benares, since the reintroduction of Christianity into Ja- made no mention of God or of the soul. Early Budpan, is a better illustration of how Buddhism has dhism did not express any conception of a personal come under the influence of Christianity. God. Buddha did not deny the existence of many gods.; he was agnostic as to their powers, and con- Both Christianity and Buddhism have been ceived of them as higher forms of men, subject greatly influenced by the progress of science and to the law of rebirth. According to Buddha, even by the world-wide situation which faces them. gods must pass away. Christ, on the contrary, Religion is being tested and both in the West and taught monotheism as it had been accepted by the in the East the religion of multitudes is found Jews. "The Lord thy God is one Lord" was the wanting. Where religion is bound to the status underlying teaching of the Old Testament prophquo, to that extent it is doomed, for the world is ets. One of the fundamental commandments was changing and the externalities of religion must that there were to be no images. The Jews were taught to envisage Jehovah as, the sole creator and ruler of the universe, who had a personal interest in each of his creatures.
Historically, some followers of both religions have departed far from their founder's conception of deity. Mahayana's revision of the original ideas of Buddhism permitted the introduction of many images, before which worship is offered and which represent many different gods, or different aspects of the same reality. Roman Catholicism has met the problem of concrete representation by canonizing saints and the Holy Family, using *A stUdent center in Kyoto with which the author Is connected.
images to, make the deity co,ncrete; but in the personal and so,cial manifestatio,n o,f religio,n, are popular mind they also, tend to, divide the co,ncep- but different aspects o,f the same reality. tio,n into, segments. Buddhism is metaphysical, and Christianity is One majo,r difference between Christianity and so, practical that the practical side o,f Buddhism Buddhism is their emphasis o,n meditatio,n and bears a stro,ng resemblance to, the theo,retical side practical wo,rk. A Westerner usually thinks o,f o,f Christianity. It is no,t to, be denied that so,me Buddha and his fo,llo,wers as in a state o,f perpetual Buddhists have had a so,cial visio,n; while so,me meditatio,n. While co,ntemplatio,n is stressed particularly by Zen and Shingo,n Buddhism, it is mo,re A KWANNON HEAD, SAID TO BE THE WORK central in the practice o,f all Buddhism than in OF PRINCE SHOTOKU IN THE CHUGUJI Christianity. While private devo,tio,ns and medi- NUNNERY, HORYUJI, NEAR NARA tatio,n on Go,d are stressed by Christianity, yet gro,up wo,rship is pro,minent in devo,tio,nal prac- Christians are no,t greatly co,ncerned with phi- Io,So,phy and metaphysics, but by and large, Budtice. Jesus went here and there, in Judea and dhism is essentially metaphysical while Chris- Galilee, talking info,rmally with gro,ups, and His tianity is a mo,re co,nsistently practical religio,n. disciples co,ntinued this metho,d after His death, to, spread His teachings. The impo,rtance o,f the ser- One o,f the Indians said: "Christianity satisfies mo,n declined during the Middle Ages, but with and then diss.atisfies, fo,r it gives us new Io,ngings. the Refo,rmatio,n, a sermo,n-centered religio,us To, be a fo,llo,wer o,f Christ is bo,th jo,yo,US and painservice became the main part o,f Pro,testant wo,r- ful." Saul o,f Tarsus, he said, saw glo,ry and ago,ny ship. The autho,ritative basis o,f the Refo,rma- in Stephen as he was sto,ned. The co,nverted Paul tio,n was the Bible as the infallible Wo,rd o,f God. lived a life o,f hardship in which radiant jo,ywas It was the minister's duty to, interpret the Book blended with endless suffering. Paul further saw to, the people, altho,ugh every believer had the the co,smo,s in the thro,es o,f titanic birth-"All privilege to, do, that fo,r himself, under the guid- creatio,n gro,aning . . . waiting fo,r the so,ns of ance o,f the Spirit of God. Protestants believe Go,d." that they learn the will o,f Go,d in their gro,up services, and in private meditatio,n and study.
The Japanese have always lived in clo,se quarters, thus they have developed the art o,f abstractio,n in the midst o,f no,ise and bustle. Industrialism o,f itself has no,t therefo,re played such havoc with co,ntemplative wo,rship in Japan as in Euro,pe and America. Japanese have always had to, discipline themselves to, pray at their shrines even in the midst o,f co,mmo,tio,n.
While Buddhism is stro,ng in its emphasis UPo,n prayer and meditatio,n, it is weak from the practical angle. A pro,fessor at Otani University (a Buddhist institutio,n) recently said: "Buddhism, no, less than Christianity, has its theo,retical and practical sides. Its theo,retical as.pect is its metho,d o,f salvatio,n; practical Buddhism co,nsists o,f teaching these ideas." By practice a Christian means the pro,jectio,n into, the so,cial o,rder o,f the Christian ethical, mo,ral and religious ideals. By "faith" the Christian means the attitude o,f trust, ho,pe and belief in Jesus Christ as the revelatio,n o,f Go,d in His benevo,lent perso,nality, purpo,se and Po,wer. By practice the Christian means that this faith must bear fruit in regulating character, life and co,nduct. Unless the Christian daily engages in acts that reveallo,ve and truth, then the reality o,f his faith is do,ubted. "By their fruits ye shall kno,w them," said Jesus o,f his disciples. Fro,m the Christian Po,int o,f view, personal religio,n (which includes prayer and meditatio,n) and the
Are Suffering in
W HILE the Russian economic and political captured by the G. P. U. and put in prison where policies and methods are undergoing some changes, with the discovery that certain she found another Christian woman who was supcommunistic theories are unworkable, the Soviet rulers' attitude toward religion is. still antagonis- plied with food by Evangelical believers. tic. The crude methods of ridicule and destruction, with .attempts at forcible conversion to Later she was transferred to a large jail with atheism, have given way to more subtle methods of suppression and anti-religious education. The 12,000 captives, among whom were young and masses of the Russian peasants are still religious and believe in God. PersecutJon always tends to old, men and women. People were beaten until strengthen faith and to give new courage to those whose faith is founded on the Word of God and they lost consciousness, with the purpose of puton experience of His love and faithfulness. But Christians in Russia, especially the Evangelicals, ting out of their minds any thought of pleas to the are suffering because of misguided officials.* authorities.
In general, Russians stand upon the words of Here women and girls gave birth to children, Christ and the teachings of the Apostles. The Greed of the Russian Orthodox Church in which, many of whom were illegitimate. Mourning, before the Revolution, every Russian was instructed from early childhood, states: weeping, sobbing, cursing was heard in the crowd.
I believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of Some became insane. Words fail to depict the Heaven and Earth, and of all things visible and invisible. physical and moral sufferings of the prisoners. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the onlybegotten, begotten of the Father before all worlds. Finally Mrs. – was sentenced to "Three years Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not of exile on the Mongolian border!" There were made: of one essence with the Father, by whom all things two thousand people in the freight train which was jammed with "living goods," so full that it was impossible to lie down. People continued to die on the way and at the railroad stations the bodies of the dead were taken out. The newly born babies were thrown out. I This transportation to the Siberian steppes ast- ed several months but the Mongolian border was finally reached. There were no houses or woods round about; just sand and desert! The people lay on the ground through rain and dew. There weWrehomafodre. us men, and f or oiur t sa v·a lOn, came down f rom was no food. Death was reigning. After three Heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Ghost, and of the Virgin Mary, and was made man. years in this exile camp only two persons, Mrs. – and a Greek Orthodox nun, survived. And was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suf- Religious people of all denominations suffer fered, and was buried. in the same manner-Greek Orthodox Church And rose again the third day according to the Scripture. members, Evangelical Christians, Baptists, Luth- And ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand erans, and other groups are persecuted by the of the Father. anti-Christian Soviet Government. In many pris- And He shall come again with glory to judge the quick ons and in exile Mrs. – was with old Russian priests, monks, nuns-with people of different beand the dead, whose Kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who liefs, people of various walks of life who had for- gotten their former differences. Under these cirproceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spake by the Prophets.
The Bible is read in the Russian Orthodox cumstances their sufferings, distress, anguish, hope, prayer, songs, and even death were common Church at every church service and the word of to all of them. God is preached but not fully and clearly as giving personal assurance of salvation. The missionary- When her term of exile expired, Mrs. _ reminded Evangelical churches must still unfold be- turned to central Russia to her children, and found fore the Russian masses the need for a personal that they too had been in exile for several years. acceptance of Christ. But many Russian Christians are suffering great persecution. Finally she escaped to America, where, she says, "I see gay faces on people, which I did not see in Not long ago, Mrs. M. M–, the wife of an Soviet Russia. It is like a miracle to me to look at Evangelical preacher, was able to leave Soviet joyful people. It seems to me unreal that I am Russia and to join her husband who had already now free, and that I have the right to go to any church. It is even strange to me that Sundays are escaped. celebrated, for such celebration is annihilated in After six months of wandering, Mrs. – was Soviet Russia. I earnestly pray my Lord to free • The following information Is taken from The Russian Field and our Russia soon, and I ask other Christians to J·oin with me in prayer for my native country." from The RIreilvn.k,r. thVe. NoregparanshofIs thDeireRcutosrs.ian Missionary Service of which the , [564]
~' '~
I Effective Ways of Working 'rested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MISS GRACE W. MCGAVRAN, 5718 OAK AVE., INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA ~'=I==============~====~~ Christmas and Missions doubtless have others. Many of which someone's special interest the newer hymnals have excel- in Christmas music, or in music A liberal minded woman came lent new carols. A good new in general, may be utilized to home from the December meet- children's hymnal is sure to have enrich the missionary heritage ing of the missionary society, at least one there. Your minis- of your church. quite out of patience. "It was a ter may have sample copies of lovely Christmas program," she various new hymnals or the Decorating a Gift Tree -.Said, "but it had not the slight- other churches in your commuest connection with or reference nity might loan you the use of Who does not love to decorate to .missions expressed. We shall a hymnal in which you can a Christmas tree? Here is an be having dozens of Christmas search for carols with the mis- idea that has been carried out programs. I wish this could sionary message. Carol sheets more than once by Sunday school have been different." and books are also a good source. departments ranging in age You cannot always judge by the from youngest to oldest. One wonders. Are there no first line or the first verse. Read m iss ion a r y implications in the carol completely through. Send a gift tree to some fam- Christmas? Are there no world ily or child or old person who f r i en d s hip opportunities? Is Here are a few carols suitable will not be able to have one. The there no need to stress Christian for giving the missionary or tree may simply be decorated, or peace and goodwill? world peace emphasis. it may also bear gifts. In some cases a decorated tree is sent Some groups and churches "Joy to the World" is among the with a basket of provisions. have found ways of emphasizing most often used. But it is often sung these values. We mention some without any thought of its missionary Each member of the giving of them. implications. group should bring a 5c decora- tion. It is surprising how many Christmas Carols and Missions "As With Gladness Men of Old" is different kinds appear, from tin- among those most suited for dedica- sel cord to red glass balls. Chil- The radio, carolers, the habit tion of offerings. dren may make some of the decoof choosing the same "favorite" rations. They should be effective, carols for every church service "From the Eastern Mountains" is if they are for a gift tree. and meeting, our own slothful- very good, and so is "To Usa Child ness in searching out the new, of Hope Is Born." One person should be responare all bringing us almost to the sible for having on hand a tree saturation point of finding any "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear," of the desired size. It should not delight in the more familiar car- "Watchman, Tell Us of the Night," be too big for the expected numols. "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," ber of gifts. In some cases sev- and "Christmas Has Come Again," eral tiny trees are decorated. There are many carols of are fine for world peace emphasis. which one would like to speak; Decorating the tree forms a they are of as great beauty and "There's a Song in the Air" (sung part of the program and chilimagery as tho s e ordinarily to the tune by Harrington in the dren especially e n joy taking used. But let us limit ourselves Methodist Hymnal) is among the turns in hanging their decorato those which carry the mis- most ecstatic in tone and is well tions. They are usually free with sionary message and yet are full worth using as special music. suggestions and criticisms. If of Christmas spirit. gifts are to be hung on the tree "In the Lonely Midnight" is one of they should be placed at the They may be used in many the newer carols with a message for same time. Since the tree is to ways. If they are unfamiliar to today. be transported, decorations and some of the group, consider us- gifts. must be securely fastened. ing them as poems, with pic- "Christian, Lo! the Star Appear- Fine wire hairpins, straightened tures ; or as unison readings; eth," and "Come, Thou Long Expected out, form good fasteners. as quartettes or solos; or for Jesus," neither of which is usually group singing. found among the Christmas Carols, The decorated tree (with gifts are full of the Christmas spirit and or without), is taken by an in- Your usual hymnal may have message. dividual or by a committee to some of those noted below, and the selected recipient. the young people's hymnal will This is only a brief list from among those you will be able to One church department deco- find. Why not ask someone in- terested in music to make a search and build up, over the years, a carol book of Christmas music with especial reference to the world's need of Christ to- day? Here is another point at [565 ]
rated half a dozen tiny trees to Then came an accident: The Ask some mother in the go with as many baskets-to candles set fire to the cardboard church, preferably a leader in needy families, to hospitals, shield. It flared up. But the Parent – Teachers Association, to home missions institutions, serene voice n eve r faltered. who is also keenly interested in to city missions. It is wise to Someone went forward and car- world friendship, to form a conconsult those acquainted with ried away the candles and the genial committee of two or three such places before planning a burning cardboard. The room well-informed women to compile gift-tree so as to be sure of the was left in darkness, except for a list of books to circulate among need, and so that the gift pack- the light of a near-by street the parents of the church. ages· may supply the need. In lamp which streamed dimly in. The committee should visit a the case of a family, money for One could see the outline of the good children's library if possifood or clothing may be ad- forms around the tables. ble and look at the children's vanced so that a committee may That was a test few services books, explaining the purpose of do the purchasing before the have. And it rose without a their proposed list to the chil- change of mood above the cir- dren's librarian. The purpose is tree is sent. Some groups are able to make cumstance. The hearers were to give the children a true picsuitable gifts and enjoy this. held by the magic of the mood ture of children of other lands so which had been created. Christ- that they may be led to an inter- The Spirit of Christmas mas was there, in the room. est in and a feeling of friendship When the reading was fin-· with them. Some books of hand- A young women's missionary ished, there was no sudden flash- crafts, etc. which will develop group had their usual December ing on of bright lights, bringing appreciation should be inclu<,led supper meeting. Toward one one too abruptly out of the mood for older children. side of the room there had been of the service. Here and there a A second step may be to visit set up, on a small, high table, a candle was lighted and finally the local book store and talk to tiny creche, complete with stable the lights were turned on. the one in charge of children's and with dainty though inex- That experience could be re- books. Find out what is in stock, pensive figures. The· you n g peated in any group and for any how long it will take to order woman who set it up had raised evening meeting. The creche books, and explain about the list the stable itself on some hym- may be large or small. It may to be circulated. Persuade the nals, and had then placed a card- even be a posed tableau group book store to stock at least a few board shield across the front of if the characters are arranged of the recommended books. . the table, veiling it with bits of in positions which can be held Now prepare the list to send evergreen. Behind the shield without undue strain for the to the parents. The name of each were two short, fat, unlighted time necessary. The reading may book, a little about it, the price, candles. be supplemented with medita- the age child for which it is suit- The members, as they arrived, tion and song. The audience may able, and how to get it should enjoyed looking at the little join in, singing without books be added. If there can somecreche. One wondered, however, or lights, the stanzas of carols where be a display of the hooks why it had not been made "the familiar to them. on the list, give such informa- centerpiece, instead of being so The Christmas story may be tion. far to one side of the room. the theme, beginning with the Mimeographed copies of the Presently that was explained. ancient desire for a Saviour and list should be circulated as early When, following the simple sup- closing with the picture of the as possible in December. Unless per, the time came for the meet- world needing Him and coming the list is clear, clean print, ating, the order was reversed: to His Manger. tractively set up, and good ad- The program came first; then It would be easy for different vertising copy, it will not be efthe devotional service. As the classes and departments to take fective. Ask the help of someone devotional leader was intro- part, the soft voices of children who writes advertising copy to duced, the lights were turned coming in, all unannounced, with help set it up. out and someone lighted the can- the beautiful story of the shep- Local stores may be willing to dles in front of the creche. In herds from Luke, and others run an advertisement if there is the back of the room, another adding their word of story or to be an e mph a sis in the candle was lighted behind an- praise or song. churches on such books for gifts.
other screen, and a clear sweet Local stores may be willing to voice began quietly reading Bi- World Friendship Books set up a display table with copies ble passages, prose of exception- of the most attractive books, and al beauty, and one or two poems. Of all their gifts, many chil- a placard indicating their value The entire group relaxed in dren like books best. Why not as Christmas gifts. the quiet darkness, while before help the cause of world friend- The following is a short list of them the candlelight flickered on ship by calling to the attention good books recommended in one the little scene. Other pictures of parents in the church, the ex- reading list. They can be selike tapestries, were woven, in cellent books now available in cured through almost any book their minds, with the magic of which the characters are chil- store. You r denominational words coming out of the dark. dren of other lands? bookstore can probably get them
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
for you. There are dozens of "It looks as though a new con- consider the carefully prepared other books as attractive and as ception of Christian fellowship outlines and source materials isgood as these. may result from these contacts sued in the field of this year's with young Chinese Christians." study by many mission boards. CARNIVAL TIME AT STROBECK, by Some of this comes monthly in Harris, 1938, $1.50 (German customs In this day of narrow nation- the missionary magazines. Other of that community; stresses ideals of alism, and of the resulting lone- studies are issued in a block at sportsmanship and fair play). Older liness which comes to the for- the beginning of each six-month primaries and juniors. eigner in our land (especially or yearly study period. when his fatherland is carrying CHILDREN OF AMERICA, by Nolen, out a military policy in high dis- Even if you wish to build your 1939, $1.50 (character b u i I din g favor in America), there is a own program outline, secure and stories) . Juniors. Christian d u t y in fellowship look through these source ma- which we should not ignore. terials. They often represent THE FEAST OF LAMPS, by Root, months of research by someone 1938, $2.00 (a child's experiences at To take for granted that, be- wit h international resources the festival for the goddess Meenakshi cause the present Japanese gov- available. They will put inforin Madura, India). Older primary ernment is militaristic, every mation into your hands which and junior. Japanese sanctions every act of in its up-to-dateness and com- that government, is not fair. pleteness and relevance to the FAR ROUND THE WORLD, by Mc- Similarly we cannot afford to year's theme is nowhere else to Gavran, 1939; cloth $1.00, paper 50 brand as Nazi, or Communist, or be found. cents (biographical stories introducing Fascist, or barbarian, or whatthe missionary at work). Junior. ever our chief aversion is, any One such set of program ma- person living in our community terials for July to December, THE FRIENDLY MISSIONARY, by whose forebears came from the which has been received by the Millen, 1939, 25 cents (picture and country at present governed un- editor of these pages is the Year story book for primary). der a form of government we do Book and Program Packet put not like. out by the Missionary Education HIGH IN THE MOUNTAINS, by Brock, Department of the United Chris- 1938, $2.00 (Swiss Alps). Older pri- In t his day of increasing tian Missionary Society, Mismary and junior. hatreds, should not every church sions Building, Indianapolis, In- and each organization in it, con- diana. It is available for 5 HUNT FOR A HERO, by Reason, 1938, sciously seek interracial friend- cents for the Year Book and 50 60 cents (India). Juniors. ship and fellowship, not only cents for the Six Months' Pro- with the racial groups with gram Packet. Of course, it has JUNIOR, A COLORED Boy OF CHARLES- whom our sympathies lie at the denominational materials along TON, by Lattimore, 1938, $2.00 (sym- moment, but with those whom with the general consideration pathetic treatment of the Negro we find ourselves inclined to re- of its theme – Christ and the theme) . Juniors. gard with displeasure. World Community.
KEE-KEE AND COMPANY, by Hol- There is a technique for such Be sure to write to your delister, 1938, $2.00 (adventures of a fellowship. Its purpose is not to nominational headquarters and missionary's children in Chi n a). put the guest on the defensive. secure whatever they issue, be it Older primary and junior. There need be no discussion in packet form or in monthly about points on which there is magazines. Use it as source LITTLE KARl, by Loulsson, 1939, controversy. Rather, let us seek material even if you wish to $1.50 (Norwegian). Primary and the common ground where we build your own programs. But younger junior. can become acquainted with the consider also using the programs ideals of the Christian groups of much as they are built for you. MARIKA, by Szekely, 1939, $1.50 both races or nations. Let us Deep thought and much consul- (Hungary). Junior. become engaged in a common tation has gone into that plan- service to humanity. Let us ning. NANCY GOES TO MEXICO, by Lanks, meet with others just for the 1938, 50 cents. Primary. sheer joy of friendly association. Why Wonder? Let us join with them in some NANKA OF OLD BOHEMIA, by Pelzel, celebration, some service, some If radio's slim fingers can 1937, $2.00 (from Old Bohemia to study, some enterprise. pluck a melody America). Christian fellowship seeks the From night and toss it over a LUCIO AND HIS NUONG, by Crockett, common ground of brotherhood. continent or sea; 1939, $2.00 (charming book on the There is deep need of such fel- Philippines). Primary. lowship today. There willl be If the petaled white notes of a deeper need in the days and violin Interracial Fellowship years ahead. Are blown across a mountain A young Chinese woman doc- Build Good Programs or a city's din; tor who was taking her interneship in a California hospital, As you begin to think about If songs like crimson roses, was not too busy to organize a program materials for 1940, are culled from thin blue air; club for a group of teen-age Chinese girls. She found them at- Why should mortals wonder if tending a little mission in the God hears prayer? town where the hospital was located. -Mrs. Ethel R. Fuller.
The girls were sadly in need of more social life. Through one of the home missionaries, whom she knew, word of that need was reported to one of the churches of the town. The women of the church responded promptly and, as a starter, a party was given for the girls.
The occasion was happy and contact is being kept up. The one reporting the incident says,
BULLETIN
Council of Women for Home Missions EDITED BY MISS EDITH E. LOWRY, 297 FOURTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N. Y.
~~~I===========================~ Have You Thanked the directly to Michigan where they stay periment, placing families on for June strawberries, July cherries small plots of land so that they Migrants? and raspberries, August early peaches may supplement their earnings and September peaches and grapes. as "croppers" by cultivating Migrants are as close to you as Then they start back to Florida for your kitchen! For many years, their own gardens. But it is migrant laborers have been gath- the fall crop. significant that a religious orering the fruits and vegetables ganization was the pioneer in atthat eventually reached your kit- Another story shows how one family tempting a constructive prochen, either fresh or canned. follows one crop from state to state. gram. The Council of Women These wandering workers have The woman has worked in tomatoes made a material contribution to since she was fourteen years old. She for Home Missions opened the our lives, a contribution little went from Florida to Mississippi and first "centers" nearly 20 years recognized and still less appre- there, four years ago, met her hus- ago and the work has grown ciated by Mr. and Mrs. Average band while packing tomatoes. They Citizen. Not only are they as have been married three years and from those 8 centers in 4 states as close as our kitchens because have two children. They follow tomawe are consumers, but geograph- toes from Florida to Mississippi to to 56 in 14 states. ically also, they are close to us all Kentucky or Tennessee, later perhaps for every state needs migrant to Maryland, and back to Florida. Starting with work for chillaborers for cultivating and har- dren, the program has expanded vesting, or packing and canning its crops. Is it not strange that to include young people and more so many people have known little recently, the whole family. This or nothing about them? newest service of furnishing a team including a minister, his wife who is a trained children's worker, and a nurse, has been so successful that it ,is hoped to have more teams in the near fu- Recent publicity is making the Picture by pe'rmission oj F.B.A. ture. The team stays in one migeneral public conscious of the grant area for the crop season problem of migratory labor. "HOME" ON THE MUCK-LAND IN FLORIDA developing a well-rounded pro- Much of this publicity leaves the gram including health, recreareader with the impression that In the middlewest also there tion and religious activities. Rethe migrants are a problem in are groups which follow with cent reports from the first team the western states only, chiefly fair regularity a succession of in California are convincing in California. The situation is crops. proof of the value of such a promore acute in the west but the gram carried out with the coproblem is very real in other Current books and articles operation of growers, the farm areas and in the east a "cycle of make quite clear that the prob- bureau, local ministers and othcrops" has developed quite as lem is acute, but little mention ers of the community. The definite as those better-known in is made of attempts to help the Western Supervisor of Council the west. An example can be migrants. The government in work says, "This work makes us given from the story of one fam- recent years has made a begin- more aware of the great need for ily of nine, recent migrants, who ning at meeting housing needs more teams. Let us hasten the had formerly been share-crop- by establishing well-organized day!" The need for haste was pers in Alabama but could not camps in some areas and, in a strikingly expressed recently by make a living though the older few places, has initiated an ex- a foreign misisonary home on children worked hard along with furlough who after discovering the parents. To quote from the the tragic plight of the migrants report sent by a Council worker: stated that we can't work effec- And so they started on the migrant tively in the foreign field until road with a car and baggage trailer. They have planned their itinerary so we solve this problem in our own that they are in Florida about six country. months in beans, tomatoes, celery or potatoes; two weeks to a month in This new plan resulted, dur- Tennessee in strawberries, and then ing August, in the holding of 32 evening meetings in six camps, [568 ]
BULLETIN: COUNCIL OF WOMEN FOR HOME MISSIONS
total attendance of 2,304, and 13 discouraged souls? It is the re- brought them. Our youngest is a Sunday school sessions in four sponsibility of Christian people baby of six months. When he was brought to the center he presented a camps, 326 in attendance. The to make possible several "teams." picture of malnutrition, unable to hold up his head, lacking a change of faminister of the team reports: As the Western Supervisor cial expression and with the cry of a two weeks old baby. After a month, The response so far has been far writes, "There can be no great- his lusty howls can be heard all over above my expectations both in the er happiness come to one than the center and he is beginning to ascamps and from the local churches. sume the normal actions of a child One cannot come into the camps suc- that of a migrant family when his age. A member of the committee cessfully from anyone sect. The they move to another crop and saw the child on entry and has seen find their friend and counsellor, him charge. She stated that the nurs- Council of Women for Home Missions ery would be worthwhile just to see has the key that opens the closed the Council worker. Hundreds that one child begin to have a chance door, 18 denominations working to- of families continually tell us in life. gether, not promoting anyone, not knocking any-these are the magic that we are their only real In the report of an eastern words that do the trick. The work of friends who seem to understand center for negroes we find these words, "The work here has been the nurses in these camps has opened their problems." of such a nature that the mia door that no one can shut. I made grants. boast of it and tell others a thorough canvass of six camps dur- The first work for migrants in of the blessings it bestows." ing July. On an average, I have been able to read the Scripture and have Florida was started in March, In the onion-growing territory 1939, the Council furnishing a of Ohio a 10-weeks program was conducted with the cooperation prayer in a slightly larger percentage supervisor but the work being of the Women's Department of of homes than in my regular pastorate the Ohio Council of Churches in California. So far, it is something under the direction of a strong and a local committee. Seventy over one-half of the homes that will local committee in which all civic children, chiefly from Kentucky let me do this. I found eight former clubs all churches, the packing families, were enrolled. They participated eagerly in all the Sunday school teachers and a Sunday and business houses and many activities of the Center. Eveschool superintendent in one camp, individuals of the community ning gatherings for the adults seven teachers in another. I find a offered bright spots of social felthird of the people were formerly ac- cooperated. The work is to be lowship in lives which are ter- headed this year by a local nurse ribly drab. tive in churches back East. I find only a few who still rate themselves who had experience the first year Life isn't a very joyous affair "Christian." In one tent I visited I under Council supervision. The in the onion marshes! One of saw a cot, a bed for two made of the workers writes: quilts lying on the dirt floor, and a Council will still be a part of the project, paying the salary of the Every night we pass a little boy of gasoline stove on a fruit box-nothing eight, with an old straw hat on the else in the tent except a pile of dirty head worker and acting in an back of his head, and his shoulders clothes on a cardboard box at the end. supervisory capacity. The Flor- stooped with weariness. Every morn- On one end of the cot a woman sat ing as we pass his house with a load writing letters, her mind evidently ida project differs from others of children he is out in front, in his in that the center must function old straw hat, waving and waving unback east where the letter was going. til we are long out of sight. Yes, she used to teach Sunday school 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. she said bitterly. "Teach it now, in The packing houses run night His little brother is enrolled in the the camp? Why I am not even a school and comes regularly and he is Christian. How can anyone be a and day so that parents are many enrolled too, but he came only three Christian in,-in this?" and she times unable to care for their days, and then he went back into the fields to weed and thin and top onions. pointed to the dirt and the clothes. children even at night. There "If anyone had told me when I was He's a little boy and an eager boy, active in the church that I would ever were 50 children enrolled at the and one who is so tired most of the come to live like this,-" She did not center with an average attend:. time that he just doesn't feel like playfinish. I asked her if she did not ance of 25. This project dif- ing, even if he had the time and oppor- tunity. think Jesus understood her circum- fers from others also in that the stances, and would make allowances. parents pay more for care given "Yes," she said, "He understands. But me, I am not trying to be a Chris- their children, twenty-five cents tian now. How can I?" We read a day for one child, but a "bar- from the Bible and had prayer. She gain rate" for two or more from had only been out in the camps a few the same family! To quote from days, and the shock of the actual conditions were terrific. What will she a report: be like in a few months? Some parents visit their children Who can measure ihe good ac- two or three times a week, others once complished by this ministry to or not at all. We have six who have not been home since their parents MIGRANTS That innocence should suffer this, That blameless ones should come to this, Should be so much denied, This constant buffeting Brings Calvary beneath our feet, Is treason to humanity, Commons the crucified. A cross for suffering.
That humankind should treasure this, Should be to this resigned, Compels my heart to pray, "Oh God, How is Thy way defined?"
-Samuel E. Boyd, A Council worker, Summer '39.
~==============================I~
~1= = =O= U=£=E=~=TEW=i:=s~=~n=M~=R;=r=~=d=~ =~=~=a=~=~=~=~=~C=SO=~=~=~n=N~=!=O=~=~=?=o=k= = =J MISCELLANEOUS the Lutheran World Convention and development was included and of the United Lutheran in the plan for the Woman's Di- Missions in War Time Council in America. The Na- vision of Christian Service in tional Christian Council has the Board of Missions and The Presbyterian Board of cabled urging consultation and Church Extension. Each na- Foreign Missions is authority suggesting that the service of tional tree, planted in its own for the statement that the war the Lutheran Federation of native soil will bear the fruits of crisis has not diminished interest Churches be enlisted to care for evangelism, education, medical in foreign missions. There is a the churches deprived of Ger- work, literature, youth, childgreat demand for missionary man missionaries. The Luther- hood, world peace, temperance, speakers. In over twenty stra- an Federation in India is coop- rural education, home life, intertegic cities throughout the erating. racial relationships and econom- United States, a Presbyterian ic justice. Foreign Affairs Convocation The Lutheran Council has also gives teams of five or six out- established communication with "Christ Calls" Program standing missionary leaders an mission Boards in regard to opportunity to meet with men, German missions in the British The proposal of the Internawomen, young people, church- colonies of Africa, urging that tional Christian Endeavor for a school teachers, pastors and el- efforts be made to befriend the two-year program topic, "Christ ders to discuss their relationship missionaries. In China and the Calls," has won hearty support to the program of Christian Netherlands Indies it is expected from young people, a fact borne missions in the present critical that the German missionaries out by the extensive sale of the situation. The convocations con- will not be deprived of their Program Guide, now in its secclude with a forum based upon freedom, but support from Ger- ond edition. A few suggestions 65 carefully worked out ques- many will be cut off. on only one of twenty specific tions, covering the whole mis- types of action indicate the scope sionary task. Week-end youth In the Versailles Treaty a and challenge of this program: fellowships in foreign missions distinction was made between bring together representative missionary property and other Encourage young people to young people to discuss the alien property. Trustees for be loyal, thorough, and effective world mission of the Church. In mission property were appointed in church membership, church four Presbyterian Theological and in the course of time such attendance, and church financial Seminaries courses in foreign properties in British territories support. missions are also offered, with were returned to the German sofull academic credits. These cieties. It is hoped that this Emphasize the importance of courses supplement other mis- principle will be recognized now. church membership. Give persionary courses, and active mis- sonal invitations, fro m one sionaries present the challenge -A. L. Warnshuis. friend to another. Make persons of Christianity to the Church. who might consider church World Federation of Methodist membership the subject for What of German Missionaries? p ray e r, individually and in Women groups. Study and promotion of German missionaries working stewardship. in British territory will practi- At the 70th anniversary of the cally be interned, but the gov- Woman's Foreign Missionary NORTH AMERICA ernment is trying to avoid pro- Society in Pasadena, California, cedures that occasioned criticism a charter was signed for the Gideon's at the World's Fair over similar action during the "World Federation of Methodist War of 1914 to 1918. There are Women." A constitution was Since the Gideon Booth was about 124 German missionaries sent to Methodist women's or- opened on the 23d of May in the in India, most of them belonging ganizations in America and more Hall of Communications, at the to the Lutheran Church. The than twenty nations of the World's Fair, 15,000 visitors International Missionary Coun- world. This body, representing have signed the register. They cil has consulted the officers of approximately 4,000,000 women, have come from every state in was recognized at the Uniting the Union, every province in Conference in Kansas City, and Canada, and from sixty foreign provision for its organization [570 ]
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
countries. Four hundred and missioners will extend their ef- ward union of other communfifty thousand Gospel tracts have forts beyond the churches and ions. For example, there is the been given out, and 12,500 cop- include in this "spiritual mobili- discussion going on between the ies of the Gospel of John. Two zation" all community and civic United Brethren and Evangelipersonal workers have been con- organizations, schools, women's cal Churches, both Methodist in stantly in attendance, George W. clubs, service clubs, and busi- doctrine, polity and discipline. Mathieson, Jr., a graduate of the nessmen's, farmers' and labor- When they are united there will Philadelphia School of the Bible, ers' groups. be no insuperable obstacle to and James Bisset, a graduate of their joining The Methodist the Moody Bible Institute in Among the plans announced Church, to which they really be- Chicago. They have taken time for the year of preparation was long. Negro Methodists not into explain God's plan of salva- a "week of prayer" beginning cluded in the unification are now tion to each inquirer, and nearly January 1. Prayer services will showing signs of getting togethtwo thousand men have pro- be held in churches all over the er. These are the African, the fessed conversion to Christ. country each day that week. African Zion, and the Colored Each of these received aNew Meditations will be based on a Methodist Churches, and they Testament, in which he wrote book which will be published represent more than one million the following: this winter, "Acknowledging the families. Larger groupings of Lordship of Jesus Christ in All Lutherans have been effected by "Date ………………. . Areas of Life," by Robert Speer. the combination of several small I, ……. (name) ……. , have bodies in the United Lutheran this day accepted the Lord Jesus Boys' Missionary Society Church and of others in the Christ as my own personal Sav- American Lutheran Church. iour. . . . The boys at St. Paul's School, Four other bodies are now dis- Concord, N. H., have a lively cussing the possibilities of enter- "Realizing that I am a lost missionary society of their own. ing the latter. Of still more imsinner, and that nothing but the Some of their activities might portance is the doctrinal unity Blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, suggest ideas to other schools, revealed in negotiations between can cleanse me from ,gin, I now or even churches. For one thing, the three largest Lutheran accept Him as my own personal they have a Lost and Found groups-the United, the Ameri- Saviour." Committee. If this committee can and the Missouri Synod. finds a coat lying around, its Those who have signed these owner may rescue it for ten New Unification Movement cards include Protestants, Cath- cents, to be added to the society's olics, Jews and Protestant funds. The sale of second-hand Six major interdenominationchurch members of all denomi- textbooks is another source of al agencies giving field service to nations. Most of them have income, a special committee American churches have formed been young people of the teen managing the bookstore and the "Intercouncil Field Departage. Next in number come charging 25 cents each for books ment" as a means of unifying young men in their twenties; donated by boys who are through the approach to the churches. very few are over 50 years of with them. The six agencies represented are age. the International Council of Re- The society supports a sum- ligious Education, the Federal The Gideon register has mer camp where boys from city Council of Churches, the Home served as a means of contact. slums may spend two weeks. A Missions Council, the Foreign The fact that nothing is sold in publicity committee provides a Missions Conference, the Nathe booth has aided greatly in bulletin board, with posters, tIonal Committee of Church this personal work. charts and pictures of the work Women (combining three na- of the Church at home and tional women's organizations) -Kenyon A. Palmer. abroad. Included among many and the United Stewardship other activities are monthly Council. New National Preaching meetings with missionary speak- ers, and discussions open to all The plan adopted unifies all Mission the boys. This society, with field service under one staff coun- forty to fifty members, is man- cil, of which Dr. T. Quentin Mill- A year of preparation has aged entirely by the boys them- er of the Federal Council was been inaugurated for the Na- selves, with one faculty adviser. elected chairman, and Rev. John tional Preaching Mission of B. Ketcham of the Internation- 1940. Ten thousand persons en- -The Church in Action. al Council, secretary. listed for "spiritual mobilization." Dr. Jesse M. Bader of Trends Toward Church Union -The Christian Century. New York, who will be in charge of the 1940 'Preaching Mission, The Christian Advocate ob- Mid-Missions presided at this mass meeting. serves that the chief conse- quence of Methodist unification Elyria, Ohio, has been the The purpose of the National will be manifest not so much birthplace of more than one mis- Preaching Mission, according to within the ranks of Methodism sionary enterprise. Here was Dr. Bader, is "to strengthen the as in stimulating the trend to- Church" and "to reach the unreached with the Christian message." To "reach the unreached,"
organized the Men's Missionary For all that, she supports the rate of Negroes above one year League in the United Presby- church. Who is she? A Hol- of age is nearly double that of terian Church. In 1920, an in- stein-Friesian cow whose daily white people, and infant mor- dependent Baptist Missionary production of milk is from 50 to tality was 60 % greater. He also Council, "Mid – Missions," was 80 pounds, i.e., 22' to 35 quarts, found that the overcrowding of organized there. It now has 110 for which purchasers pay about the schools was far beyond that missionaries on the field, about $3.60. Not in all India where a of white schools.
half in French Equatorial Af- cow does not produce enough Prof. Douglass is demanding rica, the rest in Venezuela, Bra- milk to pay for her feed, much of the City Council more schools zil, Peru, India, Liberia, Haiti, less contribute to a church, is for Negroes, more small parks Jamaica, St. Helena, Hawaii and there such a cow as Greenwood and swimming pools, more housin home mission work in Ken- Johanna Clara. This is just an- ing projects, more hospitals and tucky and among St. Louis Jews. other way of saying that the clinics. Its latest bulletin reports: ability of rural Christians to support the church depends upon "The Calvary Baptist Church, Religion in Indian Schools Binghampton, is building a dis- the productivity of their cows pensary at Fort Crampel, Af- Time was when missionaries rica. A friend in Cleveland is and other animals, and this, in and religious education directors furnishing the funds for the were given a free hand to teach school building at the same sta- turn, depends upon the quality Bible to all the Indians in the tion. Another friend sent $1,000 schools. Later came a governto put a missionary on the field of the farmer's character. ment regulation that permitted and help in his support." religious instruction being given At the annual meeting of the to those children only whose The full name of the organiza- parents signed a written request tion is The General Council of Christian Rural Fellowship in in the presence of a government Cooperating Baptist Missions of employee as witness. The Unit- North America, Mishawaka, Ind. the Town Hall, New York City, ed Presbyterian Mission at Warm Springs, Oregon, waited -So S. Times. December, 1937, Secretary of an opportune time to secure the parents' signatures, meanwhile In Earnest About Missions Agriculture Henry A. Wallace talking it over with leading In- dians. The opportune moment The Seventh-Day Adventists set forth certain ideals concern- seemed to come when the governare not playing at missions. ment built a fine neW school in Every Sunday in every Sunday ing rural life. When, during the the Reservation; then the misschool an offering is taken for missions, after a definite mis- question period, he was asked: "What can the Church do to help the Department of Agriculture make those ideals effective?" He replied, "Your question really should be, 'What can the Depart- ment do to help the Church make Christianity effective in rural life?'" -World Call.
sionary note has been sounded in Ohicago's Negroes sionaries put it up to the parents, with the result that parents of the classes. The church's tithe Paul H. Douglass, a Quaker is all for missions, and ~ll for- and a member of the faculty of 30 children signed at once, and by the end of the year half the eign mission Sunday schools and Chicago University, has been children in the school were enchurches are on the same tithing elected a member of the Chicago rolled in Bible classes. The folbasis, furnishing a large pro- City Council. "Anyone who sup- lowing year, 1938, a whole after- portion of the amount put into posed that this Quaker would be noon was allowed for Bible study the foreign work. They have quiet very long," says Advance, and the number enrolled includabout half the membership of "did not know the gentleman." the Sou the r n Presbyterian He got busy at once with a reso- ed all the children in the school Church (whose Christian Ob- except those in two families. lution calling for the creation server publishes these facts) and of a Chicago Race Relations Rules for Ohristians in contribute from four to six times Commission. He contends that Wartime as much to foreign missions. Chicago's Negroes live under There seems to be no hint of Adventists are by no means worse conditions than those of rich people, yet persistent, con- any other large city. In some war hysteria either in or outstant education in missions and the tithe principle have done sections on the South Side there side the churches of Canada. marvels for their mission work. are 69,000 Negroes to the square One small college church of mile, as compared with 37,000 The United Church has sent out about 150 members gave $7,000 whi,tes to the square mile in the to missions in one year. white community adjoining. to all pastors a memorandum in Prof. Douglass found that in which four points are empha- sized: .
The Church must maintain at How Greenwood Johanna Clara most of the quarters which he all cost faith in God the Father Supports a Ohurch examined there could be no real of Jesus Christ and, centered in development of family life, that that faith, provide, amid the She is not a church member the rentals are much higher than fiercest strain, a haven of peace.
and no one expects her name those paid by white people for The Church must more than will ever be on the church roll. similar quarters, that the death ever affirm the reality of that
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
ecumenical church, conscious- day School extension work was quest was granted and a group ness of which was revived at ready to start. of twenty people formed the nu- Oxford, and declare the obliga- At that time the Presbyterian cleus of a congregation. Since tion of loyalty to this supreme Church in Porto Rico had less there is no church building as fellowship into which warring than 3,000 pupils on its Sunday yet, services are more or less re- peoples must yet be brought to- School rolls; teachers were stricted by federal law. A young gether. scarce and their training and graduate of the Hooker School The third plea is for under- background poor. So teacher in Mexico City is helping the standing and sympathy between training institutes were organ- pastor, Rev. Alfonso Gomez.
those who feel that Christ im- ized and volunteer workers chal- The following notice was pels them to give themselves in lenged. Today there are more printed in the English section of active service, and those who feel than 9,000 pupils in Porto Rican a paper published by the Mexthat Christ precludes any such Sunday schools and over 500 ican Episcopal Church, La action. teachers and officers. Buena Lid: -Monday Morning. Like the Society of Friends, Gospel by Mail in Mexico It is the impression, we believe, in churches and church members the United States, that there is a must develop ministries of com- strong persecution by the Government fort and healing by which some The Presbyterian Board re- of all churches here in Mexico. This suffering may be assuaged. ports that during the past year is absolutely untrue! All churches in Mexico 15,073 Gospel portions are open and services are being held. and 45,219 tracts have been sent LATIN AMERICA -The Church in Action.
The Gospel Spreads in Haiti to public officials, school teach- South America's Youth ers, postmasters, telegraph op- Twelve thousand southern erators, R. R. Station agents and From the educational stand- Haiti laborers, recently returned a number of merchants through- point, the youth of South Amerfrom working in Cuba where out the country. This type of ica are looking up. Tremendous they have become evangelized, work was undertaken about two modern educational programs illustrate how little the results years ago. It is probably safe are being promoted by practicalof Christian work can be fore- to say that every village and ly all South American governseen. In 1885, a soldier in the town in Mexico has received at ments. This is true from the rebellion against Spain, A. J. least one Gospel portion. grades through the professional Diaz, fled on a log in the open There are encouraging results schools. Rio de Janeiro now sea and was carried off by a of this work. Here is a typical claims with pride that they have strong current, but was picked one. a seat in school for every child.
up, half famished, by an Ameri- The secretary of an Indian In the face of Brazil's eighty-five can vessel and brought to New village in the mountains of per cent illiteracy this is momen- York. In aNew York hospital Guerrero received a roll of lit- tous. In Argentina, Uruguay, he found aNew Testament erature, read it, was touched and and Chile there are likewise exwhich led to his conversion. He wrote for more. Soon he was panding building programs, rereturned to Cuba to preach the converted and began to have a sulting from increased insist- Gospel. His first convert was real burden for the spiritual ence upon general education, and his own sister, and his parents needs of his tribe. He began to increasing numbers have professoon followed. The first Baptist speak to his friends and to read sional aspirations. This trend church in Havana was organized the New Testament to them. has a direct effect upon the work in 1886. Ten years ago Protes- Then on Sunday, August 7, he of the churches. Students of tant churches in Cuba had 9,849 called a meeting of the Indians law, medicine or dentistry, even members. Now Haiti is receiv- and translated portions of the when professed Christians, aring Christian impulses from New Testament to the one hun- gue that there is no point in join- Cuba. -So S. Times. dred who attended. This man is ing a church.
a Tlapaneco, from an area There is also this unique sit- Tent Work in Porto Rico marked "unexplored" on govern- uation. Pastors of churches, ment maps. Because of his in- Since 80 per cent of the Porto terest, two translators have been even of the larger churches, are Ricans live in the country, Rev. sent into this district to study usually practicing physicians, Santiago – Cabrera decided ten the language and translate the years ago that the way to reach New Testament in Tlapanece. lawyers, dentists. This is nec- essary because salaries paid by these scattered groups was to The Church in Mexico inaugurate Gospel tent meetings. the churches are exceedingly People want the Christian small, entirely too small for the The next step was to find a tent. Church in Mexico. From Telo- support of a single man, to say This missionary's two sons bus- loapan, a town 120 miles south nothing of a family. This sitied themselves seIling Porto Ri- of Mexico City, came the request for a minister to start work uation has a discouraging effect can laces, beads and baskets upon the building of ministerial until they earned $90 with which leadership, and therefore upon they bought a second-hand army the development of the churches.
tent, patched it up, and the Sun- there. After two months the re- -The Commission.
Gospel Triumph in Brazil to apply the law, how to allow One day this year two mission- the teaching of different reli- aries came into this town in The establishment of a strong gions and at the same time safe- their old Ford. The sexton was national church in Brazil is one guard against dogmatism and delighted to have some of his of the triumphs of the Gospel. intolerance, has been a real prob- difficulties cleared up; and the In some places it has grown lem. -Christian Century. truth explained. Open air meetfrom nothing in a few years to ings were held, Bibles were sold, active, well-organized groups. Japanese Clergy in Brazil and there is now a flourishing One example of this is the Pres- congregation in that town, with byterian Church in Ribeirao There are four Japanese Epis- the sexton as one of the stal- Preto, with 90 members, organ- copal clergymen in Brazil at warts. ized twelve years ago. Sunday work among the Japanese colschool attendance averages 160; onies of coffee planters in Sao -Neglected Continent. there is a progressive women's Paulo. The thoroughness with auxiliary and a Christian En- which they pursue their work EUROPE deavor Society, equally alive. may be seen in the fact that they Much of this achievement is due have 1,000 baptized church mem- War Time in England to Senor Ferreira and his wife. bers. At their seventh annual He is superintendent of a public convocation, clergy and lay Rev. William G. Peck records school of 1,200 pupils, but finds workers discussed the Creed, the some of his observations about time to devote many hours a Atonement and the Epistle to life in England in war time. He week to the Sunday School; at the Philippians, believing that senses a new friendliness, a new least one night a week he preach- the first essential of all their appreciation for the little coures in some home in the outskirts work is an unshakable belief in tesies, new compensations for of the city. His wife is also a Christ as Son of God, Saviour the anxiety; even the necessity public school teacher,is president and Guide. for living a day at a time has its of the women's auxiliary, a Sun- blessing, because in the hurryday school teacher and preaches Practical means of promoting ing and scheming many precious somewhere almost every week. their work, most needful for and simple things of beauty are themselves, were listed as fol- missed. Mr. Peck notes with One may see Gospel triumphs lows: More frequent prayer; surprise how many strangers in the home life as well in Bra- better preparation of sermons; accost him to talk about religion. zil, where it costs something to more careful planning; more One lady, whom he knew to be be an evangelical Christian. At frequent gatherings of church no church-goer, said to him: the very least, it means social people and more visiting of those "Don't you think this is the end? ostracism. Many instances could who tend to lapse; more atten- Don't you think God is tired of be cited where blessed influences tive Bible reading; critical ex- us? I am sure He must be tired are going out from happy Chris- amination of their past work in of me, and my sort." An edutian homes. order to improve the future. cated man walked with him, say- ing that he was ashamed of his -Presbyterian Survey. -The Church in Action. life, but that he had never really doubted that life was a serious Gospels in Brazil Schools The Power of the Book commission given by God. At a church service on the day war Last spring, the Congress of The sexton of a large Roman was declared, the congregation Ceara, a prominent northern Catholic Church in one of Bra- brought gas masks as well as state of Brazil, voted to author- zil's interior towns had always prayer books. Nobody was restize reading of Gospels in the had an intense desire to read the less, or showed signs of panic. public schools, instead of instruc- Bible. After much difficulty he The sermon was about the peace tion in the Catholic catechism. became the possessor of a Cath- of God, and when it came to an This reveals a new tendency. olic version and as he pored over end the congregation continued Several years ago, one of the it, his eyes began to open. So to kneel, praying. more liberal priests of Brazil, thrilled was he with the truths where private reading of the he discovered that every evening -The Living Church. Scriptures has always been bit- he would sit on the pavement terly opposed, began urging the outside his house and read the Testaments for Soldiers people to read the New Testa- Bible aloud to the townsfolk. ment. About two years ago one Soon he had a large audience of During the war of 1914-1918 of these liberals, Father HUIn- people who, like himself, were the Pocket Testament League berto Rohden, made a modern beginning to grasp the great re- distributed nearly two million translation of the New Testa- alities of the Gospel. The Bible Testaments to men of the British ment which has been published came to be in great demand and Forces. Now that a similar under ecclesiastical imprimatur. reluctantly the sexton would emergency has arisen the League lend his new-found treasure to is enlisting the cooperation of its In 1934, after years of strict various business men of the friends in seeking to place the separation of Church and State, town. Word of God in the hands of religious teaching was allowed hundreds of thousands of young in the public schools. Just how This went on for some time.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
men who face the ordeal of bat- Shortage of Pastors in advocating friendliness toward tle. the Jews, have fled to England Germany or America. The British and Foreign Bible Society, and the Scripture Gift Only four out of eighteen the- -Christian Century. Mission have brought a special ological seminaries in Germany pocket Testament for the use of have reopened for the present Trouble in Albania all who are engaged in the de- year. This presages a lack of fense of Britain. A message evangelical pastors within the A recent letter from Albania from King George VI, inserted next two years. The Nazi argu- tells of increasing difficulties put in every copy, says: ment is that such study is of no in the way of Christian work by value to the State, and should the new Italian authorities. I commend the reading of this book. therefore be ruled out. Includ- Nothing may now be published For centuries the Bible has been a ed among the theological schools without written permission from wholesome and strengthening influence whose doors will remain closed the head of the Federal office, in our national life, and it behooves is the famed University of Bonn, which is Fascist. The Prefect us in these momentous days to turn where Pastor Martin Niemoeller questions whether evangelical with renewed faith to this divine completed his studies for the missionaries can even use tracts source of comfort and inspiration. ministry, and where Karl Barth and booklets already printed. taught. Copies of all books, booklets and During the last war the Army tracts, used by the Albanian Mis- Scripture Readers, and Soldiers' The G e r man Evangelical sion, have been requested for a and Airmen's Christian Associa- Church requires 600 new minis- detailed examination and it tion joined in the work. ters yearly, but this year only seems doubtful whether the Mis- 250 evangelical students have sion can continue to use this lit- Three main needs are empha- entered universities; while the erature, even the Old Testament sized: daily prayer, of trained number of theological students portions and the New Testament Scripture readers, who under- is barely 25 per cent of the num- printed in Albanian. Such a stand the nature of Army service ber engaged in such study in radical decision would seriously and the mind of the soldier; 1932-34. Students for the Ro- cripple the work. and, third, huts as centers of man Catholic priesthood may work. pursue their studies only at Vi- Our correspondent writes: enna and Munich. "These are dark days, and we The Salvation Army also has value your prayers. There are plans for serving naval, military German Moravians Divided causes for thanksgiving. Two and air forces in camps, homes colporteurs returned last week and hospitals. Differing attitudes toward the after three days in a half-Mos- State have made a serious cleav- lem town, where they sold 119 -The Christian. age in many German Moravian Gospels from house to house, be- churches. Young people, for the sides distributing hundreds of After the War in Spain most part, are intensely loyal to leaflets. We must get the seed the Nazi program; older mem- in before a storm breaks." Normal conditions are far bers deplore any political entanfrom restored and no one knows glement of the Church. But be- What Price Consistency? how long this may take. The cause Moravians constitute only Franco regime has once more a small group, their churches in All the world knows that the put the Roman Church in a Germany have escaped serious Soviet Government has for 20 position of great power and trouble, except for their schools. years tried desperately to wipe influence in the country. So that One has been closed, and the out all religion within its bor- Protestant work will be attended same threat hangs over all the ders. It therefore seems an odd with much difficulty. Rome has others. disregard for intelligent opinion the education of children under that led the Moscow Bezbonik, her direction, so that this is a This situation makes normal meaning godless, to print spiritcause of anxiety to Protestant relations between Moravian ed protests against the Polish par e n t s. While Protestant churches in America and those Roman Catholic hierarchy for churches are open in Madrid and in Germany exceedingly difficult. its oppression of members of the in some other towns, in Barcelo- German Moravians avoid all sig- Orthodox churches. It charges na and many other places they nificant statements in their cor- that "forty per cent of the Orare closed. Nearly all evangel- respondence, nor do Americans thodox churches in Poland have iCal schools are similarly closed. ask them any embarrassing been destroyed or converted into questions. Moravian churches in Roman Catholic churches. Pol- The Government stands for what was Czechoslovakia have ish legionnaires are charged religious freedom and some of on their hands the problem of with carrying off icons and the difficulties will no doubt caring for refugees; and several church plate; with preventing eventually disappear. It is en- ministers and influential laymen, the people in Polish territory couraging to know that when under suspicion by the German from "freely fulfilling their re- Nationalist forces entered towns secret police for their connection ligious obligations." To be sure, and villages where evangelical with pacifist groups or groups churches are located, no Christian, aside from those in the defeated army, was imprisoned or injured.
-Evangelical Christian.
this is all true. But it does not hundreds are in attendance at The Church in Uganda is become the atheist Russian to the out-stations round about. A served by a loyal native ministry. throw stones, considering the branch church has been started In 1893 the first ordination took destruction of churches and the at Kafanchan, a point on the place, and seven native Chrisslaughter of priests and pastors railway about six miles from tian workers were ordained as in his own domain. It is, of Kagoro, and already it bids fair deacons. Today, at a meeting of course, a political bid for the to outrival the parent church in the Synod, the few Europeans support of the Soviet seizure of numbers. The Christians bring present look insignificant as Eastern Poland, whose inhabi- the produce of their farms to ad- compared with the large African tants must be wondering how vance the good work into regions majority. The enthusiasm with soon the Soviets will liquidate all beyond. Perhaps best of all is a which every question is disthe churches in Poland. splendid school for the training cussed by young and old, clergy of evangelists, where scores are and laymen, men and women, Russia's Evangelical Christian being taught in the Hausa Bible. makes one feel that they consid- er themselves a part of the world Union The "Isa" People of the Sudan wide missionary enterprise.
Up to the year 1929, when re- The Field Director of the Su- Again, the newcomer is imligious persecution broke out dan Interior Mission, Guy W. pressed by the devotion to the with renewed fury, this organi- Playfair, tells of an interesting Bible. The Church in Uganda is zation had a membership and sect he found at Kano; the a literate Church in which the following of about 5,000,000. "Isa" or "Jesus" people who large majority of grown-ups can The whole of Russia was organ- have abandoned the name of Mo- read the Bible for themselves. ized into seventy districts, each hammed, and worship in the This is no mean achievement for with its own Council of ten mis- name of Jesus. One of them, so 60 years. It is the rule that no sionaries, and yearly conven- the story goes, while worshiping one may be baptized until he can tions were held. Altogether in a mosque had a revelation read his Bible. When service there were more than 700 mis- that he should worship in the begins, Bibles are opened, and sionaries in the district unions name of Jesus. Soon he had a unless the preacher in the course and 200 additional were support- following of more than a thou- of his sermon calls out a numed by the National Council at sand. This alarmed the rulers ber of texts, and gives his hear- Leningrad. Those engaged in who fancied that he might even ers time to find them all, he is the Union of Russian Christians try to claim the kingdom for very unpopular indeed. At comprised workmen, farmers, himself. He and his followers home, too, the Bible is read; the men of education, and even tied from Kano to the country, house boy reads it in his spare members of the Orthodox where they remained for some time and always has a store of Church. Ten national conven- time, after which he was coaxed questions to ask anyone he tions were held at Leningrad, back into Kano, only to be stran- thinks may be able to answer which produced a great impres- gled to death. His son and other them. -C. M. S. Outlook. sion upon all classes of people. followers, were scatt~red. Later, most of them assembled in the American Friends' Mission At present, places of worship Ningi District, where the pagans are closed; the leaders in exile rose against them and many The American Friends' Misor in prison. But the Union con- were killed. The present leader sion has 250 congregations in tinues to carryon among the of the movement is Aaron, Africa, organized into nine 10,000,000 Russians scattered in grandson of the martyred found- Monthly Meetings. There has other countries. er. There are at least 21 teach- been steady growth in unity and ers and 300 adherents of the power. A native evangelist who AFRICA sect in the Kano emirate. helped to start the work at Kitosh, in the Kenya Colony, 24 "New Creatures" in Christ -Evangelical Christian. years ago returned for three weeks and was astonished to see Quite recently the Kagoros of The Church in Uganda the development since those interior Sudan were head hunt- early years. The last annual ers. It is remarked that their The visitor, or new mission- Prayer Conference was held at apology to a victim was: "We ary to Uganda, is impressed to Munzatse, one of the smaller don't want your money; we find almost in the heart of what Monthly Meetings, with 250 delmerely want your head." A was the "Dark Continent," a egates from all parts of the writer in the Moody Monthly Church which has a sense of re- Mission. The greatest need of tells what has happened among sponsibility and vigorous life. both schools and churches is suthese so-called "tailed head hunt- While it lacks the long tradition pervision. All are anxious to do ers of Nigeria." At Kagoro is that lies behind Western church- what they can, but do not know a church capable of holding more es, it possesses real Christian how and have no one to help than a thousand people. Seven- life and experience; new mis- them. At Kaimosi, a Sunday ty-two were baptized in recent sionaries earn as much as- they School has been organized with weeks to swell the crowd already teach. the special aim of teaching boys baptized. Scores of children are in the local mission school, and
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
and girls how to conduct a meet- people examining them, stopping men do not improve under any ing. Africans have not yet to ask questions and to buy. Six conditions, or improve so slowly learned how to make the Bible missionaTY societies have accept- and so slightly that the improvelesson interesting to children. ed responsibilities, set up librar- ment is not observable. The more spiritual leaders ies and reading centers; best of among the Africans report a let- all, whites and blacks have WESTERN ASIA ting down in the standard of joined in forming an advisory Christian living, giving as the board on the production and dis- Conditions in Palestine reason the need of more Bible tribution of good books, on teaching, with a supervisor who which are government officials, Despite their disappointment can go from center to center, missionaries and Africans. and depression over British reholding Bible courses and advis- pudiation of the Balfour Declaing the leaders. Results in South Africa ration last May, the Jews of Pal- estine have not lost courage; -Friends' Missionary Advocate. Dr. J ames Stewart, former they feel that time may make a Principal of Lovedale Institute, difference in their favor, and Riots in the Copper BeIt expressing his views on the re- are definitely on Britain's side in sults of missionary work in the struggle. In 1935, in the rich mining South Africa, says there are area of northern Rhodesia called three distinct classes of natives Disturbances, while much di- "the copper belt," a series of who have been the object of mis- minished, have not ceased, and riots resulted in the sending of a sionary effort. First, those who it is well understood that foreign government commission to find have made good use of the Gos- agents continue to stir up feelthe cause. Their report stated pel light that has come to them, ing and assist in promoting terthat one cause was a subversive and the better men and women. rorism. Arabic broadcasts from movement called "The Watch They are no longer heathen, but Berlin have from 35 to 40 mil- Tower," which taught contempt are Christians. They are no lion potential listeners, from for both civil and spiritual au- longer entirely ignorant, they Morocco to Iran and India. At thority, claiming that all the are more or less educated. They the outbreak of war all adult present ruling governments, es- understand the use of a book, or German gentiles, said to number pecially those of the United a pen, or a spade, or of some 4,000, were arrested and in- States and Great Britain, are trade-tools, and they can turn terned. Some of these are mis- Satan's; and that all churches their knowledge to practical sionaries, and efforts are being including both Protestant and uses. Their characters and mor- made by British Christians to Catholic are Satan's emissaries. al influence make them useful in have them released to continue Some extracts from "Watch the spheres in which they move. their work. It is a favorable Tower" literature were included This is the smallest class. time to help all these suffering in the commission's report: e. g., people to find out what the Bible Second, there are those who has to say about the future. Organized Christianity so called is have improved; who are not as full of filthiness; it is an unclean and they were and would have con- -United Presbyterian. abominable thing in the sight of God, tinued to be had not the missionfull of hypocrisy, abomination, forni- ary come among them, but the Education in Iran cation, and filthiness. influence of Christ on their lives and ability are less marked than Missionaries have realized By His prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah in the first class. that the time might come when and Ezekiel, God has written His de- the government of Iran would cree against Christendom, and she A third class consists of those wish to take over all educational must fall. Christendom is composed who have not improved although work for its youth, but this deof the nations that call themselves they have changed. Their intel- mand has come sooner than was Christians. Chief among these na- lects are sharpened, but as much expected. According to the tions are those of America and Great for evil as for good; they are Presbyterian Board of Foreign Britain. God will destroy all Satan's not changed morally; they are Missions, the Iranian Governorganizations, which includes Chris- neither old heathen nor new ment has recently announced tendom. Christians. They are sometimes that it is now in a position to seen in church, but are not mem- take over this work. Five of the This Commission considers that at- bers, and add nothing to the schools and two of the colleges tention should be drawn to the fact strength of the community. It affected were organized and have that the circulation of "Watch Tower" is upon this class that objectors been supported by the Presbyliterature has been rendered easy by to missions fix their eyes and terian mission. The governthere apparently being no other liter- make wrong generalizations. ment wishes to take over the ature available in a convenient and They are a product of civiliza- properties developed in conneccheap form for Africans who wish to tion without Christ. The mis- tion with all the foreign schools, read English. sionary is not discouraged by the and has offered to compensate existence of this class becallse the Board of Foreign Missions These words stung to good ef- there are such people in all coun- for its properties. It also defect. The challenge was taken tries, among all races. Some sires the continued help of some up by the United Society for of the missionary educational- Christian Literature, and now one may see book stalls run by smiling Christian Mricans, with
ists, that the transfer may be tions in most of the important inant message was that God had effected without disorder and as towns of the province. Proces- used this life surrendered wholsmoothly as possible. sions of teachers, students and ly to Him. There followed a the new literates paraded the call to the coming generation to INDIA, BURMA, SIAM streets singing national songs follow Pandita Ramabai in serv- and shouting slogans against il- ice wherever God would have This Is "Telling Them" literacy. Huge public meetings them work for him. were held and a large number of A group of missionaries, dis- prizes and certificates were giv- -Dnyanodaya. cussing with Dr. Ambedkar the en to the workers and literates. problem of India's millions, In Patna, the capital, 1,000 wom- Lyrical Evangelism asked what he thought Chris- en took part in the procession, a tians, in India or in America, notable thing for a province Something new in evangelism could do to help India most at where the majority of women as was introduced when Pandit the present time. Without hes- yet remain behind the veil. The Chaubey of Bareilly Theologiitation Dr. Ambedkar replied: government report published on cal Seminary came to Benares "In the first place, I wish the the occasion shows that in the with his musical instruments Christians of America would course of a year approximately and student-helpers at the invisend a group of economic, agri- 450,000 adult illiterates have tation of the United City Miscultural and industrial experts been made literate. sion. For eight full days Pandit to study conditions, and advise Chaubey with the help of his what type of industries are Before starting a campaign in men and local workers preached adaptable to India's natural re- a village, a local census of illit- the Gospel through music with sources." (Dr. Ambedkar be- erates was taken. Areas were great zeal and effectiveness. The lieves in a large scale industrial then selected where efforts might naturalness and beauty of Hinprogram, in which he differs be made to teach all illiterates dustani Christian music was apfundamentally from Mahatma between the ages of 15 and 50 preciated in four Christian cen- Gandhi.) who were capable of being ters. taught. The total number of "Secondly, I wish the Chris- literacy centers during the sec- Another innovation, never attians would take some of the ond phase of the campaign was tempted before, took place at best-minded young men of the 14,259 with 319,983 pupils, of four principal ghats, or bathing Depressed Classes and give them whom 147,670 were made liter- places. A group of workers sang, an education in economics, in in- ate in five months. preached, sold Gospels and disdustrial management, in some of tributed tracts. Many of the the sciences that must be em- -Christian Century. listeners had not before seen ployed in making India an indus- Christians in Indian dress, singtrial nation." (Most of the Ramabai Mission Jubilee ing Indian tunes, and felt that young Indians studying in the here was something they could United States are being trained The Ramabai Mukti Mission at not only tolerate, but pay attenfor teaching or the ministry.) Kedgoan, Bombay, has recently tion to.-National Missionary celebrated its Jubilee, having Intelligencer. "Then I wish that the Chris- been founded by Pandita Ramatians in India would be more ag- bai in 1888. Krishnabai Gadre, Baptist Work in Assam gressive in public life, would one of the Christian women enter into the political and other working at Mukti, is now in When it became apparent that life of the nation, and make America and is available for ad- the reduced mission budget themselves felt as a power in dresses on this interesting and would mean the loss to Norththeir communities." effective work. (Requests for ern Baptists of the Manipur field her services may be sent to the in Assam, the Swedii!!h Baptist Dr. Ambedkar still has an American Council of the Rama- Conference of America assumed open mind in regard to religion. bai Mukti Mission, P. O. Box responsibility for that work. It is believed that if and when 415, Philadelphia, Pa.) This Government regulations require he changes his religion he will do council is continuing to promote that the Manipur missionary be so because of the service the interest in this mission which is a physician, and since no other faith he decides upon may give now associated with the Chris- doctor was available, Dr. J. A. his people; his decision will not tian and Missionary Alliance. Ahlquist of the Swedish Mission be an intellectual process but Hospital in Jorhat, consented to one on the basis of facts. It is More than 1,000 people, most- undertake the work in Manipur, here that Christianity has the ly women, recently gathered in becoming not only physician for advantage. the church at Mukti to give this field, but also evangelist and thanks to God for Ramabai. The administrator. His medical as- -Christian Advocate. service lasted over three hours, sistant is a Garo Christian who but there was not a dull moment has given a long period of mis- Literacy Celebration in it. Those present heard of sionary service in Manipur, Ramabai's great faith, her hu- especially in the treatment of The first anniversary of the mility, her life of prayer and leprosy. Dr. Ahlquist says in a inauguration of a literacy cam- God's goodness to her. The dom- recent letter to friends at home: paign in Bihar was celebrated last July, with mass demonstra-
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
We have already had baptisms classes that the students might home is not a Christian one. A from the Puram tribe, 48 of them, hear the evangelist, Mr. Lauten- non-Christian mother has a tenwhere no convert had ever been re- schlager. The government col- year-old boy who readil the Biported. There is a crying need for leges responded beyond all ex- ble and prays in the home every Bible translation work. Among the pectations. Three mornings the evening. Other children have Moa tribe we have Christians in six team went out to Hwa Mei Meth- organized groups which meet villages, but no part of the New Testa- odist Girls' School, which has and discuss Christian teaching, ment is in their language as yet. . . . moved out into the country. Mr. asking their teachers to help A short time ago I had word from an Lautenschlager also spent two them. evangelist who started preaching days at the Oberlin-in-Shansi among the Kabuis and now reports Middle School, now a refugee Without any suggestion from over 1,100 baptized believers. school, and at the Canadian anybody, some children asked for Girls' School, also in the coun- baptism. Teachers in the mis- – Watchnwn-Examiner. try. Plans have been made for sion school whereupon decided to follow-up work to conserve re- have these children meet every Evangelism in Siam sults. Everyone is asking for an- day for special instruction, and other campaign next year, with in the meantime observe their In October, 1938, du:r:ing a more time for personal inter- behavior on the playground and week's meetings with Siamese views. Ten times as many books in the classrooms. Some of the Christians in Bangkok, Dr. John could have been sold as were on fifth graders in discussing the Sung, Chinese evangelist, ex- hand. question said they were afraid to pressed a desire to return for become Christians because aftera special campaign over the One Hundred New Members wards they might say bad words whole of Siam. Seven months to somebody and a Christian later Dr. Sung and his inter- How many churches in the could never do that! preter came back, and held United States can point to a recevangelistic meetings in Chieng- ord of 100 additions by baptisms Rainy Season Bible School mai, Lampang, Chiengrai, Prae, in less than a year? There are Nan and Pitsanuloke. In each some, but the number is not China's Millions describes a place volunteer witness bands large. Last July, a group of one successful Bible School in the were formed, and groups of hundred were baptized in the Lisu Church, Yunnan, which for twenty to forty young people or- Disciples Church at Hofei, most- twenty-five years has been exganized to carry the Gospel to ly young people. This trebles panding like a green bay tree. outlying villages. A few ex- the membership of those Who re- June, July and August are the tracts from letters show results mained after the capture of the rainy season, and itineration is obtained: city by the Japanese. In addi- impossible; but the time is well tion to the one hundred, scores suited to concentrated Bible The meetings in Chiengmai were have indicated their desire to he- study, and last year sixteen wonderful with very great success. come Christians, but their bap- young men registered for the There were 1,057 who went to the tism is being postponed until course taught by three young altar to confess their sins and to ask they have had further training. missionaries. A letter written for forgiveness from the Lord. At Other Chinese churches are mov- by one of the Lisu workers to least one thousand people attended ing forward in aggressive evan- American friends of the Mission each session of the meetings. The last gelistic programs despite war shows how the time was spent. day the whole congregation wept and conditions. Churches are packed confessed their sins in the meeting. at every meeting, and people To THOSE BEYOND THE SEA IN THE listen to the Gospel with rapt At Lampang we learned many les- attention. WHITE MAN'S COUNTRY: sons we never knew before. About 300 confessed and were converted. Children Seek Christ Greetings in Jesus' Name! Because Twenty-six witness bands we r e of your constant prayers for us we formed. The first day they went out Margaret Lawrence, of Wuhu, thank you. Also we thank you for they returned with joy to report that writing in World Call, tells how your four precious gifts. Now, by the 63 had offered their lives as evan- some of the children show that grace of God we are dwelling in peace gelists. Christian teaching means some- day by day and are studying His thing to them. One little boy Word. Big Sister is teaching us about Prae Church has had a glorious asked for a "Jesus picture" to the life of Paul, about the letters time. Dr. Sung's messages go straight hang up in his home, and later which Paul wrote to comfort the beto the heart with convicting power. asked a Christian pastor to come lievers at Thessalonica, and very Three hundred and twenty-six came and help him with the little much more. Big Brother has been to the altar confessing their sins; church he had set up in the home. teaching us the First and Second Cotwenty-four gospel bands we r e With pictures and scrolls con- rinthians. Brother Three taught us formed; sixty-seven volunteered as taining Scripture verses he had about Ephesians and also about Galaunpaid preachers. arranged a very effective place tians, the text of which is "the just of worship, and children meet shall live by faith." Such words we -Siam Outlook. there twice a week, although this have never heard before. In them there is much to convict our hearts, but af- CHINA terwards we are made glad. The words we love the most are "and such were Youth and Religion some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified The Chinese Recorder reports in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by from Chengtu that spiritual mo- the Spirit of our God." bilization has taken dramatic form in the "Youth and Religion Movement." Two non-Christian universities, Kwang Hwa and Szechwan University, dismissed
Just one thing more. Although we of society, all sorts of homes, plan for a nation-wide evannever meet in this world, when Jesus and have had various religious gelistic movement. comes again we shall see each other face to face. The writers are those influences from childhood. But Assimilation in Korea who love you and pray for you.-The all alike have been brought up Lisu. from their primary school days In line with Japan's policy This year the Rainy Season with an intense reverence and that religious organizations in Bible School showed greatly in- devotion to His Majesty the Em- Korea should be affiliated with peror. Their questionings show bodies in Japan, the National creased attendance. how vague and negative are their Christian Council of Korea "dis- Lepers' Impressive Service religious convictions, if indeed solved" in September, 1938. One result that followed was that no In a compound behind locked they have any. It is desperately Korean delegates were present doors in the wickedest part of hard for them to form any con- at the Madras meeting of the In- Shanghai's slums, a group of ception of a personal God, or of ternational Missionary Council. forty lepers held a service in one personal God. Yet they con- Other religious organizations which eight men and two women tinue to come as inquirers; they that have similarly ceased to were received into the Christian exist in Korea during the past leper community by baptism. seem glad to have the friendship two years are the Sunday School One was a new convert from Mo- of Christ's followers. Union, the Christian Endeavor hammedanism, who had long Union, the Women's Church held back because of threatened A Christian head of a school, League, the Y. W. C. A. and persecution. The lepers gathered in his student days, attended one Y.M.C.A. in the mud-floored, reed chapel, the blind led by those who saw; of these English Bible studies, ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC the crippled carried on the backs held by a missionary's wife in of those who could walk. Some her home. He was entirely un- Training Papuan Youth lacked fingers, others walked on stumps of feet, but the joy of interested in the Christian as- In Kwato Mission Tidings, new life, new hope was shared pect, but went with the desire to Miss Phyllis Abel writes: "Some byall. improve his English. One day, of our older girls are taking as the servant was bringing up teacher training in the Logea A large stone slab supported Village School. One afternoon on two stone pillars, served as the tea tray, she stumbled and I had prepared to talk to them pulpit as well as a communion upset and broke all that was on about how to deal with different table. Upon it was a baptismal problems in children-when they bowl, some 50 filled Chinese cups it. The hostess with perfect calm told lies, were quarrelsome, in two trays and two plates with merely sympathized with the ac- sulked, etc. Half an hour before broken bread. After the sermon, my class, I learned that one of the ten to be baptized came for- cident, and quietly told the maid my pupil teachers had been ward. Their names were an- to bring more tea. This so im- cheating in school that morning. pressed the young man that he felt Christianity must be a re- ligion of power; and from that day he really put his heart into inquiring about it, till he became a real Christian himself.
nounced by the oldest Christian Christian Brotherhood My first impulse was to send her leper, as the pastor baptized one Organized right away from teaching; then after another. Then communion I realized that if we waited for was administered. In some With a view to building a the perfect teacher before ,we hearts there was deep emotion united Christian front to meet allowed anyone to teach, we as revealed by the expression on the expanding responsibility of wouldn't get far with our educatheir faces.-Lee S. Huizenga. the Japanese Christian Church, tion of Papuans. Obviously, three groups hitherto working something had to be done. When separately for church union have JAPAN-CHOSEN been brought together into an I met the teachers, I told them of my quandary without mention- Students Ask Questions organization known as the "Christian Brotherhood." The ing any names. "How can we A writer in the C. M. S. Out- groups thus united are the So- overcome dishonesty in chillook gives some typical questions ciety for the Promotion of dren," I asked them, "if we do asked her by students who come for English and Bible study in Church Union, the Laymen's not have the answer in our own one of Japan's large cities. Movement for Church Union, lives ?"
Then we had a brief "quiet Why try to worship an invisible and the Commission on Church time" and after this, without the God? Isn't it simpler to honor our Union of the N. C. C. Pastors and c leading laymen of Tokyo, slightest hesitation, the girl in parents whom we can see? Kobe, Kyoto and Osaka are en- question told of what she had Please tell me about God. done in school that morning, and What is the meaning of baptism? Why do Japanese Christians drink rolled in the new organization. said she had asked God's forgiveno wine, while English Christians do? Pastors, and laymen of the ness, and must tell her class as These young men come from Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto area held a soon as possible. We thanked middle and high schools, also "Retreat" a few months ago, God for this new step He had from a government training col- which was attended by more shown us; then we continued lege. They are from all classes than 400, the purpose being to with our lesson.
Missionary
Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information The Madras Series of the Interna- The present series of volumes, Church" and describes the de- tional Missionary Council. Seven like the Tambaram Conference, velopment of the churches in Volumes. 200 to 579 pp. each. Price reveal basic differences of opin- Japan, Korea, China and ten oth- for seven volumes, $7.50; separate ion among missionary leaders er lands. Naturally the develop- volumes, $1.50 each (except Vol. I, but they show a desire to ad- ment in each country has been $1.25). International Missionary vance the cause of Christ and to different, according to the length Council. London and New York. develop a strong, intelligent of time the Church has been 1939. established there, the work of Church in each country by con- the early missionaries, and the Of the seven volumes, pre- secrated cooperation or by or- characteristics of the people. Nasenting the reports and findings ganic union. tionals and missionaries contribof the Tambaram Conference in ute these papers. There is un- India in December 1938, four The first volume is especially fortunately no general consider- helpful at this time when the ation of the lessons learned in volumes have now appeared and whole basis for missionary work each field or a valuation of methare a notable contribution to the is being reexamined by the ris- ods followed in such differing study of the world-wide mission- ing generation. "The Authority fields as Korea and the Punjab ary policy and program. The last of the Church's Faith" (199 or Uganda and Madagascar. three volumes on "The Church's pp.) , contains contributed es- Inner Life," "The Church and says by Dr. H. Kraemer of Hol- This would form a valuable the State" and "Addresses and land, Prof. T. C. Chao of China, study. This volume will be of Records" are expected from the Prof. D. G. Moses of India, Prof. especial value to missionaries, press later this year. H. H. Farmer of Cambridge, but it would be helpful if light England, and Missions Direktor The Madras (or Tambaram) were thrown on the mistakes of Conferencewas held tenyears aft- Hartenstein of Basle, Switzer- missionaries and Mission Boards land. These contributions are of and how they might be avoided. er that at Jerusalem and merely varied value. Dr. Kraemer and Direktor Hartenstein strongly The secret of success has been twenty years after Edinburgh, take the ground that the Bible the planting of the living Word where the foundations were laid is the final authority in all matfor the International Missionary ters pertaining to the Christian of God, the dependence on the Council, and National Councils message and conduct and mis- guidance and the power of the in various areas covering the sionary policies. There is some Holy Spirit, and the faithful, world. A study of the reports difference of opinion as to sacrificial, Christ-like example of these three Conferences shows and loving service of God's mesclearly the great advance in mis- whether and how clearly God has sengers. The development in sionary cooperation and the spoken to man through nonchanges that have taken place in Christian religions. There is apt self-support and self-governmissionary policies. Edinburgh to be confusion on this point but ment is important but must be surveyed the world, the needs of dependent on the reality of the different areas and the plans for there should be no doubt as to spiritual life in the Church. c los e r cooperation between the fact that Christ is the only Christian agencies in each field. clear revelation of God and the Volume Three deals with Jerusalem considered the unique- only Way by whom man can re- "Evangelism" (418 pp.), and a ness of the Christian message in relation to the non-Christian re- ceive eternal life, which is the careful, historical statement as ligions, and the problems that gift of God to those who receive to the evangelism practiced by face missionary workers in edu- Him. A careful reading of this the Church is presented by Prof. volume will clear up many Latourette of Yale. Two chapcation, race relations, industry points. The "Findings" declare ters are followed by papers conand rural areas. Madras studied that "man's great need is for a tributed by the Bishop of Dorthe missionary enterprise in re- true and living faith and that nakal (India), Dr. John R. Mott saving faith comes only through lation to the development of the Jesus Christ. A multiplicity of and others. There is a study of Church of Christ on the mission the mass movements in India, as field. This is considered as a words sometimes tends to ob- well as various evangelistic scure this fact. methods and efforts in China, J aunited Church which must de- pan, Africa and other fields. pend on the leadership of the The second volume (281 pp.) These are interesting but by no Spirit of God, working in the na- deals with "The G row i n g means of equal value. Toyohiko tionals of each area. [581 ]
Kagawa writes on, "Occupation- to expect "any conversion or teachings were supposed to exal Evangelism" for Japan, and transformation from the great plain the inequalities of life, the Oxford Group Movement in cultural religions to Christian- particularly to justify differ- China is briefly but sympatheti- ity." All that can be hoped for ences of caste. They eliminate cally described. The chapters the problem of unmerited misdealing with China, In d i a, is "a measure of agreement and fortune, but they tend to make Uganda and Iran are of especial mutual understanding." men complacent in prosperity interest. Sixty-eight pages are and condemnatory of others in devoted to German Evangelical But Karl Barth bluntly says, their misfortunes. They make Missions, by Dr. Siegfried Knak "there is no contact" in non- sorrow more difficult to bear. -a significant study of a work that differs in many respects Christian religions with God or Karma makes retribution an from that conducted by British Divine Truth. end, not a means to an end, as and American missions. it should be, and weakens the How are we to escape this di- nexus between sin and suffering. Volume Five is a consideration lemma of the "Westernness" of Men have no remembrance of of the "Economic Basis of the C h r is ti ani t y, as stated by previous lives and are. punished Church"-material gathered by for that for which they have no Mr. J. Merle Davis during the Troeltsch, or the lack of all di- responsibility. past two years, especially in In- vine content in non-Christian dia and the Far East. This is a faiths, as stated by Barth? The uplift accomplished by more vital subject than many Christianity among the outcastes realize since extreme and con- The answer to Troeltsch is belies the truth of the karma tinued poverty hinders the intel- doctrine. Unwholesome heredity lectual and social development that the Gospel and Christ are and environment afford a more of individuals, the training of greater than Christianity. We adequate explanation for the workers and the establishment can never know the full Gospel degradation of the outcaste than of self-supporting churches. until all cultures have explored does the law of karma. This law Some of these churches are de- and revealed its inexhaustible also necessitates the view that scribed-such as the Batak riches. The answer to Barth is the Ultimate Reality must be in- Church in Sumatra, and the that having had no first-hand active and without any attri- Presbyterian Church in Korea. contact with the highest life of bute; otherwise God himself would fall under the law of The other volumes of this Hinduism – a life of genuine karma. Therefore the Hindu reseries will be looked for with spirituality-he is not in a posi- gards alI existence as evil and eager anticipation. One reads tion to speak with authority. looks upon extinction, complete here the story of the world-wide and absolute, as the greatest growth of the Christian Church One great value of such a blessing. and can realize more fully the difficult problems still to be study is to reveal again the fun- For the Christian, experience solved. damentals of the Gospel and to of the Eternal Life has already clear the superstructure which begun; because of his knowl- Hinduism or Christianity. By Sydney has been built by Western Chris- edge of God as revealed in Cave. Haskell Lectures in the tianity. Christ, he has experience of Graduate School of Theology, Ober- God's love and of the power and lin, 1939. Harper and Brothers. "Our concern," states Dr. meaning of His reign. New York and London. Cave, "in these lectures is with Hinduism. No great religion is The heart of these lectures is Dr. Cave's book is of real in- in more striking contrast with contained in the one on "The terest to all who are concerned our own, or confronts the Chris- Conception of the Divine in Hinwith the deeper problems of liv- tian thinker with more difficult duism and in Christianity" and ing religions, especially to those problems. We of the West are the companion lecture on "Hinwho know anything of India and often content to live the 'unex- du Bhakti and Christian Faith." Hinduism. This book deals with amined life.' But," says he, It is difficult and dangerous to Neo-or Reformed Hinduism, not "many Hindus, seers and saints, try to condense material already with the H i n d u ism of the seek the spiritual with almost condensed and pac ked with masses. unparalleled intensity and sin- thought. But in essence Dr. cerity." Cave gives a lucid explanation of Dr. Cave first dis c u sse s the inner genius of Hinduism Troeltsch's view of Christianity Fundamental to Hinduism is with its unresolved conflict beas the only religion that the the law of karma (retributive tween thought, deed and feel- West "can endure," "for Chris- justice) and transmigration; ing; that is to say, the ultimate tianity has grown up with us fundamental to Christianity is of all thought is the unknowable, and is part of our being" ; "other the ultimate of all doing is an racial groups, living under dif- the self-revelation of God in endless wheel or complete cesferent conditions, may experi- Christ in order to redeem man. sation of all activity and the ulence their contact with the Di- The thought underlying Hindu- timate of all feeling is indiffervine Life in quite a different ism appeals to many in the West ence-complete un-feeling. No way." We have thus no right who are not ready to accept the stupendous claims that Chris- tianity makes on each individual. So this is a living issue for both East and West.
"It would be hard to exag- gerate the influence of this doc- trine of karma and transmigra- tion on Indian life." The s e
OUR MISSIONARY BOOKSHELF
wonder the common man has returned from visits to the Far John J. Eagan. A Memoir of an Ad- venturer for the Kingdom of God turned each to his own god or East, India, the Near East and on Earth. By Robert E. Speer. goddess. Against this, Christ Europe, seeking to learn what 8vo. 227 pp. Privately printed. reveals not only God the Creator Christian youth a r 0 u n d the American Cast Iron Pipe Co. Bir- and Ever-living, but the Holy world are thinking and doing. mingham, Ala. 1939.
and Loving Father of our spir- Beginning with a brief por- Here is the life story of a boy its, lifting us up further and further into the glorious light trayal of the world and of the who was left fatherless at the and beauty which are of His es- widely differing areas, Mr. Mack age of three months, his mother sence. It is a powerfully presented contrast, sympathetically shows how difficult it is to put being practically without means. conveyed, and is worth reading ourselves in the place of other and re-reading. young people, to see life as they They went to live with a bache- see it and to feel the impulses In his closing lectures Dr. lor uncle and before he finished Cave deals with Hindu and which drive them on. Team high school the boy went to work Christian ethics. In Hinduism work is needed to enable us to at an early age for a pittance. the In d ian who wishes to make better use of our resources, Later he inherited $6,000 from strengthen and remake his. own to correct our partial views, and his grandmother and, by the country finds no adequate plat- to bring the incentive we need time he was twenty-nine, he had form, so that he unconsciously through the knowledge of what increased this by honest means adopts much of the practical to $72,000. Soon he became a e t hi c s of Christianity. For others are doing. partner in his uncle's business, many such, "our Western civili- The book is specially written in which he started at the botzation, which owes much to tom. In fact John Eagan suc- Christ, has yet obscured Him for high school and college young ceeded in everything he underfrom the East, whilst even in people. Its purpose is to make took; but he did not seek wealth organized Christianity there is for its own sake or to enable much that offends those who are them dissatisfied and ashamed him to indulge himself and his attracted by the character of of their provincialism as Chris- family. He was an unusual man, Christ but are repelled by what tians, of the i r separate ap- not in his inheritance or talents, they judge to be our own denial pro a c h e s as denominational but in his faithfulness as a of the meekness and patience Christian steward; this is clearly that Christ prized and showed." groups to problems that are uni- shown in the use he made of his versal problems c a II i n g for opportunities. At the end we are told that united solutions. Youth is manithe Christianity brought from John Eagan was born in Grifthe West is Western; it needs festly on the march all around fin, Georgia, April 22, 1870 and to be supplemented by the ap- the world. Young people in died in Asheville, North Caropropriation of the East and in Asia and Europe are taking life lina, on March 30, 1924 at the the thought and devotion of Hin- age of fifty-three. At that time duism; there is presented a seriously, taking Christ serious- an editorial in The Atlanta Conchallenge which we cannot meet, ly. Shall our young people in stitution said: "Few lives have except by a fresh appropriation America sit by silently watching stood out more prominently for of the riches of the Gospel. . . . them as they are passing by? public welfare and for moral up- Already the Indian Church has lift than that of Mr. Eagan." All enriched the thought and fervor The author seeks to make his classes in every walk of society, of our common Christianity." reader conscious of his member- white and colored, united to ship in a world-wide fraternity, honor the memory of this man The book is thoughtful and who exerted a wide influence and timely and states clearly the pledged to more Christian stand- who left an example that rerelative claims that Hinduism ards and practices. mains an inspiration to coming and Christianity make for the generations. Chapter VI deals with the allegiance of men. E. D. LUCAS. When John joined his moth- spiritual resources upon which er's church as a boy of twelve Christian you t h groups are he, like Jacob, silently entered drawing in different countries. By devotional techniques of one kind or another, by hard thought and quiet meditation, by keeping the inner fires burning and by taking advantage of the spiritual contagion of a religious fellow- ship, groups everywhere are Comrades Round the W orId. By S. finding it possible to carryon. into a covenant with God that he Franklin Mack. 165 pp. Cloth, The book is a gripping appeal would give Him one-tenth of all $1.00; paper, 60 cents. Friendship to join the world ranks of Chris- he made if God would enable Press. New York. 1939. tian youth who are already do- him to make $1,000,000 by the The author is Director of the ing g rea t things. It shames time he was thirty years old!
Young People's Division of the youth out of religious compla- His first job was in a grocery Board of Foreign Missions of cency and out of selfish inactiv- store in Atlanta at $5.00 a the Presbyterian C h u r chin ity. It contains valuable sugges- month. Later he accepted his U. S. A. and has been active in tions for addresses to youth, and uncle's offer of $15.00 a month the United Christian You t h young people may use it to ad- to work for him. When he was Movement. He has t r a vel e d vantage as the basis of group twenty – one his grandmother through Mexico, Central and discussion for a series of meet- died and left him $6,000 which South America and has recently ings perhaps. MILTON STAUFFER. he invested so well that in eight
years it had increased to $72,- quotes extensively. Among the ters with wild beasts and primi- 000. From the first he kept his things necessary for success in tive men are entertaining and vow by giving to God a tenth of business he noted, at the age of informing. He has a keen sense all he made. When John was thirty – three: "Perseverance; of humor, spiritual insight and twenty-nine his uncle died and h 0 n es t product and faithful consecration. left him the major part of his work; power to control men; estate, together with a success- confidence in others; ability to In 1934 Dr. Lambie decided ful tobacco business. Later John fight for the right; dependence that he could work with Ethio- Eagan founded the American on God and waiting on Him at all pians more effectively if he Cast Iron Pipe Company and times; the chief motive and end should become an Ethiopian citibecame a very prosperous busi- must be to glorify God." zen so he renounced his Amerness man and a highly respect- ican citizenship, like his Master, ed citizen. He a p pI i e d the Excerpts from Mr. Eagan's Jesus Christ, became a subject Golden Rule to his business so diary show the man's aims, of his adopted country. After that his employees and asso- ideals, ambitions and the ways the Italian conquest of that unciates loved and honored him. in which God led him. There are happy land, not wishing to ac- He was an act i v e Christian also illuminating and stimulat- knowledge Mussolini's authority church member and was deeply ing testimonies from his asso- and not being permitted to reinterested in many philanthro- ciates. His was a wisely regu- main in Ethiopia as an Ethiopies and other forms of definite lated life, a thoughtful and con- pian, Dr. Lambie became a Christian work. He too k a secrated life, an honest, diligent, "doctor without a country." prominent part in promoting the sacrificial life. Now he is returning to the Men and Religious Movement, in Sudan to serve as a missionary improving r ace relations be- The achievements of J 0 h n on the Ethiopian border. tween the Negroes and white Eagan were many and notepeople of the South, and in tem- worthy. When he died he left The doctor's story is worth perance work. He said that in bequests of over $1,000,000 and telling and it is graphically told. his youth the forces that most he had more than kept his giv- He describes the country and influenced him were his conse- ing covenant with God. But his people, and relates his pioneercrated Presbyterian mother, who greatest bequest was the influ- ing struggles, his friendship trained him to diligence in his ence of his character and exam- with Emperor Haile Selassi, his Christian work; the self-sacri- ple, together with the service he encounter with lions and crocoficing care of his bachelor uncle, rendered during his lifetime. diles, serpents and pestiferous who trained him in the hard Any man who wishes for success insects; pioneering journeys school of business; the beautiful will be rewarded by reading this over the wild country and up life and thriftiness of his Ro- memoir. and down the rivers; his conman Catholic grandmother; and tacts with men (both friendly the godly example of Dr. Ben- A Doctor Without a Country. By and hostile); he recounts many ham who put honor above world- Thomas A. Lambie, M.D. Illus. answers to prayer. There are ly gain. 8vo. 252 pp. $2.00. Fleming H. evidences of the guidance of God Revell Co. New York. 1939. and His power to accomplish the In 1901 Mr. Eagan sold out seemingly impossible. the tobacco business, not because Dr. Tom Lambie is a virile, he believed it wrong to sell to- stimulating character who has There is much information bacco but because he believed had some unusual experiences. here relating to missionary life, that there were fields of endeav- After studying medicine in the famous Blue and White Nile, or where he could serve God America, he became a medical the war-like Shilluks of the more than in that business. He missionary under the United Sudan, the Ethiopians and their wrote in his diary: "Therefore Presbyterian Board and went to Emperor, in addition to medical it is my duty to go into the field the Egyptian Sudan and later to experiences in a primitive counwhere I can glorify Him most." Ethiopia. There he was stirred try. Much other information is by the great need for more mis- dispensed on the war, sand- John Eagan was a man of sionaries to the unevangelized storms, prairie fires, plagues, prayer, a faithful Bible student people of the interior. Since his etc. We learn, for example, that and for many years was a teach- own church Mission Board could er of a Bible class. He sought to not send him, for financial rea- The Shilluk kings were elected and work in harmony with the spirit sons, Dr. Lambie decided to join were later killed by strangling, never of Christ and the teachings of the independent Sudan Interior dying a natural death. the Bible in his daily life and Mission on a "faith basis." In business; he also strove to learn the next few years this society Mission work is difficult because the all he could from the experience sent eighty missionaries to Shilluks think their own medicine men of successful business men like Ethiopia. Dr. Lambie became superior to foreign doctors. Rockefeller and Carnegie. Other the field director of that mission, men can learn much from the built a hospital in Addis Ababa Millions of Africans believe the principles he set forth in his with the help of his friend the story that two natives, who were lost diary from which Dr. Speer Emperor, and, besides managing when hunting, once came upon a well- the hospital, he traveled up and kept village where the women were down the country. His encoun- human but their husbands were all dogs.
Ants travel in armies by millions; they not only eat crops but kill chickens and drive bees from their hives.
OUR MISSIONARY BOOKSHELF
The most noteworthy features some statistics, and a few geo- camps, and was entrusted the of this stirring record are the graphical terms; the remainder care of 300 famine orphans, pictures of pioneer life in the of the book seems to have been most of whom were later bap- Egyptian Sudan and Ethiopia, printed from the old plates and tized. Some of his interesting and the evidences of God's faith- some of the chapters still cry for experiences have been told in a fulness to His promises to those revision. For example Chapter small volume, "In and Out of who obey Him and who go out 16 on Malaysia, one of the most Chanda."
in faith to preach the Gospel in important and most fruitful mis- He had a keen sense of humor, the uttermost part of the earth. sion fields, is still covered by was strong and courageous, a It will repay you to read the only two pages which contain man of tact and good judgment book, the latter part of which many misstatements. The same and was never in a hurry. He needs editing. thing is true of the chapter on was fond of hunting tigers, the The Remarkable Jew: His Wonder- the Near East, where we read skins of which he sold for the ful Future. By Dr. L. Sale-Har- (page 227) that "the missions rison. 224 pp. 2/6. Pickering and benefit of the mission. The Inglis Ltd., London. 1939. have extensively published and Gonds, among whom he first la- bored, have strange beliefs and This is the eleventh edition of circulated the Koran, a rather customs, with seven gods in their a book that in previous editions pantheon. One chapter is dehas had a very wide circulation. disconcerting method of mani- The author, as a conference voted to these beliefs and cusspeaker and Bible teacher, has festing their consciousness of toms and two papers on the made a deep impression upon ap- subject are embodied in the appreciative audiences throughout the superiority of the New Tes- pendix to the Memoir. During the English-speaking world. He views the Jews from the stand- tament." We know of no case the World War, Padre Wood had point of Biblical prophecy, and some interesting and thrilling has scanned their whole history where this has been done in the experiences, especially in Palesfrom early times to the present to show the working out of the Near East, although in India tine. divine purpose in their destiny. By demonstrating the literal ful- and East Africa there are exam- In one address, on Abraham's fillment of prophecy in the past offering of Isaac, Bishop Wood ples of it. Nevertheless, this is said: "We are ready, even eager a useful textbook for classroom to give to God our best, once we work. S. M. ZWEMER. see the ram caught in the thicket." Alex Wood, Bishop of Nagpur. A history of the Jews, he unfolds Memoir by Eyre Chatterton. lUus. the development of prophecy in 8vo. 145 pp. 38. 6d. S. P. C. K. London. 1939.
"Missionary, sportsman, phi- losopher" is the author's desig- nation of his predecessor in Nag- The Greatest Words in the Bible pur, a fellow bishop of the and in Human Speech. By Clarence their present experiences. The Church of England. Alex Wood E. Macartney. 193 pp. $1.50. author deals at length in this was born in Scotland in 1871, The Cokesbury Press. Nashville. connection with the significance went to India in 1898, was a war 1938.
of the Jew in World War, the chaplain in France and Palestine This great preacher has decapture of Jerusalem, the educa- from 1916 to 1919, became lighted us with another series of tional and economic development Bishop of Chota Nagpur, India, sermons, the number extended to of Palestine under the Jews, and and Bishop of Nagpur in 1926. fifteen because of the interest their glorious future when the He died in the harness in 1937 shown by the congregation. Dr. Lord returns and when they will at the age of sixty-six. McCartney has chosen words recognize Him to be their Mes- As a young man he was ex- which stirred individual lives in siah. The author is a pronounced ceptionally strong in body and the Bible, words that have premillenialist, and his interpre- mind, with "something of the proved significant in the life of tation of prophecy is from this Viking in him" says his biog- every age; Interest in the serpoint of view. Without fixing rapher. He was adventurous, mon was maintained by not andates for the approaching end loved to go trawling in the nouncing the chosen "great of the age, he sees in the alarm- North Sea, and later to trace word" until well along in the ining world-happenings of 0 u r wild animals of India to their troduction. Among the words time signs that the day of the lairs. Bishop Chatterton pic- selected are the saddest, the Lord is near. J. S. CONNING. tures the scenes of his labors in hardest, the meanest, the bitter- est, the sweetest; they "sweep The Course of Christian Missions. Chanda and Nagpur, briefly de- all the chords of life, the great By William Owen Carver. Revised scribes the people among whom edition. 320 pp. $3.00. Fleming desires, fears and hopes of men's H. Revell Company, New York, he laboted and narrates many of hearts." his contacts and experiences. 1939. Bishop Wood was loved and These sermons are deeply The first edition of this excel- highly respected by both civil- satisfying and spiritually stim- lent brief history of Protestant ians and church people, by the ulating. Here we note the qual- Missions was published in 1932, British and the Indians. He was ities that make Dr. Clarence when it was reviewed in these a war d e d the Kaiser-i-Hind Macartney, pastor of the large columns. The revised edition has Medal. During the great famine First Presbyterian Church of corrected many printers' errors, of 1898, he supervised two labor Pittsburgh, one of the most ef-
fective preachers in America. remains to be done. He con- was a Druze mass movement to- His marvelous choice of words cludes: "There is warfare to be enables him, in a few touches, to waged still against evil. . . . No ward Protestantism in 1830-1845 give beauty or force to every fight is on and the faith is living but the results were not permascene and every thought. An- still which affirms that the vic- nent. other characteristic is the strong tory is with the Christ." way in which he presents the The accomplishments of the Syria truth of salvation in Jesus + Mediterranean Missions, 1808-1870. Christ, crucified and risen. He By George H. Scherer. 81 xv pp. mission during these forty years are always informs and enlarges 48. or 90 cents. The Bible Lands faith, and makes it fervent; but Union for Christian Education. truly remarkable. The history is one he is never trite. Here is an Beirut, Lebanon, Syria. 1939. example of how to give the peo- of sacrifice and glory. The struggle ple of today sweet honey and Missionary history is the founmuch fine gold. It is an excel- dation for the study of mission- was severe – war, plague, massacre, lent gift book for a friend. ary principles and methods. We have here the story of one Mos- without; a small force, overworked FRANK LUKENS. lem land in the Near East and of what was attempted and accom- and worn, crippled by death and dis- Papuan Journeys. By H. L. Hurst. plished in four decades. It is a 168 pp. 38. 6d. Angus and Rob- photostat – typewritten account ease; in America, not always the ertson. London and Sydney. 1938. of the American Mission in Syria from its establishment in most loyal support; pressed by the Here is an intensely interest- 1808 until its transfer to the ing volume. Papua is a land of Boa r d of the Presbyterian needs and opportunities of each readventure, a land where nature Church in the U. S. A. in 1870. and human nature are still seen These chronological limits do not curring day; is it not a wonderful in the raw state. It is an im- exclude an account of the origins mense island, two thousand miles of missionary work in general story of loyal devotion and great long, and one half of the terri- on the borders of Syria and in tory is under the control of Aus- the Mediterranean basin. achievement? Truly the missionaries tralia. It is a great mission field and it is largely unevangelized. A carefully classified bibliog- in Syria today have a heritage of raphy and a detailed chronology Mr. Hurst, the Secretary of are proof that the author is in which they may well be proud, a misthe London Missionary Society command of all his sources. for Australia and New Zealand, sion history which challenges the entraveled in Eastern Papua in F 0 u r British Societies at- 1936 and 1937, visiting all the tempted mission work in this tire consecration of the whole life, ten stations of the Society. He area before the American Board traveled by steamer, whale boat sent out Pliny Fisk and Levi that the present may not tarnish the and dugout along the coast and Parsons. They were instructed on foot in the interior. He had to study "Ancient and Modern past. S. M. ZWEMER. eyes to see and ears to hear and Greek, Italian, Turkish, Arabic a facile pen to describe his ad- and French," for there were Grace Triumphant. A. W. Baker. ventures, the strange districts giants in those days! The nar- 12mo. 316 pp. 38. 6d. Published he visited and the people whom rative of this early pioneer work by the author in care of Pickering he met. All of his descriptions is of fascinating interest and is and Inglis. Glasgow. 1939. are vivid and interesting. These well told. In 1822' a press was include his visit to Kwato where established at Malta, the small Mr. Baker who was born in such remarkable work is being beginning of the stupendous Natal in 1836 and has been sucdone; his contacts with old-time work conducted in later years at cessively a carpenter, lawyer head-hunters, cannibals and sor- Beirut. and missionary in South Africa, cerers; his experience with and is still busy in evangelistic crowds of Christian worshipers, Four chapters tell of these work, here tells his own story. where James Chalmers once earliest efforts and of the perse- It is full of incident and historiwent at great risk to his life; the cutions and struggles for free- cal reminiscences. He tells exthe transformations from super- dom of conscience. The second periences in law courts, mining stition to intelligent worship, part of the book deals in seven camps, kraals, and various activfrom war dances to cricket chapters with the period of es- ities as a Gospel worker. It matches, from dirt and disease tablishment and expansion. Here might be condensed to advantage to cleanliness and health; from are sketches of the political for most readers but gives a idleness to industry; from fear background and the efforts to word picture of life in South and hatred to peace and love. produce a Christian literature Africa as seen by a devoted and Europe might learn much from for the Arabic-speaking world. successful missionary of the Papua. We are also told how the founda- South Africa General Mission. tions were laid for primary and He was often called "God Says Real progress has been made higher education in Christian So Baker"; he traveled extenin Papua in sixty years but much schools for boys and girls. There sively and was very active in the South Africa Compounds Mis- sion. It is worth reading.
African Heroes and Heroines. By Carter Godwin Woodson. 249 pp. $2.00 net. Associated Publishers, Inc., Washington, D. C. 1939.
Here is an African's view of African heroes. It is intended for high school students and nat- urally is not a comprehensive, full and careful history of the continent or of any part of it. It is a biographical record of some Africans and their contri- bution to progress. The presen- tation is interesting but it lacks balance. The author accuses all European and American writers on Africa of a "traditional bias." No doubt this is true of some,
OUR MISSIONARY BOOKSHELF
but many students of African them for half a century. The They of Italy. By Lodovico and Enhistory will accuse Mr. Woodson index lists some 800 topics and rico Paschetto. Illus. 12 mo. 214 of bias and of magnifying Af- people but omits reference to pp. 75 cents, cloth; 50 cents, paper. rican military exploits while many outstanding heroic Afr~ Broadman Press. Nashville. 1939. paying little heed to spiritual can Christi<ans, such as AfrIvalues that have most contrib- caneer, the Hottentot Terror The Southern Baptists have uted to true human progress. who became a Christian, and had a mission in Italy for sev- The author seems to credit the Samuel Crowther, the slave boy enty years and have done an imunfounded statement that West who became a bishop of the portant work. The field, the Africans "braved the high seas workers and the work are de- Church of England. scribed in this volume by two and established contact with This is an interesting record, Italians who devote five chapters America probably thousands of to the country and people, the years before Europeans had suf- but the 'author lacks broad Roman Catholic Church and ficiently advanced to have any knowledge and balanced judg- Baptist work. One appendix such dreams." gives suggestions to teachers ment. who wish to use this as a text The book deals most largely book; another appendix gives with South Africa, but has chap- The Arrows of the Lord. By Leland an excellent and favorable short ters on West Africa, Abyssinia biography of Benito Mussolini. and mohammedanized districts. Wang. 12mo. 119 pp. 1 sh. Mar- The authors suggest "keys to The author magnifies Chaka, the understanding Italy" in Biblical chief who was the traditional Zshonaldl~rMvaonrgPaunb.a nd Scott. London. references, the catacombs and founder of the Zulus, and he Co. Grand Rapids. Christian martyrs, the Walpays high tribute to Khama, the denses, Roman Catholic teaching Leland Wang is a Chinese and practice, modern political powerful Christian chief of the history and Fascism. The days Bamangwato. Christan evangelist who has a of persecution are not over for vital message for his owncoun- those who leave Rome to accept There is no doubt that Euro- trymen ,and for all men – it is the evangelical faith. The aupean traders, politiciansa~d thors say: "As a result of inmissionaries all made many mIS- the message of Christ as inter- creased Catholic pressure on takes in dealfng with Ithe Afri- preted through Mr. Wang's own governmental authorities, we Bible study and rich experience. (Protestants) must now suffer cans, but Mr. Woodson cans all He is known as the author of the a restricted application of the Europeans and Americans hypo- slogan, "No Bible, no Break- law" (promising religious libcrites, and goes out of his way erty). One government official to impugn also the motives of fast" 'and has been greatly used explained this restriction by saymissionaries and to belittle the in China, Malaysia, America ing: "What can we do? Two and Europe. hundred and fifty bishops have work they have done for Africa their firearms leveled against at great sacrifice and amidst The ten sermons in this vol- us !" Over 600 periodicals also hardships and dangers. He says ume show why Mr. Wang is a consecrate their pages to the nothing of their medical and edu- anti – Protestant cam p a i g n. cational work and little of their popular, practical and effective Nevertheless the evangelical efforts to teach the Africans to speaker. They are picturesque, movement goes forward. know and worship God, as the clear stimulating, scriptural, loving heavenly Father, revealed spiritual, and full of helpful il- The Fine Art of Public Worship. in Jesus Chris,t. The author has, lustrations. Young people and By Andrew W. Blackwood. 247 pp. $2.00. Cokesbury Press. Nashville. however, rendered a real service young believers will find them 1939. in clalling attention to some Afri- especially interesting a~d. incans who have fought and strug- structive; mat u r e ChrIstIans This is a greatly needed book. gled to maintain their traditions will also find here fresh food for With comparatively few excep~ and possessions. He closes with thought. The topics include ad- tions, churches of all denominaa chapter on "evils against which tions have concentrated their Africans fight." The only ones dresses on-What Is Christian- attention upon sermons to the here enumerated are: foreign ity, The Holy Spirit, The ~ec neglect of other parts of the ond Coming and the ProdIgal service. Scripture readings are domination and economic de- Son. Read them and you will oft e n unimpressive, prayers pression (an due, as he thinks, wish to pass, them on. rambling and, like the famous to Europeans). Mr. Woodson one in Boston, "addressed to the says nothing about the evils of Sammy Writes a Book. By Me. 112 audience" instead of to God, ignorance, disease, strife, im- pp. 75 cents. Broadman Press, hymns and anthems chosen caremorality, dishonesty and other Nashville, Tenn. 1939. lessly or for their music rather sins against God. The Bibli- than for their bearing upon the Charlie McCarthy has made theme of the service. Even in ography contains a list of over ventriloquism popular. Rev. W. the churches which have pre- 300 publications – in German, W. Enete, a Southern Baptist French, Dutch and English- missionary to Brazil, shows how but omits many of value, espe- he used the ventriloquist art to cially those by missionaries who interest and instruct children and adults in reverence, faith knew and loved the Africans, and missions. "Sammy," the dummy, tells the story and tells some of whom labored among it very effectively. Mr. Enete also tells how he came to prac- tice the art and how it is done. This is something unique in mis- sionary work. Read it.
scribed liturgies the lessons and vestigation, spiritual illumina- The Friendly Missionary. By Nina prayers are often recited in a tion and encouragement. Mullen. Drawings by Sarah Deperfunctory manner. Dr. Black- Fehn. Paper. Friendship Press. wood does not undervalue the Cady H. Allen, the author, is New York. 1939. sermon, but he urges that "while a Presbyterian missionary in there is a call for strong preach- Iran, and evidently enjoyed this In simple language for priing, there is an even greater need study and profited by it. Those mary children, Miss Mullen tells for uplifting worship." He dis- who read his book will have the experiences of a missionary to cusses the subject constructively same experience. He writes, not China, another to India, one to and helpfully, out of a varied as a systematic theologian or a Malaya, one to Africa and to experience as a pastor and, since deep student of types and proph- other countries. The stories are 1930, professor of Homiletics in ecy, but as one who seeks the well illustrated and calculated to Westminster Choir College. The spiritual message of this re- interest small children. book abounds in practical sug- markable revelation. Little atgestions for making public wor- tention is paid to the figures and Sketches from Penhalonga. By ship more effective. symbols taken from the Old Tes- Reginald Smith. Paper. Illus. tament and there is no exposi- 60 pp. 18.2d. S. P. C. K. London. ARTHUR J. BROWN. tion of the "futurist" interpre- 1939. tation of the prophecy. The Fannie E. S. Heck. A Study of Hid- book is presented as a message The author describes life in a den Springs. Illus. 12mo. 192 pp. to the early church in a time of mISSIOn station in Southern 60 cents. Broadman Press. Nash- severe persecution when many Rhodesia where the society for ville. 1939. Christians were being put to the Propagation of the Gospel is death and some were denying the at work. He tells of beginning Miss Heck was an active faith. work, contacts with Africans, worker and one time president church building, tre~tment of of the W 0 man's Missionary This volume will be especially sick and baptisms. It is not an Union of the Southern Baptist helpful to Christians in China, easy field but has proved fruitful. Convention. She was born in Russia and the Reich in these Virginia in 1862 during the Civil days of conflict with enemies of Directory of Protestant Missions in War and died in May 1938. She Christ and His Church. No China – 1939. Pamphlet. 68 pp. was a winsome woman, a poet, doubt Mr. Allen found many les- $1.50. North China Daily News devoted to Christ and His cause, sons and parallels from his mis- and Herald. Shanghai. 1939. a lover of nature and of her fel- sionary experience in Iran. low men. Here the story of her This directory is especially life, her ideals, her achieve- The study is fresh, original useful to editors, missionaries ments, is told in little scenes and and practical. It is interesting and Mission Boards. First we extracts from letters. The sub- and spiritual, showing that when find the names and addresses of titles hint at the contents-Sun- the Spirit of God moves on the over one hundred Protestant day School Teacher, Wedding reader, passages, that many look missions at work in China with Bells, A Beautiful Volunteer, upon as a "valley of dry bones," their officers and addresses. Lessons from Failure, A Presi- take on flesh and life. Here is Then follows the list of missions dent's Duties, Interesting Open- an excellent introduction to the and staffs by provinces. and ings, Weighing Anchor, Frag- book of Revelation. It would be finally the alphabetical list of ments That Remain. There is more valuable to Bible students names and addresses of approximuch here, in poetry and prose, if it were documented. mately 4,600 missionaries. to interest and inspire,especially women who seek to discover Philippine Kaleidoscope. By Vin- "These Things I Have Seen." By the Hidden Springs of Life. cent H. Gowen. Pamphlet. Illus. Mary Warburton Booth. 12 colored 25 cents. National Council Protes- illustrations. 8vo. 186 pp. 58. Message of the Book of Revelation. tant Episcopal Church, New York. Pickering & Inglis. Glasgow. 1939. By Cady H. Allen. 8vo. 180 pp. $1.50. Cokesbury Press. Nashville, The Philippines have made The "things" described are Tenn. 1939. more progress in the past forty persons and events in India, but years than in the previous four there is nothing to indicate how The "Revelation of Jesus hundred. Here is a well-illus- long ago. The author describes Christ," the closing book of the trated story of the fields and Hindu women transformed by New Testament, is a closed book work of the Protestant Episco- Christ; difficulties overcome by to most Christians because it is pal Church in Luzon. It is in- faith, a great revival in the a neglected book. It was writ- forming and impressive. Khasya Hills (thirty years ago) ; ten as a "revelation," not as an visions in a time of suffering; obscure cryptic mystery. The Everyday Life in South Africa. Two stony opposition, Indian Chrispromise is blessing to "every outline Friezes to be made in six tian helpers and a Hindu Sadhu; man that heareth the words of colors. 18. S. P. C. London. 1939. answers to prayer; devotional the prophecy of this book." It poems, mostly by the author, has been a field of speCUlation Here is work that children precede each chapter. They are and controversy for ages. Mr. will enjoy doing while they learn brief, moving tales that bring Allen shows that it may be a something about children of us close to Indian life and the fascinating field for joyful in- South Africa and what Christ is trials and triumphs of Indian doing for them through His mis- Christians. sionaries. (Concluded on third cover.)
Reviews Salt Stream. By Florence Walton .pmn'
Taylor. 8vo. 280 pp. $2.00. Flem- (Concluded. from pa,ge 688.) ing H. Revell. New York. 1939.
Evangelical Handbook of Latin Oregon and pioneering life in of tbe America – 1939. 48. Pamphlet. the Northwest have formed the World Dominion Press, London; stage for many romantic adven- and Committee on Cooperation in tures and heroic achievements. ((bri~tian Latin America, New York. 1939. This novel, dealing with the lLift struggles that prepared Oregon In addition to the directory of cA for statehood, is a story which BOOK of worship in song, com- 87 missions and churches, we have here the names and stations holds the interest, although it is of most of the Protestant mis- not a work of particular merit. bining a hymn81 for general sionaries in Latin America, listed by countries. Some smaller The salt wells drew Thomas Gal- church use, and a song book for evansocieties doing excellent work breath and his wife and daugh- ~elistic purposes. Oilly songs sound are omitted (such as the Soldiers ter, the heroine, to Half-Moon 10 the faith and inspirationaf in charand Gospel Mission of Chile). Lick. Their adventures with acter included••~e:!hasizing Evattgel- Statistics of areas, populations other settlers and with the In- ism, Missions, the Deeper Life. and evangelical communities and dians in the new territory form Many of the new··.the best of the old. summaries for each country are the background of the story, also given. which is not definitely Christian 504 Songs Responsive Readings . or missionary, but is clean and Windows of the World. Selections wholesome. Topical Index Gold Embossed by F. W. Pitt. 12mo. Pickering & Inglis. Glasgow. 1939. Published in round notes and Roxite cloth edition only at $65.00 per lao-an especially Alfred Burton, M.D., was con- low 1?rice. Single copy, S5c postpaid. verted to Christ at nine years of age. After taking his medical Wings and Sky. Poems. By Martha Write toda, for returnable .ample copy course he gave his life to the service of God as a physician in Snell Nicholson. 8vo. Velour, CHRISTIAN PUBLICATIONS, IDc. England, and ,became a traveling $1.00; cloth, $1.50. 1406 Lagoon evangelist and Bible teacher in Ave., Wilmington, Calif. 1939. 1502 NORTH THIRD STREET many lands. This volume tells briefly the story of his life and With true rhythm and beauty HARRISBURG. PA. includes selections from his writings on archeology, evolution, of thought and expression, Mrs. science, communism, spiritism, the Second Advent and other Nicholson has written these win- New Boola themes. He died in 1937 at the some poems. They are truly age of eighty-four. We find here many interesting facts and ob- Christian and were born of ex- Christian Living in Our Community. servations as to the Bi.ble and its perience in life and meditation, By Mary C. White and Mildred F. relation to modern problems. in joy and suffering. Many of James. Cloister Press. Louisville, them have been printed in pe- Ky. 101 ~e Catching Objects. By Elmer L. Wilder. 12mo. $1.50. Picker- riodicals and volumes of song. A Doctor without a Country. Tom ing and Inglis. Glasgow. 1939. She writes: Lambie. 252 pp. $2.00. Revell. New York. Excellent suggestions are here Sometimes when I am very sick given for over one hundred short My mind cannot recall Evangelical Handbook of Latin object lesson talks for children. America. 1939. 48. Committee All illustrate and apply Bible The precious promises I love, on Cooperation in Latin America. teachings. And I forget them all. New York.
Through Other People's Eyes. A And then a sudden terror comes, Mediterranean Missions–1808-1870. Play in Three Scenes. By Mar- A dark, unbidden thought- George H. Scherer. 90 cents. Bible garet Crowe. 2d. Lands Union for Christian Educa- Suppose I'll need before the Throne tion. Beirut, Syria. The Frozen Quest. A Play in Two Those words that I forgot! Acts. By D. Austen-Leigh. 6d. The Old Roman Empire. L. Sale- S. P. G. London. But 0, I need not be afraid; Harrison. 48 pp. lB. 6d. Picker- The first of these playlets I know my blessed Lord ing & Inglis. London.
deals with South Africa and calls Will not forget His promises, Old Testament Studies and You. for nine children to take the And He will keep His word! Mary C. White. Cloister Press. parts. The other relates to Louisville. Northern Canada and calls for Through Fire. The China Inland six children. They are good mis- Mission Story of 1938. 84 pp. Philippine Kaleidescope. Vincent H. sionary dramas, not difficult to China Inland Mission. London. Gowen. 25 cents. National Counstage. "The Frozen Quest" is 1939. cil Protestant Episcopal Church. more dramatic and appealing. New York; The story of 1938 in China is written in fire and blood, but it Through Other People's Eyes-A is also a record of loving serv- Play in Three Acts. Margaret ice for Christ and of new names Crowe. 2d. S. P. G. London. written in "the Lamb's Book of Life." The China Inland Mis- The Frozen Quest-A Play in Two sion has had a wonderful record Acts. D. Austen-Leigh. 6d. S. and none more wonderful than P. G. London. in the past year when, in spite of destruction of property, dan- "These Things I Have Seen." Mary ger to life and untold suffering, Warburton Booth. 18.6 pp. 58. 8432 have been baptized and Pickering & Inglis. London. many more have professed to ac- cept Christ. Mr. A. B. Lewis Madras Conference Reports. Vol. 1, writes that it has been "the most 2, 3 and 5. $1.50 each, except Vol- fruitful year in the history of ume 1, $1.25. International Mis- Christian missions in China." sionary Council. New York.
I r~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ A Gift of Lasting Value! if 'Cbt Upptr Room I i~ – ~ GIVE AN ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION—FOUR QUARTERLY ISSUES—FOR 30e. POSTPAID ~ ft f~t If you wish to send a' year's subscription as a Christmas present, send UI ~. 30 cents (foreign countries, 40 cents). Upon roquest we will send your ~ friend one of our attractive Christmas greeting cards, indicating that you I'.AI are lending THE UPPER ROOM a. a Christmas greeting. ".:: During the past five years an increasing number of pastors, Sunday school teacher., and other I ~ group leaders have used THE UPPER ROOM instead of the usual card in sending Christmas II Greetings to members of their groups.
The January, February, March issue of THE UPPER ROOM, in the specially printed, two·color, Christmas Greeting envelope, costs a total of I 6 cents, plus postage, if mailed. Postage required to mail from your post. I office, 2 cents.
~ THE UPPER ROOM, 10 or more copies mailed to one address, 5 cents each, postpaid.
Special Christmas Greeting Envelopes at $1.00 per hundred, postpaid. The same envelope plain (unprinted) is SO cents per hundred. If you wish us to address and mail these envelopes, the price is ten cents each, including postage. No order for envelopes filled for less than ten cents.
Send All Orders to THE UPPER ROOM Doctors' Building-Nashville, Tenn. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Read THE LIFE OF GEORGE BOWEN OF BOMBAY A MEMOIR-By Robert E. Speer, Lakeville, Connecticut The biography of a remarkable missionary whom the (then) Prince of Wales visited in Bom- bay 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 stu- DR. J. LOVBLL MURRAY, Dire(tor of the dents today-Biblical, social, theological-Bowen is a rep~ Canadian S(hool of Missions, Toronto. resentative ngure. And what a lesson in apparent failure! What a life! He was old enough to know why he went, and bad enough to know the meaning of salvation. One by- . . . I feel strongly that every student and alumnus of our product of his experience was his wonderful humility-noth- ing in the show window and himself in the remote back. Seminary needs this book. What better book to lead them to ground. It is inspiring. feed on the Bible. One hears so much "vestibule religion"- The late DR. GBORGE P. PIBRSON, formerly of Japan. men pointing to the door and taking their people as far as the We must all be grateful for this revealing of the main- springs of Bowen's character, his abiding faith in God, his threshold, but no opening up of the treasures within the earnest purpose to be a true and faithful follower of Jesus Christ; and his deep-seated conviction that the Gospel of Father's House. Read the topics of current sermons, and Christ could meet the religious needs of India's people. Bowen's expositions are precisely what Christians need in WILLIAM HAzEN, order to grow from puerility into spiritual maturity. Here is Missionary in Sholapur, India. no adolescent, but a man in Christ. This is no volume to be read and dismissed, but to be marked and to be turned to A biography of one of the saintliest ngures of the nine- repeatedly. . HENRY SLOANB CoFFlN, teenth century. I could not put the book down. There is a fascination and a depth in this man's soul which held me in President of Union Seminary. devout attention. I found myself marking his moving sayings which would serve as starting points for chapel talks. He The Memoirs of George Bowen will continue to be for years to come a searching manual of devotion. He has set before me an ideal which few could attain; his life is a scath- ing rebuke to our ease, comfort, self-indulgence and ineffi- ciency. J. Ross STBVBNSON, Late President Emeritus, Prin(elon Seminary.
May be ordered ($2.00 per Copy) from the Author ROBERT E. SPEER, Lakeville, Conn.
The Missionary Review of the World — November 1938
1938
A New Survey of Neglected Arabia Samuel M. Zwemer Reality and Romance in Czechoslovakia Joseph Novotny The Universality of Christ E. Stanley Jones Problems of the Churches in Asia Akira Ebisawa Outlook for the Church in India B. L. Rallia Ram The Saintly Surgeon of India Margaret McKellar A New Children's Page Violet Wood 2S Cents a Copy $2.50 a YeaT
to Remember IPIRITUAL REVIVAL IN' FULL
N(lvember 1-3-Nationaf Stewardship The war in China has added greatly to our material burdens. It ha. greatly deepened Convention, Chicago, Ill. the spiritual life of all at the Home and also increased the number we are carinll for Your prayers and aid will now 110 further in winning souls for Christ than perha~ November 6-11-International Good- ever before. Let the appeal of hundreds who are helpless and hopeles. not be in .will Congress. San Francisco, Calif. vain. A little lloes a long way in China• November 20-Thanksgiving Sunday. HOME OJ: ONEJIPHORUJ D~ember 6-9-Biennial meeting of TAlAN, SHANTUNG, CHINA the Federal Council of Churches, . Buffalo, N. Y. This faith work is one of the largest Christian institutions in the Orient. It has been December 13-30-International Mis- consecrated for over twenty years to the rescue of the homeless.
sionary Council, Madras, India. Write today for FREE picture and story of Chinese girl shown in this ad • January 8-10, 1939 – Home Missions also receive "Helping China'. Helpless," telling how God led Rev. and Mrs: Anglin to open the Home and how He blessed the work. a thrilling story. Council, Baltimore, Md. January 23-February 18-Iowa School HOME OF ONESIPHORUS American Office for Missionaries. Iowa State College, 2811 North Racine Avenue Drawer 36 Chicago, nlinois Ames, Iowa. Personal Item. keget; Ins~itute, is convalescing after Obituary Notes a serIOUS Illness. Dr. Carver's discov- eries are known around the world. The Rev. David B. Schneder, D.D., Dr. W. Graham Scroggie, one of a missionary of the Reformed Church the Vice-Presidents of England's Na- Mrs. Prem N* at*h D*as, Vice-Presi- in the U. S. to Japan since 1887, died tional Young Life Council for some in Sendai, Japan, on October 4. Dr. years, now becomes the Free Church dent of Isabella Thoburn College in Schneder was one of the outstanding President of the Movement, to succeed Lucknow, has been chosen as sucees- missionaries and for many years was the late Carey Bonner. He will hold sor to Dr. Mary E. Shannon, Princi- president of the College of North the office jointly with Canon Rowland pal, who retires early in 1939. Mrs. Japan, retiring two years' ago. He Grant. Das is the first Indian to become head was de~orated by the Mikado with the of the first college for women in Asia. Fourth Order of the Rising Sun and *** the Third Order of Sacred Treasure. Dr. Rufus J*one*s *and Dr. Harry He was born in Bowmansville, Pa., Dr. W. A. Visser 't Hooft, of Ge- and was graduated from Franklin neva, has been elected president of the Silcock, representing Quaker Mis- and Marshall College and from Lan- World Student Christian Federation sions of the United States and Eng- caster Theological Seminary. at a meeting in Paris, attended by 120 land, have been visiting China, study- delegates from Australia, India, Java, ing the situation and gathering data, *** South Africa, Canada, United States, preparatory to sending a staff of and nearly all the European countries. workers to open headquarters in Miss Isabel K. MacDermott, ex- Shanghai for the administration of ecutive secretary of the Board of The Russian Student Movement in relief. The Quakers have proved their Trustees of Santiago College in Chile, Exile, having its headquarters in Par- efficiency in this line. died in the Post-Graduate Hospital, is, joined with the French Student New York City, August 12, following Christian Movement as hosts of the a major operation. Miss MacDermott conference. was a teacher in Santiago College Dr. Luther W*esl*ey *Smith, pastor of many years ago. *** the First Baptist Church of Syracuse, *** Rev. Saburo Imai, secretary of the N. Y., has been chosen as Executive Mrs. R. W. Porteous, of Shanghai, Board of Missions of the Japan Meth- Secretary of the American :tJaptist whose capture by communists in 1930 odist Church, is in America as a rep- Publication Society, succeeding Dr. will be remembered, died at Nanchang resentative of his church to the United Owen C. Brown, retired. May 5. Mrs. Porteous went to China Church of Canada. 44 years ago as Emma Forsberg, of Pennock, Minn. She married R. W. *** Dr. James A.*Gr*aha*m, founder and Porteous in 1908, and through their Dr. Robert Bond, president of the united efforts more than 50 outsta- Methodist Conference of Great Brit- director of the Presbyterian Mission . tions were opened in West Central ain, traveled 20,000 miles last year Hospital in Tagbilaran, Philippine Is- Kiangsi. When news was flashed without missing a single engagement. lands, has been declared an adopted around the world in March, 1930, of He attributes this in large measure to son of the Province of Bohol. The the capture of Mr. and Mrs. Porteous the prayers of the membership for declaration, printed on parchment, by communists, multitudes gathered their president. was presented to Dr. Graham in the' to pray for their deliverance. Mter presence of government authorities, being held for three months, they were *** members of Bohol Medical Society and released, having suffered untold hard- Dr. George Washington Carver, other prominent Boholanos. ships and indignities. distinguished Negro scientist of Tus- After a period of recuperation in America, they returned to China in The .Rev. J.*Le*on*Hooper, D.D., 1932 to reopen the Burrows Memorial of the Board of Foreign Missions, Bib~ School in Nanchang. Presbyterian Church, has been asked to extend his service as Acting Secre- *** tary for the portfolio which includes Japan, Korea, Siam and the Philip- Rev. Charles Phillips, of Johannes- pine Islands, for another period of burg, South Mrica, died June 6 at the three months. age of 85. He was a missionary of the London Missionary Society, and *** .later pastor of Ebenezer Congrega- tional Church in Johannesburg. Mrs. F. E. Shotwell has taken up the responsibilities of Western Super- visor of Migrant Work for the Coun- cil of Women for Home Missions. She comes to the Council with a training and experience that fits her peculiarly A practical, effective course in methods for these responsibilities, so ably car- of Chrisuan work and soul·winning. ried on by Miss Adela J. Ballard dur- ing the last ten years of her lifetime. Send 15c in stamp. for curreat iiau.. ' Mrs. Shotwell was a member of the Council staff in 1931-1932 in the Colo- PUBUCATIOMSJHG (Concluded on page 518.) Harrisburg, Pa.
MISSIONARY A missionary to West China voices The great white Empresses
REVIEW OF THE WORLD the view of many missionaries who every speed record to and from are at isolated stations and so are the Orient. 10 days direct to DBUVAN L. PmRBON, B4tto,. deprived of the rich privileges we en- Yokohama by Empress of Asia joy at home. A small living income, or Empress of Russia. Or only VOL. LXI Nov., 1938 No. 11 with heavy expenses, also makes it three days more via Hawaii by difficult for them to buy books and Empress of Japan, largest and Publication and Business 01llce– magazines and they have no public fastest on the Pacific, or Empress Third and Reily Ste., Harrisburg, Pa. libraries. The following letter sug- of Canada. Connect at Honolulu gests a field for loving service: from California ports. Editorial and Executive 01llce– From Vancouver and Victoria 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. "We have been so delighted with to Yokohama, Kobe, Nagasaki, Entered as second-class matter at THE REVIEW . . . Please enter our Shanghai, Hong Kong, Manila. subscription so that we will not miss Details from YOUR TRAVEL Post 01llce, Harrisburg, P •., under any issue. It is a source of spiritual AGENT or Canadian Pacific.: Act of March 3, 1879. power and an inspiration to us. 41 offices in U. S. and Canada.
25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. "R. H. THOMAS, Yunnan, China. Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. Published monthly, except August. * * .. All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1938. British agents – Marshall, Morgan A leader in the church in America and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings. volunteers the following: London, E. C. 1 shilling per copy. 10 shillings a year. "There is no magazine which comes to my desk which'I read with more MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- intense interest than the REVIEW. You LISHING CO., INC. are doing a wonderful piece of work BOARD OF DIRECTORS in editing this magazine, and keep- ing the Christian world in touch with ROBERT E. SPEER, Pre,ident the whole realm of missionary ac- A. L. WA.RNBHUIB, Vioe-Pre,ident tivity. I thought the September num- WALTER McDOUGALL, Treasurer ber especially good." DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary PAUL J. BRAISTED JOHN TIMOTHY STONE, President of the Presbyterian SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT Theological Seminary, Chi- D. J. FANT cago.
MRS. ORRIN R. JUDD *** WM. B. LIPPHARD ERIC M. NORTH We can never preach the Gospel SAMUEL M. ZWRMRR with power until we get over the caste spirit. If all Christian workers are Editorial Chat not cured of our spiritual aristocracy, God never will give us the power of The four hundred or more delegates the Holy Spirit in winning souls. to the International Missionary Coun- Peter could not go down to that housecil will soon meet in Madras, India, hold in Caesarea and preach the Gosfor two weeks' conference (December pel with power until he had learned 13 td 30). They, face a difficult situa- that any man, woman, or child in the tion at home and in many mission wide world to whom God sends His fields. The influence and pronounce- Gospel is on equality of right and ments of this conference of leaders privilege with the proudest nobles of should be far-reaching. THE REVIEW the earth. ARTHUR T. PIERSON. has asked a number of delegates to write impressions of the conference Personal Items and to secure papers from those who make the most important contributions (Concluded from second cover.) -especially native Christian leaders from each field. Among those who are rado migrant camps and during the to give our readers their views of the succeeding years as a teacher devoted situation and their reactions to the her summers to working in migrant conference discussions are: Dr. John projects in California, Oregon, and R. Mott (Chairman), Dr. Paul W. Washington. Harrison of Arabia, Dr. Frank W. Price of China, Mr. Kenneth Grubb of Dr. Mary E. *Sha*nn*on, Principal of the World Dominion Movement, Dr. H. Kerr Taylor of Nashville and Dr. Isabella Thoburn College at Lucknow, H. Kraemer of Holland. These are re- India, has been awarded the Kaiser-iquested to give us not only their own Hind medal, for conspicuous public views, but the views of Nationals service. Miss Shannon has presented from various lands. Later we will her resignation from the college, to announce the plans made to present take effect early in 1939. the most vital themes discussed at Madras before the churches in Amer- Americans are too prone to identify ica. Do not miss these reports. the Kingdom of God with democratic liberalism: There may be a place in *** the Kingdom of God for the Authori- tarian State; but there can be no N ow is the time to plan for Christ- place for the Totalitarian State.- mas. Nothing you can send to a mis- Rev. Howard Chandler Robbins, New sionary friend (at home or abroad) York. or to a pastor or other intelligent Christian friend will be of greater The Church has denied the univerinterest and value, to keep them in- sality of Christianity by its divisions formed on world conditions and the over doctrine, race and nationality. progress of Christianity, than a year's It has itself erected the barriers that subscription to THE REVIEW. (Note separate Christianity from Christ.- our special offer on the back cover of T. Z. Koo, Shanghai, China. this issue.) [ 513]
'.r:TlI
AMERICAN-ARABIAN MISSION-MASON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, BAHRAIN NEGLECTED ARABIA-A STffEET SCENE IN HOFUF-HASA (see article by Dr. S. M. Zwemer-page 519) REVIB ORLD VOLUME LXI AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER 11 NOVEMBER, 1938 Topics of the Times THE PRESENT CRISIS IN ASIA program for a representative government under About fifty years ago, a book was published an Indian parliament. Mr. Gandhi, Jawaharlal which greatly influenced the missionary thinking Nehru and other leaders cannot agree on a plan and activity of the Christian Church. It was fo~ effecti,:e cooperation. Suspicion and jealousy stir up strIfe among Moslems, Hindus Sikhs and called "The Crisis of Missions," * and was the re- Christians in the desire for a controlli'ng voice in the government. Proportionate representation in sult of a careful study of world conditions and the parliament is a great bone of contention. opportunity before the Christian Church. At that time doors long closed were opening to the mes- A year ago the political problem in China sengers of Christ in all lands. God was calling but seemed on the way to a satisfactory solution, with the Church was giving only a feeble response- Sun Yat Sen's "Principles" to guide the national not more than ten thousand missionaries to the program, and with strong unselfish Christian leadten hundred million unevangelized. One out of ership in the government. Then came the Japaevery 15,000 Protestants was a missionary and nese absorption of Manchuria and the cruel and the annual gifts for work abroad amounted to only unwarranted invasion of China by the Japanese about $10,000,000. In the next ten or fifteen war machine. Meanwhile Western nations look years the number of missionaries doubled and the supinely on, with disapproval but still supply gifts multiplied four fold. A spiritual awakening Japan with war materials for the murderous camalso came to Christians at home; prayer and mis- paign. In the midst of this agonizing strife China sionary training increased; the progress of the is more united than ever before. Gospel in many lands was rapid and transforming. Then came the World War which resulted But Japan too is passing through a political in a great slump in the spiritual life of the crisis. With the military dictatorship in control churches. Non-Christian nations became more and the fear of communism ever present; with the suspicious of outside influences and were more common people kept in ignorance of the real eager for self-determination in politics, education situation; with the theory of a "divine Emperor" and religion. But the seeds of Truth had been hanging in the balance, and with growing antagplanted; Christ had been preached and His life onism and distrust between Japan and most of the had been exemplified so that the work has con- countries of Europe and America-no one can tell what a day may bring forth. Korea has already tinued to grow. felt the evil effects of this political despotism and Today there is a new crisis in Asia. Anyone there everything is being Japanized by force.
even slightly informed can see the dangers and The social and economic crisis in Asia is also the opportunities, especially in Moslem lands, in appar~nt. India is continually fighting poverty, India, in China and in Japan. The turning of the but wIth some success under British guidance. The tide in one direction means retrogression or dis- caste system, which has been her bane, shows aster; turned Godward it means progress and signs of breaking down under the leadership of new life. The crisis in these lands is threefold- Dr. Ambedkar and through the preaching of the political, social and economic, educational and re- Gospel of Christ. Fifty years ago what is taking place today-with the opening of schools and publigious. lic wells and government positions to outcastes- The political crisis in India is due to the mlw * "The Crisis of Missions," by Arthur T, Pierson, published In would have been thought impossible.
1886, went through many editions, [ 515]
In China, the fear of communism has passed- who declares that although he was born a Hindu if Japanese aggression can be stopped. Public he will not die a Hindu.
improvements in roads and other means of com- Enough has been said to call attention to the munication; the development of natural resources present crisis in these great nations of Asia. It and trade, and the improvement in social ideals is a time of danger and of opportunity-of danger were showing great progress-and then came lest the people retrograde into confusion, depres- Japan as an instrument of destruction. But sion and opposition to Christ and His program; China's power to resist and to recuperate has been a time of opportunity when through vital union proved through the centuries. with Christ they may be brought through to true The social and economic situation in Japan and liberty and peace, to social and economic progress Korea is serious. The war is estimated to cost and to new spiritual life and power.
Japan $5,000,000 a day and the people are feeling The Way to Victory the depression more and more. They are being heavily taxed and are commanded to omit all lux- What is the way of victory? Politically it is not uries and many things considered necessities. the way of greater armies, navies and air bat- Hundreds of thousands of wage earners are being talions; it is not by accepting the supremacy of killed in China. Koreans also are suffering ac- communistic, fascist, or socialistic lead~rs; it is cutely from Japanese taxation and exploitation. not even through pacifism or a peaceful struggle The Educational and Spiritual Crisis for political control. Christ and the apostles lived in a time of political oppression and the de- The educational and spiritual crisis in Asia is pendence on armed force, but they sought peace intimately linked with the political and economic by obedience to laws that did not defy the laws situation. Materialism and atheism are strug- of God, by love that suffers long and is kind and gling against Christ and His principles of love, by preaching Christ as the Saviour and Lord of justice and freedom. all. "When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" They can stilI be right- In Japan and Korea, Christian education is eous, trust God and stand true to Him-even unto threatened with extinction, as emperor worship death. and attendance at the Shinto shrines is being required of Christians and non-Christians alike. Socially and economically the way of victory is Japanese and Koreans were fast becoming edu- not by a new social setup or through the adoption cated in Christian truth, enlightened customs and of certain economic principles-for self-seeking ideals, but now the government is fast taking all men to disregard. In the time of Christ, social ineducation under its control and is depriving the justice was everywhere apparent, slavery and people of the religious liberty promised by the poverty prevailed and there was a great gulf beconstitution. The alternative is being offered- tween the rich and the poor. Christians met the Baal or Jehovah, Diana or Christ, God as re- crisis not by advocating 3 redistribution of wealth, vealed in the Bible or Shinto. or even the immediate liberation of slaves, but by proclaimIng the law of love, by preaching and In China, in the midst of political and economic practicing justice and by showing that God is no distress, there seems to be a spiritual awakening respector of persons. They revealed the truth that and greater religious freedom. Whereas Christian riches consist not in accumulated wealth but that teaching was excluded from the schools under re- character and contentment come from honest toil, cent laws, the loyalty of Christians and the sacri- brotherly dealings and an unselfish, wise steward- ficial service of missionaries in caring for the ship of time, talents and possessions.
wounded and destitute has now brought permis- The educational and spiritual needs were seen sion to make Christian teaching a part of school in the days of the early Church. These needs were and college curriculums. Spiritual revivals and met, not by great united campaigns or by the a new earnestness in prayer and new power in establishment of institutions, they were met by Christian testimony are reported from all over uplifting Christ and by teaching His truth to all China today. so that new desires and ambitions were awakened, India, too, is in a spiritual crisis. Hinduism new life and power were imparted and the call of seems to be making a desperate last stand. Evan- God was heard for the establishment of a new gelistic campaigns are spreading and several thou- order.
sands every month are coming forward to confess The secret of meeting every crisis effectively- Christ. The dissatisfaction of Depressed Classes be it political, social, economic, educational, spirit- with Hinduism may lead to a tremendous exodus ual, national, missionary or personal-is to take into the Christian or possibly into the Moslem God into account; it is to bring men and women fold. Many take the position of Dr. Ambedkar into such vital relation to God through Christ,
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
that new life will come to them, with new aims territory with over 15,000,000 inhabitants. These and energy, new intelligence and a keen desire include Czechs of Bohemia (Monrovia and Sefor knowledge; a new sense of justice; new love lesia) Slovaks, Germans, Poles, Jews, Russians, for God and man and new power to carry out His Hungarians and other races ,and nationalities. Twoprogram. Is there any other way? thirds are Czechoslovaks. The predominant re- ligion is Roman Catholic; they are reported to THE PLIGHT OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA number ten million. Under President Masaryk the country enjoyed prosperity for twenty years. Before 1918 there was no political division in Multitudes have left the Roman Catholic church to Europe named Czechoslovakia. The land and become Protestants who number about 1,130,000. people were a part of Austria-Hungary for three hundred years. Then came the Versailles Treaty What should be the attitude of Christians in and as a penalty for fighting a losing warfare such a crisis? What would be the attitude of Austria-Hungary was divided, part of the terri- Christ? While we have obligations to the govtory and people going to Rumania and Poland, ernment and the land in which we live, our true part to the new nations of Hungary and Yugo- dtizenship is not of this world. The basis for our slavia and part to Czechoslovakia. The people peace and welfare is not a human government of seemed satisfied with this allocation and Prof. our own choosing. Some of the greatest Chris- T. G. Masaryk, the high-minded and wise patriot tians have been developed under most unfavorwas elected the first president. All seemed to go able circumstances-in the ancient Roman Emwell while the nations were struggling to recover pire, in Russia, in France and Spain during days from the economic effects of the war and while of persecution, in Turkey under the Sultan, and Germany was weak and unarmed. Now, twenty in every mission field where Christianity has years after the war ended and peace treaties sought to gain a foothold. Christ Himself warned were signed, the provisions of the Treaty of His disciples that in this world they must ex- Versailles relating to Czechoslovakia are scrapped. pect hardship and persecution; He called Saul the Germany, under the dominating leadership of persecutor to become His missionary, showing Adolph Hitler, has rearmed in such a formidable him, not what a comfortable successful time he way that the Reich feels strong enough to disre- would have, but "how great things he must suffer" gard other European nations. After taking over for the sake of Christ. all of Austria, without a battle, he has demanded large sections of Czechoslovakia where "Sudeten Christians and the Christian Church are called Germans" are living, and has captured their ter- to work unfalteringly for a better world, to preach ritory under threat of a general European war. and practice peace; to feed the hungry, heal the Already he has marched in to take possession of sick, care for the fatherless and widows; to preach fortifications, cities, health resorts, natural re- and practice righteousness and brotherly love in sources, and many industrial plants on which the the name of Christ and in the power of the Holy Czechoslovakian Government has depended for Spirit. In Czechoslovakia, as in Spain and Ethieconomic and military strength. The end is not opia, in China and Korea, Christians pray for yet; while the four parties to the new agreement- courage as they face conflicts and ungodly human Germany, France, Great Britain and Italy-have dictators; they are not discouraged in the midst supposedly guaranteed the new boundaries of the of trials; true followers of Christ will witness to shrinking republic, Herr Hitler is not satisfied. Him and will resolve to love even their enemies He sees that the other nations fear modern war- and to pray for rulers and for those who "despitefare and its terrible results, as he does not, and fully use and persecute them." Czechoslovakia and therefore he stands ready to demand more conces- other lands may be ravaged by war and torn by sions to add to his territory in Europe-and fire, sword and pestilence but the life of the probably will demand a return of former German Christian is "hid with Christ in God." colonies. Poland and Hungary also are demanding slices of Czechoslovakia inhabited by some of War is a taste of hell on earth but there is sometheir people. It is as though Mexico were strong thing even worse than the mental and physical enough to demand United States territory in the horrors of warfare-namely the utter spiritual southwest, in which Mexicans have made their homes. The Czechoslovaks were ready to fight darkness of those whose lives are alienated from for their land but could not do it alone, when God. There is much that Christians can do for abandoned by their allies who had guaranteed the suffering people of Czechoslovakia, and of their boundaries. other stricken lands, in this hour of their dire Czechoslovakia has had 54,250 square miles of need. Christian love is not merely a pious senti- ment, it is a divine dynamic that operates for practical and Godlike ends.
SO THIS IS INDIA TODAY* strong even where the leaders themselves are not "The earthquakes that have rattled our bun- Christians. galow are as nothing compared with the movements which are changing the whole life of Agriculture and industry: India has resources, India," writes an experienced missionary in look- physical and spiritual, that are undeveloped by ing over the scene-political, social, and religious any of her old religions. These schools are a part -which now confronts Christian forces. "I have of the answer which missionaries are making to never seen the foundations of society shaken as the question, "How important are 700,000 villages they are today." and their inhabitants?"
India has a population three times that of the It is impossible to separate the work of the United States; 200 languages in use; climate Kingdom of God into given classifications. The ranging from tropical to subarctic; a rigid social doctor and the nurse, the industrial teacher and and religious system which is now giving way the rural expert, the minister and the woman: before modern conditions; five widespread re- evangelist, the teacher and the administrative ligions, besides innumerable minor faiths. In the officer, are but parts of the whole force of Chrismidst of all this we find that Christianity is in- tians who have put their gifts of trained and decreasing much more rapidly in proportion than voted lives at the service of Christ to make India a part of the Kingdom which shall not end.
the population! These few facts underly the cur- rent work in India. Behind the familiar state- THE CRISIS AMONG NEGROES ments are rapid changes in life and psychology such as have never before confronted India. According to President Mordecai Johnson of Howard University in Washington, D. C., the Christians set the standards for the education Negro is in a worse state today than he was beand training of women, and the women of India fore the depression, and in the most precarious are responding with zeal and unselfishness. Chris- position he has been since 1880. Dr. Johnson tians set standards for the improvement of village feels that his people are likely to lose in the next life; for lifting the level of rural millions above ten years the greater proportion of all they have the line of desperate poverty; for care of body gain~d, unless steps are taken to avert this disand soul in hospitals and clinics. Education is aster. This is an opinion to challenge the attenmore widespread, leadership for and by the mem- tion of every public-minded citizen, and every bers of the Depressed Classes is vigorous and friend of our Negro millions. The problem of vocal. The high percentage of illiteracy has made providing work for the vast reservoir of unemthe goal of Christian workers "Every Christian ployed Negro labor rising out of the maladjusta reader by 1941." "Never mind lunch," was the ments of the cotton plantation system in the South cry of a group of women. "We can get food later; is a colossal one to attack, and one far out of the we can't get a teacher when this meeting is over!" scope of anyone church to solve. The Church must be aware tha.t such a problem exists, else Medical work: Missionary doctors (men and how can it help to create a public opinion which women) and nurses, work with an Indian staff of will demand that some national attempt at a soludoctors and nurses in hospitals and dispensaries. tion be made? The problem resolves itself into a They treat tuberculosis and leprosy as well as the concern about educated young Negroes, willing more common ills of India. and eager to work at anything that will pay a liv- ing wage, unable to find a niche, rebuffed and hu- Schools and universities: Union and denomina- miliated frequently in the search for honest work, tional colleges and schools are scattered over all India.
Evangelistic work is conducted in evangelistic and excluded from most of the opportunities to meetings, in churches, schools and hospitals. earn a decent living. Many possibilities are auto- Mass movements are again in progress as they matically closed to the young Negro and he starts were a generation ago. Political as well as social out with a defeatist attitude, knowing that he will influence is largely against these movements, ow- be lucky to work into some elevator or service'
ing to the fact that voters are registered by reli- job; that there are not even too many of these, gion. If means were at hand to train them, the and that he will automatically get less money for missions could use many more Indian evangelistic his work than his white neighbor.
workers to help to seize so great an opportunity. What the Church can do is problematic; what Women's work: Women are making history in individuals can do is just as complicated; but India, from political leaders to village workers. there is one thing all can do-we can become in- Some are Christians but the Christian influence is formed and interested. Each person can examine his own practical Christianity.
• Extracts from Monday Morning, a weekly paper for Presbyterian -Virginia Ray, in the Presbyterian Tribune. pastors.
A New Survey of Neglected Arabia*
By the REV. SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, D.D., Princeton, New Jersey -.~ Author of "Arabia, the Cradle of Islam," etc., etc., one of the ~- Founders of the Arabian Mission of the Reformed Church in America FIFTY years ago the tragic death of Ian Keith- The backward s·tate of the "As·ir highlands, intended Falconer at Aden called the attention of the by nature to be a paradise, is the inevitable result of world to Arabia. His memorable words man's inability to live at peace with his neighbors." Yet stirred the student world of his day: "While vast here nature and man h.ave cer.tainly combined to create a continents are shrouded in almost utter darkness scene of astonishing beauty, and it seemed to me that man had actually outdone nature in their friendly rivalry.
and hundreds of millions suffer the horrors of Imagine a great tableland thrust up to a height of 9000heathenism and Islam, the burden of proof rests 9500 feet, towering above the tumbled mountains and upon you to show that the circumstances in which valleys of the Tihama on one side and the endless expanse God has placed you were meant by Him to keep of mountains and desert on the other. The surface of the p·lateau, plunging steeply down on one side in a series of you out of the foreign field." splendid buttresses, slopes gently on th.e other in the The burden of the unoccupied areas of the curves of graceful valleys, forming huge theaters, for world rested on the Edinburgh Missionary Con- which man has provided the seats in terrace after terference nearly thirty years later. (Witness the race of cornfields. In the middle of Jurie the corn was ripe, and I shall never forget that scene of golden ears report and the literature on the subject at that soughing and howing under the gentle· breeze, terrace time.) The subject was practically shelved at the after terrace, down the mighty flanks of those moun- Jerusalem Council Meeting in 1928, and the sur- tains, whose steeper slopes nature had reserved for her vey by Charles H. Fahs was not even printed in own planting-a dense forest of junipers and other trees the eight-volume report. Now the World Domin- extending down to the 7500-foot level. And in the fields and forest the !birds rejoiced.
ion Movement, in its series of Survey Volumes, The natural boundaries of Arabia are not in has laid emphasis not only on what the Christian degrees of lattitude or longitude. The great "Is- Church has done and is doing, but especially upon land of the Arabs," as they themselves call it, has the vast unfinished task and the great unoccupied its geographical and historical area accurately areas. Their latest volmne deals with Arabia- expressed in the thrice repeated promise of the long neglected and now the hardest battleground Old Testament "from sea to sea and from the in the spiritual conflict with Islam. Dr. Harold I. Storm (who is chiefly respon- river unto the ends of the earth." Iraq and sible for the Survey and has written all of the Transjordania are of Arab speech, race and trachapters except one, which is by Mrs. Storm) dition; the great northern desert has been the has probably traveled more widely across the tenting ground of the Arab since the dawn of Arabian peninsula than any other missionary. history.
His recent tour took him across the peninsula Dr. Storm's survey is the first complete survey from east to west and inland to Asir, Yemen, and of Arabia today as a mission field. Until the year the cities of Hadramaut. The beautiful photo- 1889, this vast area was considered a closed land. graphic illustrations in this volume reveal some- Dr. Eugene Stock, then Secretary of the Church thing of the variety of Arabian landscape. Missionary Society, in an address at the Ecu- Arabia is not all desert. It has fertility and menical Missionary Conference held in New York beauty. H. St. John Philby has recently made an in 1900, said: "The greatest of all these unen- extensive journey to the Land of Sheba (Geo- tered countries, which is very rarely mentioned graphical Journal, July, 1938) through the great in missionary accounts, is Arabia. There is that Wady of Nejran, where Christians died martyrs great Arab race, the children of Abraham as before the days of Mohammed. Here is his pic- much as are the Jews, waiting for the Gospel; ture of one unoccupied province of Arabia. Does but we cannot get in to preach it. The Lord will it not come as a challenge?: open that door when we have entered the doors • "Whither Arabia?" By Harold Storm, M.D., IIlus. $1.50. Pub- already open." Why did this missionary stateslished by the World Dominion Movement, New York and London. man and historian consider Arabia "the great- [ 519]
est" of all the unoccupied fields and speak of «the Dr. Storm shows that the Arabs are a great great Arab race"? race in origin and destiny, and are capable of great achievement. Physically they are undoU'bt- Of all the lands comparable to Arabia in size, edly one of the strongest races of the world, a and of all the peoples who in any way approach survival of the fittest in an environment that kills the Arabs in historical interest and influence, no off the weaklings. The character, influence and country and no nationality (as Prof. Hitti re- literature of the Arabic language witnesses to the .marks) has received "so little consideration and genius of the people and of their prophet Moham- study in modern times as have Arabia and the med, through his book. A certain degree of sim- Arahs." Arabia is one of the great Bible lands, ilarity in human character, and an even greater has an area of a million square miles and is the similarity of language and custom and religion, probable cradle of the Semitic race which has prevails over the entire area where Arab migra- given the world its three great theistic faiths: tion brought Islam in its early conquest. Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Who can say whether what happened in the The Arabs have been world-conquerors and ex- seventh century may not occur again in the twen- plorers. They traveled from the Pillars of Her- tieth, if Christ should capture the Arab heart and cules (Gibraltar) to the coasts of China and in Arabs become messengers of the Gospel as, they the period of their greatest expansion "assim- once were of the Koran? ilated to their creed, speech and even physical type more aliens than any stock before or since, The exploration and mapping of the Arabian not excepting the Hellenic, the Roman, the Anglo- peninsula has made vast strides during and since Saxon or the Russian." Israel's tradition in the the World War. When Hogarth wrote his book, "The Penetration of Arabia," there were still A GORGE IN THE TUWAIG MOUNTAINS, ARABIA large areas unexplored and unmapped. Since the time of Doughty, the work of men like Lawrence, Old Testament reveals most intimate relations Shakespeare, Cheeseman, Rutter, Philby, Freya with Arabia and Arab life, both on their eastern Stark, Vander Meulen, and last but not least, frontier and on the south, even to distant Ha- Bertram Thomas, have given us a picture of dramaut; The Hebrew literary genius, as Dr. Arabia and its inhabitants with very few gaps Macdonald has indicated, also shows kinship with remaining. But this latest survey by Dr. Storm Arabia. 'Their literature throughout all their his- is a missionary survey of the field. tory, and to this day, in its method of production and in its recorded forms is of Arab scheme and The new forces that have at last stirred it may type." An index of all the Scriptural references now arouse patriarchal and nomad Arabia from to Arabia and Arabian Bedouin life includes its stagnation. The tide of Western trade and twenty-five books of the Old and five of the New culture came after the earliest missionary occupa- _ Testaments. tion fifty years ago, and has made the task of evangelization at once easier and yet more dif- There is no land in the world and no people ficult. All Arabia faces a new future and this (with the exception of Palestine and the Jews) volume may well ask "whither?". which bear such close relation to the Theocratic covenants and Old Testament promises as do A recent British writer weighs the question: Arabia and the Arabs. The divine promises for "The desert is undoubtedly the clue to the history the final victory of the Kingdom of God in Arabia of the Arabs. Relentless yet free, it has made the are many, definite and glorious. These promises Arab what he is, essentially virile, essentially group themselves around seven names which have chivalrous, essentially spendthrift, essentially fa- from time immemorial been identified with the talistic. Critics have said that the Arab is so lazy peninsula of Arabia: Ishmael, Kedar, N ebaioth, that he has largely made his own deserts rather Sheba, Seba, Midian and Ephah. than that the deserts have made him. Such critics are uJikind and superficial." He goes on to point out that today the Arab has changed. He has a broader horizon and a new sense of nationalism. The Arab is potentially a traveler and has made history outside of Arabia. The excellent maps that accompany the Survey indicate at once the tribal disunity of Arabia and its religious, social and linguistic unity.
As Dr. Storm points out, every year the motor car is penetrating further into neglected Arabia. Communications between every part of the Penin- sula were never so rapid and universal. The
A NEW SURVEY OF NEGLECTED ARABIA
Arabic papers and books from Cairo, Beirut, station is a majority. Arithmetic fails when you Damascus, and Baghdad reach every part of the deal with spiritual realities. Yet it is the im- Peninsula. Surely all this is a challenge to hasten ponderable forces of the Spirit of God which will the work of Christian evangelization. Thirteen determine victory or defeat in Arabia. The three centuries of history prove that there is little hope principal missions in the peninsula are the Amerfor Arabia in Islam. ican Mission on the Persian Gulf, the United Church of Scotland at Aden, and the Danish REPLACING THE ARABIAN CAMEL Church Mission in Yemen. The number of Chris- Longest motor coach in the world-carrying passengers from tians connected with these missions is very small, but their faith and faithfulness is very great. Damascus to Baghdad. Here is a book that truly tells of "Faith" Mis- sions! What Islam has done and has not done for the land of its birth can be read in the fascinating Because we believe that the imponderables of bO.Qks of unprejudiced explorers who, from the the Kingdom of Light are on our side, we believe days of Burckhardt and Niebuhr until those of that "opportunity" is not the last word in mis- Philby and Freya Stark, penetrated the vast sions. The appeal of the closed door is often even peninsula and have portrayed not only the land greater than that of the one which is open. The but the people. Doughty's two volumes are an en- open door beckons; the closed door may be a chalcyclopedia on the effect of Islam in molding the lenge to God's authority. It is the strength of character of the desert Arab. There could be no these imponderable forces-that is to say the stranger indictment of Islam than the fruit of reality of the Invisible, which enables the misthat faith in the character and lives of the Arabs sionary beneath the walls of an Arabian city, or as Doughty portrays them. in its borderlands, to look upward with confidence and to see by faith the future result of his toil in The present Survey does not deal very largely "the great multitude which no man could numwith Islam as a religion but points out the suc- ber"-a world where statistics are inadequate to cess and the further urgent opportunity for express realities, where finance and budgets have Christian missions, especially medical missions. lost all significance and gold is used for paving Dr. and Mrs. Storm are very modest in pointing stones. out what has been achieved in the past five decades. One cannot measure success here by statis- Success is not always measured by numbers tics, although we have tables and figures of nor victory by majorities. "Not by might nor by schools, hospitals and dispensaries. The Arabian peninsula, seen from the back of a camel, is much MODERN AIRPLANE TRAVEL IN ARABIA larger than on the map. Here "one dot may represent 10,000 Moslems"; there, one Moslem power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord." Here represents ten thousand difficulties in evangelism. is a new challenge to students in our colleges for Some things cannot be put into tables and figures. the great adventure. After you read this "New You cannot tabulate loneliness nor plot the curve Survey," help to pray through to a successful conof hope deferred which makes the heart sick. Yet clusion the task that God has set before His these are the things that make the difference be- Church in this great and still neglected peninsula. tween the shedding of ink and the shedding of blood. The end of the geographical and ethnological survey is only the beginning of the missionary enterprise. One man with God at a mission
and Romance in Czechoslovakia
By REV. JOSEPH NOVOTNY, D.D., International Baptist Seminary, East Orange, N. ,.
1'. DECENTLY the little democracy of central of the "Unitas Fratrum," and introduced believ- Europe, Czechoslovakia, has become front er's baptism into the Bohemian Brethren Church. page news. In spite of the general interest Count Tolstoy professed himself his admirer and aroused, few readers seem to be acquainted with disciple. The Bohemian Brethren Church of old the country, its problems and the present religious is sometimes called today "the most beautiful situation. blossom on the tree of Christianity since the time According to one of the best Czechoslovakian of the apostles." Comenius was the great religious leader of the "Unitas Fratrum," the teacher of historians, Dr. Kamil Krofta, the foreign minister nations, who was called to Harvard as president, of the Czechoslovakian Government, the Czecho- is a man who is not valued enough. We are only slovaks were already in the present countries beginning to understand what he meant, not only which form Czechoslovakia as early as the second, for the Czechoslovaks but for the culture of the or perhaps in the first, century of the Christian era. world. The Moravian Church of today has its In the fourth century, when people were seek- origin in the work of Chelcicky and Comenius.
ing new homes, and the Slavs, the most numerous Czechoslovaks are the only Slavs who adopted white race in the world who had their cradle in the Reformation and followed it for two hundred the south of Russia, divided into different groups. years. It was an eminently religious country, The Czechoslovaks, although comparatively few "The Land of Book and Cup." There is a proverb, in number, showed the greatest energy and went which has its origin in the time of Hus: "The furthest west of all the Slavs. A few who went Husitic woman knows the Bible better than the further were drowned in the German Sea. The priest." The Czechoslovaks printed the first Czechoslovak land looks like a finger of the great Bible in a living tongue-New Testament in 1475, Slav hand pointing other Slavs to Western culture the whole Bible in 1488, in Prague. For the man of which he became the interpreter. Being the who daily reads and meditates in the Bible they center of Europe, and having high mountains as a coined a word, pismak, which cannot be translated natural frontier, the Czechoslovak was able, dur- into any other language. Nowhere is the Lord's ing the many hundreds of years of Germanizing Supper held in higher esteem than among the efforts of his neighbors, to remain a Czechish Czechoslovaks. The old independent Protestant peninsula in the German Sea. His chief connec- Czech State was a land of liberty, with the kingtion with his Slav brethren has been the Poles to democrat, George of Podebrad, who was a Czechothe north. slovak citizen, chosen king because of his spiritual The Czechoslovaks accepted Christianity as nobility. This Reformation movement was transpreached to them by the two Greek brethren, planted into Slovakia so that half of the popula- Cyrill and Methodius. This fact is the reason tion became Protestants and they use the Czech why the Czechoslovaks, while for the most part Bible and hymnals today. Roman Catholics, have not been strong followers Another fact which shows the missionary spirit of Rome. of the Czechoslovaks in the dawn of the Reforma- The Protestant Reformation ideas took root in tion, is of spiritual interest to all Anglo-Saxons. Bohemia and in the other Czechoslovak territory. When Scotland was still Roman Catholic, but had The greatest man that the Czechoslovak nation some friends of Reformation ideas, they sent to produced, John Hus, was not the first or only re- Prague a message in which they asked for a former. He had many forerunners. His clever representation of the Reformation ideas in the colleague was Jerome of Prague, and his spiritual cradle of Reformation. The Czechs sent a whole successor, Peter Chelcicky, a man who was born expedition, the leader of which, Pavel Kravar, was too soon, an apostle of world peace and separation professor in the Prague University. In his adoptof State and Church. He was the spiritual father ed country he became known as Paul Crawer, or [522 ] LlTBUAN7A·…,~ R U S S I A i,i .,;•J • MOSCOW • "~L" .-….'r""'~-Y.""'-.., iI" uK RAI N.E .A·,. "• Scale of Miles 100 200 30, 0 40, 0 THE THEATER OF TUR'MOIL IN EUROPE TODAY A Herald-Tribu.ne map showing the portions of Czechoslovakia acquired by Germany. These areas comprise about 11,500 square miles (nearly the size of Belgium), with 3,500,000 inhabitants, living along the Western, Northern and Southern boundaries.
Craw; he preached the Gospel in Scotland for tants in Bohemia by Roman Catholic Austria. The three years, and was burned as a heretic at St, Andrews in 1433. Jesuits and soldiers entered the land and tried to Peter Paine, an early English Reformer, who "convert" the people with sword and fire. They was banned from his native country because of his "heretic" beliefs, found a refuge in the free beheaded twenty-seven Czech religious leaders country of Bohemia, and died there in peace, known as "Brother English." The center and spir- and passed a law that everybody who would not itual stronghold of the Reformation ideas was the Czech University of Prague, the oldest one in be Roman Catholic must leave the country or Central Europe, founded in 1348. die. Many died, many left the country without When America was discovered, and many left their homeland to seek gold, the Czechoslovaks their property, so that although Bohemia, before revealed a thirst after pure religion, and sent abroad an expedition to find the best Christians in the Thirty Years' war, had over three millions of the world and to bring home their experience. inhabitants, after the war there were left only Meanwhile the religious divisions were serious. When civil war broke out in 1618, the Austrians eight hundred thousand people. The property of invaded the land and the tragic battle near Prague was a precursor of the end of the inde- the Protestant Czechs (which amounted to five pendent Protestant Czechoslovak State. Emperor Ferdinand of Austria proclaimed that he would hundred million gold crowns, according to the rather see Czechoslovakia a desert than a Protestant country. Few pages of history show such a historian, Bilek) was given to the Roman Catholic dark record as those of the persecution of Protes- Church, nobility, and the Emperor. Three hun- dred years of persecution followed, the history of which a Czech can read only with a bleeding heart.
The Roman Catholic German-Austrians largely succeeded in turning the Czech Protestant land into a Roman Catholic country.
To make the nation forget their national hero, John Hus, the Jesuits brought out a fictitious John (Nepomuk), and named him the nation's patron saint in 1729. .
A dark period followed in Czech history. In
the forests and mountains remained the true out of three who were born in the last year of the pismaks, readers of the Bible, although the Bible war died because of the weakness of their mothwas proclaimed a forbidden book which the ers. In spite of this persecution, the nation kept Jesuits told the people not to read and many were the motto of John Hus: "Woe to those who, for a taken away by force. In order that Catholic serv- piece of bread, sell the truth." ants might not touch the "poisoned books," they carried them in chains, and the priests burned When the war was near at an end, the Czechothem in the churchyards. One Jesuit leader pro- slovaks couldwait no longerfor thearmistice. When claimed openly that he (Konias) had burned sixty they saw that their oppressor grew weaker and thousand Bohemian Bibles and Protestant re- the Allies stronger, they thought that the moment ligious books. In order to find hidden Bibles it is had arrived for their liberation. On the twentyrecorded that the Jesuits used to wear shoes with eighth of October, 1918, Prague was aroused to nails when they went to the fields where the peo- enthusiasm. Crowds crying, "Liberty! Hurrah ple were working barefoot. Trampling on their for the Allies!" were marching through the feet, they asked where they kept their Bibles. streets. People went about kissing and embracing People often went from one village where there each other. The Czechoslovaks are proud that was no Bible to a village where there still was a their greatest day in history was not stained by a Bible and offered a loaf of bread to be allowed to single drop of blood, even by the "enemy." The read and learn parts by heart, in order to share Austro-Germans feared the day of liberation its contents with their neighbors when they re- would be a day of vengence-therefore they turned. closed the doors and windows of their houses in fear. But the new government sent messengers In these dark th'ree hundred years the Protes- to the Germans to open their houses, with the tant Czechoslovaks had to fight Vienna and Rome, message that they need not be afraid as the nation that together tried to Germanize and to Roman- did not intend to persecute anybody in the new ize the nation. Therefore it came about that every State. Czechoslovak was filled with a" hatred against this dualism, and as he read history the antago- When Czechoslovakia was liberated, it seemed nism was doubled. only natural that the national liberation should be crowned by a religious liberation. The Czecho- The Effect of the World War slovak Government prescribed for the first time in the new state a" census, to record to what The third period of the Czechoslovak nation nationality each one belonged, and what religion starts at the moment with the great World War. he professed. It was natural that every Czechoslovak resolved to side with the Allies against Austria; their op- In the old Austria it was not easy to leave the pressor. The leader of the nation, Prof. T. G. Roman Catholic Church, but after the World War, Masaryk, wisely foresaw that a revolution would there was proclaimed complete religious liberty. mean suicide. Therefore he recommended that Many Czechoslovaks, even nominal Roman Cathsome of the leaders go abroad to cooperate with olics, were ashamed to say that they belonged to the Allies, and others stay at home to lead the the Church which had "burned the greatest people. Regiments were organized in Russia, Czechoslovak that ever lived," John Hus; the France, Italy, and America. As a result the Al- church which "robbed our greatest men of their lies recognized the right of the Czechoslovaks for property," and had either killed them or sent independence. them abroad as beggars.
Austria endeavored to punish the Czechoslovaks They said: "We cannot read the history of our for their thirst after freedom and the children nation without feeling ashamed that we besuffered especially. As one poet said: "Who saw long to those who destroyed the whole life of our the sufferings of men, did not see anything, he nation." must see the sufferings of the women; who saw the sufferings of women, did not see anything, Many people (perhaps one-third) left the Rohe must see the sufferings of children." The chil- man Catholic Church during this movement and dren sought for bits of food in ashes, or begged the process is not at an end. While two-thirds of on their knees at the door for a piece of bread. the population are still reported as Roman Cath- When the war was nearly at an end, the Austrian olics, according to the last census the capital minister for Foreign Affairs, Czernin, said to the city of Prague has only fifty-three per cent in Czechoslovak leaders, "When we are forced to that church. Great numbers are joining the new leave your country, we shall leave it a cemetery." Czechoslovak Church which has broken all ties After the armistice eighty-two per cent of the with Rome, recognizes the great men of our Refor- Czechoslovak children had consumption, and two mation as their spiritual leaders, uses the Czecho- slovak language in the church, has pictures of John Hus on the altars, and sings old Husitic
REALITY AND ROMANCE IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA
hymns; the priests marry, 'and the church is one Czechoslovak village where there were seven- growing in numbers as well as in spiritual life. ty-eight houses, over ninety American flags.
They are learning from the Protestant churches The Czechoslovaks are eager interpreters of new methods, such as the Sunday school and American culture, including religion. It is only Young People's Societies. stating a fact when the European nations call the Many join the different Protestant churches Czechoslovaks "the Yankees of Europe." The newwhich, in a short time, have admitted thousands. est Czechoslovak literature is full of American in- In the west of Bohemia, in a country town, where fluence. One of the youngest Professors of there was a Presybterian church with about one Philosophy of the Prague University, the successthousand members, today the same church has or of President Masaryk, returned from a trip to twenty thousand members. In the same district America and spoke and wrote enthusiastically is a country town where all the population left the about American life. The people were never more Roman Catholic church and joined the Protes- ready to accept the greatest treasure which Amertants, leaving only the priest, his housekeeper and ica possesses-the spiritual Christian religion. As to the problem of minorities which has the janitor in the Catholic church. caused the present crisis in Czechoslovakia, there In the Protestant churches many are seeking are such racial, national and religious minorities the deepening of spiritual life. Dogmatic bat- in every country of Europe. The crux of the tles are at an end; but many feel that real god- problem is not how many individuals or what perliness ought to follow the movement. The pastors centage of the whole population is found in a cerfrom the lukewarm churches are sent to those re- tain group, but how they are treated; how much gions where there is the greatest spiritual work, liberty they possess. in order that they may be influenced by that movement and "bring it home." It is touching to see In Czechoslovakia with more than 15 million how eager the young Protestants are to know inhabitants, the minorities reach 33.8 per cent of what they ought to do to be real "Bohemian the total population. These minorities came to Brethren." Many a lukewarm church has become Czechoslovakia as colonists. The historical dea living force because of the new opportunity. The velopment and natural frontier of high mountains greatest movem-ent was in the southwest of Bo- did not permit to draw the frontier any other hemia, where there was formerly the greatest way. These minorities are scattered all over stronghold of the Roman Church; it is the birth- the country. The Germans have numbered 22 place of John Hus, John Zizka, and Peter per cent of the entire population; the Magyars Chelcicky, and other Czechoslovak Reformers. As (Hungarians) 4.7 per cent, the Ruthenes 3.7 per in the Reformation time, people in the street, in cent, the Jews 1.29 per cent and the Poles 0.56 the railroad cars, in the public places, often spoke per cent.
about religious topics during this movement. How are the minorities treated in Czechoslo- vakia? The Germans have had seventy represent- America and Czechoslovakia atives in the Chamber of Deputies, thirty-six in It is interesting to know what part America the Senate; the Magyars (Hungarians) have played in the development of Czechoslovakia. eleven deputies and seven senators; the Ruthenes There are several external ties between America have nine deputies and senators; the Poles have and Czechoslovakia: their proclamation of inde- two deputies and the Jews two. There is absolute pendence was signed in the same place at the same liberty with regard to the use of the minority desk as the Declaration of Independence of Ameri- languages in the press. With regard to schools, ca, in Philadelphia; the first lady of Czechoslo. they can educate their children in schools provakia was an American, the Anglo-Saxon vided by government money where the minority American wife of the first President, Professor language is used and where the teachers belong to Masaryk. The Czechoslovaks will never forget the the minority and textbooks are printed in the American soldiers in Europe who helped to liber- minority language. The Germans in Czechosloate the nation: the proclamation of the American vakia have had two universities, two technical conditions of peace; the distribution of the institutes and are equipped with all types of ele- American bread, which saved multitudes from mentary and secondary schools. All these schools starvation; the coming of the American dollar, have been supported by government money.
which saved Europe from bankruptcy. The Germany, Italy and Hungary offer no political Czechoslovaks know of these things, and are deep- representation for the minorities. Poland offers ly thankful. In Prague they have the Wilson only partial political representation and bilingual monument, Wilson Central Station, American type of schools. Czechoslovakia is a democratic Street, and Hoover Avenue. One of the American country where the minorities have equal rights correspondents just after the armistice found in with the majority.
Universality of Christ*
~I .:; ;I===B=y=E=.=S=T=A=N=L=E=Y=J=O=N=E=S,=D=.=D=.,=I=od=ia==~-LII ~- SOMETHING more is involved in Christian at liberty them that are bruised, those who have missions than the question of whether we hurt themselves with their moral and spiritual will or will not send missionaries across the falls. His was a message to the hurt spirits of seas. The Christian Church is beginning to recog- men, and then He came to proclaim the Lord's nize the fact that if we cannot share our Christian Year of Jubilee. Every fifty years there was a faith with every man everywhere, in the end we fresh national beginning; all debts cancelled, all will not be able to hold it. That which is not uni- slaves freed, all land redistributed, and the na- versal is not true, for Truth by its very nature is tion began with a new beginning.
universal. Two and two make four in India, Jesus closed the book of the Prophet, and said, China, America, and around the world. The mo- "Today this program begins. Today this Scripment you discover the Truth, it rises above na- ture hath been fulfilled in your ears." tional boundaries and belongs to us as a race. If, therefore, what we have cannot be shared with In beginning our missionary program we can all men, it is not universal, and if it is not univer- do no better than to announce what Jesus said sal it is not true. was His program and make it our own-a Gospel for the poor, for the hungry millions of the earth. If we cannot give Christ and His Gospel to God wills a new distribution of the goods which every man everywhere, in the end we shall stand He has provided for every man. The missionary beside dead altars, we shall pray dead prayers enterprise, if it stands for anything, stands for and we shall have a faith that has let us down in redistribution of that which God, our Father, has our own emergencies. Therefore, this whole ques- willed that every man should have. tion is significant beyond the immediate influence of the missionary cause, and we must face it and Second, we would proclaim release to the capface it with a new sense of realism. tives. There are still multitudes of people who are not liberated. There are those who are still We do not apologize for things as they are and socially and politically captive. The missionary that are of interest to missions. Rather, we want enterprise comes with a great passion for human to be prophets of things as they ought to be. freedom, believing in the worthwhileness of every Christian missions are not sacrosanct save as they man. It would proclaim belief in the worthwhilerepresent truth and reality. We do not ask that ness of every nation. men should blindly take what we say. We ask that they submit it to the test of experience, of There are undeveloped races, but no permalife, of reality. No matter what we say or unsay, nently inferior people. We would also come with the last word is with the facts. a message to those who are physically disenfran- chised-the opening of the eyes of the blind. The We search with you to find reality if we can. missionary enterprise should go out with a pas- Our platform should fit the world's needs. When sion for health, for healing, to lift the burdens of Jesus stood in a little synagogue in Nazareth two suffering which are weighing upon the hearts, and thousand years ago He announced a program are crippling the lives of men. which seemed then of little significance save to that little group. But the world today, humbly The message must come also to those who are searching after something it has not, turns again bruised-men and women who are injured or to ask whether this Man of Galilee has a definite handicapped by their own falls. The man with word for us at this period in the world's history. the wounded conscience, the man who cannot look the world and himself squarely in the face. We Jesus said: "The spirit of the Lord is upon me, come with the Gospel of another chance, a new for He has naught in me to preach good tidings to beginning, a conversion, a regeneration. the poor." His program included the proclaim- ing of release to the captives, socially and politi- Then the missionary program sets the whole cally disenfranchised; the opening of the eyes of thing in God's Year of Jubilee and proclaims a the blind, the physically disenfranchised; to set fresh beginning for a race in all departments of * Condensed from an address delivered at the United Foreign human life, a fresh awakening for a world, a new Missions Campaign, Chicago, in 1933. start.
[ 526] These are some of the principles that underly they did, they would go back to a semi-savage, the missionary movement, but upon the thresh- roaming across Europe. Are we coming to that? old of our coming to proclaim these words certain things rise up and questions which we must Many of us are proud that we have English face. Whenever you face a question, face it in its blood in our veins. The English have made amazmore acute forms-answer it there, and then you ing contributions to the collective life of our race. have answered it all down the line. We would And yet at the time of the Roman ascendancy, a like to put this fresh, living, new Kingdom under Roman said, "The stupidest and ugliest slaves on the world problems today, and under the world the market are those from Britain." Had you situation today, but we are met with objections looked at those stupid and ugly slaves you would which we must face. have said, "Impossible barbarians! Nothing can come out of them." But someone else looked at When we talk about being missionaries we are them and said, "Angles; Angles. If they could be accused of a desire to manage other people. Men Christianized they would be angels." We are not say, first of all, that it is bound up with the polit- angels, but we are quite different from the stupid ical imperialisms of the West. No matter how and ugly slaves. And the thing that was at the pure its motive, missionary work gets entangled bottom of our rise was the fact of the impact of and alloys within itself disturb and destroy its the Gospel of Jesus Christ upon us. effect upon human life. Every movement needs constant criticism, constant readjustment, per- Those who have Scotch blood are prouder still. petual realignment, and a bringing back to orig- The Scotch have made amazing contributions to inal purposes. We want to bring back this move- human life. Some of the noblest souls have come ment to original purposes, to disentangle it from from the Scotch, and yet the Scotch have been every entangling alliance that would cripple its called "eaters of human flesh," who had plenty spirit and hurt its motive. We want it to stand of flocks but whose herdsmen would prefer a clear in its own right-compelling, and doing steak from the female breast as a rarity! The what God would have men do through this move- Scotch of the fourth century! Had you looked at ment. them you would have said, "Impossible barbar- ians!" But some looked at them with the eyes of Not Political Imperialism Jesus Christ, and there began the upward rise of a nation that has contributed largely to the col- First of all, then, men say that the missionary lective life. Everywhere the missionary movemovement is a species of political imperialism, ment goes with a passionate belief in the developthat it is the religious side of that western expan- ment of men into likeness to God as He is resion, and partakes of the spirit of that expansion. vealed in Jesus Christ. There is some truth in what the critics say. Again and again the movement has been cor- We don't believe that there is any nation good rupted by its contact with pushing imperialisms enough or wise enough to hold 'permanently anand has been used by the imperialisms of the other people against that people's will. There is West. It was said that when the white man went in every nation a birthright of freedom, and the to Africa the white man had the Bible and the Christian missionary movement should stand, not African had the land; later on the African had as the sponsor of white prestige and white rule, the Bible and the white man had the land. There but should stand for the brotherhood of men, and is just enough truth in that to make it sting. Un- present a Christ who stands alongside of the libjust treaties have been forced upon China because erties of men and who expresses those liberties of China's treatment of missionaries. This move- in His Gospel and in His kingdom. ment has been fused in the purposes of imperialism. We acknowledge it with sorrow. But that Retain All That Is Good and True period of entanglement with the political imperialisms is at an end. Never again will treaties We believe that each nation has something to be forced upon China because of China's treat- contribute to the collective life of our race. We ment of missionaries. Christian missions are un- go, then, to the nations of the earth, not trying to doing what has been done, and the whole pressure wipe out their culture, their past. Much of that of Christian enterprise is to give men liberties culture will pass away with the impact of fuller and freedom. It is the passionate belief that lies knowledge. What is false in those religions will at the heart of the missionary enterprise that be dissolved in the face of truth, but nothing every man is of infinite worth. good, nothing true, nothing beautiful shall perish if men and women accept Jesus Christ, for He If any people in these United States say that said, "I came not to destroy, but to fulfill." He they do not believe in Christian missions, they would gather up unto Himself all the beautiful should be willing to go back to where they were things, the splendid touches, the genius of each before Christian missions touched them. And if nation, gather up into Himself-not destroying,
but perfecting all that is good and true and beau- A church that has a living unity has authority tiful. We can go to the nations of the earth with in a world that is looking for unity. If we can't a new sense of friendship, and at the same time get together as denominations, how can we de- believing that we have a message to them that mand that the world get together as nations? We Jesus Christ completes everything good in any believe that the missionary enterprise comes to nation anywhere. you with a new passionate belief in the unity of the Christian world, and we would build up a I believe the last vestige of connection of the great sense of Christian solidarity that would missionary enterprise with political imperialism hold together every fine thing that each denomiwas severed at the Jerusalem Conference. For the nation can contribute to the whole, but bound tofirst two or three days we analyzed until we were gether with a broad Christian brotherhood that paralyzed. We were suffering from what some- transcends all of this. There is no denomination body has called "paralysis of analysis." But at that had any corner on the saints. God seems to the end of those two weeks, as we sat at the feet work through denominations-sometimes, in of Jesus Christ and looked into His thoughts, we spite of them. If that hurts your denominational concluded that we had a message the world could pride it may help your Christian humility. We not do without and live. No missionary move- are deeply grateful for the denominations which ment has set its face toward the rights of all men, have nurtured us and given us spiritual birth, but and the liberties of all men. we step out and say: "It may be that the Chris- tian missionaries will force us at the home base But somebody says: While the missionary to come together because we believe that the movement may not be political imperialism, isn't world is searching for real unity." it denominational imperialism? Isn't it marked by the desire to build up vast denominations? Is not spiritual imperialism desire to manage There is some truth in that alliance. Christian other people's minds and souls in their supposed missions grew up at the time when denominations interests? There is a good deal of that in Chrisexpanded greatly in the West, and they have tian missions at home and abroad, because of the sometimes used this movement for the purposes type of teaching we give our young people. We tell of statistics. our young people that they must go out and be- come leaders. Get a dozen people together, all of Christ Greater Than Sects But today in the East, Christianity is begin- whom have been taught to be leaders, and you ning to recognize that there is something bigger have the stage set for confusion and strife, and than the question of being a Baptist or a Meth- for position, and power. Jesus (according to odist or a Presbyterian or anything else. There Moffet) said, "Be ye not called leaders." The is the question of being a Christian! What great attitude of the leader is, "I lead; you follow." It advantage is it 'to you whether you are a Meth- is a selfish attitude, therefore cannot be Christian. odist or Episcopal or anything else, in the light of Jesus said, "Be ye called servants." The attitude the question as to whether Jesus Christ or Karl of the servant is that he loses himself in a cause Marx shall hold the destiny of China? As we outside of himself. Jesus said, "I can Christianize have dropped down beneath the level of organ- that attitude." The world is tired of leaders. ization, down to the level of experience, we have Again and again they plunge us into war to satisdiscovered that the true Christian Church is the fy their ambitions. The world is sick of the desire most united body on earth, if we only knew it. to be leaders. It is perishing for servants! Per- Weare united in the deepest thing in life-name- ishing for men and women who lose themselves in the needs of humanity, forgetting themselves ly, in life itself. We share in Jesus Christ a life as the Master did. He said, "I am among you as that overleaps the barriers of race and class and one who serves. I came not to be ministered unto, congregation and denomination, and holds us to but to minister and to give myself a ransom for the deepest brotherhood that this world knows many." anything about-the brotherhood of a new life in Christ. The Supremacy of the Servant It is a strange anomoly that people who are Then what happens? That Servant of all be- most united at the center are sometimes most comes the greatest of all. He rises up with a new divided at the circumference. We, therefore, say kind of leadership, out of hurt and pain, out of to the Christian Church: "Brothers, we are one. the Cross. On Easter morning He rises to a new Let's act and love as if we were one. Do away leadership. The Servant of all becomes the Great- with all. duplications, and all competitions, all est of all. If, therefore, you are sending out self- overlappmg, and face this whole world Christian appointed leaders, we don't want them. But if program with the sense of the solidarity of the you can send out men and women who will lose Christian forces of the world." themselves in the great needs of the East, in Heav-
THE UNIVERSALITY OF CHRIST
en's name send them! The East is perishing for in prayer, that we, too, might have more of Christ servants. in our lives. The very act of giving to others is a There is another thing working against this conscious or unconscious prayer that His Life motive. We have discovered by actual fact that may be more operative in our own lives. But the we cannot succeed in being missionaries unless man who makes that objection doesn't say to we succeed in becoming marginal. No longer at science, for instance, "Science, you dare not pass the center, managing affairs, but on the margin, your science to the rest of the world until the sum stimulating, spiritualizing, culturers and helpers total of the findings of science are operative in of the situation; always trying to produce men America." The fact of the matter is that the find- and women who will stand upon their own feet ings of science are far beyond the application of and succeed only as we succeed in producing science to our collective life. The science of med- Christ-conscious, Spirit-directed, self-supporting icine is far beyond the application of medicine to churches in the East. our collective life, yet we do not hesitate to give We need the kind of mentality at the home base our science to the rest of the world. There is al- that is willing to contribute, even where they ways a gap between the findings of a thing and can't manage. We want the kind of spirit God the application of that thing. There is a gap be- guided, at the home base that feels that it is true tween Jesus Christ and our collective manifesta- success when we succeed in producing the kind of tion of Jesus Christ. We do not ask the nations churches in the East that stand as living, vital of the earth to become American; all we ask centers, courageous and self-supporting. In other them to do is to become Christian, and maybe in words, the price of your support should not be becoming Christian they will help us to become that you manage the whole thing. Give liberties more Christian. That is what we crave.
to men and women, give them liberties sufficient The question is, Has Jesus Christ a supply to enable God to help them develop their own which is universally redemptive? Will men be recharacteristics and their own life; then it may deemed if they will give Him a chance? We bebe that outt>f that liberty shall come back to us a lieve He has that abundant supply of life, and great contribution. I do not want merely to go to that in Jesus Christ, wherever groups and nathe East, I want the East to come to us. tions and individuals have exposed themselves to There are multitudes of men and women in the Him, there will come a redemptive power that East who have caught the passion and victory of will lift, change, redeem and make new.
Christ. These men and women can give the Gos- Not Ourselves But Christ pel to help us complete the uncompleted work and task of evangelism of America, so that there will We preach not ourselves but Jesus Christ, and be no more distinction between a "giving coun- then we are your servants for Jesus' sake. But try" and "receiving country," but we will all be somebody says it may not be spiritual impergiving and we will all be receiving. Out of that tinence. Mahatma Gandhi raises an objection. process will rise a fuller, finer type of Christian He says that there should be no change in reli- manhood, out of the twain shall he become a new gion. In an interview with some American newsman in Jesus Christ. paper men he said, "If the missionaries were to Another objection is that somebody says that it use their hospitals and schools for the purpose of may not be spiritual imperialism, but spiritual proselytizing, then when we attain self-govern- impertinence to go to people of other lands, when ment we would ask them to withdraw." His last our task at home is uncomplete. A man said, word modified his first and he said: "Under self- "You never export a thing unless you have a sur- government the missionary would not be allowed plus of that thing. Do you mean to say that you to proselytize if we feel it is done in the wrong have a surplus of Christianity in America, that way." But we have no desire to proselytize. Pros- you dare export it?" We have no surplus of elytizm, or a mere outward change of association, Christianity in America, but unless we try to is unchristian. Jesus said to the religious lead- bring others to Christ our own Christianity will ers of His day, "You compass sea and land and die upon our hands. If the individual centers up- gain a proselyte, and when you have gained him on himself to Christianize himself, he will be de- you are twofold more a child of Hell than him- Christianized in the process. self."
If a group or church should center upon itself On the other hand, Jesus definitely and specif- to Christianize. itself, it would perish in the proc- ically demanded conversion. He said, "Except a ess. If a nation should center upon itself to Chris- man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of tianize itself, it would dry up in the process. God." There is a distinction between conversion Our very stretched-out hands across the seas and proselytizm. Proselytizm is the coming over are in the end a putting of those hands together from one sect or group or opinion to another
group or sect or OpInIOn without any necessary the very nature of the Gospel which I hold. Freechange in heart allegiance or character. It is a ly did I receive, freely must I give. There is a change of label, not of life. We repudiate pros- deep discipline in the Gospel, a disCipline of the elytizm but we insist upon conversion, for con- love of Christ; but primarily it is the gift of version involves a change in character-a deep, God. The Gospel is not so much a demand as it fundamental, all-embracing change in life. is an offer, an offer of new life to man by the grace of God. The moment this life takes hold of One business of the Christian Church is to pro- a man he comes under a discipline so severe that duce conversion, and when the Christian Church it is far deeper than self-discipline. can no longer show conversions it has lost its right to live and its power to propagate. When Gandhi has another objection. This time, he it can no longer make a good man out of a bad says: "If you speak about your religion, don't man, and a weak man into a strong man, and a speak about it in words. Use the most perfect man without God-consciousness into a man ra- method of evangelism-let it come out of the life, diant with God, it has lost its function in human as the perfume comes from the rose. As missionsociety. The whole structure of human life is aries and as Christian workers draw people by resting upon that subtle, intangible thing called your deeds. But do not speak about it." character. And when the character breaks, the confidence breaks, and when the confidence breaks Witness of Lips and Life the country breaks. If the Christian Church cannot so present Jesus Chris,t and His Gospel so as There is something valuable in this suggestion. to make men and women of Christlike character, The West has organized religion too much around if any religion does not make bad men good, it words. Our places of worship are called "audihas lost its right to exist. We have, therefore, no toriums." Our services are services of song, prayapologies for trying to produce conversion. We er, speech-words. Somebody asked a Chinese believe that wherever men and women and in- what he thought of the Christian religion. He dividuals and nations expose themselves recep- said, "It is a very talkative religion." There is tively to Jesus Christ, their conversion does take something in what he says. Gandhi snid, "Let us place to the degree that He is received. have a moratorium on words." There is some- thing in his objections-but not everything. "We want to do something deeper and more fundamental than proselytizing." Conversion is Jesus Christ did use the rose-perfume method. not only the conversion of an individual-that "He went about doing good." He did good beconversion is as far extended as human need. cause men needed it, and the resources of His Just as' there can be sin in the individual will, heart were big enough to meet that need. He went there can be sin in the collective will. Shall we about doing good, but He did more than that. He rescue the wounded in war or strike at the war interpreted words by acts. The words of His lips system, too? Shall we pick up the drunkards or and the deeds of His life were one. They caJrne tostrike at the liquor traffic, too? The Christian gether like the words and music of a song. His Gospel reapplied would mean a conversion, not deeds were words and His words were deeds, and merely of the individual, but of the sum total of they all came together and became the Living human life. Conversion-the Kingdom of God Word. coming-replacing the present world order, founded as it is on exploitations and on unbroth- We would say to Mahatma Gandhi, If we are erliness-we could replace by an order founded true to Christ we will invest this message with on good will, the Brotherhood of Man under the the sum total of our lives, and that includes our Fatherhood of God. This is the conversion for words. It is only when our words are rooted in which the Kingdom of God stands. facts that we dare speak them.
The Christian life is primarily not an attain- A man came to' me in India and said, "Why do ment, but an obtainment. The gift of God came to you go after people to baptize them?" I replied, me when I had nothing to offer except my bank- "I don't. They come to ask me to baptize them. I ruptcy. I came to Jesus Christ hurt, confused, put no label on a man that does not correspond to bankrupt. I offered Him what I had, and to my an inward fact." The man who has the reality utter amazement and astonishment He took me, has a right to outwardly proclaim it and to enjoy forgave me, cleansed me, loosed me from the old any group where it will be cultivated. The inbonds, set my soul singing its way down these ward without the outward is also hypocrisy. The years. By His grace was I made whole. life, speaking one thing, has a right to live it out.
I dare to speak of that because I simply am lay- But somebody offers one final objection: ing at His feet the tribute of my gratitude and "Aren't they getting along well enough without my life. I could not keep silence without denying Jesus Christ?"
I can not find anyone anywhere getting along well enough without Jesus Christ in East or West.
1938J THE UNIVERSALITY OF CHRIST
I cannot do it. In fellowship with Him I truly thirsty and ye gave me drink; I was sick and ye live. I go to the nations of the East because they are a part of the world, not because they are not visited me; in prison, and ye came to me." most degraded but because they are brother men. "Lord," they say, "when saw we ye hungry or A man said to me, "How do you talk to theos- thirsty? Sick or in prison? We never saw Thee 6phists?" I don't-I talk to people. And I don't this way." And the Master says "Inasmuch as go to speak to Hindus and Mohammedans-I go to speak to men with the same inward needs that ye have done it unto one of the least of these, ye I have. I do not go to the people of the East be- 'cause they are the worst of the world, I go to have done it unto Me." . them because they are men for whom Christ died. That, it seems to me, is the legitimate reason for Who is it that is hungry in the hunger of the going. There are degradations in the East just as there are degradations in the West. As I have world? The Christ hungers again. Who is it that sat in round-table conferences and heard noble is bound with the shackles of custom and sin and men tell what religion was meaning or not mean- evil? In them Christ is still bound? At the Cross ing to them, I have come to the conclusion that not only any man at his worst needs Christ, but He gathered all up into His own heart, until every man at his finest and best needs Him. Christ and the human soul were made for each other just as man's trouble became His trouble, and every the lungs were made for air, the eyes for light, the man's pain His pain, and every man's sin His heart for love, and the esthetic nature for beauty. Jesus Christ and the human soul were made for sin. He bore it in His own body upon the Tree. each other, and when we find Him we find not There, it seems to me, is the meaning of the unionly the Way of Life, but Life itself. I desperately wish everyone to have that life. verse. There is the meaning of Life. We live in proportion as we respond with deeper and deeper The Cross and the Motive sensitiveness. This is the test by which we can If I were to point out the deepest places where my missionary motive is found, I would point to judge. a Cross. For the Cross, to me, is the place where I see deepest into the universe. There the uni- How much life is there in our churches? That verse turns redemptive, forgiving all, bearing all, is the great question that comes home to us. healing all, and turning the whole of life into tri- Judge by this standard. Many churches are about umph. It is at the Cross where we see the heart the spiritual level of the vegetable. Dead beets, of the missionary passion, for there is the place of the heartbreak of God. There is where love, pure, if you will. No sensitiveness beyond themselves, holy love, comes into contact with words, sign and need. There we begin to see love reaching and proud of that fact. The missionary moveout as far as the human need, and taking all into ment, with all its faults (and it has many) is the God's own heart bearing all and forgiving all. reaching up of arms and saying, "We are trying Someone has defined "Life" as "sensitiveness." to be Christian; we are trying to be sensitive on It is a great definition. The lower down the scale of living you go the less sensitiveness you find. a world scale, and in trying to do so we are be- The stone is numb; there is no life. The plant ginning to try to catch something of the passion has some sensitiveness, therefore some life. The animal has more, therefore more life. When you that our Lord and Master held." I cannot see come to Man you find the sensitiveness ranging out beyond itself, beyond its group, its nation, and how we can keep that passion in our hearts and to God and the larger life reaches out to man. The more sensitiveness, the more life. The high- not reach out to the last man everywhere. est, greatest life that has been lived upon our planet, is Jesus Christ. There we find the su- The moment I rose the day I was converted I preme sensitiveness. On the last day He will say, felt an impulse in my heart that I had never "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of known before. Five minutes before I had had no the world. I was hungered and ye fed me; I was such impulse. The impulse was that I wanted to share with everybody, and put my arms around the world arid share the Gospel with everybody. My missionary motive today is that; deepened, broadened, but still there. I do not see any place to stop witnessing this side of the last human being. This desire should be held in the heart as a great consuming power. The center of the whole thing is the heart. I believe that such a passion shows the heartbeat of Jesus Christ. In Him is enough power to heal the individual, the social, the eco- nomic, the political needs of the world. I know no other power.
Jesus Christ stands and says, "Come unto Me and enter My Kingdom." Are you willing to make inward surrender of your whole self to Him -your money, your brain, your hand, your life? If so you will follow Him and your life will never be the same. You will have new joy and freedom and power.
of the Churches in
By REV. AKIRA EBISAW A, Tokyo, Japan ExecutitJe Secretary of the National Christian Council of Japan T HE Christian churches of Japan have made It may sound strange for us to speak of such striking progress in the brief time since the a radical change. But every living organism is opening of missions here in 1859. From the destined to grow and is subject to vital changes. very early days these churches have been charac- We believe in the God of Creation, who works terized by a self-governing church polity, pro- even today. We cannot measure the creative moted under the leadership of missionary and work of God in terms of the status quo or hold Japanese leaders. the idea that there can be no development of new We realize, however, that the Christian Church features in the realm of the Church. We should in Japan is not yet fully established. It is only hope and expect that a newly emerging Christian partially represented by the communions trans- Church will develop new forms in a new environplanted to Japanese soil from the Western World. ment.
While the various denominational churches The organization, methodology, and functions represent very important branches of the Body of of the churches in the field must be defined in the Christ, with their historic characteristics, yet light of their environment, they should be rethese divisions often seem meaningless and are a organized so as to accord with the national trastumbling block to the Oriental mind. Japanese dition and be adapted to their indigenous cultural do not understand why the Christian churches are heritage. thus divided. Many things need to be re-examined. For in- Very serious problems are confronting the stance in Japan, the custom of religious congrechurches in the Japan field at present. The en- gational public worship never existed until the vironment of these churches, influenced by the Christian church service was introduced. Our cultural heritage of the nation, is necessarily in- forefathers were accustomed to individual worfluencing their inner life. ship ·and to occasional festivals. Thus the Roman Catholic form of worship seems better adapted to The age-long struggle of the Western churches our people than the Protestant congregational of Europe against the Greco-Roman materialistic services. Moreover, offerings in connection with humanism is being repeated to some extent even public worship have been alien to our people. in Japan. Bushido emphasized the virtue of righteousness Generally speaking, churches in the Orient are and sacrifice and disdained utilitarianism. It placed in an environment characterized by vari- looked with contempt upon the motive of personal ous forms of culture and by the presence of the profit and gain. Little wonder that even in this other great ethnic religions. This brings new fea- highly economic-minded age there are people who tures into the struggle which the Oriental young- think that it is not pious nor Christian to speak er churches are experiencing. This presents a of monetary matters during a religious service or new problem to the churches in this field and right even to take the purse to the house of wor- gives hope and promise that the outcome will be ship.
the enrichment of their inner life. Although gradually the Western industrial These considerations suggest that some intrin- order is affecting and destroying the old social sic value must be developed on the part of these system and is replacing it with an individualistic churches that will adapt them to the cultural mode of life, the family system still has a strong heritage and social environment in their native hold on the life of the Japanese. This makes it fields, without losing anything of their Christian customary for only the head of the family to en- character. joy economic independence, the other members It must be admitted that we should re-examine all being dependent. As a result the system of and re-evaluate our church organization, its meth- offerings by individual members of a church is ods of activity and its relationships, in the light almost meaningless.
of the national cultural tradition and the chang- Creative imagination on the part of Western ing environment. people, inspired by religious insight, has erected [532 ] such wonderful structures as St. Paul's Cathedral lives. This often makes the distinction between and Notre Dame. But why should Christian Christians and non-Christians obscure and insigchurch architecture throughout the world con- nificant. form to Gothic forms or wholly Western style? The New Testament conception of the church The lack of a strong devotional motive makes does not indicate such patterns. It rather sug- many feel that it is a burden to bear the respongests that the Church universal is composed of sibility of rendering service and giving in supsmall units, meeting in the homes of the believers. port of the Church. Another excuse, which has some truth in it, is that the Church at present is The Church universal, as an ideal spiritual so- dealing with things that are too trifling as comciety, must be made clear to the mind of con- pared with the momentous matters which are agitemporary Christians, especially of the younger tating humanity. This does not appeal to the imchurches. This is well defined by Dr. Wm. A. agination nor sound the depths of life for minds Brown, as follows: that are alert.
It must never be suffered to obscure the fact that the In view of these unhealthy tendencies, we are Church of Christ exists today as definite body in the per- endeavoring to promote an interest on the part sons of the men and women who have been touched by of church members in the training of the laity for His spirit, and who live for the ends which He approves. voluntary evangelism and in Christian steward- This spiritual society, creating institutions, but not it- ship as features of our Nation-Wide Union Evanself perfectly comprehended or expressed by any, is the gelistic Campaign. true Church of Christ. (Brown: "Christian Theology in Outline," Ch. V. p. 59.) Self-Support and Self-Government The members of the Re-Thinking Missions Self-support and self-government on the part Commission define the Church in a way which of the churches have usually been taken as synwill help to clarify the conception of the Chris- onymous among Christian people throughout the tians in the field regarding it. world. A clear distinction should be made be- tween them. A Christian's property belongs to The Church is to be thought of as a spiritual fellow- God and God's money may be used anywhere for ship and communion of those who have found a new His Kingdom without reference to racial or naspring of life and power by the impact of the Christian tional differences. message, who are eager to join together as a living, growing body of believers through whom the ideals and the A policy of self-government is imperative for spirit of Christ can be transmitted and His principles of the churches in the field if we wish them to devellife promoted, then that type of Church will always have op as the Church of Christ. But the problem of a function in the work of building the Kingdom of God self-support must be considered in the light of the whether on the mission field or at home. ("Re-Thinking activities and functions of the church. Some Missions," Ch. V. p. 109.) churches tend to overemphasize self-support, with the result that the local churches crystallize Owing to the lack of proper training in such a into small-sized organizations, with no possibility fundamental conception of the Church, the young- of an expanding life and influence necessary for er churches are facing a grave danger at present. self-propagation. It is a pity to see dwarfed or That danger is the general trend among the crippled local churches losing their activities Christians of growing indifference toward the and ceasing to appeal to the general public. organized churches. Forced self-support does not prove to be self- Among the causes that have contributed to this support at all. It often means that the pastor is tendency, we mention a few for which we should obliged to support himself by some form of side feel responsibility. The Japanese have a feeling work. It is a mistake to demand self-support of distaste for the too highly institutionalized without considering the real strength of the local church life which tends to give the impression church as related to its environment. The church, that it is too conventional and has an artificiality in the New Testament meaning, should be organwhich bears a secular flavor. ized in every small town and village and even in the homes of the believers. This tendency may also be due to the fact that the churches are losing their strong leaders in Owing to an overemphasis on self-support on the ministry. This may seem partly inevitable in the one hand, and to a lack of the conception of these days because of the greatly changed social Christian stewardship-the training for which is environment as compared with the pioneer days quite new among the younger churches-on the when the missionary and indigenous leaders were other, many local churches are suffering greatly conspicuous figures. It must be admitted that because of the economic problem. The result is consciously or unconsciously contemporary Chris- that churches tend to be governed by the motive tians are influenced by the secular, materialistic, of group egoism while the individual church individual thought, and are losing the idealistic, self-forgetting, sacrificial motive in their daily
members themselves are likewise influenced by activities necessary to meet the needs of the compersonal egoism. munity at large and can fulfill their responsibility as witnessing churches. We must continually re- Many economic problems are at present con- mind Christians of the fundamental unified charfronting the younger churches. In Oriental acter of the churches of the different communions homes, where the traditional family system pre- in accordance with the conception of the Church vails, the father, as the wage earner, usually defined by Dr. William Adams Brown. holds the purse and other members of the family get money from him. Yet the Protestant As the religious society which finds its bond of union Churches, in spite of this traditional Japanese in Jesus of Nazareth, the Church is one. . . . Beneath custom are supported on the basis of individual the outward divisions and misunderstandings which sepcontributions, in accordance with the custom in arate different bodies of Christians there is a common Western lands. religious experience which is shared by all whose lives are lived under the influence of the Master, and which Another problem perplexing city churches is unites in sympathy, labor, and prayer, good men in every the fact that, owing to changes in the environ- branch of the Church. It is ,this common religious life, ment, members are moving to the suburbs and it uniting in spiritual fellowship men of different ecclesiasis becoming increasingly difficult to bring the tical names and of none, which is the real foundation of family to the mother church every Sunday be- the unity of the Church. (Brown: "Christian Theology cause of the transportation costs and other ex- in Outline," p. 59.) penses. Notwithstanding these difficulties, it is an encouraging fact that the annual giving of the There is also the problem of church union. churches in Japan in recent years. amounts to "Divided churches cannot conquer the unified about 2,500,000 yen, or 12.50 yen per capita. This world." The way to win the world is to consoliis a good ratio when compared with the reported date the Church's divided forces, under the leadgiving of New York church members last year. ership and power of the Spirit of God.
Another problem is the question as to what con- In Japan we have been carrying forward a stitutes real cooperation between older and study regarding a basis for union ever since 1925. younger churches? Of course cooperation, through We have been swung back and forth over the fellowship or in conferences, does not begin problem of a creed. Our people now seem to realwhere financial support from the church at the ize that to begin by planning for organic union home base is cut off. Real f!'lllowship and cooper- will get us nowhere. There must first be spiritation can be established without regard to finan- ual unity in Christ. We are now inclined to start cial relations. Younger churches can not be said with a federated union as has been the case with to cooperate satisfactorily with the older churches the Church of Christ in China. Dr. Stanley Jones at the home base as long as they exist on a poor has suggested a similar procedure. economic level and with a crippled independence. Real cooperation should begin when the younger We see a possibility for the realization of churches on th~ field are able to maintain the Christian union if we proceed along this line for the coming ten-year period by uniting in work which has no direct concern with a creed.
GOD CHOOSES BUSY MEN FOR HIS WORK When God has work to be done we notice that He almost always goes to those who are al- ready at work. Both his,tory and the Bible attest this truth.
Moses was tending his flocks at Horeb when God called him to deliver the people of Is- rael from bondage in Egypt.
Gideon was threshing wheat by the wine press when God called him to deliver Israel from the Midianites.
David was caring for his father's sheep w hen he was called to succeed Saul as king.
Elisha was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen when he was called to succeed Elijah as prophet of God in Israel. .
Nehemiah was bearing the king's cup when he was called to go to rebuild Jerusalem.
Amos was attending the flock when he was summoned to be a prophet of God.
Peter and Andrew were casting a net into the sea when Christ called them to become fishers of men.
Matthew was collecting customs when he was called to be a disciple.
Saul was persecuting the church when he was commissioned to be a missionary of Christ.
William Carey was mending shoes when he heard the call to be a foreign missionary.
for the Church in India*
By B. L. RALLIA RAM, ESQ.
Secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association, Lahore CHRISTIAN influence has streamed into In- the word "church" in this article refers to the dia in four different channels: sum-total of all the "churches," for, with all the First: According to the traditions of divergent doctrines, traditions and practices, they the Syrian Church Christianity was originally do owe allegiance to one Lord and Master and preached in India, by the Apostle St. Thomas, in unitedly proclaim His name. In spite of the ex- the states of Travancore and Cochin, early in the istence of many "churches," there is yet an entity, Christian Era. The Church thus established, how- intangible though it may seem, which may be ever, was not alive to its missionary obligations. called "The Church of Christ in India."
It was handicapped by the political situation and The "Christian Community" consists of mem- by lack of communications so that its influence bers of the Christian churches and those who was confined to a small section of the country. nominally belong to the Christian community, Considerably weakened by divisions and internal having been born in homes known as Christian. disputes, in some respects it followed too closely According to the present political constitution of some of the painfully dark episodes in the history India, "The Christian Community" is a separate of the Church elsewhere. political entity with rights of special representa- tion in the national and provincial legislatures Second: In the Sixteenth Century the Portu- through voting constituencies of its own. This gese Roman Catholics inaugurated an era of rapid implies that in many places it is also a separate Christianization of India. Under their influence social entity. the work of St. Francis Xavier and the Jesuites in South India met with an apparent success. The This system leads to unfortunate results. It is, means used to convert people were not, however, however, gratifying to note that there are many always fair and honest. The Church in India un- Christian leaders who regret this political isolatil recently was preponderatingly Roman Cath- tion imposed by the award of the government. olic, but the Protestant influence has been There is an increasing number of Indian Chrissteadily increasing. and the Protestant Christians tians who are working shoulder to shoulder with now are numerically more than the Roman Cath- their countrymen for general social, political and olics. moral improvement. Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur, the talented daughter of the late Sir Raja Harnam Third: Early in the Eighteenth Century a Prot- Singh (a notable Christian convert from the famestant mission arrived in the South of India un- ily of a ruling chief), is the acknowledged leader der the inspiration of the King of Denmark, with of the Women's Movement in India. Two of the the financial help of an Anglican society. Its per- trusted lieutenants of Mahatma Gandhi, in charge sonnel was German. The large Lutheran Church of two of his important social and economic deof South India, the United Church of South India, partments, are Indian Christians. From this it the Anglican Church with its several dioceses will be seen that in common usage the term "Inare the direct result of this pioneering mission. dian Church" is sometimes applied to the com- munity known to the political and social life as Fourth: A century later groups of Protestant "The Indian Christians." missionaries were sent at short intervals by the English Baptists, the Church Missionary Society, Here we are mainly concerned with the organand the London Missionary Society. They were ized Christian Churches, though the second consoon reinforced by Americans and others. Thus ception associated with the term "Indian Church" there are now several Evangelical Christian cannot altogether be avoided. churches deeply rooted in the soil of India.
Technically there is no one Christian CHURCH Characteristics of the Church in India in India, but a large number of "churches." But It is impossible to deal here adequately with the • Mr. Basil Mathew gives a significant title to one of his recent CsauhbfuJe'rewccht .aosfpeCchtsrisotf in India. We can refer only to books "The Church Takes Root in India." This happy phrase aptly a very large and complicated describes the present position of the Christian Church in India.
B. L. R. A.
[ 5351
Except for the church in Malabar, the Church agating Churches." It is essential, therefore, that of Christ in India owes its existence to the labors the help from abroad should be so used as to of missionaries sent out by the churches of the achieve this ideal as speedily as possible. It is West. These "sending churches" have been main- universally recognized now that the ultimate suc- ly responsible for the nourishment and the devel- cess in Christianizing India must depend upon the opment of the Church in India. Each church is efforts of the indigenous Church itself. It alone dependant still upon their "mother" church for can be a truly effective witness to the Indians of help. Missionaries play an important role in the the saving power of Christ. Its life of witness life of the Church. Financial help is given to will win India for Christ. The most important maintain its indigenous ministry and its institu- aspect, therefore, of the development of the tions and forms of service. The different churches Church is its response to the challenge to evan- are in various stages of development. gelism.
In main there are two kinds of church organ- The Church and Evangelism izations: Some churches have already become When the missions were first started it was autonomous, though not fully self-supporting. In considered necessary to employ paid Indian evan- the South, a strong "South India United Church" gelists, and to keep them under their own control. includes the Presbyterian and Congregational. This system may have been necessary in the ear- Corresponding to it there is a similar "United lier stages, but its continued and prolonged ex- Church of North India." The Church of India, Burma and Ceylon, which is in fellowship with istence is likely to mitigate against the fulfilment of the legitimate work of the Church itself. the World-wide Anglican Communion, has attained its independence by an Act of the British In some places, the mission is separately organ- , Parliament. These and several other churches are ized as an evangelistic agency, with its own Inautonomous; they are in full communion with dian workers, while the Church is left with the the corresponding churches of the West and are pastoral work. While missionaries can exert receiving help from them. their influence (and sometimes unduly large in- fluence) in the matters left to the Church, the Other churches are exemplified by the Meth- mission policy remains the sole concern of the odist Episcopal Church and the United Presby- mission. This often creates a strain, acting adterian Church. They still form a part of the versely on the spiritual life of the Church, and American churches and their highest court is out- consequently weakens the sense of evangelistic side India. These churches are being given an responsibility. But there is an increasing realizaincreased measure of responsibility, without the tion of this danger and the systems are being final authority. We do not seek to evaluate the overhauled and adjusted so as to throw the rerelative merits of these two systems. sponsibility of evangelization upon all the lay membership of the Church, where it rightfully Christianity in India reflects the character of belongs. the churches of the West, to which the churches in India owe an everlasting debt, not only for their existence, but also for support and guidance. Next in importance to evangelization, is the This dependence of the Church in India on the responsibility of the Church for its own life and Western churches has also been responsible for the administration of its own institutions as a many difficult problems. In some ways it has "self-propagating and self-governing" Church. handicapped the Church, and it has retarded The responsibility for administration is somehealthy growth. This was inevitable. On the one times related to the financial support it can prohand the Church in India could not have reached vide for the maintenance of the enterprise, and it its present stage without help; on the other hand is mistakenly contended that self-government and it has grown under the shadow of a large tree self-support are inter-dependent. Such a mechanwith an apparent loss of spontaneity. This has ical system tends to make the Church dependent upon material resources rather than upon spiritstunted its stature. The danger has lain and still lies in the way ual realities.
this help is given. Very often an undue stress is A recent conference held on "Self-Support" at laid on the financial relationship between the Nagpur, under the auspices of the National Chris- Churches of India and the Western Churches. tian Council, provides a Iseful study for those While this relationship is of great importance, in who are interested in this problem.
the last analysis it is not the vital factor. There The Churches of Christ in the world must al- has been considerable progress in "self-support" ways be interdependant and, therefore, depend- of the Churches of India. ence of the Church in India upon other Churches, From the early stages of their work, missions in itself is not wrong provided care is taken that have set before themselves the goal of creating this dependence does not inflict a moral injury "self-governing, self-supporting, and self-prop- and stunt the growth of a healthy normal plant.
OUTLOOK FOR THE CHURCH IN INDIA
There are some dangers to which the Church India. Recently surveys have been made into the of India is exposed at the present time: economic conditions of the Christian community in several parts of the country. Some of these There is a danger that the Church may in fu- surveys have been undertaken at the initiative of ture be entirely in the hands of an hierachy of the National Missionary Society. A study of these the clergy and other paid workers. While it is is most instructive. Dr. E. D. Lucas and Mr. the privilege of the ministry of the Church to Frank Thakur Dass made an economic enquiry teach, to guide and to serve, the spiritual driving into the conditions of the community in Pasrur power must come through spirit-filled laity; un- Tehsil in the Punjab and discovered that the avertil the lay element are given their due share in age income of a Christian family of five is about the government of the Church, and in the forma- $40 a year, or $3.50 a month. It is the glory of tion of its ideals, the Church can never achieve its the Christian Church that it has brought the mesobject. sage of release from the bondage to these poor people. That the Church in India is poor is not Business and professional men are not exerting a reproach, but is a matter for thankfulness. the degree of influence in affairs of the Church to Problems arising out of this fact, however, must which they are entitled. This needs to be cor- be courageously faced. Is economic poverty in acrected. cordance with the mind of Christ? Is not this problem of the extreme poverty of Christian vil- It is possible that the help of men and women lage communities a challenge to the Church? from abroad may be used in such a way as to hamper rather than help the emergence of a truly The Church in India Is a Growing Church independent Church. It is a significant fact that there have been no heresies developed in the India is one of those countries where populachurches of India. This probably means that tion is increasing rapidly. This creates a national there has been no independent thinking in the problem. Every community, in a natural way, is Church itself. The Church has produced many increasing. In 10 years (1921-1931) the poppersons who by their ability and spiritual leader- ulation of India increased by 14 per cent, but ship have taken their places in the front rank; but the Christian community and the membership of there is an urgent call for more leaders who are the Christian Church is increasing much faster. able to think and act independently in accordance During the decade 1921-31, the increase of the with the highest principles. The best way that Indian Christian community, according to the help from abroad can be given is to train and re- natural process, should have been 157,355, but it lease Christian personalities who will take the actually was 1,542,684. This has been true in responsibility of guiding the Church in India. every census report.
The life and work of men 'like the Bishop of Since 1931 reports from the churches reveal the Dornakal and the late Mr. K. T. Paul have done fact that a large number of people are continuing more to establish the Christian Church in India to turn to Christ through mass movements. These than the work of many a foreign worker. movements, well described by Bishop Pickett, are no longer from the lowest strata of society only, New Challenge but in certain sections, particularly in the diocese of Dornakal and the Nizam's Dominion, groups The Church in India may become exclusively from the highest castes of Hinduism are also ennational and conservative. The Church in the tering in the Christian Church. This welcome en- West is being confronted with a new challenge by largement of the Church in India must bring new the problems of the modern world. It is being challenges and many new problems. forced to rethink and relive, and to rededicate. The Church in India is, to a considerable extent, Conversion to Christianity in this way of large outside the currents of new thoughts. Its con- groups is fraught with many dangers and if the tact with <Ecumenical movements of the present Church in India does not have the resources to age is meager. If it is to fulfill its destiny, and if give adequate teaching and to provide essential it is to discharge its God-given responsibility, its opportunities for the nourishment and developgrowth must be harmonious and not lopsided. In ment of their Christian life, the Indian Church true and unwaning fidelity to Christ and His may well sink into lower depths. It might easily teaching it must assimilate all that is best and become another religious system. Thus while the challenging in its great heritage of the history of mass movements are providing great encouragethe Church throughout the ages, the spiritual ment they are potentially also the source of great heritage of India, and also the stirring of the danger. spirit in modern times. At the present time the Christian community in The Church of India is poor in comparison with India is only one per cent of the total population. the churches of other countries. It is poor in There is still a vast field to be evangelized by the comparison with other religious communities in
Christian enterprise, but its greatest opportunity greatest opportunity it will be a tragedy. On the does not come from that side alone. As a result of other hand if the Church is faithful to its message the recent world forces a new nation has been and can serve its country with the spirit and zeal born in India pulsating with life and anxiously of the Master, then India will make a contribudesirous to make its contribution to world civil- tion to the world whose importance cannot be exization and world culture. India is beginning to aggerated. There are tremendous possibilities for think in world terms and looks upon itself in the the future. setting of a new world. In India the Christian Church is face to face with three or four virile, The World Conference at Tambaram (Madras) aggressive religious systems with their conflict- comes at one of the critical periods of the history ing doctrines of life and action. Will the future of mankind. It is to be hoped that this ingatherof India be guided and moulded by these philos- ing of the leaders of the Christian enterprise from ophies or will the life-giving principles of Christ all the world will release a new Spiritual force give to her a new way of life and action? The which will not only give to the Church in India answer to this question must depend upon the a new vision and new power but we pray that its work and witness of the Churches in India. If clarion call for advance in the name of Christ the Church fails its motherland in the hour of her will penetrate effectively the harassed countries of the Western as well as the Eastern world.
A Saintly Surgeon of India The Story of Sir William Wanless of Mira; By MARGARET McKELLAR, M.D., LL.D.
Toronto, Ontario Missionary to India under the United Church of Canada SOMEONE has said: "If the Taj Mahal is a times Dr. Wanless was decorated by the British dream in marble the Wanless Hospital is a Government, in 1913 receiving the silver Kaiser- dream in the art of healing." Affection for i-hind medal, in 1920 the gold medal and in 1928 a royal spouse was the incentive for the one; love the late King George V conferred upon him the for the Lord Jesus Christ and suffering humanity rank and title of Knight Bachelor of the British was the incentive of the other. Empire, (K.B.E.). These honors were conferred for his distinguished services and humanitarian Multitudes of people traveled thousands of work for the people of India. miles to reach this Mecca of healing. They came not only from India, but from Iran, Iraq, and I landed in India shortly after Dr. Wanless first other countries. arrived. After forty years of medical service, we both left our respective stations within a few Wanless was a household word in many parts months of each other. We worked together in the of India. It is said that more Indian people knew All-India Christian Medical Association, of which the name of the Saintly Surgeon of Miraj than he was the organizer and secretary, then presknew even the name of the Viceroy. If a fellow ident for seventeen years. One day I found mytraveler said that he was going to Miraj you could self in his home, with the late Dr. Arthur Neve of assume that he was going to "Wanless" for the Kashmir and Dame Edith Brown of Ludhiananames were synonymous. both famous surgeons. They were discussing with Sir William the respective merits of certain opera- Sir William James Wanless is a name destined tions, e.g., Colonel Smith's cataract extraction for to live among the names of the world's great sur- which Sir William himself had designed an ingeons, not only in India, where he worked out his strument for extracting .the lens. Today this is on earthly life's purpose with a heavenly meaning, the market as the "Wanless extractor." It was but in the Hall of Fame, established by the Uni- apparent that Sir William had a thorough familversity of New York. He received his medical iarity with the technique of the different varieties degree from that University in 1889, shortly be- of operations. Other members of the medical profore he went to India. In 1916 he became a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Three
A SAINTLY SURGEON OF INDIA
fession, British medical service men and mission- Although Dr. Wanless and I were stationed aries, all had confidence in his wisdom and skill. some six hundred miles apart, I took many Euro- pean patients to Miraj for operations. These In response to my question as to how he kept were 100 per cent successful. his surgical instruments from rusting, Sir William answered: "I use them"; and he did to At Miraj operations were the order of the day, splendid purpose. For his skill in surgery he was usually from noon until hours after lamplight, called the "Wizard of India." Even non-Christians when all the cases were finished, with no break except for afternoon tea, served in the operating STAFF AND STUDENTS OF THE MEDWAL SCHOOL, MIRAJ room annex. Foreign staft, seated. Left to Right: Dr. Vail, Dr. Inglis Frost, In the operating theater, Sir William was Rev. R. C. Richardson, Dr. W. J. Wanless. scrupulously observant of antiseptic precautions and would brook no carelessness on the part of recognized his Christlike example and called him his medical assistants or of visiting doctors. I "The Saintly Surgeon." saw him ruffled only twice. Once when defective forceps were flung on the floor and the other time One Indian patient, on being asked why he had when a visiting doctor placed on the tray of sterpassed by Bombay where there are many good ilized instruments an instrument that had been in hospitals and physicians, replied: "Because I was touch with an infected area. told that Dr. Wanless prays before he operates." There is no cemetery for surgical patients at- Once I saw a grateful patient, a mother, whose tached to Miraj Hospital! life he had saved when there was "no hope" for her, kiss him much to his surprise. Often Hindus Like D. L. Moody, our beloved Saintly Surgeon endeavored to kneel and kiss his feet. was a general. He was quick to grasp the situa- tion. He was a man of few words-many deeds. Sir William was not a surgeon who specialized on one organ-the whole body was his field of After one critical operation, an aggrieved nurse operation. He was equally successful in cataract asked him, "Why did you shout at me when you extractions, and in abdominal surgery, hence wanted that instrument? I feel very badly about there flocked to his hospital patients from far i.t. " and near; princes and paupers, high and low caste-for he did not discriminate; their need of "Did I shout?" he gently replied, "I am very his skill was their passport. The low-castes and sorry. All I thought about was to save that womuntouchables received the same care as did Ma- an's life!" hatma Gandhi or the rajahs. One of the 400 missionaries, who had been his Even children recognized and trusted his skill. patients, said to me: "I had to take my turn on Two mission-school children were overheard in a heated quarrel. When one could not have things CLINIC BUILDING AT THE MIRAJ HOSPITAL as she wanted, she said: "I'll cut your head off!" To this the other answered, "I don't care if you the operating table but with the greatest assurdo; I'll go to Dr. Wanless and he will put it on ance, knowing that I had for my surgeon one of again !" international fame. Night after night, as I lay in the cottage which had been built as a memorial People had such confidence in him that they to Mary Wanless, I would hear the brisk step of came without fear of the surgical knife. A poor the doctor and could see the flicker of light from village man, who could not understand that his his small lantern cross my window and my door. was an inoperable case, came to the doctor's bun- It was eleven o'clock, and he was returning home .galow and with tears streaming down his face said, "Doctor-saheb says he won't operate on me. Please, memsaheb, tell the doctor to do operation on me."
after making his bedtime rounds at the hospital. When the message reached me, the one day There had been many patients to see, just fresh train had already left for Miraj and there would that day from the operating table. He had done be no other for hours. Miraj was 30 miles distant his best and we knew that he prayed for them, and the road, in those days, was atrocious. The commending them to the One who slumbers not only missionary car in town was an old decrepit nor sleeps. They were committed to the keeping affair and could not be depended on to make the of the Great Physician. journey. I went in search of another car that I thought might be borrowed from the State. I Sir William won the warm friendship of His went first to get the antitoxin and then drove on Highness Shahu Maharajah of Kolhapur, who to the large State bungalow used by His Highness was ever ready to further the Miraj medical work as an office. by his generous gifts of land and money. Dr. Mary Stewart Marshall tells the following story A sepoy patrol with his gun paced in front of the State bungalow. He saluted and stepped up to SHRISHAHU CHHATROPATI MAHARAJA OF KOLHAPUR the car to ask my errand. I explained that Dr. Wanless was critically ill and that a request had of Royalty voluntarily running errands for a mis- come for medicine. I would like to ask His Highsionary. During the "cold season" of 1916-17 ness to send it as soon as possible by a State car. word reached Kolhapur of the serious illness of The guard left me and went to tell the Maharajah. Dr. Wanless. None of us could remember his ever In a few minutes he returned with His Highness, before having been more than slightly incapaci- bareheaded and barefooted, wearing the thin tated. His only American colleague was a young white cotton clothing that comprised his usual medical man who had come out as a short-term costume. With the genial smile that characterized assistant. Naturally, he felt keenly the serious- him, he asked what he might do for me. As I reness of the situation and the heavy responsibility peated the explanation his Highness listened, and resting on his shoulders. A critical throat condi- at once exclaimed: "Dr. Wanless ill? I shall go tion had developed and the younger doctor sent a myself!" With that I gladly handed over the messenger by train to Kolhapur asking me to packet of antitoxin. send at once two tubes of diphtheria antitoxin from the Mary Wanless Hospital, given by the It was office hours for the Maharajah, and the Maharajah because of services rendered by Sir grounds surrounding his office building were William. swarming with State officers and their peons (clerks) wearing the scarlet badge of office. Many no doubt had State business to transact with His Highness. Office hours came to a sudden close that day, and many disappointed politicians no doubt returned home to ponder on the strange ways of their Maharajah. He himself wore many coveted decorations conferred by the British Gov- ernment, including the Grand Commander of the Indian Empire and the Grand Commander of the Star of India, but he was never more kingly than when, with utmost spontaneity, he volunteered to go as messenger for his missionary friend and physician.
Dr. Wanless, after he had recovered, told with a smile of the Maharajah's arrival. He would en- trust the packet to no servant or medical attend- ant, but walked into the sick room with it. The patient was more than a little surprised to see his royal visitor and to hear him say, "Doctor, I my- self have brought you the medicine."
The Maharajah frequently came to witness operations. On one occasion a new nurse, who had not met him before, was on duty and in her vigilence refused him admission, unless (for anti-. septic reasons), he would don a surgical cap and gown. He meekly submitted, but as he was a man six feet tall and weighing 350 pounds, the gown covered a very small area, and the cap looked like
an inverted cup on his large head! The Mahara- In a letter to the Presbyterian Board of Forjah was known as very kind-hearted and as the eign Missions, written during his early years of patient, who was a low-caste man, was being service, Dr. Wanless bemoaned the fact that he wheeled from the room, he pulled from his pocket had closed the year with a $15.00 deficit. He a ten-rupee note and told the attendant to give it added: "Although you have announced a 50 per to the patient. The next patient for operation was cent cut for next year I will try not to let this hapa white man, and when he in turn was being pen again and am praying that friends in this wheeled from the room, the Maharajah asked, "Is country may rise up to help and not let the work he a poor man too?" "Yes," said the doctor with suffer." The prayers were answered! The hosa laugh, "He is just a missionary." pital soon became self-supporting and later al- though it was a Christian mission hospital, it The Maharaja of Kolhapur acknowledged again was supported entirely by Indian money and and again, in public addresses and State papers, three-fourths of its buildings were given by his indebtedness to the mission for benefits con- wealthy non-Christian Indians as memorial buildferred upon his State. The following quotation ings. Such a large gift is unique in mission an- (translated) from a Kolhapur State Public No- nals. tice, issued September, 1919, will illustrate: It is difficult to give an adequate idea of the Be informed that, at all public buildings, charity rest scope of what Sir William accomplished. His was houses, state houses, public government inns, etc., and an heroic adventure, but the end of his endeavor river watering places, public wells, etc., no defilement on justifies his faith in his own conception of what account of any human being is to be taken account of. could be done. He never forgot that he was first Just as in Christian public buildings and public wells, and last and at all times a missionary of Christ. and as Doctor Wanless, in the American Mission, treats He was dedicated soul and body to serve the peoall with the same love, so also here, they are to be treated ple of India and never allowed anything to conas not esteeming any unclean. flict with that career. He believed the work of healing to be a demonstration of the Gospel of Thus he endeavored to raise the status of the Christ's love. He did not talk of the institutions Untouchables of his State. which he had built, but he told of the communities of Christians in the towns where there had been William J. Wanless was born on the edge of a no Christians when he arrived in India. These forest in Ontario, Canada. Twenty-four years lat- towns were medical outstations where work was er this hardy young son of Scotch pioneers was started by graduates of his school, trained in the paving the way for medical missions in the prim- art of healing both soul and body. These dispenitive native Indian state of Miraj. Contrast the saries, in the districts eighteen to sixty miles dishumble beginnings in his medical work-a shack tant, developed into hospitals and churches with used as a dispensary and an operating table of growing Christian communities. Sir William rough boards made by the doctor himself-with often spoke of the joy in serving communion in the present! On his retirement his great heart one of these on the last Sabbath before his retireand skillful hands left the largest medical plant ment. of all missions in India. It consisted of four great institutions-a hospital with six branch hospitals, In an address, delivered at one of the many a medical school, a leper asylum, and a tubercu- farewells, in his honor, a non-Christian said: losis sanitarium. One and a half million patients had passed through the doors of hospital and dis- You have been a missionary in the truest sense of the pensary, and thousands of operations performed word and have ennobled the traditions of that high callannually. In the Miraj Medical School scores of ing. Your work of healing has always been subordinate Christian young men have been trained to practice to the Gospel message and you have rejoiced far more medicine and to preach the Gospel of Christ and over a regenerated soul than a regenerated body. India are working in mission hospitals in various parts needs saintly surgeons like you, who can lead her away of the country. It is the only mission medical from the whirlpools of political strife to the quiet waters school for men in all India. Being affiliated with of spiritual development and useful service in the cause the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Bom- of humanity. bay, the degrees are conferred by that institution. While those skillful hands are at rest, the soul The Leper Asylum cares for 250 lepers annual- of Sir William goes marching on. "His works do ly and 50 per cent of them have become Christians. follow him." "This great medical plant," writes They have their own organized church. The Sir a Board Secretary, "stands as a permanent me- William Wanless Tuberculosis Sanitarium was morial of an eminently useful service for Christ given its name by Sir Leslie Wilson, then Gover- and the people of India. This is his monument." nor of Bombay. Funds for site and buildings were raised entirely in India by. Sir William and was Small wonder that Britain knighted the Saintly opened by him in 1931. Surgeon, or that India mourned when he was called to his reward.
Children's Page; Tomi Ko
By VIOLET WOOD, Missionary Education Movement TOMI KO SAN was a Japanese girl in an Mr. Finney took out his wallet and handed his American grammar school. All week she tennis permit to the clerk, saying: "I don't want studied hard in public school. On Saturdays to play on a tennis court that is closed to my litshe went to a Japanese Christian school and on tle friend, Tomi. I wish to return my permit."
Sundays attended an American Sunday school. Joseph, Julia and Mary looked at each other.
When Tomi's best friends-Joseph, Mary and They had waited so long for permits of their own, Julia-talked of getting tennis rackets she it seemed impossible to give them up.
wanted one, too, and persuaded her father, who "What could we do about it?" they thought.
kept an Oriental art shop, to buy one for her. Then Tomi said quietly: Then Tomi and her friends studied the rules of "Mr. Finney, you are doing what our Sunday- the game, and practiced in the back yard. When school teacher talked about last Sunday, loving the four of them thought they knew the game, your neighbor as yourself."
they went with Joseph's father to get permits to Joseph, too, had listened to that same lesson play on the public courts. and remembered how Jesus had always been The four children sat on the bench in the wait- ready to help people in trouble. Joseph began to ing room of the Town Hall while Mr. Finney wonder how he would feel if he were Tomi.
(Joseph's father) spoke to the clerk. They were Finally he gave his new permit back to the clerk.
very much excited. It seemed too good to be true When Tomi saw what he was doing, she cried that they were about to get permits to play on out, "No! No! Please, you must not do that for real tennis courts instead of in their backyards. me."
Joseph's turn came first. The clerk asked him "Joseph, I'm proud of you," said Mr. Finney.
such questions as: What is your name? Where "We shall get other permits to play on the 'Y'
do you live? and How old are you? After Joseph courts, even if they are not so near home."
had answered politely, tingling with excitement, "We want to give ours up, too," shouted Julia the clerk said: suddenly for herself and Mary.
"Will you sign your name here, Joseph?" The clerk looked in amazement at the little The clerk blotted the signature and, leaning group. "I'm going to see that this story is re- over his desk handed Joseph a pink card, and ported at the next Town Meeting. If everybody said: "That's your permit, young man, and I felt that way, something could be done."
hope you win lots of games." And something was done! It took time, but to- "Thank you, sir," answered Joseph, "I'm going day in that town every boy and girl, whether to try hard to be a good player." Japanese, Chinese or Filipino, can play on the Tomi, like most Oriental boys and girls, was so public tennis courts.
polite, that she insisted that Julia and Mary get Making Use of This Story their permits before her.
When Tomi's turn came, the clerk said: "I'm Ask the Children: sory but foreigners can't play on these tennis Do you think of putting into action what you learn at courts." Sunday school?
"But I am an American girl," responded Tomi Is calling Japanese and Chinese hoys and girls "Japs, smiling, sure that this would make everything Chinks and Chinamen" doing as you would have others right. "I was born in California." do to you?
If Americans truly followed Jesus' example would there -The clerk appealed to Mr. Finney, saying: "It's be people in our country who are looked down upon beagainst the rules to give Japs and Chinks per- cause they have different colored skin?
mits." Activities: The tears started in Tomi's eyes at the word, An interesting contest would be to see which child can "Japs." Many times she had been called that in name the most articles that Tomi's father might have the school yard and on the street, and did not like in his art shop. (For exam~le: rice, kimonos, tea, jade, it. But Tomi was brave and did not let herself vases, pottery, china, prints, candied ginger, spices, dolls, cry. lanterns, fans, lacquered objects, tableware, dish gardens, etc.) Joseph, Julia and Mary were astounded. They couldn't believe that anyone could ever think of If children are far from a museum, they might visit their dear friend as a foreigner or unfit to play an Oriental art shop or a Chinese or Japanese Sunday on the public courts. school. Stimulate their interest by photographs, stamp collections and illustrated books of Oriental flower ar- rangements and miniature gardens.
[ 542] I Effective Ways of Working 'rested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MISS GRACE W. lVlcGAVRAN, 5718 OAK AVE.. INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA ~=====================l~ From a Treasurer's Notebook to let the group at headquarters one of them the Guild library have some idea of what they can and instituting a real system of (The following are actual notes count on from us. But we know issuance and check-up, with taken from the notebook of one of right now that our incomes will fines as in the case of the public the officers of a missionary organiza- be just about the same. Why library, the service rendered be- tion. The record was not completed can't we set our goal in June ing considered a direct contri- there; but a year later, without any and then have three months' bution and a small fee being money-raising dinner or bazaar or head-start? paid. Certain other possibilities similar device, that group reached its are open for work by which giving goal-and twenty dollars over. May 10th. A little figuring these members could obtain the . An educational exhibit and program with paper and pencil gives minimum 25 cents a month pay- of real value to the community was some curious results. We have ment. put on in cooperation with the Wom- 29 members. Our aim in giving en's Missionary Society. The aim -don't ask me why-is $410. May 11th. Further thought was to present the best features of That means an average of $34.00 suggests that any responsibility the year's study to a larger number each month. It is only a little which becomes delinquent for than is reached by the organizations over a dollar a month for each good cause at the end of each themselves; the Guild's share of the person, but we have some mem- three months' period, should be net receipts (from the 25-cent and bers who do not tithe and some made a joint responsibility, and 15-cent admission fees) was forty whose income would not permit some means devised for clearing dollars. that high giving in addition to it at once and for redistribution their other church obligations. of it for the future. Why not survey your own members' So a bit of uneven figuring giving goal in somewhat the same brings the following: May 12th. There are numbers way? Make a big chart with a place of women who are not having for each pledge, starting with the 2 pledges of $5.00 a month-$10.00 any share in the world-wide task larger ones and progressing down to 3 pledges of 3.00 a month- 9.00 of the church right in our con- the smaller gifts. Trace over with 3 pledges of 2.00 a month- 6.00 gregation. We wish they would red or blue or green as each is taken 3 pledges of 1.00 a month- 3.00 join in the fellowship of our up, giving no names, but indicating study and social life. But it is the amounts pledged or received.) $28.00 also quite possible for them to share in the responsibility. A May 8th. We had our meeting which means, you realize, that eleven canvass of the situation might of the Business Women's Mis- people will be carrying all but $6.00 be made. A financial approach sionary Guild last night. June of the responsibility each month. But should not be made unless it be- 30th closes the missionary year, it will be eleven who are able, pro- comes evident that they do not and we have turned in to the portionately, to give that much more. care to become members in full treasury just over half of the fellowship. amount of money we feel is 6 pledges of $0.50 a month-$3.00 what our group wants to con- 12 pledges of .25 a month- 3.00 Sacrifice1 tribute to the cause of missions this year. We have sold cards, $6.00 A Dialogue on Stewardship have had dinners, have had spe- cial gifts, have had entertain- will make up the total. 29 pledges of Scene: The corner of a living room. ments. Now we are trying to 29 members will equal $410.00 in the Two easy chairs, an occasional table arrange for a very attractive year! and a floor lamp so set that it lights entertainment which will inter- the characters from the side away est people other than those in May 10th. There are a few from the audience. the church whom we feel we members who, since the depres- have bled quite sufficiently in sion, have been without any in- Characters: Julia Farrell and her our cause this year. We are not come whatever. It might be pos- friend, Maurine Day. very happy over the situation. sible to turn over to them the Some of us feel we are giving responsibility of selling the Time: Late afternoon. until it hurts, but most of us Christmas cards which the Guild wonder if there isn't a better has sold for long enough to have The scene opens as Julia and Mau- way. had it become more or less of an rine come in from outdoors, C'oat~ institution and a service in the and hats on. May 9th. We've been think- community. There is also the ing. September is the time to possibility of turning over to 1 Book Rights Reserved. Grace w. Mc- "accept goals" or in other words, [ 543 ] Gavran.
Julia: Let me have your Julia (smiling a bit): Well, ber that poem-I can't say it all, things, dear. I'll pop them onto I don't. I tell you it's too hard. but two lines of it sing through my bed. Be back in a moment. You just said so yourself. my mind like a warning every (She departs with the wraps. time I plan to spend: Ma'/,lrine sinks into a chair, Maurine: But, -but – Well, yawns, picks up a magazine, I will ask it! Where did you get I have more clothes than I can wear. glances at it for a few moments that ten-dollar bill you put in? Their head and hands and feet are and then, with it still open be- I know it was a ten, even if you fore her, becomes absorbed in did try to fold it so it wouldn't bare. thought, looking absently at show. nothing and frowning a bit.) I can't sacrifice, Maurine, but I Julia: Oh, that! I don't mind can live with voluntary re- Julia (coming in again): Why telling you. I used to get all hot straint. That's what I've discov- and bothered when I heard ered. With those words ringing so solemn? You look as if all things like that today and feel in my heart, I can keep from the cares of the universe were as if I should make some tre- getting the more that will leave on your shoulders. (Smiles at mendous sacrifice. Once I tried me poverty-stricken when I Maurine and takes her own having subsistence meals twice most want to help. It's not sacchair. Picks up her knitting or a week. But Jack hadn't heard rifice. It's a way of living. It's fancy work.) the appeal and took to going to not a struggle. It's a contest in the restaurant those nights. So which I expect to win. There's Maurine: It's silly, I know, it didn't work. And then I tried no regret in it. Only content- but that woman's talk sort of doing without the next garment ment. haunts me. Makes me feel as if I was going to buy. But I'd have I ought to make some tremen- to get it eventually, so that Maurine (thoughtfully): It dous sacrifice and send a whole didn't work. I decided I wasn't sounds as if it might be a way pile of money. Of course, I cut out for sacrifice. out for me. (Pulls a shopping know it's silly to let her upset list from her purse.) "New flow- me so . . . ! Maurine: Then how do you er for blue dress." My present manage? flower is almost new. It isn't Julia (thoughtfully): I don't that I need a new one. I just think it's silly. We're pretty Julia: Once I decided sacri- saw a delicious new shade in well hardened in our generation fice was too heroic for a nature flowers at The Betty Shop. I to pleas of pity, but she wasn't like mine and gave it up, I be- suppose right there . . . your asking for pity exactly. gan to think. If I sacrificed two poem would come in, dresses it would give me twenty Maurine: That's what got me dollars to spend. Good dresses, . . . more than I can wear. down. The very fact that they not just everydays, of course. Their . . . feet are bare. are fighting to change things Well, when I came to plan my and expect to eliminate that con- clothes budget, I just cut it down I see, Julia. I can't get that dition, yet must have help to twenty dollars to start with and flower now. I don't need it. It save the children caught in it to- put in a flat twenty dollars for won't be any real sacrifice to day from utter ruin. emergency giving. That's a dol- give it up. (Folds up list and lar and sixty-six cents a month. puts it away.) Voluntary re- Julia: It's different, all right. I didn't leave out any dresses. I straint. I like that idea. A way Not just an endless chain. It's don't buy more than I need. But of living! (Glances at her . a present emergency. And so I found that I could cut out watch.) Mercy! My poor in- enough little things and make a fants will think they've lost close home no one else can be pair of stockings last a little their mother. responsible! longer by prompt or careful darning, and make one belt do (Both rise.) Maurine (gloomily): And I for two dresses, – oh, there were a hundred things I was Julia: I've been thinking of can't do a thing. Not a thing. spending from ten cents to a adding a verse to the Scriptures I've just spent every cent I have dollar on that I could do with- lately, Maurine. (Smiles mis- to spare on things I need. If it out! And there was my twenty! ! chievously.) "Justice is better had been last week, I might have than sacrifice; and the life of let that last dress go, and yet- Maurine: But you did have to restraint better than emotion." Julia, I don't have more clothes do without. Nice addition to Proverbs, eh? than I need. How can one sacri- fice a dress or a hat? I don't Julia: I never said I didn't. I (They go out, chatting inau- have a whole shelf of hats. I said I had quit sacrificing. It's dibly.) only get just the one I need for not sacrifice to plan carefully. each season. It's fun to beat your own budget. Why Hang On?
Julia (slowly): Well, if you Maurine: I'd mind having to Stewardship is not just a must know the truth, I've given cut down on little things. I hate question of what one gives. It up sacrificing. It's too hard. watching pennies. is often a question of that to which one hangs on. Maurine (startled): Why J ul- Julia: So would I if that were all there were to it. But there's *** ia! I might admit it's too hard more than that. Do you remem- for me. But you! You must sac- 1. If you can admit, "My rifice something! You always closet shelf holds a clock I shall seem to have a huge amount to hand in when things like this come up. You must sacrifice.
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
never have mended because I Have you made any serious A Column of Horrors! now use electric clocks; an old attempt to persuade members of toaster that has been replaced your society to face the possibil- Miss X opened the large by a gleaming streamlined mod- ities of service with such things packet of scrapbooks to be sent el; some dishes that came to me to which they are hanging on? to the foreign mission field. Her with the purchase of a certain "It might come in handy" was unbelieving eyes were startled commodity, but which I shall an excellent watchword for fron- by an accumulation of the heroes likely never use; and by the tier living, but it is a drag upon and heroines of Hollywood. way there are a couple of old- us today. As a result of such Thousands of them! Assembled fashioned rockers up in the stor- hoarding our hours are filled with infinite care! Pasted painsage room," -if you can admit with storing and dusting, sort- takingly into Jumbo scrapbooks! that, you are hanging on. You ing and rearranging. This robs Carefully indexed! Miss X are not rendering account of us of power to give that which wilted. She decided to leave till what you have which should be will make life easier for our fel- a later day the writing of the in circulation. The Salvation low men. letter of acknowledgement to the Army, the Goodwill Industries donors. and other organizations can use Why not present this idea in those things to rehabilitate men. a dramatic form? Have a speak- The amount of customs duty . You are using them to accumu- er give the first paragraph. A which had to be paid on that late dust. second speaker, with arms package from home made the loaded with objects, give the missionary-on-the-Congo gasp. It *** second. A, third represent the must be paid from his own sal- third. A fourth may dramatize ary, though the package was for 2. If, hanging in your clothes the fourth. Then announce that the mission. It contained "25 closet, you can find unneeded or a committee of two with a car yards of silk," said the declaraunused dresses, out of style, and a list of possible articles will tion. "Silk! In Africa!" The slightly worn or faded and re- appear at the door of each mem- missionary was doubtful. When placed by something you like ber during the week, ready to the package was opened words better-if you can find them receive contributions, to discuss failed him; the yards of silk there, you are hanging on. The further the list of articles and (declared at retail) turned out charity organizations of your to help decide as to the possible to be scraps of taffeta cut into town can use those garments to usefulness of things that the quilt pieces! And taffeta, Genclothe the naked. You are using member has hung on to, and tle Reader, rots in a very short them to dry-rot! promising to return later if time on the banks of the mighty there will be a second donation Congo. *** ready. How welcome were those Vis- 3. If there are lying about Of course, your list of usable itors-from-Home. They wanted shoes, needing repair but which articles will be made after conyou have not bothered to take to sultation with organizations to see the work; were anxious the shoeman, shoes that pinch which can use them. A truck and so are seldom worn, shoes may be need if large articles are to know more of India. Yes, out of style that you do not care to be donated. The calling com- they would enjoy nothing more to wear, shoes that might come mittees will compile this list. in handy some time but never Perhaps the men of the church than a week at the Christian do-if you are keeping such, will contribute the use of a truck Mela or Camp-Retreat with the you are hanging on. They can to take things to a near-by town missionaries; they would take be used to enable others to walk if your own town cannot make life exactly as the missionaries the wet wintry streets dry-shod. use of them. did. The place was a lovely spot Why keep them to give you a far from railroad and still farsense of oppulence? Such a project can be carried ther from stores and shops. out once a year. It trains mem- Tents dotted the landscape. The *** bers of the society to be alert as Visitors-from-Home were de- to possibilities of giving rather lighted. The evening meal of 4. If you have stored away than hanging on. delicious curry and rice was scraps of new cloth with the served. "We don't eat any Inthought that some day you may If you have a group in your dian food," said the Visitorsquilt; old silk garments that society which sews, you may from-Home, sweetly but deteryou think you might make into want to retain some things, such minedly. The face of the misa hooked rug; pieces of cloth or as quilt pieces or pieces big sionary's wife was inscrutable as partly worn garments which you enough to make children's gar- she ordered soft-boiled eggs for plan to make over some day,- ments, for a service project of the Visitors-from-Home. In her if they are there, you are hang- your own. A committee should mind words began racing: ing on. Busy fingers at sewing decide after things are collected "Eggs for dinner? Eggs for clubs and settlement classes will just what goes where. Do not lunch?? Eggs for breakfast??? make use of them, while you will despise odds and ends. There's no way to get American only dream about it. food now. What shall I do?"
BULLETIN
Council of Women for Home Missions EDITED BY MISS EDITH E. LOWRY, 297 FOURTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N. Y.
INDIAN AMERICAN YOUNG PEOPLE The Joint Committee on In- PART OF ONE CHURCH SCHOOL CLASS ON A HIKE TO THE HILLS. dian Work of the Home Mis- RIVERSIDE. CALIFORNIA. sions Councils (Council of Women for Home Missions and Home Religious Work Director said, "I whom she felt responsibility. Missions Council) presents such a united Christian approach to want to talk to you. I decided Their mother is dead and the Indian American young people in six United States Government tonight for sure that I want to two girls live with an aunt in boarding schools where young people coming from reservations go to a Christian training school ' a country community with no are in new surroundings and feel shy, homesick and strange. to become a nurse." Application church. Soon after Betty's re- The six schools being served blanks were filled out a few days turn home she wrote the Reliin this .way are reaching approximately 3,000 students and later for training at a Presby- gious Work Director at school, are located as follows: terian mission. · (This girl is 'We have in our house a little Albuquerque Indian School, Albuquerque, New Mexico. from a Presbyterian field. ) Word Sunday school. We have neigh- Flandreau Indian School, Flandreau, came back later that there was bors' children come in. Could South Dakota. no room for her. The girl then you help us in our community?' Has k e 11 Institute, Lawrence, Kansas. decided to take post-graduate The Director sent a package of Salem Indian School, Chemawa, work in high school in the mean- papers, pictures and cards. In Oregon. time. The following year she en- thanking the Director for the Sherman Institute, Riverside, California. tered the Presbyterian mission helps she added, 'We have a sing The sixth location is a fine place of and this fall graduates as a on Wednesday nights. We have rural community work being developed in Eastern Oklahoma, near Stillwell. trained nurse ready for work. more older people here then. Of There is no greater need today The Religious Work Directors course we have no piano, but– in missionary work than for follow the struggles of the stu- plays the guitar and that is good churches and denominations to work together in presenting the dents as they return to their enough. I am trying to learn to Christian message in a united reservations during the summer play one too. Here's hoping I way. or after graduation and by learn.' " The interdenominational Reli- friendly encouragement often The stories that follow, sent gious Work Director is willing have the satisfaction of seeing by the Directors, emphasize the to listen, no matter what the those students rise to positions need for more of this kind of problem. Individual lives are of leadership among their own follow-up, serving all denominaoften reshaped by this friendly people. guidance of the Religious Work tions freely but ministering to Director who ministers to them Here is the story of a girl who the student's need first of all: through worship services, social is making the best of her opporgatherings, games, choir 'prac- tunities: "A senior who grad- What the Church Is Doing tice, discussion groups and personal consultations. uated this spring went home "Nellie and Sam, graduates of a with her younger sister for few years ago, came to see us re- Let us consider the case of a girl, a senior in school, who, following a meeting of the Missionary Society in the home of the [ 5461
BULLETIN: COUNCIL OF WOMEN FOR HOME MISSIONS
cently and upon invitation stayed to supper. Through most of the evening we visited and talked over experiences of school days. Toward the end of the evening Sam said they must go. They thanked us sincerely, and I walked out to the door to bid them good night. They started down the walk, then re- turned hesitantly. 'She's got something she wanted to say to you, Mr.
–' 'Well, I wonder what it could be!' I grinned. (Oh, I had a 'hunch'
all right, for I had talked over some personal plans with this boy weeks before.) " 'We've been married three weeks!' Nellie said, shyly but happily. Sam is a carpenter here in town. Both are Christian students, graduates of two years ago. And that's what they had come to tell me in the first 'Place!
How I love them for it, and for the friendship which has lasted and which has opened anew to the blessed coun- selling about plans for a new Christian home! They'll come often now- and the latch string's out!"
What Church People Can Do "Our most pressing need for the CHILDREN FROM HOMES LIKE THIS COME UNDER OUR INFLUENCE IN Chapel is a good resonant bell for the GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS. belfry. For several years we have discussed this. More and more each senior in-University. There will gets swellheaded because he's had year it takes on significance because surely be a place for him in the world some rare experience, or because he we live here with these boys and girls when he is ready. For he is deter- gets boosted to some office-well, it's as a community and they need some- mined to go back to his people in just too bad for his leadership.' thing to bring to mind and heart the eastern Oklahoma, and live before call of worship and Christian service. them the Christian life which he has "'I see what you mean . . . I'll Perhaps an individual or a group found so abundant. sure try to do this thing right,' and I might take this matter up as a proj- thought I caught a square set to his ect." *** jaw as he started putting on his foot- ball uniform to go out on the field to *** What the Indians Are Doing practice. Joe's an orphan. The first white man this Navajo ever saw he "Dorothy is one of our most pop- An Indian girl, about sixteen years ran from for dear life and hid among ular and finest students but one who old, meditating on the future has this the sheep-just another wild creature has a real problem in her future. She to say: "The preservation of the In- of the desert a few years ago. is a complete ward of the Government, dian race is necessary but, I think it her parents having died within a week must be done through the Indian "He waved his hand to me from the of each other, about five years ago. youth preparing themselves for re- field as I watched him at practice. They left six children; Harold, an sponsible positions and the more we He'll remember!" older son who is now working; Dor- prove ourselves the more responsible othy who is in school here in –; positions will be waiting for us. We *** and four smaller ones who are now cannot go on living in the past, dear being cared for by a family. They as it was to the hearts of our nature- "Our so-called sophistication also had all been separated until these ar- loving people. There is a future, appeals to the Indian, particularly the bright with dreams of happy homes, young person. They readily adopt rantrements were made. of positions well-filled, of friends our dress and manner and along with "Dorothv came here after her par- among all races and of better under- that the cigarette and liquor. I think standing of ourselves and others. We that too often all they see in us is the ent's death and has been here ever are proud to be Indian and we are outside and they follow our pattern." since. She has a pleasing personality glad to have a chance to make others and appearance and has been active proud of us too." *** in religious as well as school activities and is one that I would like to *** The Christian spirit finds exsee go back to her people as a Chris- pression in Indian life in service tian leader. Her parents were Chris- Joe, the captain of this year's foot- for others: tians and gave the children a good ball team has just returned from a beginning for that life. That hope for wonderful conference trip and tour "Two of our finest speakers among Dorothy needs the prayers and inter- which the religious work director the Indian girls–one a Navajo, one a est of Christian people." helped him attend. They are sitting Hopi, themselves inseparable pals on the cot in Joe's room. though their ancestors were bitter en- *** emies-gave earnest talks saying that "What shall I do for my life work?" "'Joe, the very fact that you have old emnities were dead and friendly We have all asked the question so had this privilege and that you have ties strengthened by Christian influ- many times. But to the Indian living been chosen football captain too has ences." in a white man's civilization it is one a little bit of danger in it for you, with especial sil4nificance. Few there did you know that?' Joe looked at his And at Christmas time Indian boys. are who face the matter as did this friend keenly, but a little puzzled. and girls at Sherman Institute pack young Indian man. Left an orphan at 'That's right, Joe. The really great boxes of toys which they send to the a very early age, handicapped most leaders are the ones who keep their Migrants in the cotton fields in Cali- of his life with a speech impediment, hearts and their sY'm.pathies right fornia. They have little to share, yet which he is successfully overcoming, close to the hearts of the people they they experience the feeling of inner with little or no money, he is now II. mix with in everyday life. If II. fellow happiness that comes from joyous giving.
~':============"""""'====
I Our World–wide Outlook A Missionary Newspaper of Current Events ~'I======~EDI=TED=BY=MR=S. =HEN=RIE=TTA=H.=FE=RGU=SON=, X=ENI=A, O=HI=O ======= WESTERN ASIA in the constitution, calling Tur- tlements have welcomed visiting key a Moslem country, was de- mISSIOnaries of the Hebrew New Day in New Turkey leted ; then religious schools, Christian Fellowship, and Jews orders, and religious uniforms, are freely purchasing the Scrip- Hope for true religjous liberty were suppressed; Friday as a tures, although Christian work in Turkey, when Christian mis- holiday was abolished. Not only in Ute villages has had to be sionaries will be welcomed, is this, but there is distinct anti- largely discontinued. The Misseen in a bill before parliament religious teaching in many of sion to Mediterranean Garrisons to offer amnesty to the 150 polit- the schools. Not long ago the and the International Christian ical offenders, exiled from Tur- government ordered the sale of Police Association report enkey in the early days of the Re- 300 mosques in Istanbul. couraging work among British public. It is remarked all over soldiers and police. the country that a new day has -Alliance Weekly. dawned, when Turkey can for- -World Dominion Press. give and reinstate those who Since the Balfour Declaration fought to prevent its emancipa- Trans-Iranian Railway tion. One Turkish paper said: Changes in Palestine since the "This amnesty creates a new Jews were promised a national Last August construction of atmosphere throughout the whole home are reflected in the busi- the Trans-Iranian Railway was country … it will strengthen ness advertisements, such as completed. The line was begun the power, the stability, the those of the King Solomon Bank, in 1927, and fulfils a dream of honor and fame of the country Zerubbabel Bank, Judea Insur- Iranians. The ceremonies atand of the revolution, both at ance, Dead Sea Bath Salts, etc. tending the opening of the road home and abroad." There is a training ship the were most elaborate, with high Sarah I, for Jewish sailors, officials present. The station was Another editor commented: flying the blue and white Zion appropriately decorated and a "The movement toward a gen- flag, operated by the Zebu- ribbon was stretched across the eral amnesty for political of- lon Society (Zebulon was the line. The crown prince and the fenses means that the way is be- seashore tribe). shah each tightened a gold nut; ing prepared for freedom of dis- the shah cut the ribbon, formalcussion. In order that this free- Not the least interesting is ly opening the service. The road dom may widen, writers and the Palestine Symphony Orches- connects the Caspian Sea with critics should be positive and tra. The hounding of Jewish the Persian Gulf, and additional creative, recognizing unity and musicians out of Germany has lines connecting Tabriz and harmony as the highest values. made of it one of the greatest in Meshed are being surveyed. The Thus will be assured the condi- the world. In less than two people of Iran take great pride tions which will produce a move- months this orchestra of sev- in the fact that this gigantic ment toward a true demor.racy." enty-one virtuosos was assem- task was completed without bor- bled and developed into an har- rowing from abroad. The in- -World Dominion Press. monious whole. This occurred creased facilities of travel will in Palestine, an insecure and greatly extend the possibilities Turkey's Materialism troubled land, in a pioneering of missionary service. stage of national life. After the A writer in the Near East orchestra visited Egypt, enthu- -Press Translation Service. Christian Council's Bulletin be- siastic Egyptians organized a lieves that the future of religion Society of Friends of the Pales- Silent Ministry in Turkey is a part of the crit- tine Orchestra.-S. S. Times. ical problem of the religious life Dr. Frederick G. Coan, for 40 of the world. Since the abolition Palestine Problems years a missionary in Iran, of the Caliphate, Turkish leaders called one day on a bigoted, .have proceeded on the assump- Present disorders in Palestine fanatical ecclesiastic-the kind tion that religion had never done are having their effect on the who would be pleased to see anything but harm, and was not Christian Church in that trou- every Christian killed. Dr. Coan needed for the future. Religious bled land, where Christian unity describes his call: teaching in the schools was re- and love are assailed by racial duced, then dropped. A phrase bitterness and fear. Jewish set- As soon as I had entered the room, he ordered the servants to leave and [648 ]
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
told them to see that no one was in er. This teacher then settles public, who are willing to perthe yard, and that the gates were down to a long process of educalocked. Then he turned to me and tion-two years or more-when form some kind of national servsaid, "You have left the New World he instructs the entire village and come all the way here to make me and prepares them for church ice. -The Guardian. a Christian; save yourself the trou- membership. By the end of this ble:" I thought he was simply trying time, no one needs to leave his Syrian "Servants of the Cross" to turn me off. Then to my astonish- home environment, or feel that ment he said, "I am already a Chris- he is an outcaste. This organization, a missiontian." I asked how he came to it. He ary and social brotherhood of then told me a helper had given him In one diocese reported by Mr. the Syrian Church, established the Gospel of St. John and asked him Higdon they are uniting with in 1924, is asking for funds to to read it carefully and with open the church at the rate of 10,000 carryon work among the Demind; and when he reached the last a month; and in all India more pressed Classes in India. The chapter he was at the feet of Christ than 100,000 have accepted aboriginal races of the native as His slave. He could not resist so Christianity annually during the states of Cochin and Travancore, winsome a character. Had it been past three years. The changes South India, are poverty-strickknown in that fanatical Kurdish city, observed by the upper classes in en, ill-clad and uneducated. the man's own sons would have asked the lives of the outcastes turned They live in miserable huts and the governor to behead him and throw Christian has resulted in a sim- carry worship of devils to a his body to the dogs. ilar movement among the higher point of extreme superstition. castes. Under the auspices of the an- INDIA AND SIAM cient Orthodox Syrian Church Community Appreciation of St. Thomas, the Apostle of Unhampered by Politics India, the order is making a The Frances Newton Hospital sincere effort to improve these Dr. C. H. Rice, of Allahabad in Ferozepur has been serving unfortunate people. Christian College, says: women and children of this dis- trict for 44 years. Appreciation There are a dozen members of India just now is one of the centers for this service is manifest in the order. They have no propof the world where the movement for the recently added operating erty, practise celibacy, and repeace and justice is most unhampered unit at a cost of 6,000 rupees, ceive no salary. They obtain by the politics of national fear, hatred raised by members of the Canal, their daily bread from the place and greed. There are radicals who Railway, Civil, Policy and Mili- in which they work, sometimes shout, and leaders who would foment tary Departments, and the mem- from the parish church and class war, but never has India had so bers of the Indian Christian sometimes by rice collections many sons and daughters ready to communities. The medical de- and the hospitality of friends. spend themselves for the liberation of partment of the Punjab Governtheir brothers from ignorance and ment promised Rs. 2,000 toward -The Living Church. disease, poverty and social oppression. this project. The Rajah of Fa- Surely the Spirit of Christ is alive. ridkot gave Rs. 1,000, and the Gains in Assam . . . One day he will be recognized above groups collected Rs. 3,500. and loved and worshiped as now he is Part of the money was used to The Baptist Missionary Requoted and admired. improve a ward in the hospital view of India tells of a piece of for tubercular patients. frontier work that shows real Dr. and Mrs. Rice are co-au- missionary progress. In the Ao thors of the chapter on Indian -Monday Morning. and Sema Naga Hills there were Christian colleges in the current 1,218 baptisms last year, and year's mission study book. Bihar Literacy Drive the church membership in those two tribes has now reached No Need to Leave Home A mass literacy campaign in 19,316. Nearly 500 boys and Bihar Province is an idea con- girls are under Christian in- E. K. Higdon, writing in The ceived by the Minister of Educa- struction at the station school in Churchman, says that time was tion, who planned that students Impur, the largest Baptist school when Indian Christians were be induced to spend their holi- in Assam. A total of 115 Sunthe real "men without a coun- days in voluntary teaching of day schools report an enrolment try"; and that at the Jerusalem adults. There was an enthusias- of about 17,000. How many par- Conference there was a strain tic response. Since the govern- ishes in India or the United of sadness through all that the ment had no funds to combat States show equal advance? Indian delegates said, because illiteracy, the Minister of Edu- Christians in India had to tear cation issued this call: "Let us Practical Christianity in Siam themselves up by the roots, leave try to make up our lack of finantheir families, their villages, cial resources by the earnest de- Bangkok has a large Chinese their communities. sire of our youth for national immigrant population. During service." He regards this as a the Chinese New Year's season, Now, whole villages are be- sort of personal tax. It is hoped it is the custom of the Swatow coming Christian at one time. that this example will be fol- Church workers and officers to The leaders hold a meeting, dis- lowed by the rest of the general make calls in the homes of all of cuss the matter and decide they the members and friends of the are willing to leave Hinduism or church. All firms and shops Mohammedanism and become stop their work, and an excellent Christians. Then they put it up to the community. If the decision is favorable, the next step is to go to the Christian head of the district and ask for a teach-
opportunity is at hand to give and friendless-I was forcibly er songs. Then came the kin- Christian greetings. To one reminded of a man who stood up dergarten with its play songs. humble home, the home of a in one of my meetings at home The popular movement under widow with three small children, and asked whether the Chinese Jimmy Yen early developed folk went a missionary in this call- had not religions of their own songs and taught children I:),nd ing season. The home was just just as good! A fortune teller the peasants to sing. Now the one room, with no furniture ex- had told this old woman that she national defense movement is cept a few boards on trestles to would die in the eighth moon enlisting movie stars, actors, colmake a bed, a stool or two, clay this year and her coffin is al- lege men and women to lead the stove and two or three cooking ready prepared. When asked whole country into a chorus that pans. The widow makes her liv- where her soul would go, she may tend to drown the sobs of ing by going out to cut hair, and replied: 'I don't know.' " those who mourn. -The Christian Century. must leave her children at home Christian Message for There Are J oshuas Today alone during the day. The mis- Wounded sionary expressed concern about the children, and she replied: The Chinese high command Rev. William Vander Meer of the Reformed Church in Amer- "When I go I always ask my sent out a circular letter to ica, last July, like a Joshua spy- Christian hospitals and churches, ing out the land, walked 60 miles Heavenly Father to watch over asking them to cooperate in them." -Siam Outlook.
bringing the Christian message up the valley of the Kuling Riv- to the wounded. The five er in Fukien, looking for fields CHINA churches in Changteh sent two or and houses where refugees in Her Religion "Just as Good" more workers each day to write Amoy could be relocated. He found places for 3,000. In every A writer in China's Millions letters, have personal talks, and village visited he received the tells of visiting an old devotee hold services for small groups. The work developed until it hearty cooperation of officials. of Confucianism, who had lived Amoy, distant from the prinin a temple many years attend- called for a full-time worker. cipal war areas, has its own sep- All the churches cooperated in arate relief work. ing the idols. For all these years providing the salary for the she has abstained from meat, fat and eggs, in the hope of at- right man, who was found Rehabilitation of those who taining salvation; now she is 94 among the refugees. Church will go up the Kuling valley will years old, wizened, dulled, with- women are sewing and provid- require seed, food and tools, unout hope in her face. Christian ing small comforts for the til they can harvest their first women tried to tell her of the wounded men. crop of vegetables. Old temples -Monday Morning. are to be repaired and made into love of Jesus Christ and the homes. The diet in these camps peace that He alone can give. Turning to Song calls for canned meat. Around One of the women, Mrs. Su, has an old Christian mother 93 The crash of bombs and the Amoy there is no longer a taste years old. As Mrs. Su looked at cries of the mangled continue to for fish, the reason being that this other old woman, tears so many dead bodies have been came to her eyes as she said, be heard, but above it all is "Oh, myoId mother is a hun- heard the voice of song. The washed out to sea. dred times better off than this! Chinese people are learning to -Church Committee for sing in chorus as they have China Relief.
She has the peace of God in her never done before. A training Refugee Children heart." Then she sat down by institute in Hankow has been the old lady and patiently tried turning out song leaders. Col- A letter from a Presbyterian to tell her about the peace of lege and middle-school students mission school, now being used God which passeth all under- in south, central and west China as a temporary home for tefstanding. The poor old woman have been teaching group and ugee children, indicates the nalooked absolutely blank, and mass singing. Folk songs, patri- ture of some of the problems. said she was too old to do any- otic songs, workers' songs are When youngsters were brought thing now. They assured her stirring the people's enthusiasm. in from the bombed areas, the that she need not do anything, Dr. T. T. Lew gives credit for teachers expected to see them but trust in Christ. They taught the beginning of this movement rejoice over the chance to live in her a simple prayer-"Lord to the Christian Church. In a safety, where there were play- Jesus, save me, and forgive my recent discussion group of dele- grounds, trees, food. Not at all! sins," which she repeated many gates-elect to Madras he said, Many of them had been living times. "The introduction of group sing- by their wits, and had grown "As we sat there," says the ing by the Church of China has cunning and combative. Fights, missionary, "with the idols meant a great deal to the life of greed, the notion that the school around us, and thought of this China." He went on to describe was a jail, were things to be poor old woman giving her life how children used to sing hymns dealt with. But little by little to them and fasting from meat while at play, regardless of their cleanliness, play, food, hand- and eggs-now weak and old, theme, because they had no oth- work and scout drill produced a
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
very different set of children. JAPAN -OHOSEN at home whose ideas and motives I When their school home was cannot follow nor condone. To dechanged for a more permanent State Oontrol of Religions nounce war and its perpetrators is one under the Children's Relief not enough. I must find a substitute Association sponsored by Mad- The draft of a proposed new for war. ame Chiang Kai-shek, there law affecting religious organizawere real regrets on both sides. tions has been made public. This How Peace Will Oome is the fourth time during the -Monday Morning. past 40 years that a law control- World Outlook contains the ling religion has been proposed, following letter of a Japanese Honan Mission Jubilee and each time it has been de- Christian minister in war serv- feated in the Diet. Heretofore, ice: This year marks the jubilee of the attempt has failed because the Honan Mission of the United of an article in the constitution There are many American and Eng- Church of Canada. Some of guaranteeing freedom of reli- lish missionaries everywhere in China, those who went to China in 1888 gious belief to the individual. but Japanese soldiers are not perare alive and well, and look with The proposed new law avoids mitted to call on them or go to church troubled hearts on the China of the dilemma by limiting itself to without special permission. This is 1938. The first period in the his- the regulation of the public cere- because we are very nervous to stir tory of this Mission with the ar- monies and the doctrinal prop- up international problems. As you rival in China of Dr. and Mrs. agation of the various religious know, most of the soldiers are rough Jonathan Goforth, Dr. McGil- organizations, not the personal and uneducated, and do not know forlivray and others; this phase of faith of the individual. Under eign manners. the work ended when the Boxer the present emergency it is aluprising overran all North Chi- most certain to become law. The The other day I called on Mr. and na in 1900. Two years later Christian churches, along with Mrs. H., the missionaries here, with work began anew on a larger all other religious bodies, will the permission of my officer. We had scale, but with the outbreak of then operate under a permit a long talk. They welcomed me heartthe Great War in 1914, the sup- issued by the minister of educa- fully. There were a few Chinese ply of new missionaries was cut tion, will be amenable to govern- Christians present. I was greatly enoff, but at the end of the war, ment inspection, and will have couraged and comforted by a touch of the Forward Movement Fund both doctrine and worship prac- real Christian brotherhood. I am sure made reinforcement once again tices subject to official control. that peace will come only through possible. The modern develop- Conversely there will be certain Christianity. Because of this I feel a ment of the Mission began with tax exemptions and other priv- great sense of mission. I think you the construction of Weihwei and ileges that have not hitherto must have some friends in China. Changte Hospitals. been extended to Christianity. Please send me their names and ad- It is possible that there will be dresses. Every night there is shoot- Events of July, 1937, changed no particular inconvenience ex- ing, but my heart is quite peaceful bethe whole picture, but members perienced under the new regula- cause of my faith in the Cross. I read of the Mission have not lost tions, though the churches my Bible every morning, and am courage. All the staff are re- would prefer to be free from praying all the time. maining at their posts. such governmental control. J apan Selling Out in India -United Church Record. -Charles Iglehart. As an indication of Japan's Kashgar Mission Closed Kagawa Proposes Peace desperate situation, one of Eng- land's leading papers prints the The Swedish Mission in Kash- It is reported that Kagawa following: gar, Chinese Turkestan (Sin- has laid proposals for peace kiang Province) was attacked with China before the Japanese A correspondent who is managing and burned by the Moslem lead- premier-without result. In a director of a famous firm of merer Mamud Sidjan. Governor- letter to friends in the United chants in Bombay gives news of some , General Sheng suppressed the States, Kagawa writes: interest. His letter reads:-"A sig- Moslem rising in September, nificant thing is happening here with 1937, but the local authorities Truly no group of Christians can be the quite large Japanese business subsequently closed the hospital isolated. Just in the measure that the community. They are selling off all and printing office and scattered links that bind these groups are their house and office properties, upthe Christians. The British Con- forged in love and understanding and country cotton factories, cotton mills sul-General in Kashgar rendered sympathy, will the influence and pow- here. It may be in order to get money help to the Mission, but even- er of Christianity continue. Though with which to buy cotton. For months tually the situation deteriorated you hear of individual Christians now they haven't had the money with and most of the missionaries wooed and won by the growing spirit which to buy a bale. .. . . They are were compelled to return to of nationalism, do not despair. In all obviously getting into a terrible mess Sweden. Forty years of efficient lands and in all ages, there have been financially, with a million men in the and devoted service in one of testing times for Christians and not field in China and the whole country the hardest fields of China has all have stood the test. . . . My own run by the fanatical army leaders, thus been tragically interrupted. personal views are well known. I and no money with which to buy the would be a disciple of love to all peo- raw materials for their vast indus- -World Dominion Press. ple, and this must include even those tries. Their exports, from which they get their money, have in recent months dwindled to nothing, and they have little raw cotton left."
The Kobe Cloudburst Kobe has a population of about 790,000. The city lies crescent shaped between the hills and the Inland Sea. Last July, a cloud-
burst caused the hill streams to would be seated beside me. I tion was given as to baptism, rush down into the city, carry- saw at once that it was the man the preparation and motive for ing trees and debris into the who had murdered my father, it, and what it involved, the in- streets until some sections were and I had sworn to drink his quirers withdrew sadly, and no buried six feet under. About blood. But as I withdrew down more has been heard from them.
150,000 people were made home- the church, a voice seemed to less; electric and water supply say to me, 'By this shall all men "Insurrectos" Become was cut off. An old well, un- know that ye are my disciples, Methodists used for many years, in the if ye have love one to another'; Enthusiasm, progress and ma- and as I sat down near the door, turity marked the 1938 sessions yard of a Presbyterian mission- a Man upon a cross rose before my eyes, and I heard Him say, of the Methodist annual conferary's home served the neighbor- 'Father, forgive them, for they ences in the Philippines. For know not what they do.' Then I the first time, these met in sephood; and this furnished the returned, and we took the Lord's arate places, and both were hon- Supper together." ored by the presence of goveropportunity to hand out Chris- nors and other officials of the -The Presbyterian. provinces where they were held. tian literature to all who came for water. In this crisis, some Japanese Christians opened a vacation Bible School to take responsibility for the children, Looking toward indigenous lead- ership, plans were discussed for while the adults dug themselves Bible Circles of Five out. -Monday Morning. "Circles of Five" have become electing a Filipino bishop in popular in Java. They are 1940. ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC g.roups of five young people in Although the year under re- view was marked by a series of Bridge Builders in Papua the higher classes of elementary earthquakes, typhoons, floods and secondary schools, who meet and fire, statistics show a de- Mr. C. F. Rich has served cided gain both in self-support nearly forty years in Papua un- to study the Bible under one of and in membership. In less than der the L. M. S., and is still full their number as leader. Each forty years Methodism in· the of plans for that island's future. circle becomes a sort of union of Philippines has grown to a He writes: secrecy and fidelity of uncom- mon strength, marked by per- church of more than 90,000 Once it was said of a patriarch, staunch members. "He digged us a well." In hot, wet sonal devotion. They become Papua, there would be scant praise brethren. They meet each week, -Christian Advocate. for a well digger, but in years to and attendance is a sacr(;)d duty, come they may be saying of their missionary: "He builded us a bridge." not to be missed. Printed out- National Hospital Day Why? On one of the main roads a lines of Bible study are sent to dangerous creek had to be crossed, and all efforts to bridge it had come each circle and these are dis- The Philippine Commonto naught whenever floods came. cussed at its meetings. Coordi- wealth celebrates an annual Na- Then the missionary, with the help of nation is effected by a monthly tional Hospital Day, when all villagers and his old automobile, set gathering of the leaders, most the hospitals of Manila are open to work. The old car hauled tons of of whom are under twenty years to the public for inspection, and sand, timber and cement; the people carried tons of stone with which to old. are rated by a committee headed raise the road approach to the bridge level. In a little over seven weeks of The number five was chosen by the Director of Public Welhard labor, the bridge was ready for use. "Quite interesting," some will because in Java it is a sacred fare. For the third successive say, "but hardly a missionary's job." But the bridge will stand for many number. It is the number of year, St. Luke's Hospital has years, not only to ensure safe crossing, but as a visible emblem of a fingers on one hand, and ex- won the highest award among bridge of understanding over which the Papuan may pass from ignorance presses unity. Also, it was the hospitals having a capacity of and darkness into freedom and light. number of the prayer circle in f'100 beds, or more. In announc- -L. M. S. Chronicle. Antioch, from which the Holy ing this award, Dr. Aguilar Revenge or Love? Spirit selected and commissioned Director of Public Welfare de: A missionary to New Zealand tells of a Maori Christian who PauL-World Dominion Press. clared this to be a model 'hoshad taken a front seat at the communion service. Suddenly, Requirement ~oo Hard pital, above competition. What he was seen withdrawing to the rear, then he came forward and a contrast to the days of Spanresumed his original place. Asked afterwards why he had The Protestant Episcopal Mis- ish rule forty years ago! done so, he replied: "When I sion tells of a group of people at -The Churchman. entered, I had no idea who Baguio, P. I., who recently came NORTH AMERICA to the Church to ask how much would be the charge for baptiz- Is America Christian? ing a young Chinese who wished to marry a Christian girl. It There is a strange mixture of was explained to them that there paganism and Christianity in was no charge, but that baptism America. Not long ago at To- was not just a routine conven- awnadocc, eCeoloofrfaicdioa,lsthareraloncgaeldWwPitAh ience for those who wished to marry. When further informa- the leaders of the Utes (In-
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
dians) for a three-day season of already formally approved, at that attempts at law enforcesports events and bear dancing least in principle,· the constitu- ment are futile unless the moral at Easter time, culminating on tion of the proposed World sentiment of the people is back Easter Sunday. Wishing to have Council of Churches drafted at of it. -United Presbyterian. Easter observed in a manner Utrecht, Holland, last May. more fitting its significance, They are the following: Presby- Fresh Approach to World James Russell, local pastor, re- terian Church in the U. S. A.; Needs quested the official in charge of Presbyterian Church (South), the government agencies to post- Congregational, Northern Bap- Two Methodist missionaries pone the sports event, and allow tist, United Lutheran, Evangel- from Burma, Dewitt and Edna the Easter meetings to assume a ical Lutheran Augustana Synod, Baldwin, have created the "Lisle more religious aspect. This he Evangelical and Reformed, Re- Fellowship," a six-weeks "rerefused to do. Whereupon, Mr. formed Church in America, thinking" conference at "Happy Russell explained to the chief United Presbyterian, Protestant Valley," Lisle, N. Y. Sixty coland tribal council of the Utes Episcopal, Disciples of Christ lege men and women, members that throughout the United and Methodist Episcopal. of ten different races or nations, States, and the world people re- representing 13 churches and 26 gard Easter as a holy day, and Missionary News from Wall colleges, have been devoting celebrate then the rising from Street themselves to the theme of the dead of the Lord Jesus "World – mindedness," consider- Christ, just as at Christmas time Perhaps Wall Street, the finan- ing the meaning of Christianity they commemorate His birthday. cial center of New York, would as a solution for the new world's The Indians listened attentively least likely be expected to fur- needs, and the kind of individand then they asked the local nish missionary news, yet read- ual a world citizen ought to be. head of the WPA to postpone ers of the daily Wall Street the sports events: but he still Journal saw this heading in a The educational methods of persisted on having his program recent issue: "One Thousand this group are worth watching. carried out at the time set. Bible Translations." The follow- Instead of telling young people ing is a quotation from the ar- what to think, there is offered a The Indian leaders then de- ticle: whole series of projects by vised this plan. They would tell which students may learn to their people not to go to the In its headquarters in London the think for themselves, and arrive sports field until after services British and Foreign Bible Society at their own conclusions. Inhad been held in the church now has copies of the Scriptures pub- cluded in this is training in field from 9 until 10: 30 a. m., and lished in whole or in part in 1,000 dif- work. Four days each week, they would stop their bear dance ferent languages. The last two trans- after a preliminary week of at 5 p. 'ill. so that their people lations were of native tribal tongues training, the students go out by could have supper and attend in the Belgian Congo of Africa, themselves, taking full responchurch service again at night. known as the Ngwana and Sakapa sibility for their personal and As a result more people than tribes. This Bible Society was group relations, to work togethusual attended the church serv- founded in 1804 when copies of the er through churches in towns ices, both morning and evening. Bible were available in only 72 lan- and villages covering a radius of guages. The number increased to 100 125 miles of Lisle-most of cen- Paganism among many of the in 1824, to 200 in 1871, to 300 in 1892, tral New York and north cen- 200 Indian tribes in the United to 400 in 1906, to 500 in 1917, to 600 tral Pennsylvania. Careful ar- States is as degraded as that in 1928, to 712 in 1936 and to 1,000 rangements are made by Mr. found in central Africa. Their in 1937. Baldwin with pastors in adreverence for material objects is vance, interchurch hospitality as bad, their medicine men are Evidently, the Wall Street being arranged wherever posno different from the evil witch- Journal considered this of as sible. -Christian Century. doctors of the dark continent, much news value as dividend and their gross superstitions are announcements. Twenty-four Hour Service depressing. Obstacles to their evangelization include, not only "League of Decency" The First Methodist Church the character of the people, their of Hollywood, Calif., is like the language and nomadic habits, Because the alarming increase fire department and some resbut most discouraging of all the of vice and crime is preventing taurants in that it functions fact that the United States Gov- law enforcement and undermin- twenty-four hours a day, 365 ernment is actually trying to ing the efforts at character build- days a year. This service is preserve old pagan Indian cus- ing, the California Church Coun- rendered in the spirit of Christ toms. cil has formed a "League of and does not end with distribut- Decency" to enlist the churches ing baskets in the holiday sea- Approve World Council of in battling against these evils. son. A few of the things done Churches Last year, juvenile delinquency may be mentioned: over the entire state increased Twelve Evangelical Commun- from 10 to 15 per cent. The The chairman of the commitions in the United States have state authorities are becoming tee was called to a home where more and more lax in their the husband and father was out efforts to control liquor and gambling, and it is recognized
of work, a child sick, and the the Hotel Commodore. In 1836, would not claim to have orig- mother, discouraged and de- they supplied the old Hotel Astor inated it. It was Jesus Christ spondent, had purchased chloro- and there are now 426 hotels on who first said it," and opening form which she was about to use the list of those being served. his Bible the missionary showed to commit suicide. The chloro- It is interesting to know that the verse to the young Mexican.
form was taken away and the many of the Bibles disappear, so After reading it through three child given medical aid. Eventu- that the question of replacement times he exclaimed: "How wonally, the father found: a job and comes up about every third year. derful if everyone knew and the family is now on the road to As to definite results from this used that rule !" economic security. -Monday Morning. work letters received indicate Other services have been: great help in many instances. wheel chair furnished, medicine Hotel managers report that they Porto Ricans Meet Their bought, utility bills paid, helped are often asked for a Bible, if pay rent, helped find new homes, Quota helped keep young people in high one is not found in the room. Cases have been substantiated Bishop Colmore of Porto Rico school and college, furnished where the reading of a hotel is now in the 25th year of his layettes, secured employment, Bible has been the means of re- episcopate. He fee~s that spiritmade funeral arrangements- straining a person from suicide. ual life on the Island is becomthe church paying for the grave, This custom of Bible distribu- ing deeper and more vigorous settling a disputed doctor's bill, tion is now so widespread, settling an insurance claim for a through the New York Bible So- each year; this is indicated in widow. ciety and the Gideons, that a part by the 1,078 baptisms in hotel is not considered properly that diocese last year. Bishop A few more statistics may furnished unless each room con- Colmore challenges the maingive an idea of the magnitude of tains a Bible. land of the United States to this work: 6,233 miles have show a record equal to this. The been driven by one member of Church at Metlakatla, Alaska number of communicants inthe committee in making 1,373 creased by 263 or four per cent visits; 173 different families The Indian Church at Metla- as against an increase of one have been helped in which there katla, near Ketchigan, Alaska, are 339 adults, 337 children; was founded by William Duncan per cent for the whole Church. 1,019 of these visits were for seventy years ago. Its first carrying supplies, 354 for inves- twenty years were directed by Porto Rican Christians, in tigation and counsel. A total of the Episcopal Church of British spite of their terrible poverty, $3,165 in cash has been used. Columbia. It is now under local take pride in giving their full control, and has twelve elders. quota year by year, and as much Its newly installed pastor is a more as possible. Besides, they Congregationalist from Minne- sent gifts last year for flood re- One Result of Home Missions sota. Funds from William Dun- lief, and have contributed to the China Emergency Fund. Here is an illustration of what may be accomplished by home -Spirit of Missions.
mission work. Thirty-five years can's estate support the church, It's Training That Counts ago, the Lafayette Avenue Pres- which is independent. Duncan byterian Church of Brooklyn "My understanding of the sent a young man, Harry S. established a sawmill and can- principles of justice probably Murdock, to Buckhorn, Ken- ning factory which pay the cost differs somewhat from yours, tucky, to preach to the backward because I was trained in a people there. After thirty-two of city administration, and sup- Presbyterian Sunday school," years of service he died, leaving ply water and electric light, so said a prominent Porto Rican an entire presbytery of 37 lawyer to a member of the cabchurches which had their origin that every home has electricity, inet. Here is the cabinet mem- and there are no taxes.
-Presbyterian Tribune.
under his ministry. There is LATIN AMERICA ber's reply: "If your underalso at Buckhorn a school of 400 standing of justice differs from pupils, an orphanage, hospital, If Everyone Obeyed the mine, it is because the teachers mission farm and various other Golden Rule! in the Presbyterian Sunday institutions. "By the way," said a young school where I was trained were In honor of this founder, Ken- better than those who taught federal employee to a mission- you." -Dr. Angel Archilla. tucky has named a new state ary in Mexico, "I have been told road Murdock Trail. that in the United States they "Applied Meditation" in Cuba have a beautiful motto-per- More Bibles for Hotels haps a law or decree-some- At the close of a religious Placing Bibles in hotels is a thing about doing for others conference in Cardenas, Cuba, practice of more than 100 years' what you would like them to do the young. people in attendance standing with the New York for you. Can you tell me what agreed that the most helpful fea- Bible Society. Just before this is?" To which the mission- tUre had been the hour of "ap- Easter new Bibles went for the ary replied: "The government plied meditation" in the mornfirst time into the 1,956 rooms of officials know about this law, but ing, when each sought a place
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
of prayer. It was here they said widow and several children liv- of a permanent Bible Room in they found their place in future ing in surroundings not fit for the British Museum. The exhi- Christian work. Opportunities animals, undertook to clean bition at Sion College includes were offered to enlist in the dif- things up. She got clothing and some of the most famous ediferent activities of the Church. shoes for the most needy, and tions ever published, one being took one of the children to pub- the "Great Bible," printed in Among their practical under- lic health clinic. "She's really 1539, partly in London and parttakings was the pUblication of a ill-take her to the hospital," ly in Paris. In 1540, it was reweekly paper to be financed by said the clinic doctor, but at the printed in London as "Cranthe young people themselves, hospital there was no room. mer's Bible," and contained a and promoted through the activ- Back she had to go to her miser- preface by that ill-fated archities of their societies. This able home while the liguena con- bishop. Copies of the four polyweekly will take the place of the sulted the Red Cross. "Send her glot Bibles are in the exhibit. supplement in the monthly mag- to our clinic," they said, but on azine, Herald Cristiano. clinic day the child was too ill The Bible Room at the Mu- to be moved. So the League seum is designed to show the -Monday Morning. woman, not to be daunted, is history of the Scriptures in Eng- herself giving what treatment lish from earliest times. Half Indians Seeking aNew and help she can, teaching the the exhibits are in manuscript Religion mother at least the rudiments of form. The middle English period sanitation, and living up to the is represented by psalters. Then A group of Indians – the League motto, "Saved to Serve." there is a series of Wycliffe edi- Aymaras-who live behind the tions, which were forbidden unmountains that divide Lake Titi- -Presbyterian News til the 16th century, when one caca from the fertile lowlands Service. copy, here shown, was presented of Bolivia's interior, sent a few to Queen Elizabeth. soldiers to the war between Bo- New "Y" in Buenos Aires livia and Paraguay over the The printed editions began Chaco. One of them came with The Y. M. C. A. of Buenos with the only surviving fraga tale of a new religion, which Aires realized a dream of many ment of Tyndale's New Testahe began to tell his neighbors. years when it opened its new, ment. Cromwell's injunction is He told them that these evangel- modern building last June. It is shown beside the "Great Bible." icals did not lie or steal, that strategically located in the heart A woodcut on the title page they did not drink, not even at of the city and greatly extends shows Henry VIII handing the feast times, that they did not the service of the "Y." About Bible to Cromwell and Archbisquarrel with each other, and 5,000 people visited the building hop Cranmer; while below, a that they were happy because on the opening day, and some crowd of people have streamers God loved them. 1,000 made use of the athletic issuing from their mouths bear- department the first day it was ing the legend: "God Saue the Evidently the story made a available. Public confidence in Kyng." great impression on the Indians the Association's work is eviin this village, for they soon be- denced by a government grant Quakers in Spain gan to try to live according to of $92,000, of which the first inthe principles of the story, and stallment has been paid. Local It was a year last August left off drinking and stealing donations of $60,000 more have since the first group under the from one another. They have been received. Non-partisan Child Feeding Misrecently asked that a teacher be sion of the American Friends' sent to them. They have no reli- The Buenos Aires organiza- Service Committee went to gious guidance of any kind. tion dates from 1902, and since Spain to work on both sides of then it has constantly main- the conflict. The work is spon- -Christian Advocate. tained an all-round program of sored by the Federal Council, youth development by which and other religious and social How Chilean Women Work more than 40,000 young men organizations. In all, nine Amer- have profited. Its budget is icans have gone: four Friends, Chilean Christian women have raised entirely by fees and local two Mennonites, two Brethren a Liga, or League for Service. contributions. and one Methodist. Absolute Besides the work they do as a commitment to the way of peace group-sewing and knitting for -Christian Century. and spiritual sensitiveness have the poor, visiting jails, houses been regarded as essential qualiof correction, orphanages, asy- EUROPE fications, in addition to special lums, hospitals and homes-they training and general ability. Two lose few chances for individual "First" Bibles on Display of the American representatives service. A liguena offered to have been social workers, three take into her own home the child The 100th anniversary of the missionaries, one a peace workof a very poor woman who was setting up of the English Bible er, one a youth leader, one a stuto go to the hospital. Another in parish churches is being cele- dent and one an accountant. At set out to prevent the marriage brated in London this year by present three workers are in of a girl of fourteen to a man an historic exhibition at Sion much older. Another, finding a College, and t~e establishment
loyalist Spain, two in nationalist is lessened for those who have maintain a keen religious life in territory, as compared with the not been in this organization. each of its members, it organizes original one worker on each side. Those already in office are for- pilgrimages in Yugoslavia and bidden to send their children to Palestine and also "retreats." The first great need was found church schools. Its members undertake to pray to be for milk. Four milk sta- every day and to read religious tions have been established, and The above mentioned visitor books. Many villages have been women come as far as six miles, to Austria quotes verbatim one transformed, new churches have bringing undernourished babies of the leaflets which is being cir- been built. When a lecture was to these depots, the only places culated in Austria containing given on the organization and in that part of Spain where milk "50 points" directed against objectives of the Pilgrims, the is obtainable. Workshops for Christianity. This leaflet is one speaker ended with the quesrefugee women and girls were of a number that were issued to tion: "Do you believe that started and a boys' workshop the girls' section of the Hitler Christ will vanquish all difficulproduces alpargatos, or rope- Youth: ties and overcome all his adversoled sandals. The women sup- saries?" Fifteen thousand anply bedding for hospitals under Christianity is a religion for slaves swered with one voice: "Yes, the care of Friends which are and fools. For example, it says, we believe that."-Advance. run by English nurses. "The last shall be first" and "Blessed are the poor in spirit." New Oppression in Russia -Christian Century. Christianity is equivalent to Com- According to a recent news Protestant Committee in munism. bulletin, instruction in atheism Belgium will be required in all schools of German culture was on a high level Soviet Russia, beginning with In accordance with a recom- before Christianity, and has been an- 1939. A pedagogical institute mendation made last year by the nihilated by it. for instruction in atheism is to Congo Protestant Council, a be established to prepare teach- Committee has been formed in There is no Christian culture. ers for their new duties. Belgium, known as the Comite Christianity was nowhere desired, Consultati/ des Missions Prot- but pushed itself in everywhere. Jaroslavsky, head of the Soestantes du Congo Belge. Re- Christianity has corrupted the Ger- ciety of the Godless, has declared garding this Committee, the mans, acquainting them with concep- that atheism in Russia is now in Council suggested: tions, such as theft and adultery, the last stage of its struggle which were previously unknown to against religion. The year 1942', That its purpose be to create and them. he says, will mark the jubilee of maintain contacts between the Evan- How did Christ die? Whimpering the Soviet Union and the great gelical Churches in Belgium and the on the Cross. And how did Planetta festival of the victory of athe- Protestant Mission work in Congo. (the assassin of Dollfuss) die? He ism. By 1967, after half a cen- cried out, "Heil Hitler! Long live tury of communism, he predicts That it guide by its counsel Chris- Germany." that the 230,000,000 population tian men and women from the various The Ten Commandments are the of Russia will be completely godchurches in Belgium who offer them- expression of the lowest human in- less. Churches and cathedrals selves for missionary service in Con- stincts. will then be only a casual rego. A good people does not need a membrance of an early period. Saviour; only a bad people. There is one important omission That it make the Protestant work Nero was quite right to persecute in the plan: God is not taken inin Congo more widely known in Bel- the Christians. to account. gium, especially by the press, and defend its cause when required. Some of the "50 points," the AFRICA correspondent notes, are too ob- The Committee will work in scene to print; yet these leaflets Fellowship in Egypt cooperation with the Congo are issued to boys and girls at Council, and three of the larg- the most impressionable age. One of the most remarkable est and most important Belgian services of modern times was Protestant groups have appoint- Yugoslavia's Pilgrims held this year in the Anglican ed representatives to serve on Cathedral in Cairo. The service the Commission. Those who like to claim they was planned by the "Fellowship are descendants of the Pilgrims of Unity," which draws into its -Congo Mission News. will be interested to know of a ranks the Greek, Armenian, Cop- new development in the Ortho- tic and other Eastern Churches, Nazi Influence in Austria dox Church of Yugoslavia called as well as the Presbyterians, the "Pilgrim's Movement," Anglicans, French Evangelicals, Nazi authorities in Austria which is increasing in effective- GeI1man Lutherans, Methodists gain their point in a roundabout ness. Its influence is felt among and the Church of Sweden. way. One who has recently re- the country people as well as turned from that country re- among the intelligentsia, and its Seven languages were emports that no Catholic is ap- monthly periodical has a circula- ployed in the service. The openpointed to important office, and tion of 35,000. The aim of the this is the procedure; no church Movement is to promote a life trained boy may belong to "Hit- that is truly Christian, on the ler Youth," and only "Hitler basis of the Gospel. Its first Youths" can hold office; the principle is that all propagation prospect for other employment of Christianity must begin with a transformation of personal life. In additio~ to seeking to
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
ing part was corporate thanks- Jesus Christ. Quietly and unobtru- fact that so many countries, giving in which the Greek, Ar- sively His command to preach that widely separated geographicalmenian and Coptic Churches joined with the Anglican, Pres- Gospel is being carried out in Dji- ly, have combined to send 6,000,000 doses of vaccine to bouti, by word of mouth, by the wit- ness of changed lives, and by the byterian, French and German circulation of the written Word. Dis- China to check the spread of communities. Another feature tribution of portions of Scripture and cholera. Australia and Ceylon of the service was the uniting of phamphlets is carried on, and Bibles have each sent to the Chinese in English, French, Italian, Arabic, Health Administration 500,000 the choir of the Cathedral with Amharic and Gujerati have been the Greek, Armenian and Coptic given to all those really interested. doses, the American Red Cross -Life of Faith. 3,000,000 doses, the Pasteur Inchoirs. A climax was reached when in English Psalm CI was stitute at Hanoi 500,000 doses, sung. It was a fitting culmina- Africa Christian Missions Rumania 1,000,000 doses, Jugo- tion to this great act of praise in The Africa Christian Missions slavia 500,000 doses, and Turso many tongues, and the Cathe- is an independent Baptist mis- key 1,000,000 doses. Gifts of dral rang with the familiar sion operating in French West cholera vaccines have also been words. received from the Serum Insti- Africa, with its center in the tute at Copenhagen, the Egyp- -Baptist Missionary Re- capital of the Niger Colony, a tian Ministry of Health, and the view (India). cosmopolitan town of about Institute of Bacteriology at 20,000, including Europeans and Buenos Aires. Sona Bata Medical School natives from every section of West Africa. It is on the main It would seem reasonable for Government diplomas were caravan route across the desert, governments and people to unite given for the first time to grad- and Arabs from Morocco, Al- as readily to stamp out the evils uates of the American Baptist giers and Tunisia are thus of war and class hatred, with all Medical School at Sona Bata, brought into the sphere of the their attendant suffering. Belgian Congo at their first com- Mission's influence. mencement last March. Govern- -The Christian. ment officials took part in the The work is mainly among the exercises, and those present in- Djerma tribe, which numbers Per Capita Giving cluded other state representa- about 250,000 – all Moslems. tives, members of near-by Prot- Preaching services in other than There has been an increase of 79 cents in the average per capestant and Catholic Missions; the mission's own buildings are ita giving of the members of the also, the American consul and forbidden by the government; 25 leading Protestant denomina- accordingly, every opportunity tions of the United States and his wife. The five .graduates is seized for making contacts with individuals, and these con- Canada for the past statistical have all taken places of Chris- versations attract many of the year, according to figures pubtian medical service for their lished by the Philadelphia Eveown people. curious, who also hear the Gos- ning Bulletin. The 79 cents in- – Watchman-Examiner. pel. crease a person means an aver- In French Somaliland Market day provides another age gift of $13.25 and a total opportunity. The same method gift increase of $14,602,188, Informal meetings for edu- is used-the curious listening in though there was at the same cated young Arabs and Somalis, as the claims of Christ are pre- time a decline of 412,148 in the for discussion and comparison sented to a single person. Por- combined membership of these of the Bible and the Koran, are tions of the Scripture are dis- denominations. proving worth while in the pro- tributed to those who prove gram of the Bible Churchmen's their ability to read either Testaments for Jews Missionary Society at Djibouti, French, Arabic or the native French Somaliland. The num- tongue. Medical work is under- The Alliance Weekly reports bers vary according to the de- taken in a small way, each pa- the launching of a campaign for gree of Moslem hostility, but ten tient thereby providing another the prayerful distribution of a or twelve men of different na- opportunity for the presentation quarter of a million New Testationalities are regular attend- of the way of salvation through ments among Jews in various ants. Several of these have ac- Christ. A school is maintained lands. A special Testament is cepted Christ as Saviour. In in which the Bible is the text- being prepared, in which verses view of the bitter opposition cer- book. Classes in reading, writ- that signify the fulfilment of Old tain to be met, the question of ing and Bible memory work are Testament prophecies appear in open testimony is a difficult one. held for the natives, and there bold face type, thus showing the are classes in doctrine and evan- Jews that the New Testament Summing up the work of the gelism for the believers. is the completion and fulfilment past twelve months, the leader of Old Testament revelation, and of the movement says: International Cooperation that Jesus is the true Messiah, and the Saviour of both Jews Of spiritual achievement there can Those who despair of ever and Gentiles. A great volume be no computation. A large number seeing cooperation among na- of intercessory prayer is being of people-running into hundreds- tions may take courage from the sought. have been touched in one way or another by the Gospel of our Lord
Missionary
Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information ~========~==============~=====I~ The Household of Faith. By Arthur The biography is brief and to destroy or degrade men and Emerson Harris. 232 pp. $2.00. largely factual. The author, who women, body and soul. This has Fleming H. Revell Company, New also wrote the life of the late F. been clearly evidenced since the York,1938. B. Meyer, gathered this mate- days of Noah and the evil effects rial during the subject's lifetime of alcohol are very far reaching. Dr. Harris, a professor in and then died before the book Miss Reed's leaflet is full of in- Eastern Baptist Theological was published. He tells the story teresting and important facts Seminary, discusses the author- of boyhood struggles, of fruitful that speak powerfully against ity and trustworthiness of the service in four important pas- the evils of intoxicating drinks. Bible, the person and second torates, of soul-stirring religious The medical accuracy of the coming of Jesus, the message of work among the soldiers in the statements is vouched for by the Gospel, the Church as "the World War, of wide-reaching eminent physicians and the spir- Household of Faith," the wit- influence as a secretary of the itual truth is endorsed by promnessing duty and privilege of its Board of National Missions, and inent clergymen. Here is a sane members, immortality, the tran- of nation-wide travel as moder- and convincing study of a great scendent call of Christ, and re- ator of the Presbyterian Church, evil. Missionaries and pastors lated subjects. The treatment is U.S. A. who wish to warn and fortify in a popular style which sug- their people against intoxicants gests that most of them were Dr. McDowell was the author will find here a great storehouse originally sermons or chapel of several books and of many of facts gathered from scientific talks. The viewpoint is that of important papers but only two investigation and from sad exa firm conservative in theology of his messages-"A Challenge perience. So Roger W. Babson and Biblical interpretation. to Loyalty" and "The Basis for says: "We ought to work des- Some statements will probably a Better World"-are given in perately for prohibition of any be challenged by those who in- the two appendices. We ,wish evil, like intoxicating drink, that terpret the Bible differently; there might have been more of is destroying and degrading our but the author's spirit is irenic his messages on Bible truths, on youth." and not controversial. the Christian solution of social problems, and on mission work The Case Against Japan. By Charles ARTHUR J. BROWN. for Jews and Gentiles. The R. Shepherd. 242 pp. $2.50. Daniel chapter on "The Closing Years" Ryerson, Inc., New York, 1938. The Life of John McDowell. By A. was written by Dr. Charles J. Chester Mann. Illus. 12 Mo. 139 Turck, a fellow worker with Dr. If, as is commonly believed, pp. $1.50. The Westminster Press, McDowell in the Board of Chris- Japanese bureaus of informa- Philadelphia, 1938. tian Education. Those who read tion in America send to Tokyo these brief chapters will be in- copies of all publications here True stories of personal spired with new courage in the that deal with Japan, one may heroism and sacrificial service face of difficulties, and new safely assume that this volume have a strong appeal for read- loyalty to high Christian ideals will not be permitted to go outers of all ages. Here is a re- and methods in social and eco- side beyond the censor's office. markable record of a young boy nomic life. It is exactly what its title sugwho overcame serious handicaps gests, and is a tremendously and became an honored Chris- Alcohol-Its Physiological and Psy- strong "Case against Japan." tian leader in America, receiv- chological Effects and Their Social The author has had ample oping the highest honors his Consequences. By Mary Lewis Reed, portunity to ascertain the facts Church could confer. Boys will R. N. 15 cents each. $10.00 per since he was formerly professor be interested to learn how he be- thousand. Published by the Author. of history in Graves Theological came proficient in tennis-with 468 Fourth Ave., New York. 193-7. Seminary, Canton. He has travone arm; preachers will be in- eled extensively in China and terested in his victory over Christian missions are an or- was there in 1936 when the J apa stammering tongue; social ganized endeavor to save men anese landed a large force of workers will find much to learn and women by the power of the marines and personally witin McDowell's ideas and ideals Spirit of God. Alcohol, as a bevas to economics and social jus- erage, is the devil's choice tool tice.
Any of the books noted In these columns will be sent by the REVIEW publishers on receipt of price.
[ 5581 nessed their depredations. He uously to raise the standard of carryon this work to an unusual rightly considers that the con- degree. This book shows how flict now being waged is not the musical appreciation and to add this has been accomplished. Dr. beginning but rather the cul- Chisholm has made an outstandmination of a long series of ag- reverence and beauty to the ing record as a physician and gressions. He therefore devotes has been elected a Fellow of the the first part of his volume to a ministry of sacred song. American College of Surgeons concise survey of the historical but his chief interest is not the antecedents of the present situa- In a book of this limited com- curing of men's bodies, importion. He recounts the Japanese tant as that work is, but the occupation of Korea and Man- pass the treatment of historical healing of their souls through churia, the notorious Twenty- the preaching of the Gospel of one Demands, the attack on material must necessarily be out- the Lord Jesus Christ. To a stu- Shanghai in 1932, and other dent of missions the book is of . events. Then he proceeds to de- lined, yet the selection has been interest in showing how a misscribe the "undeclared war" now sion hospital can and should be, in progress. He vividly pictures made with unusual skill and not only closely united with the the ruthlessness of the Japanese, evangelistic work of the whole their indiscriminate slaughter of there is a valuable bibliography mission station but should itself helpless civilians, their abuse of become a center of active evanwomen, and the baselessness of for those who wish to make gelism, and the means of foundthe specious reasons they ad- ing new churches in hitherto unvance to justify their course. It more extended study. In com- reached districts through the is a gruesome story, and frank- contacts made with the patients. ly ex parte, but it is buttressed mon with most intelligent stu- The book reveals anew the possiby uncontrovertible facts, and bilities in personal work, even in by citations from official docu- dents in this field Mrs. Adams the most difficult conditions and ments that are of historic rec- it will furnish another link in ord. The indignant protest of deplores the flood of superficial the long and well tested chain of the author sometimes verges on evidence to the supernatural life the declamatory, and he uses too and transient hymns which and power inherent in the Word many lurid adjectives, but it is of God. hard to be moderate and judicial have appeared in recent popular in writing about the crowning This vivid record of a physiatrocity of this generation. collections and calls attention to cian's experiences deserves a wide circulation among young ARTHUR J. BROWN. the unquestioned fact that only people. They will be attracted by the well told narratives and Studies in Hymnology. By Mrs. hymns which are rooted in the it should arouse new interest in Crosby Adams. 96 pp. $1.00. the cause of Christian missions. Cokesbury Press. Nashville, Tenn., Scripture have permanence and Seeing souls reclaimed through 1938. the Gospel are the rich rewards spiritual value. of a life given to the proclama- An important contribution to tion of Christ in the non-Christhe growing literature on hym- A variety of settings of the tian lands. nology is this highly informing volume by Mrs. Adams. While Twenty-third Psalm used by the T. STANLEY SOLTAU. prepared as a textbook for study classes, it should have a wider Church during the centuries are "By Faith"-Henry W. Frost and the mission in broadening musical China Inland Mission. Dr. and intelligence among all Christian a striking feature of the book Mrs. Howard Taylor. Illus. 8 vo. groups. Pastors, choir leaders, 364 pp. $1.25. China Inland Mischurch officers and all who have and well illustrate the eternal sion. Philadelphia, Pa. 1938. to do with the service of worship will find here a wealth of vitality of the earliest manual of "There were grants in those valuable material-in fact, an in- days" when the China Inland troduction to Christian hymnol- praise. HUGH R. MONRO. Mission was born. Here is the ogy. The spiritual discernment story of fifty years of work of and sympathy with which Mrs. Vivid Experiences in Korea. By Dr. the Mission in North America, Adams deals with the great mu- W. Chisholm. IIlus. 146 pp. and of Henry W. Frost, for most sical heritage of the Church is $1.00. Bible Institute Colportage of that time the efficient Home the reflection of a lifetime of Assn., Chicago. 1938. Director for North America. It rich musical and cultural asso- is a remarkable, intimate story, ciations as author, composer, For fifteen years Dr. Chisholm well told, showing the rewards teacher and lecturer. She has has been a member of the Chosen of faith and courage, the labors won a high place in that devoted Mission of the Presbyterian of love and the reality of God's group who have labored assid- Church in the U. S. A. He has guidance and power. Much of been living in Syenchun, North this story is gathered from Dr. Chosen, where the work has seen such a remarkable development. The book is both a strong apolo- getic for medical missions and a splendid spiritual tonic as well.
Dr. Chisholm has written in a graphic conversational style which is easy reading and gives the reader many interesting glimpses of Korean country life, as well as some of the joys and discomforts which are the lot of any missionary engaged in coun- try itineration. The suggestive portrayals of various phases of native life and of Christian ac- tivities.
One of the outstanding fea- tures of the work of the Presby- terian Mission in Korea has been the emphasis placed upon per- sonal evangelism as the duty of every missionary and of every native Christian. All mission institutions, including hospitals and schools, have been used to
Frost's autobiographical notes, made by non-Catholics) that aids of coercion and punishment. letters and other records. . . . Far better is it to defend "the Protestants were as bad," the truth by loving, exploring, Henry W. Frost was born in declaring and obeying it, than Detroit, Michigan, of godly par- the writer demonstrates that by rousing against it, through ents; was graduated from the imposition of restraint, the Princeton; went into business persecution of Catholics by Prot- enmity of the rebel and the still and politics and then into work more subtle enmity of the cowfor God and the China Inland estants differed at vital points ard and the hypocrite." Mission. Here is a story of God's dealings. with the Mission from persecution the other way KENNETH J. FOREMAN. and the man; of the lessons he learned; of his growing faith about. Not only was persecu- Out of the East. India's Search for and courage and the fruitage in God. By Wm. A. Stanton. Illus. the work. It is a spiritual his- tion (where it existed) by Prot- 192 pp. $1.50. Fleming H. Revell tory and is rich in spiritual les- Co. New York. 1938. sons to Mission Boards, to estants less severe than by churches and to individuals. Dr. With a knowledge of the In- Frost, and his wife as well, are Catholics, but it was evoked by dian people developed through shown in their quiet gentleness; forty years of missionary servtheir loving, sacrificial service, Catholic aggression, prompted ice in South India, a clear mind, their humble faith, and cheerful a warm heart and a graphic pen, obedience. The growth of the by Catholic example, was will- Dr. Stanton describes India's China Inland Mission has been search for God as he has witremarkable. Its record is in- ingly discontinued, and on prin- nessed it. The author and his spiring. There are rewarding wife went out under the Ameriglimpses of such men as J. Hud- ciple cannot be renewed. As to can Baptist Board in 1892 and son Taylor, D. L. Moody, Wm. J. settled among the Telugus where Erdman, and others. Those who past and present the evidence is there has been such a remarkread this history will find their able response to the Christian faith strengthened, their ideals irresistible. As to the future message. of service elevated, and their spiritual life stimulated. policies and probabilities, all as- Dr. Stanton sees the dire need of India for Christ and he notes Roman Catholicism and Freedom. sertions must naturally be a signs of the religious hunger of By Cecil John Cadoux, M.A.Oxon., the Hindus. He has seen the Hon. D. D. Edin, Professor of matter of opinion; but where great Christward movement of Church History at Mansfield Col- the Untouchables and its influ- lege, Oxford University. Third this is based solidly on the anal- ence on the Sudras. He is con- Edition with additional notes. 201 vinced of the fact that the only pages. 5 shillings net. Independ- ogy of past and present experi- abiding and transforming re- ent Press. London. sults in mission work come ence, and the likelihood that through the work of the spirit This is a book you will seldom of God. see advertised and very seldom basic principles will not be abanreviewed, for reasons which the After a general description of author himself points out. It is doned, the argument is sound. India and its modern progress, a frank warning against the Ro- Dr. Stanton gives the evidence man Catholic Church, not by And such a base this argument of India's search for God as seen some fanatical irresponsible in their Hindu sacred books and pamphleteer but by a professor has. Dr. Cadoux makes a strong in their religious worship. He of Church history in one of the tells of the awakening of the world's greatest universities. He case, virtually incontestable. His outcastes and among caste peogives a factual record of the Ro- ples, of the rescue of Indian man Catholic Church's deliber- thesis is that since Rome's the- womanhood and of the upheaval ate and official opinion, during in Bengal. Then he very effecthe nineteenth century, on the ory of infallibility and of the tively tells the stories of some subject of persecution; together Christian converts from Hinduwith the evidence of actual perse- right to persecute remain the ism-Dr. K. C. Banurji, Naracution practiced by that Church yan Vaman Tilak, Pandita Rain areas as widely scattered as same (except that the death pen- mabai and Sadhu Sundar Singh. Malta, Ireland and Madagascar. Here is an excellent book for No medireval bogies are resur- alty may not again be invoked), reading circles and for mission rected; the illustrations are con- study classes. temporary. Catholic propagan- wherever Rome gains power she da is likewise described, in many The difference of race contributes forms. Against the retort (often will again attempt to crush out to the richness of the world. There is no ground for assigning intrinsic all other forms of religious faith. superiority of one race over another. -Sir Walter Moberly, London. Notes bringthis third edition up to date, answering some of the criticisms leveled at earlier edi- tions,and paying attention to the relation of the Roman Church to events in Spain and Abyssinia.
While the writer's special inter- est is naturally in Great Britain, and although the Catholic popu- lation of the United States is still a minority, the warning is not less important for us. If the entire case is as mildly put as in the points where the writer crosses the reviewer's knowl- edge, the book is certainly an un- derstatement rather than an exaggeration. The basic and es- sential point however is not a matter of individual incidents but of fundamental principles.
The difference between Catholic and Protestant here is well ex- pressed (p. 123).: "If Catholics have in their dogmas the faith they profess, they ought to be willing to trust to the power of their truth to cthoenveinxcteranmeoeun~ without needing
Reed Honored The Printed Page is a
The name of Mary Reed of that never tires, never flinches, never grows disheartened. Chandag Heights, India, is high- It travels cheaply and works while others sleep. ly hOlored, especially among friends of the lepers. She will The American Christian Literature Society for Moslems be 84 years of age on December 4th, and her birthday will be cooperating with the Nile Mission Press and interdenominawidely celebrated. From many tional Committees on the field is subsidizing the production of lands messages of love and ap- Christian literature for many lands and in several languages. preciation for her fifty-five years of missionary service will come Will you help to meet the challenge of increasing opportunities to to this white-haired heroine who send the Gospel in print to Turkey, Egypt, Arabia, India, Iran? learned forty-eight years ago tliat she had contracted leprosy REV. SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, D.O., President while serving as a missionary of MRS. WILLIAM BANCROFT HILL, Honorary Vice President the Methodist Episcopal Church. DELAVAN L. PIERSON, First Vice President Instead of bewailing her lot, REV. THOMAS S. DONOHUGH, Second Vice President Miss Reed returned to India to REV. JAMES CANTINE, D.O., Cor. Secretary serve the lepers. God answered MRS. JAMES M. MONTGOMERY, Treasurer her prayer and the disease was arrested so that she has been Make checks payable to the American Christian Literature Soable to spend nearly a half cen- ciety for Moslems, and send them to the Treasurer, Room 1019, tury in this service-and with- 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. out a furlough. In America there will be celebrations of the anni- lB. Lesson Books, Scholar's Read- Dannie and the Alabaster Box. Conversary at Lowell and other ing Book, 2d., Scholar's Questions, stance Savery. 62 pp. 9d. Picker- Ohio towns associated with Miss 1d. S. P. G. London. ing & Inglis. London. Reed. A commemorative tablet is to be placed on the site of her Everyday Life in India. Two Outline For This Cause. Inabelle Graves birthplace and home at Lowell. Friezes. 18. S. P. G. London. Coleman. 199 pp. Pamphlet. 25 A dramatization of episodes in cents. Boardman Press. Nashville. Miss Reed's life has been pre- Let Us Build. P. E. Burroughs. 154 pared by Miss Lulu Irwin, Mid- pp. 60 cents. Broadman Press. Gateway to Tibet. Robert E. Ekvall, west secretary of the American Nashville. F.R.G.S. 198 pp. Christian Publi- Mission to Lepers. Ganga Ram, cations. Harrisburg, Pa. one of Miss Reed's India boys, Himself. The Autobiography of a writes: "Miss Reed educated me Hindu Lady. From a Classic in Joe Lives in the City. Jeanette Perand taught me to trust and know Marathi. By Ramabai Ranade. kins Brown. 36 pp. 25 cents. IlIus. God, the Father of us all. My Translated by Katherine Van Akin Friendship Press. New York. daily life speaks of her good Gates. 252 pp. $2.00. Longmans, teaching and glorifies the name Green & Co. New York. Report of the Keswick Convention. of our Saviour." 1938. 308 pp. 28. 6d. paper, 48. Annual Report of the China Inland boards. Pickering & Inglis. Lon- New Books Mission. 1938. Edited by L. T. don. Lyall. 110 pp. C. I. M. Phila- Calendars-Young Folks Calendar; delphia. ' The Meaning of Moody. P. Whitwell Grace and Truth; Daily Manna; Wilson. 157 pp. $1.50. Revell. 18 ea.; Golden Grain Daily Medi- The Christ. A. Wendell Ross. A Ne,! York. 'tation, lB. 6d.; Golden Terx;t, lB. 3d. Harmonized Study of the Gospel Daily Light Almanac, 13hd.; Our Records. 222 pp. $2.00. Fleming No Speedier Way. Golden Jubilee of Home Almanac, 1d.; The Bible H. Revell Co. New York. the Christian Literature Society of Almanac, 2d. Pickering & Inglis. China, 1887-1937. 144 pp. $1.20. London. AdvlE'ntures of Service. Stories of Christian Literature Soc. Shanghai. modern Pioneers. D. M. Gill and The Directory of World Missions. A. M. Pullen. 127 pp. $1.00 cloth, Out of the East. India's Search for Edited by Joseph I. Parker. 255 pp. 50 cents paper. Friendship Press. God. William A. Stanton. 192 pp. $2.00. International Missionary! New York. $1.50. Revell. New York. Council. London and New York. Blue Skies. Louise Harrison McCraw. The Presbyterians. The Story of a Indian Uplands. Some Stories of the 262 pp. $1.00. Zondervan Pub. Staunch and Sturdy People. Wil- Church in Chota Nagpur. Edward House. Grand Rapids.' liam Thompson Hansche. 194 pp. H. Whitley. 67 pp. S. P. G. Lon- $1.25. Westminster Press. Phila. don. Bird 'Voices, ,sonnets, Battle-Dore. William Bacon Evans. 68 pp. 25 A Sari for Sita. Nina Millen. 36 pp. Indian Brothers. Story Lessons for cents. Friends Book Store. Phila. 25 cents. IlIus. Friendship Press. Little Children. Dorothy Meadows. New York. 31 pp. S. P. G. London. "By Faith"-Henry W. Frost and the China Inland – Mission. 364 pp. Tales from Many Lands. Stories for Conquest of the Jungle. Stories of $1.25. China Inland Mission. Phila. Juniors. IlIus. 127 pp. 50 cents. the Kingdom of God in Chota Morehouse-Gorham. New York. Nagpur. Dorothy Harris. 70 pp. A History of the Expansion of Chris- tianity. Vol. II. Kenneth Scott Tales from India. Basil Mathews. Latourette. 492 pp. $6.00. Har- 96 pp. 50 cents paper, $1.00 cloth. per & Bros. New York. IlIus. Friendship Press. New York.
~ ~bri~tma~ ~ift ~uggt~tfon
Would you like to remember at Christmas time with a gift that comes every month some MISSIONARY PASTOR TEACHER SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER OTHER CHRISTIAN FRIEND?
You cannot do better than to send each one a year's subscription to 1HB MISSIONARY ~'VbRID This illustrated evangelical missionary monthly will keep them in touch with the need of men for the Gospel and the progress of missionary work in all lands. The leading authors include home and foreign missionaries of experience, pastors and other Christian workers.
DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY OUR iPECIAL CHRliTMAi OFFER is good only until December 23rd. We will send two annual "subscriptions – both new or one new and one renewal- for one year for $4.00. (Regular price $2.50 each.) Among the coming articles are papers by MEETING THE CRISIS AT MADRAS .. , ………………………… Paul W. Harrison CHRIST'S FORGOTTEN COMMAND …………………………. Eula Kennedy Long THE FUTURE OF CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA …………. " …………. Various Authors TWENTY·FIVE YEARS' PROGRESS IN AFRICA …………………….. " .D. M. Miller WHEN HINDUS Buy CHRISTIAN GoSPELS …………………..•. Mrs. R. S. Modak THE GooD NEWS THE CITY NEEDS ……………………………….. A. Scott CHRISTIAN SADHUS AND ASHRAMS ……………………………….. W. Q. Lash AMERICA'S PARTIOPATION IN THE WORLD'S CRISIS ….•……•.•.. Inabelle G. Coleman CLOSER COOPERATION IN MIsSIONS ……………………….. Alexander McLeish " WHEN A MIsSIONARY Is CONVERTED ……………………•.. ;Edith Fuess Henry Save $1.00. Take advantage of this offer NOW. Two Twelre-Month Subscriptions for $4.00 "
– ….——-_….._–……–….._———————————— MIsSIONARY REVIEW PUBLISHING CO., Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa.
Enclosed please find $…………………….. for ………. subscriptions to THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD. ($2.00 each. Foreign postage 50 cents extra.) Name………………………………………………………… Address…………………………………………………………
Name………………………………………………………… Address……………………………………………:…………..
N;ame……………………………..:………………………… Address…………………………………………………………
Date…………………………………….. Signed ……………………………………………………………… ..
The Missionary Review of the World — September 1937
1937
Beaten But Unconquered……in China James P. Leynse The Use of Chinese Gospel Posters R. w. Porteous Experiences in the Papuan Bush Russell W. Abel Work in Ethiopia and the Sudan Tom Lambie The Conquering Power of Christ Julius Richter Women's Work in the Country Church Mrs. James D. Wyker An Arab Consults a Missionary Doctor A Monologue by James Cantine 25 Cents a Copy $2.50 a Year
to Remember Reda;m;ng an abandoned church in cenlralIllinois
September 13-1S-C 0 n fer en c e on Those Abandoned Churches • • • Presbyterian Church and the Jew. Princeton Theological Seminary. that dot the hillsides and valleys of rural YOU ARE PRIVILEGED America to-day-more than ten thousand of to sponsor this marvellous October 2-6 – Triennial Convention. them-are a challenge to Christian people of work "With Christ along Women's Missionary Society of the the Old Back Road." United Lutheran Church in Amer- all Evangelical denominations. Some are only evi- $12.50 annually maintains ica. Buffalo. dences of changed conditions. Many others mark the the work of one Sunday retreat of Christian forces. School Class. SUMMER CONFERENCES AND $25.00 annually maintains SCHOOLS OF MISSIONS The vast majority of Christian people living in cities the work of a Sunday School. and towns do not understand the serious rural need $50.00 annually maintains September 20-24-Southern California of the hour. Neither do they realize that in countless the work of an unreached (Los Angeles). Mrs. H. M. Horn, instances the A.S.S.U. has met and is meeting that community. 1955 Carmen Ave., Los Angeles, need. Old church bells are pealing again, calling $100.00 annually maintains Calif. young and old to thousands of Union Sunday Schools. the work in any given county. September 20-24 – Minnesota (Min- In a fine old brick church in a prosperous farming $1,200.00 annually fully neapolis-St. Paul). President, Mrs. section of east central Illinois, an A.S.S.U. Mission- supports a consecrated and Charles L. Grant, 610 Aurora Ave., ary recently organized a Sunday School. Thirty-six aggressive A. S. S. U. Mis- St. Paul, Minn. attended the first meeting. Three weeks later the sionary. attendance reached sixty. Now the people have pur- Will your Prayers and yout September 7 – October 1 – D a 11 a s, chased an electric lighting plant, and evening serv- support go with us to this Texas. Pres., Mrs. E. R. Alderson, ices are being conducted by a regular minister. In needy field? 561 Goodwin St., Dallas, Texas. scores of other instances, work reclaimed by our ministry has been turned back to the proper September 27 – October 1 – Houston, denomination. Texas. Dean, Mrs. A. B. Haynes, 618 Highland Ave., Houston, Texas. Evangelical in purpose, non-sectarian in method. and true to the Word of God, theA.S.S.U. is actively September 28-30-A n n u a 1 Interde- engaged in this national ministry of restoring wor- nominational Missionary Institute, ship to rural churches in forty States. Will YOU help? Woman's Interdenominational Union of Philadelphia and Vicinity. First Baptist Church, Philadelphia.
October 5-6-Warren, Ohio. Mrs. George Konold, 314 Scott St., N. E., Warren, Ohio.
October 21- Baltimore, Md. Mrs. David D. Baker, 410 N. Calhoun St., Baltimore, Md.
!In the £un~ ot gonuh un~ His qou'£~ Home Letters of AMERICAN DEPARTMENT OF MISSIONS, R8l7 MARGARET DEAN McDOWELL 1816 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sunday I wish to sponsor the work of the A. S. S. U. with the , She left a Chicago schoolroom to or- unreached millions of Rural America. ganize a cooperative laundry for refu- School Enclosed find $ ___ to be used for________ _ gees in Mesopotamia—and made it pay. Union ) Send your Quarterly Field Magazine – "The Sun- , She made friends with the sheikh of day School Missionary" a tribe of "devil-worshipers" who have an ancestral taboo against education- ( ) Mail your Booklet on Annuities. and he sent his children to her school. ( ) Send Sample Sunday School Literature. Name _____________ – – __ – ____ – , She met great ones of the earth-and in treeless Mosul spent hours creating Address _________ – _ – – – – – – – _ – – – a Christmas "tree" so that the children City ______________ State ______ _ should not be disappointed. 4 CHRIST ALONG THE OLD BACK ROAD , She began modern Christian educa- ESTABLISHED 1817 PIONEER SUNDAY SCHOOL ORGANIZATION OF THE USA tion for girls in Mosul-and many rise up and call her blessed. Personal Items one-half years of service as he says that he is "no longer able to recom- , Particularly valuable in connection The Rev. A. C. Snead, Foreign Sec- mend the Board as a Presbyterian with the coming year's study of Mos- retary of the Christian and Mission- missionary agency." Mr. Woodbridge lem lands. ary Alliance, sailed for a tour of was formerly a missionary in West South American mission fields on July Africa, representing the Presbyterian Price: cloth, $I .00; paper, 60 cents 27. He expects to visit Jamaica, Co- Church in the United States of Amer- lombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, The ica, from which he resigned in 1Q33. Order from Argentine and Puerto Rico, returning home on December 7. Mr. Snead ••• THE BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS OF earnestly requests the prayers of THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. U. S. A. Christian people for God's blessing on Dr. Ralph E. Diffendorfer, corre- his mission to these important fields sponding secretary of the Methodist 156 Fifth Avenue New York, N. Y. where the Christian and Missionary Episcopal Board of Foreign Missions, Alliance carries on work. sailed on Saturday, June 12, for Italy FOR SALE-28 new black poplin and Central Europe, where there are pleated choir gowns; academic style, • • • . Rev. Charles J. Woodbridge, Gen- pressing problems. Dr. Diffendorfer $3.75 each; Iblack mortarboard caps, $1.50 has announced an anonymous gift of each. M. R. W. LINDNER, 425 Seventh eral Secretary of the Independent 100,000 Reichmarks-approximately Ave., New York. Board for Presbyterian Foreign Mis- $25,000-for the work in Germany. It sions, has resigned after three and will be used chiefly for improvements (Concluded on page 448.)
MISSIONARY and value. It is devoted to the mis-
REVIEW OF THE WORLD sion study topic of the coming year- The Moslem World and the progress DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor of Christianity among Moslems. These articles are by missionaries who have VOL. LX SEPT., 1937 No.9 devoted their lives to the work and who know the conditions from expe- Publication and Business Olllce– rience. Some of the articles are by Third and Reily 8ts., Harrisburg, Pa. those who have come out of Islam and have confessed their faith in Christ Editorial and Executive Olllce– as their Lord and Master. The work 156 Firth Avenue, New York City. in Moslem lands is one of the most Entered as second-class matter at difficult in any field since the Moham- medans are militant in their propa- Post Omce, Harrisburg, Pa., under ganda and as a rule are very bitter Act of March 3, 1879. antagonists against those who pro- claim Christ as the Son of God and 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. only Saviour through His death on Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. the cross. A list of the articles pre- Published monthly, except August. pared for our special number will be All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1937. found on the fourth cover of this is- British agents – Marshall, Morgan sue. It is advisable to order copies of and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, the October REVIEW immediately. London, E. C. 1 shilling per copy, 10 shillings a year. PARENTS ••• When the good work MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- In the Foreign Mission Field calls you East … saH LISHING CO., INC. Endorse Calvert School p&O BOARD OF DIRECTORS Home Study Courses ROBERT E. SPEER, President This year marks a full century of P & 0 A. L. WARNSHUIS, Vice-President for Children service to the lands beyond Suez! WALTER McDOUGALL, Treasurer Whenever you are called to the other DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary Calvert School, through its Home Iustruc- side of the world, choose this tradi- tion Department, will give your child a tional route. Cross to England by SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT superior elementary education … by mail, Cunard White Star •.• and there embark in a great liner of the P & 0 WILLIAM 1. CH..umEBL£IN regardless of where you may live. Mod- and British India fleets, led by the D. J. FANT ern, approved courses from this famous new 22,5oo-ton Strathnaver, Strath- school are being used by parents all over aird and Strathmore. Regular service MRS. ORRIN R. JUDD to Egypt, Sudan, Persian Gulf, India, WM. B. LIPPHARD the world with outstanding success. Burma, Ceylon, Straits Settlements, ERIC M. NORTH China, Japan, Australia" East and SAMUEL M. ZWEMER Give your children the advantages of these South Africa, Mauritius. Low rates.
Editorial Chat interesting lessons, carefully chosen books, Convenient through bookings can be arranged and attractive materials. Instruction is by your local travel agent or any office of The unusual situation in China is a under the personal guidance of teachers in very disturbing factor to missionaries, Calvert's prominent and successful private CUNARD WHITE STAR LINE the Chinese Christians and to all interested in the development of that day school in Baltimore. GENERAL AGENTS great land and people. What Christians can do most effectively is to t Write today for booklet of complete in- '25 Broadwayand638 Fifth Ave., New York pray for the afflicted people that all may witness a good confession, and formation. Costs are low. stand true to the highest Christian principles. The editorial "Topic of CALVERT SCHOOL the Times" and the articles in this 180 E. Tusc:any Road number by Mr. James P. Leynse, of Peiping, and Mr. Porteous will be Baltimore -0- Maryland read with deep interest.
*** The October number of THE RE- VIEW will be one of unusual interest The Minister's Social Primer Basic, Factual Articles Which Deal With New World Economics By WILLIAM L. LUDLOW Professor of Political Science and Sociology, Muskingum College SUBJECTS 1. Marxian Communism 4. German National Socialism 2. Soviet Russia 5. Democracy 3. Fascism 6. Trade Unionism in America 7. Labor Legislation.
The first chapter will appear in the October issue of CHURCH MANAGEMENT, to be published September 17th. Others will follow in order.
Send $1.50 for special seven-months' subscription to secure this social primer so necessary to men in public life. Single copy, 25c.
CHURCH MANAGEMENT Auditorium Building Cleveland, Ohio [401 ]
NATIVES IN THE ANGLO-EGYPTIAN
(See article on page 422.) REVIB ORLD VOLUME LX AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER 9 SEPTEMBER, 1937 Topics of the Times LEADERS OR FOLLOWERS? educated for better leadership; they are learning how to keep the mass of the people from drifting There is a loud call today for leadership–for or floundering.
wise leaders, honest leaders, unselfish leaders, It was said of a certain politician: "He would courageous leaders, experienced leaders.. They make a great leader, if only he could persuade are needed in world affairs, in politics and indus- anyone to follow him." There are two requisites: try, in business and philanthropy, in education a wise, strong leader and people intelligent and and religion. How many nations of the world are unselfish enough to follow good leadership. How in a turmoil for lack of proper leadership! In much both are needed today! The Apostle James Cuba, Mexico and many parts of Latin America says: "Be not many teachers-:-or leaders-know- there is almost continual civil war because one ing that we shall receive heavier judgment."
man after another seeks to lead the nation's des- (James 3: 1 R. V.). In many lands, and in many tiny. Europe offers many examples of strong and spheres of life, confusion and conflict arise beweak political leaders. Spain is torn with fratri- cause too many seek to be leaders rather than cidal strife and is drenched with blood because of show a willingness to be followers. We are in- the conflict between rivals who would be leaders clined to forget that "one who would command and rulers. In Germany, Italy and Russia we must first learn to obey."
have examples of headstrong rulers who are in When the late Sadhu Sundar Singh, that re- the saddle and are leading their nations-but markable Christian ascetic of India, was in whither? America, he was asked by one who heard him In Asia the struggle for leadership continues. speak: "Have you any followers in India-any Gandhi and others are striving by different meth- who follow your ideals of life and methods of ods to determine India's destiny. China is bene- service?"
fited by the influence of a strong and intelligent The Sadhu thought a moment and then replied: leader, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, but Japan, "No, I have no followers. I, myself, am a fol- under the control of the military party, is leading lower." In that answer lies the secret of leader- the country to a war that threatens all Asia and ship to meet the needs of the hour.
may involve the world. Jesus Christ did not call men to be leaders; He Similar struggles exist in America. The ques- called them to be followers. He called them to be tion of the type of leadership determines the po- "fishers of men," rather than rulers of men. He litical program in nation and city, spells failure or called them to serve men rather than to exercise success in the conflict between labor and capital, lordship over men. They were called first to be and will bring failure or success in the Christian disciples (learners), then apostles (missionaries).
Church. Who are the leaders? Why do they seek Is not this the great need in the world and in control and whither are they leading? the Church today? What might we expect if, in- Much emphasis is placed today on the training stead of setting up many "leadership conferences,"
of leaders in all departments of life. Leadership we promoted training classes to teach men, wom- training conferences are being held for political, en and children to be good followers? There is one educational and religious workers-and in many safe and sane leader, the Lord Jesus Christ. If of these conferences, men and women are being men and women would sit at His feet to learn of [403 ]
Him; if we would know how to appreciate His has resulted. The Arabs, who are traders and love and His sacrifice; if we could understand cattle-raising nomads rather than agriculturalists His wisdom and accept His standards-then the or industrial workers, have seen their prestige wrongs in our own personal lives, the mistakes in and control threatened. Their racial pride has the family, in the Church, in the State and the been hurt. They have been warlike since the days world might be set right. As we learn of Him of Esau, while Jews are non-militant. Riots and and are ready to follow Him, He has promised to bloodshed have resulted and all Great Britain's give us power to do His work as He gave power diplomacy and military strength "have been reto the early Disciples when the Holy Spirit came quired to maintain some semblance of peace. upon them. Finally a British Royal Commission was ap- The great need today is not more classes to pointed last year to visit Palestine and report on train leaders but more classes and conferences to the most feasible plan for developing the country. teach us to be true followers of Jesus Christ-as Their report shows careful study and a desire to humble Christians, as parents, as business men and solve the difficult problem-but it satisfies neither women, as workers in Church and State, as mis- Jews nor Arabs. The proposal is for a "major sionaries and as executives. In proportion as we operation," to divide the land into three sectionssucceed in learning in this school of Christ, we giving to the Jews about one-third-including the can say with the Apostle Paul to less privileged western border on the Mediterranean, from about disciples: "Be ye followers (imitators) of me twenty miles north of Gaza to Syria and the Lebaeven as I also am of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11: 1). non Mountains; giving to the Arabs two-thirds- including the land south of Bethlehem, east of THE PARTITION OF PALESTINE the plains of Judea and across the Jordan River. The British are to retain a small "corridor" from Although almost insignificant in size – only Jerusalem to the sea at Jaffa, and a small circle about the size of New England- Palestine around Nazareth, and with a naval base at Haifa. has the most strategic position of any country in This would mean that the Jews will have the the world. It lies at the crossroads of Asia, Africa Shephelah and the lowlands of the Mediterranean and Europe. The natural wealth of the country, seacoast, where Tel-Aviv and other modern Jewas well as its command of the trade routes be- ish settlements are located; also Mt. Carmel and tween East and West, have made the land a de- practically all of Galilee. The Arabs will have sirable prize. It was this land, enlarged to reach Shechem (Nablus) and Samaria, the country "from the Euphrates to the River of Egypt," that around Hebron, J.ericho, and Beersheba and the God promised to Abraham and his descendants. lands of their ancestors-the Moabites, Ammon- It was many years before the Hebrews gained ites and Edomites. The British retain control of possession and then because of their disobedience, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth and the railroad they were conquered and lost control of the coun- to the seaport of Jaffa (ancient Joppa). The try many times. From the earliest days of history Jews and Arabs are both offered independent this little country has been a battleground between states, with representatives in the League of Na- Philistines, Canaanites and Hittites; between tions. Syrians and Egyptians; between Assyrians, Babylonians, and Israelites; between Romans, The Arabs object to this division on three Greeks and Arabians; between Crusaders and grounds: (1) They say that they have possessed "Infidels" ; between the Allied armies in the the land by right of conquest and occupation for World War and the Turks. hundreds of years; (2) they are in a majority and now own most of the land so that it would be Today Palestine is again a scene of strife and a necessary to evacuate 225,000 Arabs from Jewish bone of contention between Arabs and Jews, be- territory; (3) the plan gives the Jews the most tween Christians, Hebrews and Moslems. As a fertile and desirable portions and most of the result of the World War, England was given a seacoast, while the Arabs are assigned to the mandate over Palestine and the Balfour Declara- more arid sections of the mountains and the semition promised the Jews an opportunity to develop wilderness beyond the Jordan. their ancient heritage and to make it a "National Home." The persecuted and ostracized Jews of The Jews find the plan inacceptable: (1) be- Europe have taken the opportunity to return in cause the whole land is theirs by right of divine large numbers. They have built cities, developed promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, by ancient farms, made good roads, established schools and inheritance and occupation, and by the Balfour universities, and have taken other steps to im- Declaration; (2) because, being driven out of prove the country and to increase prosperity. But Europe, they need Palestine as a National Home after seventeen years, and in spite of British ef- and they have shown the will and ability to develforts to maintain order, strife rather than peace op the country, which the Arabs have not; (3) because the Arabs are assigned the Jordan Valley
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
I .q z MPDI TER RA NeA N .:.' S£A 4 MEO/TERRA NEA"' .:,'.,'· o .seA " ,,~,_ -0— ,, ," . ,,,/ "oH.ebron ,t EGYPT -, ;<rBeerSheM r—–~~——–~ a ! Ie J' l ' I KEY ~EERSHE8A SU8- DISTRICT t EXTENDING roGUU' 01' AQABA _ Proposed boundaries ", Present boundari es CULTIVATION UNSURVEYEO /JO MIlFI _ Rai /ways —- Roads Courtesy ot "The New York Times"
with all the light and power plants, the Dead Sea material resources used to increase the prosperity and the mountains which are richest in chemicals, of the country. Both Jews and Arabs are so unminerals' and other natural resources. Both par- friendly to the British that they may yet unite ties want Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron and oth- against them, as the Pharisees and Herodians er sacred sites. It is as impossible to give both united against Christ. Jews and Arabs all they wish as it is to satisfy both labor and capital, or both communists and God's plan is not yet made clear for His "peim perialists. culiar people" and His chosen land. Any arrange- ment, such as is proposed by the Royal Commis- The plan offered is objected to by many British "sion, can at best be only temporary. God's promise and by people of other lands who take up cudgels to Abraham was: "I will give unto thee, and to for one side or the other. Dr. Chaim Weizmann, thy s~ed after thee, the land wherein thou art a President of the Zionist Movement, finds the pro- stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting posed partition unsatisfactory but thinks that it possession, and I will be their God" (Genesis offers the best solution of any plan suggested up 17: 8). to the present. Dr. Stephen Wise, President of the American Zionists, is utterly opposed to any ECUMENICAL CHRISTIANITY AT OXFORD such surrender of what he terms "Jewish rights." The World Conference on "Life and Work" that Christians as a whole have not entered into the met for two weeks in July at Oxford, England, to controversy, but many Syrian Christians in Pal- consider "The Church, State and Community," estine would prefer to see the Arabs in control brought together some eight hundred delegates because they find it more difficult to get along and associates from many different nations, Ori. with Jewish neighbors. Neither Jews nor Mos- ental churches and Protestant communi:bns. These lems are friendly to Christian mission work; included 100 young men and women from thirty neither one favors Christian or British control; countries, who constituted a special "Youth Secbut both are willing to see Christian ability and
tion" of the Conference; there were also many ments that threaten the efficiency, if not the very delegates from the younger churches of mission life, of the Church. la.nds. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Cosmo Gordon Lang, was president, and Dr. John R. 2. That the Church consider how to meet and Mott, well known American Methodist layman, overcome the evident purpose in many lands to was Chairman of the Business Committee. The elevate the State to a divine status, thus seeking Conference was much more widely representative to give human rulers more authority than that than that which met at Stockholm in 1925; but accorded Almighty God; also how to correct the there were no German delegates at Oxford, pass- tendency to racial discrimination, social injustice ports having been refused by the Nazi Govern- and the increase of immortality in personal and ment to members of the Confessional Synod. community life.
Many important topics were discussed by the 3. That greater emphasis be placed on the facts Conference in various sections, papers having been that God is the only supreme and ultimate auprepared in advance and "Findings" being pre- thority; that religious liberty is essential to husented for discussion at the general meetings be- man liberty, and that Christians are called of God fore approval. to use their resources to help raise the status of the underprivileged, the oppressed and unlight- Among the disturbing trends in the life of to- ened brothers and sisters of the human race. day were noted: the claim of the State-as in Germany, Italy, Russia and Turkey-to dominate The Conference closed with a united communion and control religion; the growth of secularism in service presided over by the Archbishop of Canall lands at the expense of religion, and the signs terbury, assisted by the Episcopal Bishop of Dorof moral anarchy which threatens the sanctity of nakaI, India. marriage and the home. THE CHINA-JAPAN CONFLICT The members of the Conference applauded those who advocated unity among Christians of all na- Since July 7, the world has been increasingly tions, races and sects; there was emphasized the concerned by another demonstration of the deneed for greater dependence on the guidance and termined military encroachment of one nation of power of God for the solution of all problems. the Far East upon the territory and the sover- Real progress was noted in the growth of friendly eignty of another at a time when other nations understanding between Eastern and Western are too busily occupied to intervene. So much is Churches and between members of French and clear to all the world, to which all further judg- German nationals. There was a call for a united ments may safely be left. And few will condemn Christian front to combat and overcome the in- the militarily weaker nation for deciding that pacrease of militant atheism and of pagan material- tient submission had ceased to be a virtue and for ism in all lands. risking all in self-defense. The infinite pity of the situation is that the blow should fall upon Perhaps the most striking proposal was for the China just at the time when her provinces and formation of a "World Council of Churches" to parties and leaders were heartily uniting in the include all non-Roman Christian churches that work of material and moral reconstruction which wish to join. This will be a world-wide organiza- had been so frequently interrupted during the tion planned and operated on lines similar to the quarter century of the republic. Inspired by the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America. courage, wisdom and unselfish patriotism of Gen- It is suggested that it function through an As- eralissimo and Madame Chiang and several likesembly of some two hundred members; its pur- minded associates and by the marvelous deliverpose will be to increase. the ecumenical conscious- ance of their leader from deadly peril in captivity, ness among all Evangelical Christians, and to confident hope of a great future for China had promote cooperation among churches of all na- been rekindled. The appointment of Dr. C. T. tions, races and denominations. This Assembly Wang as Ambassador to the United States and the would meet every year and might give informa- visit of the Minister of Finance, Dr. H. H. Kung, tion service through a World Council Journal; to America and many European countries, have it might also promote world-wide conferences, contributed to a mutually helpful international such as those held this summer at Oxford and friendship, but nothing has prevented the out- Edinburgh. It is hoped that this Council would break of a murderous "undeclared war." represent the "voice of united Christendom"- outside the Roman Catholic Church. The first stages of that war in the driving of provincial forces from the neighborhood of Tient- Among the Findings submitted and approved sin and Peiping, though it involved much slaughby the Conference were the following: ter J)f soldiers and civilians and destruction of valuable property such as the progressive Nankai 1. That the Christian Church meet the present University ~t Ti~Iltsin~ have been trifles as comchallenge of the serious economic situation in all Jands and the anti-religious and secularizing movepared with the terrific conflict which broke out on ning to open as usual. The same is presumably August 14 between rapidly gathering Chinese air true of the College of Chinese Studies (Language and military forces and the Japanese warships School) though the number of new missionaries lying at the Hongkew bund portion of Shanghai venturing into North China this autumn may not International Settlement, where they had no right be large. to be. Their position rendered accidents inevitable, and bombs intended for the warships It was intended to list here the missions at work dropped in the settlement, killing hundreds of in the war zone, but since the scope of the war civilian Chinese and several foreigners including increases daily that would be a hopeless and use- Dr. Frank J. Rawlinson, Editor of the Chinese less task. Recorder, and Dr. Robert Karl Reischauer of Princeton, son of the well-known missionary in In sharp contrast with this dismal picture of Tokyo. Since then by air and land and water, strife and hatred stand out the recent picture of Chinese and Japanese have hurled death and de- Dr. Toyohiko Kagawa of Japan, and Dr. C. Y. struction at each other, and attempts have been Cheng of China, smiling radiantly, with arms made and resisted to carry the war to the national about each other's necks. A later photograph capital, Nanking, and other centers of military shows two girl scout leaders-Chinese and Japaconcentration. nese-in a similar attitude. Let us hold fast to our hope that some day the love of Christ will Many are the predictions as to the outcome, constrain these two peoples, so nearly related, to but such prognostication is futile. If "God is al- love one another and engage heartily in mutual ways on the side of the strongest battalions," upbuilding for the service of the world. China will be once more humbled and crippled. There seems to be little or no prospect of a saving THE COMING GENERATION AND intervention by any or all of the other nations; MISSIONS but the new national spirit of the Chinese people, added to their traditional ability to "conquer by The youth of today sometimes criticize the misabsorption," may bring them safely through this sion boards on the ground that youth is ignored in most fiery trial of their recent history. the planning and direction of the work. They claim that the viewpoint of the younger generation is The outbreak having come in midsummer, ignored in religion, while it is sought in business, when many missionaries were absent on vacation, in politics and in social movements. when many had left on furlough and new missionaries had not arrived, the problem of protection All acknowledge that the future of mission work and evacuation has been comparatively small. is vitally linked with the rising generations. It Only a few who occupy key positions on the field is dependent on new life being constantly supare now being returned to China, though some plied, infinitely more than it is dependent on new who had sailed before the crisis became acute will money. probably be diverted to other opportunities for service until the way is open to the old field. The But are the young men and women of this commissions in the Philippines will gladly absorb a ing generation taking an interest in vital Christia'1 large number. At this writing evacuations of work as they are in politics, sport, economics and missionaries have been very few, but the Boards social reform? In how many churches are the and the field agencies are on the alert and pro- youth a strong factor? How much are young peovided with authority and funds to meet all needs. ple as a class willing to sacrifice for the Cause of Except as mentioned above, no missionary lives Christ? How many are ready to do personal work have been lost, or property seriously damaged. on spiritual lines? Are they trained to accept and practice fundamental Christian ideas and stand- It is well to remind ourselves that the situation ards? How many of the present generation of differs widely from that of the Boxer Outbreak students would sacrifice ambition and prospects in 1900. Then, all foreigners were the object of of business advancement to start and carry forannihilative attack by the "Boxers" and the Chi- ward a Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign nese imperial troops; now neither combatant will Missions or a Young People's Missionary Moveintentionally injure the citizens of any neutral ment? Have they the idealism, the courage, the nation. Apart, therefore, from the "accidents of ability, the faith to undertake such work, in face of discouragement and opposition? warfare," the ambassadors of Christ are not considered to be in serious peril. We believe that multitudes of the youth of to- day will respond to this challenge if it is rightly Latest reports from North China state that all presented. They must first be conscious of their is quiet in and near Peiping and that Yenching own debt to Christ and acknowledge His suprem- University northwest of the city and the North acy over their lives. They must realize the need China American School at Tungchow are plan- of the world and the ability of Christ to supply that need. When they see this as clearly as they of Nations. This is the missionary enterprise of the future. see the need for world peace, for social justice, One contributor takes exception to this view, for economic improvement and for better race re- and rightly if we are to be guided by Christ's ideals and objectives as they are presented in the lations, then they will respond as enthusiastically New Testament. This contributor says: and sacrificially to the call of Christ and man's In the early days of the Church there was no social justice. Palestine was seething with social injustice, naspiritual needs as they now do to the call of Marx tionalism, imperialism, absentee-landlordism, cruel taxa- tion, frequent rebellion-but was there not a spiritual life or Hitler or Mussolini for temporal and national in the midst of it? In my experience those who have been the greatest saints have often been those who suffered advancement. There is great encouragement to- most from social injustice. I do not think that the world as we know it will ever be rid of sin, and so I cannot see day in the spirit shown by Christian youth in a hope of our being rid of social injustice. I have not much hope of the coming of a cooperative Commonwealth many colleges and in summer conferences, in so- of Nations in the terms in which we see it today. We are in a time of tremendous chaos in which we cannot yet see cieties and in churches where they find true virile clearly the direction or tell the nature of the new order which will be born, though my own hopes lie in the d:recand spiritual leadership. tion indicated here. I do not, however, regard this as the "missionary enterprise of the future." Missions are con- The missionary cause must be presented wisely cerned primarily with the religious, not with the economic.
to appeal to the youth of today. What kind of a Let the coming generation be stirred to fight courageously against the present-day crime, inmissionary enterprise will students support? is justice, cruelty and selfishness, but the hope for a new and more fruitful day in Christian advance a question recently sent out to colleges by the Stu- is in a youth movement wholly loyal to Christ and led by the Spirit of God. f1ent Volunteer Movement. The Intercollegian and Far Horizons publishes the following answer which was among those received: .
Everywhere and for the most part increasingly, capitalism, communism, fascism and nationalism threaten the welfare of mankind. Nervous breakdowns, depressions, wars-these are all symptoms of a basic economic and moral sickness. Until social justice can be established, spiritual life is impossible. The great hope of the future lies in the development on a world scale of cooperatives and an increasing socializing of the means of production, pointing Ultimately toward a Cooperative Commonwealth RELIGIOUS BODIES AND GROUPS IN THE UNITED STATES IN A OOMPARISON OF THOSE REPORTING OVER 50,000 MEMBERS, 1935 AND 1936 Membership 1 Yr. Gain 10 Yr, Gain Membership 1 Yr. Gain 10 Yr, Gain 1936 1936·1935 1936-1926 1936 1936-1935 1936-1926 Baptists (19 Bodies) ….. 10,332,005 140,308 1,890,939 Polish Catholic Church … 186,000 36,000 124,426 Methodist (19 Bodies) .. , 9,109,359 41,798 1,038,740 Church of the Nazarene .. 133,516 5,867 69,958 Lutherans (17 Bodies) … 4,589,660 43,905 646,202 Mennonites (17 Bodies) .. 116,665 4,101 29,491 Jewish (Heads of Families) 4,081,242 Eastern Separate (2 Bodies) 107,675 78,087 Friends (4 Bodies) ….. . 105,917 dl,527 d4,505 Presbyterians (10 Bodies) 2,687,772 6,507 62,488 Protestant Episcopal …. . 1,918,329 21,193 52,243 Church of God (Indiana) . 82,893 364 44,644 Disciples of Christ ….. . 1,602,052 d6,700 224,457 Unitarians …………. . 98,600 38,026 38,448 East. Orthodox (9 Bodies) 1,092,349 94,262 832,955 Federated Churches ….. . 59,977 Congregational & Christian 1,010,776 d2,177 16,285 Scandinavian Ev. (3 Bodies) 55,237 385 6,452 Evangelical and Reformed 849,205 d71,384 173,401 Universalists ……….. . 51,159 68 d3,798 Roman Catholics (whole Lat.-Day Saints (2 Bodies) 777,695 12,981 171,134 Churches of Christ …… . 433,714 family) …………… 20,831,139 221,837 2,226,136 United Brethren (3 Bodies) 428,838 1,073 32,953 Total, Over 50,000 ….. 62,844,012 689,572 8,718,230 Reformed (3 Bodies) … . 366,583 81,958 110,318 Salvation Army …….. . 255,765 d3,336 180,997 Total, Under 50,000 649,024 147,832 271,636 Ch. of Four-Sq. Gospel .. . 257,635 5,255 257,635 Evangelical (2 Bodies) .. . 258,207 9,390 31,678 Church of Christ, Scientist 202,098 Grand Total ……….. 63,493,036 837,404 8,989,866 Population (July, 1936) .. 128,429,000 908,000 11,429,000 Church of God in Christ .. 200,470 170,207 -From The Christian Hemld. Breth. (Dunkers) (4 Bodies) 192,588 1,047 34,484 d Decrease. Adventists (5 Bodies) … . 195,553 5,435 49,376 Assemblies of God …… . 173,349 2,936 125,399
But Unconquered – in
By the REV. JAMES P. LEYNSE, Peiping, China Missionary of the Presbyterian Church, U. s. A.
W ITHOUT even so much as a knock at the "One day in the fall when the 'harvest of the door Mrs. Single Flower Liu, in a sky-blue five grains' was plentiful and people went merrily cotton garment, entered my study and told to their work, a student of the Truth Hall Mission me this story: School of Peiping came to our village elders. His words of new and strange things came freely out "Allow me to use some of your time, Shepherd- of his mouth. At the first watch of the night, teacher. Today, with the wind making many. a when all the people had supped, that young man whirling cloud of dust, there will be a few people would stand preaching in front of the village inn, gathering at the Hall of Glad Tidings. The saying that there is only one God of heaven and' heavens have turned yellow; the earth is almost earth; that the sun and moon belong to all the dark and the sun has only a dim light. Ai, this world; and that all men around the four seas are is truly a good room to come to on such a day; all brethren. It was truly a strange doctrine, but these books of foreign learning are a pleasure to that young man had his stomach full of good behold. I have come to you to speak about the learning and his heart was warm with sympathy. things of my heart. He knew how to speak words acceptably.
"Years ag<J, when through the goodness· of your "One evening when the moonlight was dim, I friends across the foreign sea, you invited me to went stealthily out of the family house and stood become a Christian evangelist, my joy rose to among:st the crowd like a man, so as to hear the Heaven and I determined that some day I should tell you the story of my conversion. Pray, do not student-preacher read ,from his Heavenly Book. weary of my account and do not regard it a hard- His preaching filled my heart with a peace unship to use your pen to write it down. I am but a speakable and I, humble young sister, cried out to humble woman of scanty learning and know how the Living God for help and guidance. In the to write only a few hundred characters of our lan- middle of the night my heart became so heavy guage; I am but nothing to compare with such an within me that I got up from the brick family bed one as you. and bowed myself to the ground before the great God and Creator for the first time in my life. "I was born in the village of the Deep Hill Waters. My ancestral home was favored by the "The next day when the sun had set and the gods with plenty of millet, rice, oil and salt. moon arose I went again to hear about the Way of Though the house was large I had but eight feet Life and to seek salvation. I was like one who of the family brick bed on which to sleep, just as had made her bow in the dark. While listening, everybody else. My highly esteemed grandfather my heart was mirrored before God, and I saw the was a chief priest of the Lotus Goddess and my blackness of my sin. I believed what the preacher uncles were leaders of Buddhist pilgrimages. Yea, said and knew that I was cleansed from my inthey even were active fighters in the great anti- iquity. At that time I was born again, a new Chdstian movement of 1900 when all over the woman, and my heart became settled in quietness land many missionaries and thousands of Chris- and peace. tians were killed. My honorable father was also an ardent Buddhist, who cared for the gods and "Afterwards that young man taught me to pray spent many pieces of good silver to help rebuild and to read the new…style writing. He put the our village temple. And my mother, though only Word of God into my hands and my faith grew a country woman of simple mind, knew all about until it became the most precious thing on the the gods and was a vegetarian for many years to earth to me. I witnessed to my relatives about it please Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Happiness. I but their temper rose hotly within them against myself desired from childhood on to serve the gods this new and strange doctrine. In their hardness of heaven, and with my very flesh and bones I of heart they vowed never to throw a single idol loved to do all that is good. Therefore I was set away nor to forsake the temple. aside to become a 'witch woman' of the group of the Lotus Spirit. "Years went by and my grandparents and par- ents all died, leaving me without proper care and protection. My uncles therefore took me in and [409 ]
filled my ears with many good promises if I only fore I could wean them. For this I bore a thouwould renew my faith in the old temple idols. sand bitternesses-but no more need to be said of They would have adopted me as their own daugh- such things. ter if I had but burned a little incense before the household idols; but I could not do such a thing "One morning, when the spring was young and and displease my Saviour. I was doing the housework, I sang a chorus 'Heaven is my Home.' My sister-in-law hearing "Then my relatives married me into the house- this cried out in great wrath: 'I surely will help hold of Hsu of the Village of the Seven Precious you to ascend to your Heaven.' I was ignorant Things, to a young man I had never seen before, of her intentions and did not in the least suspect nor even heard of. This is the custom of our coun- that she had put poison in the few mouthfuls of try of Central Glory. I was already twenty-two spinach I had with my millet. That night my years of age, and upon my arrival in my new body grew hot with fever and in the morning I home, I learned that my lord and master was but was stiff with cold. I could not utter any speech, a boy of fourteen years. From the first I saw that neither did my eyes see any light, and everybody the look on his face was sullen, yea, even when I said, 'She soon will die.' Hastily they bargained bowed myself three times before him, I knew that for a fiat cart drawn by mules to pull me to the he was a rude thing who did not know a whit of home of my uncles that I might die there. manners. And his relatives acted like him. I had brought with me a bride's box of sheepskin painted "At midday, when the sun was high in the skies red with beautiful trailing clouds. In it I had put and I was lying in the cart rolling hither and my garments of red and blue as a bride always thither on account of the many ruts in the road, has, but also my Bible and hymn book. I had I awoke a little and dreamed a beautiful dream. scarcely been in the house a few hours when the I thought I saw a big ladder reaching from heaven mother of my lord snatched the key out of my to earth and on it an angel came down carrying hand and looked hastily through the box. When medicine and food for my body. When the angel she found my Bible and hymn book, her heart be- was about to touch my heart and heal my body, I came course with anger. She cursed me fiercely cried out, 'Oh, most Gracious One, let there be a and, just as when a dog barks at something a hun- limit to my suffering and let me die in peace.' dred dogs start barking in chorus, all my relatives- Then that one answered saying, 'Not so; it is in-law joined her in reviling me. God's will that you shall live ; be of good courage.' I answered, 'If this truly must be so, grant me "Afterwards I learned that my uncles had sent three requests.' Then that one said, 'Is there anywords of warning about my Christian faith, say- thing too hard for the Lord to do?' I replied, 'See ing that by all means they should drive the evil to it that those to whom I belong allow me to folspirit out of my vitals. They stated that in doing low Christ. Arrange for me that I may study the so it would be considered only a small matter with Bible, and let those who are in authority over me them if they beat me to death. This was the rea- give me freedom to unbind my feet.' Touching my son that, though I was before my young husband forehead the angel replied saying, 'Your requests like a sampan that waits on a steamer, I did not are granted and so shall the Lord do to you.' find favor in his eyes, neither received any kind Straightway my stomach was cured of illness and words from his parents. It was my lord's busi- great peace was within my heart. ness to braid mats and to sell straw shoes but most of the time he was weary from idleness, and "When my uncles saw me entering their home, had much leisure in which to find fault with me. they said, 'How is this strange thing? This sick- ness is not unto death and how is it that her par- The affairs of that home were like the hills, with ents-in-Iaw give themselves the weariness of sendthe even places few and far between. On the day ing her here?' And all the neighbors looking at of my arrival they burned my Bible, hymn book, me said, 'Surely, she will not die and the wages of and tracts in the courtyard before a picture of the the cartman are but wasted.' Then I testified with gods of heaven and earth. But no shouting nor a power which was not my own but of the Holy beating with sticks could induce me to rise from Spirit and there was no one that dared to raise my knees when in the morning and evening I his voice against me because the Lord was at my knelt in prayer to my Saviour. side. In all the months I stayed in my uncle's house my life was as a road of heavenly peace. "Some years passed and to all of the people in The women and children gathered daily in my' the home of my parents-in-law I was like a mirror room to study the Word of God and many a man hung with the glass to the wall. I bore my master stood behind the street door curtain to listen. two children but the words he ever spoke to me were seldom heard. I was beaten so often that "Then one day, when the winds of autumn bemy bruises never disappeared. The measure of gan to blow, my husband stood at the gate and millet, left for me in the cauldron, was so small commanded me to follow him. As there was that my children were weak at birth and died be- nought to do but to walk behind him, I said fare-
BEATEN BUT UNCONQUERED IN CHINA
well to my relatives. All the weary way back to follow him any longer. Finally my relatives sucmy husband's home the tears blinded my eyes and ceeded in satisfying him. The law of our land one by one they dropped on the Bible I carried set me free and even gave me my son to rear, wrapped in my handkerchief. When I arrived though he was the only grandson of the family. within the enclosure of his home my husband Soon afterwards came the complete answer to my grabbed me, bound me with ropes and hung my prayer and I was permitted to study the things body from a beam in the house. Then he and his concerning the Bible in a special school for that mother used sticks and a big whip upon me in a purpose. Now, out of the goodness of your heart, long and fearful way. But I never as much as you have allowed me to be an evangelist to go cried out for mercy. I prayed to my Father in among my own Chinese people with the Gospel of heaven and did count the pain but joy. For many Salvation. Here I am, a lowly servant of Christ months that followed my husband and his brothers Jesus, taking my place in the fields of the harvest and their mother often used big sticks upon me, in this great country." but I always prayed as before and quietly praised my God in whispered songs. A DEAF LADY'S APPEAL TO THE GODDESS OF MERCY "One day they locked the gate of the house and again bound my body by a rope to a beam and By ROBERT B. EKVALL, B.A., F.R.G.S.* beat me until my breath came in gasps. Then my Christian and Missionary Alliance, Kansu mother-in-law urged her son to use a knife on me good and deep so as to cut the evil spirit out of Goddess of Mercy, the incense burns with framy body. In great confused hurry he hunted all grance sweet, over the house for the big kitchen knife, but the God of Heaven blinded his eyes so that he could But sweeter yet if I were not so poor; not find it. Then they all shouted and together The best that I could buy for I am poor. they beat my body with sticks. The pain became Ah, Goddess, hear my prayer. so fierce that I let my voice go out in loud screams. For you can hear. The neighbors heard it and one man climbed over Your ears are not dead stones that numb your head the roof into the courtyard and protested against As mine have been these past five years. their beating me to death. He bowed himself to Ah, Goddess, hear. the ground before my husband and my fatherin-law saying, 'If she has caused you loss of face But maybe now my tongue has lied on account of her disobedience I will repay for her And makes no sound. I wish I knew. sin with this bow. But let there be an end to this Perhaps my voice is dead-and after? thing. We, your neighbors, do not want our street The world is but a picture now; and if to be talked about and we most surely do not want Death dropped the veil, among the spirits the police to inquire about our affairs.' Then they Could a deaf old woman find the way? unbound me and locked me in a small room where No hope beyond, and half lost, stumbling now. frequently someone came in to beat me with a stick. But Christ Jesus strengthened me and was Goddess of Mercy, just one day that I with me in that little room so that I did not starve Might hear. For in the house across the street with the scanty food which was left for me. The foreign lady tells strange things. I know That they are strange, for Mei Nai Nai, "Some time later, on a night when the moon Who has not smiled for twenty years was misty and the clouds were heavy with rain, Till yesterday, cried, and then through tears a kind niece came into the house saying, 'Set forth She smiled, like summer's sun through falling rain. quickly, I have unfastened the gate, the road is Their lips are twisted by strange words; my eyes before you. Why tarry here any longer?' Pray- Are old! I cannot see. And even when ing to the Lord to protect me I ran as long as My son has mouthed the words he finds within the dim moonlight lasted. When the sun arose Their books, they seem so strange. I slept hidden in the fields with my Bible for a A story? But what story makes old hearts young? pillow. After suffering much from hunger and I watch his lips until he points above and says one weariness I safely reached the mission and friendly hands led me to the Industrial School for word. Women. A month later my son was born. As a Goddess of Mercy, let me hear but once that word means to earn something for food and clothing I That I may laugh through tears and feel at peace. gratefully took up making with my hands the colorful things which ladies in foreign lands like My incense ash has dusted all the floor; to put into their homes. The Goddess has not heard. The word-the word- "Boldly my husband came to claim me, threat- Five years too late. I cannot hear. ening to go to court about it when I refused to * Copyright From The Alliance WeeklY.
of Sin Bondage of Sin Allurement of
COLORED POSTIDR NUMBER 7- THE SIN PICTURES The Use of Chinese Gospel Posters I I~- Prepared by R. W. PORTEOUS, Nanchang, Kiangsi China Inland Mission Bible Training Institute SOME four or five years ago at a monthly mis- similar work might be done in all the military hos- sionary meeting, the writer happened to be pitals throughout the country. Instructions were sitting opposite Madame Chiang Kai-shek. immediately issued to all the military authorities She beckoned me to come over and asked if it to welcome Gospel workers in all such hospitals.
would be possible to get the various missionaries Weekly visits have been maintained in all kinds working in the city to unite in an effort to bring of weather and thousands of suffering men have the comfort of Christ's salvation to the wounded thus heard of Him who suffered, the just and the soldiers in the four large military hospitals in unjust, to bring them to God. As Madame Chiang N anchang. so aptly put it, "Be sure and tell them of the One Thus the work which, during the intervening who suffered more than they ever did!" Hundreds years, has been successfully carried on with the of these men have been brought to a definite ac- blessing of God, began with weekly visits to each ceptance of the message of life in Christ. Not a hospital. On receiving the fi~st annual report, few have died rejoicing in their new-found Sav- Madame Chiang wrote expressing the desire that iour. One or two hundred more have openly con- [412 ]
THE USE OF CHINESE GOSPEL POSTERS
fessed Christ as their Saviour before their offi- one, whose face beamed with happiness, said, "I cers, and several have taken a definite public stand am praying to God three times every day, in the for Him. Now the military prison is being visited morning, and at midday, and in the evening."
weekly by three groups of missionaries; through Here is another incident. On entering a small the generosity of the Bible Societies each of the ward, we found a very sick man, an officer, to' 600 to 700 prisoners have received cloth-bound whom we spoke a few words of co:r:nfort and help. pocket Testaments. Scores of these men are be- The following week we called in to see him again, ing brought to definite decision at the weekly Gos- and found his wife, who was a Christian, at his pel meetings held in the prison. bedside. The patient being slightly better, we Gospel and Wounded Soldiers* were able to have a longer conversation with him and, before we left, he said, "I will believe. Pray In addition to the United Gospel Service held weekly, which all attended who were able to be about, we also had the privilege of visiting the more serious cases in the wards. As we went our round amongst these poor sufferers, many showed great interest in the Gospel and, at times, as we bent over some sufferer, we would hear him say, "Yes, I am praying to Jesus." There were a num- ber of exceptionally bright cases of conversion and several died confessing Christ as their Sav- iour. One young man looked up into the face of the worker who enquired how he was, and said, "No, I do not want food. All I want is Jesus."
One poor fellow, lying on his bed in a state of extreme exhaustion was too far gone to speak, we were told. After several of the other sick ones in that ward had been spoken to, we sang a hymn, followed by a few words of explanation. Suddenly from one of the beds a man called out in quite a loud voice, "I believe on the Lord Jesus." Look- ing round, we found to our amazement that the words came from the lips of this dying man, whom we had been told was too ill to speak. Later on we had a conversation with him, and felt assured il~~.1that his faith was real.
Another case was that of a man who heard the Gospel before he had joined the army, but it was ~J.~J.' only during his stay in the hospital that he de- cided for Christ. As we were bending over a bed ………-., ~f&~~A·-t to speak to a sick man, a voice behind us said, "I …………. believe." Turning around, we found this man who was looking exceedingly weak and ill. He POSTER NO. I-THE DOUBLE FACE smiled and said, "I have read the books you gave me, and now I am trusting the Lord Jesus for salvation. I know He died on the Cross for my for me, and pray with me." On our next weekly sins." He went on to tell us much more, and we visit, as we entered the ward, the dear man's face were amazed at the understanding of the truth he beamed with joy as he said, "I do believe. I am had acquired in so short a time. trusting the Lord for salvation." After we had prayer with him, he himself prayed and gave We were standing in the ward when we saw a thanksgiving to God for all His mercy in saving man beckoning to us. He was very sick with his soul, and granting him remission of sins. His fever, and unable to speak coherently but after a words came feebly, for he was still suffering time we understood that he had attended one of greatly, but we know how well-pleasing to the our Gospel meetings, and now asked if we would Lord such a prayer must have been. A few days pray with him. A patient in the next bed re- later, as we paid our usual visit to the same hosmarked, "He knows how to pray himself. He has pital, we hurried in to see this friend, but instead always prayed before having his food I" Another • From The Chinese Recorder. of being met with his welcoming smile we saw
•..l -«- -itt A ~ ffJ h…, . ,f~ :~ 1 rt ~ 1 NUMBER 2-THE GRACE POSTE'R NUMBER 9-THE TRAIN POSTE'R that his bed was empty; and bedding and every- an excellent method of presenting the Gospel mes- thing else had been removed from it. On enquir- sage to old and young, especially to the illiterate ing from one of the patients near by, we heard in the unreached country districts. The Evan- that he had passed away two days previously. gelistic Bands, mostly supported by local Kiangsi churches, have found them just the thing they One of our workers who was looking around need to grip and hold the attention of those whom the ward, trying to find one of the patients he had they are seeking to interest in the Gospel message. spoken to previously, who had confessed to hav- ing received salvation, was addressed by one of The following is a description of posters pub- the soldiers who said to him, "You are looking for lished during the past six months: So-and-so, but he has gone. As he was dying, he knelt on his bed in prayer before us all." No. 1. The Smiling or Double Face. Showing the blessedness of the man whose sin is forgiven, A great help in this effective and intensive whose iniquity is covered. The face turned round evangelism has been the visualizing of the truths shows sadness. There is "no peace" to the wicked. of the Gospel by means of large, specially pre- pared, illustrated Gospel posters in various colors. No.2. The "Grace" Character. Showing the Christian workers elsewhere have expressed a de- word for "Grace," on the cross which stands at the sire to have these posters published, and over fork roads of life and death. The poster bears twenty have been put through the press; thou- the text: "We have all sinned and come short of sands of these are now in circulation throughout the glory of God." The question is asked, "Friend, China and most encouraging reports are reaching which road are you traveling." us from field workers of our own and other mis- sions. They tell of their usefulness in attracting No.3. The Joy Spring Poster. Showing a the crowds in the marketplaces and country vil- mountain scene with bamboo trees, some of which , lages, also in the city churches, Gospel halls and are cut down and used as water pipes to bring thE: streets. The revival poster was used to stir up fresh mountain spring water down to supply the the Christians in one district to pray for revival needs of the family. The text is: "Now may the and led to a time of real blessing. God of peace fill you with all joy and peace in be- lieving (the water pipe which keeps the Chris- Our student Preaching Bands, sent out from tian filled) that ye may abound in hope through Bible Training Institute in twenty to thirty groups the power of the Holy Ghost." during the past five years have found these posters
Foward Evangelism Posterst NUMBER 8-INVITATION: "COME"
No.4. Large Clock Poster. A clock hung on a large and will look up." Then the prayer in large characters, red cross with the hands pointing to God's hour; "Now "0 Lord revive Thy work and begin in me." is the accepted time." No. 12. True Happiness Poster. This poster is specially No.5. Tke Christian's Two Wings. A mountain scene, designed to take the place of the empty characters diswith one eagle flying, wings outspread, on which is shown played in the homes of the people at the New Year time. the Chinese characters for prayer and Bible study. The The large character which hangs on the Cross, bears the other eagle, perched on the ground trying to fly with only Gospel message in a nutshell. (John 3: 16.) At each one wing, on which is written "Prayer" in Chinese, show- corner there are in four characters, "He that believeth ing how both wings are necessary to become a (soaring) shall be saved." spiritual Christian. Special Offer. A sample copy of each of our local posters, 12 in No.6. The Fundamental Truths of the Gospel. Show- all, will be sent' post free in China only to any address on receipt ing a large "Fuh" (Happiness) character in front of the of $1.0(} either in stamps or C. 1. M. Note. cross, with descriptive sentences of the incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension.
No.7. The Sin Pictures. Three pictures on one poster: The deceitfulness of sin-a spider's web with insects caught in it.
A prisoner behind the bar, showing the bondage of sin. A black horse galloping towards a precipice-the dan- ger of sin.
No.8. Large character posters (size, 30×22 inches). Price, 5 cents each.
The character for "Come," printed in three different colors, with suitable texts, "Come unto Me," etc.
The character for "Righteousness" in three different colors, with appropriate explanations.
Orders may be sent with stamps or cheque to the Secretary, Bible Training Institute, C. 1. M., Nauchang, Ki.
Sets of Children's Posters, prepared by Miss Florence Luton, size 30×22 inches. Price, 10 cents each; or $1.00 per set of 10 in four colors.
No.9. The Train PostM', showing a man bound to railway track-descriptive of the danger and binding power of sin. The train judgment is seen approaching.
No. 10. Tke Boiling Kettle Poster. Showing a steaming hot kettle with a glowing fire underneath. The locomotive originally came out of the kettle, but as in every country, so in every church, locomotives-outstanding preachersare none too numerous. There is need, however, for a boiling kettle-a red hot witness for Christ-in every home.
No. 11. A Revival Prwyer Poster. Showing a Christian at prayer with his open Bible before him; the clock above him is pointing to 5 a. m. A scroll by the clock bears the verse, "In the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee t Just published. New Gospel posters prepared by the Nanchang Bible Institute. C. 1. M.• Nanchang, Kiangsi; 42×30 inches; printed in three to four colors; ten cents each.
THE COLPORTEUR TO THE RESCUE Colporteur Lee Hiap Loong in Malaya reports that one day he met an old Hakka lady. He asked her to buy the Scriptures, but she gave no answer, scolding him instead, so he turned away. About a month later he visited the same place, and seeing four young chicks had fallen into the drain, he picked them out. They happened to belong to the old lady, who came out just at that moment and thanked him. She asked if he was still selling the Scriptures, and bought a Mandarin New Testament. Later she went to his house for interviews, and afterwards joined the Church, throwing her idols into the sea.-Fr01n the British and Foreign Bible Society Report.
in the Papuan
The Report of a Recent Trip Among Raw Heathen in the Abau District By RUSSELL W. ABEL, Kwato, Papua * Missionary of the Kwato Mission of Papua LTESS than two years ago (in November, 1935) ney from here on the way to Abau which we at Mr. Cecil Abel of the Kwato Mission, with a length reached on the third day. team of Papuan Christian evangelists visited After which a two and a half hours' journey the unevangelized villages of the Abau or Dore- round the beacons brought us finally to the man- vaidi district of Southeastern Papua. They found grove belt, in a clearing of which is tucked the the people steeped in murder, sorcery, warfare, little station Duram. Here the advance team that filth and many forms of sin. The response of .left Kwato ten days earlier and including Davida, some to the Gospel message was remarkable, espe- Merari, Alice and others, were awaiting us. They cially as these ignorant and degraded primitive had held camps at Segini-a group of villages of people saw and heard what Christ had done for "bush" people, about 700 in all, living up the Rob- their fellow Papuan members of the Christian inson River-and Ganai, a salt-water village of team. Five chiefs asked to return to Kwato with coastal Mailu-speakers. They had had a hard time Mr. Abel in order that they might see for them- at both places. At Segini the people simply took selves the results of the Gospel in the villages to to their heels at the approach of the campers.
the east. They came, they saw and were con- They camped away in their gardens and sent mes- quered by the evidences of the love and power of sages to say: Christ. (See September, 1936, REVIEW.) Then "We don't want missionaries. Weare ignorant they returned to their own villages to tell what Kunikas (bushmen). If you come you will doubt- they had seen and to try to win their people to the less make us wise. What then? Then the Gov- new Way of Life. ernment will say, 'These are not ignorant bush Here is the report of a subsequent trip made by people, they are mission people.' Then we shall Mr. Russell Abel and a Papuan team last May be made to pay taxes like the salt-water people."
when they visited the new district of Keveri and They had thought it all out. They reckoned it revisited the Dorevaidi villages. It is a story of was just a ruse, and they weren't having any!
modern wonders of the power of God to awaken (It should be explained that bush pepole, not hav- and transform ignorant savages through the work ing any means of making money, are exempt from of the Holy Spirit and the simple testimony of taxes.) Christian believers. What would be the results At Ganai it was the same. In the middle of the if such signs were always following those who be- village stands the dubu (temple) with its deeply lieve and follow Christ in America and other parts concave roof and almost vertically pointing gables.
of this disturbed and sin-stricken world! Mr. Within its dark recesses were incarcerated three Russell Abel reports: youths, initiates undergoing their period of seclu- Our team was a motley one, including Frank sion. These ceremonies are accompanied by Briggs (.a white visitor), Tiraka and a number feasts. It may be that the arrival of a team at of Kwato boys, village folk from different parts such an inopportune moment Was a cause of em- of Milne Bay and eleven young fellows from Bu- barrassment. However, the result was the same.
hutu Valley. Splendid workers the latter proved "We don't want you here," they said. "What to be-alert, disciplined, and experienced in per- good are you? Do you offer to pay our taxes for sonal work. Strangely enough a number of them us? No. Do you make our gardens grow any had never even been to Kwato, though they had better? No."- thoroughly assimilated all that Kwato stands for Nevertheless the guidance was for a week-end in the Christian life and testimony. We picked camp back at Ganai, which was held with very up the Buhutu contingent at Konemaiawa, the different results as will be seen.
nearest port of call for Buhutu, and a day's jour- We spent a day of preparation in Duram, dur- ing which the plan became clear to us-our vari- Ne•wThYeoArkm; erW icaanlteHreaMdqcuDaorutgerasll,ofTtrheiassumriesrs.ion is 156 Fifth Avenue, ous responsibilities allocated, and our swags and [416 ] provisions apportioned and packed in readiness. summit of a round-topped hill. A river bordered- One team was to make for Dorevaidi, and one for by trees wound in and out between the hills and Keveri. A third team, including the girls, was across the valley. From our height our boys to spend the week-end at Ganai, and then await eagerly speculated on suitable sites for football word from us before proceeding inland. We were grounds,! Some, really too modern for words, uncertain about what accommodation there would tried to decide upon the best place for a landing be. In fact we were entirely uncertain as to what ground for future aeroplanes! Papua, 1937. lay ahead, except that there was great opposition We returned~all tiredness gone, it is true-to to the Mission in Keveri, ;:tnd that heathen feasts the preparation of our evening meal. and dances (fertility rites) were in full swing in the district, which we learned at Abau, and which Some of the boys wandered up another track, made it still more unpropitious a time to be going which led to a tiny bush village. There were inland. A MUD BESMEARED WIDOW OF THE So we went! KEVERI DISTRICT Sunrise next morning found us aboard the K wato, rounding the beacons on the way to Abau, only two women at home, the rest of the inhabiand threading up the Babaguina River. We had tants having gone to a dance some distance away. morning tea on board, put the Ganai team ashore They told the women we were missionaries. at Ganai, half way up the river, and ourselves further up where the Keveri trail begins. By "Any white men with you?" 10 a. m. we were strung out in a long line, through "Yes." the Babaguina Plantation, and into the forest. "Who? Cecelo or Raso?" (Cecil and Russell We crossed a range of hills. Frank shot a young Abel.) wild boar, and at length we landed on a wide I was thrilled when I heard this, and from river bed (the Godoquina) on the other side of that moment felt no longer a stranger in a the range, at sundown, glad by then to call it a strange land. It was lovely to be known by day. We bathed in the icy, swift-flowing river, name, and in such unfamiliar surroundings. As cooked and demolished the pig, and parked our- we sat down to our meal we kept hearing furtive selvesl under the stars for the night. The next noises in the bush, a twig cracking, a faint rustle. morning, after a very helpful meeting together, We started calling, "Who is there? Is it a perwe set off again, and walked all day. son? Don't be afraid. We are Kwato mission- Two days tramp, boring further and further aries. If it is a person come out and see us." inland, up the stony bed of a rushing torrent, Presently a man cautiously emerged from the over another steep range (3,000 feet), and not a darkness into the light of our hurricane lantern. trace of humanity did we see. Just empty bush He was followed by two women, wrapped in country-miles of it. At sundown we called a bark-cloth blankets, peering over his shoulders. halt at a little clearing in the forest where a rough "barracks" had been erected. We threw ourselves upon the ground. Some started to light a fire and cook our rice. Two or three boys strolled off into the bush. In two minutes they were back, wild with excitement, and shouting, "Weare there! The open Keveri country is close to hand, miles of bare country." They begged us to come and see. "Oh, we are too tired," some of us said.
"Your tirednes,s will disappear when you see this wonderful sight. Ours did!"
We were carried away by their enthusiasm, and all jumped up and followed them up the hill. Suddenly the forest ended and miles of rolling, grassy country opened up to view. It was an exhilarating sight,and utterly unlike Papua. Our lads, never having seen anything but land heavily clothed in deep forest, found it breathtaking. The sun had set and delicious cool breezes swept up the hillsides, rippling the grass. In the distance was a little village perched on the
.One had an infant hoisted on her head. We Bolubaba. He is having a hard time. The peomade great friends with them, and eventually ple of his village have threatend his life and told pursuaded them to share our meal, which they him that if I, or Cecil, or anyone from Kwato appreciated. A shower ended our chat over a visits their village they will kill us. broad leaf piled with rice, and we scrambled into the rickety barracks, where we sang choruses We mounted a steep hill, on a shoulder of which and ended the day with a time of prayer and was perched the fenced village of Bolubaba. praise. There was Elebe, smiling welcome, and thrilled to recognize the members of the team he had met Early next morning we were strung out once at Kwato. Elebe had been led to believe that we more in a long line, crossing the grassy un- were coming and that he was to build a house in dulating Keveri plain. The road wound between readiness. Fortunately Elebe had acted on this conical hills. What villages we saw were perched guidance with the result that in the circle of dirty, on the summits of these hills. Our dinner guest crowded houses was wedged a nice, brand-new of the previous evening joined us as guide, and one, on high stilts, with a little balcony in frontmade himself quite one of the party (a -couple all ready for our occupation. The people were of days, later he was already embarked on the very friendly, and brought stacks of sugar cane Christian life). Women seeing us coming miles of the sweetest, juiciest variety. away, ran up the hills nearest the road, and called down to us as we passed: For the next three days we lived in this heathen village. The inhabitants, are continually sucking "Who are you? Where are you going? Who sugar cane, and throw the chewed refuse over the are the white men?" fence. This bred flies in millions and we could hear a constant hum in the background, like a dis- To this our guide responded: "Missionaries. tant organ. Everything in our little hut was Bolubaba. Raso and his friend. They say, 'Come crawling with flies. and see us at Bolubaba!' " The most curious feature of Keveri men is the On hearing we were missionaries they shouted, custom of wearing seven or eight smooth, horny "Agutoi!" (greetings) the Suau word which they tails from the backs of their heads. These are learned when Cecil and the first team came in- fixed on to the actual hair, permanently, and bound land and visited them eighteen months ago. Fur- tightly in leaf. The whole bunch of tails is then ther along two tall, well-built men, clad in the kept carefully covered with a wrapper that pulls scantiest scraps of bark-cloth, waylaid us and on backwards over the head. A little rattan halo seemed really glad to see us. One, an influential crowns the headdress, with tufts or sprays of casman and the heir of a village chief, said: sowary feathers· at the sides, and a fringe of stiff fibres frames the forehead. Over the fringe is "Cecil talked with me when he was here. He worn the shell homicidal ornament, which begins taught me how to pray to God and I have prayed at the right temple, crosses over the forehead like ever since." a bandeau, and hangs swinging down the left side to the knee. The cap or tail covering is tarred a (This, man is now converted and is coming to shiny black with a filthy mixture of wild syrupy Kwato for training.) honey and soot. And bodies are also shined up with a lacquering of sticky honey! This is in lieu This seems to have been a tactic of Cecil's, as of oil which, like salt, is a commodity entirely lackwe met several who told us this. Groping up- ing inland. The men are murderers. We looked wards toward God, through their ignorant into faces that appeared to be utterly bad. It prayers, had given the Holy Spirit His chance to would be hard to imagine a worse set of ruffians get into their hearts, and we found these marvel- than the male population of Balubaba, taken at lously ready. To others our words were unin- its face value. telligible, but in those, however heathen, who had prayed, there was a responsive chord. In Women seemed to be outnumbered by men, and some way prayer had meant something to them, we were pained to learn that tiny girls were alas they tried to tell us in limited, pidgin Motu, ready wives, and sadly enough wives of grisly old it had made them "feel sweet inside." They men; poor little drudges, cheated of childhood, wanted to know more. One man told me with and working like miniature old women at garden~ bated breath that he knew a little about God; he ing, carrying firewood, peeling and cooking. had been praying secretly, and it had made him strong. Now he is praying openly. Heathen though life in this village appeared, there was at the same time a bright and constant We were making for Bolubaba, Elebe's village. witness by Elebe and two men whom he has won. This man and a friend from further inland, spent These three let what light they had shine out. three months at Kwato, about six months ago, Every time strangers arrived they talked to or and returned, having been converted. Then silence engulfed them. The friend is entirely alone at a village about three days' walk from
EXPERIENCES IN THE PAPUAN BUSH
prayed with them. Often you would hear the "Why had we come?" murmur of prayer in some part of the village. Most important to all of them was the ques- Someone was being taught to look up. Women, tion, "Did we put a travatu–ban or taboo-on starting off for their gardens in the morning, their ceremonies, dances, headdress? If not, would first find one of these men and ask him to should they continue with the festivities that pray with them before they left. The women night? Would it be safe for them to do so?" seemed singularly ripe soil, poor souls. Chris- "Safe?" I queried, "What do you mean by tianity will be all gain to them. Morning and eve- that?" ning prayers were quite an institution in the vil- Well, they explained, if they went, in the face lage, although the antagonism of Mura, the chief, of our disapproval, would we make a prayer to made this difficult. Apart from the above three in- God and bring down His wrath upon them? quirers, there were a few people secretly intrigued There was great fear of this, and it was on this by the "New Way," but afraid of the others. that they really wanted our opinion. There seemed to be open disgust and impatience with the little handful of pioneers. Elebe is quite A KWATO TEAM WORKER AND A NEW CONused to unpopularity now. This was the situation VElRT FROM THE I NTERIOR OF PAPUA we seemed to find everywhere in Keveri. I replied that we had not come to make a lot of When Cecil Abel made his first brief tour of the taboos, or interfere with their affairs. We had district eighteen months ago the people had lis- brought a new kind of life altogether in which God tened attentively to all that the team had had to is our Master and we obeyed Him. They had not say. Many felt glad at the thought of an end of taken that step yet, and so were free to follow the old ways, and hoped the Mission would tame their own wishes. We said that God wanted them them and that killing would stop. But this respon- to turn to Him, not ignore Him. Probably when siveness was soon dispelled by wild reports cir- they changed they would not want many old cusculated as to the awful things it was alleged would toms any more, but in any case there was no happen if people started following the "New Way." "ban." These yarns eventually reached the Government ears and were attributed to distortions on the part This was the answer we felt led to give them, of converts from Dorevaidi (the adjacent inland but they were not quite satisfied. There were at district), misrepresenting what they had learned. least six men, three in Bolubaba, and three from I found no mystery whatever about the origin of other villages with whom some of the team had these stories, and traced them largely to three already had talks, and who were known by all to men, die-hards of the old Papua. They were all be openly "seekers." prominent in the feast and fertility rites that were taking place. Pr6bably the fear that the new "What about them?" the people asked. "Were ideas would upset the ancient traditions and cus- they coming to the feast?" "Well," I said, "I'm toms in which they were important personages, not stopping them. Ask them." made them kick all the more. Anyone, they said, who joined the "New Way" would die. Their gardens would not bear. If they decorated themselves, God would be angry and make the sun wax hot and scorch them to death. There were many other predictions, quite unrepeatable and descending to the ludicrous and the obscene. These primitive, superstitious people with their continual "touch wood" outlook on life, were frightened, and felt it safer to have nothing to do with the new missionary "medicine."
Many of them had very foggy ideas as to what we were. They seemed to regard the Mission as a kind of "government," unarmed, but in league with the unseen, which is far more terrifying to primitives than police, or a term in gaol. Without experiencing this, no one quite feels himself a complete man.
The first afteroon they all crowded round with straightforward questions, which I thought was a sign of intelligence.
One and all refused to go or let their wives go. wouldn't take all this trouble. And we are all too With regard to the latter there was no uncertainty occupied with our old customs even to come and whatever. Why? They said: listen to what you want to bring us."
"All that is darkness. We want you to show us I was quite taken back. The man's conscience light." was pricking; the Holy Spirit was working.
Elebe had thrown away all his sorcery para- The next morning nothing would induce him to phernalia. Some wanted to do likewise. The cere- go back to the long drawn-out festivities. The mony was full of sorcery, and other things for next evening he had given himself to Christ and which all the new converts lost their taste. was drinking in eagerly all we could teach him of the "New Way," and was himself taking part in .a By now the village was ,crowded and the din meeting. If you could have seen the contrast, the was great. There were children everywhere, and unlikelihood, humanly speaking, of such a thing women busy with cooking the evening meal in happening, you would be able to marvel, as we ingenious ovens of hot stones. Out came drums marveled, at the mighty power of God, who hears and headdresses, and conceited youths, eaten up and answers prayer. with pride in themselves, swanked about in their glory, danced, flaunted their feathers, and dis- The next day was the extra day we were led to charged their surplus energy on their drums. spend at Bolubaba. It coincided with the monthly Day of Prayer at Kwato. Many all over the world I asked a small boy, with a daub of red paint on were praying with us specially on that day. It his nose, whether he would like to come to Duram was a glorious day of witness and God gave us for a while and go to school. He swaggered up many opportunities on every hand to talk to peoand down among the crowd, looking comical with ple individually of Him and His way of life for bright red nose, shouting, "I'm going to Duram! them. We entered the people's houses freely, and I'm going to be a missionary!" although a few seemed impatient, most welcomed us and gave us the feeling that a great harvest Suddenly all decided it was time to clear off to was about to be reaped. That afternoon I was the scene of the night's revels, a little village privileged to be present at a little meeting of higher up the hill where food was displayed from Keveri converts – some could only just be called stands and trees, like a harvest thanksgiving. The that-and it was a joy to hear them sharing for drums accompanied a complete abandon to animal the first time their new experiences, and the thrillspirits all through the night. ing first steps that they were being guided to take.
The following day we spent in an empty village We had some good public meetings, in which I -that is to say empty except for the little handful refuted, or tried to, the wild rumors that had been who were occupied with higher things than the connected with our aims in coming among them. parade of world, flesh and devil that was going on The testimony of the Buhutu members of our team elsewhere. We had good talks with these few, but was a great help. They were able to tell a woncould not help feeling we had cornea long way to derful story of what had happened in their own visit a ring of empty houses. "bush" district, of communal life collapsing through fear of sorcery; of villages scattered We were convinced that we were to fight this through internal hatreds, and of the big change situation with prayer, and not accept defeat. We when individuals began letting God into their prayed for those dancers, asking God to bring hearts and lives; of the new, reconstructed life of them to an end of themselves, to satiation and to Buhutu with its flourishing, progressive villages stir them to some vision of the futility of the old controlled by God. They told the story well and degrading life. We prayed until we felt sure of made it personal as they told of their own inditwo things: first that we, that is the few of us vidual part in an this, their own surrender to who were passing through, should remain at Bolu- Christ. These converted "bush" lads were keen baba another day, and second, that all defeatism to do their part in the camp, and an important and any barriers in us had been surrendered and part it was. God's peace filled us instead. The end of this story has still to be told, as I The day wore on with its deserted, "Sunday-in- was only a member of a sort of "flying squad," Scotland" air, but that evening things began to making a hurried round. We set off from there, happen. We were settling down to our evening leaving the main team to carryon, to be reinmeal when a man returned from the feast caned forced later by Davida's team who were working me out. He wanted to apologize for his behavior, up towards Keveri from the Dorevaidi direction. and seemed most upset. We set our faces towards Dorevaidi, passing a filthy, dirt-strewn village where a feast had been "Why, what have you done?" I questioned. held, and later another village, Mukawala, where "Oh," he said, "this is the first time you have ever been to Keveri, and we all cleared out and left you. You have come all this way to teach us something. It must be something great, or you
festivities were in full swing. (They celebrated in The village and its inhabitants are clean; flower a different village each night.) This village too gardens are in front of the houses and a cleanwas in a filthy state, and the jaded crowd gath- swept air made us want to rub our eyes and make ered there looked worn out. They had been at it sure we were seeing straight. all night and looked fed up. Food lay about everywhere, and on a tall tripod where it had been dis- We were given a warm-hearted welcome. At played were still hanging gruesome-looking black- Keveri we had bought all our food from the nasmoked kangaroo-shrivelled and contorted, and tives, rather than have to carry supplies all the coils of smoked python. There were a lot of young way. At Bolubaba we had had a daily hoi-hoi fellows there, poor lads with evil faces, destined (market) when they had brought taitu (food) to for something far better. I compared them with be exchanged for salt. The food was poor, the some of the youth at Kwato, Sariba, Milne Bay good stuff having been devoted to feasting. Now and Bohutu. They were very cordial. We greeted at Ukoudi when women rolled up with net bags them all and hurried on our way as we had a long full of very excellent sweet potato and taro, as a march ahead. I prayed as I walked that God matter of course I opened the swag, and delved would capture the youth of Keveri, and show us for salt to pay them. how to train our own youth into an army of evangelists for the inland frontier. In response to my "Oh," they said reproachfully, "this isn't hoiprayer God gave me a distinct vision about this. hoi. This is our gift. We want you to feel that Three youths running after us asked me about this is your village too. All our food is yours." their dancing. From then onwards-and we stopped at Dore- "Why," they asked, "don't the 'changed ones' vaidi, Nebulu, Makaca and Kurondi and Domara join us?" -not once did we have to buy food. It was heaped upon us at each place and we did not know Elebe was with us so I asked him, "When you how to get through it. were at Kwato did anyone tell you not to dance?" I cannot describe the change, the difference, in "No," he replied. these villages. Dorevaidi is now like a well-run "Then why didn't you join last night? These mission station. The things one noticed first were boys want to know." cleanliness and discipline, and children playing- Elebe thought for a while, then smiled and a lovely sight that made one feel the Lover of chilpointed upwards. He added, "I have no wish to dren was there. We spent two nights at Dorego back to an that." (He would not leave his wife vaidi in a beautiful big house especially built for in that village for a moment-even in the day- the Mission, and had some great times with the time.) people. The reason why things are going ahead there is that the Christians are constantly on the I told them that God had a far better life for job, linking up with other villages further on. them and they were the ones to lead Keveri out of the old ruts and to take the "New Life" to new The farthest outpost is now Orodei, two days' districts. I said we didn't ban those things. journey beyond Dorevaidi, and we are expecting There was no need to. the first converts from Orodei to arrive at Kwato for training. "Wait till you are changed," I said, "you will have not time for such things then. Your lives Two men from Keveri came straight down to will be too full of real things. Like Elebe you the coast, to return to Kwato with us. One was will find, when you give yourselves to God, that the chief of Bolubaba, Mura, who has been a hot you won't care about an that. There is no ban opponent, and whom I was led to invite. To the for you. The only law we have who follow the amazement of all he consented to come. The 'New Way' is to obey God. That does not apply other man was a complete surprise, and the sequel to you yet." to our prayers for Mukawala. Apparently imme- diately after we had left that village the chief I reminded them that whether their tribes pro- leader of ceremonies also left. He announced that gressed, or remained chained to old things, de- he was sick of the whole business and was going pended on them, and prophesied that one day to Bolubaba to find something better. His friends they would open the way for God over those hills quarreled violently about this, but he said, inland. They looked wistful. "Why is it that people have come from every vil- Please pray that prophecy to its fulfilment. lage on the Keveri side for this feast and none We marched through the forest for two hours from Dorevaidi side? Because they are too busy and we emerged upon the village of Ukoudi. Here with new things while we are wasting our time a surprise awaited us. This is a new Christian with old rubbish." village that has recently been entirely rebuilt. The contrast with Mukawala we found a bit sudden! So he walked out on his own party and is now There are fine big houses, facing a lovely river. learning God's will for Mukawala at Kwato.
TO NEW FIELDS IN THE ANGLO-EGYPTIAN
Work in Ethiopia and the Sudan By TOM LAMBIE, M.D., Sc.D., F.R.G.S.
Missionary of the Sudan Interior Mission DECENT events in Ethiopia have emphasized A few months ago things in Ethiopia looked dis- ~ anew the unwillingness of the Roman Cath- couraging while recent reports are more prom- olic Church to countenance the presence of ising. We must be patient and see. In the mean- Protestant mISSIOnaries in countries dominated time there has been much disruption in Protestant by their influence. We can understand this feel- mission work. According to our latest reports ing although we do not sympathize with it. thirty-five of Sudan Interior missionaries are to be permitted to stay but these are less than half There seems to be some agreement between the Papal hierarchy and Fascist Rome; but there are of the force two years ago. This Mission, which also points of disagreement between them. The has united with the Abyssinian Frontiers Mission, desire to expel Protestant missionaries from cen- has decided to open a new work on the Anglo- tral Ethiopia may be inspired from the Vatican Egyptian Sudan side of the Abyssinian border in but Fascist Italy may also desire to have none but fulfilment of a former expectation. Italian subjects in Ethiopia, because they might interfere with a strict dictatorship. Mus'solini When Dr. Roland V. Bingham and the writer visited the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan last March the· would like to have things his own way without any Governor-General, Sir Steward Symes, in his first adverse comments from non-Italians. While such sentence remarked: "You do not need to convince an exclusive policy remains in force it makes me of the benefits of Christian missions. I have Protestant missionary work difficult if not impos- seen them at work and am convinced of their sible; even French and other non-Italian Catholic value."
missionaries have been expelled. Two weeks in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan was [422 ]
THE CONQUERING POWER OF CHRIST
much too brief a time for a real survey, but we the missionaries who are rendered homeless by were able to make a trip to the Blue Nile and the Italian occupation of Abyssinia. We hope to southern Fung area in a Ford V-8. South of open stations at once at Wisko and Kurmuk. The Khartoum we saw the Gezira irrigated area where latter town is on the Abyssinian border. Gedaref, thousands of acres are being cultivated to grow Kassala, Gallabat and other populous areas are some of the finest cotton in the world. This area on the Sudan Abyssinian border and are accessible was desert a few years ago. by train and motor car.
Wad Medami is a thriving city; farther south The whole area, from the Red Sea westward to are Singa and Sennaar; large villages, practi- Nigeria, is practically without Christian witness. cally all Mohammedan, dot the landscape. Still The United Presbyterians have missions at Kharfarther south, we traveled into the tropical forest toum and on the Sobat River; the Church Miswhere thorny trees are interspersed with enor- sionary Society workers are at Omdurman and in mous baobab trees, fantasic leafless giants which the far south; the Sudan United Mission workers are among the most curious trees in the world. are at Melut and .the Nuba Mountains. These are Still farther south, about seventy miles from only bright spots on an immense expanse of un- Roseires and only thirty or forty miles from Abys- evangelized territory. sinian border, are the Inghesana hills with curious rock formations like dolmans; here a range We flew from Khartoum to Kano, from the Nile of hills rises to a heighth of two thousand feet to the Niger, and until almost at the end of the above the flat Sudanese plain. journey, Maidukuri in Nigeria, a distance of nearly two thousand miles, we did not pass over On the sides of these hills and in the valley live any mission station. From Khartoum to Red Sea the Inghesana people from whom the hills take we would not have passed over any, excepting at their names. They are simple farm people who Khartoum itself. grow Kaffir corn in large quantities and have fine cattle. From the dom palm trees they gather What a privilege to have fellowship with our enormous quantities of dom nuts, the kernels of Lord in sacrificial service. This is not an easy which are intensely hard vegetable ivory. field, and we would urge no one to offer them- selves for service here unless they are prepared to These people are without any knowledge of sacrifice and endure hardships. Christ or in the ways of European civilization. If let alone they will soon become Islamized. To We covet your prayers and fellowship as we these people we are planning to go, with some of once more go forward in His Name.
The Conquering Power of Christ L _.o~ By PROFESSOR JULIUS RICHTER, Berlin, GermanYII~o,- O NCE more in our times there is an all-world in a few years or decades. They forget that none discussion of the greatest powers at dis- of these past empires have outlasted even a single posal of the human race. There are four generation; they were similar to Daniel's great different views. image, of imposing brightness yet with clay feet, and a single great stone cut out without hands, One group regards military armaments for smote the image upon his feet' of iron and clay land, sea and air as the greatest force; they lose and broke them to pieces. The iron, the clay, the sight of what has been so irrefutably proved by brass, the silver and the gold were broken to the Great War: that a sudden change of com- pieces and became like the chaff of the summer binations can cause such a transformation of the threshing floors! opposing fronts to emerge that all former calculations are void and futile. Others again think of money as the greatest power. Yet no country was ever able to amass Others think that if some great military genius, such riches of gold and silver and diamonds as like Alexander the Great or Julius Cresar or Na- Spain gathered to itself in the sixteenth century, poleon or Girgis Khan, emerges he will simply or the Inca Kingdom in Peru in the preceding sweep the globe and build up a world empire with-
century. Both of these countries were completely those curious mystery religions invading the Ro- impoverished within one short century and there man Empire from the East and for some centuries has been no recovery even after four or five cen- competing with each other, the balance for a cen- turies. Nothing is more perishable than material tury and a half being doubtful if Mithraism or wealth. Christianity at the very end would get the upper At present there appears to be a general over- hand. Christianity, to general surprise, turned valuation of the power of nationalism; it inspires out victorious, though an all-powerful army was people with a new vigor comparable to a mighty on the side of Mithraism. Yet that Mithraism was stimulant, with a gigantic explosive power, such a spent force to such extent that only the most as we see in Japan, for example. Yet in the his- modern research after fifteen hundred years has tory of the human race, which we know through rediscovered that a long long time ago it was conthe last six or seven thousand years, such national sidered a dangerous rival to Christianity. explosions are almost like the passing bubbles in Why has not Christ been forgotten? Why has a rushing stream; they change color or direction Christianity gone on victoriously? The next seven with the current for a short time, and then the or eight hundred years after Constantine were a wonderful age when all Keltic, Teutonic, Nordic, force is spent. and Slavic tribes exchanged their outworn tribal There is only one Power which through two religions for Christianity. Most of them, of their thousand years has never relaxed and which even own free will, preferred the new Christian relinow is showing no sign of evanescence, that is the gion and considered it the earnest of a new era in Spirit and power of Jesus Christ. Imagine that their national ascendency. you stood under the cross of Jesus in the time of Pontius Pilate and of Caiaphas, the High Priest. So it has gone on through the centuries; and it What would they have said? They would have is a fascinating history to follow, tracing the adpointed in scorn at the young man on the gibbet; vancing Christian faith across land and sea, from a poor artisan from an obscure corner of Galilee, continent to continent. The world missionary at the frontier of heathendom. They would have movement is the vanguard of the advancing power said that He had been parading for two years, like of the Spirit of Christ. some scores of other upstarts, as the promised Messiah, and that the faithful nation of Jews had Here is one point of orientation in our modern discarded him; the political power of Rome had world-wide campaign. We look back on two thoualso justly put him away as a rebel; the highest sand years of victorious advance, no world power ecclesiastical authority had also condemned him we know of has in any respect a comparable as a blasphemer. Of course they would have said record. We study the particular energies which that this Jesus was discredited and destroyed even Christianity has supplied at different times and more than any other previous upstart messiah. among different nations. We ,admire that won- Even the small group of his adherents had de- derful adaptability which could fit into the speserted him. He was ending in shame and despair, cial environment it was facing in different counfor they had heard his last words: "My God, why tries and races; we wonder how it could integrate hast thou forsaken me?" and develop to a higher perfection all spiritual and rational equipments; how it could become in- What would Pontius Pilate have said if you had digenous to such an extent that St. Mary is looked hinted to him that within three of four centuries upon as Polish in Poland and the Sainted Virgin the emperor of the Roman empire would bow his of Guadeloupe has become Aztec in Mexico. With knees before the name of this Jesus and, with the Greeks Christianity developed their philosognashing teeth, would confess: "Thou has con- phy; with the Romans this new faith promoted quered, 0 Galilean!" All types of historians have statecraft; with the Germans "the Holy Roman pondered over the victorious Power which in so Empire became of German nationality" as the short a time was pervading and recasting the earthly incarnation of the Kingdom of God; with mightiest empire the world had yet known. Many the British Christianity inspired their imperial reasons have been advanced but, whatever causes progress with religious responsibility. The relimay have contributed, there can be no doubt that gion of Jesus Christ is still proving its divine the one underlying spiritual Power has been the origin by its wonderful flexibility and power to Christ, himself, the Power of God and the Wis- become all things to all nations, to rejuvenate, dom of God. and purify and enrich all. Missionary-minded' Christians pause for a moment, we look around History did not end at the cross or with the con- and take up our spiritual armor and battle cry quest of the Roman empire. Someone might have anew: In hoc signo vincemus. "Under this ban- imagined that Christianity had been only one of ner we conquer."
Women's Work in a Country
By MRS. JAMES D. WYKER The Federated Church, North Jackson, Ohio "JUST what is woman's work in the country to church rolls and having contests to increase at- church?" I asked a little lady with snow- tendance. He was not a Presbyterian or a Bap- white hair who has been a life-long member tist or a Methodist seeking to sprinkle or immerse, but a Christian out to reveal God, change life and of one. save individuals. He insisted ona decent society "Why paying the preacher and keeping up the in which religious people might be more religious; He desired that the hungry might be fed. He had church building repairs," she answered. Then no fear and did not hesitate to condemn sin whershe hesitated and added, "And, of course, mission- ever he found it, even the corruption of the politiary giving. Women have always done that. Not cal system of his day. People believed Him not many, but a few of us alway.s send in our appor- only because of words He spoke but because they tionment to the Board." saw a radiant personality on fire with a divine message – a man who lived what He preached. "And for what is the missionary money used?" I inquired again. The country church today has the unique oppor- tunity of carrying on this same simple kind of re- "Preaching the Gospel," came back emphatically. "Saving souls."
I went next to an enthusiastic young minister's wife who, with her husband, has dedicated her ligion, unhampered by big church-building debts, life to the work of the rural church. set forms and ceremonies, large maintenance ex- pense. Because of the unique position of the coun- "What is woman's work in the country church?" try church, rural women have unusual oppor- I asked. tunities.
"Helping her church rethink its reason for In the first place, the farm home continues to existing," came the unhesitating reply, "urging it be something of a unit even in a complex, modern to place life ahead of creeds; showing that its world. There are chores to be done and responfield is THE COMMUNITY and that every unreached sibilities that need to be placed on young shoulperson is a responsibility of the church. All of this-with the belief that sharing the message of ders. The family shares many experiences, even Jesus Christ around the world is a task for the its social life, and the minister of the rural church entire church." ministers to the entire family. Woman's work in the country church is first of all to recognize this In her enthusiasm she had generalized, but as and try to preserve family unity, for it is a real I talked with her later I received specific answers in very definite terms. asset to church life.
As I talk with rural church women today, I find The rural woman in many communities today is many eagerly and earnestly agreeing with this faced with the fact that her children attend a fine, young minister's wife. well-equipped Consolidated School during the week The function of the rural church woman has and, on Sunday, must leave their friends and go (if they go) to a small, competitive, denominachanged today because the program of her church tional church. She realizes that though the docis changing. And is it surprising that her church trines of her church are important and she will program is changing to meet new needs? The probably continue to believe them, the emphasis heart of her work continues the same-the shar- of religion today should be, as in the ministry of ing of the teachings and message of a young, rural Jesus, on life. She realizes that if the rural church evangelist, Jesus Christ; but her method of work is to continue its ministry, Christians must learn is changing as she finds the experience of her children to be different from her own a genera- to work together and in cooperation with other tion ago. character building agencies. Small, competitive The religion of Jesus was very simple. Grow- churches, unable to support a resident minister, ing up in a country home, his school the country- will find it difficult to challenge other cooperating side, the beauty of the out-of-doors keeping him groups in the community and to do much about close to the heavenly Father, He grew to under- the large, unreached number of people within its stand and sympathize keenly with people and their boundaries. problems. Religion to Him was not adding names Another responsibility of the c.ountry woman [425 ]
today is to develop an interest in her church for petuation of the Woman's Missionary Society, as wholesome recreation, especially for young peo- such. They do not seem to care that the men are ple. It is unnecessary for rural youth to drive indifferent to the missionary program of the into the city for commercialized "wreck-reaction" church and that the majority of the children and when the country has so much to offer in recrea- young people are unreached. Again it is organ- tion activities. Rural recreational leaders, arti- ization, rather than life. If only our vision could sans in leading folk games and other forms of co- enlarge to see the whole, to know that most men operative play are being developed. Some rural and children and young people are interested once communities have the satisfaction of seeing their they know! Someone has facetiously said that for young pople interested in worthwhile social life, too long in our church work, men have sung: in which the majority participate, while the public Take my wife and let her be dance halls and the beer gardens move out of the Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
community. Most of us who have tried to interest our men "Camps for Mothers" are very valuable in many and boys, with the same fervor and intelligence rural communities. It seems unbelievable, but we have used in the women's missionary work, rural mothers are finding they can lay aside for a have found them responsive and interested. Just few days the responsibilities of home and family as the church should see that the religion of Christ and go off for recreation in the out-of-doors. permeates all groups and agencies in the commu- Many farm women discover unusual beauty at nity, so the Woman's Missionary Society should their very doorsteps. The busy, crowded days at see that the cause of missions is enthusiastically home and the fact that the sunrise, the moon, the trees, the stars "have always been there" has shared with all groups. I know a mother, a memkept many of these women from being conscious ber of a Woman's Missionary Society, who comes of these "aids to worship." home from the missionary meetings and usually says, as she sighs, "Well, that's over for another One rural parish in New York state has built its month" and then wonders why her husband and own cabin in a woods and each year the farm . daughter are not interested in missions! mothers look forward to the cherished days of Jesus had a high regard for womanhood. In rest and relaxation. A rural cooperative church the centuries following his death on the Cross, in Ohio has a camp of its own where each year, woman has achieved more freedom and education. along with other age groups, the rural women live I wonder sometimes, as He watches the Marys and together for a few days. These women look for- Marthas of our rural homes today, if He does not ward to the discussion periods each morning fol- wish we would follow Him more intelligently and lowing the nature hike when they consider such give more time and thought to His work. I wontopics as "Family Worship," "Personal and Home der if He watches eagerly for a Mary Magdalene Relationships," and "The Missionary Task of the as He sees us drag about our church work, giving Church." In the afternoon they read, sleep and only left-over time, attending the Ladies' Aid and rest, following the creative craft period, and then the preaching services because we think we go swimming. After the evening meal, they walk should, and giving to missions only after we have over the ravine and climb up Vesper Hill where, paid for new clothes and other things. away from all worry and burdensome responsi- A story is told of an old colored woman sitting bility, they "draw near to God." on the steps of a church during a Woman's Rights If rural women are to have new visions for meeting in Akron, Ohio, in 1851. She listened to work in the country church today, they must take the fiery speeches by the men for quite awhile, de- time from their labors for rebuilding and rethink- nouncing the idea that women should vote, deny- ing. Out in these well-planned camps (where ing her intelligence, etc. Finally, unable to stand there are no meals to cook and no dishes to wash) it any longer, the old woman walked to the front they find their physical bodies relaxing and rest- of the church, pointed her finger at the men and ing while, at the same time, their spiritual life is said, "If de fust woman God ever made turned quickened. Tired mothers go away more radiant, dis world upside down all by herself, dese women happy Christians. If only rural women would all togedder can set it right side up again and you look about them and discover the material avail- men better let 'em do it."
able for use! If only they would insist on having I pause to wonder what the future of the coun-, a minister trained for his task, knowing and lov- try church might be if rural women "all togedder"
ing rural folk, they would find material and re- would consecrate themselves to the building of sources at hand. . the New Rural Church, where Christians would There are many Woman's Missionary Societies put life ahead of dead dogma and where the coun- (and they are not all in the country) that seem tryside might again hear and share the message to believe that the ultimate goal in life is the per- of the rural teacher, J.esus of Nazareth.
Arab Consults a Missionary Doctor*
A Monolog Purporting to Giv~ the Reaction of an Arab Gentleman of Baghdad to the Christian. Message By the REV. JAMES CANTINE, D.D., Stone Ridge, New York One of the Founders of the Arabian Mission of the Reformed Church in America Persons: pital? Well you can go down and, if you see him, Abd el Kadir, a well-to-do Arab. ask him to come up. . . . Wait! Before you go Zarifa, one of his wives, very ill. open this door by my side and stretch a curtain Amina, his daughter, eight or nine years old, attend- across the doorway. Then tell the servants to bring Zarifa in that room and lay her down by ing mission school. the curtain." Ahmed, his son, fifteen or sixteen, attending Govern- (Servant goes out.) ment School of Engineering. Abdullah, his servant, probably of slave descent. The American missionary doctor.
Place: "I take refuge with God from a house full of women! I hope that doctor will not mind being Abd el Kadir's reception room, long and narrow, with asked to give medicine to a woman." (Turning to chairs and little tables down each side. Doors at curtain.) "Ha, Zarifa, now stop that crying! I each end. Just outside the entrance door Abdul- know it hurts, but it is God's will, is it not? Every- lah is stationed with a charcoal fire for keeping thing that happens is written in His book. Listen, the coffee hot. The door at the head of the room I have sent for the American doctor and, if God where Abd el Kadir is seated opens into another wills, he will give you ·some medicine. Only be room. quiet.
When Abdullah is called he enters and crouches down "Ah, here he comes." (Arises, steps forward before his master. The children kiss the hand of and touches the hand of the doctor.) their father and stand until bidden to be seated. "May God make your morning happy, 0 doc- Abd el Kadir is seated, fingering his beads. He listens, frowns and calbs out, "Abdullah !" tor. In the name of God be seated. If it pleases (The servant enters and Abd el Kadir speaks.) God you are well? Praise be to God I am very "Abdullah, what is this screaming about? well. "You say that Zarifa is very sick! Yes, I know. "Do you drink? smoke? No?" (Calls to Abdul- lah.) That slave woman has been here and has cauter- "Abdullah, coffee! …• ized her, has she not? They are paid according "I have had my servant ask you to come in, 0 to the number of burns they make so I suppose doctor, so that you might, if God wills, give medi- they have done a good job. cine to one of my women. It is scarcely worth "But you say that she gets no better, and that while taking your valuable time, but you were the other women object to her cries and say I passing by and- Yes, that is she whom you hear must do something. God deliver me from such moaning behind the curtain. You can ask her evil! What can I do about it? It is all as God any question you wish. She has been sick severa} wills. I could divorce her. That is easy; just to days and they say she is getting worse.
say three times 'I divorce you' . . . "Oh, no! You cannot see her, but I will let you "Yes, I know, her family is important and I feel her pulse. Zarifa, put your hand under the.
cannot send her away sick as she is. curtain. There doctor!
"What is that you say? . . . Why don't I send "Yes, I expect she is very ill.
for the American doctor? What do you know "You say that if you saw her you might help about him? her? But that is quite impossible. From the time "You hear he is clever and you think he has a I took her no man but myself has seen her face.
kindly face. And he passes by the door every "You say that she may die? That is as God morning about this time on his way to his hos- wills…. You are sorry that there is no woman • Copies of this monologue may be secured from The Woman's doctor here, and you hope that sometime you will Board of Foreign MiSSions, Reformed Church in America, 25 East have a woman doctor to work in your hospital?
22d Street, New York, for ten cents a CODY.
[427 ]
As God wills! . But you can give her medicine "And how is my little daughter today? Sit to keep her quiet, can you not? I will send my servant to the hospital for it. down here on this cushion by your father's side.
"And your fee, 0 doctor? Your lips are cold, Amina, where have you been? "What, no regular fee? You say that I can give what I wish! Very well, I will send it to the hos- "You are just back from school? Tell me about pital by Abdullah. It will not be a very large fee, but if you get enough of them you will one day that school. It is the American school, is it not? be rich, will you not? "What is this you say? You do not keep these Do you like it? fees for yourself, but use them to buy medicines for the very poor! Ah, that is almsgiving. Alms- "You do! Why? .. You like the school begiving is one of the five pillars of our faith as given to us by our prophet Mohammed, upon cause the teacher is so kind? Is that all? whom be prayers and peace! "Pardon me, 0 doctor, but before you go will "You say that she talks so nice about God! you tell me how you live if you take no fees for yourself? We know your government does not What does she say about God? . . . That He pay you as some governments pay their doctors. "What! You say that the Christian people of loves you and that you must be a good girl and try America send you money enough for your expenses, because their religion tells them to help to please Him. And have you learned about the other people? I am surprised! I did not know the Christian religion was like that. holy prophets, Amina? Which one do you like "Just one more question. Will you tell me why you left America and came here? It seems you best? will not get rich in Baghdad; it is not a very healthy climate for foreigners and you are far "The prophet Jesus! And why do you like the away from your friends. "You say that you have come because you love prophet Jesus best? . . . You say because He the prophet Jesus and want to follow His example. . . . And now you want to ask me a question! took little children in his arms and talked so nicely That is only fair. "Do I know about the prophet Jesus? Oh, yes, to them. But has she not taught you about the the Holy Koran tells us that He was without sin and did many miracles like the other prophets. prophet Mohammed, upon whom be prayers and "Yes, there may be more about Him in your book, but you know that the prophet, Mohammed, peace? upon whom be prayerl and peace, is the seal of all the prophets and that is enough for us. "Nq! Well, Amina, I think it is time for you "You wish I would read more about the prophet Jesus? Well, 0 doctor, some time, if God wills it, to go to another school where you can learn all I will look for a book that tells more about him. "Will you be going now? I am obliged to you. about our holy religion of Islam. Go in the safety of God!" "What! You don't want to go! Now don't cry, (As the doctor goes out, Abd el Kadir continues.) my daughter, don't cry. Perhaps I will leave you "That doctor seems a good man and he does awhile longer in the American School. But tell have a kindly face. Perhaps some time I might be interested in knowing more about the prophet me what else you learn besides reading and Jesus. writing. "Abdullah! Did you take Zarifa to her room and shut the door so that her crying will not "Oh! To sew ? You make dresses for little annoy the other women. Here, take five rupees to the hospital and bring back some medicine for her. girls? But that is foolish; your father can buy Wait! Is Amina about the house? Send her in to me." all the clothes you need.
(Enters Amina and kisses her father's hand.) "You say that they are not for yourself, but for the poor little girls in the school who do not have good dresses! Well! Well! You can go now, 0 my daughter, go and play." (He soliloquizes.) "Now what shall I do? There is nothing to which I can object, but I am afraid of that Chris- tian school. But that reminds me!" (He calls.) "Abdullah! Tell Ahmed that his father wants to see him." (Ahmed enters and stands before his father.) "Ahmed, I am much displeased with you. Some- one saw you going into the house of the American preacher. Is that right? So? Sit down. How did you come to know him?
"He gave a lecture in your school about sanita- tion in America, did he? What does he know about sanitation?
"Oh, he was an engineer before he was a preacher, was he? Well, all that is the business of your principal. But why did you go to his house? _ "You say that he asked the boys to come and'
see some pictures he had brought from America?
Pictures? Why, Ahmed. Now I a.m angry! You know I have forbidden you to go and see those dreadful, disgraceful American pictures!
"But these were not cinema pictures? What then?
AN ARAB CONSULTS A MISSIONARY DOCTOR
"Pictures of bridges and public buildings in that knows me see you buy it. I would be dis- America and England and Russia 1 God curse the graced if it were known that I wanted a Christian Russians, they make it very hard for a good Mos- book. Be careful about that.
lem to live in Russia. But did he say anything "What 1 You have such a book. What does this about religion? . .. He did 1 What? mean? You a MOi>lem and my servant, having "That there is freedom for all religions in such a book 1 How did you get it?
America 1 But, Ahmed, you don't want to know "You say that you were going past a shop and about any other religion than Islam. . . . You you heard someone reading out of a little book do? Why? about the prophet Jesus, and it seemed such good "You will not feel educated -like the boys in words that you bought it.
other countries-unless you know about other re- "You have it here? Give it to me at once so ligions? (Abd el Kadirshakes his head in dis- that I can tear it up." (Abdullah takes a little sent.) And did he say anything about his reli- Gospel from unde~ his garment and gives it to his gion? master.) "So he talked about the prophet Jesus and His "Go away I" (Abdullah leave'S the room.) teaching 1 Well, you have heard enough about "Shall I tear it up? But it may have the name that, ·so do not go again. . . . But you want to of God written in it and I cannot harm that Holy go next Sunday with the other boys? What boys? Name. And this may be the book I wanted to "Well, if the judge and those other men let their buy. . . . I shall just see how it begins. (Turns sons go, I suppose I ought not to object. What is to the beginning-it would be the end of the book he going to talk about? to us-and reads.) 'In the beginning was the "Oh, yes 1 I did see a notice of it in the paper. Word.' The Word? Why that is the name the It says he is giving a series of lectures on the Holy Koran gives to the prophet Jesus. Can there prophet Jesus-His Teaching about Personal Hab- be truth in this book? . . .
its, and Family Life, and Government. Now see "Shall I see what is marked? (Turns pages and here, Ahmed, you go next Sunday and then come reads.) 'I am the way and the truth and the and tell me all about it so that I can correct what life.' The Way? Why we pray five times a day is wrong. . . . That is all, 0 my son I" (Ahmed and ask Allah to 'Lead us in the "right way.'" kisses his father'lS hand and retires, being careful Here is someone who says, 'I am the Way.' Who not to turn his back upon his father.) could say that (reads) 'Jesus Said.' I don't under- "Now, what shall I do about these, my children? stand. He is a holy prophet, but how could he Amina-it would break her heart if now I took say that He is the way to God? . . .
her away from the American School. And then "I will read in just one more place. (Turns I am told that she is a much better girl at home pages and reads.) 'Because I live ye shall live than she used to be-more obedient, kinder and also.' Did Jesus say that? Yes? Strange 1 Of does not use bad words. Shall I send her to an- all the prophets Jesus is the only one our Holy other school and have her become a good Moslem, Koran says did not die, but is now alive in heaven. or shall I let her remain where she is and have Can this be the ground for His saying that those her grow up to be a good woman? who believe in Him shall be with Him in paradise?
"And Ahmed 1 It seems that the young men of "What book is this? Why have I never seen it today want to see all things and decide for them- before? Is this the book I half promised the doc- selves; and they cannot be ruled as I was ruled tor I would read some day? Will it tell me about by my father. It will be better if I try to guide the Jesus that my little daughter loves? Are there Ahmed away from these Christian influences. here the teachings of Jesus that my son wants to Perhaps I ought, myself, to know more about the know about? Shall I, dare I, read it from begin- prophet Jesus. That doctor wants me to know ning to end?
more about His teaching. And I would like to "Surely I am a Moslem. (Recites the creed.) know why my little daughter loves Jesus more 'There is no God but God, and Mohammed is the than she loves Mohammed, upon whom be prayers prophet of God.' But Jesus is our prophet also.
and peace. If I find out the falseness of the teach- Who can forbid me knowing all I can about him?
ing of Jesus then I can correct Ahmed's wrong "If the story of Jesus can make a man like the impressions. doctor come out here just to follow His example; "But where can I get a book about the prophet if this story makes my little daughter love Jesus Jesus? I will ask Abdullah. whom she has never seen; and if it makes my son "Abdullah 1 Abdullah, is there a bookshop in want to know about His teaching, then I ought to the city where they sell books about the prophet read it. (Puts the book reverently on the table.) Jesus? . . . There is 1 Well, I want you to go And if here is the 'straight path' we pray that and buy me such a book. But don't let anyone we may follow, dare I walk therein? God Knows."
Unchanging Missionary
A Challenge and Appeal of Fifty Years Ago* By ARTHUR T. PIERSON Editor-in-Chief of the "Review" for Twenty-three Years. This Year Is the Centenary of His Birth THE argument and the appeal in behalf of These providential signals, and these gracious missions are unsurpassed for variety and signs, being once truly recognized and realized, cogency. . . . The very watchword of the make duty a delight; the work of missions be- Christian life is obedience, and our great Captain comes no longer the cold necessity of obedience, has left us His marching orders: "Go ye into all but the most inspiring, enrapturing privilege.
the world and preach the Gospel to every crea- Only some such exalted conception of this last ture." Such a plain command makes all other commission, and of the supreme blessedness of a motives comparatively unnecessary. . . . Where loving fidelity to our stewardship in the Gospel, there has been given a clear, divine word of au- can lift the Church of God to a higher plane of thority, immediate, implicit submission and com- praying and giving. Better than the conscience pliance will be yielded by every loyal, loving dis- that drives, is the love that draws to the work of ciple. Even to hesitate, for the sake of asking a missions. Once brought to the white-heat of pas- reason, savors of the essence of rebellion. sion for souls, we are henceforth "weary with When our great Commander left us this last forbearing and cannot stay" in apathetic idleness precept, however, He annexed to it a most inspir- and silence; the inward fire must have vent. It ing promise: "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto is no longer hard to give, but hard to withhold; the end of the world." That promise has been and, better than the most princely gifts of money, conspicuously and marvellously fulfilled in con- we shall give ourselves "a living sacrifice." . . .
nection with missions; for Christ has been with One startling and comprehensive fact should us, both by His providence and by His grace. The be clearly kept before us-that all the stupendous argument and appeal, found in this providential movements and changes which we have to record, and gracious Presence, have not been properly or refer to, have taken place within less than a considered and appreciated. . . . century! . . . Within the nineteenth century what The providence of God is especially apparent in astounding changes have taken place! That bugle- missions, in the opening of doors, great and effec- call of William Carey has rallied all Christendom.
tual; in the removal or subsidence of barriers; God has opened the two-leaved gates, until the in the preparation of the field and the workmen; last of the hermit nations unbars the doors of ex- in the provision and protection of the la:borers; clusion and seclusion and welcomes to her ports and in the revealing and unfolding to the Church the messenger of Christ. Even the most enthu- of His set times, seasons, and measures for secur- siastic student of missions fails to apprehend and ing new advance and success. Such divine provi- appreciate the grandeur of such colossal move- dence becomes to God's people a glorious and in- ments. Wonderful, indeed, that a hundred open spiring signal both that He is always with them, doors, great and effectual, God should set before and that His pleasure shall prosper in their hands. His Church; but more wonderful the ways in The grace of God appears in missions, espe- which, by keys of His own, He has unlocked the cially in working mighty results and effects, such gates of hermit nations. When, in 1793, William as are plainly attributable only to the Divine Carey, that pious, learned cobbler, went forth as Spirit. These results are wrought not only in in- the first foreign missionary from English shores, dividuals, but sometimes in whole communities; the whole world was comparatively locked against there are some transformations that deserve to missionary enterprise; there was scarce one real be called transfigurations. In the workmen, also, opening into pagan, papal, or Moslem lands to whose consecration to such heroic labors develops preach the Gospel in its purity, or win converts, in them an exalted type of piety, and even in those without molestation and persecution both to the.
who earnestly pray and liberally give for the sup- missionary and the convert. Now the whole aspect port of the work, similar unmistakable fruits of of the world is changed, and there is scarce one this grace appear and abound. . . . closed door, or community where the preacher may not go with the open Bible, or where the convert • From the first chapter of "The Crisis of Missions," published may not, in publicly confessing allegiance to Jesus, In 1886, a great volume that aroused the Church to the claims of Foreign Missions. claim the protection of law.
[430 ]
I==========~~~========~==~il~
I Effective Ways of Working 'Tested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MRS. ESTELLA S. AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO ~~i==========================~ Shall We Study "The Church ing in towns and villages, un- moving pictures that are so ef- in Rural America"? duly small memberships (aver- fective in the assembly periods age of less than 100, with annual of mission study schools-all of There is a tendency in some per capita expenditure of $13.27 which indicates the trend toward as against $21.50 in cities), in- activating study rather than letquarters to answer in the nega- adequate ministry as to training, ting it pause with "information nonsupport, inability to give full- and inspiration"-which tend to tive in view of the absence of the time service, etc., lack of trained be static. lay leadership, denominational picturesque and dramatic in the competition and overlapping, BAPTIST BOARD OF MISSIONARY EDUtheme, and the apparent diffi- etc. Topping all these is a psy- chological difficulty in getting CATION, 152 MADISON AVE., NEW culty in concreting it sufficiently new standards and a broader outlook, with an unchanged in- YORK: for the younger folk. But no stitution in a changing world. reader of THE REVIEW can fail, Our best endeavors are called for Beginners- in "creating a new moral and after noting the contents of its spiritual top soil for Rural Handwork, visualizations, stories: June issue, to see that nothing America." "The Singing Farmer," 68 cents; of more practical nature or im- "The Friendly Farmers" – projmediate urgency has been offered From r e c e n t' contributions ects and activities included, 50 by the Central Committee for submitted by various denomina- cents; "Farm Life Panel Postour consideration if we are to tional boards of missionary edu- ers" – four brown sepia panels, give the 31,000,000 and more cation, the following materials 12×36 in., with colored cut-outs people (half the entire popula- are cited because they are good to be pasted on, 50 cents. (Order tion) who are tilling God's Gar- in quality and of a sufficiently these from The American Baptist den their opportunity for "the universal character to be used Publication Society, 1701 Chestabundant life." Nor does this with little adaptation by mem- nut St., Philadelphia, Pa.) ; concern dwellers in country and bers of any communion. No one "Farmers in Many Lands"-picsmall towns alone. It is our com- denomination can hope to be ture sheet of 12 pictures, four on mon problem in view of our in- sufficient for even a fraction of American rural life, from which terdependence and the complex the task. And it is only by picture books may be made as situation created by the two mi- friendly borrowings that we can handwork, 25 cents; "Rural Life grations – the exodus of farm- hope to attain all-round effi- Through Teaching Pictures" – 8 bred youths toward the city and ciency. Along with specifically pictures llx15 in., 50 cents. the recent reverse trend caused denominational offerings will be by economic conditions – this found materials from neutral Primarylatter throwing the responsibil- sources, belonging in the units ity for the early training of a merely because they have been Handwork and visualizations the large proportion of our citizen- selected and fitted in by the sev- iJame as for Beginners. Stories: ship upon country homes and eral missionary education boards "The World on a Farm" – illuschurches. The rural world is as best shaping up to their stand- trated narratives, 25 c en t s; confronted by new problems and ards for graded Sunday school aggravated old ones in which we and age-group study. These di- * "Over the Hills and Far Away" all have a common stake. The rect transcripts from the lists economic ones are at the very submitted save space otherwise -series of graded home mission storm center of our national life to be consumed in separate cita- stories, 15 cents. -child labor, the sharecropper tions of publishers, etc. Attensituation, inadequate educational tion is especially directed to the Juniorsfacilities, reforestation and wealth of devices for visualizaplowing of submarginal lands, tions and activations, particu- Handwork, projects and activisoil conservation, collapse of cot- larly to the stereopticon and ties: "Out in the Country," 50 ton tenancy, wage-and-time ad- cents; "Farm Life Panel Postjustments, racial antagonisms [431 ] ers" as listed above; "Picture and a score of others. The reli- Map of the U. S."-art map 30×50 gious ones are even more vexing in. with 18 sketches to be colored and far-reaching – over-church- and pasted on, 50 cents; "Rural Life Teaching Pictures" as pre- viously listed.
Stories: * "Friendship Tales from Far and Near Trails," 15 cents.
Intermediate and Young People- Handwork, etc.: Several of the sets listed above; "Willson's Gummed Paper Letters and Fig- ures"-27 sizes and styles – free from The Tablet and Ticket Co., 115 E. 23d St., N. Y.; "Velox
Transparent Water Color Stamps" and his sharecropper tenant; study abounds in fine story material; the -perforated stamps of 12 colors, of local rural schools; inquiry of four "ranges" rounding up the sub- to be dissolved in water, with librarians as to type of books avail- ject in the closing meeting in a way four brushes and instructions, able and expense thereof; steps to to incite to action. "The Migrant Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, supplement this by making more Map" is another program of a most N. Y., $1.00. Stories: "The Ad- reading matter available; study of practical character, fitting in with ventures of Mr. Friend," 25 cents; cooperative marketing with view to the general home mission theme. its establishment in the community; Outline, 20 cents. * "The Church of the Country- demonstration of social and cultural work in drama, art, music or recrea- The women's group offers as a three side" -10 graded home mission tion and investigation as to facili- months' inset to their booklet on stories, 15 cents. ties for these among your rural citi- "Journeys," a set of outstanding zens; s p e cia 1 investigation of programs on "Journeys Along Rural Visualizations: S t ere 0 p tic 0 n churches in the vicinity as to pas- Roads," in which full directions are slides with coordinated lectures- tors, salaries, equipment, Sunday given for a panel discussion, an "The Little White Church on the schools, type of service most needed; original chart study on "Forward Hill"; "On Lonely Trails with organization of local groups for co- Together for Better Service," and Colporter Missionaries"; "The operation in the Peace Movement. "Journeys Toward the New Day"- Colporter Country," $2.00 each impersonations of the seven groups and carriage both ways. PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF NATIONAL of rural folk listed in the textbook. MISSIONS, CENTRAL DISTRIBUTING While the program booklet inclusive WOMEN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE MIS S ION of the foregoing contains much UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH, 723 BOARDS, 156 FIFTH AVE., NEW other cleverly conceived program MUHLENBERG B LD G., PHILADEL- YORK: matter, it is all of such a nature PHIA, PA.: that its form and manner of pres- Adult course on "Rebuilding Rural entation are universal and usable "Teaching Pictures on Rural Life America," 25 cents; study book of by folk of any communion. Price, Around the World" – 8 large pic- that name, 60 cents and $1. 50 cents. tures of country folk of different lands, 50 cents; plays-"The Call Young People's and Senior's unit "Early Missionary Journeys" is a of the Hills," 5 cents; "At Devil's on "Highland Heritage"-breaking separate booklet containing a full Nose" (mountain m iss ion a r y down of isolation in Appalachian year's devotional studies in complete sketch), 15 cents; stories – "Ra- Life, 25 cents; book, 60 cents and outline. Price, 15 cents. channy of the Southern Mountains," $1. "Rosann," "Spunk," "Jest Gals," 2 A number of worthful sugges- cents each or 6 for 5 cents. Intermediate unit by Grace Mc- tions for programs on "Rural Gavran, 35 cents. America"-inclusive of a special THE UNITED CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY article on junior work, by Annye SOCIETY, MISSIONS BLDG., 222 Stereopticon slides and lecture on Allison – as well as excerpts DOWNEY A VE., INDIANAPOLIS, Rural Life – "The Book and the from summer conferences at- IND.: Plough," 30 slides; rentai, $1.00 tended by the Department Edi- plus two-way. postage. tor, have to be held over for lack A very complete study packet of of space and will appear as soon leaflets covering "Dwellers in the Moving pictures (16mm., 2 reels), as possible in a later issue. Ad- Countryside," 50 cents. "Hearthstones and Al tar s" -life ditional methods material suit- story of typical rural family; "Mid able for pastors, men's groups This includes instructions to pro- Purple Mountain Majesties" -fol- and children's organizations is gram committees, a "Calendar of lows a boy from his mountain com- especially solicited. Send direct Service"; "Things We Can Do" at munity. $2.00 per reel and two- to this department instead of the the successive meetings to translate way carriage for each of the fore- Magazine headquarters, to avoid them into life; a large variety of going. delay and extra postage. subject matter for the talks, papers, etc.; good dramatic sketches on Order from Distributing Depart- For older people, this topic "The Farmer's Wife," "Bringing ment in N. Y., or 8 So. Dearborn lends itself wonderfully to panel College to the Farmer," "Weari- St., Chicago, or 234 McAlister St., discussions, round tables or pro- ness," "They Went to Bethlehem"; San Francisco, Calif., according to gram conferences. For instance, a special Christmas program com- your location. make up the entire program ex- plete; a panel discussion for four cept for appropriate music inter- women on "Influences that Make for THE WOMAN'S HOME MISSION SOCIETY spersed, from the June number Peace or War"; a program on OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL of THE REVIEW, the leader im- "Blessed Are the Peacemakers"; CHURCH, 420 PLUM ST., CINCIN- pressing the importance of the and well-constructed studies on NATI, OHIO. LITERATURE DEPART- topic by using points from the these phases of the rural problem: MENT: editorial, "Rural America for Educational- "Sing B e h i n d the Christ," and being promptly sec- Plow"; "Bina Holben-Sharecrop- The Methodist women have clever onded and supported by another per"; "Pietro Lopez – Mexican"; series of programs worked out for participant summarizing "The, "M r s. W a 1ton – Mountaineer"; their girls (Queen Esthers) under Challenge of the Rural Commu- "Max Smith-Miner"; "Sarak Pe- the figure of "Building the Map of nity." On this background let toskey-Migrant"; "Susan Kepple U. S.," and for the women on the successive speakers, by prear- -Farm Woman"; "The Nat ion picturesque theme of "Modern Mis- ranged plan but with appearance Helps the Farmer" – a parable of sionary Journeys," an adequate ap- of spontaneity and in conversa- American rural life in Oklahoma; preciation of which will appear in tional style as if talking among "Social Influences Yesterday and a later issue, as only the rural themselves, give brief talks of Today"-a social science study. theme studies can be noted at this time. Among the workable suggestions listed are: An original study of For three months the girls study child labor statistics and condi- "Highland Heritage," with unique tions; a demonstration of the set- visualizations, a meeting in the form tlement between a plantation owner of the recitation of the geography class, "Head Range" and "Heart • The three sets of graded primary, junior Range" being considered; "Hand and intermediate stories listed above at 15 Range" and "Health Range" being cents each sell collectively at 35 cents. added in the following meeting that
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
not over five minutes each, selec- lines on "Discipleship" being for byterian Board of National Mistions of topics to be made from worship services and the remain- sions, 156 Fifth Ave., New the excellent articles following, ing six for worship and study York. ending with pointed presenta- combined. Their object is "to tion of things the group or their seek to make women conscious "If I Be His Disciple-How church can do. This is very im- of their responsibility as Chris- Shall I Follow Jesus Today" is portant. tian citizens for the solution of the title of a booklet prepared over a year ago by the Spiritual A more dramatic and impres- the social and economic problems Life Committee of the Presbysive program might be arranged of present-day society." terian Mission Boards. It confrom the same number by hav- sists of a ten-cent leader's ing a congress or conference of "In times like these the forces pamphlet and a set of leaflets persons impersonating-with or of religion should be exerting corresponding to the successive without costumes – the r u r a I topics and intended for use in pastor, the farmer's wife, the themselves to create a condition the audience. The subjects are: sharecropper, the case worker, out of which right motives for the colporter, etc. Again, close leadership can be generated. I Will Learn What the Bible Says to with practical planning, and a . . . There is only one motive Me devotional service of consecra- adequate to solve the problems tion to the task. Either one of and heal the ills of our stricken I Will Learn to Meditate these plans will make a most ef- civilization. That motive is the I Will Learn to Pray fective prayer meeting or eve- motive of the good neighbor. It I Will Learn to Serve ning service for the church at is clearly the business of religion I Will Learn to Share large, the meeting eventuating I Will Test My Life by Christ in organized activity. Time the to create mental and moral attiparts or the theme will be tudes to support and sustain and The leaflets sell for ten cents "talked to death." vitalize, as well as to call out per set. that motive. If religion does not Devotional Material call that motive into being, it A companion booklet recently will not come into being." (From issued is called, "If I Be His Dis- "In the beginning God created "Who Is My Neighbor?" by ciple I Will Grow." The topics . . . the earth. . . . And the are: Lord God formed man out of the Walter H. North.) dust of the earth and breathed I Will Grow into His Likeness into his nostrils the breath of The devotional outlines are on I Will Grow in Reflecting His Spirit life; and man became a living "God at Work in His Universe," soul. . . . And the Lord God "Great and Mighty. Things," Every Day planted a garden eastward in I Will Grow in Meeting Life's Crises Eden; and there He put the "Christ's Point of View" and I Will Grow More Sensitive to Human man whom He had formed. And "For Such a Time as This." out of the ground the Lord God The subjects of the programs Need made to grow every tree that is I Will Grow in Using My Life for pleasant to the sight and good for full meetings are: "We Look for food." God created an earth, at the Present Social Order," Him a man and a garden. The earth "The Bible and Social Values," was of basic importance then "The Christian Approach to So- This booklet also costs ten and must ever be. (From leaflet cial Problems," "The Church in cents, and the corresponding of the United Christian Mission- Action in National Missions," leaflets two cents each. These ary Society.) are invaluable helps for devo- "A Christian World Order" and tional leaders, giving Scripture, A service on this keynote may "A Plan for Social Education subject matter, prayers, ques~ well start the study of "Rural and Action in Your Commu- tions for meditation, material America," following later with nity." Only one of these-that for the group's use, hymns, devotionals keyed to Christ's na- poems and prayer suggestions ture parables – "The Sower," on National Missions-has any for the ensuing week. Suitable "The Tares," etc. denominational flair. The others for any young people's or adult will apply equally well among all group, or for prayer meetings. "Worship Services" based on evangelical groups. The Scrip- "Lord, Teach Us to Pray" may A VISTA IN JAPAN be had from the Presbyterians tural foundations are well laid, for five cents each. the citations to live, present-day books are excellent and the Under the title "C h u r c h theme studies worked out in a Women and a Christian World scholarly- though simple-way Community," a series of ten to challenge interest and thought programs has been i.ssued for in any intelligent group. In this use in any organized group of church women, the four first out- year when standard study themes include "The Church in Rural America," "World Peace" and "The Missionary Motive and Imperative," and when panel discussions are in the lead in presenting subject matter, the outlines are most timely. The price is 10 cents, at The Pres- The Council of Women for Home Missions EDITH E. LOWRY, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 105 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK Committee – the Quaker organ- ization which has carried on re- lief and reconstruction work both abroad and at home-dur- ing and following the World War in several European coun- tries and more recently in the coal areas of the United States.
This Committee is again trying to save life while others destroy.
The work for children in Spain is strictly non-partisan and is approved by the Federal Coun- cil of Churches and by the Red Cross.
We quote from the special bul- letin on Spain issued at intervals by the A. F. S. C.
"There may be defeats today – victories tomorrow for the armies. For the hungry people there is little hope that anything can happen to repair their ruined homes or restock their devastated farms." "Out of the confusion and debatable issues of the war, arise certain uncon- trovertible facts. Authorities agree, for instance, that as long aQ"o as last February there were more than a million refugees in Loyalist territory. The Loyalist government then reported that 250,000 children were in refugee colonies. More r e c e n t 1y, a Quaker relief worker in Madrid World Wide Photos, Inc. stated that there were 116,000 Thou Shall Not be Afraid "We have not fully caught the children still in that city under mind of Christ until we realize 14 years of age, badly under- "Thou shall not be afraid for that the Kingdom of God on nourished and unable to be evacthe terror by night, nor for the earth is the cooperative task of uated for lack of places to put arrow that Rieth by day." God and men working together." them. The safer municipalities (Psalm 91: 5.) throughout Loyalist Spain are "Faith is the diametrical op- now so congested with refugees "God hath not given us a spir- posite of fear and the supreme that they are forced to refuse it of fear, but of love, and of cure for fear is faith." additional numbers except when power, and of discipline." (2 the food is guaranteed by out- Timothy 1: 7.) RUFUS JONES.
"Fear is the greatest single Spain Opens Door for Friendly- side agencies." "The A. F. S. C. hindrance to the advance of civ- has become a recognized im-· ilization today." Service partial channel for relief of the "We should leap forward to a new type of civilization and be (An opportunity to show the spirit Spanish people regardless of able to avert world disaster, if men were not chained to a dead of goodwill in a country clouded by where they may be—":"in Loyalist past by their fears." war.) or Nationalist territory." "All Doubtless our readers know shipments of goods or contribu- of the American Friends Service tions of money will be used [434 ]
BULLETIN OF THE COUNCIL OF WOMEN FOR HOME MISSIONS
strictly for the purposes desig- all over Spain and that is simple National Peace Conference Ma- nated by the donors . . . ." playthings for children such as terials "The refugees arrive in such balls and blocks and things that The National Peace Confer- terrible condition that their rags are not easily destroyed." ence publishes, through its Pubhave to be stripped off of them lic Affairs Committee, a series and burned. Children can be The need for playthings will of pamphlets on subjects conmade to smile by a bright col- be at least partly filled when the nected with world problems ored jumper or a pair of shoes." children of America send their which affect international rela- "Next to the full maintenance of suitcases to the refugee children. tions and peace, and which are the colonies, help with the food Detailed information on this of great value to those who wish supply is the most important project may be secured by writ- brief expositions on topics of imthing that can be done for refu- ing to the Committee on World mediate interest. The latest gee children; a problem every Friendship Among Children, 297 pamphlet is entitled "Colonies, day more acute. Shipments for Fourth Avenue, New York City. Trade and Prosperity," and is a this purpose come in duty free." Those who desire to contribute simple and condensed study of "One's first impression of the clothing or cash for food should the economic approach to the refugee situation is of terrible send it to the American Friends peace question. This pamphlet chaos and misery. The first day Service Committee, 20 South is excellent and very readable, in Murcia I went to the Pablo 12th Street, Philadelphia, Pa. and will be very valuable in con- Inglesias – a huge b u i I din g (In either case kindly mention nection with the campaign on economics and peace which is to where 4,000 are housed. The THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF be launched next fall by the Nabuilding is in reality an unfin- tional Peace Conference, and THE WORLD.) about which you will hear more ished block of flats about nine in detail in the fall. stories high. The floors have Materials on Peace Education not yet been divided into rooms, A packet of helps. for this and form vast corridors, swarm- Marathons pamphlet is being prepared and ing with men, wom(in and chil- will be ready for use in the fall. The subjects for the Marathon These National Peace Conferdren of all ages. There is no Round Tables for 1937-1938 are ence pamphlets sell for 35c each, furniture of any sort – only now at hand. There are two but can be ordered in quantity at Marathons this year-Plan A: a reduced rate. For further instraw mattresses. It must be Preparatory Marathon on the formation write to the National remembered that many of the subject "The U. S. and the Peace Conference, 8 West 40th World"; and Plan B: Advanced St., New York City. refugees have been in this build- Marathon under the title: "Adeing for two months. Nearly all quate National Defense. What World Day of Prayer in come from Malaga, and look is it?" Send to the National indescribably poor, dirty and Committee on the Cause and a Rural Village Cure of War, 1622 Grand Cenwretched. The municipality tral Terminal Building, New One step toward cooperation which complains of being one York, for copies of this folder in the work of the church has million pesetas in debt for its for distribution at fall meetings. come through the World Day of Let us try to have a large num- Prayer. Mrs. – – of – – sent refugees can afford to give only ber of Marathons among wom- in to the Council office $2.92, the one meal a day to this house, en in church groups during the offering from the observance of with the addition of a little milk coming year. to the children in the morning. The noise was terrific, babies New Headline Book crying, boys rushing madly from floor to floor, women shouting to them. A woman came up cry- ing bitterly, saying that she had The new Foreign Policy Asso- the World Day of Prayer. Her lost her two smallest children in ciation Headline Book: "Billions husband is pastor of a small the confusion of the flight and for Defense," is another study rural parish and this year for didn't know whether they were course on national defense. More the first time she inaugurated alive or dead. There is nothing popular in its plan than the ad- the World Day of Prayer in her for the children to do. Many vanced Marathon on the same country community. She said children begged us to take them subject, it is valuable for those the nearest church was 13 miles away to colonies or somewhere who desire an e Ie men tar y away. She contacted 13 differ- " course. It could be followed by ent churches over a wide area, Esther Farquhar, Quaker re- the Advanced Marathon if a they had four denominations lief worker in Spain, reports: group wished to pursue the sub- represented at their service, and "The conditions at Murcia are ject further. The kit of mate- there were 42 women present frightful. The infant mortality rials which is furnished for this which was "an excellent number has been as high as fifty per book is planned for a series of for this community. We found cent." Her work is largely with four meetings. Price of the the service extremely devotional infants. She has established a book: board cover, 35c; paper and I felt the women really clinic which she calls "a Drop cover, 25c. Discussion kit, 15c. prayed. Twenty – five of the of Milk." "There is one thing Foreign Policy Association, 8 group participated actively in that I have noticed the lack of West 40th St., New York City. one way or another."
World~wide
A Missionary Newspaper of Current Events EDITED BY MRS. HENRIETTA H. FERGUSON, XENIA, OHIO 1.
~===============================~ JAPAN-CHOSEN In the minds of the average Jap- aminations at the John D. Wells anese, Christianity is still as- Christian Accord associated with Western civili- School, Seoul, Chosen. Some zation. Nevertheless, what has failed; some lost out on the The National Christian Coun- been called "disembodied Chris- physical examination; and some cils of Japan and China have re- tianity" (Christian ideals and couldn't stand up under the scrucently taken definite steps in an standards observed by those who tiny of their former school receffort to bring about a closer re- are not actual church members) ords. From 13 different .provlation between the two organiza- is a strong force in Japan. This tions and between the Christians is evidenced by the facts that inces, the successful boys rated of the two nations. Both Coun- courses in Bible and Christian B or above in every subject, had cils are eager for closer rela- history are offered in some non- goo d personal records, and tions in order to understand Christian universities; that the showed much promise. About each other and build a bond of Bible and the Union Christian Christian brotherhood between Hymnal have a wide circulation half came from Christian famthe two peoples. Recent events among non-Christians; and that in North China, however, are social work, formerly a monop- ilies. bringing about further separa- oly of Christians, is now con- A 20th century note is seen in tion, at least in external rela- ducted by many other agencies. tionships. the fact that very few people -Monday Morning. The nation-wide United Evan- looked at the bulletin board in gelistic Movement is quietly go- Memorial to Dr. Uemura front of the school to read the ing forward in Japan. In addi- list of successful applicants, the reason was that almost every one had heard the names over the radio.
-Monday Morning.
tion to a program of evangelism, The Japan Theological Semi- ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC bands of evangelists are being n a r y (Presbyterian-Reformed organized for work among the Church) has recently dedicated Strange Island of New Guinea churches, youth is being trained a new recitation hall in memory for Christ, and lay leadership of Rev. M. Uemura, outstanding Rev. R. R. Hanselmann went and stewardship are advocated. Japanese Christian who died ten to New Guinea in 1926 as a mis- Arrangements have been made years ago. This Seminary is the sionary under the American Luto send out ten evangelistic official school of the Church of theran Church. While at home teams to conduct meetings and Christ in Japan. It was estab- on furlough he has given nearly hold conferences in eight prov- lished in 1930 by a union of the 800 lectures about his experiinces. Other provinces will be theological department of Meiji ences in this island of headworked later. Gakuin and a seminary in Tokyo hunters and tree-dwellers. established by Dr. Uemura. With "Disembodied Christianity" the exception of one small semi- New Guinea is the second nary in Kobe, all theological edu- largest island in the world and According to latest figures, cation of the Church of Christ in is shaped like a monstrous bird. the Church of Christ in Japan is Japan is now out of the hands of If the southeastern point were made up of about 340 churches. the missions, and directly under placed on the tip of the Florida Slightly more than half of these the management of the Japanese peninsula the northwestern point are entirely self-supporting, Church. would reach to Colorado. Vegewhile others receive aid either tation of unsurpassed luxuriance from the mission or from the This Church has been cele- covers nearly the entire island. self-supporting churches. A typ- brating its 50th meeting of Syn- Among the light and dark green ical church is a city organization od with a series of evangelistic foliage are incessant flashes of with a membership of 123, and a meetings. gorgeously colored birds, and Sunday school of 71 with an surpassing all in beauty is the average of five teachers. Up -Presbyterian Banner. Bird of Paradise. A constant until 1930, membership was stream of scientists and museum rapidly increasing, but since Applicants for Wells School collectors arrive in New Guinea then, owing in some degree to in quest of biological s·pecimens. the intensified feeling of nation- There was room for only 106 alism, the rate has slowed down. new boys out of the 844 appli- Lately discovered mineral re- cants who had paid the registra- sources have brought white men tion fee to take the entrance ex- in hordes. Beneficent govern- [436 ] ment penetration and mISSIOn church membership by about cies of the Church, and he used organizations have b r 0 ugh t 4,000, but the results of Chris- his privilege with good sense about prophylactic measures, tian education carried on over a and definite loyalty to Christian making the life of Europeans long period of years can now be teaching. It was voted to make reasonably safe. Six hundred seen in the annual increase in the conference an annual event. plantations are under European the Christian population. control, cultivating cocoanuts, -The Living Church. The British Government consugar~ane,rubber,kapok,coffee tributed over $360,000 toward NORTH AMERICA these mission schools in 1936. Of and cocoa. Gold-mining is one the 18,000 children enrolled in Church Membership Gains of the chief industries. The various types of school, one in aerial transport has developed four is a Christian and of the Religious bodies of the United into the largest freight carrying 6,000 in g ran t-i n-a i d boys' States, as a whole, are growing, air service in the world. schools, one in six is a member according to statistics gathered of the Church. As a result of this by the late Dr. George Linn The natives as a whole are less mission policy, and government Kieffer. ill-natured than popular accounts sympathy and aid, a Church of imply. Their aversion to bath- educated persons is being built In 1936, the total membership ing is one of their most marked in Malaysia. of all religious bodies in the characteristics. To Christianize United States reached 63,493,- such a people usually requires -Christian Century. 036, as compared with 62,655,- from fifteen to eighteen years 632 in the previous year. This from the time contact is estab- Thankful for Leprosy! represents a gain in membership lished with a wild tribe until the for the year of 837,404. tribe is ready for baptism. The Leprosy is the last thing for life of the native Christian mis- which most people would be The Baptists continue to lead sionary, stationed in out-lying thankful, yet at the watch night all other Protestant bodies with districts, is so convincing to the service at Culion Leper Colony a total increase for the year of heathen people that slowly they the following testimony was 140,308. The Reformed Churchlay aside their former mode of given: "I thank God Almighty es, not a large denomination in sinful living. The race has a fu- for having made me a leper be- comparison with the Baptists ture. Various mission agencies cause in this place I have found and Methodists, come second, in New Guinea have a staff total- my Lord and my Redeemer. I with a gain of 81,958. The Luing over 500 white workers. had tried to find joy, peace, and therans, with 43,905, are third, contentment from what the and the Methodists fourth with -The Bond. world had to offer, but all ended a membership gain of 41,798. in bitter disappointment. In Other notable increases were Dyak Christians Jesus I have found my salvation made by the Unitarians, with and real contentment." 38,026; the Protestant Episco- During the past six years, palians, with 21,193; the Evanabout 12,000 Dyaks have been Igorot Young People's gelicals, with 9,390; the Presbybaptized as Christians. Thi~ terians, with 6,507; the Nazarepresents four distinct fields; Conference renes, with 5,867; the Advent- East Bornea, the districts of Ma- ists, with 5,435; the Mennonites, hakam, Boelongan and Sesajap, The first Young People's. Con- with 4,101; the International and West Borneo, the district of ference of the Philippine Epis- Church of the Foursquare Gos- Kapoeas. The Dyaks, though copal Mission went beyond the pel, with 5,225; the Moravians, uncivilized and uneducated, are most optimistic expectations in with 1,624; and the United by no means stupid. They gen- its attendance of 100 young men Brethren, with 1,073. erally learn readily, and have re- and women, most of them Igotentive memories. There is a rots-though delegates included -The Churchman. simplicity of heart which is re- one ex-Moslem girl from Zamsponsive to the Gospel message. boanga. A Bible Crusade About 200 native students are in various stages of preparation for The general topic was Chris- A new movement has been the ministry.-The Pioneer. tian religion in relation to both launched in Chicago called the the old traditional ways of the "Bible Evangelistic Crusade," Methodists in Malaysia mountain province and the sud- which has for its purpose the den incidence of modern prob- evangelization of neg Ie c ted The Methodist Church has lems. To keep the native group towns and villages and country built up a mission in Malaysia from backwardness in express- places in the United States and on an educational foundation. ing views, the foreign attend- Canada. It is reported that Last year nearly 18,000 children ance was restricted to two. there are 10,000 churchless and young people attended their towns in America and 30,000 grade and high schools, where The meetings proved remark- without a resident pastor. There 690 Asiatics and 53 European able for the frankness and inter- are 36,000,000 children and adoand Am e ric a n teachers in- est of the opinions expressed. lescents growing up without any structed them. The number in For the first time the Igorot religious training whatever. these schools exceeds the total Christian was showing himself vocal in helping shape the poli-
Over eighty Bible Institutes amend broadly the state Sunday Our Crime Peril and Christian training schools in the U. S. are turning out law was defeated; in Indiana a Recent reports of the Federal thousands of young people each Bureau of Investigation apparyear equipped for Ch~ist~an bill to open the saloons on Sun- ently confirm our unenviable disservice. This new organIZatIOn tinction of having the worst will assist such workers in being day was killed by a vote of three crime record of any of the sofurnished with trailers, tents called civilized peoples of earth. and other necessary equipment to toesne~'tteamnpdtsinto several other The reports indicate that "a larto reach the more difficult fields. sta bring in com- ceny occurs every 44 seconds in Pastoral workers will be di- the United States, a burglary rected to the most encouraging mercialized sports and amuse- every two minutes, an automoplaces to follow up the work that bile theft every two and one-half has been begun, and will be ments and other business were minutes, a robbery every ten given some assistance in getting minutes, a felonous assault every started. When further support frustrated. One of the greatest twelve minutes, and a criminal is needed by evangelistic groups attack on a woman every 67 and missionary pastors, the or- victories won in law enforce- minutes." ganization will try to interest churches or individuals in fur- ment was the abolition of 17 The Bureau's figures show nishing a regular monthly al- that our national crime bill anlowance. burlesque show theaters in New nually is $15,000,000,000. This is a daily cost of more than $41,- -Evangelical Christian. York City. The Lord's Day Al- 000 000. "Every time the clock tick,s off a second, the count ry's Testaments for Prisoners liance has been driving hard crime bill jumps $475." Most of the crimes are committed by The Pocket Testament League against such performances. persons 22 years of age. How has recently sent 500 Testa- can these figures be reduced to ments for work among the pris- -Monday Morning. the minimum? oners of San Quentin Prison, California. This is the distrib- The Exeter Experiment Goodwill in Tennessee uting center for other state p~ nal institutions-at TehachapI, "Weare trying to bring the The Tennessee Interracial Forsom and one under construc- Commission, organized 19 years tion near Los Angeles. The di- Good News." Thus the religious ago, was first known as the Law rector of religious work at San work director of Mount Holyoke and Order League. Its program Quentin, Alfred C. Schmitt,. in- College epitomizes an experi- was enlarged when its name was terviews all prisoners and gIves ment at Exeter, Maine, forty changed. Under its first name it Testaments to those desiring miles from Bangor. Four years confined itself to crime preventhem. The demand is so great ago this director, Mis~ Kathe- tion and crusaded against mob that the director has called for rine Grammer and MISS Mar- violence. The enlarged program another 500 copies immediately. garet Teague, secretary for ru- includes health, housing, sanita- He writes: "Some of the in- tion education, recreation, travmates become so attached to ral work of the diocese of Maine, eling accommodations on public their Pocket Testaments that asked themselves what could be carriers, child welfare and imthey request the privilege of done to meet the religious needs provement of rural conditions. taking them along with them of a b a c k woo d s generation. Its methods are (1) the promowhen they go out on paroIe." growing up without any real tion of mutual understanding of (Gifts to supply these Testa- viewpoints and needs; and (2) ments may be sent to the Pocket knowledge of Christ and His the cooperation of the two races Testament League, 156 Fifth Church. Instead of merely la- in securing the ends agreed upon Ave., New York.) menting facts, a vacation school in conferences, usually through was planned. For four w~eks the building of favorable public "Remember the Sabbath" eight students and a tramed sentiment. nurse afford the only regular op- All Christian citizens can re- portunity the children and even In the beginning, some of the joice in the increase of interest difficulties were: radical elein preserving the civil institu- the adults of that vicinity have ments in both races; indifference tion of the Sabbath. Of the 43 during the entire year for seri- to constructive efforts for betterstate legislative bodies in sessi?n ment· and a tendency to proin 1937, proposed adverse legIs- ous religious instruction, as well mote 'selfish ends. But in time lation has been defeated more notable results were achieved. than a score of times: In New as forthe teaching of recreational Much has been done in the cor- York State five such bills went rection of interracial injustices down to defeat; in Iowa a bill to values. Approximately 100 chil- and the betterment of conditions affecting Negroes. Oppressive mdarteen~iafrlowmit5h to 21, are the raw which the vacation school works. They are collected in beach wagons or make their own way to the farmhou~e and barn in which the school IS con- d u c ted. Classes, handicraft work and expert recreation make up the program of the morni~g.
A morning, and a sunset serVIce is conducted each day. More than 300 adults attend the Sun- day evening services. – Miss G ram mer and Miss Teague believe that they have at least paved the way toward de- veloping a technique which can be used in other rural areas.
-The Living Church.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
measures have been opposed. tious than a bottle of pills. The the island, but the large number Inconsiderate and brutal officers missionary supplied such relief of letters he receives from peo- have been called to account. Co- as he could to the suffering peo- ple not touched by churches is operation in community enter- ple with a few pills until in 1904 a witness to the value of this prises has been promoted. Ne- when the Presbyterians sent out s e r vic e. The First Baptist gro members have been privi- a medical missionary and built Church of Santiago has been leged to lay bare any inj ustices the first little hospital. helping a Spanish priest who which they feel their race is suf- The work rapidly outgrew its within the last year left the Ro- fering, assured of a courteous first quarters and today there man Catholic Church. For the and friendly hearing. stands a grade "A" hospital with present he is supporting himself Close contacts are maintained 110 beds; a children's ward; by teaching in the day school with church groups. Baptist, nurses' home; a training school of the First Church. The Bap- Methodist and Presbyterian of fifty-five nurses; and a 1936 tist Church in Palma Soriano, a denominations have indorsed the record of more than 32,000 pa- town of 20,000 inhabitants, has Tennessee interracial movement, tients. The hospital was placed outgrown its building which and many have accepted re- on the approved list of hospitals seats only 160. Its average at- sponsibility for leadership. for graduate study in tropical tendance in Sunday school is -Tennessean Magazine. medicine by the Council of Med- 230.
Pima Indian Evangelist ical Education of the American Brazil's Student Problem Medical Association. In the re- When a Pima Indian becomes motest country barrio and in the It has long been realized that crowded city it is known as "EI one of the serious missionary a Christian he is usually filled Presbiteriano." problems of the Latin world is with a desire to win others. Pima the approach to the student -Presbyterian Banner. class. The Student Union for churches regularly send teams Christian Service was organized of lay workers into areas where Religion in the West Indies twelve years ago, and at present there is no church or resident confines its activity to students minister. A group of 16 of these Charles S. Detweiler, Baptist in evangelical schools of higher lay workers recently returned Home Mission Secretary, reports education. With nearly 500 memfrom a 10-day itinerary in dif- observations on a recent trip to bers it already has a considerferent parts of the reservation, the West Indies. able effect upon the lives of its devoting their entire time to members, and the necessity for personal evangelism. In Port – au – Prince, Haiti, personal witness is impressed there are four Pro t est ant upon all who join. A Pima Indian Christian en- churches, the Episcopalian, the tered an exclusive shop in Pasa- Wesleyan, the African Method- -World Dominion Press. dena, California. Conversing ist Episcopal and the Baptist. with the saleslady, he said, "I The largest of these churches suppose you attend church ?" has the poorest building. There Echoes of Martyrdom When she replied that she did is real religious freedom in Haiti. not, he began then and there to In Puerto Rico, Protestant in- From the region along the tell her of the love of God for fluence in public life is growing. Amazon where the Messrs. Rob- His children, and how He sent For some time the head of the erts, Wright and Dawson, known Jesus down to earth to save us- Teachers College and the second as the "three Freds," disappreaching her a short sermon in rank in the University has peared in martyrdom, comes the right in the store, which was been a Puerto Rican Presbyte- report that 1,200 Kayapo Inacross from one of the largest rian, and now the Chancellor of dians had suddenly emerged churches in Pasadena. People the University is another Pres- from their forests and descended came to listen and the Indian byterian. The new Commission- on the little town of Nova carried on, proud that he could er of Education, recently ap- Olinda. Fear at first prevailed tell the story to one who hadn't pointed by President Roosevelt, that they had come to massacre; yet learned to love Him. Before is a Puerto Rican Presbyterian. but a strange thing had ocleaving he exacted a promise, A very outspoken Baptist, prom- curred. Wars in their home diswhich the woman seemed glad to inent in political life, is presi- tricts had driven them forth, and give, that from then on she dent of the Board of Commis- they were seeking safety and would attend church. -Monday Morning. sioners of the City of San Juan, food. The news was received by and also a member of the Public the field workers as an answer LATIN AMERICA Service Commission of the Is- to prayer, and steps were taken land. The pastor of the Second to meet the opportunity. Two Hospital in Puerto Rico Baptist Church of Santiago, missionaries soon were on their Cuba, broadcasts for one hour way up the Xingu, with a ton of The Presbyterian Hospital in his Sunday morning service, and farina.
San Juan, Puerto Rico, repre- every day from seven to seven- Contact with these Kayapos sents the steady growth of an thirty he is on the air with a was established, and to the de- idea projected nearly forty years devotional service. The station light of the missionaries they ago with nothing more preten- reaches only the eastern half of found that God had been prepar-
ing for this meeting for ten years French Protestant Church tants, yet each is profiting by the past, at which time the language struggle of the other. had been reduced to writing. The French Pro t est ant Dr. Charles S. Macfarland, The new settlement has brought Church, though weak numerithe Indians to a place where the cally and financially, is a true secretary emeritus of the Fed- Gospel can be preached to them. missionary Church. The Paris eral Council of Churches, has Already a few have accepted Missionary Society which has issued an open letter to Hitler, in Christ. which he condemns the official been carrying on its work for 113 German attitude toward religion The last letter received from years, is working in eight differ- on four counts: the band of three contained this ent fields, wherein labor 165 misappeal: "Brethren, pray and sionaries. The whole work is (1) Hitler has "seized control over supported by an annual budget the Church, arrested multitudes of its send others to continue what the of five million francs. French pastors, confined many of them, and Lord has begun." missionaries are also working in permitted not a few to be assaulted the Methodist Mission on the without open rebuke of their at- -Alliance Weekly. tackers."
EUROPE Ivory Coast, and the Norwegian (2) Despite his promise to unite Call to be "Up and Doing" Lutheran Mission in Madagas- car. The present membership of the Church he has "divided it between those who comply, those who are neu- tral, and those who courageously op- Church attendance in England the French Churches is about pose [his] domination." 700,000, divided among 1,038 (3) Despite his promise to regard is reported as declining. The the "confession" of the Church as Methodists say that 60,000 few- parishes under the direction of er pupils attend Sunday school; 1,097 pastors. sacred, Hitler has "endeavored to c h u r c h membership has de- crush out its basic doctrine of the -World Dominion Press. Fatherhood of God and the brother- creased by 3,000. The Baptists Religion at the Paris hood of mankind." report a decline of pupils by Exposition nearly 20,000, of church mem- (4) "Instead of doing justice to the bers by nearly 1,500. Causes are Visitors to the Paris exhibi- Jews you have permitted them to be harassed and despoiled, without :he slightest appearance of mercy."
suggested include week-end hab- tion may discover several fea- When Hitler came into power it of hiking; opening of cinemas tures of special interest. A mis- he asked that he be given four on Sunday; Sunday excursions; sion boat of the McAll Mission years before people should judge dropping of family prayers; in- his policy. The four years have fluence of radio sermons. The will be found between the Alma elapsed and the judgment must and Passy bridges. Here, daily be one of condemnation. Scots Church's General Assembly has serious things to report services will be held. On the -The Living Church. gangway of the pont d'Alma, is a about reduced incomes for work bookstall containing Bibles and abroad. The foreign missions religious publications. The Godless Union accounts revealed a deficit of An exhibition of Protestant over $250,000. Sabbath observ- Art is a special feature at the Vigorous efforts to increase ance was lost in the Great War. American Church (63, Quai d'- membership in the Godless Un- -R. BIRCH HOYLE. Orsay) . This will be on view ion are being made by Litvinoff, London's Mosque from June 18, although the Russian Commissioner for For- Church itself is open from the eign Affairs. All applicants for The Nizam of Hyderabad has beginning of the Exposition. A diplomatic posts abroad, likewise provided a s,ite in West Kensing- leaflet in English and French en- all members of the Diplomatic ton, London, for a Mohammedan titled "Souvenirs of French Prot- Service at present employed mosque. The foundation stone estantism," by Pastor Boss, is abroad, must be members of the was laid on 4th June by the being published by the National Godless Union, or face dismissal.
Prince of Berar, the son and Touring Center. A Welcome The decree is also extended to heir of the Nizam, surrounded Center for Women (47, Quai d'- com mer cia I representatives by a distinguished company of Orsay) is open from 9 a. m. until abroad. The Osservatore Ro- Moslem representatives from 9 p. m. -The Christian. mano says that during last year Egypt, Arabia, Turkey, Persia German Churches Firm membership of the Union greatand other countries. Like the ly increased, and its funds im- mosque at Woking, the London The Nazi's are not making proved by the payment by every mosque will be a miniature of much headway a g a ins t the member abroad of a special conthe Taj Mahal and is to be fin- Christian Church. Roman Cath- tribution. The new decree has ished at the end of the year. It olics have no intention of retreat- resulted in 6,700 new adhesions will hold about 1,000 people, ing or compromise; confessional- to the Union. The Komsomol quite large enough to accommo- Protestants have set up a secret has ordered Russian youth to' date the worshippers. The total council, to which pastors pledge imp r 0 v e their antireligious number of Moslems and those obedience, in defiance of the work, and to win between May 2 interested in Islam in the whole Reich. and August 2, 200,000 boys and of Great Britain is estimated at So far as known, there is girls as recruits. 2,000. nothing resembling a u nit e d Antireligious pro p a g and a -World Dominion Press. front of Catholics and Protes- abroad was stimulated by the
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
despatch of appropriate litera- Emirates in the Sudan are open- Britain has not full liberty to ture valued at 1,500,000 rubles, ing for the missionaries of the expel priests of Italian or any chiefly to Switzerland, Holland, Sudan United Mission. Many other nationality. The British France, Spain, England and followers of Islam are awaken- Government is, however, anx- Belgium. Sixty-five thousand ing to the deficiencies of their ious to show church circles that rubles only were received from system. The first conference of it is fighting with all the re- Kabyle converts was held re- sources of diplomacy behind the recipients. -World Dominion Press. cently, and on almost every sta- British missionaries who may be tion there are signs of the work- in trouble. This has been Brit- Protestantism in Austria ing of the Holy Spirit, and that ish policy whenever mission- Since February more than the seed sown through so many aries' lives or teaching activities 15,000 people in Austria have years will soon bear fruit. have been endangered in China entered the Protestant Church. or elsewhere, and the same pol- In Vienna alone about 10,000 -The Christian. icy is being carried out now. have taken this step. A great Moslem Stronghold Crumbling -New York Times.
many of these were formerly There is today throughout Bible Pictures to "Think Roman Catholic, but the major- Africa a mighty movement away Black" ity were without religious de- from Islam and paganism, sinomination. Many of them are multaneous with the movement An attempt to stress the need very poor and out of work, yet away from Hinduism in India. of "thinking black" in any ap- such is their desire for spiritual The Sudan Interior Mission sees proach of the white man to Afriteaching that they visit regular- new opportunities in the open- can children is the plan of the ly divine services and Bible ing up of the Moslem strongholds World's Sunday School Associaclasses which the Protestant of Northern Nigeria to the Gos- tion to present awards to native Church has organized for them. pel. The Nigerian Government African artists who produce il- Protestant churches are filled to is now willing to hand over the lustrations of the parables conoverflowing, and the few pastors leper camps in these provinces veying the fullest meaning to have so much to do that it will to the missionary society. native African children. The be necessary to employ new as- With the acceptance of the story of "the widow's mite" does sistants to impart religious in- challenge, the call has gone forth not make sense to the African. struction. The State authorities for a hundred new missionaries, How can she be the "poor widare very unfriendly towards this including doctors and nurses. ow" with her flowing dress is -Life of Faith. the incredulous reaction of the movement, and put every ob- stacle in the way of preventing Italy's Ethiopian Policy African native. The results of persons from leaving the Roman this venture will be marked by Catholic Church. Italy's action in forbidding an originality which s h 0 u I d From all parts of Austria ur- British, American and French prove refreshing. missionaries to carryon their' gent requests are pouring in for -W. S. S. A.
Bibles and New Testaments. A work in Ethiopia, gives point to Uplift for the Bantus pastor in Syria writes: "I come Foreign Secretary Ant h 0 n y from a little village in which twenty have entered the Prot- Eden's guarded reminder that Missionary work in the Portuestant Church, and they all request me to send them Bibles the British Government "must guese colony of Bantus is chiefly and Catechisms. This was not a political movement, because they reserve the right to consider" among nine recruits of the Transwanted nothing other than God's the expulsion of Italian mission- vaal. There can be no doubt of Word." -Bible Society Record. aries from Malta, Nigeria and the influence of the "East Coast other parts of the British Em- Boys" on the Christian villages pire. The expulsion of British which have grown up in Portu- missionaries has been the sub- guese East Africa. After work- ject of prolonged negotiation ing in the mines of the Trans- AFRICA which have not proven success- vaal, particularly on the Wit- ful. England's threat is not watersrand, they return home Is Islam Tottering? likely to be translated into ac- with ideas about a home which tion, but at least it calls atten- cannot tolerate the old heathen W. Cecil Collinson, Secretary tion to the injustice of Rome's customs, and either these have of the Egypt General Mission, policy. had to go or they have built a observes that large numbers of Italian priests and teachers group of huts in a new spot Moslems are tiring of the for- are to be found chiefly in Malta, away from their pagan relatives.
malities of Islam. Here are some Nigeria and Palestine. In MaTta These structures are finer than facts which go to prove that most of them already have been the pagan huts, influenced by there are signs of a real change replaced by Maltese; in Nigeria, homes they have seen of the in the situation. In every Mos- Italian missionaries are only a white people in the Transvaal.
lem community of over 50,000 handful com par e d with the In the midst of the new huts has inhabitants there is a nucleus of French, while Palestine is a been built the chapel with a bell, witness for Christ. Long-closed mandated territory in which where the leader calls the people
morning and evening to read the tegic importance of this educa- There has been a marked Scriptures, pray and sing hymns learned in the Transvaal. tional program is seen in the deepening of interest in the Gos- The Bantu thinks and works fact that the seven secondary pel m e s sag e among various in circles rather than straight lines. His house is circular, his schools in Palestine educate classes of people. Among the village is circular and his thinking follows a circuitous route. practically one-half the Arabs causes of this should be noted: Christianity widens his mental horizon and helps him to think receiving such training, and a first, a general consciousness and construct in terms of rows of superior huts with fruit and not inconsiderable number of the that we are in a most critical flowering trees between them, which provide ventilation, clean- Jews. period of the world's history; liness and improved sanitation. Many observers say despond- second, the results of seed pre- -World Dominion PreISs. ently that there is no solution of viously sown; and third, the Rhodes-Livingstone Institute the problem of Arab, Jew and prayers of friends. There is The year 1940 will mark not only the jubilee of the founda- Briton; others offer political or greater opportunity for reaching tion of the two Rhodesias in 1890 by Cecil Rhodes, but also diplomatic ways out, but the Moslems as more and more chilthe centenary of the departure for Africa in 1840 of David Liv- only workable plan is to make all dren take advantage of the ingstone. It is proposed that this double anniversary should be three Christian. schools. Approximately 100 boys commemorated in Nor t he r n -Spirit of Missions. and girls attend Sunday school. Rhodesia by the establishment of a Rhodes-Livingstone Insti- News from Syria These are divided into three tute of Central African Studies classes or groups with competent which will serve as a combined The Danish Mission to the teachers, each child being permemorial to these two men. Orient has opened a new Evan- mitted to enter the group of his The proposed institute is in- gelical Church at Hafar, Syria. own language. The pupils in one tended to further scientific study In five boys schools 69 % are class are all Moslem. of the impact of European civili- Moslems and in the girls' schools zation upon native African So- -Near East Christian Council. ciety. It will be located at Liv- 78 %. Students are more seriousingstone, the old capital of minded than those of ten years Northern Rhodesia, seven miles ago, and there has been in- INDIA-SIAM-MALAYIA from Victoria Falls. creased interest in the various Reaching the Multitudes WESTERN ASIA voluntary religious services. Financial difficulties h a v e The Methodist Church in Hy- Christian Schools in Palestine caused the Danish Mission to the derabad is responsible for a Armenians to close their clinic Christian community of 100,000 Christian schools are the only in Beirut, and a reduction of the persons. Those who have been places where Jew and Moslem, numbers in Birds' Nest, Jubeil; reached are eager to learn more, as well as Christians, meet to- but industrial work has sup- and there are some remarkable gether, study together, play on ported many needy women, and testimonies to changed lives and the same terms, and, in the children have been paid for in cleaner homes. Those who for spirit of Christian charity, learn schools. Bible-women are used generations have been in bondthat give and take which are so for evangelistic work in homes age to idol worship and the powimportant. Last year when the and meetings and conferences ers of darkness find it no easier feeling between Jews and Arabs have been held. The Swiss So- to walk in a path of true separarose to boiling point, and all ciety of Ghazir has given help to tion than do the followers of Arab schools, even those under Armenian village colonies by C h r i s t in more enlightened the government, went on strike, placing nurses among them, in lands, where Christianity has Christian schools still went on. addition to their work among been making its influence felt There was difficulty at times in the blind. In spite of the difficult for centuries. To the end that keeping Arab and Jew together, financial situation the Armenian converts may be strengthened, but it was done. Result: the churches have taken increased "refresher courses" are given. schools have been crowded as responsibility for carrying on These are attended by pastors, never before. Jews and Arabs their work, and have even evangelists, village teachers and say what they find there is started new work in three or young men and women from vil- "character training." The stra- lage congregations. On one oc- four centers. -Near East Christian Council. casion several village teachers gathered for a time of prayer In Iraq and meditation in connection "Iraq reports a steadily in- with their work, after which it creasing stream of tourists, and was estimated that in one week the missionaries are glad that 85,000 persons heard the Gospel.
many of them are sufficiently in– Rev. C. W. Posnett is leading· terested in missions to take time this work. Not long ago a vil- to see mission work. The most lage chief, who had continually noteworthy visitation recently persecuted the native Christian was in the form of a conference teacher, went to Mr. Posnett and in Baghdad of five officials of the said: "I used to persecute your British and Foreign, and the teacher; I pulled down the thatch American Bible Societies. from his shed, and tried to drive
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
him out, but I have come to tell five stations (Madras, Conjeev- plexes will be shed when one can you that I want his religion; eram, Chingleput, Arkonam and read his own Bible, subscribe to your teacher has saved and Sriperumbudur) together with his own paper, and form his changed my village, and he is 450 coworkers, eight Indian min- own opinions at first hand. now my friend." isters with 8,000 church mem- bers, give stalwart witness to the -United Church Review. -The Christian. growth and strength of this work. Dr. Laubach's Method "Temple Entry" Proclamation An outstanding feature of Dr. Frank C. Laubach says Caste Hindus in Travancore those early days was the baptism that teaching the people of Inhave issued a proclamation com- of two students, P. Rajahgopal dia to read is like trying to tear pelling the depressed class Chris- and A. Venkataramiah, which down the Himalayas. Only 8 tian converts to go to Hindu caused a furore, reduced the per cent of the 340,000,000 can temples. If they do not forsake school attendance from 400 to 70 read, and only 7 per cent of Christianity, they are not al- overnight, and brought on a those who can read can do it lowed to reap the harvest, and court case, through all of which well enough to understand what some are turned out of their the Christian leaders stood un- they are reading. Dr. Laubach poor dwellings. This restriction compromisingly for their faith, thinks he has the explanation. is being applied to London Mis- resulting in many conversions. There is in India a spoken lansion, Romon Catholic, Salvation guage and a written, in all the Army and Syrian converts in Madras Christian College, an large languages. These go by places like Avaneeswaram and outgrowth of the work of this the same name but have differ- Thalavoor. The matter has at- mission is celebrating the Cen- ent vocabularies. It is as if you tracted the attention of Mr. tenary by transfer to a new lo- were learning Greek, or Hebrew, Gandhi, who has promised to try cation covering 390 a'cres at and had to learn both a new voto better the situation. Tambaram, sixteen miles south cabulary and a new alphabet. -National Missionary Intelli- of Madras. It is worse than that for the il- literate, for he has never learned gencer. -United Church Review. any letters and does not know what to expect. Dr. Laubach is Santal Mission Anniversary Literacy by 1941 advocating that all illiterates be taught in their own dialects, This year marks the seven- The All-India Conference of learning to read in the spoken tieth anniversary of the found- India Christians has issued a language. Thus the other laning of the Santal Mission of challenge: "Every Christian guages will become dead. North India. Of the founders, able to read by 1941." Here are Hans Peter Borresen and Lars some of the reasons for expect- -Missionary Herald. Olsen Skrefsrud, the former was ing a literate Church of Christ a native of Denmark, the latter in India four years hence. First, Gospel Inn at Leh of Norway. The mission is now there are many evidences of a supported by Lutherans in Den- widespread interest in adult lit- The Christian tells us that at mark, Norway and America. eracy. Active committees are Leh, on the border of VVestern There are fifty missionaries in at work in every part of the Tibet where Moravian missionthe field, twenty from Norway, country in the study of the prob- aries have labored for many twenty from Denmark and ten lems involved, in the prepara- years without seeing much fruit, from America, and the field is tion of materials, in the encour- it is now proposed to erect a expanding. Scattered over a agement of voluntary teachers "Gosnel Inn," in an attempt to strip of territory 400 miles lon~ of the illiterate. Preliminary at- obtain closer contact with nilare small Santal churches with tempts have met with distinct grims on their wav to their holy their pastors, evangelists and success. Striking achievements city. This inn will afford shel- Bible women. There are village in other countries spur India to ter and rest for the pilgrims and schools, and, in the large cen- the attainment of literacy. Rus- give opportunity for the missionters, boarding schools both for sia raised her literary from 33 aries to minister to their spiritboys and girls. There are also to 90 per cent between 1921 and ual needs. orphan homes, hospitals, and at 1931. In China, Dr. Y. C. James Saldoha a colony for lepers. Yen, began a mass literacy Christian Villages in Siam movement in 1922 with 1,450 Madras Centenary students; and within seven years One of Siam's largest Chris- he had taught five million to tian groups consists of ten vil- Scottish missionaries in Ma- read and write. lages where work is being cardras and vicinity are rejoicing ried on by Siamese leaders. In in their hundred years of his- Recent research has shown the largest church in this area tory. In February of 1837, John that the adult can learn to read there are several active organ- Anderson, son of a blind farmer some five times as rapidly as a izations-a large primary Sunof southern Scotland, landed in child. Many are influenced in day school, a large day school, Madras and began a school with their interest in literacy by the and a Kings Daughters circle. a definite evangelistic aim. To- political franchise to be gained They have their own evangelists day, thirty-six missionaries in by the literate. Inferiority com- whom they send out to work in
neighboring villages. There is colleges are coming to positio~s reconsecrating themselves to a large group of people studying of influence in the State and III Christ and four applying for now to be received into the all the learned professions. In church membership. c h u r c h as soon as they are the last dozen years the number ready. These church members of enrolled students of the Chris- Rev. C. H. Wong, pastor of tithe, and their gifts are more tian colleges has increased from the East Shanghai B a p ti s t than enough to meet the ex- 2000 to over 7,000. There are Church, asks these questions of penses of the church and sup- 800 graduates going out of these candidates for church memberport their own pastor. They institutions every year to take ship: are now asking for an assistant up their careers of various pastor, since the one cannot do kinds." What does it mean to be a Chrisall the work that might be done. -Missionary Herald (London). tian? Why do you want to become a They are ready to assume the Christian? What is the difference besupport of the extra pastor as Radio Preaching tween a Christian and a non-Chrissoon as he can be obtained. tian? Are the members of you~ fam- One of the most encouraging ily Christian? . Does yo~r .famIly ob- Singapore Churches features of Christian work in ject to your bemg a ChrrstIan? What Shanghai today is the Christian would you do if some one should per- Churches in Singapore differ Broadcasting Station. The un- secute you for being a Christian? Why from those in America in that usual thing about the broadcasts do you wan~ to join the. church? Wh~t they are run by young people, is their popularity, since only is the meamng of oaptIsm, the Lord s for in the ordinary church there one person out of 300 is a Chris- Supper, prayer, etc.? Do you p.r3:Y and are more youths than adults. tian. The station was begun, read your Bible? Are you wIllmg to The explanation for this is found and is still financed by a Chris- help bring others to Christ? in the fact that the church con- tian Chinese business merchant, ducts primary and· secondary who probably gives not less than Sometimes candidates are schools in every section of the nine-tenths of his income to God, asked to wait for further study city. These mission schools meet and part of it meets the heavy of Christianity, or until they the government standards, and expenses connected with this have a deeper experience of teach religion during these form- broadcasting center. W hen Christ before they are presented ative years, so that religious some one suggested that perhaps to the church for membership. education is a part of the whole more money was being spent on process, and not merely a Sun- its maintenance than should be, -Watchman-Examiner. day morning project. he replied that instead of spend- ling less, he felt he ought to Fukien's Experiment Another difference is that the spend more, and would do so. congregations are interracial; Thus he is now proposing that Fukien Christian University, the Sunday school and worship Government stations in other with a dozen villages within an service may be in Chinese from provincial capitals be placed at hour's walk of its campus – a 8: 30 to 10: 30. English may be the service of Christian preach- campus fashioned out of seventy the language for the next two ers. By payment of a fixed sum acres of rice and potato fields, hours and Malay in the after- to the authorities in charge of is not unmindful of its obliganoon. The same minister may those stations, half-an-hour daily tion to solve its share of the Chihave two of these groups and can be allowed for the broad- nese rural problem. The unisometimes the third. Race does casting of the Gospel. This ra- versity believes that the r~con not matter-only language. dio service reaches "the war struction of the rural areas IS an lords and the politicians, the experiment, and therefore an ex- Six out of ten churches in farmers and the factory work- pert's task. Francis Chen, with Singapore are self-supporting. ers, the old and the young, the his Yale Ph.D., in rural econom- Those receiving mission help are pirates and the followers of ics has returned to China as exthe newly organized ones. Some Christ." -China's Millions. pe;imenter. A gift secured by of the Chinese laymen have Rev. E. H. Smith, of the AmerIstarted an anti-opium clinic Evangelism in Shanghai can Board in Ingtai, provides which they are supporting, and funds for a five-year period of reports show over 1,000 patients University experimenting; and the village with 1,400 on the waiting list. of Nieu Tien is the starting It is the custom at the Uni- point. . -RALPH A. FELTON. versity of Shanghai (Baptist), to have four evangelistic meet- Forty year'S of revolution have CHINA ings each year, each called "Re~ made the farmer their victim. ligious Emphasis Week." Per- He is the sufferer from the civil Christian Influence Expanding sonal work is done largely wars, exorbitant taxes, the cor- through fellowship groups. dur- rupt and bewildered gentry, not At a meeting in London of ing the year. The l~st serIes ~f to speak of bandits and commu- British Missionary Societies, meetings resulted III 14 decI- nists. The farmers constitute Rev. C. E. Wilson, Baptist For- sions, twenty-two desiring to four-fifths of the total popula-: eign Secretary, said: enter Bible classes, seventy-four tion. To save the farmer is, therefore, to save the nation. "It is one of the most remarkable features of modern China -Far Horizons. that the graduates of Christian Through Personal Contact Of 28 students and teachers baptized in one station in China
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
during the past year, 17 came ites" has learned a great deal of the Church of Christ in China. from non-Christian schools. A about the Chiang people of the Similar boards are being de- Presbyterian m iss ion a r y in western borderland of China. veloped at Kulangsu and Chuancharge of student work there They live between China proper chow. Outlying hospitals at says that these were not super- and Tibet. They bear such un- Changpu and Siokhe will be opficial or emotional decisions, but mistakable marks of being Is- erated as branches of the Changfollowed many months of care- raelitish that Mr. Torrance chow hospital center, and it is ful training in communicants' says: "Were they clad in foreign proposed that other outlying classes, and much personal dis- dress and set down in London or hospitals shall be designated as cussion with other Christians. New York, they would be taken branches of the Kulangsu and Most of these young people first at once for Jews." Chuanchow centers respectively. became interested in Christianity The description he gives of the Each of the three missions conthrough Christian stu den t s use of an altar in the sacred cerned have given approval to whom they knew. Said this mis- grove, and of the slaying of the the plan. sionary: "It is easier to get stu- sacrificial lamb by an appointed dents into a vital relationship priest, clad in special priestly GENERAL with God in their personal lives garments, is strangely reminis- Religion—'Not Philosophy than to lead them into the cent of the Old Testament sacri- Needed fices, and the likeness is further Church." -Monday Morning. borne out by the ritualistic use President Jam e s Rowland of a priestly rod bearing the im- Angell of Yale University insists age of a serpent, recalling the that religion, rather than phi- Leprosy Conferences ancient Nehustan. The similar- losophy must be relied on to Within a week after the tragic ities between Israelitish and change the human heart and shooting of sixty lepers at Chiang religious practices all solve our many problems. Said Yeungkong, two of the most shed fresh light on many an elu- he at the Bowdoin Institute of noted scientific bodies in China sive Bible allusion. The national Philosophy: were in session-the Chinese story of the Chiang people un- "Anything which gives any Medical Association and the doubtedly holds the answer to promise of restoring some meas- Third National Conference on many hitherto unanswered ques- ure of sobriety of outlook, some Leprosy. The national character tions of religion and history. common convictions a m 0 n g of these two organizations made Mr. Torrance's work of Bible thoughtful and honorable men, them loud-speakers of protest distribution in West China has is deserving of encouragement. against these executions. On the strictly intellectual side, brought many Chiang villages philosophy and science are alone The Me d i c a I Association likely to gain the necessary hearpassed the following resolution, into the Christian fold. ing from our thinking leaders, quickly seconded by the Leprosy -Bible Society Record.
Conference: Three Missions Unite Medical and perhaps by contagion some Work shreds of sanity may spread to That the Chinese Medical Association, in session at the Medical Center, Dr. Edward H. Hume sends common folk who have neither Shanghai, has heard with dismay of the mental power nor the train- the premeditated murder of lepers in an account of the federation of ing to think through basic probthe Yeungkong hospital leper settlement and the subsequent looting of three medical missions in China, lems for themselves. In the the settlement by soldiers; formerly maintained separately larger area of feeling and emo- by three denominations, to com- tion, to which appeal has finally That, apart from the natural ab- bine all medical work in South horrence of such cruelties, this and to be made before any social re- similar acts, in direct contravention Fukien into one unit. Late in sponse of significant magnitude of the orders of the Canton authorities, as expressed in their published 1936, a survey committee was can be hoped for, I think we injunctions strictly forbidding the appointed by the three missions molestation of lepers, do more than must look to essential religion. I involved – American Reformed, personally think that the most anything else to spread the disease by English Presbyterian and Eng- sophisticated can with intellectdriving every leper into hiding; lish Congregational – w h i c h ual assurance turn to the convic- And that immediate steps be taken by the officers of this conference to studied the entire area and tion that spiritual forces are inapproach the proper authorities in reached the conclusion that it digenous to ultimate reality, that they are in part reflected in such Nanking and Canton, urging that would be desirable to commence suitable penalties be imposed on the united activities at one center, conceptions as we have of jusmurderers, that steps be taken to protect the lepers, and especially to pre- while regarding the hospitals of tice and truth and beauty and the vent the molestation of those under- love of our fellow man." He going medical treatment. the entire area as essentially be- added that the task of turnin~ longing to a single plan. The -Without the Camp. Board of Managers of the hos- people as individuals from mal- pital at Changchow (London ice, cruelty, and selfish lust "is a The Chiangs of West China Mission) agreed to go out of ex- task which religion can most istence and a new board was cre- easily perform, and hardly any The author of "China's First ated, three of whose members other agency can make a real be- Missionaries – Ancient Israel- were designated by the Synod ginning."
=='==========~=============='~
Our. Missionary Bookshelf Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information A Theology for Christian Missions. pear, as he recognizes! with t~e tain them. Meanwhile it is good By Hugh Vernon White. 220 pp. historic Catholic faIth. HIS Christology does not seem to be to have this thoughtful book $2. Willett, Clark & Co., New York the historic Chris~ology either of which goes so far and sets forth and Chicago. 1937. the Roman Catholic Church or so much truth as to life and of the theology of the Reformed thought and duty that one This book begins with a re- Churches. He reverences Jesus freshing note, at variance with wishes it would go further and the easy unrational and self-con- Christ as the historic revelation recover all of the great evan- of the character of God but says tradictory view of the past gen- little of the Risen Christ as a liv- gelical tradition which is as true eration which eschewed any in- ing supernatural person and today and will be as true tomorterest in the theological basis of foreign missions and advocated now as it ever was.
the adequacy of the ideal and R. E. SPEER. motive of human service. But presence and little of the mysti- cal element .of Christian experi- Two Missionary Voyages. By Thomas why were the ideal and motive ence. He saves a good deal of TPrhoommoptsionng. 8C7hprips.tiaIns. KSnoocwielteydfgoer. of human service adequate? the old but the movement of London. 1937.
Any attempt to answer this q?es- thought preserves the human- This little paper-bound book tion involved the answerer III a istic construction of the past few rescues from obscurity the name theology, a very thin and poor decades instead of entering into of a pioneer missionary who was theology perhaps, but still a the- the new currents which return sent out nearly two hundred ology which sooner or later had to God, rather than man, as the years ago (1745) by the Society to grapple with the meaning of the ideas of God and man and center and the constructive prin- for the Propogation of the Gos- ciple of Christian thought and pel of the Church of E,ngland to society. experience. The emphasis her2 work among the EnglIsh colon- Dr. White sees all this clearly is on man's service of his ists in New Jersey, and who, and states his view with unmis- brother, using the concepts of when his opportunity was closed takable plainness: God and of the teaching and ex- by the Revolution five years It is my strong conviction that the ample of the historic Jesus, later became the first Anglican Christian mission must have an ex- rather than on God in Christ, missionary to West Africa. His plicit theology to sustain it. These the Christ of history, the living interesting account of his adventlheecotuloregsi,cathl epreofionrteo, frevpireewseannt da dthefeinaitte- Christ, at wodrk u1sintg' manf Hfo' r turous voyages and varied extempt to ground evangelical Christian- the service an sa va Ion 0 IS periences were published by the children. The books cited are Society during his lifetime, but itv in beliefs about God, Christ, man .and the nature of the spiritual life, the books of the humanistic had been out of print and lost trend and thehre 'stehems to be for 150 years till a stray cop.y wprheiscehntc-adnaybeChhreilsdtiawnisthancodnwfidheicnhceCb2ny either no touc WI or a con- was found in the Rutger's 11be defended rationally and sustained scious ignoring of the new and brary in New Brunswi<;k. T~e by practical experience. Evangelical tfshaioeintohslo. ghiacIsaflatshfuuapntpdosarumtpeponoftratClhfrsaitla~ltksi,eanCinhmr~tIhss-e- dominant currents which turn Society has now republIshed It, back to the B.iblicaDl coWnche.ptts of wI'th explanatory introductions., tianity ceases to be a "gospel" in the God and ChrIst. r. 1 e ac- in its original form. The EdI- local parish as well as on the mission cepts "the passing of the old ra- torial Secretary rightly says field. tional premises for doctrinal that it will stir the imagination constructidon' wthh ti c hh'Cathfoltihcs of all who care for the records of ingWefohr avtheehamdisesnioonuagrhy swpeocrikal opfletahde- have foun III e eac Illg.O e old days and are ready to honor church. What it needs is not special Church and Protestants III the the memory of a Christian pio- letter of Scripture." Is it not neer and hero. pleading but a clear realization that the world mission finds its oraratiloin~a-l rather t rubaectkhat 0t dtahye sWe I'otlhd prem- _ ARTHUR J. BROWN. justification as well as its m ises are a new perative in the very nature of ChrIstianity. This is what makes so neces- sary today a treatment of missions power? The future will show. The Deeper Life. By Max I. Reich. The future will show also 112 pp. $1.00. Wm. B. Eerdman from the point of view of Christian theology. whether Dr. White's construc- Pub. Co. Grand Rapids, Mich.
When Dr. White states his tion of a theology for Christian Those who share the convictheology, however, variances ap- missions will sustain and main- tion that the present urgent need Any of the books noted in these columns will be sent by the RllvIIlW publishers on receipt of price.
[446 ]
OUR MISSIONARY
is the deepening of the spiritual by the Apostles, and effective in which characterize his discuslife of the church will prize this a new righteousness from God, sion of the subject, which is volume of studies by a gifted and a new access to God, a new crea- especially timely in this year of able expositqr. Dr.· Reich is a tion by God for those who ac- the Edinburgh World Confermember of the faculty of the cept it. Dr. McNicol does not ence on Faith and Order. Moody Bible Institute and the start with a thesis to which facts book reflects both his deep spir- must be made to conform. His ARTHUR J. BROWN. itual discernment and wide appeal is to what "is written." knowledge of the Scriptures. How completely documented Missionary Illustrations. By Alva His approach is somewhat un- from Scripture his treatment is usual in that there is almost en- may be judged from the 500 ref- C. Bowers. 154 pp. $1.50. Flemtire absence of illustration or erences listed in the Scripture ing H. Revell. New York. appeal to emotion. The aim is Index at the end of the book. rather to bring into view great Yet the text does not seem cum- Here are stories of real exareas of spiritual privilege re- bered by excessive quotation. vealed in the Scriptures, which On the contrary, the argument periences, gathered by the au- Christians so largely neglect. moves steadily forward, without There is the constant holding up waste of words, from position to thor during his twenty-six years of the divine mirror to expose position, as each is established the deformities of the self life, and fortified in turn. Marked in foreign mission service. Pasand warning against formalism, with fine insight and evident ritualism and doctrinalism, as scholarship the book is neverthe- tors, Sunday school teachers and foes to highest spiritual attain- less not academic. It is wholement. The sixteen chapters are somely objective, and yet at the leaders of young people will find rich in sustenance for the inner same time is intense with feellife, especially those on Deeper ing. Obviously the Christian this book a mine of usable inci- Fellowship, Deeper Teaching, evangel has pro v e d in the and Deeper Peace. writer's own case to be "power dents that will increase the unto salvation," and he cherishes If there be any qualification in it with joyous conviction. Any- knowledge of other lands, and one's appreciation of a book of one who wishes to understand such high value and helpfulness, essential Christianity cannot do give point to inspirational this would relate to one or two better than read this book. instances of overstatement. truths. H. H. F. ARTHUR H. GORDON. HUGH R. MONRO. God's Methods for Holy Living. Church Unity. By the Rev. F. H. Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse. 50 The Christian Evangel. By John Me· Knubel, D.D. 86 pp. 75 cents. cents. 93 pp. Revelation. Phila- Nicol, D.D. 12mo. 193 pp. $1.50. Board of Publication of the United delphia. 1937. American Tract Society, New York. Lutheran Church in America. 1937. 1937. This volume of brief addresses This discussion of church It is a good omen that books unity, by the distinguished presi- deals with a theme of which we are appearing, one after another, dent of the United Lutheran which seek to define Christian- Church in America, is in the hear all too little in present-day ity as presented in the New Tes- form of a commentary on the tament. Many have become Epistle to the Ephesians, whose preaching. Holiness has had a weary of the vague religiousness real theme is held to be the unity of much contemporary preach- of the Church, and in which St. prominent place in the great reing, and eagerly desire to know Paul presents the "fundamental what the original Christian mes- facts concerning unity," "Chris- vivals since Wesley's day, but sage really was. They wish to tian responsibility for unity" "distinguish the things that dif- and the proper methods for the because of the teaching of eradier." Dr. Machen's "What Is "promotion of unity by Chris- Faith," and Principal Michlem's tian denominations." cation and other extremes by book with a similar title, are calculated to meet this commend- Leaders who feel that true certain groups, a widespread able desire. The volume by Dr. unity should and will express it- McNicol belongs in the same self in union, that union does prejudice has recently grown up. class and certainly does not suf- not mean a standardized unifer by comparison. It is a clear, formity or a supergovernment, To omit a truth so essential as coherent, cogent setting forth of and that a closer union than now the "Christian Evangel" as fore- exists is long overdue, will prob- this leaves great areas of Scripshadowed in the Old Testament, ably not share Dr. Knubers fear made possible by our Lord, in of "the hurried establishment of ture uncultivated and the sym- His life and death and resurrec- an external union." They will, tion, certified by the gift of the however, respect the ability, sin- metry of Christian doctrine is Spirit at Pentecost, proclaimed cerity and fine Christian spirit sadly marred.
Dr. Barnhouse's approach is well balanced, scriptural, and in the fullest sense practical and helpful. His numerous illustra- tions are highly effective. the language clear and forceful, and there is a sustained interes '; throughout. The reader will lay down this book with a sense of spiritual refreshment and with much new light upon the Word of God. H. R. MONRO.
My Servant Moses. By E. Ray Cam- eron. A.M., Th.M. 12mo. 187 pp. $1.50. Fleming H. Revell Company, N. Y. 1937.
Here is a straightforward chronicle of the life of the great Hebrew lawgiver. It follows closely the Biblical record, util- izing often its very phraseology, and makes no attempt to ap- praise the documents critically, or speculate as to their origin.
Their full reliability is taken for The History of Sin Personal Items granted. The writer presents An illuminating and instruc- (Concluded from 2d cover.) ]doses as the chief instrument tive treatise on the little understood subject of the on church properties, and for a bish- through whom the Providence of origin and development of sin op's residence. God operated for the deliverance in the world. of Israel from Egypt. He traces Rev. F. Wh*itt*ake*r, an English The Marks of Sonship that Providence in detail from Methodist missionary in Hyderabad, the beginning to the end of Tracing in clear language the India, has been appointed mass move- ]doses' life, and seeks to inter- pathway of sonship. An ad- ment secretary of the National Chris- pret ]doses' reactions to it. He mirable treatise dealing with tian Council of India. This post is the very heart of the Gospel. made necessary by the situation fd1- introduces us to ]doses' inward lowing the Ambedkar movement of conflicts and hesitations, his ven- The History of Temptation the Depressed Classes. tures of faith, the motives which Barring what seem to us one *** actuated him, his hopes and or two extremes in statement, . trials and disappointments and this pamphlet throws a flood Rajah B. Manikam, Ph.D., has been of light on a subject concern- elected one of the secretaries of the triumphs. The result is no mere ing which there is far too National Christian Council of India, symbolic figure of the dim past, much superficial thinking. Burma and Ceylon. His time will be devoted to the Central Board of Chris- aloof and severe, but "a real When Winter Comes tian Higher Education and to the warm-blooded human being" of promotion of Christian literature. Dr. like passions with ourselves, and A tribute to those in advanced Manikam has been vice-principal of years by one in the prime of Andhra Christian College, supported "as lovable as any character in by the United Lutheran Church. history." The scattered facts of ]doses life are collected and in- *** Dr. Adolph Keller, director of the Central Bureau of Relief of the Evan- life. Emphasis is placed on gelical Churches of Europe, is coming cluded in the narrative, empha- to the United States this month. He the solid satisfactions of later will participate in the National sizing his versatility, his prodi- years when there are hallowed Preaching Mission and will give lecgious achievements and their abiding value. Now and then memories and a living faith. tures on the recent Oxford Conferthe story is made more vivid by In contrast to the unbelieving, ence. *** imaginative touches, as when such find light at eventide.
]doses and Aaron meet after HUGH R. MONRO. Obituary Notes forty years of separation and James Hudson Taylor of China. By Mrs. Hele,n Pierson Curtis. the J. J. Ellis. 96 pp. 2s. Pickering wife of the Rev. Frederick S. Curtis, talk over old times, or when the who spent forty years of her life with sensational experiences of Israel, and Inglis. London and Edinburgh. her husband as a missionary in Japan during the days immediately and Korea, died in New Haven, Conn., after the escape from Egypt, are Hudson Taylor was 'known as on July 5, 1937. She was born in Binghamton, N. Y., on August 9, relayed in the modern form of "the man who believed God." 1861, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. news flashes. Judicious and per- Arthur T. Pierson. She was educated tinent practical suggestions ap- He believed God without any in Kalamazoo Seminary and after her marriage went to Japan in 1888 pear at intervals, which remind qualifications whatever. The where she did a notable work in teach- ing and evangelism. M'rs. Curtis is one that the book has its roots in awe-inspiring fact of his life survived by her husband and four a series of sermons preached to children. the writer's own congregation. was this simple faith; and the One finishes reading with a sense one great lesson to be drawn from it is the power of such a faith. H. H. F.
of profit from having become Seminary Militant. By Louise Porter Herbert Udn*y *W*eitbrecht Stanbetter acquainted with this most impressive Biblical character, Thomas. 117 pp. $1.00. Dept. of ton, for many years an associate edi- English, Mount Holyoke College. tor of The Moslem World, died on 1937. prior to Christ Himself. May 30 in London, at the age of eigh- One of the centennial publi- ty-six. Dr. Weitbrecht Stanton, schol- ARTHUR H. GORDON. cations of ]dount Holyoke Col- ar and linguist, was a distinguished Series of Six Booklets. 16 pp., with lege, being an account of the missionary of the Church Missionary heavy paper cover. By Donald Grey Society in the Punjab for more than missionary movement at the a generation. His long residence in Barnhouse. 10 cents each. Revela- college, inspired and developed India, and his intimate acquaintance tion, Philadelphia. by its founder, ]dary Lyon. The with Arabic as well as Urdu, specially Happy Though Poor book is interestingly compiled fitted him to write on Moslem prob- lems. An arresting discussion of the from letters, diaries, and note- secret of happiness, replete books of early students and *** with vivid illustration, sound teachers. Along with the strug- reasoning and clear Scripture Mrs. William Clifton Dodd, hon- teaching. orably retired Presbyterian mission- gle to develop higher education . ary to Siam, died at her home in Men Whom God Struck Dead for women was the dauntless re– Johnstown, Pa., July 4, 1937. Isabella Ruth Eakin was born at Solemn lessons drawn from solve to convert the world. The Rose Point, Pa., June 26, 1861, sailed long list of ]dount Holyoke for Siam on October 20, 1887. In 1889 alumnre who have served as mis- she became the wife of Dr. William judgments of Scripture. Each sionaries at home or abroad in- C. Dodd and for nearly 33 years they illustration is given a power- work as pioneers in that remote Laos ful present-day application. cludes the name of Dr. Ida field, hundreds of miles from the Scudder. fringe of civilization. H. H. F.
Book. For OCTOBER
SMTWTFS Africa and Christianity. Diedrich •• •• •• •• •• 1 2 Westermann. $2.25. Oxford Uni- 3 4 5 6 789 versity Press. London and New 10 11 12 13 U 15 16 York. 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 26 26 27 28 29 80 Books for the Traveler or Sojourner 81 •••••••••••• in China. Harriet Hardison Rob- son. 24 pp. 25 cents. American Most Important Months Council, Institute of Pacific Rela- of the New Church Year tions. New York. NOVEMBER Be Sure DECEMBER Christianity and the Eastern Con- to Order IMTWTFS flicts. William Paton. 224 pp. .!..!!.TWTF. •• •••• 1 2 8 of $1.50. Willett Clark & Co: Chi- •• 11846' 6 8 7 8 91011 cago. 12 18 U 16 1617 18 7 8 9 10 1112 18 Christianity and Our World. John U 16 18 17 18 19 20 ………….. 19 20 III 22 28 24 26 C. Bennett. 70 pp. 50 cents. As- sociation Press. New York. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 212228 114 26 118 117 282728298081 •• The Church at the Heart of the 182980 •••••• World Christian Community. Es- ther Boorman Strong. 60 pp. Cbt Upptr Room 1. M. C. New York. OCTOBER-NOVEMBER-DECEMBER ISSUE The Divine Art of Soul Winning. J. O. Sanders. 96 pp. lB. Picker- With summer past and vacations over, it is time to ing & Inglis. London. inaugurate a new Church year and a new program. In many instances a new organization must be set up The Great Commission. W. Wilson or at least replacements made. New Members must Cash. 116 pp. 28. Oliphants be drawn into closer fellowship and the spiritual life London. of the old members must be quickened. For this period of cultivation the daily devotional life of the Dr. Bob Hockman – A Surgeon of individual is most important to the success of the; the Cross. Kathleen Hockman whole program. Friederichsen. 102 pp. 50 cents. Zondervan Pub. House. Grand More Than 15,000 Pastors Have Acclaimed Rapids. THE UPPER ROOM as the Most Effective In the Jungles of New Guinea. R. Daily Devotional Guide Obtainable Hanselmann. Pamphlet. Lutheran Book Concern. Columbus, Ohio. Pastors or group leaders are invited to order a trial supply on our liberal consignment plan. Use the or- Kagawa Comes Home. 25 cents. 66 der form below. pp. Friends of Jesus. Tokyo. CONSIGNMENT ORDER INDIVIDUAL SUBSCRIPTION- Morocco in Mufti. James Haldane. THB UPPER ROOM, 231 pp. 68. A. H. Stockwell Ltd. Issue for October, November, December Doctors' Building, London. (For use of Pastor or Group Leader. Nashville, Tenn.
The New Adorning. Reginald Wallis. Order ten or more copies.) Gentlemen: 65 pp. 80 cents. American Bible I am inclosing herewith thirty cents Conference Assn. Philadelphia. THE UPPER ROOM, (foreign, forty cents) for which please Natur Und Gnade in Der Mission- Doctors' Building, send me The Upper Room for one year, arischen Verkundigung. Theodore Devaranne. 28 pp. Ostasien Mis- Nashville, Tenn. postpaid, beginning with _ _ _ __ sion. Berlin, Germany. quarterly issue. Gentlemen: Pioneer Days in Darkest Africa. A. Name G. Ingleby. 176 pp. 28. 6d. Pick- Please send me copies ering & Inglis. London. of The UpPer Room, postpaid. I will Street or Route _ _ _ _ _ __ sell these for five cents per copy and Practical Christian Living. Thoughts pay for same when sold. It is under- Post·office _ _ _ _ _ State _ __ for Daily Meditation. Zelma Argue. 32 pp. 25 cents. Zondervan Pub. stood that I have the privilege of re- *A single copy by mail anywhere 10 Co. Grand Rapids. turning at your expense Bny unsold cents. Redeeming the Time. Report of the China Inland Mission. 82 pp. Lon- copies. don. Name Radiant Youth. Reginald Wallis. Street or Route _ _ _ _ _ _ __ 128 pp. 80 cents. American Bible Conference Assn. Philadelphia. Post·office _ _ _ _ _ State _ __ Seminary Militant. Louise Porter Thomas. 117 pp. $1.00. Mount Holyoke College. Mt. Holyoke, Mass.
Special Libraries D ire c tor y of Greater New York. 90 pp. $2.00. Delphine Humphrey. New York.
C. T. Studd-Athlete and Pioneer. Norman P. Grubb. 266 pp. $1.00. Zondervan Pub. Co. Grand Rapids.
The Thoughtful Minute. J. Y. Simp- son. 64 pp. 6d. Pickering & Inglis. London.
Von Der Religionswissenschaft Zur Mission. Gerbard Rosenkranz. 25 pp. Ostasien Mission. Berlin, Ger- many.
Anti-Christian Anny —
200,000,000 Moslems The strongest united force opposing the claims of Christ and the progress of modern missions is the Moslem population of the world. Although the followers of Mohammed believe that Jesus was a prophet of God and although the Koran gives Him an exalted place, the Mohammedans refuse to accept Him as Son of God and the only Saviour from the penalty and power of sin.
The Moslems are not only extremely fanatical but they are also militant propagandists for their religious faith and practices. The difficulties they put in the way of Christian missionary work are especially felt in countries where Islam is in control or that claim a majority of the population. Such countries are: Egypt, the Sudan, North Africa, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, parts of India, Malaya, China and southeastern Europe.
The October MISSIONARY REVIEW will be devoted to this subject-with articles by mission· aries and converts, maps and illustrations, news and book reviews. Among the articles will be: The Moslem World Today…………………………………… Dwight M. Donaldson Why Take Christ to Moslems …………………………………… Samuel M. Zwemer Some Moslem Superstitions …………………………………………. Davida Finney The Gospel that Wins Moslems …………………………………….. W. Wilson Cash Moslem Reactions to the Gospel …………………………………….. James Haldane My Experience with Moslems ………………………………………. " Frank Laubach Christian vs. Moslem Homes ………………………………… .Mrs. Edwin E. Calverley Medical Missions to Moslems …………………………………… , ….. Paul Harrison Encouragements Among Moslems ………………………………………. George Swan Sermon by a Convert from Islam ………………………… , ………. .Sa'eed Kurdistani What Christ Means to Me …………….. " …………………. .By Converts from Islam Best Books on the Moslem World ……………………………••..• •Samuel M. Zwemer 25 cents a copy –Send Your· Order Now– ~2.s0 a year ~20.00 a hundred Special Pmt! in ~antities if ordered bt!fore Septembt!T 15th THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD THIRD AND REILY STREETS, HARRISBURG, PA.
Robert E. Speer, President Delavan L. Pierson, Editor
The Missionary Review of the World — July 1937
1937
, The Murdoch Trail in Kentucky Alvin E. Magary What Rural Churches Are Doing w. H. Thompson Pioneering for Christ in Kwangsi A. C. Snead China and the New Life Movement Generalissimo. Chiang Kai..shek Thinking Yellow vs. Acting Yellow Geoffrey W. Royall The Problem of the Rural Church in Canada J. R. Watt A Brahman Christian……Nehemiah Goreh 25 Cents a Copy $2.50 a Year
to Remember September 27 – October 1 – Houston, of her service to Japanese women
Texas. Dean, Mrs. A. B. Haynes, the field of education. M>iss Loomis July 5-16-New Jersey Summer 618 Highland Ave., Houstori, Texas. was principal of Doremus High School School for Christian W 0 r k e r s, for girls in Yokohama from 1901 until Blairstown, N. J. October 5-6- Warren, Ohio. Mrs. her retirement last year. She is the George Konold, 314 Scott St., N. E., second missionary in this school to be July 8-13 – International Christian Warren, Ohio. so honored by the Emperor, the first Endeavor Convention, Grand Rap- being Miss Julia N. Crosby, one of ids, Mich. October 21 – Baltimore, Md. Mrs. the founders of the mission, who went David D. Baker, 410 N. Calhoun to Japan in 1871. July 11-16 – Anniversary, First Con- St., Baltimore, Md. ference of American Methodism. *** Old St. George's Church. Phila- Personal Items Dr. Tom Lambie, recently in charge delphia. Dr. E. Stanley Jones expects to be of the work of the Sudan Interior Mis- July 12-26- World Conference on in China for six months from August sion in Ethiopia and a naturalized Life and Work. Oxford, England. 15. He goes at the invitation of the citizen of Ethiopia, has recently re- National Christian Council of China. turned from a visit to Africa to sur- July 14-17-National Council of Fed- He will be asked to give attention vey the Nigerian field with a view to erated Church Women. Lake Ge- primarily to the strengthening of opening new stations to be occupied neva, Wis. church leadership in evangelism, lay by missionaries who will no longer be service and the Christianizing of the welcome in Ethiopia. Dr. Lambie has July 19-30-Religious Education Con- home, with such work for non-Chris- applied to have his American citizen- ference. Northfield, Mass. tians and students as may be carried ship restored. During his trip he and on without diversion from this main Dr. Rowland V. Bingham went up the July 24-31-Conference of the Asso- Nile to Khartoum and later flew from ciation of Christian Youth Move- objective. there to Kano, 1,800 miles across ments of America. Stony Brook, *** Africa to the west.
L. 1. Mrs. Orrin R. Judd, a member of *** the Board of Directors of THE RE- July 31-August 6-General Confer- VIEW, has been elected president of Rev. Hafiz Abood Faris, elected to ence. Northfield, Mass. the Woman's American Baptist Home represent Syria at the Centennial cele- Mission Society at its recent annual brations of the Board of Foreign Mis- July 31-August 7-Annual Interde- meeting in Philadelphia. sions of the Presbyterian Church in nominational Young People's Con- the U. S. A., is pastor of the church ference. Stony Brook, L. I. *** at Horns, Syria; president of the Synod Dr. William J. Reid and Dr. Wil- and moderator of the Syrian Evan- August 3-18 – World Conference on gelical Church. Through his leader- Faith and Order. Edinburgh, Scot- liam J. Reid, Jr., as father and son, ship federation among the Protestants land. in Syria has been effected and included have continuously led the First United the Covenantor churches (Reformed), August 16-23 – Christian .Endeavor the Irish Presbyterian Mission and the Conference. Northfield, Mass. Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh Danish Mission churches.
August 21-29-General Bible Confer- for 75 full years, the father holding As a schoolboy Mr. Faris attended ence. Stony Brook, L. 1. the American Presbyterian Mission the pastorate for 40 years. This School at Sidon and received his the- Sept. 28-30 – Annual Interdenomina- unique anniversary has recently been ological training at Suk-ul-Gharb. He tional Missionary Institute, Wom- is related to the talented Abood fam- an's Interdenominational Union of celebrated in Pittsburgh. In a curious ily which has furnished the Christian Philadelphia and Vicinity. First way the younger man has reproduced Church in Syria and Palestine with Baptist Church, Philadelphia. six pastors, several teachers, and a his father's work. The father was for number of workers along other lines. SUMMER CONFERENCES AND 15 years editor of the United Pres'by- He spent a number of years in Amer- SCHOOLS OF MISSIONS terian; the son has edited the same ica (1903-07), and organized an Arabic-speaking Presbyterian Church Council of Women for Home Mis- paper for 16 years. The weekly Bible among the Syrians of West Hoboken. sions and Affiliated with the Committee on Women's Work, School at the Y. M. C. A., which the *** Foreign Missions Conference elder taught for 30 years, was after- Rev. and Mrs. Phineas B. Kennedy, July 7-15-Northfield, Mass. Miss v.ho have spent forty years in Al- Amy O. Welcher, 796 Prospect Ave., ward led by the son for almost 20 bania and Macedonia as missionaries, Hartford, Conn. years. The U nit e d Presbyterian first under tHe American Board and Handbook, which the father prepared later in the Albanian Evangelical July 10-17 – Mountain Lake Park, Mission, are now in America and are Md. Chairman, Mrs. J. M. Knight, annually for many years, has been available for addresses on conditions 207 Roane St., Charleston, W. Va. and work in Albania. Mr. and Mrs. issued by the son for 22 years. The Kennedy have a fine lot of stereopticon July 17-24–Mt. Hermon, Calif. Mrs. slides and a large fund of interesting N. J. Forsberg, 1144 Eddy St., San father sent a full-page weekly discus- Francisco, Calif. information in regard to this little- sion of the Sunday school lesson to known part of the storm center of July 19-23 – Bethesda, Ohio. Miss Europe. Their address is 718 Ken- Mary 1. Scott, 310 Tomlinson St., his paper; here, too, the son has car- sington Ave., Plainfield, N. J. Moundsville, W. Va. ried on. *** ••• August 15-22 – Chautauqua, N. Y. Chairman, Miss B. Louise Wood- Dr. J. D. Jones, long pastor of one David Griffin, son-in-law of Rev. ford, 930 23d Ave. North, St. of the leading Con g reg a t ion a I Paul Rader, Chicago evangelist, ex- Petersburg, Fla. pects to make a 20,000-mile tour of churches of England, and well known Asiatic and African frontiers in a August 19-25 – Kerrville, T e x a s. three-wheeled motorcycle truck, ac- Chairman, Mrs. T. M. Cunning- in America as well as Great Britain, companied by Hubert Mitchell, of Los ham, 618 West Sydamore, Denton, Angeles. From Singapore their Texas. has been elected to the presidency of route will take them through the Ma- lay States, Burma, Tibet, across September 20-24 – Minnesota (Min- the National Free Church Council. Khyber Pass, through Persia and neapolis-St. Paul). President, Mrs. finally across the mid-section of Charles L. Grant, 610 Aurora Ave., *** Africa. St. Paul, Minn. Prof. Arthur H. Compton, eminent September 20-24–Southern California young physicist and Nobel Prize win- (Los Angeles). Mrs. H. M. Horn, ner, has been installed Chairman of 1955 Carmen Ave., Los Angeles, the Laymen's Missionary Movement, Calif. Chicago. Prof. Compton has served on the Committee for eight years. September 27 – October 1 – Dallas, Texas. Pres., Mrs. E. R. Alderson, *** 561 Goodwin St., Dallas, Texas. Miss Clara Denison Loomis, for thirty-five years a missionary in Japan under the Woman's Union Mis- sionary Society of America, was re- cently honored by the Japanese Gov- ernment by being presented with the Renju Hosho, the highest decoration
MISSIONARY for your magazine as a whole. lt IS Fastest
REVIEW OF THE WORLD well for all of us to keep before us to the DELAVAN L. PIERBON, Editor the general trend in the missionary world, as well as to know some of the ORIENT VOL. LX JULy-AuG., 1937 Nos. 7 & 8 speclllc pieces of work which are be- ing carried on by other churches Japanese Publication and Business Olllce– throughout the world. Your MISSION- Girl Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. ARY KEVIEW helps to keep us informed with at these points." Editorial and Executive Olllce– lantern. 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. MABEL NIEDERMEYER, Entered as second-class matter at Director of Children's Work, Go direct fromVancouverand Victoria in 10 days by Em- Post Office, Harrisburg, Pa., under United Christian Missionary press oj Asia or Empress oj Act of March 3, 1879. Society, Indianapolis. Russia. Only 3 more days via Hawaii by Empress ojJapan 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. *** (fastest ship on the Pacific) Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. or Empress oj Canada. Con- Published monthly, except August. "You are surely issuing a most nect at Honolulu from Cali- All rights reserved. Copyrighted 193 7. splendid magazine. I bind the copies fornia ports. Low round-trip British agents – Marshall, Morgan so as to maKe constant use of them. fares include passage from and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, I have known of interest and contribu- and to Seattle. London. E. C. 1 shilling per copy, tions through people learning of needs 10 shillings a year. as given in THE REVIEW." ~r;4 MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- REV. WILLIAM H. ENSIGN. For rates and sailings, see LISHING CO., INC. Los Angeles, Calif. YOUR TRAVEL AGENT or Cana- dian Pacific: New York, Chi- BOARD OF DIRECTORS "I think ever*y *Ch*ristian ought to ca~o, San Francisco, 38 other ROUERT E. SPEER, President citIes in U. S. and Canada. A. L. WARNSHUlS, Vice-President read THE REVIEW. It is the best thing I have ever seen on missions. Many WALTER MCDOUGALL, ~'rea8urer of my congregation are oecoming en- thUSIastic over it. One night when a DELAVAN L. PIERSON. Secretary speaker disappointed me I talked for an hour on mIssions, giving informa- SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT tion gleaned from THE REVIEW."
WILLIAM I. C'luMBERLoUN PASTOR F. L. SHANNON.
D. J. FANT Beckley, -W.-V-a.- – – – MRS. ORRIN R. JUDO THE SECRETS OF SUCCESS WM. B. LIPPHARD ERIC M. NORTH "Push," said the button. "Take pains," said the window. SAMUEL M. ZWEMER "Never be led," said the pencil. "Be up to date," said the calendar. Editorial Chat "Always keep cool," said the ice. "Do business on tick," said the clock. Our June (Rural America) Num- "Never lose your head," said the ber has already had a large sale and is still in great demand. Order your barrel. extra copies before the supply runs "Do a driving business," said the out. Here is only one of the many favorable comments we have received: hammer. "Aspire to great things," said the nut- "Allow me to congratulate you on the splendid issue of THE REVIEW for meg. June in which you present a fine pic- "Make light of everything," said the ture of rural America. This will be of great help to the rural church fire. movement." "Do nothing off-hand," said the glove: "Look up," said the telescope. THOMAS ALFRED TRIPP, "Make much of little things," said the Associate Director, Town and microscope. Country Dept., The Church Ex- "Look ahead," said the spy-glass. tension Boards of the Congrega.- tional and Christian Churches. Obituary Note.
*** Emma Belle Dougherty Pierson, for forty-two years the beloved and Other articles on "Christ and Rural faithful wife of the Editor of this America" appear in this present issue REVIEW, fell asleep in Christ at her and more will follow later, since the home in Montclair, New Jersey, on subject is to cover a year of Home June 18, after a serious illness, last- Mission study. ing over five months. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, on December *** 15, 1871, and early gave herself to Christ,., trusting in Him for salvation As usual, in recent years, there will and all her daily needs. For nearly be no August number of THE REVIEW. fifty years she was a remarkably suc- Instead the June and July numbers cessful teacher of little children in the each have a larger number of pages. Sunday school and led many of them Many subscrioers are away in August to Christ. Her personal charm and and the summer months are less (un- many talents were dedicated to His fortunately) active in church circles. service. Mrs. Pierson was deeply in- The omission of the August issue is terested in the work of Christ at home also a help in meeting publication ex- and abroad, was active in the missionpenses. ary work of her own Church, was an officer of the Montclair Missionary *** Union and for some years a mem.:er of the Board of Foreign Missions of Our October number will be looked the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. forward to with great interest as it will be devoted to the very important (Concluded on 3d cQ'/Jer.) topic, "Christ and the Moslem World." [337 ] Other recent *com* m*ents on the RE- VIEW show that God is using it to stimulate interest in the Cause of Christ. The following are some extracts from letters: "I wish to express my appreciation
© International Photo
A RECENT PORTRAIT OF GENERALISSIMO CHIANG KAI-SHEK AND MADAME CHIANG (See article, pages 356 to 362) REVIB ORLD AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS VOLUME LX JULY-AUGUST, 1937 NUMBERS 7 AND 8 Topics of the Times YOUTH – WHITHER? The situation is not wholly new except in the complacency with which many parents, teachers This is ideally the golden age of youth. Never and even professing Christians look upon it. have the young men and young women had such There are many who have high ideals for the opportunities. They are awake to this new day, Church, the school, the home; what are we going with its problems and possibilities in education, to do about it? Boys and girls are capable of in politics, in science and business. Youth is also great things and their interest is not difficult to awake to the new license and opportunities in capture for the best in God's creation and procrime and lust, in war and lawlessness. It is well gram. Left alone or misled they naturally run known that the age of convicted criminals has de- wild. creased by one-half in the past twenty-five years. The widespread use of the automobile for vice and The Christian Church has a responsibility for crime, the pernicious effect of intoxicants and the the guidance of youth because of her commission degrading influence of much that is found in from God and the ideals for which she stands. At movies and theaters and in modern literature; a crime conference held in Albany, former Justice the decrease in the influence of the Church; the Alfred J. Talley said that judges of the bench laxity in parental control, and the new disregard declare the main cause of criminality in Amer- ica is the "indifference of our people to the need for God and His laws fostered in too many schools of the American child for daily religious teachand colleges – all these have not only helped to ing." He continued: further inflame "flaming youth" but now endanger the whole life of the coming generation. Recently Why is it not time to make a fresh start? In the some high schools in Greater New York and else- policy of the State, religion is kept out of the schools, where have been the subject of shocked investi- because, unhappily, one religion was fearful that another gation because of the widespread immorality that religion would get some advantage and the fatal course was reported. Such immorality is not new but was adopted of wiping out religious teaching altogether. modern tendencies have made it more prevalent Pagan divinities and their amours may be glorified in the and open and less disgraceful in the eyes of youth. school- Nero, Cresar, Hannibal, Napoleon, Henry the In one city alone five tons of salacious books and Eighth-with all their human frailties, their wars and pictures, chiefly intended for boys and girls, were devastation, but the Almighty Father, the Divine Archirecently seized, while many tons more have barely tect, the Merciful Creator who holds the destiny of the escaped a similar fate. In New York certain de- American people in the hollow of His hand must not be grading "shows" have been closed but still the mentioned before an American child in an American State refuses to exercise <censorship in behalf of school. Why is it not time to make a fresh start? the youth. While we enact and enforce laws to protect physical health, lawmakers still permit The Hon. John C. Maher, Chairman of the the deadly germs of moral and spiritual diseases Parole Commission of New York, speaking of the to be spread by those who seek to grow rich there- influence of religion in the life of the criminal, said: "To me religion stands preeminently above all the police forces and all the armies that the world has ever conceived. It has an influence on by. Who can wonder at the wave of banditry, an individual that cannot be injected by a prison, murder and increasing sex crimes that have but can be injected by those who are experts in spread alarm all over the United States? the art of reaching the inner man. The aid of the [339 ]
Church and the clergy should be definitely en- Today superstitions are breaking down before listed to help solve the problem of crime." modern education; harmful social and religious customs-such as infanticide, child marriage and A member of the New York Parole Board re- the burning of widows-are outlawed by growing cently called attention to the need for cooperation. public opinion; caste is breaking before the ad- vance of modern progress and the awakening of While it is highly desirable that something be done on a the outcastes; women are coming out of purdah religious basis, practical experience shows that not much and are taking part in public life; Christ and His can be done unless the religious groups actually will be- teachings are coming to be honored by multitudes, come interested in doing something for the criminal. Judg- even of those who are still Hindus. All these ing from my personal experience of five years in New changes have come about by the patient teachings York City, in which we have dealt with now some ten or and influence of Christian missionaries and by twelve thousand cases, I believe that generally speaking the laws and education promoted by the British the individual clergymen of all the different groups are Government. definitely disinterested in the criminal. These and other signs of progress in India are Christians have tremendous opportunities and especially evident to those who have visited the duties of service which have not yet been accepted great peninsular continent at intervals during the adequately. Some of the greatest achievements past half century. Dr. John R. Mott, who has reever accomplished, not only in science and public cently returned from his fifth visit, first went out life but in religion, have been under the energy there in 1895 in the interests of the Student and leadership of youth. Jesus Christ and the Christian Movement. Again he visited India in apostles were young men; General William Booth 1901-02 to conduct an evangelistic campaign, and was a young man when he started the Salvation eleven years later to help organize the Christian Army; the Y. M. C. A. and the Student Volunteer forces of missionaries and Indian leaders. In Movement, the Missionary Education Movement, 1928-29 he went again to help interpret the J eru· and many similar activities were initiated and led salem Conference and to form the National Chrisby young men. Where are those today that will tian Council. Now he has returned from a three organize and carry forward a new Christian cru- months' visit in connection with the International sade to enlist the youth of today in the service of Y. M. C. A. Convention at Mysore. He returns Christ and their fellowmen? with great burdens on his heart for India. The new impressions he has received have brought The responsibility for the proper training of deepened convictions and a sense of wonderful youth is divided between the State, the Church opportuni ty. and the home. In most instances the influence of the State and the school is nonreligious and non- 1. There is the conviction that the work of the Christian, if not positively antireligious and anti- missionary is not yet done in India. It is only be- Christian. The churches today have little oppor- ginning and is of prime importance. With the tunity to train the youth because the breach has new constitution the land is progressing toward been widening between them. It is necessary that independence and is struggling to attain greater the clergy and Christian laity go after the youth unity and power. In view of the new possibilities and win them, rather than expect the youth gen- in material advancement in education, in ecoerally to come to the Church for instruction. But nomic, political and social life and in religious the key to the situation is the home, the funda- attitudes, it is no time for Christians to relax their mental unity of society. If the home is character- efforts. ized by unity, purity, honesty, love, joy, faith and reverence for God, and by a true understanding 2. The present-day opportunities of evangelism of Christ and His Way of Life, then there need offer a greater challenge than ever – especially be no fear as to the way youth, under the guidance among the Depressed Classes and the students. of God, will react so as to build a Christian world The Indian Church is in the midst of a five-year for tomorrow. campaign of evangelism. This calls for a clearer understanding of the needs of India and of the THE MODERN CHALLENGE OF INDIA power of Christ to meet those needs, both indi- vidual and social, temporal and eternal. India It is diffi<;ult for many today to realize the re- needs the whole Gospel adequately presented. markable changes that have come in India in the through united Christian effort. past half century. Things that were considered impossible then have now come to pass and 3. There.is the challenge presented by the Lindchanges that seemed could only be brought about say Commission to unify, extend and improve the in a century of effort are now taking place. This Christian educational work. There are today very is true in regard to religious superstitions, and unusual opportunities to reach the college students social customs, the stranglehold of caste, the low and to train them for Christian service. position of women, the immoralities of Hinduism and the strong antipathy toward Christianity.
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
4. There is the challenge presented by the med- the Mexican republic have been unusually strin- gent against the practice of religion, some States ical opportunities in India. The physical needs of having enacted legislation that is a drastic at- tempt to throttle all public worship and religious millions of people are still uncared for, and the teaching.
medical missionaries are now looked up to and Certain states have limited the number of priests to about one for every 80,000 of the poptrusted by all classes. This work is practical ulation. In others, as Chiapas and Chihuahua, only one priest has been permitted for the whole Christianity that opens many closed hearts and state. Such limitation has now been declared il- legal by the supreme court of Mexico. In the case closed doors. of Roman Catholics, who form the greater part of the population, the number of priests allowed 5. The rural probtem in India presents a tre- by law has been far below the needs of the people. In at least two states, Tabasco and Campeche, mendous challenge in a country that is ninety per the law permitted only married priests to officiate in religious worship and to administer the sacracent rural. Here is a basic problem that affects ments, so that no Roman Catholic priest could celebrate mass unless he violated his oaths of the whole work. It calls for "new investigation, celibacy and broke the discipline of his Church. In Tabasco, which is perhaps the state in which agitation, experimentation and demonstration" by antireligious legislation was most extreme, church edifices have been razed, the bricks and stones those who have the best interests of India at used for paving the streets, and the sites converted into public playgrounds. Even children have been heart. obliged to take part in the public burning of cruci- fixes, and rewards have been given to those who 6. There is the challenge of the growing literacy informed against Mexicans who privately prac- ticed religion in their own homes. Now, however, and the need for good literature. With a rapidly the governor of this same state reports that he increasing number of readers, ~nd the influx of proposes to assume an "attitude of conciliation to cheap and harmful literature, Christians must the Church." So far, that conciliation is limited to granting the privilege of private devotion; provide better periodicals and books for the read- there has been no published statement lookina- toward the renewal of permission for public reing public. With a growing Church there must ligious exercises. In other states, as San Luis Potosi and Sonora and in the Federal District, be more funds provided to supply the members masses may be celebrated in most of the churches, and there seems to be a considerable relaxation with wholesome Christian reading. in the stringent enforcement of antireligious laws. In the State of Vera Cruz, some months ago, the 7. There is the challenge for an increase in the people forcibly opened the churches after a young girl had been shot by the police during a religious missionary staff in India. The economic depres- celebration. The President of the Republic sus- tained the people and the churches have remained sion has led to a decrease in workers and a con- open, although still under police surveillance.
sequent increase in the burdens borne by those Although there are indications that the rigor of the antireligious laws of Mexico is being rewho remain. While the Church of Rome is in- laxed, the concessions thus far made are of com- paratively little importance, except so far as they creasing her missionary activity, the Protestant show a desire on the part of some officials to be less strict and unreasonable. This more lenient Church is curtailing hers. There is danger that attitude may pave the way for a more liberal interpretation in the future, or for the abrogation as the older missionaries retire younger men and of legislation that has proved ineffective because obnoxious to the majority of the people. women will not be sent out'to take their places. During the period of antireligious agitation in The result will be an alarming hiatus. . Mexico, the Protestant work has suffered very 8. There is the' challenge of new opportunity for native leadership in India. At the coming Hangchow Conference in 1938 there will be fifty Indian delegates to ten missionaries. The Indian churches are eager for help and the Christians of other lands must stand by them. The National Christian Council of India, Burma and Ceylon has now formed provincial councils that have a most important field for service – but they need help to do effective work.
India, without doubt, offers one of the greatest challenges to Christians of the present day. The progress already made, the great vital needs of the people especially along spiritual lines, the dangers that come from anti-Christian sources, the new attitude of Indians toward Christ and the Gospel, and the readiness of the Indian Church to take up the burden of responsibility-all call on the Christians of Europe and America to in- crease rather than relax prayer and sacrificial effort.
THE .CHANGING SITUATION IN MEXICO In Mexico, as in Soviet Russia, the antireligious movement seems to have lost something of its former strength and vigor. The Federal laws in
_ THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD [J uly-August
little in comparison with that of the Roman Cath- social strife in America, show that it is high time olic Church. This is largely due to the fact that for the Church of Christ to reveal His power to Protestants are a small minority of the popula- transform human society as well as to save indition, their ministers are g.enerally married, they viduals. have been careful to comply with all laws affecting registration and those that regulate public The missionary work of the Church has always worship, so that foreigners have refrained from been greatly affected by the attitude of the govconducting what have been defined as religious ernments in non-Christian lands, by the social services. Recent letters from Mexico indicate conditions and customs, and by the state of relithat there are now unlimited opportunities for re- gion and the influence of religious leaders. At ligious work of all kinds, and that ministers of the same time, missionary work has greatly af- Protestant churches, even foreign missionaries, fected these phases of life. Christ desires to transmay come and go when and where they will, form politics, society and religion in order that preach and otherwise help in conducting services, all life may be brought into harmony with the without restrictions on the part of public officials. will of God. It has always been stated by government officials that the drastic legislation was not aimed at the THE EDINBURGH CONFERENCE on "Faith and Protestant minority, which has always been law- Order" (August 3-18) will emphasize the reasons abiding and in no way has tried to exercise politi- for Christian uni,ty and the beliefs held in comcal power; it was directed against those mem- mon where all followers of Christ may unite. bers of the Roman hierarchy who presumed to consider themselves above the law and refused to The first World Conference on "Faith and submit to the laws, especially that one which de- Order" was held at Lausanne, Switzerland, in manded their registration. The main object of 1927 with 400 delegates present, representing over the lawmakers, it has been asserted, was to oblige 100 churches. The delegates of Edinburgh inthe Church to limit its work to the spiritual realm, clude representatives of Protestant churches in rather than attempt to control the State, and that, many lands and also from the Greek, Armenian in so far as it has obeyed the law, there has been and Assyrian communions. no thought of persecution. Today Christianity is being challenged as never WEBSTER E. BROWNING. before since the days of Constantine. From the fourth to the twentieth centuries a steady advance PROBLEMS AT OXFORD AND EDINBURGH was made in winning the allegiance of mankind to Christ, but now tkere seems to be a renewal of While Christians are told to be "in the world activity in non-Christian and anti-Christian but not of it," that does not relieve them from re- forces. The 1937 Conference 'must be conducted sponsibility for proclaiming truth, lifting stand- in such a way as to face realistically the present ards and righting wrongs. Jesus Christ not only situation of the Church in the world. preached the Gospel but rebuked sin wherever found and helped meet the material and temporal One of the definite achievements of the Conneeds of men, as well as those that were spiritual ference ten years ago was the conviction that and eternal. unity will not come by glossing over differences of belief. Now the churches must go on to the Important conferences of Christian church task of trying to share with one another what it leaders are to be held this summer at Oxford and is that the various confessions mean until we dig Edinburgh to consider how Christians, especially down through the rocks .to the Eternal Rock. of the Protestant churches, can work together more harmoniously and effectively to give Christ The first task is to realize the urgency of the the preeminence in our thinking and in following challenge of the world situation to Christendom His teachings and spirit in every walk of life. as a whole, and in the face of that challenge to discover and accept the underlying unity which At Oxford (July 12-26) about eight hundred binds Christians together through common loyalty delegates from North America and Europe, Af- toone Master, Jesus Christ. The second task will rica, Asia and Latin America, are to gather for be to press forward to help the Christians of all two weeks in a conference on "Life and Work in churches to realize, in things both outward and the Church, the State and Society." The presiding inward, the true unity of the Body of Christ. officer will be the Archbishop of Canterbury. The main lopics to be discussed at Edinburgh The conditions in the world today clearly call are: for more effective Christian testimony. The wars that devastate Spain and the threats of more Jesus Christ and His Grace. widespread and destructive conflicts in Europe, The Church of Christ and the Word of God. Africa and Asia, and the growing industrial and The Ministry of the Church of Christ. Church Unity in Life and Worship-visible and invisible.
A VIEW OF THE CHRISTIAN CENTEH AT BUCKHORN
The Girls' Dormitory (Englis Home, accommodating forty students), McKenzie Hall, and the Domestic Science Building The Murdoch Trail in Kentucky By the REV. ALVIN E. MAGARY, D.D., -<t&f Brooklyn, New York Pastor, Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church T HERE is a new state road in Kentucky, called Kentucky mountains to investigate conditions for the Murdoch Trail. the Board of Home Missions and, once having Thirty-five years ago a young Presbyterian seen the possibilities around Buckhorn, the life minister arrived at the little mountain hamlet of of an assistant minister in staid old Brooklyn was Buckhorn, Kentucky, with $250 in cash and un- far too tame. He proposed to some of the men of searchable riches in Christian faith. His name the church that they back him in a modest way was Harvey Murdoch. in a missionary adventure. They consented, and Today, Murdoch is gone, but the fruits of his since that day the people of the church have been faith remain. There is a school of 400 pupils, the main financial support of the work. Until more than half of whom are in the high school Harvey Murdoch died, in October, 1935, he came department, there is an orphanage, a hospital, a back to Brooklyn each year to tell the people how large farm on which most of the food for the things had gone in their beloved Buckhorn since school and orphanage is raised, and a church with last they saw him.
800 members. When Harvey Murdoch came to Buckhorn, Murdoch had been, for some years, a member there was no railway station within twenty-4ive of the pastoral staff of the Lafayette Avenue Pres- miles. There were no roads worthy of the name.
byterian Church, in charge of the work at the If you could afford transportation you rode on Cumberland Street Chapel. He had gone into the mule-back up the bed of the creek, realizing the [343 ]
while how much a mtile wouid 'be-impr()ved' if it a rare thing and even fUIieralsweI'EHioinftequeht could be equipped with springs. But most people as to be marked occasions. Usually, the body was walked and a tramp of thirty miles to school was put into the ground without even a prayer and not regarded as anything out of the ordinary. the funeral service was held at any time, from Conditions in that country are still primitive. The one to five years later, when a minister happened railway is still a dozen miles aw.:f1Y and the mule to be in the neighborhood.
Five years after Murdoch's coming the Buck- horn church had been organized and he was for- mally called to be its pastor at a salary of sixty dollars a year. To pay a minister anything was entirely against the traditions and practice of the people in those days. Today there is an entire Presbytery of 37 churches that has grown out of that first work. :.'Since the beginning, more than a church per year, has been organized. The first little log-house structures have been ' supplanted by buildings still extremely inexpensive and simple, but adequate and comfortable. To the eyes of some of the children from distant hamlets, children who have never seen a railway train, nor a building larger than a mountain cabin, they doubtless seem grand enough.
Buckhorn has worked a transformation in the country round about, but there is still much to be done. The old days, when the country was the scene of murderous mountain feuds, have passed, but even now the resort to gun-play is by no THE LATE HARVEY S, MURlDOCK (Grist Miu.. KEY "&Saw Mill Ir Eleeme Pta"… 10. Boys Dormitory.(, StoriQ) has by no means lost his place in the economy of life; but, when the season is not too wet, one can 2.Churth. " . Presidenb HOme . (l3tonea) get in by automobile in these days. Boys and girls still tramp over the mountains, a score of miles 3.6ymtlClsium. 12.. ReseY''Ioir. and more, at the opening of school. Sometimes a dozen of them will be brought in by truck, hav- A..LafClyette School Hell' (.t.1te'*~ 13. H~spitClI. ht St,rie') 10 Sm. ing ridden at least a part of the long way. There 14. G~ "s Home : (~t S"."'5) is often no other way to bring the sick to the hos- 5. M"nuo' Trofni"" H"JJ 15. G,,15 Dormitory. (5 St'Or,,,) pital except to carry them on a litter over the mountain trails. When the writer was there re- 6 . PrimC)1"V Hall. cently, a little procession, with mother and father leading, came in carrying a boy of six from his 7. Ki"d."fJOrt.".. 16. Oin,f't9 ,Hall. ~JL' Sto,let) home eight miles away. While we looked, as the 8. Boy~ Horne. (a 5…..iH) IT. Dome$tlc Sclenc.e. Hcdl (,a S"'lc~ little cortege stopped, we heard the mother utter a cry. Her little boy had died within a hundred e.Vie. Presidenb Home. (2 S't"'_ yards of the hospital. They had not reached it soon enough. THE BUCKHORN · PLANT In the old days freight was brought up the river in little hand-pushed boats, traveling a mile and a half an hour. For many children of the district almost no schooling was available and only one person in seven or eight was able to read or write well enough to be called literate. Harvey Murdoch was the only ordained minister of any denomination along the middle fork of the Kentucky River for 'a distance of sixty miles, from Athol to Hyden. Before his coming a religious service was
JAKE WOODS, THE OUTLAW
means a rare occurrence, particularly when plenty Church, Dr. Dinsmore, proposed that the class of mountain whiskey is mixed with the situation. undertake the support of a boy at Buckhorn. His The people are still desperately poor. The farmer proposal was adopted and the youth selected was may have ten acres, planted in corn. The arable a mountain boy, Elmer E. Gabbard. Through land runs along the creeks and is so steep that school and college and theological seminary they much of it can be cultivated only by hand. Many stood by him. Now, after a successful ministry, of the parents of the young people at Buckhorn he has left the pastorate of the North Side Preshave the best will possible toward the idea of edu- byterian Church of Chattanooga and has gqne cating their boys and girls but it is impossible for back to Buckhorn. He knows the people and them to pay as much as ten dollars a year for tui- they know him, and we may believe that he will tion. Yet the school takes them, so far as its carryon the work to yet more notable achievestraining capacity will permit. They work on the ments. farm, in the kitchen, everywhere; they do the baking, the cleaning, the plowing and harvesting. In these thirty-five years 6,000 persons have They are busy from dawn until night, with neces- professed their faith in Christ and 4,000 young sary time for rest and recreation. No busier, hap- people have been educated in this work started by pier, more attractive lot of young people will you a young man with $250, some good friends, and a see anywhere. They come out of poverty-stricken resolute faith in God. The influence of Buckhorn mountain cabins, knowing as little of the civilized is felt throughout the state of Kentucky and it world as a squirrel and, after a term of years at was a proper tribute to its founder that the state Buckhorn, go back as teachers, doctors, leaders in road passing near by was named "The Murdoch their communities, to change the whole aspect of Trail." It leads to Buckhorn; but the trail of life among their neighbors. Harvey Murdoch leads straight to Him who said, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the One Sunday, some years ago, the leader of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Men's Bible Class in the Lafayette Avenue me."
Jake Woods, the Outlaw* By J. S. BURNETT, Chattanooga, Tennessee Superintendent, Tennessee Mountain Home Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church O NE night high up in the Smoky Mountains other preacher ever had; you must try to save of Tennessee I was lost in a snowstorm. Jake Woods." Though I was frozen into unconsciousness, my horse carried me to a house. When conscious- How should I begin ? Jake was sitting before ness began to dawn again, I heard a fire cracking the wide fireplace as I packed my saddlebags. I and looking up saw a bearded man bending over, walked over to him. Taking a bill from my pocket, swearing because I would not open my mouth to I said, "Mr. Woods, I regret to offer you so little admit the neck of a bottle. In the moment of when you and your good wife have done so much delirium, I thought I was dead. for me, but this is a little expression of my ap- preciation for what you have done. I could not When my senses returned, I recognized the man pay you even if I were rich." asa notorious outlaw, with a price on his head, a man who had vowed that physical violence would He looked me over from head to foot with asfall heavily on any preacher who dared to enter tonishment. his house. "Put up your money, Doc," he said; "what we My rescuer and his wife did everything possible done for you was because we wanted to be clever for me. When bedtime came, he took me in bed to you. If you had come to my house last night with him and held me .against his great warm as a preacher, I would have turned you away in breast all night, never relaxing his vigilance for the storm and been glad if you were frozen to a moment. In the morning, I was little the worse death. Twenty odd years ago, when the Almighty for my experience, but the sun shone and the snow took our little boy, our only child, I swore that no was melting, and I was ready to go. Then it was man representing Him should ever come under that a Voice said, "You have a chance that no my roof. I kept my word till last night, but when your horse brought you I couldn't turn you away. • Condffilsed from The ahri8t~an Advocate. Now, you can go and have it to say that you have stayed all night with Jake Woods."
His last sentence was hissed through clenched I gave him the book and turned away saying, teeth. I never saw a man look so fierce. I had that his ','old woman" might come to hear me failed, so I picked up my saddlebags from the bedside and started toward the door. But some preach when I returned to the Flats School House. Power gripped my conscience like steel. "You Several times before I had preached at the Flats must try it again," the unmistakable order came. to but a few good souls, but when I arrived this I walked the floor, trying to find a ship to time the whole schoolyard seemed to be covered Tarshish, but none was in sight. I was sure that with people. The first man who gripped my hand, Jake guessed what I was suffering but he never until I thought I would fall off my horse, was Jake turned his head. Finally, I walked over to him Woods. "Doc, I fetch 'em," was his greeting. again, and with voice trembling from emotion, I said, "Mr. Woods, I have a little book that I want I walked into the schoolhouse. The women were to read and talk to a Friend of mine before I go, on one side of the aisle. On the end of the second will you let me?" He turned in his chair with his bench from the front there was one who caught back to me. His wife, sitting in the corner, said, my coat sleeve as I passed. It was Nancy Woods, "Doc, it's all right; go ahead." I began reading at church for the first time in more than twenty that wonderful fifteenth chapter of Luke, about the one sheep that had strayed, but was found. years. "Doc," she said, "there is something the matter There was the story of the Prodigal Son, too. When he came home, in tatters within and with- with Jake." out, his father was so happy that he would gladly "What like?" I asked. have killed everything on the place to make merry "I don't know, but he hain't like he used to be because his son had come home; maybe to spend some more. since you were there. He's been real good to me. Doc, please call for mourners today; maybe Just then I looked out of the corner of my eye Jake'll go up." and Jake Woods had turned around and was looking' at me with eager interest, as much as to say, The tears came to my eyes as I walked to the "Why are you talking about me?" He had sneered table and laid my saddlebags down. Jake Woods in the messenger's face who came when his father had beaten that woman almost to death once bewas dying and begged his son to come home. cause she had given a coin to a preacher. Many I dropped on my knees and took hold of God times he had driven her off in the storm. Once, while I tried to reach Jake Woods with one hand, but he was too far away. I held on until I re- in a drunken delirium, he had thrown her in the membered that the sin of lacking hospitality is fire. Now, she had been in heaven for three whole unpardonable with us in the Southern mountains. I said, "0 God; I came here more dead than alive weeks! last night, and this man and his good wife took The men came, with Jake Woods at their head, me in and nursed me back to life, and now they refuse to accept anything for their kindness. But walking like he was on air. Just behind him was Jesus Christ has stood at their door, ever since an old soldier of the Civil War, hopping on a stiff they have had a house, with outstretched hands knee. He hadn't been ih church since the war bleeding, and with thorncrowned brow, and they have slammed the door in His face. Help Jake closed. Woods sat on the end of the front bench Woods to tell Jesus Christ to come in today." and the old soldier by his side.
When I got up, Woods was sitting on the floor, The house was full of the good and the bad. looking at the door. I followed his gaze but saw The sermon that I had prepared would not fit, so nothing except the open door, with sunshine and I took for my text, "The Son of man is come to melting snow. After a minute, he said, to Someone apparently in the door, "Come in." Then seek and to save that which was lost." turning to me, he added: "He came in," as much as to say, "You can't throw it up to me any more." One standing by that·table at my side, preached that day, with convincing power. When I left the cabin Jake followed me to the gate. "Doc," he asked, "have you another of those When I let down the net, Jake Woods sprang to little books like you read out of awhile ago? My his feet and went down the aisle, speaking in a pap used to read about that boy and I guess I've voice that drowned mine: "Men and women come been him. If you'll lend me one and turn down a on! Doc's telling you the truth for I saw that leaf, I might find someone to read, and I think I Man when Doc prayed in my house. When I would like to hear it again." opened my eyes, He was standing in the door, with His hands stretched out and there were holes in them with blood running out. I saw thorns on His head, too. I told Him to come in and He came and I haven't been the same man since." , They came until it seemed that all would come. The result was thirty-five candidates for baptism.
Jake Woods went out to exhort and save the peo- ple of his acquaintance, and he reached more of that class in two years than I could have reached in a lifetime.
Some Rural Churches Are
By W. H. THOMPSON, Columbus, Ohio Field Secretary, Ohio Council of Churches SCATTERED widely over. the land are out- meetings, such as Day of Prayer for Missions, standing examples of what Christ can do for Youth conferences, annual business meetings, and country people through pastors who have social fellowship and creative leisure activities.
been born of His spirit of sacrificial service, and The pastor and his coworkers, the Rev. Rowland who have been endowed with consecrated intelli- Jones and Miss Elizabeth Streid, share their time gence. They have been scientifically trained, and in personal and pastoral parish visitation, each have answered the Divine call to country fields as church sharing in financial support according to foreign missionaries have dedicated their lives to ability. The pastor joins with pastors of other Africa, Asia, or the Islands of the Sea. denominations of the area in community-wide Parish of Templed Hills projects of religious and social welfare. He co- operates with the Agricultural Extension Service, Until eleven years ago when this parish was Farmers Institutes, Four-H Clubs, public school organized, there were in the region near Oak Hill, leadership and the county ministerial association.
southeastern Ohio, from eight to twenty Welsh "As prosperity seems again to be coming upon Presbyterian churches on a circuit served by a us," says Mr. Bicksler, "and the cities are beck- group of ministers, each living on a farm or hav- oning our youth to jobs, we feel we can send them ing some other occupation. with a background of respect for the church, be- Urider the advice and counsel of the late Warren cause locally the church has kept abreast of other H. Wilson, six of these churches and a mission things such as the schools and adequate equip- chapel were brought into a definite cooperative ment. Though we cannot expect to keep all of parish relationship with two pastors and a full- our youth on the farm, we can, with our spirit, time social worker. program and equipment, at least prepare them Five years ago the Rev. Harry E. Bicksler* was as Christians and church leaders." t· .
called as director of the Parish of Templed Hills. Ohristian Fellowship Parish At his coming the churches cooperatively purchased a fourteen-acre tract of land in the open A second example of the transforming power country, including five acres of dense thicket and of Christ in village and rural communities in Ohio a fine piece of clover mea,dow. Under Mr. Bick- through cooperation of a group of churches is sler's direction, a modern manse with every con- found in "The Christian Fellowship Parish" in venience was built, the thicket was transformed the southwestern part of the State. Six Christianinto a picnic grove in which a shelterhouse was Congregational churches entered into a "Parish erected, with table and kitchen equipment, with a Fellowship" two years ago under the joint passeating capacity of 600, for use by local organiza- toral leadership of the Rev. Ralph A. Brandon as tions, and as a meeting place for youth training Minister of Parish Administration, residing at conferences for southeastern Ohio. Hamersville, and the Rev. Theron A. Zimmerman as minister of Christian Education, residing at Each church in the Parish is organized and Pt. Isabel. cares for its own local business. There are three councils-the Elders' Council, Council of Women, The constitution under which these churches and Council of Youth. Parish Trustees are the work includes the following: holders of property which is owned jointly by all the churches. There is also a parish Federated Believing that friendly cooperation between our several churches in their religious, moral and social work would make possible a program of Christian activities that would Flower and Garden Club. The manse and the vitally strengthen the Kingdom of God in our several com- parish grove are used as a central meeting place munities, bring about a more efficient church and i:>etter build into the lives of our people the teachings of Jesus for the councils, and as a center for various group Christ and the principles of the Christian Church, we, the • Mr. Bicksler had completed a term of service in a Home Mis- following churches . . . do hereby pledge our loyal supsion Rural Parish in the far West, had been sent by his Board of port to the following Constitution and By-Laws. . . . National Missions to Europe to visit the great rural parishes of the ~~~~~~~?tt{es~nd had spent a year in graduate work in one of our pa~i~r'Or~:~~r~ 1r7Ils~,~ory is published in his recent book, "The [347 ]
The object of this organization shall be to promote the now joint studies are being made by all the pas- Kingdom of God through systematic and persistent meth- tors of the area, exploring the possibility of enods of Christian education, evangelism, worship, and com- larging the parish group to include churches of munity services; and to bring about a better religious, other denominations. Here again is a case of moral, and social atmosphere in our communities through especially trained pastoral leadership for the pasthe coordination of our efforts. tors are dedicated to town and country work, backed up by their national and state denomina- A Council, consisting of six representatives tional Councils, and have in their hearts the Spirit from each church, six members at large, and one of the Christ who "came not to be ministered unto, representative from each denomination included but to minister." in the Parish, chosen by the State head of that denomination, and the members of the staff, meets Example number three is the Federated Church quarterly and acts as the executive body. in the village of North Jackson, in. northeastern Ohio. More than ten years ago the Spirit of Christ moved the hearts of the denominational leaders and the members of three of the four local churches-Church of Christ (Disciples), Presby- terian, and Reformed in the U. S., to recognize the sin of local competition and division, and to work out a plan of union whereby the three churches united under the leadership of one pastor.
Each church retains its denominational connec- tion and benevolence contributions are divided equally among the three State and national offices. The Presbyterian building was selected ·as the place for united public worship. Sunday school classes use the public school classrooms. The Church of Christ building is used for Women's So- . ciety activities. The Reformed Church building is being razed and materials used to enlarge the Presbyterian building.
The present university trained pastor, the Rev. James D. Wyker, was formerly a member of the staff of Groton Larger Parish, New York. He came five years ago and under his dynamic lead- ership, and that of his unsalaried wife, a varied program of constructive Christian leadership is being developed with the many groups in the com- munity.
Horse-sheds Transformed ELDERS' COUNCIL, PARISH OF THE TEMPLED HILLS Two features of the program at North Jackson are worthy of special attention. A camp has been A program of systematic pastoral visitation, developed in a natural beauty spot, with creek, regulaz: Sunday school and worship services, an- woods and hills, with cabin, mess-hall and craft nual .evangelistic meetings and preaching mis- shop, vesper spot and recreation field. Here local sions, vacation church schools, youth activities, groups, including youth and farm women, asleadership training institutes and mission study, semble during the summer for from two to fiveis provided for each church. day- courses of study of the Bible, personal and community problems, recreational leadership, and A mimeograph machine, owned cooperatively, for social fellowship. The camp is also used for is used to publish a parish paper and by it the community picnics and family reunions. reports of all departments and committees are made available to all members. Was it not the Spirit of Christ who inspired the men of the church and community to dismantle These pastors cooperate with pastors of the the obsolete .horse-sheds of the Disciple's church' other churches in the area so that the program and use the materials in the construction of the for the whole community is coordinated. Even camp mess-hall and craft shop and the bridge leading to vesper hill?
As an expression of the ideal of Christian unity in local community Kingdom building, Mr. Wyker
AWAY WITH SORCERY AND MURDER IN PAPUA
has helped to develop a community coordinating absent in parsonages, and parish travel obligacouncil of character building agencies in North tions ten times greater than that of the average Jackson. Frank study of local problems has been city pa~tor. undertaken and allocation of responsibility for service programs has been made looking toward Through the le:;tdership of these pastors, town wise use of available resources and talent. and country youth are being won to Christ through evangelism and religious teaching, and The pastor also has assisted in developing "folk schools" for the study and practice of the prin- HORSE SHED TRANSFORMIDD INTO MESS HALL ciples of Christian cooperatives in his own and AND CRAFT SHOP neighboring communities. He is one of the vicepresidents of the Ohio Pastors' Convention and a are trained in the Christian use of leisure time member of -the executive committee of the Ohio and in high civic and economic and social ideals. Rural Pastors' Summer School maintained at Neighborhood feuds are being healed by their Camp Ohio by the Extension Service of the Col- ministry; lonely souls are befriended; comfort lege of Agriculture of Ohio State University. and counsel is brought to the sorrowing and the disillusioned. Churches having fallen into dis- The picture would not be complete if recogni- repute are being restored to the respect and contion were not given to scores of high-minded and fidence of their communities. devoted town and country pastors and their wives who, without special technical training of colleges and seminaries, never-the-less by diligent reading and frequent attendance at summer schools, short courses, and rural institutes, have kept abreast of the times in techniques and programs and ideals of religious education, youth activities, community cooperation with public schools, the Grange, Farm Bureau, Four-H Clubs, and Boy and Girl Scouts. They have served wisely and effectively in fields where the odds and handicaps have been terrific, salaries inadequate, modern home conveniences Away With Sorcery and Murder in Papua* A Story of the Work of God Under the Kwato Mission of Papua T HE Bohutu Valley, in Eastern Papua, long grasped him by the wrist, crying, "What are you presented a problem which no Government doing?" forces could solve. Fear of sorcery and spirits had led to the complete depopulation of the It was Lobai, the sorcerer, who was out to do valley, the tribes having fled to live in small the village policeman to death that night. Think- ing Merari was another sorcerer he pleaded for groups in the mountains around. No offers would his life, but Merari explained that he did not want possibly induce them to return to their villages. to harm" him. He told him about God, and ar- Reason is helpless before fear in Papua as in ranged to meet him next day at the village. Be- Europe. . fore the night was out he had surprised two other It was Merari, a tall, athletic Papuan of twenty- sorcerers on similar errands and arranged to meet eight, who first saw how these deep-seated prob-_ them the next day as well. lems could be answered. God told him in his time When they met at the village, two of the sorof listening to go up into the valley and investigate. So he went and lived in one of the villages. cerers immediately produced their ginauri, de- stroyed them, and gave their lives to God. But One evening he was out in the bush, and, as he Lobai held back, the sacrifice being too great. walked, heard some one approaching along the Then Merari did a daring thing. "We'U put it to track from the opposite direction. Stepping off the test," he said. "You say your charms are the track he waited, and as the man passed strong; I say God is stronger. Over there is the • From the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society Quarterly. This platform on which I sleep. You may come tonight Mission, founded by the late Rev. Charles W. Abel, has American headquarters at 156 Fifth Ave., New York. and put any charm on me you like. Then we will
see which is the stronger." Lobai hesitated, then life has been changed the death-blow to adultery answered slowly: "No, you are right. I tried has come because the sexual life of the natives is them all last night. But every time I threw my God-guided and released.
magic at you it came back at me." So he too was Eighteen months ago it became clear that new changed, and is one of the most fearless leaders ground must be found for the activities of the in the valley today. teams already mobilized. The Abels were granted Merari immediately sent an S 0 S to Kwato, permission to take on the mountain district of and a team came up to help him. They stayed a Abau, where the tribes still practice their homi- month, moving from group to group, bringing a cidal customs. Before a man was considered new life to hundreds in personal interviews. Some eligible for marriage he had to have killed or time later thirteen sorcerers and sorceresses came helped to kill some one. "Every male I met,"
to Mr. Cecil Abel of the Kwato Mission, and vol- writes Mr. Abel, "-and I met a great many-had unteered to give themselves up to the Government, served sentences of between two and ten years for sorcery being a punishable offence. The Governor murder."
pardoned them, and none of them have gone back Here the tribes have no background of teaching to their old ways. In the same way those changed whatever. No missionary had ever been into the in the little hamlets in the mountains received area. Everyone predicted the greatest difficul- spontaneous guidance to return to the valleys. ties, but when Cecil Abel went in with a team of Their fear had disappeared. Now they are gath- Papuan leaders the response was immediate. The ering into three large villages. The Government patrol lasted threll1 weeks, and at the end of that Patrol visiting the valley recently said that they time five chiefs came together, said how they could not recognize the place; the people and the agreed with the new way of life, but wanted to distribution of them had changed so utterly. see how it was lived out in the villages of the After four years the new life is increasingly Kwato district. "Only send a messenger," they active. A new corporate life is developing. In said, "and we will come down to you."
some villages the day starts with the blowing of When Abel sent for them, not five but forty a conch-shell in the dark morning stillness. A wanted to make the three days' journey to the sleeping village rouses itself and goes to bathe- coast. Only six could then be accommodated, but a reform which neither Government nor mission- for two months these chiefs mingled in the vilary could ever have enforced. Half an hour later lages and watched the everyday life of the inanother note on the shel.!, followed by complete habitants. When the time came to return home silence for about half an hour, indicates that the they got together for a farewell party, and Bawhole village is having a quiet time of listening ruma, their leader, made this speech: "The Govto God. Twice or thrice a week they meet cor- ernment tried to make friends with us, inviting porately as a community. us to feasts and 'Christmases' at Abau, but we It was in this way that guidance came to one went back unchanged. Then they took us off to previously poverty-stricken village to make one jail, four, five, six years. We didn't mind. Gov- corporate holding of all the land where their crops ernment rice and biscuits are very good. We were produced. Private interests gave way vol- came back unchanged. At last God's children untarily to community guidance, and the village came out of love for us and changed us right flourishes. Another village was guided to give round inside. Your food ·at Kwato is very good, its large surplus of produce in a bumper year to but we have good food too in Dorevaidi. We another village that was hard hit by a local bad haven't come for that. Your schools and works harvest. The men loaded their canoes, and the are very good. We would like to learn too, but we emotions of generosity and gratitude produced haven't come for that. We have only come for more spontaneous delight than the old communal one thing. To learn about God. Our hearts are orgies, for which the appetite has been lost. burning to go back and tell our friends all we In another community a common pool of coco- have learnt."
nuts, the only form of capital the native possesses, The true task has just begun. In Kwato are be- was made to inaugurate a new corporate manage- ing trained leaders adequate to changed the whole ment of the village consequent upon the change in course of Papuan life, while in the district itself the individuals composing it. The damage done the way is clear for a God-directed civilization to'
by civilization has been in some measure repaired. come into being. For the changing of lives is but Adultery, which was unknown under the old tribal the clearing of the undergrowth and the setting morality, became common when these ancient of firm foundations on which God may build a sanctions were removed, and the only penalty was culture of amazing richness, perhaps the pattern a fine. In many villages where the community for the Pacific.
HUNAJj._
~w-y'J'~.''..:. w;r"1, .MAP 0-1: KWEICHOW ~r .. I r.t/ TI"t! ~G'SI T.t <1{ Kw"h '.. … " ~§ ….-,~~ ,,.~, ~ / , ……Y.'.'..'.'.l.'.'.'..~~…• .~~~~.o…………," . " " ….. – P) .
' p….', . Cities j :• • '" Market Towns " …………..- ,j;.. /4 I . {Pb.eeswhere chapel.~ .-….,…..
~~~., .1 A have been opeMdInrC! Provincial B""lduies Lotingi& . -"""'. ",….. -"""". National Bouldaries – ……._…•…..••..•…….. …………
KWANG .TUNG PROTESTANT CHRISTIAN MISSIONS IN THE PROVINCE OF KWANGSI, SOUTHWEST CHINA The Chcistian and Missionary Alliance has ten centers where 26 missionaries reside; in thirty other towns and cities chapels have been opened, lllanned by Chinese Christian workers.
Nine other societies are at work in the Province: Church Missionary Society (Kweilln); C. of E. Zenana Mission (Kweilln); Bible Churchman's Missionary Society (Nanning, Noming); Southern Baptist (Kweilin, Wuchow); Seventh Day Adventist (Nanning); Assemblies of God (Chungshan and Hohsien- both vacant); Independent (Wuchow, Kwelhsien). These societies report 34 missionaries.
Pioneering for Christ in Kwangsi By the REV. ALFRED C. SNEAD, New York I Foreign Secretary of the Christian and Missionary Alliance 11i- ~==========================~ SOME years ago Old Eagle, a Chwang tribes- but still earnest and active, has been tramping man of the Province of Kwangsi, southern over the mountains and hills as a colporteur of China, came with ten other men from their the British and Foreign Bible Society, visiting the country homes to the city of Liuchow. There they wildest parts, wherever he could find members of heard the Gospel message. As he listened to the his own tribe. The Lord has blessed his efforts Gospel night after night Old Eagle accepted and a number of his people have been converted Christ and the joy of salvation filled his heart. and are now faithful members of the Christian He became eager that his own Chwang people Church. should hear the Good News and later accompanied The large southern Province of Kwangsi was the missionary on many tours of exploration and formerly one of the most backward in China. In preaching trips. There are nearly three million recent years, however, the province has become of these tribesmen in the Province and for the one of the more advanced in education, enlightpast few years Old Eagle, now seventy years old ened government, engineering projects, and the [351 ]
building of roads. The honor of having one of there is now a membership of more than 320 the first resident missionaries in the then hostile Chwang tribesmen in the Alliance Mission in and forbidden Province of Kwangsi fell to the South China. On an 800-mile trip in Western Christian and Missionary Alliance when its mis- Kwangsi, the .missionaries and Chinese found that sionary entered Wuchow in 1896 and resided in a thousands in the country markets could under- "haunted house," the only place then available stand scarcely a sentence of Mandarin, the pre- for residence. vailing language being Chwang. The Yao is one The city of Wuchow was built in A. D. 592, so of the least known and most primitive of the tribes that more than 1,300 years passed before the and there are many subdivisions. The Tung Church of Christ began to fulfil' the Lord's com- tribes, estimated at 300,000, live in the wild moun- mand, so far as Kwangsi was concerned. Today, tain fastnesses of Kwangsi and the neighboring besides the Alliance, the Southern Baptists and Province of Kweichow. These people, among two other American societies, there are four Eng- whom a missionary couple and Chinese workers lish societies, and a few small independent groups have been ministering for six years, listen to the working in the province. The Bible Societies are Gospel eagerly and some have accepted Christ.
Various divisions of the Miao tribes are scattered through the northern and western parts of the Province· and some of these, as well as other less well-known tribes, are being brought to the atten- tion of the Mission through long and often la- borious itinerating trips into hitherto unreached territory. The spirit of those who make these trips is shown in a letter written by the intrepid pioneer, Rev. W. H. Oldfield, the Chairman of the Alliance Mission in South China: "Here we are in the wilds of the west ready to start out with a party of thirteen for a tour among the tribesmen. The whole trip has been a time of blessing. First, we made a tour in the moun- tains of the north, which is commonly called Miao- land. There we came in contact with six differ- ent tribes, two of which we had never seen before.
The Gospel message was given and tracts .were left among them and we trust that this seed will be watered by the Spirit and will bring forth an abundant harvest to the glory of God.
Photo by A. F. Desterhajt "On the entire journey of over 1,000 English TUNG WOMEN OF KiWANGSI miles on foot through all kinds of mountain ter- cooperating with the various missions in circu- ritory, we were led in safety, but the very last lating the Word of God. Today after more than day, when almost within shouting distance of the forty years, there are still millions in the province city of Poseh, we were held up by robbers and two who have not been brought into vital touch with of the three loads we were carrying, containing the Gospel of Christ; and in the northern and bedding and clothing, were taken from us by these western portions of the province, where the Al- evil men. It occurred the day before Christmas. liance is responsible for evangelizing the people, It seems strange that this term of service should wany.tribes are entirely unreached. begin and end with a highway robbery, but I am glad we still have clothing. We do not change our During the past few years, pioneering trips plans, but in spite of somewhat disturbed condihave brought to light many tribespeople in the tions, we plan to leave day after tomorrow for the fastnesses of the mountains and the valleys of the last few weeks among the tribesmen of the west, interior, and these the mission and the Chinese and we trust through the prayers of faithful Church are making earnest efforts to reach. friends that we may be saved from further ·The population of Kwangsi is approximately trouble, though trouble or not we go forward in 12,000,000, according to the latest government His Name to the many peoples of the west that census. There are believed to be at least 5,000,000 have not yet heard the saving message of the tribespeople in the Province. The Chwangs, Gospel."
members of the great Tai race, are the most nu- With the growth of the Chinese Church in merous and easy of access. One hundred mem- Kwangsi, there has been a very encouraging debers of this tribe were baptized last year and velopment along true indigenous principles. Mis-
PIONEERING FOR CHRIST IN KWANGSI
RED-HEADED YAOS OF THE LOH-LI AND SI-LIU DISTRICTS, MR, YUEN, THE' EVANGELIST FROM POSEH, IS STANDING, HOLDING HIS ACCORD'EON siOonaries and Chinese workers are earnestly the church treasurer a sack of pennies amounting laboring to make the Church fully self-supporting, to $5.00, hOoping that other members might be wisely self-governing, and zealously self-propa- stimulated by his example, so that they could have gating under the leadership and by the enabling their own building. Mrs. Tseng, the treasurer, of the Holy Spirit. had a flourishing business and every comfort, yet she gave nothing. She was ashamed as she gazed When a congregation is able to supply six- on the sacrificial offering and a few days later she tenths of all its running expenses, including sal- left her shop and hurried off to see Dr. Moh, a aries, it passes from the oversight of the Joint prosperous man and a member of the church com- Committee (Chinese and Mission Executive Com- mittee. She Ooffered to give a plot Oof land fOor the mittee) to the direction of the Chinese Commit- building and to help buy the brick and lumber, if tees. The goal is to attain full self-support within Dr. Moh would take time to direct the workmen. four years after the church has become sixty per cent self-supporting. Finally a spacious street chapel was completed and furnished. The prosperous members felt a One group of Christians in the inland town of little ashamed of their ragged brother Lan and Kong Cheng rented a building as a chapel but urged him to wear better clothes. He quietly rethey often had to change their place of meeting plied that he had frequently been tempted to buy because the landlords blamed them for any calam- clothes but that he felt he must lay aside his penity that might befall their households. Finally nies for the church. As Dr. MOoh listened and Mr. Lan, one of the poorest of the members of remembered that he himself wore silk and fur the church, declared that they must build their garments while his brother member WOould not ownchapel. Daily he prayed to God to help him even buy a cheap padded gown because he was so think of some plan by which he might save money intent on His Lord's interests, Dr. Moh invited for the building. His fOOod was only such as the the poor man tOo his home where he gave him a poorest of men could affOord even in China, but good hot meal and a new gown. His son also was finally he and his wife decided to eat less and lay given work in the doctOor's office. NOoW a happier aside a few pennies saved from time to time. The man than Brother Lan can scarcely be found in poor man's body was weakened from the lack of all the countryside. He and his fellow church nourishing food and he was often chilled because members have found that giving is the Father's of insufficient clothing, yet he rejoiceq as his sav- way to added blessing. ings grew. After several months he brought to
Eleven organized churches, with a total mem- provided by the converts for continued meetings bership of 993, are now under the direction of the before the Bands have finished their ministry in Chinese committee. The combined membership the section. of all the Alliance churches in Kwangsi is 2,539 and many of these are expected to come into full In recent tours in Kwangsi and Kweichow, seven counties have been traversed, great moun- tain ranges were crossed, where the foot of a white man had never tramped. Thus, the search for new tribes and peoples goes ever onward in the confidence that, when they are discovered, mis- sionary volunteers will not be lacking and through the prayers and assistance of loyal friends at home, earnest efforts will be made to reach these tribes with the Gospel message.
One of the encouraging discoveries of recent trips is that a number of the tribes can be reached through the Chwang dialect, the Chwang workers had no difficulty in being understood by the vil- lagers and people along the pathways to whom they spoke.
During one part of the trip, four tribes were found of which the missionary writes: "The Heh-i, the Loh-Loh, the Ta Pan Yao and the Lan Tien Yao are still practically as much A CHWANG WOMAN AND HER BABY relation with the Chinese Conference within two MR. LAN, FORMER TAOIST PRIEST, NOW or three years. AN EARNEST CHRISTIAN The great unevangelized Yao Mountain terri- He is seated beside; some of the idols that he formerly worshiped. tory in Kwangsi, with its many thousands of unreached tribesmen has been entered by repre- neglected as they were a thousand years ago. It sentatives of the Chinese Church as their field for is true some Gospels and tracts have been distribevangelization. The Church publishes the Al- uted to some of them, but they have not as yet liance Weekly in Chinese, Sunday school papers, had an opportunity to hear and understand the and other helpful literature. Some of these have Gospel. On this tour we determined to get in a circulation reaching into nearly every province of China, as well as into foreign countries where Chinese have emigrated.
The Bible Training School, under Chinese leadership, often has among its student body representatives from many other missionary societies and church groups. It is recognized to be of a high standard and absolutely loyal to the Word of God and the fundamental truths of our Christian faith. Two important phases of work are the Short Term Bible Schools held in various districts and the ministry of the Chinese Evangelistic Bands who labor both among the Chinese and the tribespeople. In one month members of one of these Bands gave a brief Gospel message in 1800 homes and preached in all the towns and villages of the section in which it was laboring. In some places the work of the Bands is so fruitful that several groups of converts are baptized and places
PlWto by A CHWANG TRIBESMAN'S HOME IN THE' MOUNTAINS-HERE A MISSIONARY OFTEN SPENDS THE NIGHT. PIGS AND COWS ARE FREE TO ENTER THE FRONT DOOR ON THIID GROUND FLOOR.
close contact with them. On other trips we have long so as to discourage travelers, especially met them on the mountain pathways and have soldiers or robbers, from going that way. Though found them usually timid and retiring. On this the Miao carrier did not wish to continue the trip, however, we left the main pathways, secured journey, the Commission of the Lord still reads guides to take us back behind the mountain ranges "unto the uttermost part" and so the messengers to where the tribesmen have their homes, lived pressed on. Tribes in these distant places are with them in their huts, ate with them, slept with them, sat with them around their' camp fires, almost 100 % illiterate so the Gospel must be given dressed their sores, bound up their wounds, and told them the story of the Gospel. In a few days them by word of mouth. they became so friendly that they flocked around How do the tribespeople respond to the Gospel us as if we belonged to their tribe; when we left one tribe to pass on to another, there was a hearty message? A Tung tribesman, having been told invitation to call again, and we felt that another that a strange white man who loved his people tribe was ready and waiting to receive the Gospel was living in a distant town, left his mountain when we have men to send and means to support home and came to the city where he cautiously inthem." quired for the missionary. That tribesman is now studying the Word of God and looking forward to The Timber Yao people differ noticeably from the time when he can tell his ownpeople the glad other tribes in their language and in the women's new Story which he has so recently heard. Many dress. Their houses are scattered in groups of who hear the Message are eager to tell it to their two to five, with only an occasional small village. people in the scattered villages, and they find a The women of this tribe, as well as the Miao and hearty welcome as they sit around the camp fire Tung tribes, wear trousers instead of pleated evenings and tell to their friends and neighbors skirt like those worn in other tribes. Their silver the story of God's redeeming love. ornaments include a number of Hongkong coins, beaten plates of silver and earrings. Another young Tung from the hills of Kwangsi, who had studied in the City of Canton, returned to After passing through a valley, far beyond the his mountain home among fellow tribesmen, and contacts of civilization, the party came to a moun- was so oppressed by the dullness of his surroundtain pass where the natives had spiked the road ings that he planned to seek escape through suiwith sharp spikes of bamboo four to six inches cide. Then it was that a Chinese preacher, Mr. Loh, visited the village and gave the young stu- dent some Christian books. Through reading
these, a desire was created to know more of the This answer to prayer made a powerful impres- Gospel and finally the young man expressed his sion, not only on the sick man's household, but purpose to follow Christ and to become a teacher also on many other members of his tribe. They of the Gospel to his own tribesmen. had never seen prayer answered in this fashion and reasoned, "If the Lord can answer prayer in Through the witness of two Chwang converts, this way, surely we ought to trust Him for the Mr. Lan, formerly a Taoist priest, and Mt. Chiu salvation of our souls and our future happin!,!ss." Tak-sun, an earnest Christian farmer, a consider- Before long about forty of the tribespeople asked able number of Chwang tribespeople have been to be enrolled as inquirers and from this number converted, twenty-seven being baptized on one twenty-seven were baptized. occasion. Mr. Chiu constantly urged his tribespeople to accept this Jesus who worked such won- Many similar instances could be given as eviders when on earth and who is still the same dence of the saving grace of God among the tribestoday. people of Kwangsi. Millions of Chinese and tribespeople are yet unreached and the Mission One day a neighbor became very ill and the with its thirty-four missionaries and the 102 sickness increased in severity until the family Chinese wor-kers, 29 of whom are women, have a feared that he was going to die. After tribal large task before them. We commend to the remedies had failed, the family sent for Mr. Chiu, Lord's people for prevailing prayer these earnest who went at once to the sick man's bedside. After missionaries and Chinese workers that, as the exhorting the family to cast away their idols and new-born souls are instructed in the essential trust alone in Christ, the Christian farmer kneeled truths, they may be established in the Christian down and prayed to God for the tribesman's re- life and become effective witnesses to their fellow covery. The next morning he was much better tribesmen. and in a few days he was well.
China and the New Life Movement* CHINA'S present attitude toward religion and nificant Easter message is significant of the atti- toward Christ is somewhat confused. Con- tude some of China's leading spirits take toward fucian ideals, though a factor in the New religion. The country is more widely open to Life Movement, do not function religiously any religious propaganda than ever before. Though more than they ever did. China does not promise there may be some discrimination against gradto be more Buddhist than at any time past, nor uates from unregistered Christian schools there is is it turning Christian. To promote religion in none against qualified Christians for important China is no easier or simpler than in "Christian" governmental and commercial agencies. Furthernations. Nevertheless, the attitude of China to- more, there is apparent a desire for Christian day toward religion is different from what it has and church cooperation in reconstructive projects been in the past. No religious system is receiving that implies recognition of the religious dynamic the special favor of the state, nor is the state at- as one of the essentials to China's rebuilding. In tacking religion. Prominent Chinese, including other words, China has passed from a mood ansome Christians, do not in their attitude distin- tagonistic to religion. guish as sharply between Protestantism, Roman Catholicism and Buddhism as some Christians Present-day China is more aware of religion might wish. Official courtesies are paid to rep- than once was the case. There is an inarticulate resentatives of all religions when occasion re- feeling that economic, social and political changes quires. One hears little discussion of religious are not enough. Thus for all kinds of aggressive liberty yet it seems to be a fact in China though religious movements the hour is propitious. some deem it infringed upon as regards educational freedom. China is not aggressively anti- Three years is too short a time in which to religious at the moment. judge the New Life Movement which has set itself a stupendous task under unusually difficult cir- There is something to be said of a seeming cumstances. It is not an organization but a movefriendliness on the part of China to religion. ment. It cannot be judged solely in terms of its High officials participated in the platform ad- purpose- and a summary of its achievements bedresses given before a Catholic Action Congress longs to the future. Nevertheless, it has moved a year or so ago. General Chiang Kai-shek's sig- forward as regards the clarification of its purpose and understanding of what it should aim to do in • The first part of this article is freely quoted from an editorial terms of reconstruction. Taken generally it is in The Chinese Recorder. "An attack on the fundamental moral problem in
THE MOVEMENT OFFICIALLY DESCRIBED
China's social life." As a matter of fact insofar as program are already cooperating with the New the Movement tries to reform manners it has both Life Movement. All churches not so engaged to curb the exuberance of modernized Chinese might well consider how they may participate. manners and jar the inertia out of traditional What can Christians add to the New Life Moveones. In some places, however, the Movement ment is a question. But cooperation in any field has disturbed gamblers and those promoting com- can only be worthwhile if it is reciprocal. So the mercialized vice to the point where they have question, What can the New Life Movement conurged that the Movement should show less zeal. tribute to the churches? needs also to be consid- This is an indication of its possibilities as a moral ered. The Movement provides an opening for the force. The program outlined indicates how the manifestation of the religious dynamic hardly Movement is becoming a positive force for re- equalled heretofore in China. It offers to tie up building life as well as an obstruction to evil Christian energy and moral fervor with the life agencies and a reformer of manners. So far it is of China in new ways. As an indigenous movelargely urban but the direction and scope of its ment it is setting out to endeavor to do along sevactivities are turning to rural centers also. eral lines what Christians have been trying to do for many years. Church response to the Move- It has been said that "The New Life Movement ment's appeal for cooperation should aid in keepaims at the revival of the traditional virtues of ing it creative. If in places the Movement is more China." But those responsible for it also feel the sound than success the church should help give need of a religious fervor to energize these tra- the sound a deeper note. If, on the one hand, it ditional virtues and that they seek the aid of those is a revival of traditional virtues it is, on the other motivated by the Christian faith in particular. In- hand, a search for ways of developing and manideed, while his Movement is not set on building festing a modernized and vitalized life. It cannot up a religion or a church as such, Christians are go far in this without the deepening of spirit and to some extent active in directing its activities. consciousness that religious faith can give. Chris- The time has come for the churches to give it tians can help by demonstrating how their faith serious attention as a force in the life of China works in the simple or elaborate forms of reconwith which they can work. struction.
Churches engaged in activities as given in the The Movement Officially Described* By' GENERALISSIMO CHIANG KAI-SHEK President of the Chinese M'litary Affairs Commission THE New Life Movement aims at revolution- such traditional virtues as Li, Yi, Lien and Chih, izing the mode of life of the whole of the they are living today under conditions. which sug- Chinese people. It seeks by the application gest that they have just emerged from savagery. of the simplest and most effective methods possible to eradicate from the people those habits that China has 35,000,000 square liof territory and are no longer suited to the times and to replace abounds in natural resources, which if developed, them with a new mode of living in accord with could easily make this country one of the wealththe spirit of the age in which we live. In other iest nations of the world. Yet there is widespread words, the movement stands for the rationaliza- poverty and misery in the land. This again is due tion of the lives of the people, and is based on the traditional virtues of China as expressed in these to the neglect of the traditional virtues of China, characters, Li, Yi, Lien and Chih. namely, Li, Yi, Lien, and Chih.
The Chinese people used to set great store on China has 400,000,000 people who used to be these traditional virtues, the revival of which is well organized in all the essentials of life. But imperative and essential to the welding of China what spectacle do our people present to the rest into a modern nation. of the world today? They are disorganized, in- dolent, cowardly and torn between conflicting per- With a civilization of more than 5,000 years the verse teachings, leading a life little better than Chinese people attained long ago a high degree of that of savages. This again is due to the neglect refinement in matters of food, clothing, shelter of Li, Yi, Lien, and Chih. and deportment, but owing to their neglect of While it is true that the removal of the existing • From ChAnese Affairs, Shanghai crude and degrading modes of life of the Chinese people in favor of one of refinement depends to a
great extent on the revival of the old virtues of anything else. This work may be described as Li, Yi, Lien and Chih, it is equally true that under the work of the New Life movement. The extenpresent circumstances, when society is in a state sion and progress of the movement depends upon of chaos, when perverse ideas have permeated the the extent to which the people realize its need. It country, and when the great majority of the peo- should begin with individuals and later spread to ple are sunk in pleasure and indolence, immediate families and the community at large. It serves success can hardly be expected to attend the in- as the vanguard of the political authorities, but it troduction of political measures or the inculcation should not depend upon the latter for its success. of teachings of the right sort. If the modes of living of the people are to be improved, a start Objects of the Movement must be made first with the rectification of their bad habits. For this reason, the New Life Move- The attitude of mind of the great majority of ment offers the only road to the salvation of Chinese today is marked by drift and insipidity. China. This expresses itself in acts which do not distin-. guish between good and evil, right and wrong, Our late Chungli, Dr. Sun Yat Sen, said: "Min and private interests and public welfare. Hence, Sheng means the life of people, the existence of our officials are hypocritical, greedy and corrupt; society, the livelihood of the citizens of the country our people are disorganized and indifferent to the and the welfare of the masses." Although the welfare of the nation; our youths are degenerate problem of the livelihood of the people, or Min and irresponsible; and our adults are vicious and Sheng, may be considered from four angles, the ignorant. The rich are given to pleasure and exquestion of life is really the manifestation of the travagance, while the poor are low, filthy and other three aspects of the problem of the people's groping in the dark. All this has led to a complete livelihood. For the continued existence of so- breakdown of authority and discipline, resulting ciety certain guarantees are necessary. As re- in social unrest, which has in turn made us helpgards the problem of the livelihood of the people, less in the face of natural calamity and foreign there must be room for development and expan- aggression. If this state of affairs is allowed to sion. For the continuity of life, propagation is continue any longer, it will be impossible for us necessary. Life is the manifestation of all these even to lead the present kind of existence for very activities. In other words, life is a general term long. . . . . for all human activities. To rebuild the life of the people in accord with All activities arising from the propagation of modern conditions, especially to build a new social the race, from the preservation of life and also order, resort has to be made to political reform, from the development of the livelihood of the peo- particularly education, but in the past education ple assume different forms at different times and and politics in China have suffered from one beunder different conditions. Sometimes the en- setting sin, namely, cant and hypocrisy. This vironment also changes. Not until a man "renews has led to the ineffectiveness of laws, the uselesshimself daily" can he hope to have a rich and ness of technical talent and the impotency of abundant life. The life of a people must accord machines. Where a C.hinese is placed in the post with the time and environment in which it lives. formerly Occupied by a foreigner, it invariably A new life is possible only when there is a com- happens that the Chinese official cannot attain the plete break with the old modes of living. same degree of efficiency .as the foreigner. This is true of machines. Run by a Chinese, a machine Whether the people have a rich and abundant cannot yield the same output as it does when life depends primarily upon the existence of good under foreign· supervision. If we want to make government and on the extension of sound politi- our laws effective, the thing to do is not to imcal institutions, but this has a close connection prove the laws, but to get the right· men to adminwith customs and usages. ister them. The same is true of machines; Struc- turally, there is nothing defective about them: If during the transition from an old social what is needed is the right men to operate them. order to a new one nothing is done to assist the It is true that politics and education have an imintroduction and spread of new political· institu- portant role to play in the formation of character, tions by the introduction of new customs and but at the same time it is equally true that social usages, such new institutions are liable to be stul- customs and usages exercise a more important tified in their development. In other words, they influence over the lives of men. must be assisted by the inculcation of new ideas, preparing the minds of the people for their recep- That the Government will exert itself for potion. For this reason, every country makes the litical reform goes without saying. Unless we are task of changing the customs and usages of the prepared to let the nation go under without a people its first concern during the transition from struggle during the present national crisis, we the old to the new, for this is more important than
must act resolutely to put a stop to the present of food and clothing will not bring about social state of affairs and throw ourselves into the work peace, and if any proof is needed to substantiate of social reform. In short, we must make a clean this statement, it is an unquestioned fact that sweep of the existing social abuses and evils and crime abounds always in cities where there is take prompt measures to foster what is best and plenty and abundance. Moreover, can one serivital in society. This is the mission of the, New ously maintain that many of those who have Life Movement. turned to brigandage or become traitors and greedy officials have done so owing to fear of Contents of the Movement hunger and starvation? . . .
The New Life Movement advocates a mode of Li, Yi, Lien and Chih are general principles in living based on the principles of Li, Yi, Lien, and the establishment of states. This was true of Chih. In other words, it seeks to apply those ancient times and is true of the contemporary age.
time-honored principles to the daily conduct of Of course, each age has its own interpretation of men and women, especially in matters pertaining those principles. Let us explain them in the light to food, clothing, shelter and deportment. Any of modern conditions of life. Briefly, Li means one who fails to order his life in accordance with polite manners, Yi, chivalrous or upright conduct, this code is bound to fail. This is true also of Lien honesty or a moral sense 'of right and wrong, nations. and Chih, decency or an appreciation of moral There are people who are skeptical of this view. values. It is contended that Li, Yi, Lien and Chih, undoubtedly excellent virtues in themselves, may be There are two conditions associated with food, able to produce men of exemplary character, but clothing, shelter and deportment, namely (1) tanif we are backward in technical knowledge, no gible things, such as food, houses, roads, carts, amount of virtue can save China. This line of steamers, etc., and (2) manifestations, such as reasoning is untenable. It is true that knowledge eating and drinking, living, ·walking. is power, but knowledge is liable to be abused in The word Hsing, or deportment, however, has the hands of those who have no moral scruples. two senses. In its narrow sense it means walk- Li, Yi, Lien and Chih are the guiding rules of ing. In its broad sense it means behavior. Inconduct for individuals, society and the state. deed, in this sense Hsing ~ncludes food, clothing, shelter and deportment.
When educated men act contrary to these rules, The "San Min Chu Yi" ("The Three People's both the public and the nation will suffer. In Principles") in the chapter dealing with the short, Li, Yi, Lien and Chih are able not only to questions of food, clothing, shelter and deportsave China but to remake her. ment, emphasizes the material aspect of the prob- There are others who declare that Li, Yi, Lien lem. If there is any doubt on this score, it should and Chih are empty principles and can hardly be be dispelled by a perusal of this passage in "The expected to serve as rules of conduct for those Fundamentals of Reconstruction" which says: who live from hand to mouth and do not know The Government should assist the people in the where their next rice bowls come from or what development of agriculture so that they will have the morrow may bring. This fallacy is due to the enough to eat. It should promote the textile inteachings of Kuan Tze who maintained that be- dustry so that the people will have enough tovvear. fore a man can know decency he must have enough It should help the people to solve their housing to eat and wear, or as the Greek philosopher Aris- and transportation problems by building more totle said, before a man can be expected to be houses and repairing canals and roads. The virtuous he must have a competence. The funda- "Hsing" in the present New Life Movement is mental fact seems to have been overlooked by used in both its narrow and its broad senses. these skeptics that Li, Yi, Lien and Chih are the "foundation" of a man, and that if he does not Methods of the New Life Movement possess these attributes, he cannot have food and clothing. Leadership.-The direction of the whole New Life Movement is vested in the hands of the New In a society based on Li, Yi, Lien and Chih, one Life Movement Promotion Association in Nancan make up the lack of food and clothing by hu- chang. Branches of the association may' be estabman means, whereas in a society where these lished in the various parts of the country, but in principles are not observed, no amount of wrong- order to avoid confusion and to ensure common doing, such as robbery and theft can bring suffi- action, district branches should be subject to the ciency and abundance to the needy: Acts of Li, control of provincial New Life Promotion Asso- Yi, Lien and Chih are correctives to acts of strife, ciations. theft and robbery. In cases where Li, Yi, Lien andChih are flouted, even sufficiency in matters District and provincial branches should be jointly organized by representatives of various
public organizations, such as the Provincial and Chinese should have a decent standard of living, District Kuomintang headquarters, Bureau of which is another term for an artistic mode of liv- Public Safety, Social Welfare and Education, and ing. In ancient times China used to have the somilitary commissions. Subject to the direction called six arts and sciences: Rites, Music, Archof the l~al district New Life Promotion Associa- ery, horsemanship, calligraphy and mathematics. tion, the various guilds, schools, women's organi- These six things today have made the Western zations and rural groups may start separate New powers great and strong, although the Chinese Life groups. people for centuries used them as guiding prin- ciples of action in life. The reason why there is The work of the New Life Movement consists so much suspicion, jealousy and animosity in of investigation, planning and promotion. Chinese society today is that we have forgotten the teachings of our ancients. There is no hope The expenses of the movement should be re- of improvement unless we order our lives in acduced to a minimum and borne by those respon- cordance with the principles of Li, Yi, Lien, and sible or raised by the authorities of the locality in Chih. which there is a branch of the New Life Movement Promotion Association. Solicitation of con- (2) The poverty of China is due to the existtributions from outsiders is forbidden. ence of so many people who cannot produce any- thing of their own and who live on others. The The program of the New Life Movement will be productivity of the people must be increased. We drawn up by the New Life Movement Promotion must develop our immense natural resources and Association in Nanchang. The Movement will avoid waste. Everyone should consider it a first begin with a campaign for cleanliness and shame to depend upon others for his support. In orderliness. other words, everyone must work for his own living. There is no other way to relieve the pov- The formula of the Movement.-The Movement erty. of China and remove the source of civil strife should start with oneself and then extend to than to practise the principles of Li, Yi, Lien and others, with officials first, and then the masses, Chih in our daily lives. from simple things to more important tasks, and from public organizations, schools, etc., to the (3) In advocating Li, Yi, Lien and Chih as the lower classes of society. code of our daily conduct, we are inspired by the How the Movement may be promoted.-Per- or desire to "militarize" the life of our people. When sonal example, oral instruction, illustrated posters, campaign literature, plays and motion pic- a nation cannot fight for the defence its soil tures are some of the means by which the Move- against foreign invasion, it cannot be considered ment may be promoted. The New Life Movement a nation. We must cultivate martial arts if we Promotion Association will send delegates to visit are to overcome the present weakness of our counthe various provinces and districts from time to try. China today is overrun by Communisttime and inspect the work being done by the re- bandits. Civil war has not yet been completely spective New Life groups. In order to promote banished from the land. Our national territory a healthy spirit of rivalry between the various is growing smaller and smaller every day. Imgroups contests will be held. There will be prizes perialists join with traitors and Communists in for the winning groups. oppressing our people and undermining our coun- try. If we wish to deliver China from ,the present No compulsion should be employed in extend- crisis and bring peace and order to the land, we ing the Movement. Persuasion should be the must prepare to "militarize" the whole country. watchword of the "New Life" canvassers. Before this is possible, the people must be trained in habits of orderliness, discipline, cleanliness, Conclusion simplicity and accurate thinking. They must be law-abiding, conscious of their responsibilities and To sum up, the New Life Movement aims at the ready to die for the country. substitution of a rational mode of living for the present irrational mode of living of the people. A rational mode of living is realized when the How can this be effected? My answer is: by principles of Li, Yi, Lien and Chih are applied to making Li, Yi, Lien and Chih, the code of our the daily conduct of the people, especially in matdaily conduct. ters pertaining- to food, shelter, clothing and de-. portment. A great revolution will have been ef- (1) In advocating the revival of our traditional fected and the foundations of new national strucvirtues such as Li, Yi, Lien and Chih, the object ture laid when every Chinese lives in accordance in view is an artistic mode of living for all our with the principles of the New Life Movement, people. Many are apt to think that only a few which are based on the traditional virtues of Li, privileged persons can lead an artistic life. This Yi, Lien and Chih. is a mistake. It is within the reach of all. Every
Chiang Kai–shek's Interpretatiqn
of the New Life Movement in China* T HE New Life Movement was inaugurated medireval into the modern world. Those who have three years ago to quicken and to deepen the failed us are those who have refused to pay the work of reconstruction in China. Since then price of living the New Life. "You cannot serve the nation has progressed farther than we had God and mammon"; you cannot live a regenerated dared to hope, giving us a new faith in the future vitalized life and at the same time maintain a of our race. After these three years of experience selfish attitude toward society. we are more than ever convinced that the most vital force in the reconstruction of our nation is On this our third anniversary it is fitting that the spiritual life of the people. we should review some of the accomplishments of the past and perhaps more important still outline It has been a long and difficult task, and one the most pressing needs of the nation. that has required the cooperation of all the leaders of the nation, to unite China's scattered troops First and foremost let us mention the needs for into one strong national army. It has not been unity and internal peace. easy to improve communications, remodel cities and set forces in motion that will eventually im- The policy of the National Government is enprove the living condItions of farmers and work- tirely one of harmonizing, composing and settling ers. Yet in the long run these are the outward all differences through peaceful means, thus presigns of a new controlling principle, a new law of serving national resources and strengthening the life which we are slowly learning to follow. faith of the people in the ability of the nation to weather any storm. The unification of the armies This energy and courage animating our people, is not sufficient in itself. There must go with it and sometimes referred to as the national renais- that oneness of purpose and broadmindedness that sance, has been at work in China for two decades. enables men of all parties and of every faith to In a very real sense, the New Life Movement is keep in step, regardless of conditions, and while gathering together spiritual forces that are partly keeping in step to work together for the commonindigenous and partly from abroad. The New wealth. Life Movement is slowly winning the confidence of the people, for we are still very conservative, Throughout the country there are still minor and is fast becoming a centre where all agencies, disturbances where hungry men, masquerading both governmental and private, interested in the as bandits, take by force from their neighbors and welfare of the people, may find a common meeting from travelers what society should provide for ground. them in some other way.
Heretofore various organizations shouldering Economic Betterment and Education the burden of building a new social order have not only been scattered but they have oftentimes Benjamin Franklin has well said, "Poverty been perplexed by what seems to be cross-currents within the life of the nation. The river of New often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue; it is Life released three years ago in Nanchang is gradually gathering into one great flood embody- hard for an empty bag to stand upright." ing the currents of life and thought that go to unify and reconstruct the nation. Idleness, intemperance and extravagance are A year ago, on the occasion of the second anni- not the only stones that pave the road to poverty. vers.ary of the New Life Movement, the Generalissimo emphasized three immediate needs of the Corruption, inefficiency, oppression, malnutrition nation: sincerity, efficiency and living of the New Life. During the same year mistakes may have and an unjust social order also help to depress been made but none can question the sincerity of our national leaders. Most Of them have been the economic level. When the New Life Movelending. a hand as the nation emerges from the ment was inaugurated in Kiangsi, one of the first • Radio broadcast speech by Madame Chiang on February 19, 1937, In commemoration of the Third Anniversary of the launching things it did was to establish welfare centers st~::h~tW Life Movement. Reprinted from The Peoples' Tribune, where the economic and social needs of the people might be studied and gradually relieved. Through- out the nation it will continue to focus attention upon the economic factors underlying the needs of the masses. Without this there can be no in- ternal peace. Banditry and rebellion will cease only when nt heex tpteoopt hlee have enough to eat. inte rnal Second, need for unity and peace I should place education.
[361 ]
The growth of the modern school system Almost anyone of us can gather together a few throughout China is phenomenal. Everywhere we see the children with their school books com- friends interested in social service and through ing and going. The fact· remains, however, that the vast majority of the people are not informed pooling resources can bring new life to many a on many matters that concern their every-day life; ignorance and superstition still influence them to community. Incidentally in so doing you will find an alarming extent. great joy and lasting satisfaction. The New Life Movement last summer presented this challenging situation to the college students , A group of well-equipped devoted national leadof East China and received a hearty response. College students, both men and women, spend time ers without your help cannot bring new life to our in their own or neighboring villages teaching summer schools for both children and adults and nation. Such a social revolution calls for the coholding popular lecture courses in the evening. In time our educated people will catch this spirit operation of every intelligent man and woman of service and voluntarily will do 'what they can in their immediate neighborhood so that in a short throughout China. time illiteracy will be greatly reduced. What the national and provincial governments are doing to Many a great movement has slowed down bemeet this gigantic problem is very encouraging but we wish to make this appeal to our educated cause it has failed to grip the imagination and to people everywhere, that they must not rely solely upon the Government but should also carry re- enlist the enthusiasm of the rank and file. This sponsibility for those closest to them. I, myself, have found deep satisfaction in mothering a few is not true of the New Life Movement, and from hundred students in the schools for the children of the revolution and I recommend this form of the bottom of my heart I hope it never will be social service to my friends throughout China. true. You know as well as I do that the great Games and Healthy Sport failure of democracy is that we rely too much We all know that we receive much valuable education outside of the schoolroom. Last summer a upon a fe,w chosen leaders. In democratic China student from a Shanghai college, visiting his home village in Kiangsu, discovered that a large per- you are showing your appreciation of the nation's centage of the people were spending their leisure time gambling; without discoursing on the evils leaders in many ways and we are deeply grateful, of gambling he hastened back to Shanghai where he purchased and borrowed a few outdoor and in- for it makes us doubly sure of the solid foundation door games, including a small radio. He worked with the young men of the village in cleaning and of unity upon which we are building. I beg of whitewashing an old temple and in levelling a playing field. Within a few days he had games you not to take too much for granted and not to and competitions in progress for the younger members of the community and victrola and radio expect too much of a few leaders. If New Life entertainment for those who preferred to be less active. From his knowledge of the outsilje world really comes to all our people throughout the provand from newspapers and magazines he gave a series of evening lectures on subjects of interest inces, it will come because it has been unanimously and value to the community. When the time came for him to return to his studies at college the vil- supported in the heart of the country. lage schoolmaster had already taken charge of these activities and they are doubtless still in The last and most important thing that I have progress. to say to you is something that the President of Through the social-mindedness of another college student in providing a village radio, the peo- the New Life Movement has said over and over ple of his community have just heard the President of the N~w Life Movement speak to them. again. "New Life is something we live, not some- thing that we promote." It is a quality of life within ourselves, a standard of ·values that in- fluences every thought and action. The greatest Teacher that ever lived has told us that "what goes on in a man's heart determines the quality of his life." If New Life implies a change of heart then let us all make that change together on this the third anniversary of our great spiritual move- ment. A change of heart within each of us will soon prOduce the :riew and prosperous nation that we all long to see. .
*** A Missionary Resolve – By the Grace of God: We will "maintain the spiritual glow."
We will depend on spiritual means to achieve results in God's work.
We will not magnify statistics nor glory in mere numbers.
We will be slow to criticize others, but will seek to be our best and look for the best in others.
We will earnestly try to be free from race prejudice.
We will show love to others and devotedly seek their high- est good. _ We will ask God's help to solve our own spiritual problems so as to be more free to help others.
We will not be too impatient for visible results, but will steadfastly trust God to do "exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think."
We will tarry until we are "endued with Power from on High" and then go forth to witness for Christ.
"He giveth power to the faint." Isaiah 40: 29.
Yellow vs. Acting Yellow*
By GEOFFREY W. ROYALL, Chao-Cheng, Shangtung, China Missionary of the Church of the Nazarene THE eyes of the world are turned to China to- ventions, raising money, holding bazaars in order day more than at any time since the Boxer that the Gospel (!) might be taken to the poor Rebellion, a generation ago. So much has heathen – these slit-eyed, flat-nosed, oily-faced happened in the last five years and so much more Sons of Han included!
seems about to take place. . . that' even the Span- A tragedy! Yes, and one that is enacted too ish situation has not turned the attention of the often in other churches. Can it be true in yours?
people away from the land of Sinim. If we are not vitally interested in the salvation Now, instead of attempting to transport you of the ",heathen" who live on your street, your to the Orient and thrusting you heart first into the neighbors and fellow-citizens, then why try to fool intriguing life of the Chinese, we will stay in the ourselves into believing that we are really con- Occident, and spend a few moments "Thinking cerned in the redemption of heathen ten thousand Yellow." We have "thought white" for so long miles away? If one cannot "think yellow" at that it will be no easy task to suddenly "think home, it is useless to try 'imd stretch one's reli- yellow." gious imagination across the Pacific. It will prob- Having just returned from the Middle King- ably be drowned before it reaches Honolulu!
dom, I was in a store in Toronto purchasing a Cincinnati, the metropolis of Ohio, is a great daily paper. A lady of large dimensions came in centre of religious activity. Some years ago at and asked for one of the popular weekly'maga- the annual district convention of one of the larger zines. As the news agent handed her the maga- denominations, the largest auditorium filled to zine and her change, he pointed in my direction hear a missionary of national repute lecture on and said: "This is the Reverend Geoffrey Royall China. The two front rows were reserved for who has just returned from China." ecclesiastical dignitaries – bishops, superintend- "Why how strange," she replied, responding to ents and the like.
my recognition. "I have just come from the Chi~ A passing Chinese, with a staggering burden of nese laundry. You know, Mr. Royall, I have a laundry, was attracted by the bright lights' and horrid sensation run down my spine every time I paused to read the announcements. When his enter that place. That yellow face that pops up eyes caught the word "China" and noted that this behind the counter when I hand over my husband's evening was to be devoted to an address on his shirts is enough to scare anyone. Slit eyes, flat own country, he passed through the doors and noses, oily face . . . ugh! I'm glad I was not walked down the aisle towards the front, with the born a Chinese. How awful it must be for you to bundle of clothes. The speaker was waxing elo- have to live among such people." quent when his eye caught the face of the Chinese I opened my mouth to reply but the words laundryman beaming celestially into his own.
clogged in my teeth and I was silent. . With a quick gesture he motioned the visitor to a "Well, we have a meeting of the Women~s Mis- seat and the visitor promptly sat down next to a sionary Auxiliary at three, so I'll be running corpulent bishop, at whose feet he unceremoni- along," the woman continued, picking up her ously planted the laundry. A few minutes later magazine. We watched her sail out of the store the good bishop discovered that one end of his with the trail of a Pekinese dog in her wake. frock coat was caught beneath the individual next "Mrs. Jones is one of the best workers in her to him an,d, as he turned to look and he discovered church," remarked the storekeeper. a Chinese, he rose to move to another seat. Near- My mind followed her down to her missionary sightedness prevented him from seeing the bundle meeting. Here was a church woman, busy week at his feet, and he tripped ungracefully over it after week, no doubt, year in and year out, work- with a resounding thud.
ing on garments, preparing boxes, visiting con- Can we doubt that at the moment the bishop moved away from the Chinese, Jesus came and * C()lldensed fram a missionary address given In the First Church sat down in his place? To separate ourselves in ~Is~~oena~:z~~~~':;nk~:, ~~~~~~s'19~~~lfornia, at the annual District pride from our fellowmen because of the color of [363 ]
his skin is to segregate ourselves from the Son of the window display. His hand was on the door- knob, when he looked up and saw a plain notice, Man, the "Friend that sticketh closer than a in English and Chinese, nailed just above the door: "Chinese and dogs not allowed." The suit brother." There is danger that a "paternal" at- in the window was most inviting, but the words above the door were not. titude toward the heathen prevents us from being The same ancient tram took the prospective "fraterna1." . customer back to the Chinese quarters and the next day his customers noticed a new sign tacked In the city of Los Angeles I heard the following above the entrance to his restaurant: "Europeans and dogs not admitted." story. The new Chinese Vice-Consul decided to As we think over these four incidents we are patronize American stores during his residence in forced to admit several things.
California and visited one of the American bar- First, the average American church member does not appreciate the wonderful advancement bers. The shop happened to be without other his cousins of Cathay have made in recent years. There is also a tragic lack of soul passion for their patrons on his arrival, and the head barber was redemption. When we have learned that we are our "brother's keeper" in America, only then can seated on a chair reading a newspaper. Hearing we accept this responsibility for our neighbors in other lands. a customer enter he lowered his paper and looked Second, a spirit of aloofness and feeling of suover his glasses. The Chinese official smiled, but periority is a great barrier to Christian progress in foreign fields. How much of our missionary the proprietor growled: activity is superficial? There is a vast difference between being "interested in foreign missions" "What do you want in here." and in being vitally burdened for those of other races tor whom Christ also died. How often we "Oh, just a hair-cut today," smiled the Chinese foolishly interpret the former for the latter!
Vice-Consul. Third, the influence of Christian civilization that we endeavor to send to the Orient is often "Well, we don't cut Chink's hair here, so get nullified by our pagan attitude of superiority to- ward those who come to our own shores. out," was the reply. Fourth, many representatives of so-called "And may I enquire the reason," asked the Christian business houses that trade in the Far East, are a positive hindrance to the efforts of the Celestial, his smile disappearing. Christian missionary.
"I've got no time to argue," snarled the hair- "Thinking yellow!" does not mean "acting yellow!" It is a fallacy to suppose that Christ dresser. "Suppose our best customers from Holly- was a white man. In the book of Acts we read that when the Apostle Paul was standing on the wood should see me cutting your hair; what would steps of the castle waiting permission to address the Jewish rabble, the chief captain of the Roman they think? Do you suppose they want their hair guard asked: "Art thou not that Egyptian?" Christ and Paul were contemporaries and if the dressed with the same tools as I use on you? The chief captain mistook Paul for an Egyptian, it seems that he might well have mistaken Jesus for trade I have built up through years would be one also!
ruined in a day." The seventy-five thousand Chinese in America today constitute an outstanding challenge to the . "Before I leave I want to ask you a question," Christians of America-a challenge that has never been adequately accepted. said the Vice-Consul as he turned to the door. Christians can-learn to "think yellow" by learn- "Make it snappy then," grumbled the barber. ing to understand and to' sympathize with the Chinese. We need not "act yellow" in a sense of "I'm expecting a customer any moment." doing what is unworthy of a follower of Jesus Christ. The same Gospel that transforms us will "If my country came to you, as it has in the burnish the Chinese into gold fit for the King's crown. past, and gave Uncle Sam an order for five million dollars worth of machine guns and ammunition, seventy-five aeroplanes, two million dollars worth of scrap-iron and half-a-million dollars worth of modern factory equipment, would your people re- fuse the order? Would they say, 'We don't take Chinks as customers?'" Without waiting for the answer the Chinese stalked out of the shop. .
The tragedy was that at the same time he slammed the shop door he also slammed his heart's door on Jesus Christ. Today, that Vice-Consul is a chief executive under Emperor Henry Pu-Yi of Manchukuo. One of his tasks is to interview mis- sion board representatives who come with re- quests for government grants of land for hospitals and for other concessions. We wonder if he ever says to himself: ". . . We don't serve white for- eign devils."
Now let us take a boat to a foreign port in the "Dragon Kingdom," "thinking yellow" in Hong- kong. A young Chinese restaurant owner needed a new suit, and noticing a special sale advertised by a prominent down-town tailor, he planned to investigate. An antiquated street car took him to the foreign concession where he eagerly viewed
of the Rural Church in
~-.. I By REV. J. R. WATT, D.D., Kingston, Ontario I Registrar in Queen's Theological College EXCLUDING Greenland, Alaska and New- gave the ratio of urban to rural population as 53.7 foundland (a separate British Dominion), to 46.29 (urban, in Canadian census terminology, Canada comprises the entire northern part includes any separately organized municipality of the North American Continent. It has an area regardless of population). Since 1881 there has of 3,729,665 square miles as compared with the been a steady decline in the ratio of the rural pop- 3,776,700 square miles of the United States and ulation. In many of the older townships the rural . its dependencies and is slightly smaller than the population has declined as much as 50 per cent.
Continent of Europe. The estimated potential Even so two-thirds of Canadian congregations are agricultural land is 2,218,747,200 acres. rural or semirural in character. For this reason Occupying this vast area are 10,376,786 people, alone the welfare of rural congregations is a an average of 2.99 per square mile, but because major concen of the Canadian Church.
large areas are unoccupied this figure may be mis- It seemed necessary to state the foregoing facts leading. Prince Edward Island, with little unoc- that non-Canadian readers, unfamiliar with con- cupied land, has an average density of 40.3 while ditions here, might have some background against Ontario, with great areas unsettled in the North, which to look at the problem. In many respects has 9.45. East of the Great Lakes most of the the problem of the rural church is the same in population is found south of the 50th parallel and China, India, Canada or the United States. But in the West south of the 55th. the approach to and the solution of it must always Of this population 5,381,071 are of British take into account the local background with its origin, 2,927,990 of French, 2,067,725 of other unique local characteristics. Climate, density of races. The largest non-Anglo-Saxon groups are population, religious complexion, racial traditions, German 473,544, Ukrainian 225,113, Dutch 148,- are all factors of prime importance to workers in 962, Polish 145,503. The largest infiltration of this field, and must be taken into account in any non-Anglo-Saxon population is in the West. efforts at betterment. Some of these factors are Prince Edward Island is almost solidly Anglo- permanent, others are modifiable, and the problem Saxon while of the people of Manitoba, Saskatche- will change as they change.
wan and Alberta half are of non-Anglo-Saxon In a contribution as brief as this must neces- origin. sarily be, many significant elements must be In religion the population is 4,285,388 Roman passed by without reference. For example, there Catholic (of whom 2,853,117 are in Quebec and are in not a few communities the changing racial the Maritime Provinces), Jews 155,614, Greek complexion. Areas that once were solidly British Orthodox 102,389. The United Church is the and populous enough to maintain adequate reli- largest Protestant group with 2,017,375 persons, gious services are by steady infiltration becoming and the Anglicans second with 1,635,615. French or Ukrainian or some other racial color.
The climate varies with the latitude and other Then follows inevitably the ethical confusion and factors. Compared with Europe, except in the uncertainty that accompanies the clash of cultures territory on or near the Pacific coast influence by and the, difficulty that a thinning Protestantism the warm waters of the ocean, Canadian winters has to support its own religious usages.
are colder and longer with shorter, warmer and Since this and many other problems of the same drier summers. The temperature of the Pacific order are local to certain communities, they must Coast is identical with that of the British Isles in yield place here to other handicaps much wider in the same latitude. Of Canada as a whole it may their influence which effect all rural work. Of be said that the climate is healthful and invig- these denominationalism must be given first place.
orating, favorable to hardy bodies and vigorous Denominationalism is an inheritance. Histori- minds. cally Christianity was propogated and maintained Agriculture is the chief industry. In a single in the Dominion on a denominational basis. It year the value of the total agricultural production would serve no good purpose to quarrel with a has reached $2,000,000,000. The Census of 1931 fact that was, perhaps, in the evolution of Prot- [365 ]
estantism inevitable. But inevitable or not de- In these overchurched communities the work nominationalism in spite of much that was ad- suffers in several directions. Ministers are undermirable and praiseworthy must be debited with paid. If three men have to be supported where some things inimical to the rural church. When only one is needed stipends are inadequate and a pioneer community found itself, because of de- home mission funds that ought to go to new nominational zeal and prejudice, supplied with all pioneer work are expended in communities that the branches of Presbyterianism, Methodism, the might and ought to be self-supporting. Because Baptists and Anglicanism, it was not well of competitive denominationalism ministers have churched but shamefully overchurched. The con- to minister to areas too large for efficient work. sequence was a burden of maintenance that over- Serving, as many must, three, four and five points taxed the financial resources of the community, there is not a full program of religious work at inadequate buildings, and ,a conception of religion any place. Sunday school and Young People's that would be difficult to justify from the New work suffers because the groups are too small Testament. This condition has been improved for effective work and the minister's time is too greatly by the various unions that have taken much dissipated. Buildings once adequate when place. In 1876 the Presbyterian churches united preaching was the only function of the church to form the Presbyterian Church in Canada. In Gan scarcely be maintained and seldom are re- . 1883 the various Methodist bodies came together placed with modern buildings in keeping with in the Canadian Methodist Church. Then in 1925 present-day conceptions of church function. the Presbyterian Church, the Methodist Church and the Congregational Churches merged their A second handicap that adversely affects all identity to make the United Church of Canada. rural work is the measure of disesteem with which The Methodist Church as a whole entered this society and the Church regards the country and union, practically all the Congregational Churches country life. As a generation we are urbanand two-thirds of the Presbyterian Church in minded. The proof and causes of this fact cannot Canada. be here examined. It must stand biuntly while the consequences are set forth. The consequences of this latter Union for the rural work affected by it were far-reaching. The Very few men voluntarily and deliberately degreatest single incentive in achieving Union was vote themselves to country work. In too many the religious needs of the rapidly expanding fron- cases it is accepted as a second best because nothtier. In anticipation of Union hundreds of con- ing else offers. It is accepted with the hope that solidations took place and in the three years fol- a few years apprenticeship will open the way to lowing Union 560 amalgamations, rearrangement an urban appointment which carries with it the of fields, or uniting of charges were affected, in- hall mark of success. When this ambition is not volving 2,000 congregations. One Presbytery, realized there is a measure of secret disappoint- Kamloops, B. C., reported a saving of $2,750 per ment and a restlessness which most men strive year in Home Mission Funds. Within the area of heroically to conceal. But concealed or admitted the former Presbyterian Synod of Toronto there it reacts on the work and robs men of the joy in was a saving in money of $50,000 while 126 men service without which no man gives his best. required on a competitive basis were released for work elsewhere. In part society is to blame for this deprecation of rural life and service. The stage farmer with In spite of this improvement there still remains hayseeds in his uncombed hair is a libel that gets in the older parts of the Dominion much over- raucous laughter from cr'owds who appreciate churching in rural areas. The Union of 1925 af- very little the farmer's part in national economy. fected only three of the national churches at work "Who's Who" is a roster of city names – even in Canada. But within the United Church itself though many are farmers' sons. It is difficult to there is a natural enough reluctance on the part imagine any farm achievement that would earn a of many people to close unneeded churches, hal- man a place beside those who have achieved prolowed by'memory and long association, in the in- fessional distinction or made money. Urban newsterest of an efficiency that was not demanded in papers frequently publicize city pulpits while earlier days or encouraged by older conditions. rural utterances of equal merit go unnoticed. For this reason it is not impossible to find many hamlets of six or seven hundred people striving In part our Theological Colleges are to blame. to maintain four or five churches where only one They graduate students hopeful that they will add is needed. Eventually this anachronism will cor- lustre to the school by winning tall city pulpits. rect itself, but when it comes it must be without Among the courses they offer there is little serious too much overhead compulsion and so it will be effort at instruction in rural background or rural slow. psychology; and as little to impress students with the contribution that the farm makes to national character, culture and stability. Little pains are
PROBLEMiS OF THE RURAL CHURCH IN CANADA
taken to correct the silly heresy that country pas- Church at large. Today the average urban church torate,is a proof of mediocrity. has at its command much more adequate and In larger part than either society or the theo- steady resources than its rural neighbor.
logical college the Church itself is to blame for Today the farmer is not prosperous in Canada.
accepting these standards without vigorous pro- When taxes are paid and necessary living expenses test or effective resistance. Whatever it may have are provided for there is little left over for the held in theory in practice it has consented to such Church or any other community enterprise. Why a judgment. This is to be seen first in the scale agriculture should remain the Cinderella among of salaries in town and country. The average in industries is a question that clamantly calls for an the city has been always very much higher than answer. Of its truth there can be little doubt and anything attempted in the country. This, doubt- neither the Church nor the nation will be steadily less, is justifiable in a measure but the spread is prosperous until such adjustments are made as greater than can be justified. Because of the will secure for the farmer a fair return for his larger stipends and other advantages that urban investment risk and labor.
life offers the city exercises a selective power that It is obvious, then, that this problem cannot be tends to bring the ablest men to its pulpits. This solved by Church action alone. The economist and happens not because city posts are more difficult statesman must lend their aid before this handi- or more important but because of very definite cap can be removed. When it is corrected, as it financial and social advantages. The rural min- must be in the national interest, a new day will ister, frequently isolated, serving a community dawn for the country church. For the farmer is with a declining population of three or four small essentially religious. He is too close to the vital discouraged groups, who provide little effective processes of the world to be much impressed by a local leadership has a task far more difficult than godless humanism. His religion may be touched the average urban minister and needs, if he is to with fatalism but he knows that it is only the fool carryon, courage of the highest order. Yet the that says in his heart there is no God. If his Church is content to send its weakest men to the Church is meagerly supported it is by necessity most demanding tasks and remunerate them on and not by choice.
the lowest scale in the Church. That rural pas- Three conditions that enter into the rural torates are brief, too brief to face and solve the church problem have been briefly noted. What problems they present, is not to be wondered at. of the future? It is pleasant to be able to state in It is the direct consequence of the factors we have closing that definite progress is being made. The been considering and will not be corrected until outlook is promising. Overchurching is on the de- the Church wins back a true perspective and cline. The generation that takes up our work is creates sufficient spiritual dynamic to remove going to see some changes that the boldest prophet these abuses and inspire men to choose as Oberlin did not dare to anticipate a generation ago. The did more than a century ago. Church is slowly opening its eyes to the need and A third major handicap which touches the pros- profit of strengthening the rural base. More men perity of the rural church is the depressed status are hearing and responding to the call of the coun- of agriculture as an industry. The Church as an try without apology or the old sense of inferiority.
institution cannot carryon without suitable build- And governments are slowly learning that pros- ings, equipment and trained leadership and for perity and national greatness are not products of these a sufficient measure of financial support mass production in city factories but have their must be found in the community served or in the roots much deeper in the life of the soil.
FOLLY OF BEING POWERLESS If an electric car stands motionless on the tracks, it is nothing against the power of electricity. If an invalid has no appetite, and cannot go out of doors at night, it is no argument against things good to eat and the joy of starlit air. If a man does not know a flower by name nor a poem by heart, it is no indictment of the beauty of a rose or the charm of some poem. If we bear the name of Christ, but give no other sign of Him; if we go through the forms of Godliness, but live powerless lives, it is a thousand reproaches to us. To be powerless when Christ has all power, and we can have all we want, is an arraignment to which we can make no answer that is not self-incriminating.-Selecfed.
Service for Rural
~-.. I By the REV. LOUIS C. HARNISH, Standish, Maine IPJ…- W HERE shall we spend our honeymoon? Why should so much outside help be needed in This was one of the questions that two carrying on the work of the rural church? young people discussed as they made plans This question involves two other questions: for their wedding. One was a recent graduate of "Why not depend on local leadership?" "What a well-known college who was serving as Dean of are the special or unusual needs that ought to be Women in her Alma Mater. The other had pre- met?"
pared in a midwestern college for teaching. The In other words, what are the conditions which answer to their question came from the American make the revival of the rural churches so difficult, Friends Service Committee to whom the Sebago and why is there need of such a large amount of Lake Regional Parish of Maine had applied for volunteer work that can be done only with the help vounteer summer workers. Arrangements were of leaders from outside the community?
completed and the young bride and groom arrived The task of the Christian Church might be deon the scene. They found themselves in a colony fined as "ministering to the abundant life." Chris- of eight volunteer summer workers, housed in the tianity is a religion of culture. Ministering to hu- large parsonage at Standish. man needs in the spirit of Christ makes religion The Sebago Lake Regional Parish was one of vital. It was in this way that Jesus began the a number of so-called "Larger Parishes" founded work of the Kingdom in His day. People are led largely through the vision and energy of the Rev. from the needs they recognize to the needs that Hilda L. Ives who, in this case, served as one of are more fundamental, that is, spiritual needs. the volunteers. Other members of the colony In spite of all the advances and facilities of were a mother and daughter, two young women college graduates, and a young Harvard student. modern civilization, there are multitudes who need the ministry of health, of sympathetic understand- The mother was a woman of culture and of ex- ing, of encouragement, of wholesome recreation, perience in higher education, who served as house of social satisfactions, of culture, including music, mother. Her daughter was a teacher in the pub- beauty, literary appreciation, etc. Homes need to lic schools of a large city. be made more livable, more attractive, more com- The group lived together as a family, each par- fortable, more sanitary, and in many cases, more ticipating in the household duties. Daily confer- commodious. Parents need assistance and guid- ences were held at which reports of the preceding ance in the care of their children and in habit day were received and plans for the day discussed. training of their children from infancy. They With the aid of cars in various degrees of senility need cooperation in dealing with youth and in the group scattered over the field. Every home in family problems along many lines.
the entire region was visited and studies were This is a spiritual ministry and can never be made of the needs and problems which were re- made fully effective by any other ministry than vealed as a result of the home or individual con- that of Christ-directed lives prepared for the spe- tacts. cific task to which their energies are to be de- Partly as a result of the summer's experiment voted. It is this phase of Christian service that the Church must meet if its ministry is to be efa call for student volunteer Christian service was fective. This is true especially of underprivileged sent out through various channels. An article in sections. Nowhere is this service more needed the Boston Transcript brought many responses. than in many rural regions. More than thirty-five young people have served on the Regional Parish staff, mostly on a non-salary The lack of competent local leadership in many basis. For the past three years the whole staff rural sections..is obvious. The reasons for this. has been serving without salaries. Ordinary liv- lack are also obvious. ing expenses are provided and the staff live as a family in the Standish parsonage. Each person First: The membership of the rural churches is allowed ten dollars a month for strictly per- is for the most part pitiably small. Those who sonal use, but it is understood that no one will be constitute the membership are as a rule older peoallowed to suffer in case of emergency. ple. Many have lost their vital touch with the younger generation. There is also, to a large ex- [368 ] tent, a spirit of pessimism that weakens the in- sick. This is one of the greatest opportunities fluence of the group. for devoted service in the rural field. One member Second: At least one generation has lost out of our present staff is a registered nurse and has both in religious and cultural training. The demonstrated clearly the demand for such servyounger generation, including the young married ice and its practicability as a means of spiritual people, are not even connected with the church, service. except in a few of the more progressive parishes in very recent years. Even those who are mem- There is great need for people with home ecobers often do not take their religion very seri· nomic training, especially fitted to deal sympathetously. ically with families. Here is an opportunity to really transform homes and to instill in them the Third: Those who have the qualities and capac- religious atmosphere. Another line of service is ity for leadership have left their homes to find em- for people with nursery school and kindergarten ployment in other places. Some of these have training. The Regional Parish was instrumental become religious leaders in other churches. in securing Federal Aid for a nursery school which has been carried on for over two years in very Fourth: In rural communities people are scat- close and sympathetic relation to the leaders of tered, many living at a distance from any center, the Parish. It seems almost impossible to overmaking it inconvenient or impossible to attend estimate its value. Elementary Christian educagroup meeting with any regularity. tion must be closely related to the home and Fifth: The demands for Christian service in should begin in the earliest stages of the child's thinly populated regions of Maine and other parts life.
of New England are especially great. Facilities We recognize the value of music in the church that are available in cities and more advanced and in the home and in almost every phase of neighborhoods through schools and clinics, and neighborhood life. Whole generations have lost visiting nurse associations, through settlements out in music training. The schools have made a and civic centers are almost entirely lacking in beginning. Here is a great opportunity for the many country districts. Some "homes" are even Church. Every child that has the capacity ought worse off than those in the congested districts of to have the opportunity to learn to playa musical cities. instrument and to sing. We have done something Sixth: In most country districts there is a lack along this line, but very inadequately. There is need of, and in fact, a demand for many other of social responsibility on the part of the more lines of cultural service. A Harvard graduate privileged people. There is a tendency to regard interested in oriental pottery spent a summer in the people of lower standards of living as "no our parish teaching "coil and pat" method of good" and incapable of rehabilitation. These conditions are, in a way, similar to the making pottery. The response was astonishing. conditions that gave rise to the settlement move- There is demand for all lines of manual work ment in the cities fifty years ago; They give the' for both boys and girls. Recently our boys' Church its opportunity for the revival of the rural worker became very popular teaching the boys to church. Here is a situation that calls for the same make airplane models which could really fly.
heroic service as the foreign field. It is a service The call for volunteer service on the part of that demands the very highest qualifications of younger (and older) Christians is a reasonable character, consecration, spiritual development, one and is certainly in keeping with our Christian and technical training. It calls for the "mission- traditions. It has saved the Church in more than ary spirit" in the highest sense. But it is espe- one crisis. Why should not our young Christian cially in these sections that money is not available students and graduates give one or two years of for the employment of trained workers. How, free service in recognition of the privileges they then, can the situation be met? have enjoyed? Has the Christian Church less The experiment of the Sebago Lake Regional claim on its youth than the Mormons whose young Parish suggests one way of meeting the situation men are called upon to go out without scrip or which is, perhaps, worthy of consideration. It purse or remuneration to serve for a year or two involves, in the first place, sending out to our col- as missionaries? Has the Christian Church less leges and technical schools a call for volunteer right to such service than the State that drafts its service on the part of men and women of excep- young men for military service and training? tionally fine Christian character, technically Moreover, there are many educated Christian peotrained for some specific task. There is need for ple who are economically independent who might nurses with public health training to do educa- well practice their profession without salary.
tional work, serve as visiting nurses, and in case But how are these people to be maintained who of emergency to care temporarily for the very have not the means of their own? This leads to
370· THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD [July-August
the second suggestion which has been tried out on is a project that ought to appeal to many people of a small scale in our Sebago Lake Regional Parish. larger means.
A staff of workers can live as a group or colony, The life of a group living as a family is an inunder good leadership, on a very small allowance. teresting experiment in many ways. It calls for The funds usually provided for two salaries will the exercise of. the finest Christian virtues. It maintain a staff of four or five. There is the pos- also provides the very maximum of social and culsibility, also, in rural regions of doing a little subsistance "farming." People in the country can tural satisfactions.* often give produce where they cannot give money. Evep so, funds are likely to be needed from be- • The Director of the Sebago Lake Regional Parish will be glad nevolent minded people outside the region. This to correspond with people who wish to consider giving themselves for volunteer rural service. It Is hoped that the Parish may become a training field for those who enter such service. .
Saving ~ Whole Rural Community* The Life and Work of John Frederic Oberlin T HE biographer says: "The story of Oberlin The soil was poor, the roads were bad, th€ peo- is that of a man who stayed in a remote valley ple were sick and ignorant – the only school- and did his work so well that the world made teacher was a man whose job had been pig herda path to his door. ing but he had become too old and weak for that so they sent him to care for the children. "John Frederic Oberlin was Franco-German. He never came to America; but an American col- Oberlin took a census which showed five villege was named for him. lages, 100 families, and 400 inhabitants.
"His salary was less than that of a teacher in Service. Oberlin said in his first sermon that our grade school; put, more than a hundred years "minister" meant "-servant" and he had come to after his death, the New Standard Dictionary lists serve. He told the congregation that men serve him as a 'philanthropist.' God by doing good to their neighbors. "Dear friends, one especially please-s God by good works. "He founded the first 'infant schools' on record. To do good works one does not need to have "He was a pioneer in scientific 'agricultural ex- money. Everything that is done for the public tension.' good or to ease the burdens of man or beast, when "In an age of intense religious animositie-s both it is done for love of God, is a good work which Protestants and Catholics worshipped together in rejoices his heart." his church. "He shielded Jews from persecution, and per- Road building. "Such a work, especially," sonally indemnified them for injuries -suffered in Oberlin continued in that fi:r:st sermon, "is the rehis parish. pair and good upkeep of roads." "Although in peril of his life during the French Revolution, he was given 'honorable mention' by He raised money in the city to buy gunpowder the National Convention for his work as an edu- to blast the rocks; he asked villagers to work with cator. him and when only two or three came, he started "He was nominated for the Legion of Honor the job alone. before the fall of Napoleon, and was given this decoration by Louis XVIII. Others joined him; a good road was made; a "He was awarded a gold medal for his work in bridge built and the Valley of Stone was connected agriculture and community betterment. He re- with the outside world. ceived messages of endearment from the Tzar of Russia." The other villages asked Oberlin to help them build roads. Work in a Country Church Schoolhouses. Oberlin bought a lot for a new Oberlin went from a city to live in a small vil- school building; raised the money to buy the malage and work in a rural community. He planned terials. to remain there 30 years. He worked as a carpenter and finished the job • From "Good News-Well Told," a pamphlet published by the in two and a half months. National Christian Council of the Philippine Islands. The facts are taken from Dawson's book entitled, "John Frederic Oberlln-A Prot- Next he built schoolhouses in the other four estant Saint." villages.
SAVING A WHOLE RURAL
Sanitation. Oberlin concluded one of his ser- the villagers, continued to dig. When the trenches mons thus: were four or five feet deep he lowered young trees "My friends, remember what I have told you. into them, mixing and pressing lightly around The pestilences which from time to time have car- their roots the kinds of soil believed to be best ried half the people of this valley to their graves suited to their rapid growth. He alsO" procured are not caused by witches. They are caused by slips of a few pears, plums, cherries, and some filth. Some of you, showing love to God by a re- nuts, and turned one of his gardens into a large gard for the common welfare, have heeded what nursery. Then he waited. The mountaineers had I have asked everyone to do and are keeping your never seen trees grow so fast. At last their premises free from filth that is a public nuisance. curiosity got the better of them. Of their own Others, showing an obstinacy that fills Satan with accord, they came to express their astonishment joy, have continued in their old and detestable and to ask him how they could raise such trees ways. What shall I say, then? Shall I leave them ' for themselves."
to start another pestilence, and let them learn Next Oberlin gradually introduced scientific from the Angel of Death when that messenger agriculture. comes to their door? Indeed, they well deserve "He was interested primarily in the character such teaching; but alas, when calamity comes the of the inhabitants of the Valley of Stone. He had good must suffer with the bad. No-I must try seen a vision of perfected humanity' in the char- again to save you. I cannot command you. But acter of Jesus unfolded in the Gospels. His con- see, dear friends and compatriots, what I hold in suming passion was the desii'e to lift all men to my hand ! Yes it is money – money that came that level. But it did not take long for a man who through the sale of grain from my fields. I offer had trained himself both in medicine and theology it as prizes to our countrymen whose yards, upon to see that bodies enfeebled by a degrading desti- inspection, are found to be free from filth." tution cannot go far on the road to spiritual per- An educational system. Oberlin changed office fection. Oberlin heard a voice that said: 'I was of teacher from standard of a pig herder to that hungry, and you fed me.' He must feed these peoof highest honor in the village. He wrote new ple. 'God is immensely rich!' It is not necessary textbooks; he organized "infant schools," the first for any child of his to go hungry. Wherever there kindergartens in the world. Thus he established is a need, there is also a supply. Apply the Golden in his rural parish the best school system in Rule and the scientific method, and everyone will Europe. have enough and to spare."
A demonstration in farming. When the people Then Oberlin's wife taught the people how to saw these things, they began to believe that their spin. In one year the small Valley sold to one manufacturer about 12,000 pesos worth. leader knew what he was doing. "The mountaineers were ready to admit that "Visitors to the Valley of Stone discovered that the inhabitants were more intelligent, honest, and Oberlin could lay a stone wall, clear a road, build polite than were any other peasants they had ever a bridge, construct a school, and teach them to seen. The schools and the church had done their read and write. But there was one thing a peas- work! A distinguished Swiss patriot, who had ant, living in the eighteenth century, would not founded a ribbon factory at Basle, was attracted believe that a city man could do. He could not to the Valley of Stone by the fame of its minister. teach them anything about farming. He urged his two sons to move their ribbon fac- tory to this place. . . . "Oberlin knew this feeling on the part of the peasants. He was wise enough to respect their prejudices, where these were deeply rooted. He "The factory was located in the Valley of Stone would not start by telling them about new meth- without further ado. (In 1812, Legand's entire ods and undreamed-of possibilities. But there establishment was removed to the Valley of was nothing to prevent his setting out some trees Stone.) The prosperity of the region was then as- and plants in his own gardens and fields. sured."
"One day there was much merriment in the vil- Called to America, Oberlin decided to remain lage of Waldsbach. Two fields, noted for the bar- in his Valley. He lived there sixty years (1767- renness of their soil, belonged to the parsonage. 1826) and won the whole Valley to Christ. Prot- These fields were crossed by paths much fre- estants and Catholics worshipped together in his quented by the peasants. The passers-by noticed, church. .
on the day in question, that the minister, with the This remarkable life of a Christian preacher help of a servant, was digging deep trenches shows how effective witness may be borne to through the barren fields. What did he expect to Christ through service that helps to elevate men grow in that place? . . . intellectually, economically and socially as well "Oberlin, disregarding the sly amusement of as spiritually.
BELLINGHAM PREACHING AND PRACTICING AMONG BEDOUINS OF
Medical Work Among Arabs in Iraq* -·of/ifJ.!,;;;1====B=Y=W=.=B=EL=L=IN=G=HAM=====~lll>o- -THE vast expanse of the Shamiyah Desert, gists, geologists, also search and journey with .. which lies west of the River Euphrates in high hopes of adding a little more to our knowl- Central Mesopotamia (the Kingdom of Iraq) edge of the almost unknown.
extends far into the Nejd (in Arabia). It is There are a very few who are called and sent bordered by the Syrian Desert to the north and to heal the sick and to preach the Gospel among by all the mystery of Arabia to the south. the widely scattered tribes of Nomad Arabs.
A trip into that supposedly empty desert would Nothing can turn them aside from their objective seem rather reckless to the ordinary individual; once the "call" is upon them and so long as their a sojourn over a period of years~whatever one's trust is in the Risen Lord. To them the way is objective-would appear nothing short of mad- old yet ever new with new and exciting dangers ness. Yet people do travel there, though one often and difficulties. There are the unpleasant sensawonders what attractions those great arid wastes tions in the burning sun at midday; terrible footh.ave to offer, and why people endure untold hard- soreness, thirst, fevers, loneliness-all new with a grim unexpectedness. The aches and pains, the ships, wandering about its vast empty spaces. sufferings and anxieties experienced along the Some travelers seek something new by way of wayside in the journeyings of a missionary are adventure: they experience queer itchings in the never fully told. Nor need they ever be told, for blood known to many as wanderlust. Organized they are forgotten mid blessings derived from parties of explorers, anthropologists, archreolo- ministering to the greater sufferings of those to * Condensed from 'The EvnngeHcal Ohristian, Toronto. whom they are sent. For those sick bodies and [372 ]
MEDICAL WORK AMONG ARABS IN IRAQ
sicker souls to whom they journey know not the women; they are moving off at the sight of uscomforts and love of the Risen Saviour. single file, along a well-worn track, carrying skins of water. The water in the water-hole is dirty But come with me-or rather with us, Christ and stagnant, but oh, how precious – water is and myself-if you would know something of the Life !.How sweet on the desert! "Let us hurry desert. We will take you into its unquenchable and tell them of the sweet water of Eternal Life." life as we live it, and as it really is. It is only a thought and cannot be done, for sud- denly we think of the. unwritten laws of the desert The journey requires a little over three hours and content ourselves and follow on, not daring by either camel or horse and is just as uncom- to mention them more than once to our Arab comfortable on either. Leaving our little home of dried mud, dwarfing itself in the distance, we THE MISSIONARY IN ARAB DRE.SS sway off into the wilderness, soon to lose sight of everything one connects with mankind. There is panion, who in the roughest voice he can muster, not a structure, mechanical contrivance or human is bidding them ,move from our path.. "It's easy being within sight. On every side is sun-scorched for us to go aroun~," we protest with a feeling of desert, dry, empty, silent, uncanny and bare but pity. .But t~y h~ve scrambled aside. One has for the presence of a few clumps of camel-thorn fallen over, and we pass on trying hard not to and ourselves. The sun beats down with a pitiless hear the oaths muttered by the Arab at our side. glare, and the surface of the desert becomes so hot that it will fry an egg. 'Perspiration oozes from The tents of the other Arabs are not to be seen. every pore; a gentle breeze from the south lifts The path winds and, twists through the thorns for up particles of sand that adhere to every inch of another four miles and we cross a rift in the desour uncovered skin. Even the thought of water ert, and there, to our relief, are the tents, black as makes us thirsty, but we refrain from drinking– the lean goats moving around. Our thoughts we shall only perspire more freely if we do. Our Arab companion comforts us with an Arab prov- flash to Genesis, arid we think of Jabal, Abraham erb: "Don't drink-less thirst; don't eat-less hunger?" So we sway along to the rhythm of the and Jacob, who were plainsmen dwelling in tents. gurgling water in our waterskin. To talk is a Surely they must have used tents like these even fatigue, so we rock and think, think and sway, Oh, why were camels made to walk so oddly? It's such an uncomfortable ache we feel across the belt. The glare hurts our eyes. We wish we could talk; we wish we could drink. Oh, if only there were one shady tree where we could rest. If only we could see something new or other nomads in the distance. Why, oh why, do people waste so much water over the simple washing of hands? A thousand and one thoughts flash on through the mind-we straighten up-relax, close our eyesmeditate-. We shall not get lost, Christ is at our side and even if there is no track we are comforted somewhat for our Arab companion is with us. On and on! .
Over a ridge and dpwn into an indentation. There is more thorn now:, and there-away in the distance-camels-"El Hamdu lillah"-unto God be praise. Further ~n are flocks of sheep and goats that 'appear to be grazing on sand for we see no grass. We begin to wonder what the black hundles are that move, for from where'we sit they appear to be framed between the camels' ears. It's a water-hole-no need for the Arab to tell us. The camels smeUed it long before we crossed the ridge and had we been unconscious from thirst the camels would have taken us there even if they themselves did not want to drink. They are wonderful, in spite of being awkward at times.
But there! we see that the black bundles are
in those long ages past. There they stand in all is in God. "God is great," they mutter, and now the stark loneliness of the desert. is the time to tell them of God's greatness. They love a good story and will listen with patience; Someone is running to meet us; a shout goes but in like manner we have to listen to their up, others follow. Several barking dogs race to stories, with patience equally as great, or they will show their teeth, but the first to greet us are the not listen to our next. Usually their stories are flies. We attempt to speak. Several flies are in about the prophet Mohammed and Jimree, and our mouth, but we soon get used to it. what they lack in propriety they soon gain in amusement. The Arab has perfected the art of The Arab at our side mutters: "Allah Wakeil" telling a story; much gesticulation, gasping and (God our Trustee), and touches the camel's neck. repetition goes with everyone. The following is With a series of grunts it kneels at an alarming typical of the kind that tickle their imaginations, angle, head down and forelegs first; we hold tight and this, by the way, is believed by them to be until we get a jolt from behind and know then she true. is properly settled. We alight with relief and have the feeling that it is good to he on mother One mullah, such a good mullah he was, never was there earth. But before the feeling has rushed around a mullah like him. Never! our aching limbs we must give our greetings with "Peace," which is answered by "And on you be He was always most careful in his ablutions, and always peace." washed his hands before going to pray. And as was his ha0it he always held out his hands, always held out his A dozen or more dirty palms are thrust into hands he did. But the sparrows belonging to the mosque ours and in our pockets with impunity. The bag knew, and at prayer time always flew down to rest on his with the medicines is in the safe-keeping of the hands and cling to his fingers to drink the drops of water Arab, who freely clouts one and then another of that gathered at his finger ends, until not even a drop rethe besieging crowd. A score of questions are mained and his hands became dry. asked in as many seconds about our health and welfare, and what we have brought. We are then At the end everyone gasps, and the teller, to led to the Sheikh's tent where some measure of confirm it, will swear by his Prophet that it is not peace is assured. Greetings and questions are re- false. peated and a dusty rug is placed at our disposal. So we relax. A new dung fire is lighted right at Finally we tell our story, a guest's, privilege. our feet; coffee beans are roasted and pounded. Then comes our time for medical treatment and We ask someone to bring our water but sour milk more Gospel. These Arab nomads suffer from alis brought in a filthy container instead, with flies most every ailment it is possible to imagine-sore swimming on its surface and every inch of its ex- eyes, open sores, the only covering of which are terior covered. To brush them off would send the flies; infected wounds; cuts, burns, skin dismore diving into the beverage, so instead we blow eases and internal complaints too numerous to them to the far side and take sucking drafts of mention. Very seldom do they wash and never the milk until our thirst is quenched. If we should with soap. They are so poor that one cannot be weak in the stomach and complain about the imagine how poor until they are seen-no money, flies, we may hear comments to the effect that we no stores. They live mostly on dates and the have been given both food and drink and that meagre supply of milk from their flocks. Perhaps they were sent by' Allah. twice a year they take wool, hair and skins to the town, which may be a handred miles away, and But we have come to preach the Gospel, but preaching, in the ordinary sense of the word, there they exchange their pJoduce for clothes and cannot be done, so we shall have to win them by cheap luxuries. tact. If we can first attend to their sadly-neglected bodies they will then listen with eagerness Those diseases for which we have no cure we to the wonderful healing power of the Great Phy- commend to God in prayer and He honors the sician, for they never forget a kindness. faith of His servants. The men and boys are treated first; then we go to the women and girls. First we must have coffee and discuss the latest It is pitiful. But a half can never be told. We news; then follows a general talk. They know leave messages of comfort and promise to come why we are here but it's beyond them to know again, if God so wills. "Inshallah" they repeat why we are not afraid. Government officials visit from their hearts. them on rare occasions, but always with an escort of several armed police. After giving our treatments we return to the Sheikh and ask permission to go. He presses us "Are you not afraid of being stabbed and to stay the night, but we have had the experience robbed," they often ask, for they love talking of before. We pick off a few lice that are visible on such subjects. We tell them briefly that our trust our dress and make excuses. We return home as the. coming night chases another passing day to
HANS EGEDE-MISSIONARY TO GREENLAND
the west, to bathe in four gallons of water. If Their trust is in a dead prophet while ours is in that is not available-be patient, Brother! Christ the Risen Lord. bore our sufferings on Calvary and made one sacrifice once and for all; therefore no sacrifice is too When next we visit the spot we find the water great for us to make for Him. We think of the hole dry and the desert empty and bare. All is Arabs we have left behind, and our hearts ache. quiet. They have gone, Gone! GONE! BUT WHERE???
Hans Egede – Missionary to Greenland Last year was the 250th anniversary of Hans Egede's birth. We are indebted to Dr. O. M. Norlie of Luther College, and to the News Bulletin of the National Lutheran Church for the following sketch of this interesting and inspiring Lutheran missionary of long ago.
H ANS EGEDE, the Apostle to Greenland, Gardar, Greenland. Then, for a long and dreary was born January 31, 1686, at Senjen, stretch of over three hundred years, nothing is Northern Norway, 250 years ago. This said about Greenland.
busy world will do well to pause a moment to It was Hans Egede who brought the question up listen to a brief tale about his life and labors. He again. A graduate of the University of Copenwas a hero and saint whose monument is the hagen at 21, he at once married and accepted a ChuroCh of Greenland, of which every person in pastorate in the fishing town of Vaagan, Lofoten Greenland, except two, is a baptized member. Next to Australia, Greenland is the largest island Islands, Norway. While there he read about the in the world. It is more than one-fourth as large Greenland settlements and the Church that had as the United States. It is the most northern once been planted on that remote island. He beland in the world, and perhaps the coldest, for its gan to think about it and to talk about it, and, interior is covered with an immense shield of ice after much careful and prayerful consideration rising from 4,000 feet to 11,000 feet. Its mon- concluded that he ought to go there as a missionstrous fjords discharge numberless icebergs, some ary to his countrymen. He laid the matter beof them ten miles long and a mile or more deep. fore the bishops of Trondheim and of Bergen, but The habitable portion is a thin fringe along the their replies, which were delayed a whole year, southwestern and the southeastern coasts, an area were just honeyed words. His parishioners at first thought his views interesting, then they proof 46,740 miles, or 5% of the total island. tested, later became angry and finally regarded him as deranged. His wife, Gertrude Rask of The first settlers in Greenland were the ancient Bergen, at first did not share with him his desire Norsemen. GunnbjflSrn, Ulf Krage's son, the sages to go to such a desolate and unknown field, but say, was driven by a storm to the coast of Green- through prayer she became convinced that God land in 876 and wintered there. Erik the Red willed it and never afterwards wavered in het made a settlement there in 983, and called the support of him. To this day she is reckoned as land Greenland, hoping to attract settlers. At one of the noblest missionaries in all the annals one time there were six thousand Norsemen liv- of nineteen hundred years of mission work.
ing there. In 1715, Egede wrote a pamphlet defending his In 999, King Olaf Trygvasson of Norway sent idea as to the need of mission work in Greenland and resigned from his pastorate in order to arouse Leif Erikson to Greenland to Christianize it. In- interest for the mission cause. People regarded cidentally he made a voyage of discovery and him as a madman. Church people would not listen found Vinland, and his name is best known as the to him anymore. He turned to the merchants. discoverer of America in 1000. In the Norse He went to Bergen to enlist the merchants in an sagas and the Vatican archives are found occa- expedition of trade with Greenland. It was all sional notices of the Church which Leif established in vain for they dared not make the venture. in Greenland. Thus, in 1112, Pope Paschal II ap- Now, fortunately, the King of Denmark-Norway, pointed Eric Knutsson Bishop of Greenland. In Frederick IV, had started a mission college and 1121, Bishop Eric left Iceland for Vinland. The had sent two missionaries, the German Pi~tists bishops after him are mentioned in the Icelandic Ziegenbalg and Pliitschau, to be missionaries vellums by name in regular succession down to among the Tamils around the Danish trading set- 1409. In a letter of Pope Alexander VI, dated tlement at Tranquebar, South India. The sending 1492, the year of Columbus' discovery of America, of these two to India is considered as the beginthe sad condition of neglected Greenland is reviewed and Matthias is appointed Bishop of
ning of modern Protestant missions. Egede be- ing venture rather than a missionary enter,prise, took himself to the King, who at first refused to and for a year they had not been able to do any consider the Greenland project, but later prom- trading with the natives. In fact, they could not ised to give an annual amount of money to it and even buy provisions and as their supplies were gave Egede public endorsement. With this back- .getting dangerously low, were firmly determined ing, Egede began to get a more respectful hear- to leave for home on a certain day. But, on the ing and by 1721, after thirteen years of agitation, day set for leaving Greenland, three Norwegian he had a trading-colonizing company organized boats came into sight. They brought supplies and and a ship purchased for the voyage. With his reinforcements, and took home such of the colfamily and forty men on board he set sail from onists as were discontented. And so the work Bergen on May 3, 1721, and arrived off the south- went on. At length through the children Egede west coast of Greenland on July 3, 1721, two was permitted to do some small acts of kindness months later. As the natives seemed fearful and among the Eskimos. Fear of him waned and he fled at the approach of the newcomers, he occupied became a welcome guest. He was a hard student a little island off the coast, which he called and made good progress in their language and HaabetsjiS (Island of Hope). This island was to began to understand their ways. At last, on Janbe his headquarters for seven years. uary 10, 1724, he gathered some seventy of them in one of the larger houses and for the first time The Greenlanders, Egede found to be, I).ot de- preached to them in their own language. scendants of the old Norsemen, but an Indian tribe called Innuits or Eskimos. The Norsemen Four years later Egede moved his colony from had disappeared, and their sixteen large churches the little island to the mainland and named the and their houses were all gone. As stated, the new station Godthaab (Good Hope). It is still natives were timid and afraid and unapproach- one of the chief towns of Greenland and the seat able. They had had experience with strange of the Greenland Lutheran Theological Seminary, ships, with whalers and merchantmen who had which trains the native ministry of today. Other often come to rob and kill as well as to barter. stations were added as time went on: one at On one occasion, according to Egede's "Dagbog" Christianshaab in 1734 by Hans Egede, several (Daybook) a whaler came and set fire to an by his son, Paul, later on, as at Frederikshaab in Eskimo village, came again the next year and re- 1742, at J akobshavn in 1749, at Claushavn in peated the crime. No wonder they were afraid 1752. The king gave Hans Egede the title of of Egede and fled to the hillsides when he came Bishop of Greenland, later applied to his son, Paul ashore. In fact, the first year he was on the Island Egeqe, and other successors. of Hope the village on the mainland near by was emptied of its inhabitants. It was mainly through But though Egede had won the confidence of his children, Paul and Nils and the two daughters, the Eskimos, there were many hardships. Buildwho played with the Eskimo children, that ing material and many kinds of food had to be imfriendly relations were gradually established. ported from Europe. There was often danger of starvation and real famine. There was sickness Egede set to work to learn the language, which and even plague. The opposition from the native was not then written. He started to translate the priesthood was deep-rooted. Some of the colonists catechism and portions of the Bible into their and traders that had come over were not morally tongue. It was a difficult undertaking, for their what they should be. In 1727 the trading comvocabulary was very meager. How, for example, pany which Egede had organized dissolved, as it could he render "Lamb of God" to a people who was not a paying venture. This was a hard blow, had never seen a lamb and had no word for it in but Egede asked his king in· faith to send him their language? There were other obstacles too. more workers, and he sent him two new mission- The native priests did not welcome the new re- aries, Ole Lange and Heinrich Milzong. In 1731 ligion. The people, like ignorant heathen else- a ship came to port with the sad news that Fredwhere in the world, were prone to superstitious erick IV, the friend of missions, both in "Greenbeliefs and practices. One superstition was that land's icy mountains" and· on "India's coral sickness was due to witchcraft. So, when some strands," was dead. Egede got orders to return one got sick, the thing to do was to find the witch to Norway. The royal support was withdrawn. that was causing the trouble. Usually some poor, But the Greenlanders urged him to stay, and Gerhelpless old woman was seized, tortured to death, trude, his wife, agreed with him that it was their her heart taken out, her body sawed to bits and duty. So they stayed on. The new king, Christhrown into the waves of the sea. There was tian VI, joined the Pietist movement and became no hope of curing a sickness until this had been friendly to the mission cause. Count Zinzendorf done. Such superstitions died hard. was present at his coronation and witnessed the baptism of two Greenland boys that Egede had Again, the expedition had been at base a trad-
HANS EGEDE-MISSIONARY 1'0 GREENLAND
sent to Denmark to be trained. This gave Zin- and enlightened people, due to the solid foundazendorf an idea, which his Church, the Moravian Brethren, then and there began to .put into action. tions laid by Hans Egede and his son, Paul. The idea was to bring the Gospel to the heathen. Zinzendorf pleaded with King Christian VI to When Hans Egede came back to Norway he was support Egede, and from then on Christian was a staunch friend of the Greenland mission. Zinzen- engaged in speaking about the work of his misdorf went a step further. He himself would send missionaries to Greenland to help out. He sent sion. The University of Copenhagen established three good men to start with who made their first station and headquarters at a place they called a Greenland Seminary and made" him the director New Herrnhut, some distance north of Godthaab. Strange to say, their coming was in many ways a of it, a position he held until 1747, when he asked hindrance to Egede's work, for they opposed him, notwithstanding that he was always kindly and to be relieved. In his retirement he lived at Stubhelpful towards them. The worst hardship that befell the mission during Hans Egede's stay was bekj~bing on the little island of Falster, Denmark. the smallpox plague in 1735. A boy came down with this dread disease, which spread rapidly from There he died on November 5, 1758, at seventyhut to hut and laid waste whole villages so that there was not a man left to bury the dead. Some two and was buried beside his dear wife in the three thousand died of the scourge, including Gertrude Rask Egede, the beloved and faithful Nikolai Cemetery. The Eskimos to this day call wife of Hans. Then, at her death, broken down by untiring labors and sorrow, he asked that he him the "Unforgettable Father." " might return to his homeland for a season of rest. He preached his farewell sermon on July 28, 1736, A DOCTOR'S NIGHT AT FATEHPUR* vona.mth.e. s.a.d"text Isaiah 40: 4-"1 have labored in (By one who sleeps on the Hospital roof) But had he labored in vain? Although after The birds have hushed their sweetest bedtime songs, fifteen years of work he had baptized only twenty For dusk has quickly faded into night. people, he had prepared the soil and had /'lown much good seed that was to bear abundant fruit. The monkeys, crooning, moaning in the trees, Said one native to him: "You have done for us Are soon to hush, until the break of light. what none of our own would have done. You have stayed by us in our sickness and fed us out of A traveler on his way to cheer of home, your store. You have buried our dead who other- Goes singing down the now-deserted road. wise would not have received burial and would have been devoured by dogs and ravens and foxes. Anon come jingling bells and trotting hoofs- But above all you have told us about God and the An ekka driver clicking-on his load. Saviour and Heaven, so that we can die in joy and have a sure hope of a better life in the world When time has come for sleep, a jackal howls, to come." And then the pack let out blood-curdling cries His work was continued by his son Paul Egede, 'Til all the dogs awake and start to bark; who spoke the Eskimo like a native and was a It seems as though they echo round the skies. truly great linguist and administrator. He wrote in the Eskimo language a dictionary, a grammar, And from the distance comes the rhythmic drum Luther's Catechism, the New Testament, the Of tom-toms, of some Hindu wedding feast. Church Book. He extended the missions along the whole west coast of Greenland over one thou- And long into the night their frenzied beats sand miles. The Church in Greenland has ever Grow faster, when all else from sound has ceased. since been a living Church, although like the churches in the homeland it was at low ebb dur- Then wearied from their play, 'tis silent night ing the period of Rationalism. The first heathen And all sleep on, but those who guard the townin Greenland to be baptized, a Protestant, was in 1725, the last was in 1856. Heathenism has been The chaukidars, who call abruptly out, driven from the land. They are a God-fearing While others answer, walking up and down.
And then-sometimes-that sleep disturbing cry: "Oh, chaukidar, oh, come unlock the gate,"
And heavy wheels come crunching down the path. The prodded oxen stop, and then I wait.
And muffled voices soon are heard below, The lights flash out, with tasks soon under way, Inevitable footsteps to my roof Of nurse who calls, "A patient's come to stay."
And then below, the night becomes as day, And we all work to save that woman's life, The baby's too, if haply it still lives 'Spite villagers with ignorance so rife.
And just before the dawn there comes a lull, The woman resting, sleeping after pain; Before the birds their morning chatter start, There's stillness and some peaceful sleep again.
Upon my sleep there breaks a glorious hymn; It is the nurses at their start of day.
"So soon, another day in which to live?" Oh yes, to praise and pray, and work and play. GERTRUDE J. SMITH, M.D.
• From The Missionary lAnk, New York.
Martyrs of
1- 1Ilf By the REV. MURDOCH MacKINNON, D.D. Il~- THREE generations ago Erromanga, a large tions of war. Now we have built a vessel to carry island in the South Seas, was in the grip of the Word of Life, a more excellent thing, and no heathenism. Domestic life was practically vessel has ever been built in this historic dockyard unknown; the tribes were at war, and victories with more pleasure than John Williams V."
were celebrated by public feasts at which the The report of this happy event stated that as bodies of captives were served as a delicacy. But the vessel struck the water the Scottish pipers, the cries of little children and the groans of without direction beforehand, struck up the Scot-'
strangled widows were wafted hither by the warm tish air, "Off to the Isles," amid a hearty burst of breezes from the South, and found response from cheers.
the heart of Christendom. Eighty years ago Mr. and Mrs. George Gordon "I am received with the utmost respect," writes arrived at Erromanga on the mission vessel, the Dr. H. A. Robertson, in one of his recent reports. John Williams, and for upwards of four years "Peace and goodwill prevail all over this fair they lived and worked there. Three months later, isle." he had translated the Ten Commandments. Mrs.
The secret of this change may be deciphered Gordon began by teaching two small boys, who from a tablet erected within "The Martyrs' Me- afterwards became faithful Christian teachers. morial Church," Erromanga. A part of the in- Kindness and unselfishness never yet failed to scription reads thus: disclose hidden worth in the human heart. The younger people listened to the story of Jesus and SACRED TO THE MEMORY the love of God; the old people heard of the cross of the Missionaries who died on this Island of Calvary and the Home of "many mansions." They were intensely interested, and the work GEORGE N. GORDON seemed to prosper. ELLEN C. GORDON But heathenism dies hard, especiaiIy when the Killed by the people of Unepang greed of civilized men allies itself with it. The May 20th, 1861 cruelties and falsehoods of the sandalwood traders JAMES D. GORDON. outstripped anything that benighted Erromanga Killed at Potnuma, March 7th, 1872 could produce. The influence of the missionary tended to make the dishonesty of the trading more difficult. Hence the trader prejudiced the people George N. Gordon and his devoted wife were against Mr. Gordon, saying, "He brought the the first European missionaries to live on Erro- measles to you for did he not tell you that God's manga and to John Williams belongs the honor judgment was coming? He also caused the earth- of having been the first to suffer martyrdom quake and your other misfortunes."
there. He had carried on successful work for The poison had the desired effect. A plot was over twenty years in other islands of the South laid and speedily executed by nine savages, Lovo, Pacific, but no sooner had he and his friend Harris a chief, being party to it. What are one unsus- landed on Erromanga than the murderous people pecting couple against Erromangans with toma- fell on them. Thus they consecrated the island hawks. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon sleep on the banks with their blood, and the little streamlet flowing of the Williams River but no heathen celebration, red that day spoke of peace to the dusky sons of no cannibal feast disturb their dreams. The the South. Christian young men who laid them to rest vowed The launching of John Williams V at Grange- that they would win Erromanga for Christ or mouth, England, a few years ago, forms a sig- perish with their missionaries in the attempt. .
nificant commentary on the saying that "the blood The mother of George Gordon, of Alberton, of the martyrs is the seed of the Church." A rep- Prince Edward Island, had still another son, and resentative of the shipbuilding company said: the heroic spirit which she communicated to her "We have built vessels for commerce, for pleas- children was not crushed. By the grace of God ure, and, I regret to say, vessels to carry muni- she was ready to give this other son to Christ in [378 ]
SIXTY YEARS IN THE CONGO BELGE
so great a cause. J ames Gordon was preparing to them and the Spirit of God worked directly ort for the ministry, and when he heard of his broth- their hearts. He who called Williams called his er's death, he said, "Now it is my turn, I must successors. The Gordon brothers were nature's go." He sailed from Halifax on the famous Mis- noblemen, tall, handsome, athletic. They were sion ship, Dayspring, and in 1864 arrived at the men of intellectual power, with a genius for lanscene of his brother's labors and martyrdom. He guages. They were eloquent, persistent, fervent. gave himself to the work with enthusiasm, pre- They were men of prayer. senting the Gospel to the people in its simplicity and power. Progress was evident on every hand, The Church lives by spiritual conquest, and the and the Word that was sown in weakness was be- Gordons were bent on conquest in the name of the ing raised in power. But the spirit of heathenism Christ and in the power of the Cross. Their death was not yet appeased. It called for another vic- seemed premature and the sacrifice great, but tim. Disease broke out and the missionary was Erromanga is now a Christian island and today again blamed. Nerimpaw's two children died sends out missionaries. The heart of our people after Gordon had given them medicine. (The was stirred and the church at home was wakened hundreds of other children whom he treated, re- out of sleep. covered.) Enough! While he was translating the Acts, and had reached the account of Ste- The foreign missionary not only extends the phen's martyrdom, Nerimpaw's tom a haw k Church abroad, but also is used to save the Church plunged deep into his head, and he too "fell at home. In an age when the world is too much asleep." in evidence, it is inspiriting to hear of these brothers, who gave themselves to the service of There is nothing that calls forth the heroic Christ for the sake of redeeming men. The one spirit like a manifestation of heroism. The Gor- was the first missionary to live, and the other the dons had heard of Williams and as growing boys last martyr to die, on Erromanga. The Church had listened to the voice of John Geddie. The re- that gave the Gordons has other heroes awaiting ports of his work in Aneityum appealed strongly the call of the Master. The Christ who has saved Erromanga can save the world.
Sixty Years in the Congo BeIge By the REV. THOMAS MOODY Missionary of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society AFTER Henry M. Stanley crossed equatorial Congo, with one thousand mISSIOnaries superin- tending the work. The church members in all .L'. Africa and came out at Bauana in August, Belgian Congo number over 250,000, in addition 1877, the English Baptist missionaries to Christians under instruction who number 275,- started for the Congo in 1878. The missionaries 035. More than ten thousand village schools enof many other societies have also entered until roll over 350,000 boys and girls. they have practically occupied the Belgian Congo Many of the mission stations have had very for Christ. great blessings. Sona Bata, of the American Bap- From that day to this the progress of the work tist Foreign Mission Society, where I spent the last few years, was opened in 1890. After several has been wonderfully blessed of God. The mission- revivals we had an exceptional turning to God of aries have gone in with the idea of preaching the the natives in 1921 in which for ten years in suc- Gospel of Christ to the natives and giving them cession over a thousand people were baptized each the Word of God in their own tongue as soon as year and were received into the church on confesit was possible. As a result today the Christian sion of faith. At present there are 10',309 memchurches are in every part of the Belgian Congo, bers connected with this station, with 303 village a large number being self-supporting, self-propa- schools and 7,874 pupils. Besides the church gating, self-sustaining, indigenous churches and boarding school there is a school for medical aswith schools, from the common bush school to the sistants and nurses. The Sona Bata field covers schools for the preparation of teachers and 10,000 square miles with 100,000 people and 2,000 preachers to carry on the work. A large amount villages. We have preached the Gospel in one of the work is done entirely by the African teach- half of their villages but the other 1,000 we have ers and preachers, the oversight of the mission- not entered. When I went out in 1890, there were aries, often being limited to one or two visits a less than 5,000 church members in all the Belgian year to the churches in charge of the natives. Congo and now they number 250,000.
At present there are some forty different Protestant missionary societies working in Belgian
GIFT REVEALS THE GIVER-A
"God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3: 16.
This verse tells of the greatest Gift the world has ever known. Other passages from God's Word march in procession before the mind : "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, b.ecause that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." 1 John 4: 9.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15: 13.
"Without shedding of blood is no remission." Hebrews 9: 22. "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him."
Hebrews 7: 25. "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, . . . he hath declared him."
John 1: 18.
The mind clings to the thought, God's Gift, even Jesus, reveals God to me; then is it not true that my gifts reveal me to God?
Jesus, God's Gift, reveals to the human heart far more of God than mere paper and ink can ever convey. Four characteristics of God the Father are definitely revealed in His Gift and are all suggested in the words of John 3: 16.
1. GOD'S GIFT REVEALS GOD'S LOVE "GOD SO LOVED . • . that he gave his only begotten Son." "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
2. GOD'S GIFT REVEALS GOD'S VISION "God so loved THE WORLD that he gave his only begotten Son." "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
3. GOD'S GIFT REVEALS GOD'S WISDOM "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him SHOULD NOT PERISH." "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
4. GOD'S GIFT REVEALS GOD'S POWER "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in hi1n should not perish, but HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE." "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life."
If Jesus, the Gift of God, reveals to us God's love for us, God's vision of the needy world, God's wisdom in providing a way of escape from sin, and God's power to save, surely our gifts also reveal us to God.
Take a. backward look at your gifts of the past year, to test yourself by them. Center your thoughts on the gifts which you plan to bring in the coming year as gifts to Him, week by week and month by month. Ask yourself: What do my gifts reveal of my love for Him who gave all for me, of my vision of this sin-stained world, of my knowledge of the way of salvation, and of my faith in God's power through Christ to save all men everywhere. If you are not sure that the revelation made through your gifts is in line with what you feel in your heart, will you sacrifice even more, until you are confident that, seeing the gifts, God will know the depth of your love. Then you will know the secret which Jesus sought to disclose, but which has been kept from many of us: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." -Adapted from Janie McCutchen, in "The Presbyterian Survey."
[380 ]
A Brahman Christian-Nehemiah
The Father of the Author of Uln the Secret of His Presence"
I T WAS a great victory for the Christian mis- the fame of Pandit Goreh, had an interview with sions when Nilakanta Sastri, the Indian pandit him at Benares and took him to Europe as his and scholar, abandoned the Brahmanic reli- tutor in 1854. ,In England, the Goreh was allowed gion of his forefathers and accepted Jesus Christ. an audience with Queen Victoria along with the Nilakanta was born on February 8, 1825, in a Maharajah. He also attended theological lectures village near Jhansi. He belonged to a high class at Islington. This stay brought him into contact konkan family and his father, though born in with some of the great men of the Church of Eng- Poona, migrated early to the north. Soon after land and he had the privilege of meeting with Prof.
Nilakanta's birth the family moved on to Benares, Max Muller at Oxford.
the citadel of Hinduism. Here Goreh was brought For thirteen years Goreh worked as Headmas- up in the lap of luxury as an uncle became Dewan ter of a school under the Church Missionary So- of a State and he was given the best of education ciety., In 1861 he was ordained a Deacon and at that time. He studied Sanscrit under learned sent to start a mission at Mhow in Central India Shastris, specializing in the Vedas, the Nyaya and and later to Chanda in Central Provinces. At grammar. He had a strong prejudice against Cawnpore he came in touch with the Brahmo Christianity as he thought it a "religion fitted for leader, Keshub Chandra Sen, and in the course ignorant Mlechchas only." But Goreh began an of discussion discovered to his surprise that earnest study of the Bible to pick holes in it and Keshub had not read books on the evidences of strengthen his position as a st,aunch advocate of Christian faith. This interview made Goreh Hinduism. The Sermon on the Mount captivated take a special interest in Brahmo Movement and him and drew him near to Christ. His interest write pamphlets to win them over to the Christian steadily grew and contact with missionaries con- faith. He criticized Brahmo Movement as a com- vinced him that Christ's religion is the only satis- promise between Hinduism and Christianity.
fying faith. His father and uncle implored him In 1883 Goreh wrote his important work in not to desert them and their religion, but Nila- Marathi entitled, Is there any proof that Chris- kanta stood firm in his conviction. He challenged tianity is a divl~nely given religion? to meet cer- the pandits of Benares to debate the truth of the tain religious difficulty of Pandita Ramabai who Gospel of Christ. Though his deep affection for was not then a Christian. Later he published a his father made him hesitate to embrace Chris- series of his lectures entitled, Christianity not of tian religion, he finally was baptized on March man but of God. Among his many other publica- 14, 1848, by the Rev. Robert Hawes at Jaunpur tions, and one of the most useful to missionaries, and was given the Christian name of Nehemiah. was-The genuineness of the Holy Gospels. His It was not easy to bring his wife to the new health gradually failed and he passed on to his faith. After his baptism she was supposed to be Rest on October 29, 1895, at the age of 70. It widowed and was kept in privacy. Later, by great has been remarked of him, "The intensed devotion efforts, the husband and wife were brought to- and self-denial of the Brahman missionary, his gether though she remained Hindu for some time. genuine humility and modesty, as well as his pro- Finally, she saw the light revealed in Christ and found erudition, set off the eternal mode of his was baptized with their only daughter, Ellen life, his poverty, his emaciated look, his plain Lakshmi, shortly after joining the Goreh Church. mendicant-like attire-made him to be regarded Unfortunately the mother died soon, leaving the by the people generally, European and Indian, as orphan girl who was the father's pride and joy. a Sadhu, the beau ideal of a Christian missionary."
This daughter has immortalized her name through By his example, and the vigor and persistency her great hymn, "In the Secret of His Presence." of his advocacy of the Christian Gospel, he was She passed away recently at Cawnpore, after a able to convert several men who afterwards be- long period of distinguished service in the cause came his colleagues in the great task. Christian of Christ. evangelism to be truly effective and fruitful in Nehemiah Goreh was an excellent writer and our present day calls for Christian Indians of a used his profound knowledge in Sanscrit in trans- rare type like Nehemiah Goreh with intense de- lating some work to justify the ways of Christ to votion, deep conviction and self-denial.
his fellow-countrymen. Maharaj Duleep Singh, By T. D., in "The National Missionary himself a convert to the Christian faith, heard of Intelligencer."
[ 381 ]
Ways of
'Tested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MRS. ESTELLA S. AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO The Place of Missionary Edu- ary interest and motivations that outlook. Circulation of the right sort cation in Church Enterprise will withstand winds of criticism of books will help. and droughts of spiritual aspira- Shall missionary education be tion. There is a lack of qualified teachers integrated into religious educa- of missionary education. Three things tion? "This," says Bulletin Dr. T. H. P. Sailer and a com- are needed by these teachers: Mis- No. 5 of the Professional Ad- mittee consisting of Leila Bag- sionary information, knowledge of visory Section on Missionary ley, Genevieve Brown, S. F. missions, and contagious missionary Education of the International Mack and J. L. Lobingier (chair- interest. A s'U!bje'ct like missions Council of Religious Education, man) have gathered together the needs not only the material that can "is a perennial subject." Among results of the discussion of the be found in the teacher's quarterly, the bulletins of this Section, topic at a meeting of the Profes- but a broad background. Few teachprevious issues of which dealing sional Advisory Section, in Chi- ers have this. Methods other than with specific, interdenomina- cago, and supplemented them those in Sunday school classes and tional methods have been re- with suitable new material for group meetings will be needed. . . . viewed in this Department, the the pamphlet. Here are a few present one is far and away the high lights indicative of the Without leaders of this type missionmost comprehensive and schol- motif, method, trend and sub- ary education will be integrated only arly and deserves careful study ject matter: in name but not in fact. The most on the part of pastors, Sunday ideal curriculum on paper will be deschool superintendents and de- The principal aim of education is vitalized if presented in a perfuncpartmental heads, as well as tory way. Therefore the first move leaders in men's and women's to expand our interests and help us should be to concentrate on securing organizations in the local church leaders and improving their quality. and denominational executive to see things in a broader perspective. boards. It goes deeper than any Has missionary education a real mere "ways of working"-down Missionary education should not seem contribution to make to work that is to the undergirding religious already being done in religious eduand educational principles which to be a competitor with issues that cation? Let us not seek to introduce render mere patterns secondary are more immediately important, but missionary applications, illustrations and relatively inconsequential in and talks because missions must be that the trained person can work an aid in broadening our vision so gotten in somehow, but because it out his own methods on any really enriches experience. Chrisgiven subject – whether it be that we shall see thin~s more as God tianity is essentially a world religion "Rural Missions" or "The Mos- sees them. The essential thing that . . . and is needed by the whole lem World." world. . . . The material should not missionary education contributes to be lugged in by the ears but help to The claims of this new Bul- add significance. . . . The five min-' letin to citation in a methods religious education is a sense of uni- utes a Sunday or 20 minutes a month department are valid in that talks to a whole department or school very fact and also that in its versality, with a knowledge of the should not seek merely to add variety latter portion it dips deeply into or furnish information, but to make specifics for every department needs of all mankind and a growing religious education more vital by supof church endeavor. It is a plying the elements that are needed large-sized, twenty -three – page participation in the meeting of those but too frequently omitted. pamphlet that will challenge the understanding of simple folk as needs. . . . Missionary education The new courses of study for the well as the most intellectual church school are inserting specifically workers who desire to dig more rests on the assumption that Chris- missionary lessons or short units. deeply and discriminatingly into tianity has something of supreme . . . The present arrangement offers the human soil of all age inter- a great opportunity. Well qualified ests in order to implant mission- value for all mankind, and that this teachers can arouse such interest in the subject that outside work will be will not be transmitted without spe- undertaken. This may lead to church schools of missions, independent dis- cial effort. It holds that Christianity cussion groups on missions, campaigns of missionary reading and special is a universal and not merely a na- projects. The only way to secure time is to make the subject so attractive tional or racial religion, that what- that people will give time.
ever efforts are worth making to pro- The best way to deal with such a situation (where the atmosphere of vide religious education for ourselves local churches is depressing to the missionary spirit) may be to trans- and our communities are equally de- plant individuals temporarily to other climates such as summer conferences sirable for other groups throughout where they mary catch the heOJ1Jenly the world. . . . Without the knowl- edge of Christ for personal guidance or social cooperation, their (the ma- jority of needy mankind) welfare be- comes a major concern of a Kingdom- centered curriculum. – The attitude of the pastor and other church leaders will be very important (in securing an adequate ideal of a basis for this new curriculum). The issue may be faced in meetings and discussion groups. Delegates may be sent to summer conferences and in- stitutions where they will get a larger [382 ]
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
VtstOn. Where this is not possible it 3. Do I carry these brotherly Methods Briefs for Primary may be best to concentrate on a small, ideals into my daily rela- Teaching select group. Under these conditions tionships with people of the temperature may be raised as it other racial, national and Mexico: On table covered would not be for the staid majority. social groups? with serape or other colorful Manifestly, missionary education 4. Am I adding an intimate woven scarf, arrange pottery, will never be effectively integrated knowledge of a race or unless people will bestow brains and people to my intellectual plain or painted gourds, clay pains on the process. At the founda- assets each year? tion of the whole matter must be the hats used as pin trays, cans of effort to bring people to care deeply 5. Do I feel that other people string beans, Mexican pictures for the thorough integration of mis- have a contribution to cut from magazines, etc. Make sionary education. Churches which make to my life, or do I posters of cut-out pictures to iltry to operate machinery without suffi- feel that missions implies lustrate talks. Tell how the rovcient steam will surely be disap- a one-way relationship? ing vegetable pickers live in povpointed. erty and squalor, children- 6. Does my conception of home working hard like their elders- Then follow "Practical appli- missions inc 1u d e the do not even know the meaning cations of integration for church Christian solution of such of "home." Adapt stories from organizations"; some "Practical problems of our national "The Laughingest Lady," by questions for discussion" such life as social and economic Elinor Cowan Stone; "From as: the use of costumes, curios, justice, race relations and Every Tribe and Nation," by stunts, etc., for entertainment or the alcohol problem? Belle M. Brain (using the story, decorative purposes, employ- "Dona Carmen, a Living Episment of conventional methods, 7. Am I endeavoring to secure tle") and denominational leaflets outlining a year's programs for for missionary education on the subject. Have the chila women's association so as to its normal, integral place dren cut small adobe houses integrate their work into the in the worship, the in- from bogus paper and make a whole program, best plans for struction, the offerings Mexican village on sand table or linking up the Sunday school, and the activities of all in window, adding trees, a donetc. ; "factors essential to in- departments of the local key, chickens and children. Posttegration"; some practical cur- church life? ers may be made of children riculum suggestions as to form, feeding donkeys or chickens, material and methods; "Over- 8. Am I increasingly seeing picking beans or carrying hamhead counsel and cooperation"; and using opportunities pers of them, and donkeys bear- "Integration from the viewpoint for the disseminating of ing panniers loaded with beans. of the denominational program" ; missionary knowledge and Women may be making pottery. questions proposed to executive interest through the loan- Have offering taken up by darkboards of the Presbyterian, the ing of missionary books haired boy in white suit with Congregational and Christian, and magazines, the choice wide, bright sash tied over the United Lutheran and the of hymns at meetings shoulder and under arm, the Methodist Episcopal churches where I preside, the em- gifts being received in highare given with summaries of the phasis in my pub lie crowned beach hat with little replies; and a very concrete prayers, the collecting and balls on edge of wide brim. He specific section devoted to plans sharing of pictures, sto- may be assisted by girl with for children's, young people's ries, pageants, p I a y s, straight black hair, wearing red and adults' programs in mission- curios and costumes? or yellow dress and bright scarf ary education. This last is well tied over hair. Chicken sandworth the price of the pamphlet, 9. Have I read at least one wiches, small servings of string which is only 25 cents. Send book the past year in the beans with oil dressing, sliced orders to Miss Leila Bagley, 810 general field of missions? hard-cooked eggs or sman bowls Broadway, Nashville, Tenn. of chile con carne, both of the 10. If I work with children or latter served with crackers, may Measuring Myself-A Mission- young people have I read be used as refreshments. "Jesus ary Efficiency Test at least one book on mis- Loves Me" and "Jesus Loves the sions in my specific field? Little Children of the World" 1. Do I have thoroughly Chris- are appropriate songs. tian motives for my mis- 11. Am I sharing my resources sionary activities? Are with the missionary cause Indians: Give local color with they definitely based on in a systematic manner? pottery, baskets, beads, mocca- love for God and love for sins, tiny totem poles, etc., ar- man? 12. Have I made any actual con- ranged on table covered with tribution to the cause of Indian blanket, and with bright 2. Am I cherishing more broth- missions during the past posters made from cut-out pic- erly ide a I s concerning year other than my finan- tures. Feathered headdresses other peoples each year? cial contribution? may be made by the children Can I see the worth of the from craft paper or even com- individual regardless of -United Christian Mission- his race or culture? ary Society Leaflet.
mon brown wrapping paper, from "The World's Children for for Indian and South American Jesus." Refreshments of pop- studies (which were used in the ornamenting with feathers and corn balls or plain popcorn, United Study Course last year) drawings with colored crayons. candy in shape of pumpkins or may be had from denominational Large or small wigwams can be grains of corn. One may some- missionary literature headquarmade from the same paper. times find little candy turkeys. ters or the Missionary Education Color long strips of paper first Movement, 150 Fifth Ave., yellow, then orange, then brown South America: Keynote, a N. Y., at 75 cents each. "Stories (several children working on large map of country with inter- South of the Equator" will be same strip), making all strokes found very helpful. lacing letters, A, B, C, for Arin same direction. Soak paper gentina, Bra z i I and Chili, Groups not adhering to the mounted down front. Leader current United Study courses two or three minutes in water, may form their plans from such open carefully over bucket, drain points out location and tells suggestions as the foregoing; off water and crumple between something about each of three while workers using the new fingers as fine as possible. countries, then says she has a Spread flat on folded news- bag of gifts from South Amer- topics of "Rural America" and papers, coat with orange shellac, ica from which the children, "The Moslem World," noting the coming up one at a time, may principles involved, may be aided using large, flat bristle brushes select something. For this a in working out their presentawhich may be cleaned in alcohol, going-away bag has previously tions to little folks at the age the shellac being diluted with been paeked with a bone button, when eye-gate, ear-gate and a-lcohol if too thick. When dried bone-handled toothbrush, leather hand must be made teammates. coin purse, little red shoe, billthis paper looks and feels like fold, band from sewing machine, The suggestions are from skin and makes a fine wigwam. leather-covered boo k, jacket, Annye L. Allison's work among Large one very effective made chipped dried bee f, gelatin, juniors. over framework of poles, tied together at top and fastened to coffee, chocolate, cocoa, Chili The outlines raise the quesfloor. Fasten paper securely to pepper, mixed spices, orange, tions of the Church's responsipoles at bottom and lace together bility in relation to social condiwith raffia or twine, using large lemon, grapefruit, Brazil nuts, tions, to what extent such re- silver spoon, glass set in lieu of sponsibility can be formulated raffia needle not too sharp. Have a diamond, ostrich feather, into a universally applicable sys- monkey fur, rubber bands, children draw on 9'xI2' paper eraser, comb, phonograph rec- tem of Christian social prinfigures of Indians, wigwams, ciples, what our personal and shocks of corn, fish, pumpkins, ord, bright feathers, sea beans, group responsibility is, where toy snake and other appropriate we obtain our criteria and data deer, bears, turkeys, ponies and objects wrapped in tissue paper in arriving at judgments, and large Indian heads. They may to look like gifts. Have each how we can implement these string popcorn or macaroni principles in terms of social ac- gift opened, laid on table and tion. The programs are inbroken into small pieces, with explained. When bag is empty, tended primarily for the monthly disks of construction paper in meetings of the women's or- give talk on the country, discuss- ganization, but have additional lieu of beads, to be worn with ing the things it needs from us suggestions for their more exthe headdresses. They also en- – Bibles, religious literature, tensive use in general group joy making posters of wigwams churches, Sunday schools, hos- meetings. Pastors would find pitals, etc. English books not them heJpful for the midweek or cliff dwellings, trees, corn, church services. pottery, rugs, baskets, etc., these available because the language to be drawn, painted or done in is mostly Spanish. Names of *** paper-cutting. Let them bring missionaries may be given, prayer offered for their work "Prayer in the land of the fir such things as arrowheads, bas- and Bible verses found begin- tree and pine. kets, beads, shells, etc., from home. Indian nature writing ning with A, Band C. Prayer in the land of the fig always interests them and they tree and vine. like to learn the signs. Have The results of an imaginary dark-haired boy wearing head- trip to South America were vis- Prayer where the waves dash loudly and cold. dress and blanket collect offer- ualized by the writer in an iming in basket or jar. A box for provised moving picture – pic- Prayer where the lion stalks fearless and bold. some Indian mission may be tures pasted on strip of paper packed. If a victrola is avail- with explanatory cap t ion s, Prayer in cathedrals whose able, play such selections as names of missionaries written spires tower high. the "Love Call," "Marcellina," etc. Use selections from "Hia- and verses chosen for each Prayer in kirks and cabins watha," "Lady Yea r dIe y' s country, the ends of this long close by. strip being fastened to two Guest," "Joc's Coals of Fire" broomsticks turned by boys to Prayer where two are gathered (from "The Rules of the Game" show the entire reel. The leader to pray. by Lambertson), and various read all script aloud for the benstories of mission work among efit of the little folks unable to Everywhere, eve r y w her e, prayer today." Indians. Close devotional part read for themselves. Textbooks of meeting with Indian stanza The Council of Women for Home Missions EDITH E. LOWRY, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 105 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK "I Was a Stranger" the curt 'Move on, you!' of the transient bureaus and camps in sheriff at the county line, or ac- operation-295 bureaus and 190 "For I was hungry, and ye tual arrest and sentence to the camps. With the reduction in gave me to eat; I was thirsty, workhouse or the chain gang, relief spending in 1934-1935 and ye gave me drink; I was a have been and still are the pen- came the order to the states "to stranger, and ye took me in; alties too frequently exacted close intake at the transient cennaked, and ye clothed me; I was from the victim of unguided mi- ters and camps and to liquidate sick, and ye visited me; I was in gration. Having no responsible the entire program as of Novemprison, and ye came unto me. agency to direct him to oppor- ber 1, 1935. Then shall the righteous answer tunity for personal employment, him, saying, Lord, when saw we he drifts or is shoved in this di- "During the 20 months of life thee hungry, and fed thee? or rection or that. ' of the transient program, state athirst, and gave thee drink? and local authorities had been And when saw we thee a "Not all those who move from completely absorbed in adminisstranger, and took thee in? or place to place are mentally or tering ERA, CWA, and various naked, and clothed thee? And physically competent to under- other related activities under when saw we thee sick, or in take to fend for themselves in a 'emergency' legislation. No prison, and came unto thee ?" new field. But men are not al- thought had been given to an Matthew 25: 35-40. ways at fault for having no adjustment of the old poor laws money saved on which to sup- to meet new conditions." "Move On, You!" * port themselves after months in the lumber camp, or on railroad "By March, 1936, many states "Traditionally the American construction, or following the had become thoroughly alive to people have regarded the stran- crops. Often enough the wages the fact that it was not enough ger who asked for alms as a for which they work are grossly to ask for federal funds with ne'er-do-well whose own fault it inadequate to meet their needs. which to meet the needs of tranwas that he found himself in Compelled as they are to take sient relief, but that there must such sorry straits. Let him help the only jobs they can get, there be a sharing of responsibility himself ! Was there not oppor- are times when they need help between national and state govtunityand success for every man from the society which tolerates ernments and that the states to take care of himself if he these conditions." must face the fact that their 'had it in him'? own laws of legal settlement The depression years of 1930 were, by their rigidity and lack "The man who takes to the and 1931 saw a tremendous in- of uniformity, creating some of road' today in quest of work crease in the numbers in those the very problems of which all carries with him, unaware, the illegally "riding the rods." Still states complained." ball and chain of the settlement more were "thumbing a ride." laws of Old England. If work is The budgets of private agencies Three interstate conferences not found and, need develops, he which had been aiding these have been held. suddenly finds himself in an transients were steadily declinalien community, unwelcome, ing and the numbers needing "In all these conferences the with no legal claim for aid, with help were steadily increasing. Committee on Care of Transient limited private charitable re- A National Committee on Care and Homelesst kept up a drumsources available to him, and of Transient and Homeless was fire on the objective of federal, with suspicion directed toward composed of individuals from state, and local responsibility in him as a dangerous character. national agencies concerned with this field, together with em- The hospitality of the police some phase of the problem of phasis on the basic remedies of station, the 'two meals and a transiency and homelessness. 'surer direction and guidance' flop' in a municipal lodging Through the efforts of this com- for men in search of employhouse or second-rate mission, mittee the Federal Transient ment. Unification of the laws Program was formulated. of legal settlement throughout • Excerpts from "After Five Years," pub- the United States was urged, as lished by the Committee on Care of Tran- By 1934, forty-four states and was the vesting of responsibility sient and Homeless, 1270 Sixth Avenue, New the District of Columbia had York, price 10 cents, t The Council of Women for Home Mis- [385 ] sions Is represented on this Committee. in the state governments to de- was a desire to express the spirit Kingdom of God under the captermine settlement. The federal of the Preaching Mission-unity tion, "Thy Kingdom Come." Dr. and state authorities were asked of effort for the Kingdom of Lyman said that to Jesus the to prov'ide the necessary funds God. Kingdom meant living the will with which to meet the relief of God and that His was one life needs of the unsettled person. The four organizations, The lived in harmony with God. An Council of Women for Home ideal was held before this great "Each of these conferences Missions, the Women's Commit- group of city women to leave the appointed a continuing commit- tee of the Foreign Missions Con- distracting small things and live tee charged with carrying out ference, the National Council of lives in harmony with God, decertain recommendations of the Federated Church Women and voted to the interests of His conference and with bringing the Women's Cooperating Com- Kingdom. What could not be the resolutions of the conference mission of the Federal Council accomplished by this challenge to the attention of the proper of Churches, combined to bring to seven hundred women put authorities. together the church women of into action? metropolitan New York. Nearly "The Council of State Govern- 700 sat down in fellowship. The second speaker of the day, ments, meeting in its Third Gen- While the greater number were Rev. Joseph R. Sizoo, D.D., lately eral Assembly in Washington in from metropolitan New York, come to New York from Wash- January, 1937, with representa- including cities and towns in ington, D. C., brought rich extion from 45 states, adopted a New Jersey, We s t c he s t e r periences from his contacts with series of resolutions favoring County, New York, and Long varying groups. All he found 'uniform and reciprocal state Island, there were guests from going back for satisfaction of laws to iron out some of the con- Poughkeepsie, New York; Stam- heart-hunger to the Christian flicts in the field of social se- ford and Norwalk, Connecticut; faith. Dr. Sizoo had as his topic curity.' It recommended a stand- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; "For Such a Day as This," and ard requirement of one year to Washington, D. C. ; the Bay pointed out how Christian womgain settlement; a provision for region and Southern California; anhood in such a time must meet retaining the old settlement un- Atlanta, Georgia, and Toronto, the heart-hunger of the world til a new settlement was ac- Canada. for the Gospel. He said we quired; relief and service dur- have got to develop a new kind ing any period of inquiry as to The luncheon was planned of heroism. settlement; authority vested in the state public welfare depart- under the chairmanship Of Mrs. Dr. Robert M. Searle, as secment to determine settlement; retary of the New York Federafunds available to the state for Augustus Trowbridge, who was tion of Churches, offered the inreimbursement of local commu- vocation, and the benediction nities for service rendered to also the charming presiding was pronounced by Rev. William transients; and approval of the officer. By her long-range plan- Adams Brown, D.D., Chairman 'Uniform Transfer of Depend- ning Mrs. Trowbridge was able of the Committee on Universal ents Act.' These resolutions, to bring to the luncheon group a Life and Work. bearing as they do the stamp of cable message from India from approval of the official delegates Dr. E. Stanley Jones as follows: In closing we quote from a from 45 states,constitute the "Personal gratitude your signifi- letter of Dr. Brown's received crystallization in government of cant move toward unity. Light after the luncheon, for it exa sense of social responsibility in that direction. Follow it." presses what so many feel: for the non-resident." Another cable message of bless- ing on the undertaking from I do not know when I have attended May Luncheon for Church Maude Royden and a third mes- a meeting which seemed to me more sage from across seas, from vibrant· with thrilling possibilities. Women Lady Astor, "All we who profess It was not merely the fact that the the Christian faith will unite large company assembled was an ir:.- On May 10 at the Hotel Bilt- when we understand and apply dication of the resources of far-reachmore, New York City, a really Jesus' message, 'Now are we the ing and intelligent service which the significant luncheon took place. Sons of God,' and follow His Church possesses in her consecrated There had been several May Day command." President Mary E. womanhood, but still more the fact luncheons sponsored by one Woolley was prevented by the that your meeting together, instead interdenominational organiza- one hundredth anniversary of of separately, was an indication of tion for the missionary women Mount Holyoke College from be- your recognition that whatever difof metropolitan New York but ing present. In her place at the ferentiation of function may prove this luncheon sponsored by the guest table was Mrs. William wise from the point of view of effecfour interdenominational or- Adams Brown. tive administration, the cause is at ganizations . t h r 0 ugh which heart one. Dr. Mary Ely Lyman, just rechurch women have been work- turned from receiving an hon- May this cause which is one ing, symbolized a new epoch. orary degree from Mount Hol- be served whole-heartedly by The thought back of this effort yoke, brought a strong message every woman who has taken the on what church women can con- name of Jesus Christ upon her, tribute toward bringing in the and may she give herself entirely to Him in "Such a Day as This."
EMMA JESSIE OGG.
~ Our World–wide
I A Missionary Newspaper of Current Events EDITED BY MRS. HENRIETTA H. FERGUSON, XENIA, OHIO EUROPE the influence of a book by the restore the crucifixes to their original headmaster of a Jewish girls' places on the walls. The Bible in Spain secondary school whose study of anti-Semitism has led him to In his May Day speech Hitler In the latest report of the realize that the only solution to is reported to have declared: "I British and Foreign Bible So- the Jewish problem is to be will not tolerate that the German ciety, reference is made to the found in Christ. Two hundred people's authority shall be mentriumphs of the Bible in Spain Jewish families in Bucharest are aced from any quarter. . . . during the present conflict and prepared to become Christians, That holds good above all for distress. Although the civil war but the State church refuses to the churches." was raging in Spain for half the encourage the movement. . year with which the report As to the children of Chrisdeals, a circulation of 211,000 -Watchman-Examiner. tian people he said: volumes was achieved. The Bible Society's depot in Madrid Religious Education in Sweden We will take their children and was kept open during the siege will educate them to become new Gerand the Society's agent remained The Lutheran Church is the mans. We will not permit them to at his post. State Church in Sweden and in lapse into the old ways of thinking. all high schools and colleges re- We will take them when they are ten Evangelism in Belgium ligion is a required subject. It years old and bring them up in the includes Bible study, church spirit of the community until they are Within the past few months, history, comparative religion eighteen. They shall not escape us! the Belgian Gospel Mission, and missions. School work befounded by Mr. and Mrs. Ralph gins every day with a religious -New York Times. Norton, has opened seven new service lasting about fifteen mincenters, making a total of sixty- utes, with a view to training What of the Waldenses? six in which the Gospel is reg- pupils to do serious thinking on ularly preached. M. Vansteen- religious and ethical questions. This oldest evangelical church berghe, one of the directors of in the world, a church that has the Mission, was converted from Teachers of religion are re- withstood more than 30 organatheism in England during the quired to be members of the ized persecutions, today has 250 war, through the reading of the State Church. Great demands churches and missions in Italy. Bible while in a hospital. are made as to the teacher's per- Because of retrenchment in sonality; he must preach by his other churches, the Waldenses M. Vansteenberghe tells how character the same ideals that are carrying more responsibility one center was opened as typical he teaches. for Christian witnessing in Italy of all the others: A brushmaker, than ever before. Last year living near Ypres, heard the -The Christian Advocate. they provided over 88 per cent Gospel at a meeting last June, of the money spent upon their was converted, and straightway The Cross in German Schools Missions throughout Italy, their asked if a hall could be opened H 0 s pit a 1s, their Children's in his village. With his small An order to replace the cruci- Homes, their Homes for the life savings, he enlarged a brick fix in classrooms in Germany Aged, their College at Torre Pelshed attached to his house, so with pictures of Adolph Hitler lice and their Theological Semthat it is capable of seating forty has resulted in great excitement inary at Rome. Their congregapeople. On the opening day, and open resistance. The Liv- tions are larger than ever, and sixty crowded in, and others ing Church says: Italians in increasing numbers stood outside the door listening. are joining their churches. The unyielding attitude of Roman -Life of Faith. Catholic parents forced the authori- It is clear that an evangelical ties at Konnersreuth to restore the agency, such as the Waldensian Jews Turn to Christ crucifixes to the classrooms in that Church, is more needed in Italy city. Upward of 100 irate townsmen than ever before. The Barbican Mission to the marched to the home of the school Jews, London, reports that sev- superintendent and chanted in unison AFRICA eral hundred Jewish families in their demand for restitution of the Rumania are prepared to accept Christian symbols. The intervention 11 Duce and the Moslems Christ. This is largely due to of the police, with drawn revolvers, failed to intimidate the townspeople. A New York Times corre- The upshot of this demonstration was spondent in Egypt declares the an order from the local authorities to majority of Moslems are unal- [387 ]
terably opposed to Mussolini's Protestants Not Wanted Tea With Tracts claim to be "defender of the in Tripoli Moslem faith." Sheikh Musta- Dr. Burkitt of Nairobi in pha el Maraghi, rector of the The medical mission for Mos- Kenya Colony, Africa, is a dithousand-year-old Azhar Uni- lems and Jews in Tripoli has rector of a tea plantation and at versity in Cairo, and recognized been closed by Italian authori- the same time carries on Chrisas the ecclesiastical head of Mos- ties, and the missionary doctor tian work. He is promoting an lems throughout the world, says: was ordered to leave the terri- East Africa Colportage Society "Only a Moslem who believes in tory. For half a century the for the distribution of Scripture the religion of Mohammed and North Africa Mission has main- portions and evangelical booklets lives up to the laws of the Koran tained this healing and preach- among the blacks from many can be the defender or protector ing center, the only evangelical tribes who pass through on their of Islam. No other person, no witness in the whole of Libya. way to mines and plantations. matter of what race or religion Complying with Government re- They eagerly read anything they or nationality, can be our de- quirements, the purpose of the can get in their own dialects. fender." mission was described as: "Ex- Dr. Burkitt has an attractive plaining the way of salvation depot in Nairobi which he hopes Their religion forbids Moham- through the Lord Jesus Christ to duplicate in other centers of medans from being ruled by non- in obedience to His commands, East Africa. -So S. Times. Moslems, and those of that faith and also endeavoring to show the in the Near East are not at all love of God in our medical con- WESTERN ASIA interested in Mussolini's pro- sultations." nouncement. After Fifty Years A' government ordinance of Cairo's College for Girls Two reports from North Syria August 26 authorized the mis- prove that progress may appear The American College for sion to continue under three con- over a stretch of half a century, Girls at Cairo, administered by ditions: (a) No religious prop- which cannot be seen from year the American Mission in Egypt aganda. (b) Nurses to have to year. The first is that of for the United Presbyterian Italian diplomas. (c) Premises Rev. D. M. Wilson in regard to Church of North America, is the to conform to Hygiene Inspec- Tripoli, written in 1853; the lineal descendant of the first tor's regulations. The doctor other, written fifty years later girls' school in all Egypt. The was unaware of this Ordinance by Rev. F. W. March, who died cornerstone of the first building until it was read to him at the last year after 60 years in Syria. was laid February 25, 1908. The police station; after which, original college building fund charged with disregarding its "We mention schools not bewas raised through the personal terms, he was ordered to leave cause we have any, but to state efforts of its founder and first and the Mission was closed. the reason why we have none. president, Miss Ella O. Kyle, Near the close of the last year supported by a committee in -Moslem World. our school in Tripoli was broken Pittsburgh and individuals in up by the Greeks…. At none both Egypt and America. The Good News from Nigeria of the villages is there any proslargest single contribution was pect that a school would open the $30,000, a gift from Mr. John D. H. G. Farrant, field secretary way for a preaching station; and Rockefeller, Sr. It is the most of the Sudan United Mission, to sustain a school for the sake advanced Protestant missionary gives an encouraging account of of the influence of the school school for girls in North Africa, present conditions in northern alone, under any native teacher occupying a strategic position in Nigeria. Although a few years we can. employ, we regard as a a city that is the largest in the ago a missionary would be able waste of missionary funds. . . . continent, and that is, at the to give the names and histories Since last spring the Christians same time, the intellectual and of all the converts, today that have lived in constant fear of spiritual center of the Arabic- would be impossible. By far the their Moslem neighbors, indeed speaking Moslem world. greater number of converts of a large part of the Christian recent years have been won, not population fled in midsummer The student body numbers by Europeans, but by Africans. to the mountains where many of mor~ than 400; courses include It is the aim of the Mission to them still remain. . . . If asked the whole gamut of a girl's edu- "blacken" the work as much as whether there be signs of a cation, from the Beginners' De- possible. Thirty men with their brighter dawn our answer would partment through the equivalent wives and families are being be very unsatisfactory." of an American Junior College trained at Gindiri for evangeliscourse. Among graduates are tic work. Two centers in the "The Tripoli field has eight found doctors, nurses, lawyers, heart of one Moslem district, organized churches, most of musicians, teachers, office work- which had not been available for which include groups of villages, ers, an artist of note, Egypt's missionary effort during thirty so that the eight churches take sole aviatrix, and a host of effi- years, are now occupied. The in all the church members of the cient wives and mothers. opening of a new leper colony at whole field. Each church has a Maiduguri means the possibility native preacher. There are 23 of reaching 1,000,000 people. outstations including 25 schools -The Christian.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
which are visited regularly. In suggested that since the mission- threw herself on the body of her the eight churches are 767 mem- aries had discovered the source dead husband prepared for crebers. . . . During the year, 31 of disease, doubtless they would mation. God knows what else persons have been received on provide a new and safe fountain. she did in the name of Christ the profession of faith. The eight "Unfortunately," said the mis- Great Physician." churches working together as a sionary, "our mission has no Presbytery have established a money for such projects, nor Physical Training for Women Home Mission work; a commit- have we as individuals." tee composed wholly of Syrians The Physical Education Colhaving been appointed to receive Finally it was agreed that if lege for Women in Bengal is an and disburse funds and direct the missionary could provide the experiment financed in Canada. the work. They have raised cement for a sealed fountain, the It has made a beginning with 9,000 ps." headman would provide the 16 pupils, Europeans and In- labor. Now the 2,000 people of dians, from various parts of In- -Syria News Quarterly. the Moslem village get clean dia, women of good educational water and the Christians are standing who think it worth American Mission Press welcomed as friends. while spending time and money to obtain this extra qualification. The year 1934 marked the -Monday Morning. Even for girls, education is no centenary of the American Mis- longer confined to books; they sion Press in Beirut, Syria. The INDIA AND SIAM are the healthier and happier Press was founded in 1822 on for the change. Calcutta has the Island of Malta for service Seeing Below the Surface had a physical education college in the Near East, but it was not for men for a few years, and its until 1834 that it was actually "World travelers who visit influence is already felt throughmoved to Beirut, where it has port cities, stay in good hotels out the province. The girls' colnow completed over one hundred and follow guides may have an lege will soon be as well known. years of missionary publication interesting time, but they learn and printing for Arabic-speak- little of human suffering and its A recent demonstration of the ing lands. Its literature now amelioration," writes a corre- College was largely attended by goes to some twenty-five differ- spondent of the Christian Evan- prominent people of Calcutta. ent countries. gelist. -Indian Witness. Many missionaries and in- "My saddest experience has digenous workers have aided in been to note the look of fear, as New Methods in Rural Work various ways. A zealous young well as suffering, in the faces of Swiss has recently printed at the teeming thousands-a look born Evangelistic work in rural Press a useful leaflet, "How to of ignorance, disease and under- areas seems to be taking a new Read the Bible." Dr. N. Nucho, nourished bodies; a ghastly look turn, and promises well for Director of Hamlin Memorial of futility because there is no building up the Church. In gen- Sanatorium, has distributed in physician, no hospital, nurse or eral, the emphasis is: the past several years thousands medicine; and worse yet, no of copies of a tract on "Tuber- courage that comes from the (1) Seek to concentrate evangelistic culosis and Its Prevention," Spirit of Christ. In most orien- effort in villages and seek to build largely at his own expense. tal countries, as well as in Cen- up the old Christian communities; tral Africa, there is probably no (2) oDtain a mediating leadership; -Syria News Quarterly. more than one trained physician (3) make a decisive and deep im- to every 200,000 people. pression on chaudhri leaders by liv- Disturbing the Village ing with them; (4) aim to make them "A few years ago I spent sev- the firebrands that will set the villages When a missionary came to a eral hours with a medical mis- aflame, and (5) get them to take re- Moslem village in Syria, it did sionary in India. This delicate sponsibility for follow-up work. not take his trained-nurse wife woman gave herself and her long to tell him that much of the service to people in their filth, It is a new experience for old disease rampant in the town was ignorance and abysmal super- converts from the sweeper class due to the public fountain, where stition and suffering, packed in to live in the same tents with the women dipped hands and poverty like rabbits in a warren. city folks, and "break caste" by jars to draw the family water She dressed wounds many times eating with them. It is also a supply. after having taken out the mag- new experience for them to work gots. She cleansed the fly larvae to schedule and obey the call of "It is the will of Allah that from the festering eyes of little the bell, and in the evenings to there should be sickness," said children and bound them with get the exer_cise afforded by the village headman when it was healing lotions. She gave con- games of football. urged that he take steps to rem- solation and sedative to a dying edy this condition. "You stran- man who had hold of the tail of -Indian Witness. gers are disturbing our village. the sacred cow which had been Please go away and do not come brought into the house to help Andhra Christian College back." in his dying moments. She com- forted a wailing widow as she The United Lutheran Church On second thought he shrewdly of America and the Church Mis- sionary Society of Great Britain have worked out a plan of coop-
eration in Andhra Christian Fruit of Leper Work and shot them. Their bodies College. The first C. M. S. pro- were dumped in a lime-filled fessor will join the staff on Dr. and Mrs. J. W. McKean, trench, and the village was looted July 1. Lutherans will provide now living in retirement at and burned. A smaller group a dormitory for C. M. S. stu- Claremont, California, were mis- was slain near Canton, and Candents. sionaries in Siam for thirty ton authorities are also said to years, establishing the first or- be engaged in making a round- It is hoped that the American ganized work for lepers in that up of all lepers. Lutheran Church Mission, the kingdom. About 2,000 lepers American Baptist Mission, the have since entered the asylum at Military authorities had long English Methodist Mission, the Chiengmai. There are 450 there threatened to end the little Canadian Baptist Mission and now and nearly all have become Happy Valley colony in their efthe American Methodist Epis- active, praying Christians, mak- forts to wipe out the disease. copal Mission will also coop- ing regular contributions to the work out of their very limited Mission to Chinese Buddhists erate. allowance for food money. The Christian Mission to Bud- Women Elders in Siam A recent letter from Chieng- dhists is now fifteen years old. mai Leper Asylum includes this Its first headquarters were in The Leper Asylum, Chieng- statement: "Mr. Pia begs to Nanking, but in 1926 the center mai, Siam, has the distinction of hand to Dr. McKean two ticals was moved to Shatin, near Honghaving the first women elders in and to Mrs. McKean two ticals kong. The influence of this work the Presbyterian Church. Nang to be used in God's work." (A extends to every large monastery La and .Nang Kan Gao were tical is worth about 50 cents.) in China and even reaches elected to eldership in April, Japan, Malaya and Formosa. 1925. At that time Siam formed -Monday Morning. Since the beginning of the mistwo presbyteries of the synod of sion over eighty Buddhist and New York. These two saintly CHINA Taoist monks of "lay-devotees" old women went about the duties have been baptized as Christians of their high office with a hu- "The Bread of Life" and some have become pastors mility and joy touching to be- of churches. In addition, there hold. A cracker manufacturer of are several thousand "Tao Yu" Hongkong encloses in each tin -interested men and women. There had been good reason of his wares, shipped throughout for their election. Many leper China and the Netherlands In- Until recently this work has women were so crippled they dies, a small paper on which is been supported by funds from could not come to the chapel, and printed in four languages- Norway, Sweden and Denmark, missed the comfort of the weekly Chinese, Javanese, Malay and but it is expected that the Anservice. These women therefore English-the text, "Jesus said, glican Church will help next asked that two of their number I am the Bread of Life." year. The plan is to form a be made elders to comfort, teach brotherhood of converted Budand administer sacrament to When a representative of the dhist monks, already accustomed helpless shut-ins. The two most British and Foreign Bible So- to celibacy, who will live together loved were Nang La and Nang ciety called on this man recently and be available for special evan- Kan Gao. Nang La had been a he showed him a drawer full of gelistic· work among educated wretched beggar. Her near letters which he had received, Buddhist lay folk in the cities, relatives did not care for her asking for more information and among the hills of Yunnan. and at the progressive signs of about this Jesus, "the Bread of leprosy drove her away from Life." In reply, he always sends .-Chinese Recorder. her home. Her only recourse a copy of St. John's Gospel, with was holding out her twisted a personal testimony to its in- Results from Small Efforts hands for alms. Then she found fluence on his own life. Christ and began to "serve the During her stay in China, Lord with gladness." -Alliance Weekly. Muriel Lester says the most re- markable piece of work she saw Nang Kan Gao lived in He~then 'Cruelty was the transformation of a vil- Chiengmai where her husband lage in twelve months. Two was an elder in the church and Presbyterian missionaries re- missionaries lived so close to the she herself was a great Bible port the execution of 80 mem- Chinese in fellowship and so student and ardent Christian. bers of a leper colony in Yeung- close to our Lord in spirit, that Her husband died and Nang kong, Kwangtung Pro v inc e, by using only their spare time· Kan Gao carried on alone. China, by civil and military au-_ and spending almost no money When it was discovered that she thorities. These lepers lived in they were able to evoke from the had leprosy, still in its early a little cluster of huts known as peasants of a neighboring village stage, she immediately started Happy Valley, and existed by sufficient confidence, communal on foot to Chiengmai. Because their own efforts, aided by the ambition and initiative to set up the disease was caught in its missionaries. A lone survivor three schools, a library and early stage, it was arrested. told of hiding in a sewer of the reading room, a daily clinic, a village while soldiers bound his -Siam Outlook. associates, carried them to a hill
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
public exhibition of agricultural Better Conditions for Women "I told her that the baby produce in which five or six other villages cooperated, and a A Woman's Life Improvement seemed well and strong, a finegroup of voluntary actors, stilt Association is being sponsored looking little fellow-I thought walkers, conjurors, to enliven by the Kiangsi provincial gov- she was doing a good job. She the long days of the New Year ernment. For six months the holiday. Association will investigate the said no, he was spoiled. She living conditions of women in couldn't feed him properly, she A leading medical man had Kiangsi. Then plans will be couldn't train him properlybeen helping the peasants near the grandparents wouldn't allow his hospital set up a credit and worked out for the promotion of it. Every time she tried to cormarketing cooperative. Amazed the welfare of women. From rect him, they interfered and at the resourcefulness and re- July, 1937, to June, 1942, is to scolded her! I tried to sympaliability that was forthcoming be the period of enforcement. thize with her, but I told her it In the first year a home econom- was her job, and a tough one. he summed up his whole ex- If only there were any hopes of perience of China: ics' school will be established. training the grandparents !" The second year will see the ex- "There is no country like it. tension of the program to ten JAPAN-CHOSEN Here one gets such big results more districts: the third year to 20 more districts; the fourth from such small efforts." year to 25 more districts; and Intensive Rural Campaign -The Christian Advocate. the fifth year to 27 more dis- In experimenting with ways Mui Tsai Slavery tricts, thus finally covering the and means to carryon its cam- whole province. Special stress paign for "100,000 new men and boys for Christ in ten years," For some years the British will be laid on needs of farming the Brotherhood of St. Andrew Government has been trying to and working women. Physical is giving a full half of its energy education, civic training, indus- this year to stirring up activity end the practice called Mui Tsai, trial and farming production, whereby young girls are sold useful social activities and set- in rural evangelism. An Insti- ting up of good habits will all tute for training rural workers into service – to work for the receive attention. will be held in Tokyo, August purchasing household without pay and without the right to -China Critic. 16-21, when a well-planned, leave. Yet in spite of legal en- practical demonstration course actments, ways and means have How Would You Answer This? will be conducted by rural workbeen found to continue the prac- ers in such problems as evantice, which cannot be considered What is the proper way to de- gelism, woman's work, young anything but a mild form of cline taking a baby to bring up? slavery. The recent findings of This is what a missionary in men's work, church school meththe Royal Commission appointed Hainan would like to know, and ods, and health and occupational to investigate this matter make here is why. schemes. Only three rural work- ers, lay or clerical, from each of clear such a conclusion to any A young Christian mother the ten dioceses, will be invited has been much interested in the to participate in the first instiimpartial investigator. feeding and care of her baby, and came to the Mission at in- tute. The Onabake Mission was The Manchester Guardian gets tervals with questions. She had chosen as being best suited for to the heart of the problem when asked for a book on "Care and demonstration purposes, being it says: Training of Children." Let the missionary finish the story: located five miles from the rail- If it were possible to discover what way station, in the midst of a girls are Mui Tsai, the present legis- "She was the fi'rst mother I countryside completely population in Hongkong and Malaya, properly enforced, would be sufficient to lated by small farmers. This abolish the practice. The difficulty, had known to intimate that she little mission was made possible as the Commission and all other in- was not fully qualified to bring through a gift of $1,000 secured vestigators have realized, is that the up any number of children. But by Bishop Dallas, following his possessors of a Mui Tsai naturally claim that the child is something else I had not seen her for several visit to Japan last year.
-an illegitimate daughter, a child left weeks, when she came up one -The Living Church. in their care by relations, or, gen- Sunday after church. When I erally, "an adopted daughter-in-law" went downstairs to greet her, More Japanese Deities -that is, a girl child adopted until she said, 'I've brought my baby she is old enough to marry a son of to hand over to you, so you can To Japan's national pantheon, the house. The only practical meas- bring him up properly,' and she which is said to include "eighty ure that has ever been suggested to myriads of gods," 1,148 new stop this is to register. all adopted pushed him into my hands, con- deities were added in solemn daughters-in-law and, if necessary, all tinuing, 'I don't know how. I ceremonies last April. They children transferred from their par- want you to teach him and feed were soldiers of the empire who ents' care. The Governments in Hong- him and train him-it wouldn't had died during the past year. kong and Malaya have always resisted be hard for you. It's hard for this on the ground that such measures me. I'm not equal to it. Oh, The ceremonies in form and would logically lead to the registration and supervision of every girl in meaning have no Occidental the colony. I'll pay you,' she added.
counterparts. The rites were Even before the tent meetings ISLANDS OF THE PAOIFIO carried out in darkness. Against the local congregation had felt the black background of the the old church building inade- Demon Possession in shrine the white-robed Shinto quate, and had taken up a sub- South Seas priests and military officers who scription, at great sacrifice, of assisted made striking, ghost- one hundred yen. A wealthy A missionary in the South Sea like figures. Three thousand Christian woman in Taiku Evangelical Mission, working in members of the families of the who had grown up in that village the Solomon Islands, thinks that dead and the highest officers of gave another hundred. Follow- those who scoff at the reality of the army and navy were present. ing the Sunday service all joined Satan and demons, would revise in a parade. "A couple of hun- their theology if they could be First, the chief priest of the dred strong we marched a half in a heathen village for a few shrine invited the spirits of the mile to the river-bed," writes days. He tells of a notorious departed to enter the sanctuary. Mr. Adams, "We each, men, old witch doctor whose mind was Rites were held to felicitate the women and children picked up a incapable of grasping spiritual new deities on their elevation. stone according to our strength. ideas. When he was convicted In solemn procession, with a mil- We marched back to town, while of sin and he accepted Christ his itary band playing a funeral an- non-Christians lined the streets mind cleared, and his joy was them, a small portable shrine, to see the strange parade. We unbounded. But Satan did not conceived to contain the spirits deposited the stones in the easily release him. Next day a of the new deities, was carried church courtyard, and then held man hurried to the mission, crythrough the courtyard to the a brief service dedicating these ing: main temple. All lanterns and first offerings to the future place other lights were extinguished of worship to the one and only "Come quick! Old Mae-hui during its passage. When the true God and His Son. It was shake-shake too much; old fell a ark was placed in its proper a witness of solidarity among devil come back." niche the shrine lights were relit Christians." and offerings of fruit, vegetables The old man was found graspand wine were placed before the Stages of Growth in Korea ing the rafters of his low dwellnew spirits. ing, shaking the building with The figures tracing Presby- great power, and crying out in Those deified in the recent terian Church growth in Korea an unearthly way. Prayer was ceremony brought the total so since 1900 are significant. The offered and soon Mae-hui called worshipped to 130,967. first decade of this century saw out, "Lord Jesus, save me from a growth of 1,1000/0 in adher- this devil's power." Immediately -New York Times. ents, but in the second decade he fell exhausted to the floor and slept heavily for a few hours. A Witness of Solidarity the increase was only 3 %. Dur- He soon recovered and has gone on since a happy Christian. Edward Adams writes from ing the third, the figure advanced Taiku, Korea, of results that fol- to 26%, while in the six years of NORTH AMERIOA lowed a week of tent meetings this fourth decade there has ten miles from Taiku, where a been the almost unbelievable in- Oommission on Unity church had been established ten crease of 75.5%. years ago, but they were ten Largely as an outgrowth of years of struggle for bare exist- Baptized membership has not the National Preaching Mission, ence. A little farther into the kept pace with this. While it a new "Commission for the mountains are two more groups was 1,000% between 1900 and Study of Christian Unity" will -about three miles apart-very 1910, the next decade shows carryon. "a continuous educamuch in the same condition. Too 76%, the third 33%, and the six tional program," both as to the far from the main currents of "conditions that create the de- Christian activities, and with the years of the fourth 24 %. There mand for a greater unity" and strong and overwhelming back- as to the various proposals by ward pull of a hostile society, it were no native pastors in 1900; which unity may be achieved. has been a discouraging strug- there were 40 in 1920; then an The educational program would gle. A native pastor, four lay increase of 3500/0 in 1920, of strive to produce attitudes favorworkers, two women and two 127% in 1930 and 29% in 1936. able to an advance in unity, and men made up the Gospel team. readiness to give open-minded For three days the tent was filled These figures reflect the great consideration to whatever plans (500-800 people) morning, noon revival that followed loss of in- seem most promising. and night. Workers took turns dependence; the period of conin addressing the multitudes solidation that followed, a period Some of the conditions behind· with time out only at meals. By that has now passed and the the demand for greater unity Sunday night 140 decided to ac- Church seems to be entering an– are: cept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. other forward movement. Mis- Two evangelists ~tayed to do fol- sionary work in Korea began in Overchurching in local areas. low-up work, and the next week 1884; Christians now number Inefficient use of resources. 20 more decisions were made. 520,000. Since the total popula- The meaninglessness of our divisions tion is 20,500,000, each Chris- tian must win 40 others! when transplanted to the mission fields, where new churches are -Christianity Today. being created.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
The lack of moral authority in a British Army by a man named been studied very little, if at all. Church which appeals for unity Jackson at the time of the Amer- The results of their research is in the world at large, when it ican Revolution. Today one can then compiled, and used by gov- find albinos, mulattoes, as well ernment agencies, universities, has such insufficient unity within itself.
Progress in Kentucky's as combinations of these, and Bible translation societies and negroid and Indian features. scientific research societies. Mountains Little was done concerning This offers opportunity for their physical, mental or spir- Rapid changes are being made itual needs until the Episcopal service and discovery seldom in the Kentucky mountain com- Church began work there sev- surpassed in the realm of scienmunities. Many county seats eral years ago. Two years ago, are connected by good roads; tific research, as there are hunrivers once crossed only by fords Rev. Albert Chillson took hold dreds of extremely interesting have been bridged. Many good of the work. He found malnu- languages about which very schools have been erected. trition was widespread, high mortality among children and little is known, and long-sought 'rhe College at Berea operates destitution in general. Mr. Chill- secrets about the relationships a "book car." One who travels son gained their confidence by of people and streams of migrain it writes: tion. The Institute's headquar- repeated visits, and when he ters are at 506 Commonwealth During my almost six years of trav- proposed a religious service in Building, Philadelphia, Pa.
eling I have seen six new school build- the near-by schoolhouse on Sun- The Mormon Program ings replace old ones. In three in- day afternoons they responded of Today stances a two-room building has taken amazingly, both in numbers and the place of a one-room school. With It is well to know just what the new buildings, conditions have im- in their participation in the serv- the Mormons are up to in these proved. The better light and freshly ices. So far, only a beginning United States: painted walls seem conducive to clean- has been made. liness. In one school a small kitchen 1. Nearly 2,000 emissaries at work, has oeen equipped for serving hot -The Living Church. without salary. lunches.
Transportation of pupils to Saving the "Shreds" 2. Using deceptive radio talks mis- leading many.
county high schools is becoming Said Horace Mann in a lecture 3. Using millions of copies of perimore common. For the Cumber- on education: "The ash e s, odicals and tracts, all craftily written land National Forest the govern- to lead people to believe things utterly shreds and wrecks of everything contrary to the Bible. ment has already purchased are of some value." A California 300,000 acres, and plans even- reformatory is acting on this 4. Having a great building era; theory, and results are in sharp while it has already seven so-called tually to buy a total of 1,338,000 "temples" costing an average of acres, in seventeen counties of contrast to most misnamed "re- Kentucky. formatories" from which youtps $770,000, it is building soon a $525,000 plant in Los Angeles, another in Idaho, a new meeting-house in Chi- There are still very many commonly come out worse than cago costing half a million, besides its regions in which "the roads run when they entered. two $100,000 ones there; has another planned in Philadelphia; owns Manup the creeks, and the creeks run At the Preston School of In- hattan Congregational Church, New down the roads," many regions dustry, as this institution is York.
in which one must abandon all called, the boys are "cadets" in- 5. Has doubled its numbers twice thought of a car, and travel on stead of "inmates." Its cluster and one-third since the census of 1890 mule back or in jolt wagon to of buildings, with campus and and teaches that it is to rule the one's destination at some settle- world. ment or schoolhouse. athletic field, resembles a pleas- ant little college. Bars and 6. Has nearly all its Senior high- WILLIAM J. HUTCHINS. school students in its "Theological armed guards are only for a few Seminaries" one hour daily. "Jackson Whites" in sullen and vicious ones. The 7. Has millions of yearly income, rest have classes and military from tithing and large secular busi- ness interests, with which to do all New Jersey drills, learn trades, and are made this. 8. Has enough control over its peo- An isolated, backward group to feel that society is not against known as "Jackson Whites," liv- them, but on their side to aid ple to keep its proselyting force filled; ing in New Jersey, a few miles them to b e com e physically~ every young man expected to serve from the most heavily populated morally and mentally fit for use- two years or more. section of the United States, pre- ful citizenship. sent an ethnological puzzle. To -Light on Mormonism. -Evangelical-Messenger. Economic Freedom for Indians the original Indian settlers were Linguistic Research Hundreds of Navajo Indians added at least two other strains; met early in April in the Navajo Hessian deserters who in fleeing Each summer there is held an capital, Window Rock, Arizona, from their British masters had Institute of Linguistics, for the to draw up a new constitution.
settled in the hills and a part of purpose of training practical They desire a Legislature instead the 3,500 women, some white, linguistic investigators, and to of the old Tribal Council, which some black, imported under con- locate them among indigenous is claimed not to be representa- tract as camp-followers for the tribes whose languages have tive of all the people. Some of
the delegates were draped in torial officials, as well as mis- Fellowship will take part. The blankets, and some, college edu- sionaries, are deeply concerned campaign, lasting five or six cated, appeared as business men. over the situation. years, is designed to reach the All discussions were in the The Alaskan Native Brother- entire population of 16,000,000, Navajo tongue. hood, a Christian organization, which includes 3,000,000 of non- Seventy years ago this tribe has appealed to the missionaries Spanish – speaking Indians. A numbered 8,000; today there are for help in applying such restric- large circulation of the Scrip- 50,000 members. Their reser- tions to the traffic in intoxicants tures will be a feature of this vation includes 16,000 acres in as would afford the native people great effort.
Utah, New Mexico and Arizona. some measure of protection, and -Christianity Today.
Their land is rich in coal and save them from the moral de- oil. They own a million sheep, struction with which they are In the West Indies threatened. Victories over tempand their blanket business is ap- tation are being won by Alaskan The Presbyteries of Puerto proaching a million dollar indus- Rico and Cuba have been contry. Their constitution will be church members, who are sub- ducting evangelistic campaigns j ected almost daily to the sever- far more extensive than ever besubmitted to the "white fathers" est tests of the genuineness of fore. It is estimated that about at Washington. their Christian profession. 2,000 new members will be re- -Alliance Weekly.
Canadians Plan Federation Point Barrow Hospital Burns ceived as a result. These mem- bers have been trained for the Plans for a Canadian Federa- The hospital at Bar row, most part in the Sabbath schools. tion of Churches, fashioned Alaska, erected in 1921 by the The campaign has been carried somewhat after the Federal Presbyterian Board of National Council of Churches in the Missions, has been totally de- on by the pastors after weeks of United States, have been sent to stroyed by fire. The patients preparation. the heads of the Anglican, Bap- were removed safely, but meditist, Presbyterian and United cines and surgical equipment The Presbytery of Cuba or- Churches, the Salvation Army were destroyed. The loss is cov- dained two new ministers this and the Disciples. This proposed ered by insurance. Until July 1, year. They were members of federation would provide for 1936, when the operation of this the Sabbath school years ago, "the setting up of some coordi- hospital was transferred to the received their training from the nating council, so that in mat- Office of Indian Affairs of the ters of common interest we may U. S. Government, it provided mission schools of Cuba, and have the means of expressing the only health service available their seminary training in the ourselves, through one voice, to some 2,000 Eskimos. which could speak for the Prot- Evangelical Seminary in Puerto estant Church of our country." Emergency quarters h a v e Rico. One of them has estab- been fitted up, and medical sup- It is hoped thus to formulate plies and surgical equipment lished a church in what was fora united front of all Protestant have been shipped by dog team merly a garage, the only buildbodies on social questions, such from the Kotzebue Hospital. ing available when he was comas war and temperance, and for Mrs. Fred S. Klerekoper, wife pelled to move from a rented national evangelical work. of the missionary at Barrow, building, because of the annoy- who is a fully trained, registered -Advance. ance of a public cafe. The gar- age has been transformed into a nurse, will respond to emergency very attractive church audi- calls. Encouraging reports. have torium. The young minister and been received from the Klere- kopers regarding the progress his wife represent the new gen- Liquor Evils in Alaska of church work in the Barrow eration of Cubans, well prepared area. With characteristic devo- intellectllalIy, thoroughly identi- "The repeal of the Prohibition tion, the congregation continues fied with their own people, and Amendment was a major calam- definitely committed to the ideals ity for Alaska," says Dr. John of the Kingdom of Christ. M. Somerndike, Secretary for Alaska under the Presbyterian -The Presbyterian.
Board. "Ketchikan, for example, to carry forward the local pro- New Deal in Dominican with a population of less than gram of community worship and Republic 4,000, has 65 saloons where service. -Monday Morning. liquor is dispensed. Similar conditions prevail in every Alaskan LATIN AMERICA Long before the present gov- ernment used the term "New town and city. It is claimed that Evangelism in Mexico nearly two-thirds of the ship- Deal" it was a reality in the ments of Alaska steamship lines A cooperative effort in wideconsist of liquor. Its devastat- spread evangelism is being ar- Dominican mission field, and sixing effects are seen especially ranged, in which, among others, teen years of united action on among the native population. the National Bible Society of the part of United Brethren, Methodist and Presbyterian forces have proved its value. Immorality and every form of Scotland, the Scripture Gift Mis- Operating under four departvice follow in the wake of this sion, the Evangelical Churches ments – evangelistic, medical, evil. Government and terri- and the Latin America Prayer educational and social, the Board
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
for Christian Work in Santo Do- Need for Nationals in its annual feast and bull-fight. mingo has moved forward in a The constant noise and din of unified program w h i c h has The general situation in Cen- the drunken band all night long reached every stratum of Do- tral America directs attention to made sleep well-nigh impossible. minican life, and has become a the need for national Christian With the governor's permission vital factor for improvement. workers. Efforts are being made I was able to preach in the pub- There has been a substantial in- to send Christian workers into lic plaza as well as sell books, crease in the number of evan- several new Departments in before the bull-fight began. We gelicals. English Wesleyans are Guatemala, EI Salvador, Nic- had a good congregation and the now incorporated in this union aragua and Honduras. Foreign people were quite keen to listen church, and this year there was missionaries will take part in the to our message. held in Samafia the centennial advance, but the importance of celebration of the founding of the Bible Institutes at Pana- "The governor is a slave to the Wesleyan Methodist Church jachel for Indians, and that at drink. His wife asked if we had in that district among the Eng- Guatemala City and at San Jose a cure for this curse, and turnlish-speaking colored people, who in Costa Rica for Spanish-speak- ing to the two boys with me, I had migrated there from Penn- ing students, is increasingly ap- said, 'Senora, there are two of sylvania, New Jersey and the parent. Moreover, travel be- them. Ask them,' and Matias Carolinas in 1824. In 1837, tween the republics becomes Arela warmed my heart with his England sent a pastor who more difficult by the application splendid testimony. He was a founded a church with 60 char- of measures chiefly designed to known drunkard, but is now a ter members. The oldest mem- exclude foreign competitive im- free man through Christ. ber is 96 years old. Hanging on migration. News from Costa Rica the wall of her home is this indicates that the Government is "A seven hours' horseback motto, painted by her husband: taking drastic measures to limit journey took us to Copapata, "Childron United you stand de- the number of incoming mission- and here we saw the nucleus for vied you faull. Childron when aries; and the Minister of For- a growing work. We visited this you see remember me-E. eign Relations of Colombia has other small towns and made con- Anderson." Thus the idea of also announced that no more tacts with some who are really unity is foretold. -Advance. missionaries are wanted in Co- keen to know the way of salva- lombia. His veto is particularly tion. I always think of the town Woman's World severe against any further in- of Santa Rosa as the place where crease of single women workers. Satan's seat is. The ]ileople are The Presbyterian Board re- exceedingly bitter against us ports great progress in the West -World Dominion Press. and are very fanatical Catholics. Indies during the last few years In 1931 we held meetings there, in the organization of women's Belated Eft'orts in Guatemala but owing to continued persecu- tion the Indians stopped roming. societies in the churches. There Roman Catholics are making However, on this visit we had are now 18 church societies in every effort to regain lost ground the joy of baptizing five from Cuba, with 491 members, re- in Guatemala. Their efforts are the town itself, who professed porting more than 700 meetings commendable in many ways: a faith in Christ as Saviour. So during the past year. On their better type of clergymen; more keen were they that we hold a own initiative they have con- active rural work; better educa- convention there, that we did so. ducted seven Sunday schools and tion for children; certain im- Some fanatical women turned distributed 7,000 pieces of litera- provements in the quality of up, hoping to disturb the meetture. Each society has estab- their press; and even a strong ing; but we sang hymns until lished a "wardrobe," collecting party within the church, work- they went off in disgust. They and distributing used clothing to ing to purify the church, or at repeated the experiment the folthe community. Miss Edith M. least to remove the objections lowing day, but a terrible hail- Houston, worker at large, re- that laid it open to'complaint and storm drenched them and they ports that while visiting in the favored the advance of the made a hasty retreat. Not once home of one of the members of Evangelicals. Meanwhile, the were we disturbed again. Later, the societies, she found the evangelical cause continues to a son of one of these fanatical woman of the house examining grow by leaps and bounds. women who had attended the her coat and murmuring, "It meetings for the first time exwould make three little pairs of -Guatemala News. pressed the desire to know the pants." She lost no time in res- Lord. cuing her coat from the modern In Southern Peru Dorcas. Afro-Cuban Cult Alex. Jardine, writing for The Many of the societies have Neglected Continent, tells of a According to the Literary Diprayer groups, meeting once a new Christian group at Macu- gest there is in Cuba a cult month with the sole purpose of sani, southern Peru, who had whose rites sound like a page praying for the evangelization sent a special reque>st for an from pagan Africa. Kidnapof Cuba. -Monday Morning. evangelist to visit them. Mr. ping white children and human Jardine responded and says: sacrifice are a part of the cere- "We found the viUage occupied
monia!. Forty of their witch (66.79 %) are of the opinion aries in fourteen different fordoctors were arrested last De- that religion is losing ground. eign countries. Of the 2,728 cember and twenty others are churches in these foreign counalready serving long terms in World Religions tries, 2,000 are self-supporting. the Government prison. The total membership is 204,894. World Dominion has recently Rumania reported 6,050 bap- This cult originated at Sabee, published tables as authentic as capital of the West African slave are available of the percentages tisms, which was the largest coast kingdom of Whydah. It and numbers of the religions of number reported for the year. claims 500,000 votaries in Cuba, the world: of whom 100,000 are whites. – Watchman-Examiner. Catholic …….. 350,000,000-17% Gospel Bus in Chile Orthodox ……. 150,000,000- 7% Asia's Children in Sunday Protestant …… 230,000,000-11% School For the past three or four years the Presbyterian mission Of the non-Christian religions India has the largest Sunday in Chile has taken an active part school enrolment in Asia, with in the work of distributing the the Confucianists form 17 %, Korea a close second. There are Scriptures throughout r u r a I Hindus and Moslems 12 % each, 285,000,000 children in Asia areas by means of a gospel bus. under fourteen years of age They have made long trips with Buddhists, Animists, Shin- (excluding Asiatic Russia), out through the country whenever toists, Jews and others making of which number 2,800,000 beweather permitted traffic away up the remainder of the 2,040,- long to Protestant communities from the central highways. 000,000 in that class. -that is one in a hundred. Only Hundreds of New Testaments about one-quarter of these chilhave been left in the homes of Lutherans Go Forward dren have been touched by the country people, many of whom Sunday school. Some have been never leave their thatched huts. The American L u the ran receiving religious instruction in In each place the missionaries Board of Foreign Missions in day schools, but such privileges take the opportunity of telling adopting its budget on April 22, in day schools are rapidly disthe story of Christ, reading from removed a 10ro cut in mission- appearing. -Alliance Weekly. the Bible itself, training new ary salaries, and voted to send Christians, and opening new during the year one new or re- Women's Missionary Magazine avenues of interest. placement missionary to each foreign field, and also to make After years of discussion and -Presbyterian Banner. to each field a special contribu- planning, the Women's Mission- tion of $1,000 during the year ary Magazine of the United MISCELLANEOUS ($500 for British Guiana) for Presbyterian Church issued its buildings or general work. Ar- first number in August, 1887, Is Religion Losing Ground? gentina gets $1,500 because of with 2,300 advance subscrip- special needs at Eldorado. The. tions. Mrs. Sarah Foster Hanna In the January Fortune ap- total financial advance for the had the honor of first advocating peared the results of a survey on year is $30,000. such a magazine. Mrs. W. the status of religion in the Clark Hutchison, of Xenia, Ohio, Other indications of renewed was its first editor, and served United States today, based on progress are the building of a for 27 years. She was followed 4,500 interviews secured by For- church in Kobe, Japan, and three by Mrs. George Moore, who tune's investigators. new buildings at Zorzor, Liberia. served for 21 years. A fund The erection of new buildings at raised as a memorial to her sup- An equal number of men and Tsingtao, China, will proceed as plies illustrations for the magawomen were interviewed in all soon as the Luther League of zine. It is now under the capable major geographical areas, in America has attained its objec- editorship of Mrs. J. P. White, both rural and urban communi- tive of $10,000. formerly a missionary in Egypt.
ties. The various economic A special effort to cancel the o Lord our God, thy mighty hand levels were represented as fol- Board's debt is making headway. Hath made our country free; lows: prosperous, 10%; upper The treasurer was able to report that indebtedness had been re- From all her broad and happy land middle class, 27 %; lower middle duced to $80,000 by last March. The regular budget of the Board May worship rise to thee; class, 38%, and poor, 25%. is $471,727. The question: "Is religion in Fulfill the promise of her youth, Baptist Gains Her liberty defend; , America today gaining or losing .More than 17,000 persons, the By law and order, love and truth, ground?" The consensus of largest number in one year in judgment: the history of the Foreign Mis- America befriend! sion Society of the Southern Religion gaining……….. 24.8% Baptist Convention, were bap- The strength of every state increase Losing……………….. 49.90/0 tized by the Society's mission- Same ………………… 17. 20/0 aries and native workers last In Union's golden chain; Has no influence ………. year. The Society has mission- Don't know…………… 1. 3% Her thousand cities fill with peace, 6.8% Her million fields with grain- The virtues of her mingled blood Of those definitely believing In one new people blend; that religion is either gaining or losing, more than two-thirds By unity and brotherhood, America befriend! AMElN. -Henry van Dyke.
Missionary
Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information Christianity in the Eastern Conflicts. Eastward. The Story of Adoniram tions and achievements of the A Study of Christianity, National- Judson. Portrait. 8vo. 240 pp. next thirty-seven years fill the ism, and Communism in Asia. By Round Table Press. New York. volume. Judson's first wife died William Paton. 224 pp. $1.50. 1937. after fourteen years in Burma Chicago, Willett Clark and Co. and he later married Sarah 1937. There is no more fascinating Boardman. After a few years she too entered into rest and This is a very timely book. or more stimulating reading Judson married a third time. Mr. Paton is a secretary of the The dangers and the difficulties International Missionary Coun- than good missionary biog- overcom~ in pioneer mission cil. Last year he made a trip work for Christ present a very which took him through the Far raphies. They contain stories different story from that of East, India, and the Near East. most modern missions. Those The letters which record his im- of adventure in new fields, sac- were the days of giants and of pressions are among the most heroes and heroines. informing documents of their rificial service, love and rokind that this reviewer has seen. mance, information about new The biographer is a graduate At the insistence of his friends, of Brown University and now Mr. Paton put the substance of peoples and strange lands and professor of missions in Berkthose letters into book form. eley Divinity School, California. Here, then, is a record of what customs, and the study of char- He naturally sympathizes with a thoughtful observer has seen acter development under many Judson's change to Baptist of present conditions in the adverse conditions and toward views, which was the immediate most populous parts of Asia. high ideals. The life of Adon- reason for the founding of the Mr. Paton's concerns are pri- iram Judson, pioneer mission- American Baptist Missionary marily missionary. He is, how- ary to Burma, is such a treas- Union. The biography is vivid ever, interested also in the set- ure house. He has furnished and sympathetic, revealing the ting in which missions must material for many biographies, way God works to build up His work. These chapters contain, histories and historical novels Kingdom "in spite of dungeon, therefore, pictures of trends in in the past eighty-five years. fire and sword." politics, economics, and thought This is a well written life his- tory, documented, with clear The Israel Promises and Their Fulwhich affect the life of the purpose and abundant human filment. By Samuel Hinds Wilkin- Church. interest. While not a spiritual son. 195 pp. 88. 6d. John Bale, interpretation, it is a sympa- Sons, and Danielson. London. 1936. The book does not end with a thetic record. travelogue. The author has What is the teaching of the properly added an interpreta- The subject is too well-known Bible regarding the future of tion. The second half of the to require extended comment. the Jews? The answer would book he terms "Reflections." Going out with his young bride, seem to be simple enough. It is Mr. Paton states what he be- in 1812, as one of the first in fact far otherwise. There are lieves to be the Christian mes- American foreign missionaries, in general two main views held sage. He discusses the relation he found they were not wanted by Christians. One follows the of Church, community, and state by the British East India Com- Jewish interpretation of the in the Far East. He describes pany that controlled foreign re- ancient prophecies concerning the present condition of the lations with India. Moreover, Israel that there will be a recon..; younger churches as he has seen Judson and his wife decided stitution of the Jewish nation in them. He also gives space to that they could not work as Con- Palestine under the Messiah the relation of the Church to the gregational missionaries but when the Jews will reach the changing social order. Mr. must work as Baptists. This highest pinnacle of earthly do- Paton is always soundly evan- cut them off from home support minion and glory. Some Chrisgelical and always sees below for a time. Forbidden to work tians maintain that this will be the surface to the significance in India, after they had come realized at the second coming of of the transient scene. 12,000 miles and were five months away from home, finally K. S. LATOURETTE. after trying Mauritius and Pen- ang, the J udsons found a "crazy old vessel" to take them to Ran- goon. The trials, horrors, hero- ism, joys and sorrows, priva- Any of the books noted in these columns will be sent by the Rl!VIIlW publishers on receipt of price.
[ 397]
Christ. The other view holds that have taken place. Arabia, terest. Dr. Corey is one of the Syria and Palestine, Egypt and recognized leaders of the foreign that the old covenant was abol- Africa, Turkey, Iran, India and m iss ion a r y enterprise, and the Farther East are then con- writes out of long and rich exished by Christ and under the sidered specifically in illumi- perience, first as secretary and nating chapters. While Islam is now as president of the. United new covenant the Church is the still considered an almost impos- Christian Missionary Society of sible field for Christian advance, the Disciples of Christ. His legitimate heir of the promises this book gives an encouraging knowledge of missions is wide record of the progress made. and accurate. He shows the made to Israel. Instead of an The Moslem attitude to Christ is wider range of world missions, changing but Mohammed's fol- "beyond statistics." His clarity earthly dominion and glory, the lowers are becoming more ma- of literary style, wealth of facts terialistic. The weakness and and illustrations, and cogency Church has come into possession strength of Islam are clearly of argument make delightful shown. The absolute necessity reading. So good a book should of a spiritual Zion and a richer of life through Christ might be have an index. more positively stressed. Mosspiritual inheritance. lems who become Christians ARTHUR J. BROWN. know that there is no hope in One of the ablest exponents of Mohammed. The Young Moslem Looks at Life. By Murray T. Titus. 8vo. 181 pp. the latter view is Philip Mauro, Christ and the W orId Today. By $1.00, cloth; 60 cents, paper. Wm. E. Doughty. 12mo. 126 pp. Friendship Press. New York. 1937. whose volume, "The Hope of Methodist Book Concern. New York. 1937. Moslems are an interesting Israel: What Is It?" has had a people. They follow one of the Dr. Doughty was for some most positive religious systems wide circulation and a potent in- time a secretary of the Laymen's in the world and are exceedingly Missionary Movement and later missionary-minded. Many Mosfluence. It is because of this in- of the Near East Relief. He is lem youth are wide-awake and a man of missionary vision and are in training for leadership. fluence that Samuel Wilkinson a clear and convincing speaker In the first chapter of this study and writer. This little volume book for young people in Amerhas written his book to counter- describes the "New Age" in ica, the author introduces Mo- which we live – with its good hammed Bey, a young Moslem act its effect which he regards and evil; "The Changing World" of Kashgar, who desires to see that offers a challenge to Chris- the world by making a pilas harmful and misleading. tians; the "New Destiny" that grimage to Mecca. The book is faced by the Church and the describes his experiences and As director of the Mildmay various nations and races; the reactions and shows that while "World Mission" of Japan, India his eyes were opened to many Mission to the Jews, of London, and other lands; "America in weaknesses in Moslems, his ex- the New Age" and its vast op- perience at Mecca overwhelmed Mr. Wilkinson brings to bear on portunity; the "New World So- him with Islam's greatness. ciety" seen as the Kingdom of the problem a deep interest in God and "Christ's Summons" to Dr. Titus then goes on to show a new departure, calling for a clearly the main facts about Mothe Jewish people and the re- new crusade. hammed and his religion, the practiC'es of Islam and the results of a life-long study of the It is a book of facts, carefully sults seen in the family, in poli- selected and interpreted to show tics and religion. He closes with Scriptures concerning the m. the author's views as to why and a Moslem view of Christianity how the world should be made and Islam's challenge to the He undertakes to establish on over to conform to the spirit and world. Young people will do purpose of Christ. The facts well to read it. They will then impregnable foundations the in- are impressive but we believe have deeper appreciation of that the Bible leads us to expect Christ and Christianity. violability of the promises con- the complete fulfilment of Christ's purposes only when lie What Is the Moslem World? By cerning Israel and the certainty returns to reign. Charles R. Watson. 8vo. 207 pp. $1.00, cloth; 60 cents, paplr. of their plenary fulfilment. His Beyond Statistics. By Stephen J. Friendship Press. New York. 1937. Corey. 188 pp. $1.00. Bethany book is a very valuable contri- Press. St. Louis. Mo. 1937. Few men know the Near East Moslem world better than Dr. bution to the study of the sub- Here is one of the best of re- Watson. He was born in Egypt cent missionary books, small in of missionary parents and has ject, but we wish that its mes- size, but large in value and in- been a missionary there for twenty years. In this adult missage had been less controversial and less limited in its scope by the arguments which he seeks to meet. These books by Philip Mauro and Samuel Wilkinson are keen and interesting ex- amples of diverse Biblical inter- pretation. J. S. CONNING.
Mecca and Beyond. By Edward M. Dodd and Rose Wilson Dodd. IlIus. 12mo. 222 pp. $1.00, cloth; 50 cents, paper. Central Committee on the United Study of Foreign Missions. Boston. 1937.
Mecca, the "Forbidden City" to Christians, is a name to conjure with for Moslems. Dr. and Mrs. Dodd have both lived among followers of Mohammed in the Near East and have been in touch with them ever since they left Persia (Iran). This popular and well-written study book is good reading for it deals, not with abstract, but with concrete facts and incidents. First the authors view "the Moslem and his world" as a whole and show the remarkable changes
OUR MISSIONARY BOOKSHELF
sion study book he has given the the churches and missions are well told, always attract children main facts about the lands and included, with 2,298 mission- and at the same time educate peoples where Islam holds sway. aries. The information is un- them and develop their human He points out many peculiarities avoidably and unfortunately in- sympathies. A child naturally of the Moslems and the "grip- complete. has no racial prej udices and can ping power of Islam." He also Bust., Until Seventy Times Seven. By be deeply interested in the way May Wyburn. Illus. 12mo. 192 presents the main facts as to the children of other lands live and contact of Christians with Mos- pp. $1.25. Loizeaux Bros. New talk, work and play. Here, by lems. Where Dr. Watson fails, York. 1936. means of captivating pictures we think, is in dealing with the The Water Street Mission, on every page, with attractive New York City, has long been verses and stories, the reader is weakness of Islam, its increased introduced to children from antagonism to Christ as known known as a place where modern Greenland, China, Japan, India, to Christians, and its supreme miracles are wrought. The story Africa, the Philippines and from of lives and natures transformed Palestine. Here are friendly, need for the Gospel. In looking and regenerated there have a attractive stories for very young to the future he calls on Chris- perpetual thrill and will never children, suitable for use in the grow old. Here the widow of home and Sunday school, as well tians to make better use of their as by teachers of young children resources, to understand the the former superintendent, a in day school. true man of God, gives some of task and its difficulties, to use these wonder tales of city mis- Kill or Cure. By Muriel Lester. 135 more strategy with a united ap- sion work, under the subtitle of pp. $1.00. Gokesbury Press. Nashproach to the problem. Mission- three Biblical names of three ville, Tennessee. 1937. aries to Moslems know that un- superintendents – J ere m i a h failing faith and prayer and lov- This is an avowedly "peace (McAuley), Samuel (Hadley) tract," by the woman who has ing sacrifice are required, but and John (Wyburn). These men been called "the Jane Addams" that the fruit must come from of England and who had become the Spirit of God opening blind are worth knowing and the eyes and bringing new life to dead souls. stories of their lives and the In the Jungles of New Guinea. By harvest that resulted from their internationally known not only Missionary R. Hanselmann. lllus. seed-sowing and watering fur- for her remarkable Christian Pamphlet. Lutheran Book Concern. nish good illustrations for ser- Columbus, Ohio. mons as well as excellent read- service in the tenement district ing. Here is a place where men New Guinea is still unknown were truly converted. They of London but for her eloquent to most Americans, in spite of knew it and others knew it by the fact that it is an immense the way their light shone before advocacy of world peace. In island and has great wealth and men and glorified God. Read interest for explorers, anthro- these "wonder tales" and pass this little book she convincingly pologists, scientists, exploiters them on to others as a witness and especially for missionary- of the redemptive power of shows the utter futility of war minded Christians. Christ. and the urgent need of develop- Mr. Hanselmann, a Lutheran Just Like You Stories. For Boys and missionary in the Mandated Ter- Girls. By Mrs. Henry W. Peabody. ing attitudes and methods for ritory, gives here his impres- Illus. 186 pp. $1.50. M. H. Leavis. sions of the flora, the fauna and Boston,. Mass. 1937. preventing it. Some readers the natives. A little is told about his experiences with them Eyegate is one of the most ef- may feel that she carries her and the effective work of the fective means of entrance into Lutherans. the mind and heart and soul. pacifism to extremes, but they will respect her sincerity. Dr.
Stanley Hunter adds an inter- esting biographical sketch of the author. ARTHUR J. BROWN.
About the Old Faith. By Henry W.
Frost. 12mo. 128 pp. $1.25.
Fleming H. Revell Co. New York. 1937.
The Evangelical Handbook of Latin Wise guidance in a child's read- In these days of new man- America. Paper. Quarto. 119 pp. ing is therefore one of the most made cults and of militant un- 48. Committee on Cooperation in belief there is need for short, Latin America, New York and the important avenues of learning. clear studies in revealed truth. World Dominion Press, London. And yet multitudes of children 1937. today, even in Christian homes, Those who are experimenting in With excellent maps, statisti- are having their tastes vitiated, new creeds need to avoid the cal tables, general information, their standards lowered, and toadstool variety of philosophy and directory of missionaries in their future endangered by the that carries death. each of the Latin American silly, distorted and often degrad- For half a century Dr. Frost countries, this volume gives val- ing reading they find in news- has tested the brand of faith uable up-to-date information. papers and books. Dr. May which he presents here in simple Everyone interested in the Lazar, research assistant of the outline. It has, m 0 reo v e r, progress of missions in these Board of Education, New York proved its value for two thoutwenty-one countries (including City, warns against many fairy- sand years and continues to islands in the West Indies) tales and "series books" that bring life and strength today to should have this Handbook for distort their ideas about life. those who follow it. Here is an study and reference. Most of True stories of children, when elementary volume for students,
rather than an advanced treatise Immensity. God's Greatness Seen in With Christ in Africa. By Rev. D. A. Creation. By Clarence H. Benson. McDonald. Illus. 158 pp. 28. 6d. on the Christian faith. Dr. Frost Illus. 8vo. 140 pp. $1.50. The Marshall, Morgan & Scott, Ltd., bases everything on the Bible, Scripture Press. Chicago. 1937. London, Edinburgh. Obtainable in though in many cases the refer- America from Zondervan Publishences are lacking. His general The wonders of God's uni- ing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan. verse can be grasped only faintly $1.00. 1937. topics are: The Godhead, Christ, Man, Sin, The Scriptures, Fun- -its magnificence, its order, its "The persons who say, 'Let design, its harmony in immen- the Africans alone; they are damental Doctrines, The Church, sity and in minuteness. There quite happy,' have never lived Christian Experience, Christian is fine opportunity for unending close to African life." For Privileges, Christian Services, forty years (1892-1931), Rev. Vital Topics, The Unseen World, study for it is a study of the D. A. McDonald lived among the works of God. Mr. Benson here people of South Africa, daily Prophecy and the Final State. gives glimpses of the wonders adding to his evidence that "The For most purposes the studies of astronomy and the lessons we dark places of the earth are full learn as to God's character and of the habitations of cruelty." are too analytical. There is no purpose. The author is director The story of his life and work argument but rather a series of among the peoples of Kafraria numbered statements to set forth of Christian Education Courses and North East Transvaal rethe author's interpretations of in Moody Bible Institute, Chi- veals a genuine understanding and appreciation of the Zulus the Bible teaching. There are cago, and is author of "The and Vendas among whom he almost no extra Biblical illustra- Earth, the Theater of the Uni- faithfully and victoriously contions or examples of the way verse" and other volumes. Here ducted his business of "life- is a book that makes infidelity changing." these truths work out in life. impossible to an honest, intel- Young people who wish to know From the point of general in- ligent thinker. It is also fasci- terest the effectiveness of the what the Word of God says will nating reading and furnishes an book is somewhat hampered by find Dr. Frost's studies illumi- immense amount of material for nating. Missionaries will also sermons. Every chapter is linked up to Bible passages and find them of real value to clarify the closing chapter is on the their own thinking and as a text- book for use with converts.
Except Ye Repent. By Harry A. "Star of Bethlehem" – not yet a too exact emphasis on the Ironside. 8vo. 191 pp. $1.50. clearly identified. names of obscure places and American Tract Society. New York. people. But the genuineness, the 1937. Pioneering in Kwangsi. By W. H. Oldfield. Illus. 8vo. 208 pp. whimsical naIvete and the splen- The number of strong and Christian Publications, Inc. Har- did Christian vitality of the man convincing evangelical preach- risburg, Pa. 1936. make his narrative a real testi- ers seems to be diminishing Kwangsi is one of the larger mony to the joy of courageous rather than increasing, so that and generally unevangelized Christian living.
volumes of sermons, like this, provinces in southwest China. FLORENCE LERRIGO.
are prizes worth having. Dr. Here The Christian and Mission- Ironsides, pastor of the Moody ary Alliance has done and is do- Cross of Christ. By George P. Pier- Memorial Church, Chicago, is a ing a remarkable work among son, D.D. $1.50. 173 pp. Amer- ican Tract Society. New York. powerful evangelical and pop- Chinese and aboriginal tribes. 1937. ular preacher and a clear ex- The courage, sacrifice, and perpositor. This series of sermons severence of these missionaries This timely little volume is , on Repentance won the $1,000 have produced some remarkable well worth a young Christian's prize offered by the American results. (See the article by Rev. examination and p ray e r f u I Tract Society. They are worth A. C. Snead in this issue of THE study. Dr. Pierson, for forty years a missionary in Japan, it – short, evangelical, Biblical, REVIEW.) practical, arresting, adapted for The Rev. W. H. Oldfield, one places the Cross where it should present-day needs. This series of the pioneers, describes vividly be, at the center, and he focuses takes up the meaning of repent- the land and people, the material the divine light of God's Word ance, Christ's call to repent, the progress in recent years and the upon it from all angles-"from teaching of various apostles and work of the Alliance in its vari- above, from the background, Biblical writers on the subject ous stations and outstations. It from its very self, from either and the results of preaching re- is a story of faith, of courage, of side, from the foreground, from pentance today. Ministers and adventure and of achievement. below, and from the ensuing missionaries will do well to study There are still millions who are centuries." In doing so he brings this volume carefully and to unevangelized and one can travel forward the essentials of the preach on the same subject hundreds of miles without see- Christian faith that need emoften. It is too much neglected ing a Christian chapel. Some phasis and restatement at the and too superficially treated. of the best work is being done present hour.
"Except ye repent, ye shall all by Chinese Gospel Bands that Dr. Pierson is well qualified likewise perish," are the words are trained and then go out to for this work not only from a of Christ to religious leaders of evangelize their fellow country- scholastic standpoint but also His day. men. from personal experience. After
from Princeton Uni- The Deeper Life. Max I. Reich. 115 of this Course
versity and S e min a r y, he pp. $1.00. Wm. B. Eerdmans. Young People's Society may preached these truths in Japan Grand Rapids, Mich. , converted into a School for and America. A. H. P'ERPE1'UO. Bible Training. Four Point Project Program. Based New Book. on Missionary Heroes Course No.1. 1936 STUDIES IN CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE Theodore L. Conklin. 30 pp. Board But, Until Seventy Times Seven. S. of Education, American Baptist Four Parts-52 Lessons. Part I, The Bible-The May Wyburn. 192 pp. $1.25. Asso. New York. God of the Bible. Part II, The Christ of the Bible Loizeaux Bros. New York. -The Holy Spirit. Part III, Man-Sin and Redemp- God's Methods for Holy Living. tion. Part IV. The Church-Future Events. Christ and the World Today. Wm. Donald Grey Barnhouse. 93 pp. E. Doughty. 126 pp. Methodist 50 cents. Revelation. Philadelphia. Send 15c in stamps for current issue. Book Concern. New York. The History of Sin. Happy Though HRISTIAN PUBLICATIONS.IN(; My Servant Moses. E. Ray Cameron. Poor. History of Temptation. Men 187 pp. $1.50. Revell. New York. Whom God Struck Dead. The 1502 N. Third St., Hlrrisburg, PI. Marks of, Sonship. When Winter Then and Now in Kenya Colony. Comes. Donald Grey Barnhouse. Bishop Lauress J. Birney, retired, Willis R. Hotchkiss. 160 pp. $1.50. 16 page leaflets. 10 cents each. of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Revell. New York. Revelation. Philadelphia. died in Pasadena, California, on May 10 at the age of 65. He was born in James Hudson Taylor. James J. Living in the Ministry of Song. Tom Dennison, Ohio, and after graduation Ellis. 96 pp. 18. Pickering & Jones. 180 pp. 2s. 6d. Pickering from Boston University School of Inglis. London. & Inglis. London. Theology, served several pastorates. He was elected Dean of Boston Uni- Pioneering in Kwangsi. W. H. Old- Obituary Notes versity in 1911 and in 1920 was ele- field. 208 pp. Christian Publica- vated to the Bishopric, with China as tions. Harrisburg, Pa. (Concluded from page 337.) his special mission field. Mr. Frederic F. Helmer, editorIal Christendom and Islam. Their Con- secretary for North America for the tacts and Cultures Down the Cen- China Inland Mission, died in Toronto, turies. W. Wilson Cash. 205 pp. Canada, March 19. Mr. Helmer had $2.00. Harpers. New York. filled various positions in the C. I. M., among others Publication and Prayer Church Unity. F. H. Knubel. 86 pp. Union Secretary. He remodeled 75 cents. United Lutheran Pub. China's Millions and founded Young House. Philadelphia.· China.
OBJEOTIVES AND PRINOIPLES FOR YOUTH We earnestly commend the following personal and social objectives for. the enlistment of youth: .
I surrender my life to Jesus Christ and His way of living and I enlist in His service.
I believe that it is the purpose of God to make Christ known in all the world so that all human relationships will be controlled by God's law of love. I propose to live, so far as He enables me, as if His Kingdom were now recognized.
I will faithfully observe a "quiet time" each day for meditation and prayer and the study of God's Word.
I will regard my lifework as my share in extending God's Kingdom. I will choose my life- work in accordance with what I can discover to be God's will, and not for personal selfish gain. I will practice restraint and self-denial in all my personal nabits.
I will keep my friendships on a high level, not conforming to lower standards of the world, but helping to lift the standards of my group to the best that I know, as God has revealed His way of life.
I will serve Christ through the Christian Church, doing all that I can to make it the effec- tive instrument that it must be if God's world is to be truly Christian.
I will oppose the war system as murderous and selfish, and will work ceaselessly for the establishment of peace based on righteousness and love.
I will refrain from the use of alcoholic liquors, and will work to rid the world of the degrading liquor traffic.
I will treat those of all races as my brothers and sisters made in the spiritual image of God.
I will give myself to the creation of better economic and social conditions wherein every member of society shall have opportunity to earn a livelIhood for himself and those dependent upon him and wherein every member of society shall have sufficient to meet his economic needs.
I will use my leisure time only for such recreation as is wholesome and will enrich and uplift personality, and will refrain from amusements which injure or degrade myself or others.
I will give of my time, as far as possible, to working for the building of a Christian world -in personal work, public speaking, writing, and circulating literature, and in every possible way evangelizing for Christ.
I will give sacrificially of my earnings and other possessions to support the enterprises which are working to build a Christian world.
I will conscientiously seek to obey the Will of God as revealed in His written Word and will put Him first in all things-that Christ may have the preeminence. -Adapted from "The Evangelical-Messenger."
THE SPECIAL uMOSLEM NUMBER"
OF THE MISSIONARY ~'WORID This October Issue will contain articles on CHRIST AND THE MOSLEM WORLD Why Take Christ to Moslems? Samuel M. Zwemer The Gospel for Mohammedans W. Wilson Cash Present.day Trends in Islam Edward C. Dodd Moslem Reactions to Christ • James Haldane My Experience with Moslems Frank C. Laubach Christ and Moslem Homes . Eleanor Calverley What Christ Has Done for Me • S. Khoobyar A Sermon by a Former Moslem Saee'd Kurdistani and others—with maps and illustrations ORDER COPIES IN ADVANCE FOR YOURSELF AND MISSION STUDY CLASSES 25 cents a copy $20 a hundred $2.50 a year THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD Third and Reily Streel:s, Harrisburg, Pa.
ROBERT E. SPEER, President DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor READ THE MOSLEM WORLD SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, Editor SOME ARTICLES IN THE JULY NUMBER Patience (Editorial) George Swan The Arabic Version of the Bible Paul Erdman The Bible and Moslems • J. Christy Wilson The Bible in the Balkans • James Oscar Boyd The Koran as Magic Bess Allen Donaldson Moslem Chronology in China Isaac Mason Shi'a Standards of Hyderabad • • Kate Greenfield A Statistical Survey Carlo Gasbarri Why Not Canonize Mohammed? Mounir R. Sa'adeh Egypt Tastes Independence Pierre Crabites Book Reviews ••• Current Topics••• Survey of Periodicals __-+)0 SUBSCRIBE NOW ~~-._ 50 Cents a Copy. $2.00 a Year (postpaid) In combination with THE MOSLEM WORLD THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City $3.50 a Year. (Foreign Postage, 50 Cents.) British Agents: MARSHA!.!., MORGAN & SCOTT, 12 Paternoster Buildings, !.ondon, E. C. Price in Great Britain, Eight Shillings a Year, net
The Missionary Review of the World — January 1935
1935
Robert Laws of Livingstonia D. R. Mackenzie Problems and Encouragements Robert E. Speer John R. Mott Robert P. Wilder Robert H. Glover Stephen J. Corey C. Darby Fulton A. C. Snead The Present Situation in Missions Julius Richter New Cooperative Advance at Home Charles E. Schaeffer When a Kurd Becomes a Christian Delavan L. Pierson Mrs. E. E. Olcott-An Appreciation Samuel M. Zwemer
to Remember Obituary Notes widow,Mary Wentworth McConaughy
January 2-4-Annual Meeting, For- The Rev. Henry C. Velte, D.D., two brothers, one of whom is Dr. eign Missions Conference, Garden missionary in India for the past fifty4 David McConaughy, expert on stew- City, N. Y. two years, died at Saharanpur on N0- ardship; by a sister, a daughter and vember 19th. He was a highly hon- January 6-12-Universal Wee k of ored missionary of the Presbyterian two sons, one of whom is Dr. James Prayer. Church, U. S. A., and for 20 years was at the head of Saharanpur Theo- McConaughy, President of Wesleyan January 7-ll-Annual Me e tin g s, logical Seminary. Five years ago he Home Missions Council and Council was elected Moderator of the United University, Middletown, Connecticut. of Women for Home Missions, Phil- Church of Northern India. The situa- adelphia, Pa. tion changed greatly during his mis- The Rev. Al*ber*t * Fulton, D.D., sionary career and Dr. Velte was born January 22-February 16-C 0 r nell in Wertheim, Germany, in 1857, and A. School for Missionaries, Cornell, was educated in Hopkinton, Iowa, and N.Y. McCormick and Princeton Theological for 42 years an honored miSSionary of Seminaries. He is survived by his FLORIDA CHAIN OF MISSIONARY wife Charlotte Haduth Velte and a the Presbyterian Board of Foreign ASSEMBLIES son, the Rev. F. Mowbray Velte, who is a missionary in India. Missions, died on December 10th in For further information, write to Miss B. Louise Woodbud, 930 23d *** Pasadena, California. Dr. Fulton was Ave. N, St. Petersburg, Fla. Mrs. Wallace J. Anderson, a mis- born in Ashland, Ohio, in 1849 and January 26-30-0rlando. sionary of the Presbyterian Church, January 27-30-Deland. died in Seoul, Korea, of peritonitis, after being graduated from Princeton January 30-February I-Palm on November 30th. Mrs. Anderson College and Seminary, was appointed (nee Lillian E. Beede) was born in a missionary to Canton, China, in Beaches. Charleston, Nebraska, and was edu- February 2-7-Miami. cated at Occidental College and the 1879. He was preeminently a pioneer February 7-S-Bradenton. University of California. She went February 7-S-Fort Myers. to Korea as a missionary in 1917 and missionary, est a b lis h i n g many February 9-1S-St. Petersburg. was engaged in educational work in February 10-13-Clearwater. the Girls' Academy and Bible Insti- churches and preaching halls in South February 13-1S-Tampa. tute, Seoul. She is survived by her February 17-19-Lakeland. husband and two young daughters. China. When he went to China there February 17-19-Winter Haven. was strong opposition to Christianity February 19-21-Gainesville. *** and almost no railroads, electricity or February 23-26-Jacksonville. other modern improvements. The Dr. David S. Oyler, former mis- Presbyterian Church is almost the II If you use sionary of the United Presbyterian only agency to carry the Gospel to Church in the Egyptian Sudan, died 8,000,000 people of Kwangtung Prov- PRINTING in Monmouth, Illinois, November 19th. ince. Dr. Fulton was honorably re- Dr. Oyler was born in Nortonville, tired in 1922 and returned to America. Y OU will profit from an ac- Kentucky, January 11, 1881, and after quaintanceship with us. We graduation from Sterling College and Mary Halse* Gr*igg*, wife of Rev. do the job complete in our own Xenia Theological Seminary, Ohio, plant, whether it be large or went to the Sudan in 1910. After Ernest Grigg of Burma, died October small. seventeen years of service in Dolieb 15, 1934, after more than 40 years of Hill, he was obliged to return to service in that country under the Bap- While our specialty is Books, America for health reasons and be- tist Foreign Mission Society. Her Magazines and Pamphlets, yet came pastor of the United Presby- work was carried on among Chins, we have a variety of modern terian Church at Cutler, Ill. He is Chinese, Indians and Shans. equipment to meet all the re- survived by his wife, the former Lil- quirements of your particular lian Picken, and four children. *** job. You will find our service prompt, careful and courteous. *** The Rev. and Mrs. John C. Stam, Will you allow us to estimate Rev. James E. East, D.D., formerly American missionaries under the on your next printing? We be- a Negro missionary to Africa from lieve you will be delighted with the National Baptist Church of Amer- China Inland Mission, and their 10- our product, price and service. ica, died in Philadelphia last October. J ames East was born in Alabama, weeks-old daughter, were captured on The EVANGELICAL PRESS fifty-three years ago and in 1906 December 10th by Communist bandits went to South Africa, and was sta- in Southern Anhwei Province, China. Printers of tioned at Ganda, Middlerift, where he The Missionary Review of the World did notable work among the Bantu, Mr. and Mrs. Stam were murdered helping to found over forty native but the baby was allowed to live and PLANT AND MAIN OFFICE Farmer's Associations and coopera- was restored to her grandparents. Third and Reily Sireet. Hlrrlsburg, PI. tive banks. Then Dr. East was called back to America to become secretary Mr. Stam was 27 years old and was of the Foreign Mission Board of the National Baptist Convention, with the son of Rev. Peter Stam, pastor headquarters in Philadelphia. of Star of Hope Mission, Paterson, Dr. James M*cC*ona*ughy. of Phila- N. J. Mrs. Stam was a daughter of delphia, for some years secretary of the Rev. and Mrs. Charles E. Scott, the American Sunday School Union, American Presbyterian missionaries died in his home in Germantown, Pa., on December 6th at the age of seventy- at Tsinan, Shantung, China. seven. Dr. McConaughy was for- merly a teacher of Bible in Mount Her- Mr. Peter Stam and family, in a mon School for Boys and did a notable work as Bible teacher, author, editor telegram to the C. 1. M., give clear and executive. He is survived by his testimony to the victorious spirit in which they received the heart-rending news: "Sacrifice great but not too great for Him who gave Himself for us. Experiencing God's grace. Ro- mans 8: 28." (Concluded on 3d cover.) Sunday School Supplies J'ouoo:, spliiltml ~i1osofk WI'IlJ,JUI'-I"''' I-fIotirlIe/rInII6ktlHiM!tngifnIeflrIsiHMIss
MISSIONARY look well on any library table in the post-war experience. Recently
REVIEW OF THE WORLD country." WILLIS CHURCH LAMOTT. has been a good deal of building and I am not certain that 'eight in a room' DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor Tokyo, Japan. would still stand true."
VOL. LVIII JAN., 1935 No.1 *** "As to my own expense fund, I re- ceive $5.00 a month while I am at Publication and Business Office "Each issue of THE REVIEW brings K. H., and it should be added that my Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. a vast amount of very helpful infor- travel in England, postage, phone ma.tion, and I have been enjoying to calls and medical attention are pro- Editorial and Executive Office the fullest extent this splendid mag- vided free, so that I am well cared for. 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City azine." REV. MERLE ApPELGATE. My own annuity fund is operated Entered as second-class matter at solely by the working people of the Post Office, Harrisburg, Pa., under Act Christian Church, Los Angeles, locality and provides 'home helps" for of March 3, 1879. California. families where a crisis leaves the 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. mother in need of help." Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. "The October*RE*VIEW* , with its chal- Published monthly, except August. Personal Items All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1934. lenging and informing array of ar- British agents, Marshall, Morgan ticles on Japan, surely ought to be a The Rev. Alex. Harsanyi, Pastor of and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, valuable number for supplementary the Hungarian Presbyterian congrega- London, E. C. 1 shilling per copy, use in the foreign missions study pro- tion of Yonkers, N. Y., a descendant 10 shillings a year. jected for the current year." of a Hungarian Protestant martyr family, was honored and feted re- MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB· WILLIAM B. LIPPHARD, cently by his people and his American Editor of "Missions," New York. friends at the fortieth anniversary of LISHING CO., INC. his ordination to the ministry. As TWO CORRECTIONS organizer of a number of Hungarian BOARD OF DIRECTORS congregations, as author, editor, and RoBERT E. SPEE'R, President Dr. E. W. Koons, of Korea, calls at- pastor he has rendered great services WM. I. CHAMBERLAIN, Vloe-Presldent tention to an error in the September to the cause of Christ among his coun- WALTER MCDOUGALL, Treasurer REVIEW (page 395) where the title to trymen. Mr. Harsanyi is Nestor of DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Seoretary the picture of the "public notice the Hungarian Protestant ministers SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT against foreigners" should be cor- of this country. MRS. BO.RRLIlNPPHRA. RJUDDD rected to read: WM. *** "This tablet containing public no- ERIC M. NORTH tice warning Koreans against for- Martin L. Harvey, a young Negro MILTON T. STAUFFER eigners was made in 1866 and was set of Hempstead, L. I., has been elected up by the Tai-wun-Kun in the center president of the Christian Youth A. L. W ARNSHUIS of Seoul in 1871. The translation by Council of North America. He is the SAMUEL M. ZWEMER Dr. L. G. Paik, reads: When foreign first of his race to fill that position. barbarians invade the country we Editorial Chat neither wage war nor make peace *** with them. We warn our descendants Have you recommended THE REVIEW for 10,000 years." Dr. Frank C. Laubach expects to to your pastor and friends as an up- visit India some time after March, to-date and delightful way to keep in *. * * 1935, to demonstrate his method of touch with the progress of the work teaching which has been so successful of Christ throughout the world? Some Miss Muriel Lester, of London, in reducing illiteracy in the Philipof your friends would appreciate a writes that there are some slight in- pines. gift subscription and their interest in accuracies in the article on "Voluntary missions would be stimulated. Poverty in Action" which appeared in *** our November number. Miss Lester Here are the recent comments of says: "It was my grandfather, not Samuel Coles, agricultural missionsome of our readers: my father, who went to work as a ary at Galangue, West Africa, under bricklayer at the tender age of 8, the American Board for twelve years, "A friend of mine expressed the con- when his father had been press has been loaned for a period of three viction that if all the magazines in the ganged to fight in the Napoleonic years to the Booker T. Washington country would follow your step in de- wars. Again, overcrowding in the Institute of Katata, Liberia, to supervoting an issue to the cause of Chris- East End of London was much worse vise their building program. He is tian missions among other races, the than 'eight in a single room' in my very enthusiastic over the possibilities problem of racial understanding would in this new field. not be such a difficult one. I agree USED CUTS with him." – Jose G. Deseo, Pastor- *** Director, Filipino House of Friend- Plates and half tone illusship, Stockton, Calif. S. Franklin Mack, Publicity Direc- trations used in THE tor for the Presbyterian Board of * * *. Foreign Missions, is now engaged in MISSIONARY REVIEW making a three-months' tour of Latin "We appreciate the service rendered American countries to take motion through THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF during the past two years pictures and secure other publicity THE WORLD, and are trying to pro- material. The itinerary calls for a mote its circulation." for sale from 25 cents up, visit to Peru, Chile, Argentine, Brazil, Venezuela, Guatemala and Mexico. MRS. S. L. V. TIMMONS. plus postage. The material secured will be widely Director of Educational Dept., used in connection with the mission The Missionary Review study of Latin America, projected for Women's Work, Presbyterian 1935-36. Church, U. S. of the World *** *** THIRD AND REILY STREETS HARRISBURG, PA. Dr. Robert P. Wilder. formerly "The material in the June issue is General Secretary of the Student Volan excellent exposition of American [1 ] unteer Movement and later Secretary Oriental life and I hope the magazine of the Christian Council of Northern will receive wide circulation." Africa and Western Asia, is now in America but plans to go to England GRANT K. LEWIS; Secretary, United Christian Mis- (Concluded on 3d cover.) sionary Society.
*** "Let me congratulate you on the Japan number of THE REVIEW. It covers the field so thoroughly that I am wondering what else mission study classes will have to study! I like the make up of THE REVIEW. It would
FOR PRACTICAL INDUSTRIAL TRAINING IN LIVINGSTONIA
A GThOUP OF AFRICAN PASTORS PREPARElD TO EVANGELIZE THEIR OWN PEOPLE TRAINING CHRISTIANS IN LIVINGSTONIA, CENTRAL AFRICA REVIB ORLD VOLUME LVIII AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER ONE JANUARY, 1935 Topics of the Times BEGINNING THE NEW YEAR the direction and help of Almighty God and by A man's character is largely indicated by the men and women filled with the Spirit of Jesus Christ. way he closed the old and begins the New Year. It is fitting then that again, at the first of the While New Year's Eve an'd New Year's Day are year, Christians be called together to observe the "Universal Week of Prayer" (January 6 to 13). widely and variously observed all over the world, This custom was organized by the Evangelical Alli- ance nearly ninety years ago (in 1846) and has some observe them by hilarity, drinking intoxi- been observed annually ever since, not only in America and Europe but now all over the world. cants, by feasts and ente~tainments; others ex- Great things are accomplished through prayer, not only subjectively in those who pray but objectively change friendly greetings, or join in Christian by the working of the Spirit of God to bring har- mony to the "good and acceptable and perfect Will Watchnight services with prayer and song. It is of God."
a time to take account of stock; to settle old debts This year preachers everywhere are asked to co- operate by preaching and leading prayer groups on and complete unfinished tasks; to prepare for new the following topics so that a world-wide circle of joint thinking and prayer may unite Christians undertakings and seek fresh visions for larger everywhere. The world situation at home and abroad calls for this more than ever. There are service. To some the New Year season is one of grave dangers that face church and home and State, but there are also reasons for good cheer and waste and frivolity, while to others it is a time of encouragement. The following are the main topics suggested: sobering thought, prayer and preparation for a new advance.
The old year is gone-irrevocably-and we can- not undo the mistakes we have made or all the harm that has been done. There has been waste and folly; gossip and unfriendly criticisms' self- ishness and greed; thefts, murders, oatdhuerltsemriaes~ blasphemies and other sins. We and suffer because of the mistakes and follies of the past but we can learn valuable lessons from them if we will. With the New Year come new oppor- tunities to learn, to grow, and'to achieve what is Sunday, January 6, 1935. TOPICS FOR SERMONS: worth while. There are new opportunities to pro- Trust in God-John 14: 1; Mark 11: 22, 24; 1 Tim. m?te peace on earth in place of war; to do away WIth race and class prejudice; to develop and ap- 4: 1~ . ply the principles of economic and social justice in place of unfair rivalry and oppression; to estab- Fellowship with Christ and Other Disciples-1 John 1: 3, lish honest politics and the true and equal observance ?~ laws, in place of political chicancery and 7; John 17: 21.
Service of Man in the Name of Christ-Mat. 25: 40; Mat. 28: 19-20; Mat. 24: 14.
Hope and Its Basis-Acts 26: 6; Rom. 8: 18-25; 1 Thess. 1: 3, 9-10.
favorItIsm; to promote education that develops Monday, January 7. NEED FOR REPENTANCE.
character rather than a system of fads and un- Thanksgiving for God's loving provision for all human tried theories; to express religion in deeds not need; that Christ finished the work of man's redempmerely in· words; to furnish the money and life tion and committed to us its proclamation to all men. needed to give the Gospel of Christ to all men without rivalry or prejudice, rather than spend money Confession for our failure to respond to human need' a,nd effort on luxurious church equipment and for our selfishness, pride, indolence, and lack of faith, rItual at home. Here are achievements worthy of for our hardness of our heart that hinders true reour best effort-but they can only be attained by pentance.
Prayer that God may open men's eyes and soften their hearts, bringing repentance and forgiveness. That [8]
the burden of the need of others may be felt by His from the outcastes and primitive peoples of India, children everywhere. Africa and other lands; for a revived interest among Christian statesmen in the cause of minorities. Scripture Readings-Rom. 3: 1-26; Gal. 5: 1-26; Ps.51. Confession of the growth of anti-Semitism in many na- Tuesday, January 8. THE CHURCH AND NEED FOR FAITH. tions; of the slow response to the needs of oppressed and persecuted peoples. Thanksgiving for the Church which includes peoples of every nation; for increasing opportunity and power Prayer for a keener sensitiveness to the needs of the to witness; for evidence that the GQspel is the power oppressed and helpless; for a fresh vision of Christ, of God unto salvation. who, without respect of persons, welcomes men and women of every class and nation. Confession of lack of faith and enterprise in completing the world-wide work; for lack of humility and for Scripture Readings-Rom. 11; 1 Cor. 1: 18-31; Rev. 7: failure to interpret truly Christ's spirit and message. 9-17.
Prayer for a new vision of our spiritual resources in Sunday, January 13. SPECIAL SERMONS ON CHRISTIAN Christ; for a deeper faith in God's power to establish UNITY, WITH C,QMMUNION. "That they all may be one His Kingdom through faith and obedience; for a vital …… that the world may believe that Thou hast sent spiritual quickening of the Church today. Me." John 17: 21.
Scripture Readings-Acts 2: 1-21; Mat. 16: 13-28; Col. THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE SPIRIT* 1; John 17: 9. An interdenominational fellowship of Chris- Wednesday, January 9. THE NATION'S NEED FOR FELLOW- tians has been formed to unite those who seek a spiritual reinvigoration of the Church, with new SHIP. power and enthusiasm; along Apostolic lines. It is similar to the First Century Christian Fellow- Thanksgiving for forces which restrain men's selfish am- ship – or Oxford Group Movement -with em- bitions; for all that nations have to give one another. phasis on Gospel witness, soul-winning, regenera- tion and enduement with power of the Holy Spirit. Confession of national self-seeking, suspicion, and jeal- ousy; of intolerance and suppression of freedom of Dr. William Carter, the Chairman, issues a speech and conscience. challenge to the churches to awake in these days of adversity. He says in substance: Prayer for a new sense of the nature and possibilities of fellowship; for wise leaders in national and inter- Times of prosperity affect us adversely just as much as national affairs. That each nation may contribute its times of adversity. Speaking of the rich, Job says: "They peculiar gifts to build up the Kingdom of God. spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; Scripture Readings-Rom. 12; Isa. 2; Isa. 52; Micah for we desire not the knowledge of thy way. What is the 4; Rev. 21: 1-7, 23-27. Almighty that we should serve him?"
Thursday, January 10. WORLD EVANGELIZATION. Times of adversity come and wealth is swept away; affluence becomes indigence; assurance becomes despair. Thanksgiving for a world-wide awakening to the pri- Then it is that some "Job's Comforter" comes crying: mary need of evangelism in Christian service; for na- "Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God and tional leaders who are calling their fellow-countrymen die!" Many do both! The whole trouble with the Church to widespread evangelism; for the growth of self- is that we have joined altogether too much with the world support and of extension among native churches. instead of trying to win the world to Christ.
Confession of the narrow outlook of many Christians; Thank God, the material and physical crises cause some of the lack of sensitiveness to the need of the millions to turn to God, and these become the leaders not of a for- who have not yet heard the Gospel; of our reliance on lorn hope, but of a victorious advance. When Pentecost human resources rather than on the power of the had fully come, Peter turned from his cursing and denials Holy Spirit. of his Lord; James and John turned from their seeking for preferment; Thomas turned from his doubting to un- Prayer for a realization that every Christian is called alterable faith and love for his Lord and Master and all to be a missionary everywhere and at all times; for commenced, boldly, to preach the unsearchable riches of the realization that Christ and His Church can meet Jesus Christ their Lord. The cult of cowardice was the spiritual needs of this generation. changed into the cult of courage. These men crossed the seas, braved martyrdom and still preached, even to their Scripture Readings-Mark 16; Isa. 61; Acts 1: 1-11. jailors and persecutors, the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ, their crucified Redeemer. Friday, January 11. YOUTH MOVEMENTS. No class, no condition, no age is kept from the blessing Thanksgiving for Christian homes, Sunday Schools, and if they watch and pray earnestly for it. Every day may all movements for the spiritual welfare of youth; for be a Pentecost to those fulfilling the conditions. Are we the new earnestness among the youth. looking for Pentecost? Do we want the same blessing? The godly Joseph Neeshima, of Japan, in a time of great Confession of failure to give youth a larger place in Christian enterprise; of neglect of the family as the • The chairman Is Dr. William Carter, a Presbyterian clergyman, chief means of Christian training. formerly of Brooklyn, New York; the secretary Is the Rev. Frank E. Simmons, of Brooklyn, New York, and other members of the gen- Prayer that the youth of this generation may surrender eral committee Include William A. Harbison, Hugh R. Monro, Dr. to God in Christ; that teachers of youth may utilize Don O. Shelton, Dr. Will H. Houghton, President of Moody Bible their opportunities and realize their responsibilities; Institute, and Rev. Daniel A. Poling, President of the World's So- that the enthusiasms of youth may be directed into Ciety of Christian Endeavor. The headquarters are 1421 Madison right channels. Ave., New York.
SC'npture Readings-1 Sam 3; Joel 2: 18-32; 1 John 2: 1-17.
Saturday, January 12. RESPONSIBILITY TO THE JEWS AND TO OUTCASTE AND PRIMITIVE PEOPLES.
Thanksgiving for the increasing response to the call of Christ among Jews; for large accession to the Church
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
stress said to his Christian followers: "Brethren we must This evangelical movement among Italians was advance, but we must advance on our knees." This is a great need of the Church today-to pray. To be effective, not the product of the missionary societies, but prayer must be personal, importunate ….. . came rather from the faith and passion of two The Church is needing another Pentecost. The President, his helpers, governors, mayors, and leaders in gen- Italians converted through American friends. A eral, are urging people to strive to solve these present national and international difficulties by moral and spir- little more than fifty years ago Antonio Arrighi itual means. The phrase most upon their lips is: "The Life more abundant," which means, in ecclesiastical terms, began his work on the lower east side of New the life that is hid with Christ in God. Evangeline Booth in her farewell address urged the nations, that had tried York which has continued in the far reaching everything else in their depression and anxiety, to "Try religion!" The Presbyterians of New York have inaugu- ministry of the Broome Street Tabernacle. Later rated a "Spiritual Crusade" and a "Covenant of Reconsecration." All of these are signs of what is expected of Michele Nardi, a talented young Italian padrone the Church and that the Church is getting a larger view of its duty to the perishing souls of men. in a mining camp, was given a New Testament The Fellowship of the Spirit stands for: (1) A recog- which so gripped him that he gave up his mining nition of the Lordship of the Holy Spirit in lives and hearts of men; (2) A whole Bible as the Word of God; and began the life of a missionary lay preacher. (3) A place for prayer in daily life; (4) A witness for God to others who need Him; (5) Individual sacrificial Italian churches in Pittsburgh, Chicago, New service to save the individual, the nation and the world, from itself, to God. A practical experience of these things York and other important cities trace their origin will revitalize the Church, stabilize society and change the world. to Nardi's flaming evangel. A report made to the This movement is only one of many that reveal Presbytery of New York in 1907 shows his influa hunger in men's hearts today and a sense of need for God and what He alone can supply. It ence by the following report: "During the past is evident not only in America and England but on the continent of Europe and in many parts of year two new Italian missions have been estab- India, China, Africa and other lands. But it is still a very difficult thing for human nature to lished and have been blessed with almost phenommake full surrender and then to follow the Way as revealed by the Spirit of God. enal results. The one in East 106th Street in the EVANGELICAL MOVEMENT AMONG colony known as Little Italy, with the noted evan- ITALIANS gelist, Mr. Nardi, in charge. He labors without compensation. From the first the room which accommodates only 114 has been crowded to over- flowing." Later, the city mission and denomina- tional home missionary societies gave their sup- port to the movement. Christian mission work of a very distinctive sort will be required for many years in the more congested and poorer Italian colonies. The continued need of these people de- mand the continuing interest of the missionary societies, but the responsibility for the conduct of the churches and for the direction of the work must reside in the Italian language churches and their leadership. W. P. SHRIVER.
A national interdenominational conference, SHALL WE ABANDON MEXICO?* which may well mark a new epoch in the evan- gelical movement among Italians in America, was Recent events in Mexico have prompted some held in New York, the first and second days of to question the worthwhileness of carrying the November, at the suggestion of the Italian Evan- Gospel to a people who are promoting education gelical Ministers Association. The conference was along nationalistic lines and seem to want no reconvened under the auspices of the Home Mis- ligion at all. When the liberal Constitution of sions Council and Council of Women for Home 1857 was adopted by Mexico and the Reform Missions, and began with a fellowship dinner, Laws promulgated, a section of the Mexican peowith over four hundred present, to celebrate the ple availed themselves of the privilege of religious contribution of Italian life to America. The ad- liberty and formed an independent evangelical dress was given by the Hon. Eduard Corsi, Di- church. When the Constitution of 1917 was rector of the Department of Public Welfare of adopted, all the provisions of the Juarez Constitu- New York. A united service of the fifty Italian tion were embodied. Church property was nacongregations of greater New York later brought tionalized and religion became a matter of govtogether an audience of nearly two thousand ernmental regulation. Moreover in Article 130 which filled the auditorium of the Fifth Avenue of the Constitution each State was given the right Presbyterian Church-a most unusual gathering. to decide how many clergy are to officiate within A fine spirit of unity prevailed throughout the its borders. Very little effort was made to enconference and the Home Missions Council was force these severe provisions during the years of asked to create a permanent committee to foster continuing cooperation in evangelical work among • Extracts from a statement prepared by the Rt. Rev. Frank W. Creighton, who was Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Mexico from the four and a half million Italians in America. 1926 to 1933.
reconstruction following the active period of the King Dormitory and Gymnasium were destroyed; Revolution. In fact not until 1927 was there any Junka Hall and the Dining Hall were badly dam- enforcement act passed by Congress. aged and other buildings suffered severely. The In spite of difficulties, evangelical Christians in total damage is estimated at Yen 123,578 but for- Mexico are doing an effective and helpful piece of tunately there was no loss of life.
work and are growing stronger in numbers and The Doshisha was started in 1875 with eight in zeal. Two articles of the Constitution of Mex- students. Today it has a total enrollment of 4,456 ico, as well as parts of others, deal with the ques- students (1,184 girls and 3,272 boys), 302 protion of religion. One of those articles grants en- fessors and instructors, with 12,591 alumni. The tire religious freedom under the law and one sec- Doshisha now consists of a Girls' Academy, Boys' tion of the Department of Interior is charged with Middle School, Woman's College, Semmon Gakko the duty of religious administration. Mexico is (a professional school of junior college grade), still very much concerned about religion, but is College of Commerce, Preparatory College, and very insistent as to the kind of religion to be University. It has always maintained the Christaught and how it shall be practiced. Mexico's tian principles of its founder, "for the advanceis a one-party government and any opposition is ment of Christianity, and the furtherance of eduanti-government agitation. When the Roman cation, to train men of living power for the serv- Catholic Church finds itself opposed to practically ice of true freedom and their country." every ideal of the Revolution and says so, the issue becomes clear. Protestants are not antagonistic The typhoon is also said to have greatly affected to the Government but suffer because of the con- Japan's political currents so as to force their actinuous strife. But the followers of Christ can- tivities into new channels to repair the damages. not either run away from difficulties or abandon An extraordinary session of the Diet was called the field because difficulties are acute. Such a sit- to meet the demands of the situation. The rice uation tries our mettle and steels us to go on. crop has been very seriously damaged and imme- Mexican Christians need our prayers and our sup- diate relief was required. The silk industry, on port as they go forward to make the living Christ the other hand, has been suffering from over-proreign in Mexico. We must respond to the crying duction, due to lack of foreign demand. This sit- uation and the need for relief have called for a need for the Gospel. decrease, rather than an increase, in appropria- The editor of World Dominion says: tions for the army and navy.
Mexico is making gigantic efforts to build up an original, THE FEDERAL COUNCIL LOOKS AHEAD genuine and national culture embracing all aspects of human life, without trying to copy or to be dependent upon The annual meeting of the Federal Council of other cultures and countries. The Indians are sharing the Churches of Christ in America was held in Dayresponsibilities of government. ton, Ohio, December 2d to 7th. Dr. Ivan Lee Holt, pastor of St. John's Methodist Episcopal Mexico is emphasizing, more than any other country in Church, South, of St. Louis, was elected president Latin America, the need of a school which will be coherent to succeed Dr. Arthur W. Beaven of Rochester. from the very beginning with the whole life of the Mexican The new vice-president is Dr. George W. Richnation, basing it more on life than on theories, more on ards, President of the Theological Seminary of the doing than on learning, and adapting itself to the daily Reformed Church in the United States, at Lanlife of the average Mexican-particularly the Indianmaking the schools, the text and the teaching to promote more a better life than general knowledge.
EFFECTS OF THE TYPHOON IN JAPAN caster, Pa.
The most terrific typhoon ever experienced in As in many other groups, the need for evan- Japan in modern times swept over the Osaka- gelism-the personal salvation of men through Kyoto district last September and destroyed or the Gospel of Christ-was emphasized, rather damaged many mission schools and churches in than the need for new methods of social service Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto and elsewhere. Approxi- and more money for education. A national mismately 3,000 people were killed and 14,000 in- sion to reach the "unchurched" was proposed, with jured. Eighty thousand houses were demolished, daily open-air evangelistic meetings in as many 350,000 were flooded, and 300 primary and sec- cities of the United States as is possible. Plans are ondary schools collapsed. Of 60,000 factories in being made for a ten-weeks' tour of twenty-five the Osaka district, 22,000 are reported damaged metropolitan -centers, with a team of some ten or or destroyed, causing merchants, artisans and twelve speakers. peasants to call for relief. The Federal Council stood strongly against One of the Christian institutions which severely traffic in alcoholic drink and in favor of all efforts suffered is the Doshisha University, Kyoto, to promote social and economic justice and interfounded by Joseph Hardy Neesima in 1875. The national peace and goodwill.
A VILLAGE ON THE SHORE OF LAKE NYASA – MT. WALLER IN THE
Robert Laws of Livingstonia By the REV. D. R. MACKENZIE, Edinburgh, Scotland IF ONE had to put into a single word his im- years, it is justly regarded as an outstanding ex- pression of Dr. Robert Laws, the first impulse ample of Christian progress in a heathen land. would be to say "massive." He was like a great block of Aberdeen granite, firmly rooted in the Pioneering soil congenial to his soul-the soil of the Kingdom of God. But "massive" after all means little; and David Livingstone died at Ilala in 1873. While Laws meant much over a wide area of human life the great traveler was pursuin,i his epoch-making in Central Africa. He did more for that great discoveries, his almost equally great spiritual sucland than any other man, of whatever rank or cessor was preparing himself for the task soon to occupation. He was a man of wide vision and far be placed in his hands. This was the task of givseeing wisdom; of purposes firmly held in the ing continuity to the work and shape to the asface of difficulties and opposition; of unfailing pirations of the Blantyre lad who had become the skill in the use of whatever materials lay to his world's hero. hand; and of sagacious adaptability in entering doors which either stood open or which, more fre- Robert Laws was born in Aberdeen in 1851 and quently, he was the means of opening. Add to this began to work as an apprentice in his father's a staunch courage, often called upon in those days shop, learning cabinet-making; but he was nursof the beginnings of his work, and always equal ing in his soul higher ambitions. Through the to every emergency. Equally massive are his difficulties and hardships which many another achievements. The Livingstonia Mission, under Scottish lad has overcome, he finally emerged, a his wise guidance, moved from one great success fully qualified physician and minister, a carpenter, to another until today, after a history of sixty with some knowledge of building, and a general handiness that never lost its skill in all the half century he was to spend in Africa. When the [7]
news came that Livingstone had died, Laws was guage had to be learned, houses and other buildready; and prosperous Christian men in the great ings to be erected, communication with the outer cities of Scotland formed a committee and estab- world to be maintained, and the health of the staff lished the Livingstonia Mission, now famous all cared for. It was a task for strong men, and over the Christian world. strong men had it in hand.
One watches in imagination a band of young Lengthened Cords and Strengthened Stakes Scotsmen, with Laws as one of their leaders, start out on the twelfth of October, 1875, to make their The tribes around Lake Nyasa shared to the toilsome way into the heart of Africa. Up the full the superstitions and beliefs of the Bantu great Zambesi River, with its age-long romance, peoples to whom they belonged. Witchcraft spread its baneful influence. The poison ordeal weeded out the enemies of the witch-doctor and the chief. The, spirits of the dead, always of- fended, were believed to send disease and death. Dangers lurked everywhere; for lions and leop- ards, controlled by evil men whose power was never doubted, sought the enemies of those who hired them, and killed or mauled them. Hunters went to the forest, and fishers to the river, guarded and reinforced by charms and magic medicines. Sickness was rampant and knowledge small of how to deal with it. To all this add the horrors of the slave trade, "the open sore of Cen- tral Africa," and inter-tribal warfare with its WHERE MARRIED APPRRiNTICES LIVE IN LIVINGSTONIA INSTITUTE they traveled into the hitherto little known Shire, A PARTLY COMPLETED NATIVE-BUILT CHAPEL its huge tributary. At last, in their tiny steamer, the "Ilala," rebuilt after passing the Muchison terrible toll of human lives and you have the ma- Rapids, they sailed out into the mighty waters of terials for a picture of what Laws and his com- Lake Nyasa, Livingstone's proudest discovery. panions were facing. And one listens, still in imagination, as these young men fling their challenge to the winds of a They faced it with a message of the Love of continent: "All people that on earth do dwell, God, and with a Book in which that story was sing to the Lord, with cheerful voice." Was it a told; but it first had to be translated into the lanchallenge, or was it merely a glad recognition that guage of the people. at last the end of their long journey was in sight? The winds carried the words three hundred and The first five years at Cape Maclear were years sixty miles up the Lake; then over hill and plain of toil and death. It was evident that if real progto what is now Northern Rhodesia; far out east ress was to be made a change must come. In and west to Zanzibar and the mouth of the Con- 1881 the headquarters were moved up the Lake to go; and in all that vast region there was none to Bandawe, in the land of the Tonga people. From join in the song, and none to whom the words, that time the development was rapid. Schools even had they been understood, would have con- were opened and teachers trained; men were veyed any real meaning. taken into the carpenter's shop for instruction; At Cape Maclear, famous as the first station of the Mission, the party settled down to work. Slowly the years passed; men came and went; or they came and stayed until death claimed them, and there they lie, witnesses to the compelling power of Christ, and to the strange tenacity of His servants in every land and every age.
Laws made voyages of discovery in the little "Ilala"; he undertook long overland journeys, establishing contacts with leading chiefs up and down the lake shore. An utterly unfamiliar lan-
ROBERT LAWS OF LIVINGSTONIA
others were taught bricklaying, printing, book tions were formed, with Kirk sessions and minbinding, and agriculture. The whole region was isters and evangelists, and schools were spread explored, and Dr. Laws, in such intervals as he all over the land. The Livingstonia Mission could command, took up his great task of trans- reached out into Northern Rhodesia at Ilala, at lating the· New Testament, preparing school Lubwa, and at Mwenzo; the people thronged to books, a grammar of the language, and dictionary the schools, eager to seize every opportunity for the use of new members of the mission who placed before them. were now coming to his aid. Under the direction of the Rev. A. G. MacAlpine a great mother The mind of the African race was being slowly church was built up, slowly other congregations reformed by many methods. Into the now safe were formed and other stations were opened world they went far from their home to work in throughout the land. Teachers, doctors and nurses the gold mines of Rhodesia, the copper mines of were sent out from Scotland and the Mission The Belgian Congo, and to other enterprises as was fully established.
Reforming the Africans But trouble arose. The wild and warlike Angoni, an offshoot of the fierce Zulus of South Africa, swept down from their high- land plateau and harried the unhappy Tonga people, burning villages, killing the men, and carrying off the women and children. Robert Laws went up into their country where he met the great warrior chief, Mombera, and the two strong men formed a friendship which was never broken. As a result of this conference Dr. Elmslie went to Ngoniland, and, after adventures that would have satis- fied a Knight of the Round Table, he won over the people and Christian progress was assured.
Meanwhile other events were happening.
Laws had long foreseen that the British Gov- ernment must take control of the country and, after a preliminary blunt refusal by Lord Salisbury, this was done in 1889. A great impulse was thus given to the forces of progress; peace was assured; the postal service united the country from end to end; roads everywhere began to be made; magis- trates administered the law, and numerous ancient feuds died out. Other missions were coming in. The Church of Scotland had long had its headquarters at Blantyre; the Church of England Mission established itself on Likoma Island; while the Dutch Reformed Oopyright-MoUat, Edinburgh. ROBERT LAWS OF LIVINGSTONIA Church of South Africa was working in the southern parts of Nyasaland. The Roman Church far as Zanzibar, and Durban. The homecoming also took up work, as well as the Baptists, and of these far traveled individuals brought new others. ideas to the villages, with new clothes, new ameni- The transformation of Africa was proceeding ties of civilization, new sources of wealth.
apace; and Laws, now a recognized authority in All this brought fresh problems to the mission- all matters concerned with mission work, was the aries, but Laws and his colleagues were equal to guide and counsellor of all. His advice was sought the demands made upon them, though often at by government, as well as by the heads of the new great cost to themselves in loss of health, and industries with which the country was being de- occasionally in loss of life. The problems of suc- veloped. Most important of all, the native Church cess took the place of those of failure. The great was growing with amazing rapidity. Congrega- crowds attending church and school had to be or-
ganized and shepherded. In 1894 it was decided In 1908 the Scottish Presbyterian Church be- that a central institution for training and educa- stowed on Dr. Laws, now grown famous, the high- tion must be established, and as a result the Ov- est honor in its power: he was summoned home ertoun Institution was founded, with Dr. Laws as to fill the Moderator's chair of the General As- principal. The Home Committee responded with sembly of the United Free Church. Already uni- funds and men and, as the years passed, this great versities had conferred degrees upon him, D.D., institution came to be regarded as the most im- M.D., LL.D.; the Government bestowed upon him portant educational work between the Zambesi the C.M.G. (Companion of the Order of St.
and the Congo. Students flocked from far and Michael and St. George); The Africa Society near, all keen to seize the unique opportunity pre- gave him the African Medal, which so very few sented to them. The Overtoun Institution trains have received. In the United States, which he teachers, ministers, evangelists, doctors, as well visited more than once during his furloughs, he as carpenters, bricklayers, book printers and bind- made many friends and highly esteemed support- ers, agriculturists, engineers, tailors. Today one ers. There were few to dispute with him the title, can see there, as now elsewhere in Central Africa, from which he himself would have shrunk, of the the sons of men who knew of no implement but greatest living missionary; for the Livingstonia the hoe and the spear, controlling complicated Mission was now, under his inspiring leadership machinery at the mines, on the river steamers, one of the greatest epics of the Church of Christ.
and in motor cars; the fathers knew nothing but But the years took their toll. In 1927 he was war; the sons preach the Gospel. The fathers asked by the Mission Council to meet the Gover- heard the drums beat for vile dances, the sons nor of Nyasaland, along with other leaders, to hear them summoning the people to worship God. discuss the question of Government assistance to An Independent, United Church education which had become of first rate impor- tance. But his health suddenly failed and he The story now runs with great rapidity. The sailed for home where he underwent a severe operchurches of the Presbyterian Missions, Scottish ation. He lingered on, still vigorous, and taking and Dutch, combined their presbyteries to form an active share in the concerns so dear to him, one United Synod of the Church of Central Africa until August, 1934, when he passed to his reward. Presbyterian. The natives wholly supply the funds of this church and draw nothing from Great Brit- Mrs. Laws was the great wife of a great man. She was great in herself; a great linguist; a great hymn writer, whose hymns nourished for a generation the native Church which· her hus- band did so much to establish. Indeed her history is so much the history of her husband, that it is difficult to think of any activity of his in which she was not his efficient and loving helper. She was, too, a woman of wit and wisdom, ready at repartee, a famous housekeeper and hostess, and the willing friend of all her husband's colleagues.
Men are great, not merely in virtue of the great -deeds they did in their own proper persons, but they are great because others have contributed to that greatness. Livingstone had his Laws; and Laws had his great lieutenants: Elmslie and Stuart who brought in the wild Angoni; Mac- Alpine, who built up the great Mother Church at Bandawe; Fraser, beloved at home and abroad; MacMinn, whose linguistic work is bringing fame to .Livingstonia; Chisholm and Moffat, who A CiHll:Ral-IS~T-IA-lN-FA-M-I-L-Y-I;N;"-L.;:aIo"V".I:oN:;;G:;;.;s'-TO-N-I-A—…&. brought in the tribes of the north and west. The history of the Livingstonia Mission will never be ain. There is a native Central Fund Treasurer; fully told until the great deeds of these great men the Clerk of Presbytery is a native minister; and, have had their full count of credit. So long as so far as possible, they are encouraged to manage the Church can find such men, and send them out their own affairs, but always with the mission- and support them, the fame of Robert Laws will aries to guide them where that is necessary. The go on and that for which all great servants of Church in Central Africa is standing on its own Christ stand-the evangelization of the whole feet, subject only to its Divine Head. world-will suffer neither eclipse nor collapse.
Problems and ,Encouragements
As Seen by Some Foreign Mission Executives T HE difficulties of the present hour are so many and so obvious that we are sometimes prone to be discouraged and to overlook the encouragements. In the home and foreign mission work the prob- lems were never more numerous, and sometimes they seem baffling. They clearly call for earnest study as to their causes and solution and they require faith and greater dependence on God rather than on human wisdom and power.
In response to a letter sent to a number of missionary leaders in America replies have been received to the following two questions: 1. As you see it, what are some of the special present-day problems that we face in the foreign mission enterprise? Such problems may relate to finance, changes in policy, difficulties in the field or in the home church.
2. What are some of the encouragements that you note in the hQme church and in the field? Such encouragements may relate to improvement in finances, to increase in interest in the home church, to the attitude of the young people, or they may appear in reports from the field as to the progress and outlook.
The answers received-somewhat condensed-throw much on the present situation. An editorial presentation of the problems and encouragements will appear in the next number of the REVIEW.
EDITOR.
I. SOME PRESENT-DAY PROBLEMS 1. The need for taking the whole subject of cooperation far more seriously than at present is ROBERT E. SPEER being done, judged by the results. There is im- perative need of our Christian forces entering Secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions more promptly and thoroughly, having counted the full cost, upon what I call the third stage of Among the problems we face in the foreign mis- cooperation. By this stage I mean not only for sion enterprise today I would name the following: chiefly the pooling of knowledge and experience, but more specially pooling of plans (before they 1. Problems arising from false nationalism. A are made or entered into), personalities, money, true nationalism is inherent in Christianity and names, administration. in the missionary idea. Weare seeking to help each nation to achieve its own true personality 2. In almost every field and in almost every and accomplish its own mission of service in the board there is need of re-stating and revising proworld and we are doing our best to build up in- grams, looking ahead for a period of five years. digenous Christian churches to serve in the fullest I would find it difficult to name a half dozen agenway the true interest of the national life. The cies which have done this and have their program difficulties of the problem lie in the spread of a or plan in a form to be submitted, and have it false and unworthy nationalism. generally understood and accepted by their lead- ers near and far. This is very serious. 2. The problems which secularism and the naturalistic view of the world and of life present to 3. There is need for the creation of a deep and the Christian Gospel. We must have missionaries unshakable conviction on the part of the leaders eqUIpped to deal with these problems both by rea- and other discerning members of the churches son and by love. that the missionary enterprise has by no means attained. It is a shocking, tragic fact that with 3. The problems of devolution as it is called, reference to totally unoccupied mission fields (by meaning thereby the transfer both of control and which I mean those in which there are no misof responsibility from the foreign mission to the sionaries, or almost none), we stand just about national churches. where we did at the time of the Edinburgh Con- ference in 1910. In the partially and even largely 4. The problems arising from confusion and occupied fields we have, in most cases, only encontroversy among the Christian forces, absorbing in internecine conflict the energies which are needed for the work of aggressive evangelism of the New Testament type.
JOHN R. MOTT tered upon the period of high specialization, and, in my judgment, have still to render many of our Chairman of the International Missionary Council most distinctive and critically important services Among the most pressing major problems of in the work of evangelism and the training of the foreign missionary enterprise, as I see them, Christian leaders.
are the following: 4. The catching of the imagination of a new [11 ]
generation with such vividness, with such appeal keener sense of responsibility for the evangelizato the heroic, and with such compelling force as tion of the world in this generation. There is to ensure beyond peradventure a tremendous re- also the problem of finance, which must be solved sponse. In this respect the Church of Rome just if the work is to be carried on adequately.
now is putting us to shame.
Basically these and all other problems that are ROBERT HALL GLOVER pressing upon us will not be solved until we make much more ground than we have been making in Home Director of the China Inland Mission for North America recent years in solving our problem of leadership, 1. As related to the work of the mission in among missionaries, indigenous churches, and China there are the following problems: mission boards and their auxiliary agencies. a. The continued communist menace in several provjnces of Central China. The present situation ROBERT P. WILDER in Kweichow and Szechwan is particularly seri- ous. Two C. I. M. missionaries in Kweichow have Formerly Secretary of the Student Volunteer Movement,. been in the communists' hands since October 1, Recently Secretary of the Near East Christian Council and two others have recently been killed.
1. Some of the present day problems in the for- b. The difficulties confronting the Chinese churches in their efforts toward full self-support eign mission enterprise are the problems due to and taking a larger share in the work of carrying the Gospel further afield. I refer especially to the non-Christian religions, humanism, secular- exhorbitant taxation, burdens imposed by milita- rists, and heavy losses through communist banism, nationalism and the growing power of com- munism. / 2. Among indigenous Christians are the prob- lems due to persecution, especially on the part of ditry and calamities such as flood, famine, and fanatical Moslems and caste-ridden Hindus. pestilence.
There are also the problems of indifference. Often c. The cruel persecution of Christians among among indigenous Christians, the second and third several of the aboriginal tribes of Southwest generations have lost some of the glow and radi- China, notably the Lisu in west Yunnan. Bitter ance which the first generation possessed. This persecution is being meted out there by greedy is sometimes shown in diminished evangelistic and unscrupulous officials, because of the Chriszeal, in less of the prayer spirit, in doubt as to the tians' refusal to grow opium, and because of the full trustworthiness of God's Word, less reliance steady shrinkage of the whiskey trade due to the upon the power of the Holy Spirit, and less time rapid increase in the number of Christians. given to Bible study. 2. As related to the enterprise in general- 3. Among missionaries we find at times it is a problem to establish a firm conviction about the Undoubtedly the greatest problem, far more necessity of maintaining the devotional life serious than the financial depression, is the loss through giving an adequate time each day to Bible or weakening of conviction on the part of so many study for personal spiritual growth and private in the home churches, ministers in particular, reprayer. Work presses in, especially when the mis- garding the great essential truths of the Christian sionary staff is depleted owing to the financial faith. "Modernistic" teaching in seminaries and crisis. preaching in many pulpits are directly responsible for this. The inevitable and obvious results are 4. Some missionaries seem not to realize fully the waning of missionary interest and the dehow essential it is to know how to do personal crease of missionary giving among those thus work with individuals. Some are strong in pre- affected. senting the claims of Jesus Christ to an audience, but weak in helping an individual to take the de- If the missionary work of the Church is really cisive step in definitely accepting Christ as per- a divine enterprise, and not a merely humanistic sonal Saviour and Lord. project, then how can God's blessing be expected upon it, if ~ny are harbored in its ranks who are 5. It is not always easy to warn young mission- disloyal to His Word and reject the truths that aries against an assumed superiority as belonging lie at the very heart of the Gospel which we have to a better race than that to which the people been commanded to take to the whole world, and belong, among whom he labors. The Christian if "another gospel" is substituted? It is idle to a't- Gospel is one of love and should always produce tempt to make the economic depression wholly rein a missionary the right attitude toward other sponsible for the falling off of missionary support races and religions. when at least part of the cause clearly lies else- where. The ,cure cannot be effected until the 6. In the churches in America, we find the prob- cause is acknowledged and removed. lem of how to secure a deeper spirituality and a
PRESENT PROBLEMS AND ENCOURAGEMENTS
STEPHEN ]. COREY during the past three years that there is danger American Secretary of the United Christian Missionary Society lest we lose our capacity to be distressed at the injury to the work. The depression attitude has The problems, as I see them, include: already become a habit with some people, and 1. An exaggerated feeling that personal and lo- while many are in genuine want, others have been cal problems eclipse all else, although this is not too ready to avail themselves of the excuse af- as evident as a year ago. A sort of "pernicious forded by the psychology of the times.
localitis" effects both interest and giving. Anxious to prove to their constituencies that 2. The difficulty of maintaining interest when every economy was being practiced, boards have so many missionaries have returned from the vied with one another in making reductions in fields. We have been too slow in building interest their budgets and it has actually been true that a around Christian nationals and churches. We board which could show the most drastic cutting must press this point hard. They are our children has gained the highest approval of the Church- in the faith and greatly deserve and need our and this at a time when the need of the world for prayer, interest, and our support when necessary. Christ is so desperately apparent!
3. There has been too much dependence upon 3. In certain quarters there has been a relaxa- loyalty to organization and not enough on the tion of those basic Christian convictions that con- inherent necessity of the missionary enterprise stitute the very premises of the missionary enter- as an inevitable and inescapable part of an ade- prise. The nature of sin and its consequences, the quate Christian program. depth of man's need for Christ and the indispen- 4. The ideals of internationalism and world sability of Christ as the Saviour of the world, are brotherhood have received a severe blow. This elements in the missionary imperative that have has slowed down missionary interest in some either been challenged or rendered indistinct by quarters. the humanistic philosophy that has accompanied 5. The ideals of Christian stewardship have modern "liberalism." These basic Christian prem- slipped somewhat in recent years, due ises are essential to a vigorous missionary attitude a. To the excessive burdens taken by American and program.
churches in more prosperous days, with new build- 4. The spiritual condition that we confront in ings and equipment. The churches now find them- the world today is more difficult to reach than selves taxed to the utmost to amortize and stabi- were the simpler forms of paganism of the past.
lize their capital investments. While millions still cry vainly to gods of wood and b. To the tendency to be satisfied with paying stone, other millions have merely exchanged idol- taxes for relief in substitution for church and atry for godlessness. Surfeited with the super- individual efforts of love and mercy. The first stitions of the past from which they feel them- is necessary, but people forget the wider interest selves emancipated, they have turned violently of the church in a Christian program which state against all religions, and have become repudiators and municipal help can never reach. of faith, haters of God. Professing no God of their own, they deny freedom of worship to others, C. DARBY FULTON and are working to bring the world into one united Executive Secretary, Executive Committee of Foreign Missions, blasphemy. The difficulty of reaching these is immeasurably great. Presbyterian Church in the United States First of all, may I share with you some of our A. C. SNEAD problems: Foreign Secretary of the Christian and Missionary Alliance 1. The most obvious problem is due to the fifty per cent decline in financial support, from $1,248,- In the twenty mission fields of The Christian 000 in 1926 to $611,000 last year. Despite these and Missionary Alliance three problems stand out rather desperate figures, we have not had to recall as of major importance. any missionaries, though sickness, age, death and retirement have reduced our missionary personnel 1. In a number of the fields, particularly French from 516 seven years ago to 403 last year. Cuts West Africa, French Indo-China, Netherlands amounting to about thirty per cent in missionary East Indies, southern Philippines, and some provsalaries and stipends, and even heavier reductions inces of China, many' peoples and tribes give eviin appropriations for the work have had to be dence of being moved by the Holy Spirit to a made. Reserves possessed by institutions or by recognition of their need for Jesus Christ as Savmissionaries individually have been used up so iour and Lord when they first hear the Gospel. that we are now face to face with the time when This is so marked in some tribes that the number the work must depend only on its present support. of missionaries and native Christian workers is much too small to properly present the Word of 2. We have become so accustomed to reductions God to interested inquirers.
2. Another problem, met especially in Borneo 5. The widespread interest in evangelization and a French West Africa is that of shepherding and the breaking out of remarkable evangelistic the new converts who have been baptized. For movements in so many parts of the world, also in example, 628 were baptized by one missionary in the raising up of new and mighty evangelists, as one month recently in a district in Borneo, yet to well as apologetic writers and lecturers, within teach these converts and the more than 1500 other the past one or two decades, both among mission- Dyaks baptized during the last three years there aries and nationals. are available only one missionary and two or three native workers. ROBERT P. WILDER 3. A third problem has to do with government Some encouragements, as I see them, are: opposition in some areas, the imposing of an income tax and an increase in property taxes by 1. A growing desire for a religious awakening some governments, thus diverting funds from the missionary work. at home and abroad.
II. PRESENT-DAY ENCOURAGEMENTS 2. A greater spirit of cooperation among re- ROBERT E. SPEER ligious bodies, as seen in the work of the Christian Among the encouragements we see in mission and Missionary Councils and International Miswork today one would suggest: sionary Council; also in the movements which 1. The spirit of the young men and the young women who want to give their lives to foreign look toward church unity, as in Persia and South mISSIOns. A number of first-grade candidates have been earning their way by giving transfu- India and the recent conference of missionaries sions of their own blood. and indigenous Christians on evangelism, Chris- 2. The evidences of the working of God's spirit in individual and collective life, as, for example, tian education and on the production and circulain the baptism of Brahmans in India and the movement in the upper castes. tion of Christian literature. There are also signs 3. The increasing acceptance of the moral au- of closer cooperation between Oriental and Occithority of Christ in non-Christian lands. This is not enough but it is something and it represents dental Christians, as in the Fellowship of Unity a great advance. in Egypt, and in the work of the World's Sunday 4. The reality of the rootage which Christianity has taken all over the world and its indestructibil- School Association. ity by the most hostile forces, even in Russia. 3. The recent growth in the membership of in- 5. The steady growth of the churches on the mission field, in autonomy and self-dependence. digenous churches, as in India where there are 6. The increasing evidence that there is no hope now 6,296,763 Christians; in China' where the for man save in Christ; that the evil forces of the world cannot be conquered except by His Five Year Movement, from 1929 to 1934, has repower. sulted in stimulating the Christians to a deeper JOHN R. MOTT spiritual life and shows a willingness on the part Among the greatest encouragements in foreign missions today I would name: of the Chinese Christians not only to win others 1. The evident growth in conviction among dis- to Christ, but also to shoulder a larger proportion cerning Christian leaders as to our shortcomings and sins of omission. of the financial load carried by missionary soci- 2. The multiplication of fruitful and very re- eties. The Forward Movement in Japan has rewarding pieces of experimentation in missionary methods and practices, covering a wide range in sulted in 50,000 having signed cards, signifying the missionary program. their purpose to follow Jesus Christ. Though all 3. The growing interest in cooperation, notwithstanding failure to take the whole subject of these have not yet joined the Church there is more seriously. increasing evidence that Christians in Japan are 4. The fact that doors are open today, as at no time in the past, to the friendly and constructive recognizing their responsibility to evangelize their ministry of the Christian Gospel. fellow countrymen in Japan and overseas.
4. Another encouragement is found in the work of the Bible Societies. The Bible is still the best seller.
5. It is said that while Latin America has large- ly turned away from organized Christianity a speaker presenting the Christian message, as a new and vital challenge, can always get a sympa- thetic hearing. In Buenos Aires, Santiago and in student centers in Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela there have been eager audiences to hear the Gos- pel. – ROBERT HALL GLOVER 1. We of the C. I. M. are greatly encouraged by the sustained interest of our constituency of friends at home, as evidenced by their many let- ters, and also by our contacts in the autumn con-
ferences in the East and the West. Our Prayer Japan, China, India, and Africa all face great Union membership, composed of those who ex- issues and are in expectancy.
press the desire and purpose to pray regularly for 5. The penetration of Christ's influence, far China and the work of the Mission, is steadily beyond what we can count in statistics or mem- increasing. bership in the churches, is a matter for great 2. There has been a steady succession of appli- encouragement. The New Life Movement in cations for service in China; the number during China, based largely on Christian ideals, is an the past year has been particularly large. We illustration. It would be hard to find among edu- sent twenty-six new recruits to China in 1934, and cated and religious nationals anywhere in the non- we must have dealt with three or four times that Christian world, one who would not hail Jesus as number of applications. the ranking ethical teacher of the ages.
Eighteen new workers have also been sent from Great Britain and twelve from Australasia last C. DARBY FULTON year. Over against the problems and difficulties that 3. There has been a steady and substantial ad- face us today one could set a long list of encour- agements that far outweigh the difficulties. I vance of our Forward Movement on the field, with mention three that seem to stand out strikingly ever increasing visible results in conversions and in the missionary picture: baptisms. The opening of nineteen new main centers of work, and the baptism of 7,221 con- 1. The increasing open-heartedness of the peoverts, during 1933, made that a record year in ples of the world to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. the history of the Mission. This is not inconsistent with the fact that many governments seem to be slowly closing to religion. 4. There has been marked blessing attending In the time of Christ, just when the chief priests the special services on many of our stations for and the rulers of the Jews were seeking to destroy the deepening of the spiritual life of the Chris- Him, the common people were hearing Him gladly. tians, and the stirring of them to increased zeal A missionary writes: and effort in behalf of the salvation of souls here at home and the spreading of the Gospel farther "The doors for Gospel advance are flung wide as never afield. Chinese workers and foreign missionaries, before. The church in Brazil faces an unprecedented op- have conducted such services with blessed results. portunity. Crowds everywhere, as reports come in from Special encouragement has also attended the far and near, are willing to hear with attention and symholding of short-term Bible Schools throughout pathy the call of God to repentance and faith in Christ. our mission field, with the object of increasing The day of march has come!" the knowledge of the Word of God among the Writes another: "God evidently wants Africa, for never was the Holy Spirit more manifestly present there. At rank and file of our Christians, and fitting them Luebo Station alone we baptized this year 2,548 adults, and the church is aflame with zeal for Him." for more effective soul winning, and some among From another missionary comes this message: "There them for full-time preaching. During last year 329 such schools were held with a total of 11,500 is a mighty tide sweeping through China. It is the tide enrolled, in addition to our regular Bible Schools, of God's spirit moving upon the hearts of men." for the fuller training of Chinese pastors, evangelists, and Bible women. Dr. Stanley Jones declares that China presents the greatest evangelistic opportunity in the world. Dr. George Truett, returning from a South Amer- STEPHEN J. COREY ican tour, says the supreme challenge is there. Surely God is at work in all the world!
As to encouragements I see the following: 2. The new fervor for evangelism is one of the 1. An increased wistfulness on the part of min- most encouraging factors in the present mission- isters and others for the realities of religion. ary outlook. Despite the limitations that falling 2. Increased cooperative effort on the mission income have placed upon the work, our mission- fields. aries and their fellow workers are everywhere 3. Humility on the part of Christians in the manifesting an eager desire to extend the work recognition that as a church we have not come into unreached territories. In some fields this abreast of Christ's ideals in America and that centrifugal instinct of our missionaries is quite we must go to others depending upon Him and conspicuous. It is interesting to compare the lat- not on our own superiority. est reports of work in Brazil with those of fifteen 4. The great issues that face us abroad bring years ago and see how the names of stations and stirring challenges. The tides of secularism, na- outstations of former years are being replaced tionalism, and communism, call Christian people, from year to year by new towns and communities.
as never before, to take the message and life of The older ones are not abandoned but they are Christ to the whole world. The distress and dis- being brought to self-support as rapidly as pos- quietude of mankind summons us. Also lands like sible in order to release money and personnel for
the work of extension. It is gratifying to note that remains to be finished; there is even more that in several fields, despite every discourage- that yet remains to be begun. ment of the depression, new work has been opened and is being successfully sustained with most 4. The world has always needed Christ. Her gratifying results. need of Him today in the face of her complexity, bewilderment and sin is more apparent than ever. But it is the native leaders themselves that offer the most conspicuous examples of this evan- 5. In some lands, governments seem determined gelistic fervor. One needs only to mention the to close the doors against Christian missions. Kingdom of God Movement in Japan, the Five Year Plan in China, the evangelistic movement 6. The young life of the Church is ready to go that is sweeping certain sections of the Belgian forward. Applications from volunteers are pour- Congo under the leadership of Tshisungu Daniel ing in to our offices from some of the choicest and others, and the quiet revival of prayer and young men and women in the Church, who are personal work in Korea, as examples of such zeal. prepared to answer the need. The significant thing about these movements is that they have not been born in the initiative and 7. When in ~:very sphere of life the peoples of leadership of missionaries, but are the expression the world are being reminded of their mutual of the evangelistic fervor of native sons who have interdependence and responsibility, shall the set their hearts upon the winning of their own Christian Church forget her responsibility to people for Christ. every man or allow her sense of world mission to be dimmed? Dare we forget that our Lord's 3. Where two such movements as the foregoing, command has never been revoked and still conthe eagerness to hear on the one hand, and the stitutes the marching orders of the Church? eagerness to tell on the other, are found parallel, things are bound to happen. And things have A. C. SNEAD happened. The past year has been the most fruitful results in all the more than 70 years of our In presenting the problems I have already made foreign mission history. Outstanding among the results of the year is the record number of 8,383 mention of some encouragements in the fields. added to the church on profession of their faith 1. The Alliance is privileged to preach the Gosin Christ. It is granted that we cannot always measure spiritual results by statistical standards. pel and to have a share in building the Church However, it is a cause for great joy and thanks- of Christ in more language groups today than giving throughout our Church that last year in our foreign fields the number who stood before ever before in its history. The Church in the fields the world to acknowledge their sins and receive is taking over territory formerly under mission Christ as their Saviour exceeded by more than 2,000 those who took this stand in any previous responsibility and the Mission and the Church year. together are going forward into new tribes and To summarize, it is our feeling that the time new areas where the Gospel is thus being preached has come when a call to advance should be sounded for the first time. among the churches of America. Today the whole world situation is like one vast syllogism every 2. Despite government opposition in Cambodia, premise of which leads to but one inevitable con- the results during 1933 and 1934 are more encourclusion, namely, "Forward again in missions!" aging than at any time since the field was entered 1. The openness of the hearts of men and wom- in 1923. In a few fields the work of translating en around the world to the message of Christian the Bible into tribal languages is being steadily missionaries, attested by the letters that come carried forward and last year one of our mission from every field, constitutes a clear call to renew presses printed over 25,000,000 pages of Scripture our missionary advance. portions and Gospel literature.
2. The unparalleled productivity of mission 3. Both in the home church and on the fields work, yielding richer returns than ever before, there is evidence of the gracious working of the encourages us to move forward. Holy Spirit in causing believers to humble them- 3. Vast untouched areas await a new venture selves before God and definitely seek for a revival. of faith. With national churches gradually taking 4. Twenty-six new missionaries were appointed up the burden of the work we have been doing, it should become more and more our missionary for our Alliance fields in 1934 with the expectation aim and purpose to press out into territories where Christ is not known. There is much work of their sailing during the year or in the early months of 1935.
5. We praise God for increased missionary in- terest evident in many of the home churches and for the missionary zeal shown in the younger churches in -the mission fields. .
I believe that, despite every hindrance that Satan brings, we are facing a day of marvelous opportunity for evangelization in many parts of the world and we are encouraged to press forward in the name and by the enabling of Christ our Lord.
Situation in
As Seen by Dr. Julius Richter of Berlin I N THE Neue Allgemeine Missionszeitschrift, is the well organized propaganda such as that of Dr. Julius Richter of Berlin deals with a num- Agha Khan in the Tanganyika territory and oth- ber of present-day problems which are so im- ers. portant that they deserve close study. The first problem is that presented by the world- The fifth consideration is that to which we are forced by the world-wide propaganda of Bolshewide depression, which demands an adjustment vism. Its soil is amazingly well prepared by the to the shrinking incomes of all mission groups. unworthy and in many instances impossible con- This question in the background of all "recent dis- ditions of obtaining a livelihood among the procussions of missionary problems is "How can the letarians of the earth, as for example the 30,000,- important part of mission work be preserved even 000 unemployed and the abysmal poverty of though many related developments must be cut hundreds of millions of peasants in Imlia, China down ?" Can the present retrenchments of the and Japan. The great strength of this kind of sending bodies be made fruitful by granting the propaganda can hardly be over-estimated. new national churches in the mission field a greater measure of independence, and by urging great- Sixth, there looms the awakening, floodlike and er self-support in view of the diminished income powerful influence of an increasing nationalism. from the home boards?" These efforts of the Hand in hand with it, we observe the awakening younger churches on the mission fields are oc- of the national religions and sometimes the recurcurring at the time when they too are affected by rence, as in Germany, Turkey and Persia, of earlier and forgotten religions, which oppose the world depression. Christianity as being irreconcilable with the new Many factors have altered the position of Prot- ethic.
estant missions since the end of the World War. Changes Since the World War The first factor is the enormous loss of prestige Such conditions are entirely different from the which Christian nations suffered by the disillu- sionments which have befallen the non-Christians. views which prevailed before the war. It was These matters are too well known to need discus- then held that occidental civilization was either sion. identical with Christianity, or at least closely con- Second there is the growing gap between Chris- nected with it. This was the great time for such tianity and some views of modern science. All splendid movements as the Student Volunteers, nations want modern sciences and arts; but they the Missionary Education Movement, the Lay- are very reticent about any desire for Christianity men's Movement and for such slogans as "Evan- or the Christian Church. If we meet within the gelization of the World in this Generation." In body of Christendom such a thing as Bolshevism, Germany, in this period, the great colonial expan- with its radical hatred of all religion, and even in sion gave an impetus to missionary undertakings.
a country like Germany see a decided self-asser- Now, however, many churches are passing tion of a new German paganism on a nationalistic through an era of an ebbing of interest, a reac- basis, need we wonder at a holding back from tion! This reaction is to be deplored. During the Christianity on the part of non-Christian peoples? time referred to there were in most of the fields Third, we should earnestly consider the sur- efforts at work which were to crown the preceding prising progress made by the Roman Catholic efforts, by leading the young churches toward a Church in Africa and the Dutch East India, with complete self-support. But such aims demanded an expenditure of men and money such as the time for maturing. The highly developed conduct combined Protestant missions cannot equal. In of Protestant missions contained within itself an French, Belgian and Portuguese countries this inclination toward institutionalism, such as the Papal church may count on a far-reaching assist- founding of colleges, universities, hospitals, Y. M.
ance from the colonial authorities. C. A. buildings, publication houses. In the case Fourth, in the last few years before the World of even a great lessening of the supply of men War it seemed as if the progress of Islam had and means, there arises a danger of freezing up been retarded. Now we observe that in equatorial the assets of such enterprises. The men and Africa and in Further India, this religion is mak- monies necessary for the work of evangelization ing its power of assimilation felt among the prim- and the growth of the missionary enterprise leave itive peoples within its reach. A decisive factor too few means available for the magnificent enter- [17 ]
prises which have already been called into being. There is the hope that these young churches Dr. Richter thinks that there should be a new will develop a sufficiently large and strong initia- consideration of the work of missions but he de- tive that they will be able to take care of the non- clines such a study on the basis of some sugges- Christian masses surrounding them. We point tions in "Rethinking Missions." There should not with great hopes to the Five Year Plan of Cheng- be any reduction of the Biblical message of salva- chin-yi, the Kingdom-of-God Movement of Kaga- tion. Neither can there be any "moratorium" of wa and can well rejoice in what they have the missionary obligation on account of urgent attained. But as yet, the new churches, notwith- demands at home. The all-obliging missionary standing their excellencies, have not acquired the command, the royal authority and the divine missionary attack that is needed. Besides, we promise are sufficient for all believing Christians. can hardly compute the comparatively enormous What May We Expect? expenditures of effort and means required to carry on such work asthe occidental churches can carry, What may we expect as the fruit of our mission owing to the momentum acquired through the work? Dr. Richter enumerates answers to this centuries.
question, based upon experience gained in many 3. This places us before a great and difficult ages and many countries. task. At present many free missions are hunting 1. There are in Christian history three typical for unoccupied fields for their activity. Most of developments: First, the permeation of the Ro- them fail. The result is that Protestant missions man Empire by the Christian spirit and the Chris- tend to degenerate into aimless guerilla warfare.
tian Church in its competition with Oriental Besides, when we consider the many costly un- mystery cults, then the century of effort to realize dertakings carried by the sending churches, such "One Church-One Empire," and a failure of all as the establishment of such institutions as were these efforts since the rise in the fifth century of mentioned above, how can we expect these young- various separatistic churches. er churches to undertake work of such dimensions, Secondly, in the Germano-Slavic middle ages without abundant assistance from the sending the passing over of entire tribes and peoples under churches?
the leadership of their rulers and then a very slow 4. In the last century the missionary enterprise and very gradual penetration of these peoples with found open doors everywhere. Dr. Richter shows the Christian spirit and ethics. Thirdly, in the by the example of the missions in Africa that, Spanish-Portuguese national or state missions of while then one could be of the opinion that paganthe sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, with ism would soon collapse and what was most Church and State in close alliance, the setting-up needed was to gather the new Christians into of a hierarchy with state subvention. Modern churches, this is far from being true today. Modmissions offer few parallels to such work as the ern civilization is entering Africa by the three christianizing of the South Sea Islanders, largely channels of Protestantism, Catholicism and Islam under the influence of their rulers. and these forms are fighting each other tooth and 2. Nowadays the attention of Protestant mis- nail. However the Protestant churches today face sions is focused on the development of Christian the task of gathering the Negro peoples, so far as groups, with the aim of making them National possible, into Christian churches and train them Churches. It is generally thought that, when this into a real Christian life.
aim is attained, there will be no further need than 5. In Asia the strata first reached by the new to assist such churches in the case of emergencies. influences were the cultured circles. This may be Is such an expectation justified? First of all, in traced most easily in the case of three leading most mission countries the Protestants constitute countries. In Japan, the Samurai were the real only a small percentage of the total population. light bearers of culture. They have also given the For instance, in China two-thirds of a million church some outstanding leaders, such as Neeamong 500 millions, in Japan, 200,000 among 65,- sima, Ouchimura, Kagawa. In India, broader 500,000, in India five millions among 350 millions. areas were more quickly reached, but the caste In none of these countries is the Christian increase system stood in the way. In China the literati less than the increase in the number of births, so that the ratio is constantly shifted. Secondly, in were the on£s who hindered the spread of the all these countries we cannot fail to notice two incoming religious influence, but in more rece'nt peculiar characteristics, the one tending to isolate times there was being prepared a notable change the Christian bodies, the other to absorb them here too. However, since the war, the condition completely. We are not yet advanced to the point of things has changed surprisingly. The greatest where we may be sure that the present day Chris- difficulties today come from the growth of nation- tian groups will escape a similar fate. alism, which in most cases has become a violent
PRESENT SITUATION IN MISSIONS
passion and proves a considerable hindrance to 9. A noteworthy fact is seen in the circumstance the spread of Christian missions. that early Christianity faced a world in the proc- ess of dissolution, while the modern missionary 6. The question arises whether we might not finds that ancient systems are becoming more conhave some other means of reaching the great solidated. This is eminently the case with Hindumasses of Asia, aside from the natural work with ism and Confucianism and only in the case of individuals. In the world of Islam, most mission- Islam in Turkey is it possible to observe a general aries still feel that they must observe a waiting breaking down of the old. attitude before closed doors. But we still have the tried means of entering wedges, such as medical In early mission work in Europe, the bearers of work, schools and colportage. In Japan the work the Gospel found fresh youthful masses that were of Kagawa seems to find access to the masses. In not influenced by any great civilizing movements. India the efforts among those not in the castes We meet such a condition now only in Africa and seem to be gaining in influence. In China we face the South Seas; but in Asia the missionaries have a catastrophe in civilization, and that of colossal had to face ancient cultures, and their initial sucdimensions. Two overpowering influences are at cesses were gained mostly among the lower strata work through the collapse of the ancient Manchu of society. Today the problem is to reach those power. This involves not only the whole ruling who are the possessors of higher culture. In the system with its prestige and its cultural forms, attitude so far observed among such peoples, many but also the break-down of the old Confucian missionaries have had the feeling that all doors system of scholars and men of letters. Three were closed and all seats occupied. Now there are great forces are now entering the country: an indications that catastrophic changes are impendun-religious science, communism and Christianity. ing. Bolshevism is a new force which is present- China and Africa present the greatest missionary ing an aggressive front all over the world and problems in the Christian Church today. people are weighing the claims of Bolshevism against those of Christianity. Here the mission- 7. Christian leaders are sure that foundations ary faces not only a challenge, but an opportunity. have to be dug deeper along three important lines. The first field is the ethical, and spiritual. The 10. Since Lausanne, Christians have come to an problem shows itself most clearly in Africa. There understanding of the definite and essential conpaganism appeared under six forms, ancestor wor- tent of the Christian message. In this there has ship, magic, tyranny of chiefs, polygamy, slavery been a decided gain for the preaching of the and tribalism. Since missionaries were convinced Gospel. that these conditions were impossible among Christians they very properly proceeded to exter- 11. Dr. Richter says that great spiritual moveminate them. However it was frequently over- ments usually pass over peoples like great waves. looked that in the conditions that had matured for He thinks that all countries are at present not on centuries, there might prevail aspects that could the crest of any such waves, but in the depressions be used for the implanting of that which is truly between them. He refers once more to the great Christian. In many cases the African was con- losses which the world has incurred in recent sequently so denationalized that there remained years, such as the collapse of the church in Russia, nothing that could be done, except to ingraft a the liquidation of Panislamism and the Caliphate, life that was really foreign. Now the problem is and the breakdown of Confucianism in China. seen under the aspect of so anchoring the Chris- He mentions also the stop of great Christian movetian church in the native life, that the strength ments in the United States, and similar collapses that actually inheres in it may be used to make its in Germany. powers helpful to the Christian development. A careful study of present-day conditions and Three methods have been held proper in India. resources must give us the conviction for our faith The Roman Catholic Church acted as if paying no and a guidance for our conduct as follows: attention to caste. The Leipzig Mission regarded caste as a social and civil order, which merely That the living God is quietly building His Kingneeded to be purged of non-Christian extrava- dom through all the confusion of the peoples and gances. The Anglo-Saxon missions in the main that this is the end of the ways of God. regarded caste as a satanic perversion that must be utterly exterminated. That the person of Jesus Christ is central for all Christian proclamation and that all mission- 8. A similar problem arises from the conditions of language. At present it is being more fully ary preaching must have its start and goal in it. recognized that the language of a people contains peculiar elements of power that may be fully util- That Jesus Christ and His salvation is the final ized and thus become of great help in the develop- and deepest answer to all questions of human bement of a people. ings and that it is our task to hear the questions that arise from the depths of men and to give the true answer to them.
IF I WERE A MILLIONAIRE* By REV. W. H. Moss, M.A., B.D., HYTHE, ALBERTA, CANADA Do you sometimes plan what you would do if you suddenly became a millionaire? I am do- ing that today after spending two days of pastoral calling in a homesteading part of my parish. I parked my car near the highway and borrowed horse and buggy for the bush trails. Later I parked horse and buggy in the bush and walked more than two miles to visit a lonely bachelor on the far side of a muskeg over which horse and buggy could not travel. Incidentally I got my feet wet. My friend served dinner-fried potatoes, fried eggs, fried meat. (How do their stomachs stand it year after year?) As I was going from place to place, I was wishing I had money. If I were to become a millionaire, I think I should do some of the following things: 1. I should ask for Divine guidance in the discharge of such a responsible mission as the wise handling of so much money.
2. I should give at least one-half to the Missionary and Maintenance Fund.
3. I should continue to be a home missionary.
4. I should, as long as possible, let no one know that I had money, lest I become the prey of those who would besiege me with requests for help and so interfere with my regular work.
5. I should payoff the debt on the local church and relieve my people of the almost intol- erable burden of paying eight per cent interest and thus put new heart into them for complet- ing their place of worship.
6. I should send to Edmonton for a hundred-dollar violin that was sent in by a new settler for repairs two or three years ago and is being held there until the bill of thirteen dollars is settled. Thereby great joy would return to this music-loving homesteader who really needs his beloved instrument for the good of his soul.
7. I should take a pair of shoes to the cobbler and have patches put on the soles.
8. I should accede to the unusual request of one man for certain drugs for the treatment of bedbugs. He says he can't abide them.
9. I should buy school books for a girl. The grade desired is being taught in the local school and all she requires to continue her education is about eight dollars for books.
10. I should send a most promising young man to university in order that he prepare him- self for the Christian ministry.
11. I should buy organs for three log schools where I hold services.
12. I should provide a home in this village under the care of a Christian matron, so that several girls in the surrounding district might go on to school. Their people can supply meat and vegetables; what is needed is a place to stay and that place ought to be under reliable supervision.
13. I should build a hospital here, for the nearest at present is forty-five miles away and difficult to reach when roads are blocked in winter. I should have free medical service for the poor. Then there would need to be no babies born in crude shacks without a doctor in attend- ance.
14. I should give to every minister on a home mission field a year's leave of absence once in seven years and pay all expenses while he and his family visited their friends and he took a term at college.
*** But as I am not a millionaire, I pray that I be not like the Irishman who had a needy friend and said that if he had two cows he would give him one; and yet he did have two pigs and would not give one of those.
• Adapted from the United Ohurch Record and Mi88io,nary Review.
Cooperative Advance at
By the REV. CHARLES E. SCHAEFFER, D.D.
President of the Home Missions Council; Secretary of the Board of Home Missions, Reformed Church in the United States I T SEEMS anomalous under existing conditions These Christian leaders felt that a new social in the Church today to be speaking of an ad- order, new conditions territorially, religiously 1l.nd vance. The organized forces of Christianity ecclesiastically required a new strategy and a new are almost everywhere sounding the note of re- approach to the whole problem. Consequently treat. The slogan along the whole battle line is they launched "The New Cooperative Advance." that of retrenchment. Nearly all the home mis- If the advance of former days had spent its force, sion boards are either marking time or have re- a new advance would have to be made, so that called a large part ·of their forces from the field. home missions might always be true to its real Whole areas which were once missionary ground genius and spirit.
have been given up and the financial pressure has This new advance was to be along three distinct been such that curtailment of effort has become lines.
imperative and has caused grave concern among 1. The old home mission advance was on de- missionary leaders. nominational lines and the early religious history The heart and kernel of the work of home mis- of America was based largely upon denomination- sions has always been the pioneer spirit. The alism. This was practically inevitable when home mission forces have always constituted the America was new and young. Denominationalism advance guard of the Church. They have blazed had its rise in national, social, lingual, creedal, new trails, opened up new highways, discovered new areas and have always marched breast for- and racial peculiarities. I ward at the van of the procession. That is the very genius of this great movement in the bosom Some of these were an importation from the 'old or world, and some grew out of the religious soil ill America itself. But whatever their origin of the Church. A little more than a century ago historical basis, these denominations were per- the religious forces of North America were cen- petuated and extended into other sections of the tered in the eastern part of the continent. Then country. This has resulted in an oversupply of when the various denominations became auton- churches in many communities and has become the omous and indigenous, there followed a wave of chief target of the critics and of the cynics. It missionary expansion such as has never been wit- has resulted in the multiplication of churches of nessed in any age or in any land. Impelled by an many stripes and names, of sects, some of which onward urge the forces of Christianity pressed are so small as to be mere insects. This has been into the virgin lands and into the frontiers of our the scandal of Protestantism in America. Some country. The results were astounding. Churches churches are so small that they have no ability to and schools and colleges sprang up like Jonah's function effectively in Kingdom building. They gourd overnight and dotted the land with religious have a struggle for self-preservation. They be- a,nd educational institutions. All this was accom- come ends in themselves and thus they obscure plished practically within the space of a century the real mission of a church in a community.
and a half. Then suddenly, as though a hand had The new home mission advance now shifts the reached down, this expansive program of the emphasis from denominationalism to interdenom- Church was arrested. It halted along the whole inationalism. It does not advocate undenomina- front until today we are compelled to take an in- tionalism but it espouses interdenominationalism.
ventory of stock and make a fresh 'appraisal of It believes that there are foci points where denom- our task. Noone so keenly sensed this change of inations can join hands and where united effort conditions as did the home mission leaders. About becomes more effective, if not more economical, ten years ago they began to see which way the than single handed denominational activity.
wind was blowing and undertook to set their sails 2. The second new line of advance is that of in the right direction. They who walked late on cooperative effort. The old home mission enter- the deck saw strange lights rise and fall and they prise was inspired largely by the competitive prepared to meet the new situation when once it spirit. Each denomination tried to outrun, out- confronted them. strip, outdo the others. The law of the jungle [21 ]
prevailed. The Nietsche law of the superman in activity. Even this is better than unfriendly rivreligious circles dominated almost every situation. alry and un-Christian competition, but it by no Consequently there was a rivalry for place, pres- means exhausts the meaning of comity. There is tige, power. The rivalry was not always friendly. a positive aspect which involves not merely keep- The Kingdom of God suffered violence and the ing out of each others' way, but also means muviolent took it by force. There was a regular tual support and aid. Comity involves the idea stampede to occupy territory first, to erect the of the "big brother" on the part of denominations. most handsome, most costly edifice, and to secure Thus when a given field is allocated to a denomthe largest possible membership. Proselytism was ination the other denominations should say not practiced beyond measure and the church that had merely "Go to it-God bless you," but they should the pull and had the preacher and had the purse, come forward with their treasures, their money, got the lion's share and the others had to take the their members and pour the same into the allohindmost. Many a poor, discouraged minister had cated field so that the denomination that has asto be satisfied with the gleanings in the corners sumed responsibility for it can meet the situation of the field which had been neglected by the har- adequately. This can be done far more readily in vesters who reaped the full harvest. And all this new than in old communities. In new communitime the established Church in the East kept pour- ties local loyalties and traditions have not yet had ing money into these "mission fields" which were time to take root and develop as is the case in old largely competition centers. and well-established communities.
The wastefulness, the extravagance, the sinful- Certainly such principles of comity could be ness of this sort of ruthless rivalry in due time readily worked out among foreign-speaking comlaid hold upon the consciousness and conscience munities. Already much progress is being made of missionary leaders. They saw what a violation along many lines. I name only a few. There is this was of the spirit of the Christ whom they the matter of Religious Work Directors in Govprofessed to serve. And they said among them- ernment Indian schools. There is the work among selves, "This thing must stop!" There must be a the Mexicans, where nine denominations are cosubstitute for competition. There must be an end operating in work among Mexicans and Spanishto ecclesiastical rivalry. And happily they hit speaking Americans. There are the Summer upon the word cooperative, and declared that the Schools for rural ministers; there is the Chrishome mission advance must be along cooperative tian Approach to the Jews; there are definite lines. They set up committees on Comity; they local projects such as at Radburn, New Jersey; advocated the organization of State and City Boulder City, Nevada; the Tennessee Valley Councils, and projected programs of united action. Project; the work in the West Indies, in Puerto This involved a change of the whole psychology Rico and Santo Domingo. There have been set up of the churches but this cannot be effected over Denominational Community Churches, Federnight. Prejudices and policies are too deep seated ated Churches, Undenominational Community to be immediately supplanted by something else. Churches and Affiliated Churches. It is evident A long process of education is required to change that the home mission forces are on the advance people's mental and moral attitudes. Today no in Comity and Cooperation. one can question the rising tide of interest in comity and cooperation throughout the Protestant 3. The old home mission work centered its ef- Church. This growing interest proceeds in part forts almost exclusively upon individuals. The from practical considerations. Our Home Mis- work of making Americans Christians has been sion and Church extension agencies are financially only a partial success, as statistics sadly reveal. embarrassed and sheer necessity is compelling Out of 125,000,000 people, at least 70,000,000 rethem to pool their forces and resources with main outside of any organized institutions of reothers if the task is to be completed. This interest ligion. The National Home Missions Congress in springs also from spiritual considerations. Minor Washington, 1930, stated the task of home misissues which divide us are being put into the back- sions as involving "the winning of men and women ground and major issues which unite us are thrust to discipleship of Jesus Christ and to unite them into the foreground. The clearer vision of the with other disciples in the fellowship of the Chrismeaning, and the mission of the Church is serv- tian Church." ing as a great unifying and cooperative impetus among all right thinking people. This is only one phase of the task. The Con- gress went on to say that the task is also "to bring But comity has both a negative and a positive the Christian impulse to bear upon the broad, aspect. Negatively, it means not interfering with social and civic questions of our day." In other the plans of my Christian neighbor. It is the easy, words the new cooperative advance includes em- "let alone" policy in the field of denominational phasis on the social application of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the christianization of all of life as
NEW COOPERATIVE ADVANCE AT HOME
well as of every life. It insists that all relation- and unified promotion of all the interests of the ships of life must be brought under the dominant Church. control of Christ. Here we face a task of tremendous proportions. This is a real job and the 2. An Advance in Promotion. This involves: task remains unfinished until every area of life (1) The bringing to the Protestant Church of is thoroughly christianized. Horrie missions today America a new vision of its entire task. (2) A is as nect!ssary and its opportunity is as great as thorough coordination of all the agencies of the ever in the history of our nation. The enterprise Church in an inclusive program in order that their somehow must recover its ancient passion and essential unity may be adequately expressed. (3) power. To the Church there must be restored a Not only to express this essential unity but at the sense of urgency and obligation in christianizing same time to contribute to the efficiency, the econ- America. But this task must be done not in the omy and the goodwill of the total task. haphazard, helter skelter fashion of pioneer and frontier days, but along well planned and defi- In the language of Dr. Henry W. A. Hanson, nitely constructive ways. The program must be President of Gettysburg College and Chairman of along educational and inspirational lines, based the Special Committee on Review and Forecast: upon sound ethical principles involving construc- "If Christianity is to make an impress of any contive methods of comity and cooperation. sequence, it will be done by a cooperating Church. The time has come for suspicions and misunder- The Home Missions Council and the Council of standings, based largely on superficial differences, Women for Home Missions have planned this co- to be put into the background. The great task of operative advance along two fronts: putting Jesus Christ into the life of our age will be achieved only by a cooperating Christian 1. An Advance in Program. (1) This involves Church. Will the Church be equal to the opporan adequate occupancy of every community with tunity of the present hour? If we fail in this the Christian ministry. (2) The avoidance as far as possible of all duplication of effort and of com- hour, the opportunity will be gone and we shall petition. (3) The setting up over the whole field of interdenominational organizations, in regions, stand condemned as unprofitable servants who states and cities, for the purpose of church planning, comity adjustments, cooperative activities have failed in a great crisis."
In the language of Dr. E. Stanley Jones: "We cannot go further unless we go deeper."
Satisfied I do not ask that I may see all of the road But if my groping hand can find Thee close beside My feet must press from day to day. Me, when the darkness closes round; I do not pray that all the burden of my load, If o'er my heart Thy love flows like a tender tide From off my heart be dropped away. When heavy burdens press me down; I do not wish that all the stones that bruise my If I can feel Thine arm about me when I fall feet Because the path is rough and steep; Be flung from off the path I climb. If I can lift my tear-stained face at Thy sweet I do not want the sorrows that my soul must meet, call Changed to some ecstasy sublime. When torn by pain and sorrow deep.
Then will the wounds I bear more precious be than gold, Or any treasure I can gain.
Then sudden shock or conflict fierce will find me bold To stand for Thee, nor heed the pain.
Then with Thy tenderness my brother's head I'll raise, And walk his faltering steps beside; Rejoicing in Thy love and at Thy smile of praise. And .0-1 shall be satisfied. -Don C. Carver, in The Christian Intelligencer.
a Kurd Becomes a
The Remarkable Story of a Moslem Mullah of Kurdistan -~I J; ;I ;;;;;;PI;;;;;;E"""RS_O;;;;;;N=====!.III~ ====B"""Y"""D"""E"""L;;;;;;A;;;;;;V;;;;;;AN=;;;;;;L;;;;;;.
ISLAM is proverbially the impregnable rock or religious dignitaries, and his father, Mullah which defies the advance of Christian mis- Rassul, was a distinguished Moslem theologian. sions. Raymond Lull, the early apostle to Mos- The boy was brilliant in mind and devout in spirit. lems, declared that he would die content if he At six years of age he could read the Koran and could see one follower of Mohammed truly con- soon mastered the Persian classics and Moslem verted to the Christian faith. Of all Moslems theology. When he was thirteen his father died there are probably none more fanatical and bit- and Sa'eed, a student of Moslem law and theology, terly antagonistic to Christianity than the Kurds became a teacher in the mosque school. He ad- of Kurdistan. These people are hardy mountain- vanced rapidly in religious and literary circles, eers, living in the territory of western Asia, a was considered a brilliant theologian, a master of t~rtitory extending from Lake Van and Mount Persian literature and a pious worshipper in the Arttrat to Kermanshah in Persia. They are fierce mosque. He was initiated into the mystic and fighters and many are brigands. Dr. Isaac Yonan powerful Naksh-Bandi order of the Sunni sect of'/(jrumia calls them generally "illiterate, crafty, and was looked upon as the rising star of Senneh.
wild, fanatically religious, warlike, lazy, treacher- While he was still in his teens people came from ous, cruel, hospitable, independent and remorse- far and near to ask him to write prayers, to be less robbers ….. To a Kurd a rifle of any new sewn in their clothes or hung in their houses, to European model is worth more than a wife, and ward off sickness and misfortune.
a good horse is worth more than a wife and two While Sa'eed was still in his early teens, he first concubines!' These people are all blindly fanat- came into contact with Christianity. Two of his ical members of the Sunni sect-those who strict- private pupils were sons of a Roman Catholic ly follow Moslem tradition. merchant and in their family he saw the use of Can one of such a race, and with such inborn strong drink which is very obnoxious to orthodox prejudices and wild ways of life, be persuaded to Moslems. A copy of the New Testament in Per- forsake his people and religion and become a true sian came into his hands through a student but follower of Jesus Christ? It is certainly impos- he could not understand it and a Catholic priest sible through any message or philosophy'recom- whom he ·consulted could not explain passages mended in the Laymen's Missionary report. that puzzled him. So he cast the book away in But that such a transformation is possible disgust. Image and picture worship, both ana- through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is clearly thema to Moslems, which he saw in Catholic homes proved in the story of Sa'eed the Kurd, of SennElh' .a.nd.:cliurches, jed~himto believe that all Chris- who became Sa'eed, Khan, the Beloved Physician tians were idolaters and gewors (heathen). He of Teheran. His experience is one of the most gave thanks that he was a Moslem and determined remarkable and thrilling in the annals of mission- to do all in his power to bring infidel Christians ary history. The man is today an answerable to the true worship of.Allah as revealed in the argument for the power of Christ and the worth- Koran. .'~ whileness of Christian missions.* Thus he became~till more studious and devout Sa'eed was born seventy years ago in Sen- in his observance' of all the requirements of his neh, a city of some 60,000 inhabitants, with the Islamic faith. – reputation for being the most fanatical in Eastern At about this time an Assyrian Protestant Kurdistan. It has more mosques than any other Christian, Kasha Yohannan (Pastor John) of city of its size. Sa'eed came of a line of mullahs, Urumia came to Senneh, sent by the American –;-;rhls remarkable life-story is told In "The Belo·ved Physician of missionaries as an evangelist. He inquired for bTuerhyeraPnr,e"ssb, yNDasrh. vIisllaea,c TYenonneasnseoef. Pe$r1s.i0a0.. Published by the C<>kes- some one to teach him Persian and was referred [24 ] DR. SA'EED KHAN, THE CHRIST'I'&N KURD, AND HIS SONS to Mullah Mohammed Sa'eed as he was then called. controversy was an eye-opener for Sa'eed and Finally an agreement was reached whereby the created in him a genuine admiration for his mullah would teach the pastor Persian in ex- Christian teacher. change for lessons in Syriac. They used the Psalms and the Gospels in Persian and Syriac as At this time the elder brother, Kaka, the head a basis for their study. At first Sa'eed would not of the family, became disturbed over the growing give a "Salaam" (peace be on you) on entering friendship, and forbade Sa'eed to continue assothe house of this unbeliever so he deceived him by ciating with the gewor. But when the young man saying "Sahham" (may the sword come upon explained that his purpose was to expose the unyou). While the Prophet Mohammed indorsed tenable position of Christians and to lead them to both the Old and New Testament, Moslem tradi- the true faith, Kaka was persuaded to withdraw tion teaches that the Bible of the Christians is a his prohibition. The brilliant youth continued to hopelessly corrupted form of the original text. visit and argue with the older pastor who dis- Pastor John's prayers were not formal but sin- cussed with him patiently the relative merits of cere and included confession of sin and petitions Islam and Christianity, comparing the Bible and for friends and enemies alike-something abso- the Koran, Jesus and Mohammed. Sa'eed began lutely foreign to Islam. The pastor was a man to see that the Pastor understood the Bible and of tact and loving spirit. He did not criticize also the Koran. They read together the Sermon Mohammed or the Koran but lived a Christian on the Mount and the Gospel of John, one prelife before his pupil-teacher and so won his con- senting the social principles of Christianity and fidence and respect. the other presenting the evidence of the deity of Jesus. The Psalms and Isaiah brought to light Christian work among Moslems being pre- the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah-all scribed in Senneh, Pastor John started his mis- points of controversy between Moslems and Chrissionary work among the Jews. One day a group tians. Sa'eed's interest deepened from day to day. of young Jews challenged him to prove that Jesus He compared the prophecies, the birth and life was the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. and death of Jesus with the history of Moham- Sa'eed happened to be present and, as a neutral, med. The explanations of Sheik Imam J umeh was asked to act as judge. Later Sa'eed wrote: were not satisfactory, while those of Pastor John "Pastor John, throughout the discussion that last- showed knowledge and honest reasonableness. ed three hours, impressed me with his unpreju- Sa'eed had been taught that Old Testament prophdiced honesty and remarkable knowledge of the ecies referred to Mohammed not to Christ but Old Testament. I often had to rebuke the Jews as he read the forty-second chapter of Isaiah and for their stupidity and hardness of heart." This other passages he could not fit them into the his-
tory of the prophet of Mecca. The one was the Finally Christ conquered. Sa'eed says, "In the embodiment of love and purity and peace; the twinkling of an eye the raging sea was hushed, other was the prophet of the law, of compromise and peace flooded my soul. I could not have ex- with the flesh and an advocate of war. Sa'eed plained why I loved Jeesus but I was simply began to study Hebrew so that he might find out charmed." It had taken two years to reach this if the Old Testament had ,been accurately trans- decision and Sa'eed had counted the cost. He knew lated. Later he said: that apostasy was looked up'on among his people "The things that impressed me most and caused as a crime worthy of death.. ,' His bigoted brother the light to come into my soul were the beautiful and uncles and the whole clan would be enraged life of Pastor John, his truthfulness, his wisdom at the thought of one of their number-a mullah- and knowledge of the Scriptures. As I compared becoming a renegade. It was a gigantic battle this with my own life and the lives of great Mos- for a youth of eighteen, but he felt convinced that lem ecclesiastics I said: 'Surely there must be in God was with him. Soon after this Pastor John Christianity something more sweet and powerful was obliged to.1eave Sennah but before leaving he than there is in Islam.' ….. One day I asked the baptized Sa'eed behind closed doors.
pastor plainly: 'What do Christians think of Mo- For some time the young convert continued to hammed?' He hesitated and then said, 'Jesus said teach in the mosque and to perform his duties as that false prophets would come after Him. The a muezzin five times a day. Then one day, as he life and character of Mohammed are such that read the words of Christ, "Ye cannot serve two we do not think he is a worthy prophet to repre- masters," he seemed to hear a voice saying to sent the Holy God.''' him: "Sa'eed, you are trying to serve two mas- But Sa'eed was not ready to yield. He was ters. You do not believe in what you testify in angry and returned Pastor John's Bible, ceased the muezzin call that 'Mohammed is the apostle his visits for a time and devoted himself more of God.''' That evening he compromised and in than ever to the Koran, to his religious duties, to place of calling out, "ashad-inna" (I testify) he his religious teaching and to his work as a muez- used the words "astakh-/er-Allah" (God forbid) zin (giving the daily calls to prayer). But he that Mohammed is the apostle of God. But this could not escape from Christ. One day the thought did not long satisfy his sense of loyalty to his came to him: "What, after all, if Mohammed was Master. One day when he was sitting in a vine- an imposter?" The shock was so terrific that yard, reading the story of the crucifixion and men- Sa'eed began to buffet himself saying, "0, cursed tally picturing Christ's death on the cross for him, fellow. Satan has got hold of your heart." He he had a desire to celebrate the communion.
sought cleansing and peace by ablutions and Opening his handkerchief he took out the bread prayers, but in vain. He was in agony and con- for his luncheon squeezed grapes into the palm tinually sleepless. One night he jumped up de- of his hand and partook of them in memory of termined to atone for his blasphemy against his Christ. "The vineyard became a temple and the prophet. He branded his legs with live coals, common meal a sacrament." New strength came making two deep scars to remind him that he was into his soul and he decided that he must deny a Moslem and that he must never again converse himself, take up his cross and follow Christ. That on religion with a gewor. night there was no muezzin call from the minaret.
Still peace did not come to the soul of Sa'eed. His kinsfolk noted the silence of Sa'eed's voice As the scars on his legs healed the burning in his and feared that he might be ill. When the young heart grew more unbearable. The. more he studied and taught the Koran, the more he discovered its man came home he found members of the clan errors. One night, as he returned from the mosque gathered and he handed his brother a letter which he stumbled and fell. Lifting up his voice he read: cried out, "0 God, make plain to me the right way and I will follow it. Otherwise I will go insane." In the nu'/11./l of one only God My Brother: The dangers to my life grow greater day by day. I am a Christian and confess it to you openly. If you will murder your brother my life is in your hands. I cannot escape-yet death will be gain to me. If you In an instant he says, "I felt lifted up and made spare my life, I will be thankful and will serve you as up my mind as to what I should do." much as I can. My wish is to leave here so that you Again he began to visit Pastor John and spent may be in peace. Your brother, Sa'eed. hours each day in study of the Bible, memorizing the Sermon on the Mount. He was particularly A bomb exploded in the midst of the company impressed by the book of Isaiah, the Gospel of could not have created greater consternation.
John, some of the Psalms, and the narrative of Women pulled their hair, beat their breasts and the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ. the men shouted "Ka/ir" (blasphemy). Kaka, his At the same time he studied and compared the brother, laid his hand on his dagger with the im- Koran and the Moslem commentaries. . pulse to slay the renegade who had become an
WHEN A KURD BECOMES A CHRISTIAN
infidel. The uncles urged delay and suggested that was called to their homes all over the city, night Sa'eed was deranged and that he be given an op- and day. Later he visited England to perfect portunity to recant. That night while the family himself in surgery and in the treatment of eye, were asleep on the roof the young man left his nose and throat. When he returned to Hamadan home determined to flee to Hamadan and there he specialized in eye surgery and word of his won- take refuge with the missionaries. He was over- derful kindness and skill spread to every part of taken and beaten. When his brother threatened Persia.
to kill him Sa'eed calmly said, "My brother, do During an insurrection he was called upon to not kill me-not for my sake but for your own." accompany the army of Ain-Douleh, son-in-law The Moslem's rage subsided before the gentleness to the Shah, to minister to the soldiers. In this of the Christian; the spirit of Christ was vic- campaign his private tent was next to that of the torious over the sword of Mohammed. As the general on whom his humble Christian life and brothers returned home Sa'eed began to tell his unselfish service made a deep impression. In rec- brother why he had determined to follow Christ ognition of his services, Sa'eed was given a yearly but Kaka only cursed him for his blasphemy. allowance for life and the honorary title of Khan.
Murderous threats followed from the fanatical He became for a time private physician to Ain- uncles. Again at night Sa'eed fled and again he Douleh with whom he had many private conversa- was followed and brought back but the third time, tions on spiritual themes. When one of the favor- by avoiding the highways and traveling at night, ite wives of the Shah, Muzaffar-AI-Din, was taken he reached Hamadan weary and famished. Here ill Dr. Sa'eed Khan was chosen, instead of any of Dr. Alexander, the Presbyterian mission surgeon, the foreign doctors, to perform the operation. He gave him food and shelter and after hearing his prayed earnestly to God for strength and the oper- story put him to work at the menial task of ation was successful. Thus Dr. Sa'eed Khan, the stable boy. persecuted and despised apostate Moslem, one- Now began a new period of Sa'eed's life. As time stable-boy in the American Mission, became the young man thought of his Master born in a one of the high dignitaries of the Persian Capital, manger, the stable became a sanctuary where he in great favor at the Shah's court.
could read his Bible and worship God without At one time he was called to the bedside of an fear. His family gave him up for lost but as the influential Moslem ecclesiastic who had been bit- news of his apostasy spread, all Kurdestan was ter in his hatred for the apostate doctor. The case stirred with rage; bazaars hummed with gossip was discovered to be beyond the help of medicine and decrees were issued by leading sheikhs sanc- or surgery. This was explained to the patient and tioning his murder. Dr. Sa'eed asked his consent to carry the case in Another Assyrian Christian from Urumia, Pas- prayer to the Great Physician. Now Sa'eed the tor Simon, who was living in Hamadan, soon dis- doctor became Sa'eed the intercessor. Taking the covered in Sa'eed a true Christian and a scholar cold hand of the mullah he kneeled down by the whose talents and training were too valuable to bedside and prayed, be devoted to caring for horses. He engaged the "0, blessed Jesus, our only hope for the recov- young man as a teacher of Persian language and ery of this Thy sinful creature is in Thee alone.
literature, while in his spare time Sa'eed studied Thy power and mercy are without limit. If it be English and medicine under Dr. Alexander. Be- according to Thy Holy will, wilt thou restore him fore long Kaka came to visit Hamadan, in search to health again."
of his brother, and was so impressed by his joy As he prayed, the tears rolled slown his cheeks. and beauty of character that he too became a The effect was startling-his courage, his sym- Christian. pathy, his honesty and his sincerity made a deep The Christian Doc.tor impression. The patient recovered and became the After a period of preparation Sa'eed became an life-long friend of the doctor.
assistant in the mission hospital and seven years But while friends increased, his enemies were later began his own medical practice. He also still many and bitter. At one time he desired to gave public adresses in Christianity to patients visit Urumia to see his wife's relatives and to meet and students. On all his visits to patients, both again his old friend and spiritual father, Pastor rich and poor, he carried his Bible and never John. His road led through Kurdestan which was missed an opportunity to speak to them of sin, its in turmoil on account of an effort to rescue a girl consequences and its cure and of the Great Physi- who had been taken by force into the harem of a cian of souls. Thus, in a remarkable way, he ef- Kurdish chief. The roads were unsafe and Dr.
fectively combined ministry to the physical and Sa'eed was urged not to pass through Kurdestan, spiritual needs of his patients. His fame spread the stronghold of his enemies who had sworn to so that hundreds crowded his dispensary and he kill him. After prayer, however, he decided to
trust in God's protection and to take the journey. begged to be excused from this liberal hospitality He went through the hostile country, ministering and settled at the home of Shamasha Shumel everywhere to the sick and giving medicines to all (Deacon Samuel), who was the native missionary in need. His courage, courtesy, kindness and from V rumia. An hour later a secretary of the skill disarmed the hostile Kurds and they became Governor appeared with four or five servants his friends. bringing a few cones of sugar, a quantity of tea, But Dr. Sa'eed's heart still yearned to help his some candy, and two young lambs for our supper, own people in Senneh, who were still bitter in as well as a letter of invitation to dine with the their hatred of the apostate who had disgraced Governor the next day. Our visit with the Gov- the family name. Since he himself could not re- ernor was most pleasant. He embraced Dr. Sa'eed turn home, he finally persuaded Dr. Jesse Yonan, very cordially for the two had become acquainted an Assyrian physician who had studied in Amer- when Zafar VI Mulk was Governor-General in ica, to go to Senneh to serve his people as a Chris- Hamadan. After dinner we met several of the tian physician. Dr. Sa'eed accompanied his sub- high dignitaries who all knew Dr. Sa'eed by repu- stitute for some distance on the journey. On the tation, as an apostate from Islam.
way they met a noted brigand who came to consult Many of the mullahs were anxious to meet Dr.
the doctor on prevalent diseases and their treat- Sa'eed for a religious controversy, and they ment. Learning something of the doctor's fluency crowded into the large living room at Shamasha in speaking and writing in Turkish, Kurdish, Shumel's. The doctor met their questions with Arabic, Syriac, Persian, and English, the chieftain such clear, uncompromising statements that Jesus asked him to write something that he could keep. is the only Saviour and gave such evidence of his In response the doctor wrote John 3: 16 and superior knowledge of the Koran and his ac- signed his name. The brigand was astonished to quaintance with the Bible that the audience was find that the name was Kurdish and when the greatly impressed. Instead of challenging him, doctor confessed that he was a Christian a change as had been their intention, they were spellbound came over the visitor and he said: "It is a pity under his earnest exposition of the Bible. After I have accepted your hospitality so that I cannot listening for more than an hour these men were kill you." Without another word he withdrew. changed from enemies to friends. Two "men"
At another time the doctor was waylaid by from Senneh who had vowed to kill him, ap- brigands but when they found that he was a physi- proached Dr. Sa'eed. They had been boyhood cian they only asked about the treatment of cer- classmates in Senneh and everyone expected them tain diseases, received a supply of quinine and to attack him; but as soon as they neared the boric acid and then sent a guard to accompany the doctor they embraced him most affectionately. The "Honorable Doctor" to his next stopping place. occasion was very solemn and made a profound Dr. Yonan, his companion, writes: impression upon all those present and the would- "Monday morning, before starting out, we were be murderers departed with love in their hearts.
warned by the Rev. Benjamin Labaree, not to go When Dr. Sa'eed and Dr. Yonan left Souj- through Souj-Boologh, because he was informed Boologh more than one hundred and fifty people, that two men from Senneh had come to Souj- most of them Kurds, from all walks of life, came Boologh and were waiting there to meet and kill to see them off and the two men, who had come Dr. Sa'eed. We hesitated and then the doctor with murder in their hearts, wer·e the last to say said: 'All of yesterday and today we have been good bye. No miracle could have been greater preaching to the people about the presence of God than the change from assassins to kind, and brothand about His p~otecting power; now we are dis- erly friends.
playing our own lack of faith in that power.' We Some twenty years ago Dr. Sa'eed received a decided at once to take the route through Souj- very urgent appeal to come to the help of a Kurd- Boologh and started out much encouraged. The ish sultan (or great chief) who lived at Awraman, city of Souj-Boologh is the seat of the govern- eight days' journey on horseback from Hamadan.
ment and is situAted on a mountain slope. The The danger was great and the Doctor's friends Governor's palace was in a most commanding strongly opposed his· risking his life among wild position, from which the Governor could observe, and fanatic Kurds many of whom were brigands with his field glasses the movements of the travel- and one of wbose sheikhs had issued a "decree of ers on the main road leading to the city. He evi- sanction" to murder Sa'eed as an apostate from dently saw our caravan long before our arrival Islam. The Kurdish sultan sent an armed escort for we were met by a deputation sent to inform and promised to be responsible for the Doctor's us that the Governor was greatly pleased to know safe return home, so after laying the matter be- of the presence of Dr. Sa'eed, Khan, and desired fore God in prayer, Dr. Sa'eed felt it was his duty us to be his guests at the mansion. Politely we to go. He reached Awraman safely, performed
the operation that successfully restored the sul- Dr. Sa'eed was teaching his regular Bible in his tan's eyesight and ministered to many other pa- home in Teheran, a man entered with a few of tients. The hostile sheikh, realizing that he could his followers. It was Mahmood Khan Sanni, the not kill the doctor while he was under the sultan's notorious Kurdish brigand. He had been capprotection, endeavored to win him back to Islam tured by Government troops and brought to Teby sending a large delegation of the mystical heran as a hostage. Now, conscience-stricken, he Naksh-Bandi, the society to which Sa'eed had fell on his knees and kissed the hem of the docformerly belonged. The doctor describes the tor's robe. Then he sat down and heard the good scene as follows: physician expound the passage from Romans 5: 8-10, "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for The court was packed as I entered and the sheikh wel- us." "If, when we were yet enemies we were comed me in the name of all, and showed me a place to reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much sit by his side. After a~ exchange of formal greetings, more, being reconciled we shall be saved by His everything became very quiet. As I looked around the life." audience, what a sight! Every eye was fixed on me. I could see blood and hatred, violence and vengeance, in At the close of the Bible study, the former brigthose serious and gloomy faces. A feeling of anxiety for and made a humble confession, and received a a moment depressed me and I prayed in my heart, "0 Bible and religious tracts. Since then the peni- God, I am in a lions' den. Be as close to thy servant as tent sinner has been a frequent visitor in the home thou wast to thy servant Daniel." of the doctor and he and his men have received hundreds of dollars worth of medicines and treat- At a sign from the sheikh all the audience at ment free of charge from the one whom he once once began to sing and chant, at first in moderate tried to kill. Once more Christ-like love has and subdued tones, then slowly growing louder proved itself more than conqueror over hatred and wilder. When they were well warmed up, and murder. reason gave way to emotional excitement; they beat their uncovered breasts and faces, shouting The captain of the sultan's band that escorted and howling like madmen. Their mouths were Dr. Sa'eed on his perilous journey was a devout foaming, but they still repeated the word "Allah" Moslem and a descendant of the prophet. On the until they had lost their voices. When they had journey he saw Christ and the Christian religion reached a high pitch of excitement, slowly they so clearly exemplified in the Doctor's life and in began to lapse into a state of hypnotic insensibil- his testimony from the Word of God, that he too ity. Dr. Sa'eed wrote: later confessed Christ as his Saviour and Lord. He visited Hamadan to learn more of Christ and took The sheikh had arranged this performance with the back with him Bibles in Persian and Arabic and idea of warming my cold heart, and to make me return tracts to distribute among his people. to the true faith. But as I listened and observed, how my soul bowed before Him, the Son of God who had sev- Can Moslems be converted? Can a fanatical ered my chains and had set me free from this wild slavery. Kurd become a Christian? Is Christ greater than Tears came to my eyes and I had difficulty in keeping Mohammed? Is the Word of God more powerful them back lest they should fall at the wrong time and than the sword of Islam? Who can doubt it after carry a wrong impression. Did not my soul tell him, reading the history of Dr. Sa'eed, Khan, the Be- "I have more understanding than all my teachers: for loved Physician of Teheran? He is now over thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more seventy years of age and has been a Christian than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts?" (Psalm for over half a century. He has grown daily in 119: 99, 100.) Christian experience, has reflected Christ in his daily life and in his medical service. Without During the performance, which lasted over two slighting the requirements of his medical prohours, the doctor was a quiet listener and ob- fession he has been a true evangelist. He has server. When the meeting was over, he expressed been a constant student and teacher of the Bible, his thanks and returned to the sultan's house. and his faith and COlll"ag-e and love have never failed. Thousands of Kurds, Persians, Jews, The sheikh, seeing that his "spiritual perform- Turks, Assyrians, Armenians and others of all ance" had accomplished no result, wrote and stations and conditions-high and low, rich and asked for another private interview but the doc- poor, learned and ignorant-rise up to call him tor wrote him a letter, quoting verses from the blessed. Can anyone estimate the result at home Koran and traditions, and concluded by inviting and in the mission fields if ('very Christian would him to become a Christian. so reveal the spirit and power of Christ in char- acter and dailv jifp? What Jesus Christ can do The hostile sheikh, defeated in his purpose, for a converted Kurd, He can do for men and hired a notorious brigand, Khan Sanni, an enemy women of any other race or nation. of the sultan, to waylay the doctor and kill him on the road at night. This plot was discovered and the sultan sent the doctor and his escort by another road. After the brigands had waited in ambush for five days, they returned "like whipped dogs" to report their failure.
Fifteen years later one Sunday afternoon, when
Eben E
.If Devoted Friend of Missions and Missionaries _~I.L.._=R=E=V==.=AS_AnM_AU=EppL_rM_e._ZCiW_aEtM_iEoR_,n_D_b.yD=.t,hP_rei=n=c=et=o=n=,;N;;.!]J.il~~._ W HEN Kate Van Santvoord Olcott, of New ficial benevolence were all to one end, the advance- York City, fell asleep on Thanksgiving ment of the Kingdom of God. Day, November 29, in her eightieth year, Since 1901, Mrs. Olcott was a faithful member the missionary enterprise lost one of its most un- of the Woman's Board of Foreign Missions of the selfish, most loyal, most devoted friends. The Reformed Church in America. She became corworld's needs were always on her heart. Her responding secretary for Arabia the same year practical love and intelligent sympathy stretched and continued in that work until 1930. For all across all frontiers. An those years she carried on earnest Christian from her her heart the burdert of the earliest youth, she walked pioneer work in Arabia (at with God for eighty long that time a land of neglect years. To all who knew her, and darkness, of fanatic opher well-ordered life was a position and hope deferred) constant example of the with the intimacy and tender beauty of holiness and the solicitude of a mother. She calm of a life centered in was friend and counsellor, and source of spiritual en- God. couragement to each worker, U ntH the very day of her always eager to give prac- tical help where opportunity departure, Mrs. Olcott was arose. Every member of the about the King's business. Arabian Mission thinks of Like Moses, faithful in all her with deep affection and her house, she wist not that loyal devotion. To all memher face shone with a light bers of the Mission she was never seen on sea or land. an example of Christian self- At the funeral service held in the Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas no one in the lessness and faithful stew- great gat her i ng of her ardship.
friends needed a reminder When Mrs. Olcott retired that the two hymns rendered KATE VAN SANTVOORD OLCOTT from her secretaryship she by the soloist were an inter- wrote a tribute to the unflag- pretation of her life. Her "walk was close with ging zeal of the women of the Mission with whom God, calm and serene her frame." And Whittier's she had had "the high privilege of close associa- poem on the life "without strain or stress"-like tion for nearly thirty years."
that of the Master's by Lake Galilee-seemed a A nobler band of consecrated Christian women never full-length portrait of her who had fallen asleep. lived, and they have held on in the midst of great discour- Indeed her daughter found her early in the morn- agement-in "persecution often," in sickness, in separaing with the latest issue of the MISSIONARY RE- tion from loved ones and even unto death! VIEW OF THE WORLD turned open at Dr. Latourette's article, "The Evangelization of the World in Great will be their reward in heaven, and even now they are reaping a faint measure of it in the high esteem in which they are held by those among whom they are work- This Generation." It was the last thing she read. ing. Their homes have been veritable Light Houses amidst No student volunteer ever lived out the spirit of the gross darkness of Islam, and their family lives have the watchword more faithfully than Mrs. Olcott. shone out in contrast to those about them!
Her study of the Scriptures, her prayer-life, her "As his part is that goeth down to the battle, so reading, her talents of administration and counsel, shall his share be that tarryeth by the baggage; her indefatigable correspondence, and her sacri- they shall share alike." This is true of all who [SO]
MISSIONARY DOGS AND AIRPLANES
work at home for the foreign field. But great was always eager to send out all the money in the David's Greater Son has a far better promise, ful- treasury to meet urgent needs on the field. Her filled in her life: "Give and it shall be given unto thoughtfulness for others and her self-forgetfulyou; good measure, pressed down and shaken to- ness included long waiting at the steamship piers gether and running over, shall men pour into to welcome returning missionaries or to bid fareyour bosom." well to those who sailed. Her generous hospi- tality was proverbial and genuine. She had a In 1905, on the occasion of the Jubilee of the spirit like Nathaniel in whom there was no guile. Arcot Mission in India, Mrs. Olcott visited the for- Loyal to her own Puritan principles, she was eign field. Not only Arabia, but India, China, and tolerant of those who differed from her and had Japan shared her personal interest. For many a mind open to receive new truth. The center and years she supported her own missionaries, con- goal of her life was Jesus Christ her Lord and tributed to the regular work of her denomination, Saviour. The Bible and the place of prayer were cared for the Jacob Chamberlain Memorial Band the secret of her strength and beauty of character of Evangelists in India, had her share in the es- -a river of influence that made glad the city of tablishment of the Woman's Union Medical Col- God. lege at Vellore, as well as in many other union enterprises and efforts at home and abroad. In Mrs. Olcott's words were few in mission gath- 1911, Mrs. Olcott was one of the delegates to the erings for she was ever modest and retiring, but Edinburgh Missionary Conference and was an en- when she opened her mouth to speak it was with thusiastic supporter of its findings. She was one wisdom, and her tongue was ruled by the law of the charter members of the American Christian of love. All who knew her rise up to call her Literature Society for Moslems and its efficient blessed, and her own works praise her in the gates. Treasurer until the day of her death. No treas- May God raise up many others who will follow in urer was ever more faithful in securing and ad- her footsteps and emulate her character and ministering funds. A generous giver herself, she service.
Missionary Dogs and Airplanes By BISHOP P. T. ROWE, Seattle, Washington Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Alaska W HEN I went to Alaska, in the spring of dogs I pioneered the great interior of Alaska and 1896, the white population was estimated made a journey of 2,000 miles each winter. There to be 2,000. The conditions were much as were no road houses to spend the night in. You they had been under the Russian Government. simply camped for the night in the snow, what- There were no roads and no trails. Having in- ever the temperature, and the temperature went spected the southern coast, which meant Wrangell, as low as 78° below zero at times. Juneau and Sitka, I headed for the interior and crossed the mountains via the Chilkoot Pass. In For thirty-four years my winters were spent in doing so I hauled my own sled. Dogs were not traveling with the dogs. In doing so I not only obtainable. When I reached the interior and traversed the inland of Alaska but reached the winter approached, I got dogs from the Indians. Arctic coast and began work among the Eskimos. These dogs were maImutes and of wolfish descent. I had to train them and while doing so trained The use of dogs and travel, such as I have demyself so that I could meet the severe cold and scribed, is still a demand in Alaska, though not to travel on snowshoes without going lame. the same extent. Having grown old in the service requiring dogs and snowshoes, it is a happy I had also to cook beans, then freeze them, so change to use airplanes and to look down on places that I would have food for months of travel. For where you had terribly hard sledging, and fly in the dogs I had dried fish. The dogs drew the sleds comfort over the same. The airplane in Alaska loaded with my food, sleeping robes, and the dried is a commercial boon. It is also a boon for people fish. It was not possible to ride on the sled as the who are seriously ill or have met with an accident. snow was deep and you had to "break trail" for The airplane has come. I welcome it, and, though the dogs. Were you to ride you had to dress in I did much work by and through the dogs, I am furs, unsuitable for snowshoeing. So with the glad to take the airplane in their place. Effective Ways of Working I 'Tested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MRS. ESTELLA S. AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO ~'=I= = = = = = = = = = = =_________'I~ NEW WAYS FOR NINE- sionary activity and study, after meeting to which the missionary careful survey of Sunday school, .. committee, all officers and chair- TEEN THIRTY-FIVE young people's work, etc. Is the men of standing committees, A New Year's greeting to pas- work coordinated or haphazard, Sunday school teachers, etc., are tors and church leaders 1 What advance are you planning over each department on its own?) personally invited, and formuthe means and methods of last 3. Report from the Lookout at late a plan to gear every departyear? Is your church thoroughly aroused, informed and geared the Mast Head; or a Bird's-eye ment of church activity into a for missions? Don't rest back View of What Other Churches comprehensive missionary proupon an active group of women (bless them 1) plus two mission- Are Doing. (Cast your eye over gram. For such an endeavor, ary sermons a year to qualify you under the Great Commis- the Methods Department of THE read carefully the articles on sion and the Crying Need. Start the New Year right by a mission- REVIEW for-say two years past "Plans for Pastors and Church ary "arousement" which will stimulate the life currents in -and give a summary of what Leaders," February, 1933, page every department of church activity. How about devoting an impress you as the best plans 99 in THE REVIEW; also "Plans especially advertised mid-week meeting – or maybe an all- for mission study, children's, for Fresh Beginnings," Septemchurch evening dinner-to some such program as the following, young people's, women's, men's ber, 1933, page 452, these arusing either the plain or the fanciful titles according to con- and Sunday school work; for the ticles indicating the ideal comditions, but remembering that a touch of fancy in the presenta- field has been carefully covered position and functioning of the tion of a theme creates relish and so receptivity? and only such plans as have been basic church missionary commit- tested in reliable use appear. If tee. Abundant suggestions for you have not kept your files of implementing details are scat- THE REVIEW, let this be a lesson tered all through the year.
to you: and if you are not al- ready a subscriber, send in your STEWARDSHIP DECLAMATION subscription at once, as you can- CONTESTS not afford to limit yourself to Mrs. Carter Wright, South- brief surveys of the copy in the wide Stewardship chairman for public library. Articles through- the Woman's Mission Union of out the magazine afford ready- the Southern Baptist Conven- to-hand material for activating tion, and Miss Juliette Mather, many of the plans.) its Young People's Secretary, "Go YE-INTO ALL THE WORLD" 4. The Importance of the Log have brought out plans and ac- Book; or the Prime Place of a 1. Sailing Orders; or the Live Missionary Magazine that tivating material for a series of Place of Missions in the Church Records Daily Progress in the contests which should go far to- Program-Occasional or Perma- Kingdom of God. (Exploit your ward training a generation of nent? (Not as an adjunct to the systematic and proportional givwork but the Church's supreme own denominational organ or endeavor without which it has organs, and THE REVIEW which ers. no justification for considering "Few projects," they say, itself more than a club or fra- gives a world-wide view afforded ternal organization. Missionary by no other missionary publica- "have grown in favor and popuendeavor constitutes a test of the tion. Plan for follow-up work in larity as rapidly as the Stewardreality of our professed faith the way of solicitation of sub- ship Declamation Con t est s, and loyalty, for the very heart of scriptions w hi I e interest is delighting both the young parthe Gospel is missionary. Mis- warm. If you wait to draw the ticipants and the admiring audisions now have a strategic op- net, you may lose many possi- ences attending the contests. portunity, for they must save bilities.) Everywhere people speak of the the world from the tragedy of value of the contest in teaching human selfishness which has al- 5. Setting the Sails to Cateh the Wind; or Seeking the Dy- tithing and developing a real most wrecked it.) namic. (Season of earnest prayer sense of stewardship. The decla- 2. Taking the Reckoning; or mations present stewardship of for the Spirit's motive power What Our Own Church Is Doing. and guidance.) tithes and offerings, that the (Accurate statement of all mis- emphasis be clearly given this At the earliest possible oppor- difficult phase of stewardship.
tunity after this service, hold a The W. M. U. understands that [32 ]
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
stewardship includes more than American Life" appeared in part market or bake sale to which tithes and offerings, but in the in our September issue, sends each woman takes a basket of contest this is the theme." the following suggestions in the fruit, vegetables or other food capacity of her position as Mis- whose value equals her annual Sunbeam Band members (the sionary Education Secretary for dues and which, when sold, entiny tots) are asked to memorize Illinois under the Baptist wom- ables her to pay in full at the one of the two series' of Scrip- en's organizations. start. Call this a Dues sale. Use ture verses in a given leaflet, a Blessing Box, each person such as Gen. 1: 1; Psalm 24: 1; 1. Have each member of your young dropping in a penny whenever Job 41: 11; Psalm 50: 10; Hag- people's group read at least two books she has occasion to be thankful. gai 2: 8; Lev. 27: 30; Mal. 3: on the year's themes-Home and For- Or have roll call at each meet- 10, 11 and 2: 2; Lev. 26: 2, 12. eign. "Gold Mountain," by Payne; ing, members coming forward The second test is the Parable of "Lim Yik Choy," by Shepherd; "Ty- to pay, or answering to their the Rich Fool, as given in the phoon Days in Japan," by Spencer, names with "paid" or "unpaid"! twelfth chapter of Luke. and "Japan and Her People," by Hughes, are especially recommended. BUILDING THE NATION Junior organizations each se- BEAUTIFUL lect one of the talks furnished in 2. Present a play or pageant deala leaflet, memorizing and pre- ing with the themes, such as "The A Christian Americanization senting these at the contest, Color Line," "The Cross Triumphant," Pageant memory counting for 50%, enun- or original dramatizations from such ciation for 25%, posture for books as "A Daughter of the Samu- A summer survey of the new 10% and expression and inter- rai" and "A Daughter of the Narikin.' missionary literature revealed, pretation for 15%. among other things, that most 3. Present a debate on a topic ap- denominations are responding to Intermediate age groups select propriate to the year's themes, such the plea for more dramatizations and write upon a topic from a as: "Orientals in the United States as effective vehicles for both given list, some of which are: should have the same citizenship priv- information and inspiration. "Tithing Pays"; "Is the Money ileges as do other foreign-speaking Outstanding in artistry and im- Ours or God's?"; "Non-Tithers' residents"; "J a pan's geographical pressiveness is one arranged and Excuses Answered" ; "Obedi- limitations justify her expansion pol- directed by Mrs. T. J. Hopkins, ence the Master's Test." Essays icy." of Wayne, Pennsylvania, and as delivered are limited to five given at a Christian Americanminutes. 4. Have at least three meetings on ization meeting of the Woman's each of the themes, preferably basing American Baptist Home Mis- The Young Women's organi- them on current study books. Recom- sionary Society, at Washington, zations give original talks not mended for such use are "Out of the D. C. While couched in feminine. exceeding seven minutes in de- Far East" (Hunter) and "WorId terms in adaptation to its immelivery, based on such subjects Tides in the Far East" "Mathews). diate purpose, it is easily transas: "Owners-or Stewards"?; latable into the masculine or "My Partner's Portion"; "In Ac- 5. Have a creditable proportion of mixed terminology to be used in count with God" ; "Giving a Part your membership in a mission study a young people's group as well of Worship"; "The Tithe-God's class, in a school of missions if possi- as among their elders, and would Preventive of Covetousness." A ble. be very effective among pastors speaker exceeding the time lim- for· an evening service. The acit in delivery is penalized by a 6. Service activities: (a) A per- tion, costuming and staging are deduction of five from the sonal friendship with one or more so simple that groups of limited judges' final grade for each min- Oriental Americans; (b) A carefully resources would find it available ute's excess. All contestants are arranged visit to Chinatown; (c) A with a minimum of rehearsal. presented by number only until public program embracing all of your after the judges' decision is an- denominational agencies among Ori- The Master of Ceremonies nounced. entals in the U. S.; (d) A similar pro- states by way of introduction gram for Japan; (e) An international that Christian Americanization Awards (such as missionary forum with representatives or imper- work lends itself to the beautifybooks) are optional, but some sonations of Orientals, to discuss ing of the nation, for it is truly small token to each winner is "What are the next steps in interna- beautiful only as it is Christian. both stimulating and delightful. tional cooperation?" (f) A Japa- -A guest is expected. Here she The contests begin in the local nese festival; (g) Sending of desired comes now! church, progress through their supplies to a mission among Orientals. winners to the association, then Enter a woman called Mrs. the district and end in the state POLICY POINTERS FROM SUMMER Uncle Sam, or Mrs. U. S., competition. Is not this plan dressed in full red skirt with worth trying, either partially or CONFERENCES white stripes and close fitting in its entirety? waist of blue. Accompanying Programs are not the sole end her is a woman dressed as a PRACTICAL PROJECTS FOR and aim of our planning. The scribe and carrying a book made following excerpts from the of heavy 11×14 paper with the YOUNG PEOPLE Methodist women's meetings at Lakeside, Ohio, furnish policies Mrs. B. P. Heubner, whose in a nutshell: Begin the year outline study for "Orientals in with the sketch of a bare tree as a symbol of the local organiza- tion, and paste on a leaf for each new member. This year substi- tute cherry blossoms. Have a demonstration at the opening of the year to show what the mis- sionary dues and other contribu- tions do, using impersonations and dramatics. If commercial methods are unavoidable, hold a
American flag drawn on its cov- the Key Stones in the structure. next speaks to the Guest, hoping er. On the several pages are in- The Master Builder tells of the the purpose of Americanization work has been made clear and scribed in bold lettering the es- foundation in Jesus Christ (see mentioning the rare gifts of the sential points of the program, Isa. 28: 16 and Eph. 2: 20, 21) foreigners themselves: the Ital- and introduces several Ameri- ian love of music; the Armenian "Foundation," "Keystone," etc., canization workers to give brief with his steadfastness of purthese being displayed at the ap- pose; the Japanese-lover of propriate poi n t to reinforce talks on their work. children; the Chinese, devoted through eye-gate the coincident The Master of Ceremonies to the family; the Mexican with his gaiety; the Pole-strong of messages through ear-gate. The next describes the need for Mas- body and willing of spirit; the Master of Ceremonies introduces ter Craftsmen, and introduces Greek with his art, etc. A blend- Mrs. Uncle Sam saying she has one to speak on "Materials for ing of these gifts in the Chris- tianized foreigner will help crebeen invited to the gathering to the Superstructure" – stones ate the Nation Beautiful. record the essential points of the such as human life, men and work and then to carry back to women of varied gifts and a na- Mrs. United States then asks the women of the nation the idea tive love of the beautiful, "ma- permission to speak; and turn- terials of great price; folks with ing the pages of the great book of its worth and magnitude and one by one, she recapitulates the tell them the part it plays in souls as precious as our own, points made (which appear in building our "Nation Beautiful." bought with the blood of Christ." large lettering) and promises The guest responds suitably, She appeals to the Guest of the that this plea for Master Buildpromising to catch the spirit and evening to broadcast a plea for ers, Artisans, Master Craftsmen and Artists shall go from coast have the proceedings faithfully greater interest in the foreign to coast. She bids Godspeed to recorded in the book by her woman, a closer touch with her all the assembled group of mis- longings and needs with a view sionaries and volunteer workers scribe. The two latter are then to transforming her into choice and wishes them success. seated at a table on a platform slightly higher than that of the material for the Master Archi- Thanking the Honored Guest Master of Ceremonies. tect's use. for this promise, the Master of Ceremonies closes with the fol- Three stanzas of "America the The call for Craftsmen's Tools lowing poem and the singing of Beautiful" are then sung, after is next sounded by the Master of the last stanza of "America the which the Master of Ceremonies Beautiful" : makes the opening talk. She Ceremonies-the human materistates that the words just sung al (foreigners) becomes more To each one is given a marble to give inspiration to go out from carve for the wall: the meeting and engage in a beautiful after certain influences are brought to bear through the A stone that is needed to heighten Kingdom enterprise of nation- implements wielded by the Arti- the beauty of all: building; for making the nation sans, one of whom will now And only his soul has magic to give Christian is a vital part of the speak. it grace; 'missionary endeavor because it The Artisan tells of the use And only his hands have the cunning means Christ in the hearts of of the Book as the Rule, English to put it in place. men, women and children. Nehemiah of old, returning to re- lessons as the Mallet to drive Yes, the task that is given to each one build Jerusalem, set the people away ignorance and misunder- no other can do, at their tasks by groups made up standing, Friendliness as the of families, one building by the Level to straighten out the rough So the errand is waiting-it has wait- places for the foreign folk. ed through the ages for you. East Gate, another by the Fountain Gate and still another by One thing more is called for And now you appear: and the hushed the Sepulcher of David. We do by the Master of Ceremonies- ones are turning their gaze our missionary work by groups, Cement to hold all portions of the building together firmly- To see what you do with your chance one by the Good Citizenship and the speaker impersonating in the chamber of days. Gate, one by the White Cross Gate (hospital supplies, gar- this element makes a strong plea -Edwin MU1·khum. ments for the needy, etc.), an- for more Prayer to make the weak efforts of man into a USING SCREEN PICTURES other by the Literature Gate, mighty power and force. while Christian Americanization Harry S. Myers, of the Baptist workers build the portion by the "A building becomes beauti- Stereopticon Bureau, writes: Foreign Gate. The Master Architect-God Himself – supply- ful," says the Master of Cere- "The Religious Motion Picture monies, "through the skill of Foundation, 140 Nassau St., ing plans for the Nation Beauti- Artists who m a k e possible New York City, is an invaluable ful : under Him a Master aid in arousing interest in mis- Builder to carry out the plans. stained glass windows, frescoes, sions. The School of Missions in blended colors in tapestries and past years has been a consider- The first concern of the Master walls. Mrs. B-, who is one of able user of this material. The Builder, to have a secure founda- these Artists, will reveal the pos- missionary offering of 0 n e tion. Mrs. A- (Christian sibilities of music among our church was increased many Americanization superintend- times by its utilization." ent) will now give a glimpse of foreign friends." This Artist sings, "Come Ye Blessed of My Father." The Master of Ceremonies The Council of Women for Home Missions ANNE SEESHOLTZ, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 105 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK ~=~==~===============~ EPIPHANY OR "REVELATION Church, Honolulu, the editor guese Evangelica, Mr. Talmage FESTIVAL" learned that churches, once be- longing to the foreign mission writes: -Chinese Christian. enterprise, have under the direc- tion of the Board of the Hawaii- In 1891 it was felt necessary to or- "They offered him gifts" an Evangelical Association ad- ganize work among the Portuguese of vanced into the cooperating, Honolulu. The Portuguese group, at "Praise the Eternal, 0 families of the coordinating stage of Christian that time, as now, was largely Roman nations fellowship. Catholic, but there were many children who were being entirely neglected by praise the Eternal for his glory and After many years of leadership in any church. his might! the missionary work of the Hawaiian Islands, during which time the Board A young man, Mr. A. V. Soares, praise the Eternal for his open glory organized its work by committees, was called to the Islands from the enter into his courts with an offer- representatives of Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese colony in Illinois. After Portuguese, Hawaiian, Filipino, and some years of constructive work, Mr. ing." English-speaking races, the Board in Soares and his assistants built up a "Let the skies be glad, let earth re- 1933 made what was felt to be a for- substantial small church. ward step, by placing all of the work joice of these various committees under one In 1926, Mr. Soares became ill, and let the sea and all within it thunder interracial group. it seemed an opportunity to make some Let the land and all it holds exult, radical adjustments for the church. let all the trees of the forest sing Up to that date each one of these The older people, all of whom spoke committees had been composed of the their mother language, decided that for joy, Anglo-Saxons and representatives of it should be an English-speaking at the Eternal's presence-for he the particular language group. church as soon as possible. After some months of supply preachers comes, Beginning 1933 these various races from the Hawaiian Board, the present he comes to rule the earth, were combined with the Anglo-Saxons pastor was called. Since that time, to rule the world with justice for the conduct of the church work aside from one Sunday School class and the nations faithfully." of the Board. for elderly people, and the rare use From Psalm 96-Moffatt translation. of a Portuguese hymn, the work has Whereas, in the past, the individual been carried on almost entirely in MODERN MISSIONS IN committees meeting once a month, had English. HAWAII been tending toward isolation, now it is impossible for any race to consider The encouraging thing in the From Rev. T. Markham Tal- itself alone. change from a foreign – speaking mage, pastor of the Pilgrim church to English was the fact that Of necessity our agenda is appall- the old people, who dearly loved their ing in length and often concerns in- church in their mother-tongue, made tricate situations, but there is a very the decision for the change to English. great gain in having our various races sit as advisers to determine the poli- When it was realized that this cies of all. Further, authoritative ac- meant for many of them, giving up tion is cumulative, as the races are the services of worship that they forced to act upon each others' prob- could understand, and around which lems. had been built their whole life, it seems to be one of the most beautiful This committee has now been work- and sacrificial offerings growing out ing for a little over a year, with some of our mission in the islands. This definite gain. It is exceedingly diffi- change was made because of the real- cult, but those who worked with the ization on the part of the older people committees in their old form, know that the church worship could not be that that plan also had its difficulties. vital to the younger people if carried on in a language which they could not Under the old arrangement, the understand. The older people took present chairman of the Churches upon themselves the situation usually Committee was the chairman of the demanded of the younger. Japanese Committee, and a member of the Portuguese-English-speaking Com- A YOUTH COUNCIL AT THE mittee. He can see no lessening of friendly interest from the Japanese ANNUAL MEETING OF group, due to the change. THE HAWAIIAN EVAN- This committee has under its leader- ship 91 churches, of which there are GELICAL ASSOCIATION 62 Hawaiian, 16 Japanese, 6 Chinese, 6 Filinipo, 1 Portuguese. Our church gatherings in Ha- waii, like our political cam- Concerning the church for- paigns, are very colorful. The merly known as Egreja Portu- Annual Meeting of the Hawaiian [ 35 ] Evangelical Association is a big event in the lives of the delegates. It means travel between So we had a conference and we them, customs have grown up the Islands, a week of splendid called it a "youth council." When and have been unchallenged for meetings, excellent Hawaiian it was all over, we found that years, and here as elsewhere we food, meeting of friends and 204 persons had registered and must keep gilding the monu- relatives, flower leis, music and attended at least one of the three ments of the past. Something lots of aloha. morning sessions, and 42 church- happens to the religious interest This year the 112th Annual es had been represented by them. of young people when they enter Meeting of the Association was The choirs were from Hawaiian high school age. It does not held in Hilo, Hawaii, June 23-27, churches only. Hence the major- seem to be a loss of religion.
1934. Hilo is the home of the ity of the young people were of Rather is it a change of values.
boarding school founded by Gen- that race. Yet we had Japanese, The reevaluation process goes eral Armstrong, who 1ate r Portuguese, Chinese, and Fili- on in relation to all of youth's founded Hampton Institute. Ha- pino representatives also. beliefs at that time. He becomes waii is the "Big" Island with its The Association gave official an explorer, and sometimes he two mountains Mauna Kea and recognition to the council and al~ seems to explore too boldly in Mauna Loa, both over 13,000 feet lotted two and a half hours each the sacred areas of religion. He high. On this island is the vol- morning for a meeting. becomes critical of the church's cano which has been very active It was the first major attempt program, its preaching, its mem- recently, always in a friendly of the great gathering of dele- bership. But he still expects the manner. The churches on four gates to give a real place on the church to be an institution deal- of the five main islands of the program to young people and ing with religion. The Christian group sent delegates by steamer. their problems. The meetings be- way of life, the unselfish and One whole ship was devoted to gan with a worship planned and gracious Christ, the ideals of them and they overflowed into conducted by the young people. Christian living, all make their another one-a happy, singing, They found Augustine Smith's appeal to him. Unless the church friendly crowd, most of them "New Hymnal for American meets him at this age and goes wearing wreaths of flowers Youth" very helpful for this with him into adult life, he tends called "leis." purpose. to become material-minded.
Hilo provided a royal welcome. They were very much inter- So the practical question More than 500 delegates partook ested in the discussion groups, arises, how to bring the church of three meals a day, cooked and which had about one and a half nearer to this group and this served by the volunteer helpers hours each day, to consider the group nearer to the church? of the entertaining church. They needs of their own churches. Our council decided that the were provided with beds and They asked and answered the first thing is to create clear unblankets and linen. They were question, "What does the church derstanding in this area, and the entertained at evening parties expect of the young people ?" second thing is that th€y should attended by over 700 people. and summed it up in the word choose their own representatives to sit as full voting members on And a notable choir contest was "Loyalty."
held the first night. In this con- They tried to determine what the official board of the church. test seven choirs ranging in num- young people expect of the Upon the s e representatives ber of members between twenty church. It may surprise us that should rest the responsibility to and sixty competed before a they decided that the church explain the attitude of the young great audience, singing in Ha- should be primarily concerned people, to see that the young peowaiian words Mozart's "Twelfth with religion. There was clear ple and their organizations are Mass," arranged by the leader of thinking on this subject. They given adequate consideration and the Hilo church choir. There is knew the church felt called upon to carryover to the young people probably nothing like this choir to develop activities. But they the high and broad principles contest. Memorized music, with- felt that there were enough ac- upon which the church operates, out instrumental accompani- tivities in school and community to see that the church calendar ment, a little pitch pipe in the life. They expected the church of activities is free from conhands of the leader to start them to be "a flaming torch leading us flicts in dates and plans. In fact off, and yet – and yet – music on to greater and higher things, they are to be ambassadors of whose chords and timing, timbre but today the church is like an goodwill. and phrasing and balance are so ambulance travelling behind, perfect that listeners tingle with Some of us who were privileged to appreciation and excitement. picking up the wounded." work with this group throughout the Then they spent some time sessions, felt that a very important It was this choir contest which with both feet on the ground try- step has been taken. made the conference of young The Association has officially rec.ogpeople possible. Many of the ing to devise practical ways nized its obligation to its own children. whereby the church might serve It is not starting a new organization. choir members are under 30 the youth of these Islands. They It is welcoming them, and acknowledgyears of age. The contest was felt that there is too great a dis- ing them as sons and daughters in held at the very beginning of the tance between the young people the Christian Church.- NORMAN C. meeting. After that the choir SCHENCK, Associate Secretary of the members had very little to do. and the older people at present. Board of Hawaiian Evangelical Asso- Language barriers separate ciation.
NEWS William Martin, well known as student cannot busy
editor of the Journal de Geneva, with his books in the face of Future of Christianity says in a recent article: "Never present threats of war…. It is Dr. Cleland B. McAfee of New speak of the 'next war'-for in this world of mass influence York, secretary of the Presby- nothing is more dangerous. Wars terian Board of Foreign Mis- become fatal at the moment and mass movements that the sions, says that if Christianity when people believe in them; keeps on its present rate it will that is, when they begin to per- claims of Christ have to be become the world's majority re- suade themselves that war is in- -Far Horizons. ligion within fifty years. This evitable. There is no such thing made." opinion was expressed recently as an inevitable war! There will in an article in the Portland, be no next war if the people do Russian Asks Christian Unity Oregon, Journal. Dr. McAfee not want it." who has given 46 years of his A plea for united, universal life to active Christian service, If "the people" want peace Christianity was given by Serobserved that he had seen the enough to work for it, to take as gius Bulgakoff, dean of the facbottom fall out of things several their slogan, in place of "War is ulty of the Russian Orthodox times before in his long life, and atrocious and futile, but," "War Theological Academy, Paris, at finds nothing in the present is atrocious and futile and-it the New York Cathedral of St. world economic upheaval to wor- shall not be!"-then we may see John the Divine, Sunday, Octory him in so far as the Christian fulfilled the prophecy, "From ber 7. religion is concerned. He is now on, war by governments equally positive that the Church shall be changed to peace by "Both spirits, that of the Tower of must supply the leadership in peoples." -World Outlook. Babel and that of Pentecost, have this time of need. He is confi- influenced the life of the Church durdent that: "We have reached Handicaps to Study ing her history," Fr. Bulgakoff dethe day when we are going to clared, "but the prevailing spirit have to have a better spirit in Dr. Visser 't Hooft, Secretary until now has been the schismatic the world, because we are living of the World's Student Chris- one. Fortunately, we are now able closer together than ever before. tian Federation, in a recent to notice a remarkable change. A We must learn how to live to- speech in England mentioned an new message sounds through the gether and the Christian Church Indian professor who said that world, a new spirit is breathing, the is the one institution able to give twenty-five per cent of his stu- spirit of Pentecost, the message of this message and program to the dents were in prison, twenty-five universal Christianity. world." per cent were engaged in politi- cal propaganda, twenty-five per This ecumenic spirit is now awak- Promoting Peace cent were spying on the others, ened as a first realization of the and the rest were doing a little Church's catholicity in our days. In- studying. He referred also to a stead of mutual exclusiveness and thousand Shanghai students haughtiness there comes a desire for mutual acquaintance and understand- ing in the spirit of peace and love. This change has already begun, as the representatives of many different confessions meet now with one an- other without feeling their own orth- odoxy endangered.
Fr. Bulgakoff pointed to two Dr. Mary E. Woolley tells us who asked for a special train to causes of separation between what we can do to promote Nanking in order that they Christian bodies-differences in peace. 1. Assure the President might express to the President creed which should not be evaded that you will support in every their views on the Manchurian in the effort for reunion, and difpossible way a program for situation. Their request re- ferences caused by provincialism "practical pea c e, permanent fused, they sat down in a body and narrow-mindedness which peace, real peace throughout the on the tracks so that no train should easily be overcome. -The Living Church. world." 2. Do not hide your light was able to enter or leave the under a bushel as far as your station. They got their train! EfTective Preparation senators and representatives are In Nanking they stood in a concerned. Rather, set it upon a freezing temperature before the In Basil Matthew's biography hill-that they may not fail to palace for forty-eight hours of John R. Mott, he gives the see where their constituencies until a deputation was received notes made for Dr. Mott's per- stand on this momentous ques- and promises of action given sonal guidance in preparation tion of international cooperation, them. for conferences.
versus national isolation. 3. Do Dr. 't Hooft, continuing his Personal: not join the "defeatist group." address, said: "The European Keep the Morning Watch.
[37 ]
Spend eight hours in bed; also The Elyria League has already of New York City by the Times take nap in afternoon. undertaken a specific work-the Square Mission. The record for support of a native evangelist in September indicated that more Take drive each afternoon. India. The Women's Missionary than 23,000 attended the open- Take time for preparation before Society has also taken on new air meetings. This only included all public work. life as a result. persons who stayed as long as Plan each day. twenty minutes. Many raised Before each address and confer- A College Student Church their hands for prayer and many ence remind oneself of the need of remained for interviews. Forty the Holy Spirit and definitely claim Last October Dr. Hutchison, thousand tracts and Gospels His help for the work at hand. President of Washington and were distributed, and 95 hours Be mindful of the things of others Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, were filled during the month -especially associates. presented to presbytery the with these outdoor meetings on Avoid: church letters of 44 students, one of the busiest corners of Sins of the tongue. with a request that these men be Broadway. The mechanical versus sense of vo- made the nucleus of a fully accation. credited Presbyterian Church on The Cost of Crime Content with small results versus the college campus. Dr. Hutchivery great, i. e. real spiritual results. son explained that none of the Not every one knows that Expect large results: present methods of providing re- Remember that there has been an ligion for students has proved crime costs us 25 % of the naadequate cause from which great re- successful, because the students sults may be expected, namely, the have had no responsibility for tion's income. Here are some long preparation, the self-denial, the the form or expression of their figures that came recently from prayers of many all over the world, religion. Under this new plan a Senator Copeland: the working of the Living, Almighty church will be organized entirely God. of students. Not even professors Losses through frauds. $1,270,000,000 of the college may belong. Elders Property losses and eco- "Spirit of Missions" will be ordained, all other church offices will be filled by students. nomic value of 12,500 Centenary The pastor will be Rev. Cameron m u r d e r s (annual Ralston, director of religious ac- toll) ………….. $1,160,000,000 At the end of 1934 The Spirit tivities for the college. Law Enforcement …. $4,000,000,000 of Missions begins its one hun- Waste involved in dealdredth year of continuous serv- Signs of Church Life ing with crime …. $6,503,000,000 ice. One can read in almost any In the first three months of The Protestant Episcopal paper that the Church is about 1934, four-fifths of all those ar- Church's only official periodical to die, but Dr. Herman Weber, rested were under 30 years of is entering its second century editor of the Year Book of age and many were only 19. Of with confidence and enthusiasm. American Churches has a differ- 12,000 murders during the last It will continue to depict the ent opinion. He says: few years, 4,000 were caught mission fields in America and and sentenced; only 153 paid the her possessions, afar in the Ori- More than 30,000,000 Americans, extreme penalty. It seems that ent, in Africa, in India. More attend services in Protestant and one may murder with a 3 to 1 than 4,000 missionary workers Catholic churches, and Jewish syna- chance of not being punished at have spoken through its pages. gogues every week. The churches all, or a 1 to 80 chance of paying are gaining members at the rate of the death penalty-a little less -Circular. 750,000 a year. Church buildings risky than going swimming! have increased sevenfold in number NORTH AMERICA in the last 75 years. The last census Hartford Mission Fellowship showed 232,154 houses of worship in A Men's Missionary League the country, and the church debts What do the young people of amount to only 11 per cent of the this decade think of foreign mis- A "Men's Missionary League" value of church property." We are sions? Are they responsive to has come into being in the First also told by Dr. Kieffer, president of the world's need of Christ? A United Presbyterian Church of the Association of Statisticians of group representing six denomi- Elyria, Ohio. The League began American Religious Bodies, that ap- nations has been formed in the with 16 men, including the pas- proximately one half of the popula- Hartford Seminary Foundation. tor, Rev. George A. Brown, on tion of the United States is definitely Twelve mission boards were con- October 20, 1933. The present related to some church. While the sulted, and the outcome was the membership is 37. After a full population of the country increased appointment of a Committee of year of experience the men and 22 fold between 1800 and 1934, church Nine to guide the training and their pastor, have a deep con- membership in the same period -in- activities of the group. This viction that they should give creased 80 fold. Hartford Mission Fellowship their testimony to the Church. has presented its message at A leaflet entitled "An Adventure -Presbyterian Banner. twelve student conferences and in Masculine Missions" has been several churches, and it is hoped sent out to leading men through- Times Square Mission to continue to reach colleges and out the denomination. The leaf- preparatory schools as far as let contains the Constitution and A notable piece of evangelistic possible. By-Laws, and, condensed, a ser- work is being done in the heart mon preached by the pastor on Men and Missions Sunday, "Missions-A Man's Job."
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
The group is seeking to go as 3. To stimulate older Christians in courses offered are training prayer and service. graduates to meet these needs. a unit, without stated salaries, 4. To instruct Christian workers to A religious education club, orand take up work in some unoc- ganized by students, is studying cupied mission field like Tibet, make their ministry more effectual. 5. To combat the error and evil problems of rural churches, con- centrating on methods, materi- Mongolia, India, Africa, Japan and deliver those who are being en- als, organization and equipment or China. Recently the group snared. for all ages which can be used has decided to concentrate its study on China and surrounding 6. To provide worth-while employ- ment for those who wish to serve Christ. 7. To furnish Gospel sermons and successfully. territories. Bible teaching to those communities which do not have a resident minister. The Farm School, N. C., has a New England's Student Gospel Team, numbering 35, Movement Nearly 400 different titles, with a waiting list. The team covering a wide range of sub- visits mountain communities On October 19, 20 and 21 students from all over New Eng- jects, are published today, and within a radius of 125 miles but land gathered at Northfield to 57,692,350 books, booklets and has concentrated in four near-by form a new united Student tracts have been distributed. settlements as an entering wedge for an intensive study to see Christian Movement, made up of representatives from 41 colleges, A Notable Work whether Farm school can put on an all around extension program and including both adults and Many useful organizations are there. Agricultural aid, health students from Y. M. C. A., Y. almost unknown and receive lit- work and recreational leader- W. C. A., S. V. M., and church tle recognition. A century ago ship, in addition to religious acyoung peoples' societies. the "Female Moral Reform So- tivities are possibilities under The"Aim and Purpose" are as ciety"-later the "American Fe- consideration. follows: male Guardian Society" was -Presbyterian Banner.
The Student Christian Movement founded in New York by a group Methodists Celebrate is a fellowship of students, men and women, who are challenged by the of women, who after years of More than 1,200 delegates replife and teachings of Jesus to seek enduring ridicule, secured legis- resenting the various branches for themselves the sources of His lation to punish abduction, and of Methodism and coming from power and to manifest, in all the re- by other laws to protect young all parts of the United States, lationships of their lives, His rever- boys and girls. The society later ence for personality and truth. started nine industrial schools Canada England and Australia A committee of 22 adults and for poor children, and initiated gathered recently in Baltimore 30 students was appointed to fresh air work. It provided a for the principal celebration of carry out the purposes of the sewing machine fund, which admovement. One of the aims is vanced money to poor women so the sesquicentennial of Amerito merge activities of church that they might pay for them in can Methodism. Practically groups, the Y. M. C. A., the Y. installments, and pioneered oth- everyone of importance in Meth- W. C. A., and the Student Volun- er forms of relief. Its various odism was present, as well as teer Movement in New England. orphan homes are doing effective various leaders in other denom- A similar movement was organ- work and 37,000 children have inations. An oratorio, "The gone through its institutions. At Evangel of the New World," and ized in the Middle Atlantic re- a pageant, "The Spreading gion last summer, and a national least one well known Presbytericommittee is studying the possi- an minister and editor, John Flame," were presented. bilities of cooperation through- Bancroft Devins, was brought up in a home of the Society and An interesting historical sumout the nation. the manager of the Tribune mary of the beginnings of. Meth- odism in this country was Issued, Forty Years Colportage Work Fresh Air Fund. with a message especially pre- -So S. Times. pared for the book by E. Stanley The Bible Institute Colportage Studying Mountain Needs Jones. Society of Chicago, founded by -The Christian Century.
D. L. Moody, celebrated its 40th At the Asheville, N. C., Nor- Lutheran Anniversary anniversary on November 15. mal and Teachers' College the This agency was started for the junior class is studying a typical Observing the 200th anniverpurpose of publishing and dis- sary of the landing of the Luseminating, evangelical books mountain community, to discov- therans in America at Savannah, er the number of regular church Ga., and also the 400th anniverand booklets, Scripture portions, attendants, standards and re- sary of Martin Luther's tran!'la- sources of religious, sodal and tion of the Bible, the Umted and Gospel tracts. economic life, number and type Lutheran Church in America The Association has kept sev- of schools, distribution of wealth en objectives in mind: 1. The salvation of lost souls who as shown by types of homes, and held its biennial session in Saotherwise might never be reached vannah early in November. The with the Gospel. manner of living. The students convention moved to bring about then turn to the school's curric- a union of all Lutheran bodies in 2. To establish young Christians in ulum to see how concretely the the faith and to develop fruitful lives.
America and created a commit- ard of the Indian Bureau, fed- After Sixteen Years ~ee to work out a plan for mergmg. eral policy toward the aboriginal "Mission Folks and Facts," a leaflet on Baptist home mission There are seventeen branches Americans was such that more work, says: In 1918 the Baptist of Lutheranism in the United Home Mission Society sent out States and Canada. Replies to a than 50 per cent of them "ceased its first missionary to Nicaragua. questionnaire sen t to every Beginning with a small group of clergyman of all these branches to be Indians and failed to be- less than fifty believers, he built up a Sunday school, trained show that 89 % favor a merger come whites." The Indian's en- teachers, and opened out-sta- tions. At the same time the into one Lutheran Church. If tire life was organized on a woman's society sent out its first this union should take place, it missionary teacher and founded would form a church of 4,381,- group basis. He could not suc- a primary school. The primary 094 members, with 15,469 con- school has developed into an ingregations. The L u the ran cessfully compete in white soci- stitution embracing all grades Church is now the third largest through high school, and now en- Protestant communion in the ety which is based on the indi- rolls over 400 boys and girls. The country, following closely upon church of 400 members has the Methodists and Baptists. vidual. In half Shaepacredn,tutrhy~ grown to be one of the largest according to Mr. in all Latin America, with a Sun- American Lutherans, with day.school of 425 and an evening Lutherans and evangelicals Indians lost 91,000,000 of the audIence of 600. The pastor is a throughout the world, oppose the native Nicaraguan. A Christian efforts of the German reich- 138,000,000 acres of land in the community has grown up, and skirche to force pastors of Ger- ~rained .l~aders in the ministry, man Evangelical Churches to original allotments. A few, the m medicme and teaching have support a political program at been sent out. the expense of their fidelity to Pueblos among them, which conthe historic confessions of the Church. tinued their communal traditions Large Home Mission Field lost little or none. Under the old In a block comprising all of order, the majority of the red Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Arizona and New Mexico, and part men saw their own culture deof Colorado, Idaho and California, there is but one Protestant generate and were unable to ac- Christian colI e g e-Westminster, in Salt Lake City. quire that of the white man.
Westminister College has a Hence grew the unfair assumpthreefold task: to maintain a high standard of scholarship in tion that they are lazy and a Christian atmosphere; to provide college courses for Protes- worthless. tant young people in the Mormon are~;. and to offer this type of One of the Bureau's innovatrammg to young Mormons. Ten years of enlarging buildings tions is the training of Indian and equipment, followed by five years of depression, have left a teachers to work among their deficit of $75,000, which the management is now seeking to own tribesmen. secure in a three-year campaign. LATIN AMERICA EUROPE New Chance for the Indian Bitterness Toward Religion Salva..tion Army Work The Government is giving up the attempt to make the Indian A law was passed in Mexico On November 1st a great farea white man. Instead, he is be- two years ago forbidding the well was held in Royal Albert ing encouraged in self-govern- teaching of religion in all Hall, London, for General Edment, in his own native arts and schools, and since then there has ward J. and Mrs. Higgins. The is being provided with modern been a gradual increase in the sanitation and the comforts of rigor of enforcement. Control Duke of York, who acted as civilization. of education and the press is an- chairman, said: other government policy. Since 1887, says Ward Shep- The Salvation Army makes a great The present situation is one of bitterness, suspicion and confu- claim upon the regard not only of sion. An amendment to Article III of the Constitution, which members of the Royal Family but on has been passed by congress but not yet submitted to the states, all sincere and thoughtful people …. I requires that all education shall be socialistic, excluding all reli- believe there is today more mutual gious doctrines. Teachers in pri- vate schools must agree with sympathy and understanding, nation- these requirements. Religious all~ and internationally, and the Sal- corporations, ministers of reli- vatIOn Army, among other religious gion, and societies connected di- rectly or indirectly with the and philanthropic bodies, has had a propaganda of a religious creed, are forbidden to take part in pri- full share in bringing that about. mary, secondary or normal schools, or to give them economic Men of many faiths, some of them support. leading representatives of those faiths It is impossible to foresee the -Angli~an, non-conformist, Catholic, full effect of all this on Protes- tant mission work. Jew, Hmdu, Mohammedan-meet in glad accord to show their apprecia- tion of the retiring general, and thus pay ther tribute to the work of the Salvation Army. .
General Higgins reviewed the widespread activities of the a.rmy, which include the opera- tIon of 89 main hospitals, seven for lepers only; 18 separate col- onies for placing poor families on the land; 120 homes for de- tsheertperdovaisnidonoorfp3h4a,n0e0d0,0c0h0ilmderaeln~' in a year for the hungry poor;
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
139 labor bureaus, and 224 Russia; while the American under the Italian law and coop- workshops; work in 172 slum Christian Committee for Ger- erating with the Foreign Mis- areas in the large cities of the man Refugees, which is endeav- sion Board of the Southern world; the preaching of the Gos- oring under the chairmanship of Convention. The new president pel in nearly 17,000 mission Dr. Cadman to aid in caring for of this Italian Convention is Rev. halls, of which over 6,000 are in the non-Jewish refugees from Ignatius Rivera, pastor of the non-Christian countries; and Germany, is finding great diffi- church in Florence, who finished the direction and control of 45 culty in arousing any general his education in Glasgow, Scot- training colleges for officers. land, and is a well trained realization of the situation. It preacher. The Boys' Brigade is said that one in five of these refugees is a Christian. De- – Watchman-Examiner. In 1883, William A. Smith, a scendants of the Huguenots in Sunday-school superintendent of France have shown, perhaps, the Gipsies in Austria Glasgow, was faced with the problem of holding boys past 11 most concern. Jewish generosity There is still in Europe one years of age with two other men, toward Christian refugees has people who know almost nothing 'and 30 boys, he formed the been remarkable. -Advance. of God, and of His salvation "Boys' Brigade," a movement through Jesus Christ. This is which has spread throughout the Jews Turn to Christ the small nation of gipsies, rov- world. Within three years there ing, despised, often persecuted. were 61 companies in and The Maranos of Portugal are Many who formerly lived in the around Glasgow and later the Hungarian territory known as movement reached such propor- Jews who were forced into Ro- Biirgenland, have now* through tions that Mr. Smith gave up his the Treaty of Versailles, been business to devote all his time to man Catholicism by the Inquisi- transferred to Austria. Thou- the Boys' Brigade, until his sands of them are living in death in 1914. In 1909, King tion. They have retained Jewish closed settlements of miserable Edward made him a knight. mud houses. Isolated settle- customs and forms of prayer, ments are also found in Carin- There are now companies of thia and Upper Austria. To the Brigade in Canada, India, and have kept themselves from bring the Gospel to these gipsies Australia, New Zealand, Africa, is a task undertaken by a lay West Indies, Ceylon, Newfound- intermarriage with Catholics. worker, Walter Miiller, a former land, U. S. A., China, Latvia, student at the Bible School for Denmark, and now in Malaya. Orthodox Jews have been at- southeast Europe in St. Andrae, The object is, "The advancement near Villach. He reports: of Christ's Kingdom among boys tempting to win them back to and the promotion of habits of A gipsy invited me to come to his Obedience, Reverence, Disci- Judaism, but they are unwilling house, telling me that the thirty New pline, Self-Respect and all that Testaments I had forwarded to him tends towards a true Christian to return to a Christless syna- had arrived, and that they had been Manliness," and the motto "Sure reading them till 10 p. m. In that and Stedfast." gogue. So a Hebrew Christian room I found thirty gipsies assem- bled, and I was asked to speak of Relief for Evangelical Alliance of Portugal has been Christ. The gipsies sat with crossed legs on the floor listening devoutly Churches formed by a number of Portu- and eagerly, while the audience stead- ily increased. Thus I found that An important meeting of the guese Christians of Hebrew these despised people are open to the Central Bureau for Relief of the Gospel, and it has been. a joy to me Evangelical Churches of Europe, race,-teachers, ministers and to see their eager response to the now identified with the Ameri- message of Salvation. I am finding can Section of the Universal business men, to bring them into many open doors and many new coun- Christian Council, was held re- try places which up till now have cently under the chairmanship evangelical Christianity. On the been visited by no one with the pur- of Dr. William H. Foulkes. pose of circulating the Word of God. Plans were made for continuing badge of the new organization the important services which An Anti-Christmas Campaign this agency has been rendering are the letters XN. In the six- under the leadership of Dr. According to the New York Adolf Keller in Geneva. As teenth century Maranos, when Times, anti-religious efforts have fast as tthe situation improves so slackened and Christian or- in one European country, new signing official documents, were ganizations are so increasing problems arise in one or two their strength in Russia that the others. Many challenging situ- obliged to append these initial executive committee of the ations confront the churches of League of Militant Atheists have letters with their names. They issued a call for a "Christmas campaign" against religion, to stand for Christao Novo ("New begin November 25 and continue two months. The whole Soviet Christians"), in contradistinc- tion to Christao Vetno ("Old Christians," that is, Roman Catholics) . Mr. Pereira, the vice-president of the new Alli- ance says: "we are not ashamed to own that we are New Chris- tians of Jewish descent who have accepted Christ as Lord and Master." -So S. Times.
Italian Baptists There are in Italy about 3,000 Baptists organized into fifty-one churches and sixty out-stations, under the supervision of South- ern Baptists. Now the Italian National Baptist Convention has been organized with a board of directors legally incorporated
network-the Young Communist Mission, gave some pertinent sionary thinks he is sharpening organization, trade unions, agri- facts about that part of Africa his bush knife on the Lord's Day, cultural advisers, village teach- which are perhaps not generally but finds that the little hut is a ers and the movies, radio, press known. The Sudan is almost as Christian prayer house where and clubs is asked to mobilize to large as Europe, with an esti- the Ndali people hold evening push back the rising tide of wor- mated population of 32,000,000. services. Some people are passship. The northern portion is chiefly ing with hymn books and Testa- Mohammedan, the southern ments. Striking the stones was Reports to the central head- mainly pagan. There are over in imitation of church bells. quarters of the militant atheists 600 distinct tribes. For many indicate that there is some rea- hundred years it was closed to Inside the church were several son for the atheist league's dis- evangelism; now it is practical- little seats, consisting of forked quietude. In many villages not ly open throughout. limbs stuck in the ground and only are there no actively pro- supported in the fork a limb on fessing atheists but Communist Twenty-one missions are at which the people could sit. The party members are winking at work, with 180 stations and 672 speaker had a little stand conthe practice of religion or even missionaries, whereas thirty- sisting of a board resting on engaging in it. Most churches three years ago there was but three sticks of wood and behind that have not been turned into one station in occupation. Only it a firm, little bench. The movie theaters, warehouses, or about 50 per cent of the people church measured only six feet demolished, are f r e que n t I y have been reached so far. Some by twelve and the windows were crowded with worshipers. sixty-three languages have been mere openings in the walls. The reduced to writing sufficiently gardener made a short prayer, AFRICA for some portion of Scripture to the people then revently sang a be issued therein. There is no hymn; the gardener read Luke Covering Large Areas overlapping of missionary effort. 14, with much stuttering, giving his own original explanation. Nearly 30 years ago, Lord -The Life of Faith. He said: Cromer, then High Commissioner for Egypt, invited the C. M. S. Leper Work in Nigeria "The banquet which the King to enter the southern Sudan. In Himself cooked, and offers to us, 1905 the first party went in. The work of the Mission to that is the word which we hear Owing to climatic and other dif- Lepers at Garkida is beginning every day." ficulties all but one of that party to solve the tremendous leprosy had to retire, the present arch- problem in Northen Nigeria, Donald Fraser Hospital deacon who is still at work there. where there are at least 3,000 The C. M. S. has sole responsi- cases. There are 500 under August 16 the Donald Fraser bility for a vast area, compris- treatment at the Garkida colony. Hospital was opened at Sibasa. ing many tribes and tongues, Aid from the Nigerian govern- This event marks a further stage and it is in order to occupy the ment is promised in increasing in the development of the mediwhole territory that the eleven measure; gifts from the Ameri- cal mission established at Gooldstations are spaced about 100 can Mission to Lepers are ville in 1930 by the Church of miles apart. At each station ex- matched by the government. It Scotland. The hospital has been cept the newest, Ler, there is a is hoped that this whole area built and equipped from funds native church growing up. At may be rid of leprosy. raised in South Africa, and is Yei, the growth has attained the the first and only hospital in an proportions of a mass movement. -Without the Camp. area with a population of 150,- During the past year, between 000. At present, there are only 2,000 and 4,000 people have as- Small East Africa Church twelve beds, but it is hoped to sembled monthly for special add an additional ward very gatherings for the deepening of From time to time mention is soon. spiritual life. One of the leaders made of very small houses of here is a young chief from Yam- worship in which the spirit of The appreciation of the native bio, who secured leave of absence God is at work, and where men people was shown by the large frbm his small chieftainship for are led to Christ. European mis- numbers who gathered at Gooldtwo years and volunteered for sion journals give a description ville on the day of the official this service. This young church of a small church in East Africa opening. Early in the morning at Yambio contributes toward which shows under what varied the church was filled with those the work in other sections. circumstances the Spirit of God who had come to give thanks to is at work. Moravian Missions God, and to seek His blessing on -C. M. S. Gleaner. gives us the following account: the new hospital.
In the Sudan Missionary Gemuseus, comIng -South African Outlook.' to a congregation in the little vil- At the World's Evangelical Al- lage of Ndali, East Africa, hears Revival in South Africa liance reunion in London last a clear sound. On approaching, October, Mr. Gilbert Dawson, he finds a gardener crouching Under direction of the Move- Secretary of the Sudan United before a little hut, striking one ment for World Evangelization, stone upon another. The mis- Rev. Lionel B. Fletcher, who has
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
been conducting a six months' ing in some weeks more than understood by all he must exevangelistic campaign in South Africa, reports a spiritual awak- 2,000 people in Beirut and neigh- press himself in no less than ening which amounts to a sweeping revival. He was greatly boring parts of Syria. Last four or five languages – Arabic, pleased to find that converts won during his campaign twelve year's eleven graduates are scat- Turkish, Armenian, Kurdish and years ago have made marked progress in the Christian life. tered in Bulgaria, T u r key, Assyrian.
One man had deliberately com- Greece, Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus A pastor-at-Iarge is greatly pacted to sell himself to the devil, and had actually served the and Palestine. Students conduct needed to cover the entire field devil for sixteen years. By what some people would call coinci- a Sunday service each week at until organized churches can be dence, his saintly parents came from a distant part of Africa to Lebanon Hospital for Mental established. attend one of the evangelistic -Syria News Quarterly. meetings, not dreaming that Diseases, attended by all who are their wayward son, for whom they had prayed through the well enough to be there. It is one years, would be there. Their joy was unbounded as they saw this of the things to which patients New Ideas in Sidon son and his wife walk up and testify that God had saved them. look forward, and seems to bring Teaching in Sidon Girls' solace to their troubled minds. School is not in vain. One class -Life of Faith. studying "Home and Commu- -Syria News Quarterly. Opportunity in Near East American Press Centenary nity" was asked to write on the Dr. Charles R. Watson, Pres- topic: "What Have I the Right ident of the American University at Cairo, says that the Last year the American Press to Expect from My Commudegree to which old ideas in the in Beirut celebrated its hun- nity?" Here is a composite of Near East have yielded to sci- dredth anniversary of Arabic eight papers: ence is almost unbelievable. The changes have affected profound- publication in the city of Beirut. "I have a right to expect from my ly intellectual life, social life and The Press is actually 112 years community safety, clean streets, pure even political life. The auto, the movie, travel to Europe and the old, but the first twelve years water, good roads, electric lights, ice modern newspaper have been were spent in Malta and Smyrna. made from pure water, clean markets, factors in widening the horizon Several hundred million pages of of the rising generation. Educa- meat screened from flies, and the tion is advancing by leaps and religious literature have issued examination of milk and meat. bounds. Feminism is another movement of unusual signifi- "I expect the community to collect cance to lands that have hitherto kept women veiled and secluded. from it in half a dozen different garbage, care for sewage, isolate peo- In Egypt, unlike Turkey, the fez languages, and have been scat- ple who have infectious diseases, and is still worn by men and the veil tered all over the Near East and to punish dirty people; to pass laws by women, but many free social to keep the health of the people in relations between the sexes are even in China, India, South good condition, to open schools so that permitted. Africa and the Americas. the people may be educated, to use the Dr. Watson believes that with money I pay in taxes in the right way. this new day that has dawned To help defray expenses, all comes an opportunity for serv- sorts of commercial printing is "I expect the community to drive ing these people such as Chris- turned out. The present equip- out child labor. I also look for a good tianity has never had before. position and respect for women as WESTERN ASIA ment has been running contin- well as for men. These things will uously for 30 years. cost me a great deal, they will cost me Near East School of Theology courage and ability to work, for it is -Caravan Trails. not enough to see and say, and not to A glance at the field work program of the Near East School do anything. They also cost me time, of Theology indicates that its influence is very extensive, reach- Al Jazireh and this time, energy and money I should save by planning everything at Al J azireh is an island-like home. I should follow the laws of the community, pay my taxes on time and portion of Syria, lying between . be a good example." the two rivers of ancient history -the Euphrates and the Tigris. These ideas were put into Its missionary interest centers practice in a preliminary sani- in five villages, each having a tary survey of Sidon community. small, but earnest group of Under impressive police escort Christians. In Haseecha there groups 'of girls inspected the is a church building, and the men's p r is 0 n, the women's twelve Protestant families are prison, the public bath, the anxious for a school. Am- slaughter house, the meat, vege- moudah is a thriving wheat table and milk markets.
market, seemingly oblivious of When the girls were ready to the depression. The town's present their report they invited most distinguished citizen is a the honorary members of their Protestant. Kamishlie has 81 club, a group of Sidon women, Protestant Christians; they have and a representative of the purchased a site for church and Women's Club in Beirut. With- school. Aleppo station is help- in two weeks the Sidon Women's ing to supply a preacher-teacher. Club came into existence, stat- There are about fifty Protestants ing as its purpose: "The Im- in Ain Diwar, the most hetero- provement of Family and Com- geneous group to be encountered munity Life." Three committees anywhere. If one would be have been organized, the prison
committee, health committee and ing its influence felt in India suIts will be made, and plans outa committee to help the poor. also. Under the influence of lined for future work. INDIA some of the Roman Catholic pre- The initial expense is covered Evangelistic Week in Dornakal lates in India branches of this by a gift received through Dr. The Bishop of Dornakal believes that rural India is ready, league have been formed in cities E. Stanley Jones, whose work as never before, to receive the Gospel. Nearly 12,000 baptized like Calcutta, Madras and Bang- with the higher classes in India Christians were voluntary witness bearers during evangelistic alore. A public meeting was makes him appreciate the possiweek last May in Dornakal diocese. During the campaign held· in Madras under the aus- bilities of reaching in this way in the Kistna area nearly 5,000 people definitely decided to be- pices of the Catholic Social Guild large numbers of educated, but come Christians, and 21,000, of whom 12,000 were caste people, to protest against the unwhole- heart-hungry men who have stated that they wanted to know more about Christ. some cinema films shown in that little direct touch with Chris- -C. M. S. Outlook. city. Protestants and some non- tians.
What About Ceylon? Christians took a prominent A changed viewpoint has be- part in this meeting. In India, . Missionary Coordination come rather prevalent in Ceylon, expressed concretely in a book it is very rarely that Catholics Representatives of ten misby an English professor, "A and Protestants cooperate. sions met in Bombay September Buddhist Pilgrimage." The idea is that when a backward people -The Christian Century. 5 to discuss the question of eshave been lifted by a degree of western civilization they should tablishing a joint business office be left to work out their own des- Appeals for the Colleges in Bombay. The views expressed tiny. All religions are good, but for the Singhalese none is better Advisory committees on Chris- indicate that there will be many than Buddhism. tian higher education in India advantages arising from a joint office. The sale of American The C. M. S. has a large share have been set up in Great Britain in upholding a belief in Christ in and in North America, and in drafts will be facilitated and Ceylon, but there are only 30,000 India a Central Board of Chris- other items of business, par- Christians of the Anglican ticularly those that have to do Church in a population of over tian Higher Education has come with transit and shipping, will 5,000,000. The Anglican Church into existence. The object of has been renamed "The Church these bodies is to see that the be handled much easier from a of Ceylon"; it is the first fruits recommendations of the Lindsay central office. There will also be of 100 years' work. In nearly a a considerable saving in office hundred villages schools are Commission are carried out by staff· and equipment when the staffed with Christian teachers· the colleges, and to help the oran urgent need is that of,keeping ganizations connected with these work of ten or more societies can the faith of these teachers at a colleges to give effect to the be carried on through one office. high level, since even they are in It is recognized that at least two danger of succumbing to the recommendations. An appeal missionaries will be required, axiom "Buddhism for Ceylon." for £130,000 for Indian colleges and possibly a third to make At least a third of the 147 teachers are Christians of ten years' was launched last March; and provision for necessary furstanding, or less. However, in the colleges which are run by loughs. There would be one or many villages there is real prog- American missionary societies more permanent office assistants ress, and a steady flow of those have asked the American Ad- in addition. If this experiment who are "added to the faith." visory Committee to appeal for is made and proves successful, it -C. M. S. Outlook. Rs. 1,500,000 for helping the de- is quite possible that other mis- velopment of colleges like For- sions will wish to share in the Legion of Decency advantages of such a joint. office. man College, Lahore; the Chris- The Legion of Decency started tian College, Allahabad; the -The Indian Witness. in America on the initiative of Christian College, Lucknow; the Roman Catholic bishops is mak- American College, Madura; the CHINA Isabella Thoburn College for Women, Lucknow, and the Chris- New Broadcasting Station tian College, Indore. The largest broadcasting sta- Experiment in Press tion in Asia, and the third Evangelism largest in the world, has recently been opened by the Chinese Gov- Newspaper evangelism, al- ernment in Nanking. A circle ready a tested and successful with its wavelength as a radius means of Christian work in and Nanking as the center in- Japan, is being introduced in cludes Irkutsk, Chita, Delhi, Cal- India. Dr. James E. Manry, of cutta, Burma, Sumatra, New Allahabad, writes that during Guinea and the Caroline Islands. the coming winter it is planned Just what are we likely to hear? to insert articles on Christianity The program from 8: 00 a. m.
in a number of the best Indian till 9: 00 p. m. includes the news dailies, both English and ver- (broadcast in Mandarin spoken nacular. After a four-months' with a South China accent), lec- experiment, a check-up on re- tures and musical numbers.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Both Ginling College girls glee from the God of its fathers! It is the literature, and forming personal faith of the Pilgrim Fathers that club and the girls of Methodist made America great." contacts with men and women in Hui Wen High School have pro- the towns and villages in their -The. King's Business. districts. -Chinese Recorder. grams. A Professor of Nanking Theological Seminary has spoken A Model Parish Government Aid for Colleges on the topic "Educational Foun- dations of World Peace." At Pastor Tien Li Kung has made There are encouraging signs the invitation of the Chinese Government, messages from sev- his parish a model for the whole of cooperation between Chriseral Christian institutions are country. This out-of-the-way tian conferences and governbeing sent far and wide. church had been going down hill ment schools. A youth workers' -Woman's Missionary Friend. until only five members were conference, for instance, was held on the campus of the pro- Press Literature Prizes left, but Pastor Tien threw his whole energy into his task and vincial college at Wusih. A Two prizes were offered by the preached for 50 nights in the young people's conference in Presbyterian Chi n a Council, with a view to stimulating the street, organized two day schools Honan was held on the campus production of Chinese Christian and four night classes, all taught of a provincial rural normal literature. One prize of $300 by volunteers. In each of these school. Mutual understanding was awarded to the author of the centers he conducts a weekly best original production of preaching service. Difficulties and appreciation was one result. Christian literature in Chinese This is one aspect of the very published during the year 1934. which fill others with consterna- Another prize of $150 was tion only rouse him to action. cordial relations now existing awarded for the most effective between Christian and other intranslation of Christian litera- Pastor Tien's example has pro- stitutions in China. The Univerture into Chinese published dur- voked both the county normal sity of Nanking has during the ing the year 1934. The name school and the higher boarding "Press Literature Prizes" has last year received more than a been given in recognition of the school to zeal for the under- quarter of a million dollars service rendered by the Presby- privileged. For the first tim~ in (silver) from various public orterian Mission Press. their history they are conductmg ganizations, among them the na- tional government. Yenching -Chinese Recorder. classes for those who cannot read or write. Twice recently University, also, received about students from the latter institu- $60,000 (silver) from the minis- tion have paraded the city ex- try of education.
horting the illiterate to enroll in -The Christian Century. night classes. The results have Oriental Views America been commendable. New Mohammedan State -Christian Advocate. Chinese Turkestan is a poten- A distinguished Chi n e s e Friends' Work Strengthened tially rich land commanding the leader, Mr. Leland Wang, of Honkong, who paid a visit to A real strengthening of the trade routes that connect India, America recently, was educated Russia, Mongolia, Tibet and in three Chinese Naval colleges, Friends' forces in China has China. It has a large Chinese and at the time of his conversion Mohammedan population. Genin 1918 held a high position in been made by the return of five the Chinese Navy. Later, he re- eral Ma has now declared the signed his position to devote his missionaries from furlough, and state independent of China and time to evangelism. He has wit- given it the name of Islamistan nessed to his profession in al- the sending of two new ones. most every province of China, (the realm of Islam). Accordand in other lands as well. Re- Friends in England have made ing to reliable private informaturning from his visit to Amer- tion, "no Christian will be tolica, he has made various obser- this possible. In the two la~ge vations: erated in the State of Islamistan, cities of Szechwan, Chungkmg and Christian refugees are be- "We have traveled over eleven thou- ginning to trickle down through sand miles in three months, besides and Chengtu, each with over taking about one hundred meetings in the Northwest frontier into different places. One of my impres- 5s0ha0~0e00wiinthhaboitthaenrts,chFurrchi eesn ds India." There have been murder, sions of America is that there are too in imprisonment and torture in the many automobiles here. It is a nation on wheels." evangelistic and educational ef- small Christian community, and the reports declare that there With keen spiritual insight, forts. At the city of Chungking, will be exile for all survivors. Mr. Wang views America's real need as well as that of the whole Chinese Friends maintain the This son of an English manu- work unassisted. In Central facturer in London, a convert to Mohammedanism has assumed Szechwan, a large district with the title "King of Islamistan."
Tungchwan as its center, Friends are the only Christian represen- tatives. Further south, there has been a successful year in hospital work at Suining; while in the Tungchwan and Suining districts the workers have de- world, when he says: voted much time to what one of Inaccessible Turkestan them terms "old fashioned evan- "How sad it is to see this country, gelical work," h?ldin~ m~eti~gs, About the most inaccessible which puts the inscription 'In God preaching, teachmg, dlstrlbutmg spot in the world is that strip of We Trust' on its dollar, departing
territory stretching along the Pan-Pacific Buddhist has appointed pastor F. L. Ching northern side of Tibet through Conference and his wife to open work in which runs the age-long caravan A Pan-Pacific Buddhist Con- these islands. They are the first route from the Mediterranean ference was held in Kyoto last missionaries to enter this field. to the Pacific. Last year a com- July, attended by nearly 700 del- The prevailing religion among pany of six young men under the the island tribes is a mixture of egates representing Buddhism Mohammedanism and animism. direction of a veteran mission- all over the world. A message -The Evangelical Christian. ary entered the territory via the was sent to the Conference by Gobi Desert on two motor trucks. Mr. Gandhi, from which the fol- Jubilee in Malaysia One of the group writes of the lowing is taken: way this large, unevangelized It is impossible for Hindu India to- Malaya Methodists celebrate district is being reached. this month the fiftieth anniver- day to retrace her steps and go be- sary of the opening of the work On Sundays we hold services in our guest room, singing simple hymns and hind the great reformation that Gau- in Malaysia by William F. Oldgiving out gospel message to those tama effected in Hinduism. By his immense sacrifice, by his great re- who come. Quite a number of men nunciation and by the immaculate ham, now Bishop, who is planand school boys have come to listen, purity of his life he left an indelible ning to be present with Mrs. and a goodly number of people, both impress upon Hinduism, and Hinduold and young, just stroll in to see ism owes an eternal debt of gratitude Oldham. They will be guests of what is going on, attracted usually by to that great teacher. . . . .. Wherever the conference. Miss Sophie the sound of my little organ. We have the Budha went, he was followed by Blackmore, who opened the had many visitors from the various Woman's Foreign Missionary peoples that live here–dhinese, Tun- and surrounded not by non-Hindus gans, Turki, and others – and have but by Hindus who were saturated Society work in 1887, comes had opportunities to talk with them from Australia as guest of the about the things of God. . with the Hindu law. But the Bud- As there are many sick and suffer- dha's teaching, like his heart, was alling people here without proper medical aid, the traveling missionary expanding and all-embracing, and so Woman's Foreign Missionary always carries his medicine case, as it has survived his own body and Society. Bishop Badley will rep- swept across the face Qf the earth. resent the Board of Bishops. well as Bibles, gospels and tracts. Buddha never rejected Hinduism but Thus we have found it helpful to do he broadened its base. He gave it a A pageant entitled "The Morna little dispensary work for two hours new life and a new interpretation. every morning. During the last month Gautama was a Hindu of Hindus. ing Light," prepared by Mrs. E. or so we have seen some three hundred sick people, and have been able -The Christian Century. F. Lee, will be presented in Victo relieve much suffering. We hope toria Hall, Singapore. The hisin this way to show forth something ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC tory is given in a book entitled Religious Education Library Malaya Rejoices.
-The Christian Advocate.
of the love of God in Christ, and win In response to an appeal made Fijian Friends the confidence of the people. by Secretary Enrique C. Sob- repefia of the Philippine Com- It seems to be characteristic of -Moody Bible Institute the Fijians that when a new Monthly. mittee of Christian Education JAPAN -CHOSEN that the Philippine Islands be thing takes their fancy they put made one of the religious educa- amazing enthusiasm into it. The Professor Becomes Evangelist tion library centers, one hundred observance of Mothers' Day is choice books on religious educa- one instance; children do all the Here is a bit of early Chris- tion have been shipped to Manila work on that day to give their by the World's Sunday School mothers a rest. Sons send gifts, tianity in modern Japan. Mr. Association. These books will Suzuki, formerly teacher of form the nucleus of a circulating and students go home for the Physics in the Imperial Univer- library for use by religious edu- week end. Fijian women have cators in the Philippines and in linked up with the rest of the sity, has taken up a small farm Malaysia. in a mountainous region of world in the celebration of the northwest Japan, and built for Advance in Dutch East Indies Women's World Day of Prayer, himself a home from which, as a West Borneo, South Sumatra and attach tremendous imporbase, he engages in evangelism. and the 200 islands lying be- tance to it. They conduct their tween, a field comprising from He was once an agnostic, but his seven to eight million people, meetings in a fine, devotional contacts with the Omi Mission brought him to Christ. He fin- spirit. -The Missionary Review ished his scientific studies and (Australia). then mastered Greek and Hebrew in order to search the must be classed as unreached Scriptures in the original. Even- territory. These islands are in" WHY DO YOU GO?
tually, he felt called to give his habited by Chinese and Malay- Some go to church just for a walk, whole time to Christian work, speaking people in a proportion Some go there just to laugh and talk, and chose.this remote and unat- of about fifty-fifty. The Chinese Some go there the time to spend, Foreign Missionary U n ion, Some go there to meet a friend, tractive region. He has an as- Some go there for speculation, sembly hall in his own house which has seven Chinese mis- Some go there for observation, where he holds meetings and sionaries working in pioneer Some go there to doze and nod, Sunday school. -So S. Times. areas of the Dutch East Indies, Some–how few-to worship God.
'~I================I'~
1 Our Missionary Bookshelf j Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information ~,=====–==============~=,~ The Living Religions of the Indian carried on its great work result- able. The pages, too, show an ing from Stanley's call and the enthusiastic admiration for People. By Nicol Macnicol. Pp. beginnings by Hannington and China. The illustrations are Mackay. The book is a careful vivid and most attractively done. 323, 10 shillings, 6 pence. The study of the social and economic No child can read the book with- structure of the Baganda people out coming away with a warm Southern Christian Movement Press, as affected by European in- appreciation of the Chinese and fluences which have pressed in with something of a knowledge London, 1934. upon them. The writer is sym- of the sweep of Chinese history pathetic with the ethical prin- -and it is to be hoped with a The six chapters of this book ciples of Christianity and in the desire to know more. In what main with its social influence. appears to be its primary purwere presented in connection He thinks that missionary effort pose the book has been very suc- "would be infinitely more val- cessful. with the Wilde Lectureship in uable if its emphasis was trans- ferred from its present objects It is, however, easy for the Natural and Comparative Reli- to the advocacy of ethical ideals." To him it is conceivable that specialist to criticize a book of gions at the University of Ox- "ideals of altruism in which the this kind. Obviously it is writ- strength of Christianity has al- ten by one with no particularly ford (1932-34). They deal with ways lain might come to be re- garded as not necessarily insep- expert knowledge of China. The Hinduism, India Islam, J ainism, arable from a code of sexual morality which no European so- literature on which the book is the religions of the Sikhs and the ciety has in fact ever followed." based is good but does not in- clude enough modern works on Parsees, and with Indian Chris- In other words, he thinks that history to incorporate the re- Christian missions should lay sults of the best recent scholartianity. They are a temperate less emphasis on theology and be ship. The author apparently satisfied with their social and knows nothing of the fascinatand restrained study both of the moral influence, with an adapta- ing glimpses which within the tion of moral ideals to the old past two or three decades archrehistorical background and of the African social organization. The ology has given of the begin- evidence is complete that west- nings of Chinese culture, and present situation in the case of ern civilization is going to mod- still narrates simply the time- ify radically the life of the honored story of early monarchs each of the religions of India. African people whether for good who at best are probably only or for evil. The problem for myths. Lao Tzu is spoken of as They represent an attitude of Christian missions is as to how an historical personage, and no much they can contribute to the doubt seems to have troubled the great fairness, not to say of change for good and how little author's mind concerning his au- to the change for evil. thorship of the Tao Te Ching. tenderness, in dealing with the S 0 m e noteworthy characters ROBERT E. SPEER. who might well have been made non-Christian religions of India, very attractive, such as Wang The Pageant of Chine.s,e History. By Mang, Wang An-shih, and Chu but there is no question with Dr. Elizabeth Seeger. Illustrated by Hsi, are not even mentioned. Bernard Watkins. New York, Long- The romanization is frequently Macnicol as to the place of mans, Greene and Company, 1934. Pp. xvii, 386. $3.00. of the type which is not in ac- Christ and no equation of Him cord with the most generally ac- The author has avowedly writ- cepted usage. Moreover, the with any other. Dr. Macnicol is, ten for children, and most de- modern period is dealt with en- lightfully she has done it. The tirely too sketchily to introduce of course, thoroughly equipped style is vivid and eminently read- even children in any adequate fashion to the stirring events of with knowledge and understand- ing for his task and this is a good book like others which he has written. There is a slight slip in the footnote on page 160 in placing Kerbela in Persia in- stead of in Iraq. R. E. S.
An African People in the Twentieth Century. By L. P. Mair. Pp. 300, 12s., 6d. George Routledge & Sons, London. 1934.
This thesis, by a lecturer in Colonial Administration in the London School of Economics, is "A study of the influence of European civilization on the structure of African society and of the practical lessons to be learned in the shaping of colonial policy."
The people studied are the Baganda of East Central Africa -the people among whom the Church Missionary Society has Any of the books noted in these columns will be sent by the REVIEW publishers on receipt of price.
r 47]
the late decades or to an under- A History of Religion. By Herbert observe the distinction between standing of the China of to-day. H. Gowen. 8vo. 698 pp. $3.50. facts and the author's opinions. Nor does the author seem to Morehouse Publishing Co. Mil- Noone can prudently challenge know much about missions; the waukee. 1934. the authority of the professor of only mention of them in the nine- history in Harvard University teenth and twentieth centuries is Dr. Gowen, Professor of Ori- when he makes statements of by way of semi-disparagement. ental Studies in the University fact, but his opinions are in a of Washington, and the author more debatable category. For It is, therefore, a pity that a of several volumes on the sub- example, the fact that Mark bebook which in many ways is ex- ject, writes as an historian lieved that Jesus claimed to be cellent should not before going rather than as a theologian or the Son of Man is coupled with to press have been perused by missionary but his viewpoint is the opinion: "I do not think that experts and so have been able to avowedly Christian. His pur- Jesus can have meant Himself" avoid some of the defects which pose is to trace God's purpose (pp. 42-43). Anyone with the now are obvious. and method of leading men from New Testament in his hands can darkness to light and from judge of that. K. S. LATOURETTE. death to life. The untranslated quotations do not tend to make There is much in the book that A Bosporus Adventure. Istanbul the book suited to popular use. is fine but throughout the Bible (Constantinople) Woman's College, and Jesus (the term Christ is 1871-1924. By Mary Mills Patrick, Dr. Gowen begins with primi- avoided) are discussed from a Stanford University Press, 1934. tive religion, discusses ancient thoroughly rationalistic view- Pp. 284. Price, $2.25. and modern religions, and closes point. He frankly declares: "I with an attempt to look into the do not believe in the existence of Here is the story of a great future. He finds some difficulty any creator, and when I use the adventure in education for the in defining religion; "Man's word God, I mean the totality of womanhood of the Near East by faith in an ideal beyond him- values, not a person or a personal the president emeritus of Istan- self" is too broad a definition being" (p. 85). The reader is bul Woman's College. Dr. Pat- for it would include those who told that "Paul's teaching difrick went to Constantinople as a have no religion. The same ob- fered seriously from the teachteacher in 1875, four years after jection holds with regard to the ing of Jesus" (p. 75), and that the founding of the school. She author's treatment of Judaism the Christianity which will surretired in 1924. During this pe- and other religions, which he de- vive is neither St. Paul's teachriod the college grew from a scribes as "designed to prepare ing about Jesus, nor that of any girl's school of forty pupils to an men's minds for the dawning of one else, not even of Jesus himinstitution with several hundred a new spiritual day." If this self, but that which is freshly students, in modern buildings was the design, all except the evoked in each generation by the and on a campus of seventy Hebrew religion have failed to spirit which animated Jesus and acres. fulfil their purpose. He accepts Paul in theirs." We wonder the historicity of the Old and whether the students who heard The story is told in accordance New Testament but does not these lectures realized that what with the periods of Turkish rule, seem to recognize the Old Testa- they were getting as "modern before and after the Revolution. ment as a special divine revela- scholarship" was simply old in- Conditions under the reaction- tion to prepare the way for fidelity in a new dress. ary Sultan Abdul Hamid and un- Christ. He accepts Christ as dider the new republic are strong- vine Lord and Saviour but does ARTHUR J. BROWN. ly contrasted. The aut h 0 r not pronounce on such matters sketches the dark days of op- as virgin birth, the miracles and Ein Christ auf den Strasen der Welt. pression, the struggle for free- the resurrection. Das Leben des Dr. John R. Mott. dom, and the atmosphere of old By Basil Mathews. Herausgegeben Turkey as the background for The book has an immense von Professor Julius Richter (Berthe new day in modern Turkey, amount of information on the lin). Berlin: 1m Furche-Verlag. which she believes is one of the different r e Ii g ion s and is Price, R. M. 4,80. Pp. 347. most progressive of republics. adapted to discerning students She pays tribute to the noble rather than to the general read- Dr. Mott and his world-wide women who were her colleagues er. There are numerous refer- circle of friends are to be conon the field, and not less those ences to source material. gratulated on t his excellent who contributed of their substance so liberally for the build- translation of his life-story through the indefatigable pen of ing of the College and its endow- Paul, His Heritage and Legacy. By Prof. Julius Richter of Berlin. ment. We are surprised that Kirsopp Lake. The Mary Flexner there is almost no reference to Lectures on the Humanities at Bryn Islam, until recently the state Mawr College. 153 pp. $2.00. Ox- The original work by Ba'sil ford University Press, New York. Mathews was reviewed at length religion of Turkey.
An excellent bibliography, a This is not a biography of in this Magazine. It will suffice list of publications by the Amer- Paul but a general discussion of therefore to note that the trans- ican members of the faculty, and Jewish and Gentile Christianity, lation is unabridged, except for a good index add to the value of with Paul viewed as a "bridge" the omission of the maps and il- the book. S. M. ZWEMER. between them. Readers need to lustrations. S. M. ZWEMER.
and the Cosmos. By Theodore Missionary Facts from W orId Fields. Apolo, the Apostle to the
Graebner. pp. 352. $3.00. Wil- 18 pp. 15 cents. Baptist Board of Wm. J. W. Roome. 95 pp. 1s. liam B. Erdman Pub. Co., Grand Education. New York. Marshall, Morgan & Scott. London. Rapids, Michigan. 1934. The Omi Brotherhood in Japan. Wm. Church and State in Latin America: This author, a professor of Merrell Vories. Illus. 180 pp. A History of Politico-Ecclesiastical $1.00. Omi Brotherhood. Omi- Relations. J. Lloyd Mecham. 550 plIilosophy in the Concordia Hachiman, Japan. pp. $4.50. University Press. Chapel Hill, N. C. Theological Seminary in St. The Responsibility of Success. W. Wilson Cash. 92 pp. 1s. C. M. S. Shintoism: The Indigenous Religion Louis, calls his book "a critical London. of Japan. A. C. Underwood. 126 pp. 2s. 6d. Epworth Press. Lonanalysis of atheism." This is a The Re-Discovery of the Spirit. Wm. don. Owen Carver. 160 pp. $1.50. Retrue characterization. The vol- vell. New York. Zoroastrianism. J. W. Waterhouse. 134 pp. 28. 6d. Epworth Press. ume is a cogent and vigorous Something Happened. Mildred Cable London. and Francesca French. $2.00. 320 and, to the unprepossessed mind, pp. C. I. M. Philadelphia. Jesus Christ and Primitive Need: A Missionary Study in the Chrisa convincing statement of the in- Southern Baptists in the Great Ad- tian Message. C. P. Groves. 260 venture. T. B. Ray. $1.25. 201 pp. pp. 6s. Epworth Press. London. validity of any theory of life and Baptist Sunday School Board. Nashville. Problems of the Pacific, 1933. Prothe world based on materialism, ceedings of the 5th Conference of Stories of Hymns We Love. Cecilia the Institute of Pacific Relations. mechanism or atheism. There is M. Rudin. $1.00. 50 pp. John Edited by Bruno Lasker and W. L. Rudin & Co. Chicago. Holland. 490 pp. $5.00. Universa great wealth of quotation from ity Press. Chicago. Stories of Indian Saints. The Late an immense mass of reading and Justin E. Abbott. Rs. 3. 500 pp. Personal Items United Theological College of Westthe material is presented so ern India. Poona, India. (Concluded from page 1.) clearly and simply that any Peace by Revolution: An Interpreta- in January to conduct meetings under tion of Mexico. Frank Tannen- the auspices of the Inter-Varsity Stuthoughtful person can follow the baum. Illus. 317 pp. $3.50. Co- dent Christian Fellowship. lumbia University Press. New argument. There are some ty- York. *** pographical errors which should Sixty Years of Service on Behalf of Dr. Ju Sam Ryang, general super- Lepers and Their Children. 94 pp. intendent of the Korea Methodist be corrected in another edition. Mission to Lepers. London. Church since 1930, has been reelected for a second term of four years. Dr. It would be well if the authori- A History of the Church in Vene- Ryang is a graduate of Vanderbilt zuela-1810-1930. Mary Watters. and Yale Universities. ties quoted were more fully 260 pp. $3.00. University Press. Chapel Hill, N. C. *** dated as some of them also are Rebel Destiny: Among the Bush Ne- Rev. John W. Nichols, D.D., was perhaps outdistanced and sev- groes of Dutch Guiana. Melville J. consecrated Suffragan Bishop of and Frances S. Herskovitz. Illus. Shanghai, November 1st. eral authorities still living are 366 pp. $3.00. McGraw-Hill. New York and London. •*• quoted in terms to which they Malekula: A Vanishing People in Sir Wilfred Grenfell, who is nearmight justly take exception. But the New Hebrides. A. Bernard ing three score years and ten, plans to Deacon. Illus. 789. 42s. Rout- retire from active work in Labrador no such mass of material as this ledge. London. and Newfoundland but will continue to promote the work for people to could be assembled without some The World Wide Church-1934-5. whom he has devoted his life by help- 130 pp. 1s. Church House, Press ing promote the work of the Internaqualification, and the book can and Publications Boards. London. tional Grenfell Association. He has 1934. been for more than forty years a big be heartily recommended as a Christian brother to the people of The Case for Missions in Modern Labrador and the Newfoundland coast. straight out, plain spoken, well India. E. C. Dewick. 25 pp. 3 as. Palghat Mission. Palghat, South informed statement of a positive India.
Christian view of God and the Africa and the Making of Books: Being a Survey of Africa's Need of world. R. E. S. Literature. Margaret Wrong. 56 pp. 6d. International Committee New Books on Christian Literature for Africa. Obituary Notes Donald Fraser of Livingstonia. By China's First Preacher, Liang A-Fa, (Concluded from 2d cover.) Agnes R. Fraser. 7s. 6d. Hodder 1789-1855. G. H. McNeur. Illus. & Stoughton. London. 128 pp. Mex. $1.50. Kwang Hsueh The Archbishop of Rupert's Land, Pub. House. Shanghai. Jesus Christ and Primitive Need. By Rt. Rev. I. O. Stringer, D.D., died Charles Pelham Groves. 6s. Ep- Builders of the Indian Church. worth Press. London. Stephen Neill. 159 pp. 3s. 6d. suddenly in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Hodder & Stoughton. London. Das Buch Der Deutschen Weltmis- his way to take part in a parish meet- sionen. Julius Richter. Illus. 332 Sadhu Sundar Singh: A Personal Mem- pp. Leopold Klotz. Gotha. oir. C. F. Andrews. 256 pp. 3s. ing. Since 1892, Bishop Stringer had 6d. Hodder & Stoughton. London. China's Problems and Their Solution. ministered to dwellers in the Arctic Wang Ching Wei. $2.50. China Aggrey the African Teacher. Wm. J. United Press. Shanghai. W. Roome. 94 pp. 1s. Marshall, wastes. *• * Morgan & Scott. London. Christianity Tested. Oscar Macmil- Dr. Marcus C. Mason, a retired lan Buck. 255 pp. $2. Abingdon Press. New York. pioneer missionary to Assam, died in The Daughter of Abd Salam. Flor- East Aurora, N. Y., October 15, 1934. ence Mary Fitch. Reprint. Illus. For fifty years he worked among the 75 pp. $1.50. Bruce Humphries. Boston. savage tribes of the Garo Hills. His Ein Christ Auf Den Strassen Der first task was to reduce the Garo lan- Welt-Dr. John R. Mott. Basil Matthews. 348 pp. Rm. 4.80. guage to writing, and it is due to him Furche-Verlag. Berlin. and to Dr. E. G. Phillips that the The Faiths of Mankind. William Pa- Garos have the Bible in their own ton. Second Edition. 156 pp. 2s. 6d. S. C. M. P. London. vernacular. THE MOSLEM WORLD SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, Editor SOME ARTICLES IN THE JANUARY NUMBER: Unitarianism and the Gospel …………………………… Archbishop of York The Study of the Koran Text ……….•……………………… Arthur Jeffery Does the Bible Speak of Mohammed? ………………………. James Robson A Baha'i Pontiff in the Making ………………..•………… Albert E. Suthers AI Madina: Arabic or Aramaic ….•…….•…..•………….. Eric F. F. Bishop Moslems in the United States ……••.•….••..••…………•… G. H. Bousquet Christianity and Islam in Lanao ……..•..•.•.•…………….. Frank C. Laubach To Whom Will Ye Liken God? ……………………….. Laurence E. Browne A Moslem Shrine in Buda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " …….. Ladislaus Draskoay The Moslem Doctrine of Revelation ……………………………"Orientalist"
Current Topics …. Book Reviews …. Survey of Periodicals » » SUBSCRIBE NOW c 50 Cents a Copy. $2.00 a Year (postpaid) In combindtion with THE MOSLEM WORLD THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City $3.50 a Year. (Foreign Postdge, 50 Cents) Brlti.h Asenls: MARSHAll, MORGAN a SCOTT, 12 PII_molter Bulldlns., london, E. C.
Price In Gr••1Brlllln, EIShl Shllllns•• Yell, nel ~njov qoo~ Rea~in9 ~()e'tv ?nonth Readers of all denominations, in all lands, see the making of history through the eyes of missionaries and world leaders who write for:: niE MISSIONARY ~RID DO NOT MISS THESE COMING ARTICLES: Idols Falling in China .. " ……………………..James P. Leynse A Robber's Church in India …………………….H. R. Coventry Visiting Lepers with a Chinese Doctor ………………Lady Hosie Among the Italians in America ………………….. A DiDomenica An Unrivalled Missionary Opportunity ……….. J. Campbell White Present Day Problems and Encouragements .;. ~ . . . . . . . . . .. Editorial The Evangelization of Brazil …………………John C. Granberry Pioneering in Madagascar ………………………W. Kenall Gale The Success of Missionary Children ……….Ellsworth Huntington $2.50 a Year SEND YOUR SUBSCRIPTION TODAY 25 Cents a Copy THE MISSIONARY REVIEW PUBLISHING CO., Inc.
Third and Reily Streets, Harrisburg, Pa.
Bri.ilh Agent.: MARSHALL. MORGAN &: scorr. 12 Paternoster Building•• London. E. C.
The Missionary Review of the World — December 1931
McCLANAHAN lIIEllllORIAL-A COMMUNITY HALL AT THE CHRISTIAN LEPER VILLAGE, CHIENG MAl
Help Rea~h Japanese Youth with the Gospel THE KINGDOM OF GOD MOVEMENT is beginning a magazine for Japanese young people under the editorial control of TOYOHIKO KAGAWA It will bear all the marks of his evangelistic genius. It will specialize in Bible study, nature study, Christian biography of all ages and races, cooperative living and prayer. THE COMMITTEE ON CHRISTIAN LITERATURE FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN in mission lands is helping. Will you pray and give? Send contributions to Mrs. Helen Barrett Montgomery, Chairman 144 Dartmouth St., Rochester, New York Will You Help Send the Gospel to Moslems?
Christ and His Message are interpreted to Moslems through Christian Literature published in Arabic, Turkish, Persian, Urdu, Panjabi, Chinese and other languages spoken by Moslems.
By your prayers and gifts you can help to supply this much needed Christian literature for Egypt Syria lrak China Morocco Palestine Persia Java Algiers Turkey India Sumatra Tunis Arabia Malaysia South Africa Will you help the Christian missionaries in these countries by sending your gicrts through The American Christian Literature Society for Moslems cooperating with the Nile Mission Press and Interdenominational Committees, on the field?
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Rev. William I. Chamberlain, D.D., President Delavan L. Pierson, Dr. Robert E. Speer, Vice Presidents Mrs. William Bancroft Hill, Honorary Vice President Rev. Samuel M. Zwemer, D.D., Field Secretary Dr. William B. Anderson Miss Anna A. Milligan, Rec. Sec. Rev. Ernest W. Riggs Mrs. William Borden Dr. James Cantine, Cor. Sec. Mrs. James M. Montgomery Dr. Robert W. Searle Rev. Thomas S. Donohugh Mrs.. E. E. Olcott, Treas. Mrs. Finley J. Shepard Dr. John H. Raven Mr. Fennell P. Turner Send your contributions to The Treasurer, 116 East 68th Street, New York City.
Apply for information and literature to The Corresponding Secretary, Dr. James Cantine, 25 East 22nd Street, New York City.
Please mention TUJl MISSIONARY REVImw OF Tum WORLD In writinK to advertIsers. MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD DmLAvAN L. PImRSON, Editor .l ::, CONTENTS-December, 1931 LET YOUR GIFT to Foreign Missions Page PAY YOU A LIFE INCOME FRONTII'lPIECE ……………….. . 88-1 ~Oil can make a generous gift to foreign mts- SlOns and have a needed income for yourself KALEIDOSCOPIC GLIMPSES OF ASIA and others from the money you give by the ••••••••••••••••• EDWARD M. DODD S85 Annuity Gift Plan THE WHITE ANGEL OF TOKYO …. •••••••••••.•. MAMIE C. G. If'RASER This v1an relieves you of uncertainty and worry caused by changing values of invested CONSTANTINOPLE AFTER A CEN· funds Bnd assures you a fixed income of TURY •••……. CHARLES T. RIGGS SUO 4t% to 9% per year A CHINESE MARKET TOWN ARISTO· CRAT ••..••..•• CHARLES E. ~COTT 90:! for the rest of your life JEWS BECOME CHRISTIANS ……. . A reserve fund of over $1,500,000 guarantees the prompt payment of annuities to you, ••••••••••• • JOHN STUART CONNING 905 Prot~ct.· yourself against loss through A REMARKABLE INDIAN I,AWYER .. unWise Investments and at the same time …………………. D. A. YARDI 907 help send the gospel to all the world.
AFRICAN DRUMS AND THEIR USES For fUll 'information write . . •. . .. • • .. • . . . . . . A. E. VOLLOR 911 Erne.t F. Holl, Secretary, Dept. 01 Annuiti•• HOW STRENGTHEN THE HOME BASE 913 BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. THE GIFT OF KHAMA'S PEOPLE … 914 156 Fifth Avenue. New York SADHU ~UNDAR SINGH AS I SAW HIM ……••.. HARRY W. NISSANKA J15 '0ne £OMMI)NITY £H()R£HMAN THE STORY OF MISS TSAI OF CHINA 916 A journal interpreting various ef· TOPICS OF THE TIMES ..•……… 918 forts in union, federated and com- munity churches toward community THE PRESENT WAR IN EUROPE. betterment. There are now over SALARY CUTS ArqD "No RETREAT." two thousand such churches in DR. SPEER'S ANNIVERSARY. ~meri~a,. the most rapidly develop- LOOK FOR JANUARY. mg relIgIOUS movement in the coun- WHAT ORIENTALS 'l~H]NK OF AMERICA. try. The larger problems of Amer- PRINCIPLES OF "FAITH MISSIONS." ican Christianity and of world NEED IN DUTCH EAST INDIES. Christianity also receive attention.
METHODS FOR WORKERS ……… . •••• • EDITED BY Mas. F. 1. JOHNSON 1J~5 WOMAN'S HOME AND FOREIGN BUL· LETIN •……………..•……. 931 WORLD·WIDE OUTLOOK ………… 937 BOOKS WORTH READING ………. 953 INDEX FOR 1931 ………………. 959 TERMS.-$2.50 a year. ($2.00 in clubs of five.) Foreign postage, ~o cents. Single copie., 25 cents. Publlshed monthly. Copyrighted, 1931, by MISSIONARY RlCVIBW PUBLISHING COM- PANY, INC. All rights reserved.
THE MISSIONARY REVIEW PUBLISHING SPECIAL CLllB OFFER COMPANY, INC. The Missionary Review of the ROBERT E. SpaaR, Pre81dent World ………………… $2.50 W,LLIAY I. CHAYBIlRLAIN, Vlce-Pre8Went The Community Churchman. . . .. 1.00 DSLAVAN L. PlaRSON, Secretary $3.50 WALTER McDOUGALL, Treasurer Both for $2.75. Save 75 cents.
Publication Olllce, 3d & Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Why not present these magazines Pa. 25c a copy. $2.50 a year.
Editorial and Business Olllee, 156 Fifth Avenue, as Christmas gifts to friends. New York City The Commun..y Churchman Entered as second·class matter at the Post Park Ridge, Ill. Olllee, Harrisburg, Pa., under Act of March S. IB79.
Plf'RSe ll1pntion THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLn in writing to advprtisers. PERSONALS p~~~~~~" 'M ~,. ~omdbmg jitW for (;ijristmas BISHOP HUGH L. BURLESON, Bishop of South Dakota since 1916, was elected at ft Something ~11, the recent General Convention assistant From Far Away to the Presiding Bishop of the Protestant ~ Episcopal Church. He resigned his ~ Just a po9~!l};r!b!ng you full ~ diocesan office and his suffragan, Bishop ~ information about the beautiful silk and ~ Roberts, was elected Bishop of South linen cross-stitch work that is made in Dakota. ~ ~ ~ ~~~n~~~,e c~~na?n:::::~or;;:re inareTa~~~; ~ DR. WILL W. * AL*EXA*NDER, for some five hundred boys and girls who are workyears head of the Commission on Inter- ing hard to become useful ChrIstian racial Cooperation, with headquarters at young men and women. Atlanta, has accepted the position of acting president of the new Dillard Uni- We have something suitable as gifts versity in New Orleans. He will begin his new duties immediately, though pres- for children, young people and older folks. ent plans provide for him to continue as Buying these goods belps to encourage director of the Interracial Commission. a spirit of self-reliance in children who * * .. ~ would otherwise be dependent on kind- ~ DR. C. H. IRWIN retired September 23 hearted people for support. from the post of secretary and editor of the Religious Tract Society, with which The jncome from the sale of these goods Is used to help destitute boys and . .. he has been connected for 35 years. gb~i r~l~s~sb.eicnosmt eea du soeff ubl e cCo mh riinsgt i abnegm~aerns and ~~ and ~'M THE REV. A. C. SNEAD, the Foreign Secretary of the Christian and Mission- ft Our Specialty for Sunday School Classes 11, ary Alliance, has gone to Japan to hold this Season is a BE!autifuI Handa series of conferences with the mission- Painted Silk Bookmark. aries and J apariese leaders. Write at once fol" price Itst .. * .. and full informatIOn to THE REV. BERT NELSON, an American IJI 'M G. A. LUNDMARK missionary, has now been held by Communist bandits in Honan and Hupeh ¥t 'It: 2002 GRACE STREET, CHICAGO, ILL. L~;;;;~;;:~:d provinces for a year, and there are no present prospects of his being released. FOR LOVERS OF MISSIO~S He is a member of the Lutheran United HUMAN INTEREST STORIES from a new field Mission which has paid more than $10,000 in ransom to secure his release, in Belgian Congo, East Africa. but the bandits after receiving the money began making extravagant, not to say Three brle! storIes: "KATSUBUKIRO, the impudent, demands. eleven-year-old boy schoolmaster" ; "Death DR. HOWARD B'". G*ROS'"E, editor of Mis- Drums" ; and "Home Life of the Banandi Women." sions, and for many years senior vice- SUitable for missionary programs. Sent FREE by an interdenominational FAITH mission.
Address UNEVANGELIZED AFRICA ](ISSION, 536 South Hope St., Los Angel••, CalIfornia president of the International Society of Christian Endeavor, on September 5 COMING EVENTS December 30-January 3, 1932-STUDENT .. . .. celebrated his eightieth birthday. VOLUNTEER CONVENTION, Buffalo, MR. LESLIE B. Moss, of the Committee New York. of Reference and Counsel, will make a visit during the winter to the Far East. January 2-3-COUNCIL OF WOMEN FOR He plans to leave late in November, HOM]" MISSIONS, ANNUAL MEETING, visiting mission work in Egypt and Toronto, Canada. spending approximately two months and a half in India and proceeding to China, January 4-6-HoME MISSIONS COUNCIL, Korea and Japan, returning to the ANNUAL MEETING, Toronto, Canada.
. .. .. United States about the first of June. January 12-15-FoREIGN MISSIONS CON- FERENCE OF NORTH AMERICA, Atlan- MISS CLEMENTINA BUTLER has been tic City, New Jersey.
granted leave of absence from the Wom- January 18-19-COUNCIL OF CHURCH an's Foreign Missionary Society of the BOARDS OF EDUCATION, Cincinnati, Methodist Church in order to attend the Ohio.
. . .. seventy-fifth anniversary of the found- January 24-CHIW LABOR DAY.
ing of the mission of the Methodist Epis- February 4-INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF copal Church in India. ~EL.IGIOUS EDUCATION, Chicago, 11- hnOls. REV. LEWIS R. SCUDDER, D.D., M.D., returned from India on October 12. February 12–WORLD DAY OF PRAYER.
(Concluded on Third Cover.) PIonso mention TrrE ~fISSI03!"RY REVJEW o1l' TRill WORm In writing to ndvortisrrs.
LIV, No.12 December
KALEIDOSCOPIC GLIMPSES OF ASIA BY EDWARD M. DODD, M.D., New York Medical Secreta.rrtl O'f the Presbyterian Board of Formfl'll Missions. Formerly a MissiO'lJary ,in Persia O UT of a kaleidoscope of im- Near the other end of our trip, pacts from a rapid world Dr. TooteU of the Hunan Mission tour what are the outstand- in China was telling me of seeing ing impressions? What are the Communists, who had been capones which bear the most signifi- tured by Nanking Government cantly on man's future and the troops, marched through the Christian enterprise? streets of Changsha to be behead- During a short stop in Paris, I ed. As they went along they shouted "Long live Communism." was walking through Versailles Their zeal, like the martyrs of old, with two chance companions from the bus load under the regis of the was stronger than any fear of apthoughtful Thos. Cook and Son. proaching death. One was an eager German stu- These are two glimpses of what dent; the other was an American we felt through so much of our Russian Jew from New York, who, trip-the huge question-mark- after seventeen years absence from J)ortentious or J)romising or mixed, Russia had been visiting his rela- which is represented by Russia.
tives and friends in Warsaw, Mos- But my thought has not been pricow, Kieff and various other parts marily Russia and Communism, of Soviet Russia. He had seen the though they are of vast significonditions close up and off parade. cance to the Christian enterprise, He had a mass of exceedingly in- so much as the thing which Russia teresting observations and reac- exemplifies so strikingly, and tions which he was thoughtfully which India and other countries sifting. Among other things, he also exemplify-the power of a was impressed with the fervent mastering idea. conviction and zeal of the younger generation, imbued to the finger- In this respect there has been a tips with the Communist thesis. profound change in the thinking of Sacrifice, patience and endurance great masses of people in Asia were all part of the game for the within the last decade, since I left great objective, crystallized in the Persia and travelled home by In- dia and the Far East. The old Five Year Plan. He was deeply static, passive, submissive East is impressed with this spirit. rapidly changing to a dynamic, ac- 885
tive, assertive East. This observa- which are part of a great compel- tion is commonplace enough, but ling, inspiring idea. Millions of the point which interested me people in India, China and Japan greatly was how the face of Asia are being stirred as never before.
was being changed by the power of Can conviction be met with any- sweeping ideas, which bear on in- thing less than conviction? Can dividual human life and on the we adapt ourselves to meet the new whole social order, and which are situation?
My brother and I were traveling by train from Angora, the capital of the new Turkey, to Talas, a sta- tion of the American Board, which had been our old home. The two other people in the compartment were a Turkish colonel (a World War veteran), and a younger offi- cer. The colonel proved to be a genial, democratic, soul, who was sociability personified. We were presently talking about everything under the sun-from personal af- fairs to politics. Then he offered to draw the scheme of the ambi- tious government program of rail- road building, which has already progressed far toward completion.
Each time, as he started to write down the name of some city, he automatically began with the old Arabic script, from right to left, but each time he caught himself, reversed, and began over ·again with the new Romanized writing in the opposite direction, and with THE DISAPPEARING VEILED WOMAN very evident pride in the latter. OF THE EAST This one change alone in Turkey being worked out in large pro- has been a revolution in itself. It grams. The followers of Mr. breaks with the past-the mighty Gandhi show this to an extraordi- Arabian Mohammedan heritage– nary degree. The spirit with far more than we realize.
which they move is tremendously In Tabriz, Persia, I was talking challenging. The Rev. Frank Bi- with a good friend, a young Sayid, ble and I had the opportunity of who keeps a modern drug store, meeting some of the Indian Con- and who had recently become a gress leaders in two or three cities, Haji by virtue of a pilgrimage to and we were profoundly impressed Mecca. He was picturing the with their spirit. Purposefully, travel and the crowds. Can you patiently, intelligently-whether credit the statement that the trip you agree with them or not–they from the pilgrim port of Jidda to are moving toward certain goals, holy Mecca is now always made by
KALEIDOSCOPIC GLIMPSES OF ASIA
motor car across the desert? No Right here is our changing more long days by caravan; enter front. If the fading of the old ora Ford or a Buick and in a few der meant moral advance; if it hours you are there. How long can meant turning to Christianity; if Mecca remain totally closed to non- it meant seeking for truer spiritual Moslems at this rate? Perhaps light; it would be one thing. But about ten years more. The pres- the consensus of opinion seems to sure of profits from tourists and be otherwise. The trend is what movie people and pUblicists, you will-materialistic, religiously coupled with Moslem relaxation indifferent, agnostic, sometimes and ease of travel, will be hard to social minded, sometimes idealistic, resist. My Haji friend went on to often quite otherwise; but certainsay that the census of the year's ly it is in new and untried direcpilgrims showed a marked faIling tions, with a constantly decreasing HOW WE TRAVET,ED ACROflS '.rHE PERSIAN DESERTS off. The largest delegation was hold of the age-long sanctions. from Java–40,000. And he con- The baleful effects of western ::3idered them a barbarous, dirty night-life and drinking, of our lot, as he visited their camps. This worst movies, cynical after-effects reaction was far more evident than of the war among so-called Christhat they were brother religionists tian nations, with the loss of westof a world faith. The delegation ern prestige-all these and other from Persia was only 5,000-a con- influences are insidiously and siderable decrease over the past. sweepingly at work. Turkey, once the military and religious head of Islam, produced Shortly before I sailed for Peronly five pilgrims! Could anything sia fifteen years ago, I was talking be more eloquent of what is taking with a gentleman in New York. place-Islam crumbling at its cen- He knew that I was going out as a ters. The old moorings are slip- missionary and freed himself of ping-and what have you? some comments. The burden of these was that it was a mistake to
compete with the old religions; we mission hospitals in nine different should contribute to them and not Asiatic countries, and have seen replace them; otherwise we would the same sort of service, with vary- risk losing great values without ing methods and different person- corresponding gains. alities, giving its witness to all Whatever element of truth there sorts and conditions of men.
may once have been in this hoary My Christian Credo argument, it does not check with actuality today. The old religions My credo in medical work in are in retreat and on the defensive. this shifting, groping, upheaving Merely left to themselves in a mod- day and age, has at least three ern and communicating world, they tenets: will disappear or so change as to 1. It exemplifies and expresses be mere vestiges of their authentic the Christ spirit. With all the selves. frailties of our human medium it What is the import of this to us? makes its appeal, in spite of in- Is there less or more urgency for tellectual cynicism and political the missionary enterprise? Has preoccupation and economic pres- the Christian enterprise a real sure. Who could be so obtuse or message for. so changing and un- so distracted as to be able to visit precedented a situation? Dr. McKean's leper village in May I offer a partial answer? Chiengmai, Siam, and not be r have been to Vellore and have touched to the quick? Who could seen Dr. Ida Scudder in action. be so blind as to visit Hackett The large, beautiful, efficient, gra- Medical in Canton and not recog- cious-spirited hospital-minister- nize that something quite beyond ing to its thousands-and then the the powers of the old order, and splendidly conceived and nearly more than fulfilling the best ideal completed medical school in that of the new order, is going on there?
lovely setting outside the city- 2. The special contribution of where scores of women doctors the medical work is needed because will be trained for Christlike serv- of its welding of science and faith.
ing-are an unanswerable contri- Better and more persuasive than bution. They embody convictions books and arguments, you have and they show a new way. I was here people, who are trained in the with Dr. Scudder in the ward when scientific method, who believe in she stopped to speak to and caress the scientific approach to life (as a little wisp of a woman, with such far as it can go), who are profi- appealing eyes. She was a fifth cient in an envied scientific attain- Cesarean case! Four times before, ment, and yet who, at the same this mite of a woman had gone time, are believers in the religious through that operation. A fifth supremes, believers in the spiritual Cesarean operation does not hap- meaning of life, believers in God pen often, and this was successful and in Jesus Christ. Part of the for mother and child. reaction in the younger generation The surgical skill was all there, in these countries takes the form but what gripped me even more of an ultra or misconceived evalua- was the atmosphere at that bed- tion. They think that science is all side. and that science precludes faith in r have been in some sixty-six the unseen. The medical man and
KALEIDOSCOPIC GLIMPSES 0);' ASIA
woman of the Christian enterprise sentatives. In times of bewilderlive and teach something more than ment and danger and extreme testthis. If anyone can get it across ing these Chinese doctors and they can. nurses have made good.
3. Medical Missions train men We are faced with an Asia where and women for the future, doctors mass ideas, which are apart from and nurses, who shall go out and accepted religion, which cut across work-whether through healing or established racial and social patprevention-for their own people, terns, and which break with the because men and women from a whole heritage of the past, are distant Christian church first came gripping people as never before. to them. What is our answer?
DR. IDA SCUDDER AND HER HELPERS STARTING ON A MEDICAL TOUR The chaos in China has brought The old order is obviously passout heroism and latent power. The ing. The new order is the question graduates of mISSIOn medical mark. Whither will it go? Where schools, such as that at Shantung do we come in on it? Christian University in Tsinanfu, have made an enviable record in Part of our answer is already on carrying on mission hospitals, the ground, ministering to perwhen the foreigners have been sent petual human needs in the name of away by their government repre- our Master. Shall we go on with it?
LET CHRISTIANS EVERYWHERE CULTIVATE A CONSCIOUS FELLOW- SHIP WITH THEIR LIVING AND LOVING LORD AND ALL THE "MAJOR CONCERNS IN FOREIGN MISSIONS" WILL CLEAR AWAY LIKE THE MISTS OF THE MORNING.
WHERE CHRI'i'lT GOES, WE WILL GO; AS HE WORKS, WE WILL WORK; AND OUR GIVING WILL BECOME MORE AND MORE COMMENSUR- ATE WITH HIS SACRIFICIAL GIVING.
WHITE ANGEL OF TOKYO*
The Story of Miss A. Caroline MacDonald, of Japan BY MAMIE C. G. FRASER, Toronto, Canada A CAROLINE MACDONALD, the work extended beyond Tokyo M.A., LL.D., the minister- and beyond the lives of the students • ing angel in Japanese pris- who had greatly benefited by the ons and the missionary to working establishment of Christian hostels. women of Tokyo, died on July 18, A Japanese National Association in the Victoria Hospital, London, grew up, and it was a real joy to Ontario. Miss Macdonald when a Japanese With ancestors the embodiment young woman, Miss Michi Kawai, of courageous daring and inde- was appointed joint National Secpendence of spirit, it can easily be retary.
seen that the love of freedom and Then a tragedy occurred in fair play – the spirit of independ- Tokyo which brought Miss Mac- ence and daring statesmanship donald into contact with men in which never fails to attract and the prisons and later with their challenge – was Caroline Mac- families and friends and changed donald's God-given inheritance. the whole course of her life. Join- She was the daughter of Doctor ing the staff of the Women's Coland Mrs. Peter Macdonald, of lege in Tokyo, she gave half her Wingham, Ontario. Her father time to her prison work and, for a was for many years a physician time, half to teaching. The prison and was also a member of Parlia- work rapidly developed into social ment, and deputy Speaker of the service which attracted the atten- House of Commons from 1901 to tion of Japanese officials, winning 1904. In the lovely little town of their approval, and resulting in the Wingham, Caroline Macdonald re- establishment of settlement work ceived her early education, later in the most congested district in going to the University of Toronto, Tokyo.
from which she graduated with This work made Miss Macdonald honors in 1901. She dedicated her famous, for it spread out into a life to the service of God and first great social service work among entered service as secretary in the the people and their families. It Ottawa Y. W. C. A. In 1903, she led to the establishment of night became Traveling Secretary of the schools for girls in industry, a re- Student Volunteer Movement, later markable piece of pioneer work; being chosen National Y. W. C. A. to the bringing about, through Jap- Secretary of Canada. Twenty- anese management, of various eight years ago she went to Japan changes in the care and service for in the interest of the welfare of convicted persons both in prison young women, in answer to a and on their return to society; to definite request from the wives of preventive work for delinquent missionaries who asked for a children and the establishment of worker to establish association ac- a juvenile court.
tivities in that country. In time While engaged in this unique • From The Glaa TMinY8. Toronto. Cana<ln. prison service Miss Macdonald 890 published the autobiography of the "Most touching of all and most man in Tokyo prison who was arresting is his frequently repeated awaiting the execution of the death estimate of the faith and character sentence. Miss Macdonald pub- of Christians. No Christian, he lished it in Japanese and, at the tells us, is ever afraid of death.
request of a prison official, trans- Christians, as he conceives them, lated it into English under the title "A Gentleman in Prison." The officials' reasons for asking the publication of this life story were illuminating. He said: "Much is said nowadays about the difficulties of mutual understanding between the East and the West. Ideals are different, customs are different, the background of life and history is different, and we face an impasse.
Educated people, it is said, may ap- proximate in thought and outlook, but for the people at large the case is hopeless. And while this is be- ing said, we have had in this very prison an example to the contrary.
A man, uneducated, steeped in crime, condemned to death for murder, waiting daily for the un- escapable end to which his crimes has brought him, is touched by one of another nation, and a woman at that, with traditions and history and education as different from his as night is from day; but the uni- versal message of the love of God flashes across the gulf of human differences and the man's soul re- sponds. I want your American people also to know this story, be- cause it illustrates from real life, and beyond the shadow of doubt- ing, the fact that underneath all the superficial differences that sep- DR. A. CAROLINE MACDONALD arate us, we are one in the depths are people who always live up to of suffering and sorrow and sin- the highest principles of Christ, ning, and in the heights of love and and whose thought and conduct are sympathy and God." ever worthy of His loftiest ideals.
Dr. John Kelman closes his fore- The only Christians he had ever word to the book with the follow- known were the two women who ing striking paragraph. Referring told him of Jesus in his cell."
to this man, whom he terms, "one These two women were Miss Mac- of God's aristocrats," he says, donald and her friend, Miss West.
Next in importance to the work The wording gave expression to among the prisoners was the estab- the appreciation felt for her labors lishment of night schools for girls of the past ten years, special menin industry-an entirely new field tion being made of her prison of mission work in Japan. It be- work, her share in the Juvenile gan in 1924, during a strike in one Court, and-most wonderful-"for of the textile factories in Tokyo, spreading the Gospel of God." On when Miss Macdonald allowed the the enthronement of the present 150 girls on strike to hold meet- Emperor, she was one of six forings at her settlement. She taught eigners to receive a silver cup, them domestic accomplishments given for distinguished service to and provided classes for study; as industry, commerce, immigration a result she had under her care, up and colonization. Lord Willingdon, to the time of her death, a night the Governor-General of Canada, school of large proportions with cabled the congratulations of the branch schools in five different fac- Canadian Government to Miss tory groups. This school gave Macdonald. In 1929, she was working girls an opportunity for asked by the Labor delegate from education, and carried with it the Japan to the Labor Conference in teachings .of Christ, translating Geneva to accompany him as interinto action the principles taught by preter and adviser. In 1925, the Him. By her interest in Japanese University of Toronto conferred women Miss Macdonald brought upon her the degree of LL.D., the them consolation and enlighten- first woman to receive that honor. ment and as a result they realize Her presentation brought forth the their own economic value. The priceless encomium from Professor problem which remained was, ac- Maurice Hutton: cording to Miss Macdonald, to see that they understand the spiritual If any follow her they will not win value of life as well, not for their it in a field more honorable or more own sakes alone but for the sake feminine. She has won the right to of the Kingdom of God on earth. be here by her life work as a mis- Miss Macdonald's work was interdenominational and received sup- sIonary. port from both the United Church and the Presbyterian Church in The church of which she was a Canada. member in Japan likewise honored her and she enjoyed the distinction Many honors came to Miss Mac- of being an elder in the Presby- terian Church in Tokyo. But perdonald in acknowledgment of her haps the decoration she prized most highly was a copper sen (oneservices. From the Emperor of half cent) bequeathed to her in a formal will, as his sole earthly pos- Japan, she received the Sixth session, by a noted criminal whom she was instrumental in leading, Order of the Sacred Treasure, and, before his execution, into the Peace of God. in 1924, the Department of Justice Just before word of her death presented her with a gold cup, ac- had been received in Japan, the Government sent through the Mincompanied by a certificate, bearing ister to Canada, Mr. Tokgawa, a on the top the Imperial crest, a gold chrysanthemum, and at the lower left corner the signature and large red seal of the Minister of Justice.
1U::l l] THE WHITE ANGEL OF TOKYO
silver vase-as a "sick bed gift"- mother was cheered and given ill "appreciation of her meritorious sufficient help to take her to her service." family home. .
One so truly great can never die To the weekly prayer-meeting, But lives and loves and serves to alI where Miss Macdonald always spoke, came the girls from her eternity. night school and some ex-pupils. There were also present several AN APPRECIATION boys on probation from the juve- nile court and ex-prisoners. By MRS. DANIEL STRACHAN When we finally were going up- When in Japan, I went one stairs, I remarked that she had not morning with Caroline Macdonald locked the front door. "This door to one of the large prisons where is never locked," she replied, "and she carried on work. There I saw the prisoners in their prison garb if you lock it now you will be lockbeing marched around the yard for exercise, while armed guards stood ing in the bUrglars instead of lockby. Caroline Macdonald visited ing them out, for upstairs there are six men sleeping who just DR. MACDONALD AND TWO OF ITER I!1EJU.ow WORK.IIlRS IN JAPAN and talked with these men in their came out of prison today. This is cells – desperate men, most of the 'House of Friendliness.' " them, whom she influenced and changed, men who called her In the Night School for the Girls friend. in Industry I heard from her the story of the lives of many of them. At her settlement I saw another I saw her address a meeting of one piece of work, which grew from of the large Labor Unions where her prison work – the care of the she spoke, at their request, on the families of prisoners. The wife of principles of the Christian religion. one of the prisoners and her twin In the Presbyterian Church in babies came to seek advice and Tokyo, she was the only foreigner help. The babies were bathed and in the congregation. dressed in fresh clothing, the The esteem in which she was
held by rich and poor, by the in- also Mrs. Kishi, the four Governors fluential and the outcast, was re- of the Tokyo prisons. Five Budmarkable. She loved Japan and its dhist priests came and afterwards people and made herself part of it. remarked how much they were im- She identified herself thoroughly pressed by the service. with everything in Japan and made her friends among the Japanese, Mr. Tagawa, who presided at the spoke their language like a native memorial service, said: and was well acquainted with the history. Tributes were paid to her My friendship with Miss Macdonald lasted for more than twenty years. by judges, lawyers, ministers, n- I will always remember the care and attention which she gave me in 1917 nancial men, bankers and business when I was put in prison for writing men. One man said, "She has in- an article to which the authorities obterpreted other nations rightly to jected. This was a serious event for us." Dr. Ozawa, Chairman of her me but Miss Macdonald visited me Board, spoke of her as "An am- many times and cared for my family, bassador from Canada to Japan, doing everything possible for us. She the best kind of ambassador that did InQre for me even than my own could be sent." relatives and the incident was re- ported abroad…… She thought Caroline Macdonald was indeed good and did good. I was much moved a friend of publicans and sinners, by her work and counted her as one and now in that "House of Many of my friends for life. I had no Mansions" we think of how much other such friend, even among the at home she is with her Master and Japanese. Saviour and with the ransomed and redeemed for whom He died. Miss Macdonald regularly visited four Tokyo prisons, but the one The Memorial Testimonies with which she was most closely connected was the Kosuge Prison, At the memorial service in Tokyo of Tokyo, to which men who had the Japanese carried out the cere- more than ten years to serve were mony with dignity and impressive- sentenced. Governor Arima, who was at Kosuge during the greater ness. The church, which seats soo part of the time that Miss Mac- donald visited the men there, people, was packed. In front of understood and appreciated her the pulpit a beautifully enlarged prison work better than anyone portrait of Caroline in cap and else; but the new Governor who gown was placed, draped with succeeded Mr. Arima was fully black silk, surrounded by wreaths convinced of the value of what she of flowers. Messages of sympathy was doing for the men, and read were received from the Home Min- this tribute at the memorial servister, Minister of Justice, Labor ice, which was held in Tokyo, at Party, the Women's Spinning the Japanese church of which she Guild, several of the universities was an elder. and women's colleges. Thirtyeight telegrams from various towns With deep humility, I address the throughout Japan were received spirit of Miss A. C. Macdonald. Crimand one from Mr. Soyo in Man- inals, objects of fear and hatred, churia. Judge Miyaki and his enemies of society, what hope have family were present, Mr. Matsuoka they for sympathy or understanding, and his family, the Vice-Minister who are they, that they should be of Foreign Affairs and Mrs. Nagai,
THE WHITE ANGEL OF TOKYO
given a word of encouragement, or struggle. All promise t'O try to live that a hand should be stretched out to lift them from their life of dull de- in such a way as to be worthy of all spair? But you know what they the sacrifices you have made for them. needed. Y'ou, a woman of culture and taste, left your far-away country to There are some who did not write, bring comfort and love to prisoners, to the outcasts 'Of society. You feeling that they could not put their brought the Word of God to those unf'ortunate 'Ones, not as one perform- grief into words. They offer you ing a duty, but as a mother talking with her children. During the past these flower,s as the most fitting seventeen years, thousands of prisoners have been strengthened and en- symbol of their gratitude. cDuraged by your inspiring advice and practical assistance. Only God and You have been taken from us, but perhaps the Governor of Kosuge can know what expenditure of thought we are certain that the seed you have and vital force was required for this stupendous labor of love. SD patiently and lovingly planted in At this moment, there are one hun- the hearts 'Of the men at Kosuge, will dred and thirty-two men in Kosuge who have been cDming directly under grDw and bear fruit, so be content your influence. When the,se men heard that their friend had left them, with the labor you have performed so never to return, it is hard tD imagine their grief and disappointment. In- well. ' deed I was so moved by their sorrDW that, to give them a little comfort, I Miss Macdonald's single-handed suggested that they write to you, tell- influence brought abDut a change ing y'Ou all that was in their hearts. in the general Japanese attitude I have collected these letters and am toward prisoners. Her sympathy 'Offering them today to your spirit. for them knew no limits and she would never admit that any human From these outpourings of the being was beyond reform. She dehearts of men who were rejected by tested cruelty with all her soul and the world and who have been given was convinced of the importance hope and comfort by your unending of kindness as an agent in reform. kindness, you can know the deepest of She was of tOD robust an intellitheir sorrow and affection. Some say gence to admit that criminals that they grieve for you as for their should be held irresponsible Dr that mother. Others confess that they are crime should not be punished, but only prevented by the recDllecti'On of she held that punishment failed if you from putting an end to their it ended as mere chastisement and was not directed towards the re- demptiDn of the criminal. ThDUgh she leaves no buildings or a great organization behind her, she has planted here a living seed which has taken root and will per- manently influence a part of the life of Japan.
CRIME IN AMERICA A,ND IN JAPAN YUSUKE TASURUMI, a Japanese authDr and political leader, expresses the view that Japan has not the widespread crime with which the pnited States is trying to grapple because of the powerful restraining mfluence of Japanese family life. The ingrained reverence f'Or parents in Japan has had its influence in restraining crime, and such reverence is not an outstanding characteristic of the present social life in America. While it may be argued that we have conditions which tend to foster crime that do not prevail in Japan, it must be acknowledged that a more careful observance of the Christian injunction to honor 'Our parents would I have a wholesome influen~e in America.
THE MODERN TRAFFIC IN IS'I'ANBUI
CONSTANTINOPLE AFTER A CENTURY BY THE REV. CHARLES T. RIGGS, Istanbul, Turkey Missionary 01 the Amtwiaan Board 0/ OQmmWtsio-ners lor Foreign Mi88ions O N JUNE 9, 1831, there ar- ambassador or minister; there rived in the Bosphorus, Wil- was not even a commercial treaty liam Goodell and his wife, or any treaty as yet with the ris- the first mIsSIOnaries to effect a ing Western Republic. No for- permanent settlement in the Otto- eigner of any sort was allowed to man Empire. Stations had been live in the old city of Stamboul, established at Smyrna and Beirut, south of the Golden Horn; only but both were then vacated. Con- Pera-the "beyond"-the new stantinople is therefore the oldest European quarter, was safe for mission station in Turkey with a them. Here the Goodells found a continuous and uninterrupted his- home.
tory. Everything was primitive in The pioneers on the deck of the those days. No steamers plied the Arne ric a n sailing-vessel that waters of the Bosphorus, save one brought them round the Seraglio that had begun trial trips to and Point into the quiet waters of the from Smyrna. Transportation Golden Horn gazed on strange was mainly by sail, or in the frail sights. Mrs. Goodell, and the two caiques, whose graceful pointed ladies that voyaged on the same prows have now entirely disap- bark, Miss Mary Reynolds, des- peared. On land, the only vehicle tined soon to become Mrs. William that could thread the maze of nar- Schauffler, and Mrs. Smith, wife of row, filthy streets was the ox-cart, the captain, were the first Ameri- or the buffalo-cart; horses and can women ever seen in the city. donkeys were used, and for heavy There was no resident American loads the lumbering camel; but 896
CONSTANTINOPLE AFTER A CENTURY ~97
nearly everybody went on foot. sand people homeless. Soon the No tram-cars, no European car- new missionary had to write of riages, not one bridge spanned the "frequent and dreadful conflagra- Golden Horn. The old city gates tions (and we call no conflagration in the fortifications on both sides dreadful which does not burn over of the Horn were shut tight each some ten, fifteen, twenty or more night, and all traffic stopped at sun- acres of compactly built houses at down. a time)." Volunteer bucket-lines could do nothing against such Today one sees a marvellous devastating flames. The only fire change in local transportation. companies were bands of villains Suburban trains on both European who drove a hard bargain with a and Asiatic railroads; a network man before they would help him of trolleys with feeder bus-lines; THE OI.D METHOD!; OF TRAVEl. IN- ASIATIC TURKEY automobiles everywhere; frequent rescue his house or belongings, and steamers across the Bosphorus, then often stole the best. and to all ports everywhere; motor-boats chug-chugging all over Contrast this with the brick, these quiet waters; connections by stone, or concrete structures of the air with the chief cities of Europe. present, and the motor fire-engines Speed, promptness and efficiency, and modern equipment that has qualities once almost unimaginable well-nigh rid the city of the terror to the Oriental, characterize the of great conflagrations. present day. Plague and cholera were fear- A century ago, man had not fully prevalent a hundred years mastered the destructive forces of ago, to say nothing of smallpox, nature. Within less than two scarlet fever, and other diseases. months after their arrival, Mr. Every year, from 1835 to 1838, and Mrs. Goodell and their two there was an awful visitation of little girls were burned out in a bubonic plague. In 1836, the great fire that made eighty thou- worst epidemic since the memo- rable one of 1812, took for a time '2
from 6,000 to 10,000 persons per of the Turkish Government was week, and is estimated to have de- at first friendly to the introducstroyed one-fifth of the entire pop- tion of "Lancasterian" schoolsulation. In 1837 two of the mis- a better system than any exist- ing in Turkey at that time. But sionary circles succumbed to the soon the Government's attitude be- came indifferent, and later openplague, despite rigid quarantines- ly hostile. This change was due the wife and infant son of the Rev. largely to the bitter antagonism of the Greek and Armenian Patri- H. G. O. Dwight. The greatest archs and the Grand Rabbi of the precautions had to be taken; and Jews, and to the scarcely concealed experience led to the discovery by jealousy and suspicion of the Rus- Cyrus Hamlin of a cure for cholera sian Ambassador, M. Boutineff. which he used successfully in many Finally, in 1839, this hostility cula case, and which, as "Hamlin's minated in the issuing of orders Mixture," was for decades the most· by Sultan Mahmoud himself for widely employed remedy in the the expUlsion of all the American world against this disease. missionaries. A despatch from the Sublime Porte to the American These dread foes no longer ter- Minister, Commodore Po r t e r , rify the inhabitants. It is many a stated that the Government could no longer be answerable for the long year since the last epidemic safety of the missionaries. The of either visited the city. Moslem Commodore took the surprising atfatalism has given way before titude that as the treaty of Amermodern pharmaceutics. ica with Turkey was merely com- mercial, he had no special duties Sultan Mahmoud II was on the regarding missionaries, but pendthrone when the Goodells arrived; ing word from Washington, he and though he had succeeded only would expect them to be given the five years earlier in ridding his usual protection. realm of the terrible Janizaries, and had instituted various re- The hand of the Russian Ambasforms, his absolute power was be- sador was evident in all this; but coming reactionary. Custom did the hand of the Lord was in connot allow anyone, foreigner or sub- trol; the Sultan died before the orject, to ride horseback while pass- der for expUlsion could be carried ing the imperial palace-all must out. Russian opposition to the dismount and walk. No umbrella Americans was due to the fact that or parasol could be raised in pass- the Tsar regarded himself as the ing it, no matter how fiercely rain protector and patron, the head and or sun beat down. Any "Frank," heart of the Orthodox Church, and or foreign lady, who dared wear a would brook no rivalry. The story green dress on any street, was li- has already been told of the famous able to be stoned, that being the conversation between Ambassador sacred color of Islam. Boutineff and Dr. Schauffler over the case of an Armenian perse- Turkey today is a most demo- cuted for his evangelical views. cratic country. One may wear The haughty Ambassador blandly whatever one pleases (save the stated to the American missionary: forbidden fez!). There is no royalty, and therefore no consequent restrictions.
In 1832, Mr. Goodell was joined by Messrs. H. G. O. Dwight and W. G. Schauffler. The attitude
CONSTANTINOPLE AFTER A CENTURY
"I might as well tell you, Mr. Gospel teaching attract those of Schauffier, that His Imperial Maj- open mind.
esty, the Tsar of all the Russias, As far as Moslems were con- who is my master, will never allow cerned, the death penalty was in Protestantism to set its foot in operation against any apostate Turkey." "And I, sir," was the from that faith. True, there were simple answer, "may tell you that times when the Government was the Lord Jesus Christ, who is my lax in the application of this meas- Master, will never ask the Tsar of ure, and some were allowed to be- all the Russias where He may set come Christians, and were even His foot." baptized. But the Sheriat, or re- Sultan Abdul Medjid, who came ligious law, required that they be to the throne in 1839, was a more put to death, and this was never liberal ruler, but his edicts of tol- abrogated until Turkey put aside eration at first made little differ- the religious law and adopted the ence in the bitter attitude of the law of other nations. For this rea- Armenian and Greek Patriarchates son Christian work among the toward those evangelically in- Turks themselves was very slow in clined. These persons still re- making an impression. mained members of the ancient churches as no Protestant organi- That was a day of very dim rezation had been formed. In fact, ligious light. Illiteracy was frightthe clearly stated policy of the mis- fully prevalent among all the races. Very few knew how to read, and scarcely any women. While the sionaries had been to form no new wealthiest class in all the Ottoman church, but to try by every friend- Empire were the Armenian bank- ly approach to help the clergy of ers, their wealth did not bring with the old churches to reform the cor- it any large amount of culture.
rupt practices and insufficient The value of human life was not teachings of those bodies, particu- highly estimated. Slaves, white larly by giving them the Bible in more often than black, were openly the language of the common peo- sold on the streets; and instances ple. It was only after long-con- were not rare where a poor man tinued and bitter persecution had would sell his own child in public.
culminated in the casting out by How different it is today? Since violent anathema of those who the compulsory introduction of the loved and read the Bible, so that new Turkish alphabet, everybody everyone was warned not to give between six and sixty has been them employment, help, shelter, or commanded to go to school to learn even food, that in self-defense these modified Latin letters. Those these outcasts were compelled in who failed to pass their examina- 1846, fifteen years after Goodell's tion are sent back for fUrther arrival, to organize into a new study. By no means everyone has ecclesiastical body, and seek the learned, especially in the country protection of the Ottoman Govern- districts, but it is some change for ment. The First Evangelical the people to have 10070 literacy Church of Constantinople, of forty as their distinct goal.
members, was followed by thirty One of the first duties of the other organized churches in the early missionaries to Turkey was next ten years, so rapidly did the the preparation of translations of
the Bible in the various spoken lan- latest work in this line being a new guages. A version in modern translation into modern spoken Greek existed, but had to be re- Turkish which is being issued in vised. In Armenian there was separate books in the Latinized nothing. A Hebrew-Spanish ver- Turkish alphabet. The four Gossion was one of the monuments of pels have already appeared and are the life of W. G. Schauffler. In being rapidly bought; the Acts is Turkish, the translation made in in progress. 1666 by Ali Bey, a man of Polish origin, had existed till 1819 only in The advance in Turkish liberal manuscript at Leyden; but Wil- thinking well-nigh takes one's liam Goodell brought with him to breath away. Not only have sev- eral Turkish translations of the NEW TURKI!;H WOMEN IN A CO-EDUCATIONAL, ilIISSION SCHOOL, ISTANBUL Constantinople the newly printed Koran appeared (till now consid- Turkish version of the New Testa- ered too sacred to be rendered ment he had made in Beirut and from the Arabic), but the Angora Malta, with the help of two devout Government has brought out a Armenian assistants. The Old Turkish translation of Ludwig's Testament he completed soon after "Life of Christ," and has allowed his arrival; but it was years be- the exhibition of the movie film, fore this was put into the Arabic "The King of Kings," under its characters then employed by the Turkish title of "The Life of Jesus." Turks. The Armenian translation, In this, as well as other ways, we by Dr. Elias Riggs, followed soon, see the passing of the era of faand later the Bulgarian. All these naticism. The present regime is strongly nationalistic, so much so have been repeatedly revised, the
that nationalism has become a and Prussia aided the Ottoman veritable religion. But in matters armies against Russia. A mere of faith, the present attitude is catalogue of the wars of the cen- rather that of indifferentism. The tury would be long. Each one giving of religious instruction to brought extra and special duties the young, under the age of six- and opportunities to the Christian teen, is forbidden; but this is missionaries to show the spirit of rather to prevent any anti-na- the Master, in relieving suffering tionalistic tendency than to safe- and want, caring for refugees and guard Islam. In fact, the teaching orphans, distributing Scriptures to of Islam to non-Moslem children is those who would take them. It just as much forbidden as is Chris- also not seldom brought privations, tianity. The former statement of isolation, suffering, and sometimes the Constitution, that Islam was danger and death to Christ's mes- the religion of the country, has sengers. But each has in the end been stricken out of the document. contributed to the opening of new Where formerly, on being asked doors and to freeing the minds of what he was, the average Turk people from narrowing prejudice would say: "Thank God, I am a and illogical hatred. Today the op- Moslem," today he will respond portunities for presenting the simply: "I am a Turk." 'spirit and message of Christ to all The century of missionary work the peoples of this land are widen- in Constantinople has been amid ing daily.
wars and rumors of war. Between It is useless to speculate on 1832 and 1839 came the great re- whether another year, or ten years, volt of Mohammed Ali, Viceroy of will grant greater freedom to the Egypt, when his son-in-law and representatives of our Master. We general, Ibrahim Pasha, repeatedly have today all the freedom we defeated the Turkish troops and need; and it is more to the point invaded nearly all of Asia Minor. to recall that our own opportunity Only European intervention pre- is today, not tomorrow; we may vented a Turkish catastrophe. not be alive tomorrow, or next Twenty years later came the Cri- year. Will the churches in America mean War, when England, France aid us to do our best now?
DEPRESSION AND SPIRITUAL VALUES A FRIEND of missions recently said: "I am interested in Chris- tian stewardship as the only road 1 can see to a new economic order. Much of the wealth of America is in the hands of church members, and certainly enough of it is in these hands to accomplish any purpose for God's Kingdom to which our hearts are set. There is nothing more certain than that the Kingdom of God can never come on this earth until the conscience of the Church has been stirred on this matter of property and income. Never has there been a time when membership in a church dedicated to the establishment of the Kingdom of God among men has involved greater responsibilities or been fraught with more difficulties both of thought and action."
A CHINESE MARKET TOWN
BY THE REV. CHARLES E. SCOTT, D.D., Tsinan, China Author 01 uChina From 1Vf.thin./' Etc.
W ITH an older missionary I young missionary can only butt his had been traveling for sev- brains out to no purpose against eral weeks, knowing little those stone walls of hoary custom. of the language and getting my We had gone to the Post Office first taste of country itineration. and had found no letters, and were In many places there was nothing about to step out upon the street that could be called a real road, when we encountered a Chinese. only a narrow path for donkeys He would have attracted attention and barrows; in others the deep anywhere. Tall, venerable appear- muddy ruts were a sight to behold. ing, elegantly dressed, he looked as I did not know the names of the if he might have been the brother villages; had no idea where we of Li Hung Chang. His whole at- were going, or what we would titude was one of command. But meet when we arrived. Our pro- more than that, the keen intelli- visions were about exhausted. gence of his face, with the benevo- One cold spring day we arrived lent expression-not too common at a market town and put up in in a heathen I and – especially an inn that seemed to be "the piqued my interest. In conversalimit" of repulsiveness. There was tion we soon learned that he was no guest chamber, and we slept the great man of that market town on the public kang, devoted to a and that he had a son, an only son, miscellaneous lot of guests. The for whom, as he proudly said, he loafers hung on waiting to see us had purchased an office in Chi-Ii get ready for bed. Province. He owned much of the The next morning even my com- place, and was very deferentially panion, though innured to incon- treated.
venience and hardship, seemed to Dreading the return to our shabthink that certain things had about by inn, I was not loath to accept reached their limit. For the first the courteous invitation to his time on the trip he called up our home, which we found, with all its cook and hinted a mild protest: courts and rooms, occupied ground "This water in which you have about an acre in extent. Chinese been washing our clothes smells heathenism, though much married, pretty bad. Can you not find any has no home. It was an establish- cleaner?" "But," answered the ment for himself and his concucook ingratiatingly, "You h a v e bines. In the guest room we saw been drinking this w ate r here. many indications of wealth. There Surely a cloth cannot be more par- were foreign clocks and foreign ticular than a stomach!" I no- gimcracks of every sort that Westticed that he was using a big stone ern traders had pressed upon him, trough of the inn yard in which or that fancy had prompted him to the animals were fed, as a wash add to his miscellaneous collection.
tub for our clothes. But what was A fine foreign bicycle was there– the use of remonstrating? A no one to ride it; also a German 902 stove that was without piping. the use of a large yard and house Things were covered with dust, for a school and church building. and thrown around in orderless That day after the meeting he reconfusion. It was more like a marked that he was glad he had lumber room than a place of phys- the privilege of putting his propical comfort. For such an estab- erty to such a use as that-considlishment is truly ignorant of what erable admission for a Confuit is to know the fine and tasteful cianist. touch of the hand of Christian woman, queen of her own home. There came a time when I learned that he was sick and ear- But what most surprised me was nestly desired to see me. He had to hear him say, "I have enter- been ill a month and lay quite still tained some of the older mission- and weak on his kang. After oraries. I consider them my friends, dering refreshments for us, he told and would be pleased to entertain us how his life was a failure; how, you !" It did not take me long to despite his successful investments decide that I would enjoy putting in real estate, with many profitable my folding cot into one of those returns, his heart was heavy and relatively high-ceilinged, c I e a n- unsatisfied; how he dreaded the walled, brick-floored rooms, opening into the attractive little court future; how his sins loomed very planted with shrubbery. Above all, large; it was right to confess the place was inaccessible to the Christ, but that he had not the hungry eyes of a ceaselessly star- moral courage to take the step in ing crowd. Our host insisted upon the face of his household and clan. giving us a feast and feast-like His distress was increased because food. We talked the Jesus doc- he knew that he ought to take the trine to him and found that he had step! He asked us to pray for him known of it for some time; but he that he might be given strength. was far from ready to decide for On a later trip he called us Christ. The world, with all its again, and his first words, after cares, too heavily encumbered him. It was another case of "choked the welcome were: "I have had a with riches." dream." Now an Occidental who has not gotten something of a During the years that followed, spiritual insight into the Oriental I came repeatedly to that town for is apt to think of these dreams of special meetings. The Christians the Oriental as nonsense. But had established a church there. dreams sometimes play a tremen- The kindly faced old patrician al- dous part in the decision-making ways insisted on my being his and even in the life-changing of guest, and on each visit I talked an Oriental. For example, there with him about Jesus Christ. I is a man, an elder and evangelist gave him the best Chinese Bible in my field, who was a notorious that I could find, which he prom- wine manufacturer, drinker and ised to read. He began .occasionally gambler. Then he had a dream in to meet with us, the first time when which he saw the mouth of hell on we gathered to partake of the the surface of the great plain Lord's Supper. He seemed visibly where he lives yawning open, and affected by this simple but solemn a mountain of flame leaping out. service. He had earlier given us Towards that flame, as drawn by a magnet, he saw a multitude of
people out of his own and the sur- we knew it was through the work rounding villages, rushing as fast of the old man) to buy at a greatly and as hard as they could; and he reduced price a large, roomy build- himself, in as mad a frenzy of ir- ing with considerable land around rational passion as the rest, also it, the plant located on a conven- running as hard as he could to- ient, near-by street. This would ward that fiery pit, to be engulfed be quite adequate for the needs of in its relentless, all-devouring the local organization, both as a depths. When he awoke from that worshipping place and a school- dream he gave up evil and became house; but our funds were inade- a Christian. quate. These the old man quietly Old Wan said, "I dreamed last helped to supply.
night that I saw H ea v e nand Shortly after, the Chinese pastor Jesus Christ, the Stainless Judge and elder at his urgent request, ("Stainless Judge" means much in made him a visit. Scarcely had a land of notorious official corrup- the w 0 r d s of salutation been tion) standing in the midst of it, passed, when he said eagerly: "I and He showed me a vision of hell wish to be examined for baptism."
with all its torment and the mul- In the course of the examination titudinous eyil things therein. The his head wife and some of his wom- Lord of all beings spoke: 'Which en folk came in, and realizing what do you choose?' and I replied: was in his mind, tried to persuade Lord, I am sick of my sin, and if him that he was not ready to take you can forgive me, I want to be- the step he contemplated. Firmly long to you. Then He graciously he waved them aside and in solemn said, 'I accept you; but you your- tones ordered them not to interfere self do not want to come empty with his fixed determination. His handed. Though you are almost a conviction of Christ was clear and burned out candle, you can still do sincere; and there upon the kang, something for me.' In fear and he was baptized and partook of with great sorrow, I asked: 'Lord, the Lord's Supper, for the first what can a burned out candle do?' and last time.
And He said: 'I will not call you A few days later he died, having 'to Myself now, but will wait a made peace with his Maker. His month, and you shall know what heathen family, greatly disturbed you can do.''' over his rash conduct, sought to Some forty people, members of ward off the curse that offended his clan, had united wit h the deities might bring down upon church. The building loaned by them, by giving him a grand fu- old Wan had for some time been neral – wherein was see n the used solely for school purposes and longest procession, the heaviest or- another, more accessibly located on nate coffin, with the greatest num- the main street, had been loaned ber of bearers, the most beautiful by a Christian merchant. But his banners, the m 0 s t bewildering business was there; the quarters variety of made-up animals and were full and the place was avail- giants and goblins, and the cost- able only at nights and on the Sab- liest offerings of placatory gifts to, bath. We greatly needed a church gods who could harm, that has building. Suddenly there came to been known in the memory of the us an unexpectedly fine offer, (and town.
BECOME
BY THE REV. JOHN STUART CONNING, D.D., New York N o STATEMENT is more fre- one Domus Conversorum to care quently made by Jewish for Jews who had become identified leaders when referring to with the cause of Christ. Rev. Christian missionary effort in be- J. F. de Ia Roi, a careful statishalf of their people than that it tician, estimated that 224,000 Jews is ineffective and almost wholly during the nineteenth century enbarren in results. Ridicule is tered the Christian churches of heaped upon those who seek in any Europe and America. And this in way to win Jews to the disciple- spite of the fact that very meagre ship of Christ. Attempts have even efforts were put forth in their bebeen made to estimate in pounds half. Such a result is greater by or dollars the high cost of "making far than was reported from any a bad Jew into a worse Christian." other part of the world's mission Unfortunately there are Christians field. A quarter of a million conwho in ignorance of the facts re- verts from ten millions of Jews is peat the assertions. a vastly greater result than three million converts from one thou- The fact is that from the begin- sand million heathen. In one case ning Jews in varying numbers the proportion is one in forty, in have, often at great cost, yielded the other one in three hundred. wholehearted allegiance to Christ. The results of Christ's brief per- In our own day there is a dissonal ministry have generally been tinct movement toward Christianunderestimated. We hear of the ity among Jews in certain parts of hundred and twenty in the upper Europe. Sir Leon Levison, presi- room, but forget the tens of thou- dent of the World's Hebrew Chrissands who came under His sway, tian Alliance, after a personal and who later formed the Christian investigation of what is going on, synagogues which were scattered wrote: "The age of miracles has over Judea and Galilee. In the not gone by. Ninety-seven thou- Christian churches of apostolic ori- sand Jews in Hungary alone aegin many thousands 'of Jews were cepted the Christian faith, in included. The "strangers" to whom Vienna seventeen thousand, in Po- Peter refers in his epistle were land thirty-five thousand, and in without doubt Jews of the disper- Bolshevic Russia sixty thousand sion who had become followers of Jews became Christians. We also Christ. The existence of an "Epis- found Jews turning to Christ in tIe to the Hebrews" bears convinc- Germany, Sweden and Denmark. mg testimony to the wide exten- Not a few have done likewise in sion of Christianity among the Great Britain." In America a care- Jews of the period. ful estimate places the number of Christians of the Jewish race at And since apostolic times there not less than twenty thousand. has been no age that has not seen many Jews owning the Messiah- Dr. Arthur Ruppin, the Jewish ship of Jesus. In the thirteenth pUblicist, whose bias is certainly century England had more than not toward Christianity, in look- 905
ing over the entire Jewish field tacts with Christianity. The dis- declares: "Even allowing for the appearance of the ghetto and pale, thousands and tens of thousands and the freerer associations of who succumbed to persecution, Ju- modern times are gradually wear- daism today should be stronger ing away the old antagonisms and than it is by millions and tens of bringing about a new state of mind millions, were it not for the con- more favorable to a consideration tinuous secession to Christianity." of the claims of Christianity. Jews Nor must we forget the high today are open-minded as they character of many Jews who have have not been for many genera- cast in their lot with the Christian tions. They are reading the New Church, since the days of Peter Testament and other Christian lit- and James and John and Paul. erature, listening to messages over What other mission field has pro- the radio, and occasionally visit- duced a list of distinguished indi- ing Christian churches. Most revoviduals that can be compared with lutionary of all is the changing atconverts among the Jews? We titude toward Jesus. Whereas for think of men in the nineteenth cen- long centuries His name was never tury like Dr. Paulus Cassel, Dr. Al- mentioned by reputable Jews, tofred Edersheim, Bishop Hellmuth, day He is widely acclaimed as a the HerscheIls, the Mendlesshons, prophet and as one to whom Jews the Margoliouths, Dr. Capadose, should give heed. Adolph Saphir, Joseph Rabinowitz, Do Jews become Christians? David Baron, Louis Meyer and Yes, always. Wherever Christ is hundreds of others. In America we fairly interpreted with sympathy think of men like Isidor Loewen- and understanding there is an enthal, the pioneer missionary to couraging response. If the results Afghanistan, who translated the have not been greater, the fault Scriptures into the Pushtu tongue lies mainly with the Christian for the people of that land, and of Church which has seldom been con- Bishop Schereschewsky who trans- cerned for the spiritual welfare of lated the Scriptures into Wenli for the Jews. Rarely has the Gospel the four hundred millions of China. been given a fair chance. Preju- But for possible embarrassment it dice, bigotry, injustice, and ill-will would be easy to mention many have too often hidden the face of prominent Christians from among Christ from· His people. But a the Jews of our own generation. brighter day is dawning. The Speaking of recent converts, Sir Church is gradually awakening to Leon Levison says: "Among the a sense of her responsibility. The men and women who have come bringipg of work for the Jews out from Jewry for Christ there within the program of the Interare many who hold university de- national Missionary Council gives grees, doctors of law, medicine, promise of a larger and fuller servphilosophy, science, literature, etc." ice than has hitherto been possible.
Nor should we fail to consider Over this long neglected field the the indirect results of Jewish con- day at last is breaking.
LAWYER'S CHRlSTIAN SCHOOL AT HADAPSAR, POONA
A REMARKABLE INDIAN LAWYER J. P. Bunter, B.A., LL.B., and His Labors of Love for Indian Farmers BY THE REV. D. A. YARDI, B.A., Poona, India I NDIA is a land of marvels, gious awakening among Indian especially in regard to her Christians is that Christian laystoried past and her record of men are becoming more and more lives of devotion and self-sacrifice. alive to their responsibility for the The spiritual life of the people of evangelization of India. Some India has been marked by heights years ago a National Missionary and depths that lead those who Society was formed and its first have the prophetic vision to see Secretary has now become the in the years to come promise of a Bishop of Dornakal. This Indian religious life even greater than Christian movement has spread that which history records. If the and has led to the foundation of Spirit of Christ can take possession Christian Ash ram s in various of the people of India, the latter . parts of the country. It has also glory of this ancient land will be led to the establishment of Chris- greater than any the former days tian schools by Indians. One of these was Miss Susie Sorabji's st. have seen.
The signs of this coming' day are Helena School for Girls in Poona already appearing on the horizon. and another outstanding example The people of the higher castes are is the Christian school of the late being slowly but surely led to see J. P. Bunter, an Indian barrister, in the Lord Jesus Christ India's in the same district. rightful guru and King. Many are Hadapsar is a large village, of beginning to realize that they can only attain pure individual char- nearly 7,000 inhabitants, about five aeter and true nationhood as the miles from Poona, the ancient capfollowers of the crucified and risen ital of the Pashwas. The school was started fifty years ago under Redeemer. the management of Miss Bernard, One of the effects of this reli- a missionary of the Church of Scot- 907
land. In 1913, when Miss Bernard thoughts behind the present diffiretired, the school was handed over culties to the great purpose behind to J. P. Bunter, a public prose- all our work-the driving purpose cutor and an ex-member of the behind all he undertook." Bombay Legislative Council. In his hands the school underwent a He was an ardent student of the great transformation. From be- Bible which to him was the living ing an idea it became an ideal; Word of God. It was the rock on from a mere educational project which he raised the structure of his life; all other knowledge to THE LATE J. P . BUNTER, B.A., LL.D. him was shifting sand. As the in- spiration received from Bible study it became prophetic of the future led other Inaian saints such as Indian Church. Pandita Ramabai and Sad h u Sundar Singh to work for the J. P. Bunter was the son of an Master in a way that has cast a Indian minister of the United Free halo of glory round their lives, so Church of Scotland and after grad- it led Mr. Bunter along that path uating from Deccan College,' he of self-sacrificing achievement that studied law and was admitted to resulted in the development of the the bar. He was a keen and able remarkable Christian educational lawyer and was awarded the institution at Hadansar. Dr. Ken- Kaiser-I-Hind medal. yon L. Butterfield, Counsellor on Rural Work, who came from Amer- Though by profession a lawyer, ica to India to study rural mission Mr. Bunter was, by vocation, one problems at the request of the Inof God's chosen evangelists. He ternational Missionary Council, realized fully the high calling to says of this Hadapsar school: which he had been called and, as one who knew him well, writes: This is one of the most promising "In every business talk he touched enterprises for helping village life on higher things – lifting one's that I have seen in India. I hope it can be developed as a great centre of light and leading for the whole group of adjoining villages. The village peo- ple are cooperating wonderfully. The Church is central as it should be. There is also the purpose for a wide range of helpful service. I hope it may prosper exceedingly.
In his recent book on "The Chris- tian Mission in Rural India," Dr. Butterfield, who is a Christian sociologist of high rank, remarks: It is not the Christian institutions of the western world that are to be imported into India, but the Christian spirit distilled from the life and teach- ings of Jesus Christ, and adapted and applied to the social purpose, the or- ganizations, and the policies of Indian social statesmanship in order to en- able this marvelous but beleaguered
A REMARKABLE INDIAN LAWYER
land of India, as it awakens, to play High civil, judicial and ecclesiits new rOle on the world's stage, the astical dignitaries, including the social pattern of the whole to be "es- Viceroy of India, the Governor of sentially Indian." Bombay, the President of the Bom- bay Legislative Council, the Bishop In some measure this is what the of Bombay, High Court judges and Christian school at Hadapsar has other Government officials, as well been attempting. as important commissions, such as . the Simon Commission, mission- The buildings, as Mr. Bunter aries, and merchants, have visited had planned them, were to consist the place and have unanimously of a school, a dispensary, a Church expressed their admiration of the Hall, and a library. There was work. It has also attracted the atalso to be a model hamlet for which tention of the leading newspapers land has been secured not far from of Western India. Lord Irwin, the school. The total cost of the after visiting the school, said: project was to be about $70,000, of which Mr. Bunter had received I was delighted to have an oppor- $40,000, a large proportion of tunity of paying even a flying' visit which was willingly donated by to this school, and of seeing somenon-Christians. All the leading thing of the work and of the spirit in men of the village today were once which it is carried on…… Most boys in the school, and the coopera- warmly do I wish it all success. tive society of the village, which is in a very flourishing condition, is Work of this nature among the conducted entirely by former stu- agriculturist class has great posdents of the school. The villagers sibilities for the Indian Church for have refused to have any liquor the agriculturists are the "steel shop in their village and many of frame" of India's vast population. them contribute out of gratitude to the annual expenses and to the Their entrance into the Christian fund for new buildings. fold will mean a new era in Indian Christianity, a new chapter in Very definite Christian teaching India's religious history. With is given in the school during the their advent problems of self-supweek and on Sundays which are set port will vanish and also the probapart for the study of the Word of lem of the Christian Mass Move- God and prayer. The beautiful ment. They will help the depressed chapel has a seating capacity for classes to find their rightful place about three hundred people. in the economy of village life. The poverty – stricken community of The position of the school is Christians, virtually ignored by strategic, for within a radius of the Government and despised by two miles there are seven villages their own countrymen, may then (including Hadapsar) and a total become a strong Christian compopulation of 40,000, and the vil- munity gaining their support from lagers are eager to send their chil- the land and not dependent on fordren to this institution. Com- eign mission charity. pulsory education, if put into effect, would make it necessary to The work undertaken by Mr. provide accommodation for 600 Bunter at Hadapsar is an example boys and girls from Hadapsar of what an Indian layman can do alone. and is worthy of support of all
Christians who have vision and school is first of all a Christian :faith. Now he has been called to school where pupils are taught the lay down this work at the age of Bible as well as other branches of fifty-eight. It is left for others to learning and are brought into livcarry forward to completion. ing contact with Jesus Christ. The school buildings were reared, as it The late Rev. W. C. Whiteside, were, on his knees and they bear for many years C. M. S. missionary eloquent testimony to the power of at Poona, said: "To me the work prayer and to the indomitable at Hadapsar seems prophetic of faith of God's devoted servant. the extension of the Kingdom of Prayer was the secret of his own Christ among the farming com- SOME OF THE TEACHERS AND SCHOLARS AT HADAPf:AR munity which is the bodily frame victorious life, the secret of which of the great country of India. he tried to impart to others. Until this great community has been brought under the inspiration The legal talents of Mr. Bunter of the Gospel, India's contribution were also readily placed at the to the Kingdom of Heaven will not service of others. A missionary be complete…… The work at who knew him for thirty years Hadapsar may prove to be one of writes: "For over twenty-seven the scarce, noted beginnings of a years we took to him all our legal mighty conversion of a mighty troubles, and never could he be incommunity." duced to take a rupee from us. After he had worked for years on The evangelization of these peo- some of our land troubles, necessiple became a passion with Mr. tating many visits to court and Bunter, and he bent all his energies much office work, I said to him: and resources to educating these hardy tillers of the soil. The "Do give us a bill for some of this work at least."
AFRICAN DRUMS AND THEIR USES
"Do you really feel that I should type, India would more quickly be give you a bill?" he replied. "If won for Christ and the independyou wish that I will do so." ence of the Indian Church would be less a subject for discussion at Reaching into his pocket he took mission conferences. By his death out a fifty rupee note and said, missions have lost a true friend, "Here is a bill if you must have one the Indian Church one of its most -put it into the orphanage." devoted sons, the Christian com- munity a spiritual leader of rare "I will never ask you again for merit, and the agricultural classes another bilI," I said, "as long as I an effective worker for their highlive." est welfare.
Mr. Bunter was not of the ob- Remember in prayer the work structive, criticizing, sneering, ob- begun and carried on by this detrusive type of Christian layman, voted servant of God and his but was in hearty sympathy with equally devoted wife, a work which the leading objects of the Christian ministry. While he devoted the he has been called upon to relinmajor part of his time to people quish before he could place it on outside the Church, he recognized a firm financial basis. Pray earnthe claims of the Church not only estly that help may be given by on his time but also on his purse, other Christian stewards in Amerand he laid whatever talents God ica or India to finish the work, and had given him at the feet of his that the people for whom J. P. Master to be used for the further- Bunter so selflessly labored may ance of His cause. If the Church be won to the Lord Jesus Christ. were blessed with more men of this AFRICAN DRUMS AND THEIR USES * BY REV. A. E. VOLLOR, Arua, Western Nile District, Uganda A:RICA is a land of drums. in a small round hole in the hut, or The rhythmic throb of the near by. The relatives stand big drum and the fascinating around in a rough circle, the womroll of the small ones that stir the en clapping hands in unison as they whole district at home, communi- wail out their sorrow. One of the cating itself to the feet or fingers, men may be tapping the drum. is the same in Africa. But there is There is the regular rise and fall a difference. There is no pleasure of the voices as one of their number in the African dance drum, but pours out her grief and the rest rerather terror. peat it in a kind of chant.
The grandeur of the dawn is On the morrow the dance begins. spoiled by the wail of the death cry. The death of a child is not much Someone has died and the cry tells considered, but many gather to of the agony of those who have no dance for one who has taken his hope, that are beset only by the share in the life of the tribe. The powers of evil. During the morn- more important the person the biging the body of the one who has ger the dance and the longer it died is buried in a sitting position lasts. People from all the clan col- lect. The chief mourners are • From Inland Africa.
daubed with white clay from head Often cow-skin is used, but the ear to foot. All the men are decked of an elephant is most sought after ,with cowriex shells and feathers because of 'its elasticity and duraand carry spears, bows and arrows. bility. The drums are of all sizes. Drums are placed in the center and Some are about as long and as beat practically incessantly for a broad as a man, others are three whole day, sometimes for several. or four feet high and nearly three The drum beats out a monotonous feet broad. They look very neat thrumming, the women and girls with thongs of different colors. At clap their hands, the sad chant con- the court of Uganda, on occasions tinues, while the whole assembly as many as twenty or twenty-five jog up and down, without lifting are beaten in harmony. One is their feet from the ground. The never complete by itself. noise of the dance largely drowns the voices except at intervals when In the Northern Congo, part of the song rises almost to a shout, or a tree trunk is shaped with a somewhen a change of drummers is what flat top and legs underneath 'made and the chanting and clap- the body. It is then hollowed, leavping is heard alone. ing surfaces on which to beat. Sometimes projections are left to Constantly throughout the day form seats for the drummers. men run out of the circle singly or These wooden drums give out a in pairs; fiercely poising their SUrprising amount of sound. spears and then throwing them at some evil spirit discerned in the Not all the drums in Africa are grass, they quietly return and used for heathen dances. On the others in turn go out. Arua Mission Station we use drums to call the people together They keep this up throughout for worship. Owing to the number the hot day till evening when beer of the meetings we sound different is served. Thoroughly exhausted, beats for different purposes, and they spend the evening in beer also have introduced a gong-acdrinking. It is well that night tually part of the wheel of a railfalls over the repulsive scene. way truck. It may not be as tune- ful as a bell but the sound is not The sound of the drum carries disagreeable. far in this land, and since on moonlight nights they continue till All through the week our drums morning, it is seldom that there is call men, women and children to no dance drum to be heard. school, Gospel meetings, catechism and Bible classes. On Sunday the The African is beset by evil spir- day breaks to the crash of drums. its in every circumstance and every Then the gong sounds for prayer. action. More than all he fears After the prayer meeting the sickness and death. He discerns Christians go out into the villages the hand of the evil one all around to invite others to the Gospel meetbut he does not know of the One ing. The drums call the people to who delivered us from so great a come and listen to the Old Old death, and doth deliver, in whom Story. Again the drum calls the we trust that He will yet deliver. villagers to Sunday school when native Christians instruct six hun- The drums of this part of Africa dred of their own people in the are hollowed sections of trees cov- Way of Life. ered top and bottom with skins, laced to each other by thongs.
STRENGTHEN THE HOME BASE *
D URING the past year, Dr. Christian civilization upon non- John R. Mott has spent much Christian thought and life will of his time visiting virtually never be christianized. "Only as all the mission boards of North men in business, commerce and America, the British Isles and finance, in the diplomatic and con- Scandinavian countries; attending sular service, in army and navy, in a chain of over thirty conferences exploration and engineering, in the of carefully selected groups of many other secular walks of life, leading students, both men and and travellers in their countless so- women, of the universities of these cial contacts-only as these lay- countries, and collaborating in men, by example, by advocacy and many gatherings of representative by every other exercise of their in- laymen of Europe and America. fluence, commend and illustrate the Fresh from these wide and varied Gospel of Christ can the Christian contacts and with an experience faith fully permeate modern life.
extending qver an average life- Such examples constitute one of time as a background, Dr. Mott the mightiest of all apologetics to analyses the present condition of discerning followers of non-Chris- the "Home Base" and makes some tian faiths."
definite suggestions for strengthen- But perhaps the most important ing it. necessity for enlisting laymen in Lay forces must be put to work. this undertaking is the fact that a Missionary societies have too few pagan home base cannot build a laymen under forty years of age Christian civilization in mission on their man a gin g boards. lands. "That is, if Christians of Younger men of business experi- Europe and America are to be of ence are needed to develop a "de- largest helpfulness in Asia and pendable financial base" and to Africa in the conflict with the opium conduct "this complex, world-wide curse, the drink evil, the traffic in undertaking" along sound business women and children, forced labor lines. Such active participation of or slavery, commercial exploitation laymen and laywomen of tried and robbery, the cinema at its business judgment, business habits worst and a devitalizing materialand wide business contacts is es- ism or secularism, then it is absosential in "generating confidence lutely necessary that we come to and enlisting the cooperation of closer and more successful grapple multitudes among the millions of with these and other evils in the lay members who today are totally Christian West. This can only be indifferent to the missionary ob- done as the lay forces of all our Christian Churches are called into ligation and challenge." Furthermore, unless I a y men action within the sphere of their everywhere take serious interest daily calling." in the world mission of Christian- The financial position of Chrisity, the impact of our so-called tian missions must be strength- ened. Dr. Mott summarized the • From The Internatio"al Review of Mis· matter as follows: sions.
3 913
We do not share with Christians compartments, rather than usherat home the right up-to-date facts. ing them into the all-inclusive We deal too much in generalities Kingdom of Christ. and by no means sufficiently with the living and the concrete. We We fall short of making real the fail to convey the impression of the vital significance and the congreatness of the undertaking. We science-shaking requirements of present mere fractions in contrast Christ's announced world purpose. with the wide range of wholeness How little we communicate the of the enterprise. We leave people sense of the splendor, the wonder, far too much shut up in narrow the superhuman in it all! "They denominational, national and racial shall speak of Thy Kingdom and talk of Thy power!"
THE GIFT OF KHAMA'S PEOPLE* W HEN the Scottish National special carving. Mr. Pilkington Memorial to David Living- Jackson, the sculptor, has now stone was being prepared at completed the group of figures in Blantyre, Chief Khama's people oak here reproduced. It is called sent £150 from Bechuanaland to "The Last Journey," and will be meet the cost of one of the histori- recognized as commemorating the cal tableaux which are the chief affection and endurance of the delight of visitors to the house. At faithful men who carried Livingthe request of the chief the grant stone's body through many perils was applied to the production of a from Chitambo's village to the East coast of Africa. • From the L. M. Ii. Ohronlc!e.
PART OF CARVING ON THE MEMORIAL TO DAVID LIVINGSTONE, GIVEN BY THE PEOPLE OF THE LATE CHIEF KHAMA ~b' BECHUANALAND
SUNDAR SlNGH AS 1 SAW H1M
BY HARRY W. NISSANKA, Lasaigaon, Nasik, India T WELVE years ago when I by the principal, the Sadhu spoke was only fourteen years old in Urdu, interpreted by Canon and a student at the Baptist Goldsmith, missionary to the Mo- High School at Colombia, I first hammedans in Madras. His text heard reports concerning an In- was, "Vanity of vanities, all is van- dian evangelist, garbed like a ity." This was the only sentence Hindu holy man, and preaching the he uttered in English. As we lis- Gospel of Christ with unusual tened we realized we were at grips power. We heard that miraculous with reality. Here was a message, experiences had attended his min- simplicity itself, which went istry. Then we learned that he was straight to our hearts. How vain, to visit Ceylon and we boys were how unreal, how wicked become on tiptoe keenly awaiting the Sad- the things of life when they fail of hu's coming. Imagine our delight the highest purpose! There was a when one day at chapel, our prin- man, said the Sadhu, who, by dint cipal, the R·ev. H. J. Charter, an- of perseverance, managed to ob- nounced that on the following tain an M.A. degree with honors.
morning Sadhu Sundar Singh was In his student days he was so poor to speak to uf!. that he could not afford an ordi- Long before the time advertised nary bottle lamp of the sort used in for the meeting, the Waldock Me- the poorest households of India, so morial Hall was crowded with an he collected a number of little fire- expectant audience of over three flies, tied them up in a piece of hundred. Minutes of waiting thin cloth, and by their light read seemed hours, so anxious were we his lessons and wrote his exercises.
to catch a glimpse of the man He was amply rewarded for his whose labors and sufferings for industry for in course of time he Christ had so thrilled our hearts. rose to be prime minister of a na- At length we heard the buzzing of tive state. But he had forgotten a motor car, and a tall, graceful the one thing needful. He had left figure draped in saffron robe, ad- God out of account. He became ill vancing with an elastic step to- and was at death's door. The Sad- wards the dais. hu was sent for. But the man The effect was electrical. Per- passed away into the unknown feet stillness fell upon the audience, with a cry of despair on his lips.
as though a vision from another "What was the use," asked the world had suddenly burst upon us. Sadhu, "of all his education when There was nothing fanatical in his God was left out of his life?"
appearance. On the other hand, His talk abounded in illustra- his countenance bespoke a holy tions. His parables and anecdotes calmness and gravity, radiating pointed di~ectIy to his chief lesson the glow of a perpetual communion and enforced it. He did not speak with the Saviour. long-not more than twenty-five After the hymn, "Let us with a minutes. But every word told. It gladsome mind praise the Lord for was like an arrow that pierced the He is kind," and a prayer offered heart with conviction.
915
At the close of the meeting, "I shall not occupy your time with everyone crowded around the Sad- useless talk about what I have seen hu to shake hands. Superstitious- and heard in my travels. The ly I pressed through the throng Apostle Paul says, 'Pray without and touched the end of his saffron ceasing.'" Then he began a most scarf, hoping to be benefited there- evangelical sermon on prayer.
by. But spiritual power is not ob- I still remember two of his illus- tained in that way. trations. The mother slaps her Two years passed away. Sadhu baby on its back to make it cry, Sundar Singh had visited Europe, and by crying expand its lungs so America and Australia; and on his that it may breathe more freely.
return to India must needs pass Just so the Lord smites us some- through Colombo. He was to times and we may cry out, but thus spend a few hours until the de- we learn to breathe more freely of parture of the train to India. A the atmosphere of heaven, prayer.
meeting was advertised at the Communion with God means God Tower Hall (on September 20, in us and we in God. Yet this does 1920 at 6 P. M.), one of the larg- not destroy our individuality. If est auditoriums in the city. The the iron is in the fire, there will place was cn~wded and I sat in the soon be fire in the iron. But the gallery at the farther end of the iron does not become fire, and the hall. The Sadhu entered, accom- fire does not become iron. At the panied by a number of clergymen end of the address someone asked and other Christian workers and him to what denomination he be- we sang the hymn, "0 for a closer longed. He replied: "I am a walk with God." After a few in- simple Christian. I belong to no troductory remarks by the chair- denomination. Denominationalism man, the Sadhu was called upon to is quarrelism."
speak. He was still the same * * * >I< * simple man we had seen two years before. Only this time he spoke In the disappearance of Sadhu in English. He told us that in the Sundar Singh while on his way to providence of God he had been Tibet Christianity has lost one of privileged to bear his testimony to its greatest practical exponents.
Christ's saving power in Europe, Lost? Nay, not so; for his ex- America and Australia. He said: ample will continue to live.
THE STORY OF MISS TSAI OF CHINA AS TOLD BY HERSELF M y FATHER had twenty-two We could have almost anything we children. He had two wives wished. Our home was large and· and a concubine and his po- had beautiful gardens with an sition was next to that of the gov- abundance of flowers and a lake ernor of the province. He was a in the grounds. As a young girl, man of wealth and of good char- I spent most of my time playing acter. Our household numbered Ma J ongg and drinking wine, payabout sixty, counting the servants ing a good deal of attention to fine -and each small child had a nurse. clothes. I loved my father and he
THE STORY OF MISS TSAI OF CHINA
loved me and gave me many pleas- book with me and held it inside ures, taking me every week to a my Bible to read during the servtheater. Once when he was very ice. I did not wish to pay any atill, I thought of the old Chinese tention to Bible teaching. One day idea that if the flesh of a child is a celebrated American was to take boiled and given to drink that the the service and my only thought patient will recover, so secretly I in hearing him speak was to learn tried to cut a piece of flesh from new English expressions-for I my arm. I had no idea how diffi- thought, if I am obliged to go, I cult it would be and it sickened will use the time to improve my me as I tried again and again with English and that will be my rea blunt pair of scissors to cut off ward for attending. I realize now a piece, but at last I succeeded and how much prayer was going up for my father really did get well. My me as I studied month after month. arm was very, very sore as I put Gradually the words of the Scripon ashes of incense burned in our tures began to sink into my heart private temple, and tied it up with and I felt anything but happy. a none too clean handkerchief, but I kept my secret for a long time, One day when I went to a servfor part of· this superstition is to ice the pastor said "Why is it that tell no one for a hundred days, some people who have heard the during which time the idols are Gospel over and over again are so implored to take notice of this sac- unhappy?" He drew the comparirifice. It took six months for the son that they were like a tree wound to heal. My father passed which had fallen and lay on the away about a year afterwards and ground, and under it were all manwhile we sUlI had enough of this ner of crawling creatures because world's goods, we were not as they loved to dwell away from the wealthy as before. light in the darkness. One day as I sat in a park, I remembered his I was greatly interested in my words and thought: I will see studies but was told that I would whether or not his words are true, not really be considered educated and moved a large block of wood until I could speak other languages. which was lying on the ground. I learned Latin and English in the There, to my amazement I saw a normal school but as I grew up I serpent wriggling its way out of wished to know more. I inquired the light and numbers of insects where I could learn more English all made uncomfortable by the light and a mission school was recom- shining upon them. It was then mended to me. There I made some that I realized that the Lord Jesus progress but when I wanted to was speaking to me and that I was have a special teacher for English, unhappy in the light He had given the lady, Miss Davis, who offered me because I was still in darkness to help me stipulated that the Bi- of soul. So I went to my room and ble must be the textbook. I said prayed: "Oh God, if there is a that I would rather study some God, help me." Then God met me other book for I was not interested and the light came into my life. in the Bible, but she was firm and so we began. I would not attend From that day I knew Christ as prayers until I found it was re- my Saviour and soon after made quired and then I took another a public confession and was bap- tized. I had not spoken to my par-
ents of my new experience but drag our family name into the asked a friend to write and tell dust." them because I knew they would be displeased. When I went home I did not get angry, but said a short time afterwards I found "Oh mother, Jesus is more to me my mother weeping and my eight than anything on earth." older brothers (I was one of the younger children), sitting around They wished to betroth me and the room like judges. My eldest my mother opened the treasure brother beat me. My mother con- chest and showed me all the fine tinued weeping day and night, for apparel and jewels I should have a week. I said, "Mother, the Lord upon marriage-but even these Jesus is so much to me that I can- could not supplant Jesus Christ not help but follow Him." I suf- My brothers stilI beat me at times fered much persecution, for my but gradually the Lord worked in brothers felt I had disgraced them their hearts and, one by one, they and often said "Sister, what have turned to Him. My mother became you done?" When I came to the seriously ill and we brought her table and asked a silent blessing to the Friends' Hospital. Miss Leait displeased-my family very much man, another lady and I fasted for and sometimes they were so angry three days after which my mother that they sent me away without a showed signs of relenting. Before mouthful. Often I spoke to them she left the hospital, she accepted about the Lord. He kept my heart the Lord. After that she tried to in peace and kept me from speak- help in the work in every way she ing hastily. When my mother was could. ill and I again asked her if she would believe, she said: "When I A proud sister who lives in am dead and in my coffin, and the Shanghai said: "Do not call yourlid put down, then and only then self a Bible woman, we do not will I believe in Jesus!" want one of our family to be known by that name. I only said "It is After a time, my favorite broth- most honorable to be a Bible womer, who still loved me, wished me an." to teach him Latin. As we sat in one of the summer houses near our "Then I cannot receive you into private temple in which were my home," she answered. scores of idols, large and small, I drew his attention to them telling "I am sorry if you cannot rehim they could not hear as Jesus ceive me but I must serve the Lord did to whom I prayed. Gradually with all my soul and strength," I he came to believe. It was then replied, "and to serve Him is my that my mother suffered most. She greatest joy." said "I cannot bear it, I cannot bear it; it was bad enough when I praise the Lord that now thiryou followed this foreign doctrine ty-one of my family have come to but to have a son of mine believe know the Lord and that He gives it, is too much to endure, I will me strength to tell my sisters of give you away to anyone, into any His great love. kind of home, just so you will not Miss Tsai is now doing fine work and is greatly used of the Lord among Gov- ernment school girls, knowing their trials and difficulties when they come out on the Lord's side. She herself has gone through the experience. Pray for her.
Present War in Europe tion and are open to persuasion
competing claims. This war, ,says Devere Allen in The American Friend, is being "fought The growth of anti-war sentiment in within men's minds; fought in the the Christian churches of England market place, the stock exchange and and America is heartening but in the banking institutions; in the dip- Europe this development has not been lomatic headquarters of the struggling nearly as rapid and widespread. nations; in the chemical and ammunition factories; in the contest to sway What can be done to avert the conmillions of youth toward different sys- flict for which the world seems to be terns; fought between a hundred preparing and rehearsing? minorities and the majorities that Salary Cuts and "No Retreat"
would hold them subject; fought in In these days, when many find that the clash of propaganda issued by their incomes have greatly decreased, clever snipers in pressrooms; fought when multitudes are out of employin the shop, the meeting hall and the ment and when contributions to street between the ruling classes and benevolent objects have been falling the revolutionary proletariat." War- off, it is natural that mission board making attitudes and practices hang executives and office staff should face over the European peoples and are not a reduction in salaries. Probably easily dispelled. none of these salaries are too large, Uppermost in people's minds are when we consider the cost of living and the responsibilities involved. wartime legends rather than the cold, S'ome Boards have adopted a salary real facts about war. Small nationali- ties and minority populations cry for basis so small as to mea'll real sacrifice justice and yet it is difficult to find and a threatened loss in efficiency.
the ideal for them. French rule in There is a wide range in the amount Alsace-Lorraine since the War has not paid missionary executives – from solved the Alsacian problem. The un- $2,500 to $8,000 a year, according to settled situations in other minority the board or society.
groups show the difficulty in adjusting The executives of more than one the status QU()o If the League of Na- mission board have agreed to a ten per cent reduction in their salaries, and a tiO'IIS becomes an instrument for peace- five per cent reduction in the salaries able changes in the status quo, peace paid to members of the clerical staff, will immeasurably be advanced.
Communism and capitalism are wag- rather than make a cut in the missioning war for supremacy in Europe. aries' salaries. The secretaries of the Montague Norman, Governor of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Mis- Bank of England, recently said that sions have voted to inaugurate a sacriunless drastic measures are taken to ficial fund with a view to maintaining save the world, the whole economic the work abroad without reduction. structure will topple in a year. Soviet It is called a "No Retreat Fund." AI- Russia is viewed with a mixture of ready the voluntary contributions to fear and interest. Peace organiza- this fund, from the secretaries, office tions originally militantly opposed to staff and members of the Board, war have assumed a fact-finding func- amount to a considerable sum. Some 919
executives have cheerfully contributed moderator of the General Assembly of ten per cent of their salaries. the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., and president of the Federal Council of The secretaries of any mission board Churches of Christ in America. ca'nnot see the work threatened without concern and the Presbyterian The recent anniversary of Dr. Board has noted with anxiety a de- Speer's secretaryship of the Board of crease of gifts in recent years. If Foreign Missions was a very happy this should continue at the present celebration presided over by Dr. rate (about 9.6 per cent) during the Charles R. Erdman, president, and rest of the year, there would be a brief addresses were given by Dr. deficit of at least $330,000. Such a Lewis S. Mudge, Moderator of the deficit would almost certainly demand General Assembly; Dr. John R. Mott, a "cut" in appropriations for the com- Secretary of the International Mising year with a consequent loss to the sionary Council; Dr. J. Ross Stevenwork. It is already difficult for the son, President of Princeton Theological Christians on the field to support their Seminary; Dr. Arthur J. Brown, for share of the work. All appeals are to thirty-five years a beloved oolleague of be subordinated this year to the major Dr. Speer; and Dr. A. R. Bartholoneeds of the regular budget. This mew, for forty-four years secretary of will leave many urgent calls unan- the Board of Foreign Missions of the swered. Reformed Church in the United States. Expressions of thanksgiving, affection Careful examinatio'n will also be and esteem came from hundreds of made of the entire work, at home and friends and fellow workers in many on the field, to discover whether churches. Dr. Speer and Dr. Stevenfurther savings can be effected and son both called attention to the growth where and how funds can be used of the Foreign Mission enterprise durmore effectively. ing the past forty years. The work under the Presbyterian Board has in- The state of the world challenges creased threefold in the missionaries the Church to an increase of giving supported, and the budget fourfold, and sacrifice. This is a time of crisis while the membership at home has when the Church of Christ should re- doubled. Many missionary forward spond to the call for prayer and for movements have been inaugurated or sacrifice. enlarged during this period, including the Foreign Missions Conference, the Robert E. Speer's Anniversary* Student Volunteer Movement, the Lay- men's Missionary Movement, the Mis- The whole span of the Presbyterian sionary Education Movement and the Board of Foreign Missions has been International Missionary Council, and covered in the lifetime of two honored the Committee ·on Cooperation in secretaries, John C. Lowrie, who Latin America. In all of these Dr. served in the office for the first sixty Speer has had a large and active part. years, and Robert E. Speer, who has just completed forty years in the secre- Interest in Foreign Missions has taryship of the Board. This anniver- greatly increased during this period. sary was observed by a special noonday The spirit of loving and sympathetic prayer meeting conducted by the cler- cooperation at home and on the misical staff in the Board rooms on No- sion field has largely taken the place of vember 2d and by a small reception separatism, criticism and rivalry. Misgiven by the Board on the same after- sionary work has become more diversinoon. fied and specialized and more emphasis is placed on the special training of Dr. Speer has been president of the candidates and on promoting united policy and action through missionary MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD conferences. The world and its prob- for fifteen year·s, and has recently been *This editorial app~ars without the knowledge of Dr. Speer, our president.
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
lems have vastly changed in the past What Orientals Think ofAmerica forty years but there are new opportunities .offered and new victories lie T HERE are 3,579 students from the ahead. Now is a time for clearer vi- five principal countries in the Orision, more complete consecration, new ent enrolled in American colleges and courage, more perfect faith, new ad- universities. Adding those who are vances, new struggles, new sacrifices not actually enrolled at this time, the and new triumphs in Christ. total number of the students from the Orient would easily exceed 5,000. Six years more of service as secre- From at least one standpoint, the tary of the Board lie before Dr. Speer presence .of these young men and before his retirement. Since we are women is significant in that upon their on the threshold of a great new era return to their respective countries in which the larger opportunities sum- they will form the class of leadership mon us to new forward movements, in various fields of activity, and they Dr. Mott suggested that when Dr. will be looked upon by their own peo- Speer is released from the responsi- ple as -interpreters of America and of bility of his secretaryship he may well Western civilization. It is important devote himself to helping to promote to know what attitudes these students true religious liberty across the world; are forming toward America and to prom.oting further Christian co- Western culture. operation in thought and action at home and abroad; to awakening and In order to inquire into the problem, enlisting the lay forces in the church; The Korean Student Bulletin sent out to writing the life stories of great a questionnaire to 100 representative Christian leaders and to convincing students from each of the following men of all nations that the claims of countries: China, Japan, Korea, the Jesus Christ are universal, essential Philippine Islands and India. Taken and supreme. We hopefully look for- as a whole, the opinions found in the ward to the coming years in our replies may be regarded as a crossfriend's life with confidence that they section of the Oriental students in will be the richest in service and the America. most fruitful for the Kingdom of God. 1. The first question asked was Look for January "Do you consider America as good a; you thought she was while you were Friends of THE REVIEW will be espe- in your oum country?" To this query, cially interested in the changes that 43 replied negatively, 33 in the affirmare to be made in our January number. ative, and 2 gave no answer. This im- Some of these are quite radical as to plies that more than half think Amerform and contents but we hope they ica to be worse than expected. will make THE REVIEW still more attractive and useful in promoting the The reasons given for unfavorable cause ()f Christ. answers are: No sympathy, no deep faith in Christ, hard to get jobs, race The January articles will present a prejudice, political corruption, moral review of the past year and the out- degeneration, vice, insincerity, disrelook at home and abroad by such writ- spect, materialism, lack of moral and ers as Robert E. Speer, William I. spiritual qualities, lack of law and Chamberlain, Kenneth S. Latourette, order and of opportunity, few Chris- Samuel M. Zwemer, John McDowell, tians, inj ustice, inequality, indiffer- John R. Mott and Arthur J. Brown. ence to religion, and commercialism.' Do not miss the January number. Of these seventeen reasons, race preju- dice stands at the top in frequency, Plans for the coming year make an and lack of spiritual life or materialespecially attractive program which ism comes second. can scarcely fail to prove of great interest and help to everyone interested The favorable replies give the folin the progress of Christianity. lowing reasons: Educational advan-
tages, American idealism, hospitality, Any God-called and Spirit-filled man kindness, friendliness and wealth. or woman may do a wonderful work 2. The second question asked was, in a God-appointed task. It is not "Has your Christian faith been education or talent or physical health strengthened since you came to Amer- or personality, that insures success, it ica?" Thirty-eight replied affirma- is the power of God in the life.
tively, 31 in the negative, 8 stated no Three general types of missions are change had occurred, and 6 gave no conducted by representatives of the answer. The reasons given for favor- Christian Church in foreign lands.
able answers were: Superstition elim- Some of these types change from time inated; learned more of Christianity; to time-a sort of transmutation of Christian culture; contact with good the species.
Christians; atmosphere of American First, there are the general denomi- environment, religious influence, national missions, such as the Church church attendance, feeling of helpless- Missionary Society and the Presbyte- ness, Christian atmosphere at «allege, rian Board, with definite home con- Christian homes, need for r~ligion stituencies, administrative boards at stronger here, learned to take life the home base, and several depart- positively, and personal religion. ments of field work-institutional and The reasons given to account for evangelistic. These societies differ their decreas~ in Christian faith since greatly in the amount and character their arrival are: Lack of real Chris- of their institutional work and in their tian faith, study of social and natural emphasis on evangelism. They gen- sciences, race prejudice, Christian erally build up churches on the field teachings not practiced, narrowmind- with doctrines, government and wor- edness, heavy school work, American ship similar to those in the home land. indifference to Christianity, little con- Second, there are the large non-de- tact with Christians, genuine Chris- nominational or interdenominational tian spirit lacking, church sermons of missions like the Y. M. C. A. and the little value, American churches too Near East colleges, with a le"s de- superficial, unbrotherly attitude of fined home constituency and with more Christians, American environment not administrative responsibilities on the conducive to spiritual growth, hypoc- field. These organizations usually de- risy. materialism, true Christians few. vote thei!' energies to institutional childish controversy over theological work-educational or social. They do dogmas. not form independent churches and, as a rule, do not emphasize evangelism.
Principles of "}'aith Missions" Some of them are endowed and re- ceive large subsidies from national To any student of missions it is governments.
clear that God works and has worked Third, there are the so-called "Faith through the ages, working through Missions." like the China Inland Mismany instruments and agencies and sion, and Donhavur Fellowship. They has accepted the services of many men are independent and evangelistic and and women who have been discredited have no definite denominational con- and rejected by human courts that un- stituency behind them. In many cases dertook to speak for Him. There are their governing boards are on the field, responsibilities that He has placed while cooperating councils promote upon us and there are standards that the work at home. Many of them do He has set for us. These we must study not establish institutional work but and follow if we would be partners limit themselves wholly to preaching, with Him in the great work of win- evangelism, the education of children ning men to Christ. The greatest re- of converts and the training of native sponsibility placed on Mission Boards Christian workers. Some of these is in the selection of missionaries. missions establish no indepell(~ent
churches on the field but advise con- evangelization of the whole world. The verts to join those already founded by China Inland MilSsion has recently denominational missions. adopted a plan to turn over to the Chinese church the work in the older In the midst of the present financial stations and to send their available depression at home and of unrest and missionaries into new territory. opposition in the mission fields, it is interesting to note that some inde- 3. Many of the workers in "Faith pendent evangelistic missions seem Missions," being in the newer fields, generally to have suffered less from have fewer comforts than are enjoyed de.1cits than the other two classes of by missionaries in the larger centers missions. Some are particularly that are in closer contact with civilizastrong-like the China Inland Mis- tion. The workers receive small salsion, Christian and Missionary Alli- aries and many live on a community ance, the Africa Inland Mission, the basis, sharing what funds are avail- Egypt General Mission and others. able but without guarantees. Many of There are lessons that these independ- them endure severe hardships, characent workers can learn from denomi- teristic of pioneering and believe that national missions-lessons especially such sacrifices are inherent in true in cooperation, comity and building missionary life. strongly for the future. Are there not also lessons that larger denominational 4. "Faith Missions" are convinced and interdenominational missions may of the lost condition of all men apart learn from these smaller bodies-at from Christ. They believe that no huleast lessons in emphasis? man merit or good works can save a soul and that since eternal death is the 1. "Faith Missions," as a rule, put wages of sin, all men must accept the almost all their emphasis on evangel- Gospel or be forever lost. ism and they very strictly limit the amount of institutional work that 5. "Faith Missions" insist on absothey undertake. They believe that lute faith in Jesus Christ as the eterthe great commission of Christ was to nal Son of God and the only Saviour be His witnesses, to preach the Gospel of men through His sacrifice on the rather than to establish Christian in- Cross. Their theology is strictly constitutions where educational, social or servative. In most of these missions industrial work absorbs a large part every officer and worker is required of the funds and energies of the mis- to subscribe to the doctrinal basis sions. There is a growing feeling which includes: Belief in the full inamong many Christians, at home and spiration of the Scriptures; the Trinabroad, that denominational missions ity; "the fall of man"; the atonement are becoming over institutionalized so through the death of Christ; justifithat money and strength that should cation by faith in Christ; the resurbe used for direct evangelism j.s used rection of Christ and of all the dead; for educational or social work. This and in eternal life for the saved and latter is a ministry greatly needed but eternal suffering for the lost. of secondary importance. 6. "Faith Missions," largely as a re- 2. "Faith Missions" generally have sult of foregoing, put great emphasis in view the unoccupied fields. They on prayer and the guidance and power are pioneers and as a rule these socie- of the Holy Spirit. Consistent and ties were formed for the purpose of successful "Faith Missions" depend opening new territory-such as inland upon prayer as the great resource in China, Africa or South America. the selection of workers, in the secur- They aim to reach the most inacces- ing of funds, in planning the work, for sible fields and the most neglected the opening of closed doors and the classes in older fields so that they may, overcoming of opposition; for protecas speedily as possible, complete the tion of life and property, for the prep- aration and winning of converts, and
for the selection and equipment of na- Denominational missions, no doubt, tive workers. Some accept "faith healing" and depend on special guid- by the study of "Faith Missions," may ance; many refuse to ask openly for workers or funds to support the mis- be impressed anew with the value of sion. a definite objective and fixed stand- Many of those associated with denominational church missions accept ards; they may put greater empha- many or all of these principles of faith and practice but they are not usually sis on the authority of the Bible as required as inherent in the organization and all its members. the Word of God, on the prime im- 7. "Faith Missions," as a rule, be- portance of evangelism in every de- lieve in the imminent Personal and visible return of Christ to earth as partment of the work; on the need for foretold in the New Testament. They, therefore, believe that the world will more pioneer service in unoccupied not become wholly Christian, that the Kingdom of God will not be universal- fields; on the need of all men to rely recognized through a gradual process. Their hope is not in human or- ceive life through Christ and His ganization but the personal return of Jesus Christ to reign and to subdue atonement; on complete dependence all things to Himself. This belief does not create pessimism Dr cause a tend- on God and His guidance through conency to sit idly and await the Advent; it gives courage in the midst of apos- tinued prayer and the Holy Spirit and tasy and persecution and leads to dependence on God, and unquestion- on the blessed hope for the return of ing obedience to Him and faith that He will establish His Kingdom on Christ to establish His Kingdom. earth in His own appointed time. After all there is only one Church, of "Faith Missions" have not, by any means, a monopoly of these convictions which we are all members; one Head and may learn from "Church Missions" many equally valuable lessons, which whom we all honor, and one Spirit on some of them have apparently .overlooked. Most of the outstanding Chris- whom we must all depend for guidance tian missionaries and most of the work of winning men to Christ have been and for power. – connected with the "Church Missions." Many "Faith Missions" fail to recog- Need in the Dutch East Indies nize sufficiently the value of effective organization, of Christian institutions, A missi'Onary in Malaysia writes to of definite campaigns, lessons in busi- the Editor as f'Ollows: ness efficiency and adequate support of the work. They may learn tolerance "A short article in the May REVIEW, without disloyalty, and that faithful- is by my friend the Rev. J. A. Jaffray. ness does not inv:olve suspicion of others. They may learn the value of "After careful investigati'On the east cooperation and the truth that the coast of Borne'O has been chosen and Spirit 'of God works through many several missionaries .of the Christian different agents and in many different and Missi'Onary Alliance are now workways. ing there among Chinese and Dyaks. The important city of Makassar has been decided UP'On as a celJlter, and work has als'O been started am'Ong the Chinese on the islands Bali Sambah in Saembawa.
"I write t'O support Mr. Jaffray's request f'Or the w'Ork in Balik-papan, Samarinda and Makassar. They repre- sent places of midnight darkness.
"The work among the Chinese in Makassar has now been started through a gr'Oup of missionaries en- couraged by Mr. Jaffray. In Sura- baya (a, city in which are living 265,872 Javanese), Christian mission- aries have been working for years.
"The Chinese in Bali number 7,645, n'Ot 'some hundreds of th'Ousands' (page 701, September REVIEW).
"DR. N. A. C. SLOTgMAKERDE BRUINE."
fmODS fOR WORKf4
EDITED BY MRS. F.!. JOHNSON, 150 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK GIFT GIVERS Magdalene: "But I don't have much to spend at Christmas anyway so I (A Christmas Missionary Playlet in guess you need not count on me for Two Scenes) anything."
By J. NEAL GRIFFITH Edna: "I don't have much either but when I think how disappointed Scene One they will be I want to help a little."
Place: A Young Women's Mission- Miss Miller: "Now, girls, you have ary Meeting. given a good reason why we should send the boxes but not the best. Re- Setting: Home Furnishings or a member that the true secret of a hap- Church Classroom. py Christmas is sharing it with others. Magdalene, I'm not ,so sure that the Characters: Miss Miller, the Coun- people 'of foreign lands don't give us cillor; Magdalene, Grace, Edna, Caro- anything. I hope you will think it line and others. over and change your mind."
(As scene opens the meeting is in Scene Two progress. If the time is limited the dialogue may begin at once. If more Time: Christmas Day. time can be used have a missionary Setting: A davenport or large easy hymn, Scripture, prayer or special chair at one side of the platform with numbers precede it.) a telephone near. The other side of the platform should have a table with Miss MiUer: "Well, girls, I think a number of unwrapped packages and you all know what our big work is this boxes. evening. It is one in which I am sure Characters: Magdalene; representyou should all be interested." atives from various countries, if pos- sible, wearing the costumes of their Caroline: "Of course we know and native land, or in plain robes. we're all realy to help." Magdalene: "Well, this has been a busy Christmas Day and I have had Magdalene: "Don't say 'we,' for such a lot of nice gifts. But I feel so I'm sure I can't imagine what it is." sleepy I guess I'll sit down and rest a minute." (Sits down and falls asleep.) Edna: "Why, Magdalene, don't you (Spirit from China enters and know that this is November and it's speaks as she stands by the packages.) nearly the middle of the month?" China: "You said that Caroline gave you this vase today but I wonder Grace: "Yes, and if we don't get our if you know where it really came from. Christmas mission boxes sent soon Months ago we labored in China to they won't reach the mission stations decorate this glass for your room. in time." Perhaps you forgot the long hours we work at a very small wage that you Miss MiUer: "Yes, of course, that's might have these pretty things. We what I meant." make them for you and yet have so little for ourselves." Magdalene: "Well, it may be the time but I can't see why we should put ourselves out to send Christmas gifts to people who never give us anything."
Caroline: "But think how disappointed they will be if nothing comes this year."
Grace: "Yes, and we've always done it."
925
(She retires and Porto Rico ap- estine and Arabia, was the scene of pears.) the Old Testament stories and the Porto Rico: "I think you forgot us blessed Christmas Day you love so when you thanked your brother for much, celebrates the great event that this box of candy. Down in Porto happened in a little town in what is Rico we labor very hard in the sugar now a mission field. What if we had cane fields. The sun sometimes seems kept that story to ourselves and had unbearable but we must not stop be- never told it to you who live in the cause we must raise the sugar for West? We have given you the knowl- YDur delicacies. We are oppressed by edge of the greatest Christmas gift superstition and pleasures are so few of all."
that we feel bad when your gifts do (Representatives of all the countries not come." retire. Magdalene awakes, sits up and (Porto Rico retires and a Negro rubs her eyes.) girl from the South enters.) Magdalene: "Why I must have been Southern Girl: "I'm glad that you sleeping. I must have dreamed for I liked the cloth for your new dresses felt as though my gifts had been talk- for we worked hard in the cotton fields ing. I'm going to call Mi·ss Miller."
this year. We try to be happy but (Takes up telephone and calls num- sometimes we get discouraged for the ber.) "Hello . . . Oh Miss Miller, I've gifts to some of the missions have had the strangest dream just now and been so reduced that the little schools I think I know now what you meant have been discontinued; we cannot last month when you said you weren't afford to hire teachers." so sure that we did not receive our (She retires and an Indian or Es- gifts from people of other lands. You kimo boy from Alaska enters.) know I think that everything I got for Alaskan Boy: "It was your father Christmas this year really came from I know who paid for the fur neckpiece someone who waH not so fortunate as you received far Christmas, but we 1. I'm terribly ashamed that I didn't boys in Alaska were the ones who help with the gift boxes this year. I walked miles through the snow t'O set want you to know that I'm starting the traps where the fur animal was right now to plan for next year …
caught. Now we hear that some mis- You're happy? .. Well, I'm happy too sion hospitals are closed fDr lack of but I think that next Christmas will funds to carry them on. This will be be much happier than this one was …
a bad winter for us." What? .. Oh yes, of course I'll tell the (Japan enters as the Alaskan boy girls all about my dream at the next retires.) meeting. Good-bye."
Japan: "Do y'Ou know, it took a (If the lights can be lowered while the good many aching backs and tired feet various gift givers speak, it will be efand hands to care for the silk worms fective.) and to watch the looms that wove the HELPS FOR MISSION STUDYsilk scarf you have there? Even the BOOK PROGRAMS little children in Japan have to work very hard and we seldom have for our Quoted from God and the Census own any of the nice things we make "We created the Indian problem"
for you." said someone at the Washington Con- (An Arab or a Hebrew child en- gress, "by stealing the Indian's land.
ters.) And we created the Negro problem by Arab: "I see that someone gave you stealing the Negro to work that land."
a fine Bible. Did you ever think where (Page 81.) it came from? I know that it was When we get to the point where we printed in your own country but don't are emphasizing again the things you remember where all these things which divide us; when, for the sake happened? My land, 'Syria and Pal- of denominational position or personal
METHODS FOR WORKERS
glory, we confuse children in the faith There is no particular reason for with differences which, if they really believing that a young man will love mattered, Christ himself would have the Japanese in Tokio if he abhors the clarified explicitly, is the fine flame of Japanese in Los Angeles.
{Jur spiritual zeal not dying down? "We must find God again and walk (Page 144.) His way." (Page 155.) "We wish once more to say what the Most certainly we cannot expect a Home Missions Council has repeated- quickening of spiritual power in either ly said, that we are convinced that the young or old until God has a more time has come to eliminate competi- real place in our lives. And this must tion in home missions. We are un- be not a gener~ process operating equivocally opposed to the use of through organization propaganda, but mission funds for the maintenance of a definite experience in the heart of competitive enterprises." (Page 148.) each one of us. The Washington Con- "For a century the church in Ameri- gress quoted the words of Stanley ca labored under the conviction that Jones, "We cannot go further until we it must expand and press on. If that go deeper," and continued: sense of imperative need has been lost, "The band of men who nineteen we must recreate it in the church." hundred years ago went out to trans- (Page 150.) form the world were moved by the The quality which has been lost out conviction that there is but Qne 'name 'Of our giving is the giving of our- under heaven given among men selves. We have talked about giving whereby we must be saved: That con- what we possess. As a matter of fact, viction had been born in them of a often we have made our cOlLtributions great personal experience. They had to the cause of Christ out of what has known Christ and he had made their been left over from automobile tires, lives pageants of triumph in him.
parties, clothes, cosmetics and chewing Through him they could do all things.
gum. We have forgotten that the Him, therefore, they believed to be cross of Christ can go forward only sufficient for the transformation of upon the sacrifices of his people. God all their fellowmen ….. .
does not want us to do the easy thing; "Wanted, Faith in Something."
he calls on us to do the hard thing. He (Page 158.) does not want the time which we call Our missionary pI'oblems will be spare time; he wants the time which solved when our spiritual problems will really cut into our lives. He does are solved; when you and I live daily not ask us for contributions we can as in the sight of God. Our budgets afford to make; he asks us for con- are bankrupt because there are so tributions which mean a sacrifice when many of us whose spiritual lives are we make them. Just before Walter bankrupt. We count our houses, our Rauschenbusch died, I heard him lec- lands, our cars, our books, our stocks, ture. To facilitate the asking of ques- our bonds. We count everything and tions, inquiries were written upon everybody, but we do not count God.
slips of paper and passed to the plat- (Page 158.) form. The first one read asked, "What When those who count themselves does the church most need today?" His followers. begin to count Him in Like a flash came the answer, "The their own lives, then He will be restoration of the cross." (Page 151.) counted throughout the life of the If you cannot give yourself, the rest world. (Page 159.) does not count. It may be a gift of service in the church or in a mission, QUOTATIONS or it may be a gift of funds, but you , (Various Sources) cannot give really except of yourself. "We can be sure that humanity will Only through such giving can the not let many churches die which serve Kingdom of God go forward. gnat human needs. If it carries out
the program which Jesus made the "Without a large body of independtest of a judgment day, the church in ent and self-respecting farmers, and the wildwood will flourish into that with her city populations demoralized day." (The RuraL BilLion, page 143.) by idleness, vice and luxury, Rome was in a position to fall a prey to the more "As you ride along the highway or vigorous invaders Qf the north."-J. walk across the countryside take M. Gilbert. thought of the man who plows in the field or sells garden truck at the road- GOD, LOW BROODING ON side stand. Consider the food upon your table and discover its price, not THE DEEP in cents but in toil and hardship." (The Rural Billion, page 148.) Prize Song, Music by Laura Baker Long; Words by Harry Webb Farrington "Give a thought to the injustice done to boys and girls who crawl on This music, composed by Mrs. Laura hands and knees in the beet fields Baker Long, of Philadelphia, won the across damp loam and pull weeds with award offered for the most appropriate hands that should fondle a toy." (The tune written by any member of the RuraL Billion, page 148.) methods classes in three Qf the largest summer institutes in the United "Humanize this problem in arith- States. We congratulate the Philadelmetic, if it costs the farmer ninety- phia Interdenominational Institute. four cents to produce a bushel of r a. ……
l1D~- eo… 1')t…… ,…,'( soul 0.- ,let-p, A." ~ive 'rile …. -. ~ wheat which sells for sixty-five cents, GOD, LOW BROODING ON THE DEEP how long will a calic'o dress last the farmer's wife?" (The Rural Billion, God, low brooding on the deep page 148.) Until awakes the earth, The Motto of Benedictine Monks in Hover near my soul asleep the middle ages, "By the power of the And give me holy hirth. Cross and the plow." Cruce et aratro. Spirit, touching bush aflame Happy the man who from ambition freed In lonely desert place, A little field and little garden feed; Grant me courage in Thy name The hardened thrones to face. The field does frugal nature's wants Lightning, from Mount Sinai, stern, supply, Soft-tempered in the shrine, The garden furnishes for luxury, Make the altar coals to burn And daily kindle mine. What farther specious clogs of life re- Dove in air at Jordan's stream, main, Angel in wilderness, He leaves for fools to seek, and knaves Watch beside my cross's beam to gain. -Abraham Cowley. And guide mid hostile press.
"Farming is not only the most an- Mission's Torch, disciple's Tongue, cient, but the best of all profes·sions, In brothers' one accord, for divine nature made the country, but man',s skill the town.-Varro (3d Herald peace, good-will among book on Agriculture.) The nations of our Lord.
FOR OHAPTER IN "CHRIST COMES MY PRAYER TO THE VILLAGES": HE HEALS THE SICK By ELSIE JANIS HYMN God, let me live each lovely day, So I may know that, come what may, (Any long Meter Tune) I've done my best to live the way At even ere the sun was set, You want me to. The sick, 0 Lord, around Thee lay; Forgive me if I do not pray 0, in what divers pains they met! The ultra-sanctimonious way 0, with what joy they went away! In church on every Sabbath day, Once more 'tis eventide, and we As some folks do. Oppressed with various ills, draw near; Just let me know if I should stray, What if Thy form we cannot see? That I may stop along the way We know and feel that Thou art here. At any time of night or day o Saviour Christ, our woes dispel; And talk to you.
For some are sick, and some are sad, A MESSAGE OF FRIENDSHIP AND ApPRE- And some have never loved Thee well; CIATION TO THOSE WHO HAVE MADE USE OF THE METHODS DEPARTMENT And some have lost the love they had; DURING THE PAST THREE YEARS And some are pressed with worldly care; It is with real regret that I have And some are tired with sinful doubt; found it necea-sary to resign from the editorship of this department because And some such grievous passions tear, of the demands of another line of work That only Thou canst cast them out; to which it would seem God has called me. And none, 0 Lord, have perfect rest, And none are wholly free from sin; I wish to thank the hundreds of my readers in England, Wales, Scotland, And they who fain would serve Thee best Australia, Mexico, Korea, Persia, Can- Are conscious most of wrong within. ada, and the United States, who have through these years heartened me o Saviour Christ, Thou too art Man; with their kind letters. My only re- gret is, that I did not serve you better. Thou hast been troubled, tempted, tried; Thy kind but searching glance can scan May the year 1932 be for you a year of great spiritual growth by reason of The very wounds that shame would the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as hide; Guide, Teacher, and Interpreter.
Thy touch has still its ancient power; MRS. F. I. JOHNSON. No word from Thee can fruitless fall; Hear, in this solemn evening hour, And in Thy mercy heal us all.
-Lutheran Common Service Book.
ON THE INDIAN ROAD BY PEARL D. LONGLEY, Markapur, India I love to meet the common folk Who travel the Indian road, Whose feet are dusty, Whose backs are bent Beneath their daily load.
The women who come in the early morn To glean in the harvest fields, Whose hands are gnarled By humble tasks, Such tasks as poverty yields.
The men who work in the fields all day, Whose stride is firm and strong, Who stop for a chat Or a friendly word Nor wish to hurry along. 4
The man with a little tired child Swung on his IIhoulder high, With her chubby hands In his matted hair Who smile as they pass me by.
There are children trooping along to school, There are others who cannot go Whose bodies are thin And bent with toil Whose feet are tired and slow.
At evening, when the sun is low, Bearing their loads of grass, Come friendly women, Who peer at me And talk to me, as I pass.
There are travelers there of every kind Of high estate, and low, Some are gay And some are sad In the highway's ebb and flow.
I sometimes meet a scornful one Whose heart is full of pride, Who passes by With garments drawn, As I step to the other side.
But most of the folk that I meet on the road, Will answer smile for smile With such as these The Master loved To talk and walk the while.
He loved to talk and walk with them, For their hearts were simple and kind, He shared their sorrows And healed their ills, He opened the eyes that were blind.
And so He will meet the simple folk As He travels the Indian road, He will wipe the dust From their weary feet .And lighten their heavy load.
He will enter their homes as in Galilee, Their humble food He will share, And His glory and love Shall shine in those Who truly meet Him there. -Froin The Baptist Missionary Review.
BEST METHODS FOR NEXT YEAR It is with sincere appreciation for her helpful cooperation in supplying "Meth- ods for Workers" for the past three years that we bid God-speed to Mrs. F. 1. John- son as she turns from this department to take up other important responsibilities.
At the same time we welcome most heartily Mrs. Estella S. Aitcheson, of Granville, Ohio, who will supply the "Tested Methods of Work" for the coming year. Mrs.
Aitcheson has had long experience in the promotion of missionary interest in the Church at home. She has been a regular contributor to "Missions" and has a wide acquaintance in many church and missionary circles. We bespeak for Mrs. Aitche- son the hearty cooperation of all. Suggestion, questions and descriptions of methods found useful by pastors and others in promoting miSSionary interest in churches, Sunday-Schools, missionary societies, young peoples' work and in the home, may be sent to Mrs. E. S. Aitcheson, Granville, Ohio. EDITOR.
WOMAN'S HOME AND FOREIGN
EDITED BY HELEN M. BRICKMAN, 105 East 22d Street, New York Council of Women for Home Missions FLORENCE G. TYLER, 419 Fourth Avenue, New York Federation of Woman's Boards of Foreign Missions of North America THE AIR AND PRAYER in the morning and also took pains to BY MRS. F. I. JOHNSON inform everybody that she was a Cath- olic. If radio's slim fingers can pluck a melody from night The day came when she found her- self face to face with the need of de- And toss it o'er a continent or sea; cision. It was not in vain that she If the soft petaled notes of a violin Are blown o'er a mountain or a city's If sodnign~' like fragrant roses are cuIled from thin blue air, Then how can mortals wonder If God hears prayer?
In every llart of the world where the airplane dips its wings and ties up the world to them, you will find on the twelfth of February next earnest groups of women and girls gathered together for the purpose of uniting their hearts in using the very real medium of the air through which to speak to the Great Heavenly Father of us all in behalf of the whole world, especially of its childhood.
Perhaps no two countries are more vitally in the thought of the world today than are Mexico and India. It is from theSe two nations that the World Day of Prayer Committee has chosen the two women to prepare the "Call to Prayer" and the program for the 1932 observance – Sra. Elisa Strozze de Pascoe and Mrs. H. A. Yusufji, before her marriage, Helen Tupper.
Though born in the state of New MRS. H, A. YUSUFJI Mexico, of Swiss and Spanish llarent- age, Mrs. Pascoe's family moved to had throughout her primary and high Mexico when she wa,s five years old. school years listened every morning in She has always considered Mexico as the chapel to the hymns, the Scripture her home and is a Mexican citizen. reading and the short talks of the Her parents were Catholics but they teachers. She began to long for a Bi- sent their children to Protestant ble of her own but feared to ask her schools and from her earliest youth parents for it. She began to pray for she attended Laurens Institute, a mis- one as she heard in chapel the reading sion ,school in Monterey. Her Ameri- of Matthew 21: 22. On her sixteenth can schoolmates invited her to attend birthday she was rejoiced to receive the English Sunday-school. However, the gift of a Bible from four of her she often attended mass at four o'clock teachers. Immediately she turned to 931
the New Testament and underlined the praying for her. The pastor talked t'O verse which had been such an inspira- her 'Of the need 'Of a definite acceptance tion tG her. She spent much time with 'Of Christ as her pers'Onal Savi'Our. She her Bible (which she still keeps), but had read many bGQks on salvation at the same time she had many Cath- thrQugh faith so that bef'Ore the serv- Glic friends who were trying to per- ice was 'Over GGd deeply convicted her suade her not to attend a PrGtestant 'Of sin, and suddenly the light of the church. The climax came two years kn'Owledge of Christ as her persQnal later. It was Holy Week, and 'One who SaviGur filled her life with JQY. "Old has spent Holy Week in a CathQlic things passed away, all things became cQuntry cannQt fail to be impressed new."
BRA. ELISA STROZZE DE PASCOE Two years later she entered the Training SchoGI in Nashville, Tenneswith the varied ceremGnies and the see, where she completed the prenumberless pilgrimages tQ the many scribed course of study in the Biblical shrines. GGod Friday f'Ound her in Department. At the same time rothe Cathedral with tWG fanatical mance made its appearance. A young friends. They listened t'O the priest preacher from Mexico, whom she had as he spGke on the Seven Last Words. never seen in her cGuntry, came to The sermGn made a deep impressi'On Nashville to enter Vanderbilt Uni- 'On her young soul, and at the end of versity. As they were the 'Only Mexthe service all present were invited tG ican students they s'Oon met and consecrate their lives to God by sign- naturally had to practice their beauing their names in an immense book tiful Spanish language. kept in the adj'Oining chapel. After graduating she worked f'Or At the same time revival services tW'O years in HGlding Institute. By were being held in the Methodist that time Mr. Pascoe finished his the- Church and all 'Of her friends were alagical caurse and they were married in 1916, returning at 'Once to Mexico City as a pastGr. In September, 1930, when the two Methadisms were united, Mr. PascQe became the first bishGp.
Last year Mrs. Pascae was elected President .of the UniGn Nacianal de Saciedades Femeniles Cristianas (an interdenGminati'Onal uniGn 'Of seven de- naminatians: Presbyterian, Disciples, Friends, Pilgrims, Nazarene, CGngre- gati'Onal, and Methodist). The special work 'Of the Union is the publication 'Of a paper, Antorcha MisiGnera which circulates in Cuba, Puerto Ric'O, Co- lGmbia, Argentina, among Spanish- speaking peGple in the United States and in Mexico.
Is it n'Ow strange to you that Mrs. Pascoe, one mighty in prayer and works, should have been asked t'O pre- pare the world "Call to Prayer"? May the air be filled with prayer 'On Febru- ary 12, 1932.
If y'OU had been in Whittier Hall of C'Olumbia University during 1929 and 1930, Y'OU W'Ould have seen passing in and Gut in quest 'Of her M. A. a beauti-
WOMAN'S HOME AND FOREIGN BULLETIN •
ful young Indian woman from Luck- slightly, to provide accompaniment for now. It is she, now Mrs. Yusufji, to several young women who enter in whom we are indebted for the program costume, representing participants in for February 12. the prayer service from mission fields abroad and at home. These take places For some time Mrs. Yusufji was a quietly in seats near the platform and member of the faculty of Isabella Tho- become part of the worshiping group. burn College. Her marriage to Doctor After the verse by Alfred Tennyson Yusufji, a graduate of Princeton, (page 4), these visitors may enact a takes her to Jubbulpore where they scene purporting to be a recital of will work in the Theological Seminary. their experiences in observing last Her specific field is to be the wives and year's World Day of Prayer in their children of the preachers, the end in several home centers. Where costumes view being the preparation of conse- are not available or desired women imcrated Christians who will devote their personating missionaries may speak lives to the service of their country. briefiy.* Mrs. YUl§nfji writes: "I hope that The presiding officer introduce-s the this program will help prayer to mean narration by saying: to many other young women what it means to me. I have not had an easy "How often we sing that ancient life; it has been the prayer of faith hymn with its prophecy that that has strengthened me at every turn." Jesus shall reign where'er the sun Does His successive journeys run! These two women, one from agetorn Mexico, the other from storm- To Him shall endless prayer be made tossed India, see but one hope for the And endless praises crown His head. world-it is in Him who taught us to say, "Our Father." but have we realized h.ow literally it is being fulfilled, and how by our united ADAPTATIONS OF THE WORLD efforts .on this sacred day we are ac- tually encil'cling the earth with our DAY OF PRAYER PROGRA,M prayers?
iE'OR YOUNG PEOPLE'S GROUPS As o'er each continent and island The dawn leads on another day, BY BERNICE HALL LEGG The voice of prayer is never ended, Lowered lights at the beginning, Nor die the strains of praise away! quiet music, preferably the playing of hymns which direct the thought to "A world at prayer! What an upprayer, and above all, an attitude of lifting thought! We are not just 'two reverent expectancy on the part of or three,' we are a multitude. And not those who have the meeting in charge, for one brief hour do our voices ascend inevitably communicating itself to the to the Father, but from sunrise in gathering group, will create the at- New Zealand to sunset in Honolulu, mosphere of worship. for forty hours, the prayers of devoted women arise to the throne. The program, "H{)ld Fast in Prayer" is so widely appealing in its "Shall we listen while some of our spirit and content, that young women's friends teIl us of their part in this groups everywhere may use it with offering of praise and thanksgiving?" profit. The interpolation of some dramatic features, while desirable, should Japan: The sun had scarcely turned not be over-emphasized, or so pro- to gold our snow-capped Fujiyama, when longed as to break the unity of the throughout all the villages and cities of original plan. my country we gathered for prayer and the singing of hymns. Our missionary During the Lord's Prayer (page 3) teachers told us that it would be so have the hymn, "Jesus Shall Reign," everywhere that day, and we felt that played very softly. At the close of the prayer, increase volume of music * 'l'he materinl for th('se sketches was gath- ered by Miss B'}orence G. 'l'yler.
we were touching hands with other be- ing. South America, the Indies, Mexico lievers across all seas and lands. and Canada had their part. In Alaska a group of native women met, prayed and Korea: In Korea, a whole day seemed contributed twenty-nve dollars for the not too long to spend in prayer. I am specified world-wide projects; and so, on but one of many Bible women who gath- and on, to Honolulu, verily a volume of ered together from all over our District. prayer encircling the earth. Girls from the Bible Institute came, and even younger ones from the night school, American speaker concludes with all uniting eagerly in song and in prayer bowed head: for the Lord's work. We thank Thee that Thy Church un- China: The Day of Prayer means sleeping, much to us in China. We, too, made it a day of joyful fellowship and worship. While earth rolls onward into light, Many came at an early hour, bringing Through all the world her watch is their babies, and in some of the villages it has become the custom for our men to keeping, prepare the meals at the church so that And rests not now, by day or night. it may be a day of family prayer for all. Solo: "Spirit of God Descend Upon My India: Under the banyan trees, in the Heart" (page 5). Use first two and last tamarind groves, in chapels and in the verses. great churches, the women of India assemble reverently and eagerly for the Following this solo, the leader may observance of this holy day. Many wear announce a period of ,silent prayer, their wedding garments in token of the followed by prayers, voluntary or preimportance of the event – this one day viously assigned, covering special of the year when they are one with the needs listed upon page 8. Conclude Christian women of the world as they with the united prayer (page 7) which pray for the spread of His Kingdom. precedes the offering, and follow the regular program to the close. (The solo, "In the Secret of His The success of the offering will be Presence," page 4, may be sung here.) greatly enhanced if individual socie- ties will procure the very attractive Africa: (This part should be taken by leaflets which have been prepared by one representing a missionary.) My be- the Council of Women for Home Misloved black Africa is not outside your sions and the Federation of Woman's charmed circle. At the beat of the drum Boards 'Of Foreign Missions. Use the women leave their work in the fields these leaflets in the meeting preceding and huts and hasten to the appointed the World Day of Prayer, February place, sometimes as many as fifty in one 12, 1932, and appoint four yaung wamgroup. From miles around they come, en to present the projects dramaticaland when they go home, they separate, ly or as best suits the local organizavisiting other homes, praying and tes- tion. tifying as they go, till the whole district feels the influence of the meeting. TOGETHER Europe: (Another person in European Thou hast on earth a Trinitydress speaks.) We of the American Thyself, my fellow-man, and me: Church in Rome held our own prayer When one with him, then one with thee; service and. felt deeply grateful for the Nor, save together, thine are we. spiritual fellowship which is the heritage of the Christian everywhere. The Prot- -John Banister Tabb, estant women of Paris observed the day Quoted in "Christ in the also, and we know that other groups met in parts of Holland, Denmark, Ger- Poetry of Today." many and Wales. DISARMAMENT America: (One person may give briefly items from several centers.) BY CARRIE CHAPMAN CATT From our largest cities and the remotest borders of our land come messages from It is said that every controversy has those who have united in prayer for our two sides. Naturally, there can be great cause. Radio carried the program only one right side, and after much over eighteen stations, the printed page lengthy talk concerning every new profound its way not only to crowds as- posal, the world come·s to agreement sembled in houses of worship, but to the as to which the right side is. At preshomes of shut-ins who could thus participate with the world group. In our southern mountains families walked miles over unspeakable roads to attend a meet-
WOMAN'S HOME AND FOREIGN BULLETIN
ent the controversy concerning the 3. If a nation enters a war upon the question of disarmament is in prog- pretense of self-defense, an invest!ga.tio.D ress. Shall the world disarm or not into its motives will follow, and If It IS disarm? proved that self-defense was not the real motive, it will DOt only receive the pen- It happens that there are Americans alty of an aggressor nation, but an adwho propagate for a big navy. "The ditional loss of confidence which always biggest navy in the world would be attends a perjury will be its fate. mOISt appropriate for us," they say. "The swiftest of all airplanes and sub- Consider for a moment the result of marines' the poisonous gasses we the Great War: should have. The most destructive guns, together with all the latest ~e COST IN MEN 10,878,000 velopment of each type of war eqUlp- 20,000,000 ment should be ourH." The reason Dead ……………….. . urged is that a surprise attack may Wounded ……………. . 9,000,000 be made upon us at any time in which War Orphans ………… . 5,000,000 case we will need for self-defense a War Widows ………… . 10,000,000 complete war preparation. That may Refugees …….•••……. sound logical to those who have no further information. Debts weighing each nation down to the verge of bankruptcy produce a The truth is, however, that since problem never before known. "It will the Great War a peace machinery for require," says Philip Snowden, Chanthe self-defense of all nations has been ceUor of the British Exchequer, "sevcarefully erected. There is a League enty-six million days of labor each day of Nations with most of the chief na- by British workmen for the next sixty tions of the world in its membership. years to produce the means to pay Each nation member has obligated it- America alone." Said John Maynard self not to go to war and to settle any Keynes, "We shall be paying the Unitdisputes arising between any other ed States each year for sixty years a nation and itself by peaceful means. sum equivalent to two-thirds the cost There is a World Court to which na- of our navy, nearly equal to the total tions may submit many questions to expenditure on educaUon, more than the wisest and most distinguished the total burden of our pre-war debt, judges in the world. Dozens of trea- more than the total profit of our merties have bound groups of nations to cantile marine and the whole of our submit any controversy to arbitration. mines together." Lastly, the Briand-Kellogg Pact has obligated most of the nations of the The United States, being more forworld to renounce war and to settle tunately placed than most nations, all their international disputes by loaned to European nations at differpeaceful processes. With a determina- ent times and in different forms to tion by all the nations not to join in meet expenses of the war $10,338,000,- wars, what need is there £or great war 000. preparation? The war was followed by a universal From this situation three curious depression in busines·s, an enormous facts confront us. unemployment, the prevalence of dis- eases spread by means of the war, un- 1. No nation can now go to war, ll;n- speakable crime, unrest, and many less attacked, without dishonorably VIO- other forms of human misery. lating one or more solemn agreements never to go to war. Which side are you on? The reduc- tion and limitation of war equipment 2. If a chief nation should violate one and the establishment of peace, or the or more of these sacred pledges, it will continuation of war with all its horforfeit its honorable status among the rors? Is war civilized? Can the nations and be called by the opprobrious world -afford it? Could n~t civilized term of aggressor. The penalty may be people abolish it? Could not sensi~le heavy. nations spend the money they recelve from the taxes of the people in ways
to produce more comfort, happiness, A CALL and progr.ess? The call to the Seventh National If you wish to bring the world over Conference on the Cause and Cure of War has been issued by Mrs. Carto the right side of this controversy, rie Chapman Catt. Delegates from help us to carry to Geneva the largest eleven women's national organizations and most impressive demonstration of will meet in Washington, D. C., Januthe sentiment of this country. ary 18-21, 1932, to consider those prob- lems "which handicap the progress of The Federation of Woman's Boards the coming substitution of peace for of Foreign Missiuns of North Ameri- war." ca, and the Council of Women for Home Missions are members of the Such distinguished authorities as National Committee on the Cause and James G. McDonald, Dr. James Shot- Cure of War. That Committee, well, Dr. D. F. Fleming, Will Irwin, through its federated organizations, and Mrs. Catt are on the program. is circulating a petition to the Inter- Round tables, luncheon discussions, national Disarmament Conference, and questions and answers, and convention we beg you to secure blanks of this discussions offer variety to the sespetition from the above offices. Cir- sions. Rachel Conrad Nason who was culate them among your own and any chosen last year by the National Comother organizations, groups of Ameri- mittee on the Cause and Cure of War can citizens, schools, churches, clubs, to conduct a thorough investigation of societies, and send them in to be added the Polish corridor has been at work to the great petition when it goes to upon her task for several months and Geneva on January 1, 1932. will report her finding·s to the Con- ference. Our petiUon says: "Clearly, the next step is the bold reduction of every The Federation of Woman's Boards variety of armament. To do less than of Foreign Missions and Council of this would violate treaty obligations, Women for Home Missions consider it awaken suspicion and incite fresh war most important that church women be adequately represented at this Contalk." ference. Either organization will be glad to supply detailed inf.ormation. Already the women of England have secured over 1,000,000 signatures to WAR their petition, and in Holland, where the petition has been circulated by the Waste of muscle, waste of brain, United Press, the signatures to their Waste of patience, waste of pain, petition have reached over 2,500,000. Waste of manhood, waste of health, We must be up and doing if this great Waste of beauty, waste of wealth, United States of America is to keep Waste of blood, waste of tears, pace with the rest of the world. Waste of youth's most precious years, Waste of ways the Saints have trod, Sixty nations of the world are to- Waste of glory, waste of God. gether ·spending annually over $4,000,- 000,000 in preparation for "the next War! war," which should never come. Why -G. Studdert-Kennedy. not save the money f,or better use and avoid the inevitable catastrophes THE GOAL which are the price of war? Brave military men have been immortalized There can be no final goal for huas the world's greatest heroes. A new man institutions; the best are those type of hero must now come forward that most encourage progress toward -the hero who will lead the way to others still better. Without effort and demilitarize society. In this day and change, human life cannot remain generation it will be done. Join hands good. It is not a finished Utopia that with those who want a civilized world we ought to desire, but a world where of peace. imagination and hope are alive and active.-Russell.
AMERICA tribe of 208,000 Othomi Indians
Mexico in the League of Nations adjoins the great Mexicano tribe. This year an opening has thus been WHEN Mexico entered the League made to reach between 750,000 and of Nations, it was, says the New 1,000,000 Indians, a far larger num- York Times, with a reservation in re- ber than in any previous year. They are rwt evangelized, and have not an gard to the Monroe Doctrine. Porfirio adequate number of workers, since there are but three workers to one tribe Diaz who had reason to remember the of 227,000 Indians, and in the other tribe one worker, with four in traingood' offices of the United States in the ing, for a half milHon. For the first time in Mexica'ru history, definite and matter of the French occupation, was aggressive work has been undertaken for these larger tribes. friendly to the Doctrine, though he b"ethSeuDbs0tI7– subsequently proposed tha t trine of America" should tuted, each republic proclaiming that an attack by a foreign power upon the independence or territory of one would be considered an attack upon Strategy in Belize the rest. The reservation of the Monroe Doctrine drew from Carranza a T HE capital of British Honduras declaration to the governments repre- recently emerged from the obsented in Paris that "Mexico had not scurity in which Lindbergh left it to recognized and would not recognize stretch itself across our newspaper this doctrine, because, without the con- headlines. Normally, Belize is Qne of sent of all the people of America, it the quietest places mentioned in the would establish a situation regarding geography, being the port of entry for which they had not been consulted; the least developed section of the therefore, this doctrine attacks the North American continent. sovereignty and independence of Mexico and would set up and establish a Before the hurricane in British tutelage over all the nations of Amer- Honduras, the chief landmark of the ica." The Monroe Doctrine, according town of Belize was a Catholic missionto Mr. Elihu Root, is ba,sed upon "the ary institution, St. John's CQlIege. right of self-protection recognized by Although the peoples of the Central international law." American countries are largely Cath- olic, the governments are frequently anti-clerical. Catholic schools are sub- Work for Mexican Indians ject to political supervision, and t~eir properties are exposed to confiscatlOn. UNDER the Presbyterian ~hurch in Therefore the RQman Church has Mexico, three wel1-tramed men placed its one large school in all Cen- have taken up work among the 227,000 tral America under the protection of Maya Indians. A house, ponies and the British flag at Belize. Students saddles are a part of the equipment. are recruited from the surrounding A mission has also been opened for republics. The school is in charge of 517,000 Mexicano Indians, the second a group of Jesuits who have their largest Indian tribe in the three Amer- headquarters in St. Louis. After the icas. younger members of the Society of The Latin American Prayer Fellow- Jesus have completed their college ship is making contacts with the large training they are sent out to Belize 937
to teach for a term of years, and then bers, not counting the 350,000 membrought back to the United States to bers of the German Lutheran Church study theology. The recent storm ap- in the southern ·states. parently caused the destruction of the college buildings, which were on the The lJr~sent population of Brazil is water front, and the death of many over forty miIliO'll. This means that of the students and faculty as school thirty-nine million are non-Evanwas in session. – The. Congregation- gelical; thousands of cities and towns alist. are untouched by the Gospel; the vast interior, with over 1,000,000 Indians, Trained Leaders for Porto Rico is practically untouched. No wonder the Brazilian Christians call for more MISS ETHEL ROBINSON, head of evangelical preachers and teachers. St. Catherine's Training School for Church Workers in Santurce, EUROPE Porto Rico, emphasizes the necessity of proper training for missionaries. British Bureau for Information "A college course is not enough," she said, "but should be supplemented by THE Standing Committee of the special training. The object of Amer- British Foreign Missions Conferican missionaries going overseas is to ence has been able tu arrange with give the best there is in them for the the Senatus of the Selly Oak group of training and development of native colleges to undertake to conduct a burleaders who will train their own peo- eau of informaHon for outgoing misple to carryon the work. Brazil, sionaries and missionaries on fur- Haiti, Mexico and Porto Rico train lough. It is hoped that the new bureau their own clergy. Porto Rico has in will be able to render great service in St. Catherine's School a means of dealing with the inquiries which come training its women leaders, numbers from missionaries from time to time, of whom have already done splendid regarding facilities for extra courses work. Latin-America·n countries are ,of study. It will keep in touch with more and more demanding self-gov- college and other centres where inernment in all their activities which struction can be obtained, and it is increases the urgency for developing proposed to compile and keep up to native leaders for the church's work." date suitable bibliographies. The bu- reau will also maintain contact with The Call of Brazil the missionary training institutions in Great Britain and on the Continent, BRAZIL needs more missionaries, as well as such organizations as the especially in the Amazon valley Student Christian Movement. The and the table-lands of central Brazil. secretary of the new bureau is Mr. The vast hinterland, now sIirinking in J. C. Kydd, Rendel Harris Library, size because of the new motur roads, Griffin's Hill, Selly Oak, Birmingham. demands an active missionary campaign," says the Rev. Erasmo Braga, Disarm.ament Declaration D.D., an outstanding Brazilian educational and religious leader. MORE than 1,250,000 British peo- ple have signed the International There are now twenty-three Protes- Declaration in support of world distant Missionary Societies with about armament. This declaration is being five hundred missionaries (including signed in forty other countries, and all wives) at work in some eighty resi- the signatures will ultimately be predence stations in Brazil. The native sented to the world Disarmament Con- Christian staff numbers 713, of whom ference in Geneva next February. 250 are ordained men. The Evan- House-to-house canvassing is being gelicals have 750 organized churches successfully undertaken and stalls with with over 122,000 communicant mem- forms for signi'ng have been set up in the market squares of many towns.
WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Spain Disestablishes the Church oration was started five years ago by T HE extension of the franchise to the Y. M. C. A. at Athens and grew women in Spain has been followed by the rejection of Roman Catholicism so popular that after two years the as a state religion, by a vote of 267 to 41 in the National Assembly. Spain Greek church took it over. has for centuries been the most solidly Catholic of the large European na- Distress in RUlsia tions, and the king of Spain has borne the title of "The Most Catholic King." HENRY WALES, of the Chicago· The combined resources of State and . Tribune, recently traveled 12,000 Church have made it almost impossible for any dissenting body to carry on miles across Russia, north to south and religious propaganda. Protestant worship could be c(jnducted only in build- east to west. He spent forty nights ings which had no architectural resemblance to churches and which had in railway trains, traveling alone so no entrances from main streets. If it Protestant school was opened, it was that he might not be "personally consoon surrounded with Catholic schools. Protestant ministers could not per- ducted" like a "spoonfed tourist." He form marriage ceremonies. visited the Kulak concentration camp It was easier to prevent the people from becoming Protestants than to at Archangel, of whicf: he says: compel them to remain Roman Catholics. The proportion of the National The dreadful Kulak concentration Assembly that voted to displace Roman camp is carefully concealed in Kuzni Catholicism as the State church is a Chika Church, although the authorities little more than six to one. Catholi- had assured me that the nearest exiles cism is no longer the religion of the were at Mezen, twelve days' sledge travel people so that there is no reason why away. it should continue to be the religion of the State. The Catholic Church At Rostov, Kharkov, Stalingrad and will no longer enjoy a monopoly or other places I inspected huge new facexercise a dominant infl.uence upon the tories, units in the vaunted Five-Year political and cultural life of the coun- Plan, and witnessed the lamentable intry, but there is also danger that a ability of the Russians to obtain -producmajority of the Spanish people will tion. become less and less religious unless the evangelical church wins them to Through the southern districts I saw vital religion. the horde of tramps, bums and child waifs, homeless men and boys, thousands Greece ComDlemorates Paul's Address of them only 11 and 12 years old, and a few girls, on their annual migration from T HE twenty-ninth of June is now the warmth of the south to the north. observed in Athens by a six o'clock Barefooted, ragged, hlack and filthy, with evening meeting commemorating the long, matted hair and beards, covered preaching by the Apostle Paul in the with vermin, polluting the atmosphere Areopagus. The Archbishop of Athens with the stench of their unwashed bodies, and of all Greece presides over this drawn, haggard, gaunt and famishing, ~athering of five thousand worshipers. they walked the streets, fightlng with the There is choral music and the reading dogs and the crows for a morsel of carby another bishop of Paul's Athenian rion, or sitting day and night in the railsermon and of the thirteenth chapter way stations, furtively waiting for an of First Corinthians. This commem- opportunity to rifle the pockets of a drunken peasant or stowaway in a train when the lynx-eyed G. P. U. cop was not looking.
In the Ukraine and the North Cau- casus I visited collective farms and saw conditions so terrihle that even local Communist leaders are exhorting Moscow to ease the pressure sufficiently on ex- porting grain to give the miserahle peaS- ants wheat and oats and hay for them- selves and their livestock.
I visited in the peasants' mud huts without windows, and noted their listless- ness, brought on partly through lack of adequate food, partly hy their fatalistic avatism, their fear that they, too, may he shifted off elsewhere as "colonists" any night.
Thousands and thousands of these peasants in their hunger and misery and
weakness have res'Orted t'O "passive re- St. Augustine's followers were supersistance." They do not cult~vat'}. their ficially Islamized, but are now being lands, they plead illness and mablhty to educated and developed by France. work in the fields when the 'Overseer sum- The Southern Morocco Mission is mons them. reaching the Berbers of the Atlas mountains in the Sous, Agadir and In Siberia I saw trainloads 'Of exiles Tarudant; the Bible Churchmen's being dropped off with 9;1l their bel'Ong- Missionary Society plans advance ings, men, women a~~ children, comm'On- from Marakesh to reach the Berbers law pris'Oners, l?'OhtlCal offenders al!-d of the Tadla district in the Middle Kulaks, t'O colomze vast new areas m Atlas; and the Algiers Mission Band this barren region. is evangelizing by motor car the Saharan Oases and Arab markets. Swiss Missions The North Africa Mission reports blessing at all stations. The wide cir- SWISS (French speaking) Protes- culation of Scriptures across North tants since the War have combined Africa gives rise to hope, especially into the Mission Suisse, formerly the in Morocco. old Mission Suisse Romande. Their work is in South Africa and for a The results of the Christian work number of years there has been a in these areas is provoking violent atstaggering deficit. Friends made tacks by Moslems. heroic efforts from year to year to pay this, but without success. This year New Venture in Cairo at the annual meeting there was much rejoicing and thanksgiving due to the I N CAIRO, a club for girls has refact that at last a year had been cently been opened by missi'Onaries closed without deficit but it has again of the Church Missionary S'Ociety in become necessary to borrow money to co'Operation with tw'O other religious carry on! organizations. This new experiment am'Ong girls between six and fourteen The Danish Missions is 'Open every afternoon. Its cur- riculum includes reading, writing, T HIS society carries on work in arithmetic, handwork, sewing and India and China. Recently a fine games. The teaching is given by two hospital for women was opened in Egyptian Christian women who are Mukden, having on its staff a number also helped by English and Egyptian of Chinese women physicians. The voluntary workers, and the numbers India work has been encouraging, the attending already are a source of enlatest development being the accept- couragement to the 'Organizers. ance of the J eypore Mission. This work was a part of the work of the Communion in West Africa Breklum Mission that had been cared for during the War by the United STEADY streams of men and wom- Lutheran Church. The Breklum So- en, boys and girls, walk along the ciety found itself unable to assume paths that lead to the Mission Hill at the burden of the whole field and a Efulan (West Africa). They have group of friends of two missionaries been travelling for several days; the of Danish nationality formed the East women and girls carrying babies Jeypore Mission. This group made astride 'one hip, or seated in a sort of 'overtures to the Danish Mission So- sling made from skins. In the houses ciety, which unanimously decided to on the hill-workman's town, teachers' assume the responsibility. town, everywhere-there is an unusual stir. Guests are being entertained AFRICA over the week-end.
Evangelizing Isla:m Many have come a distance of twenty miles, for those who have suc- WILL Christianity regain lost cessfully answered the questi'Ons put ground among the Berbers of North Africa? The descendants of
WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
to them by the church session, who ~ want ~o present the urgent need of have regularly contributed to the thIS SwedIsh Evangelical Mission for church, and who have led lives as real prayers. The Colonial Government of pe.sons of God, will be admitted to Eritrea, in agreement with the Central full church membership and sit down Government in Rome, for some years at the communion table in remem- has placed grave obstacles in the way brance of the Lord Jesus. On Sunday of the return of Swedish missionaries to morning over 2,000 people gather in Eritrea, because we are foreign and the House of God to hear His word. Prote~tant. They have greatly restricted So the Efulan church is growing. It our lIberty to work and it now seems has recently taken over a "foreign that they desire to forbid our entrance mission field" far to the north, and into the Colony. They have denied perseveral young men have gone there to mission to disembark at Massaua two p each the Gospel of Christ.-Mary E. new men missionaries and three ladies Hunter. who had licenses. One of these ladies was the headmistress of the school for Helping Egypt's Farmers Moslem girls at Gheleb, and without her it will be necessary to close the school. AN INTERESTING phase of Assiut ~efor~ 1914 we had about thirty mis- College work is the agricultural sIOnarIes; now the Government action department, still in its infancy. Mr. has reduced us to nine, of whom three M. C. McFeeters is experimenting are in serious need of going home for with vegetable, fruit and cotton grow- health reasons. ing, and with chickens and dairying, although he is greatly handicapped by From Despair to Joy a lack of any definite appropriation. He is convinced that dairying holds T~E inspecto: of the Rhenish Misthe most promise. Cotton, which has SIOn, speakmg of the work in been for years the cash crop of Egypt, Niassa, says that the first time of is not as profitable as formerly, and despair in this work was the time beis an extremely speculative crop. The fore the awakening, viz., 1915. The department aims not only to train missionaries were despairing because practical farmers, but to afford stu- they could see no results of their work dents who are prospective preachers among these people. On the field it and teachers a knowledge of the basic "":as a case of desperate struggle, of industry of the country, and an under- Sighs and prayers to God, and at home standing sympathy with the Egyptian a matter of much blame and censure. farmer and his problems.-Woman'8 The Christians, though outwardly well Mi88ionary Magazine. organized, did not seem to have been touched inwardly. Their thought Pray for Eritrea world was still incorrigibly animistic. The Christian teaching was regarded PASTOR J. IWARSON, of Eritrea, by them only as a new custom or law. reports: The missionaries' prayer!! ascended Work for the Moslems of Eritrea is constantly to the thl'one of God for a in the schools of the station of Gheleb real awakening. It came and the new among the Mensa, where we have thirty period began with 1916. A nation Moslem boy pupils and twenty Moslem awoke to God! When the light broke girl pupils. More than twenty have been in on them, God had a man ready. baptized in the course of the year. The He was a faithful Christian, Hoemene New Testament in Tigre, just now com- by name, who although previously in pleted, will be of great importance. In earnest, was not a truly converted the interior of Ethiopia the mission has soul. Suddenly he heard the words had an evangelist among the converted "Lost, condemned, sentenced to death.': Moslems of Socota, and work among them In this extremity he went to his misseems progressing well. In Tigrai, sev- sionary and was led to Chri!!t. His eral Moslems are advancing towards example brought others and the Christ, among them is a young and in- thronging to the house of the missiontelligent sheikh. ary became so great that he despaired of his strength. People besieged his
home fifty to a hundred at a time! ceedingly hostile. Now they are be- The time of despair became a time of ·seeching the mission for teachers. salvation. The door of a new movement toward Christianity is thus opened. The church of Niassa is at present in the third such period. The 15,000 Missions in South Africa Christians ()f the period before the War have grown to 70,000, with 20,000 WE HAVE by general consent a more inquiring. The 15 missionaries magnificent opportunity in the of that period had to be reduced to 10 mine compounds. Yet I am assured and of these only 9 are available for on all hands that ma:ny of these evangelistic work. Now the mission heathen natives are already Gospelis facing the pr.oblems of a forming hardened. They are so accustomed on church, education, literature, the re- Sunday or in the evenings to seeing visi{)n of the translation of the New and hearing half a dozen competing Testament, the education of pastors evangelists that they ignore the lot. and teachers and the raising up of leaders. The report says, "We are so And while all this overlapping and few in numbers, so weak in resources, rivalry are gving on we ignore the that it is a time of despair in our- startling fact that there are more selves. We look to God. When will heathen in South Africa today than our salvatiQn come 7" there were thirty years ago. Too often you see side by side half a dozen mean Change in the Leipzig Mission churches engaged in an unholy rivalry.
NOTWITHSTANDING its r e – I ask all who love our Lord ro consider stricted income the Leipzig Mission is compelled to extend its work how this must grieve Him as He into the plains and thus alter the pleads for us that we may be one, character. Up to the present its and to join earnestly in His great African work has been mostly in the prayer. So much progress has been hill country of the Kilimanjaro region, made in the last few years that we with two centers in the plains: New have grounds for hope. Let us pray Moshi and Arusha. It appears, how- in faith that the Holy Spirit may ever, that the population of the up- bring us to repentance for whatever lands is not likely to grow much and sins of ours-scorn, suspicio·n, ecclein view of the millIons with which this siastical snobbery, faint-heartedness society is dealing in India the few -have contributed to the present dismountain people seem too few, espe- union and that He may show us God's cially when the population of the plains is growing by leaps and bounds. will.-THE BISHOP OF JOHANNESBURG The two stations mentioned are growing rapidly into cities and the fear is in the South African Outlook. entertained that Islam may spread into these regions. If that were to WESTERN ASIA happen, the stations would be cut off from all contact with each other and With a Movie Outfit the native Christians as well as the missionaries are urging the extension PAUL NILSON, a missionary of the of the work in the plains. American Board, travels into the country districts of Turkey with a Last year several stations were movie outfit. Seven days on the road; opened in the plains and now it is con- seven educational movie shows in six templated to open two more: Nava- different Turkish towns; attendance vera and Engaruka. The work among averaging three hundred per night; the Masai is growing rapidly, which audiences include leaders, such as is all the more gratifying since these teachers, officers, merchants, as well as people only a few years ago were ex- men and boys, many of whom had never before seen a movie.
In the first town of mud houses, half a day's notice through the schools and shops gathered three hundred men and boys. At the end of the trip,
WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
the Turkish teacher said: "We Turks wards, not only with the doctor and will not do any work like this unless nurses, but also with all who have we get paid for it. We must learn to ministered to Him and in His name.- sacrifice." ALICE BARBER, in The Syria News Quarterly. Jesus in the Wards Seventy Years of Orphanage Work I NCIDENTS in the Kennedy Me- morial Hospital in a report from I N 1860 during persecutions of Chris- Alice S. Barber: tians by the Druses, thousands of ChrIstians were put to death imd more "Cheer me with your book," said a than 20,000 widows and orphans Moslem woman beside whom I was roamed in destitution over the Lebsitting, pointing to my Bible; and so a'non mountains. At that time the the story of the brazen serpent was grandfather of the present director, read with the statement: "For as Ludwig Schneller, journeyed from Moses lifted up the serpent in the Jerusalem to Beirut and gathered the wilderness, even so must the Son of first nock of orphans in Syria and Man be lifted up," and why. brought them to Jerusalem. He be- gan to shelter them in his own house A favorite chapter with the women and, in spite of the limited accommodaof the ward is Luke 15, for the de- tions, he cared for 30 children. scriptions fit into their own lives. When passing from bedside to bedside His son now writes: "How wonderwith friendly greetings a:nd inquiries, fully the hand of God ruled over this the invitation frequently com e s : house! It has gone through great "Tafuddali, sit down." So the white periods of stresR that threatened its bench which fits under the bedstead is very existence. Once there was such pulled out between the two beds, whose a financial stress that it seemed the occupants are often joined by one or doors would have to be closed. Once more of those able to walk around, and there was a great conflagration which the Book is opened. Occasionally a consumed everything that had been particular selection is called for, as: built up in 50 years. Then came the "Now read me about the Sower.'" World War during which the orphan- age was taken away from us and man- To the tiny children picture books aged for three years by strangers. bring much pleasure. "Our Farm But the Lord has delivered us and has Friends," "Our Zoo Friends," the carried us over as on eagles' wings." books of birds and automobiles, bring a look of eager interest to many a Today there stands the "Schneller pale face. District" composed of more than forty buildings, orphanages for boys and One white lipped youngster, ill with girls, schools, day nurseries, home for typhoid fever, looked up to inquire: apprentices, home for the blind, pre- "What wonderful thing have you to paratory school, seminary, a home for show today?" "Pictures, pictures," boys learning trades and parish was his daily plea, and the brightly houses. There is also a great induscolored lesson leaves were brought t.o trial building where the boys learn all him, and he knew their stories almost sorts of trades. The institutions have without exception. He had learned an agricultural colony in Bir Salem, about David and Jonathan and Moses with the Philistian orphanage, a small when he attended a Christian Bible orphanage in Nazareth and an agri- School. cultural station in Cheeme. At present 370 children are being educated in the The patients are always told that a institutions, together with 43 apservice is held every morning where prentices and 30 tradesmen in the prayer is offered that God might give various trades. The fame of the inthe doctor skill and bless his efforts to make them well. Thus "the Divine Healer of Gennesaret" has walked the
stitutions is so great that last year representing the Roman Catholic, alone over 450 applications had to be Syrian and Protestant groups, re- refused. cently signed the following statemen11: "For the preservation of our rights Island of Socotra and culture we do not ask for any SOCOTRA is under the protection special safeguards. We rely upon our of Great Britain and contains 1,382 own inherent abilities, strength and square miles with a population of public spirit, and upon the sense of about 12,000. They are a mixed race justice and good will of our sister comof Arab'S with a strain of African munities." blood. They speak Arabic. There are no missionaries on the island and we In regard to religious liberty they have no record to show when it was make the following statement: last visited by Christians. Probably one of the colporters of the British "We are in general agreement with and Foreign Bible Society visited it the fundame'ntal rights drawn up by in recent years. S.ocotra was formerly the National Congress. The right of a Christian island but at the end of religious liberty implies the right to the seventeen century was taken over share with others our religious conby Moslems. victions and experience. We can think of no effective freedom of conscience without the right to preach our faith openly and freely. To us, as to you, Persian Rugs and Hutnan Life the use of corrupt and unfair meth- ods of conversion is distasteful. We K ERMAN is one of the centers of condemn them wholeheartedly. . . . the Persian rug industry. About We hold that the permeation of Chris- 3,000 women and girls work as weavers tian ideals of life and society will but in this town alone, 9 hours a day in enrich the culture and civilization of summer and 11 hours in winter. The our country. Good Christians are ever majority of these weavers are poor, g.ood citizens a'nd we believe that India undergrown creatures with crippled will never have cause to regret the lega. Before the girls are 7 years old, growth of the Christian Church." they are apprenticed by their parents.
For the five years .of apprenticeship Methodist Anniversary the parents receive about $20.00, and later $30.00 to $40.00 a year. THE se.venty-fift~ a~niversary of the foundmg of mISSIOnary work in The girls themselves receive no India by the Methodist Episcopal wages. They sit on narrow planks, Church will be celebrated this coming without support for their backs, and winter throughout the churches of this causes deformity. Most of them India and Burma. A son of one of the are married later in life and the birth earliest missionaries, Bish.oP Brenton of a child involves great danger to Thoburn Badley, is chairman of the about 75% of them. One woman doctor Jubilee Commission. Three special of the Church Missionary Society lives dates will be commemorated: Decemand works among them. She is re- ber 7, 1931, seventy-fifth anniversary spected and loved by all and her con- of the arrival of Dr. William Butler tinued remonstrances are beginning at BareiIIy; February 7, 1932, seventyto cause a larger public concern and a fifth anniversary of the first Methdesire to remedy these conditions. odist religious service in India, and INDIA AND BURMA March 11, seventy-fifth anniversary of the arrival of Dr. Butler's first re- Christians Ask Religious Liberty cruits.
T HE educated Indian Christians In addition to Ctoh'ensfeer' esnpceeciaslessdiaoyns~ are, as a rule, strong Nationalists various district and favor the principles advocated by will be held throughout India and Mahatma Gandhi. Ten Christians, Burma.
WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
In the seventy-five years since the inary in Madras, which is organized Methodist Episcopal Church entered under the official name of High Grade India there has grown a church with Theological College. It is open only 350,000 members, 2,273 Indian min- to men who have received the A.B.
isters, 140,000 Sunday-school pupils, degree. The several missions each and 45,000 day-school pupils. furnish professors for the faculty.
The administration is in the hands of Model Village Plan three groups, a college council, an WORLD CALL tells of an experi- executive council and the faculty. ment by which the United Christian Missionary Society plans to teach New Native Bishop girls of India the fine art of living. A ASECOND native bishop was conmodel village is to be built on twenty- secrated in October, when the five acres of government jungle land, Rev. John Sharat Chandra Banerjee near the village of Jyotipur. The girls became assistant bishop of Lahore. will live in cottages, and while they He has been chosen not simply because will be self-governing as far as pos- he is an Indian, but because he seems, sible, Qversight and training will rest in the natural development of the with the teachers. Government Middle Church of India, to be the right man School curriculum will be followed, al- for the office. He is enthusiastic, cullowing six years instead of four, so tivated, experienced. The other Inthat practical work may be introduced. dian Bishop is Bishop Azariah, of Around each cottage will be garden Dornakal, consecrated in 1912, who space, and at one side .of the village, has proved himself a welcome and pasture for sheep and cows. Butter effective addition to the bishops of the and cheese making, poultry raising Anglican Communion in India and and bee culture will form a part of the training. Girls will be taught sewing, abroad. especially mending-a thing few In- In March, 1930, the Church of Engdians know how to do; hygiene and sanitation, care of infants; a simple land in India became legally the Church of India, Burma and Ceylon.
course in civics. There will be leader- SIAM ship cour·ses, giving practice in lead- Lepers Give to Missions ing meetings, making outlines of speeches, parliamentary law, and con- THE Chiengmai Leper church has ducting and taking intelligent part in recently forwarded to the Ameribusiness meetings ·of various kinds. can Mission to Lepers a gift of ticals The girls will deposit their money in 20 ($8.85). The superintendent of a bank, kept by the manager, and draw the asylum, which is under the Presit out by check. It is also planned to byterian Board of Foreign Missions, teach religious education, for training says: the girls to be better Sunday-school teacher.s, and to teach their own chil- This small gift expresses in a very dren and to be able to tell stories. meagre way their gratitude for the many Girls in the highest classes will be blessings they have received. Not the given practice in organizing and con- least of these blessings is their faith in ducting Junior and Senior Christian God and their renewed faith in man. Endeavor Societies, MissIon Bands They, themselves, are unable to do direct and Junior Church. evangelism but they can send small sums in order that some one else may be used in this Christian work. Everyone of the more than four hundred patients in this leper village is a Christian.
Lutheran Cooperation On Sunday, July 26, their new pastor was installed.. It was a big day for the FIVE Lutheran Missions in India, church and practically every patient was the American, the Leipzig, the present. After charging the pastor with Danish, the Swedish, and Gossner, are his duties, the new man conducted the cooperating in the new theological sem- Communion service.
S
The Leper church is assuming the en- provision is made for nonregistered tire financial support of the new pastor. schools. Disabilities are imposed upon His principal work will be to visit rela- those who gradute from nonregistered tives and friends of leper patients whose schools. From this, it is perfectly homes are in this section of the country. clear that it is anticipated that there They are keen to have their own families, will be schools that elect not to regismost of whom are non-Christians, given ter at present. the opportunity of becoming Christians. "Yali (Yale in China, at Changsha) In addition to supporting their own after being actually registered, was pastor they have promised the sum of 'directed to witbdraw its registration ticals two hundred and fifty per year to and apply again!' the evangelistic work of Chiengmai Station, providing a suitable man can be "During two visits to Shanghai in found to visit small groups of Christians 1930, and one early in this year, I who rarely have the chance of meeting stayed at the Missionary Home, where the missionary or even the native evan- one meets people from all over China, gelists. Their interest in Christian work and found two significant things, viz.: of many kinds is a constant source of (a) among those who had tried regiswonder and inspiration to me. Within tration, considerable dissatisfaction the past few months they have given the was expressed; and (b) I was many big sum of ticals five hundred thirty-four times congratulated upon the decision (Tcs. 534). I am quite sure that no of the Shanghai district of the Ameriother church in Siam can compare with can Church Mission to defer registrathem for gifts and variety of interests. tion, and was assured that the position was widely endorsed. Numerous mis- This small cheque is sent with their sionaries representing several differprayers that your work among leper ent denominational boards expressed people of other lands may continue to be the wish that they had taken the same prospered of God. stand. Dr. John C. Ferguson, long time adviser to the Chinese govern- (Signed) J. HUGH McKEAN. ment, wrote: 'The provisions of the regulation (i. e., the order forbidding CHINA religious exercises in schools) do not Non-Registered Schools in China commend themselves to the good judg- ment of the average man.' " THOSE who delay registration of the mission school are not "oppos- Newspaper Reports Incomplete ing Chinese nationalism" and even breaking qtIin€se law, as some writers DR. JAMES H. FRANKLIN of the seem to intimate. American Baptist Missionary So- ciety has recently made an extended The Rev. B. L. Ancell, D.D., of the trip in China and gives a report very American (Protestant Episcopal) different from that in the daily press. Church, and principal of Haham He says: School, Yangchow, Kiangsu, writes: "Thera is no defiance, no opposition, A visitor to China may be so iminvolved in the position of those who pressed with the widespread poverty, ilurge a further delay before registra- literacy, disease, superstition, banditry tion …… We simply omit to claim and general disorganization that he will certain privileges to be accorded on utterly fail to recognize some of the concondition that we do certain things. structive movements. Although I jour- We fail to claim certain rights for our neyed eighteen hundred miles into the pupils: rights to enter certain uni- interior of China, I did not find a town versities, rights to engage in govern- of any size that within four or five years ment service, etc. had not torn down hundreds or thou- sands of buildings in order to widen its "The present welter of multitudi- streets; nor did I find any such town nous laws and regulations creates such that had not recently paved those widan uncertainty as to constitute a rea- ened thoroughfares. In Chengtu, with a son for friendly pause rather than population of 600,000, seventeen hundred haste. No clean-cut body of school law exists that is applied as law.
"If from the state of school law in China anyone thing becomes clear, it is this: That under the regulations,
WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
miles 'from the sea, wide thoroughfares about three millions. Although in had been made and every street in the city had been paved within a period of other parts of China they are mixed five years. Schools were being conducted by the Chinese authorities in all of the~e with the Chinese, in Kansu they trace places, despite ~he ~isturbances. ElectrIC lights were bemg mtroduced and many their origin to three races, Arab and of the young people were dreaming of better things for their country. oPledrsHiaun~ Turkish, and a branch of the family. Since the beginning The United Lutheran Church of the Manchu dynasty, they have been THE Missionstidning for Finland the official journal of the Finnish a constant source of irritation and National Foreign Mission Society reports that the Lutheran Church Union trouble to the Chinese people, and inin China founded in 1920, was made up at that time of five missions, t.he creasing enmity has been the result. Norwegian in central Hunan, the Fmnish in northeastern Hunan, that of At present Moslem powel' is in the asthe Augustana Synod in Honan and that of the United Lutheran Church in cendancy in Northwest China. Very Honan and Hupeh, as well as the Swedish Church.. The mission of the Mis- few Christian missionaries are at souri Synod, the missions of Norway and Sweden, the Basel Mission and the work among these Moslems and Rhenish Society were outside of the union. throughout China the Christian ap- The Lutheran Church Federation proach to Moslems is a neglected task. meeting is attended by delegates from all over China, so that the territorial The successful missionary should be extension of the church in China is the most far-flung in the world, although equipped with a knowledge of Arabic, in actual numbers it is relatively small. as well as of the vernacular. The task At the sixth annual convention the Chinese were in the majority; there calls for cooperation between the variwere Germans, Danes, Swedes, Norwegians, Finns and Americans as well ous missionary agencies, and the Naas a Korean, Japanese and Esthonian in attendance. It was a harmonious tional Christian Council in China has and congenial group. been asked to reorganize a special com- A Chinese Christian, Pastor Chu Hao-ran, was elected president and the mittee on work for Moslems through first vice-president is Pastor Ai Ho-nan from Honan and the second, Pastor which all the missronary boards work- Paul Anspach of the mission of the United Lutheran Church. ing in China might cooperate to deal Moslems in China more effectively with the needs of Chi- REV. J. FINDLAY ANDREW, a nese Moslems. Special literature, fa- missionary of the China Inland Mission, who has more than twenty cilities for training missionaries and years' experience in the Province of Kansu and who is especially ac- united prayer are earnestly requested. quainted with the problems of missions to Chinese Moslems, reports that A Reviva.l in Manchuria Moslems in Kansu Province number AREVIVAL of unusual nature in Eastern Manchuria which has at- tracted widespread attention is going on in the Danish mission in Dairen, according to the Danslc Missions blad. Dairen is a large modern city with buildings in western style. There are nearly 300,000 Chinese inhabitants and many Japanese. The Danish mis- sion has one married missionary there, Rev. and Mrs. Jansen, two Chinese preachers, six evangelists and four Bible women.
In September, 1929, a young Chi- nese candidate for ordination preached on "Regeneration" and told how he was led by God's Spirit to use John 3: 13. For two years he had been a fierce opponent of one of the mission- aries but had been converted. Before Pastor Hsieh had finished, a wave of excitement swept over the assembly. Later another Chinese pastor, Wang
Ming Tao, heightened the impression rural millions. The industrial field with earnest admonitions. Later remains unopened. Christians who Wang spoke seven hours without ap- own factories are to be called into con- ference for discussion of such topics parent fatigue. as capitalism, labor conditions, hours, A meeting of the Bible women fol- wages and relations with workers.
lowed and the rumor of a revival Japanese Christians and China spread through the surrounding country. Later great meeting,s were held No JAPANESE Christian wants in New Chwang and in Mukden. war with China or with anyone else. Church people were shocked to Missionary Aksel Sorenson writes: hear the war news on the very morn- "We are a growing flock and rejoice ing of the collection for Chinese flood at what is taking place and at the relief; perhaps the offering was largthought that God's time has come for er on this account. Although the a blessing. The revival out here will Christians do not feel themselves mean a revival at home, as well as new strong enough yet to welcome reproach life and new power. for opposing national military policy, they are indulging widely in words of The revival has spread over Dairen, caution and in hopes that the current Port Arthur, Chinchou, Takushan, problems may be peacefully solved. Feng-hwang-ch'eng Antung, Kwan- Most Japanese feel there is as much tien, Huanjou, Mukden, Changchung, justification for a Japanese Monroe Petune, Sweihwafu. The missionary doctrine for Manchuria as for any othconcludes by saying "God is calling er, and with China's inability to set aloud to His people in Denmark in all her own house in order, as well as with that is happening here in China. He her violations of Japan's treaty rights, is calling us to a full surrender, to there must naturally be an end to pasanctification and to a holy service in tience somewhere, even among relaprayer, work and sacrifice." tives. There is, however, general Christian agreement that the patience JAPAN-CHOSEN of the Japanese army authorities was prematurely exhausted.-T. T. Brum- The Kindom of God Movement baugh.
DESPITE the absence of Toyohiko Christian Night Schools Kagawa, the Kingdom of God movement has gone forward with in- NIGHT schools connected with Miscreasing success. This united Chris- aki Tabernacle in Tokyo furnish tian campaign, which has now been one of the city's most important fields endorsed by almost all the Protestant for evangelistic work. "Instead of bodies, reported more local campaigns spending their leisure time in the held during the first six months of city's 7,500 cafes and places of amuse- 1931 than during all 1930. The num- ment," writes Dr. William Axling, ber of Christians now enrolled in vari- "the best of Tokyo's youth devote their ous sorts of training classes, all of evenings to study, and with high purwhom expect to go into the active work pose expose themselves to Christian of the movement, is rapidly increas- teachings, Christian influences and ating. The most significant recent de- mosphere. The interest in the chapel velopments have been the beginning services and the Bible classes ha,s been of work in the hitherto untouched maintained at a high level. There are rural regions and the addition of a 899 young men and women enrolled in factory and industry section to the the three night schools. Of that numprogram. There are about 12,000 vil- ber 294 are young women who work lages in Japan, with a population in in offices, and who have enrolled that the neighborhood of 40,000,000. By providing special training for young people who live in these villages the Kingdom of God Movement is planning to open its real drive on Japan's
WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
they may improve themselves mentally ty, and Christian work is suffering and spiritually. Japan's youth are thereby. Christian cooperation is bealive to the tasks before them." ing tried; agriculture is studied as never before. To Study Japan's Schools Professor L. George Paik, Ph.D., of FOUR American educators will de- Seoul, in his "History of Protestant vote the winter months to a study Missions in Korea," sums up his conof Christian educati'onal systems and clusions as to conditions in his native institutions in Japan. The Interna- land as follows: tional Missionary Council is sponsor for the project, which is similar to When Korea was opened to the West, those recently completed in southern the greatest change wrought in the life and eastern Asia. of the people was the introduction of Christianity. Evangelical Christianity The American commissioners are entered the country when it was still an President G. Bromley Oxnam of De- independent nation …… Annexation in Pauw University, Greencastle, Ind.; 1910 was only the culmination of the long Dr. Frank W. Padelford of the Bap- processes of decay originating before the tist Education Board, Dr. Edward Ry- opening of the country. The intercourse nearson, Pittsburgh, Pa., and Miss of the West awakened the nation to a Ruth T. Woodsmall, research worker new life purpose. The infusion of Chrison institjltions for women. tian ideals gave to it a new birth ….. . The persistently active minority have al- CrOBS Currents in Korea ready made themselves felt among their non-Christian neighbors. The rebirth of K OREA has now been a part of the a nation in the heart of the Orient, the Japanese Empire for twenty rousing to new leadership of a people years. Law making and enforcement once spiritual leaders in the Far East, are efficient, for Japan aspires to rule who, through the fire of a new zeal are effectively. Through government con- impelled to proclaim to others their new trol and commercial enterprise, the faith, is the story of Christian expansion Japanese have done much to make in Korea. Korea physically and economically a new country. Government auto bus ISLANDS OF THE SEA lines, passenger and freight traffic have been greatly extended. Banking Will T"hiti Retreat? and commercial facilities and modern public utilities have been developed in I s CIVILIZATION, as interpreted a decade. Fine cities with modern by Europe and America, a help or buildings, water, light and transpor- a handicap? This is a question that is h~tion are growing up. Silk and cotton being seriously considered in the Ismills, tobacco factories, machine shops land of Tahiti, in the South Seas. The and other new industries have come. world economic depression is so greatly The Japanese postal system is efficient. affecting the islands that they appear Daily papers, the moving pictures, and to be on the verge of renouncing the even the radio are becoming common. ways of white civilization. Western clothing, medicine, machinery, books, athletics-all are taking In a resolution adopted by the Aghold of Korea. The Japanese school ricultural Union of Tahiti (says the system gives promise of future bless- N eU' York Times) and forwarded to ing to the nation. France, the islanders of the French South Sea colony are urged to resume On the other hand, if a million Ko- their ancestral modes of life and abanreans are prospering, eighteen mil- don the attempt to maintain modern lions are struggling for life's necessi- methods of living and trading. ties. Eighty per cent of the Koreans, mostly farmers, are in hopeless pover- This appeal recommends that the natives discard European clothing, re- turn to the simple outdoor life and give up life in the towns, with their artificial commercial existence, which is held responsible for the degenera- tion of island civilization.
Tahiti is one of the Society Islands In addition to this there are 2,788,625 and has an area of about 600 square native whites of foreign or mixed miles with a population of 8,585. The parentage. This means that there are capital is Papeete, a town which in- over 5,000,000 persons of foreign cludes about half of the whole.popula- stock, which number is over two- tion of the island. The Paris Evan- thirds the total population of the megelical Mission has been working here tropoli,s. It is surprising to find that since 1863 and has missionaries in the persons born in Russia, who num- Papeete and Morrea. Their communi- ber 442,431, now exceed slightly the cant Christians number about three number of those born in Italy. thousand. Cost of Crime "IGoing to School in Papua OFTEN wonder what children at T HE Wickersham Commission on home would think of the way Crime presents a vast body of children out here in Kwato come to carefully compiled statistics regardschool. ing the cost of crime and crime pre- vention. The cost of crime and efforts "The channel between Kwato and to prevent and to punish it by federal, Logea is about two hundred yards state and local agencies, is considerwide at its narrowest point and at all ably above one billion dollars a year times has a strong current runniIJ,.~ or $2,740,000 a day, or $114,000 an through it. This has to be crossed to hour! But the greatest c'ost of crime get to school. On a warm day the and its most terrible results is not its children paddle their outrigger ca- cost in dollars but the injury that it noes; on a windy day they sail; on an does to its perpetrators, its victims, unlucky day they swim. and to society as a whole.
"I love to watch the scramble before For a Christian the cause and the they get off in the morning-a great cure are not complex but simple, not bustling of grass skirts; last touches obscure but clear: to their carefully combed hair and shining bodies. One Dr two of the Cause-sin. This is revealed in selfolder boys swagger down to where ishness, a lust for gold and an ignotheir own little 'two-seater' lies, hol- rance of God and a disregard for His lowed out and finished off with their laws. This applies to both rich and own hands; they get quietly in and poor, high and low, native and foreign, paddle off. A little group of children white and colored, capitalists and manlook forlorn because their fathers have ual laborers. appropriated the family canoe for the day. They are not despondent long, Cure-faith in God and obedience however, for in a trice they have di- to His laws of life as made known vested themselves of any superfluous through Jesus Christ. This includes covering and entrusted their school self-sacrifice, a love for our fellowmen books to those in canoes. Then they of every race and station; plain livjump into the sea and are soon half ing, faithful and energetic use of way across the channel; their woolly whatever talents and opportunities we black heads bobbing up and down in have; recognition of the sovereignty the waves."-Hal,~iday Scrymgeour, in of God and seeking first the establish- Kwato Mission Tidings. ment of His righteous rule over every department of life-personal, indus- trial, political and religious.
NORTH AMERICA Allied Temperance Forces New York a Foreign City THE prohibition movement in America needs to be unified and to ACCORDING to the 1930 census fig- emphasize education if temperance is 1'. ures there are 2,283,400 foreign- to win. There are over forty prohibi- tion organizations or agencies operatborn white persons in New York City.
WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
ing on a more or less national scale. The Disciples' Message Differences find expression in rivalries and disputes. THE International Convention of the Disciples of Christ met this In recent years progress has been year in Wichita, Kansas. The United made in bringing the temperance 01'- Christian Missionary Society carries ganizations together on the basis of a on the work of home and foreign misfederation and the National Confer- sions, church erection, benevolence and ence of Organizations Supporting the religious education. The reports were Eighteenth Amendment includes thir- more encouraging than might have ty-four agencies in its membership. been expected, considering the busi- A national board of strategy is em- ness situation. The call to hold the powered to guide the political policy lines and permit no retreat sounded of the "drys" through the year ahead. by President Corey met sympathetic response in the convention. A notable The Allied Forces for Prohibition, message to the churches from the enunder the leadership of Daniel A. Pol- tire secretarial group was read and ing, Oliver W. Stewart, Raymond Rob- was given wide publicity in the press. ins and others plan to hold dry meetings in 269 cities in every state in the Among the more notable utterances union before June 1, 1932, and to set were the following: up a popular organization in each city to spread the net of the organization "We must develop a missionary spirover the entire country. Every move- it and program which proclaims Christ ment in favor of temperance anlJ law as the world's Saviour. We must recobservance should unite to work in ognize that our Christian heritage harmony and ceaselessly to educate makes us and our land undying debtthe youth and to uphold Christian ors to all mankind. We must make the standards. education of our day thoroughly and devoutly Christian. Our evangelism Juvenile Delinquent. must call men and women to a com- plete surrender to the unqualified reg- THE report made by the Wicker- nancy of Christ. We must attain an sham Crime Commission states exalted concept of Christian stewardthat the United States Government ship and apply the means and methods had in its custody during the last half whereby it can be made a permanent of 1930 some 2,243 juvenile delin- factor in undergirding Kingdom enquents who have come into the cus- terprises …… Recognizing then the tody of the state. How so many validity of Jesus as the world's Savminors became Federal charges is a iour and convinced without doubt that mystery, although it is explained that the only hope of our age lies in Him, bootlegging, narcotic -violations and we pledge ourselves afresh in those various forms of delinquency that wistful words of the Jerusalem Concross state lines have placed them in ference which came hot from the crucidurance. The facts as presented are ble in which the Christian leaders of distressing. That the young should fifty nations had defined their faith: be in prison is bad enough, but that 'We cannot live without Christ. We they should be ill-treated and poorly cannot bear to think of others living housed is worse. The commission, without Him. We cannot be content through Mariam Van Waters, the so- to live in a world which is un-Christcial worker, who made the investiga- like. We cannot be idle while the longtion, has performed a valuable service. ing of his soul is unsatisfied." It is to be hoped that the revelations will produce some practical results in A Million Thank-Offering the way of a remedy-both for the causes and the conditions revealed.- I N THE face of the economic stress The Churchman. which has engulfed the whole world the united thank offering of the women of the Protestant Episcopal
Church for the current triennium Dr. Richter asks the pertinent ques- reached the sum of $1,059,575.27. This tion as to whether our Christianity offering comprised the gifts of all has a message of such compelling pow- women of the church, whether factory er that it will be able to rise above the girl or wealthy matron, hard working bogs of religious neglect and despair mother or isolated ranch woman, wom- and enter upon a new way. He says, en from the remotest outposts in the "If we will be honest, we must per- Philippine Islands, women on the sug- haps acknowledge that there is among ar centrale.s in Cuba and the Domini- men today only one enthusiasm that can Republic, women in Haitian carries along a hundred million human villages, women of a dozen races in beings in its intoxication, namely Rus- Hawaii, women from Japanese fi·shing sian communism, which promises to villages and from the centers of J apa- build up a new civilization on the nese culture, women from inland China foundation of a logical altruism. Be- who live in daily peril of their lives, hind this communistic movement Liberian school girls in West Africa, stands a fiery enthusiasm which sees Eskimo women in the far north, Mexi- the daybreak of a new day after the can women in remote mountain homes. night of a decadent capitalism. It is While the offering is primarily for the a very serious question whether Chris- support of women missionaries, it has tianity today is capable of kindling a been customary to use a part for build- similar or even more glowing enthusi- ings and equipment. asm in the hearts of its hundreds of millions of sated and ·self-satisfied ad- "THome Mission Theme for 1932-3 hermIts, who might be willing to give HE American Indian" will be the a few crumbs from their rich board to theme for the interdenomination- the despairing Lazaruses at their al Home Mission books in 1932-33. doors.
Dr. Lewis Meriam will prepare the Does Christianity have this mes- book for adults. In addition to having sage? I mention five points which ap- a deep personal interest in the Indian pear to me to have incomparable worth missionary work of the church he has for all of the human race, especially been technical director of the survey in the present crisis: (1) The mes- of Indian affairs conducted under the sage of God, the sovereign Ruler of Institute for Government Research at the universe, who lays unlimited claim Washington. His book will deal more upon the unconditional obedience of with the future than the past of the every man; (2) The reality of re- Indian. The first part will consider demption through the Only Begotten the Indian situation as it is today and Son of God, the atonement through the second, opportunities for Chris- His cross and life through His resur- tian service. rection, (3) The ethical impulses from GENERAL the reality .of the Holy God, the only possible moral backbone for the world Need for Missionary Passion that is seriously ill with moral ail- TH E AUgemeine Missionszeit- ments; (4) The message of a uni- schTilt, which Dr. Julius Richter versal judgment of the living and the edits, contains an informing article on dead, which guarantees everlasting missionary opportunities and difficul- righteousness as the fundamental law tie·s faced by American mission of thi s world; (5) The message of the boards. He does full justice to the Kingdom of God as the real purpose splendid way in which these boards of God in and with this cosmos, con- have been carrying on but sees great tents and goal of the development of difficulties in raising funds and secur- the human family.
ing missionaries. In some respects Might it not be possible to penetrate the picture is nearly as dark as the the Christian treasures of salvation conditions faced by European socie- with such a missionary glow that they ties. would set the 'churches aflame 7"
WORTH
~~ Any books mentioned in these columns will be forwarded by us on receipt of price.-THE REVIEW.
The Japan Mission Year Book, 1931. Ed- missiDns and missiDnaries, educatiDn ited by Rev. L. J. Sha~er: 8 V? .449 and sDcial prDgress. Several chapters pp. Federation of ChI"lstIan MlsslOns. are 'Of special value and impDrtance Tokyo. such as thDse 'On "The Statute of Reg- istratiDn," "Cause 'Of Anti-Christian People who are interested in Japan M'ovements," "The Kuomintang and will find this publication of exceptIOn- ReligiDn" and "Change in Family al value. It presents not 'Only a wide Life." The whDle vDlume is essential range of authDritative infDrmatiDn re- tD thDse WhD wDuld understand the garding the missiDnary' wDrk 'Of all present situatiDn and DUtlDDk. denDminatiDns in Japan and FDrmDsa, but includes valuable chapters 'On the Negro Year Book: An Annual Encyclogeneral situatiDn in Jap~~ – s?ci.al, pedia of the Negro, 1931-32. By MoneCDnDmic, religiDus and pDlItlcal, III Its roe N. Work. 544 pp. $2. Tuskegee bearing upDn the Christian mDvement. Institute. Alabama. This Eighth EditiDn is a distinct A. J. B. imprDvement 'Over earlier issues bDth The China Christian Year Book, 1931. Ed- in CDntent and arrangement 'Of matter. ited by Frank Rawlinson. 8 va.. 437 Most of the material is new and, in a pp. $2. Christian Literature SocIety. concise form, gives a comprehensive Shanghai, China. view of the events affecting the NegrD China is rapidly making hist'Ory, as and the prDgress he is making throughDut the world. Special sectiDns is clearly shown in this seventeenth are devDted tD International CDoperaissue 'Of the China MissiDn Year B'Ook. tion through the Church and other F'Orty writers have contributed tD the agencies, national cDnsCiDusness, disv'Olume, half of them being Chinese, criminatiDns against Negroe·s, segre- S'O that the result presents a compDslte gation, and the NegrD in pDlitics, view 'Of a very critical situation. educati'Onal pr'Ogress and the NegrD Christian activity has increased in the in the church. Nearly 'One hundred last two years and anti-Christian pages are given t'O the NegrD in EurDpe movements are less pr'On'Ounced. S'Ome and in Africa. The c'Oncluding secti'Ons misshmary p'Olicies and methDds have deal with the Negr'O in p'Oetry, a rechanged and many new experiments view 'Of recent bDDks relating tD the are being tried. The Chinese Church Negro and a direct'Ory 'Of N egr'O newsis helping to rebuild China and its papers, agencies, and 'Organizati'Ons. p'Ower is being felt. The Five Year The statistics (page 537) are inaccu- Movement is making prDgress and ID- rate and the index is inadequate. eal groups of Christians are cooperating with the Central Committee. It S. M.Z. is a day 'Of great need and great 'Opportunity for Christianity in China.
The next ten years will probably set God's World, By Cornelius Howard Patthe mold in which the future of the ton. 297 pp. $2. Richard R. Smith. nation is cast. New York. 1931.
We have the usual sections of the The day has passed when the true year b'Ook where vari'Ous authors ably follower 'Of Christ can be provincial discuss nati'Onal and religious life, and insular in his views of G'Od's world 953
if ever such a day existed. The prog- physician. Dr. Schweitzer sees Africa ress of the past few years strikingly and the Africans as they are-without manifests our nearness to one another, much romance or poetry-but with and the need for neighborliness among great human need and in dire physical nations. In such a day the world has suffering which he is trying to relieve. need of the Church of Christ, and f He describes his experiences-doctorinteIligent, compassionate, ecumenical ing, operating, disciplining, teaching Christians. morals and religion, erecting build- ing·s, feeding the people, conducting Dr. Patton pays tribute to those re·search. It is a simple, intimate, who, with humility and the spirit of vivid story of a humanitarian work brotherliness and with sacrifice, are well done. making their contribution to the realizing of the Christian ideal through- We Are Alaskans. Mary Lee Davis. 335 out the world, but he states with pp. $3.50 W. A. Wilde Co. Boston. regret that in the church these are a 1931. minority. Today God's world is hungry and piteously sick, large areas are In "Uncle Sam's Attic" Mary Lee darkened by ignorance and sin, but Davis achieved a striking success with too many in the ·Christian Church are a volume of general information on narrow and selfish, when their inter- Alaska. It was written so charmingly est should be cosmopolitan." In a clos- that it stands easily first in the books ing chapter, "A Possible World," the descriptive of our great north land. author calls us, as Christians, away "We Are Alaskans" attains the same from our apathy and indifference to high level of interest and value. One apostolic steadfastness and the tre- cannot know the human, and therefore mendous adventure of world-living real, Alaska, until one has read these and giving. "The one clear call for stories .of Eskimo, Tinneh, Thlingit the church to which you and I belong and frontiersmen – cheechakos and is to go and do the thing which is com- sourdoughs. Every story fairly bites manded and empowered by Christ." into one's interest but two stand out- Tillie Paul Tamaree and the Flu Epi- Some of the chapters treat of sub- demic at Fairbanks. Finely graven jects upon which books have been writ- cameos are they, the cost of reading ten. Bibliographies are provided for which is a clutch of throat and moisthe benefit of those who wish to pur- ture of eye. "Uncle Sam's Attic" and sue a specific subject. "WeAre Alaskans" are like two sides of a beautiful coin. Noone preparing This book has great clarifying value a paper or address on Alaska can afto those who are interested in missions ford to neglect these books. and world affairs, and is challenging and convincing to those who are not. A.J.M.
J. MeN. Studies in Christian Stewardship. By Rev. Douglas W. P. Strang. 2s. Interna- The First Hospital at Lambarene. By Al- tional Association for Church Fi- bert Schweitzer. 12 mo. $2. Holt & nances. 55 West Regent Street, Glas- Co. New York. 1931. go. 1931.
"On the edge of the Primival For- Strange to say, this is the first book est," which made Albert Schweitzer- on Stewardship yet published in Great German musician, physician, philoso- Britain. It is by the minister of the pher, missionary – well known in New Northern church, Edinburgh, and America and England, brought his ex- is a notable contribution to this vital periences up to 1924. This volume subject which is now challenging the records the story of his work from thinking of the church as never be- 1924 to 1928 when he went on fur- fore the world over. Mr. Strang relough to Europe. He is now back in gards it as nothing less than an inte- We·st Africa serving the people to gral, though long neglected part of the whom he has devoted his skill as a
BqOKS WORTH READING
Gospel. To appropriate a phrase of Dr. Schomerus shows clearly and his own, this little textbook of twelve unmistakably the principal elements chapters opens out "a tremendous in Buddhism and thus reaches the vista." Far from being a primer, deepest roots of the distinction be- though modestly offered as "a prelim- tween it and Christianity. He shows inary essay" these studies sweep the that the real difference lies in the fact wide ranges of the New Testament that Christianity is first of all con- along this line and incidentally the cerned with the conception of person- Old Testament and afford a key to un- ality and this brings him to the con- lock connections between the paBsages sideration of the question whether one of the two Testaments. They form an desires to be a personality in the invaluable contribution to the religious fullest sense of the word. The book education materials, furnishing a is a fine contribution to an under- missing link between mission study standing of Buddhism. C. T. B.
and daily life. D. MeC.
Buddha und Christus. By Professor Hilko Gandhi, Christus und wir Christen. By Wiardo Schomerus. Buchhandlung des Walter Gabriel. Buchhandlurtg des Weisenhauses. Halle. 1931. Waisenhauses. Halle. 1931.
Any publication by Dr. Schomerus, The author presents an evaluation the great authority on missions and the religions of the world, will be of Gandhi from the standpoint of hailed with joy. The present volume is particularly timely both in view of Christian teaching. When it is borne the fact that at present there is so in mind that for a long time the author much unclearness in regard to the fundamental questions of all religion had the portrait of Gandhi on his and because there is a widespread in- desk beside the picture of Christ, it clination on the part of seekers after the truth to look for comfort in other will not be feared that he does not religions. This is particularly true in regard to Buddhism, partly because of present his argument from a fair and the natural attraction in the person of unbiased standpoint. He has enthe founder of Buddhism and partly deavored to be so fair, that at times because men fancy to have discovered it seems as if he made too many conin it a guide out of the oppression of cessions to the great Indian leader. materialism. The book is a noteworthy contribu- In view of the fact that for a num- tion to the question of the religious ber of years past there has been an viewpoints of Gandhi. It draws a increasing propaganda for Buddhism clear line of distinction between the in many countries it is a matter of spiritual world of Gandhi and the great gratification that the comparison world of Christ's Gospel. As many between Buddhism and Christianity is admirers 'Of Gandhi see in him the inhere made by one of the greatest liv- corporation of Christ's ethics in the ing authorities on Bud d his m. Sermon on the Mount, they overlook Throughout the book the reader is the most important principles that dis~ conscious that the facts are presented tinguish Christ's revelation. It is to in the most frankly objective way. the credit .of Mr. Gabriel that he has brought out the great self-revelation Professor Schomerus states that he of God in Christ over against a mere aims to give an answer to four ques- ethical conception of the Gospel. He tions, namely: (1) Who is Buddha fortifies his positions by extracts from and who is Christ? (2) What are the public utterances of Gandhi and their basic views of God, the world constantly bears tribute to his lofty and man? (3) What did they aim at? ethical views. He shows the truth of (4) How did they think to carry out Gandhi's accusations against Christheir aim? tians so-called and sounds a clear note of appeal to repentance and a deeper penetration into that which actually constitutes the Gospel of Christ.
C. T. B.
NEW BOOKS Paths to the Presence of God. Albert W.
Communing With Communism. William Palmer. 105 pp. $1. Pilgrim Press. B. Lipphard. 153 pp. $1.50. Judson Press. Philadelphia. Chicago. I The Cult of Dr. Sun. Translated by Wei Russia in the Grip of Bolshevism. John Young. 250 pp. Independent Weekly. Johnson. 160 pp. $1.50. Revell. Shanghai. New York.
The Christian Conception of Personality. Sammy and Silverband. Janet Miller. $2. A study of the Significance of Jesus Houghton, Mifflin Co. Boston. Christ in the Modern World, Meth- odist Book Concern, New York. St. Ignatius – Founder of the Jesuits.
Education and the Missionary Task. By Christopher Hollis. 288 pp. $2.50. a Mission Secretary. 33 pp. 6d. Harpers. New York. World Dominion Press. London. Thinking With God. Norman A. Camp. The First Hospital at Lambarene. Albert Schweitzer. 12mo. $2. Hall & Co. 127 pp. 25 cents. Bible Institute Col- New York. portage Association. Chicago.
The Breath of Tomorrow. Janet Lang- Vanguard of the Caravans. Coe Hayne. ford. 158 pp. 18.6d. Pickering & Inglis. London. 157 pp. $1. Judson Press. Phila- delphia. Karl Barth: a Prophet of aNew Chris- tianity. Wilhelm Pauck. 228 pp. $2. Year Book of the American Baptist For- Harper's. New York. eign Missionary Society, 1931.. 2~6 pp.
The China Christian Year Book, 1931. American Baptist Foreign MIsSIOnary Edited by Frank Rawlinwn. 437. pp. Society. New York. $2. Christian Literature SOcIety. Shanghai. Year Book of the American Baptist Home Missionary Society, 1931. 220 pp. God's Will to Women. Katherine C. Bushnell. $2. Author. 127 Sunny- American Baptist Home Missionary side Avenue, Piedmont. California. Society. New York.
Gillian's Treasure. Beth J. Coombe Annual Report of the Foreign Missions of Harris. 225 pp. 1!8. Pickering & the United Lutheran Church in America, Inglis. London. 1930. 172 pp. United Lutheran Church. Baltimore. How Big Is Your World 1 Student and Leaders' Books. John Leslie Lobin- Manual of Suggestions to Leaders. Oscar gill. 75 pp. Leaders, 85 cents; Stu- dents, 110 cents. Pilgrim Press. Boston. M. Miller. 43 pp. 25 cents. West- minster Press. Philadelphia. The Lesson Round Table, 1932. Edited by R. D. Dodge. 350 pp. $1.25. Cokes- "Yes, lIut." The Bankruptcy of ApolQ- bury Press. Nashville. getics. Willard S. Sperry. 185 pp. $2. Harpers. New York. The Message of the Home Mission Congress of the United Presbyterian Church of A. C. Dixon – A Romance of Preaching.
. North America. Pittsburgh. Helen A. C. Dixon. 324 pp. $5. Put- nam. New York. A Merry Mountaineer. The Story of Clif- ford Harris of Persia. R. W. Howard. A Prince of Missionaries-The Rev. Al",x- 93 pp. 18. Church Missionary So- ciety. London. ander Hetherwick of Blantyre. W. P. Livingstone. Illustrated. 8vo. 206 pp. Perils in the Wilderness (or, The Rescue 58. James Clarke and Co. London. of Two Lady Missionaries). G. Findley 1931. Andrew. 60 pp. 25 cents. China In- land Mission. Philadelphia. Good News. A Plea for Spreading the Gospel. C. V. Sheatsley. 12mo. 156 The Present-Day Summons to the World pp. $1.00. Lutheran Book Concern. Mission of Christianity. John R. Mott. 325 pp. $2.50. Cokesbury Press. Columbus, Ohio. 1931. Nashville. The Pilgrim Church. E. H. Broadbent. The Treasure Ship Sails East. A Book filr Churches practising New Testament Boys and Girls. Edited by Phyllis principles. 8vo. 406 pp. 78, 6d. Pick- Hocken. 127 pp. $2. Macmillan. ering and Inglis. Glasgow. 1931. New York. Rural Education for the Regeneration of Korea. Helen Kiteuk Kim. Pamphlet. Methodist Episcopal Board of Foreign Missions. New York. 1931.
Samuel Crowther of the Niger. Jesse Page. 12mo. 191 pp. 28. Pickering and Inglis. Glasgow. 1931.
The Lost Inheritance. Esther E. Enock. 12mo. 176 pp. 1s, 6d. Pickering and Inglis. Glasgow. 1931. r~~~~~~~~~~~~sss~ ~ A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS OFFER TO ~ ~ SUBSCRIBERS ! ~ ::J.. You are wondering just now – like the rest of us – what 'M t! will be the most suitable gift for this or that friend as a Christmas ll: ::J.. remembrance. Let us help you solve your problem. 'M t! Through a special arrangement with the publishers we are able ll: ::J.. to offer our readers an opportunity of obtaining the recently pub- 'M t! lished book ll: ~ THE PREACHING VALUE OF MISSIONS ~ $I.. This book is written by Helen Barrett Montgomery who is 'M t! well known for her deep interest in the subject of Missions and her ll: $I.. experience in winning others for the missionary enterprise. She gives 'M t! six reasons why the teaching and study of Missions are valuable. ll: ::J.. After having shown the value, Mrs. Montgomery presents a study 'M t! of Missions in the Old Testament, in the New Testament, and in ll: ~ history. ' 'M t! ll: YOU WILL WANT TO READ THIS BOOK t~! You Will Want to Present It toOSRome Friend as a Christmas Gift l'Ml: ra HERE IS AN UNUSUAL OFFER Q t::J!.. A ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTION TO REVIEW $2 50} l'Ml: THE PREACHING VALUE OF MISSIONS. I 00 BothfoT$2.50 ~ $3 50 Save $1.00 ~ .
~ You may renew your own subscription for one year and receive the 'M t! ll: book or. ',M~ ~ ~ ::J..
t! Make a gift of a year's subscription to the REVIEW and the Preaching Value of Missions to a friend.
Remembeli–Offeli Good Only ()nfil Dec:ember Z.5 ::J.. SEND YOUR ORDER NOW ~ ~~t! ~ Fill out coupon below and return AT ONCE ————————————– , ~ MISSIONARY REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY 156 Fifth Avenue. New York City ~ Enclosed please find. . ……… for which please send I~ Missionary Review of World to Preaching Value of Missions to ~ Name …………………… Name ………………
~ I Address : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :: Address …. :::::::::::::::::..
L~~~~S~~Q~~~~~~~~ Please mention THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THIl WORLD in writing to advertisers. THE KI~6~S BUSI~ESS The Bible Family Magazine for Over Twenty Years WILLIAM P. WHITE, D.D., Editor PASTORS, TEACHERS, CHURCH Let the Readers Speak for Themselves WORKERS- "1 use the Helps altogether in studying my Look at this partial list of contents: Sunday School Lesson."
Present-Day Fulfillment of Prophecy HIt is sound in doctrine and is fine in its World events in the light of Scripture. exposition of deep spiritual truths."
Crumbs from the King's Table U Its articles 011 prophecy are inspirr.'ng in Rich Bible truths by the editor. these troublous times."
Contributed Articles "We find that 'The King's Business' meets By outstanding Christian leaders. the needs of the present day. We cannot do without it." Heart to Heart With Our Young Readers Interesting stories with a message. "1 keep all my copies for reference."
International Lesson Commentary A thorough treatment of the S. S. Lessons.
An Attractive Combination Offer fOr} . $1.50 { Both The King's Business SAVE The Missionary Review of the Wodd. . 2.50 $3.00 $1.00 Postage Extra for Foreign Countries: Tbe King's Business, 2Sc; The Missionary Review of tbe World, SOc.
Trial Offer-BOTH MAGAZINES-FOUR MONTHS-$1.00 The King's Business The Missionary Review of the World 536 So. Hope St., Los Angeles, Calif. 156 Fifth Ave., New York, N. Y.
$2 Worth for $1!
THE BIBLE TODAY, a condensed. popular. pertinent evangelistic magazine. published by the National Bible Institute. 340 West 55th Street. New York. will be sent to You and a friend for ONE YEAR FOR ONE DOLLAR (Regular subscription price $1.00 a year) Special offer from November 15, 1931, to January 15, 1932 DON O. SHELTON. LL.D.. Editor Some of the notable articles especially written for THE BIBLE TODAY to be published during 1931-1932 "How to G~ow a Soul," by the REV. DR. JAMES BLACK. Pastor of Free St. Georges. Edin- burgh. Scotland.
"What the Bible Has Meant in My Life," by DR. JAMES S. MONTGOMERY. Chaplain of the House of Representatives. Washington. D. C.
"The Man Who Went to See What He Could See," by MELVIN G. KYLE. President of the Xeni. Theological Seminary.
"Imaging the Bible," by AMOS R. WELLS. Honorary Editor of the "Christian Endeavor World."
And More than Forty Other Inspiring, Faith-strengthening Messages A Speciul Combinufion Oller THE BIBLE TODAy.,…… . …… $1.00 ~ Both $2.75 THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD …. . …… 2.S0 f Save 7Sc Address your orders to either office "The Bible Today" "The Missionary Review of the World" 340 West 55th Street. New York. N. Y. 156 Fifth Avenue. New York. N. Y.
Name …….. ,., ……………………………….. .
Address …….. , …………………………………..• Please mention THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE ',",ORLD in writin~ to advertisers.
The Missionary Review of the World — November 1929
A P AGANI ZED AFRICAN W'OMAN AT " HOME"-IGNORANT AND
THE MISSIONARY ._.
REVIEW OF THE WORLD DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor CONTENTS-November, 1929 LET YOUR GIFT to Foreign Missions Page ~'RONTISPIECE-Heathenlzed and Mod- PAY YOU A LIFE INCOME ernized African Womanhood You can make a generous gift to foreign mis- HUlIlE O~' AHMEDNAGAR ………•• sions and have a needed income for yourself and others from the money you give by the · •.•••••.•••.••…•• ALDEN H. CLARK 821 MAKING MEN AS WELL AS LUMBER- Annuity Gift Plan MEN ….•..•.. FRED H. RINDGEJ JR. 828 This plan reHeves you of uncertainty and IN MONGOLIA BEYOND THE OUT- worry caused by changing values of invested funds and assures you a fixed income of POSTS OF CHRISTIANITY .••••••• • ••..•••••••••••. GEORGE W. HUNTER 832 4t% to 9% per year RELIGIOUS REIGN OF TERROR IN RUSSIA …….••• PAUL HUTCHINSON 835 for the rest of your life RUSSIAN VIEW OF EVANGELISM IN RUSSIA …………………….. 839 A reserve fund of over $1,500,000 guarantees WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM KOREA? the prompt payment of annuities to you. · •..•..••..•…•.••. H. KERR TAYLOR 843 THE MODERNIZED AFRICAN WOMAN Protect yourself against Joss through unwise investments and at the same time • ••••••••••. MRS. J.OHN M. SPRINGER 846 help send the gosDel to all the world.
'rIlE APPEAL OF INDIA ……•…•• For full r."n,formation w'r£te ……………. .. PAUL J. BRAISTED 850 Erne.t F. Hall, Secretary, De"t. 01 Annuitie.
MENNONITE WORK IN ARGENTINA BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS · . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T. K. HERSHEY 852 of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A.
156 Filth Aveaue, New York TOPICS O~' THE TIMES …………. 854 The Bible To-day Dr. Matt's Missionary Projects The Ca.mpaign in Japan a cheer-bringer,an informer,an instructor Ll. Fo.rwOJrd Movement in Ohina —in a word–ca concise and thoroughly Youth Mo'vements in Europe evangelical, up-to-the-minute magazine , Unrest in Pa~e8tine that has as its readers and subscribers Church Union in Scotland those who wish to keep abreast of the times and in touch with strong and able ~I~:~~?'kt:~! ~O~~:'R:. i: J;'ii~so'; 859 moulders of Christian thoughts and lives, leaders in the evangelistic world to-day. WOMAN'S HOME AND FOREIGN MIS- SION BULLETIN ……………•.. 869 DON O. SHELTON, LL.D. Editor WORLD WIDE OUTLOOK ……….•• 877 The Missionary Review of the World, $2.50 BOOKS WORTH READING ……•.•• 893 BOTH $2.75 TEUMS.-$2.50 a year. ($2.00 in clubs of five.) Foreign postage, 50 cents. Single copies, 25 cents. Published monthly. Copyrighted, 1928, by MISSIONARY REVIEW PUBr.ISHING COl{w PANY, INC. All rights reserved THE MISSIONARY REVIEW PUBLISHING The Bible To-day $1.00 COMPANY, INC. SAVE 75c.
ROBERT E. SPBRR, Pre8ident Address your order to either office. WILl, lAM 1. CHAMBERLAIN, Viae-President THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary WALTER McDOUGALL, Treasurer 156 Fifth A.nDUI!, New York City Publication Office, 3d & Relly St., Harrisburg, THE BIBLE TO·DAY Pa. 250 a copy. ~2.50 a year. 340 Wo.t 55th Streot, Now York Cily }Jditorilll and BUSiness Office, 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City Subscribe to these two indispensa- i Entered as seeond-cluss matter at tbe Post hie magazines _I Office. Harrisburg, Pa., under Act of' March 3, 1879. .
Please mention THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OB THill WORLD in writing to advertisers. CHRISTIAN AFRICAN GIRLS AT LOVEDALE INSTITUTE TRAINED 'FOR SERVICE THE EFFECT OF THE GOSPEL ON AFRICAN WOMEN
LII, No. 11 November
THE MISSIONARY NIEW7te HUME OF AHMEDNAGAR BY REV. ALDEN H. CLARK, D.D., Ahmednagar, India, Principa.Z oj the Union Theological Colleuc~ Ahmcdn(Juar T OWARD the end of June the of the Kingdom of God and man, leading citizens of Ahmed- at home in the world." nagar, of every class and The record of his childhood takes creed, gathered to pay honor to us back to the pioneer years of misthe memory of Robert Allen Hume, sionary privation and heroic sacrinews of whose death in Boston, on fice. His father was of staunch June 24th had been cabled to India. Scottish ancestry and a man of The chief British official of the dis- scholarship and ability. His mother trict presided and addresses of ap- was aNew England Puritan of preciation were made by the culture and deep devotion. They leading Mohammedan, Parsi and volunteered for foreign missionary Hindu of the city. Dr. Hume had service in 1839 and sailed for Bombeen retired from Ahmednagar for bay in a two-masted brig, going some years but at this commemo- around the Cape of Good Hope and rative service his fellow citizens taking five months for the journey. gave striking expression to their The quality of Mrs. Hume's mis- appreciation of his life and service sionary spirit was indicated by the among them. fact that on the journey she was Dr. Hume was fond of calling the means of converting the Afhimself, "A Scotch-American-Indi- rican cook and she brought great an." He explained: "My forbears pleasure to the Sultan of Zanzibar were Scottish. I am an American by demonstrating the use of a piano citizen. I am a son of the Orient, that had just come to him as a gift born in India. Really I am a citizen from Queen Victoria.
of the Kingdom of God and of man, After fifteen years of fruitful at home in the world." Consulted and many-sided missionary service, and trusted by a succession of Mr. Hume was attacked by tropical Governors, the friend of eminent dysentery and was ordered by his Indian statesman and social re- physician to try a change to the formers, a leader among mission- cooler climate of South Africa, so aries, a devoted servant of the Mrs. Hume, with their seven small Indian church and well-known and children, of whom Robert was the influential in wide circles in Amer- eldest, embarked on a small sailing ica, Dr. Hume was indeed "a citizen vessel, Mr. Hume being carried on 821
a stretcher. The voyage was genious methods and exerting a stormy, the cabin small and stuffy. strong influence over his fellows, All were sick. Robert had a severe while at the same time, he showed convulsion. The father grew worse unusual ability in his academic and finally died. Amidst the weep- work. Mrs. Hume had moved the ing of the children the body of their home to New Haven to facilitate father was committed to the Indian the higher education of the chil- Ocean. Something of the quality dren. After graduating with dis- of the faith that Dr. Hume was to tinction from Yale, Robert Hume show through his life was then re- spent some time in teaching. His vealed when the little boy, feeling mother had, from his childhood, his responsibility as the oldest, said dedicated him to missionary serv- to his mother "All right, mother. ice and he, after a time when he God and I will take care of you." was allured by the prospects in the Weeks afterward, the widow and realm of law and politics, had her seven little children landed in wholeheartedly decided to go out to Boston and a prosperous uncle of- the work in which his father had fered to adopt Robert as his heir, laid down his life. His younger but Mrs. Hume decided to keep the brother, Edward, had made a simi- family together and they settled lar decision, but they had deter- down to a life of poverty and mined not to leave America without struggle in Springfield, Massa- making provision for the beloved chusetts. Often did Dr. Hume in mother to whom they owed so later years express his gratitude much. By 1874 they had saved to his mother because, instead of enough from their salaries as allowing him to be brought up in teachers to buy their mother a ease, she trained him in industry, home in New Haven. Robert mar- economy, mutual helpfulness and ried a daughter of the Marathi Mis- profound Godliness. One of the sion, and set sail for India, thus ways in which Robert helped was beginning what was to be over half by delivering copies of the Spring- a century of service so rich, so field Republican to subscribers. varied, so dominated by the spirit This meant getting up between of Christ as to place him high in four and five o'clock in the morn- the list of the great Christians of ing. In the winter his coat would his day.
sometimes freeze stiff upon his :Beginning Work in India body; and when there was a storm it would stand alone upright Immediately on landing in Bom- on the kitchen floor, on his return bay they were sent to Ahmed- home. Robert would not only be nagar, a city of some significance the first boy to report for duty, he in the history of India. It is the would have the cheeriest word for administrative headquarters for a all and the heartiest laugh at any district of three quarters of a mil- joke and because of his fitness he lion people and a military center of was soon made the foreman of all importance. This means that many the paper boys. civil officials and military officers As he went on into higher educa- live here and that the city has a tion he showed the same qualities considerable group of Indians of of enterprise and responsibility, education and of prominence in earning his way by various in- politics and business. However it
HUME OF AHMEDNAGAR
was not this fact that gave Ahmed- treated him as a member of their nagar its importance as a mission- family, giving him the sympathy ary center. It was rather that in and support that were of vital imthe city and surrounding villages portance to him in that crisis. Mr. Christianity had early met with a Tilak became a teacher in the greater response than it had found Theological Seminary and turned elsewhere in western India. A to Dr. Hume for advice and help in group of noteworthy missionaries every important situation. Much and Indian Christians had given of the remarkable effectiveness of leadership of high quality to the this great Christian poet was no Christian movement. Ahmednagar doubt due to the wisdom and symalready gave promise of being the center of training for Christian ROBERT ALLEN HUME service that it soon became. On reaching Ahmednagar Dr. Hume pathy of his equally great Christhrew himself into the life of the tian friend. What was true of Tilak church, began evangelistic work was also true of many other Inand cooperated in the organization dians, whether students of Dr. of a greatly needed theological Hume's or not. To all he extended seminary. One element in the a sympathy and an unstinted helpsignificance of Dr. Hume's mis- fulness. He was preeminently a sionary service is its continuity. friend, advisor and inspirer of any- For over fifty years Ahmednagar one who he could aid and counted was his base. He became "Hume no expenditure of time or effort of Ahmednagar" to the Christian for the sake of an Indian brother world. as too great.
During all his years of mission- Soon after arriving in Ahmedary service Dr. Hume gave much nagar Dr. Hume was asked to take time to the training of Chris- charge of Christian work in the tian leaders. He looked upon that work, as, on the whole, the most rewarding of his career. Over two hundred Indian ministers and evangelists were trained in the seminary under his inspIrmg leadership. Many of them went out to serve in positions of great responsibility in almost every church in Western India. Dr. Hume followed the careers of these men with affection and they, in turn, continued to look up to him for sympathy and advice. Among the most notable students of the Seminary was the late Narayan Waman Tilak, the famous Marathi Christian poet. He came to Dr. Hume immediately after his baptism. His own family for a time disowned him and Dr. and Mrs. Hume
Parner District, an area contain- church life of Ahmednagar. Sev- ing some seventy-five villages. eral times, when it was pastorless Christian development in this area he acted as pastor of the large had barely begun. There was one First Church. His greatest visible pastorless church, with eleven monument is the beautiful church members. Dr. Hume threw himself edifice, seating 1,300 people, which into this work with all his remark- was built under the stimulus of his able energy and ability to find fresh leadership. The congregation had ways of approach to the hearts and far outgrown the old building. The lives of the people. Schools sprang crowding, added to the inadequacy up. Friendships with all classes of the structure, made difficult the were established. People began to development of the spirit of wor- come out as Christians in con- ship. To the task of furnishing a siderable numbers. In his forty more fitting center of Christian years of connection with this dis- worship for the city Dr. Hume ad- trict Dr. Hume saw about a thou- dressed himself. The great new sand men and women brought into building is in the very heart of the church fellowship; he gave pri- city. Its special feature is a beauti- mary education to some thousands ful dome, symbol of the unity of of villagers, the best of whom were God. The whole is designed to give sent on into high schools and nor- to the Indian church a place of mal schools and are now found in Christian worship which is in har- positions of usefulness in many mony with the best things of her parts of India. He left behind him own past. As this prophetic build- a corps of Christian workers, a ing was being built Dr. Hume went group of churches and eighteen daily to look over the work with substantial buildings for Christian painstaking care. Standing amid work. A distinctive feature of this the piles of material he would pray district work was the way in which that this great undertaking might Dr. Hutne linked up individual be blessed of God to the develop- workers and churches in India with ment of a spirit of true Christian individual Christians and church worship and service. It is a most groups In America, thus making it appropriate decision of the Indian a very effective means for spread- church, made since the news of Dr.
ing inter-racial understanding and Hume's death was received, that sympathy. this beautiful building should be For many years Dr. Hume co- named the Robert Hume Memorial operated with the churches of Church.
Ahmednagar in Christian work. A Friend to All Village Christians drifted into the city in large numbers and he and Dr. Hume did not confine his in- his devoted wife concerned them- terestin Ahmednagar to the Chris- selves in many kinds of effort for tian community. He was the friend them as well as for those of the of all. . He served for some years older Ahmednagar community. on the Municipal Council. His pub- One of his last projects for the lic spirit received unprecedented good of the community was a hous- recognition when he was elected by ing scheme which he carried his fellow citizens as one of their through successfully. Dr. Hume representatives to the Indian Na- took especial interest in the actual tional Congress. In the meetings
HUME OF AHMEDNAGAR
'['lIE ROBERT A. HUME MEMORIAL CHURCH A'l' AIIMEDNAGAlt of the Congress he came into touch relief work for people without diswith able leaders from all parts of tinction of caste or creed, under India, many of whom became his the general direction of three difwarm personal friends. He would ferent committees. The total make a point of delivering a lecture amount of aid thus distributed was in the city where the Congress met almost two million dollars and the and he would print and distribute work was done so efficiently and to all Congress members and their wisely as to call forth a chorus of friends a prayer appropriate to the approval. This famine work left occasion. Those who had opportu- Marathi Mission a legacy of about nity to observe it wondered at the 3,000 famine orphans to be cared influence of Dr. Hume over Indian for and trained for useful citizenleaders from every part of that ship. To accomplish this Dr. Hume, great land. on his own responsibility, called to India two American experts, an A community service of Dr. agriculturalist and an industrial Hume's which attracted wide- engineer. Both of these men came spread interest was his remarkable to be recognized by the Governwork during the famines which ment as leading experts in their swept over wide areas in India own lines. It was especially in from 1897 to 1900. He was the recognition of his services in famprincipal administrator of famine
ine days that Queen Victoria later life was that for actual church conferred upon Dr. Hume the union. It was largely due to his Kaiser-i-Hind gold medal for public untiring effort that the United service in India. Church of Northern India, bring- Dr. Hume's creative mind was ing together about 200,000 Chris- bound to express itself not only in tians from a wide area and from such activities as we have here de- many varying backgrounds, was scribed but also in writing. For formed. It was natural that he a considerable period he was the should be chosen the first Modera- English editor of our Christian tor of the General Assembly of weekly, the Dnyanodaya. He wrote this United Church. Even after many leaflets which were so clear, his retirement and in spite of so simple, and so full of Christian physical handicaps he took the spirit that they were the means of journey from America to Lau- spreading the most vital Christian sanne as the representative of the truths among the educated classes United Church of Northern India of India. Dr. Hume was in the to the World Conference on Faith habit of sending these leaflets to and Order.
a long mailing list of Indian and This brief recital gives no ade- American leaders, often address- quate impression of Dr. Hume's ing them with his own hand. Dur- vital personality. There was some- ing his furloughs in America he thing in him that drew the affec- was asked to deliver courses of tion of those who came in contact lectures. These he prepared with with him. British officials, Indian great care, and published in two political leaders, churchmen in books that have had wide influence America, and humble Christian uIlder the titles "Missions from the converts in his district, all looked Modern View" and "An Inter- to Dr. Hume with deep affection.
pretation of India's Religious Why? Because he gave himself to History." them with equal warmth of friend- One more aspect of Dr. Hume's ship. "Comeraderie" was a word many-sided service deserves espe- he often used and to which his own cial notice-his part in the inter- attitude gave rich meaning. One denominational movements. He time he said to me, "So far as I threw himself with enthusiasm in- know myself I have nothing in my to everything that tended to bring heart but good will for everyone."
Christians together. He saw in I believe that this statement was the Christian Endeavor movement true. It was all the more note- when it first came to India some- worthy because Dr. Hume had thing that could help to develop those who criticised and opposed Indian initiative and interdenomi- him. Such a dominating person- national effort and gave it warm ality as his was bound to excite support, becoming for a time its some strong antagonisms. Yet no president. He was a prominent matter how vehemently anyone figure in all the earlier coopera- might attack him, Dr. Hume al- tive efforts among missions and ways remained his friend. He was one of the first presidents of was too large-spirited to cherish the Bombay Christian Council. But grudges.
the effort that called forth the From a record of his accomplish- most enthusias~ic service of his ments one can gain an idea of his
HUME OF AHMEDNAGAR
great efficiency, but one cannot Governor of Bengal, he said to gain an idea of the delightful him "Your Excellency, the finest humor that gave poise and balance code of statesmanship ever written, to it all. At one time Dr. Hume was which I commend to you in your called to testify before the Mon- dealing with the people of India, is tague-Chelmsford Commission that found in the thirteenth chapter of was gathering evidence prelimi- St. Paul's first epistle to the Corin- nary to the preparation of their thians." Dr. Hume impressed the plan of Reform of the Government leading officials as so deeply re- of India. As he came into the room ligious a man that they listened he saw that their minds were jaded with respect to such testimony as by the bewildering array of con- this. His preaching and his literary flicting testimony that was being work had the same prophetic quali- presented to them and he had the ty. It came out of the immediacy happy inspiration to make a joke. and vitality of his own religious Immediately the atmosphere was experience and so helped the reader changed and the minds of the com- or hearer to enter into a similar mission were prepared for his own experience.
statement. Once Dr. Hume went Growing out of his faith was his directly from the boat by which he victorious attitude toward life.
had arrived in Boston for furlough Death had no fear for him. It was to a training conference for out- but a doorway into a fuller life.
going missionaries. He stood Difficulties and discouragements among these young missionaries, a he accepted calmly and sought to short figure, in homely garb, and, turn them to account in bringing as he looked around his eyes began in the Kingdom of God. He was to twinkle and he said, "Friends, always ready to make great sac- its great to be a foreign mission- rifices in his single-minded de- ary." Then he went on to show in votion to Christ, yet one always simple fashion why he thought it had the impression that he made great. The outgoing missionaries light of sacrifices. They were will doubtless forget much of the merely an accepted part of a rich wise counsel they were receiving and happy life of service. Like in that conference. They will never Paul he counted them but refuse, forget the contagious enthusiasm since to him they were means of and the very human fellowship of closer fellowship with Christ. His Dr. Hume's talk. wife and his seven children en- A Source of Power tered to the full into his spirit. Five of his children have been mis- The deepest source of Dr. sionaries to India.
Hume's power lay in his sponta- Dr. Hume died in the Corey Hill neous and all pervading fellowship Hospital, Brookline, Mass., on with his Divine Father and his June 24, 1929 at the age of eighty- discipleship to Jesus Christ, the two. Following his strongly ex- Master of his life. Seldom did any- pressed wish his body was cre- one leave his study without having mated, and his ashes were taken in Dr. Hume offer a brief, simple, but an urn by his brother-in-law, Dr.
very real prayer. When Dr. Hume Edward Fairbank, to be deposited called on Lord Lytton, the then in Ahmednagar.
MEN AS WELL AS
BY FRED HAMILTON RINDGE, JR.'
" S FAR back as 1884 several classes, writing paper, athletic £'l. selected men were sent out goods and plenty of good cheer and by the Y. M. C. A. to serve uplifting influences were carried the Wisconsin lumberjacks. One far and wide. When this service of these hardy pioneers wrote the was at its height, the "Y" secre- following in his diary; taries traveled 50,000 miles in a Yesterday we walked eighteen miles single month visiting the camps, through the snow, and held a meeting and a total of 147,000 men particifor the boys in the evening. The roads were poor and our packs heavy. But the pated in the regular activities. All work is important and must be done. this resulted in better morale, hap- Two of our men joined the train bring- pier relationships and a larger outing the boys to town after pay day, put. Thus from small beginnings warned them about those who would rob them of money and character, and in- have come great accomplishments, vited them to make use of the "Y" room in the city. and the end is not yet!
In 1887 one worker had person- Y. M. C. A. service in the ally visited 156 camps in the Mid- lumber industry includes taking dle West and service had been or- the regular fivefold program of the ganized in Pennsylvania. These Association into the logging camps were small beginnings, with no and saw-mill towns. This program equipment except what the men carried on their backs. Since then, is adapted in different ways to local the "Y" work among lumberjacks conditions, and the work is always has made giant strides in Maine, supported by both employer and Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, employee, thus making it really mutual and democratic. Many Washington, Oregon and other forms of worth-while service are States. Scores of fine buildings promoted and even character-buildhave been established in towns and ing meetings are heartily enjoyed camps and hundreds of other by the lumbermen.
points have been served through The Secretary must be a real "extension work" from organized man. In one instance where log- Associations, or through State and gers were suspicious of a new Sec- International Secretaries. retary, the boxing gloves were DUring the war, the "Y" served brought out after supper, and the in over 200 camps on the Pacific "Y" man gamely took his turn and Coast where "soldier-loggers" were landed many a good blow. Then he getting out the spruce for Ameri- produced his cornet, played a few ca's aeroplanes. Secretaries were tunes, and asked the men to request stationed at strategic centers, and their favorite pieces. After a from there set out by auto truck hearty sing, the Secretary an- or on horseback to reach even the nounced that it was Sunday night most isolated camps. Movies, mag- and as the "Y" had a program for azines, entertainments, educational every day in the week, there would '" This article was sent to the REV1EW be a religious meeting. The "boys" shortly before his deuth folluwillg an operation in Septcmber.-EDITOR. readily responded and he gave a 828 short, straight-from -the-shoulder for a week. But a real "Y" man talk. adroitly organizes a Celebration Committee, and helps plan tugs-of- One day there came a sudden war, a parade, horse races, boxing call for help from the woods. The matches, open-air "concerts," ob- Secretary grabbed his stretcher stacle races, pie-eating contests, and with the "speeder," hurried etc., with the result that not only out to where the men were work· do the loggers remain in camp during. A big burly fellow had ing the holiday period, but when broken his leg. The "Y" man the whistle blows next day, every quickly bound it up with splints, worker is in his place with clear and with the help of another logger head and steady nerves. A lumber got the man back to camp on the manager recently said: "If the Secstretcher and later to the hospital. retary did nothing but that, it The injured man had been one of LOGGING MEN ENJOYING THE Y. 111. C. A. AT CAMP HUGH, ALABAMA the toughest in the bunch and had would be worth all the work costs. given all kinds of annoyance by Since the "Y" started in my camp, his deviltry. Some weeks later, as the average term of service of our he left the hospital, the logger loggers has increased several grasped the Secretary's hand with months!" a new resolve and said, "Things are going to be different when I Living conditions have been imget back to camp. I am for you!" proved in many places because of And things tvere different! the "Y" program. In one isolated camp the Secretary initiated a Logging camps are generally movement to build a new school. compelled to close down while the The funds were subscribed and men celebrate the Fourth of July much of the labor performed by and other holidays. On such days the men voluntarily after working the lumberjacks frequently "blow hours. This building was also used in" all their savings at one full for a Sunday-school and church, swoop and do not get back to work and was a great influence for good
among families of the community. shipyards. The Secretaries are Another service provided by the close to the men as is illustrated by Association and greatly appreciated by the men, was a dust-proof this letter from one of them: locker room with clothes hangers, where their best clothes could be The longer I follow this work, the kept in good condition until more firmly I become convinced that the needed. A Western Secretary welfare of the industrial man, whether physical, mental, social, spiritual, or ecowrites: nomic, must be sought through the me- dium of his family. If the workman In the past four days we have visited possesses a happy home life and does isolated camps twenty-five miles from not have the worry of domestic affairs a railroad. During our entertainments constantly facing him, he becomes a more I have seen men almost hysterical with effective worker. No amount of oratory relief from pent-up emotions and have and fine sentiment of the pulpit will let them laugh until they have laughed bring shipyard workers into the pews. it all out. And they have cried once in No high salaried officials sitting in cena while, too, hut care and worry and tral offices waiting to be interviewed will loneliness have faded. be of any great aid in this field. It is direct personal contact, not only with In one camp I met a lumberjack the worker himself, but with his entire who had not been home in twenty family that counts! The average man years. What does a fully equipped is floundering about aimlessly. Our job Young Men's Christian Associa- is to give him hope, purpose and hign tion and' a real, red-blooded, ideals. friendly Secretary mean to a man like that? "That 'Y' man is the Secretaries have spent many 'haulback' for all of us," exclaimed one fellow. Often, in spite of the hours in counsel and consultation company's best efforts, the down- with employers of labor, social pulling forces in the logging camps workers, labor organization offiare many and strong, while restraining influences are relatively cials, and with individual indus- few. One lad who came of good trial workers in an endeavor to get family was cursed with a weak will and low ideals. The strong the "feel" of relations and the cable of evil influences had landed him on the steep slide that plunges mental attitude of all classes. so many into the inferno of lost manhood. Profane of speech, im- There are times of discouragement, pure in thought and act, a poker fiend–he was going strong. It but all testify that the work is detold on his work and he was continually changing jobs. The Sec- cidedly worth while. One "Y"
retary helped switch him on to the man says: right track. When he came to himself the boy said: "Since coming After nearly a year of service in Close here many a hand has been contact and fellowship with thousands stretched out to pull me down, but of men daily, in the mill, in their homes, you alone have helped me to my in society, in sorrow and distress, in sickfeet again." ness and death, I have felt the heart throb of these people. I know their In addition to work in lumber thoughts, their habits, their desires, towns and camps, the "Y" has been their ambitions, their hopes and fears, rendering splendid service in the and after weighing all conditions, I am convinced that the most appreciative bunch of men in the world is this group that work, swear, and smile in my lumber town.
When a logging camp has acci- dents and law suits, and reports show that the operation is costing more than necessary, it is often due to lack of efficiency in the or- ganization. To secure maximum results, the enticements found in many camps must be eliminated.
If a man is employed in a saw-mill
THE PRICELESS BEQUEST
town or logging camp in which or- towns of 25,000. The work has der, sanitation, helpful amusement, succeeded with foreigners, Mexisociability and intelligence are un- cans and colored workers as well known, his standard of service as with native Americans. It has cannot rise above a thoughtless, made good with men of all reliirresponsible and correspondingly gions and of no religion. It has inefficient plane. Many loggers commanded the respect of both move from place to place, from no employer and employee and is still other cause than sheer mvnotony. going strong.
Most camps afford meagre op- One secret of the success of the portunity for the right use of lei- Association has been its non-patersure time, and yet, there are few nalistic basis and its unselfish places where more time is avail- Christian purpose. It does not take able. Already many employers are long for the men to discover that it cognizant of this, and are provid- is their organization. They help ing ways to improve the leisure support it, they run its activities, they reap the benefits. Needless to life and happiness of those who say the work of the "Y" by increaswork for them. ing education and improving char- acter, makes for both happiness A new era is upon us in the and efficiency. This means making world of industry, and the lumber better men as well as better luminterests will not be found lagging bermen. But the best results of behind. During the past decade, all, and the only work that abides, the agency that has made one of is when the men are led to know the largest and most successful Jesus Christ as their Friend and contributions in this field has been Saviour and to follow Him as their the Y. M. C. A. Specially adapted Divine Master. buildings have been established in camps of 250 men as well as in THE PRICELESS BEQUEST T HE Rev. William S. Marquis, of infinitely more value than any houses, D.D., who went to his Heav- lands or bonds I hereby devise or be- _enly home in August, left a queath to them. characteristically Christian "Last Will and Testament" by which he "Furthermore, I desire to testify in bequeathed to his children, with this formal document, when a man his earthly goods, a testimony "to weighs his whole life in the balance, to the truth and preciousness of the my joy in the service of Jesus Christ, Gospel of Jesus Christ." as a preacher of the Gospel and pastor, and also as a promoter of his great The will began with bequests of world-wide missionary enterprises repmaterial things and continued: resented by the benevolence boards of the church. "I desire also to bequeath to my children and their families, my testimony to "I do not need to remind my children the truth and preciousness of the Gospel how heartily their beloved mother joined of Jesus Christ. This heritage of the in all this service. We gave our lives to Christian faith, re~ived in an unbroken it. We systematically set apart more line from exiled and persecuted Hugue- than the tithe of our income to it. This not and Scots Covenanter ancestors, is was the highest joy of our wedded life. The service of Christ and His church made us partners of Christ and world citizens."
AND MONGOLS IN
.~·-Z- U'~'-G-~- R,';':-'- – 'L~.,_. /n DES E RT tf-;~;;-·- – – – -'- :…..-.-._.__ _ AKUl'……•……….r. – . – Q~'''''' Ro"t&ta..en _ _ Other rQads _ _ '.( Ft •__ •___._._ .1""'1""'" –'1'0 wmel ~oad5 ••• _" __ PI",es where we c~mJled n Camp S IN KIAN G , ZUNGARIA r,,.,*,.,,, ,/ I G.W.HUNTER SINI'IIANG IN MONGOLIA BEYOND THE OUTPOSTS OF CHRISTIANITY A STORY FROM THE DIARY OF REV. GEORGE W. HUNTER T IHWA-FU, the extreme out- stream of eastward migration car- post of the China Inland Mis- ried Mohammedanism into India. sion, lies in Sin-Kiang, a land These Moslem inhabitants still which is not properly in China at speak a language closely akin to all, and which in its mixture of Turkish, and have, by their reliraces, languages, and religions gious observances, somewhat modirivals the European Balkans. Once fied the Lamaism which prevails this district furnished the left over most of Mongolia. Another wing of Ghenhi Khan's conquering Moslem tribe in the district are the army, but other races have now Quazaqs, a strange race who may crowded in so that the Mongois are be related to the Tartar strain no longer in the majority. . underlying the Cossacks of Russia.
Many of these people in Tihwa- More recent settlers on this fu, and across the neighboring southwestern border of Mongolia Mongolian boundary, are Turgots are the Chinese, who came in after (or Turkis) who drifted in as a the Manchu empire finally consort of backwater when the great quered the district, and Russians 832
IN MONGOLIA BEYOND THE OUTPOSTS OF CHRISTIANITY
who have an eye on the undevel- of his robe, he pulled out a welloped mineral resources of the thumbed Kalmuk Gospel. region. He had bought it four or five Through a missionary career of years before from another Monmore than thirty years, George W. gol, and he carried it with him Hunter, a missionary of the China wherever he went, even when he Island Mission, has watched and was several days' journey away studied these peoples of various from home. races. The Quazaqs and Turkis, in particular, have interested him, On another occasion a band of and he has devoted a great deal of Quazaqs told the missionaries that time to translating portions of the they had bought some books the Bible into their language as well year before, and that they wanted as to distributing the Scriptures more. Still later they met a Rusamong all the peoples of western sian traveling in the company of Mongolia-a land in which there is some Quazaqs. Mr. Hunter gave not a single missionary. some Gospels to the Russian, who praised the book so highly and ex- One year, by way of summer pressed such deep gratitude that vacation, Mr. Hunter with his the Quazaqs also asked for books. fellow work'€r Mr. Mather traveled two thousand miles on horseback The religious leaders seemed as distributing Bibles and tracts in free from bigotry and as willing the isolated regions of the Altai to accept Christian books as the and Kobdo districts. The journey common people. At least three lasted three months and carried times on his journey Mr. Hunter the travelers through hot desert met Buddhist lamas who gladly acdepressions almost as low as sea cepted Gospels. Both on the way level and up over mountain passes to Kobdo and on the return trip which are above the line of per- the party stopped with a mullah, petual snow. The most remark- a writer in the head chief's yamen. able features of the journey were This man had previously helped the universal courtesy which Mr. Mr. Hunter with his translations Hunter and his companions met of the Gospels into Quazaq. On from members of all races and this occasion, as Mr. Hunter says classes and the willingness with in his diary, "He invited us into which representatives of all reli- his big, luxurious tent and regaled gions accepted the Christian Scrip- us with milk and mutton." tures. Government officials as well as On the very first day out Mr. religious leaders showed the party Hunter, with the aid of a little every courtesy. In the Altai dis- Mohammedan girl, sold three Gos- trict the military governor called pels in Chinese and one in Arabic. at the missionary encampment and A few days later in the Altai dis- both he and the Kobdo governor trict he met a Mongol from one of gave the party special passports. the Kalmuk tribes. Some idea of the remoteness of "Won't you buy a Gospel?" Mr. the area may be gained from this Hunter asked. entrance in Mr. Hunter's diary. "We visited the Russian consul (at "I have one," the Mongol replied, Kobdo) and he kindly gave us some and putting his hand into the folds Peking newspapers only a month old-the first we had seen for six 2
months. Themail from Peking to change, but the missionaries had no Kobdo goes by fast couriers and difficulty in making purchases by takes only one month." means of needles, thread, eye medi- cine, and matches as well as the Such a long journey in so remote Gospels which the people were ala district was naturally not with- ways willing to accept. out dangers. After leaving Tala Lake the party took the wrong Yet even in this remote teritory, road and got into the gorges of the where there are no railroads, where Bujantu River. Mr. Hunter's caravans of mountain camels bear diary for July 24th says, "Made a their loads of hides and wool and long detour today trying to avoid salt over the high passes, where the gorge, followed a path which herds of yaks graze on the table led us up a steep mountain. This lands, and where eagles are still path proved to be an old cattle trained for hunting purposestrack to some tents which had been even here the war has had a promoved away. We could not very found influence. In Kobdo Mr. well retrace our steps, so we Hunter met a number of Russian pressed on. The task got more dif- refugees, several of whom exficult as we ascended, and night- pressed great interest in his work. fall found us in a place where I At Altai, on the return trip, while fear the foot of man has seldom attending the christening of the trod. Huge boulders of rock Russian consul's son, he chanced to perched on ice and snow. There see a refugee woman trying to sell was no grass nor fuel, and our her sewing machine and household servant was much afraid. No won- goods. Later, on the road he met a der, for it was a really dangerous Russian general with a large party place. We divided a small piece of of military refugees on their way bread between us but did not eat to Kobdo. it, each thinking he had better save it until morning; so we went to During the entire journey Mr. rest hungry and tired." Hunter and his party disposed of six hundred portions of the Bible The next morning they found a -in nine distinct languages-as way over the east shoulder of the well as religious tracts in Chinese, mountain and later were fortunate Mongolian, Tibetan and Sarto enough to meet some Quazaqs who gave them mutton. The next day The willingness of these strange they came to a river valley in which they could gather quantities of nomadic tribes to hear the Chriswild rhubarb, onions, and mush- tian message, as well as the evirooms, and these added greatly to dences that even western Mongolia the diet of milk and mutton which will soon be in the path of Eurothey could get by trading with the pean civilization emphasize the im- portance of putting this country native peoples. Bartar, of course, on the Christian map of the world is common in this region, frac- by giving them resident mission tional currency being entirely un- workers and an opportunity to reknown. Compressed bricks of tea ceive the best elements of western are the most usual medium of ex- civilization before the worst ele- ments are thrust upon them.
REIGN OF TERROR IN RUSSIA*
BY PAUL HUTCHINSON, Chicago, Illinois I HAVE just come out of Rus~ But I have come out of Russia sia after two crowded weeks with the conviction that, before there. Entering by way of everything else, I must set forth Riga our party, under the leader- the facts as to the religious perse- ship of Sherwood Eddy, spent two cution which is now under way days in Leningrad, eight in Mos- and which is gaining in power. I cow, then sailed for three and a do this with a full sense of the re- half days about a thousand kilo~ sponsibility involved. . . . The meters down the Volga to Saratov. situation created by the religious Returning from Saratov-which is persecution now going on in Rus- within a day's steamship ride of sia is so serious that I dare not the Caspian-to Moscow, we came withhold this report a minute.
directly westward, crossing the As with almost every other so- Polish frontier and reaching War~ cial factor, there has been endless saw last evening. debate over the status of religion I have been tremendously im- in Soviet Russia. In the constitupressed by much that I have seen tion as originally adopted, freedom of religious belief and practice in Russia. There is power, drive was granted. The constitution has in the air-particularly in the now been amended, however, with Moscow air. People are not won~ the vague matter of "denominadering whether the golden days tional practices" substituted for are past, as they are in so much the former blanket religious guarof western Europe; for Moscow, antee. It is possible, of course, to at least, the best is yet to be. The construe such a term as amountgovernment creates this feeling of ing to a grant of religious libertypower. It seems to grip its task just as it has proved possible to with a directness, a completeness construe it in a diametricallydifof control beyond that of any other ferent fashion-but as a matter state we visited. There is a sense of fact, there is now under way as of achievement – in industry, in determined an effort to stamp out social reorganization, in producing vital religion as any government new cultural forms and norms, in has ever undertaken. The modern providing opportunity for mutual participation in the building of world has known nothing like it. what may become one of history's Not even in Mexico, where State great nations-that constantly as- and Church came into such direct serts itself, even in the face of the conflict, did the Government dream of attempting the work of reliobviously needy present. gious extermination which the *rrhls franl{ communieation from Paul Hut- Soviet Government is actively chinson diseusses the attitude of the Russian prosecuting. Government toward the Christian chUrches and all recognized religion. The author, an Ameri~ There is a certain sort of relican Christian with the viewpoint of America, gion against which the governhas spent two weeks in an attempt to learn ment seems to harbor no active what is beneath the religious persecution in animosity, probably because of a Russia, and has come out of that land determined to speak without fear. The commu- nication appeared in The Ohristian Oentury of September 18. 1929.
835
belief that it holds the seeds of cessful in the making of young death within itself. So long as the atheists than of young Commu- Orthodox churches are content to nists. Russia is actually rearing stay in the old ruts, and their an entire generation that affirms priests are content to confine their its belief that there is no God.
operations rigidly to the celebra- This is serious. But when you re- tion of an ancient liturgy largely flect that it is really the god of the couched in a dead language, the old church – the anthropomorphic State does not worry much about being who gave power to the tsar them. Even in such cases the life and held the common man under a of the priest, who is deprived of hideous spell of superstition-who all civic rights, is a hard one. But is thus being bowed out of Russian if he is willing to live in privation life, the present loss may be reand accept the derided status of a garded as a necessity for any fusocial parasite, the old-line priest ture religious gain. can go on. It is not of these things, so fre- The old style of Greek church quently reported before, that I am is acting, in the main, only as the now speaking. When I say that chaplain of the older, conservative, there is terrible religious persecu- and often densely ignor.ant por- tion now under way in Russia, I tions of the population-the people refer to the heavy penalties now who will die out within the next being inflicted on those who are twenty years, leaving no heirs, if attempting to minister to such en- Soviet expectations are realized. lightened Russians as still ac- But when a movement for a vital- knowledge a hunger in their souls ized, a modernized form of reli- and seek its satisfaction in reli- gion appears, that is something gion. Enlightened religion, vital else. Then you see the effort to religion, religion that is in thor- provide a modern education for the ough accord with many of the ex- priesthood brought to futility by pressed social aims of the Soviets, the Government's disruption of religion that can walk sure- teaching faculties; you see the so- footedly in the modern world- called Living Church movement religion of this sort is being perse- channeled off into various types of cuted systematically and savagely innocuousness. -as hundreds of bishops and Making a Godless Nation priests of the Orthodox church, of ministers of various Protestant This is not what I call religious bodies, and even of worshipers, persecution. Neither do I mean can testify.
the systematic anti-religious train- To mention names or places or ing to which all Russian children dates or occurrences connected are being subjected. Russia has with this persecution would be to now gone clear beyond the point precipitate drastic punishment on where teaching in the schools is persons in Russia; in several in- nonreligious. It is now made, by stances I have been warned that government order, aggressively any specific reference would be atheistic. Capable observers say tantamount to signing the death that investigation, whether in city warrant of those immediately con- or village, will show that 'the Gov- cerned. The world has already ernment has been much more suc- been told that the right of churches
RELIGIOUS REIGN OF TERROR IN RUSSIA
to carryon social work has been Iigion? Is not the Soviet Govern- abolished; that young people's so- ment strong? It certainly appears cieties under church auspices have to be stronger by far than any gov- been put under the ban; that the ernment in central Europe. Then teaching of religion to organized what can there be in the religion of classes, even in the churches, has these minority Protestant groups, been forbidden; that the work of or in that of the handful of genu- the traveling evangelist has been ine religious pioneers within the stopped; that the circulation of Orthodox church, that so arouses religious papers has been greatly its fears? To that question there reduced or their publication ended must be given a three-point an- entirely; that 300 Baptist preach- swer.
ers have been sent to jail; that 500 In the first place, the Soviet churches were closed last year. Government has been astonished, These things are true. But they and badly frightened, by the suc- are only a fraction of the truth. cess of the reform religious move- Eradicating Religion ments in Russia. This has been particularly true of the Protes- I am using words with care tants. Numerically, Protestants when I say that a reign of terror are still lost in the Russian mass.
has been instituted to eradicate But the rate of growth in recent the last vestige of vital religion years has been phenomenal. In from Russian life. For the sake ihe past two years this growth of the lives and safety of men and had begun to reach figures in the women in Russia, I must not give millions. If this rate had been names or specific instances. But maintained for another five years, I have personal, first-hand knowl- the Protestant constituency would edge that the Soviet Government have been numbered in the tens of is today closing churches whole- millions. A government committed sale; sending hundreds, and prob- to the establishment of an atheistic ably thousands, of persons to jail nation could not regard such an for the sole crime of religious ac- outlook cheerfully.
tivity; reverting to the old G. P. In the second place, the Govern- U. (secret police) terror, under ment has been aroused by the suc- which persons are arrested, tried cess of the Protestant churches in and sentenced without public trial, organizing the young people. It the employment of counsel, and was asserted by Bukharin at the frequently without letting even last convention of the communist the families of the accused know party that the· membership of where they are confined or with Protestant young people's societies what they are charged. A new had passed that of the Comsomols stream of exiles is starting for -the 'teen age organization of Siberia and Central Asia-exiles communists-and that the rate of who have never had a day in open growth was much more rapid.
court, and whose only offense has There was probably some exagbeen that of preaching or practic- geration in this, in an effort to se- ing a religion that showed signs of cure party action forcing govern- being able to maintain itself in the mental suppression of the societies, such as followed. But it is unface of the Soviet attack. Why this terrific attack on re- doubtedly true that the young peo-
pIe's societies of the churches were internationalism in this sense the growing at such a rate as to excite Soviets accept, even cheer, because the apprehension of the commu- of their economic necessity. Reli- nists, who place their hopes for a gious internationalism they regard communized Russia so entirely in as a threat.
the coming generations. For these reasons certainly, and In the third place, the reform- perhaps for others, the Soviet Government is today systematiing groups-particularly the Prot- cally subjecting the most vital eleestants – came under suspicion ments in Russian religion to because of their international con- relentless persecution. It is using nections. The Russian Govern- ment considers every other gov- the secret processes of the secret ernment in the world at war, con- police to do this-so secretly that structively, with it. It is not only multitudes in Russia have no idea afraid of future war; it conducts of what is going on. Whether this itself as if war is now going on. persecution has reached its full To have international connections strength it is impossible to judge. is, therefore, in a sense to be trad- But Protestants and the reforming ing with the enemy. From this priests are accepting their jail point of view, Russian Baptists terms, their banishments, their probably never had a worse dis- punishments of whatever kind service rendered them than when with complete courage and with the Baptist World Alliance last incredible calmness. year elected one of their number as its vice-president the reb y There is probably nothing that drawing attention to their con- the Christians of America can do to help their imperiled Russian nection with the "capitalist" world. In Moscow's anti-religious brethren at this juncture. If the museum, where the Government Federal Council of Churches sent the proper sort of letter to the seeks by all sorts of posters and Russian authorities, it might help exhibits to drive home the idea of the enmity of religion to the to make clear to them the effect welfare of the people, space in which such a policy, if persisted the corner devoted to attacking in, is bound to have on American the Baptists is given to a picture opinion. Or it might not have any of Henry Ford. Why? Because effect whatever. The Soviet Gov- Ford is said to be a Baptist! (The ernment is under the mental strain of a state of war with other na- Government is mistaken in this.) tions. Once this strain is eased, But the argument runs-Ford is the Government will feel less neca Baptist; Ford is a foreign capitalistic magnate; to be a Baptist, essary the stern repression of certherefore, is to be allied with for- tain elements. Out of that might eign capitalism. Q. E. D. The quickly come a lessening of the irony of this is clear when one drive against religion. Meanwhile reads the enthusiastic comments gentle women and noble men are of the Moscow press on Mr. Ford's being sent by the hundreds, percontract with the government to haps by the thousands, to the lone- build a factory at Nizni Novogorod liness of exile because they have for the production of up to 100,000 dared to preach or profess the Ford cars and trucks a year. But Christian religion.
A RUSSIAN VIEW OF EVANGELISM
RUSSIA I T IS of interest to see the evan- of social work. Their Gospel gelistic movement in Russia meetings are open to all who wish from the view-point of its ene- to come. This propaganda work mies, the atheistic rulers of that is done in the churches, in public country. The M 0 s cow paper places, among the workers in the Trude, says: "During the years of open air, or at the the doors of the Revolution the Church (i. e., their meeting rooms.
the Orthodox State Church) lost "A great part of their work- many of its adherents. The Sec- we should say their chief work-is tarians (Protestants), however, done among the young people. It have increased tremendously in is here that they use all their number…. There are about six strength, and they speak of 'the millions of them now in this coun- future generation' in every ser- try, not counting the nine millions mono This activity is often suc- of 'old believers.' [Those who, in cessful. It is a fact known to us the 17th century, refused to submit all that one of our 'Komsomolka'
to the secular reforms in the Or- (young Communist female leader) thodox church, introduced by the from the factory 'Presse' has gone patriarch, Nikon.] They take their over to the Evangelicals.
religion seriously, do not smoke, "The sectarians find it easy to and are distinguished by a strict gain new members from among morality. Before the revolution the unemployed, the seasonal work- the 'sectarians' did not number ers, coachmen, gardeners, etc.
more than one million. Their preachers even penetrate the "Former monarchists, social rev- workmen's barracks and converse olutionaries, police officers, and with them during their work. At members of the erstwhile nobility, the Red Gate (where our Labor are the leaders of these sectarians. Exchange is) a group of sectarians They know how to adapt them- are at work, and these members selves quickly to the spirit of the have adapted themselves especially times. They have the methods and to the type of work they are doing forms of the committee system and there.
party organization, and carryon "There is a large group of sec- active propaganda. tarians in a number of factories, "In a number of provinces (as chiefly of the textile industries, Smolensk, Bryansk, Twer, and oth- with their great number of work- ers) , they hold conventions where men from the country villages. In they discuss such problems as or- the weaving mills at W- I myself ganizing schools, hygiene, improve- know such a group of sixty per- ment of agriculture, and many sons (and credible accounts make others that are really the concern the number even larger), consist- of the Soviet authorities. ing mostly of women. The sec- "Every member of their commit- tarian preachers simply enter the tee is over-burdened with all sorts houses, and around the samovar 839
hold long conversations about tribute themselves in every nook Christ, the New Testament, and and corner of the hall. Thence the future life in Paradise. They they bombard the speaker with take no entrance fees to their Gos- questions, both verbal and writ- pel meetings, and everyone is wel- ten."
come. Even in such factories as The editor of the German Gospel 'Sickle and Hammer,' there is al- Weekly from which this account is ways a group of sectarians and taken, makes his own comments: their number increases every- "Evangelical Christians in the where. Russia of our day number at least "Their activities have extended six millions, and according to some much during the last few years. enemies, 10 millions. God has done They even dare to enter the lists a great work, and that is all the against the anti-religious cam- more remarkable because there paigns. If anywhere lectures are have been no mass conversions, as given against religion, they, too, has sometimes been the case under appear with their counter-propa- a more tolerant government. In ganda. Not content with that, they this case, confessions bring only undertake even to arrange for persecution and disadvantages.
some sort of discussions in the fac- "In the eyes .of their persecutories, chiefly· making use of the tors, Christians now are in Russia mid-day recess. (as they have been at all times and "In this manner our orators, everywhere) abominable crea- during the anti-religious compaign tures, full of malice and craftiness.
in Moscow last Christmas, were re- The 'virtuous' ( ?) communists peatedly faced with the opposition seem to have a hard time of it with of these sectarians. At the anti- these sectarians. With all their religion meetings of the mechanics might they carryon this campaign and housewives. where 1,300 per- against 'religion,' calling it 'the sons were present, a young secta- people's opiate.' But vain is all rian, after the lecture of Comrade their effort-the wicked (?) sec- L– carne forward and attempted tarian neutralizes all their well- to prove that 'even if some reli- meant attempts. Then Evangeli- gions are harmful, this could not cals are mightier than the Commu- be said of all of them.' Similar nists, because they fight with the scenes were enacted in a second Sword of the Spirit-the Word of meeting of the same district in the God.
P- works, where three sectarians "There are many signs that difmade counter-speeches, and also in ficulties and distress are multiplyother parts of the capital. In the ing on every hand in Russia. The general assembly of the workers in Government, through erroneous 'Sickle and Hammer,' they even measures, has become the enemy handed a resolution to the chair- itself of large sections of the peoman and demanded that it be pub- ple, and in consequence senses enelished officially. mies everywhere. The result. is a "All such demonstrations are severe conflict that brings unspeak- carefully organized and prepared able sufferings to the people. Be- before hand; the sectarians corne ing atheistic in principle, the rulers to the meetings in groups, and dis- of Russia see opposition and op-
A RUSSIAN VIEW OF EVANGELISM IN RUSSIA
ponents in every church and Chris- cerned. The spirits one has intian community, and fight them with every means at their disposal. voked refuse to be dismissed. This is by no means confined to the Evangelical movement, but the They threaten to devour the sor- Greek Orthodox Church no less so, and the latter has thus again be- cerers that have called theIII"out of come a 'martyr church.' It is easy to understand that the common the bottomless pit. Only the Gospeople (who for the greatest part belong to that church), have be- pel (the despised, hated Gospel) come embittered through these persecutions. can help.
"Knowing the philosophy of the "Even the young generation leading elements in Russia one does not marvel that immorality (espe- feels the horrible burden of these cially among the young people) is becoming a serious concern, even conditions (at any rate the better to the government. Whole columns of the Soviet newspapers discuss element do). One girl student this question. They emphasize that this moral swamp completely writes: undermines the prestige of the ruling party-the communistic group. It is the custom among us, to look down with a sort of malicious contempt "But how shall they get out of on everything that makes for beauty or this morass? That remains the order, either in clothing or housing. In 'doctor-problem' for the men in our campus one sees nothing but dust, power to solve. dirt, disorder-beds and rooms never tidy. The reason is NOT that important "It was the 'unrestricted liberty' work does not leave us time to remedy in contrast to the 'aristocracy no- this, but because it is supposed to be tions' that they have held out as a our duty to despise everything connected bait for the young people, to make with aesthetics. I do not understand them support their cause. All why this should be so, since our govsorts of facilities and privileges for ernment (a proletarian government at entry into schools and universities, that) being poor to the point of begging. as well as in appointments to the yet spends any amount of effort and various posts and offices in these money to make everything around us and other government institutions, look aesthetic and beautiful. But in our granted to members of communis- speech the most filthy language is most tic organizations, helped to swell approved, and if any girl (very few their ranks. But now these young dare to do it) protests, things only grow communists of the government will worse. They set out systematically to not hear of anything that the gov- inure the victims to ()Ur "mother tongue." ernment may want to do to put any check on these liberties obtained. This contempt for all that is beauti- ful, pure and healthy has for a result "However, anyone with his eyes that the same malice, coarseness and open can see that these things, if shamelessness predominates in an .intiallowed to go on unchecked, will mate intercourse. One is literally afraid lead to absolute dissolution, into a to manifest to one's bosom friend anymoral bog that will engulf all con- thing like tenderness, forethought, or consideration. There is no love among us. We only know the relations of the senses, for according to our philosollhy, love is contemptuously stigmatized as "psychology," whereas we should only be concerned with "physiology." Anyone who looks for anything else in the rela- tion of the sexes, is denounced as mentally inferior.
"The last clause of the words the poor girl quoted above, show like a flash of lightning the tap-root of all the bitterness Russia is reap- ing. This is the doctrine of this root of bitterness, i. e., that man has only a body, and neither soul nor spirit. It is the most horrible lie of Satan."
Another writer says: "It always ers, and it seems even that the is dangerous to see the actual situ- Tcheka is letting the religious ation in Russia in a too scheming groupings grow for a certain time way, fbrgetting that we are in to better seize their adepts. front of two hostile forces: those of the Bolshevist oppressions and "We recently had in our possesthose of the same elements of the sion a letter where was written Russian nation. These forces are something like this: 'The believers in constant fight, and the fact that are getting on with their task, but the Bolshevists today have the they perfectly know that arrest power does not prove that their and death are watching for them adversaries are entirely crushed. every day, and that they must be It would be, besides, disregarding ready to join their brothers who the real power of the religious are already suffering in the prison faith to think that it could be taken of Solovki or in Siberia.' out of the soul of a folk of 150 millions people by Soviet decrees and "Up to now the principal effort terrorist acts, so bloody. of the persecutors of the faith in Russia was directed against the "If the Soviet Government has Orthodox church. In tolerating not feared 'plunder and murder to the adepts of the different sects be used for weakening the religious they thought that they would organizations of Russia, the be- weaken the main religious organilievers have also proved an ex- zation. In 1928 the Soviet power traordinary tenacity and devotion, discovered its error and the fact and as they are a majority of the that religion, under any form, confolk, the Soviet power has been tains ideas that are incompatible obliged to admit that it was im- with Bolshevism. Actually the possible to deChristianize Russia Soviet press is constantly insistin a day. ing, with regard to all religious groupings, that tolerance of any "When the Tcheka murdered religious pUblications is unforgivpriests, new ones were taking their able, and is demanding their defiplace; the Soviet authorities shut nite suppression. Thus we have a the churches and cloisters, the be- copy of the Pravda, the official orlievers gathered wherever they gan of the Russian communist could, and the monks were recon- party, of Feb. 5, 1929, which constituting communities; at last tains a very violent article on that where it was getting impossible to subject. Its author finds the recelebrate the mass officially, and pressive measures insufficient. where the Orthodox communities were quite disorganized because of "It is. needless to sayan which the persecutions, Methodist or side must be the support of the other groupings arrived, and so re- Christian believers of Europe and ligion under a new form recon- America. quered the lost places. Yours sincerely, "The prisons are full of Believ- THE PRESIDENT, (Signed) Th. Aubert.
CAN WE LEARN FROM KOREA?
BY REV. H. KERR TAYLOR, Tsingkiangpu, Kiangsu, China Missiona.·y of the Presbyterian Ohurch, South SOMEONE has said that the Japa- nomenal work. I notice in some nese have a genius for governing, statistics that I picked up over there that the "board grant for current the Chinese a genius for being mer- work, per baptism," in 1927, was for chants, and the Koreans a grace for the being Christians. Canadian Presbyterians …… . $153.00 The Korean church everywhere is Southern Methodists, U. S…. . 138.00 interesting and the missionary to Australian Presbyterians …. . 119.00 China has much to learn in every Southern Presbyterians, U. S.. . 107.00 place. It is a wonderful thing to see, Northern Methodists, U. S…. . 106.00 Northern Presbyterians, U. S. as you pass on the train through villages and towns, the neat little only …………………. . 15.00 churches that stand out on the hillsides and give the landscape a touch For "board grant for current work, that belongs to long ago evangelized per communicant," the figures in the places. same order were: $13.27; $10.67; But perhaps the most interesting $12.82; $8.29; $7.12; and for the and helpful J)lace to visit is Pyengyang, Northern Presbyterians, whose work Northern Korea. Other near-by towns centers in the fine Pyengyang field, have fine work, but Pyengyang is their only $1.35. The work has gone forcenter. A college and theological semi- ward with a small Board grant. nary are there. foreign school, etc. It is a small oriental town, about 80,000 The question that concerns us is, people, and is the second city in the can that work be duplicated in China? little country. In that town there are What has caused the church to grow twenty self-supporting churches. I at- so in Korea as compared with parts tended seven or eight of these, met of the work in China, India, etc? their independent though cordial What has been done to put their work pastors, and thanked God for such a ahead and on so firm a basis? sight. Those churches were built practically entirely with native gifts, As someone has said, Korea is at and in two of the twenty churches I once the admiration and the despair saw the notice boards telling of over of all interested in mission work in 1,100 and 1,200 in attendance on the the world today. How can one account previous Sabbath. In one of the for the streets after streets of closed churches I saw over a thousand in at- business doors on the Sabbath in tendance at the main morning service; Korea, and the difficulty in China of they had had the same number at the bringing men to an appreciation of the Sunday School service a short time be- value of the day of rest? I want to fore. At night I slipped back just to jot down a few impressions gained from listening and observing and read- ing in Korea and here in China.
see that church filled again to the First of all, they magnify the Bible; doors, without foreigners, and with a they believe it, take pains to teach it, reverence that made you feel that here emphasize Bible classes, are reverent- after all was something genuinely ly jealous for it, and endeavor to live indigenous. strictly by it. This is certainly a fea- Pyengyang is the stronghold of the ture of the Korean work. Some of work of the American Presbyterian their Bible classes are quite remark- Mission, North, and I may as well sayable.
here that the Northern Presbyterian One thing that struck me especially work in Korea struck one as phe- in regard to the missionaries in Pyeng- nomena!. pven among generally phe- yang, as well as in other parts of 843
Korea; the missionaries believe the the Sunday service, the local elders or Bible through and through, and their leaders take charge. work is projected on a well understood loyalty to the whole Scriptures. There The missionaries learned from Dr. is no disposition to cavil over difficult John L. Nevius, this lesson of the inplaces and seek obvious solutions to dispensability of self-support to a real difficulties. They are impatient with church. They say frankly that the careless handling of the Word of God, mistakes of the China and India misand I believe God is blessing them ac- sion fields led them-in their more cordingly. Not even so-called minor recent mISSIOn venture-to avoid concessions to liberalism, are tolerated building over native groups of beby the Korean General Assembly. lievers a superstructure that was not theirs and that would not be carried Second, they require self-support; locally. They started right. they not only preach and urge it, but they feel that there is no church work Third, let me add another unquesworthy the name that does not pay its tionable feature of the work. It is way as it goes. that the Holy Spirit has signally blessed the Korean field. His doings They do not-that is, the missions are marvellous in our eyes. The home do not-employ seminary graduates churches have also inevitably reas preachers. They will support a boy sponded with adequate men and means or a man through school and seminary, to reap a rich harvest waiting to be but when .he gets his seminary reaped. The mission workers have diploma, he has the native church spent their time not so much in evanalone to look to for his support if he gelistic scattering of seed, as in teachis to get any for his preaching. ing and garnering and building the church, under God. They have been Another thing, each evangelistic almost unable to take care of the enormissionary is given Yen 70 per month mous demands on their time for such with which he may support two advanced work. The Spirit of God has helpers or secondary native preachers. certainly moved in that land. One can That amount would never support two give only outstanding characteristics seminary graduates. And they call these men "helpers." They actually of the Korean work. help the missionary. They are not They have in Korea a form of script helpers with another title. Yen 35 a month is about Mex. $20. And that writing, much like the script that has is all the money these missionaries been with such difficulty pushed in have for their country evangelistic China. But this is used everywhere in work, outside of itineration and Korea. It is called Unmoon. It has similar personal items. No "chapel made possible a Bible reading and rent," "purchase" items, etc. They Bible studying church. It is at once gradually add a third such helper or evident what an enormous lever this native preacher as the work develops, is. China simply must solve this neceshaving the churches to make up the sity for an easy script. amount needed. When a fourth man is wanted, they stretch the Yen 70 Another feature is, that there has over the four men, the churches com- been in Korea during these recent ing up with the amount to increase years a large amount of peace and the Yen 70 to twice that amount, etc. order and business, thanks to the Some places have six or more such governing ability of the Japanese workers, and the same original Yen rulers. While bandit and war ridden 70. The churches able to have pastors, China has become day by day more or groups able to have them, have impoverished, and property holdings simply graduated from this lower class have become more and more insecure into self sustaining units or groups. for many reasons; in Korea the If there is no preacher on hand for church has been able to save and build and keep what it has saved and built.
Are the Koreans better off than the
WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM KOREA ~
Chinese? That is hard to say. They is sanguine, quick, versatile, idealistic, are all poor; all in debt. Thanks large- volatile, patriotic, daring,-a land ly to Japan, there are many improve- where mystical and imaginative Budments that China does not have. The dhism has thrived; and whereas China advance of the Korean work can not is phlegmatic, careful, patient, perbe explained on the basis that they are severing, rational, utilitarian,-a land better off than the Chinese. The where Confucian rationalistic philos- Koreans fear Chinese economic ex- ophy has for so long held sway; the ploitation as much or more than they Korean partakes of both and is overdo Japanese military usurpation of come of neither; he is rationally idealtheir rights and authority. The istic, more like the Anglo-Saxon; a Korean is no match for the Chinese economically, and what the "poor" or combination of rationality and emounpractical Korean has done, would tionalism. seem-other things being equalequally possible to the thrifty Chinese. The Korean is not stingy. He And this is significant, the better off doesn't bother about money to a great Koreans have built better churches, extent. He likes to give and gives the poor Koreans in their villages have liberally. To be stingy or niggardly, put up typically native buildings. is with him to be mean, worse than to· be a libertine or to lie or to steal. Another thing that struck me was Money with him was made to circuthe homogeneity of the field, and the late; he is lavish with his own or anhomogeneity of the work and workers. other's money, we were told by those It is largely a rural field; the Koreans who know! for the most part are tillers of the soil, a class that has always built This may help to explain the rapid strong, dependable churches. Korea has but one or two large cities. They and phenomenal nature of some of are not bothered much with modernism the church's growth, but it is not the and all its attendant impracticalities. There is very little directing of the secret of that success. After all it is work and thought of the church from not so much phenomenal success we the cities. They don't worry over are after as a real, self-sustaining, such things as who is going to control, or over "devolution," foreign funds, indigenous church. In Korea we have and the like. The churches pay their a demonstration of what a really inown bills and manage their own af- digenous mission projection should be. fairs. Most of the mission work, too, I have been thinking constantly of that has been done by one or two of the so different mission projection,-the major groups of the Protestant church in Moslem lands, the stunted church; this, too, has made for church growth in Moslem lands. The homogeneity. lesson of all lessons that I learned in Korea was that, whether large or There is one other thing I want to small, whether phenomenal or stunted, touch on that is paramount. There a church, not a preaching hall, not a seems to be something in those missionary's chapel, but a church- Koreans that makes them more tract- isn't a church if it doesn't pay its able, more teachable than the Chinese. own way and manifest that very I think this does help to explain to a practical necessity to any sort of orcertain degree the large growth of the ganism, LIFE. They must build their Korean church. As some one has own church. It may be slow, it may pointed out, Korea is not only geo- be inconvenient, it may not look well, graphically midway between China but it won't be a "foreign church" it and Japan-northern China and will not know what such a term means, Japan, but she is philosophically mid- for it is a church, a group worshiping way between them. Whereas Japan God and paying all its bills, and mani- festing that it has found something worthy of the investment of its money and life.
MODERNIZED AFRICAN WOMAN-
AN ASSET OR A LIABILITY?
BY MRS. JOHN M. SPRINGER ~fi88ionary of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Rhodesia T HE really pertinent question The life of the African woman seems to me to be, Is modern- has been largely one of hard work ization an asset or liability to and few pleasures. On one occa- the African woman? sion, when we were camping by a Even Solomon would, I think, stream off the main trail, a woman hesitate to give a definite answer appeared and begged us to let her to either of these questions but we go with us for three days in order must face the fact that Africa is be- that she might escape from the ing rapidly modernized and it is im- chief who was a cruel tyrant.
possible to stay the tide in which Pushing back her hair, she showed the African woman, as well as the where he had cut off both her ears African man, is caught in the back- and recently had threatened to cut wash. off her nose. She said that if she could go a three or four days march In the tribal life, the African with us, she could escape to friends woman has, for centuries, been scarcely more than a slave, a chat- where he would not follow her.
tel. It may be true that there are In most of the tribes, the African tribes in which the lobolo paid for woman has no rights over her own the wives insured protection to the children. She must cultivate the woman and a state of virtue. But fields and raise the food with which we have known personally several to feed them but her husband, her tribes where there certainly has parents or other relatives dispose existed the idea of ownership. of the children. A brother has a Among the Bafiote the writer was right to sell his sister to provide a told by one of the young men that wife for himself and many a father if a woman did not bear her hus- has done the same. A man is rich band a child inside of two years he according to the number of wives could take her back to her father he owns.
and demand a refund of what he One of the pioneer missionaries had paid for her. in Rhodesia said: "The African We have known numerous cases woman has to raise grain for her in Rhodesia where there has been husband to buy more wives, to endless litigation handed down two raise more grain to buy more and three generations in order to wives, to raise more grain to buy get such a refund so that sometimes more wives-a vicious circle." girls are even obligated for old Life in an African town or vildebts before they are born. Some lage is one of deadly monotony.
of the complexities of heathen mar- Most of the huts are small and the riages can be dimly comprehended villages are decidedly unsanitary; by the fact that one woman, who there is little or no privacy and did not look to be out of her thir- many social customs are too revolt- ties, had been given successively to ing for description. It has been some thirteen husbands. quite popular to state that the Mri- 846 can is unmoral rather than immor- not gladly exchange a hot, foul, al, a statement as false as it is dirty goatskin for a bright, pretty catchy. We have never yet found cotton cloth? When men are a tribe where there was not a well drafted to work in the mines, it is defined, decent code of morals. We becoming increasingly easy to per- suade their women to go with them. A WHITE MAN'S MISTRESS-A MENACE Along the newly-made motor have yet to find any tribe where roads we see a steady procession there was any serious, general at- of men, women and children headed tempt to live up to such a code. As toward the commercial and mining to a recent widely-circulated report towns. These motor roads have that the cannibals are a highly mor- been made largely by the women al people the facts prove quite the and the old men and the honk of contrary. the motor car has not only given the African woman a tremendous Back in her native kraal, the Af- thrill but it is the call to a new rican woman has had little or noth- world beyond her present ken. She ing to wear except skins or a bit listens at night to the accounts of of grass cloth or bark blanket. these towns as Meccas where no woman has to work, where every- one is rich, where there are plenty of gay clothes, gay tim€s and all can eat white bread. It is not strange that many follow the men and the will 0' the wisp that leads to the bog of the artificial city life. Broad is the motor road that leads to destruction and many there be The Coming of Civilization A CHRISTIAN WIFI1J-A BLESSING Now into this sordid background that travel thereon. At the end of comes the advance agent of civili- the way there are dazzling electric zation, frequently a trader or a lights with a minimum of hard lagovernment official collecting taxes. bor and a maximum of temptation These will be closely followed by for the woman to sell her body and the labor recruiting agent soliciting labor for the building of railroads or work on the mines. These men have attractive clothing and blankets and the labor bureau agent will be very generous in making presents. What woman would
soul for a morsel of meat to eat or icent church structures, these a glad rag to wear. needlessly costly piles of stone and In this artificial life children are masonry, that are being erected all decreasing in number. One govern- over America and Europe in His ment official told us that among 600 Name and largely at their expense?
women on the Busanga tin mine, What could be done and what there were only ten births in the should be done is seen by the small past year. The world has gone army of bright, happy Christian pleasure made and the African girls walking briskly down the woman is also being sucked into beautiful avenue at Lovedale and a the maelstrom. few other similar Christian insti- Some may be amused at the sight tutions in Africa. These young of a dusky beauty arrayed only in women are Christianized rather a black velvet evening gown, bare- than modernized. They are march- headed and barefooted, riding a bi- ing forth to help uplift the race.
cycle at full speed through the They are taking their places in the streets of ElisabethviIIe, but the schools, the hospitals, the shops, laugh dies as we see a white gov- the offices and best of all in the ernment official with whom she homes where they will be Christian lives intrQducing her to some of the mothers caring for their families.
men of his acquaintance while they No race or people can rise above all stand on the street laughing to- its womanhood and these women gether. That man has a wife and are the richest asset of that fabu- children in Europe. lously rich continent.
This gay life does not last long. But-"how shall they call on Disease soon catches the poor wom- Him of whom they have not heard?
an on the rebound and she is tossed And how shall they hear without aside, a mere bit of human wreck- a preacher? And how shall they age, while a younger and fresher preach except they be sent?" And victim takes her place. During the how can more missionaries be sent rest of her life she is a serious li- to save the African woman unless ability from a physical as well as there can be more given for the from a moral standpoint, spread- world-wide extension of Christ's ing disease appallingly. Thousands Kingdom and less for our own self- of hands are stretched out to drag indulgences?
her down to the lowest depths to The Christian African woman is which any woman can fall, but the a wonderful asset to the commu- thing that breaks the hearts of the nity and country at large. She missionaries is that there are so stays with her husband, looks after pitifully few hands held out to save her home and her children and is her from the fall or to raise her in a power for good.
the hour of her disillusionment When we first saw Nyinza, she wlien she is wanting to be helped. was still the mistress of a white Is it strange that as we think of man. Then she came to our church, the many appeals that have been became an inquirer and asked to made to us to either take these join the church. She was tired of young women, or the little girls on a life of sin and wanted to marry the mines, away from the reeking a man of her own race. A few atmosphere of sin and vice, that months later she married one of we fail to enthuse over the magnif- our Christian men who had known
MODERNIZED AFRICAN WOMAN-ASSET OR LIABILITY?
all about her and felt that he could girls the way of real life and right- trust her now that she had turned eousness. to Christ. She has justified that trust. Her relatives tried hard to Every day in Elisabethville and get her back into the old life, and Likasi, those great mining centers it is useless to deny that she was in the Congo, one can see a troop sorely tempted, but she won out and of women and children going to the is today a fine helpmeet for her day school with their primers, pastor-husband and the mother of hymn books and New Testaments his children. in hand. These women are changed. Many of them have been Another woman in the interior dragged down by the lure of the at Kapanga was so vicious and im- towns but have been pulled up and moral that she even scandalized the saved by the grace of God. natives. One day she gave her The modernized African woman heart to Jesus Christ and I wish without God and without Christ is the world could have heard her a great liability both to her own teach the Sunday-school lesson lat- people and to the white race as er at Kapanga. Both missionaries well. The modernized African and natives testified that her life woman who has been saved was entirely changed and that through the power of Jesus Christ whereas she had been going about is a tremendous power for good in bent on mischief and immorality, her community-an asset to the now she was going up and down white race in the country at large. helping her sisters still in heathen- . dom, and telling of Christ who JESUS I KN9W could take away sin from the heart. (Acts xix. 15) Muledzwa was only a drunken Jesus I know, who made His path to reprobate, the mother of half a doz- shine, en children by as many different men, when I first knew her. Now Who was Himself God's great redemp- she has truly become a new crea- tive plan, ture in Christ Jesus and with her daughter Nenhu, who is also a Who walked the earth, pure human, yet Christian, is a decent, clean-living divine, chieftess among her own people, cleilnly clothed and at last in her A selfless, sinless soul, the perfect right mind. Man.
There was the Imp, foul- But know I Jesus as the living Christ? mouthed, filthy of body and mind Exalted now to share the Father's when I first knew her. She was throne?
then about twelve years old and a Lord of all life, who once was sacrificed, more offensive child I have never Who claims all hearts and kingdoms seen. She was disgusting in speech for His own? and conduct. She is now the wife of a pastor and a teacher in the Could I but know Thee, Jesus, as Thou school, a highly respected wife and mother of a fine little family. She art, keeps herself and her children clean and finds time to help teach other The living Christ, my Saviour, Lord 3 and King, Then should I serve Thee with a glow- ing heart, And live the Glorias which the angels sing. _ -Henry Burton, in the British Weekly.
APPEAL OF
A LETTER FROM REV. PAUL J. BRAISTED, Madras, India Missionary oj the American BaptiBt Foreign Mission Society T HERE is a tremendous ap- Perhaps the mildest thing that peal from the great city of can be said of Miss Mayo's second Madras to anyone who is book on India is that one ought to alive to human need and suffering. balance the picture presented with The crowds speak in clear voices much other available literature and misery is everywhere visible. about this land, its peoples, their It is easy to understand the Mas- history and ambitions, and their ter's great compassion for the mul- present life. But the book itself is titudes when we see these eastern misleading. Noone who has any multitudes bargaining, bickering, knowledge of India would consent gossIpmg, quarreling, jostling, to the statement that there are hungry, weary, disease-ridden, and thousands of Hindu widows burned destitute of the things which make life rich and happy. Here is un- to death on their husband's funeral pyres every year. Such has not limited opportunity for the re- been the case for nearly a century former, the social expert, the en- since the Government made it illethusiastic educationalist, and any- gal. Other similar facts might be one with a vision of any phase of questioned. The picture is out of life which can be improved. But focus. It is a curious thing that.
most of all in these hungry crowds while attributing all the evils to the is the insistent and persistent call, Hindu community, no mention is like the moving strain of pathos in made of the Moslem community.
a symphony, for life and the Life But most of all one misses the pres- Abundant. When I pass the many ence of the "Christ of the Indian shrines; the mosques, and the other Road" who has touched so many signs of varied devotions to the hearts into life and who is today many gods of India, I am reminded drawing many by irresistible bonds of a statement of J. E. K. Aggrey. of love unto Himself. The warmth He referred to the great mission- of a great love that will sacrifice ary hymn of Bishop Heber, the for the object of that love is wholly lines: "The heathen in his blind- missing from the book. Those who ness, bows down to wood and have proved themselves true stone." And then with the great friends of India can speak to her heart and true insight of one who with the utmost freedom of her walked near the Master, he added: evils. But India feels a just re- "In his blindness? No, in his hun- sentment to one who make's India's ger." It is the hungry heart that sins a means of commercial gain calls the loudest from the streets through their pUblication. There and bazaars of this great city. is no humble missionary, in how- There is limitless opportunity for ever isolated a station, with howone whom the Master might place ever little resources, however un- here to reach out in many ways to known and unsung, but in whose touch hearts and lives with the heart the love of Christ burns until abounding love of Christ. it lights other hearts, there is no 850 such a one whose life will not far clear and for the most part accu- outweigh in eternal and enduring rate and convincing. He quotes results this heartless dealing with from wide fields in support of his the woes of this people. appeal for Christ. He quotes from The other evening on the beach Keshab Chunder Sen's famous lec- of the Bay of Bengal, a Brahman ture, "India Asks Who Is Christ."
and I spoke together. In the gath- One of the statements may be ering shadows of evening our quoted here: "Christ as a good man, thoughts turned to the Nazarene. a great man, we have learned to This man was evidently a secret love, honour and esteem. Christ believer, and at one time he said, as a moral teacher of the highest "Sri Krishna was the embodiment order, we are this moment ready of lust, but Jesus Christ was the to enshrine in our hearts. For the embodiment of suffering love." We exemplary purity of His character, spoke of the abundant life that we would at once give Him the Christ continually gives to the be- heart's allegiance and loyalty. But liever who appropriates it by that is not the whole of Christ's faith. I thought again of the great character or mission. It is not and significant differences between here that we find the real essence a change of heart and a change of of His life . . . Christ aspired to religion. How easy it is to work a higher position than that of a for the latter without the former. moralist in the affections and at- How glorious is our privilege to tachment of his followers-yes, a deal with the eternal things and to higher and a heavenlier positionwatch a life change, a new attitude that of a divine power. To that emerge, a new life grow in ever in- position He is entitled, and that He creasing fulness. This surely is demands … " the first great essential, after Here are the two great phases of which the other will take care of India's thought of Christ,-her itself. Christ will touch the heart great admiration for His teachings and character, and her unwillingto life! The late Registrar of one of the ness to assign Him a unique place. North Indian Secretariats, a Hin- She has been drawn, mightily du, read books written by another drawn, by Christ, but she has yet Hindu in an attempt to "disprove to enter the great deeper secrets the historicity of Jesus Christ and whence flow the abounding springs the claim of Christianity as taught of abundant life which she needs. by Him to be regarded as a di- Oh, that my adopted country may vinely-revealed religion." This know Him in all His fulness-and registrar was so hurt by the read- to His glory!
ing of this literature that he set The missionary movement has shamed out to defend Christ before his and educated the socially strong into critics. A Hindu appealing to his lifting the ban from the outcaste mil- lions … Christianity will win its way fellow religionists on behalf of in India only through an Indian church, Christ! So the Master moves on well – established, self – supporting, un- human hearts! He answers in afraid, and inspiringly evangelistic. Such a church is now coming into being. turn the arguments which tried to Those who love the world-wide Kingdom make Jesus out to be far from a of God must help it to stand upon its divine man, not even a good man. feet and encourage it to walk without The Registrar's arguments are faintness and to run without weariness.
-BISHOP FRED B. FISHER.
WORK IN
BY T. K. HERSHEY, Pehuaj6, F. C. 0., Argentin;; S. A.
Superintendent oj the JHs'i(m Evanuelica Menonita H AVING been appointed by four new missionaries were sent the Mennonite Board of from United States. As more Missions and Charities of missionaries arrived on the field, United States and Canada as mis- the work of missions spread to sionaries, two families-J. W. other towns, until at present, there Shank, wife and two children, the are 16 appointed missionaries and writer, wife and two children- two native pastors giving all their sailed from New York in August, time, 12 native helpers giving part 1917, arriving in Buenos Aires, time, and some in training for fu- Argentina, one month later. After ture work. The work has been or- acquiring the Spanish language ganized in eight centers in the dis- and studying the field we travelled trict.
over the greater part of Argen- From the beginning, the people tina, consulting with missionaries had many strange ideas and noalready on the field. Pehuaj6 was tions as to who we are, our motive chosen as a center from which to and purpose in the country. It is begin our missionary activities very difficult to erase the idea and and in January, 1919, we moved to convince them that the United this town, 217 miles southwest of States Government has nothing to Buenos Aires. do with financing our mission work. The Roman Catholic priests At that time there was no mis- have proclaimed that we are false sion work on the Western Rail- prophets and leaders sent to spy way farther west than Nueve de out the lay of things under the Julio. From this town to Santa cloak of religion. Threats were Rosa de Toay, a distance of 200 repeatedly made of boycotting the miles, 75 miles north and 75 miles business of our members, but God south of this main railway, lay a lives and so we press on, knowing great unoccupied field. Here a that He who called us is greater great number of towns with from than the adversary. 200 to 10,000 inhabitants were Besides the preaching services without the Gospel. in all the established centers We opened public services, dis- twice a week, we have eleven Sun- day-schools with thirty-five native tributed tracts, engaged in visita- teachers. tion work, and organized a Sunday-school. After a hard struggle Another effective way of getting with fanaticism and blind spirit- the Gospel to the people is through ism, we received seven by baptism the native Bible women. At presthe first year. ent, we have eight women who read the Bible in the homes to From Pehuaj6, our headquar- their native friends two hours each ters, we extended the work to other afternoon, five days a week. In towns. The next year work was 1927 they made 7,474 visits, with opened fifty miles west of Pehuaj6 in. Trenque Lauquen, a town of 10,000 inhabitants and in 1921, 852
MENNONITE WORK IN ARGENTINA
12,641 persons present to hear cial meetings. In one year we placed in the hands of the public God's Word. 2,943 Bibles, New Testaments, Each established cent~r has an Gospels and portions of the Gospel, and approximately 143,300 Gospel organized Young People's Society tracts. There is a church memand every Tuesday evening the bership of over 200, and more than members and young people meet 400 children are in the Sunday- schools. Many of the members are for Bible Study. faithful and have shown much zeal Five kindergartens are in oper- in carrying the Gospel message to their fellowmen. They have caught ation five days a week with more the spirit of missions and in 1927, than 200 children enrolled. In the contributions from these willone, an advanced class of the First ing, but mostly poor, members was Grade is being taught by a member 3,271.75 pesos. of the church and a graduate of the Normal School at Pehuaj6. God is blessing the work of the Mennonite Church in Argentina. Orphanage work was launched It has been little in comparison to in May, 1926, in rather unsuitable what might have been done. Many quarters. At present 18 children are very indifferent to religion for in the institution are cared for by they have been long deceived by two missionary sisters, one of false teachings. On discovering whom is a trained nurse. that these "Evangelicos" are also teaching religion they have come Another great factor is the to look upon this Protestant misprinted page. We have our own sionary movement as "a bird of printing plant, and publish a four- another feather." page monthly paper called El Camino Verdadero (The True Way) with 12,000 circulation. Tracts, booklets and hand bills are used to announce services and spe- MR. HOOVER'S VISIT TO SOUTH AMERICA T HE visit of President Hoover, visiting the American colonies but then President Elect, to South was making a pre-official visit to America last January very the South American governments, deeply impressed South Ameri- created a favorable impression. cans. In the first place there was His sincerity and straight fora feeling that they were getting on wardness also won friends. On the front page. The people of the religious side he also scored a Brazil and Argentina felt that here tremendous point. At Rio he dewas a man who knew Europe, Asia, elined Sunday morning invitations Australia, and something of Afri- and arrangements without offering ca, and who did not feel that he any reason or excuse. He and could take up the presidency of the Mrs. Hoover quietly attended the United States without knowing English service at the Union something of Latin America. That Church. Men who exult in the made them anxious to give him in- fact that they have advanced beformation. His frankness in con- yond religion took off their hats to versation with President Irigoyen him. Without pomp or ceremony and President Washington Luis he went to worship God. Some and the fact that he definitely very beautiful things have been stated in Brazil that he was not written and said about this.
eroP1CS Of THE TIME~
Dr. Mott's Missionary Projects gram" and in Japan "The Kingdom of God Movement." This summons AS a result of his recent missionary to a larger evangelism must be vital, 1"1. journey around the world and his continuous and intensive-not spas- modic. We must adopt all means to conference with native Christian lead- ers in Asia, following the Interna- this end-mass evangelism, social tional Missionary Council at Jerusa- evangelism, religious literature and lem, Dr. John R. Mott expresses the education.
conviction that "from an economic 7. We must work for a thorough point of view, the world is in a very and unhurried evaluation of the Mass grievous state." He suggests the fol- Movements. In India 90% of the lowing twelve missionary projects for present Protestant churches are the the Christian Church which, to his product of this movement. It is now mind, should deeply concern every influencing the castes and more than missionarY statesman. These twelve 10,000 of the upper castes have beprojects, which are closely related to come Christians while as many more the deliverance of the Jerusalem con· are in process of preparation. ference, may be briefly stated as fol- 8. We must produce more and bet- lows: ter Christian literature in all these 1. We must seek to coordinate mission lands. The amount available clearly the highest Christian thought for the clergy and educated youth is of the East and the West as to the inadequate in virtually every field.
true World Mission of Christianity. We should discover and release the 2. We must unite in the world-wide ablest writers for this work and proclamation of the Christian Mes- should together devise more adequate sage of the New Testament and its im- means for the publication and distriplications, as so clearly expressed at bution of this literature. The book Jerusalem. stores of the Orient are well stocked 3. We must disseminate the defi- with non-Christian literature but there nitely Christian ideas and ideals of is scarcely any Christian literature in religious education in all the churches evidence. We must solve this problem at home and abroad. interdenominationally.
4. We must cooperate to promote 9. We must augment the force of the distinctly Christian educational trained, spiriitual Christian leaders. program in all the missionary work Every mission land is calling for more of the Church. missionaries of the highest possible 5. We must promote understanding qualification, those who have experi- and cooperation between the younger enced the divine call. But the number and the older churches. of national youth who will sacrificially 6. We must have a larger, more ef- give themselves to this work should fective program of evangelism. The be enormously augmented. Their troubles through which Christians preparation must be thoroughly have been passing in the mission studied. The curricula of every theo- fields have prepared the way. "We logical school should be reviewed. must not only see the opportunity but 10. We must liberate a vastly we must sieze it." In China they have greater force of lay workers. The inaugurated their "Five Year Pro- strongest laymen in America and 854 England should realize their unique distress however is God's opportunity. responsibility and opportunity. We Man's perplexity is God's challenge.••• must mobilize them for service. Distressed Japan is a humble Japan. 11. The West and the East, the Perplexed Japan is a challengeable Jaolder, and the younger churches, the pan. Self-satisfaction and pride are nationals of different lands must learn disappearing. The sound of the breakhow to share their visions, their in- ing away of the husks of the Nation's sight, their burdens, their experience, thinking and of its life echoes gloomily their resources and the deepest things far and near. . . . of life, as well as those that come by revelation from God. The birth-pangs of a new Japan! The violent birth-quickening of the Kingdom 12. We must strengthen the Na- of God in Japan is on. The time is at tional Christian Councils. There are hand. The Kingdom of God is near. fourteen now in the "sending coun- The time has come for repentance and tries" and fourteen in the "receiving for consecration to the task of spreading countries" that are cooperating in the the Gospel. International Missionary Council. The thought life, life as a whole, This is a program that may well politics, education, industry, everything challenge the attention of the Church in Japan must be brought under God's and of every Christian. The Warld direct control. Through Christlike J ap- Mission of Christianity has scarcely anese, a Christlike .Tapan must be begun to be' fulfilled. It will not be brought to the birth. To transform this accomplished until every man and vision into reality we must increase the woman on earth has had an opportu- present two hundred and fifty thousand nity to hear the message of new life Christians to a round million. Numerthrough Christ and until the followers als are void of power but there is of Christ are exemplifying in their strength in numbers. . . . characters and lives, in their institutions and habits, the spirit and teach- We believe that one million Christians ings of Jesus Christ as recorded in will make possible the Christianization the New Testament. The Church of of Japan's public opinion and conscience Christ must be satisfied with nothing and realize through the Church a really less than living the ideals and full Christianized Japan. Every Christian program of Christ. a soul winner, winning one soul a year and thus in three years quadrupling the The Campaign in Japan number of Christians, this is the pro- gram of the Kingdom of God Campaign. T HE Christian forces in Japan are being mobilized for the Million A Foward Movement in China Souls Movement. Ten thousand copies of a prospectus setting forth THE Church of Christ in China has the plans will be sent out among the been very much affected by the dif- Japanese churches and Christians, and copies of an English translation ficulties and unrest of China during will be available for missionaries and others interested in the campaign. the last few years, asserted Dr. C. Y. The next step is to get it into the minds and hearts and into the prayers Cheng, Moderator of the United and purposes of every pastor and every Christian in the land. Church of China and Secretary of the The prospectus says in part: China National Christian Council, Japan the land of the gods, God's who recently made an address to miscountry! This is our prayer, our slogan, our goal. Our Japan is in distress. sionary leaders in New York. He said Our Japan has lost her way. Man's that political changes, activities of communists, the intellectual changes and the anti-Christian movement, especially among the younger student classes, have all left their mark on the Church. Some of these effects are good. There is less self-complacency and more humble seeking after im- provement and for guidance. There is a realization as to wherein the Church has failed and an increased emphasis on essentials.
On the other hand, the disturbed conditions and the wave of radical
thought has had its evil effects. There the conviction that their religion is a are sections of the Church that do not life and death matter they must go seem to have been touched by the revo- out to actively evangelize. This is true lution and such groups are a hindrance for all Christians, whether their reguto progress. Others have allowed lar work is evangelistic or not. The themselves to be too much swayed doctor and the teacher must realize by recent thought and events. Some that they are as truly evangelists as among the younger element have even the preacher. It is a movement to gone so far as to advocate discarding enlist men and women in upholding, the Church and organized religion, improving, enriching and utilizing while still affirming their allegiance the Christian Church in order that it to Christ. There is a general lack of may be more efficient. Too often even spiritual growth which gives cause for those most able to help have a tendconcern and a sense of depression. ency to draw away from the Church. Many feel an uncertainty growing With all its inefficiencies, the Church out of this sense of failure that is has not been equalled by any other paralyzing to progress. organization or combination of organ- izations in its power for good in If the Church does not quickly do China, said Dr. Cheng. We must try something to help this situation, Dr. to remove its imperfections so that it Cheng believes that its very life will may better perform the tasks for be threatened. The "Five – Year which it is intended. Because of the Movement" is the answer to the deep- serious situation at the present time, felt need on the part of native Chris- it is felt necessary to concentrate our tian leaders and missionaries as ex- forces in one united effort for a defipressed in the regional conferences nite period of five years but it is con· recently held in nearly all parts of fidently expected that the impetus China. The idea, introduced in these gained during this time will go on. conferences, was at once unanimously taken up because it was what all felt Dr. Cheng requested the older to be most needed. This is the gen- churches of America and Europe to eral desire and hope and prayer of the engage in intelligent, earnest, con- Chinese Church as a whole. stant prayer on behalf of the move- ment. He also asked for an increase The aim of the Five-Year Movement in the number of Christian workers, (1930-1934) is to build up the mem- both the general missionaries, and bership of the Church, but at the same specialists on certain lines, such as time to make sure that each new mem- religious education, rural work, theober really understands what it means logical training, industry, etc., who to be a follower of Jesus Christ. All would come out for limited periods. the Christian agencies are asked to There is a great need for such exwork together with this in view. Five perts to help China. The Chinese regional conferences, as well as the Church is poor-it needs money; but National Christian Council and the it needs more than anything else, the Church of Christ in China, have voted gift of men-men who come with to adopt this program in all serious- evangelistic zeal even though they ness. may never preach. The National Christian Council also hopes that In addition to the effort to greatly some special help may be given in the increase the numerical membership of financing of this five-year program. the Church and to educate these new This movement, if it is to be taken up members in the understanding of seriously, will require more workers. what it means to be a disciple of In the field of literature much must he Jesus, the movement, as interpreted done. This is a movement in which by Dr. Cheng, represents a great the older and younger churches can striving for renewed spiritual fire in well cooperate. the Church-for an outpouring of evangelistic zeal. If Christians get
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
Youth Movements in Europe vincial and colonial towns to fight against immorality. They are not NOT all the "Flaming Youth" are satisfied merely to protest against li- bent on the destruction of old centious literature and plays, cinemas, standards and entire freedom from etc., but are attacking one of the chief moral restraint. Many signs indicate causes of immorality, namely the ina reaction and a rising in the inter- sufficient salaries paid to women and ests of idealism among the youth of girls. Young women's groups affiliated many lands. Multitudes oppose all with the "Voix des Jeunes" are to war and have joined pacifist societies. make an inquiry into the matter dur- Others are against all forms of im- ing the winter, in conjunction with perialism-so-called-and have joined the International Labor Office, which the Anti-Imperialistic League. has started a similar inquiry.
In connection with the recent In Italy a group of Protestant World Conference against Imperial- young men called "Knights of ism, a congress of you.ng men at Christ," has decided to fight against Frankfort – on – the – Main (Germany) immorality. After careful study they last July brought together some sixty have had 5,000 placards printed recyoung men from India, China, South ommending in words of St. Paul, America, Mexico, Korea, and other chastity, respect of human personality countries. Special attention was paid (especially of women). They have to Syria, Morocco and China and the gone out by twos to put these posters situation of young workers and young in most prominent places. The police peasants was carefully studied. interfered, but the magistrates found the young Knights not guilty. Unfortunately "Young Pioneers" of Russia are taught that they are ene- In America also, and in Asia Youth mies of the Boy Scout movement, movements have been formed to destarted some 21 years ago in England fend the Bible, to put into practice by Lord Baden-Powell, and now num- the teachings of Christ· and to adbering over 50,000 scouts from all vance morality, the spirit of brotherparts of the world. The Boy Scout hood and Christian missionary ac- "Jamboree" in England last summer tivity. brought together some 300,000 visitors and was a remarkable manifesta- Unrest in Palestine tion of International fellowship. THE little country, now known as At the same time a meeting of the Palestine, at the crossroads be- Socialist Youth in Vienna (July 12th tween Africa and Asia and almost to the 14th) brought together some next door to Europe, has always been 50,000 participants from a few coun- a scene of strife. Before the Israelites tries or central Europe. On the 16th conquered the land it was a battlefield of July the official delegates of the between many warring tribes. Egypt, National Movements of Socialist Assyria, Persia, Greece and Rome youth met for their 3d International later fought for its possession for po- Congress. It was stated that 220,718 litical and commercial advantage. members from 50 different countries Since the capture of Jerusalem by the belonged to it, but that France and followers of Mohammed the religious Great Britain had not as yet made motive has been added as a basis for adequate efforts for their national or- desiring possession, and for nearly ganizations. A program for the pro- fifteen hundred years Christians, Jews tection of young workers was formed and Moslems have contended for posin cooperation with the Trade Unions session of their sacred shrine. Jeruand the Socialist International. salem has been a bone of contention rather than an olive branch of peace. In France "La Voix des J eunes" is When General Allenby entered the getting together all the youth organizations in Par:s and in different pro-
city in 1917, the Christians regained improvements made under British control from the Turks but the Jews rule: Moslems, Jews and Christians were promised the opportunity to will all profit if they will learn to live realize their national ambition to en- together in harmony. The hope of Pal- joy Palestine as their ancestral home. estine is not, however, in the domina- This right has been the cause of dis- tion of anyone class or race or in the pute and contention with their Arab physical development of the country neighbors who outnumber them three but it is in the recognition of Him to one. All religions and nationalities who is the Prince of Peace and in have been enjoying equal rights under loyal submission to Jesus Christ whose the British Mandate but this does not right it is to reign.
satisfy the Mohammedans and as- saults upon the Jews have resulted. Church Union in Scotland The Rev. Malcolm M. Maxwell, of Jerusalem, writes to The Christian "NOTHERbreach in the Church of under date of August 30th: "We can- f t Christ was healed on October 1st, not yet see anything in the nature of when two other branches of this Body a national turning to Jesus Christ as were joined together through the their Messiah. But it may be signifi- union of the Established Church of cant that in many cases the Jews liv- Scotland and the United Free Church ing in the Holy City are painting up -both of them Scotch Presbyterian large cro~ses over their houses, in bodies. The "Wee Frees," as they are order to shelter under the sign of the popularly called, still stand aloof. At the final session of the United Cross. It may be that some of them Free Church Assembly only twentywill come to seek refuge under the two members, among the 500, voted to Blood of the Cross, which, until quite support an amendment proposing recently, they despised, and of which many of them had a superstitious "that this Assembly do not proceed to the consummation of the union dread." . Pictures of Jewish homes, on the with the Church of Scotland." Twenty door-posts of which have been painted years of debate and negotiation have crosses to protect the inmates, forcibly preceded this amalgamation which will rank as one of the biggest events remind us of the sprinkling of blood in Scotland since the disruption. on the door-posts of Jewish families in Egypt at the time of the Passover On October 2d, the two Assemblies to protect them against the angel of marched from their respective meeting death. places to St. Giles's Cathedral-unit- ing on the way-for a devotional serv- An anonymous proclamation, found ice. In the afternoon Dr. John White in Jerusalem during the recent upris- was elected as First Moderator and ing, called for a Holy War of the the Duke of York presented his com- Arabs to drive out the Jews. mission as Lord High Commissioner; and a letter from the King was read. The Arabs claim that their country has been divided and that the Jews The first assembly of the reunited have been unduly favored in political Church was held in the municipal appointments and other privileges. garage. The audience of 12,000 in- cluded the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Jews make ten demands on the Dr. Cosmo Gordon Lang, and his government including a commission of predecessor, Lord Davidson, of Laminquiry, security for Jews in all the beth, and several members of the govcities and colonies, the restoration of ernment. The moderators signed the property, fines on Arab villages, uniting act with the historic quill pen establishment of an armed Jewish with which the dissenting ministers police force to protect Jewish com- at the disruption in 1843 signed the munities.
Palestine has greatly benefited by act which created the breach. EDITED BY MRS. F. I. JOHNSON, 150 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK President of the Federation of Woman's Boards of Foreign Missions ATTRACTIVE METHODS FOR to have something actively to do with TEACHING the.solution of any problem that affects the lives of human beings." "Jumping Beans"
By MAUDE E. BRADLEY Our Junior boys and girls are going MEXICO to enjoy "Jumping Beans." What a fascinating title to arouse the curios- Under the "Plan and Point of View" ity of those eager little people who with which the course is introduced are waiting anxiously for the "club" to the leader are many valuable sugto begin. And the title is not the (/lily interesting thing about this new book! The children will love the whole Sandoval family from father and mother, Manuel, Carmen, Elena, and baby Carlos, to Zoso, the burro, and Chini, the pig.
The book is in two sections; Part 1: Stories by Dr. Robert N. McLean, and Part 2: The course-worked out by Mabel Little Crawford. In the charming little stories, Dr. McLean introduces us to a Mexican Indian family in their Mexican home and then we follow them through varied experiences as they become migrant agricultural laborers in the southwestern part of our own great country.
Delightful as are the stories in themselves, their real value will be best brought out by using them as part of the suggested course. This course may be adapted easily to various groups-church school classes, mission bands, clubs, week-day classes, daily vacation Bible schools, etc.
Miss Crawford says: "The aim of such a course is not to furnish children of nine, ten, and eleven with ready-made opinions on social or economic problems, but rather to make them conscious that there are problems, that there are two sides to the problems, and that Christianity ought 859 gestions which will save the leader right. Two or three white pages may much time and effort in preparation be inserted and fastened with yarn, for the sessions. Some of these sug- ribbon or white string colored with gestions follow – "Materials Needed crayon. On the cover draw four or for the Course, Activities, Making a five bands of varied widths and color Map, Making Notebooks, Writing with orange, blue, red and black. Letters, Making a Mexican Village, Across upper left corner, color nar- Preparing a Mexican Meal, Dramati- rower bands. Print "MEXICAN zation, Service Activities, Summary WORDS" in black crayon in remainof Preparation to be Made by the ing space. Before the stories are Leader." Then follow specific pro- told write Mexican words on the grams for each session. blackboard or large sheet of paper, with translation, and let children copy The course is so well worked 'Out them in their notebooks. In this way, that, taken just as it is printed, no they will assemble quite an Englishleader should have difficutly in pre- Mexican dictionary. senting it. Perhaps a few suggestions which were worked out this summer Have you ever helped a group of while a small group of children were children make their own little hymn enjoying the course will be of further books? One society in Lancaster, Pa., help. did this and it was a great success. Use lightweight colored construction Make invitations for the first meet- paper for covers and plain white ing in the shape of a big sombrero of paper for the pages. Let the children white paper colored with yellow crayon copy words of hymns which they sing or of yellow Tonal paper. Touch up at meetings. with lines of orange and black crayon. Inside, write or print, "You are Another attractive booklet is made invited to come to the church next Fri- of yellow or orange paper, size 3ljz day at four o'clock to meet the Sando- by 12 folded double to make cover val family from Mexico." These invi- 37'2 by 6. Tie with yarn at the top tations could be given to the Juniors to hold inside pages in place. Print at the close of the church school ses- "MEXICO" in colored crayon at top sion or could be mailed. Do you real- and paste silhouette of sombrero cut ize what it means to a Junior to re- from black paper at bottom of cover. ceive a real-honest-to-goodness letter or invitation through the mail ? It is Children will enjoy making articles worth many times the value of a post- from clay modeling material. Hang age stamp. up a lot of pictures around the room showing scenes from Mexican home Why not enlist some of the Junior or village life. Point out certain artior Senior High art students to help cles which might be made in miniature with this part of the preparatory in clay. Then leave the children to work? Almost every church, whether their own initiative in carrying on small or large, urban or rural, has one the work. Results will be surprisingly or more young people with artistic successful. The group mentioned ability. Do use them! Invite them to above made an adobe, stools, tables, give of their talent to Christ's pro- crude fireplace, kitchen utensils, burro, gram! pig, sombrero, etc.
Children love to make little booklets. The Everyland Picture Series on "Jumping Beans" offers many possi- "Mexicans in the United States," 25 bilities in this line of handwork. To cents, published by the Everyland make a Mexican blanket or sarape Press, 150 Fifth Avenue, New York notebook, fold a sheet of 9 by 12 yel- City, may be used in many ways to low paper through the center and then make the course interesting. again, making a double cover, 47'2" by 6". Place the folded edges at left and There are twenty-four pictures with top; the open ones at bottom and printed captions underneath. Have the Juniors mount these separately on
METHODS FOR WORKERS
colored construction paper. Then cut formed again at opposite sides of them up into "jig-saw" puzzles. This room. At the striking of a cord on can be done with scissors in two ways. piano the lines break and go across Make a simple puzzle by cutting the room, each child trying to find the picture into five or six horizontal or child who has the other part of her vertical strips. A more elaborate picture. puzzle may be made by cutting the picture into a number of irregular OHRISTMAS PAGEANTS sized pieces. Do not make too many pieces. Place each puzzle in an en- By MARVIM M. WALTERS velope and on the outside write or print-"Mexican Puzzle-Number of The very best and most effective pieces." Very pretty envelopes may Christmas pageants the writer has be made of wall paper to contain the seen were those created from locbi puzzles. Let the children decide what surroundings and put on in that one they shall do with the completed puz- spot for which they were written or zles. Hospitals, shut-ins, sick club played. members, orphan asylums, etc., may be suggested by the leader. Pageantry consists largely of four main elements-namely, color, music, Another way in which to use the pic- free dialogue, and pantomime. Christture set is as a game. The leader mas pageantry should of course have should cut out each picture with its a Christmas theme. explanatory text. Number each picture. Mount on colored construction Many think it is hard to give pagpaper or lightweight cardboard. eants. We have not found it so, Mount the printed texts but do not especially after we stopped putting too number. Pin the pictures up around much into it. the room. Line the children up and give each one a printed slip. When a Get three or four vital, progressive bell rings they are to go around look- ideas and work them into a musicing at the pictures and find the one color skein, putting into the pageant which they think fits their printing. characters who like to do their parts. Each child stands by his or her picture and at the end of a short time "Christmas in Every Land" turned the bell is rung again and the leader out to be one of the finest pageants decides how many have made the cor- we ever put on. We spent some four rect decision. weeks studying national customs, dress ideas, national airs and tradi- A good way to "break the ice" at tions. We worked in as many nathe first meeting is to use the pictures tions as we were equipped to do– in the following partner contest. England, France, Germany, China, Mount the pictures on light cardboard India, America, and several others. or heavy paper and cut into two pieces. For all the countries we represented The printed matter is mounted with we procured flags or made them from the picture. Place all the left sides chart descriptions found in an unof puzzles in one pile on a table at abridged dictionary. For those who front of room and all the right sides contemplate putting on such a pagin another pile at other side of table. eant I would suggest free use of un- Let the Juniors choose sides and line abridged dictionaries and standard up on opposite sides of room. When a encyclopedias. Articles dealing with march is played the two lines march various countries, together with charts around until they meet and then they of national colors, will give many come forward double breast to the hints. table. Here they separate again, each child taking up a piece of picture from Don't make your plan too big or too the designated pile. The lines are complete, but let the pageant be as suggestive and dramatic as possible. Make use of Christmas solos, carols, and anthems. The Christmas theme is abundantly expressed in good music.
A MISSIONARY CHRISTMAS PLAY would gladly help if I could but I For Union Home and Foreign Mis- think you will have to go elsewhere sionary Societies. this time."
If given with a generous amount of DEACONESS :-"If you only knew action, it is unusually effective. one of the families there. The mother died recently leaving a family of six Christmas Pageant children; the oldest a girl of four- (Woman sitting at table doing up teen, tries to keep house and mother the last of her Christmas presents. the other five children. The father Bundles and boxes are all about her.) works hard, when he can get work but his pay is small. A good dinne; MRS. SHOPPER:-"Well, well, I am and a few presents would do much toglad that job is about done. My list ward making them feel the true spirit of people to whom I give presents of the Holy Christmas Day." grows longer every year and it is so hard to please them and find some- MRS. SHOPPER:-"I am truly more thing they do not already have. sorry than I can tell you, but I simply Really Christmas is getting to be a can't help this year. It is too late for burden. I am so tired by the time the I have overspent my allowance for day arrives that I do not enjoy it. I Christmas and will be in debt for some sometimes wonder if this is not the time before I can pay for all my wrong way to celebrate." gifts."
(Just tkBn a knock is heard. She DEACONESS: – "Well, good-bye! I goes to the door and admits a deacon- hope you may be able to help next ess, who says:) year."
DEACONESS :-"My dear Mrs. Shop- MRS. SHOPPER (sits at table thinkper, we are spending Christmas Eve ing aloud) :-"1 should like to have trying to collect a few more dollars to given something, but I just could not. help in our celebration of Christmas I do believe it would have been better at the S. S. S. You know we have so if I had bought less expensive things many foreigners and colored people in and had a little left for those poor that part of the city. children. It rather worries me as I think about them. I believe I will "During the past year, many of the read a while and perhaps get my mind men have had scarcely any work at off them." all. The families are large and in many cases two or three families have (Sits doum to read and presently moved together and are living in three falls asleep and dreams.) or four rooms. They need food and Spirit of ChristJllas clothes and heat. Added to these nec- (Enter Spirit of Christmas. Peoessary things, we are asking for ple fro:m America and many foreign money-just a little from each per- countnes show what Christmas and son, to give them a little Christmas the Christ-child mean to them.) cheer. (Enter Moslem woman (veiled).) "We have our kindergarten children, and other classes that the chil- SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS :-"This is a dren attend-also the colored women's Moslem woman from Algiers."
club and the foreign women's club. MOSLEM WOMAN :-"1 am supposed Many of them will have no Christmas to be happy because I was married at unless we give it to them. thirteen years of age and have never "Will you not try to put a bit of been divorced. But we do not know joy into their lives as you, too, are happiness as you Christians know it.
celebrating the birth of the Christ- I cannot sew or read, and hear only child, Christmas Day?" coarse, vile talk from my neighbors MRS. SHOPPER:-"I am sorry but I and friends. I am an obedient wife have spent all my available money. I and attend to all my religious duties,
METHODS FOR WORKERS
observing the hours of prayer, repeat- baskets and beadwork. We do not hate ing the words in a language I do not the white man now for he is teaching understand, hoping to be rewarded by us a better way to live, and when at being allowed to be one of my hus- Christmas time, we meet with God's band's seventy slaves in his heavenly people to celebrate the birth of His paradise. 1 attend the mosque, sitting Son, we, too, can sing: behind a screen where I can neither Hark! the herald angels sing, see nor be seen, or understand the Glory to the new-born King; Peace on earth, and mercies mild, service; I observe faithfully all fast God and sinners reconciled! days, but these do not satisfy the Joyful all ye nations, rise, cravings of my religious nature. We Join the triumph of the skies; long in vain for something that will With the angelic host proclaim give us peace and happiness." Christ is born in Bethlehem."
(Enter l!merican Indian woman.) (Enter 0 Tomo San, Japanese SPIRIT:-"And now comes a dusky woman.) maiden from the land of Hiawatha SPIRIT :-"Here is a young mother who will tell her story." who will tell you what the Christ INDIAN WOMAN :-"1 come of a means to her."
race which once ruled this fair land. o TOMO SAN :-"1 have always been But one day, long, long ago, the white religious but until recently it was the men, who were stronger than we came religion of darkness and superstition.
and took our land away from us. They Many dark nights my husband and took our hunting grounds and drove 1 visited shrine after shrine set in the us on reservations they had set aside. gloomy groves. We took our little Our lands made the white man rich; offerings of rice and fish and per- and piece by piece we gave up to them formed the only worship we knew, the woods and fields that had been but there was no response in our souls.
ours for hundreds of years. We were Were the gods satisfied? Had they ignorant and at the mercy of every heard our prayers? There were so white trader. They taught my peo- many gods-were there any that had ple to drink fire-water and to gamble. been omitted, and who might wreak "My grandmother was a Princess their vengeance on our poor home?
and I was born in a tepee, because my Alas! we could not tell; there was no father hated the white man's ways of way of finding out. In spite of all living. He never forgave the people these night pilgrimages-in spite of who took our lands from us and died innumerable little wooden tablets pur- of a broken heart. chased at the temples, insuring bless- "Then I was taken sick and a beau- ing of all kinds-in spite of slips of tiful woman, a missionary, came to paper bearing pictured gods and pray with me and nurse me back to charms of all sorts, guaranteed to health. She told me of a Saviour who keep off all spirits-still misfortunes was born on Christmas Day and who had followed one another in quick suc- was God's great gift to the world. cession. To cure my husband of tooth- She said He loved the Red Man, too. ache, 1 vowed to abstain for three Teach us more about the Great Spirit years from eating natto, my favorite of the Paleface. Take us to your food. Before the three years were up, schools-deal with us fairly. we moved away from this town. Hence "The white man robbed us of our I was unable to revisit the shrine with lands and traditions and left in their an offering of natto, which would have place the vices of civilization. We released me from the vow, so I· still want a share of the better things- could not touch it. Similarly, to cure we want to be lifted up by the Great one of my children, we covenanted not White Spirit and your God-man-the to eat crabs.
Christ. Then we w1l till the soil and "One day I attended a mothers'
make for you our beautiful blankets, meeting at the Christian kindergarten.
This led to other meetings and my and they'd train my gals right. So husband and I learned the Jesus doc- we picked cotton all summer till our trine. Then arose the question-what fingers bled and got a little m~mey to do with the idol shrines in the but not much. house. At first we closed the doors of the shrine and turned them around "But somehow the spirit of Jesus with their faces to the wall, but some- Christ just opens the pocketbooks of how, this did not prove very satisfac- some of them northern white people, tory. So we decided to sell them, but and you can go to them schools withit did not seem quite the thing to out much money. We walked twelve make money on our discarded gods. miles to a railroad station-we hadn't We finally burned them with all the never seen railroad cars before and I wooden tablets and paper charms. felt kind 0' skeered to let them gals get on and be jerked away so fast you Outwardly our circumstances re- couldn't say bood-bye; But they said mained unchanged, but how different they wasn't skeered; that they'd go everything seems, since turning to through fire to get there. God in obedient faith, and committing everything to Him, a complete change "Araminty has learned to be a nurse has come over our hearts and all the oyer a: Jacksonville and Arabella is old unrest has disappeared. As for goin' to teach school and they ain't gomyself I seem to have lost all fear. I ing to marry any no 'count niggers used to be so afraid of the dark, but neither. We got a real Christmas tree now I feel so perfectly safe every- and all the other colored children for where. The other day I ate some miles around are comin' to celebrate. natto and it tasted good. We are go- We won't have many presents, but ing to enjoy the crabs when they come we'll have a mighty good time. Arain, too. It seems so strange to be so bella has taught them lots of Christfree. Everytime I hear the Gospel, I mas songs, she learned at school-but feel ashamed of myself for not having the one I like best is the one about earlier trusted in Jesus. So you can Glory to God in the Highest, Peace on see why we love to celebrate the Earth, Good Will Toward Men." Christ-child's birthday as a Holy Day." (Enter Chinese Girl.) (Exit.) SPIRIT :-"This child is a member of our Christian school and lives in (Enter Negro woman.) the compound with the missionary and SPIRIT :-"The Negro race has been she is very happy to tell you .of their a special study for our people. Let Christmas." our colored friend tell us how our missionary homes have taught them the GIRL:-"To us Christmas Eve is the way to celebrate Christmas. night of nights. After dinner we had NEGRO WOMAN:-"We are g'wine a musical program and then Santa to have a big Christmas at our house. Claus who is just the biggest, fattest, We live in a little shanty and we ain't jolliest person you can imagine came got no money to count on. But our riding in on a tiny donkey. Our gals Araminty and Arabella have come Christmas tree was beautiful and we home from that school at Jacksonville, thought it was even prettier as the Florida, about fifty miles from here, gifts began to disappear from it and where they got all kinds of larnin'. appear in our hands. The next day at "Myoid man said, 'Don't you send ten o'clock, we attended the little them gals away to no school-they'll Christmas entertainment in the jest get a lot of fool notions in their church. Then followed the Chinese heads and then like as not come home feast when we Chinese and Americans and marry some no 'count nigger.' ate together in good fellowship to cele- But I 'lowed as how them missionaries brate Christ's Birthday. had the love of God in their hearts "After this, we attended the little play given at the girls' school. It was 'The Birds' Christmas Carol.' Then
METHODS FOR WORKERS
came the best of all, the real Christmas ye about towns and rivers and mounfeast for the girls, when we had meat tains). While she was talkin', I jest and vegetables. And you know we thought my heart'd stop beatin', 'cause have these only twice a year in the I got bluer and bluer 'cause I knowed girls' school-on Christmas and New we didn't have no money but Glory Be Years. The rest of the time we eat -she said we didn't need much money black and yellow beans, rice and Chi- 'cause the missionary societies furnese bread. nish most everything. When she said that I got so excited I nearly let the "We closed our day with the singing twins fall off my lap. So Melissa went of carols and went to bed, very, very to school. And we are so proud of happy girls." that gal. She just larned everything. There ain't nothin' she don't know (Exit.) about sewin', cookin', keepin' house and everything. (Enter Mountaineer woman.) SPIR.IT :-"This woman is one of our "Do you wonder we want to celenative-born Americans whose daugh- brate Christmas, the day when Christ ter owes her life to the home mission- was born? Melissa said He came to ary school." save the world, and that means us poor MOUNTAINEER.:-"Well, I just want white folks way down here in the to tell yer, I'm glad it's Christmas mountains." time cause it gives me an excuse for celebratin'. I'm jest bubblin' over (Enter Hindu Bible woman.) with joy. You know I got a gal, Me- SPIRIT :-"A Hindu Bible woman lissa, who goes to that school down at will tell you of the celebration of Boaz. I never had any eddication and Christmas in a mission schooL" neither did her pa and sometimes HINDU BIBLE WOMAN:-"I am a when we'd git newspapers wrapped Bible woman trained in a Woman's round things at the store and couldn't Foreign Missionary School in India, read nary a word of the print on 'em, and I want to tell you just a little I would jest natchery cry and worry of Christmas in India. The flowers 'cause I didn't see any way but to jest in the garden of the mission compound let my young uns grow up as ignorant are blooming luxuriantly – cannas, as I was. roses, phlox and cosmos. It is not "We was awful poor and me and the Christmas weather as you know it, two gals only had one pair of shoes with snow and the jingle of sleighbetween us. And one day when we bells. But the girls in our school and were workin' barefoot in the cornfield the mothers in some of the homes a woman with a pretty face and the where I visit and teach, know that sweetest voice, came riding up and tomorrow we are celebrating the birth said, 'Howdy. Can I come in and sit of the Christ-child, and realize more a spell? I want to talk to you about deeply that many in America, what a school over to Boaz where we can His coming to earth has brought to take at least one of your girls.' Well their lives. that beat me and we laid down our "Tomorrow at nine we shall have a hoes and went inside our shanty. Qur church service and then the celebrapreacher up on the ridge had told her tion for the children. Thanks to the 'bout us. I didn't know where Boaz boxes received from Christian Amerwas-'cause we didn't know nothing ica-we can make all the children about anything on tother side of the happy. One Standard Bearer Commountain. pany has sent us a box filled with rag "She said it was the Rebecca Mc- dolls and how the girls love them. Cleskey School and was kept by some Then from a Kings Herald Band we folks up North. She said they would have tops and marbles for the boys teach my gal to read and write and and candy for all the children. How she'd larn rithmetic (that teaches ye those little brown faces will shine as to count), and gography (that teaches 4
we tell them that someone in America last Christmas when we people of the loves them and is willing to sacrifice village were invited there, too. The a little of her own pleasure that teachers surely had a time to make all Chrismas joy may reign in far away the costumes and train sixty children India. in song. The thirty little girls were all dressed in white and after Christ- "At four in the afternoon we will mas these little dresses and skirts have the tea for Indian Christians. were put away to be kept clean for They sit in the church compound, the Easter. They had a Christmas enwomen and children on one side and tertainment on Christmas Eve and I the men on the other. The school chil- wish you might have heard their songs dren will present tableaux and songs and pieces. of the Christmas story and we will live again that first Christmas Day. There "The children were up at 5: 30 will be gifts at this service for each Christmas morning and there was a family: clothing, towels, soap and big tree and Santa Claus was dancing other things, that are luxuries to us, around the tree jingling sleigh bells but commonplace to you. And each to call the children down stairs. You will go home happy, filled with Christ- never saw such a commotion. There mas peace." was something for each one-the little girls got tiny wash boilers and little (Enter Eskimo.) green skillets and the boys got balls SPIRIT:-"And here is an Eskimo and fish-hooks and other trinkets and woman from the ice-bound shores of all got apples, oranges and candy. A the Yukorf. She will tell you how glad big box arrived from the States and she is that no cold is so intense that in that were some presents for the it can keep back the messengers of the missionaries and some things for the King, who have made possible a joy- Home they had been praying for. ous Christmas. ESKIMO :-"1 come from Alaska, a "The children took their presents land where it is always cold. In many and formed in line and had a parade parts, the ground never thaws. The all over the Home-they were led by people are very, very poor and some- a band (six children playing on combs times families and even whole villages and one beating a pan for a drum) starve to death. The men are miners, and then games and a good dinner. sealers, whalers and sailors. They live in small huts and stop up all the "Say, you've never seen a Christcracks to keep out the cold and have no mas, if you haven't seen one at the chance for fresh air. Jessie Lee Home." "The woman of the home is often the beast of burden because the old (Enter girl from England.) chief says that she can do twice as SPIRIT :-"In England their Christmuch as a man. mas celebration is all centered around "The one bright spot in that frozen their Yule-log, which is supposed to land is the Jessie Lee Home at Un- burn from Christmas Eve to New alaska. There are sixty boys and Year's Day. Round this gather all the girls in that home. Some are orphans family and relatives and make merry and some have been deserted by their together." parents and some are too poor to live (Girl Speaks foUowing poem, then any other place. The missionaries gOBS out.) lead lonely lives away from all their friends but they are doing a wonder- AT CHR1STMAS TIME ful work not only for the children in school and the sick in their hospital, At Christmas time the fields are white, but for all the people in the village. And hill and valley are bedight "Christmas time is the greatest time With snowy plendor, while on high of all the year. I will tell you about The black crows Bail athwart the sky, Mourning for summer days gone by At Christmas time.
At Christmas time the air is chill, And frozen lies the babbling rill;
METHODS FOR WORKERS
While sobbingly the trees make moan our customers so we can make money For leafy greeness once their own. to buy you all good warm clothes like For blossoms dead and birdlings flown. American children wear.
At Christmas time. "Your brothers, ever since they have been big enough, have helped their At Christmas time we deck the hall father in the bakery. They carry in With holly branches brave and tall, the great trays from the oven, make With sturdy pine and hemlock bright change and deliver cakes and tonight And in the Yule-log's dancing light they will work 'till 10, 11, 12 o'clock We tell old tales of fields and fight that the Christmas dinner tables will serve our little cakes, rich with At Christmas time. raisins and sugar or the round cakes filled with jelly as red as the holly At Christmas time we pile the board berries. With flesh and fruit and vintage stored, And mid the laughter and the flow "They are such good boys, too. We tread a measure soft and slow, They try to learn in school, but they And kiss beneath the mistletoe are only immigrants and the other boys never invite them to join in their At Christmas time. games or clubs or Boy Scouts or any- thing. We try to be good citizens- 0, God the Father of us all to be honest and to worship the Christ List to the lowliest creature's call: we have learned about. But Oh, we Give of Thy joy to high and low" are so lonely! Comforting the sorrowing in their woe: Make wars to cease and love to grow "I look out of the window and see the happy faces-people hurying home At Christmas time. with arms full of bundles-friends meeting and smiling and wishing each Let not one heart be sad today; other a Merry Christmas, but no one May every child be glad and gay; thinks of us. We have each other- Bless Thou Thy children great and small. God be praised! But we do so long to And may each soul keep festival hear a friendly voice and to know that some one in all this land thinks of us At Christmas time. at Christmas time.
(Enter Mrs. Chzerney – a Bohe- "But listen! I hear children singing mian.) Christmas carols. They are coming nearer and nearer. Can it be they are SPIRIT: – "Here we have Mrs. coming to us 1" Chzerney, One of the immigrants, who have come to our shores. Let us hear (Carol in distance.) what Christmas means to her." (Two children who have been sing- ing off stage enter and give presents MRS. CHZERNEy:-"What a dreary, to Mrs. Chzerney and her two chi!- lonely Christmas Eve, my children! dren.) We are living in a Christian land, but not one of Christ's people ever says a GIRL WHO HAS BEEN SINGING SAYS: friendly word or reaches out a friendly -"We bring to you these little gifts hand. to make you feel you are living in a land among Christ's people and to wish "Over in Bohemia, the Christmas you a Merry Christmas." bells are ringing tonight and that is still home to me. MRS. CHZERNEy:-uGod is good to "We came here, my children, because us and all is well." we heard that in this country, you (Enter-Bedoin boy and girl tomight have a chance. But I guess we'll never be anything but just that gether.) 'German baker – Chzerney – and his family.' We have to work so hard, too. SPIRIT: – "These are Bedoin chil- We brought with us receipts for Bo- dren whose home is a tent in the wide. hemian Christmas cakes that have wide desert of Arabia. been baked by our people for hundreds of years and have been served to kings.
"Everybody wants our Christmas cakes this year and we have worked day and night to bake enough for all
(Boy wearing on head white cloth follow the rugged path from Jerusacap—only other dress visible is loose lem, once trodden by the wise men bro'Um coat hanging below knees-legs from the East who sought the newand feet bare.) born King in his manger cradle. We enter the city of Bethlehem and plod Boy:-HMy name is Achnet and this up the hill till we reach the eastern is my sister Fatima. We live where brow of the ridges. On the south side it is always warm and the sun shines. is one of the oldest Christian build- We have never seen it rain. Our home ings in the world, the Church of the is a tent on an oasis and when the Nativity. The entrance to the church springs dry up we move on to another is so low that one stoops to enter. We one. Our food is chiefly meat, cakes pass through the nave of the church to and dates and goat's milk. I have a the sanctuary, then down a flight of little colt, which lives in the tent with narrow stone steps to the cavern. me. When we are both older I hope he will carry me to the city where A silver star is set into the pavement people do not Jive in tents. When we surrounded by the inscription, which travel, we use camels, putting our tents translated is, 'Here of the Virgin and all our household utensils on their Mary Jesus Christ was born.' Above backs and we travel mostly before day- in the recess, hang many lamps of light as it is too hot during the day- gold and silver, which burn continuwe sleep then." ally. Pilgrims by scores and hundreds throw themselves on the pavement to FATIMA:-HWe never have to worry kiss the stones. The beautiful digniwith copy books and numbers as the fied service is held at midnight and it little American children do, but Oh, stirs the emotions. we have to work so hard even little as I am. 1 have to gather firewood and (Enter woman to tell Christmas churn butter by shaking it backward story.) and forward in a goatskin. Then my mother and father beat me for slight SPIRIT :-HListen, you are about to offenses, which would be all right for hear a Christmas story." my brother to do but then, I am only a girl. Won't you send someone to tell Use "Why the Chimes Rang," or any us of the love of Jesus, which makes other suitable one. At its close carols mothers love their girls as well as are heard outside. Spirit goes off as their boys ?" carols begin.
(Exit.) (At end of carols Mrs. Shopper (Enter woman from Jerusalem.) wakes with a stfLrt.) SPIRIT:-HNow that Jerusalem is again in the hands of Christians we MRS. SHOPPER :-"1 must have gone are doubly interested in their celebration of the Festival of the Nativity." to sleep and those carols wakened me. WOMAN :_HIt is evening in J eru- What a dream I have had. It breaks salem, the stars come out, one by one; my heart when I think of the selfish the cool breeze comes in from the hills just as it did that beautiful night way 1 have spent Christmas. If the when the shepherds heard the first dear Lord grants me another year to Christmas hymn two thousand years live, 1 will show him that 1 have ago. learned how really to celebrate His HWe women take off our beautiful birthday in a way that I am sure will bead necklaces and bracelets, cover be more pleasing to Him, for He said, our garments with a white veil and in little companies join the great 'In as much as ye do it unto the least throng that is going to Bethlehem of these, ye do it unto me.' I know five miles away. All Christmas Eve pilgrims from all parts of the world now that the true joy of Christmas is in giving to His little ones, not only money but the service of a glad heart. I am going to call the Deaconess and go to her rescue at once."
(Close with Christmas carol in the distance.)
WOMAN'S HOME AND FOREIGN
FEDERATION OF WOMAN'S BOARDS OF FOREIGN MISSIONS AND COUNCIL OF WOMEN FOR HOME MISSIONS WORLD DAY OF PRAYER-1929 the meeting was held in the home of a sick woman whose bed was spread on THEME: the floor in the corner and who took part in prayer and speaking. All were "That They All May Be One" impressed by the service and sent greetings to other women who were It has been a wonderful evening joined with them in prayer. Enthusi- astic reports of gatherings in the Mt. spent in reading scores and scores of Hermon district have been received. letters from many lands telling of the blessing and inspiration of the World We trust that as a result of these meet- Day of Prayer, February 15, 1929. It ings there will come new earnestness is becoming literally true that through in prayer and in working for nonprayer the "whole round earth" is be- Christian neighbors."
ing "bound by gold chains about the PERSIA feet of God." We have learned of meetings held in the following coun- "We planned for two services in Teheran (11 to 12 a. m. and 2 to 3 tries: p. m.), held in the prayer room, the assembly room of the Persian church. Japan Turkey Africa About 100 women attended each serv- ice and six nationalities were repre- China Syria Nova Scotia sented and had a part in the program -Armenians, Hebrews, Zoroastrians, Korea Hungary Canada Assyrians, Moslems, Americans-'all one now in Christ Jesus.' As far as Philippine Poland Alaska possible we followed the general pro- gram translated into Persian. In the Islands Germany United afternoon Fatima Khanum, one of the strongest converts from Islam, New Zealand Austria States gave an account of her conversion, which stirred to the depths all pres- Australia Switzerland Mexico ent. In the noon interval, 100 women sat down together to a simple dinner Siam France Brazil of rice, stew and bread, in the large room of the elementary school. All Burma Holland British India England Guiana Persia Scotland Hawaii There are possibly others from which we have not heard. In some lands the thought has been new and only a few small groups have met on that day, while in many other lands the observance is increasing rapidly each year. Beginning in the Orient it was true that "from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same,"
the Lord's name was praised.
Glimpses Into Many Praying Groups sat on the floor, which added to the informality and good cheer of the oc- It is painful to cull mere snatches casion. It meant much to us at the from letters and reports which scintillate with such intense interest. morning service to know that for sev- eral hours in the Far East our Chi- SYRIA nese and Japanese sisters had already "The program was translated into been lifting hearts and voices in Arabic. In many towns programs prayer and praise; it meant much at were distributed in homes the day be- the afternoon service to feel that in a fore the meeting and an invitation few hours women in America would given. At Judeideh the principal ex- gather and remember us in Persia. A cused the advanced class in high school great blessing was ours in getting toto attend the meeting. At Khiam gether and in sharing the larger fel- 869
lowship of the Christian women of been expressed to have such a meetour world." ing not only once a year but more often." "We observed the Day of Prayer meeting in the Armenian church at SCOTLAND 1: 30 p. m. It had previously been planned by a committee co:nposed of "The meetings were well attended three Armenian ladies, two Persian and inspiring. The hope was exladies and one missicnary. They se- pressed that another year more groups lected their own leaders, planning and might be formed to meet for prayer." carrying out details. We felt a close tie with our sisters the world over during NEW ZEALAND those three hours of prayer and meditation. We represented many different "Many reports have come in; each nationalities, Persians, Arme::Iians, Assyrians, Jews, Americans, all meet- one breathes a message of thanksgiving together as one in Christ Jesus. It was all conducted in Persian except ing for mighty uplift and blessing retwo prayers in Armenian and two or three hymns sung by the Armenians. ceived. Our prayer meeting, divided I wish you could have listened to them. As I was walking home with one of into three sessions, was an inspirathe Jewish women after the meeting, she said what an inspiration it had tion; we shall never have any trouble been to meet all together. One lady expressed a wish for a similar meet- in arranging for another. Representaing weekly. tives of eight denominations were "At the meeting in Hamadan on February 15, 1929, much time was present. The inspirational value was spent in prayer, asking God to establish His Church in this country, to evident to all and the hope was exraise strong revivals in the Persian land, and to give full freedom for pressed that simill.lr meetings would those who are converted from Islam, so that they may work freely for their be held." . country and people, and set free the women of Moslem lands. The meeting "As we took part in, the worldwide closed with new pledges of good will and promises to work for Christ in the bond of prayer, we felt we were one coming year." with the great unseen army of inter- HOLLAND cesso·rs in all lands, who are part of "I translated the program adapting it to the needs of our country. As it the same great human family, whose was the first time the Day was observed, we did not expect large re- need is God. Already we are planning sponse, so began with printing 500 programs. After a few weeks 5,000 for next year's meeting." had been distributed up and down the countryside. In 50 different places a These are but a few of the heartenmeeting W88 held. The way many ing messages which have come from women from different churches and walks of life have responded to this all over New Zealand-from cities, call seems to be a sign of real need, of which we were too little conscious country towns, and from the twos and before. In some places the wish has threes in faraway outposts.
AFRICA "We began preparations to observe the Day in the Cameroun over a month previous by giving to the teachers of the schools for women around the Sakbayeme, and to the leaders of morning prayers in the villages, the verses of Scripture that were to be said in unison, so that they might teach them to the women. One woman learned and prayed one of the prayers; another read the seventeenth chapter of John. Four school girls sang a quartette.
"At Nkona there were 250 women present. To quote the evangelist, 'They were very happy to be called with other women to pray.' They asked, 'Will there be another such meeting this year?'
WOMAN'S HOME AND FOREIGN BULLETIN
"Another meeting was held across that Jesus said, 'Where two or three the river at 2 o'clock, as then the are gathered together in my name, women would have returned from there am I in the midst of them.' " their gardens and as the drum for the afternoon session of school beats they MEXICO could know definitely the time of day. About 150 women quietly gathered. ."The Day in Pueblo was most in- It seemed as if there was added dig- spiring, of great spiritual uplift. nity in their bearing. Consciousness 'That all may be one' was the thought that they were an integral part of the presented before the Throne of praying women of the world made Grace. Race, color, social position them forget their color, their feeling were forgotten as all knelt and poured of inferiority, forget themselves in out their hearts before the Lord." the thought that they were one with all God's children, praying for the "The Christian women of the Fedselfsame things, saying the same eral District held a union service in words, singing the same hymns. The the Balderas church. The program day brought blessing to each of us." was followed with all reverence. This service of communion with one an- "At Efulan many took part in the other and with our kind Heavenly meeting; all expressed appreciation Father made a deep impression upon that they had been remembered." us all, and in our hearts there was a feeling of holy joy." "We thank you for including us in this Day of Prayer. We have been CHINA very much helped by it. There were 687 women present at our meeting at "Our churches are not heated ordi- Okon." narily, but for this meeting at Shen- chow we arranged for three braziers "The program was condensed, of charcoal fire around which about 50 adapted and sent to mission stations women gathered. We had a baby orof all denominations in Sierra Leone; gan to help with the singing. On the 11 reports have been received. The walls were pictures of women and chil- Day was observed, no doubt, in other dren of other nations." places not reported. It was suggested that the offering be used for paying "At Kaifeng a continuous prayer school fees of children who would service was held from 7 a. m. to 7 p. otherwise be unable to come to school. m. Some fasted one or two meals of This suggestion was taken kindly and the day. We had some big problems the Bonthe women went the second to bring to God." mile in undertaking the support of a girl at Moyamba. The women of "It was most interesting to see the Sierra Leone are gradually coming interest the younger women took in into their heritage." the service in Peking. Everybody en- joyed working together for it and felt "We had a very fine service in Free- inspired by knowing they were a part town; the women responded so well of a great body of women all over the there was no pause between prayers. world meeting in prayer to God." Everyone Bang heartily. The pastor led in prayer and then the women "Four Chinese women at Weihsien prayed one after the other most earn- formed themselves into a committee. estly." They decided everything, even to what man should be invited to keep up the "With rocks as seats and the canopy fires in the large church building, of a mango tree between us and the what women should serve tea to those sky, three of us missionaries observed who would remain over for the afterthe World Day of Prayer near the noon meeting, and who should take peak of Mt. Leicester. Our attend- care of the children for the day. This ance was small, but we remembered latter was delegated to the husbands and some school girls. There has been a distinct growth in interest in
giving the Gospel to others since our gram was given in English, part in meeting. The collection was a good Visayan. We made our own posters one and was given to employ an extra and announced our meeting in the dif- Bible woman." ferent services for two weeks before the meeting. The women were seated "At least 200 women gathered for in groups in the chapel, each group the service at Hengchow. To make having its banner." more vivid the idea that women all over the world were joining at the INDIA same time in a great volume of prayer, a group of young school teachers and "Under the shade of palm and others worked out a simple pageant, shisam trees, the Christian women of each wearing the costume of a given Mainpuri met to pray. A very imnation. Each told something of the pressive part of the afternoon proprogress of Christianity in the coun- gram was the prayers for all nations, try she represented, followed by the last prayer being one of special prayer." thanksgiving for all mothers through- out the world who had dedicated their "The various churches united in one sons and daughters to the service of big union meeting here in Changsha. the Lord." We followed the program suggested; had many denominations represented, "The service was truly an impresas well as nationalities. Changsha sive one at Sangli; the women enhas a variety of missions. There are tered thoroughly into the spirit and English, Germans, Nor w e g ian s , thrill of the observance of being part Swedes, and Americans; all took part of what Christian women were doing on the program. A splendid spirit of all round the globe. The offering infellowship and unity was manifested; cluded not only money, but three live more than 300 people were present." chickens, some grain, some peanuts. We all felt greatly uplifted by this PHILIPPINES service."
"The Day was observed among the "The program was put into the ver- Tagalog speaking people. It was in- nacular, somewhat adapted to India. deed inspiring to see the response It has been printed in our vernacular which the churches made. The offer- paper, the Sahayak Patrika, which ings went for work in Africa. We circulates among about 40 missions in want the folks there to know that it India." was a joy for us to give and that this money is only a token of the love and "In Guntur we began the day in the interest for their work which was born Mangalamandiram with prayer and in our hearts on the World Day of closed it at the Y. W. C. A. with Prayer." prayer. The program prepared in Telugu was distributed. We had a "The Day was observed in Ilocos meeting at the hospital chapel at Norte and Sur provinces and offerings noon; there was one at the Stall taken for work which the churches in School at the same time. At the close these districts support in the moun- of the afternoon meeting I asked the tains among pagan tribes. From all women what message I should send reports the programs were very worth- you. They said in one voice, 'Send us while in all the churches where they material for next year without fail, as were held. New spiritual life was we liked this program very much.' " awakened in the hearts of many, a world-wide interest and vision." "Yesterday was another great day for Kodoli district. The fact that all "The Mothers' Club, Christian En- the world of Christian women were deavor societies, Bible school women, using the same hymns, same Scripture nurses from the hospital and the Lola- made a wonderful impression on our litas of Silliman took part in the serv- Indian sisters. The offering of money, ice at Dumaguete. Part of the pro-
WOMAN'S HOME AND FOREIGN BULLETIN
eggs, peanuts and Kaffir corn, was WORLD DAY OF PRAYER AT given for work in Tibet." KOllOLI. INDIA " 'The whole round earth' was certainly bound by gold chains about the that everyone who had part received feet of God' on the World Day of a special spiritual blessing. In Oliveira Prayer. Our little corner in Dehra our whole congregation came and took Dun, we earnestly hope, formed a very part and we felt the Spirit with us. golden link of that chain which united Although the women put it on, much us at the feet of God, where all are one propaganda was made for all-men, in Christ." women and children-to attend and it seemed the churches were full at one JAPAN hour or another on that day. It was fine to know the whole world was at "The programs were a great bless- prayer." ing to our work here, both last year and this. We had translated and BRITISH GUIANA adapted the program, and the women entered into the spirit of it with great "Our meeting here at New Amsterearnestness. It was a new, rich expe- dam was indeed wonderful. Since the rience to them, and they were enthusi- women here can not get out during astic over continuing to observe the the day, except on Sunday, we held a Day regularly." meeting on the evening of the 15th. It did not look very promising all that "Yesterday saw our first celebra- day, as it rained most of the time, but tion of the Day here in Hiroshima. around six o'clock the sky cleared and The program was translated into J apa- the stars and moon shone with all the nese and copies sent to the various brilliancy of a tropical sky, so people churches. We began preparation were able to come out in quite a good early in the week by explaining it in number. Many races were represented the different Bible classes, and by post- -Negroes, East Indians, Portuguese. ing notices and verses of Scripture. Members of different churches-Meth- The response on the part of the stu- odist, Canadian Presbyterian, Scotch dents was the thing that pleased me Presbyterian, Congregational, Lumost. All were impressed by the fact theran, Salvation Army-took part in that they were taking part in a world the program, which consisted of short movement, and that they of Japan talks on the objectives of the Day, and really had the privilege of leading off prayer, which was emphasized the in a worldwide chain of prayer." most, of course. It was really an in- spirational meeting and it did create KOREA a spirit of unity between all the Christian churches in this town. We "February 15th we gave up classes all felt as if we were one Church, as to join with the women of the church we are, inde"!d all one in Christ." in the World Day of Prayer. The meeting lasted from 11 to almost 3, SIAM with no signs of restlessness, so we kept on without the intermissions we "For the first time our women at had expected to have between differ- Chiengmai observed the World Day of ent topics. The bell rang each hour, though, so that those who could not come for it all, came for part. Such earnest prayers!"
BRAZIL "Five spiritual meetings were reported. Some divided the program into three meetings-8 a. m., 12 noon, and 7 p. m.- so that a larger number could attend. All emphasized the fact
Prayer. It was a beautiful service, was a great success; a real spiritual entirely in the hands of the Siamese uplift came from this effort. It was women. The program was practically an all-day program with an interval the same as was used in America." of about twenty minutes at noon. The nearness of those who were praying CANADA all over the world was just thrilling."
"In Toronto several thousand women "Last Friday was a great day in attended the meetings which were held San Francisco, California. More than in 18 churches, 15 or 16 nationalities 1,000 women attended the three-hour being represented in the leadership- service." Swedish, Finn, Indian, Ukranian, Japanese, Bulgarian, Chinese, Rus- "Several denominations in Pensasian, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Hunga- cola, Florida, held a real prayer servrian, Armenian, Macedonian, etc. ice. The colored churches were our Great publicity was given to the meet- guests and were given a part on the ings by the daily press." program-a big step for southern people." Canada has been very successful in enlisting the women living in the scat- "We had nearly 100 in our meeting tered rural communities and many of at Minot, North Dakota; 40 nurses the most precious meetings have been from a local hospital attended. The those where there have been but the meeting in the afternoon had groups "twos and threes." from six or seven denominations."
UNITED STATES "We observed the day at Winterset, Iowa, in cottage prayer meetings in Reports have been received from twelve homes." meetings held in every state. In New York the women of the five boroughs "Our Day of Prayer at EI Paso, in Greater New York, which includes Texas, was a wonderful day and cumu- Brooklyn and Staten Island, came to- lative in power. The auditorium was gether in 30 different churches. filled. The decorations at the noon Women of many denominations, many luncheon featured the nations, with nationalities, and different races wor- women in costume. American flags on shipped together. One borough re- the platform and lighted candles on ported at least 10 different nationali- white pedestals at each station around ties at the meetings, and prayers were the room illustrated 'prayer around offered in a number of languages. the world.''' Many groups of young people participated. Between 7,000 and 8,000 copies "The ladies of the missionary socieof a special "Call to Prayer to the ties of Billings, Montana, look forward Youth of the World" were distributed to this time each year when we all in young people's groups. Still an- meet together in prayer." other feature was a children's service held at the same hour as the women's Jackson, Tennessee, had a fine meetmeeting, but in a neighboring church. ing with all faiths represented. The "Shut-ins" had been provided with Catholic priest commended the plan programs so they could follow the and purpose of the meeting and the service. Sisters gave it publicity.
Mrs. D. E. Waid, of the Council of In order that mothers of young Women for Home Missions, conducted children might be in attendance at the morning devotions over WEAF and meeting in Phrenix, Arizona, special allied stations. The radio was also nurses were provided to have charge utilized in other cities all over the of the children. United States. Supplies for March 7, 1930 "The union meeting in which the churches of Joliet, lUinois, cooperated. THEME: "That Jesus May Be Lifted Up"
We are especially happy over the
WOMAN'S HOME AND FOREIGN BULLETIN
JEAN PAx'rON IDSPERANZA HELEN KIM MRS. S. S. HOUGH ABELLERA materials* for this observance because Introducing Our Friends of content, authorship and attractive appearance. It is a very real joy to Mrs. S. S. Hough, Chairman of the have the Program the product of Joint Committee on World Day of Korea, the cycle of prayer on the Prayer since January, 1925, was, as "Call" from the Philippines, and the Mrs. Albert, a missionary to Africa Service of Consecration by an Ameri- for three and a half years. After the can. death of her husband, returning to this country she served for nine years The "Call" is for daily use begin- as editor of the women's missionary ning immediately. There are little periodical of her denomination, until seals to be utilized on all correspond- she married Mr. Hough. For the past ence from now until the Day, and a two years she has been president of poster to be conspicuously displayed in the Women's Missionary Association churches, stores, offices. of the United Brethren in Christ. She is a member of the Executive Commit- Accompanying the program, "That tees of the Federation and Council. Jesus May Be Lifted Up," there is a picture sheet depiciting the four proj- Miss Helen Kim, Dean of Women, ects assigned for free will offerings Ehwa Haktang College, Seoul, Korea, on the Day. Suggestions for leaders who made the main draft of the 1930 are with the program, and suggestions program, came to Ehwa Haktang, for leaders of the Service of Conse· Seoul, when a very little girl. A scholcration will be found in that booklet. arship was secured for her, and this, together with her own self-help Looking Unto Jesus through such work as ringing the bell for prayers, classes and meals, pro- A Service of Consecration with vided for her board and room. She was above title has been prepared by Miss graduated from Ehwa High School; Jean Paxton to be used by the local took her Post Graduate in Ohio Wesleaders and committee in charge in leyan University, Delaware, Ohio. preparation for the World Day of She was a delegate to the Pacific Re- Prayer or by the whole group at a lations Conference in Honolulu, Hapreliminary service on the Day. waii, and to the Jerusalem Conference.
Based upon the Messages fom the Miss Esperanza Abellera, who pre- Jerusalem Conference, all study pared the "Call to Prayer," is the groups will find it very helpful used daughter of a Filipino pastor who gave in connection with the books on "The up a teaching position at 100 pesos a World Mission of Christianity." month to preach for 30 pesos. He was the founder of the first United Church *'fhe program is 2 cents, $1.75 per 100; of the Islands. While away from home the SerViCe of Consecration, 10 cents. only two Esperanza wrote to her father: "You being needed for a meeting; the "Call" is free; have prayed that one of your children poster. 10 cents; seals. $1.75 pf'r 1,000. 25 cents per 100. All supplies should be ordered from denominational beadquarters.
might follow you into the ministry; I of the Church. Through the Boards had a long struggle between my way the message will go out to the utterand God's, and God won." She has most parts of the earth. It has algraduated from the University of the ready gone through the countries of Philippines, taken her Master's work Europe. All around the world women at Columbia and at present is studying are summoned to the Day of Prayer, for her degree of Doctor of Philos- March 7, 1930, to ask that this power ophy. may be given again, knowing that the condition is witnessing for Him. We Miss Jean Grigsby Paxton is a mem- ask all Christian women and girls to ber of the staff, Foreign Division of join in this spiritual fellowship and to the National Board, Young Women's begin even now to pray that there may Christian Associations of the United be a great awakening of the Spirit States. She was in Canton, China, for among all women everywhere. a term as secretary of the Young Women's Christian Association there. The topic for our World Day of Prayer this year of Pentecost, 1930, A World Fellowship of Ohristian is "That Jesus may be lifted up." How can He be lifted up without our * Women human hands? How can He be made known to these who have never heard, By MRS. HENRY W. PEABODY without our voice? And so we come ourselves, pledged to new consecration, We have read of the Day of Pente- pleading for a new vision of the cost and of the birthday of the Chris- world's need and a new vision of the tian Church which we love. We have world Saviour, pledged to witnessing realized that they were not all great and testimony in our word and life leaders, highly educated men and and deed which shall go on and on women, but very simple peasant work- until the last woman has been reached ing people who followed Jesus, who through this World Fellowship of Himself was a carpenter. After He Christian Women. left them they remembered His last message, "All power is given unto me It does not mean an offering of in heaven and in earth; . . . ye shall money; it must be done very simply, receive power after that the Holy as they did it long ago, but there must Spirit is come upon you, and ye shall be this power of the Holy Spirit and be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, there must be a dedication of life and and in all Judea and Samaria, and un- a new realization of the need and the to the uttermost part of the earth." power of the message.
As we think of those insignificant Suppose we all begin now to pray. Some of us have taken the very first groups, opposed by the great estab- waking hours in the morning to pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy lished Jewish bodies, derided by the Spirit, forming a great fellowship of prayer. Then suppose we read again cultured rulers, going from village to very carefully the life of Jesus in His Gospels, and also the Acts of the village, poor, unsupported, carrying Apostles. For God is asking us for a new book of Acts of Women Apostles. the message-for they did not have Women must go, in the main, to women. Suppose we find our message, the New Testament or the Gospels, as the old, old story, and begin to give it and live it in a World Fellowship of we have them, only their contact with Christian Women. It could change the the Lord and with those who had seen whole face of the world and could him-there is no accounting except bring again the fervor of Pentecost.
that this promised Spirit came in power and so they carried the Word men and women, young and old. '
We have proposed that we Christian women form a spiritual union, without additional organization, to observe this 1900th anniversary of the beginning * Leafl.(-lt may be Pl'oclll'pd frum the Fj~dera tion or Council.
AMERICA these art products will be made
children, by Indians, and by peons. It C. E. Among Lepe…. is through art that the Mexican peo- ple express their genius and soul. PORTO RICO has its share of lep- rosy, although the disease is not Following the receipt of the "Friendspreading and does not form a major ship School Bags" ten lessons on interdanger to the lives of the people. The national good will were introduced into known cases, about 50, are isolated in Mexico's regular school curriculum. a modern colony maintained by the insular government. The evangelical A third American project will be the churches of the island, realizing the sending of a friendship symbol to Filiimportance of some Christian work pino children, to be called a "Treasure among those confined in the various Chest," into which will go various arstate institutions grouped around Rio ticles that all children enjoy and at Piedras, called a seminary graduate to least one book.
give his whole time to this work. The two institutions which claim the major An Indian Story part of his time are the leper colony MR. L. L. LETGERS, field repreand the tubercular sanitarium. In sentative of the Indian Mission both of these his work has been most of America, tells the following Indian acceptable and has produced fine re- story: "I shall not forget Anselmo, a sults. But among the lepers the work Guatemala Indian, a weak old man is more spectacular. Here, according with most of his lower teeth gone. I to the management, the question of can see him walking along. In his discipline has completely changed. right hand he carried a little Deitz Much more liberty is now being given lantern. In one pocket of his coat a to the patients with fewer breaches of bottle of oil, and in a little sack his confidence and trust. Out of a total of Bible and Testament. I said, 'Ansel- 50 patients, 39 belong to the Christian mo, why do you carry that lantern?' Endeavor Society. – Christian Cen- He said to me, 'I am getting old; I tury. cannot sleep well at night, and when I awaken I light my lantern and I can Friendship With Mexican Children read my Bible and sing praises to my L AST year, children of the United Saviour." States stretched hands across the On one of my trips to Guatemala, Rio Grande in friendly gesture by Mr. Burgess asked me whether I would sending Mexico's children 30,000 give a few Indian men special lessons school bags. This courtesy is now to in soul winning. While speaking I be reciprocated. Dr. Moises Saenz, turned to the old man and said, "Tell Assistant Minister of the Mexican Ed- me, Anselmo, how many have you led ucational Bureau, tells of the forma- to Jesus this year (this was about the tion in Mexico of a National Com- twelfth of February)?" The old man's mittee on World Friendship Among face fell. He said, "Ah, Senor, very Children, which is planning to send, few." I said, "Tell me, how many have before the end of this year to each you led to Jesus this year?" He said, state in the United States an exhibit, "There are not more than thirty."
representative of the artistic handi- Early in July of that year I received craft of the Mexican people. Many of a letter from the old man and it con- 877
bined a list of 144 whom he had led ance with the textbooks approved by to Jesus before the first of July. Aft- the Ministry of Education.
er the meeting Anselmo asked me to What this law will mean to the go with him to a place where he had Evangelical Mission Schools in Peru been working among the Mam Indians. cannot yet be determined. It would He had a group of young folks he had appear that under it no Protestant been teaching and they had never had child can receive a Protestant educa- an opportunity to make confession of tion in any school in Peru. At best, their faith to anyone who seemed to he can only be excused from Catholic them to have authority. instruction. Meanwhile Protestant The old man had them come to us missionaries are meeting in Lima and individually, and while standing before elsewhere for conference and prayer.
us they made their profession of faith and said, after telling the things that Protestantism in Brazil P they believed, "I have received Jesus ROTESTANTISM in Brazil is com- posed of two great groups, one of Christ as my personal Saviour." German churches and the other of na- This old Indian is the only witness tive. The latter constitute 340 parfor Christ in a tribe of 200,000.- ishes with 33,000 members and 190,000 American Indian Stories. children attending Sunday-schools.
Hospital for Costa Rica These churches belong to different de- nominations, each one of them pub- WORK in the Hospital Clinico Bib- lico in Costa Rica was inaugurated lishing a periodical for its members. on July 14th with appropriate ceremonies. Representatives of all classes of The Episcopalians, with 25 churches society were present. The hospital is and 20 pastors, publish the Estandarte divided into three sections: surgical Christao; the Methodist Episcopal clinic, maternity clinic, and children's clinic, the first two for paying patients, with 83 churches and 70 pastors, the the receipts going to the upkeep of Expositor Christao; the Baptists with the children's free clinic. 212 churches and 129 pastors, the Jor- nal Ba.pti!Jta; the Presbyterians with The operating room is admirably 128 churches and 80 pastors, the Puriequipped with a complete sterilizing tano; the Independent Presbyterians outfit, unequalled in the entire country. In the children's clinic there are cots with 84 churches and 22 pastors, the for thirty children. Semana Eva:ngelica and the Congrega- tionalists publish the 0 Christao.- Renacimiento (Lima, Peru).
In a visit of courtesy, the President Bush Negroes of Surinam of Costa Rica, Hon. Gonzalez Viquez, cordially expressed his interest in the MR. FISCHER of the Moravian effort to lower the infant mortality, Church in Surinam tells somethe official figures being 50% of chil- thing of his experiences on a trip up dren under five years and 33% under the Cottica River to visit the Bush one year. Negroes. He writes: Crisis in Peru "Many of the young people are weary of their heathen religion. They A DIFFICULT situation has arisen have thrown away all amulets and oth- in Peru owing to the passing of er heathen objects usually worn by a new law prohibiting the teaching of their people, and they no longer take any doctrine opposed to the state re- part in the heathen dances. We see ligion in any public or private school, the glory of God in the lives of people and decreeing that moral and religious who have come out of heathenism into education shall be given, subject to the the Christian life. To none is the plans, programs, and decrees which the change more apparent than to the heathen people. God often uses the Government may make, and in accord- lives of the converts to witness for
WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Him. What wonderful faith and cour- The Gospels we gave the prisoners of age is imparted by the Holy Spirit to San Stefano, where no stranger is those who are saved. Would to God allowed to land, were accepted with that we in the home churches had the joy. The Director wishes to see you." same courage to witness for God before the unbelieving people of this The Director said : "Your books age !"-The Moravian. have brought peace in this island among our poor criminals. I am glad EUROPE if you have some more books for them." The Director gave him a per- The Missionary Calling mit to visit the cells. The guard un- locked one cell after another and REV. ROBERT FORGAN, of Scot- Signor Santoro spoke to the men and land, has made some observations offered them Gospels. as to the homes and parentage of present day missionaries. Speaking of the Colporteur Santoro distributed three United Free Church, he states: hundred copies of Proverbs and 1,700 Gospels in the three islands which he l. Of the 220 men missionaries visited. about 75 are the sons either of ministers or of missionaries. Leprosy in Europe 2. Of the 214 women missionaries REV. JUSTIN E. ABBOTT, D.D., about 70 are the daughters either of reports a visit made to various ministers or ot missionaries. countries of Europe to gain first hand knowledge of leper problems. His 3. Of the 180 wives of missionaries method was to visit Departments of about 60 are "the daughteJ:s either of Public Health, and gratefully acknowlministers or of missionaries. edges that he was met with unvarying courtesy. Poland, Austria, Hungary 4. During the last twenty-five years and Czechoslovakia were found to have about 40 of our women missionaries no cases, although there were special became wives of missionaries, and laws providing for the handling of quite a large number of these were the such cases. Yugoslavia has 74 known daughters either of ministers or of cases, Italy 226 and Switzerland posmissionaries. sibly as many as 25. Italy has a small leprosarium with about thirty inmates. From these figures it appears that Aside from this, there is no special out of the total of 614 men and women provision for lepers in Italy. . missionaries and wives of missionaries more than 200 have been provided The complete absence of leprosy from the homes either of ministers or from central Europe is accounted for of missionaries-that is, in brief, one- by the fact that none of these counthird of the whole staff. Of this 200 tries have colonies in lands infested it appears that about two-thirds are with leprosy, nor have they any comsons or daughters of home ministers, mercial relations with such countries, and one-third are sons or daughters of as have England, France, Spain, Pormissionaries in the foreign field.-U. tugal and Italy. Dr. Abbott has as F. Church Record. yet been unable to visit Roumania, Bulgaria, Greece and Albania. The Gospels for Italian PrLsoners League of Nations is collecting infor- mation along this line, and supply the I T IS a rule that no visitors are al- following figures: Crete, 400; Cyprus, lowed in the prison, which is built 250; Malta, 249; Roumania, 338. on a big reef of the island of San Adding these incomplete figures to the Stefano. The men there are reputed total for Yugoslavia, Italy and Switthe worst. Two years ago Dr. Pons, zerland, the total known cases reach an Evangelical Christian in Italy, took 1,572 for Central and Southern Euan opportunity Qf sending 500 Gospels rope. to the prison through contractors who supply provisions. Signor Santoro, a colporteur, later saw these men who said, "We have good news for you.
Prohibition in Germany point is made of establishing centers in hot beds of racial friction. T EN years ago the Germans looked upon water as something to run Ne", Pastors for Ru,ssia under a bridge, and to ask for a drink of it was to receive a good laugh. THE second graduating class at the Now, Germany is beginning to won- Lutheran Theological Seminary at der if she can spend three billion Leningrad, Russia, has added fifteen marks annually on alcoholic drink and young pastors to the seventy-nine who hold a place in world affairs. A little serve about 1,000,000 Lutherans in over two years ago a mass meeting was Russia. The ordination of these fifheld in St. Paul's church, at Frank- teen young pastors, two of whom are fort, to consider the question of local Ests ready to preach to Esthonianoption. Questions discussed were: speaking congregations, and all of them splendidly equipped for their 1. The Significance of Local Option service to the church, will permit the for the German Nation. 2. Local Op- retirement of several aged pastors who tion and the German Woman. 3. Lo- should be granted release from activcal Option and German Labor. ity.
Those who are working for tem- Bishop Meyer, of Moscow, in adperance in Germany are divided into two groups. The first organization is dressing the Lutherans of America, in favor of total abstinence and prohibition, the second is working simply writes: . for temperance, or moderate drinking. Also, the leaders are unable to collect "Not being able today to go into funds to promote the cause, but un- detail, I -CRn report to you only in questionably the nation is alert to the general that the condition of the progress of prohibition in other lands. church and of the congregations is growing worse all the time. Thus we The "y" in Czechoslovakia are looking upon it as a special grace of God that we were able to increase AMONG the 13% million people in the number of pastors in our church by these graduates of the Leningrad .tl. Czechoslovakia are seven lead- Seminary. This was the more neces- sary because a number of former pasing races, one half Czechs and three- tors have become feeble and unable to fourths Roman Catholics. The Prot- work. Thus it is fortunate that the estants, next largest element, number supreme church council is in a position about 8%. These include Czech Breth- to fill gaps. Our congregations appreren, Lutherans, Calvinists, Methodists ciate the fact that our fellow believers and Moravians. made it possible through their gifts to take care of the training of these The Young Men's Christian Associ- young pastors. If that had not been ation was at work in this country be- the case our congregations would be in fore the war, but it was then a church a still worse position." organization, weak in membership and in program. Its chief aim was to keep AFRICA the youth in the churches, and to protect them from the destructive influ- Algiers Mission Band ences of society. Following the war, the whole program has changed to em- MISS HELEN FREEMAN, pioneer phasize the idea of service, based on worker of the Algiers Mission the belief that individuals and nations Band, says that there is very little have a mission to fulfil; character ground in all the world that has been training; Christianity in daily life; so soaked with martyr blood as North cooperation and self-discipline. The Africa, and that present day service "Y" stands aside from church con- there is a "work of retrieval." flicts; and has found one of its chief services in acting as a link between In 1888 Miss I. Lilias Trotter and national groups. In fact, a special her friend Miss Haworth settled
WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
among the Moslems of Algiers. Three the Moslems have taken to reading, years previously the North Africa Mis- and as they read they realize that they sion had opened its first station. Be- themselves and Islam are behind the fore then Mohammedanism had re- times and want to be brought up to mained for centuries unchallenged, and date. The EI-Azhar University in it was only after nineteen years of Cairo, the stronghold of Islam, has gradual growth that a society was or- purchased a thousand copies of the ganized under the name of the Algiers Bible in Arabic and a thousand copies Mission Band. Today it has fourteen of the New Testament. They have stations, with thirty-five missionaries. done it to compare the Christian Scrip- The Band has for its. aim "the evan- tures with the Koran, but the sword gelization of the Arabic-speaking Mos- of the Spirit has entered the heart of lems of Algeria, with special emphasis Islam.-Blessed Be Egypt.
on the needs of the practically un- touched peoples of the South." Miss Missions to Use Inventions Trotter's ambition was to push ever AGERMAN missionary, Father further and further into the desert, Schulte, of the Roman Catholic where some of the oases support popu- Missionary Society, a former aviator, lations that run into the thousands. proposes to use automobiles, airplanes, Intolerant Egypt motor boats, motorcycles and radio for the prosecution of missionary work in EGYPT professes to include in her Africa. He strongly advocates the un- constitution liberty of religion, limited exploitation of modern technibut in actual fact, this is not true. cal devices in connection with carrying Bishop Gwynne, of the Anglican the Gospel to the darker regions of the church in Egypt and the Sudan, re- earth and believes that the use of aircently reported to the Near East planes and other modern agencies of Christian Council that two women con- locomotion would accelerate and simverts of the Egypt General Mission plify the work of missionaries in unwere "by the order of the Moslem re- cultivated regions. ligious courts forced back to their fa- Captain Herman Koehl, the transatnatical relatives." "It is estimated," he lantic flier, with Colonel James Fitzsaid, "that about 400 Copts become maurice, one of his companions in the Moslems in Egypt every year-every flight of the Bremen, has placed himprovision is made for their reception self at the service of the society in into the faith of Islam; but when connection with its proposed aviation these two Moslem women wished to service in Africa, where it is intended openly confess Christianity, justice is to establish a missionary base in the refused. A convert on being baptized northern part of the former German is deprived of his patrimony. A wom- Southwest Africa which will be an has no power to change her faith equipped with ten automobiles, three in Egypt. If unmarried, her person motor boats, three airplanes and wirecan be claimed by her father or her less telegraph. The first motor boat, guardian; if married, by her hus- christened Pius XI, has already been band."-Alliance Weekly. shipped.
Well-known German steamship lines Modem'll Read the Bible and automobile and airplane manufac- THERE never was a time when there turers have promised to promote the was such readiness to receive and society's African plans. read the printed page, or when Mos- lems all over the Moslem world were A Gospel Triumph T so eager to possess themselves of HE Mashukulumbwe tribe, south of the Kafue River, is one of the most Christian literature and to study it. The unrest in Islam today is un- degraded of Africa. The natives were doubtedly largely due to the fact that slaves to other tribes before the ad- 5
vent of the British government, and the movement more marked. Forward- are noticeable because of the absence looking statesmen visualize a fusion of of upper teeth. They worship the all the great territories under the cow, and so during childhood the upper British Crown stretching from Cape teeth are removed in veneration of this Town northward through the Union of animal. Possibly this tribe has the South Africa, Rhodesia, and Nyasa- most degrading customs of any people. land, into the East African Protector- They have a particularly harmful ates.
method of smoking. A hole is made in If figures may be relied upon, South the ground and filled with tobacco and Africans are very religious. When the other more harmful ingredients. A last census was taken, only 3,203 perlong hollow reed is thrust into the cavity, and a lump of burning charcoal sons in a total population of 1,519,488, placed on top of the tobacco. The na- declared themselves as of "no relitives inhale deeply, and between in- gion." halations take a drink of water. The result is startling, for after a short The largest and most influential time they become intoxicated; and church is the Dutch Reformed, which continued indulgence causes madness. has more adherents than all the rest of the churches put together. Here are The results from preaching the Gos- the figures for the first eight bodies: pel among these people is most remarkable. Two native evangelists have Dutch churches ……. . . . . . .. 383,982 returned from one of their large vil- Anglican . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294,026 lages after holding meetings for two weeks, and report more than one hun- Methodist. …. . . . … . … . … 102,771 dred conversions. Presbyterian ……………. 74,999 A few years ago a Christian teacher Roman Catholic …………. 61,246 was sent to a large Mashukulumbwe village, the Sodom of this section. At Lutheran ………………. 19,098 first little interest was taken, but soon Baptist ………………… 15,414 a school was established, and regular church services were carried on. Soon Congregationalist ………… 10,598 some began to take a stand for Christ. One day the chief decided that his vil- But the drink traffic is a serious lage should become a Christian village, question, divorce is becoming more common and moral standards are on the downward trend, against all of which the Christian conscience is as- serting itself. A recent Liquor Act embodies many radical reforms.- Christian Herald.
and that he was going to take a strong stand against such things as smoking, The Year in Tanganyika.
witchcraft, polygamy, and child-marri- ALL the stations and most of the outage. Today there is a strong church 1". schools of the Tanganyika Misin this village.–C. E. World. sion report unusually large increases in attendance, both at school and re- Importance of South Africa ligious services. The large school at T HE Union of South Africa is the Kijima has been taxed to capacity, most important white unit on the and the church at Busia can scarcely continent, and seems destined to be- accommodate the congregations which come the determinant of all Africa, assemble. One of the fruits of unin- not only because of the type of its terrupted services has been the bap- people, but because of its vast physi- tism of 57 men and women from the cal resources of soil, minerals and ani- Nera work, 33 at Busia, and 9 at mal life. The million and a half Lohumbo. There were also 182 pro- British, Dutch and other European fessions of faith from the Busia peoples are looking to the north for work. Church offerings were $776.12.
openings, making civilization's ad- By way of illustrating the difficulty vancing line from south to north, and of quoting accurate figures, native the coming of the railroad has made Christians at an out-school gave of
WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
money, time and material for the last issue of the journal, The Hebrew building of a church about $125, Christian. Writing about this remark- which is not included in the report, able feature of how the land shall be since it did not pass through the reg- governed and supervised, Sir Leven- ular channels. Again, a native teacher son says, in so far as has been com- so faithfully observed Christian char- mitted to it the task of preparing it, ity that frequent travelers stopping the Alliance will pursue the policies of for hospitality consumed all his food said organization to assist the Jews supplies. This represented heavy out- who are in distress, and also will give lay, and cannot be figured in terms of work to the Jews who live in the land real value as Christian testimony.- of their fathers without any discrimi- Inland Africa. nation, whether they have obeyed the commandment of righteousness, or not.
WESTERN ASIA It is 'also planned to build, upon that oil/Intercessory Members" of Union place, homes where Jewish Christians will be able to learn various trades, so THE "Bible Lands Sunday-school that they will be independent. It is Union," believing that many Chris- also their purpose to erect a Jewish tians unable to attend the recent Con- Christian Church, where baptized bevention at Baalbek, Syria, yet were lievers may worship.-Word and vitally interested in its success, ar- Work. ranged for "intercessory member- ships." An intercessory member is one who promises to pray regularly, from Those Persian Rugs K the day of his registration to the close ERMAN is one of the centers of the Persian rug industry. About of the Convention, for its success-success in the sight of God. Such persons 3,000 women and girls work as weavare considered regular members of the ers in this city, toiling nine hours a convention. ' day in winter, eleven in summer. A While the registration fee for those writer in Persia, Old and New says of in attendance was $1.00, intercessory them: "It is not possible for you to members paid fifty cents. This fee was meet in Kerman one weaver who has asked for four reasons: the appearance of a human being. The (1) That they may feel they are majority of the men and women are formally identified with the conven- sallow, abject hunchbacks, with detion, (2) That they may share in the formed legs."
financial responsibility, (3) That dele- Girls are apprenticed as weavers gates may feel they are sustained by when six or seven years old. For this the prayers of many who are present the parents are paid £4 in advance and in spirit though absent in body, (4) £6 or £8 more in instalments during That through this definite association the five years of the apprenticeship.
of delegates and intercessory members The girls themselves receive nothing there may be developed a unity of spir- whatever apart from these payments it which shall prepare the way for an to the parents. At their work the girls advance program of religious educa- sit on a bare, narrow plank without tion in Bible lands. a back to it. T.ley all become more or less deformed, some much more Church :for Jewish Christians than others. Marriage is extremely THE bit of land known as "Abra- dangerous for them, for because of ham's Vineyard," near the city their deformity, normal child-birth is walls of Jerusalem, is now turned over impossible. Except where competent to the "International Hebrew Chris- surgical treatment is provided death tian Alliance." Sir Leon Levenson, is the result in all but a few cases.
President of the Alliance, made note Missionaries of the C. M. S. are min- of the stupendous undertaking in the istering to what is left of these poor
girls after they have woven their fin- Seventeen thousand one hundred and est and best into floor coverings. sixty-nine Christians are reported. Average church attendance totals 6,- Persia is not a Christian country 205, while the average number of comand it is not probable that any of the municants is recorded as 1,889. A' factories where these outrages against good gain was made for the period womanhood are perpetrated are under under review, which was 15 instead the management of professed Chris- of the usual 12 months, owing to a tians, but a large proportion of the change in the system of keeping the output of the factories ultimately records. Baptisms numbered 630 chilreaches the homes of Christian people. dren of Christians and 1,069 converts A boycott of the industry until re- from non-Christians. In addition to forms are effected would be reasonable the fifty-one missionaries, twenty-two and right.-Indian Witness. pastors, 225 elders, 70 Bible women and 143 teachers are engaged in the INDIA AND SIAM work of the church.
Two Significant DocuDlcnt. An unusual column in the Mission Report is headed "Excommunicated." TWO Indian Church Documents have That excommunication is not out-of- recently issued from the press. The date in the group is made clear by the "Confession of Faith, Constitution, entry of 124 in this column. Exactly Rules, and Forms of Procedure" of the one half of the stations excommuni- United Church of Northern India ap- cated one or more members, one conpears in final form as drafted by the gregation thus expelling no fewer than Executive Committee of the General 43 out of a total Christian community Assembly. The book consists of 69 of 418. That some of those pronounced pages analyzed as follows: Confession unworthy to remain in the church of Faith, Constitution, Rules and profit by the stern punishment meted Forms of Procedure, Appendices: A. out to them is shown by the re-admis- Rules of Debate, and B. Forms. The sion to the church of 69, or a number freedom allowed in the Form of Ac- a little more than half as large as the ceptance demanded of all ministers, number excommunicated. – Indian reads as follows: "I receive and adopt, Witness. for substance of doctrine, the Confession of Faith of this Church as based Gwalior's "Conversion Bill" on and in accord with the Word of God. I N Gwalior is a general assembly The other document to which we which meets once a year and makes make reference is the "Proposed suggestions for legislation. The body Scheme of Union" of the Church of presents its requests in the form of India, Burma and Ceylon, The South detailed bills, but it has no power to India United Church, and The South enact laws. That lies with the Council India Provincial Synod of the Wesley- of Regency. In 1928 the general asan Methodist Church. The combined sembly presented a "conversion" bill. totals of baptized and communicants The object of the bill is to prevent any number some 616,199 persons. This person changing his religion because final draft of the scheme of union for of "coercion, undue influence, or mapresentation to the churches concerned terial inducement." It is popularly represents the product of ten years' known as the "minor" bill. It would labor.-Indian Standard. prevent any person between the ages of seven and twenty-one years from Santal Mission of North India changing his or her religion either voluntarily or at the will of the parents THE Santal Mission is aided by or guardians. Children under seven three boards, one in Norway, one would remain under the parents' conin Denmark and one in the United trol in religious matters. Any person States. The missionaries are recruited from each of these three countries, but are organized and work on the field as a single unit.
WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
over twenty-one desiring to change his ing as lay preachers. Cochin-China religion, would be obliged to intimate reports six self-supporting churches, his intention to a magistrate. The of- with an active church membership of ficer would publish his name and after 2,861. Tithing has been stressed, refifteen days either grant or withhold sulting in increased offerings and more the privilege of change of religion. self-supporting churches. Two members of the Council have stated that the bill is not directed Religious Freedom in Patiala against Christianity. A number agree with them. Others there are whose THE restrictions upon the Gospel opinion on this point cannot be ascer- imposed in some states are untained.-Indian Standard. known in Patiala, premier state in the Punjab. Hindus, Moslems and Sikhs French Indo-China as well as Christians enjoy religious liberty. The Christian Church was es- THE French Indo-China Mission un- tablished here through the work of the der the Christian and Missionary ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Alliance reports encouraging progress Church who first came to the city in in 1928. Protestants are granted full 1890. religious liberty in French territory, but in the Protectorates-Annam, The usual methods of proclaiming Toukin and Cambodia-ancient trea- the truth are followed here. At melas ties which gave religious freedom to and like gatherings Bible portions and Roman Catholics made no mention of religious booklets are sold and tracts Protestants, thus excluding them from are distributed in large numbers. Bethis privilege. However, an epoch- sides this all preachers and a few laymaking event in Annamese Protestant- men sell religious books, especially ism was the audience accorded by the portions of the Holy Scriptures, in the Governor-General at Hanoi, February bazaars of the city and in the weekly 28, 1929, to the Committee of the An- or the bi-weekly bazaars in rural namese Evangelical church. The Gov- places. ernor received them cordially, accepted the copies of the Church Constitution A college has been opened by the given him, and expressed a desire that Maharaja where free tuition is prothis church should enjoy the same lib- vided. Although there is no school erties as the Catholic Church. under Christian auspices, Christian children are not deprived of education- At the close of 1928, ten Annamese al opportunities. The church is lochurches had become entirely self-sup- cated within the bazaar. Every Sunday porting, two new districts had been or- Christians gather at the church and ganized and three candidates were non-Christians are impressed by this ordained early in 1929. A number of congregational worship, A European Annamese workers were imprisoned Police Inspector is one of the most either for distributing Scriptures or loyal and earnest Christians in the for witnessing for Christ, but turned city. On his proposal the church has their affiiction to account by carrying opened a reading room, where relitheir message to fellow prisoners. The gious books, papers and pamphlets are officials, from the highest to lowest, provided for the public.-Indian Witare not in sympathy with the spirit of ness. intolerance which imprisons a man because of the love of God in his heart, Student Catnpaigna in Burma and treat the men leniently, often letting them off with a fine. A JUDSON COLLEGE student, after an evangelistic campaign in the An outstanding feature of the work Karen high school, Rangoon, wrote in in Cambodia has been the organizing regard to the impression on himself: of various leaders into a district committee, and giving them special train- "Every time I go on a Gospel team campaign I feel the real happiness and joy of Christ in me, because I give
myself heart and soul into the hands who used of yore to guard the temple of God; because I continually have gateways with their all-powerful communication between Him and me, swords. praying to make me absolutely pure, honest, unselfish and loving; and be- Missionaries Still Needed cause I myself enjoy doing His work." MR. DAVID YUI, Chinese Christian A college girl wrote: leader, seeking to correct the im- "Now I have the real happiness which pression that the Christian forces of I have never known before in my life. China no longer need the assistance of My heart breaks whenever I think of missionaries, gave the following ex- Jesus' death on the shameful cross. pression of his views at a recent meet- Only now I admit that Christ's life ing of the China Commission: and teaching are the key to all nature and human destiny." "We depend on Christians in other The campaign resulted in forty-four lands to cooperate with us. Enemies baptisms and hundreds of decisions, a of China and the Christian movement large proportion being from Burmese have sought to spread the impression Buddhist homes, but it was thought that the Chinese Christians no longer that the more far-reaching result of feel the need of missionaries. This is a the campaign has been the re-conse- false idea, and if followed would lead cration of the Christian teachers. One to the death of the Christian movement high school teacher testified as follows: in China, as Chinese leadership is not "I have been a sleeping Christian, and strong enough to carryon alone. We up to this time have wasted my life. hope that our Christian friends in Can- When I heard the students pleading ada and in Europe and America will with other pupils to accept Christ, I not fall into the trap that has been laid made up my mind to work for Him." for them by our enemies, but will keep One third year student organized, their eyes open and will do all they trained and led a Gospel team for more can to strengthen the Christian forces than a month, with the result that in China …… I think I represent not more than 300, mcstly Karen Bud- only the views of my Christian friends dhists, expressed their faith in Christ. but also those of many non-Christian Chinese when I say that we shall be CHINA glad to receive back old missionaries to China, and to welcome new mission- Superstition on the Wane aries who may come to help us.. There may have to be some readjustment in T HE Nationalist Move~ent has relationships and in lines of work; but brought many changes to China. such readjustment should not discour- Students have taken an ardent part in age either the return of old missiona campaign against superstition and aries or the recruiting of new ones."- idolatry. Repeated proclamations have The Record. come out in the papers ordering the discontinuance of fortune telling and Foochow Trains Ministers soothsaying. The old formal and superstitious customs connected with T HE Foochow Theological School weddings and funerals are being done opens this month as a Methodist away with and more simple forms es- institution prepared to train preachers tablished. A one time famous temple for all the Conferences in the Fukien in Peiping has become a dump heap. area, with Mandarin as the medium of There is little demand for the sooth- instruction. Rev. Harry W. Worley, sayer who formerly had the last word recently returned from furlough, has in locating a favorable spot for one's been appointed president. Rev. Philip house, setting a favorable marriage S. S. Yu, delegate to general conferday, and choosing by signs a lucky ence, has just returned to the faculty spot for one's last resting place. Even after a year of special study at Drew less popular are the horrifying figures Theological Seminary. Since their re-
WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
turn, both of these professors have Iigious writings, and he was able to been in demand as speakers to report get the Gospel to every tent. concerning the attitude and work of the Church in America.-Christian From Shiabden Gomba to Leh was Century. a journey of eighty-nine days. Many terrible snowstorms were encountered A Dream and a Conversion and high winds almost daily. "One entire caravan perished in a storm AWOMAN in the country district in within sight of our camp. We met Taichow, a Buddhist all her 71 Tibetans every day on this long and years, had a dream a few months ago, difficult part of the journey and gave and in the dream found herself in the to them the message of Eternal Life. Christian church at Dazih, where she Tashi-gong is the last and most imporlives; and while there, a man dressed tant monastery in western Tibet. Here in white came up and talked to her. we gave the Gospel to the priests and The next day, the Bible-woman, going to many other Tibetans. All were the rounds of her village, called at this friendly and even sold us food. At woman's house, and told her the Gospel Kargil all animals had to be abanstory. She said: "How strange that doned, as the snow was so deep they you should come and tell me this to- could not get through. For ten days day. Last night I had a dream that I we waded through snow, many times was in the 'Jesus church,' and a man to the waist. We had to face terrible dressed in white came and talked to cold and winds, and our feet and lower me." The Bible-woman said: "The legs were wet most of the time. Many Lord Jesus is evidently calling you and times we were just hanging on to the has sent me to you today that you snow-covered mountainside picking might heed His words." The woman our way along a tiny path where one was greatly impressed, and was quite careless step would have meant· disconvinced that it was the Lord Who aster. One avalanche shot around a had spoken to her, and that He was huge rock just five feet in front of me calling her to follow Him. She imme- but the rock saved me."-S. S. Times. diately acquiesced and believed, and started at once to learn from the Bi- JAPAN-KOREA ble-woman more of the wonderful truths of His love. She gave up all Oooperation Brings Results her Buddhist idolatrous things and attended church regularly every Sunday. THE churches of Japan are discov- Church Missionary Gleaner. ering that the greatest results come from a united front toward the enemy. Pioneering in Tibet An example is the Temperance and Purity Society which, with denomina- MR. V. G. PLYMIRE, of Tangar, tional lines entirely lacking, has been Kansu, China, undertook last year turning in astonishing reports of proga long and dangerous evangelization ress. Hamlets and villages here and journey through Tibet, the first mis- there are voting out liquor, some for sionary ever to make this journey of moral reasons, others with economic 2,437 miles. He reports that many motives. In one case it was in order thousands heard the Gospel for the that a schoolhouse might be built with first time. He distributed 73,396 Bible the savings, and within five years the portions and 46,542 tracts in Tibetan, building was completed and paid for. beside a very large amount of litera- Again, 600 girls of four neighboring ture in Chinese. In a journey from villages formed a league and pledged Tangar to Dsun he passed as many as themselves not to marry men who 192 tents in one day and tried to reach smoke, drink or consort with immoral all with the message. All the men of wqmen. The results in moral improvethe Dsun district were gathered at one ment have been very noticeable, and place for eight days to read their re- the idea is spreading. It is quite sig- nificant that between 1,500 and 1,600
local temperance societies were started and "shells," except for a few maps. in Japan to commemorate the en- The loss in Scriptures was 9,108 un- thronement of an emperor, who uses bound Bibles, 36,448 unbound and 11,- neither liquor nor tobacco. Add to this 600 bound Testaments, and 132,600 the fact that three provincial legisla- portions valued, with some paper and tures have passed regulations provid- binding materials, at within a few yen ing for the abolition of licensed houses of $8,000. The more serious loss in 'of vice at the expiration of present plates and shells included plates for ,contracts, and one can see what a unit- one whole Bible, for six varieties of ed Christian conscience can do toward Testaments, and for eighteen different the realization of Christian ideals in a Gospels and other portions. The loss non-Christian land. In all these pro- of nearly 1,000 pages of freshly set grams of social betterment, a diminu- type for the "nine-point" type refertive Japanese Christian woman is a ence Bible, will amount to nearly $2,- mighty factor, Mrs. 0. Kubiushiro. She 000. is one of the leaders in putting the churches into cooperative harness for The misfortune of the Japan Agenthe social evangelization of Japan.- cy is particularly distressing, as the Christian Century. replacement of the severe losses in- curred in the great earthquake of Sep- Kobe COlILpletes C…..paign tember, 1923, was almost completed.- Bible Society Record. K OBE COLLEGE has successfully completed its $600,000 campaign Grouping Denominations on the date stipulated. This makes available an additional $100,000 from JAPAN has taken the first step tothe Harkness Foundation and will ma- ward grouping denominations. The terially assist Kobe College, which is churches tabulated below are all J apathe oldest college for women in Japan. nese, originally connected with vari- ous missions, sometimes of diverse It was founded in 1875 by the Wom- denominational names. For example, an's Board of the Interior of the Con- the Presbyterian group comprises two gregational Church-now a part of the Reformed Churches, besides the vari- American Board-and represents a ous Presbyterians. venture in international cooperation in the higher education of women of the STAT[STICS FOR 1928 Orient. The college has received official recognition through the commen- Com· Oburcbes Con· dation of the Emperor of Japan and Self·Sup· trlbu· high provincial officials. Its eighteen- mUlll- port- tions acre new campus near Kobe, costing cants Ohurches ing Yen $75,000, was purchased by the Japa- presbyteri an (or) nese graduates, who are now seeking an endowment fund of $300,000 to be Kihon Kiristo Kyokraised in Japan. w-Ij "" .. "", …… 40,866 261 127 6&1,278 Bible Fire Loss Methodist (or) Nihon Mesozisto Kyokwai. 32,783 ON JULY 4th a disastrous fire Congregational (or) 202 100 283,833 broke out in Tokyo in the plant of the Seiko Printing Company, printers ~ihon Kumiai Kyokof the Scriptures for the Japan Agency of the American Bible Society, and wai …………….. 21,837 169 83 4M,369 reduced it to ashes, burned timber and Epise -ual (or) Nihon ruined machinery. In the flames were destroyed a considerable amount of the Sei Kyokwai ……. 22,235 245 44 180,884 Society's printed Japanese Scriptures Baptist (0 r) Nihon and all of the Agency's printing plates Shin Rei Kyokwai .. 6.688 49 17 68,8()7 Oriental Mis. Soc. (or) Nih 0 n Holiness Kyokwai o the r P~~t~~t~~t 6,374 150 i'4 147,202 Chllrches .. " …. ". 27,163 596 42 8110,992 '['otal for all churches 163,1)016 1,652 497 2,629,365 -Missionary Voice.
Young Men Busy MISS EMMA E. GARDNER, of Nagoya, Japan, tells of the faith- fulness among young people in the Kinjo Presbyterian Church: "The Kinjo church is the second
WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
largest Presbyterian church in the penses of anyone who wished to study city; the minister is Mr. Toeda, an free at the yearly District Bible Study earnest, spiritual preacher. His Class. church members number about one hundred and fifty, some of whom have ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC moved away to other cities, but still keep their membership in the Kinjo Philippine Progress church. The congregation is largely composed of young people; among T HE two hundred missionaries who them some splendid young men, who, have gone out to help the Philipwhile their minister and one of his pines with churches, schools and hoselders were away this summer at the pitals have exerted an influence far Los Angeles Sunday-school Conven- beyond the limits of the churches they tion, took upon themselves the re- have established. sponsibility of the church services, speaking by turns on Sunday and dur- In 1925 the Catholic Students of ing the week, and holding outdoor America sent a mission to study the evangelistic meetings in front of the Philippines. They reported that "by church every Sunday night. founding hospitals and dispensaries for the poor, secondary and industrial "When Mr. Toeda returned, he schools in the more important towns, found these young men had brought and splendidly equipped dormitories into the church thirty-eight young for students at Manila, the Protestant people, earnest enquirers who were churches are doing a work of positive reading the Bible and ready to be importance and value." The Roman formed into a class to be trained by Catholic church has removed practicalthe pastor for future church member- ly all of the corrupt friars from the ship."-Presbyterian Survey. Islands and has replaced them with clean, progressive, well-educated Chun Pyung Baing's Olrering priests from America, Ireland, Bel- gium, France and Germany. Educa- I N EAST KIRIN PROVINCE, about tion has been greatly improved, beauti- fifty miles west of Lungchingtsun, ful schools and dormitories have been some Korean Christians settled built, the reading of the Bible has been among the mountains. They agreed encouraged; in a word, the Roman that each family would set aside one Catholic church in the Philippines has day's plowing and put the crops to- come to resemble that in North Amerigether for sale, the proceeds to be used ca. for Gospel work. Some Christians moved away and others grew cold in The Catholic Historical Review in their love, but Mr. Chun, believing that 1917 had this to say: this money should be given to the Lord, took the price of the field he had set The Protestant sects have not been apart and bought a calf. without a quickening influence on Catho- licism, for they have aided the establish- One day Pastor Yu, while visiting ment of the [Roman Catholic] church on this village home, overheard a conver- the American basis, and the correction sation between Mr. Chun and his wife of undesirable conditions which had over this calf which had been eating grown up during the Spanish control. his tether. Mr. Chun wanted to keep The competition has served a good end the calf bull the wife maintained that for Catholicism, for it has put it on its they must sell it and give the money mettle in a way it might never have been to God's cause. Thereupon the hus- without it. The American clergy, I venband asked Pastor Yu to take charge ture to think recognize this fully.- of the money. The sixty-six yen thus Frank C. Laubach. obtained was used to form the nucleus of a fund raised by tpe churches of Union Church in Suva Pastor Yu's district to pay the ex- FOR about fifty years the European Presbyterian Church has been car- ried on in Suva, Fiji. It has had some checkered experiences, but through the long years has done excellent work
and borne good testimony. Many tians heard the call, and there is now years ago the Methodist Church a Gospel Hall in Samarinda and in thought of establishing a European Balik-papan. Church in Suva, but it was felt that there should be no overlapping in such These coast cities are occupied by a a small town, and the Methodist peo- mixture of Asiatics, Malay, Japanese, ple have attended the Presbyterian Sudanese and countless other races. Church and loyally helped in this All these speak Malay, a happy fact in work. Many of the office bearers are the task of evangelization. Moham- Methodists, and it has been felt re- medanism is rap i d 1y spreading cently that it would be a good thing through the instrumentality of Arab if some arrangement could be made traders. Everywhere are to be seen whereby the Christian forces might Mohammedan mosques.-Evangelical be more closely linked up in church Christian and Missionary Witness. membership. Successful Week Da.y Religious Conferences have been held between the Presbyterian and Methodist bodies Teaching in Australia, as well as a meeting between the parties concerned in Fiji, H ONOLULU has a record in weekand the result has been that the Pres- day religious instruction which byterian Church now becomes a Union any city might well try to emulate. Church. A Methodist and Presby- Work was begun four years ago, under terian minister will be appointed al- the Honolulu Interchurch Federation, ternately for a period of three years, and the first year weekday religious and while each will bear ecclesiastical education began in connection with relationship to his own church, he will seven public schools, with 2,200 pupils be recognized minister of the Union enrolled in church school classes. The Church. The first appointee under following year, ten school centers enthese new conditions is the Rev. C. W. rolled 2,700 pupils, and the growth for Turner, who has already taken up his the third and fourth years has brought residence in Fiji. The Union Church the enrolment to 3,556. All the 125 will be subsidized by the Presbyterian teachers were Christian, but from Church of Victoria and by the Meth- many different races and nationalities. odist Board of Missions until such These are part time teachers, but a time as it is able to carry alone its re- full time supervisor has the oversight sponsibilities. – Australian Christian of th~ system. A carefully selected World. course of study is provided, and the nature of the teaching is distinctly Borneo and Its Need evangelistic. In addition to these schools running throughout the school BORNEO, except Greenland and year, the Interchurch Federation car- New Guinea, is the largest island ries on a number of vacation Bible in the world. Missionary work is be- schools, with an enrolment of from ing carried on in British North 1,200 to 1,500.-Presbyterian Maga- Borneo; in the south, considerable zine. work has been done by German and Dutch missionaries, and the American NORTH AMERICA Methodists some years ago opened a work on the west coast of Borneo; Commemorate Pentecost but the entire east coast of Dutch Borneo is entirely without missionary CELEBRATING the nineteen hunwork. On the eastern coast line of dredth anniversary of ;'Pentecost," approximately 500 miles there are the birthday of the church, the Commore than twenty ports, and so far as mission on Evangelism and Life Servknown no station was ever opened in ice of the Federal Council of Churches this area until some Chinese Chris- has just announced a program which includes a campaign of personal evan- gelism, a church-attendance crusade, a Sunday-school' drive, the reestablish-
WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
ment of a family altar in every home, eign public which comes into contact a series of "upper room" prayer-meet- with them. Particularly is the work ings to be held in churches, homes, of the Association worthy of mention shops, offices and stores, and a simul- as the Association during the past two taneous reading of a chapter a day of years has been sparing no efforts to the Gospel of Saint Luke and the Acts give a true interpretation of the colosof the Apostles. sal changes going on in China which lie at the back of the present Nation- This program, which will begin this alist movement. fall and continue through the winter and spring, ending June 8th, the day "It is with confidence that I look of Pentecost, is the culmination of a forward to the increasing usefulness series of conferences recently held by of the Association."-Chinese Christhe leaders in evangelism of the prin- tian Student. cipal denominations in the United States. Nearly all of the national reli- .Chicago Youth's Service Bureau gious bodies in America have already committed themselves to this observ- SHORTLY after his election, State's ance at their official conferences, as- Attorney John A. Swanson, of Chisemblies and synods.-Christian Advo- cago, announced that he would organcate. ize a youth's service bureau as part of his program of crime prevention. The Chinese Student Anniversary bureau has now been brought into ex- istence as a regular part of the city THE Chinese Students' Christian and county government, sponsored and Association in North America has directed by the state's attorney's office, just commemorated the 20th anniver- and Rev. Charles A. Gage, a Methodist sary of its founding. Hon. C. C. Wu, Episcopal minister of many years Chinese Minister to the United States, standing in Chicago, has been placed in his greetings to the Association, in charge. The field of service of the has this to say: youth's bureau is in home, school and club, and in nowise is the character of "The work done by students as such service political, partisan or secgroups in cementing cordial relations tarian. To keep a boy from going· between China and America is espe- wrong is infinitely more commendable cially significant. Through these uni- than using corrective measures on him fied and organized mediums, contacts after he has gone wrong. The new with American organs representing bureau will seek through every availidentical or similar interests are facili- able channel to create an atmosphere tated, and opportunities are created of helpfulness away from delinquency for mutual appreciation and criticism and crime. It is expected that the vaof each other's ideas and institutions, rious luncheon clubs, women's clubs, thereby removing the possibility of association of commerce, church fedmisunderstanding which, as it is gen- eration, Salvation Army, fraternal erally recognized, constitutes a formid- groups and other civic organizations able foe to international peace and will see the importance of representafriendship. tion on the advisory board.-Christian Century. "The Chinese Students' Christian Association has achieved signal suc- The Indian Problem cess in its lines of endeavor. The present membership of the Association, REV. RUDOLF HERTZ, of the comprising one hundred and thirty- American Missionary Association three institutions in thirty-two states staff in Eagle Butte, S. D., thus sumthroughout this country and four cen- marizes the findings of the recent surters in Canada, testifies to the influ- vey of the Bureau of Indian Affairs: ence it wields in the life of Chinese students in this part of the world, and Most of the Indians are poor, many to its usefulness even among the for- extremely poor;
The general health of the Indians is dation. Food, uniforms. heat, medical bad and their living, housing and sani- care, and general supervision are given tary conditions are conducive to the de- for fifteen cents a day_ Children are velopment and spread of diseases; brought in from six o'clock in the morning until closing time at eight in Tuberculosis and trachoma are preva- the evening. A registered nurse and lent to a distressing degree; the death baby specialist attend to the health rate and infant mortality are high; program. Five persons are employed in various capacities to care for the In an economic sense the Indians are children. During the two years since backward, with the result that insufficient its origin, the day nursery has given incomes, low standards of living and an 14,000 days of nursery care. The Comapathetic attitude toward progress are munity Chest of New Orleans granted general; $3,000 to aid in this work.
The Indians are not yet adjusted to the Federal Penitentiary for WODlen new economic and social conditions confronting them; THE Federal Institution for Women at Alderson, W. Va., is the only one They have little knowledge of the value of its kind in the United States. It of money and land; is a prison planned by women, for women and operated by women. There The intermittent and generally small are at present 314 inmates, under the incomes from land sales, leases and per care of a staff of twenty. It is thought capita payments from tribal funds en- the number will now increase, since courage idleness and retard progress; judges heretofore have often refused to sentence offenders because of the The survey party also reports that it lack of adequate places for their infound too much evidence of suffering and carceration. Now all women sentenced discontent to subscribe to the belief that in United States courts will be sent the Indians are reasonably satisfied with there. Offenses for which women are their condition. sent irtcIude violation of the prohibi- tion or narcotic acts, tampering with Three fundamental recommenda- or misuse of the mails, counterfeiting tions for improving the Indian service or any offense against federal law. were made by the Survey Commission: In conformity with the aim of the 1. The creation, in connection with the institution to reform rather than pun- Washington office, of a professional and ish. an effort is made to create a minscientific Division of Planning and De- iature community, under conditions as velopment; nearly ideal as possible, and the bene- ficial effect of useful activity is 2. A material strengthening of the brought to bear. They are not called school and reservation forces that are in convicts, prisoners or even inmates, direct contact with the Indians and are but "girls," and precaution is taken to responsible for developing and improving prevent the stigma of "criminal" from their economic and social conditions attaching to them in later life. For through education in the broadest sense example, Red Cross certificates to of the work; those who have completed the course in practical nursing are issued by the 3. The maximum practical decentral- National Headquarters in Washington, ization of authority so that to the fullest rather than by the local chapter at extent initiative and responsibility may Alderson. Religious services are held be vested in the local officers in direct regularly and all must attend, but viscontact with the Indians.-Congregation- iting ministers are required to avoid alist. mentioning criminal careers in their sermons.-Presbyterian Survey. Negro Church PrograDl THE People's Community Center of New Orleans is reaching out to serve its community. It has found places for more than 2,500 domestics in New Orleans. placing Over 1,000 persons in 1927. The character of applicants is investigated, and the bureau has built up a real reputation for furnishing reliable domestic help.
In 1926 there was but one day nursery in New Orleans for colored children. with a capacity of forty. People's Community Center organized a model day nursery, using the method advocated by the Russell Sage Foun-
WORTH
Any books mentioned in these columns will be forwarded by us on receipt of price.-THE REVIEW.
Training for World Friendship. By Ina done to these faiths. Carey went to Corinne Brown. 203 pp. $1.00. Nash- preach the Gospel of righteousness ville, Tenn. 1929. and salvation through a Holy God and His Divine Son. His work and the This book is written primarily for work of missions throughout the leaders of young people, but we won- world has been based on the Apostolic der what the effect ""ill be on young Gospel of Christ. There is no other people who, without historical back- Gospel today. Reforms without regrounds of Christian missions, read generation do not succeed in transher criticisms on the motives and forming men and nations, nor is any methods of the earlier missionaries. harmonious adjustment with Oriental faiths possible. Kali Ghat, Benares, In the first chapter Miss Brown in- and other centers of heathen worship dicts the missionary message, which cannot be harmonized with the pure she states has prevailed, as follows: Gospel of Jesus Christ. Missionaries of the past have sought first the It (this method) has made our mis- Kingdom of God and His righteoussionary endeavors a gesture of pity ness and these other things of social rather than an act of faith. It has betterment have been added. . Carey painted the rest of the world black and did the most remarkable literary work America white. It has made the non- ever attempted by one man in his Christian religions products of the Devil translations of the Scriptures. He and their leaders scheming priests who was forerunner of all industrial misdeliberately deceive the people. It has sionaries with his successful indigo pictured the sin and misery and sorrow, plantation. He was an ardent worker the poverty and illiteracy of other coun- for moral reform and against evils tries, the queer customs, the different embedded in Indian religious beliefs. ways, the unusual, the bizarre, the hideous, the bad. And then it has spoken We cannot agree with Miss Brown in glowing terms of what the missionary in her premise. We do agree with efforts of our own land have accom- her heartily in the need of training plished. for world friendship. This we can This indictment is disproved by have without any compromise between work and results of the missionaries the missionary and the terrible evils who laid foundations through the against which he must still contend. past century. They have not justified evils in America. They went to preach The second part of this book gives the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, valuable suggestions for missionary the Saviour of sinners, which Amer- education. We wish that Miss Brown ica needs as truly as other lands. If we are to wait until America is per- might add to her book some of the fect before we carry this Gospel then great examples of missionaries who we must wait until all have passed on. did not fail in sacrifice even unto England was far from perfect when death and whose methods were the Carey went to preach this Gospel of methods of the New Testament, and Christ in India. He fought such in- produced remarkable results. Is not stitutions as child marriage, suttee the success less marked in recent and unspeakable immoralities of hea- years since institutionalism, higher thenism. Apparently Miss Brown feels that grave injustice has been 893
education and social service have been losophy, and a prominent educator, says, "What we want is a force and stressed rather than the Gospel? We motive" (p. 46). The authors of the book are convinced that "The message cannot change the Divine order. All of the Cross of Christ is Japan's su- preme need today." But their intermen must find not merely a great pretation of its value appears to be, not so much the atoning substitutionteacher, a leader in social reform, but ary work of Christ as the sacrifice of self for others. They think that the a Saviour from sin. Society will "new conception of self-expression" gained from the story of Christ's never be saved in the mass nor will it death, and "the message of the Risen Lord" will supply the new power debe saved by mere reformers. Men manded by present conditions (pp. 65, and women must still be regenerated 66). It is true that results of Christian as individuals if the world is to be effort in Japan through six decades saved. L. w. P. are inadequate and the growth of the Japan and Christ. By M. S. Murao and church has been slow, though the in- W. H. Murray Walton. 172 pp. 28. fluence of Christian ideas on the na- 6d. London. 1928. tion has been great. Some of the reasons for this lack of satisfactory Many books have been written Christian progress are clearly pointed about Japan by wise and understand- out but two others might have been ing men who help a foreigner to see stressed, especially for the help of with Japanese eyes, but there is per- younger missionaries. The first is haps none which will so quickly as the lack of thorough Bible studythis bring him to a clear and sym- comparing Scripture with Scripture. pathetic understanding of the country Few, even of the consecrated, able and people. This is especially valu- Japanese Christians are acquainted able to the missionary who' desires to bring to the Japanese a vision of the with the true value of the Old Testa- Heavenly Father whom he worships ment. This leads to a lack of a proper and of the Saviour through whom he understanding of the necessity, meanhas received deliverance, life and new power. ing and message of the Cross of Christ and of the teaching of the New Even those of long residence often Testament. They have little realizafail to realize the vital significance of tion that God is holy and righteous as many common customs and, therefore, well as merciful-abhorring and punare unable to sense the difficulties to ishing sin as well as loving the sinbe overcome, or to find a right way ner. There is little apparent sense of approach. Salient points in the of inward sin before His holy eyes. history of the country and of its reli- Repentance and confession of sin are gious beliefs show the development of not often stressed, even in evangelischaracteristics which differ greatly tic meetings, except in case of the from those of other peoples, and more heinous and open sins. which cause them to be misjudged. The authors of this volume show The second great lack among the clearly the lamentable effects of the Japanese is the failure to emphasize friction caused by the change in edu- the Person and work of the Holy cational ideals and methods, and the Spirit in the Church, in individual danger of making schools into ma- Christians and in the world and our chines rather than into places for the dependence on Him. We note these development of character and power two great lacks when we compare the to serve. young Japanese Church with the early Church of Acts. The greatest Present social conditions in Japan are vividly described, the seething unrest and bewildered search for relief from the conflicting forces reveal Japan's imperative need as it is felt by many eminent Japanese leaders. Anezski, a believer in Buddhist phi-
BOOKS WORTH READING
value of the book lies in the clear get larger farms," "to become farm showing through history and the owners." There is no quest of reli- forces that worked in the national de- gious liberty in their minds. Their velopment, of what the missionary Rom a n Catholic and Lutheran will meet in the mental attitude and churches are their cherished institu- spiritual life of the people, so that he tions. So it is the economic in- may more quickly effect a sympathetic stitutions of the states that assist approach to the people in his efforts them most in becoming Americans.
to lead them to Christ. H. P. C. Next in order is political action, to which they show an eager interest; Immigrant Farmers and Their Children. then social and civic institutions of By Edmund deS. Brunner. 277 pp. $2.75. New York. 1929. the community, the public schools, to which they send their children; last Several important questions have of all the American churches in vilbeen answered by Dr. Brunner in this lages and open country receive them excellent, substantial volume which into the structure of American life. treats of some subjects on which there This book pays a tribute to the was no reliable information. The Rom a n Catholic and Lutheran book has four masterly studies of churches of foreign speech, which communities or settlements of rural some anxious Americans will do well national groups, which alone are of to read. The writer says that their the worth of a book. It is well made, ministers are better educated than readable, and of convenient size, and are the average rural ministers in this gives to rural ministers and mission country. They serve longer as pas- .executives solid and reliable knowl- tors. They live with their people in edge on which to base the programs those sections in which the American of the parish and of the nation. ministers are absentee preachers, and The body of the volume is a careful their people attend and support their analysis of the numbers of rural im- rural churches better than the older migrants, their colonies, distribution, American churches are attended and and their assimilation to the Ameri- supported. Best of all, their pastors can population. One-fourth of the are sympathetic to the American foreign-born population is in the rural trend and are helping their people to communities (or was in 1920); being adapt themselves to the ways of this about three millions, of whom one- country, rather than imitate the half are farmers. In the order of size country from which they came.
they are populations of Germans, Nor- But the most interesting part of the wegians, Canadians, Mexicans, Brit- book, to those who care for the ish, with Italians, Poles, Dutch, Finns, church, is the chapter which discusses Irish and Swiss. The first named the relation of the American-speaking number over one hundred forty thou- churches with these rural immigrants sand, the last named about thirteen (pages 125 to 127). It is a story of thousand, in their population groups indifference, poor equipment, and lack in the last census. Two and a half of trained workers. But there is this times as many more are the children general statement, "that with equip- of these nationalities living in the ment to fit the need, trained workers, country. They attain American citi- a broad enough program, and regular zenship before their city fellow-na- help from the mission boards, success- tionals. Dr. Brunner records with ful work can be accomplished." Then gratification that the rural community follows the story, briefly told, of the shows a power of Americanization admirable work of the Presbyterians greater than that exhibited by the at San Gabriel, California, as an "out- city. standing example of successful Prot- These millions have come to Amer- estant work among the Mexicans-in ica "to better their condition," "to the fruit groves of the valley." The
observations of this survey are then Our Children; Renewal; The Sacrasummarized in the sentence-"The new American has made good on the ment; Lent. land but the Church has not made good with the new American." The principal emphasis is in pray- The picture as a whole presented in ers for Healing, with petitions under this volume is a hopeful one. Even the effect of recent immigration laws such titles as : You and Your Sickis described as good, in a measure; while the pictures of the colonies of ness; What to Do and How to Think rural immigrants, appended to the survey, exhibit them in a state of de- About Your Illness; Before an Operavelopment of which the earlier settlers of this country would have been tion; Recovery from Sickness. proud, could they have enjoyed it. But the service rendered them by The price of the book seems high; churches, in their transition from Europe to America, is that of conser- but it is worth the cost. These prayvation of their birthright religion, speaking generally, rather than of ers will be especially helpful to those evangelization by the American Protestant churches. who feel their need of Divine Guid- WARREN H. WILSON. ance. JAMES F. RIGGS.
Prayers for the Way. John S. Bunting. A Remarkable Biblical Discovery-or "The 55 pp. $1.25. Philadelphia. 1928. Name" of God According to the Scrip- tures. By William Phillips Hall. This little book deals very practi- 12mo. 175 pp. $1.50. New York. cally with the daily problems of ordi- 1929. nary life. The phrasing is good, strong in its choice of words, sensitive God, the eternal and the infinite, is to the best aspirations of the human an inexhaustible subject for study heart, and sensible in point of view. and experience. Everything connected The prayers are heart-cries to God with Him seems to offer a mine of for help. Such a book is demanded by wealth – His physical creation, His the complexities of modern life. Word, and His spiritual world. This little volume, by the president of the An example of these prayers is as American Tract Society, reveals the follows: "May we remember the pov- same quality in the very name of God. erty of any life that lacks faith in In his very rich and useful study, Mr. Thee, and the disappointment of any Hall calls attention to the name "I success that has not been won with am" (Jehovah), by which God revealed Thy Spirit. . . . May no disappoint- Himself in the Old· Testment times ment today cast us down, and no suc- as He revealed Himself in the New cess flush us with pride, and no sud- Testament times through the Lord den temptation make our feet slip. Jesus Christ. Efforts have been made May we beware of any impatient by unbelievers to weaken or destroy word with others that may lead us to faith in the inspiration of the Scripmistrust them. And may we avoid the tures and in the deity of Christ. This spirit of judgment and condemnation study by Mr. Hall offers valuable and which hurts our faith in Thee because inspiring evidence of the truth of it shakes our faith in men." those claims. He believes that he has discovered truths that have been lost A number of prayers have to do sight of for centuries. with such questions as Loneliness; The Day of Trouble; Justice; Disappoint- The Jews would not utter the name ment; The Defeated; The Home; Jahve for fear of taking the ineffable name of God "in vain." The name "Lord" was substituted for Jahve as the name of the eternal God in the Old Testament. Mr. Hall shows that this name has the same significance when it is used to refer to Jesus Christ in the New Testament and by the early Church. He points out that Christ came "with his Father's name, Lord" (Matthew 21: 9). The apostles "called
The Missionary Review of the World — October 1926
'737
The Linen Closet EVERY well-ordered household boasts a completely equipped Linen Closet. Piled in rows will be Bath Towels of softest texture, in colors to match the bath. room decorations or in all-white. Hand Towels of pure Linen in a host of designs, handsome Guest Towels that combine daintiness with usefulness. Linen Sheets and Pillow Cases, Bed Spreads, Fancy and Damask Table Linens will also be well represented.
The knowledge gained from our more than seventy years' ex- perience in supplying leading hostesses of America with fine Linens is at your disposal in acquiring a well·equipped Linen Closet. We will also be glad to advise you on correct monogramming.
Me Cutcheon's ~ 5th Avenue 49th Street New York Annuities Are Make)oo, ~doDoubie DI!!Y. YHoumurasneiltfy~ "'" ~~ ,,.; Satisfactory 10 An annuitant who has placed to $106,000 with one of the Meth- I DURING many years, Bible)niiU~lJoD(fs. odist Mission Boards writes re- 9% havemf~undan! d:~hl~d Yield~~,hil¥" garding the plan: satisfaction in investing 'neomelorUfe "I am very milch pleased with the their money in Bible ~Jg~ arrangement It gins me during my lifetime a good return on my Annuity Bonds-the in~ money-and helps a worthy cause, after I am gone. You have thus come to go to them and their families during their far been most prompt in your annuity lifetime, and the principal to be devoted later to the payment aDd I can only express the utmost satisfaction." great uplifting work of the New York ,Bible Society.
For information write to You Can Invest $100 Up Morris W. Ehnes, T,easu,er, Boud of Foreign Business men and churches recommend Bible Minion. 01 the Methodist Episcopal Church, , SO Filth Avenue, New YOlk, N. Y., or Annuity Bonds as the soundest of investments. They never fluctuate. You have no anxiety. May W. J. Elliott, T rea.uter, Board 01 Home Mi•• be lSSUed on two Jives-husband and wife, mother ~ sions and ChuIch Extension 01 the Methodist Episco- and daughter j etc. . pal Chwch, '701 Arch Street, Philaddphia, Pa. # The New York Bible Society has distributed ,'" millions of copies of the Scriptures free-in , many languages and in raised type for the , blind. They have brought comfort and in- ~ NEW spiration to countless immigrants, seamen, ~ YORE prisoners, the sick, the blind and aliens. / BIBLE All sections of the~' SOCIETY 'ountry. all races of' Dept. 84 humanil-y, receive ~ SEast48IhStreet untold benefits, ~' New York Cit"
JIIall Coupon / ' Gentlemen: With.
for FREE ~/ out obligation, please P&mphlets send me descriptive NEW YORK BIBLE ' ,pamphlets. about your SOCIETY " BIble AnnUIty Bonds.
SL48thSt.N Y.C. , / Name ……………….. ..
,, 1,;;;;======, Address ……•.••••••• _••••••• Pleaf!e mention THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD in writing to adverUsers. THE MISSIONARY Review of the World DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Edt/or CONTENTS FOR OCTOBER, 1926 Pa,ge FRONTISPIECE …………… MOSLEM PILGRIMS BEFORE THE KAABA AT MECC"- EDITORIALS ……………………………………………………… 741 OUR MOHAMMEDAN NUMBER WHO WAS MOHAMMEDt WHAT MOSLEMS BELIEVE WHAT MOSLEMS PRACT'lOE IN RELIGION THE ISLAMIC WORLD AND M[8SIONS TODAy ……… SAMUEL M. ZWEMER 745 A pioture of present conditions in the 'Mohammedaro world as seen by the fore· most Christian authority on Islam.
THE DISTIUBUTION OF MOSLEMS-A STA'l'ISTICAL TABLE …………. 7521 MISSIONARY SOCIETIES DOING SPECIAL WORK FOR MOHcAMMEDANS . .Insert THE RISE AND ]<'ALL OF ISLAM ……………………… JULIUS RICHTER 753 The .•tory of the ,growth and decadence of Mohammedan power in the Near East, J)y the weir-known German scholar and author. IMPORTANT HISTORICAL DATES~MOSLEM AND CHRISTIAN …… "… 759 'l'HE STRENGTl! AND WEAKNESS OF ISLAM ……… , …….. ,……. .. 760 MOSLEMS BREAKING AWAY FROM TRADITION . . . . . . . . . . JAMES L. BARTON 761 An interesting account of the chan,ges that are taking place in Moslem thought and practioo on aooount of the contacts with modern cimilieation.
MOHAMMEDAN BOYS AND GIRLS …………………… J. KINGSLEY BnwE 769 A former missionary in Smyrna tells of the training of Moslem boys and girls and the opportunities for Christian influence upon them.
vn:,ws MOSLEMS UNDER CHRISTIAN AND NON-CHRISTIAN RULERS………… 774 SOME MOSLEM! OF CHRISTIANITY ………………. If. E. PHlIilPS 775 The frank exprelfsions of Mohammeflans as to the shortcomings of Christianity ana why they do not becM"e Christians. A VISIT TO EL AZHAR UNIVERSITY ………….. ,., … _… J. E. SHEPHERD 780 HINDRANCES TO CHRISTIAN WORK FOR MOSLEMS ………. C. G. NAISH 781 A thoughtful study of some of tile reMons why 'Work for Mohammedans is so do.1fic·ult and produces such meager results.
THE CHRISTIAN APPROACH TO MOSLEMS ……………….. W. W. CASH 786 A practiool consideration of the most fruitful methods of presenting Christ to Mohammedans.
ISLAM'S GREATEST FAILURE ……………. STEPHEN VAN R. TROWBRIDGE 791 A presentation of the need of the children of M ohammedat! l"nd.. due to ihe failure of Islam to provide moral and spiritual training.
MOSLEM~,()ONVERTS 'TO CHRJSTIANITY …………… BISHOP J. H. LINTON 7!l3 A remarlffible Mcount of the conversions to Christianity through the 'Work of the.. Chureh Missionary Society in Persia during the last forty years.
YUSUF ATIYEH …………………………… _…….. W. G. GREENSLADR 798 The stm'Y of one of tile outstanding p'/,oitut,ts. of ,",ig..ions to Moslemlf in Syria. ….. .
BEST Ml';THODS FOR THE STUDY OF ISLAM .. , EDITED BY MRs. E. O. OJl,()NK 801 WOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSION BULLETIN . EmTED BY MISS ELLA D. MACLAURIN 808 The SouFs Hincere Desire Attained, by Cora E. Simpson, R.N. WOMAN'S HOME MISSION BULLETIN .. EDITED BY MISS FLQRENOE E. QUINLAN 811 Migrant Groups-Report by Ralph S. Adams. NEWS FROM MANY LANDS ………………………. ,……………… 814 BEST BOOKS FOR THE STUDY OF ISLAM ………. , ….. E&NEST W. RIGGS 830 T.I!:RMS: $2_50 a year. ($2.00 in clubs of five.) Foreign postage, 50 cents. Single copies, 25 cents. Published monthly_ Copyrighted, 192(1, by MISSIONARY REvIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY, INc. AU rights l'eserved.
THE MISSIONARY REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY, Inc.
Robert E. Speer, President Wm. I. Chamberlain, Vice-President Delavan L. Pierson, Secretary Waite!." McDougall, Treasurer Publication olIiee, 3d 8< Reily St•.• Harnsbu.g, Pa. ~itoria1 and Business Ollic<;,. 156 Fifth Avenue, 25c • copy $:l.so • year New York uty Entered as at the POlt Ollice, second-cIas. matter Harrisburl, Pa_. under Act of March I, ,879. 1"1 rll""'-FHR-FHR-FHR-FHR-FHR-FHR-FHR-FHR-FHR-FHR-FHR-FHR-FHR-~ I~, I-IReveII'5 B0 ok5 on M. Is.s·ionsI,;l ~:-t ~ NOW READY–AT ALL BOOKSELLERS ~ ~ ~ t:t. The Unfinished Task of Chinese Culture and ~ ~ Foreign Missions Christianity ;; ~ t:t. By Robert E. Speer By James Livingstone Stewart ~ t:t. Dr. James L. Barton, Secretary A. B. Professo y, West China Union University, ;; c. F. M. says: ''It is a marvel to most :~x:: ::t: Allthor of "The Laughing Buddha," etc. of us that Dr. Speer is able to write so "" much and sti.! keep so fresh and up to Dr. Stewart unravels for the Occi- l:C t:t. date…. Another valuable contribut;on dental mind the intricate skein of the :… .~…. to missionary literature. Might well be ;~;: made the basis for classes in modern beliefs, superstitions and dogmas of t:t. foreign missions." Cloth, $2.75 China. $2.50 ~ :I: :I: l:C "~" SELoLwA iM~AgRISEeHeOdLMiEnS AMY CARMICHAEL ISABEL BROWN ROSE ~ Author of ";;,:;!,;gs As They Our Parish in India "~" Assam Lights and Shadows of Mis- l:C CRha"j, fBrigand sionary Life. :…
'~"'" Introduction by Ie Author of "Red nBal~orsastoimves/I of .=..:.rJ: Helen Barrett :Montgomery. An authentic ~"" Missionary Life and Labors AROBIJI HOOD OF SOUTHERN IJIDIA years spent by two mission- ~l:C in Northeast India. aries–husband and wife-in a r..;.:. muotrat.d, $1.50 A true story of a young remote town in Western India athlete in Southern Ind,a, and in the villages of the dis- ~ e:, LOIS HAWKS SWINEHART who, hounded into out- trict_ Illustrated, $1.60 , lawry was finally converted … Sarangie–A Child ;:! of Chosen to Christianity. Almost IDA BEUE LEWIS er.;:. ~~… A Tale of Korea increditable in spite of its Grainsof Ricefrom … truth, it is indeed "fact a Ch."nese Bowl … r.;. stranger than fiction."
The author of "Jane in the Illus_ $2.50 or $2.75 By President of Hwa-Nan Col- l:C ~ Or;ent" gives a picture of mis- In~~~ldegfe!~:;'Fd~oocbhyow ~ 7 China. . T. :I: sionary life in present-day Maude Whitmore Maddtn rot· I :I: P ~ ~r~~~~ndA i~f~~m~i~~~n ti~~ Author of f~When the East Is A group of charming, inti- ~ ~ cious, unconventional and In the ~Vest.lJ mate sketches of Chinese life, ~ OYolduJnagpHanearts in deeply engrossing.$1.2~ :I: done "wnfitahilidni'stcue~r~ntm~~etn~td, , insight :I: ~ ,1.25 ~ and … CHRISTINE I. T I N L I N G . , :~I: From Japan to :~I: ~ Jerusalem A book which will en- ALBERT D. HESLER ~ large one's understanding In Sunny Nigeria of the Japanese and in- ::r:~ The author of "Bits of crease one's sympathy and Prc~t:e~i(f:~iia~~) ~~~~hestc,. ~ China" acts as guide to her admiration for them, as "Information about a land !:;d ~ readers through Korea. Man- well as help to an appreci- and a people of which little is ~ ~ :c I~~f~a'andP~~~P~~f:' L!~~n:~~ ation of what Missions are ~~on':~; to 1~; B~~~ho;eopieasand ~ a most capable and interesting doing in Japan. ~ writes from first-hand informa- ~ Illustrated, $1.50 tion_" Illustrated, $1.50 ~ guide she prOves to be. ,1.26 :I: ~ ~~ Constantinople, the Chal- ~l:C The Task in Japan ~ By August Carl Reischauer, D.D. lenge of the Centuries ~ :t:rt:. ~ Professor at Meiji Gakuin, Tokyo By Victor Murdock Northwestan Christian Advocate saw: :I: "A frank statement of the mission~ry "~" opportunity and problem which all our The author of "China the M.ysterious =l:C :r: churches must face. Frankness com- ·and Marvellous" has written an equally :… "" bined with his substantial orthodoxy, important and timely work on Constan- ~ ~ makes his conclusions of real value." tinople, with a freshness that is pictur- .;, :I: $1.50 esque and noveL Illustrated, $2.00 :I: ~"" FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY, Publishers ~l:C ; "NeW" York, 158 Fifth Ave. Chicago, 17 N. Wabash Ave.rii I,;l…-HH.!I·~H.!I-~H.!I-~H.!I-~H.!I-~H.!I-HH.!I-~H.!I-HH.!I-~H.!I-~H.!I-HH.!I-~H.!I-:1:1 Please mention THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD in writing to advertisers.
PILGRIMS AT MECCA, WORSHIPPING AT THEl
One hundred and ftrty thousand Mos]ems in the Haram Court gathered from every nation in the world of Islam
OCTOBER, 1926
XLIX TEN OUR MOHAMMEDAN NUMBER No APOLOGY is needed for devoting one whole issue of the REVIEW to a study of the world of Islam. The religion is over . 1,300 years old; it numbers among its adherents at least one seventh of the population of the earth; it is the prevailing religion in Turkey, Arabia, Syria, Persia, Afghanistan, Egypt, Tripoli, Tunis, A1geria and Morocco and has millions of adherents in Russia, Central Africa, Palestine, Turkestan, India, China, Malaysia and the Philippine Islands. Mohammedanism is an aggressive, missionary religion that is pressing on for the conquest of Africa and has its emissaries ill European countries, in North and South America and in the Islands of the Sea. Moslems are so devoted to their beliefs and practices that they resist all attempts to change their way of thinking and living and resent the work of Christian missions. They present one of the greatest tasks before the Church of Christ today.
For over five hundred years, Christian workers have been going into Moslem strongholds, seeking to win the followers of Mohammed to Christ. There have been many hardships and not a few martyrs among these missionaries, while the results have been meager.
In this number of the REVIEW will be found many facts and articles of great interest and value to every student of the subject. But many fine articles have been crowded out and will appear later: Islam and Western Ciyilization, by Basil lIathewR. From Mohammed to Christ, by Habib Yusufji. Christian Literature for Moslems, by M. T. Titus. A New Enterprise in Mesopotamia, by James Cantine.
Among the most valuable features of this issue are the suggestions given by Mrs. Oronk as to the Best Methods for teaching the textbooks and conducting mission study classes on the subject. In our September number will be found pictures of several costumes used bv )Iohammedans of various classes in different lands and a description of how to make them for pageants, plays and tableaux.
741
WHO WAS MOHAMMED?
I N ABOUT the year 570 A. D., Abdullah, the son of Abd ul Mut- talib, a merchant of Mecca, Arabia, went on a trading trip to Medina and died there. A few months later, his wife, Amina, gave birth to a boy whom she named Mohammed.
Arabia had been the resort of all kinds of religious fugitives–:- Star Worshipers, Zoroastrians, Jews and some Christians. Mecca had been a pagan center for centuries and the "Kaaba" was an Arabian pantheon with idols for every day in the year. Tribesmen came on annual pilgrimages to kiss the" Black Stone," to run around the Beit Allah (House of God) and to hang portions of their garments on sacred trees. Legends of all sorts clustered around the rocks, trees and springs of the desert.
In Arabia, Jews settled with their sacred scriptures, their Talwud, and rites; Christians brought their belief in Jesus, and one Arab queen and a king are mentioned as converts to Christianity. Mohammed thus came into contact with both Jews and Christians and at one time he had as a wife, Miriam, a Coptic Christian, who was the mother of his son Ibrahim.
In Mohammed's youth, a Christian army from Yemen attacked )[ecca and was defeated. While many of the Arabians rejected the old idolatry, they were not ready to accept Judaism or Christianity. 'fhe time seemed ripe for a new religious leadership. Mohammed's aristocratic standing, as a member of the ruling class of Mecca and as the son of an influential merchant, gave him prestige. He was taught by a chief man of the Koreish tribe to exercise power. He had natural ability amounting to genius, an attractive personality and an earnest view of life.
When Mohammed was six years of age, his mother died while on 11 journey to Medina and the boy was taken first by his grandfather and then by his uncle. 'When twelve years old, he went on a mercantile journey to Syria and met a Christian monk, Buhaira. Later he returned to Arabia and, like other lads, herded sheep and goats.
At twenty-five, he entered the service of a rich widow of Mecca, Khadija, whom he married. This gave him additional influence. About ten years later, he announced to his wife that he had been called to be a "prophet" and had received a vision in the Cave of Hira. Periods of mental disturbance followed, with other "visions." Then Mohammed began to preach but when he spoke against the idols of the Kaaba, hostility was aroused and persecution began. Nevertheless he gathered some followers. When persecution continued in Mecca, he fled in 622 A. D. to Medina where he had won some converts. 'rhis is the year one, Anno Hegirre, of the Mohammedan era.
Mohammed became not only the preacher and prophet, but a warrior and legislator. He built mosques and houses and raised an army. When Khadija died he contracted polygamous marriages in-
EDITORIAL COMMENTS
eluding one with the wife of his freed slave, an adopted son. He began to write letters to foreign kings inviting them to embrace Islam, collected an army of ten thousand men, attacked various strongholds and finally captured Mecca and destroyed its idols. Certain pagan ceremonies were, however, incorporated in Islam. In the year 631 A. D. he made final pilgrimage to Mecca in great state and I:oon after died. On his deathbed he prayed to God for pardon of his sins.
Mohammed is described as a man above average height, slender but of commanding presence, with a large head, piercing eyes, black hair and long bushy beard. He always walked rapidly and decision marked every movement. There is much diversity of opinion as to his character. Sir William Muir thinks that he was at first sincere and upright, believing in the so-called revelations, but that later he was intoxicated by success, used his power for selfish ends and deceived his followers as to the" revelations." The influence of his first wife, Khadija, was wholesome, but after her death he gave way to his passions. Only the later traditions claim for him sinlessness and superiority to Jesus. While only ninety-nine attributes of perfection are accredited to God, Mohammed is given by his followers two hundred and one titles to proclaim his glory. No Moslem prays to Mohammed but he is said to dwell in the highest heaven, several degrees above Jesus.
WHAT MOSLEMS BELIEVE I SLAM is described under two divisions-Imoo and Din-or "ar- ticles of faith" and" religious practices. " The six main articles of faith are: God, His angels, His books, His Prophet, His Day f)f Judgment and Predestination or Fate.
God. Allah is one, omnipotent and merci:l'ul. His character is impersonal. The Christian conception of a God of love is not understood but their idea of God's absolute authority involves despotism. Moslems believe in God over man but not with man or in man.
Angels. There are three species of spiritual beings-good angels, jinn and demons. Angels are created out of light and are endowed with life, speech and reason. Jinn or genii may be good or evil. They are created from fire and are greatly feared. (See the" Arabian Nights. ") Satan or IbUs is head of the evil jinn.
Books of God. Orthodox Moslems believe that God sent down one hundred and four sacred books. Adam received ten, Seth fifty, Enoch thirty, Abraham ten-all lost. The four books that remain are the Law (Torah), which came to Moses; the Psalms received by David; the Gospel (Injil) of Jesus; and the Koran, eternal and uncreated and revealed to Mohammed. Th,is last supersedes the other books.
The Koran (or Q'uran) is a little smaller than the New Testament, has vne hundred and fourteen chapters (or suras). It is not in chronological order and is a mixture of adoration,. prayers and imprecations, laws and legen~, facts and fancy. Much of it is unintelligible without a commentary.
It contains many historical and scientific errors, superstitions and unbelievable fables. It teaches perpetual slavery, polygamy, divorce, intolerance, degrada- tion of women and cruel bloodshed. It contains no doctrine of an atonement for sin. Prophets and Apostles. Mohammed referred to 124,000 prophets and 305 apostles. Six of the latter are major prophets-Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohammed-who supersedes and supplants them all: Moslems believe in Jesus as a prophet. The Koran says that he was miraculously conceived and born, spoke while a babe, performed miracles as a child, foretold Mohammed, was miraculously saved from crucifixion and is now in an inferior stage of celestial bliss.
Judgment. Awful terrors are portrayed for the judgment day when there will be a physical resurrection of aU the dead. The condemned will suffer unspeakable physical torture in a seven-fold hell. The blessed will enjoy indescribable physical pleasures in the" Garden of Delights."
Predestination is the most characteristic and far-reaching article of the Moslem creed. It affects everything in life. God wills both good and evil. There is no escape from His decree-it is fate (kismet). Religion is Islam (resignation). This fatalism paralyzes progress, initiative and social service.
WH.LT MOSLEMS PRACTICE IN RELIGION I T IS incumbent on all II true believers" to show their faith bv observing the five religious duties of Islam-the pillars or foun- dation of religion.
1. CONFESSION OF THE CREED. La-ilaha-iUa-'Uahu.; Mu.hammada-Rasulu.- 'allah ("There is no god but God; Mohammed is the apostle of God"). This is the watchword of Islam-inscribed on banners and doorposts, and on coins. It rings out from minarets, and is a cradle song and battle-cry.
2. PRAYER is the repetition of a formula and is the "Key to Paradise." After ceremonial purification men must face the Kaaba at Mecca and then kneel to pray five times a day (at dawn, high noon, two hours before sunset, at sunset and two hours after sunset). The prayers consist of short passages from the Koran containing praise, confession and petition for guidance.
3. FASTING. The chief month of fasting (Ramaean) is the ninth mouth of the Moslem year. During fast no one must drink a drop of water or take a morsel of food, smoke, bathe, smell a flower, or take medicine from sunrise to sunset. The whole night is, however, spent in feasting and other indulgence. Infants, idiots, the sick and the aged are exempt.
4. ALMS. These were formerly collected by a religious tax-gatherer. One fortieth of a man's total income is the usual rate. Hospitality is also a religious duty.
5. PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA. 'fhis annual pilgrimage is one of the strongest bonds of Islam and is a great missionary agency. It draws the Moslem world together and scatters the lnfiuence over Asia and Africa. The number who make the pilgrimage varies from 50,000 to 100,000 a year. Pilgrims, arrived in Mecca, pel'form ahlutions, visit lite lllosqne, l;:is~ nIP Black Rtone, rUIl around the Kaaba seven tillles, 01l'er, a prayer, drink water from the well of Zeru Zem and again kiss the Black StOlle. Finally, after throwing three stones at "the Great Devil" (stones at lIina) , they sacrifice a sheep or other animal.
Other t"eligious practices include circumcision, observance of sacred feasts, and jihad 01' taking part in religious wars against infidels. MOSLEM WORLD ATLANTIC INDIAN r/J;} 0 CEAN ….. …………………………………………
FROM "THE MOSLEM WORLD IN REVOLUTION" BY ·W. W. CASH The Islamic World and Missions Today BY REV. SAMUEI, M. ZWEMER, D.D., LL.D., CAIRO Editor of The Moslem World; Author of "The Disintegration of Islam," Etc., Etc.
W HAT is Islam? It is at once the great "surrender" and the great denial-the surrender of millions of human hearts and lives for thirteen long centuries to the obedience of Mohammed, the Arabian, and the blinding of those hearts and lives to the. light of the knowledge of God's glory as revealed in Jesus Christ. "Mohammed," says G. K. Chesterton, "did not, like the Magi, find a new star; he saw through his own particular window a glimpse of the great grey field of the ancient starlight."
When we say that a country contains so many Moslems, we really mean that it contains so many. monotheists, – not monotheists with the ethics of Moses but with those that are in most respects far inferior. There is not one cardinal truth in the Christian's creed about Christ that is not hidden, distorted or denied by Islam. To Mohammed, the teaching that God has a Son and that He died on the cross for human Sill aud If'ft an empty grave to ascend on high, seems blasphemy-a blasphemy that might shake the world.
Here we have at once the necessity for and the difficulty of missions to Moslems. All the arguments employed for missions to the Jews apply with double force to the Moslems. Their number is twenty-fold that of the Jews; the witness to the Messiah is less clear 745 and less glorious in the Koran than in Isaiah; the children of Isaac are on a higher intellectual, social and moral plane everywhere than are the children of Ishmael. If the Gospel of Christ is intended for all the world it is also intended for the world of Islam. That world was never so extensive, so restless, so conscious of itself as it is today. The Mussalman of Calcutta recently printed the following letter from the "Director of the Islamic News Service," London: At this period, entering upon a New Year, it behooves us all to look around and see the position of Islam in the West. When, twenty-three years ago, I embraced Islam, I did 80 standing practically alone. Today, what a difference there is. In England, the Islamic community of Britishers is 3,000. Three journals circulate here-The Islamic World, The Isll1!mic Review and the Review of Religions. All this has happened in a short space of time. In France, a country which I visit every month, there is the magnificent Mosque almost completed in Paris, with a strong Islamic population, and many French people who have accepted "the Faith most excellent." The French Society (of which I am representative in Great Britain) is named the "Fra- ternite Musulmane," and is a very strong body and active. In Germany, there is a MOsque in Berlin, with a number of Germans who are Muslims. In America, there is a Mosque in Chicago, and I was recently honoured by being asked to visit the Chicago University to speak on "Islamic History." In the Argentine Republic, there is a very influential Muslim population, with an Arabic journal El Argentino. Brazil counts thousands of Muslims. In Hol- land and Belgium, there are nationals of those countries who came to Islam. In Hungary, there is a strong community with some illustrious names. Those who prophesied the decline of Islam have seen their predictions falsi- fied, for Islam is gaining ground throughout the world. In Australia, there are, today, upwards of twenty Mosques. South Africa reckons numbers where sometime ago none existed. This is the present picture and, I venture to think, is a source of gratification to Muslims when one considers that Christianity with its millions of pounds, thousands of missionaries, books without number, and free distribution of thousands of Bibles, can make but little headway abroad, whilst, in countries nominally Christian, the bulk of -the people never enter a church. We must not relax our· efforts in any way, for it seems that a new missionary campaign is in the air. Muslims! it is our duty to present to the whole world the imperishable truth given to hu- manity in the glorious pages of that imperishable book, the Holy Koran. Islam ()fi'ers to a world torn by dissension and false doctrines, the one Path of Peace. Today, when a weary world seeks consolation, it is Islam and Islam alone that can guide a stricken humanity. Muslims! be up and doing, and bring to the Light those who are now groping in darkness.
This letter challenges thought and proves that Islam has a world program which Christendom cannot ignore. What are the present factors in the missionary problem1 I .. Extent and N1l!mbers. Statistics are dry and often bewild- ering, yet it is only by statistics that we can measure the present expansion of a religion which began in the sixth century with a minority of one man who claimed to be God's last messenger.
Today the number of those who profess and call themselves Mohammedans is nearly two hundred and thirty-five million. In
THE ISLAMIC WORLD AND MISSIONS TODAY'
southeastern Europe (omitting the scattered groups of Britain and j<-'rance as negligible in number, but not in their influence) there are three and a half million. They are found chiefly in Albania, Bulgaria, Greece and Montenegro. Add to these a little over fifteen millions in European and Asiatic Russia and nearly two hundred thousand in South America (chiefly Brazil and Guiana).
Pass to the two great continents and the island world where Islam has made its conquests. In ~Urica there are nearly fifty million followers of the Arabian prophet and they are found everywhere except in the southwestern portion of the continent. In the Belgian and French Congo, Liberia, Mozambique, Somaliland; around the Lakes and Zanzibar and in Madagascar, on the west coast in Senegal, Guinea, Dahomey; in Uganda, Abyssinia, Kenya, Tanganyika; in Sierra Leone and the Gold Coast, Togoland and the 1'U.ll1c.u. PlSt1llJlV110N OF MOCUM5 £1:R'GtJ1mCDI!TKIIIUTI(lN OF lIIosu:11S Cameroons; nearly eleven millio1l in Nigeria and last but not least the solid belt of Moslem comitries on the north, Egypt, the Sudan, 'rripoli, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.
In Asia every country has its Moslem problem except Japan and Korea. In China there are about nine millions; in the Philippine Islands nearly six hundred thousand; in the Dutch East Indies over thirty-six millions; India has the largest Moslem population of any mission field in the world-over sixty-nine million. In Bengal province alone there are twenty-five million Moslems. Western and central Asia are almost wholly Mohammedan and here there are still great unoccupied fields that challenge pioneer effort. Shrouded in mystery and hidden behind the Himalaya ranges Afghanistan touches Russia, India, Persia and China–a land full of political significance and strategic position with a strong and virile people, yet without a witness for Christ. The few and far-scattered mission stations in Central Asia are like little candles burning in the night of Islam-Bokhara, Kashgar, Yarkand, Urumtsi-who even remembers
them in prayed In Arabia, Persia, Turkestan, Iraq, Palestine, Syria and Turkey the social, intellectual and religious outlook of the population was for long centuries through the window of Islam-and the window was barred.
II. The Hour Is Ripe. A new day has arrived, a day of opportunity and responsibility. The dawn "came up like' thunder" during the World War which shook the House of Islam to its very foundations. The Moslem world is in revolution. The fountains of its great deep have broken up. From within and from without mighty forces, often contrary and seldom under control, are striving for supremacy. Politically, the old world of Islam with its caliphate and arrogant Moslem law, its rigid social code, its slavery trade and slavery is gone. Nearly everywhere the doors of access have been torn off their hinges or nailed open. Four fifths of the vast populations mentioned above are encreasingly accessible to every method of missionary approach.
This is true, for example, of all British India, the Dutch East Indies, Persia, Mesopotamia, China, the Balkans, the whole of North Africa and Central, East and West Africa with the possible exception of Northern Nigeria. Even there and in Central Arabia and Afghanistan the hinges are creaking and hands from within are fumbling at the lock. A half century ago missionaries died in some of these lands hammering at closed doors, and the Church despaired of entrance. Today, there is overwhelming evidence that the hour is ripe for evangelism. The highways for the Gospel are preparing. Thousands of'miles of railways and motor roads have been built in Africa and Asia within two decades. The distance between Baghdad and Damascus, the old caliph cities, can be covered in nineteen hours by motor. Aeroplanes carry the mails across pathless deserts. Persia and Morocco are building highways; Abyssinia's capital is a railway terminus. Moslems formerly travelled to one center, Mecca. Now they are travelling everywhere. Thousands find their way to Paris and other European capitals. The press, the cinema and the highly colored advertising boards in every city are highways into the minds of the masses and create a thousand points of contact with Western civilization. All this tends to disintegrate the old IslaIUic standards and ideals. Education has become the first demand of nationalists in their effort at reform. Literacy in India and Egypt is markedly increasing. The Moslem press was never so active as it is today. In social reform, it is often the ally of Christianity; this iR espeeinlly tnw in eomhating the evils of the liquor trnffic. In Turkey and Egypt women are leading a new movement of emancipation. They are discarding the veil and demand monogamy. They seek to abolish the Islamic law by which by repetition of a. mere formula divorce if! possible.
All these currents of thought and life are rising as a tide against
J9~Gl THE ISLAMIC WORLD A:D MISSIO:S TODAY
Islam with its ancient tradition of a Church-State and undermining its very foundations. A new Islam has arisen among the educated classes which, in various forms, at ""Voking, Lahore, Aligarh, Angora and Cairo, is in open rebellion against ancient tradition. These Mos- lems are "open-minded enough to violate Koranic law and independ- ent enough to tread the road of progress rather than be fettered by seventh-century. religious legislation."
There are, it is true, reactions. The old Islam dies hard and the warlike spirit of fanaticism needs only a leader and an appeal based on real or imagined injustice to be inflamed. Nevertheless, the out- standing fact is that the world of Islam is "on trek." Their souls 'will find no true rest until they rest in Christ. Reports that come from every land indicate, in the words of the .Jerusalem Confer- ence, "a new willing'ness to hear the Gospel message, and much less antagonism than in former days.
'1'he number of inquiries is increas- ing everywhere, and public bap- tisms are not only possible but more frequent among the educated classes, especially the young men.
Some have lost their moorings and are adrift on a sea of unbelief; with others there is an eager and intelligent spirit of inquiry in re- gard to religion. Now is the su- THJ<J MOSQVE AT WOKING, SURREY preme opportunity for vinning A~7t~r: f~~n aJ~~~)ty~:~doi"~I~i~~m(i~po~~:~~i~~) these future leaders for Christ."
III. The Unfinished Task. Of Moslem lands and peoples it may be said what is recorded of the Greek widows: "They are neg- lected in the daily ministration." The unoccupied fields of the world are largely Mohammedan lands. I know of no missionary working among the two hundred thousand Mohammedans of South America, nor among the eight hundred and thirty thousand of Albania, nor is there a single Protestant society at work among the fifteen million :Moslems of Russia. A map of the mission stations in Africa indi- cates at a glance that pagan Africa is largely occupied, but Moslem Africa still has vast areas of population without a witness for Christ.
Abyssinia has two million Mohammedans and in the French Congo there are five million seven hundred thousand. It is no exaggeration to say that in both of these regions there is scarcely one worker spe- cially qualified or designated to carry the Gospel to these Moslem
millions. The missionary forces in Morocco are utterly inadequate for the needs of its more than five million people. The same is true of Northern Nigeria, the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan and Tanganiyka.
In Asia, the Mohammedans of Ohina and India are an outstand- ing problem because of their long neglect on the part of the Ohurch of Jesus Ohrist. In a series of conferences held in 1924, it was the unanimous judgment of leading missionaries that Moslem India is in a very real sense an unoccupied field. Little special work for Moslems is carried on although there are sixty-nine million of them. rrhere are large cities like Bombay, Lucknow, Delhi and Lahore, where formerly there was special effort to win Moslems, but where now there are few missionaries wholly devoted to this task.
While there are more than five thousand missionaries in India, the number of these who are specially prepared and set apart for the evangelization of Moslems is pitifully small.
Though, on the other hand, it may be said that there are many places whe~e missionaries are giving part of their time to Moslems, yet, even when one considers all this, it is still clear that there is such a serious lack of attention being given to the Moslem problem in proportion to its importance that its adequate consideration by all missions in India is urgently required.
The most tragic chapter in the elaborate survey prepared a few years ago on f'The Ohristian Occupation of Ohina" is that which deals 'with the neglected Mohammedans. A number of centers are pointed out where work should be begun: Peking, Tientsin, Nanking, Tsinau, Kaifeng, Sianfu, Chengtu, Yunnanfu, Oanton, Kweilin, Lanchowfu, Kirin, Moukden and Kweihwating. Yet today there is scarcely a missionary devoting himself entirely to this important element in the population. In China, the Moslems are more friendly than perhaps in any other land and the opportunity through medical missions and translation and distribution of literature is a challenge to the Ohinese Ohurch and the churches of Ohristendom.
Arabia, the cradle of Islam, still has great provinces without a witness for Christ: Nejd, Asir, the hill country of Yemen, the whole of Hadramaut, the Northern Bedouin tribes and the holy land of the Hejaz. What has proved possible in East Arabia through pioneer effort on the Persian Gulf is possible today for every part of the peninsula. Where are the men and women who will occupy these fields 1 IV. Signs of the Harvest. Generally speaking, many of these Moslem lands have proved barren soil after more than half a century of missionary effort; with the exception of India and the East Indies, where there are thousands of converts and hundreds of baptisms every yea'r. The great dark belt of solid Islamic empire from Morocco to Turkestan does not yet yield a large harvest of souls.
In Arabia, the faithful fishermen have labored the long night of
THE ISLAMIC WORLD AND MISSIONS TODAY
thirty-five years-how oft they toiled in the rowing and the wind was contrary! The total number of converts after all these years was less, than the number of the years of waiting. But the tide has turned at last. There have been public baptisms and men and women who forsook all for Ohrist are preaching His cross to others. We saw twenty-two adults baptized publicly at Isfahan on July 4th, this year. All were bold to confess the Ohrist. According to Doctor Robert E. Speer, Persia is today "the most open door to Islam." Mirza Ibra- him who died by torture in the dungeon at Tabriz in 1890 witnessed a good confession: "One night when he witnessed for Ohrist to his fellow-prisoners, they fell upon him, kicked him, and took turns choking him. His throat swelled so that he could scarcely swallow or speak, and, on Sunday, May 14, 1893, he died from his injuries. When the Orown Prince was informed of his death, he asked, 'How did he die~' And the jailor answered, 'He died like a Ohristian.' "
The blood of such has been the seed of the Ohurch. "Twenty years ago," said Kasha Moorhatch, "it was impossible for a Moslem to shake hands with a Ohristian, but now, not only do they shake hands, but, like Orientals, they quite often kiss each other. Then it was a death penalty for a Ohristian to speak before Moslem fanatics about the divinity of Ohrist, but now, if a Ohristian is well informed in language and intelligent in speech, he can say openly that Ohrist is God-Man, the only Mediator, outside of Whom all else are sinners incapable of mediatorship. Then it was impossible to sit with Moslems at one table, but today, among the higher classes, it is very common and free. Twenty years ago it was dangerous to preach in one of the Moslem languages in the presence of Moslems, but today any intelligent man who knows the language can speak about the Trinity, the Atonement, the New Birth, and can openly condemn Islam as a religion of pure formalism. " This testimony is true. The tactful presentation of the old Gospel story meets with response everywhere in Persia.
In every mission station in Persia there are growing groups of believers who witness the good confession. As a woman in Teheran put it, "The ground has been broken up and softened by the rain and is open for the seed. The old days of the hard closed soil are passed." Everywhere the sower goes forth to sow. The Bible Societies have doubled their circulation in Bible lands in recent years. During the past two years hundreds of gospels have found willing hands to accept them even in the old Mohammedan Al Azhar University. A Bible I presented to their ancient library in 1916 was being read there during Ramadhan this year.
. In Abyssinia there has been a movement toward Ohristianity on the part of Mohammedans led by Sheikh Zakariya, resulting in over six thousand forsaking Islam and becoming Bible Ohristians. Every-
where there are groups of inquirers and ill many places hundreds of secret disciples. It was an inspiration in 1922 to visit large churches in Java and Sumatra entirely composed of converts from Islam-a total of some forty thousand. In Bengal there are said to be sixteen thousand Moslem converts in the Church of Christ.
A few months ago I spoke to a Bible class of one hundred and thirty young men and boys at Omdurman (Egyptian Sudan), all of them Mohammedans by birth. My theme was the friendship of Paul with Jesus Christ. This I said had three stages: to know Him historically, to know Him as a living Person in His resurrection power, and to know something of the fellowship of His suffering. Under the very shadow of the old ruined tomb of the Khalifa these sons and grandsons of the warriors that fought for Islam with fire and sword listened to my challenge to accept Christ and follow Him in the battle for the Truth and for Purity-if need be to die for Him. And their black eyes flashed back a message of "~We are ready" that I shall never forget. Some are now awaiting baptism. "Say ye not yet four months and then cometh the harvest f Behold I say unto you lift up your eyes and look on the fields that they are white already unto harvest."
. Where are the reapers 1 That is the missionary problem today in the world of Islam. Who will go and who will sendf SURVEY OF THE MOSLEM WORLD North America ……………………………… . ]ins/mn Proportion Populations to Total Central and South America ……………….. . Australia ……… ~ …. ~ . . . . . 11,000 1 in 10,1)(j1) 174 RG1 1 in 500 1 in 1,400 Polynesia ……… . …….. . 25;000 15,000 1 in 70 Europe * ……………… . 7,058,949 2 jn 5 Africa 4,0.00,000 1 in 6 1,764,000 1 in 3 Abyssinia ……………………………. . 11),.'585,990 1 h1 10 11 in 12 Belgian Congo …………………………….. . 626,000 11,658,148 2 in :l British Africa …………………………….. . 24,858,204 1 in 4 5 :in 6 British African manaat"s ……………………. . 750,000 1 in UI 1,549,000 6 in 7 Egypt …………………………………… . 230,000 Total Freneh Afriea …………………………….. . ;'94,500 Total 382,:;00 2 in 9 Freneh African mandates ……………………. . 8 in 9 12,000,000 1 in 4;; Italian Afriea ……………………………. . 10,000,000 3 in 4 71,245,772 1 jn 70 Portuguese Africa ………………………….. . 3,411,590 49 in 1)0 9,136,000 1 in 3 Spanish Africa …………. . ……….. . 36,000,000 8 in 9 1 in 15 Other Count.ries … . …………………. . 341,860 9,350,000 Asia 10,200,000 8,35'O,O()0 Afghanistan ……… . 1,246,O()O Arabia ………. .
British Asia …………… .
Brit.ish Asian manda t.es …… .
China and Dependenl'i,'" …………………. .
Dutch East Indies ……………………… .
Freneh Asia ………………………………. .
Persia …………………………………… .
Russian Asia …………………………… . ..
Turkey ………………………………….. .
Other Countries …………………………… .
Total Moslem Population …………… . 240,56,2,864 1 in 7 ,., Chiefly in Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, C'7-f'eho-Slovakia, YugowSlavia, Rumania and Russia.
Societies Doing Special Work for
Societies Fields Moslem Population Iw_oTkers among Moslemsi Types of Work Results Reported , CANADA 15,000 families 3 part time IlEv., ed., med. 10,000,000 25 Few converts; 1 evang.; severe persecution. United Church of Canada …………… . China-Honan (North) Evangelistic Slight; signs encouraging. Sudan Interior Mission …………….. . French Sudan, Nigeria 1 103 I 1 UNITED STATES I Assists Societies Ed., med., ev., social I American Board of Commissioners …….. Turkey, Syria, Greece I'~ ,.o.o.o:~~~ ..(~Urkey) I· .. ·…. ·.. · Literature I American Christian Lit. Soc. for Moslems .. Moslems in all lands ]2,000,000 ………… Educational American University at Cairo ………… Egypt 2 ~ecognition of friendliness; study of Jesus 10 i Evangelistic by few enquirers. Christian and Missionary Alliance …….. Palestine, China I (India) 5 Just started Church of the Brethren ……………… IIndia (Bombay Pres.), lEV., ed. Many enquirers. Nigeria iAb~~t' '30,000 •••••••• 0 ••• Ev., ed., med. 1 convert in 6 years; 'characters influenced; ,Ev., ed., med. Churches of God ………………….. ·IIndia (:o:o:o:~~~: ::: 0 ••••••••••• JEv., ed., med. occasional conversions. Ev., med., lit., etc. Lutheran Orient Mission Society ………. /Kurdistan 300 Ev., ed., med. About 100 converts. Methodist Episcopal Board F. M. . ……. India, Malaysia, Africa 241 150 converts in Egypt; some adult baptisms Methodist Episcopal (Women) ……….. Africa, India, China I::::::::::: : in Sudan; some from Sweeper class and Presbyterian Church, U. S. A…………. iPersia, India, Syria, Irak high castes in India.
United Presbyterian Chureh ………….. India, Sudan, Egypt COOO,OOO Few. Hostility overcome; Arabia opened; 6 bap- Protestant Episcopal Church in U. S. A… Philippir:es, China, Liberia 3 (2 more in prospect) iEd., med. Reformed Church in America ………… Arabia, Mesopotamia tized in last 2 years. 8,000,000 42 'Ev., ed., med. No conversions. Reformed Church in U. S……………. Mesopotamia 3 E~ United Lutheran Church …………….. India 185,000 1 whole, 1 part time, 1 Ev., ed.
ENGLAND preparing Bible Lands Missions Aid Society …….. Near East ……….. . Assists missions Church Missionary Society …………… Nigeria, W. Africa; Egypt, Su- ]05,0'00,000 Approximately 364 (in- Ev., ed., med., lit.
dan, Palestine, Persia, India cluding wives) Church of England Zenana M. S. ……… India ……….. . 10 whole, 35 part time Ev., ed., med. . ………. . ………… lEv., ed. ' ……….. . Egypt General Mission ……………… Egypt 10,000,000 Friends Foreign Mission. " ………. " ., India, Near East 65,000 (India) 2 Ev. in India, lit. in Near EastjNot tabulated. Jerusalem and East Mission …………. Palestine, Syria, Cyprus ……….. . 15 Ed. mainly, med. and lit. started Increased number of enquirers.
Nile Mission Press …………………. Arabic-speaking world 100,000,000 5 foreign, 51 native Literature Some conversions; much general influence.
North Africa Mission ………………. Morocco,Mgeria,Tunisia,Tripoli 17,000,000 77 Ev., med., indus. :……….. .
West Indian Mission to West Africa (Pon- 10 IIEv., I'd. IIndefinite; increase of interest. gas Mission) ……………………. French Guinea, W. Africa 5 Evangelistic ……….. . Worldwide Evangelisation Crusade …… , . Arabia, Afghanistan SCOTLAND I…. ·…… · 7 IMed., ev. Inquirers. Scattered converts. Edinburgh Medical M. S…………….. Syria, Palestine 6,000,000 26 foreign, 8 native ,Ev., ed., med. ,Converts in India; no results appt. in Arabia. Southern Morocco Mission …………… Southern Morocco United Free Church of Scotland ………. Arabia, India, Africa 4 whole, others part time 1Ev., ed., med. !
THE CONTINENT II~~~n~~{is~~d. i Bethel Mission (Germany) ………….. E. Africa 50,000 ~ :~~r:e~~~: :2:0: native IE~~;;g~l;~ti~ . i~ :~~~~~r:t; ~ : :10 catechumens.
Danish Mission ……………………. Arabia 1 lEV., ed., med. IEncouraging. 2 1300 Christians, forced into Islam during the Evangelical Swedish Mission …………. Somaliland, Abyssinia war, return to Christian Church. German Baptists …………………… R,ussia, South 200,000 (~) Mohammedans who accept Gospel sent to German Orient Mission ……………… IBulgaria, Persia, Turkey, Syria ……….. . mission schools. 2,995 baptized up to close of 1925; 207 Karmel Mission …………………… Palestine 50,000 11 Ev., ed., med. baptized last year; 166 under instruction. Neukirchen Mission Institute ………… Java 7,000,000 15 missionaries, 11 wives, I· Ev., ed., med. I 5 doctors, 18 unmarried ~~~!~~s: ~~~~ents treated in hospitals and lady missionaries 2,000 converts. Rhenish-Westphalian Deaconesses' Society. Jerusalem, Cairo :::::::::::: I~~~i.C~~ .. . .. 16,000 converts. 7,000 converts. Rhenish Missionary Society ………….. East Indies 7,000,000 9 :Ev., ed., med. 4,000 converts. Mennonite Union ………………….. Java, Sumatra 7,000,000 Netherlands Missionary Society ………. E. Java 8,000,000 18 I· Ev., I'd., med. 1 enquirer in China; work in India new. Netherlands Missionary Union ……….. W. Java 15 Ev., ed., med. 76 church members; growing interest. Reformed Church in Netherlands ……… Java 28,500 (China) 150 Ev., ed., med. 150 converts. Utrecht Mission Union ……………… New Guinea 3 Swedish Alliance Mission ……………. North China, India About 1,000,000 1 in India IE·v·.· i~ 'I~di;, lit. in China (Over) Swedish Missionary Society ………….. E. Turkestan Women Missionary Workers (Swedish) .. , N. Africa, India 24 lEV., ed., med. 6 Ev., ed., med. Societies Fields Moslem Population [work ,rs arnong Moslems[ Types of Work I Results Reported i AFRICA ;8,000,000 30 I IDeSire for SCl'iptures and Christian litera- Algiers Mission Band ………………. Algeria, Tunisia lEV., lit. I ture; homes opened; classes for children.
Swedish Mission …………………… jEgypt_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _i_._.._._._._._._._.._._____'-1_5_ !,Ev., ed., social ISeveral confessions.
Protestant Missionary Societies Doing Work Incidentally for Moslems Soeieties Fields Workers Touch'g Moslern.. 1 Kinds of Work Results Reported . CANADA I. , I Umted Church of Canada ……………..Central I n d t a A l l in contact IMed., ed. and zenana Not many open conversiolls.
UNIT~D Amer~.can I …, .1 BI•b~e S~cIetyST.A. .T:ES. . . …. …. … East, . Bibles and colportage N e3;r Phlhppllles, Sudan, ArabIa; ……….. I A~erlcan Umve~sI~y of BeIrut ……….. SYrIa ! ……….. . 1190 teachers and assists., Educational 'About 500 Moslem students a year. Chma Inland MISSIOn ………………. China 126 iEv. and med. ! Slow; promising. I Evangelical Synod of N. A. . ………… Central India ……….. . , Good results in Palestine; little in Kenya Colony. American Friends ………………….. Palestine, E. Africa 123 IE~·.; ·e'r1.; ·~~d.. social Augustana Synod ………………….. China, Tanganyika (Africa) ……….. . I ………. .. National Baptist Convention …………. [Liberia i……….. . [, :::::::::: ' Seventh Day Baptist M. S……………. China, Java, West Indies ……….. .
Bible Lands Gospel Mission …………. Syria, Palestine I …•…….. ! ……….. .
Methodist Episcopal Board F. M…….. 'IN. Africa, Europe, India, Malaysia'I' i China 6 or 8 t Ev., ed., med. Interest awakened. I" …….. . Norwegian M. S. (American) ………… Camerouns t •••••••••••• ,……….. .
Reformed Presbyterian Church in N. A… , :Asia Minor, Syria, Island of Cyprus'8 ,Ev., ed., med.
Scandinavian Alliance ………….. '" . ·IIndia IEvangelistic Southern Baptist Convention …………. [Nigeria, Palestine, Syria 34 "Ev., ed., med. 16,284 members.
United Brethren in Christ …………… Sierra Leone ……….. . ',Ev., ed., med.
United ,christian M. S………………. ,China, Java, West Indies I •••••••••••• IE~·.,· ~~d" i~ 'Africa; ev., I' S~~~ ~~;'~~~~ions. Vesleyan Methodist Connection ………. IIndia, Sierra Leone 118 I 1 , ed. in India (Med., ed., indus., zenanal ………. .. Woman 's Union Missionary Society ….. '1 United Provinces (India) I'" stations World's Sunday School Association ……. Egypt, Syria, Palestine 13 , and orphanage iIi,creased attendance, especially in Egypt and Sudan. Ev., ed.
Young Men's Christian Asso()iation ….. 'iEgyPt, Palestine, Syria, Turkey,I .
Persia, Irak, India I………. .. :Ed., soc., lit. I.. · .. · .. · .. · ENGLAND I1 …. · ….. .. .1 Bibles and colportage i…… · .. •.. British and Foreign Bible Society ……. . All Moslem lands Plan to make work for Christian Lit. Soc. for India and Africa .. India, Africa London Missionary Society …………. . India, Africa Moslems part of 5-year campaign Presbyterian Church of England ………. Malaysia, India men and women Ev., ed., med. Results disappointing. 'jIE.L'·Iv't·.a.·.n·':·'ue·.lpi'ps·.tl~·'Ce·'d·' to Churell Some converts. I SRaelgviaotnisonBAe,yromnyd .M.i.s.s.io.n………………. India, .Java, China, W. Africa .. .. .. .. .. …… ,. … . ……….. . Scripture Gift Mission ……………… Moslem lands ……….. . S. P. C. Knowledge ………………… China, Africa, India Soc. for Propagation of Gospel ………. ,1India 1 in training of England missions …. , …… . Sudan United Mission ……………… 'Nigeria, French Equatorial Africa; ………… Few conversions; Government oppos",d. i Ey., ed., med. Anglo-Egyptian S u d a n , Recently decided to app(,int 2 missionaries for special Moslem work. _Wesleyan Methodist ……………….. . India, W. Africa I Some conversions in India. Wesleyan Methodist, Women's Auxiliary .. India, Ceylon I' . . . . . . . . . . . 'I ……….. . . . . . •. . . . ••• iEv., ed., med.
~~~k~l:~ ~~;d cOI,II,s~;.ipt~·r~· di~tribution SCOrrLA:-'D Church of Scotland ……………….. . National Bible Society …………….. . Punjab (India) Palestine, 1 i Increased interest. India, China, Syria, Egypt 15 . native ………. ..
Original Secession Chnrch of Scotland …. jCentral Provinces (India) i ..p..o.rt.e.r.s. . .. I.. · .. · .. · .. · , THE CONTI;;E:-'T 1 Berlin Missionary Society …………… is. and E. Africa, China [lEV. and educational In villages where there are Christian schools, Mohammedans try to Evangelical Lutheran (Leipzig) ………. India, Africa I found Islamic schools. Jerusalem Union (Germany) ………… Palestine Netherlands Bible Society …………… East Indies k ,Evangelistic Some conversions. Orebro MissiOl~ary S?ci.ety (Sweden) ….. ~ndia, French Equatorial Africa Work among Arabic-speaking people. Basel Evangebcal MISSIOn …………… So. Borneo, W. Africa I foreign and 13 nativ~ Ev. and educational ') Translate Bible ……….. .
119 in India : lEv., ed., med., orphanagesFeW converts; seeking to stop spread of Islam in Africa.
) ………. .. ,,Ev., literature fSome conversions.
Rise and Fall of
BY PROl<'EI'HO/1 ,JUl,IUS 1<'. lUCI!'l'ER, BEItLIN, UEHMANY Author of j' l'l"ot,(-stallt IVlissiollS in the Near J!Jast,}' etc., etc, I SLAM is one of the gigantic facts of history. It is the more fas- , cinating as it is one of the rare developments of equal dim~nsion which has gone on from its beginning to the present day in the full light of history. There was the prophet at Mecca infusing a burn- ing enthusiasm into the hearts and minds of his followers. There was the unheard of series of victories in the West and the East by which in the course of a single century an empire was equal, if not superior to the old Roman Empire. When the vital power of one nation seemed to be exhausted, another nation was at hand ready to lift again the sinking banner and to lead on to new victories, Even such terrible tragedies as the barbarous onslaughts of the Mongol hordes under Jengiskhan and Hulagu stopped only for a short time this brilliant career, or only seemed to change the scene of action. The history of the victorious march of the Arab armies from Medina to Poitiers and Tours, the foundation of the Mogul Empire in India and the rule of its first three or four emperors, the conquest of the Balkan and of the Danube countries up to Vienna, belong to the most brilliant chapters of history.
But it was not only an external history of bloody battles and ruined towns, it was to a great extent, also, a chapter of cultural development. The creation of the Moslem science of theology and of laws, within the short period of scarcely four hundred years, was an achievement in some ways comparable to the development of the Christian dogma from St. Paul to St. Augustine. In Islam, too, at the end of the creative period, there stands one of the really great men of history, Al Ghazali, who is the comprehensive mind closing the first and opening the second period of the spiritual evolution of the Moslem mind. We must not look at these events from the standpoint of the irreparable losses of the Christian Church, or of the failure of the crusades as a hopeless attempt to crush the dreaded enemy, '01' the most astounding growth of an anti-Christian heresy. Such points of view will bias us against the greatness of Moslem achievements.
After these glorious beginings, what does history teach 1 Slow yet irresistible disintegration, tumbling down with increasing speed from a unique height of power and splendor-and a terrible fall. The description we give in the following paragraphs represents only one side of the tragedy, but other articles will supplement this so that we think it worth while to concentrate attention on this catastrophe, one of the most arresting chapters that have passed before our eyes during the last decade and a half.
753 2
THE INTERIOR OF THE FAMOUS MOSQUE OF SANCTA SOPHIA IN CONSTANTINOPLE ThIs was hunt by the Emperor Justinian in 532 as a Christian Church. Its pillars, on the side (first floor) were taken trOll) the temple of Diana at Epbe~us. After the capture of Constantinople by the Turks In 1463, It was turned into a. mOSQue. The large dlt.ks display the Dames ot Mohammedan saints. .When will the mosque again become a chUrch?
THE RISE AND FALL OF ISLAM
Through many a long year, Islam has experienced a succession of reverses. These began in Western Europe. Since the victory of Charles Martel at Poitiers, the flood of Mohammedanism has receded; one part of Spain after the other, Lower Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, and the Balearic Isles, were freed from the yoke. It was a hard $truggle, lasting several centuries. At the beginning of the fourteenth century, the greater part of Eastern Europe was under Mohammedan sway. But then carne a reaction. The Russians fought against the Moslems, and, in the course of the struggle, which lasted some hundreds of years, they became experts in the art of war and in the subtleties of diplomacy. The absorption by Russia .of territories, that were formerly Mohammedan, continued throughout the nineteenth century. In 1800 Georgia, and in 1828, 1829, and 1878, parts of Armenia were annexed, while from 1844 to 1887 the Trans-Caspian territory and Turkestan, the ancestral homes of the Turks in Asia, were subjugated. A third series of Mohammedan reverses dates from 1683, when John Sobieski raised the siege of Vienna.> The Austrians gradually gaining courage, after struggles that lasted several decades, succeeded in driving the Turks back from the Leitha across the Danube, and regained possession of Hungary.
In the nineteenth century, a fourth movement has taken place, whereby the power of Islam has been still further curtailed. The "Sick Man on the Bosporus" had to suffer the amputation of one limb of his unwieldy body after the other. Provinces have either been made into independent kingdoms, or have been placed under the protection of European powers. Thus, in 1829, the Turkish Empire lost Greece and Servia, in 1830 Algeria, in 1858 Rumania, in 1878 Cyprus, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Montenegro and Bulgaria, in 1882 Egypt and Tunis, and in 1898 the Island of Crete. In 1911, the Ohristian Balkan states wrested by far the greater part of Turkeyin-Europe from the Ottoman Empire. In 1912, Italy annexed Tripolitania. The World War sealed the doom of the Ottoman Empire. What has remained after the total collapse is a national republic which can no longer be said to be based on Islam as a religion.
Turkey is only a comparatively small part of the region formerly under Mohammedan rule. What else remains today of the former realm of Islam? There was a time when the Sudan, the Fulbe and Hausa States of West Africa, Zanzibar and the whole of East Africa as far as the Lakes, in fact as far as the Upper Congo, were ruled by Mohammedan princes. Today the two Christian powers of France and Britain have divided these territories between them.
There was a time when India, from the Himalayas to Cape Cormorin, was governed by the great Moguls in Delhi and their vassals; but years ago the last maharajah bowed his proud neck before Christian Britain. There was a time when the Mohammedans were mas-
I (kto1,("
tel'S of the Red Sea aml of the Illlliull Ocean. Today Britain is mistress of these seas, and the converging points of the trade routes which cross their waters are under her control for Gibraltar, Malta, Aden, Perim, Penang aud Singapore arc important c01l1wciing 1ink~ of the British Empire. Of the two hundred and thirty-five millions of Mohammedans, only about twenty millions are at present under Moslem rule, while two hundred and fifteen millions are ~l1(ler Christian rule.
It was disastrous for Islam that from the twelfth century the rrurks assumed the leadership. From one point of view, this was an advantage. Through the centuries of their world empire, the Arabs have never lost their Bedouin characteristics. '1'hey have never learned statecraft. Their history is a record of ambitious cliques and reckless adventurers. The '1'urks, oil the contrary, were a people with a capacity for rule. By nature excellent soldiers, they founded a lasting government. But they diu not take kindly to civilization. Four great nationalities have played a leading part in the internal aI).d external history of Islam; the Arabs, the Persians, the Mongols and the Turks. The first three introduced splendid epochs of civilization and stood, at various times, in the foremost rank of general culture-the Arabs in Egypt, Morocco and Spain; the Persians in their own country; and the Mongols in India. 'l'hey achieved great things in architecture, philosophy, geography, and astronomy. They produced poets and religious thinkers of worldwide renown. Nothing of all this is to be found among the Turks, no truly great poet, no explorer of the unknown, no fruitful, constructive ideas in art. They rule with the mailed fist, and their rule is a curse for the peoples subject to them. Under their rule were found representatives of more gifted nations-Greeks, Egyptians, Macedonians, Armenians. As long as these languished under the Turkish yoke, they deteriorated outwardly and inwardly. Freed from Turkish tyranny, they recover. Think what Greece, Bulgaria, Servia, Oyprus, and Egypt have become since their liberation, and we reali'ze the curse of Turkish control. In the whole range of history, we can hardly find a nation that has done so little for civilization after seven centuries of unrivalled opportunity.
There are four chief causes of decay in Islam. (1) Mohammedan governments have proved incapable of developing the economical resources of their lands and of helping the popUlation of these lands to thrive. In 1875, a man who knew, Mustafa Fazil Pasha, a brother of the Khedive of Egypt, wrote to the Sultan: Your Majesty's subjects, of whatever faith they may be, fall into two classes, viz: the ruthlessly oppressing and the mercilessly oppressed. Industry, agriculture, trade–all lie prone in the empire. When a man can exploit his neighbour, he takes no pains to improve his mind or his field; and where tyranny and extortion reign, no one can hope for the fruit of his la-
92tlJ THE RISE AND FALL OF ISLAM
bol', ant! no one works. Every passing year robs us of our foreign support. All tIll' I<;uropean statesmen, on regarding the actions of your officials, exdaim: "That government is incapable of reform, it is doomed to destruction. " 'Vell, sire, are such prophecies lies?* (:l) Hand in hand with this economic incapacity goes internatiemal political incapacity, which has never known how to settle dis- IlUtes and establish lasting peace and order. First of all, there was the national enmity between Turks and Arabs. The northern half of the Ottoman Empire, as far south as 'rripoli in Syria, was Turkish; the other half was Arab. Probably the Arabs are the nobler race; they feel it to be an injustice that the Turks have assumed the place of paramount authority in Islam, and that the Sultan should be regarded as Caliph. '1'11ere was also bitter antagonism of 'furks and Arabs alike against their Christian subjects. ~-'urther, Turkey had not been able to amalgamate with herself races nominally Mohammedan, such as the Druses, the Nusairiyeh, the Kurds, and the Mohammedan Albanians. Large provinces of the empire-Armenia, Kurdistan; Syria, nearly the whole of Turkey in Europe-were in a chronic state of ferment, that nowhere allows of peaceful settlement.
(3) A third cause of the decay of Islam is the contradiction between the teaching of Islam and established facts. That MoslemR Bhoul<1 be subject to the infidel Christians is an intolerable thought, which raises the fanaticism of ~foslems to the boiling point. Yet nine tenths of all Mohammedans are subjects of Christian nations, and the rest are in more or" less close dependence on Christian Europe. What a contradiction! There is the same anomaly in Mohammedan theology· and learning. There have been centuries in which these have made great progress, but there was always a germ of death in them. That "winged word," with which Khalif Omar, or his Egyptian general AmI', is said to have excused the destruction of the invaluable lihrary of Alexandria, "Either there is in these !)Ooks what the Koran contains, and then they are superfluous; or they contain something different, and then they are false and noxi- (Jus," reveals the fundamental genius of Islam. The only allowable task of science according to Mohammedans, is the codifying and explaining of the authoritative words of Allah in the Koran, as they definitively regulate all that bears on the common life, the m0f'1Ql18. the courts of law, the bazar, and even the Caliph's throne. But this artificial system of law, which the learned deduce from the Korall and the Sunna with hair-splitting exactitude, is in sharp conflict with stern realitv. The Mohammedan higher schools exhaust themselves in an atte~pt to reconcile facts with the teaching of their sacred writings. '1'he whole modern state would have to be remodeled, :in order to be hrought into conformity with the will of Allah, as propounded by the mullahR.
Of' (Dr. GUlldcrt, nprotest..'mt Missions," 4th Ed., p. 257).
(4) In addition to all this, moral deterioration is eating at the vitals of Mohammedan nations. The Koran allows polygamy, one of the worst ethical errors of Mohammed. Polygamy is the rule, except where poverty enforces monogamy. The result is that even a greater degree of sensuality prevails in such nations than among Africans or Hindus. This carnality has borne fatal fruit. If the woman is but the plaything of the man and exists only to satisfy his lust, why need she be educated 7 The less she knows, the better. In the eyes of the man, she is but flesh. This general feeling has stood in the way of education of women. Unbridled fleshly desires, also, are fanciful and changeable. The slightest thing may cause antipathy, or at least indifference.
Never, perhaps, was the general decline of Islam more plainly set forth than at a conference of prominent and learned Mohammedans which met at Mecca from March 27 to April 10, 1899, to enquire into the reasons of this decline and to devise remedies. 'l'hc chairman opened the proceedings with an assertion that in any two adjacent countries, districts, villages or homes, one of which is M0hammedan, the other non-Moslem, you will find the Moslems to be less energetic, worse organrzed in every respect, less skilful in the arts and trades than the non-Moslems, though the former may excel the latter in such other virtues as honesty, courage and liberality. In explanation of this sad state of things, the conference adduced no fewer than fifty-six causes, embracing the whole range of life-religious, political and social.
The learned Oxford Orientalist, Professor Margoliouth, concludes his report of this significant conference by raising the weighty question, "Has Islam any golden age to look back on, except in the sense that at one time Mohammedan sultans were a terror to their neighbours, whereas now their neighbours are safe from their raids7" In answer, he asserts that "there is no real abuse current in Mohammedan states from which they have ever been free, except by accident for a limited time …… The days of the 'Pious Caliphs,' could they be reproduced, would mean no progress even in the most backward Islamic countries. The strengthening of Islam, if it is not to be a calamity to the whole world, is not to be effected by the reproduction of a barbarous past, but by an attempt to utilize the vast force which Islam represents, as a factor in the real progress of the civilizing and ennobling of the race. Whether this can be done, or the whole of this huge capital must be 'written off,' is the question which reformers have to solve." t t ("East and West," 1907, p. 393).
1926.1 THE RISE AND FALL OF ISLAM
IMPORTANT HISTORICAL DATES ~ MOSLEM AND CHRISTIAN C. 4B. C. The Birth of Jesus, the Christ. C. 29 A. D. The Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ. 312 A. D. Emperor Constantine ,converted in Italy. 389 A. D. Christianity supreme in Roman Empire. C. 570 A. D. Birth of Mohammed in Mecca. 622 A. D. Hegira-Flight of Mohammed from Mecca. Death of Mohammed in Mecca. 632 A. D. Capture of Jerusalem by Caliph Omar, 636 A. D. 642 A. D. John of IJamaSC1tS preaches to 1I10slems, 8th Century 732 A. D. Moslem conquest of Persia. 742 A. D. Defeat of Mohammedans in West Europe at Tours. 830 A. D. 1000 A. D. First mosque built in China. 1096-1272 I'll Kindy, a Christian Arab, issues his "Apology." 1182-1226 Moslems invade India. 1235-1315 The Crusades for control of Jerusalem. 1453 1492 Francis of Assisi preaches in Palestine. 1525-1707 Raymund Lull, missirmary in North Africa. 1683 Constantinople captured. Sheikh-ul-Islam established. 1740-1780 .~fohammedans driven from Spain by Ferdinand II. 1806-1812 1820 Mogul Empire in India. Eastern Europe checks advance of Turks at Vienna. 1850-1891 Wahabi reform spreads over Arabia (except Oman). 182,6 Henry Martyn, missionary in India, Arab~'a, Persia. Levi Parsons and PZ.iny Fisk reach Smyrna from America. 1831 Bishop T. Valpy French, miJSsion(1;ry in India and Arabia. 1833 English Church Missi01uwy Society enters Egypt. 1847 American Board missionaries begins work in Constantinople. 1875 American Presbyterians begins work in Ta;briz, Persia. 1885-1887 Eli Sm,1<"th of Byria begins translation of Bible into Arabie. 1889 English Church Missionary Bociety begins work in Persia. Ion Keith-Falconer establishes work in Arabia. 1906 James Cantine (l;fId Sam1wl M. Zwemer found Arabian Mis- 1908 1924 sion of the Reformed Church in America. 1924 New constitution proclaimed in Persia.
Young Turks proclaim new constitution.
Caliphate abolished in Turkey. Ibn Saoud, Wahabi ruler of the Nejd, captures Mecca.
HOW ISLAM SPREAD I SIJAM is a missionary religion and was spread by force of arms. . The three choices offered the conquered are: acceptance of Islam, the payment of tribute or death. Three periods mark the sweep of Mohammed's followers over Syria and North Africa and later over parts of Asia and Europe: I. A. D. 630-S00-Early caliphs-conquest of Arabia, Syria, Persia, North Africa and the peaceful penetration of China.
II. A. D. 12S0-1480-The Ottoman Turks and Moguls of India: conquest or Afghanistan, Turkestan, India, Java, Malaysia, Serbia and Bosnia.
III, A. D. 1780-1906-Modern Islam-Dervish orders and Oman Arabs and pilgrims-conversion by penetration in Central Africa, Russia, the Philippines and elsewhere.
THE MISSIONAR·Y HEVll~W 0:1<' THE WOllLD
THE STRENGTH AND BEAUTIES OF ISLAM 1. The conception of the unity, omnipotence, omnipresence and mercy of God.
2. The brotherhood of all believers-without distinction of race, color, nationality or station.
3. Fidelity to the creed of Islam and its application to daily life.
4. Fearless witnessing to the faith, before all people and under all circumstances.
5. The missionary conception and the ambition to bring all man- kind to acknowledge Allah and the Prophet. • 6. The sense of the duty of all Moslems everywhere to win con- . verts_ 7. Insistence on cleansing (through cerem<mial), antagonism to idolatry, opposition to intemperance and to many religious, social and physical evils.
MORAL AND SOOIAL EVILS OF ISLAM T HE inadequacy of the religion of Mohammed is seen in its effect on the lives of its followers. Mohammedan lands, such as Afghan- istan, Turkey, Arabia, Persia and Morocco, show the results when Islam has full sway. Some of the evils are: 1. Low ideals involving ungoverned pride, lust, envy, treachery, vindictiveness and untruthfulness which were evident in Mohammed's own character.
2. Lax interpretation of many of the commandments, especially the third, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth as based on the Koran.
3. Polygamy, easy divorce, slavery and attendant evils-especially the low status of women. The Arabs are the chief slave dealers of the world.
4. Illiteracy. 'From seventy per cent upward of Mohammedans in Moslem lands are illiterate. Some resulting evils are intellectual stagnation, narrowness, superstition, quackery, bigotry and blind adherence to tradition.
5. Narrow limits of education-largely confined to the Koran in strictly Moslem lands; the remaining education consisting of parental instruction.
6. Lack of a true sense of sin as relating to disregard of the moral and spiritual laws of God.
7. Lack of any idea of a God above, as an all-wise Heavenly Father. The Moslem creed includes agnostic, pantheistic and animistic elements. The misconception of God is responsible for the fatalism, formalism, and militarism among Moslems.
8. Lack of any conception of any adequate Saviour from sin or any indwelling Power to overcome sinful tendencies. 'l'here is a lack of faith in Jesus Christ as revealed in th(' gospel8 and of any clear idea of the Holy Spirit and His work.
Breaking Away from
BY REV. JAMIES L. BARTON, D.D., BOSTON, MASS. Author of "The Christian Approach to Islam."
T HE laws that control Islam are embodied in their sacred Koran and in their tradition. It is generally conceded that tradition is the more powerful of the two in controlling action. Change has always been looked upon with suspicion. Islam being considered a perfect religion in itself, change has been looked upon as evil and always to be opposed. As Principal Fairbairn says: "Islam is the most inflexible of all positive religions. It is an elastic spirit placed in an iron framework. The progressive is sacrificed to the stationary."
Sir William Muir: "Swathed in the bands of the Koran, the Moslem faith is powerless to adapt itself to varying time and place, keep pace with the march of humanity, direct and purify the social life, and elevate mankind."
Lord Cromer: "The Moslem stands in everything on the ancient ways, because he is a Moslem, because the customs which are interwoven with his religion forbid him to change."
Palgrave: "Islamism is in itself stationary and was framed thus to remain. It justly repudiates all change, all development."
Lord Houghton: "The written book is there, the dead man '8 hand, stiff and motionless; whatever savours of vitality is by that alone convicted of heresy and defection."
761
Stanley Poole: "No advance,no change has been admitted into orthodox Islam during the past thousand years."
Dr. Samuel Graham Wilson, after declaring that "Islam, as IsbetntleMda1fl·rko,mantdheI traditions by the great Imams, Abu Hanifa, Shafi, bn Hanbal, must remain fixed," adds that, histori- cally and actualIy, the dicta of our great writers are but partially true. Remarkable modifications have taken place in Islam in the past and conspicuous changes are occurring at the present time. Since these statements were made by students of Islam, many changes have swept OVer t,he Islamic world, not as general move- ments affecting all Moslem races alike, but chiefly affecting at differ- ent times and in various degrees a single people or nation. If we were -to consider only one natioll or race, We would not be justified in drawing conclusions of a sweep- ing character, but when we see so many different Islamic peoples moving away from their ancient mooring, although not all in the same direction or with the same 1'HE MODERN RULER OF TURKEY speed, only one conclusion can be Mustafa Kemal Pasha and his very modern reached, namely, that Islam as a religion is not holding the fol- wife (recently divorced), lowers of Mohammed in the ancient way. To change the figure, it is evident that the hitherto stagnant waters of the Moslem world are now being troubled through the im- pact of civilization and that much that Mohammedans regarded a generation ago as absolutely essen- tial to the Moslem faith is now no longer so regarded. One after another of the traditions that date from the days of Mohammed or of his immediate successors we now see set aside, sometimes by official acts, often by failure to observe on the part of the people, until, in some areas, as in Turkey, there are grounds for maintaining that no longer does religion dominate the state.
The point to be kept in mind is that Islam, which ,a generation ago was looked upon as static and incapable of change, is now in nearly all parts of the world changing both in its point of view and in its practices, and that many of these changes indicate a breaking away from traditions formerly considered as essential to that religion.
In imitation of Christian bodies of the West, Mohammedans
MOSLEMS BREAKING AWAY }<'ROM TRADI'rlON
held in Mecca last June what they called an "All-World Moslem Congress," at the invitation of Abdul Aziz Ibn Saoud, the Wahabi King. They decided to hold an annual session during the time of the pilgrimage. In the report of the Congress, printed in the London Times of July 29, no reference is, made to any discussion of the question of the Caliphate.
Mohammedan governments have been theocratic. Mohammed was both the temporal and spiritual head of his followers, and so have been his successors. Only when Moslems have lived under Christian governments has their religious life been separate from the affairs of the state. The Moslem ruler received his authority from Allah and ruled by divine right. 'l'oday this authority is denied the Moslem chief of state whose right to govern is accorded him by the people governed. In a word, the people of Moslem states are demanding the right to choose their rulers and to have a voice in the making of the laws they are expected to obey. This movement is especially marked in Arabia, Persia, Egypt and Turkey.
Moslems and Moslem governments have not been patrons of education. To the devoted follower of Mohammed, all wisdom is embodied in the Koran. All books and all teachings that deal with matters not contained in the Kor- TRADITI~~!~1I~8Uilt:J1~~RtNHODJA an are to be repudiated as evil in character and vicious in influence. Moslem peoples have been notoriously backward in all forms of modern education-historical, physical and scientific. The traditions of Islam have been against it. Many Moslem youth, more enterprising and daring than the rank and file, in defiance of tradition, have, in one way and another, secured an education. These have studied the economic conditions of Moslem countries, noted their backward social, intellectual and moral condition, and have come to the conclusion that without a change Mohammedanism must be left behind in the struggle for existence. There has been a decided intellectual awakening in all Moslem countries and mostly within a single generation, although greatly accelel'- ated within the last fiften years. In India the percentage of Moslems in school has risen from three percent thirty years ago to fifteen percent at the present time. A general movement toward 'Vestern education is marked in the East Indies, among the Moros in the
Pl1ilippilles, ill Persia, Egypt, Arabia and Turkey. Mohammedan men and even women are to be found in increasing numbers in the colleges and universities of the vVest, while the privileges offered by "'IVestern schools in Moslem countries are eagerly sought. In most countries governed by Moslems, modern education has entered and holds a commanding position today. '1'he best known of these are ~Jgypt, Persia and Turkey, which have established school systems ill which the sciences, history and one or more Western languages have a place. As a vital part of the ef- f ect of this new education, one notes the rapid increase of literature in all Moslem countries. The produc- tion of all kinds of literature, in the last fifteen years, in the vernacular and in Western languages, is phe- nomenal. The printing press has become a vital force in all these _________ countries, stimulated by the rapid J":'J.I.. .J.>;…L;..I …;)… …..-'-< '..,-II;. JfJ ..0' advance in learning while itself .j.J.-~,),"..T.f.¥J.'>!.:~~L;…~I.;J.:,"5~',.,,.;..,<:,,<,)J."»! ..,:……a.jo;J.u.l/~~Ji acting' as a stimulant to education. ,:,IJI j,..': ),:,')1 J-l….I J ….·J ~,,;.-'-'-,:…. ,,<,,,<,Rapidly the press, so far as educa- .~..,..;J.. ..»~ J-ai. tr.b~ r~' (§:;.JI""";J tion and religion are concerned, is becoming free even under Moslem governments. The Islamic world is going to school in spite of the restrictions of tradition.
The followers of no religion have so successfully resisted the in- troduction of the customs and fash- ions from the West as have .:<Ioslems. Most of their customs have had their roots in their own .'1. TURKISH EDITION OF THE KORAN traditions or in the direct teaching:,; of the Koran. To change would seem to devout Moslems to be denial of their faith. This is well demonstrated in the treatment of women, in methods of persecuting'
such as deny Islam, in the abstinence from wine, and in the daily customs once regarded as essentially religious. '1'he rapid rise of education for girls in 11os1em countries has inevitably led to a re- laxation of suppressive measures in the treatment of women and the granting to them of positions of increasing influence and leadership in the home, in society and even in the state. 'While apostasy is still looked upon as little short of a crime and is generally regarded as worthy of punishment, an increa:,;ing lenienry is noted in many conll- tries in the treatment of suell as inquire after Christianity. III '/'Ul'- key and Persia, as well as in otller conntries, there have been lllany
192DJ MOSLJ~MS RREA KING A'VAY FR.OM TRADIl'IO:'ii"
eases where perseention was !lot ('ollspienolls, and some ('oulltries, under the influence of the vVestern impact, have declared for religious liberty.
MolmmulOdall countries are not so strollg for prohibition as the teachings of the Koran would give warrant for concluding. A Moslem official, a notorious drinker, once defended himself to the writer when charged with action contrary to his faith by declaring that he strictly adhered to the teachings of the Koran since he never drank wine but only whiskey and brandy. The breaking away from this Photo by C. T. Riggs From "The Mis8ionary Heraldn SCENE IN THE "LfBERATION PARADE" IN CONSTANTINOPLE Turkish university students in Constantlnop,le. (Octobe!' 6, 1926) having dis- carded the "fe·z," wear hats and caps. Even the Turkish wome.n are wearing hats.
tradition is to be deplored, but it reveals the tendency of the times to adopt methods practised in the "Vest even to the destruction of time-honored traditions. There are many minor customs and tendencies which, taken in themselves, alone would have little significance, but when taken together indicate a changed and changing point of view that is of no little importance.
Discarding the fez by the Government of Turkey and the compulsive wearing of Western headgear is a point in hand. It is true that the fez has strictly no religious significance, but it has become in many countries the sign of a true Moslem. Native Christians in Turkey were compelled to wear it as a token of loyalty to the Government. Now no one in Turkey may wear a fez. How far this will affect custom in other Moslem countries does not yet appear.
As Moslem countries enter into closer commercial and diplomatic relations with the countries of the West, they have felt the
OLD-TIME STREET COSTUME WORN BY MOSLEM WOMEN inconvenience of having a different religious rest day from that followed among Christians. Japan adopted the Christian Sunday as its day of rest. Turkey is now considering a similar step in spite of the fact that Friday was the day observed by Mohammed and that is now observed by all Moslem peoples. ·While this step has not yet been taken, the fact that the Turks regard it as a debatable question shows how one Moslem country, at least, does not look upon even the direct teachings of Mohammed as absolutely binding upon the state.
Mustapha Kemal, the President of Turkey, recently said in a public address, afterward printed: "The Koran, which is the sole source of ancient law, is by no means a code and contains no legal system capable of satisfying the needs of modern life." .A, Moslem has recently come out in an article printed in Constantinople, urging that the custom of bathing the feet before prayers and of leaving off the shoes during prayers be abolished as a custom suited to Arabs but not to a civilized country. The writer of this article charges the absence of men in the mosque and the large crowds attending the Christian churches as due to the fact that the Christians do not make this demand, while the Moslems do. Therefore, the writer contends that provision be made for the wearing of shoes in prayers with a place for hats in the vestibule.
The abolition of the caliphate by Turkey has outstanding significance for Turkey and is of vast importance to the Moslem world. This step was a demonstration that the people of Turkey believed that their will is superior to the will of Allah as expressed through their Sultan and embodied in the person of their Caliph. The fact that the Moslems in Turkey and in other countries have not regis-
926] MOSLEMS BREAKING AWAY FROM TRADITION
MODERN TURKISH GIRLS IN THE AMERICAN SCHOOL AT BROUSA tered violent protest to this act of 'I'm'key and that, to the present time, no concerted steps have been taken to elect a Caliph for the Moslem world, are indications of an indifference that was not expected. Mustapha Kemal in an address, printed in Constantinople on November 9, 1925, said: "Persons who possess some information about the history of Islam know that the Abbasides' dynasty and all the other Moslem dynasties which have followed it have been nothing other than instruments of oppression which based themselves upon the legal system on which the foundations of imperial Rome were built. These instruments of oppression were founded on a legal system which recognized all rights as belonging to God, which brought back all issues to God, and which made use of all these divine rights which they called supreme authority. It is for this reason that the system on which the caliphate, or modern sovereignty, was based yvas able to maintain itself so long."
No one would assume that the president of Turkey is in a position to speak for Islam, yet the fact remains that he has spoken and acted and his deeds and words have not brought out a challenge. Turkey has hitherto played a large and important part in the Moslem world. It has furnished the Caliph to Islam for more than four hundred years, has been the keeper of the holy places and was for generations the outstanding independent Mohammedan government.
Arabic has always been considered the sacred language of Islam. It was the language spoken by Mohammed and it was in that beautiful tongue that the Koran was written. It has been a matter of belief that the Koran could not be written or prayer be made acceptable to Allah if presented in any other tongue. Mohammedans have repudiated translations of the Koran and adhered to their sacred book in
it.s original. In spite of this fact the Turks have authorized the puhlication of a version of the Koran in the Turkish language. It is reported that this Turkish Koran has been warmly welcomed and that Turks arc studying critically the book whie1dhcy have never hitherto understood. This makes another break from ancient tradition.
There has been a startling change in the Moslem attitude toward women. The education of girls is a sign and seal of this change, but that is only the beginning of what inevitably will follow. Plural marriages have been considered one of the constants in Islam, although all Mohammedans did not have more thau a single wife. The founder of the sect in the Punjab, called" The People of the Koran," says that he regards polygamy as bad as fornication. The National Assembly of Albanians recently declared against polygamy and the covering of the faces of their women. A Moslem lawyer recently published a series of articles in a Turkish paper iu Constantinople, inveighing against polygamy, in which he declared that the young men looked upon Moslem polygamy and divorce as a curious antique. These articles advocated a law against the marriage of more than one wife. The Turkish Grand General Assembly has passed a bill prohibiting plural marriages and providing that all marriages shall be published and that no divorce shall be valid until ratified by a court decree.
Educated Moslems are attempting to interpret Islam in terms of modern science. Students of the Koran and of Moslem tradition are convinced that if Islam is to hold its place as a religion of the twentieth century, it must be interpreted in terms that will meet the demands of the thiJ;lking young men who are in contact with modern thought. Every Moslem country is awakening to this situati~n and, to some extent at least, is attempting to meet it. Methods of higher criticism common in the West are being applied to the Moslem tra~ ditions, commentaries and even to the Koran itself. The orthodox leaders are greatly alarmed at this unholy method of handling their sacred literature and at the spirit which the desire to question authority reveals. This has led to the recognition of two distinct classes, the Fundamentalists who put the Koran and tradition above reason, and the Modernists who are endeavoring to bring the thinking and practices of Moslems into harmony with modern science and the social standards of Western civilization. This has led to many schools of reform among Moslems, each attempting to find a way to save Islam without throttling social, intellectual and moral advance.
In the Moslem world, all signs point to a decided break in Islam from the static past and an attempt to conform to the demands of a world of expanding intelligence and a society intolerant of traditional Moslem practices. This may mean the decline of Islam, or it may point to fundamental reforms.
Boys and
BY REV. JOHN KINGSDEY BIRGE, BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT Formerly Professor ill the International College, Smyrna O NE NIGHT, during the war, as we were passing through the city of Manissa, some Turkish boys boarded the train, and, as they did so, they kissed their father's hands. A business man in our party remarked on the courtesy and respect that these young Moslems showed to their parents-something that American hoys and girls might learn from the youth of Turkey. In this re- spect for elders and superiors, and obedience to authority, the early re- ligious instruction of Mohammed- an boys and girls plays some part.
Until recently, instruction in religion has been a large factor in all education in Moslem lands, and a generation ago was almost ex- clusively religious, particularly of girls. They studied letters and grammar, mainly Arabic gram- mar, in order that they might read the Koran. They learned the pro- nunciation of words and gained the ability fluently to read aloud the Koran, but of the meaning they had little or no idea. More re- cently, history, geography, mathe- matics and science have taken a A MOSL~;M BOY IN NORTH AI·'RICA place in the education of a Moslem child as in the Western world. But still religion has not beenJomit- ted. The child has been taught the qualities of God-that Rehas no beginning or ending; that He is different fr0m all created things so that not even a comparison can be made; that. He sees and hears, though not as men see and hear; that He is absolute and unlimited in His power and authority. The child also learns his religious prac- tices, such as prayer in the Arabic tongue five times a day, the rea- son given being that God has commanded it. When the child imi- tates his parents and goes without food or drink from sunrise to sunset, during the month of Ramazan, he is being drilled into an at- titude of diticipline toward God. "Islam" meang "submission" and a "Moslem" is "one who submits" to the will of God. Obedience to authority thus becomes the major virtue and children learn to re- spect their parents.
They are also taught to respect their governments. In Turkish 3 769
there is a word for" subject" but none for" citizen." 'l'he idea of citizenship, as we understand it, does not exist.
The Islamic system is not like the Christian. The division among us into many denominations produces uncertainty as to religious authority. In Moslem lands, there is comparative agreement as to what God has required of His followers, and the child learns certain definite requirements in belief and practices that become ingrained into his very system.
Once during the month of Ramazan 1 was sitting in a gallery of a mosque, watching the worshippers. I saw boys touching with their thumbs the three portions of each finger, one after another, and I learned that they were reciting the names of God. If they didn't know the Ninety-nine Most Beautiful Names for God, as they probably did not, they were repeating thirty-three times each, such expressions as "God is Most Great."
This religious education exerts an even greater influence over them, because so much of it is taught under emotion. Ramazan evenings are happy festival occasions, and even though the worship is very long, there seems to be a gladness about it, a social good time, that deepens the impression on the boy or g·irl.
On Mohammed's birthday and other occasions, children, especially the boys, gather with their elders to listen to long chants and songs about Mohammed and the glories of the Moslem past. On such occasions, candy will be passed even in the mosques, and perfume will be scattered on the hands of all, leaving for the boy and girl sensations which in later life, when intellectual belief may have been shaken, still bring back the old associations.
Thus their type of religious education grips the child. The whole tone of it impresses on the mind the limitless power of God, so that a conception of the universe is built up which recognizes sovereignty and authority.
It is only partly true, however, that Islam is more uniform in its religious teachings than is Christianity. Outwardly, most Moslems, in any particular country, recognize the same system of belief and worship, but everywhere Islam is saturated with heretical teachings which find expression in fraternal organizations. While they secretly teach various mystical ideas, most of them hold public services in which they seek to experience an actual oneness with God. I have seen boys, hardly able to stand, sway their bodies back and forth as they dreamily recite over and over the name of God. Once I attended a prayer meeting, or zikr, of the Rufai Dervishes, when half a dozen boys were present as worshippers and other children were in the audience. When the worshippers had been stirred to excitement, a charcoal brazier was brought in from which projected a score or more of iron rods, each with an iron ring on the end. The rings, as well as two or three inches of the rod, were red hot. The leader
lfOHAMMEDA.:'.' ROYS AXD GIRLS
extracted one rod after another from the fire, slapped it on both sides of his hand, then gave it to a worshipper. I could plainly hear the hiss of steam as the worshippers licked these rods until they were cool. The small boys licked their red-hot irons as an American boy does a lollypop. There was a pathos in their very earnestness. They were experiencing, they thought, God's power, but how pitifully lack- ing they were in any ethical conception of what is involved in the will of God! In these ways, religion, with its emphasis on the power and ar- bitrary will of God almost entirely without ethical implications, is taught to practically every boy and girl in Moslem lands. Almost as influential have been the crude and superstitious popular beliefs.
'fombs of holy men arc regarded as sacred and on uear-by trees are hung' bits of rags, as reminders to the -spirrt hovering around the tomb that prayers have been offered. On every side the boy or girl sees such evidences of belief ill spirit presences. Such stories as the "Arabian Nig'hts" have made vel'y real to the children an unseen world where God also rules with supernatural forces.
This type of education is now in the process of change. Not only has Turkey abolished the dervish orders but time given to religious instruction in school is cut down, AN ARAB GIRL. STILL UNVEILED attendance at mosque services is growing less and formal worship has been on the decline for some years. One day with a Moslem boy I visited the religious schools of Smyrna. Where there had been over twenty of these, not one was left. We entered a mosque and talked with the sad-faced caretaker who was sweeping the floor. We remarked on the beauty of his place of worship. "Yes," he said, "the mosque is all right. The trouble is with the people who no longer come to prayers."
In place of the religious education formerly given in schools, more time is being given to the physical sciences. In place of re- ligious festivals and the songs that extolled the Prophet, national holidays and patriotic hymns are becoming the vogue. Everywhere the influence of the ·Western world is supplanting with ever-increasing rapidity the traditions of the Mohammedan past.
One wonders what is the effellt of the impact of Western inven-
tions on the Moslem boy and girl. There cannot but come a new faith in the material forces of this world. The textbooks in geography picture the factories of the 1,Vestern world, and the modern inventor is adjudged a great benefactor. The boy and girl are not only conceiving new wants, but a new philosophy of life is being taught. The old holy men do not seem so holy now. The Western standard of material success appeals with irresistible force. God does not seem so powerful. Steam and electricity are the modern agents, and success is measured by ability to use these forces and to acquire more of this world's goods. There is no stopping the influence upon practically every Moslem boy and girl in the world today of nationalism and materialism, both of which come from the Western world.
The secular impact of the civilization of the West is having a helpful effect in at least one respect, especially for the children. The play life of the East has never been as rich as that of the West. Boys in Turkey, for example, have, in the past, played such games as leapfrog, blind man's buff, hothand, swattag, etc., but now the American games are coming in-soccer, football, basketball, handball, and even baseball. When boys were growing into young manhood, indulgence in sports a few years ago seemed undignified and unworthy. Now Western influence has spread a new spirit, and on every side athletic sports command the interest of the young and the respect of their elders. Team games teach a spirit that is indispensable in citizenship and essential to true religion. They require the sacrifice of an individual for the good of the group. There is a certain moral quality also taught by the necessity of taking defeat in a sportsmanlike spirit, and, through team games, fair play can be taught to the boy and girl.
Other forms of Western amusements are not always so helpful. 'rhe moving picture is found almost everywhere, even in remote towns, and Pola Negri and Gloria Swanson are teaching the Moslem youth, more effectively than any textbook, about the life in "Ohristian" countries. Many are saying that Western inventions are good but Western home life is on a lower plane than that found in the East. The unwholesome sex relations as depicted by the films fascinate many others and lower the ideal of the boy or girl as to what _ social and home life should be.
Into this complex mixture of the old and the new the Christian missionary comes today with a religion which already is misunderstood. Ohristianity to the Moslem all too often connotes a political division within his own country's borders or else the uniting bond between foreign powers. The child does not see evidence that Ohristianity is a force making for brotherhood between races and classes. The name is a hated name and a stumblingblock often in the effort to interpret the reality which, to the missionary, lies behind the word. But many Moslems want the moral force that the mission
MOHAM1IIEDAN BOYS AND GIRLS
school seems to have. They appreciate the work of the mission hospital until the Moslem doctors fear the competition with their own work. The social center has been tried in only a few places, but its success has been conspicuous. Many of the boys and girls who have been taught in the mission schools and colleges are filled with the spirit of service. They have tasted, in school, the joy of it, and they look, sometimes with pathetic eagerness, to the missionary for leadership.
Moslem boys and girls are reading what literature they can find, and their minds are being fed with much that is bad. The oppor- BOY SCOUTS DRILLING IN TARSUS, ASIA MINOR tunity of the missionary is to study all the channels by which the thought of the people is being affected, the textbooks in the schools, the newspaper, the magazine, the movie, and to seek to release influences among these agencies that will gradually give to the masses of people a new understanding of the fact that Jesus, the Great Prophet recognized by themselves, is One whom the whole world desperately needs today. As the Christian forces of the West live lives of Christlike service in the midst of the Moslems of the East, a new meaning will come to be attached to the idea of following Jesus. It is the Moslem boys and girls that are freest of all to take what the missionary brings and that can go forth in the Christian spirit to overcome the materialism which otherwise will saturate the Moslem East.
THE CENSUS OF THE MOSLEM WORLD DISTRIBUTION BY GOVERNMENTS: Under British Rttle or Occupation: In Africa …….•…………………. 28,910,000 In Asia …………………………. . 76,788,000 In Australia …………………….. . 25,000 —-105,723,000 Under Other Western Governments: In Africa Belgium …………………………. . 1,764,000 France …………… " …………… . 28,502,332 Italy ……………………………. . 1,659,000 Portugal ………………………… . Spain …………………………… . 239,000 Abyssinia and Liberia ……………… . 594,500 800,000 In Asia United States of America (Philippines) … . 597,994 39,000,000 Netherlands ……………………… . France ………………………….. . 3,341,860 Russia' (Europe and Asia) ………….. . 15,320,000 In Europe …………….. ………….. . In Amelrica ……………………….. . 2,469,957 204,429 94,493,072 Under Non-Christian Governments: 200,216,072 Turkey ………………………….. . 8,321,000 Mesopotamia ……………………… . 2,840,700 Persia .. " …. " .. , .. , ….,.,.,., ….. ,., 9,350,000 Afghanistan ' …………………….. . 6,380,000 Arabia ., ………………………… . 3,400,000 Siam ……………………………. . China ………… , ……………….. . 150,000 9,136,000 – – – 39,577,700 MOSLEM OBJECTIONS TO MODERN EDUCATION FOR WOMEN T HE Mohammedan women in many of the countries in the East are becoming imbued with modern ideals for women and are as- serting themselves. In India, the women held an All-India Mo- IJammedan Women's Conference to insist upon monogamy and other reforms. Everywhere they are seeking education.
An Egyptian Moslem gives the following objections to the modern education of women: 1. The educated women do not like to do housework. 2. They become extravagant about their dress. 3. They sing and play the piano to fit themselves to associate with cultured women of the West. 4. They spend their time reading love stories. 5. They do not live economically, 6. They wish to marry for love, money or good looks.
OF THE UNIVERSI1'Y MOSQUE ElL AZHAR, CAIRO, FOUNDED IN 969 A. D
To (''OI.llpJete a course in the .4zhar reQuirE:'s about twelve years. The curriculum includes juris- prudence. theology, exege~iE;, grammar, syntax, rhetoric, logic and the traditions; it bas 10,000 students and 250 professors.
Some Moslem Views of Christianity A Series of Interviews by Dr. H. E. Philips, Cairo, Egypt By A YOUNG STUDENT IN CAIRO, A MEMBER OF THE Y. M. C. A.
I HAVE no sympathy with the old school of Islam as represented in EI Azhar University but I am a Moslem and cannot accept Christianity as my religion, first of all because I find it very impracticable. Even Christians do not take its precepts seriously nor attempt to fulfill them literally. The commands of Christianity are so extreme that if they were put into practice chaos would follow.
Take one of the gospel teachings by way of example. How many coats do you have~ More than one'/ Have you given away all but one 1 Do you give to everyone that asks something from you and do you never refuse a loan to one who would borrow 1 What would become of society if your gospel laws were followed literally Y Jesus taught men to return good for evil. It sounds all right in theory hut the business of everyday life proves that it does not work. Neither Christian individuals nor states observe this rule. Justice and the social order cannot be maintained in that way. If you examine every distinctive point in the .Gospel, in the last analysis you will find that it is not practical.
A second reason why I do not accept Christianity is that the Gos- 775
pel is full of inconsistencies. Of course we Moslems do not believe that Jesus Himself ever taught the distinctive doctrines of modern Christianity. They are hopelessly at variance with one another. For example, Jesus is called the "Son of God" and also the "Son of Man." He says that a man becomes great by becoming small; that he finds life by losing or laying down his life; that he becomes strong by being weak. All of this is incomprehensible and unreasonable. Moreover Christians call Jesus God and they pray to Him while many times in the Gospel He is represented as Himself praying to God.
Jesus' first miracle was the converting of water into wine for a wedding feast. I have been told that Christians should not drink wine and that the Bible teaches that drinking intoxicants is a sin. In the Koran you will find that Mohammed did not drink wine and that he forbade his followers to use it. Moslems everywhere and. always are total abstainers. Spirituous liquors are strictly forbidden and have been introduced into Mohammedan lands through the greed of' Christian merchants.
A third reason why I adhere to Islam is because of its wonderful provision for social life, very little of which I find in the Christian Gospel. The Koran is called a " Guidance" for men and makes practical provision for every detail of life. Why should I leave this system for one that deals only in generalities? Christians have much to say about the "Sermon on the Mount" but its idealism is impractical and fails to grip our social problems.
You speak of polygamy as an evil and I agree that unlimited marriage is an evil. But Mohammed made no such blunder. He found unlimited marriage prevailing in pagan Arabia so he corrected it by placing limits upon those who accepted Islam. Under .Tudaism polygamy was sanctioned and practiced by the prophetf;, but because it was not regulated it was abused as in the case of Solomon. Islam takes into account the fact that there are more women in the world than men and that through war the proportion of men is often greatly reduced. It meets this problem with the practical provision for plural marriage with certain definite limitations. The much-vaunted monogamy of the Ohristian system is not rigidly enforced and sooner or later will yield to stern necessity. In my opinion it will be a change for the better.
A fourth reason for my belief in Islam is its intellectual superiority over the Christian system. I admit that, for the present, European civilization has forged ahead of Islamic countries but the reason for our present eclipse is economic and not intellectual, a condition which is due to the temporary military superiority of the West. How did Europe obtain this advantage ~ Most of her modern civilization was borrowed from Islam. Every branch of science was assiduously studied and developed in the centers of Islamic power.
1926J SOME MOSLEM vmws OF CHRISTIANITY
Stanley Lane Poole, in "The Moors in Spain," uses the following words in praise of Islamic learning: "Beautiful as were the palaces and gardens of Cordova, her claims to admiration in higher matters were no less strong. The mind was as lovely as the body. Her professors and teachers made her the center of European culture; students would come from all parts of the world to study under her famous doctors…. As for the graces of literature, there never was a time when poetry became the speech of everybody, so much so that no speech or address was complete without some scraps of verse.'''' Whether the suhject he astronomy or chemistry or geography or natural history the foundations are found in the Holy Koran. If the principle patrons of learning in that great epoch of educational progress were Moslems and if, as I believe, we are on the verge of a great revival in our religion, I see no good reason why I should forsake my faith. If the European nations are under happier circumstances today than are the countries of Islam and if their scientific progress is for the time in advance of that found in Mohammedan countries; it is not because of the teachings of Christianity but beeause Europe has taken the learning and the principles of Islam and has built upon them.
T could give many more reasons for my rejection of Christianity but these are my leading ones: it is morany impracticable; it is intellectually inconsistent; it is socially insufficient; it is scientically inferior. In all these respects I find Islam sufficent and satisfactory.
By AN ADVANCED STUDENT IN A SECONDARY SCHOOL IN EGYPT First of all let me say that I am not much of a Moslem. I am rather a free thinker or perhaps you would call me an agnostic. Our family is one of the best in Cairo and we always have had plenty of hooks and time for reading but in our home we never did discuss religion very much. At first I was very ignorant of my religion. Then an over-zealous Christian began trying to teach me the way of Christianity. It was not acceptable to me but this friend persisted and I was wholly unable to answer the arguments that were presented. Then I began the study of my own religion in earnest and soon found what seemed to me sufficient answers for all the Christian arguments. Indeed I became very proficient in debate on all religious questions and was a convinced and fanatical Moslem. Later I t00k up the study of European philosophy and found that the great thinkers of the world have never been religious men. I also found that neither Islam nor Christianity agrees with the best philosophy. 'l'he result has been that I have lost my zeal for Mohammedanism and I am now willing to take the good out of all religions and to profess none. ,,I[ho is Mohammed and who is Christ but men who • The quotation here used is found in The Islamic World, Jan.) 1926) p. 311 in an article by Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah on "Islam and Learning."
tried to help their people to live a better life and to relieve the social conditions they found in the world 1 As to my belief in God, of course anyone who has studied philosophy and science is compelled to believe that there is some great power back of all the phenomena that we see round about us. It may be a conscious power or it may only be an impersonal force. I do not see how anyone can be sure. I sometimes wish I could believe in a personal God as you do for it must be very comforting, but somehow I cannot believe.
I do not understand what is commonly called sin nor the Ohristian remedy through the blood of Ohrist. I am not perfect but neither am I conscious of any very serious sin nor do I feel the need of any other person to save me from sin. My religion has always been one of good works. I try to live right and never to harm anyone and what more do Ohristians want? After all my studies in philosophy I have come to think that if God is a conscious being He does not care very much about the individual but has more concern about nations, and if He does care about individuals what more does He want beyond the life I am now living¥ By AN ENGLISHMAN '¥HO HAS BECOME A MOSLEM My father desired me to enter the service of the Ohristian Ohurch, and to this purpose I studied. Early I had doubts, and could not reconcile myself to believe in the Trinity, Vicarious Atonement, and Original Sin. I read books on all phases of Ohristianity, and came to the conclusion that I believed none. About this time I came into contact with W. Stewart Ross, the agnostic leader, and editor of The Agnostic Journal. In this way I was introduced to the writings of Ingersoll, Hreckel and others. Ross quarreled with the Biblical conception of Deity, and I agreed with him, but never lost faith in a Supreme Being. I began the study of comparative religion (neglecting Islam which I had been told was merely an altered version of Ohristianity). Hearing Ross speak of the sublime conception of Deity pictured by the deism of Islam, I resolved to study this faith and to my surprise began to find myself at home. '1'he central truth of the oneness of the Deity and the idea of a deit.y who sent teachers not only to the Jews but other races was my own idea of an impartial Being. The life of Mohammed, the complete success attending his mission even in his own lifetime, the brotherhood of all believers which he accomplished, and the wholesome reforms he brought, wrung from me the acceptance of his prophethood. The Koran I found made a stronger appeal to me than the Biblical narratives had ever done, and when I came to dissect the Suras and Ayats, I found myself living in a new world, reading the inner meanings, and becoming for the first time in a state of At-one-ment with God.
1926J 80MB MOSLEM VIEWS OE' UHRI8TIANl'l'Y
In 1903 I confessed to my father that I was a Moslem, and later on met a Moslem for the first time. He was the Hon. Dr. Abdullah al Mamun Suhrawardy, M.A., LL.D. (now the Chairman of the Bengal Legislative Council). In his presence I repeated the Kalima.'" I became Honorary Assistant Secretary of the Pan-Islamic Society and afterwards Honorary Vice-President. In 1912 Khwaja Kamalud-Din came to England, and I associated myself with him in the Woking Moslem Missiop., and the Islamic Review. Prior to this I had been nominated "Sheikh of the British Moslems." Today I contribute to almost all the leading Moslem journals in India, Persia, Turkey, etc., and represent several of those in London. I represent also La Fraternite Musulmane de Paris, and by the invitation of the French Government was present at the Foundation Ceremony of the Paris Mosque. Recently I started the Minaret, a small Islamic journal destined for the Western reader, and a large percentage of my letters from enquirers came from the United States of America.
(Signed) KHALID SHELDRAKE.
*' The kaZima means the Moslem creed, "There is no God but God and Mohammed 1s the prophet of God."
A TURK'S VIEW OF THE CHRISTIAN MENACE W RITING to the Djumhouriet, a Turkish daily newspaper pub- lished in Constantinople, an anonymous correspondent describes the spread of Christian propaganda and institutions in Turkey and seems to be particularly incensed over the success of the Y. M. C. A. After outlining this growth, he proceeds to give this description of the manner in which the Christians project their influence: "First they get people to love them, and then they make them novices in their order. Their schools are each a danger. There the great deeds of Jesus are sung. The persuasive abilities of the members of this Association, both men and women, are so great that, like ants caught in a spider's web, people cannot again be rescued from their hands. The greatest secret of their success is love ….
"The Protestant young Christians begin with example and lead up to rule; they go from the concrete to the abstract. This sort of propaganda is fatal. They do not proclaim the principles of Protestantism. Nay, they do not even talk about religion, but by their attitude, their actions, their manners, by the compassion they show to animals, by the help they give to the poor, by loving what is good, by mercy to the unfortunate, they try to show the loftiness of their religion.
"The number of innocent Turkish children captured by these charms is constantly increasing, and these children are weaned from their individuality and are becoming each an American Protestant, nay more, not only a Protestant but a missionary."
A VISIT TO EL-AZHAR UNIVERSITY BY REV. J. E. SHEPHWD in the Bapti..t Missionary Hem~d E VEN within the memory of men now living, Christians could not enter El-Azhar, the great Moslem university in Cairo, but that is changed and even Christian missionaries pass in freely, as wel- come visitors.
One morning we found ourselves at "The Gate of the Barbers," the entrance to EI-Azhar. The porter brought some slippers and after placing these upon our feet, our dragoman kicked off his own shoes, and led the way. Then we entered one of the largest universities in the world, one of the most ancient, going back nearly a thousand years, to 980 A. D. El-Azhar is the intellectual focal point of Islam. Here we saw the intelli- gent youth of many lands-India, Syria, Morocco, Tripoli, Tunis, Algeria, Turkey, Afghanistan, and other parts of the world- all being trained for the priest- hood. 'rhey are here to be trained in the Koran. They are practi- ~ally men of one book. "In the shaded porticos of the great court they sit in circles, great or small, 'at the feet of' their sheikhs, the 'rahhis' of Islam, who themselves squat on low dais seats and dis- cuss the grammar, language, in- terpretation and legal teaching of the Koran."
We went freely from one group to 'mother and watched the process of teaching, all so different from our idea of what teaching should be. It was a study of the Oriental mind, with its great power of detachment and its equally great power of concentration. -"Ve could not help wondering what fruit these studies would bear in after days in other lands, what influence these young men would wield. EI-Azhar is a mosque, and there are six gates. The Liwan is huge, and its ceiling is supported upon three hundred and eighty pillars. The minarets are of different periods, the structure having often been altered, and various sultans from the twelfth century to the nineteenth having left their' mark upon it. The library is a spacious hall, with tier upon tier of shelves from fioor to ceiling, filled with books bound in crimson leather. There were many writing tables, and, in the center, was a glass case containing a treasure, the royal copy of the Koran. Every letter is printed in gold. Outside the mosque, we saw a large number of blind, who, through their infirmity, do not enter the place of prayer, but are heing taught just without the gates. There were between fifteen thousand and sixteen thousand students in the University-and provision f(lr twenty thousand. Some of these young students haye been won for Christ.
J,ISTENlNG TO A LECTURE ON THE KORAN I N ALGIF:RS
Hindrances to Christian Work for Moslems BY RE;V. C. G. NAISH, B.A., BEiRUT, SYRIA Member of the Council of C1u'istian Missions in Western Asia and Northern Africa M ISUNDERSTANDING: Not long ago in Egypt a simple man, a woodworker, came to one of the missionary centers and asked for baptism. He said: "I have heard the preaching at M— and it is excellent." "You don't need to be baptized," replied the missionary, "you can hear the preaching freely in any case. "
"But I want to belong to that society." "Do you want to be saved from your guilH" "Guilt7 What is guilt7" "Your sins." "My sins1" answered ·the man smiling. "Why, I've never sinned in my life." This story indicates clearly the real difficulty which stands like a blank wall between the Christian teacher and the Moslem. The Moslem does not know what the Christian is talking about. He probably does understand the Arabic words used, for many missionaries speak Arabic and other Moslem languages well. But the ideas he misunderstands. The connotation of the Christian vocabulary is quite different to his mind. A word which the Christian uses for the moral guilt and shame of sin means to the Moslem hearer simply transgression of ceremonial law. This carpenter, supposed that he was being asked about hi& observance of times of prayer and other duties prescribed by .the Koran. lIe had no conception of what we understand by sin against God. 'l'he first obstacle encountered is, therefore, that of making a Moslem understand. It is insuperable to any power but the Spirit of God. The fact is that ideas which the missionary wishes to present do not exist in the minds of ninety-nine of every hundred Mos- 781
1ems. We have to face the task of trying to convey these strange ideas by the medium of words which have quite a different meaning to the hearer.
It has often been said that Islam and Christianity have much in ('ammon. Moslems are not heathen or idolaters. They worship one God. Some would say that they are half Christians already; at leaRt they are monotheists. Nothing ('auld be more misleading. They do believe in one God, whose name is Allah, but their conception of him is utterly different from the God revealed by Jesus Christ. He is capricious, unspiritual, transcendent without being immanent, and He is loveless.
One day in Syria, some veiled Moslem women attempted to enter the train in which we were riding. "No room!" the conductor called out; "the hareem is fulL" The women flung up their hands in a gesture of despair. "Vhat shall we do'" they wailed. The conductor blew his whistle. "Allah will arrange something for you," he calmly said as the tram moved off.
That-is what Allah is like to the mind of the conductor and his Moslem brethren. He may arrange for you to get in the tram, or he may not, but to complain is of no use. Noone can tell what Allah will do. He may say one thing today and the contrary tomorrow. 'Both will be true because he has said both.
Take the word "heaven." While Christians use imagery of streets of gold, temples and harps, we understand that these metaphorically refer to a spiritual state which eludes the resources of human language. But to the Moslem paradise is very definitely literal and material.
In Dama~us a friend of mine was called upon by strangers to enter a shop and witness a document which ran like this: "I, Abdullah, remit to Ahmad the debt of ten pounds which he owes me, on consideration of his handing over to me one of his wives in Paradise. He, Ahmad, is to have thirty nine, and I. Abdullah, am to have forty one."
The Koran promises beautiful maidens (houries) to every true believer. Nevertheless it is a shock to find that a Moslem of this century takes the promise so literally, and that his idea of heaven is so unspiritual. How can one use the word heaven or Paradise to eonvey to him the Christian belief 1 And yet how. can we explain our religion without using its key words ~ , PRE;ruDIcE. Not only does the Moslem fail to understand the Christian vocabulary, but positively he has been taught to misunderstand it. An American born in the East, and using Arabic as easily as his own tongue, testifies: "The Moslem from childhood has been taught to hate the very sound of the words 'Father' and 'Trinity' " as applied to God. The reason is chiefly historical. Mohammed and many subsequent leaders of Islam came into touch with a corrupt form of Christianity. Even in some places today there is an igno-
J92G] HINDRANCES TO CHRISTIAN WORK FOR, lfQSLElIfS
rant type of Christianity that practically teaches polytheism. And it recognizes three gods, one called the Father, a stern judge whose chief aim is to detect men in sin and punish them with satisfaction, a goddess (for she is nothing less) called Mary, the mother of God, interceding with this stern deity, and a Son, who was once incarnate, a rather weaker and more distant copy of the goddess.
Is it any wonder that Moslems who met such a form of belief turned from it in disgust, accusing such so-called Christians of polytheism ~ The trouble is that Moslems of today assume that all who bear the name Christian regard the Trinity in this way, as composed of father, mother and son; and that God had a literal wife and literal offspring. Would anything make us listen to such teaching?
Small wonder then if a single Moslem can prejudice a whole audience against a preacher by reference to any of these terms, AN ADVERTISEMENT IN CAIRO- BOYS SELLING LOTTERY TICKETS IN ONE OF THE HINDRANCES CAIRO-ANOTHER EVIL though these same words may convey to the preacher precious and fundamental beliefs.
Moreover, it has been ingrained in the very nature of the Moslem that his own holy book, the Koran, is literally inspired in every jot and tittle. When it teaches something absolutely contrary to history, such as that Mary the mother of Jesus was the same person as Miriam the sister of Moses and that Moses was the uncle of Jesus, he feels bound to believe it.
The Christian Bible is rejected as an unauthentic book, a forgery, which has been substituted for the true Law of Moses, Psalter of David, and Gospel of J esns which were written down word for word in the same way that Mohammed wrote the Koran. Is it surprising that their prejudice is hard to disarm ~ NOMINAL CHRISTIANITY. The obstacles already mentioned are subjective. The greatest objective hindrance is the travesty of Christianity, professing to be the religion of J eSllS, which the Moslem often has before his eyes.
Lady Buckmaster wrote recently of a trip to the East: "As we approached Port Said I strained my eyes for a first glimpse of
the land of the Pharaohs. This is what I saw. 'Dewar's Whiskey' 'Black and White Whiskey' 'Dawson's Whiskey'; and I felt ashamed.
Intoxicating drinks are prohibited by the Koran. But the influence of the West has been too strong for the East. Of course, it is not fair to judge followers of Ohrist by the behavior of merchants whose god is mammon, or of tourists who worship pleasure. But, Rad to say, the Moslem does so. "So this is your vaunted superior religion," he sneers. What is a Moslem to think when British soldiers are the only drunken pe,ople he has ever seen ~ Or when lottery tickets are sold everywhere in his streets, and whole shops are exclusively devoted to their sale, though all gambling and betting are forbidden to him 7 It is the "Ohristian" who has brought them to his country. How does he view the construction by a foreign syndicate of a grand race-course in the most beautiful and quietest suburb of Oairo ~ How can he be other than shocked to see, flaunting themselves in his streets, fashions which even the best Westerners regard as too free or too fast 1 The grand Mufti of Beirut, although very friendly to the American community, recently refused to attend one of its functions. He pleaded, "I cannot bring myself to sit there among your 'maksiyat aariyat-your "clothed-unclothed dames!"
It is not only the Westerner who has misrepresented Christ's religion. Among Eastern Ohurches, also, there is often a performance very unworthy of their profession. A college principal in Egypt once asked some Moslem students the reason why Moslem nations are so backward in relation to other nations. The students replied: "It is not a result of religion; that is clear. We admit that yon are more truthful and honest. But the reason lies in race. If it were religion, the Ooptic Ohristians would be more honest than we are. But they cheat at examinations more than we do, and they are more immoral." Of course the Moslem believes his eyes rather than the protestations of a few earnest souls who try to explain the matter away.
NATIONALISM. In more than one country, where education is breaking down barriers of ignorance and prejudice, narrow nationalism is building a fresh and formidable barricade. Turkey, Egypt, Palestine and Moslem India are aflame with that sad parody of patriotism which makes antagonism and not service its aim. There is a certain type of Egyptian student who thinks he has done a fine thing for his country and supported her dignity if he has been rude to a foreigner. As an obstacle to Christianity, this race consciousness is formidable. Ohristianity is a foreign religion, therefore, they argue, it is unpatriotic. The saddest part of this is that Western nations have taught it to the East. It is a historical fact that the nationalism of antagonism arose in Western Europe, and has been carried eastward first by the imperialism and snobbery of merchants, tourists and officials, and secondly by the frightful example of jealousy and hatred which culminated in the war of 1914.
HINDRANCES TO CHRISTIAN WORK FOR MOSLEMS
Those who live in the West are responsible. Many Moslem stu- dents and others travel to Europe and America and see for them- selves the condition of civilization there. Some are shocked; some are cynically amused. Practically all return to the East with their prejudice strengthened. We can hardly expect them to admit that the vices of the West are in spite of the Gospel, not due to it. The Western nations are not Christian, and it is a wrong to our Master to call them so. But the visiting Moslem too rarely sees the spirit of Christ displayed in practice. If he does so, he is reverent. But Christianity more often means to his mind bootlegging, gambling and prostitution.
This obstacle is one that must be overcome in the West as well as in the East. Those who love their Lord in England and America may serve their Moslem brethren effectively by welcoming contacts with Mohammedan visitors and by putting a living Gospel before them. They share the blame if they fail to do so.
FAILURES OF CHRISTIANS. A stumblingblock is cast before Mos- lems not only by nominal Christians but by the failures of genuine . disciples. There is our imperialism, our quiet but arrogant assump- tion of superiority. A few missionaries talk about "niggers" with contempt or studied neglect. Not all are free from the charge of car- rying themselves with a superior attitude. Christians have gone to serve Moslems as a sacrificial duty but how few have loved the peo- ple themselves! "Zeal for men's souls while we care not at all for them personally and prefer to keep away from all intimate acquaint- ance with them is. a very hideous form of hypocrisy." Our behavior may be courteous and yet unsocial, judged with an unprejudiced mind. The missionary sitting in a public vehicle will often take out his book lest he should waste precious minutes. His honest opinion is that it is a praiseworthy thing to resist indolence of mind. But what if the courtesy he owes as a guest of the East demands rather that he adopt its social custom and talk with his felIow-passengers7 Even about indifferent matters for the mere sake of talking1 It is not because he hopes for opportunities of directly religious conver- sation. That is not a sufficiently disinterested aim. "Christ loved men, loved to be with them, loved them for their own sake and found joy in association with them, even if there was not an opportunity to preach to them. He was like a jeweler who loves to handle and study and admire pearls even though he makes no profit in the proc- ess; like an artist who loves to sit before fine paintings with no thought at all of possessing them. The way to bring Christ's mes- sage to the Moslem is to imitate His attitude."
In the last analysis it is Christ's followers, who are the obstacle. In West and East we misrepresent Him and the word of God is bound because we bind it. Alas, that it should ever be true that the Mos- lem seeing our lives should say, "If that is Christianity I do not want it."
4
Christian Approach to
BY REV. W. WILSON CASH, D.S.O., LONDON, ENGLAND General Secretary of the Church Missionary Society n .AMONG Christians, when a man is referred to as a Jew, immedi- ately people usually react unfavorably because of all they understand by the mere word. A man is judged not for what he is, but by what his name has come to mean in the minds of many. In the same way, the Moslem is prejudiced against anyone called "Christian," because of the background of history extending from the days of Mohammed to the present.
I. The difficulty of the Christian approach to Islam is seen, first of all, in the Moslem idea of Christianity. Nisarani, or Christian, is a strong term of reproach in Moslem lands, amounting almost to a curse. When two Moslems are having an angry dispute, one will call the other Nisarani to express his complete contempt and scorn of his opponent. This attitude of Moslems to Christians was in the mind of a member of the Moslem Conference in Jerusalem in 1924 when he thus described the missionary's task: To persuade the pr·oudest man on earth to accept a message he detests from a people he despises.
The Koran abounds in references to Christianity, and Mohammed came frequently into direct contact with the Eastern churches. To him it was the husks of a once-living faith. He saw it as a dying religion, suffocated under an immense pile of superstitions, inventions and fables, and sunken in idolatry, and weakened by corruptions. The divisions, bitter controversies, religious and credal rivalries made it almost impossible for an Arab to see JESUS CHRIST in the tangle of theological controversies. The worship of the Virgin stamped Christians as idolaters, and the priesthood of the day gave undoubtedly the impression that the Christian faith did not stand for the direct access of the soul to GOD•. It is little wonder, therefore, that Mohammed should have turned away from Christianity to found a faith on simpler lines, a faith that made GOD accessible to all, without any place in its system for monasticism or priestcraft.
In spite of all this, something of the sweet reasonableness of the Christian spirit appears to have touched Mohammed for, in all his references to Christianity, he is less severe than when speaking of the Jews. This is no doubt largely due to the fact that it was in the formative and creative period of the Mecca days that Mohammed met Christians. It is one of the tragedies of Christian history that this seeker after GOD could not find the goal of his search in Christ because of the failure of the Church adequately to represent the spirit and teaching of its Master.
786 What were the things that .Mohammed attacked in Christianity'/ I draw the following list from the references to Christianity in the Koran: 1. He complains of the bitter hatred of everything non-Christian, and the lack of appreciation of good in other faiths. This he attributes largely to the monks and priests. (See Sura 5.85.) 2. They consign, he says, all non-Christians (including Moslems) to Hell. (See Sura 2.105.) 3. He criticizes their narrow sectarianism and reminds them that "On thc resurrection day GOD shall judge between them as to that in which they differ." (See Sura 2.107-110.) 4. He criticizes Christianity because it teaches the Crucifixion of Christ, who, he says, was not crucified.
5. He attacks the doctrine of the Trinity, and the doctrine of the Sonship of Christ.
6. His main line of attack, however, is the whole Christian conception of GOD, as he knew it. It does not appeal to the Arab mind. It seems to lack any strong faith in thc' absolute sovereignty of GOD: Love, sympathy, service and sacrifice do not form any essential part of Mohammed's conception of GOD: He is more attracted by the Old Testament picture of a God, mighty in battle, oinnipotent and supreme, ruling as He wills the nations of the carth.
To this must be added the fact that Mohammed claimed to be in direct prophetic succession with all previous prophets. He did not set out to establish a new faith, but to build upon what he thought was the one world religion from the time of Adam.
When we remember that Mohammed's idea of Christianity represents the ideas of the whole Moslem world today; that where he misunderstood our faith, Moslems still misunderE#;and it; and where he attacked it, his followers still do the same, we will at once see that to study the right approach of Christians to Islam, we must take very serious account of past mistakes; and that, in our presentation of our message, we must take care that it is the unadulterated message of Christ we offer, and not a watered down, diluted form of Western Christianity.
MOSLEM CONCEPTIONS oJ<' CHRISTIANITY II. A second great factor must be remembered in approaching Moslems. Their conceptions of Christianity as seen in the Koran, traditions and history, are further strengthened by Moslem contacts with Christianity today. The Eastern churches have really changed very little since Mohammed's day. The ignorance of the priests, the lack of a strong spiritual life, and the absence of a presentation of Christianity in terms of social service and love, often confirm Moslems in the vi/ilw that their estimate of Christianity is accurate.
There are also the impressions gained of our faith by contacts with Western powers. Rightly or wrongly the Moslem attributes as a rule what is done by Western powers to Christianity. In his mind the Moslem does not say simply England or France or Italy did so
and so, but the Christians did it. He cannot distinguish between so-called Christian nations and Christianity. To the Moslem they are the same.
Let me illustrate this by what has happened recently in Syria. '1'he French Government completely misunderstood the Druse and the Arab. They mishandled the situation, and thus drove the people into rebellion, and to quell it they bombarded the open and defence- Ipss town of Damascus, with little thought of the consequences to women and children. The people of Damascus link all this in their minds with Christianity; hence the fears that have been expressed of a massacre of Christians. We know that this sort of thing does not in the remotest degree represent Christianity, but the Moslem is convinced that it does.
The wealth of Western nations gives the Moslem a picture of Christianity as something material, a faith that makes people rich, strong, powerful, and naturally they view us all as materialistic people with little or no idea of anything beyond this world. In preaching to Moslems, I have frequently been asked, "Do the Christians say any prayers ~" 'Ve often appear to them as rich and powerful, but pagan in thought and outlook.
A further problem arises through the confusion between civilization and Christianity. The two are not the same, but the Moslem cannot see it. The missionary task is to show Christianity as something infinitely greater than, and widely different from present-day civilization. The missionary must go further than this. He must show that organized Christianity today is not a complete representation of the faith of Jesus Christ. If it is necessary to show Christianity as greater than civilization, it is more necessary to make clear that Christ is infinitely greater than our picture of Him. The divided state of Christendom and the warring of sects, the clash of creeds and sectarian differences must be dissociated in our approach to the Moslem from the message that Christ brought into the world. The Moslem cannot understand the subtleties of our creeds, and the differences of our sects, but he can readily grasp the simple teaching of Jesus Christ, and no missionary work will be effective among Mos· lems that does not make Christ central and universal. It may rea· sonably be argued that this is done today; hut have we, as missionaries, really come face to face with Jesus Christ in His desire to express Himself through us to the Moslem mind ~ Very often it is an expression of Christ discolored by the mixture of Westernisms, denominationalism, and racial prejudices; and all the time the Moslem world is crying out for us to show it the full glory, beauty and character of Jesus Christ.
III. This leads me to the heart of the subject-the missionary task today. Protestant missions have occupied almost all the strategic centers of the Moslem world. They have built up, in the past
THE CHRJS'l'1AN APPROACH TO MOSLJ<:,MS
fifty years, great educational institutions, which have in turn given to the Moslem world a new reading public. They have carried out far-reaching social reforms through medical missions, and the hospitals, more than any other agency perhaps, have shown Islam what Christianity really is. Missionary doctors have proved to be a great asset in many Moslem lands. These two arms of missionary service, education and medicine, have together created a new situation that is bright with hope and promise. A widespread evangelism, the sale of the Scriptures, and the dissemination of Christian literature have laid foundations for a great advance, and, in many ways, the missions have been but a preparation for the day now dawning. This makes it all the more imperative that we should study the situation, and, above all, study ourselves and our work. If the Moslem is now awake, in touch with Western thought, and if he is thinking in new terms of modern life, and if he is no longer expressing himself in the language of a dead orthodoxy, but in living accents of a fuller life, and a wider liberty and freedom, then it behooves every missionary to ask himself whether he has a message to meet this need.
Most will agree that the old method of controversy is Iiot only out of date, but that it is a wrong approach to the Moslem. He is not an enemy to be defeated in argument, nor is he simply a sinner to be saved. He is a human being, throbbing with new ambitions, and demanding something that will help the whole life-body, soul and spirit. He is a brother beloved in search of God, and we must approach him as such if we would be any help at all. We start then by placing ourselves alongside our Moslem brother, on an equal footing with him, and in no sense as superior to him. We start by a brotherly contact which says: We both need God, we are both seeking God, let us seek for Him together. The missionary will thus begin as learner and teacher at the same time.
The Moslem to whom we speak has a long background of mif'lunderstandings. He at first will think, because we are Christians, that we are, therefore, narrow-minded, bigoted, fanatical and bitter enemies of Islam. His mental picture of us is Mohammed's, and he will naturally be suspicious and on his guard. He will be on the defensive, and will be ready to jump to the attack at any moment. As long as that complex remains, he is impervious to the missionary approach, and a pathway must be prepared that will enable discussion to be carried on in a spirit of friendship and mutual trust.
When friendship has been established the question arises as to what we are to teach. The Moslem will want to discuss the Trinity, and will plunge into the most intricate problem of theology because he revels in such discussions. He is used to them in Islam, and his zeal in this direction is only equalled by the love of political discussio;ns in the West. The missionary has really only one task-rightly to present Jesus Christ and so to represent Him that the Moslem
will be attracted to the Person of Ohrist, and not side-tracked by the theologies of Christianity.
I remember sitting with a group of sheikhs who tried hard to get me to discuss theology. Each time I said, ".My task is to show you Ohrist; I am His witness." I drew out my New Testament, and began reading- the Sermon on the Mount. I came to the verse "He that is angry with his brother" and at this point a Moslem sheikh broke in angrily, and said, "That is a lie." I was astonished, and appealed to the others sitting near. They all agreed with me that the teaching in the verse was true. The man brought other sheikhs, and made me read the verse again. I did so, and they agreed with lI!-e. Each time the angry sheikh said, "Is not that a lieF' "No," they all said, "it is perfectly true." A donkey boy standing near was evidently enjoying the scene, and taking a lively interest in the discussion. At last he broke in and said, "Do you want to know why the sheikh dislikes those words' Last night he tried to murder his brother in a fit of temper." The sheikh crimsoned with shame, and walked away, while the rest of the audience rocked with laughter. This sheikh had, for the first time, been brought face to face with Jesus Ohrist, and he felt himself judged; his conscience smote him when he was brought up to a great moral issue.
It is along this line I believe that our right approach lies. Moslems must be brought to face the great moral and spiritual issues of life, and to face them in the light of Ohrist and His Life. I have always found that along this line the Moslem is ready to respond, and that, having aroused in him an interest in the Person of Ohrist, he always goes on to ask, "If you so love Ohrist, why then do you say He was crucified?" The story of the Crucifixion as the unveiling of Divine Love is a new and complete revelation to him; and here again he comes face to face with Ohrist, and the claims He is making on that Moslem's life. The Cross interpreted in this way does not call out an angry retort, but a reverent respect and wonder. The appeal is irresistible. The Moslem, with his brother Christian, feels that he is on holy ground. He comes to criticize and argue, and stays to worship the Son of God Who loved him and gave Himself for Moslems. Thus the full truth of the Ohristian faith unfolds itself perfectly naturally and at each stage he is in touch with the reality of the living Christ. His Personality dominates the situation, and, as the Moslem responds, so he sees that this Man is the man-the one perfect Man the world has seen. Once this is grasped, the missiona.ry should be careful to stand aside, so that Ohrist may complete His work. It is after all an easy stage to the sincere seeker to pass from contact with Christ, the Man to the full vision of the Son of God visiting humanity with redeeming Love. The main and essential condition is that the contact from the outset must be between the Moslem and Ohrist Himself, and not simply between the Moslem and the
SLAM'S GREATEST FAILURE
missionary. Christ often cannot be seen because we stand in the way.
Our great need in the study of a new situation in the Moslem world is for us missionaries to come face to face with Jesus Christ, and to learn from Him how we may adequately represent our Mastel'. This may involve the shedding of many cherished prejudices, and the scrapping of much we have done; but, whatever else it means, it must lead to a new unity, fellowship and cooperation on the part of all missions in tl~e face of a common task. The Kingdom of God is greater than any of our missions, and our loyalty to Christ is supreme over any sectional loyalty to our particular Church or society. In this day of opportunity, can we not enthrone Christ as the one Head of all our work ~ Can we not think in terms of the Kingdom of God, and determine that we will be governed in our thinking by no less terms than the Saviour Himself and His Kingdom 1 Islam's Greatest Failure* BY REV. STEPHEN VAN R. TROWBRIDGE, MAADI, E/J-YPT World's Sunday School Association O NE OF the most delicate and perfect tests of the value of a religion is its treatment of children. To what extent does it reveal God to their inexperienced and eager minds 7 How far does it transform and beautify and safeguard their characters by the mysterious interaction of God's Spirit and their wills 1 Does the religion produce in them a faith which drives out base thoughts and conquers the insidious temptations which throng aud threaten childhood?
If you leave the modern quarter of Cairo and walk down through the narrow, crooked streets, you soon find yourself absorbed in watching groups of ragged, tanned urchins playing, begging, idling, gathering into tin GRns quantities of filthy cigarette stubs, and attempting to get a glimpse of the Sunday-school picture cards, if you happen to be carrying a few in your hand. If you know Arabic, you listen to what they are saying. Often you wish you had not heard. Sometimes you see one of the more daring youngsters attempting to pick pockets on the street cars. Your heart heats faster and you feel an unutterable sense of yearning and pathos, as step by step, you come to realize that their only knowledge of God is through the sin-stained life of Mohammed. Their only glimpse of paradise is from the fleshly passages of the Koran. Their .only thought of truth has its ultimate source in Mohammed's own complex self-consciousness-a marvelous blend of prophetic illumination, political .. Brief extracts from a pamphlet published by Mr. Trowbridge from whom copies may be had.
subtlety, and bold, selfish falsehood. All these children have is Mohammed!
Face to face with the problems of temptation and sin, the prophet of Mecca is a warning rather than an inspiration. His life is the tragedy of a splendid spiritual beginning and a lustful, selfish eilding. The Koran is certainly not a book to sanctify and beautify and fill with joy the lives of the children. Far f.om it.
Mohammed never revealed the Fatherhood of God, but with tremendous energy and persistence, year after year, did everything in his power to repudiate and root out this thought from the minds of men.
Mohammed could not summon the children to see in him the life of the Father, because his heart and hand had cOlmtless times boldly sinned against the laws of God.
"The mystery of the Holy Incarnation, and the story of the precious death of the Son of God, are put before them only as heresies to be adjured and trampled on."
"The children of Moslem lands are the same as those of Christendom, as troublesome, as erratic, as affectionate, as delightful to do with as the most ardent boy-lover at home ever found them; bubbling with energy and mischief, keen to see and learn anything you have time to show them; only tainted already with evil in its deadliest forms, that will have them in its grip long before they are men.
"What is to be done for them, these, our little brothers, for whom Christ died?" Are we doing our best for the Kingdom of Christ when we are letting boy-lives drift past us, with their precious chances, into tough Moslem manhood, unchallenged for Him 1 Dr. S. M. Zwemer has been gathering evidence from every corner and metropolis of Moslem lands. He says: "Because of general immoral conditions, which beggar description, many of our correspondents speak of the terrible physical inheritance of Moslem childhood."
As you survey these countries and catch a glimpse of the vast multitudes of Christless children, what are ,your thoughts 1 A PICTURE OF MOSLEM WOMANHOOD WITHOUT CHRIST
Converts to
BY THE RIGHT REV. J. H. LINTON, ISFAHAN, PERSIA Bishop of Persia, Church Jfissionary Society SUPERSTITIONS die hard. An American lady, staying with us at present, is travelling through Persia making a "study" of the country, its conditions and aspirations. She is firmly per- suaded that all Persians who possess initiative and resource are Ba- hais. Some days ago she was introduced to a young Persian Chris- tian who has suffered a good deal of persecution for his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is one of those aggressive workers that count so much in the spread of the Gospel. He boldly confesses Ohrist among Moslems, and rejoices to do so. Among the outstanding characteristics of the man are his initiative and zeal. I asked the lady what $11l' thought of this young fellow. uOh," she replied, "he is undoubt- edly a Bahai. " I asked on what she based her conviction. She said, "He has such splendid initiative!" Some day this lady will prob- ably write a book, and will refer to this young fellow as a splendid example of the go-ahead methods so characteristic of the Bahais! She has pre-judged the case.
I had almost begun to believe that the other superstition was dead-that" there are practically no Moslem converts to Christian- ity." The mischief of it is that one cannot help being influenced by one's own experience, and so one forgets the numbers of people who "have been in Moslem lands and know that there are no converts." It is the same old trouble of wrong premises. Let me therefore , plunge straight into the matter and present facts.
A "Chance" Meeting.-One day last week, by one of those strange coincidences that we sometimes call" chance," four Persian men met in my study. One had been a government official, employed in various Persian government offices, latterly in the Finance De- partment. The second was a son of a well-known Mujtahid (a doc- tor of the Sacred Uaw of Islam, who has authority to give a judg- ment). The third was a Sa,'llyid (a descendant of the prophet Mo- hammed). His father was the leader of the prayers in the mosque in one of the sacred cities. The fourth was an educated servant. They had one thing in common: they were all converts to Christian- ity.
As they spoke with one another, tellinl2: of their experiences, my heart burned within me, and I praised God for the Love and Power that had brought these men to the feet of the Saviour. I suggested that it would be l2:ood to give one another a testimony as to how we were brought to Ohrist. I began by t~lling the story of my own conversion as a boy, and how God had let me out to the mission field.
Then the ex-government official told how, for many years, he 793
THE lIIlSSlONAHY HEVIBW OF 'fnE WORLD
had been seeking spiritual satisfaction. He knew he was a sinner, but saw no way of escape. (Once a Moslem gets to the realization of the fact of sin, the call of Christ makes an irresistible appeal to him.) Then a serious illness brought him as an in-patient to the C. M. S. Hospital in Isfahan. He there heard the message of the Gospel, had talks with missionaries and others, and, at length, accepted Christ as his Saviour. He had a difficult time at home. His wife, a very strong-minded woman, would have nothing to do with him and he had to live in a room by himself in his own home! His wife's story, which I heard on another occasion was an interesting sidelight on it all. At one time she had seriously planned to poison him, hut at length his patience under her lashings, and the steadfastness of his faith, together with his undoubted change of life co~vinced her, and she too was led to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The whole family at length became Christians, and the "atmosphere "of that home was too much even for the lady traveler to whom I have referred. The man is now the pastor in charge of the Persian Christian Church in this town. The distinguished mark of his life is his " other worldliness."
The second man told of how he lived in a town some distance from Isfahan and was a teacher in a government school. His father, now dead, was a well-known Moslem priest and Mujtahid as was his brother. A Persian friend introduced him to the New Tes- tament, which he read for some time and, after some· conversations with his friend, he was led out into the light and liberty of the Gospel. He spent much time in reading the Scriptures and in prayer and preached on two occasions in the mission church. On the third occasion, he invited a number of his Moslem friends to be present as he wished to give his testimony. He spoke to them freely of his new found faith and of the contrast he had found between Christ and Mohammed, between the teaching of the Gospel and that of the Koran. There was naturally some disturbance, for in this Moslem land there is as yet no religious liberty. Some one ran and told his brother, the Mulla., who straightaway fainted and on recovering Call sciousness, condemned his brother, the "apostate," to death, ac cording to the Law of Apostasy in Islam. The young Christian was haled before the Governor in whose presence and in the face of the strictest cross-examination by the MuUas, he again witnessed to his faith in Christ Jesus. The people demanded thllt the Law of Apostasy be applied, but at length he was handed over to the police, escorted to the frontier, and exiled from his country. A few days ago he arrived in Isfahan. I cannot disclose the details, but it was a heartening experience for a missionary among Moslems to hear that man tell what God had been to him in Christ .Tesus. His fearlessness and his c11eeriness are a joy to behold. He preached at our service for Persian Christians on Sunday and told his story. Then the
MOSLEM CO);VEH'l'S" '1'0 CHlUSTJ ANITY
whole congregation stood and commended him in prayer. He goes forth not knowing what awaits him, but with a fair certainty that it will mean" bonds and imprisonment."
The third convert, the Sayyid, came to see me a good while ago, when he was a "Divinity student" in one of the Moslem colleges here. He came to Isfahan to study Islam under a well-known Moslem teacher, but the result is that he lost his faith in Islam altogether. He came to talk with me about the teaching of Jesus, but drew back at the exclusiveness of His claims. It was hard for a man, brought up as he had been in the strictest teaching of the Shari'at, to acknowledge that there was "no other Name under heaven, given among men whereby he must be saved" but the Name of Jesus. No wonder that he was unwilling to accept the word, ' , No man cometh unto the :F'ather but by Me." I lost sight of him for a long time, but he was surrounded by prayer though he knew it not. A few months ago I was accosted on the street by a Sayyid, and though I had only seen him once before I was sure that he was the same man for whom we had been p"raying. I made an appointment and when he came to see me he at once raised the usual objections as to the Deity of our Lord. Finally he promised to read a portion of St. John's Gospel every day, with a prayer for light, with a vow to God to follow what light he saw, and to confess before men if he saw Jesus as his Saviour and his God. In a week he was back, convinced and professing conversion. He has confessed Christ before Christians but not, so far as I know, before Moslems. The testimony of the previous speaker clearly impressed and strengthened him, and it is possible that before these lines appear in print he will have taken all the risks and will have made a public confession in baptism. Out here, "public baptism" will mean that within one hour the news will be pr6claimed among all the leaders of Islam in this city; his friends will mock him and count him unclean; they will refuse to drink out of the same vessel that he has used; he will be refused permission to enter the public baths or to drink from the public fountains j he wiII be called" Apostate" by those who have been proud to be called his friend. Public baptism means counting the cost, but it has been done over and over again out here. If our old Baptism Register could speak it could tell many a talc of what following Christ means to the Moslem whose name has now been written in that register, and in the "Lamb's Book of Life."
The fourth man, the servant, told very simply how he had been given up as incurable. The doctors had" given him his answer" as he expressed it. He came to the mission hospital, and was persuaded that prayer was the chief factor in his healing. Another member of his family was also healed in a remarkable way. He was convinced that in this way God was calling him to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He responded with his whole being. His wife and son have
also been converted and will shortly be baptized. Some weeks ago we were leaving the evangelistic service in church, where a large number of Moslems had been present. Among them was a m?tlla who is a very strong opponent of our work. He acts as a spy to find out who are interested, and then he sets to work to try to prevent their conversion. This servant, of whom I have been telling, went over to the mulla and said, "Friend, you heard a message of grace this morning. Will you respond 1" It takes some courage to speak to a m'ulla in that fashion. Something has" cast out fear"!
The above testimonies show four types of Moslems whom Christ Himself has touched and drawn to faith in Him. And what shall I say more, for time would fail me to tell of the four hundred and ,"'"——————"",, J-t – – – – – !920'_ _ _ _- – – – " ' – MISS10NARlE5 RETUItN 1$111·,8 FAMINE. CHOLERA, INFt.UENtA I!;JJ5 • WOr:!lD WAR, MISSIONARIES WITHDRAWN 3> 1910 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _""'·5 ,, "05—–___________.!." ::.~ 101 —- / GROWTH OF MOSLEM CONVERTS IN PERSIA 1895 _ _B/ : IN THE 1lNGLISH CHURCH MISSION, I Chart by Bishop J. H, Linton, f – – Moslem AduJt Baptisms in Isfahan, each 5 years. I …….. Total Baptisms. Adult and Children, each 5 years. lMO–/3 I 1096.5 , lea-._r FIRST BP.PlIS"'l twelve converts from Islam and their children who have been baptised in Isfahan in the last forty years, and the smaller numbers in some other towns in South Persia, such as Yezd, Kerman, and Shirazo. Our brethren in the American Presbyterian Mission could add their testimony as to those in the north of Persia who, with like faith and courage, have witnessed a good confession to Jesus Christ.
Wherein lies the supposed impossibility of Moslems coming to a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ~ Is it some imagined weakness inherent in the power of the Lord Jesus HimselH Is He able to save the American, the Englishman, the Hindu or the Animist, but does His power fail when it meets the Moslem 7 Is the Moslem not to be reckoned among those "for whom also Jesus Christ died 1"
Is there some failure in the Gospel itselH We can speak only from our own experience of it. I have been a missionary for twenty-
MOSLE,M CONVERTS TO OHRISTIANITY
two years in Nigeria, and on the north-west Frontier of India, and in Persia, and in all these places I have seen Moslems who have come under the spell of the Love of God in Christ Jesus, and have been won to Christ. I look back on a day, three years ago, when on one occasion I baptised fifteen Persian men, mostly converts from Islam j a few were from Bahaism and one was a Zoroastrian. On one day last year even this record was broken, and this year we h~1Ve mor~ candidates for baptism than ever in the history of the work out here.
What is the scereU There is no secret. We are simply trying to fulfil the terms of our commission: "Preach the Gospel to every creature." We avoid barren controversial methods. We were not sent to criticise Islam or any other faith, but to "preach the GospeL" So we go forth with the Word of God in our hands and we preach the Gospel as we find it therein. We are proving that it is "the power of God unto salvation, unto everyone that believeth"-unto the Moslem as well as unto men of other faiths. We have no new Gospel for the Moslem. We preach to him Christ Jesus, God's only begotten Son, crucified, risen, ascended, reigning, returning. We dilute nothing. We keep back nothing. Our chief literature is the Word of God. We try, and fail badly, as we ourselves will most readily confess, to practice fully what we preach but our aim is to let the Moslem "see Jesus." Our hospitals and schools are meant to be an expression of the Gospel. These, and all our other missionary work, are primarily "evangelistic" in their aim. In every department of our work we are out to "do the work of an evangelist. " We preach in faith, expecting that God will win souls, believing that He is able to save to the uttermost all that come to Him through Jesus Christ. And we append our testimony that God is true to His word and to His promise.
In all this we rejoice to recognize the splendid service of the Persian Christia~s, for humanly speaking, without their fellowship and testimony this work could never have been done. We are an one in Christ Jesus.
MOHAMMEDANISM AND OHlUSTIANITY W HY IS not the Koran as good as the Bible 1 Why is not the be- lief in one God according to Mohammed, just as helpful to hu- manity as the Gospel of Christ? Mohammedanism denies Christianity as revealed by Christ: It is monotheism without the Christ of God, and, therefore, without the God of Christ. Jesus of the Koran is a character obscured by more dominant personalities. Mohammed denies His Deity and atonement on the cross and His resurrection and ascension.
The Islamizing of a people is a misfortune. The only thing that can overcome the power of Islam is the power of Christ.
Atiyeh-A Product in
BY REV. W. G. GREENSLADE, BEIRUT, SYRIA M;ss;onary of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A.
O N A STORMY night in February, 1865, a young Syrian took refuge in the home of Dr. Henry H. Jessup in Beirut. He came from a village in the Northern Lebanon, near rrripoli. His father and mother were Maronites and had turned him out of doors because of his leaning towards the teaching of Protestant missionaries. When he made his way to Beirut, where his brother lived, the brother, too, drove him away because he persisted in reading his New Testament. Then Yusuf Atiyeh walked the streets until, at midnight, he found the home of Dr. Jessup, the young Christian missionary from America.
At almost the same time, a Mohammedan from Damascus was in prison in Beirut on the charge of having become a Christian; and it was reported that two others had been put to death in Damascus for the same "crime." This coincidence had a remarkable effect upon the homeless young Lebanese, and was the beginning of an experience which led him, years later, to be the means of presenting Christian truth to multitudes of Moslems.
On May 25th of this year (1926) Yusuf Deeb Atiyeh died in Tripoli, Syria, at the age of ninety-four years. He was known to only a small circle of friends; but his book "Sweet First Fruits" (the first of several anonymously published books) is known whereever there are missions to Moslems. He was a modest, humble man who hid himself completely that Christ might live through him.
The first Arabic edition of B akura or "Sweet First }~ruits" was published in Leipsic, and was considered so valuable that it was translated into English by Sir William Muir, for use in Mohammedan countries where Arabic is not well understood.
It was placed on sale in Egypt and some copies reached Syria. The first Arabic edition being soon exhausted, it was reprinted by the missionaries in Egypt in an inexpensive form and has since been translated into Persian and some of the languages of India. A young Moslem effendi told Dr. Jessup that he was led to accept Christ as his Saviour by reading a copy in the Azhar University in Cairo.
Sir William Muir said, in his preface to the English translation: "It is a work, in many respects, the most remarkable of its kind which has appeared in the present day. It may take the highest rank in apologetic literature, being beyond question one of the most powerful treatises on the claims of Christianity that has ever been addressed to the Mohammedan world."
798 Atiyeh's second book, "Minar ul Hoc," was pronounced superior to the first and other good volumes followed, but none are so widely and so favorably known as "Sweet First Fruits."
But whatever may be said of the persuasiveness of the pen of Yusup Atiyeh may be said with double force of the persuasiveness of his life. He began his study of Arabic under the direction of an uncle, who was secretary of the Emir Beshir Shehab, a powerful feudal lord of the Lebanon. He continued a student throughout his life and attained an unusual knowledge of both the Bible and the Koran, and could repeat most of ,…—~—-' —–~….,., the latter from memory. After becoming a Protestant Christian, he was given a theological training and, for many years, was pastor of village churches in the Lebanon and other parts of Syria. While engaged in this work in obscure places, he began the literary work which carded his influence into many lands and to peoples of many tongues.
But his activities were not all of the study. After serving the church in Horns for two years, he went to Safita where he built a church and a manse; then he moved to Beirut, where he also built a church and a manse; then he was called to several other YUSEF ATIYEH. SYRIAN PREACHER AND AUTHOR places in succession. Though not ordained, he became known as a persuasive preacher and a winsome pastor. Later he was placed in charge of the mission bookstore in Tripoli and found more opportunity for study, and became a close student of the Hadith, or :Mohammedan tradition. Finally he was released from all other duties to g'ive his full time to literary work.
When the W orId 'Val' broke out, Atiyeh was an old man, over eighty years of age, but he was still busily engaged in writing Christian literature for Moslems. The Turkish authorities searched his house and when they found the manuscript of his latest book, a criticism of the Hadith, they took him to prison in Beirut. where they kept him several days, and then haled him before the military court. Some of his friends pleaded for the clemency of the court on the ground that the old man was a harmless dotard, but Yusuf Atiyeh was unwilling to be released on such a plea. He proclaimed to the court that he, Yusuf Deeb Atiyeh, was the author of the book in question, that he was no dotard, and that he had written it. out of love for his brother Moslems. The court sentenced him to two
years' imprisonment. "Later he was again brought before the court and was told that for some reason he had been released. Imagine the astonishment of the court when he immediately knelt down before the officials and offered a prayer of thanksgiving and a petition to God on behalf of the court which had tried'him.
As Atiyeh arose from his knees the president of the court recovered from his amazement sufficiently to say: "Are you not going to pray for the Sultan, and for the superior court in Damascus? And are you not going to thank us for our clemency in releasing you?"
Atiyeh's anSWer was: "I give thanks to none but my Heavenly Father who has heard my prayers and the petitions of my mauy brethren who have been praying for my release. God has heard and has broken my bounds. "
During his long life of distinguished service, Mr. Atiyeh was known to all as "Muallim Yusuf," the same title that is given to the simplest village teacher, or to a carpenter or mason. It never troubled him that he was denied honors and emoluments, or that his name did not appear on the title page of any of his books. It was enough for him that he was doing a needed work for his Lord.
During most of his life it was not even possible to print his books in Syria, and they could be circulated only wi"th great caution. At the outbreak of the war, the American Press in Beirut had actually printed the first part of his latest book, but conditions were so uncertain that it was deemed wisest to ship the printed sheets to England, where they still are. The publication of this book has never been completed.
The last few years were years of peaceful waiting. The pastor of the church in Tripoli says: "For the past ten years every time I have asked him 'How are you~' his answers have been confident. Sometimes he would say, 'I am ready'; sometimes' Mttka'ab' (shod as for a journey); sometimes' Mushayil' (i. e. with the kit slung over the shoulder, ready to set out); sometimes, 'Longing to be with my Lord.' " Nothing better could be said about the passing of Yusuf Atiyeh than to use words which he put in the mouths of two of the characters in "Sweet First Fruits." Ahmad Effendy al Cotely had just made the public confession of his faith in Christ, and was speaking of Yohanna Gheiyur, whose tract had first led him to study Chris- tian truth: "What do we not owe the writer of that beautiful epistle that guided us to the truth! Would that he had lived, and had seen the fruits of his work."
"Yes," answered Ahmed; "but he will see them in a more glorious way. in the presence of his Lord. The righteous pass away, but their fruits die not. They shall reap the harvest they have sown in that day when not a single grain shall fall to the ground."
~ ~,,-"B,B-S"T'""M~"E"'T"H-'O''D'S''' @
EDITED BY MRs. E. C. CRONK, 721 MUHLENBERG BLDG., PHILADELPHIA, PA.
Methods and Materials for Studying the boys and girls to make a trip the Moslem World through Moslem lands. Fascinating "A Moslem World, undergoing "Tourist Tickets" are printed with 'such varied, such extensive, such pro- coupons covering Arabia, India, found and such momentous changes, Persia, North Africa, Egypt and is of supreme interest and concern to all Christendom. The attention of Jerusalem, priced at the low rate of Christians is to-day riveted on Islam 10 cents per dozen, so that leaders as at no time since Moslem invasion may have them for all the boys and girls. There are also "Modes of ·of Europe. Seven out of eight Travel Cut-outs" to be furnished to Moslems Jive under flags of Christian each young tourist. A camel for the nations. The threatened and impend- .iourney across Arabia, an elephant ing disintegration of Islam calls for for India, a prancing horse for Persia, an adequate substitute. Only Christ a Nile boat for Africa, and a donkey .and His program can meet the on which to enter Jerusalem. Pat- terns for the six cut-outs are printed need."* on one sheet. Never before have our churches had Poster Patterns on MO'slem Lands," such an opportunity for mission by Maude Evelyn Bradley, are de- signed especially for "Two Young study. Never in all the yesterdays of Arabs" but may be used in connection with any book on Islam. They are to the world has there been any situation be made in the popular cut paper comparable to "The Moslem World work, and furnish valuable educa- ·To-day. " tional occupation for the makers as well as a colorful addition to the wall It is true, also, that never has there program. 'been available as adequate literature for mission study as is offered this year for the study of the Moslem World. To begin with, we have" Musa",' "Friends of the Caravan Trails",'
published by the Missionary Educa- by Elizabeth Harris, is a book for tion Movement, which furnishes an teachers of Juniors. It records, with adequate course for primary children, the subject matter, the actual teach- prepared by Mary Entwistle and ing experiences of the author with a .Jeanette Perkins. group of Junior boys and girls.
For Juniors, the materials are un- A valuable addition to the usually good. The Junior book, materials on the year's theme is to published by_ the Central Committee be found in Set. No.1 of the World for the United Study of Foreign Mis- Friendship Pictures. This set in- 'sions, is "Two Young Arabs"', by cludes four beautiful colored pic- A. E. and S. M. Zwemer. The booklet, tures, eleven by fourteen inches, '''How to Use Two Young Arabs," drawn by Fannie Warren, the artist ·contains suggestions for the course, who designed" The Children of Many together with seven patterns for Lands" posters. Included in the set 'handwork drawn by Maude Evelyn are pictures of Moslem children in Bradley. The course is arranged for India, Egypt, Persia and Arabia.
• (Statement from tlt-e Jerusalem (Jonference These pictures may be used in con- .;;1924.) aprice, 50. cents a set. lPrice. paper 50 cents, cloth 75 cents. 4Price, paper 50. cents, cloth 75 cents. 2Prlce, paper 50 cents. cloth 75 cents.
5 8()1
nection with the primary or junior Arabia books, or for independent missionary One thousand miles of railway built for and world friendship p,rograms in pilgrims, not dividends. Feb., 1909. o. p. week-day and Sunday-schools. Arabia, the desert of the sea. Dec., 1909.
Unusually good pictures are avail- 75 cents.
Notes on Oman. Jan., 1911. o. p.
able in picture sheets. The Missionary The Mystic N edjef, the Shia Mecca. Dec., Education Movement has four twelve 1914. 50, cents. page picture sheet· folders containing pictures of Moslem lands, each Mecca, the mystic. April, 1917. .50 cents. The flower of Paradise. Aug., 1917. 50 cents.
with a short description. They may The rise of a new Arab nation. Nov., be used for making posters, scrap 1919. 50 cents. May, books, albums, wall friezes or in various other ways. A visit to three Arab kingdoms. 1923. 50 cents.
Among the other pictures that are Palestine helpful in the course is the set en- The sacred ibis and cemetery· and jackal titled "The J1oslem World in Picture catacombs in Abydes. Sept., 1913, o. p.
and Story"," including a set of six Village life~ in the Holy Land. March, pictdres, eleven by fourteen inches, 1914. 50 cents.
Impressions of Palestine. 1farch, 1915.
in sepia, showing scenes from Persia 0, p. Jerusalem locust plague. Dec., 1915. 50 and Syril,t. rents.
The National Geographic Maga- A n old jewel in the proper setting. Oct., zine" is rich in picture materials ]918. o. P. which may be used in connection with the study of the :lfoslem world. The The last Israelitish blood sacrifice. Jan. 1920. 50 cents, following pictures will be found in For intermediates, there is a hand- book entitled "Lands of the Minathe files as indicated. The following list is quoted from ret",S by Nina Rowland Gano, "Friends of the Caravan Trails" by permis- containing a series of programs on sion of the Friendship Press. various phases of Moslem life and Egypt missionary work in Moslem lands~ with suggestions for projects of serv- The route over which Moses led the Children of Israel out of Egypt. Dec. 1909. ice, worship, and dramatization in 75 cents. addition to background material on the Mcslem world. Mrs. Gano tried The barrage of the Nile. Feb., 1910. 75 out her programs with a group of cents.
Sunrise and sunset from Mt. Sinai. Dec., intermediates in her own church. 1912. o. p. Reconstruction of Egypt's history. Sept., "Tales from Moslem La.nds"" is a 1!H3. o. p. pamphlet of hero stories for leaders Aloug the Nile through Egypt and the to tell in connection with the course Sudan. Oct. 1922. o. p. on "Lands of the Minaret" or other- At the tomb of Tutankhamen. May, 1923. courses for intermediates.
o. p. Maude Bradley has enriched the· Egypt, past and present. May, 1923. 50 supply of art designs with a "Cut-out Sheet of Moslem Types, "'0 giving eents. Crossing the untraversed Libyan Desert.
Sept., 1924. 50 cents. sketches illustrating the racial variety Cairo to Capetown overland. Feb., 1925. within Islam to be colored, cut out and pasted on any large map of 50 cents. Moslem lands. The land of Egypt. March, 1926. 50 For young people and adults there cents.
liPrice. 25 cents each. are three new books. "Ymtnq Islam 'Publip,bed by the Presbyterian Board of on Trek"," by Basil Mathews, Foreign Missions, 60 cents a set.
, '7The issues may be borrowed from, p-ubIfc Hbraries or may be ordered from the NaUona) !!Price, paper, 50 cents. Geographic Ma~azine. Washington, D. C., ex;" 9Price, paper, 50 cents. cept of course t4os_e ~hat are marked "0. p.", out lOPrice. 10 cents.
of print; l1Price, cloth, $1.00; paper, 60 cents.
926 1 BEST METHODS
sketches the rise and spread of Islam children and including every member of the congregation. and shows how the life of Moham- medan countries is being thrown into A QUOTATION MEETING turmoil by the impact of modern To acquaint a larger number of Western civilization and by the re- people with worth while words that lease of new spiritual forces. are being spoken and written is an The adult study book, published by opportunity and a challenge to mis- the Central Committee for the United sionary leadership. Stu d y of Foreign Missions, is . Quotations from books and maga- "Jioslem Women",'2 by A. E. and zInes. may make an interesting S . .:[ Zwemer. It would be impos- meetmg or a feature of a meeting. sible to find two authors of larger experience and more understanding The q.uotations may be selected by a insight into Moslem conditions than commIttee or by individuals and Dr. and Mrs. Zwemer. typed on separate sheets to be read In the book "The Moslem Faces the by different members. The wide Futw'e"/" by T. H. P. Sailer, As- sea~ch. through books, reports, and sociate in Religious Education of perIodIcals will be valuable. .An Teachers' College, Columbia Uni- entire meeting may be devoted profit- versity, we have a book for study ably to the reading and discussion of and discussion groups based largely quotations, or ten minutes of a Sunon fresh mat~rials concerning .the ~dea~yt-isncgh)coml aoyr class session or other dommant msoovcermal,entes d utchartoiuognhaol~t and be thus empl'oyed. Inreligious the dlVld:uals may be appointed to read Mo~lem W ~rld, f~rnished by ex- certam books or magazines and perIenced mISSIOnanes in the several present striking quotations from countries. the.m, or the quotations may be type- There are three maps available for WrItten and passed around, or printed the year's study in addition to the on posters.
missionary map of the world: '.' Islam is the only one of the great in AtwWo aclollo]Wrsa,paobtouthte3M3 oxsl4e8minW. osrhlod~" relIgIOns to come after Christianity; the only one that definitely claims to ing important places and distribution correc.t, complete and supersede c.f lIoslem population. Christi~nity; the only one that A large Ou,tline ,tlap of the Moslem categOrIcally denies the truth of ~VorlclF' for wall use, about 28 x 32 ~hristianity; .the only one that has, Inches. I~ t?e past, SIgnally defeated Chris- Small Outline Maps!6 are available tr.amty; the only one that seriously for individual use. Size 11 😡 14 dIsputes the world with sCevherirsatliapnairtty~· the only one that, in inches. With such an array of helps our of the ~o!ld, is to-day forestalling churches should have an unusually and gammg on Christianity."- succes,~flll year of mission study, and QUOTED BY CANON GAIRDNER, IN "The schools of missions should flourish Rebuke of Islam."
el!-r.olling members of all ages. Ad: "The Koran is a declaration of war against all mankind. Its last dItIOnal books for reading are listed chapter is a legacy of implacable aniin the Bibliography of the various mosity against the human race-outstudy b~oks. A reading program for side Islam. "-DEAN WILMAN.
an entrre congregation may be "Islam saw God but not m athn~'· planned beginning with the stories s::w the claims of deity but not which mothers read aloud to their rIghts. of humanity; saw authority ~Pr~ce, cloth. 75 cents; paper, 50 cents. but faIled to sdeeesfproeteisdmo,ms-ttifhfeerneefdorine~ hardened into Pr!ce, cloth, $1.00; paper. 60 cents. 14PrIce, 60 cents. to formalism, and sank into death. nprice, 25 cents. 16Price, 25 cents.
Mohammed teaches a God above us; to be. In the old days they came to Moses teaches a God above us and yet argue and controvert and insisted on with us; Jesus Christ teaches God doing so. 'L'o-day …. one is able to above us, God with us and God in preach the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ freely and plainly …. without US."-JAMES FREEMAN CLARKE. fear of interruption. "-w. T. FAIR- "Islam presents, even after the MAN. World War, the abolition of the Caliphate, and the present struggle "It is said that at the Lucknow for the possession of Mecca, a solidar- Conference several years ago there ity of organization unparalleled by were present five Christian clergyany other non-Christian religion." men who formerly had been Moslems. -A. E. AND S. M. ZWEMER in "Moslem At one time or another during the ..Vomen." Conference each of them bore his in- dividual testimony that the first thing "One seventh of all the children in which had drawn him toward Christ the world live under the shadow of was kindness shown him by some the crescent in the lands of Islam .. Christian." -A MISSIONARY. . . . . A conservative estimate based on the total Moslem world population "There can be no doubt that the gives the number of children under unity of Islam is rapidly dissolving. fourteen yea.rs of age at over 80,000,- The whole outlook upon life is chang- 000 . . . . . . The long unbroken line of ing. Strong nationalism, developing Moslem children, if, they stood to- in .each separate Moslem country, is gether holding hands, would stretch bringing about disruption and diviexactly twice around the globe's sion …. The dream of world conquest circumference. "-A. E. AND S. M. by the sword, furthermore, is at an ZWEMER in "Moslem Women." end. The penetration from without i~ going on steadily, but the great ,'Moslem minds are opening to new br('ak in Islam is from within. The ideas and impressions. Moslems are caliphate has ceased to be the rallyreading more widely and are study- ing centre."-A. E. AND S. M. ZWEMER ing the science of the West. Many in "lIoslem Women." are no longer content with the old Koranic laws in regard to women, "Islam has struck its tents and is and insist on education for both boys again on the march. The evidence is and girls. Out of this ferment, change too clear to be discussed with a light and revolution, nations are literally heart. Western civilization and Islam leaping into new life.' '-w. WILSON are entering one of those great periods of readjustment the like of which has CASH. not been seen for three centuries and Western civilization is prostrate and "Probably the greatest work divided."-New Y'ork World. Christian Missions have done in Mohammedan lands is to present in life "The sword of Mohammed and the and deed the fruits of Christianity. Koran are the most stubborn op- Hospitals, schools, relief of poverty, ponents of civilization, liberty and and integrity and honor in daily life truth the world has ever known."- have presented a new idea of service, religion, and manhood.' '-w. A. SIR WILLIAM MUIR.
SHEDD. LOCATING THE MOSLEM: POPULA.
"We must either give up missions TION to Moslems or go to them with the old Bible, the whole Bible, the Ten minutes with a map and a few martyr's faith. Anything else will charts will enable a leader to help a only confirm them in opposition to class or an audience to locate the Mo- Christianity. "-ST. CLAIR TISDALL. hammedans of the world. Follow the display of the map with the entrance " The spirit of these Moslems is of six boys and girls. The first should ~ntirely different from what it used
1926J BEST METHODS
carry a chart on which is printed in Other dates which may be similarly large, clear figures: presented are: Total Moslem Population of the 632-Death of Mohammed World, 234,814,989 636-Jerusalem taken 640-Conquest of Egypt This may be printed or pasted on 642-Moslem Conquest of Persia an outline map of the world. After 1453-Capture of Constantinople the audience has had time to read the chart, the leader may take a Other dates may be added as demoment for fuller statements. Five sired. "The Moslem Faces the other boys or girls may follow in Future", by T. H. P. Sailer, contains order, representing the continents. a very good historical chart, showing Each should carry a chart giving the contemporaneous happenings in the name of the continent represented various main areas of the Moslem and the Moslem population. These world, from the birth of Mohammed may be printed on plain cardboard or to the present.
superimposed on outline maps of the If an elaborate presentation of continents: dates is desired, twelve -persons may North America represent the twelve Moslem lands, 11,000 and present the dates in the chrono- South America logical order showing contempo- 193,429 raneons happenings as given in this chart. Australia and Polynesia 40,000 Europe TAKING TESTS 17,789,937 Africa This is an age of tests. Make the 59,444,397 most of them in mission study. If you do not think it advisable to Asia and Islands plnnge the average adult class into 157,336,206 abject humiliation and despair by giving them the tests prepared for The boys or girls who carry the adults, begin with Dne prepared for charts may give interesting facts concerning them.
IMPORTANT DATES juniors. The average adult of the average church may retain self-re- In a similar manner, the important spect but will have no cause for undates of Islam may be presented. seemly pride after taking one of these tests suggested for juniors. One person may carry a chart with the date, Two good True and False Tests are given on pages 33-38, "Friends of 570-Birth of Mohammed, and may say, as it is displayed, "You the Caravan Trails."
must remember me if you want to Dr. T. H. P. Sailer has prepared pass an intelligence test on lIoslem under the title "Tests on the Moslem affairs. I am the year of l'[ohammed 's World," some exceptionally good birth-570. ,,+ tests fOT special use with his book, On the second chart should be "The Moslem Faces the Future."
printed There is also a set of very interesting general tests called "What Do You 622-The Hegira The bearer Df this chart announces Know About the Moslem World 1"'" "Our year 622 is the beginning of which will be effective for groups studying any of the books on the years for Moslems. Their calendar theme. Two sections from the latter reads A. H. for Anno Hegirae instead set of tests are here suggested. of A. D., marking the Hegira, Moham- med's flight from Mecca to Medina." • Leaders may secure printed copies of both ·The figures "670" in the book "Moslem sets of tests and an answer key for the latter Women" are aD error in prInting, by application to denominationa1 literature headQ uarters.
A SINGLE-CHOICE TEST an oasis in the heart of Arabia which symbolizes paradise (2) Instructions: In each of the follow- another name for Heaven ing groups of statements put a cross among Mohammedans (3) after the number of the statement that you consider to be the correct pilgrimage center of the one. Moslem world (4) IX. The majority of the people in I. A sheik is; Jerusalem are: a well·dressed young lover (1) Mohammedans (1) a Turkish government official (2) Christians (2) a man of influence because of Jews (3) age, experience, or religious X. The majority of the people in the training (3) Holy Land are: a pilgrim of the Holy Places (4) Mohammedans (1) II. Fatima is: Christians (2) Jews (3) a common Oriental disease (1) a fine tobacco originating in XI. Mohammedans date their calendar Turkey (2) from: the Qneen of Sheba (3) Mohammed's first great mili· a favorite daughter of Mo· tary victory (1) hammed (4) the birth of Mohammed (2) the death of Mohammed (3) III. The Taj Mahal is: Mohammed's flight fro m a famous mosque ill Constan· Mecca (4) tiilOple (1) the birth of Christ (5) the Egyptian national antbem (2) XII. J eSlls' earthly life was cut short the title of the Emperor of at the age of thirty·three, but India (3) Mohammed's life was longer by a celebrated marble tomb (4) about: IV. A harem is: 5·l(} years (1) a kind of bloomers worn by 15·2,5 years (2) Oriental ladies (1) 25·35 years (3) the wife (or wives) of a 35·45 years (4) Moslem household, or the 45·50 years (5) section where she and the XIII. When Moslems pray, whether in other womenfolk Jive (2) India ~r Morocco, in Russia or the half dozen wives of a Mo· in South Africa, they always hammedan (3) face: a peculiar dance restricted to toward exact east (1) women (4) toward a certain small locality V. A millaret is: in Arabia . (2) a sacred place where people toward Constantinople (3) pray (1) toward the place on the an Oriental house·top (2) horizon (shiftillg according a tower used in caIling prayer (3) to the season) where the sun a dome with a spire . (4) actually rises ( 4) VI. A shah is: XIV. Irllq is an alternate name for: an Arabic exclamation of reo Syria (1) gret (1) Palestine (2) the supreme rnler in Persia (2) Mesopotamia (3) a rich young gallant (3) Arabia (4) the supreme ruler in Turkey ( 4) XV. The Koran is about the size of: VII. A caliph is: the New Testament (1) a Mohammedan high priest (1) the Old Testament (2) a supreme judge ill theological the whole Bible (3) disputes (2) much longer than the Bible (4) tne Mohammedan ruler recog· XVI. Mohammed lived about the year: (Underline correct date) nized as paramount (3) 500 B. C., 100 B. G., 1 A. D., the Mohammedan pope ( 4) 20() A. D., 500 A. D., 600 A. D., .700 A. D., 800 A. D., VIII. Mecea is: 1000 A. D.
a world·famous tobacco town in Arabia (1)
A CORRECT MATCHING TEST (1) Mustapha Egypt Kemal 1. The great cities listed in the first Persia column below are famous (2) Emir Feisal Arabia throughout the Mohammedan (3) Abd el Krim Mesopotamia world. Place the number of (4) Zaghlul Pasha India each before the name of the (5) Riza Khan Turkey country in the second column (6) Ibn Saud Morocco to which it belongs. Draw a (7) Shaukat Ali circle around the numbers of 'which you are sure. SILENT MESSAGES ( 1) Constantinople India Frequently the messages which are Soviet R u s s i a given in silence are most impressive. ( 2) Baghdad At one of the summer conferences, two young women, dressed in Moslem (Turkestan) costume, entered, each carrying a sheet of cardboard. On one was ( 3) Damascus Persia printed ISLAM IS and on the other ISLAM TEACHES. Following them, ( 4) Delhi French Sudan (West eight other girls entered, one at a time, carrying charts which completed Africa) the two sentences: ( 5) Cairo Syria ISLAM IS ( 6) Tehran Egypt The youngest of the wor}d's great re- ligions. ( 7) Angora Anglo·Egyptian Sudan Six hundred years younger than Chris· ( 8) Timbuktu Mesopotamia tianity.
( 9) Khartum Afghanistan A religion of intolerance.
(10) Mosul Turkey The religion of one seventh of the human race. (11) Bukhara Morocco ISLAM TEACHES (12) Singapore British Malaysia " There is no God but God and Mohammed (13) Fez is the Prophet of God."
(14) Kabul That God "created half of humanity for hell and cares not." II. Many of the greatest ruined cities of ancient history now That "God misleads whom He will and being excavated are in Moslem whom He will He guides." lands. Place the number of the city before the name of That polygamy has divine approval. the country to which it be- longs. Draw a circle around The two girls who entered first those numbers of which you stood on opposite sides on elevations are sure. sufficiently high that the eight girls who entered in order following them ( 1) Jerusalem Mesopotamia placed their· charts, one at a time, Turkey underneath to complete the sentence. ( 2) Carthage Palestine As each sentence was completed, the ( 3) Ephesus Tunis girls stepped to the side, four on one ( 4) Babylon Egypt side and four on the other side, until ( 5) Memphis Persia the audience had time to read all of ( 6) Samaria Syria the sentences and understand their ( 7) Persepolis significance. There was perfect silence ( 8) Palmyra followed by a special prayer for the ( 9) Thebes Moslem world and for missions to (10) Antioch Moslems.
[II. The follOWing great living Moslem leaders and statesmen are famous throughout the en- tire Moslem world and are mentioned repeatedly in our American newspapers. Num- ber as previously.
Woman's Foreign Mission
EDITED BY ELLA D. MACLAURIN, 25 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK CITY THE SOUL'S SINCERE DESIRE senting different parts of China met ATTAINED at Kuling was the real work begun.
CORA E. SIMPSON, R. N. At that time plans for the grading and registering of Schools of Nursing', Yes, it is a wonderful story, but with a uniform curriculum and systhe thrilling thing about it all is that tem of examinations with one nursing it is all beautifully true and it proves diploma for China were mapped out without a doubt that there is abso- and adopted. Miss Gage was elected lutely no limit to what God can and President and under her leadership will do for the individual willing to the first schools of nursing werfl trust and follow all the way He leads. registered and the first National Con- lt has been said that the record of ference was held in Shanghai in 1914.
the Nurses Association of China for At this conference the Chinese word the past dozen years is unsurpassed by for" nurse" was adopted and has any nursing organization in any land since passed into the language of the at any time in the world's history of people. The first examinations were nursing. Nursing in China was or- held in 1915 and the diploma secured ganized, developed, and brought to by two men and one woman. its present state of high professional efficiency by missionary nurses and The difficulties of the early days when the Chinese graduate nurses seemed almost unsurmountable. The take over the work of the entire or- nurses were far separated and travel ganization, as we fully expect them was difficult, dangerous and expensive.
to do within this generation, the work There were many dialects and the will continue to be in the hands of work was looked upon as "work fit strong, skillful, Christian nurses, only for coolies." There were no who will carry out the high ideals of books written or translated into the Florence Nightingale, the Queen of language, so is it any wonder the de- all nurses, and adapt them to meet velopment was slow during the first the needs of their own people. few years 1 China with her four hundred and A few schools had been registered, a fifty million, where live one fourth of few more nurses graduated, a few the world's population and where one books translated and a few more mem- third of the world's babies are born, bers added but when we met in con- and where the need for nurses is so . ference at Hankow in 1922 we had a desperate, presents one of the most membership o£ only one hundred and inviting fields of service found in any thirty-two. In the beginning the land today. I am sure any member membership had to be composed of of the Nurses Association of China foreign members but the time seemed would join me in saying: ''It is ripe for the "advance work among great to· be out where the fight is so our Chinese people." At that meet- strong, To be where the heaviest ing the constitution was remodeled to troops belong, In this fight for God meet the needs of the growing organ- and man" where the work is so ization, a Committee on Nursing Edudifficult but so soul-satisfying and cation was established with Miss Gage the love of a great people the reward. as Chairman and a General Secretary The Nurses Association of China was elected who should give her full was organized in 1909 but not until time to the work of the Association. 1912 when a special committee reprec As soon as the request· of the Nurses 808· Association of China was granted by nese was the language of the Confer- her Board and she was released from ence. We had reached a membership her position as Superintendent of of 518, had been admitted to member- Nurses at the Magaw Hospital, Foo- ship in the International Council of chow, the General Secretary entered Nurses and all departments of the on her duties. work were growing so rapidly that it At the time- the Association prop- was decided we must plan for a Head- erty consisted of a small case, a few quarters Building to meet the Asso- papers, a small typewriter table, a ciation needs. It was decided also that decrepit, useless, old typewriter, no delegates should be sent to the next office staff, an almost empty treasury, International Council of Nurses Con- the only income the annual fees paid gress to be held in Finland in July by the members, a loyal Executive 1925.
Committee who with the membership In the early days we had some help believed that "with God nothing is from the China Medical Board for the impossible" and that He had a place translation work but that was stopped for our Nurses Association of China. just in the midst of this advance work.
The first two years the office and Again God has cared for us. Books property were kept in the Secretary's have been translated by our members bedroom. The Secretary was sent by and friends. We have published over the Executive Committee to visit all thirty new books and revised and re- the nurses' and schools of nursing in published all the old ones, :put over China. Through this nation-wide thirteen million pages of nursing text- campaign and visitation the nurses be- books through the press, sold over came vitally interested in the work of fourteen thousand dollars' worth of the Association and a strong, loyal our books in 1925 and closed the year membership was built up through with a small balance in hand. Our which future important programs Nurses Journal-published in both for the Association were successfullv English and Chinese-the only one in carried out. This travel took the Se~ China-has been self-supporting from retary into all kinds of out-of-the-way the first issue.' Not one cent of mis- places. Hundreds of hospitals have sion money has ever gone into our been visited and addresses delivered. publications or books.
Over one thousand beds have been 'Ve have one hundred and fifteen slept in and over sixty thousand miles registered Schools of Nursing with a travelled. The ever-increasing corre- student body of nearly two thousand spondence has been carried on by the (both men and women are trained as Secretary, late and early, on trains or nurses). We have issued our diploma boats, or in Chinese inns wherever and to over one thousand graduates. Our whenever she could get time. About membership is over twelve hundred twenty-five thousand letters have been and about two thirds are Chinese cared for. We do not have a budget nurses.
today but God has cared for us and Up until the last day it seemed im- we have lacked nothing. We have possible to surmount the difficulties never been in debt and have always and send the Chinese delegate to the had a few dollars balance. Whenever International Council of Nurses Con- we need anything we send out a call gress. Nurses everywhere were pray- for prayer and God has always" dealt ing about it. At the last minute the bountifully with us. " funds were secured, the vises for the The first fruits of this labor were passports to cross Siberia were secured shown in the Canton Conference in through the Chinese Government.
1924 when for the first time in our Miss L. Wu and the General Secre- history our Chinese nurses were with tary crossed Siberia to attend the Con- us in large numbers-half of the dele- gress. One thousand and fifty dele- gates being Chinese nurses-and Chi- gates representing thirty-three coun-
tries attended the Congress. God had for research work, a large room for great things in store for our Nurses meetings. There will also be the home Association of China there. That for the secretaries and other workers great Congress decided to hold the and a Hostel for nurses passing next meeting in Peking in 1929 and through the great center of Hankow.
Miss Nina D. Gage of Changsha, At present there is no place for them China-a missionary nurse-was to stay. This building is greatly elected President of the International needed and at once. In the light of Council of Nurses. So when the great what we have told you do you think Congress meets in Peking in 1929 it this is impossible ~ If you could have will be presided over by a missionary been with us at our last conference nurse and be entertained by mission- in Nanking on Sunday and have seen ary nurses and the splendid Chinese our three hundred delegates taking nurses of today. communion, have looked into their The funds for the Headquarters faces and seen the determination and Building grew slowly. By vote of faith written there, and then rememthe Association we moved our office ber they represented the membership from Shanghai to Hankow so it would of over twelve hundred and the stube more in the center of our field. In dent body of almost two thousand and a marvelous way, unsought, a piece of your answer would be as theirs is land was offe.red to us in the spring "with God nothing is impossible." and again in the autumn. While we Because of this faith it has been pos- were praying for guidance (for we sible for God to give the things re- corded above and because of this faith felt we must be very sure of God'8 and the need this building will rise plan for the future location of our as a testimony of what God can and Headquarters Building) in reply to a will do because of the faith and the letter sent, a check for $1,000 was need of His Chinese nurses who are received from one of our loyal doctor so busy ministering to His ' , little friends. We took this as a guide and went forward with negotiations for ones" that they do not have time to the land. We asked the owner to al- tell you of their doings or needs.
low us to pay half down and half at These Chinese nurses are "our faith the end of six months. At first he and our pride, our joy and our agreed and then said that he must crown."
have all paid down at once. We could If you would like to put ~ome bricks in not do this so at five p. m. the deal was the wall send word to the General Secre- off. Our Committee prayed on. tary, Miss Cora E. Simpson, 740 Rush Before ten o'clock that night a Chinese Street, Chieago, Illinois.
gentleman came forward and offered Cora E. Simpson, R. N., a missionary of to loan us four thousand dollars with- the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of out interest for the rest of the year the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1907, if we would only buy the land for he established the Florence Nightingale Sehool of Nursing at the Magaw Memorial Hospi.
wanted "the nurses as neighbors." tal, Foochow. This was the first School of Two other friends made loans. We Nursing to receive a Registration Certipurchased the land. The loans were ficate in China and heads the list of paid off at the appointed dates and Registered Schools of the Association. the land is ours at a cost of ten thou- Since 1922 Miss Simpson has been the General Secretary of the Nurses Association sand dollars. of China. She is in the United States for The Headquarters Building we are a few months' rest and study after which she expects to resume her work in China working for will cost twenty-five thou- as secretary of the Nurses Association. sand dollars and will be the place Miss Simpson has written a book eonee.-ning where all the nursing activities of the marvelous growth of this work, "A Joy China will be handled. There will be Ride Through China for the Nurses Assooffices for the secretaries and trans- ciation of China." Price $2.00, the prolators and for editorial work, libraries ceeds to be used for the Headquarters Building Fund.
Woman's Home Mission
EDITED BY FLORENCE E. QUINLAN, 156 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK MIGRANT GROUPS made. The workers are less suspi.
From the report of the Committee of the cious of the churches, and the com- panies ate depending most upon them ~~mJo;;:!s~~~:!~~~~Wilp~ng. 'i°d'an~~l. 'lJ,.:"':::'a';,,~ to supply the social and spiritual needs of these men. The Loyal Le- The different types of migrant workers may be listed as follows: gion of Loggers and Lumbermen, a loggers and lumber jacks, grain har- cooperative organization, is attempt- vest hands, cannery employees, fruit ing to serve the men socially and in- and truck harvesters, construction tellectually in limited areas.
gangs, sugar. beet workers, fisher- The need of social and religious men, boatmen, soldiers and sailors. services is very great in Minnesota, The needs of these groups are far Wisconsin, Michigan, New Hampshire from being adequately cared for and and Maine, but the church boards are most denominations, because of the doing little or nothing for the loggers press of other work, have been forced in these areas, and local churches are to neglect this very': important field. not doing much more. In Maine, the 1. Loggers and Lumberjacks. The Great Northern Paper Company 1920 census gives as the states in maintains a welfare department and which the lumber industry is of great- employs a full-time social worker in e:st importance: Washington, Oregon, certain camps. This is the only com- Idaho, ::iaine, New Hampshire, Min- pany in the state that is thus serv- nesota, Michigan and Wisconsin, re- ing its workers, and they report a porting workers in lumber industry great need in their own camps for ad- ranging from 4,701 in New Hamp- ditional spiritual service from the shire to 24,371 in Washington. This churches. The Crossett Lumber Com- group comprised 5% of the gainfully pany in Arkansas supports a Y. M.
employed males in Washington; 4.8'10 C. A. to the extent of $7,000 in its in Maine; 3.8% each in Oregon and main logging camp, and maintains a Idaho; 3.3.% in New Hampshire; welfare department in the mill town 1.9% in Minnesota; 1.8.% in Florida; at a cost of $40,000 annually. In 1.7.% in Wisconsin; 1.5% in Louisi- 1923, California reported from 10,.
ana; and 1.3% in Michigan. These 000 to 15,000 workers employed in the figures have greater significance when lumber industry.
contrasted with the record of .6% for From reports of missionaries and the entire United States. Nineteen others in close touch with men in the states in all employ more than 4,000 logging fields, it appears that all ef- workers in this industry and present fective religious work must be of the a challenge to the churches. sky-pilot or missionary type; that the In the Washington-Oregon-Idaho population of these camps is too un- region, the Presbyterian Church in stable and changing, to pltj,ce per- the U. S. A. is supporting eleven manent churches successfullv. The workers among the lumberjacks, the field remains largely unser,";ed and Christian Church one, and the Meth- the few missionaries now engaged odist Episcopal Church about half a among the lumberjacks are forced to dozen. In this region, because of the cover too large areas to do most ef- 1. W. W. and other radical agencies, fective work. Thousands of camps it has not been possible for the lum- remain untouched by any messenger ber companies to serve successfully of Christ, but agencies of moral de· the social needs of their workers, al. struction are everywhere surround· though some few attempts have been ing them. Dr. White, Presbyterian 811
sky-pilot, reports the need of inter- time, and 57 % had served in this denominational missions in the cities of Seattle, Everett, and Bellingham, capacity for five years or less; 43% Washington, to provide clean and de- had followed the harvest for more cent quarters for lumberjacks when they come to town; to furnish them than five seasons, 19 % more than ten with reading and writing materials, recreation and rest; to counteract the seasons. influences of agencies constantly rob- Workers are cared for in bunk bing the men of their money and any moral restraints they may have. houses, barns and homes; work hard and late hours; want little but work, 2. Grain Harvesters. The wheat meals, rest, and wages; are not much belt is Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Ne- interested in social life and religion. braska, South Dakota and Canada. Opinion has it that the remedy is so Thousands of harvest hands follow to stabilize and diversify agriculture the harvest from South to North. that this large migrant group will not Oklahoma, during a normal year, em- be neeessary. Agricultural Extenploys from 12,000 to 15,000 of these sion Departments in the wheat belt transient hands for three weeks; are giving instruction in this matter. Kansas from 20,000 to 30,000; Ne- Local churches and agencies should braska somewhat less than Kansas; in serve these groups. General welfare North and South Dakota the demand ageneies which tried to follow haragain increases. In North and South vesters have not proved generally Dakota, the Department of Agricul- successful. tural Extension is trying to introduce diversified farming with permanent 3. Oannery Hands, Fruit and employment, as a remedy for migrant Truck Harvesters. These workers are problems. Some migrant wheat har- here grouped together beeause they vesters are reported in Missouri also. are often the same workers, first har- Iowa's chief interest in this group of vesting fruit and truck, then working in canning factories. According to society lies in the fact that Sioux City is the second great gateway the census report of 1920, in Septemthrough which these workers pass to ber, 1919, there were employed in enter harvest fields of the north. canning establishments of this coun- Kansas City, Missouri, is the first and try, 198,147 workers, more than half most important gateway. Govern- of whom were female workers. In ment and private agencies are at March of the same year, only 35,692 work to place theRe men where needed hands were eng<tged by these estaband to avoid congestion and delay in lishments, at , Ilich time males far cities. outnumbered females. The differen- tial of 162,000 workers represents Migrant worker~ come from all pretty well the part-time workers enwalks of life. are I r all nationalities gaged in this industry, most of whom and conditions of s'lciety, and come are brought from eities and states from everv state in the Union. An not in the immediate locality of the analysis of 3,509 worl,ers who passed industry, and are therefore migrant through the Sioux City offine in the workers during the active season. summer of 1922 Ilhowed that there This does not take into aecount the were men from (!very state except many more tnousands of workers who harvest these and other fruit and Delaware; 43.9 % farmers or fa rm vegetable crops; unfortunately Cen- sus figures do not assist in determinhands; 12.4% common laborers; ing their number, but reports show 6.5% college stud(mts; the remaining that they are several times greater in numbers than cannery hands. 27.2% from 133 different occupations; 55% under 30 years of age, the This type of migrant differs greatly from previously noted groups belargest age group at 24 years; 11'1" cause it includes whole families in their migrations. Women and chilserving as harvest hands for firflt
926] WOMAN '8 HOME MISSION BULLETIN
dren assist in this important work "Would it not be easiest to arouse and therein lies much of the danger. public interest of the locality in work Families are quartered in small, one- for the children, and also easiest to room shacks with inadequate light establish contact with migrants by and few sanitary precautions. Pri- showing an interest in their little vacy is impossible and often comfort one;; ~ Children ought to prove exis not easily secured. These families cellent first sources of contact. Often are social outcasts from most forms the children of the camp are left to of recreation and entertainment in themselves while those older are the community where they labor; working. Organized play and kinderchurches and other local service agen- garten might be good methods for cies largely neglect this group. Chil- starting; possibly elementary school dren are taken from school early in work could be accomplished." the spring and return late in the fall. :Most children in migrant fami- The work of the Council of Women lies are retarded in education. Child Labor laws are often violated in em- for Home Missions has proved this ploying these children in harvesting approach to be very successful and fruit and truck crops. Dr. Keller, of popular. the New Jersey Agricultural Exneriment Station, says: "I have found 4. Su(%r Beet Workers. The folvery often the communities are a so- lowing states reported increased imcial menace to the casual labor rather portance of the sugar beet industry than the other way 'round. I mean in which many migrant families, the community treats these people as mostly Mexican, are employed durthey treat disease, thtly isolate them. ing the summer and autumn months: If the labor class becomes a social Idaho, Michigan, Ohio, South Damenace it is often a result of poor kota, Iowa, Colorado, North Dakota, treatment rather than a cause of their Wyoming, Kansas, Wisconsin. being casual." Dr. Folsom, of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, 5. Soldiers and Sailors. Several who has made wide studies of this denominations are supplying chaptype of migrant throughout the United States, makes the following lains for Army and Navy, and camp comments: pastors. The Protestant Episcopal "The social and religious needs of Church in 1844 organized the Seathese people are bound up with their men's Church Institute which is opereconomic needs. All should be taken ating in sixteen cities in the United into consideration in work planned. States and the Philippine Islands. Much more ought to be done. "Difficulties in establishing contacts: 6. Miscellaneous. Fragmentary re- (a) Short stay in the community. ports came in concerning cotton har- (b) Local lack of interest in them vesters, fishers, boatmen, oil field except as laborers. workers, . irrigation gangs, railroad (c) Their nationality. constructIOn gangs, corn harvesters, (d) Difference in religious and so- tobacco harvesters, etc., but time did not permit a closer study of these re- cial training and standards. ports. (e) Isolation in small groups on Come unto Me, ye weary, small farms. (f) Habit of working all members And I will give you rest.
of the family early and late. oh blessed voice of Jesus, (g) Local situations. Which comes to hearts oppressed It tells of benediction, '
Of pardon, grace and peace Of joy that hath no ending'
Of love which cannot cease.
-Selected.
NEAR EAST key, or at any rate children of refu-
Bibles Sold in Da.mascus gees, one is impressed with the tre- BIBLE Colportage, though at- mendous opportunity in work for tempted, was almost imp.ossible them. These young lives, growing in and around Damascus under the up in the greater freedom of Aleppo, Turkish regime. The Scriptures must be held and trained for Christ, were, however, regularly supplied to Most of them have lost the look of suf- the Irish Presbyterian Mission, the fering and terror which was so evi- British Syrian Mission and the Edin- dent on all faces only a short time ago.
burgh Medical Mission by the British They are looking 'forward and not and Foreign Bible Society. Since the back.' "
Turkish rule ended a distinct ad- vance has been made and Colportage Christian Books in TurKey has been conducted in all quarters of AMERICAN Board missionaries in the city. Colporteur Moses Burun- Constantinople repc.rt that at suzian has sold regularly over three present in Turkey, when ideas are hundred copies of the Scriptures a changing and reforms have been month in the city itself, and to all classes of people. There has been made, the opportunity for distributquite a demand for the Hebrew ing Christian literature is unprece- Scriptures among the Jews; and in dented. The mediums of circulation many instances complete Arabic Bi- have been book-stores in the larger bles have been sold to MOfllems. Over eities, sehools" and personal Turkish fifteen thousand copies of the Scrip- friends in the smaller towns. There tures have been sold in and around are encouraging results. In one Damascus since 1920. town, a group of dervishes are read- ing the Gospels and "Pilgrim's Prog- Christian Endeavor in Aleppo ress. " In the same interior town, a Turkish school put in a request MRS. ISABELE TROWBRIDGE for "Joseph," an Old Testament MERRILL, daughter and wife of play, for their graduating performdistinguished Congregational mis- ance. A number of college students sicnaries to Turkey, sends this story are stUdying the :0Jew Testament.
of future leaders in the Near East: The manuscript for the first "Life "A young people's rally was held in of Christ," translated into Turkish, the new Evangelical Church in is now ready for publication. It is Aleppo, Syria, recently. The four by Miss Constance E. Padwick, of Christian Endeavor societies of the Cairo, and is translated by a young city were present, the boys' and girls' Moslem woman who has been much soeieties from the camp church hav- interested in the work. It is to be ing been invited to join with the boys' published with funds provided by the and girls' societies of the city church. American Christian Literature So- The boys' society of the refugee camp ciety for Moslems.
has lately been organized with eightyfive members, and now has over a hun- "The MU880lini of Persia"
dred. When one looks at the earnest THIS is the title sometimes given and eager faces of these young people to Riza Khan, the new Shah of and realizes that almost without Persia, about whom the following exception they are refugees from Tur-. facts are given in the Kurdistan Mis- 814
1.926] NEWS FROM MANY LANDS
sionary: "A man with an iron will, in prayer, then to comment on the practical and diplomatic, he made Bible passage for the day, and finally and unmade prime ministers, de- t() lead the meeting." posed shahs and established a new republic. The Persian press, mer- Intercessors in Isla,han chants and the common people are A MISSIONARY in Persia, quoted almost unanimously in his favor. in Evangelical Christendorn, The only class which opposed him in writes: "We have had a very help- ] 924 were the neglected mullahs. ful week of prayer here in Isfahan, Since his recall he has put forth the meetings being well attended painstaking efforts to make the right up to the end. The week of mullahs his friends. Arthur Chester prayer makes a very great appeal to Millspaugh, head of the financial our Persian Church, and we look upmission sent to Persia from the on it as a regular part of our church United States in 1923, is extremely organization. The meetings were this popular with Riza Khan, because the year taken chiefly by Persian Chris- Persians know that the Amerieans tians, though we had an Armenian desire no unfair advantages. It is reported that Riza Khan treats the to conduct one meeting and a Hebrew Bahais, a progressive all-Persian Christian on Saturday. It is difficommunity, the Jews and the Zoro- cult to arrange time to get all our astrians very favorably. Though people together for a week, as the men are at work and cannot easily himself uneducated in the ordinary come in the afternoons, and the wosense of the word, he is encouraging men could not come out at all in the the Persians and the foreigners to evenings; but in spite of difficulties cooperate in improving the educa- we had from thirty-five to forty Pertional system of his country." sian Christians daily, besides mission- Women in the Persian Church aries, and they took up the inter- cession topics very heartily."
MRS. J. DAVIDSON FRA"!1E, of the American Presbyterian Mis- Bible Teaching in ~nscat A sion in Resht, Persia, writes: "MoreT MUSCAT on the Persian Gulf, the Reformed Church in Ameriand more we who have had all sorts of Bible helps and commentaries and ca has a well-established mission, instruction in the home marvel at where the seed of the Word is being these unlearned women whose one sown. Without funds for the rent book is the Bible. Their search of of a school building Rev. G. D. Van the Scriptures is untiring. One re- Peursem went ahead with school cent convert is already teaching work at his home and reports a daily others how to read the Bible and in- attendance of fifteen boys whom he structing them in its doctrineg as she is teaching the rudiments of educa- knows them. You know the place a tion and giving the Gospel at the woman has in Moslem countries. It same time. Among them are some is good to watch the place a woman of the brightest boys of the Koran has among our Persian Christians. school and one lad whose father, now At first she is diffiuent about express- deceased, was formerly one of the ing her thoughts in a public prayer strongest opponents of the mission in meeting, but gradually as she realizes Muscat. His daily program cloRes the freedom that she has in Christ with the reading of a chapter of the she becomes more and more to see Bible, and the singing of two hymns.
that she is -only one of a large and Each boy takes his turn in reading sympathetic family and allows her- a verse of Scripture. Miss Lutton self to assume the privileges of the reports a Sunday-school service num- membership in that family, until she bering in attendance between fifteen is free to talk to the common Father , and sixty-five, the majority of them
BaJuchis, but among them in increas- inces to whom we art' not supposed ing numbers Arabs. to tell the good news …. There are in addition about 700,000 pagans in Up" and Down" in Kuwait this territory."
T HE evangelistic work carried on in .Kuwait, Arabia, has met with Si", Que.tiolUl at Once I encouragements as well as discour- N a recent letter, written from 'the agements. Bible shop work is as ex- Egypt General Mission Hospital, tensive as ever. Sunday afternoon Shebin-el-Kanater, Egypt, Mr, H.
services attract a remarkably large Frank Roe tells of experiences when audience of lV[oslems, both men and itinerating in Egyptian villages, He women, A young man baptized sev- writes: "At least twice a week dur- eral years ago continues to testify for ing the summer months I go out with his Master, Another young man de- one of our Egyptian fellow-helpers.
clares he has become a Ch:-istian and There are about thirty villages with- has at times confessed the same be- in a four-mile radius of Shebin, and fore Moslems, On the other hand, we systematically Visit these every Rev. E. E. Calverley reports a new few weeks, Usually we get a respect- form of opposition in the form of an ful and attentive hearing, until, as Arabic book in refutation of Chris- we proceed, the gospel light throws tianity written and published by the into glaring relief some error of Mos- ·chief religious leader of the Persians lem faith. Then the devil asserts his ·of Kuwait. The book consists of two presence, and we are besieged with parts, the first a refutation of five a dozen questions, When six men doctrines ·of Christianity, and the shout at us six different questions at second a reply to Goldsack's book one and the same time, and the whole "Christ in Islam," It is interesting company of men starts yelling, you to note that the school teacher who can imagine what pandemonium is helping Dr. Calverley has under- Teigns ! Under these circumstances -taken to prepare a reply. our only resource is prayer, and we therefore pause for a few minutes AFRICA until quiet returns, We set out each Preaching to Moslem. Forbidden day aiming for a specific village, but REV. JOHN HAY, of the Sudan occasionally we pause to talk with a Interior Mission, writes in the roadside @'oup sheltering under a London Christwn, "It seems in· tree from the scorching sun."
credible that under the British flag today there are countries in which S. S. Grading in the Sudan T the missionary of the Gospel has no HE growth of Sunday-school work among the Shilluk tribe in liberty to preach. Such is the case in Northern Nigeria, Because of a the Southern Sudan was described statement made by a British repre- in tl:'l June Review, A later report sentative who made a treaty with the states: "The Shilluks entrusted with Moslem chiefs-a statement to the ef- grading the Sunday-school have their fect that Government does not inter- own picturesque way of describing fere with religion-it is held that the the classes: Men Who Are Con- Christian missionary must not be al- sidered Honorable (i.e. grey-haired lowed to preach to the Moslems in men), Those Who Are Younger, four great provinces. The doors are Those Just Married, The Boys Who ,closed, 'as it is against government Dance, The Boys Who Have Just Be- policy to permit Christian propagan- gun to Dance, The Boys Who Herd da within the areas which are pre- the Cattle, The Little Boys Who ·dominantly Moslem.' The last cen- Herd the Sheep. The training class sus, taken in 1921, shows 6,699,427 is organized, with a chief, a chief- Mohammedans in the Northern Proy- on-whom-he-has-his-feet, and a chief-
NEWS FROM MANY LANDS
of·writing. The main school at Do- ing a summons to heathen sacrifice.
leib Hill is overflowing the church In another part of the district some building. Five classes are held out- converts were fined for planting of-doors. A year ago there were 26 yams, etc., on their farms before the baptized Shilluks. Today there are day arranged for holding the festival 87. The tribe numbers about 60,000. of the Orisa-oko, a pagan rite. Quite Mrs. Oyler, of the United Presby- recently in a town near Owo a young terian Mission, writes: 'The Chris- woman, a convert of only a few years'
ti;:!ns are very much interested :in standing, has borne severe bodily suf- this village S. S. work, but the time fering for the sake of her faith.
will come when the novelty will wear off. Weare praying for that time. "The Preacher, the Big Stick"
O A regular routine, day after day, re- NE of the distinctive qualities of African Christian leaders seems quires more strength.' "
Ex-Medicine Man an Evangelist to be their apt use of figurative lan- guage. A recent illustration of this A RCHDEACON E. W. DOur,- comes from the Christian Alliance TON, of Tanganyika Territory, Mission in the Congo. The teachers East Africa, tells the story of the of the district had met for prayer conversion of a medicine man, Ka- and council. They were discussing hodanga, who when he was baptized the lack of interest and zeal in the at about thirty years of age, took schools. The native pastor used this the name Yohana (John). He con- 'wise illus"tration : "We llile large tinues: "It is estimated that Yo- sticks of wood to keep the fire burn- hana, this ex-medicine man, has been ing at night or when we are away the instrument in God's hands in the from home. Some wood holds the conversion of fully one hundred Wa- fire well, some burns out quickly. If gogo, and his village, where there is the fire in the large piece of wood now a considerable Christian com- goes out, we cannot use it to kindle munity, is a light in the great dark- the other sticks of wood. We preach- ness around. It is in many respects ers are the large sticks of wood. If a model village, in which heathen our people are not on fire it would dances and the brewing or use of be well for us to examine the large pombe (native beer) are forbidden. sticks first and see why the fire is Yohana is a teetotaller and non- not burning there. If you are on smoker. Three of his sons are now fire so will your people be also."
Christian teachers, two of them being in charge of out-stations from which Malagasy Tribute to Bible D converts to Christ are being gathered.URING his visit to Madagascar, W. J. W. Roome, of the British Yohana is now quasi-pastor, and superintends the work of four out-sta- and Foreign Bible Society, was weltions in the Buigiri district." comed at a great meeting of Malagasy Yorll.ba Christians Persecuted Christians at Imerina. The follow- ing is an extract from an address of REPRESENTATIVES of the welcome which was delivered by Church Missionary Society find Randzavola, a pastor: "The misthat the persecution of Christians is sionaries and the Bible are like the by no means a thing of the past in right and left hand, working together !the Yoruba country, Wesit Africa, in the garden of the Lord here in and men and women are Rtill called this our island. Far be it from me upon to suffer in various ways for to belittle the work of missionaries; their faith. For insta'nce, twelve but they themselves are witnesses men living at a C.M.S. out-station that the Bible has accomplished much in the Benin district were fined £5 more than they alone could have pos- each in the native court for disobey- sibly done. There was a time, twen- 6
ty-five years ago, when the mission- be in close association with the misaries were not allowed to stay in our sionaries at the Forman Christian country; but because the Bible re- College. Rev. E. T. Jenkinson, who mained the work they had begun during the past year has been taking was by no means destroyed …. And a special course at Manchester Uniup to the present the Bible has found versity to fit him for work among entrance into many Malagasy homes. Moslems, was appointed, and was to into some of which the missionary sail from England for India on Sephas difficulty in gaining admission." tember 14th.
INDIA AND SIAM Non-Christian Students Responsive India's Attitude toward Christ EV. CANON A. W. DAVIES, R NOTE of warning is sounded in A an editorial in the NatixJnal John's College, in Agra, North India, principal of the C.M.S. St.
Christian Council Review, which recently invited the students of the says: "It is not often realized that college, including Moslems and Hin- the genuine admiration for Jesus' dus, to the occasional services which Christ and the remarkable spirit of are held on Sunday a:l'ternoons for receptiveness towards His teaching the Christian staff and students.
so common in India at the present Quite definitely he explained that it day exist side by side with an abso- would be Christian worship, and that lute refusal to ascribe to Him any it would give an opportunity for position of uniqueness …. Christian- openly acknowledging the drawing ity may cease to be allied with an of Christ and the desire to serve and alien culture and strengthen all the follow Him, and to enter more. and good and noble elements in the social more into His Spirit. It could not, and religious life of India; Chris- therefore, have been very easy for tianity may become indigenous in the non-Christian students to attend, India, adopting modes of life and yet .some thirty or forty of these worship and thought which are came, and a little later, when the in- suited to the people of this land; and vitation was repeated especially to yet the incompatibility between the the senior students, there was a most il'und,lamen;tal position of Hinduism encouraging response. Canon Davies and Christianity about the unique- remarks: ""Ve are only feeling our ness of Jesus Christ as the revelation way; but experiences of this sort, and of God will remain and will have to the knowledge of not a few in the be met." college who are very near the King- dom, together with the unique ex·· Union Work for Indian Moslems perience of the baptism of one who I N OCTOBER, 1925, representa- left the college twelve years ago, a tives of the (English) Wesleyan Hindu Brahmin, have filled us with Methodist Missionary Society gave new courage and hope."
expression to their conviction that work among Moslems in India should Gandhi on "the Language of Love"
A be undertaken by the various T a tea given by the American Board missionaries at :M"ahachurches and societies in cooperation, and an offer was made of a man to bleshwar, India, Mahatma Gandhi such a cooperative mission. This ac- made a brief address, speaking par- tion resulted in the Conference of ticularly to the missionary members the British Missionary Societies ap- of the language school. He expressed pointing a group representative of his hearty approval of the desire of the principal societies to consider the young missionaries to learn the this proposaL It was decided to ac- language of the country, and paid cept the offer and to send the man tribute to the linguistic achievements for training to Lahore, where he will of the missionary group. He stated
NEWS FlCOM MANY LANDS
his regret, however, at the failure of in the city or are off on tour to the many missionaries-in faet most of far part of the district. In addition the missionaries-to learn the lan- to this bazaar work, for many years guage of the Indian heart-the lan- members have voluntarily carried on guage of love. This failure is the personal work among a community more disappointing because the mis- of outeastes. Less than a year ago, sionaries come to India in the name on their own initiative, Indian mem- of love, and the Indian expects, and bers of the congregation planned a has the right to expect, the manifes- campaign with the objective of win- tations of this spirit. The missionary ning this community for Christ_ preaches love, but how often his ac- They organized the work themselves: tions belie his words. and conducted it, and within the last month or two have baptized Nepal Slaves Set Free about sixty. That these converts: THE plan for the abolition of may continue to grow in their new slavery in Nepal was last re- life and in the grace of the Lord one ferred to in the Review in March. A of our Indian Christians is providing speeial cablegram to the New York the salary for a full-time teacher."
Times August 29th announced the completion of the plan at a cost of Revising the Siamese Bible D $1,366,250, an average of $25 a slave, URING the past two years, re- ports Rev. Paul A. Eakin, of the total number liberated with compensation by the Government being Bangkok, Siam, "a little group com- 51,782. The rates paid in compensa- posed of three Siamese pastors and tion ranged from $7 for a female two young evangelistic helpers-all and $5 for a male under three years graduates of the Bangkok Christian old to $35 for a female and $26 for College–and a missionary have been a male between the ages of thirteen trying to put the Scriptures of the and forty. After forty the price New Testament into more idiomatic dropped fifty per cent. Tracts of and attractive :Siamese, as well as cultivable land have been thrown produce a more accurate translation open to the emancipated slaves in the of the Greek manuscripts …. The hills, and reclamation and clearance work has given them a deeper appre- works have been started in Tarai, ciation of the true nature of the suitable advances of cash being made Scriptures. Over and over again the to the freedmen by the reclamation pastors would jot down in their per- and agricultural offices. The Tmne.~ sonal notebooks obscure texts which despatch gave the credit both for con- had flamed out anew as the real ceivinll' and carryinl? out the plan to meaning was brought ont clearly in the Prime Minister of Nepal, but their own tongue, and the light in earlier accounts have made the Ma- their faces at such times is something harajah the chief figure. one will not soon forget. "
Indians Evangelize Outoastes CHINA THE United Presbyterian Church Mission for Ricksha Coolies be!1-'an its work at .Jhelum, in the Punjab, fifty years ago. One of its T OUCHED by the hardships of the missionariei' there writes: "Most en- ricksha men in Shanghai, Mr. couraging of all is the voluntary, George Ma:theson founded in 1913 evangelistic zeal displayed by Indian a mission; especially for this latrge members of our little church. Al- group. The latest report states: though they are not paid for this ser- "During this troubled year there has vice, they continue the regular evan- been no decrease in the numbers passgelistic preaching in the bazaar, ing through the mission premises and whether the missionaries are present attending the daily and nightly gatherings in the open air, and in
the halls. Even during the disturb- Car·toons." They are issued four on ances, the usual large crowds (jn a sheet in wall-scroll form and in.- which representatives from most of tended to be shown one by one as the provinces might be found) were the Bible story is told. The sketches always present, and orderly and have heavy lines with little detail, so friendly in attitude. The usual rou- that they may be easily seen across tine was carried on uninterruptedly. the schoolroom and comprehended by Sick and injured men were sent to scholars with little Bible knowledge; hospital and the destitute were re- moreover, being in Chinese style, the lieved as usual. In visiting and open- attention of the children is not diair work large numbers of men, wo- verted by too many foreign features men, and children are reached who in the picture. would otherwise remain unknown, and in the course of this itinerant Rewards of Out-Station Work work large quantities of suitable literature are distributed, includin[! REV. R. G. COONRADT, Ameri- Scripture portions and leaflets." can Presbyterian missionary in Tsingtao, Shantung Province, since A General's Zeal for His Men 1912, writes of llis country field: "Imagine our preaching and teach- REV. FRANK A. KELLER, of ing the gospel message, day after the Hunan Bible Institute, after day, to people who never would hear describing the Christian earnestness it if we did not tell them. There is of General Chang, who was men- always just another village or town tioned in the June, 1925, REVIEW, beyond asking you to come to them, says: "Through the enthusiastic as- It means another day, but who can sistance of Chief-of-Staff Chang, the resist the call? How many hundreds way was opened for the preaching of of Christian friends at home would the Gospel to every unit of the third give so much just for this one chance, division of the Hunan armv that was and with this thought and knowing. at Changsha. One week ;e had the that Christ is calling them I have soldiers here night after night to hear extended my trip and pushed on the Gospel, and see it, too, as illus- many times. One new convert said, trated by stereopticon slides. One 'I know the foreign pastor is too busy Dr two nights we had as many as to come to my home, but I do wish fourteen hundred here. Half of he could make just one visit and help them listened to the preaching of the me explain 'the Gospel to myoId Gospel in groups of about one hun- father.' This illiterate man had been dred each while the other half saw converted while in Manchuria. He the pictures in the auditorium; then came home to take care of his aged they changed places, so that all had father, and began at once to study the privile-ge of seeing the slides. the Bible and attend church at the Sunday afternoon services were held nearest meeting place. We went to in a number of the different camps." his home and his father was baptized later, and now the man has his uncle THE Bible Picture Cartoons and many others of his town study- China Sunday School Union ing, " has issued. chiefly for use in primary and daily vacation Bible Chinese Girls in Factories schools, a spries of line sketches illustrating. in Chinese style bat not CHEFOO, in Shantung Province, Chinese figures, the life of Christ. is described in a recent report as Cooperating with a Chinese artist, "a town where hundreds of women Rev. J. P. Esney, of the Presbyterian have bound feet, but still a town of Mission in Shanghai, produced this factories where these same women series, which they call" Bible Picture trudge bravely home at clusk on their tiny feet." 'l'his past year about 150
NEWS FROM MANY LANDS
girls, most of whom work from six for souls far more precious than gold in the morning until six at night, en- are being won for Christ in this rolled in the popular education night place. Six men were baptized and classes. "A Y.W.C.A. secretary on five men and three 'women were reher first visit found twenty-eight lit- ceived as candidates for baptism. tle peanut sorters, hair-net menders, One of the first group is a man of silk spinners and embroiderers, try- considerable ability but has been ing to read under one dim lamp, and rather a bad fellow, much given to some were carefully drawing charac- litigation. Thank God, there is ,a ters on their slates which said, 'The great change in him and he shows liberty of an individual is sacred and those evidences of the new birth cannot be encroached upon.' How which always rejoice the missionary's will they explain the world when they heart. Recently he greatly befriendbecome conscious of individual worth ed one of his old enemies t() such an on one hand and a twelvp-hour day extent that his heathen neighbors for women and children on the were amazed at such an exhibition of loving forbearance." other? " Texts and Pictures in Tibet Labor ProbleD1s and the Y.W.C.A. BISHOP WARD, of the Moravian THE annual report of the Y.W. Church, writes of the work of C.A. of China contains the fol- Rev. H. F. Burroughs, of Khalatse, in lowing signfficant statement: "In- the Western Himalayas: "A supply of Tibetan text-posters has been obdustrial problems have loomed large tained from Shanghai. One of these is displayed in a large frame hung in China in the last year. The agi- on the verandah, and is read by all who come to the house, often opening tation that led to the May 30th affair up the way for a talk· about the Gos- pel. The text 1 John 5: 12 is exarose from labor troubles. The ap- cellent in dealing with Buddhists, as it admits of no ambiguity. One day palling number of strikes within the some lamas from a distant lamasery arrived, and cons,iderable time was last year show an increasing unrest spent in talking about this text, and also in showing them pictures in the and dissatisfaction on the part of la- church. One of them bought a gos- pel, and Mr. Burroughs was able to mboar~ and while some of these strikes give them a good supply of tracts and have been animated by political other literature to take back to their isolated abode. Some time ago, when motives, undoubtedly many of them preaching in Khalatse, he showed Copping's picture, 'The Hope of the have had their origin entirelY in la- World'-depicting our Lord with children representative of the five bor problems. The most striking fact continents. This so took the fancy of an old man that he gave Mr. Burin the industrial world is the unpre- roughs no peace until he got him one like it. This the old man has nailed cedented growth of labor unions, pre- up in his house."
senting a factor tremendous in its JAPAN-KOREA possibilities both for good and for Press, FilD1S and Ra.dio evil. The intensity of feeling that is DESCRIBING the present mission- ary opportunity in Japan, Mrs. developing puts a burden of respon- R. P. Gorbold writes: "The atten- sibility upon Christian forces, great- er than we have ever faced before.
The Y.W.C.A., nationally and local- ly, has been aware o~ this need and has played its part m the effort to meet it."
The ViIIage of YeIIow Gold T HE origin of the name, which is thus translated, of the market town in Szechwan Province is obscure but, writes Rev. C. B. Hannah, of th~ China Inland Mission, "from a spiritual point of view· the name has now a very blessed significance,
tion of the public is being arrested the Sunday-school, with Buddhist and a desire to know more about motives, which is being attempted in Christianity aroused by at least three Japan to-day. This mixture she calls far-reaching agencies: the news- "synthetic bread." She says: "If papers, the movies and the radio. For it fails to satisfy the people, how do instance, the two English dailies the priests thrive on it? The contact edited and pUblished by Japanese, one with Western materialism has shat- in Tokyo and one in Osaka, devoted tered the faith of many priests, pages before and after Christmas Day notably the chief abbot of the largest to the Christmas message….. As to sect of Japan, Count Otani, who has the movies, no doubt the films that resigned his office, and is a business are detrimental are overwhelmingly man to-day. He argues that prayer is in the majority, but there are others logically impossible. To the world he that portray the beauty of upright is famous for his luxurious living living in striking contrast with the and his debts. Some young priests do ugliness of sin. Besides these so-called not realize that the adapted hymns moral films a number of distinctively and manuals which they use are really Bible films have been very popular. Christian hymns disguised. When And through the radio the seed is be- they awake to discover the source ing literally broadcast." (which honest study must disclose), their position becomes patlietic. They Cured Lepers Evangelists are like chemists watering down a T HE leper colony at Kwangju, first-class prescription and selling it Korea, is widely known. Dr. R. as their own patent medicine. There- M. Wilson, the physician in charge, fore, with every prayer for Japan writes: "We feel that the results of pray for the priests."
the leper work from an evangelistic point of view are as encouraging as Town Crier Calls to Church the cures from the drug treatment, R EV. Henry M. Bruen, Presbyand of course they are even more terian missionary in Taiku, permanent….. We have sent out over Korea, since 1899, writes of a unique 150 cases from the Leper Colony experience which he and a Korean whom we consider probably cures, elder had in a certain village: "We and among these Some who were dis- had agreed to visit the sarangs tinctly evangelistic in spirit have gone (guest-rooms) after supper and inout and done splendid work in start- vite all whom we fOUIid to attend the ing churches. Seven of our cured evening service. However, while we lepers have gone back to their villages were eating supper the town crier's and have started thriving churches. voice was heard calling the villagers Five cured ones are now employed as to a town gathering. Our hearts country evangelists in remote dis- sank, as it seemed this doomed to tricts, and ten are doing good work failure any attempt to get the nonfor the churches in their own villages Christians at the church. So we gave without pay. The lepers are in- up the idea of visiting the sarangs structed to watch for any active sign and had just opened our service for or return of the diseases, and to COme the Christian constituency, when the back for examination. Occasionally church door opened and the koo-chang one returns." (headman) led in a number of the Plight of Japanese Priest. villagers and requested us not to pro- ceed too fast as he was going out for MISS A. M. HENTY points out in some more. The village crier had been an interesting article in the sent out by that non-Christian head- Church Missionary meaner the spirit- man to call the people together to ual inadequacy of the combination of hear the gospel message. Shortly he Christian methods, such as those of returned with another group and we
1926J NEWS FHOM MANY LANDS
preached to a full house. After the The period between Christmas and meeting closed he sat for an hour or Easter has been settled on for the more and talked with US." campaign, which is to extend not only over the United States but in Canada Bibles in Pockets and Heads and in several European countries. Dr. Stelzle said of it: CHRISTIANITY is responsible for one change in Korean dress- This campaign will not be merely a "Gothe use of pockets, according to Mrs. to-Church" movement. Our primary object Roy K. Smith of Chairyung, Korea, is to show the country of what religion conwho says: "There were no pockets sists. The messages to be prepared by the in the old Korean coat, but the Chris- commission of 100 clel'gymen will contain tian needed a place for his Bible, for the fundamental teachings of Christianity 'coming to church without a Bible is not only with regard to personal religion practically unknown in Korea. Fol- but with reference to tbe attitude of the lowing American example he made a Church toward present-day problems. large pocket in his jacket, and later 'several on ,a sleeveless coat or vest for Forerunner of Student Movement his Bible and other prize treasures. But it is not enough to carry the Bible REV. George A_ Wilder, for many in one's hand or pocket. We have years a missionary of the Amerimany who carry great sections, even can Board in South Africa and a whole books', in their heads and can brother o,f Rev. Royal G. Wilder, Tecite without a mistake long pas- founder of the Review, writes that sages. One man walked a hundred the organization of the Student miles to recite the Sermon on the Volunteer Movement for Foreign Mount to his pastor. When he Missions at Mount Hermon in 1886 finished, he was told that was all very was preceded by a similar student well, but he must not be content with movement twelve years earlier. He having it in his head, he must have says: it in his heart and put it into -practice. His reply was: 'But that " In the year 1878, Dr. W. H. Saunders is the way I learned it. At first I and I were in Hartford Seminary. It was tried to memorize it, and it would not tben that we conceived of the idea of getting 'stick, so I tried this plan. I would into touch with others in different seminaries learn a verse, and then go out and who, like ourselves, had determined to be practice it on a heathen neighbor un- foreign missionaries. As a result, cortil it would stick.' " respondence was started and we learned, much to our joy, that students in Princeton NORTH AMERIOA were working alon'g' the same lines. In th3 year following, in June, 1879, there met in 'Plan for Advertising the Ohurch New York City a small company of students who hail pledged themselves to be foreign A CHURCH advertising campaign missionaries. This was the first gener~l gathering of student volunteers, – will be conducted by the International Advertising Association, The organized movement was founded as a formerly the Associated Advertising result of the Student Conference at Maunt Clubs of the World. A commission Hermon at the invitation of D. L. Moody 'of one hundred clergymen of various in 1886 a.nd John N. Forman (Princeton denominations will prepare the mes- Colle!!e. '84) and Robert P. Wilder (Prine,,- 'sages to be promoted. This announce- ton '86) were the first traveling secretaries. went was made by Rev. Charles 'Stelzle, D.D., President of the Church Ministry to New York Lepers Advertising department of the as- 'sociation. Dr. Stelzle is remembered R EV. ANNESLEY T. YOUNG, -as the founder both of Labor Sun- D.D., of the Episcopal City Mis- -day, nearly twenty years ago, and of sion in New York City, has interested -the Labor Temple in New York City. himself particularly in the lepers who are cared foi- by the Government on North Brother Island in the East River, opposite 140th st. The settle- ment is not permanent in the sense that the lepers are transferred as soon as possible to the government colonies
in the Gulf of Mexico. However, there Women's Christian Association, under is occasion for frequent ministrations whose auspices it has been carried on among them while they are in New for six summers was that college wom- York. The Government takes excel- en might share the experiences of lent care of these people, so that there women workers on whom they depend is not much that can be done for them for many necessities. "College wom- in a material sense; however, the en who have missed much of life's sympathy and fellowship of a repre- drudgery are eager to know in their sentative of Christ is of immense own bodies and minds what it means value. Chaplain Young has provided to be part of the present industrial a phonograph and records, a radio to system, " says the announcement.
bring in the outside world, magazines, "They will acquire concrete facts on but, especially, himself in the, mani- which to base their study of industrial festation of his concern and sym- problems. They will increase the pathy, to emphasize the spiritual side number of college people who know of life with its strength and hope. and can cooperate with industrial workers. " After working hours' the Women DiscDss Raee Question group met for informal discussions THE women members of the with labor leaders, social workers and Federal Council's Commission on employers. At all other times they the Church and Race Relations, in lived, ate and spent their leisure with cooperatiori with the Council of their fellow·workers at typical recrea- Women for Home Missions and the tion, as well as at the work bench.
National Board of the Y. W. C. A., Y. W. C. A. Membership Plan held an Interracial Conference of Church Women, September 23rd-24th I N THE news item in the June REat Eagles Mere, Pa. The objects of the VIEW on the annual Y. W. C. A. conference were: (1) To enlarge the Convention, it was stated that an scope of interracial thinking and to optional membership plan had been_ enlist the women of the churches adopted, "which permits others than more actively in improving relations members of Evangelical Christian between white and colored groups in churches to become full voting mem- America; (2) -To discuss methods of bers of the Association." The Bul- letin issued by the Federal Council of bet t e r interracial organization Churches gives the following explanathrough churches and their auxiliaries tion of this plan: so that women may more effectively act on local interracial conditions; Henceforth any city, town or rural As· (3) To exchange concrete experience sociation may choose either, to use the from groups ()of women that have al- present church membership basis which con· ready attempted to carry out inter- fines its voting and office-holding members racial programs; (4) To study the to those who are members of churches eligible to membership in the Federal past experience of organizations that Council of Churches, or the alternative per· have done such work, to learn both sonal basis which confines its voting and from successes and failures, how best o.ffice-holding members to those who have to proceed in the future. made a declaration of loyalty to the purpose of the Association, promising to endeavor to uphOld it in their Own lives and in their College Girls in Factories work in the Association. The" purpose" contains four statements embodying loyalty DURING the past summer twelve to Jesus Christ, growth in Christian character, leading young women into the college girls spent six weeks of Christian Church and becoming a social force their vacation in Chicago factories, for the extension of the Kingdom of God. having pledged themselves to live on Three fourths of the memhers of the boards, their wages. The purpose of the ex- of the officers and of voting delegates to conventions must be members of churches periment, as stated by the National eligible to membership in the Federal Student Council of the Young Council.
NEWS FROM MANY LANDS
J apan.ese-American Citizens future of the mission work in Mexico.
ACCORDING to a writer in World More than half a century of faithful Call, "the Oriental problem in seed-sowing is behind us. We believe America" is a problem of the that in the next decade rapid prog- American-born. B!1ng citizens by ress will be made in the establishment right of birth they long to be treated of a self.supporting and self·governas such, yet they are not treated as ing Evangelical Church that under Americans. Their capacity for divine guidance will leaven the whole citizenship is illustrated by a pupil land. "-Christian Observer.
in the Sunday school of the Japanese Christian Church at Berkeley, Cali- Training Porto Rican P …..tor.
T fornia. The American Legion pro- HE fine spirit of cooperation which prevails among the missionmoted an essay contest with the American flag as the subject. This aries of the various denominations at thirteen-year-old girl, whose parents work in Porto Rico was referred to are Japanese, wrote the following es- in the June Review, and the union say which was adjudged one of the theological seminary was mentioned three best in California: as one of the striking. expressions of I pledge allegiance to you, flag of my that spirit. This institution is con- United States, in word and in deed. I be· trolled by a board of trustees, com- lieve you will help me to be a loyal citizen posed of one member appointed by both in peace' and in war. I believe that each of the seven cooperating deyou will lead the world, not only in strength nominations. The curriculum probut in righteousness; I believe that your vides for a three years' course for stars are the shining symbol of the eternal brotherhood of men in the world. "Old which a high school diploma and Glory," as I stand and salute your heroic about one half of a college course are eolors of Red, White, and Blue, I promise for the present required. Additional to follow y~ur ideals of "Liberty, .Justice, work and the full college course are and Peace, ' not only for America but for the world. required of candidates for the degree LATIN AMERICA of Bachelor of Theology. "The seminary," reports its president, Rev.
Reasons for Hope in Mexico James A. McAllister, "has given Porto REV. H. L. RO~S! Southern Rico a native ministry. A dozen Presbyterian mIssIOnary in years ago, as many as ten and twelve Mexico, gives the following reasons American missionaries were caring for his confidence in the future of for the Presbyterian churches. Now, Christ's klingdom in that country: all the thirty-three churches have "As we observe how nobly the Porto Rican pastors. Practically the national evangelistic workers are same is true of the other denominabracing themselves to meet the larger tions. Over a hundred men have redemands on them and their churches, ceived preparation and there are now as we become more confirmed in the about seventy-five ordained Porto conviction we have always had that Rican ministers in the seven denomithe Mexican Government is friendly nations and a considerable number toward the Protestant work, as we of preachers not yet ordained."
enjoy such cordial expressions of love and confidence on the part of our Negro Missionary in Pa.na.Dla I national fellow-workers and the mem- N THE fall of 1923, a young Pana- bers of the churches along with man Negro came to the Bible expressions of confidence and ap- House of the American Bible Society preciation by a large number of the at Cristobal, Canal Zone, with a little influential citizens of our town, and, notebook. It contained a translation above all, as we read the Great Com- of the Gospel of Matthew into the mission and tbe promise attached dialect of the Valiente Indians of thereto, we are confident as to the Panama which he wished the Bible
Society to publish. S"ecTrheti~sr"y writes ready, the rubber traders are seeking Rev. R R Gregory, of the their prey and the Indian is on the alert. In all the province of Velasco Caribbean Agency of the Society, there is a dread of the foreigner. No Indian whom we saw by the roadside "was the beginning of our acquaint- would await our approach-he im- mediately disappeared into the forest. ance with Mr. E. S. Alphonse, an un- Every house at which we called suspected us. The master of the house usu~lly gifted young man." He was invariably jumped for his rifle as we appeared and held it handy until he converted about ten years ago, and at once became especially interested in taking the Gospel to the Valiente Indians of Panama. Although some of the Indians had learned to speak Spanish, in order to reach the tribe had ascertained our business. In these as a whole Mr. Alphonse lived several two provinces of Chiquito and Velasco years among them to learn their ways. there must be at least fourteen to He not only learned to speak their fifteen thousand Indians without a language but also reduced it to writ- witness for Christ among them." ing for the first time.
EUROPE Witch Doctor's Testimony Mosques in Paris and London AN INDIAN, fifty-six years of age, MOSLEM propaganda in Europe appeat;ed before the Session of continues unabated. An Asthe church in San Felipe, Guatemala, sociated Press report described the to be admitted as a catechumen. The dedication in Paris on .July 15th of following report is given of a part the first mosque in France. Those of his examination: "I am a new who were present at the ceremony inman. I no longer have a thirst for cluded President Doumergue, Mulai drink. I feel a great shame when I Youssef, Sultan of Morocco; Lord think of deceiving my fellows with Crewe, the British ambassador; the witch doctor rites. Here is my Minister of War Guillaumat, Gen. bag of red beans. I want them to be Gouraud and many other well-known yours as a token of a sinner saved. persons. President Doumergue and Above all God has come into my life. the Sultan were escorted by a special native guard of honor. Thousands of I believe in Him. I want to serve and to honor Him. " " And do you Mohammedans from Tunis, Morocco promise with the help of God to ab- and Algeria crowded the streets leadstain from all these superstitious rites ing to the mosque. According to the in the future f" "Of course. When report, "the presence of the British you have come into the light, you ambassador was remarked as a tribute don't want to go back into the dark to its Moslem subjects by the British again, do you?" Government. "
Rubber Trade in Bolivia Students of Islam are familiar with the activities of the Moslem group at A TRIP into the interior of Bolivia W oking, London. It is now reported a few months ago is described by John M. Mackinnon in Inland South that a third mosque is soon to be America. He speaks of the deserted erected in Dulwich, another section of towns which lay in the track of the London. The Islamic World comold rubber trail from the pestilential ments: " Among' the spires and regions of Acre and the River Beni, crosses of its Christian churches may soon rise the crescent of Islam."
where the Indians had been seduced Progress in Belgian Mission and enslaved by the unscrupulous rubber traders during the days of the ENCOURAGING reports come from rubber boom. "To-day," he says, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph C. Norton, "rubber is booming again, and terror whose work in the Belgian Gospel Mis- sion has long been familiar to readers is broadcast in these regions. AI-
NEWS FROM MANY LANDS
of the Review. One such has to do or lecturers may be appointed if with the opening of a new evangelistic necessary. By Spanish law the head hall in the town of Marche in Luxem- of the college must be a Spaniard. bourg, a section of the country for The lack of religious liberty in Spain which the members of the mission had was commented on in the June been praying especially. One of them Review. writes: "After God had given us an opening in Luxembourg, He gave us New Slavic Evangelica.ls a house, then a worker, then simultaneously raised up a friend in T HE revival movement in Ukrainia, America who had never before given which was referred to in the July in a large way to the work in Belgium, Review is reported to be gaining to pay the purchase price of the new strength. The Record of the United house in ~larche." Another develop- Free Church of Scotland announces ment is the use this past summer of that in Russia besides the Baptist two motor cars, which were given by Church and the German-speaking friends of the Mission as a result of Lutheran Church, a new body, called the great blessing attending the open- "The Evangelical Christians," is in ail' work of last year, in which the process of formation. Its numbers are cal' of the Open-Air Mission of put by some at four millions, but London was so employed. In this others already give them double that itinerating campaign of evangelism, figure. This great movement is said in addition to preaching in untouched to have been caused in large measure sections of the country, a wonderful by returned prisoners of war, who in opportunity is given to distribute the tens of thousands came under deep printed Word. religious influences in certain of the camps in Germany and Hungary. Protestant Union Work in Spa.in When they went home, they took with them a new religious faith, and are WHAT is described by those who now spreading the Gospel in almost took part in it as "a great step every corner of Russia. Among these forward in the evangelization of awakening Russian Evangelicals there Spain" is the decision to establish this is a great hunger for the Bible. October a union theological school. This decision was made in April by "A Robert College for Greece" the third annual conference of the International Committee for Spanish T HAT Bulgaria was to have an Evangelization. Nine countries were institution which could be so derepresented-England, Scotland, Ire- scribed, was announced in the May land, Holland, Sweden, Germany, Review. A news item in the New York America, France and Spain. The Times on August 30th stated that Anglican, Presbyterian, Congrega~ Professor Edward Capps of the Greek tionaI, Wesleyan, Lutheran, and Department at Princeton University, French Reformed Church had each at who was United States Minister to least one representative. Twenty-five Greece during the Wilson Adminispastors and lay workers attended. tration, is now at the request of a No such representative Protestant group of Athenians organizing a gathering had ever been seen in Spain board of trustees for a nonsectarian, befo·re. The vote for this training non-political American college to be college was unanimous. There are to established. in Greece, modeled after be four professors appointed by the Robert College in Constantinople, to churches or societies concerned-the be known as Athens College. A com- Irish Presbyterian, the German mittee of prominent Athenians is en- United Committee, the Spanish and deavoring to raise $500,000 for the the Portuguese Church Aid Society, college buildings. A tract of twentythe American Board. Other teachers three acres near Athens on the road to Kyfissia has been donated as the
site of the college, and $100,000 has ment there. Miss Helen A. Davis, been raised for the buildings. Pro- who headed the party but plans to fessor Capps has requested the follow- return in December, says: ing men to serve on the board of trustees: Elihu Root, Dwight S. Mor- It has been a number of years since the row, Henry S. Pritchett, John H. first request from the Philippines came to Finley, Stephen S. Duggan, Ery the National Board for help. For financial Kehaya and Charles P. Howland. reasons it has been impossible to go be· fore. A recent cable welcomes us and asks ISLANDS OF THE SEA how they may help in the interval before onr arrival. Under the leadersh:p of the Igorot Boys Ask for Schooling Committee a club for young women has been started in Manila and has been doing ef- T HE new principal of the school fective work. This small club will be the conducted by the Protestant nucleus of our future Y. W. C. A. Episcopal Church at Baguio, on the island of Luzon, in the Philippines, GENERAL writes: "That Igorots are keen for Christianity and education is evident International Missionary Councll every day, hut it was especially so during the week when crowds of chil- T HE Committee of the Interdren came to enroll for this school national Missionary Council held year. Many of the boys wore only its session for 1926 near Rattvik, g-strings, yet everyone came prepared Sweden. to pay his matriculation fee which amounts to six pesos for the highest The meeting, which lasted from grades. We accepted nearly a hun- July 17th to 25th, was the second dred children but had to turn away held by the Committee since the last about fifty more because we 'had no meeting of the Council, which was more room j it did not seem right to convened in Oxford, England, in have more tban three boys sleeping 1923. The last previous meeting of in one bed. But some of the children the Committee was at Atlantic City, who were told to go home refused to N. J., in 1925. This one was attended go. One big boy named Tomas sat on by practically all of the regular memmy office steps for two days, in order bers, as well as by the officers and a to say, on all possible occasions, 'I few consultative members, representwill go to this school, mum.' " ing Europe, the two Americas, Asia and Africa. Dr. John R. Mott, Chair- Y. W. C. A. for the Philippines man of the Council presided. The themes which, in the main, claimed T HE Filipino young woman, Miss the time and challenged the thinking Soledad Garduno, who was de- of this group were the following: Spiritual Vitality; Presentation of scribed in the April Review as "a Y. the Christian Message in Relation to Non-Christian Faiths j Enlisting the W. C. A. pioneer," has been studying New Generation; Enlisting the Inin the training school conducted by terest and Service of Laymen; Christhe National Board in New York tian Education j Christian Literature j City. She was to accompany in Sep- Devolution Problems of Indigenous tember the first American unit of Y. Churches; Racial Questions j Human W. C. A. workers to go to the Philip- Relations in Industry, and 'Forced pines. Upon the urgent invitation of Labor; Religious Education i and the a Provisional Committee of the Philip- Next Meeting of the Council. On this pines, of which both American and last point it was decided to hold the Filipino women are members, they meeting in the spring of 1928 in will develop the Association move- Jerusalem.
books mentioned in these columns will be forwarded by us on receipt of price.-
THE REVIEW.
BEST BOOKS FOR THE STUDY Missionary Education, London, pp. 2]6, 2/3. OF ISLAM For a most scholarly presentation By REV. EIW'{EST W·. RWGS, BOSTON of the subject, we turn to Associate Secretary of the American Board Aspects of Islam. D. B. Macdonald. Mac· millan Co., New York. $1.75. Every alert student of missions realizes that the ancient solidity of The throbbing heart of the Moslem Islam has been softened by strange world is forbidden to the non·Moslem new fires. Moslem governments and but Burton adventurously visited the peoples are in a plastic state. To holy cities and told the story in ascertain whence are these new fires and what the influences shaping the A Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to plastic mass is not an easy task. As Al-Madinah and Meccah. R. F. Burton. a guide to one really interested, a G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York. 1856. small list of books is recommended. We include a most excellent bio- We have not included books writ- graphical study of a noble Moslem ten as "exposing Islam," but sug- saint: gest such volumes as will provide a sufficiently broad basis for a fair A Moslem Seeker after God. S. M. Zwemer. study of Islam and the present Fleming H. Revell Co., New York. $2.25. Christian approach to the Moslem. Such a general study of Islam does Although this great religion and not, however, satisfy our interest. its influences cannot be gauged ac- The present is a time of such unusual curately by studying its sacred book significance that we name three volalone, yet a good translation of the umes dealing with the changes now Koran is certainly of first importance. going on in the Moslem world: The Koran. Tr. by J. M. Rodwell. Every· Modern Movements among Moslems. S. G. man edition. E. P. Dutton & Co., New Wilson. Fleming H. Reyell Co., New York. 80 cents. York.
Accompanying the Koran, there The Moslem World in Revolution. W. Wil· shoulo be a 2'lioslem's interpretation son Cash. Edinburgh House Press, Lon· of his religion. This will best be don. 2 shillings net. found in Young Islam on Trek. Basil Mathews. The Spirit of Islam. Amir Ali. 515 pages. Missionary Education Movement, New Christophers. London. York. Cloth, $1.00; paper, 60 cents.
A fair study of Islam by one whose Studies in each separate field of viewpoint is Christian is also essen- Islam might well supplement these tiaL Several excellent books are general volumes. Because Turkey available. The briefest is in some has been the active volcano in the ways the best: molten mass, we include the follow- ing: Outline of the Religion of Islam. H. U. Weitbreeht Stanton. Missionarv Equip· Modern Turkey. Eliot G. Mears. Macmil· ment and Literature Supply, Ltd., Church Jan Co., New York. $6.00. House, 'Westminster, Loudon. 1 shilling. Turkey. Arnold· Toynbee & Kenneth Kirk· wood. Ernest Benn, Ltd. London. 15 shillings.
Somewhat longer is "The Story of The contact of Christianity with Islam "-Lunt, United Council for Islam must first be viewed historically 829
and for this purpose, there is one Shepard of Aintab. Alice S. Riggs. Misbook of outstanding importance: . sionary E.ducation Movement, New York.
The Rebuke of Islam. W. H. T. Gairdner. Clotb, $1.00; paper, 75 cents. United Council for Missionary Education, London. 60 cents. My Life and Times. Cyrus Hamlin. Pil- grim Press, Boston. 1893. 50 cents. Another volume of special value is In closing, we refer to two recent Vital ]lorces of Christianity and Islam. report volumes of permanent signifi- Oxford University Press, New York. cance: $1.20. Conference of Christian Workers among When we come to consider the Mloslems. 1924. International :Missionnewer contacts of Christian missions ary Council, 347 Madison Ave., New with the changing conditions of the York. $1.50. Moslem world, three volumes of permanent value come to mind: Christian Literature in Moslem Lands. George H. Doran Co., New York. 1923_ A Christian Approach to '[slam. Jas. L. $2.50. Barton. Pilgrim Press, Boston. 50 cents. The Editor adds the following list The Moslem World of Today. John R. of books of special interest and value Mott and others. George H. Doran Co., on various phases of the subject. The New York. $2.50. 1926. mission study books on the subject have already been mentioned. The Moslem. :Facel! the :Future. T. R. P. Sailer. Missionary Education Movement, The Arab at Home. Paul W. Harrison. 8 New York. 254 pages. $1. (A study vo. $3.50. Thomas Y. Crowell. New book). York. 1924.
The dramatic possibilities of the Islam-A Challenge to Faith. Samuel M. present situation are presented in a Zwemer. 8 vo. Student Volunteer Moveplay: ment. New York. 1907.
Osman Pasha. Rapp. The Century Co., History of Protestant Missions in the Near New York. 145 pages. $1.25. East. Julius Richter. 8 vo. $2.50. Flem- ing H. Revell 00. 1910. Another play, easily staged by a church or Sunday school, has been A History of the Arabian Mission. A. Dewritten by Miss Wilcox: Witt Mason and F. J. Barny. 8 vo. $1.25. Reformed Church in America. New York. Kasim. Helen Wilcox. Missionary Educa· 1926. tion Movement, New York. 50 cents. An American Physician In Turkey. Clar- For a study of old conditions, ence D. Ussher. 8 va. Houghton, Miffiin which still prevail in most of the .CO. Boston. 1917. Moslem world, we mention Among the Wild Tribes of the Afghan Our Moslem Sisters. Annie Van Sommer Frontier. T. L. Pennell. 8 vo. Lippin- and S. M. Zwemer. Fleming H. Revell, cott. Philadelphia. 1909. New York. $1.25. A History of the Arabian Mission. Rev. The hope of progress is happily Alfred DeWitt Mason, D.D., and Rev. brought out in Frederick J. Barny. mus. 8 vo. 256 pp. $1.25. Board of Foreign Missions, Re- Memoirs of Halide Edib Hanum. Century formed Church in America. New York. Co., New York. 372 pages. $4. ]926.
A few missionary biographies will Arabia, the land of romance and of be found especially helpful in this legend, is also a land of reality. It is study: known as the birthplace of Moham- med and the Koran, the land of great Raymund Lull: First Missionary to the deserts, the home of wandering tribes, Moslems. S. M. Zwemer. Funk and Wagnalls Co., New York. 75 cents. Of camels and horses and dates; but Henry Martyn: Confessor of the Faith. few know Arabia as the scene of Constance Padwick. George H. Doran heroic missionary adventure for God Co., New York. $1.50. and humanity. This latter story is told here. After a preliminary de- scription of the land, the people, their history, civilization, education and re- ligion, the authors-one of whom is a missionary to Arabia-tells the inspir- and Mexico brought back effective ap- ing story of how the Arabian mission peals.
was founded in faith thirty-seven H is worth while now and then to years ago; how the stronghold .of read a book like this, which tells of Islam was entered; how the work has opportunities seized which are missed been extended and strengthened until by most of us, which tells of work now there are five stations, manned well done in the common world in by forty American missionaries, as- which most of us live, which tells of sisted by twenty-two native Christian faith staggered by sorrow, but helpers. It is a story of prejudice strengthened by friendship_ The overcome, women and children en- author well closes her book with the lightened and friends won to Christ. poem by Alfred Noyes, entitled: It is. an intimate record of faith, of THE GIFT THE DEAD DESIRE courage, of sacrifice, of achievementone that is worthy of a place in the There's but one gift that all our dead desire, annals of missions and that enlarges One gift that men can give, and that's a the list of the" Heroes of Faith." dream, Unless we, too, can burn with that same tire Of sacrifice: Die to the things that seem.
Morgenrote in Japan. Dr. Emil Schiller, Die to the little hatreds; die to greed; Superintendent in Kyoto. pp. 51. and Die to the old ignoble selves we knew; Map and Halftone Illustrations, pp. Die to the base contempt of sect and creed, VIII. Priee 6() Pfennigs. Allegemeine- And rise again like these, with souls as true. Evangelisch-Protestantischer Missions- verein. Berlin. 1926. W. J.H.
This attractive booklet tells of the The Task of the Christian Church. A World Survey. Foreword by Dr. Thomas work of the Allgemeine-Evangelisch- Cochrane. 8vo. 141 pp. World Domin- ion Press. London. 1926. Protestantischer lYIissionsverein which Using the World Missionary Atlas, has carried on mission work in Japan the Statesman's Year Book and the Mission Year Books as sources ior for the last 40 years. '1'he book gives statistics, the compilers of this re- ligious world survey have gathered a comprehensive view of the work 01 a valuable collection of facts about all the countries of the world. Each the society and its methods, in ten country is listed, with information about the area, population and chapters, of which the two most in- teresting discuss the question whether J·apan needs Christianity and whether the old religions can satisfy the mod- ern Japanese mind. T. B.
The Life Story of Alice Culler Cobb. Mary Protestant mjssions, and the task of Culler White. Illustrated. 240 pp. the Church in that country is briefly $1.50. New York. 1925. set forth. .Much of the information This charming life story lays no is not new and some countries are claim to greatness but is told pri- dealt with very meagerly, but as a marily for the sake of those who love handbook of world-wide missions it will be especially useful to those who or ought to love Wesleyan College, wish general iniormation. Georgia.
Mrs. Cobb was born in the Old American Relations with China. 8 va. South and her school days closed 225. $1.50. Johns Hopkins Press. Balshortly before the Civil War. For timore. 1926. more than forty years her life was knit with that of Wesleyan College The conference of Missionary and the care of a large household with Board representatives, Chinese and growing children, seemed not to rob diplomats held at Baltimore last her teaching of success. In the later September is already well known. years, she became a Secretary for This volume reports the addresses and discussions on treaties, extrater- Women's Work in the Foreign De- ratoriality, customs control, indus- partment of her Board of Missions trial conditions, missions, etc. There and from her travels in the Orient is also an excellent bibliography, Do You Know?
Who built the Ark? was the Drst Chri.tian martyr?
were the Samaritans?
Send fOT thu 5-minute (Now in its 12th edition) Bible Test FREE The Christ of· the Are you satisfied with your knowledge Indian Road of the Bible – the most interesting book in the world? See if you can answer the By questions in our free 5-minute Bible E. STANLEY JONES Test. The ten Moody Bible Institute Home Study Courses give you the Bibli- "N0 man since Thoburn has cal knowledge necessary for the most brou~t a message so fresh and striking." perfect daily religious lif€'_ They are non–secta.. rian and there is one suited to the needs from "One of the few little books of the beginner to the advanced Christian. The recent years that no minister wonderful experience ot 34,000 men and women should miss."
students is waiting for you. Find out from this "It will be read and re-read free test if your Bible knowledge i. whatitought in all Western Communions." to be. Mail coupon now. "One of the memorable books MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE in connection with the mission- CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL ary enterprise."
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – Dept 4687 153I…titute Place, Chica.o. DL Net, $1.00, postpaid. I ~~~b!'i~si~~~~ute Place, Chicago, Ill. I I Please send me, Free, your 5·Minute II -AT THE BETTER BOOKSHOPS- I Bible Test. No obligation. I I Name ._………_ ………_……..__……….._…….__…… THE ABINGDON PRESS I I Street and NO……….._:…………………._…….__……
11==:~:~:=:==:=~;~=~~J A Correction, ieal regions mentioned in the Old and New Testaments. REV. E. D. LUCAS, D.D. succeeded Dr. .T. C. R. Ewing as president of Forman DR. ADOLF KELLER, European Secretary of Christian College, Lahore, India, in 191!"l. the Federal Council of Churches, is to de- Jlev. H. D. Griswold, Ph.D., 'has not been liver a course of lectures this autumn at president of the College, as stated in the the University of Znrich on the problems of Personals in our Angust nnmber, but American Protestantism. has been president of the Board of Direc· tors, from which position he has recently RJOHARD C. MORSE, LL.D., former general resigned, his place being taken by Dr. H. secretary of the International Committee C. Velte. of the Y.M.C.A., and now eighty-five years of age, has attended every world's confer- *" ence bnt one since 1872, and was the oldest delegate at the recent Y.M.C.A. conference PERSONALS in Helsingfors, Finland.
MRS. LEWIS L. ANllWALT, of Allentown, *** Pa., has been elected President of the Woo man's Missionary Society of the Reformed BISHOP LOGAN H. RolYI'S, chajrman of the Church in the United States. Honse of Bishops of the Chinese Church, was appointed by its General Synod to * spend the summer Visiting the Chinese Christians in the Philippines, Singapore, MISS Luoy H. DAWSON has resigned as and Borneo, in response to a reqnest from Secretary for Promotion in the Board of the bishops of those territories. National Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. *** WIMJAM T. ELLIS, LL.D., has recently re- MR. AND MRS. .ToHN J. BREMAN are the tnrned from a ten months' tour of Bible first missionary candidates to be accepted lands, wherein he covered all the geograph.
Please mention THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WOR.LD in writing to advertisers.
The Missionary Review of the World — April 1925
A GROUP OF MISSIONARIES AND MISSIONARY
Linens~~~for every occasion .I- . -Q'ROM FAMOUS LINEN CENTERS of the world beautiful linens come to McCutcheon's. In Belgium, Ireland and Scotland, the representatives of McCutcheon's select Table Damasks of handsome and exclusive design for the hostesses of America.
In Fancy Linens, Italy, France, Spain and China send us exquisite examples of fine needlework. Some of the scarfs and complete sets are enriched with embroidery and real lace. Others depend upon the fineness of their weave for their distinction.
McCutcheon's have specialized in Linens for seventy years. Expert knowledge plus the high ideals of this store assure sound value as well as beauty in every linen purchase.
Reg. US RIt. OfT. James McCutcheon & Co.
"Department "JI{o. 20 Fifth Avenue, 34th and 33rd Sts., New York PERSONALS America to attend certain conventions anrI visit Waldensian Aid SOciety auxiliaries. STANLEY RIGII, author o·f "The Revolt of Since he finished his studie·. in Edinbmgh! Youth" and "China's Place in the Sun," after the war, Signor Comba has engaged has been elected associate secretary of the in pastoral anrI evangelistic work in several Board of Foreign MissionSI of the Methodist places in Italy_ Episcopal Church, to handle educational responsibilities. * ..
** * MRS. ROBERT E. SPERa has heen re-electerI president ofT'he National Board of Young REV. ARTHUR C. RYAN, recently elected Women's Christian Associations. The other General Seereta,ry of the American Bible officers for the year are: Mrs. John French, Society to succeed Frank H. Mann, has Chairman of the Executive Committee; Mlss spent thirteen years in the Near East, rep- Clara S. Beed, :f'irst Viez-President; Mrs. resenting first the American Board and John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Second Vice-Presilater the American Bible Society. dent; Miss Katharine Lambert, Secretary; Mrs. Samuel Murtland, Treasurer, to succeed *** Mrs. Samuel J. Broadwell, who has served DR. and MRS. NORTHOOTE DEOK, of the for over thirty years; Mrs. George W. Davi- South Sea E:vangelical Mission in the Solo· son, Assistant Treasurer. man Islands, plaJlned to leave Auckland on February 17th, for a visit to England and *** America. DR. CIIJ.RLES L. WHTTE, Executive Secre- REV. TOYOIlIKO KAGAWA, the well-known tary of the American Baptist Home Mission Christian sodal leader in Kobe and Tokyo is making an extensive tour of the United . . . Society, has been elected President of the States and Europe and plans to visit Gandhi in India before he returns to Japan. Home Missions Council to succeed the late Dr. Charles L. Thompson. *** OBITUARY TIEN LA! HUANG, Chinese Secretary o·f the Methodist Board of Foreign Missi.ons in MR. TARO .tl)IOO, the well-known Christian New Y'<!f:k City, now stndying at Cohtfnhia for his Ph.D., is doing much to interpret Temperance leader of Japan, died on Oc- .~.., China to America..by.. his* lectures; tober 27, 1924. * i *-,' ;*, REV. GUIOO CoMBA, a~pai;tor of th~ Wal- DR. SUN YAT SgN, formerly President (}f rIensian Church in Pomaretto, Italy, is in the Chinese Republic, anrI leader of the Southern Revolutionists, dierI in Peking on March 12th.
Please mention THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD 1n writing to advertisers. THE MISSIONARY Review of the World DELAVAN L. PIERSON, EJilor CONTENTS FOR APRIL, 1925 Page FRONiTISPIECE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A GROUP OF MISSIONARY LEADERS EDITORIALS …………………………………………………….. 261 EVIDENCES OF LOYALTY TO OHRIST RELIGION TN THE UNITF.D STATES JAPAN SINCE THE EARTHQUAKE THE MONTEVIDEO CONGRESS RIGHTS AND WRONGS OF AMERICAN INDIANS HALF A CENTURY OF MISSIONARY PROGRESS ..•………••. S. W. BOGGS 269 A /ftuily of th.e fGUts and statistiC's gathered fo,," fO'f"'1I.er Missionary Conferences and for the new World Missionary Atlas, with olwris 8ho'tl)~ng growth in eon- tributions, workers and communica'1!ts.
A BROTHERHOOD PROBLEM …………………………….. A. A. HYDE 280 EXPERlIENCES IN THE BENGAL JUNGLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A MISSIONARY 281 The story.of a lone"ty missionary's work in India wnd the reoults accomplished by the power of God.
WORK FOR CHINESE CHILDREN …………………… A. M. JOHANNSEN 283 An interesting account of ezperilJ'lWes in giminO to the eMldiren of China the Gospel of ChrfRt.
THE SPIRIT OF UNITY IN HOME MISSIONS ……….LEMUEl, CALL BARNES 287 An address at the Home Missions Conference at Atlantio City showing the progress in home missionary cooperation during the past twenty-five yea·rs.
DR. MASAHISA UEMURA-THFl' JAPANESE SPURGEON .. GALEN M. FISHER 292 The story of a remarkable Japanese Christian postor, educator and author who recently died in Tokyo, leaving a large independent church.
LESSONS FROM RECENT FINANOIAL CAMPAIGNS •……. JAY S. STOWELL 295 A review of some of the denominational financial Forward Movements, with con· ()liUMons all to their value, drawn from a study of the result".
WHAT THE MISSION BOARDS MUST, DO ……•…. RALPH E. DIFFENDOBFER 299 The repO'f"t of an addrelfs by the new 8ecretary of the Methodist Episcopal BOMd of Foreign Missions, delivered at Washington, D. C., and showing 80me of the prilneiples that must !/UMe Mission Board8 to the SUCcessful accomplish, mont of their tasks.
BEST METHODS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EDITED BY MRS. E. C. CR.ONK 304 WOMAN'S ROME AND FOREIGN BULLETINS ………………………. 311 NEWS FROM MANY LANDS… …………………………… …. …… 318 THE MISSIONARY LIBRARY 334 TERMS: $2.50 0. year. ($2.00 in clubs of five.) Foreign postage, 50 cents. Single copies, 25 cents. Published monthly. Copyrighted, 1925, by MISSIONARY REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC. All rights reserved.
THIII.MISSIONARY REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY, Inc.
Robert E. Sp.,er. President W1lIiam I. Chamberlain, Vice-President Delavan L. PlehoD, SecretaIT Walter McllougaU, Treasurer Publication om.,., 3d .. Rell7 Sta., Harrisburc, Editorial and Bualness Olllce, 166 Fifth AT……. Pa. 26c. cOP7 '2.50 • 7ear New York C117 Bntered .. leaond-c1… matter at the Polt 0111.,.. Harrisburg, Pa., under Act of March 3, 187•. Your Income Give. You a 30-Day Tour of Is Secure England Belgium France if you invest in our EUROPE Annuity A.reementa. Investigate and aatia- Ten other Tours of longer itin- fy youraelf concerning erary at various prices up to $1045. the facta. Write to: PALESTINE W. J. Elliott, Treasurer. Board of Home Mis- .ions and Church Extension of the Methodist Epis. Wonderful Cruise on Special Steamer copal Church. 1701 ~h St.• Philadelphia. $595 and Up Morrie W. Ehne.,Treawrer. Board of Foreign In our Personally Conducted Miuions of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 150 Parties, you 'vrravel Free From Fifth Ave.. New York. N. Y. Worry."
Write today for illustrated itin- eraries.
THE WICKER TOURS Richmond, Va.
HARTFORD THE BIBLICAL SEMINARY IN NEW YORK SEMINARY FOUNDATION W. W. WHITE, President Hartford, Conn. SUMMER TERM W. DOUGLAS MACKENZIE, President June 17-July 28y 1925 Theological Seminary Dean, K. W. la.cohua Qf Special Value to Missionaries School of Religious Pedagogy Term divided into two periods of three Dea.n, E. R. Knight weeks each.
Kennedy School of lIissions Courses for Pastors, Missionaries, Mis- Dean, E. W. Capen sionary Candidates, Theological Stu- dents, and other Leaders and Workers. Through these assoclitecl' schools Hartford Missionary €onferences. offers full training for Strong courses in Phonetics and Mis- 1. The Christian Klnistry. sionary Linguistics. 2. 1I.eligiou> Education and Social Service. 3. The ·Forelgn Field. Pastors Department of four weeks, July 1-28. Each school has Its Independent faculty and Its own institutional life and together they for~ Special August-September program. one interdenominational institution with the unity of a common aim and spirit. JOHN ANDERSON WOOD, Dean The plan for a group of eight buildings for 545 Lexington Ave. New 'York the Foundation Is belng carried out•.•·Mackenzle HaJl. the woman's dormitory. Is alteally completed and occupied under direction of:tlie Dean of Women, Mrs. Lester McLean. Jr. Construc… tion bas begun on Knight Hall. a classroom building, and Avery Hall, the library.
Please mention THE MISSIONAB't REVIEW OF TilE WORLD in wrlting to advertisers.
APRIL, 1925
XLVIII FOUR EVIDENCES OF LOYALTY TO CHRIST O NE of our American philosophers defined loyalty as "the will- ing and practical and thorough-going devotion of a person to a cause." Devotion to Christ calls for the practical expression of our devotion to His cause-not to mere agencies of the Church, but to the cause of Christ as represented in the missionary work of His Church at home and abroad.
Our loyalty must be practical. It is not simply feeling that is required but its practice in action. And the action called for is prayer and sacrifice. 'rYe are asked to devote what we have to the most sacred use to which we can put it, the world-wide unselfish service of the cause of Christ.
This is not a hardship. True loyalty does not ask" How little ~ " It asks "How much ~" It courts the opportunity to show love by real sacrifice. Loyalty is a permanent and enduring thing, a "thorough-going devotion," not spasmodic. "A man is loyal," says Professor Royce, "when, first, he has some cause to which he is loyal; when, secondly, he willingly and thoroughly devotes himself to this cause, and when, thirdly, he expresses his devotion in some sustained and practical way, by acting steadily in the service of that cause." The recognition and observance of the principles of the Lord's Day and of the tithe, of one seventh of our time and one tenth of our income set aside sacredly, does not mean that we hold less sacred the remainder of income and time. On the contrary the more devotedly we set aside the seventh and the tenth, the more surely will we devote all to the service of God. Loyal sacrificial giving makes all forms of loyalty more easy and natural at all times.
Our lives are pitched on too Iowa level. vThat we need is to feel more of the reality of Paul's great experience: "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings." Why not take onr Christianity seriously and follow 261
Christ, not afar off or only in figures of speech but in flesh and blood and near? If we would exhibit this kind of Christianity it would mark the beginning of a new time for us and for the Church, the entrance into a new and thorough-going loyalty, a new fidelity on our part answering the deathless fidelity of Christ. R. E. s.
RELIGION IN THE UNITED STATES A STATISTICIAN has gathered figures to show that in the past fifty or more years every period of decline in accessions to the Christian churches of America has been a period in which either war or religious controversy has disturbed the churches and has diverted them from their first responsibility of winning men to Jesus Christ and His way of life. It may also be argued that unbelief in churches, which has given occasion for controversy, is that which has been responsible for the unfruitfulness. But which ever is the cause that produces the effect, all earnest Christians will agree that the first duty of the Church is to bear witness by word and bY' life to the promise and power of the Gospel of Christ. One life through which Christ consistently shines out will do more than one thousand controversial arguments to turn men to God. The clear setting forth of the reason for one's faith in Christ is one hundredfold· more beneficial than a dogmatic statement of unbelief and the reasons for rejecting the conclusions of science or of religion.
Statistics never tell the whole story. They cannot disclose the real spiritual state of the Church or of the individual Christian. But comparative statistics reveal some effect of Christian life and testimony on the youth and on non-Christians. In his statistics for church growth last year, Dr. H. K. Carroll, the well-known church statistician for the Christian Herald, points out that in 1924 all religious bodies in the United States gained 690,000 new members or about two and one-eighth per cent. Of these gains, 366,336 were Protestants, 220,000 were Roman Catholics and the others scattered. The total membership reported is now 46,142,000, of which 16,103,000 are Roman Catholics. The largest Protestant bodies are still the Baptists (8,227,000), the Methodists (8,700,000), and the Lutherans and Presbyterians (2,500,000 each). The largest gains for the year, reported by the various groups, are Roman Catholics, 1Y25'0 (222,- 000), Methodists, 1% (79,974), Baptists, 1% (88,093), the Disciples, 3% (47,703) and Presbyterians, lY2% (37,909). The Pentecostal churches, with 18,641 members, gained 12% (2,362). The Univer- salists, Ethical Culture Society, Spiritualists and Jews report no gains, while River Brethren, Swedenborgians and Friends report decreases. The Mormons report 16,000 increase. – While the evangelical churches have not made the progress they should, and have not mhde the impression on American life that
EDITORIAL COMMENTS
might be expected, they are without doubt the greatest factor for good in the civic, domestic and individual life of the nation. They are growing, since they more than make up for the losses caused by death. While the population of the country has increased 80% in the past thirty-five years, the churches have increased 130%. Twofifths of the population are now enrolled as members of religious bodies, probably one-fifth are children under fifteen so that about t.wo-fifths (or forty-four million) are still unconnected with any religious organization-Protestant, Roman Catholic or Jewish. Evidently there is still work for evangelical churches to do to win men to Christ in America as well as in foreign lands. Some of the Protestant communions have gained mOre members in their mission fields than in their home churches. A new spirit of evangelism and new evidences of spiritual life and power are needed to enable American Christianity to make an adequate impression on national and international conditions.
THE MONTEVIDEO CONGRESS O N. February 28th, a large party of Christian educators and other church leaders, forty or more, sailed from New York for South America to take part in a missionary congress to be held in Montevideo, Uruguay, March 27th to April 8th. This party included Dr. and Mrs. Robert E. Speer, Rev. and Mrs. S. G. Inman, Dr. and Mrs. D. J. Fleming, Bishop Francis J. McConnell and Mrs. McConnell of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Dr. Stephen J. Corey of the United Christian Missionary Society, Miss Edith M. Dabb of the Y. W. C. A., Dr. W. G. Hounshell of the Methodist Church, South, Dr. H. C. Tucker of the American Bible Society and Mr. W. Reginald Wheeler of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions. They will be joined in Montevideo by other North Amerioan leaders who have already sailed, by missionaries on the field, and by many Latin American Protestant leaders.
The Congress is to be held under the auspices of the Committee on Cooperation in Latin America, of which Dr. Speer, of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., is chairman, and Dr. Inman execut.ive secretary.
The purpose of the Congress is to study the new conditions which have arisen in the South American republics in recent years, especially since the war, and to form plans and programs for making more effective the work of religious, educational and medical agencies in the light of these new facts. For that purpose twelve commissions, composed of leading national pastors and educators from South America and representatives of similar interests in North America, have been surveying the conditions on the field and the work of the evangelical churches for several months. Their studies, which will be
presented to the Congress for consideration and action, include: unoccupied fields of service, Indians of South America, education, evangelism, social movements, health ministry, the church in the community, religious education, literature, relations between foreign and national workers, special religious problems, and cooperation and unity.
Smaller regional conferences are to be held in Brazil and on the West coast, and next year a special conference is scheduled for Mexico and Central America.
South America, on account of its having been nominally brought under the sway of the Roman Catholic Church, has been greatly neglected by evangelical Christian influences. As a result, it has become largely atheistic and many sections have no knowledge of the Gospel of Christ.
Much of inland South America is still unknown territory and has been very difficult of access. Now, however, great stretches of territory, which have been far removed from North America and Europe, are becom.ing easily accessible. A few months ago it required from a week to ten days to make the trip from any Colombian port to the capital of the Republic, Bogota. Today this trip can be made from Barranquilla by a regular aeroplane service in sixteen hours. This will soon transform transportation and affect the whole political, economic, spiritual and educational life of the Republic. Railways between Brazil and Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile and Bolivia are bringing about new and closer relationship in South American life. Steamship connections with Europe, North America, and Japan are also making easier the exchange of life between South America and the rest of the world.
The social structure of the continent is likewise changing. With the gradual development of a middle class, with the introduction of a new consciousness of their rights among the laboring people, and with a new appreciation of social problems by the educated classes, there is a breaking up of the old fixed castes, and today the social system of South America is in solution.
Many women, heretofore prohibited from participating in the solution of great social and educational problems, have begun to take a part in the discussion of the great questions stirring their nations. Many have entered industry and even lower-class women are now educating themselves, often with the help of their more fortunate sisters.
A new spiritual movement is also evident. In the beginning, these republics all recognized a union between Church and State, but education and democratic ideas of government have brought about the separation of a large part of the intellectuals from the Church, and a few years ago it looked as though the leaders were carrying that continent into a materialistic philosophy. The state has been sepa-
EDJ'I'ORIAL OOMMENTS
rated from the Church and many leaders among government officials, heads of universities, authors and publicists, are urging the necessity of finding a spiritual basis for national and personal life.
This particularly is the reason for the Congress on Christian Work in South America. It is a most propitious time to unite the new forces in a call to the whole continent for a turning from the material to a fresh emphasis on the spiritual.
There must be found new ways of alliance between spiritual life and the great social, eco'nomic and educatiQnal renaissance. Otherwise, the very advancements of modern science will favor the material at the expense of the spiritual. The only hope for South America, from a Christian point of view, is an intelligent following of Jesus Christ and an application of His teachings to all the relationships of life.
RIGHTS AND WRONGS OF AMERICAN INDIANS I T IS always a mooted question as to how much of the cuetoms and beliefs ,of primitive peoples should be relegated to oblivion as civilization progresses. 'Without doubt, many native ideals and habits are not only picturesque and meaningful, but some contribute to honor, morality and other elements of a, strong character. But a few authors, artists and ethnologists go much further and decry any effort to eliminate tribal and racial art, traits and customs, even though such may be largely responsible for a peoples' poverty, ignorance and degradation. Apologists are found for polygamy, for the indecent in India's art and literature, for immoral African dances and for the American Indian war dances, the weakening Peyote worship and other degrading religious ceremonies.
Without doubt, among the best informed and most unselfish friends of the American Indians are the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, the Indian Rights Association, and the Christian missionaries, who are devoting their lives to Indian welfare. Yet some misguided persons, like John Collier, desire to preserve these ancient Indian rites and customs at an costs and refer to efforts to put an end to degrading and weakening ceremonies as "persecution." The edict that has aroused antagonism on the part of some so-called "friends" of the Indians js an order of the Department of the Interior sent out by Commissioner Burke which reads, in part, as follows: (Circular 1665, April 26, 1921) : "It is not the policy of the Indian office to denounce all forIll8 of Indian (religious) dancing… The sun-dance and all other similar dances and 80called religious' ceremonies are considered 'Indian offenses' under existing regulations, and corrective penalties are provided. I J·egard such restriction as applicable to any dance which involves acts of self-torture, immoral rela· tions between the sexes, the sacrificial destruction of clothing or other useful articles, the reckless giving away of property, the use of injurious drugs or
intoxicants, and frequent or prolonged periods of celebration … ' In fact, any disorderly or plainly excessive performance that promotes superstitious cruelty, licentiousness, idleness, danger of health, and shiftless indifference to fam;ily welfare. In all such cases the regulations should be enforced."
It would seem that such an order is reasonable when applied to " Wards of the Nation. " There may be worse habits and influences at work among white people in America, but laws are enacted to prevent their public expression, if possible.
The objection is als,? raised that prohibition of these Indian dances and other harmful ceremonies is "interference with the Indians' religion." Such objectors overlook the fact, however, that the Indian chiefs, caciqu.es and gouvernors, in an effort to keep alive these ceremonies deny religious liberty to members of a community who refuse to participate. In other words, they punish and "persecute" men, women and children who wish to break away from degrading rites. Officers in the Indian service, who are in a position to know, report that the commercialized sacred dances performed for touril1ts are merely "for show" and that the attending secret performances connected with the rites are degrading in the extreme.
What is the testimony of enlightened Indians who know these ceremonies and their effects from experience and who wish to see their people not only kept from degradation but elevated in intelligence and morality1 Otto Lomavito, a Christian Hopi Indian, has this to say of the Snake Dance (in the Coconino Sun): "Being a full-blood Hopi myself with my heart overflowing with love for my fellow tribesmen, and jealous for their progress in civilization, I feel it time an? incumbent for some to write our views in this matter …
"It is beyond my comprehension how a man of the intelligence of a white man can wish that the Hopis shonld continue in this disgusting ceremony of holding a snake in one's month for five or ten minutes at a time. In the judgment of a Hopi a white man is a superior being, and naturally he desires to imitate him:. But when he comes year after year, spending thou- sands of dollars in small hotels and cafes tingling the greedy ears of the portly innkeepers and then stretches out his covetous hands to a poor, dustcovered Hopi of the desert with assumed friendl;" smile only to sneer when meeting him on his own town streets, the ever alert superstitiously-reverent Hopi begins to suspect rottenness in the game. Has the great white man become so low that he willingly spends hundreds of hard-earned dollars just to see an ignorant Indian wriggle with his wriggling god the snake' … Tourists do not show their better side as a rule, but their blackest side to a quick discerning Hopi. Bring us better qualities and we will welcome you."
The Progressive Indians in the Pueblos have no sympathy with the continuance of snake dances and other immoral or degrading ceremonies. At a meeting held at Santa Clara, New Mexico, they unanimously adopted the following resolutions: "We love our homes, our towns and villages and our people, and our Christian God more, and we are sorry that some of the Pueblo officials are cruel toward many of us and try to make slaves of us under pretense of
EDITORIAL COMMENTS
alleged ancient customs, and in this we know that they are not sincere, but use these means to punish and persecute us for secret reasons because of our refusal to take part in secret and un-Christian dances …
"Liberty to practice one's religion should be equal and not limited alone to those whose beliefs and ceremonies may be ancient, but those who disagree with one group in religious matters should have the right to stand fast in that disagreement in favor of their own beliefs without being subjected to religious persecution and immoral customs, no matter how ancient, should be banished and kept banished from the Pueblos by the general government, if in fact it is our guardian."
The testimony of Christian Indians is abundant that the Hopi ceremonies, connected with the dancing, are immoral. Those who know and love the Indians and are working for their betterment uphold the findings of the Department of the Interior. All who have at heart the welfare of the American Indians should not only refuse to uphold any of these degrading rites, but should use all their in- fluence to put an end to them in order that the Red Man also may '.!ome into his heritage as Christian citizens of America.
. JAPAN SINCE THE EARTHQUAKE .L-1.. ALTHOUGH the great earthquake of September, 1923, caused tremendous suffering and loss, it was hoped that real spiritual gain might result. In Tokyo and Yokohama the haunts of vice were destroyed. Would they be rebuilt? Material property was laid waste. Would men become more concerned with abiding spiritual values T Slums and evil industrial conditions were wiped out. Would a repetition of these conditions be prevented? America responded generously to the call for help from the stricken people. Would this insure better international relations? The Japanese showed fortitude and ability to cope with the gigantic calamity. Would they show wisdom and power to reconstruct all institutions on a better basis 7 Diverse missionary institutions, working independently of each other in the devastated district, were shaken down or burned. Would the missionary forces cooperate on a united, effective program'
These, and other questions arose, but many of them still remain unanswered or give no immediate promise of being answered in the affirmative. A writer in the Japan Evangelist says: "The immediate effect of the great disaster was to fill the hearts of the Christian workers with dismay. The work so laboriously built up over a period of many years was to a large extent destroyed in the COMse of a few hours. But this feeling of dismay soon faded away before a new vision of hope and faith. Since the earthquake had to be, was not this an opportune time to remedy some of the defects which had developed unintentionally as the work progressed? Animated by this hope, the Executive Committee of the Federation of Christian Missions called a meeting of the missionaries in Karuizawa to discuss the situation. It was felt that this was an unique OppOirtunity to rebuild the Christian work in Tokyo and Yokohama on a broader
basis. It was the unanimous opinion that the Federation of Churches in Tokyo and Yokohama should strive for a larger cooperation in evangelistic and educational work, in the production of Christian literature and in the erection of a Christian headquarters building. The churches entered heartily into the plan and a Commission on Reconstruction, composed of Japanese and foreigners, was appointed.
"A year has passed and it may be well to take stock of what has been accomplished in the way of larger coope.ration. As far as evangelistic work was concerned, it was felt that in some sections there was needless overlapping while other sections were almost entirely neglected; that the changing conditions of city life required a new method of approach; that the rapidly developing suburbs of Tokyo should be carefully studied and churched without the customary overlapping. The sub-committee on evangelistic work entered enthusiastically upon its duties, but soon encountered what seemed insurmountable difficulties. It was unable to accomplish more than to make a survey of the destroyed churches. Some of the churches have already removed to the suburbs, others will not be rebuilt or will occupy their fOtl'lllel" sites.
"Denominational expediency, not interdenominational cooperation, is the governing factor. .. In educational work of the missions no attempt has been made for greater cooperation. .. To supply Christian literature, there were in Tokyo al{)ne eight publishing houses. .. The Commission on Reconstruction seriously considered the problem of uniting some of these and the proposition has been made which looks forward to the union of the Methodist Publishing House and the Christian Literature Society. If this is done it will make possible the erection of a Christian headquarters building on the site of the Methodist Publishing House …
"The earthquake and fire wiped out practically all the literature, newspapers, telephones, telegraphs, markets, stores, and many schools, hospitals, and churches. In the year that has followed, some steps have been taken toward rehabilitation, in spite of excusable mistakes and inexclLSable political mismanagement. The plans for the new Tokyo have not yet been decided upon, and only temporary structures have heen put up."
The basic cause of the lack of cooperation seems to be a combination of factors-suspicion of the other mart's theology, natural conservatism, denominational policy, and the situation at home. The tragedy of the earthquake does not lie in the loss of millions of dollars worth of property so much as in the failure to permit the crisis to weld Christian agencies into a united force for more effective service for the Kingdom of God. Christianitv and Christians have been tested anew in Japan.
The man with "a message is given a hearing and there is evident desire to know how Christ can help Japan. Bible classes are attracting more than ever. There is increasing need for trained Japanese evangelists and pastors. Many districts in the interior are still neglected-and only about one person in a thousand in Japan is a Christian_ The retrenchment by Mission Boards has stimulated the movement for self-support, but has hindered advance. The temperance forces and other Christian agencies are active and many Japa- nese are aroused to the need for higher moral standards, better industrial conditions and other improvements that come only with the intelligent acceptance of the Gospel of Christ.
a Century of Missionary Progress *
A Stwdy of Figures Gathered from For-ci.gn Missionary Atlases BY SAMUEL W. BOGGS, F.R.G.S., WASHINGTON, D. C. Geogra.plter to the Department of State AREVIEW of the progress of the missionary enterprise during the last twenty-five and fifty years is timely, not simply be- . cause of the convenience of the round numbers and the fact that the lesser interval marks the beginning of a century, but because events of great significance make it worth while to compare the status of foreign missions now with that of the years 1875 and 1900.
In AFRICA the quarter century just preceding 1875 had been the era of the great explorers, among whom were Burton and Speke, du Chaillu, Nachtigal, and the missionaries Krapf and Rebmann, and Livingstone. The lonely death of David Livingstone, at Ilala, in May, 1873, had stirred Protestant Christendom, and the expansion of missionary work, particularly in the interior of Africa, dates from that time. Political events in Africa came to a turning point at about the same time. In 1875 only about one tenth of the continent was effectually controlled by European powers, but even before the Berlin Conference of 1884-85 much of Africa had been partitioned, and by 1900 practically all of the continent, except Abyssinia and Liberia, had already fallen within the political dominion of the European powers.
Within the half century, there have been added to the British Empire, outside Africa, its present possessions in Borneo, Papua, and many islands in the Pacific. Its former possessions in the Malay Peninsula, in upper Burma and northwestern India, have been extended. French control has been extended to Indo-China. Japan, the first Asiatic nation to become a world power, has acquired Korea and the leased territory of Kwantung on the Asiatic mainland, and Formosa and other islands in the Pacific. The United States, the first nation in the western hemisphere to become a world power, has acquired possessions in both hemispheres. Entirely within the half century the colonial eml?ire of Germany has been won and lost. The political and social events during and since the World War can scarcely be compressed within a sentence, but they are more fresh in our minds. Among others, it will be remembered that the Moslem lands of Syria and Mesopotamia, lately under Turkish dominioll, have been placed unde~French and British mandates.
In the' realm of Christian missions :the past half, century has ,been a fuost important period. New life was breathed into the • Facts gathered chie:fty from. a comparative stUdy of the new "World Missionary Atlas" (Institute of Social and Religious Surveys, New York, $10.00) and the Atlas published in 1903 by the Student Volunteer Movement.
269
Church of England following the day of intercession for missions in 1872. The intimate connection between the colleges and the for- eign mission field also began with the going out of the "Cambridge Seven" of the Ohina Inland Mission, in 1884-85. In 1886 the Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions was founded in America and since that time several thousand college and university trained men and women have entered the service in foreign fields. The year 1900, when the Ecumenical Missionary Conference met in New York, marks the half-way point in this past half century.
It is possible only to mention, as within the fifty-year period, the formation of strong national or regional interdenominational bodies in the foreign mission fields, the mutual delimitation of ter- ritorial responsibility in several fields and cooperation in strong union enterprises among the foreign mission organizations, the emergence of national churches rapidly taking places of leadership, and the more varied types of Christian work by which the Christian message is being made manifest.
The appearance of the new "World Missionary Atlas" at this time is particularly opportune, since it makes possible a wide range of studies of the achievements and present situation of the missionary enterprise at the end of the first quarter of the twentieth cen- tury. The increased number of geographical units into which the statistical facts are divided, as compared with the two preceding world missionary atlases of 1903 and 1911, facilitates detailed studies and establishes a base line for comparison in future years. But it is still not as simple a task as one would expect to make comparisons of the most significant facts of today with those of previous decades, in order to discover the present trend of the missionary movement.
Furthermore, the variations between the interpretations of terInS statistically reported, as between the Protestant denominations, are almost as diverse as are differences of doctrine. The better one is acquainted with the problem of making statistical comparisons as between denominations, mission fields, and decades, the more he will realize how difficult it is to interpret missionary statistics. • EXTENSION OF MISSIONARY OOOUPATION In JAPAN, of the fifty-three Protestant missionary societies now at work in the country, only nine were operating there in 1875 and only thirty-three in 1900. Korea is one of the more recently occupied areas. Of the fifteen societies reported as engaged in mission· ary work in Korea today only the British and Foreign Bible Society was there in 1875 (having begun work in 1832), and only nine societies were at work in 1900.
Although Protestant missions began in CHINA with Robert –'-I-tshould be remarked, In connection with W!lat follows, that the stat/stlcs ot the 190.1 missions a.tlas are generally for the year 1900, and that those ()f the 1925 atlas are for 1923.
8. W. B.
HALF A CENTURY OF MISSIONARY PROGRESS
Morrison as long ago as 1807, in the southern province of Kwang- tung, there were occupied in 1875 only the six coast provinces (ex- cluding Manchuria) and the three Yangtze provinces of Anhwei, Kiangsi and Hnpeh. In these provinces foreign missionaries re- sided in forty-nine centers. Between 1875 and 1900 work was initiated in all remaining nine provinces of China P'roper and in Manchuria, Mongolia and Sinkiang, and the number of stations in- creased more than sevenfold. In th~ last quarter century the num- ber of stations in China has again more than doubled, having increased from 356 to 740. The number of Protestant missionary agencies has also increased from 28 in 1875, to 65 in 1900, and 138 in 1925. In other words, scarcely more than one fi£th of the mis- sionary societies now in China have been working there for fifty years, and more than half of them have entered the field within the present century.
Protestant work in the PHILIPPINE IsLANDS began in 1899, fol- lowing the Spanish-American War. About a year later four Ameri- can societies were at work there and today there are sixteen societies which have become established in thirty-one residential centers.
Of the missionary forces now in the NETHERLANDS INDIES, the first to begin work was the Netherlands Missionary Society, in 1797. Between 1800 and 1850 four more societies entered, and six more in the next" quarter century, making a total of eleven societies in 1875. This number was increased to sixteen by 1900, and since then others have been added so that twenty-seven societies are now laboring there. In INDIA, missionary work was in 1875 carried on in all of the provinces and native states, except Baluchistan. The distribution of stations, in proportion to their numbers, was apparently not greatly different twenty-five and :fifty years ago from what it is today. The interior of India was more accessible than the interior of China, save for the Yangtze, even before the building of the stplendid railroad system in India. In all of the countries, dominions, colonies and protectorates of AFRICA as we know it today, work is now being done by Protestant missionary forces, save in Rio de Oro, Portuguese Guinea, the Ivory Coast, French SomaliIand, British SomaliIand, and Italian Somali- land. (There is work in the part of Italian SomaliIand recently ac- . quired from Kenya Colony.) In 1875, also, no mission work had been begun in any of the following political entities by any of the societies now occupying them: the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Libya, Fr~nch Suqan, Dahomey, Cameroun, French Equatorial Mrica, 1}.~lgian Cop.go, Angola, Northern Rhodesia, and Uganda. In Algeria, Tu.Irls, MorocCo, and Abyssinia there was, in 1875, only the British anQ Foreign Bible Society. We do not forget that as early as 1804tge C. M. S. had opened W;QI;~ in.Sierra Leone, and that by
1830 work had been started, nnder various societies, among the Zulus of South Africa, and in Liberia. Nevertheless, fifty years ago only a part of the coastal fringe of Africa was occupied by missions, except in South Africa. In most of the occupied areas the work was only in its initial stages.
FOREIGN AND NATIVE STAFFS A detailed comparison of missionary statistics of today with those of fifty or more years ago is very difficult. Most of the com- -'Su VIIJJ!iIJ i 12 221 2 / I 7/ /7 727 I I 7 I Z 71 China r-':'
India r ,ra-pa11 ba Xorea b Philippine Island.
b URIOA I!'?
1%% II I I 1/ 1/ 1 '-=1~ -~. _~m, mum lletherlands D e.
LUll JlDI:RIci and OS'!' IlIDIJIS III 1925 ~ 111 1900 = : r o r e i g n _ f&tive GROWTH OF THE FOREIGN AND NATIVE MISSIONARY STAFF parisons which follow, therefore, refer only to statistics of 1900 and of 1925.
A comparison of the statistics of Asia with those of Africa and Australasia is not of great value. Africa is not in any sense a single mission field, for it is racially, linguistically, religiously, politically, climatically diverse. But inasmuch as the greater part of the work and of the results of missions relates to pagan Negroes rather than to Semitic and Negroid Mohammedans, ip. making continental comparisons it may, ~e regarded as the pagan continent. Similarly Asia is not a sing'le field, but may be thought of as the continent of the higher 'ethnic religions. In view of the fact, however, that detailed statistics for the political subdivisions of Africa and for some of the important subdivisions of Asia are not conveniently accessible prior
925] HAL1<' A CENTURY .01<' MISSIONARY PROGRESS
to the 1925 atlas, there is no other basis at hand for many of the comparisons which follow.
According to the report of the Missionary Conference held in London in 1888, there were then reckoned to be not more than five or six thousand missionaries and perhaps 30,000 native workers in the foreign mission fields. Twelve years later the number of foreign workers had considerably more than doubled; not c-Ounting work for Indians, Eskimos, and Asiatic immigrants in the United States, . Canada, Alaska, and Greenland, there were, in 1900, nearly 14,400 missionaries. Since 1900 they have nearly doubled again, numbering nearly 27,900.
In twelve years the native workers more than doubled, increas- ing from the estimated 30,000 in 1888 to more than 72,000 in 1900. In the last quarter century they have at least doubled again, now numbering more than 150,000.
The following table shows the foreign and native staff statistics for 1900 and 1925 for the continental divisions and for certain countries.
Foreign staff Native staff 1900 1925 1900 1925 ASIA •.•…..•.•.••.•..• 8,839 16,524 38,819 88,635 2,785 7,663 6,388 27,133 China ……. ………. . 4,038 5,682 48,787 India …………….. . 1,253 24,798 3,535 Japan ……………. . 753 598 1,668 4,042 Korea …………….. . 141 287 157 1,997 Philippine Islands …… . 6,2'89 43,181 3,335 22,279 AFRICA •…••.•……… 1,810 12,559 762 693 5,117 6,659 AUSTRALASIA, NET HER – 1,438 3,249 6,000* 6,094* LAN D sIN DIE s, and PACIFIC ISLANDS ….. .
Netherlands Indies ….. . LATIN AMERICA and WEST INDIEs* …………..
Because of the relative importance of foreign and native staff statistics, these have been graphically illustrated in two ways, to bring out both their relative numerical strength, and their rates of increase in the last twenty-five years. As should be expected, owing to the fact that more than half of the world's population lives in Asia, appreciably more than half (over 59 per cent) of the foreign missionaries work in that continent. About 22.5 per cent are in Africa; while 6.5 per cent are in Australasia, Netherlands Indies and the Pacific Islands j Latin America and the West Indies claim about 11.6 per cent of the foreign staff.
As between the continental divisions, the relative increases in foreign staff have been quite uniform. In view of the fact that Africa, as a whole, has been occupied for a muclt shorter time than to The statistics for native staff for Latin America and the West Indies arE:> m.isleading; an advance in Latin America has been offset by a decrease in the numbers reported for the Bri[is'h ,-Vest Indies, owing to a change in the basis of reporting those employed by the mi~sionary agencieS.
2
Asia, one might have expected an increase in foreign workers con- siderably more rapid than in Asia. As explained in a footnote, the real increase in Latin America is obscured by the statistical decrease in the West Indies.
Of the countries for which statistics are given above, Korea shows the most rapid increase in foreign staff in the quarter century, largely because this "Hermit Kingdom" was one of the more re- cently entered. In Ohina the foreign staff has well nigh trebled, having increased 175 per cent since 1900. Compared with these.
increases, that of 66 per cent in Japan, and that of 40 per cent in ASIA India, seem small. 182GBCCI~~'~~~9~ In co~paring the continental _ _ China divisions, it will be seen that there 312765= ~==::… has been a proportionately greater India growth in native staff than in foreign staff in the last twenty- 40= five years, except in the West 96==-_ Indies. This has been most no- table in Australasia and in Asia, Ja~~~=:… 112", in both of which it has consider- AFRICA ' ably more than doubled. In Mrica 9gg4CC'~~ the native staff has almost dou- bled within the present century. AUSTIIAtASIA. NETHERLANDS I1'DIES. and PACIFIC ISWms The most remarkable increase has been in Korea, where the ~a~: ,"S,,I native staff is nearly twenty-six. times as great as in 1900. In China LATIN AMERICA and WEST INDIES the native staff has more than 125 1 bDI 2r:=::J 1900 1925 quadrupled. In both Japan and Foreign,=== India, while the native staff has increased nearly or fully twice as Natlve= [100%] rapidly RAT'E OF GROWTH IN MISSIONARY STAFF as the foreign staff, the growth in native staff within the twentieth century has been somewhat less rapid than in Asia and the world as a whole.
In all the fields for which statistics are shown above, taken as a whole, the ratio between the native staff and the foreign staff today is approximately 5.4 to 1. In Asia as a whole that same ratio holds. In Africa the ratio is abont 6.9 to 1. In Australasia, Nether- lands Indies and the Pacific Islands it is almost exactly the same as in Africa. In Latin America and the West Indies as a whole the ratio is about 1.9 to 1, owing to the deficiency in native staff statistics in the West Indies.
GROWTH IN INCOME It is almost impossible to compare the gifts to foreign missions today with those of twenty-five and fifty years ago as they ought
1925J HALF A CENTURY OF MISSIONARY PROGRESS
to be compared. Several factors should be taken into account, notably the great increase in material wealth in Ohristendom as a whole and especially in the United States, the upset exchange values due to the war, and, quite apart from the disrupted exchange rela- tionships, the varying and generally decreasing purchasing power of the national currencies. .
The increase in gifts to foreign missions has been sufficient- however much less than it ought to have been-to more than offset all the varying factors affecting the value of the money given. In the last quarter of the nineteenth century the total income of foreign mission organizations probably doubled or trebled. In the first quarter of the twentieth century the income has multiplied approxi- mately three and one-half times, growing from $19,600,000 in 1900 to $69,555,000 in 1923.
The accompanying diagram clearly visualizes the salient facts.
The increase from 32 per cent to 65 per cent of the total for the United States within a quarter of ._-.– a century is certainly no' more than l.j~ ,:",' -:-:::: < Other countries the United' States should have 16.~ ~~j{. ':~':;:": ~ '-!.Oont'l Europe borne, taking into account the war ited states and the material prosperity of this GROW~:IS~~o1H~i~£~Nix.g~JsOREIGN country. Oanada's increased share in the total burden (from 2.7 per cent in 1900 to 4.8 per cent today) is relatively greater than ours. The gifts of Great Britain and Ireland are more than 40 per cent larger than at the beginning of this century. They now constitute a little less than one fifth of the total of Christendom whereas in 1900 they constituted nearly half the total.
GROWTH IN THE NATIVE OHURCH The London Missionary Oonference of 1888 reported less than 300 evangelical converts in all the non-Christian world in 1788, whereas in 1888 it was estimated that there were about 3,000,000 evangelical converts. Warneck estimated the number of native Christian adherents in the non-Christian world in 1881 as 2,283,000, and in 1900 as 4,000,000, which would indicate that the indigenous churches nearly doubled in the last. twenty years of the nineteenth century.
Employing a different measuring rod, there were in the non- Christian world, in 1900, about 1,080,000 Protestant communicants, according to the 1903 missions atlas; by 1910 they had increased to approximately 1,933,000; and by 1923, in spite of the war, they
numbered nearly 3,200,000, having trebled since 1900. This is an average increase of about 5.75 per cent per year during the present century.
From the diagrams, it will be seen that, as between continental divisions, the greatest increases in numbers of communicants since 1900 have been, in Asia 911,000, in Africa 673,000, in Australasia and Netherlands Indies 471,000, and in Latin America 236,000. This is as would be expected when the populations of the continents and the Catholicism of Latin America are taken into consideration. As between mission fields, as the term is generally used, the increase ASIA 1.563232..000000 !C===================-………………………..
China 113,000 ===-_ _ __ 403,000 India ,000 = == == ==-_ _ _ _ _ __ 377 812,000 Japan : = – 42,800 135,000 Korea 8,300 277 ,000 – – – – – Philippines Islands 266 64,000 – AFRICA = = = = = -_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _• 343,000 C' 1,016,000 AUSTRAI.ASIA, ~"ETm:RLANDS ImJIES, and PACIfIC ISLANDS 1614g7,.o0o0O0 ',–==. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Netherlands Indies 36,000 ~_ _ _ _ _ __ ==—- 476,000 LATIN AMERICA and WEST INDlES 132,000 368,000 t:! In 1900 In 1925 A COMPARISON OF CHRISTIAN COMMUNICANTS TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO AND TODAY of 440,000 in the Netherlands Indies stands first, the 425,000 in India second, and the 290,000 in China third, A more significant comparison, on the basis of the percentages of increase in the number of communicants in the last quarter century, shows that Australasia with the Netherlands Indies ranks first among the continental divisions, with 453 per cent, due almost wholly to the exceptional increase of .1,215 per cent in the Netherlands Indies. Africa stands second among the continents, with 196 per cent increase, Latin America third with 178 per cent, while Asia, the home of the higher ethnic cults, ranks lowest with 145 per cent. Further comparison between these quantities and rates of growth appear in the following paragraphs.
GROWTH AMONG NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS Unfortunately, the statistics in the 1903 and 1911 mlSSIOns atlases do not admit of comparison with the 1925 atlas as to the relative success of Christian work among the peoples of the various non-Christian religions, chiefly because, in the earlier editions, the statistics are not subdivided into sufficiently small geographic and political units. The studies embodied in "The Christian Occupa- tion of China" afford a basis of historical comparisons so far as ==— China is concerned. For India there are both the census statistics by religions, languages, races, etc., ASIA and a more limited product of missionary research. For most of C1 Ch1i4n5a 256=~—– the other mission fields the data India 1l5=~- for comparative studies are lacking or very inadequate. Thus it is Jap2a1n 4==_ _ __ practically impossible to divide K;~46 the earlier , statistics for Africa Ph1lipp1r.e !!
even approximately to show the fS1Bn<1S results of missionary work among 2402-==l5~~~~~5~~ :Moslems and among pagan tribes AFRICA separately. 1961C::::::J_ _ __ Takin- g the higher religions, AUSTl'IALASIA. lIETRERUlIllS IllDIES.
an4d5P31AcC=I:F::I:C:J_ ISU_ lIllS_ _ _ _ __ the growth in number of Christian ===—- LN1Ae2Tt1hI5lei =rAla"l6n,ldlIs,C:AIn:adn:ide$.W=E=ST~I~N=DI:E:S ====== 178Ci communicants in China, chiefly [Numbers indicate per cent. from among Confucianists, is very increase. 1900-1925J encourar"r'~ing. '1'he greater rapidity of growth of the Christian Church 1925 in China than among the peoples of India ,. d uprairntg1y the last quarter RATES OF GROwrH IN CHRISTIAN century, to be accounted COMMUNICANTS IS for by the much more rapid increase in foreign and native workers in China in the same period. But until rather recently China has been appreciably less well staffed than India, reckoned on the basis of numbers of Christian workers to one million of the population.
In Shintoist Japan a larger proportion of the total population is Christian than in either China or India, and the rate of increase (the number of communicants more than trebled since 1900) is rela- tively high. In India, with its many religions, there has been a greater numerical increase in communicants than in any other field.
This increase has been most rapid among the low caste Hindus of India proper and the Buddhists and animists of Burma, and least of all among the 70,000,000 Moslems. .
Among Moslems the least progress seems to have been made in those regions which are most truly Moslem and the greatest progress to have been made where there is the greatest admixture of
animism and paganism. There is less to show, so far as numbers of converts are concerned, for the work among Moslems inWestern Asia, Arabia and Northern Africa than in the Netherlands Indies or even in northwestern China and in India. This is not surprising, and it should not be regarded as discouraging.
Among animist and pagan peoples the proportion of total population which has become Christian is higher than among the Confucianists, Buddhists, Shintoists and Hindus. And the rate of growth in Christian communicants has been higher, during the last quarter century, in Africa and Australasia than in Asia as a whole, though not equal to the growth in certain parts of Asia.
In Roman Catholic countries-the Philippine Islands and Latin America, notably in the former-the growth of Protestantism has been comparatively rapid in the last twenty-five years.
GROWTH BY CLIMATIC ZONES In the eastern hemisphere, approximately half the foreign missionarieS'are working in equatorial, low latitude, and the hotter monsoon regions. This area, from most of which the white peoples of Europe and America are probably permanently ex·cluded, so far as colonization is concerned, because of the climatic factors, includes very much of Africa, except the extreme northern and southern portions, and much of Arabia, Iraq, India, Indo-China, Malaya, the Philippine Islands, the Netherlands Indies, and Australasia. In this hot belt live a very high percentage of all the animist and pagan peoples of the world, and about three fourths of all the Moslems. In these regions which are less hospitable to the peoples from whom the foreign missionary forces are almost wholly recruited, the Christian communicants number about 2,000,000, comprising approximately two thirds of the communicants of the entire so-called non-Christian world. The adaptability of the Christian Gospel to these hotter lands, which has sometimes been disputed, seems to be well established, as, for instance, in the Netherlands Indies and the Cameroun.
In general, the climatic factor has not appeared to have any very great effect upon the results of missionary endeavor. Whether in China and Japan, most analogous in climate to the eastern United States, in the tropical monsoon belt of India and Indo-China, or in equatorial Africa and Australasia, missionary progress has seemed to be generally proportionate to the effectiveness of the missionary occupation and to the openness of the people to foreign religious and cultural influences. The universal adaptability of the Christian Gospel has been demonstrated from the climatic as well as racial and religious viewpoints. This is more important than generally recognized, because the climatic factor is more permanent than political, religious, linguistic or even racial factors, and in the long run has much to do in determining the uses to which each region
A CENTURY OF MISSIONARY PROGRESS
will be put in human economy and the sort of civilization that will ultimately prevail.
IN CONCLUSION It is true that there are more non-Christians in the world today than ever before in history. They number now at least 1,000,000,000 souls and the annual numerical excess of births over deaths among the one thousand million non-Christians is much greater than the annual increase of possibly 200,000 Christian converts won in the non-Christian world. If it were not for the fact that the growth in numbers of Christians somewhat approximates a geometrical ratio, while the increase in population has: a tendency to slow down, it would seem a hopeless task, under present conditions, to attempt to make the kingdoms of this world the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. But it is not impossible that within another twenty-five or fifty years the annual numerical increase of Christians in the non-Christian world will exceed the annual numerical increase in population, and that thereafter the non-Christian populations may steadily diminish while the Christian population steadily increases.
The quantitative data available are of very great significance in any study of the missionary enterprise, but it must be remembered that they reveal the situation and the trend only in part. It is, for example, well recognized that in certain countries the influence of the comparatively few Christians is effective far beyond the proportion of their numbers. Westerners should realize that this is partly due to the thought that Christianity brings with it certain benefits connected with the civilization of the West, and is not wholly due to the recognized merits of the Christian Gospel itself. In other cases the identification of Christianity with Western civilization is a handicap.
Statistics clearly indicate that the Christian Gospel has already taken root among peoples of all religious faiths, languages and cultures and in all climes. But they cannot reveal the fact that the Christian task and program are necessarily a world task and program -that is implicit in the Gospel itself. One of the most serious handicaps to the missionary enterprise is the very imperfect application of Christ's spirit and principles to the life of the Western world. Perhaps an equal handicap is the consequent failure to Christianize the contacts of the so-called Christian peoples with the non-Christian peoples at many points. If the increase in Christians in the non- Christian world is to overtake and pass the growth in population, and if the increasingly influential indigenous Christian minorities in these lands are to be effectively strengthened, there must be, not only an adequate advance in foreign missionary endeavor, but also a simultaneous effort to make the life of Christendom more wholly Christian.
A BROTHERHOOD PROBLEM FOUR significant things particu.larly called to our attention, or which . have taken place in the past ten years, clearly indicate to the writer that the type of Christianity now generally existent in our churches will never bring to pass the universal brotherhood for which we pray.
1. THE WORLD WAR DEIJIBERATELY S'l'ARTED BY SO·CALI.ED CHRISTIAN NATIONS.
2. THE REPUDIATION OF OUR s'rANDARDS OF' CHRISTIAN LIFE BY ALTRUISTIC MEN IN NON· CHRISTIAN I,ANDS, LIKE GANDHI; ALSO BY RETURN· ING STUDENTS AND BY SOME VERY SUCCESSFUL MISSIONARIES.
3. THE ADOPTION AND PROMULGATION OF ANTJ·HUMAN BROTHERHOOD TEACHINGS BY THOUSANDS OF CHURCH MEMBERS IN CERTAIN ORGANIZATIONS -THE K. K. K. TO ILLUSTRA'I'E. 4. THE REMARKABLE GROWTH AND ACCEPTANCE OF REVOLUTIONARY INDIVIDUAL INTERPRETATIONS OF THE SCRIPTURES BY O'rHER ORGANIZATIONS CALLED CHRISTIAN-SPIRI'rUAL AND MENTAL HEALING CULTS, FOR IN· STANCE.
If the conclusion in our first paragraph is true, and our type of Christianity must be greatly raised to produce loving human relation· ships, we are led to ask-" Are there any standards of religious life which, if followed, will bring universal brotherhood, stop war and make the religion of Jesus reasonable and attractive to those who are seeking light and ' The Way' ~"
We hear it often said, "Obedience to the teachings of tve Sermon on the Mount will do this." But has the truth of this assertion been practically demonstrated either in individual or social life 1 "Yes,"
some would answer, "in individ.ual life now and then, and partially in some religious communions in the world," as examples, men of such character as Lord Shaftesbury and the poet Whittier; organizations such as the peace.promoting Quakers and Adyentists with their sani· tariums, their missionary spirit and noted giving record.
If this is true, can we determine the reason or basis why some in· dividuals and certain communions have come nearer than others in Jiving up to Christ's standards ~ We find these individuals and communions have the follo,wing be· liefs and practices in common: , 1. A DEVOUT LOVE AND REVERENCE FOR GOD, BASED ON A RE,MARKABLE KNOWLEDGE OF AND A THOROUGH LOYAVTY TO THE TEACHINGS OF THE WHOLE BIBLE.
2. A FULL RECOGNITION OF PERSONAL OBLIGATION FOR LIVES OF SERVICE TO THEIR FELLOW MEN.
3. ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS ACTUAL T~ORD AND DIRECTOR OF ALL OF LIFE'S ACTIVITIES.
4. REVERENT OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH OR LORD'S DAY AS A HOLY DAY KEPT SACRED FOR SPIRITUAL USE.
After reading the above over a number of times, we are led to ask- Is it possible thfLt these simple common· place statements form the basis of the normal life for which we 'are looking 'I-Or is this an anti.
climax to the Brotherhood problem indicated in our first paragraphs?
We wonder! A. A. HYDE.
in the Bengal
BY A MISSIONARY IN THE VILLAGES O~, BENGAL T HERE are many sides to this life-comic, serious, pathetic, patriotic, beautiful, revolting-especially to a woman. To the spotlessly clad lady is put the question, "Have you bathed today?" .A man asks, "How old are you1" and adds that he had consulted the servants and had learned that my age was "exactly ]30 years I" The usual questions about ma.rriage and family naturally are more frequent in the villages than in the towns, but all must be answered in good humor, and turned to good account in approaching our main subject. When the Women run away at sight of a hat and umbrella, and refuse to believe the sex of the intruder, the comic becomes serious. Patience is required to secure a hearing. One may be thought to be so holy as not to require food. It is equally unpleasant to be so untouchable that a dose of medicine, or diet which might save a life, is sternly refused. In selling gospels one may be required to throw the book into a hand of the buyer, so as not to touch it, and to pick up the copper from the ground!
The beautiful Bengal jungle, who shall describe it? Europeans are usually so taken up with gasping in the damp heat that if they see they do not find energy to describe it, but it is beautiful in every detail. There is also beauty left in some of the souls, especially in devoted wives who make it their religion to reverence their husbands. To be honest, however, it is necessary to carry the beauty of Jesus Christ in one's own soul, or the revolting things would very soon outweigh the beautiful.
Imagine being called into a home to "speak the good words" and being faced by half a dozen old women, whose visages would drive away every thought of holiness. Or sailing down a beautiful river, admiring the scenery, and suddenly beholding a human corpse, face downwards, digging its head into the bank, the whole neighborhood being" filled with the odor thereof." Such sights are common, and we have to drink the water! "For His sake" we live here and He keeps our souls in life.
How to reach the dense village population forming 95 per cent in Bengal, with thousands of villages in one small district, is a question calling for divine solution. Years ago we were led to start a primitive dispensary, miles away from any proper doctor or government dispensary. This gradually won the confidence of the people, and many thousands of poor folk have been helped in body and soul. They who come for medicine (all women) listen to 281
our preaching while their bottles are being filled, and many buy Scriptures to take home. In our itineration work we find the dispensary has changed the whole tone of our reception for at least 20 or 25 miles around and the name of Jesus is known where it was never heard before. The dispensing is still carried on in a tumbledown thatch and mud hut, while the patients sit in the open. Very little money is spent for "establishment," and less still for doctor's salary, as no such worker has ever been available.
But the main effort is to put God 's Word into the hands of those who can read. This involves perils and experiences of all kinds, but He Who gave the command gives the strength and opportunities.
An illiterate cart driver became convicted of sin while talked to by his passenger, heard of the way of salvation gladly, and found, when talking about it at home, that his younger brother had a gospel bought from the same worker years before when he was at school. It had been laid by with his school books, but was now brought out and read to the elder brother. His testimony on a second journey was that Jesus had brought much peace to his soul, but when he heard that to follow Him meant to endure persecution in the world his enthusiasm cooled.
Women everywhere, almost without exception, are glad to hear the Message, when they once understand what it means, and doubtless some treasure it in their hearts, for when they come across the messenger again, many years afterwards, they ask for certain hymns to be sung, or words to be repeated. The one great standing sorrow and heart's cry of the Jungle Missionary is "Why are these people to be left so long without knowing Jesus died for them 7" What is one itinerant among two millions of people~ Every missionary has a family, even if a floating one, i. e., when the various waifs and protegees are put into homes or boarding schools. Their support has to be found and holidays arranged for, so the floating family is by far the most difficult to manage, especially when one has no fixed home. The moral state of the country precludes the foster mother from any domestic assistance by the elder girls; they are only safe in homes or as married women. Still it is the opinion of this Jungle Missionary that we are more likely to make stalwart Christians by living alongside of them than by gathering them in large buildings, away from their homes, for training so different from their village life.
The Jungle Missionary needs to know a bit of every trade and science under the sun, to be ready-witted, grounded and settled on God, with all possible education, and one "too good for the work" has never yet been found; nor can the most devoted wish for a better or fuller life.
for Chinese
From an Address at the C. I. M. Conference at Swanwick, June, 1924'* BY MISS A. M. ,JOHANNSEN CHILD-LIFE in Ohina often reminds me of a beautiful garden, w~ere there are flowers of every description. There are some brIght of hue, and of great beauty; others not so beautiful, but full of fragrance. Te find others soft and sweet, others very prickly, full of thorns, but none the less attractive. Some thrive in the sunshine, others only come to' .–__________~_…, perfection in the shade. Some grow slowly, but steadily, others need constant pruning. But to all who have eyes to see the beauty in the child, and hearts to understand the child-m~nd, there is an endless charm about each and all. I have found them quite as interesting and responsive as children at home.
Alas! there are countless children in Ohina who are drooping, yes, even perishing, for lack of care, because they are not in the right soil. It is our part to see that they are brought into a different atmosphere. As their hearts are the same as those of our children at home, they have the same needs. How great those needs are, "OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN" only those who have studied the child-question in Ohina can Know.
There are the little outcasts, girls, who have escaped being drowned, but who are not wanted,and are therefore sent to the Foundling HospitaL There are the millions given awa-y to other families, brought up to be drudges in the household. There are the numbers sold to be slaves, and often for worse purposes. There are boys, who from their very babyhood are taught to bow down to wood and stone, who are brought up in superstition and fear. There are the poor boys, who have to work far beyond their strength, and are old men before they are out of childhood. The great numbers from the better classes, who grow up without any discipline often learn gambling at an early age.
There is nothing in their own religions to help them. Only as 283
far as we can bring them into contact with Him who once became a little child can there be any hope for them, and any promise for the future of Ohina.
For that reason we have established Ghristian schools, which we seek to make strong evangelistic agencies, and where we endeavor to put Christ and His Word first in the curricnlum; schools where we teach that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and where we try, not only to give the children an education, but to lead them to the Author of eternal salvation. The primary and intermediate schools have had a wonderful power for good, and have been the training ground for the Church. They have also made themselves felt in the community because of their strong moral influence. The parents gladly pay higher fees in our mission schools than they would have to pay in the government schools, and many a boy is brought to the mission school as a last resource. They also know that our scholastic standard is higher.
But better than all scholastic attainments is the fact that many get to kno.w Christ. Hearts can be touched by the Gospel and the Spirit of God at any age, but as one studies the question there are certain ages, when it seems that the children are more ready to yield themselves to Christ.
From four till eight years of age, the child brought up in a Christian atmosphere is very responsive, and usually loves Christ in a simple, childlike way, never doubting His love, and thoroughly believes in prayer. I have seen a very small child getting the victory in prayer. I have seen children of four and six years of age joyfully going to Jesus, and telling their parents they were going to Heaven. More remarkable still, I have seen children from heathen homes, who had been only two or three years in the school, being so gripped by the Gospel that, when they were dying, they would bear a bright testimony right to the very end, and the death of one of these little ones, at least, was the meaus of preparing the father to turn to the living God before it was too late.
From nine to thirteen is a far more difficult age, but during those years, hearts are often touched, and many turn from idols to the living God. They learn to confess when they have done wrong, a thing only brought about by Christian influence.
When the age of fourteen to twenty is reached there is often a great change for the better, though occasionally for the worse. As a rule there are many decisions for Christ in the school, and among those who have already left school. At that age nearly all the young people are very responsive to love and reason, and it is most important that we win their confidence. Therefore it counts far more what we are than what we do. Many of the most difficult ones will break down utterly when appealed to in love. Prayer with the children, not only for them, helps over many difficulties. The little ones readily
1925J WORK FOR CHINESE CHILDREN
yield in prayer, and many a time some of the biggest girls have broken down and confessed with tears, when nothing but prayer would have overcome their hard feelings against one another.
Ohristian Endeavor has been a great help in our schools. It makes the young people feel they have to walk carefully. It helps them in their study of the Bible, and often helps them to open their lips in prayer. It is a good training ground for preaching, and many young people have got their first start there. It gives them the missionary spirit, the big boys going out with others for open-air meetings, and the girls buying tracts for the work. It gives them an interest in other mission fields, and several times we have sent money to other countries.
Some of the girls have been trained as nurses or teachers, but the majority have been trained to be Ohristian wives and mothers. They have their faults, but they certainly could not have been what they are, without the training they received in the school.
Many a boy has borne a bright witness for the Lord in his heathen home. One was called "a good apprentice of the missionary" by his vegetarian mother, because, she said, he preached to her all day long, exhorting her to give up her vegetarian vow, and trust in Ohrist Jesus and His cleansing Blood.
Another result is that the children get a thorough knowledge of the Bible. It has been often proved that those who stay with us through the whole course, who give themselves to Ohrist, and get the full benefit, not only of the Bible lessons in the school, but of the systematic Bible study given for the advanced Ohristians, can easily hold their own with the students of the Bible Institute.
Again, another result is that they learn to consider others, and not to live for themselves, to give, even to the point of sacrifice. At a O. E. missionary collection one young girl gave her only dollar, which cost her a great deal. When building our new church, the children not only worked hard to earn some money for it, but gave up their allowance of meat (a weekly treat), and taught us a lesson in self-denial. Five years ago the boys saved a little baby girl, and cared for her for three years or more.
Among the hindrances in our work for the young people of Ohina, one is the great poverty. Many of the Ohristians are not able to put their children in school. Another difficulty is, that there are so many free, and half-free, government schools, that it is often difficult to get pupils. The Ohinese are striving for a Western education, but never before has there been so much opposition to Salvation. Lawlessness is abroad everywhere, and its spirit is making itself felt even in smaller schools and mission schools. Waves of anti-Ohristian feeling have swept through many of the government schools and colleges. The New Thought Movement and Modernism are ruining many of the higher educational institutions of the dif-
ferent missions. Japan is flooding China with unhealthy fiction and unclean books of every sort, which are poisoning the minds of the young people, and we have to watch every book that is brought into the school.
There is an increasing tendency to engage girls to outside families, for the sake of getting richer homes. The boys often are apprenticed to heathen masters, and cannot come to any of the services for years.
We need the right kind of teachers who have a supreme love for Christ, and will always put Him first, who will yield their all, and hold nothing back. We want those who will not be teachers only, but lovers of souls, eager to serve the least of these, thus following in the footsteps of Him who pleased not Himself. And we need Chinese Christian teachers, who will be willing to give their time and talents to God's service. School work is exacting work for the Chinese teacher, often a rather thankless task, and nearly always badly paid.
We need a new vision of the needs of China's children, a heart filled with the compassionate love of Christ, a heart that vrill not be satisfied, until He is able to gather many of the lambs to His bosom, and to make a host of young people vessels meet for His use. That is not an easy task. It will take our best talents, our most earnest endeavor. Someone has said: "The conversion of China will cost the Church her treasures, the Colleges their brightest ornaments, and the Missions the lives of their best men; and unless we are willing for all that, we had better give it up." But we cannot give it up, for the millions of young people in China are the souls for whom Christ died and whom He is waiting to save.
It is only on our knees the victory is won. Do you realize that the intercessory missionary at home is quite as· necessary as the working missionary in China ~ God grant that many young lives may be laid on the altar for His service, and that all of you who are the Lord's remembrancers may not keep silent, but give Him no rest, until He make many of China's young people a praise and glory to His Name.
Spirit of Unity in Home Missions*
BY REV. LEMUEL OALL BARNES, D.D., NEW YORK I N A brief study of "The Growing Spirit of Unity in Home Mis- sions" two or three principles must be taken for granted. First, there are few things on earth more obviously wicked than is wasteful competition among agencies created by the churches for breaking up the virgin sod and planting the garden of God on the great new continent of North America.
Second, denominations of Christians who care more for personal loyalty to Christ and personal liberty in following Him than they .do for mechanistic devices of any kind, ecclesiastical, ritual or metaphysical, denominations which have grown strong and powerful through such loyalty and liberty, will never surrender them to any academic theory of church union.
Third,· whatever may be the goal of other bodies, a Council of Missions is concerned not with ecclesiastical maneuvers nor with speculative ideals: it is concerned wholly with concert of .action in planting the garden of God.
a Each of these assumptions appeals for an extended exposition, instead of single dogmatic sentence. But, granting the infallibility of the three sentences, they plunge us at once into the actual facts concerning growing concert·of action in home missions.
In the present state of existence spirits are seen only as they are embodied. Therefore, we see the Growing Spirit of Unity in Home Missions, first and mainly, as it is embodied.
THE GROWING EMBODIMENT OF UNITY Home Missions have been conducted in America for three hundred years and in a distinctly organized way for more than one hundred years. On July 3, 1800, the Massachusetts Missionary Society (Congregational) organized the year before, cOIlll)1issioned Adoniram Judson, Sr., as a missionary to the wilderness settlements of Vermont. When he came home and told the story of thrilling missionary vicissitudes on that American frontier, his namesake, a wide-eyed adoring son, twelve years of age, was filled and fired with a missionary ideal which later took him and others with him to be the first American missionaries to Asia. Adoniram Judson, Jr., becoming a Baptist on the way, led that denomination as a whole to organize for missions. In this epoch-making history God caused both Home and Foreign Missions and two denominations to cooperate. But the denominations did not like it and in the process called each other hard names.
• From an address delivered at Atlantio City before the Home Missions Conference. 287
For more than one hundred years organized Home Missions cooperated only when compelled by overruling Providence or, now and then, here and there, by an uprush of the Holy Spirit, which the most indurated sectarianism could not always suppress.
It was not until seventeen years ago that the Spirit of Unity in Home Missions became incarnated. Administrators of the great boards, like Charles L. Thompson (Presbyterian), Hubert C. Herring (Congregational) and Henry L. Morehouse (Baptist)-to mention only three who have since joined the Ohurch Triumphant-led in the creation of the Home Missions Oouncil. In March, 1908, half a dozen national boards organized this Council, thus inaugurating a new era in Home Mission unity. Today forty boards of twentyseven denominations comprise it.
The Oouncil of Women for Home Missions started in 1908 with nine boards and now has twenty cooperating boards. It was a great hour in Home Mission history when these two Oouncils were born.
Less conspicuous, but hardly less significant, has been the Growing Spirit' of Unity between the two Oouncils. It is betraying no secret frankly to admit that often before the Councils were organized the denominational societies of the whole Ohurch and the societies of women fell into the preposterous attitude of being competitors. Locally, they sometimes do so yet. But the national leaders have set a firm face against that attitude. The two' Oouncils are furnishing a prophetic, commanding example. Most of the work of the two is done now by "Joint Oommittees."
Another growing embodiment of the Spirit of Unity is in regional concerted action.
In 1911 a committee of the Home Missions Council, the "Neglected-Fields Survey Committee" held in fifteen western states conferences of state Rome Mission leaders of all denominations. State organizations were formed for the purpose of joint study of conditions. Several of those organizations have continued to the present, some of them 'with growing efficiency. State leaders were discovered and developed, deeply devoted to the principle of concerted action. Those state organizations gathered a large array of telling facts.
Before those days the only state organization was in Maine, where, since 1890, five denominations had been working efficiently in concert. In more than one great reform that easternmost state has set a pace for the nation.' "As goes Maine so goes the nation."
But the strenuous West had not as yet followed that eastern example in Rome Mission cooperation. A year and a half after the first western deputation of the Home Missions Council a second was commissioned. Four denominations, which have been particularly active in frontier mission work, provided the same men, Hubert C. Herring, Ward Platt, George Ernest McAfee and the writer.
1925J THE SPIRJT OF UNITY IN HOME MISSroNS
Other denominations furnished enthusiastic coadjutors. The findings of "The Neglected-Fields Survey" were studied in the second series of state conferences and their significance was pressed home.
In 1918, on the basis of information and spirit previously developed, the Home Missions Council offered to help some western state to put into operation a plan of thoroughgoing concert of action. Montana was the first to accept the offer. No wonder, for it was Montana which, by the ten tests of the Sage Foundation, stood highest of any state in the country in public education. In the summer of 1919 representatives of all the Protestant denominations in the state spent two weeks together in spirit study, map and field study of the state. In reaching conclusions, they were aided by the Council's deputation, especially by Dr. Anthony and Dr. Burton. The result was the organization of the Montana Home Missions Council and the allocation of every community in that immense commonwealth to the special care of some denomination. The method was not exclusive but inclusive.. It did not move in the realm of ecclesiastical negatives but wholly in the realm of missionary positives. For five years it has worked as well as anything can work in our highly complex world and in spheres which are complicated tenfold more by traditions dearer to people than life itself. The head of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Montana, Bishop F. W. Faber, has been from the start one of the most helpful spirits in the state, and, at the opposite extreme of ecclesiastical polity, the State Secretary of the Baptist Churches, G. Clifford Cress, has been from the beginning the efficient Secretary of the Montana Home Missions Council.
This "Every-Community Service" plan had been printed by the national Home Missions Council before the formation of the Interchurch W orId Movement was broached by anyone. It cheerfully chimed in with that Movement, but was neither swallowed up by it nor turned aside. After two years, three other states called for the Montana plan and put it in operation. The next year, 1924, two more states did likewise, so that seven far western states now are well org.anized. In the East, Vermont, on a plan of its own, has joined Maine. In addition to the nine states in which the denominations are moving together strongly in Home Missions, a number of other states have methods more or less effective in the coordination of home Inission work. Thus the Spirit of Unity in Home Missions is becoming well embodied regionally as well as nationally. The regional embodiment is more difficult to bring to pass and is all the more significant. That is now under headway for wide adoption. Its greatest danger of delay is the temptation for it to undertake a lot of other good things beside missions and so to break down under a complicated burden.
In the outlying home mission fields, the West Indies, the prin- 3
ciple of cooperation has been carried further than it has in the States. In Porto Rico coordination began with the occupation of the country by the United States. Zones of denominational responsibility were allocated in 1899. For years a joint religious paper has been published which commands a larger circulation than that of any other periodical of any sort in the island, a land commonly given to fleshly things instead of such seriousness as that. A feature still more marked is the joint seminary for ministerial training. This is one of the most advanced steps taken anywhere.
These long-tested and highly successful joint undertakings prove that the method of allocation of territory, deeply discounted by some swivel-chair cooperationists, instead of retarding other forms of concerted action, effectually promotes them. A quarter of a century of demonstration is worth millenniums of speculation.
In Santo Domingo the whole work is jointly conducted by five Protestant Mission Boards.
The real magnitude of the growing embodiment of the Spirit of Unity in Home Missions would not be noted if no mention were made of its rapid growth within denominations as well as between them. In most of the great communions this growth has been taking place lately at a record-breaking pace. It is part of the present great sweep of events in the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. It would be quite pertinent to describe that recent history in denomination after denomination. In some cases it has been almost a miracle of grace and the~e is more to follow.
Nearly two hundred years of Home Mission activity without organic cooperation even within denominations-then one hundred years of exclusively denominational organisms-now, in less than a score of years, sixty denominational Boards have entered into organic, intimate cooperation! With such geometrical progress, something worth while is coming to pass.
Were we strict pragmatists we might stop here. But that word "Spirit" lures us beyond and within. There are mental and, if you please, sentimental factors which are essential in this growing unity.
GROWING MENTAL CONSENT TO UNITY This, of necessity, underlies the growing embodiment of unity. This is so obvious that we need only note it with gratitude. In 1908 I read a paper on cooperation in missions at a conference of some twenty national and regional Baptist missionary leaders. The presentation of that subject by a new Secretary was cautious and mild in its proposals, but even so, only three of the men present stood with me. Today not more than three out of twenty leaders among us would be against it. In 1918 (only ten years later) the whole. Northern Baptist Convention voted without one dissenting voice to instruct the officers of its Home Mission Society to push the
THE SPIRIT OF UNITY IN HOME MISSIONS
"Every-Community Service Endeavor "-a plan much more thoroughgoing than anything proposed in 1908. Let this instance suggest a wide, slowly moving, irresistible avalanche of mental consent to growing unity in Home Missions.
THE INNER HEART OF UNITY This is something deeper than merely mental consent. When the " Neglected-Fields Survey" deputation met in Chicago to start on its second tour of western states that heaven-spirited Methodist, Ward Platt, sa,id: "It was so blessed to do it together a year and a half ago that I couldn't stay away this time." As we stood in a circle of prayer, with arms on each other's shoulders like a baseball team interlocked to cheer the opposing team, we were one in heart. We trusted each other. No man feared that one of the others would take partisan advantage. Faith in God and faith in each other is the secret of the Growing Spirit of Gnity in Home Missions.
We must take seriously the proposals of the Committee on Cooperation in states and other areas. We can guarantee, in the light of history, that so doing will secure solid advance. Between ten and fifteen thousand communities in the United States have no evangelical church whatever or have only one church. Commonly, that one church is without adequate equipment. On these unquestionably needy fields concerted concentration of Board action is perfectly feasible. It requires immediate planning for{t4e near future. Such direction of energy will incidentally answer all cavilers at Home Missions and it will call into ardent action unlimited resourcesresources both human and divine.
The nineteenth century had a necessary and worthy watchword – " Occupy strategic fields." Today there is a new and holy slogan -" SERVE EVERY COMMUNITY. "
WHAT AN "EVERY-COMMUNITY SERVICE" PROGRAM WOULD DO STRENGTHEN 5,000 WEAK CHURCHES WHERE THEY STAND ALONE. ESTABLISH CHURCHES IN 5,000 COMMUNITIES WHERE NONE EXIST. UNITE 10,000 OR MORE FEEBLE CHURCHES INTO 5,000 STRONGER CHURCHES, BRING THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST WITHIN REACH OF MULTITUDES NOW DESTITUTE. EXHIBIT THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST WHERE NOW ANTI-CHRISTIAN RIVALRY EXISTS. MARE MORE EFFECTIVE THE TES'rIlliQNY OF 'rHE CHURCH TO NON- CHRISTIANS. ANSWER EFFECTIVELY MANY ·JUST CRITICISMS MADE CONCERNING HOME MISSIONS. ENLIST NEW SUPPORTERS OF HOME MISSION, WI'l'H NEW ZEAL. HASTEN THE COMPLETION OF CHRIST'S PROGRAM ]<'OR ALL MANKIND. INAUGURATE A NEW DAY IN HOME MISSION WORK.
Masahisa U emura-The
Spurgeon A Sketch of the Eminent Christian, Pastor, Author and Ewucator nA N EMINENT Christian Japanese author, pastor, educator, and administrator, recently passed away in Tokyo. He was a higl11y educated man whose theological library Dr. John Kelman declared to be the best selected he had ever seen in any pastor's home. This Christian pastor, Dr. Masahisa Uemura, was so reticent about himself that until very recently no sketch of his life had appeared. He yielded, however, to the entreaty of Mr.
Galen Fisher, the American Y. M.
C. A. secretary in Tokyo, so that Mr. Fisher was able to give some salient points of Dr. Demma's career in his book, "Creative Forces in Japan." This sketch throws sidelights on the stuff of which Japanese Christian leaders are made.
Masahisa Demura was born in 1857. His father was a samurai of high rank in the Tokugawa clan, but was reduced to penury at the downfall of the clan at the Res- toration. :H'ired with ambition to restore the family fortunes, at fif- teen the boy entered a school MASAHISA UEMURA conducted by the Presbyterian missionary James Ballagh in Yokohama.
The family were Shintoists and young Masahisa devoutly wor- shiped at the shrine of a blacksmith who had risen to be a soldier and patriot. The young lad prayed that he might rise to prominence in like manner. But his fellow-students ridiculed the lad's piety, and before long he stopped paying visits to the shrine. One day he learned from Mr. Ballagh that Westerners also worshiped, but believed in oilly one God. This greatly impressed and astonished him and he immediately accepted the idea. Later, however, after he began to study theology, gTave doubts arose to trouble him.
At this time his ambitions radically changed. He no longer cared to become a high official, but in a short time felt a desire to 292 be a Christian minister. His parents, of course, objected to his receiving baptism, and he postponed it for several months. Five years. Jater, however, they too were baptized, and even though the Edict boards against Christianity were still hanging, there was no official persecution.
At the age of twenty-one, in 1878, the young Uemura entered an English college opened by the missionary Dr. Samuel Rollins Brown. The tuition was ten yen ($5.00) a month, equivalent to fifty yen now, and the student did all sorts of work to earn expenses.
His chief reliance was a school of his own where he taught fifty classes of one pupil each, from one until ten 0 'clock in the after- noon. He also raised pigs-then considered rather disgraceful-and he found that their chief virtues are that they need to be fed only twice a day and they turn everything they eat into cash I When the college was moved to Tokyo to become the forerunner of the pres- ent Meiji Gakuin, Mr. Uemura went with it and finished the course.
After graduation he took charge of a church in a poor part of Tokyo and earned his own living, so the church was self-supporting from the first. Then he began to preach in friends' houses in the better residential quarter and in 1887 a chapel was built. As the church had only twenty members, the pastor continued to earn his living by translating for magazines and teaching theology at Meiji Gakuin. Finally, in 1903, some missionaries objected to his using tV. N. Clarke's" Christian Theology, " so that he resigned in 1904 and started an independent theological school. Three years later a converted stockbroker gave the school a site and building with a small endowment. This school has continued ever since to have twenty or thirty students.
The Fukuin Shimpo (Gospel News) was started by Pastor Uemura as a Japanese B'ritish TVeekly and from the first he was editor and business manager. .
In 1888 Mr. Uemura went to America and England. Declining scholarships at Columbia and Princeton, he went to London where for five months he listened to Charles H. Spurgeon, Joseph Parker and James Martineau, and read many books. On his return to Japan Dr. Uemura again took up his church work.
For many years he has been the foremost figure in the "Nihon Kirisuto Kyokai" (Church of Christ in Japan). Although blunt and brusque in manner he was known to be sincere and loyal to the truth as he saw it. When the issue arose involving the independence of the Japanese Church from the Missions, he led the assault and carried the day. His living monument is the Fujimicho Church, of which he has been pastor ever since its foundation, nearly forty years ago. This church pulses with outgoing life, for it is a mother of churches and a breeder of ministers. It embraces rich and poor, officials and ex-convicts, many of whom are brought to it through
the work of Miss Oaroline Macdonald and Miss West. The congregation spends little on itself and much on extension. Its pulpit is life-building, for the sermons are expository and searching. .
In 1922 Pastor Uemura, as permanent chairman of the National Board of Missions of his denomination, was sent to America and Scotland, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Nihon Kirisuto Kyokai, to express thanks to the churches abroad for the missionaries who planted the Ohurch in Japan.
In few if any countries can a man be found who has spanned the entire history of a denomination, having been a leading factor in its evangelistic, literary, educational, and administrative activities, and remain at sixty-eight the most dynamic, sagacious personality in its ranks.
Dr. Galen M. Fisher, for some years the American Executive Secretary of the Y. M. O. A. in Japan, writes: Dr. Demura was a remarkable combination of intellectual with mystical and poetic elements. His poetic gift accounted for the unexpected flashes of wit and insight which marked many of his sermons and addresses. When his addresses lapsed into mediocrity, this could be attributed to ill health, for he was an invalid during many years. Only by the exercise of titanic will power did he force himself to carry the work of two or three ordinary men t Weakness and pain also caused occasional failures to meet speaking engagements. His likes and dislikes were very pronounced but differences of opinion never seemed to affect cordial relations with those whom he respected. His tongue, at times, was sharp as a rapier. Sham and formalism he despised. For Christ and His Kingdom he spent himself to the uttermost. He was indeed a prince and a ruler in the Church in Japan for more than a generation.
Dr. Demura was generally considered conservative in theology, although he might probably more properly be termed a progressive evangelical. He was particularly devoted to the Scotch theologians and read practically everything by them, whether in books or periodicals. His aversion to traveling abroad was due in part to ill health and in part to unwillingness to leave, even for a few months, the many enterprises dependent upon him.
About a year after the great earthquake, which injured but did not destroy Dr. Uemura 's church, he moved into a new house that some friends had erected for him in Tokyo. He had not been long in his new home when a sudden attack of apoplexy, perhaps attended by heart failure, caused his death on January 8, 1925. The funeral was held in the Fujimicho church of which he had so long been the pastor, the present building being a temporary barrack structure erected after the earthquake. About 1200 people were present, many coming from distant parts of the country.
Dr. Uemura had gripped so many things in his hands, and was for so long a time the center around which the whole church moved, that his people will find it difficult to move forward: without him. The general sentiment, however, is optimistic, and, under a more democratic regime, the church may make more real and rapid progress.
from Recent Financial
BY REV. JAY S. STOWELL, NEW YORK AUTlIOR's NOTE:-The following article was written at the request of the editor. It is based upon a study of the experiences of a number of the larger and some of the smaller denominations which ha,ve waged special campaigns for benevolent funds during the past five or six years. It is by no means oomprehensive and it lays no olaim to infallibility.
MANY sorts of financial "campaigns" have been waged by mission boards in recent years. Some were conceived with the idea of launching a great new missionary advance; others were undertaken merely to avoid retreat during the period of strain and the reduced purchasing power of money brought about by the WorId War. Some were made to include the regular operating budgets, while others were for special items largely outside of regular items. Some solicited only large gifts from individual givers; others sought pledges from all members of local congregations; and still others sought pledges from local churches and groups of churches rather than from individuals. Some campaigns were for periods of five years; others covered shorter periods. In some cases the period of the formal campaign is completed; in other cases the time covered by the pledges is ilot yet terminated.
Because of these varied conditions many factors are hardly comparable, and conclusions drawn may not be borne out by the experience of all denominations. However, there have been enough common factors to lead us to venture the following observations: 1. There is no short curt to permanent progress. The idea that a denomination can in one great united effort over a brief period be raised to a much higher permanent standard of missionary interest and giving has not been borne out by experience. .Abiding results are not built upon spectacular advertising or spasmodic efforts, but rather upon the regular processes of missionary education, the practice of Christian stewardship and the deepening of spiritual life and missionary conviction. The denominations which have made the most consistent progress have been those that have relied upon and strengthened the regular educational processes. "Crises" and threatened calamities quickly lose their appeal. The law of diminishing returns soon begins to operate, and, though the "wolves" may be real ones the people will, after a time, not turn out to fight them off.
2. The five-year pledge is a mistake. That is particularly true in cases where the pledge includes the maintenance of work already under way. It is not so conspicuously apparent when the pledges are for large amounts for specific items outside of the regular maintenance items. It seems difficult to extend one burst of enthusiasm 295
over a period of five years. The payment of long term pledges tends to become irksome and the end of the period is reached with no satisfactory foundation or adequate provision for extending a going program into the ensuing period. The five-year pledge tends to a feeling of false security which stultifies the normal educational and promotional activities of missionary agencies and local churches as well.
3. Nothing can take the place of the missiowary motive in the giving of missionary money. There seems to be little question that under special pressure some individuals pledged beyond their convictions, with consequent unhappy results. Some wanted to help their denomination do a big thing or to put their local cliurch "over the top." In other cases churches entered the campaign with the implicit or explicit understanding that they would receive generous appropriations in return. Dissatisfaction has later arisen. Such an aftermath would not have ensued had the giving been from purely unselfish missionary motives.
a 4. Regular, systematic, proportionate giving on the weekly basis, as result of an every-metnber canvass promoted annually in the l'ooal churches, is a foundation stone of success. The very life of the missionary enterprise today depends upon the systematic giver, and the extension of the enterprise depends upon increasing the number of such givers. The annual every-member canvass for benevolences has come into its own and one of the incidental benefits of the process has been the placing of local church finance upon a much firmer basis than it has ever before been. Many churches, however, do not yet give adequate attention to the presentation of the needs for benevolence in connection with their every-member canvass plans.
5. The mission boards are the creatures of the churches-not their masters; and the missionary enterprise is the churches' enterjJr'ise. Missionaries and mission board secretaries inevitably see the field and its needs more vividly than do the workers in local churches and it is incumbent upon the missionaries and the secretaTies to present those needs to church members as clearly and effectively as possible. There comes a time, however, when the mission board secretary must recognize that he is but the representative of the churches, and, though it break his heart, he can move forward only so faT as the cooperation of the churches warrants. In the last analysis the missionary program must be integrated in the program of district and state ecclesiastical representatives, and of pastors in local churches and it must depend for its supporting leadership upon the regular ecclesiastical organization of the church. It must be a vital paTt of the regular program-not something "added on." 6. The faith of the churches in the wisdom and business integ-
LESSONS FROM REG'ENT FINANCIAL CAMPAIGNS
1"ity of their mission boards is funda1nental. Mission boards will doubtless always have their critics. Church members also are inclined to exact higher standards of their benevolent agencies than they tolerate in government affairs, in public business, or even in independent benevolent enterprises. In spite of that fact mission boards cannot safely engage in courses of conduct which will decrease the confidence of the churches iu them. Suspicion, once aroused, will continue long after the occasion for it has disappeared.
7. The varimts mission boards of a denomination must do team work in promoting missionary interest and giving. The importance of some central coordinating agency within a given denomination seems to have become fairly well established, although just what the functions of such an agency should be is not quite so clear. There is little desire to return to the former competitive system of approaching the churches. On the other hand it is increasingly clear that the work of promoting missionary interest and giving must rest primarily upon the boards that spend the money and are in the most intimate touch with the needs of the field rather than upon any purely promotional agency. Other things being equal, the best promoter of interest is the missionary himself and the second best is the mission board secretary, or other denominational agent who is responsible for the spending of missionary money as well as for its collection.
8. The man in the pew must be reached. Perhaps the most talked-of man in religious circles in recent years is that illusive individual known as "the last man in the last church." Noone knows better than mission board secretaries that in spite of all efforts he is still an unreaehed man. We have depended upon the pastor and the every-member canvasser to carry the message and we have supplemented their efforts with lantern slides, leaflet literature, periodicals and other devices. In spite of that fact the real missionary appeal has never had a fair chance at a large number of church members. In certain of the smaller denominations relatively greater success has been achieved, but in the larger groups we are still awaiting the genius who can devise a plan for actually reachiug "the last man in the last church."
9. Concrete facts and situations make a stl"Onger appeal than comprehensive statements of a genera~ program. As a whole the carefully formulated terminology chosen to designate the comprehensive missionary program of an entire denomination has gripped neither the heart nor the imagination as it was thought that it might. It has even tended to create the impression that such a program stands for something in itself, somewhat different aud apart from the regularly organized and going work conducted by the mission boards. On the other hand the appeal of concrete need is perennial and effective.
10. All missionary work is closely inter-related and the present organization of benevolent agencies within a denomination does not represent any clear cut demarkation of work or resp·onsibility. Many factors have been operating to. bring about this situation. Home missions, which at one time was conceived largely in terms of adult evangelism, has now become fundamentally a program of religious education with millions of dollars invested each year in its educa- tional phases, yet, in many denominations the religious education work of the church is still organized separately from its home mis- sion activity. Foreign missions has discovered that its real success is determined almost more in A.merica than in what happens abroad, and both home and foreign missions have seen more clearly than ever before that they are absolutely dependent upon the leadership developed and trained by the educational agencies. The further we go the more does it appear that denominational benevolent .agen- cies are engaged in the one common task of ministering to a needy world in the name of Jesus Christ and in leading men to accept Him as Lord and Master. * :I(: :1= :I(: Each of the foregoing ten points might easily be elaborated into a chapter, did space permit of illustrations and examples, and then the number of points could easily be doubled. However, so far as this article is concerned, we will leave the reader to do his own elaborating and to draw any further lessons.
We have passed through a most unusual period in the history of missionary benevolences. Not only have our methods of missionary promotion been affected, but our very conception of the nature of the missionary task itself has been changing. It would be a foolhardy man indeed who would undertake to predict what changes in missionary organization, program and method will be witnessed in the next twenty-five years. There is abundant evidence that we are moving and with considerable rapidity. Without doubt the movement itself is an evidence of the vitality of the missionary enterprise. Some mistakes have been made, but how could it have been otherwise when so many untrodden paths were opening up before us 7 The grossest of these errors have, however, been small indeed compared to the mistakes made in other fields of activity during the same period. In no case has there been a suggestion of conscious wrong on the part of those entrusted with the direction of our missionary program. The greatest mistake of all would have been to sit still and do nothing. Fortunately the church leaders did not make that mistake.
the Mission Boards Must Do*
Making Denominational Foreign Mission Programs BY REV. RALPH E. DIFFENDORFER" D.D., NEW YORK Secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church I T IS becoming increasingly clear that any program adopted by any foreign mission board or any group of boards in America at the present time must be acceptable at least in its method to the great majority of the people in our churches. The day is past when we can adopt resolutions or frame a program and expect that mere adoption will mean acceptability in our churches. Those who are concerned with the so-called cultivation of the home base are confronted today by what may be called "the rising consciousness of the churches in America."
In order that any denominational program of foreign mission effort may become an expression of the normal Christian life of our people and our churches, it must in future be promoted throughout our denominations, not so much in a series of speeches, as in a series of round table conferences for the interchange of opinion and the reaction of mind upon mind until it is accepted.
Therefore, what I have to say is dependent upon that method of procedure. For this reason, in the conference this afternoon on this very subject, the program has been left without any designated speakers. It will be an open conference in which Mission Board secretaries, women, laymen and missionaries will endeavor to think together on some of the problems that face us in our future denominational missionary programs.
Here there is time only to outline what is in my own mind with reference to the foreign mission situation in the decade ahead of us.
I. First, the foreign mission boards must lead in a neW and continual study of the foreign mission motive. This is fundamental. Our methods of work throughout the world, our approach to our home constituencies, our relationship to national Christians, in fact, our whole program will depend upon the motive of our foreign mission effort.
There was a time when people were moved chiefly by the command that the Gospel must be preached in the whole world, and many today are actuated by this worthy motive. Once, compassion and pity, especially to save people from" the wrath to come," was the compelling motive for the preaching of the Gospel to the non- Christian world. Some are still moved by that incentive.
There was a time when the desire to be of service to the world was a very compelling motive to many, and this is still true. As one to From an address at the Washington Foreign Missions Convention. 299
of our national Christians has said, the service motive is sometimes tinged with what he called" an offensive superiority complex" that makes it difficult for that kind of motive to succeed.
Today it seems that we must have accepted a motive that rests squarely upon Christian love. This love recognizes the inherent value of every man throughout the world in his own right, not be- cause of any country or race or color, but because through his nos- trils there is breathed the breath of the living God. In preaching Jesus Christ to every creature and to all creation we are releasing forces sometimes unknown to the world, forces that can cooperate with us in establishing the worldwide brotherhood of righteousness and love.
This is the only motive that will satisfy the leaders who are now arising in the new churches of non-Christian lands, who desire in their own way to help bring in a Christ world.
The responsibility for the study of these motives and for pro- claiming them to our churches rests upon the foreign mission boards.
We must proceed in all of our educational and programizing proc- esses with this very fundamental responsibility definitely in mind.
II. In the second place, the facts show that there are still many unoccupied regions and many millions of people who have not yet one witness of Jesus Christ. Any adequate foreign mission program must take into account these untouched groups. In times past we have programized these untouched groups almost entirely in terms of geography as "unoccupied territory." While we must keep in mind these neglected fields, especially the hinterlands of South America, of Asia and of Africa, yet we should realize that when the geographical frontiers are taken, it will amount to little if the minds of the people are still closed against us, and if whole groups in the so-called open countries have not been reached with the gospel message. In other words, our "unoccupied territory"
has become more than territory. The unreached groups and non- Christian phases of social living must be won for Jesus Christ. Our noblest young men and women must go forth to preach the Gospel, so that it will touch with new life all groups of men and all phases of human living. .
III. A third factor in an adequate foreign mission program for a denomination is akin to the second. The time has come when the foreign mission boards must make it an avowed part of their program to make all our contacts with the non-Christian world Christian. I mean that it is the concern of foreign mission boards that our race relations shall be Christian, and that race prejudice in America and throughout the world shall be eliminated. It is of concern to us to know whether the governments, in their mandates, exploit the weaker peoples of the world. It is of prime concern to us to see that in our industrial and political contacts throughout the
1925J WHAT THE MISSmN BOAIWS MUST' DO
world the Gospel of Jesus shall be predominant and preeminent, and that these contacts shall be Christian.
It is well-nigh fruitless to send Christ's messengers into the world, if their messages are to be neutralized by these un-Christian contacts. Therefore, I plead that, from now on, we shaH take it as a legitimate, normal part of our foreign mission program in America to insist, with all of our power and with all of the strength of our massed forces, that the agents of so-called Christian nations throughout the world shall be Christian indeed.
IV. In the fourth place-a note that has been sounded many a time in this convention-we must have the cooperation of all the agencies concerned. We certainly cannot make any plans for the unevangelized groups of the world, and face the problem of making all our contacts Christian, unless we approach these groups and these problems in a united way. From this convention let us go to our various boards united on every phase of this work until we make an impact upon the world that is really felt. These cooperative relationships will extend beyond our foreign mission groups, for the program of foreign missions is closely interrelated to our home missionary problem. It is certainly intricately related to the work of our whole system of secular and religious education in America. For instance, what a challenge of Christian opportunity there is in our educational institutions in which there are today hundreds, yes, thousands, of foreign students! What friendliness do they find J We can handle this problem if we will only go about it through the introduction of these students into Christian homes. We ought to be concerned also with the teaching they receive, the philosophy of life presented to them, and the examples of Christian living with which they are surrounded. While we are sending missionaries throughout the world, there go back from our American institutions every year, hundreds of these visiting students from Oriental lands, educated young men and young women who are in a real sense missionaries of what America has to teach and to say.
One of the most important things for the future of foreign missions is that the presidents and the professors of every educational institution in America shall realize that the day for the minimizing of religion and for the ridicule of spiritual life in the classroom and on the campus must be gone and gone forever. There is no justification for thinking that foreign missions is an unrelated problem that stands off to one side. There is no hope of our making an impact upon the complex and closely-knit social world of this day unless it is a definite part of our program that all Christian agencies are linked together in these common tasks.
V. The fifth factor in an adequate program arises out of our relations with the churches in the mission fields. Some plan must be developed in our ecclesiastical politics, as well as in our foreign
mission and social programs, for cooperation with these natio.nal churches. It has been an avowed purpose of foreign missions to go to the mission :fields and help to establish the Church as a Christian agency. Now we realize that we must gradually withdraw ourselves, especially from all administrative positions.
The kind of cooperation referred. to here is not the cooperation of supervision, nor is it attained by withdrawal. There is as much danger in the latter as there is in the former. We must work out, in the basic organization of our church life, a program by which we may cooperate with these rising churches, and link their forces with ours in order that we may bring in the Kingdom of God.
This is one of the most difficult factors in the organization of what is technically called the "Missions" on the :field, and its relation to the groups of national churches. Such a plan of cooperation goes to the very heart of our ecclesiastical life in North America.
It is important also that the churches upon the mission field should understand this point of view. One of the great opportunities of. foreign mission agencies, in a world knit together as we are today, is to promote cooperation between the Japanese churches and the Chinese churches and between the Chinese churches and the Indian churches, and between the Indian churches and the African churches and between the African and the European churches and the Latin American churches.
This is a problem that can be solved by nothing less than a great united movement such as an International Christian Council.
Those who are stUdying the great currents of life around the world and especially the great migrations of peoples, feel, also, that there are points of contact which only the churches of the non- Christian lands can possibly make. Think of East Africa and the Indian migration; of the problems in Argentina and Uruguay and Chile and other Latin American countries with reference to Europe; of the Islands of the South Seas in relation to the Japanese, Indian and Chinese churches. Some are urging the use of Christian Negroes from the West Indies to evangelize the Indian population of Central America. These complicated relationships demand the greatest statesmanship and the most far-sighted policies as we present to our candidates, our missionaries and our ecclesiastical officers throughout the world this great world family conception of the Christian churches, in the world united in a common task.
VI. The last point, which it seems to me is the most important, is a very greatly enlarged conception and a greatly enlarged program of missionary education. Some of us who have been studying these problems for years feel that missionary education has come to a crisis and must be seen in perspective once more in order that it may be related to these needs that are arising in the programizing policies of the boards.
1925J WHAT THE MISSION BOAR,DB MUST DO
There was a time when missionary education consisted largely in telling people about the land, the people, the government, the history, the early missionaries, the present policies and the outlook for Ohristian work. Seven or eight chapters were written uni- formly about all the countries. Many of these facts are now com- mon knowledge, the information being available through many sources. We have corne now to a place where the great missionary enterprise should be related to the great currents of religious thought that are now running through the world, stirring multitudes of people everywhere.
There is a relation between war and foreign missions, and it is for the leaders of the foreign missionary enterprise to interpret that relationship to our people in the greatest missionary education movement that we have ever undertaken.
Race relations have a vital connection with our foreign mission enterprise and we, who are most deeply interested in this problem, must interpret race relations of a Ohristian sort.
We must also study the problems of economic imperialism and not leave that study to some curtained committee in a faraway office. We must bring the facts out in the open so that the mass of public opinion can be brought to bear upon them. Evils must be remedied so that the Ohristian message shall not be neutralized anywhere in the world by these social, industrial and political evils.
Our educational program must also relate foreign missions to the exploitation of natural resources of weaker peoples for private or corporate gain, and to the spread of modern industry. .. The immediate problem is to integrate these great living vital issues with our foreign mission policies and programs.
VII. We must go one point further. Foreign mission agencies have the opportunity to interpret the life of God to the world and especially to those at horne so that He will be to them a Missionary God. Many of our people worship a God who does not lift them beyond their own confines, one not vitally related to race problems and industrial conflicts, and to world-wide international relations. To many He seems to be a God of enlightened self-interest. There is no group in America upon whom the responsibility rests as upon foreign mission students and leaders to interpret the universality of God and the provisions and implications of His Gospel.
It is easily seen that from my point of view the foreign mission task is far from finished. It will not be finished in the coming decade or quarter of a century. It is an enlarging, and ever enlarging program, until the Ohurches of Christ all over the world become united in one common endeavor to establish and maintain justice, peace and good will among all races and nations of men. EDITED BY MRs. E. C. CRONK, 721 MUHLENBERG BLDG., PHILADELPHIA, PA.
Editor of the l1"ternational Review of Missions HOSPITALITY AND MISSIONARY ·talk emphasizing the part played by EDUCATION ships in the spreading of the Gospel.
Reported by CORA LEE WILLIAMS Beginning with the story offroCmhrtisht~ Himself, who "pushed out All missionary meetings need not be exactly alike in order to be "ortho- shore in a boat" and taught the peo- dox." One that was a bit different pie, she went on to speak of Paul's and yet very worth while was held missionary journeys and experiences recently in the Presbyterian Church on ships. Then she introduced in of East McKeesport, Pennsylvania. turn the captains who, in graphic The Women's Missionary Society two-minute talks, gave the story of of that church entertained the socie- the ships represented by their tables.
ties of the other churches of the town. Much of the material for these talks The program was divided into two was taken from a leaflet, "Sailing on parts. First, there was a most help- Famous Missionary Ships,' '3 while ful devotional service built on "The other information was gleaned from House of the I~ord's Prayer," 1 by various other leaflets, from the MIR- Amos R. Well", and a pa!!,eant, "Two SIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD, and Masters. "2 dt'nominational magazines and books.
The second part of the program Among the ships represented were: was conducted in the dining room. The twin boats" The Lois" and "The The guests were invited to take a sail Lindsay," that have done such wonand were given tiny cardboard cu~ derful work in Alaskan waters, under outs of ships as tickets. The fourteen the Board of National Missions of tables, each representing a ship, were the Presbyterian Church. The story decorated in different colors. The of the recent destruction of "The tickets corresponded in color to the Lois" and the furnishing by Mrs.
ships on which various passengers Harding and Mrs. John Grier Hib- were to sail and a captain from the ben, of Princeton, of a new boat to hostess church was in command of be known as "The Warren G. Hardeach ship. The passengers readily ~ng" to take its place, was of thrilling found their captains by the colors mterest.
corresponding to the tickets and "The Southern Cross," furnished were conducted to the dining room. for the use of Bishop Patteson from Each table had for a centerpiece a the proceeds of the sale of a book toy sailboat, loaned by a local store written by his cousin, Charlotte and fitted up with a pennant bear~ Yonge, and "The Day Spring, " i~g the name of a missionary ship. known as the "White Winged Mes-.
LIttle boats, folded by the Juniors, senger of Mercy to the Hebrides"
from kindergarten paper (}f corre- brought out interesting incidents. '
sponding shades, served as candy No one present could fail to catch holders and place cards. the note of heroic consecration After the guests were seated the in the story of " The Allen Gardiner. "
captain of the flagship, acting as 'fhen there was "The Harmony" of toastmaster, gave an introductory which the Moravian poet, James 304
BEST METHODS
Montgomery, writes, and the wonder- our disposal, but there are various ful work it made possible on the Lab- substitutes all the way down to the rador Coast. window of the little village store which might be available occasionally One captain impersonating Cap- for such an exhibit if a committee tain Luke Biekel piloted her hearers representing the churches made rethrough the Inland Sea of J a.pan, quest for it. visiting the" 1000 Isle Parish." Another ma.de very real the story of Chriat-Into-All-Natlona on Fourth "The Duff" and her famous eaptain, Avenue, New York James Wilson. By WILLIAM E. LEIDT, The meeting not only afforded a Assistant Educatil)nal Seeretaxy, Departdelightful opportunity for closer fellowship among the women ilf'the vari- ment of Missions ous churches in a devotional program of real spiritual values, but attrac- Fourth Avenue, New York, is the tively furnished a great dealef vale center of the silk trade of the coun- try. 'J:'he pedestrian passes shop after A MISSIONA!l.Y EXHIBIT ~'OR NEW YORK PEDESTRIANS Antong the constant .streamo'f Fourth Avenue pedestrians there are many who stop to look at the windows which are different "from all the other'S. Frequently observers become sufficiently interested to go -inside in search ot turther information.
uable and inspiring missionary shop displaying lustrous silks of information. many hues and exceeding beauty. Yet, hardly a passer-by stops to study 1 "The House of the Lord's Prayer," by or even admire the beauties of the Amos R. Wells. Price, 400. Published by silk loom. At the corner of Twenty- Westminster Press. second Street the procession of silks is broken, and before this window, 2 "Two Masters." a pageant published by whether it is seven o'clock in the Board of Foreign MI…1005 ()f Presbyterian morning or in the evening there is Church, 156 Fifth Ave., N. Y. C. Price. 10c. always some one loitering, peering in- tently through the pane. After the a "Sailing on Famous Mjssionary Ships," pub· passer-by has examined the exhibit, Usbed by Literature Headquarters, Women's he frequently glances up at the win- Missionary Society of the United Lutheran dow itself and there across the top Church in America. 723 Muhlenberg Building, he reads: Philadelphia. Pa. Price. 5c. ~RE NATIONAL COUNCIL MISSIONARY READINGS FOR OFTRE RUNNERS PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHUROH We quote frequently "he who runs In the three windows-two facing may read," but we are not as alert Fourth Avenue and one, Twentyas we might be in the preparation of second Street-of the Church Mismissionary reading lessons for runners. The Protestant Episcopal Church is using an opportunity in_a way that should be very suggestive to others. Not all of us have plate glass windows of Fourth Avenue stores at 4
sions House, the headquarters of the One exhibit was of our work among Episcopal Church, are maintained the Southern Highlanders-pictures exhibits of the Church's Mission, both and handwork showing the life in the at home and abroad. Here for him, Southern Mountains and something who reads and runs, are displayed of the cottage industries, leaflets depictures, books, charts, objects, curi- scribing the Church's work there, ous and interesting, and maps of the with an illustrated chart listing the places where the Church is at work newest and best books on the High- -China, Japan, Latin-America, Li- landers. beria, Alaska, the Philippine Islands, A teacher in a near-by school saw Hawaii, the Mountains of the South, this exhibit and sent all her pupils IDI~ide the large win- dows of the Church Mis- sions House on Fourtb Avenue, New York. Is a striking and interesting missionary exhibit. Mis- sions in Alaska, the Philippines. Haw a I I • China, Japan, Latin Amer1ca, Liberia are visual1zooby pictures, maps, books, charts and objects illustrative or customs and religions.
The exhibit· is changed before the interest lags nnd missionary pictures and plans make a pleas- ing variation among window after window along Fourth Avenue, displaying only silks. There is also an attrac – toacope which throws on a screen colored slides of the work of the church.
and among the Indians, the Negroes, to study it and to obtain and read a the Foreign-Born, and others. copy of the leaflet displayed, as a part of their work in geography and These exhibits attract more than history: A bookseller saw it and passing notice. When a new display noticed that a book which he had on is put in the window from five to the Southern Mountains was not fifteen persons a day come into the listed. He immediately wrote to the Educational Division of the Depart- Educational Division about the omisment of Missions to ask questions. sion. Business people are constantly After the exhibit has been displayed watching the windows for opportunia few weeks the number decreases to ties to aavance their own interests. about fifteen a week and when at the end of a month a new exhibit replaces Another time the exhibit was of the old, the flood of inquiries begins China. This attracted the attention anew. The inquiries are of a varied, of a woman who had just issued a and sometimes amusing, nature. large and expensive work on Chinese
RES'r ME',l'RODS
Art. She wanted it displayed along A RADIO MEETING with our ChineSe exhibit. Reported by SISTER GFJ)B.GIA BUSHMAN At the time or the Japanese earth- A proper setting for this meeting quake we displayed such pictures and is a room deco.rated with flags of all objects of interest as we were able to nations. If a platform is part of the get from the stricken area: . Among room equipment, a curtain should be these was a series of very vIV1dly col- hung, back of which the announcer ored prints issued in Japan to depict of the program and the announcers the horrors of the disaster. These, from other transmitting stations may particularly drew wide attention and be concealed. In front of the curtain many were the requests ror duplicll;te should be placed on a small stand, a copies. But they could not be satls· loud-speaker horn. This horn has fied as the set exhibited was, at that nothing to do with the speakin~, but time, the only one received in New aids the imagination. For pOlllte~s York, if not in the whole country. in announcing, listen over the radIO some evening. If a curtain is not The south window is devoted en· available screens may be used. tirely to a display of .the work. o~ .the Foreign-Born AmerIcans DIVISIOn.
The exhibit is changed frequently ANNOUNCER: (Behitnd Curtain) and stimulates considerable interest in the work among our foreign-born This is station Y. P. M. S. of the neighbors if' one can judge by the numbers of people who seek out United Lutheran Church, transmitthe offices of the Foreign-Born on the fourth floor of the Church Missions ting from the League Rooms of St. House and who go away with their questions answered and in their Stephen Lutheran Church, Pittshands a little leaflet such as "Neighbors in New York," "Americans burgh, Pa.
All, " " Friendliness, " and " Ice The first number on our program Cakes. " this evening will be a hymn in which The windows attract even wider notice. The Nation, The Lite.rary you are all requested to join. Let us Digest and others have commented upon the window exhibits of the sing: "All Hail the Power of Jesus· Church Missions House. Name." Supplementing the window exhibits is the attractoscope. Here some Our thoughts will be directed in fifty colored slides on the work of the Church are thrown on the screen. prayer by Miss Leona Thompson. . The attractoscope pictures of which there are sixty difl'erent sets are very This is station Y. P. M. S. transmItpopular; during the hours when they are running quite a crowd gathers. ting from the League Rooms of. St. From. watching these pictures, they drift to the window exhibits and so Stephen Lutheran Church, PIttsmany who might otherwise pass by, loiter to learn more about what the burgh, Pa. Weare very pleased Church is doing. to announce at this time, a vocal solo And so the Church from its Fourth Avenue windows by picture, map, by Mr. Chesley L. Otto, entitled, "Be Thou With Me."
This is station Y. P. M. S., Pitts- wbuilrlghb~ Pa. Our fourth number a hymn in which you are all requested to join. This number will be "0 Zion Haste."
This is station Y. P. M. S., Pitts- burgh, Pa. In order that we may provide OUr listeners ~ith a~ ~ttrac tive program on thIS MlsslOnary Night we will transmit messages from 'the following Missionary Sta· tions of the United Lutheran Church: chart and curio tells the story of how Station W. A. F.-Africa.
bi~t lciaevrreieist Christ into all nations. We Station W. I. S.-West In'lies.. to be effective publicity, if Station W. I. A.-Guntur, Indla. Station S. A. A.-South America.
not education. Station W. F. I.-Philadelphia, Pa.
Stand by for one moment, please. count which will appear later. I have the dearest Kindergarten sehool 'which opened (Short pause as if connecting other August 11th with forty·eight pupils. This stations.) is station W. I. S., West Indies, Sister This is station Y. P. M. S., of St. Clara Smyre, Missionary, signing off.
Stephen Lutheran Church, Pitts- You have been listening to one of burgh, transmitting from station our Home Mission Fields – Station W. A. F., Africa. W. 1. S., West Indies. Sister Clara, (To be read behind curtain by an- we hope you are listening in at this other announcer.) time, and that you will have enough This is station W. A. F., Africa- loyal people who will provide funds The general progress of the ·work in our for your needed piano. This is sta- Muhlenberg Mission is a cause for much tion Y. P. M. S., Pittsburgh, Pa. This thanksgiving, but we would mention as rea· station is in receipt at this time of a sons for greatest thankfulness: telegram from Hickory, N. C., re- 1. The inereasing number of qualified missionaries now entering .upon the work on . questing that the Young People's the field. 2. The new station begun near the French Missionary Society of all the Luth- eran Churches in America do everyboundary, far in the interior of Liberia, where the work promises to be more nearly thing possible to reopen the doors of self-supporting than at any other point in the whole of Liberia. Here at Zozo the the Girls' Rescue Home, Kumamoto, Japan, closed for lack of a worker. native people are putting up all mission Signed, Maude O. Pewlas. buildings and keeping them in repair, and furnishing five workmen each week to do This is station Y. P. M. S., of Pittsnecessary work about the premises. As soon as necessary buildings are completed they burgh, Pa. We will next transmit promise fifty girls and ODe hundred boys from station W. 1. A., Guntur, India.
for the mission school. These pupils will (To be read behind the curtain by be fed and clothed by their own people. You will note that this is a very propitious another announcer.) .
beginning of the work. This is our most This is station W. 1. A., transmitting hopeful station. We beseech your prayers from A. E. L. M. Hospital, PhYSicians in for more, many more, well qualified workers that this most needy :field may be oocupied. charge, Dr. Anna S. Kugler, and Dr. Mary This is station W. A. F., Africa, signing off. R. Fleming.
Dear Friends in Ameriea:-It was lny ANNOUNCER: plan to leave here in February for a period of furlough in Ameriea. Were I to come, You have just h ear d station there would not be any doctors here to take my place during my absence. ] do not have W. A. F., Liberia, Africa. We surely the heart to leave our people of India with- hope that many more qualifted work- out a physician and have thus decided to ers will offer themselves for our Afri- remain on the :field. When we are away we can field. This is station Y. P. M. S., like to think of the work going on, so that of St. Stephen Lutheran Church, the womanhood of India may develop. We must train the natives so that they can Pittsburgh, Pa., transmitting from carry on the work in the future. We need the support of the gifts and prayers of station W. 1. S., West Indies. the women of the Churches of Ameriea. We (To be read behind curlain by an.- send loving greetings from our hospital here to all our Christian friends of America, other announcer.) 'l1his is station W. 1. A., Dr. Kugler speak- This is station W. 1. S., West Indies Mis- ing-signing off.
sion. We need different kinds of kinder· This is station Y. P. M. S., of Pittsgarten material, from a lot of needles and scissors up to a piano, more than anything burgh. Weare indeed sorry that Dr.
else just now. We ean always use material Kugler will not be coming to America and an assortment of sewing for those who sew in the Light Brigade and Young Worn· and it will be a great disappointment en's Missionary Society. I am so glad to her friends here in America. But that some of our young women attend the let us as young people of the Mission- Dorcas Society and help to make quilts, and ary Societies of the U. L. C. join in I divide every scrap of cloth that I have earnest, daily prayers, that qualifted to spare. All kinds and sizes of pieces and remnants are very much wel<mmed by all of men and women of our churches will us. Watch the magazine for a fuller a.e- respond to the great call from the
BEST MErI'HODS
Master for workers, doctors and (Another announcer behind curnurses in this great field of India. tain.) This is station Y. P. M. 8., Pittsburgh, Pa. Weare in receipt of a This is station W. F. 1., Philadelphia. If letter from Miss Miller, of Kodai Kanal, India, telling us that the peo- you were to come down to our mission here ple of India are hungering for a knowledge of GOO. They will listen on North Fourth Street, I believe you would as long as you talk to them, but there are so few helpers. Miss Miller see why this is a .ablil]t" of foreign mission pleads that more of the young people work at home. neighborhood has may consider the great need of India 'ind respond to its call. changed so much recently that there is This is station Y. P. M. S. transmit- hardly any section in the city where the ting from St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Pittsburgh, Pa. At this time population is so mixed. We know that there we will be favored with a duet and is only one message that all children need, chorus-" God's Way Is the Best Way," by Leech. Misses Florence the story of the loving Christ Who loves Hunker and Bertha Westphal will sing the verses, with the entire audi- little children of every race and nationality. ence singing the chorus-Number 174 in hymn book. That note we are tJ"Ying to sound clear and sweet to every child every day. Our kinder- Station Y. P. M. S., Pittsburgh, garten is in session from 9: 30 to 12: 00 will continue its program by transmitting from station S. A. A., South every morning in the week except Satur- America, Argentine Mission, Rev. Ralph White, Missionary. day. Beside our regular SUllday·school ses· (To be read behind curtain by an- sion, we have two classes each week for boys other announcer.) and two classes for girls after school hours. This is station S. A. A., South America, Argentine Mission. Our greatest cause for These are happy times for the children. The thankfulness in the Argentine Mission field is the new equipment with which we have girls sew, crochet, and knit, while the boys been able to work this year and the new do wood-cutting, paint and draw. Then fol· elementary school building that is now un· der coustrnction. When recently, upon the low Bible stories, singing and games, and order of the Sehool Inspector, we wel"e obliged to take sixteen children out of two time that would bave been spent on streets of our classrooms because of crowded con· ditions, we found.· our ouly comfort in the with danger to body and soul goes all too fact that in the coming year we would have rapidly. The women who support me a building large enough for many more children, giving promise of doing great through the Missionary Society can help me things in His Name. And yet we must add that all these new buildings mean simply most of all by your prayers. We cordially the beginning of things here. We have no building for our National College. Our reo invite you to stop off with us wben passing ligious and educational work still must be through Philadelphia. This is station W. content with rented houses. Our causes for thankfulness are many indeed, yet our needs F. I. signing off. fpr the future are great. Cordial greetings to all of you. Ralph J. White, MiSsionary, This is station Y. P. M. S., Pitts- Station S. A. A., South America., signing off. burgh. A telegram from the South- Journeying a little nearer home, ern Mountains tells us of the splendid station Y. P. M. S., Pittsburgh, will work being carried on in this new transmit from station W. F. I., Phila- field by Miss Jeffcoat and Miss Smith. delphia. They request the listeners to come down to the mountains some time and see the great possibilities of teaching and carrying the Gospel there, then to stay and help in this great work. Stand by one moment please for an- nouncement.
This is station Y. P. M. S., Pitts- burgh. I am requested to announce that on next Sunday, at 6: 45 P. M., the Rev. Mr. Woods, of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Pittsburgh, will speak to the young people of the Luther League of St. Stephen Luth- eran Church, Pittsburgh, telling of his recent trip to Scotland and his attendance at the World Sunday'
School Convention. Advertise this among your friends and give him a large audience – 6 : 45 next Sunday evening. Also, there will be a Luther League dinner to be held at the Wm. Penn Hotel on January 31st. A splendid speaker has been secured
and a great time is in store for those which do not have frequent opporwho attend. tunities for association.
The concluding number of the pro- At eight o'clock all sections met in gram being broadcasted by station a general session, when a brief dra- Y. P. M. S., of the St. Stephen Luth- matic sketch appropriate to the theme eran Church, Pittsburgh, will be a of discussion was presented and a chorus-" Saviour Again To Thy short address was delivered by some- Dear Name," by Ellerton. Number one who had first-hand knowledge of 2;13 in hymn book. We request that Japan and the missionary interests everyone join in the first and second of that land. verses. After the singing of this chorus, it is the request of this The dramatic sketches, with one exstation, Y. P. M. S., that you stand ception, were chosen from" Dramatic for a moment of silent prayer, after Missionary Sketches on Japan," by which we will request a closing an- Daisy Earle Fish and Eva Maude nouncement. Earle,' the final pageant being that of "The Wav.'" This is station Y. P. M. S., of the United Lutheran Church, transmit- The attendance was gratifyingting from the League Rooms of St. never less than 140-and the interest Stephen Lutheran Church, Pitts- on the part of all the groups seemed burgh, Pa., signing off. Good night. to be very deep throughout. One of the best features of the plan was the AN A VENUE OF MISSION STUDY large number of men in the church who led the sectional conferences, and APPROACH many of the women expressed their unusual pleasure in being instructed The Baptist Church of the Re- by men on the subject of missions, deemer, in Yonkers, carried on a very which has so often been regarded as interesting and successful experiment a specialty of the women.-RoBERT in mission study for a period of six A. ASHWORTH in Missions. weeks. In order to make a new avenue of approach, the studies were """ called " Conferences 0 n Japan. " They' were held on Sunday evening The men's class of the Central from 7: 00 to 8: 45 and were divided Presbyterian Church, Denver, Colo., into four sectional conferences: for has secured permission from the men, for women,. for a group of the Board of Education to place upon the older young people and for the wall of every schoolroom in the city a Young People's Society. In the three large copy of the Ten Commandments. older groups, Dr. Galen Fisher's This will cost about $5,000. book, "Creative Forces in Japan," was used, and for the Young People's .. '* .. Society, Dr. Axling's "Japan on the Upward Trail." The three older Ten ice cream sociables, three groups were led in their discussion spelling contests, two quilting bees, by a different leader each evening and one husking bee, were the price chosen, with one exception, from paid by a country church for the inwithin the constituency of the church. stallation of an electric light plant. The Young People's Society was con- The Northwestern Christian Advocate ducted very largely by the young suggests that they next try ten prayer folks themselves under a single meetings, three weeks of personal callleader. ings, two meetings in the "upper room" Hnd Ii season of downright con- At 7: 45 all the groups met for a secration in order that they may social period of 15 minutes, when secu.re the Light. of the World. light refreshments were served. This was a very important and agreeable l·rDramatic Missionary Sketches on Japan," feature of the plan, as it brought to- Price 25c. Baptist Board, 276 Fifth Ave.. New gether many elements in the church York City.
2 liThe Way." Price 15c. Literature Head- quarters, 723 Muhlenberg Bulldlng, Philadel- phia, Pa.
Woman's Home and Foreign
COUNCIL OF VOMEN FOR HOME MISSIONS AND FEDERATION OFWOM,N 's BOARDS OF FOREIGN MISSIONS Poat l'hoto Service RECIDPTION AT THE WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON THE CAUSE AND deeply their responsibility III this CURl: OF WAR realm of war and peace.
Washington,D. C., January 18-24, They believe it is time for their or- 1925 ganizations to unite in taking steps to study the causes and cures of war. Called by Aims of the C01~ference. American Association of University WOmen. The conference aims to give an un- Council of Women for Home Missions. biased presentatiori of accurate data which will insure more effective pro- Federation of Woman's Boards "f Foreign grams of work. It also hopes to find common points of interest which may Missions 0·£ North America. . ;:eJ:ve as a basis for a more concerted effort on the part of the participating General Federation of Women's Clubs. organizations.
National Board of the Young Women's Christian Associations.
National Council of Jewish Women.
National League of Women Voters.
National Voman's Christian T,emperance Union.
National Women's Trade Union League.
The Call ·Method of the Conference.
Reasons for Calling the Conference. Thirty experts and specialists will The futility of war as a means of address the conference on subjec.ts resettling difficulties between nations lating to the causes of war and probecomes increasingly apparent as sci- posed cures. Addresses will befolence is demonstrll,ting the danger of lowed by open forums for adequate destroyj"ng our civilization by the discussion of the subject matter precharactei' of modern .warfare. sented.
The· women's organizations of this Two committees will endeavor to country which have been working, bring before the conference a program through their respective programs, of work based on the findings of the for an ordered human society, feel discussion sessions. One committee 311
will prepare a plan of united action, Therefore, the committee urges the which if it is accepted by the confer- component members in this Confer- ence, will go to the participating or- ence- ganizations as the recommendation of the conference. I. To undertake unprejudiced and continuous study of the psychological, Findings political, economic and social causes of war, and CAUSES OF WAR II. To stimulate in every practical 'l'he following report 'W(1$ unanimous- manner the development of scientific ly adopted by the Conference: research in this field in oUl.: higher institutions of learning, and the popu- We, the Committee on Findings on lar teaching as to the causes of war the Causes of War beg leave to bring based upon ascertained facts. in the following report: Among the Causes of War as devel- The committee has based this report oped by the speakers are: npon the Causes of War as developed by the different speakers at this Con- I. Psychological: ference and as brought out in discus- sion from the floor. This report makes 1. Fear: G. Feeling (}f national inse· no pretense of being an exhaustive or scientific study of the question, but is curity; h. Fear of invasion; c. an attempt t@ present such facts as are at its command, Up to the pres- }"l1lJ" of loss of property; d. cnt time in history the causes listed have been at least the basis of dissen- Fear of change. .; sions and have led to war, and unless controlled or removed may again lead 2. Suspicion; 3. Greed; 4. ·Lust of to war. power; 5. Hate; 6. Revenge; For the sake of clarity and facility in presenting these causes for further 7. Jealousy; 8. Envy. study, a simple classification has been attempted. Since many of the speak- II. Economic: . ers disagreed as to which are primary and which contributory causes of war, 1. Aggressive Imperialism; a. Terri· and even differed as to what the causes torial; h. E,conomic. are, this classification cannot express the unanimous judgment of the speak- 2. Economic rivalries for: a. Mar· ers or of the Conference. Some of the kets; u. Energy resour!les; c. causes cannot be classified under one Essential raw materials. head alone, but overlap and appear in more than one group. 3. Government protection of private interests abroad withcmt refer· It is evident that many elements of ence to the general welfare. our social and economic life tend to cause war at various junctures and in 4. Disregard of the rights of back· varying proportions and to keep alive ward peoples. our belief in the necessity of war. 5. Population pressure: a.. Inequali. It is apparent, however, that we tiea of access to resources; h. lack not so much the desire to efface Customs barriers; c. Migration war as the scientific knowledge of barriel"B. causes of war. This knowledge is necessary to develop acceptable and ade- 6. Profits in war. quate methods for adjusting the recurring disputes between nations HI. Political: now continued rather than settled by war. 1. Principle of balance of power; 2. Secret treaties; 3. Unjust trea· ties; 4. Vi(}lation of treaties; 5. Disregard of rights of minori· ties; 6. Organizatic}D of the state for war; 7. Ineffective or ob· structive political machinery.
IV. Social and contributory: 1. Exa,ggerated nationalism; 2. C(}m' petitive armaments; 3. Religious and racial antagonisms; 4. Gen· eral apathy, indifference aud ig· norance; 5. War psychology created through various agencies, e. g., a. The press; h. Motion pictures; c. Text·books; d. Home infiuences; 6. Social inequalities; 7. Social sanctiol'ls of war; S. Lack of spiritual ideals.
MRs E. H. SILVER.THORN, Chairman.
1925J WOMAN'S HOME AND FOREIGN BULLETINS
CURES OF WAR foster international understanding and peace. The following report was unanimous- ly adopted by the Conference: 5. Multiplying of such arbitration treaties as contribute to international conciliation, Preamble and the revision of such existing treaties as violate the principles of international The aspiration of the people of our justice. country to serve mankind functions through many channels – political, 6. The initiation of or sharing by the economic, social and educational. United States of America in movements looking toward reduction of armaments, Nevertheless, the basis of peace is while, during the period in which we are an intellectual and spiritual problem. moving toward legal and friendly methods The Conference on the Cause and of settling international difficulties, the Cure of War calls upon the people of Conference believes that we should main· the United States to unite to break tain defense agencies, though avoiding any down national and racial prejudices policy of competitive armaments. and fears, and to build up a spirit of friendship and trust among the peo- 7. The Conference rooognizes the immense ples of the world. service rentlered by the League of Nations to the ideals that, are dom:ina:ftt in the We find that the cure of war re- United States of America. It is the only quires a permanent international or- functioning world organization providing ganization as its instrument. for the realization of those ideals. The Conference, therefore, believes that, whether While realizing that the final cure our Government enters the League or not, it of' war lies with the spiritual healing should, as far as possible, en1lfrge our reof the nations, the Conference also sponsibilities in League plans and cooperate recognizes the necessity for ameliorat- with its activities. Inasmuch as the Protoing agencies and activities of immedi- col of Geneva is the most advanced proposal ate service. ever made for the outlawry of war, the Con- ference believes that the United States Political Forces I'!hould hold itself ready to take sympa- thetic and cooperative action in the further- All causes of war are feeders of the ance of the success of the Protocol.
sense' of national insecurity. The Economic Forces Conference, therefore, finds that it Since the struggles of nations to favors'the following political meas- control natural resources, raw ma- terials, routes of commerce and trade ures which, it believes, tend toward are among the causes of war, economic that international security which we security for all nations must be the seek: principle upon which the remedies for 1. Work for the outlawry of war, with the economic causes of war must be based. The Conference believes that the understanding that this involves two this can be attained only through in- definite steps: ternational cooperation to the follow- (a) The enactment through an adequate ing ends: agency of an international law declaring (1) Access to natural resources which furnish the necessities of human life, the that war is a crime in which an aggressor raw materials of industry and the employ· ment of peoples. nation should be dealt with as a criminal. (2) Development of channels of distribu- (b) The use of international machinery tion and the agencies of communication be- tween nations. through which sueh a law can become opera- (3) Establishment of a. eommercial code tive among all nations. This involves and between nations, which shall define unfair competition and taboo the exploitation of actually 'compels permanent world organiza- weaker peoples for the aggrandizement of the stronger. Only sueh development is tion, which shall be continnonsly operative_ legitimate as is fair to the interests of both sides. 2. United States of. America adherence to (4) Establishment of an industrial code the Permanent Court of International Jus- between nations designed to: tice. (a) Set up minimum standards for conditions of employment, 3. Progressive codification of internation. (b) Prevent the exploitation of the al "law for the guidance of such a c()urt ac- labor of children, and cording to modern. standards of interna,- tionai "ethics and with reference to modern world conditions.' .
4. The restoration in the Department of State of the United States of America 0:1' the. office of Under Secretary of State for Peace, whose special function should be to
(c) Remove industrial injustices be~ power to develop and increase under- tween competing nations. standing between the members of dif- fering national, racial and religious As the means of accomplishing such groups. Such groups as the foreign international cooperation, we urge students in colleges and universities, as well as the foreign-born in our own A. International Conferences on country, should be the especial conworld resources, the distribution of cern of active workers for internationmaterials, and the establishment of al good will. Thc first object of such commercial and industrial codes; and public agencies as the press and mo- tion pictures should be the intelligent B. The utilization of existing interpretation of racial, national and agencies for international cooperation religious groups, both within commuin the economic field, especially the llities and in international affairs. Economic Section of the League of Nations and the International Labor Ways of E d1tca~tian organization. 1. Every child should be equipped Social and Educational Forces to perform his part in a social struc- ture which has a world basis. The If we are to have a world in which home, thc library, the school and the war between na.tions will be outlawed, church should be effective means to we must have a program of education, this end. With this as the first aim adapted to new ways of life in inter- of the education of children, a special national relations. care must be taken in the teaching of such subjects as history, geography Even after practical measures are and language to secure in these subagreed upon for organizing the life of jects such textbooks as are interpretthe world, this machinery will break ers of the life of the world as a whole. down unless men and women are trained to meet changing circum- 2. Communities and organizations stances with poise of spirit and abil- should set up programs of adult eduity to act intelligently. cation which should be based upon ac- curate facts about world situations To this end the Conference on the and lead to adequate education for Canse and ~Cure of War helieves that political citizenship in world affairs. we must (1) create certain attitudes of mind, (2) develop intelligent un- LOCAL AND INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILIderstanding between racial and national groups, and (3) discover ways l'IES of education by which individuals can be trained to take an effective part in Each of the nine organizations rethe new world. sponsible for calling this Conference will naturally develop through its own Attit1tdes of Mind Needed Today constituency a program based upon the reports of the Conference. A. Recognition of the possibility of organizing the world life on the Each organization will choose such basis of cooperative relations. elements of the program as can best be furthered by its own machinery in B. A scientific attitude toward the relation to its other obligations. study of such possible causes of war, as overpopulation, inequalities of ac- However, individual members of cess to essential raw materials, etc. the Conference have so appreciated thc gravity of the subjects presented C. I<'earless acceptance of change and the necessity for some construcin the life of the world if that change tive continuous effort toward peace by is directed toward the welfare of the (:ommunities and local groups as a whole world. basis for necessary governmental ac- tion, that they will welcome practical Under'standing and Fellowship suggestions for immediate action.
If we are to have a unified world life, it is essential that individuals and organizations do all in their
WOMAN'S HOME AND FOREIGN BULLETINS
This brings the program down to each ganizations and individuals which of us as citizens and individuals. have for their interest the promotion of international cooperation. The 1. Public Opinion. functions of such councils could be: Official action for peace must neces- (1) The maintenance of a speaksarily be government action, but such ers' bureau. action should be based on an informed, intelligent public opinion. (2) The dissemination of informa- Such an opinion it should be the duty tion on national and international of those who have met in this Con- questions. ference to stimulate and strengthen when they return to their own com- (3) Regular meetings for the dismunities. The Conference feels that cussion of international relations and it is most important that all consider- practical measures for their improveation of questions of international mrmt, preferably to be discussed by understanding and relationship experts, and with the idea of confershould reflect the same atmosphere of ences planned on similar lines to this political non-partisanship as has been one. so clearly shown in this Conference. (4) Examination of textbooks in NATIONAL Por,ICIES WHICH REQUIRE local schools, especially those dealing with history, geography, and related SUPPORT BY PUBLIC OPINION; subjects.
In accord with the subjects which (5) Contact with local foreign are suggested in the report of the groups for the upbuilding of better cures of war, it may be recommended international understanding. that certain projects should be pushed immediately or during the coming Any personal and community failyear. The subjects for immediate ac- ure in living up to American ideals of tion are: honor, justice and democracy reflect into other countries and impair reali- 1. Entrance of the United States zation of our international ideals. into the World Court. (6) Community observance of In- 2. Participation by the United ternational Peace Days, in which States of America in further Disarm- school children and foreign-born resiament Conferences, and, in particular, dellts could join with the other elethat provided for by the Protocol of ments of the community. Geneva. MRS. JOHN FERGUSON, Chairman. 3. Work for the appointment of an Under Secretary for Peace in the De- BROTHERHOOD partment of State. The crest and crowning of all good, life's 2. The Hmne. final star is brotherhood; The first work must begin in homes For it will bring again to Earth her long· and with very young children. Every lost Poesy and Mirth; child can learn the lesson of international understanding through stories Will send new light on every face, a Kingly of the life, thp heroism, the achieve- Power U pOD the race. ments, and the contributions of all races to the total civilization of the And til! it come, we men are slaves, and world. travel downward to dust of graves.
3. Local Comrn1!nity Councils on In- Come, dear the way. then, clear the way; ternational Belations. blind creeds and kings have had their Local councils could be formed made up of men's and women's or- day.
Break the dead branches from the path; our hope is in the aftermath.
Ollr hope is in beroic "men, star-led to build the world again. .
To this event the ages Tan; make way for Broth€l·hood–make way for man.
-Edwm Markham.
WOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSION BULLETIN EDITED BY ELLA D. MA(1IJAURTN, 25 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK AUTHORS' DINNER, TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIV~JRSARY OF CENTRAL COMMITTEE NOTABLE OCCASIONS IN WASH. of Mrs. Henry W. Peabody of Boston, Chairm.an of the Committee since INGTON, D. C. 1902. The guests at the dinner in the Rose Room of the Hotel Washing- January 27 and 30, 1925 ton were welcomed by Mrs. WaUaee Radcliffe of Washington, in an ad- By ALICE M. KYLE. dress which scintillated with telling personal allusions. The twentieth Interdenominational Conference of Woman's Foreign Mis- The guests included authors of the sion Boards of North America was textbooks published by the Commitmarked by unusual and very inter- tee, representatives of outstanding esting features. enterprises which are in a sense the outgrowth of the work of the Com- Following a joint luncheon with mittee, such as Summer Schools of the Council of Women for Home Mis- Missions, Christian Literature and sions on January 27th, came the An- Everylund, officers of a score or nual meeting of the Federation. The more of Woman's Boards affiliated president, Mrs. E. H. Silverthorn, with the Federation, and distingave a most interesting resume of the guished delegates from overseas to the year's work with its ten departments Foreign Missions Convention. The of activity. The plans, policies, and latter included the Right Reverend programs for the new year were then Michael B. Furse, Bishop of St. Alpresented and were of unusual signifi- bans, Kenneth MacLennan, Secretary cance and replete with the most help- of the United Council for Missionary ful suggestions. The attendance was Education in Great Britain and the largest and most representative in Baron von Boetzalaer von Dubbeldam the history of the Federation. of Holland.
The evening session was devoted to Mrs. Peabody who presided, in prethe celebration of the twenty-fifth senting the authors remarked that anniversary of the Central Committee on the United Study of Foreign Missions. The program was in the hands
1925J WOMAN'S HOME AND FOREIGN BULLETINS
"writing a textbook for the Central decorations, the delightful music and Committee seemed to serve as a life above all the gracious company of insurance, since no author had died Vashington women who served as in the twenty-five years." During hostesses gave the occasion an atmo- this period 3,500,000 copies of the sphere of fellowship and friendliness various books have been issued-a not to be forgotten.
million more than the volumes con- The Federation was both honored tained in the Congressional Library. and delighted by the gracious pres- The latest, so fresh from the press ence of Mrs. Calvin Ooolidge, loved that the printer came from Vermont and honored for her intense interest to bring copies for the guests, is in world missions. At sixteen of the "Prayer and Missions" by Helen tables sat women from the high offi- Barrett Montgomery. cial circles of the Capitol.
The authors present were: Anna It was obviously impossible to hear Robertson Brown Lindsay, Arthur from all the Woman's Boards pres- Judson Brown, Robert E. Speer, Mary ent. Eight of the presidents repre- Schautller Platt, Jean Kenyon Mac- senting great communions of the kenzie, Margaret E. Burton, Daniel United States and Canada, brought Johnson Fleming, Galen Fisher, Dr, greetings. and Mrs. Samuel Zwemer and Mary Ninde Gamewell. Mrs. E. C. CrOlik, As is always true in missionary author of "Brave Adventurers," the gatherings, the vital interes~ c.enter.ed junior textbook for next year, spoke in seeing and hearing the mISSIOnarIes for the authors of the books for boys and the guests from mission fields. and girls. Mrs. Donald MacGillivray These each brought in two minutes of Shanghai, China, brought greetings the greetings from her associates on from Happy Childhood, a magazine the field and her beloved people. Here for Ohinese children. again the impossible was attempted and accomplished and twenty-five of The Federation Luncheon our "Foreign Ambassadors" repre- sentinO' twenty-five countries unrolled Friday noon, January 30th, 970 before'" the eager audience swiftly women representing Woman's Boards moving features of their work. from the Atlantic to the Pacific, of the United States and Canada, gath- h aLd aas ts hoafr ea lil~ with a thrill of having ered in the beautiful Hall of Nations the achievement of this of the Hotel Washington. Mrs. E. H. Silverthorn, President, was in the crowning part of the foreign mission chair, while Mrs. William F. McDowell and Mrs. Harvey Irwin, Vice- enterprise, the company listened .to President and President of the Federation of Church Societies of Wash- Miss Mitsu Motoda of Japan and MISS ington' brought cordial words of Shu Chung Ting, a graduate of Union College and now National Sec- retary for China of' the Young Wom- en's Christian Association.
welcome. THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO YOU The Washington Committee of Ar- You are writing a Gospel, rangements for all the functions un- A: chapter each day, dertaken by the women in connection with the Foreign Missions Convention By deeds that you do, By words that you say.
was under the gallant leadership of Men read what you write, Mrs. William L. Darby. She and her Whether faithless or true. indefatigable corps of aides, had done the impossible in providing seats for Say I what is the Gospel According to you'
so great a company. The beautiful -Selected.
AND SIAM with Hindu thought, not expressed
More Church Union in India the crude idolatry of Kalighat mere- UNION of Presbyterian, Congrega- ly, but more particularly through the tional and Calvinistic Methodist more enlightened Hindus and the Churches throughout India has been Brahmos who are really and truly decompleted, a,ccording to a cablegram siring something better within Hinrecently received. Several years ago duism. This is a challenge, and helps the United Church of South India greatly towards intellectual honesty, was formed bv a, union of Reformed and towards the expression of their and Presbyter'ian Churches, the Con- Christian faith in word and life.- gl'eg'ationalists joining later. The oc- L. M. S. Chro·nicle.
ca,sion for the ca,blegram' was the organization of the United Church of A College for South India North India: All Presbyterian bodies OF the 22,000,000 Telugu-speaking are included except the American people of South India, over 60'0,- United Presbyterians. Membership of 000 are Protestant Christians. Recogthis new United Church of North nizing the great importance of having India will include a Christian com- one well-equipped and thoroughly munity of about a quarter of a mil- first-rate Christian college for this lion persons. The Indian Witness area, and realizing that, owing to the sa,ys tha,t the Presbyterian General financial difficulties of most of the Assembly, meeting at Bombay in De- missions working in the area, a scheme cember, voted in favor of accepting depending upon equal contributions the position of the Congregationalists from a number of missions is not as the basis for union of the two feasible, the Andhra Christian counchurches. cil, one of the provincial councils affiliated with the National Christian A Union School for Girls Council of India, at its last meeting A HIGH school for girls in Cal- passed a resolution urging the United cutta, maintained jointly by three Lutheran Church in America to es- English missionary societies, the Lon- tablish the college and to propose a don, the Baptist, and the Wesleyan plan of cooperation by which other Methodist, is securing some interest- missions and churches may have a ing results. Miss Eleanor A. Rivett share in its administration and main- writes: "Hindu parents testify that tenance. '1'he recent convention of the it is a gain for their daughters to be United Lutheran Church resolved to at school ,vith Christians, to be taught accept the invitation and authorized Christian ideals of conduct. It is no its Board of Foreign Missions to pro- negligible factor in the Hindu girl's ceed with the raising of funds. Both schooldays tbat her teachers are the Anglican Church Missionary 80- Christian, and in the higher classes ciety and the Vv-esleyan Missionary the majority of her elass friends are Society of England have voted to co- Christian, and the standards of the operate in the new college. It'is hoped class-room and playground are Chris- that several American and Canadian tian.'· Miss .Rivett believes that it is societies will also decide to take a an advantage for Christian girls to part in the enterprise.-The Chris- come into contact while still at school tian Centl~ry.
318
NEWS FROM MANY LANDS
More "Holy Men" than Chri.tians telephone service, and the members longest in service have just comple1;ed I T is a striking way of describing their twentieth year, but along WIth religious conditions in India to these advantages of Western civiliza- point out, as has recently been done tion have come its evils, and we must that while only 4,754,000 of the 318,- record that the people embrace these 000 000 inhabitants are reported as more readily than they do Christian- Ch;istians, there are 5,000,000 Hindu ity. " . ,. holy men." These men wander from temple to temple begging their Heart-Hungry Crowd. food, living off the people, many of them grossly immoral and a degrad- THE Allahabad Magh Mela at ing influence. Of course thi~ ~s not Cawnpore, North India, was .true of aU; some sincere, rehgiOusly marked by great crowds coming to minded and devoted men are among the River Ganges to wash and thus them; but taken as a whole these ho~y obtain forgiveness of their sins, ac- men are a physical and moral dram cording to their belief. Rev. Charles on the life of India and they number H. Dyke, stationed at Cawnpore, says more today than all the Christians in that he never saw so many human the land. Poverty and illiteracy are beings in all his life gathered together twin burdens that hold down the in one place. It is depressing and great masses of India and ma.ke. m?re saddening to know that the great difficult the mInistry of ChnstIalllty crowd's only object is to wash in the to them. Unable to read, under- river and offer food and money to nourished, and in constant struggle their idols. Hundreds or more abso- for a mere living, they are hardly able lutely naked sodhus in all their dirt t() give serious and spiritual consider- and unkempt condition lead the spir- ation to the message of the GospeL itual life of many of the people of Bowed down by superstition, driven India. One sadku stood on his head by fear the religion they have known for hours to obtain merit-he was the has not prepared them quickly to ac- object of admiration and respect and cept the Gospel of the love of God in honor, watrhed by the largest group Christ Jesus. of low caste people.-Tke Continent.
Airplanes in Siam For Bengal Moslems A N American Presbyte~ian mis~ion ACONFERENCE of w 0 r k e r s ary at Lampang, Slam, wrItes: among Moslems in Bengal, held "In February, 1924, Royal Army air- at Bogra, adopterl the following find- planes visited Lampang, and spent ings : "The conference urges that .some days maneuvering in mid-air. pastors endeavor to cultivate in their The missionaries at the station were congregations a keen sense of broth- invited to fly and a few days later a erhood and unity in the church, re- stranger came into the city, :vh? stat_ed gardless of the previous racial, social that he had noted that the miSSIOnarIeS or religious distinctions of conve~ts, were not afraid to trust themselves in and also impress on them the necessity the air, so they must have great faith of offering inquirers a hospitable re- in their God. Every member now ception. present in the station first entered the country by river boat, when the time "The conference urges the need of consumed in the journey was sixty to streng reinforcements in view of the one hundred days from Bangkok to following facts: Lampang. The time now required by express train equipped with dining Bengal is one of the three most densely and sleeping cars with electric lights populated Moslem areas in the world. and fans is-less than twenty-two hours_ We also have daily mail and public TmB total number of Moslems in Bengal equals the combined popUlations of Arabia, Persia and Egypt.
The Moslems of Bengal are more acces- sible and responsive man those of the aforementioned countries.
The encouraging results of the past de- iJ?-g opium, Indian hemp, cigars and mand far greater efforts and larger forces CIgarettes, and betel-nut chewing." on this field. CHINA The rapidly changing conditions of the Moh,,;mmedan world and the steadily in- How Mau.y People lD China1 ereasrug de.mand for the lJducation of both sexes constitute both an opportunity and a MOST readers cannot visualize the challenge to the Christian Church."
meaning of the ~gures 400,000,000 Wilson Memorial in Siam peopl~ as repr~sentmg the population FOR more than a year Dr. Francis of Chm~. Chtna's Millions suggests a B. Sayre, formerly a member of new baSIS of computation, as follows : the JIa.rvard faculty, has been acting , 'If you were asked whether there as adVIser on foreign affairs to the were more people in China than indi- Government of Siam. Mrs. Sayre is vhoidwuawloaullpdhyaobuetrelpeltyteTrsPirnobtahbelyBsiobmle~ the Wfo. rCm.erA.JeesxseiceutWivoeoadnrodwdaWugilhstoen~ would say: 'Oh! there must be more Y. ~lehettreers~rien the Bible.' aOsnmthaenycohneatrtahrey~ of the late President. Dr. and Mrs. eighty times Say~e have been so impressed by the m Chma as there are individual letters quah~y of the educational work being in our English Bible. Do we realize ~one.m the Bangkok Christian College it? Eighty souls for whom Christ I~ Slam that they have given 2,500 die~ going out int.o eternal night in heals (abolt $900) for the erection of Chma for every smgle letter in the a~~ed quarters, stipulating that the Book which has brought light and life gIft be known as in memory of Mrs. to us. Think of this as you read your Sayre's father. – Christian Century. daily portion."
BSiamese 'Christians at Work Religion in ChiDese Schools .ANGKOK, SIAM, has quarterly conferences for Christian work- DE~PITE chaotic political condiers. The subject of the recent one was tIOns, the annual National Edu- "Revivals. " Only two foreigners were on the program. so that the Sia- cational Conference of China was mese had almost complete controL held at Kaifeng, capital of Honan The conditions governing revivals Province, late in November. "Delewere uncovered and the churches have gates. were present from eighteen been quickened to new life. Many provmces, among them many of the ga.ve themselves anew, pledging a cer- most prominent educators in the tam amount of their time in the work country. Four resolutions and eleven of the street chapels and gospel bands. recommendations concerning mission- "Yfe are planning also," writes Rev. ary education in China were unani- Paul .A. Eakin, Presbyterian mission- mously adopted. Close government ary in Bangkok, "for 'Rally Days' in re~u~atio~ of all schools operated by the Sunday-schools, Christian En- mISSIOnarIes was demanded, and it dell;vor Societies and Temperance was recommended that all teaching of Urnons. It is interesting how the in- religion in missionary schools be stopfluence of this Temperance Union is ped. " growing. Formerly all the newspapers were hot against it, both foreign and AThe Gospel in Tea House" ~iam~se. But recently one of the lead- S a part of his regular evangelistic mg SIamese newspapers has printed a work, Dr. W. E. Macklin, of the strong editorial urging the Govern- Discip~es' Mission, visits a large tea ment and people of Siam. to follow house In the hear! of Nanking, China, the example of the United States and on Sunday morrnngs, each Sunday a establish prohibition. The Union in- different tea house, and distributes cludes with intoxicating drinks, smok- tracts with Bible pictures and verses, and others on the evils of opium smok-
1925J NEWS FROM MANY LANDS
ing. On each visit he is accompanied The stone was laid by a Chinese Chrisby some of the boys of the language tian elder, the head of a large bank, school to help fold the tracts. A table and carved deeply into the granite, on the aisle near the entrance is se- in the handwriting of a Christian lected, a breakfast is ordered and be- general, are these words: ' ,Jesus tween bites and sips the tracts are Christ Himself being the chief cornerfolded and distributed to the incoming stone." and outgoing patrons. Almost without exception, the tracts are gracious- Helping Ricksha Coolies ly accepted, read and carried home. J:<'requently someone sits down to ask T HE Shanghai Ricksha Mission questions and discuss problems with takes as its field the half a million the missionary. men who pull rickshas in Shanghai every year. Some remain for but a A Band of Chinese Mystics few weeks, others stay permanently. Some are drawn into the service of I N Peking there is a group of Chris- organized vice of various sorts, but tian young men, originally six in most of them are honest laborers for number, now increased to eight, which daily bread. Living is precarious and is trying to be true to the spiritual the Ricksha Mission has distributed genius of the Chinese people. Every during the year 91,450 meals, 12,000 Thursday morning these eight go to Christmas food parcels, 1,880 gara quiet park 'or a temple in the hills, ments and 2,240 sandals and straw and after deciding what problem is hats, and provided sleeping quarters the most pressing in their own lives for 15,750. It is estimated that the or in the life of their country, they 7,200 meetings held have reached separate, each to be alone for an hour, 409,000 persons. Two Bible-women two hours, to meditate, to think it all are at work in the coolies' homes; an over with God. Then they come to- indnstrial department provides poor gether, share their experiences, dis- women with work, making garments cuss the problem, have lunch together, for free distribution; three teachers and go .back to the city with new in- train the children in day schools; and sight and greater courage. Rowland the Gospel is preached to these work- Cross, who writes in the Missionary ers, their wives and their children. Herald of this group, tells something The Shanghai Mission has reached out of the life story of each one, and then to aid similar work in Hankow; and concludes: "vVith one or two excep- other centers of rickshi1 traft:i.c, Petions the members of the group have king, Tientsin, Nanking, etc., are come from the schools of Peking. In rendering praiseworthy assistance to that city they found Christ. They are these public servants – the ricksha now leaders in the Christian enter- pullers. prise in China. Here one catches a glimpse of the romance of evangelistic "Give China Time" work for students." DR. DAVID Z. YUI, National Y. M. New Church in Tsinanfu C. A. Secretary for China, who was at the I¥ashington Foreign Mis- THIRTY years ago missionaries had sions Conference as one of China's to go about in covered sedan chairs representatives, is an intluential man in Tsinanfu to avoid attacks. Now in political as well as religious circles the new independent Chinese Church in his country. He has no doubt about is erecting a modern building, with the final outcome and success of the schoolrooms, clubrooms, and an audi- people's government in the civil war torium for 1,600 people. This church in China, and the passing ineidents is erected with funds from Chinese inevitable in the period of change and sources alone, and is on ground given readjm;tment through which China is by the municipal authorities, tax free! going. The people of China in the 5
past have had very little to do with soon, and a two-weeks' evangelistic the government, leaving it all to the campaign which followed the opening scheming leaders. In the future, Dr. of a chapel building resulted in more Yui says, they are going to have much than seventy-five probationers. Since to do with it, and under true leader- then that number has been increased ship China will develop her power and to more than one hundred.
find her rightful place among the na- tions. JAPAN.KOREA Remedies for Exclusion Act T T Books for Chinese Children HE Federal Council of the HE Christian magazine for the Churches of Christ in America children of China, called Happy heard at its quadrennial meeting in Childhood, and edited by Mrs. Donald December two interesting presenta.- MacGillivary of the Canadian Pres- tions of the disastrous results of the byterian Mission in Shanghai, had a Japanese Exclusion Act, and possible eirculation of 7,000 copies a month in remedies. Rev. A. K. Reischauer, of 1924, and a special Christmas edition 'l'okyo, suggested the appointment of of 12,000. Besides this a series of a High Commission representing both Happy Childhood children's books nations, which should work for the has been begun and already several following three ends: interesting volumes have been issued. 1. The mutual exclusion of laborers, and Last year there were printed 3,000 possibly even the withdrawal by the J apa· copies of "The Flag Picture Book" nese Government of some of her citizens containing Bible stories, animal stories and children's songs. now in Aluerira. 2. Putting Japan on the quota basis after a certain date-possibly requiring a higher standard for immigrants from Japan than New Mission in Harbin for certain European immigrants b-ecause racial difference may make them less as' REV.•JOHN C. HAEK, formerly of the mission of the M. E. similable. 3. Giving all Japanese in America aJJ.d Church, South, at Changchowfu, those admitted on the quota basis the right Kiangsu Province, writes of the open- of naturalization and equal treatment with ing of a new mission for the Chinese others. in Harbin, Manchuria. He was accompanied by two Chinese evangelists. Hon. Cyrus E. Woods, former U. He says: ,. Our first duty was to S. Ambassador to Japan, addressed a letter to the Council, in which he make a study of the city and its peo- urged that Japan be placed on the ple with special relation to the Chi- quota basis and appealed for a pracnese and the work that is being done tical Christian way out of what he for them by the missions already in described as "an international disthe city. In doing this we were given aster of the first magnitude."
much assistance by both foreigners and Chinese. After some days of Memorial Day in the Yoshiwara V study and investigation a conference ARIOUS reports have come to this country of the way in which the was held, and in consultation with representatives from the Danish and Japanese observed September first, Baptist Missions, it was decided that the anniversary of the great earth- we should open our first work in that quake. Mission schools held memorial part of the city known as Priestan. exercises, Tokyo had a solemn moment During the time we spent in making of silence at noon, and there were im- the survey and study of the city we pressive ceremonies in several places.
found a number of Methodists and The Japan Times announced before- others who had become Christians in' hand, in a fashion which reminds us other parts of China but who had not how much Japan needs missionary connected themselves with any church effort still, the closing for the day of .here." Thirty of these joined them the Yoshiwara, the public prostitute
1925J NEWS FRO:W MANY LANDS
section of Tokyo, in which it is stated Tithers in Their Poverty that there are 2,500 licensed girls and 500 geisha. It said: "The committee ONLY about one third of the conof the' houses' has for some time been gregation of a little chapel under discussing plans to observe the memo- the catoe of the 'Nest Gate Church at rial day. It has just come to a de- Pyengyang, Chosen, COUld. get into the cision to set up a ritual platform by building at one time. EIther a new the pond in Yoshiwara park in which church had to be built at once or the 600 caged women and many others present one enlarged. As all the peolost their lives, being surrounded by ple were very poor, the very poorest fire and boiled to death on that fatal in the whole country, it was impossible September 1st last year. On the plat- to raise money among them for either form will be raised an altar on which a new church or to repair the old one, will be the name tablets of the victims yet something had to be done at once and before it Buddhist priests will if the people were not to be scattered chant their holy scriptures. In mem- and lost to the church. In addition ory of the sad occasion, the whole to this. the money sent by friends for quarter will suspend business for the the flood sufferers, which had been day." used to pay a worker's salary, in order to keep him through the winter after Earnest Pye~gyang Christians his home was washed away, was all used up, and he had either to be told REV. S. A. MOFFETT, D.D., who to leave or the money found to pay had been in Korea under the his salary. So the problem was put Presbyterian Board for thirty-five up to the church officers, and they years, ,,'as asked very recently to take were told that if they would give five charge of a church in Pyengyang with dollars a month, the missionaries a regular attendance of from 1,200 to would give the other five, for his 1,500 which had been in special diffi- salary. By an every-member canvass, culties. This was no small addition to they raised their part, those poor peoan already busy schedule, but seventy ple who do not get enough food to live new members were received after the on, but who promised to tithe their new order of things had been in- little incomes for the work of the augurated. A small branch chapel Kingdom. founded by the Day Laborers' Missionary Society has grown from sixty ISLANDS OF THE SEA to three hundred, largely through the evangelistic efforts of college and Fifty Years in New Britain academy students. The big city church has raised $2,500 toward pay- THE Methodist Church of Australing its debt. The people themselves asia is celebrating this year the refused to let the meeting break up, fiftieth anniversary of the beginning and kept praying and giving for of its work on New Britain, one of the hours; the debt of $3,500 was reduced Fiji Islands. In April, 1875, Rev. to $500, a quite manageable sum, On George Brow'll, D.D., who had already Dr. Moffett's birthday, invitations spent fourteen yeat;s in missionary ~work in Samoa, went to Fiji to get were issued in the names of the first men and women to go with him to New Britain as helpers. A great many seven believers in the city, and there Fijians volunteered. The people of was a great and happy gathering in New Britain were cannibals and fierce the seminary and church to listen to fighters, and day by day the mission,- the reminiseences of these men. The aries were often in danger; but the changes that have taken place in the tea.chers were very patient. One of last thirty years seem almost incred- them, a Fijian called Mijieli, had his ible, even to those who have lived food stolen out of his garden just as through them. it ripened, and Dr. Brown suggested
shifting Mijieli to another place, but NORTH AMERICA the teacher quietly said, "They will be better in time, and it is well to be Religion in the New Congress patient with them, for their minds are still dark." By his patience he THE religious affiliations of the conquered them. There are today members of Congress elected in nearly 9,000 members of the Church November last have been investigated in New Britain, and about 40,000 by the Board of Temperance, Proworshipers at the Sunday services. hibition and Public Morals of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The United Church of Manila figures given below show that more than ninety per cent of the members ONE of the strongest demands of of the new Congress are adherents of the Protestant Filipino people, some religious body. according to Rev. Frank Laubach, American Board missionary in Ma- House Senate nila, is for the elimination of denominationallines, which, he says, are Methodist ……………. 90 27 "wholly meaningless to them. A Presbyterian …………. group of very able Filipino men and Episcopal ……………. 63 11 women have taken the initiative in the Baptist ……………… organization of the United Church of Congregational ……….. 57 22 Manila which leaves out all denomina- Christian Disciple …….. tional questions, and is endeavoring Lntheran ……………. 48 5 to bring about a union of all denomi- Quaker………………. nations throughout the Philippine 32 6 Islands. At the same time the Pres- United Brethren ………. byterians, United Brethren and Con- Reformed ……………. 21 1 gregationalists are laying the founda- Mennonite …………… tions for an island-wide church union. Mormon …………….. 17 2 The United Brethren missionaries and Universalist ………….. myself sent to America an appeal for Unitarian ……………. 31 this proposed United Church. They Christian Scientist …….. asked their Board to give a property R·oman Catholic ………. 2 0 worth about 60,000 pesetos, and I re- Hebrew……………… quested from our Board that 10,000 Protestant …………… 3 0 pesetos of the money raised for Union None……………….. Seminary be contributed to the Vacancies ……………. 1 0 lJnited Church, so that we might have Unknown…………….. a fund with which to help erect an 1 2 adequate building. On the strength of these two requests, the United 2 0 Church began, and I am gJad to report that it is in a flourishing condi- 4 2 tion-just at present making a splendid campajgn throughout that section 1 0 of Manila for membership, and preparing to make a large financial cam- 32 4 paign. I feel that this is destined to be one of the most significant steps 8 0 ever taken by Protestant Missions in the Philippines." 7 0 35 10 1 01 7 3 Total ……………. 435 96 America's Giving in 1924 I Na report on ~'lmerican benevo- lences for 1924 the Boston Tran- script says that a total of $2,500,000,- 000 was given to philanthropic causes, not including appropriations by state legislatures or city councils, or gifts to religion. Gifts to education, relief, medical research and care, and similar causes are said to come in by far the largest percentage from persons who are members of churches or syna- gogues. Examinations of lists of givers to special causes is reported usually to show from 70 to 80 per cent names of persons with ecclesiastical connections. Community chests are said to be multiplying rapidly, both in number and in size. During J..924 there was a manifest tendency to broaden the purposes to which such
NEWS FROM MANY LANDS
funds could be devoted. Community iug best in numbers and proportionate houses are going up in great numbers. amounts."-The Chr'istian Century. The Y. M. and Y. W. C. A. put $32,- 000,000 into such buildings last year; Methodist Budget $18,000,000 • the K. of C., $6,500,000. A total of $125,000,000 is included under this T HE World Service Commission of head. "One thing altogether new the Methodist Church ha.<> ap- came into the giving of money in proved a benevolent budget for the America in 1924," says the Tran- current year of $18,641,413, approxi- script. "It was the condition that mately the budget adopted a year ago. beneficiaries of gifts must themselves The church failed by about forty per cent to reach the budget figures of give, or at least render some form of last year. Foreign and home mission personal service. At present the boards have approved askings of $6,- nearly $2,500,000,000 of American 800,000 each, and the Board of Edu- benevolence comes from less than ten cation, which now includes the work per cent of the people, and that per formerly done by four boards, is given a budget of $3,120,000. The benevo- cent by no means confined to the rich. As a rule the middle classes are do- Stewardship Statisties, 1924 THIS statement contains the answers to questions submitted to the officials of the Communions below. The amount received for benevolences is "the amount received from living givers for current official budgets of the permanent Boards and Agencies recognized by the National Body." "Total Gifts for All Purposes" includes not only contributions for local church expenses and from living givers for budget benevolences, but it also includes contributions from all other sources.
Total Gifts Total Gifts Per Capita Gifts fO'1" for l'otal Gifts fOT Budget CO'l',:qr'egational for Denomination All Purposes Berle1JOIences Expenses All PurpOS'BS 1 United Presbyterian $36.92 $2,522,991,00 $3,322,379.00 $6,099,433.00 13,964,416.00 2 Presbyterian U. S. (S.) " 31.82 4,000,023.00 8,099,188.00 3 Moravian, North 22.05 145,134,00 239,936.00 385,070,.00 4,498,665.00 4 Reformed in America 3L55 959,826,00 3,236,632.00 56,958,003.00 32,689,120.00 5 Presbyterian U. 8. A. (N.) 3L88 10,-427,337.00 40,017,454.00 9,012,047.00 9,624,382. (){) 6 Baptist, North ………. 23.88 7,89(),028 .00 23,853,262,00 1,306,920.00 96,514,193.00 7 Presbyterian in Canada " 24,04 2,J 51,449.00 6,628,500.00 37,458,928.00 8 ~lethodist in Canada ….. 23.24 2,196,970.00 7,283,504,00 13,856,842.00 6,268,638.00 9 Christian ……………. 14,08 483,638,00 823,282.00 15,061,481.00 10 Methodist Episcopal t …. 24.78 18,959,694.00 74,306,888.00 1,640,220,00 2,538,598,00 11 Protestant Episcopal 32.38 5,462,268.00 30,561,218.00' 6,315,993.00 25,282,859.00 12 Lutheran Synodical Conf.· 17.36 3,666,193.00 10,190,649.00 15,117,078,00 6,290,580.00 13 Evangelical Church* 29.89 853,975,00 4,593,584. 00 34,533,132.00 16,598,753.0.0 14 Lutheran, Except 1.2, 19' 16.22 3,671,584.00 11,389,897.00 2,496,836.00 1,193,750.00 38,765,079,00 15 Church of Brethren …… 14.39 446,750.00 16 Baptist in Canada ……. 18.40 537,467.00 2,00J,130.00 17 United Brethren ……… 17.08 1,384,649.00 4,931,344,00 18 Congregational '0' ..••••• 29.36 3,177,075.00 18,2&1,691.00 19 United Lutheran' 1R.02 3,093,764.00 12,023,314.00 20 Reformed, United States " 18.38 1,192,202,00 4,326,528.00 21 Baptist, South ………. 9.88 9,487,314.00 25,045,818.00 22 Disciples of Christ …… 11.87 3,701,068.00 12,897,685.00 23 Methodist Protestant …. 13,38 368,566,00 2,128,270.00 24 Methodist Episcopal (S.) " 16.05 3,389,207.00 …………
——- 24 Communions …… $20.68 $90,1'69,172,00 t$307,355,903. 00 $453,277,2,66,00 • Pigures for the United States and Canada. t Not including Methodist Episcopal, South.
Compiled for the United Stewardship Council, HARRY S. MYERS, Secretary, 276 Fifth Avenue, New York City.
lent headquarters of the denomination States suitable religious reading in are being rapidly concentrated in Chi- their own language. It is the intencago, the only exceptions now being tion of the Society to publish and imthe Board of Foreign Missions, with port Italian books, tracts, pamphlets offices in New York, the Board of and hymnals to counteract the athe- Home Missions and Church Extension istie and bolshevistic literature which with offices in Philadelphia, and the is now being distributed so widely Board of Temperance and Public among the Italians of this conntry. Morals, with offices in Vashington. It is interesting to note that Rev. JUl'. 'resta owes his conversion and Borne Missions Defined later dedication to the work of the ministry to a tract published by the AN interdenominational committee American Tract Society and given to studying the responsibility of the him while carrying water for a group Church in America has recently de- of Italian laborers in Plainfield, New fined Home Missions as follows: "The Jersey. purpose of Home Missions in general is to give' the gospel of Christ in all Stearns Missionary Fund its fullness and the service of Christ in all its implications' to those areas T HE D. M. Stearns ~1issionary and those people who would not other- Fund, Inc., is a channel to conwise have. such ministry. Its chief tinue the work begun by the Rev. D. significance as distinguished from lVI. Stearns of Germantown, Pa., and other forms of Christian work in the in his memory, through which funds Homeland is that it deals primarily may be sent, in full without deducwith the 'margins' of our national tion, to the mission or missionary, all life. 'The last man,' geographically, expenses being met by gifts for that socially, economically, is its chief at- purpose. The total amount contribtentive concern. Without Home Mis- uted in 1924 wa;s $70,755.32, and this sions thc Church could maintain it- was sent to fifty-four different counself wherever the resources and the tries. religious interest are sufficient for the independent maintenance of re- Y. M. C. A. Religious Work Data ligious organizations, but only there. Vithout Home Missions, then, re- T HE Year Book of the Young ligious extension would be limited Men's Christian Association in the largely by consideration of economic United States and Canada contains well-being and of prior religious apti- many interesting figures which tell a tude." story of great significance to him who can read between the lines, and in- Tract Society Centenary terpret the figures in terms of life. In 1,446 Associations reporting some T HE American Tract Society 'will religious work, there are 15,299 per- celebrate the 100th anniversary of sons serving on department commitits founding next May. Plans are tees, thus holding a great body of laynow being made to make this an out- men; 89 religious work secretaries standing event. In the past 100 years and assistants; 1,737 employed Bible the Society has distributed tracts in class teachers, and 4,286 volunteer 178 languages, dialects and char- teachers, another body of interested acters, and nearly a million leaflets, laymen trained in service and pervolumes and periodicals. One of the sonal work with men. The income recent developments of its work is the from contributions, etc., was $143,- establishment of a special Italian de- 309; the expenditures for salaries, partment. of which Rev. Stefano L. office, speakers, etc., was $563,213. Testa will be in charge, to supply for There were 9,581 Bible classes, 7,486 the 1,600,000 Italians in the United of them for boys, where the instruc-
NEWS FRO~I MAXY LAXDS
tion is most needed and fruitful since and help their Indian friends and to none is given in the schools. In these interpret to them the things of the classes there were 232,943 different Christian way of life. It would be students, and 149,674 of them were hard to discover a finer piece of inter- boys. This included 136 in the In- racial cooperation. This is only one dian field, where the Association aids aspect of a broad religious program the home mission forces. 'fhe aggre- which is carried out among th" 676 gate attendance was 3,047,700. Protestant Indians at Haskell out of the total enrollment there of 1,000_ Sonth Supports Negro Schools Tuesday evening is given over to a A STATEMEN'1' recently issued by thoroughly graded school of week-day the John F. Slater l"und gives religious instruction in which the figures that indicate an increasing churches of Lawrence cooperate by public support of county training supplying 26 teachers. On Sunday schools, a distinctive type of training afternoon a regular preaching service institution for Negro teachers in the is maintained and on Sunday evening South. In 1914 there were eight of the regular young people's organizathese schools, with 41 teachers and tions have their meetings. The work 184 students in tile high school grades. at Haskell is under the charge of a Public funds for salaries amounted to Religious Work Director employed by $10,696, and funds administered the Joint Indian Committee of the through the Slater Board amounted Home Missions Council and the Counto $8,189. Ten years later, in 1924, cil of Women for Home Missions. there were 204 schools with 1,297 :B'ive other Religious Work Directors teachers and 6,189 pupils in high' reaching seven other schools are emschool grades. Contributions made ployed.
through the Slater Board for teachers' Presbyterians in Canada Union salaries amounted to $69,300, and publie appropriations had increased I N the reports which the REVIEW has from $10,696 to $594,268. During given from time to time of the the past four years North Carolina has moyement among Methodists, Congre- appropriated from public founds $2,- gationalists and Presbyterians to 200,000 for higher institutions of form "the TJnited Church of Canlearniug for its Negro population. ada, " reference has been made to the opposition to the plan shown by some 'rhi" amount has been devoted to four churches in the last-named denominanormal ~ehools and the Agricultural tion. Figures announced January and Technical College for buildings, 14th by the Church Union bureau of improvements and maintenance. A part was used for secondary educa- information at Toronto show that of tion, since all th ese schools still main- the Presbyterian congregations which had voted on the questions more than tain high school departments. 83 per cent had decided to enter the Government Indian Schools union. Of the 743 congregations vot- A T Ilawrence, Kansas, is a Sunday- ing, 617 deelarpd for union, and of ~ school with a registration of 676 the 617, 396 were unanimous in their Ameri.i,an Indians, students in Has- vote. Congregations voting against kell Inltitute, the government Indian the union numbered 126. '1'he largest school. They represent sixty-five dif- number of churches deciding to enter ferent tribes scattered over the entire the eontinuing Presbyterian Church country. Of the thirty-five classes rather than go with the denomination twenty-five are taught by students of into the union, were from the province Kansas University which is also lo- of Ontario, where 195 voted for union cated at IJawrence. Each Sunday and 90 against it. In Saskatchewan, morning these young people from the on the other hand, 276 were for union university come over to work with and only 9 against. The total COill-
municant membership of city churches the Assistant Secretary of the Y. W. declaring for the union was an- C. A. is a graduate of both the Uni- nounced to be 44,877; that of the city versity of Chile and of the University churches against union, 19,827. It of Pennsylvania. The recent reports has been stated from another source of both of these leaders were to the that 90 per cent of the Presbyterian effect that their comrades were ministers have gone into the United hungry for spiritual truth. They are Church. In several 'roronto congre- ready to listen to the Bible, especially gations whoRe vote was in favor of to the teachings of ,resus which, in the the United Church, anangements final test, they prefer to the rapid have been made, by members who are mysticism of theosophy which has opposed to the union, either to hold such a vogue among their class. separate Sunday services of their own at once or to prepare to do so after Telegraph Line and the Gospel June 10th, when the church union is to become effective. ONE of the workers in Brazil of the Inland South American Mis- LATIN AMERICA sionary Union reports interesting co- operation on the part of government Good Qualities of Indians officials. "A telegraph line cuts across the country, and under the line, the WHILE admitting that among the Brazilian Government keeps an open Indians of South America there road. The line was constructed for are still sonie cannibal tribes, a rep- military purposes, at great expense. resentative of the Evangelical Union It is entirely unremunerative and its of South America writes of the upkeep is very costly, but it provides neglected Red Man in "the neglected an open road for the Gospel into the continent": "In the lowlands of the very heart of the continent. .!Tany of southern republics he still lives along the high officials are Positivists, antithe rivers and in the forests, with his clerical and anxious for the preservabow and arrow, his club and lance, tion and uplift of the Indians. To his paddle and his canoe. He believes the utmost of their power they have in the Great Spirit of whom he lives protected the tribes of the region from in constant dread and fear. He is abuse. The employees of the line are pagan, uncivilized and outlawed, yet strictly forbidden to visit the Indian noble in character and of an affec- villages and any suspicion of immoral tionate nature. He will never forget dealings with the Indians brings ina wrong, but ever remembers a kind- stant dismissal. The officials of the ness; he will not forgive an enemy, line work hand in hand with the Brabut will die for a friend. As a rule zilian Society for the Protection of he care~ for and respects a faithful the Indians, and they share its symwife, and as a parent the Indian is pathetic attitude toward us. We were passionately fond of his children. A invited to hold services at several of kindness to his child will win his the telegraph stations, and found a heart and gain his friendship." wonderful openness to the GospeL"
Christian Chilean Students THE Young Men's and Young EUROPE Women '8 Christian Associations of Santiago, Chile, are actively at C, M. S. Deficit Feared • work, seeking to uphold New Testament ideals and promote Bible study THE financial outlook of the Church among groups which the missionaries Missionary Society was referred probably would never reach through to in the November REVIEW. A later ordinary channels. The chairman of report states the the General Commitreligious work in the Y. M. C. A. is tee of the Church Missionary Society, a senior in the Teachers' College, and at their meeting in December last, pledged themselves corporately and individually to regular prayer for the
NEWS FROM MANY LANDS
deepening of spiritual life and for an Spain out of 21,000,000; and 1,000,- income adequate to the needs of the 000 in France out of its 40,000,000 Society lor the year ending March population. The Sunday-school en- 31st. They also called upon all C. M. rollment is usually about half of the Association Committees and individ- total Protestant constituency, so that ual supporters of the Society to join the enrollment in Sunday-schools and them in thus waiting upon God for in parochial or other church schools His solution of the present problem. might be given as 3,500 in Portugal, The sum needed to cover the year's 6,000 in Spain and 200,000 in France.
work to March 31st was £520,000. Of In Portugal there seems to exist, more this sum, £168,000 had been received than in the other countries, a sense up to the end of 1924. and a bond of unity between the workers of different sections and of Protestants in S. E. Europe different church affiliations. In these PRINCIPAL D. S. CAIRNS, D.D., countries, as in all Europe, the Sun- of Aberdeen, wrote after a visit to day-school is largely a children's Hungary and Czecho·Slovakia: "No school; still in Portugal the leaders man can tell what is brewing in the are particularly alive to the fact that witches' cauldron of southeastern most schools lose nearly all their Europe. Left to themselves, I do not pupils at the beginning of adolescence SUPpOSE' these war-worn populatious and so fail for the most part to make would fight again for a' generation. permanent contribution to the de- But with the sinister power of Soviet velopment of Christian character.
Russia in the background, one can- not tell what may happen… The Jews Baptized in Poland C true hope for the future lies with theONDITIONS in Poland today are unprecedented. As a result of little Reformed churches of these troubled lands. There seems to me no the Great War, Poland has regained outlook if either of these extremes of her freedom and has been given large atheistic revolution or Roman reaction accessions of territory in which dwell is to prevail. Each feeds the other, several millions of Jews, and in that and in these two extremes there is no part of the country in which the Lon- outlook for Eastern Europe. But it don Jews' Society has worked for over is otherwise with the Reformed one hundred years with remarkable Churches. '1'he Reformed faith has success, tl18 .Jews today are beginning always shown a remarkable power of to show an extraordinary hunger for producing statesmen, and it wields an things spiritual. The following in- infiuenc'e in this direction still in these stances are said to be typical: "At lands entirely out of proportion to its Sieradz it was possible, by permission numbers." of the Chief of Police, to hold a large European Sunday-Schools open-air meeting', which was attended by hundreds of Jews. At Zduns- P0.R'l'1JGAL and France both en- kaw()la the use was obtained of a joy religious liberty, so that evan- church holding 1,200 people. This gelical work in these countries can was completely filled with an audience develop without governmental inter- of Jews and .Jewesses, who listened ference. In Spain the work is "toler- attentively to expositions of the Mes- ated" but suffers from the pronouneed sianic prophecies given by the mis- Roman Catholic attitude of the peo- sionaries. At 'Warsaw, Rev. H. C.
ple, as well as from certain imposed Carpenter, the head of the mission, restrictions. The evangelical forces and himself a Hebrew Christian, is in all these countries are only a small holding practically a continuous bap- proportion of the population, perhaps tismal class, and recently the Bishop 6,000 adherents in Portugal out of a of North and Central Europe con- popnlation of 4,000,000; 10,000 in firmed twenty-four Hebrew Chri8-
tians of different ranks, one of whom ing capacity is so limited. In the was a rabbi, who had definitely de- primary room there are more than cided for Christ and been baptized." eighty little tots sandwiched in. We are compelled to say to other appli- Miracle Working in Italy ?ants, ' You ,cannot come in. There IS not room. A VOICE .PROM ITALY gives the following acconnt of an evidence "We should not be surprised that of fanatical superstition in modern these hundreds of boys and girls are Italy: "A notice was affixed to the crowding into our Sabbath-school and walls of the principal churches in into our village evangelistic services Rome, calling on the faithful to gather for many Kortcha parents have in in force on the afternoon of Sunday, their earlier veal'S attended our Sun- June Sth, in order to take part in a day-school. tntil these formal Greeksolemn procession which would move Orthodox Christians fully awaken to from the Basilica or S. John Lateran the spiritual needs of their youth and to the Church of the Gesu (the J es- until their Church provides religious uits' church) in Corso Vittorio instruction for them, our opportunity Emanuele. The object of the proces- is tremendous. We might say, as in sion was 'the translation of the Cllrist's time, that the people 'have wonder-working arm of S. Francis nothing to eat' and we do not wish to Xavier' from the one place to the send them away hungry. other. This said arm had been journeying to Malta, where it went " Our own -equipment is very meagre to combat the nefarious work of one and the laborers are very few. But or two earnest men, who try to cir- we pray that, under our Lord's blessculate the Scriptures and read the ing, our limited copies of the New same with those who visit them Testament and few Gospel hymnprivately. Letters received from booles may be used by Him to reach Malta testify to the frenzy of fanati- this multituoe. As no mission board cism roused by the said arm, which is now working in Albania, those who passed through streets crowded with are prompted to help this work may 'worshippm's,' where flowers rained send subscriptions to 'The Albanian from windows hung with costly Mission J<lund, , care of Guaranty tlraperies. " Trust Co. of New York, 140 Broad- way, New York City, New York"
Work in Albania A LBANIA was declared a republic Russian Student Conference on .January 2t1st, but as yet no Evangelical mission board has estab- T HE second all-European Conferlished work in this important and ence of the Ru~sian Student Chrisneedy neld. A lone Protestant mis- tian Mo'ement in Vestern Europe sionary conple, Rev. and Mrs. Phineas was held at Prerov, Czecho-Slovakia, B. Kennedy, vvho went out from September 8-14. Fifty-six persons America about twenty years ago, are took part this year, including eleven carrying on an independent work in " foreigners" — Bulgarians, Ameri- Kortcha, supported by voluntary con- cans and Swiss. A writer in The Intributions. ];fl'. Kennedy writes: tcrcollegian sars: "We were con- scious that we were participants in a "Albania's last census gives a total genuine spiritual movement, that population of SfJO,OOO, of whom 169,- there were serious problems before us 000 are Greek-Orthodox Christian and to be solved, that we must face each 118,000 Roman Catholic Christian. frankly and squarely, and work out The remaining 382,000 are Moham- solutions 1I0t merely acceptable to the medan. majority of the circles but which would appear to us in the line of "Our Sabbath·school is crowded God's purpose for the entire movewith two hundred or more pupils, ment." most of whom stand because the seat-
1925J NEVI'S FR01f 11:ANY LANDS
AFRICA Prime Minister's palace, specially An A£riean Educator adapted and furnished for Associa- DR. J. K. AGGREY, of the Phelps- tion use, houses Central "Y." It Stokes Commission, visited Mu- stands in a garden containing two kono. where the divinity college acres of ground, centrally located, of thl) Church :lIissionary Society· and was the gift of American Y. 11. for the Uganda Protectorate is C. A. 'so Standing committees of located. The principal, Canon E. members carryon the monthly activi- S. Daniell, writes of this visit as fol- ties, with nine trained secretaries relows: "Dr. Aggrey is an ~tfrican lilted to these committees as technical gentleman, truly consecrated to the advisers and executives. The outservice of God and of his own people. ~tanding feature of this first year has He is not ashamed of his people, but been the amount of voluntary service he is burning with desire to lift them given by members.
to where they should be. I shall never forget with what indigna.tion Medicine Man a Convert he recounted the question put to him REV. GEORGE SCHWAB, misby a 'Vest African official: 'But, Dr. sionary at the Sakbayeme station Aggrey, Mohammedanism is really in West Africa, reports great satisthe best religion for your people, is faction in a catechumen now being it not'?' With a flash in his eye, but trained at that station for church in all good temper, he replied: 'What! membership-an elderly man who has Is the African such an inferior being long been the most feared medicine that the best is not for him? Are we man and diviner in the whole neighso created that we cannot rise to the borhood. About two years ago the highest? 'What does Mohammedanism local chief of the neighborhood died, offer us that we had not before? It and it was the common belief of the offers us four wives. Had we not people that this diviner had killed four wives in our heathen state? him by following him stealthily Where does Mohammedanism raise through the forest and thrusting his spear into the chief '8 shadow when us?' "
the chief was not watching. Of Cairo Y. M. C. A. course, such a man, while perhaps in CAIRO is the latest capital city to no sense responsible for the chief's open a national Young Men's death, was regarded with great terror Christian Association. The first by the natives. And Mr. Schwab did members of Central Branch joined not know that the man had deserted January 5, 1923. In twelve months his il.lcantations until, very much as- more than 700 men had become mem- tonished, he recognized him in a class bers. '['he Erst year of such an or- of inquirers about to be passed to the ganization is largely one of plans and second stage of catechism. He then hopes. Nevertheless, there are accom- learned that one of the natiye work- plishments which call for gratitude ers, who is now in the school for pas- to God and justify larger hopes for tors at McI,ean Memorial station, the future. In its mpmbership are Lolodol'f, had had the courage to ap- men of every community – Moslems, proach this seemingly hopeless devo- Jews: and Christians, but its Egyptian tee of the native religion and had character is insured by requiring succeeded in winning him to Christ.
eighty per cent of the members to be The diviner is now said to be showing Moslems. To eliminate causes for as deep earnestness in perfecting disunion, no controversy is allowed himself in understanding of the on religious or political questions; Christian faith as he ever showed in mutual respect is expected for differ- the practice of his heathen rites.- ences of faith and party. A former The Continent.
New College for Gold Coast tuguese East Africa by slow methods of infiltration. Indian traders, large- THE college which is being started ly Moslem, have opened small stores at Achimota, near Accra, on the all along the coast region. These Gold Coast, and which is being fi- Indian traders, inured to the subnanced by the Government, is a prac- tropical climate, quickly establish tical demonstration of the interest in themselves where no Europeans find African education expressed by the it possible to live. Frequently com- British Colonial Government. The ing as young unmarried men, they staff is chiefly composed of men who marry one or more natives, and, tohave been or would have become mis- gether with the children which come sionaries. Rev. A. G. Fraser, former- rapidly, quite a Moslem community ly of Trinity College, Kandy, Ceylon, results. Mosques are to be found in is the Principal, and his colleague is the leading towns of southeast Africa, Dr.•J. E. K. Aggrey, the distinguished and the Indian population forms a African referred to in the January very important element….. Very lit- REVIEW. He is well known for his tle Christian missionary work is being work on both of the African Educa- conducted among the Moslems of the tion Commissions as well as for his east coast of Africa." reputation for cooperation and his power of interpreting the ideas of Slavery in Portuguese Africa one race to the other. He was for twenty years in America and taught REPORTS of slavery in certain at Livingstone College, Salisbury, parts of Africa have been re- North Carolina, and he has taken his ferred to from time to time in the Ph.D. from Columbia University. He REVIEW, In East Africa, under Poris well ~mown in America, Europe, tuguese rule, slave holding has been and Afl'lca, and has the peculiar gift made technically illegal, but through of gaining the confidence of Govern- cunning devices of many kinds forced ment, natives, and missions by his labor under most oppressive condiunquenchable goodwill. "Achimota," tions is still maintained. In the provsays the paper published by· Hamp- ince of Mozambique the following ton Institute, "is an experiment labor regulations among others have which is just beginning, and all sec- been adopted: tions and individuals interested in Negro education, not only in West Natives who do not perform their labor Africa, but over the whole continent yoluntarily may be inyited to work for the ?f Africa and in America are expect- compl.my or iuclividuals, and in the ease of mg great things from it." refusal or resi;tance may be condemned to correctional labor under the surveillance of Islam in East Africa the police, during which they will be lodged and fed and will receive a wage in kind REV. ERNEST W. RIGGS writes corresponding to one third of that paid to of "the interesting side-lights" otlwr laborers. Employ81's may requisition 011 the advance of Mohammedanism the labors of natives condemned to correcwhich he secured during a recent visit honal labor under police surveillance from to the east coast of Africa: tbe company In the same manner.
"In Zanzibar I learned from Arch- In Angola in 'Vest Africa every deacon Hallett that the spread of able-bodied native is required to give Mohammedanism is still continuing. not less than !)O days every year to I happened to be there upon a Mo- some form of indu~trial establishment, hammedan feast day and certainly and if the native does not volunteer the evidences of devotion to the faith for this service he is pro facto conwere abundant throughout the to~ demned to ] 80 days' labor. "These," and the native village. Mohammed- comments The Presbyterian Survey, anism is permeating Natal and Por- "are rather high prices for these helpless people to pay for the bless- ings of Portuguese rule."
NEWS FRO]{ MANY LANDS
THE NEAR EAST familiar with our Scriptures, con- stantly in view. It is a 'Life of Expulsion of the Patriarch Christ' and the first of its kind in Arabic, written quite fully, and is a THE controversy over the status of book of 700 pages. This has only just the Ecumenical Patriarch, who been published, and I ask the prayers had been warned before his election of the friends of missions that it may that he belonged to the category of accomplish the object for which it was exchangeable Greeks, but who claimed written." exemption on the ground that at Lausanne the Turks had agreed to with- Modern Moslem Persecution draw their claim for the removal of the Patriarchate, was abruptly cut THE RT. REV. J. H. LINTON, short by the expulsion of Mgr. Con- who has the episcopal oversight of stantine VI. from Constantinople. On the work of the Church Missionary instructions received at midnight by Society in Persia, tells of a Persian telegram from Angora, the Constan- Christian who said: "I would be willtinople police notified the Patriarch ing to be put to death for my faith. in the early morning that he had to Indeed, I would rejoice to be counted leave the city, and there and then worthy of martyrdom. That would conveyed him to the Passport Office never make me hold back. But that in Stamboul. Two hours later Mgr. is not the way of Islam today. And Constantine A,raboglou left by train what I do find hard is the loss of old for Salonika. friends and relatives who now cut me in the street. And what I should fear Books for Mosle:ms more than death would be to be ex- pelled from my home and my town, to AVETERAN missionary to Syria, see my wife and children driven to Rev. George A. Ford, D.D., writes destitution, and myself an outcast in the Presbyterian Magazine of the from society." fruitful work of his later years: "It has lately been my privilege to pub- Persian Evangelists lish an irenic tract for Moslems entitled, 'The Light of the World, ' which AWELCOME feature of the work has been well received by many Mos- of the Church Missionary Society lem readers. I have also published a in Persia is the great increase in the work called, 'The Combined Gospels.' zeal of the converts to evangelize their With this class of readers especially own people. Voluntary evangelistic in mind, one can understand the bands are formed, and Bishop Linton measure of confusion such readers feel says that it is a great privilege to go in the" effort to get a clear picture of out preaching with one or other of the Gospel story, by reading the four these bands, and that it is a joy to be independent Gospels. This new book present at the report meeting when takes the exact language of Scripture, they all gather to tell what God has weaving the quadruple story into one, wrought. 'rhere is now hardly a vilwith due attention to the historical lage within a considerable radius of sequence and avoiding all repetition the mission stations where some are without omitting any phrase or term not found who have been to the C. M. of meaning or significant word, even, S. hospital at Isfahan, or in some that is furnished by anyone of the other way have heard the Gospel. Evangelists. Over 20,000 copies of the Scriptures, gospels, etc., were sold in Persia last "My latest work is also much the year. largest and it has been prepared with the needs of Moslem readers, un-
MISSIONARY
Samuel Reynolds House, of Siam, Pioneer was often in danger afnroemlepphlaangtueos~ Me die a I Missionary, 1847·1876. By and epidemics. Once George Haws Feltus. Dlus. 256 pp. which he was riding, in sudden anger $2.00. New York. 1924. drove his tusks into the Doctor's ab: "The man with the gentle heart," domen, so that he was obliged in the as he was regarded in Siam, was one of the pioneers of modern medicine wilderness to sew up the gaping in the little known "Kingdom of the Free." When Dr. Harris arrived wound and was carried in great sufthere in 1847, his predecessor was in America and the young doctor began fering to the Laos station to which he his career which called for a "specialist in a score of diseases and was journeying to care for one of operations. " " A Sudden Plunge Into Work," the first chapter, still the missionary ladies. Dr. House was leaves space for an account of the doctor's early years, when his father eminently an educator and he helped conducted a Sunday.school for col· ored children first in a carpenter shop to start a missionary school for and later transferred to the gallery of the church. The father also built Siamese young women which now at his own expense a "session house" for Sunday·school and prayer meet- bears the name of his wife. When ings, while the mother was not only a prominent member of the "Female the reviewer, a few years ago, visited Cent Society" giving each a cent a week to "poor and pious young men it, this school had among its students pursuing their studies in the theological seminary at Princeton," but who daughters of some forty governors. also dedicated young Samuel to foreign missions from his infancy. The 'l'he part in the work taken by Mrs. medical education of Samuel House was preceded by courses at Dart- House is so important that it is given large space in the biography, as is the life of Siam's greatest native leader thus far, the Rev. Boon Itt, who was brought to America and after full education returned to Siam to pioneer native Christian leadership. The careers of these three important per- sons are sketched in a way that re- veals the value of the adjuvant forces of the Gospel in a land which has always been more open to indirect Christian influences than to the Gos- H. ~. B. pel of Jesus Christ.
mouth and Union Colleges, and a valuable technical course at Rens- Chamberlain's 1apanese Grammar. Revised se1aer Polytechnic Institute at Troy. by Major J. G. McIlroy. pp. VIII, 144.
As a John the Baptist of Western Price, $2.00; postpaid, $2.10. Chicago.
science and medicine in Siam Dr. August, 1924.
House could present facts in a wholly As a rule, learning to read a for- comprehensible way, with experi. eign language is less difficult than ments that amazed the people. He learning to speak it. This is, however, won the affectionate reg a r d of not the case with Japanese. Though three Kings of Siam, and interested most foreigners residing in Japan in science the higher Buddhist priest- sooner or later pick up enough of the hood, one of whom later became King. language to make themselves under- Thus he had an entree into the hiooh- stood in ordinary conversation, very est circles, where he was ever true'"to few ever learn to read Japanese. This his Christian principles, and main- is due in a large measure to the fact tained a spotless character. His life that there is quite a difference be- 334 tween the spoken and written dialects. to gathering in systematic outline the The difference is partially in the vo- teaching of many books concerning cabulary but chiefly in the verb and the nature and the acquisition of true adjective inflections. And to add to wisdom. The entire work is outlined the difficulty, there aTe several dis- as follows; ~inct style~ in the written language Book I. The God of All: The God Who Itself. It IS true that there is now a is in All. strong tendency to make the spoken Book II. The Discovery and the Conand written language more and more al~ke ; and possibly some day they quest of the Divine in Oneself. Book III. The Union of All in the One in All.
~11I be as nearly identical as they are The author has expended a large III modern English. It is still neces- amount of labor in bringing together the thought of the most diverse types sary, however, as Major McIlroy of thinkers in an effort to show that points out in his introductory chap- after aU it is oue thought. The result ter, to master four rather distinct is interesting and informing as a book styles of the written language if one of reference. but it is not convincing would feel at home with the printed as the author is ready to grant that page. These are the semi-classical India and its faiths are destined to sty~e, the semi-colloquial style, the lead humanity. Chmese style, and the epistolary style. Those of us who believe the Chris- tian Scriptures to set forth God's For many years Western students unique revelation to man may be led have used Chamberlain's Simplified by t.hi~ compilat~on to a higher ap- Japanese Grammar but this book has preCIatIOn of the Illcomparable superinow been out of print for some time. ority of the Divine revelation which has come to us in Christ. Major lfcIlroy, who is an expert in the language and as such is attached This book of "Wisdom" is an ilto the Military Intelligence Division lustration of the difficulties which en- compass the man or woman who is of the General Staff of the United trying" to think iudepend€ntly. We States Army, has, therefore, rendered look in vain for the light from the ~ real ~er'ice in revising and amplify- vague statements as to sin, God and mg thIS grammar and making it once soul which :flll the pages of such writmore available. Even those who pos- ers as Firdausi, Hitopadesha, Vivesess the older book will find that this kananda and Hamakrishna. revised edition contains very valuable additions and improvements. Per- J. c. R. E. ~aps the most important of these is III connection with his treatment of t~e verb which is notoriously the most Habeeb, a Boy of Palestine. Mary Entdifficult part of the language. His wlstle. 12mo. 92 pp. 28. London. 1924. general rule by which it becomes an easy matter to separate the written Here is a well illustrated, readable verb into its stem and its inflelltions story of the IJand of the Book and the will be of real value. On the basis of people of modern Palestine. It will this rule the author gives a list of help boys and girls to understand the verb an~ adjective inflections filling Bible better and to visualize the about thirty pages. This list makes earthly life of Jesus.
the volume practically a grammatical Wilfred Grenfell, The Master Mariner Basil Mathews. 12 mo. 178 pp. Map dilltionary which ought to prove of great service to the student of the and Illustrations. $1.50. New York. 1924.
language. A. K. R. Few modern missionaries have en- The Eternal Wisdom. Paul Richard. 134 joyed a life as full of adventure and pp. Madras. 1922. practical service as Doctor Grenfell This remarkable little book is the of Newfoundland and the Labrador.
first of several volumes to be devoted The life story of this master mission-
ary navigator is told for young people little book. Dr. Park::; is a gifted by a master narrator. Boys especially writer who knows how to use English will enjoy it, and will be stimulated with graceful effects. He is an out and to heroic service by the example of the out modernist and his five chapters missionary physician, mariner, magis- on The Origin and Spirit of Mod- trate and trader. ernism, The Supernatural and Mirac- ulous, Two Supreme Miracles, (i. e., Informing Your l'ublic. Irving Squire and the Resurrection and the Virgin Kirtland A. Wilson. 12 mo. $1.50. 1924. Birth) Intellectual Integrity, and The Educating the public is a difficult Purpo~e of the Modernist, are the retask but it is essential if their interest, sympathy and cooperation are to be sult of requests for a short book to enlisted. This book tells how right explain the present controversy from publicity methods lay the foundations a Modernist standpoint. for training cheerful givers to welfare and religioU's enterprises. The essen- According to Dr. Parks' definition Modernism is a "state of mind, " with a reverent attempt to bring out of the tial point is to present important, con- churches' treasury things new and vincing facts that awaken a desire to old. The book is too brief to be really help. satisfactory, for the author leaves the Souls, Sounds and Scenes of an Egyptian reader wondering sometimes why he Village. Arthur Y. Steele. Illus. 12000. draws his conclusions from the 18, 2d. L·oudon. 1924. meagre evidence which he produces. For example, he reasons against the The Oriental is given to parables, and a missionary in the Near East bodily resurrection of our Lord, behere uses scenes in the lives of the cause the references to the body of Egyptian potter, fisherman, carpenter Jesus are few, and are confined to and merchant to illustrate spiritual statements about his hands, feet and truth. They are interesting word pic- side. Also in dealing with the probtures and carry practical lessons. lem of the Virgin Birth, the author decides against it on the ground that Never Man So Spake. Howard B. Grose. it is unlikely, since neither Peter, nor Paul, mentions it specifically. This 267 pp. $1.75. New York. 1924.
Reality is demanded by our age argument from silence is at best of and Dr. Grose attempts to meet this demand. He seeks to picture .Jesus doubtful validity. as a reality-a living teacher, and asks the readers to go to school again, The chapter on Intellectual Integto learn from His own lips the lessons of spiritual birth and growth. rity is a clever but unsatisfactory plea The ground covered is much the for covering the unwillingness of the same as that treated in Glover's "Jesus in the Experience of Men," modernist to state his beliefs with or by Dickey in "The Constructive Revolution of Jesus." definiteness on the ground that great The contents are divided into two ideas like Truth, Goodness, God, canstudies of The Teacher and His School not be defined. He claims that neither the modernist nor the· traditionalist is to be trusted, because they do not mean what they say! The book will leave many wondering what they are to believe. J. F. R.
and The Teaching of Jesus Concern- The China Mission Year Book. Twelfth . ing God, Himself, The Holy Spirit, Issue. Edited by Frank Rawlinson.
Character, Sin, Salvation, Prayer, 12mo. 548 pp. Shanghai and New York. and The Life Hereafter. J. F. R. 1924.
This year book is rich in liP-to-date What Is Modernism! Leighton Parks. information. After a review of China 154 pages. $1.00. New York. 1924. Today, a section by various authors Some will rejoi<le, while others will is devoted to Christianity and the Re- lament, over the publication of this ligions of China; others deal with
The Missionary Review of the World — December 1924
XLVII NUMBER
THE MISSIONARY EW, – DECEMBER, 1924 – SHALL THE CHURCH OF CHRIST ADVANCE?
ARTHUR J. BROWN GENERAL FENG AND HIS ARMY GEORGE T. B. DAVIS RESULTS OF CONFUCIANISM IN CHINA R. C. FORSYTH SEEN IN ABYSSINIA c. S. CLELAND RURAL CHURCHES UNDER THE MICROSCOPE RALPH A. FELTON THE INFLUENCE OF ISLAM IN PERSIA WILLIAM N. WYSHAN ••50 A YEAR 25 CENTS A COpy MISSIONARY REVIF;W PUBLISHING COMPANY and REILY STS•• HARRISBURG, PA. 156 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK
BOOKS
cannot be jndged solely by their titles and authors' names. Best books in tbe points of interest and morals, so desirable and necessary, are often nndiscovered by the very people who need them. Do you not know of many who shonld read tbese books?
The Bells of the Blue Pagoda, By Jean Carter Cochran. $1.75 "The best story of life in China," Is tbe high praise given this book by Dr. Isaac Taylor Headland. the well-known writer on China, and all readers will echo this opinion. "The narrative is true to life and told with a delicate art seldom found in modern literature," -LookDut.
Church Street, By Jean Carter Cochran. $1.50 A compilation or delightful sketches of a New Jersey village. The home life. neighbors, the church, and the village characteristics are drawn by a master band. "The commonplace beauty of every-day life is uncovered in a marvelous way by this author on American village life, without displaying its vulgarness. These sketches fairly represent the finer side of life in any of our American vlllages."-Lookout.
Verses for Children, By Cecil Trout Blancke. $1.50 Just the book for children. Eight pages of bright rhymes, rebuses, and word games in simple form, illustrated by the author for the tinytots of the kindergarten age. Miss Blancke is certainly very gifted in picturing the pets children love. '"Not for years has there appeared a more attractive book for young children."-Living Church.
Studies of Familiar Hymns, Series II, By Louis F. Benson, D.D. $2.00 The American authority on hymn lore, Doctor Louis F. Benson. has given to young peo.ple fascinating, devotional reading in this his new book, a continuation of his earlier studles, Series 1. About twenty years ago, the author wrote the first series of these Studies, which found a ready audience. Those familiar with this previous book will doubtless welcome this new one, which Is very like the old one in motive and method. Except the latter work differs in that It has a continuous story, the hymns having been selected in chronological orde:r representative 01 the historical development 01 hymnody and hymn singing among the peoples of England, Scotland and America.
The reading of this book would add new significance to many familiar hymns young people have been singing, without any thought as to their origin and history. The Etude commented, ~'Here is a book which it is a hardship to lay down."
If I Were Young Again, By Amos R. Wells, Litt.D., LL.D. 40 cents ;?:~~a~~n~ft!~~Sn bb~nfh:~U~~i;al~ofhi~ th~U~;adeero;l~;dS lb~~d:h~i!, o;h~ t~~fe:;hi:o~!~,~ft: takes and wise choices.
What Shall I Do With My Life? By Harold 1. Donnelly. $1.25 This is a practical attempt to answer the questions of the book's title, in study course form for Juniors and Seniors of High School age. This is one of the books of this type.
Life as a Stewardship, By Guy L. Morrill. 25 cents This book impresses the fact that we are not owners of ourselves, OUr time, our money, or anything; but that we hold these as stewards and should use them for him to whom they really belong.
Using the Heavenly Father's Gifts, By Maud Junkin Baldwin. 30 cents "The purpose of this book is to develop in Juniors the meaning of stewardship. and to help them early in life to accept the responsibility of stewardship according_ to their capacity and ability.·'-Otterbein Teacher.
The Work of the Pastor, By Charles R. Erdman, D.D. $1.75 This is the result of Dr. Erdman's sixteen years of pastoral service and eighteen years of teaching Pastoral Theolcgy in Princeton Theological Seminary. Under his guidance other qualified Presbyterian writers contributed to the book in accordance to the plan of tbe work, ~~edfog~~:irse~7na~~~Ob~ra!~~':;1 ar!~: eV~~g~l~~:~ !~1~st~~ ~~:u:::: t:il!tud;t~~~lbo~: :~~ gauge his attainment by it.
Money for Colleges, By O. W. Buschgen. $1.00 A handbook of methods for raising money for colleges. The price is extremely low and arrangements have been made whereby colleges that desire to purchase in quantities may have them at 60 cents.
PUI;lLICATION DEPARTMENT PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION (T·HE WESTMINSTER PRESS) Headquarters: PHILADELPHIA, Witherspoon Building New York, 156 Fifth Ave. Cincinnati, 420 Elm St. St. Louis, 914 Pine St.
Chicago, 125 N. Wabash Ave. Nashville, 711 Church St. San Francisco, 278 Post St.
Atlanta, 200 Auburn Ave. Pittsburgh. Granite BUilding Please mention THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OJ!' THE WORLD in writing to advertisers. t.~ The eYer Welcome 9ift- Handkerchiefs!
Always appropriate, always welcome",McCutcheon's pure Linen Handkerchiefs! Of pure, fine Linen in a host of attractive designs, as simple or as elaborate as you wish, they make perfect Christmas gifts.
All McCutcheon Handkerchiefs are packed in dainty white boxes bearing the famous "Spinning Wheel"".,symbol of Pure Linen.
Reg. us Rlt otr. James McCutcheon & Co.
<nepartment "N.,o. 20 Fifth Avenue, 33rd and 34th Sts., New York For an old age of comfort, free from the cares and worries of business— For a guaranteed steady income For yOUT dependents in caBe ofyour death-.· For the assurance that your money will not Fall the prey of swindlers··.
For the gratifying knowledge that, alter your deafh, your money will be used for the good of mankind—to advance the Kingdom of God.
For these reasons we urge you to investigate our Life Annuity Agreements For infonnation address Morris W. Ehnea, Treasurer. Board of Foreign Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 150 Fifth Avenue. New York City. or W. J. Elliott, Treasurer. Board of Home Missions and Church Extension of the Meth.
~EPiscopal Church. 1701 Arch Street, Philadelphia. Pa.
Please mention THJ! MISSroNARY REVIEW OF THE WOBLD in writing to advertisers. wm You HelpThese Lepers to Have aHappy Chrisbnas?
The whole Christian world celebrates joyfully the birth of Christ. Shall the lepers, who were special objects of His mercy, join in this world-wide rejoicing! It is for us to decide.
The missionaries can come closer to these unfortunate sufferers through Christmas gifts and the Christmas feast that our Christian gifts make possible. They are thus enabled to lead the lepers to recognize their eternal Friend and to bring them into His life and joy.
These Missionaries in many lands write to us: "If you will let us buy articles that will bring blessing to the lepers at Christmas we can get a better bargain. The sort of garments and dishes most used are on sale in the native markets, and by buying in quantity we can get very good rates." // Therefore we are emphasizing more strongly than ever the desirability of / making money gifts to help our leper friends celebrate Christmas. // If YOU were a leper-hundreds of whom are in the United States- / and were shut away from your family and friends, surrounded by other / / lepers on Christmas morning, would you not be greatly cheered by / ~.
knowing that some one thought of you enough to send you a Christ- / / ~~~ mas present! / ~ of Not being a leper, but being a Christian with a heart full //./..~v G~' G'ro<-' .' love and gratitude to Christ and with sympathy for your / .' fellowmen, wouldn't you like to put Christmas joy into / ~~e:.' ~~~,~O~ V'9~~ / / ~I(,~.c.~.~~. …. .•.. he lives of some of these exiles from society?
The Mission tCthoherwiLseotipralendr,sminhiatshssiionrtnoeawernieadsihfafureenredn/rte/d/~4/''o/;O~~~,~O~~y~t-'.0•'.Io~.' .a~ '.'
leper stations in .'
countries, where . . …. caring for thousands of leper men, women / . ~~Uy.~?'o ~ … ' . . .. / / ~v~~~~. ~ ~~. . … . and children. . .. ~<f~'vi) ~o.· ~~.. ~'Io. ~.' ~ <V'lo0 ~o; 1(,0 ?~ The Amencan MISSIOn to Lep- / ?~.." will transmit your gifts. // ers Flease mention THE MIsSIONARY REVIEW OF T,BE WORLD in writing to advertisers. THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD DELAVAN L. PIERSON. Editor Contents for December, 1924 Palle FRONTISPIECE …….. GENERAL FENG'S ARMY AND THEIR NEW TESTAMENTS EDITORIALS …..•….•………….. 941 w. Graham Scroggie DENOMINATIONAL RIVALRY VB. COOPERA- Britain'. FOTemo.t Bible Teacher TION. No MAN in the world to-day combines 'THE WORK OF THE UNl'r-ED CHURCH. more notably a deep spiritual insight, GoVERNMENT AND MISSIONS IN .EGYPT unshaken faith in the whole Bible, scholarship of the most exacting sort, TODAY. and rare power of literary expression, A CHRISTIAN LAYMEN's LEAGUE. than this Scottish preacher and teacher.
SHALL THE CHURCH OF CHRIST AD- He commences this month exclusively VANCE? •• * •••• ARTHUR J. BROWN 951 in The Sunday School Times, a rich, A view oj worW wide opportunities jor comprehensive every-week exposition Christian. Mission& and a stirring ap- of the International Uniform Lessons. pea, to the Church at home to enter the open. door8. Ernest Gordun, a Harvard graduate hold- GENERAL FENG AND HIS CHRISTIAN ing staunchly the Caristian fnndamentals, a wide traveler, having lived for years in ARMY •••…. GEORGE T. B. DAVIS 955 Europe and reading or speaking several MAN'S FINAL DESTINATION ……… . European languages, a brilliant writer who keeps closely informed of the Iiteratllre of •.•….•….. SADHU SUNDAR SINGH 958 the civilized world and the mission fields, RESULTS OF CONFUCIANISM IN CHINA writes the monthly "Survey of Religious Life and Thought" that keeps you posted on the •••• THE LA'l'E ROBERT C. FORSYTH 959 latest challenging signs of Christian advance.
A. carefu~ exa'11'llination of some of the These are but two of the many unusual pract>oa! effects of the teachings of features in Conf'Uc1(U8 on. th.e lives oj his folLowers in th-e Chinese Republic. r….etll!oer7 We.1t SEEN IN- ABYSSINIA ••… C. S. CLELAND 964 The story oj a recent ,,>sit to the that make it almOllt impossihle for people '1rWUntairwus regions of ancient Ethiopia to do without this journal when once ana an account of the beginnings of they have become acquainted. evanJJtnica£ mUslO?l 'Work 'in tlUl church said ·to be founded by tile Ethiopian more copies. either to III eunuoh. THE RURAL CHURCH UNDER THE MI- separate a11resses 0 r ~ , THE CROSCOPE ….. RALPH A. FELTON 971 in a p1cka'le to $; A 'tudy Of the !lresent situation in ru- one address. 011-· BUDAY BCHOOr. ral communities in America and the $1.50 ea ch ""~. TIXliS COMPAJlY need for community churcheil to avoid pel" year. ~'f> Bolt 1550. PhUadelpbla. Pa, wasteful e"'!lendltures, wealeness and • ..ee'<l~ For the 25 cents enclosed THE01J~~~~WA. TRIBE OF WESTERN please send The Sunday NIGERIA ••••.••••• C. F. BEITZEL 974 School Times for 10 week. An ace"''''t 01 a recent visit to a !lallan tribe hitllerto untouohed by tile Go'!lel to a! Chrillt. THE WORK OF THE AFRICA INLAND MISSION .•• CHARLES E. HUELBUBT 976 THE INFLUENCE OF ISLAM IN PERSIA •••••••••••••WILLIAM N. WYSHAN 981 Evidence. of the blighting effect 01 the teach,ing8 of Mohammed on the personal ana SOcial live. of M. folloWer. In Persia and the oontra8ted effeots oj tile aoceptanoe of tile teaChings of Christ. MODERNIZING MISSIONARY METHODS ••••••• EDITED BY MRS. E. C. CBONK 985 THE WOMAN'S HOME AND FOREIGN MISSION BULLETINS •••..•••••• 993 NElWS FROM MANY LANDS ••.•••••.• 999 THE MISSIONARY LIBRARy ••••••••.• 1015 THE INDEX FOR THE YEAR 1924 •••• 1023 TERMS.-$2.50 a year. ($2.00 In clubs ot live.) Foreign postage. 50 cents. Single copies. 2~ cents. Published monthly. Copyrighted, 1924, by MISSIONARY REVIEW PUBLISHING CoM"
PANT. INC. All rights reserved.
THE MISSIONARY REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY. Inc.
ROREBT E. SPIlBB. Presic%ellt WILLIAM I. CHAMBERLAIN. Vlce-Pre,jdmt DELAVAN L. PIERSON. SecretMj/ WALTER McDOUGALL, Treasurer Publication omca. 3d & Reily St… Harrisburg. Pa. 250 a copy. $2.50 a year Editorial and Business omce. 156 Filth Avenue. Name ….•……..•••••••••••••••• New York City Entered as second-class matter at the Post Address …..•.•••.••.••••.•••••••• Omce. Harrisburg. Pa.. under Act ot March 8.
1879.
Please mention THII HIs8IONAJ<Y Ravmw 01' THlII WOBLD 1D wrlt1ng to advertisers.
FENG (at th e right of George T. B. Davis, who wears a hat) AND HIS SOLDIElRS HOLDING UP THEIR CHIN·ESE
(See page 955)
lilliE! .MI-~IONARY
EVIEW~ VOL. DECEMBER, 1924 NUMBER XLVII TWELVE DENOMINATIONAL RIVALRY VS. OOOPERATION REOENTLY there have been some caustic criticisms passed on denominational Boards because of an alleged use of mission money to promote denominationalism rather than to uplift Ohrist so a,s to draw men to Him. No doubt some of these criticisms are justified, although the causes for them are decreasing year by year. We need to look the facts squarely in the face and not to deal in generalizations that do injustice. Some cases that seem like denominational rivalry, lack of Ohristian comity or to involve a waste of money and effort are due to the necessity of building up work in pioneer fields. Railroads may at first be competitors in a thinly settled country and yet later may be inadequate for the traffic. In other cases, the competition has been inherited from the past or is caused by inability to make speedy readjustments where the population of a field has decreased or changed in character. There are, however, regrettable instances where officials or individual workers are men of narrow vision and denominational ambition. They work for what they consider to be the good of a segment rather than for the benefit of the members of a community or of the whole Ohurch.
There are many good reasons why all evangelical churches should seek ways of working together so as to prevent waste of effort and to present an unbroken front in advancing the Kingdom of God. Making known these cases of need for greater cooperation may help to hasten progress. To declare our belief in cooperation is ;not enough; nor is it sufficient to point out breaches of comity. We must have faith in our fellow-Ohristians; we need a larger vision of our common task and a supreme devotion to our one Lord. Negative criticism is not so useful as is a constructive approach to the problem, with an intelligent consideration of the facts, followed by prompt action.
Denominationalism is not wholly evil if it does not create jealous rivalry and prevent unity and cooperation. The denominations had 941
their origin in a protest against errors that crept into the Church, or against autocratic efforts to control religious thinking, or because of personal ideals and differences of interpretations of the Bible. But the protestors themselves have too often become dogmatic ,and autocratic in the expression of their views. Today denominationalism has generally become a hindrance and the great masses of evangelical church members are demanding greater emphasis on essentials only, together with greater unity and cooperation in the service of Christ. Within most of the denominations there are movements which are preparing the way for a new day in interdenominational cooperation and unity. Possibly, however, there will be a realignment on questions of faith.
Among the evidences of the growing spirit of Christian fellowship are the Federal Council, the conferences on Faith and Order, the Home Missions Council and the Foreign Missions Conference and other interdenominational bodies. For fifteen years or more, superintendents of Home Mission work in many states have been endeavoring to cooperate so as to avoid overlapping and competition. Workers on the field have promoted pla,ns for adjustments and cooperation that save millions of dollars. Cases of unfriendly competition and flagrant overlapping are not the rule in home mission territory-they are the exceptions. Much has been done to correct old mistakes and there has developed a conscience that has taken strong hold on many. leaders and laymen. North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Western Washington, California and Utah have now interdenominational state organizations giving special attention to comity largely promoted by the Home Missions Council.
Enthusiasm for cooperation is growing in the Church and the evidences of it are increasing. International, national, state and city federations of churches, and similar Christian organizations are now working harmoniously together for God and humanity. They are thriving on willingness to cooperate. In some cases, however, the advance is so rapid that the differing cooperative groups are themselves becoming competitors and in some cases rivalry is beginning to appear.
Christians may hold to the essentials of faith, and yet help to crystallize the sentiment for unity and direct the efforts toward cooperation so as to bring about the desired result. Zeal for a particular institution should not be so great as to hinder the spirit of Christian unity or the giving up of cherished plans and organizations if this surrender will advance the cause of our Lord. The whole family of Christ need not adopt one type of church government, or worship according to one form of ritual, or accept the same interpretations of all the Bible teachings. All members of a family need not live under one roof, be engaged in one kind of work, or
EDITORIAL COMMENTS
even be called by the same name, but it is essential to Christian fellowship and effective service that all work harmoniously together, without jealousy, rivalry, interference or conflicting purposes and plans. Let Christ be first; let Him increase while denominations and their statistics decrease.
THE WORK OF THE UNITED CHURCH T HE United States can accomplish many things that are impos- sible for individual States to do alone. The labor unions can do much that separate local organizations cannot bring to pass. A united family has an influence that a disrupted family cannot expect to wield. It is not necessary that all of the States, or all local labor unions, or all members of a family shall agree on all points, but they must agree on a basis of union, on an ideal and some general principles, and to be effective they must be loyal to the official heads and the general program.
It would seem to be beyond question that a united Church of Christ will be more effective in work, a greater testimony to the world, and. more pleasing to Him than a divided church. A body whose members are out of harmony with each other cannot be all under the control of one Head. The characteristics and the functions of members are varied, but there should be absolute harmony, loyalty and cooperation.
It is, therefore, eminently fitting that there should be a Federation or Federal Council of Christian Churches to unite in harmonious sympathy and cooperation those branches of the Christian Church that are loyal to Christ and His program. They need not agree on all points, be called by one name or be uniform in methods, but they can agree to acknowledge one Head and to work harmoniously to) express His spirit and to carry out His plans. The Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America is such an organization, expressing the unity of spirit and purpose, but not requiring organized union or uniformity. It was planned at an interchurch conference in 1905 and the plan was adopted by national denominational assemblies in 1906 to 1908 when the Council finally adopted its constitution at a meeting held in Philadelphia. The ~-'ederal Council has, therefore, been in actual operation for sixteen years and has accomplished many worthwhile results in religious, educational, industrial, philanthropic, missionary and international spheres. The expense involved is less than $300,000 annually, for the most part contributed by individuals and denominational bodies.
The next quadrennial meeting of the Federal Council will be held at Atlanta, Georgia, December 3-9. Bishop James Cannon, Jr., of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, is chairman of the program committee, and the general theme will be "The Church in the World. " Specific subjects to be considered include: "The Need of the World
for the Church of Christ," and" The Cooperation of the Churches." The speakers include Dr. Robert E. Speer, of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions and President of the Federal Council; Governor William E. Sweet of Colorado; Bishop William F. Mc- Dowell of Washington; Bishop Francis J. McConnell of Pittsburgh; Bishop Warren A. Candler of Atlanta; Rev. Rockwell H. Potter of Hartford, Gonn., Moderator of the National Council of Congrega- tional Churches; President E. Y. Mullins of the Baptist Theological Seminary at Louisville, Kentucky; Rev. James I. Vance of the First Presbyterian Church of Nashville, Tenn., and Rev. Henry H. Sweets, of Louisville, Secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Education. Among the distinguished representatives of the Churches of foreign lands will be Sir Willoughby Dickinson of London, former member of the British Parliament; Professor Julius Richter of the Uni- versity of Berlin, a world authority on foreign missions; and Dr. Adolf Keller of Zurich, Switzerland, one of the outstanding figures in European Protestantism; Rev. A. Reischauer, of Tokio, and Dr. Samuel M. Zwemer of Egypt and Arabia, the leading missionary to the Moslem World.
The P'l"esident of the Council to succeed Dr. Robert E. Speer, and the other officers for the next quadrennium, will be elected on Thurs- day morning, December 4th.
Some criticisms have been passed on the ideals and work of the Federal Council. No doubt mistakes have been made but the best answer to these criticisms is the work that it has accomplished in national and international affairs. There is still a great work for . the Churches of Christ to do cooperatively.
No denomination is asked to give up its independence. The pro- gram and policies of the Council are determined by the representa- tives appointed by the various denominations.
The aims of the Council, as defined in the Constitution, are" To express the fellowship and unity of the Christian Church… To bring the Christian bodies of America into united service for Christ and the world… To encourage devotional fellowship and mutual counsel concerning the spiritual life and religious activities of the Churches. .. To secure a larger combined influence for the Churches of Christ in all matters affecting the morai and social condition of the people, so as to promote the application of the law of Christ in every relation of human life."
The Council assists local communities to develop effective co- operation in dealing with their own community problems and as a result, there are now nearly fifty local federations or councils of churches in various centers. Each of these is responsible only to the churches of the local community.
The program of the Council is founded upon the supreme need for personal religion, for life through Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
EDITORIAL COMMENTS
for making known His Gospel to all mankind, and for expressing His ideals in all activities and relationships. This spirit extends to social and international relations and to every phase of life. The Churches can and should do their utmost to root out the seeds' of selfishness and bitterness that produce wars; they should use their influence to secure international justice and peace, to develop brotherhood in in- dustry, to promote fraternity among the races of the world, and to abolish the traffic in intoxicating drinks, harmful drugs and other social evils.
Loyal and loving obedience to Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Saviour of man, is the cohesive force that must be depended on to unite all Christians of all Churches-that we mav be One as Christ and the Father are One. .
GOVERNMENT AND MISSIONS IN EGYPT TODAY* .l"l. AFTER having administered Egypt for forty years, the British Government, on February 28, 1922, made the announcement that it was "the desire of His Majesty's Government to recognize Egypt forthwith as an independent, sovereign state." Since 525 B.C. Egypt has been a subject nation. Persians and Greeks and Romans and Byzantines, the Caliphs, the Memluk, the Turks, the French, the Khedives, the English, one after the other, have ruled in the valley of the Nile. Now Egypt is assuming her place as a selfgoverning, sovereign kingdom with her own king and her own house of representatives and senate. She is sending her diplomatic representatives to the various governments of the world, for the first time in 2,500 years.
Great, fundamental changes have taken place in Egypt during the past decade. From 1882 to 1914 Britain had been administering the government as the occupying power, with advisory predominance in all the departments of state. In 1914, however, she assumed the relationship of the protecting power and declared Egypt a protectorate of the British Empire. Martial law was declared and the British consul general became the British resident with almost regal power.
This relationship continued throughout the War, but after the armistice Saad Zaghlul Pasha with two colleagues demanded that the British should evacuate the country and turn all affairs of government over to the Egyptians. The demand was refused, the delegation was shortly afterwards interned in Malta as malcontents and disturbers of the peace, and martial law became stricter. This caused rage in the Egyptian politicians, and resulted in disturbances and outrages of various kinds, together with the murder of many innocent people and the destruction of much property. This condition continued until 1923. During the past year a constitution for the future government of Egypt has been adopted and a law of indemnities • By a. FrIend of Egypt In Cairo.-T1r.e U..'te~ Pre8byterian.
securing the acceptance by the Egyptian government of all the acts and judgments of the British military courts in Egypt. Military law has been abolished, and arrangements made for the retirement of the many British officials in the civil service.
Four great subjects of vital importance both to Great Britain and to Egypt remain for settlement between the two governments. These matters are: (1) The security of the communications of the British Empire in Egypt. (2) The defence in Egypt against all foreign aggression or interference, direct or indirect. (3) The protection of foreign interests in Egypt, and the protection of minorities. (4) The Sudan. Pending the conclusion of agreements on all these vital matters the status quo remains intact.
The two great outstanding changes have been the abolition of martial law and the promulgation of the constitution. It is liberal beyond expectations in its provisions for securing liberty and freedom to the individual Egyptian and resembles the governments of the most civilized nations of the world. It declares that: All Egyptians are equal before the law. The liberty of individuals is guaranteed. The home is inviolable. Liberty of conscience is absolute. The state protects, in accordance with the practice established in Egypt, the full exercise of the rites of all religions and creeds. Liberty of opinion is guaranteed. The press is free. Egyptians have the right to hold meetings peaceably. Egyptians have the right to form societies. And then as if doubly to secure liberty to the individual in his person, and his religion, and his status before the law, it is provided that: "The stipulations of laws, decrees, orders, regulations, resolutions, decisions, and all other acts or measures imposed in the past, and rules and forms adopted up to the present time, will remain in force, on condition that their execution is in harmony with the principles of liberty and equality guaranteed by the present constitution. "
In Egypt the Christians are only.one out of every fourteen of the population-one million out of 14,000,000. Can the constitution really guarantee freedom in religion to the Moslem man or woman to change his or her religion 1 Will the changes that have been effected in the government affect the missionary situation? Will they affect the disabilities that a convert from Islam ordinarily incurs ~ In the elections held last January for members of the new parliament fifteen Christians and one Jew have been chosen out of 214 in the house of representatives. It is obvious that without Mohammedan votes not one could have been chosen. It is an interesting fact that five of the fifteen Christians chosen are of Protestant families, and received all or part of their education in mission schools or college at Assiut. In the senate four members out of 118 are Protestants.
The party in the majority controls about ninety per cent of the votes of the parliament and is led by Saad Pasha Zaghlul, the Moslem
EDITORIAL COMMENTS
partisan and nationalist leader. Will this strong, dominant party initiate legislation to the disadvantage of Christianity and Christian missions T Or will the constitution be administered fairly and justlyY The law, of apostasy has not been changed or abrogated. Can the constitution prevent its execution in the face of bigotry and fanaticism T Will the old customs and the old law still clamor for the death of the convert Y Will the Koran, in the religious courts, and even in the decisions of the civil courts, override the constitution, notwithstanding its guarantees of freedom and equality? Baidhawi, the great Moslem commentator, says that the Koran teaches: "Whoever turns back from his belief, openly or secretly, take him and kill him, wherever you find him, like any other infidel. Do not accept intercession. " Will this law of the Arabian desert of the seventh century "remain in force," or will "its execution" be regarded as not "in harmony with the principles of liberty and equality guaranteed by the constitution"?
The disabilities which the convert from Islam must face include death, especially in the better grades of Egyptian Moslem society. Some in Egypt have died because they believed in Jesus and His Gospel. Tile usual way is to destroy the "pervert" by a poisoned drink or poisoned food. A few years ago a government official, an educated man, suddenly disappeared from his father's house and was never seen again. In conversation with his friends, in social meetings, when religion was the subject of discussion he expressed his doubts of Islam and strongly, ably maintained the superiority of Christianity. He had never openly professed his faith in Christ but he knew the Bible well, much of it by heart. He was frequently warned by his friends to be less open in his "reasonings" with his fellows, but he could not remain silent.
Other Christian converts have endured great indignities and suffering. One was banished for a year by the government authorities on the plea that protection from injury and possible death was impossible. In general, the disabilities suffered by the Moslem convert are legal, social, domestic, economic, and not political, but they are none the less real.
Neither missionaries nor missionary boards have yet made any general, adequate provision for Moslem converts. A missionary in a Moslem land wrote: "Any native of but a moderate degree of respectability must, to become a Christian, make sacrifices, generally speaking, that not the most zealous supporter of missions ever dreams of making. A Moslem convert must have the spirit of a martyr."
The disabilities incurred by the Oriental Christian in Egypt are not greater than in the past. His position, however, is uncertain, and fanaticism may at any time overwhelm him. In the present state of opinion the Christian in Egypt may receive consideration politically of greater benefit than formerly but he may lose his present position in politics, in civil service, and in civil and personal rights.
During the past few years some of the leaders have suspected the Christians of Egypt as not being sympathetic with the aspirations of the majority because of their supposed religious affinity to Britain as a Christian nation. At the same time a number of the younger Christians have been earnest national partisans and three or four of them were transported with Zaghlul Pasha, and several others were interned with national extremists. But it is not likely that the Moslem leaders of Egypt will ever feel full confidence in their Christian fellow-subjects, whatever they may think of Christianity.
During the past six decades the diffusion of Christian ideas and evangelistic truth throughout the country has greatly affected the Moslem population of Egypt. Copies of the Bible have been distributed in large quantities and thousands of Moslem boys and girls, who are now men and women, have been in attendance in Christian schools. Many thousands have been patients in Christian hospitals and clinics, or are friends of those who have been patients. Many of these have copies of the Scriptures, and have heard the Gospel preached and taught. They have told others of their experiences in school and hospital, they have shown their Gospels and others have read them; they have talked about the Christians and their religion, their worship and their beliefs. They have been evangelizing one another and their influence has extended to other thousands. As a result prejudice is being broken down, bigotry is being overcome, their contacts and fellowships with Christians, and Christian missionaries have led them to desire to know more fully what Christianity is and what Jesus Christ really taught in His Gospel.
Missionary work among Moslems is, therefore, much easier than formerly. They come to meetings in the cities and the villages, Whether in the churches or in rented houses; they visit individually and in groups the missionaries and Egyptian workers,; they receive the Book of God with deference, reverently and gladly; they ask for literature on Christian subjects; they inquire about the differences between Christianity and Islam and desire to know the doctrines of Christianity. A few are being baptized and others are under instruction. SQme do not believe in Mohammed or the Koran, but are not ready to be baptized. The fear of ostracism, of the fate of the apostate, is ever before them. The convert from the respectable classes is no safer today than in the past. However, the interest of the Moslems in Egypt in Christianity is very great; a marked change of attitude has taken place as compared with former days, and it is general all through the country, even in the Moslem sections of Cairo.
The relations between the missions in Egypt and government officials are, in general, friendly. The real difficulty and time of trial, perhaps, will come when the impact of Christianity on the Moslem masses becomes so great and so pronounced that the Moslem leaders become aroused to opposition and defence. What will parliament do thenT
EDITORIAL COMMENTS
A CHRISTIAN LAYMEN'S LEAGUE SINCE the Laymen's Missionary Movement was absorbed into the Interchurch World Movement and that, in turn, discontinued operation, there has been no interdenominational and nationwide organization of Christian laymen interested in religious work. There are groups in various communions and there are interchurch associations interested in Bible distribution or undenominational work, but that is all. Now it is proposed to unite American laymen, loyal to Christ and to His service, in a league for Christian truth and religious work. At a conference, held in New York on October 11th and 12th, called by Dr. J. Campbell White of the Biblical Seminary, a committee of representative Christian laymen was appointed to take this matter under consideration and, if thought advisable, to take steps to form such a Laymen's Church League. Dr. White says: "Is it not eminently reasonable to challenge the best laymen of all Protestant churches of North America with the proposal that they find some way by which groups of earnest laymen in all these churches can cooperate for Christ and His cause ~ This is the central proposal made. Final policies are left to be determined by a General Laymen's Oonference of laymen from all Protestant churches in the United States and Oanada, acting upon reports and recommendations of eight commissions, composed of the strongest laymen that can be found."
This is a new interdenominational effort by laymen to secure real working fellowship and cooperation between all groups of Christian laymen who are eager to serve Jesus Christ, and to increase the spiritual power and efficiency of His Ohurch. The official action taken at the recent conference calls attention to the desperate need of vital Ohristian religion now evident in America and other lands. The churches are not realizing their possible spiritual efficiency upon which depends the welfare of the race. The present situation calls for the best thought, prayer and leadership of the strongest laymen. Happy, victorious, fruitful lives are possible in Ohrist but few are living such lives. The remedy of this condition should be a matter of earnest study, prayer and effort by laymen themselves, together with all the help they can secure from pastors; Business itself may be made a revelation of the mind of Ohrist, and an effective means of expanding His Kingdom. Wide-spread religious doubt and unbelief can be overcome if Christian laymen will agree in defining and publishing the Gospel of Jesus Ohrist. Multitudes are ready to listen to a clear, confident and convincing statement of what Jesus Ohrist can do to meet human needs. Public schools, universities and colleges are not doing justice to the educational and moral values of the Bible and of Christ. Too many are hindering faith and the working out of Ohristian ideals. The educational process must be more fully permeated with vital religious
truth so that colleges and universities may prepare graduates for efficient leadership in our churches and Sunday-schools.
There are abundant resources in the hands of Christian men and women to finance any reasonable program of Christian culture and service that may be developed by the best constructive thinking and experience in the Church. The consecration of property to God would increase the resources available for carrying out the program. The financial support of the Church has been inadequate because the laymen have not been enlisted more fully in the discussion of the needs and how best to meet them.
Christian men need some method of united study, conference and action to make their voice heard on religious que&tions and to increase the spiritual power and effectiveness of the Church. The rich experiences of groups of laymen in many individual churches and communities may be gathered together and given wide publicity, in order to help other groups to work out the best programs for their oW'll use.
A Provisional Committee has been appointed to act as a publicity bU1:eau and clearing house of information upon all lines of Christian effort carried on by groups of laymen; to arrange for Laymen's District Oonferences; to appoint Commissions of Laymen to make a study of the following subjects and to report their recommendations to a Laymen's General Oonference to be called at the discretion of the Provisional Committee: (1) Secrets of victory and fruitfulness for Ohristian laymen. (2) The application of Ohrist's teachings to business and professionallife. (3) The Gospel of Ohrist and the main business of the Ohurch. (4) The relation of the Bible and Jesus Christ to education, the home and the schools. (5) An adequate home and foreign missionary policy and program for laymen. (6) The enlistment or financial and other resources for Ohrist and His Cause. (7) Best methods for men's organizations, for an individual church, for a city, a district, or a nation.
It is proposed to appoint commissions to study themes for presentation at the Laymen's Oonference to be held next year at some central point-either at Louisville or St. Louis-and to enlist the sympathy, prayers and cooperation of laymen in all parts of the country. The tentative dates set for this conference are March 12-15. M..L. Swinehart, lay missionary of the Southern Presbyterian Church on furlough from Korea, has been secured as General Secretary of this League of Christian Laymen.
the Church of Christ Advance? *
.BY REV. ARTHUR J. BROWN, D.D., NEW YORK Secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A.
G OD is summoning us to go forward. Thirty years ago we . prayed for open doors. God has answered that prayer, and now we must pray Him to make the Church willing to enter them. The situation is unprecedented. Nations are plastic. Former hostility to missionaries has largely disappeared. Everywhere people are ready'to listen to the Gospel. In many fields, chapels, schools and churches are crowded. It is heartbreaking to turn away inquirers who, if there were room for them, might be brought to Christ. The opportunity is imperial and imperious, and such opportunity means obligation. What we can do for God we ought to do. We do not need to wait for a more favorable time. "Say not ye, there are yet four months and then cometh the harvest. Behold, I say unto you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white already unto harvest." . Shall Christ wait to see of the travail of His soul for those who will die because His disciples are attending to other things Y Behold, now is the day of salvation.
Every consideration of enlightened statesmanship calls upon the Church to advance along the whole line. Said a letter from Japan: "This is the greatest day ever in Japan. There never was such an opportunity to preach and minister to the people." Said a letter from Persia: "Our responsibility is thirty million souls. How, with so limited a force is the mission to maintain its work1 On all sides we see great' opportunities, yet are powerless to embrace them." It is wonderful that there are nearly half a million Ohristians in China, but there are 438,000,000 people there. From India comes the cry: "Millions are yet unevangelized in the territories for which our missionaries are responsible, and are totally inadequate. " Said another letter of a single station: "Publish it I Shout it from the housetops! 2,500 villages to be visited; in all of them Christians to be shepherded and 6,000 Christian boys and girls to be educated. Open thou, 0 Lord, the eyes of the young people of America, burden their hearts, till they come over to help us rescue the lovable boys and girls of India from the slough of ignorance and sin in which they are sunk, till they cannot rest for the cries of these children going up before the throne day and night."
What shall be said of the soldiers of the Cross who form the thin red line of the Church of God at the front; little groups of men and women, scantily equipped, in unhealthy climates, often in the midst of war, pestilence or famine, hardly a week in which some of them do ~trac.ts from an address delivered at the 136th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. at Grand Rapids, Michigan. May 28. 1924. 951
not stand face to face with death; but quietly, patiently, month after month and year after year, going on with their work with fortitude undaunted, with devotion superb, witnessing for the Gospel of the Son of God. "Why don't you call those imperilled missionaries home T" people sometimes ask. If we did call them, they would not come. When a British Admiral offered the protection of his ship of war to some beleaguered missionaries years ago, they told him that their stations were their posts of duty and that they could not leave the native Christians to be scattered and their schools and hospitals to be destroyed. The Admiral took off his cap and said: "Ladies and gentlemen, your courage is magnificent. Men have been given the Victoria Cross for less heroism than yours."
As we read letters which come from workers stationed at the ends of the earth, strange scenes rise to our vision. We see missionaries on the teeming plains of China, in the numberless villages of India, by the rivers of Siam, in the jungles of Mrica, on the uplands of Persia, in the valleys of Korea and .Tapan, in the islands of the Philippines, in the vast spaces of Latin America; using every conveyance known to the non-Christian world-by cart and chair and litter, by' canoe and sailboat and launch, by pony and camel and elephant, sometimes by bicycle and automobile, but often on foot, weary and foot-sore; in heat and cold, in dust and mud, in drenching storm and blazing sun, but everywhere and always beseeching men in Christ's stead to be reconciled to God. '
The world waits for the Gospel of which such missionaries are ambassadors. Never has it needed it so urgently as now. The raM is in commotion. Turkey is again arrogant. India is seething with unrest. China is in chaos. Japan has been smitten by appalling calamity. Koreans and Filipinos are demanding independence. In Europe men are talking abont the next war and preparing for it. Everywhere peoples are in transition. The old is passing. What is to be the new¥ Evil influences are intensifying the danger. Moving picture films that are so unclean that they cannot be profitably shown in America are shipped to Asia where they are freely exhibited. .AJ single steamship is reported to have taken from San Francisco to Japan 1,150 barrels of wine. Morphine seized in Shanghai was manufactured in Philadelphia. The law forbids shipment from America to China but not to Japan. In two years and nine months New York dealers sent three and a half tons of morphine and five tons of cocaine to Japan, there to be reshipped to China through Japanese post offices over which the Chinese have no jurisdiction. As a traveler in Asia sees the evidences of vices from alleged Ohristian nations, he wonders whether the closer contacts of the East and the West are further to debauch the East. They surely will unless they are overcome by a more vigorous propagation of Christianity.
1924J SHALL THE CHUROH OF CHRIST ADVANCE'
America and Europe have taught Asiatics to kill one another more scientifically than ever before. They have taught them the use of machine guns, airships and poison gas. Shall they not give them the uplifting and purifying word of God with its Gospel of the Prince of Peace?
Under the combined impact of forces good and bad that are pouring into non-Christian lands, the old civilizations are crumbling and the ethnic religions are decaying. What few moral restraints they ever had have been weakened. The whole structure of Asiatic life is tottering. What is to take its place 1 "The rudiments of empire here A.re plastic yet and warm; The chaos of a mighty world Is rbunding into form. "
One thinks of the majestic words of Isaiah: "The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together; the Lord of hosts mustereth the host of the battle."
. THE DUTY OF THE CHURCH What is the duty of the Ohurch of God ~ We turn for instruction to our Lord. In the 24th chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel, He plainly warned his disciples of coming wars and tribulation and false prophets and abounding iniquity; but, so far from advising inaction on that account, He declared that these very conditions made it all the more urgent that "this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world." That is the divine program for a distracted earth. The defects from which the world is suffering are not defects of knowledge, but of conscience. Man's material appliances have developed faster than his moral character. "There is no political alchemy," said Herbert Spencer, "by which you can get golden conduct out of leaden motives. " Dwight L. Moody said about the same thing, less elegantly, but more forcibly: "If you want good water it is not enough to paint the pump, you must clean out the well. " Only God can do that. For this Christ came. "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other Name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Science, philosophy, militarism, politics, secular education-all have failed. The only hope lies in the acceptance of the Gospel for whose world extension the foreign missionary enterprise exists. There never will be a better world until there are better people in it, and there will never be better people in it until they conform their lives to the teaching of Christ. The missionary enterprise stands for this. It stands for human brotherhood j for the international mind in religion; for emancipation from the narrow and provincial into the wide spaces of the King- 2
dom of God: for the world-wide sway of Ohrist; for utter allegiance to Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Some allege that the world program of Ohrist is impossible. But what is the Ohurch for, if it cannot be the agency of God for doing what man alone cannot do? Inspiring are the words of revelation: "He is able"; "able to save unto the uttermost"; "able even to subdue all things unto Himself"; "able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think." Let Ohristians of all men reject the heresy that what Ohrist laid upon His Ohurch cannot be done. Nothing that is right is impossible. What God tells us to do, we by the grace of God can do and should do. Instead of hesitating, let us say with Shakespeare: "Now let me run And I will strive with things impossible; Yea, get the better of them. "
"Human crimes," said Thomas Oarlyle, "are many; but the crime of being deaf to God's voice, the crime of being blind to everything but parchments and antiquarian rubrics when the handwriting of God is abroad on the sky, there is none other crime than this that the gods do more utterly avenge." This is no time for a small or timid program. It is time for consecrated effort, for sacrificial giving, for catholicity of spirit, for statesmanship of planning, a time for the splendor of a mighty faith. "If the Ohurch ever intends to vindicate its name among men as the champion of a pure religion of heavenly power, now is the time when it mnst move forward with consecration surpassing all it has shown before. Now is the hour for sacrifice, for devotion tha.t costs, for :fidelities unflinching and unlimited. The reason why the knowledge of the Lord mnst cover the earth as the waters cover the sea, is now evident as never before. Nothing less than literal saturation with religion will save the world."
This is our splendid task, to exalt the Lord of life above the jarring passions of men, to make His will supreme. We must write His name large across the sky of. the world. We must make His voice the undertone of human life. We summon the Ohurch in the ringing words of Oharles Hoyt: , 'Is this a time, 0 Church of Christ, to sound retreat Y To arm with weapons cheap and blunt The men and women who have borne the brunt Of truth's fierce strife, and nobly held their ground 1 Is this the time to halt, when all around Horizons lift, new destinies confront? No, rather strengthen stakes and lengthen cords, Enlarge thy plans and gifts, 0 thou elect; And to thy kingdom come for such a time. The earth with all its fullness is the Lord's. Great things attempt for Him, great things expect, Whose love imperial is, whose power sublime!"
A GLIMPSEl OF GElNERAL FENG'S ARMY AT
"W'hen a gun is fired at twelve o'clock each noon the soldiers of the Christian army are accustomed to gather by companies or In smaller groups for thirty minutes of Bible ['"eading and prayer.
General Feng and His Christian Army BY GEORGE T. B, DAVIS, SHANGHAI, CRTNA General Feng Yu-shiang, known as the Christian General of China, has been much featured in the press dispatches recently on account of his action in forcing the resignation of the Chinese president, Tsao [{11n, on October 22d, causing the flight of the commander-in-chief of the Central Government's armies, Geneml W1~ Pei Fn, and the I'etirement of the young Manchu emperor. it is understood that General Feng has 'taken these steps with the desire to bring peace to China too long torn asunder by warring factions.
The FO'reign Minister under the new GO'l'ernment is D,'. C, T. Wang, also a pl'ominent Christian. .
The stOl'y of General Feng's conve1'sion and work with his army was told in our May, August and December n'ltmbers, 1923. He has the most efficient army of soldiers in China b1d he does not desire to establish a militaristic government. His intel'est in the promotion of Bible study, education and useful employment give good ground faT hope. His position is one of grave responsibility, and of many temptations. He stands much in need of the earnest prayers of OMistiuns in all lands.-EDITOR.
A FEW years ago an army officer was converted in Peking. He was a major in command of 500 men, but he was not allowed to preach Christ openly to his men in the military quarters. For this teaching he had to send them from the barracks to the churches of Peking. Today that convert is called the" Defender of Peking"; and of his army of ten thousand men, probably two thirds have openly avowed their faith in Christ. It is not only a most inspiring native force for righteousness, but it is the strongest military in- 955
fluence for stability in China. It is a remarkable organization, physically, morally and spiritually.
After an American military man had spent two weeks studying the Christian Army he said: "They are the best soldiers in China." But the army is not merely a military organization. It is a great Christian school where young men are given physical, industrial, mental, spiritual, and military training. The soldier-students enlist for at least three years and receive the equivalent in time of a four years' course. There is a strict schedule of work and study from the rising bugle in the morning at 4 A. M., to "lights out" at night. The first order of the day after dressing is a bit of spiritual drill, when the men assemble by companies in the quiet of the early dawn and the captain leads in a gospel hymn. Then all heads are bowed while an officer or private soldier prays for God's blessing upon the army and guidance for the duties of the day.
Physical drill follows the spiritual when the men go out for a twenty minutes' run, and clamber up and down little mounds to make them fit for mountain climbing, and for the day's program. Then comes military drill, followed by various forms of physical training, industrial work, study of Chinese, moral lectures, and a noon prayer meeting. Thus from morning until night there is a varied program of study, work and worship.
The army is up-to-the-minute in physical fitness, as might be expected where there is an absence of immorality, wine drinking, and cigarette smoking. They are alert, athletic, clear-eyed, strongmuscled. Sir James Starlin, a retired Admiral of the British Navy, who recently visited Peking, was much impressed with the fine physique of the men and with their feats on the horizontal bars.
The industrial branch of the army school was started by General Feng in order that many of the men might learn a trade and have a means of support on their return to civil life. Here one sees the men engaged in making shoes and clothes, knitting stockings, weaving rugs, boiling soap, and making chairs and other furniture. When one set of men have learned a trade, another lot takes their place.
But the most striking phase of the army life is its spiritual side. It was a most impressive sight to see a hundred or more men standing outside a mess-room before a meal singing a gospel hymn; then as all heads were bowed someone led in an earnest petition. This is the custom throughout the entire army before the two meals each day!
A still more striking scene occurs at noon when the twelve o 'clock gun is fired and the men gather by companies outside their various quarters for half an hour of Bible reading and prayer. Sometimes the meeting is conducted by the captain or in smaller groups in charge of a corporal. After a hymn is sung a chapter in the New Testament is read responsively, with brief explanations by the leader,
GENERAL FENG AND HIS CHRISTIAN ARMY
followed by a number of petitions from the officers and men. It is Family Worship for the day.
The men love to sing the favorite old hymns. They sing the first thing in the morning; they sing at noon, and they sing the last thing at night. They sing at meetings; they sing before meals; they sing as they march. The favorite hymn of the army is "Onward Christian Soldiers." Others that the troops especially enjoy are: "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus! Ye Soldiers of the Cross"; "Room for Thee"; "All People that on Earth do Dwell," and" 0 Happy D a y . " : :I Our work in the army began with the officers, and extended to the men. Majors and colonels seemed as ready to enlist in the Pocket Testament League as were private soldiers. My first big meeting with the troops was with 800 men of a cavalry regiment, led by the colonel with much fervor. At the conclusion of his prayer a chorus of" Amens" came from all over the audience. When those who would like to enlist in the League were asked to raise their hands, all re- sponded as far as I could see and many professed faith in Christ.
At one memorable service we addressed nearly 4,000 men in the open air. The interpreter was Rev. Martin Ekvall. How eagerly the men listened, how patiently they stood! God's Spirit was moving upon their hearts in answer to the prayers of many. When the invita- tion to accept Christ was given, so many hands were upraised that I asked that the invitation be repeated. Literally hundreds of hands . were upraised from all parts of the great audience. It was a soul- stirring sound when they repeated in concert after Chaplain Chang their declaration of faith in Christ. At the close of the service, the three regiments were marched a little distance away from the plat- form to the parade ground. The Testaments for the troops were piled high on tables at each of which stood a major, and presented them to the men as they marched by four abreast, company by com- pany, singing gospel hymns.
Then they once more assembled round the high earth platform and General Ohang gave a stirring talk, and prayed fervently for the men just beginning the Christian life. Then the men held their Testa- ments high above their heads, with the Book open at the passage, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Trnth" (2 Timothy 2 : 15). It was a scene worth going far to witness: that sea of open Testaments; every right hand in that great audience of nearly 4,000 Ohinese young men" holding fast the faithful Word."
NOTE.-Will not all who read these lines pray fervently for Gen. Feng and his Army; for a gracious revival in China; and for our party as we continue to preach Christ and distribute His Word wherever the Lord may lead' Prayer cards will be sent by The Sunday School Times Company, 1031 W~lnut. St., .Philadelphia, for the use of any who may wish to become prayer-helpers of revlVal m Chma.
MAN'S FINAL DESTINATION By SADHU SUNDAR SINGH, SIMLA, INDIA W E know more than we can ever put into words because we can never explain the whole of our inner consciousness. We have experiences which are beyond our powers of expression, but are not beyond our comprehension. At times, we have an intuition, and lofty thoughts suddenly flash into our minds that have not come from other men nor from the visible world through our senses. How have we been able to come to know these hidden things?
It is evident that our souls are coimected with the spiritual and unseen world, whose light, without our being aware of it, is reflected in our inner selves. Some truths from that other world come to us, but they can be proved only by experience, when we enter into that world, which we now see as in a glass darkly. When we see a thing from a distance, it appears small and indistinct, but when we have come near, we come to know the thing as it really is. No change has taken place in the thing itself, but our knowledge of it has increased. So, step by step, we shall enter into the intimate fellowship of God's immediate presence, and we shall increase in our spiritual knowledge and experience until we arrive at the full recognition of REALITY, "and we shall see Him as He is" (1 Cor. 13: 12, and 1 John 3: 1, 2, 3).
The man who has not seen an apple tree, but has seen only its tiny seed, can never understand that the complete tree-the wood, flowers, and fruit-is all contained in the tiny seed. Under suitable conditions, at the appointed time, the real nature of the apple tree will appear, and all its hidden possibilities will come into perfection. Leaving everything else out of consideration, man does not know what kind of qualities and abilities are hidden in him, but if he walks in fellowship with God and according to Bis will, then he will continue to obtain all necessary aids for his growth, and will reach that state of perfection for which God has created lrim. Then all difficulties and problems will be solved, for "it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 .John 3:2).
In the days of our flesh, our understanding and thoughts are limited to the circumference of a very small circle, beyonrl which it is not possible to reach. But in the future world, under the power of love, every faculty of the soul will grow towards perfection.
"The Spirit of the Lord brooded upon the face of the waters." The Spirit of the Lord still broods over human souls and He alone knows the great and glorious beings who will be manifested, and will enjoy the Creator's presence for ever. Countless problems arise as we progress towards perfection which will be solved only in the world to come, but as a chick as yet unhatched may wish to fly, so impatient man wants to solve all his problems in this world. This is premature and impossible. We must run with patience and perform with obedience whatever has been revealed to us to meet our present needs; we must leave all things concerning the future to Him, who will safely bring us to our final destination to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect.
of Confucianism In
BY THE LATE R. C. FORSYTH Author of "China Martyrs of 1900," etc.
I T seems clear that Confucius himself never contemplated the founding of any religious syste.m. His mind was eminently practical and he was concerned only about the present life and its relationships. He has nothing to say on anything beyond and above it. "If we know not life what can we know of death," is o~e of his oft-quoted sayings, showing that he neither knew nor cared for anything beyond the actual practicalities of daily life. He put himself in the humble position of a "transmitter" of the doctrines and practices of the ancient sages and he placed the "golden age" of Chinese history in the remote past, holding up to admiration the life and labors of Yao and Shun as the rulers par excellence whose example should be followed.
His efforts to preach righteousness at the courts of the small kingdoms then in existence did not meet with the success he expected; • and the ruler of his own state of Lu gave way to debauchery and drove him from his capital. After weary wanderings for long years he finally came back to his own home and gave up any further attempts to gain official employment. He felt towards the close of his life that he had failed and that the counsel and example he had given to his contemporaries had been rejected and himself slighted and despised by the court and official class. He died a more or less broken' man. "Heaven is destroying me," he exclaimed as he neared his end. His only son died in his old age and his favorite disciple also passed away before him and these successive blows hastened his own decline. It is due to his disciples, especially to the famous M.encius, who lived 108 years later, that his works and influence were established and finally became the paramount system -'n China rmongst the literati, who were the clas<s from whom the ofucials of t"1e King- . dom were selected. One of the most prominent of the defects of Confucianism is the practice of ancestral worship. The res<pect the Chinese show to their parents has been carried to such an excess as to become idolatry. .Offerings and libations are yearly made to the manes of their ancestors at their graves. These graves placed on the small plots of land which have been handed down from their ancestors are a marked feature of the landscape. Ijooking over any extensive coun- try one feels almost in a vast graveyard, so many are the mounds wlrfilh everywhere fill the prospect, and make serious inroads in the. land available for cultivation. Funeral rites are very expensive; the Chinese are wont to spend sums far more than they can reason- 959
ably afford in giving their parents a grand funeral, many often burdening themselves and future generations by incurring heavy debt. The rites performed at the grave are in a sense propitiatory and if neglected the spirits of their dead will supposedly haunt the~ and cause evil to befall them in the form of sickness, disease, or death. The custom of mourning the death of parents for three years, now happily in this new era largely disregarded, has for long centuries laid a heavy hand on the official and literary class, com- pelling them to retire from office or business and ostensibly follow the age-long custom. All this excessive mourning, often only the appearance of grief, affected and still hinders public business and private life.
The Confucian doctrine of the fi1Je relationships: of ruler and subject, husband and wife, father and son, elder and younger brother, and friends is held up as the panacea for all the ills of the state. Their proper observance would, as Confucius taught, bring about universal peace and prosperity. But because of the weakness of human nature these relationships break down at every point. Having no resh:aining and controlling force they have created no appreciable prosperity or peace either at home ,or abroad.
The effect of this doctrine on the life of the nation is to bring the deadly dullness of uniformity like a pall over anything and to hold the people to ancient customs as if squeezed into an iron mould. The horrible cruelty of footbinding among the women is a case in point. This practice, handed down from generation to generation, practically makes cripples for life of countless millions of women who from their earliest years have by invariable custom to submit to binding which nearly cripples them. This cruel custom not even legislation or imperial edict or example has been able to suppress. It is only in the Christian Church that progress has been made in alleviation; under its influence and control the girls are rescued from this life-long torture and deformity.
Confucius had small regard for the sanctity of tru,th. His book, "Spring and Autumn," the only volume he ever wrote, and by which he felt his reputation would be made, is found to be notoriously un- ~ trustworthy. "Ignoring, concealing, and misrepresenting, are its characteristics"; and the want of harmony between the facts and statements about them is plain to all scholars either native or foreign. His example in this book has been most injurious to his country. and lowers our estimate of the character of Confucius and the benefi- cent effect of his teaching. A fair examination of his literary labors does not increase our appreciation of him or of them. F,'rom his time and 'that of his famous follower Mencius the Five Classics and Four Books have been the staple of the studies in all the village schools of China-every word of these books being laboriously com- mitted to memory by every one of these young scholars. The writer
REl8UIil1S OF CONFUCIANISM IN OHINA
has known boys in the village schools to begin their studies at six: in the morning and keep on with intervals for meals till nine o'clock at night in hot, close, stifling rooms usually dark. Eye strain and poor health are the almost invariable result of such continued work.
The memorizing of such an enormous mass of literature by the mechanical process of repetition without at first understanding a word of what is learned has placed the minds of the young scholars under such a crushing burden as clogs and closes them against all new ideas, and deadens later initiative to such an extent as almost to strangle all progress.
The vast mass, of the Chinese people, trained by such methods, is sunk in the grossest ignorance and superstition. In their past proud isolation they have considered and called themselves the "Central Kingdom," believing themselves to be in the center of surrounding barbarian nations, who were so small as to be of no consequence.
Confucianism is therefore chargeable with a most deadening and • depressing influence on the intelligence of the nation. So much did the young,Emperor Kuang Hsu, almost the last ruler of the Manchu dynasty, feel the effect of the Confucian classics on the progress of the nation that by imperial rescript he at one stroke removed from the government examinations the classical essay which usually determined the position of the scholar on the lists of the competitors, and substituted for it the subject of mathematics as taught in the colleges of Western lands as the s.ine qucr non of the successful candidate. This edict was only one of a number of startling innovations by which the Emperor thought to save his nation from decay. These acts so alarmed the conservative literati that the Empress Dowager again asserted her supremacy, compelled the Emperor to resign, and beheaded a number of the ardent reformers on whose advice he had acted. Thus for a time the advance of the nation 'in education and enlightenment was arrested.
Confucius and Confucianism are chargeable with an almost' total disregard for women. Although it is true that both parents were and are reverenced in life, mourned when dead, and to a certain extent feared after death, yet Confucianism is chargeable with ignoring women and girls and leaving them in their ignorance, an easy prey to superstitious practices and crnel customs. The example and teaching of Confucius are largely responsible for this; while he mourned for his mother after her death according to the customs of his time and place, yet he commanded his son to hush his lamentations on the death of his wife. Girls when born into the family are looked on with little favor. They are as a rule not sent to school or allowed to learn to rea(l and write. They have, with the other women of the household, to do the drudgery of the home, and when married have to serve with rigor in the home of the mother~in-Iaw with
whom the married son still lives. Sometimes in wealthy families the girls are taught to read and write along with the boys and then frequently evince superior intelligence, as in the case of the famous Empress Dowager Tsu Rsi, who practically ruled the Chinese Empire for over forty years and proved more than a match for the most intelligent of the ministers of state. But the condition of women and girls in general is such that girl infanticide is common, and suicide one of the most frequent crimes. The women and girls are the stronghold of idolatry, and until they are enlightened Christi- .anity can make small progress in the Kingdom of China. Where Christianity comes then the uplift of the women and girls begins. They are in Chrjstian homes usually allowed to go to school, but as the country is so poor only comparatively few of the boys or girls get any schooling at all.
Again, Confucianism is materialistic. It confines itself to the ordinary affairs of life and knows nothing of the life beyond. Confucius when asked by one of his disciples about death and the hereafter made the remark, already quoted, "If we know not what life is what can we know of death ~"-simply a confession of ignorance. The influence of Confucius has hindered the Chinese as a nation from any desire to know what may be learned of the life to come. Confucianism therefore does not satisfy the heart or soothe the sorrows of those who mourn, or minister to the needs of the spirit which craves for intercourse with the unseen powers. In China the introduction of Buddhism was easily accomplished and had much success owing to its promise of final peace for the soul in the bliss of Nirvana. II Taoism is in reality a conglomeration of dangerous superstitions," although its founder, Laotze, a contemporary of Confucius, is not responsible for many of, the accretions and idolatrous practices introduced from Buddhism which are now identified with it. Alchemy, geomancy, and spiritualism flourished under its shadow and had its roots in the craving of the human heart for intercourse with the unseen which Confucianism did not satisfy. Thus the three forms of religion. Confucianism with its ancestral worship, Taoism with its spiritualism, and Buddhism with its future rewards and punishments were mutually interdependent and could be professed in combination.
Of course these three forms of religion do not exhaust the Pantheon of Chinese belief. Myriads of gods and goddesses are common in all parts of China. Many of the gods were originally famous men who were subsequently deified.
The doctrine of the five relationships is chargeable with the infliction of much evil and hardship on the people of China, e. g., the practice of footbinding among- women, due to subordination and utter neglect of women, untruthfulness in Confucius a fatal blot in
19241 RESULTS OF CONFUCIANISM IN OHINA
his character, education in China paralyzed by Confucian doctrine and practice. Confucianism is condemned by its treatment of women an~ .girls, Confucianism is ma~erialistic which does not satisfy the spIritual nature and thus TaOIsm and Buddhism have been intro- duced to fill this craving.
Any comparison between Jesus Christ and Confucius is utterly unthinkable. Tl!e life of Confucius was a failure as he himself admitted. The conquering might of Christ's life, death and resur- rection is slowly transforming the lives and thoughts of all mankind. True it is that Confucius by his teaching and his life has largely moulded the lives of his own countrymen but the effect has been to strike the nation with paralysis and bind it as in iron fetters. Confucian doctrine has not satisfied the hunger of the heart for intercourse with the unknown God and the unseen world and has thus left.the nation to fall into the idolatries of Buddhism, and the superstitious practices of Taoism.
Confucius did not feel himself a sinner or confess his sins. Our Lord came to make atonement for His people and to save them from their sins, t6 die for their salvation and rise again and ascend to the right hand of God where He ever liveth to make intercession for us.
Confucius was merely a preacher of righteousness. The life of Confucius was in conduct above the average. He does not soil his soul with vice or his body with debauchery but he has given to his countrymen an example of pride and self-complacency which has been too readily followed and has often brought the nation to the brink of destruction. His trust in outward ritual and rules of conduct while helping the practice of decorum does not touch the springs of existence in spiritual matters but leaves these unknown and undesired.
Confucianism has no uplift, for Confucius is dead and buried milleniums ago, leaving indeed his example which is found deficient in truth the foundation of all morality. There is no recognition of the need for the daily cleansing of the soul at the fountain opened for sin and all uncleanness.
Confucianism has laid an intolerable burden on the minds and hearts of the Chinese people. The children in the schools have groaned under the tasks it imposes, which for the most part are of no practical value in daily life and load their fresh minds with a weight grievous to be borne of undigested material, which is of little value in the·· practice of virtue and none in support of the spirit under trial and affiiction and has only been submitted to as it had been made the gateway to official employment in the service of the Government. "By its fruits ye shall know" the doctrine, says our Lord and by this standard Oonfucianism is found wanting.
PRINCE REGENT OF ABYSSINIA, RAS TAFARI
DAY IN ADDIS ABEBA D R AWS A CR,OWD OF 20 ,000
Seen in Abyssinia BY REV. C. S. CLELAND, D.D., PHILADELPHIA, P A. Recording Secretary 0-£ the United Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions ETHIOPIA is the ancient name of this country and the people themselves still prefer this designation. Four years ago, the United Presbyterian Church, at work in the Southern Sudan, extended its field to include the western provinces of Abyssinia. .N station was opened and a hospital established at Sayo, which soon became the center of great activity, especially among the Gallas or pagan people of that region.
After serving for a time in Sayo, Dr. T. A. Lambie, the medical missionary of the United Presbyterian Church, turned his face eastward to visit Addis Abeba, the capital. After a difficult trip of nearly a month, he reached the city and was received by His Highness, Ras Tafari, Prince Regent and actual ruler of Abyssinia. The result of the interview and of others that followed was the softening of official opposition to evangelical missionary work. The Prince consented to have a hospital o'pened in Addis Abeba, and promised to donate a suitable site for this purpose. The building of the hospital has been made possible by an initial gift of $50,000 (subsequently increased to $75,000) from Mr. William S. George of East Palestine, Ohio. When completed, the building will contain one hundred and fifty beds, will be thoroughly equipped, and will probably be the largest structure of any kind in Abyssinia.
965
On the evening of December 28, 1923, Dr. W. B. Anderson and the writer left Aden and crossed the Strait of Babel-Mandeb to Jibuti, the capital of French Somaliland. Here we found ourselves at the gateway of a new and strange vorld. Jibuti is a city of 12,000 people, mostly natives but with many French and some Eng- lish residents. The Somalies are an interesting race, rather war-like, as one would judge from the fact that most of the men carry daggers and guns, but are quickly respon- sive to kind treatment.
It is five hundred miles from Jibuti to Addis Abeba. In 1917 a railroad was built connecting fue two cities. Trains run twice a week, and as they run only by day- light, three days are required for the journey. Early on the morn- ing of December 30th we left Jibuti and for many hours our train puffed slowly up the heavy grade through a wild and desolate coun- try. French Somaliland looks as though, at some remote time, a shower of big, black boulders had fallen, covering the ground to such a depth as to render vegetation almost impossible.
After crossing the Abyssinian border, the road winds in and SLAVES IN ABYSSINIA out amid innumerable extinct vol- canoes and the whole country has Slavery has heretofore preva.iled in Abyssinia, been upheaved and piled on edge. but the Prince has now issued 8. decree abolishing it. Black lava fills the valleys, giving them the appearance of vast coal beds. It is a lonely region with here and there a shepherd or herdsman with a few goats or camels, but the country is too completely burned out to support a large population. Even wild life is scarce-only an occasional jackal, a deer or two, a few small herds of mountain goats, several interesting birds and a species of diminutive antelope that went bounding away and might easily have been mistaken for jack-rabbits.
At six 0 'clock on the second day we reached Hawash, a town on a hill several hundred feet above the Hawash River. This river has one peculiarity-it has no outlet other than the desert sands. It rises among the mountain peaks, and, after flowing two hundred miles or more, suddenly disappears. Strange to say, this stream,
1924J SEEN iN ABYSS!N!A
though it has no connection with larger rivers, is well stocked 'with crocodiles.
New Year's Day, 1924, was our third day out, and as Addis Abeba lies at an elevation of 9,500 feet, more than half of this ascent had to be made during the last day's run. But the higher we got, the better the country became. Great stretches of tillable land lay about us in all directions with here and there a patch of cotton or a small field of corn or wheat. ~ren were in t.he field cutting the wheat by hand and putting it up in small round stacks. When Abyssinia develops, this land will be brought under profitable culti- vation.
Late in the afternoon we reached the crest of the mountain, and saw, still ten or twelve miles distant, the capital of Abyssinia.
When, an hour later, we reached the station, we encountered a tre- mendous throng. At first we thought that the whole city had come out to greet us. It was not we, but the train, that had drawn the crowds. A hissing, puffing locomotive is to Addis Abeba almost what a circus is to an Amer- ican town. Everyone who can possibly reach the station is there FITARARI HAPTA GORGIS to see the train corne in. But the Minister of War. Head of the Conserva- missionaries, the Lambies, the tive Party.
Wests and Miss White, were there to greet us and across the way the mission "Ford" awaited us, as did also the "Overland," belong- ing to the head of the Abyssinian Church Wlho had sent his car to carry us to the mission compound.
As we rode through the city our first impressions were formed.
Addis Abeba has a population of nearly 100,000. Its development apparently has not been along carefully defined lines. Many of the buildings look as though they had just happened. There are all sizes and shapes and materials and styles of architecture. Some look as if they had been built to stand, and others to fall down. The streets are wide, but. as yet unpaved. The shop windows are inter- esting, but the display of goods is quite un-American. The crowds are enormous and t.here are almost as many animals as people- sheep and goats, mules and donkeys, camels and cattle, and dogs -we never saw so many dogs. Thirty-two lay before one house, and Dr. Lambie said it was not a good day for dogs either! Neither man nor beast in Addis Abeba has yet become reconciled to the sight and
sound of an auto. Invari!lbly the approach of the machine is a signal for a panic and stampede. We saw men knocked down and rolled in the dust by mules in their wild flight. But the average Abyssinian does not take such an experience seriously. He rises, shakes the dust from his clothing and smiles as though he rather enjoyed the performance. To the visitor, an auto ride through the streets of Addis Abeba is a continual thrill.
Two miles west of the city lies the mission compound, comprising eight acres on a gently sloping hillside. Originally the plot was a eucalyptus grove and thousands of trees made an almost impenetrable forest. On the mountainside two miles away is an excellent spring from which a fine stream flows through the mission property.
The hospital walls were beginning to rise, made of a beautiful gray sandstone, cut from near-by quarries and brought to the compound on the backs of donkeys. When the hospital is completed, it will bring to Abyssinia a ministry of untold blessing. Heretofore, the people have known little of medical or surgical care. The sick and injured have suffered without hope. Many of these will now find relief .and at the same time will learn of Him who came to bear our sins as well as our sicknesses. '1'he missionaries expect that the hospital will soon also become a training school for doctors and nurses, trained to carry healing to many parts of the country.
Other Christian forces beside the United Presbyterians at work in Addis Abeba are the Seventh Day Adventists, the Swedish Lutherans and the British and Foreign Bible Society. These brethren are dwelling and working together in beautiful harmony and cooperation. Years ago, the Swedish mission came into Abyssinia from Eritrea on the northeastern frontier, but official opposition prevented them from expanding. While awaiting permission to go forward, they gave themselves to the task of translating the Scriptures and of preparing textbooks for use in schools, a service the value of which is just now beginning to be realized.
We were surprised to be invited to visit the Patriarch or Abuna, the head of the Abyssinian Church. He had not been friendly to our mission work and twice, by his orders, the school at Sayo had been closed. However, shortly before our arrival, he had been taken seriously ill, and, in his extremity, had sent for Dr. Lambie. During his recovery he and the doctor became fast friends, and hearing that we were in the city he insisted that we should visit him. For a half hour we sat at his bedside and through an interpreter talked of the things in which we were mutually interested.
The Abyssinian Church is nominally Christian. It traces its origin to the Ethiopian eunuch. Some claim that the Apostle Matthew visited the country and planted the Gospel in that soil. Be this as it may, the Church has lost its spiritual power and its priests are for the most part ignorant and corrupt. They are supported by
SEEN IN ABYSSINIA
public taxation and most of the political intriguing, so manifest in Abyssinia, has its origin with the priests. They form the reactionary party, and little progress toward better things can be expected so long as their power continues. We came from our interview with the aged Patriarch with the prayer that the whole Abyssinian Church, priests and people, may be quickly restored to apostolic purity and power.
Perhaps the crowning event of our sojourn in Addis Abeba was the interview with His Highness, Ras Tafari, the Reigning Prince. He sent word that he would be pleased to entertain us at dinner on the evening of January 5th. Arriving at the palace, we passed between two lines of soldiers to the veranda where servants took our hats and coats. We were then ushered into a small room and THE NEW PARTIALLY-COMPLETED AMERICAN MISSION HOSPITAL IN ADDIS ABEBA welcomed by two prOIninent officials, one of whom was Ras Nado, recently instrumental in securing the admission of Abyssinia into the League of Nations. In a few minutes the door opened and we were shown into a large, brilliantly lighted drawing-room, simply but elegantly furnished. Here the Prince awaited us. In stature, he is rather small but he has a refined and intelligent face, and his manner is so gracious that one instantly feels at ease in his presence. After a few moments of conversation through an interpreter, we were summoned to dinner in a large room, finely decorated and furnished.
The table was a vision of beauty, and the menu such as one would expect in any first-class Western hotel. Later in the evening, the Prince entertained us with moving pictures, mostly of Abyssinian scenes and intensely interesting. '
The Prince seemed friendly to Christian missions, especially in their medical and educational branches. In addition to having do- nated the site for the new hospital, he is preparing to beautify the 3
grounds and to supply the buildings with running water. He is anxious that a girls' school shall be established, and promises to encourage the work in every way possible. He is also interested in industrial work and recently imported American farm machinery, asking that one of the missionaries be set apart for a time to supervise its inauguration. The Prince is an intelligent and progressive ruler, fully aware that Abyssinia is far behind Western nations in material development, but anxious for an immediate advancement. America is his ideal. On the walls of the palace reception room hang portraits of Presidents 'Wilson and Harding, for both of whom the Prince has great admiration. He said that it was his earnest hope that he might have the counsel and support of America in his efforts to establish a ;just and stable government. He has an open. door, but there are many adversaries. The priests, whose influence is so great, are not progressive, and oppose all innovations. The missionaries are the Prince's friends and may be counted upon to give their cordial support to every measure that looks to the material and spiritual betterment of Abyssinia'S ten millions of people. For centuries Ethiopia has been in darkness. Now she is stretching out her hands unto God. Like other nations, she needs the Gospel. It.is her only hope.
MTSS ISABELLE BLAIR AND THE FIRST AMERICAN MISSION SCHOOL IN ABYSSINIA
Rural Church under the
BY RALPH A. FELTON, ITHACA, NEW YORK Department of Rnral Social Organization, Cornell University T HE surveys which the Bureau of Social and Religious Re- search have just completed are causing a considerable stir, for they reveal some startling facts. Reading some portions of them is like taking a cold plunge on a wintry day. After listening to Home Mission speeches about "the far-flung frontier," "isolated communities," "unchurched regions," "unmet needs," "our great challenge," and the" statesmanship of the church," it is somewhat perplexing and disconcerting to read in one o~ those survey reports that" It is quite apparent that in these counties most of the home mission aid which is now granted could be withdrawn without any danger whatsoever of leaving communities with inadequate religious facilities." This statement refers of course only to certain sections and should not be applied to all Home Mission fields.
A secretary of one large II orne Mission board has protested against the use of the funds of the Board in any way not strictly "according to the principles of Christian ethics." In other words, he wishes the money used for pioneer work in really neglected fields and needed enterprises. Another Home Mission board secretary has also spoken out against "unwise and unnecessary expenditure of Board funds" and has made public the facts that, in some cases, call for a revision of budgets. These criticisms and warnings are mild compared with some of the statements made in the reports of this Committee on Social and ReligiDus Surveys. This report says of certain Home Mission fields, "on a careful examination of all the data at hand it seems that 149 of the 211 aided churches in these counties might be dispensed with to the general advantage of the religious life in their communities and to the greater glory of the Kingdom of God."
These" rural surveyors" who would revise some of our ecclesi~ astical" traditions are men whose record in Christian work should command confidence. John R. Mott is the chairman of the Committee; other members are President Faunce, of Brown University, Dr. Kenyon L. Butterfield, for years President of Massachusetts CoIlege of Agriculture, Dr. James L. Barton of the American Board of Foreign Missions, Dr. Ernest D. Burton, long a trusted church administrator, and Mr. Raymond B. Fosdick, a layman of wide experience. The committee is most sympathetic and friendly in its attitude toward the country church and desires the greatest success for Christian work in America. The men who directed these surveys are Edmund deS. Brunner, a professional "fact-finder," entrusted with many interdenominational undertakings, and Mr. Hermann N.
971
Morse who has perhaps done more actual survey work than any other two or three men. He is the" dean of all church doctors, ,, in actually diagnosing the diseases which afflict town and country churches. He is an officer of a large Home Mission Board and heads up the "Bu- reau of Research" in his denomination.
The surveys are careful and reliable but they reveal some un- pleasant facts and may have an unfortunate reaction. For example, when we read that "the average period during which aid has been granted to home mission churches is a little more than eight years" a contributor to mission funds may say, "That is long enough! I'll stop giving." When a Home Mission secretary reads that "Barely one-half of the aided churches employ a budget system, about the same proportion use weekly envelopes and an annual every-member canvass," he may say, "We will cut off the gifts to those churches that have not a satisfactory budget system and are not doing their share toward self-support." But any blame that attaches to these cases may belong not to the church but to the administrators. Has anyone taught these churches how to put on an every-member canvass1 The'over-worked administrator may have had more than he could do in the routine of his office and has had no time for detailed supervision. Few realize the time, energy and prayer that the average Board secretary gives to his task, often trying to do the work of ten men so as to cut down "administrative expenses."
There is need for great wisdom in the use of mission funds and it would be a great calamity to Home Mission work if contributors should stop their giving or decrease their contributions. Do you realize that only 15 per cent of all town and country churches have a resident pastor-most of them because they cannot afford them~ Would you take the support of the pastors now in charge of these rural churches 7 One community out of seven has no Protestant church whatever. There is certainly still much home mission work to be done. In only one county out of 179 is 50 per cent of its population enrolled in its churches. vVho would propose to stop giving to the work of Ohristianizing rural America? One home missionary out of every three is obliged to supplement his meager salary by work at some other task besides building the Kingdom of God. We have sent him out to the front lines to extend and. build up the Kingdom; shall we then keep back the supplies 7 Only half of your home missionaries are supplied with a place in which to live and the average cash salary. paid to them is only $1,150 a year. This is less for the support of a man and his family and the education of his children, than most business men pay their stenographers. In some cases the high school teacher in the same town is getting double the salary of the minister of the Gospel. One third of the Home Mission churches in the open country have no Sunday-schools. How can we consistently pray for. the evangelization of the world
THE RURAL llHURCH UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
if we neglect the religious needs of these rural communities7 If we give these churches the full time of a resident minister they have a fifty per cent better chance for growth.
What is the trouble with the country church1 Briefly, the trouble, in most instances, is the same as the farmer has with his crops-it is one of distribution. Apples rot on the ground in west- ern New York or northern Ohio while within a hundred miles of these orchards people eat apples shipped all the way' from Oregon. One market is glutted with a certain crop and in the next city it is not to be found. Sectarianism has glutted the market in some towns while vast areas are left untouched. Home Mission boards must cooperate and local churches must do the same. Where Methodists compete with the Presbyterians a pastor must Serve a circuit in- stead of a station. These survey reports show that if the Presby- terian pastor would take all the people in the upper end of a given valley and the Methodist would take the lower end then both churches would have a fifty per cent better chance of growing. Only sixteen per cent of town and country churches have the services of a full time resident minister, nineteen per cent have a part time resident minister, fifty-two per cent have a non-resident preacher and the remainder have none at all. This is usually because three fifths of these churches are competing with some other Protestant church similar to it in purpose and in creed.
The Boards find it difficult to change this situation because they are not" service agencies," but are the collectors and disbursers of funds. If one Board could employ enough people adequately to look after the way its money is spent, to supervise new buildings, to teach aid-receiving churches how to put on an every-member canvass and make out a budget, then a general cry would go up from the denomination to "cut down administrative expenses." Most religious people will not admit it, but they would rather give a little money to an unsupervised cause, if it is far enough away, rather than to give sufficient money for expert supervision. lVe prefer to look at our missions through a telescope rather than through a microscope.
Let us see if this statement is really true. One of the large denominations employed a "Rural Church Secretary" to be a preacher of "Modern Methods" to its rural pastors. But in order to see that he had enough work to do his Board made him "Secretary of Rural Work and Social Service." They were not ready to allow him to give all his time to their ten thousand rural churches. Another great denomination has a Superintendent of Rural Work who has made an enviable record, but they are asking him now to give more and more of his time to "raising the benevolences." An- other Board employed a "Secretary for Rural Work" but he was not
considered a success because he interfered too much with "things as they have always been."
Most of our church members do not yet want Boards to be service agencies and so conditions remain ~nsatisfactory. For example, one Home Mission Board established a great Bureau of Architecture to give advice regarding church building's and parsonages. Notwithstanding that these surveys show that "churches with three rooms or more make proportionately from 50 to 300 per cent better records" than in one room buildings, yet this great denomination recently did away with its Bureau of Architecture to "cut down administrative expenses."
Missions, like patriotism, is not primarily a matter of money. We must discuss service more than the bonus. To remedy the conditions which these surveys reveal our Home Mission Boards must be great service institutions, not simply collecting and disbursing agencies. These surveys show that only one third of our rural churches put on an every member canvass, but the churches in this group have from 12 to 100 per cent larger per-capita contributions than the others. Why should not a Mission Board have experts to help churches that petition for a money granU Only 35 per cent of all town and country churches have young people's societies. Should not Mission Boards give aid in organizing these in the other 65 per cent 7 Only 39 churches out of the 1,047 studied have boys' organizations. Does not the" passing on a grant" seem insignificant compared to a great service program for these boys7 Has not the' time come for the great denominational bodies to go to rural people with a larger and more effective service program 7 The Seiyawa Tribe of Western Nigeria BY c. F .. BEITZEL, BUNUr-.ru, WEST NIGERIA, AFRICA Missionary of the Sudan Interior Mission T HIS is a large pagan tribe to the southeast of Lake Chad. There are about 25,000 of them, close neighbors to our tribe (the Jarawa) and situated directly south of us. They live in small villages of 50 to 1,000 people each, and so near together that they give the country the appearance of a large, scattered city. This is why most of the towns are too small to appear on the maps.
The first place I visited was a large native market of about 4,000 natives. Many of them ran down the road to meet me and saluted me as "Lion," "King of the world," "Conqueror," etc., as they usually address a white man. After I had answered their salutations I asked them to be quiet as I was the "white Teacher" who had come to tell them" the good news of Jesus." I began by singing:
19241 THE SEIYAWA TRIBE OF WESTERN NIGERIA
I'Jesu ya oaf smnmaniva, J esu ya shigo suniva .Tesu ya ji tausayina Mai-Chetona.
"Jestl ya dauke laifina J esu ya sha wahalata Jesu ya mutu domina Mai-Chetona. "
In English it means: "Jesus left heaven; He entered the world, and feels pity for us. He is my Saviour. Jesus bore my sin; He took my trouble, He died for me. He is my Saviour."
Then' followed a simple gospel message to which they listened attentively. I went to the Chief's place for the night and again preached to a large crowd which he had called together. The next morning they began gathering at daybreak. So I gave them God's Message again. That day I preached seven times, ollce at each village we visited. My voice was nearly gone at night but it was a great joy to give them the Gospel for the first time!
Some of the rivers were up, the rainy season having started. At one place after much coaxing I persuaded two men to carry me across. There was a mixed crowd of men and women there so I could not remove my clothing and wade across. We started with me on the shoulders of two men. All went well till we reached deep water, then one of them slipped and I dropped in the water with my only clothes on me. But the sun dried me as I went on my way rejoicing that it was no worse.
At another place I spoke and afterward offered prayer during which I heard an old man keep repeating, "Jesu, J esu," as though he could not get away from the spell of that charming Name he had heard for the first time. The place where I stayed that night was the scene of a big feast and drinking. Let us not judge these people too harshly as no one had ever told them of a better way. When I arrived they crowded around to hear the sweet story of Jesus and a better way of life. They also gathered at daybreak the next morning to hear once again before I left.
The women were much afraid and ran away to hide, while the children cried when I approached. Even chickens would scream and take for cover. Some of the people whom I met along the native trails are so frightened at my bicycle that they are panic-stricken and spill and break the loads on their heads.
Many of the chiefs want to send boys. to our school at Bununu but their super-lords who rule over them will not allow it. They want to keep them in ignorance for fear of losing control over them.
While on this trip the people gave me chickens, milk, several dozen eggs, honey, onions, etc., to show their appreciation. They need white teachers to "sit down" with them as they express it, and lead them faithfully in the way of "righteousness and true holiness!"
Work of the Africa Inland
EXTRACTS FROM THE ANNUAL REPORTS 1923 TO 1924 T HIS independent mission was founded nearly thirty years ago (in 1895) by Peter Cameron Scott, and is conducted along the lines of the China Inland Mission. It is a so-called undenominational "Faith Mission" but without the peculiarities that characterize some of these. Its purpose is to do pioneer evangelistic work in districts thus far unevangelized. The growth of the Mission has been remarkable for it has now over two hundred missionaries (172 American, 33 British and 2 French) located in farly-five stations, among twenty-two tribes, speaking twenty-five different lan- guages or dialects. The districts occupied are in Kenya Colony, Tanganyika Territory, Uganda, French Equatorial Africa and Bel- gian Congo. The expenditures last year amounted to $150,842, all re- ceived without direct appeals and from no regular denominational sources. There are now some 1,700 church members enrolled, 2,000 catechumens, 282 native evangel- ists and teachers, 1,600 hospital pa- tients and 2,380 pupils in schools. Twenty-eight years ago the founder of the Africa Inland Mission was given the vision of a chain of stations upon the higher altitudes stretching from Mombasa to Lake Chad. Today in the providence of God, a chain of forty-five stations reaches from Mukaa, in Kenya Colony, to Bafuka in the Belgian Congo. For the past two or three years careful plans and much prayer have been applied by the Mission to the problem of advance into French Equatorial Africa. It was known that advance into this territory would require the surmounting of difficulties more exacting and complex than any that had yet been experienced, but, in the goodness of God, the first advance has been made possible this year. Early in the new year a small reconnoitering party set out from Aba to investigate conditions, and to consider sites suitable for a mission station in that section of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan and north of the Belgian Oongo. On January 24th there set out from Bordeaux, M. and Mme. Forissier, first missionaries of the French Oouncil of the Mission, and Mr. and Mrs. Boyson, missionaries of the American Council, to proceed to Matadi, and thence up the Congo River to Bangui and Zemio.
976 Thirteen years ago the Mission commenced a new advance into the Belgian Congo; today there are in that territory twenty-one stations and sixty-five missionaries, and hundreds of converts. What seemed impossible, chimerical, impracticable then, has been made possible by God in these brief years.
The last annual report of the General Director, Rev. Charles E. Hurlburt, contains the following interesting information: "Few, if any of our missionaries can hope to be as useful in general evangelism as the native evangelists. Even if, with rare ability, and after years of study, he knows the language as well as the native, he will not until yet further years be as familiar with native habit and custom, and even then it is difficult for the untaught native to believe that the white man's experience can become theirs…… .
"When beginning work in a tribe the missionary must do all the work of evangelism, teaching, etc., but also must look forward to the time we have now reached, at all but the very newest stations, when his work must be the pushing forward of native helpers and their development as the God-called and spirit-filled leaders of their own people. The development has not been swift nor sudden. Slowly, often painfully, the missionary has been teaching, training, developing his native helper, until now a company more than twice as numerous as the missionaries compels our attention and demands our thoughtful sympathy and prayer. Our report shows over 400 natives, nearly all men, giving their whole life and time, beside an uncounted force still in the first stages of training and giving only part time to mission work. None of the 400 has gone beyond the need of training and of supervision, and it will be realized that the greatest responsibility resting upon the Mission is the further training and equipment of these native helpers, who must be the real leaders and evangelists in the building of the native Church…… .
" As converts have been gathered, the desire to be able to read has inereased so rapidly that Missions have been unable to meet the demand. Well equipped eentral sehools under the direetion of well trained educators are a necessity, the urgeney of which cannot easily be exaggerated.
"Governments, which have been indifferent and have left education of the natives to the missions to be done as they pleased, are now aroused, and in some cases are imposing such high standards as cannot be met save by highgrade teachers and the best equipment. A large proportion of our native helpers may soon be forbidden to teach if we are not able to raise their grade to standard through these central schools. Only very elementary schools are known in Central and East Africa. In every part of the Africa Inland field, boys and girls, and often elders and chiefs are coming to the Mission asking for schools for themselves or their children. There is need and demand fol' from 20 to 100 of such schools surrounding nearly everyone of our forty-four stations. The cheap shelters put up, often through the unselfish economies of individual missionaries, must now be replaced by better buildings, giving a required air space for each pupil, and must be equipped with needed school material and be taught by men holding prescribed grade certificates.
"The cry of the people is for the Mission to give them. their schook No other equa~ opportunity' ~o give the Gos'pel to the people is offered in Africa. From these schooll! nearly 'all of our convet'll! have come.
"If we fail to enter, government schools will be opened, with non-missionary teachers. The people, believing the Mission has failed them will turn to these teachers, who may not know, or openly oppose, Our Lord and Saviour, and such villages will become more difficult to evangelize than the untaught, wild people…… .
"In most cases the Mission's out-schools, where the Gospel is always preached, are near the mission stations and the native teaeher may return to the missionary every day, or onee a week, for instruetion and help. Some, however, are 100 or more miles distant, and the native teaeher may eome to the station only once in six months or a year. For such schools men who are very strongly grounded in the Truth and in holy living are needed…… .
"From our various stations we have received reports of the work of native evangelists. In one instance, laek of means proved an ineentive to work in a new district. The missionary writes: 'We have opened eight new out-sehools this year and have pressing requests for as many more, and with a little seeking for openings we could doubtless open about twenty more in suitable locations. An eneouraging feature of these openings. is that they are due in a large measure to the work of the native teaehers.'
"Nor are physieal limitations proving too great for eager souls to press on to fuller knowledge. 'We have a touching case,' a missionary writes, 'A blind boy, blinded through smallpox, heard the Gospel in his village school, and has learned by heart all the seripture verses in the book and all the hymns. He is now on the station, and greatly desires to be baptised; his brightness and his prayers make his life a testimony for God.'
"Work of an extensive and intensive nature fills the hours of yet another missionary who says: 'Many thousands of villages have been visited and the Gospel has been preaehed in the different languages, while we have a large number of the station who are learning the way and preparing for the time when we shall be able to open other schools. Quite a few who had been written off as backsliders have eome back, and given evidence of wanting to get right with God again.'
"The sorrows of Darkest Africa and the delivering power of the Gospel are brought into sharp eontrast by this story: 'Another one is a eripple girl.
Had she been born a white girl, she would have erutehes to help her along,
THE WORK OF THE AFRICA INI,AND MISSION
but as she is just a black girl, she has to crawl on her hands and knees. Her village life had not been very happy. She 'Aad to do most of the grinding of the grain, and, too, her father and brothers knew she would never bring them in many sheep or goats. Hearing the Word of God in an out-school she wanted to come to the Mission station, ni.ne miles away. There was no way for her to get here, and she could not ask the people in her village to carry her in. They would have laughed at her and hindered her from coming. So, one morning she started alone for the station, coming all the wayan her hands and knees. It is now over seven months since she came, and she is quite happy to be here; but, best of all, she has come to know Him Who is "no respecter of persons" …… '
"The vivid inspiration and thought-life of the African have often been referred to; even in prayer they think in pictures: One of our teachers desired prayer that he may be more earnest in seeking the lost, 'bringing them into the fold of Jesus, the Good Shepherd,' and we felt that his desire was real, for he sat for some time after his request quietly weeping. This same teacher prayed for us (the missionaries) one day, that God would make us 'comely pillars in His house; not like the pillars of wood that the white ants eat and they give way and let the house fall, but pillars of hewn' stone, strong and comely.'
"The missionary's task in shepherding the flock of God, watching, guiding, teaching, and leading on to full growth and life and service emerges in this report: 'About three years ago, upon my arrival at the station, – – was the sheep and goat boy. My first recollection of him is the day when I met him down in the grass where he was herding the sheep and goats, and on my asking him the name of the native musical (?) instrument, he cheerfully gave it.
" 'The next instance which caused me to notice him was when he came to one of the missionaries on the station and asked help out of his difficulty regarding his morning prayers. The difficulty was that the cook boy laughed when he prayed. He went bravely on, taking everything, as far as one could tell, to God in prayer. The weather, gardens, and school work, everything was something to pray about, and every new trial was an opportunity to pray to God. One time he had to be punished, but he confessed his wrongdoing as sin, and went on rejoicing after having asked God to wash hifl heart clean in the blood of Jesus. As time has gone on he has been, although not as bright as some of the others, very studious and diligent in his studies, which, with his consecration, made it possible for us to send him out as an evangelist. Being also a teacher, he has been sent to the villages to teach and preach and also with a man who has had charge of the out-school in the local chief's village for about a year.
" 'At present he is one who is able to catechize the younger Christians on the station; of course under supervision. We do not know what the future holds for him, but we do know that the future Church will need a pastor, elders, etc. Does it not lie with us to pray that God will make him mighty among his own people who need the message from and through a fully yielded man?'
"Longing after something deepe'r than fruitfulness-even spiritual fragrance is told in the story of, 'A Bible woman, and teacher in the station school who rose and offered a testimony, voicing her desire for the year just opening. Among other good things, she said that she desired her home during thifl year to be to her family and all who might visit her, comparable to a corner of Heaven. She wanted her parents who live with her, and her two children to realize through the coming days that a new spirit rules that home, the Spirit of Life and Righteousness, and she asked the prayers of God's
people that she may be given grace to shed that new spirit upon all who come to her house.' ….. .
"The missionary is not alone in denying himself for Christ's sake; it is inseparable to all true gospel witness. 'The people are as a rule not eager for the Gospel, so these teachers have a hard time to buy food; often being forced to pay double price, as they are strangers and in the employ of the white man, who has plenty of money! (1). The teachers go out to the villages early in the morning and do not return to camp until late afternoon. Then they must grind the grain, hunt firewood, and cook their own meal.'
"During the year the entire New Testament in Masai has been printed. The New Testament in Kinyamwezi has been sent to the press, and will be issued soon. The beginnings have been made in many other languages, and some very substantial progress has been made during the past year…… .
"Work for native girls in the various homes has been carried on in the midst of unusual difficulties, but its imporlance was never more manifest than at the close of this year of work. The oppression of native chiefs who seek to force girls, who desire to be Christians, into the wicked and debasing customs of their tribes, has proven a time of testing for some Christians, and of very great anxiety to those who are seeking to save young girls from such dangers. Girls' homes have been like 'Cities of Refuge' to many.
"In view of the grave needs mentioned above, and of innumerable problems we ask every friend of Africa Inland Mission to pray in expectant faith for: 1. Such a manifestation of Divine power and favor as shall enable us to meet all the needs for educational work. 2. For missionaries to fill the gaps made by sickness, death and furloughs, and to open the new station mentioned above, and to give relief to many over-worked missionaries who greatly need helpers. 3. For more native helpers in every part of the field. 4. That they may be led to seek and find that fullness of the Holy Spirit's presence and work, which shall make them more effective than they have ever been before. 5. That every missionary and home worker may seek and not rest until there is found individually the same realized blessing of the Holy Spirit's controlling presence and power."
PRAYER FOR A LIFE OF LIBERTY By HOWARD W. POPE, Chicago Unveil my eyes that I may see All that Thou haRt in store for me; Unstop my ears that I may hear Thy kind reproof, or words of theer.
Unloose mv tongue that I may give Thy message, and some soul may live. Unbind my feet that they may run On Merey'8 errands for Thy Son.
Inspire my mind that. I may see The fullness of Thy love for me. Anoint my heart that I may feel Thy sympathy with woe or weal.
Accept and use me in Thy way, To hasten on the glorious day When all the earth shall hear Thy Word, And know Thy Way of Life, 0 Lord.
Influence of Islam in
BY REV. WM. N. WYSHAM Missionary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions W HEN one studies the Persia of today, it is striking to see how thoroughly Islam has done its work. It has even blighted the landscape. The Arab invaders destroyed great libraries, marvelous rock sculptures, and priceless artistic treasures of the glorious Persia of the past, and left us only ruins in their stead. Countless miles of destroyed aqueducts testify to the fertile Persia of ancient days, where one now traverses only great desert stretches. Islam's seclusion of women has hidden the gardens of the rich, and almost every remaining beauty spot, behind high mud walls of deadening sameness. Its fatalism has blighted all desire for material progress in the common people, and oftentimes all true patriotism in the educated and more favored. Some one has said, only too well so far as Persia is concerned: "Islam has always sprung from or tended towards a desert." • Islam has blighted the beauty of the home in Persia. No better word than "blight" can describe the veiling of women which Mohammedan law ordained. One catches glimpses now and then of the picturesque, colorful dress of the few remaining Zoroastrian women, who still wear what must have been the costume of ancient Persia, but all Mohammedan women today are concealed behind closely-drawn black veils from all eyes but those of their nearest relations. Not only is the grace and beauty of Persia's womanhood completely hidden, but polygamy, with its divided households, has destroyed all happy family life as well. The religion of Mohammed has kept the very word "home" out of the Persian language.
Islam has blighted the beauty of the soul in Persia. One of the proud~st virtues of the Persian of old was his love for truth, but a lower· standard came in with the Arab conquest, and now far, far too many Persians are liars. The great statesmen of the past have shrunk down too often into vacillating, bribe-taking sycophants who know not the meaning of integrity. Islam from its inception prohibited all freedom of thought, and has shrivelled the Persian's brilliant mind so that today poetry is almost nauseating in its repetitions and its sameness, and original literature has disappeared. In the same way, religious thinking has for centuries been only traditionalism, resulting in nothing except bigotry and persecution.
But the saddest thing of all is the blight on the religious life of Persia. Christians cannot realize its dreary barrenness. Islam, it is true, believes in one God, a system of rewards and punishments, a heaven and a hell, but how utterly it lacks all that makes our faith 981
one of beauty, joy, peace, and hope I As a matter of fact, Islam is not so much a religion of false doctrine as a woefully poverty-stricken one. Did you ever think of your assurance of forgiven sin, your certainty of a Divine Saviour, your privilege of a spiritual fellowship with Christ, your call to help a needy brother, your sure hope of an endless life, as beautiful things, as close akin to inspi.red songs and rare masterpieces f Perhaps not, but they are, nevertheless-all emanating from that wondrously beautiful revelation of a God who loves. Islam is totally lacking in the beauty and joy of music and art, and also in that far more wondrous beauty of the Father God. So all life in Persia has been pinched and cramped and shorn of its finest things by the blight of Islam, and little but narrowness, sordidness, and ugliness remain.
• Persia has not easily succumbed to the blight of Islam. For centuries she fought the deadening influence. Her Aryan people have almost always been the ferment of new movements within the Moslem world. Every great poet, including Omar Khayyam, was a heretic to orthodox Mohammedanism. Many of the leaders in the Golden Age of Islam, with its center at Bagdad, were Persian princes and men of genius. Essentially artistic, the Persian was forced out of the usual broad highway of art into bypaths, and found expression" for his genius in architecture, illuminated manuscripts, and rare designs burned into his unique tiles and woven into his famous rugs. In religion, Persia has been the hotbed of endless heresies and sects, and the Persian branch of Islam has even fashioned an imitation Passion Play in the attempt to satisfy its soul hunger. It is pathetic to note this as one reads history, but more pathetic to see how, with the centuries, her struggles have gradually lessened, until today one might feel that the life is gone, and the blight of Islam has finished its work.
But God never wearies of putting the love of the true and the beautiful into human hearts-whether it be in art or in life, and herein is Persia's hope. Fifty years ago a Kurdish boy in Persia's niountains, born with the talent for drawing, secretly traced rude animals on rocks and bits of paper until one day his parents discovered it. Telling him that, according to Moslem law, he must give life to these creations in the resurrection, they beat him unmercifully until all desire to draw died within him. Years later this same boy found the truth and beauty that is in Christ, and today is one of the most honored physicians in Teheran, a fearless and devoted servant of Jesus Christ. But here is the really significant thing. His son, born with his father's talent, and blessed with a Christian education, is now deriving his chief pleasure in life by painting charming watercolors· of Persia's marvelous mountain scenerv.
Christ has come to Persia, and instead ~f being blighted forever, this old land has a future radiant with hope. Beginning with
TE.E INFLUENCE OF ISLAM IN PERSIA
the bare framework of Islam's meager truth, the American Presbyterian missionaries are trying by every possible means to add all the true and beautiful things of the riches of Christ. To this good news Persians are responding more wholeheartedly than perhaps any other Moslem people, since unconsciously they have waited centuries for this very thing. As yet the movement is small, but everywhere the new life is apparent. Little children crowd into the mission compound to Sunday-school, and incidentally to unaccustomed but rollicking play in the mission garden. Older girls in the American school throw off the hated veil for many joyful hours daily, and one hears their happy voices behind the great wall as they join in some song which their American teachers have translated for them. Boys forget their dignity and allow their Persian coat tails to fly in the wind' while they race after a football in a new game they never dreamed of before. Some Persians are even learning how to sing, though at times it seems as if their sense of harmony was gone beyond recall.
All these are significant symptoms, but even more significant is the fact that ,Christ has redeemed human lives. Men have read God's Word for the first time, and a new gleam of joy and hope comes into their eyes as they are convicted by its beauty and truth. Women have found a Saviour who can give them inward peace and happiness, even though custom still compels the veil and outward subjection to men. School boys and girls have learned the joy of 'the clean heart, and a new standard of morals without a single impurity or flaw. Here and there a whole family is broadcasting through its community the radiance of a happy Christian home. Little groups of believers have experienced the blessings of Christian fellowship, and their lives are luminous with hope, for they have been born again.
In Persia today the poverty and the blight of Islam are face to face with the riches and the new life of .Jesus Christ, and who doubts which will eventually prevail? Surely the same Christ who has inspired our best art and music and material blessings, who has given us spiritual life and hope, can bring beauty back to Persia and make her deserts bloom, can arouse her from material stagnation, mental torpor, and moral decay, and can fill her drugged soul with newness of life.
NEW HOPE OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN PERSIA Although Persia has a constitutional government, Islam is the national religion and religious minorities have had few real rights. The Armenians and Zoroastrians of the country have been permitted but one representative each in the Persian Parliament and the Jews none at all. Only a few months ago there was a threatened massacre of the Jews in the capital city, and the Mohammedan law prescribing death for all Moslems who become Christians is theoretically still
in effect. While there is a spirit of tolerance in some parts of the country, there is also much petty persecution of religious minorities. They suffer constant injustice, they can never count on their property as really safe, and the specter of possible fanatical outbursts is always present. This constant feeling of uneasiness is illustrated by the case of a wealthy Armenian who recently rented one floor of his mansion to the American Consulate for a nominal sum in order to have the American flag flying over his home.
n is possible that the death of Major Robert W. Imbrie, Amer- ican vice-consul in Teheran, Persia, at the hands of a mob in July last may have as one result the ushering in of religious liberty in, Persia. The murder shows how easily fanaticism can burst forth; and result in bloodshed. Shrewd Persian politicians have often capitalized religious zeal for their own ends, and mob violence" has frequently been instigated in order to discredit the party in power. There is little doubt that the Imbrie incident was not a spontaneous expression of religious fervor, but that political schemers stirred up the mob who made Major Imbrie their unfortunate victim. Some say that l1e was mistaken for a Bahai and others that the rumor was spread that he was a European who had poisoned the well at a sacred shrine.
Mohammedan fanaticism, manipulated for political ends and with religious minorities as their prey, is more dangerous than dynamite. The 'foreign legations in Teheran made a point of this in their notes to the Persian Government after the Imbrie murder, and in their protest stressed not only the necessity of punishment for the culprits and protection for foreigners in Persia, but demanded safety for the religious minorities. The Persian Government has shown itself most anxious to make amends in order to keep the friendship of America. Its reply contained a strong assertion promising full religious liberty in Persia. While this is only a promise, it is nevertheless a great step forward, and some day the promise will become a fact. When once an ideal is formulated and publicly expressed, a large part of the battle to attain it has been won. Many of the Persians themselves are anxious to see complete religious freedom and immunity from persecution.
Major Imbrie's widow has evidenced a praiseworthy spirit towards the land where her husband was killed and is reported to have said that nothing could console her more than the thought that his death was the means of bringing religious freedom in Persia. Christians in America may well join with her in that hope and prayer. Even in the face of severe opposition and persecution the Gospel of Christ has made remarkable progress in Persia. There is reason to believe that if all are given the privilege to worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences, then there will be a tremendous advance in the Church of Jesus Christ in Persia.
'BBST
EDITED BY MRs. E. C. CRONK, 721 MUHr.ENBERG BLDG., PHII,ADELPHIA, P A.
MODERNIZING MISSIONARY METHODS T HERE is no modernized commission. Our Lord's command: "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel" has stood unaltered for two thousand years. There is no modernized plan of salvation-" For there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved."
The Christ of our salvation is an unehanging Christ-"Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, today and forever."
But in earrying out the unehanging eommission to give an unehanging plan of salvation through an unchanging Lord and Saviour, to an ever-changing world, we may use every mo~ern discovery and method. .
The men and women who insist on carrying on mission work exactly according to the methods of our fathers should be required to forego street cars, telephones, cables, air mail service, and radio in their daily living and to revert to stage coaches and ox carts or to cavedwelling customs.
lVGssionary methods may be modernized without becoming devitalized or despiritualized.
A NEW KIND OF ELEOTRIC MAP colors are best. Any good dye powder The direetions for making an elec- or paste-olive-brown, grass-green, tric wall map will apply to every and a light blue-maY' be dissolved in electric map whatever the size may be. cold water and diluted with boiling water to the desired shade. The blue The map should be clearly printed should be a sky blue and the green in black but without the names of almost a Nile green. Any good atlas places marked. The seas and rivers will furnish a model for the coloring. are outlined and the location of the principal cities is indicated by dots. 'fhe next step is making the mount The necessary materials can easily for the map. A frame should be made of well-seasoned pine, 1 ineh by 2~ be obtained by anyone wishing to inches, with eorners mortised and make the map. The work should be stayed by iron corners screwed on to done by junior or intermediate boys keep it firm. This frame must be the with an adult leader. After the map size of the map. For the surface to is finished the boys may construct a box for it. to keep the map in good put over the frame, some kind of order. heavy composition board is better than wood, as it is less likely to warp The first thing is to color the seas and can be bought in one piece. light blue, then color the geographical divisions to distinguish them. Next After the map is glued smoothly the mountains and hills may be shaded if desired. The highest mountains on the frame, make a list of the places should be quite dark, Transparent that you wish to have on the map. Mount a printed eopy of the names 985 4
o llllJJ1Jjjjl~lJ >< xX><XXx xxx XXXXX r—~————————–~.~ o o A A-Pointer I H-Polnter II D & E-TeJepbone Wire C-Dry Cell Battery B-Flashllgbt Bulb
BES'f METHODS
of places on the left side of the map, expected places like (y and z). Or taking care to have them 80 spaced you may fasten a copper rivet on the that the screw opposite each will not map at each spot where the important touch its neighbor on eitheI' side. places are located. Connect with an- Each city, town, mountain, and sea other copper wire (on the back side listed must be accurately located on of the map) each rivet with another the map. rivet which is placed beside each name in the margin of the map. Make a pointer (A) out of a small hollow curtain rod. Fasten one end If directions are carried out it is of telephone wire (D) to dry cell bat- evident that if the tip of the pointer tery at (G), pass other end of wire (H) is placed in any loop marked through the pointer (A) and solder (X), a light will come in the end of on to small rcceptacle for flash light the pointer CA) if the tip (T) touches REV. C. E. CUSHMAN WITH A CROUP OF HIS IOWA BOYS SEEING THE WORLD BY MEANS OF AN E LECTRIC MAl'
The electric map is among the m.ost effective of modern missionary lllethcds. By its use boys and gir1s as well as men and women can really see the mission stations of tll e world.
bulb (B). Be sure and let the pointer the right spot, completing the circuit. come to a point (T) on one side and If the right place is not touched, there extend out beyond the bulb. will be no light. The Instructor puts the end of this second pointer on the Pointer (H) is a wire pencil con- rivet by any name and asks the pupil nected by telephone wire (E) to bat- to point to the place. If it is correct teryat CF). Now make a small hole the light comes on, if not the next one tries. As an experiment, we took through the map at the right places a ten-year-old boy from the street, one (0) and having scraped the covering who had never been to Sunday-school off from the end of a piece of tele- and had never heard of Jerusalem. phone wire, run the wire through the 'Ve let him point to eaeh place in turn hole and make loops CO). From the and then we told him the Bible story back do the same at (X). Do not associated with that place. Within twenty minutes he could point to connect place at (0) with name at everyone of the eighteen important (X) just opposite or it will be easy for the pupil to guess right. Make the wires cross each other and go to un-
'I'IDJ MISS10NAIiY ll;~VI:ElW 0]' TIlE WORJA
places on the map and tell the story. from its circulation, he ca.n respond The same principle may be applied to fearlessly to the invitation of the MIS- making a missionary map showing SIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD to say the stations of any society. something about the book and the With other electric maps the light plan which it unfolds. He is eager to comes on at the top of the map when get the idea into circulation, hoping the right contact is made. This di- thus to further, in his own small way, verts the attention from the place the vita.l and fascinating cause of mis- which yon wish to emphasize. Rev. sionary education. Already at least C. E. Cushman and a group of boys one large denomination is proposing from the Bible School of the First to enlist certain churches in each of Congregational Church of Iowa Falls, several states as demonstration cen- Iowa, have worked out this map ters of the plan. Another organiza- where the light is in the end of the tion is enlisting certain colleges and pointer. The making of it is espe- . college churches in this method for cially interesting to boys and the use the study of China this year.
of it is instructive to all. There are two major aspects of the fn tbe hall ot the San Chiao (TJ".oo Re- In the CbJnef'c shop was 0xbiblted a loan ligions) a Confucian shrine had center place. collection of many articles of interest bor~ To the left is a Euddhist shrine, while the rowed from friends far and near. Hundreds Taoist shrine is to the right. A sedan bridal of people tarried at this exhibit to hear ex- chair is seen on the floor in front. planations and comments regarding the cus- toms of China. CHINA IN THE LOCAL PARISH program which the book proposes, in One of the most 8'1wcessfu[ projects in addition to aspects which this brief conneation with the study of China wa.'l de- article may not mention. One is a t'eloped in New Haven, ComMf)ticu.t, !!"aer body of materials correlated with the the leadership of John Cla.rk Archer, Chair- regular weekly lessons of the Sundayman, DepartmMt of MMsi.ons, Yale Univer- school. These materials are drawn sity. The REVIEW has asked Dr. Archer to from the history, literature, social tell its readers about his project. customs, political institutions, ethics, religions, etc., of China and serve to A host of workers in the American illustrate and emphasize, week by Church will be interested this year in week, the Bible lessons of either the getting China and things Chinese in- International Graded Series or the to the consciousness of their own Improved Uniform, from January to parishes. A book, "China in the Local May, 1925. 1'hey serve not only to Parish," just off the press, deals di- illustrate and freshen the lessons but rectly with this problem. The materi- to bring China into view in a comals offered in solution are such as have parative way. Little by little, the received the necessary testing of ac- pupil and the teacher acquire llew tual use 'in a well-organized parish in facts regarding China and develop New Haven. Since the author of the book receives no financial advantage
BEST METHODS
new interests and attitudes toward ary education apart from and in addit.hings Chinese. The combination of tion to a proper program of religious Biblical materials and Chinese links education. up China with God 's plan of evangelization. China is studied with refer- The second aspect of the program ence to the Christian Gospel. The proposed in the book is more specbook does not contain the actual ma- tacular but depends for its real value terials, but only references to the upon the faithful use of the first. The proper sources. It is necessary to first is not merelv instructional. It have several hooks at hand whose involves expressio~al activities as well. titles are given in a special list. A TIle second is not merely a grand minimum reference library is indis- project, an activity; it involves study pensable to the successful use of these also. All the parts relate to each references. The teacher and, at times, other and to the whole. The previous study leads up to the grand project.
A NEAR VIEW OF THE THREE SHRINES–CONFUCIAN, BUDDHIST, TAOIST Committees in charge had to spend many hours ot oareful study to get the In f ormation n eceB· sary to reproduce these shrines accurately for the hunareds of spectat.)rs who viewed them.
the pupils are asked to look up the The grand project is the climax of the longer period of stUdy. materials referred to. They are never long or bulky, and care has been taken In a word, a program is provided to select only such as bear directly which runs through several days, if upon one or another aspect of the lesson involved. If the references for desired. It may hegin each day at the day have been mastered, the ma- 4 : 00 P . M. and run continuously terials will fit in with the discussion until 9: 30. Each succeeding day is of the lesson and will detz-act not at virtually a repetition of the first. The project program, however, is flexible all from the lesson, whether it be time and may vary according to the daily or interest which is concerned. Rath- needs and circumstances. It may iner, they will add fresh interpretations clude scenes from the Chinese home, and bring biblical matter down to the village school, the Christian date as a vital part of the general school, the hospital, and the temple. program of religious education for There may be special roles such as this time. There is no place for a those of vendor, doctor, priest, magithorough-going program of mission- cian, barber_ Chinese games may be
played by children drilled for the pur- to week may do things in miniature pose. A wedding procession and marriage ceremony may be included. At and find a place for their products night, a play may be given, illustrative of Chinese life and character. among the exhibits which may be Lantern slides may be used informally for visual instruction. Various groups gathered from local homes and from of children in attendance may be assembled as audience for the tellers of abroad for the occasion. The exhibits Chinese stories. Specimens of Chinese music may be presented vocally need not remain idle during the proj· or by instrument. Very effective use may be made of scenes from Chinese ect. They may now and then serve temples and shrines. The Taoist priest may.serve in his dual capacity admirably to give point to talks on of priest and diviner. The Buddhist priest may engage in a characteristic various phases of Chinese life. Of ceremony, prayer for rain. The .Confucian householder may explain and course, if onc is to handle the exhibits, illustrate the commemoration of ancestors and ancestral spirits. It is he must make ready for it. He has to indeed a very flexible program.· The omission of .one or more items on any study, too! He finds his added acday would not mar at all. The book, CHIN., IN THE 1~(lCAL PARISH, has full quaintance with China out of the details with regard to all the parts mentioned above. It gives not merely preparation made as steward of the references but sufficient materials within its own covers to enable one to exhibit booth. produce the parts desired. Obviously it takes many volumes to supply such CHINA TN THE LOCAL P ARISH* dematerials unless a deliberate selection be made, such as this book includes. scribes the physical setting with great And some materials are included which have not come from any other care, giving details as to color, etc. books at all. The book itself must be consulted for A special setting is provided for the program just enumerated. Local the full statement. There are many workers provide it according to careful directions. Indeed all parts are illustrations included in it which help played by local workers. The whole enterprise is devised for the education to make matters clearer. The author of the local constituency. There are Chinese shops, temples, etc., built for asks the reader of any part to read purposes of the grand project. It all requires some study of detail. The the whole for the sake of comprehendworker becomes acquainted with China as he shapes the scenic effects. ing the' undertaking as a whole, for He and the others learn by doing. If one plays the part of Buddhist priest the book attempts to suggest ways of and does it well, he knows thereafter something of real Buddhism in China. enlisting most, if not all, of the parish If one builds a shop or home properly he knows something of that phase of in the enterprise, and of conducting a Chinese life. The children from week serious program which will have last- ing educational effects.
Lest anyone should feel that too much is proposed at once, it should be understood that selections may be made, whether of the weekly Sunday- school work or of the work of the Grand Project. Much or little may be done according to the local situa- tion. .
*" China in the Local Pari:1h by John Clark J Archer, published by The Missionary Education Movement, J5G Fifth Avenue, New York; price, 50 centRo Fer sale at all Mission Board Head- quarters.
FOREIGN MISSION NEWS BY RADIO By REV. ERNEST F. HALL " 1 'H tell the world" cannot be re- garded merely as American slang, but also as a .correct way of express- ing a modern fact in these days of the Radio. Whether the expression when used is inflected this way or that way may be tIle determining factor in the mind of the linguistic exegete. If it is spoken as a declarative sentence,
with the voice punctuated by a period work of Fred Hope and his associates and coming to a full stop, it may not in Cameroun, West Africa. be considered slang, but rather a statement of direct purpose. If it is One, who heard because he had to spoken with many up and down varia- hear at the Station, being one of the tions and a circumflex accent at the electricians, said, after the story of end, it may be regarded as modern Feng, the Chinese Christian General, American English, with its declara- "Well, that is interesting!" tiveness a variable quantity. Call it slang or what you will, let the literary A Jewess called up and said she eJregete decide. That has no purpose had heard very well and was pleased. in this allticle. A pastor writes: "I have written a The expression tells the latest meth- letter to the service station WFBH od of informing people ahout the work expressing our delight at being able of the. foreign missionaries-Radio to receive this service." Broadcasting. This method has been regularly adopted by the Board of Another pastor: "I congratulate .Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian the Board on the use of the Radio. I Church in the U. S. A. Under the will wreck every law of homiletics and direction of the writer, news and fea- work this fact into my sermon tomorture missionary 'stories are sent out row morning." into the air for a half hour each week at half past" three on Fridays, from Another pastor says: "I trust you Station WFBH, 273 meters, New will be able to stay in the air." York City. It is expected that some evening's broadcasting will be done. The way to keep Foreign Missions in the air is to write to the Board and Among the topics thus far sent out to the Radio Station, commending the into the air are: plan occasionally. When "Applause Cards" cease, the Station infers that "Medical Miracles in India." interest is waning. "Missionary Silk Worms in China." "Missionary Athletics in the Philippines." The address of the writer of this article, "Christian Progress in Brazil." who is in charge of the broadcasting is 156 "Industrial Missions in the Cameroun." Fifth Avenue, New York Oity. Write to , 'Feng, the Chinese Christian General." WFBH Radio Station, Hotel Majestic, 72d Street and Central Park West, New York The value of the method can be re- City. alized from the fact that it is estimated that the regular "unseen audi- WORLD ACQUAINTANCE TOURS ence" probably numbers up to as high as half a million people in the day- One of the most valuable of modern time, and the evening audience over a missionary methods is personal visits million. Of course no speaker should to mission lands. In bygone days misflatter himself that all of them are sionaries were expected to monopolize "listening in" to him while he is tell- entirely the office of "go between" ing about the progress of Christian- interpreting the home base to the ity; but that he reaches people who mission field and the mission field to would never come to hear him in any the hnme church. Now there are many auditorium he may be assured. men !J,nd women of the home church who can speak with authority about The "Applause Cards" over the the things they themselves have seen telephone and in the mail show the and heard in mission lands. real value of this method. The following are some of them: The World Acquaintance Tours projected by Miss Harriet Taylor and "That makes me feel like applying Miss Ella Schooley, formerly of the for a job," said by a young man who Young Women's Christian Associahad heard the story of the industrial tion and Mrs. R. S. Emrich formerlv of the Near East Relief, are'distinctly modern mission methods. They are truly "tours with a purpose" and have already been referred to in the REvrElW,
During 1925 there will be winter to play, or some one may play Polish tours to the Near East, Egypt, and music. Italian, German, .Austrian, Rus- Palestine, Cuba, Panama and South sian music offers splendid opportunity .America, and to the Orient; summer as do the compositions from many tours to Northern and Southern Eu- other lands. rope; and autumn tours around the world and another to the Levant and Such a program may be given on a India.· large scale to enlist the interest of the music lovers of a city or community. Mrs. Henry W. Peabody writes of For a small meeting, in communities these tours: that are strictly American born, a very simple program may accomplish "Thei are to be conducted by well known the same ends_ leaders. The especial value of such leader· ship lies in the interpretation that will be 110 • • given to international relations between the peoples of these countries and our own. A World's Fashion Show was a Many travelers who visit the countries of the popular feature at one conference. East have little idea of the point of view of Missionaries from many lands introthe people, know nothing of their history, duced groups of women and children their a.ims and possibilities. HeTe i8 an op- in different costumes of various lands. portunity to go under the guidance of world In addition to accurate information leaders who have visited the countries and about costumes, many items of mis>- know intimately conditions, people and sionary information were given and routes, and ean give introductions which will opportunities for enlisting missionary be of incalculable value. interest made available.
"The ordinary tourist party is something THE LURE OF "ONCE UPON A to be avoided.' Here we find people of like mind and interest, who will wish to see not TIME" only the marvelous natural scenery and in· teresting cities and temples, but those who Four magic words that all the world are interested also in the spiritual upbuild- loves are these–" Once upon a time. " ing of these nations." Speak them in a group of children • For fuller Information write to Miss Harriet and immediately all is stilL If the Taylor, World Acquaintance Tours, 416 West most uninteresting speaker in the 122d Street. New York City. world can be persuaded to introduce "Once upon a time," his despondent MISSION STUDY IDEAS audience will take courage and bring back wandering thoughts to the point The list of names in one day's of attention. All the world loves a casualties in the Great War given in story. Not only the young world but Chapter I, "Adventures in Brother- the old world as well. Moreover all hood, " may be read as a standard the world is going to have stories_ bearer raises the flag aloft and leader The question is not "Shall we have asks questions as to who holds .Amer- stories or shall we not have stories Y" ica's flag_ The only question -is "What stories shall we have Y" Publishing houses To further a truer appreciation or are turning out story books by tens the contribution of various peoples to of thousands. Quarterly, monthly, the music of the world, a Land of All and weekly periodicals are circulating Nations Musicale, or a program of them by hundreds of thousands. Story music from many lands, affords excel- tellers and teachers are telling them_ lent opportunity_ In cosmopolitan Daily papers are syndicating them_ centers the people of various nations Radio stations are broadcasting them_ may be asked to take part. A J apa- If we are looking forward to the days nese maiden seated on the floor may that are to be and the leadership of play on her koto, or the Japanese na- tomorrow, we will make very sure that tional antllem may be sung. Some today's "Once upon a time" follows Negro spirituals, and some of Harry Burleigh's compositions will introduce the line Qf the missionary guidepost. the musical contribution of the Negro race. A Polish pianist may be invited
Woman's Home and Foreign
COUNCIL OF WOMEN FOR HOME MISSIONS AND FEDERATION OF WOMAN'S BOARDS OF FOREIGN MISSIONS DARKNESS AND LIGHT tian basis for world relations is There is darkness, still, gross darkness, Lord, emphasized. On this fair earth of Thine. As usual, a card for preliminary There are prisoners still in the prisonhouse, Where never a light doth shine. use, entitled, "A Call to Prayer, " has There are doors still bolted against Thee, also been prepared. It is just the There are faces set like a wall, right size to enclose in an ordinary And over them all the Shadow of Death envelope, or carry in the purse or Hangs like a pall. Bible. Ample space is provided for insertion of the leader's name and Do you hear the voices colUng, place and hour of meeting. Sugges- Out there i.n the black of the night? tions are given on the card as to what Do you hear the sobs of the women, to do in definite preparation for the Who are barred from the blessed light? And the childre'Tlr-the tittle children, observance. Do you hear their pitifUl cry? The card and program are pub- o brothers, we must seek them, lished by the Federation of Woman's Boards of Foreign Missions and Coun- Or there in the dark they die! cil of Women for Home Missions and should be obtained from denomina- Spread the Light I Spread the Light I tional headquarters. The program is Till earth's remotest bounds have heard priced at 2 cents each, $1.50 per 100. The glory of the Living Word; The card is distributed without charge Till those that see not have their sight; by the denominational women '8 Till all the fringes of the night boards. The placing of orders for Are lifted, and the long·closed doors cards and programs at an early date Are w'de forever to the Light. is strongly urged. Each year a larger Spread-the-Light! supply of both are printed in the en- deavor to meet the demand, and each o then shall dawn the golden days year many placing delayed orders are disappointed because the editions are To which true hearts are pressing; exhausted, and it is too late to have When earth's discordant strains shall blend The one t,,;e God confes8!ing; When Christly th01'ght llff,d Christly deed Shall bind each heart and natio'lb, In O'lbe (kand Brother/wod of Men, And one high consecrati(J1!,.
-JOHN OXENHA:M.
DAY OF PRAYER FOR MISSIONS reprints. Ascertain whether your community February 27, 1925 is already planning for the observ- The Day of Prayer for Missions is ance. If no one has taken the initia- annually observed throughout the tive, see that the leaders are called United States and Canada on the first together early in January to formu- Friday in Lent which this year falls late plans. Interdenominational ob- on February 27, 1925. servance is recommended; if this is The program, "Even As Thou not feasible, the individual church Wilt," by Mrs. E. C. Cronk is ready should plan to observe the day.
for distribution. As one would ex- Do not miss any publicity oppor- pect, knowing the author, it is full of tunity. Announcements from the pul- fresh and helpful suggestions. An- pit, insertion of notice in the church tiphonal and liturgical in sections, it calendar and the daily press, posters is preeminently a program of prayer, on bulletin boards, telephone, verbal, of thanksgiving and intercession, suit- and written invitations–all help.
able for missionary or young people's Make special effort to enlist interest groups or women'8 clubs. The Chris- and observance on the part of women's.
993
ClVIC and social clubs. You may be Y. W. C_ A., W. C. T. U., Association surprised at the cordial reception of University Women, and National your efforts receive on the part of Parent-Teachers Association to disthese groups. Above all, do not, your- cuss the feasibility and desirability of self, forget to use the mighty dynamic a great Congress of Women in behalf prayer. Participation of others is of peace. This group decided to exdependent upon your prayer and tend the invitation to four additional effort. organizations to a conference on the same topic in June, the four being the A SONG OF PEACE -Women's Division of the National Catholic Welfare Council, Council of The SOD of God goes forth for peace, Jewish Women. Council of Women Our Father's love to show; for Home Missions and Federation of Woman's Boards of Foreign Missions_ From war and woe He brings release; The June conference recommended that a National Conference on the o who with Him will gal Cause and Cure of War be held in Washington, D. C_ in January, 1925 He strikes the fetters from the slave, to be called and conducted by the Man's mind and heart makes free; above-named organizations. Mrs. Car- rie Chapman Catt was asked to serve And sends His messengers to Save as temporary chairman. O'er every land and sea. During the summer a questionnaire The Son of God goes forth for peace, was sent to twenty men and twenty That men like brothers live, women asking them to state the causes and cures 'of war in the order of im- And all desire the other's good, portance from their point of view. And other '8 sin forgive. Largely upon these replies the pro- gram for the Conference has been He tnrns our spears to prnning-hooks, ba'Sed. In September representatives Onr swords to ploughshares warm, met to perfect the plans. The Parent- 'reachers Association withdrew upon And war 110 more its death-blast brings, the ground that it is not a woman's N or men their brothers harm! organization. The National Women's Trade Union League has been invited The Son of God goes forth for peace, to join the group calling the Con- Nor lands nor power to gain; ference.
He seeks to serve, to love, to lift; The tentative program provides for Who follows in His train f a public meeting Sunday afternoon, January 18th, addressed by most A gloriol1s band, in every age, prominent government officials of the In spite of scorn and pain, United States and Canada. At date of writing, definite announcement of True sons of God, His peace have made; topics and speakers cannot be made. Who follows in their train 1 As at present planned, Monday and Tuesday will be devoted to Causes of Now let the world to peace be won, War, such as Economic Rivalries, And every hatred slain; Traditional Belief in War, Suspicion of Neighbors, Education, Race An- Let force and greed be overcome tagonism, National Antagonism, Im- And love supreme remain. perialism, Political Ambitions, Compe- tition in Armament. There will be Let justice rule in all the earth, round table conferenceR in the eve- And mercy while we live, nings. On Wednesday, Thursday and Lest we, forgiven much, forget Friday Cures of War will be :preseJlt- Our brother to forgive.
We send au r love to every land; True neighbors would we be; And pray God's peace to reign in them, Where 'er theh homeland be.
o God, to us may grace be given, Who bear the dear Christ's name, To live at peace with every man, And thus our Christ acclaim. -REV. ERNEST BOURNER ALLEN, in The Christian Endeavor W O1'td.
CONFERENCE ON THE CAUSE AND CURE OF WAR Wa.shington, D. C., Ja.nuary 18-24, 1925 In Mayan informal conference was held by representatives of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, the
WOMAN'S' HOME AND FOREIGN BULLETINS
ed, as Arbitration Courts, including work of missionaries and the exchange International Court of Justice, Ar- of students and professors will be conbitration Treaties, Disarmament, sidered. Saturday will be devoted to League of Nations, Codification of a summing up of the Causes and International Law, Outlawry of War. Cures of War, general discussion of It is planned that ample time shall the entire subject, and the adoption of be devoted to discussion all through conclusions, with emphasis upon the Conference. Both sides of every methods by which women's organizaplan for the cure of war having any tions can unite to promote peace. considerable following will be presented. The agencies of war, the pres- A CHRISTMAS CAROL ent state of preparedness of the United States and the National Defense And they who do their souls no wrong, Act will be presented. But keop at eve the faith of morn, Among the agencies contributing Shall [[aily hear the angel-song, to international understanding, the "Today the Prince of Peace is born! " -.James Russell Lowell.
HOME MISSION BULLETIN THE NATION CHRISTLIKE ing Spirit of Unity in Home Mission- ary Work, and the Outlook for Co- Methinks, I see a nation brave and strong operative Work. Rise up the ancient curse of war to end; Rise up to prove herself the whole world's Subsequent sessions will deal with friend, specific situations where cooperation has already accomplished results and And by Iler patient justice, conquer wrong! with special problems of areas where The bloody weapons which to lYIars belong much more remains to be done. Topics will be magnified; reports of com- She flings aside, as worthless to defend, mittees minimized, ample time being And still more vain her empire to extend allowed for discussion. All interested Of commerce, scjence, freedom, art and song. are cordially invited.
The treasures, others waste to aim and fight, On Tuesday, January 27th, in She pours to heal the sorrows of the world. Washington, D. C., a luncheon will be Defenseless she Tby plunderers soon hurled held by the Council of Women .for Home Missions and Federation of To ruin W Nay! Who can resist her mighH IVoman's Boards of Foreign Missions She links all peoples in a league of love!- fer representatives of local Women's Ameri"a, canst thou that nation prove' Church and Missionary Federations and chairmen. of affiliated .schools of -EDWARD TALLMADGE ROOT. Missions and Conferences.
ANNUAL MEETING God grant ns wisdom in these coming days, And eyes unsealed that we clear visions see The Annual Meeting of the Home Of that new world that He wonld have TIS Missions Council and Council of Women for Home Missions will be build, held at Atlantic City, N. J. There To life's ennoblement and His high ministry. will be joint sessions on January 13- 15, 1925, beginning Tuesday evening Not since Christ ·died upon His lonely cross and continuing through Thursday Has Time such prospect held of Life's new evening. The separate session of the Council of Women for Home Missions birth; will be on the morning of January Not sinee the world of chaos first was born 16th, and the meeting of the Execu- Has man so clearly visaged hope of a New tive Committee on the afternoon of that day. These meetings will all be Earth. held at Haddon Hall. we Not of our own might can hope to rise The program will center upon the enlarged opportunity for cooperative Above the ruts and failures Of the past, endeavor. The first session, Tuesday But with His help who did the first earth evening, the keynote will be sounded in the presentation of the New Con- build, ception of Home Missions, the Grow- With hearts courageous we may fairer build this last.
JOHN OXENHAM.
OUR LAND FOR CHRIST Oh, guard our shores from ,)very foe, With peace our borders bless, Rise, ye children of the King, Yours a heritage unpriced. With prosperous times our cities crown, Our nelds with plenteousness. Unto H)im your tribute brin g, Take this glorious land for Ohrist. Lord of the nations, then, to Thee Our country, we commend, Where its mighty rivers run, Where its lakes majestic lie, Be Thou her refuge and her trust, Her everlasting friend. May His perfect will be done, -Selected. And His banner lifted high. God of the strong, God of the weak, Over c(}ntinent and coast, Lord of all lands, and our o"'n land; Islands far, and forest dark, I~ight of all souls, from Thee we seek, Onward march, a conquering host, Light from Thy light, strength from Thy Your Commander's way to mark. hand.
Over many an alien race, In suffering Thou hast made us one, Let the flag of conquest fly, In mighty burdens one are we; Bring them to Him, face to face, 'reach us that lowliest duty done Those for whom He came to die. Is highest service unto Thee. -Selected. Tarry not. Be strong in Him, Take the land to be poasessed. There'll be pots of real gold 'neath the rainbows that span He whose eye is never dim Leads you in your holy quest. Our fair skies when we catch the Christ· vision of man, Conquer only in His Name, ]'olliJw only His command, Then the aliens, no Ion ger the "scum 0' the earth," Falter not, till If,e proclaim All this land Immanuel's Land. But as brothers to us of the haughtiest birth, -Julia H. Johnston. Shall be welcomed as pilgrims who follow A PRAYER His hand That hath crowned with the fulness of Lord, while for all mankind we pray, Of every clime and coast, blessing, our land. –Laura Gero'U'ld Ora.ig. Oh hear us for our native land- The land we love the most.
FOREIGN MISSION BULLETIN THE CHRIST.CHILD tinctive work of this Committee was a magazine for Chinese children,print- The dear Christ·child, for you and me, ed monthly by the Sunday School Was clothed in our humility. Union of China in Shanghai. Since 'Twas to save our ruined race, the funds provided were but meager, The God of glory veiled His face, Happy Childhood is not especially And once, a little ehiJd eame down, attractive to American eyes, yet for To a mother's arms, in Bethlehem town. the last ten years an increasing num- ber of boys and girls in almost every -lrfargaret E. Sangster. province of that great country have hailed it with delight. While it is CHRISTIAN LITERATURE FOR estimated that the magazine is sent to WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN about 10,000 children, there are many more thousands, old and young, who MISSION FIELDS wait eagerly for this small messenger.
By AT,ICE M. KYLE Two quotations from the many let- ters received by its devoted editor, This Committee of the Federation Mrs. Donald MacGillivray, indicate is "suffering the penalty of success. " the place it has made for itself. Mrs. Every aspect of its work on the mis- Anne Matherson of the "Rickshaw sion field is full of encouragement. Mission" of Shanghai, writes: "Both in week-day and Sunday-schools the Happy Childhood magazines are eagerly looked for and From the year of the organization rapturously received. Prizes are given of the Committee, 1912, the appeal of the women and children of China has been heard with an increasing desire to respond to the need for Christian literature in that land. The first dis-
WOMAN IS ltOM1<l AN!> :rORE1GN Imt.,t.,ETINS
to those who keep their copies in best Japanese Christian, whose home in condition for a year and it is rather Tokyo was completely demolished. In a problem to decide which are most an almost miraculous way the precious deserving, so many keep them so nice- manuscript was saved and is now ly. We believe its teachings of love nearly ready for those who so earnestto God and men, kindness to dumb ly desire it. animals, its stories and Bible lessons, opens new channels of thought in the An emergency grant for this work youthful Chinese mind. The interest in .Tapan was authorized by the Comin Happy Childhood is not confined to mittee in January and an appeal for the schools. Men and women are this object was made at many services eager to receive a copy. Their delight held on the "Day of Prayer," March in the pictures and stories is every bit 7th. .As a result almost $1,000 has as real as that of the children. " From been received, coming in from many another mISSIOnary teacher, Miss remote little towns of the South and Alice G. Waters, we quote the follow- West, as well as from the larger cities. ing: "The children all love the maga- The letters accompanying these small zine. One day I asked a class of third gifts have almost invariably said, grade children what they like best in "This money is sent with earnest all their school work and they an- prayer for God's blessing on Japan." swered with one voice, Foh Yu Pao In response to thc first installment of (Happy ChUdhood). I began to ques- this "Emergency Grant," Miss Botion them and found they really knew sanquet writes, "The Japanese well everything that was in it…… Our know that many of the people of the Sunday-school teachers beg for a copy U. S. A. are their friends and are that they may teach the stories to touched to hear of the many small children who cannot read. In this way offerings which have made up the we reach many children. " Fifty cents sum. " Another thousand dollars is in U. S. stamps sent to the Sunday needed to complete this grant in 1924. School Union of China, Shanghai, will provide one child with Happy The Treasure Chest Childhood for a year. The pledge of the Committee for 1924 for China is A Magazime for a MilliolV Boys and Girls still unmet and $800 is needed before January 1, 1925. There are a million boys and girls in India who can read. But until A Love Offering for Japan July, 1922, there was no Christian magazine suitable for these bright The Society for Christian Liter- young students. Only a fraction of ature in Japan has a department for the million can read English, but in the preparation of books and leaflets all the ten great language areas some adapted for children and the poorer can read English, so the first edition women. Miss Amy Bosanquet is in was published in that language. Miss charge of this special work. For sev- Ruth E. Robinson of Bangalore, superal years our Committee has sent a ported by the W. P. M. S. of the Methsmall grant of $300 to aid in publish- odist Episcopal Church, gladly coning Ai no Hikari, a monthly news- sented to be its editor and "like the paper for coolie women. In 1923, in frail little lights that the Indian response to a special appeal in the women set afloat on a stream" the MISSIONARY REVIEW, a generous donor magazine was launched. Its swift sent a gift of $1,200 for the much success has been phenomenal. There needed translation of Dr. Hulburt's are today nearly 3,000 paid subscrip- "Story of the Bible. " At the time of tions, editions are being published in the earthquake, September, 1923, this three great vernaculars, Urdu, Tamil, translation had been completed by a and Marat.hi, and enthusiastic com- mendations are being received from Christian workers of many denomina-
tions. One woman missionary writes, ANNUAL MEETING "I think of The Treasure Chest as one of the leaves which is for the heal- Federation of Woman's Boards of ing of the nations"; another says, "I Foreign Missions of North AnlericR have never known in long years in India any missionary enterprise The AllllualMeeting of the Federwhich has won 'Such quick and en- ation is to be held in conjunction thusiastic support from Christian and with the Foreign Mission Convention . non-Christian alike"; the son of a which meets in Washington, January young missionary writes, "I like The 28 to February 2, 1925. On Tuesday Treasnre Chest better than any maga- morning, January 27th, there will be zine I ever saw." a meeting of the Executive Commit- tee; at noon, in cooperation with the With its original illustrations, fur- Councilor Women for Home Missions, nished by Indian students, its stories a luncheon for representatives of and prize contests, its puzzles and Women's Church and Missionary nature study lessons, its news rrom Federations and affiliated Schools of everywhere, its tidbits for wee folks, Missions; in the afternoon a "Popuit has quickly become a favorite. The lar Meeting"; and in the evening the nominal price of six cents a month in session will be in charge of The Cen- India, one dollar annually in U. S. A., tral Committee on the United Study obviou'Sly cannot meet the expense of of Foreign Missions in celebration of such a treasure and the budget asked their 25th Anniversary. Wednesday of the Committee for 1924 was $2,500 morning the new Executive Commitof which $500 still remains unpaid. tee will meet. Friday noon, January The only anxiety the members of the 30th there will be a large luncheon,in Committee feel in regard to The t,he Hall or Nations, Washington TreaSl1re Chcs·t is how to keep pace Hotel" at which will be consider~d with its wonderful success. women's activities on the foreign mIS- sion field. Where Shall We Get the Money? SHINE OUT, 0 STAR! The Woman '8 Boards have been loyal to this union enterprise. Most What shall we do for the blinded eyes of the larger denominations now in- Straining their gaze afar, clude a gift for this Committee in their yearly budget. Other organiza- Seeing no promise of dawn arise, tions, notably the National Y. W. Searching in vain for the star f C. A. and the Central Committee on the UriitedStudy of Foreign Missions, Dear God, so far in the lifted heavellBmake annual grants. The Summer S() low in the dust they lie, Conferences at Northfield and at Chambersburg have gladdened us T() whom no glimpse of the day is g;ven, with special offerings. Many friends No star in their midnight sky. have sent to the treasurer gifts large and small. But the demand far ex- The bnrdened and weary, the sick and faint, ceeds the supply. What kind and gen- Who moan out their despair erous donors will come to our relief in the remaining month of 1924 and Till the still air pulses with their c()mplaint, belp to keep afloat these precious And the pang of unheeded prayer. crafts, freighted with treasures" new and old" for the hungry minds and Sweet choir of God, this Christmastide hearts or the women and children Sing out your song agaiu: whom 'we have tmlght to read? Is the Christ·child born' Has He come to Make cheeks payable to Alice M. Kyle, treasurer, 63 Parsons Street, Brighton abide~ P.O., Boston, Mass. Does it mean "good will to men' ,f Shine Qut, 0 sta,., on their darkened way, ·Whose eyes with tears are dim, The Christ·child lives somewhere today- Make clear the road to Him. ~Mary Lowe Dwki<ltl1011.
fROM MANY
NORTH AMERICA ducted by Dean Brown of Yale, pre- Students and Social Service ceded the missi.on week, and daily de- voti.onal services while the work went ROBERT P. WILDER, secretary .of the Student V.olunteer M.ovement, .on were a source of power. In a is qu.oted by the Watchman-Examiner as rep.orting "a decline of interest on folder issued by the Student Committhe part of students in such w.orld tee for distributi.on in Fitchburg, pr.oblems as peace and war, and a swing back t.o the ' old issues .of these sentences appear: pers.onal religi.on.' He thinks that student intereRt in all large s.ocial We believe that every Christian has both problems has always been much exag- the right and power to lead his community gerated. Since these statements were made public many denials .of the truth into a mare abundant life. .of them have been made, some of them We believe tha.t the G'hurch of Christ from student sources. But it must be said that no man in the country knows stands committed to further the example of the Master, and that each Christian man a.nd woman is challenged to bear the maxi- mum testimony of the spirit of Jesus in all of his relations to every-day life.
We are positive that a band of consecrated Christians can produce in this commnnity the happy and p~actical reality that Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God to be.
the student body of America better Baptist WOJUen',. Jubilee than Mr. Wilder. He has w.orked T HE Women's Home Mission Soam.ong students intimately fur many ciety of the Baptist Church is makyears. He is a careful observer, and ing plans for the celebration in 1927 has had ample .opp.ortunity t.o .observe. of its Gulden Jubilee. The occasion is T.o us the condition he reports is by to be celebrated by the raising of a n.o means t.o he depl.ored, but rather toO $500,000 fund. The first year, 1924be rejoiced in. 'The issues of per- 25, is to be one of organization; the s.onal religi.on' stand first beyond a second, 1923-26, one of information d.oubt. If they are well lo.oked to, fine and inspiration, and the third year, social serviee will inevitably follow. 1926-27, the ingathering. No money If they are neglected, the nerve of will be asked for until the third year. s.ocial service is cut. Mr. ,Viidel' 's rep.ort is a cheering one on the whole." Increase in Lutheran Gifts Fitchburg Student Mission THE three great bodies of English- speaking Lutheranism in the AMASSA.CHUSET'l'S manufactur- United StateR-the General Synod, ing city. with 45,000 people, wit- the General Council, and the United nessed fr.om September 14th to 21st a Synod .of the S.outh-were merged in unique religious undertaking. With 1918 into the United Lutheran Church the slogan "Everyday Religion Every in America. During the first bien- Day," about fifty students from vari- nium closing in July, 1920, the total uus culleges and theulugical seminaries contributions of the women's mission- in the East, representing eight de- ary societies .or the merged organiza- nominations, carried un a campaign, tion reached a quarter of a million.
.of which a street-car conductor said: During the second biennium closing "It is just great. They don't boost in July, 1922, they were doubled and for any creed. They just urge yo~ passed the half million mark. For to come back t.o real Christianity and the biennium closing July, 1924, this.
then work in your own church." A organization goes into the million three-day retreat fur the students, c.on- dollar class.
999
Methodist Millions studied, some do not even list high- school graduation as an entrance re- THE members of the Woman's quirement. "Some of the seminaries, " Home Missionary Society of the the report finds, "are virtually un- Methodist Episcopal Church raised touched by the progress and method more than $3,000,000 for their work of science. They are conducted on last year according to reports pre- the assumption that science and resented at the annual meeting. held in ligion occupy mutually exclusive Chicago, Oct. 8th to 15th. This repre- fields, if they are not indeed in actual sented an increase in contributions conflict. In others a scientific view over t.he previous year of more than of the world is taken for granted, but $130,000. In four years the 448,000 little' effort is made to enlarge the members have given more than $11,- conceptions of theology so as to in- 000,000. Of the total, mite boxe~ clude the remarkable advance of brought 18,100,600 pennies. Report- scientific knowledge and to arrive at a ing to the same convention the work unified world." of the denomination as a whole, Dr. R. J. Wade, secretary of the World Slav! in the United States Service Commission, said that more than $68,000,000 had been expended ACONFERENCE on Christian in benevolent work in the last five Work among Slavic Peoples in years, while expenditures for new America, held in New York City churches and parsonages last year under the auspices of the Home Misreached the.total of $~6,000,000. The sions Council and the Council of total property valuation of this one Women for Home Missions, brought denomination in the United States and out the following facts about the apabroad wa~ reported to approximate proximatEly 6,000,000 Slavic immi- $500,000,000.-Christian Century. grants and Slavic people of the second generation now in the United States: Our Theologica.l Seminaries "Pennsylvania leads, while New UNDER the supervision of a special York, Illinois, Ohio and Michigan are advisory committee of churchmen in the front rank so far as preponderand educators, an exhaustive survey ance in Slavic population is conof theological seminaries in the United cerned. These Slavic groups are States and Canada has recently been highly organized both locally and namade by the Institute of Social and tionally. The press is a powerful Religious Research, of which John R. force in moulding public opinion Mott is chairman and Galen M. among them. Religiously they belong Fisher executive secretary. The sur- to the Greek, Eastern Orthodox, Greek vey report, a volume of 450 pages and Roman Catholic Churches, with published under the title" Theological a few Protestant'S, various fanatical Education in America," states that, sects, and a few Mohammedans. while the number of theological stu- Among these Slavic peoples the evandents is not decreasing, many of the gelical churches are working as folstudents now in the seminaries are lows: Bohemi.ans: Baptists, Congremediocre men of comparatively little gationalists, Disciples of Christ, Methtraining and many of the seminaries odists, Presbyterians and Episcopalican hardly qualify as educational in- ans support 120 missions and churches stitutions. There are approximately with 8,853 members. Jugoslavs: Bap- 9,000 theological students in the tists, Lutherans, Methodists and Pres- United States, or one for every 2,600 byterians support 15 missions and church members, the report says. The churches with 2,393 members. Poles: Institute analyzed the records of 7,500 Baptists, United Presbyterians, Conof these students and found that gregationalists, Methodists, Presbyfewer than half of them had college terians and Episcopalians support 34 degrees. Of the 161 seminaries missions and churches with 4,049
1'1EWS FROM MANY LANDS
members. Russians: Baptists, Dis- home not only for thousands of Amerciples of Christ, Methodists and Pres- ican students, but for students who byterians support 36 missions and come from the Orient bearing the culchurches with 1,019 members. Ru- tural heritage of their ancestors, to thenians: Baptists, Methodists and study in the University of California. Presbyterians support 49 missions and Suzunosuke Kato writes in World churches with 676 members. Slovaks: Call: "There is a great opportunity Baptists, Congregationalists, Method- here to serve these Japanese in preachists and Presbyterians support 114 ing the Gospel and uplifting their missions and churches with 10,550 spiritual life by the wonderful vision members." of our Lord. .. Since our Japanese Church is not large enough to accom- Jewish Science MoveDlent modate an audience when we have a big meeting, we borrow the auditorium I T is stated that 70,000 Jews in New of the University Christian Church York City have attached them- and sometimes the young people of selves to regular Christian Science the two churches have a joint social groups. To check this movement and gathering to cultivate good fellowship perhaps bring back recreant Jews to with each other. Not only so, the the faith of their fathers a new move- University Christian Church organment known as "Jewish Science" ized a committee on J a,panese work to headed by Rabbi Lichtenstein was in- cooperate with us in every way posaugurated. This movement which is sible. " now being Vigorously pushed, professes allegiance to the God of Israel Point Barrow Cut Off and not to Christ. The Jew q,elieves that one is born into a religion which T HE U. s. Coast Guard cutter Bear descends to following generations, and has pushed her way through the on this account the new movement ice of the northern seas up to Point does not seek converts other than Barrow, Alaska, year after year, until Jews. last summer, even though declared unseaworthy and no longer fit for A Hebrew Christian suggests these duty, she made her fiftieth annual reasons for the hold which Christian cruise along that dangerous coast. Science is getting on the modern Jew: Her retirement in July from active duty has left the "farthest north" 1. The ;rew is told by its advocate that mission station of the Presbyterian he can be an ardent Christian Scientist Church – Point Barrow – without without beJief in Christ. so;rewish Science touch with the outside world this year. eliminates Christ. The last word which came to Board headquarters at New York was re- 2. In attaching himself to these cults he ceived in January. The first word is not in any way cut off from fellowship which can now be ant,icipated will not with his own people. be received until next, year, at which time it is expected that Dr. Henry W. 3. Ohristian Science offers the ;rew social Greist, who with Mrs. Greist is h~ life without any discrimination against him. ing for some one to relieve him at his post, will be coming out for a much 4. The advocates of Christian Science are needed rest at home. The importance diligent through lectures, distribution of of this lonely outpost is recognized by literature, and personal solicitation in efforts the Government, for the Presbyterian to win the ;rews. hospital is the only one to care for the Eskimos and American sailors, trap- 5. The false claim of Christian Science pers and traders and United States that it alleviates suffering and dissipates officers in all that isolated region. trouble makes a peculiar appeal to the Jew.
Interracial Fellowship I N Berkeley, California, a group of American and Japanese Christians has been carrying on God's work in the spirit of cooperation, despite the intensity of the Japanese question in California. Berkeley has become the 5
LATIN AMERICA states; but they are on the march!
A Mexican Martyr Two wealthy hacendados came asking AMEXICAN Presbyterian pastor the Governor if he planned to close in the Mixteca region, which is their immense breweries. 'Yes,' said near the city of Oaxaca, reports the the Governor emphatically, and to his murdE'r of a church member named surprise they said that they would Segura. He writes: "Brother Segura close them before he did. They are was an active evangelical, and had gone! The cleanliness, prosperity, been loaning his house for the Christians to gather in. 'The priest incited and elegance of San Luis Potosi give the people against him, to make him mute testimony to the Governor's adstop, but he paid no attention to the ministration. He is a keen student of threats. At last the fanatics made use sociology. Social centers are minisof a slander to accomplish their pur- tering to the laborer who otherwise pose. On the night of July 28th, a would miss his former clubroom, the saloon."
man was found dead in the streets, Bible Institute in Costa Rica and as they did not know who the murderer was, they charged it against THE two missions at work in Costa a son of Brother Segura. The fana- Rica, the Methodist Episcopal and tical crowd, glad of an excuse, im- the Central America Mission, were mediately went to his house, and not both represented at the dedication, on finding the son, dragged out the father July 27th, of the building in San and killed !pm. In addition, they shot .Jose of the Bible training school. A in the leg a young boy of fourteen member of the second mission writes years and, wounded as he was, they of a reception which was a part of the lodged him in jail and charged him ceremonies: "The President of the with murder. But of the death of Republic, who had expressed his in- Brother Segura, nothing was said by tention of being present, was preeither the authorities of Chilapa or vented at the last moment and sent Teposcalula. The poor widow is left his regrets by letter. The American with a' family in a sad situation, for Minister and Mrs. Davis, our very the criminals, who laugh at her, good friends, were present, as also the threaten that they will burn her house Governor of the Province and the if she asks justice for the death of her President of the Municipality, who husband or if she does not leave made an appreciative little speech. town." The City Engineer, who by the way had fixed up our street for the event, A Fearless Mexican Governor was present, as well as a group of dis- A CONVENTION of Protestant tinguished men and women of the Mexican Christians, meeting in city, who have shown themselves ex- the city of San Imis Potosi, heard tremely simpaticos towards us, and in- Governor Manrique, of the state for terested without really understanding which the city is named, speak on the nature of the work. This we had prohibition. A missionary who calls to explain and felt that we did not him "the Christian statesman of mod- have to minimize or cover up in the ern Mexico" writes of him: ' , Two least our spiritual aims for fear of reasons he gives for closing the saloons frightening or offending them. That in his state : first, he was educated meeting, we are convinced marks a in a Methodist missionary school, and new day for the Gospel in this city."
second, . his father was a drunkard. FOR Nor has Governor Manrique been con- Selling Bibles in Chile tent with closing the saloons. The the first time, says The Oon- factories ot pulque and mezcal are tinent, it has been possible to pur- disappearing. Critics say they are chase a Bible in the business section merely crossing the border into other of Santiago, Chile's capital. The
NEWS FRJOM MANY LANDS
Presbyterian and Methodist missions Indian Infanticide conduct a book depository known as S EVERAL references have been "El Sembrador" (The Sower). This made in the REVIEW of late to the bookstore has had to move from ,place recent realization by the Church that to place. Pirst it was in a building the Indians of South America constiwhich was bought by a Roman Cath- tute a vast neglected mission field.
olic priest, who at once told them to Rev. H. Whittington, of the Inland vacate. Other quarters, larger and South America mission, writes of the in a better location, were obtained and the work and influence of the deposi- Cageveas tribe: "The saddest fact tory was increased. Another removal among these Indians is the small numwas required a few months ago, and ber of children to be seen. In a comthe store secured an even better loca- munity of fifteen or more families, tion, half a blclck from the main plaza. the children of school age and under It is here that the business of the city could be counted on one's fingers. is transacted, and where the bookstore The greater number of the little ones sells Bibles. are killed either immediately after birth or before. On inquiring the rea- Bibles Burned in Brazil son for such wholesale murder of little ones, we were told that owing to their REV. J. M. SYDENSTRICKER, custom of unfaithfulness (as a rule missionary of the Southern Pres.- two seldom live very long together) byterian Church in Oliveira, Brazil, the mother on being deserted by the writes: "The Bishop of this diocese is father of the unborn child, not wish- ing to be encumbered, breaks the neck very bitter ill his opposition to all of the little one at birth. The tribe, as a consequence, is rapidly dying out. Protestant work, and does his utmost The Indians maintain that the reducto hinder its advance. Just before tion of their number is largely owing the Christmas season, he sent a mis- to the grippe that swept over their sionary priest here, to assist in the camp some years ago and carried off work of the church. Each day the so many. Both men and women were children met to study the catechisms warned of the consequences of the and to learn new reasons for having great crime they were committing in nothing to do with the Protestants murdering their little ones. Truly and their work. On New Year's Day pathetic was their reply, 'We have there was a large gathering in front done this in our ignorance, we did not of the Catholic school for boys. Bibles know it was wrong, we had no one tell were burned, and the priests led the us. Now we will leave this evil pracassembled children in a song, the re- tice ; but we do need some one to frain of which was: Go away, ye Protestants, Go away from our nation.
We only want to be a part teach ns. When will you come Of the friends of the Sacred Heart. back ~' "
, "rhings seem to have calmed down now, and some of the boys, who took Ohurch and State in Argentina A a most active part in the Bible burn- RGENTINA and the Vatican have been in a dispute for some time ing and the song, have become our friends. Attracted by the victrola, over the appointment of an arch- and other novelties of an American bishop for Buenos Aires. The ,Pope home, some of these boys visited the has consistently refused to appoint Davises a few nights ago, and before the man nominated by the Government leaving signed up for a volley ball of Argentina, and the Senate of that team and said that they were not go- country seems at last to have ex- ing to sing any more, 'Por,' said they, hausted its patience. A bill now be- 'it seems that the Protestants are here fore that body declares the papal to stay, and they are not so bad after nuncio persona non grata, calls' for'
all.' " the recall of the Argentinian repr'e.
sentative at the Vatican, and demands category will include historical, ethno- that, after these diplomatic moves, graphkal, statistical and medical sec- there be a thorough clearing up of the tions, while exhibits in the descriptive political purposes of the Church. "In ,category will be divided according to the meantime," says The Chcristian the geographical distribution of the Century, "the rift toward separation different countries. The medical sec- between church and state is being tion is a complete departure from hastened. ' , anything which has been attempted in similar exhibitions. Great care has EUROPE bf)en lavished upon it at the Pope's Another Missionary Athlete express wish, as he believes that medi- T HE appointment of Dr. Theodore cine is one of the most useful aids to . Howard Somervell, holder of the missionary work. official record of 26,985 feet reached in the attempt to climb Mount Ever- Christian Endeavor in Germany A est, as a medical missionary under the GENERAL European convention of Christian Endeavorers, the London Missionary Society for work in India, has stirred wide interest. first to meet since the World War, was Coming in conjunction with the an- held in Hamburg, August 15-20, 1924.
nouncement of the impending ap- The report of this notable' gathering pointment of Eric Liddell, Olympic gives SOme interesting facts on the prize winner, as a missionary under development of Christian Endeavor the same society for work in China, in Germany, the present number of made in the October REVIEW, the at- societies being 1,465, with 50,575 tention of a large portion of the members. The first society was or- British public ordinarily indifferent ganized in 1894. In 1904 German to such matters has been turned to the Christian Endeavor entered the for- overseas enterprises of the Church. eign missionary field and took up its Dr. Somervell, who made his record splendid w:ork in th.e South Seas.
climb of Everest in 1922, and was a Progress continued through the war member of the 1924 expedition, has years, 1914-1918, during which more stated that his decision to enter mis- than three hundred Endeavorers fell 8ionary service came as a result of at the front. Since 1918, however, spending ten days with a professional the number of societies has doubled friend who was conducting a mission- ani! the membership increased almost ary hospital in South India. He said: fourfold.
'''l'he sight of the appalling needs of FOR those people in southern India Russian Churches Closing changed the whole course of my life, several weeks the Associated and I could not possibly do anything Press has been carrying appar- else but go back." ently well-founded reports of the clos- Vatican Missionary Exhibition ing of famous Russian churches be- cause of a lack of support. Many of ONE of' the chief features of the these are in Leningrad, a city which festivities in connection with the, is itself on the down grade because Holy Year, 1925, which, it is esti- of the removal of the government to mate~ will attract to Rome nearly Moscow. In addition, now that three million pilgrims, will, it was an- churches are forced to raise their own nounced in the New York Times, be funds without being supplied from ,an exhibition of the missionary activi- the state treasury, it is not to be won- ties of the Church of Rome from apos- dered at that many cathedrals find it tolic days to the present time. The impossible to balance their budgets. Vatican Missionary Exhibition will The cathedral of St. Isaac, in Lenin- be divided into two main categories- grad, was one of the first to close.
scientific and descriptive. The first Its example has now been followed by
924] NEWS mOM MANY LANDS
the famous cathedral of Kazan, on the . mon working basis with Caucasian Nevsky Prospect. The city's histori- Mussulmans under the watchword cal museum has offered to take over 'For God of Good Against God of this edifice, which is patterned after Evil.' "
St. Peter '8 in Rome, and convert it into It public museum and art gallery. The Gospel for Russia A On the walls of the cathedral there T a drawing-room meeting in Lon- don in the interests of the Rusalready hang 103 banners and other trophies captured from Napoleon, sian Missionary Society Pastor and among its treasures are twenty- William Fetler, whose address was ilthree keys to cities wrested from that lustrated by lantern slides, spoke with conqueror, including the cities of his customary earnestness and vigor. Hamburg, Leipsic, Rheims and Dres- Wbatever might be said of other den.-Christian Century. countries, he said, "it can be affirmed that the people of Russia are begging Anti-Soviet Uprisings and hungering for the Word of God.
DISTURBANCES of this nature At the moment development of the have been reported from various work is held up because of lack of points in the Caucasus, and especially funds. The expenditure to June 30th in the trans-Caucasian state of Geor- last was in excess of the income by gia. A Russian paper published in £1,316. So soon as this matter has Paris states .that ever since the occu- been dealt with, there is an urgent call pation of Georgia by the Soviet Army for a missionary Bible schooL" For at the beginning of 1921, Georgian the establishment of this, Pastor Fet- patriots have been fighting against ler has already secured the official the Soviet regime through a series of permission of the Government at terroristic acts by secret organizations, Riga, and more than sixty brethren and that the present revolt was to and evangelists on the field, in Poland, take place somewhat earlier, in the J~atvia and Soviet Russia have re- middle of August, when supplies of quested to be taught the Word of arms and ammunitions purchased in God more fully, so as to be properly Europe and America would reach the equipped for more effective soul-win- country. But the Soviet espionage ning work. Madame Karinskaya, a abroad is so well organized that the former prima donna, is one of the Bolsheviks learned in time of this latest recruits to the Russian Mission- plan, seized the prospective leaders of ary Society, and will work for the the uprising as soon as they landed in present among the Russian refugees Georgia, discovered depots of arms, in Poland.
arrested numbers of persons, mostly of intellectuals who had nothing to do AFRICA with the uprising. Testfmony from Enemies M A press dispatch from Riga an- ISS ANNA Y. THOMPSON, of the United Presbyterian Mission nounces: "Between Sept. 20th and 25th the Caucasian hill tribes held a in Egypt, finds in Moslem hostility to secret general conference at which Christian missions convincing proof they passed a resolution to recognize that "the leaven is working in Is- Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaievitch, the lam." She writes: "That there is an former Russian Commander-in-Chief, awakening going on in Egypt is evi- as their Supreme Commander. Anti- denced by articles which have been S 0 vie t organizations throughout appearing lately in Arabic papers, Northern Caucasus have formed a especially one edited by a sheikh who secret league called the Brotherhood taught Arabic as a tutor for some of the Holy Cross, which supervises years, in one of the English univer- all operations. It is reported the sities. He feels there should be a brotherhood has established a com- great effort made to revive the zeal of
. Moslem people." Another paper re- meeting; there would only be three cently carried an article with large present at the most. I said I would headlines, "Ignorance is better than have the three. My girls went and in- an education in the schools of the vited the women, and we had fifty- missionaries," from which she quotes: five. In another village where I was "Their design is to make the people told none would come, we had the of the country lose their religion, and church crowded out with women, and their nationality, and their language. several said they wished to learn more Their teaching is limited to the de- about the Saviour, and follow Him. stroying of the principles of all re- At another women's meeting eight ligions, especially Mohammedanism, women stayed to speak with me, all and they make the nation little in the wishing to be saved. I hear that one minds of those who will be the future has turned back, but that all the generation. The mIssIOnaries are others are true. I am quite sure reaching the noble and the educated, therc is a great work to be done among among both mel,l and women, and they the women, but it must be done by entice people to go to their entertain- living in the villages and getting.to ments. How long are you going to know the people thoroughly. There allow this to go on Y" are many places where two white ladies might live and work the whole Lions D.nd Letters district. It is not easy work, but it needs doing." MISS JEAN MACKENZIE'S de- lightf~l essay, "Exile and Post- Important Towll ill Liberia man, " has made vivid for many readers some of the experiences which REV. JAMES DW.ALU, who was missionaries in Africa have with their born in the Liberian Hinterland mail. The wife of an English clergy- and educated in St. John's School, of man, who is traveling in Uganda, has which he became headmaster before recently received the following letter, his ordination, is now in charge of the which gives another chapter: "The work which the Protestant Episcopal post does not work from here because Church has begun in the town of the last two mail runners were killed Bakuzu. He writes in The Spirit of and eaten by lions." (Four days Missions: "There are few Mohamlater): "Government gave me £5 to medan towns in Buziland, but about carry the mail in my car, as they forty-five of their priests live at could not get thc mail through on ac- Kakiamai, their stronghold; these count of lions. I got through from are trying to propagate Islam among Mbarara (180 miles) in one day, and the Buzis, but the latter have not yet did not see a single lion. I brought been much influenced by the teaching the mail back also, including my own of these propagandists. The Buzis letters, and earned my £5, my first are on the whole 'medicine-worshipand last earning as a postman, I ex- ers. ' They believe more in their pect. "-L. Jlf. S. Chronicle. 'medicine' and the worship connected with it than all the charms which the Winning Congo WOlllen Mohammedans can offer." In con- nection with one of their ceremonies MISS DE HAILES, an English a native chief made a fine speech, .Baptist worker among the Congo which Mr. Dwalu thus decribes: women in the Bolobo area since 1895, "He said that, as it was the indomiwrites of a recent itinerating tour: table Bakuzu to which the inhabitants "To live among the people is to gain of other towns had ever come for firc them and win them for Christ. The when rebuilding their devastated native teachers cannot reach them, but ruins; so he hoped the gods would still the women will come out to be taught help them until every town in Buziby a missionary. In one village I was land and elsewhere might come to told it was useless to call a women's
NEWS FROM MANY LANDS
Bakuzu for the new fire of the gospel they study together. Men are respectlight and book learning which the ful to the women and are ready· to American Church had started there. " give them equal rights. A new law is in force in Turkey now providing Growth in Duruma Country that all schools shall be a part of the civil life, and forbidding all religious THE English United Methodists re- Turkish schools. State and religion port of their stations in East Af- are now wholly separate and all legal rica: "There are stages in missionary courts are civil courts, and not, as work. There is the earliest stage, formerly, religious courts." – The Continent. when the coming of the missionary is Teaching Orphans Religion a great novelty and attracts universal attention, when it may be too readily THE Near East Relief has taken assumed that the general interest is recent action to give to the thirty the sign of religious inquiry. As the thousand children still in its orphanyears and the novelty pass away, the ages "a much more explicit preparalocality becomes accustomed to the tion for Christian and patriotic new institution and the lines of dis- service" before they are discharged. tinct division appear. The heathen A "director of Christian nurture" is maintains his heathen practices and to plan elementary programs of relithe Christian progresses in the new gious instruction which the orphanlife. 'l'he communities do not inter- age heads will be expected to use with mingle. This stage has prevailed at all children under their care. Thus our coast stations for many years. will be taught faith in God, imitation Then there advances another stage of Jesus in His example of doing good, when the native Church has developed and the duty of upright Christian its latent power and becomes an evan- living for the sake of their own nagelizing force. It appears that this tions and the world. For the catestage is dawning on some of the chetical training of the different ground where we have labored so long. churches interested, will be invited Mr. Griffiths says: 'The work is go- priests and pastors to whom the chiling on rapidly in Duruma as well as dren will be assigned according to the in the RiM circuit, more rapidly in- church connections of their faniilies, deed than we can cope with. Some of chiefly the Greek Orthodox and Arthe stations in Duruma are crowded menian Gregorian Churches. Those with scholars alld worshippers.''' closest in contact with the Near East are persuaded that without such a THE NEAR EAST foundation laid in the hearts of young people whom this great relief agency Social Changes in Turkey has rescued from death, there is little hope that Christianity will survive DR. MARY MILLS PATRICK, among the Armenians. Soviet athe- president emeritus of the Con- ism sadly ,pervades Armenia of the stantinople College for Women, who Caucausus, which is now the only arrived in New York Sept. 29th after place to which Armenians can look as having ·been actively engaged in edu- a homeland. cational work for women in Turkey for the last fifty-three years, says Hamlin Memorial in Syria that the women in Constantinople do not any longer veil their faces on the T HE sanitarium established near streets. They behave as Americans Beirut by Dr. Mary Pierson Eddy do and attend dances and other so- in Syria is now called "The Hamlin cial functions. Bobbed hair is com- Memorial't and is under the direction mon also. The Turkish headdress foI' of Mrs. Franklin E.. Hoskins, a sister the streets consists of a black or white of Dr. Eddy. The nurses include a scarf draped over the back of the head. No distinction between men and women is made at the schools and
Russian, a Moslem and a Syrian to pass through a street forbidden to Maronite. People of all sects and polluted castes. The Ohristian Patriot districts come there for treatment- of Madras thus reports the occurrence: from Bagdad, Constantinople and "The procession was arranged in a Egypt as well as from all parts of business-like manner and moved to- Syria. The people have a great dread wards the cordon of police drawn of tuberculosis so that their own across the street. The three men priests can with difficulty be per- chosen to offer civil disobedience ad- suaded to minister to them. The vanced and were stopped by the sanitarium is connected with the police, who would not allow the non- American Presbyterian Mission in caste man to proceed further. Then Syria. they remonstrated as they had the INDIA AND CEYLON right to make use of the street and sat Indian "Unity Conference" down. They were then arrested and taken to the police station. Caste AREMARKABLE gathering met at Hindus are now demanding a sus- Delhi the last week in September, pension of the campaign to discuss the made up of three hundred selected points at issue. The leaders with com- representatives of all the religious mendable patience and good-will are communities in India. It was called prepared to conduct an intensive edu- after Gandhi had announced the be- cative propaganda, and have accord- ginning of a three weekE!' fast in pen- ingly suspended the program. If in ance for' the Hindu-Moslem riots these negotiations a workable settle- resulting from friction between the ment is reached, it would redound to two sects. The conference adopted a the credit of the Travancore Hindus resolution expressing the opinion that and Government. If not, all eyes the utmost freedom of conscience was would be turned on this spot in India essential, condemning the desecration where untouchability has been pracof places of worship, disapproving ticed for centuries with relentless forcible conversion of the people of vigor and brutality. Social and politone faith to another, and assuring ical reformers are watching the fight Gandhi that the country would do its with great hopes and it is up to them utmost to enforce his principles. In to convince the Government and peoa ".basis of agreement" which was ple of their bona fide determination drawn up, Moslems are asked to recog- to carry it to a finish. "
nize the right of Hindus to play music before or in close proximity to Robber Village Transformed A mosques, and, as Hindus left the ques- ROBBER village in Bengal called Kuldea came under the influence tion of cow slaughter to the good sense of Moslems, the latter are urged to of a Methodist missionary a sJJ.ort leave the ,playing of music to the good time ago, and some of the people were sense of Hindus. The Moslems pledge baptized. The Indian Witness tells themselves not to force the Hindus to the story of the further development abandon their religious rites. A cen- in the village life: "Their besetting tral arbitration board, with Gandhi sin was drunkenness, for which they as its chairman, is established for the often suffered unjustly, the police tersettlement of all disputes arising be- rorizing over them. Finally the tween the various religious communi- bI'eaking-point was reached and the ties of India. missionary was appealed to for help.
Fighting Caste Distinctions Rev. A. M. Spencer met their need in a striking manner. A village 'pow- ATEST case on the "untouchabil- wow' was held at which grievances ity" issue occurred recently in were spoken of and remedies dis- Travancore, South India, where three cussed. Mr. Spencer agreed to stand Hindus were arrested for attempting by them and see justice meted out,
NEWS mOM MANY LANDS
but strongly advi:;;ed them to abandon We finally arranged with the son to their drinking habits. The leading loan him $400, taking a certain pro- men of the village rallied together in portion of his annual crops of rice as a crusade against the vice. A thor- security for the loan. The rice will ough search was made of every house be used in our schools."
of the village, and all utensils used for the manufacture or storing of Disturbed Conditions in Ohina L drink were collected. A big heap of AWLESSNESS still prevails in several districts in China. Mr. these was made in a public place, and they were destroyed with great cere- Stark, of the China Inland Mission, mony. The people are so much in Shanghai, writes: "The city of Liuearnest about their new manner of life anchow is evidently in the hands of that a club OJ' society of responsible members of the T([,-tao-huei (Great village folk has been formed. It Knife Society), who have driven out meets every evening, and the roll is the Magistrate and set the head of the called: the man absent is the man coolies in his place. The provincial suspected, and he is searched for until military authorities have been hurryfound." ing forward soldiers, and their CHINA wounded are now being brought back to Chengyangkwan.
Methods of Chinese Bandits "A letter from the Chinese evan- REV. l1::~. IIAWLEY, missionary gelist at Chenyuan, in Kweichow, re- of the M. E. Church in Yung ports that bandits have attacked the Chun, Fukien Province, writes: city, killing the Commander of the "Banditry, fostered and perpetuated garrison. Three days later they were by the soldiery, is on the increase all driven out by General Wang, but re- the time. Just yesterday a young turned in force, causing great destruc- man, one of our students, came to me tion to life and property. The inhab- trying to sell hiB family fields in an itants suffered greatly, and rich effort to raise funds to ransom his people, men and women alike, were father from the hands of one of the carried off and held at ransom. The notorious military-bandit chiefs of Chapel and Mission House were loot- this region. His father had been ed. Drought, seriously affecting har- seized for ransom. Our Chinese vest prospects, is reported from sev- preacher at that place went to see the eral districts in Kansu and Shansi, officials of this bandit chief to nego- whilst floods, resulting from excessive tiate for the release of this man. At rainfall, are destroying or threaten- first $7,000 was demanded, but grad- ing to destroy the crops in Chihli.
ually the price was ' ,bargained' , Parts of Peking and Tientsin have down to $1,200 cash, and immediate been inundated, and much property payment or else further torture would has been damaged. The water in the be applied to the captive. And this Yangtse is abnormally high, the depth torture is no fictitious thing: a victim at Hankow having reached more than is beaten with bamboo strips; his 47 feet, the foreign concessions being thumbs are tied tightly together with consequently flooded."
a cord, and then a thin wooden wedge A telegram dated, "Shanghai, is driven between the thumbs until . August 13th," speaks of devastating the cord cuts clear through the flesh floods causing enormous loss of life, to the bone. There are other methods and of Chine~e soldiers working day too horrible to write about. In this and night at the dykes holding back particular case the father had been the flooded waters, especially of the thus tied up by the thumbs, and he Grand Canal. "Many towns, tens of sent out word to his son to sell every- thousands of villages, and great tracts thing the family possessed if neces- of country have been submerged. The sary, to get the $1,200 for his release. provinces chiefly affected seem to be
Chihli, Honan, Hunan and Kwang- is easier and the wife has not so many tung and it is feared that the probable relatives to please. The ,present-day loss of life cannot have been much less young women who have secured a than 50,000, whilst the homeless must Western brand of education and abnumber several millions." sorbed new ideas, do not approve of leaving the choice of their husbands Canton College Oflleers entirely to their parents. Yet, with no mixed social life, how are they to THE election' of James McClure make a choice of their own ~ Co-edu- Henry as President of Canton cational social life exists to a limited Christian College, and of Wing extent in a few colleges and the Kwong Chung as Associate President Christian Student Movement is bringwas announced in a "Personal" item ing men and girls together." The in the August REVIEW. Interesting problem of bringing young Chinese facts about both men are given in an students together to meet on terms of announcement issued by the trustees equality and to hear the same ideals of the college. President Henry, is being met by the student Y. M. whose father, Rev. B. C. Henry, D.D., and Y. W. C. A. with union meetings served the college in its formative and other activities. years as its second president, knows China from within, having been born The Gospel in the Wild. in Canton and spent his boyhood there. He is a graduate of Wooster THE Miao country in southern University and of Union Theological China, where Rev. and Mrs. H. Seminary. Since 1909 his work has Parsons of the English United Methbeen in China, where he became Pro- odists are at work, is so mountainous fessor of Theology at the Union Theo- that it seems to have been created as logical College of Canton. He joined a home for outlaws, and the absence the Canton College faculty as Execu- of any of the marks of modern civilitive Secretary in 1919 and was made zation still more suggests the desig- Vice-President in 1922. Associate nation" the wilds. " Nevertheless Mr. President Wing Kwong Chung is a Parsons wanders over his wide dio- Scholar of the First and Second cese without much cone-ern for his Chinese Degrees. safety, though in constant touch with strange events. On the principle that Problems of Cbinese Marriage a thief must be set to catch a thief, the head of the military forces in this MISS CATHERINE VANCE, Y. district is a pardoned brigand. With W. C. A. secretary at Tsinanfu, his band of marauders he was for a China, writes that the question of long time the terror of the region. setting up homes of their own, in- :Mr. Parsons visited him and was stead of settling in the family com- graciously received. "It was interpound, where whole family groups esting," says Mr. Parsons, "to hear live as a single unit, is being widely his professions of loyalty and his discussed. among educated young peo- eagerness to protect us and all our ple. Often 8B many as forty-five people. He heard with interest of our adults and children in these family leper work, expressed hearty approval groups live nnder the rule of the and willingness to contribute. I must mother-in-law. "One hears argu- send for his subscription soon lest he ments from both sides among the turn brigand again and become less young women students," writes Miss accessible than now:" The work Vance. "The majority of the stu- among the River Miao promises great dents seem to approve of the small developments, if it were. possible to home, because they say, a man takes supply preachers and teachers equal more responsibility for the support of to the demand. These people are conhis family when he does not share it stantly coming from new and distant with others. The training of children
NEWS FnOM MANY LANDS
districts asking for teachers to be crease in fox worship this year. A sent to them. small shrine in the east of Hiroshima has been expensively rebnilt, and since Evangelism in Tibet . the priestess in charge has a great reputation for wisdom, people go and I N Batang, the scene of Dr. Shel- consult her abont illness, lucky days. don's martyrdom, the Disciples and all sorts of other problems, givmissionaries are now carrying on a ing large sums of money as thankfull evangelistic program. Rev. Rus- offerings. One man gave 1,000 mochi sell Morse writes of the services held (pounded rice cakes) for a festival, every Sunday: "J!'irst is the Lord's promising as many again if needed by Supper and preaching for the Tibetan the worshippers. At another fox Christians. So far only Christians shrine last month, in one day, Y30 have been allowed to attend this serv- was given in small coins by over 300 ice. Next is held the Tibetan Bible worshippers. " school. There are five classes at present, men, women, intermediate boys, Funds for Luthera.n School juniors and primary. At the general preaching service for Chinese men, it THE Women's M~ssionary Society is inspiring to see the respectful and of the United Lutheran Chureh in earnest attention given by these men, America reports $210,000 received in more than half of whom are soldiers. answer to its call for $175,000 to the rest beip.g merchants, secretaries build Kuyshu J 0 Gakuin, a new school and artisans. Weare in Tibetan ter- for girls in Kumamoto, Japan. ~he ritory for the salvation of the Tibet- amount will be further supplemented ans, but the Chinese are here as the by arlditional gifts that have been ruling class and we must bring them pledged, which will make possible to Cbrist also. These services are fol- better buildings and equipment than lowed by the Lord's Supper for the the missionaries of that denomination Chinese, at which again only Chris- had dared to hope for. tians are present. 'l'here is also daily preaching at the hospital and B'ible Growth in a Quarter Century study for the pupils at the school. On Tuesday afternoons our evangel- REV. HENRY M. BRUEN, Presists go out to preach in near-by vil- byterian missionary in Taiku, lages.-World Call. Korea, draws some interesting con- trasts, which are quoted in The Con- JAPAN AND CHOSEN tinent, between conditions which he found in Taiku on his arrival there in Japanese Superstitions 1899 and the present flourishing state of the mission and of native Christi- AN editorial in the September anity in that city. Twenty-five years Church Missionary Gleaner com- ago there was but one baptized Chrisments: " Japan is still at the cross- tian in the town and five catechumens; roads. She is clinging tenaciously to the entire body of those interested in her old superstitious veneration for Christianity was not more than thirty the imperial ancestors as a weapon or thirty-five. The only preaching in with which to combat 'dangerous that city previous to the arrival of thought.' She is still forcing the Mr. Bruen had been done by a native primary school children to bow at the evangelist. Today, from this insiglocal Shinto shrines, and her Prince nificant beginning, Christianity has Regent and his bride to report their developed into five Presbyterian wedding before the shrines of their churches and nine other Protestant imperial ancestors." churches within the city of Taiku. Twelve more Presbyterian churches A further illustration of these con- surround the city within a ring not ditions is given in a letter from a mis- more than three miles wide. Within sionary in the same magazine, who says: "There seems to be a great in-
the whole mission field as adminis- ability to stand alone. Dr. Newell tered from Taiku there are 500 native writes in the Missionary Herald of congregations with a total baptized the success of the present Governormembership of 7,000, with 10,000 in General, Baron Saito, in breaking catechetical classes and 20,000 more down the old prejudices, and in winadhering avowedly to the church. ning the esteem and confidence of There are two hospitals within the Koreans and foreigners. He continfield. That at rraiku is staffed by two ues: "And since the Administration foreign physicians, and one foreign Superintendent, Dr. Mizuno, was two nurse, with two physicians and six years ago replaced by Mr. Ariyoshi, nurses drawn from among the Kor- confidence in the administration has eans themselves. There are 700 pupils been greatly enhanced; for the amiin all the field, 400 of whom are in able and efficient and gentlemanly the boys' academy and the girls' Governor·General has now as his first academy at Taiku. A leper asylum lieutenant an equally amiable and gives shelter and treatment to 250 efficient Christian gentleman, and inmates. these two form an administrative team that for general excellence it Tithing Time in" Korea would be hard to match in any land. Mr. Ariyoshi is a Kumiai church mem- THE way that Korean Ohristians ber, and does not fail to let his light tithe their time, as well as their shine. The fine address he made at money, for God's service, has been the opening of the new Y. M. O. A. described "in the REVIEW. A South- building here, before a large audience, ern Presbyterian missionary in Kun- many of whom were from the governsan, Miss Lavelette Dupuy, tells how ment offices, was a good sermon in this tithing works: "Market day is which he expressed his belief that every fifth day, and all the merchants Jesus Christ was the only hope of the come in with their goods and sit in world." the market place from morning until night. Our helpers use this time for ISLANDS OF THE SEA their tithed service. 'fhey hold services at this place and sell their Church Finances in Fiji Gospels. The women go from house to house preaching. Sometimes a AMEMBER of the Australian notice is given out that all who wish Methodist mission in Fiji writes to preach or work in a certain village of recent developments in the Fijian will meet at the church. Many volun- Ohurch, which for years has been alteer, and out they go in different di- most self-supporting: rections meeting together in the evening to report on their work."- "For some years past we have fol- Christia1~ Observer. lowed the practice of dividing equally the moneys raised; one half has been FriendJy OfficiaJs in Korea applied to the support of the native ministry and to various circuit ex- AT the request of the Kumiai (Oon- penses; the other half has been de- gregational) churches in Japan, voted to the salaries, allowances, the American Board in the autumn of houses, and traveling expenses of the 1923 transferred Rev. H. B. Newell, European missionaries. Henceforth D.D., and Mrs. Newell from Matsu- the Fijian Church will be entirely reyama, Japan, to Seoul, Korea, to act sponsible for all expenses in connecas "adviser and unifying agency" tion with the district, with the excepfor the 9,000 Korean Ohristians in the tion of the salaries and allowances of churches which had been established the white Rtaff. These will be borne by Japanese missionaries and, after by the Ohurch at home. In order to being aided for some years by the allow the Fijians to express more ade- Kumiai churches, had declared their quately their interest in world evan- gelization, to which they have given
NEWS FROM MANY LANDS
so many of their noble sons and proved to be an urgent order from an daughters, it has been decided to or- Australian Methodist missionary in ganize missionary meetings and mis- Fiji for six copies of the Phelps-Stokes Hionary contributions much along the Report on African Education. A let- lines of those at home. The Fijians ter following the cable said: " The will thus be led, we believe, to a African Education Report is the best more intelligent and even deeper in- thing of its kind. I cabled for copies terest in the great task of winning the· because of certain deliberations here Pacific for Christ." in which the Report will be of great service. We have a complex educa- The "Vailala Madness" tional problem with 80,000 native REV. H. M. DAUNCEY writes Fijians, for the most part Christians, from Papua, New Guinea, to the and 60,000 Indians, mostly non-Chris- Chronicle of the London Missionary tians. The need for adaptation which Society that "what is officially known is so strongly expressed in the Phelps- as the Vailala Madness" has reached Stokes Report is a pressing one, as is the whole question of native education his district. "There is no doubt," he says, "as in the South Pacific." "Thus," says to the religious and even Christian the Intel"national Review of Missions, element in it, but it's a strange mix- "via an Australian missionary, the ture with its sacred place (flagstaff, Commission sent by an American shelter, table and seats) where the Fund to study education in Africa is young men meet to read their New serving the cause in Fiji. Truly the Testaments; to which they bring world is one!"
their sick to pray over them, and The Bible in the South Seas where some sleep at night as though on watch. Mixed with this is the drill F OR the peoples who inhabit the superintended by men who have been islands of the Southern Seas which in the Armed Constabulary. Nevi form part of the British Empire, the sticks, which represent rifles, are Bible (or some part of it) has been stored on the sacred platform or table. translated into no fewer than seventy- The physical side of the movement is three languages. None of these islanddistressing. The victim begins by ers possessed an alphabet before the walking about, but the pace quickens missionaries reduced their language till it is a wild rush and ends in the to writing. These versions, of which man falling down completely ex- the British and Foreign Bible Society hausted. To try if individual cases has published sixty-four, are discould be controlled I kept men with tributed as follows: me all day, and part of the night, re- For New Guinea and other islands govstraining every attempt to rush away, erned by Australia …………•… 27 but as soon as they were left to them- For Samoa a]]d the Cook Islands ad- ministered by New Zealand .. .'…. 3 selves the desire reasserted itself in so For the New Hebrides (administered conjointly by Great Britain and strong a form as to suggest the desire France) ……………………. 26 to make up for lost time. How much For the Solomon and Banks Islands. . • 13 truth there is in the statement that For the Fiji, Tonga, and Gilbert Islands 4 the drill is with a view to driving the white man from the country, I cannot tell, nor find out. To me the men will GENERAL World's Week of Prayer not admit any."
FOLLOWING its custom of seven- Australia, Africa o.nd Fiji ty-eight years, the World's Evan- ALONG cablegram in an unrecog- gelical Alliance has sent out its 1"1. nized code puzzled the office staff announcement of the Universal Week of the International Missionary Coun- of Prayer, which in 1925 is to be held cil recently. When deciphered, it from Sunday, January 4th to Satur-
day, January 10th. 'fhe topics sug- torial shows, and other spectacles of gested for the successive days are: horrid cruelty to man; (2) human sacrifices; (3) polygamy; (4) ex- Monday, Thanksgiving and Humilia- posure of children; (5) slavery in its tion; Tuesday, the Church Universal, .the " One Body" of Which old forms, and has nearly accom- Christ Is the Head; Wednesday, Na- plished the work in its new; (6) cantions and Their Rulers; Thursday, nibalism. Next, Christianity estab- lished (1) generally speaking, the Missions; Friday, Families, Schools, moral and social equality of women; Colleges and the Young; Saturday, (2) the duty of relieving the poor, the Home Base and the Jews. For the sick and the affiicted; (3) peace, sermons and addresses on the opening instead of war, as the ordinary, normal, presumptive relation between Sunday the following t.exts are sug- nations. Here is a goodly list. I gested: speak not of what it taught. It taught "This is the name whereby He 8han be the law of mutual love. It proscribed caUed, the Lord our Righteousne&8"." all manner of sin. But the preceding (Jeremiah 23: 6-8.) particulars refer to what, besides say- " N 8W heavens and a. new earth wherein ing, it did, besides trying, it accomdwelleth Righteousness." (2 Peter 3: 13.) plished_ And in everyone of these in- The Jews of the World stances, except that of cannibalism, the exhibition of what it did is in PUBLICATION of the American glaring contrast, not with barbarous Jewish Year Book for the year but with the most highly civilized life 5685 gives the latest available facts as such as it was exhibited by the Greeks to the nUlIl:ber of Jews, and their dis- and Romans in the most famous ages of both." tribution throughout the countries of the world. These facts are summar- ized by the Christian Century as follows: The .Jewish population of the world is over 15,500,000. More than two thirds of World'8 Living Religions the Jews live in Emope, and nearly 25 per WIDE interest has been aroused by the book " The World'8 Living cent live in North and South America. Religions, " by Robert Ernest Hume, Ph.D., professor in Union Theological Asia, Africa and Australia together have Seminary and formerly of India. The following table quoted from it conless than 8 per cent of the total Jewish stitutes a useful summary: population. The bulk of the Jews of Europe live in Central Europe, where they f?rm about 8 per cent of the total popula- tlOn. . There are approximately 3,500,000 Jews III Pol and. Palestine has 83,794 Je wths~ const ituting a li ttle over 11 Jl€r cent of population. Jerusalem is reported as· having F{)1jnded in Followers 33,971 Jews out of a total population of Hinduism 2000-1500 B.C. 217,000,000 1l,000,000 62,578. There are 798,612 Jews in the Judaism 1500.-1200 B.C. 16,00.0,000 10.0,000 British Empi!!'; 295,000. live in Great Shinto 660 B.C. 43,000,00.0 1,Oo.(),o.OO Britain and northern Irelaod. In France Zoroastrianism 660 B.C. 137,0.0.0.,0.00 and her possessions there are 551,00.0. Jews. Taoism 60.4 B.C. 250,0.0.0.,000 557,000.,000 In the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics JainiBm. 599 B.C. 230,000,000.
there are 3,38,0,429 .Jews. There are about Buddhism 560. B.C. 3,000,0.0.0 100.,000 Jews in Siberia. Of the 3,740',00.0 Corrfucianism 551 B.C.
Jews in North America, it is estimated that Christianity 4 B.C.
New York City has about 1,500,000., Chicago Mohammedanism 570. A.D.
225,0.00, and Philadelphia 200,000'. Sikhism 1469 A.D.
I.
World's Debt to Christianity For Value Received "LETTERS on the Church and Re- $1.00. spent for lunch lasts 5 hOurB. ligion," by William E. Glad- $1.00 spent for a necktie lasts 5 weeks. stone contains a very inter~sting summary of what the world owes to $1.0.0 spent for a cap lasts 5 months. Christianity. He says: $1.00. spent for an auto lasts 5 years. "Christianity abolished (1) gladia- $1.0.0. spent for a railroad lasts 5 decades.
$1.00 sJl€nt in God's service lasts for eter- nity. RoOOER. W. BABSON.
MISSIONARY
NOTE.-Any books mentioned in these pages ';'ill be sent. fr(}m the office of the REVIEW on receipt of listed price, postage prepaid.
Race and Race Relations. Robert E. Speer. versity of Bombay, has made an im· S Yo. 434 PI'. $2.50. New York. 1924. portant contribution on race differ- Next in importance to the question ences, the teaching of Hinduism and of a man's relation to God comes the Mohammedanism and the solution of problem of a man's relation to his fel- the race problem. This eminent Inlowmen. The greatest obstacle to a dian was a believer in Christ as the right relation is the lack of a realiza- highest fulfilment of Hinduism-a tion of our common relationship to manifestation of God but not God in- God through Jesus Christ, His Son. carnate. Separation on account of differences Dr. Speer's book is one for the dis- in race is, especially in Christian ciples and followers of Christ to study and pray over. Those of other races lands, one of·the greatest obstacles to have much to teach Christians of the the practice to true Christian brother- white race. We may also learn much liness.. This is the Home Mission sub- from the disciples of other religions ject for study in church circles this but we need most of all to be true year, and Dr. Speer has, in this vol- learners at the feet of Christ and to ume, presented a very large amount put His teachings and example into of valuable information on human practice.' The ill-treatment of the contacts as viewed .from a Christian Jews by nominal Christians has been standpoint. What he could' not do, the greatest hindrance to the accept- because of limited space, in the smal- ance of Christ by Hebrews; the atti- ler study book, "One Blood", he has tude of the white race in America done here in presenting" source mate- toward the Negroes has prevented rial" for a deeper study of the sub- them from coming into their full ject. Christian heritage; the superior atti- Alter con!>idering carefully the tude of many missionaries toward na- .
fundamental facts in regard to the tives in Asia and Africa has hindered origin and nature of race distinctions, the development of the indigenous Dr. Speer takes up the idea of race churches.
superiority and the errors involved in While this volume is a scientific these ideas. He presents abundant study of facts and viewpoints con- facts showing the good and evil of cerning race relations, the reader is race distinctions and carefully con- led to see that a faithful and sympa- siders the specific race problems of the thetic following of the spirit and day and the various solutions offered. teachings of Christ offers the only The race problem is a challenge to hope for a solution of the race prob- Christianity and the manifestation of, lem. Mankind has been created by the spirit of Christ offers the solution. God" Of One Blood" and into man Among the most interesting and il- He breathed the breath of life. Since luminating portions of this stimula- the Church is one Body, of which ting study are the first-hand views Jesus Christ is the Head, His fol- quoted from men and women of non- lowers have no excuse for manifesting Caucasian races. An Indian states- racial superiority over their fellow man, the late Sir Narayan Chanda- Christians or for treating their rellow- varkar, ex-vice chancellor of the Uni. men in an unChristian spirit.
1015
Progress of World-Wide Missions. Robert of God, and his experience as mission- H. Glover. Maps. 8 va. 416 pp. $2.50. New York. 1924. ary, executive and student have given There has been need for a new, up- him a practical understanding of. to-date, general history of missions– and here it is. Beginning with Old Christian problems and progress. His Testament ideals and passing on to Apostolic missions, Dr. Glover goes on valuable compendium of Christian to describe briefly but effectively missions in the early Church, in medireval missions is packed full of interesting days, during and following the Reformation, and in modern times. He information. The book also reveals takes up the non-Christian countries separately, ending with missions to an intelligent and confident faith in the Jews, the needs of unoccupied fields and the present outlook. The the authority of the Scriptures and in index is very complete and shows the broad scope of the work and the the efficacy of. the salvation provided wealth of detail included. The maps are inadequate but serve to locate by Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son of fields. The book is readable but is especially valuable for mission study God. . classes, with. questions at the close of each chapter. Those who master the The Arab at Home. Paul W. Harrison, facts here presented will be well in- M.D. 8 va. 337 pp. $3.50. New York. formed on missions and their zeal will 1924. be stirred. Those who have heard Dr. Harrison Missionary history includes the tell of his adventures in Arabia and story of a victorious conflict against describe the Bedouins of the desert, slavery, superstition, idolatry, drunk- will eagerly read this volume, which enness, and all forms of personal and contains these features and much social sins; the marvelous metamor- more. Ibn Saoud, the ruler of the phosis of individuals from savagery to Wahabis, and recent capturer of sainthood, and the transformation of Mecca, is a friend of the medical mis- .whole communities from a menace to sionary and to him the book is dedia blessing to mankind. It is no cated — though in good society in wonder, therefore, that even the brief America he would not be received. record of "The Progress of W orId He invited Dr. Harrison, a missionary Wide Missions" should be full of fas- of the Reformed Church in America, cination and should suggest many in- to visit Riadh, his capital, from which viting by-paths for further investiga- other "Christian dogs" are excluded. tion. To another missionary, Dr. Dame, Ibn Saoud probably owes his life. Dr. Glover, who is now in charge of the Department of. Missions in Moody The" Arab at Home" is graphically Bible Institute, Chicago, was for fif- pictured in his strength and weakness, teen years a missionary in China his ignorance and his wisdom, his under the Christian and Missionary nobility and his fanaticism. Though Alliance. He has traveled over one Dr. Harrison is a missionary he has hundred thousand miles in foreign not written a distinctly missionary lands, visiting missions in Japan, book and only indirectly in passing Korea, the Philippines, Indo-China, describes the work of the Arabian India, Africa, the Near East and Mission. Some authorities will dis- Latin America. His medical and agree with his idealistic picture of the theological training have combined to .Arab of the desert, but the portrait give him a comprehensive knowledge shows a strong race greatly in need of the Gospel of Christ.
In his characteristically picturesque style, and with touches of humor, Dr. Harrison tells many incidents of his life with the I}edouin of the desert, the oasis communities, pearl divers of the East Coast, in the mountain dis- trict of Oman, and among the .Arabs of Mesopotamia. He graphically de- scribes the Arab Sheikh, the rule of (Concluded on page 1018.)
E. SPEER'S NEW
Race and Race Relationships A Christian View of Human Contacts. The Basis of the Missionary Education Movement's Studybook "Of One Blood."
Dr. Speer's new book sets forth the Christian's solution of the problem of race re- lations. A source book of material on the race question as well as a constructive state- ment of the Christian view. $3.50 "THE WORLD'S LIVING RELIGIONS" SERIES Edited by Frank Knight Sanders and Harlan Page Beach Roman Christianity in Latin America By Webster E. Browning, Ph.D., Litt.D.
Dr. Browning, Educational Secretary of the Committee on Cooperation in Latin America, has spent twenty-seven years as a missionary in South America, and he has seen Roman Catholici:;.m in operation at close quarters. $r.oo THE GRAND OLD MAN OF HOME MISSIONS Charles Lemuel Thompson An Autobiography Late Secretary of -the Board of Home Missions, Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. Edited by Elizabeth Osborn Thompson The record of a long, colorful, remarkably full and useful life, of one of the out- standing figures in the Christian activities of the Western world, told with fine modesty and admirable restraint. $2·50 LATEST STORIES OF MISSION WORK The Two of Us in Africa Beginning Again at Ararat Dicie M. Rittenhouse Mabel E. Elliott, M.D.
Adventures in Africa of Two Little Girls The Truth about the Near East. With Introduction by Dr. John H. Finley. of Different Colors. <fA volume to make one weep, and think, and Crowded with incident depicting life on the Dark most of all to make one believe in Christ as Continent, manners, customs, superstitions, and the only hope of the world."-Presbyterian Ad- missionary activities are graphically described in vance. Illustrated, ,S.OO a way which renders the narrative unusually faSCI- Illustrated. ,1.50 nating to the young. Jane in the Orient Nyilak and Other African Lois Hawks Swinehart Sketches Introduction by Egbert W. Smith, D.D. Mabel Easton "Entertainingly written. It gives glimpses of "Such a glamor of romance! :lfabel Easton picturesque lands and peoples which have an inknows how to tell the story of the black people of herent appeal. Everything in Japan and Korea the African Inland MIssion, and to make them intrigues Jane, vividly temperamental-save misreal people before your eyes."-Bible Champion. sionary work. But of cour$e (else why the story) that does in th~ end."-Boston Transcript. Illustrated. $1.00 Second Edition. ,1.25 CHILDREN'S MISSIONARr SERIES Children of South America Katherine A. Hodge of 1;arlie.r issues in thi.s series were: Children Madagascar, Children of Jerusalem, Children of ~~:~~, 8l:gg:::: offB~~~~, ~hllTr~~J ofh;:fric~, ~hi~i~~ ju~~~~, C~~~~nDfoin~~~rCiifJre;h~tr.Tapa~: Children of Ceylon, Children of Jamaica, and Children of E;gypt. Each, 90 cents FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY New York. :: 158 Fifth Avenue Chicago. 17 North Wabash Avenue Please mention THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD in writing to advertisers.
(Concluded from page 1016') is obviously a British book, as its the Turk and the British regime. He references indicate, and is intended makes us understand better the for comparatively uninformed young Mohammedan faith and customs and readers. The incidents and scenes of shows up the influence of ' , Western home life in China, especially the lives Heathenism. " He tells of how the of children, are well deseribed. There Arab reacts to Christianity and de- are a few indirect references to Chrisscribes the bringing of medicine and tian missionary work. surgery into Arabia by the missionary. Comaby of Hanyang. Coulson Kernahan und Mrs. Wm. Cornaby. 12mo. 156 pp. The unique and picturesque de- 28, 6d. London. 1923. scription of the Arab gives us a new insight into the every-day life in Here is a sketehy but excellent por- Arabia. The book is written from trait of William Arthur Cornaby, a personal experience with the Arab, Wesleyan Methodist missionary in gained through twelve years of service China from 1885 to 1921. He was a as a medical missionary and through literary and a spiritual force in China, tours into the interior. whose writings have something of the quality of Robert Louis Stevenson; With Lawrenc.e in Arabia. Lowell Thomas. was a member of the editorial staff Illus. 8 vo. 408 pp. $4.00. New York. of the Christian Literature Society; 1924. editor of the Ta Tung Pa, a Chris- tian magazine for Chinese officials and This "~odern Arabian Knight" is scholars, and author of "China under a young Englishman who created an the Search Light" and other volumes. Arabian army to fight against the Mr. Cornaby was preeminently a man Turks as allies of the British. The of prayer, humble and yet courageous, story of Col. Lawrence's work is one industrious, a wide reader and devoted of the fascinating and fantastic to children. romances bequeathed to us by the Great War. It is a story of Arabian Women of 1924. Edited by Ida C.· Clarke. days and nights, more strange than 12 mo. 386 pp. $1.00. New York. 1924. fiction, and yet declared to be true. When thc war started, Col. Lawrence, Women are taking an increasingly the" Mystery Man of Arabia," was a large and important place in politics, twenty-six-year-old archeologist with in education and in business. They a genius for generalship. He is now are maintaining their supremacy as British Adviser on Arab Affairs. home-makers and in Christian work. This new annual gives a record of Mr. Thomas, a great admirer of Col. their activities and officials, not only Lawrence, describes how the archeolo- in the United States but in other gist turned soldier, gathered desert lands as well. tribes into armies, captured Solomon '8 ancient seaport, wrecked T.urkish rail- Apolo of the Pygmy Forest. A. B. Lloyd. roads, enlisted the cooperation of the Paper. 12 m,o. 62 pp. Is. London. Bedouin Robin Hood, went through 1923. 'furkish lines in disguise, became ruler of Damascus, organized the" Arabian The Anglican Archdeacon of West- Knights of the Air," narrowly ern Uganda, the author of a number escaped death, and had many other of books on Africa, here tells the story adventures. of a native Canon of the English Church. He is a man of fine face, of China and Her Peoples. Lena E. Johnston. real ability and Christlike character. 12 mo. 136 pp. $1.50 net. New York. While some distanee from thr 1924. "pygmy forest," the diocese bordered on Pygmy Land. The sketch gives The orrlinary, generally known, an excellent idea of missionary work facts about China and the Chinese are in Uganda and its results. presented here in a chatty style. It
THE BEST BIBLE in the WORLD lor the MONEY ILLUSTRATED SELF-PRONOUNCING GIFT BIBLE CONTAININCJ TREKING .lAMES OR AUTHORIZED VERSION OF TIlE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS SELF_PRONOUNCING TEXT All the prDpel' words being accented and divided into syllables for quick ~d easy pronunciation.
LARGE BlACK FACE TYPE Speelmen 01 'J'7pe and of !r'pad? where are the gods of Shaevphe-tahre-yvidi'eimliv, er,eHde'Snial.-,maan'rdl-a i'vah? JI1ine hand? out of 35 Who are they among all the gods of the eountries. that have delivered IT ALSO CONTAINS A NEW SERIES OF HELPS TO THE STUDY OF THE WBLE Selected for their general utility.
INCLUDINC'il ~~~.P~~:E~.::s~~~ which un'old the Scriptures. A feature of great value to old and young.
alBEA~FVLILLUSTKATIONS showing scenes and incidents of Bible ai.tory, handsomelT printed on euamel paper in photo.tone Ink.
12 MAPS OF THE WBLE LANDS IN COLORS paper, size oarry or for bound Psrtixntaetd on superior white inches. Suitable to home reading. This Speoia! Bible is in Dr.
BOUND IN GENVINE FLEXlBLE VlNITY CIRCUIT STYLE (ov",la>, LEATHER with overlapping covers, H::b~VmluJtisI,*'W~b§,lff~'ll injury red under gold edges. round "or- FRENCH SEAL LEATHER toot i ners. headband and purple marker. can be rolled without to bind- F;:WIe Eaeb Bible packed III ban….ome….,. ing or sewing. The Bibl. has red un- der gold edg<!!, headband and Special Holiday Offer =.d·in!,,;~:l':::~ '::ba~J.l~ USE THIS COUPON – – – – – . THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE LEACUE 1010 Arch Street, PhiladelphIa, Pa.
Pleas. send AD C h _ Prepaid, THE HOUDAY GIFT BIBLE: which yon are ;;ftering at a SPECIAL PRICE OF $2.411. I enclose herewltll utra.) Money Order for the amount. Satisfaction ( This Bible furnished witb Patent Thumb Index, 45 cent. Guaranteed Name ill gold. UII cover,3O cellt5 e.ua.
Money NAlI4E …._._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Backfot the Asking ADDRESS_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1·~59 Please mention THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD in writing to advertIsers.
Let the REVIEW Solve Your Gift Problem Dear REVIEW Reader: YOU already know the value of the MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD. But have YOU ever thought how acceptable and suitable it is as a Christmas remembrance?
Its help and inspiration come to your friends NOT ONCE ONLY, but TWELVE TIMES, spreading the benefit of your Christmas gift throughout the year.
Give some friend a year's subscription to the REVIEW. It will cost you less than other gifts that vanish over night. This gift will come every month for a whole year and serve as a reminder of your thoughtfulness.
SA VE ONE DOLLAR We will give you the opportunity of presenting the REVIEW to a friend, pastor, missionary or Christian worker and also EXTEND YOUR OWN SUBSCRIPTION for one year•••Both for $4.00•••a saving of $1.00 (the regular price of a single subscription is $2.50).
With the gift subscription we will send an attractive card ~ expressing your hearty good wishes for the year.
YOUR OWN RENEWAL!
No matter when your present subscription expires, nor when your old subscription did expire, you may take advan.. !( tage of this offer.
Remember, the above offer is only good until December 25th Fill in the blank now and mail before December 25th Missionary Re'I'iew Publishing Company, Date……………………………………_…………..• 156 Fifth A'Venue, New York.
Gentlemen: Enclosed find $4.00 for one NEW subscription to the MIS" SIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD and MY RENEWAL subscription for another year. Please begin the NEW subscription 'With the …………………:……………………_ number and extend mine from date ofpresent expiration.
My Name………………………. ……………………………. Friend's Name……………………………………………….___ Address …………………………………………………………. Address ………………………………_…………._…………._
NEW BOOKS Make Your Christmas Giving Count History of Religion in the United St9.t~s. Write for'our 1925 Reference Guide (free) which Henry K. Rowe. 213 pp. $1.75. Mae· is packed full of helpful Gift Suggestions. millan Co. New York. 1924. Follow the S.S. Lesso"s Making a Missionary Church. Stacy R. with our 1925 . Warburton. 279 pp. $1.75. Judson Press. Philadelphia. 1924. Christian: Road to BrotherhOod. Compiled and edited Calendar by Department of Missionary Edneatioll of Baptist Board of Education. 163 pp. Features-5.S. Lessons Baptist Board of Education, Department and Daily Readings, of Missionary Education. 276 Fifth carefully c h 0 s e It text Avenue, New York. 1924. for each da.y.
Liberalizing Liberal JUdaism. James Consecutive R,eg.diU&S Waterman Wise. 150 pp. $1.50. Mae· for the whole Bible millau Co. New York. 1924. 12 Beautiful Ha.beeb, a Boy of Palestine. Mary Ent- Engravings wistle. 92 pp. 28. Church Missionary Society. London. Size 9%, x 16* inches Frontispiece : Religion in Russia Under the Soviets. TheGoodShephel'd Richard J. Cooke. 302 pp. $2.00. Abing. B¥ Ploelchont don Press. New York. 1924. in the Finest With Lawrence in Arabia. Lowell Thomas. Color Work Possible 408 pp. $4.00. Century Co. New York. 1924. SO Cents Each 4 for $1.00 Andrew Young of Shensi. J. C. Keyte. 313 pp. 68. Carey press. London. 1924. 12 for $2.75 25 for $5.00 Some Chinese Friends of Mine. Mary F. 50 for $9.50 Kelly. 196 pp. Powell & White. llin· 100 for $17.00 cinnati. 1924. Further reductions India's Outcasts: a New Era. W. S. Hunt. 113 pp. Is 6d. Church Missionary So· onb~rr~i~~up!I~.ies ciety. London. 1924. (Concluded on page 1022.) Ideal for a Christmas or New Year Gift Agents wanted in every Church and Community :'a ~ Business Women Are daily becoming a more important fac. Ideal for Pastors and Teachers 'to use as Gilts. tor in the business life of the nation. EVANGELICAL PUBLISHERS With greater responsibilities come new problem,. and the need for more intelli. 856·860 College Ave. TORONTO, CANADA gent consideration of them. FOR DISTINCTIVE Business women today from coast to coast are meeting in clubs, societies and CHRISTMAS GIFTS informal groups to discuss these problems of their business life. buy Chinese Jasmine Tea and Canton Crystalli~ed Ginger And they are reading The tea comes in packages of two sizes. "The Ways of a Business Woman" The larger contains enough tea for 300 cupfuls, wrapped in a unique Chinese hempell By MARION LELA NORRIS basket. and MARY WELLES CLAPP The smaller package is a handpainted A stimulating series of informal conver· teatable box containing enough tea for 75 sations on situations arising in women's cupfuls. There are dozens of designs in the business life. original hand decorating, some of them de- cidedly oriental and. others suggestive of This series of typical modern situations Christmas, such a", a lighted candle, a poin~ i. paralleled by Biblical incidents, and settia, an evergreen tree. topics for discussion are suggested. Tea in Chinese baskets ……•..••• $1.25 Tea in decorated boxes ……•…. .50 Also Canton Crystallized Ginger in fancy $1.25 .75 boxes, 1 lb. ….••…….•….• Canton Crystallized Ginger in fancy boxes, % lb. .•••••……..•….
An Ideal Christmas Gift SPECIAL CHRISTMAS MAILING You may order package-s sent direct to for your business women friends. your friends at the proper mailing date. Each package will be appropriately boxed. FOR SALE BY supplied with a gift card bearing your name, decorated with red and green labels and . . e poe;;;f"1l GAGE PRINTING COMPANY, Ltd. "Do not open" seals, and will be tied with ' "196 1 Battle Creek, Michigan ;"aUl red cord-without extra charge. No adver- ,~a tising and no price marks.
Oraer now from MRS. ELSIE CLARK KRUG Cloth Bound $1.00 (formerly with Hwa Saa College, Foochow) 2227 St. Paul StrEet. Baltimore, Md.
Are You Studying About. China?
If so, you will need Miss Applegarth's latest book A CHINA SHEPHERDESS Here are twenty-two delightful stories for all ages about China, all "ready-ta-tell." Illustrated with twenty-two pen-and-ink drawings by the author. There are dozens of quaint Chinese proverbs, appropriate to the chapters with which they appear.
Bound in yelhuJ cloth, $1_ '15 net ~ 1701-1703 Chestnut St. .. Philadelphia, Pa.
NEW BOOKS PERSONALS (Concluded from page 1021') CHARl.ES E. HURLBlJRl', Director of the The Struggle for Power in Moslem Asia. Africa Inland Mission, now at home on fur- lough, has taken over full control of the E. Alexander Powell. 3B9 1'1'. $2.50. home work. Century Co. New York. 1923.
The Relations Between Arabs and Israel- REV. GEORGE Al.EXANDER, D.D., has re- ites Prior to the Rise of Islam. D. S. sigued as President of the Board of Foreign MargoJi.outh. The Schweich Lectures for Missions of the Presbyterian Church after 1921. 86 pp. 68. Oxford University holding the office twenty-one years. He has Press. London. 1924. been a member of the board forty-one yea,rs.
The Secret of the Near East. George M. * Lamsa. j 77 pp. $L50. 32 West 58th Street. New York. 1923. M,SS TETSU YASUI has been inaugnrated president of the Womau 's Christian College The Rebirth of Turkey. Clair Price. 234 of Tokyo, one of the seven womens' union pp. $3.00. Thomas Seltzer. New York. colleges in the Orient. 1923. * The Laws and Customs of the Yoruba Peo- ple. A. K. Ajisafe. 97 pp. 3s, 6d. REV. '1. S. PROKHANOFF, of Leningrad, Routledge. London. 1924. Russia, President of the All-Russian Union of }JvangelicaI Christians, and Vice-Presi· Lutheran Mission Work Among the Amer- dent of the Baptist World Congress, held at ican Indians. Albert Kei"er. 186 pp. Stockholm, Sweden, last year, began in Sep- Augsburg Publishing House. Minneapolis. tember a speaking tour in America under 1922. the auspices of the Russia Evangelization Society. The Isles of the Western Sea: The Story of Methodist Missions in the West Indies * and Central America. Am3s Burnet. 64 PI'. 1.. W. M. llf. S. London. 1924. REV. JOHN TBtO'l'HY STONE, D.D., of the Fourth Presbyterian Churc]], Chica.go, ex- In Coral Isles. E. If. Gates. 256 PI'. $1.35. peets to leave early in December for a year's Review '111d Herald Publishing Associa- tour of the mission fields of Asia. tion. "rashington. 1923. OBITUARY Conferences of Christian Workers Among Moslems, 1924. 152 pp. International R·EV. C. Eo COWMAN, founder of the Missionary Council, 2 Eaton Gate, London, Oriental Mis,~ionary Soeiety of J a.pan, died S. W. i. 347 Madison Avenue, New York. on September 27th after a long illness.
Ancestor Worship in Africa. James Thayer MISS ALICE lf. GUERNSEY, for many years Addison. 17 pp. Reprinted from The erl.ltor, business manager and general pub- Harvard Theological Review, 1924, Vol. hsher fO]· the Woman's Home Missionary XVJI (No.2). Society of the M. E. Church, died recently at Ocean Grove. The Medicine Man. John Lee Maddox. 330 PI'. $2.25. ibcmiIlan Go. New York. DR. A. P. PARKE&, of the 111. E. ChurCh, 1923. South, one of the oldest and best-known of Am€rican missionaries in China, died in Sep_ The Religion of the Rigveda. H. D. Gris- tember. wold. 'I'lle ReligiDus Quest of India Series. 392 PI'. 12s, Ga. Oxford Uni- versity Press. London. 1923.
Please nwntiQD THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD in writing to advertisers.
ety Bonds You may continue work for
Master, after He has called you hence by buying WHERE are your funds invested? ASSURED INCOME WHAT interest are they now BONDS bringing to you? ISSUED BY WHEN you are through what will American Sunday-School Union become of your funds? PHILADELPHIA For SAFETY and a SURE LIFE INCOME write for Booklet No.7. Incorporoted ander the laws 0/ the State 01 even if not interested at the /JTellent time. Pennsyloaoia.
We hope that now you can send a donation 10 help give the Bible in 66 languages to the immigrants. the sailors. the sick in hospital., the prisoners, and in raised type to the blind.
New York Bible House: the centre 0/ a gTeat woTk 0/ FREE Bible distribution.
New York BiLle Society 5 East 48th Street, New York The Old.., Bible Society In New York II II II II II II II They will pay you an Income during your life America and Japan equal to, or more than, the best of giIt- edge securities. And will continue afterwards.
have been linked by the The Spread of God's Kingdom courage and daring of our aviators. through the organization of Sunday- Schools in communities throughout this Heaven and earth ar.e country in which there are now no reli- brought into daily contact gious services, and through the publication by the Heroes of the Cross! of evangelical helps for these schools.
The Government pensions Last year we organized 1,006 new the aviator. Can we do less schools. Twenty-nine churches of va- for the faithful Servants of rious denominations grew out of Union Jesus Christ? schools in the past year and sixteen houses of worship were erected. Will you help? A cheque today, a legacy in your will. For Information as to terms, and income derived from thue bondo, write Presbyterian Board of Ministerial JOHN E. STEVENSON, Treasurer Relief and SustcDtatiOD American Sunday-School Union HENRY B. MASTER. D.o.• Celleral Secretary 1816 eheslnut Street, Philadelphi., Pa. W. W. HEBERTON, D.O., Treasurer 510 Witherspoon Building, Philadelphia, Pa. Inquirers will please mention name of Magazine.
II II II II II II Please tnent10n THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD in writing to advertisers.
· $8 $6 Supremely Beautiful, Genuine
Morocco, India Paper, Teachers'
lhIS ~~::~ Reference Billie for…. This Nelson American Standard Bible is printed on the thinnest, toughest, highest grade I/ldia paper. The American Standard version is used b". r7.iIIlions of students, hundreds of thousands of teachers, in li~lirly all the Sunday school lesson helps, is endorsed and used by Bib- lical scholars of every Protestant denomination; is the most accurate, the most easily understood, the most ..harming, the oldest yet the newest, the best of all versions-the one version you cannot successfully be without. Every teacher, scholar, every home should possess this priceless, indispensable, gen- uine Nelson Ameriean Standard Bible.
This Spec,"al Gift Edition uessp,e~,isallthyemab~'gegfeosrt bargain we have ever been privileged to offer. We are proud of its beautiful, genuine, Morocco binding; its red under gold edge; its large, clear, legible type; its lightweight; its extraor- dinary completeness. This superlative achievement in Bible making should last a lifetime. This particular Bible in its special binding is not listed in ..atalogs or sold in stores. It can be had only of us, because we took over an entire edition. Its equivalent in value would be priced at least $8 if obtain- able in stores, but the magnitude of our Bible sales enables 1'. to offer it at $6.95 delivered postpaid. It contains: American Standard Text i~ ~~ea":i~e:,~Yp~~~~' :J~ion type Complete References l:'u~k!~"ci~~~~enJ~~~rn;~~e'fe~c::rs~; student a comprehensive and instant command of every related text.
ABile Dictionary r,,!n~ 11====#========== tbousandsofwordsand phrases in accordance with the latest jilt I. 14 The 18Jaw of the wise is • and most authoritative schol- 6.9-11; of life. arship. geographical and his- totiea1 in its scope, with an 21: ~ That one may depart i2. 27- Zsnares of aath. accurate Chronological table. 'B ' 1611Good understanding181i'f' fi;1l5 But 'the way of the tr8111 101 Illustrations ::~~t 11.24: hard.
Iy illustrate and illumine the 12. 20. i VOl'. 19: ch. 10. 24 ., Num. 15..31: text with graphic pictures. 12. 3,1' .. ver. 21 • eh. 10. 11: a. 21 z Po.I giving teacher and student a 'or.6.IO; 4: ~ Ill. 10 zch. 21. 8 ~~~~s ;~dc~gj!~~s. of events. ·lt~: :i~o~r:. c=:or~rfr,_f,::: ~~&'Or1. I~f! ANew Concordance ~fa~f; i:t:S;0a: "8:. :: bj:r.:,.htnes. 01 W8r. rehl ~:d'~~~~i~~ra~3 :orr~~;:i~~l~n?~ any but the genuine Nelson American Standard Bible.
Beautiful Colored Maps ~~~~~v~~~esg~~gtr~~;:t ~!dm:gp~;~~hgy of the Holy Land from the beginning of history through Paul's Missionary Journeys.
Exaot aize ••·7:s4~ 3[1 Satisfaction Absolutely Guaranteed ~o~:~r~;;~t~fd~Ob~d!~t~ Wei,ht oDly 20 ounoes once to insure deJivery in ample time for your needs before Christmas. Note the difference in aize and weight of thi. Benuine India For SOc. additional ~~a~~dY i~a;:re3~~lddl:~e~n f~:~ paper Bible a. compared with ordinarJl paper. cover or yOU may have the Bible indexed. 90 cents for both name and index.
S. S. Scranton Company 146 Plimpton Building Hartford, Conn.