The Missionary Review of the World — September 1939
1939
The Japanese Control of Religion By a Recent Resident Christian Opportunities in Japan J. Harper Brady The Churches in the DustBowl Mark A. Dawber By-Products of the Arabian Mission Samuel M. Zwemer Fasl-Begh-Address Unknown "Shaheeda"
Training Indian Women Doctors Dame Edith Brown The Present Situation in Portugal Wm. H. Rainey Preaching Christ in Europe Adolf Keller 25 Cents ~ Copy $2.50 a Year
Items Dates to Remember throughout the Presbyterian
and in other Christian circles because Dr. Clarence G. Salsbury, Superin- August 1-IO-Erieside Conference for of his work for lepers of Allahabad tendent of Ganado Presbyterian Mis- Boys and Young Men. Willowick, and in connection with the Allahabad sion to Navajo Indians in Arizona, Ohio. Agricultural Institute, a missionary and medical director of Sage Memorial enterprise. He attended the Mt. Her- Hospital, has been made President Aug. 5-10-Ninth Quadrennial Con- mon School for Young Men and of the recently organized Arizona vention ·of the Woman's Home and Princeton University where he was a Hospital Association. Arizona is one Foreign Missionary Society of Af- member of the class of 1903, and went of the last states to organize such rican Methodist Episcopal Zion to India the same year. He received an association. Almost all the state's Church, Detroit, Mich. the degree of Doctor of Philanthropy 45 hospitals are embraced in this from Princeton and Bachelor of Scieffort to handle matters arising from August 13-20-Geneva Summer School ence in Agriculture from Ohio State legislative and social security prob- of Missions, Lake Geneva, Wis. For College, Master of Science from Amlems. It will be affiliated with the information write to Mrs. Paul H. herst College and received the Kaisar- American Hospital Association. Wezeman, 1177 S. Humphrey Ave., i-Hind Gold Medal in 1935 and the Oak Park, ill. King George Medal in 1937. *** Mrs. A. E. Harper, of the Presby- August 30-September 2 – National He was born in Manchester, Engterian Punjab Mission, has received Rural Forum. Penn State College, land, on October 24, 1874, and came the Kaisar-i-Hind gold medal for dis- under the auspices of the American to the United States in 1894. tinguished service to India. Dr. and Country Life Assn., Dr. Benson Y. Mrs. Harper, who have been in India Landis, Executive Secretary, 297 Obituary Notes since 1914, are in charge of the Moga Fourth Ave., New York. Training School for Village Teachers, The Rev. Dr. Ross Stevenson, Preswhich is the formal name for what September I-Home Mission Day at ident Emeritus of Princeton Theologi- Indians and missionaries prefer to the World's Fair, New York. cal Seminary, a former pastor of the call "The Village of Service." Mrs. Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church Harper is the author of two books for September 2-4 – Erieside Business and a Moderator of the General Asyoung people on India-"The Golden Women's Conference, Willowick, sembly of the Presbyterian Church in Sparrow" and "Shera of the Punjab." Ohio. the United States of America, died in New York on August 13 at 73 years *** October I-Loyalty Sunday. of age. He is survived by his widow, Dr. Samuel M. Zwemer, after ten October 11-I8-Twelfth Quadrennial Florence Day Stevenson and by his years of residence at Princeton, N. J., three sons, Dr. Theodore Dwight Stehas moved to the Hotel Carteret, Sev- Convention of the Woman's Parent venson, a medical missionary in Canenth Avenue and 23rd Street, New Mite Missionary Society of the Af- ton, China, Donald Day Stevenson of York City. rican Methodist Episcopal Church, Pennsylvania State College and Wil- Chicago, ill. liam Edwards Stevenson of the law *** October 24-25-130th Annual Meet- firm of Debevoise, Stevenson, Plimp- ArthtH' L. Carson, Ph.D., director ing of the American Board of Com- ton & Page. of the Rural Institute of Cheeloo Uni- missioners for Foreign Missions versity, Tsinan, China, has been meeting with the Mid~West Region, Dr. Stevenson was much loved as a elected president of Silliman Univer- Pilgrim Church, St. Louis, Mo. pastor, teacher and friend. He was sity, Dumaguete, P. I. Dr. Carson one of the best-known Presbyterian went W China in 1921, and after a Dr. Helen Kim, a pioneer in wom- clergymen in the United States. For short service in Canton, he organized en's education in Korea, has been many years he served .as Chairman of an agricultural department in the elected President of Ewha College in the Presbyterian General Assembly's boys' high school at Weihsien, to meet Seoul, to succeed Miss Alice Appen- Department of Church Cooperation a recognized need. In Cheloo Univer- zeller. Dr. Kim has participated in and Union, and was a leader in the sity he had opportunity to serve the many international conferences both negotiations of his denomination for rural Chinese to better advantage. at home and abroad as a representa- a proposed concordat with the Prot- tive of Korea. She was a delegate to estant Episcopal Church. *** the Jerusalem Conference in 1928. He was born at Ligonier, Pa., on Dr. Edward Warren Capen is re- *** March 1, 1866, the son of the Rev. tiring from the deanship of the Ken- Ross Stevenson, Presbyterian minisnedy School of Missions of the Hart- Rev. J. G. Holdcroft, missionary of ter, and Martha A. Harbison Stevenford Seminary Foundation, after son. He was graduated from Washservice in that office since 1919. The the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. in ington and Jefferson College and then steady development of the school dur- Korea, has returned to Seoul in order from McCormick Theological Semiing toe last twenty-eight years is due to stand by the missionaries there and nary at Chicago. For four years he largely to his personal devotion. Dur- help in the work during this time of occupied a pastorate in Sedalia, Mo., ing this time more than 892 students crisis. Mrs. Holderoft is detained in and then returned to McCormick Semhave enrolled, representing more than America on account of her mother, inary for eight years. In 1902 he besixty mission boards; and these stu- who is 86 years of age. Pray for Dr. came pastor of the Fifth Avenue dents have served in 47 different mis- and Mrs. Holdcroft in this time of Presbyterian Church in New York sion fields throughout the world. testing. and in 1909 accepted the call of the Brown Memorial Church in Balti- *** *** more. He was elected president of Dr. T. K. Van, acting President of Dr. Samuel Higginbottom, Presi- Princeton Theological Seminary in the University of Shanghai since the dent of Ewing Christian College, Alla- 1914, and the next year was elected assassination of President Herman habad, India, has the distinction of be- Moderator of the General Assembly. C. E. Liu in 1938, has been elected ing the only lay missionary who has the President. In view of the tense ever been elected Moderator of the Dr. Stevenson retired from the pressituation following the assassination Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. idency of the Princeton Theological by a Japanese agent, it was not This honor was conferred upon him at Seminary in May, 1936, and subsethought wise to select a president at the General Assembly in Cleveland, quently served as temporary president the time. Ohio on May 25th. of the American section of the World Dr. Van's sterling Christian char- Dr. Higginbottom is not an Ameri- Conference on Faith and Order and acter, his scholarly attainments and can citizen, having been born in Great the Universal Christian Council for his quiet efficiency in a crisis mark Britain, is not an ordained minister, Life and Work. He and Mrs. Steventhe wisdom of his selection. never attended a theological seminary son went on a tour of Presbyterian and was elected an elder of the Pres- missions in the Far East in 1937. byterian Church in Cleveland only about two weeks before he was elected (Concluded on third cover.) Moderator. He has become well known and greatly beloved and honored
THE CALL LEADS . .. THE MISSIONARY To
REVIEW OF THE WORLD "EAST OF SUEZ" ORIENT DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor by VOL. LXII SEPT.,1939 No.9 EMp(l.ESS The Jain Temple, Calcutta Publication and Business Office- fl.PIlESS Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. rOB OVBB 100 YBllBS Only 10 swift days direct to THB WllY HllS .8BN Editorial and Executive Ollice– Yokohama when you sail by 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. Empress to the Orient. Only PaO Entered as second-class matter at 3 more days to visit lovely Hawaii en route by Empress of Let the comfort of modern liners and the secur- Post Ollice, Harrisburg, Pa., under Japan, largest and fastest liner ity of British seamanship enhance your voy- Act of March 3, 1879. on the Pacific, or Empress of age. Whenever you are called to the other Canada. From California side of the world, choose this traditional route. 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. ports connect at Honolulu. Cross to England by a modern transatlantic Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. liner and then embark in a great liner of the Published monthly, except August. Frequent sailings from both P & 0 and British India fleets, led by the new All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1939. Vancouver and Victoria to 23,500-ton Strathallan, Strathmore, and Strath- British agents – Marshall, Morgan Yokohama, Kobe, Nagasaki, eden carrying First and Tourist Classes. Air- and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, Shanghai,HongKong,Manila. conditioned dining saloons in First Class, hot London, E. C. 1 shilling per copy, Consult YOUR OWN TRAVEL and cold running water throughout, built-in 10 sh!1lings a year. AGENT or Canadian Pacific: out-door swimming pools, children's play- 41 offices in U. S. and Canada. rooms! Regular service to Egypt, Sudan, Iran- MISSIONARY REVIEW PUBian Gulf, India, Burma, Ceylon, Straits Seule- LISHING CO., INC. ments, China, Japan, Australia, East and South Africa, Mauritius. Special reductions BOARD OF DIRECTORS and generous baggage allowance for missionaries. ROBERT E. SPEER, President A. L. WARNSHUIS, Vice-President Convenient throuqh bookinqs can WALTER McDOUGALL, Treasurer DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary j be arranqed by your travel aqent. PAUL J. BRAISTED Or apply at 25 Broadway, 638 Fit~~ A~•• N. Y•••• ~ =Y ,,"'''' ~ SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT D. J. FANT MRS. ORRIN R. JUDD WM. B. LIPPllARD ERIC M. NORTH SAMUEL M. ZWEMER Editorial Chat The summer is past and the autumn begins. It is a time for new pro- grams and increased activity in the Church and mission work as well as in schools, business and public enter- prises.
We call attention to the material in this number of THE REVIEW–edi- torials, articles, news, methods-all bring useful and interesting informa- tion for Christian workers. THE RE- VIEW brings before each reader im- portant topics for prayer, conference and cooperation. Read prayerfully the articles on "The Dust Bowl Churches," the situation in Japan and in Europe. You will be stirred by the reports from Arabia and India and Dutch New Guinea. You will be deeply interested in the story of a Russian Christian's pilgrimage in Central Asia. Make your interest count for the Cause of Christ.
*** Some recent comments on the value of THE REVIEW show that God is blessing its ministry: "I have had the pleasure of reading your magazine on different occasions. Not being able to subscribe, I am wondering if any reader would be willing to pass on to me their used CUNARD WHlE Sl AR copies. It would be much appreci- ated." HECTOR H. GARDINER.
, p..gents for l Lin Cheng Hsien, GenerCl Hopei, North China. NO ORl£NTA *** P£NlNSUlAR AlNOlA ST£AM SH "I send my subscription for another ANO BRlTl CO MPANl£S year feeling it a very fine investment. NAVlGATlON I enjoy all the articles and comments.
If I go to summer or winter schools I shall certainly commend THE RE- VIEW." MRS. HENRY W. PEABODY.
Beverly, Mass.
[385 ]
DlSTRlBUTlUN GIVING LITERATURE TO PRISONERS A PORTUGUESE
MONUMENT TO LUIS DE CAMOES WITH BIBLE SOCIETY DEPOT IN THE BACKGROUND AT LISBON (See article on page 409.) REVIB ORLD VOLUME LXII AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER 9 SEPTEMBER, 1939 Topics of the Times MEETING THE CRISIS IN THE CHURCH Czechoslovakia and the Polish Ukraine? Perse- Many churches in America, as in other lands, cution cannot destroy them; poverty alone will are facing it crisis. Their income from gifts has decreased, their membership has dwindled, the not kill them. Such experiences did not destroy community in which the work is carried on has radically changed. What is their outlook? What the Apostolic Church; nor have they prevented is the solution of their problem? the growth of the church in mission fields. But There are worse things than for an organization or an individual to die a physical death. It materialism, self-centeredness and failure to culis far worse to die spiritually than to lose the reason for existence. If a man or a church cannot tivate spiritual life will sap vitality in churches longer serve the Cause of Christ in a community "Why cumbereth it the ground"? Physical death and individuals. may open the way to new spiritual life. Today, in the midst of world-wide distress, is One solution for a dying church may be a change it not time for Christians to seek spiritual vitality to meet the needs and conditions of the new environment. The change from a dead conserva- and to express spiritual life in personal service? tism to a living organism may be the way to larger service. A church that has served chiefly There is special need to help fellow Christians in aged saints, may well begin to reach out to meet the growing needs of youth, to train Christian distress wherever they may be, and to promote the workers, to evangelize the unconverted and backsliders of the community, to become truly a living missionary work of Christ with new vigor wherpower and a missionary-minded congregation. Size never determines vitality, power or useful- ever doors are open-at home or abroad. ness. There is clearly work for every Christian and every church in any environment where hu- Dr. Adolf Keller, of Switzerland, Director of man contacts may be made. The first requisite for service is the indwelling and manifestation of the Central Bureau for the Relief of the Evangelithe living Christ in the life and work of the individual or in the church. cal Churches of Europe, calls attention to the fact If churches in America are experiencing a that the need for help for these churches is incrisis-what about the churches in Japan, where militarism prevails; in Germany where totalitar- creasing rather than diminishing. He says: ianism seeks to control church life; in Russia where all faith in God is discredited; in China The rise of totalitarianism and the almost incredible where foreign invasion destroys property and life; fury of the outbreak of anti-Semitism have deeply affected in countries of Europe where unrest, poverty and the economic situation of the evangelical churches their materialism prevail? What shall be done for the liberty of conscience, their spiritual as well as congregaevangelical churches in Spain, in Germany, in tional and organizational life. All over the world the structure of civilization shows deep fissures where we had seen only solid rock.
Certain areas of specific need have within the last year shown increased distress, due in part to adverse eco- nomic conditions, but in far greater measure to the effects of national hysteria, the persecution mania which has broken out in so many places. A few problems are indi- cated here.
M.u~h :tttentio.n has been given to feeding evangelical famIhes In RUSSIa, those whose breadwinner has been sent to Siberia or the Arctic Circle. Relieving the extreme poverty of Reformed and other Protestant ministers in Rumania has been another project.
The encouraging evangelical movement in the Ukraine is being hit both by financial difficulties and by all manner of petty persecution·on the part of local authorities, i. e., every pastor must get a permit for every sermon that he preaches, whether in his own parish or elsewhere.
As the need grows for a strong and enlightened Chris- tian ministry, courageous and independent, the number of young men who can finance their training dwindles in Europe.
[387 ]
A staggering refugee problem also faces us. These were the problems _before the Madras Czechoslovakia is on the critical list for the losses of Conference, and they were the problems before territory have meant a heavy blow to the Church of the the forty-sixth Foreign Missions Conference, held Czech Brethren (Hussite). They are paying a heavy price in Swarthmore in June. These two working confor peace, and it would be shameful if we let them pay it alone. Recent reports from Italy indicate that unfavorable ferences were built on similar lines-a new plan developments are facing the Waldensian Church. for the American annual meeting. It was not a The Christian Church in Europe is once more time for speeches and reports but an opportunity bringing forth martyrs; humble people jeopard- for prayerful deliberation on specific topics, preize their livelihood and the future of their children pared for by commissions and discussed in variin order to stand by Christian principles which are no longer recognized by their governments; yet ous groups that reported their recommendations churches are packed in many places where empty benches had become the rule. The witness of these to the whole conference. Two hundred and heroes of the faith has awakened echoes around eighty-seven men and women, from over sixty dethe world. nominations met for eight days to consider seven great mission areas and then such topics as-The Christianity may be driven again into the catacombs and caves, but churches in America and Life-Giving Church, The Sustenance of the Life England must rise to meet the challenge of the o~ the Church, Christian Leadership, World Tenhour. SIOns and Cooperation. Dr. John R. Mott, the veteran leader-ever youthful in outlook and vigor PROBLEMS FOR MISSION WORKERS -reminded the conference that the only founda- tion for the Christian Church is the ever Living There has probably never been a time when the whole foreign missionary enterprise has been con- Christ and faith in Him as the Son of God and fronted with greater difficulties, more complicated Saviour of man. problems, more dire need or more challenging opportunities than today. The very size of the The principle of Christian fellowship and coenterprise-with twenty-seven thousand Protes- operation in the name of Christ was dominant at tant missionaries on the field besides a total staff Swarthmore. Representatives from Mexico, Afriof over 200,000 Christian workers of various races and nations cooperating with them-constitutes ca, China, India and other fields, as well as from a problem as to the direction and support of the work. About $30,000,000 is required every year various Evangelical communions, brought varied in voluntary gifts from Protestant Christians to views and stirring challenges to cope with the task maintain this work with any degree of efficiency -so far as money can help to accomplish this. sacrificially and adequately.
Other problems are involved in the complexity The results of this conference, as well as the of the work-which is more than simple evange- outcome of Madras, must be seen in the churches, lism and the training of Christian leaders-in the the Board offices and on the field in the months to growth and self-assertion of the developing come. One thing is certain-nothing adequate churches in mission lands; in the unrest and conflicts in such countries as India, China, Korea and and abiding can be accomplished except through Japan; in the changed attitudes of the governments toward Christian missions in such lands as the power and leadership of the Spirit of Gwhod~ liv- Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Japan and Mexico; in the ing and working in individual disciples are war spirit and economic depression in Europe and America, resulting in a decrease of missionary surrendered to Christ and devoted to His cause. gifts. Add to this the agitation for new align- ments in the various denominations the over- An important move was made toward unifica- whelming number of appeals for philanthropic causes and the temptation to discouragement as tion of Protestant foreign mission management to the outcome of the whole missionary enterprise, and the decline of faith in many professed Chris- in America. The organizations which have handled tians in the compelling force of the missionary command of Christ-all these and other factors various phases of the enterprise on a semi-autonmake it imperative for loyal Christians to reexamine the world situation, to look at the basis omous basis, winocrlku,dpinrgomroegtiioonnaalnddwiroemcetino'n~ rural and objectives of the missionary enterprise and work, medical work, to consider the forces on which we can rely for victory in the Christian campaign. have now been incorporated into the membership of the Conference as representative committees of that single body. The ten committees are on Africa, the Far East, India, the Philippines, Latin America, Promotion in Interest-Publicity, Foreign Students and Radio, Rural Missions, Women's Work and Christian Medical Council for Overseas Work. The chairmen of these committees will be members of the executive department of the Foreign Missions Conference.
Another new and important featUre of the Swarthmore meeting was the united conference of fifty-six newly appointed missionaries of eight mission Boards. These new missionaries are go- ing to fourteen fields. In addition to the lan-
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
guage study, the new missionaries were prepared THE WORLD CONGRESS OF BAPTISTS by a consideration of such topics as The Missionary Home; The Spiritual, Social and Intellectual During July (20th to 27th) the representatives Relationships of the Workers on the Field; The of 12,000,000 Baptists of the world met in Atlanta, Missionaries' Health; The Sharing of Christ with Georgia, for the sixth Baptist World Congress. Others. The fellowship, the prayer life and the Previous sessions have been held in Philadelphia, objectives of the recruits were greatly clarified London, Oslo (Norway), Toronto and Berlin. Dr. and strengthened at Swarthmore. George W. Truett of Texas, presided at the ses- sions. Dr. J. H. Rushbrooke of London, the Gen- The change from January to June for the an- eral Secretary of the Baptist World Alliance, the nual Foreign Missions Conference and the invita- newly elected president, made a strong plea to tion to the newly appointed missionaries have rec- Christians to withstand the assaults now beingognized advantages and will probably be con- made in many lands against civil and religious tinued. freedom. Among other things he said: The chairman elected for next year's confer- Among all evil omens of the past five years the most ence was Dr. C. Darby Fulton of Nashville, Sec- menacing is the activity of secular and ecclesiastical powretary of the Executive Committee of Foreign ers in narrowing the bonds of liberty. Freedom, civil Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. and religious, has been extinguished in many parts of the The Vice-chairmen are Miss Sarah Lyon and Rev. earth and in others menaced and diminished, and theories Leonard A. Dixon; secretaries Dr. Leslie Moss and of the State have arisen, against which the instinctive Miss Florence Tyler; treasurer, M. P. Moller. Christian reaction is decisive.
Frequent mention was made at the conference . . . With efforts to bring Soviet Russia into closer of the sufferings of China, the need to help the contact with the Western democracies, the churches in the Chinese in their distress, the deplorable evil of democratic countries should insist upon a pledge of relicontinued sale of war materials to Japan, effects gious freedom in Rlssia as a basis for such cooperation. of militarism, and the destructive trade in nar- If we forget Russia, we are less than Christians. cotics, the demoralizing effects of war all over the world and the need to work for peace based on No feature of our time is as gravely alarming to the righteousness and brotherly love. missionary enterprise as the multiplication of restrictions and demands in the enlarging Japanese-controlled areas One recommendation of the conference, relating of the Far East. . . . to evangelism includes the following call to prayer: Documents emanating from some of these areas indicate grave and,multiplying obstacles to missionary propaganda, The whole question of evangelism with reference to the while the reverence to the Emperor exacted from Chrisunoccupied areas of the world imperatively demands a spe- tian pupils in schools, in forms scarcely if at all distincial session of the Foreign Missions Conference for which guishable from Shinto religious rites, suggests too closely adequate preparation should be made. . . . Realizing the the Roman emperor-worship for refusing which early urgency of the situation in this hour -of crisis throughout Christians endured a martyr-death. . . . the world and confessing the failure of the Church to meet-fully its evangelistic responsibility, acknowledging our The appalling martyrdom of China is the shame of the utter dependence upon God for His Holy Spirit in power Western World. We could have stopped it and we did not. for the consecration of both person and property to the task of world evangelism, and recognizing the divine origin Protestants had been fearful of the future in Spain, and content of the Gospel Message and the divine source knowing the temper of the Roman Catholic hierarchy and of the commission to preach the Gospel to every creature, their unity in support of General Franco. But pledges we would sound forth a Call to Prayer, addressed to the have been received from General Franco, the Duke of whole Church of Christ, but especially to the churches in Alba, and Lord Phillimore, for freedom of religious worthe United States and Canada, calling upon God's people ship. to be instant in intercession: The congress took up the question of evan- 1. That the Lord of the harvest send forth laborers into gelism, the Rev. Dr. Charles W. Keller, president His harvest. of the Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Chicago, asserting that it "will cure most of the 2. That the Church, especially at home, be revived, and ills of society." If the souls of Hitler, Mussolini, delivered from compromise with the world, and with sin. Stalin, Chamberlain, Daladier and the Japanese Emperor could be reached to cause them to pray 3. That the unity of the Church may find its expression in unison, there could be no war. in a greater unanimity in understanding and expounding the content of the Gospel message as revealed in God's A statement of the Baptist position on war and Word. peace, condemned profiteering from war and urged general disarmament, strengthening of the League 4. That God may grant to us all who ought to preach of Nations, an international police force and court the Gospel "utterance in opening the mouth to make known of justice, and solution of the problem of unequal with boldness the mystery of the Gospel" (Eph. 6: 19) distribution of natural resources. The statement and "that God may open unto us a door for the Word, and also denounced racial discrimination as "sin," and to speak the mystery of Christ . . . that we may make it condemned totalitarian ideas of the State. For the manifest as we ought to speak." (Col. 4: 3, 4) and first time in this Congress-and in a southern city -all signs were removed that indicated racial dis- 5. That in fulfillment of His promises God may pour out his Spirit in these latter days upon all flesh and turn multitudes to repent of sin and believe in the Saviour.
crimination or division, between white and colored Christians are as cordial as· ever. Permits for evangelistic meetings are not given to missionardelegates. ies or ways are found to keep the people away, as all gatherings, except for regular worship, are Presenting the Baptist position on questions of discouraged.
church unity, commissions of the World Alliance "Due to a combination of circumstances, mid- winter Bible Institutes and conferences have not declared Baptist opposition to organic union with been held as in former years. Missionary activi- ties now are mostly confined to local conferences other churches, but they urged "Christian unity" with Korean leaders, personal work, social con- tacts and ministering to the needy. Surrounded and cooperation with other denominations "at a as we are by so much destitution, physical and spiritual, there are plenty of opportunities for time when Christians are called upon to think and service.
act together." . "Medical mission work is going well, but here also difficulties multiply. All licensed Korean doc- The report of a special commission favored the tors on the hospital staff have been drawn away to outside work; this leaves us greatly handicapparticipation of various Baptist bodies in the ped. War conditions make it extremely difficult to secure experienced physicians. The Japanese are World Council of Churches, so long as the council seeking to control everything – man-power, re- sources, wages, prices, even the thinking and does not constitute itself into an "ecclesiastical speech of the people. The whole country is being geared up to the highest efficiency as a fighting union," or super-church. machine. Naturally mission work suffers because of war conditions. Foreigners are suspect, be- The commission made it clear that Baptists do cause they are foreigners; their movements watched and regulated, their leadership and innot reject "federal" relations to other churches, fluence is frowned upon. Non-cooperation with the Japanese policy on the 'shrine question' is reand feel that "persistent, indifferent division" and garded as reb~llion against the government; though every other form of patriotism is encoursectarianism are "deep disloyalty" to the Christian aged by the Church and the Mission.
faith. . . . "Another friend writes that the local police have insisted that a Korean be appointed on the hospital The report stated the conviction that all Chris- staff to act as a 'go-between' between the police and missionary superintendent who, according to tians should be open to the development of op- Japanese law, has full authority over everything in the hospital. . . . The hospital evangelist was portunity and plans which would encourage our put in jail because he would not go to the shrine. He held his ground and many were praying for participation in the common responsibilities of him; as a result not only was he released but he is back in the hospital preaching the Gospel. Today evangelical Christianity. many of the best Christians cannot be much in evidence in church affairs." On recommendation of the Committee on Evan- Evangelistic work is going on in heathen regelism the congress voted a five-year program of gions and is entirely unmolested where the shrine issue does not come up. It is where the church is evangelism. The plan included the adoption of strong that the issue is pushed. Christians there- fore are going out to the untouched regions and similar programs by the constituent bodies, the are preaching the Gospel there.
setting aside of a special day of prayer and ap- What the future has in store for Christian work in Chosen we do not know, but there is a great and pointment of a committee to direct a world-wide effectual door opened in the hospitals.
campaign. Of late there seems to be some change in the attitude of the Japanese toward the Koreans for DISTURBED CONDITIONS IN CHOSEN in some places they are not pushing the shrine issue as fanatically as they did. Pray for Korea. Recent "uncensored" reports from Chosen show that Japan is not only seeking to force Koreans into the Japanese mold but is apparently endeavoring to get rid of Christian missionary influence as a hindrance to the dictatorial program of the militaristic party. Christians who are loyal lawabiding subjects, but who acknowledge Almighty God as the one supreme Ruler, are suffering persecution from shortsighted human rulers. Missionaries are finding their Christian work hindered if not forbidden. Nevertheless the "Word of God is not bound," says a friend who sends us a report from which we quote the following: "Last autumn the work proceeded along much the usual lines. We missionaries adopted the policy of responding to Korean cans for service, rather than go to outstations upon our own initiative. Under prevailing conditions our visits might prove more embarrassing than helpful to the Korean Christians. In the winter it became very apparent that intimidation wa·s being brought to bear on the churches and that opportunities for missionary cooperation with the outstation churches would be few. For the present the old itinerating days are over though Korean
Japanese Control of
-<!Iii By, Fonn" R",;dent of Jap.. 1111>– T HE long-projected and much discussed Bill The former one did not definitely recognize Chris- for the Control of Religious Bodies was tianity; it required the approval by the authorities passed by the Japane£e Imperial Diet on of the creedal basis as well as of the organization March 23 and will become effective from April 1, of religious bodies; and left much more by way of 1940. Previous bills were formulated by the J ap- supervision to the local police. The former bill anese Cabinets in 1899, 1927, and 1929, but either was to "control religions," this one "to control rewere turned down by the Diet, or were withdrawn ligious bodies." They are under different articles by the government without presentation. The of the constitution.
new law has been in process of preparation since There is need for such a bill as the present one.
1929, during which period it has been subjected As mentioned above, Japan has in recent years ex- to revision of various sorts including one recon- perienced a great growth of what are known as struction from the ground up. "quasi-religions." Some are purely commercial The law provides for a comprehensive control organizations; some are revivals of ancient super- of religious organizations. Approval by the Min- stitions; some indulge in immoral practices; some ister of Education is necessary for the establish- run counter to the national polity. Three years ment of any religious sect or denomination. A ago the famous Way of Man sect was disbanded statement as to the creed, ritual, and organization and its temples razed OIl the ground of lese maof the body must be submitted with the applica- jeste; it claimed a membership of over a million.
tion for recognition, but official "approval" of the Corrupt practices within Buddhist sects have long same is not specifically required. Both sects and been an offense to peace-loving Japanese. The law local congregations must appoint a responsible was needed.
"head" to deal with the government in all matters. This law, like the former bills, has been drawn This step in the direction of a monarchial form up after conference with an investigation commis- of church government is somewhat offset by a pro- sion on which were representatives of all three re- vision which makes congregational permission ligions, the representative of Christianity being necessary for changes in doctrine, clergy, rites, or Rev. Mitsuru Tomita, of the Presbyterian-Re- rules. The establishment of a local congregation formed Church, the chairman of the Board of requires the approval first of the head of the sect Directors of Meiji Gakuin. He wielded such great and then of the Governor of the prefecture. The influence that on several occasions members of the law recognizes Buddhism, sect Shinto, and Chris- Shinto sects protested that too much regard was tianity as religions of the Japanese Empire. Every being paid by the authorities to the desires of the denomination or sect, as well as every local organ- representative of Christianity.
ization, will be required to register as soon as the Gains made possible by the Bill: law becomes effective. Other religions will be (a) The recognition of Christianity as one of dealt with as "reUgious societies" by what will pre- the three religions of the Empire. This of course sumably be a more severe code, since one of the will increase its prestige. Some Christians have avowed purposes of the law is to control the activ- even expressed the hope that Christian stories ities of the freak, and sometimes dangerous, reli- may be inserted into the school text books as gions which have been springing up like Shinto and Buddhist stories now are. But the real mushrooms in Japan in recent years. A well-con- gain will be that the local churches may appeal certed drive of certain Mohammedan leaders to from the tyranny of local police officials to the have Islam included among the "recognized" re- Governor or Minister of Education.
ligions failed in the Diet, in spite of the fact that (b) The permission to organize Christian the Army was reported to be backing the move in bodies as juridical persons, thus offering them an effort to win favor among Mohammedans in legal protection. There are local churches which China and in islands of the South Seas. years ago were organized in this way; but in re- This law IS much milder than the one which in cent years, the practice has not been permitted.
1929 met defeat because of the bitter opposition of Certain denominations are organized as land- the Christian Church and certain Buddhist sects. owning juridical persons; but under the new law [ 391 ]
each denomination and each local congregation nese subjects, of course, are permitted to enjoy may organize as a zaidan hojin and will then have freedom of religious belief, but only "within limthe full legal rights accorded to a "foundation." its of peace and order and not antagonistic to their duties as sUbjects." And it would not re- (c) Many existing local rules will be regular- quire much argument to prove that the duties of ized. This will be a great gain. Up to the pres- Japanese subjects include not only social and poent our churches and preaching places have been litical duties but also what in the West are called regarded merely as "religious societies," and have religious duties. Japan has no state religion, been at the mercy of local petty officials. This has but state Shinto demands of Japanese subjects caused endless annoyance to missionaries and the response in loyalty and worship paid elsechurch officers. where to religion. As a recent writer has stated, "Under such circumstances, no division between The objections commonly made against the Bill 'church' and 'state~ is possible, nor has there ever are not new. At present it is required that every been such a division in Japanese history." local church register a "founder" who is its legal and responsible head and is supposed to speak with The Japanese concept of religion is something authority for the congregation. Schools also must quite different from that held by Westerners. The appoint such a person. The head of the National Japanese word for "religion" was, in fact, coined Christian Council is held responsible for its ac- by a Christian in the nineteenth century. A numtions to the government. This is "an old Japanese ber of significant points in this connection were custom"; and the best way to meet it is to appoint brought out by the debate in the Imperial Diet such an officer and then to regulate his actions. on the Bill under discussion. Home Minister Reports of local congregations must now be made Araki on one occasion stated that the differentia to local police stations in much the same form as of a religion are (1) a founder, (2) a creed, and those prescribed in the new law. (3) organization for self propagation. This definition has cropped up several times before in Under existing laws religious societies can be recent years, and very conveniently leaves state disbanded for the reasons given in the new law. Shinto out of the category of religion altogether. "Russellites" can no lonler prosecute their work Even Daikichiro Tagawa, a member of the Diet in Japan; Mormons withdrew some years ago; and a prominent Christian layman accepts this the "Way of Man" cult was disbanded. distinction in his recent book "Kokka to Shukyo" (State and Church) and appears to believe that There is danger, however, in the possibility that state Shinto lies outside the religious category be- "subversive" elements may be discovered in Chris- cause it contains no superstition! According to tian creeds when such statements are presented him, the holding of superstition concerning founto the officials, even though such presentation is ders of religions and their followers is one of the technically only a matter of form. A number of characteristics of a religion, including Chris- Christian doctrines may be interpreted as run- tianity. ning counter to the Japanese national polity as understood at present; for example, some forms The debates in the Diet lead one to the ineviof millenarianism; some expressions of the rela- table conclusion that Japanese of the official or tion of Church and State; the Quaker and Advent- governing class look upon state Shinto, or the ist attitude toward military service; references Way of the gods, exactly as we of the West look to Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords, are upon a religion; in fact, their use of the word all susceptible to such misinterpretation. Here "Way" seems to differ very little from the Chrisagain it is to the advantage of the Church to have tian's use of it when he says that Christ is the the denominational creed registered at headquar- Way; and their use of the word "religion" makes ters where it can be interpreted by intelligent it mean little more than "superstition." Minister men. Araki, moreover, explained in reply to a certain interpellation that the followers of all religions The Effect of the Law in Japan were obliged to give priority to the shrines, asserting that if generally practiced this I have no fear for adverse effect of the law on act will have the effect of reducing religious fricthe Church in Japan proper, but if the law is put tion in the country. into effect in Chosen and in "occupied" China, that, I fear, will be a different story. In such a setting Christianity can hope for little more than toleration and protection from unau- As far as Japan proper is concerned there are thorized persecution; this the new law appears to no dangers in the new law which do not inhere in provide. the general situation, which in itself is fraught with potential danger. The existence of the Christian religion in a land ruled by "the Sovereign who is a manifest God," is anomalous. J apa-
Opportunities in Japan Today*
By REV. J. HARPER BRADY, Kochishi Missionary of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S.
SOME folks think there are none. Others that around, on the gates and doors of every home, are they are few and getting fewer. But the real silent testimonies to additional burdens and fears missionary still finds that the days in Japan and sorrows, over and above what was there are days of twenty-four hours of opportunity- eighteen months ago. Soldiers leaving – the some of which find him and some of which he, wounded returning-lots of little wooden boxes- Spirit-led, must find. If greater needs mean life for so many with all its poverty and sickness greater opportunities, then there are greater op- and darkness seemed hard enough. Our hearts portunities today than ever before. are bleeding for the millions across that narrow strip of water! They also bleed for those around There is a greater need for light, for there are us in their sorrow and we would do what we can more people in Japan now than when the mission- to heal the broken-hearted. Into such homes and aries first went there with the Light. Only about hearts there is a welcome, far more often than not, one-half of one per cent have received the true for the missionary who comes with a heart of love. Light and are connected with any church, Catholic or Protestant. And this tends to get less as Difficulties are many and great in Japan for the the gain in population far exceeds the proportion- one who comes from a foreign land and seeks to ate gain in church membership. And the Prot- bring men to the one and only Saviour. When estant half of this number is divided into all the Japan and America are not on the best of terms isms of the United States and a few special ones our work as missionaries is made harder. These for good measure. If ever the unreached multi- things change from day to day and are not the tudes presented a challenge and opportunity for real difficulties. Sin and indifference are our missionary service, then that challenge and that strong and abiding adversaries. Sometimes these opportunity are greater today because the multi- are on the outside – and now and then we find tude of shepherdless folk is greater. The Church them on the inside and give them nicer names. in Japan, for which we daily thank God, is still It has never been a "convenient season" for men too weak in numbers, resources and vision for this to humble themselves, forsake sin, deny self, and mighty task. A great nation in need, desperate enthrone the Lord. need, of Christ! Our resources are more and greater than the Then there is the opportunity presented by a difficulties. The first year of this conflict was greater need for guidance. For this is a virile in many ways the best year of the twenty-one we nation, going places and doing things. If they have been there. But we found it more necessary do not go to the right places and do not do the than ever to live daily "looking unto Jesus" and right things, they suffer, maybe millions of other to yield to Him, but not to fear and discouraged folks suffer, we all suffer, and much that we cher- fellow workers. Divine boldness, shot through ish and hold dear is endangered. If a nation is with love, has never been rebuffed but always welweak and asleep and staying at home (as such a comed. Our resources in Christ, as more and nation would), there is no particular need for more we have discovered them and made them guidance. But such is not Japan. How terribly our own, have proven more and greater than our real and urgent is her need for the controlling, difficul ties. guiding hand of God! Never for a moment neglecting the multitudes, yet this ought we not to More men are needed. There are fewer mishave left undone; winning for Christ those sionaries than there were some years ago, owing who mould the opinions of the mind and deter- to retirements, sickness, the "de- and re-pression." mine the paths in which these multitudes must "We need reinforcements to work with these walk for good or ill. A little has been done-more Christians in the God-given, God-planned task of must be and can be done. reconciling men in Japan to Himself through the lives of other men who are vitally in touch with A greater need for comfort exists everywhere, Him. The greatest challenge of the hour is that for in whatever city or town one may live, all the doors are open for evangelistic work in this country. The forces that are with us are greater * Reprinted from The (Jh,ristian Observer. than all the adversaries."
[ 393 ]
Churches in the Dust
By REV. MARK A. DAWBER, D.D., New York Executive Secretary of the Home Missions Council I HAVE been requested to make a statement as missions; they gave to home and foreign missions. to what is now taking place in the drought Then the war ended, the price of wheat finally and dust area and what is happening to the went down below the cost of production, and there Church. This I gladly do, but with the definite followed four years of steady drought. The peo- understanding that what is said may not apply to ple continued during drought to maintain their every situation but represents in a general degree giving.
the developments and attitudes. The churches held on, hoping against hope that In the first place it is necessary to distinguish something would happen. The people kept say- between the drought area in general and the "dust ing, "Well, perhaps next year it will rain." "But bowl" in particular. The drought area includes the heavens were as brass." The preachers shared all the territory where, because of the absence of the lot of the people and, in many cases, because sufficient snow and rain, there have been no crops, they did not complain, suffered out of all propor- and where, because of the continued cultivation tion. Some were able to hold out by getting part- of the soil without a sequence of cover crops to time employment during the week. Splendid col- hold the top soil and because of a high wind ve- lege and seminary men with whom I was person- locity, the top soil is blown away. This region in- ally acquainted were getting oilly $250.00 a year. cludes the Pan Handle of Oklahoma, part of Texas, In some sections a great consolidation of churches western Kansas, and the Dakotas. Here is a stretch took place. One county I visited, that during the of country between the Gulf and Canada that heyday of prosperity maintained ten ministers, seems to be the victim of these recurrent dry years had but one to care for the remaining people. I nev- and also exposed to these high winds. The "dust er saw more vital religion anywhere than I wit- bowl" is a part of this same problem and area; it nessed among some of the ministers in the drought includes the region immediately around eastern area. Here is one-they called him "Rusty." The Colorado and western Kansas. Over this section an name does not do him justice because there was atmospheric condition obtains that attracts the nothing "rusty" about him. No grass grew under dust as it flies from the drought area and is sucked his feet. This was not due to the drought, but be- down in what is called the "dust bowl." In the "dust cause "Rusty" kept his parish so well traveled, bowl" area the soil has not been dried out as in the ei,ther by car or on foot, that he made a pathway drought area, but the constant accumulation of the wherever he was. He had a great philosophy of dust has buried the good soil and the crops so that life. Speaking of his people who were facing a the result is much the same as the drought. fifth year of drought, he said, "You know, it's no Prosperity and Adversity use getting discouraged. That won't get a fellow anywhere, but lead to more discouragement, and This whole country was highly developed during if I allow myself to get discouraged I will have no the days of the World War. The world was cry- message for my people and nothing to help them ing for wheat, wheat, everywhere wheat! Some with when I visit them."
of the best wheat in the country was raised here, To the problem of drought and dust must be and this land also produced the largest number of added the scourge of sickness. The Red Cross bushels to the acre. Wheat was bringing two dol- and health authorities were pressed to the limit lars a bushel. During this period the country to make possible medical aid to the thousands who prospered. The people paid. for their land, built were sufferers from the drought and who lived homes and settled down to the business of agri- where the swirling dust-laden wind brought sick- culture and to face their responsibilities as citi- ness and death in its yellowish clouds. A peculiar zens. They built schools and churches. These kind of dust pneumonia was induced and intensipeople came to settle and not to move. They are fied in the dust and drought area.
a home-loving, church-going folk. They sub- The Government was faced also with a special scribed generously to the Church and its causes. relief problem. In Boca County, Colorado, as These churches were not dependent upon home many as eighty per cent of the people were on the [394 ] relief rolls at one time. The same was true of a The small towns and villages that are in the large number of other counties in other states. drought area are also adjusting themselves in The farms and homes that represented the sav- accordance with the agricultural changes. Fewer ings and hard work of a lifetime were made val- churches will be required. ueless. In debt and with no basis for taxation or collections, such counties and communities con- Migration and Coming Home fronted a problem which one can readily imagine. The map of the drought country is dotted with Examples of Heroism "ghost towns," evacuated under the pressure of these changing economic forces. Relocation of The following items are taken from correspond- population is a necessity. We cannot arrest an ence that I have conducted relative to this sit- economic process that is rooted in nature and uation. One district superintendent writes: mother earth to suit either misguided people who desired to farm, or anxious speculators, or unfor- "Those six years of drought were eventful ones for me. tunate investors. Communities have grown, pros- They taught me many things, but best of all they revealed pered and been blighted before this, and will conthe high Christian spirit of the people." tinue to pass through these cycles in spite of the advice and warning of Government and society. Other statements are: The lesson to be learned, however, is that intelli- gent citizens will realize that only by correcting "The churches discovered that they could stand more the economic abuses and readjusting the dislocabuffeting than they thought they could stand. They had tions which have come because of our failure to gone through a period of prosperity; then followed a pe- provide scientific settlement of people and a techriod of unexpected disaster. This was a real test of Chris- nique of land use such as the Farm Security Adtian faith." ministration is seeking to establish, is there any real hope for a permanent agriculture. The "A number of churches closed, but with the understand- Church will do well to cooperate in such a proing that they would open again; if the rain came, the gram of common-sense community development. people would come back." A goodly number of the former residents of the "In this section some adjustments were made, but no drought area are now "migrants" in California. people were left without the benefit of a minister." There they are called "Dust Bowlers." Ever since the droughts of 1934 and 1936 they have "The churches made no attempt to evade any outside been streaming westward from the Great Plains. responsibility, such as the great missionary program. A count at the California border records the entry They were an inspiration to others in the liberality of their into that state by automobile alone of 221,000 giving." refugees between the middle of 1935 and the end of 1937. More than four-fifths of them came from "Another thing that was revealed in the drought disas- the drought states. "Burned out, blowed out, eat ter was that the best of the young men and women in the out"-what is to be done with them? ministry did not hesitate to go right into the midst of it." They are having a desperate time as migrants "In many instances help came from the outside, for following the crops. Now the rains have come which we were profoundly thankful, but the most inspir- again to the Great Plains, and many of them are ing thing was the willingness of the people to help each turning their faces wistfully toward the East. other. The self-respect and the mind to cope with diffi- They still own a "place" in Kansas, Colorado, or culty have meant something to these people." the Dakotas. Others lost the equity in their farms and became tenants, but the only neighborhood One could continue to cite the many and various and community experience they had was back testimonies of experience. But we are concerned in the drought country. They were members of as to what is now taking place, what is the outlook the church. No wonder they long to get back. for the immediate future, and what kind of program is being devised for the coming years. Many of those who were "dried" or "dusted" out have returned, some for sentimental reasons, First, let it be said that many of the communi- others because they discovered that they were no ties in the drought area will never be rehabilitated better off elsewhere. Those who have been exon the old basis of agriculture. The soil is de- posed for the first time to a migrant life have stroyed-"gone with the wind." The Department reaped a bitter harvest of experience, and are sayof Agriculture is making a desperate effort to ing "Never again." establish the native buffalo grass, but it is a most difficult task. If this can be done, a limited num- I visited in a small farm shack in the dust reber of farmers can be maintained in cattle-raising, gion of eastern Colorado a year ago. It was in a such as prevailed before the land was ploughed up section where nearly everybody had left. This for wheat. In other sections where not all the good land was destroyed, it would be possible to reestablish a smaller number of farmers if there could be some greater diversification of crops, and more of the land were left in grass. This is already taking place and the church life is already being adjusted to the more restricted population.
farmer had been away two years but had returned. of four hundred people with four churches and There had been recent rains that had given en- two others in the sparsely populated territory couragement, but that was not the main reason for around. This town, like many others, was started this man's return. The dust was still piled high during the World War, with the promise of prosaround the house and the yard and fences. Farm perity in two-dollar wheat. The settlers were of machinery left behind was still buried in the dust. the cultured type and remain, hoping against hope We sat in the kitchen and talked, and I finally for better days. They have nothing to sell and no plunged into the question of the reason for his place to go. One church would be ample for this return. I had already noted the absence of his town and the surrounding community. Such wife, and that his two daughters were evidently adjustments could be made in many of the areas keeping house. Looking through the open door, that have been devastated by drought, dust, and he pointed to a little graveyard that the dust had grasshoppers, and the responsible denominational also made well-nigh invisible. He proceeded to leaders owe it to such communities to lead out in tell me the story. "Well-nigh twenty years ago a program of economy, of comity and cooperation. I came to this place with my bride; it is the only real home I have ever had. Together we worked One of the outstanding editors of a series of hard and made money and paid for this place. Kansas weekly papers, which circulate in the Poor and desolate as it seems now, it is my own. drought country, makes some interesting observa- Once it was lovely in the green of crops and pas- tions as to conditions: ture. Over in yon graveyard lies my wife and two children. I cannot leave them. This is my Like all other institutions out here, the Church has sufhome." A lump came in my throat and made fered with the successive years of drought and disaster argument impossible. What was there to say to this section has known, and is bereft of income since the such a plea? whole economic program is built around farm production. There has been some retreat in faith, particularly in the Others are now returning because of the in- last two years; the feeling that seven years of drought creased snow and rainfall of the past year. Sec- and hardship would be succeeded by seven prosperous tions that have been barren and desolate in the years was clearly based on biblical precedent. When 1938 drought and dust for five years are now lovely in failed to bring a crop, certain wavering was evident and the green of the grass and the gold of the wheat the succeeding crop in 1939 likewise added its effect. Of crop. Moreover, we must remember that to most course, the departure of countless thousands of people of these people these places are home. They are from this region resulted in the loss of some of our finest all they possess and, given a year or two of reason- leaders. People are now working on Sunday who preable rainfall, the people can do better here than viously declined so to do. I noted last night some seventy anywhere else for they have no rent to pay. or eighty cars near the picture theatre as compared to four cars in front of the Baptist Church and six cars in Scourge of Grasshoppers front of the Nazarene Church. In this town, a town of some eight hundred people, we still maintain four churches There is another problem that should be con- and three full-time ministers. I have felt however that sidered with the drought and dust. The recurring the town would be better off with only two churches invisitation of grasshoppers is equally as distressing stead of the nine or ten we have tried to support in good to certain farm areas. In certain sections where days. The unification move in these small towns would the crops are reasonably free from drought and strengthen the churches, in my opinion, although denom- dust peril, they are in danger of the plague of inational differences will always prevent that desired end grasshoppers. In Montana there is still much to some extent. suffering because of the results of this plague of 1938. Rehabilitation The Farm Administration is carrying forward If some way could be devised whereby these a vigorous campaign to exterminate the grasshop- people would go into greater diversification of pers this year. An army of men is employed to crops and, in particular, get a goodly portion of mix the poison with sawdust and wheat bran and their land back again into buffalo grass for graz- distribute it. Airplanes are used to scatter the ing cattle, they could solve their problem. In poison over the infested areas. other drought areas where the farmers have con- tinued on this basis, they have survived with little The pastors are facing their tasks with a spirit loss. Sections of Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, of heroism, but it is a terrific battle to be con- and Wyoming that were in the drought region, stantly fighting this triple problem of drought, and where the farmers did not plough up the land dust, and grasshoppers. Whatever the future may to wheat duripg the World War but continued to develop in regard to these three factors, there cer- graze cattle on the native buffalo grass, have re- tainly could be many adjustments made to ease mained with little change during the dry years. the situation from the point of view of the Church in some of these communities. Here is one town As suggested previously, the Church will do well to join its forces with Uncle Sam in a more constructive approach to the settlement of people on the land, to avoid a repetition of the wastage of our rural heritage in riotous farming, to pre-
BY-PRODUCTS OF THE ARABIAN MISSION
vent this soil erosion that has its ultimate and The stewardship of the soil is a religious remore serious disaster in human erosion. Large sponsibility. But the other side of this problem sections of the inland United States will doubtless is that you cannot maintain good churches where go back to desert. It is estimated that in three of the soil has been depleted. In the meantime we the dust storms alone some three hundred million must give financial help and encouragement to the tons of fertile soil has been blown away from the Church in the drought area, in order that it may Mississippi Valley, a quantity equal to 150,000 help the people as they return to get a new start. acres of good land. We must help them to carryon the work.
By,Products of the Arabian Mission By the REV. SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, D.D. II ~.- One of the Pioneers of the Arabian Mission I~==============================~ "I WENT into Arabia . . . ," wrote the Apostle the Moslem situation. Their influence has gone Paul to the Galatians. But no one knows out to every mission Board having work among why he went to Arabia, nor where he went, Moslems. The Cairo Conference was proposed by nor what he did there. There were no direct re- James Cantine at an Indian missionary gathering, sults from this journey as far as we know. The to which he was a delegate from the Persian Gulf.
indirect results were a new man in Christ; a new It resulted in a deeper interest in Moslems in all missionary program; a revolution in missionary missionary circles. Three volumes of its report thinking, and thirteen Epistles that have shaken were printed and its resolutions were translated the Church and the world, after Paul's three years into German, Danish and Dutch. The general of meditation. conference held at Lucknow in 1911 was the pre- The Standard Oil Company and the Dupont cursor of the Cairo Study Center; a series of text- Manui,acturing Company both tell the world that books on Islam was issued and the Missionaries to their by-products are far more important and re- Moslems League for all India was formed. From munerating than their original products. As we this conference also dated the Moslem World quar- look back fifty years, we rejoice at what the terly, published first in London, 1911-1918, and Arabian Mission has done in and for Arabia. The since then in New York City. It was at Lucknow direct results are by no means negligible, but the that plans were made for a Christian literature by-products of the Mission are an even more re- committee for the world of Islam.
markable testimony to God's guidance and good- The Arabian missionaries served the Student ness and overruling Providence. Volunteer Movement in America for a number of First of all, we thank God that the Arabian years. Zwemer, Harrison and Storm visited hun- Mission of the Reformed Church in America be- dreds of universities, colleges and seminaries and came the mother of four other Christian missions. secured scores of misionaries for Moslem lands.
The Danish Church Mission at Aden was the re- This movement also published mission-study text- sult oi an appeal for Hadramaut, written by one books on Islam and on unoccupied fields, which of our missionaries in 1894; the Christian and had a circulation of over twenty thousand, with Missionary Alliance work in Palestine and Iran remarkable results in awakening the students of owe their initiative to influences from Arabia; that generation to the challenge of Islam and the the United Mission in Iraq was founded by Dr. unfinished task of evangelism.
James Cantine and Dr. William I. Chamberlain; The literary output of the Arabian Mission in- Miss Grace Strang was formerly a member of the cludes not only the books mentioned, but also the Arabian Mission and later started the Friends of twenty-eight volumes of The Moslem World, the Arabia Mission at Hillah. six volumes of Cairo and Lucknow Reports, and The Arabian Mission organized and followed up smaller textbooks on "Islam," "Moslem Woman- the first and second missionary conferences on hood" and "Moslem Childhood."· We must add the Mohammedan world, at Cairo in 1906 and at also thirty Arabic tracts and ten books for Mos- Lucknow in 1911. These were the first councils lems, printed by the Nile Mission Press, and trans- ever held by missionaries to survey and to face lated into other languages; two Arabic grammars
by Dr. John Van Ess; Dr. Paul W. Harrison's its organization; the Fellowship of Faith for Mos- "With the Arab at Home"; and twenty books in lems is a prayer league with headquarters in Lon- English on Arabia, Islam or missions by Zwemer, don, which enlists world-wide intercession for of which some have been translated into Chinese, Moslems wherever found; the Friends of Mos- Swedish, Danish, German, French, Dutch, Urdu lems in China, of which the Reverend C. L. Pickand Persian. And last, but not least, Dr. W. ens of Hankow is secretary, is a union of workers, Harold Storm's survey of all Arabia for the World native and foreign, for prayer and effort; the Dominion Movement. Brotherhood of Andrew (Lahore), is an associa- tion of Moslem converts for mutual help, social The medical missionaries to Arabia have made and economic, and to publish tracts, extend a helpan important contribution to medicine and sur- ing hand to converts and restore backsliders. gery in papers sent to medical journals. In the investigation of leprosy, Dr. Storm's report and The Arabian Mission has given two of its misthe work of Dr. Moerdyk are well known. Also sionaries to occupy Chairs of Missions and Isthe special surgical technique of Dr. Harrison lamics, one at Princeton Theological Seminary and Dr. Mylrea and their work in oriental dis- and one at the Hartford School of Missions. eases. The steady, patient, persistent work of the mis- The following organizations, all of which deal sionaries, men and women, in eastern Arabia has with Moslem evangelization, owe their origin di- changed the whole attitude of the government offirectly to the Arabian Mission: The American cials, British and Arab, from indifference or hos- Christian Literature Society for Moslems, incor- tility to warm friendship. It has changed the porated in New York and with field committees spiritual climate of East Arabia. What this in every land where there are missions to Mos- means is clear from the following article in which lems, from China to Egypt, has contributed over Sir Arnold Wilson gives a well deserved tribute to fifty thousand dollars for books and tracts since the work in Arabia.
A Diplomat on Missions in Arabia* -<Ell By SIR ARNOLD WILSON. M. P. III!>– .n.A MERICAN Christian missionary activities in 1891. After a preliminary study of the vast re- Asia are as widespread as those of Britain; gion, they established themselves in Basrah they labor under the same handicaps, suf- (1892), in Bahrein (1893), and in Muscat (1894), fer the same kind of criticism and, among those to and in 1895 in Amarah. That they should have whom they minister, enjoy the same reputation for encountered opposition is not surprising: that altruism. Having had some opportunity, over a they should have accomplished little in the first period of nearly twenty years, of observing at few decades was likewise to be expected. Progress close quarters the work of the Arabian Mission in other than mechanical inventions is to be reckof the Reformed Church in America, I feel moved oned in terms, not of calendar years, but of generto record something of its history, growth and ations. achievement. In 1895 Dr. Worrall went to Basrah as a perma- The first American pioneer in Arabia was James nent medical worker: with him was his wife, also Cantine. Islam was then as intolerant of Chris- a physician. Here they printed the first Arabic tianity as at any time; the Arabs, in whose hands missionary leaflets. In 1902 medical work began lay its principal shrines, stood aloof, isolated and at Bahrein in a permanent building, The Mason suspicious, because they saw Islam everywhere at Memorial Hospital, adjoining existing boys' and issue with Christian powers, and almost every- girls' schools. Death took a heavy toll during where losing ground. these years, but men and women to replace those who had fallen were not lacking, and by 1906, Cantine went first to Beirut to study the lan- when I first went to the Persian Gulf, the Ameriguage. In 1890 he went with Samuel Zwemer to can Mission was already well established. Aden, and there met an English missionary, the aged Bishop Valpy French, who died in Muscat in Lieut.-Colonel Cox (later Sir Percy), British Consul-General in South Persia and Political Resi- • Condensed from The Nineteenth Century and Ajte,r.
A DIPLOMAT ON MISSIONS IN ARABIA
dent in charge of the Arabian coast, knew both and unscholarly speed. It required a supple- James Cantine and Samuel M. Zwemer personally. A good Arabie scholar, he recognized their mentary local vocabulary; that, too, was fortherudition; a man of high principles, he a~mired the tenacity with which they preserved theIr own coming, and it was followed by an advanced Araideals. His subordinates at Muscat and Bahrein and at Kuwait, and his colleagues at Basrah, were bic grammar which is still the standard text-book encouraged to help American missionary activities when they could properly do so, and the Arab in Iraq. chiefs were not encouraged to complain of the subversive activities of men who then, as in Ephe- After the War the Lansing Memorial Hospital sus nearly 1900 years before, seemed bent upon disturbing popular beliefs. was transferred to Amarah, * as the Maude Mem- In 1909 medical work was started in Matrah, orial Hospital (recently erected) met the needs not far from Muscat. In 1916 the great influenza epidemic smote Arabia and Persia. Ibn Saud, of of Basrah but the mission school remained at Arabian monarchs the most enlightened, sent for an American doctor from Bahrein; the call was Basrah an'd prospered. The parents of a child, answered and proved to be the first of many. The inauguration of an air service from Basrah to whether Moslem or Christian, who have passed India via Bahrein made further visits possible to the Pirate Coast, as the long coastline of Muscat through a mission school have no reason to regret and Hasa was long appropriately called. The discovery of petroleum in Bahrein and of artesian their choice, and the Government has learned that water, has brought to the American Mission fresh opportunities and fresh responsibilities. such boys can be trusted when they grow to be In 1910 medical work was started in Kuwait, men. *** thanks to the good offices of Sheikh Mubarak with the Sheikh Khazal of Mohammerah and the Naqib Such, very briefly, is the history of a mission of Basrah, whose son, despaired of in Bombay hospitals, was cured of a tumor on the .neck by which for fifty years has sought to make good Dr. Bennett. They had a long tussle wIth local prejudice, for Kuwait had maintained its inde- Moslems better citizens in the hope that some pendence of Turkey mainly by keeping all foreign- among them and they the best, will make the ers at a distance. A school followed in 1913 and later a permanent hospital. sacrifice, to them second only to that of life itself, When the Great War broke out Ibn Saud was and profess Christ. Its work is not to be measnearby with his army, and sought medical aid from Dr. C. S. G. Mylrea, who is still stationed at ured in terms of converts made, in bodies cured, Kuwait where he occupies a unique position. In the following year Mubarak died, regretted by or children taught, still less in gallant lives spent, every European who knew him, and most of all by a younger man whom he had befriended in and sometimes prematurely ended, in regions adversity, Ibn Saud, today King of Saudi Arabia. War came to the gates of Kuwait and the hospital which to outsiders seem, in Lord Curzon's words was full of wounded; its value and the absolutely disinterested service of the staff was recognized. when he toured the Persian Gulf in 1902, "so in- The young Ahmad, who succeeded to the Sheikhship of Kuwait, was encouraged to learn what he trinsically abominable and vile." There is room could from Dr. and Mrs. Edwin E. Calverley, of the American Mission. in the world, and there is need, both for the priest When the British expeditionary force entered and the missionary, for the acolyte at the altar Basrah in November 1914, they found the American Lansing Memorial Hospital full of Turkish and the surgeon at the mission hospital, for the wounded; Dr. John Van Ess and his wife were in charge of the mission; their wide knowledge preacher in the market-place, and for "the school of local affairs was greatly in request. The army wanted an elementary grammar of Iraqic Arabic; marm" in the classroom. Fifty years of Christian Dr. Van Ess produced one with scholarly precision witness in Arabia, in the Persian Gulf and Persia has profoundly modified the ethical outlook of Moslems.
Exponents of Islam today tend to emphasize its points of approach to Christianity, rather than the differences. Their legislation tends to approx- imate Western patterns in many ways. A coun- try once exposed to Western ideas, can never be the' same as before. The new foundations must embody Western as well as Eastern material if what is built thereon is to endure. Christian mis- sions in general, and the American Mission in Arabia in particular, are doing much, but not a tithe of what should be done, to ensure that Arabs, to whom it falls to choose Western material with which to build, shall be enabled to distinguish between good and bad and between true and false.
On their ability to do so depends their future. As in China and in Persia, in India and elsewhere, Anglo-American cooperation in the missionary field is today cordial and complete. The contri- bution that America is making to the welfare of the world in this sphere is unheralded and little regarded by statesmen or merchants, but I believe it will endure when much else has perished.
• It is now engaged, with considerable success, in the treatment of leprosy.
Fasl–Begh-Address
By "SHAHEEDA"
An E1Jangelical Russian Missionary "A ND so you are about to return to your wan- arkand and the half-wild Emirate of Bokhara, to l".. derings with the Word of God through the frontier of Afghanistan, where the river Turkestan? Well, God speed you! and, by the way, do try to find my friend Fasl-Begh!" Amou-Darya rolled its muddy waters through the "Your friend Fasl-Begh? Who is he and where sandy deserts of Karakum into the Aral Sea. does he live?" I asked from the old gentleman to whom I was bidding farewell. He was of some- All this wide stretch of land was solidly Moslem, what foreign appearance, as he sat there with his red fez on his head-a turkish mullah from with only a sprinkling of Europeans, mostly Rus- Erzeroum in times past, but for many years a zealous Christian missionary to Moslems in one sians. And in this vast "haystack" I had been of the Balkan States. asked to find Fasl-Begh Ssurkh-Khan, a man "That is what I am asking you to find out," said he. "Some 15 years ago he was my helper wholly unknown to me. at Kashgar, where we translated the New Testament into Kashgary. A fine man, of noble birth Two or three months passed in traveling with and noble mind, and not far from the Kingdom of God. . . . If you will make my request a sub- the Word of God through the country by rail, then ject for prayer, the Lord Himself will guide you to where my friend may be found. And you can by steamer or overland on the native high twogive him news about the work which has been committed to me, and my warm brotherly wishes wheeled aroba. I was in touch with hundreds of and blessing!" Ousbeks, Kirghis, Turkmen, Tadjik and Afghans, I smiled, as I shook his hand: "This is like looking for a needle in a haystack-but it appeals yet not once had I been prompted to ask anyone to me as a matter of faith, to look for 'someone, somewhere,' on a stretch of land of 3 to 4,000 "whether he was Fasl-Begh or ever had heard kilometres wide and inhabiteu by about eight millions of people! But I will trust God, who has about him." But I had not forgotten old Mr. promised to 'guide us with His eye.' He certainly knows where our friend Fasl-Begh is. even Awetaranian's request: I had prayerfully comif he be at the end of the earth !" mitted his friend's name to my memory, whence So I set out for Turkestan, for another summer's work as a wandering colporteur with the it had slipped into my subconsciousness, and I Scriptures. I had been called by the Lord four years ago, from a prosperous work in the slums of was sure that in God's own good time it would Moscow, to a "knight-errant's" life in Russian Central Asia. Being neither upheld nor fettered reappear. . by any missionary society, I had set out under the Master's guidance, to make known the name Meanwhile I had been working with all the of the Lord Jesus Christ in this almost wholly Moslem land. love, energy, initiative and "hallowed pluck,"
In my j ourneyings I crossed the several thou- which were at my disposal, amidst most varied sands of miles from Ferghana on the western frontier of China to the Caspian Sea-traveling, circumstances and among "all sorts and conditions by rail, or in the cars used by the Mohammedan population, or I journeyed from the north, the of men"; making known the precious name of my border of Kirghisistan, down south through Sam- Lord-His exalted state, His love unto death- by word of mouth, or by tracts in anyone of twenty-two different languages.
Many heard of Him, some questioned me about Him, from curiosity or because of enmity against His Godhead and His Cross. A few had pondered the message which promised life and light, for- giveness and peace to their earnest but darkened souls.
Late autumn had set in and the time had come to settle in one of the large cities of Turkestan where I could give myself to language-study. I felt the burden of the summer's work; the strain of the many talks and pleadings, battling against the iron wall of Islam; the pain at the rebuff and scorn against the Son of God; the exertion of attempting to read, speak and think in so many different languages; the most needed ones, as Ousbek and Pharsi, were not yet sufficiently mas- tered by me. The body also felt the hardships of traveling in the primitive native way, of the ex- [400 ] cessive heat by day and the cold nights often spent earth and sky and living creatures seemed to join under the starry sky, with unsufficient food and in the song of praise which filled my heart. On lack of sleep. My whole being, spirit soul and the impression of that trip, I decided to go up to body, had been drained, poured out in the passion- Osh and see what the Lord might have prepared ate effort to "call many" and if possible to "save for me there. some." Yet, praise the Lord, with all this human strain and pain, there was joy in my heart for the It was a large, typically Ousbek village or small great privilege of having been sent out as "a voice town, with a Russian military garrison guarding in the wilderness" of a Moslem land and people! the mountain road up to Kashgar, built at the foot of the Mount Suleiman, in memory of a legendary While getting ready to settle at Samarkand for visit to Osh by King Solomon. The view from the winter, the thought suddenly struck me that there was vast and beautiful. To the right, one during this summer's journeyings I had passed by looked into Western China, to the left, in Eastern the small town of Osh, peopled by Ousbeks and sit- Bokhara, towered snowcapped mountain ranges; uated in the mountains, on the way to Kashgar swift, silver-green streams rushed down, through or Chinese Turkestan. I could not close my sum- sandy deserts, to the fertile plains near Andijan mer term, nor rest, till I had gone up to Osh once which nestled in the light-green vineyards and more. dark mulberry trees.
Going Up to Osh I put up at a small caravansary and wandered, with my load of Scriptures in Russian and in the The memory of my last trip up to the Kashgar native language, some days up and down the few road was yet dear to me. It had not been success- streets in the military compound, and through the ful in a purely spiritual sense; but it had been labyrinth of lanes and bazaars in the "old" or large quite a "pioneer's" feat. The large Ousbek vil- Ousbek village. But neither in the shops nor in lage which I went out to visit lay still higher up the tea-houses, did I find interest in my message than Osh at its 5000 feet, and never before had or in my books. This seemed a closed place to me! any messenger of the Cross been there. I remem- This was strange, especially because of the strong bered the slow drive up with the aroba, the road inward urge which had made me return on my having been hewn out into mountains of pink and steps and mount up here! I wondered what had white alabaster. I recalled my arrival at eve- been the purpose of my Master in leading me so ning, before a great fair which would attract hun- definitely to this out-of-the way Osh? dreds of mountain people, all of them Moslems. I passed the night sleepless, in my high two- Evening was falling; shops were being closed wheeled car, in the big courtyard of the caravan- and the men went to the tea-houses or to their sary-rats jumping over me and dogs sniffing at homes. I was about to return to my lodgings, me. I meditated about the responsibility of bring- having just finished talking to an inquisitive old ing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Moslems. Bokharian Jew, when my eyes fell on a man who, Even if not one would allow me to explain the evidently, had been listening to our conversation message to him I knew from experience that many on religious questions. I was struck with his apwould buy the prettily bound and cheap Scrip- pearance. Dressed like an Ousbek, with the Kaftan ture portions in Ousbek, Kirghis and Persian, and Moslem headgear, yet he had not the face and would take them into far-away mountain- of the Turk but of the Aryan race! It was a villages where they would be read. The seed thin long, greybearded face with a most un-monwould thus fall on hearts-stony one or thorny or golian eagle's nose and clever dark grey eyes. -God alone knew!-maybe on a good ground. There was an inward light shining in them, a question-as he looked at me-and we continued I had noticed on my arrival that the next day's for some moments to look spellbound at each round through the fair would be difficult. The other. people seemed rougher than those of the plain, many of them might never before have seen a Then from my subconsciousness a nearly for- European woman, an unveiled one! They looked gotten name rose up; by a sudden inspiration I threateningly and in an unfriendly way at the said slowly and tentatively: "Are you Faslunwelcome guest. What would they say to her Begh?" With a still brighter light in his eyes he message? answered: "Yes, I am Fasl-Begh!"
But with all that, I had deep joy and peace in Joy flooded my soul! In a moment we had my heart. Around me was the moonlit silent gripped each other's hands and immediately a night, the rustling of wind in the high poplar bond of future friendship, yea fellowship, linked trees, the sweet voices of many a nightingale and us one to another. At last I said to Him: "I the twitter of half-asleep birds, the fragrant have been asked by Mr. Awetaranian to find you smell of the resting earth! I felt the presence of 'somewhere' in Central Asia and to give you his Him whom I loved and served, and all around the message of brotherly love. And lo! our Lord,
who knew all these years since you separated ber of years, in order to let them be educated. "Do you wish them to have a Christian educawhere you could be found, hath guided me up here tion?" I asked. to the very farthest spot of Turkestan!" "Yes, I mean it just that way!" was his answer. The little girl still needed a mother's care but Fasl-Begh was delighted to hear once more we agreed that I would make arrangements for from his former friend and co-worker with whom the boy with my missionary friends at Cairo and Beirut, and would come for him, the Lord willing, he had lost contact for many a year. I promised the next spring. I bade my new friends farewell and left for Bokhara. This happened in Septemto come to his house the next day, and so we ber 1913.
separated for the night. Subsequent Events Only those of God's children who have experi- The winter passed quickly for me-partly in medical missionary work at Jiddah among the pilenced His leadings into ways which seem sheer grims passing through this port on their way to Mecca-partly in language-study at Samarkand. "foolishness" to the world-those who have been In May 1914 I was again at Osh, heartily wel- comed by Fasl-Begh and his family. willing, as Abraham was, to leave all and go out I found the man more firm in his stand for "not knowing whither" and why they are led- Christ, more outspoken before his neighbors; we could thank God for scorn and shame borne by only these understand the joy which filled my him for Christ's sake. It was agreed that the grandfather who meant to make this year the pilheart to overflowing. They will feel the tender grimage to Mecca, should take the boy with him and deliver him to me at Jiddah, where I hoped to gratefulness for having been privileged once be again at work during the Hajj. .
more, to "find Him fully true" and trustworthy! When we separated, we could not foresee the destructive warfare that would sweep over the The next morning I went to Fasl-Begh's com- world a few months later, breaking up and shat- tering like a typhoon, kingdoms, nations and indipound and at once felt at home with his children viduals! The Great War was on. The whole of Europe, and especially the Mediterranean states, and his wife, whom he presented as "the best of were .in a turmoil. People who were traveling, had eIther come to a dead-stop, cowering in anxiwomen"-an expression quite unusual with a Mo- ety wherever the thunderbolt of war struck them, or were rushing in a wild panic to return to their hammedan. I shared the family meal and we respective countries.
then went to Fasl-Begh's private den, full of The pilgrimage to Mecca had been forbidden by nearly every government; consequently neibooks-evidently the abode of a student. ther Fasl-Begh's father nor his son were able to reach me at Jiddah, from which I had been ex- "Have you found and accepted the truth as it pelled by the Turkish Government.
is in Jesus, through your work of translation of My hope of going again to see my friends at Osh had also come to nought. My unusual jourthe Gospels into Kashgary?" I asked him. For neyings through Central Asia had always been undesirable to the Russian Government; but after answer he showed me his Bible in Persian, and I the War broke out their mild displeasure changed into frank suspicion towards me. In order not was deeply moved on finding its margins covered to involve my friends in my personal difficulties, I refrained from going to Osh. But seed had with annotations, proving unmistakably that been sown, faith had been strengthened, a bond of fellowship linked me with the solitary far-away here was a seeker and an earnest one, with a real seeker. It lay in the Lord's hands to perfect the work which He had begun in Fasl-Begh's heart. interest in the Word of God. Never again did I meet my friend face to face. Again I asked: "Friend Fasl-Begh, have you From the few letters which we exchanged, whilst I stayed in Samarkand, I gathered with joy, that accepted the Lord Jesus as your Saviour?" through material trials which the World War He looked at me with thoughtful eyes and said: "I do believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross. . . ." , "But did He die for you, personally?" He kept silence, but his manner, was not that of a Mo- hammedan to whom the cross of Christ was an offence. He was more a seeking "Nicodemus"
who asks in sincerity "How can these things be?
How may I make my own the truth which I be- lieve as a historical fact?" The Holy Spirit, who had revealed God's plan of love for mankind, could also enlighten this sincere lonely seeker in- to an experience of the truth.
We had a friendly talk as in the presence of Him who had been drawing this precious soul to Himself all these years. Fasl-Begh was a sensi- tive and retiring man; it would cost too much, as yet, to step out openly from the Beit-ul-Islam into the family of God in Jesus Christ! He was still bound by the traditions and customs of Islam and he was one of the foremost men of the village; like the "rich young ruler" he did not yet love Jesus enough to "leave all and follow Him."
I was gladdened by his request to take two of his children to Europe or to the Levant for a num-
"UNTIL WE FIND THEM" IN DUTCH NEW GUINEA
brought with it, and quite alone in his Moslem for they had become his open foes. When the surroundings, he was pressing on towards the Mennonite brethren next came to Osh, they did goal-Christ his Saviour. I committed Fasl- not find him. When the days of Russian lawless- Begh and his family to my Mennonite friends in ness had come and anyone could lift up his hand Kirghisistan, but above all into the hands of God. against everybody else with impunity, a mob of villagers approached his house, reviling and Six years later-in 1922-1 returned to Turke- threatening him, and clamoured for his Biblestan and at once made enquiries about Fasl-Begh. the cause of their fierce hatred! The answer was that during my absence my Mennonite brethren had visited all my Moslem No man had stood by him in his hour of friends, and had found Fasl-Begh spiritually alive danger; he was killed by the mob, and entered and, gratefully accepting instruction; they hoped, his Lord's presence, one of the firstfruits from on his witness to the Lord Jesus as his personal Turkestan Moslems. Saviour, to baptize him the next year. Thus my friend Basl-Begh, whom I had set He must have made a frank confession to his out to seek and to find, had been sought and neighbors of his acceptance of the Lord Jesus, found by the Lord Jesus, to be with Him forever.
"Until We Find Them" In Dutch New Guinea* By R. A. JAFFRAY, Makassar, Netherlands East Indies Missionary of the Christian and Missionary Alliance JESUS spake this parable-the three-in-one par- two ago, for the first time, have been sighted and able of The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, and photographed from the air. Until thus discovered The Lost Son. Fi:r~st, one in one hundred is they had lived alone, away from the coast, with no lost, then one in ten, and then one of two is lost. road or even footpath leading from the coast to The shepherd goes after the one lost sheep, till their jungle home. Until a year or so ago they He finds it. The woman lights a candle, sweeps had not known that any others share this world the house, and seeks diligently, till she finds it. with them; they had not known that any other The father waits patiently and lovingly until the peoples lived under the sun save themselves. son returns from his sin and wanderings in a far country, until the lost son is found, the dead is 'I'hanks to men seeking oil and gold in New alive again. Guinea, these people have been located. The Dutch Government at once set to the task of making So must we go out after the last tribe of man- trails from the coast towns nearest to them, to the kind, wherever they be, however far away from place where they live on the mountain slope, in Christ and His Gospel. It is not enough to wait the jungles of the well-nigh impenetrable, virgin till they come to us, or cry to us to come to them. forest. Shall not the missionary at once go up We must deliberately, determinedly, go after them, these trails, and seek the lost until he find them? enduring the hardships of the jungle trail, till we find them. Dutch and American companies have united in gigantic effort of seeking oil in this. great island When the last tribe of mankind is at last told of New Guinea. At one place, a town called Babo, the story of God's redeeming love, the Father will over twenty million U. S. A. dollars have already rejoice, and they will then "begin to be merry" been expended, and only this year are they comin Heaven, and the merriment will never end. mencing to drill for the oil. The captain of the steamer on which the writer recently traveled Probably among the last peoples of earth to be from Makassar over to Dutch New Guinea said discovered, are those tribes in the interior of that no lesls than 120 new American scientists are Dutch New Guinea, whose villages, only a year or expected to arrive in Rabo and other places in Dutch New Guinea. this year in the search for oil, • Condensed from the Evangelical Christian, Toronto, Canada.
and he expected that on every trip from now on, positive message of the Gospel is to these people! his steamer would be filled with Americans bound Dutch missionaries on the northern coast, and for the oil fields of New Guinea. British missionaries in British New Guinea, have They mean business. Do we? They are after already seen tens of thousands, of these wild Papthe things that peris:h. Shall we go and seek for uans turn to Christ and be saved. So shall it be souls that never die, till we find them? They are with these who have so recently been discovered willing to pay the price in inconvenience and hard- on the southwestern coast of Dutch New Guinea. ship. Are we willing to suffer and bleed, if need be? Are we willing to pray, and to give, and to During the past few years in Borneo, we have go, in Christ's Name, until we find, perhaps, the seen the mighty Spirit of God at work among the last tribes of earth who are to hear the Gospel ere wild men, the Dyaks, of the Borneo jungle. Over He returns to this world to rule? ten thousand of them have definitely accepted the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, and as many more The Christian and Missionary Alliance has ap- seek to know the Lord Jesus and His gracious plied to the Dutch Colonial Government for per- power to save. What He has, done, and is still mission to open missionary work in three parts doing for the wild man of Borneo, He can, and of Dutch New Guinea, first, on an island off the will do for the still wilder man of the interior northern coast, called Misool (it has been called jungles of New Guinea. We have a deep conthe devil's island); ,second, in the northerly part sciousness that it is the Will of the Lord that the of Dutch New Guinea, called Vogel-kop (Bird's Dyak of Borneo, now saved, thoroughly taught Head), where a lake, known as Lake Amaroe, has in the Word of the Gospel, and filled with the been discovered; third, further down the south- Spirit of Christ, will be the best evangelist to take western coast, where three lakes have been dis- the Gospel to the still wilder man, the Papuan of covered from the air, called the Wissel Lakes, and New Guinea. where dwell tens of thousands of hitherto unknown peoples. Many Dyaks have gone over to New Guinea in connection with the oil and gold companies, and The whole southwestern coast of Dutch New among them, quite a number of Dyak Christians, Guinea is an unoccupied field for Protestant mis- including three or four of the elders of the church. sionary work. Up the many little rivers may be In connection with the Alliance Bible School at found Papuans to whom no one has gone with the Makassar, where more than three hundred stu- Gospel. They are not only head-hunters, but they dents are being trained for the Gospel ministry, are cannibals, living still in the Stone Age; and we have more than fifty Dyak students in preparayet the testimony of all who have had contact at tion for the work. Pray that the right men may all with these people of the interior is that they be called and sent forth in the name of the Lord. have found them friendly. These people eat the A prominent Dutch official expressed himself as flesh of enemies conquered in war, but God seems heartily in favor of the plan. It is significant that to have made them friendly toward the white man. both the local and the highest officials are heartily supporting the suggestion of this new work in the Dr. A. H. Colyn, the son of the Prime Minister interior of New Guinea. of Holland, headed an expedition to these newlydiscovered lakes by plane. Some of the Papuans These recently discovered cannibal tribes, the were so interested in these "men from heaven" Papuans of the interior of New Guinea, have sunk that they determined to follow them and thus to the level of the beast but they were originally learn the way to heaven! They said, "Thes,e men made in the image of their Creator and may yet came from heaven. We saw them come. This is be saved and restored to God's image. what we want to know-the way to heaven." With considerable difficulty six natives found their way Pray that we may reach these wild people of to Babo but they soon found that Babo was not New Guinea. Let us go with Him after the last heaven by any means. The Assistant Resident at lost sheep, "until He find it." Fak-fak felt that it was his duty to fly with these seekers back to their own jungle land! Seed Thoughts from the Moody Bible Institute Speakers The dress of the Papuan is very simple. They go practically naked, with the exception of a loin Fruit is never born by doing; fruit is always cloth and strings of beads. They wear heavy ear- born by dying.-Bishop William Culbertson. rings, a bone piercing the nose, etc., all of which are charms, supposed to ward off the evil in- Don't talk about the tragedy of the cross; fluences of demons. In fact, their whole religion that was God-planned. Talk about the tragedy is a negative one of fear, and is a matter of sacri- of sin that caused the cross.-Dr. H. W. Bieber. fice to demons, so as to avoid the harm which they have the power to inflict. What good tidings the Too many Christians are seeking an easy life. They w~nt the Gospel train to be streamlined and air-conditioned, and furnished with chairs.-Le- land Wang, China.
STUDENTS IN THE LUDHIANA WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN MEDICAL COLLEGE (1937-38
Training Indian Women Doctors By DAME EDITH BROWN, D.B.E., M.A., M.D., M.C.O.G., Ludhiana, Punjab, India A S A YOUNG woman doctor, I went out to The financial resources of this embryo college r-. India forty-seven years ago, and began consisted in a gift of fifty pounds, with a promise of a further fifty pounds per annum for the follow- medical missionary work. My single- ing three years. Had it not been that we were handed effort to alleviate the desperate sufferings confident that this was a call of God and that He of Indian women was seriously handicapped for would provide, it would have been madness to lack of skilled assistance, so that I took counsel launch out on such an enterprise with such meagre with other medical missionaries, and we came to resources. the conclusion that the solution of the problem was to take steps to found a medical school where In- The College started work in an old schoolhouse, dian Christian girls could be trained as doctors with four medical students and two student disand nurses. No effort seemed too great if we pensers. Today, after forty-four years of ceasecould build up a corps of efficient Indian Chris- less, consecutive grind we have three hundred stutian doctors for the Indian women. dents who are adequately housed in college build- ings covering fifteen acres. These premises have It was a pioneer venture but, urged by the cost fifty thousand pounds and we s,tarted with desperate need, the preliminary difficulties were only fifty pounds in hand. To us it is a miracle overcome and in 1894 the first Medical Training indeed. Now the College is affiliated with Punjab School for women in India was established. It University; this status enables our students to take was a glorious venture! The challenge was: the M.B. and B.S. degrees of that University- "India's millions of suffering and uncared-for degrees which are recognized in England. women." Our response was: "By the good hand of our God upon us it shall be done." In addition to a thorough medical education, the [405 ]
students have the inestimable benefit of a moral We have a useful pathological laboratory, with training, which cannot fail to impress them, and a well-equipped department for X-ray and radium to influence all their future life. Each day the treatment. We also have tuberculosis clinics. work hegins with prayer and careful and thorough The maternity· department is one of the busies1t, Bible teaching. By this means the students can and is the means of saving incalculable suffering explore the great Treasure House of the Word of to India's mothers and of saving the lives of hun- God, which is the Easterner's heritage as truly as dreds of India's children. it is the Westerner's. From this College and hospital three hundred In addiition to residential buildings tlere is a and sixty d.octors, and more than two hundred and hospital with two hundred and sixty beds, and an fifty nurses and dispensers, have been sent into outpatient department with average attendance all parts of India. Most of them have gone as daily of two hundred and seventy-five women and Christian missionaries to their own people. children. Some of the hospital wards are so arranged that it is possible f.or purdah women to More than nine hundred of our midwives of observe the rigorous restrictions imposed on them. various grades are now working in the Punjab. Our patients include Moslems, Sikhs, Persian, And even this is not all-for very many of them Afghan, and Nepalese women, to say nothing of begin to train nurses and midwives in the district the many "outcastes" who find here the welcome to which they are sent. Recently we visited one and care which is of the very spirit of Christ. who had prepared sixty village women for the Midwifery Examination. The Civil Surgeon, giv- SOME HOSPITAL BUILDINGS AT LUDHIANA ing a good report, said that there was now not one untrained dai working in her district. Twelve well qualified doctors are on our staff, each being in charge of her own department; two One .of our graduates, Dr. Rose Shadi Khan, more are needed for the additional work required received a special Red Cross medal and a purse to prepare the students for the higher degrees. of Rs. 300 in recognition of her devoted services at the time of the Quetta earthquake. She was The Surgical Department is always busy. To one of two Ludhiana graduates working there, have had an operation here is often considered an and for days we at the Women's Christian Medical honor to be coveted! One young woman had a College were anxious, as we could get no news of large tumor removed. When her friends came to their safety. At last we heard, to our relief, that see her, her sister was envious of all the interest both were alive, though one had been badly hurt. excited as she told them of the preparation, and Dr. Khan, uninjured, was doing all she could to of the Operating Theatre, and of the wonderful help and for. three days and nights she had no chloroform she had smelt, and of the attention time for food or sleep, as she cared for the she received from the doctors and nurses. When wounded and dying. One by one they were dug I asked to see the sister, I found, to her joy, out from the ruins. Many were purdah women that she, too, required an operati.on. After a few known to Dr. Khan, for she had worked for sevdays she was, lying happily in a bed next to her eral years in Quetta, and they clung to her in their sister. Then they sent for their elder sister, hop- terror and pain. She worked day and night for ing that she might share their privilege. When it several weeks, till at last, worn out, she was was found that she did not need surgical care, she ordered to take a rest. She passed through Ludwept tears of disappointment. Why were her hiana, looking thin and tired, but with triumph younger sisters to have all the attention and all in her eyes, and as soon as she was able she rethe fun (?) while she was left out? turned to her work again. At present she is in a lonely station on the Northwest Frontier, where she is loved and trusted by all. The influence of this Indian doctor extends beyond the boundaries of her native land, for she is often called over into Iran, where her skilled help is sought by lonely, sick, and distressed women.
One is sometimes asked: "Are the Indian girls really worth training as doctors; do you find them capable of bearing responsibility?" My reply, emphatically, is that they respond to training, and are wen able to take responsibility. We have proved it on our own staff, and the .opinion is con- firmed on all sides by those who employ our grad- uates. One medical missionary, writing recently about the work done by one of them, concluded her
TRAINING WOMEN DOCTORS
report by saying: "She is an excellent missionary, upon the dispensary door. It was night. Would and quite the best assistant surgeon I have met. anyone hear? Finally a motherly Indian Chris- At present she has charge of an outstation mission tian woman opened the door and took her in. As hospital of thirty beds. I regard her as a friend no one ever claimed her, the missionary sent her and do not see how we could carry on without to school. Later she came to Ludhiana to train her." as a nurse. At the end of her training a call came for a missionary nurse for Arabia, and Sundri Another graduate is senior surgeon in a large volunteered. It was a foreign land to her-dif- hospital, of which she takes charge when the mis- ferent language, different food, and twelve days' sionary is away on district work. Not only do the journey distant. Through the fine work she did so lovingly in the mission hospital she found her A VE'RANDAH WARD IN THE HOSPITAL way into the homes and hearts of these Arab women, rich and poor alike; and so skilfully did various missionary societies appreciate the value she handle many difficult obstetric cases, that her of Ludhiana graduates, but the Government also help often was sought in preference to that of her recognizes their worth. Seven have been awarded European colleague. the Kaiser-i-Hind medal for public services, and the honor of being the first Indian woman in the Then came the World War. The missionaries Madras Presidency to become medical superin- were not allowed to stay in their station, and tendent of a hospital with a European staff, falls Sundri was left alone. Single-handed she kept the to one of the graduates. hospital open for three years, dealing with such cases as she was fitted to manage. She remem- Nurse Sundri is an illustration of how wide- bered, too, that now she was the only one left to spread the influence of these girls may become. preach Good Tidings, and she gave herself the Forty years ago little six-year-old Sundri, child of more earnestly to Sunday services and dispensary high-caste Hindu parents, was about to be "mar- prayers, and to personal talks with her patients. ried to the gods." Her mother had become a widow before any marriage arrangement had been When peace was proclaimed, government pro- made for the child, and now the expense was too ceedings required the presence in England of cer- great. Who would care what befell a despised tain Arabian sheiks, who in turn desired that their widow and her daughter? The temple would re- wives accompany them. An interpreter would be ceive the child. She should be "married to the required, and who was hetter fitted than their gods," and live a life of immorality. Those who nurse-friend Sundri, who knew English so well? 'know anything of the nefarious practices such dedication demands, will realize how terrible was STUDENTS IN THE PATHOLOGICAL LABORATORY the future carved out for the poor child. Little girls have been known to commit suicide rather And to England Sundri went! Later she returned than live in such surroundings. again to Arabia, took up private work in a dis- pensary of her own, and adopted Rosa, a little Sundri was terrified. Then she remembered Arabian orphan girl. Rosa is now at Ludhiana. that once, when she had been ill, her mother had Recently Sundri, ill and dying, committed this taken her to a dispensary in a neighboring village little Arab girl to our care. She is now at school, where a medical missionary had lovingly cared for and our prayer is that later she will become a her and made her well again. doctor or nurse-a missionary to her own people in the far-off land of Arabia. Under cover of darkness the child ran away to this village, and hammered with her little fists
A study of the reports show that the graduates ical College have long realized the des.perate need from this Medical College are now ministering of the villages, and have given anxious thought as each year to about three million women and chil- to how that need may be met. Nine years ago, I dren. Such a record is proof positive that the stated that it was urgent that new centres be women of India themselves highly value the help opened in the towns and villages, north, east, given by their medically trained sisters. The south, and west of Ludhiana. We saw great posgratitude they express is often very touching. sibilities in such village centres, each to be equip- ped with a woman dootor, a nurse, a health visitor, A friend from England once told me that when and a teacher. Last year a special gift enabled us she was traveling in India, though she was unable to open one of these centres, and its value is so to understand her language, an Indian woman was great that I hope we will not be obliged to wait determined to make plain to her the love and grati- another nine long years before we are able to open tude which all the women of the district had to- others. wards the Ludhiana doctor at work there. Taking her three-months-old baby boy, this Indian woman Let me emphasize the urgency of the hour. laid him on the ground at the doctor's feet. Then, Great and rapid changes are occurring in India as bowing in an attitude of utter devotion, she work and power is passing into the hands of her clasped the doctor's right hand, while with an own people. What we are able to do today may be outstretched arm she made a sweeping gesture to impossible tomorrow. This is a strategic time. include all the women in the courtyard.. At Ludhiana we are trying to seize every oppor- tunity to prepare and equip Christian women and Indian Women's Work for Women girls so that they may be ready to meet the great responsibilities which await them in the near The medical care of India's women is of great future.
importance. That it should be done by their own Remember that India's welfare and uplift and evangelization are in a peculiar way our responpeople is the quickest way of accomplishing the sibility as Christian men and women. * task, as it is financially the most economical. It • Information and literature may be had from the General Secreis the right and natural way. The fact speaks for tary, Miss M. E'. Craske, Ludhiana Women's Christian Medical Col- lege, 39, Victoria Street, Westminster, London, S. W. 1, England, or itself that in one missionary's life-time the work from Miss L. Powel, 6938 Cresheim Road, Mt. Airy, Philadelphia, Pa.
has moved so quickly that now three million RULES OF OHRISTIAN LIVING women and children are being reached each year The following "Rules of Christian Living" are said to have been prepared for himself by the late by the medical skill of their own people. General Booth of the Salvation Army: At the Ludhiana Medical College, on a scholar- 1. Consider your body as the temple of the Holy Spirit and treat it with reverence and care. ship of thirty pounds ($150.00) per annum for 2. Keep your mind active. Stimulate it with five years, an Indian girl can take her medical thoughts of others that lead to doing something.
degree. Think of it! A medical missionary to 3. Take time to be holy, with daily Bible read- ing and prayer. her own people at the total expenditure of one 4. Support the church of your faith. Min~le hundred and fifty pounds ($750). Contrast this with others.
with the expense of training a foreign medical 5. Cultivate the presence of God. He wants to enter your life and will as far as you let Him. missionary, not to speak of the cost of outfit and 6. Take God into the details of your life. You passage. Surely, on the basis of economy alone naturally call upon Him in trouble and for the bigger things.. the plea, "Train India's own women as doctors," 7. Pray for this troubled, war-threatened world is a sound one. • and the leaders who hold the destinies of the var- ious nations. This is unquestionably the right and natural way, for however devoted the Western missionary 8. Have a thankful spirit for the blessings of may be, she still is a foreigner, and one whose God-country, home, friends, and numerous other speech and ways are strange. The gentle, edu- blessings. cated Indian friend speaks the language perfectly, understands local prejudices, and is familiar with 9. Work as if everything depended upon work, Indian customs and habits of life. She is a woman and pray as if everything depended upon prayer. of the country, and wins her way unhampered by the handicaps which face the missionary from 10. Think of death not as something to be another land. Quite naturally she will tell her dreaded, but as a great and new experience where patients the Wonderful Story-old to us but new loved ones are met and ambitions realized. to them. She will use familiar illustrations to press the point, and the listeners will hear how she has found in Jesus her Saviour and her Lord.
"Village Uplift" has recently become the slogan of social service in India. The word is heard on all sides, but we of the Women's Christian Med-
Present Situation in Portugal*
By WM. H. RAINEY .
-.•~ Superintendent of the British and Foreign Society for Western Europe THE political situation in Portugal is compli- interests of the former. This statement aroused cated and uncertain. The power, in practice the Portuguese hatred of Spain, due to the cruel- but not in theory, of this totalitarian State is ties of Philip II. Thus another element of uncerinvested in the Prime Minister, Dr. Oliviero Sala- tainty and even fear was introduced into the na- zar, who is also Minister of Finance and of War. tional life.
Unlike his colleagues in similar states, the Por- England is fully alive to the importance of the tuguese Prime Minister shrinks from publicity Anglo-Portuguese alliance, hence the naval and so that not many have even seen him. military missions and the creation in Lisbon of a Dr. Salazar is pro-German yet he is a member branch of the British Institute. The position of of the "company of Jesus" whose policy is the British and Foreign Bible Society in Portu- strongly anti-Nazi and, therefore, pro-democratic. gal is closely allied with British prestige. The Such a policy may seem strange in an order that freedom allowed to colporteurs is partly due to has always stood for absolutism in Church and the nationality of the Bible Society.
State but the anti-Catholic attitude of the Nazis The religious situation in Portugal has only has thrown the Jesuits into unaccusomed com- changed slightly in the last few years. The pany. Under the late Pope, Pius XII, the Jesuits Roman Catholic Church has continued to increase were all-powerful at the Vatican, and dictated the in power and may now be said to have regained papal foreign policy. Thus one can imagine Sala- the ground lost during the anti-clerical period zar torn between personal preference and reli- following the declaration of the Republic in 1910.
gious obligation. The Prime Minister's love for Such is its influence today that much of the gov- Germany is tempered with fear for the safety of ernment tax on salaries, destined to aid the un- the Colonies, for Portugal is still the third largest employed, is used to build and repair churches colonial powet". Without the alliance with Great and theological seminaries. The great army of Britain this rich almost undeveloped empire over- militia on the Fascist model, which includes prac- seas would long ago have fallen a victim to pred- tically all citizens from the ages of 10 to 60, is well atory powers. Fear of German aggression, even under the control of the Roman Catholic clergy.
in the form of a so-called peaceful penetration of Attendance at mass, although not legally obliga- Angola, swiftly brought wavering Portugal back tory, is pra·ctically so. Only the valiant few have into the English alliance. It is possible, even the courage to spoil their prospects by refusing to probable, that Portugal would try to remain neu- attend. There are also minor cases of persecution.
tral in the event of a European war. Although Two cases are indicative of the trend of things- many of the governing class are pro-Nazi, yet the recently a State employee, a lay-preacher of the business-men are pro-British and the working Portuguese Presbyterian Church, was threatened class in the towns are Communists. with dismissal if he did not stop preaching. A The situation is still further complicated by Baptist Church has been closed on the pretext that the Spanish question. The Nationalist rebellion Communists attended the services.
was organized in Portugal and has received Por- Bible Society colporteurs, however, have no tuguese support, in spite of so-called "observers" cause for complaint. Colporteur Gil reports that on the frontier. Spanish Government refugees, during the 25 years he has served the Society he seeking asylum in Portugal, were handed over to has never known so much interest in the Bible, the Nationalist authorities and even some of the among Catholics as well as Protestants.
flags in use with Franco's forces bear the Portu- The strength of the Bible Society's position in guese arms as well as those of Spain, Italy and Portugal lies in the fact that it publishes a Roman Germany. Yet a Falangist-the Falangists are Catholic, as well an an Evangelical, version of the the Spanish fascists, who are opposed to the Re- Bible. The Roman Catholic, or "Figueiredo" ver- quetes, who are strongly "clerical"-speaking on a sion, is a classic of the Portuguese language and public occasion, referred to the desire of his party is used in many Protestant Churches and schools.
to unite Spain and Portugal, presumably in the If war can be avoided, the prospects of Evangeli- * See Frontispiece. cal work in Portugal should be bright.
[ 409 ]
Christ in Europe
By PROF. ADOLF KELLER, D.D., Geneva, Switzerland W HAT interests us here is not so much the subjective experience, as from a transcendent mes- question what controversial ideology is sage of the revelation of God in Jesus Christ. dominating the European Continent although it has a tremendous influence on religious In preparing my sermon for Good Friday 1917, life, nor what theological conflicts are fought it struck me that following the word of Christ: through in the European churches, which were "It is accomplished," I had not to speak of peralways inclined to express their religious life more sonal experiences but of the great fact and meseasily in theological form than it was done in sage which God has placed before us in the life America. We shall simply ask in this survey how and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is preached on the Continent and what a new evangelical life His message is kindling in A wide change in continental preaching is the European churches. partly due to the rebirth of a theology of the Reformation-Karl Barth's study of the Epistle If during the past century Church regiment, to the Romans appeared in 1918-and partly to Church authority and its representatives played a spontaneous rediscovery of the objectivity of an important rOle in European Church life, the God's Revelation in Christ. theologians came to the front these last decades when continental Protestantism re-thought the Since then preaching has again become the Reformation and tried to build up a new Church, announcement of the Gospel of Christ, as against not so much on an ecclesiastical authority but on giving moral or social advice, philosophical delibsound theology. Today we may observe that it erations or sentimental experiences. The first is the tUrn of the simple preacher of the Gospel task of the Church is again the preaching of the who has his word to say and is listened to. Gos- Gospel. This needs no further justification, yet pel preaching as such has become again the great there is no unanimity about what the preaching of essential fact in the life of the Church. the Gospel really means. Is Gospel-preaching con- sistent with the glorification of the nation and the But each century, each denomination, each na- mysticism of a totalitarian State? Yet, the eleven tion has made, in history, its contribution towards German Churches, whose leaders published a few a special type of preaching. The nineteenth cen- months ago a nationalist and totalitarian theory, tury preaching is in many respects quite dif- confound the Gospel with a myth; a divine revelaferent from the preaching which rose during the tion with religious self-consciousness; the Refor- World War, and which is heard today. The mation with the Renaissance. But the Churches last century was widely dominated by the theology in Germany, where this Gospel is preached, are of experience and of subjectivism which was empty. Evangelical people do not confound the started by the first great theologian of the century, "bread" of our Lord with the "stones" of a nat- Schleiermacher, who initiated a new theolo'gical ural philosophy. thinking by taking the feeling of absolute dependence on God as the point of departure for An important feature in the theory and pracsound Christian theology. Wherever such a the- tice of preaching becomes evident in these empty ology of experience and of the subjective Christian German Churches: preaching needs a congregaconsciousness was vigorous, preaching aimed at tion that listens to God's Word. I preached for awakening similar experiences. Schleiermacher six years in John Knox's Chapel in Geneva and himself was perhaps even a greater and more had often Scottish visitors in my audience. One evangelical preacher than theologian and inter- of them was once listening so attentively that it preter of German idealism and romanticism. Un- meant quite an inspiration to me. When he came der this theology it was more or less forgotten that after the sermon to shake hands, I found that he Christianity was born, not so much from a sweet had not understood one word because he did not understand German-but he listened. The re- sponse of many congregations where "German [410 ] Christians" are preaching is silence or absence. we have to fight; Christ is the only One who can Such spiritual indifference kills any sermon which overcome the reign of demons. is not characterized by more than human wisdom. The Church which no longer listens to God's In this respect, of course, preaching is the reflex word is dying. of a more orthodox and Christocentric theology. Yet, in other parts, especially in Eastern Europe, On the other hand, Confessional Churches in it is not so much an echo to theological thinking as Germany are crowded. A man like Niemol1er, a a response to Bible reading. The Bible itself and great preacher, drew larger audiences than the not only theology as a witness to the Holy Scripchurch in Dahlem could hold. There was always tures has been and is the great teacher of how to a pilgrimage from Berlin to Dahlem when the preach. Preaching is therefore no longer the art former captain of the submarine preached. Even of trained. pastors. The man who. reads the Bible, Ministers of State were in the audience. Niem61- preaches. A lay preaching movement may be obler is continuing to preach though silenced. In served all over Eastern Europe. In Austria near America, during the National Preaching Mission, Villach, is a Bible School preparing lay preachthere was not one single town where I was not ers for the Balkan countries. In Poland and Rusasked about Neimoller. He has the ear of the sia there is a large preaching mission carried on world because he preaches the Gospel even at the by laymen, the "Gospel-Christians," who are wancost of great sacrifice. dering from village to village announcing, often secretly, in farms, woods, lonely places the re- The essence of this Gospel-preaching is quite deeming message which they have learned to know simple. It is dominated by the two great leading from the Bible. In Polish Ukraine an evangelical thoughts of the Reformation: Luther's Sola gratia movement sprang up in a village when Krasniuk, ("by grace alone") and Calvin's great message of a Ukrainain prisoner of war, returned from a the sovereignty of God: Soli Deo gloria! Modern German prisoner's camp where he had learned to evangelical preaching in Europe is again focused read the Bible to his family in a Polish village. in these two great lights of the Reformation. It To read the Bible means to meet Christ, and this is Biblical, Paulinian. It is more an interpreta- is the one great stimulus for preaching. The tion of the Biblical text than an explanation of a annual report of the British and Foreign Bible subject for which the text is only a starting point. Society shows indeed that in spite of a growing Karl Barth in Basle does not allow his students poverty, political tension and religious persecuto develop their own brilliant thoughts by using tion the Continent has bought more Bibles than a Bible text. Stick to the text in reverence and during last year. Even in Spain the sale of the obedience, he would say. Under such influences Bible has increased. continental preaching has become more Biblical and more dynamic. It is a witness, not simply a The Hope for Reformation historical exposition or a psychological application of spiritual truth. Historicism and psychologism Where the Bible is re-discovered and read, a have largely diluted, during large parts of nine- reformation is always near. Other general literteenth century preaching, the divine substance of ature is certainly sharing the breakdown of any the preached word. These theological and psycho- really leading power for mankind; the Bible has logical temptations are overcome today. Christ again proved able to give real leadership to perhimself and not science or theology, not personal sonal and public life of mankind. Nowhere this piety or mystic experiences, is again the great sub- is perhaps deeper felt than in Russia where the ject of evangelical preaching~Christ who saves importation or printing of the Bible is still forfrom sin by His grace. The attack directed against bidden. A great thirst for the Word of God is the Saviour by a self-redeeming humanism and found wherever religious interest is not entirely secularism has, by reaction, made continental quenched. This unique Book and parts of it are preaching more Christocentric than ever. Where penetrating into Russia wherever pores of com- Christ is preached there is no place for a shallow munication are still open in the well protected nationalism or a vigorous moralism. All these pachydermic armour of their Russian giant. It isms are effaced by the tremendous realistic pow- penetrates into the interior via the great streams, er of sin and the all victorious Grace. Preaching via China and Turkestan. For many Christians is therefore, under the impression of the War and the possession of the Bible is the greatest treasure, its aftermath, more pessimistic than in the self- as the Word of God has become rare and thoucontent nineteenth century in so far as the possi- sands of Bibles have crumbled to dust because they bilities and confidence in man is concerned and has were read so intensely. It is a; matter of great again discovered the demonic character of the rejoicing that not only the Bible is read again world, the principalities and powers with which among Protestants-but Bible lessons are intro- duced for the first time in evangelical services. A
new Bible movement is spreading also in the Ro- by we felt that our skin must be heathen too. He man Catholic Church, and it happens that Ortho- gave us an inferiority complex. We began to feel dox priests, as in the famous conferences of Nar- that if we dressed in his clothes we should be va, assemble around the Bible and not only kiss less heathen. If we began to speak English well the holy Book as a part of the Orthodox service, we felt sure we were civilized and Christian. but read it with the joy of a great discovery. If we speak the truth (and we must speak the Wherever Christ is preached, the Cross is ines- truth), we must admit that the African says tocapable. The willingness to suffer with Christ is day, We want to feel at home when we worship. one of the essential features of Christian life. We want to feel that God has come to Africa. This willingness not to be afraid even of martyr- South African buildings, are always round dom is perhaps the greatest aspect of present day thatched huts. The first time that I went into a Christian life on the Continent. The world at- church-it was built on the western pattern-I tacks Christ, not so much by force and persecu- said, "I am in a foreign country." A Christian tion as by a new philosophy and new tempting priest put up a hut with a thatched roof and a ideologies. Those who are not adopting this phi- stone altar, such as we Africans use in worship; losophy in Russia or in the totalitarian States then I was at home before God. The stone altar must suffer persecution. The answer of the Rus- on which we used to make our sacrifices to our sian Christians to this persecution is silent suffer- ancestors in an attempt to worship the unknown ing. In Germany loud witness is still heard. In God, was the place where we could come to God the western and central democracies the liberty ourselves because God had made the ultimate to preach the Gospel is in no way restricted. A sacrifice. Outside, under the beautiful roof of the great missionary activity is started by the world that is the sky, what more beautiful church Churches in France, Holland and Switzerland could you find than that? The carpeted earth for which do not confine their missionary zeal to the our floor, under a big tree: there is the very best pagan world overseas but are discovering that church of all and we are at home there. The high they have a mission field at home, that the Church mountain suggests the power of God; the roaring itself is becoming a mission field as for instance ocean is better music than an organ. Our rivers France, which formerly has been called the oldest -we have beautiful rivers-they are not heathen daughter of the Church and counts today at least rivers; they tell us of God. Take our people out thirty millions of people who have no connection there and we can worship."-Miss Minnie Saga. whatever with any Church and have lost even an elementary knowledge of Christ and His Gospel. *** It is very likely that many Protestant Churches Mrs. Short, a British (L. M. S.) missionary in will join the remarkable effort which has been Papua, is training up the young people to a belief made by the American Federal Council of that God wants Papuans to remain Papuans when Churches in its National Preaching Mission to they become Christians. She encourages the weartake a fresh stand for the Church in the centre of ing of the native dress or some simple adaptation all Christian life and activity, in the announcement of it suited to modern conditions, the building of of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The world has churches in the island fashion, and giving a Chrisproved today that it holds no really redeeming tian content to the old customs. Most of the oppomessage and that its recipes are not bringing heal- sition to this comes from the people themselves. ing or salvation but sickness and death. The They say, "Now we are Christians we are en- Church of Christ, confronted with this breakdown lightened people. We must dress as you do. We of culture and inefficiency of human wisdom, must have churches like yours. We must worship knows more than ever that she holds the word of in your way." Sentiment in some places is so salvation and has to bring it to the whole world. strong on the connection between religion and a particular form of dress that women may refus·e FROM MADRAS CONFERENCE to wear waistbelts because the costume into which their grandmothers were put by early mission- A Bantu African woman in a bright blue dress aries was a long shapeless garment without a belt. and head-cloth, spoke with a natural eloquence It was natural to those pioneer missionaries to which moved all hearts in the group on the wor- carry with them the customs, the conventions, the ship of the Church. style of clothes and religious buildings to which they were accustomed in their western lands. But "To us Africans, Christianity is a white man's Christians in Papua and other lands must be religion. The white man regarded as heathen helped to see that God wants Papuan Christians everything that he found in Mrica; not knowing and African Christians from every land, not our language or our culture he judged it as heath- simply Christians who are an imitation of the en. He made us so conscious of this that by and Westerner.
Ways of
'Tested Met1wds for Increasing Interest at Home ,EDITED BY GRACE W. MCGAVRAN, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA College Students Organize scribed by Bethanians and private do- Notice, too, that the project is nations. Each Saturday some of the for Actual Service girls conduct the recreational activi- not forced into just one channel. ties of McKinleyville which supple- Not all girls are interested in Young people of today are ment the newly added Boy Scout weighing babies and in taking ready to give time and energy to Troop under the leadership of William medical histories. There are rendering real service, if there Rutter, also of Bethany College. is some person or organization , In addition to this work, Bethany other avenues of service outto plan the work so it will be students have conducted Sunday school lined. Recreational leadership, effective, and if there is sufficient classes and church services at Mcreal need in the project to make Kinleyville for some time. and leadership for religious eduthem feel it worth giving them- cation is asked-and found. selves to. Front Rank, April 16, 1939. Too often we ask our young The following report of a serv- There are several points people to do some silly little ice project being carried on by worthy of note. The college thing which is no real challenge Bethany College students in Y. W. C. A. sponsored the proj- to their ability or interest. We West Virginia gives a picture of ect. Dr. Hoagland supervised it. assume they are too busy to do a situation which has need, ap- The article does not say who real things. That is, to be sure, peal and organization to make suggested it, but we may rest the excuse which they give to get the response effective. Study it assured that some one presented out of entering into our feeble carefully. the need vividly, or there would attempts to harness their ener- have been no such whole-hearted gies to worthwhile things in un- When the McKinleyville mine shut response. down, the presiding doctor and nurse worthy ways. But give them a could no longer be afforded. The Beth- Notice also that professional any College Y. W. C. A., under the aid was enlisted. There was no worthwhile job with a real chalsupervision of Dr. Florence M. Hoag- attempt made to have a bunch of lenge in it-give them competent land, promptly established the present college girls doing something leadership-give them organizaclinic for pre-school children. Once a that only a doctor and a nurse tion for effective use of their month under the leadership of Dr. could do effectively. But what energy and time-and your col- Booher of Wellsburg and the county college girls could do in connec- lege student displays all the renurse, who also donate their services, tion with the clinic was thrilling source, ingenuity and responsithe girls conduct the clinic in the little enough to them to insure their bility which made our ancestors, town four miles from Bethany College. participation. with no more years to their The girls weigh and measure the credit than these college young babies, take medical and social his- The international touch in the people possess, go forth to contories, and follow the orders and treat- participation of the Chinese stuments prescribed by the doctor. dent has more than a little value. quer a wilderness and to build a new nation. Taking her place in the clinic is Bethany's Chinese co-ed, a member of Race relations become normally the Y. W. C. A., Violette Chun. Attract Larger Audiences inconsequent when people of dif- Each time the Y. W. C. A. girls visit McKinleyville the townspeople fering races are working to- A missionary speaker recently know they are bringing canned food, gether in the spirit of Christ to went to one of the smaller clothing, medicine, milk, and other alleviate human suffering and to churches of his denomination for items that the children need. All Beth- build a happier world. For a Sunday evening address. To any College is now aiding with a "soap" campaign in which each stu- every such experience of joy in his amazement, considering the dent not only must use soap before working together we may well audience in some other engage- coming to fraternities and dormitories give thanks. ments he had filled, the church but must also bring one cake for Mc- Then there is the enlistment which was not a small one in Kinleyville. Already the girls are of the whole college in special size, was packed. Furthermore witnessing the results of their fine parts of the project. Soap and the choir loft was overflowing work. Underfed children are gaining in weight, children with impetigo-a books for the library! Two with eager-eyed boys and girls contagious skin disease – once more items which are easily provided from the eighth grade. The servhave clear complexions, and the by a large group, but which scantily clothed are now warm. The make a big hole in any budget ice started. There was little beco-eds have also established a library yond his speech and a musical with part of the funds and books sub- which must buy them outright. program by those boys and girls.
[413 ]
They were the eighth grade a Many of the mothers and fa- business going by continuing to cappella choir of a neighboring thers, older brothers and sisters spend her money for expensive school. They sang hymns, spir- of the children in that choir do trifles such as perfume bottles, it,uals and other dignified and not ordinarily hear good mis- imported service plates and suitable music. They listened sionary addresses. They came jewelry for herself, than to give with intense enjoyment to his because their children were to the money away. She was using sing. They went away glad that a false philosophy to bolster up address. they had heard a worthwhile ad- her selfishness. When it was all over, the bou- dress as well. The money paid for the quets of gay summer flowers Let us point out that a single jewelry went mostly into the singer, no matter with how pocket of the wealthy owner of with which the church had been lovely a voice, who was a mem- the store she was fondest of. The decorated were carefully wrap- ber of the community and whose same money would have gone ped and given to the missionary singing people had many times almost directly into the smallspeaker to take home with him. heard, could not have had much business world of grocers and One of the members of the attendance pull. So far as the clothing stores and dairy farms church drove him clear across suitability of her singing, so far of the community had she given the large city to the place he was as her adding to the program, it away. On the way it would staying at. the value might have been the have fed and clothed those in same. But probably not one dire need. The bit of beauty the Let us look at this experience single extra person would have money purchased is as dead tofor a moment, from the point of turned out more than would day as on the day it was purview of promoting attendance. have come for the address alone. chased. The gift of money to It was the missionary society relieve suffering would have which sponsored the church To add something in the na- brought life and health to a child service. They wanted not only ture of a variety stunt might who died for lack of proper food pull a crowd there, but to at- and shelter. their own members there, but tempt that is not worth the ruin also the rest of the congregation. it brings to the program. It To buy things for ourselves They felt that the particular mis- cheapens and debases it. Those instead of serving others with sionary they had secured was who are brought by it are quite the money that is ours is not true sure to give an address worthy likely to get up and walk out stewardship. of being heard by others in the during the address, or to form community besides the members the sort of unsympathetic audi- As church members face the of his own denominational ence which every speaker dreads. days of winter ahead, it is well group. for them to have this gently Consider then, what you may stern reminder always before What supplement to his ad- add to a program which will them, that to buy more clothes dress could they provide which build up the right atmosphere, for oneself when one already has would attract the groups they be of value in itself, and have more than one can wear, is the wanted present? They looked the right effect in bringing into tendency which is the most effecaround and decided that the a the meeting a much greater tive preventative of our being cappella choir of the eighth grade number of people than might able to "clothe the naked, and of the neighboring public school have come for an address alone. feed the hungry." would do that. Furthermore they could be counted on to pro- Our Money for Others We cannot squander our revide a musical accompaniment sources on ourselves and still in keeping with the address. The following thought-pro- have them to serve a needy world Parents of the children would voking and lovely poem by Alice with. come whether they were to sing Ferrin Hensey may be used in at school or in church. several ways in your church. A Here is the poem: poster, in the center panel of Please note that there was which it is beautifully lettered I have more food than I can eatnothing in the way of trying to in, and in the two outer panels They faint with hunger in the street. of which are pictures of those attract by false pretenses to whom we may serve, may be ar- I have more clothes than I can wearsomething which people would ranged. Or the poem might be Their head, and hands, and feet are not want to hear. They were given as a reading in the devosure of their missionary's hav- tional part of your service. bare. ing something people would find Where it is possible it should be made available to every member My walls are thick, and warm, and very worth having come to listen of the church, missionary so- dryto. The music was simply a sec- ciety, or other group. ond feature of equal worth in its Their walls are rain, and wind, and own field. During days of bitter need, sky. not so long ago, a woman ap- The problem of attendance at proached by the church for relief My heart knows love of noble soulsmissionary programs and meet- funds refused on the ground that Their hearts are hungry, thirsty ings is often not that of having it was more important to keep a worthwhile program. It is that bowls. of securing a hearing for that program from those who for These things let me remember when various reasons ordinarily fail to give it any attention. Cries of the needy rise again.* • Alice Ferrin Hensey. By permission of the author and of The New York Times.
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
Why Not Have a Church Library?
By MARY F. FOLGER A few years ago the Literature Committee with the pastor of the First Friends Church in In- dianapolis, Indiana, decided the time had come for the revival and enlargement of the church library. One of the Sunday school classes loaned their own furnished classroom for this pur- pose. Two bookcases were moved in and all the religious education, c h u r c h history, Quaker and missionary books were assembled. The Literature Committee chairman, with his wife, gave some and loaned many new and up-to-date books .
for circulation among our mem- bers. A number of desired books CHILDREN MAKE GOOD USE OF A GOOD LIBRARY were donated by other indi- viduals. for adults' and one for children's a suggested given list. These are From time to time throughout books. The name of borrower under various headings, some of the years the revision of the lit- and the date taken and returned which are: Biblical Literature, erature work of Friends has is noted on the card filed for that Friends History and Principles, been made, to meet and use new particular book. Evangelism, Pas tor a I and opportunities for usefulness. Two instances we want to Church Extension, Christian Thus the work of the church mention, occurring two years Education, Stewardship, Peace, library was begun in recognition apart-unknown to either child. Temperance, etc. of a wider avenue for service. One of our boy's mother was The Literature Committee has, Since the beginning of our reading to him at home, from for many years, been allowed a "revival," more cases and books our "Bible Story Book" and he certain amount in the yearly have been given. And our col- wanted to take it to school. She budget of our meeting. This lection has grown until now we gave permission and his teacher amount has been increased three have books for every department read this book to his class. A times since 1935 and is used exin the church and church school. little girl this year so thoroughly clusively for purchasing books We also have books on family enjoyed one of our "Stories of for the library. We feel the life, fiction with a Christian em- Jesus and the Children" that she greatest mission of the Church phasis, etc. Many books have took it to school and her teacher is to help the home furnish the been given by individuals as a read a chapter each day to her Christian foundation in charmemorial to a member of the pupils until she finished the acter building. And one of the family or meeting. These donors book. best ways to do this is through feel that there is an everlasting A number of children have furnishing and helping to select inspiration and living influence given, in the public schools, re- the best of reading material, and in this kind of memorial. A views of books they have read build through books higher number of the various commit- from our church library. Many ideals of personal conduct. Durtees of the meeting have given others have given book reviews ing the last several years we new and desired books, in this in Sunday school. The books for have placed church papers, peace way, not only cooperating with, children consist of the best and temperance literature, and but proving their consciousnes8 recognized Bible stories, mission- other reading material, in public of the need, and realization of ary and story books with em- places and in homes, where they the Christian influence of the phasis on world friendship, etc. supplied a timely need. Church through its own library. A number of adult books are We strive to be of service to One sectional bookcase is full used for reference and research any and all individuals desiring of children's books and this work. help or information, and in sev- corner, with little tables and For several years our yearly eral instances have been able to chairs, is used for, and by, the meeting – composed of sixteen supply or procure materials children. Two girls, each eleven quarterly meetings, and within needed on a number of subjects years old, assist with the whole these eighty-one local meetings for papers and talks outside of library and have complete charge -gives special recognition to regular church work. Our liof the children's section. members reading a certain num- brary is being used more and There are two card files-one ber of books during the year, in more all the time by all ages.
A Story for the
In the Hall of Fame made the difference, for her fa- "Did the people love her ?" ther had no more money than said little Lois. By VIOLET WOOD, Missionary the other men." Education Movement Mr. Wright smiled. "They "Frances Willard's father certainly did.. Many of them Phyllis Wright was visiting didn't drink, did he?" piped up traveled on foot from outlying Washington with her family. Janet. farms to hear her speak in the But she seemed disappointed as towns she visited. She wrote she studied the faces of the stat- "No," Mr. Wright shook his books and edited magazines ues of America's heroes, war- head, "and that was the diff-er- which thousands of people bought riors and statesmen. ence. Her family also prayed to and read and passed on to God and kept the Sabbath while friends. But that was not all she "Father," she said, "are there many other pioneers did not. did. Phyllis, you will be twentyno girls in the Hall of Fame?" Frances Willard decided to try one years old in nine years. Can to bring a new way of life to you tell me one of the things you Mr. Wright smiled as he re- people whose children were poor will be able to do then that you plied: "Let's get mother and and miserable because of evil can't do now?" Janet and Lois and I'll tell you ways. But first she must get an about the only woman whose education. In those days it was "I'll be able to vote," said statue is found here." an unusual thing for a woman to Phyllis proudly. go to college, but Frances did it. "What state is she from ?" Soon after her graduation a "Exactly," Mr. Wright said. asked Phyllis. "I'll be searching stranger thing happened; she "Frances Willard started the for her." was the first woman in America idea that women should vote, to become a college president." just the same as men. That was "She's from Illinois." a brave stand to take in those Phyllis scampered off, and "That's a very important job," days, for even good Christian when her father, mother and sis- murmured Phyllis. men were against the idea at ters caught up they found her first." gazing intently into the earnest "Yes, indeed," Mr. Wright face of Frances Willard. nodded, "but she gave it up after "I read a story once," said "I found her," she beamed. a while because she felt it did Mrs. Wright. It told how Fran- "Now father is going to tell us not give her time to carry out ces Willard always carried two about the only woman in the Hall her ambition to help the poor favorite books with her wherof Fame in Washington." Then mothers and children. She be- ever she went: the Bible and she read from the tablet" 'Fran- gan to lead bands of women 'Pilgrim's Progress.' " ces Willard was born September through the streets. The y 28th, 1839.' Why that's exactly marched to saloons, where men "I've read 'Pilgrim's Progone hundred years ago!" wasted their time and health and ress'," cried Phyllis. "It's great!" "That's right," said Mr. money, and there she prayed Wright. "Frances came of pio- and sang Christian songs. Hun- "Now, what would you call neering folks and as a little girl dreds were so affected by her Frances Willard?" asked Mr. she traveled in a covered wagon Christ-like spirit that they prom- Wright: "a heroine? a warrior? through the wilderness." ised to give up strong drink and a statesman?" "A wagon like our trailer?" to lead better lives." asked Janet. "I know what I'd call her," "Oh, no, much different," an- "Did they keep their prom- said Phyllis. "Our Sunday swered Mr. Wright. "In those ises?" questioned Janet. school teacher told us that misdays it took months to drive 500 sionaries had to be combinations miles, and we've only taken a "Many of them did," contin- of many things sometimes. I'd few days to do that with our ued Mr. Wright, "and many be- call her a missionary, a real automobile." came good fathers and estab- home missionary." "What did she do to make her lished Christian homes. Women famous ?" Phyllis asked impa- in other states formed similar Making Use of This Story tiently. bands and carried on the work, "Like all people who win so that her organization grew In connection with the celebration fame," Mr. Wright began, "she until it became the Women's of Frances Willard's Centennial read loved other people and wanted to Christian Temperance Union. to or encourage the child to read some be of some good in the world. Frances Willard was its presi- of the following books: She lived in prairie towns in Illi- dent for many years. During nois and as a little girl she saw twelve years she went all over Pionee'r Girl, the Early Life of men spending their money in the United States holding meet- Frances Willard, by Clara Ingram saloons, while their families ings every evening, traveling Judson, Illustrated by Genevieve were hungry and dirty. When 35,000 miles by means of wheezy Foster. New York, Rand McNalshe compared them with her own locomotives and in old stage ly & Company, 1939. 50 cents.
family she tried to find out what coaches." Frances Willard of Evanston, by Lydia Jones Trowbridge. Chica- [ 416 ] go, Willet, Clark and Co., 1938. $2.00.
Point out the fact that the Chris- tian motive was responsible for Fran- ces Willard's contribution to the bet- terment of the American home.
BULLETIN
Council of Women for Home Missions EDITED BY MISS EDITH E. LOWRY, 297 FOURTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N. Y.
~,= NEW STEPS TOWARD Church, nearly every group was rep- in making plans beforehand. A CHRISTIAN ONE-NESS Pennsylvania city reports: resented in some way on the program "Twenty-five Catholic women helped . . . wonderful spirit of Christian us plan and ten Jewish women en- joyed our fellowship. The atmosphere "Now I am to be in this world no fellowship." Florida. of the meeting was deeply spiritual. longer, but they are still to be in the The singing of spirituals by two womworld, and I am to come to thee. Holy "We truly feel that there is a bet- en from each of our three Negro Father, keep them by that revelation churches was a high point in the of thy Name which thou hast given ter and closer understanding between service." me, that they may be one as we are . . . But it is not only for them that church women than there was pre- From a town in New York I am interceding, but also for those State comes this: who believe in me through their mes- vious to this meeting." Idaho. sage, that they all may be one-that "The village priest loaned us the as thou, Father, art in union with "Weare looking forward to an or- chairs and tables and wrote me a me and I with thee, so they also may beautiful note afterward praising our be in union with us-and so the world ganized group or federation of church effort and saying that he prays every may believe that thou hast sent me day for church unity." as thy Messenger."-Christ's prayer women growing out of this first May the night of the Last Supper. The effect of such gatherings luncheon." Indiana. may be far-reaching. Many groups made plans to undertake The observance of the Day of The May Luncheon idea origi- cooperatively s 0 me practical Prayer since its inception twenty project for the good of the com- nated with the Council of Wom- munity. Several gatherings. deyears ago, has been a patent in- en for Home Missions, the first cided to organize interdenominafluence in creating a greater one being held May 1, 1933 in tional groups that would funcsense of unity among women of New York City. In 1937 the tion through the year with the the Christian churches. There other national Protestant Wom- World Day of Prayer and the is now another special day which en's groups joined in the New May Luncheon as high spots. gives promise of binding still York luncheon. Nation-wide Perhaps in time many communi- participation in the "May Party" ties will be able to say, as one closer the bonds of Christian idea began in 1938. Over 400 woman did in reporting on the fellowship. communities reported holding May Luncheon in Dawn, Mis- luncheons. souri : Possibly there are those who would raise questioning eye- This year, 1939, there were "We have a Federated Church brows at the claim that May about 650 requests for program here and all the little country material. Reports have come churches and all the little ones Luncheons can help accelerate in town have been torn down the trend towards Christian un- from 33 states and Hawaii. and we all worship in one big ity but in reading reports of the Groups varied in size from one church." gatherings all over the country, of seven to that of 647 in New one finds striking evidence that York, which, however, included "Dawn"-what a significant it is true. Quotations from some name! If more of our comof them will answer. any skep- many from places outside of the munities would follow the examtics: ple set by this town, in spirit if metropolis. Oakland, California, not in deed, would there not be "This was the first meeting of its the second largest group, report- in truth the dawn of a new day?
kind in Preble County, eight churches ed 350. Meetings varied in type EASTERN SETTING-UP CONFERENCE OF taking an active part. Anyone could to suit local needs. Though the majority had luncheons, some COUNCIL WORKERS sense a feeling of fellowship and co- groups had teas, a few had din- What is a Council Setting-up operation. We hope to organize a ners, one a breakfast and others, Conference? It is a gathering of those who are to have charge working group soon." Ohio. just meetings without anything of the activities in the Centers for migratory groups which har- "This is a small town but we have to eat! vest and can the crops. They In many instances, all the nine church denominations and they churches in towns cooperated. all cooperated with the exception of The largest number of denomi- nations reported in one gathertwo. A real Christian non-denomina- ing was nine-there were doubttional spirit prevailed during the less twice as many in the New day." Oklahoma. York gathering, but statistics are not available. A number of "If all the nation-wide luncheons of May 4 proved to be as successful and reports mentioned the cooperaimportant as the one held in Gaines- tion of Catholic and Jewish womville, Fla., a forward stride has been taken toward Christian unity and en. In some places they attended friendly feeling. Jews and Catholics only or brought "greetings" as well as Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists and members of the Christian from their groups, but in sev- eral instances they had a share [417 ]
meet for fellowship, for training, lights furnished by two rather members, one from the Southern for a better understanding of the weak flash lights. The migrant group, and one from the New magnitude of the migrant prob- workers at Hamilton are Italian. York group, everyone had a feellem and the part which the In return for the entertainment ing of the power and strength Church is taking in helping to they sang many Italian folk that come through unity, fellowrelieve a desperate situation. songs. It was generally agreed ship and service for Christ. that this was the right ending to Under the able leadership of a very interesting and valuable From many expressions of Miss Marie Gaertner, supervisor day. gratitude and enthusiasm to of Migrant work in the eastern Miss Marie Gaertner, it is very area of the United States, a very On July 5th activities started evident that the conference was profitable conference was held at 5: 30. Breakfast was eaten a big success. The only regret in Hamilton, New York, July 3d in a hurry, and then everyone was the absence of Miss Lowry, through the 6th. This is the lo- was off to the farms to "gather Executive Secretary of the cation of one of the Council Cen- up" the children. Many new Council. ters which served as a practice families had moved in over that school and demonstration. week-end and so several new FIFTEENTH CONFERENCE little faces were seen, including The program was divided so some six months' old babies. The on the that each worker majored in success of this day was in large the type of work that he or she measure owing to the extreme CAUSE AND CURE OF WAR would do on the field. This was efficiency of the Hamilton taff very practical giving a clear pic- who worked nobly in the face of To be held at Hotel Washington ture of the work to be done. surprising and terrific odds. A great sigh of relief greeted Miss Washington, D. C. Recreation Program. – The Stella Jenkins, R.N., Director leader for this was Mr. Stanley of Home Hygiene and Care of JANUARY 22-25, 1940 R. Kendig, of the Connecticut the Sick, Utica Chapter, Ameri- Council. On the field now are can Red Cross, for the situation This fifteenth conference will young people directing recrea- was beginning to tell on six endeavor to face more realisticaltional work, each putting into babies and their new "mothers." ly than ever before the problems practice what they learned from Miss Jenkins very kindly offered of the grim world in which we him. Mr. Francis Nothrop, her time in an exceedingly live. There will be a minimum Chairman of the Fairfield Coun':' crowded schedule to spend the of formal addresses and much ty Youth Committee was very day with the group giving advice active discussion of our own successful in teaching games. on the care and feeding of ba- problems aided by experts. One bies and the proper procedure important session of the Con- Other leaders were Miss Hel- in first aid. This is the first ference will be built around the en White, supervisor of migrant time live babies have been used report of our Commission on a work, Gulf to Great Lakes area, as models for demonstrating Permanent World Society. An- Miss Alicia Fisher who directed child care to Council workers! other session will be devoted to the new Center in Florida last After dinner a very beautiful pending legislation in Congress winter, Mrs. Patricia E. Man- and helpful devotional service in which we are especially interchester, Executive Secretary, by Mr. Winham was held on the ested. Here, of course, we shall Consumer's League of Wilming- hill, back of the dormitories at seek expert guidance to help us ton, Delaware, and the Rev. Al- Colgate University. As we sat determine our own position befred R. Winham, Pastor, First overlooking the surrounding val- fore our annual visit to Capitol Reformed Church of Astoria, ley and mountains beyond, we Hill. Long Island. Each made a val- felt a true fellowship of love and uable and significant contribu- readiness to go out among those A new emphasis will be laid tion to the conference. less fortunate with a clear mes- upon the necessity of social jus- sage of Christ. Even the heav- tice as a basis for peace and upon The Conference convened on ens conspired to make the occa- the steps which must be taken the evening of July third. After sion memorable and sent a small to insure social justice both the group had dinner together view of Aurora Borealis. within our own country and talks were given by Miss White among nations. The theme of and Miss Fisher, then Mr. Win- The most impressive moment the banquet will be "Our Reham spoke on "Renewing Pow- of the conference was on the last sponsibilities in a New World er." evening when communion was Order." served to the group by the Rev. The children who were to be FRANCES A. THOMAS, at the Center were not brought Paul F. Swarthout, Pastor of in from surrounding farms un- Chairman, Program til July fifth. The Fourth was First Baptist Church, Hamilton, Committee spent in group instruction, picnic lunch under the trees, a peri- New York. As the group gath- Those desiring to attend as od for swimming or tennis and delegates of the Protestant a party in an old barn, the illu- ered at the church and stood in Church group should apply mination for which was provided to the National Committee of by two oil lanterns and spot silence before Mr. Swarthout Church Women, Rm. 63, 297 Fourth Ave., New York, N. Y. who was assisted by two of our Registration Fee: $5.00.
~'===============================
Our World,wide Outlook A Missionary Newspaper of Current Events EDITED BY MRS. HENRIETTA H. FERGUSON, XENIA, OHIO CHINA care of livestock and a variety tion. The mission staff on the The Heart of the World of trades. island now numbers twenty-five, -China Information Service. working not only among the Sympathy for China is being Hainanese but among fQur abor- expressed in a growing stream Relief Expenditure iginal tribes.
of gifts from all parts of the GQvernment and p r i vat e Jewish Remnant in Szechwan world. These gifts include a sources in China have already package of clothes frQm North spent over $45,000,000 (Chinese It is said that many centuries Africa; a check from a sanatori- currency) for civilian relief. By ago a group of Jews settled in um in Sweden; other donations the end of 1938, according to western Szechwan bringing with frQm Basutoland, Pennsylvania, the NatiQnal Relief Commis- them their monotheistic faith NQrway, India, the West Indies, sion, 15,000,000 war refugees and Mosaic customs. Today SQuth Africa and other lands, had been assisted by either gov- there are many survivors who have recently reached the head- ernment, public or private .or- publicly worship God on mounquarters of the British Fund for ganizations, and 150,000,000 tain tops. A "lamb without the Relief of Distress in China. people (one-third of the popu- blemish" is slain and its blood Nearly seven tons .of soap, .over lation in China) had been forced sprinkled, with the "paying of sixty gallons of disinfectant- by the war to leave their home- vows." The Chiang-Min is the urgent necessities with over steads. Relief authorities are name given to these Jews, who 100,000 refugees packed into a shifting their activities from for more than 2,000 years have narrow strip .of city one and a supporting refugee camps to ab- met to worship God in West half miles long, as they are in sorbing the inmates into indus- China. Hankow-have been promised. try. The Chinese Government Ten cases of surgical dressings has already allocated $5,000,000 Converts from the Chiangand a large quantity of elastic for the development .of indus- Min meet every winter with bandage cloth have come from trial cooperatives which aimed Rev. T. Torrance, author of the north of England. particularly to benefit war refu- "China's First Missionaries," gees. The needs increase every for Bible stUdy. A favorite Child Welfare Work day, and the peak of suffering course of study is how the Old Coordinated has not been reached. Testament survivals in Chiang worship have become realized To attain greater efficiency in Importance of Hainan in the New Testament. These the care of war-afflicted children, people were at .one time very the National Relief Commission The Presbyterian Bulletin of numerous in Shensi alsQ, but has invited all child welfare Foreign Affairs notes that of all have been absorbed by the Chiassociations and institutions Japan's seizures in China the nese in that prQvince. throughout the country to co- island of Hainan is the one least ordinate their efforts for service likely to be given up, since the -Sunday School Times. to these children, and has form- Japanese Navy has long had its New BuildinR' for St. Elizabeth's Hospital ulated a set of principles. eye .on this. as a stepping stQne A new building for the Epis- There are now 100,000 war in its southward drive. With copal Hospital in Shanghai is orphans being taken care of in Hainan in Japanese hands HQng- made PQssible by a legacy left by 71 government, provincial, local kong is virtually surrounded by a daughter of the first Chinese and private institutions in Chi- a ring of air and sea bases. clergyman of the Episcopal na. Approximately $60, Chinese This little island is thickly set- Church in China. On June 27, currency, is required to support tled by about tWQ million rural 1868, a Chinese baby, Ah Mei one child for one year. It is folk. There are still a good many WQng, was born in the home of generally acknowledged that it aboriginal tribes in the interior. this clergyman and grew up to is nQt enough to supply fQod, Presbyterian mission work was make history. After attending clothing and shelter; there must begun there in 1881, with head- St. Mary's Hall Church School be elementary, health and voca- quarters at Hoihow and in 1884 for girls in Shanghai, she trained tional education, and training in a station was .opened at Nodoa. as a nurse, a piQneer step in citizenship. The waifs must al- Later medical work was started those days, and then decided tQ SQ be taught manual work, such at Hoihow, and in 1900, Kachek enter the Toronto University as sewing, weaving, gardening, was opened as a mission sta- Medical School.
[419 ]
From 1906 until her death in causes 'Of his 'Own success or fail- ated 115 students: 11 have died 1933, she devel'Oped a private ure. or are incapacitated by illness, practice in Shanghai, where she Serious thought about the cor- two have been drafted into the became highly respected. After porate life of each church. army; 79 are serving as pastors bequests to other Christian in- Careful thought as to the fu- or evangelists in Japan, F'Ormosa stituti'Ons, she left the residue of ture development of the work. or Korea; 19 are teaching or in her estate to St. Elizabeth's, for Thought about the future fi- social service and four are study- maternity w'Ork. nancial independence of each ing abroad. At a recent service, The new maternity unit and c'Ongregation. students talked or sang in their nurses' home is designed ulti- The purpose of the conference native tongue; it is interesting mately to combine St. Luke's and was: to note that in addition to J apa- St. Elizabeth's hospitals. To deepen corporate life; to nese, the following languages -The Living Church. evaluate w'Ork for Christ and were heard: Korean, Manchu- His Church; to endeavor to real- rian, Formosan, Chinese, Malay- Open Doors in Tibet ize the unity of all the work; to an, Spanish (Philippine Islands) Numerous lamaseries are make plans for the future devel- and French (French Indofound in Tibet where missi'Onar- opment and expansion of the China) .-Monday Morning. work.-The Living Church. ies may find a night's lodging. "Salvation Army in Chosen Many priests have visited the United Christian Movement Gospel Inn in Sining, 'Or have Korea is one of the 97 coun- Kagawa took the lead in an tries and colonies in which the he"ard about it from friends. At evangelistic campaign, in which Salvation Army is at work. It certain times of the year there the first meeting was attended employs 104 languages in preachare religious festivals in con- by 3,000 people who heard Bish- ing the Gospel at 17,567 outnection with the lamaseries, and op Naide 'Of the Episcopal posts. The Army has. recently those at Kumbum and Komangs- Church plead for a united spir- celebrated its thirtieth anniverzu, bring pilgrims from all parts itual front to meet the present sary in" Korea, when special of northeast Tibet. The crowds crisis in Japan's national and meetings were convened in Seoul come to worship; the Chinese international affairs; Miss Ka- and seven district centers. In come on holidays or on business, wai urged a deeper reliance on connection with the celebration and perchance to worship as God in the trying days ahead, was a campaign for a 30ro inwell, f'Or "better gods too many and Toyohiko Kagawa boldly crease in all branches of the than too few," they argue, even assert that only repentance and work. The Army has always if some of them are Tibetan conversion of Japan's leaders, recognized that a country's own gods. The crowds may be too her masses, her youth and even people should be the ones to dense, or too intent on business her Christians can save the na- spread the message. Accordingor pleasure to listen to preach- ti'On from the moral degradation ly, the work in Korea is conducting, but a printed message in to which she, along with 'Other ed by married couples who have their own language finds ready people in the world, has fallen. passed the courses in the Train- "Military force can never save ing Garrison. acceptance. The Tibetan will a people from moral debauchtuck his copy into his fox skin ery," said Kagawa; "only spirit- -Korea Mission Field. hat for later perusal alld per- ual and moral regeneration will haps to be carried far into the suffice to purge away individual interior.-China's Millions. "Two Hour Folks"
JAPAN -CHOSEN and national sins, and the Gospel When the superintendent of Calling All Workers of Jesus is the only force capa- the Soonchun Leper Colony in ble of transforming personal Korea was asked whether police control of the patients was nec- The Bishop of Tohoku, the Rt. and social life. Rev. Dr. N. S. Binsted, called a Mass meetings are to be held essary, he smiled and replied: meeting 'Of all w'Orkers, both men in various parts of Tokyo and "Where the principal occupation and women, in Sendai June 19 other cities during the next few of people is to get together sevand 20, and asked that prepara- months, and for a period of three eral hours a day and quote the tion for this conference should years all the churches are thus Bible, police are not needed. "By to cooperate in what promises the way," he added, "how would include: Private and public prayers for to be Japan's greatest united you like to hear one of our two the guidance of God's Holy Spir- Christian movement to date. Ka- hour folks?" "Two hour folks? gawa has agreed to give almost What's that?" the visitor init during the conference. Prayers for God's blessing full time to the pr'Osecution of quired. It was explained that upon each pers'On's 'Own work as the campaign throughout the these were patients who could well as upon the work of the dis- land.-Christian Century. quote the Scriptures for two trict and the whole Nippon Sei- Graduate Activities Listed hours at a time without making kokwai. any appreciable mistakes.
An examination by each indi- Since its formal organization At a recent Scripture recita- vidual of his own life and w'Ork, in 1930, the Japan Theological tion contest at Soonchun, hun- with an effort to realize the Seminary in Tokyo has gradu- dreds of contestants appeared,
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
representing all ages. An old ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC army officers dropped from the and sightless man repeated the service for lying. He took adentire book of Matthew without Evangelism among the vantage of this opportunity to stopping. He had committed it Batanese say that with the exception of to memory by hearing it read treason or cowardice there is no aloud. The Batanese Islands are the crime in the military code so most northerly part of the Phil- unpardonable as lying, and that -Evangelical Christian. ippines. Until March, 1937, there the foundation of every army is had been no evangelical work the honor and integrity of its Promoting Stewardship in there, but at that time Dr. and officers. "Lacking these virtues," Korea Mrs. Paul Culley, with two Fili- he said, "no army can succeed in pino preachers established a per- peace or war. An armed force Rev. H. E. Blair, in the United manent work there. There are with untrustworthy officers be- good reports coming from these comes a menace to the state Church Review, tells how the Islands: a total of 215 con- rather than a support . . . If principle of stewardship has versions, with government offi- executive clemency were exerbeen promoted in the Korean cials and school teachers friend- cised in this or any similar case, Church. Individual missionar- ly. A permit reading, "Any it would set a standard of integies had taught stewardship from place, any time" opens the way rity in the Army of the Philipthe beginning; it remained to for preaching at all points. Vio- pines so low that it would disoutline a plan fQr systematic lence and opposition instigated credit not only the Army, but giving. Pamphlets giving prac- by priests there have been, but even the Government itself, and tical methods and stewardship without much result. Two young deliver a death-blow to the develsermon themes were supplied to men from the Batanes are now opment of the high type of offithe churches, then each church stUdying in the Manila Evange- cer personnel which we must was urged to print their own en- lists' Institute preparing for have." velopes and supplies. The most work there later. satisfactory is a 52 page pad Three other officers are menwith a given number, to be hung -So S. Times. tioned in Lanao Progress as exon the wall at home. Each Sun- pressing the same sentimenits, day, a member tears off a page "Keswick" in New Zealand and all three, as well as Presiand folds it around a coin with dent Quezon, practice their own the pad number in view; the The missionary rally was one preaching. They know that little folded parcels to be depos- of the high lights of the annual their country must be made ited, with both hands, in the col- Convention Camp at Ngaruawa- strong, and that it takes upright lection bag. hia, N. Z., this year. On the men to make it so. speakers' platform were 30 mis- Most Korean women have no sionaries, representing Africa, Christianity Applied to money to give and one of the India, China, South America, Business tQuching scenes in many a Ko- Solomon Islands, Central Asia, rean Church is the gathering up New Guinea, Egypt, Russia and The largest shoe factory in the of little rice bags. The rice is the Maori of New Zealand. Each Philippines is owned by a Chrisput into the bags a spoonful at speaker was limited to six min- tian, Mr. T. Teodoro. He ema time as meals are being pre- utes. Those present noted that ploys 500 workers and turns out pared. the interest of the audience did twelve to fifteen hundred pairs of nOit lag for a moment. The chair- shoes a day. He provides for his Year by year some new pam- man announced that the mission- employees low-rent living quarphlet is issued to teach and re- ary fund had realized £3,725 ters, a low-priced restaurant, teach various phases of steward- during the past year, and the complete medical care, physical ship. Special men are sent 'Out goa] for the forth-coming year examination and clinical service, whenever possible to deepen in- was set at £4,000. A pledge and rest and recreation facilities. terest. There are also special cash offering was taken, when His factory is a model for light courses on systematic giving in an amount in advance of that of and air. Not only this, but each the Theological Seminary and last year was promised, and a morning his 21 foremen meet Bible Institutes. As the pas- cash offering of £180 received. with him and start the day by tors go from house to house they repeating together Psalm 19: 14 talk about the family and its -Life of Faith. -"Let the words of my mouth spiritual progress. They talk and the meditations of my heart crops. They talk church bud- Quezon Works for Integrity be acceptable in thy sight, 0 get. After prayer they layout Lord, my strength and my rethe record of the family as to Lanao Progress observes that deemer." Then, after a period of church contribution during the President Quezon and other Phil- silent meditation, they discuss past year and secure a new and, ippine government leaders are the day's work, closing their if possible, better pledge from making a determined effort to meeting with the Lord's Prayer. each member of the family for bring about a moral revitaliza- At one corner of this room is the year to come. Thus the tion among their people. A re- a door which opens on a steep churches have grown in power cent evidence of this was the President's action in ordering and effectiveness.
and narrow winding staircase in the Holy Land. It was kin- Today there are in America over which leads to a prayer room. dled on Easter morning by a 4,300,000 criminals actively at work, It is a long room with a prayer member of the Jewish National plundering and murdering. There is rail, a picture of Christ at Geth- Council, at an elaborate service an aggregate of 1,330,000 serious semane, and Scripture verses in before the historic Wailing Wall, crimes and a national crime bill of Tagalog. No one is invited into attended by representatives of $15,000,000 a year. this room who cannot also be practically all Jewish organizainvited to pray, and shoes are tions in Palestine. Prison-Mission Field left behind at the foot of the stairs. The idea is to have the light Eighty~seven American pris- burn in the Memorial Hall of the ons are now using the "Bible -Philippine Presbyterian. Pavilion not only as a memorial Course for New Christians," and to those who died in the struggle 189 prisoners have received cer- NORTH AMERICA to establish a Jewish national tificates for completing the work. home in Palestine, but also to These students become personal Bible Society Day at the symbolize the undying faith of workers. A man urider sentence World's Fair the Jews in the future of their in the Los Angeles County jail people in the Holy Land. led fifty-one souls to Christ. An- June 25th was American Bi- other teaches a class of thirtyble Society Day at the New York -World Outlook. five fellow prisoners and has World's Fair. Following the won ten. Art Marron, a Filipino dedication of the Society's exhib- Growing Intolerance who spent five years in San it in the Communications Build- Quentin Prison, received his ening, which included a long list To "make America safe for tire religious, education through of book titles chosen from the differences" is becoming an ur- the Bib I e Correspondence Bible, such as "The Promised gent task for all Christian peo- Courses. He is now preaching Land," "Green Pastures," etc., ple in the United States. This day and night in the smaller the group of men, women and was emphasized by the Church towns of the Philippine Islands children went to the Temple of Peace Union at their semi-an- and establishing Bible classes Religion, where Dr. John H. Fin- nual meeting in Atlantic City in wherever he goes. On his last ley and William Lyon Phelps June, when the following resolu- trip to a little town in the mounwere the principal speakers. tion was passed: tains, which he reached by a cart drawn by a water buffalo, 18 Dr. Finley spoke of the devo- We protest against the rise of anti- souls accepted Christ and were tion to the Bible of earlier gen- Semitism in the United States. It baptized. erations. To this, he attributed expresses an attitude and policy which not only their genuine piety but are contrary to our American insti- He has started Bible classes in also the richness of their lan- tutions and particularly to our spirit nearly every little town of eastguage. He declared that no oth- of freedom. ern Pangasinan, and twentyer book in the world could be seven Bible women, or Sunday compared with the Bible. Any Anti-Semitism also threatens the school teachers, have completed other book the human race might basic ideals of all religions. Intoler- the course.-S. S. Times. do without, but not the Bible: ance expressing itself in prejudice that, he said, is a necessity of and hatred for the Jew will not end Students Wanted life. there; in fact, it threatens the very structure of democracy and religious A call issued in June to enroll Dr. Phelps aroused much ex- liberty. in the "Ambassador Training pectation when he said that the Corps" introduced something de- Bible contained the best prayer, We condemn the organized cam- cidedly new in student Christian the best sermon, and the best paigns of hatred, and we particularly work, and is in contrast with all poetry in the whole world. The condemn the reckless and inflamma- previous efforts to meet the re- Sermon on the Mount was, of tory statements that have been made ligious needs of the student course, the best sermon; and before the Congressional committee world. It was a call to students the Lord's Prayer, the best in Washington and that are constant- to enroll in an intensive sumprayer. The best poem was the ly being made over the radio as con- mer training course in prepara- Twenty-third Psalm. trary to the fundamentals of our tion for definite, aggressive, American Government and the spirit evangelistic service on the cam- Symbol of "Eternal Light" of all religions. pus of American colleges during 1939-1940. Emphasis is upon The Ner Ha-Tamid, or "eter- We urge all religious leaders and training individual volunteers nal light," was brought from the people of their respective congre- in personal Bible study, so that Palestine last April to burn in gations to take active steps toward they wiH not be dependent upon the Jewish Pavilion at the New the development of that understand- adult leadership. To attain to York World's Fair. According ing, cooperation and goodwill which the rating of "ambassador," the to the Director of the Pavilion, will unite them more deeply in over- student engages in a thirty-two this light will burn continuously coming this evil with good. weeks' training course in active as a memorial to those who gave Christian living and service. their lives seeking the establish- -Church Peace Union. ment of a Jewish national home -So S. Times. Crime in the U. S. A. The crime situation is not im- proving, if the figures of J. Ed- gar Hoover are to be taken as evidence. Says Mr. Hoover: The records of the Federal Bureau of Investigation show that crime is increasing; that murders, manslaugh- ters, robberies, sex crimes, automobile thefts are greater than ever before.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Moral Rearmament Conference Moslems who make the pilgrimage considered are health, govern- ment relief, etc. This does not Before a crowd of nearly to Los Angeles should also make that tell the whole story. Special 25,000 in Hollywood Bowl, Cal- services for Indian girls grew ifornia representatives of the to Mecca. BISMILA. into a Sunday school. Ten of "Oxford Groups" from 25 coun- these girls now sing in the tries launched a drive for unity Negro Advance church choir. and Christian harmony in this unsettled world-a unity based The United Presbyterian says -Spirit of Missions.· on the four points of honesty, that the greatest improvements unselfishness, purity and love. in the Negro race have come Stand on the Liquor Problem Three objectives were listed: 1. since the beginning of the World Permanent peace between indi- War, and offers the following Prospective students of Illividuals and nations; 2. The facts as proof. There are now nois State Normal School need world's wealth made available to over 120 Negro institutions of not enroll there in ignorance of all, but for exploitation by none; higher learning with 35,000 stu- that institution's attitude toward 3. Create a new culture and alcohol, for its latest catalogue bring in the advent of "the gold- dents of college grade, 2,457 of contains the following stateen age." collegiate professional grade, ment: and twice the entire number It is said that new hope has studying college subjects. The Since ability to consume intoxicatbeen generated by this plan. Chi- number of Negroes now holding ing beverages, regardless of nature nese and Japanese representa- or quantity, is not a par~ of teachertives shook hands there; labor academic and professional de- training program, and Slllce emplo~ union leaders greeted officials grees is 32,478. About 63.8 per- ers of teachers, regardless of theIr of employers' organizations. cent are men and 36.2 per cent personal a~titude toward the liguor Among the messages read from are women. The largest numer- question, WIll not employ or contll~ue well known leaders was one ical group comes from parents in service teachers who use such lllfrom Henry Ford which ex- neither of whom could read. The toxicants, Illinois State Normal Unipressed a profound truth. Said bulk of these graduates enter the versity very emphatically states that Mr. Ford: "There is enough professional field. Nearly 200 the use of intoxicants on or off the good will in the people to over- have incomes of $5,000 or more; campus will not be permitted, and come all war, all class dissension the median high school salary deviation from this regulation calls and all economic stagnation, for severance of connections with the when that good will shall be of teachers is $1,300. The call school. Because the institution feels hitched to the affairs of men and for Negro college graduates is justified in the interests of its reputanations."-Dayton News. tion and that of its students and grad- more imperative than ever. uates in having such a regulation, it Los Angeles as a "Mecca" There is one white physician to is hoped that persons who cannot live every 728 white people, but only within both the letter and spirit of Strange sects are not confined one Negro physician to every this procedure will not apply for adto Iraq. The Moslem World 3,125 Negroes. There is one mission to the university. quotes the following notice white teacher for every 110 posted in Los Angeles: white children, one Negro teach- -United Presbyterian. er for every 218 of the Negro KALIFAT-NEBI JEFFERSON. group. LATIN AMERICA Yearly pilgrimage of Moslems of Civic Leadership in Oklahoma Christian School in Cuba Kalifat No.5, known as North Ame,rican Kalifat, shall be concluded m St. Philip's Episcopal Church La Progressivu, Presbyterian Civic Center, Los Angeles, during the in Ardmore, Oklahoma, believes school at Cardenas', Cuba, has 30 days of the month of Muaram. that it must take a leading part been signally honored by Cuba's in community life. With this Secretary of Education, who The purpose shall be educat~onal. in view, the rector and others awarded it special recognition This pilgrimage should part~cularly decided upon a number of proj- for its whole curriculum, from remind Moslems of the teachmgs of ects, of which the following are first grade through High School. America's fist Karajite leader, Thom- afew: as Jefferson, loyal successor of George When a new government high Washington, tried-and-true founder of A garden inspection committee school was established in Carthe Republic. which brought about self-help to many denas, La Progressiva empha- Terminating the pilgrimage; Mos- needy families. sized its boarding department, lems should make the circuit of the thus affording greater oppor- Los Angeles Federal Building which A canning plant growing out of the tunity to young people from suis situated in what is henceforth to garden committee. gar plantations and small towns. be known by Moslems as Jefferson Square. They may make the circuit A plan for milk distribution to The Christian influence of as many as seven times, but it is not needy. the school has been of far reachtheir duty to make it even once, since ing value; many of its graduthey should make it only of their A Milk and Ice Fund. ates continue their training in own free will and according to their An amateur boxing tournament to normal schools and later teach ability. support the Milk and Ice Fund. in Presbyterian institutions on Moslems who make the pilgrimage An Open Forum at which com- the Island; others attend the to Mecca should make that to Los munity problems ar~ d~scussed. . theological Seminary in Puerto Angeles also. A community samtatIOn campaIgn. Rico. Six Presbyterian pastors A mobile health clinic. in Cuba are graduates of La Promotion of two summer camps.
The open forum proved to be especially valuable. Subjects
Progressiva and there are two of widely different types, yet Three factors made the occa- sion memorable: this is the candidates for the ministry in common to all is a form of ani- first modern church building in Colombia; there was a new visthe present graduating class. mistic religion. There is now, ion afforded those who came from i sol ate d communities Four pastors' wives also gradu- as a result of this Mission's ac- where life is one long struggle against persecution and immorated from the school. tivities, a vigorous church, made ality; and there were present -Monday Morning. up not merely of passive Chris- representatives of nearly all de- nominations or groups working tians but of those eager to pass in interior Colombia-Presby- terians, Independent National Ice Breaking in Guatemala on the Gospel message. A short Church, the Scandinavian Alli- ance, Worldwide Evangelistic Tourists and modern life have time ago, when a member of one Crusade, Pentecostals, Luther- ans, Cumberland Presbyterians not yet penetrated the western of the most degraded tribes was and some independent mission- aries.-Colombian Clippings. highlands of Guatemala, so con- ordained a minister, the "im- EUROPE siderable persuasion was re- possible" was achieved. The Crisis Grows No Less quired on the part of Rev. H. D. One tribe of 500 Indians of Peck, Presbyterian missionary, North Argentina has 400 pro- Dr. Adolph Keller, Director of the Central Bureau for Relief of to convince the mayor of a very fessed Christians. The past Evangelical Churches, reports on the present outlook. When needy village that he should ad- thirty-five years have seen this Bureau was established in 1922 it was thought that a few mit aclinic unit from the Amer- marked advance in Chile also. years' effort would be sufficient ican Hospital at Guatemala City. Boarding schools and medical for reconstruction after the So far as the mayor was con- work have been of great value. World War. This estimate has been found to be too optimistic. cerned, witch doctors were good -Life of Faith. Totalitarianism and the almost incredible fury of anti-Semitism enough, but finally permission have so deeply affected the eco- nomic situation of the churches, was grudgingly granted. School Uses Radio their liberty of conscience and Although relief from their ail- their spiritualIife that the prob- One of the mission schools lems have multiplied. Here are ments was welcomed, there was which uses the radio to develop a few of them: Feeding the degeneral suspicion on the part of interest in its program is Cole- pendents of evangelicals who those helped: there was endless gio Episcopal de San Pablo, bet- have been sent to Siberia, includbeating of drums, offerings of ter known in the United States ing the few Russian Protestant chickens and flowers by the vil- as St. Paul's School, Camaguey, pastors that are still alive, relagers, who were taking no Cuba. The School has bought lieving Protestant pastors in chances on offending the moun- the time for the broadcast over Rumania, many of whom are tain deities. Station COJK, short wave. The trying to maintain homes on Principal, Rev. Paul Tate, from 12 to 15 dollars a month, -Monday Morning. helping to finance theological students, for the need for an en- Baptist Mission in Vera Cruz writes that the idea is to keep lightened Christian ministry is ahead of other schools in all acute. Rev. Donata Ramirez, a Mexi- sorts of activities that may add to the school's prestige. As the Even the very hopeful evancan of Kansas City who was broadcasts become better known gelical movement in the Ukraine trained for the ministry at Col- ,and accepted, real evangelistic is threatened with financial gate-Rochester Divinity School, . material will be used. straits and all manner of petty is the first resident pastor at persecution; every pastor must Tierra Blanca in the state of -The Living Chu.rch. get a permit for every sermon Vera Cruz. He began work in he preaches, whether in his own parish or elsewhere. Then there June, 1938; without a church New Church in Bogota is the staggering refugee probbuilding, but with a gift of $300 lem; also the heavy blow dealt the Czech Church of the Brethfrom the Rochester student The dedication on March 12th body and $200 from the Baptist of the new Presbyterian Church Home Mission Society, he began in Bogota, Colombia, was an to build and since then small epoch-making event. The site sums have made it possible to go was secured and the building on with the undertaking. The erected with the proceeds from membership of this young church the sale of the former church is 58, the average attendance 70 ; property. Representatives 0 f each week end at least 12 various Presbyterian churches members hold special services in and other missions throughout the surrounding area. The Colombia crowded the auditorichurch has three outstations, all um. Some had journeyed a day of which indicates that a strong or two on horseback, over diffichurch is arising in Tierra cult mountain trails, others Blanca. -Watchman-Examiner. came by auto and one flew over from Medellin. The theme of Primitive Indians in South the dedicatory sermon, deliv- America ered by Rev. A. M. Allan, a for- mer pastor, was "Past, Present The South American Mission- and Future." This was followed ary Society ministers to Indians by a communion service.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
ren (Hussite), and the unfavor- ship allowed, and only in private by er subsidize pUblications; these able developments that are special agreement and favor of the must pay for themselves. facing the Waldensians in Italy. state; (4) All Romanist laws and jurisdiction included organically in Germany has also banned ra- Once more the Christian dio broadcasts of religious serv- the state's statutes; (5) The Roman ices. Such orders as the radio ban, and that on the sale of Bi- Church is producing martyrs. Church given the supervision over ed- bles are not published, but ucation, press and printing "in dog- transmitted secretly by the Min- Churches are packed where emp- matic matters"; (6) Church property istry of Propaganda. Church ty benches had become the rule. taken from the Church by the former officials have urged that broad- casts of religious services be re- government to be ceded to the state, sumed for the benefit of invalids, but all such requests have found Friends Oenter in Paris in return for which the state will sup- deaf ears.-New York Times. port the Church; (7) The relations In Hungary and Poland An attempt is being made to to be legaliZed by a Concordat. There is news of a great rebring about contacts between the It is added, however, that fif- vival movement in Hungary, not Society of Friends in France and teen of the world's greatest re- only in Budapest, the capital, but outstanding intellectuals in that ligious leaders have petitioned in other centers. Evangelistic country who are thinking along Franco to investigate the reli- meetings are being held many gious situation and to ensure times a day, and at some of them the same lines as the Friends, freedom of worship, and he has from four to seven thousand peothough not connected with any agreed to look into the matter. ple are present, many of whom religious movement. Two vis- have never heard the Gospel be- -Alliance Weekly. fore. Special editions of the its have been paid to Jacques Gospel of John and the Epistle Maritain, distinguished Catholic to the Romans have been placed in the hands of inquirers; while scholar who is deeply interested Methodists Meet in Denmark Christians are urged to take five in the Friends, both because of copies and, after prayer for guidance, to seek out five relatheir international activity and "The Methodist Church in tives or acquaintances to whom they may give them, at the same their emphasis on religion. Con- Europe" was the theme for the time witnessing to what the Lord has done for them. tact has also been established Conference of Met hod i s t As the eyes of the world are with Prof. Emery of Lyons, out- Churches and Missions in the focussed on Poland's political problem, it should not be overstanding liberal thinker of various countries in Europe, looked that while the State has fenced out Communism it re- France. Jean Giono, well known held in Copenhagen, Denmark, mains for the Christian Church to fence out atheism. Evangel- French writer, has also ex- August 2-6. The purp.ose of the ical Churches are taking the lead in this (the prime minister is a pressed his desire to cooperate gathering was to provide an op- Protestant) , and they are with the Friends in any project portunity for fellowship, inspir- backed up by the World's Evan- gelical Alliance. that will promote peace. ation and education to groups of -Baptist Missionary Review.
At the French Yearly Meet- ministers, laymen, laywomen The Army and Ohristianity in Germany ing in Paris, the largest in his- and youth of the new Methodist A short time ago a German tory, there were delegates from Church in Europe. The former army officer, a devout Christian, published a book called "The Of- S wed en, England, America, Methodist Episcopal Church is ficers' Hour." It was favorably reviewed in The Millitary Week- Switzerland and Germany. It established in Denmark, Sweden ly News and subsequently at- tacked in the same paper. Bewas generally felt that the meet- and Norway; there are over 250 tween the appearance of these contradictory views, the book ing had attained a higher level churches and 30,000 members. was bitterly denounced in the Schwartze Korps. The author's than in previous years not only These Scandinavian Methodists in numbers, but in spiritual are not only self-supporting but ways as well. maintain nineteen foreign mis- -American Friend. sionaries. There are also church- es and missions in Finland, Religion in Spain Esthonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Italy, Jugoslavia, Bulgaria and Many are wondering what Hungary. In Germany there are will be the outlook for religion five self-supporting Conferell(~es. in Spain under Franco's regime. Jose Pemartin, spokesman for -Christian Advocate.
the Spanish Nationalists, is Bible Sales Bring Reaction in quoted as saying that Spain is Nazidom now to become the most fascist country in Europe; that a pro- The fact that sales of Bibles gram for the Catholic Church is in Germany have outnumbered to be established which will be- those of ~'Mein Kampf" by "more papist than the pope," 200,000 copies the past year has and will serve the political ends apparently angered Nazi authorof the state. Here is the program ities, for an order has gone out as outlined by Senor Pemartin: that Bible and religious tracts (1) The Roman Catholic religion may be sold only in Confessionis the official religion of the state; al Book stores. In general book (2) The prohibition of all teaching that opposes or denies the Roman stores Bibles may be sold only Catholic faith, either officially or in when specifically ordered. Bible private; (3) No other public wor- and Tract Societies may no long-
"sin" consisted in declaring that riously hesitant. Finally the widespread unemployment. The there can be no true fighting reason came out! They were Society was told it would be im- spirit and no military oath of thinking about the hot summer possible to start a boy's club loyalty without a Christian ba- days to come when they would here, because the people were sis. He therefore reasons that be toiling in the fields all day, fanatically Moslem. However, soldiers should be educated to a and were afraid the heavy per- such a club was opened in 1925, belief in God, and demands from spiration would ruin their Tes- and persistent kindness finally -the officers an acceptance of taments, as, true to their pledge, overcame opposition. The mem- Christianity. they carried them in their pock- bership is now from fifty to ets. At last they decided to risk sixty. Boxing, wrestling, weight The newspaper attack of the it, and 28 of them joined the lifting and other physical exerbook admits that such a book League. cises are practised. Lessons are might have been acceptable forty given in English and Arabic, in years ago, but not today, because AFRICA reading, writing and other ele- the question of a soldier and his mentary subjects. On the spir- religion can now only be dis- Farouk Leads in Friday itual side by friendship, by percussed from a single standpoint Prayers sonal talks, by Bible study -that of national socialism, groups and occasional lantern which unites all the beliefs and This is the heading of an arti- lectures and addresses, the work- philosophies of the German peo- cle that appeared in a Cairo ers strive to demonstrate Chris- ple. Christianity is thus defi- daily recently. tianity in action. In addition nitely placed on the same level there is a Blind School, where with paganism. In its issue of Last Friday was a notable day men are taught reading and March 16th, the Schwartze which revealed a pleasant surprise writing in Arabic Braille. It Korps stated: such as had never occurred to any has a Braille library of over one's mind. Probably it is the first 1,500 books, all Christian, which "It is true there is political strife in surprise of the sort in a thousand are lent up and down the coun- Germany arising out of religious dif- years. His Majesty the King went try to blind Moslem readers. ferences. But it is equally true that to the Quasin Mosque to perform the these differences will not be allowed Friday prayers, to which some illus- Ethiopia Is No More to impair our military strength. The trious guests of Egypt had preceded religious life of the German soldier is him, from among the delegations of The Council of the League of so closely bound up with the concep- sister Arab nations which had come Nations on May 12th tacitly ac- tions of People, Fuehrer, Country as to take part in the Palestine Con- knowledged that Abyssinia (or the revelation of the Divine Will," that ference. Chief among these were two Ethiopia) is now to be called a the tenets of any particular religious princes from Hejaz. No sooner had "Province of Italian East Af- sect will be able to exert no influence the preacher finished the Friday ser- rica." An annex to the Anglo- whatsoever. mon than- King Farouk was seen by Italian agreement, signed in those present for the prayers to leave Rome on April 16th, expressed -Kulturkampf. his place in the front rank and make in somewhat ambiguous terms his way to the Mihrab (prayer niche the !Italian Government's will- Testaments for Italy which indicates the direction of Mec- ingness to consider favorably the ca), where he led the prayers as the work of British missions "in hu- In the P. T. L. Quarterly we imam (leader of public prayers). manitarian and benevolent read that in Italy membership in That was a very great surprise, which spheres." This mayor may not the League has steadily in- caused the thousands gathered in the mean tolerance of Christian creased until the number is now mosque and along the streets lead- evangelism. over 4,000, a remarkable record ing to the mosque to raise shouts of for ten years' effort in a land supplication to God that He would The British and Foreign Bi- where Protestant work is car- preserve the "righteous King" the ble Society has kept open its ried on with 'such difficulty. The "prince of believers" and the "imam depot at Addis Ababa, but the Italian League President, Rev. of the Moslems." future is uncertain. The Her- H. H. Pullen, has many oppor- mannsburg Mission has been altunities in his journeys to Western newspapers co m- lowed to continue its work in promote this work. He has ap- mented that this innovation will Addis Ababa, and partially to pointed a young assistant to hold tend to unite Arab-speaking resume itineration in the inte- meetings for young people in Moslem peoples. It has always rior. The United Presbyterian Liguria, Piedmond and Lom- been customary for a caliph, or mission hospital remains open, bardy. He found that members one aspiring to the caliphate, to and the Sudan Interior Mission in Genoa were joining forces lead these public prayers, and a continued till last August. with the Scripture Union, and number of Moslems are express- When compensation for mission were holding regular meetings ing a desire to make the young property, expropriated by the of their own. In Turin, a new king of Egypt Caliph of the Italian Government was paid group of sixty members was whole Moslem world. and the mission was refused per- formed. In many other towns mission to take up other sites, there was a happy response to -Woman's Missionary the seven remaining missionar- appeals. At an evening meeting Magazine. for adults in an out-of-the-way village, several young men Boy's Club in Cairo wished to join, yet seemed cu- The Church Missionary Soci- ety is doing an eifeotive piece of social work in a slum of Cairo, a filthy, crowded section, with
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
ies were forced to return home. of the Africa Inland Mission was Last year was a serious fam- The whole future of Protestant climaxed with the baptism of ine year; food prices soared or work in Italian East Mrica eighty men and women. Except the food was not obtainable; must depend largely upon the for the fact that the Church is people were hungrier than they Waldensians and other Italian very rigid in its examination of had ever been. Money formerly Protestants. It is hoped that candidates for baptism, the num- spent on clothes had to be spent work along the border may ber could easily have been 200. for food. Women with tiny reach some Ethiopians. Even so, this is the largest num- babies on their arms go through ber baptized, so far, at one time. the grass catching tiny grass- -International Review of hoppers in order to have meat to Missions. Later in the day about 600 met eat. around the Lord's Table, which Danish Mission in the Sudan meant that the church building Foreign Magic was almost filled with communi- The eastern part of northern cants alone. If this continues, There are more ways than one Nigeria is alloted to the Danish the building will have to be en- of exploiting the superstitious, branch of the Sudan United Mis- larged. At a recent Sunday half-educated Africans, and here sion, which has worked there for service there were 3,230 in at- is one reported by The Chronia quarter of a century. For a tendance.-Life of Faith. cle, of London. Thousands of adtime growth was so rapid that vertising circulars have poured the home church in Denmark Women Leaders in Kenya into the Congo, introducing forcould not keep up with it; eign "charms," talismen and workers and funds were not A missionary from East Afri- magic. In one packet discovforthcoming. But recently con- ca says that regular evangelistic ered by a missionary and sent ditions in Denmark began to meetings for women have a qual- to the Congo Protestant Counchange; a revival is spreading ity that has been absent hereto- cil, were some pills, a piece of over the country, public opinion fore, because for the past few cheap, red substance with signs towards Christianity and Chris- years the women themselves scratched on it, encased in a red tian work is undergoing a have conducted them. One Afri- silk bag, with leaflets of instrucchange; the means are coming can woman expressed it thus: tion and a "prayer." "Take this forth, the quota allotted has been "Our hearts are warm." These between the thumb and first finraised, and new workers for the meetings are the women's own. ger of your left hand," said one field are volunteering. A doctor They run them, decide where of the leaflets, "look at it kindly, and his wife, a nurse and two they shaH be held, and make all sympathetically, as one regards men, one of them ordained, have the arrangements. To be sure, a person from whom one looks to been accepted for service during there are mistakes made, but receive a favor, and say the folthe past year. some of the gains the missionar- lowing prayer: 'Dear and good ies have been praying for have talisman, in whom I have all con- This change is reflected in the come through the efforts of the fidence, I pray you to aid me by African field. Direct evangelism women themselves. Speakers are all your occult powers to realize is being undertaken by African chosen a week in advance to en- all my projects and desires.' Christians-about 35 at present sure time for prayer and study. (Here you ask for the things -of whom several have wit- you yourself want to obtain.)" nessed so fai.thfully that con- -C. M. S. Outlook. In the effort to stop this traffic gregations of baptized Chris- that trades on the credulity of tians have sprung up in the Sharing Joys at Bibanga the African, the Governor-Genbush. The missionaries depend eral asked the Commission for more and more on their sound Miss Virginia Allen is a the Protection of Natives to conjudgment, learning from them fourth-term missionary at Bi- sider the question of authorizing the best way to present the Gos- banga. She writes in Congo the Postal Service to intercept pel to the African mind. A spe- Mission News of the ever deep- some of this dangerous correscial training course for evange- ening Christian joy of women pondence. But much of it is lists has now been established, and girls, builders of Christian smuggled into the country by which is intended to last three homes. Each Sunday groups of many different routes. years with intervals of one year nine-year-old girls make a point spent in practical work in the of paying her a visit to sing the WESTERN ASIA districts. The Christian Church new songs that Mrs. Kellersbergin this field has about 1,000 bap- er teaches them. Their first vis- Sunday Schools in Bible Lands tized members, with several it surprised her, and in token of hundred more who are being her appreciation she gave each The Sunday school movement prepared for baptism. girl six peanuts and taught them continues to be one of the most Proverbs 3: 5, 6. They came powerful influences in Bible -Life of Faith. every Sunday thereafter, when lands in bringing together in fel- they learnt a few more verses, lowship and cooperation men, Eighty Converts in the Congo ate a few more peanuts, and women and children of different later, the one who knew the most denominations and points of A week's Bible Conference verse~ received a picture. held this year at the Adi Station
view. Last April a rally was type of reading matter in its INDIA AND SIAM held in an ArmeniaI1i Protestant own area. Church in Beirut, Syria, ar- Another Hindu Tribute ranged by the Armenian Sunday Religious Situation in Turkey School Union and to which invi- Several retired judges of tations were sent to children of The death of Ataturk and the Travancore have acknowledged all Arabic-speaking schools and installation of Ismet Inonii have in The Hindu, a daily paper, that of the Anglo-American commun- apparently not altered the reli- Christian missionaries h a v e ity. It took nearly fifteen min- gious situation in Turkey, though played a great part in the progutes for the one thousand chil- it is too soon to know accurately. ress of the Travancore State, dren and their teachers to march There may be a feeling of great- while the Travancore States into the auditorium. The wor- er liberty in the expression of Manual points out that it was ship program consisted of hymns religious sentiments now than English missionaries who initiwith tunes and words familiar during the past few years, and ated English education in that in the three languages, the repe- it is perhaps more common to State, and to them is due the tition of Psalm 23 in the differ- recognize religion as a force; in emancipation of slaves, the up- 'ent languages and prayer offered fact the funeral of the late ruler lift of the depressed classes, the in Arabic~ A tableau presented revealed a passion for dedication opening of hospitals and the by a group of Armenian children to an ideal, and that is essential- spread of education for both represented Christ, the Friend ly religious. men and women. of the children of the world. There has been no change in In the Tranvancore Census -Bible Lands Union. the policies and methods of the Report for 1931, we read: mission institutions, and more What Are Moslems Reading? and more there is a sense among As a result of the philanthropic many leaders that education labor of the missionaries a perceptible Realizing that what Christian does not seem to be enough, and improvement has been effected in the societies publish must be partly that some way of building char- moral and social condition of Dedetermined by what people like acter must be found if the coun- pressed Classes who have come under to read, the Near East Christian try is to continue to go forward. their influence. Their mode of liv- Council asked groups in each ing has changed, their standard of country they serve just what is -Near East Christian living has improved, they are giving being read; just what students CounciL up insanitary habits, are learning were reading aside from text cleanliness and thrift, and are bebooks. The answer was the Iranian Youth ing weaned from the drink evil. same: stories, the great majority being translations. It is be- The annual National Chris- All these opinions are conlieved that Christian publishing tian Youth Conference of Iran firmed by a writer in the Poona houses should take note of this had a spread of almost a thou- Mahratta who said that today and supply good, cheap stories. sand miles, with representatives "25 per cent of the population Next to stories, a lively interest of the Anglican Church, the Ar- are Christians. Out of 11 lakhs in biographies was revealed, menian Protestant Church, and of rupees paid as Government particularly of Moslem heroes the Evangelical (Presbyterian) gran, 9 lakhs are paid to Chrisand Western dictators. Church, meeting together with t ian educational institutions. no thought of denominational The number of churches which As for Christian students, it distinctions. All were Christians, was 300 in 1820 had increased to was found they were devouring although coming from a wide 2700 in 1930." rationalistic works, mostly non- variety of religious b a c k – Christian. The World's Student grounds: Shi'a and Sunni Mos- Preaching to Mohammedans Christian Federation has accord- lem, Jewish, Assyrian, Armeningly formed a committee to ian, Baha'i, Anglican, American, Rev. H. Reynhout, in the Life undertake the publication of lit- Presbyterian, and even Swiss of Faith, describes the method of erature with the Christian view- Evangelical. There were 68 reaching Mohammedans at the point. leaders from seven countries, in- reading room of the Ceylon and cluding two from Shiraz, 534 India General Mission, in My- Inquiries in Cairo revealed miles away, and one from Yezd, sore City, where a weekly lecture that along with the inevitable the first time that this remote is given especially for Mohamnewspaper there is a growing desert city had been represented medans. "An hour before the output of monthly magazines of at the Conference. The program lecture begins the missionaries good standing, with literary in- consisted of addresses and dis- take up their stand on the street terests definitely Arabic and cussions on the theme "The in front of the reading room: it Moslem. There is a large as- Kingdom of God," Bible study is a very busy street, and hunsortment of picture magazines, and recreation. It was inter- dreds of people pass by, of indicating the value of a Chris- esting to hear boys, gesturing whom every fourth or fifth is a vigorously, talk about ways of Mohammedan. tian picture paper. The Council making Christianity effective in intends to ask each Inter-mission various walks of life. "We are well supplied with Council to help in a study of the -Bulletin of Foreign Affairs. Gospels and literature in Urdu, Kanarese and English, and gen- erally offer a tract to our Mo- hammedan friends as they pass.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK 429'
"As the time for the lecture interest to me. His advice, "Render are violent" and that there is approaches, Mohammedans are therefore unto Caesar the things "no need to drink vitamin Band invited to attend. Most of them which are Caesar's, and unto God the beat your wife." pass on with the excuse of busi- things that are God's," is the doctrine ness urgency or a flimsy promise of non-resistance, nonviolence. Gandhi Hindus, Moslems, Christians. to return in five minutes. Usu- is not the originator of non-violence; and the various provincial govally, the lecture begins with only Jesus Christ is. ernments are of one mind in refour or five in attendance, but a gard to exterminating the drink worker remains outside in the What is non-violence? It means evil. However, a Bombay weekhope of attracting others. Some that everything is sacred and all life ly, while heartily commending are busy with tracts, and seeing must be treated with reverence. Let all these efforts to push the camus with literature the crowd no man deal roughly with even the paign against liquor in the same swells, an argument is started weakest and meekest of living crea- issue advertises "high class port, and after considerable urging tures. I look at Jesus not from the brandy and beer." Such adverthe group consents to enter the standpoint of theology but of society. tisements are illegal sin c e reading room. The evangelist If taken seriously, Jesus' unique mes- August 1. has probably finished his lecture, sage could not only save my people but begins a new one for the ben- but it could build the Kingdom of The Church at Chakwal efit of the late-comers. His God on earth. theme is a whole race lost in sin; Chakwal is just a tiny dot on only Jesus Christ, the Son of -Bulletin of Foreign the map of Northern India, but God, can and does save. Mos- Affairs. on the British Empire's map it lems hate the very mention of is a very black dot, having the this; some of the bolder ones Model for U. S. Christians reputation of being the most viojump to their feet and denounce lently criminal spot in Britain's the speaker, others try to silence The Naini Community Church world wide dominions. About him. Finally, the crowd dis- of Allahabad is self-supporting, twenty years ago, the United perses in disorder, some to ar- pays its assessments in advance Presbyterian .Church :proposed gue among themselves outside, and all other obligations prompt- to establish a mission there; some to remain to question the ly. Not only that; it has accu- land was purchased, building missionaries further about the mulated a building fund, with no plans were drawn up. Along Gospel." outside help. It is to some de- came the depression, and the gree self-propagating also, as land remained merely open Ambedkar Interprets Christ baptisms during the past year fields, growing just enough to have included some from non- pay the taxes. The champion of India's de- Christian families. The church pressed classes is not a Chris- supports a worker who sells More than a dozen years later, tian, but he was one of the guest Christian literature. All this is Emma Dean Anderson, after speakers at the annual meeting accomplished by Indian Chris- half a century of mission servof the West India Presbyterian tians, with a very little over- ice in India, chose Chakwal as Mission. Almost apologetically sight on the part of an evange- her retirement home. There, he announced his subject: "The listic missionary. without any European 0 r Bible and the Message of American companion within Christ," adding that his person- -Monday Morning. 60 miles, she settled in, to al interest in the subject led him spend the last three years to speak upon it, and that his No Drinks After Midnight of her seventh decade of life. conclusions were the result of From then on the Church in his own research. Said Dr. One thousand prohibition en- America began to hear about Ambedkar: forcement officers who describe Chakwal, but in her 80th year themselves as "harder than dia- Miss Anderson had to retire The greatness of Jesus can be monds, yet softer than flowers," from her Chakwal retirement proved in two ways: His power to were mobilized July 31 to help and return to America, leaving perform miracles and the uniqueness police shut off Bombay's drink- only a handful of Christians, of His message. Miracles cannot save ing at midnight. In addition to with an Indian pastor conduct- me and my people. But the message this guard an extra 1100 police ing regular services but with no can. Therefore I am not interested in were enrolled, 300 volunteer or- organized congregation. When Jesus' miracles but in His message. ganizations and 200 physical cul- Miss Anderson left she made it Religion to help me must have a social ture institutions offered their her chief responsibility to secure origin and a social purport because services toward making the ex- funds to construct the buildings the burning question before me is, periment a success. planned in the early vision; this "How can I rebuild a doomed society?" promise has been fulfilled, and Is there anything unique in Jesus' The government decree, is- all the buildings planned are message? That is what I want to sued last Feb. 14, advanced a now completed. In addition to know. step further the campaign of church and parsonage there is a Gandhi for national prohibition library and reading room, open The Jews to whom Christ came within three years. to the public. The building op- were an oppressed group. My peo- erations were entirely under ple are an oppressed group; there- There has been an intensive fore Jesus' advice to the multitudes fight over the Bombay edict. The who followed Him becomes of vital wets contended the Indian-fer- mented liquor contains vitamin B and makes for healthier ba- bies. Countering, the prohibi- tionists argued that "drunkards
Christian supervision, and most- them to read, but not giving should know nothing of theologly Christian labor. The man in them anything to read." In ical difIerences. charge of all the work is a re- contrast, he pointed out, "irrece1lt convert from Islam. ligious forces are far ahead of Christians and Refugees the churches on that score, in -United Presbyterian. that they are putting quantities More and more it is being rec- of material in the hands of peo- ognized that the problem of refu- Siam Now Thailand ple they are seeking to convert gees is a Christian, as well as a to their views." Jewish responsibility; and the When we see the names "Thai- -National Lutheran Council. American Committee for Chrisland," and "Thai," in State De- tian German Refugees, 287 partment documents from now Read This Fourth Ave., New York, is findon we are to think of Siam and ing a more generous response to Siamese, for the Department It was brought out at the its appeal. Several churches has decided to adhere to the re- Madras Conference that the in- are assuming direct responsibilcent decision of the Siamese crease in size of the Christian ity in the matter. The Quakers Government to change the name community in the twentieth cen- are opening a haven for refugees of their country. Thailand tury is unparalleled in any sim- -Jewish and Christian – in means land of the Thai (pro- ilar length of time in all Chris- Iowa, and are forming plans to nounced tie); and Thai is the tian history. Not including care for 20,000 refugee children ancient name of the Siamese Roman Catholics, Christian com- if the necessary legislation is people. municants in Negro Africa have enacted by Congress. The Pres- multiplied five-fold; in India byterian Board of National Mis- MISCELLANEOUS three-fold; in parts of Latin sions is appealing to its constit- America seven-fold; in Japan uency for funds and has a rep- Growth Abroad, Decline at five-fold, and doubled in the past resentative rendering personal Home decade; in China five-fold; in service to individual refugees. Chosen seventy-fold; in the The National Council of the It was revealed at the mid- Philippine Islands, where the Protestant Episcopal Church is year meeting of the Foreign Evangelical Church was non- undertaking a similar program. Missions Conference of North existent at the beginning of the America, held in Swarthmore, century, the communicants now Dissent most frequently heard Pa., that Protestant missions number about 200,000, the num- is based on the fear that a have grown rapidly in foreign bers having trebled in the last "horde" of aliens will displace countries, but have fallen off at thirteen years. our own workers, and add to OUr home. According to figures economic ills. It must be requoted, there were, in 1925, However, satisfaction over membered that the refugees 3,565,443 Protestant communi- these figures is tempered by the seeking admission to this country cants in mission lands, and knowledge that population in- are, in the main, people of exslightly more than eight million crease reveals that there are ac- ceptional ability who will build baptized. In 1938, the number tually today far more non- up industries that will furnish of communicants had jumped to Christians in the world than employment to many American six million, and there were thir- there were when the modern workers; and will also increase teen million baptized Protes- missionary enterprise began. the demand for our products of tants. In 1911, there were 351 farm and factory: all this is more ordained missionaries in Medical Council for Missions aside from the Christian considforeign service than there were eration of the emergency. ordained nationals. Last year, After twelve years of effort, there were 10,271 more ordained the Christian Medical Council Testaments for Jews national Christians than mis- for Overseas Work came into besionaries. ing on June 3, 1938. To date, A campaign is under way to about twenty different mission- provide a quarter million New There is one Christian for ary bodies have joined it. The Testaments for Jews in various every 184 people in Asia, one office of this associated mission lands. Efforts are being made for every twenty-eight in Africa, in New York is under the direc- to enlist intercessory prayer on and one for every four in Oce- tion of Dr. J. G. Vaughan, for- the part of 50,000 interested ania. merly a medical missionary to persons. A special Testament is China under the Northern Meth- being prepared in which verses In commenting on the situa- odists, and Dr. E. M. Dodd, once that signify. the fulfilment of tion, Dr. John R. Mott said: a missionary to Persia under Old Testament prophecies ap- the Presbyterian Board. The pear in bold-faced type, making "Less than 30 % of the Protes- Northern Baptist representative plain to the Jews that the New is Dr. P. H. J. Lerrigo, who be- Testament is the completion and tants in the U. S. A. and Canada gan his career as a medical mis- fulfilment of Old Testament revare giving anything at all to for- sionary. He has for many years elation, and that Jesus is the eign missions. There must be been a prime mover in interde- true Messiah and Saviour of an expansion in the financial re- nominational collaboration, be- Jew and Gentile alike. sources." Dr. Mott further de- lieving that medical service clared that "churches are edu- – Watchman-Examiner. cating people in the missionary field but failing to provide them with enough matter to apply this education. They are teaching
~'=========================~'~
Our Missionary Bookshelf Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information I.L~I~I==~========~==========~ The Faith We Declare. By Edwin deals with pursuits which the suggestive pages. The wide use Lewis. $2.00. 236 pp. Cokesbury Press. Nashville. 1939. author is pleased to term "cre- of classical and historical allu- This is a notable book. The ative guests of the ages," consid- sion will appeal to the scholarly, able professor of theology in Dew Theological Seminary has ered in the light of their influ-. and the rather militant social written others of high value, but ence upon the development. of outlook will interest those whose this one impresses us as the best Christianity. The philosophIcal views follow this modern trend. of all. Its chapters were deliv- €red as a series of lectures on the character of the discussion add- It is in its spiritual implication Fondren Foundation at the ed to a rhetorical style, makes that the book is most disappoint- School of Theology of the South- it difficult at points to follow the ing. Absence of the affirmative €rn Methodist University, Dallas. His central theme is that author's reasoning, but there is note is marked. The informed Christianity is not primarily an €thic or a form of social organ- no mistaking the fact that he evangelical will regard the auization, altho'ugh it involves both of these. It is primarily a reli- finds a consistent forward trend thor's thesis as untenable; those gion not developed by man, but revealed by God. It is therefore in thought and morals from the of a speculative cast of mind not to be viewed as a system of philosophy or something to be Babylonian period to the pres- may find interest, but will scarcelogically proved or mathematically demonstrated, but as di- ent. In tracing this evolutionary ly be inspired. For the casual vinely imparted truth to be received by faith and "declared" movement there is little apparent reader, there will be some beas a message from God incarnated in Christ as Redeemer and distinction between the Baby- wilderment over a sentence like Lord. Dr. Lewis is neither a "Fundamentalist" nor a "Mod- lonian sages, the Hebrew proph- this: "If we seek to give to life ernist," although his book will give more satisfaction to the ets and the Greek and Roman and its enterprises, meanings former than to the latter, for he is soundly and conservatively philosophers: Hammurabi, Ja- worthy for humanity, its endowevangelical. There are a few criticisms of the modern church cob, Moses, Isaiah, Socrates, ments, its advisements, its inherwhich we think are too severe; but the volume as a whole is a Marcus Aurelius, Paul and Au- itances, and its hopes; then stubclarion call to the followers of Christ to emphasize "The Faith gustine each make their contri- born ineluctable as the contem- We Declare" as the only hope of a distracted world. bution. It is not that the prophets poraneous world is, it is not be- ARTHUR J. BROWN. are lightly esteemed or the Baby- yond our power to charge with Christianity and the Creative Quests. lonian inscriptions elevated to noble and fructifying meaning." By Gaius Glenn Atkins. 232 pp. $2.00. Cokesbury Press, Nashville, equality with the Scriptures, but HUGH R. MONRO. Tenn. 1939. the unique and inspired charac- The Missionary Significance of the The author, a well known ter of the Hebrew record is ap- Lord's Prayer. By Dr. Lee S. Huipreacher and professor of theol- parently not taken into account. zenga. 85 pp. 75 cents. Wm. B. ogy, gave these Cole Lectures at Vanderbilt University in 1938. There is insistence upon intel- Eerdmans Co., Grand Rapids. 1939. The title provides an accurate guide to its contents for the book lectual integrity in dealing with Dr. Huizenga has been a med- ical missionary in China during the Scriptures, but an implica- a long life; and he writes from tion that reason shall determine his own experience. This is not how much of the record is wor- an attempt to force a well-worn thy of acceptance. Quite as in- passage of Scripture into a novel conclusive is the extended dis- pattern for novelty's sake; it is cussion of moral and spiritual rather the ripened meditation of authority, where again we are a man who has for years offered left to conclude that the sole the Lord's Prayer from a mis- norm is that of human judgment. sionary's heart. In this prayer The possibility that the Biblical the doctor finds (1) the basis of record may have an inherent au- our missionary expansion; (2) thority, real and demonstrable, is nowhere suggested; it is im- the method of our missionary ex- pansion; (3) the way to keep fit plied that those who adhere to such a view are credulous and for missionary work; and (4) lacking in perspective. By these the ultimate aim of missions. The basis of missions is the fa- standards faith in the authority therhood of God, the family life of the Bible and intellectual in- of all believers. The method is tegrity are apparently consid- found to be adoration, recogni- ered incompatible.
The book, however, has many tion of God and His Kingdom, [431 ]
and obedience to His sovereign trays. The author is peculiarly the world today for the frightwill. Keeping fit is accomplished fitted for his task by intimate ful results of the transgression through God's providing for, knowledge, by deep devotion, by of the law of God. The book is pardoning and keeping us. The patience in research and by lit- worth reading, especially if read ultimate aim is of course the erary skill. He shows the late in the light of the New Testaglory of God. Not only mission- distinguished president of Un- ment Gospel of love, mercy, and aries but others may find in this ion Seminary, Virginia, to have forgiveness. little devotional book much that been eminent as a scholar, inis spiritually illuminating. spiring as a teacher, impressive Lucy W. PEABODY. as a preacher and wise as an KENNETH J. FOREMAN. administrator. Dr. Moore will The Christian Faith in a Day of long be remembered as one of Crisis. By Charles S. Macfarland. The Story of Chung Mei. By Charles the most dignified, beloved and 226 pp. $1.50. Fleming H. Revell R. Shepherd. Illus. 264 pp. $2.00. influential leaders in the Ameri- Co. New York. The Judson Press, Philadelphia. can Presbyterian Church. This 1938. sympathetic, careful and com- If one is unable to read the prehensive biography will aid numerous volumes pouring from Here is a thrilling story of immeasurably in making this the press interpreting the relipersonal heroism, faith overcom- memory as abiding as it is pre- gious situation, this book will ing obstacles, and consecration cious. give a helpful sense of direction of life to the service of needy toward understanding the curboys. It is a graphic .portrayal CHARLES R. ERDMAN. rent trends in religious life and written in the first person, of the theological thinking. The mounhistory of Chung Mei Home in The Meaning of War. By James W. tain peaks on the horizon stand San Francisco, California. Johnson. 60 pp. 75c. Fleming H. out so prominently that one can Revell Co. 1939. discern them readily without In the early days of Charles being lost in the less important Shepherd's service among the This brief statement, in five aspects of the scene. Chinese on the Pacific Coast he chapters, written in part after discovered that one of the un- the World War by a Christian Among the speciaL interests met needs of the people was for business man, will be read with which have enlisted Dr. Macfara boys' home to care for orphans, interest by those who are watch- land's attention are the Barthian half-orphans, foundlings, and ing the threats of war which theology and the reaction to it in boys from broken homes. Lim- now confront the world. "liberal" circles; the movement ited financial resources, racial for Christian unity; the social prejudice, lack of suitable physi- With much of the author's outreach of the Church; the curcal equipment for such an enter- vivid statement, all will agree. rent expressions of mysticism; prise, presented serious obsta- Chapter Two–"The Reason for and the significance and inadecles. Confident in his faith "that War" presents not only the well quacy of humanism. God never calls an individual to known reasons from the human a task which is impossible" the side, but presents them as only S. M. CAVERT. author persisted, overcoming reasons in part. He states his disappointment aft e r disap- own theory that war is the re- The Acts of the Apostles. Outline pointment, until finally his sult of sin and carries on this Studies in Primitive Christianity. dream was realized in the thesis to Chapter Three-"True By W. H. Griffith Thomas. 93 pp. Chung Mei Home. Basis for Enduring Peace." The 30 cents. Moody Bible Institute fourth chapter presents "Wrath Colportage Assn. Chicago. 1939. Under the able leadership of of Man-Love of God" and the Dr. Shepherd, the boys succeed- fifth "The Signs of Promise." An outstanding, conservative ed in raising money to purchase The book closes with an earnest Bible scholar and teacher gave a beautiful building site in EI prayer for the nations. us before his death this compact Cerrito, but the "depression" outline of the Acts in a series of made it impossible for mission- There can be no question as to fifty-eight studies. Richly sugary organizations to appropriate the argument that war is the gestive but not exhaustive, each the money necessary for the result of sin and that the only study includes an analytical outnew building. The story of how basis for enduring peace is the line of the passage, a topical outfaith enabled them to overcome conversion of mankind. But line of the principles involved, their disappointment is thrilling. those who believe that the wages and the practical application of Its reward is seen in Chung of sin is death under the law these principles in the life of to- Mei's new home at EI Cerrito. of God may not accept the au- day. The student is thus guided thor's statement that war is to a knowledge of the divine JOHN N. THOMAS. God's direct infliction of pun- record. In Bible study classes ishment, like a father's chastise- and as the basis of prayer meet- Life and Letters of Walter W. ment of a wayward son. The ing talks, these studies in Apos- Moore. By J. Gray McAllister. fact that those who suffer most tolic church history, historical pp. 576. $2.50. Union Theologi- extension, and spiritual expan- cal Seminary, Richmond, Virginia. in war are innocent would pre- sion should bring new life, spir- 1939. clude this theory, though none itual quickening and a mission- ary zeal to the church of today. It is enough to affirm that this could deny the responsibility of biography is worthy of the pure GORDON A. CURTIS. and princely character it por-
Books Moslem station they were transferred Children Successfally Educated ••• AT
to Urumia, to take eharge of the Believers and Builders in Europe. evangelistic work of all of the Calvert School world..famoul home 8tudy plan rive. Emma Parker Maddry. 167 pp. 50 churches in Urumia and Kurdistan, cents. Broadman Press. Nash- extending west to the Tigris River t .uperior education to thousands of children not near l'ood ville. and including Mosul. They served there for about 18 years then Mr. echoola or unable to attend IChooL Complete COUIles The Coming Great Northern Confed- Coan was placed in charge of the edu- for each era"de. All books. materials and eracy. L. Sale-Harrison. 88 pp. cational work of the Mission, and was teacher euidance included. Enthusiasticallyen- lB. Pickering & Inglis. London. made President of Urumia College. dorsed by educators and parents. Low cost. Write today for free catalor. State c:hild~1!I Il'e" Cycle of Prayer and Praise. 100 pp. Dr. William*H.* Ph*elps, editor of 6d. S. P. G. London. CALVERT SCHOOL. 189 E. T….II1Id., Balmre, Mol. the Michigan Christian Advocate for The Good Seed. Report of the Meth- 19 years, died June 23 in Detroit. He Home Missions Day at the odist Church of Australia. 72 pp. is succeeded by Rev. John E. Marvin, World's Fair, Epworth Printing and Publishing for three years associate editor of the House. Sydney, Australia. Advocate. September 1, 1939 Heralds of Salvation. Frank Gren- The Rev. Ge*org*e P*. Pierson, D.D., To dramatize for the public ville Beardsley. 218 pp. $1.25. the Home Mission work of the American Tract Soc. New York. for forty years a Presbyterian mis- present day, the Council of Wom- sionary to Japan, died in Philadelphia en for Home Missions and Home An Hour with Jonathan' Goforth, on August 1st at the age of seventy- Missions Council will cooperate Adoniram Judson, J. Hudson Tay- eight. Dr. and Mrs. Pierson, who was in presenting three ,programs at lor. 17 pp. 10 cents each. Zon- formerly Miss Ida Goepp, returned the World's Fair on September dervan Pub. House. Grand Rapids. from Japan ten years ago and were first. honorably retired. Mrs. Pierson died Pueblo Indian Religion. Vol. I and in 1937. He was the son of the late The critical national problem II. Elsie Clews Parsons. 1275 Rev. David H. Pierson and Caroline of the Migrant laborerS who pp. $7.00. University of Chicago Peck Pierson of Elizabeth. Dr. Pier- h a r v est the crops will be Press. Chicago. son was a greatly loved and honored stressed i-a prominent pIa c e missionary who was engaged in effec- will also be given to the coopera- The Qur'an. Vol. II. Richard Bell. tive evangelistic work in the Island of tive Christian work for Indian $6.00. 698 pp. Scribner. New Kokkaido, Northern Japan. Americans; the story of the in- York. terdenominational enterprises in Dr. O. C. C*raw*for*d, Presbyterian communities where the great A Quiver of Sunbeams. Alfred H. government dams have been C. Morse. $1.50. 183 pp. Cokes- missionary since 1900 in Soochow, built and the religious needs of bury Press. New York. China, died on July 22nd. He was rural and city underprivileged. born in Brownsville, Pa., fifty-nine The Resurrection of the Old Roman years ago, attended Waynesburg Col- Music, addresses and dramatic Empire. L. Sale-Harrison. 128 lege and the Western Theological sketches will emphasize the pp. lB. 6d. Pickering & Inglis. Seminary. Dr. Crawford translated Christian life-conserving work London. the Gospel of St. Mark into phonetic throughout the United States. Chinese script, and was on the com- Refugee Facts. 24 pp. American mittee which revised the New Tes- The program for the day includes Friends Service Council. Phila. tament into Soochow dialect. the following: Redemptive Purpose. (Report of the The Rev. H*erm* an* Carl Weber, Moving Pictures – General Motors Mission to Lepers, 1938). 32 pp. Auditorium-10: 30 to 12 A.,M. 6d. Mission to Lepers. London. editor of the "Year Book of American Churches," died on July 25th of a 1. The Church Ministers to Indian Die Religiose Lage Japans in Der heart ailment at East Orange, New Americans. (First showing.) Gegenwart. Gerhard Rosenkranz. Jersey. Dr. Weber was born at Mina, 2. Uncle Sam Builds Dama-Inter- 19 pp. Ostasien Mission. Berlin- Chautauqua County, N. Y., on Feb- denominational work in com- Steglitz. ruary 9, 1873, the son of Jacob and munities where government Sarah Phifer Weber. He took his dams have been built. (First Salt Streak. Florance Walton Taylor. A. B. degree from Rutgers College, showing.) : 280 pp. $2.00. Revell. New York. studied at the New Brunswick (N. J.) 3. Gipsies of the Crops-Life of the Theological Seminary. Albany Col- Migrant laborers. ' Through Other People's Eyes- lege, Oregon, made him a Doctor of A Play. Margaret Crowe. 15 pp. Divinity. 4. Even in this Day and. Age- 2d. S. P. G. London. Need for the Church to reach Dr. Weber began his ministry as the unreached millions of a Von Japan Will Ich Euch Erzahlen. pastor of the Reformed Church of great city. (Harmon Founda- Gerhard Rosenkranz. Illus. 28 West Farms, in the Bronx (1898 to tion film.) pp. Ostasien Mission. Berlin-Steg- 1902); for four years was an assist- litz. ant pastor in the Collegiate (Dutch) 2: 00-4: 00 P. M.-Court of Peace. Reformed Church and became pastor Address by Dr. Mark A. Dawber, Wings and Sky. Martha Snell Nich- of the Edgewood Reformed Church, olson. 28 pp. H. W. Nicholson. Brooklyn. From 1912 to 1918 he was "New Tasks for Old." Problems Wilmington, Calif. pastor of the Park Branch of the of rural life and plight of share- First Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn. croppers. Das Wunder der Kirche Under den Mayor La Guardia is expected to Volkern der Erde. (Report of From 1919 to 1925, he was associate speak on, "Religion as a Solution Tambaram Conference). Various director of field work of the New Era for Some of our City Problems." Authors. R. M. 1. Evangelische Movement of the Presbyterian Church Special musical numbers. Missionsverlag. Stuttgart. and later director of the Mobilization Department of the General Council. 7: 00-9: 30 P. M.-Court of Peace. Zonya-Daughter of Abraham. Ag- He was president of the United Stew- Young Indian Americans will fur- nes Scott Kent. 313 pp. $1.50. ardship Council of the United States nish music and Dr. Thomas Jesse Evangelical Publishers. Toronto. and Canada in 1936 and 1937. Jones, of the Phelps-Stokes Fund will speak on, "Sharing American Obituary Notes Dr. Weber was the author of "Pres- Progress with American In- byterian Statistics Through One Hun- dians." (Concluded from second cover.) dred Years," "Evangelism-A Graph- ic Survey" and "The Every Member Mrs. Frederick G. Coan, retired Canvass, Pocket Books' or People." missionary of the Presbyterian Mission in Iran, died in Claremont, Calif., June 24. Following her marriage to Rev. F. G. Coan in 1885, she sailed with him for Persia. After a brief period of service at an Armenian-
the quarter, including July, August, and Sep-
tember, THE UPPER ROOM showed a gain of 75,000 in circulation over the same period last ),ellJ".
+ ldUch to us is conclusive proof that + tbe Room r. Upptr tiltall" -essential 'to 'the aevotional ana spiritualli/e 0/ America Prom the beginning THE UPPER ROOM has im- pressed its users with the fact that it is the best year tlro.,,4 daily devotional guide. Meditations are planned and prepared for special seasons and occasions, but the material for er1ery 4ay i" the year is maintained at th~ highest standard of spiritual value.
The October, November, December issue is oft' the press and ready for shipment. Pastors and other group leaders are urged to place an order at once sufficient for their needs. Single copies are 10 cents, postpaid. rI'en or more copies to one address, postpaid at 5 cents each. Annual subscription, 30 cents, postpaid; foreign, 40 cents. Remember, all unsold and unused copies ma), be returned for credit at our expense.
SEND ALL ORDERS TO Cbe Upper Roo. DOCTORS' BUILDING NASHVILLE, TENN.
The Missionary Review of the World — July 1939
1939
The "Moksa" Goes to the Country Shannon McCune When a Mission Became a Church Alexander H. Kemp Rural Youth of the Church Today H. S. Randolph Spain Today and Tomorrow By a Wayfarer Politics and Religion in Albania Phineas B. Kennedy Liberty and Religion in Red Russia F. J. Miles Forty Years' Progress in Latin America Webster E. Browning 25 Cents a CoP1 $2.50 a Yeat'
D.tes to Remember WORLD FRIENDSHIP — FIRST
June 24-July I-Eagles Mere Confer- IIJUST LIKE YOU II ence of Missions. Chairman, Mrs. Earl Breeding, 24 Rugby Lane, By LUCY W. PEABODY Scarsdale, N. Y. 196 pages, a picture on every page. Children love it···Libraries need it. June 28-July l7-Erieside Conference for Girls and Young Women. Wil- PEACE AND GOOD WILL DEPEND UPON IT lowick, Ohio. Special Price, $1.00, Postpaid July 3-10-Northfield Missionary Con- ference for Women and Girls. East Order from MISS M. H. LEAVIS, 186 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, Mass. Northfield, Mass. For information, address Mrs. Warren C. Taylor, 38 Obituary Notes of seventy. For thirty years he had Union Ave., Schenectady, N. Y. held administrative positions in the Mr. Russell Carter, who retired Illinois Synod and the United July 6-11 – International Christian two years ago after serving forty Lutheran Church. He retired from Endeavor Convention, Cleveland, O. years as treasurer and Assistant active service in 1936 after having Treasurer of the Presbyterian Board served as Secretary of English Mis- July ll-August 16 – Winona Lake of Foreign Missions, died in Pitts- sions of the Board of American Mis- School of Theology. Winona Lake, burgh, Pa., April 29, at the age of sions for eighteen years. Ind. Dean, Dr. J. A. Huffman, 302 72. Mr. Carter had also traveled Morton Blvd., Marion, Ind. *** • • extensively in foreign lands. July 22-28-Baptist WorId Congress. The Rev. Albert Oltmans, former Atlanta, Ga. • secretary of the American Mission to Lepers, died June 12th, at Yokohama, July 2l-30-'-Erieside Annual Summer Rev. George F. Jenkins, formerly at the age of eighty-four. Bible Conference. Willowick, near Cleveland, Ohio. a Presbyterian missionary in China, He was born in the Netherlands, and came to the United States when a July 24-August 2-World Conference died April 6, in Kansas City, Mo. In youth: He was graduated from Hope of Christian Youth, Amsterdam, 1903, Mr. Jenkins went to Hunan un- College, Holland, Mich, in 1883, and Holland. der the Cumberland Presbyterian from the New Brunswick Theological Seminary in 1886. That year he went August 30-Sept. 2-National Rural Church; and later transferred to to Japan as a missionary for the Re- Forum. Penn State College, under the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., formed Church in America. He re- the auspices of the American Coun- stationed first at Changteh and then tired from active service as a mis- try Life Assn., Dr. Benson Y. sionary fifteen years ago and took up Landis, Executive Secretary, 297 at Taoyuan, where he established an his work as secretary of the American Fourth Ave., New York. Mission to Lepers in Tokio. Recently, • orphanage. • • the Japanese Government decorated August l-lO-Erieside Conference for Mrs. Caroline Atwater Mason, au- him for his work among lepers. Boys and Young Men. Willowick, thor of more than twenty volumes of Ohio. short stories, travel and religious Aug. SolO-Ninth Quadrennial Con- books, died recently. She was the vention of the Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society of Af- widow of Dr. John H. Mason, a pro- Personal Items rican Methodist Episcopal Zion fessor in Rochester Theological Sem- Church, Detroit, Mich. inary.
August l3-2O-Geneva Summer School The Rt. Rev*. R*ob*ert Lewis Pad- of Missions, Lake Geneva, Wis. For information write to Mrs. Paul dock, retired Bishop of the Protestant Rev. William C. Kerr, of Seoul, H. Wezeman, 1177 S. Humphrey Episcopal Church, died in Clifton, Korea, has been appointed to the fac- Ave., Oak Park, Ill. N. Y., on May 17 after a long ill- ness. He was born December 24, ulty of the Imperial University in Sept. 2-4-Erieside Business Women's Conference, Willowick, Ohio. 1869, in Brooklyn, N. Y., and was Seoul, to teach Latin and English ordained as Missionary Bishop of Literature. Because of this connec- DO YOUR S.S.PAPERS Eastern Oregon, in 1907. He retired tion he has been able to start an Eng- ~ in 1922. **• lish Bible Class among university stu- BIBLE TRUTH? Rev. William B. Millar, D.D., for- dents. **• ~~ COUNCll. ~ FIDES – For Young· People merly General Secretary of the New Dr. William Webster Hall, Jr., of York Federation of Churches, died on New York and Sofia, Bulgaria, has May 30 in New York City as a re- been called to the presidency of the sult of a stroke, at the age of 73 College of Idaho. His experience in years. Dr. Millar was born in Lake Mills, dealing with educational pioneering Wis., in 1866. After his graduation was gained in the Near East first at from Lawrence College, Appleton, Robert College, and then in the Ameri- Wis., he became a Y. M. C. A. secre- tary at LaCrosse and later was Sec- can College in Sofia. He is the retary of the International Committee author of numerous magazine articles (1896-1910). He was a founder of and books. the Army and Navy Department of *** Mr. P. O. Philip who has been for the Y. M. C. A. in which he did excel- some years Secretary of the National lent pioneer work. He was General Christian Council of India and one of Secretary of the Laymen's Missionary the Editors of the N. C. C. Review has Movement and later of the Inter- resigned as Secretary to take up work church World Movement. Dr. Mil- in connection with the Mar Thoma lar is survived by his widow and three Syrian Church whose interests have daughters and a son. always been very dear to him. His *** home will be in Travancore, South India, and he is expecting to be a reg- Dr. John F. Seibert, for nearly a ular contributor to the N. C. C. Re- half a century an active home mission view. 1502 N. Third St. Harri.bare, Pena. worker in the United Lutheran (Concluded on page 337.) Church, died April 19th at the age
MISSIONARY HOW TO EDUCAT'E
REVJEW OF THE WORLD YOUR CHILD At Home. DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor Calvert's wor1d~famou8 home study plan fives superior VOL. LXII Nos. 7-8 education to thousands of children not near good schools JULy-AUG., 1939 t or unable to attend school. Complete courses for each Publication and Business Office- grade from Kindergarten to High School. All books. Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. materials and teacher gl.!idance included. En- t~lUsias:ical1y endorsed by educators and parents. Editorial and Executive Office– Low cost. Vrite today for free catalog. State 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. child's age, Entered as second-class matter jt CALVERT SCHOOL, 187 E. Tnscany Rd., Bahim.re, Md. Post Office, Harrisburg, Pa., under Act of March 3, 1879. all the missionary societies. It can 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. do for these societies what no one of Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. Published monthly, except August. them can do for itself." All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1939. JOHN R. MOTT, British agents – Marshall, Morgan . and Scott, 12 Paternoster' Buildings, Chairman, International London, E. C. 1 shilling per COpy, Missionary Council. 10 shillings a year. *** MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- LISHING CO., INC. "My congratulations on the splen- BOARD OF DIRECTORS did issue of THE REVIEW on home ROBERT E. SPEER, President A. L. W~RNs;auIS, Vice-President missions." (June, 1939). W ALTIllR,.' McIlouGALL, Treasurer KENNETH S. LATOURETTE, DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary Professor of Missions and Or-iental History, Yale PAUL J ..; B.RAISTED· University.
S~UEL'MCCREACAVERT *** D.J. FA-NT""'" . "I have taken occasion to go through MRS. ORRIN ,R.' JUDD the latest issue of THE REVIEW and it wM.. B. LIPPHAllD has brought back to me what a very ERIC M. NORTH able and worth-while publication it SAMUEL M. ZWIilMER is; indeed it has appealed to me so Only 10 swift days direct to Yokohama when you sail by much that I am starting to subscribe Empress to the Orient. Only 3 more days to visit lovely Editorial (.hat over again. The only reason I dis- Hawaii en route by Empress oj continued my subscription was that I lapan, largest and fastest liner This July-August number includes on the Pacific, or Empress oj two summer months when many read- have so many magazines coming to Canada. From California ers are away from home and when ports connect at Honolulu. most local church activities are less. my desk that it is simply impossible The articles in this issue will be of Frequent sailings from both great interest and many are particu- even to scan them all, and in a Scotch Vancouver and Victoria to larly readable for summer mission Yokohama, Kobe, Nagasaki, circles. spirit one day I decided .that I must Shanghai,HongKong,Manila. economize." ,. Consult YOUR OWN TRAVEL *** AGENT or Canadian Pacific: DR. GEORGE W. ARMS. 41 offices in U. S. and Canada. The Foreign Missions Conference at Swarthmore, Pa., (July 9-16) comes Bedford Presbyterian Church, too late to include a report in this number. It has been unusual in set- BrookLyn, N. Y. up, in interest and importance-fol" lowing the Madras Conference and Personal Item, planning to make the most effective use of the re~ults of that 'con:l;erence. (Concluded from 2d cover.) Dr. Milton T. Stauffer, former Education Secretary of the Student Vol- Dr. Wilbert W. White has resigned unteer Movement, and Dr. Herrick from the presidency of the Biblical B. Young, Personnel Secretary of the Seminary in New York, with the title presbyterian Board, are to report and Founder and Honorary President of evaluate this Foreign Missions Con- the Seminary. His brother, Dr. J. ference in the September number of . Campbell White, will act as president THE REVIEW. Look for this report. until a successor has been secured. *** *** Recent letters have contained the following comments on THE REVIEW Mr. James Stark, Mr. M. Hardman and its value: and Miss R. E. Oaskeshott are retir- ing after fifty years of service in the "After all is said and done, THE REVIEW seems indispensable, although China Inland Mission. I know of no otbers of this mission who subscribe for it. But I want it Mr. E. K. ** * a misand that's the reason for this check. I've been a patron for more than Higdon, formerly thirty years, with some time carelessly skipped." sionary in the Philippines under the REV. JOHN C. FINEFROCK, United Christian Missionary Society, United Lutheran Church Mis- has been elected to a foreign secre- sion, .Guntur, .India. taryship in that Society.
*** The Rev. * *R. * Associ- "THE REVIEW exists primarily to Jesse Wilson, further in every way the program of ate Scretary of the American Baptist Foreign Missionary Society connected with the Home Department, has been transferred from the Pacific Coast office at Los Angeles and is now in the same department in the main of- fice, New York. Dr. Wilson was for- merly a missionary in Japan and later the general secretary of the Student Volunteer Movement.
[887 ]
"MOKSA" (DR. WM. N. BLAIR) REMOVING HIS SHOE COVERS ON LEAVING THE CHURCH. (THE MEN USE ONE
AND WOMEN THE OTHER) INTERIOR OF THE CHU)'tCH AND AUDIENCE-(TWO JAPANESE DETECTIVES IN THE CENTER FOREGROUND) GDiNG TO CHURCH IN KAICHUN, 'CHOSEN
NARY
REVIB ORLD AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS VOLUME LXII JULY-AUGUST,1939 NUMBERS 7 AND 8 Topies of the Times ARE FORCIBLE CONVERSIONS POSSIBLE? only by a long process of training after a conquest. The Soviet rulers of Russia are attempting to con- At times the objection is raised that Christian vert the people to atheism by force; they are not missions attempt to bring about the conversion of succeeding and can only succeed by a long procmen by bribery or force. It is possible by such ess of atheistic education. In Nazi Germany, means to change a man's vote but not his convic- propaganda, national ambition and false teaching, tions. are being used to overthrow faith in the supreme authority of God as revealed in Christ and the Many means are used to turn men from one Bible. There are multitudes of German Chrisfaith and loyalty to another-military force, tians whom these motives do not sway. money, threats, promises, falsehood and ambition. Mahatma Gandhi has tried, with some temporary How long will it take Japan, by the use of success, to force Indian people by his fasting to bombs, machine guns and terrorism to win the accept his program. His most recent self-im- friendship and cooperation of the Chinese? Only posed fast to convert Thakore Sahib of Rajkot, unworthy men succumb to unworthy motives. apparently gained his point; he now says that it resulted in his defeat. Gandhi's opponents were Intelligent Christians realize that men and not convinced and their purpose was not changed, women cannot be truly won to Christ by bribery, therefore they plan to destroy the effect of the fear or force. One might as well attempt to cause a child to be loving and obedient by continued decision in Gandhi's favor. spankings, by threats or by gifts of candy. Men The transmutation of metals, or the conversion are led to consider the claims and character of of one substance into another of apparently en- Christ by the offer of economic advantages such tirely different elements, was formerly considered as provided by the Grenfell Mission, by medical an idle dream. Today such marvellous changes service like that of Dr. Schweitzer's hospital in are conceded! to be in the realm of science. The Africa, or by such secular education as is offered changes wrought in human nature by the power of in many mission schools and colleges. These God are still more wonderful. This has been methods of work may affect their attitude but proved in countless instances, as in the conversion affect no real change of heart. Jesus Christ, when of Jerry McAuley, the "River Thief" of New York, on earth, won men by the revelation of His heart and of Africaner, the "Hottentot Terror" of of love, by the truth that He taught, and by the South Africa. light of Life that shone out through Him. His The transmutation of metals has not been ac- denunciations of selfishness and sin were for hypocomplished by a wizard's alchemy but by the crits; His invitations to come to Him were for knowledge of natural forces and by scientific proc- the hungry and thirsty; His service and sacrifice esses. The transformation of human beings from were for the needy and dying; His- revelation of the natural and beastly to the spiritual and God- God was for those who we:te ready to receive and like is a fact established to the satisfaction of all follow Him. who have seen such changes. This change cannot There is abundant testimony that today, on the be affected by force or by bribery. The Mohammedans have used force and fear to convert whole mission fields at home and abroad, the most efnations to Islam but their end has been achieved fective work in winning men to Christ is not by means of the denunciation of other religions, or [ 339 ]
by the preaching of "hell-fire"; or by the free The result was that Christianity seemed a "fordistribution of "loaves and fishes." Men and eign cult," not well adapted to the peoples to women of all ages and races are won through lov- whom the missionaries came with the universal ing service, by the proclamation of the Good News message of Christ. of forgiveness and life through Christ, and through the manifestation of sacrificial and under- At the recent Madras Conference, Miss Minnie standing love. Other and unworthy methods may Soga, a Bantu woman from South Africa, declared temporarily add to the number of adherents but that to her people Christianity, with its foreign do not change hearts or make loyal followers. clothes, European churches and ceremonies, for- The transmutation of material substances is eign words and unfamiliar songs, was distinctly wrought by understanding and applying the laws a "white man's" religion. Many thought that if of nature, which are the laws of God. "To as they adopted the white man's clothes and manmany as received him (Christ) gave He the ner of life they would no longer be "heathen." But right to be called (recognized as) the children of Africans did not feel at home in European sur- God-who were born, not of blood, nor of the roundings. When they worshiped in a church with will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of a native thatched roof, an unhewn stone for an God." altar or pulpit, and sitting on the ground; or when they worshipped under the trees with the ESSENTIALS IN MISSION WORK vaulted sky for a roof, then they felt at home.
A young doctor, who had recently been gradu- Christians from other lands pointed out the ated from a modern school of medicine and sur- same need for using native ideas and surroundings gery, was sent as a medical missionary to China to make the peoples of each land and race feel at and became a member of the staff of a large and home in their Christian life and worship. efficient hospital. One of the first things he did was to direct one of the Chinese orderlies to throw Many young missionaries today, going out to out a lot of tin pans and other ancient equipment foreign lands with all the enthusiasm of youth and so that they might be replaced by enamel ware with the equipment of the most modern education, and modern implements. Some of the older mem- are demanding better facilities and more money bers of the staff retrieved the discarded utensils. in order that they may give to the "under privi- leged" of those lands, "the best that America and In contrast to this young doctor's attitude are Europe have to offer"-medically, economically, the reports. of Dr. Gordon S. Seagrave of Burma socially, educationally and religiously. From some in his "Tales of a Waste Basket Surgeon." He quarters there is a constant call for more modern has achieved wonderful results ·by using instru- buildings, better equipment, more automobiles, ments and equipment discarded as out-of-date by fast motor boats, radios, airplanes, together with doctors in America. more highly technically trained teachers and spe- cialists. An article recently appeared in Asia, written by an American college man who went to India to On the other hand missionary history shows that investigate the effectiveness of American and some workers have made the mistake of attempt- British educational methods and ideals as applied ing to adopt native dress, food, and living condito the Hindus. From intelligent Indian graduates tions to which they were not born or adapted. of some of the modern institutions he learned that Some valuable and consecrated men and women many of the best trained Indians consider "West- have died prematurely, or have been invalided ern" ideals and methods to be unadapted to In- home, because of such mistakes. Others have redia's needs. ' Foreign colleges are too highly or- fused to use modern methods, inventions and ganized and regimented. They turn out largely equipment which might have added greatly to "white collar" clerks who find few openings for their efficiency. service in Indian society. The educated Indian critics believe that if the "ashram" method had What are the essentials, as distinguished from been followed, with capable teachers who would non-essentials, for effective Christian life and train students in practical ways for Indian life, service? Jesus Christ came to earth as a "foreign the results would have been far better. missionary." He adopted the Palestinian mode of dress and manner 'of life-so far as these were Other critics of Christian missions in Asia, wholesome; but Jesus was born into that life; He Africa and the Pacific Islands, point out many never refused to use the best that Judea and Galmistakes made by early missionaries who intro- ilee offered to make His ministry more efficient. duced European and American dress to replace native costumes-or the lack of them; setting Is it not clear that non-essentials in Christian foreign styles for church buildings, houses and an life and service include special kinds of clothalien manner of life copied from their home lands. ing, (little or much) ; particular architecture for houses or churches; a special language or music; a type of equipment, peculiar ceremonials in wor-
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
ship; a particular form of organization and spe- on their knees to confess sin and pray for forcial educational methods-these are clearly non- giveness. Dr. Sung's meetings were crowded and essentials. God can use any of these that are many came forward to accept Christ. The "Witimpregnated with His spirit and are wholly sur- ness Bands" with two hundred men, women and rendered to His control. Personnel is vastly more youth, were busy speaking of Christ to outstations important than equipment. An efficient doctor or and neighbors. There is great rejoicing over the surgeon is one who knows his science and can spiritual fruitage of this work and over churches use his equipment efficiently; a successful teacher that have been awakened and strengthened. Biis one who knows his subject and how to present ble reading and prayer have increased as well as it effectively; a successful ambassador of Christ personal witnessing of Christ and His power. is one who knows and loves God as He is revealed lives have been set right; quarrels have been setin Christ and the Bible and who lives a Christ-life tled, debts have been paid, pastors have been set among men. on fire with new zeal for winning people to Christ. In one church some members of the congregation Es-sentials for the missionary, or for any Chris- stood up and said to the pastor : "You are not the tian life and service are therefore: first, life in man you were before the evangelist came-you Christ-a life that comes from God, is God-filled preach better sermons than formerly." The pasand God-directed. The second essential is the tor himself admits the great change. Whereas he purpose and power to lift up Christ as the Saviour, used to consult with the missionary concerning who lived and died for sinful men; who rose again, those cold and indifferent, now he weeps over them and is ever living in and with His people in every and prays for them. Sunday afternoon after he land. The third essential is ability to teach the has taught a Bible class, preached a children's Bible as the revealed Word of God; the Spirit of sermon to the Junior Church and a mess·age to the God can be trusted to interpret and adapt the adult members, he takes any who care to go with ideals and truth of God to meet the needs of each him to hold a street meeting. In the evening he race and clime and condition. It has often been takes his part in the special meeting of the "Witfound that the earnest native Christians of a com- ness Bands." munity are much more reliable guides in applying Christian truth to local problems than are the This new spirit in the Chinese Church was foreign missionaries-even those of holy charac- further strengthened during March, through the ter and long experience. visit of Wilson Wong, of the Christian and Mis- sionary Alliance, when the Christians feasted upon Do we not often make the mistake of clinging the Word of God, and at the evening meetings to old ideas and prejudices when new methods brought unsaved friends to hear the message. might be better or of thinking that modern untried More than forty took their stand for Christ durideas and equipment must necessarily replace the ing those evening sessions. old? The first essential is always life-spiritual life; the second is proper food-soul food found in God used both men and both methods to save God's revealed truth; the third essential for souls and inspire soul-winning service in the strength is exercise-loving spiritual service, using whatever equipment we have that will help hearts of the Chinese Christians.* produce abiding spiritual results. It would be well for every Christian to check up in order to Rev. Sook Pongsanoi, a Siamese pastor in discover how many lessons we have learned Trang, Siam, writes of his interesting experience through a period of years, that have helped to that changed him from a Bible-selling colporteur make us and our children more Christlike and more effective servants of God. into a soul-winning evangelist. He says: t NEW LIFE IN THE CHURCH IN SIAM "As a student in the Bangkok Christian Col- lege and later, when acting pastor of the Second As a result of God's blessing on the work of Church of Bangkok, I sold and distributed many John Sung, the Chinese evangelist, in Siam last Scripture portions and Testaments without makautumn, a new spirit has been manifested in the ing reports to the Bible Society. I went into many Chinese Church in Siam. The work was formerly homes and walked in and out of many lanes with carried on in three dialects and three denomina- the Scriptures, but did not feel any real need of tions; now unity and cooperation have taken the reporting on sales. place of division. There is also a new zeal in evangelism and new signs of Christian faith and life. "When I went to work for the Bible Society as People are saved; lives are quickened; the spirit a regular colporteur I had to report every month and power of Christ are manifest in hearts, homes and wanted to give a wonderful report to the head and churches. Entire congregations have fallen office.
"But I was nQt satisfied with the work I was do- ing, and was not happy in it. I sold more than • Facts quoted from Rev. A. G. Seigle of Slam.
t Reprint from the Forty-Eighth Annual Report of the Siam and Laos Agency of the American Bible Society.
any other colporteur in Bangkok, but I felt that ent situation assure us that religion-and particumy work was shallow. I was just selling the larly evangelical Christianity-is not dead in Rus- Book without giving purchasers any message con- sia. The expression of it may have changed and cerning the Saviour of the book. I knew that I been driven to cover, but the hunger of the huought to do something more than simply sell God's man heart for God has not been satisfied and the Book, but I went on day in and day out like a vital spark of men and women who have received machine. life from Christ has not been quenched.
"A year and a half ago I was called to become A Soviet Government census has recently shown pastor of the Trang Church, South Siam, and I (according to The Sentinel) that two-thirds of the accepted the call, but with the agreement that I 80,000,000 Russian people living in villages and should continue part time work as a colporteur. one-third of the 40,000,000 people living in larger My work had very little power, but there was a towns are stilI definitely believers in God, in spite growing desire for a clearer understanding of the of the twenty years of pressure and persecution Holy Word for myself so that I could pass it on to to suppress all' religious faith. others. The Soviet authorities have been disturbed by "When I heard that John Sung, a noted Chinese the revelations of the census and have sought to evangelist, was coming to Bangkok I determined suppress the facts. A German writer states that to go and hear him. Thank God, God opened my there are today 30,000 organized Christian groups eyes to see His wonderful love in a new way. A in the Soviet Republics, in addition to many secret powerful meaning of the Cross has come to me societies. Faith in God and a desire for some and I came to have a new attitude toward Bible relation to Him-even in the form of unenlightstudy. ened religion-will not die.
"I invited Dr. Sung to come to Trang and Many factors that have been supposed to support through him God has poured out a mighty bless- religious institutions-capitalism, private proping upon the people of this city. The Trang erty, wealth, and an independent clergy-have Church is now on fire for God and has been packed lost influence, but the roots of religion still rewith people every Sunday since Dr. Sung went main. The younger generation, declares the away. Every church member brings his Testa- Deutsche Landshau, that does not remember the ment to every service and we read the Scriptures regime of the Czars, is less prej udiced against together. Every Sunday I read a chapter from the religion. Many Russian congregations are said to Old Testament, and then the congregation reads a be made up largely of people under thirty years chapter of the New Testament with me. (I wish of age. Ministers are ordained secretly, have no all the people could have a complete Bible, but it definite parishes, and travel about unrecognized will be a long time before that can come true.) by the enemies of religion, but known to Believers. We are feeding on the Word of God as never be- Many of the clergy are artisans or small trades fore. and last Sunday sixteen women and five men people, and gather groups of Believers in unfrewere baptized and twenty baptized children pro- quented woods and ravines. Piety is nourished fessed their faith in Jesus Christ and all united in the hearts of the people who are encouraged to with the church; two back-sliders also came and memorize Scripture, songs and prayers. It takes confessed their sins. One of the old missionaries courage to join such groups, as was true in the said }i.e had never seen anything like that ingath- early days of Christianity, but persecution enering before. dured helps to strengthen rather than to weaken faith in God. The truth of Christ's promise is "Now I have an entirely new attitude toward proved today, as to the Church founded by Him Scripture distribution. At first I did not think and characterized by living faith in Him: "The it necessary to make any report to the American gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Bible Society; then I came to look on the report as the major part of my work; no'W I am seeking PROVERBS OF THE HILL FOLK OF INDIA to win souls through the careful and prayerful distribution of thi.<; Holy Book. I am not now A small stick hides the mountain from the eye. most interested in the ntlmber of Scriptures sold, One says, "What shall I eat?" Another says, but in the number of men and women and boys "What sauce shall I eat with my food?" and girls brought to accept Christ." Sparrows are the headmen of deserted villages. A potful of rice is judged by one grain. CHRISTIANITY NOT DEAD IN RUSSIA Men say that time passes. Time says that men pass. In spite of the continued atheistic propaganda A good man finds the world good. in Soviet Russia, as promoted by communistic officials, by means of ridicule, education, persecu- -The Indian Witness. tion and materialism, those familiar with the pres-
"MOKSA" PUTTING ON HIS SHOES, PREPARING TO LEAVE THE HOME OF A KOREAN PRESBYTERIAN
The "Moksa" Goes to the Country Adventures on a Week-end Journey in Chosen By SHANNON McCUNE, Clark University, Wor- * cester, Massachusetts He OME out to the country with me for the thankful ever since, for it gave me a chance to see week-end." It was my father-in-law, Dr. the country work of a missionary in Korea at William N. Blair of Pyengyang, who was first hand. It was not any special trip but the ordi- speaking. I had just returned from a two weeks nary, regular week-end trip of a foreign Moksa, reconnaisance trip through northern Korea and or itinerating missionary. confess that the prospect of starting out right away, even for a short trip, was not very inviting. Mother made ready the bedding for us; Edith, But after some hesitancy, I agreed, and have been my wife, finished the batch of fudge so that we could take some along. I loaded my camera, while • Sha nnon McCune, the son of Dr. and Mrs. George S. McCune, Father Blair put gasoline in the car and checked was born in Korea. He Is a graduate of Wooster CoIlege, Ohio the oil. The car needed careful going over for it (1935) , Syracuse University (1937) and did graduate work at Clark has been in constant service since it was bought on University (1937-38) where he is Willia m Libby Fellow in the furlough five years before. School of Geography. His father was formerly president of the Union Christian College, Pyengyang, Cbosen. His father-In-law, Dr. At three o'clock in the afternoon, on a Saturday William N. Blair, of Pyengya ng, has given most of his time to last November, we started off to the north-Ieavevangelistic work, la rgely in the country districts. The photographs used to Illustrate this article were taken by Shannon McCune on the journey described.-EDIToR.
[ 343 ]
ing our wives at home in Pyengyang. The road presidency of the Union Christian College and was very familiar to Father Blair for he had been told stories of his evangelistic campaigns. There traveling it for almost four decades on foot, by was some reference to the Shrine question (which pony, in oxcart, and by almost every conveyance is such a serious problem in the Japanese Empire imaginable. We were going to the center of his today), but there was no discussion of it for the Korean leaders appreciate the position taken by the missionary body.
After a night's sleep we woke to a fine fall day with light cumulus clouds in the sky. The usual Korean breakfast of rice and soup are scarcely to the Occidental's liking, so Father pulled ou't his little alcohol lamp and proceeded to prepare a real American breakfast of bacon, eggs and coffee.
During the morning I had an opportunity to look around the elder's home, while Father was at Sunday school. It was typical of the better class Christian home and was heated by the regular Korean system of an ondol, the draft going' under the floor from the kitchen stove to the chimney on the other side of the house. The floors and 'walls were made of mud, well-packed on a corn-stalk frame. The outside walls were white with lime . and the inside walls and the floors were papered.
The roof was of slate, warmer, cleaner and longer- GOING ACROSS THE RIVER ON A FERRY lasting than the usual Korean thatch, though more expensive in initial cost. The elder had utilized beloved Anju district of which he has been the the hills back of his home-not for the usual grave sole missionary M oksa ever since he came to Korea sites-but for an apple orchard and the samples as a young man of twenty-five, fresh from semi- we had for breakfast were delicious. He had pre- nary, thirty-seven years ago.
It was not easy driving, for the roads, built pri- marily for army and other trucks, are continually obstructed by large jagged rocks. With rubber.
like gold in a war economy, our tires were Dr.
Blair's first concern. It was necessary to ferry :,lcross the Tatong River twice on small flat-boats just wide enough for the car. Everyone, from the farmer with the top-knot on his head to the J apa- nese gold prospector, offered advice. But Father has guided the car up over the two narrow planks on to many a ferry and so we crossed without much trouble in the growing dusk. We drove along the river for a number of miles and saw boats going down to Pyengyang piled high with firewood or earthen jars.
After a four-hour drive we came into Kae Chy- on where we were welcomed by the pastor of the local church and were taken to a Christian elder's home to stay. In a few minutes the car was un- loaded and soon we were warming our stocking feet on the warm Korean floor. After a bowl of CROSSING STREAM BY FOOT-BRID GJ<:: . DR. BLAIR (IN u-dong (soup) we talked with the pastor, the FRONT), BEHIND HIM A KOREAN DEACON. elders, and others of the church who dropped in to call. This was a valuable opportunity to renew pared a cellar to store the apples, under a shed old friendships with the Korean leaders. I met a where he kept his firewood and rice. In front of number of people who remembered my own father the house was a little garden for cabbages. These (Dr. George S. McCune) and were sorry to hear had been pulled up and stacked by the well to be of his retirement. They recalled his years in the used in making kimchi, or pickle. Tethered under
THE "MOKSA" GOES TO THE COUNTRY
the apple trees were two goats and across the the Church the platform was arranged to make little garden was the pig pen with a fat sow and room for a large sheet of paper which Father her grunting litter. Chickens were pecking Blair would use for his chalk-talk. The church around in the garden and the yard-doubtless filled rapidly, the women sitting on the floor to the missing their companion which was boiling in the right and the men on the left, so that by the time big kettle in the kitchen. The elder was naturally the service started there was not much room left. quite proud of his establishment, which made him Other similar Presbyterian services were taking remarkably self-sufficient. He told me of the help he had received from his subscription to The THE "MOKSA" AND KOREAN ELDER ENJOY SUNDAY DINNER Farmer's Life, a magazine founded by Father (In former days everyone had his individual table, Men still eat McCune and now edited by Mr. Lutz of Pyengyang. The house and little yard n their cleanliness apart from the women,) and convenient arrangement showed that the elder place all around the world, with only a few difhad received from the missionaries not only spirit- ferences. Here the congregation took a big part ual help but also an incentive to improve his ma- in whole-hearted singing and an elder gave the terial surroundings. Sabbath prayer. Everyone listened attentively to the sermon which the Moksa gave. Two Japa- At about twelve we had dinner, a little better nese detectives sitting in front of me took copious than usual in honor of the M oksa. It was a treat notes. (Korea is far from being a free country, for me to be able to sit on the floor and really make especially for a foreigner.) But the preacher my chopsticks click on the good things that the could have the satisfaction of knowing that his elder's wife had prepared. I had been wary of sermon spread beyond the two hundred people in Korean food in my travels around the country the church auditorium. but the clean kitchen was an evidence that I had no need to be afraid of contracting any disease As soon as the church service was ended Father here. With all my appetite, I couldn't hold a candle, Blair put on his shoes and went to the parked car. or should I say a chopstick, to Father Blair as he The canvas cover was taken off in a hurry and off polished off his bowl of chicken soup and heaping we started for a ten-mile ride to a little town to dish of rice. The side dishes of different kinds of the south-west of Kae-Chyon. Here we left the car, meat, fish, and eggs cut up in small pieces, were again shrouded in its canvas cover, and went on also very good but I reveled in the kimchi, the foot. It was a beautiful hour's walk through the pickle which is an essential part of every Korean Korean countryside on this fine autumn day. We meal. It is full of red pepper which burned the had to cross over streams on little foot bridges inside of my mouth, and had a tang, from having and had fine views of lone pine trees towering been in an earthen jar buried in the yard for over above little villages clustered under the brows of a year. The pepper· brought tears to my eyes, the hills. We fell in with a fellow traveler and not only because of its sharpness but because I soon struck up a conversation. When a nail came thought back on my seven long kimchi-less years through the heel of Father's shoe, they squatted in America. down together to fix it with a rock. This road, too, was very familiar to the Moksa and he enjoyed The bell at the church had been ringing all telling about the days when as a young man he morning at intervals for the different divisions of developed this territory. He pointed out the rocks the Sunday school but it pealed for a longer time for church at one o'clock. The elder, in typical Korean style, commented on the glad note it sounded this day because the Moksa was to preach. Rising from the floor and going out on the veranda where we put on our shoes we went off to church. It was the third successive building erected on this site during the last twenty years. Each one bigger than the last and now the congregation was making plans for a new addition. The building, with its tile roof and red brick walls, trimmed with white shutters and doors, made a pretty picture, especially to the Korean eye.
With my camera I took some shots of the men dressed in their white robes going in one door, women, with babies on their backs, going in the other; some "kids" stayed outside to play. Next door was the manse-a modern Korean home with' a tin roof and very clean in appearance. Inside
on which the pigeons used to roost and the hill- out, (or rather "pried" out), and once again the sides which formerly were thick with pheasant. rooms were packed, this time by the adults of the He sighed for: the days whe.n he had a gun and, village. Outside were others, who were too shy not being bound in by red tape, could bring home to come in, making a group of about eighty. Faa brace of ducks or perhaps a deer. The greatest ther spoke this time on some of the basic beliefs pleasure of the trip for him, however, was to talk of Christianity and what they meant in the way of with our companionaboutthe story of Jesus. Much a changed life. At the end of his talk he asked all of my Korean is forgotten but the simple story who wished to make a definite stand for such a change in their lives to raise their hands. Eight torwas beautiful to hear. It fell on "fertile ground," people raised their hands, some having been pre- the gentleman w~s deeply moved. pared for such a stand by the elder and the dea- "At about four o'clock we came into the little vil- con. They only needed the incentive of the Mokla.ge of Kul Chang Kori, or Rock Village Market- sa's coming to ~ake their stand definitely. Our pla.ce. The church had been started many years fellow traveler of the road came up at the close of ago' but had had its ups and downs. Father Blair the service and said that he wanted to change his had not been able to get into this isolated valley for life also, but wished to study more before he came over four years, so that his arrival was a real event to a decision. for the church and also for the village. The little church, situated on the edge of the village, had Shortly after the service we left the town to been repapered arid looked fresh 'and clean. Fa- walk back to the car. A number of the church ther walked around the village of a hundred people, in accordance with Korean custom, walked homes, talked with 11. group of threshers working to the top of the first pass with us. A full moon on the village threshing fioor, and invited them to had come up and the sight of the village, nestled come to the meeting,At night. He also called on on the 'edge of the hill with wisps of smoke spiralsome of the non-believers and interviewed some ling up from the evening fires, is a treasured young men who were interested. At :(lve we went memory. We said our goodbyes and walked tQ",the local elder's home, a typical two-roomed through the beautiful landscape in the crisp au- &untry house with the newly-threshed rice tumn air. We could not but think back on the stacked in bags under the eaves of the thatched eight who had decided definitely to seek a change roof. The cow was in the adjoining shed. Rude in their lives. We wondered if they would be able and poor as it was there was a spirit of welcome to stand fast amid the every day life of the village arid warmth that must have impressed the neigh- and in the strenuous times through which their bors among whom the elder and his wife lived. country was passing. Father commented on how There was no pastor in this village but the faith- typical was the reaction of our fellow traveler who, though sincerely moved, yet was so bound ful elder with a young deacon had kept the lit- by tradition and custom that he could not bring himself to a complete change of faith and life so tle church alive. quickly. There we had supper of chicken and rice and Soon we were back in the car driving to Kae kimchi, all specially prepared for the visitors. Chyon to spend the night in the elder's home. We Again, it was interesting to be introduced as a were up early in the morning in order to be back son of my father, Dr. McCune. It warmed my for an afternoon meeting in Pyengyang. We took heart to hear the old village headman, a non- a different route home and passed through another Christian, say, "The name of Yun Moksa is on section of Father's field with a church in every large town and groups in many of the villages. the hearts of all Koreans." He pointed out the church he had gone to the Sun- At six o'clock the little bell was rung for the day before and the church that he and Mother were to visit the next week. I was impressed by the children's service. The little church, with one fact that this trip we had taken, though extraor- room' about 12 feet by 2'4 and another room in the dinary to me, probably seemed just the usual rear reserved for the women about 8 by 12 feet, thing for him or for any of the evangelistic mis- Was soon jammed with children of all sizes and sionaries scattered throughout Korea. Even Fa- descriptions. There were about sixty, and all ther was sorry to have to rush back to Pyengyang clamoring to be up in the front. The young deacon so quickly but his city responsibilities called him. 'soon had them splitting their throats, singing He wished for time to visit others of his fifty or "Jesus ,Loves Me," while Father tacked some more country churches that have been passing drawing'paper on the wall. In a few minutes all through such difficult times and need the strength- were shouting the answers to his question in ap- ening and encouragement which a visit by the proved Korean fashion, as he told and illustrated Moksa would bring to them. the story of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate. Many of the older people had come and the rooms kept' getting more and more crowded. When the children's service was over, they were ushered
a Mission becomes a
By ALEXANDER H. KEMP, M. D., Angola, Africa Missionary of the Methodist Episcopal Church W HAT is the supreme purpose of Christian 600 church members; today there are over 5000. missions? Is it not to win people to Christ Then we scarcely dreamed of a self-supporting and to gather these disciples into churches native church; today we have 20 outstations which that will become self-supporting, self-extending, receive no subsidy from the mission. The mediand self-governing through the leadership and cal and educational work at Quessua now receive power of the Holy Spirit? In Angola, West Afri- a large amount of financial support from African ca, after fifty years of mission work many circum- sources. stances show that we should take a big step forward towards achieving the second part of our In the early days there was great rejoicing purpose. It is one thing to found a mission; it is when some of the first converts were deemed quite another thing to establish Christianity in a ready to be sent forth as evangelists and village foreign soil so that the Church will grow and de- pastors, and the missionaries were glad to provide velop and bear fruit. these men with houses and salaries from mission funds. The fact that a chief would allow Chris- The past half century of missionary work in tian work to be started in his village was consid- Angola has cost the Church at home not far from a ered a victory for the Kingdom of God. Realizing half million dollars. During the first twenty years that these first native workers were poorly prenearly thirty of the missionaries laid down their pared for their tasks, the missionaries directed lives on the field. The visible results are seen in their energies. towards the training of more effec- three mission stations, sixty native-manned sta- tive men. This meant mission schools. Every boy tions, five thousand church members and an equal who could qualify educationally, spiritually and number of adherents, and a hundred African morally, was assured of an appointment and a Christian workers-pastors, teachers or evange- salary from American funds. The supply of suitlists under appointment of the church leaders. able young men has never equaled the demand. One of our stations, Quiongua, which has had The desirability, as well as necessity, of instituting missionaries for fifty years has been closed be- a system of self-support for outstation work led cause of a shortage of workers, and there is only to an effort to have the older outstations assume one missionary couple at Luanda, the capital of responsibility for the support of their own pasthe colony. This couple cares for a school with tors. About 20 outstations are now doing this. 250 pupils, a church with an average Sunday afternoon congregation of 1200, and 20 outstations Today the situation in Angola is markedly difin the district. At Malange, 270 miles inland at ferent. Decreasing income from America has the railhead, there is one missionary doing pas- made it impossible to continue the present force toral work and translating. At Quessua, 8 miles of native workers on a salary basis, and an infrom Malange, is situated a central training insti- creasing number will each year be ready to enter tute with a school of 200 boys, a Bible School of the Lord's work. At the same time there are 15 pupils, besides industrial, agricultural and med- several large areas in which, until now, a Chrisical work, directed by a single woman missionary tian worker would not have been accepted, but and one married couple. One male missionary from which requests are now coming. In the superintends the Malange District with its 40 out- Malange District there is a large force of native stations, and four women missionaries conduct workers to whom customary salaries cannot be a school with 250 girls. paid from mission funds; there are opportunities to open new work in unevangelized areas, and When the writer arrived in Luanda in 1923 the there is a constantly increasing number of new re- Methodist Episcopal Board had three times as cruits available from the Mission Institute. many missionaries in Angola as now, and more than double the present annual work budget was A call was issued for a conference and seventy provided from American funds. Then we had a African workers were present. After reviewing score of native workers; today we have a hundred the work of the mission during its first half-cenmuch better trained workers. Then we had some tury, I took the men into complete confidence and laid before them a summary of the receipts, dis- [347 ]
bursements and balances of the district funds for Two vital attainments to be achieved in transeach of the past five years. Summing up the sal- forming a mission into a native church lie in aries of several classes of workers I showed that workers' willingness to receive their remuneration it would take 4,000 angolares ($80.00) per month from the people rather than from the mission. to pay all of them, whereas we had on hand enough The village churches must also be ready to proto pay 25% of this from American funds. The vide their workers with remuneration commensuother 75% would have to come from local church- rate with the service rendered. es, from other remunerative labor, or from their gardens. Each quarter less money would come One fundamental question which must be defrom America for them, so that the time seemed cided concern the form which the ministry is to to have come when the native church must as- take. Is it to be a strictly professional ministry sume a much greater share of the responsibility in which the pastor spends all of his time in Chrisfor the support of its own ministry. tian work and receives his entire support from his people, or is it to be a ministry in which the Is Foreign Money Inexhaustible? pastor, trained at the mission, earns all of his sustenance from his gardens or from a trade, For many years our native workers seem to donating his ministerial labors to the village? have had the impression that there was an inex- Shall the ministry be supported in part by the peohaustible supply of American money in the mis- ple and in part from the pastors' own labors? The sion, and that the share each received depended latter seems to be the only feasible plan for the upon the plea he put up to secure it. To help present, at least, and will probably be the final them realize that every angolare I paid out for solution. An understanding of native customs such general expenses as the conference in which is necessary in determining the question. we were sitting, must be deducted from the amount available for salaries, I deducted the The African Ministry travel expenses of men, the cost of rations during the conference, the cost of sending a boy 150 miles In many instances native pastors spend little into the interior to advise the men of the confer- more time in their routine church work than their ence, and other expenses. Thus many of them for people spend listening to them. The African is a the first time came to the realization that there natural orator, such as no other race claims to be, actually was a limit to mission funds. I endeavored so that he requires less preparation for public to make them see that I was doing my utmost to discourses than one would estimate. Even the best secure for them an adequate subsistence, but I of our African preachers have very few books, or told them that in my judgment there would have other literature; a Bible, hymnal and Sunday to be developed a local rather than foreign source school quarterly being the extent of many a pasfor this subsistence. The word "salary" was re- tor's library. They do little pastoral work, such as placed by the word "assistance." From now on is done in America, but they spend many a day they must consider themselves as supported by listening to disputes, settling differences, and givtheir respective churches rather than by the mis- ing judgment on questions., being in reality an sion, and that if they proved themselves faithful unofficial justice of the peace. A teacher must and loving servants, they would be sufficiently sup- spend about three hours daily in the classroom plied with this world's goods to enable them to and practically every native worker should spend continue to break the Bread of Life to their peo- half of his time in his gardens, as do most of ple. his parishioners. As in all African families, the wife spends from sunrise until one o'clock in her Late in the afternoon, after having been given garden. Even when the man of the home is upon their "assistance," the workers left to return to a salary basis, cash never goes for common foods, their stations, determined to preach the Gospel but is used for taxes, clothes, and trinkets. Even to the utmost of their ability, regardless of the re- a new house costs nothing for floors, walls or roofmuneration they might receive from the mission. ing, all being obtained locally free of cost, the win- dows and doors, table and bed and chairs being We have now agreed that all villages near Mal- the only things requiring a monetary outlay. Land ange that request a worker must provide a house, is free, and if the worker has been taught a trade church, gardens, and some cash salary before the at the mission, he can usually earn some money by worker is sent. For villages among unevangelized simple carpentry, sandals, tailoring, and making peoples, it will be necessary for the mission to forged articles. provide for a small salary for the worker for the first two years, or until the worker's garden be- To get a native worker to accept his remuneragins to produce. This plan must be carefully safe- tion from his church instead of from the mission guarded, however, both the worker and his peo- presents many difficulties-and many opportuniple being made to realize that financial assistance ties. Every boy who passes the government exfrom the mission is very temporary. amination expects a "white-collar job," just as
WHEN A MISSION BECOMES A CHURCH
his wife who had been trained in the girls' school rial returns alone, the finest investment any village here expects to be excused from field work. Un- here could possibly make lies in providing for the til now these expectations have been largely real- Christian message in their midst. Africans are ized, made possible by the salaries paid by the mis- poor in this worlds goods, far too poor in fact to sion. Incidently, one-half of the problem of a continue their present expensive beliefs and reself-supporting church is the wife of the worker. ligious customs. Heathen in their hunger bow It is not reasonable to expect villages to support down to wood and stone-seeking an explanation their Christian leader as liberally as he has been for their experience, a search which every human supported by the mission. A native worker must heart has made in vain, until Christ has been partake liberally of the humility of our Master to found. When He has been found and His freedom make him willing to accept support from his local entered into, then our people will be able to secure church organization, and be responsible to that material as well as s.piritual rewards. church for the faithfulness and lovableness of his ministrations. The present situation makes it imperative that we take a big step forward toward establishing a What Can the People Pay? self-supporting Christian church here. Workers present at our recent conference accepted their On the other side, the village churches, after reduced income from the mission in a spirit that having considered for many years that they were warmed our hearts, especially when we saw how doing the mission a favor in allowing a Christian determined they were to continue preaching the worker in their midst, must be trained to make a Gospel for the salvation of their own people. One fair remuneration for the ministrations they re- worker, who had been unable to attend the con· ceive; and they must be convinced that the min- ference, later wrote that he would continue his ministry even though he never received any reistrations are worth the cost. In old days a man muneration from either the mission or from his own people. Our instructors at Quessua, both would pay an ox to be taught to sign his name, or those in the classrooms and those in the shops, several oxen to have his son taught to read and showed an excellent spirit in accepting lower pay. write. The mission has been giving an incompa- Rather apprehensive of my cobbler's attitude, I rably better education to the boys in our schools, called him into my office to appeal to him to coneven providing the boys with food, clothing, secrate himself as the others had done. When I shelter and school supplies. It has been not too asked his attitude towards the new wage-scale, he difficult to bring our people to the place where drew himself erect and answered, in typical Afrithey pay more liberally for medical treatments, can style: "Have you not given me five boys who and for the educational opportunities provided for passed the government examinations last January, their sons and daughters, than we would have be- for me to train in my art of cobbling? Will not lieved to be possible a few years ago. It is now these boys go out to preach the Gospel in places our task to bring villages to where they will re- where I cannot go, to preach it as I cannot since munerate their Christian workers adequately for I am an uneducated man? Has not God called me the benefits received. About twenty villages. have to help them to the best of my ability to be able been brought to this stage, though the present sit- to earn their sustenance as they preach the Gosuation leaves much to be desired. pel, when the mission cannot pay them? I want to continue teaching these boys, even if I receive An old missionary once told me that we should less pay." With a spirit of consecration and devonever expect our people out of their poverty to tion like this among our workers, we take courage support Christian workers. If this were so, our and press on, feeling confident that God will outlook would be hopeless for progress would be abundantly bless our labors. held down in direct ratio to the amount of American money expended. An Evidence of Success In this way we could never hope to attain the In transforming our mission into a native supreme purpose of mission work. But I have no Christian church, we will be called upon to solve doubt about the ability of the people to support many perplexing problems, to straighten out their Christian ministry, even though the cost be many difficult situations, to exercise many years without material return to them. When converts of patience, tact, foresight, and love. We realize become true disciples of our Lord, and come into that there may be at stake the results of fifty years that freedom which is found alone in Him, they of missionary labor which has cost so much in no longer are bound by their prohibitive taboos lives and money. If we fail, then we shall know and superstitions, and no longer pay so dearly for that the expenditure of a half million dollars and their useless fetishes and amulets; they will no the sacrifice of thirty lives has not yet succeeded longer submit to such death-dealing practices as in establishing here a Christian church that can the sas,s-wood test administered by their witchdoctors. Considered from the standpoint of mate-
be trusted to perpetuate the Christian message tude, so that we may train our converts gladly to through its own efforts in the power of the Holy support the bearers of the Christian message. We Spirit. During the future months we may be can no longer "call" workers from among the called upon to undergo many disappointments in school boys, providing them with work which will seeing our workers and stations and followers enable them to live in relative luxury and ease. diminish in numbers, when they realize that funds We shall have to revive the Master's appeal for from America will no longer be sufficient to main- our boys to take up the cross and follow Him, be tain them as heretofore. But we are confident of the -sacrifices what they may. From many angles, ultimate success in founding a Christian Church it appears to us that the present situation has been which shall endure. How could we be otherwise brought about through the wisdom and love of when we are under a divine leadership, when our God; we feel that the present step we are now native workers, upon whom in final analysis rests compelled to take will be wonderfully blessed by so much of the responsibility for success, are so Him, and will result in great increases in the determined and consecrated and confident that the number of true disciples, and in the appearance work must go on? of a rapidly emerging native Christian Church, which shall be self-supporting, self-propagating Our planning for the future of the work and self-governing. throughout the land must take on a different atti- The Perpetual Value of Foreign Missions By the REV. DWIGHT M. DONALDSON, Meshed, Iran I T IS inspiring to spend a morning roaming third man, Dr. Newton Donaldson, was prevented about Westminster Abbey, London, pausing from going to Persia as he had planned, but he before the tombs of famous men, but there i,s and his wife were always enthusiastic in their something still more intimately uplifting for some missionary interest in the pastorate at home. As of us about going into the prayer-meeting rooms their son I have the privilege of working in Persia. of churches where successive generations have His sister, Elma Donaldson, went to India, where worshipped, and to see the pictures of godly pas- she served at Dehra Dunn with devotion until she tors who have spent their lives proclaiming the was seventy years of age. A daughter, Mary Don- Gospel. aldson, went to China in 192'4.
The late Dr. George Alexander, of New York, Thus a real interest in foreign missions will ingave forty-six years of deeply spiritual service on spire succes,sive generations to take part in the the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian permanent business of promoting the cause of Church. Seven of his classmates at Princeton Christ in all lands. Seminary went to the foreign field, and all died in service. Life is no more static in foreign countries than it is at home. It might be asked facetiously, "Why Over fifty years ago, as a young man returning should the land of the Pilgrim fathers, the land of from India on his first furlough, Dr. J. J. Lucas the Scotch Covenanters, the land of the Quakers, had talks with three students in Western Theo- still require the expenditure of millions of dollars logical Seminary in Pittsburgh. He won their annually in national missions?" Others might inrespect and confidence and was able to help them quire, "Why should the country with the greatest reach a decision in their most important life prob- system of public schools and State universities in lem. At that time all three of these men decided the world need money from a Church Board of to become foreign missionaries. One of them, Education ?" The answer to both of these ques- Dr. A. C. Good, went to West Africa, where he tions lies in the present-day problems in the died after twelve years of vigorous missionary United States. If anyone suggests that economy adventure, and where he has been followed by his in church expenditures could be effected by reson, Dr. Albert I. Good, of Elat. The second man, garding the foreign missionary enterprise as a Dr. John Eaken, went to Siam and carried heavy temporary phase of Christian activity, we should responsibility, with sustained evangelistic zeal, realize that the momentous changes that have for more than forty years. His sons, Paul and taken place in foreign lands make an insistent and John Eaken, and his daughter, Ruth Eaken, are imperative demand upon Christian people. giving life service to the Gospel in Siam. The Where illiteracy and superstition and idolatry
THE. NEED FOR. A LIVING FAITH
have given way before the enlightenment of claimed and the reality of the divine Spirit must Christian education, with its churches, schools and be shown in human lives. hospitals, there are new assets for righteousness in the world. Some of the second and third gen- The spirit of nationalism must yield to the eration Christians fill chairs in colleges or work spirit of Christ. As national churches arise, it is as pastors or editors or evangelists. Missionaries the fact that they are Christian and not merely may no longer be needed to fill these P.ositions national that enables them to be admitted at once abroad but the work of the Gospel must still be to the great international Church of Christ. The carried on by other methods in other places. saying, "Let every nation determine its own re- ligion," is utterly inconsistent with the whole Modern civilization has displaced much ancient tenor of the Gospel. Christians are soOns of n.o error and superstition, but there has c.ome ma- national god, and they have been redeemed by terialism and a more obstinate heathenism of in- no national saviour. The w.orld-wide clash bedifference to spiritual things. Educated Chinese tween capitalism and communism knows no naand Japanese, and Hindus and Moslems, are find- tional boundaries. The auth.ority of Jesus Christ ing that for them the alternative is not between must be recognized as universal. The Christian one religion and another but between Christ and Gospel is of permanent and universal value, and atheism. In Iran Islam is losing its hold on edu- at this time when thoughtful students throughout cated men. Nevertheless the fad remains that the world realize that crass materialism has made Christianity is only beginning to be understood. its sensational denials in vain, the message is espe- Great walls of prejudice and misapprehension cially pertinent. Ambassad.ors of Christ preach have fallen down and there are eyes to see and not a mission of temporary philanthropy, but the ears to hear as there have never been before. universal offer of salvation through Christ and For this very reason the Gospel must still be pro- the everlasting Kingdom of God.
The Need for a Living Faith* By REV. J. W. BURTON, Sydney, Australia Secretary of the Australian Methodist Missionary Society O PTIMISM, we are told, is a great asset for with many luxuries-and many horrors. It has missi.ons. If you want people to contribute given us aeroplanes-and baby-killing bombers; to missions, serve up the bright side .of it has created marvels in chemistry-and pois.on things, tell them .of the "glorious Gospel tri- gas; it has built for us swift motor cars-and umphs," and put the soft pedal on failures and military tanks; it has given us wireless-and nadisappointments. If the income drops, do not tionalistic propaganda; it has lengthened the span advertise that; but if the truth leaks out, then .of human life-and taught us h.oW to cut off the explain the shrinkage as, plausibly as possible. stream of life, so that by birth-control a race may The wand, however, is obviously losing some of be more quickly exterminated than by disease. its magic, and thoughtful people are incon- Let the optimist sound his ram's horn and see if veniently asking for naked facts. these walls will fall down.
Our Lord was not the facile optimist some What chance has spiritual religion in this W.orld would like to paint Him. He s,aw the true condi- of nationalism, materialism, and militarism? tion .of the world in His day. He came .of the line What has the Church, representing Christ, to say of prophets who did not speak comfortable things. The story .of the sower suggests that of the four to economic manslaughter and race suicide? Ruskinds of soil, only one yielded satisfactory results; sia has thrown out the Church, asserting that it the illustration of the tares indicates tpat we must prevents social progress; Germany has banned it not expect a hundred per cent harvest; while the because it demands a loyalty other than to the descripti.on of the net full .of fish shows that there State; Mexico and Spain have challenged it beis wastage. That aspect of our Lord's teaching cause it keeps down the people; many other counhas not had due consideration. tries have done even worse-they have ignored it. According to the totalitarian conception the State We once th.ought that science would lay down a and its interests must be supreme. "Battle pracstraight road for the millennium; but we have tice" is considered more important than the quiet been tragically disillusioned. It has provided us w.orship of God; to learn artistically to thrust a bay.onet in human flesh is of more value to the • Condensed from The Missionary Review, Australia.
State than is· education or slum clearance; the others with the life and death of our Lord. It is profits of a lottery are worth more to the State's by a new spirit of unselfishness. and by a real ap- coffers than the honesty of its citizens; and party plication of the Cross- (not as a theological doc- funds and vested interests come before social re- trine, but as a stern spirit) to aU human life- form and human welfare. whether individual, social, national or interna- No wonder gloomy prophets can find a hearing tional-that we can bring back faith.
when they are so glibly announcing the end of the It is faith we need-faith in the eternal God world; the fear of many is that their prophecies who has revealed the quality of His life and the may not be fulfilled. trend of His will in our Lord Jesus Christ. This Does all this mean that faith – the power to has implications. for the whole Church, and spe- apprehend and appreciate the spiritual-is in de- cial implication for missions.
cline? Spiritual values are simply irrelevant in We must make our appeal more and more spir- this world of brute force and organized hatred. itual. There must be an awakening of the The Christian religion is increasingly suspect be- Church's conscience, far too dormant today, in cause it preaches a Gospel of goodwill. Missions regard to our duty to the wider world. Members in some countries have become a danger to state- of Christ's Church have definitely 'pledged them- craft, for they have proclaimed a world brother- selves in loyalty to Him and they must be aroused hood and have protested against national and ra- to its implications. Let us first face the problem cial discriminations. This narrow conception of of the adult member, who seemingly has little the supremacy of the State-whether in times of interest in winning the world for Ghrist. The peace or war-is entirely incompatible with the missionary meeting has almost vanished as an faith that Jesus is her only Lord. Though we effective method of presenting the "claims of mis- shall suffer, and may be persecuted unto death, sions." Many other interests have sprung up in we must be loyal above all else to Christ and His the last hundred years, and no one in any other eternal love and sacrifice. realm trusts to a public meeting to carry a mes- The new paganism affects our Christian work sage. Our methods of appeal need drastic re- at home and lowers the enthusiasm and passion vision. We place too much emphasis upon results for world evangelization. Depleted voluntary giv- in money. The blunt truth is that most of us are ing is only one incidence of spiritual regression. giving beyond our spiritual interest: it is the What are we to do? Play the ostrich and ignore quickening of spirit that is our deepest need.
danger? Repeat piously "God's in His heaven, That assured, the money will come naturally and all's right with the world?" Quote heartening spontaneously-as. it always should.
texts that have no real application to the situa- We may be obliged to start humbly-in little tion? Attempt to bluff people by weak smiles and groups of three or four-meeting together to talk sugary optimism? Or shall we give up the strug- and pray over the Kingdom of God throughout gle and make ourselves believe that we are in the the world, informing our minds by the study of grip of uncontrollable world forces, and with a material dealing with the concrete needs of the stoic fatalism let the heavens, fall when they will? world, and encouraging one another in this world Or shall we pursue a crackle-of-thorns-under- fellowship. There is no need to wait for some the-pot policy, and attempt to attract people by organization to start such a group. You can call entertainment; devise tempting schemes and a few of your friends together in your own home catchy slogans to lure people to the support of for prayer and missionary study. One of the the missionary cause? dangers O'f our religious enterprises is this super- In our hearts we know that all these things are structure of organization. It takes so much of futile. We must go deep. the coal we carry to stoke the engines. The min- We must realize that the whole trouble is spir- ister is often a busy man with a hundred and one itual. It is the human spirit to which we must thi'llgs to attend to, it is scarcely fair to make him address ourselves, for we are perfectly sure of responsible for forming and carrying on a group, the Spirit of God. His Will is that the world though it would be well to consult him before should be saved, but it is man's self-will that pre- starting one. Groups can start with the infor- vents world salvation. It is a birth from above mation contained in the Missionary Review. There that is needed – a regeneration of the human are also many books dealing with world missions.
spirit. We shall not win by compromising with We have surely enough missionary-minded people the world, by adorning our appeal with confec- in our churches to commence a little group in tionery; we shall win only as we succeed in chal- every church. Live cells live by division, and lenging our own selfishness and the selfishness. of more life comes into being.
Youth of the Church
By H. S. RANDOLPH Secretary of the Unit of Rural Church Work, Board of National Missions, Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A.
I N THE early history of the American nation assurance to owning and cultivating land as did our rural youth knew no frontier limits. There his forebears. Consequently farm life has lost was land-good land, new land—everywhere, much of its charm for youth. Poor land holds out two billion acres of it ; nearly a billion acres were little challenge, and there is not much greater covered with virgin forest and challenge to a young man to over a half-billion acres with spend his life toiling even on luxurious grass. The nation pos- good land that he cannot afford sessed resources that seemed to to own.
be inexhaustible. This situation Today a rural youth sees that gave birth to 'It youth fired with what his father had been able to profound spiritual qualities of earn in a year is wholly insuffi- confidence, hope, ambition, aspir- cient to pay the taxes and the ation, determination, pride and interest and principal payments self-respect, qualities w h i c h o n the farm mortgage. He has closely paralleled the ideals for seen the farm sold on the block personal attainment in the to a foreigner while his father Christian Church. Therefore ru- has become a tenant, and may ral youth found an opportunity even lose his place as a tenant.
to express its finer qualities Such experiences have forced through the church. In fact the many rural youth to give up church was the only institution their dreams of owning a farm, in which the entire community or of owning anything else; could adequately express the so- dreams of school and college cial, educational, spiritual and have vanished; books and travel other important aspects of its are too expensive to consider; life. the old family car and the house- Today, after more than 300 told furnishings are rapidly years of American history, there wearing out, and cannot be re- is no frontier in the nation placed for there is no money which promi£es inexhaustible available.
wealth. Those old frontiers have This decline in rural resources been exploited, and ours is no and wealth, and the breaking of longer spoken of as "the richest rural morale, have been sorely and most favored continent on felt by the rural church. Lack the face of the earth." In less of clothing suitable for Sunday than 300 years the frontier has has kept many a rural lad and disappeared and rural youth lassie away from Sunday school now races a national problem and church. Perhaps the old presented by a shortage of eco- car won't run, and it is too far nomically productive land. Much A MOU~TAIN BOY LEAVING HOME to walle As a result there is no of the nation's soil is now de- church going. In many instances pleted or suffers from want of the rural economic condition has insufficient moisture. Rural youth faces the prob- made the church pastorless because the community lem of inability to work highly productive land, could not support even a part-time minister. Mis- for such land is too high-priced to be owned sion Boards either did not see the need or did not wholly by the individual farmer. Therefore mo- have available funds to meet it. In the course of dern youth cannot look forward with any great time the rural church closed its doors and be- [ 353 ]
came a ghost in the community-broken windows, either directly or indirectly for youth, the probpaint gone; weeds and briars grown up-all make lems of rural youth are far from being solved. an unsightly landscape. All this brings home to rural youth a sense of the insecurity of the coun- Many look to rural schools for the solution of tryside, leaving in its wake broken confidence, youth problems. Our schools do much to develop torn aspirations, blasted hopes, stunted determi- courage in the life processes of youth. New honation, bleeding pride, and lost self-respect. rizons are seen; new knowledge and skills are acquired. But here we must be disillusioned, for ThElre are twenty-one million youth in America; the rural school training· too often has had only and of these ten million are rural. They live on indirect relation to future work and therefore fails the farms or in country villages; many live in miserably to prepare youth to enter adult vocalittle unsanitary cabins on eroded and depleted tional life. However, we must recognize the trefarms, or on cut-over timber lands. Others live mendous impact which our schools make in the life in stranded villages in improvised houses going of youth. to rack and ruin. In the disadvantaged open country and in rural towns the young people are As a result of present day educational apoften under-nourished so that they fall easy vic- proaches rural youth, as never before, is questiontims to disease. They are unemployed and des- ing things as they have been and are. Old verities perate. lose their moral force in the presence of the logic of today's youth. They are learning how to dis- In many areas there are prosperous farms and cover new truths, how to create new patterns of vigorous, well-eared-for young people who move social and moral behavior. This situation renon in the realm of noble dreams; but these do not ders the approach of adults to youth problems far represent our rural mission problem today. Out more difficult than that of an earlier day. In a in the marginal disadvantaged areas throughout recent state-wide church group of rural youth this all rural America, forces are sensitive and opera- significant resolution was passed: "Our adults tive, endeavoring to bring back to disadvantaged have more problems of their own than they can rural youth the more abundant opportunities in solve. It is therefore highly necessary that we life. Perhaps it is not too late to recapture and go about to solve our own problems." conserve the finer achievements of American rurallife down through the centuries, and to rebuild The church probably has more rural youth in rural youth by making available the resources by its membership than in any other rural institution which the profounder depths of personality are or organization. Are we helping them to discover developed and maintained. themselves, their spiritual abilities and powers in the church and community? Have we been too The Federal Government is making a contribu- much interested in organizations in the church tion through certain emergency measures, such as for youth rather than in youth itself? We have the National Youth Administration, whereby it preached a great deal at youth, and we have creaids many rural youth to attend school. It has ated a great many things for them with the hope provided special courses in agricultural colleges of building up their faith and loyalty to the for farm boys and girls; it conducts work projects church, but too often our church organizations, for thousands of rural youth, as well as educa- our doctrines, our creeds, and our preachments tional guidance and job placement. More than have not been open doors of behavior patterns on 900,000 rural youth from low income relief fam- the level of youth's interests. ilies have been aided through the Civilian Conservation Corps. The Work Progress Administra- Youth in the country would like to see in their tion has reached a considerable number of rural churches and in the religious life of their people, youth through education projects, work projects, beauty and order together with a vital program and by provision for recreational activities. Other of action. They want responsibility for doing governmental agencies have aided rural youth things of great moment. They want a recreamore or less indirectly. tional program that embodies the development of skills and ability, as well as amusement. They Rural youth has also been greatly affected by want to experience a cooperative way of life for certain non-government agencies working in ru- the community. They want a spiritual program ral areas, such as the 4-H Clubs, Future Farmers which ties them to God through the church. They of America, Farm Bureau, Farmers Educational are asking for a voice in the midst of a faulty eduand Cooperative Union, and the National Grange. cation and in the breakdown of economic order These have developed to a very considerable ex- and unemployment. They are asking to be heard tent in rural areas. In addition there are many in a world of prejudices where there is a denial of localized projects throughout the country. It is opportunities-poverty, wars, and rumors of generally admitted that even with all these gov- wars. Youth calls for a prophet to lead them. ernment and non-government agencies, at work They are very eager to know about true religion.
RURAL YOUTH OF THE CHURCH TODAY
They want to see the church tie up vitally with the situation from it religious point of view was well rest of their life, with their school program, their expressed by one of the men of the community in dubs,societies, and their vocational interests. these terse words: "Our young people were going Back in an isolated cove of the Southern Moun- to Hell." On the one hand the fine, well-equipped, tains, where youth is supposed to be retarded and well-organized consolidated school was doing a bashful, the energies of a group of boys and girls, suc'cessful job for its youth; on the other hand who knew only how to "raise HeU" all up and there were four poor churches with divided inter- down the creek, drinking and cursing, were so ests, doing a very poor job for the same group of redirected under the leadership of a wise, pro- youth; this led the people of the community to do phetic laymen, that in the period of two years some serious thinking which ultimately led them they were quite capable of doing to unite their churches to form things that made them and oth- one large positive force. They ers happy. called a strong minister as their They took an old school house resident leader, and now have a and remodeled it to make a beau- church which the youth can look tiful rural church. After the upon with pride and say, "Our building was completed and church is just as fine as our cenpainted they landscaped it with tralized school. Our minister is native plants and trees. Later just as good as the principal of they built a recreational building our school. He is interested in all in the midst of a rhododendron the things we do and his friendly thicket .beside a swiftly flowing counsel helps us to do them betmountain stream. The hoys and ter."
girls worked together on these This new united church is projects during their spare time. crowded with young people.
Now they are singing the folk They are doing things in that songs and playing the folk games church which are just as cre- of the Southern Mountains and ative as those which they do of other countries. Near the through their 4-H Club work.
recreational building is an out- They have their Young People's door rendezvous. Needless to meetings, their club, recreation- say, all the young people of that al groups, and many special pro- community are actively enthusi- grams which they carry through.
astic. They are conscious that A wise lay leader found himthey have played a large creative self a few years ago in the open part in the reconstruction of the country in a beautiful valley of spiritual and social life of their about thirty square miles in area community. There is no diffi- where there were a number of culty here about the young peo- country churches and hundreds ple attending church or Sunday of young people. The ministers school or any other activity for were all bewailing the lack of the good of the community, for religious interest on the part of they have helped to create it, it the youth. They took every opis theirs. They are proud of it. portunity to tell them of their About eighteen years ago a sins, but had little to offer as rural community experienced substitutes except what to the the birth of a new consolidated RURAL YOUTH TODAY AT SCHOOL youth were vague abstract ideas.
public school made possible by The young people of the valley improved roads through the country districts and were called together one Sunday night for an open a growing cooperative spirit among the people. forum. Here they discussed their needs. That All the children of the community were brought very night an organization of the young people of to this fine school, which had a beautiful building, the valley was formed to meet monthly for var- good equipment, and excellent teachers. ious purposes. They met for social and recrea- In that same rural community ' were four tional activities; they met to sing; they spon- churches, all with poor buildings, no resident min- sored the Sunrise Easter Service of the commu- ister, church membership weak and becoming nity; they later created a Young People's Council weaker, Sunday schools gradually dying, no of the churches. Through this Youth Council de- young people's organizations. The young people's nominatioi1al harries were broken down through-
out the valley and a cooperative church spirit was effectively restored and saved to the nation their born that could never have existed had not the confidence, hope, ambition, aspiration, determina- youth been organized in this creative fashion. tion, pride and self-respect must be reconstructed.
Here the young people developed a new spiritual This is the task of the rural church, for there is life for themselves and also for their community, no other institution that can undertake and carry all of which has been reflected in the life of the through such a momentous responsibility. There churches of the area. is no other institution known to rural life that is Give rural young people a chance to use their so well fitted with philosophy, idealism and methcreative genius in the church under wise Chris- od to provide the needed sympathy and prophetic tian leadership and we need not fear them or fear direction to complete rural living by disadvanfor them. They know well the significance of taged youth of the soil as is the Christian Church. creative work. They bring out of a setting of The holy work of the rural church is to build out eggs a flock of chickens; out of a pig they develop of these hopeless, spiritless lives which poverty a hog; they grow a cow out of a calf. Out of has strewn over this fair land of ours, youthful grains of wheat, corn, or cotton they produce a lives strong and true.
worthy harvest. God's creative way of living is Herein is a challenge to our Christian churches an integral part of the life of rural youth. As for unity of purpose and method of work, such as rural church leaders we must translate this vital never has come from the good earth of America, power of youth into the spiritual world and teach to provide a good church without competition in them how to live creatively in the Kingdom of every American rural community, with a well- God. • trained and efficient ministry, and an ongoing Rural youth has a big job in any community, a program attuned to the problems, needs and activ- job that will challenge ities of rural youth, their creative zeal, a job thus creating a new that should build them Christian rural life.
into integral parts of the church life. What MOUNTAIN CHIL- is needed to reach such DREN READ THEIR a goal is a wise leader TESTAMENTS to help youth discover The Bible Institute its spiritual job in the Colportage Association, church and community founded by Dwight L.
and to frankly face that Moody in 1894 for the job and see it through. pUblication and distri- Youth, through the bution 0 f evangelical consolidated schools and Christian literature, other community insti- A RURAL CHURCH IN THE MOUNTAINS-AT CARMEN sent 9,969 shipments of tutions, is learning to books, booklets, Gospels, live and act cooperatively. Too frequently the New Testaments, Gospel tracts and miscellaneous churches are too numerous in rural communities. books to mountain schools in the South last year They are competitive in character and disrupt the -a total of 564,682 copies.
social unity of the community. All of this is a The Episcopal Recorder quotes from a letter mystery to oncoming youth. 'They wonder why written by a mountain girl to her teacher, in which there should be such a division and competition she says: in Christian life and work. Our rural youth offer a new challenge to united religious effort in all "Mother and Dad never had a Bible in their of our rural communities. Christian intelligence house, and never did any reading, until you gave demands a united church, the best of equipment, us the Book of John and the Pocket Treasury; the finest leadership and program, so that when but now they are getting interested in the Lora." youth compares its church with its school it will The teacher adds: "The children are more interfind that the church is an institution of which it ested in the Lord and want to take fifteen minutes each day to read th~ir Testaments. They are askcan justly be proud because of what it does for ing questions about the Bible. I want them to them, then they will give to it their loyalty, their read the Testament through before school is out, support, and their lives. and help them in every way I can."
Many of the ten million youth in rural Amer- Teachers in these mountain schools report a ica are disadvantaged through poverty. The gov- marked improvement in the morals and conduct of ernment and other organizations are making their their pupils since this work of literature distribu- contributions but if these young people are to be tion was undertaken.
Today and
By a WAYFARER The author of this article has first-hand knowledge of the situation in Spain T HE end of the Civil War in Spain, with the ister of the former, the Rev. Atilano Coco was shot surrender of Madrid on the 28th of March in prison; the incumbent of the latter, Rev. Mr. brought to an end one of the great tragedies Borrobia is still in prison. Liberty of propaof modern times. All who know Spain never had ganda, without which a religious minority cannot any doubt as to the ultimate issue, but all were thrive, was carried on normally in Government surprised that an improvised army, without sci- territory but was prohibited in the Nationalist entific training, was able to hold out so long area. The sale of the Christian Scriptures reached against superior forces equipped with modern record figures in republic or Loyalist Spain durlethal weapons. Neither side is without reproach ing the conflict but was prohibited in the country for many excesses· were committed that history dominated by General Franco. Registered parcels will condemn. The Nationalists, in spite of their of Bibles, sent from London to Vigo, were reclaim to a pure patriotism, opened the door to the turned marked "Prohibited by the Military Cenforeign invader and armed the Moors, the heredi- sorship."
tary enemies of Spain, in order that they might Fears for the safety of the Protestant minority kill Christians. The ruthless repression of the and the continuance of the work lead the British Basque autonomists, with its massacre of priests Committee for the Evangelization of Spain to ap- and civilians will not soon be forgotten. Franco point a delegation, under the presidency of Dr.
too seems to have been unable to restrain the Rushbrook, to call on the Duke of Alba, the official Falangists and Requetes in their zeal to extermi- representative of the Nationalist Government in nate "the Red vermin." Spanish Anarchists, al- London, asking for assurances of protection and lied with Communists, by killing priests and burn- liberty. Through his good offices certain questions ing churches, discredited the Loyalist Govern- concerning the maintenance of religious liberty ment cause and alienated sympathy that would and propaganda were submitted to General Franco otherwise have been theirs. It would be as fool- who later replied guaranteeing liberty of worship. ish to hold Senor Azana personally responsible for On being further questioned as to whether this . this as it would be to make Franco wholly respon- included liberty of propaganda the General replied sible for the excesses of his irregular troops. It in the affirmative and this declaration was pub- is a significant fact neither seems to have pos- lished in English newspapers. sessed the authority necessary to dominate the sit- uation. In this age, however, promises do not seem to have the same sacred character as formerly. The As to the religious situation generally speaking dead cannot- be raised but if General Franco would both sides maintained the degree of religious lib- release Evangelical workers who are still in pris- erty that obtained in Spain at the outbreak of the on and allow the reopening of closed Protestant war. At an early stage the Government published churches, such as those of Barcelona that have a decree to prevent excesses and inviting Roman been closed since the Nationalist occupation of Catholic priests to return to their parishes. At the city, that would go far to inspire confidence. no time was Protestant worship suspended in the Government-controlled area; nor were their build- Moreover the news that filters through from ings destroyed. Christian services were carried Spain is increasingly ominous. On the 3d of May on throughout the struggle, frequently in build- a decree ordered the replacing of the Crucifix in ings damaged by enemy aircraft. In Nationalist all schools, whether Government or private. None territory Roman Catholic worship was celebrated will be allowed to function until it has obeyed this in pre-republican splendor. Protestant services injunction. The teaching of the Roman Catholic continued without interference in most towns and religion has been made obligatory in all schools. were well attended. Conspicuous exceptions were The children are obliged to attend Mass. If any Salamanca and Valladolid where Protestant special provision has been made for non-Catholic churches were closed early in the war. The min- children we have not heard of it. All civil serv- ants too are required to give proof of Catholic [357 ]
piety (pruebas de piedad cristia1W) , that is to be brothers united in one conception of the State say, fulfil the obligations of the Roman Catholic and in one religion." But Franco's forces contain religion. Again there is no mention of exemption groups with opposing ideologies. It is easier for non-Catholics. A list of prohibited books has to conceive the lion and the lamb lying down been prepared. Only accepted books may be circulated in Spanish in Spain. Inquiries at the together than Falangists and Requetes living in Spanish Embassy brought forth the statement peace. The Spaniards are a proud people whose that the Bible is not included in the list. Finally, soil has been trodden and their blood shed by foraccording to newspaper and radio reports, the eign invaders. Official friendship may be main- Civil Marriage Law, instituted by the Republic, tained with the invading countries but the people has been repealed and 60 days have been given to who have suffered will not forget. It is even more all married under this law to remarry according difficult to visualize post-civil-war Spain as united to Roman Catholic rites. Failing this their chil- by a common religion. A large part of many of dren will be declared illegitimate. Now as confes- the Spanish people have an inherited hatred and sion is required before marriage in the Roman distrust of the Roman Catholic Church which is Catholic Church, and no so called, "heretic" can considered as the enemy of liberty and a barrier receive absolution, remarriage, under these con- to progress. This feeling has shown itself in ditions, would seem to be equivalent to being re- periods of national tumult by the burning of ceived into the Church. The Spanish Embassy church property. Is it conceivable that the conconfirms the, promulgation of this Law but they duct of the Roman Catholic Church during the have not yet received the text. The conservative civil war was such as to win these people for its French newspaper Le Temps in its issue of April cause? There have been too many priests of the 25th, says that more than 30,000 couples in Madrid type of Zafra who, waving his pistol in the air, alone are affected. They are being remarried at boasted that it has sent more than 100 Marxists to the rate of 650 a day. their account. Even the holy lives and sacrificial death of such men as the Franciscan, Father Re- What will be the position of non-Catholics under ville, who was shot for protesting against the murthis reactionary decree? We do not know as we der of inoffensive citizens, cannot blot out the have not seen the text. We can only hope that memory of others better known whose conduct was there are attenuating clauses in it that are not different. Cardinal Mercier, whose heroism Belmentioned in the first reports. gium will never forget, visited Spain on one occa- I On the 19th of April a deputation from the sion. On his return a friend congratulated him on i'British Committee" again called at the Spanish having seen that most Christian country, to which Embassy in London. In the absence of the Am- the Cardinal replied pensively, "Christian? Do bassador the news of the closing of the Barcelona you think so?" churches-the other information mentioned above had not then been received-was brought to the Spain needs Christ. Not the crucifix hanging notice of the Chief Secretary, the Marquis de los round the necks of bloodstained Requetes and Santos, and the contrast between this event and Moors but the Christ of the Gospels who died the promises given on the occasion of the previ- expressing forgiveness to his enemies. He alone ous visit were emphasized. can lead Spain forward to that new epoch of peace and prosperity desired by all true friends. Pray We hear much of the new Spain that is to rise that there may be an open-door in Spain for men on the ruins of the old. It is, we are told, to be who incarnate the virtues associated with the di- "prosperous and powerful. Its inhabitance will vine character of Jesus, the Christ.
One of India's political leaders said of Stanley Jones: "We always know where he is com- ing out. If he begins at the binomial theorem, he will come out at the place of conversion." And to this Stanley Jones replies: "Right. I make no apologies, for life comes out at that place. Amid all the changes which have taken place in the mind and spirit of this age there is one underlying need that has not changed-men need conversion. But we now see that that conversion is bigger in its scope than we had dreamed-the individual and society must shift the basis from self-centeredness to God. For conversion is that change, sudden or gradual, by which we pass from the kingdom of self to the Kingdom of God through the grace and power of Christ."
and Religion in
By REV. and MRS. PHINEAS B. KENNEDY, recently * of Kortcha; founders of the Albanian Mission A LBANIA, which has recently been front page day dropped leaflets guaranteeing the free exer- .r-. news in the press dispatches on account of cise of religious beliefs." the Italian occupation and the flight of The virile Albanian mountaineers trace their King Zog with his wife and baby, lies north and history (according to Max Muller and others) west of Greece, and across the Adriatic Sea from back to the Pelasgic race. In ancient times they Italy. The country is smaller than the State of were pushed back into their mountain fortresses Maryland and the total population (800,000) is by the Romans, Goths, Bulgars, Serbs, and Turks.
about the size of Baltimore. The people are three- For nearly five hundred years they remained fourths Mohammedan; the remaining fourth be- under the Turks, then they became independent; ing about equally divided between the Roman now they are subject to Italy.
Catholics of the north and the Eastern Orthodox The first Bible colporteur to come to these moun- of the south. Islam was forced on this sturdy tain people was Gerasim Kyrias, an Albanian. He race before the fall of Constantinople in 1453. had been educated under the American Board Their honored patriot, George Castriot Skender- Mission. He was captured and held for ransom, beg who died in 1468, is the hero in James M. but money was raised, through the efforts of the Ludlow's "A Captain of the Janissaries." Evangelical missionaries, and was used for his re':'
The Rev. Arthur W. Konrad of the Evangelical lease. While his health was seriously impaired Mission writes that some Italian bombs proved to by his rigorous experience, he and his sister were be "stuffed with paper and wood, used only to instrumental in establishing in Kortcha an evanscare and not to exterminate." He speaks also of gelical day and boarding school for girls in 1891. the friendliness of the Italian army when it en- This school they carried on for some years. tered the city of Kortcha. A generation ago a young Mohammedan Al- At latest reports the Albanian flag was still banian entered the offic·e of the American Board flying with the flag of Italy. Albania has now a of Commissioners for Foreign Missions in Boston reconstructed government, and, according to and gave a modern Macedonian call: "Come over newspaper accounts, many of the people are jubi- and help us." This touched the heart of the secrelant over having Victor Emanuel III as King and tary of the Board, Dr. James L. Barton, and a Emperor. Albania has lost her brief independ- special fund was raised which enabled the Board ence and she is now related closely with to send out Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy in 1907. While Italy in whatever the future holds. Since the the Turks attempted to prevent the missionaries' Italian occupation of Albania, (April, 1939) there entrance, permission was finally granted on the has been time for some details to filter through basis of American treaty rights. The little school to America. This occupation seems to have been started by Gerasim Kyrias in Kortcha was a veriinevitable due to several years of Italian financial table "cradle of liberty" and was the only girls' aid in the material development of the country. school in the country where the Albanian lan- Moreover dissatisfaction was beginning to be felt guage was taught. Preaching and Sabbath school by many of the Albanians against the Zog regime services in the language of the people were held, in which overtaxed the people. spite of opposition both from the Turkish Govern- ment and from the Moslem and Greek Orthodox The Rev. Edwin Jacques, another Evangelical leaders. From time to time Albanians have conmissionaries, says in his "postscript" to a recent fessed their faith in Christ and have been received circular letter (written before the occupation), into the little Evangelical circle. The occupation "To quiet Moslem forebodings airplanes yester- of southern Albania, during the Balkan War made it necessary for the missionaries to leave, but the * Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy, the founders of the Albanian Evangelical way was opened to do relief work among the starving and dying Moslem refugees in the north, MiSSion, are now in America, having passed over to their fellow with headquarters in Durazzo. After four or five miSSionaries, Messrs. Jacques and Konrad, all the property held by them, both mission and private. Their address is 332 West 12th Street, New York. They expect to work among Albanian communities in America and are ready to accept speaking engagements.
-EDITOR.
[359 ]
years' absence, while the World War was still in Two young missionary couples, Rev. and Mrs. progress, the Kennedys were able to re-enter Kortcha, and soon the attendance at the re-opened Edwin Jacques and Rev. and Mrs. Arthur W. school and at the Evangelical services was larger than before. Konrad were added to the staff and are now con- The income of the American Board being in- ducting the mission. adequate they decided to withdraw from Albania in 1922, expecting that another board would take While the great need in Albania today is to over the work, but this was not done. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy therefore decided to conduct the reach tre Moslems, there is also a call to teach work on interdenominational lines and founded the Evangelical Mission as an independent "Faith" the unenlightened Roman Catholic and Greek work in 1923. The so-called Kyrias School, having been moved to Tirana, the capital, a new school Orthodox Christians. Albanians are "very reliwas established in Kortcha and village evangelistic services were carried on regularly. When the gious" but their religion is largely outward and independent State was formed, the Albanian language could be taught without the protection of formal. Those who have had a real experience the American flag so that many, who were not vitally interested in the dospel, lost their interest of Christ are deeply concerned for the salvation in the mission. Nevertheless the school grew so that it was necessary to add more rooms and em- of their fellow Albanians. ploy additional teachers. The Bible was regularly taught in all classes three times a week and new The country has passed through many political . members were added to the Evangelical circle. Later, with the growth of nationalism, the Al- changes under Turkish, Greek, French, Albanian banian Government was influenced to close all private schools, including the mission school. The and now Italian flags. What this new change may prejudice of the people has been dispelled, and more time can be devoted to distinct evangelism. mean for Evangelical work is known only to God.
Certain it is that the Albanian people need the clear Gospel message, proclaimed by the power of the Spirit of God. .
Some day there may be a Christian mass move- ment in Albania, for many are dissatisfied with empty religious forms and superstition. They are "almost persuaded" to become real followers of Jesus Christ as the Son of God and to accept Him as their Lord and Saviour. They are a noble race of people, and hold a strategic position in the Bal- kans. Shall we not give them the entire Bible in their language, and evangelize this field while it is yet day? The night cometh in Europe and the Near East, when no man can work.
Liberty and Religion in Red Russia * By COLONEL F. J. MILES, D.S.O., O.B.E., V.D.
International Secretary of the Russian Missionary Society, Inc.
N UMERICALLY, the Russians form the tive Committee viewed with alarm the lack of in- greatest white race in the world, 210 mil- crease due to licensed lasciviousness, reduced it to lion people. Of these approximately 180 latitude, and by law abolished liberty and free millions live within the borders of Soviet Russia, provision of hospitals and surgeons for the pera tract of territory so vast that it stretches from formance of certain operations. The year that Europe to the Pacific; from the White Sea to the the alteration took place making the operation Black, from the Baltic to the Balkans; so huge illegal, the population grew by four and a half that when it is twelve noon in Moscow it is seven million. It is anticipated that the futur·e normal o'clock in the evening at Vladivostock. In this increase will be at the rate of seven million per land, which covers one-sixth of the earth's sur~ annum, until in 1970 there will be three hundred face, one-fourth of Asia and one-third of Europe, million resident in the U. S. S. R. Lenin's widow there dwell 170 races speaking 120 different is leading a journalistic campaign and nation-wide tongues and dialects. There are White Russians movement in fayor of large families. and Little Russians; .Cossacks and Caucasians; Georgians and Ukrainians, and the like. The laws concerning religion govern the whole of the Federated Soviet States. It is, of course, The population was increasing at the rate of true that the farther one gets from the capital three million per annum, until the Central Execu- cities the more likelihood there is that laws will not be so strictly observed. For instance, I vis- • From the E'IIamgeUoal O'hristi<z.n, Jamlary. 1939.
LIBERTY AND RELIGION IN RED RUSSIA
ited a collective farm in the Don Cossack country. mummified bodies lying side by side in the Cathe- The village was still called by its· old Czarist name dral of St. Isaac in Leningrad. The centre one -Alexander the Second! But the collective farm is a "saint," and the outside two are a peasant that included it as its centre, and on which all the man and woman. The stage is set to show that not villagers worked was styled "October 25th"! I sainthood, but chemical processes were responmanaged to "lose myself" from the Field Briga- sible for the preservation. Moreover, into the dier, who made it his business to carefully shep- hand of a corpse lying in the Russian coffin, which herd me around, and I wandered down the village has casket and lid of equal depths, there was street "visiting." placed a Greek Orthodox passport to heaven, printed in Archaic Greek. This had to be pur- One cleanly-clad housewife called me into her chased from the priest and without it there was home where I found in the living-room five ikons, no hope of the departed entering paradise! In the and in the adj oining bedroom another two, each first instance, persecution was directed against with its little red lamp burning beneath it. I this church which was characterized by creed, found that nearly every worker on this intensely ceremonial, crude teaching, and too often not by communistically named farm was still living reli- Christian character. giously as in the old "Holy Russia," and that the bulk of the people, in spite of the five-day week, The Stundists were given a freedom, under were actually worshipping in the little church which they increased with such remarkable rabuilding of the Greek Orthodox Church every sev- pidity that the Central Executive Committee beenth day. came alarmed. They reasoned that the church of these Christians who refused to participate in The American secular press has been misled party politics or to bear arms, was necessarily into stating that the new constitution affords reli- opposed to the Bolshevic plan for world-wide antigious liberty to Soviet citizens. The conditions religious communistic dominion. Their rapid inremain as they were before the draft sent out to crease was, therefore, a menace to the Soviet plan. the Soviets in February, was "adopted" in No- So the forces of persecution were focused upon vember of 1936, and became law on January, 1937. them. No Christian is persecuted as such and Articles 124 and 125 provide for "liberty for anti- no evangelist is banished merely for preaching religious propaganda" and "freedom to perform the Gospel. They are charged as counter revoreligious rites." News editors did not sense the lutionaries. But. facts are stubborn things. Forworld of difference between the two. It simply meant that elderly folk who still clung to their merly we had sixty-six consecrated Russian evanreligious ceremonial could continue to follow it. gelists within the U. S. S. R. Today only five are left and they are in exile. None of the "liquidated" The revolt, while :;tgainst all religion, was in the men ever engaged in any counter-revolutionary first place a revolution against the National Or- propaganda or activity. Before me are the rethodox Church. From the standpoint of the anti- ports for August, 1938. (1) In the Far East God and anti-religious hosts, it was justified. a purge of Baptist churches is taking place There were notable exceptions, as in the case of and the leaders are being charged as "Japanese the Patriarch Tikhon, and the Metropolitan Ben- spies." This is in harmony with the procedure in jamin, the one dying in prison and the other being the West where evangelists and pastors were shot. Before the tribunal the Metropolitan said, exiled· or shot as German spies. (2) Baptist "If I must die, I will die as a Christian." But the groups in Tolka have been "liquidated." Tolka is old Russian Church was largely led by illiterate in the Caucasus. (3) Baptists in the Caucasus and immoral men like that "holy devil of Russia" were accused of (a) hindering the election of -Rasputin. Priests in the provinces actually Stalin candidates at the recent elections; and taught the people that the bodies of believers were (b) conducting religious. propaganda among the immortal, and that when a believer died the body hospital workers of the district. (4) A Baptist remained intact until the judgment day! They pastor of twenty years' standing in one of the exhibited bodies of saints in glass cases in their oldest churches in the autonomous Udmurpk Rechurches. When the revolution came, the anti- public was arrested as a German spy. (5) Evanreligious hosts opened the graves and disclosed gelistic groups in the Crimea were "liquidated." that they only contained decomposing bones. They smashed the glass cases and revealed that the It seems strange that in a land where capital bodies of saints were "fakes." Not all; for the punishment has been abolished hundreds of men ground beneath the monastery of Pechersk at are being shot daily. The military and naval lead- Kieff, the ancient capital of Russia and the pres- ers are shot so that they may be replaced by noment capital of the Ukraine, has the property of inees of Stalin and Company. I ventured to ask preserving bodies interred therein. The monks a City Magistrate in his Chambers in Mosco.w how were quick to take advantage of this and instituted he explained this anomaly. Indignantly he couna mummy factory. • . . 1J'here are three complete tered, "But we do not hang people up and leave
them hanging till they die; we shoot them in- in 1936, twenty-seven in 1937; there are less tostantly and put an end to their misery." And I day. The last German Lutheran Church was found that this university trained man, who had closed in August, 1938, when the pastor died. In taken a juridical course, really believed this. A Omsk, Siberia, with a population of two and a few weeks later I was on the lower Volga, and two quarter million, only three churches remain open. Scotch ladies, traveling first-class, were being con- In a town on the lower Volga, with a population ducted by a Girl Guide interpreter. She told them of eighty thousand, five churches were open when this same story. I had several conversations with I visited it a couple of years back: two Greek her, as we were several days on the boat. During Orthodox, two Roman Catholic, and one German the recent winter she had passed an examination Lutheran. For all practical purposes they might in an additional language, so was receiving an as well be closed. The vital religious work in that extra fifty rubles a month pay, and had been pre- community is being carried on in private circles sented with an English up-to-date edition of a of Brethren, Baptists and Evangelical Christians. work by Frederick Engels in which it was claimed that during the previous year in the Brit- Some reports appear in the press of churches ish Isles, men were banished for life to convict settlements overseas for poaching rabbits, and being full. hanged for stealing sheep. I published excerpts There are enough elderly folk (with whom the from this work in the British Press. Noone has dared to attempt to refute what I wrote. Soviet cannot be bothered-"They'll die off soon, anyway") to fill the buildings that still remain Effect of Censorship open at Easter, and at the three-day Christmas (January 6th) of which Greek Orthodox churches Lamentable ignorance of conditions in Russia make so much. But in the few churches remainand in the other lands is due to the censorship ing open, what can be done? The pastor may which is, applied both in and out of the U. S. S. R. preach on the premises, but nowhere else. He is For instance, no paper, periodical, or magazine taken up for interrogation periodically, and comes Duhlished abroad is permitted to enter Russia. out of the ordeal a nervous wreck. No literature The population gets its ideas concerning "starv- is allowed on the premises except such as is absoing and revolting peoples" of other lands from lutely needful for the conduct of worship. No government controlled papers, in order that by meetings may be held for women or young people. contrast they may be the more content with the It is a criminal offence to gather three young peo- Soviet regime. All who regularly write or are ple under the age of eighteen to teach them reliwritten to come under suspicion. I have before gion. No teacher is permitted to enter any place me a communication from K– asking us not of worship. No social service may be rendered, to write more at present. Believers and others lest by so doing the church should influence those under suspicion are tortured to secure confes- helped to become religious. The church is under sions; nothing to eat or drink; no sleep-terrible! a graduated tax that is increased periodically till, It is such torture that induces wholesale confes- in spite of severest sacrifice, it can no longer be sions of "counter revolutionaries." There have paid; then automatically the Soviet takes over been many positive acts against religion. Church the building because those using Government buildings were taken over by the Government. All property have not paid their dues. It is all quite private property was nationalized, including the lawful and legitimate! !! If the pastor dies, no churches. Like so many other communistic prin- successor may be elected and the church is liquiciples the abolition of private property has broken dated. The German Lutheran Church at Gorki down in practice. For instance, Cooperatives are (Nizni-Novgorod) has been closed for this reason allowed to erect buildings and sell the apartments for years. Apparently the local Soviet has no use to their members. Most of the church buildings for the building. were closed and converted to secular uses such as bureaus, workshops, factories, apartments, clubs, In one city where we bought land and erected a kolkhos (stores for collective farms), public con- building wherein thousands of souls were saved, veniences, etc. "Dom Evangelia" in Leningrad our people were expelled, but permitted to conis a workers' club. for the men who make nails in tinue to meet twice in what we call one week, in a the metal factory opposite. The cathedrals of St. hall attached to a former Greek Orthodox Church Isaac in Leningrad, of St. Basil in the Red Square building which they shared with followers of anof Moscow, and that of St. Andrew in Kieff are other persuasion. Needing this, the local Soviet anti-God and anti-religious, museums. turned them out. They have been driven from pillar to post, hampered, hindered, harassed-yet Of 1636 Greek Orthodox churches in Moscow on the 29th day of January last year, in one meetbefore the revolution, thirty only were left open ing they baptized fifty converts on profession of faith.
Since May, 1929, the Bible has been banned. It is a criminal offence in Soviet Russia to print,
publish, circulate or distribute the Word of God 87 per cent of the Russian population were illitor any portion of it. We printed the largest edi- erate. Now only 14 per cent are, and in the intion of Russian Bibles that ever came off the press dustrial areas, only 8 per cent. But every day 25 -81,000 copies. Before the officials became so million children going to school are taught that alert we sent copies back by the lumbermen who there is no God; never was. a Creator, and are brought the rafts and logs down the rivers to the subject to such caricatures of Christianity, and border states. Our men carried them over the such blasphemous cartoons of Christ that I canborder at dead of night, taking their lives in their not bring myself to describe them. No teacher in hands every time they crossed. In markets far school, college, or university is permitted to enter away from Moscow bidding may proceed for a any place of worship. And yet all over Soviet few mushrooms spread out on a bag-but the real Russia today there are sporadic outbursts of reobject is under the bag, a second-hand Bible or vival among young people (over 50 percent of Testament. When the government said in effect the population, i. e., all the young people, have -"You shall not have the Book in your hands," passed through these schools), and especially the Believers replied, "Then we'll put it into our among young men in the factories, so the local heads and enthrone it on our hearts." So they leaders are sending to Moscow asking that special studied and committed to memory the Sacred speakers be sent to combat the religious revival. Word. Now, when they gather round our evangelists in "bears' caves," they repeat passages of I dare not close this article without giving evi- Scripture and so illumine and inspire, instruct, dence of the truthfulness of the above, from offiexhort, and "comfort one another with these cial Soviet sources, lest I be charged with rowords." mancing.
There is no food shortage in Russia in Europe Lunarcharsky, former Commissar of Education today, though sometimes failure in distribution in the Central Executive Committee, issued a occurs. There is still shortage in Russia in Asia, manifesto in which he stated: and we still need to send food parcels. to Christians and banished evangelists in concentration camps We hate Christians. Even the best of them must be rein the Far East. Nothing but our food parcels garded as our worst enemies. They preach love to one's stands between them and starvation. Until food neighbors and pity, which is contrary to our principles ( !). tickets and ration cards were abolished no priest, Christian love is a hindrance to the development of the rabbi, moulvic, pastor, evangelist, editor of reli- revolution. Down with love for one's neighbors. What we gious pamphlets, or tradesman dealing in any re- want is hatred. We must know how to hate, for only at ligious article, nor his wife or family, was per- this price can we conquer the universe. We have done with mitted to have a ticket or card. Thousands who the kings of the earth, let us deal with the Kings of the wished to be loyal to the Lord "whom not having skies. All religions are poison. They intoxicate and deaden seen (they) love," were living on the bark and the mind, the will, the conscience (!). A fight to the death roots of trees, on nettle grass, and on field mice. must be declared upon religion. Our task is to destroy all kinds of religion, all kinds of morality. In spite of these conditions there has been, and still is, a real religious revival. Let him tell us how they succeeded. Trud, whieh means "labor," is the chief workers' organ; In the U. S. S. R. one evangelist, now in exile, Comsomolska Pravda is "Truth for Youth"; in three months, in three villages far from the Pravda, meaning "Truth," is the chief organ of capital, baptized 450 converts. Next spring he the Communist Party; while Izvestia, "News," is baptized 154 more in two months. Then he went that of the Government. In Southern Russia it is to prison for a technical offence in connection with said that there is no news in the Truth, and no preaching. Not to the Solovetsky Islands, the truth is the News. Writing in Izvestia in 1929 most rigorous imprisonment in the world, but to on the basis of the figures of his own department, a "house of re-education," in which the offenders Lunarcharsky affirmed that in 1917 there were are .given a good time, to induce them to come out only 700,000 members of the Communist Party, good supporters of the Soviet regime. Freedom but in 1927 they had grown to 1,700,000. But in therein enabled our man to preach to those who 1917 there were only 100,000 Stundists, and in would not have listened to him outside, also to hold 1927 over six millions. The Christians had outprayer meetings. Several prisoners were con- lived, outwitnessed, and outnumbered the Comverted. When he was discharged he found that munists by six to one, and this in spite of Governhis wife had carried on so effectively during his ment support of the latter, and satanic and Soviet incarceration that he had to baptize another 12'6 opposition of the former. converts. The Party Commander of the Bezbojniks (the The greatest achievement of the Soviets has Godless), Em. Yaroslavsky, has recently published been in the realm of education. Before the revolt an explanation which is an apology for failure in the Scientific Journal, Antireliginoznik. In it he has to confess that about two-thirds of the rural
pop1l1ation, and one-third of that in the towns, the ministers of the cult must be viewed as fraudstill continue faithful to religion. He admits that ulent members of the Party. All our skill must while the Government can prohibit support of the consist in systematically and unremittingly de- Church, and separate the Church and the school priving the Church of its head; in striking the by decree, "a decree is powerless to efface reli- blow at the Shepherd and alluring the sheep into gious ·conception"; "being deprived of an edifice our own stable" (sic!). has not killed the religious feeling of believers," and even "the Pioneers frequent the Church in There is one reason why the anti-religious hosts great numbers." He claims. that the coercive have failed. Jesus said, "On this Rock (faith in measures have been a mistake: they have failed; Christ as the Son of God) I will build my church and concludes that "The masses must be tamed by and the gates of hades shall not prevail against kindness." But–"We must outroot religion, and it" (Matt. 16: 18). My Master always keeps His word.
Forty Years' Progress in Latin America By REV. WEBSTER E. BROWNING, New York Secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions; For Forty Years a Missionary in South America I N THESE chaotic moder:::J. times, forty years United States flag was seldom seen on the few constitute as long a period in the life of a na- ships which then made the run to South America. tion as in the life of an individual. Changes, The investment of North American capital, could rapid and cataclysmic, occur, even in the coun- not have exceeded a few hundred millions in all tries that have been fully organized for centuries Latin America. In 1937, the total investment was and whose traditions and form of government ap- reported to be about $6,500,000,000. pear to be crystallized and unshakable. In younger nations, such as those of Latin America such 2. Politically-Few governments of the very changes, though less sudden and dramatic com- young republics were then more than oligarchies. pared with those of Europe during past years, are A small number of families, in each of them, connevertheless well defined and epoch-making. sidered the presidency and other public offices their peculiar right and saw to it that the power The writer of this article journeyed to Latin was kept within their limited circle. As an illus- America, for the first time, more than 40 years ago, tration, one lady, known to the writer, was the and, except for occasional visits to the homeland, daughter, the sister and the wife of a President lived all that time south of the equator. He has of her country. Today, though not to the same dethus been able to note the changes in the commer- gree in all the republics, the democratic form of cial, political and religious life of the peoples of government prevails, and most of them, like Arthose lands which have marked their slow but gentina, Brazil and Chile, merit the high esteem sure progress toward equal standing with the in which they are held by the peoples of Europe older peoples of Europe and North America. A and North America. brief description of some of these changes may be of interest. 3. Culturally-Public instruction has made great advance and the formerly high percentage 1. Economically-Forty years ago, the immense of analphabets has been correspondingly reduced. natural resources of Latin America lay practically The oldest university of Latin America was founduntouched. The great modern industries of min- ed 56 years before the first permanent English ing, cattle-raising, the elaboration of nitrate; settlement w:as made in North America, and 85 banking, railways, manufactures, shipping, the years before John Harvard made possible the importation of machinery and automobiles, and institution that bears his name. Today, the best of other commercial activities-all these were but these universities equal those of the United States in their infancy. The United States, in particular, or Europe as centers of learning, and the intellechad not attempted to discover in those lands a tual spire of Latin America is as high as our own, market for its excess products. There was not a though it is more slender. In the learned profes- North American bank south of Mexico, and the sions, especially in law and medicine, are found
19391 FORTY YEARS' PROGRESS IN LATIN AMERICA
men and women of the highest professional prep- As a result of this exclusionist policy, when aration, fully the equals of their colleagues in evangelical missions began to extend their work with greater earnestness and conviction, forty or other lands. more years ago, they found certain conditions 4. Religiously-The pioneers and founders of which had to be overcome if that work was to be successful. Among these were the following: the colonies of Spain in the New World differed from those who laid the foundations of religious life in what is now the territory of the United (a) There was no liberty of worship. Free States of America. The groups that came to those thought was in itself considered heretical; the shores, Catholic and Protestant alike, were simply press was under the absolute control of the seeking a place where, quietly and unostentatious- Church, and, in some of the most backward coun- ly, they might worship God according to the dic- tries, death was the legal penalty for adherence to tates of their own consciences. Spanish discover- any religion other than that of the dominant ers and conquistadores, in the lands that now con- Church.
stitute what we call Latin America, were of a (b) There was no civil marriage law. The only more militant mold and sought to establish not legal ceremony was that performed by a priest of only the power of the King whom they represented the State Church; children of those otherwise but also that of their particular Chm'ch. They wedded were ipso facto considered illegitimate. flung to the breeze not only the colors of Ferdi- Even Protestant missionaries, wedded on the field, nand and Isabel, King and Queen of Castile and were required to secure the services of a friendly Aragon, but also those of the Supreme Pontiff priest. To satisfy their own consciences, they of Rome. Even the sails of the caravels of Chris- might have another ceremony performed by a topher Columbus and of less worthy conquista- Protestant minister, but this latter ceremony had dores who came after him, had imprinted upon no legal significance whatsoever. them the figure of the cross and the words, "with this sign you will conquer." Columbus is said to (c) There were no civil cemeteries. The bodies have considered his name Christopher, "Christ- of deceased dissenters were thrown into the sea, bearer," a good omen, and historians tell us that or were buried surreptitiously by night in some his hope was to secure funds from the newly unfrequented spot. About the middle of the past acquired lands in order to finance another crusade century, a progressive Mayor in one of the South against the Turks. American capitals when converting a hitherto' undeveloped hill i,nto a park, found at its base a In view of this deeply religious motive that in- collection of human bones, and on the site placed spired and encouraged the Spanish pioneers in Latin America, which was largely in conformity a tablet with the inscription, "To the memory 0/ with the spirit of the times, in both Roman Catholic and Protestant lands, it is not strange that the exiled from heaven and earth who were buried the type of Christianity which became the official in this place." religion of the Colonies of Spain, and, afterward, of the younger republics that grew out of those (d) Possession and reading of the Bible was proscribed by the Church itself and, under the in- fluence of the Church, by officials of the State. A colonies, should have been ultra-fanatical, ex- customs officer in Ecuador, toward the end of the tremely jealous of its own prerogatives, and dis- past century, refused to admit a box of Christian Scriptures; pointing toward one of the towering posed to resist, to the last degree, the entrance peaks of the nearby Andes, he said, "So long as and propagation of the beliefs of any other sect Chimborozo stands, that Book shall not enter this or denomination. The spirit of the Inquisition, country." typical of the religious life of the time, especially in Southern Europe, was deep-rooted. Branches The distressing religious conditions that preof that feared and hated body were set up in vari- vailed in the countries of Latin America a half ous centers, especially in Lima, the capital of the century ago have been narrated in order to show viceroys, and in Cartagena de las Indias, now one the historical background against which we may of the port cities of the modern republic of Colom- throw into clearer light the situation as it is today.
bia. So strong did the Church become, so thor- The former unfortunate conditions have now oughly did it indoctrinate the peoples, that when very largely disappeared-due largely to a closer the colonies, following the lead given by those of contact with Europe and North America, made Great Britain, in North America, and by France, possible, in part at least, by more modern means gave way to republics, at the beginning of the 19th of communication. The changed situation has ·century, the representatives of the Papacy were also been greatly helped by the liberalizing, reflex able to have written into the constitution of the influence of Evangelical missions. Today, in every newly-created states the words, "The religion of one of the 20' republics of Latin America, there is this State is the Holy, Roman, Catholic, Apostolic, complete freedom of worship; the only legal mar- to the exclusion of all others." riage ceremony is that performed by an official of
the State; cemeteries are open to the dead of all friendly eye and are evidently willing to forget faiths or of none; and the Bible is widely and some episodes of the past in which the "big stick" freely circulated. In one South American republic, played too prominent a part. Brazil, there is now an estimated total of 1,500,000 Evangelical Christians; in all there is a steadily Probably no part of the world has made such growing National Evangelical Church which is economic and cultural advance in the past forty willing to cooperate in many respects with the years in a quiet and natural way as have the nainfinitely stronger, dominant, ecclesiastical organ- tions of Latin America. And their history is still ization, for the spiritual instruction and upbuild- in the making. Millions of Europeans, seeking ing of the people. refuge or the opportunity to better their condi- tions of life are wistfully turning their faces 5. Internationally-There is today a much bet- toward the great open spaces of Argentina and ter understanding between the Government, and, Brazil. Many thousands have already entered hence, the people of the United States of Ameri- those and other Latin American countries, where ca, and the governments and peoples of the other they have established homes and have begun a new countries of the Western hemisphere. Instead of life under more liberal conditions. The Christian the former policy of occupying a country with forces of North America, especially the Evangel- United States marines, in order to establish our ical churches, have a great opportunity to aid conception of what we considered law and order, these incoming thousands, making it possible for or exerting economic pressure to encompass our them not only to secure the right to liberty and own ends, a more modern and more Christian the pursuit of happiness, but also to surround "good neighbor" policy has been adopted and has themselves and their descendants with the spirbeen well received by all Latin American govern- itual blessings that flow from a free Church in a ments. Their people now look on us with a more free land.
Queen Salote of Tonga K ING GEORGE VI of Great Britain sent the lieves in the tenets of Christianity, but is most following message to the queen of Tonga, energetic in seeing that her beliefs find practical a Pacific Island, on the occasion of the expression in the daily life. With her, "Faith twentieth anniversary of her accession to the without works is dead." She is a constant attendthrone of Tonga. He said in part: ant at divine service, is a class leader, and is al- ways present at the regular meetings of the Chris- "The period of your reign has been one of tian Endeavor Society. Not only has Queen Salote steady and peaceful progress in the development advanced the interests of her people in the mateof your kingdom. Medical and health services rial sphere, but she has also, by her Christian life have been extended, educa.tional facilities have and character, provided them with a splendid been increased, roads have been built, and com- example of Christian living. munication between the islands has been improved by the provision of wireless stations. And The great event of the celebration took place in these achievements, of which your majesty may the large public square where gathered about four be justly proud, have been effected without in any thousand school children, as well as the Royal way sacrificing the financial stability of your Guards and Band. kingdom." Then came one of the finest sights of the day- Twenty years ago, as a young girl of eighteen, the march of four thousand school children, Queen Salote Tubou succeeded to the throne of carrying Tongan flags in their hands. Tonga. During the years intervening since that time, by her wise and statesmanlike rule, her The queen then departed, and as her car passed keen, unfailing interest in the well-being of her through the lines of children, she was hailed with subjects and her many excellent personal quali- hearty cheering and the waving of flags. Even ties, she has endeared herself to the people of her after she had returned to the palace the public land. How deeply enshrined she is in their hearts enthusiasm could not be restrained. The Tubou might well be gauged by the remarkable demon- boys entered the palace grounds, followed by the stration of loyalty and affection displayed by them other schools and the general public, until a crowd on October 11 of last year, the commemoration of of several thousands had collected. Her Majesty's the twentieth anniversary of her accession. appearance on the balcony and acknowledgment were the signal for more vociferous greeting. Queen Salote is known throughout the king- -By "The Wayfarer" in The Missionary Review dom as a sincere Christian, one who not only be- (Australia) .
Story for
Tony Finds Two Friends and it seemed wonderful to Tony room where Tony lay. His broth- to be able to help. As he snipped ers and sister were standing by By VIOLET WOOD, New York off the beans he thought of the his bed and to each one the nurse "Won't you leave your chil- time when his father had worked gave a glass of milk. dren with me, Mrs. Rossetti?" in the city, while his mother the nurse at the Center invited. stayed home and took care of As Tony's mother took her them. Suddenly there had been glass she spoke excitedly to the Mrs. Rossetti turned to Tony, no more work. A friend had told boy. Tony laughed, "My mothher ten-year-old son, to interpret his father of the need for bean er says you have nets over the for her. When she understood pickers and they had packed all babies' cradles to keep the flies what the nurse had said, Mrs. their belonging$. in a truck and away just as she used to have in Rossetti shook her head and had come to this big farm. Now the city." gathered her three small chil- father was sick for he had dren about her. worked too hard the first few "Ask her to leave you all with days. me tomorrow? You can go back "You could stay, too, Tony," to the fields in a few days, but the nurse said to the boy, "and At noon Mrs. Rossetti took it would be nice if you could stay help me take care of them." out of her blouse a paper bag and here a little while. Your broth- gave them all cold biscuits for ers and sister will love it." "I gotta pick beans," respond- lunch. She and the children ed,Tony. went on picking beans as they When Tony told his mother ate. But Tony could not eat his she nodded happily, as she fin- When Tony told his mother biscuit. Something was wrong. ished her milk and went back to what the nurse had said, the lit- His head felt as if it were float- the field. tle group passed the Center and ing away. But he kept on pickwent out towards the field. Tony ing, hoping that the funny feel- The nurse brought in some noticed several women leave ba- ing would pass. He suddenly picture books for Tony. One of bies and small children at the fainted. them was a beautiful "Life of Center. He shrugged. Who knew Jesus," and, as the nurse exwhat would be done to them in When Mrs. Rossetti called for plained some of the pictures the that place! Tony's family had help two men came over and car- boy looked up suddenly, and been at the migrant camp only a ried the boy to the Center. When said: "Then I have found two few days and he had no idea of new friends today!"
the loving care, the nice lunches, the nurse came she patted Tony's Making Use of This Story the toys and the Bible stories mother on the shoulder and in a few minutes he opened his eyes that were provided for the chil- and tried to smile. "You just The plight of the migrant is not well dren of the migrant workers. lie here for a little while and enough known by many people and yet soon you'll be quite all right. it is a great social problem in Amer- Down the long lanes between I'll bring you a nice glass of milk ica. Because the parents lose their the rows of bean poles the lit- in a few minutes. Tell your legal residence by so much traveling, tle family went, snipping off the mother I would like to show her the children get insufficient food, imbeans as they moved. Every- our little home here." proper shelter, no medical and dental body helped fill the baskets. care and very little schooling. When one was filled Mrs. Rosset- Tony translated this for his ti carried it to the weigher who mother, whose eyes shone with The Council of Women for Home checked the number of pounds gratitude. Missions has Centers in many states against her name. and has done a wonderful piece of The hot sun beat down upon The nurse beckoned to Mrs. work with the children. Excellent the men, women and children Rossetti and took her into an- material on the migrant is found in working on either side of Tony other room where babies lay the pamphlet, "They Starve That We and his mother. Although many sleeping in little cradles. In an- May Eat," compiled by Edith Lowry were thirsty they could not stop other room little boys and girls, and published by the Missionary Edueven for a drink of water. Every just like her own, were playing cation Movement (35 cents.) moment of daylight counted, and together at sand tables and with if they were to make enough blocks. In one corner a teacher money to buy food they must be was reading stories to the older Questions quick. boys and girls. All the children What would you lose if you had no home, no school, no church? Tony's back ached, but he was seemed very happy. bigger than his brothers and sis- In the kitchen Mrs. Rossetti What are some of the crops that ter and he could not stop to rest. watched the nurse fill five glass- migrants gather?
He must go on like his mother. es with milk. Putting them on Are migrant workers necessary in His father lay sick in the tent a tray she carried them to the America?
[367 ]
Ways of W9rking
'Tested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home hDITED BY GRACE W. MCGAVRAN, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA Enlisting a Congregation for and throb of enduring purpose as Pete and with a memorable in- they witness Christian romance scription was unveiled. The MissionEsdTuhcarotiuognh*Visual in China (yes, indeed, there is film also gives a glimpse of lep- high Christian romance in China ers' suffering, and of lepers who "Seeing is believing" is an old today, especially today), or a adage. But rich old warp woven great mass meeting of untouch- have been helped. into today's tapestries gives pat- ables in India, or a frightened At the close of the showing of terns of beauty, luster and value. African youth witness his moth- er's slow death at the hands of this film in the city church the If every Christian at home the witch doctor and his deter- pastor arose and said, "I have could visit and see the mission mination to run away and find today had a new vision of this fields, their opportunities, their the secret of the doctor who talks great work. I think everyone needs, their returns for service, and acts with love at his Christhe weaving of the pattern of tian "medicine house" in the for- of· our Sunday school classes Christ into the lives of peoples, est clearing. should have one of these pig not much time or money would banks. I suggest that all of our need to be spent on promotion A few weeks ago the film, Sunday school offering next Sunwork for Christianity. In the "A Million Dollar Pig," taken by day go to the leper work and I entanglement of threads in our nromise to find means of matchpattern here in our own land we the American Mission to Lepers, ing, dollar for dollar, all that are prone to grow discouraged, was shown in a large city church. the Sunday school gives." He feeling it improbable that there It tells the story of how a ten- felt as we had felt after visiting are other spots on the earth year-old boy, Wilbur, sad be- the many leper colonies on our where the Christ pattern is be- cause his mother had been able African way during the past ing distinctly and clearly woven. to furnish support for only nine lepers instead of ten, bought a months. If we cannot see these remote little pig with three dollars Films from mission fields are places, the next best step is to which had been given him. The have them brought to us by the children 0 f the community goingto be increasingly available medium of the motion picture- joined in feeding the pig, all the in the days ahead. The 1938 as nearly life-like a portrayal as time envisioning that pig as Africa Film Project has already can be had outside the actual bringing smiles to the face of released its first 3-Reel, 16 mm. experience. Christianity has not some weary leper. It was finally film, "Ngono and Her People." been in haste to take on this won- sold for twenty-five dollars and It movingly tells the life of a derfully convincing method, feel- the money was sent to help a typical African girl. In it one ing perhaps a worldliness about little leper boy of Siam. Out of really lives in the life of a girl of the very utterance of "movies." this experience came the idea of Africa; feels the heartache of a But at last, after the field of edu- the "pig banks," over 100,000 of ten-year-old child torn from her cation recognized why the "eye which have been distributed in mother and sent to harem life; witness" medium so grasped the America. They have brought in feels the fear of the jungle world public, Christians have over one million dollars to aid where she hides, the ,doubtful come to realize that these same the lepers of the world. Then the eyes may prove to be inlets to film shows the twenty-fifth anni- serenity in the hands of her the hearts and souls of vast num- versary of the event of Wilbur missionary rescuers, the school bers of people. Eyes that make and his pig, "Pete," as it was life, the romance of true love, hearts thrill and throb over which "never smooth did run" scenes of intrigue or love may celebrated in Wilbur's little home in Africa either, the power of also stir those hearts to the thrill town of White Cloud, Kansas. Over one thousand people there, the Christian life and all the • We are indebted to Mrs. Emory Ross including Chief White Cloud and problems it brings, as again she for this fine article. She last year accom- his tribe, honored Wilbur, now a meets the witch doctor and his panied her husband, who is pxecutive secre- successful engineer still giving wiles. As the last scene fades tary of th" American Mission to Lepers, on of himself and his money to help you feel that you have been in a trip to Africa to see many of the institu- lepers. A bronze tablet, erected Africa and you know that Christions aided by that Society. She was former- in his honor, with Wilbur and tian missions pay. You have ly a missionary in the C?n~o and .is now seen with your own eye. an active promoter of mISSIonary Interest [368 ] in America. Another six or eight films are being prepared on various phas- es of Africa, her life, her importance in the world, the impact of and explain some things which more careful showing of one? civilization upon her, the need will otherwise be without mean- Take time to slow down the ac- for Christianity to keep pace. ing. But announce that after tion where it is necessary. You Among the scenarios* are "The the first running there will be a will need to go over the film at World's Stake in Africa," "Chil- second, during which any ques- least once with the operator, be- dren of Africa," "A Day in an tions or comments may be of- fore it is shown in the program African Village," ""Bwamba"- fered. Plan time to do this, so in order to decide where the mo- (the life of a typical African that no one will have a sense of tion should be slowed, and how boy) , and "How an African being rushed. Offer to run it much. As you show it, be very Tribe is Ruled." through a third time for those sure to remark when you do so: Yes, today the home church who would like to see it again, "We will slow down at this may see the foreign field, and after the meeting has been dis- point," having explained before seeing, may she believe the more missed. hand the purpose of slowing and hasten to make the pattern Slow Motion in Using a Movie down. Otherwise you may leave Christian in those lands yet in the impression that the people the loom.-Myrta Pierson Ross. The label on the film case read, filmed are lazy or slow in their "Twenty minutes will be re- movements. quired to show this film." A Informal Use of a Movie group of people, planning to use It is needless to say that some films in their churches, had bor- films will not gain by such treat- The parents of a missionary rowed from the mission board ment. Use good judgment in dereceived, in their very ordinary ciding when to use normal speed mid-west town, a package from an entire set of five on the coun- and when not to do so. their children. It was a one-reel try the churches were studying, film, showing the missionary son and were giving a sort of pre- Remember that some projecand daughter setting up camp view so as to be able to present tors make a lot of noise. Whoin a village, taking part in a them more intelligently from ever reads the accompanying lec- time to time. They started im- ture, or prepares a talk to go church service, giving treatment mediately after lunch to have with the showing, should have a to a baby with sore eyes, walk- them run through. voice easily heard over the noise ing in their garden and romping of the machine. Nine o'clock that evening with the grandchildren who had found them reluctantly re-wind- Newer Stereopticon Pictures been mere babies the last time ing the last film. What had hapthey were home. pened? They found that while Color cameras have brought the speed required to run the into the field of stereopticon With what delight the aging film through in twenty minutes slides something a great deal parents viewed the scenes, as was quite correct for .seeing that more vivid and delightful than their beloved ones moved before which is familiar, it was too fast we have had before. Slides can them. The missionary women of to give them time to see what be made directly from the color the church, naturally, borrowed happened in scenes and actions film. No tinting of pictures with the film. The showing was made quite unfamiliar to them. They the colors running into each othinto a gala occasion. The film therefore slowed the running to er, or failing to join! Furtherwas run through once. Then a considerable extent. more, the picture-taker, instead it was run through again. Com- of having to remember that he ments and questions rose freely When that was done, they cannot count on color to do for during the showing. Whoever those who are to see the pictures had an idea as to the correct an- could actually see what was hap- what its actual presence is doswer to any question ventured pening. For example, the quick- ing for him, knows now that colit. Then they ran the film ly-run film showed a woman or, almost as he sees it, will be through again. Details that had squatting before a mud cooking- present in his film. escaped notice came to the atten- place, doing something with tion of the women now. Those That opens a much wider pospresent felt as if they had had swift capable hands. The slowed sibility for enjoyment in the use a real visit with their missionary film showed her going through of stereopticon slides on subjects and his family. of missionary interest. To be the process of handling the flat sure there are as yet few sets Are you following that proce- unleavened bread in the three which have been made by the dure when you show a film? Or simultaneous processes of mold- newer processes. But most sets are you having it shown as a ing one cake, while a second was have been vastly improved durformal part of your meeting, to searing and a third was being ing the last year or two, and they be run through once, accompa- baked among the live coals of begin to "tell a story" instead of nied by its lecture or by polite si- the fire. giving a disjointed picture of lence, immediately to be re- places and people. wound, set into its case, and sent Some parts of the film became on its travels? tedious with the slowing up, but During summer months, the the operator was soon able to picture method of becoming ac- If there is a lecture, by all speed up sections which did not quainted with the missionary means have it used. It will help show detailed action, and to slow work of the church is well worth to clear up many puzzling bits, down on those which did.
Instead of rushing through • Not yet available. two films, why not arrange a considering.
For Small Children Pictures article), was sponsored by the each and marked its location Are Best Harmon Foundation and the Af- with a red pin. rica Committee of the Foreign The flicker and movement of Missions Conference of North The study might have gone movie pictures are not any too America. "Song After Sorrow" further, but did not. To atgood for the eyes of the small is another new film which por- tempt to locate all Protestant children. Furthermore very lit- trays the magnificent work in churches in a city the size of tle of the motion pictures, de- one of the leper colonies in theirs would have taken more signed to interest and educate Africa. time than the enterprise was adults, is of value for children worth for that one study. But of pre-school age. Films like the two mentioned there, in visual form, lay the may perhaps be secured from information that, scattered all The nursery and beginner your mission board under the over their city, were many child should not, however, be same conditions as other films of churches which were working to neglected in the use of visual missionary work, or they may be make the city a more Christian education. One of the newest rented from the Harmon Foun- place in which to live. In those pieces of material, specifically dation. "Song After Sorrow," buildings, week after week, men planned for use with them, is may be rented direct from the and women and beiys and girls the picture set "Children and American Mission to Lepers, 156 gathered to study, to worship, Their Toys Around the World." Fifth Avenue, New York. and to have fellowship. It has eight pictures in color, and a leaflet with a short story Investigate the possibilities. Such a visualization of facts to go with each. This publica- Write to your mission board for gives children a real sense of tion of the Friendship Press sells information. Remember that being a part of something which for sixty cents and can be se- the number of copies of each film includes and yet is greater than cured through your denomina- is limited so that requests need their own local church group. It tional book store. to be made well in advance of the expands their horizon. It brings date desired. We know that one to their consciousness, in a way The pictures are directly re- group of films is dated up com- that mere spoken information lated to the child's interests. pletely for four months in cannot do, the realization of Each one shows a child of some advance. Others, not on the forces which are operating toother race or nation, with a toy country of the current study, day to rebuild the world in characteristic of his environ- may not require such advance Christian ways. ment. booking. Try the use of this form of visual education in the Maps, graphs and charts are This set should be part of the near future. We venture to say not to be limited to Juniors equipment of every Nursery and that you will plan to include it alone. They are good for any Beginners department. It might very definitely in your subse- age above Juniors. well be used in each child's own quent study. home. Individual pictures can Consider them for use in your then be hung in turn where the Using Maps with Juniors church or parish house lobby. Or child will enjoy them. in your meetings when you have When a Junior department five minutes to present some in- Sources for Religious and was making a study of The City, formation about missions which Missionary Movies as was suggested in the course, can best be imparted through they used their own city as the this form of visualization. The Most -of those reading these object of their study. small graphs and charts often columns are familiar with the sent out from Board headquarsources of missionary films. The The boys took a big map of ters, in materials for the inforimportant source for any church the town and mounted it on bea- mation of leaders, can easily be is its own missionary board. Ar- ver board. Starting with their enlarged to proportions such as rangements differ. Many mis- own community they set out to to make it possible for a large sionary boards loan the films discover and locate on the map group or an entire congregation free of charge, requiring only the position of the Protestant to see them. Color can be used payment of express charges both churches of their city. When to make them vivid in their enways. There is the additional they found the actual streets larged form, where only black cost of a projector which is running past their own church, and white was used in the printusually rented locally by the a red pin marked the spot on the ed form. church. map! They did the same with other churches of their neighbor- Never leave such materials The Harmon Foundation, 140 hood. Then they went further hanging for more than a week Nassau St., New York, N. Y., is afield. They secured the list of or two. You do not glance at another very important source. the churches of their own denom- that store window where the dis- Their charges are reasonable. ination in their town. What a play is the same week after Some of the Harmon Foundation surprise! Who would have week. Let your people become films have been prepared in co- guessed that in their own city accustomed to finding something operation with certain of the there were so many churches of new, fresh and worthwhile on mission boards. The Africa film, their own group? They located your display wall every week or "Ngono and Her People" (re- so. ferred to by Mrs. Ross in her
BULLETIN
Council of Women for Home Missions EDITED BY MISS EDITH E. LOWRY, 297 FOURTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N. Y.
~======~~~==================== WITH THE MIGRANTS IN crops." It was while in "melons" family as they were growing up CALIFORNIA in Imperial that Maria had her and it took more and more and accident. According to her fa- it seemed that he made less and The bountiful state of Cali- ther: less. So at last they joined the fornia with its varying seasons, caravan of folks off to "the land luxuriant farms, and many in- "If I stay few more days to work of promise," California, to seek dustries is faced with the tre- in floods last winter and not go down their fortune. Theirs was a mendous problems. of migrant to Valley, maybe I not have the bad wreck of a car, a truck, with a people-people who trek from luck, but I go. It's cold. That day canvas over the top so that the crop to crop, starving in between our children left alone. This one, mother and children could sleep "prunes" and "cotton" because Maria, she think she make herself there and the father drove as there is never enough to go warm burning paper. She light it. many hours as he could to make around. When it is too hard to It catch her dress. This other one the trip as short as possible-it find food for three scanty meals she want to throw on water, but the took them fourteen days-a four a day, new clothes are out of the burning one, Maria, she scared, she to seven day trip in a decent car. question; and these people are so run out the door all flames till she The trip was made in the pourvery poor! fall; she fainting then. Her sweater, ing rain. They still shudder as it stops the flame from her face. She they remember the terrible ex- To help lighten their burden bur ned so bad, all over front. She in perience of losing a wheel on a and bring some necessary relief, hospital six months. Eighty-seven steep grade, and the "panthers" the Council of Women for Home skin grafts her mother give, but not that they could hear howling in Missions supports missionary much healing. I got no money, but the night, not to mention the nurses who serve these camps. hospital very good. The vallev too fiat tires that had to be fixed on Nursing and visiting the sick, hot for Maria, doctors say I must take the darkest roads. They felt that telling the story of the Gospel to Maria to where is cool; no more let- their crossing the mountains was the children, finding help here, tuce, no more melons, I go north to quite as trying as that of the eargiving help there, from dawn to 'prunes'; I take my family, and for lier "pioneers" of the covered dark they go and always leaving Maria it is cool. The doctor there wagon days. a little hope, a little comfort and say, 'you no live here,' you take Maria a great feeling of friendship. where you live. What I do? Maria They arrived during the mush- cannot live where is the heat; no room season, and, as they had Would you like to meet a few doctor where it is cool. .I feed my never had such a tasty dish they of these families who make their family? I must work. Doctor put living in crops? on one bandage, I keep Maria with me. I do all the best I know. I keep Take the family of John Wil- burn clean with feather. It no get liams-the children: Susanna, better. She seem sick; she no play born in the "grapes"; Maria, in like other children. Her dress, it hurts "melons·" ; E u p hem i a, in her burn, she walked stooped, like old "prunes" ; John, in "lettuce"; lady. We have cot just for her. We Raphael, in "nuts"; Josephine, move to 'cotton,' and you find her. She in "cotton." Truly children of afraid, she shake all over." the crops. Here there is hope expressed in his When the nurse came upon brightened countenance, he is encourthem she saw Maria walking aged, as he continues: very stooped so that her worn thin dress, her only garment, "You nurse, you find her. Her burn would not be touching her open so bad for so long; you come often, sore which covered her abdomen "ou do much for Maria. It take you and thighs. She was frightened long time, many bandages, much work as she stood before the nurse for you, but now Maria she all well. holding her dress away from her God bless you nurse ! We cannot say body with trembling fingers and how much we thank you. Now, no told her story. more cotton, we go to valley for 'let- tuce' and 'melons'; work for me, feed The family took to the road in my family. heat no hurt Maria now 1930 when the father lost his job -she well!" and joined the "Gypsies of the Then there is the White fam- ily from Oklahoma – father, mother, and four children. For ten years Mr. White had been the "handy man" in the little town that was their home. He made sixty to seventy dollars a month. That didn't keep his [371 ]
relished it more than they could cents. Forty men went out and They are healing now. The describe. Just by picking they picked one crate of spinach. druggist was afraid to undertake could have all they wanted to treatment because of the severity eat. But the season was soon A Mexican father doesn't of the burn, but the nurse over and such things are just a know what to do. He asks the "breathes a prayer" and gives memory. nurse. He explains that there is the necessary treatment for it is no more cotton to pick, and he sixty miles to a doctor, and be- A Brief Round in Camp only has beans for his family to sides there is no money. The Visiting eat. The nurse has no alterna- druggist thinks it is the "prayer" tive but to suggest "relief." The Leaving the nurse's home, we father is proud, and explains, "I that did it-healing, he thinks, go seventeen miles on good high- never ask for that in all time. I was impossible otherwise. way, then eight miles on an just move here. My wife she sick adobe road, then the last half at heart, no can work much; I On to another camp and the mile over what is supposed to sick in stomach, cannot work all road is still slippery, and it is be a road, and into the camp, time." ten miles distant. This camp is thirty cabins in all. Separated from these are some larger cab- Drive toward the foothills and built beside a canal. Here the ins-these for the "permanent" on this road there are three Council nurse spent much time, help. It is wash-day. Tubs of camps. Roads impassable in effort and energy toward solving water are being heated over fires rainy weather. It is ten miles to built outside; clothes lines the first. the problem of sanitation. The stretched between cabins filled grower was very cooperative. with clean garments of all kinds, shapes and sizes. Some families asked the camp Over one tub is a Mexican EYE CLINIC IN A MIGRANT GENTER mother, rubbing away on a washboard, and beside her is her The nurse recalls that this manager concerning the nurse's three-year-old, the youngest of camp was one of her most un- authority, and the grower issued nine. He has on two sweaters sanitary camps, so much so that and a coat, and a dark cloth tied the camp manager remarked to the order that if families did not around his head. her, "I believe these children are cooperate with the nurse that the dirtiest of all cotton camps." they would be moved out. Camp The nurse discovers that the That can't be said now. The child has a temperature. She camp manager and the campers and cabins were cleaned. Five explains that he must be kept in gamblers who had caused the bed, and she takes the child by too were most cooperative in nurse no little concern, were the hand, leads him into the cab- changing things. Health kits moved out. Order prevailed. in, the mother follows and a containing wash cloth, soap, little pallet is made in the corner The sentiment of the people of the cabin. His clothing is re- tooth-brush, and comb, were moved and he is slipped into a given to the children. whom the nurse serves is best pair of warm sleepers that the expressed by the tribute to the nurse finds among her clothing The nurse inquires. about Mr. nurse by a country doctor who supplies. That dark rag is re- Gonzales who was burned so bad- depends. on their help to bring moved from the only window in ly at Christmas, and discovers healing and health to these mithe cabin, and she explains to that he has learned that she is in grants. "So much is heard and the mother that there must be camp and is getting the "water read nowadays of organizations sunlight. The mother im't un- boiling" for her to use in dress- and agencies. doing this and that derstanding why the cloth should for the migrants, but the one not be about her child's head, be- ing the wound. He has learned cause she explains, "Baby sick that it had to boil ten minutes who does the most and the most in the head," but she is willing worthwhile thing in helping the to do as the nurse says, and does before she could use it. First migrant is the little missionary not miss a word of the nurse's and second degree burns were on nurse who rarely ever gets one instructions to "rub the child's chest four times daily with warm his left shoulder and upper arm line of printed matter concerncamphorated oil; give plenty of ing her work in the paper." water and fluids, and keep baby -he had fallen on the stove. in bed."
It is late in the cotton season, and many people are not working. Some have gone out to pick spinach but so little could be made they didn't stay. One man explained that he had made ten
World–wide
A Missionary Newspaper of Current Events ~ EDITED BY MRS. HENRIETTA H. FERGUSON, XENIA, OHIO ~'================================-~~ LATIN AMERICA fered the boys. Near Saltillo, weekly broadcast of religious boys are taught in school to programs. 'A Latin American Cooperation in a Church Bell make rope, and other articles Youth Conference is planned for from raw materials they have February, 1940, in Lima, Peru. We all know about the denom- raised. They learn the art of inational cooperation am 0 n g making dyes, and using them. -Christian Century. Christian forces in Puerto Rico; At the same school, the boys of the union enterprises which farm a tract of land, raise cat- Among South American include a theological seminary, tle, hogs and bees. Indians book store, newspaper, university pastor, e~change of pulpits, Culture Missions, something The treaty signed between and other manifestations of the like an Institute, are held at in- Bolivia and Paraguay leaves the cooperative spirit; but this spir- tervals all over Mexico. For a way open for Christian work it does not end with formal en- period of ten days, five or six among pagan Indians of both terprises. When the Yauco Bap- educators meet with teachers for countries, especially in the Chatist Church, for example, had a lectures and discussion, with co area between the two. Var- 500 pound bell that would not graphs, charts and posters. Such ious indepe!ldent organizations fit its tower, and the Ensenada subjects as the cause and cure of have expanded their work among Presbyterian Church had a large eye trouble, or the digestive Bolivian Indians; while the tower but no bell, the Presby- processes, are presented. This South American Missionary Soterians bought a small bell and is work along constructive lines. ciety has completed fifty years gave it to the Yauco Baptists, of work in the Paraguayan Chawhile they in turn presented the Protestant Youth in South co. In Chile, the same mission Presbyterians with their 500 America has developed a work among pound bell. Mapuche Indians, two of whom The Protestant young people's have been ordained deacons. Rural Schools in Mexico organizations of Argentina and Uruguay held their second bien- In the Argentine Chaco, work The Federal Government has nial conference last April, with has been most encouraging. At put in operation some very prac- more than 100 delegates, repre- Easter 68 adults were baptized, tical ideas in rural education. senting seven denominations, in and a new area has been opened. Two groups of Southern Metho- attendance. There were three The Unevangelized Fields Misdist missionaries visited a num- visiting delegates from Brazil. sion has continued its pioneer ber of these rural schools last The program centered around work among Kayapo Indians of year, and their impressions are the deepening of spiritual life, Amazonia, who, it will be rereported in the World Outlook. and the challenge of the present membered, killed three mission- Almost every country school has day to young Christians. Three aries (the "three Freds") in a little store which the children things stood out: first, interest 1935. themselves manage, thus learn- in a g g res s i v e evangelism; ing how to buy and sell and order second, a passion for closer co- -International Review of Missupplies, such as pencils, tablets, operation in Christian service, sions. crayons, cookies, etc. Some have irrespective of denominational kitchens where the children differences, and a sense that After the Earthquake in Chile learn how to prepare many vari- Protestant Christians are bound eties of food. One school visited by a common loyalty to Jesus Reconstruction work is under maintained a barber shop, while Christ; finally, a desire that way in Chile, following the dispractically all of them raised Christian forces may reach out astrous earthquake, and at pressome living thing -chickens, into the realms of popular litera- ent there is a huge construction rabbits or pigeons. ture and social life. camp at Chillan, located there for months. Military authorities Nearly every school has an an- In these two republics, young have permitted Mr. William M. nual exhibit of needlework, and people's work is organized under Strong to open a center for rest there are special projects to be two national federations. Each and evangelism right in the undertaken by high school girls; publishes a religious monthly, in- heart of this vast encampment, perhaps a layette for a baby formative and well edited. For -its only place of diversion. brother, or her graduation out- several years the Argentine fedfit, while manual training is of- eration has maintained a bi- Evangelical workers were left practically unharmed by the [373 ] earthquake, says Mr. Strong. He
adds that when in 1757 half of Franco occupied Catalonia, evan- Church shall transfer the right Concepcion sank beneath the gelical churches were not inter- of the use of certain cathedrals, surface in a similar cataclysm, fered with, but it is reported that yet to be named, to the Hitler blasphemy, drunkenness and in- those in Barcelona are closed, Elite Guard for their neo-pagan decency were put aside for a though it is believed to be only ceremonies. long time; and asks if perhaps a temporary measure. a similar result will follow this All three demands were relatest catastrophe. -The Christian. fused on the ground that the Di- rectorate was not empowered to EUROPE The "Church of the Den" make any such decision. The demands were issued by the On the Montmartre, Paris Long before Wycliffe and chief of police over the head of Hus were born, the Waldenses the State's church minister, who The Tabernacle Church on the preached the Gospel which re- is reported to have fallen into Montmartre has a corps of de- formers afterward taught in disfavor among the radical elevoted workers. M. Charlet, an Europe. A few months ago a ment of the government; a reevangelist, was a merchant, a group of British tourists visited port that is coupled with the Parisian skeptic, whom God the great cavern known as "the statement that the "Gestapo" called to the ministry of preach- church in the den.". During the (secret police) are sick and tired ing. Andre Fune is son of a time of the persecution of the of the whole church business. French farmer, who is working Waldenses this cavern was used at real financial sacrifice with as a secret place for worship and Encouragement in the Ukraine his wife, a registered nurse. In study of the Bible. Access to it 1925 a young Swiss engineer, Al- is obtained by crawling through September 25, 1938, was the fred Escher, gave up a career to a narrow tunnel formed in the 950th anniversary of the foundserve this mission church. Fif- long past by a terrific upheaval, ing of the Ukrainian Lutheran teen Hollanders have found when the great rocks fell into Church. At that time a Harvest Christ in these meetings. M. the position which they occupy Festival was celebrated in Stan- Jacques Blocher, trained in the today. From the tunnel one islau, when people came from University of Paris and in the emerges into an immense nat- every direction, by wagon, train Bible Institute, Minneapolis, is ural cathedral, the only shaft of or on foot. All Evangelical Luanother worker. M. and Mme. light coming through an aper- therans participated in a com- Dumesil sold their property at ture in the roof. In this spot munion service, creating a pro- Dieulefit to serve as unpaid vol- hallowed by the prayers of mar- found impression upon all those unteers. M. Memmert came in tyrs a feeling of awe came over present. The Stanislau pastor, 1933 after careful preparation the visitors-a feeling that ex- Rev. Theodore J arczuk, writes in the Bible school of Pastor tended to the muleteers who had of the victories of the Gospel of Saillens at Nogent-sur-Marne guided them to it. They rever- Christ among these people: "The and in Glasgow. This does not ently removed their hats upon results of this Harvest Festival exhaust the list. entering. One of them ap- led to arrangement for a similar proached the leader of the tour- service for the Reformation An effective agency is the Gos- ist party and said, hesitantly, Festival on October 2:0. Attenpel poster; 500 of these have "If Monsieur prayed?" And so, dance was even greater. Those been put up in Paris and sub- with bowed heads and hearts up- who passed the chapel were asurbs. Many persons have bought lifted to the Saviour of all, Eng- tonished at the crowd of people, copies of the Scriptures as a re- lish, Irish and Italian, each and said: 'These Lutherans besult. Sometimes professional praised Him there for the past, lieve in God.' The Festival conbill pOosters tear them down; and asked His help in the future cluded with the singing of 'A sometimes unexpected results for the Waldensian Church. Mighty Fortress Is Our God.' In are produced in connection with many different ways the work other posters. For example, a Confessional Church Crisis was advanced." poster announcing a grand ball, had this significant addition at- Three new demands made on Pastor J arczuk writes further: tached: "And after it is over?" the Confessional Church by the Most of this work is done by the German chief of police, Hein- It has long been the custom of young people of the Tabernacle. rich Himmler, indicate that the Lutheran Ukrainians to worship on struggle between the Church and Epiphany at the bank of a river, in -So S. Times. State is nearing a decisive phase. commemo"ation of the preaching of These demands, as reported by John the Baptist at the River Jordan. Gospel Work in Spain the New York Times, were: 1. A few months ago such a service was The Confessional Church shall held on the banks of the Dniester. Reports vary considerably in relinquish its claim to a share of The crowd was constantly augmented, regard to the prospects for evan- the church tax. 2. The Confes- the nearer it came to the river. From gelical work in Spain, now that sional Church shall surrender its all neighboring villages came the folthe war has ended. Protestant status as a corporation of pub- lowers of the Gospel and the curious. churches are permitted to open lic right. 3. The Confessional At the place where the service was to in some centers, in others they be held, thousands of persons had alremain closed. When General ready gathered, listening with the greatest interest to every word of the service. Among those present were some who had come to disturb the serv-
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
ice. From the other side of the river at Memia, found no sale for her to work with God in the planta group of agitators came across in a pictures and turned to fruit cul- ing and working of their garboat. As they were crossing one of ture, finally gave that up also; dens.-American Board News. their number cried out: "Either I and offered her home to the Miswill throw the Lutheran pastors into sion. There was no money to "Separatist" Groups the water or will drown myself." But buy, but she agreed to rent and when the service began they listened, now the Mission is established These religious. groups in the and the longer they listened the more there. Union of South Africa number attentive they became. Soon the an- over 500, ilccording to official ger faded; they took off their caps The entire Bible is available figures. Similar movements are and began to nod approvingly. At in Kabyle; portions have been found in other parts of Africa. the close of the service the young man put into the Berber dialects of Whatever may be the underlywho avowed that he would throw us Morocco. So far, the Scriptures ing cause of the rise of these into the water joined our brethren and are almost the only literature in sects, they are hindering the began to make known his sympathy. these dialects. spiritual growth of the African Church. In general, the separa- AFRICA School in Elephant Land tist groups are formed by those who are moved by personal am- The "Book of Manne'rs" Children from the kraals of bition or who wrongly interpret southern Rhodesia attend schools the Scriptures; by those who are Mrs. E. M. Bailey, of the which are merely thatched roof seeking to avoid discipline or United Presbyterian Mission at sheds, and these are often de- have been disciplined by the rec- Minia, Egypt, writes that one stroyed by herds of roaming ele- ognized churches. Sometimes the of the most encouraging things phants. In these so-called "light movements spring from reasons that has happened in the Chris- houses" it costs about $1.40 which are racial or political, or tian school in a long time is the apiece to give the children an from the hope that in the ecclesivoluntary request of some of the elementary education, and is astical sphere the African will graduates for a special Bible their only chance to secure one. be able fo obtain a freedom of class. They are now in a gov- Of this sum, the government action which is denied him in ernment secondary school and supplies 68 cents, the American the political. Owing to the high they find there an atmosphere of Board contributes 30 cents and proportion of illiteracy among profanity and rudeness very dif- the pupil must somehow find the the rank and file of the African ferent from the Christian school other 42 cents, and also buy his people it is always possible for where they grew up. They are books. This would barely sup- a leader of strong personality, coming on a free afternoon to ply movie tickets for the Amer- by specious promises to carry study the Bible and have brought ican child, but we read of one numbers of people with him into several of their new Moslem lad who walked six miles.. each the body which he forms. schoolmates with them. One of way, to cut grass for six cents them, when the Bibles were a day; sold tomatoes from his -Congo Mission News. brought out, asked what they mother's tiny garden, and finally, were. A Moslem girl from last to complete the 42 cents walked WESTERN ASIA year's graduating class replied: six miles with a bunch of bana- "That's the book we get our man- nas on his head to sell them for a Another Side of Palestine ners out of." few cents. Picture Among the Berbers In the same section of Africa It is heartening to sight some there is conducted each year an islands in the sea of trouble Monsieur Warren, of the Paris interesting ceremony called "The which is Palestine. One is what Evangelical Missionary Society, Seed and Hoe Consecration has been described as a "boom" has recently visited the stations Service," a blending of long es- in Christian education. The of the North Africa Mission in tablished African custom and C. M. S. Girls' School at Amman Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. Christian practice. Men, women has the confidence of prominent In The Link he describes the and children come with seeds Moslem families, and is looking curious Berber villages of flat- and hoes. The pastor recalls how toward a boarding department roofed houses, reminiscent of the the people would bring grain to for village girls. The Bishop's adventure of the spies in Jericho the chief to be blessed so that it School for Boys in the same (for Berber tradition has it that might be productive. "Here," town is becoming a cultural centhe Berbers are the descendants he points out, "we are bringing ter, and pupils of the different of Canaan's inhabitants, driven grain and hoes to God for His communities are mixing without out by Joshua). This sturdy blessing on our work." At Chik- strain in these schools. A race is not deeply grounded in ore, Rev. Frank T. Meacham re- marked increase of interest in Mohammedanism, and therefore ports that the Community Dem- social work is noted; large nummore or less open to the Gospel. onstrator spoke on the parable bers of the elder boys and girls More than fifty years ago, the of the Sower and then represent- volunteered to teach in daily vafounder of the North Africa atives of the congregation stood cation Bible schools during the Mission was interested in them, before the altar and repeated a summer holidays, and took a but the door was not open for pledge consecrating themselves deep interest in the thousand or evangelization. Years later, an English lady-artist built a home
more children who attended the taught that there is no God, no tees. An interesting experiment score of schools held. use in prayer, and that educated calculated to abolish purdah was people have ceased to be be- the formation of a "family cir- Christian medical work stands lievers. cle" in one constituency, with a out. There is a new hospital at view to promoting inter-commu- Es Salt, and a small temporary On the other hand, there is nal friendship and inculcating a clinic is at work in Jerash. Other developing a more open-minded healthy sense of freedom among hospitals and dispensaries report attitude towards many matters, the sexes, and to encourage increasing work. It seems cer- including religion; and although sport. tain that the spirit of Christ is there is no wide-open door for at work, and new hope has arisen Gospel preaching in Turkey, the Thus Hindu, Mohammedan, that the land sacred to three re- evangelist can get a hearing if Sikh, Parsee and Christian womligions may again become a land there is no suspicion that his en are cooperating for the uplift of peace. message has any political bear- of India's Women. . -International Review of Mis- ing. There is a free field for -Women's Missionary Maga- the circulation of Christian liter- sions. ature; and the Scriptures, which zine. have been published in Latin Palestine After Eighteen Years script, are selling readily. In Soviet Combats Missions the Istanbul area it has been Moses Bailey, writing in The found that the establishment M The Bombay Press Service re- American Friend, describes the small, scattered prayer groups ports': changes he observed in Palestine among the members of the Evanwhen he returned after an ab- gelical and Oriental churches has The Soviet Russian Godless League sence of 18 years. Better roads, served to strengthen and encour- has decided to establish international more land under cultivation, in- age them in life and witness. schools in Moscow to train propacreased orange groves, shade ganda experts to combat the missiontrees, irrigation systems, modern -International Review of Mis- ary work of the Christian Church in ways of doing things, were su- sions. the colonies, especially the humanitarperficial changes first noted. Per- ian and cultural work. Indians, Nehaps the tremendously increased INDIA AND BURMA groes and Arabians will be among the hatred, fear and economic insta- candidates to be trained in these bility might also be signs of Years of Progress :schools. modernity. In the midst of all this it is difficult to train boys The All-India Women's Con- The Bulletin adds: and girls for a useful life. Fiery ference is the acknowledged adnationalists' idea of education is vocate of the women of India, According to information received to have their wits sharpened the without any distinction of creed, in London, special propaganda cambetter to supplant their oppo- caste or class. It has a mem- paign for British India is announced nents. bership of over 8,500. At its by the Riga press bureau of the God- 13th session, about 200 delegates less League. The campaign includes, Mr. Bailey finds two outstand- were in attendance. The criti- among other things, the scattering of ing attributes in the Arab mind: cism that the Conference was 10,000 Russian atheists throughout a genius for friendship and a only for ladies of leisure was re- India. keenness for hard study, not futed, for the delegates were surpassed in any other race, so mostly teachers, doctors and oth- The same facts have been notfar as he has observed. Friend- er workers. ed in European papers. liness and ability form a combination that can go far. There The work of the conference Plea for Economy are two disadvantages, however, during the past year has been as Mr. Bailey sees it; religion, constructive and extensive. Pub- The Soc i a I Reconstruction whether Christian or Moslem, is lic opinion has been enlightened Committee of the American materialistic; and the fact that as to divorce, polygamy and the Marathi Mission presented to the the Arab feels first and thinks legal disabilities of women. Ag- Annual Meeting of the Council afterward; this makes them a ricultural improvement and a recommendation on family fertile field for the demagogue. home industries, such as leather problems, among them the ex- work, clay modeling and needle- travagant marriage c u s tom s Materialism in Turkey work, have been organized in prevalent in the Indian Chris- several centers. Considerable tian community. It was urged The westernization of Turkey attention had been paid to ma- that all Indian Christians and goes on apace; so much so that ternity and child welfare, and especially mission workers armissionaries are saying that it is clinics providing free medical range only simple and inexpennot primarily Mohammedanism, treatment, and in some cases sive weddings, without giving but materialism with which they free milk and clothing, had been dinners to the community, or have to deal. In many govern- established at some centers. The spending money on bands, on ment schools there is not only insanitary condition of certain processions, on lights or on rich no religious. and moral teaching schools and mill areas had been clothing for bride, bridegroom given, but distinct anti-religious tackled by a few health commit- or relatives; and without borteaching. The children are rowing any money for the occa- sion. To encourage those who would prefer to arrange wed- dings within their means, but who yield to the pressure of so- cial opinion, it was recommended
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
that Christians should not attend reminded of it by one of the augurate a New Life Movement, extravagant wedding festivities. women, a fact in itself encour- with the following objectives as aging. So a meeting was called their goal: It was further recommended to plan the campaign, and in- that all mission schools and in- stead of the six women expected, No filth in the house or around it. stitutions should introduce prac- eighteen presented themselves Every Christian wear clean clothes. tical projects which through ex- for Instructions. No debts contracted through mar- perience will teach all students riage, and workers the value of money The women were divided into No excessive interest. and how to use it; and will also groups of three or four, and each No expensive feasts. definitely discourage them from group was assigned a definite All disputes settled out of court. going into debt. number of homes to visit; thus Punctuality, all the homes in one village were Cleansing of tobacco from personal -Dnyanodaya. visited in an afternoon. In two and social life. homes the workers were asked No liquor. Bhil Christians to pray; those who asked for Adoption of a salutation-folding this said they had faith, but to hands and saying namascaram. The story of Christian Work accept Christ openly was a dif- At least one-tenth to Church, Chris- among the Bhils goes back to ferent matter. tian work and charity. the year 182'8, when a British Wiping out the remnants of caste. officer, an earnest Christian, was Mrs. Whitcomb went with a Family devotions every day. in charge of Rajputana, and in different group each day, and No recreation that cannot be taken his administration of the district was deeply moved by the ear- in the name of the Lord Jesus. prayed for the day when these nestness of these women in giv- A cooperative in every village people might hear the Gospel. ing their testimony. Their spirit (Kagawa method), But it was not until 1878 that of good will was contagious, and Wiping out of illiteracy. steps were taken to found a Mis- great benefit came to the work- Cottage industries in every home. sion among these aboriginal ers themselves, for they con- tribes. The C. M. S. put an ap- trasted the hopelessness of the -National Christian Council peal in the church papers for a villagers with the blessings of Review. missionary to go to the Bhil Christianity. country, and two years later a CHINA young recruit went out. After -Outlook of Missions. ten years of uphill work, results A Visitor's Impressions began to appear, and by 1892 Political Advance Helps there was a small Bhil Christian Evangelism A traveler visiting nine out- Church. Coming down to 1939, stations and one main station how has this Mission fared? A A writer in the Missionary of the China Inland Mission, re- recent report says that churches Herald argues that the obstacle marks that three things im- have been .established in nine to progress represented by finan- pressed her especially: the ear- main centers with a total mem- cial retrenchment will turn into nestness of the women, their de- bership of 1047. Schools have a stepping stone to indigenous s,ire to learn and their extreme been opened and there are now evangelization, and the steady poverty. In every place women over 500 pupils in them. building up of an indigenous walked from one to four miles church, because of the political in the early morning, bringing There is also a well developed development of the past year or just a few pieces of dry bread medical work. Presbyterians two. India has taken a long for the noon meal, and would sit have a mission among the same stride toward independence, and on hard benches all day study- people, and many thousands have from now on is ruling herself as ing a hymn, memorizing a bit been baptized in the last few never before; so also she is be- of Scripture, struggling over a years. ginning to realize that she must few characters. When the last also evangelize herself. This is meeting was over they would The work is quiet and inten- the trend of India's Christian trudge back 3 to 8 l~-not only s i ve; sporadic persecution movement; self-government not complaining, but pathetically . breaks out from time to time, but must be paralleled by self evan- grateful for the privilege of the missionaries carryon faith- .gelization. coming. Wind, cold, heat, in no fully the activities of schools, way deterred them, and they hospital, evangelism and pastor- In the light of this conclusion, s,eemed never to tire of meetings, al care. -C. M. S. Outlook. the United Theological College seldom less than two hours long. of Western India is redoubling They have a very real faith. and Women Volunteers its efforts to supply a trained to listen to their stories of an- ministry, and thus do a work of swered prayer is impressive. For some years at Baitalpur, strategic importance for India's Many are in direst economic it has been the custom for Chris- future. straits, yet not one asked for tian women to volunteer for financial help; many eve n evangelistic service in the neigh- Indian "New Life Movement" brought gifts of eggs or sweet boring villages. Mrs. E. W. potatoes to the Mission. Whitcomb who went to Baital- As an outcome of the Mara- pur after furlough knew noth- mon Conference, Christians of The visitor mentions the prev- ing of this custom, but was Travancore have decided to in- alence of demon possession. One saw and heard much of the pow- ers of darkness. In one instance
two Christian workers knelt for now is to institute a movement tians gave cause for alarm, as it two hours beside the afflicted for socialized reform compatible extended to local shops and even person in continuous prayer be- with the aspirations of all pro- necessary food was unobtainable fore release was finally given. gressive people. Portraits of for a time, but happily normal Lenin ruld Stalin have been re- conditions have been resumed. -China's Millions. placed by those of Sun Yat-sen One unfortunate result was the and Chiang Kai~shek. This has apostasy of a whole family of Reveals War Conditions been amply corroborated by oth- Christians with the exception of ers who know China; and this one of its members; and this cir- The Presbyterian Mission in destroys the point of J apanes.e cumstance was the more painful Peiping received the following assertion that they are fighting since the head of that family had letter in Chinese, written by an bolshevism. professed Christianity for nearevangelist living 30 miles outside ly forty years. of Peiping. This is the trans- Future of Medical Missions lation: More Gospels are entering Dr. K. C. Wong, Secretary of Tibet than ever before. Last Do not turn your face away from the Council of Medical Missions, year, with the financial support this my letter. But incline your ear says that of 217 mission hospi- of the National Bible Society of to your evangelist, a man filled with tals 81 were (in March) in "oc- Scotland, an adventurous jour': grief. Since my eyes last saw you I cupied areas," 82 in "fighting ney of two months was underhave been as a tree without leaves. I zones" and but 54 in "free Chi- taken by two evangelists who rehave suffered from one new moon to na." A survey made some ported the acceptance of hunthe other. The church members have months earlier showed that of dreds of copies of the Gospel. passed through four calamities: war, 34 mission hospitals in east Chibanditry, flood and famine. In this na 11 had been bombed or de- During the first three months our country there is no law, there is stroyed, 12 had been damaged of its existence, the "Gospel no peace. Bandits entered our town. or looted, 7 were "occupied" and Inn," of which mention has been They came with big shouting, they left 4 were closed. Since this re- made in these columns, more in clouds of black smoke. As a whirl- port some have been recovered than 800 travelers and pilgrims, wind they went over the land. Spoil- and opened, but almost every 700 ponies, yaks and donkeys ing and violence was before them. At week one or more has been dam- found shelter and more than 2'00 random they killed young and old. aged or destroyed. patients were treated for minor And they considered it but nothing to ailments. A capable Bible womrope seventy of our men together and Dockors and nurses are sadly an and her husband are in throw them into the river. In a well overworked, with most of their charge of the Inn. Beside the near our church twenty-eight women Chinese staff gone. However, daily Gospel talk, each lodger reand girls found death in escape from European refugees have ren- ceives a tract, or buys a Gospel their hands. Young Mrs. Wang, the dered ass,istance. So overwhelm- before he leaves. A public liwife of him who tends the sick in the ing are immediate demands that brary and reading room have mission hospital, was one of them, there has been no time to plan been established, where daily also Mrs. Yang and her daughter, for the future. Relief funds will papers and magazines are availwhom you know. In wartime life is not last forever; doctors cannot able. Another plan to extend the truly cheap. The iniquity of our time run one-man hospitals indefinite- usefulness of the Inn is that of is fiercer than evening wolves. The ly with from 100 to 200 clinical opening a grocery, where tired bandits trampled down the harvest, patients daily besides their in- pilgrims may buy such necessiburned our homes, kidnapped the girls, patients. Before the war many ties as tea, butter, flour and keroand plundered the stores. They took of these hospitals were practical- sene. Judging from the extent away our donkeys and drove our pigs ly self-supporting but for the to which this has been used, the before them. missionaries' salaries. Now the new venture is a success. supporting constituency has fled. Thou, Shepherd-teacher, will re- -Moravian Missions. member how the people used to sing 'One conspicuously efficient as taught at the evangelistic meetings. hospital recently was approached JAPAN -CHOSEN Now everyone is quiet. The men look by the Japanese to rent or to worried, the women have forgotten sell the plant to them, and it is Christianity Gets Official how to smile. For many, death seems reported that a refusal will be Status more desirable than life. A great met by the challenge of a new many have no home, no clothing, no hospital designed far to outshine The 74th Japanese Diet has remoney. 0, thou who art safe out of the mission institution. cently passed all the 89 bills inthis spot of calamity, incline thine ear troduced, not one being rejected and knit the little thread of our hope -The Christian Century. or even altered materially. The into a rope of victory. enactment of the "Religious In Western Tibet Bodies Bill," which in one form -Evangelical Christian. or another has for 40 years been Rev. Walter Asboe, Moravian a bone of contention in legisla- What About the Communists? missionary, reports both encour- tive circles, may have great or agement and disappointment in little significance for Christian- One who has lived long in Chi- the Tibet field. A severe boycott ity depending on what happens na, in a personal letter to a of missionaries and native Chris- in other respects. While acfriend, throws light on a question often asked: Is China going "red"? This writer says that Chinese communists have abandoned many of their ideological concepts, originating in Russia, and much of their violence ; they are now Chinese, first and foremost; their aim
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
knowledging the right to reli- anese laymen and of mission- and surgical work is done by one gious freedom guaranteed by the aries; one half are to be chosen foreign and one Korean doctor. constitution, the bill puts all re- from eastern Japan, and one ligious organizations under the half from western Japan. In 1938, the company spent regulation of the Ministry of over 60,000 yen for this medical Education. Creedal positions and Large Bible rallies in Tokyo service. There were treated in forms of worship must be ac- and Osaka give evidence of a de- the wards, dispensary and the ceptable to the authorities; ad- termined spirit in this move- surrounding villages more than ministrative, legal and property ment. -Bible Society Record. 40,000 patients (this is a record affairs must conform to regula- of treatments-not different pations, and all changes must be Chinese Y. M. C. A. Suppressed tients) . There were more than promptly reported. 400 major operations. Of the The Tokyo correspondent for treatments more than 10,000 Some Christians say that the The Christian Century made a were for outsiders. No charge new bill merely legalizes condi- visit to the parts of the city is made to anyone, but patients tions long in force; that Chris- where formerly many Chinese not employed by the company tianity is now specifically recog- resided and where the Y. M. must pay for their own drugs nized as one of Japan's' three C. A. and other cultural institu- and operating material. The accepted faiths, hence prejudice tions sought to serve those from company has never been known on the part of petty officials can the Celestial Kingdom. Chinese to refuse to send their doctor to no longer be a handicap; that are there still, but both Chinese distant villages to see seriously the new legal status accorded and Christian institutions as sick Koreans. both denominations and local such have disappeared. There communions will prove of advan- was a great exodus of Chinese -Korean Mission Field. tage in penetrating conservative students from Japan in the sumand bigoted regions; and that mer of 1937. Now hundreds of What Medicine Has Done for the bill will discourage the devel- Chinese youths are again com- Chosen opment of superstitious faiths of ing to Tokyo for study-this all sorts. The danger of state time from the occupied regions To form a correct appreciaregulation is minimized. of China. But who now will tion of the part played by medi- help them as did the Y. M. and cine in the regeneration of Ko- -Christian Century. Y. W. C. A. and the churches in rea, says Dr. O. R. Avison, one the days when Sun Yat-sen, Chi- must know what were the con- "Nippon Seisho Kyokwai" ang Kai-shek and C. T. Wang ditions when Protestant missions were occasional sojourners there entered the country in 1884. This is the name of the Japan and had many friends in Tokyo Even forty years ago, practical- Bible Society, recently organ- interested not in the politics but ly everybody was pock marked. ized. It marks another step in in the souls of these youthful All children were expected to the cooperative plans of the seekers after truth? have smallpox before the age of older Bible Societies, and reveals two; so many of them died that the courageous way the younger Medical Work in Mines mothers thought it hardly worth churches are rising to increased while to count a child as a memresponsibilities. One of the Th e Oriental Consolidated ber of the family until he had things that stood out clearly at Mining Company in Korea is survived this disease. An epithe Madras Conference was the known as the American Mines. demic of Asiatic cholera was exfact that these younger churches Its president from the beginning pected every five or six years. have made great strides. Many until he died in 1927 was Henry Both diseases were attributed to of them have grown up in lands C. Perkins of New York who, the power of demons. There was where Christianity was unknown throughout his life, had a deep no knowledge at all of sanitaless than two hundred years ago. interest in the lives of the min- tion ; vermin were abundant; ers and their families, one evi- excrement from human beings Many Japanese Christian lead- dence being the maintenance of infected with all sorts of intesers have been concerned that the medical care for these workers. tinal parasites was used as fer- Scriptures in use in Japan bore tilizer, and raw vegetables eaten the imprint of foreign Bible So- Much could be said of the gen- unwashed, or washed in polluted cieties; and after a number of eral policies of this company; water. Flies had access to conconferences of representatives how it has never been in the taminated places, and to good; of the foreign societies and their courts, has always paid at least mosquitoes were uncontrolled. Japanese advisory committees, a one yearly dividend; never fluc- Those ill with contagious disconstitution was drawn up and tuated prices nor padded its re- eases were not isolated. ratified last October. The essen- ports, but there is space only to tial objectives are the same as speak of the medical work. The One day Dr. Avison was walkthose of Western societies: the company maintains a little hos- ing outside the city gate when translation, publication and dis- pital with room for 25 to 30 in- he saw a strange sight-the tribution of the Scriptures, with- patients. Through a dispensary corpse of a child that had died out note or comment. The gov- and clinic connected with the of smallpox. Here was an operning body is composed equally hosuital 75 or more patients go portunity to pit the strength of of Japanese ministers, of Jap- daily except Sundays. Medical vaccination against the power of
a demon, if only he could be al- and have no Christian influence. from the war scene in Spain, or lowed to try. At first, all offers There are about 4,000 Japanese again it might fit the picture of were refused. Finally, a Chris- Christians living in Formosa. a Jewish refugee group on the tian mother agreed to let him see One hopeful sign for the future border of Czechoslovakia. But what he could do. Her child is the keenness and activity of no, it happened in the U. S. A.; passed its second year and then the Christian youth in Formosa. the pitiful procession was made its third without taking small- up of "sharecroppers" in Mispox; after that other mothers -International Review of souri, evicted from their shanwere anxious to try the new way. Missions. ties because, allegedly, landown- This incident opened the door to ers wished to change from tendisease prevention, and in time In Netherlands Indies ants to day laborers. the government made vaccination compulsory. Today, small- . The first Christian book in One More Poll Needed pox is rare. Javanese, other than the Bible, appeared in 1938. It is a child's We have "had plenty of "polls." -Korea Mission Field. Life of Christ entitled "The King Weare asked how we shall vote of Love." It originally appeared in 1940; even personal habits ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC in Arabic, then in Urdu, then are inquired into, so that we Persian. Christian work among know how everybody feels; but "For Value Received" young people in both Java and why not have a poll as to what Sumatra is being steadily pro- the churches intend to do about Filipino Christians are assum- moted. Annual conferences and the missionary enterprise? ing more and more responsibil- a Christian newspaper are some Would it not be possible to ask ity for work, which a few years of the means used. Autonomous 100,000 people in typical churchago had to be done, if at all, by churches are to be found in dif- es some such questions as: the missionaries. For example, ferent areas of the Indies, but in the wife of a Filipino professor some sections missionary work (1) Do I really believe that Jesus at Silliman University is teach- is forbidden by the government; started the missionary method, and ing music while the missionary in northern Sumatra and in Bali, believed that. His Gospel would evenhead of the department is absent for example, but Christians from tually win the world? on furlough. "Don't worry about other localities settle in these salary," she said. "Silliman gave areas, bringing their faith and (2) Do I really believe that my anme my education, and if I can witness with them. The fact cestors received civilization and every be of service I shall be glad." that now for the first time in uplifting ideal they possessed through One of the assistant professors Borneo the Asiatic ministry of Christian missionaries? Clearly this has started a flourishing cooper- the Church exceeds the Euro- seems true, and how anyone can doubt ative in Dumaguete; while an pean holds out hope for the fu- our obligation to share similar lifeinstructor is teaching local farm- ture. giving and level-lifting Christian ers how to make better use of ideals is beyond understanding. their resources. Still another -International Review of goes regularly to the small Missions. (3) Despite taxes, losses, fears, but churches to help with the music. admitting most of us still live in com- NORTH AMERICA fortable homeR and eat thrice a day, -Monday Morning. do I really believe that an annual per Where Did This Happen? capita gift of fifty cents per member Christianity in Formosa in our denomination proves our part- Last January the New York nership in a progressive and victori- Restrictions have been placed Times published a news story ous enterprise like winning a world on Christian work in Formosa, from which the paragraph be- for the Gospel of Christ? as elsewhere in the Japanese low is taken. Missions reprinted empire. Efforts have been made it and asked its readers to guess (4) Do I really believe that our to force all Formosan household- what part of the world the story missionaries exert important influers to set up miniature Shinto came from. ences for world peace, and that shrines, and neglect to do so has through them we are aidinp.: in the led to trouble in some districts. Along two highways more than progress of the Kingdom of God? This order is as unacceptable to 1,000 men, women and children non-Christians as to Christians, camped in the open air. They hud- -American Board News. since the former regard the sub- dled around camp fires, or makeshift stitution of new emblems for old stoves, along desolate rights of way, "Temperance Trailer" as destroying their own ances- sharing the contents of huge steaming tral religion. kettles. The number of camps was A "Temperance Trailer," still growing at nightfall as new- sponsored by the Friends' Tem- In 1936, the Canadian Mission comers straggled in on foot, or in perance Association of Philadelwithdrew from the Tansui Mid- dilapidated vehicles. The camps dot- phia, has made a transcontidle, and Girls' Schools in For- ted the road all the way to the border nental tour of over 10,000 miles, mosa, because of government re- line. Men feeble with age, one woman stopping in more than a hundred quirement in regard to shrine so ill that she had to be carried on a towns in twenty-eight states, and attendance. These schools are cot, and babies crying from fright and carrying a temperance message now under local management, hunger, added to the distressing pic- to over 150,000 persons. The ture. trailer is fitted out with various exhibits, including a "drunko- It might describe the plight meter," designed to dramatize of the Chinese; it might come the dangers of alcohol. Tem- perance lectures are given, and questions from the audience are
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
answered by the crew of three. missing from my daily life. In which he demonstrates the pos- There has been no acrimonious that immortal masterpiece of sibility of the miraculous by scidebate, or hostility. literature I find new inspiration. entific analogy. Up to March, That is why the Holy Bible is many thousands had listened to -The American Friend. my favorite book." these demonstrations; sometimes the lectures start thirty minutes Immanuel Mission to Seamen -Lutheran News Bureau. early because the auditorium is jammed. The audiences are Laden with Scripture por- Organization Changes Name about ninety per cent untions, workers of Immanuel churched. There have been defi- Mission to Seamen enter cabins The "International Save the nite conversions. A San Franand crews' quarters on vessels Children Fund," as this agency cisco daily observes that these of all types and nationalities has been called since its organ- lectures leave the audience less along the Pacific Coast. Oppor- ization in 1931, is now to be cock sure of their own wisdom, tunity to read at sea, the absence known as the "Save the Children and with a feeling that the mirof opposition and a lack of di- Federation." The President, acles of the Bible are not so imversion ensure a friendly recep- Dr. John R. Voris, says that the possible as they had supposed. tion for these workers. The name Federation is adopted be- Alaska salmon fleet carries a cause this is a movement, or as- Institutions Closed mixed group of Americans, Chi- sociation, and the name "Fund" nese, Italians, Scandinavians, no longer describes its functions, Because of financial strin- Mexicans and Filipinos. They as it did in the beginning. Drop- gency the Presbyterian Board. beg for reading matter, for ping the word "International" is of National Missions has voted Alaska is almost a spiritual of no significance, except to to close three of its institutions: wilderness. shorten the name. The Federa- the American Indian Institute, tion will continue to maintain Wichita, Kansas; Ingleside-Fee Malay and Javanese Scrip- relationship with the Save the Institute, Burkeville, Virginia; tures find their way to the crews Children International Union of and Brainerd Institute, Chester, of Dutch East Indies boats, and Geneva, of which the fund has South Carolina, in the Negro. Spanish booklets are used with been the American member ever field. All three have been givgreat blessing on various ships since its founding. The question ing splendid service, but their coming in to San Francisco from of changing the title of the agen- discontinuance was the only al- Puerto Rico. American liners cy has been under consideration ternative to a general retrenchsailing across the Pacific are for more than two years. Effort ment, which would have crippled supplied with Bible portions and has been made to find a still the entire program of the Board.. booklets. For a period of more shorter name.-The Churchman. than 24 years this work has been At the same meeting at which carried on among seamen. The Radio as a Missionary this decision was made it was Voice voted that the new hospital be- -Scripture Gift Mission ing erected to replace the over- Bulletin. The "Lutheran Hour," a Sun- crowded Brooklyn Cottage Hos- day afternoon coast – to – coast pital at Dixon, N. M., be named The Bible in the CCC broadcast, can claim a mission- the Embudo Presbyterian Hospi- ary bearing. Dr. Walter A. tal; and that the staff home be When CCC boys were asked Maier, of the Concordia Semi- called the Brooklyn-Nassau Cottheir preference in reading mate- nary Faculty in St. Louis, who tage. Embudo will be the post rial, a large majority indicated broadcast over 66 stations from office address of the new hospithat the Bible is their favorite October to Easter Sunday has tal. The name of the staff home book. The reasons given for this been heard by sailors on the high is the Board's expression of appreference were varied, but first seas, by isolated men in lumber preciation for the continued prize, if one had been awarded, and mining camps in the north interest of Brooklyn – Nassau would go to Wayne Berkshire of woods, by distinguished person- Presbyterial Society in this Company 793, Hill City, S. Da- ages high in the business, pro- project. kota, for the following reply: fessional and social life of the "My favorite book is the Holy nation – by a vast audience Indians Set Example Bible. Why? Because it is my whose number can be estimated mother's and my own wish that only from the tremendous num- In proportion to their means, I develop a more wholesome, sin- ber who send in their comments, the Sioux Indians give more for c ere and faithful religion. totaling 133,000 last season. the promotion of Christian activ- Through the Bible and, of course, ities than any other church the Church, I am striving to Treasure Island Gospel Project members anywhere. Once they reach that goal. I have discov- were the fiercest, most war-like ered and constantly rely upon Mention has been made of the of all North American Indians. the magic powers of prayer when San Francisco Christian Busi- They were the ones who wiped in trouble, in doubt, and at the ness Men's presentation of the out General Custer and his cavclose of every day. If I could Gospel at the Golden Gate Expo- aIry; now, every member of the not have access to the Bible each sition through Irvin Moon's tribe is a professed Christian, day, I would feel that something "Sermons from Science," in important and necessary was
All of them are peaceful farm- MISCELLANEOUS Persia …………….. . 40,000 ers. 40,000 Fifty Years-Past and Future Brazil …………….. . 24,141 A few years ago when grass- 23,553 hoppers and drouth practically United Presbyterian young India ……………… . 20,000 ruined farmers, many church people have been celebrating fif- Australia ………….. . 19,850 people advocated withdrawal ty years of organized work in from the South Dakota field, but their denomination, and are con- Mexico ……………. . 7,800 the Sioux Indians held a mass sidering the situation of today in China …………….. . 4,000 meeting, pledged a fifty per cent its relation to that of fifty years 2,591 increase in their giving and hence; facing a world of today, Cuba ……………… . adopted the slogan, "Move For- terribly disorganized economi- Spain …………….. . ward."-United Presbyterian. cally, socially, internationally, religiously and morally. They New Zealand ………. . The Church in the Arctic realize that there probably nev- er was a day of greater oppor- World O. E. Advance The aeroplane and the wire- tunity for youth to make an imless have caused tremendous press on their world. The older Two important changes in changes in mission work in the generation is looking on with Christian Endeavor activities Arctic regions. Last year Bish- keen interest as it sees young have taken place across the op Fleming traveled from 15,000 people ready and eager to spend Pacific. The Methodist Episcopal to 16,000 miles through the east- a large part of their summer Church of southern Asia has ern Arctic, covered much work vacation period in listening at- voted to discontinue the Epwhich had never been done be- tentively to leaders who try to worth League to permit its youth fore, and could not have been direct their energies in the path organizations to unite with the attempted but for the aeroplane. of Christ's Kingdom. While this Christian Endeavor Union of Plane travel is not expensive, fiftieth anniversary celebration India, Burma and Ceylon. This considering the e nor m 0 u s has paid tribute to the "giants is another step toward union of amount of time saved thereby. there were in those days," it Protestant missionary programs For the better spiritual care of makes clear that the younger in southern Asia. The Methodist the 11,000 people-Indians, Es- generation has a whole army of Church has nearly half a million kimos and white folk-within possible "giants." members in India, and more the Arctic Circle and a distance than 54,000 are registered in below it, the diocese of the Arc- -United Presbyterian. Methodist schools. tic was constituted in 1933, and comprises one-third of the whole Where Can the "Wandering The second move was the for- Dominion of Canada. Jew" Wander? mation of a Pacific Region of the World Christian End e a v 0 r There are two hospitals in the Union, to include China, Japan, diocese: All Saints, at Aklavik, Korea, Manchoukuo, New Zeaand St. Luke's at Pangnirtung. land, Australia, the Philippines, Remembering that the diocese the Fiji and Samoan Islands, and comprises over a million square other Pacific island groups. miles, one understands why Bishop Fleming is seeking to found From his original home in Pal- Youth at Amsterdam a third on the north shore of estine the Jew has wandered far Hudson Strait. The existing and wide. He has indeed been There is an alarming regimenhospitals are fully equipped with "the wandering Jew." The tation of young people in many electric light, X-ray apparatus, Christian Evangelist has given parts of the world in movements operating theaters, and other de- that are anti-Christian, or at sirable and necessary features·. an interesting tabulation to show least non-Christian. A World The government supplies the the present distribution of Jews Conference of Christian Youth doctors: the Church provides throughout the world: to be held at Amsterdam, Holthe staff and upkeep. land, July 24-August 3, is United States ………. . 4,228,029 planned to make the Christian Primitive animism is the re- 3,028,837 youth of the world more aware ligion of the native, Eskimo and Poland ……………. . 2,676,109 of their heritage in the Chris- Indian alike. Nineteen clergy- tian faith, and more forceful one an Eskimo deacon-and six- Russia ……………. . 728,115 and courageous in applying the ty or more lay workers assist Rumania …………… . 514,269 message of the Church in a Bishop Fleming. There is also Near East …………. . 499,682 world whose disintegrating forcwork for white people. Each 444,567 es are placing Christianity benorthern settlement has its Hud- Germany ………….. . 356,830 fore one of the greatest tests of son's Bay Company store, the Hungary ………….. . 300,000 its history. barracks of the Royal Canadian 260,000 Mounted Police (the "Moun- Czechoslovakia ……… . 240,000 The conference program is the ties"), and the wireless. station. Great Britain ………. . 191,408 result of two years of consulta- 161,312 tion among youth leaders from -Life of Faith. Argentina …………. . 156,817 all parts of the world. The 155,614 daily worship service will enable France ……………. . 155,125 all delegates to attend the type Austria ……………. . 110,127 of service to which they are ac- customed, and also to experience Morocco …………… . 95,000 other worship customs. 81,280 Netherlands ………… . 72,791 Canada ……………. . 72,550 Lithuania ………….. . 60,000 Algeria ……………. . 59,485 South Africa ……….. . 51,000 47,825 Turkey ……………. . Greece …………….. . Egypt …………….. .
Belgium …………… .
Tunis …………….. . Abyssinia ………….. . Italy ……………… .
~==~======~============~l'~
Our Missionary Bookshelf Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information Cry Dance. A Novel of the Ameri- It is an attempt to provide a While the main emphasis in can Indian. By Coe Hayne. 8 Yo. guide to the solution of life's dif- "This Business of Living" is 255 pp. $2.00. Harper & Bros. New ficult and often tragic problems. upon personal and individual York. 1939. Who among us would not wel- problems, the author pauses come assistance at this point and more than once to point out the The American Indians are a who is there without some friend application of his proffered solupicturesque and romantic people. or acquaintance whose need for tion to the larger social and na- They have been exploited, exhib- wisdom and guidance is great tional problems as well. "There ited, abused and protected for is no problem that is not in printwo hundred years. They sur- indeed? ciple a personal problem," he vive but are not yet made a civi- But will this book meet that truly says. And here are a few lized, Christian and integral part other wise observations: "Any of the nation. Many are strong need? Undoubtedly it will for victory won by force is a defeat" characters and capable of becom- the more intelligent reader, for ing highly educated and efficient the person who is equipped to "An agreement reached unde' r leaders. understand and appropriate that which is not always easy read- pressure is not an agreement, but As Secretary of Research of the ing. But it is a question whether the perpetration of a disagree- American Baptist Home Mission the common man, untrained in ment." "All war is defeat." "We Society, the Rev. Coe Hayne, philosophical and psychological must never surrender to the behas had many opportunities to lief that force has the last word." study the Indians on the reser- terms and methods, will find These words are true for the invations and has come to love and much of this helpful book avail- dividual; they are no less true admire them. Here he has told able for his needs. This is to be for nations. a stirring story of a young In- regretted since the common man dian, "Yosemite," who gave up is often the one who most des- VICTOR G. MILLS. his college course, and fine pros- perately needs the help which pects of a professional career, to Dr. Grensted offers. If the meth- Dynamic Christianity and the World throw in his lot with his people od and style of the book as a Today. By Samuel M. Zwemer. 8vo. in the Sierras and champion whole had been closer to the free 17? pp. 28. 6d. Intervarsity Fellowtheir cause in the struggle and easy spirit of the title it shIp. London; Zondervan Publishagainst poverty and wrong and would be more useful where ing House, Grand Rapids, Mich. in behalf of their rights in Amer- most needed. 1939. ica. A young white woman joined in the fight for the Red Yet with this one limitation, There are good reasons why man. "Cry Dance" tells the let it be said that for many, es- only earnest, believing followers story of the struggle-which pecially for those who would still continues. There are ad- help others in meeting life's of Christ are interested in proventures, bitter fights, and two moting Christian missions. One love stories woven into the nar- problems and crises, this book must believe in the importance rative. It is an incompleted tale will provide very real assistance. but the author shows good judg- Workers with troubled minds of a cause and in the claims of ment in his outcome of the love and hearts will be bet t e r its leader before one will give stories of white folk and Indians. equipped for reading it. It notes time and strength and money to Young people will find the novel advance that cause. Dr. Zwemof particular interest. It has a the nature of life's most common er has proved his faith by his definite Christian tone. problems, always stressing the works for he has spent nearly fifty years in many lands seek- This Business of Living. By L. W. fact that in the last analysis all ing to win Moslems to Christ- Grensted. 187 pp. $1.75. Mac- of these problems come back to by voice and pen and life. He millan. New York. 1939. the problem of self. The inef- knows that the only kind of Christianity worth following A cover notice calls this "a fectiveness of the common meth- and worth propagating is "Dy- book for everyman." One can- ods of help is made clear. And namic Christianity." This is the not but wish that this were more then the author points out the Christianity of the living Christ nearly the case, for every man one adequate answer which is who is the ever present Head of needs what this book has to offer. found through religion, when His Church and the motivating rightly conceived, and preemi- and achieving power of the Gos- nently through Christianity. The pel. chapter on "The Way of Release" is especially worth while.
[383 ]
The author has given us here wealth of Christian doctrine, scenes are laid, gives additional a dynamic book. The Gospel that and the last three which deal he proclaims is the same that with Christian experience based value to leaders of children's came through Jesus Christ and on that doctrine. Her analytical that "turned the world up-side- mind does not prevent her from groups. H. H. F. down" in the days of the Apos- seeing the beauty of the truth tles. It is the Gospel founded on she presents nor do her outlines Mary Reed of Chandag. By Lee S. faith in the Bible as the inspired obscure the life and power. One Huizenga. 37 pp. Paper, 35 cents. Word of God and in Christ as the wishes that she had drawn more Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Son of God and only Redeemer largely on her rich experiences Rapids, Mich. 1939. of men. This is the heart of to illustrate the truths presented. Christianity that has proved its But there is a reality and a glow Almost everyone knows the truth and power and that is dy- in her Christian life that is con- story of Mary Reed, who went namic today among all peoples tagious. These studies in Ephe- to India in 1884; became a leper; to whom the Gospel is pro- sians will richly reward any was healed through prayer and claimed in the power of the Holy student-preacher, teacher, mis- for forty-seven years has di- Spirit. sionary or layman. rected the Chandag Leper Home in the foothills of the Himalayas. Dr. Zwemer shows clearly that They Dared to Live. By Robert M. She recently celebrated her 83d this Gospel is everlasting; that Bartlett. 12mo. 135 pp. $1.25. birthday. This little, illustrated it has not changed; that it is Association Press. New York. book retells a story and gives absolute and is vitally linked 1939. important facts about leprosy with the "Changeless Christ." and its modern treatment. He shows that, while this Gos- This series of thirty-five tenpel is neglected and repudiated minute biographies are very H. H. F. by many who refuse to believe, brief stories of explorers, scienit is the Gospel that the whole tists, teachers, reformers, stu- Meditations on the Holy Spirit. By world needs today. The work of dents, social workers, artists, Toyohiko Kagawa. 167 pp. $1.50. Christ has made great progress, authors, doctors, political lead- Cokesbury Press, Nashville, Tenextens.ively and intensively, and ers and missionaries and Amer- nessee. 1939. mankind is accessible as never icans. They include British, before, but there are still great French, Chinese, Japanese, Ger- The world famous Japanese regions of the world and vast mans, Swiss, Russians, Czechs, Christian has given us an attracareas of humanity that are un- Africans, Norwegians, Indians tive statement of some great enlightened by a knowledge of and others. There are well- principles of the spiritual life. "the Light of the World." known names like Helen Keller Throughout it the author shows and President Masarayk, and ob- a strong mystical tendency. He This is not only an intensely scure persons like Roland Hayes is definitely Trinitarian and interesting and informing book, and Pierre Ceresole. The great clearly stands for the Personit is inspiring and dynamic. disappointment is t hat the ality of. the Holy Spirit. What would be the result if sketches are too brief, but they every Christian minister should make one wish to know more Readers who accept the inread it? about these men and women who errancy of the Bible will be dis- dared to work against obstacles turbed by Dr. Kagawa's tend- The Wealth, Walk and Warfare of and for a high purpose, and suc- ency to rationalize some of the the Christian. By Ruth Paxson. ceeded. miracles. He also appears to ac- 8vo. 222 pages. $1.50. Revell. cept Darwin's views of the New York. 1939. Far Round the World. By Grace W. "Origin of the Species" quite un- McGavran. Illustrated by Mar- critically. Another questionable Miss Paxson is already well garet Ayer. 118 pp. Cloth, $1.00. point is a rather naturalistic known through her spiritual Friendship Press, N. Y. 1939. view of the personal spiritual presentation of "Life on the experience of the Lord Jesus. Highest Plane." She is a devout Miss McGavran, the REVIEW'S With such reservations it is only and intelligent Bible teacher and Editor of "Effective Ways of fair to say that there is a great an evangelist of rare gifts and Working," and the author of deal that is searching and helpgraces; she has been widely and "Missionary Stories for Chil- ful, for the book evidently comes wonderfully used of God in dren," gives here eleven splendid out of deep personal experience. China, in Europe and America. stories showing the improve- The supernatural view of the ments of social conditions, de- Holy Spirit is accepted. In the present volume Miss cline in race prejudice, braving Paxson gives us some fruitful re- danger in Mexico, India, Africa, F. E. G. sults of her study in the letter Japan, China, Paraguay, Ceylon to the Ephesians, which she calls and the Philippine Islands. They Studies in First and Second Kings the "Grand Canyon of Scrip- describe events that actually and First and Second Chronicles. ture." It is remarkably rich, happened. A section at the back Arranged by Grace Saxe. 35 cents. suggestive and stimulating. She of the book, supplying facts 112 pp. Bible Colportage Assn. points out the connection be- about the countries in which the Chicago. 1939. tween the first three chapters, which deal chiefly with the These twenty-three studies in Old Testament history are de- signed for individual or class work. Exposition and applica- tion are well balanced. The mor- al lessons seem to flower forth
Encyclopedia of Religious
"How many baptized Christians in Burma?" "Where is the headquarters of the Evangelical Church?"
"How much does the average Baptist give to his church?" "Name three Christmas dramas suitable for church presentation." "How many denominations in the United States?" ''What are the best available books on the life of st. Paul 1"
"How many Christian missionaries in Egypt?" "What is Kingdomtide?"
"Is church giving going up or down 1" "Where is Washburn College located?"
"To what church does the Governor of Ohio belong?"
You can answer these and many more by turning to the proper pages in CHURCH MANAGEMENT DIRECTORY for 1939, now available in your book store. The price is but 65c. (by mail 75c.). If your bookstore cannot supply you, send the proper remittance to address l;Ielow. This directory offers the most complete almanac for the Protestant field.
CHURCH MANAGEMENT : Auditorium Building : Cleveland, Ohio from the Scripture itself. God Launch Out Into the Deep. By An' The New Sovereignty. Reiinald is clearly seen to be at work be- drew Gih. Edited by J. Edwin Orr. Wallis. 93 pp. Is. Pickering & hind the scenes. The great uni- 119 pp. Cloth, 40 cents. Zonder- Inglis. London. fying message in Kings and in van Publishing House, Grand Rap· Chronicles, Miss Saxe makes ids, Mich. 1938. One Gospel for Mankind. Hugh abundantly clear, in the impera- Vernon White. 72 pp. 35 cents. tive need of trusting God and Among the consecrated Chi- Friendship Press. New York. obeying Him. The book would nese soul winners is Andrew be still better if the author did Gih, now on an evangelistic tour Right Here at Home. Frank S. not lean so heavily upon a very in war-torn China. Previously, Mead. 183 pp. $1.00, and 60 cents. limited number of Bible scholars he made a three months' tour of Friendship Press. New York. for her quotations and if she had Australia with J. Edwin Orr, included more thought-provok- who says he was second to none Studies in I and II Kings and I and ing questions, along with the list for effectiveness. This book is II Chronicles. Grace Axe. 112 pp. of fact questions, at the end of in two parts: the first half be- 35 cents. B. I. C. Assn. Chicago. each lesson. ing s tor i e s of conversions through the Bethel Evangelistic When I Awake. Jack C. Winslowe. C. NORMAN BARTLETT. Bands, and the second half a 78 pp. Is. 6d. Hodder and Stough- collection of Bible readings on ton. London. The Doctor Comes to Lui. A Story such subjects as "The Dry of the Beginnings in the Sudan. By Bones," "Catching Fish," and The Wealth, Walk and Warfare of Eileen Fraser. Illus. 71 pp. Is. "The Way to Victory." "His vi- the Christian. Ruth Paxson. 222 Church Missionary Society. Lon- tal exposition of the Word of pp. $1.50. Revell. New York. don. 1939. God captivated both the saved and the unsaved," says Mr. Orr Yesterdays in Persia and Kurdistan. The reviewer and his wife in the preface; "Not a single Frederick G. Coan. 284 pp. $2.50. spent some years in the Sudan theme will be easily forgotten." Saunders Studio Press. Claremont, enjoying the personal acquaint- Calif. ance of the author and Bishop H.H.F. Gwynne who wrote the intro- Cry Dance. Coe Hayne. 255 pp. duction to the book. The story New Book. $2.00. Harpers. New York. of the establishment of many bush schools in darkest Sudan; The Acts of the Apostles. Studies The Greatest Words in the Bible and cutting down the jungle and let- in Primitive Christianity. W. H. in Human Speech. Clarence E. ting in the Christ; these are in- Griffith Thomas. 93 pp. 30 cents. Macartney. $1.50. 103 pp. Cokescluded, with some stories of the B. I. C. Assn. Chicago. bury Press. Nashville. mauling of African natives by buffaloes, lions and leopards and The Faith We Declare. Edwin Homeland Harvest. Arthur H. Limtheir recovery under the skillful Lewis. 236 pp. $2. Cokesbury ouze. 211 pp. $1.00 cloth, 60 cents care of Dr. Fraser. One feels Press. Nashville. paper. Friendship Press. New that the reader stands in the York. presence of a great and modest Far Round the World. Grace W. servant of Jesus Christ. Mrs. McGavran. 118 pp. $1.00. Friend- One Family. C. M. S. Review of Fraser's self-abnegation in writ- ship Press. New York. 1938-39. 62 pp. 6d. Church Mising of her talented husband and sionary Society. London. herself is remarkable but we The Gospel, in the Pentateuch. Herwould like to know more of bert Lockyer. 125 pp. 50 cents. Personality and Character Developthem. A minor criticism might B. I. C. Assn. Chicago. ment. J. D. Messick. 192 pp. $1.50. be that the narrative skips back Revell. New York. and forth in a way that makes God's Purpose. A Book of 365 Serit bewildering to follow the monettes for Home Worship. 366 The Remarkable Jew. His Wonder~ dates and, sequence of events. pp. 50 cents paper; $1.00 limp ful Future. L. Sale-Harrison. 224 fabrikoid; $1.50 art leather. Win- pp. 28. 6d. Pickering & Inglis. T. A. LAMBIE. ston. Philadelphia. London.
The Meaning of War. James W. The Rural Church in the Far East. Johnson. 57 pp. 75 cents. Revell. Ralph A. Felton. 258 pp. $1.25. New York. Friendship Press. New York.
The S. P. G. Story. 1939. 156 pp. 6d. Society for Propagating the Gospel. London.
Builder of Dreams. The Life of Robert Edward Chambers. Ruth Carver Gardner and Christine Cof- fee Chambers. $1.00. 200 pp. Broad- man Press. Nashville.
Day Dawn in Yoruba Land. Charles E. Maddry. 217 pp. Broadman Press. Nashville.
MOSLEM
PUBLISHED BY THE HARTFORD SEMINARY FOUNDATION Editors: SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, EDWIN E. CALVERLEY Some Articles in the July Number Broadcasting Our Message Samuel M. Zwemer After Madras Paul W. Harrison The Theological Approach Al Sha'ranI the Mystic lens Christensen Our Debt to Moslem Arabs Margaret Smith An East African Experience An Ordeal in Central Asia lohn Clark Archer Mission Frontier in Palestine A. Rowland Pittwa'Y International Relations G. Raquette Book Reviews Survey of Periodicals E. Theodore Bachmann Robert S. Darbishire Current Topics Sue Moll~son Foster ._-•• SUBSCRIBE NOW ….- __ 150 Cents a Copy. $2.00 It Year (postpaid) In combination with THE MOSLEM WORLD THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City $3.50 a Year. (Foreign Postage, 50 Cents.) British Agents: MARSHALL, MORGAN & SCOTl', 12 Paternoster Buildings, London, E. C. Price in Great Britain, Eight Shillings a Year, net HAVE YOU READ?
THE LIFE OF GEORGE BOWEN OF BOMBAY By ROBERT E. SPEER The biography of a remarkable missionary whom the (then) Prince of Wales visited in Bombay at the request of his mother, Queen Victoria.
What some readers say of this book: Robert Speer's "Life of George Bowen of Bombay" is one was so far·sighted and so deep.seeing!-the former because of the richest of missionary biographies. the latter. If one wants to sum up the interests of our DR. J. LOVELL MUllIlAY, Director of the Canadian School of Missions, Toronto. students today-Biblical, social, theological-Bowen is a What a life! He was old enough to know why be went, representative ligure. And what a lesson in apparent failure! and bad enough to know the meaning of salvation. One by. product of his experience was his wonderful bumility-noth. . • . I feel strongly that' every student and alumnus of our ing in the show window and himself in the remote back. ground. It is inspiring. Seminary needs this book. Wbat better book to lead them to DR. GBORGI! P. PIERSON, formerly of Japan. feed on the Bible. One bears so much "vestibule religion"- We must all be grateful for this revealing of the main· men pointing to the door and taking their people as far as the 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 order to grow from puerility into spiritual maturity. Here is no WILLIAM HAzEN, adolescent, but a man in Christ. This is no volume to be Missionary in ShoJapur, India. read and dismissed, but to be marked and to be turned to repeatedly. A biography of one of the saintliest ligures of the nine. teenth century. I could not put the book down. There is a HBNRY SLOANB COFFIN, 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 The Memoirs of George Bowen will continue to be for which would serve as starting points for chapel talks. He 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 ind- J. Ross STEVENSON, liciency.
President Emeritus, P,inrelon Seminar,.
Send $2.00 to.day for your copy of this latest book by Dr. Speer THE MISSIONARY REVIEW PUBLISHING CO.
156 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y.
The Missionary Review of the World — April 1939
1939
• A Mission in the Arctic Circle Henry W. Griest, M.D.
Outlook for Christianity in Europe-I Adolf Keller Murad and the Lost Feast Day v. Lane..Frimpole Adversaries and Open Doors in Missions C. Darby Fulton A Milestone in Missionary Progress H. Kerr Taylor "Now Concerning the Collection"
Samuel M. Zwemer Problems of Rural Life-at Madras G. Baez Camargo Toyohiko Kagawa Ira E. Gillet 2S Cents a Cop, $2.50 a Year
to Remember USED IN OVER ONE MILLION CHRISTIAN
April 26 – Uniting Conference of HURLBUT'S STORY OF THE BIBLE Amel'ican Methodism, Kansas City, BJ' .lESSE LYMAN HURLBUT. D.O. Md. Recommended by all denominations for Itsfreahness and aeeuracy forIt. simplicity of language. for Its freedom from doctrinal dleeu88lon. May 1-3 – Tenth Annual Missionary Education Institute. Third Chris- THE BEST GIFT FOR YOUNG AND OLD tian Church, Indianapolis, Ind. FOR TEACBER8-STUDENT8-POR THE HOME AND SCHOOL May 25 – General Assembly of the One hundred and sixty-eightstories. each complete in itself, yet form- Presbyterian Church in U. S. A., ing a contIDuous Darr.dye of the Bible from Genesis to Revelstion. Cleveland, Ohio. Each ofthe world-old storie. i. told by the noted author in a mannel' thati. vitaIly interesting and instructive to young and old alike. May 30-June 2-Third Biennial Insti- tute, A Movement for World Chris- Biggest _d Best mulr.ted Book EYer Sold lor tbe …..ce tianity, New York, N. Y. Beautifully illustrated with 281 pictures in colors and in black and white; over 100 famous Leinwebel' paintings. 759 pages. PrIce..f2.00 June 7-13 – Ann u a I Conference, Church of the Brethren, Anderson, At all6oolutore. or from the pu6Uahere Ind. …_THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO., Winston Bldg., Philadelphia _ _II June 8 – General Synod of the Re- formed Church in America, New mestic Missions of the National Dr. J. Arthur Funk, a member of York, N. Y. Council of the Protestant Episcopal the Iran Mission of the Presbyterian Ohurch. Church, U. S. A., since 1902, died from June 20-25 – Northern Baptist Con- a heart attack in Hamadan, Iran on vention, Los Angeles, O!lilif. Obituary Notes March 5th. He was born in Spring- field, Ohio June 17, 1873, and' after June 21-25-Sunday School and B. Y. Mrs. Charles W. Abel, the widow of being graduated from New York Uni- P. U. Congress of the National Bap- the famous pioneer missionary in versity and from the College of tist Convention, U. S. A., (Inc.), Papua, died in Kwato on February Physicians and Surgeons, sailed for Tulsa, Okla. 24 after a brief illness. Mrs. Abel Persia where he was in charge first of went out to Papua in 1892 when her the American Hospital in Teheran and June 24-July I-Eagles Mere Confer- husband was associated with the Rev. for the past 35 years in the American ence of Missions. Chairman, Mrs. James Chalmers in work among the Christian Hospital at Hamadan. He Earl Breeding, 24 Rugby Lane, cannibals of New Guinea. Mr. Abel did notable work in the training of Scarsdale, N. Y. died in 1930 while in England. Mrs. kbel and her four children have con- . . physicians who are recognized prac- July 3-10-Northfield Missionary Con- tinued the work and it has greatly en- ference for Women and Girls. East larged in the last eight years. The titioners in Iranian cities. Northfield, Mass. For information, Kwato Mission of Papua is an inde- address Mrs. Warren C. Taylor, 38 pendent, interdenominational w 0 r k '" Union Ave., Schenectady, N. Y. largely supported from the United States and Great Britain. Mrs. Abel Dr. Harold McAfee Robinson, Gen- July 6-11 – International Christian has seen the Papuans change from eral Secretary of the Board of Chris- Endeavor Convention, Cleveland, cannibals, murderers and sorcerers tian Education of the Presbyterian Ohio. into active and devoted Christians and Church, U. S. A., died on March 5th evangelists. at the age of 58. He was born in Shel- July 11-August 16 – Winona Lake byville, Mo., and after graduation School of Theology. Winona Lake, *** from Park College and from Prince- Ind. Dean, Dr. J. A. Huffman, 302 ton Theological Seminary he served Morton Blvd., Marion, Ind. Miss Jessie Maxwell, a missionary as pastor of the Market Square Pres- of the Woman's Missionary Society byterian Church, Germantown. In July 22-28-Baptist World Congress. of the United Church of Canada sta- 1919 he joined the Board of Christian Atlanta, Ga. tioned at Neemuch, Indi'a, died on re- Education and in 1923 was elected turning to her station from a fur- secretary of the division of education July 24-August 2-World Conference lough, early in February. Under her in the home church and community. of Christian Youth, Amsterdam, care the Girls' Boarding School at For the last four years he has been Holland. Neemuch developed into The School General Secretary of the Board.
August 13-20-Geneva Summer School . . of Home Making and was known as DO YOUR S.S.PAPERS of Missions, Lake Geneva, Wis. ~ For information write to Mrs. Paul "Sundar Ghar" (the house beautiful). BIBLE TBUTH~ H. Wezeman, 1177 S. Humphrey ~w Ave., Oak Park, Ill. '" ~ COUNCIL FIRES =~ Personal Items Dr. Clarence True Wilson, aged 66, for Young People international leader in the prohibition Dr. John R. Mott, the famous Meth- cause, died in Portland, Oregon, Feb- 1502 N. Third St. Harrisburg, Penna. odist layman, was re-elected Chair- ruary 17. Evangelical fervor and imman of the International Missionary passioned oratory made Dr. Wilson a Council at the meeting in Madras, spectacular figure in the fight for India, in December. Dr. Mott made a temperance. For more ,than 26 years condition of his acceptance the under- he was head of the Methodist Board st!l;nding that he would not hold the of Temperance and Public Morals. office longer than three years. For twenty years of this period he waged uncompromising war against '" '" '" liquor, gambling and vice, speaking in every part of the United States. President Francis Wei, of Central He frequently engaged in debate with China College, made history, when he Clarence Darrow, avowed agnostic returned to China from the United and anti-prohibitionist, on the liquor States, by preaching in Honolulu on issue, although the two were warm one Sunday and in Manilla on the fol- friends off the platform. Dr. Wilson lowing Sunday. Air travel made this maintained that Darrow would have possible. been a forcible preacher, if he had been converted. '" '" '"
The Rev. Dr. George A. Wieland, of Seattle, Wash., was elected, in February, Executive Secretary for Do-
MISSIONARY us. I find them most useful in my regiment the life of a people
REVIEW OF THE WORLD course on the History of Missions." notions of race or soil or national his- tory or genius. Wherever the passion DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor PROF. J. L. STEWART, St. Andrews of national and racial absolutism is College, Saskatoon, Canada. VOL. LXII APRIL, 1939 No.4 most unbridled, there the Church *** should stand in the forefront of the Publication and Business Office- battle.-William Paton. Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. In all lands the Church should be a continual rebuke to those who would Editorial and Executive Office– 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. SPIBlTUA'· TIDE Entered as second-class matter at Post Office, Harrisburg, Pa., under Act of March 3, 1879.
25 cents a cOPY-$2.50 a year. Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. Published monthly, except August. All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1939. British agents – Marshall, Morgan and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, London, E. C. 1 shilling per copy, 10 sh!llings a year.
MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- LISHfNG CO., INC.
BOARD OF DIRE'CTORS ROBERT E. SPEER, President A. L. WARNSHUIS, Vice-President WALTER McDOUGALL, Treasurer DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary PAUL J. BRAISTED SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT D. J. FANT MRS. OERIN R. JUDD WM. B. LIPl'HAlID ERIC M. NORTH SAMUEL M. ZWEMER Editorial Chat The purpose of •• The Quiet Our readers will be interested in Hour" is to help you maintain the further reports from the Madras Conference–the careful appraisal by Dr. high tide of spiritual enrichment H. Kerr Taylor of Nashville, the criti- that Easter brings. When you ex~ cism by Prof. Kraemer of Holland and three extracts dealing with rural prob- amine a copy you will see how lems in Africa, Mexico and Japan. effectively this daily devotional * *. * guide carries out its purpose. The Next month's article will deal with opportunities and the outlook in meditations are prepared by men China, Brazil, Africa, the Appalachian and women of deep spiritual in~ Mountains and work among the blind. sight. A wealth and variety of *** help is contained in every quarter~ ly issue-one full pa~e for each One of the oldest subscribers to THE day. You can easily give your REVIEW recently wrote as follows: congregation the inspiration .. The Quiet Hour" offers. It costs only a third of a cent a week 1 "I have had the MISSIONARY REVIEW since away back in the 1880's when CONSIGNMENT OFFER my uncle, Rev. Dr. J. M. Sherwood, was working on it with Dr. Arthur T. Pastors and other leaders may order" The Quiet Hour" in quan- Pierson. I just could not do without tities with the privilege of returning any unused copies for credit it." MRS. M. E. WEBER. Sebring, Florida. at the close of the quarter. Cash or deferred payment plan. , *** I~ A more recent subscriber comments ,: DAVID C. COOK PUBLISHING COMPANY on our report of the Madras Confer- , S2-D Lincoln Stroot, Elgin, Illinois ence: ,,,,,,, "I write to thank you for the very Gentlemen: Please send: fine job you have done with the Mad- o Free sample copy of .. The Quiet Hour" ras material. Your readers should o Details of Consignment Offer have a well-rounded idea of what went on at Madras even though they have _ Name …………………………………………………………………….. read nothing else about that confer- Ig. i~ ,III~I~I), ~ i,,-'" Box. "mmm.mm••••••m •••••. ence." REV. E. K. HIGDON, Secretary, Foreign Missions :11 t i d 'ur}~ City………………………………………….. State…………………… Conference, New York.
*** SZ.O Lincoln St., Elgin, m. , ………………..;………………………………………………… Church [ 161] "Permit me to congratulate you on the splendid series of special numbers of THE REVIEW you have been giving
COLLEGE – EFFECT OF THE EARTHQUAKE. METHODIST CONGREGATION AT CONCEPCION, FIRST
THE TEACHERS NARROWLY ESCAPED DEATH AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE DESTRUCTION IN THE HEART OF CONCEPCION – WHERE FISSURES IN THE ROAD CAUSED BY THE EARTHQUAKE- PRESBYTERIAN AND METHODIST MISSIONS ARE LOCATED NEAR CONCEPCION THE CONCEPCION CHURCH AND PARSONAGE – BOTH THE REV. MOlSES TORREGOS AND FAMILY. HE IS PASTOR DESTROYED BY THE RECENT EARTHQUAKE OF THE METHODIST CHURCH SCENES CONNECTED WITH THE CHILE EARTHQUAKE REVIE ORLD VOLUME LXII AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER 4 APRIL, 1939 Topics of the Times EFFECTS OF THE EARTHQUAKE IN CHILE Rev. S. C. Henderson, of the Presbyterian mis- Letters from missionaries in Chile tell of some sion, wrote from Santiago on January 28th: remarkable escapes from death during the recent earthquake (January 24th) whioh caused wide- All lines and means of communication are cut off and spread destruction of life and property. The cen- we are desperate for information. Airplanes have brought ter of the earthquake was in the neighborhood of mail from Concepcion to some people but we have nothing Concepcion, Chillan and Coihueco-about 300 direct. This afternoon we have heard that all the congremiles south of Valparaiso and Santiago. Over gation in Concepcion are safe. The church building evififty cities and towns were destroyed. It is said dently did not suffer so much as many other buildings. to have been the worst earthquake that Chile has suffered since 1906 when Valparaiso was praoti- Chillan (with a population of 45,000) has suffered most. cally destroyed. It is estimated that one per cent The pastor, Rodolfo Vergara and all his family were in of the people of Chile perished. So far as is Santiago. We have ,practically no notice concerning the known no missionary life was lost in the earth- congregation and the properties. They say only four or quake and only one or two were silightly injured. five houses are left in Chillan which means the destruction The Evangelioal Christians also were wonder- of the church and the manse. fully spared personal inj ury but many lost all their property. According to the latest statistics, ,.The pastor in Talca, Olivero Maufras, says that all the 30,000 people lost their lives, 50,000 were wound- congregation are safe but the church building cracked and ed, many thousands disappeared, and the property the division wall out of plumb. From Curlco the pastor reports all sufe; the church walls cracked.
In Concepcion it will cost considerable to repair the church and manse; and in Chillan we will probably have to rebuild both church and manse.
Rev. Robert B. Elmore, another Presbyterian missionary, wrote from Angol on January 27th: loss has been estimated as high as $60,000,000.00 The force of the shock was felt most in Chillan and in U. S. currency. This is one of the major catas- Concepcion, where the loss of life has been great–10,000 trophesm modern times. in Chillan andi 2,000 in Concepcion. Buildings are down or badly cracked, so they can hardly be used. The railway The Presbyterian Church (North) has several service is cut, all telephone andi telegraph wires are down stations in the eal'lthquake territory, the Methodist and we depend on the radio for news. Episcopal mission is at work in Concepcion and Angol. The Southern Baptists have work in Con- The Methodist mission territory is next to the Presbycepcion and Seventh-Day Adventists in Chillan. terian field on the south, and overlaps in Concepcion (a There are a few independent missionaries-such city of 77,000). Their missionaries and national workers as those of the Soldiers and Gospel Mission. All are safe. The British and Foreign Bible Society reports workers on the field have rendered valiant s'ervice that one of their stations, Chillan in charge of a colporin giving food, shelter, medical care and other teur, suffered heavily. The whole city of 46,000 populaassistance to the earthquake sufferers. There is tion was leveled to the ground. The Baptist (Southern evidence that this physical disaster is caus1ing a Convention) missionaries are reported safe but their spiritual awakening among the people who have property at Chillan and Concepcion is either destroyed been brought face to face with death, many seeing or seriously damaged. their earthly possessions, destroyed, and as they note the loving and effective service given by the The Methodist missionaries report as· follows: missionaries in ithe name of Christ. In Coronel, churches and college in ruins; in Angol, church destroyed and many people home- less; in Concepcion college and church de- stroyed with 600 members destitute; in Chillan, [163 ]
two theaters cO'llapsed, whole audience killed, and pletion, is, however, in ruins-the work of many weeks all churches razed. Talcahuano (the port) prac- destroyed in forty seconds. tically destroyed including Methodist Church and parsonage. After the earthquake, bystanders observing the light on the face of one of our Evangelical Christians, re- Rev. Moises Torregrl()sa, a Methodist pastor marked: Miral la, calma de este gente de Dios/ ("See, in OO'ncepcion, wmte a wee~ after the earthquake: how calm these people of God are!") We hope that many may say "Let us go up with you for we see that God is Chillan is in ruins, 20,000 people dead! Concepcion with you." city, "the Pearl of the south of Chile," has been destroyed. Concepcion College is just a mass of debris and GOD WORKING IN MEXICO ashes. Church building and parsonage have been destroyed. This is a self-supporting church-600 members. Most of the daily newspaper dispatches from Today my people have no homes and have lost everything Mexico tell only of political conflicts and rumors they had. Weare all living like gypsies, sleeping in relalting to communist, fascist and other activicamps out of the city. I have no support but feel my duty ties:; of economic troubles in oil and mining disis to stay here and minister to the poor and the sick. It putes; and of the GO'vernment's restrictions on is time for a big and deep evangelistic campaign, but we religious activity. But there is another side to have no place for worship. How can we find the means the story of Mexico. Many Christians are prayto help our people who are in extreme poverty? F'ifteen ing and witnes:sing; God is working and giving Roman Catholic churches have been destroyed in the earth- signs of His power in the lives of Mexicans. Rev. quake in our city and the Vatican is helping to rebuild. W. M. Taylor of Mexico City, gives the following It is time for prayer and action. Thank God we have glimpses of quiet but effective evangelism. been saved from death. "The distribution of Chris:tian literature by mail Chile has a population of 4,287,445 (including has continued and over 15,000 Gospel portions and 98,703 Indians). Eighteen Protestant missions 45,000 Evangelical tracts have been sent to Mexare at work there, most of them north of Con- ican officials, school teachers, postmasters" telecepcion. The people of Chile, especially in the graph operators, railroad station agents and merrural regions, are very poor and in the small cities chants throughout the country. Thus 30,496 Gosand towns where this blow has fallen, will not be pels and 91,488 tracts have been distributed in able to rebuild their ruined churches and homes. this way since the work began a year and a half They need help. ago. Probably ,every village and town in the Re- public has received at least one Gospel portion. Mr. William M. Strong, director of the Soldiers Continue to pray that GO'd will fulfill His promise and Gospel Mission, with headquarters at Coihu- and will nOot allow His Word to return untO' Him eco, in the earthquake area, wrote from Ooncep- void. cion: "The results have been encouraging. FOor ex- An old historian of Chile, Daniel Riquelme, in writing ample, the secretary of an Indian village in the of the earthquake of Concepcion in 1757, when half the mountainsl of Guerrero received some Christian city was sunk beneath the waves, remarks that "the net literature, read it ·and wrote for more. He was moral result of that distressing time was that the blas- converted and began to have a burden fOor the spir:- phemy and immorality and drunkenness of the men, and itual needs of Ihis tribe. He spoke to his friends the indecency in the dress of the women was put away and. read the New Testament to them. On Aufor a long time and four hundred couples, who had been gust 7th he called a meeting of the Indians and living in sin, went to the priests to have a true marriage translated portions of the New Testament to the rite performed." We pray that a real God-given revival one hundred who attended. He reports that some may result from this, the greatest catastrophe of the West- cried out hecause of their spiritual darkness. The ern hemisphere of all time. Here in this same city of Con- Indian adds: 'Our Lord Jesus Ghrist will Slave us cepcion, there are from twenty-five hundred to three thou- by faith in Him; He will be merciful to us in sand dead. We expect to carry our Gospel tent to Chillan, these forgotten mountains.' where one half the entire population of forty-five thousand are dead and where not more than a dozen houses "Thi:s man is a Tlapaneco Indian in a region still remain standing. hitherto untouched by messengersi of the Gospel. In fact part of this district is marked 'unex- One of the remarkable phenomena of the whole tragic plored' on the Government maps. Now, as a reoccurrence is the fact that hardly one of God's children suit of this Indian's letter, two men have been sent has been touched, although some workers had most miracu- by one mislsion into that region to study the lanlous escapes. guage and translate the New Testament into Tlapaneco. Pray for this Indian, Cruz Avilez, The work, as a result of the earthquake, promises to that God may keep him faithful and use him be large. The soldiers will be in this area for months and among his own people." are already building winter quarters. We should build a regular center to take the place of the tent; it will be a place from which our workers can go out into the town to minister to the needs of the civilians.
At Coihueco, although the town is practically wiped out, our mission headquarters still stand a's a monument of God's grace–its chimneys, a few tiles on the roof, and a few broken dishes are the only reminders of the earthquake there. The new chapel which was nearing com-
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
A special Christian literature campaign has same basis of age, report 21,322,688 members or also been conducted among Believers and over 15,492,016 over thirteen years old. Jewish con- 3,600 books and 14,000 tracts have been distrib- gregations report 2,930,332 members over thir- uted. These may help to bring about a revival. teen years; Eastern Christian sects have 1,014,663 There is a very important work among Mexican members and all other religious bodies 1,453,357. soldiers, and nearly five hundred of them have This seems to indicate that the nominally Prot- publicly declared their decision to follow Christ. estant population of the United States is approxi- New Testaments have been distributed among mately 71,000,000 (or double the total church officers and in the outposts, barracks, headquar- membership), while Roman Catholics number ters and military prisons. Many converts have 30,000,000 and Eastern Christian sects 2,000,000. remained faithful and one whom I had not seen The total number of Christians in America, more for four years informed me that he had explained or less closely connected with the churches, would the way of salvation to his comrades. When a thus be about 103,000,000, leaving 30,000,000 encorporal hesitated about allowing Mr. Taylor to tirely unrelated to the Church. This is a popula- distribute literature to his men, a meeting was tion equal to those of Turkey, Afghanistan and arranged by two women who had heard the Gos- Iran combined. Here is a large and needy field. pel. Every person in the camp came and all were .greatly impressed by the Spirit of God, working At the recent Madras Missionary Conference, through the testimony of one woman whose hus.- delegates from the "younger" (mission) churches band had been converted. The Mexican soldiers placed much emphasis on the need for Church have little or no opportunity to attend church union. This is evident in the United States where s'ervices or to have fellowship with mature Chris- there are forty-two major bodies and where some tians. church families are divided into fifteen or more sub-sects. The largest single organizations are AMERICAN CHURCH STATISTICS the Methodist Episcopal Church with 4,364,142 members (after the coming merger with the Meth- Statistics do not tell the truth-especially as to odist Church, South and the Primitive Methodists spiritual conditions and growth. Life and power it will number 7,385,638 members), the Southern cannot be expressed in mathematics or it would Baptists (4,595,602), the National Baptists—Col- never be true that "one shall chase a thousand ored (3,796,645), the Presbyterians, U. S. A. and two shall put ten thousands to flight." An (1,903,747) the Disciples of Christ (1,597,797), infinitesimal germ may lay Iowa giant and a beam and the United Lutherans (1,541,841). If the of light may halt a railroad train. Baptists should all unite, and include the Disciples of Christ, they would number nearly twelve mil- But statistics, if accurate, may show trends and lion members and all Lutherans would have a reveal weaknesses. It is always interesting to membership of nearly five million. study the religious statistics-prepared every ten years by the United States Census Bureau and Among the non-Christian religious sects in those issued by the Association of Statisticians of America we note the following figures: American Religious Bodies. These latter, for the year 1938, have been summarized by Dr. Herman Congregations Members C. Weber, Editor of the "Year Book of American Churches." According to this summary the num- American Ethical Union ……. . 7 3,024 ber of distinct religious groups in North America American Moslem Brotherhood .. 1,200 have decreased, by mergers and deaths since 1926, Bahai Faith ……………… . 71 2,523 from 212 to 200. Some of the sects are insignifi- Buddhist Mission …………. . 47 30,000 cantly slIIlall and lifeless. A few of the larger Divine Science ……………. . 26 7,000 denominations are merging, like the Methodists, Mayan Temple ……………. . while others are splitting, like the Northern Pres- Spiritualists ……………… . 5 600 byterians, on matters involving leadership or doc- Theosophists ……………… . 543 41,233 trinal emphasis. At the same time new sects are Vedanta Society ………….. . arising among uneducated or underprivileged Mormons (Latter Day Saints) .. 3 5,900 classes; such are "Father Divine's Peace Mission" Reorganized Mormons ……… . 25 400 and "The Church of the First-Born of the United 1,519 Sons of the Almighty." 575 690,401 101,122 The latest reports of church membership in the United States list 35,833,475 in the Protestant Would it not be instructive to tabulate, if pos- bodies, or 31,489,161 persons over 13 years of age. sible, the increase or decrease in church attend- This is an increase of 310,169 since the previous ance and in prayer meeting attendance in the past reports were tabulated. Roman Catholics, on the year, and the observance of family worship? None of the above statistics reveal the spiritual state of the churches or the evidence of Christlike life and service in their members. We are told that the true "vital" statisti(!:;) are kept in the "Lamb's Book of Life."
A KOREAN CHRISTIAN SPEAKS tablets and most of the worship there is directed to the deified spirits of their own ancestors or the Is Christianity a religion (a way of bringing ancestors of the Imperial family. To them are man into relatiQn to God)? If Russia had de- offered various gifts, consisting of fruits of the clared that Christianity is nQt a religion, would soils, flowers acc'Ording to the season, products of that have altered the case?' These questions may the sea, or certain kinds of sacred cloth. In other seem absurd and yet they are t'O the point. Chri&- words, worship before the Kamidana 'Or spirittianity is known as a religion, b'Oth historically shelf is a modified form 'Of the worship before the and universally. I believe in Christ as the Way Jinja or Shinto shrine. tQ God and therefore, regardless of my feelings, I am known as a Christian. I have chosen The Japanese people visit the shrines of their Christianity because I believe Christ is the best own particular sect of Shinto to meditate before and the only true way to bring man into right re- the en-shrined spirits, to pray to them or to worlation to God. I regard the name of Christian as ship them by reverent bowings. This custom is a glorious hQnor, since it signifies that I belong to similar to the Roman Catholic practice of visiting Christ. It denotes a great change has taken place cathedrals and churches or shrines on certain in me as the result of new Christ-given life in re- days. As a rule the Shinto priests do not appear sponse to my acceptance of Him. The significance bef'Ore the shrines except on national holidays or of the name "Christian" is therefore Qf paramQunt on the days on which special services are held in importance, not so much as a matter of religion honor of the spirits of soldiers who have fallen as of all that concerns my s,piritual life. in battle. Government regulations, cover every de- tail of the ceremonies, including the very wording The Japanese Government has officially de- of the prayers read. clared that Shinto shrine worship is not a religious practice but is merely an expressiQn of na- It can be seen that the nature and common tiQnal patriotism. Does this declaration mean that understanding of Shinto shrine worship is inher- Shinto is not a religion and that it has not been, ently religious. It must also be borne in mind histQrically and universally, recognized as such? that there is no distinction between the act of Or does it mean merely that Shinto shrine WQr- worship or obeisance before the Sect Shinto ship, as such, is not a religious practice-related shrines, which are admitted by the Japanese Govto wQrship? ernment to be religious, and before the State Shinto shrines, before which the Government has It is perfectly clear that neither the State or declared that all must bow as an act Qf patriQtism. any other organization is qualified to decide The enshrined deities, the prQcess of enshrinewhether a religion, with a historical background, ment, the details of the ceremonies and Qften the is or is not a religion. Any State or nation can Qfficiating priests Qr ritualists are identical. reject or adopt one of the existing religions as its state-religion, as was done by the Roman Empire On special days, as for example on the Emperunder C'Onstantine; but such a decision in itself Qr's birthday, the leaders of all social organizations does not alter the inherent nature of the religion in ChQsen, including Christian church leaders or Qf the ceremonies connected with it. (ministers, elders and sometimes even deacons) are cQmpelled tQ go to the places where the Shinto One cann'Ot, therefore, accept this declaration worshippers have their religious shrine cereof the Japanese Government concerning the na- monies and to participate in the ceremonies, bQwture of Shinto at its face value but must look into ing befQre the shrine. All Qrganizations so repthe practice 'Of Shinto shrine 'Obeisance to see resented are pronounced by the Government to whether or n'Ot it is religious. It is evident that be shrine worshippers, participating in the soif the declaration by the Japanese Government is called act of natiQnal patriotism. TQ refuse to dQ true, and shrine worship has n'O reHgious signifi- so is tQ be judged guilty of dislQyalty tQ the Emcance but is merely an act of patriotism, there perQr and results in arrest, imprisonment and will be no conflict with the Christian conscience sometimes tQrture. in attendance at the shrines. But if it is not true, then Christians who c'Onform to the Government With the Japanese Empire, now to all intents regulations in this matter naturally believe that they are guilty of idolatry in doing obeisance at and purposes a tQtalitarian state, the Government these Shinto shrines. That is the issue at stake between Christians and the Japanese Government. is ruthless in its insistence that all citizens par- Most of the common people of Japan (the non- ticipate in the shrine ceremQnies. Any discussion Christians) have a Kamidana (spirit-shelf) in their homes. On it are placed the various spirit- of the questiQn is prohibited by the police. Large sectiQns Qf the Church have been cowed intQ sub- mission. The KQrean Christians need yQur prayers as never before. A KOREAN CHRISTIAN.
HENRY GRE"IST WITH A GROUP OF ESKIMOS AT BARROW
A Mission in the Arctic Circle Experiences at Barrow, Alaska, the Northernmost Mission in the World By the REV. HENRY W. GREIST, M.D., D.D.
Honorably Retired Presbyterian Missionary; Stationed at Barrow, 1920 to 1936 BARROW, Alaska, is three hundred miles north but ordinarily weekly periodicals published in the of the Arctic Circle. It is about twelve hun- States come fifty-two copies in one mail sack in dred miles from the Pole, and marks the summer. Not until 1928 was there a radio in northernmost bit of land attached to the North Barrow-at the U. S. Army Signal Corps station. American continent. It was here that Col. and Prior to that time wars, disasters, elections and Mrs. Charles A. Lindbergh landed on their flight other events might occur in the great world out- "North to the Orient." Some islands north of side but it was many months before we learned Canada are nearer the Pole, but they are unin- of them. habited. When Colonel and Mrs. Lindbergh reached Bar- Mails corne to Barrow four times a year, pro- row on their epochal flight, we invited every white vided the one ship in summer succeeds in pene- man, woman and child within two hundred miles trating the ice, and provided further the three to meet these distinguished fliers at dinner in the mails by dog-sledge during the long ten months Presbyterian manse. The total number (includof the Arctic winter succeed in getting in. Mails ing children) who sat at table were seven-in were often six months old before we received addition to the two guests-of-honor and three them, and letters mailed in New York have not Greists. All came who were invited except three infrequently been twelve months en route. All traders in Wainwright who failed to navigate the except first class mail, including parcel post, must ice. corne by ship. Occasionally the Post Office allows a lone newspaper or magazine to corne through, The Arctic is not a white man's country-and never will be. Eskimos alone can thrive there.
[167 ]
The only white people at Barrow are the mission- Barrow is situated, is perhaps the largest presby- aries, two school teachers (one of whom-the hus- tery in the world in point of square miles, but it is band-is the reindeer superintendent), a trader, one of the smallest in membership. During the and the U. S. Army Signal Corps operator and writer's seventeen years of service at Barrow, his. wife, together with any children in these fam- this presbytery had only four active members, the ilies. At Barrow there are no motion picture nearest man being at Fairbanks, eight hundred shows, pool rooms, liquor stores, automobiles, traf- miles distant as the crow flies and separated from fic jams or accidents; no cows, pigs, chickens, Barrow by vast uninhabited spaces of tundra, and sheep, goats or horses within eight hundred miles. by mountains impassable except at very great hazard, by airplane. The three other Presby- terian workers serve white churches at points along the Alaska railway. To travel from our station ·at Barrow to the meeting place of presby- tery anywhere along the railroad would mean a dog-team mileage of not less than fifteen hundred miles, and would take six months, a prohibitive length of time to be absent from one's post.
The missionary at Barrow finds much to do- or did when we maintained both the medical and the religious services in this parish extending a SUMMER "PRESSURE ICE" ON BEACH AT PT. BARROW thousand miles along the coast. It is a work that The Lord's Day is kept as it formerly was· in New calls not only for high spirituality and thorough England as a holy day; all the Eskimos go to training, coupled with devotion to God and to duty, Sunday school, to church and to vespers; and all but it calls also for a plentiful supply of the attend the mid-week prayer meeting as well. The "Three B's" – Blood, Brains and Brawn. The church is. the one social center. evangelist in this isolated region should be a Jack-of-all trades, with the resourcefulness of a The long Arctic Night extends from November Robinson Crusoe. A well-known war corresponduntil late in January, and for a short time the ent twenty years ago, covering assignments in far sun does not rise above the horizon. Then, for places, who became an admirer of missionaries three months, from May to August, it does not and then a student of missions, wrote: A misset at all. These are the periods which are sionary in such a station "should be self-contained, peculiarly trying to white people. The cold in an administrator, teacher, doctor, architect, carwinter is intense but the low temperature is not penter, machinist, engineer, a practical business so trying as the almost incessant fogs in summer, man, and withal tactful and diplomatic." Not together with cold, drizzling rain, which are apt every successful pastor could be a successful misto depress one. The best remedy is to keep busy with one's duties.
The Presbyterian Mission at Barrow, in the Yukon Presbytery, has for its central purpose the evangelization of the Eskimos of Alaska. Hos- pital work was splendidly maintained for many years previous to late 1936; social welfare and community service have also been energetically and faithfully carried on by consecrated and effi- ciently trained workers,……..,but all with this chief end in view – to win the Eskimos to Christ and His Way of Life. Among primitive people the so- U. s. SIGNAL STATION AT BARROW (leftl. WITH HOSPITAL called "Social Gospel," when offered alone, is a failure. Christ must be faithfully presented and AND CHURCH; MANSE AT THE EXTREME RIGHT His cross must be carried to the fore. The arts sionary, and many outstanding missionaries and sciences of civilization may be· readily ac- would discover in the pastorate in an ordinary cepted by people, in so far as they are practically field at home to be a very difficult, if not impos.- useful, but Christian ethics, without Christ as the sible, task.
center of life, are not observed except as they The missionary in the Arctic regions must seem to serve a selfish purpose. Heart conver- travel throughout the winter by dog-team at not sion is the all important goal; then all else follows over five miles per hour. At night, for want of to make a better world. other shelter, he tents out on the ice-bound beach Yukon Presbytery, within the bounds of which in temperatures as low as sixty degrees below
A MISSION IN THE ARCTIC CIRCLE
zero. He must cook his scant supper as best he Jackson visited the Arctic in 1890, with snow can over a tiny oil burning stove, the coffee freez- white hair and deeply wrinkled face but with eyes ing while the reindeer steaks are being broiled. shining like stars, began tugging at the preacher's The coffee must then be warmed again while the coat. He thought it a child in a mother's arms meat is eaten. After this, with his "musher" and behind< him and so ignored the interruption. But guide, he must crawl deep within reindeer sleep- the tugging became more and more insistent. He ing bags, read the Scripttures and offer prayer; turned, and lo! it was this old grandmother, said afterwards he sIeeps,as only healthy men can to be about ninety-five years old. Asked what she sleep under these trying conditions. If a severe storm overtakes them, the travelers are forced to • build a snow-house with a tunnel entrance and a floor lowered deep in a snow bank. The whole .. is covered by a tent slipped over the walls and weighed down at the sides by blocks of snow. .I When the missionary arrives at some camp of DORCAS, A FINE CHRISTIAN ESKIMO GIRL, AT BARROW trappers or reindeer herders, or at some village, scores of miles from any other habitation, he wanted, she replied through the interpreter: makes a house-to-house visitation during the day, "Long time ago, a peddler came to this village holds medical clinics (or did prior to the taking who said he had been a preaeher. The trader over of the medical work by the Government). asked him to preach to us that night, which he Then at night evangelistic services are held in the did. After talking of God's Book, of which we schoolhouse for a week or ten days. The people had never before heard, he went into the teacher's are hungry for the Gospel-and are responsive living quarters, got a wash~basin of water, and but never emotional. They are easily led to accept poured water on my head and on every person's the truth and many wholeheartedly give them- head in that room. Then he said, 'Now you are selves to the Lord Jesus Christ. They take their Christianity seriously, and put to shame nominal Christians in the States. Crowded into the schoolroom are often three times as many as the room would hold if chairs were placed close together. The school desks, intended for one, are occupied by two adults, with children seated on the desk in front of the parents. Boys sit on bookcases or under tables. Children are everywhere, with fathers and mothers sitting flat upon the floor, knees drawn up to make room for others. All mothers seem to hold from one to three babies or older children so that· the preaeher is usually limited to the space that his two feet occupy. But there is no whispering, no sign of restlessness in the audience; the cry of a baby is rarely heard. Every eye is riveted on the minister and every ear strained to catch every word of the interpreter, for the elderly folk cannot understand English very well. Such an opportunity insistently calls for the very best that is in any preacher of God's Word. It is an inspiring experience and sends a man to his knees that he may have the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit.
Early in our ministry in Wainwright, a village about one hundred miles southwest of Barrow, one bitterly cold night in January, the writer was preaching to a crowded house,estimated to contain more than 200 people. Becoming warm in his efforts, he removed his reindeer parka and, in his ordinary coat, stood in the limited space left for him by the crowd. Soon an old woman, known to have been a grandmother when Dr. Sheldon
all Christians.' But 0 Missionary, 0 Missionary, proved sufficient. We have now 533 communicant I want Jesus under the skin." members of the Church in Arctic Alaska. The Eskimo are not an emotional people, but they are My sermon on John 3: 16 was only half finished, intelligent and they wish to know the reasons for but I knelt at the old woman's knees and very what they believe and do. tenderly led her along the Way to Christ. We prayed for her, but in the midst of that short Our medical service was fruitful in giving us contacts with people from far away in Arctic Can- AN ESKIMO CHRISTIAN PREPARING DINNER ada and from many hundreds of miles down the coast southwest to within fifty miles of Kotzebue prayer we were disturbed by her changed de- where there is a well-equipped government hosmeanor; looking up we saw that the Holy Spirit pital. Many of these patients came to us five had spoken to her and had given her the evidence hundred miles by dog-teams, through darkness, that He had sealed her, for her smile waselo- storm and cold, bringing their chronically ill and quent; she was seeking to tell us of the change surgical cases. When asked why they came to us in her heart. That smile did not wear off during instead of going to the government doctor, their the remaining weeks of her life. We arose to our usual reply was, "You people up here pray." They feet and saw that fourteen young married couples came from far beyond the geographical limits of were also kneeling in a circle in front of the our mission and over 52:,000 cases and clinical calls school desks; the people who had been sitting on were recorded during our sixteeen years of servthe floor having made room by changing places ice. There were some repeaters but each bedwith them. All were silently praying, their lips patient was counted only as one case. Eternity moving. Later, all arose and each gave a short alone will reveal the spiritual results. The sick testimony, without any invitation on our part. were dealt with by the missionary, assisted by the From that group three young men have been or- ruling elders, and prayer was coupled with indained as ruling elders of the Olgonic (Wain- struction. Many who were brought from a diswright) Church, and at least two of the women tance, and had only a limited opportunity to hear have been ordained as deaconesses. All the mem- the Gospel, were converted in the hospital. After bers of that group have exhibited changed lives throughout the succeeding years. Thus the Holy JAMES, A WAINWRIGHT ESKilMO, AND HIS WIFE Spirit honors the preaching of the Gospel of IN FRONT OF THEIR IGLOO Christ. We now have a splendid, organized church of believers at Wainwright with a chapel the service on the Lord's Day the young people and a manse, served by Percy Ipalcck, a product would occasionally gather in the hospital to sing of Sheldon Jackson School, and now a licentiate hymns dear to the hearts of these folk. The minof Yukon Presbytery. istryof song, if in the native tongue, often worked wonders with the old people. Friends of the sick, The providence of God and His direct answers who had brought them up to the hospital, reto prayer were remarkable throughout the years mained sometimes for weeks or even months until of our ministry on that coast. Strangely peculiar the ill were able to travel back home. In the meanhave been many of these instances so that our while these friends attended Sunday school and faith grew by leaps and bounds as we carried on, the services of the church, often becoming conabiding in Him and His Word .a!biding in us. We vinced and surrendering their lives to the Lord were far from human help, isolated and alone in Jesus. our service, cut off from those who could enter understandingly into our problems; but God alone
One young man, a half-breed, whOo resided four No tourists came to Barrow throughout the sevhundred fifty miles distant, was deeply under con- enteen years of our service. Dr. A. J. Montviction for weeks and gave his heart to God the gOomery, of the National Board of Missions, while very night before he left in his father's motor director of Alaska work, called one summer day, boat fOor his distant home. He was found drowned having traveled near eight thousand miles to visit the next morning, not far frOom Barrow. His us; but he could not remain on shore for more brothers were greatly impressed and, one by one, than an hOour on account of threatening ice at sea. surrendered to God. Alas! our beloved hOospital My brother, L. T. Greist, a Presbyterian attorney from Chicago, also visited us for three months THE MISSION CHURCH AND CONGREGATION AT BARROW in 1934; he not only won the hearts of the Eskimo along that coast, but they won his admiration as is a thing of the past, in so far as it can serve for well. evangelistic work, except by permission of the gOovernment doctor. Medical mission service else- In late August, 1936, we tearfully turned over where in Alaska has also been relinquished, dis- our medical service to the in-coming government astrously as to the spiritual well-being of our doctor and his nurses, but the new doctor SOOon A:[~ctic Eskimos. We debated during four long resigned and left the service. Another came and years the giving up of our medical work, while did excellent work but was dissatisfied with social the proposition hung fire, but the Mission Board cOonditiOons and left Barrow within the year; a thOought that medical service was costing too much third doctor has now arrived. The natives wonmoney. True, supplies were expensive, coal alOone der at the many frequent changes and fail to comcosting $55 a ton delivered in Barrow, and we prehend why a medical man does not seem to be normally required 150 tons a year. We econo- vitally interested in their religious welfare. mized, denied ourselves, cut wages and salaries frOom 25% to 60%; no one complained, including The Rev. Fred G. Klerekoper, a graduate Oof the Eskimo helpers. Our budget was reduced Princeton Seminary (class of 1934) is now the from about $18,000 tOo nearly $8,000 annually. We missionary in charge. Mrs. Klerekoper was edusacrificed gladly to maintain our beloved medical cated in Mt. Holyoke College, Massachusetts, and evangelism but we were forced to write finis in is a graduate nurse. She is the daughter Oof Presour mission's annals as to our medical service. byterian missionaries in Chosen and a capable worker; but she is not likely to have Oofficial con- In 1920, we had invested $48,000 in the Point nectiOon with the new hospital which is now being Barrow Hospital (largely obtained from the Com- built to replace the one burned in the autumn of monwealth Fund). The Sunday schOool children in Presbyterian churches in the United States had 1936.* These splendidly trained and spiritually~ donated $10,000 from their offerings on Washington's Birthday in 1920 for the equipment. We minded young missionaries are there to carry on had no isolation wards, so seriously needed in time of epidemics. and for the tubercular patients; the DR. GREIST (left), WITH MRS. GREIST, WELCOMING THEIR operating theater was merely a small room in- SUCCESSORS, REV. AND MRS. FRED KLEREKOPER tended for beds, and without prOoper light. The two pipeless hot-air furnaces, intended for small the church work along that thousand miles of bungalow residences, failed utterly tOo protect us Arctic coast. Mr. Klerekoper travels much by against the Arctic cold, high winds, and in the dogs during the Arctic night, in cold and storm thin uninsulated walls of the building. NOotwith- and darkness; he sometimes goes along the coast standing these and other serious handicaps, very in a small motor boat during the short summer. effective and faithful service was done throughout They are young, enthusiastic, hard working and the years and many lives were saved. deserve the intercessory prayers of all God's peo- ple. Theirs is not an easy task, as we knOow from experience. Let us support them.
• The government has appropriated $100,000 to build and equip the new hospital to replace the one destroyed.
A Missionary Epistle from China*
By DR. and MRS. WALLACE CRAWFORD, Chengtu, West China A T THE beginning of the war with Japan the the wire, which costs the Japanese a great sum .r- proportion of casualties in the fighting was to replace. They do no open fighting, but are conthree Chinese to one Japanese; l,ater on it tinually harassing the lines of communication, was two to one, but now it is "even going" and the making it impossible for the Japanese to consoli- casualties are terrific on the side of the Japanese. date their gains in North China.
The initial dazed condition of the Chinese peo- "The people's army" receive no pay, and want ple has given way to a steadily developing deter- none; their leaders are poor and there is no selfmination to. increase their efficiency to the place seeking among them. Their average age is not where they will wear out J.apan. There is little over thirty. Contrast this with the puppet regime desire on the part of the people, outside the main set up in Peiping, where the average age of the regular army, to see the Japanese killed off, but rather to cause them such heavy financial loss as "leaders" is sixty-four. to so embarrass their country and to make it impossible to carryon the "incident." Everywhere Over four hundred thousand of these guerrillas one is impressed with the increasing efficiency of are organized in what the Japanese would have the resistance of the people of China, for it is the us believe is the occupied territory. These men go people's struggle, and not merely the activities of everywhere in the occupied territory, uninterthe army. China is just at the beginning of a rupted by the Japanese who exert no control save colossal man-power preparation. in the immediate cities they occupy.
The Japanese have occupied practically all the The guerrillas are constantly improving their walled cities in certain parts of the country and efficiency. Now they have many miles of telehave paralyzed the normal activities as a whole, phone system and it is reported that they will rebut their control does not exceed five miles beyond ceive a wire of the starting of a train and before the walls of the cities they "control." Every male the train has gone a hundred miles, it runs into a from twelve years old and up is a potential soldier bomb and is wrecked. against the Japanese. They are organized into guerrillas, and they are the ones who control the Instead of breaking the morale of the Chinese country, and not the Japanese. Five miles from people the Japanese action is making that morale. the railway these guerrillas have become such a The spirit of the people is improving instead of menace to the Japanese as to make many of the being destroyed. They argue that the Japanese formerly controlled walled cities untenable. have come and destroyed everything so why not join with the forces opposing the Japanese? That Groups undertake the job of disrupting the rail- is what they are doing in an atmosphere of pov- erty, humility, meekness and intense patriotism.
way.'They go out and draw out the spikes so that Communism which was evident in 1935 is dif- the rails fall apart. After the Japanese found out ferent from the brand which we have in China at this trick, they made wooden spike tops which the moment. There is no more compUlsion about looked so much like tM real thing that the Jap- it than there is in a church school. Thousands anese did not suspect their trick, the result being are entering their University, either as organ- wrecked trains. These were looted by the guer- izers, or mass education leaders, or cooperative rillas, and their supplies carried off into the vil- leaders, and a few as soldiers in the Eighth Route lages to be used against the enemy. Army, which is playing havoc with the Japanese Another group will go out and take off a rail forces. They have a school of art, another for and bury it a mile or two from the railway. Of the educating of municipal leaders, another for course the Japanese replace the rail, but in the cooperatives, and many others in addition to the course of a year one can imagine what it costs actual fighting force, which have engaged the Japan to be constantly replacing rails. Another Japanese in battle. While they have won it has group will cut down telephone poles and carry off been at terrific expense in man power. As Mad- ame Chiang Kai-shek says, "The Japanese are 19;9~~e United en/wren Record ana Missionary Review (February. winning battles, but China will win the war."
[172 ]
for Christianity in Europe-I
The End and the Rebirth of Churches in Central and Eastern Europe By PROF. D. ADOLF KELLER, D.D., Geneva, Switzerland THE idea of the end has never been alien to the person of Christ, and as a result there is a the Christian Church. The first Christians general abandoning of the Churches and a de- looked for the end of the present order and crease of interest in their activity. for the coming of the Lord's Kingdom. This is what is meant by the word "eschatological." It In such countries we can indeed speak of the was a tremendous tonic for the faith of the first approaching end of those branches of the Chriscentury; and again today, in such an apocalyptic tian Church. In Russia, for instance, there may mood, we say that not only thrones" political in- still be hundreds of Orthodox Russian churches stitutions, economic systems, human empires, but open and crowded. But let us not be deceived: if even Christian Churches, will come to an end. the present policy continues, especially if the pol- icy of anti-Christian education is successful, the It will not be the first time in Christian history. end of an old Christian Church of Russia will be Where is today the Church of St. Augustine, the near. That Church has lost its leader and his inforerunner of Luther in North Africa? It is gone! fluence. It has lost a large part of its episcopacy Where are those seven churches in Asia Minor and priesthood. Thousands of priests and bishops today, to whom the writer of the Apocalypse wrote have been killed or are imprisoned, or have been his seven letters? They have been swept away sent to concentration camps in Siberia. The when Islam, the great killer of Christian Church has lost hundreds of its fine cathedrals and churches, conquered Anatolia and when the last other church buildings, partly by arbitrary de- Christian Archbishop was dragged by his hair struction, partly by transforming Christian through the streets of Smyrna and put to death. churches into museums, cinemas and variety Where is the large Christian Nestorian Church in theatres. The Church has lost its theological Central China? It has died, except for a little academy; no priest can receive a theological eduremnant represented by the Nestorian Assyrians cation in Russia at present. The only theological in Iraq and along the Kabur in Syria. academy is that of Father Bulgakoff in Paris. The It is paradoxical to the Christian faith that any Church in Russia has finally lost its educational part of the Church of the living Christ should influence. It is not allowed to give a religious come to an end. But have we not to face this fact education to the younger generation before they when we see that churches come to an end in our reach their eighteenth year. The Church, being large world cities, or at least in certain strata of considered as the last asylum for obscurantism, the population, for instance among the cultured has lost its influence on public life. According to classes or among labor. Modern indifference, the desire of the present Soviet rulers she should scepticism, secularism, threatens whole Churches become a Christian ghetto in the midst of the Ruswith the end which, like the Church of France, sian people.
have been called the oldest daughters of the The Evangelical Church in Russia has been Church. France counts forty-one millions of in- practically wiped out. Out of 200 Lutheran pashabitants. The Roman Catholic Church does not tors not one is still at work. .' AU were compelled claim more than ten or eleven millions. There to leave the country or enter secular professions; are not over one million of French Protestants. or they were killed or banished and their fam- Where are the other twenty-nine or thirty mil- Hies are suffering hunger and privations. Evanlions of the French people? They are the dying gelical churches have been closed or are used for Church of France. I worldly purposes. The Lutheran Academy under Wherever modern secular ideologies, like the Bishop Malmgren had to be closed.
gospel of Marx or the gospel of Lenin or of Can One still speak of the Church of the Refor- Nietsche, are infecting the mind of the modern mation in Germany? Is not the end near? What world, such Churches feel a resistance ,against the is left of the formerly proud and active Church of preaching of the Gospel of Christ, or even against Martin Luther? There is a foreign office with [173 ]
Bis·chof Heckel; a finance department whose ad- fish on the sand to make himself known to other ministrative measures are sometimes a deadly unknown Christians. Wherever these two or three weapon when they are used against recalcitrant meet in the name of Christ, the new Church is pastors; a minister of state for the Church who born. It grows, we do not know how, in Russian is restricting the Christian Church and muzzling villages, in the woods, on the railway. The new its outspoken ministers. Theological faculties, spiritual Church of Christ will take its form, its which were once the pride of German Protestant- organization, will develop its leadership, its the- ism, today have to fight to maintain their influence ology, when such is God's will.
and to build up confidence, at least in the Confes- Simple Christian folks are perpetuating the sional Church. All over Germany there are thou- Christian Church. Russian mothers, for instance, sands of open churches where the Gospel can be seeing that their children are in danger of grow- preached but little is left today of the former en- ing up like heathen,are taking things in hand and terprising missionary spirit. The old Church of are teaching their children to believe in God, per- the Reformation, as a State Church and as a lead- haps in a very elementary way but with a sincere ing Church, is nearing its end. faith. They will save the Christian feeling in the In many other countries the Church of Christ heart of the people from oblivion and destruction.
faces such deadly enemies as individualism, mod- A new Church is being born also out of the ern secularism and indifferentism which are Church struggle in Germany. The intrepid Pas- transforming the old solid structure of the Evan- tor Niem6ller isa Church builder although he sits gelical Church into a vague religious sentimental- ina concentration camp and is closely watched.
ism and aestheticism. He cannot speak to his fellow prisoners, he can- What then is coming to an end? First of all not even see his family regularly, he cannot write there is to be an end to the unnatural relationship or publish, and yet his influence is spreading as of the Church of Christ with the modern State. an atmospheric power. He is kindling a new fire In many Churches the historic State was consid- of faith in the hearts of many people and encour- ered as the fatherly protector of the Church to ages them to resist a State which does not allow take care of the theological faculties, the religious the Church to be the Chu:r:ch. Hundreds of Ger- education in schools, build manses and pay sal- man ministers are punished for having disobeyed aries to the pastors, and therefore claiming the this autocratic State and they are preaching the right to supervise and influence Church life. But Gospel of Christ without fear. The church janitor this influence has become so strong today, and is who will not take the key of the Church out of his leading the Evangelical Church away from its pocket to open its door for an un-Evangelical original aim, that millions feel that such a com- preacher who has come to replace a believing pas- radeship is against the true nature of a Christian tor is another new church builder; so is the or- Church. An easy compromise between State and ganist who refuses to play the organ to accom- Church is therefore coming to an end. panya service which is not inspired with the spirit Second, a Church of wealth and earthly power of Christ.
is coming to an end; the Church knows today Where two or three have such peculiar courage that, in her need and poverty, she resembles much and faith, where they meet in the name of Christ more that Man who had not where to lay His in private houses, in restaurants, in the market head than she did when she was rich and powerful. place, on the railway, they build up a new Church Third, a Church which thinks she knows better of Christ.
than Christ himself is coming to an end today- It may not yet be recognized a Church as we that Church which is like the grand inquisitor, in understand it, as a great national or denomina- Dostojewski's novel, who sent Jesus Christ away tional organization; may be only a small congre- when He came back because the Church to which gation; but such cells are the living stones with He had left His task knew better than He how to which a Church is built.
handle the world. And this Church is being built even against the Instead of such Churches, which are more and will of its oppressors. It reminds us of that pic- more dying out, a new Church is born. It is yet ture painted by the German painter, Moritz von an invisible Church, with no clearly defined mem- Schwind. He shows a saint building a chapel in bership, with no structure or organization. Two the midst of the wood, continuing his work al- or three members may meet somewhere in Russia, though the devil tries to disturb him; finally the two wanderers in the streets, two farmers in the saint's faith is so strong that he compels even the market, two boatmen on the Volga, not knowing devil against his will, to carry the stones that the each other but suddenly recognizing the brother saint uses for building the chapel.
in Christ by a word, a glance in his eye, a symbolic Therefore, even poverty, isolation, pers.ecution action. This was the case in the first centuries must help to build up a new Church of Christ for when a Christian may have drawn the sign of the which we hope and pray and labor..
and the Lost Feast
-·..e{11 By V. LANE-FRIMPOLE IIi- I N ONE room of a small, two-roomed mud and Musing on his new green sateen shirt with its rubble cottage in northern Syria, lived an Arab five buttons, each of a different color, and yearn- boy named Murad. Here he lived, ate and ing to bite into a Ramazan cake, Murad had almost slept with his parents, his little brothers and his fallen asleep when he heard the sound of visitors, granny. The other room was occupied by his fa- coming in to spend the evening. Everyone seemed ther's brother, with his wife and children. happy. His own grown people had been dread- One night, near the end of the month-long fast fully cross in the late afternoon, Murad thought. of Ramadan, Murad lay on the floor in a corner, But after the sunset cannon had been fired and tucked up in his grandmother's bed, under her they had broken their day-long fast, things were wool-waded quilt. The light of the wood-fire on all right again. Now these visitors, too, seemed the hearth flickered among the shadows of the in happy mood. otherwise dark room. Murad liked to watch the Ah! they were asking Granny to chant them a firelight and to hear the sound of the rain and Mevlud-one of the long Turkish poems about the Prophet Mohammed. All the village thought wind outside. The boy's mind wandered to the approaching granny a notable woman. She could make out any feast which would follow the sacred fast days chapter of the Koran without too much halting to and his imagination played pleasantly with the spell the words, and she had memorized many thought of the cakes and other good things to eat. chapters. But she did not know Arabic and so As a little boy he did keep. the fast and did not understood nothing of the meaning. LaHnized need this abstinance in order to get hungry. He Turkish, inaugurated by the late Kemal Ataturk, thought, too, of the new clothes that his clever she could not read at all, but she could spell aunt, who sewed on the machine, had made for out Turkish words in the Arabic characters, him. In the mind of a child, whose people go by enough to read her M evlud. These Turcomans the sun year, other things would have been asso- living in the mountains of northern Syria were ciated with a holiday for under such a calendar not yet sure of the orthodoxy of the Western alevery feast falls at the same season of the year. phabet for to them the Arabic letters, in which the In America, for example, Decoration Day comes Koran came down from heaven, were the only with the grass and spring flowers; the Fourth of ones that seemed right. July is marked by hot sunshine and trees in full Murad loved to hear his granny chant the Koran leaf; Thanksgiving Day is observed in the midst because of the beautiful roll of it and the awe in of November frosts; Christmas is enlivened with her voice. But he liked far better to hear the Me1)lud because it was in his own language, and snow and ice. For Murad and for all Moslem people this is not much of it he could understand. Happily he the case. The moon year of the Moslem world watched granny go to the high shelf that ran retrogrades at the rate of about ten days every around the room and take down a manuscript sun year. In the year of which we write Ramadan written by a learned Mullah's own hand years ago. came in the middle of December, something that His mother thrust a splinter of pitch-pine into the had not occurred for some thirty-six years. Little fire and lighted the little oil lamp. Then Murad Murad, the Turcoman, had been born of Moslem watched the old lady squat down with the precious parents in a Moslem community, consequently he book on her knee and turn over the leaves with found himself in a completely nonsequential uni- moistened forefinger and thumb. She found the verse, where no effect is traced to any cause; page and in a sweet, thin voice began to chant. where each separate act and event of the day is Oh! it was the bit that Murad liked best, the lullooked upon as caused by a special, arbitrary act laby sung to the Prophet by his nurse Haleema: of the "Will of Allah." It is thought impious to It is Mohammed: let mountains and stones seek to try to understand God's will which is im- Rejoice-wild beasts, too, and birds. possible of comprehension. This concept of an Lady Ameena is his mother, arbitrary will, governing the universe, is rein- She is the fine flower of mothers, forced by the changes of the moon year. Her head is of pearls. Lullaby, my Mohammed, my high Commander, lullaby.
[175 ]
In the mountain of Mecca was his birthplace wind was blowing as hard as ever. Perhaps it At the Kaaba, at the Black Stone, in the presence of was the gusts of wind that shook the stars and made them twinkle so through the frosty dark. Gabriel, Snug under his quilt, Murad watched the two That Gabriel might praise the Beloved of God, (even women move drowsily about preparing the three Mohammed). o'clock breakfas.t–the iftar. He was not quite Lullaby, my Mohammed, my high Commander, lullaby. awake, not quite asleep. The stir and rustle that The houris, the Paradise maidens, came; the women made seemed to go on for ever. Then They bound white incense in his swaddling bands, his grandmother's voice calling his father broke They praised the Beloved of God. the spell. Lullaby, my Mohammed, my high Commander, lullaby. "Get up, my son! Get up and eat; dawn will Abd el Mutaleb was his grandfather, break before you know it and then it will l;le un- Abdullah was his father, lawful for you to eat until sunset. How will you The Lady Haleema was his nurse. be able to fast all day on an empty stomach?" Lullaby, my Mohammed, my high Commander, lullaby. The Feast Before the Fast May Satan's hands be tied, May the hearts of thy friends be fat, Murad's father rose, stretching his great arms and legs. Villagers sleep in their clothes, so there o son of Lady Ameena. was no delay for dressing. He stepped out of bed, crossed over to the hearth and sat down on the Lullaby, my Mohammed; lullaby, my beautiful Ahmad, floor. No one called Murad for he was too young lullaby. to fast. But the smell of the hot food called him; so crawling from under the quilt, he went and sat Lying there in his nest, Murad listened en- down by his father and snuggled up to him. His tranced. He was six years old and so far as he mother unfolded the woolen bread-cloth, took up knew he had always slept in his granny's bed. He some paper-thin loaves as l10und and big as two supposed that he always would. He could not re- dinner plates. She sprinkled them with water and member the time when he had to give up his cradle folded them in four;, then she flung down one at to the next baby. Granny had always been there each person's place and piled the rest in the middle and always would be, like the sun and wind and of the big tray. Granny put down a copper bowl, rain. He loved her voice as she sang about the full of steaming food, and a pan of curdled milk. baby Mohammed's birth; about the Angel Gabriel Everything was, ready. and those beautiful houris swaddling him as his mother had swaddled their own baby. As the "In the name of God," said Murad's father; quavering, sweet voice went on and on, the faces then scooping up a big mouthful of the hot food of his family and the visitors, visible or invisible with a flap of bread, he ate it. "In the name of as the flames in the fireplace rose and fell, seemed God," echoed, Murad, and did the same. The to float in the warm air. Murad felt himself float- women sat down and they used the same prayer ing. A wind was blowing him down a high, high before they began to eat. mountain-away from two goats that he was herding-blowing him like thistledown. Now the wind "I certainly thought," said Murad's father bewas singing. What was it singing? "Lullaby, tween mouthfuls, "that today was to be the first Mohammed, my high Commander, lullaby. N en-ni day of the Ramadan Byram. I was sure the feast -Nen-ni-i-i." began today and I was surprised when no an- nouncement was made in the mosque last night. Murad did not wake up when his granny came Surely it will not be later than tomorrow. We to bed; not even when she took him in her loving must get ready today; it would be dreadful if we old arms as she had taken his daddy when he was delayed and so lost one of our four great days. a little boy. A little herdboy who has been out on My brother and I will butcher the goat, and you the mountain all day in wind and rain, sleeps women must be about your cooking." Good Mossoundly. The fire died down and the room grew lem as he was, he could not help looking forward dark and cold, but he did not know it. to the end of the month-long fast, with its food- less, waterless, tobaccoless days at the plough, and He seemed scarcely to have dropped to sleep its ni,ghts of broken sleep. when he heard his mother saying to his father,: "Get up! Get up! I have our breakfast ready." "All things happen as God wills," said granny. "If he wills that the feast begin tomorrow, it will "It's not time yet," mumbled Daddy, rolling begin tomorrow." over and yawning. By this time Murad was back under the quilt "Vakit oldu. It is time, and the food is ready." again, and soon his granny and all the others also "How do you know it's time? Did you hear the went back to bed and slept until broad daylight. signal gun in Passtown?" "NO', but one seldO'm hears it these windy nights." Grandmother was up now, and had opened the door wide. The rain had stopped but the east
MURAD AND THE LOST FEAST DAY
When the December sun had warmed the air a may bake our cakes in his new bake-house. Tell little, Murad took the goats out on the mountain. him: your father will do the baking if he will show He wore untanned leather boots with toes turned him how." up, just like the toes of the Hittite boots that one sees pictured on monuments. His mother had tied "Oh! and may I go with father and help bake around his head a piece of Turkish toweling for the cakes?" warmth. In the flat gingham bag slung under his arm was his lunch – red peppers, some goat's "Yes, if you are a good boy and run to Armen's cheese, wrapped up in leathery folds of bread, like a bird and bring back word what he says. Ask and some dried figs. His people were well-to-do politely. Run, let me see. Bakalum!" and could afford to give him this variety. Murad came flying back with the permission. For the older people another hungry day had Then he helped his father load some wood on the begun, but everyone was busy preparing for the donkey for firing, and went with him to the oven four-day feast. Murad's father and uncle slaugh- to light it. Afterwards when the oven was hot tered and flayed the fattened goat and, hanging and the cakes were ready, with the spice kneaded the carcass on a tree, began to cut it up. Neigh- in and sesame seed sprinkled thick on top, Murad bors would buy whatever part they themselves did helped carry to the oven the big copper trays covnot want. The women were as busy; brazen ered with cakes to be baked. All eyes, he watched pestles clanged on brazen mortars as they pounded his father put a batch of cakes on the flat wooden spices – nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, all-spice and shovel, and then" slide them off on the oven floor. mastic gum. The younger women did the pound- Lovely! But lovelier still when father took up the ing, while granny spread the thick woolen bread- browned cakes on the shovel and slid them back cloth on the floor and began to knead a stiff mass on the trays near Murad to cool. Ah! the deliof flour, butter, sugar and leaven for the festal cious, delicious smell! And how good the bits cakes. The hours flew. It was noon. tasted that he broke off and popped into his mouth when no one was looking! If he lives another A Mistake and the Explanation fifty years, Murad will still remember that smell and taste. "Boom! Boom! Boom!"-the dull roar of the Passtown cannon rolled through the mountain. The rej oicing was general, yet every now and People looked at each other in consternation. then someone would say grievingly, "Look how we have been cheated out of the first day of our "Toap atuldu! The cannon is being fired; feast!" It was as if a cloud passed over the sun then the teast began last night! We have missed each time someone said this. The village Khoja a whole day!" The words flew from mouth to (Moslem teacher and preacher) was as vexed as mouth, "We have lost a day from our feast! We any of them. He too was baking cakes at the oven. have lost a day from our feast!" "But how did it come that you made a mistake Such a thing had never been known in the vil- about the day?" asked Armen, the Armenian. lage. To add another day of feasting never occurred to them; if an impious stranger had sug- "The big mountain to the southwest shuts out gested such an idea, they would have rejected it the view, and no one saw the new moon." as impossible. No, the lost day was irrevocably lost. Grown men and women as they were, they "Surely a man like you, who can read and felt it keenly, helplessly, hopelessly as children write, must know when the new moon will first feel a loss. But they went on with their prep- appear," objected Armen. "There are calendars. arations that should have been made the day Everyone knows that the new moon is sure to apbefore. pear on a certain day."
Murad heard the cannon and came racing home Murad's father listened contemptuously to the to ask what had happened. To him and the other Armenian's ignorant talk. Thank God the Khoja children it seemed interesting and exciting. Here, was present and would defend the faith. He did there, everywhere he skipped among his busy not like to have Murad hear such impious talk. elders. That was the worst of these Christian neighbors, Well, as the child had heard it, let him now hear "I take refuge in God," said his mother, pestered the Khoja's refutation. past endurance with his mischief as he teased his little brothers, "Go back to the mountain and look "God forbid," the Khoja was saying. "Nothing after your goats, filthy devil, or I'll murder you." is sure to be. Each event happens as the most high Truth wills it. If he wills a new moon on a "I left them with one of the Armenian boys. certain day, there will be one; if not, there will They're all right," he answered. not. Who can say beforehand-I ask pardon of God-what God's will is going to be? We did not "My nestling," said grandmother intervening, see the moon ourselves, we had no authenticated "run quickly to Armen's house and ask him if we news that it had been seen by responsible persons
elsewhere, therefore we did not know that there Murad crawled into bed and left them still eatwas a new moon." ing. He was so full that he went to sleep quickly, but in the night he awoke, crying with a stomach- "If that is ,the way of it, why did not one of you ache. go to town two days ago and stay to bring the news as soon as the moon was seen in town?" "I take refuge in God from Satan, the stoned," persisted the Armenian. said granny. "What can ail the child ?" She tried to soothe him by rubbing, but that was of no use, "Perhaps, after he had taken all that bother and so she got up and made him some mint tea with headache, there might have been no moon; then plenty of sugar in it. Then she said a charm for his labor would have gone for nothing," answered colic. The pain eased, but he was wide awake and the Khoja. could not go to sleep again at once.
"The cause of each event, no matter how small, "Grandmother," he said, "what happened to the is the will of God. I once heard a sheikh of pro- lost feast day? How does a day get lost, granny? found learning say this: 'It is an error to say that Did it wander off in the mountains like our nanny fire always burns. Fire burns or not just as God goat that the wolf ate? Or did it fall down a deep wills in each case. And the proof is that when the crack between rocks like my piastre piece that I idolaters tried to destroy Abraham by fire, far cried so hard about? How does a day get lost, from burning him the fire caused a thicket of rose- grandmother ?" bushes in bloom to grow up around him, full of singing nightingales. Likewise it is an error to "God predestined that we should lose that day. say that knives cut. A knife cuts if God wills it The Most High Truth wrote that fate on our to cut; if not, no. And the proof is that when foreheads." Abraham was about to sacrifice his son Ishmael, the knife refused to cut. There is no God but "But why?" God; without his will naught comes to pass.' " "I ask pardon of God. Listen to the child! God knows his own work. No good comes from think- Murad, listening with all his ears, thought that ing and asking questions. Please God, it be not what the Khoja said was wonderful, and looked a portent of some evil about to befall us for our triumphantly at the ignorant Armenian. "Annen wickedness! Truly, in these days godlessness has is nice, but he is a giaour (infidel) just the same," so increased that if the Supreme Truth rained he thought. He wished that he had seen Abra- fire on us it would be no more than we deserve. ham's roses and nightingales. That conversation For look how children–even small children-" by the oven laid one more great stone solidly in Murad was always bored when granny began the foundation of the Moslem faith upon which to moralize. "Granny, I kiss your eye, ehant the Murad's life was to be built. M evlud," he coaxed. "Chant the same bit that you did the other night," and he began the nen-ni, Murt-koy is only a mountain village. Murad nen-ni of the Infant Prophet's nurse. His grandhad never seen the rude Ferris wheels-outdating mother took it up and went on verse after verse: Ferris by centuries-that are set up for the children at this feast in Moslem cities, from Con- Mohammed is my heart's core, my theme: stantinople to Calcutta. No strolling gypsies If he weeps, my eye weeps blood. came, as they do to the big towns, with fife and Let me rub my face on his threshold. drum. But even in Murt-koyeverybody had new Lullaby, my Mohammed, my high Commander, lullaby. clothes, and the groups of women and children looked like living gardens. Even the tiny babies His teeth are whiter than white pearls, had new caps of every bright color; amulets were snipped off the old caps and sewed tightly on the The Paradise maidens, the Houris, are his companions; new. Families exchanged cakes; and who so proud as Murad to go from door to door offering He is the Sun of the two worlds. ' a cake with his family's greetings. He was shy and his lashes swept his cheeks; his voice could Lullaby, my Mohammed; lullaby, my beautiful Ahmad, hardly be heard, but his smile was sweet. lullaby; nen-ni, nen-ni-i-i-i-i. And what a feast they had when he returned home! He ate and ate until he was tight as a Her voice quavered like that of a nurse croondrum. He liked that feeling and would have eaten ing to a fretful child. Then she fell silent and more but his father said that he had had enough. listened to her grandson's breathing for a few All through that meal, though, with its fun and seconds. She had almost forgotten him and had laughing, someone of the grown people would sigh felt herself to be Lady Haleema-God's approval and shake the head every now and then and say, be upon her-singing a cradle song to the little "Yazuk! What a pity that we have lost a day!" Mohammed. Then her thoughts homed back to Murad. "He is asleep," she said, fondly kissing his forehead. "Sleep my lamb. Sleep in the pro- tection of God. What do I know? May this lost feast day portend no evil to us. I take refuge in God. Amahn! Amahn! Alas for the lost feast day!"
and Open Doors in Missions*
By REV. C. DARBY FULTON, D.D., Nashville, Tennessee Executive Secretary of the Foreign Missions Committee of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S.
THE Chinese word for "crisis" is written with been employed. Many, unable to endure these suf- two characters; one means "danger," and ferings, have yielded to practices they do not ap- the other "opportunity." Paul suggested the prove. Others, standing grimly amid great same thought when he wrote to the Corinthians, distress, are bearing a shining Christian testi- "For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, mony. Never have we faced so ominous an out- and there are many adversaries." look as is before us in Korea. We cannot foretell Of the "adversaries" by which missionaries are what the end will be. The hour is here for prayer, compassed today, we who live in the tranquil at- earnest and unrelenting. There is no way through mosphere of this land of peace and liberty have this crisis in Korea e~cept as God moves to help not the slightest conception. Writes a missionary us.
in China : "We are in the midst of wickedness and But the greatest "adversary" to missions, the inhuman atrocities on such a colossal scale that the only one we really need fear, is the hindrance we mind is too benumbed to take it all in." Even the ourselves can be through thoughtlessness, and neg- physical survival of our missionaries amid the con- lect. Opposition from without, our missionaries vulsions of war is a daily miracle. All around expect; indifference within the Church all but them is ruin, whole cities in desolation, panic- breaks their hearts. The test of carrying on with stricken multitudes fleeing in bewildered confu- inadequate support, unable to touch the needs sion, the maimed and wounded crying for help, around them, and wondering whether the Church the whole lurid scene a part of the tragedy that has forgotten, brings them their sorest trial. They stalks in the wake of banditry, looting, murder, return on furlough and find us living in elegant rape and arson. Hospitals, schools, and chapels homes. They see our streets choked with shining have been shattered, groups of believers scattered cars. They watch the throngs that jam our to the winds, missionary homes battle-scarred, athletic fields" and reflect that the price of one and the missionaries themselves have sat in the football ticket would pay the salary of a native ruins wondering that they have outlived the de- evangelist in Africa for two months. They read struction around them. that a thrill-crazed crowd has paid in one night Unbelievable as it may seem, the Christian to see a prizefight more than our whole Church churches of Japan and Korea, except for the physi- ever gave in a year to foreign missions, and they cal hardships, are enduring an even harder lot. wonder why they are asked to operate hospitals No group of men and women ever sought to ad- on $380.51 a year and schools on $31.12 a year! vance the interests of the Kingdom under greater They are not complaining; puzzled, that is all. difficulties. The systematic efforts to stifle and They wonder if Christ has lost first place in the suppress everything that is contrary to the pro- hearts of American Christians.
gram of aggressive militarism is bringing the The Great Open Doors whole Christian movement under great spiritual persecution. Cresar is exalted above God, reli- But it is not the "adversaries" that 100m largest gious liberty is denied, conscience is no longer in the missionary's view of the present situation. free. Anyone who sets himself against the policies I have just read twenty-eight letters from China. of the government and the idolatrous exaltation of "Opportunity" is the dominant word. One group the emperor exposes himself to reprisals of the wrote: "We are not unmindful of the dangers, most drastic -character. Untold sufferings have but we are thrilled at the thought of the opporbeen endured by Christians, especially in Korea tunities before us." These they describe as "unwhere the pressure of police power has been ap- limited," "without precedent," "beyond anything plied with increasing severity. Threats, imprison- we have known." They are joining with Paul in ment, torture and other extreme measures have saying, "The things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gos- • Condensed fram the OMistian Ob$erver. pel." Like him they refer to adversaries with [ 179]
"and," not with "but," as something not to dis- of spiritual experience and a closer fellowship with Him. We are confronted by four vital and courage but to challenge more determined efforts. immediate needs.
It is no exaggeration to say that we are confront- I. A Radical Strengthening of the Missionary Force. The really critical condition with respect ing a day of unparalleled need and opportunity in to our missionary personnel is reflected in the de- creasing number of missionaries comprising our our work around the world. Here are some of the force each year.
elements of great encouragement: The seriousness of this situation is further em- phasized by the fact that our missionaries are The high spiritual purpose and morale of our rapidly becoming a middle-aged and old-aged group. We must look forward definitely to the missionaries. loss of more missionaries through old age and retirement. Add to these the normal toll through The courage and steadfastness of the Chinese sickness and death, and the urgency of a prompt reenforcement of our missionary personnel be- Christian Church. comes clear.
The scattering of many believers to the prov- A heavy strain is thrown on our missionaries as a result of this shrinkage in personnel. One inces of West China where they have carried the missionary carries the burden of two or three. An evangelist in Korea, charged with the overcontagion of their faith unto areas heretofore un- sight of forty churches, is required to take on re- sponsibility for thirty-five more as a field formerly reached by the Gospel. worked by four men must now be carried by two. Missionaries are remaining on the field without The new friendship of the Chinese people for furlough because there is no one in whose hands the task can be left. Doctors are trying to run the missionary, growing out of the helpfulness two hospitals sometimes separated by distances of sixty or seventy miles. The need for reenand service he has, shown in this emergency. forcement is urgent and immediate.
The enormously enhanced prestige of Christian- We need an immediate and vital reenforcement of personnel on all our mission fields. Nothing ity because such great national leaders as General- would so strengthen the morale of our mission- aries or prove so conclusively to the whole world issimo Chiang Kai-shek, Madame Chiang, and our unshakable faith in the ultimate triumph of the Kingdom of Christ. others who are guiding the nation in the present II. A More Adequate Support for Missionaries crisis, are themselves Christians. in Their Work. The critical financial basis on which foreign mission work has, been operating The unprecedented open-heartedness of the peo- for the past several years can be seen from the fact that receipts for the last fifteen years have ple toward the Gospel, with their new longings for fallen off forty per cent.
the assurances of faith in the midst of the uncer- Foreign mission receipts have suffered a reduc- tion so radical that the very survival of the work tainties of the present conflict. has become a matter of wonder. Only by an abso- lutely merciless slashing of appropriations, and The return of missionaries to China and the heroic measures on the part of our missionaries who took one reduction after another in their supreoccupation of all our stations. port, were we able to weather these difficult years.
The large crowds attending evangelistic serv- With this greatly shrunken support we have had to maintain and conserve a work formerly estahices throughout the country, with many conver- lished and maintained on an annual income almost twice as large. sions and other evidences of spiritual awakening. III. The Replacing of Personal Losses of Mis- The deep undercurrent of heart-hunger among sionaries and Property Losses in China. No ac- curate estimate of property damage sustained in the people of Japan. . China can yet be made. However, a letter from Rev. C. W. Worth will indicate something of what The open doors in Africa and Brazil. we must expect. He is describing what he found Thousands of Korean Christians standing fast under severe persecution.
Should it be necess,ary at a time like this to sound a call to prayer and self-denial? Surely in such a day the attitude of prayer ought to be the habitual mood of every Christian. These are great moments in the history of the Christian Church.
They call for maximum Christian living. This is a time for unshakable conviction, because the foun- dations of our faith are being challenged; for great courage, because it is becoming increasingly dangerous to be a Christian; for strong faith, because the signs of the Kingdom's growth are not always easily seen; for confident Christian opti- mism, because God is the master of crises; for confession and prayer, because God will not refuse the cry of His people; for supreme self-denial, because the greatest issues of life are at stake.
The Present Crisis Missions is in crisis; both danger and opportunity are here; danger lest we fail in this time of need and allow the day of visitation to pass; opportunity to present Christ to a heart-hungry world, and to lift our whole Church to new levels
"BUT FROM THE BEGINNING IT WAS NOT SO"
at Kiangyin station which probably suffered more cases, especially where fire has swept the builddamage than any other center of work we have in ings, the loss is total. Probably all of our mis- China! "Of twenty Western style buildings., sev- sionaries have lost something, and many have lost enteen have been completely destroyed by fire. all. Some of the walls are still standing but even with my inexperienced eye I could see that most of these These, then, are definite objectives that should are unfit for use and will have to be razed. About be before us. This year should definitely mark the three hundred feet of compound walls were down end of foreign mission retreat and the beginning due to bombing and shell fire, and only two wooden of an aggressive forward movement in missions. gates were intact in the whole place. We figure We must add strength and reserves to the fastthat the Kiangyin losses are $100,000, and there thinning ranks of our missionaries; we must prohave been losses in other stations which put vide more adequately for their far-flung work together will make another $100,000." Heavy around the world; we must replace, where necesdamage is also reported from Kashing, Soochow, sary, the tools of our work that have been de- Hwaianfu, Sutsien, Yencheng and Haichow. stroyed, and as far as possible the individual losses of our missionaries. Missionaries have likewise suffered the loss of personal belongings. Even where buildings and With the doors of opportunity standing wide, residences have not been destroyed, systematic with God's clear call ringing in our ears, with looting has taken place. Homes have been com- the resources at our dis.posal for a definite adpletely stripped of every valuable thing. In some vance in our missionary task, God forbid that we should fail!
"But From the Beginning it Was Not So"
Notes by the Late ARTHUR T. PIERSON A S IN the case of human marriage, so in other of which otherwise we would be scarcely con- scious. This is seen in the tendency to lower ri.. respects, mankind often comes· to accept standards in literature, in the drama, in marriage totally different customs and even ideals and even religious ceremonials. We need to go from those which God intended and that were at back to "the beginning" as ordered by God in his first held sacred. In the course of history, by wisdom, and to look at the standards which pregradual and sometimes rapid changes, corruptions vailed in ,the apostolic church before corruptions creep in, so that God's original order becomes ob- crept in. The following features in early church scured and perverted. life seem to have been conspicuous: Professor Bernard illustrated our unconscious 1. The recognition of the Holy Spirit as the wisdom and accommodation to a vicious atmosphere by plac- power of God. ing a sparrow under a bell glass. which contained air enough to keep the sparrow alive for tbree 2. The readiness to yield immedi,ate obedience to the call hours. At the end of two hours he put a second of the Holy Spirit. sparrow under the bell; at once it fell over dead, while the former bird was able to breath for the 3. The personal, spiritual presence 'and leadership of fun three hours. In the spiritual realm, we almost Christ in the Church. unconsciously accommodate ourselves to evils which would shock and overwhelm us if we were 4. The Universal obligation of all Christians to bear witsuddenly confronted with them. If a man, like ness to the world and the ceaseless activity in Stephen, had been in a moment transported from preaching the Gospel at home and abroad. the apostolic church into the corrupted atmosphere of some present-day ohurch life, he would have 5. The courageous and unflinching witness to Christ in been stifled. face of persecution and the prevalence of the spirit of martyrdom in the early church. To save ourselves from this unconscious accommodation to a low standard of living and thinking, 6. Constant blessing attending the faithful preaching of we must get back to first principles and practices the Word. as revealed by God. We should candidly compare what is today with what was in God's plan. Liv- 7. The appeal to the testimOony of fulfilled prophecy as ing much with God, through private prayer and an evidence of the truth of God's Word. Bible study, we will breathe such a pure atmosphere that we will at once recognize the pollution 8. The prevailing power of definite and united prayer. 9. The separation Oof the Church frOom the wOorld. 10. The undisputed imminence of the Second Coming Oof Christ. 11. The equality of all Believers in rights and privileges in the Church. 12. The recognition by early Christians of their steward- ship in property and talents.
The proofs of these positions pervade ~he whole New Testament. There is no need for proof texts.
New Testament Idea of the Church*
By the REV. DR. ABDEL ROSS WENTZ, Gettysburg, Pa.
Professor at the Lutheran Theological Seminary I. According to the New Tes.tament the the way in our day for the New Testament idea Church is centered in Christ. Using the figure of the Church. Because the Church was centered of a body, the Head of the Church is Christ. If in the living presence of Christ it was not static we use the figure of a building, the Cornerstone but dynamic. It was governed entirely by the of the Church is Christ. If we use the figure of Holy Spirit of Christ. It had no fixed outlook.
a bride, the Bridegroom of the Church is Christ. Much of its power was due to its. ability to change In the apostolic ideal Christ is the bond that from time to time in order to meet changing con- binds Christians together in a fellowship with ditions. He who was the beating heart of the Christ, the Leader. There is a communion of New Testament is the pulsating center of the dis'Ciples with their Saviour. Church in our day. He is not weighted down with Recent research has taught us to guard against utilitarian programs. He is not one who binds reading too much system and uniformity into the yokes upon men. He is one who has loved and Church of the New Testament. What produced suffered and who still loves and suffers and yearns the Christian community in the first place was and woos-the great Leader of infinite power who not a constitution and by-laws, not even a set of could transform the world, not by force but by principles; it was the faith that pulsated in the fellowship, not by formulas but by faith, not by hearts of the disciples.. That faith was not at logic but by love, not by programs but by per- first drawn from a body of sacred writings nor sonalities.
set down in the form of a creed. It was a rugged This Christian Church, this Christ-centered fel- attachment, not reasoned out and not integrated lowship, we offer to the groping multitudes of the with other emotions. It was simple personal trust present world. It is plastic as the heart of youth.
in a Person, unquestioning devotion to a beloved It is the living Church of the living God. It has personality, who, they felt, had saved them from traditions· that are living and vitalizing. It is abysmal disaster and who, they believed, could kept eternally young by a living Presence. If lead them into abiding safety. This fact that the Christians would minister salvation to a dig,.
Church is Christ-centered is clear, not only from tracted world today the New Testament suggests a the Great Confession in Matthew 16, but also from Church pulsating with the heartbeats of the many passages in the writings of St. Paul and Saviour, a charmed circle that offers fellowship St. John. with the great central Friend of the universe.
But this idea of the Church as, a free pulsating The Church Is to Be Different fellowship centering in Christ has. often been ob- scured. Today the times are ripe for the recovery II. According to the New Testament the of that idea. For a long time men have lived on Church is sacred; it is holy, set apart. It is "called systems and the bracing effect of them. For sev- out," ecclesia. It is different. It is high and eral generations men have been enthralled by lifted up. The Church is holy in its calling. God ideas and the splendor of them. Today, instead called it into being and it belongs to God. It is of ideas and systems and defini.tions, instead of therefore holy, as God is holy.
programs and organizations, personalities are the The individuals who constitute the Church may centers of all great movements~leading person- show many differences among themselves, differalities. To stand outside of the charmed circle of ences of color and race and language, differences leaders today is to be homeless and unoriented. of faith and zeal and goodness. But at least one To stand within the magnetic influence of the thing they have in common, and that is the fact central personality gives the simplest laborer that their faces are turned towards, God. To be heart and motion; it lifts his life from drudgery in the Church is to belong to God. The thing that into thrilling devotion. brings Christians together into fellowship is the This change in the spiritual atmosphere opens fact that they have all experienced redemption • Aqijress ~Iven at the I. M. c;. meeting at Maqras, 1938. through God's grace. The Church is the fellow- [ 182] ship of the sanctified. All the members of the environment. The Head of the Church protested Church can exclaim with St. Paul: "It is God against the low ideals of his day. Because the who hath saved us and called us with a holy call- Church is holy, high and lifted up, it will always ing, not according to our works but according to feel a tension between things as they are and his own purpose and grace." The Church is a things as they ought to be. When the Church in divine institution, not a mere human society. our day identifies itself with some secular system The Church is holy also because the Holy Spirit of economics or social propaganda, it abandons its works in it. As Christ is the head of the body all New Testament character, because in the New the members of the body do his bidding and are Testament the Church represents the higher spir- filled with His spirit. When St. Paul speaks in itual order. The Church is holy.
the benediction of "the communion of the Holy A Missionary Church Spirit," he is thinking of the community of be- lievers where holiness prevails because the mem- III. According to the New Testament the bers harbor the Holy Spirit of their Head. Church is missionary. It is charged with a mis- Jesus made explicit mention of the Church only sion. To be a disciple, a learner confessing twice, according to our records. In both instances Christ, is to be an apostle, to stand under a special the Church is set in opposition to sin and evil. commission. And the mission of the disciples is "The Gates of hell shall not prevail." "If thy the mission of the Church, as the acts of the mem- brother sin … tell it to the Church." The clear bers are the acts of the body. The apostolic mis- implication is that the Church is holy. Christ sion of the Church is to carryon the work of required holiness of his followers.. For this reason Christ himself' on earth. "As the Father hath he entrusted his Church with the keys, the means sent me, even so send I you."
of grace. The Holy Church has the Holy Scrip- The Church, according to the New Testament, tures, the Holy Sacraments, holy laws, holy teach- is not only the product of God's grace through ings.. The single aim of its acts and its teachings Jesus Ghrist, but it is also an agency of God's is to promote holiness. grace, the keeper of the keys to the Kingdom of The New Testament, however, does not repre- Heaven on earth. As the collective body of be- sent the Church as complete or perfect. There is lievers the Church is the appointed agency for the the parable of the tares and the parable of the extension of the Kingdom of God and the salva- dragnet. St. Paul repeatedly addresses his hearers tion of men. The Church is taught to pray: "Thy as saints, and yet in the course of his letters ad- Kingdom come" and to use its life and resources monishes them about their shortcomings. and sins. ~or the conversion of the world.
According to the New Testament the holiness of According to the New Testament the Church the Church is real but not yet fully attained. The is equipped with the means of fulfilling its apos- Church is in actual process of being "cleansed tolic commission. The Church is furnished with from all sin." The Church looks forward in hope the Truth that it must teach the faith by which to the consummation when "Christ shall present the Church lives. The original Twelve were spe- it unto himself, a glorious Church, holy and with- cially trained by intimate association with Christ out blemish." to be his witnesses and they regarded this as their But the incomplete character of the Church's principal duty. They transmitted that duty to holiness does not make its holiness unreal. A their successors, and the Church throughout his- city may be a rich city while some of its citizens tory has accepted the teaching and witnessing con- are still poor. A school may be a learned school cerning Christ. In this. it has continued the while all of its students are still short of the ideal prophetical office of Christ himself.
in learning. The Church, as a society on earth, Another way in which the Church fulfils its will never be complete in its holiness. None of apostolic commission is by fostering associated its members are. Sanctification is a process.. That worship and transmitting the Sacraments. The is true of the collective body as it is true of the apostolic Church is a worshipping Church through individual member. Holiness is progressive. It all ages. It presents Christ as a mediator even shall be perfect hereafter. now. And all the Christian liturgies of the cen- In the course of Church history there have been turies are the continuance of the priestly office of many attempts to secure greater purity and holi- the great Head of the Church, an expression of ness in the Church. And more than once these the Church's apostolic character.
attempts have led to incisions in the body of Then, too, the New Testament indicates that Christ. However contrary to the New Testament, Christ committed to his immediate followers the these efforts testify to a deep underlying convic- exercise of discipline and the administration of tion that the Church must be holy. affairs in the community of believers. There are Because the Church is holy, there must always widely different views as to details but in general be a state of tension between the Church and its there is agreement that the Church must exercise
some powers of discipline and government. In Spirit, always active and energizing, and always this the Church continues the kingly office of progressively revealing himself. He reaches out Christ. in love towards every living soul. The Christian As to this aggressive propulsive quality of the idea of God carries ecumenical implications for Church, according to the New Testament it is of the Church. If God is a personal, living, ener- the essence of the Church and not merely of its gizing God, then his Church is not merely an well being. Any group of professing believers international society binding people together from that does not feel its apostolic commission to the four corners of the earth. It is more than propagate the Gospel and extend the Kingdom has that. It is an ecumenical community bearing in not inherited the Spirit of the Founder. its heart the propulsive power of a boundless love The new aggressiveness of the great non-Chris- that will not stop until it embraces the whole tian religions in our day calls for special emphasis world.
just now on the apostolic character of the New The Church of the New Testament is catholic Testament Church, its aggressive mission to its because its message is a message of divine revelanon-Christian environment. tion and transcends all forms of religion. Chris- A Universal Church tianity is not a religion. Religion is man's effort to adj ust himself to the ultimates. Christianity IV. According to the New Testament the is GoOd's answer to the quest of the human heart. Church is catholic, universal, all-embracing. It Jesus Christ is not the founder of a religion. The possesses inherent qualities that make it fit to be message of the New Testament Church is not the home of all classes of men in all parts of the simply one of several possibilities for man's pious world and in all ages of time. self-expression. It stands alone as God's message to man. It is not just a word from God or a word The Church is catholic because by its nature it about God; it is the Word of God whose content is not limited as to place or time. This idea of the is Jesus Christ. The Church does not come with Church as universal and timeless was not an after- a philosophy, nor a system of doctrine, nor an thought. It is not true that the Church was at ethic; it does not even come with a religion. It first only the group of Christians in a particular comes with a Person, a living God who speaks locality and then when this little obscure group through Jesus Christ. Our God is larger than the had expanded into a mighty enterprise the idea of founder of religion. Our Gospel transcends relia universal Church arose. From the beginning gion as well as time and place. Our Church, so the Church was understood to be the larger in- long as it is faithful to this witness, is the unicarnation of Christ, and the local congregation versal catholic Church. was simply a miniature of the whole. As a thousand different mirrors may at one and the same time reflect the whole orb of the shining sun, so A United Church the local congregations or churches are the re- V. According to the New Testament the flections of the great Church universal. Every Church is, one. This unity is a subject of enor- Church is a catholic Church unless it claims to be mous proportions, and a whole library has grown the only catholic Church. The body of Christ not up about it in recent years. only includes the believers and saints of all nations and places but it also extends, backward and The chief New Testament sources of informaforward in time and includes the saints of the tion about the unity of the Church are the high past as well as those of future ages,. priestly prayer of our Lord and St. Paul's letter to the Ephesians. From these we learn that the Again, the Church is catholic because it rises unity of the Church is a mystery. It is something above the limitations of culture and religion. It in which we believe. It transcends human underis the only community that can meet the needs of standing. all mankind. This is indicated not only by par- ticular words of Jesus and individual passages in As the Church itself is holy, not merely a volun- the New Testament, but also by the very nature tary association of men combining together to of the teaching set forth. Jesus claimed that his effect certain ends, so the unity of the Church is Gospel is sufficient for the needs of all mankind. not merely an earthly visible manifestation de- Both Jesus, and Paul taught with the background vised by men in order to increase the efficiency of Stoic philosophy and universal empire. They of the Church and to pres,ent a so-called "united made universal claims for their Gospel. They pic- front." It is divinely ordained and belongs to the tured the Church as the organ through which God essence of the Church. The unity of the Church, will accomplish His plan not only for men but for according to the New Testament, arises from the the universe. unity of God, "as I and the Father are one." The The Church is catholic because the God to whom Church is one because there is one Spirit, one the Holy Church belongs is a living God. He is a Lord, one Father. The Church is one because all
NEW STUDENT FOREIGN MISSION FELLOWSHIP
members of the Church are members of Christ Finally, the New Testament represents the unity and abide in Him, as branches abide in the vine. of the Church as a process, a growth. It is a present reality, but still imperfect. It cannot be So the unity of the Church is not something in hurried by the manufactured conceptions of men. the golden past, a lost treasure that needs to be Perfect unity will come as a growth in faith and recovered. It is not something in the rosy fu- in "the knoweldge of the Son of God," a growth ture, a high goal that needs to be achieved. It is "into him in all things" which is the Head, even something that exists now, and simply calls for Christ." External means may be used to increase fuller expression. It is something that was and that faith and spread that knowledge, but the huris and is to be. It is as eternal as the Church it- ried establishment of any external union would self. It is as eternal as the God who called the hinder the true process and would check the real Church into being. It is something that belongs growth of unity. to the essence of the Church. The true Church of Christ is one. The New Testament idea of the Church's unity brings two words of warning: first, that our ef- The source of this mystical unity of the Church forts at Church union should not degenerate into is the redeeming work of Christ for men. It is a trifling with something that transcends human not in a unified organization. It is not in a com- comprehension; second, that if our witness to the mon liturgy. The unity of the Church grows out world is to be effective we dare not permit our of a common faith, a common Gospel that centers love for our particular ideas and traditions, to dein the Cross. This, and nothing else is the source lay that growth of unity which our Lord has in of the creative power of the Church. mind for His Church. The New Testament con- ception of the Church's unity suggests that since The New Testament also teaches that this in- the Church is one, we should enter now with joy visible unity will express itself in outward and into a sense of real unity among us. We should visible unity. It is, to be a sign to the world: allow our hearts to be thrilled with the joy that "That the world may believe." The efforts to was in the heart of our Lord as we emphasize achieve this outward unity of the Christian continually the visible and invisible bonds of faith Church have engaged all the ecumenical councils and hope and love that bind us together. "That of by-gone ages and all the world conferences of they may be one,even as we are one." modern times. These efforts have good New Testament warrant and example.
New Student Foreign Mission Fellowship By DR. TOM LAMBIE of the Sudan Interior Mission Recently Missionary to Ethiopia D o WE need another missionary organiza- life of Christian service in favor of the pursuit of tion? There are already over two hundred pleasure and worldly success. In addition to this, Boards and societies in North America-in the lofty Christian appeals for a sacrificial servaddition to local church groups-that are engaged ice, involved in carrying the Gospel to the ends-of in promoting interest in foreign missions. At the earth, have too often been watered down until first blush one is inclined to deprecate the forma- there is not sufficient strength in them to stand tion of a new one, and yet many feel that there the test of opposition from those out of sympathy may be justification for a new Student Foreign with the highest type of missionary service. Missions Fellowship such as the one that had its first national meeting at Keswick Grove, New Even among many church members the gist of Jersey, early in January. current thought would seem to be ,something as follows: The youth of today is susceptable to the appeal for noble ideals and service to mankind, but there Everyone must have a philosophy of life and should try is, at the same time, a tremendous tug upon young to be true to it, having as good a time as possible without people in schools and colleges to give up these inflicting unnecessary injury on others. We ought to keep ideals and to turn aside from the prospect of a most of the laws of the land in which we dwell. Attend- ance on religious services is sometimes helpful. The heathen are probably well enough off as they are, but if
anyone feels like trying to show them Christianity, with- not because they were urged by others to do someout creating a disturbance, then there is no great objection. thing about it, but because they were conscious of Medical relief is a good thing for the heathen but charity, being moved by the Holy Spirit. after all, begins at home. Old creeds are mostly outmoded but we should be tolerant toward those who still hold them. Many more students came to the conference God is a good sort of super-rotarian who will be lenient than had been expected. Forty-eight registered, with everyone, including the heathen, as long as they do the and many others attended but did not register. best they can and are true to their own philosophy of life. The older people, professors and missionaries, were very much in the minority and kept in the Is it any wonder that, where such beliefs pre- background. The colleges represented included vail, there is lack of interest in the missionary Hampden-Sydney, Wheaton, Columbia Bible Colenterprise, that the quality of candidates has de- lege, Davidson, John Stetson University, Glassclined, that financial support has fallen off and boro Teachers', Wilson, Grove City, Drexel Instithat there is evidence of loss in devotion and spir- tute, Women's Medical, University of Pennsylitual power? vania, National Bible Institute, Philadelphia School of the Bible, Pennsylvania Bible Institute, Faced by these conditions and tendencies the Moody Bible Institute, Faith Seminary and Johns new Student Foreign Missions Fellowship has Hopkins University.* been formed in order to make a stand against such ideologies, and to promote missionary inter- A constitution was adopted and a Missionary est among the youth of today ona spiritual and Purpose Pledge was approved which reads as truly New Testament basis. follows: It has been found that in many cases Christian Knowing: young people, who have commenced their college or professional education, expooting to prepare for That Jesus Christ has saved me from my sin, foreign missionary service, have been turned aside That all men without Christ are lost, and that there is from this purpo'se while in college. It is hoped that the new Fellowship may conserve and deepen no other name by which men may be saved; this purpose and help to maintain spiritual ideals. That God's command is, "Go ye into all the world," Only those who have a definite determination to That the laborers are few in the foreign field, go as ambassadors of Christ to the foreign field And believing it to be God's will for me, will be admitted to this Fellowship. Emphasis on two points is stressed: First, absolute adherence I purpose to be a foreign missionary, and will plan accordto the Christian faith as taught in the New Tes- ingly. Until He leads me to the field, I will support tament. This includes belief in the plenary in- the work by my prayers and gifts and by witnessspiration and authority of the Bible, in the Virgin ing. If the Lord's later leading should direct me Birth of Christ, the atonement and salvation into other service, I will seek to give foreign misthrough Christ's voluntary death on the cross, and sions its rightful place of prominence in my min- His bodily resurrection. Second, it is necessary istry. that all Christians have a realization of the obligation to carry forward to completion the still un- Other true-minded students who are in symfinished task of taking the Gospel to the ends of pathy with the movement, but who are undecided the earth. The organizers of this movement be- about their own future and their own life work, lieve that every active member should be person- may attend the meetings of the Fellowship and ally committed to go to the foreign fields as a are to be admitted to an associate membership if missionary of Christ, as soon as possible after they desire. the completion of his or her education. The meeting at Keswick Grove seemed like an- Thousands of students have (in the past fifty other Haystack Prayer Meeting under the guidyears) volunteered to go as missionaries to the ance of the same Holy Spirit and moved by the foreign field but many of them have never gone. same enthusiasm for carrying the Gospel to the Some have lost their faith and vision, some have ends of the earth. There was the same deep conshown themselvelS to be insincere or unstable. secration to the task. The potentialities of that Something could and should be done to prevent meeting seemed boundless. this great waste and to crystalize and spiritualize the thinking of every student volunteer. The These students mean business. They have a young people gathered at Keswick in January felt steadfastness of purpose and a devotion to the the need of banding together for such a purpose, Will of God that is admirable. This movement will grow and be effective in proportion as God is in it and as the Fellowship is true to Him.
• The following officers of the new Fellowship Were elected: Executive Secretary, Kenneth G. Hood, M.A.; Student PreSident, Jack W. Murray, B.A.; Vice-President, Davison Phillips; Secretary, Lois Raws.
CHRISTIAN COLLEGE AND SOME OF THE DELEGATES AT
A Milestone in Missionary Progress An Appreciation and Appraisal of the Madras Conference By DR. H. KERR TAYLOR, Nashville, Tenn.
-~ Formerly Missionary in China; Educational Secretary of the )It- Foreign Mission Work of the Presbyterian Church, U. S.
THE recent conference at Tambaram, a SlUb- tic and ,social work are included in the methods urb of Madras, India, was both inspiring and of this far-flung movement. revealing f:mm the points of view both of the In Madras we saw a demonstration of the sucmission field and of the sending churches. cess of it. Fifty per cent of the 460 delegates 1. Here was a diemonstration of the strength from over 70 countries and scattered areas came and success of the Chrisltian movement. For well from younger churches in mis'siol'l. lands. A better over a hundred years the modern phase of the mis- equipped and technically trained'group of admin- sionary enterprise has been in progress, during istrators and of workers on the: mission field it these last few generations constituting one of the would have been difficult to assemble. All were in maj or points of contact between Western lirfe and close touch with Christian work in their several that in Asia, Mrica and parts of Latin America. areas. Most of them spoke two or more languages There are today over 27,000 missionaries, and the and many spoke more.
annual budgets of the different societies aggregate On no other platform and in no other Name many millions.*. Colleges, hos.pitals, schools, in- could such a gathering have been held. The con- dustrial missions, and different kinds of evangeiis- ference was conscious of its unity in purpose and program, and settled down to seventeen days of quiet and earnest work on matters of supreme con- * aAt pBprroitxaiimnataenlyd $th3e5,0E0u0r,o0p0e0anfrocmontisneenndti.n-Eg DcIhTuOrcRh.es In America, '
Gre [ 187]
cern to. the life of peoples throughout the wQrld. great demQcracies" from SQuth Africa and Egyprt, Here was a remarkable fusing of cQntributions fro.m China and Japan. Here in a co.mmQn serv- from men of utterly diverse backgrQunds Qf race, ice o.f GQd fo.r mankind, fraternity and love were nationality, religiQus experience, theological views nQt only an ideal, but a fact; There was a striking and economics. FQr Qver a fortnight these hun- absence Qf vindictiveness and CQndemnation even dreds Qf workers expressed their cQnvictions and amQng thQse fl'o.m whQm this might have been ap- aspirations, and in most fraternal and earnest prehended. One of the finest influences exerted by fashion SQught, and measurably 'achieved, a unit- any delegation was that o.f the Chinese delegatiQn ed mind and Qutlook. It was an exceptiQnal gath- who. impres,sed the cQnference with their fine re- ering in our mQdern world. It sought fQr the life straint and Christian forbearance. A new empha- Qf our day the larger recognitiQn of a higher and sis was thus made to. the reaIity and the indis- mQre absolute responsibility and control. Here pensability Qf the influence of the Prince Qf Peace.
was a strong witnes,s to the potential unity of srpir- 4. The Madras., meeting was strQng in the em- it in the Lord that is PQssible to. the whole wo.rld. phasis given to. the Church. This was explicit.
2. The cQnference was sanely PQsitive and con- Christianity was nQt cQnceived as a mere perva- structive. The'delegates spoke their minds frank- sive influence; it requires concrete and definite ly, seeking to. conserve the best in the heritage of expression. As Dr. Speer said many years a'go, the church, particularly in its world-wide Chris- "Religious, life, like any other life, is, and must be tian enterprise. cellular; only thus does it conform to. biQIo.gical The positive leade'r&hip Qf the International law." The Church as a fellowship has a faith, a MissiQnary Council was shown in the publishing witness,a life and a cQmmission. In the Church o.f a prepamtQry study book, "The Christian Mes- is the his,toric and effective means for preaching sage in a Non-Christian World," by Dr. H. Krae- the Kingdom of God.
mer of Leiden University, HQlland. This provided 5. It WQuld extend the limits o.f this article un- a massive cQntributio.n to. the wQrld's missriQn lit- l'easonably to. evaluate the -cQntributiQn of the erature, and CQnserves much Qf the best cQnstruc- wo.rk Qf the sixteen commissions into which the tive thQught of recent decades. The thought of co.nference was divided and whQse reports were the conference was largely indebted to. this presen- received by the who.le cQnference. The evalua.tion tatiQn, which aVQided the pitfalls of ra to.Q Qptimis- of the,se findings i,sa WQrk for the churches and tic pragmatism and Qf the hampering weakness of missionary societies in the coming years. Suffice an Qverweening eclecticism so evident in recent it to. say that these studies and recQmmendations years. While thus the strength of much of what were characterized by great breadth Qf under- has been regarded as the current cQntinental standing Qf the phases and prQblems of this world thought was made basic in the thinking Qf the CQn- movement. In such realms rus the nature and func- ference, the gathering itself did nQt hesitate to tion of the Church, its witnesls and relatiQn to. the implement the strQng positiQns Qf this point of non-Christian systems, its wQrship, mini,srtry and view with the view frQm the North American con- literature, and its, social responsibilities and rela- tinent, which emphasizes practical social em- tiQn to. the State, together with its larger corpo- phases Qf the Christian message. rate life, the cQnference made significant contri- Here was a positive advance in curl'ent mis- butions to. current thought andprQvided for the sio.n and church cooperation. It is in such mutual Christian enterprise a compendium fQr seriQus understanding that the possibility Qf collaboratiQn and extended study during the neXit decade.
and union in our enterprises is possible. In a Unresolved Problems troubled world and time, the Madras meeting was driven back upon its basic and essential values. One hesitates to point Qut weaknesses in such a One wonders if it had been possible to. hold such a worthy enterprise. But it WQuld be to.o much to.
cQnference fifteen years, ago, whether the unfortu- hope that srUch a gathering, representing such nate rift in the American churches with regard to diverse elements and different ranges of experi- theQIQgy and methQd Wo.uld have been largely ence, WQuld not reveal elements of indecision and aVQided. Let the church in its cooperative and inconclusiveness which indicate that the final word uniQn enterprises heed the lesson Qf the past two is far frQm being sPQken on SQme impQrtant CQn- decades and not the strength of the Madras Co.l- cerns. The Church in its miss,iQn and in its labQratiQn. Cooperation is easy when the o.bdec- growth on the missiQn field has yet a long way to tives are clea:r and when Christian leadership is go. in solving some Qf its essential prQblems.
positive and unequivocal. 1. There was a recurring indicatiQn throughout 3. The conference was a demonstratiQn in a the -days Qf conference that secondary considera- war-mad Wo.rld Qf ho.W fraternity and under- tiQn is Qften being given to. the basic necesrsity on standing may be attained. It mattered little that all fields Qf a truly indigenous church life. In delegates had come from Germany and from the mQre than one cQmmission,and in the plenary
A MILESTONE IN MISSIONARY PROGRESS
sessions, the cDnference av'Oided the questi'On 'Of for a new generatiQn of workers in this a new self-supPDrt. One heard too little of church fel- day, workers who will in fraternal c'OHaborati'On lowships seeking such cDIiPorate expressi'On as is with the younger churches take up with them the pDssible now, drawing sustenance up frQm the soil service at the point which it has reached and help and life where these fellDwships exist and where carry it to a WQrthy c'Onclusion. they must give their 'Own witness. Representatives of the younger churches had a The missiDn field church shDuld n'Ot, 'Of C'OU~se, go'Od deal tQ say as to the need fQr collab'OratiQn by be a replica 'Of that in the homeland. N'Ot 'Only in wDrkers frDm abroad with the leaders 'Of the Western modes, music, architecture and ministe- yQunger churches, the desirability 'Of a shared CQnrial garb has the church 'On the missi'On fields tD'O trol in the finances of the enterprise, and the feas- 'Often given the impressiDn of being "foreign,:' but ibility of putting the life and service 'Of the mi,sthere has 'Often been evidence 'Of this want of a sionary himself under the direction of the native conditiDning a-ttitude 'Of mind and life in native church and its, leadership. Much of this was insustenance and in independence. One wonders dicative 'Of the new day ,to which we have come or h'OW this whDle attitude of some 'Of the younger are destined. But in the findings> of the commi'schurches appears tD the supporters of the nQn- sion on the unreached fields, one wished fDr a more Christian religiDus insUtutiDns. And the clash convincing caB from the yQunger churches themwith natiDnalistic aspiratiDns i,s a cQmmonplace. selves for young men and w'Omen from abr'Oad, who are undoubtedly needed, with the offer of In some of the sessiQns at Madras the hDpe f'Or challenging and significant tasks even though toadvance WQuld in thi,s respect have been fur- day there has come a new orienting 'Of the misthered had there been less discussion 'Of "grants si'Onary's PQsitiQn and :service. Wise will it be in in aid," "subsidies," and "control 'Of funds,," and the immediate days ahead if in the, calls from the a more earnest and l'ealistic c'Onsideration 'Of some field less emphasis is put on the special qualifica- 'Of the findings of the Department of Social and tiQns needed for new missionaries', and more con- Industrial Research 'Of the International MissiDn- vincing emphasis 'On their indispensability. ary C'Ouncil through its secretary, J. Merle Davis. If the unrealities of much of the 'Outmoded prac- There is indisputable need and challenging SCQpe tice of past decades, with its want of such self- for y'Oung men and women 'Of consecration and maintenance, are not discarded 'On the missiDn training, as was proved by the convincing evifield in these days of wQrld depression and neces- dence furnished by the commi,ssi'On on the unfinsary recom;,tructiQn 'Of financial pDlicy, then the ished task. And c'Onstant contac,t with the youth current oPPDrtunity fDr much real advance at this of 'Our h'Ome lands aSSUl'es 'One that there is no point will have been lost. want of heroic willingness on the part 'Of the yQung pe'Ople to meet the challenges 'Of a new 2. A cDrrelated weakness of the conference was day. But what the missionary cause in the h'Omeits failure to make clear the vital need 'Of new re- lands today requires, in the light 'Of the rapidly cruits for missiQnary service. It is true that aging missiQnary force and the sman numbers of one secti'On was concerned with the place and missi'Onary volunteers, is a clamant and convincfunction and training 'Of the future missionary; ing call fr'Om the y'Ounger churches themselves, and one cDmmission presented the yet unfinished that many of the best y'Outh 'Of the 'Older churches task. But the conference, and particularly the sh'Ould "come over and help" in a task altogether leadership of the YDunger churches, shDuld hav~ beyond the ability 'Of the y'Ounger churches to commade clear in a ringing and vivid way the admit- pass. There sh'Ould be the assurance that, fo.r a ted need for a l'ecruiting 'Of the miSISionary force. whole lifetime at least, such life investment will be cordially welcomed and challengingly em- The leadel's of the younger church wDuld do ployed. It is just here that the yo.unger churches well to keep this in mind. The present missionary force is rapidly aging, and on all sides there are in the next few years can render 'a, m'Ost valuable vast unoccupied fields. We have lived thr'Ough an era of wide mi's,sionary expansion and of enthu- service and can be the means of reinspiring the siastic support. Outstanding missionary leaders 'Older churches to an even larger adventure in the in the sending countries have laid this responsi- vast unreached task of Christian missions abroad. bility on the church and have called f'Or the heroic venture 'Of YDung life in ocoupying fields that 'Oth- 3. Perhaps the explanation of the situation is erwise would not be reached. The center of gravi- in the trend 'Of leadership n'Oticeable on some of ty of the enterprise has now shifted to the mis- the mission fields, as, revealed in Madras. PressiDn field. Inspiration fDra continuatiDn O!f the ent day leadership partakes t'Oo. largely of Western enterprise must take its rise ,there. In this wDrld- viewpoint and supp'Ort. The church on the field wide enterprise, in which the interests of younger is not native enough. It is oriented too. largely churches and the missionary societies are so iden- to the West. Its dress :sh'Ows it. The structure of tical, what is needed is the sounding 'Of a clear call its c'Ooperativeand representative enterprises is conditioned to'O largely 'On f'Oreign funds. In a
conference conducted entirely in English, and The composite nature of the gathering and the therefore reflecting so largely westernized opinion, necessity for the observance of amenities and reone often missed the careful and measured balance straints made impracticable the specific condemand independence of judgment that is the sure nation of known acts of aggression, specific areas mark of a self-supported and entirely indigenous of persecution, and like ills. One must read beenterprise. Jesus lived and died and rose again tween the lines of the finding:s to see what the conin Asia. What the missionary cause today needs is ference reaHy had in mind. After all, the meetthe careful judgment and collabomtion of a na- ing was for counsel in the doing of a specific task tive church whose life and leadership is devoid of in the world, it was not a conference to sit in judgartificiality in its structure and support. We too ment on the world. often think in terms of the churches as they ought to be, and not enough of the churches as they are. The conference was a worthy third in a great Let the Intern~tional Missionary Coundl, and series. Edinburgh in 1910 was a great missionparticularly its constitutive units on the field, re- ary conference that emphasized comity. Jerusaflect current indigenous church life and opinion. lem in 1928 recognized the importance of the The cenlters, of Christian life for these younger younger churches ,and sought a common front and churches are not, or should not be, Canterbury, platform, finding it in a unifying Christology. Rome or New York, but in the mission lands, them- Madras in 1938 conceived of the unfinished task in selves. We need to be on our guard lest we make terms of a world-wide church fellowship. Its the same mistake here that has so often been made greatest contribution was not so much its findin mission projects, 'and in our zeal for results in ings, but in a real sense its very self. The' conorganization and leadership through foreign sub~ ference was perhaps lacking in great creative sidy, run ahead of ourselves. statement. It was a great creation, representing the results of past decades of noble missionary 4. One should not look in the findings for clear service, and indicating the need for further adcut, unequivocal delineations of some of the cur- vance. It emphasized dramatically how far we rent problemslland frictions throug;hout our world. have come, and how far we yet have to go.
An Impression of Madras Conference By PROF. HENDRICH KRAEMER, Leyden, Holland Author of "The Christian Message in a Non-Christian World"
N EVER before have I found it so difficult to The second reason, as far as I can judge, is that formulate an impression about a conference such international conferences become so per- I attended as in regard to that held at fected in their technique, and so standardized in Tambaram (Madras) last December. One usually their methods, that creative explosions and stir- feels reasonably certain that one understands the rings become very rare and almost impossible. general trend and spirit of the conference, and The method adopted in these conferences seems has some definite opinion of the outcome to be to have become somewhat as follows: For a year expected. These conclusions are not clear in re- or two in advance extensive and stimulating pr~ .gard to Tambaram, possibly for two main rea- paratory work is done, which is 'One of the most sons. productive features of a world conference. Peo- ple are urged to collect material, to think out prin- First, the time allotted to handle the sixteen ciples, to criticize methods and principles, and to main subjects (and the many others added dur- outline new visi'Ons and plans. The result is put ing the conference) was far too short. This was at the disposal of the whole missionary enterprise the general feeling of the delegates. Because of in the world. This isa highly stimulating and the many subjects that had to be discussed in five productive influence. days, one was so occupied with the subjects. to be taken up in the special sections attended that it When the day of the conference dawns the delewas impossible to get a grasp of the general sweep gates are divided into sections, to study the variof the conference. ous subjects allotted and to prepare a report for
AN IMPRESSION OF MADRAS CONFERENCE
general consideration. The idea is that a small baram. It was a great privilege to meet so many group study one particular subject and, as a re- ins,piring personalities. It was inspiring to hear, sult of cooperative and creative thought and con- first-hand, how the forces of the Kingdom of God structive criticism, will present the result to. the are working everywhere, often against the greatfull session of the conference for criticism and est odds. The deep sense of Christian fellowship, revision or adoption. experienced at Tambaram, filled the heart with thanksgiving to God. The reality of the Univer- But this eX'cellent idea, in my humble opinion, sal Church of Christ in the world, as the deepest can create useful and satisfactory results only if and solely undeceiving cause for hope and joy, the general guidance of such a conference is sure manifested itself repeatedly in our dealings with and determined and if there is sufficient time. each other. Otherwise the splendid intentions of this technique will become largely inoperative as seemed, to a Probably the most abiding impression I carry great extent, to have been the case at Tambaram. with me is the expectation that from this confer- In many cases the important preparatory work was scarcely used. This does not detract from DR. HENDRICH KRAEMER AND REV. D. T. NILES OF CEYLON the value o.f the preparatory work but it is to be regretted that the conference could not use to full ence a new fire will spread through all the advantage the results of these preparatory labors. churches and mission fields, a new fire of whole- The same pressure of time made it difficult to have hearted surrender to the divine commission of a thorough discussion in the sections where a co.n- evangelizing the world in all its spheres, and of flict of ideas could be given free play in such a strong loyalty to the Church as the fellowship in way that the creative spirits could formulate a Christ. The world needs a clear demonstration common platform. This criticism applies espe- of what the Church, if faithful to its calling, must cially to the most important subjects. be-namely a new, regenerated quality of individ- ual life and of life in fellowship. Tambaram The plenary sessions of the conference were so strongly impressed this vision on the minds of limited in time that they did not bring that whole- those who were present. some and indispensable clash of ideas to enable us to discover the fundamental urges of a conference and the unifying and inspiring force that determines its energizing influence.
Conferences, like that at Tambaram, are of such great importance to the missionary enterprise and to the Church that it is important to discover where their weaknesses may be remedied. Nowadays we kno.w fairly well what the technique of a great international gathering should be in order to obtain the maximum results. Tambaram, however, teaches that this technique cannot yield its due results unless we take at least three or four full weeks for such a gathering. There is an Arab proverb which runs: Haste originates from the devil. This certainly applies to international conferences. One of the fundamental conditions for their fruitfulness is that the mind can work quietly and intensely, open to God and open to each other. Only then can the average-minded and average-gifted delegate have his due share in the work of planning and thinking; and only then can the spiritually and intellectually creative minds make their indispensable contribution.
This is not all that I have to say about Tam- Is this the time, 0 Church of Christ! to sound No! rather, strengthen stakes and lengthen cords, Retreat? To arm with weapons cheap and blunt Enlarge thy plans and gifts, 0 thou elect, The men and women who have borne the brunt And to thy kingdom come for such a time! Of truth's fierce strife, and nobly held their ground? The earth with all its fullness is the Lord's. Is this the time to halt, when all around Great things attempt for Him, great things expect, Horizons lift, new destinies confront, Whose lOVe imperial is, whose power sublime! Stern duties wait our nation, never wont To play the laggard, when God's will was found? CHAJU$S SUlfN~ HOYT.
"Now Concerning the Collection"
By the REV. SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, D.D., Princeton, N. J.
Editor of "The Moslem World"; author of "It Is Hard to Be a Christian," etc.
I N ALL the Greek manuscripts of Paul's first Qf thQse who. gave hilariQusly (2 Cor. 9: 7) and letter to. the Corinthians there is not even a liberally stand Qut in my memory. semicQIQn to. divide the glQriQUS fifteenth chap- 'I1here was a Sioux CQunty farmer in IQwa who. ter on the Resurrection from the statement at the heard of Arabia when I was Qrdained as missionbeginning Qf the sixteenth chapter: "Now Con- ary. His Qwn pioneer experience responded to cerning the CoUection." FQr a Christian to. be- such an appeal and I recall hQW he supported our lieve in the living Redeemer and to abound in the first native evangelist. His letters in Dutch, and wQrk of the LQrd implies regular offerings, gifts those from Kamil Abd ul Messih in Arabic, crossed and self-denial to SUPPQrt this work. Paul was the seas and after translation jQined hearts in an example and an inspiration to. all missiQnaries prayer. and to. all Christians~he was not ashamed Qf the AnQther wealthy farmer was the greatest hog- "collectiQn plate." He wrote elsewhere very raiser in his cQunty and his state. His hQgs took plainly "cQncerning giving and receiving." He the blue ribbon prizes but his heart was that of raised mQney fQr missiQnsand fQr the PQQr Qf the the Gadarenes. One day, as he himself tQld me, Church. He himself was generously supported he received an impudent and threatening letter by the Church at Philippi. frQm gangsters in the cQunty-seat. It was signed It is nQt surprising, therefore, that the mQdern with skull and crQss-bones and sPQke of murder missionary must give of his time and strength unless "YQU skinflint, yQU put two thQusand dQI- when Qn furlQugh to. secure from the Church at lars in a cigar box under a stQne at the crQSS- home mQney for the enterprise. All try it. SQme rQads." In great fear he spread the letter befQre succeed, and some fail. But the experiences Qne the Lord as did Hezekiah Qf old. He prayed that has in being GQd's beggar on the dOQrsteps Qf GQd WQuld deliver him frQm the gang, who ap- Dives and CQmpany are priceless, whether Qne parently meant business, and VQwed to. make resti- meets with liberal gifts Qr niggardly refusals. The tutiQn to. God. He paid his VQW Qver and over same plea meets with varied response. My experi- again to. the cause o.f Christian educatio.n and mis- ence (in this sheaf of stQries) is like that of the siQns; nQr was he ever mQlested.
American so.ldier in the Wo.rld War, who was suc- The largest gift I ever received fDr missio.ns cessively billeted in an Irish, an English and a was from a go.dly and wealthy lady in Chicago..
SCQtch hQme. In each place he asked fo.r mQre I was making an effQrt to. raise $10,000 fQr the sugar in his tea. The Irish WQman said, "here's Nile Missio.n Press in Cairo.. Dr. JQhn TimQthy the bQwl, help YQurself"; the English lady said, StQne, pasto.r o.f the FQurth Presbyterian Church, "pass yQur cup and I'll give you a seco.nd lump"; generQusly gave me five minutes at the close of while the SCDtch ho.usewife looked do.ur while ask- his mQrning service, to. present the need of Chris- ing, "Mon, have ye stirred it?" tian literature in the WQrld Qf Islam. No. Qne else The acid test of Qur love to Christ and His King:- responded to. the appeal at this service but this dom is stewardship. The Master still sits before lady invited us to. luncheon and to. my amazement the treasury and weighs our contributiQns as he gave her check fQr the whQle amQunt. There had did those Qf the rich Pharisees and the poor been prayer in Cairo. and in Chicago..
widQw. It is nQt an easy task to raise mQney for In sharp cQntrast to. such beneficence was an missiQns, but I have often cQmforted myself by experience in Philadelphia where, at the clQse Qf the wQrds of Dr. Arthur T. Pierson: "We knQw a service in which I had sPQken of medical mis- that the rich man opened his eyes on a different sions in Arabia, two. ladies dressed in fine seal- scene, but the beggar landed in Abraham's bos- skin CQats tarried to. meet the preacher. They om." I have met with rebuff on several Qccasions said: "We really CQuld nQt go. without giving yQU during the past fifty years, but the recollectiQns SQme tQken Qf Qur interest in yQur great work [192 ]
EXAMPLES OF SACRIFICIAL GIVING
. . ." and, believe it or not, when I had thanked they were disputing whether to give or not to give, them warmly and opened my closed hand in the I asked playfully, "Who is the head of this house, vestry, the image and superscription was that of you or your wife?" Both deferred to the other. an American twenty-five-cent piece. Then to my delight I saw a wall motto hanging over the living-room table : Jesus Christ is the The following week I was in Rochester, New Head of this house; the unseen guest at every York. It was, a very cold day; I called on an old meal; the silent listener to every conversation. friend who sold automobile accessories. He re- I pointed to it as the answer to my question. Withmarked that my light overooat was unsuited ex- out another word the farmer took a check book cept for Arabia, took down an expensive fur-lined from his overall pocket and wrote a larger sum overcoat, and insisted that I pay for it and wear than any of us had expected. The deacon was it. He looked at the sales tag and said, "the price most of all surprised and led in a prayer of thanksof this to you is twenty-five cents-no I am not giving. joking-pay me the sum and then we'll go to lunch together." I told him the Philadelphia story, and Time would fail to tell of other experiences and paid the quarter. Later the coat was bequeathed of the joy that comes to those at the battle-front to a Dakota missionary. when reinforcements of men and money are forth- coming. The Philippian Church was Paul's joy This Rochester friend kept a tithing account in and crown. How ofen they cheered him by their his bankbook (as I learned, after his death). His free-will offerings, so that even in prison he was son showed the account to me and at the top "their own missionary" and they became an exof each page of benevolences were the words: ample to all the churches of Asia Minor, even to "W. R., in account with his Redeemer." the Corinthians (Philippians 4: 15, 16).
It is a spiritual tonic to meet such businessmen. "Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory He was like the Philadelphia lawyer to whose through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beoffice the late Fennell P. Turner and I went to loved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, alsolicit a gift for the Student Volunteer Movement. ways abounding in the work of the Lord, for as "Gentlemen," he said, "you need not waste your much as ye know that your labor is not in v,ain in time or mine by long speeches. I know your cause the Lord. Now concerning the collection." and believe in it. If my funds allow, I shall give you a check." Then he rang for his secretary. EXAMPLES OF SACRIFICIAL GIVING * "Can the tithing account stand another hun- King David would not surrender to cheapness dred?" when it came to his worship of God. When the prophet directed David to go up on the threshing- "No, it is overdrawn." floor of Araunah and there offer a burnt-offering, Araunah freely offered to give the King the "The special account?" threshing-floor, the oxen, and everything that was "No." necessary for the burnt-offering. David's classic "Well, then, draw a check on the special, spe- answer is found in these words: "Neither will I cial account." offer burnt-offerings unto the Lord my God of He explained that this account consisted of re- that which doth cost me nothing" (2 Sam. 24: ceipts from debts unexpeotedly repaid after long 24, 25). He insisted on paying for it. Where standing! there is no sacrifice there is no love and where "I owe my Lord more than these debtors owe there is no love there is no worship. me," he said with a smile. The whole transaction took less than five minutes. Mary of Bethany was at her best in worship The secret of the willing mind and the liberal when she anointed Jesus,' feet with a pound of hand is to realize the Lordship of Christ over our liquid nard, very costly, but without counting the lives and His constant presence with us. In July, cost (John 13: 1). 1918, we were soliciting gifts for missions among the farmers of Sioux County, Iowa. An earnest In "The Gardens of Life," J. R. Straton tells the deacon drove me from farm to farm and nearly following story: everywhere in that prosperous year the farmers gave liberally. We came one day at the breakfast A rich man was down at the waterfront awaiting the hour to the home of one of the wealthiest farmers departure of an ocean liner. He was joined by an acbut my guide said there was no use going in to quaintance, who said to him: ask this man. "He is very close-fisted, although his wife is a liberal soul." "You seem to be much pleased about something." I responded we would better try, since he could "Yes," said the rich man, "I do feel unusually good tonot dp more than say no. As my guide had ex- day. Do you see that vessel at anchor in the North River? pected, the farmer refused bluntly. His wife en- Well, I have on that vessel ten thousand dollars worth of tered a plea but he would not yield an inch. As * Condensed from United Ohurch R6'View of North India.
equipment for a hospital in China, and I just came down wards wrote as follows to the above-mentioned to see the vessel safely off." business man: "That is interesting, and I am glad you made that gift," "As I was for thirty-four years an executive said the friend. "But you know I also have a gift on officer of a large Board.of Foreign Missions (Presthat ship. My only daughter is on that vessel, going to byterian), and am sWI, as Secretary Emeritus, in China to give her life as a missionary." close touch with it, I feel sure that you will ap- preciate my interest in your suggestion that the The wealthy man looked feelingly into the eyes of his churches might cut their foreign missionary work friend and exclaimed: seventy-five per cent, and use the liberated money to further the cause of peace and related objects. "My dear brother, I feel as though I have given nothing, Apart from the reasons for foreign missions that when I think of what this sacrifice means to you." are basic in our Christian faith, may I suggest the following considerations that would be involved This is the spirit that delights the heart of God in so extensive a reduction of missionary work. and the spirit which He seeks to foster in His children. "There are now approximately 40,000 churches in non-Christian lands, with a baptized member- A big lumberjack once said to Frank Higgins, ship of 10,971,066. These churches are the results the "Sky-pilot Lumberjack," as he lay on the oper- of missionary work. While some of them are ating table just before he took the anesthetic: locally self-supporting and all others are contrib- "Frank, you know that we love you and want to uting part of their congregational expenses, thouhelp you. While the doctors are operating I will sands of the smaner ones need our assistance. To be at your door; and Frank, if the doctors find withdraw the major part of this assistance would they need a quart of blood, or a piece of bone, or a seriouly cripple them. They stand for the same bit of skin, they can call on me. Frank, you can principles of peace, brotherhood and righteoushave every drop of blood or every bone in my ness, for which the churches in the United States body; now don't forget, I will be at the door." stand. You eloquently stated the vital need of the cooperation of American churches in creating This is the spirit that God is seeking to cultivate the international conditions that you so ardently when He tells us that it is more blessed to give desire. If the help of the churches here is essenthan to receive. tial in securing world peace, do we not also need the help of the missionary churches to promote There is an interesting story in Philippians 4: .peace abroad? Nationalism cannot create the in- 14-19. The church at Philippi had been minis- ternational mind in churches any more than in tering to the needs of the Apostle Paul while he politics. We need the missionary churches and was in prison in Rome. Paul was very apprecia- they need us. The words of the late Lord Bryce, tive of their gift for it represented real sacrifice, former Ambassador to the United States, are as of which God himself approved. Then the apostle true now as when he wrote them. He declared: makes, as a climax, that matchless promise made to the donors, "And my God shall supply every The jarring contact of many nations in the Far East need of yours, according to his riches in glory in imperatively calls for the strengthening of foreign mis- Christ Jesus." sionary work, which must be the chief influence in smooth- ing that contact, in allaying irritation and in creating Dr. G. Campbell Morgan says, "We know the those conditions of international goodwill which are essentruth of God as no other age has ever known it, tial to the preservation of world peace. The one sure and yet there never was a time when men, know- hope of a permanent foundation for world peace lies in ing and living under its blessings, were less obe- the extension throughout the world of the principles of dient to it than now." In the wake of obedience the Christian Gospel. is rich bles<sing, but in the wake of disobedience is judgment, disappointment and failure. "As a business man, I am sure that you will appreciate the following facts: Sacrificial giving in our service of God enriches and does not impoverish us. Some Significant Facts EXTRAVAGANT RETRENCHMENT "1. The foreign missionary work of the churches has been slowly and laboriously built up In a conference several influential business men for over a hundred years until it now represents urged closer cooperation between commercial and properties and equipment in mission compounds, religious organizations in averting war and pro- hospitals, orphanages, leper asylums, schools, colmoting international goodwill. One of the laymen leges, universities, industrial and agricultural inpresent suggested that the churches might wisely stitutions, residences, church buildings., etc., to a cut down their foreign missionary work seventy- total value of considerably over a hundred millions five per cent and use the liberated money to fur- of dollars. Withdrawal of seventy-five per. cent ther the cause of peace and related objects. One of the financial support which is now being given of the members of this conference, the Rev. Arthur J. Brown, D.D., Secretary Emeritus of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, after-
EXTRAVAGANT RETRENCHMENT
would close most of the 1,092 hospitals and.56,891 now being given, to foreign missions is not in the schools and colleges. It would necessitate the clos- treasuries of churches and is not at their disposal.
ing of the numerous orphanages, leper asylums, It consists of voluntary offerings designated for s,chools for the blind, the deaf and dumb children, this specific purpose. It is, therefore, a trust fund the industrial and agricultural institutions which which is expended by the churches through their are training youth for useful service and self- boards of foreign missions and it cannot be legally support, raising standards of living, and help- or morally used for anything else.
ing poverty-stricken people better their lot. Lead- "4. The distressing conditions now existing in ers of the churches in Asia freely declare that they China, so far from lessening the need for miss,ion- could not possibly meet the expense of maintain- ary work, has enormously increased it. All the ing these numerous institutions without the help mission compounds in the area of hostilities are they are receiving from the American and Euro- thronged with refugees-penniless, starving peo- pean churches, nor do they yet possess a sufficient ple, the aged, the sick, most of them women and number of trained executives to direct them. children, many of the latter being orphans. The Comparatively few of these properties could be missionaries are toiling literally night and day to sold, except at heavy loss. Forced sales of real help them. Recent letters report 2,500 helpless estate, hard enough in the United States, are refugees in one mission compound and 7,000 in doubly so in non-Christian lands, especially when another. All are dependent on the mi'ssionaries the properties are institutions which cannot be for food 'and medical care. The Chinese have given operated for commercial profit. innumerable testimonies to their gratitude. Gen- "2. The 27,577 missionaries, of whom about eralissimo Chiang Kai-shek and his wife have 15,000 are from America, are appointed for life publicly stated their appreciation and their hope service and cannot fairly be discharged as a mer- that the resources of the missionaries will be in- chant discharges a clerk. After a missionary has creased. In his recent Christmas message to the been given a collegiate and post-graduate training people of the United States, the Generalissimo in America, and a miss,ion board has paid his said: .
travel expenses to a distant land, has provided him There lies upon us, and we presume upon you also our and his family with a house and salary for a min- fellow-Christian readers, a great weight of care which imum of three years while he is acquiring the religion alone can teach us to bear worthily. . . . Peace necessary knowledge of a foreign language and and high moral standards are inseparable, and when they people, he represents a considerable investment become an a::complished fact in the lives of all the peoples of the East and West, there will be no more war. War and becomes a valuable man. It would be costly is brutal, but it will ever be powerless. to rob any of us of the transcendent peace of men who are at peace with to lose him and, if the work is reopened at some themselves. later period, to begin all over again with new and inexperienced men. Moreover, it costs about "Why, then, should we weaken the 'religion'
$1,000 to bring an average missionary (less for and 'high moral standards' in China, which the single missionaries but more for married ones foreign missionary work of our churches is cre- with children) from Asia or Africa to America. ating there and of which the Generalissimo and If seventy-five per cent of the 15,000 American his gifted wife themselves are among the fruits.
missionaries were to be recalled, nearly if not It seems to me that, instead of lessening foreign quite $11,000,000 would be required to bring them missionary work, we should strengthen it if we home. As the mission board could not honorably are to promote both at home and abroad the inter- cut off their salaries without making some pro- national mind and the spirit of world brotherhood vision for their support for a few months until which the foreign missionary enterprise in- they had a reasonable time to secure other em- culcates. . . .
ployment, a meager allowance of at least $500 "Your advocacy of peace, as essential not only per person for this purpose for 11,000 mission- to world trade but to all ,the best interests of man- aries would require $5,500,000 more for the whole kind, is an inspiration to us who have long had number. In other words, the withdrawal of sev- that cause in .our hearts."
enty-five per cent of the 15,000 American mission- aries, so far from liberating money for other uses, It may be that there are other well-meaning would not only ruin missionary work but would church members who think that missionary money involve an aggregate expenditure of approxi- should be diverted to other causes and who do not mately $16,500,000, nearly all of which would be realize the difficulties, the injustice and the tre- a total loss. mendous loss that would result to the Gause of "3. The money that has been given, and that is Christ and the welfare of humanity.-EDITOR.
Among Hindu Pilgrims*
–<111 By REV. RAJENDRA CHANDRA DAS III!o– TAST April a small group of twelve men met in was the same – they all centered in and around L fellowship, prayer and consultation in the the Cross of Christ. The converts, "born" Chris- United City Mission at Benares. They came tians, Europeans and Indians, had each a signifi- from different centres of Hindu pilgrimage in cant story to tell. Each one had a different ap- north 'and northeast India. A few of the local proach to Christ – the Saviour 'and Master. missionaries and Indian Christians also attended Among the converts were different types-social, some sessions.t This conference was composed intellectual, political, moral, spiritual, natural, of persons' who are either engaged in work among personal-every one with an emphasis of his own. pilgrims and other orthodox Hindus in religious There were also one or two who had many of these centres or who are running Christian Ash:r~ams motives combined in determining their Christian surrender. Yet in all this diversity there was a or are interested in the study of the faith and solid and wonderful spirit of unity which all appractice of Hinduism. preciated. It was a pleasant discovery that in a group of heterogeneous elements there could be The purpose of the gathering was threefold: so much understanding and fellowship. There First, fellowship in prayer and interchange of were men of Anglican, Baptist, Quaker, Methoddst experiences and ideas. It was an encouragement and Free Church affiliation and yet there was a to hear reports of how God is using men in differ- happy, joyous and exhilarating fellowship and ent fields. Everybody noted the mighty work of unity. Thank God for this wonderful blessing. the Spirit of God in the difficult field of Brindaban among the Sadhus and Vairagis. In Calcutta the The second object of this conference was the banner of evangelism is kept high among the edu- formation of a simple organization with a view to cated. The A.shram life of Puri is developing fostering this fellowship between different peralong the line of quiet study, meditation and sons and places through the publication of a small prayer, as well as personal evangelism. In Milt- paper and through occasional conferences, as well tra, Rev. R. Templin and some of his colleagues as by interchange of workers. After a discussion are experimenting on Christian life and work of several points it was agreed that a simple oralong brotherhood lines. ganization be formed under some such title as "T.he Association of Christian Ashrams" (work- The views and spiritual experiences, as narrated ers among pilgrims and orthodox Hindus in North by the different members, were as varied as the and Northeast India) – Bhartiya Khristakula men themselves, but the core of the experience • Condensed from The Indian Witness. Samity. A small quarterly paper containing re- t Mr. Abraham Khan came from Puri. He is In charge of the quests for prayers and thanksgiving and short re- Ishapanthy Ashram which was founded by the late Rev. B. C. Sirc,,:r, ~.A., the Y. M. C,. A. evangelist. The Temple of Jagannath ports of work was felt to be desirable. It was dewith Its annual Gar Festival draws hundreds and thousands of people cided that on particular occasions of festivals .from all parts of India. Rev. M. Moses of the Church of God move- workers would be exchanged between different ment represented Calcutta where thousands of pilgrims visit the centres like Puri, Brindaban and Benares as well Temple of Kali. The Rev. J. Y. Sidley of the Baptist Mission repre- as at other normal times. A retreat-conference sented Gaya where Hindus COme in great numbers to offer Pindas like the present one – is to be repeated at least once every two years at a centre and on an occa- (balls of rice) in the names of their relatiYes for the.ir full ant! sion when practical evangelistic work could be final salvation, and Buddhist pilgrims also come to visit the place done among pilgrims and Sadhus. where Buddha was enlightened. Mr. N. N. Das of Patna, retired from Government Secretariat service and associated with the Union This conference was called upon to consider the Church work, represented ancient Pataliputra and HindU bathing feasibility of inaugurating a school to study Hincentres in Bihar. Mr. I. L. Lawrence of the English Methodist duism, with emphasis on its practical, popular and orthodox side. A few of those actually engaged Church represented Ayodhya, the birthplace of Ram, one of the in preaching the Gospel to Sadhus, Sanyasis and great incarnations of the Hindus. The Rev. G. W. Maw of the pilgrims, Pundits and Priests, Mohants and Brah- Fri.ends' Mission, Itarsi, represented not only the pilgrim centres of mins have felt the need of a unity of purpose and RaJPutana and Central India but also the great Himalayan shrines practical knowledge and training in work. It was like Kedarnath and Badrinath. Mr. Maw, in a Sadhu's dress. has traveled far and wide with pilgrims themselves. Pandit Yamua Prasad Chowbey. professor of music. came from the TheologiCal Sem- Inary of .the Methodist Episcopal Church at BareiIIy. Mr. Dldar, a young Hmdu convert of the Methodist Mission, represented Muttra. Brindaban, a most important pilgrim centre especially for Valshnava Bengalees, was represented by the Rev. A. C. Chakravarti, B.D., of the Methodist Church, who has founded a Christian Ashram on his own responsibility in that very "orthodox" place. Benares, where the retreat was held and which Is the greatest centre of Hindu orthodoxy and learning, was represented by the workers and Inmates of the United Mission-the Rev. S. R. Holt, Mr. H. K. Dey and Rev. R. C. Das.
[196 ] unanimously felt that such opportunities would be politico-cultural organization. As a Hindu he saw highly appreciated and utilized by many. The no barrier in Hinduism as regards intermarriage Benares United City Mission offers any facilities and interdining. Coming from a man of his posiit has for such a purpose. A well equipped library tion, this was remarkable inasmuch as Christian was felt necessary and there is already a nucleus circles are not usually conversant with this uniof it at Benares. The study of the faith and prac- versal attitude of Hinduis.m, its orthodox and extice of Hinduism is necessary and important for clusive ideas and practices being more commonly a right approach to Hindus. It is unfortunate that met. almost all workers, Indian or non-Indian, do general work among non-Christians with no special We were convinced of many things, among qualifications to touch effectively either Hindus which the more important are: first, only pracor Moslems. A School of Islamics started a few tical and s,incere Christianity of the apostolic type years ago has rendered valuable service for the in the sense of converted and consecrated personal cause of Christ among Moslems. No less should life through the saving grace of Jesus Christ, as be done intelligently and sympathetically to touch effective in meeting this long-lived and virile Hindus. Hinduism we find in shrines and pilgrim centres; second, only collective witness and cooperative en- There was a paper from the Rev. R. Templin of deavor disclose the secret of the power of Hin- Muttra on the subject of "Witness and the Serv- duism; third, fresh methods of evangelistic ants of the Kingdom." Emphasis was laid on approach to Hindus based on understanding and (1) the need and importance of collective witnes,s; sympathy, must be discovered. Our supreme con- (2) the Kingdom of God rather than the church viction is that the presence of the Living Christ as an institution; (3) God seeks man through among us and the guidance of the Holy Spirit is Christ; (4) no faith without faithfulness.. essential in everything said or done.
The Rev. Atul Chandra Chakravarti, B.D., of ECLECTIC RELIGIONS Brindaban Christian Ashram, in an address on Hinduism, brought out the following points:: The By REV. J. CHRISTY WILSON, D.D., Tabriz, Iran study of Hinduism as a religion and culture is necessary: (1) for goodwill and fellowship with There is great danger in electicism in religion. our non-Christian friends; (2) to equip us better The Bahais are all inclusive and all things to for preaching the Gospel and in bringing out true all men. They will agree with Moslems, Chriscontacts and real differences between Christianity tians or Jews and claim to unite the best things and Hinduism. The following vital issues and from all faiths. practical questions were raised: Should we ag- From Iran the ancient Nestorian Church cargressively s.how the superiority of Christianity ried the Gospel with burning zeal to India, China and deficiency of Hinduism? Should we condemn, and the far reaches of Asia. Very few of the attack, criticize, and find flaws? How can we Christian communities they founded remain topreach Christ-the only Saviour-without arous- day, and one of the reasons for the failure of ing antagonism? How reconcile the claims of these Christian churches to survive, is that they Christianity with goodwill for Hindus? compromised with other faiths. Some advisers believe that missions should do The Rev. G. W. Maw, of Itarsi, speaking on the the same today-"Accept what is good and true Christian approach to the Hindu pilgrims, de- in all religions and work together." But Christ scribed how he lived like a Hindu Sadhu and says we cannot serve two masters, or as the com- Sanyasi, wore the colored robe with the distinctive mon Eastern proverb has it, "You cannot hold mark of the cross on it, lived and conversed with two melons in one hand." the pilgrims and traveled with them up and down When Israel took up idol worship they did not the highways of Indian pilgrimages in North In- intend to forsake Jehovah, they merely wanted dia and the Himalayas. to be broad and get along with other religions. The end was fatal and led to degradation and It was a very interesting deviation from the or- dispersion. dinary course followed among Christians when we Here is a lesson that Christians should take to heard Dr. M. D. Shastri, Principal of the famous heart. We who are working for Christ in the Government Sanskrit College of Benares, speak Bible lands must love men of other religions, but on "How Christ Appeals to the Hindu." He we must call them to worship only God as revealed stressed the Hindu position, viz., that every reli- in Jesus Christ. Men cannot live to the glory of gion has truth and is good for its own followers, God unless they are Christian. Christ must have so that there need be no rivalry or enmity between full and complete allegiance if God is to be glorireligions. The Hindus had no difficulty in rega~d fied.-The Presbyterian. ing Christ as a great teacher and incarnation, because Hinduism is essentially not a religion in the sense of a creed or a way of life but rather a socio-
A Missionary Vacation in Rural
A Letter from a Mother to Her Sons in America By MRS. T. W. B. DEMAREE Formerly under the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, at Oita, Japan -1889 to 1934 SIX of us left home on Saturday for Camp and Tuesday nights with a hundred or more in Nada Hachiman, about thirty miles from attendance. The railroad station master here is Oita. We had two cars in which to load our one of our Kitsuki Christians. He copied a hymn "junk." The girls rode in one car. We brought on a large sheet of paper; we tacked it up on a all the tent and fixtures. Our cars reminded me tree, built a bonfire for light and I taught them of California tourists. to sing. They responded and listened well. The The mosquitos are pretty bad here in evenings girls and I sang some special songs for them.
but we have our nets. The beach and sea bathing Even the old priest, who is at the head of the are perfect. Our tent is stretched in the pines big temple, has been to call and has attended the which grow along the beach as far as we can see. meetings with some of his colleagues. He ex- For this big round tent we need only a center pole pressed the desire to hear more.
and a few stobs and bamboo-quickly and easily Wednesday night, after supper, the members put up, especially where we have so many trees of our party put on their bathing suits and we to which to tie the ropes. went down to the beach. Soon we were joined by The Japanese were seemingly delighted to have the station master, and later a nice looking man us and everybody turned out to help. dressed in a white suit came up and introduced "What do you need?" they asked. himself, saying, "I live on a farm back in the "First," Daddy said, "we must have a center mountains and only heard today that a Christian pole-so long-some bamboo." missionary had come to this place for a few days. I have heard something about Christ and long to Off went a man on a bicycle and by the time we learn more. Have you time to teach me?" had our tent unrolled he came riding up with an ideal pole on his shoulder. Others produced the We came back to the tent and dressed and the smaller bamboo poles and all turned in to help. people continued to gather. I took a group to Talk about kindness, I never saw anything to one side and Daddy took charge of the inquirer.
beat it. Still they came. I spread down tent cloth and All day Sunday we had callers of all descrip- rugs and soon every seat was taken. There must tions: railroad officials, principals of schools, have been fully sixty earnest inquirers, and I teachers, school children, farmers from back in never saw more earnestness. Several times I rethe sticks, some of the funniest specimens. you marked that I thought they must be tired trying ever saw, with questions, questions. Then at to understand me but they declared they under- night a large .group came and asked for a Chris- stood perfectly and begged me to continue. When tian talk and Daddy must have talked for two they were gone Daddy and I were too happy to go hours. He promised to have a real meeting for to bed so we walked down toward the sea to look them tonight when he blows his cornet. at the beautiful full moon and its reflection in the sea, when seven young men came up on bicycles Today we have had rather a quiet day with very saying they had heard in their village, several few inquisitive gazers. The principal of the Kit- miles away, about our meetings and they had come suki girls' school where I once spoke called today with a large basket of fruit, lovely plums and to learn. They seemed much disappointed to learn natsu mikan, which grew in his own garden. that the meeting was over, and asked if we would *** not talk to them a little while, so Daddy took them I stopped to play some games with the crowd. in charge.
. . Now I am seated several paces. from the tent Before I was asleep some old drunken fellows in the shade of the pines with a wonderful breeze came by and made a big hubbub. One old fellow blowing from the sea. We had meetings Monday came into the tent (side curtains were all up) [198 ]
THE NEED OF FARMERS IN JAPAN
and called out in a big loud voice, "Obasan, obasan, real country but autos and autotrucks are conare you asleep? I want your address in Oita so tinually passing and an aeroplane passed over that I can come there and learn more about Chris- my head. tianity. I'm a little drunk tQnight because today we finished putting up the big stQne torii for Qur Day before yesterday as I sat peeling potatoes temple and we are celebrating. Yes, I'm a little for supper a boy was racing his pony al'ound the drunk but I want to. hear mQre." race track beyond our tent. The horse fell and we thought the boy was killed. Daddy and I both He and Qthers hung arQund until after one a. m. started toward him taking a bucket of cold water but we finally shook them off without even mak- from the well. After some working of the bQY's ing them mad. arms and plenty of cold water he began to breathe. Then Japanese came and carried him to. his broth- The man who came early last night from up in er's home. No. bones were broken, and today he the mountains came again as we were finishing is up and has been here, with his parents, kin and breakfast, bringing some beautiful dahlias and neighbors galQre, to. thank us for having saved pears. He was a hungry looking soul and Daddy talked with him for over an hQur. "0, how I wish his life. . . . . they could know there is room for them all and Yesterday the superintendent of the railroad, that Jesus bids them come." three principals of schools, an ex-army captain This is a perfectly wonderful place to spend a and other dignitaries called. . . . summer, and I've never run up against such an opportunity. There is no church near and it is After six days we came back home; we did not get much rest but we had a good time.
The Need of Farmers in Japan* By DR. TOYOHIKO KAGAWA, Tokyo I N JAPAN we have 140 large cities and 1,200 operative. The scale of health insurance is based tQwns and villages are rural. Only 4870 of on the income of the village. The more income the total population is rural. Each year more you have the more you pay. But the treatment than 100,000 people leave the rural sections and and the number of visits of the doctor are the same go to the cities. Five million seven hundred thou- no matter what fee you have paid. sand rural people live on six million hectares. of land. (One hectare equals two and a half acres.) The farmers can now buy good fertilizers be- cause of the cooperatives. They can also buy the Our first cooperative association for farmers lands they till. In 1931 the farmers of Japan sufwas introduced from Germany a few years ago. fered from a depression and a panic. As one re- Until then the farmers borrowed money from the sult many lost the ownership of their lands and loan sharks, with interest sometimes 2570 and today about 4070 of the 5,700,000 farmers are landless. Thirty per cent of them have a little sometimes 30 % per year. The government had a regulation that interest was to he only 20 % on a land; 70 % are tenant farmers; 28 % own small debt, but the loan sharks were able to squeeze the lands; only 270 of the farmers are well off. peasants for more. Today more than 14,000 co- Sixty-five per cent of the owners of farms live in operatives have been organized for the farmers of the tQwns and cities. Therefore, we are endeav- 12,000 communities. There is one central coop- oring through cooperatives to give back to the erative union. farmers the lands which are owned by city people. Each year there are about 3,000 cases of land dis~ Today we have 8,600 storages for rice based on putes-Iabor disputes are almost stopped, but not the cooperative scheme. Through these storages land disputes – because of what the Japanese and cooperatives the price of rice can be fixed farmers suffer from the city owners of their completely. About the middle of December, when farms. Last year the Diet passed a resolution we know about the rice crop, the rate is fixed for that an owner·of farmland can sell the land to anthe year. We can fix the price of silk also.. other person only with the consent of the tiller of the soil. If the tiller of the soil will consult with Through the cooperative plan that we got from the farm credit cooperative, he can probaJbly be Denmark, we have four different forms of insur- helped to buy back his land from the city owner. ance for the people in rural areas. We have a harvest insurance for the rice crop and the silkworm The lay leaders of the Christian churches, as crop; a livestock insurance; a health insurance individuals, are active in these organizations cooperative; and a national health insurance co- everywhere.
• From an address at the 1. M. c. meeting, Madras.
of Rural Life in Africa*
By IRA E. GILLET, Kambini, Portuguese East Africa I ~.- I Principal, Cenlral Training School ~=========================.
A MAN in India was showing me photographs; cupboards and doors. The 8,000 East Indians as he hurriedly passed over some of them residing in the colony handle the major part of the he said, "These are just ordinary villagers." retail trade, and their cloth and blankets are "Ordinary villagers!" I said in amazement, largely replacing the bark-eloth and skins of "why that is all we have in Africa!" former days.
Our people are all "ordinary villagers," exc~pt Protestant Work for a few who are adjusting themselves to the lIfe and work of Durban, Capetown, and the mining Protestant Christian work is almost entirely confined to the southern districts of the colony. areas of Rhodesia and the Rand. For more than Here six long-established and four more recently four million people in Mozambique, more than half established missions are at work under increasas large as the Union of South Africa, and ex- ing limitations. tending for fifteen degrees along the east coast, we have only one high school, and that is in the Speaking for one mission, we insist that mis- sionaries sent out by the Board be rural-minded. extreme southern end of the colony. A man who prefers a game of tennis to a shower when the land needs rain, who is glad to buy eggs A large maj ority of the able-bodied men of our for less than they are worth, or who is too dainty section are continuously away from home at work to touch the manure cart need not apply. in the gold and coal mines of the Transvaal, some of them going as often as eight or ten times for Since the general standard of living, of sobriety, of trustworthiness, and of education, is much shifts of eighteen months each. At the mines the higher in the Christian villages than outside, the unskilled laborer receives about six times as much local administrators are generally sympathetic. in wages as in the colony. Some of this eventually reaches the home village but this, residue is seldom We have a central training school, based on a put into permanent village development. farm and including a Jeanes school, in which church, hospital, farm,shops and classes work as The earthly possessions of most families con- an integrated whole, together with the surround- ing community. Student candidates are examined sist of a pole-and-earth hut, roofed with grass. In and recommended by the elders of their communi- ties whether they be men or boys. Men must the one or two rooms of this house there is little bring their wives and children and establisl;t self- supporting homes for three years, after which the or no furniture beyond a few baskets, pots and more capable ones are permitted to continue for a further period. The whole family attends classes, hgroaeis~', and immediately a fter harvest there is some tills the soil under the direction of the farm leaders such as peanuts, corn, beans and millet, and according to approved methods, shares in the worship and community service of the churchupon which the owner pays an annual tax of about both locally and at considerable distance from the school center. Surveys, preaching missions, agriten dollars. cultural fairs, institutes, and tours of farm-coun- selling are carried on with faculty supervision Because of constant moving to the mines, tribal within a radius of 150 miles – all within the life is badly disintegrated and home life is broken framework of the church organization. up. Where this has not come to pass and where there are sufficient male adults at home to attend In addition to their regular school classes, the the cattle and goats, there are still herds of in- wives are taught various aspects of home-making, ferior cattle, seldom (though increasingly) used simple nursing and midwifery as well as how to for plowing. Farming methods are slow and lead worship services. In fact, nothing that is wasteful. Villagers leave the worked-out fields vital to home and village life is foreign to our proand cultivate new land or old land that has grown up again to thickets. Undecorated clay pots, g~od baskets and mats of various kinds, a little tannmg of hides and a little whittling of wooden articles are the limit of general handicraft; carpentry of the European style is becoming popular for the more progressive, for the making of chairs, tables, • Notes taken by W. W. Reid at the Madras Conference. gram and interest.
[200 ]
RURAL CHANGES IN MEXICO TODAY
Gl'OUPS of Christian villages. are joined into a permanent residences. All church buildings and circuit which, from its own funds, supplemented parsonages and medical substations are built by in decreasing proportion by the mission, makes its the local church. own budget for evangelism, health services, instruction, bulk subscriptions for vernacular news- A family trained at the school goes to a new papers carrying Sunday school lessons, pastoral village or to an old one in need of help, and sets support, home missions and connectional funds. up a permanent home. The man begins his farm There are sixteen of these circuits, including 175 work, and his community visitation as time and villages. Each meets quarterly for inspiration and resources permit, and as need appears. The cirbusiness. To suggest that any of their needs of cuit may give him fl'om two and a half dollars to life do not come within the Church's interes,t five dollars during the quarter depending upon would come to them as a surprise. circumstances; so that he need not resort to the mines to get money for his tax. He and his wife An annual consecration of hoes, seed, and other preach, nurse, teach, farm, encourage, act as implements is held in the majority of these vil- peacemakers, and in short become "lights. in the lages, usually at planting time. Thank offerings world." at the time of the harvest festival bring in gifts according to the gladness-though not necessarily Missionaries visit these Ex-students as often as according to the wealth – of these farmers. In possible and confer with them concerning their spite of evident poverty, with very meagre educa- problems. As they are given larger responsibility tion, surrounded by SOl'cery and drunkenness, they are also taken through additional courses of these units of the Church look to their school at study; and short courses and private conference& the center; to this school they send their boys and are :&requently arranged. their families, and from it they receive help. The primary boarding school for young boys Happily the African in our colony is not the- seems to have contributed little to this whole deoretically the victim of the color bar in industry. velopment, and I am convinced that this luxury The opportunity is usually there for those who is too ineffective to be continued. It must give will take advantage of it. Moreover, by the de- place to more provision for day school instruction velopment of the land the African can make his of students who live at home and so are able to claim to it secure, so that he has not to depend transmit the school influence directly and immesolely on communal holding. Many of our Chris- diately to the home. Much of this can be done tian people are taking advantage of this to erect through some such plan as 4-H clubs and adult education over a wider area.
Rural Changes in Mexico Today* By PROF. G. BAEZ CAMARGO Secretary, National Evangelical Council of Mexico I N MEXICO we are going through a social Spanish seized. The ownership of these lands was change that is greatly affecting the rural life investigated after the Revolution and resulted in of the country. Our rural problems are due to the restoration of much of this communal land to the breaking down of a land system that pre~ the villages. But in the years many new villages vailed for 400 years. The old system of cultiva- had sprung up and they had no lands; for them tion was primitive in technique, and large areas the government bought land and gave it to the of land were in a very few hands. An extreme villages. case, yet illustrating the system, was that one landowner had an area equal to about half the size This ability to own land has made a tremendous of France. change in the life of the village and of the farmer. Before that the farmer had been getting a small In 1910 the Mexican Revolution began. One of wage for tilling the land; he was paid with tickets its main objectives was. the breaking down of the and had to buy his provisions with these tickets system of land holding, the distribution of land, from stores owned by the landowners. Now with and the making of small farms. The old Indian the allocation of land to the villagers., they must villages had communal lands which all the people work their own land, and they cannot count on a of the village cultivated together. These lands the fixed amount of income each week. But the gov- ernment is getting these farmers and villagers * Extract from an address delivered at the recent International adj usted to the new system.
Missionary Conference, at Madras.
Mahka La's Story*
I -..gf By GUSTAF A. SWORD, Kutkai, Burma I ~- SUBADAR MAHKA LA of Kutkai, Burma, Subadar until he saw the thick filthy black tar- was a nominal Christian but a slave to the strong drink and opium habits. More than like substance was being washed from his body. once did he try to break the habit but without success. Associating with one of the young Ka- Especially from the tips of his fingers came a conchin chiefs, who became a Christian ten years ago and who has experienced the power of God, the tinuous stream of filth and slime. The more they Subadar felt more disgusted with himself than ever before and asked the Christian chief for ad- scrubbed the better he felt. vice and help. The chief told the Subadar that the only way of help he knew was through honest After a while the mystical visitors gradually and persistent prayer to God. And so the Subadar began to pray as never before. faded away in the light. Then the light disap- One night he had a vision; a wonderful light peared and the Subadar awakened from his filled the room and his heart and he saw some supernatural beings. In the pure bright light the dream. A wonderful sensation filled his soul. He Subadar felt filthy, mean and unclean. He looked upon his hands and his body and saw that he was felt clean; he felt free, and happy. • black with a dirty substance like opium. One of the visitors came close to him and when he saw As the Subadar got up and walked about he the filth and misery he told the Subadar to wash himself and be cleansed. The Subadar answered: spied his old opium pipe and a package of opium.
"Sir, I am not able to wash myself. I have tried The sight and the smell of it was nauseating so he but this filth sticks to me, no matter how much I try to rid myself of it. Sir, if you will wash me set about to destroy it. He also poured out the then I will be clean." strong drink. Indeed he had been washed clean. Then this supernatural being called his comrades and they set to scrubbing and washing the It is now five years since this happened and the • From The Burma News. Subadar is now a deacon in the church. All who knew him marvelled at the change; today he is a living testimony to God's saving power.
A few years ago when I was in Kutkai building the new mission bungalow, the Subadar came one evening and placed something in my hand saying, "This is my gift for the new Kutkai chapel." It was dark, I could not count the money but as I came into the grass hut we had erected while we were building the new bungalow, I counted the money and found Rs. 150. Since then he has given me Rs. 350 more for the new chapel. He has also given Rs. 300 to the new Baptist Kachin Mission enterprise in Sumprabum.
OAN A OHRISTIAN BE NON-MISSIONARY?
There is no such person as a Christian who is not making a sacrifice to support the work of the Church at home and abroad. I am not the authority for this statement. Christ is, for it was He who said, "He who would come after me let him deny himself" . . . also "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." We can't escape the fact that He called us to be ready to make a willing sacrifice in order that all men everywhere might share the Good News. . . . Christ decided this nineteen centuries ago, and all we can do is to either prove our loyalty by heeding His command, or rule ourselves out of the company of those who are truly His followers. The work of Christ needs, and has a right to expect, the united backing of every man, woman and child in the whole Church. Furthermore, I do not consider a person worthy of being presented for confirmation unless he is ready and eager to make his pledge on both sides of the envelope for the work of the whole Church. It is time we stopped turning out these generations of church members, half of whom are ignorant as to their responsibility when it comes to the support of the work of the Church.
-Bishop Hobson.
[202 ] I Effective Ways of Working Tested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MISS GRACE W. MCGAVRAN, 5718 OAK AVE., INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA ~===============================I~ Not Too Early to Plan! light of present conditions. But mends: "The cost varies from here is a job for the Christians institute to institute, but runs to Plan what? To have at least of the world. I am coming to $25-$35 each, for the ten daysone member from your group believe that if enough Christians for room, board, and tuition. attend a Peace Institute this face this problem, we can condi- Tuition alone is generally $10, summer. tion the next generation to think which is the total cost to be and act in terms of world borne by persons from the neigh- You cannot afford to have brotherhood. borhood. your missionary organization, church and community without "I came away from the con- "Some churches are raising a the stimulation and inspiration scholarship fund to send delethat having a representative at ference, with a definite convic- gates. Women's organizations a Peace Institute will bring. tion that a free church has an might hold benefit teas or din- important function to fulfil in ners, planned in the interna- What values are there to be tional spirit with foreign cosgained? Let some of those speak this present world crisis. Our tumes, flags and posters. The who have gone to other institute American churches dare not money raised could be used to meetings. mark time. In this present crisis send the pastor of the church or the Church must challenge the one of the Church School teach- A woman says: "It was a thinking people of our country, ers. Here is a concrete project stimulating experience to have in terms of world responsibility. for those who ask, 'What can I such men as Samuel Guy Inman We must do it now while we are do for peace?' interpret South America to us; not at war – once war is deto have T. Z. Koo of China, with clared, it will be too late." "The institute is an invaluable all his charm, bring to us the experience. It affords an opporbackgrounds of oriental ten- A student says: "The spirit tunity to sit under internasions; and to have Hugo F. of fellowship was uniquely ap~ tionally known authorities; to Simon rub our thinking the mingle with people from many wrong way. Every course was parent in the way it dominated valuable in helping us to under- even the most bitter of the dis- backgrounds – ministers, teachstand underlying currents in an putes which sometimes arose out ers, librarians, peace leaders, ever-changing world. . . . We of our discussions. Therefore workers, students, religious eduleftNaperville 'instructed' and the two weeks was not only cation directors; and to receive 'inspired' to do something to help highly educational and very en- the stimulus of fresh ideas. bring about better understanding between the races and to joyable, but deeply inspirational "Then too-and not the least make this a better world for in its unity of purpose in the -there is the delightful summer others as well as for ourselves." face of sharply opposed opinions. campus on which the institute is held. All these elements com- A pastor says: "Well-out of "I must add that frequent bine to offer the institute-goer a the experience of those ten days, comments were voiced as to the rewarding time." I returned to my parish with the character of the leadership and renewal and deepening of cer- the staff members. The institute It is sound advice for all of us. tain convictions about life. I members were impressed by the Your first step is to write to your sensed anew the fact of the in- workers of the American Friends missionary or "social action" terdependence of the great hu- who were giving so much time board for information about past man family. I saw the similarity and energy to this cause. and future institutes. Second, of the problems which confront find out approximate costs for the different nations of the "As we left, we were not only the one nearest to you. Third, world. I was strengthened in keyed up to a peak of interest find the person most fitted to go the conviction that the one hope in getting out and fighting in the -your pastor, one of the leading for a way out of all this con- peace movement, but also in a laymen, an outstanding woman fusion is through world coop- feeling that groups such as the eration. American Friends Service Com- of the church-choose carefully. mittee and the Council for Social The person chosen must be able "This looks hopeless in the Action deserve our sincerest to provide leadership after re- support." turning. Do not send a simple The Missionary Herald (Con- gregational – Christian) recom- [203 ]
sponge, no matter how keen the eign Missions came to their hun- of the histo.ry of their "Christ- sponge may be to absorb it all. dredth anniversary, and wanted mas Tree in May" and presented You don't want .to. have to spend a new hymn to celebrate that oc- the plans for the celebration of time squeezing to get informa- casion, this one was chosen from it this year.
tion when your delegate returns! over two hundred hymns sub- The back page of the folder Fourth, lay plans fo.r pro.viding mitted. It was written by Dr. tells the story of the enterprise. tuition,transPo.rtation, board Jay Glover Eldridge of Moscow, and room and texts if needed. Idaho. We all rejoice with the HOW WE STARTED It is not too so.on to start plan- Presbyterian Board in its com- In 1921 Bethel Bible School sent its ning. It takes time to get infor- pletion of such a span of service mation, to secure funds, to de- and we find in the hymn an ex- first big Christmas Box to India. It velop interest, to find the best pression of our o.wn ho.pe and de- carried so much joy to the folks who sire; we therefore want to add received it that for fifteen years it to those hymns through which Bethel folks packed veritable treasure we voice our own aspirations. person to. send and to. complete stores of happiness into great wooden arrangements. Summer rolls The tune to which it is set is boxes and shipped them to India. Each around all too soo.n. * year hundreds of boys and girls, men and women, and leper patients in our mission station depended for their Display Gifts Before Sending fo.und in most church hymnals. Christmas remembrances upon the ar- It is the familiar and beautiful rival of this box. Clothing, school There is much satisfaction in "Hymn to J o.Y" by Beethoven, supplies, religious literature, toilet work completed; the value of the tune to which o.rdinarily we articles, toys, and literally thousands this we ignore when we allo.w a sing "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore of things crossed the ocean each year. co.mmittee to collect gifts, pack Thee." and send them, making a weak Several years ago an increase on verbal repo.rt, or even none. After using this hymn as a the "duty" which our missionaries had solo or qua.rtette, use it in the to pay made us decide to send the With the above procedure, next meeting as a hymn, sung by money instead of a box, thus saving contrast the following: the entire group. It should be the expense qf transportation and in- used frequently thereafter until surance. . The women who co.llected it becomes familiar. scraps for making bed covers for HOW IT WORKED flo.od relief were themselves ut- God of years, Thy love hath led us, terly amazed at the two beautiful Thou hast been our bulwark, strong, Our new plan has been highly sucand serviceable covers evolved cessful. Our members have responded from their contributions. They Wall of fire against the wicked, as loyally to this way of giving as will be ready to embark on a Sword of power against the wrong. they did when bringing articles in similar enterprise again. Christmas wrappings. In 1936 and Thou hast blest of old Thy servants 1937 we sent checks of $100, which The women who made gar- As they bore Thy message far; our missionaries have gladly turned men.ts for a migrant Christian into many useful and welcome gifts. Center, and those who had not We who follow in their footsteps joined in the actual work, were Evermore tpeir debtors are. On next Sunday, May 15th, each delighted and encouraged at the member of the Bible School will be sight of a clothes-line full of Onward lead, 0 King eternal, given a small colored bag into which pretty garments, flapping in the Lo, we heed Thy high command, to put a gift for our Christmas check breeze at their outdoor meeting to India. These bags are to be rejust before the garments were Bear good news to every people, turned on the following Sunday, May sent off. Far and near, in every land. 22nd, and hung on Christmas trees in each department as a part of our ob- Seeing the completed task Thine they are, Thy love doth seek servance of "Christmas in May." We gives a feeling of satisfaction so them, are counting on you! that in future similar tasks will be more readily undertaken. Thou wouldst bring them to the Before we turn to the other light; pages of the folder, please note No matter what your under- how skillfully joy of sending actaking, try to. give the entire or- Lead us on till darkness brightens, tual packages has been turned ganization a visual impression o.f On till faith is lost in sight. into happiness in sending a it in its finished state. money gift. Notice that the Lead us forth, a Church united, little bags in which the money is Strong, courageous, in Thy might. to be collected are bright-colo.red, They will take the place of the Lo, the fields are white with harvest, brightly wrapped packages on Sheaves to garner ere the night. the tree, and will have a dra- One our purpose, One our Leader, LeTSaodhusushsaTlohlny,loavCeh,Kuwricnohgrldseh-twealrilndean,le, vperervfaaiil.lt; The Summer Christmas Tree Enrich Your Devotionals Early in May, 1938, a fo.ur- matic value that mere envelopes for an offering cannot have. Here is a new hymn well worth page folder was distributed to adding to your devotional ma- the members of the Sunday But now let us turn to the first terials. It should be sung first school o.f a large church in page of the folder. It announces as a solo. o.r by a quartette. A Evansville, Indiana, It was not the idea – Christmas in May brief introduction may precede a surprise, of course, for they that Others May Have Christmas its first use, stating that when had for eighteen years been hav- in India in December. It is decthe Presbyterian Board of For- orated with a simple line draw- ing the fun of a Christmas tree ing of a Christmas tree hung in May. But it reminded them with bright-colored balls. That • All quotations are from The Missionary t Copyright by The Board of Foreign Mis- will be the bright co.lored bags of the offerings! Herold at Home ana Abroad and are used by sions of the Presbyterian Church. Used by permiSSion. permiSSion.
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
A little verse by the mission- their bright bags on Christ~as Reading for Children * trees small enough to be carned. ary in India closes, "whole In selecting missionary books Christmas in December, makes Then from each department, in all of us remember Him, whose for children, there are always coming brought Christmas for procession, headed by one ca~ry us all." two points to keep in mind. ing the tree, they come hack mto Perhaps the nicest part of this First tChheildarpepneaarraenceent~otlfedthtoe announcement folder is the in- the auditorium, where the trees book.' side two pages which carry a Mother's Day thought which bearing their gifts of love are beautiful books. By thIS I do links this observance of Christmas in May to a Mother and placed together on the pla~form. not mean expensive books, be- Child of long ago. Now the gifts are dedIcated. cause many less expensive bo?ks On Christmas night-long, long ago A mother's arms a baby held. It is recalled what joy ther.e will combine the good taste and SIm- A Child that was the Hope of man be in the use of the articles pur- plicity which are char~cteris~ic A prophet's dream at last fulfilled. chased with the money, or other of beautiful books-a hIgh pnce So many children since that day In many lands o'er all the eartJ:1 uses made of it, in that far-off does not necessarily guarantee Rejoice on Christmas Day and smg land of India. There is emphasis quality. But a book for a child Of Jesus and His holy birth. placed on the gift as a link of must be attractive to the eye as Yet many children would not know Of Him and what He came to be love between those giving and well as to the mind-its size and Except as men and women go those receiving. Carols are sung. shape, the siz~ and face of the To take His Word across the sea. Christmas in May is over. type the bindmg, the cover de- The Church a mother needs to be With arms outstretched to gently The groups which use the sign' and the jacket. hold Summer Christmas Tree idea The second point is the con- Each tiny soul close to her heart And with her love all babes enfold. have found that in this quieter tent. A beautiful appearance is "Christl1w8 in May" our slogan is time the carols are sung with worthless without value between "That Others May Have Christmas Too." fresh zest and enjoyment; that the covers. In judging the con- In May we bring our gifts of love there is opportunity for inter- tents of books for children, there To make their Christmas dreams come true. preting the Christmas message is one question to ask one's self: By poverty and sin oppressed to the world in terms beyond Is the content of the book with- Not many joys their own they call that of remembering the first in the ability of the child for A gift from you may make them know Christmas; that where gifts are whom it is chosen – are the That Jesus came and loved them sent more careful planning is words and the incidents within all. mpoosnseiby,le~' that where the gift is his understanding? 'Tis fitting then, this Mother's Day more generous gift is To think of India's children too The final question, which is available and eagerly offered. As real they are, though far away the deciding factor in a decision As your own children are to you. In trying any such plan it is to buy this book instead of that, In serving them, honor anew weU to remember that careful Mother and Child of Bethlehem. is : Is the content Christian? motivation is necessary. We Send Christmas cheer acros~ the sea Are Christian attitudes, sympa- To India's children-In HIS Name. cannot simply s.ay, "Lo! We will thies and conducts treated as So much for the folder. It does have a summer Christmas tree. motivate the enterprise nicely. natural and normal expressions Careful planning and work in Let everyone bring gifts for it." the departments togethe~ w!th of life? education about the destmatIOn Study the record of what this and use of the gifts comes to a In selecting missionary books culmination on the day set. church actually did, how it Each one from tiny child to for children a few factors must grandmother brings a little planned, and what its presentabright-colored bag to the Sun- be applied: (1) The facts about day school service. tions were. Work out your own other racial and national groups Everyone meets to sing carols plans with a definite reason for for fifteen minutes. Then they must be true. (2) The book go to departmen~s, wher.e a bri~f attempting it; think thoroughly service of worshIp culmmates m must not contain any statements through the introduction to it or illustrations that hold racial which you will use. ~ake ~he occasion a real celebratIOn, WIth or national groups up to ridicule.
enough ceremonial to bring the (3) Great world issues, such as atmosphere of Christmas into its disarmament, world peace, eco- observance. Do not attempt, nomic justice, and racial equal- hwohwicehvegr~ to imitate those things ity must not be minimized. (4) into the season itself, There should be no statements such as simulated snow, etc. by which children I?igh~ gener- Here is a chance to have a semi- alize and come to IdentIfy cer- tropical Christmas, such as a tain racial or national groups great part of the world has every with criminal offenses.
year anyway. Start with plans Many of the books which chil- not too elaborate, and if you find dren have been using as supple- the idea has values, let the ob- mentary readers in geography servance grow from year to are useful in this work of mis- year into one of those traditional sionaryeducation. Many secular affairs, ever recur. ring,.yet . ever publication h~uses are prod?c- new and ever mcreasmg m ing books whIch really are m- worth and value for those taking herently missionary.
hanging the gifts of money in part in its observance. • From Women ana Miss·Wn8.
A Story for the
By VIOLET WOOD, Missionary Education Movement THE GARDEN OF JOSEPH You hQnQr yourself in honoring can to make amends for my past OF ARIMATHlEA cowardness." him," said the boy. "It is the same as when Jesus NicQdemus plucked at his long Drawing their mantles about was born – no. place to. lay his them, Joseph and Nicodemus head. And nQw," Benjamin beard as he sat at the rough table went to Pilot and boldly asked wiped away la tear, "who will on which a flickering lamp for the body of Jesus. Receivtake him down from the cross? ing his permission, they went to Who will give a corner of his es- burned. It should have been still the hill called Golgotha, near to tate for the body of Jesus? He daylight outside, but a strange Joseph's burying ground, and said that he WQuld rise again. took the body from the cross. Oh, that he might rise in a darkness had covered Jerusalem Solemnly they wrapped it in garden such as that Qne of yQurs that afternoon. near to. Jerusalem, beautiful with spices and placed it in the new sunlight, flowers of lilies and "My trades will suffer if the tomb in Joseph's garden. Then palm trees!" Jews think that I am a disciple Qf the Nazarene," sighed Joseph. they rolled a great stone against Joseph of Arimathrea paced the entrance and went home to "Yes," a g r e e d Nicodemus, observe the Sabbath. Meanwhile "but perhaps we could take the Pilot placed a guard of soldiers body in the night and bury him secretly." Benjamin forgot that he was up and down as the boy was but a servant boy and cried to watch the tomb, and to prespeaking. Of all his servants scornfully, "All the wQrld will vent the body from being stolen. none was so loved as the young know where Jesus is buried. You The Sabbath passed in gloom. lad, Benjamin, because he was a cannot hide his burial pl1ace. I But on the third day a great fearless disciple Qf Jesus. Joseph have heard that he said he would commotion arose in the streets. was a believer, too, but in secret. rise again from the dead." Often the master and servant People said to one another: "The journeyed together as father "Your faith shames my grave of Jesus is empty, in spite and son. Benjamin was excused years," said Joseph. of Pilot's guard. The stone is from his work to go to the rolled away! Jesus' disciples say market and public pl1aces to hear The llamp on the table flick- Jesus speak. The boy would re- ered as the door opened and a that he has risen from the dead." turn to the inn where Joseph heavily veiled lady crossed the Hearing this rumor, Joseph, Nic- room and ran to Nicodemus, cry- odemus and Benjamin hurried to awaited him and would sit up ing: "Suchan evil day I have the garden; they saw the empty half the night telling the mer- tomb and marvelled. They also chant what Jesus had said and never seen, my husband. I have been the whole day following the heard the stories of the women done. crowds. Jesus has been cruci- who had gone early to the gar- den and were told how the fied."
A full day they had traveled "But he promised that he will guards had tried to defend themfrom Arimathrea to Jerusalem to live again," cried Benjamin. selves. the house of Nicodemus, a ruler "Judith, this ,child is a disciple "Look," cried Benj amin, "how of the Jews. He, too, was drawn of Jesus, and he would have beautiful this garden is! See to Jesus and had visited him by Joseph give the new tomb in his how the flowers are blooming. night to ask him many questions. garden outside the walls of Jeru- It is a holy place and people will "He gave all fQr me," mut- salem for the body of Jesus," ex- come to see it from over the seas tered Joseph, partly to himself, plained NicQdemus. and across burning deserts." "even his life. And I stand here "I beg it, too," said she as she Benjamin was right. Of all hesitant to give his crucified clasped her hands and turned to the gardens in the world the body a corner of my garden. Yet Nicodemus. "Let us give linens most famous in song and story if I went to Pilate, it would be and aloes to a hundred pounds." is the garden of Joseph of known that I am a disciple of She swung around to Joseph, ex- Arimathrea where the body of claiming: "I would not be Pon- Jesus was buried and where he Jesus." "Ah, but if you love him, J 0- tius Pilate for all the perfumes rose from the dead. seph of Arimathrea, you will of the East. He is uneasy in his count it an hQnor to have his soul tonight. He will not refuse Making Use of This Story body rest in yQur new tomb. In you." Children like to take part in pagthe years to come, men will "I will do it," said Joseph sud- eants, especially when they can be in denly, "for my heart tells me not costume and perform before adults. travel from far and near to see They like better often to take part in the place. 'Here it was,' they to be a coward." plays among themselves and to let will say, 'that the Lord's body "I go with you," cried Nico- their imaginations supply stage prop- was laid by his friend J Qseph.' demus, "and will do whatever I erties and costumes.
[206 ] BULLETIN Council of Women for 'Home Missions EDITED BY MISS EDITH E, LOWRY, 297 FOURTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N. Y.
===============================~ "CAN CHRISTIANS BIND carry it out. It is hoped that Three members, each from the THE WORLD TOGETHER?" there may be a national radio The only answer to this is: we broadcast as a closing address. National Council of Federated can try. As we face a choice be- But for this the local papers Church Women, the Council of should be watched and local pro- Women for Home Mission-s, and tween Christianity and chaos, grams arranged accordingly. and there seems to be no other the Committee on Women's alternative, it is important that Last year the church women Work of the Foreign Missions of 414 communities in forty-four Conference. The activities and we should think and work to- states and Canada reported havgether. The National Committee ing h e I d interdenominational interests which have become the May Luncheons for the first responsibilities of its committees of Church Women brings this time. This is all the more re- include: (1) International relachallenge to the Christian wom- markable in that only one such tions, (2) World Day of Prayer, en of 77,000 communities in the luncheon was held in New York (3) May Day Luncheon, (4) The United States, and asks that they City each year during the years Church Woman (magazine), and unite in a nation-wide observ- 1934 to 1937 with an average at- (5) local programs. ance of the May Luncheon on tendance in the two hundreds. Thursday, May 4, 1939. To quote from a few of the re- The foundations for the organ- ports which came in last year: The May Luncheons may be "Westminster, Maryland. The ization of the National Commitheld wherever convenient – ho- most thrilling thing was the way tee of Church Women in its prestel, parish house, church gym- all seven churches cooperated in ent form were many years in the nasium or private home-as long arranging for the luncheon." laying. During the early part of as all "come together with one "Elmira, New York. Our main mind." It is suggested that plans address was broadcast for forty- the twentieth century a number five min utes over WESG." of community women's interdebe started immediately by a local "Lyndhurst, New Jersey. A nominational g r 0 ups were wo man's interdenominational committee was appointed to meet formed to further programs of group, a church woman's group, ten days after the luncheon to study and service. The year or some one woman. The coop~ make plans for further unity." 1924 found these groups related "Lawrence, Kansas. Twelve deeration of all Christian women nominations were represented." to the Council of Women for in the community is vital. "In- Home Missions and the Federaterdenominational" means not *** tion of Woman's Boards of Foronly members of the Protestant eign Missions, but evidencing a churches but of all churches WHY IS THERE A NA- desire to extend their programs which "accept Jesus Christ as TJONAL COMMITTEE OF into fields beyond these forms of God and Saviour," for so does CHURCH WOMEN? "Recogthe constitution of the WorId nizing the desperate need of the mission service so as to include Council define its membership. world for the leadership of Jesus all phases of the church's pro- in all areas of life, we hereby de- gram. In ord~r that church women clare that it is imperative that the country over may face the the womanhood of America be- In 1936 the National Council task unitedly, it is. essential (1) come a united force for bringing that the subject for the luncheon in the Kingdom of God and that of Federated Church Women be, "Can Christians Bind the this united body shall relate it- elected a Commission on Re- World Together?"; (2) that the self definitely to an inclusive evaluation to make a study of the I uncheon he interdenomina- united C h r i s t ian advance." whole movement of interdenomtional; and (3) that it be held These words embody the objec- inational cooperation and relaon May 4th. A program outline tive of the Committee which tionships. One of its recommenis being prepared and will be came into being January, 1938. dations was that a conference of Who constitutes the National all national Protestant interdesent to anyone on receipt of five Committee of Church Women? nominational women's groups cents in stamps.. (Address: The and denominational leaders be National Committee of Church [207] held. Out of that conference, Women, Room 63, 297 Fourth held at Lake Geneva in July, Avenue, New York, N. Y.) Local 1937, came the recommendation that a cooperative committee be leaders will have to be secured to formed. This was a,pproved by the two mission organizations,
members were appointed, and an without the aid of God, but I terms of human personality and initial meeting held September, KNOW . . . I KNOW . . . it the right of every man to be 1937. This committee was con- cannot be done without Him." treated as a God-created being stituted as the National Commit- whatever his race, color or tee of Church Women in J an- "How can we make you see," creed." uary, 1938. said he to the young people, "that this is the greatest cause you can "We need to make better use "This committee has taken dedicate your lives to today. All of our leisure time, devoting it only the first steps in cooperation about you, you see practices chal- to our cause and let people know and coordination," states its lenging your sense of right and we have a cause worth working chairman. "We dare not proph- wrong. All about you are signs for." esy as to its future, but we hope of an undermining of our prethis initial step may mean a cious heritage, the democracy in "We need to discover the truth steadily growing unity among which we live, founded in faith about monopoly control, selfish church women in purpose, pro- by our forefathers with the courgram and action, for only thus age of a real conviction." use of land which robs the soil can the respons,ibility in the of the power to bear fruit, selfish overwhelming tasks which are Where can youth find a use of privilege, exploitation of facing the Church and the church greater challenge than the call labor groups, the underpriviwoman today be faced and met." to heal the deep cleavage so ap- leged migrants,share-croppers, parent in human relations today. MABEL M. SHEIBLEY, Man's inhumanity to man, greed, tenant farmers, the unemployed, crime, oppression, strife, envy, city slum areas, the plight of the Member of the Editorial American Indian and the prob- and Publicity Committee, hate, and war, are these not ene- lems of Indian youth, unfair Council 0 f Women f.or mies enough to challenge any ad- practices in industry and race Home Missions. discrimination. All of us are in venturous soul? A "CAUSE" FOR AMER- Following Dr. Muste's ad- close touch with some of these ICAN YOUTH conditions. We may find that dress, five young people told very church people are in part respon- On January 8 there was held in Baltimore a conference for graphically what avenues of sible and therefore not willing young people, the purpose of service were open to· young peO- that our investigations should be which was to help them see a ple. made an issue. We shall need the little more clearly how they could make real the fact that Christian The young people then sep- courage therefore of our convic- Youth has, the answer to the vital arated and met in small groups tions, that is why it is important problems that face our world to- to discuss more intimately ways day. that we have convictions, and and means of participation in dare to live by them." Choosing as its theme, "Chris- the enterprises which offer optian Youth Has the Answer," the portunities for service. "We do not need to be minis- Young People's Committee of the ters or missionaries to put the Home Missions Councils spon- A number of very concrete Gospel into action." sored this conference for young recommendations were the repeople in connection with the sult of these group conferences, "We can form study groups, annual meetings of the Home some of which we enumerate: join a discussion group, plan and Missions Councils. carry out local projects, make a "We need to inform ourselves survey together, e x c han g e Dr. Abraham Muste, of the concerning conditions that are friendship invitations with for- Labor Temple, New York City, impoverishing and debasing mil- eign groups, offer our leisure was invited to pres.ent to youth lions of our fellow countrymen." his challenging message born out time to social service and recreaof a deep personal conviction "We need to demonstrate that tional centers, give voluntary that Christ is the only answer we are not willing to accept priv- service to City Mission interest man has with which to meet the groups, offer to sponsor a group challenge of present-day living. ileges and opportunities for our- selves and be content to ignore for under-privileged children, In his opening address, Dr. another's lack of privilege." but before all else, practice Muste stressed the fact of sin Christ-like living in all our perand the need of a recognition of "We need so deep a conviction sonal relationships." it as the deep seated cause for that existing conditions are our all the unrest and problems of responsibility that we shall feel "We need to give much more our day. "The Christ-way," said compelled to do something about time to prayer." Dr. Muste, "will face the fact of them." sin, man's need of God, his help- Thus did these young people lessness without God and his "We need a better knowledge express themselves. Has youth power when linked with the a cause? The greatest and Eternal. Once I too thought that of the Bible and Jesus' teachings grandest and most challenging man's way out could be found in order that we may approach existing problems in a Christ- cause in the world – one that manner." Christ died for, and one that we as young people must make ours "We need to begin by asking with a throbbing passionate con- ourselves-Am I truly Christian cern. in my attitudes and actions, in all my relationships?" JULIA HEINES, "We need to stop thinking Chairman, Joint Committee on about discrimination against one Young People's Work, Home particular race and think in Missions Council and Council of Women for Home Missions.
World–wide
A Missionary Newspaper of Current Events EDITED BY MRS. HENRIETTA H. FERGUSON, XENIA, OHIO !.'p'
INDIA, BURMA AND SIAM orable man. I have observed Conference at a meeting of its that you Christian people seem Executive Committee in Lahore. Persecution Raises Its Head to know how to do this." In response to this appeal, the Executive Committee passed the Mrs. John L. Goheen, Presby- Danger to be Avoided following resolution: "This Conterian missionary in West India, ference views with alarm the resays that the Hindu world at The following quotation from cent increase in the number of Sangli has blown wide open in Bishop Lapp's book, "The Chris- marriages in cases where the its determination to prevent the tian Church and Rural India," first wife is alive. It condemns Mahars from becoming Chris- emphasizes one of the difficulties the action of those educated tian. Nightly mass meetings in in Christian work in a Hindu en- women who, setting aside all the theater were held with well- vironment: standards of common decency known speakers exalting Hindu- and sympathy for their own sex, ism, attacking Christianity, de- Christian influence is spread out have consented to marry men nouncing the missionaries, and thinly and watered down to what it whose wives are still living. It warning people against going to is considered the non-Christian staff further appeals to. all women to Miraj and the Hospital. Daily and local non-Christian opinion will discountenance and socially boyarticles in the vernacular news- stand for. The compulsory method of cott all such marriages., and do papers were full of untruth and attendance at religious teaching is their utmost to prevent the celeinuendos. Members of the Hindu practiced, which too often imposes up- bration of such marriages in Missionary Society and others on the pupils an insipid form of re- future." descended upon a group of Chris- ligious instruction. No conversions to tians at night with gas torches Christianity are expected, and the ed- -Indian Social Reformer. and tried ,to terrify or cajole ,ucational training for both Christian them into renouncing their faith. and non-Christian students is given in Conference of Missionaries Few went back to Hinduism a secularized Brahmin atmosphere. to Moslems and those who have done so were One has called it partially Hinduizing all from places where Christian our Christian boys. . . . He compared In December, under the ausservices were infrequent. The what in his opinion are futile and pices of the Henry Martyn whole experience teaches the fruitful schools and supported Mr. School of Islamic Studies, a twonecessity of strengthening the Arthur Mayhew's view that quality of day conference of missionaries Christian life by means of daily work, personality, leadership and free to Moslems was held in Delhi. worship and by training leaders experimentation should characterize The delegates (61 in all) were for every village. This has led the Christian school in India. Our drawn from Turkey, Iran, Palesto the adoption of a plan for call as Christian forces is to do some- tine, Cairo, Korea, and from al-' holding classes to develop lay thing of the finest quality and embody most every part of India. A leaders. The high quality of the Christian ideals in every part of number of those present were on those who have come into the school life for the sake of the Chris- their way to Madras for the classes makes it plain that a new tian boys as future leaders in the World Conference. Under the door has opened. Church and in new India, and for the leadership of Dr. Murray Titus, non-Christian pupils and Indian ed- the delegates discussed "The Mrs. Goheen relates a signifi- ucationalists who watch our work, Christian Enterprise, and Its Incant incident in connection with and to whom the Christian Church fluence on Islam." One session the kindergarten at Sangli. A will be either commended or con- was devoted to the need for well known nobleman asked a demned thereby. He criticized the Christian literature for Mosmember of the Mission to take Western Church for building up huge lems. Miss Constance Padwick, his grandson into her home and institutions which represent methods of Jerusalem, told of present to bring him up as her own son, alien to the Indian eye and thought, trends in literature; Rev. W. A. saying – "I want him to be a and difficult for the future Indian Zoerner described an experiment good boy." Church to manage, in the day when in newspaper evangelism in the transfer of control and manage- North India. "But, you know," said the mis- ment into the hands of the Indian sionary, "I should have to teach Church seems so near at hand. "Lord's Acre" Plan in Katpadi him in the Christian way." Punjab Leaders and Polygamy "We are so poor; the rains "Teach him what you please have failed; our young men have and as you please, but make him Several prominent leaders of an upright, clean living and hon- the Punjab have characterized polygamy as the greatest social evil of India. Not long ago a spirited appeal was made to all women by the Central Punjab Branch of the All-India Women's [209 ]
had to go away to the tea estates progressive Maharajah who died pointment of a missionary the to earn cash to pay taxes. How recently, was to make an agree- next year. It soon undertook is it possible to double our ment to prevent alcoholic bev- w 0 r k among the depressed church contribution, if the Mis- erages from going to Bombay classes in Central Travancore, sion withdraws its help and we from his state which adjoins the from whom it met ready reare to pay our pastor his $25 a Bombay presidency. sponse. Within six years, it or- month ?" Total prohibition is one of the ganized the annual Convention at This was the response to the chief objectives of the Congress Mar3Jmon which is the largest news that the Arcot Mission was for an India which they hope to evangelical Christian gathering obliged to discontinue its annual make absolutely independent of in the world. The Convention grant of $150 to a rural church. England. Writing in his weekly which lasts for a week has been A meeting was called; the mis- paper "Harijan," Gandhi says conducted regularly for the last sionary explained the "Lord's the Congress has the right to ex- forty-four years.
Acre" idea, and it was agreed to pect the sympathy "of the best The audience, which often send month-old, purebred chick- minds in the whole world in this, numbers over thirty thousand, ens from the poultry farm toO perhaps the greatest moral listens to the GoOspel truths froOm some 200 village homes, to be movement of the century." famous evangelists. The activi- raised and later contributed to ties of the association oOutgrew the church. The plan took root, To Train Women Workers the boundaries oOf Travancore and Rev. J. J. ValoOis has set within which it was oOriginally down SoOme of the tangible re- Last year the Punjab governsuIts: The IoOcal income was ment launched a five-year plan confined. In its eighteenth antrebled; the pastor received his for rural development, and as a nual meeting it decided to undersalary regularly; everyone had part of this plan a domestic take missionary activities oOut- side Travancore, and then in a specific share in making the training school for women will Bombay Presidency. venture a success, and the spir- be opened in Lahore. One stuitual life was deepened; the dent from each district has been Membership is open to all selected. Christians without distinction, work was not a "flash in the It is claimed toO be the first at- and every member is expected pan," but interest has continued; tempt of its character in India. to be a witness. "N0 debts" is purebred poultry has spread to After receiving nine months another principle lately adopted. other villages; the project at- training these women welfare tracted attention of other vil- -National Missionary lages; and it was the Indians workers will be posted to their Intelligencer. themselves, not the foreign mis- respective districts and tour sioOnary, whoO made the plan selected villages. They will teach Gospel Transforms Primitive work. -Agricultural Mission women improved methods of Men cooking, sewing, knitting, ele- Notes. mentary hygiene, animal hus- Rev. C. U. Strait, of the bandry, fruit culture, gardening, Burma Baptist Mission, says PoOrt of Bombay Decreed Dry that on his first trip to the Chin cooperatives, maternity and wel- Hills fifteen years ago, the Dewitt MacKenzie, Associated fare work. The school will be Deputy Commissioner, a fellow Press correspondent, says that run on residential lines. passenger, bluntly asked him if Gandhi's crusade to make India he knew where he was going; -The Guardian (Bombay).
dry in three years appears to be Mar Thoma Evangelistic and on finding that Mr. Strait "going places." His latest tri- Association was on his way toO undertake umph puts the world famous missionary work, added: "Do port of Bombay on the dry list The Mar Thoma Syrian Chris- you know that the Haka Chins as from August 1. This cosmo- tian Evangelistic Association of are all drunkards-men, women politan city of about 1,200,000 the Reformed Syrian Church in and children?" They were not people has for centuries provided Malabar has completed fifty only drunkards, he found, but the means of quenching the years of missionary work. 'It dirty to the point of being filthy, thirst of wayfarers from all na- preceded the National Mission- and ignorant beyond belief. Povtions. ary Society of India by 17 years. erty, too, was the natural conse- Thus far, out of the 11 prov- It was in September, 1888, that quence. inces of British India, partial twelve men met in Central Tra- A review of what has happrohibition has been inaugurated vancore and decided to fOrllli an pened in a decade and a half is in half a dozen where the nation- association to take the Christian convincing proof of the power alists-that is, the All-India Na- message to their fellowmen of the Gospel. There are now tional Congress – have gained without distinction of caste, Christians in more than a huncontrol of the governments. Ad- creed or denomination. Every dred villages; four hundred or dition of the rich prize of Bom- member of the group was to con- more are baptized every year. bay to the list will give the move- tribute according to his means, Not many of these revert to ment much impetus. as well as to be himself a witness heathenism. Drunken f e as t s One of the last acts of the bearer. Growth in membership have given way toO the Commun- Gaekwar of Baroda, the famQus and funds made possible the ap- ion Service, and it is an in-
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
spirational scene never to be for- tian Homes Campaign of the Hangchow College in Shanghai gotten, says Mr. Strait, to attend Chinese Church, which aims at the Communion Service at a making every Christian home a Dr. Clarence B. Day, of Hang- Chin Hill Association meeting. center of witness. Daily family chow Christian College, writes There twelve to fifteen hundred worship is insisted upon, and is that this college, driven from Christians come together from becoming the regular custom. Hangchow by the Japanese infar and near, and instead of hair Many Chinese Christians would vasion, is now carrying on in the pulling and drunken bouts, one be greatly surprised if they Continental Emporium (a bankobserves a very devout and con- came to America and found how ing and office building) on Nansecrated service. While all are rare a thing is family worship. king Road, Shanghai. St. John's seated closely together on the College was located here a year ground, the service is conducted Missionaries Help Victims ago and Soochow University and without commotion and with the Science Departments of the reverence and dignity. The NO'rth American News- University of Shanghai occupy paper Alliance adds its testimony space in the same building. Indian Church in Rangoon to the service rendered by mis- These temporary arrangements sionaries during the war. More have been made possible by Three years ago an Indian than 4,000 Americans have American contributions. These Church was established in Ran- joined about 3,000 missionaries institutions are working togO'O'n at Judson College. This of other Western nations in gether in class work and operate church now has 88 members, of forming a highly specialized a joint library and a student whom 64 are men and 24 are corps which constitutes the only cafeteria. There are about 2,000 women. During the past year prO'tection the Chinese have in men and women students that there were 16 baptisms. Pastor the dangerous and frequently tax the seating capacity of the Devadass devotes his time to the Iong interval between the retreat classrooms and crowd the elevachurch and evangelistic work of Chinese civil and military tors and stairways. The new amO'ng the Tamils and Telugus forces and the establishment of educational posters display the within the school and in the vi- law and order by the Japanese slogan: "War or no war, Chinese cinity. There are 83 children in invaders. Often they act as Pied Youth must be educated." the Bible school. Pipers to' lead hO'meless children O'ut of the danger zone. For Communists Less Hostile – Watchman-Examiner. more than two years, in addition to Christianity to their usual evangelistic, med- CHINA ical and educational work, they Dr. Earl Cressy, in China have undertaken such special Marches Toward the Cross, Building for the Future tasks as scouring the streets for makes the remarkable statement wO'unded, thrusting themselves that anti-Christian sentiment "Button your cO'at!" is an between drunken Japanese sol- among communists is disappearorder heard frequently on the diers bent 'On looting and raping ing. It is not to be concluded street of any Chinese city. It is their victims, and generally try- that all of them are becoming part of the New Life Move- ing to ease the blows of an occu- Christians, but there is a vast ment which is waging war upon pation by an army that is a law- change from the bitter spirit of untidiness, laziness, .vice and less mob. The conduct of the 1928. Freedom has been given dirt. Anyone slouching along the missionaries is adding a remark- to evangelistic bands of Chinese street with garments half on is able chapter to the history of hu- pastors to circulate among them likely to be told by a member of man heroism in the face of gall- and preach the Gospel. This the YO'uth Brigade to straighten ing trial. sweeping change is described by up his shoulders and keep on the Bishop Roots: left side of the rO'ad. But this is "Only nationals of a foreign not all. The New Life Movement nation can meet the invaders "A short time ago I invited to sends inspectors intO' homes, and and talk to them," is a statement lunch with me one of' the comlabels are affixed to dO'O'rs in- repeated over and over again. munist generals whom I had forming the public whether the heard of in 1930 as a determined hoones are clean or dirty. Every The actual number of mission- enemy of Christianity. After child in school is expected to' do aries on the field has decreased preliminary polite remarks, but something to improve his own by only about 10ro' since the war before he would eat, he asked particular surroundings. Armies began. Board officials report the me, 'Do you remember our past?' of fly swatters strive to see who frequent spectacle of mission- I replied that I remembered him can produce the largest number aries on field trips, caught by an as one who, some years ago, had of dead' flies in a given time. advancing Japanese army, has- carried some of my friends tening frantically back to their around with him as his prison- The O'ld and mid-dle aged in posts, from which Chi n e s e ers. To this he said, 'There were night schoO'ls learn to read how armies and refugees were as many misunderstandings then. a literate people can build a new frantically fleeing away. All de- The missionaries have helped China. The war with Japan has nominations and agencies report much in Shens,i and Shansi. We only increased the ardor of both a large increase in the number are sorry for the misunderstandold and young. Paralleling the of conversions. New Life Movement is the Chris-
ings of the past and want to black lacquer tablet with the JAPAN-CHOSEN work with them for the good of four Chinese words meaning "True Source of All Created Japan Sends Buddhist Priests China hereafter.''' – Watchman-Examiner. Things." The presentation was made in A subtle move on the part of Persecution and Destruction Japan is to send Buddhist priests style. There were musicians and to China, a piece of mission work Forty years of devoted, effi- bearers in gay uniform, some undertaken by the Japanese Budcient service in one of the hard- dhist Federation, whose memest fields in the world, Chinese fine speeches were made and the bership comprises 159,000 Bud- Turkestan, has been tragically usual picture taken. To ensure dhist priests. interrupted. Fourteen of the tha,t only good influences should seventeen missionaries who have Two hundred Japanese Budbeen working under the auspices prevail while the tablet was be- dhist priests have been chosen of the Swedish Mission in Sin- ing hung, the band dared not for the work. Their activities kiang Province (Chinese Tur- stop playing while it was hoisted began October 1 with an inkestan) have been compelled to and fastened in place high above tensive three-weeks' course in return home because of the per- the pulpit. the Chinese language, this course being provided by the Ministry -London Missionary Herald.
secution of the Christians and The Resurgence in the West of Education. Since both peothe practically utter destruction ples use the same characters, the of their work. During a Moslem China's Millions makes fur- acquisition of a working knowlrevolt the station at New Kash- ther comment on the significance edge of Chinese will not be an gar was burned; later the rebels of the westward trek of refu- insuperable task for these J apwere suppressed or driven into gees, which has included per- anese priests.-The Guardian. India. But local authorities re- sonnel of government departvived the persecution, scattering ments, leaders of education, or imprisoning the Christians finance and industry, seeking re- Korean Village Campaign and closing the printing office establishment in "free" China. The plans of the Oriental Misand the hospital. The British A government commission made sionary Society include the send- Foreign Office sought to remedy a survey of these western prov- ing of bands of students to the the situation, but as there was islands off the coast of Korea. no improvement only three mis- inces, and found that their rich- The islanders are very poor, as ness in natural resources is far sionaries have remained to beyond the imagination of those they suffer frequent drouths and watch developments. living in eastern China. They live chiefly on barley instead of Honoring the Church have remained unexploited for rice. Many of them live and die on the island where they were VVhen the Japanese forces lack of good communications, born, without ever making a trip but there are now strategic to the mainland, and therefore were attacking Tsinan, the UTa motor roads linking the large know nothing of such modern cities; one 1,400 miles long ex- things as railway trains and Huai Shu" Christian center shel- motor cars. The students were tered more than 1,000 women tends to the Burmese frontier, often mistaken for government and girls. for over a month, and and it was along this highway officials or police, and many fed those destitute. To show their gratitude, the citizens came that our American ambassador places they had to work for some made the first trip by private car time to assure the people that to the mission and said: "Let us it was all right for them to acpresent you with a red silk um- on his return to the United cept the Gospel tracts. which they States. brella on which the names of the were distributing. donors are inscribed in golden There is an astonishing num- ber of Christians among these letters." "VVhat could we do fleeing refugees, and like the with a red silk umbrella," the "scattered brethren" of the early As they journeyed here and church, they are "everywhere there they sometimes arrived on missionaries asked. "Then we will present you preaching the word." As to stu- an island at midnight, and would find all the inns closed and the with an inscribed tablet that will dents, a missionary writes: extol your virtues to a hundred "If you can imagine all the occupants asleep. They would generations," they said. school boys and girls and univer- then climb the rocks above the "That won't please us," re- sity students of England scat- sea and spend the rest of the plied the missionaries, "we don't tered over the capitals of Europe night praying for all those asleep want to be glorified. VVhy not you get some picture of the ex- below in sin and ignorance. buy a bell to call people to wor- tent, although not of the number, Statistical reports show that ship? If you must present a of refugee students." Another these bands walked 3,519 miles, gift, let it be one in praise of the missionary in Yunnanfu empha- dealt personally with 4,242 perheavenly Father who kept us sizes the spiritual changes that sons, held 218 open-air meetings, safe." So it was decided and have come about, and says that with the result that 918 persons these words were embossed on so strong is the national unity definitely sought the Saviour.
the bell: "The Bell to Rouse the that China can never be con- -Oriental Missionary VVorld." They also prepared a quered by an enemy. Standard.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
ISLANDS OF THE PAOIFIO NORTH AMERIOA ing to the religious faith of their families. The bill further pro- Going to New Guinea Is America Becoming Pagan? vides that pupils be credited with the time so spent, as if in The latest word from Captain Here are a few facts that actual attendance in school. Ellis Skolfield says that the pro- would seem to substantiate Dr. jected New Guinea trip of the William Adams Brown's claim A Nation-Wide Reading Poll Gospel Ship is now definitely that "America is progressively under way, and the Ship is now becoming pagan." Nearly half The American Institute of at J 010, the last outpost of the of our present population claims Public Opinion has recently com- Philippines b e for e entering no sort of relationship to the pleted a poll on the question: Dutch waters. At J 010 the bal- Christian Church. Ten thousand "What is the most interesting ance of supplies and oil are be- rural communities are church- book you ever ·read?" The aning taken aboard and the re- less, while thirty thousand have swers indicate that the Bible is mainder of the Ship's personnel no pastor in residence. Ap- still the most favored. However, are being awaited. proximately 13,400,000 Ameri- the age distribution is disquiet- can children under twelve years ing. The percentage of people In addition to a full crew in- of age receive no religious in- more than fifty years old who cluding two engineers, there will struction whatever. Many moun- preferred it was more than twice be Captain Skolfield, Dr. Culley, tain pockets and range regions as large as those between thirty Rev. Simon Meek, pastor of the of the South and West, back- and fifty; and six times as high Chinese Church in Manila who ward sections of New England, as those under thirty. will go along as interpreter and Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, the Chinese evangelist and Rev. Dakotas, and elsewhere, voice An editorial in the New York Percy Fraser, independent mis- urgent demands for adequate re- Times declares: sionary who has served in the ligious ministries. Utah has Navy and who will go along as seven whole counties without a Any comment on this may do no special helper to Captain Skol- functioning evangelical mission. more than betray the age of the comfield, also as an addition to the mentator; but it remains a plausible crew. Mr. Fraser is also an In Maine, 100,000 rural folk conjecture that if fewer of the young earnest soul-winner. In addition have no religious opportunities, people of today prefer the Bible it is to these men there will be sev- and throughout New England, because fewer of them read it. It eral Filipino evangelists in the contains not only about the best Engparty. only 40 % of the adults and 33 % lish prose ever written but a greater variety of material than can be found A special gift has made pos- of the young people are claimed in any other single volume on the book sible the purchase of a new life by any church or Sunday school. market; purely as literature, some of boat and some other needed A study of 11 townships of one the most widely read persons in all equipment. Michigan county showed 1,005 ages have found it better reading than children enrolled in 46 public anything else. Oentral Philippine Oollege schools, yet with no church or Sunday school. Another Mich- But in the days when it was uni- Central Philippine College at igan county reported that ap- versally read it was not read purely Iloilo has encouraged local self- proximately one-half its public as literature; it was read because it government since its beginning school pupils were unrelated to was the Word of God, the infallible in 1923, when four Filipino any church, Protestant, Catholic guide for life. If fewer people read members were elected to serve or Jewish. it now, that is to the lasting detriment with the seven missionary mem- of the cultural background of a nation. bers on the school's board of Moral Instruction in Schools trustees. By 1929 a majority of No such survey has previously the trustees were Filipinos. Mis- A bill introduced in the New been made, so that this one does sionaries' places were filled by Jersey State Legislature in Feb- not determine a trend. Some Filipinos in 1936 and 1937 when ruary proclaims in its preamble believe that an adequate apprea number of missionary terms that "One of the first requisites ciation of the Bible can only be expired. In accord with this of a harmonious, contented and acquired in later life, while policy, President H. F. Stuart prosperous state depends upon others say it can never be truly recently offered his resignation, religious tolerance and under- appreciated unless it has been expecting that a Filipino would standing." This bill would au- loved from youth. be chosen to head the institution. thorize public schools to provide The trustees felt that the time one hour of moral instruction In Behalf of Ohina had not yet come for this, and each week; and local boards appointed Rev. F. H. Rose as would be authorized-a permis- American interest in the sufacting president, while they look sive measure – to survey the ferings of the Chinese and the about for a suitable Filipino for religious affiliations of pupils. fate of China is shown by the vice-president, who may later With such information in hand, fact that there are eighty orbecome president. boards could then excuse certain ganizations in America working pupils to attend their respective for the relief of the Chinese suf- -Watchman-Examiner. places of· worship, there to re- ferers or to create practical sym- ceive moral instruction accord- pathy in their behalf. A direc- tory of these groups, published at 33 West 55th Street, New York City, includes all types of organizations, emphasizing va-
rious projects such as political young presbyters were conse- their disregard of the prior occuaid to China, the boycott of Jap- crated. It is patterned after a pation of a field by other Chrisanese goods, the promotion of similar venture started about tian workers. All Christians trade with China, friendly rela- eighteen months earlier in Nas- might learn some valuable lestions and relief of sufferers. sau and Suffolk Counties, New sons from the work of this ener- Eleven of the American organ- York. -New York Times. getic denomination.
izations are composed entirely of German-speaking Churches Chinese. They are scattered all The Seventh-Day Adventists over the country, from New York to California, and from The General Conference of German-speaking churches in Toronto, Canada, to Durham, Seventh-Day Adventists was or- North Carolina. ganized in 1863 – seventy-five the United States form the years ago. Today the work of Progress of Church Union largest foreign group in the Con- this Church is carried forward Those who wish to see denom- all over the world. The Church gregational- Christian Church. inational union will be interested was founded in 1845 and was to know that twelve such unions stimulated by a revival in Bible These have an aggregate memhave taken place in the United study on both sides of the At- States since 1906. Dr. E. D. bership of 22,166, and 109 pas- Kohlstedt, President of the Home lantic Ocean. The leaders em- Missions Council, lists them as phasized keeping God's law, tors. Most of these are in rural follows: especially the observance of the communities. Approximately 95 1906-Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., seventh day as the Sabbath, the and Cumberland Presby- imminent second coming of per cent are German immigrants terian Church. Christ and the judgment on un- from Russia, and the children of 1911-Northern Baptist and Free believers. In 1844 Adventists Baptist Churches. counted a thousand followers such parentage. Who are these and in 1863 there were 3,500 1917-Three Lutheran groups form members. In 1874 these had in- people? German colonists, after the Norwegian Church in creased to 7,000 and in 1894 to America. 42,763. Thirty years later there 1763, settled in southeastern were 70,000 members in Europe 1918-Three other Lutheran bodies Russia and became the object of form the United Lutheran alone with a total of 238,657 in Church. 5,393 churches in all lands. intense persecution. In the early There were then 8,679 pastors 1920-Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., and missionaries scattered to the seventies of the last century, the and Welsh Calvinistic Meth- odist Church. ends of the earth – in addition Czar determined to make Rus- to institutional workers. Today 1922-Evangelical Association and the Adventists report 28,029 sians out of them, and it was United Evangelical Church. workers in 385 countries and in then they sought America, the 1924-Reformed Church in the United 714 languages and dialects. They States and Hungarian Re- have a total membership of land of liberty. Emigration be- formed Church. 452,758 with 8,388 organized churches. The work continues gan at once, but it was not until 1924-Congregational and Evangelical to grow through 5,923 mission- Protestam Churches. after 1890 that they came in ary Volunteer Societies with a 1931-Congregational and Christian membership of 130,748. The large numbers, after which there groups are united. total denominational investment is reported to be $60,026,066. was a continuous influx until 1931-Three Lutheran bodies merge into the American Lutheran Two secrets of the progress 1914. By 1920 there were Church. of this Christian movement seem to be: (1) the missionary spirit 303,532 of their number first 1934-Evangelical Synod of North of its members; (2) the em- America and Ref 0 r m e d and second generation, in the Church in United States. United States. 1939-Unification of American Meth- odism. It is significant that the young Youth Presbytery in Brooklyn people are making little or no In Brooklyn, N. Y., twelve of effort to break away from the religious traditions of their elders. Although there is little opportunity for fellow s hip among these German Congrega- tionalists, since they are scat- tered over a wide area, they maintain their entity as if by un- seen ties, and hold to their mother tongue with great te- nacity. -Advance.
Why Work Among Mormons?
the 38 Presbyterian churches phasis on the Bible as the Word Recently a contributor to and missions have set up a pro- of God; (3) the tithing system Westminster College in Utah visional youth presbytery, made that produces a large and steady wrote Hans P. Freece, a repreup of delegates from young peo- income for church and mission- sentative of this College, and a ples' groups. Their purpose is ary work; (4) the wide use of former Mormon: "As Mormons to promote greater cooperation Christian literature; and (5) the no longer practice polygamy, and in religious work with members large number of volunteer we are led to believe they are their own age from churches of workers. highly educated, with a great other denominations. Members The chief criticisms of the deal of culture and refinement, are to be between the ages of movement are their undue em- just what is the purpose of mis- 15 and 30. phasis on the Old Testament sionary work among them?" To The project was formally Law-especially the observance which Mr. Freece replies :-"It launched in January, when 28 of the old Jewish Sabbath-and is true that polygamy is not now
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
openly practiced, but Mormons forc~ the law against selling liquor Colombian Missionary Society to mmors and to intoxicated persons say the Lord has only suspend- we would request the Territorial A correspondent in Colombian Liquor Commission to deny license re- Clippings describes a meeting of ed it for the time being and that funds to the town, and instead turn ~he Women's Missionary Society that money into the Territorial Treas- m the Central Presbyterian He will restore it in His own ury. Consequently the law was rigidly enforced and there was and is prac- Church of Barranquilla.. There time. God Himself has many tically no drunkenness. The mer- are the usual officers, with com- chant~ re~ort that many long out- mittees expected to have somewives, they say, and polygamy is standmg bIlls have been paid and that thing to report at each meeting. sales I;lre the largest in' years – for Roll call is answered with each practiced in heaven." ~rocerIes, hardware, paint and cloth- member repeating a Bible verse; mg. Mr. Troutman, the principal, de- there is a free will offeriXlg, and "Refinement and culture" are serves all the credit for his fearless a true prayer service. cooperation and determination to probelow the average in Utah. Some tect the natives. The society contributes to help support sick members, and paid better class Mormons send their Monday Morning says that al- the expenses for the hospitaliza- most every third door on the young people to Westminster main street of Sitka is a liquor tion of a faithful member. They stor~. This means sixty saloons also helped to purchase a horse College to get "refinement and servmg a population of less than and saddle for an itinerant mis- 3,500. Alaskan natives are so sionary. culture" ; also, high scholastic ,concerned about this situation attainments. Mormons do not know God nor trust in Jesus Christ, and Christian workers are needed in Utah for the same reason they are needed in China India and Africa. '
Indians On Their Own? that the Alaskan Native Broth- erhood, and Alaskan Native Sis- One of the recommendations terhood, at their 26th annual Among Primitive Indians on Indian work made by the convention, went on record as in favor of a system of governmen- The South American Indians Home Missions Council at its last tal control of liquor, similar to form one of the many groups meeting was a motion for the re- that in force in British Colum- that await the coming of the moval of certain Indian groups bia. missionary. These neglected peofrom the wardship of the Gov- ple range from healthy and ernment, particularly those who LATIN AMERICA friendly to degenerate and suscan well afford to meet their picious. They live in hidden vilobligations in taxation and other Cuban Workers Encouraged lages of the jungle, some orderly, elements of citizenship. some not, in primitive grass Several features of the Cuban houses. Other recommendations called work during the past year mark for the preparation of a state- advance, according to a South- The Inland South America ment setting forth the essentials ern Baptist report. Services are Missionary Union sent two of of a missionary program for In- more largely attended. Sunday their staff, with Indian guides, dians, involving trained leader- schools al'e larger. There are to survey the possibilities for more. frequent calls for cottage wo fo rtkh ea l omnigg ht ht iee sXt i ntgriubuRtiavreir~sonoef ship and one or more cooperative meetmgs. Places of worship are the Amazon. The first five days parishes for experimental work. taxe~ to capacity at ordinary were overland by mule back, Included in this statement is to serVIces, and are proving too attended by every possible diffibean appraisal of the Church's small for special occasions. culty connected with mule psywork in relation to other agen- chology. Then they reached the cies, and suggestions as to serv- The same spirit is manifest in river and the l'est of the trip was many different sections. At Co- by canoe, which sounds pleasant ices best performed by the lon, where people seemed apa- and peaceful but was not. The Church, as well as those best thetic a year ago, there are full canoes were crudely hollowed performed by other agencies. houses at all services. An evan- logs, shallow and heavily loaded. gelist who carried forty decision There were frequent and diffi- -Monday Morning. cards with him when he began cult portages. The sun was blaz- special services in Colon found ing and the insects biting. The Liquor in Alaska they were not enough. This Indian guides fished with bow steady growth calls for better and arrow. One of the men hung Much controversary has arisen trained workers. his clothes to dry on the ropes of the mosquito net one night, and over the liquor problem in Alas- The Southern Baptist Semi- in the morning found that car- nary, now in its third year, has rier ants had happened along ka, and the natives themselves seventeen students. Five go out and devoured most of his shirt. on Sunday to as many different deplore the laxness of law en- centers. Enrolment in the Mis- forcement. Rev. R. K. Wthheeelnear~ of Haines, writes t hat tives had success in their fishing last season, and knowing the peril they were facing he and the government school principal determined to prevent the natives sion School has reached 200 not The missionaries viewed their including seminary students: The hardships with a sense coofnhscuimouosr~ from squandering all their earn- name has been changed from and their perils with a ings on whiskey. He says: Cuban American College to Co- ness of God's protecting care. We notified the Town Council that legio Bautista (Baptist College). -Episcopal News Service. unless the town marshals strictly en-
Two Missions Merged been put up. After surveying the assemblies devoted to the enrich- situation, Mr. Everitt writes: ment of spiritual life. The two Presbyterian Missions in Brazil, the Central and At present there are about 150 In- One is inclined to believe that the South, have been merged for dians living at Poso Yacare and I the pr·esent lull in the battle administrative reasons, and will suppose 200 or more working at the against the Evangelical Churches now be called the Central Brazil cane fields, who will be shortly return- at present is based upon the Mission. Brazil is larger than the ing; there are also numbers of In- same theory as that followed by United States, and the lack of dians living in the vicinity. As there the Communists in Russia in the roads in the interior make it im- is plenty of forest here where they can earlier days of their antireligious possible for committees or collect wild fruits, plenty of fish in the activities: that of letting the administrative g r 0 ups from river, and fruitful ground for gardens,. "old fools" have their churches widely spaced regions to meet there is no reason why this should not so long as youth can be won for planning and organizing be a prosperous startion. -away. The choicest boys are bework. Although the lack of com- ing picked and trained as teachmunications is still a serious To cut down trees and put up build- ers, burgomasters, government problem, it is less so than for- ings is one thing, he continues, but to officials and army officers. They merly, and the two missions be- teach these people and lead them to are insulated as far as possible lieve that greater economy and Christ requires nothing short of a from all Christian influences. more effective work will result miracle. But we have seen miracles from the union. of this kind, and we know that God is -Advance. all-powerful. Lavras Agricultural College Nazification Objectives -Life of Faith. This institution, under the No comment is needed upon auspices of the Southern Presby- EUROPE the following quotation from an terian Church, has recently been address of Alfred Rosenberg, given a very distinct recognition Bibles at Glasgow Empire culture minister of the German by the Brazilian government, Exhibition Reich: having its diplomas accepted for official registration. This mission The great "Empire Exhibi- That the Catholic Church and also agricultural college was the only tion" of Glasgow was open from the Confessional Church, in their presprivate school in Brazil obtain- May to October, 1938, and was ent form, must disappear from the ing such recognition. While the visited by more than 12,000,000 life of our people, is my full convicgovernment realized that the people. Many opportunities were tion, .. , The Hitler Youth Organizaphysical equipment of Lavras afforded for distributing Bibles, tion is an absorbent sponge which was not on a full equality with and none more unique than nothing can withstand. Furthermore, the official government schools, among the dwarfs of "Midget the development of our teaching the outstanding work of the Lav- Town" in the Amusement Park. scheme in schools of all categories is ras graduates caused them to ac- A few of them were Germans, of such an anti-Christian-Jewish type cept the work of Lavras as being the rest Poles, so with a supply that the growing generation will be fully equivalent to that of its of German and Polish Gospels a forewarned against the black-coat own schools. worker sought permission to dis- swindle, , .. We have another means tribute them. He was told that of pressure also and that is the finan- For many years the school had it would be of no use, but the cial one. But here also we must prono more than 2'5 students, but little people were found to be ceed prudently, although systematisince the government recogni- eager to receive the copies. "Po- cally, so as to cut the financial arteries tion the number has gone up to li, Poli," they cried delightedly supplying those clergy whom we cannearly 100. Every effort is now as they retired to a corner to not win over. . . . Reasonable men being made to put the equipment read. will, under pressure, find themselves on a par with that of the govern- compelled to submit to National Soment schools. Some time later a second visit cialist leadership. was paid to "Midget Town," and -Agricultural Mission the visitor was not forgotten. The expected offensive against Notes. Polish Testaments were joyfully Catholic schools in Austria has accepted. The worker was asked been more rapid than was an- In Argentine Chaco to inscribe each copy, after ticipated, and the few Catholic which he was invited to have tea schools permitted to continue The South American Mission- with the midgets. Afterwards, function are those for defective ary Society has established a new it was found that these little station at Poso Yacare, Argen- people carried their Testaments children. * tine Chaco, and the people are about as if a precious possession. eager to learn about the Gospel. The Waldensians Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Everitt have Bible Sales Increase taken up permanent residence in Germany Torre PeIlice, the little capital there, and several buildings have of Italian Protestantism, might The three Bible Societies in be called "the Geneva of Italy." the German Reich (those of There are today 120 Waldensian Wurttemberg, Saxony and Prus- churches and missions through- sia) report an extraordinary in- crease in the sale of Bibles. In • The bulletin of the World's Student line with this is the increased Christian Federation states that on August attendance at Christian summer 19 the German press announced the sup- preSSion of the German Student Christian Movement and the German Women Student Christian Movement.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
out the land. Lack of funds has effect, and it is said that condi- establishment of international closed the doors of many of their order. schools. One in a remote part of tions are worse now than at that Sicily, with 250 pupils all from -Life of Faith. non-Protestant families, is kept time. Wandering Preachers in open by self-sacrifice on the part Soviet Union of the teachers, who continue Baptist Churches in Rumania without salary. This school has A magazine article recently a long waiting list. Parents pre- In spite of a government order published in Warsaw reveals fer to send their children to the permitting several B apt i s t that in spite of persecution, Or- Evangelical School, even though churches in Rumania to reopen, thodox priests and non-conforma small fee is required, while all churches of that denomina- ist preachers travel up and down government schools are free. tion remain closed; and will re- Russia, holding services and fuse to open even one unless per- evangelizing. They have been Every morning the day's work mission is granted to all. There begins with an hour's Bible are 1,602 Baptist churches in deprived of their parishes, and teaching. The work has far- Rumania. The Minister of the have no settled home. Most of reaching results, as shown by an Interior has given 0 r d e r s them have registered as craftsincident recounted by the pastor. throughout Rumania that no men, to shield themselves from Talking to a boy of nine, he more Baptists are to be arrested, persecution ; and earn their livasked him whether his parents and churchmen are pinning their ing by any kind of manual work could read. To his astonishment, faith to him. Some have it that ililteracy being high in the place, the Rumanian Government is they can find to do, sewing boots, the boy responded, "Yes, Sir." anxious to place itself in a favor- sharpening knives or laying "Where did they go to school?" able light in the United States, brick. Wherever opportunity was the next question, to which in view of the New York World's the answer came, "They have Fair, soon to open. presents itself, they minister to never been to school." Mystified, the spiritual needs of the people. the pastor asked, "How then did Eastern Orthodox Churches All this in spite of the fact that they learn to read?" "I taught in Soviet Russia only officially them," was the boy's answer. The Provisional Committee of registered persons may perform "Every day, when I go home, I the World Council of Churches, teach them from my Bible what meeting in Paris, decided to religious services, and only in I have been learning at school." stress particularly the Commit- chapels under constant super- tee's work among the Eastern vision of local authorities. Unquestionably, to evangelize Orthodox Churches of Russia Italy is to promote the peace of and the Balkans. A special depu- In a recent number of The Europe and of the world. tation was authorized to visit the Godless, the Commissar for Balkans with a view tci strength- Atheism has a curious observa- -The Christian. ening ties, and to develop relief tion: "Ever since the beginning work among the hundreds of Purge of Minorities churches suffering from govern- of the Revolution, no clergyman ment oppression. It was also de- fears the Internationale; where- A missionary in Rumania, re- cided to hold an ecumenical sem- as Bolsheviks even up to the turning from furlough in the inar in Hungary, for the benefit present day experience terror at United States, says that after of student pastors, ministers and the sight of the Cross." "the glorious freedom" at home lay leaders. the return to Rumania is like be- -Life of Faith. ing abruptly landed in another As for the possibility of callworld; and is confident that not ing a confel'ence to discuss the Jewish Home a Failure since the days of the catacombs economic and other causes of has there been such a gigantic war, as purposed by the Federal Ten years ago the Soviet plan to wipe out completely all Council of Churches, it was Evangelical Christianity as that pointed out that the demands of Union founded a Jewish Home being launched by the Govern- the rulers of Germany, Italy and ment of Rumania, unless one ex- Japan have gone far beyond in Siberia, near the Manchukuo cepts that of Russia. Threats, mere economic issues; and inbeatings, arrests and closed volve racial, political and im- frontier. It was planned to setchurches are the methods being perial ambitions which no conused. This missionary believes ference can deal with. Hope tle, on collective farms, Jews that the year 1939 is the time set was expressed that individual by Rumania to purge all reli- Christians may exert an in- from the Ukraine, White Russia gious minorities, and has set fluence to check the drift toward herself to the task in dead war; and general secretaries and other parts of the Soviet earnest. were asked to call together a small number of competent per- Union, to develop the rich min- This was written before the sons, representative of different decree withdrawing rights and nations and churches, who may eral resources and timber of the privileges of Baptists went into exchange their thought as to the region, and gradually to create a self-supporting economic unit.
It was thought that 100,000 Jews would settle in this 12,000 square mile area in ten years.
Later, Jews from other countries were to be invited.
There was some response on the part of Jews, but there has been a large exodus, for not more than 20,000 are now living there, and they are outnumbered by non-Jewish inhabitants, three to one. -Alliance Weekly.
Anti-Church Maneuvers beria, only remaining free ter- There are seven native pas- ritory, the Government has in- tors, 7 licentiates, 201 evange- The difference between com- vited the Mission to Lepers to lists, 152 teachers; and, with munism and lliaziism in their at- secretaries, a total paid staff of titude toward the Church seems cooperate with it and with the 368. Church gains are reported to be one of method only, and three main Missions there in a in all phases of the work. The may be summarized thus: "Rus- campaign to wipe out leprosy. parish has grown to 15,000 sia, the godless; Germany, the square miles and includes 26,249 Christless,." The last two re- In the Belgian Congo, in the Christians. maining Lutheran churches in heart of Mrica, government and Russia have been closed recently, missions collaborate fruitfully in Changes in Ten Years and their pastors thrown into all well established leper colprison, according to the New onies, and the funds supplied Mrs. John M. Imrie, a Presby- York Times. The Moscow Izves- through the American Mission terian missionary of Sakbayeme, tia announces that Christian to Lepers are supplemented by sees much change for the better church property amounting to public grants. In the French in West Africa. Polygamous $3,575,000,000 had been confis- marriages are dying out as a recated by the government since mandated territory of the Cam- sult of Christian training, and the war to exterminate religion eroun, a mandate very nervous happier homes are the order. began twenty-one years ago. Of and tense indeed these days be- Heathen men complain that they the 100,000 congregations, less cause it is a former German col- cannot get wives for missionthan 30,000 remain. At the same ony, the return of which may be trained girls will not marry time, the paper admits there are them. Son Mbok, one of the signs of religious revival in demanded as part of the price of towns, ten years ago had only 15 Russia. European peace, full facility is people desiring to learn; today, given the American Mission to Son Mbok has a Central School, A manifesto of German army Lepers.. a teacher, a catechist, an attendchaplains declares that one in ance of nearly 400 on Sundays, every fifteen Protestant pastors Development of Medical and 100 coming up for communis under arrest. Churches are Missions ion each time. The number of forbidden to organize recreation Christians at Ibon increased to for children, or train students To those who remember the the point where a new town, for the ministry; and the gov- difficulties of financing and staff- Maonk, was started to accommoernment claims the right to dic- ing mission hospitals in Africa, date them. Soon there was a tate the content of all Christian congregation of 1,200. This is preaching. the apathy of people toward such in a prairie country, where noth- work, the present scope of medi- ing can be seen but elephant AFRICA cal missionary work in South grass. The people seem to walk Africa is a cause for thanksgiv- out of the grass, but there they Leprosy and Nationalism ing. The recently published are. Christian Handbook for South Dr. Emory Ross, General Sec- Africa gives the following fig- A prominent chief wanted to retary of the American Mission ures as evidence of this changed become a Christian. He was held to Lepers, observes that so un- off for a time to make sure he selfish a ministry as work for situation: was in earnest, and not seeking lepers might be assumed to be the limelight. But Samuel Hiobi free from politics, but it is not Missionary doctors in kept insisting that he had given the case. In Africa a leper work the matter much thought and carried on for twenty years by South Africa ….. . 44 was anxious to become one of an effective American group has the "Tribe of God." At last he been completely stopped, the Mis s ion a r y nurses was accepted as a beginner. He property expropriated and those put away his wives, (keeping in charge caused to leave the (European) …… . 137 only one – the first one he had country. In two more territories married), and promised to care in Africa not only is official aid Nurses (Bantu) em- for them and their children, seerefused to well-executed leper ing that they have medical care work financed and staffed by ployed by Missions .. 54 when ill. He is an example of Americans, but heavy duties are the many who have rejoiced to laid upon chaulmoogra oil and Native probationers in find the better Christian Way of other medical supplies imported Life. for the treatment of lepers. All training ……… . 314 this has come about partly be- Cameroun in Jeopardy cause of clashing political move- Mission hospital beds . 1,605 ments in Europe, and the Afri- Dr. Emory Ross reminds us cans look on in bewilderment. Inpatients "(1937) …. 17,684 that the Cameroun has had more However, this situation does not languages, more governments, prevail in all of Africa. In Li- Outpatients (1937) .,. 270,264 more foreign adjustments forced Figures About Elat Elat parish of the Presbyte- rian West Africa Mission has 189 chapels with an average at- tendance each Sunday of 35,000; Christians 24,037. Of schools, it has 185 Village Vernacular, 15 Village French, 650 pupils, 1 Boys' and 1 Girls' Boarding School, 745 pupils, 50 teachers in training. In one decade of med- ical work: 110,662 sick folk treated, 5,216 won to Christ.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
upon it from abroad in the past with another 2,000 enrolment. In describing the contrasts besixty years than any other part (3) Pay salaries of 160 evan- tween then and now, Mrs. Emof Africa. First, English. Be- gelists, and 25 elders and pas- berson says: fore any foreign government tors; all missionary itinerating ruled, English trade, language and all office supplies. (4) Pay If we wished to visit our outstations, and customs dominated the coast for all repairs on buildings which our only mode of travel was by donkey and spread somewhat inland. deteriorate rapidly in that trop- and bush chair. The chair was pro- Second, German. German gov- ical climate and where white pelled on one wheel under the center ernment, language, trade and ants work destruction. Chris- of the seat, with a long "harness" in customs in the 1880's began to tians at home should not con- front to allow room for the "boy" to cover the country. T h i r d, sider their obligation ended with walk or run without knocking his French. The Versailles group of the payment of missionaries' heels against the step. Behind was a treaties consolidated military salaries. shorter harness which a second boy victories; French government, held, in an endeavor to keep the conlanguage, trade and customs Prison Visitation in Uganda veyance steady. Needless to say, there ruled Cameroun. Each succeed- were many bad moments for the pasing foreign influence has fought One feature of C. M. S. work senger when the boys made even a to root out the preceding. in Kampala, Uganda, and has slight swerve. been for some years, is regular During all these changes the visiting at the central prison Last year we started at 10 a. m. in Church has been almost the only twice each week. This is under- an auto to conduct a morning service uninterrupted, continuing for- taken by Rev. A. M. Williams, in one of our indigenous churches, eign factor in Cameroun life. It who has about 70 names on his about sixteen miles away. We found has pioneered in education, med- baptism record; many more 700 people waiting to hear the Gospel, icine, modern agriculture, man- than that number attend the and 200 of these people partook of ual training, spiritual regenera- services. Since most of the men Communion. Leaving this church at tion. It has brought thousands are there for a long term it is 1 : 30 p. m., we went on to ano,ther of Africans, through Christ, into possible to do a good deal with church some twenty-five miles in a closer human as well as closer them, and results are encour- difllerent direction, and found 1,500 spiritual relationships than they aging. Nearly all are illiterate, people waiting. There was insufficient have ever experienced before. It but all are taught to read and room in the church, so they all sat has interpreted and bound and write before they are baptized, under eucalyptus trees, to listen enmediated. It has taught Eng- except the very old. thralled to the same Word of God. It lish, then German, now French. was unforgettable and very touching, Some of the most effective to hear this crowd of people sing in It has been the largest factor leaders in the mission band have their own tongue, "Rock of Ages, cleft in stability and unity. And now been convicts, and it is not un- for me." After this service, once again Germany is demanding the re- common to find prisoners, after Ohristians to the number of 300 sat turn of Cameroun; Germany, their releas,e, going back to their down at the Lord's Table. whose officials oppose Christian- villages to engage in active evanity, forbid the fundamental gelism. We left them as the African sun teachings of Jesus Christ and quickly disappeared behind a mouncomplete loyalty to Him. Changes in Nyasaland tain, and reached the mission station at 5 p. m., having come into contact Making Ends Meet Rev. Wilfrid Emberson has with about 2,200 Africans on one Sab- spent 27 years of service in bath day. And this difference has Rev. James L. Jackson, of Nyasaland,and recently, because come about in eighteen years! Luebo, Congo State, says that of his wife's ill health, both have for the past eight years the mis- returned to England where Mr. When Mrs. Emberson said sionary budget has not been suf- Emberson has accepted the pas- good-bye, the oldest Christian ficient to meet the needs; and torate of a Baptist church in woman, gripping both of Mrs. by way of being explicit lists Kent. During their joint serv- Emberson's hands, said: "Don't what Luebo station is expected ice in Nyasaland, village schools cry mai (mother), we shall go to do for six months on $2,400. have grown from 40 to more on following the Jesus you have (1) Medical work: pay for all than 100. There are now seven helped us to know and love, and medicine in a hospital where indigenous churches. In the when He comes again for His 15,000 patients are treated and early days there was no building children we shall meet again, as many as 75 major operations in which the sick could stay for and in that day say 'Moni' (Good· are performed annually; pay healing, but, after a boy with a morning) face to face." for all emergency medical trips diseased foot had crawled five when gasoline costs 50 cents a days to reach the missionary, -The Christian. gallon, and quinine to keep mis- two mud huts were set apart as sionary families free from ma- a "hospital." During the first Juvenile Crime in laria. (2) Pay teachers' salaries year 7,000 patients were treated, Johannesburg in a school with 2,000 pupils; all and last year 19,229 sick folk reteaching material and entire sup- ceived treatment. Juvenile crime in South Africa is engaging public attention. In port for 14 outstation schools Johannesburg, it has increased by more than 53 per cent during the past year. An inquiry con- ducted by Dr. Ray E. Phillips names poverty as the root of the situation. Children steal because they are hungry. Other causes named are inadequate housing; unstable marriage ties, which means that children are not liv-
ing with parents; liquor con- tine is obvious. The Germans many encouraging facts. In sumption; lack of educational have established an Arab club Sweden, the number of schools advantages-more than half the in Damascus. An Arab doctor, and scholars has increased durnative children are not in school trained in Germany, goes back ing recent years; and their effibecause of lack of accommoda- and forth between Iraq and ciency is steadily improving. tion-and, by no means the least Damascus, and recently infor- Teacher training courses are significant factor – the separa- mation was let slip that he has held regularly, and junior work tion of families, because 300,000 been busy sending money from for girls and boys, who leave the native men are at work in the Germany to Iraq, to be for- Sunday school at fourteen years mines, and living in compounds. warded to Arab committees in of age has been organized. Palestine. A new motor road -World Dominion Press. between Syria and Imq furthers Progress is the keynote of Germany's plan for a "Greater Sunday school work in Esthonia. WESTERN ASIA Germany" to stretch from Ber- Much time has also been given lin to Bagdad. to visitation of German and Rus- Sunday Schools in Bible Lands sian Sunday schools in the vi- However,a write!r in Al Misry cinity of Tartu: here Sunday Many cablegrams during the believes that the Arabs under- school and Bible class work is year have informed the world of stand quite well the consequences being regularly conducted among bloodshed and bitter strife in the of getting into Hitler's power, Russian and German youth; and lands of the Bible, but most of and their officials are not much great enthusiasm is evident on the Sunday school news tells the impressed by Germany's appeals. the part of both teachers and story of a world of cooperation Arabs do not seriously consider s:cholars. and mutual enhancement among any scheme they do not fully men of diverse cultures. From understand. The report reveals that in Tiberias one writes, "The Sun- France, Holland, Hungary and day school is a movement of MISCELLANEOUS many other countries, the work world brotherhood. It is the is making steady progress. only place where Arab and Jew- The Bible and Education ish children meet in peace and World's Student Christian brotherhood in time of racial en- In an address at the Columbia Federation mity and bloodshed." Another Convocation in New York, comreport says, "In spite of war and memorating the 400th anniver- How to make this Federation rebellion, schools were conducted sary of the English Bible, the a force in America is the quesin Palestine with the help of Dean of St. Paul's, London, said, tion that faces the organization Moslem and Arab boys." In in the course of the address: as they look over the world and Jerusalem one thousand children see Christianity on the defensive. were enrolled in six vacation One cannot contemplate a falling "Not here"; one may say, "these Bible schools. away from the reverence and knowl- things can't happen in the edge of the Bible without seeing a United States." Well, can't they? The work of the Bible Lands great danger of national incoherence. There are movements on foot Union for Christian Erlucation In this modern time there is a great here that have already stamped isa unique demonstration of co- risk that the masses of the population out the Student Christian moveoperation in Palestine, Syria, may become, as it were, uprooted, ment in other countries. Transjordania, Lebanon, Iraq without secure foundation for their and Cyprus. Representatives of lives, that they may degenerate into Two things, says a writer in the Greek Orthodox, Armenian a swaying crowd with no common The Intercollegian, are essential Apostolic, Anglican and Amer- values and no continuing tradition. to promote the Federation: eduican Protestant churches carry The nations flourish or decay ulti- cation and funds. For the educaon 'a vast program of Chdstian mately from within. They flourish or tional program is sugges,ted: l. education. The ancient churches decay from the soul. An enthusiastic WorId Felloware adopting modern methods ship Committee to inte,rpret the for work with children, youth It is surely the duty of everyone Federation's aims. 2. Promotion and adults. The Christian con- who owes his own spiritual life to the of international Christian literaference grounds at Chouei"!', Leb- Bible to do his utmost to insist that ture. 3. Study groups. 4. Use anon, have proven to be a busy it shall take its proper place in the of bulletin boards and chapel center twelve months of the year education of the people; and con- speakers in colleges. 5. Estabfor leadership education, Chris- stantly to urge that no education, lish friendships with foreign stutian endeavor conferences and from the most elementary to the most dents. Correspondence with stuboys' camps. advanced, can be adequate which dents in other lands. leaves students in ignorance of this -World Sunday School fountainhead of all that is best in our Local experimentation is sug- Assn. News. common heritage. gested in the matter of raising funds. "Federation Friends" Germany Filters Into -Federal Council Bulletin. should be enlisted among faculty Near East members and others, and a The W. S. S. A. "Pledge Day" might be es,tab- The connection between Ger- lished. many and the troubles in Pales- The World's Sunday School Association is made up of 51 units, with two administrative centers, one in Glasgow, the other in New York. The recently published annual report contains
Missionary
Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information Directory of Christian Missions and obvious that women of different ing medical service, and assist- Churches in India, Burma and Cey- l"'aces and nationalities around ing in village uplift projects, lon. Introduction by Alexander the world have the same prob- convinced that this is a sounder, McLeish. 512 pp. National Chris- lems and interests. Each author because a more helpfully con- tian Council, Nagpur, India. writes from wide experience as structive process than trying to to what Christ has brought to change labels." This is the fourth edition of her own countrywomen. Taken the Directory since 1932 when as a whole, the chapters supply Aside from this bias against its publication was undertaken a valuable record of the trends Christian missions, the book by the National Christian Coun- of the Christian m 0 v e men t bears the marks of scholarship cil. It contains statistics and a throughout the world. It is and is the best account we have very complete list of approxi- clearly shown that Christianity of present-day Turkey. After mately 200 missionary agencies, is a stabilizing force for nations, describing the background in 61 2',000 stations, 7,000 mission- as well as for individuals. At a pages Mr. Webster deals with aries, 175 periodicals, and 2,500 time, when the whole Christian the struggle for independence institutions in India, Burma and world is menaced by systems and the processes of reforma- Ceylon. Anyone will be im- contrary to the tea,chings of tion and leadership under Atapressed by this vast number of Christ, it is important to point turk. The second and longest Christian enterprises but the Di- to His Way as the only force that part of the book (pages 162-2'89) rectory is of especial value to will cement the nations together deals with the ideology of the missionaries, editors and execu- on the basis of righteousness and present government, particularly tives interested in Christian brotherhood. H. H. FERGUSON. politics, the press, education, and work in India. The Christians the result of all this on the social of all sects and races now are The Turkey of Ataturk: Social Prog- structure, the rural uplift and estimated to number 7,500,000 ress in the Turkish Reformation. the life of the people. of whom about 7,000,000 are In- By Donald Everett Webster. Amerdians. In 1931 Protestants num- ican Academy of Political and So- The volume is beautifully illusbered over 3,000,000, a 50% in- cial Science. 337 pp. Price, $2.50. trated, with photographs, diacrease in ten years, and Roman Philadelphia. 1939. grams, and maps, all of them val- Catholics over 2,000,000. Hindus uable. We have also a gazeteer, number 240,000,000. There are The author was a short-term a full bibliography, and a care- 225 languages spoken, in addi- teacher in the International Col-. ful index. As a secular study, tion to many dialects. The Bible, lege, Izmir (Smyrna), and had one can desire nothing better. in whole or in part, has been other contacts with Turkey. His translated in only 120 of these. book describes the complex proc- S. M. ZWEMER. There are still many unoccupied esses which have as by miracle areas and unevangelized millions produced modern Turkey. Its The Wild Rue: A Study of Muhamin India. viewpoint is not political, nor re- madan Magic and Folklore in Iran. ligious, nor that of the journal- By Bess Allen Donaldson. Luzac & Women and the Way: A Symposium. ist, but that of the sociologist. Co., London. 216 pp. 10/6. 198 pp. Cloth, $1.00; paper, 50 The first sentence in the Intro- cents. The Friendship Press, New duction give the writer's view- Edwyn Bevan, in his Gifford York. 1938. point: "Turkey, no longer an Lectures, used "Symbolism and object of derision, pity, and Belief" as the general title. All What the ace e pta n c e of evangelization, now marches in races are fond of symbols for Christ's Way of Life has meant the vanguard of those nations their faith and superstitionsto the women of every land is a whose post-World War revolu- the Star for Judaism, the Cresquestion here answered by out- tionary processes are most as- cent for Islam, the Swastika for standing Christian women of tounding." At the close of the Buddhism. And so the learned many different parts of the book he remarks: "There are author of this excellent book on world. The list of authors in- still a few Protestant mission- Persian superstition has taken cludes such distinguished leaders aries in the country who do no for title "The Wild Rue," the as Madame Chiang Kai-shek, proselytizing, but spend their most common plant in practice Michi Kawai, Muriel Lester and time in teaching school, render- of magic, used like the mandrake others from home, church, politi- .in the Pentateuch. I know of no cal and professional life, It is [221 ] other volume better suited to give the background of daily life
in Iran. Reforms, social and in- was a deep student 'Of the Bible, captivating. After reading his tellectual, are the order of the which he accepte9. as the in- studies we feel that we know day but eighty percent of the spired word 'Of God, and he was these men and wish to know common people only hear of a preacher tD whom old and even more about them. Dr. them and live their lives under young, learned and unlettered Eastman not only shows us the the shadow of Islam, as in the delighted to listen. He knew men in brief compass, but he repast. That shadow includes a God as revealed in Christ and he veals their backgrDund, the spirit mass of superstition and magic. knew and understood men, be- 'Of the times in which they lived Here we have the key. and their influence 'On posterity. cause he himself was a man. The bODk includes chapters on These Bible notes are m'Ore It is an excellent bDOk for young "The Evil Eye," "Practices at than beautiful nuggets 'Of g'Old men and offers gDod illustrative Child Birth," "M a r ria g e," that Bishop Smith mined in his material for sermons and ad- "Death," and "Burial." We have days 'Of study and prayer, they dresses. an accDunt 'Of superstitions CDnnected with the seasons, the are living seed-thDughts that Evergreen and Other Near East Bible weather, the calendar, dreams Talks. By Abdul-Fady (A. T. Upand sleep; also we learn what came from the granary of God's pious Moslems are supposed tD revealed Word and are copied son) with foreword by Dr. S. M. d'O when they weep or breathe, sneeze or cut their nails and hair. from the Bishop's much used Zwemer. 120 pp. 28. Marshall There is alsD an aCCDunt of wide-margin study Bible. Are Morgan & Scott, Ltd. London. 1938. sacred places, saints and pilgrimages. This material might have nDt such thoughts. as the follDW- This little book of outline talks been better classified but the in- ing stimulating to dee per on the Bible is deceiving in two dex is fairly complete. The book thought, more earnest prayer ways. Its small size does not is written from a woman's view- give pr'Omise 'Of the am'Ount of point but it represents all the old and more Christlike living: life of Persia. As the author says: "Considerable attention "My God, my God, why hast thou real meat in it. And tDO, it gives has been given to religiDus cus- forsaken me" (Mat. 27: 46). This is tDms; this is because the super- hell ! the impression 'Of one of those stitiDns are firmly rooted in the religiDn. With the majority of "Whom God hath raised up" (Acts . devotiDnal books that one can the peDple their occult practices toss off in a day or so and go on. have become religious rites. It 2: 24). If this had been a lie the is to them that they pin their apostles would not have dared to Not so, fDr here is the considered faith, and to them they turn in preach it in Jerusalem – besides the times of trial and crisis. While Holy Spirit could not have blessed a result of years 'Of teaching God's the name 'Of G'Od is often UP'On Word, which fact in itself should their lips, all too frequently it, lie. get it a hearing. This teaching too, is merely a name with which "As for God, his way is perfect" tD conjure. (Ps. 18: 30). We cannot add to a was done in surroundings which perfect thing. To meddle is to spoil. must of necessity reflect them- The uninformed mind turns very "For all the promises of God in him naturally to something tangible in are yea, and in him Amen" (2 Cor. selves in the quality and the times of need. They are surrounded by fears: fears of sickness and death, 1: 20). Subject to no discount. flavor of the material presented. fears of drought and crop failure, fears of famine and flood, fears of "Thy Kingdom come" (Luke 11: 2). The occasional turns and evildoers and their wiles, fears of touches from the Near East save husbands and their relatives, and all Before me petition is allowed for self, this bo'Ok from being just ankinds of fears of the supernatural, and in their ignorance they have but foreign missions are to be rememsought the help of some "magical bered. power" in strange objects or symbols. "But when he was in Rome, he other book of Bible talks. It is sought me out very diligently and SAMUEL M. ZWEMER. clear that the authDr has been found me" (2 Timothy 1: 17). A good there. An instance is the ex- Gems from Bishop Taylor Smith's man is ever seeking people-worldly planation of the "sound of Bible. Compiled by Percy O. Ruoff. 142 pp. 28. 6d. Marshall, Morgan people for Christ; Christians for marching" in the vale of Re- & Scott. London. $1.00. Zonder- van Pub. House, Grand Rapids. Christ. 1939. Not only pastors and teachers phaim (page 38). Again the Bishop Taylor Smith was a re- but all Christians will find this reference tD the ripening of the markable character, with a keen Jaffa oranges (page 41) makes sense of humDr, spiritual dis.. vDlume richly rewarding. cernment, a heart of love and a us realize how much a knowledge faith that begets courage. He Men of Power. Volume III. Four of "the Land" is necessary to an biographies by F'red Eastman. 197 understanding 'Of "the Bo'Ok."
pp. $1.50. Cokesbury Press. Nash- ROBERT F. OGDEN. ville. 1939.
Benjamin Franklin the scien- Highways and Hedges. By William Wistar Hamilton. 119 pp. $1.00. tist and statesman, R. W. Emer- Broadman Press.. Nashville. 1938. SDn the pDet, preacher and essay- ist, George FDX the fDunder of These are brief stories of CDn- the Society of Friends, and verts in evangelistic work, writ- ten by some fifty Christian work- Charles Darwin the revDlution- ers. Some 'Of them are tDD brief ary scientist-all make excellent to make an impression but others subjects for sixty-minute biD- offer effective material for pas- graphical sketches. Dr. Eastman tors and Sunday school teachers who may unfDrtunately lack is a clear thinker and a dramatic these rich persDnal experiences. writer. The glimpses he gives A careful sifting would improve of their develDpment, their the vDlume. achievements and sources 'Of their power are stimulating and
' j I~~
Upptr Room _2_ April, May, June ~ "'! ,,' -II if.
"It 01 ;:t.
o:j 'S ~ '1 :l: '!J .l1 Spiritual Need -&1/121 "I~ :<!-7. Knows No 'Hi '".:s.~ Boundary Lines ';"51 ~ "'I !I'
A page from Korean Edition PERHAPS, as no other publication, THE UPPER ROOM has proved that men of all races, of all tongues, are in great need of the spiritual inspiration of a daily devotional guide. Because of this universal need for it, THE UPPER ROOM is now published in four languages-English, Spanish, Korean, and Hindustani. It can now be read by half the people of the earth in their own language and new translations are being added as the demand for them arises.
In response to requests from pastors who have been using the specially printed Christmas envelopes to mail copies of THE UPPER ROOM to members of their congregations, we are now offering A SPECIALLY PRINTED ENVELOPE FOR MAILING THE EASTER ISSUE This envelope carries an attractive design, printed in an appropriate color. These Easter envelopes are offered at 1 cent each, postpaid, in quantities of 10 or more, or we will mail a copy of the April, May, June issue, to address furnished, in an Easter envelope for 10 cents each.
THE UPPER ROOM is available, in quantities of 10 or more, at 5 cents per copy, post. paid, and on our consignment plan if desired. Yearly subscription, 30 cents postpaid, foreign 40 cents. Spanish edition at same price and on same terms.
The April, May, June issue is now ready for distribution. This is the Easter Issue. The cover is one of the most beautiful and suggestive that we have ever used. The interpreta- tion of the cover picture alone is worth many times the price of the book. Be sure that every member of your congregation is supplied. Place your order at once for prompt delivery.
Send all orders for English and Spanish editions to tbe Upper Room f,.~~=I====Do=c=to=rs=' =B=ui=ld=in=g======N=as=h=vi=lle=,=T=en=n=.==~,,~.~~ [223 ]
The Second World Conference on program in revolutiQnizing the B run n e r' s "Mediator," and Faith and Order, Edinburgh, 1937. method of missionary activity in Schweitzer's the "Mysticism o.f Edited by Leonard Hodgson. $2.25. the C. M. S. stations in northern St. Paul," but has not grasped o.r 386 pp. Macmillan. New York. Nigeria provide food for thQught been grnsped by their doctrine. 1939. The final report of the con- for any who may be interested in The tragedy of the post-war time ference includes six chapters: mission work in West Africa. has driven religious tho.ught and The last section of the book leads experience in this Western world (1) Introduction; (2) The up to the tragedy of his death in into a deeper, mQre mysterious, an airplane crash during his sec- Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ; ond term as assistant bisho.P in more transcendent cons,truction (3) The Church of Christ and the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. of the thought of Go.d and of the the W.ord .of God; (4) The Com- grace of God, o.f the fact of sin, munion of Saints; (5) The L. K. ANDERSON. and of the manifestatio.n of God Church .of Christ: Ministry and in Christ, and of the deeds o.f Essential Christianity. By Samuel Go.d in Christ and histo.ry, than Sacraments; (6) The Church's Angus. 226 pp. $2.00. Macmillan. is represented in this book. Unity in Life and Worship. New York. 1939. R. E. SPEER. Here is evidence .of the present Let Us Build. By P. E. Burroughs, reality of the ideal which is Dr. Angus maintains the opin- Illus. 154 pp. 60 cents. Broadpursued. Certain manifestatiQns man Press. Nashville. 1938. of unity remain to be attained ion that Christianity is not a but here is a real unity .of the matter of opinion and he sets Building churches-both physspirit in the bo.nd of peace. The fQrth his opinion .of what essen- ically and spiritually-is a pro.bprayer of o.ur Lord for unity tially Christianity is. It is the lem. Fin an c e s, educatio.nal amo.ng His disciples, like the old self-contradictory circle. A equipment, worship, recreational man tells us that "It dQes nQt facilities are all involved-and unity of the Father and S.on, has how the problems are wQrked no.t been achieved but the dis- matter what a man thinks. It out may mean all the difference ciples are striving after it. only mrutters what he is." One replies, "You are ei,ther saying R. E. SPEER. what you think or you are saying Civilization-The Next Step. By C. what YOlU don't think. If the lat- between success and failure. . Delisle Burns. $2.75. 291 pp. W. ter, what are you? If the former, The author is educational and W. Norton & Co. New York. 1939. why are yo.U saying it if it does architectural secretary of the The author's desires and pur- not matter?" Southern Baptist Sunday School poses are of the best. The next Of co.urse Christianity is very Board and his manuscript has step sho.uld be more friendliness, much a matter of opinion, but been approved by forty-two. kindness, intelligence, equality few, if any, readers of THE RE- architects. The book includes and justice. But the philosophy VIEW will agree with Dr. Angus' forty-five plates to illustrate is the old humanism. Humanity opiniQn of it. "Christianity is an twelve building plans for various is to. lift itself by its own boot- sized churches and differing straps. A living GQd and the experience." It is not faith in costs from $7,000 to. $122,000 Christian dynamic are simply God in Christ. "It is faith in each. It is arranged as a textno.t in the picture. The tragedy bo.ok and contains many valuable o.f the world lies deeper than God like that of Jesus." The note and practical suggestions for this diagnosis. There is such a is the note of that pre-war liber- both churches and Sun day reaUty as sin and there is need alism which defined Christianity schools. Many of the plans are o.f a mQre powerful Saviour and as "the religion of Jesus" and de- very attractive and practical. a more radical salvatio.n than is cried "the religion about Jesus." Little attention is. given to social co.nceived here. R. E. SPEER. It deprecates the relatiQnship of and athletic .equipment and the essence of Christianity to which is so popular today in Guy' Bullen. By his friends. Illus. many churches. Maps. 136 pp. 58. Highway Press, "alleged historic facts o.f debat- able historicity (such as, the Vir- gin Birth, the miracles, the phys- London. 1938. ical resurrection o.f Jesus" the Hugo of the Blade. By Julius F. bodily ascension, the official and Seebach. 271 pp. $1.00. United This biography .of the late Rt.
Rev. H. Guy Bullen, As:sistant authoritative establishment of a Lutheran Publication House, Phil- Bishop in Egypt and the Sudan, Church by Him)." It rejects the adelphia. 1938.
is written by friends and aSSQ- deity of Christ. It accepts what This is a moderately interestciates who. pay tribute to the un- in the New Testament suits the ing novel of the Reformation peusual attractiveness o.f the man's author's o.pinion of essential riod, centering about the life of human chaI"acteristics and to his Chris.tianity and rejects what a printer and his descendants s'implicity and powe,r as a devo.ut does not. who were staunch supporters of Christian. Perhaps the least in- Dr. Angus' emphasis on the Protestantism. The "trimming teresting part o.f the book is the duty of Christlikeness, of obedi- blade," used in book binding, be- first section dealing with Bullen's ence and conformity to the Spir- came the symbol of truth and boyhood where an attempt is it o.f Christ, or unselfishness and freedom. This story won first made to relate youthful inclina- sacrifice and service and love is prize in the "John Rung Legacy"
tions to later powers in the mis- all to the go.od, but his subjective contest for 1938, for the best his- sionary's personality. The chap- humanJsm is a swan song of a torical narrative, educational and ters relating to his far-sighted declining Christism. He has read missionary. H. H. F.
from Many Lands: Stories for GOD'S PURPOSE :h:::'::~
Juniors. Illus. 127 pp. Paper, 50 erery day cents. Morehouse-Gorman Co., New York. 1938. A handy volume of 365 inspirational sermonettes written by distinguished Children will like these stories, clergymen of the English·speaking world. Arranged in calendar form. one and leaders of junior groups will find them helpful in creating an for each day in the year. one to each page. interest in the children of other races and lands and in promoting Cloth,60c; Limp Leatherette, $1.00; Art Leather, $1.50 a missionary spirit. In addition to the stories about children in COD'S MESSACE COD'S MINUTE far-away lands, there are tales about American Indians, Ne- 365 prominent clergymen have Here is a marvelous collection of groes and Mountaineers; also about ohildren of island depend- chosen their favorite Scripture pas- 365 Daily Prayers. each 60 seconds encies-Porto Rico, Hawaii, the Philippines. Following the fif- sages. With each as a text, they long. written by 365 of the most teen stories are six biographical sketches, in language children have written a Message that quick- eminent preachers and laymen in can understand, of stalwart Christian leaders, such as Bishop ens faith, and brings comfort. the world. Azariah of India. Cloth, 6Oc; Limp Leatherette, $1.00; Art Leather, 51.50 HENRIETTA H. FERGUSON. THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO., Winston Bldg., Phila. Master Thoughts for Victorious Liv- ing. Edited by Dumont Clarke. 72 The Spirit of the Shepherd. By M. Life's Cricket Match. Reginald pp. 25 cents paper; $1.00 leather- P. Krikorian. 8 vo. 125 pp. $1.00. Wallis. 43 pp. 6d. Pickering & ette cover. Paul M. Hinkhouse. Zondervan Pub. Co. Grand Rapids, Inglis. London. New York. 1938. Mich. 1938. Master Thoughts for Victorious These 285 quotations are from The Twenty-third Psalm is Living. Edited by Dumont Clarke. many different sources from the immortal and seems to be inex- 72 pp. 25 cents; $1.00, Leatherette. Bible to Mohandas Gandhi and haustible. The present inter- Paul Hinkhouse. New York. from John Keats to Robert E. pretation is by an Armenian Speer. They naturally form a shepherd who became a spiritual The Missionary Significance of the great mixture on over fifty topics shepherd and Christian evan- Lord's Prayer. Lee S. Huizenga. and are of varied value. Most gelist. His emphasis in this ex- 84 pp. Eerdmans Pub. Co. of them are very brief-one sen- position is on the revelation of tence – but they offer food for God as the Jehovah who pro- Revealing Christ. Percy Hortill. 71 thought and come from experi- vides, guides, gives peace, over- pp. Is. 2d. S. P. G. London. ence. To many public speakers comes and gives His people a they furnish material for apt Home forever. These character- Studies in Popular Islam. S. M. quotations. istics are all referred to in the Zwemer. 148 pp. $2.50. Mac- Hebrew names. The study is millan. New York. All Around the City. By Esther Frei- practical and interesting rather vogel. Illus. 95 pp. 50 cents paper than unique. The Turkey of Ataturk. Social Prog- and $1.00 cloth. Friendship Press. ress in the Turkish Reformation. New York. 1938. New Boole. Donald Everett Webster. 337 pp. $2.50. Academy of Political and Here is an attractive book on Christian Home Making. (Prepared Social Science. Philadelphia. the city for primary children. A for the Madras Conference of the "Primary Teacher's Guide" is I. M. C.) Edited by Mrs. Robert They Dared to Live. Robert M. Bartalso obtainable at 25 cents a E. Speer and Constance Hallock. lett. 135 pp. $1.25. Association copy. Miss Freivogel describes 141 pp. $1.50. Round Table Press. Press. New York. how children move to the city New York. from the country, their experi- The World's Religions. A Short Hisences at Christmastime, at the Canadian Journey. H. P. Thompson. tory. Charles S. Braden. 256 pp. Neighborhood H 0 use, church 69 pp. S. P. G. London. $1.50. Cokesbury Press. Nashville. school and at play. Pen and ink drawings and the story are de- The Church Faces the World. (Pre- Welcome House. Jessie Eleanor signed to interest children. The pared for the Madras Conference of Moore. Illustrated. 95 pp. $1.00, incidents of life will help them the I. M. C.) Edited by Samuel cloth; 50 cents, paper. Friendship understand other children, and McCrea Cavert. 133 pp. $1.50. Press. New York. to sympathize with many who Round Table Press. are undernourished both physi- John Wyclif and the English Bible. cally and spiritually. It is a Christians in Action. A Record of Melvin M. Cammack. 288 pp. $1.75. good book for children from Work in War-Time China. By American Tract Society. New York. seven to ten years of age. Seven Missionaries. 115 pp. $1.00. Longs, Green & Co. New York. Tales of a Waste-Basket Surgeon. Gordon S. Seagrave. 265 pp. $1.50. Green Timber. Esther Gerberding Judson Press. Philadelphia. Hunt. 220 pp. 75 cents. United Lutheran Pub. House. Philadelphia. The Two Ways. A Play in Six Epi- sodes. A. L. E. WilIiams. 53 pp. Hugo the Blade. Julius F. Seeback. Is. S. P. C. K. London. 271 pp. $1.00. United Lutheran Pub. House. Philadelphia. The W orId's Great Religious Poetry. Compiled by Caroline Miles Hill. The History of Christianity in Amer- $1.69. Macmillan. New York. ica. Frank Grenville Beardsley. 244 pp. $1.50. American Tract Why Be Good? James Reid. 191 pp. Society. New York. $1.50. Cokesbury Press. Nashville.
Historical Atlas of the Holy Land. The Holy Bible. Illustrated by Wil- Maps. 62 pp. $1.00. Rand Mc- liam Hole. 8vo. 1,252 pp. Eyre Nally. New York. and Spottiswoode. London.
Men of Power. Vol. III. Fred East- man. 197 pp. $1.50. Cokesbury Press. Nashville.
State Population Census by Faiths: Meaning, Reliability and Value. H. S. Linfield. 72 pp. $2. Hasid's Bibliographic and Library Service. New York.
'I(~ ,tI1zS .11WiteJ to. ,tItienci
THE NORTHFIELD MISSIONARY CONFERENCE JULY 3-10, 1939 A PIONEER PROJECT in Interdenominational Fellowship on the beautiFul CAMPUS of Northfield Seminary EAST NORTHFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS HUNDREDS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS have received inspiration and training for service in their home churches, their communities and beyond the SEAS Denominational Camps for the Girls SEPARATE CLASSES are held for GIRLS and WOMEN In Bible Study • Mission Study • Leadership Training A FEW OF THE LEADERS WHO WILL TAKE PART Miss Ruth Isabel Seabury Miss Hazel Orton Miss Marguerite Hazzard Miss Alice Murdock Miss Nona M. Diehl Miss Sue Weddell Miss Gertrude Schultz Mrs. Walter C. Stevens Miss Christine Wang Dr. Caroline Palmer Dr. Emily J. Werner YOUR CHURCH SHOULD BE REPRESENTED YOUR LEADERS SHOULD FEEL THE POWER THAT COMES FROM MEETING TOGETHER WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHERS IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST For further information address—MRS. WARREN C. TAYLOR. 38 Union Avenue W., Schenectady, N. Y.
THE MOILEM WORLD PUBUSHED BY THE HARTFORD SEMINARY FOUNDATION Editors: SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, EDWIN E. CALVERLEY Some Articles in the April Number Religion and Life • • • Edwin E. Calverley A Protestant View of Moslem Missions Julius Richter The Missionary Conviction and Approach • Robert E. Speer The Law and the Gospel • • • Laurence E. Browne Al.Ghazali and Arabic Versions of the Gospels Constance E. Padwick A Modern Revindication of Islam H. Kraemer Qualities of the Planets D. M. Donaldson A Variant Text of the Fatiha Arthur Jeffery The Traditions of An.Nawawi .. Eric F. F. Bishop The Moslem Doctrine of Sin E. E. Elder Book Reviews Current Topics Survey of Periodicals Sue Molleson Foster +0(-._ _.-~» SUBSCRIBE NOW 50 Cents a Copy. $2.00 a Year (postpaid) In combination with THE MOSLEM WORLD THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City $3.50 a Year. (Foreign Postage, 50 Cents.) British Agents: MARSHALL, MORGAN & SCOTT, 12 Paternoster Buildings, London, E. C. Price in Great Britain, Eight Shillings a Year, net
The Missionary Review of the World — December 1937
1937
A Kurdish Christian Prophet J. Christy Wilson Sermon by a Converted Moslem Sa'eed Kurdistani First Five Centuries of Christianity Kenneth Scott Latourette The Evangelical Church in Brazil Miguel Rizzo, Jr.
In the Midst of European Revolutions Adolph Keller The Dilemma of Japanese Christians T. T. Brumbaugh Faith Working by Love in Japan Winburn T. Thomas 25 Cents a Copy $2.50 a Year
to Remember Mrs. McDougall was born in Detroit, PARENTS
Michigan, June 13, 1869, the daughter December 12-Universal Bible Sun- of the late Arthur T. Pierson and In the Foreign Mission Field day. Sarah Frances Benedict. Subsequent- Endorse Calvert School ly she lived in Indianapolis, Philadel- Home Study Courses January 2-9-1938 Universal Week of Prayer. phia and Brooklyn, moving to Upper for Children Montclair, New Jersey, in 1917, where NATIONAL PREACHING MIS- she made her home with her brother, Calvert School, through its Home Instruc- SION the Editor of THE REVIEW. She mar- tion Department, will give your child a ried Mr. McDougall in 1928 following superior elementary education … by mail, December 2-S–.Tacksonville, Fla. regardless of where you may live. Mod- a year and a half spent in Japan with ern, approved courses from this famous Obituary Notes her sister, Mrs. Frederick S. Curtis, school are being used by parents all over the world with outstanding success. and with her friends of the Kwato Mission in Papua. For forty years Mrs. McDougall was active in various forms of Christian work in connection Give your children the advantages of these The Rev. John McDowell, D.D., with the Church and various mission- interesting lessons, carefully chosen books, Associate Director of the Department ary organizations. For some years she and attractive materials. Instruction is of Social Education and action of the has been the volunteer Promotion Sec- under the personal guidance of teachers in Board of Christian Education of the retary in America for the Kwato Mis- Calvert's prominent and successful private day school in Baltimore. Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., and sion of Papua. formerly moderator of the General Write today for booklet of complete in- Assembly of the Church, entered into The Rev. Dr. Paul W. Koller, for formation. Costs are low. rest on November 13th after under- nine years executive secretary of the going a major operation. Dr. Mc- Board of Foreign Missions of the Dowell was born in Scotland in 1870 United Lutheran Church, died Noand was brought to America by his vember 11th at Baltimore, Md., at parents when two years old. He was the age of 65. graduated from Mt. lIermon School Dr. Koller was born in Glen Rock, and from Princeton University and after a special course in the Theo- Pa., and educated at Gettysburg (Pa.) ment be extended to foreign lands and logical Seminary was pastor succes- College. He attended Gettysburg Dr. Boville spent a year in the Far Theological Seminary, was ordained East founding schools. sively of churches in Steelton, Pa.; in 1897. After serving pastorates in Detroit, Michigan; Newark, New Cleveland, Ohio; Hudson, N. Y., and *** Jersey, and Baltimore, Maryland. Mansfield, Ohio, in 1921 he was named Canon Streeter, provost of Queen's He was Religious Work Director dur- president of the Lutheran Synod of College, Oxford, and Mrs. Streeter ing the War and in 1919 became a Ohio. In 1928 he was elected to the were killed in a plane crash in Switzsecretary of the Board of Home Mis- post he held at his death. He had erland, September 10. Dr. Streeter sions, later the Board of National served as a member of the committee was a scholar' and theologian of high Missions, of the Presbyterian .Church. of Reference and Counsel of the For- ability. His writings have been He was a popular speaker at summer eign Mission Conference of North widely read in this country. conferences and was author of several volumes, including one on Dwight L. America, and had been a member of *** Moody, one on "The Christian Spirit the Missionary Laymen's Executive in Industry," and one on "Christian Bishop William H. Heard, of the Essentials." He is survived by his Committee and the executive commit- African Methodist Church, died in a wife, and one daughter, Mrs. Robert tee on cooperation in the Near East. Philadelphia Hospital September 12, C. Cory. A biographical sketch of at the age of 87. He had attended the Dr. McDowell will appear in an early He also had served as president of World Faith and Order Conference in issue of THE REVIEW. Edinburgh, and while there experi- the conference of Foreign Mission enced difficulty in obtaining hotel ac- … … … Boards of Lutheran Churches in commodations. Dr. Temple, Arch- bishop of York, offered him the hos- Dr. Frank W. Bible, the Central America. pitality of his home. District Home Base secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Mary *** B. Koller, and a daughter, Miss Kath- erine Koller, Professor of English at Bryn Mawr Co..l.leg..e. . …
Presbyterian Church, died in Chicago, The Rev. Dr. Robert George B.o- .T. Harvey Borton, a Philadelphia Ill., November 15th after an illness of ville, founder of the Daily Vacation business man, well known in religious several months. He was born in Bible School movement in the United circles, died on October 80th in the Milesburg, Pa., July 18, 1877, and States and director of the world-wide Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, after graduation from Park College organization for the religious educa- following an operation. He was born and from Auburn Theological Semi- tion of children, died in Yonkers, N. at Rancocas, New Jersey, sixty-five nary, he went as a missionary to Y., on November 8th. Dr. Boville years ago, and lived at Moorestown, China in 1904. There he taught in lived in Riverdale, N. Y., and was N. J. He was connected with the the Hangchow Christian College for eighty-three years old. Hajoca Corporation, manufacturers fifteen years. On his return to Amer- Dr. Boville was born in Belfast, Ire- of plumbing supplies, and was a ica in 1919, he became associate gen- land, and came to New York from a member of the Executives Association eral secretary of the Committee of pastorate in Hamilton, Ontario, in of Philadelphia. Reference and Council for the Foreign Missions Conference of N. A. and in 1901 to become secretary of the Bap- Mr. Borton was an active member tist City Mission. That same year he 1924 was elected· district secretary. of of the Society of Friends and a frethe Presbyterian Board. Dr. Bible began the nation's first daily vacation made a tour of the world in 1930-l. Bible schools. He found a group of quent speaker at the Sunday services With his extensive knowledge of con- young college and seminary students at Girard College. He was also chairditions both at home and abroad, he who were willing to donate their varendered valuable service in promot- man of the council of the V:ictorious cation time to religious training for ing foreign missionary interest. Life Testimony, which directs the these children. One thousand children * .. * were enrolled the first year. work of the Pioneer Mission Agency, Anna Pierson .McDqugall, the wife Dr. Boville traveled throughout the the Keswick Colony of Mercy Kes- country organizing Bible schools. By of Mr. Walter McDougall for tWenty wick Grove, N. J., and summe'r conyears the treasurer of the Missionary 1916 the movement had spread and ferences held at Keswick Grove' Review Publishing Co., entered into the organization was incorporated as the International Association of Daily chairman of the board of trustees of the Life Beyond on Sunday, November Vacation Bible Schools. Missionaries the Belgian Gospel Mission; and a 7th, following a serious operation. in the Orient requested that the move- member of the board of directors of the Sunday School Times Company.
His wife, Alice McClure Borton and a daughter survive him. '
MISSIONARY Do You When the good
REVIEW OF THE WORLD Read the Old Testament calls you East … sail DELAVAN L. PIERBON, Editor Understandingly? p&O VOL. LX DEC., 1937 No. 12 How often have you longed for This year marks a full century of P & 0 Publication and Business OIDce– a book that service to the lands beyond Suez! Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. would present the historical, geo- Whenever you are called to the other graphical, cultural and archae- side of the world, choose this tradi- Editorial and Executive OIDce– ological backgrounds of the Great tional route. Cross to England by 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. Book, and thus make the study Cunard White Star •.. and there Entered as second-class matter at of the Bible more meaningful? embark in a great liner of the P & 0 and British India fleets, led by the Post OIDce, Harrisburg, Pa., under JAMES C. MUIR, noted autltorHy and new 22,5oo-ton Strathnaver, Strath- Act of March 3, 1879. lecturer on the Old Testament has just aird and Strathmore. Regular service completed a new and unusnal book that to Egypt, Sudan, Persian Gulf, India, 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. sweeps away the mists of unreality with Burma, Ceylon, Straits Settlements, Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. which time has enshrouded the old China, Japan, Australia, East and Published monthly, except August. Testament narratives – the title, South Africa, Mauritius. Low rates. All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1937. British agents – Marshall, Morgan HIS TRUTH ENDURETH Convenient through bookings can be arranged and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, by your local travel agent or any office of London, E. C. 1 shilling per copy, Tltls boole Is more fascInating titan fIction. 10 shillings a year. It enables the student to assimilate more CUNARD WHITE STAR LINE readily the backgrounds of the Old MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- Testament. Here is the story of the GENERAL AGENTS LISHING CO., INC. rise of civilization, the history of peoples who were contemporary with the chil- 25 Broadway and 638 FifthAve.,NewYork BOARD OF DIRECTORS dren of Israel in Old Testament days, ROBERT E. SPEER, President together with the latest archaeological A. L. WABNBHUIB, Vice-President information bearing on the many sub- WALTER McDoUGALL, Treasurer jects covered in the book. DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary You Need This Book SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT Buy It Today From Your Bookseller D. J. FANT List Price $2.50 MRB. ORRIN R. JUDD NATIONAL PUBLISHING CO. PHILADELPHIA WM. B. LIPPHARD ERIC M. NORTH 180,640 Net New Believers in 9 Years in Korea SAMUEL M. ZWEMER This is equivalent to Editorial Chat 70 new parishes of 300 helievers each The Editor and Board of Directors year. Some mission fields haven't of THE REVIEW extend very cordial won 20,000 in 50 years. Christmas greetings to our readers, What is the "secret" of it all? missionaries and other Christian friends in every land. The picture of May it be the Bible emphasis? a warring world is a sad commentary on humanity's response to the Gospel Last year the Korean Church held of peace, but the very fact that man- ~,344 Week-Long Bible Conferences. kind shows so little evidence of ac- (J7R,SJ3 attendance.) ceptance of Christ and His Gospel is 10.0oo!n Bible Correspondence. a compelling reason for carrying His message of life and love to every part S4'.~68 III Sunday Schools. of the world by the power of the Holy 55.075 in Bible Vacation Schools. Spirit at Christmas time and without ',500 in 6-10 Week Bible Institutes. ceasing. May this "NEVIUS METHOD" he the This and other numbers of THE Dynamic of All Methods. REVIEW give encouragement by telling how this work is being done and God Honors His Word. how God is making the work fruitful. Read Korea t" Story in the New Book Read the back cover of THE REVIEW "THE NEVIUS PLAN FOR MISSION for our special offer. WORK IN KOREA" (370 pages). *** By CHARLES ALLEN CLARK. Ph.D.• D.D. THE REVIEW is to puhlish Dr. (35 years in Korea.) Speer's new book-a life of George Bowen, one of the most unique and Postpaid-~ remarkable of all the missionaries to India, who died about fifty years ago. CHRISTIAN LITERATURE SOCIETY. Note the announcement on the back Seoul, Korea ~ – – – – – – – Y5.oo cover. E. C. HEINZ, * '" * S6~' 5th Ave. S.. Minneapolis, Minn. $t.OO "I want to congratulate you on [ 561 ] your Rural (June) issue. You have assembled a lot of fine material on the rural church."-Dr. Wm. R. King, Executive Secretary of the Home Missions Council.
"THE REVIEW*, in* my* opinion, is one of the best periodicals that come to me. I always welcome it and find inspiring articles in it."
WM. JAY SCHIEFFELIN, New York.
TEACHElRS IN CAMPINAS SEMINARY-FOREIGNERS AND
STUDElNTSAT THE CAMPINAS THE"OLOGICAL SEMINARY, BRAZIL (See Article by Dr, Miguel Rizzo, page 576)
NARY
ORLD VOLUME LX AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER 12 DECEMBER, 1937 Topics of the Times WAR AND MISSIONS IN CHINA dun, the Chinese troops saying "They shall not pass!" and Japan pouring in a continual stream The Chinese armies in the Shanghai area be. of soldiers with superior mechanized equipment. gan (on October 27th) a well-executed retreat Bombing of cities, railways and other lines of from their first lines of defense to a second line south and west of Soochow Creek. This brought communication in this area has been continuous the fighting into areas adjacent to the French for two months. Soochow, Kiangyin, Chinkiang Concession and Nantao, the old Chinese city, and and Nanking have suffered from especially freforced the evacuation of St. John's University, quent and severe air raids. Recently in a bomb- St. Mary's School for Girls, The Seventh Day ing of Sungkiang, 50 miles southwest of Shanghai, Adventist Sanitarium and other institutions. The the splendid center of Southern Methodist miseffects of the severe struggle have been felt on sionary work and lay-training, suffered heavily. the edges of the International and French settle- The Girls' School was set on fire, a missionary ments and from stray shells falling into these residence was demolished and other buildings settlements. Many mission and interdenomina- were damaged. tional organizations were forced for a time to move from their offices near the Bund. Communi· The landing of Japanese troops on the northcations with inland China have been maintained ern shores of Hangchow Bay, south of Shanghai, by bus and motor car service. An increasing may endanger mission centers at Sungkiang, number of missionaries who were sojourning tem- Kashing and Huchow. Christian work is being porarily at other ports or summer resorts have maintained at Hangchow and cities south and been returning to Shanghai and some have gone west. Hangchow Christian College has an enon to their inland stations. A large missionary rollment now of 500, Wayland Academy (Baptist) colony, chiefly mothers and children, is now in has over 1,000 students and the Union Girls' the buildings of the Shanghai American School. School has re-opened. Soochow, 50 miles west The National Christian Council, mission head- of Shanghai, is affected more seriously. The three quarters and other central offices are keeping in Christian hospitals there are crowded with touch with missionaries and churches in the in- wounded and Soochow University is being used terior by means of radio and a limited mail service to house wounded and refugee civilians. Missionwhich has been remarkably efficient considering ary doctors and nurses are staying on. difficulties of transportation. Chinese ~hurches in the settlements and out of the immediate fight- Since the partial destruction of Central Goving zone are continuing their regular services of ernment Hospital in Nanking by an air raid on worship and are undertaking many forms of re- September 25 the University (Drum Tower) lief work. The presence of hundreds of thousands Christian Hospital has had to carry a double burof refugees in Shanghai, who face the winter den of medical aid and relief work. This hospital without food and shelter, constitutes a grave prob- has cabled word of its desperate need for medical supplies, especial anesthetics, tannic acid and anti-tetanus serum. Other mission hospitals in the three eastern provinces of Chekiang, Kiangsu lem. and Anhwei are meeting heroically the emergency Nanking is 200 miles northwest of Shanghai, demands upon their services, with diminished in- come from fees and serious shortage of supplies. Hangchow 150 miles southwest. These three cities form a triangle which is becoming a great Ver- The University of Nanking and Nanking The- [563 ]
SUlIj'UAN JEHOL I.
o /…-'~-1''0 • /C:3 Q-a———-t—–4~~~~ .l KA. U ~ Yenano / l'I'i:,ngChen ,, . -·f….~ …… ,,—-…..- ……'-…—~' o ;- , /~UngShU~ •0 NanchaJlIC _~_V..:"~s'.ht.a,a::n:tiu,;t,e;,S;-I;tI;e-s'IT:~;o—-, GS I " ; ~ FengSl'o O 0 • …………". Shenchcw Tungpjn~ Sinchang K I A :J I0 TureSianR I . 50 100 I'
PRINCIPAL AREAS COVERED IN THE JAPANESE INVASION OF CHINESE TERRITORY On November 11, the Japanese had moved their armies in the north as far west as Talyuan, Shans! Province. Their line extended south of Pelplng, nearly to Tientsin. From Shanghai they had moved south on the road to Hangchow, and were marching west to attack Nanking. The cities named show the principal Protestant mission stations; the location of other stations is marked by circles. Rail- I'oads completed and under construction are also indicated.
ological Seminary have re-opened in Nanking also an increasing exodus of students from the with about a third of their normal enrollments. coastal provinces westward. So far the Chiriese Ginling College is carrying on some of its work Government has encouraged schools to continue in connection with Hwachung College in Wuchang and students to pursue their studies wherever and St. John's University at Shanghai. Govern- possible, believing that China must keep on buildment educational institutions are more and more ing for the future. As a consequence, Hwachung College, Yale-in-China at Changsha and West moving to central and west China and there is
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
China Union University have enrollments far .is moving part of its work including the Medical above the average. School to west China. The Northern Presbyterians and Southern Baptists have extensive work in The National Christian Council sends encour- Shantung. Some missionaries of these and other aging news from churches all over China, even missions are staying in the interior, others are at those in fighting areas. Christian relief commit- the port of Tsingtau keeping in close touch with tees are being organized in many cities. Mission- their Chinese co-workers and making occasional ary work in central and west China is going on visits inland. The Southern Presbyterian Mismore normally and Szechwan and Yunnan seem sion which works in north Kiangsu still has misto be the safest provinces so far. Air raids have sionaries at Haichow, at Suchow the important extended as far inland as Hankow, Wuchang and railway junction and at Tsingkiangpu. Mission- Changsha. After an air raid on Wuchang which aries are remaining in considerable numbers in reduced a poor section of the city to shambles and Honan Province and the United Church of Canwhich came near destroying the Methodist Mis- ada has recently decided to send some missionsion Hospital, a Hankow newspaper reported, aries back who have completed their furloughs. "Scores of operations and amputations were performed by candle light at the Methodist Hospital Cities in northern Shansi where missionaries owing to the electric light system failing. There reside have been bombed and as this article goes is a lamentable shortage of doctors and ambu- to press news comes of the Japanese seige of lance workers." Taiyuan, the capital. The American Board and Church of the Brethren missions have important Air raids have continued on the coastal cities work in Shansi. Taiku and Fenchow, south of of Fukien and Kwangtung with especially de- Taiyuan, are centers of American Board educavastating effect in Canton, but no serious damage tional, medical and evangelistic effort, including to mission property has been reported. One mis- the Oberlin-in-Shansi schools. Christian work sion hospital in Kwangtung has been struck. Fu- here is much disturbed but a group of missionkien Christian University and Hwanan College aries have refused to leave and are doing what in F'oochow and Lingnan University, Canton, are they can to help alongside their Chinese colopen with limited enrollments but with morale leagues. high. From Great Britain come reports that British Yenching University in Peiping and other missions are holding their own. The China Inland Christian schools in the Japan-controlled area Mission is not returning missionaries or sending have opened and the number of students is steadily new missionaries for the present. Detailed news increasing. Few of these students, however are from inland stations comes through slowly. from central and south China and all educational work is conducted with peculiar difficulties. Busi- On September 21st the National Christian ness has been hard hit in the invaded territory, Council of China adopted the following resolution unemployment is increasing and Christian insti- which was later broadcast from Shanghai, "Along tutions and churches which depend upon con- with the material relief we must give is the spirtributions and fees will all suffer. Letters coming itual uplift of the nation. The soul of China is through, however, tell of great faith and courage at stake. An effort should be made to keep up on the part of Christian groups. Paoting, the the morale of the Chinese Christians, so that their capital of Hopei, an important center of mission Christian faith, hope and love may not be dework of the American Board (Congregational) stroyed by the terror of war. What China needs and Northern Presbyterian Mission, suffered from at present is a reinforcement of spiritual power, a heavy siege and looting as the Japanese line and that power Christianity alone can give. Since moved southward. A small group of missionaries this war is going to put a strain upon the restayed on and ministered to the suffering. Teh- sources of the human soul as well as on material chow, another American Board mission center in resources it would seem important that we should northern Shantung, has been captured by J ap- bring together all Christian forces available for anese troops and Changteh, a mission center of the task of deepening our spiritual resources, the United Church of Canada in northern Honan. leading people to look up and find God a very The Japanese advance will probably be halted present help in time of trouble, assisting the for the time being at the strong defenses along churches and schools in clear thinking about the the Yellow River. The fighting is coming close issues raised by this conflict, and giving them to Tsinan, the capital of Shantung. There are comfort, healing and strength." fears that attacks on ,the Shantung coast may force the Chinese armies to abandon Shantung Dr. E. Stanley Jones, who was in Shanghai province but at the present writing the defense when hostilities broke out there, and went to Mais strong. Cheeloo University at Tsinan, in which nila instead of starting upon his projected six thirteen American and British missions cooperate, months' evangelistic tour of China, has now gone from the Philippines to central and west China
for a month of evangelistic meetings, at the re- refused to allow the facts as to their students to quest of Chinese Christian leaders. be made public.
Chinese leaders, both Christian and non-Chris- In one prominent university, where there is a beautiful $2,000,000 chapel and a college pastor, tian, have expressed in many ways their appre- two-thirds of the students said they had not at- tended chapel once that year. ciation of the service missionaries are rendering The religious influences surrounding students in the present tragic situation, and have urged are of special importance since the United States Government acknowledges God as the supreme that missionary work be continued at all costs. ruler and the students of one generation largely mold the life and character of coming generations. Most of the mission boards are raising special How can our students be reached with sound funds for emergency needs in their own fields religious teaching and won to Christ? The great- est need is for truly Christian instructors, but and are also supporting the general campaigns .there is also a loud call for greater spiritual vital- ity in the college churches, in chapel services, and for relief work in China sponsored by the Fed- in the Christian Associations. There is need for better cooperation between the colleges and home eral Council of Churches, American Red Cross, churches from which students come. Parents and even pastors often seem to be impassive or in- China Famine Relief, and other agencies. different as to whether or not their young people give any attention to spiritual things while in col- Since the war may continue for a long time, possibly several years, mission boards are begin- ning to adjust their policies to the special condi- tions. Whatever changes may be necessary in methods of work there seems to be no plan of withdrawal. Missionaries on the field and mission societies here are determined to carryon in war as well as in peace. FRANK W. PRICE.
lege. Much more interest is shown in their intel- EVANGELIZING COLLEGE STUDENTS . lectual standing, their athletic games and their One of the most serious problems of the present social events such as college dances. How many parents would spend a week-end to attend college day in America and other lands is that of winning chapel?
the youth to an intelligent and whole-hearted alle- In view of this situation it is of especial inter- est and importance to note that the National giance to Christ and enlisting them unreservedly Preaching Mission, which last year toured the in His service for mankind. It is estimated that country without making much impression on the colleges and universities, is this year undertaking there are at least sixty million youth in America a University Christian Mission especially among under twenty-five years of age. Of these not more students. Dr. John A. Mackay, the new and vigthan one half are under any definite religious in- orous president of Princeton Theological Semstruction. The, Sunday schools enroll about inary, is chairman. The following statement retwenty million but much of the Christian training veals the purpose and plan of this Preaching received there is haphazard and very inadequate. Mission. $ome of the. finest youth of the lane. go to our colleges and other'higher educational institutions to Due to the dominance of a naturalistic philosophy in so prepare}ol;' life and work. When they leave home many university centers, unprecedented religious illiteracy most' of' them are interested in knowing God and among students, combined with increasing manifestations they are apt to have an ambition to use their lives of spiritual hunger, the responsibility of the Church is to good purpose; many lose both this interest and ambition in college. A report issued by the "Coun- overwhelming. . . . cil of Church Boards of Education," giving the Aimless liberty is palling upon many who'seek an abidresults of a recent comprehensive survey of college youth in 1,171 American institutions of ing loyalty for their devotion. They are looking for a higher learning, shows that 88 per cent of these Master in whom they may believe utterly, and for a cause to which they; may commit themselves with sacrificial abandon; th~y ~~ek light on the perplexing framework in students acknowledge some religious preferences, which their lives are set; in growing numbers they debut only about sixty per cent of them regularly mand to know what Christianity is and what it has to attended any religious services while in college. offer. Many are indifferent and some state that they are Such a situation is a clear caIl to united Christian action. The University Preaching Mission will undertake opposed to God and religion. three major tasks: It will deal with false conceptions about Christia_nity which .are current in university circles. These facts show a serious situation and a great It must also make plain' that Christian faith is fulfilled need and opportunity, especially since these youth only in Christian life !l,ntl.action, and that it is relevant ought to be future leaders in political, educational, to all issues in society which involve the welfare of human economic and religious life. Twenty-four out of beings. The mission will p.im to bring forcibly to the at- 1,458 institutions in nine states reported that it tention of student.s the implications of the Christian meswas illegal in those states to inquire into the reli- sage for all spheres and phases of life, and to set forth gious preferences of students. Other institutions the vision of a world Christian community as the Role hope of saving a sinful world.
A Kurdish Christian
The Story of Dr. Sa'eed Kurdistani as Told to ,. Christ,r Wilson, Tabriz, Iran W E PULLED our chairs up beside the fire of pure water near us. None of us came down in his Teheran home. I had long awaited with the cholera. the chance for this interview with Dr. "As a boy I was always busy with books. I Sa'eed Kurdistani, perhaps the most noted con- read the Persian poets and was so well versed in vert from Islam in all Iran. The story of his life Arabic and Persian that, when my father died, (here told as nearly as possible in his own words) when I was thirteen years of age, the Imam is a human interest document of importance. The Jumeh placed the white turban on my head and sidelights also show the thoughts and the heart of made me a teacher in the same school where my a true Moslem and how such an one may be led father had taught in the mosque.
to Christ. The beloved doctor began: "My father was a very pious Mohammedan. I "I Was born in the year 1863 in Senna, a city of can never forget his supplications to God at mid- Kurdistan. My father was Mullah Rasul; he was night. He said that he had the promise that, at from the village of Buzan, near Sulemanieh. My the resurrection, he would be raised to the plat- mother's name was Mahenisa, meaning 'Moon of form of Joseph, because as a youth he had fled Women.' For seven generations our people had from the same sin as Joseph, under similar cir- been Mullahs (or Moslem teachers) of the Sunni cumstances.
sect. "Father used to tell us stories of the mystic "My father conducted a school for children saints when we were children. During the famine which I attended. I was known as a very preco- he found a sum of money, but sought out the owner cious child, and at six or seven years of age I was and returned it though we were ourselves in des- reading the Koran. The people thought that the perate need. Years later the great difficulty· of· Angel Gabriel had taught me in a dream. By the my brother Kaka in accepting Christianity wa:~', age of nine I was reading the poems of Sa'di and what would become of father, for he thought· he astonished everyone. must be among the saved. Finally I helped him "When I was about ten, it occurred to me that to solve the difficulty by saying that if we live up it was not right for the Kurds to pray in Arabic; to the light we have, our future is in the hands of and not understand what they were saying so 1 a just God. I had very early acquired from my endeavored to put the regular prayers into Persian father a deep sense of the reality of God.
poetry. When eleven years old I began to study Oontacts With Ohristianity Arabic with men who were more learned than my father. At twelve or thirteen I became a follower "There were seventy or eighty Roman Catholic of the 'Naqshbandi' sect of dervishes and went to Assyrian families in Senna and the bishop used to their meetings. Their leader was named Sheikh come from Mosul to visit them. I got a part of Mohammed. the Old Testament in Persian from an Assyrian "I was very regular in my prayers and attend- Catholic, named Fatah Petros, a deacon who had ance at the mosque. I intoned the call to prayer sympathy with the Protestants. He knew the and also the prelude to the prayers of the leader whole of the Psalms in the ancient Syriac. At one in the mosque. I pursued other studies, the laws time the bishop found some Protestant books in of Islam and religion in Arabic. I still have a copy his library and burned them. I read a good deal of the 'Feq' which I wrote and read as a boy. of the Old Testament but did not get much help "When I was about ten years old a great famine out of it. I did not admire the worship of the came over the country. Thieves broke :into our Catholic church, and put them on the same plane house and stole almost everything we had. My with idol worshippers. I prayed daily for my an- father with my brother Kaka and me started on cestors who had suffered but had accepted Islam, foot on a seven days' journey to the region of and thanked God for the great benefit I had re- Meriwan, west of Senna. There was food there ceived from them. I was devoutly thankful for and we stayed with relatives. My mother re- Islam and considered it the very truth as com- mained in Senna. We returned after a few months pared to Christianity. But I was ever a searcher.
to our home to find cholera raging there. My Finally I obtained a New Testament in Persian mother died a short time later. Our house was at from a man who had been in Teheran. I read it the outskirts of the town and there was a spring and asked the Catholic priests why they had taken [ 567] ..,;
out of it the references to Mohammed. I was in fact quite the opposite of what I saw in our own shown the last verses of Revelation, but I told Moslem religious leaders. My conscience awoke them they had put that in to make people think it and I felt very miserable. I was about sixteen had not been changed. At one time two Assyrian years old at this time. Once I asked Kasha his colporteurs came to Senna, but I did not talk to idea of Mohammed but he did not wish to tell me. them or get books from them. I also taught a boy I assured him no harm would come and finally he whose father was Assyrian, and his mother Ar- gave me some hints. Often as I taught the Koran menian. The more I saw of Christians, however, I saw that the things he had hinted as to faults in the more I was confirmed in my Islamic views. the life of Mohammed were confirmed. I got more miserable and became uneasy about the character "Then Kasha Yohanna of Sulduz came to Senna of Mohammed. One evening, as I was going to with two colporteurs, Shemisha Seyad and his son. the mosque to call the faithful to prayer, the idea Kasha Yohanna asked for a Persian instructor came to me: 'What if Mohammed is not true?' I and I went to teach him. But I did not wish to banged myself on the head with my fist, and said, give the salaam (Greeting of Peace) to an infidel. 'You should be cursed for such a thought concern- Shemisha Seyad told me that they also were 'peo- ing the holy prophet.' I went to the mosque for ple of the book' and that therefore it was lawful the ablutions and prayers but came home very for a Moslem to give them the greeting of peace. miserable. I had no answer, and so, as a hypocrite, I used to greet the Christian colporteurs half under my Mohammed or Christ? breath with the words: 'Sahum ile kum.' This sounded like the greeting of peace but means 'May "In my despair I burned the calves of both legs, a sword come upon you.' so that the scars will be there to my dying day. According'to this Kurdish custom I took an irre- "Kasha Yohanna, whom I taught early in the vocable vow, first, never to go to Kasha Yohanna morning before his school, had the Psalms in again or argue religious matters with any Chris- Syriac and a copy in Persian was given to me. tian; second, to live a holy life. I was ashamed, Shemisha Seyad led in prayer, and I heard a real for I knew that the life of Kasha Yohanna was Christian prayer for the first time. I was aston- better than my own. I gave up going to him but ished to hear him pray for his enemies. There I felt very miserable. Whenever I saw him on the was no swinging censor-just a spiritual prayer. streets he was like Jonah to me, and in my heart Shemisha Seyad and his son went on to Kerman- I knew that I was wrong. His life, so in accord shah and I continued teaching Persian to Kasha with what he believed and taught, had affected me Yohanna. I wanted to learn other languages, so so that I could not sleep. At last I went back to he taught me Syriac. We used the New Testament him and renewed my inquiries about passages in as a textbook. the Bible.
"Kasha Yohanna was a very bright man. The "One night I was very miserable during prayers Jews used to come to argue with him. He asked in the mosque. Realizing my sin I went home and me to take the Persian Bible and look up refer- fell on my face in the dust of the hallway. I ences as the Jews looked them up in Hebrew and prayed God to guide me to the Truth, as he was Kasha in the Syriac.1 I was deeply impressed by the Saviour of the lost. Then I went back to the wonderful evidences of fulfilled prophecy con- Kasha and studied both the Bible and the Koran. cerning Christ. When I showed the New Testa- I took some of my difficulties to the Imam Jumeh ment in Syriac to my brother, he was displeased and others, but was not satisfied with their exand told me not to study it. But I continued to do planation of the Koranic passages. After four so in secret. Marking in a Persian Bible the months of such study, the Light broke in upon my prophecies we had read, I showed them to my soul. I can never thank Him enough. brother, saying: "These must be about Mohammed for no one else could be worthy of such ref- "How happy the old man was when I confessed erences. Let me study this branch of knowledge my faith in Jesus as the Saviour. My not going and we shall soon be able to turn all the Catholics to the mosque or getting up early for prayers made and Jews into Mohammedans. I interpreted the my brother Kaka uneasy. Several people came to prophecies according to my own ideas and clus- our home and argued with me but I took the Christered them around Mohammed until I came to the tian side and defeated them. Though I did not words in Isaiah, 'A bruised reed shall he not break, say I was a -Christian, Kaka took up his rifle and and the smoking flax shall he not quench.' I could wanted to kill me. For some time things went on not apply these words to Mohammed. in this way, growing more difficult all the time. People were talking about how to kill me. "Then the life of Kasha Yohanna began to affect me very much. He was truthful, honest-and "At last I felt I must let Kaka know of my new faith and I wrote a letter to give my brother. I 1 Missionaries to Moslems may well note the methods of Kasha feared it would mean certain death and went out Yohanna,–a great evangelist and preacher.
A KURDISH CHRISTIAN PROPHET
in the yard and prayed to God. Then I went back Bible so he took the saddlebags that contained my and gave Kaka the letter. He read it and began books. I went after him and wept. He told me I to tremble. Another man who was there burned must go to the great Sheikh and renounce Christhe letter on a castor oil lamp in the room. I con- tianity; otherwise he would be killed and our fessed my faith again and begged Kaka not to bouse destroyed. Kaka began to torture and beat argue while he was so angry. I would gradually me like a dog. Though I repeatedly kissed his feet explain to him. If he killed me I was a martyr. he would not give back my Bible. How delightful If he let me live I might help him. We went to are Gods comforts! Persecution is the better life, bed under the kurlsi and when my foot touched his, much more wholesome! he roused and said, 'Get away, dog. A dog of a man cannot live in a house.' It was midnight and "My brother saw that I was determined. Both we could hear the wolves howling about, but I had he and my friend wept, but they left the saddleto leave at once. Some of the Roman Catholics knew I had become a Christian, and I went to one DR. SA'EED KHAN KURDISTANI of their houses, but they feared to let me in. At As He Appeared When Winning His Way to Recognition as a last a Catholic woman, named Sherin, took me in. In the morning I went to my school in great fear, Prominent Christian Physician in Teheran especially of Kaka. He thought I would attend He Was Recently Put Into Prison by the Iranian Government prayers in the Catholic church, so he took his gun and sat in a shop across from the church intending for His Christian Faith and Courage to shoot me as I entered. Life in the town was miserable. bags and went away. It was indeed a painful sep- aration. I went to bed and wept bitterly, thinking "About April, in the year 1882, Mr. Hawkes, of that perhaps I would better go back to the village the American Mission, came to Senna with Agha of our relative. I even thought of returning to the Hyeem, the Jewish convert, and a colporteur Sheikh to renounce my faith to bring peace to all named Johannes. One day when I was in his of us. Then like a flash of lightning Jesus' words room, about fifty men ran into the yard to kill me. came to me, 'he who does not renounce . . . even The Lord had so ordered that the son-in-law of the his own life is not worthy of me.' Then I lay down Imam Jumeh was there and he took me home and went to sleep. How I thank Him for the revwithout allowing the people to touch me. elation of His presence.
"About this time Fatah, who had first given me "Kaka went home and said he could not reach the Old Testament, came back from Russia. An me. The people of the quarter collected and a Assyrian preacher in Ardabil had lent him 'Mizan ul Haqq,' 'Tariq ul Hayat,' and 'Meftah ul Asrar,' 2 books that were a wonderful help to me.
"Mr. Hawkes went back to Hamadan, and he wrote me inviting me to come. He would teach me English and I could teach him Persian and Arabic. But how was I to get permission from my brother to go? I showed the letter and told him it was sure death for me to stay in Kurdistan. He knew this was true and at last he accompanied me to a river and carried me through on his back. He deposited me with the muleteers and we started on our troubled journey.
"Later I found that a relative of ours, who owned villages along the way, had told Kaka he would bind me and bring me back, but like Saul he had gone away to hunt his asses. Next day the people wanted to kill Kaka for having sold his brother to the foreigners. So my brother and a bosom friend of mine came on a day's journey after me and found me reading Christ's Sermon on the Mount in Persian to the muleteers. They told me at once that unless I should go back Kaka would be killed and our house would be ruined. I said I would not go. Kaka knew how I loved my • The three great books by Dr. Pfander. Though written a century ago they are still classics in their field.
brave rider was chosen to go after me. He had his I became very homesick and wanted to return. horse saddled and ready to start but at that mo- But I thought, if God would settle my difficulties ment his master sent for him. When the latter and satisfy my longing soul I would go on. The learned what he was about to do he sent him off in answer came that He would. an opposite direction on business connected with "I had a medical certificate from Teheran and his property. had practiced in Hamadan, but I wished to become "I came to Hamadan and there I learned Eng- a really good physician. I was attracted to Sweden by some good people but I could not agree with the lish. In September of 1882, Miss Montgomery views of my friends there in some matters of docand Dr. Alexander and his wife came to Hamadan. trine. So I went to London, still feeling that I With my bit of English I interpreted for Dr. Alex- was in darkness. I read how Agrippa thought ander and so fell into the practice of medicine. I Jesus was dead, but Paul argued that He was also continued to teach in the school and with Mr. alive. I thought: that is enough for me; Christ is Hawkes. People from Senna came and tried to alive. get me out by a trick to kill me. I had many conversations with Bahais and others. I still had dif- "None of the great men in London solved my ficulties with many passages of Scripture but I got difficulties. Then I came among some poor workgreat help from Mr. Hawkes and from the home ers who studied their Bibles, and in their company life of Dr. and Mrs. Alexander. Miss Montgomery every difficulty was solved. God gave me underread and explained the New Testament, Mr. standing of mysteries, prophecies and all. Ah, my Hawkes gave me very helpful spiritual books to soul rejoices in Him. Thank God for all His read, but still I had a thousand and one difficulties mercy. and could not find real satisfaction. I was like a child who loves his parents but is not able to ex- "I studied for two years at Cook's School of plain it. I loved the Lord Jesus passionately. Anatomy and Physiology. I attended post-grad- Often I wished that Mohammed's words were true, uate lectures and demonstrations. In 1895, after that such a beautiful person as my Lord and my studies there, I returned from London to Ha- Saviour was not tortured on the cross. One day madan and took up medical practice. We have had I came across a hymn by Frances Xavier, three children: Sarah, who is now the wife of a Christian physician in Hamadan; Samuel, who 'My God, I love thee not because– married an American girl and mixed the royal I love thee because thou took my place.' blood of the Kurds wi.th that of the Americans; and Lemuel, who died in London. His name means From that moment I knew that He took my sin, 'portion of God' and that he was.S and became sin for me that I should be the righteousness of God in Him. "In Hamadan at one time I took the Dr. St. Claire Tisdall's book, Yanab ul Islam,4 to a Mujta- "After a year Kaka paid me a visit. Later he hid. Many people thought that I had written it, as they thought that no other Christian in Persia came to stay. It is n<it true, as has often been knew enough languages, nor enough of Islam to said, that Kaka came to Hamadan to kill me. We write it. When persecution broke out against me had many long discussic»rs. After several years the Governor Ein id Dowleh took me to his own house and helped me to leave town. I fled to he was converted when t was able to allay his Teheran after the Mujtahid had issued the death sentence against me. Later, after I had become a doubts about my father. He was not sanctified well-known physician in Teheran, I returned to until troubles came and he broke his knee; like Hamadan and this same Mujtahid called on me. Jacob he finally became lame but a true Believer. He said, 'You have made a lot of money in Te- heran. You ought to give me half, because I was "In 1888 I was married to a Nestorian girl, Re- the cause of your going to Teheran.' becca, the daughter of Kasha Shimun of Geogtapa. The whole town made a demonstration during the "The second time I located in Teheran, Ein id month of Moharram and notices were posted on Dowleh was Governor of Khuzistan, where I had the mosques and in the bazaars. The governor been his private physician. I was in Teheran quieted the town by a trick, without my knowl- when Ein id Dowleh became prime minister. He edge. He told the people I had deceived a Chris- wrote a letter to many of his friends saying that tian girl and wanted to make her a Moslem. Per- I had come to Teheran and he wished people would secution finally drove me with my wife to Teheran. give me a trial. When the prime minister says Even there the mullahs of Senna wrote a letter to the Turkish Ambassador to have me put out of the 3 I made two other trips to England for the purpose of further way, saying that I was a blight on Islam. study. On the first of these I took my son Samuel with me. On the second I met Sir Wi1l1am Osler, and some of my letters to him are "In Teheran Dr. Potter, with his beautiful published in his blographY.-Ba'eed. Christ-like life, was a great help to me, as were also the ladies of the mission station. While there • "The Roots of Islam." by Dr. St. Claire Tisdall. I determined to go to Europe to study, leaving my wife and two children in Hamadan. On the way
A SERMON BY A CONVERTED MOSLEM
anything the people are ready to do it in a hurry. matter. When I prayed, I received my answer Sol stepped immediately into a practice with the and wrote that I would come if they would promaristocracy and best families. ise me security from attack. I went and was used to cure the great man of blindness. The mullahs "I was able to speak for Christ to the prime of Senna sent eighteen men to kill me, but they minister and to the leading men of the country. did not succeed. My escort heard of their plans Dr. S. M. Jordan asked me to preach in the church and wanted me to change my cap to disguise my but I asked if he did not think it too soon. He identity. The man who had charge of the attempt said, 'All know you are a Christian.' So I prayed was later brought by the government to Teheran, over it and I think I was the first convert from and showed that he has been very much ashamed. Islam to preach in that church. The greatest He often calls on me and I give him Christian thing I can say is that the Lord Jesus Christ loved books and tracts. a great sinner. He saved a brand from the burning, and He loved me to the end in spite of all my "The missionaries sent an evangelist to Senna, sins and failures. who was no doubt sent to Assyrian Catholics and Jews, but I, a poor Kurd, was most blessed. "In 1912 I made a return journey to Kurdistan. Praise be to God. How wonderful are His ways. While I was in Hamadan a note came asking me I have told you the good things of my life. If I to visit a wealthy man in the mountains. I im- should tell you everything you would not want to mediately wrote saying that I could not do it. But write it down or look at me. But Jesus forgives as I was waving the letter to dry over the fire I me all. How good is the God whom we adore." said to myself that I had not first prayed about the A Sermon by a Converted Moslem Based on the Story of Naaman in 2 Kings, Chapter 5 -. I~I By SA'EED KURDISTANI, M.D., Isfahan, Iran I J;t– J~==============================~I A MAN may have high place in the public eye Leprosy has no cure, but he who suffers from and perhaps may gain a national reputa- it sees it gradually attack all his members until tion; he may through his business exceed his whole body is unclean, full of sores and decayhis highest hopes in accumUlating wealth and ing. His face becomes hideous, his fingers drop property; he may acquire great honor in his own off, his voice is hoarse and weak, and his members country, reaching the highest military rank and lose all sense of feeling. He becomes repugnant, possessing medals and titles from the great na- even to his own brother and sister. And this is a tions of the world. In other words, a man may true picture of the ruined condition of the man reach the exalted position of Naaman, who was of whom sin holds in its power. The unfortunate the first rank and commander-in-chief in the sinner, like the leper, sees that all his efforts and great country of Syria. Yet of what avail was all all his searoh for a cure to his disease of sin are this to Naaman? For he was a leper. In the without avail, and that its horrible results are same way it makes no difference what the rank daily on the increase. and reputation of a man is in the world, if he is a sinner. Ah, this one thing ruins everything for My friends, how awful and accursed a thing sin him; it changes all the joy of the world to sadness, is! Perhaps you have often longed that you might and turns the sweet cup of pleasures into bitter- grow better, but you perceived that you really ness and deadly poison. How unfortunate is he grew worse. In all Syria and in the capital of its who at the time of death owns nothing but money great king there was not found one physician who and fame, when he must undergo the just judg- could cure Naaman's disease. In all the earth ment of God and realizes that he is a sinner and there is no remedy for sin; in no tribe or nation has no certainty! Of what benefit were all Naa- will you find any man who has a cure for it. The man's medals and possessions to him? What joy whole world is a huge leper house with all its indoes he have as he gazes at the signs of his leprosy habitants infected. Both kings and beggars are and watches the exudations from his open sores? sinners.
It is remarkable how God has chosen the weak-
est things of the world for His work. We see that from sin. The command to wash in the Jordan it is a little maid, a captive and servant in the made the leper angry. Man is always displeased house of this great man, who is the means of at the remedy God has chosen for sin and wants bringing a message of .joy to the great general of instead the cure he himself thinks is good. He Syria. She said: "Would that my master could prefers his own worthless prescription to the dego to the prophet in Samaria to be cured of his pendable and efficacious prescription of God. "Are lep.rosy." In the same way I say to you: "WoVld not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, betthat you came to the blessed Jesus that He might ter than all the rivers of Israel?" In the same cleanse you of your sin." way, the unfortunate moral leper says: "Are not the teachings of my own religion better? It says I beseech you, when you hear this name, not to to me: Keep the fasts and all the regulations. be so unpolite as to stop listening to me, but think Complete the ceremonial washings. Pray all a little, and realize that I also, like you, was af- night. Go as a pilgrim to far places. Is it not flicted with the leprosy of sin, yet, through faith better to wash in these great rivers of my own in the expiation and the shed blood of Jesus, and religion than to have faith in this word of God through His resurrection from the dead, I have about the death of Christ?" Very weH, my found eternal salvation, and thousands of others friend, wash, wash, wash in your own rivers, but who were like me have also come to Him in con- among all the millions of men who have done this, fidence and have found a perfect cure. You know show me one person who has become clean from that you are a sinner and that up to now neither sin. With all earnestness I say to you that there you nor a single one of your acquaintances can is not one who certainly knows that he is among make bold to say that you have found salvation those who are saved. and are safe from the just punishment of God. How then is it that I and thousands like me have Naaman's servants said to him: "If the prophet such certainty that we are safe from this punish- had ordered you to do some great thing, would you ment and will forever live joyfully in the holy not have done it? How much rather then when presence of God? Is our confidence without a he said to you: Wash and be olean?" From all foundation? Is our joy purely imaginary? Give the peoples of the world there is evidence of the careful attention and think whether a person has lengths to which men will go in their search for ever found lasting happiness through imagination salvation-long pilgrimages on foot; costly offeralone. And this thought is also worthy of your ings., even of their own children; self-immolation attention, that perhaps you, too, through divine beneath the chariots of the idols. To what exfavor, can find deliverance from the terrible dis- tremes will they not go in the hope that their sin ease of sin and attain salvation. will be forgiven? But God will admit of only one way of cleansing. Naaman finally came to the prophet Elisha, but Finally, Naaman went down into the Jordan notice that he came in the way that man comes, and washed, and his flesh became clean like that standing at the gate with his horses and chariots of a little child. So with those who are washed by Christ. How clean and spotless are these new and bearing gifts. Man likewise thinks that by creatures! Oh, that you would, with the eye of faith, perceive that you may go under the waves his good works and his charities he will be re- of death with Christ and rise with Him from the dead, freed of all the spots and wounds of your ceived by God. He presents to the King with his leprosy. Then will you be able to exhibit to God dirty hands a flower from the King's own garden, and the world the countenance of a new man and show forth heavenly qualities through your words and expects a reward! But Elisha wanted none and deeds. That this is God's remedy for sin and of Naaman's gifts. and praises. One cannot sell your chance of a cure is plain from His own Word, the salvation of God. Elisha sent him a message: where we read: "For if we have become united "Go, wash in the Jordan." He would not go as with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be far as the gate to meet the general, but oontented also in the likeness of his resurrection; knowing himself with a message. Salvation today also this, that our old man was crucified with him, that must be by faith, not by seeing with the eye, for the body o(sin might' be done away. But if we Jesus Christ, the healer of sin, has sent the mes- died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live sage of peace through His Word. Whoever hears with him; knowing that Christ being raised from it in faith receives salvation. the dead dieth no more. Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God The river Jordan is a symbol of death, and for in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 6: 5.). the leper Naaman there was no other remedy but that he dip seven times in the river of death. I can say to you that in all the world there is no other way by which a sinner may find healing but by the death of Christ. His blood alone can cleanse
First Five Centuries of Christianity*
A Review by SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, D.D.
–tEl Professor Emeritus of History of Religion and Christian Missions at Princeton Theological Seminary THIS is undoubtedly one of the great books of The fact that this first volume supplies the an- the year, and if the author completes his am- swers to these searching questions makes it a text- bitious plan, it may well prove the standard book and source-book on the science of early work on missionary history of the twentieth cen- Christian missions, as well as a history of the tury. As now planned, the work is to be incor- enterprise.
porated in six volumes of approximately 150,000 Dr. Arthur J. Brown's masterly volume on a to 200,000 words each. Volume I covers the period Century of Presbyterian Missions is in compari- to the Conversion of the Roman Empire, about the son with the scope of this one volume as a beauti- year 500 A. D. The second volume will cover the fully engraved cameo showing all the particular thousand years between 500 A. D. and 1500; the detail of one Society's work in one century. Here third, from 1500 A. D. to 1800. The last three is a massive canvas not only portraying a pano- volumes are to be devoted to the 19th and 20th rama of apostolic zeal in many lands and many centuries. Volume IV will deal with the general centuries but transfused and transfigured by the movements in Europe and America conditioning miracle of all history-the Incarnation-which at the expansion of Christianity during the last cen- the outset throws its bewildering light on the tury and a half. Volume V will cover the spread whole scene. Miracles in the technical sense, and of Christianity in Latin America, Africa, Asia, according to prevailing Protestant the 0 log y, and the islands of the Pacific. Volume VI will ceased with the Apostolic age.t But in that age conclude with a retrospect of the entire work, and in the message that came from the lips of the summarizing the conclusions. Apostles, miracles had a supreme place; for as Except for its anachronistic jacket (supplied by Archbishop Temple remarks in his latest volume, the publishers), this scholarly production is in Basic Convictions: "The only Jesus for whom every way attractive and worthy of its great there is any historical evidence at all is a super- theme. On the jacket, however, we have a John natural and miraculous figure."
the Baptist figure preaching to a group of men in The literary sources available for the history of Moslem turbans, palm trees and a minaret in the primitive Christianity may be fragmentary, as background, and the whole in a frame surrounded Harnack states in his great work, The Missi,on by heterogeneous crosses! The breadth and scope and Expansion of Christianity. But he goes on of the first volume is large enough to startle the to remark: "How extensive they are compared thoughtful reader at the very outset, for Dr. La- to the extant sources at our disposal for investitourette is dealing with the philosophy of history gating the history of any other religion within the as well as with history itself. He proposes to an- Roman Empire!" swer seven questions in this and the succeeding volumes: In our opinion an anti-supernaturalistic ap- proach to these primary documents in the New (1) What was the Christianity which spread? Testament mars the treatment of the sources both (2) Why did Christianity spread as it did? in the case of Harna«k and also to some extent in (3) Why has Christianity suffered reverses and at times the volume before us. Professor Latourette ex- presses his own evangelical faith in the super- met only partial success? natural character of Jesus Christ and what he (4) By what processes did Christianity spread? (5) What effect has Christianity had upon its environ- ment? wrought and taught, at the close of chapter four, (6) What effect has its environment had on Christianity? in words that seem to conflict with his earlier (7) What bearing do the processes by which Christianity statement in the Introduction and in Chapter One where he "has endeavored to conform to that kind spread have upon the effect of Christianity upon its environment and of the environment upon Chris- tianity? of objectivity extolled by the school of history in • A History of the Expansion of Christianity (Vol. 1): The First which he has been trained." That school appar- Fioo Centuries. By Kenneth Scott Latourette. Harper & Bros., New York. 1937. 412 pp. ,$3.50. t Oounterfeit Miracles-Benjamin B. Warfield.
[573 ]
ently accepted the Evolutionary hypothesis that who had been the intimates of Jesus. Whatever "religion is a comparatively late phenomenon in the cause, that the stream flowed on is clear. It the life of mankind"; that a creature which may . is the uniqueness of Jesus which seems the one be termed human emerged about 1,200,000 years tenable explanation of the fact that Christianity ago (page 2); that "the Israelites thought of is the only one of the many Jewish sects to break Jahweh, their God, as a tribal divinity" (page 33) ; off from the parent stem and outstrip it in size that belief in personal immortality developed and influence. . . . In Jesus, therefore, and in slowly and late in Israel (p. 36); and that "frag- his death and the conviction of his resurrection ments of discourses, pithy sayings, parables, and and of moral and spiritual rebirth and immor- incidents, some of them put together without re- tality through him, is to be found the chief reason gard for the correct sequence, make up large por- for the triumph of Christianity. Without Jesus tions of the first three Gospels and the fourth is Christianity would not have sprung into existence, chiefly an interpretation" (page 46). And we and from him and beliefs about him came its main see our David in Saul's armor again when he dynamic."
writes: "The question is often raised as to what It is cause for regret that in the treatment of was new in the teachings of Jesus. For prac- Apostolic Christianity the historian failed to emtically all, if not all, of the specific precepts and phasize the axiom laid down by Mandell Creighton beliefs attributed to him it is possible to find in his introduction to the Cambridge Modern Hisprecedent in the pre-Christian literature of his tory (Vol. I, p. 5): "In the vast and diversified people. What Jesus did was to penetrate into the area of modern history the point of view deterheart of the moral and religious concepts which mines the whole nature of the record or else the he had inherited from the past and to pick out whole work sinks to the level of a mass of details what seemed to him essential. He performed this uninformed by any luminous idea. The writer not in any systematic fashion. He wrote no book who strives to avoid any tendency becomes dull, in which he attempted to give permanence to his ideas. . . . The novelty of Jesus must be sought, and the cult of impartiality paralyses the judgnot so much in fresh principles, but in his phraseology, in what he emphasized, and espec~ally in ment." what he was as revealed in his words and deeds.~' In the extensive and valuable annotated bibliog- raphies for each chapter we miss, for the earlier chapters, well-known conservative evangelical Naturalistic Explanations scholars both on the history of religion and on the It is refreshing to find the author himself Apostolic age while the extreme liberal school of wholly dissatisfied with such naturalistic explana- thought is conspicuous. One receives the imprestions when he sums up the reasons 'for the tri- sion of a certain lukewarmness that is incon- gruous in the portrayal of Christ our Lord and umphs of the Gospel at the close of chapter four: Paul his great missionary Apostle. There is no "The more one examines into the various factors substitute for the missionary passion even in mis- which seem to account for the extraordinary vic- sion history.
tory of Christianity, the more one is driven to No reader will find the style of this work dull search for a cause which underlies them. It is or the treatment uninteresting. The only other clear that at the very beginning of Christianity history of missions comparable to it is that of there must have occurred a vast release of energy, Harnack which covers only the early centuries and unequalled in the history of the race. Without it has long been out of print in America. The chief the future course of the faith is inexplicable. value of these scholarly chapters on the early his- That burst of energy was ascribed by the early tory of Christianity lies in the interpretations disciples to the founder of their faith. Something which Dr. Latourette makes of the facts so care- happened to the men who associated with Jesus. fully collated and documented. It is a philosophy In his contact with them, in his crucifixion and in as well as a history of missions. What the Roman their assurance of his resurrection and of the con- Catholic historian, Schmidlin, indicated in a para- tinued living presence with his disciples of his graph is here expanded and illuminated, namely spirit, is to be found the major cause of the suc- the difference between early, medieval and mod- cess of Christianity. That experience and that ern missions. During the first five hundred years assurance were transmitted to succeeding genera- the area cove_red by Christian missions was the tions. Why this occurred may lie outside the Mediterranean basin and the Church had a narrow realms in which historians are supposed to move. and insecure base for a wide ·field of action. Dur- One reason is probably to be found in the contin- ing the medieval period the area included all .ued study of the earliest written records of Chris- Europe from a broader and firmer base. Modern tianity and in the effort to preserve intact the missions has crossed the. seven seas and reached belief and the experience of the circle of apostles out to all races. Early missions were largely spon-
THE FIRST FIVE CENTURIES OF CHRISTIANITY
taneous, incidental and individual in their method; councils, although both have their place. It is not medieval missions conducted by a church hier- concerned primarily with the decline of the Roman archy were cooperative and social; modern mis- Empire, nor with the result of Gothic invasions. sions, both Catholic and Protestant, are both indi- It traces the mighty work of God's Spirit through vidual and social. Early missions had for their the Church and individual believers to the conobj ect peoples of like race and culture; medieval summation of His eternal purpose. The end of missions dealt with like races but of lower culture; the first five hundred years is prophetic of the modern missions have approached all races of onward march. Dr. Latourette says: every level of culture. Early missions aimed at the conversion of individuals; medieval missions In our hurried pilgrimage through the first five censought the conversion of the masses; modern mis- turies of the spread of Christianity we have watched that sions deal with both and with the social structure faith moulded by element after element of its environment. of society. Left to begin its career with a minimum of organization, without a literature, and with no formulre with which to The periods into which this magnum opus is di- define and defend its content, and thrust into a world in vided are therefore logical as well as chronolog- which syncretism was the fashion, Christianity might well ical. The author has the rare talent, exhibited in have seemed foredoomed to absorption and to lose whathis earlier History of Christian Missions in China, ever distinctiveness it may have inherited from the teachof an unprejudiced judgment together with true ing and the story of the life, death, and resurrection of catholic sympathy for all sorts and conditions of its founder. . . . Christians. Amid the mass of factual detail he never loses hold of his central theme and argu- At the close of its fifth century of expansion Christianment, namely, the gradual expansion of Christian- ity was in a very different position than at its outset. ity as Divine light and leaven in the world. This From being one of the smallest of Jewish sects, it had beis not a history of dogma, nor of ecclesiastical come the religion professed by the majority in the most populous of the cultural areas of mankind. Never in the history of the race had so complete a religious revolution been wrought in so short a time among so large a propor- tion of civilized man.
MY AFRICAN FATHER* My father's children did not love him. They feared him very much. My sisters feared him even more than we boys. If we offended him, such as drinking the dregs of his palm wine or standing near any of his wives, he thrashed us unmercifully. We dared not lift our eyes when he was near.
When he was a young man he became a hunter. After he excelled in shooting he swore an oath that he would not marry until he had killed a man of the Bakembe clan; so he went to the witch-doctor whose advice he followed. After he had prepared the war feast, the war- riors, the only ones invited, ate and danced in their ceremonial dress. Then my father took his gun and crossed the river to the Bakembe clan. He stealthily walked to a certain hut and removed the bark that closed it. There lay a man and his wife, fast asleep. He prayed to his gun, "Oh gun, pick off this man and this woman!" The gun sounded. It killed the sleepers. Immediately the hut caught fire and the whole family perished-not one was left to plant a lily bulb (commonly used to exorcise evil spirits). When he returned to his village he danced and sang the songs of warriors for which he was given much goods. With this he obtained his first wife.
Later, my father became a great "medicine man" and a priest of both the Nge and Urn cults. He sacrificed his mother to become a priest of the Nge.
Father married twenty-four wives, but he allowed only one of them to cook his food for fear of poisoning. When the sun was high in the heavens his favorite wife would set a stool out in the street of our village. There my father sat down while she brought hot water, bathed and rubbed his body with redwood powder. One day he killed his brother because he took from him one of his wives.-Zacheus Body-hardened.
i * Drum Call, West Afl'ica i_______.._______________________________ _
Work in
The Rev. MIGUEL RIZZO JR., Sao Paulo, Brazil Pastor and Recently Moderator of the Presbyterian Church ~._ of Brazil; a delegate to the Centenary Celebration of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A.
T HE history of the evangelization of Brazil Presbyterian Church, in the capital of the country, could be divided into three phases: first, has been one of the greatest missionary agencies efforts made by 'the French in the sixteenth of South Brazil. He organized the first theological century; second, beginnings made by the Dutch class from which came three preachers who did in the seventeenth century; and third, the definite a very considerable amount of work. He wrote establishment of the work started by American sermons which fed the piety of the first converts.
missionaries in the nineteenth century. He published a journal which is yet a model The first two attempts would furnish abundant worthy to be imitated by the modern evangelical material for many very interesting narratives, but press. All this work was done in the short period the specific purpose of this article does not permit of eight years. He died when he was thirty-four me to write more than a .few words on that sub- years old, but his blessed memory is still highly ject. venerated by all evangelical workers of Brazil.
The first evangelical preachers and lay workers Many other American missionaries have folwho landed in Brazil were sent by the Reformed lowed and have been working earnestly at the Church of Geneva. The French Government was side of national preachers for years. The work then in possession of the country, recently dis- established on such solid foundations has reached covered. These pioneers were martyred by Vil- considerable proportions. The Presbyterian legagnon, a cruel adventurer who found that the Church of Brazil has now 1275 preaching stations Protestant preachers, whom he himself had called with 330 church buildings, 294 organized to Brazil, were not servile instruments to carry churches, and 144 ordained preachers. It receives, out his political program of oppression against the on an average, 2500 new members every year and inhabitants; he therefore persecuted and put has 35,199 communicant members and 30,114 chilthem to death. dren on its rolls. The Sunday schools include 3183 teachers and 39,476 pupils. The theological semi- The record of the noble courage and unbroken nary in Campinas has 37 students and seven fidelity of these preachers, although written in teachers, while more than 80 other students are blood, is one of the brightest pages of the religious preparing to go to the seminary. For many years heritage of Brazil. the Presbyterian Seminary of Pernambuco has The efforts of the Dutch Christians were more been sending many preachers to northern Brazil.
successful. They organized a Synod with more Almost all churches and missionary stations under than twenty preachers, established schools and the control of the Presbyterian Church in central did much social service on behalf of the poor and and south Brazil are now supplied by graduates sick. When they were expelled from the country of the seminary at Campinas.
by the Portuguese all the evangelical work they A missionary society, sponsored by the Church, had built up vanished. The Jesuits who came after supports a missionary in Portugal and hopes to them have tried to defame them and to discredit send another to that country next year.
the great work they established. When the history In order to understand the real opportunities of the nation is written from a critical and un- and the great needs of the Brazilian evangelical partial point of view their work will appear in a field, we must have in mind, among other things, clear light. The rehabilitation of their memory the following facts: is already being promoted by expert historians. In many regions of the country new areas are After these two unsuccessful efforts in estab- being populated so that the traveler who a few lishing a permanent evangelical work came the years .ago passed through some of these regions American missionaries. The first of them was the will be surprised to see the hamlets and villages Rev. Ashbel Green Simonton, who landed in the where previously he had seen only forest. A field he had chosen in 1859. There he organized a popular expression in Brazil is that, in certain really great work. Through many years the First zones, "cities are sprouting out quickly." This [576 ]
EVANGELICAL WORK IN BRAZIL
growth offers a great opportunity to the churches. ficult part of the Gospel. His letter shows clearly In many of these regions the Roman Catholic that his mind is preoccupied with religious prob- Church has not the same influence it exerts in lems.
other places. When this church begins work at Another fact: a few months ago I was inviter!
the same time as the Protestants we generally to visit an engineer high up in one of the depart- have advantages. Experience shows that many ments of the Government. He wished to present people, moving into a new place, are more ready a subject which could better be studied at his to hear the Gospel. Some of the settlers of new home. I went to his house and he explained that regions have lived in cities whe"'e it was n.ot easy before her marriage his wife had intended to be a to hear a Protestant preacher because they had nun and that all her family were very devout.
to face the criticism of friends 'and relatives who He had in his library a Bible which she read; im- could not understand h.ow anyone could leave the mediately her conception of religion changed. She religion of his father. Moving to a new place, was in great trouble because she could n.ot now these people find themselves in a new environment accept the teachings which for so long had been in which the obstacles to hinder attendance at the guide of her life. She even thought that her Protestant services are much fewer than where spiritual trouble must be a temptation of the they formerly lived. In regions recently opened devil. She went many times to see her priest but up, evangelical work is growing c.onsiderably. If he could not answer her questions satisfactorily.
we can use efficiently such opportunities as these, She finally asked him about her new view of the new cities now being organized will be very Christ, and he said: "The Christ you are intro- different spiritually and morally from the older ducing to me is a Protestant Christ." She had cities where it is so difficult to preach the Gospel never talked with a Protestant but now she be- because the people are proud to be "tl'!aditional" came curious to meet one. That was the reason I Roman Catholics. had received the invitation to visit the husband.
1. Brazilian evangelists are working actively She and her children are now connected with my in some of the new areas. Many Presbyterian church and, through her, the door seems to be missionaries are opening the way into the far in- opening to many .others in high places in the city.
terior and are establishing work even in places Still another fact: at a religious meeting in where the population is very scattered. one of the churches of Sao Paulo a lady was taken 2. Another fact worth while considering is that ill during the service. We found that there were many years ag.o great numbers .of German im- six medical doctors in the audience. That is remigrants came to Brazil and brought their pastors markable when we remember tha;t the Roman with them. The religious service was conducted Catholic Church is doing all it can to prevent in German, which now, in many cases the children people from attending Protestant churches.
do not understand. They are Protestants but they The manager of the largest bookstore in the cannot understand the service conducted still in city where I live is a regular attendant at our the language .of their fathers. In one region oc- meetings. He told me that now they are selling cupied by our missionaries there are tens of thou- more religious books, imported from France, than sands of people in such condition. One of the ever before. Most of these books are written by missionaries, Rev. Harry P. Midkiff, has now Protestant preachers. , thirty-five congregati.ons in .one of these new I could state many other instances, but theRe areas and many more places offer opportunities are sufficient to show that among the intellectual f.or preaching; but a man must not attempt to classes of Brazil there is now more interest in cover too much ground. Can the Church be in- the religious question than ever before. Even different to the spiritual destiny of such a multi- in the Roman Cattholic Church we can observe a tude? change in the attitude toward the evangelical 3. The intellectual classes of Brazil are now churches. There are, of course, still many perse- cutions. A few months ago two of our buildingR more inclined to listen to the Gospel. A few months before leaving Brazil, I received were burned-one in Alpinopolis, Minas, and the a call from a person sent by one of the intellectuals other in Pinheiros, Pernambuco. But generally of the country who had been president of the the educated priests do not now use against the State and is recognized as an outstanding de- Protestants the expressions they formerly did. fender .of the Roman Catholic Church. He sent Recently one of the outstanding priests delivered his representative to ask me to interpret a passage a great eulogizing speech about Erasmo Braga, a of the Bible. He explained that he had already very well known minister, before a selected audimade the same request of many of the cultured ence in the Municiple Theatre of Sao Paulo.
priests of the city and they had not succeeded in 4. Besides the Presbyterian Church there are giving him a satisfactory explanation of that dif- many other Protestants working in Brazil. The
total constituency,according to the last statistics people is remarkably developed. The Sunday is 200,000 communicant members; generally there School is generally very wen attended by young are families and relatives and friends who through people and adults. Many of the churches have a them receive their religious influence, so that it very well organized work in religious education. seems to me that it is not an exaggerated The habit of family worship is not so widely estimate to multiply that number by five. This spread as it should be, but many families are very makes a million persons in Brazil under indirect scrupulous in maintaining it. There are in all the influence of the Gospel. The population of Brazil churches groups of strong Christians and they is over forty-two millions so that the quantity of have a blessed influence on the whole. salt is yet very little in proportion to the mass it must season. If we want to win the country to The ancient name of the country of Brazil was Christ we have before us a task of gigantic pro- "Land of the Holy Cross." We hope that this name portions. But we surely will face that duty. in the future may be applied to it, not as a geo- graphical designation, but as a symbol of the Such facts speak for the spiritual life of the power of the Christ of the Cross to redeem the Church in Brazil. The missionary spirit of souls of its children.
Forty Miles from a Hospital-in U. S. A.
FIFTEEN years ago, fired by the needs of a The story of those adventurous years can only remote neighborhood in the Tennessee hills, a woman opened a two-bed "hospital" in an be hinted at here. There were day and night calls unpainted shack without furnace or plumbing. The little village was far from railroads, and the in all weathers; swollen streams that must be main highway was a hog-wallow after rains. But there were wild trails and one-room cabins forded on horseback or muleback; canyons too DR. MARY CRAVATH WHARTON steep and rocky for even a mule to find footing.
aplenty, with typhoid, tuberculosis, pellagra and Patients were brought in from long distances on hookworm,burns, broken bones and gunshot wounds. extemporized stretchers; babies were delivered Pooling her resources with those of two by the light of log fires. Many homes lacked the friends, she put up a $6,000 building-chartered under the State Charities Act and irrevocably most primitive conveniences, or what we call nededicated to public welfare and community service. Everything was very simple and plain. The cessities; yet out of such homes are coming back country was still "the wilderness"; the nearest hospital was forty miles distant. splendid specimens of young manhood and wom- anhood.
Working under its own Board of Directors, Up- lands-for so the institution was christened-has undertaken a many-sided piece of definitely Chris- tian rural betterment work at Pleasant Hill, and has carried it on with unflagging zeal in the face of formidable difficulties. Clinics and dispensaries, public health teaching, inoculations, the care and feeding of babies, first aid, home nursing, and the growing and canning of vegetables to correct the traditional diet of dried beans and cornbread -all have a place in its constantly expanding program. What this harbor of refuge has meant to hundreds, stricken by sudden illness or in- volved in the accidents common to the mountains, can never be told. The work is Christian but non- denominational, and supported largely by volun- tary contributions. It has grown to a health cen- ter with ten buildings, thirty hospital beds, an x-ray machine, and a corps of trained workers.
It is still c-arried on by its founder, Dr. May Cravath Wharton, whose ability, devotion, and vision, together with her record of achievement, are convincing evidence that its work has only begun. DORA READ GOODALE.
Pleasant Hill, Tennessee.
the Midst of European
By PROFESSOR ADOLF KELLER, D.D., Geneva Secretary of the Central Bureau for Inter-Church Aid for the Evangelical Churches of Europe T HE peace and tranquillity of the Christian in labor circles, an anti-god or godless movement Churches have come to an end in Europe. has sprang up, as one can see in Russia and Spain. The Church idyll is over. It may still exist in some hidden corners, in remote villages, in What does this mean? It means that the Church countries far away from the thoroughfare of of Christ is no longer made up of the majority of modern ideologies and conflicting political powers. the population in modern nations, but represents On the crossroad of the life and thought of the again, as in the time of the Roman Empire, the European nations the Churches have to fight for liWe flock, a minority struggling for its life their material and spiritual existence. against modern indifferentism and secularism. This minority is ridiculed by the modern skep- There are only a few countries on the European ticism which prevails in many of the cultured Continent where nation and Church are more or class as well as in labor circles; the masses are less identical and where most of the citizens also advised by them to "leave heaven to the sparrows members of the churches. This may be the case and to the parsons." in certain Roman Catholic states and in the Scan- If Christianity is no longer a predominant dinavian countries. In Norway, for instance, the Church Government or administration is identical power in many countries, it becomes again, as in with the State Department. In Sweden nobody primitive Christianity, a missionary group. The could, until recent times, just leave one Church missionary task disappeared or was forgotten without entering another one. In Finland, 99% where the Church comprised a majority of the people, where everybody by birth or by custom of the nation are members of the National Lu- was a more or less active or convinced member theran Church. The relation between State and of the Church. Today the Church is again con- Church is hardly a problem or a conflict in these fronted in the midst of "Christian lands" with her countries. original missionary task. The Gospel must again But even in certain Roman Catholic countries be preached, not only to the heathen in dark con- like France and Italy, a large part of the nation tinents, but to millions of modern heathen who has given up church membership or active par- have been baptized or educated as Christians, but ticipation in church life. In France, for instance, for whom Christianity has lost its meaning. the Roman Catholic Church claims not more than The new missionary task with which the Church ten millions out of forty-one millions of the inhabitants; the Protestants count hardly one mil- is confronted is taken up afresh by the Churches lion. Where are the other thirty millions of the themselves and by religious groups who undertake French people? Germany counts officially forty a preaching mission similar to that sweeping over millions of Protestants out of sixty-five million the United States. The Confessional Church in inhabitants. But before Hitler came into power Germany actually considers ,the German people as her first missionary field. A special committee one could count sixteen millions of Socialist and under Herr von Thadden is organizing "Evan- Communist votes and it is well known to what gelical weeks" in the large cWes for bringing extent the Christian Church lost membership in again the Gospel to the land of the Reformation. continental Labor. A French student of theology, These gatherings draw new thousands in the A. Reymond, lived six months as a worker in fac- largest churches and assembly halls who wished tories of French industrial cities and made a study their evangelical witness to off-set the vague naof the religious conditions in the labor class. His tional religion which hardly deserves the name of impressions were that the large majority of the being an offspring of Luther's faith. These French labor classes not only have given up church "Evangelical weeks," the largest missionary propmembership but they no longer know what :the aganda undertaken in Germany, were continued Gospel is or what Christ means for mankind. until the Government forbade them and put the leaders in prison. Wherever Marxism and Bolshevism, with their materialistic philosophy have become predominant The voice of the German Churches could not be [ 579 ]
silenced by such administrative measures. The the thesis that confession is allowed but that pub- Christian people hear the Evangelical message lic discussion and propaganda of religion is forfrom the pulpit, in private assemblies and by a bidden. living and encouraging witness mouth to mouth. The Church in Germany shows in these times of The same thesis is found in the Bolshevist reliconflict that she lives alone on the Word of God gious legislation and its interpretation by the Boland recognizes no other Sovereign than her Lord, shevist party. Religious propaganda, therefore Jesus Christ. The former compromise between evangelization and missions, are prohibited in Church and State which led the German theo- Russia while atheistic propaganda is allowed. logian Richard Rothe to the thesis that the Church This prohibition is only one aspect of a religious would be dissolved in the State, has come to an persecution. The law, especially the new constiend and now the Church is drawing a clear bound- tution, does not speak of it. Religious liberty is ary line between her divine message and its im- granted on paper, but in practice the elements of plications and the claims of Caesar. The Church a religious persecution are seen in the following recognizes the State as a divine order to which facts: The importation of the Bible into Soviet she owes obedience according to God's law, but Russia is prohibited; the free preaching of the she refused to betray the Gospel to a State phi- Gospel is prohibited; thousands of priests, bishlosophy or a modern pagan or half-pagan myth, ops and Protestant ministers have been killed, such as it is developed in Rosenberg's "Myth of banished, or sent to the concentration camps in the Twentieth Century" and in other modern na- Siberia and near the White Sea. All religious tionalistic religious movements. education before the eighteenth year is forbidden. Innumerable Church buildings have been alien- Evidently, it needs that peculiar courage which ated from their religious use and are transformed faith has always shown to defy a totalitarian into museums, cinemas, assembly halls, variety State and to remind the omnipotent State that the theatres or are so heavily taxed that the congre- Lord is God and the Supreme Sovereign. This gation has had to give them up, as is the case courage has awakened new leaders like Barth, with the last Reformed Church in Odessa. Of Dibelius, Koch, Niemoller and many others who two hundred Lutheran pastors working in Russia say again with Luther: "Here I stand, I can no before the Revolution, today only five or six are other." They prefer to go to prison rather than still in their villages and nearly every week their betray their faith. Persecution has quickened the friends in Western countries receive letters aclife of faith and isolation gives back to the Church cording to which new arrests take place. her original independence from the world. From an external point of view the Church in In Italy a similar philosophy of a Fascist State Russia has come to an end although hundreds of seems to have concluded a compromise with the church buildings are still open in the large cities Roman Catholic Church which has a privileged and are crowded on Sundays. The official strucposition and accepted a large endowment of 1700 ture of the Church is shaken; the patriarchate, millions lire in the famous Lateran Treaties of the Synod, the Episcopate, the theological acad- 1929. But a compromise in spiritual matters al- emies, the influence on public life. But it is a ways contains germs of future conflicts. Already wonderful and paradoxical experience that the it becomes manifest that Church and State in Church today is saved by the Russian Christian Italy are becoming two rival and competing pow- mothers. They are the most influential and faithers in the sphere of education and marriage. Mus- ful missionaries of the present time. They teach solini tried to escape a conflict by establishing his their children, often in a very elementary way, doctrine of the "two sovereignties"-that of the what the Church can no longer teach and they State for temporal matters and that of the Church continue the faith and Christian tradition of that for matters spiritual. He has shown much diplo- deeply religious people. These simple farmersmatic skill in meeting the spiritual claims of the poor, uncultured, despised people–have a large Church and not only granted her the privilege of share in the spiritual revival which exists among being the national religion, but introduced the the Russian people today. The Russian writer, New Testament into the schools and concluded a Berdjaev, declares that Bolshevism is the child favorable concordat with the Vatican. At the between Marxism and the deep religious mystisame time he granted religious liberty to the cism of the -Russian people. Marxism is an out- Protestant minorities, especially the Waldensian, come of Western culture. Mysticism is the natin the treaty, "I Culti Ammessi" in 1929. The ural life of the Russian people and it seems that question today is whether Mussolini can protect Western influence has not been able to overcome for the future the Waldensians from the conse- the great natural gift of religion, even in a crude quences of an unfavorable interpretation of the form, which the Russian soul has maintained for treaties by the Roman Catholic clergy defending centuries. It is to be hoped that the time will come
IN THE MIDST OF EUROPEAN REVOLUTIONS
when the Russian Church can again undertake the The fourth window may be seen in a beginning greatest missionary enterprise in Europe – the of social work within the Orthodox Church. Such evangelization of the Russian people by the Bible social interest in the former mystical, hierarchic and the preaching of the Word of God. and sacramentarian Church might have spared Russia a revolution, as Methodism did to England Already four windows are opening in the Or- in the Eighteenth Century. The beginnings are thodox Church towards Western evangelical Christianity. The first is that the Orthodox weak, but hopeful. Church begins to preach. At our ecumenical con- The Church of Christ is going through dark ferences we have heard more than once a sincere evangelical witness from the mouth of an Ortho- times in these European countries shaken by revdox preacher; where the priests remain silent, olutions, but the Divine light shines in this darkthe laymen, simple men and women, begin to ness and the Church is again going through that preach. In the former Raskol, through the marvelous experience which St. Paul expressed Stundist Movement, the Russian Orthodox Church in the words: "When I am weak, then am I has had a Reformation of her own which could not strong." The revolution has revolutionized men's be quenched and is still alive among the Gospel- inner life and martyrdom, wherever it happened, Christians. has again proved to be the real seed of faith in The second window opens through the theo- Christian churches. logical studies which Orthodox theologians began The Church of Christ has again become the at Western Theological Seminaries. Following little flock, but this little flock is a real Church of such studies these Orthodox theologians have faith. The Church is becoming poor like her shown a remarkable independence. They have not founder who had not whereon to lay his head, but only learned from Protestant theology but have she has become spiritually blessed. She is per- secuted in many places but she feels again that defended and expounded their own faith with an she is bearing the Cross which her Master has original theological skill and sincere conviction. Men like Father Bulgakow, Florowski, Wyszes- carried. lavzev, Cassian, Zander and Zenkowski at the Or- These European Christians are suffering in thodox Academy in Paris, and such theologians as Zankow in Bulgaria, Arseniev in Konigsberg their terrible poverty, in their isolation and perseand Alivisatos in Athens have the merit to have cution. They are the "unknown Christian," opened a new understanding of the Orthodox which the wealthy, powerful and busy Churches Church to Western Protestants. in the West so easily forget. Their answer to the world is silence and martyrdom. They can hardly The third window is opening in the present-day speak. It is, therefore, the task of their happier Youth Movement in the Orthodox Church. It be- but perhaps, less blessed brethren, to speak to came hopeful with the fact that the Western them, to comfort them in their terrible loneliness, Christianity refrained from proselytizing the Or- to strengthen their faith in their vicarious sufferthodox Church, at least that part of it which is ing and to show them that evangelical solidarity collaborating with that Church in the ecumenical which is a privilege and a necessity of the Chrismovement. tian life. Such solidarity was recently declared at Oxford and Edinburgh to be one of the urgent ecumenical tasks of present-day Christianity.
SHALL WE KEEP ON ASKING GOD?
By THE LATE JAMES H. MCCONKEY More than half a century ago George Muller, that prince of intercessors with God, began to pray for a group of five personal friends. After five years one of them came to Christ. In ten years two more of them found peace in the same Saviour. He prayed on for twenty-five years and the fourth man was saved. For the fifth he prayed until the time of his death, and this friend too came to Christ a few months afterward. For this latter friend Muller had prayed almost fifty-two years!
But someone says: "How long shall we pray? Do we not come to a place where we may cease from our petitions and rest the matter in God's hands?" He alone, and not we, must decide when we shall cease from petitioning. We may stop praying for someone because we receive the answer or we stop because we believe God has given His answer. The faith of our heart is as sure as the sight of our eyes, for it is faith in God. More and more as we live the prayer life we come to experience and recognize this God-given assurance, and know when to continue our petitioning.
Dilemma of Japanese
_.•..gf By the REV. T. T. BRUMBAUGH, Tokyo, Japan r;;,··- Missionary of the Methodist Episcopal Church Since 1924 C HRISTIANS and idealists of Japan are "on This is not only a wholesome change from the the spot" of public scrutiny even more at attitude of Christians in all other wars to date, home today than abroad. Every Japanese but it is in great contrast to the positions taken by is required by his Government, and the people who other religious and cultural bodies in Japan.
support it und.er the Constitution of 1868, to give Without exception, Japan's thirteen religious sects absolute and unquestioning obedience to the na- of Shinto have been vigorously supporting the tion and its rulers. The highest moral principle nation's military policy on the Asiatic mainland; in the Japanese code of ethics is loyalty to em- they have indeed been centers of the combative peror and empire. Consequently when his gov- nationalism of the past half-dozen years. Bud- ernment, in a crisis such as the present, seeks to dhism also, while never so unrestrained in grati- obtain assurances of loyalty from the various reli- fication of desires, has given unquestioned support gious bodies functioning in the land the National to all Government policies and certain sects and Christian Council of Japan, representing two hun- Buddhist groups have by popular subscription dred thousand Christians of various affiliated de- raised large funds for the purchase of airplanes nominations, feels obliged to assure Government to be given to the imperial army and navy.
and rulers that the Christian Church "pledges it- In Christian circles the Roman Catholic Church self … to render faithful services to the State." has also recently been very active in assuring the None who read farther into this recent declara- authorities of its unswerving loyalty to the Gov- tion of the Japanese National Christian Council ernment in all temporal affairs, this being an can fail to note, however, that there is deep regret effort to overcome the suspicion that has rested in and chagrin that Sino-Japanese relations have Japanese minds ever since Catholicism was drifted into the sorry mess of today. Japanese stamped out of Japan in the sixteenth and seven- Christians feel their own share in responsibility teenth centuries for alleged connivance with Rome for all this; they call for a movement of spiritual and other capitals of temporal power in Europe.
regeneration within Japan, one which may bring Protestants have occasionally taken up the cudgels Christians and non-Christians alike to conscious- for nationalistic expansion on "Deutschland-iiber- ness of guilt as well as to a sense of God's will in alles" patterns; but the unprejudiced observer the present situation. As regards the crisis within cannot fail to observe a much more moderate and Japan they are determined to show the nation and international attitude throughout C h r i s t ian those in the empire's military service that Chris- groups and "spheres of influence" in Japan than tians minister to all those in need, whether physi- is found elsewhere.
calor spiritual, and they join fervently in prayer Christians and other advocates of world fellow- that the conflict may speedily be ended and in ship in Japan today are in a serious dilemma.
such a way as to make for permanent peace and They have been drawn to the Christian faith and friendship between China and Japan. its humanitarian ideals because it seems so ob- All this may sound pitifully inadequate to those vious that only such a world community under a hoping to hear a more positive voice out of Chris- unitary and loving Divine order can solve the stu- tendom; yet anyone recalling the attitude and offi- pendous problems of life in the modern world- cial statements of Christians in America and personal, social, economic, and others. But they Great Britain during the World War may find in are puzzled and baffled by the fact that European this declaration some reason for gratification. and American social and national life, in spite of There is here no breath of hatred for China, no many centuries of Christian background, is not suggestion of national glorification, no attempt to actuated by Christ-like motives. The JapaIese sanctify war. There is, rather, a deep sense of feel themselves the victims of white supremacy remorse that, in spite of Christian and other ideal- throughout the earth, and Christians cannot deny istic efforts for peace, open warfare has come be- it. They see that this form of white imperialism tween Japan and her neighbors, and there is a has been built up htrgely by military power and desire to mitigate the horrors of war while pray- that, whereas certain groups of Christians have ing for its swift conclusion. in recent years been renouncing further aggres- [ 582)] sion by such violence, not one "Christian" nation, ness; considering thyself, lest thou also be or even one sizable group of Christians, has re- tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens and so pudiated its nation's obvious determination to fulfil the law of Christ." keep for 'itself all the advantages acquired so largely by force. This not only applies to the land It is to Christianity's eternal credit that by and available resources of Christian nations, evangelization, education and the natural penetrawhich compare so to Japan's disadvantage with tion of the humanitarian ideals of Jesus the people its vast population and narrow confines, but it is of Japan, China and all other as yet non-Christian especially clear when one compares the standards lands have been awakened to their need of a more of living of Christian peoples in the West with abundant life, material and spiritua1. It will be a those in the Orient. hard blow to Christian prestige if now awakened Japanese decide that Christianity cannot or will The gist of the matter is that Christians in these not undertake to provide for these needs. We may favored lands do not concern themselves with the condemn as unchristian and immoral the methremoval of obvious inequalities and injustices, and ods that Japan is employing in China in her efforts that they and their governments have deliberately to attain her own economic salvation; but if set economic obstacles that hinder the efforts of Christendom cannot indicate and demonstrate a the Japanese to solve their own problems by peace- better way, then our testimony will be to them as ful means. The charge of Japan's nationalists can sounding brass and clanging cymbal. The Christscarcely be refuted, that Christianity and interna- spirit, even when exercising moral restraint as in tional idealism have not been concerned with a the present effort to restrain Japan in Asia, must practical and just solution of Japan's stupendous be redemptive. Let American Christians not problem of feeding seventy millions of people from overlook or neglect the redemptive quality of their a tillable area in Japan proper equivalent to the faith. Western two-thirds of Ohio. WHAT CHINESE CHRISTIANS SAY Christians in Japan also find it difficult to understand an attitude of mind on the part of Western Dr. Chester S, Miao of the National Christian peoples which will complacently tolerate the vast Council of China says: (1) Everyone should do extent of both economic and political imperialism his best to steady the morale of his community that obtains today in China under European and and help to secure peace and order. (2) We American responsibility, and at the same time re- should endeavor to carryon our daily work and gards with such horror all Japanese effort to solve help others to do their regular work. (3) War Japan's economic problem by similar though per- conditions are a breeding ground for rumor and haps more thorough-going methods. Here we note propaganda. Let us do our best to act as agents the difference, if any, between expansion by the for reliable news and for the dissemination of usual methods of economic penetration and that truth. (4) There is no better time than this to openly supported by military force. Japan cannot bring home to our people the Christian message forget that only ten years ago America and Great of the cross of suffering, We need faith to sus- Britain requested Japanese naval cooperation in tain our hope and to endure suffering. (5) Let Nanking to save our nationals and our property us launch a movement in every city for raising from the confusion attendant upon the northward relief funds and needed materials for suffering advance of Chiang Kai-shek's armies. Artillery people. (6) Let us pray for peace and the adbarrages were then laid down around the Stand- vancement of the cause of Christ. (7) Let us ard Oil compound to protect Occidental lives and show that we love justice and seek to manifest the property with a disregard for Chinese life and love of God. interests not unlike that for which Japan's army and navy are condemned today. The Chinese Christian leader, Mr. C. K. Lee, gave this answer to a student who asked why we In brief, Japanese lovers of peace and world fel- should teach Christianity to China when it has the lowship are in a tight place. They are opposed to ethics of Confucianism: any blood-thirstiness in their national program but they are truly and proudly Japanese. Perhaps "There are three reasons. First of all, Conwe have expected too much of a nation only sev- fucius was a teacher and Christ is a Saviour. enty-five years out of feudalism and a careful China needs a Saviour more than she needs a pupil of western forms of national development. teacher. In the second place, Confucius is dead It would seem to one acquainted with the New Tes- and Christ is alive. China needs a living Saviour. tament that Western Christians might well recall In the third place, Confucius is some day going to Paul's injunctions to the Galatians: "Brethren, stand before Christ to be judged by Him. China if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are needs to know Christ as Saviour before she meets spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meek- Him as Judge."
Working by Love in
The Story of the Omi Brotherhood I _•..e/ By WINBURN T. THOMAS, Tanaka, Kyoto, Japan I Ji.- O NE of the most interesting places to visit in Christian work. This might have sent other less Japan is a small village in the province of enterprising evangelists back to America; but Omi, an hour from Kyoto. While the not so young Vories. He determined to give up country is rich in picturesque scenes and in his- his teaching salary and to remain in Hachiman toric treasures, many tourists, with only a few until he had helped his young disciples to a,ttain days to spend in Japan, take time to visit this spiritual maturity. The situation forced him to town on the shores of Lake Biwa. These visitors become an independent, self-supporting missioncome to see the Omi Brotherhood, "a nonsectar- ary. ian experiment in rural evangelization." A Yale University professor, who had seen the work, ex- Some of his young Japanese friends stood by claimed, "It is one of the most interesting social Vories, sharing their school allowances until outexperiments in the history of Christianity." An side aid arrived; one of the young students American philanthropist said, "This is the most shared his room with his teacher. Some of these interesting missionary story I have ever heard." young men are today active members of the A French atheist after spending several weeks in Brotherhood; their fidelity is much like that of the village wrote, "I have never seen or heard Japanese retainers for their lords.
anything like this. You really believe. Although I haven't yet a consciousness of God or an understanding of Jesus Christ, I could join your Broth- hood today, believing in you."
The Omi Brotherhood is no new form of monasticism, for it is very much a part of the world's life. It conducts a successful business; its mem- bers speak over the radio; it carries on evangel- istic work over a large area. Instead of being wholly Japanese, it includes among its workers, Americans, Koreans, Chinese, and nationals from other countries. While members of the Brother- VORIES, YOSHIDA, NURATA, H. SATO, MIYAMOTO, KOGHO hood refrain from the use of tobacco and alcohol WHO WERE TOGETHER IN THE ACADEMY IN 1905 stimulants, they are not ascetic. In a country (Photo taken in 1930) where even Christianity is too often looked upon Fortunately Mr. Vories had studied architec- as a festal observance, a life insurance for the ture and it was not long before he received some future world, theological speculation, or a matter small commissions to design and erect mission of sectarian loyalty, the Omi Brotherhood repre- buildings. Later he became so busy that he was sents Christian life and the purpose of the group obliged to engage a staff of assistants. In the is experimentally to demonstrate the power of thirty-two years since the establishment of this Christ in daily life and conduct. Brotherhood, Mr. Vories and his assistants have Over thirty years ago, William Merrell Vories designed over a thousand buildings, including came to Japan to teach English in a government some as large and well known as the Daimaru de- academy at Hachiman. Not content with in- partment store in Osaka. A score of draftsmen structing the boys in his native tongue he started are busy in the Omi Hachiman office and branch a Bible class. This move went unnoticed until offices are maintained in Tokyo and Osaka. The some of the boys decided to become Christians. vast evangelistic program centered about this vil- Later money was provided for the erection of a lage has been carried on with the aid of Vories'
Y. M. C. A. in which to carryon Christian activi- "little pencil." Not only has the income from this ties. When the building was nearly completed branch of the work enabled him to finance its the opposition was so great that Mr. Vories was evangelistic program, but the office has intro- asked to resign from the school or to give up his duced many badly needed housing reforms.
[584 ] The next project undertaken was to provide vised by Dr. Vories, all strictly observe Sunday, a building materials and equipment. This neces- practice hardly known in Japan. In some cases sitated the organization of the Omi Sales Com- this has resulted in one day in seven being granted pany which imports and manufactures hardware, as a holiday for all employees, notably in the case refrigerators, household furnishings, and other of one of the large department stores. The Brotherhood factory at Omi Hachiman demon- LUNCH TIME AT THE KINDERGARTEN, OMI MISSION strates Christian commercial principles. Em- ployees are treated and paid as though they were modern equipment. Probably the most profitable children of God rather than as economic slaves venture was acceptance of the Oriental sales to be exploited. The workers receive the benefit agency for Mentholatum. Japanese druggists at of city wages while remaining in the country. first refused to handle ,the product, but it has now become almost a household necessity throughout Some results of the mission work of the Broth- Japan. Two small incidents show how wide- erhood are seen in its churches, Y. M. C. A., gymspread its use has become. One day while the nasium, and sanitorium. One of the finest tuberwriter was visiting a movie studio, a leading lady culosis hospitals in Japan, conducted by the misfell and bruised her arm during the "shooting" sion, is located at the foot of a hill overlooking a of a scene. Immediately one of her fellow ac.tors plain that leads to Lake Biwa. One day a memcalled to the "makeup" girl, "Bring the Menthol- ber of the Brotherhood was told that he had tuberatum." Again, at a country hotel, when a mem- culosis. To care for him and similar cases the ber of our party accidently slipped on a rock and first section of a sanitorium was constructed; bruised his hands, a maid produced a small can this has now developed into a modern hospital of this salve and all was well. When the packages with thirty workers and eighty-five beds. Docof Mentholatum are put up by the Brotherhood, tors estimate that one person in seven (some say a Bible verse and an invitation to correspond are as many as one in three) in Japan is a tubercuincluded in each package. As a result many Jap- losis case, but many have good prospects for reanese have been led to Christ. covery.
Evangelism and business are united in the The Brotherhood is non-sectarian, and its memmembers of the Brotherhood, and the two forms bers are free to join any denomination they of work are carried on side by side. On the sec- choose, but the local Congregational church is ond floor of the general offices in Omi Hachiman, the newspaper evangelism and publication depart- THE TUBERCULOSIS SANITARIUM-OMI HACHIMAN ments are conducted. Several full-time workers are busy preparing Christian magazines and most closely connected with the work. This conbooks, and in sending out Bible lessons and litera- nection dates from Dr. Vories' earliest days in ture to those who inquire about Christianity or Japan when he was invited to speak on Sunday who are taking correspondence courses. mornings to a small group of persons who gath- ered in a private home for worship. Within a These various business enterprises, begun only as a means of financing the evangelistic work, have been the direct means of promoting evangelism. Even in the building operations,super-
few years this group was able to erect a chapel One unusual feature of the work is the "Galiand to call a minister. One of the unusual things lee Maru," a motor launch used on Lake Biwa. about the work is that a collection is never taken About 100 Brotherhood workers carry their acat the meetings; those who wish to contribute tivities into six other places around the lake, condrop their offerings into a small receptacle at the ducting church services, Sunday Schools, Y. M. rear of the auditorium. The congregation has C. A.'s, kindergartens, cooperatives, and agriculgrown so that the worship services were recently tural conferences and experiments. transferred to the large gymnasium of the community house, in the front part of which there is The Omi Brotherhood expresses William Mera day nursery and a kindergarten. rell Vories' dream of a "complete independent mission enterprise, of such a variety of activities as will reach all classes of people in a given local- ity and will develop its own support on the field." In the Omi-Hachiman area of 1,616 square miles, with a population of 700,000 living in one city and 1,376 towns and villages, the Brotherhood's aim is- IN THE MENTHOLATUM PACKING ROOM 1. To preach and practice the Gospel of Christ without reference to denominational differences. A comparatively recent innovation of the Brotherhood work is a girls' high school. The 2. To completely unify the work in a fellowship of all higher education of Japanese boys has been taken workers, regardless of nationality or race. care of by government institutions, but girls have been left to shift for themselves after graduation 3. To evangelize communities unoccupied by any other from grammar school. To care for their needs Mission, and under no circumstances to overlap with the in Omi province a former residence was remod- work of such a Mission. eled and a girls' high school begun with an enrollment of about fifty young women. Three separate 4. To evangelize rural communities, as the most conbuildings house the dormitory, dining hall and servative element of mankind and the most probable source class rooms. of leadership.
The most recent building is a new Y. M. C. A., 5. To seek, enlist and train leaders and Christian workwhere the work is in the hands of a full-time sec- ers. retary and where classes are conducted for the village and Academy boys. 6. To promote social betterment-including temperance, social purity, Christian marriage customs, industrial, physical and sanitary reforms, and definite work for the neglected classes.
7. To study and experiment with new methods of Chris- tian evangelization.
The Japanese authorities that formerly perse- cuted and opposed the work of the Brotherhood are now loudest in the praise of Dr. Vories for through his efforts, he has put Hachiman on the map, has employed a large number of its people, and is gradually raising the economic, moral and religious level of its citizens.
"GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY!"
Some years ago a prominent French jurist was attorney for a murderer. In his final address to the jury he said: "Gentlemen of the jury! My task is very easy. The accused has confessed; a defense is impossible, and yet· I want to add a .few words. There, on the wall, I see the picture of the Crucified Ch:rist and I pay homage to Him. There hangs the picture, in this hall of justice, where you condemn the guilty. But why do we not hear anything of Him in our public schools to which we send our children? Why does the murderer, for the first time in his life, see the Crucified One here in this hall, wh~re the law will punish him? If the attention of my client had been directed to the Crucified when he sat on the benches of the school, he would not now sit here facing disgrace and infamy. Yes, it is you, gentlemen, whom I accuse. You that brag, with your education and your culture, and yet are barbarous, who spread atheism and lust among the people, and then are astonished when the people reply with crime and vulgarity. Condemn my client, gentlemen. You have a right to do it. But I accuse you; that is my duty."
Naturally Love to
By the REV. JAMES F. RIGGS, New York Field Committee on United Promotion, Presbyterian Church, U. S. A.
W ITH rapt attention the children listened. plan for such instruction, and make it interesting The speaker knew children's interests. He by calling attention to what it does to character, was fascinating. In closing his address he the child responds naturally and gladly. This asked if anyone present wanted to help the cause does not apply to money alone, but to any service of Christian education to continue the work de- rendered as well. Money is merely the tool most scribed. Eagerly the hands went up. Then the frequently used. Stewardship both in theory and minister rose and said, "These children are poor. practice covers many aspects of the Christian ex- They have no money except what working fathers perience.
or mothers provide for them. It is not reasonable Schools of stewardship with classes for youth, to ask them to give to any cause. In fact they stewardship dramas, interesting biographies of need many things themselves." generous givers are all assets in the development The speaker was surprised, as well he might be, of true Christian stewards. Youth learns from since the children did not appear to be in need or them that the giving of self, service, substance, for impovished. However, with a smile he inquired the propagation of the Gospel is not a matter of if he might ask a question. When this permission likes or dislikes. It is an imperative. When was granted he said, "How many of you children properly taught this conception becomes as nat- go to the movies?" Every hand was raised. ural as it is beautiful in the child.
"How many of you go on an average of twice a One church quickened this sense of obligation week?" Many hands shot up. "How many go at to the causes represented by the church program times more often than that?" A few hands were through the making and showing of a set of slides held aloft. Then turning to the pastor he re- on giving. These revealed in the form of charts marked, "I feel sure that it would be no hardship and graphs what the average person spent for for them to share in Kingdom enterprises." luxuries like amusements, tobacco, candy, as con- trasted with the amounts contributed to Church, But two long, searching thoughts filled his mind. Sunday school, Christian Endeavor, etc. The ef- Why do adults deprive children of the privilege of fect of these slides was very convincing. When giving? And why do older people so often pre- this was discussed in Sunday school classes and sent vital work in a manner uninteresting to age groups it resulted in a number of increased youth? pledges accompanied by heightened interest in the cause. Children love to give. They give to what they are interested in. The Church however very gen- Conventional giving is not only w:ithout thrill; er.ally expects interest, but often does not work but is likely to be very short-lived. It will cease creatively to generate it. Usually young people at the first opportunity. The child's money will have not the remotest idea of what they are giv- be absorbed by any secular cause or object which ing to when they drop their offering in the blue is appealing. Children are eager to do what is Sunday school envelope, or in the church collec- interesting. They are right in expecting, if not tion plate. Like their elders they give as a matter requiring, that they should get some degree of of course, as a bit of church routine. Consequently. satisfaction out of the causes which they help to they do so without any enthusiasm.
The Theory and Practice of Stewardship support. They ought.to know why they give, as well as what they give to in supporting church Usually stewardship is not taught in any prac- work. If the basic reasons presented to them are tical way. As a result the rising generation real- stated in terms of life, alert in meeting human izes only in the vaguest possible manner that God needs, the children will respond wonderfully.
is the source of all blessings through the years, There is nothing which appeals more deeply to a including the gift of life itself. As a result all the child than to know that he is meeting a real need.
daily benefits are accepted as a matter of course. Sympathies are ever ready and near the surface It is necessary that stewardship should be taught, in childhood. Youth yearns to do worthwhile and practiced too, if it is to mean anything vital work to help others.
to the child. When parents and teachers have a A far more wonderful response, than is gen- [ 587]
erally the case, will be generated if the principle John D. Rockefeller, Jr., say that in the next genof learning by doing is used to acquaint the on- eration we shall have no more concentrated coming generation with the causes to which they wealth, it is essential that the Church build up a contribute. An intermediate group was expected multitude of small but vitally interested givers. to aid in the support of the mission boat "Prince- In days to come their interest will make them ton," which ministers in so many and varied ways "pillars" of the Church. on the tooth-like Alaskan coast. As the youngsters knew very little of the "Princeton," or the Young people today are more versatile and more work it was doing, their giving was sluggish and mature for their years than in any previous genhad never reached the amount pledged. Often the eration. Youth marches on! May it be with the offering was "forgotten"; or just a few pennies Church – because their imaginations and hearts were given. However, when a manual training have been captured by the challenge of bringing teacher agreed to help the group to make a small the abundant life of Christ to underprivileged peomodel of this boat out of scrap materials from the ple. Thus youth may learn to identify itself with department stores, the change in attitude was Kingdom causes. amazing. Boredom and lethargy gave place to the keenest interest. Attendance became almost 1000/0 MESSAGES FROM D. L. MOODY even at week-day meetings. The group devoured eagerly stories of the service rendered by this If you cannot do some great thing, you can do boat. The giving came up without any visible ef- some little thing for Christ. fort or special pledging in excess of the amount pledged. To these intermediates giving became God is ready and willing to work, if we are "alive." It is spontaneous when interest is hehind ready and willing to let Him, and to be used by it. Jesus' words were once more fulfilled, "Where Him. your treasure is there will your heart be also." What we want today is the spirit of consecra- Tested and Helpful Methods tion and concentration. May God pour out His Spirit upon us, and fill us with holy. enthusiasm. Among the other helps in developing interest in benevolences are moving pictures showing the Many people are afraid of the word "enthusiwork supported. These may be secured at nom- asm." Do you know what that word means? It inal expense from many of the Mission Boards. means "in God." The person who is "in God" Dramatic presentations of evangelistic, medical, surely will be filled with enthusiasm. educational work, carried on by children's gifts are also valuable. Missionary progress may also If the Lord sees our faith for those whom we be portrayed dramatically. Animated biographies wish to be blessed, He will honor it. He has not of famous missionaries are often used with excel- disappointed the faith of any of His children yet. lent effect. There are in addition exhibits of curios; and costume meetings in which the cloth- It is far better to get one hundred men to do the ing of the country aided is used by the speaker work than to do it one's self. Only when the rank and ushers.. These educational settings have a and file of the Christian churches are enlisted in very great appeal. active service for Christ will His Kingdom ad- vance as it should. Hand work is always alluring to active boys and girls. Sometimes stories are told while the work In all ages, God has delighted to use the weak is going on. Or the young people may carry out a things. Paul wrote to the Corinthians that GOd visual program in the form of exhibitions of what uses foolish things, weak things, base things, their money accomplishes. One church put on a and things which are not. But if we are leaning series of tableaux of this sort. Another wrote up on God's strength we have more than all the and acted out its entire hooevolence budget with strength of the world. the aid of the young people themselves under the direction of two or three adult advisers. Medical Compare our opportunities of serving God with service was shown by a hospital scene with the those of the early Christians. Look at the mighty children impersonating the doctor, nurse and pa- obstacles they had to encounter and surmount. tient. Education pictured a teacher cooperating Let us grasp these opportunities to serve Him; with a class in working out a special project. then we may expect great things. He will not disappoint us. All these are but forms of the practice of Stewardship. This is essential to the present-day Let us lJot give heed to gloomy and discouragchurch in a changing world. In an era when men ing remarks; in the name of our great Comprominent in financial circles, like J. P. Morgan, mander, let us march on to battle and victory. "Be of good courage and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people and for the cities of our God; and let the Lord do that which is good in His sight.
African Bishop in
The Story of a Missionary's Journey By R. R. WRIGHT, Jr., Woodstock, Cape Province I Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church 1Ja- ~=-=-=-=-=-====================~ C OMING to South Africa a total stranger to stantly, walking many miles each day. We took people, language and customs, I found it tea in his small cottage, which was a marvel of highly necessary to acquaint myself as cleanliness. quickly as possible with my work, and decided that the only satisfactory way was to travel by Here Mr. Gordon left us and we proceeded to automobile. I was fortunate in getting as chauf- Beaufort West where I was to lay the cornerstone feur a young Zulu, who spoke very correct Eng- of a new church. We found the ceremony post- poned because of the sudden serious illness of the !ish, also Afrikaans, Sesutho, Xosa, Zulu and two aged minister. We visited him and spent the or three other dialects; an expert driver, a good night in the home of an old colored seaman, who mechanic familiar with the geography of South looked like the old-time pirates we read about Africa. We took with us maps, guide book and when we were children, but who, in spite of other books and references; an Afrikaans gram- tattooed arms was indeed a kindly old gentleman mar, dictionary and Bibles in Afrikaans and Eng- and an elder in his church. This was our first lish. We drove from beautiful Capetown through experience of sleeping in a "location"-an area the grape-growing districts of Paarl and Well- just outside a city, set apart by the municipality ington to Bain's Kloof, where we gradually rose for the habitation of natives, and sometimes other to a height of 2,000 feet above sea level. This colored persons; the ground is owned by the city, gave us a fine view of ocean and mountains, and which often builds the houses and the people pay villages lying in the gorgeous valleys. We de- rent to the city. These houses are usually two or scended amidst even more beautiful scenery to three rooms, built of mud in the crudest fashion. Worcester, 82 miles from Capetown where we The supervision is usually in the hands of a white lodged with the Rev. D. P. Gordon, who went as "location manager." As there are over 200 "lo- a missionary to this place thirty-two years ago. cations," one can find all types of character in The result of these years of labor are partly seen these managers, from outrageous exploitation to in a comfortable church building which can seat kindly paternalism. In some "locations" there are 400 people, a three-room school building with 215 a few beautiful homes which the people were alpupils, four teachers, and a mission house of seven lowed to build for themselves. But the fact that rooms. The school is now recognized by the Gov- they cannot own the ground and that they may ernment. Mr. Gordon is now 69 years of age, have to move at any time, is most discouraging. and is honored by all for the Christian service he "Locations" were originally designed for natives has rendered. who were brought out of the country districts, Accompanied by Mr. Gordon, who also has away from their native tribal life to work for the whites, and. whom the whites would not allow to supervision of churches on many farms in the live in their cities. This forced segregation has vicinity, we visited the school at De Wet. Here brought on many problems for which have been were two teachers, with 110 pupils in the one- found no adequate solution. The municipality room church building, which had a dirt floor and gives to each church a plot on which it may build benches for about half the children. All seemed an edifice to be used as a church and school. Naunderfed. I had prayer, said a few encouraging tive education is in the hands of the church at words, consulted with the principal and departed present. With all the efforts of the churches there for De Doorns, fifteen miles away. Here again are hundreds of children out of school and it is I found the same type of building, teachers, equip- estimated that 2,000,000 native children in South ment and pupils. The pastor, Mr. Legolie, an Africa do not go to any school. The problem of earnest man past middle age, with little education, education is indeed large. but with great zeal, had not only organized this little church, but churches on six farms. He had At Kimberley, the diamond city, we found an over 200 members to whom he ministered con- intelligent pastor who had built a new church and [589 ]
planted flowers around it, a very unusual thing. in the South African Council, the South African The churches all joined in welcoming us, and I Institute of Race R~lations, the Bantu Men's SJfound here, as everywhere else, a close bond cf cial Center, and in nearly everything that CJn :-;ympathy between denominations. An Anglican cerns the welfare of the natives around Johannespresided, the white Dutch Reformed minister burg. made the principal address of welcome, and the Dutch Reformed colored band played revival In the Johannesburg gold mining center, called hymns to dance rhythm. Brother Nantlahla gave the Rand, from a third to a half of the world's us the manuscript for the African Methodist gold supply is mined. Here are over a third of a Hymn Book on which the Rev. C. Nyombolo, now million natives taken from every tribe in Sou.h deceased, and he had worked for twenty years. Africa, detribalized, underpaid, underfed, living Our next stop was at Wilberforce Institute, our in the world's worst slums-a contrast of poverty leading educational institution in South Africa, and wealth, ignorance, superstition and enlightfounded in 1909 and named for the famous Eng- ened ,Christianity, perhaps nowhere else seen. lish antislavery agitator, William Wilberforce, Here the churches have their hardest task, and and for Wilberforce University in Ohio, whose the A. M. E.'s are trying to do their part. At early graduates are now leaders of our church several places in this gold mining region I called here. together the ministers and discussed educational work and the extension of our church work. We After devotional exercises at the Institute, I have over 125 preaching points on the Rand and left for the administrative capitol at Pretoria. Transvaal. Here I met officers of the Native Affairs Department, of the Department of Education, and of the When I preached I usually had two interpret- Immigration Office; I explained my work and the ers, one each for Xosa and Sesutho, sometimes purpose of my presence in South Africa. I found three and once four. Many Moody and Sankey all the officers without exception not only cour- hymns, as well as the great hymns of all churches, teous,but sympathetic with my plans, although are translated into these tongues and sung to when I expressed my intention to build a Teacher familiar tunes. "Praise God from Whom All Training College in the Transvaal, one said it was Blessings Flow," may be sung to the tune of "rather ambitious." Since then, however, a "Old Hundred" in English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Sesu- 12-room building has been started in faith, and tho, Xosa, etc., at the same time. Nearly every workmen are going forward. Our members hav2 Africanin the Rand understands simple English, themselves given me over £750 ($3,750) in sup- but is at home in the vernacular. The African port of this effort, notwithstanding their poverty. native does not "shout". as does the American We proceeded to Johannesburg next day and I Negro. He listens very attentively; he prays ferconsulted with business firms as to materials to vently, always sings all the verses of a hymn, start our building. Thank God, I succeeded in get- assembles for worship promptly and does not ting credit for more than £600 ($3,000) worth of want to stay too long. material from one firm, whose managing director said, "We have never let natives have more than On the Rand I met all types of natives, the lowly £50 or' £60 credit; but I am impressed with your and highly intelligent. There is only one native purpose, your plan and your organization, and physician who was educated in America, one, will take the risk." My next discussion was with lawyer, no dentists, one accountant, many prithe Inspector who had expressed doubt that na- mary teachers, a few nurses, a few politicians, tives could erect such a school building. In fact, editors and business men. All were anxious to the specifications read, "All skilled work shall be hear about the American Negro, and I was kept done by Europeans; i. e., white mechanics." I, from morning till night answering que.tions about however, got permission to have it read, "By com- America. petent mechanics-," and am proceeding with mechanics of my own race, much to the surprise and In all, I spent ten days on the Rand. My nex'; satisfaction of the Inspector, who has publicly stop was at Bremersdorp in Swaziland, where at praised the work. midnight, under a perfect African starlit sky, I met King Sobhuza II, Paramount Chief of the I conferred with Dr, J. Dexter Taylor, of the Swazis. He gave me a hearty" welcome to his American Board, at his home in Johannesburg. country. Far through the night we discussei re- He is, a member of our Board of Trustees of Wil- ligion, education and the general economic ani berforce Institute and I have found in him a true social life of his people. I shall never forget this friend and guide. He has been in South Africa meeting~. ,nor the man, still under 40, a philosoover 30 years and he is loved by the natives and pher,scholar and statesman. I met the Qm:en respected by the Europeans., He is a: leading spirit Mother in her kraal, consisting of over 400 huts of thatched roofs, surrounded by high cane fences. She received me seated on the ground, encircled
AN AFRICAN BISHOP IN AFRICA
by her advisers. Our interview lasted nearly an the marriage ceremony for Chief Seiso Maama hour. I was guest in the kraal of Chief Ben and remained for the festivities. Mrs. Seiso Nxumalo, uncle of King Sobhuza II. The Chief Maama is a woman of beautiful character and went to America in 1928 as a delegate to the high ideals. Her husband, unlike many other A. M. E. General Conference, and got many mod- chiefs, has only one wife and is a devoted Chris- ern ideas, some· of which he has tried to put into tian preacher.
practice. The National Training School is a new At Morija is the hundred-year-old French mis- venture of credit to the Swazis. sion which has done more than any other mission We have fifteen schools in Basutoland, but the to develop the Mosutos language and literature. government gives grants only to the older We visited its famous printing plant where more churches-the French Mission, the Anglican and than twenty-five natives do printing for all de- Roman Catholic churches; all are doing such nominations in South Africa. The French misgood work that Basutoland, I was told, has the sion encourages native African initiative in a way largest percentage of native school attendance in worthy of imitation. At Maseru we saw in the all South Africa. Some of the most powerful . Government offices the first black stenographer chiefs are members of our church and have given .and typist since we left America. land and buildings for schools, which we have We saw very few naked natives, except chilbeen inadequately supporting. I was guest of dren. We met none who had not heard of Jesus.
Chief Seiso Maama, who gave the ground for We heard testimony to the two hundred years of Maama Memorial Church which I dedicated in the heroic missionary endeavor, and also the great inpresence of 1,000 people who had come from fluence of a recent visit of Dr. John R. Mott to mountain fastnesses to witness the ceremony and South Africa. I have met most of the outstanding partake of the chief's hospitality; he killed sev- leaders of all denominations, and all seem coneral oxen for the occasion. As we were leaving, scious of the great work still before them, not the chief and his wife asked me to join them in now so much of securing acceptance of Christ but holy wedlock after the Christian fashion; this I of putting Christianity more into practical life. promised to do when I returned to Basutoland. We who know how hard this is in America, espe- We proceeded to Johannesburg and to Evaton to cially where the darker races are concerned, can inspect our new building. At the insistence of one 'imagine the task before earnest Christian leaders of my presiding elders I visited the Western in South Africa. As much work needs to be done Transvaal. At one place, I was surprised to find among the whites as among the blacks, if there is the most prosperous looking natives I have seen. ever a satisfactory answer to the question, "Shall My host owned in his own right 1;800 acres of Africa Be Christian?"
land, and I met a group of men who owned or I have repeatedly asked myself during this leased over 10,000 acres. They were anxious that journey, "What can the American Negro do?"
the church purchase several large plantations and The answer is, "Much." Wherever I have gone move the people on them, thus giving them better people have said, "Tell us about people in Amer- protection and a better chance for worship, edu- ica," no matter what the occasion. So the Amer- cation and economic improvement. While their ican Negro is an inspiration to the African-he argument was apparently sound, I was not able to wants improvement in living and an outlet for the give them much hope, so far as the church is con- "more abundant life." The rapid growth of the cerned. I sincerely hope that some Christian or- A. M. E. Church is due to this fact. However, ganization may become interested in the economic very few American Negroes are in South Africa.
imprqvement of these people. I have not met a dozen who came here during the After a brief rest we returned to Wilberforce past twelve years. American Negroes trained in to hold the executive board meeting of the wom- social work, in agriculture, as well as in religion, en's missionary organization, headed by Mrs. could help the native and the country at large, if Maxeke, a graduate of Wilberforce University in they come under cooperative, rather than under Ohio. With her husband she has labored nearly denominational auspices. The task is far too forty years in South Africa. I was pleased with great for the individual church.
the earnestness and intelligence of these native I have supervision of over 430 preaching places, women. Next day I laid the cornerstone for the separated by nearly 3,500 miles and reaching new building at Wilberforce Institute and received every .tribe of .Africans, representing the work of contributions from the natives of nearly $500. forty years. But I need helpers. The harvest Two thousand people attended and it is estimated truly is plenteous but the laborers few. Pray that that 90 '10 of them contributed. The inspector of God may move the hearts of more Americans of native schools was the only white man present. African descent to come over and help their be- Then we returned to Basutoland and performed nighted African brothers and sisters.
A Ponca Breaks Paths for
A Chapter in Rural Education for Indians in Oklahoma By the REV. COE HAYNE, New York The American Baptist Home Mission Society SCORES of young Christian Indians are ac- which the Choctaw church worshipped. The old cepting positions as teachers in schools in shack of a building had been given to the Indians most difficult communities, amid desperate for a schoolhouse. And Louis Rhodd had arrived poverty and privation, which they must share, to open the first school for the Choctaw at Bas- that they may be of service to their people in the come. One side of the building, lacking window name of Christ. Going to their stations under ap- frames as well as window panes, was open to the pointment by the Department of Education of the weather. There were cracks an inch wide in the Indian Service, with foreknowledge of the condi- warped and decaying flooring. There were no tions they must confront, they endure the cold in seats or desks in the building. A small platform poorly equipped school buildings and the loneli- at one end of the room indicated that it had once ness in remote places without complaint. In many been used for public gatherings.
localities Indian children would be without school Asked whether or not he felt like turning his privileges today were it not for the enlistment of back on such a school equipment, Mr. Rhodd said: these young Indians in this pioneer educational "I was glad to have such an opportunity."
enterprise. Soon the Ponca was joined by a young Choctaw The Special Indian Day Schools in Oklahoma who from his home a quarter of a mile distant, are served by one teacher each. In these schools had seen the automobile stop in front of the old they find that "teacher" includes many profes-· church building. The Choctaw introduced himsions. Often they are asked to give advice in self by saying that he suspected that the newcomer native disputes; their judgment is sometimes fol- was the man who was to teach the school. He in- lowed and sometimes not. They assist at times vited Mr. Rhodd to go home with him assuring of birth, illness or death, not only the Indians but him of a lodging there over night and possibly also the whites within the community. They offer longer. The father in this Choctaw home did not plans on how to run a home, farm or chicken give an immediate answer to Mr. Rhodd's request hatchery. They are athletic directors in the com- for a permanent abiding place. During several munity. You find them some evenings within minutes he gave no sign that he had heard the their schoolhouses cutting the children's hair. question. When he spoke it was to speak dis- Wherever aid is needed these teachers are called paragingly of the food his home could offer. When upon to help. Mr. Rhodd assured his host that he would be glad The experiences of Louis Rhodd, while conduct- to share with the family whatever comforts were ing a rural school in a neglected Indian neighbor- available and to pay for same, the desired per- hood in Oklahoma from 1934 to 1936, bring into mission to board and lodge in that humble home sharp relief the spirit with which many forward- was granted.
looking Indian youth are meeting their Christian Mr. Rhodd began at once to repair the old responsibilities. Mr. Rhodd, whose former home church building for school purposes. Although was Pawnee, Oklahoma, was educated at Bacone under appointment by the Indian Office he did not College and the University of Oklahoma, the first hesitate to appeal to Mr. Walter Haggard, Pitts- Ponca Indian to obtain a college degree. He was burg County superintendent of education, with appointed by the Office of Indian Affairs to con- offices at McAlester, Oklahoma, for assistance.
duct a school among the Choctaw Indians at Bas- Mr. Haggard had a new floor put in the school, come, Oklahoma, in September, 1934. the doors, windows and steps repaired and the From the Agency of the Five Civilized Tribes schoolroom painted white. On opening day thir- in Muskogee, Oklahoma, he was conveyed by auto- teen pupils were enrolled -later the number mobile to the location of his prospective activities. reached nineteen, all members of the Choctaw The Agency man drove away, leaving the Ponca tribe, twelve of whom were fullbloods. Of this and his traveling bags in front of a dilapidated group only three had been to school before. The little Methodist meeting house, abandoned these ages ranged from four to seventeen years.
many years. Nearby stood a newer edifice in During the first two weeks Mr. Rhodd did not [592 ] have textbooks suitable for beginners. There I have visited Indian homes and seen school children was a total lack of paper, pens, ink, pencils and that were five and six years old correcting their parents' blackboards. For classwork he depended upon table manners. the children's experiences and knowledge of the country and his own resourcefulness. He told Good habits such as inhaling pure air, refraining from stories and encouraged the children to talk con- spitting on the floors, coughing or sneezing in the faces cerning their people and their surroundings. He of others, adequate rest and food, and in general a wellconducted hikes; names of trees, rocks, crops and regulated life will do much to prevent T. B. towns in the locality were listed; maps of the neighborhood were drawn; health topics pertain- In another important matter the cooperation of ing to school and homes were discussed. At the the parents was secured. As the Indian child is end of two weeks each pupil was supplied by the extremely shy and self-conscious the lack of county with textbooks, writing tablets, ink, pen knowledge of good English is a real handicap to points, pen holders, pencils, erasers and crayons. him. In all the homes the native Choctaw lan- The schoolroom was equipped with blackboards. guage was spoken when Mr. Rhodd arrived on the The Indian agent had sent some government books field less than three years ago. The aid of the that were used as supplementary material. The parents was gained to increase the use of English equipment sent by the county included a basket- within the homes. In the Choctaw Indian lanball, two soft balls, bats and some lumber used in guage there is an order opposite to that of the making see-saws and backboards for basketball English. The children had a tendency to speak goals. the English in the same order but they worked hard with the language and by Christmas time The first community gathering at the school was the second, third and fourth grade pupils were an old-fashioned pie-supper given to raise funds writing letters to friends in English. to purchase baseball equipment. The ball games that followed brought the Indians and white peo- Within the schoolhouse has grown a small liple together in clean entertainment, promoting a brary consisting of books on history, poetry, bulbetter understanding between the two racial letins pertaining to farm and home, newspapers, groups. magazines, and also religious reading material. Both the state and national governments issue The parents were unable to provide proper diets bulletins on various subjects that are always oband clothes for the school children. Money ap- tainable free of cost. The Department of Agripropriated by the Indian Service and Pittsburg culture tells the farmer how to fertilize the soil, County provided hot noon lunches for all enrolled. select seed, fight insects, pests and plant diseases, The clothing collected by Bacone College students plan farm buildings, care for stock and poultry came as welcome Christmas gifts. and market their products. Bulletins are also issued in behalf of the housekeeper, telling her Four families moved from a distance of twenty how to care for the health of her family, feed chilmiles or more, leaving fairly comfortable homes dren, preserve fruits and vegetables for winter to live in hastily built shanties so that their chil- use and how to take care of perishable food. By dren might attend school. The winter of 1934- collecting these pamphlets and making them avail- 1935 was a cold one but during the severest able, Mr. Rhodd helped the Choctaw people to weather no family moved back to a warmer house, obtain expert advice in many situations confrontpreferring to endure hardship with the school ing them in their isolated communities. Once a children. Mr. Rhodd helped to seal the shanties month the people come to the community house with building paper. to discuss the problems within the community, and especially the work which the school is try- Adult education was made possible through an ing to accomplish. alliance between the homes and the school. Through the cooperation of the children health Concerning these community forums Mr. Rhodd instruction was transmitted to parents. reported: This Ponca instructor has something very defi- Such problems as conservation and prolongation of life; nite to say about health: knowledge and control of domestic life; knowledge and control of physical environment and creative activities Good health gives better character, greater usefulness, are discussed with much spirit within the school, church increased anility to perform our daily tasks. To let a and homes. Such discussion of problems provides an acchild suffer from ill-health when he might have a strong, tivity that has a permanent and far-reaching result. We healthy body is foolish. are gradually laying a suitable foundation for the day when this community will insist that all its members con- One of the first centers of interest around which useful form to certain standards. learning may start is the school lunch period. This provides an activity that has a permanent and a far-reaching The Choctaw church board, at Mr. Rhodd's reresult. He is taught the proper posture at the table, the quest, consented to have lessons of the Sunday correct use of the spoon, knife and fork, and other de- school taught in the English language. sirable habits. The older children are given an opportunity to wash the dishes and clean the room after lunch.
Missionary
By M. E. RITZMAN, PH.D., Reading, Pa.
Professor of New Testament and Missions, Evangelical School of Theology DR. A. J. GORDON used to say that he not? What is his supreme purpose regarding His stopped praying that the Lord Jesus would Church? We find it summed up in that cate- have compassion on a lost world. "I seemed gorical imperative, "Go ye." Jesus' first command to hear him say to me," said this man of God, "I to his disciples was, "Come ye after me, and I will have had compassion on a lost world; now it is make you fishers of men"; .his last was: "Go, for you to have compassion. I have given my make disciples of all the nations." Discipleship heart; give your heart." and apostleship are one and inseparable. We learn but to teach; we know of Jesus but to tell Dr. Gordon was right. Christ came into the of Jesus; we commune with Him but to comworld, a missionary from Heaven to earth, to show municate Him. Only so far as His Church acus God's infinite love and compassion. He lived cepts her responsibility for teaching all nations to and taught and spent His days in blessing the observe all things whatsoever He has commanded humble poor and His nights in prayer. The Evan- her, may she experience the fulfilment of His gelist tells us that "when He saw the multitudes, promise, "Lo, I am with you always." He was moved with compassion." That was the mind that dwelt in Christ. But He was rejected Some are prone to think that only the more by His own; betrayed by priest and disciple. He pious and zealous Christians need be witnesses. agonized in the Garden and confronted there the But to make Christ known must be the commandarchenemy of our souls. He bore the scourging, ing purpose of every Christian. The early Christhe hissing, hooting, and spitting. He staggered tians understood their Master's meaning, and under the weight of the cross, died on it, went when they were scattered abroad, they went into our sepulchre and rose more than conqueror. everywhere preaching the risen Lord. Now He stands on Olivet. Angels beckon Him. The Father is waiting for Him. With outstretched Because Christ's heart longed for the salvation hands He tells to His disciples that all power is of all men, because He died on the cross to save His, and bids them, therefore, to go everywhere every man, Christianity is distinctively and essenand tell the Good News to all the nations. Then tially missionary. The missionary enterprise is the heavens receive Him. All power was His, not a by-enterprise, a mere incident in our modtherefore they were to go. That was before ern life in which a few enthusiasts take an inter- Pentecost. The missionary idea came into the est and of which they are making a fad. The misworld with the birth of Christianity. sionary work of the Church is not secondary, but primary and supreme. It is not a work which In spite of these "marching orders," in spite of must take its place among other works, that may the missionary enthusiasm of the early Church, be done or neglected according to our mood. If we have the staggering fact to explain that though it is true that the eternal Son of God took upon more than sixty generations have come and gone Himself man's nature and lived on this earth and since our Lord gave His message, out of every died upon the cross for the sins of mankind, there three persons in the world, two are practically is no other fact in history to equal it, and it must without knowledge of Jesus Christ. The need of be told everywhere. these hundreds of millions is indescribably great. Most of them are living in ignorance and dark- It is therefore impossible for the Church to live ness, steeped in idolatry, superstition, degrada- in disobedience to the last command of Christ, tion, and corruption. While the so-called non- and remain Christian. Obedience to Christ is not Christian religions furnish some moral principles less an essential to salvation than trust in Him as and precepts of value, they do not afford adequate the atoning-Saviour. Christians should live up to standards and motives by which rightly to guide their profession by making it their first and highthe life, nor power to enable one to take the step est concern to "preach the gospel to every creabetween knowing duty and doing it. ture." They must either be missionary Christians or they will soon be missing Christians. Tested What is the great thought of Christ with refer- by the words of Scripture, the Church is Christian ence to this great mass of people who know Him and Christ's so far, and so far alone, as it has [ 594 ] obeyed and is obeying the Lord's last and supreme salem never seemed to catch the world-wide mis- command. In this day too many feel they can sionary vision, never seemed to apprehend that obey whatever command of Christ it pleases them the Gospel is for everybody and everywhere. They to obey, and disobey whatever command of the wanted to keep their best workers at home, and, Master they do not choose to obey. so far as we know, never sent men or money to '
It is a historic fact that the Church has pros- evangelize the heathen. While it weakened and pered according as she has cooperated with God's declined, the Antioch church flourished like a plan to give the Gospel to every creature or has green bay tree until in the time of Chrysostom declined to do so. Individual churches and whole half of the city of more than 200,000 population denominations are examples of this. Weak was Christian. What was the difference? One churches with missionary zeal soon become strong fell in line with God's plans for the world-wide churches, whereas a strong church that is an- propagation of the Gospel and God blessed and tagonistic or apathetic toward missions, finally prospered and gave it mighty power. The other becomes a weak church. Nor is this strange, for did not fall in line with God's plans and he withwhat interest can Christ have in the declaration held his power and the church suffered and at last of a man or a church that they believe in Him disappeared.
as the Son of God and the universal Saviour, when There are other reasons that compel me to be they repudiate that confession by denial of that missionary minded. There is no place where one Saviour's mission to the race? Dr. James 1. Vance can invest his life where it counts for as much as has well said, "The church that ceases to be mis- in the mission field. Shortly before Dr. John E.
sionary can no longer be evangelistic; the church Williams met his death at the hands of a Chinese that ceases to be evangelistic can no longer be soldier at Nanking on March 24, 1927, he was evangelical; and the church that ceases to be asked by his wife, as they stood one evening look- evangelical may well doubt whether it is Chris- ing at the lights of Nanking University to which tian." Dr. Albert Schweitzer, of Germany, one of he had given so many years of missionary service, the great Christian philosophers of today, and now "Jack, if you had known all you know tonight, serving as a medical missionary in the heart of would you do it over again?" Quick was his an- Africa, says that our Western civilization is swer: "Yes, a hundred times over! Where else doomed without a dominantly unselfish world in- could I have invested my life in a way that would terest. How much more necessary is it that the have brought me such large returns?"
Church have such an unselfish world interest! Is it not the irresistible logic of the Christian Yea, verily, it is utterly impossible to separate conscience that we are bound to share what we Jesus Christ from this world-wide missionary in- have which we know to be universally good? The terest, and the church that tries to do so may well better it is the more we are bound to share it; write "Ichabod" over its door, for its days are and since Christ is infinitely the best we have, we numbered. are more bound to share Him than by any other The loss of its world vision will more quickly obligations in the world.
bring death to the church at home and obedience Paul felt this when he cried, "I am debtor both to our Lord's last command will vitalize and to Greeks and barbarians." Why? Paul felt he quicken her life. If the church of today would had something which the rest of the world needed have the power of God come mightily upon her, and must have for its redemption. What a chal- if she would know her Lord's intimate presence, lenging motive this should be for us! We have she must receive it in the pathway of larger obe- received more than millions upon millions of our dience to the missionary command of Christ. Cut- fellows. Therefore, according to the Christian ting down our missionary force, closing up fields, principle, we should give more. We are "debtors."
reducing our missionary work to a minimum to If we believe that in Christ alone is found the save expense, is no way to receive God's blessing. truth that satisfies the intellect, the power that re- Only as the Church makes heroic sacrifices to meet generates the life, and the hope that illumines the its missionary obligations, only as her member- future; if we believe that to men's need of Christ ship has something to sacrifice for, only as we there is no exception, and to His power to save give our best, can we expect the Christ of God to them there is no limit: if we believe that He is the walk with us in the way of blessing and pros- gift of the Father to all, that He died to make perity. atonement for the sins of all, that He has been The church at Antioch was an informed and lifted up to draw all men unto Him – then we obedient church. They fasted and prayed and must believe that our first duty is to give the sent forth the best they had, and as a result the knowledge of this Saviour to all mankind. Verily, church became one of the greatest churches of we are "debtors." Are we ready to pay our debts?
the centuries. The old mother church at Jeru- The Apostle Paul meant much the same thing
when he said, ~'We also believe, and therefore also and at last dying the martyr's death? He says it we speak." He who has convictions of any truth was the love of Christ that constrained him. important to others, is ever moved to make that What was it that drove David Livingstone through truth known. You can judge of the sincerity of a Central Africa again and again? What was it man's convictions by the ardor of his proclama- that kept John G. Paton in the South Seas when tion. In this there is nothing peculiar or arbi- the savages again and again tried their best to kill trary. The astronomer discovers a star, and him? What was it that impelled Adoniram Judstraightway desires to give his discovery to the son in his heroic sacrifices for Burma? What was world. The honorable medical man who discovers it that steadied Robert Morrison, during the long a sure prophylactic during the progress of an epi- years when China resisted like a rock? What was demic, would be insanely selfish if he did not pro- it that drove Dr. A. L. Shelton repeatedly to Tibet claim it. As soon as any conviction of important until he lost his life at the hands of a bandit? truth becomes central and vital, there must come Their abiding motive was the love of Christ which an immediate and irresistible desire to utter it; constrained them. Does it constrain us? Do we then sacrifice is gladness and service is joy. The love Him with a love that surpasses all human early Christian Church believed in the sinfulness of man's nature, in the atoning power of Christ's loves? sacrifice on the Cross, the regeneration of the soul Some years ago an American young woman was of man by the Holy Spirit and in the judgment to come, the issues whereof are eternal. Under the called to China. She was the only child of her pressure of these truths, the early Christians could father, precious to him beyond expression. After not but speak, for the truth was a fire in their a tremendous struggle with his own heart, that bones and neither dungeon nor stake could turn father gave up his daughter for China. On the them aside from their purpose. Neither austere night when she was bidding farewell to church climate nor violent opposition could restrain the and friends, the father was asked to say a few medireval missionaries who believed these same words. At first he could not speak; then he said: truths and they went forth to Hun and Goth and "Friends, you all know me, and you all know my Teuton. Because our forefathers in America and Susie, and you all know what she has been to me the early pioneers of our own church, believed all her life, the very light of my eyes, the joy of these fundamental doctrines of the Christian my heart. Jesus Christ wants my daughter in faith, they went forth with heroic sacrifice to China and she is going. All I can say about it is preach the Gospel in our western states and then this-I have nothing, nothing too precious for my on to China and Japan and other lands. Men may Lord." say that they were mistaken, but there is the fact -they believed, and therefore they also spoke. Have you? Have I? Have we anything in Can we do less than they; or are we doing Tess heart or life today that we cannot willingly, because we believe less? gladly, give up to win men to Christ? May God bring us all to that heaven on earth, where, look- But above all,_ there is driving power in the ing into His face, we can truly say, "I have nothlove of Christ. What was it that drove Paul from ing too precious for Jesus Christ, my Lord." the Eastern end of the Roman empire to the When all who profess His name can say that, Western, preaching and teaching and suffering there will be no more missionary debts, there will be no lack of volunteers; our missionary prob- lems will be solved.
A PRAYER FOR MISSIONARIES o Lord Jesus Christ, the desire of all nations, who didst come down from heaven to seek and to save the lost; grant Thy blessing, we beseech Thee, upon thy missionary servants who are carrying the light of Thy Gospel to the dark places of the earth. Preserve them from every danger to which they may be exposed; from perils by land and sea, from persecution and pestilence, from discouragement in their labors, and from the devices of the adversary. May they see thy work prospering in their hands; and do Thou hasten the time, 0 gracious Saviour, when the multitude of unbelievers shall be gathered into Thy fold, and when all in- every land who neglected Thy salvation shall be converted unto Thee. And to Thee, Lord Je- sus, be the praise, unto whom, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be an honor and glory, world without end. Amen.
of Converts from
I 1I)It- -sf Sent by STEPHEN o. KOOBYAR, Tabriz, Iran Il====~~ "I WAS formerly a very bigoted Moslem and that if Islam were true I should see the proof in had a reputation as a woman of religious my dreams, and if Bahaism or Christianity were zeal. I had made a thorough study of the true that I might see other evidence. It so hap- rules and ritual of Islam and spent my time day pened that my dream that night pointed to Chris- and night in keeping those things which I believed tianity and the next night the same thing took to be my duty, especially in fasting during the place. Still I was not convinced.
special month and daily prayer and almsgiving. "Later I went into a closet to change my clothes.
At the same time I continually implored God to It was dark and the feeling came over me that I save me. must fall down upon my knees and pray. I did "Nearly twenty years ago severe family trouble so, not being able to resist the power that impelled came upon our home, so that I had to flee and me. I poured my heart out in prayer and then found shelter with a widow who had formerly came a vision of Christ. It was as though I were worked with us as a servant. At this time one of drawn to Him by a power above my will to resist.
the American missionaries opened a small school From that moment there was not the slightest in our district, which was entirely Moslem, and doubt in my mind that the claims of Christ were became a teacher there. For the first time I found true. I told my mother and asked her to make and read the Old and New Testament. My condi- arrangements for me to study and be baptized.
tion was changed and finally the light dawned in She asked whether I were certain that Christ was my heart. I accepted Christ as my personal Sav- my one and only Saviour and my ground of hope iour. It was my need that first led me to Christ. for time and eternity. I replied fervently that I "After I was forced to leave my home I was had absolute assurance. Her beaming face showed most despondent and lived a life of gloom until I me that she was praising God. found Christ and this was changed to continual joy and happiness and assurance. Just as the "I began to study the New Testament with a sun is not appreciated until one has known the new spirit and, after a period of probation, I was darkness, so it took trial and trouble as a back- baptized. Christ has sustained me through all ground to make me appreciate the light of Jesus my trials and I know that He is the highest rev- Christ."-From a lady who has been a Christian elation of God. There are many great things in for fifteen years. Christianity, but the greatest is that Christ is able to change life and make a new person; all things *** become new in Him."-A young lady, twelve yearts a Christian. "Fourteen years ago there were six people in our family. My mother had become a Christian *** and the others were all Moslems. I was by far the most zealous of the whole family in the Mo- "This servant was born a little more than fifty hammedan faith and during the month of fasting years ago into a village family. My parents were godly people though neither of them was able to I would arise before daylight to prepare my own read or write. My father had made several pil- food as I would not eat during the day. At times grimages to the Shiah shrines of Islam. I was I argued with my mother to persuade her to re- especially beloved, as I was an only child. My turn to Islam. She did not ask me to become a parents were neither very rich nor very poor, but "Christian but urged me to read the New Testa- wanted to give me every possible advantage. ment. This made me even more fanatical. I went When I was six years old they placed me in the to the mosque and sat at the very foot of the pUlpit village school. when the mullah preached and joined in the prayers very earnestly. I had some very close "They wanted me to learn to read and write. friends who were Bahais (a reformed Moslem If they had a child who could read the blessed sect) and they urged me to attend their meetings Koran it would be a great act of merit for them in and presented the claims of their faith. I became this life, and they believed that the reading of the Koran after their death, would atone for their very unhappy and, being little more than a child, sins. From earliest childhood I had a desire for my mind was filled with superstition. I prayed religious things and my talents seemed to lie along [597 ]
this line. When I had passed the first grades in captured my attention and interest in spite of mythe village school, the teacher suggested to my self. I was miserable for a time, wondering parents that I was worthy of all the education they whether truly salvation were in Islam or Christ. could give me and asked them to send me to the Finally the words of Jesus came to me with specity school. I went there and did well in my les- cial force, 'Come unto me all ye that labor and are sons until I was considered worthy to study the heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' I found the higher branches of Islamic law and religion. I truth of this promise in my own life. I came to entered with zeal upon these studies. Him and found rest. From the day that I gave myself to Christ my troubles became less and my "After some time I heard that certain mullahs heart became joyful; my load became light, and and mujtahids were not true in their faith. I found myself making progress in joy that Christ Though they kept up the appearance of being true alone can give. I believed in the God who gave Moslems it was rumored that they did not be- His only begotten Son to be the atonement for the lieve the very things they taught and that their sins of the world, and in Christ who bore the lives were not in accord with their doctrine. I burden of our sins upon Himself and died upon went to a leading priest who was said to be a 'lib- the cross to ransom us, to save us from destruction eral' and asked him a number of questions. His and bring us salvation and life everlasting. answers only served to increase my doubts and I Among the race of men there is no other free from worried more and more about my faith in which sin who could save us from its guilt and power. I was supposed to be a teacher and leader. Salvation and forgiveness is found in Him alone. Christ took up His abode in my heart and I found "The thought came to me, 'How can it be that comfort in every trouble. He gave me salvation the most educated people of the world in Europe and freedom from the death of sin. and America, with all of their science and invention, can be mistaken about their religion?' My "So I give praise to God that He has led me out first contact with Christianity at this time was of the darkness into His eternal light and has prothrough a Christian priest. Later I met a mem- vided a Saviour who has made perfect atonement ber of the Evangelical church who received me as for my sins and those of the whole world."-A a real brother. Our hearts became knit together and I became his disciple. I learned from him of 1foung mother. my own sickness of sin and the remedy in Jesus Christ. From that time to the present every ad- THE TOUCH OF CHRIST TODAY vance in spiritual truth has shown me in more bold relief my own shortcomings. It is only in Among the hills of Galilee, Christ that I have found peace in my heart; He Through crowded city ways, has shown me my sin and need and also the atonement for sin through the sacrifice of His cross. The Christ of God went forth to heal And bless in olden days. "I should be happy at some time to set down in detail my experiences, that perchance this road The sinning and the sad of heart which I have traveled, from a priest of Islam to In anxious throngs were massed one who has surrendered all to Christ, might help some brother to find the Way."-A former Mo- To catch the great Physician's eye And touch Him as He passed. hammedan Mullah. We have not in our hours of need *** His seamless garment pressed, "I was born in a family which was not religious. Nor felt His tender human hand Even as a child I had yearnings for spiritual op- On us in blessing rest; portunities which I saw meant much in the lives of other people. When I was young my mother Yet still in crowded city streets died and my father placed me in the dormitory of The Christ goes forth again, the girls' school of the American Mission. Later my father died and I was left an orphan. Whenever touch of human hand Bespeaks goodwill to men. "In the school there was a Moslem girl who constantly kept asking me why I did not perform Whenever man his brother man the stated prayers and read the Koran and keep Upholds in helplessness; the fasts. I had never learned to do these things as I had not come from a f3mily that paid much Whenever strong and tender clasp attention to religion. We had Bible lessons in the A lonely heart doth bless, school, and this girl and I read these merely because we must, but we did not pay attention. As The Christ of God is answering time went on certain things in the New Testament A stricken world's demands And leading back a wandering race By touch of human hands.
New and Old in Moslem
ByA. T. UPSON, Rayleigh, England I !ie– I Author of "High Lights"; Former Secretary of the Nile Mission Press I D URING the thirty-seven happy strenuous as that?" Yes; but look at their surroundings in years spent among the Moslems of the Near which they have been reared. Most of the villages East, there were many signs that "The old there have two water-holes, one for humans, and order changeth, yielding place to new." During the other for cattle which they befoul as beasts the last few years, the pace has quickened and will do! But the village referred to has only one tendencies are now more clearly seen. water-hole for cattle and men!! Is it any wonder In recent years certain things have passed away. that typhoid fever is rampant there? Is there any We have great sympathy with the Eastern demand worse sanitary condition in any part of the world?
to abolish "Foreign Privileges." But as the East Yet the local people say that they absolutely refuse grows more nationalistic, what will be the fate of to come under the rule of Damascus, some eighty such encouraging meetings as one held in Iraq, miles off!
when about fifty men listened to an address on Opportunities Remain: The Nile Mission Press "Christ, the Ransomer by His Blood"? What colportage car still goes to the south of Algeria, would have been the fate of my oldest colporteur, and Miss Grautoff, of the Algiers Mission Band, Yaqub? * What would have happened to the seven still goes to an oasis 380 miles to the south to do converts from Islam in those days? Ere a dozen "men's work." The colporteurs in Egypt are still years are past, we shall be discussing "The Pass- plodding on. And in spite of the nationalism of ing of the Foreign Missionary" from all Moslem Iraq and Iran there is more receptivity among the lands. What a call to us to "Work while it is Shiah Moslems than in some lands.
called 'Today.' " Further, some new opportunities seem to be de- But Islam remains; in fact, is more active than veloping. For instance, the German Carmel Mis- sions hold an annual conference for Arab priests ever. In Egypt Islamic broadcasts are made, by of the Greek Church. For several years a wellradio, twice daily. For the first time, they have known Moslem convert has been greatly used of legalized preaching in the open-air, i. e., in the God there. squares of Cairo. But on what subject? The claims of Christ? Certainly not; Islam, and Faithful witnessing remains. Not only is it Islam only, is to be preached. Does one wonder true that "When God buries His workers He carthat the annual drift from the Coptic Church to ries on His work" but also, when political condi- Islam, which was 1,000 a year in my day, is now tions render it unwise for the foreigner to remain 1,500 a year? in a country God carries on His work. How? He has His 7,000 that "have not bowed the knee to Bigotry and Persecution Remain: The expulsion Baal." One still tours Lebanon and North Syria, of Dr. Liley from Tripoli, Barbary, and the half- and most Moslems know that he is a convert from dozen workers from Abyssinia are fresh in our Islam. There are other Moslem converts holding minds-perhaps because the victims were Euro- meetings in Egypt. peans. But what of the native believers in Morocco and other lands? Even in England, an over- A very remarkable testimony was, unwillingly, seas student refused recently to accept a copy of perhaps unconsciously, borne by a Moslem conthe New Testament because of persecution. vert, a former friend of mine. On leaving the Protestants, through marrying a Roman Catholic, Disease and Sin Remain: For the first time in and drifting into unbelief, he still watched us. In thirty-seven years' service, I was recently pelted 1931, when I went to Jerusalem, he wrote a fourwith clods of dirt in a Syrian village. I was not page article warning the people against me, and hurt, though hit with dust and earth about seven saying, "The reason this man (Abdul-Fady) is times, yet it was an uncomfortable experience. dangerous is that he belongs to a group of people The reader may ask, "Are they still as backward • His striking story is told in Mr. lipson's book. "High Lights in who never know when they are defeated, but just fight. on !" the Near East," 2/G )1. M. & S. London; $1.00 Zondervan, Grand Rapids, :lIich.
[ 599 ]
~;~~~~~"'=="""'~==~==~11
Effective Ways of Working i 'fested Methods far Increasing Interest at Home I I s. EDITED BY MRS. ESTELLA AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO ~=~====================~==-, Missions and World Peace readily available. For older The Far Eastern Crisis, by Henry Thus far only incidental ref- groups, for the wee~ly pra;v:er L. Stimson. Harper Brothers, $3.75. erence has been made in this Department to the third mission meeting, contests, ralbes, specIal A Place in the Sun, by Grover study theme for the current year -World Peace; but its great emphasis programs, contests, de- Clark. Macmillan Co., $2.~0. . importance needs no added em- We or They, by HamIlton FISh phasis in the .setti~g of the present world sItuatIOn; nor can bb aetset s~faadldl,r epsasneesl and, probably Armstrong. Macmillan, $1.50. any argument fo~ its fundam~n discussions in tal connection wIth the foreIgn Vital Peace, by Henry Wickham missionary enterprise be required when we consider the which a group seated on the Steed. Macmillan, $2.75. devas:tated properties and im- On the Rim of the Abyss, by James paired personnel in many. evan- rostrum converse informally gelical missions which It has T. Shotwell. Macmillan, $3.00. taken centuries to build up. after an opening lead by a chair- And We Are Civilized, by Wolf- Practically every denomination which has sent its new mission- mdiascn~sasinodn,, avoiding pro and con gang Ackerman Covici Frie?e, $2.50. ary literature to the Dep~rtment exploit various sides War-drawings and etchmgs, by Editor for inspection maJors the theme. Earnest preparation has of a subject previously well pre- Kerry Eby. Yale University Press, been made to implement the purposes and sentim~nts of ~he pared upon, in conyersational $2.V50ic. tories of Peace, by GI·11 and Christian Church m Ame~ICa. Pullen. Friendship Press, $1.00 and As the birthday of the Prmce style, the audience bemg all~w~d of Peace draws near, the time is 50¢W. orld Peace and Chns.t.H~n M.1~- particularly opportune to stress to participate after the tOPIC IS sions, by H. E. Fey. FrIendshIp the plans and literature. A few sample programs, alone, in our well opened-through an these Press, 35¢. pages would be quite inadequate to the need. Every church means inclusive of pastoral ser- Educating for Peace, by E. M. and should approach the considera- J. L. Lobengier. Pilgrim Press, $1.50. tion of the subject with broad, emnoends~npdulirnpeoss·eosf may be awakdeep preparation and plans laid activity mapped America Must Act, by F. B. Sayre, for a coordinated effort among Asst. Secretary of State. World all departments of activity, f~om out to make the world peace- Peace Foundation, 75¢. primary department of the BI?le school all the way through semor minded. Community rallies and Highways to International Good and adult organizations and in- Will, by Walter W. Van Kirk. Abingclusive of the pulpit. contests in speaking or essay don Press, 50¢.
For younger children we have writing are inva,luable and lend What Can Christians Do for already referred to "Ship East, Peace? by T. A. Green (syllab1!s ~or Ship West," by E. M. Lobengier themselves particularly to an en- church discussion groups). PIlgrim (Friendship Press, N. Y., or Press, 25¢. your own denominational litera- deavor whose motif must be ture bureau; $1.00 and 50c) , giving the choicest of stories and Christian Brotherhood and its facts on world peace; leaders among junior groups may wen method cooperative. For adults Write to the Foreign Policy Asmake this a starting point, following wit h other material a very effective plan is the circu- fsoorciatoitohn~r8 West 40th St., New York, special pamphlets. The lation of standard books on the subject, a regular church library Women's International League for being a worth-while investment Peace and Freedom, 1924 Chestnut of the Lord's money. It is a St., Philadelphia, Pa., and Th~ Na- cheap move to pass the responsi- tional League for the PreventlO~ of tWona,r' D5.32C1., 7 tahlsSo t . ,h aNv.e.W.th.,~,Wgarseha~mesgt- bility for the outlawing of war onto munitions makers, "capital- profusion of "ammullltlOn agamst ists" and that ambiguous group war, much of which the Editor has called "the moneyed interests." used or inspected and found well They have their part in the con- adapted to its purpose.
tinuation of the war game; but Your own publisher will doubtless be glad to order any they are at most only a symptom of the foregoing books for you.
of a much deeper malady in the heart of humanity-self-seek- PICTURES, STORIES, PLANS ienrhg~opdr.idTe haendfotlhloewliancgk of broth- Friends in Everyland-12 pictures listing of with story on back of each, 25¢.. available material is only p&.r- Never Again-group o~ elg~t tial but will at least pave the Everyland stories of world frlendsh.Ip way to a larger ~onsi<;lera~ion of and peace–printed and bound smt- the subject WhICh lIes m the ably for any library. 50¢ per copy.
very heart of Christ's mission: Suitable for gift book. .
Friends of All the W orId Series: Book 1~f for children eight or nine BOOKS years age, Children of Other oLfanadg~s, 85¢. Book 2, 10 to 11 years Why We Went to War, by Newton The Way of Friendship, 85¢. D. Baker. Harper Brothers, $1.50.
[600 ]
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
Book 3, 13 years of age, Heroes of at the church (or otherwise) tion of women of Islam. The Friendship, 85¢. and invite the men to attend. 16mm. film rents for $1.25 and Make it "strong meat," not the 35mm. for $2.00. Friendship Paper Dolls-Four dolls wishy-washy sentiment such as eight inches high, like real children of does not appeal to "the breth- "Padre Sahib"-a new study Korea, China, Japan, India. Change ren." of the Moslem world, produced of costume for each doll, in three by William L. Rogers and wife, colors. 25¢. If you value the well-being of with advisory service from the your own children and those of Motion Picture Committee of Order foregoing from Women's Mis- others; if you would make our the Missionary Education Movesionary Society, United Lutheran country a shining example of ment (4 reels, 16mm., silent) is Church in America, 723 Muhlenberg the effort to live the peace a story of everyday missionary Building, Philadelphia, Pa. teachings of Jesus ChriJst; if life in northern India. It offers you would remove the greatest vivid insight into the problems Graded Foreign Mission Stories present obstacle to the pr.ogress and needs of all Christian mison Missions and W orId Peace. Bap- of foreign missions, do some- sionaries. The action of this tist Board of Education, 152 Madison thing at your earliest opportu- picture centers in a typical com.. Ave., New York, 15¢. nity and follow it up with more munity of Moslem Indians. A education and more practical Moslem woman rebels when her A Junior Teacher's Guide on proje,cts. husband brings home a new W orId Peace-projects and program wife, taking her small daughter, activities. Friendship Press, 25¢. Missions in Moving Pictures Zebada, whose eyes had been healed by the doctor. She seeks Children from Many Lands-post- The H arm 0 n Foundation refuge with the missionaries. ers of children of 10 countries with (with which the Religious Mo- Later action of the ,picture is appropriate verse for each. National tion Picture Foundation was concerned with the efforts of Council for Prevention of War (ad- merged) has among its declared Zebada's father to force the dress given above), $1.00. purposes: "To produce socially marriage with Karam Bege, to valuable motion pictures for whom he had betrothed her in Graphs, Program Materials, Illus- educational and church use" and return for 500 rupees. The trated Booklets and Discussion Mate- "to serve as a clearinghouse for action of this picture gives an, rial. Foreign Policy Association, 8 information on the most effec- opportunity to develop the daily W. 40th St., New York. Headline tive use of motion pictures and activities of the Christian misbooks, 25¢ each; program materials, other visual aids in church, edu- sionaries in this atmosphere. 15¢ each. cational and related fields." Its Rental, $4.00. Order all films, catalogue ~hows a most compre- as well as complete catalogue, Posters on World Peace–"The hensive library of silent films- from The Division of Visual Ex- Better Way," 24 x 36 inches; "Se- educational, dramatic, mission- periment, Harmon Foundation, curity Through Federation," 18 x 12 ary, on religion and life, life 140 Nassau St., New York. All inches. World Peaceways, 103 Park situations, social and economic the new films may be purchased Ave., New York, 5¢. studies, the arts, etc. The very in copy by church boards for use large list on "The World and Its in churches of their own de- American Posters on World Peace, Peoples" and "The Church in nomination, prices to be quoted five titles, size, 12 x 12 inches. Amer- Action" co ve r s missionary on request. ican Friends Service Committee, 20 themes. Those which the De- S. 12th St., Philadelphia, 10¢ each. partment Editor has used in Helpful New Literature s.chools of missions proved ex- English Posters on WorId Peace- cellent. They are usually made The Woman's Missionary Soover 30 titles, size, 22 x 30 inches in cooperation with missionary ciety of the Evangelical and Re- (imported by Friends Service Com- authorities, and each year lead- formed Church, 416 Schaff mittee) ; sets of 13, $1.50; each ers on the current foreign study Building, 1505 Race St., Philaposter, 15¢. themes are brought out. As delphia, Pa., has recently sent mentioned previously in this de- for inspection some leaflets and How Shape the Future for Peace? partment, "Islam in Egypt" fits pamphlets which will be helpful -excellent program analysis and the study of Mohammedans. It in any denomination. plan on page 13 of How Can We depicts the mysticism and Shape the Future?-a discussion learning of Mohammedanism in A stewardship packet containcourse for young people by Margaret Egypt, the intense loyalty of its ing a variety of leaflets: Holley Tuck, based on Basil Mathews' followers, its strong customs Shaping the Future. and laws of life. Exteriors and "What's in a Chance?" (leaflet interiors of various mosques are against gambling), 4¢. That's a Dream-similar plan and shown, the call to prayer is outline, page 10 of We Can Change given and "the faithful" shown "Alcohol Advertising Appraised," the World, for Women's Societies responding. The freedom of girls 4¢. and Senior World-wide Guilds, based in an Egyptian school is conon Mathews' Shaping the Future. trasted with the degraded posi- "What Price Repeal?" 5¢. "There Lies the Way," containing Both the foregoing to be ordered instructions for anti-war instructions from the Baptist Board of Education. for children, 6¢. These four Christian Citizenship PAGEANTS AND DRAMATIC leaflets sell as a packet at 15¢.
SKETCHES A Peace Program for Juniors, by Jane Gilbert. Baptist Board of Education, 5¢ each, or three for 10¢.
Send to The National Council for the Prevention of War (address already given) for a long, very complete list of pageants and plays on Peace, for children, young folks and adults. Write your own literature headquarters for many others we cannot list here.
It is suggested that each woman's society should prepare an especially worthful program inclusive of a convincing pageant, if possible; have a supper
"The Rainbow Pageant," a thank- grounds have few real contacts. When they arrived, we found offering service, 15¢. Our series of Public Nationality they had packed their car with Nights, intended to promote a treasures of silk, china, wool "For Such a Time as This," pag- world point of view, started embroideries, pottery, etc., for eant presenting the United Christian when we suddenly realized that which they had combed their Adult Movement, 10¢. though our denomination works congregations. We spread out among Hungarians in New York their beautiful things alongside "The Call of the Hills," play pre- and New Jersey, we knew noth- the collection from New York senting scene in mountain ca0in ing about them-actually less (which we had insured for one (mistakenly accredited in a former than of the Arabians and East day for $200). issue to the Lutherans), 5¢. Indians whom it serves far away. So we set about prepar- About 150 attended our Hun- Woman's Missionary Society ing a Hungarian evening. garian evening on a snowy of the Evangelical Church, Third night. The program came first, and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa.: The Hungarian-American So- interspersed with readings and ciety, Radio Center, New York musical numbers, then our pas- "Men Discuss Missions," a heart- City, arranged to let us have a tor introduced the brother searching demonstration to be staged valuable display of embroideries clergymen, who brought greetby the best men of the church, 5¢. and other handwork. A leaflet ings from their churches. As a from them gave material for a thrilling close, all stood while "Leaven on Noisy Creek," a dia- brief reading on "The Hun- the little orchestra played the logue by two mountain women, 5¢. garian Love of Art." Etude, Hungarian anthem. Oct., 1930, and a bibliography Dramatic plan for Mother-Daughter from the Foreign Language In- Opportunity was given to view 1lanquet, 3¢. formation Service, 222 Fourth the remarkable exhibit of hand- Ave., New York, listing Na- work and to talk to the visitors. Story leaflet, "When the Prince of tional Geographies with articles So on 15-cent admission and 5- Peace Won," 3¢. on Hungary, provided data for cent cafeteria refreshments we another article on "The Hun- made friends and cultivated "Going Farther with the Master," garian Love of Music." Our friendly attitudes, and took in an excellent devotional series of 12 church board sent material for over $20.00; for, passing along leaflets, 15¢ per set. a third short paper on "Our the tables displaying the art Church and the Hungarians." works, one came naturally to a "They Also Wait," a mountain long table filled with cake, sandsketch in two acts and with 10 char- Local resources were used wiches and coffee and a cashier acters, 12¢. next. Two of our melPbers had at the end.-FLORENCE GORDON, their piano teacher give them Weehawken, N. J. "A Mountain Woman's Fight for Hungarian duets. An organiza- Life," a missionary pantomime, 15¢. tion of church singers, invited ("An Evening in Japan," by to prepare two numbers, chose "Suggestions for Creating Atmos- Lis z t 's "Liebestraum" and this same writer, will appear in phere in Program on Southern Brahms' "Around the Gypsies' an early issue.) Mountains": in Japan, in China, in Campfire." A young woman of Nigeria, West Africa, and among Hungarian descent agreed to How MISSIONARY INTEREST Italians in America, 5¢ each. teach the girls the national folk . BEGINS dance, the czardas, and a lovely The Baptist Board of Mission- folk song, "The Old Gypsies" One of the greatest givers of ary Education, 152 Madison (Marks Music Co., 225 W. 46th our generation was asked how it Ave., New York, has brought St., New York, victrola record happened that he made such out the following excellent pro- 20749, Arten Cigany). She sang large gifts to missions. "It grams and study outlines for the last verse in Hungarian. She didn't hap pen," he replied. adult and young people's< groups: also danced the czardas with the "When I was a boy my mother girls, wearing her picturesque taught me to give a part of every "The Way of a Witness," a Project costume in red and green, the dime and every dollar. The only Course in Personal Evangelism, by Hungarian colors. A local music thing that has happened is that Margaret Holley Tuck, based on "The school taught a small orchestra I have more dimes and more dol- Way of the Witnesses," 25¢. of its students a Brahms dance lars now!" and the national anthem. "How Can We Shape the Future?" Katherine Scherer C ron k -a Discussion Course, by Margaret Letters explaining the plan said: "We might say to the hosts Holley Tuck, based on "Shaping the were sent to the two Reformed of church members who are in- Future," 25¢. Hungarian pastors in another different to missions, 'How did county, with a request for infor- it happen that you took no in- "The Future of Missions," a Proj- mation about their congrega- terest in missionary work?' ·'It ect Course in World Evangelism, by tions. They offered to come per- didn't happen,' they might truth- Margaret Holley Tuck, based on sonally, bringing art objects fully reply. 'When we were chil- "Missions Tomorrow," 25¢. from the homes of their people. dren there was no missionary training in our Sunday school "We Can Change the World," five and no missionary society in our programs by Anna Canada Swain, church.' " based on "Shaping the Future," 15¢.
"Six Programs," by Dorothy A. Stevens, based on "Rebuilding Rural America," 15¢.
The following are for 'teen age young people: "Seein' Things," by Mabel A. Silke, 25¢.
"Hills and Veils," by Irene A. Jones and Mae Deal Shane, based on "Highland Heritage" and "The Young Moslem Looks at Life," 25¢.
Nationality Nights A HOME-FoREIGN PROJECT We live across the Hudson from cosmopolitan New York, in a polyglot community, but those of different national back- The Council of Women for Home Missions EDITH E. LOWRY, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 105 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK ~,~~====~~~~~~~~~~====~=~~ Peace in Our Time militant nations in utter disre- zations participate,and the Na- gard of their commitments tional Peace Conference which God of the nations, near and far, through treaties and peace pacts, includes more than forty peace Ruler of all mankind, and at a time when the United societies and organizations with States is feeling its way toward departments of international re- Bless Thou Thy people as they strive a renewed sense of its responsi- lations, such as the Federal The paths of peace to find. bility to share in the world effort Council of Churches and the to prevent war as the only sure women's interdenominational The clash of arms still shades the sky, way to permanent peace, it is agencies. Thus a certain unity King battles still with king – well to remember that there are has been given to the peace organizations and groups of movement and a great force has Wild through the frighted air of night people who are actively engaged been created which should ul- The bloody tocsins ring. in building the peace movement timately, in spite of discourage- in this country and in trying ments and set-backs, lead the o Father! from the curse of war to find a way to banish war from people of our nation towards the the earth. goal of a warless world. We pray Thee give release, And speed, 0 speed the blessed day The churches are taking an in- New Materials for Peace Education Of justice, love and peace. creasingly active part in this 1. Marathon Round Tables -Presbyterian Hymnal. movement, condemning war as 1937-1938.
Compassionate Father, whose sin and utterly futile as a means The National Committee on eyes are in every place and the Cause and Cure of War has whose heart is burdened with to settle international disputes. prepared the following courses the sin and suffering of Thy chil- for use by those who wish to pardren, while we go forth in safety The organized women of the ticipate in Marathon Round and comfort to our work, we re- Table Discussion Groups: member our brethren in lands churches are also working for where war is bringing anguish Plan A-"United States and and poverty and pain and death. peace in ever increasing num- the World." God of justice, deal sternly with them who have drawn the sword, bers, and are making their in- This is the basic course for those and bring home the guilt and who wish to study world peace mafolly of violence. God of pity, fluence felt in their communities. chinery and the relation of American look in mercy on the helpless foreign policy to such world organivictims of strife and on them Believing war to be destructive zations. who are made to slay those against whom they have nothing. of all those forces which make Individual kits $.75. Make sensitive our consciences to Group kits $2.50. know ourselves involved in and for human brotherhood, and the responsible for a world where Plan B-"Adequate National greed of gain and lust for power bringing in of the Kingdom of Defense-What is it?" move us and our brothers in every land. By the shame and God, they are working to create This course considers national demisery of strife, lead us to re- fense in terms of moral, political, milipentance. By the persuasions of a public opinion opposed to war, tary and economic armaments, and the cross draw all men to the is linked up with the Campaign for more excellent way of love, and and in favor of peaceful methods World Economic Cooperation of the lead the nations in paths of National Peace Conference through righteousness for His name's to effect needful changes in in- the use of the Headline Book of the sake, who is the Prince of Peace. Foreign Policy Association "Peace- ternational relations. . ful Change-An Alternative to War," -Henry Sloane Coffin in which is the basic book for that cam- the Presbyterian Tribune. Church women find their place paign. Through the use of these in the peace movement through Marathon materials church groups Church Women in the Peace their connection with the Council will be cooperating not only with the Movement of Women for Home Missions, National Committee on the Cause and Cure of War, but with the Na- In these days of "undeclared the Woman's Committee of the tional Peace Conference' Campaign wars" and acts of aggression by Foreign Missions Conference, and the National Council of Fed- erated Church Women, all of which have departments, or com- mittees of international rela- tions, and through these repre- sent church women in certain of the national peace organizations. Most important among these are the National Committee on the Cause and Cure of War in which eleven women's national organi- [ 603 ] for World Economic Cooperation, and State, to acquaint church people people throughout Europe and it is hoped that great many of these Marathon Round Tables will be with the struggle through which Asia who are working together formed this year by churches, clubs, and community peace groups. their brothers are passing and for peace. The World Alliance its relation to international re- for International Friendship Individual kit '$1.00. lations. Price 40 cents, Foreign through the Churches is a mem- Group kit $3.50. Policy Association, 8 West 40th ber of the American Committee Write for further information Street, New York. and the Council of Women for to the Council of Women for The International Peace Home Missions has also signi- Home Missions, or to the Na- fied its intention of joining in Campaign tional Committee on the Cause this movement believing that the and Cure of War, 70 East 45th In the year that has inter- work for peace should be world- Street, New York City. vened since the Brussels Con- wide and that there is strength in uniting with the people of 2. "Peace in These Times," is gress when the International the title of a series of four pro- Peace Campaign was organized, other nations in this great cause. grams of worship and discus- many of the countries of the sion on the causes of war and From time to time the women the way to peace published by world have, through their peace of the churches will hear of the the Presbyterian Board of Chris- organizations, joined in this work of the International Peace tian Education, Philadelphia, movement, and today there is Pa. The four programs, "Jesus, a t r u I y international peace Campaign and those who are in- Christians and War" ; "The movement, which through Peace terested in keeping in touch with Way to Peace"; "Nationalism VB. rallies, National Peace Con- it may subscribe to the bulletin Patriotism" ; and "What Can gresses, and public meetings of sent from Geneva every few Christians Do?" are intended to many kinds, is trying to bring weeks to tell of the work being arouse church people to a will to peace and a determination to pressure upon governments in done in all the countries where work for peace, and may be used the International Peace Camas the basis for group discussion, favor of peace; believing that if paign is functioning. Write to or as four consecutive programs the people of the world unite for meetings of church groups, for peace no ~overnment will the International Peace Cammen or women. They are espe- dare to lead a nation into war. paign, Palais Wilson, Geneva, cially good for a Woman's Mis- Switzerland. The subscription sionary Society. Price 25 cents. Weakened by the absence of the rate is three Swiss francs. peace societies of Italy and Ger- 3. Another new set of pro- many, the people of the other At this Christmas season there is fighting and death by violence countries of Europe where the in China, Spain, Ethiopia and International Peace Campaign is strongest, are nevertheless work- perhaps other places, and men of goodwill seem powerless to grams is that published by the ing together for peace by col- stem the tide of hate and selfish- Council of Social Action, 289 lective action ana are a mighty ness which lead to war. Yet Fourth Avenue, New York City, force in building public opinion millions of men and women hate under the title "World Peace." in their respective nations. The war and are working for peace, This is a packet containing a churches have a leading part in and have faith enough to bestudy outline, a Worship Service, this movement, bringing the in- lieve that eventually goodwill pamphlets and reprints, among fluence of the Church to bear up- will triumph and international these being "Five Sectors .of the on this problem. justice put to an end some of Peace Movement" by Fosdick, In the United S tat e san the "sore spots" which lead to an article on "Neutrality or Col- American Committee to cooper- war. lective Security" and one on ate with the International Peace The women of the churches in local Peace Councils. T his Campaign has been formed. This missionary societies and in other packet is arranged for church Committee consists of those or- church organizations, believing groups, men or women. Price, ganizations which favor inter- as they do in human brotherhood 25 cents, plus postage. national cooperation to prevent and in goodwill between men and 4. Of special i n t ere s t to war and believe that the United women of all nations, all of church members is one of the States should participate in such whom are equally children of headline books of the Foreign international efforts within the God, the Father, gladly share in PolicyAssociation called "Church limits of its commitments under this work for peace with their and State" with the Study the Kellogg Pact, and that the brothers and sisters in other Course which accompanies it. four principles adopted as the lands, and pray with them for For those who are concerned program for the International the realization on earth of the wit h the situation i nth e Peace Campaign must be inter- Christmas message: "On Earth churches of Europe in such preted in the United States in Peace, Goodwill to Men." . -Elinor K. Purves.* countries as Germany, Italy, the light of our national policies.
Spain, and Russia, this study has The American Committe is plan- • This Bulletin has heen prepared by Mlsb Elinor K. Purves, Chairman, Cooperating great value. It is written in col- ning to enter into such activities laboration with some of the as may fit into the American Committee on International Relations for the leaders at the Oxford Confer- peace program and thus to join Committee on Women's Work of the Foreign Missions Conference, the National Council ence on Church, Community and hands with the thousands of of Federated Church Women, and the Council of Women for Home Missious.
~'=-============""""======~
L= = =O= u-= 1=E=:;=~=·s =:~=:=~=R;=.:=~=d=~ =:=st;w=: =e=~ =of=G~=~=~=,?=x~=~=;~=:=o~=}=~O=ts=o=k= = = I~ EUROPE the Roman Catholics, 10 per Bible Society is gIvmg aid to- cent, out of a population of about wards the translation, printing Bible Reading in France 1,000,000. and circulation of the transla- tion. A hymn book in the ver- The Societe Centrale Evan- Protestant w 0 r k is repre- nacular is also being compiled. gelique reports 17,527 Protes- sented by a small Evangelical mission at Kortcha. Its particu- -The Christian. ro tants in its various preaching lar work of preaching, Sunday schools, circulation of the Scrip- AFRICA centers, a 15 increase over tures and religious literature en- 1935. joys the benevolent regard of Southern nlorocco the authorities. The mission, It is interesting to note that however, has no legal status. Someone has said that to offer when M. Chasles, a Roman Cath- Albania recognizes that national the Gospel to a Mohammedan is olic, an archivist and well-known stability and progress is best as- "to ask the proudest man in the scholar, paid a chance visit to a sured by granting wide liberty world to accept something he small Protestant chapel in Paris, for religious instruction and hates from someone he dehe gained such an interest in the helpful spiritual influence to spises." In the face of such op- Bible that he wrote a book, The youth. The immediate strength- position as this, workers in the Bible for Catholics, which has ening of evangelical work is now Southern Morocco Mission have had a wide circulation. He has possible, if the men and the proclaimed the Gospel for fifty also been lecturing at the Sar- means are available. years. bonne on the Bible, and earnestly recommends the reading of -World D.ominion Press. Morocco – 0 n I y three-and-a the Bible to his large audiences. half days' journey from England "Remnants" in Eastern Europe -used to be a Christian land, The Bible in Germany but is now in the firm grip of Protestants have a constant Islam. It is peopled by those The conflict between Chris- struggle to maintain Evangeli- who pride themselves that their tianity and Nazism goes on, with cal work against the fanatical religion wiped out Christianity. more church leaders arrested foes of all religion on the one An encouraging sign of progress from time to time. For over six hand, and unfriendly govern- today is the eagerness of the months in 1936 the colportage ments on the other. Lutheran children to. learn to read and of all religious literature, includ- and Reformed are minority write. The wo.rk of the missio.n ing Bibles, was forbidden, the groups, in some countries "rem- centers in boys' classes, a book secret police giving as the reason nants," often desperately poor; shop and preaching in Moroccan that communLsts, under cover of but they are not only holding market places. selling religious books, were dis- their own, they are winning contributing their propagandist ma- verts by thousands, notably in -Life of Faith. terial. Only in parts of the coun- the Ukraine (Southern Poland), try where the prohibition was Austria and Czechoslovakia. A Step Toward Temperance not strictly enforced were col- Most of the people are simpleporters able to continue more or hearted, unlettered land work- In South Africa a British less their usual activities. Yet ers, scattered thinly over the Commission has ordered that in spite of this, and the growing country. 202 of the 220 saloons be closed propaganda against the Bible in in Mcordance with the Liquor the press, the total number of The greatest need is for com- Act of 1928, a measure which copies circulated by the British petent leadership. The Central provided that after ten years the and Foreign Bible Society col- European Bur e a u of Inter- licenses of no saloons were to be porters, was considerably higher Church Aid, an <ecumenical com- renewed unless they had been than in the previous year. mittee of which Dr. Adolph Kel- converted into restaurants or -W.orld Dominion Movement. ler, of Geneva, is secretary, is hotels. Few have been so con- doing much to organize the con- verted. Unfortunately, the legis- Opportunity in Albania verts and provide such leader- lation allows them to continue as ship. A prime need is to provide wine and malt houses. Never- In Albania Moslems consti- a Bible in the Ukraine vernacu- theless, the closing of such places tute 70 per cent of the people; lar and the British and Foreign to the sale of whiskey and next come the Orthodox, num- brandy is regarded as a step tobering 20 per cent, and lastly [605 )
ward temperance. Church and gathered to watch something.en- Christians there; they were all social organizations are hailing tirely foreign to them-the BISh- outside, having given up their the move with satisfaction. op laying the cornerstone. The places in the chapel to t~eir ground plan of the church was friends, so that the latter mIght -Alliance Weekly and Chris- drawn with the help of a Nuba hear the words of life. Already, tian Advocate. Sheikh, whose workmen dug the more than 20,000 have signified foundation. In the evening, aft- their wish to become Christians. Sunday Schools in South Africa er the laying of the cornstone, The next problem is to train a mud wall had been built, about them in Christian living. More than half the total in- two feet high. The walls grew crease in the membership of the daily; they were molded in red Spanish Guinea Is Quiet world's Sunday schools has been mud one day, the workers patin Africa. In the Union of South ting the mud gently with stones Moorish troops have gone AEufrroicpa~anse,sptehceiaSlluyndaamy osnchgootlhies to prevent cracks. When the from Spanish Guinea, since a live and progressive institu- walls were finished a special pol~ there is nobody left to kill! Comtion. This is one of the reasons ish consisting of a thin layer of munication with Spain has been why South Africa has been mu'd rubbed with a wild nut, reopened; Spanish steamers chosen for the next World's Sun- was applied. come and go, but business is day School Convention. practically at a standstill. . "Meantime, arches for the The Wayside Sunday school roof were being made. Some The attitude of the authOrIhas grown tremendously during brought grass for thatching; ties to the Evangelical missionthe past two years, and reaches others long poles on which to aries is favorable. There is no thousands of children who would rest the arches, and still others official frowning upon the 35 otherwise be outside the influ- made palm leaf ropes to tie the catechetical schools, as the Govence of the Church. It is esti- roof. The old men hacked long ernment thinks that results simmated there are 2,250,000 chil- tree trunks into seats, these to ilar to those in the Cameroun, dren in South Africa who do not rest on mud pillars a foot high. where missions have produced attend Sunday school, largely Ninety people can be seated." thousands of literates, will be because of the distance to the The church was dedicated with desirable in Spanish Guinea. nearest church. these words: The centenary of the Mission -South African Outl.ook. "We here dedicate to the glory of Evangelica de Guinea Espanola God this building, to be called 'The is being celebrated by a joint Italy Controls Ethiopian Church of Christ, the Good Shep- campaign of the mission and the Church herd,' to the extension of His King- Native Church to win 15,000 na- dom to be the place where the Sacra- tives to Christ. Three months The Italians have announced ments are administered, and to be the were spent in preparation and that the Coptic Christian Church House of Prayer for all the peoples of prayer. During the succeeding of Ethiopia i.s no longer under these hills, in the Name of the Father, three months 11,000 men and the control of the Coptic Patri- and of the Son, and of the Holy women turned to Christ. Nine archy at Alexandria, Egypt. Ghost." new communities have been sup- plied with evangelists in the past Corrado Zoli, former gover- -C. M. S. Outl.ook. two months, who are fully supnor of Eritrea, announced that ported by the native church. bishops of key cities of Ethiopia, A Worthy Centennial Goal such as Addis Ababa and Ak- -World Dominion Press. sum, will either be named by the African Christians in the Coptic Church of Ethiopia and Cameroun are out to win 15,000 Self-Support in Africa confirmed by the Italian Govern- new believers as their contribument, or be named directly by tion to the centennial observance There is a steady movement the Government. The announce- of the Presbyterian Board. In toward self-support in the Afriment further stated that it is some of the village chapels, can churches. The Methodist possible that the right to crown writes Dr. W. C. Johnston, sec- Church of South Africa is now the Emperor of Ethiopia will be retary of the Mission, the Chris- independent, so also is the Bapgiven to the Roman Catho~ic tians have given up the long an- tist Church. The Bantu Pres- Apostolic delegate to Add 1.s ticipated privilege of hearing byterian Church is moving in the Ababa instead of the Coptic visiting evangelists and mission- same direction. Last year the Bishops of Addis Ababa and Ak- aries and sit outside after bring- Dutch Reformed Church consum. ing their non-Christian friends tributed over £96,000 for mis- to the gathering. At the close sions, and its mission churches -The Living Church. of one meeting, the missionary and native Christians raised asked Christians to leave,- so £20,000 and £2,375 respectively. First Nuba Mountain Church that he could talk further spe- It is making every effort toward cially to the non-Christians. No reviving family worship. Illit- Pioneer Christians i nth e one moved. He repeated his re- eracy is the outstanding hin- Nuba mountains have completed quest, urging the Christians to drance to Christian work. their first church building. withdraw. Then someone ex- plained that there were no -World DominIon Movement. "A group of interested Nubas
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Sunday School Convention- lend a hand to. uplift their peD- in the CDurse Df the wsaeyrvitche~ 1940 pIe. -World D01ninion Press. shDwing in a striking Great inter&<;t ,is manifest in u.nity and diversity Df Chris- eastern and sDuthern Africa in New Clinic in Baghdad tIans. The invDcatiDn was given the prDspect Df having the One might suppose tahanwD6~0a0n0 in English, the language Df the patients wDuld keep WDrld's Sunday SChDDI AssDcia- ch.ief missiDnary sending CDun- tiDn meet at Durban in 1940. doctDr busy enDugh, but Dr. trIes, and Df the cDuntry giving Durban's climatic gactDutnarvarecantniitDeenne~eDisft·s~ Abushadid Df Baghdad is ask- the. invitatiDn to. this service. accessibility and ISaI~h.53d was read by a Jewish also. the financial ing fDr mDre by Dpening a clinic ChrIstIan elder in ancient He- fDr WDmen and children. brew, the tDngue in which Dur fered by its mayDr all pDinted to. Dr. Abushadid is a graduate Maste~ must have read and pDnthe wisdDm Df the choice. Df the Presbyterian MissiDn dered It. Prayer was Dffered in FollDwing the precedent set SChDDI in Beirut, and was asked Syriac, by an Assyrian elder in fDrmer wDrld hacvDenvaepnptriDDxnis~ by the Iraq GDvernment to. Dr- SDuth Africa will Syriac being the nearest living ganize health wDrk fDr WDmen language to. the tDngue in which mately fifty per cent representa- ~nd gi.r1s in that cDuntry. Start- Jesus spDke and in which he tiDn in the cDnventiDn, the Dther mg wIth the six thDusand girls prayed. A passage frDm 1 CDr. fifty per cent cDming frDm Dther in the public SChDDls, she is de- 12 was read in Armen itahn~ this parts Df the wDrld. It is esti- velDping the wDrk still farther language being that Df first mated there will be 2,500 dele- in the recently Dpened clinic. In natiDn in histDry to. becDme a gates. PrDbably Africa will have the SChDDI Df HDme ECDnDmics Christian natiDn; and finally, mDre representatives in this she gives her students practical prayer was Dffered icnDuIrnatnryiain~ the. language Df .the wDrld gathering than have been experience in the care Df chil- fDund in any similar wDrld CDn- dren by cDnducting a nursery WhICh the meetmg was being clave in previDus years. where the girls are respDnsible held, a cDuntry that is learning fDr the day and night care Df a to. sing His praises.
WESTERN ASIA number Df babies; thus carrying Educational Project in Syria DUt the traditiDn Df the SChDDI. Arabia's Slaves To. prDmDte a cDnsDlidated Peace Pact in Near East A recent repDrt ShDWS that plan Df educatiDn in Syria, plans aTe under way fDr the Drganiza- Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Af- Arabia has at least a milliDn and tIDn Df the Evangelical CDllege Df Aleppo., Syria, a jDint prDject ghanistan, in a dDcument Df ten a half slaves. A large prDpDr- Df the American BDard and Presb~terian MissiDns, and the Sy- articles, have undertaken to. keep tiDn Df this number came frDm rIan and Armenian Churches. It is hDped the SChDDI will be- peace amDng themselves and to. the Sudan and Abyssinia. CDme indigenDus, making bDth suppDrt and administratiDn the assist Dne anDther in all matters Slaves are Dpenly bDught and respDnsibility Df the IDcal Christian grDUps. ?f cDI?mDn interest. The pact sDld, the markets fDr WDmen Df IS ~ahd fDr five years, a periDd beauty being specially cDnducted WhICh may be renewed indefi- and develDped. A recent edict ni~ely, and it will be registered Df Ibn SaDud, king Df Saudi wIth the League Df NatiDns. Arabia, fDrbids the impDrtatiDn The pact dDubtless is a respDnse of slaves by sea, and even by to. movements tDward wider lib- land, unless it is proved that the erty, mDre religiDus tDlerance impDrtee is al read yslaavesslaavre~ Children bDrn Future of Transjordan and general prDgress. I ran Df If the partitiDn Df Palestine is might be called the key to. the themselves slaves. ~arried into. effect by the Brit- Ish GDvernment, TransjDrdan arch which suppDrts the MDS- -Christian Century. ,,:ill c 0. m e into. prDmmence. Smce 1921 the cDuntry has made lem edifice in the rMeaidl drleeliEgiaDsUt~· INDIA, BURMA, SIAM rapid prDgress, and the Dfficial yet there is mDre attitude to. missiDnaries, dDctDrs Missionaries Not Wanted? and educatDrs has been unifDrm- liberty in Iran at the present ly appreciative. The Arab GDV- A new regime in India seems ernment has Dffered generDus mDment than in any Df its neigh- certain to. affect missionary financial help to. rebuild the hDS- wDrk there, according to. a World pita;l Df the Church Miss,iDnary bDring cDuntries. A MDslem in Dominion bulletin. A reformed SDcIety at Es-Salt, and will give Hindu paper, the Arya Samaj it a free hand. Iran may becDme a Christian recently issued a statement that India dDes nDt want Christian . MDslems send their bDYS and nDt Dnly wthitehDuuntcshuafnfgeeridngMDdselaeth~ missiDnaries any mDre. It adgIrlS to. the missiDn SChDDls at which is mits the present prDgress Df Amman, and the gDDdwill of the Christianity and declares that Emir and his cDunsellDrs can be law, b1;'t t~e civil pDwe~ will prD- the strDng religiDus fervDr Df cDunted upDn by all who. will the missiDnary is the mDst im- tect hIm m the exerCIse Df his pDrtant Df the variDus reaSDns for his success. It laments the individual liberty Df cDnscience.
-World Dominion Press.
One In Christ-Iran At the wDrld-wide cDmmuniDn service held in Hamadan last year, five languages were used
materialism of many Hindus, ary women, "we'll use our own school and have made it more and appeals for a new realiza- houses as classrooms. If there's worthy of the church. tjon of the Hindu faith. no money to spare for teachers, VVorkers in Karachi are con- we'll do the teaching ourselves. vinced that bazaar preaching is If there's no dormitory for the a real test of a church's life. Changes in 20 Years women they can fit into the girls' boarding school somewhere." So Thirty-five I n d ian student the school has begun: a two- Usually, crowds are so interested teachers were recently asked year course for training village they refuse to disperse. Last what noteworthy changes had women in home making, child year fifty non..:Christians were taken place in South India in care and Christian living. baptized, in contrast to the one the past twenty years. The first or two baptized four years ago.
eight changes which follow are -C. M. S. Outlook.
arranged in the order of the An Answered Call Indian Preachers' Conference strength of the vote; caste dis- Anglican church funds, on betinctions are disappearing; un- half of Mass Movement work, In an effort to encourage pertouchability is being rapidly dis- will be used first to send teach- sonal testimony and more dy- ers to villages that have been namic preaching, a "Preachers' carded; child marriages are de- begging for them; next to procreasing; female education is vide for the intensive training Conference" was held at Bareilextending; co-education is be- of volunteers and others to equip ly, in September. Two groups coming more common; the pub- them to deal with new inquirers. were invited-a large group of A third item will be to provide lic is taking much more interest houses for pastors and teachers, pastors from the main pulpits in education; the demand for and help towards the erection and a small group of good home rule is more widespread of headquarters' churches; a preachers. Each day there were .and insistent; work for rural fourth item is the extension of reconstruction is multiplying; medical service. two sermons in Hindustani and one in English, as well as a epidemics are being mastered; Great care will be taken to round-table dis c u s s ion on Indians are replacing British of- avoid using this money to build preaching. Thus by example up work which could not be ficials ; India has come into the maintained by the Indian church and precept something definite bicycle-bus age; Gandhi cannot in the future. was done in inspiring and instop the whirl of machinery; houses are improving; women -C. M. S. Outlook. structing preachers. In order are entering public life; person- that the results of the confer- al habits are changing; the ence may be available to those Christian community is steadily who could not attend, and be preserved for future reference, growing and taking much more· it is planned to issue a printed responsibility; and socialism Opportunities in Sind report, incorporating a synopsis and communism are spreading. of each sermon and a gist of each Last year was memorable in statement made in the discus- -World Youth. the history of Sind, not only in sion.-Bishop B. T. Badley.
School for Home Builders that it became a province but Progress in Toungoo that the Christian Church scored At Toungoo, Burma, the out- "The case for village girls is advance. Money was raised by standing piece of work for the hopeless," bluntly said a student sacrificial giving for an enlarged year was a Daily Vacation Bible in the missionary's Bible class and beautified church. school in the village of Kelinsait. An old Christian living in that in Allahabad, India. Unques- The greatest advance is in the village had a son and three tionably, village houses were un- fact that the Karachi congrega- daughters who had attended the sanitary; there was too much tion of the Church of England mission school at Toungoo. They asked the mission to open a vacajewelry and too little water; Mission has accepted responsi- tion school there and gave all the support they could. As a result there was sickness, unbalanced bility for the maintenance of all five people were baptized at the close of the school, and five more feeding of the household even the evangelistic work at present acknowledged their faith during the services at Christmas. VVithwhen poverty did not preclude being undertaken in the district. in nine months this village has variety; there was quarreling, Members of the pastor's commit- indecent talk, and a stolid indif- tee have taken a keen interest ference to conditions. Such was in the leper asylum at Mango the background against which Pir, twelve miles from Karachi, missionary wives at Allahabad and for three years have visited Agricultural Institute h a v e it regularly, preached to the pa- started a school for village home- tients, and shown their love in makers. No such school exists many practical ways. Others gained ten Christians, and Qthin the United Provinces. Neither have gone in the evenings to the ers are convinced of the truth of building, money nor staff is many quarters in the city where Christianity. available. But the school has the poorer Christians live, and Much of the credit for this bebegun. "If we can't find a corner have taken part in regular serv- longs to two Christian Burmans, in the Institute classrooms and ices for them. Others have be- a preacher and a Bible woman. laboratories," said the mission- gun to teach in the Sunday – Watchman-Examiner.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
New Bible School in Siam operation at Pitsanuloke. A Nearly seventy per cent of the Five-Year Plan of Advance has men who are now determining The need for native evangel- been adopted. -Siam Outlook. the policies of modern China are graduates of Christian colists in East Siam has been keen- OHINA leges. ly felt for some time. Accordingly, a Siamese Bible School was Progress in Ohina Education is one of the chief established last year in Korat. aims of the present government, A group of six men and one When I went to China fifty which has accepted the responsiwoman comprised the first class. years ago the period of early bility of providing universal ele- The beginnings were neither seed-sowing had not entirely mentary education for 70,000 sensational nor pretentious. passed away. The difficulties children. This, however, is bare- Lacking a class room, students were numerous and visible re- ly one-tenth of the school-age suits were few. The people were population. met under the missionary's still conservative and did not home. There were no dormitory welcome new ideas. But the pe- About fifteen per cent of the accommodations, s 0 students riod of sowing produced great higher education in China is had to be quartered in various results. The Church in China handled by Christian colleges places about town. These ar- has not grown and is exerting and professional schools. Nine rangements were inconvenient every effort to become self-reli- per cent of the college students, ant. It is willing to assume re- and twenty-four per cent of the and far from satisfactory; but sponsibility and desires to in- professional students a t ten d a very profitable seven months crease the Chinese ministry. Christian institutions. of study were passed together. There are Christian congrega- tions of one thousand people -Christian Advocate. This project is an outgrowtH. that are entirely self-supporting. Oommunion Under Difficulties of the keynote "Go Forward," -F. L. Haws Pott, St. John's University, Shanghai. The Rev. David S. Tappan, of adopted at the Siamese Regional the American Presbyterian Mis- Mission Situation sion in Hainan, tells of a com- Conference. -The Call. munion service in the mountains. Most of the missions in China Faith with Works expect to car r y forward as "To prepare the communion much of the work as can be help- elements we were at our wits' Three years ago the Church fully continued. Missionaries, end. There stood the crude taof Christ in Siam was organized. especially men, will remain at ble but for a cover all they could Ninety-nine and a half per cent their posts so long as they can find was bed drapes not yet used; of the Siamese Christians had serve those in distress. The no cups but some made for wine no real idea what it was all Boards at home will accord them and used in heathen idol worabout, but those who did com- a large degree of discretion, and s.hip. Pastor Wu pointed out the prehend the significance of it in case of danger they may with- verse in 1 Cor. 10: 21: 'Ye canhad faith and were ready to back draw to safety. not drink the cup of the Lord it up with works. The church and the cup of devils,' and apconstitution was two years in The Presbyterian Board au- plied it instantly. But when it the making. thorizes the withdrawal from was proved the cups had not yet danger zones of aged and in- been used in idol worship, they An outstanding move of 1936 firm missionaries, of mothers were accepted. was the appointment of a Re- with children, and of all those vival Committee of two, whose not suited to serve under hard- "No tray for the cups, so a mission it was to visit as many ships that may be inescapable. huge wicker sieve used for siftas possible of the churches, to The· China Council and the mis- ing rice was brought in. No hold meetings and stimulate sion executive committees are bread, so the missionary took Christian life and activity. The expected to make wise allocation some of his supply of twice American Bible Society paid the of the reduced personnel. toasted bread from his lunch expenses of a third member of (fresh bread would have been this committee. Stewardship Evacuated and furloughed mildewed in the dampness). No was their major theme. The re- missionaries, prevented from re- grape juice, so a tin of Amerisults were astonishing. Tithing turning to China, will be used can orange juice, also from his was started or increased in many to strengthen temporarily the lunch, was stirred full of native communities, and the spiritual understaffed missions in neigh- brown sugar and answered the life of many individuals was boring countries until they can purpose. greatly stimulated. return to their own fields. "Nearly one hundred moun- . A second advance step has Educational Missions tain folk caught a glimpse of been the adoption of Pitsanuloke their Lord that day, and some- Station by the first General As- Fifty-one per cent of all the how I feel that He was as much sembly as its own project under Chinese college graduates listed at home at that table as at any a wholly national staff. The in the Chinese Who's Who are communions in America with Church in Siam has also as- products of Christian colleges. their perfect appointments." sumed full responsibility for the work of the Charles T. Santvoord Hospital for three years on a contract similar to that in
Chinese Medical Association of the vast Buddhist and Shinto for one month, and 405 women constituencies. for two and a half months. At The Chinese Medical Associ- Pyengyang Institute, 80 men enation was formerly made up al- Salvation Army Rift rolled for nine months' study. most entirely of foreigners, but The Presbyterian Theological as fast as Chinese doctors be- A rift in the Army has become Seminary also reports one of the came qualified they were ad- an open break. A group of offi- largest first-year classes in its mitted. Now the percentage of cers, representing the younger history. Two young men have Chinese members is very large. leaders, but themselves men of been commissioned as foreign At the last conference about 70 mature age and rank, demanded missionaries; one is laboring in per cent of the 900 attending drastic changes in the Japanese Shantung, and the other in Manwere Chinese, states Dr. John organization. The revolt is defi- chukuo among Chinese and Chi- E. Lenox of Chengtu, West nitely a nationalist movement, nese-speaking peoples. China. protesting against what is al- leged to be a condition of sub- A Korean named Chang, who, JAPAN-CHOSEN servience to the control of the as a boy of 12 watched crew and foreign headquarters, and com- passengers of the steamer Gen- Masses Want Peace mand in London. It is also a eral Sherman struggle out of protest against the Salvation the water, only to be beaten to S. Hirakawa of Tokyo, speak- Army's military organiz'ation, death by the mob, is now an old ing recently before the Friends' with its uniform, its army ter- man over 80. Last year he stood World Conference in Philadel- minology and its dictatorial sys- QY the same Pyengyang River phia, declared that 90 per cent tem. Also it is a demand for and showed to one of the secreof the Japanese are opposed to more emphasis upon the reli- taries of the British and Foreign the war with China. The pres- gious aspects of the work, and Bible Society the place where ent invasion is motivated by a less upon the social and relief one of the passengers, Mr. militaristic clique which is try- phases. The recalcitrant officers Thomas, a colporteur of the Naing to protect the Manchoukuo have been dismissed or have tional Bible Society of Scotland, venture, an experiment that has wit h d raw n, and have now threw to the crowd copies of "a thus far proved a colossal fail- formed one more Christian de- red-bound book"-the New Tesure. Japan is spending much nomination, the "Japan Gospel tament in Korean. He also more money in Manchoukuo Evangelistic Association," mod- showed him a beautiful Thomas than she is getting out of it. eled after the two branches of Memorial Chapel, marking the Another speaker, R. Yamano, the Holiness Church. place of martyrdom and told said that the only place in which how, in his own lifetime, there desires for peace may be pub- -Christian Century. had sprung up a Christian comlished is in the Christian denom- munity of over 260,000 with inational press. Remember the Frogs 4,200 places of worship.
-Christian Adv.ocate. A solemn service in commem- -World Dominion Move- oration of the sacrifice of 100,000 ment. Conditions in Japan frogs which had been used in the past year in biological and ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC A correspondent from Japan anatomical experiments, was says that the absence of civilian held in Tokyo in July. Sixty Spiritual Currents in Java hatred is one mitigating feature professors from Keio University of the grievous war situation. participated and a monument According to the Evangelical Chinese by thousands are still representing two bullfrogs in News Bureau of Holland, three living in Japan and going about stone, with a tribute to frogdom outside factors have influenced their work unmolested and in in general, was unveiled. ·The the spiritual currents in Java in perfect safety. According to a service was held in a Buddhist the last decade: first, the awakrecent report not more than cloister with much incense and ening in Eastern Asia after the 6,000 out of the 30,000 living in beating of gongs. Japanese victory over Russia, Japan have yet returned to and the national-cultural inde- China. By way of contrast the British pendence efforts in B r i tis h and Foreign Bible Society have India; second, the influence of But the dilemma of a Chris- celebrated the translation of the politico-religious movements tian Church in a country at war Scripture into the one thou- in Egypt, Arabia and British is pressing with peculiar inten- sandth tongue, a feat that out- India, seen in the existence and sity upon the Christians. Insig- does anything any single uni- development of trade societies nificant in numbers, and with versity has done. that have become more political the onus of a long inherited sus- organizations; and third the picion of disloyalty still bitterly -So S. Times. influence of communism. Ever held by many people, the Chris- since 1917, the comintern has tian movement now for the first Bible Reading Koreans striven to connect the classtime in a national crisis finds its struggle with the nationalist leaders called in council on equal Bible Institutes are popular movement in the East. Its revoterms with the representatives in Chosen. At Chai-Ryung last winter, 455 men were enrolled
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
lutionary propaganda activity mission spheres and the need for many needy, and the clinic was first reached Java via the na- an adVisory committee to work crowded each day. tive students' union in Holland. toward closer cooperation of Vigorous action on the part of government, churches and mis- Congregational Work Grows the government during the last sionaries. It is hoped that a four years has largely put a stop policy may be adopted broad The American Board reports to this undermining force. enough to cover the different a very successful conference of conditions in the various states workers in Dansalan, Mindanao, The attitude of missions to- on the protection and control of P. 1. There were 130 delegates. wards these spiritual currents the nomadic tribes, their grad- Much time was given to prayer, cannot be merely that of an in- ual development and restoration meditation and praise. In the terested spectator. They will of racial pride and confidence, business sessions much attenhave to deal with the great com- the uplIfting of the half-caste, tion was paid to the extension pleXIty ot moral quesdons wich the suppression of abuses and of the Kingdom in unoccupied which the people of Java have "CO protection from exploitation. areas. A real Home Mission wrestle in these days by preach- program was adopted. Statising the Gospel of God's King- -Anti-Slavery Reporter. tics revealed marvelous growth dom. during 1936. Twenty years ago Education in the Philippines there were three congregations Character of the Papuans and two Sunday schools in Bishop Mosher of the Philip- other places. Today, the North The Evangelical News Bureau pine Islands, who attended the Coast Conference alone has 48 in Holland says there are two ~piscopal General Convention churches and chapels and gave opinions about the Papuans of in Cincinnati, said: $5,500 for the work of the Dutch New Guinea. One is that Church. In all three conferthey are heartless, cruel and Now that the Philippines are inde- ences of Mindanao about 1,000 murderous; the other, that they pendent, they need an army and must new members have been added are good, friendly and even get the money for it somehow. It is education that will pay the price.
pleasant people; those who know The government has closed the 5th, to the churches. them best agree with both opin- 6th and 7th grades in the public ions. The Papuan has really scho lIs. This throws out great num- Filipino Evangelical Strength two sides to his character. One bers of boys and girls. We have is human, that is why the Pap- From the beginning, Filipino 1,200 pupils in our day schools. After the children finished the 4th grade, uan is hospitable, friendly and they formerly went to the public Protestant churches have emdesirous of peace. The other schools. Now the Roman Catholics phasized the value of the Gosside is demoniac, devilish. Some- are getting them; they have the pel in their hospitals and dispentimes, however, the Papuans' funds to have dormitories and to saries; Boy Scouts and Camp equip their schools.
acts are bad only in our eyes, Fire Girls; services for pris- but are good in their own opin- Clinics Had to Be "Sold" oners, for lepers and relief of ion. They, themselves, feel the various kinds. The most potent conflict in their being. They Dr. D. J. Ago, Filipino physi- influence in winning people to know the difference between cian at the mission hospital in Christ has been the private life good and evil. Legaspi, P. 1., could give some and character of Protestant practical suggestions on "sell- Christians, and their public Effective missionary work is ing" a new idea to backward stand on moral issues. The lives not possible without an accurate people. Wishing to establish of both the leaders and the memknowledge of the people. There- clinics in a new area, Dr. Ago bers of the churches have furfore the first demand is: get to first called on the local church nished the strongest testimony know the people, their language, members, taking plenty of time ethics, laws and religion. With- to explain his plan. to the truth of their message. out winning their confidence, Evangelicals also have a good far-reaching influence over them Then he had to persuade the record in public morals. The is impossible. municipal authorities that he fight against alcoholism was was not trying to undermine started and carried on almost Australian Aborigines their prestige. ' Next, the local entirely by them; pro t est s drugs shops had to be convinced against public dance halls and Missionary leaders in Aus- that the clinks would help, not prostitution come largely from tralia are considering the prob- hinder, their trade. The dentist the same source; campaigns lem of the 77,000 Aborigines had to be drawn into the project, against the cockpit and other with great care. This is attrib- and lastly, each of the above had forms of gambling originate uted to a change in public opin- to be persuaded to serve as ad- with the Protestants. ion. vertisers of the proposed clinic. Other elements favoring Prot- Some of the questions that When all this was done, the shy- estantism are the general adhave come up for discussion have ness and fear of the first ven- vance of education, the large to do wi,th aboriginal customs- turesome patients had to be dealt number of educated, liberal nomwhat should be allowed and what with. Then, at last, word spread inal Roman Catholics who have forbidden; the overlapping of abroad that here was help for no vital church membership but
believe in God, and the strongly To Raise Standard of Ministers writes the Pocket Testament anti-Fascist attitude of Evan- League of the religious work gelical Christians. They offer a After a two-year study, a carried on at the prison. reasonable faith to hundreds of commission of the Disciples' thousands of young people in Church introduced a resolution There is an organization here in the schools. at the International Convention the West known as the "Fellowship in in Columbus, Ohio (October Bible Reading," whose aim is to get -Christian Century. 28) , proposing the following as many Bible readers as possible minimum requirements for min- each year during the month of Oc- NORTH AMERICA isterial ordination: tober to concentrate in reading a cer- tain Book of the Bible each day dur- Students As Evangelists 1. Good moral character and per- ing the month. This year the Book sonal fitness for the ministry. of Romans has been selected for spe- Because they feel that a true cial reading and studying. Those Christian life is the only answer 2. A full college course or its equiv- joining agree to read at least four to the problems facing college alent and, if possible, graduate train- chapters a day in Romans during Ocstudents everywhere, the stu- ing in religion. tober, or as another choice they may dents of Wheaton College, Illi- read Romans through in one reading nois, have sent 15,000 copies of 3. Experience in Christian work at least once a week during October, St. John's Gospel to the students which shows real leadership, vision, or they may agree to read Romans of the University of California. pastoral qualities and preaching abil- through daily during October. Here Each copy is inscribed with the ity. in the prison 143 have signed up to statement: "This little booklet join the Fellowship in concentrating will help us all to win in the As matters now stand, a per- on the book of Romans during Ocgame of life." son without even a high school tober. Six of those signing up are education may be ordained in inmates on the condemned row, who Theodore Benson, senior at the church. Opposition to these are facing execution shortly. The Wheaton College and president requirements is expected from a number of inmates who have joined of the Scripture Distribution So- group of conservatives who will the Fellowship by no means takes in ciety there, says: "Our purpose contend it would be a step away all those in the prison daily reading is to discharge our responsibil- from the church's historical con- a portion of the Bible. There is a ity as Christian students to these gregationalism, and toward ec- lot of Bible reading here in the prison our fellow students. We know clesiasticism. Furthermore, be- by the inmates. of no more effective way to reach cause of their independence local the student world than to pre- congregations would not be Religious Radio Programs sent them with the Word of bound to observe the require- God." ments. The Federal Council is spon- soring a new program of radio Survey of American Girls Juvenile Crime Deterrent religion. In addition to the two regular programs of religious A composite picture of the Here is a suggestion in the worship on Sunday which have American girl, 1937 model, is field of crime prevention. Juve- been broadcast for several years presented by General Foods, nile court workers have discov- there will now be a daily pro- Inc., as the result of an effort to ered that many children who are gram of a rather different chardiscover facts about future brought into court are charged acter from 12: 00 to 12: 15 homemakers. From a question- either with stealing toys or steal- every weekday of the year. naire, submitted to shoppers in ing money to buy toys. Out of These noonday messages will be half a million retail food stores, this grew the idea of establish- inspirational and educational in it appears that six out of every ing a toy-lending "library." One character, addressed particularly ten American girls between the has been operating for several to the public. The same speaker ages of 18 and 25 attend church months in Kansas City, Mo., and will be heard each Monday for a regularly. a second one is now being pre- period of three months; another pared there by women of Grace speaker each Tuesday, another Reasons given for non-attend- and Holy Trinity Cathedral. each Wednesday, and so on ance were: through Saturday. The play room in the parish Too lazy …………….. . 36.5% house is to contain the collection The Foreign Missions Confer- Lack of interest ………. . 28.5% of toys, new and "recondi- ence is cooperating in this Too busy ……………. . 19.0% tioned," which the women have presentation. Inconvenient …………. . been collecting. Any child in the 9.2% neighborhood may have a "li- America's Spending brary" card, signed by parent or In answer to the question: guardian, entitling him to bor- The National Committee for "Do you consider it more desir- row a toy. When it is returned Religion and Welfare Recovery able or less desirable, than it in good condition, he may take has prepared a chart to show was in your mother's day, to out another. The toys will be that the American public gave take an active part in church af- sterilized on return. fairs?" replies were given: 30 % less to churches, 29 % less "Fellowship in Bible Reading" More………………… 37.3% to general benevolences, 24 % Less ………………… 26.30/0 The chaplain of California Same………………… 35.70/0 State Prison at San Quentin less to community chests, and 18 % less to colleges in 1936 than was given from the smaller in- comes of 1932. On the other hand, expenditures for jewelry,
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
theaters, cigarettes, automobiles. Creek Indian Christians race are characteristics of the army and navy, whiskey, radio Indian people. The Indian has come a long and beer increased from 25 % to way in spiritual development, as Their belief that, although life 31 rtf). -The Living Chu,rch. evidenced in a recent meeting of is mysterious in all its manifes- 1,000 Creek Indians near Eu- tations, yet it can be trusted if Land of the Unexpected faula, Oklahoma. The preacher human beings act in cooperation was Roly Canard, chief of the with it, may be the secret of the Think of a church service at Creeks. Although a university Indian characteristics of poise which every inhabitant of a vil- graduate and a master of Eng- and restfulness, quiet strength lage is present; where every lish, Canard preferred to speak of character, a keen sense of huworshipper sang all the hymns in his native tongue, as do most mor and delight in the gay and from memory! Rev. C. O. of the Creeks both in private and joyous. Unhurried by life's de- Weber, Moravian pastor of Win- in public. Only the text, which mands, they take time to think ston-Salem, N. C., found this was repeated many times with clearly and concretely. Expectamong the unexpected experi- emphasis, was spoken in Eng- ing its constant changes, they ences of a visit to Alaska. lish: "Behold, how good and face the world with courage.- how pleasant it is for brethren The National Board Y. W. C. A. When he arrived in a village to to dwell together in unity!" speak in a church, the bell was Health Education at Sitka, rung long and vigorously. To Around the tabernacle and his delight he found the congre- church building were smaller Alaska gation eagerly drinking in every arbors and sheds under which word of the message and no were long dining tables. Beyond A new departure in health watches pulled out to check the these outdoor dining and cook- education for both boys and time. He was amazed to hear ing quarters were the tents of girls at Sheldon Jackson School, Eskimo Christians pray in pub- the hundreds of families who Sitka, Alaska, has been more lic fluently, and to note the ex- had come for the four-day meet- thorough testing for tubercupressions on their uplifted faces. ing. losis, which is greatly on the in- This is his answer to the ques- crease among the native population he is often asked: "Are re- Without a leader, one Indian tion of Alaska. In Sitka governsults worth the time and money after another starts a hymn if ment school last year, 78 per spent?" he feels the urge and others join cent of the children were found in. Another common practice to be infected. This is partly -Moravian Missions. is for all to pray aloud at the due to poor living conditions; same time. Often this unison of partly to the lack of recreational From Communism to prayer is for some common ob- facilities, but alcohol is probably ject, such as the recovery of a the largest contributing factor. the Church sick brother, or the missionary work of the association. After One phase of this health ex- A. J. Muste, who has recently a few minutes all voices are periment is the isolation and become minister of Lab 0 r silent save one, and the prayer special care of a group of twelve Temple, New York, succeeding is concluded by this one peti- tubercular suspects. This group Edmund B. Chaffee, has issued tioner. has a special table in the dining the following statement: room. Their dishes are segre- -Southern Baptist Home gated and sterilized. Each sus- I return from the left wing political Missions. pect is isolated in the dormitory movement, from radical Marxism, and is given a special rest each from passionate secular idealism, The Gifts of the Indian day. -Presbyterian Banner. which made me condemn the Church People as conservative, as retarding prog- United Christian Council ress, as martyring free spirits. I re- Because the Indian people of Alaska turn to the Church! Why? Because have felt that usefulness without these years of experience have taught beauty is not enough, they have A United Christian Council of me that the Church of the redeemed created beauty in design, sym- Alaska wit h representatives is the only great redeeming agency. bolism, color, rhythm and poetic from the Congregational-Chris- The nucleus of any effective movement thought. For our use they have tian Churches, the Metlakatla against war, against a social order brought corn and other foods Christian Mission and the Methbased on the spirit and method of and herbs, they have broken odist Episcopal Church has been war, will have to be composed of trails for us and taught us ways organized and incorporated in those who by the grace of God, and of living in the out-of-doors. the State of Illinois. insight into the meaning of the Cross, have renounced the spirit of war; To value character above pos- Formed on July 10, the Counfirst in their own hearts and then and sessions, to consider one's tribe cil will be an elastic, interdenomtherefore, in all relationships of life; above oneself, to appreciate the inational group designed to proof those who know the overcoming achievements of others, to wel- mote closer cooperation among power of prayer and humility and come the stranger, to respect the participating denominations sacrifice; of those who are not led childhood and age, to feel al- at work in Alaska. The sponastray by the will to dominate or de- ways a self-respecting pride of sors hope and expect that other stroy anyone, because Christ lives in them. The Church often fails in this, but I see no other agency doing it at all. That is why I return to the Church.
-Federal Council Bulletin.
denominations willJater join the diers to buy copies of the New Matto Grosso, Brazil Council. It marks a.:distinct ad- Testament and ask for prayer. The definite aim of the Inland vance in a cooperative approach to home missionary tasks. Uther mIssionaries keep in touch South America Mis s ion a r y Union is to reach the Indian Among the practical develop- with college students. Full use world, and its purpose is to carry the Gospel to tribes not ments that have resulted is the is made of the press and book -The Christian. shops.
launching of the Alaska Marine Forward in Colombia included in the plans of other Mission to serve the vast, hither- organizations. One can scarcely to neglected territory in Alaska. The Synod of Colombia was believe that regions on this earth duly organized in Bogota on still exist where men live as July 29, a milestone in the his- "Children of Eden," ignorant of LATIN AMERICA tory of Presbyterian missions in the existence of a world outside that country. Rev. Julio Her- their own. The heart of MaUo Sunday School Influence Brazil, Argentina, Chile and nandez, pastor of Sec 0 nd Grosso, Brazil, is such a region, Mexico have each their own na- C h u r c h, BarranquiIla, was and its evangelization has for tional Sunday school missionary elected moderator; Rev. E. G. years been the hope of the Inengaged in developing Sunday Seel, secretary, and Rev. Gus- land S. A. Missionary Union. school work. Textbooks in Span- tavo Villa, treasurer. Delegates The first missionary expediish and Portuguese are being from the three presbyteries, with tion of the Mission was launched prepared for the training of the help of a map, indicated their in 1926 when possibilities were Sunday school teachers. In Ar- fields of activity and the limits gauged. In 1934 another start gentina alone over 2,000 young of their territory, also the re- was made. A third expedition people have undergone training gions to which they hoped to ex- resulted in the erection of a misfor Sunday school and Bible tend the preaching of the Gospel. sion station. This third expediclass work. From the start, the It was shown that if the work tion covered 2,000 miles in 75 Sunday school, for both adults is continued with enthusiasm, days. Thirty-four days were and children, has been one of soon no one will be able to pass spent in canoeing. The main the most successful agencies of through Colo m b i a without purposes of the journey were: touching some evangelical terri- to visit the circuit of Indian vilthe evangelical movement. It is estimated that there are tory. lages and to introduce the pionow more than 2,000,000 people 'l'he importance of having a neer missionaries – the Big connected with Pro t est ant well-organized seminary for the White Chief and the White churches in South America, and theological and pedagogical Mother; to choose a site suitfreedom of thought and expres- training of national workers was able for the mission station and sion has been greatly increased. made clear; in fact, all the pro- to devote some time in building posals, plans and projects were a mission house; to reestablish Work Goes on in Mexico directed toward a great central friendship with the fierce Ka- purpose, and gave the idea of In spite of restrictions, Prot- the different pieces of a jig-saw mauras, whose hostility had been estant missionaries remain in puzzle which only needed to be of nine years standing, due to a Mexico, doing effective work, in fitted into place to reveal the or- breach of promise made by an dered whole. some respects even better than explorer. They had closed their before. Here are some new -Colombian Clippings. tribal portals to every outsider, including foreigner and Indian. methods that have been adopted. Cuban Schools In one of the best restaurants Requests are now coming The educational problem in of Mexico City, "Wednesday Cuba has yet to be solved. Gov- from the Indians themselves ask- Breakfasts" are arranged by ernment high schools and uni- ing for the "good people," mean- Dr. Wallace, a Presbyterian mis- versities are closed, and a few ing the missionaries, to come in sionary, and Professor Baez and live with them. Camargo, Secretary of the Na- -Amazon Valley Indian.
tional Council of Evangelical mission schools have been the Fascism in BTazil Churches. Members of the in- only secondary schools open durtellectual classes are invited to ing recent troublesome years. Evangelical churches of Bra- the breakfasts, and invariably Among the boarding students zil are thoroughly alarmed over listen with deep interest to mes- this year at the Baptist Colegio the increasing menace of Fassages on vital topics by Chris- Internacionales are Carlos Man- cism. Organized about five tian leaders. uel and Flavio de Cespedes, two years ago, mainly with Italian Mr. Norman Taylor, also a grandsons of a former president and German descendants or .nat- Presbyterian missionary, is do- of Cuba and great-grandsons of uralized citizens, Fascism soon ing splendid work among sol- the Cuban patriot and first revo- gained the support of many libdiers. He visits the camps in lutionary president, Carlos Man- erals and young leaders in the his motor-car, entertains the uel de Cespedes. This is a tes- Protestant churches, who not soldiers with a port.able wireless timony to the confidence placed only came out openly for the set, and then gives a Gospel talk. in the school. cause, but distributed literature -WatchrYUJ,n-Examiner. among fellow churchmen. It is usual for many of the sol-
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Methodism voices its appre- MISCELLANEOUS Anti-Semitism hension in the Expositor Christao: Church Council Discusses War A conference held at Prince- ton, N. J., in September on the "Every Protestant or Evan- Should America go to war Jew and the Pre s b y t e ria n gelical is, by nature, a liberal with Japan? Is China guiltless Church went on record as urgdemocrat. It follows, therefore, in the present slaughter? Will ing the Presbyterian Church to that Fascist violence will be dictator nations crush democ- speak out clearly on the dangers aimed against the physical life racy? These questions were of anti-Semitism to the Church of the Evangelicals, in case it put to Methodist leaders in Chi- itself, and to take its full share wins out in Brazil. Millions of cago recently. Bitter condemna- of responsibility for the relief of Brazilians are under this threat, tion of the smugness of democ- the social, human and spiritual among them the great majority racies in not considering the eco- needs of the victims of antiof the Evangelicals." The two nomic needs of over-populated Semitism, wherever found. branches of Presbyterianism- nations now enslaved by dicta- Independent and Synodical- tors vied with vehement denun- The purpose of this Conferhave condemned all extremist ciation of the bombing of Chi- ence was to appraise the work regimes. nese cities. Some advocated for the Jews now being carried swift and complete embargoes; on by the Presbyterian Church The Congregational Church others saw embargoes as useless through the community 0 r went farther, and adopted the and vicious. A II inveighed neighborhood c en t e r, and following resolutions: "(1) No against America resorting to through the parish approach, pastor shall be permitted to af- arms to curb Japan in China. whereby churches are urged to filiate himself with the Fascist extend their services and welparty. (2) All churches which Dr. Elbert M. Conover, of come to Jewish neighbors; to' have members who are already Philadelphia, advocated a light- consider the problems arising in Fascists shall exhort them to ningembargo on war material, connection with it; and to deabandon such a doctrine; but including oil and other elements velop a more adequate and efif they persist in remaining vital to fighting, while Rev. N. fective program. such, they must be cut off the A. Christensen of Oakland, Cal., church rolls. (3) Any church was just as positive that an em- -Monday Morning. which allows Fascists in its bargo is useless, dangerous and membership, shall be excluded evil, because it imposes the pun- Problem of Mission Property from the union." ishment on the people least re- sponsible for war, and leads al- One of the problems of the es- -Christian Century. most inevitably to war. Diplo- tablishment, and relationships matic and social ostracism even- of an independent national Demand for Books tually can apply sufficient pres- Church to the home board has to sure to break any nation's ruth- do with the fact that in almost Dr. R. E. Diffendorfer says lessness. Such ostracism is every mission field new national that in South America the rapid slower, but more' drastic in or ultra-nationalistic regulations progress in secular education effect. are affecting the tenure or title has gone far beyond the ability or terms of mission property of the Evangelical churches and Sacrificial Giving holdings. In Mexico many clear the missions to follow the new titles have been simply wiped intellectuals with an adequate Missionaries see the world's out by the Government, with no Christian m e s sag e. These desperate need at close range. remuneration or redress. Elsegroups know philosophy, politi- Nearly $5,000 out of their per- where increments of value have cal economy, economics and sonal incomes has been contrib- been denied or imperilled. In sociology, educational theory and uted by Presbyterian mission- many lands the nat ion a I practice, and especially the aries to the Centennial Fund of churches are disposed to argue physical and social sciences. To the Board of Foreign Missions. that all mission property is held reach these groups by the sole If their average gift were in trust for them, even though method of preaching and organ- equaled by each of the 2,000,000 it was wholly provided from the izing churches is to lose the op- Presbyterian church members at west, or by people who gave it, portunity. Books need to be home, the reply of the Church to not for the endowment of the written by Latins or translated the General Assembly's urging Church in some one land, but from English, and from other "that the churches and individ- for use in the evangelization of languages on the Christian mes- uals make a sacrificial response" the whole world. sage of the world today. He to the appeal for a $1,000,000 further says that the scarcity of Centennial Fund would make a -Presbyterian Banner. reading material in some lan- total response of at least $10,- guages is so great that many 000,000. Every member of the "To myself a heart of steel; boys and girls lapse into illit- Board and of its executive and To my fellows a heart of eracy after havirig completed clerical staff has contributed to love; the work of the primary schools. the Centennial Fund. To my God a heart of flame." -Christian Advocate.
~'====""==",==========~'~
i Our Missionary Bookshelf I I Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information ~,===—–==——–=======""",-,==~,~ A Bible Believing Church. The gives new courage; greater zeal is the result of painstaking Nevius Plan for M.ission Work, Il- study, marked by discerning lustrated in Korea. By Charles and stimulates faith in spiritual a n a I y s e s. The journalistic Allen Clark. 8vo. 370 pp. $2.00. Christian Literature Society. Seoul, methods. The work is one of the sources which underlie the body Korea and E. C. Heinz, 3624 Fifth most outstanding examples of of the text have this unique fea- mission work in the world. It is ture that they present the co- Ave., So., Minneapolis. 1937. well organized but does not Are missionary executives spend its strength on machinery. temporaneous opinions of the proven to be too satisfied with There is life in the organizm. editors. Rather than say that conservative, old-time methods? Every missionary in every the book is well documented, it .Are they and the missionaries field will do well to read this im- should be said that it is in the portant report. The methods main-and professedly so-doctoo hesitant to break loose from need not be slavishly copied but conventional lines and to pioneer they teach lessons that could be uments with interpretative comin missionary activities? As a put into practice in other fields ments. also. Churches at home would matter of fact most modern mis- also profit by a fresh study of The history sketches for the sionary work has broken away these ideals and by adopting reader Japan's emergence from many of these methods. from Apostolic New Testament her centuries of seclusion and methods and has attempted to Japan in American Public Opinion. proceeds to detail what she establish occidental institutions By Eleanor Tupper, Ph.D., and learned from the West-the way George E. McReynolds, Ph.D. 465 in lands where life is more pp. $3.75. Macmillan. 1937. we live, what we know, what we simple and primitive. Dr. John believe and how we fight. What Some time ago it was pointed we condemn in Japan's use of L. Nevius, for many years a mis- out that history centered first in modern engines of war, on the sionary in China, strongly ad- the Mesopotamian region, then earth, in the air, and under the around the Mediterranean basin, vocated a return to apostolic then on the Atlantic coasts, and sea, she learned from the West. methods; this was forty years finally in our day on the Pacific. In condemning her appropriatago. He emphasized evangelism This progress westward fol- ing policy, we condemn our- lowed the migration of the J arather than institutionalism; an phetic races. There was also a selves. great migration eastward, unindigenous church with early til now mankind has almost The volume, in conducting us filled the earth. Japan and through the phases of the probself-support and self-government America are turning back on rather than continued foreign themselves. It would be well if lem of the Japanese in Califorcontrol; and spiritual emphasis each could do the turning grace- nia and Hawaii, the wars with fully; it would be better if they China and Russia, the annexaon Bible lines rather than could do it in the Christian way. tion of Korea, through questions higher intellectual training to "Japan in American Public of immigration and n a val reach secular standards. The Opinion" recounts the way J a- Presbyterian mission in Korea pan has been turning for the quotas, the Japanese Monroe last few decades, as observed by Doctrine, the 21 demands, the early adopted the Nevius ideals authors and editors in America. Lytton Report, and the like, and methods and the results The book is an encyclopedic have been among the wonders of source book of facts concerning leads us up through the intricamodern missions. Dr. Clark de- political changes in China and cies of Japan's operations on the Japan, and in America vis-a-vi:s continent of Asia to the summer scribes these methods, how they of 1937. have been applied and the effect. Numerical results show 180,640 .To statesman, merchant, and new converts to Christ in nine years. This is equivalent to 70 missionary the volume is a valu- able storehouse of information. new parishes, each with an aver- It presents both sides of the sitage of 300 believers every year. uations and should have on both Here is the story of how this was ,sides of the Pacific a wholesome done without a large staff of foreign workers or the expenditure influence on those to whom facts have the major appeal. of large sums of foreign funds.
It is a thrilling story that these two countries. The volume G. P. PIERSON.
Any of the books noted in these columns will be sent by the REVIEW publishers on receipt of price.
[ 616 ]
OUR MISSIONARY BOOKSHELF
Then and Now in Kenya Colony. of nature and of man's place and the facts stated. The index is By Willis R. Hotchkiss. 160 pp. purpose in relation to God. confined to names of authorities Price, $1.50. Fleming H. Revell quoted. A bibliography of ref- Company, New York, N. Y. 1937. Dr. Morrison is one of the out- erence books would be exceed- standing Christian scholars of ingly helpful. "It is given to few men in this Great Britain. He is too big a wonderful century of develop- soul and too sane a thinker to be Definite Experience. By A. S. Wilment to have witnessed the son of New Zealand. 128 pp. Margrowth of a colony from relative classed either as a Fundamen- shall Morgan & Scott, Ltd. London. savagery to a high degree of talist who defies or ignores civilization." That privilege has science, or a Modernist who ab- In our daily experience and been enjoyed by Mr. Hotchkiss jectly surrenders to science and teaching we are prone to emphain Kenya Colony on the East ignores the evidence of God's size faith, if we are introspec- Coast of Africa. He went to tive in our thinking, and works Africa forty years ago "not be- revelation of truth. The dictum if we are retrospective. In his cause men were heathen and in of authority "Men of science tell timely volume Mr. Wilson brings need of civilization, but because us" is but a poor substitute for faith and experience, or "faith men were sinners and needed a and works," into a beautiful and Saviour." "Thus saith the Lord." convincing harmony. He shows that to be filled with the Spirit In the process of presenting These seven studies were in is not only a privilege of the that Saviour the missionaries part given as Cunningham Lec- Christian but is necessary for a have found that Africans, ac- turers in New College, Edin- fruitful Christian life. cepting the Christian way of life, have assumed many of the burgh, in 1936. They take up On page 74 we find this harmore desirable qualities of our mony brought out clearly. Mr. civilization. The author shows the wonders revealed by the mi- Wilson says that Romans 8: 13 also that the white man's ideas croscope, the telescope, radiation is "one of the deepest teachings and methods are not always and chemistry, the mysteries of of the Word on sanctification. helpful. Often Africans who science, the supernatural, evolu- Sin remains in the body to the have come in contact with the end. The deeds of the body, each new environment of the cities, tion and the "ascent or fall of sin, as it seeks to rise up, can be far from the restraints of vil- man." They are interesting and put to death. It is the presence lage life and tribal connections, of Christ, through the Holy Spirfind it difficult to withstand the clear, scientific and reverent, it that does this." temptations and are greatly de- sane and honest. The most emimoralized by influences which nent and up-to-date scientists Holy living is emphasized they do not understand and to are freely quoted. Many of them throughout the book. Chapter which they cannot adjust them- seven on "Be filled with the Spirselves. honestly admit that "science is it" should be noted as outstand- completely baffled" to explain ing. The author's use of the The effectiveness of Christ in such things as whence came phrase "Bringing in the Kingchanging the lives of men is dis- dom," is post-millennia1. closed when Mr. Hotchkiss says: matter, motion, life, and man. "One conviction alone has re- His view of miracles is that they A. H. PERPETUO. mained not only unaltered, but confirmed with cumulative force are not contrary to nature but Men of the Outposts. The Romance throughout the years, and that transcend our knowledge. He of the Modern Christian Movement. is that the Cross of Christ is the views Christ as unique, "a By Herbert Welch. 8vo. 261 pp. all-sufficient answer to the prob- veritable incarnation of God." $2.00. The Abingdon Press. New lems of Africa, as to the rest of York. 1937. the world." He believes that evolution is only a theory and has been very There is no more stimulating CLARA L. BENTLEY. much overworked, is often mis- reading than good biographies- history teaching by examp~e. Christian Faith and the Science of understood and takes too much The life stories of great and Today. By J. H. Morrison. 8vo. for granted. "Redemption, not godly men and women reveal 228 pp. $2.00. Cokesbury Press. God working in human life. Nashville. 1936. evolution, is the Christian watch- Here are twelve fascinating sketches and interpretations of Here is a book that will repay word." He holds that the "Chris- nine men and three women who any intelligent man or woman tian doctrine of the fall of man gave their lives and used their for reading. Ministers, teach- is not necessarily in conflict with talents sacrificially to advance ers, missionaries, and others who the findings of modern science. the cause of Christ among manare sometimes disturbed by the kind, especially in mission lands. claims of modern science, or ill- . . . When man sinned he fell, They include pioneers – Xavier informed or half-baked expon- and suffered a permanent moral and Livingstone; evangelistsents of scientific theories, will disablement. . . . Christian op- John Wesley and William Tayfind here a scientific but sane lor; educators·- Wm. Clark of . and reverent study of the facts timism is based on redemption, Japan and Isabella Thoburn of not on development; on the di- vine grace that sends help from above, not on any power in man to evolve."
This volume would be a good antidote to the false and hasty conclusions of science (falsely so-called) as taught in many of our schools and colleges. Ex- tremists on both sides will no doubt disagree with some con- clusions but they cannot dispute
India; doctors-C h r i s tie of 000 Negroes out of 11,800,000 dently writes with the Lutheran Manchuria and Schweitzer of (or about 50 per cent) are not constituency especially in·mind.
Africa; Christian soc i a 1 re- members of any church." The The book, however, has a timely formers-Verbeck of Japan and percentage is larger in urban message for evangelicals of Mary Slessor of Calabar.; and centers. "This constitutes a every name. The pOSition of the home base leaders-Bishop Wm. challenge to the churches for a author will be regarded by many M. McDowell and John'R. Mott. united march against sin and as extremely conservative, but Only two of the twelve'tare still for the salvation of souls." it is temperate and scholarly. living and working on ·'earth. Among the religious sects re- He does not contend that the The least known is William S. ported are "Black Jews," Mos- writers of the Bible were mere Clark; all are worthy of more lems, "Faith Eternal" (Father amanuenses whose personalities intimate acquaintance. There is Divine), and Moorish sects. The were submerged in the commu- variety in their characters, their largest ,number of Negroes are nication of the divine message.
fields of service, their types of members :of the Negro Baptist What is insisted upon is that the work; all were actuated by de- Church (1,950,296 members). writers were preserved from er- votion to Chrisf"imd by a desire Other churches with over 100,- ror of statement and that no to help theiriellow men and to 000 each are African Methodist view of inspired communication bring them into harmony with (6 branches) and white Meth- can be intellectually sound in the will of Goo. odist Episcopal. which inspiration does not ex- Dr. Welch is a bishop of the The section on "The Negro in tend to words which correctly Methodist Episcopal Church and Poetry and Fine Arts" is very express the truth. To hold that was for sixteen years in Japan. interesting – including "the ori- only the thought is inspired These studies, given as lectures gin of the tango." raises the serious difficulty as to at Drew University, are well More might be said to advan- whether the mind is capable of written; they offer valuable il- tage on the Negroes' missionary entertaining any intelligent conlustrative material for sermons work at home and abroad. as well as interesting half-hour ception which does not take form in words. .
fireside readings. The index re- Mann of the Border. By D. Emmett The most valuable portion of Alter. 188 pp. $1.00. Wm. B. veals a wealth of topics and per- Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand the book, however, is not the dis" sonalities that have contributed Rapids, Mich. 1937. to the onward march of Chris- cussion of varied positions touchtianity. This story of a medical mis- sionary on the Northwest Fron- ing the question of inspiration, Negro Year Book. An Annual En- tier of India, among the wild cyclopedia of the Negro. 1937-8. tribes of the Afghan borders, is but the author's careful exam- Edited by Monroe N. Work. 8vo. written by a missionary of the 575 pages. $2.00. Tuskegee In- United Presbyterian Church. ination of the internal evidence stitute, Alabama. He does not make clear whether the stirring incidents described which the Scripture itself af- This ninth edition of the year are based on fact or whether book is exceedingly valuable be- they are oniy fiction. The cham- fords. We could hardly suggest cause of its comprehensive and pion for Islam, a fanatic Mullah, up-to-date information on the meets the Doctor at first by open a more painstaking and satissubject and the arrangement of opposition and violent words and topics which make it easy for threats; then they meet at a factory digest of this evidence, reference. wrestling bout where American dash and jiu-jitsu overcome the unless it be found in the large Both students and general readers will find it good reading volume by Gaussen bearing the title "Theopneustia." In the light of powerful evidence the open-minded reader will realize how much more consistent and logical is the author's view than are any of the prevailing alter- natives. HUGH R. MONRO.
and worth owning. For example, brawn and weight of the stal- Scripture Calendars for 1938. Pick- wart Afghan. Finally the Mul- ering & Inglis. London. the section on "Some: Achievements of the American Negro" lah's followers are won by Each of these calendars carry a daily Bible message and some shows their ec9nomic progress, Christlike love and service. The of them have also helpful comtheir intellectua] and cultural ac- story is well told but the miscomplishments, their inventions sionary approach is not ideal. S. M. Z. ments by s u c h well-known and standing in the field of preachers and authors as Bishop sports, as well as in business, The Foundations Must Stand. By P. Moule, C. H. Spurgeon, D. L. E. Kretzmann, Ph.D., D.D. 123 pp. politics and religion. On the Concordia Publishing House, St. Moody, Arthur T. Pie r son, other hand, the Negroes' crime record is not ignored. The Louis, Mo. – James Stalker, C. I. Scofield, F.
famous "Scottsboro Case" is This small volume dealing R. Havergal, J. R. Miller, Adolph dealt with impartially and' its with the inspiration of the Bible Sophir and Alexander McLaren. is a veritable arsenal for the de- They are mounted on attractive, significance is indicated.
In the section on the "Church fender of the faith. Its author lithographed picture cards made Among the Negrot!s" (30 pages) is a professor in a seminary of for hanging on the wall. They we read that "more than 6,000.- the Lutheran Church and evi- make very acceptable gifts, rang-
ing in price from 1 shilling to 2 life and progress of the people Hallock Johnson suggests in his shillings, 6 pence. each. of India. Reports on cholera, introduction, in the manner by smallpox and plague show an in- which the argument in each There are also almanacs with crease. Leprosy, venereal dis- chapter is turned into an appeal. Scripture texts and "Golden eases and tuberculosis are also Grain Diaries (Is. to 6s. 6d. studied. The information on J. WESLEY INGLES. each), and Christmas cards 15 Government education is meager. for Is. 9d.). Ali Lives in Iran. By Caroline Singer The Heart of the Christian Faith. and Cyrus LeRoy Baldridge. Illus. A Mighty Winner of Souls: The Life By Francis Shunk Downs. 209 pp. 72 pp. $1.75. Holiday House. of Charles G. Finney: A Study in $1.50. American Tract Society. New York. 1937. Evangelism. By Frank Grenville New York. 1937. Beardsley, Ph.D. 192 pp. $1.50. This fascinating story of a American Tract Society, New York. This little volume deals with little boy and girl (Fatima) who the cardinal verities of the lived in Iran, as Persia is now ~…. 1937. Christian faith, making its ap- called, is based on firsthand ob- No man was more used of God peal to the heart more than to servations made during a motor journey of 5,000 miles in Iran. in his day and generation than the head. The book is most attractively the subject of this biography. Dr. Downs, as a preacher in printed, and illustrated with Tens of thousands of people marginal drawings. Children throughout the United States the First Presbyterian Church who read will be captivated by were brought to Christ through of Berkeley, California, minis- it and will learn to understand his preaching. He reminds one ters to large bodies of university their Iranian brothers and sisof the Scripture that says: "His students, and gives here a series ters better through their lives ministers a flame of fire." The of sermons on doctrinal themes. pictured here. Jewish Isaac, author was Professor of The- His chapter on "The Inspired Zoroastrian Cyrus' and Chrisology and is now Chaplain of the Book" dismi,sses apparent dis- tian Luke are also introduced Missouri Society S. A. R. His crepancies as due to errors in with good effect. knowledge of Church History is translation or errors in transadequate for a proper presenta- mission, and meets not at all the Full Assurance. H. A. Ironside, D.D. tion of this life and its back- problem of an inspired and in- .125 pp. 75 cents. The Bible Instiground. He portrays Finney as fallible Canon without an in- tute Colportage Assn. Chicago. a winner of souls, as an evan- fallible Church to select it. The gelistic leader, as pastor of a book moves into a much stronger 1937. church and also tells of his con- position in the second chapter nection with the founding of on "The Person of Our Lord One of the largest Protestant Oberlin College. In the words Jesus Christ," where Dr. Downs congregations i n America – of the Preface: "Nothing will lays his finger correctly on "the more than three thousand-regserve to promote an interest in central issue of controversy in ularly attend the ministry of the evangelism more than a study of our generation." Here is a the lives and measures of the cogent array of testimony to the author of this book at the Moody men who were successful in win- deity of Christ. Memorial church, Chicago. This ning souls in the past, not that we may attempt to reproduce It is both the strength and small volume of sermons extheir methods, but that we may weakness of the book that it is plains this remarkable interest; catch something of their spirit filled with quotations, many of it deals with a vital truth in and discover those principles them marked by vigor, beauty, terms which are readily underwhich underlie all true evan- and truth. In some places the stood. Dr. Ironside is an able gelism." Well worth reading, frequent selections are like and full of inspiration. pearls gathered from many expository preacher and the wide sources and strung on the thread influence of his sermons sug- S. M. Z. of the author's argument. gests that this type of preaching has sustained interest beyond India 1934-35. 8vo. 145 pp. 50 cents. In the midst of an unoriginal Government Press. Delhi, India; treatment of great Biblical other more "modern" types. British Library, 270 Madison Ave., themes, 'are found illustrations New York. 1937. that hav~ne11ing force or clarify- The aim of the auth{i'1"'iri the ing power. Dr. Downs shows present volume is to le'M:Chris- This official report, presented his homiletical gift and ability to to the Indian Parliament, deals organize his material. tians into an experience of enwith agriculture and industry, t ire assurance of salvation commerce, finance, communica- Laymen who have had little through Christ-a high objections, defence, politics, health evangelical teaching and young tive. Each of the ten chapters and education, and scientific sur- people who need aW'arm and is founded on one of the great veys. The wealth of information concise antidote to the popular assuring promises of Scripture gathered is especially important and superficial lectures of some and there is pointed illustration for the Government and those iconoclastic professors that tend and searching comment to bring engaged in education. Nothing to weaken faith. will find much is said about religion but all the help in this little volume. Its the truth home with power. The topics are closely related to the chief virtue lies, as Dr. Wm. popular essays on ethics and so- cial behavior are shallow sub- stitutes for the satisfying spir- itual realities presented in this book. H. R. MONRO.
The Parables of the Gospels: And Those Who Would Enjoy the Their Meaning for Today. By Hugh More Abundant Spiritual Martin, M.A. 251 pp. $2.00. Life Must Seek It Daily Abingdon Press, New York. 'Cb¢ Upp¢r Room This interesting interpretation of the Parables, by a leader in JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, 1938 the Student Christian Movement Now Ready for Distribution of Great Britain, approaches the subject from the standpoint of Jesus taught his disciples to ask only a daily portion from present-day needs and issues. Heaven's inexhaustible store-"daily bread"-"daily forgive- His purpose is to furnish a book ness from sin"-"daily deliverance from temptation." suitable for teachers in the classroom and the pulpit, and not to It has been the sole purpose of THE UPPER ROOM from supplant larger standard works the beginning to endeavor to re-establish in the minds of on the Parables. An introduc- Christians, regardless of faith or creed, the necessity of some tion, on the character of the form of daily devotions, out of which will most surely come Parables is followed by a treat- a new spiritual vitality for both individuals and church conment based on the translation of gregations. Dr. Moffatt which is used as the text. It is always reverent, Many pastors and group leaders will want to use copies of sometimes incisive and fre- the January, February, March issue of THE UPPER quently portrays a canny insight ROOM as a Christmas gift to members of Bible Classes, into the application of the Par- Young People's Groups, Missionary Societies, and to inables to our own day; for ex- dividual members of the congregation. Special Christmas ample: "Weare still building on envelopes, in two colors, will be furnished at one cent each, sand. The Great War saw the postpaid, in quantities of ten or more j plain, unprinted, at collapse of the imposing edifice fifty cents per hundred, postpaid. of nineteen centuries of 'Progress.' And so little have we Use one of the order forms below. learned the lesson that the few slender gains we thought we had CONSIGNMENT ORDER INDIVIDUAL SUBSCRIPTION' wrested from the wreck, are now disappearing." Issue for January, February, March THB UPPBR ROOM, Our chief criticism is due to (For use of Pastor or Group Leader. Doctors' Building, the brevity of some chapters. Nashville, Tenn. Only three pages are given to the Order ten or more copies.) Gentlemen: Unjust Steward and seven pages to the Prodigal Son. This means THB UPPBR ROOM, I am inclosing herewith thirty cents (foreign, a very inadequate treatment of forty cents) for which please send me T he Up· the greatest of all our Lord's Dodors' Building, peT Room for one year, postpaid, beginning with Parables. On the other hand, Nashville, Tenn. the book abounds in careful Gentlemen: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _~quarterly is.uc. exegesis. The parable of the Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ____ leaven is held to refer, not to Please send me copies of T"e evil, but to the Kingdom of God. Street or Route _______________ Upper Room, postpaid. I will sell these for five S. M. ZWEMER. Post·office __________-"State'_ __ cents per copy and pay for same when sold. It Twelve Clever Girls Who Became *A sin~le copy by mail anywhere 10 cents. Famous Women. By H. A. W. is understood that I have the privilege of return- Hamilton. Illus. 12mo. 95 pp. 1s. Pickering & Inglis. London & ing at your expense Bny unsold copies. Glasgow. 1937. Name _____________________ Some of these women are widely known-like Queen Vic- Street or Route ________________ toria, Frances Ridley Havergal, Post·office _ _ _ _ _ _State'_ __ Mary SIessor, Mrs. Ann H. Judson, and Florence Nightingale. Others, not well known in America, will also repay closer acquaintance. They were all remarkable for their nobility of character and for their useful service. Their life stories will be especially inspiring to young girls.
Books A Christmas Present FOR SALE-3l new white
$2.00 each; 19 new black pleated choir Apostle of Japan, Samuel Isaac . for Your Minister Joseph Schereschewsky. James gowns, $3.75 each. all or part. L. J. Arthur Miller. 264 pp. $2.50. Give a subscription to Morehouse Pub. Co. Milwaukee. LINDNER, 42S-MRvV Seventh Ave., New CHURCH MANAGEMENT York City. Daily Guidance. Fairlie Thornton. 31 pp. 6d. Pickering & Inglis. "Found in Prosperous Churches" Orient-three in India, three in China London. and one in Japan. This is perhaps 1 year, $2.50; 2 years, $4.00 women's greatest and most practical Everyday Life in Burma. Pictures enterprise in Christian international- to be colored. Is. S. P. G. London. CHURCH MANAGEMENT ism.
India in 1934-35. 50 cents. 145 pp. Auditorium Building Now, after twenty years, Mrs. Pea- British Library of Information. body goes to the Orient again as an New York. Cleveland, Ohio ambassador of friendship. This is a great work for the emancipation of Japan in American Public Opinion. Year Book of the Society for Propa- women, begun under the "Treaty of Eleanor Tupper and George E. gating the Gospel Among the Bethlehem" through the Saviour of Reynolds. 465 pp. $3.75. Mac- Heathen. 120 pp. S. P. G. London. women. One hundred million women millan. New York. of India are still without expert med- Personal Items ical aid. The demand for graduates Japan Today. T. T. Brumbaugh. of Vellore Medical College make Mrs. 500 pp. Kyo Bun Kwan. Tokyo. Rev. Irwin W. Underhill, Jr., the Peabody's trip of special importance. only Negro missionary in the foreign Men of the Outposts. Herbert Welch. service of the Presbyterian Church, *** $2.00. 261 pp. Abingdon Press. was recently elected a fellow of the New York. Royal Geographical Society for his Dr. E. Stanley Jones will be back splendid work among the pygmies in in India at the end of this year and Miracles in a Doctor's Life. Walter Africa. He is a graduate of the will be available for service in the Lewis Wilson. 122 pp. B. 1. C. School of Finance of the University Indian churches from the beginning Assn. Chicago. of Pennsylvania and of Princeton of 1938. On account of the trouble Theological Seminary. He received between China and Japan it is not The Nevius Plan for Mission Work. the degree of doctor of divinity from possible for him to continue his work Charles Allen Clark. 372 pp. $2.00. Lincoln University recently. in China. Christian Literature Society, Seoul, Korea, or E. C. Heinz, 3645 5th Dr. James K*elly*, s*ecretary of the *** Ave., South, Minneapolis. World's Sunday School Association, Dr. and Mrs. Fred H. Hope, mis- Negro Year Book-1937-38. Monroe recently visited Bulgaria in the in- sionaries of the Presbyterian Church N. Work. 575 pp. Negro Year terests of religious education. He in Cameroun, West Africa, have re- Book Publishing Co. Tuskegee, Ala. also visited Jugoslavia t;) confer on cently returned to Elat where they the reorganization of Christian youth have been engaged in missionary work On the Holy Mount. Joseph Pearce. work so as to place it on a more stable for over twenty-five years. Dr. Hope 95 pp. Is. Pickering & Inglis. basis. is superintendent of the Frank James London. Industrial School, a very effective *** mission enterprise. Twelve Clever Girls Who Became Famous Women. J. A. W. Hamil- Dr. John H. Finley, editor of the The Presbyterian ton. mus. 96 pp. Is. Pickering New York Times, and Dr. Arthur H. & Inglis. London. Compton, winner of the Nobel prize A weekly religious newspaper in for physics in 1927, and professor of its lo6th year of continuous pub- Under New Management. Raymond physics at the University of Chicago, Iication under the same name. H. Benton. 128 pp. Is. 3d. Pick- have been appointed co-chairmen of ering & Inglis. London. the laymen's committee of the $10,- It is conservative and evangel- 000,000 sesquicentennial fund for The W orId from a Window Garden. Christian Education. This fund is to ical, gets its news by telegraph Grace E. Pulling. mus. 90 pp. stabilize the financial situation of 54 S. P. G. London. Presbyterian colleges and 52 univer- and keeps abreast of the times. sity centers where the Presbyterian John Wesley's Awakening. James Church through its Board of Chris- It goes into every state of the Richard Joy. 50 cents. 124 pp. tian Education maintains pastors. Methodist Book Concern. New Union, the District of Columbia, York. *** and U. S. possessions.
Ali Lives in Iran. Caroline Singer Mrs. Henry W. Peabody, formerly It goes to Asia and Africa, South and Cyrus LeRoy Baldridge. mus. a missionary to India and of recent 72 pp. $1.75. Holiday House. years well known for her effective America, Canada and New Zealand New York. activity in behalf of peace, temper- and into twelve countries of Eu- ance and missions has been requested rope. Religion on the American Frontier. by the directors of Madras Christian Vol. II, The Presbyterians, 1783- College for Women, Madras, and the Subscription Price, – 1840. William Warren Sweet. 939 directors of the Women's Christian Ministerial Rate, pp. $3.50. Harpers. New York. Medical College, Vellore, South India, to go to India for the celebration of 50e. extra—Canadian postage The Study of the Bible. Ernest Cad- the twentieth anniversary of Vellore man Colwell. 184 pp. $2.00. Uni- Medical College of which Dr. Ida $1.00 extra—foreign postage versity of Chicago Press. Chicago. Scudder is president. In 1920 Mrs. Peabody was chairman of the Promo- THE PRESBYTERIAN Stocking Tales. Stories for Children. tion Committee for securing buildings J. T. Stocking. $1.25. 119 pp. and equipment for seven union Chris- 1217 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pa. Pilgrim Press. Boston. tian colleges for the women of the Three Typical Beliefs. 115 pp. $1.50. University of Chicago Press. Chicago.
Why Worship. Muriel Lester. 25 cents. 43 pp. Cokesbury Press. Nashville.
LIFE OF GEORGE W
By ROBERT E. SPEER This is the biography of a very remarkable Christian missionary to India and for twenty years the influential and able editor of the Bombay GlIardian. Dr. J. Sumner Stone called him, "The White Yogi."
When George Bowen died in 1888 there was call for a worthy biography but its preparation was delayed. Later all the biographical material-including his diaries, letters, reminiscences, and the books and pamphlets of which he was author-was turned over to Dr. Speer. This material has now been put into shape for publication and the result is a frank and stimulating picture of the man,-his experiences, unique character, forceful views and methods of work. Here is a life story that is of absorbing interest and will richly reward the thoughtful reader.
CONTENTS I. Family of George Bowen. XI. A Decisive Year, 1849. II. Boyhood and Youth. XII. From 1850 to 1855. III. Three Years Abroad. XIII. Ten Years of Independent Work. IV. Life in New York, 1840·1844. XIV. The Bombay GlIardian. V. Illumination of a Hopeless Love. Relations with the American Board. VI. Conversion to Christianity. XV. Association with the Methodist Church. VII. At Union Theological Seminary. XVI. Bowen as a Writer. VIII. His Missionary Appointment. XVII. Correspondence with Henry W. Rankin. IX. The Voyage to India, 1847. XVIII. Closing Testimony. X. Beginning Missionary Work. XIX.
This latest work by Dr. Speer may be ordered at $2.50 per copy from THE MISSIONARY REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY 156 Fifth Avenue, New York fI abrf~tma~ 6fft @uggt~tfon Remember at Christmas time, with a gift that comes every month, some Missionary, Pastor, Teacher, Sunday School Teacher or other Christian Worker. You cannot do better than to send each one a year's subscription to THE MISSIONARY ~~WORID 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. $2.50 a year.
OUR SPECIAL CHRISTMAS OFFER is good only until December 25th. We will send two annual subscriptions-both new or one new and one renewal-for one year for $4.00. (Regular price $2.50 each.) Among the coming articles are papers on these topics by How CAN WE IMPROVE MISSIONARY ADMINISTRATION? . . . . . . . . . . . . William Paton THE OUTLOOK FOR CHRISTIANITY TO-DAY …………………… Julius Richter THE PLACE OF CHRIST IN HISTORY …………… " ……. Kenneth S. Latourette ENCOURAGEMENTS IN THE EVANGELIZATION OF MOSLEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . George Swan How MAKE EFFECTIVE MISSIONARY ApPEALS? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cleland B. McAfee Is THE DAY OF PIONEERING OVER? . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kenneth G. Grubb S-a-v-e-$-1-.0-0-.–Ta-ke-a-dv-an-ta-ge-o-f -thi-s -of-fe-r N-O-W–. -T-w-o -Tw-el-ve–M-on-th-S-ub-sc-ri-pti-on-s -fo-r -$4-.0-0 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 ………………………….. .
NalDe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Date………………….. . Signed. I'.' ………………………..•.•.•.. ,.
The Missionary Review of the World — April 1936
APRIL,1936
'THE Mass Movements in India 1. Waskom Pickett Recent Progress in Mexico G. Baez Camargo The Final Motive for Missions .s. H. Gapp Undergirding the Christian Home Clementina Butler The Emancipation of Indian Outcastes L. O.Hartman The Awakening of Egypt Anna P. White Congo Crosses 1ulia Lake Kellersberger 25 Cents a Copy $2.50 a Year April 29-May 5–National Conven- Annuities In Operation Over tion, Y. W. C. A., Colorado Springs. Colo. Seventy-five Years May 1—General Conference, Meth- The American Baptist Home Mission Society has heen odist Episcopal Church, Columbus, receiving girts on the annuity plan since 1861. In the more Ohio. than seventy-five years that the plan has been in operation, these gifts have amounted to over Three Million Dollars, May 6-20–General Conference, Afri- while in the same period the Society has paid over Two Million can Methodist Episcopal Zion Dollars and has used for its general work or added to its per- Church, Greensboro, N. C. manent funds over One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dol- lars released by the deaths of donors. In no instance during May 6-21-General Conference, Afri- three quarters of a century has the Society failed to make its can Methodist Episcopal Church, payment to Annuitants according to agreement. New York. Inquiries concerning ANNUITIES AND LEGACIES May 12-15-National Council of Fed- may be addressed to erated Church Women. Dayton, Ohio. Samuel Bryant, Treasurer May 20-24-Northern Baptist Con- vention. St. Louis, Mo.
May 24-29-Confel'ence of Soc i a 1 Work. Atlantic City, N. J.
May 27-General Assembly, United Presbyterian Church of North America. Pittsburg, Kansas.
May 28-General Assemhly, Presby- The American Baptist Home Mission Society terian Church in U. S.A. Syra- cuse, N. Y. 23 East 26th Street, New York City June 4-9-General Synod of the Rt·- formed Church in Am e l' i e a.
Rochester, N. Y.
June 10-17 — Ann u a I Conference, Personal Items by the number of qualified men and Church of the Brethren. Her;;h('~', ,vomen '''ho can be sent into the field. Pa. Gipsy (Rodney) Smith, this year. compll'tef' his 60th y{>ar as preacher- "There remains a wide field of pio- June 16-24-General Council of Con- enmgelist. He ha~ made 32 visits to neer work '''hieh for generations to gregational and Christian Chul'che~. America. Many people find it diffi- come must l'emain the responsibility Mt. HolyokP Colll'ge. South Hadlc>y. cult to believe that he is the same of the churches in the "'c;.:t." Mas,;. Gip><y of whom their fathers and mllthel's talked many year" ago, <;0 re- Charles H. Tuttle, former Federal June 23-28—Chl'ist.ianYouth Council markable is his vitality. In his mis- attorney. has been elected President of :-J ortb America. Lakeside, Ohio. sions, the Gipsy now concentrates on of the Greater New York Federation church members and officials, rather of Churches, to succeed Rev. Eugene June 27-July 4–Geneva Summer than on "outsiders." He says that he C. Carder, D.D. School fo1' Missions. Lake Geneya, haR come to see that the outsider will Wisconsin. never be influen(~ed until the insider * * *' is really "born a!,(uin." July 6-12–Twelfth 'orld's Sunday Rev. Lionel Fletcher, British evan· School Convention. Oslo, NOl'way. Rev. Wayne L. Hunter, first Prot- gelist, and Dr. F. W. Norwood, pas- estant prison chaplain appointed by tor of London City Temple, have been July 9-August 12 – Winona La k e the Federal Council of Churches. has asked by the Free Chureh Council to School of Theology. Winona Lake, been assigned to the United State-s In- give all their time to evangelism. Ind. dustrial Reformatory of Chillicothe. Ohio. '" '" >I< Dr. John H. Furbay, of the Pres- Dr. Alice Appenzeller, President of .byterian College in Emporia, Kansas, Ewha College, Seoul, the first Amer- has been appointed educational coun- ican child born in Korea, is the first woman to he decorated with the Blue selor to the Republic of Liberia, at the Ribbon Medal "for meritorious service request of the Lt'ague of Nations. in education." Miss Appenzeller's father was Rev. Henry G. Appen- 1936 STUDIES IN CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE Dr. Lewis B. Franklin, Vice-Presi- zeller, pioneer Methodist missionary.
Four Parts-52 Lessons. Part 1. The Bible-The dent and Treasu"er of the Episcopal * * *' God of the Bible. Part II, The Christ of the Bible National CounciL who made a busi- _ The Holy Spirit. Part III, Man-Sin and Redemp· ness trip to the Orient. reports that Mr. George C. Stebbins, ttlP fation. Part IV. The Church-Future Events. never before have the opportunities mous and much beloved singing evan- gelist, vas 90 years of age and still Send 15c in stamps for current issue for thl' pl'eachin.:; of the Christian in good health on February 26th. Gospel in the Ori'mt been gJ'(~ater than Mr. Stebbins was for many years as- HRISTIAN PUBLICATIONS. INC; today. The extf nt of the growth of sociated in Gospel evangelism with the Christian Church is limited only Dwight L. Moody, Ira D. Sankey, P. 1502 N. Third St., Harrisburg, Pa. P. Bliss and D. W. Whittle. He still writes music for Gospel hymns al- though he is almost totally deaf.
MISSIONARY USED IN OVER ONE MILLION CHRISTIAN
REVIEW OF THE WORLD HURLBUT'S STORY OF THE BIBLE DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor By.JESSE LYMAN HURLBUT. D.D. Recommended by all denominations for its freshness and accuracy. VOL. LIX APRIL, 1936 No.4 for its simplicity of language, for Its freedom from doctrinal discussion.
Publication and Business Office- THE BEST GIFT FOR YOUNG AND OLD Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. FOR TEACHERS-STUDENTS-FOR THE HOME AND SCHOOL Editorial and Executive Office– Ooe hundred and sixty-eightstories, each complete in itself. yetform- 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. ing a conUnuous narrative of the Biblefrom Gene.i. to Revelation. Entered as second-class matter at Each oithe world-old stories is told by the noted author in a manner thatis vitally interesting and instructive to young and old alike. Post Office, Harrisburg, Pa., under Act of March 3, 1879. Biggest and Best Wnstrated Book Ever SOld for the PrIce Beautifully illustrated wit!> 281 pict",re~ in colors and in blaC:Jand 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. white; over 100 famous Lemweber pamtmgs. 759 pages. PrIce..$2.00 Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. Published monthly, except August. At all boolutore. or from the publi.her. All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1935. British agents – Marshall, Morgan . .__ THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO., Winston Bldg., Philadelphia and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, London, E. C. 1 shilling per copy, the missionary forces. God grant that ruary 20, 1936, at 3 P. M. Dr. Robert 10 shillings a year. in the coming half century it may go E. Speer presided and gave an ad- from strength to strength." dress. There were 287 stockholders MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- and other friends present in person LISHING CO., INC. JOHN R. MOTT, LL.D., or by proxy. Chairman of the InternaUonal BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Minutes of the last annual ROBERT E. SPEER, President Missionary Council. meeting of February 15, 1935, were A. L. WARNSHUIS, Vice-President approved as published in THE REVIEW W ALTER McDOUGALL, Treasurer *** for March, 1935. DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary "I would like to express my very The Treasurer, Mr. Walter Mc- SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT great appreciation of the value of Dougall, presented his annual report THE REVIEW. In my judgment, it which has been audited by Mr. Daniel WILLIAM 1. CHAMBERLAIN never was more worthy of its name, Pattison and found correct. This re- D. J. F'ANT more needed or more deserving of port showed a deficit of $1,007.81, with support than today. Never was there contributions of $975 to the Main- MRS. ORRIN R. JUDD such need of clear and clean thinking tenance Fund for the past year. The WM. B. LIPPHARD in the light of Christian truth as president appointed Mr. A. Y. Meeker there is today when anarchy is run- and Dr. Hugh R. Monro as an audit- Emc M. NORTH ning wild and running red over: much ing committee to examine securities of the earth. THE REVIEW from the in the safe deposit box. SAMUEL M. ZWEMER very beginning has been one of the primary factors in keeping alive in The Secretary, Mr. Delavan L. Pier- Editorial Chat terms of facts and truths the world's son, gave a report of the year s)1ow- need of a living and divine Saviour." ing the progress made and outlined The Florida Chain of Missionary plans for the coming year. Assemblies brought together as usual DR. JOHN McDOWELL, a notable list of missionary speakers, Associate Secretary, Board of Mr. D. J. Fant, representative of including Americans and those of the Evangelical Press, stated that the other races. Their topics covered the National Missions, Presby- past year had been the most encourwork of many denominations, both at terian Church, U. S. A.' aging since they undertook the rehome and abroad. These addresses sponsibility for the manufacture and are always enthusiastically received *** promotion of the magazine. The by Rotary clubs and high school whole publication expense might be audiences, as well as at luncheons and ANNUAL MEETING OF solved through increased circulation mass meetings. "THE REVIEW" and larger advertising income.
We have arranged to print in THE The Missionary Review Publishing The Nominating Committee, Miss REVIEW the addresses by many of Company held its annual meeting at J. H. Righter and Mr. Arthur Y. these outstanding speakers. Papers 156 Fifth Avenue, New York, on Feb- Meeker, nominated directors for the by Mrs. Induk Pak, Prof. Baez Cam- coming year, and the following were argo and Dr. Frank Laubach have THAT TEACH unanimously elected: already appeared. Others by M'rs. Kellersberger and Mrs. John P. White THE· BIBLE Robert E. Speer, William I. Chamare printed in this number of THE Used in thousands of Sunday berlain, Walter McDougall, D. L. REVIEW. Others are promised for Schools where the leadersbelieve Pierson, Samuel McCrea Cavert, Mrs. later issues. Watch for them and in the inspirationofGod's Word. Orrin R. Judd, William B. Lipphard, pass the word along. Eric M. North, A. L. Warnshuis, FREE PROSPECTUS Samuel M. Zwemer, D. J. Fant. *** of department in which you are inter- Brief remarks were made by the At the annual meeting of THE RE- ested mailed on request. Desk MR-4. Rev. J. S. Stowell, of Philadelphia, VIEW, a report of which is printed and by Dr. John McDowell, of New here, many encouraging messages York. were received, by voice and letter, showing the high esteem in which the The meeting was closed with prayer REVIEW is held by many. Here are a by the Rev. Mr. Martin, formerly a few extracts from recent letters. missionary in India. Will you pass the word along? Respectfully submitted, *** DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary. "For fifty years I have been a constant reader of THE MISSIONARY RE- *** VIEW OF THE WORLD, that is from 1886, the year of the memorable At a subsequent meeting of the Mount Hermon Conference. In my Board of Directors (March 9th), Dr. judgment no other periodical during Robert E. Speer was reelected Presithat half century can be bracketed dent; Dr. A. L. Warnshuis, Vicewith this one in comprehensiveness of President; Mr. Walter McDougall, view, in consistent emphasis on the Treasurer, and Delavan L. Pierson, pronouncedly evangelistic purpose of Secretary. Christian missions, and in influence in the direction of drawing together [161 ]
A GROUP OF CONGO BURDEN
MATERIAL E'VIDENCES OF IDOLATRY AND FETISHISM IN CENTRAL AFRICA SIDE LIGHTS ON SOME CONGO CROSSES (See page 173)
NARY
REVIB ORLD VOLUME LIX AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER 4 APRIL, 1936 Topics of the Times CRISIS AMONG THE OUTCASTES OF INDIA While Dr. Ambedkar is apparently not a man of strong religious convictions, and thinks mainly in The congress of representatives. of Depressed terms of political, social and economic betterment, Classes (Outcastes) in India, to consider a move- he has showed himself alive to the meaning of the ment away from Hinduism, was postponed from Christian faith and is mindful of what Christ has February to Easter, so that no definite action has done for his people. He has shown appreciation as yet been taken. Some months ago Dr. Ambed- of the difficulties that may arise if a large body of kar, an outstanding leader of the Depressed Outcastes accept the Christian faith without ade- Classes, who represented them at the Round Table quate preparation. He has suggested that some Conference in London, publicly renounced Hindu- key men among his followers should receive trainism in the presence of 10,000 of his people of the ing in order that they may teach others. Mahar community. He urged them to do the same and his action was unanimously ratified by The one thing that will impress the Depressed the conference. His reason for this step is that Class leaders is evidence of the power of Christ the Hindu religious system, by virtue of its many in the present Christian community. The great inhibitions, had completely failed to satisfy the need of all men is· the "abundant life" that comes aspirations of his people. They must, therefore, from God through Christ. The Church in India seek a new religion that will give them an oppor- must put her own house in order and must present tunity to worship and to advance. Dr. Ambedkar Christianity in terms of new life and a liberating said: fellowship.
The Depressed Classes have been unsuccessful in their It is evident that Dr. Ambedkar's action has efforts to bring about a change of heart among caste sent a thrill through the Depressed Classes as a Hindus and it is futile to waste energies and money in whole, who number roughly sixty or seventy milfurther trying to get redress and to work in harmonious lions and there are already indications of a growcooperation. I have come to the conclusion that the best ing resolve to follow his lead. When a repre- sentative conference of the Depressed Classes is way is complete severance from the Hindu fold. Because we have the misfortune to call ourselves Hindus, we are held in Lucknow at Easter time it is expected treated thus. If we were members of another faith none that important action will be taken. There seems would dare treat us so. I had the misfortune of being to be no doubt that there will be a great renunciaborn a Hindu with the stigma of an "untouchable." It is tion of Hinduism, whatever the next step may be.
not my fault, but I will not die a Hindu.
Reformed Hindus,· Moslems, Buddhists and An outstanding Indian Christian leader may be Sikhs at once openly invited Ambedkar and his appointed to attend the Lucknow Conference for people to join them, holding out promises of sub- the purpose of stating the Christian position, but stantial support. The Christian Church, whose without any desire to offer any wholesale recep- ranks have been largely recruited from these tion to the revolting Depressed Classes.
Depressed Classes, has rightly refrained from Christians in America, England and elsewhere entering into competition with other faiths for are earnestly asked to pray for the guidance of an influx of these people. After much thought the Holy Spirit in this crisis. These people must and prayer, various conferences have been held be taught first of all what the Christian Gospel between Christian leaders and Dr. Ambedkar really is, what are the terms of admission to the which have paved the way for further action. Christian fold~ and what l;I.re the thinJ{s that iIlc- ( 163~
sure and accompany salvation through Christ. a Christian, on the contrary real persecution. Suitable literature is being prepared to provide What have the twenty thousand of caste Hindus simple instructions for pastors and teachers. The in the Nizam's Dominions (Hyderabad, Deccan) Ambedkar situation should be related intimately had to gain by accepting Christ? Over against to the Forward Movement in Evangelism which Gandhi's dogmatic assertion is to be placed a is now being promoted in India. statement written by the Rev. Charles W. Posnett explaining why those twenty thousand began to Mahatma Gandhi has pronounced Dr. Ambed- come to Jesus Christ. Dr. Azariah, the Bishop of kar's speech as "unbelievable" and adds: "A Dornakal, and others tell the same story of the change of faith will not serve the cause the un- work among the outcaste people in Dornakal diotouchables have at heart." Millions of Indian cese being so successful that the caste people, who Christians testify to the contrary, for their whole of their own accord have been coming into the outlook on life and their characters have been Christian fold, say: "Weare astounded at the transformed through their acceptance of Christ. intellectual, social and spiritual miracles per- formed in these outcastes since they have accepted In agitation resulting from Dr. Ambedkar's Christ as their Saviour." In view of the facts of speech and Gandhi's comment, the word "con- Christian heroism, Gandhi should cease making version" has sometimes been used as if it meant a such aspersions on his fellow-countrymen. Mr. mere change of fellowship. Every Christian Posnett writes: should help to restore this word to its only correct meaning of a "change of heart"-a change of For twenty-five years the Christian harvest in Hyderarelationship to God and a new life from Him. As bad State was entirely among Untouchables; but grad- Jesus said: "Except ye be converted and become ually the young people who had been through our schools as little children ye cannot enter into the Kingdom had gone back to their villages, and by their lives and of God." Without such an inward change, character compelled the respect of those chiefs who had wrought by the Spirit of God, no change of out- always trodden them underfoot as slaves. At last a depuward circumstance will satisfy. "Except a man tation of caste people came to me to ask for a young be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God." teacher. They said, "We know he is an Untouchable, but he is pure as gold, and he has become our friend; we GANDHI AND INDIAN CHRISTIANITY* want him to come to teach us." This was only the begin- ning. That year, six hundred caste Hindus from all over In the Indian Christian Messenger, Allahabad, the country came to Medak, and Jor three days they the Rev. A. RaIla Ram, Joint Secretary of the listened and learned, and asked questions. Before they Student Movement of India, gives an interesting left they asked for baptism, but our watchword in Hyderaaccount of an interview with Gandhi. In the con- bad has always been "Thorough." We will baptize no one versation, Mr. RaIla Ram said to Gandhi: "Vari- unless we are sure they are prepared to stick to their new ous reports regarding your attitude to conversion Master, whatever befalls, and so we put them off for six have reached me. Could I hear from you first- months. When they got home, they had to go through the hand as to what exactly is your position?" Gand- furnace. Their land was stolen, their water supply cut hi's reply was: off; they were dragged to the courts on false charges; there was one continued, ceaseless effort to make them cry I must frankly say that today communalism is using out for peace at any cost. The devil seemed to have conversion to gain its ends. Various communities are out entered into the hearts of their enemies, who were deterto gain more numbers. Arya Somajists, many Moham- mined to do everything to stop the rising tide. Yet it was medan propagandists and Christian missionaries have of no avail. given me ample proof of this conviction of mine. Preaching pure and simple I cannot possibly oppose. I am a The Rev. A. RaIla Ram's last question was as to preacher myself. But religion is such a sacred matter what message Gandhi had for the Christian comthat, when it is preached, the motives should be unsullied munity in India, to which Gandhi replied: "Tell and pure. Besides, religious preaching should in the first them to let their love of Christ and love of the instance be practiced and lived, and unless word is backed land go hand in hand. You don't need one only, by life I am suspicious of it. I could prove it to you that or the other only, but both at the same time. Your a great deal of Christian medical and educational work is community has various advantages over other not for its own sake but with a view to add people to the communities; let it therefore all the more serve Christian community. . . . If a person wanted to be out the country." and out a follower of Christ and was at the same time devoted to his country and all the good in it, I would be the UNREST IN ITALY last one to oppose his <;onversion. But I maintain that such conversions are rare. The newspaper dispatches from Italy report only what Premier Mussolini and his censors per- Gandhi's last sentence (italicized) is much too mit the public to see in print. From these pubsweeping in face of present-day facts. Take one lished dispatches one might think that all Italians area only, and that a State of non-British India are united and contented under Fascism. This is where there is nothing to be gained by becoming far from true according to such intelligent, well- informed observers, as Professor Paul H. Douglas • Condensed editorial from Dnyanodaya, Poona, India.
TOPICS OF THE TIM,ES
of the University of Chicago, who recently spent has established, based on force, selfishness, fear some months in Italy. There is no doubt that "II and unrighteous aggression, cannot long prevail. Duce" has "put Italy on the map," has strength- Such regimes failed to produce strong abiding ened the government in temporal affairs, has nations under Alexander of Macedonia, Napoleon made many material improvements in the country of France, the Czars of Russia and Wilhelm of and has given Italians great confidence in their Prussia. Absolute dictatorship in human hands own strength. But there are many discontented does not create friends or rest on foundations of critics and some ominous rumblings beneath the righteousness, fear of God, and love for man. The surface; these show that fear holds sway in Italy, Kingdom of God-which is the only abiding King~ rather than love and loyalty. One purpose of the dom-is based on the dominance of Christ, who Ethiopian war was, no doubt, to divert the atten- is the expression of the sacrificial love of God. tion of Italians from the domestic situation and This Kingdom is manifested by "righteousness, to put before them an ambitious plan of foreign peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." conquest, promising large benefits to the nation. But the masses in Italy are not eager for war- STUDENT EVANGELISM IN CHOSEN which to them means hard military service with sickness, danger and death in a foreign land, The way most students spend their Christmas while at home it means privation and sorrow with vacation in America-skating, dancing, theater, unwelcome military restrictions. Apparent en- parties, sleeping and visiting-is in sharp conthusiasm for Mussolini and his program is stirred trast to the way some of the Chosen Christian up in public by artificial means; it is not spon- College students in Seoul spend theirs. Urgent taneous; but the people are afraid to express their pleas for help from about twenty churches were real thoughts or even to mention the name of the laid before the officers of the College Y. M. C. A. dictator lest they be arrested. "Send us young men who can tell the young people of our town of Christ," they said. "Send someone The Protestant Christians of Italy do not ap- who can sing as well as preach." From various prove the militaristic, materialistic, dictatorial places, couched in various terms, came the invitapolicy of the government; its disregard for rights tions, but burdened with the same need for help. of individuals and of weaker nations is anti-Christian. The Roman Catholic Church is merely ob- Maps were studied and the all too scanty budget serving an armed' truce, with the Pope ruling a item labeled "Student Preaching." "It was finalkingdom within a kingdom and disapproving ly decided," writes Dr. H. H. Underwood, Presimany of Mussolini's policies. dent of the college, "to make special effort in be- half of a little church close at hand where the col- One cause of the unrest in Italy, as elsewhere, lege students had carried on work all fall. Here is great economic suffering. While millions of was an opportunity which might yield much fruit lire are being spent on airplanes, battleships, mu- and which could not be abandoned for more thrillnitions and aggressive militarism, the average ing calls from far-away places. employed worker receives only $5.50 a week for himself and his family; meanwhile food prices "Four little struggling groups of Christians, are from two to five times the scale of prices for two in the south and two in the north, were also sethe same articles in other countries of Europe. lected for work during the Christmas vacation. At least one seventh of the Italian wage workers Two teams, with three boys in each team this are unemployed. Young men are inclined to be time, one a musician, were chosen to give four or aggressively militaristic but those past thirty, five days to each group. One of the finest violinwith family and business responsibilities, desire ists in Korea (a junior in the arts course), consepeace, liberty and a voice in the government. crated his violin to spreading the Gospel music Thinking classes do not relish the fact that an and message. indiscreet remark may result in five years imprisonment; nor do they see justice in the fact "When these teams came back for the opening that there is no appeal from the decisions of the of college in January each boy had a lot to tell. military authorities and the dictatorial courts. Cold, misunderstanding, persecution and heck- The Italian newspapers are all under Mussolini's ling; welcomes, conversions, joy of service, joy control, while posters, pamphlets and every de- of giving. The total attendance at these meetings vice of propaganda are used to bolster Fascism. was almost 7,000. About 200 young men met them But people are weary of being told that "II Duce" in earnest inquiry and joined in the study of the is infallible and divinely inspired; few believe life of Christ and the meaning of the message. that he is invincible. Premier Mussolini does not Between 700 and 1,000 little children were taught encourage the study of history for history teaches to know His Name, to sing His praise, and to say that the government, such as Premier Mussolini 'Our Father,' with a new meaning. Daybreak prayer meetings, morning classes with young peo-
pIe, afternoon Bible story hour for children, and Dr. Speer, in his address, called attention to five evening preaching service made the days full- main reasons for cooperative Christian evangelism seventy-eight such days of service in all. At the in the Southern republics. port of Yohsoo the building would not hold the crowds and twice they moved to larger quarters. (1) Admiration for the excellent qualities At one place the eyes of the Christians were found in Latin Americans and love for the people opened to their responsibility to give non-Chris- as we come to know them. tians a new conception of what real Christianity should mean. (2) The real need for Evangelical work as a protest against the errors and weaknesses of Ro- "We cannot estimate spiritual values in money man Catholicism as seen in Latin America. The terms, but, for purposes of comparison, it is in- very presence of Protestant workers is a stimulus teresting to note that these students-at a total to higher standards of doctrine and life. cost of $27.00-were able to reach 6,600 people; there were over fifty conversions; five churches (3) As a witness to pure New Testament were served, four to eight days, at $5.40 each; standards of faith and practice under the guidseventy-eight days of service at a cost of less ance and power of the Holy Spirit. than $.35 per day! More precious things were expended-much love, much faith, much enthusi- (4) To bring into Latin American life the inasm for the Master, and many other precious fluence of strong Christian personalities such as gifts. The results only God knows." have given their lives to Latin America in mis- sionary service; and to give to North Americans Did Christmas vacation mean as much to us in the benefit of contact with such great Christian America? Did it mean as much to others of God's personalities as Erasmo Braga of Brazil. children, and to Christ, as the vacation meant to these Korean college students? (5) But the dominant and essential purpose of Protestant work is to make Christ known to the COOPERATION IN LATIN AMERICA people of those lands – not merely the infant Christ of the manger, or the child in his mother's One hundred years ago the first permanent arms, or the dead Christ upon the Cross, but the Protestant mission was established in· South Christ who is the eternal Son of God, the cruci- America by the Methodist Episcopal Church. fied, risen and glorified Christ, who is the living Twenty years ago, in February, 1916, the first general missionary conference of Evangelical Saviour. Missions to Latin America was held in Panama. South America has been called a continent As a result the Committee on Cooperation in Latin America was formed. Its object was to within a continent. Not much more than the outbring together for united planning and effort the ward fringe is touched by Evangelical Christian- Evangelical forces engaged in promoting the Gos- ity-vast areas of the interior are still unreached. pel of Christ in those other American republics. Here is the call to advance. The doors are open Dr. Robert E. Speer presided at the Panama Con- wide and there is complete religious liberty in all gress and was elected cha;irman of the committee but three of the Latin American republics. The -a position in which he has served for the past response to the Gospel is encouraging, especially twenty years. At the same time, Dr. S. G. Inman in Brazil where success has been greater than in was elected general secretary and has probably all the other republics. Here is a call of God to done more than any other one man to promote advance and we are under obligation to enter North American interest in the peoples south of these doors while they are open and to strengthen the Rio Grande and to strengthen sympathetic the ties that bind us together in Christ. cooperation between the northern and southern republics. Evangelical mission work has not been Dr. George P. Howard, of Chile, who is known easy because of racial, religious, political and eco- as "the evangelist to the unchurched intelligentzia nomic differences. Real progress has been made, of Latin America," reported on the remarkable as the interest in the mission study topic of the responsiveness of the students, professors, mempresent year clearly indicates. bers of Rotary clubs and other thinking people to the message of the Gospel. They will not go to At a twentieth anniversary meeting of the Com- church but they will come in crowds to halls and mittee on Cooperation, held in New York on theaters to listen to Evangelical Christian ad:- March 5th, over two hundred attended the dinner dresses on moral and religious topics. In one year to honor Dr. Speer, who was presented with a Dr. Howard was privileged to speak on these gift of over $2,000 to be used as he may designate themes to 28,000 of the educated classes, the mato promote Evangelical work in Latin America. jority of whom are entirely out of touch with the churches. The radio is also offering wonderful opportunities to reach men and women in their homes. Thousands are becoming intelligently in- terested in personal religion and hundreds are enrolling in Bible classes.
Mass Movements in India~'
By BISHOP J. WASKOM PICKETT, D.D.
Author of "Christian Mass Movements in India"
MASS movements have long characterized another of these mass movements. Some records Indian mission work, but failure to deal contained as many as 350 entries . . . with them properly has often led to their The spiritual validity of mass movements was extinction. During the last thirty years they have abundantly proved by the data assembled, and the been the main feature of successful district work. conclusion was reached that for vast numbers of Over ninety per cent of the members of the Indian India's people mass movements offer the most Church have beEm won from the outcaste and natural way of approach to Christ. Weaknesses primitive peoples, amongst whom these mass were discovered and reasons for some of them movements hav~ taken place. They are commu- were clearly revealed. Neglect of personal reli- nal rather than mass movements. The practical gion, the bringing into the church of caste bar- lessons which our recent study reveals mark a riers, and the arrest or retardation of growth definite step forward in the missionary approach after being recognized as Christians, appear to be to the evangelization of India. the chief dangers attending mass movements, and When the project to study the mass movements everyone of these has been overcome in one or in India was proposed by the National Christian more of the areas studied. Of the causes of weak- Council in January, 1929, it was known that these ness in the churches that have grown out of mass movements had brought millions of India's people movements, the following are prominent: to a profession of Christian faith and discipleship, 1. Underestimation by missions of their responsibilities.
but there were, in the ranks of Christian mission- 2. Inadequate adaptation of methods of work to the pe- aries and Indian Church leaders, sharp differ- culiar needs of these communities. 3. Low standards of expectation and inefficient adminences of opinion about the measure of their istration. achievement, their value, their possibilities and even their spiritual validity. While many re- If the work of missions aiding these movements spected leaders of the churches were encouraging were everywhere brought up to the standards of mass movements, others equally respected were the best, and the lessons learned were applied to discouraging them in their own areas and depre- the work in every area, very great improvements would be made and the achievements through cating their growth elsewhere.
Objections were based chiefly on the depressed mass movements would be vastly increased . . . social, economic and moral state of the groups A number of missionaries and Indian Church participating in the movements, the supposedly poor material these groups constitute for building leaders have accepted the findings in the report the Indian Church, the obstacles which their con- as a sufficient explanation of their lack of success version was believed to put in the way of winning and have begun to work on new lines with early the higher castes to Christ, and the belief that promise of good results. One missionary, after the religious needs of the individual are obscured learning of what God had done through mass and his development as a Christian retarded by movements in different parts of India, prayerhis inclusion in a "mass movement." These ob- fully considered what class of people in his disj ections represented a conflict of experience as trict were most likely to respond in large numbers well as of opinion . . . to an invitation to come to Christ, and he went to them at once with a new definiteness and faith. The study of these mass movements was in- Almost immediately he discovered such responsaugurated in July, 1929. Representative areas iveness as he had not met with before in the whole were selected and intensively studied with the aid of his ministry. Within three months of his first of a carefully selected staff. Economists, sociol- approach to these people, a large group of them ogists, psychologists and church administrators was asking for admission to the church on prowere included among the investigators. Records fession of faith, and telling their relatives and were made about more than 4,000 households of fellow caste men of their new joy in Christ. A people who had come to Christian faith in one or movement of ~uch promise has begun, and five village groups, totalling more than 400 people, * Condensed from Wo..ld Dominiun, January, 1936. have been baptized.
[167 ]
Another missionary, who had been afraid to bile so that they can be employed where there is the best accept a large group of aborigines because he did. prospect of achieving results. not understand the operation of group action in religion, found in the report of what had been 4. That. converts should be urged to win their relatives achieved through mass movements of the same and those with whom they have been associated in caste tribe in another district the encouragement and or tribe, and that the resources of missions should be used to reinforce their witness to Christ; in other words, that evangelism shou;d be directed along natural social lines.
understanding he needed. He therefore received Evangelists have often been employed in one them, with the result that they have made an district, trying in vain to persuade people to hear excellent beginning in the Christian life and he the Gospel, while in an adjoining district people feels that the hopes and purposes with which he have been asking in vain for instruction. Recame to India are being realized. sponsibility for this has not been due to denom- inationalism alone, for it has often happened Yet another missionary had refused to allow a within the same mission. Because missions have group of sweepers to come into the church because developed property in certain places, evangelists he feared that their admission would keep out have been kept there when the people of that higher caste people whom he was eager to win. vicinity were unresponsive to the message and Through the report he was led to see the wrong people of neighboring territory were clamoring that he was doing and at once changed his atti- for it. Many Mid-India missionaries now see the tude toward the sweepers, with the result that al- need of mobility of evangelistic forces so clearly most one hundred of them have been converted that they are offering to send help from their and he is having happy fellowship with them.
These responses of individual Christian work- areas into the regions where movements are de- ers to new light, however, mean less than certain veloping, even though that means the disregard- developments affecting entire missions and groups ing of mission boundaries and the sacrifice of of missions. When the report of the study was denominational interests for the good of the larg- presented to the Mid-India Christian Council, one er church.
question seemed to take hold of the minds of all The tendency has often been to try to protect present, namely, why have similar results not been the convert from influences that are regarded as achieved in Mid-India? Few areas in India have a menace, by separating him from his relatives been so well provided with missionaries and other and all old associates. Many of the greatest in- agents of missionary work as has this area. The gatherings of the church in India have been population in Mid-India also includes an unusual- brought about by the refusal of new converts to ly large proportion of the sort of people who have accede to the demands made upon them to come been won to Christ through mass movements, yet out from among their people in a social sense.
the area has been among the least fruitful. Mis- They have insisted on going among their people sion work has been directed very largely to insti- to tell the glad tidings, and, instead of suffering tutions and rural evangelism has grown less and from the influence of their non-Christian environ- less fruitful. ment, they have won their fellows to Christ. Spir- Considering these facts, the council appointed a itual life does not seem to thrive when it is "pro- Mass Movement Committee with instructions to tected" by isolation, but when it is promoted by study the records and opportunities in the area witness-bearing.
and see what could be done to effect a radical Now we come to a brief report of the chief supchange. This committee has arranged for a two- plementary study of this period, namely, that of months' study of six sections of its territory, the unprecedented revival developing in the Telu- where it believes signs of potential mass move- gu field. Here we are concerned with mass movements exist, planned a redistribution of forces to ments in no fewer than forty-five different castes take better advantage of the openings which God and tribes, all following upon highly successful has made for evangelistic advance, andreached a movements in two depressed castes.* We have number of definite convictions concerning the interviewed almost a thousand converts of the program which God would have the church and middle and higher castes in this area, and their missions in Mid-India to follow. testimony indicates clearly that they have been Among these convictions are the following: profoundJy influenced by the transformation in 1. That cooperation in evangelism is an urgent need. the character and the enrichment in the personal- 2. That the resources with which God has entrusted the ity of the Christian converts from the depressed churches and missions are for the building of the Church classes in their own and near-by villages. The as a whole and should be used regardless of separate de- centers of the revival among the caste people are nominational considerations.
3. That the occupation of territory is of secondary im- • The results of this study will be recorded in a oook to be pubportance and that evangelistic forces should be kept mo- lished early in 1936, the title of which may be Christ's Way to In- dia's Heart.
CHRISTIAN MASS MOVEMENTS IN INDIA
the places in which the most thoroughgoing grain from wild animals, when he became hungry changes have been wrought in the character, out- and ordered the servant to steal some fruit from look and mode of living of the earlier converts. a neighbor's garden. The servant boy refused, "What influenced you to become a Christian?" saying that he would not steal even when ordered we asked a middle-aged physician who had been to do so. The Brahman threatened, then en- baptized a few weeks earlier. treated, but the lad persisted in refusing to steal.
"I was first led to investigate Christianity by Then he remembered that this boy's caste-fellows meeting an Indian minister on a cross-country had been notorious thieves until they were con- journey in a motor lorry," he replied. "We talked verted to Christianity several years before, and for two hours and I was surprised at his rich cul- began to wonder how this had been brought about.
ture and charm. I asked him about his caste be- Within a few weeks he began to attend church in fore becoming a Christian and was amazed when the outcaste quarter of his village and when his he told me that he came from one of the lowest caste-fellows protested he contrasted their false castes in the country. That puzzled me and I said claims in religion with the reality he found among that I would try to find out the secret of how a the Christians, and sought and found that reality despised outcaste could be remade into such a man for himself.
as this minister. I bought a Bible and read the These are typical of scores of experiences that Gospels of Mark and John, the Acts of the Apos- were told to us during this part of the study.
tles and several of the Epistles of Paul, and felt These conversions are bringing to the church that I understood the secret. Then I began to in- many new problems. When high-caste, egotistical vestigate the Christian converts in my own vil- employers join the church of their long-despised lage and found that the same transforming proc- servants, problems of relationship inevitably ess was going on in them. This led to my con- arise. The masters have to resist a strong natural version and I am hoping that all my relatives and disposition to assert their control of the church; friends will be converted. None of them can af- the servants to resist a no less strong disposition ford to get on without this power of Christ in to take advantage of their opportunity to rule in their lives." the one sphere where they meet their masters on A young Brahman told us that he was converted equal or better terms. In these conditions it is through the influence brought to bear on him by not surprising to discover a tendency on the part a servant from one of the outcaste communities of high-caste converts to seek baptism as a sign of his village. This servant was with him in his of their recognition as Christians, but to refrain father's field at night, protecting the ripening from any active association with the church. The study was undertaken chiefly for the purpose of discovering MASS MOVEMENT AREAS how the numerous problems (shaded) are being handled and with -In- what results. It is hoped other IKDlA '" BURMA lessons will be .learned which nln will result in greatly improved work.
By Courtesy of World Dominion, London For Whom Did Christ Die?
Twelve shipwrecked men were la- boring in heavy seas in an over- loaded boat, when one of the seamen, in order to lighten the boat, deliber- ately sprang overboard. The rest were saved.
For which of the eleven did the sailor give His life?
If Christ died for all, He died for each; for no one more than another, and no one omitted. The sun shines for nineteen hundred millions of mankind; but I know that it shines for me, and would tomorrow morn- ing if not another soul survived on the globe. So Christ loved me and gave Himself for 1ne.-ATthur T. PieTson.
Emancipator of Indian Outcastes*
By 1. o. HARTMAN, Boston, Mass. Jit– Editor of Zion's Herald I N FAR-AWAY India there has arisen a leader At a conference in Nasik last October, Ambed- whose ancestral background, like that of kar threw what The Times of Lucknow called his Abraham Lincoln, is summed up in the phrase "bomb-shell." "We shall cease our fight for equal- "the short and simple annals of the poor." He ity where we are denied it," he declared in an im- bids fair to become the emancipator of sixty mil- passioned address before ten thousand Harijans lions of miserable outcastes. Bhimaro R. Ambed- at the Bombay Presidency Depressed Classes'
kar is principal of the Government Law College Conference.
of Bombay and leader of a movement that is shak- Everywhere in India the movement is spreading the Indian Empire from the Himalayas to ing like wildfire. Following the conference, eight Cape Comorin; from the Indus to the Bay of hundred young men of the depressed classes per- Bengal. formed the obsequies of Hinduism at Nasik by This strange man, to whom the masses of India burning "Manusmriti" and other sacred Hindu are now rallying with pathetic hopefulness, was books which uphold untouchability. At Lucknow born of outcaste parents, apparently doomed to a another group sought to organize a band of vollife of hideous Hindu slavery. But he broke unteers to force temple entry, which from time through the iron bars of caste and finally was immemorial has been denied the Harijans. At graduated from college with honors. He attracted Barabanki twenty-eight thousand outcastes asthe attention of the Gaekwar of Baroda, India's sembled and, after hearing speakers, urged supmost progressive native prince, who gave young port of Dr. Ambedkar and called for an "All- Ambedkar a generous scholarship that made pos- Indian Harijan Conference." sible years of study in Great Britain, the United States, and Germany. From Columbia Univer- Great processions of outcastes from many sity the future barrister received the degrees of towns and villages marched on foot to a great master of arts and doctor of philosophy; from rally held at Egmore on November 24th. One the University of London the doctorate in science, speaker told of the wide-spread denial of educaand from the University of Bonn another doctor- tional opportunity to the outcastes. ate in philosophy. He visited the Pope and talked to him of the misery of the outcastes and of the Millions of multicolored leaflets have been isinjustice practised against members of the de- sued bearing Dr. Ambedkar'.s message to the outpressed classes in the Roman Catholic Church of castes, tracing the history of his people and their South India. struggle during the last six years "to obtain bare rights and recognition by caste Hindus as human Upon his arrival home Ambedkar experienced beings." But in spite of their efforts the outcastes again the far-reaching and sinister power of have been treated more inhumanly than before. Brahmanism. He could not rent a house in which They have therefore become hardened and have to live; he could not secure even an office room; decided "after mature deliberation and in a calm he was still an .outcaste; with all his education atmosphere to abjure Hindu religion for some he was only an "untouchable." After a struggle other religion which can give them equal treathe decided to go up or down with his people. To- ment, status, and clean living inside the faith." day the great struggle is on, one of the greatest struggles in human history, with sixty million Astounded at the mass uprising of Harijans, five progressive Hindu leaders recently held a low-caste slaves fighting for justice and freedom conference with Dr. Ambedkar and outlined. cerunder the leadership of one of their own number. tain reforms, including the abolition of untouch- Dr. Ambedkar has become the acknowledged lead- ability. The committee tried in vain to persuade er of the "Depressed Classes" and was their rep- the outcaste leader to retract his public statement resentative at the famous Round Table Confer- that he had definitely "decided to renounce Hindu- ism." ence in London.
The Mohammedans, seeing in the great revolt r • Condensed from an article in Zion'8 Herald, Boston, Mass.Dr.a Moslem opportunity, are making flattering of- Hartman has recently returned from Indla.-EDlTOR. 170] fers to the Harijans, and are hoping to captur~ have no scruples about taking it from their Mosthese millions for the Prophet. On January 6th, lem fellow workers. at Calcutta, there was held a great Khilafat Conference of Moslems. The president, the Nawab Dr. Ambedkar pointed out the inherent moral of Deccan, outlined a "fifty-year plan" to be car- and spiritual qualities of the Harijans. "How ried forward under an organization to be known amazing it is," he said, "that, notwithstanding as the Moslem Mission for the Emancipation of the injustices and cruelties they have suffered, the Depressed· Classes, and called for 100,000 they still keep a certain simple dignity and nobilmembers and a fund of 1,000,000 rupees. He also ity of soul, a kindly courtesy, and an undying urged the recruiting of 1000 Moslem evangelists, hope !" They will "make good" if given a chance. each of whom would pledge himself to give twenty years of his life to work among the outcastes. At present Mahatma Gandhi is defending the caste system in order to hold Hinduism together. Dr. Ambedkar is friendly toward Christianity Dr. Ambedkar said" "If Gandhi thinks from the and is familiar with Christ's teaching, though he standpoint of strategy the time is not yet ripe for is noncommittal regarding the future relation- a clear-cut pronouncement on this question, but ship of himself and his group to the church. In is really on the side of the depressed millions, New York and in London he sat under the preach- I can keep my respect for him, but if he is playing ing of some of that city's most distinguished min- politics I am through with him." isters. Recently he has conferred with Bishop J. W. Pickett and is deeply interested in the On the constructive side the outcaste leader bishop's book "Christian Mass Movements in In- sees clearly the economic issue. He declared: dia." He has also come into personal contact "We must develop cooperative banks among the with the Bishop of Dornakal, with Dr. Stanley outcastes, give them opportunity to save and to J ones and several other missionaries. acquire property. . .. The Harijans must be given a chance to own land, for only so can they The outcastes have apparently definitely decid- overcome the slave mentality that has been develed that they are forever through with Hinduism. oped through long centuries. I want the outcaste Some may accept the proffered compromises of to stand up and achieve all the dignity of a the Brahmans, but the great majority will prob- man . . . Education is essential." ably become either Moslems or Christians. Dr. Ambedkar, who is at heart a deeply spir- When in India I visited Dr. Ambedkar's home itual man, said that outcastes must be offered at Dadar, a suburb of Bombay. His study, in- more than simply individualistic "spirituality," cluding the balcony on three sides, is filled with important as that is. "Any religion that is to volumes arranged in stacks after the manner of command the respect of the outcastes and help a public library. Now in the vigor of early man- them to the more abundant life must also deal hood, this leader of the Harijans is a forceful with the application of Christ's teachings to the personality, rather quick in his movements and problems that they have to face. . . How can the with the keen eye that goes with penetrative in- Harijans develop strong characters and become telligence. He gives the impression of cautious useful men and women in the midst of a degradcourage. As soon as we were seated Dr. Ambed- ing and debasing environment?" kar took the initiative and the interview began. He dealt first of all with the evils of Hinduism and Dr. Ambedkar realizes that at bottom the whole traced the history of Brahman cruelty and in- problem is religious, and he knows that he is fightjustice to the outcastes. ing hoary traditions that have been entrenched not for hundreds but for thousands of years. Now He feels that the religious leaders of other he sees that the outcastes are "through for ever countries, in their effort to be tolerant of all re- with Hinduism. Weare going somewhere, but ligions, have been too lenient with Hinduism. He are not ready yet to say in what direction." If declares that the older missionaries were nearer they compromise with the Hindus, all is lost; if right in their estimates of the faith than are the they choose Mohammedanism, the Hindus will younger leaders who attempt to find "much good" crush them; if they accept Christianity, both the in it. He spoke of the cotton mills of Bombay Hindus and the Moslems will be on their back. where outcastes are employed as spinners at 27 rupees (about $9) a month but can never become Since the time when Moses led the Children of weavers at 100 rupees a month ($33) since in Israel out of the bondage of Egypt history has this department a bamboo tube is used to suck kept repeating itself. In the Reformation, in the in the broken ends of thread in the process of Enlightenment, in the English, French, Amerrepairing it. The high castes would never con- ican, and Russian revolutions, men have fought sent to insert the tube in their mouths after it for larger rights and liberties. And now Ambedhad been used by a low caste, although they ~ar of India seeks to lead another vast group of human beings out of the terrible slavery of caste into j usrtice and freedom.
Crosses
By JULIA LAKE KELLERSBERGER* Missiontlry of the Presbyteritln Church in the United Sttltes The Cross in the Sky watershed between the present territory of Rho- D URING the World War a company of young desia and the Belgian Congo, perhaps two small American soldiers were impatient to enter streams, only a few yards apart, would not have the fray. There were not transport ships issued from its center, one flowing south into the enough for all. The Captain, to be entirely just, Zambesi over Victoria while the other flowed drew a red cross on every third slip of paper, north into – what? Livingstone thought this leaving the other two blank. Those who drew the must be the source of the Nile but he laid down cross were to sail for France the next day. The his life with the secret which he longed to ferret others were to wait further orders. One sixteen- out still locked within the waters of the stream. year-old American lad wrote home to his mother, Had Stanley not been a worthy pupil of so illus- "I'm praying that I might draw a cross." He did trious a teacher, he would never have returned to the unknown to solve the unfinished riddle. For and his body rests in Flander's field. one thousand days save one, he stuck to the river It is a costly thing to draw a cross. Most of us which flowed north for hundreds of miles and would prefer the crowns but we must carry the first before we can be coronated with the second. then suddenly turned west. He found enough Those who have chosen the Belgian Congo as adventures to satisfy even a knight of the round a mission field have drawn a land of crosses, as- table, as is ably proven by his own history of that tronomically, geographically and spiritually. illustrious voyage. Reaching the cataracts, near There is a Cross in the Sky which looks down the end of his journey, he fought his way along upon this territory of approximately one million the shore and finally landed at Boma on the Atsquare miles, eighty times the size of the country lantic Ocean. The shadows which, for four centhat governs it. "The Southern Cross" shines turies, had surrounded the "Dark Continent," upon the second largest river in the world, drain- were now chased away by the limelight of sciening more territory than all the rivers of Europe tific discovery. The silence of the continent was broken. From forests and plains, from mountains combined. This river spells "life" to countless and valleys, from river banks and ocean coasts hidden hamlets, supplying food and water and that had hitherto been dumb came a murmur of transportation to an otherwise poverty-stricken desire. "The Continent of God's Adventure" was and secluded people. The Cross is reflected in the ready for God's adventurers; the continent of placid waters of Stanley Pool, not far from the Moses was now ready for leaders to bring a bondmouth of the Congo River, where begins the series aged people to the Promised Land; the continent of famous cataracts that impeded the progress of to which Mary and Joseph fled with the young a continent for four hundred years. We dare not child, Jesus, was waiting to give Him a place in probe too curiously into the might-have-beens, but her bosom. gazing down on fishing nets caught in the swirl The Cross on the Land of these innocent-looking rapids, one's imagina- tion is caught in the net of speculation. Had the Had young Prince Henry the Navigator not mighty Congo run a smooth course, the energies crossed over from Spain to northern Africa in of intrepid explorers who entered her mouth be- 1415 he would never have learned from the Mos- fo;e Columbus dreamed of his westward voyage lems there of the vast riches along the unexplored mIght, perchance, have been directed toward the Western Coast. He would never have issued his opening up of this old, old continent instead of royal edi-ct to Diogo Cam to "Plant the Cross on discovering the new. If so, then might not Chris- some new headland." Because of this command tian Africa be sending missionaries to pagan there was carved in 1486 upon solid rock along America? Who can say? Great doors often the bank of the Congo River a cross, the sacred swing upon small hinges! Had there not been a symbol of the Rock of Ages upon enduring stone.
* A~ address delivered at The Florida Chain of Missionary As- A well-known picture of the Christ Child portrays semblIes, 1936. Him with arms outstretched, running towards His [172 ] waiting mother. Noon shadows cause the warn- ulated country, whose people were known, until a ing form of a cross to appear behind His boyish few decades ago, as a dying race because of the figure. Central Africa, too, has her arms up- crosses which still hung upon the land – sorcery raised, but sinister shadows make weird crosses and witchcraft, cannibalism and the poison cup, upon her weary land. To those who have had the epidemic diseases, sin, ignorance and superstitkm. privilege of gazing upon the "Mount of the Holy Cross" in Colorado, whose seared sides are filled The Cross Upon the Back with spotless snow, and upon whose heights a great white cross is visible, can never forget the There is a cross upon the back of the women sacred symbolism. Congo hills, too, are scarred and girls of Africa. They are modern Gibeonites, hewers of wood and drawers of water. They are the builders of roads, cultivators of fields, and the bearers of babies. They are the centers of controversy, the barter goods of trade, and the cause of jealousy. They are the hub of the wheel around which turns the African ma- chinery of life. No army can advance any faster than its sick or wounded. African women are carrying heavy crosses, therefore African advance has been slow and painful. Congo maidens have already beheld, their young minds have already comprehended, and their girl bodies have already endured enough of life's stern realities to make of them old women in experience, long before they have even en- tered womanhood. Eight hundred girl wives were found near one mission station in recent years, married to aged polygamous husbands. Upon tiny bodies falls all too soon that sinister shadow of the cross of sickness, suffering and death. Figures range from 50 to 75 % infant mortality, but even at the lowest estimate there is an appalling death rate due to heathen cus- toms and superstitions centering around the new-born child.
A CONGO CHRISTIAN MOTHER WITH TWINS The Cross Within the Heart (If she were not a Christian the twins would have been allowed to die.) Within a trunk of curios from Africa there with the rush of tropic waters and the forms of is a tiny copper cross, of more historic value crude crosses sprawl here and there upon her than all of the other contents put together. rugged breast. Two great transportation routes, This cross was found buried in the grave of an traversing the length and breadth of the land, ancient chief hundreds of years ago and had meet in the Belgian Congo. They form a mas- been used as a part of the "bride-price" for one sive, man-made Crucifix, hung, as it were, upon of his many wives. Very much larger 'and the surface of the whole continent. The torrents heavier ones are still in use for the purpose of of civilization, with their mighty onrush, have securing a wife. It is natural that copper, left crosses not only seared upon the soil ;but tat- which is ' so plentiful in the Congo region should tooed upon the hearts of those who still wear the be used as a medium of exchange, but was it only scars of slavery and political despotism, of greed chance that caused them to smelt the ore to form for gain instead of desire for God. There· are so sacred a design? ·@ver four hundred yeats ago only ten people to the square mile in this depop- Portuguese Catholics claimed the West Coast for Christ, and many crucifixes have been unearthed in ancient villages. They were later used as fetishes to bring good luck in the hunt. Who knows but that they might have been thought of as bringing ."good luck" in the marital relations as well ? We shall· take .the cross, as they have done, as a symbol of marriage. Strange that where sin abides unchecked, the most sacred
things in life become the most degraded. Instead you are blind, you can hold on to a stick, but after of a crown of orange blossoms in her hair, the you receive your sight, you don't need the stick Congo maiden has a cross to bear upon her heart. any longer." Rejoice that there are many in the Congo today who once were blind but now can Another cross is seared upon the hearts of see; who once were holding to crutches, but now Congo women and they can never forget the awful can walk by faith; who once were seeking self, scars until the knowledge of the Cross of Christ but now are drawing crosses. There are now at takes the scars away. More than anywhere else, work in the Belgian Congo forty-four Protestant African superstitions center around the mother missionary societies with 893 missionaries, of 12 and child. Woman must not only bear the pain of nationalities. There are two hundred Christian physical birth but she must bear the blame for mission stations and a total of 527,800 natives in the illness and death of her offspring. Ngoya was such a case. Her four children grew up about her. An epidemic of dysentery swept the village and under the ministrations of the witchdoctor all four of them died. She was judged guilty of witch-craft and was made to drink the poison cup. She survived, but hundreds of others have died under similar trials. She now sits before the door of her delapidated hut, a few twigs burning before her, her wrinkled old face devoid of expression. "One, two, three, four," a Christian heard her murmur. He followed the direction of her finger and saw-four little mounds of earth. She was patiently taught of the resurrection hope, but there are thousands of other Ngoyas whose little twig fires furnish their only light.
The Cross Along the Road WIFE OF A CONGO CHIEF (She is burdened with copper bracelets and jewelry.) The Congo woman has traveled a long, long trail. She is standing at the crossroads of the active touch with Christian missions, not counting future and her choice of direction will deter- the children in 10,116 Christian schools. Denommine what she will be tomorrow, economically, inationalism is never stressed. Each convert is a industrially, educationally, politically and reli- member, not of a particular denomination, but of giously. The crossroads of an African trail, "The Church of Christ in the Congo." by which they believe that the spirits may come in either direction, is a very serious affair. The Nineteen hundred years ago a black man drew spirits of the future, both good and evil, are a Cross. How strangely significant it was that he, calling the African woman, as she stands hesi- among the howling mob, was chosen to lift the tant where two ways meet. A signpost is there burden_from the back of One who was carrying and it is in the form of a cross. The Guide the sins of the whole world. Today Christians Himself has placed it and has printed upon it have an opportunity to lift the black man's lesser in flaming letters, directions concerning the Way. crosses. The Crucified and Crowned Chr,ist is the Can she read it? Has she strength to follow? It only solution for "Congo Crosses."t is the privilege of Christian missionaries to take her by the hand and to lead her gently along the t "Congo Crosses," the Mission Study Book for 1936-37, published New Trail which has so many absorbing bypaths, by the Central Committee for the United Study of Forei&'ll Missions, "the upward, winding, daring trail" . . . to God. covers; 50 cents, paper covers. Author, Mrs. Julia Lake Kelles- berger. The Cross of Calvary "The arms of the Cross are still strong enough to hang the destinies of nations upon." Were it not for the power of the Cross of Calvary, there would be no hope for Congo's crosses. "Social service without Christ is like giving a dead man a stick to make him walk." When urged to leave her church and join in many counteractivities, an educated Christian Congo woman replied: "When
Awakening of Egypt*
__ I By MRS. JOHN P. WHITE, Pittsburgh, Pa. I Editor of The Women's Missionary Magazine of the United Presbyterian Chur~h O UT on the edge of the desert, west of Cairo, But I soon became aware of a new Egypt. stands the Sphinx. Cut from the solid Cairo had fine new buildings, wider streets, lovely stone, this monument has been standing boulevards. The smaller cities, which formerly for thousands of years. The conquerors of many were lighted by kerosene lanterns or candles, now nations have swept by; dynasties have risen and have their great white ways and there are wide fallen; generations have come and gone and still roads between towns and paved highways between the Sphinx has remained unchanged. the great cities. Many material evidences indi- In the Railway Station Square in Cairo is an- cate a new Egypt.
other Sphinx. Beside it is the figure of a young An Intellectual Awakening woman, with one hand on the head, as if to awaken the sleeping sphinx; with the other hand she Egypt, which has been one of the most backis throwing back a veil from her face. This statue ward of nations in literacy, is at long last visibly is called "The Awakening of Egypt." moved. In 1917, after thirty-five years of British occupation and sixty-three of missionary educa- "You will not know Egypt," my friends said tion, Egypt was gaining. Yet the census of that to me when I recently returned to Egypt after an year revealed that less than ten per cent of Mosabsence of years. "Everything is changed; there lem men could read and only half of one per cent is a new Egypt." of Moslem women could read. That means that only five Mohammedan women out of a thousand But I did know Egypt. At first my thoughts were literate. The percentage in the Coptic comall seemed to turn backward. I went into the old munity was higher, and in the Protestant commusections of Cairo and Assiut with their narrow, nity it was very much higher, but Egypt is almost malodorous streets and swarming population; solidly Mohammedan, having thirteen million out they seemed exactly the same. I visited the vil- of the total population of fourteen million. The lages, with the one-room houses of sun-dried census of 1927 showed seventeen and one-half per brick, where often the family, the donkey, and the cent of men and two per cent of women to be chickens all sleep under the same roof. Were literate. This means that twenty out of a thouthese the same houses I had seen years before? sand Mohammedan women could read. But do The crumbling walls, the old thatch of corn-stalks not forget that 980 out of a thousand Mohammedand cotton-stalks answered "yes." an women are still illiterate. The next census will show another encouraging increase, and we And the people? All sense of time seemed to all rejoice, for every new reader is a potential be lost as I looked at the farmer with his camel Bible reader. It is not too much to claim that the and donkey hitched together, drawing a primitive American missionaries who opened little schools plow; or at. the small boy riding his buffalo cow for Egypt's children eighty-one years ago, and in down into the water to give her a drink. They the course of years built up a system from kinwere people I knew. As I looked at the black- dergarten to college, and who trained an army of veiled women, I felt I knew them. When one teachers, started the idea of education for the sons .rushed up to me with a sign of recognition my of the common people, and introduced the wholly heart said "Oh, that is Sitt Gameela," but the new idea of educating girls. calendar said "Perhaps she is Sitt Gameela's daughter."
Egypt at times seemed unchanged. The land, Today Egypt has a national school system. the crops, the trees, the flowers, the old monu- King Fuad, several years ago, told one of the misments-all are the same; the river still sionaries of his ambitions to make Egypt literate.
. . . Flows through old hushed Egypt and its sands He realized the difficulties-the opposition of the Like some grave mighty thought threading a dream. old conservatives, the necessary extra taxation, the lack of trained teachers, the poverty of the sem• bPllaerst, o1f9a3n6. address given at the Florida Chain of Missionary As- people, who need the help of every child to earn a [175 ]
few millemes, but he said, "I am determined to go but through education. Both men and women forward with my program." And he has gone have come to see a new dignity in womanhood, forward with the help of forward looking men. and to place a new value upon childhood. Here Primary schools, covering a four-year course, are again Christian women from the West showed a springing up throughout the villages, high schools new way. are available for many in the cities; and a university established in 1925 is as modern as the Egyptian women have recently organized nu- American University in Cairo. merous societies for the help of their own people. The "20," with their new privileges, are reaching This new education is producing a real revolu- out a helping hand to the "980." These women tion. EI Azhar, the great Mohammedan Univer- have created public opinion that demanded many sity, older than Oxford or Cambridge, has been out new laws. They asked for schools, equal educaof sympathy with the new methods, but the inrush tional privileges for girls, hospitals, eye clinics, of news from the outside world through the press, orphanages, reforms in marriage customs, new Western literature and the radio, is making a pro- rights in divorce courts, raising the marriage age found impression on the younger generation. to 16, and other reforms relating to public hy- They have demanded that some of the sciences be giene, immorality, evil customs and superstitaught, that the curriculum be changed to a more tions. modern type. Such proposals always meet strong opposition but some changes have been made. Professor Cleland of the Cairo University, through the Extension Department, is making a It has taken brave souls to speak against the fine contribution to this awakening among both old order. Prof. Fahmy Monsour, writing on men and women, through moving pictures, and by "The Condition of Women in Moslem Lands" cre- having outstanding speakers discuss among other ated a furore; Judge Ali Abd el Razek, writing subjects the social problems of Egypt. A similar on "Islam and the Principles of Government" and contribution is being made by the Egyptian disclaiming the need of a Caliph to govern Islamic Branch of the Young Men's Christian Association people, was removed from office; Dr. Taha Has- through lectures to men, and through discussion sein who brought to light "Pre-Islamic Poetry," groups among young Egyptians. which had passed as Moslem poetry, had his book confiscated, and he was dismissed from his post in A Spiritual Awakening the university, though he was reinstated when there was a change in Parliament. Best of all there is a spiritual awakening. Eighty-one years of Gospel teaching and eighty- The Egyptian press is spreading the news of one years of the demonstration of Christian love the world throughout the land. In spite of the have brought forth glorious fruits. There has fact that the reading public is so limited~ yet there never been any Christian mass movement in are thirty-nine dailies and two hundred and fifty- Egypt; never has there been a time when great seven journals published in Egypt. From this numbers were swept into the church, but there intellectual .center of Islam the presses are send- has been a steady growth year after year. ing forth the currents of thought of modern Egypt. There is an Evangelical church built up of men and women and youth who have found Christ as The Annual Almanac 'reports that of the 188,- the only One who can give them new life, joy and 000 volumes in the Royal Library in Cairo, 88,000 peace and help in all their problems. It is not a are in the Arabic language. There is a new book perfected church, but it is one exhibiting devotion coming off the press every day. When you under- to God's Word, faithfulness to His ordinances, stand the custom of the land you will know that generosity to His work, and a willingness to serve. one paper or book can enlighten a whole village. One man sitting in front of his shop will read in Watch the students in the Cairo College for strident tones so that even he who runneth can Girls going home to conduct Vacation Bible hear. It is a system that lends itself to Bible read- Schools; or follow the students of the Training ing also. And the Bible is one of the "best sellers" College and the Pressly Memorial Institute in in the Nile Valley. Assiut as they go out to give this same service in the small villages in Upper Egypt. Or listen to A Social Awakening the little bands of college boys conducting street Sunday Schools, and the girls holding little serv- The release of new ideas, as well as the in- ices with groups in homes in the city or Assiut. creased literacy, has produced a social awakening. Mohammedan women, if permitted to go out Hundreds of our trained Christian teachers at all, have for centuries been veiled women. add to their schedule in school a period of Bible Today the veil is being cast off, particularly in study daily. cities, not by a government firman as in Turkey, Many of the church members give voluntary service during "Witness Week" as they go among
THE AWAKENING OF EGYPT
their neighbors selling Scriptures or giving por- How has the Moslem life been touched? To tions to those too poor to buy. quote Prebendary Wilson Cash, "The Christian Time would fail to even mention the service!' of faith is a life to be lived and the reason why Mos- the ministers and elders and Sunday school teach- lems are so often repelled is becausQ it has never ers and Bible women; of the Christian doctors, been adequately tried by any large body of people nurses, and child welfare helpers; of the thou- or nation . . . We cannot attack the faults of sands who cooperate with this self-supporting, others when we are so conscious of our own fail- self-governing church. ures, but we can seek to show by love and service For thirty years the only Protestant church what Jesus Christ taught and what His ideals, if carrying on work in Egypt was the United Pres- applied, would mean in world regeneration."
byterian Church of America. Later the Church This is what missionaries have done. Hospi- Missionary Society of England undertook a spe- tals, clinics, orphanages, and child welfare cen- cial work for Moslems in Old Cairo where this ters have been established to minister to' thou- society conducts one of the largest missionary sands; and how often a poor suffering woman, hospitals in the world. feeling the gentle touch of physician or nurse, has The Egypt General Mission, an independent exclaimed, "Our religion never does this for a British group, labors in the Delta, cooperating fellaha." Thousands of children have received with the Evangelical Church, and other small their education in Christian schools and they grow groups are sharing in the service for Egypt. Sta- up as friends to the Christian missionary.
tistics alone may seem to show the investment of Dr. Sadek, a professor in the Egyptian State eighty-one years has produced small profits, but University, delivered a commencement address in there are many secondary results. June, 1935, at the College for Girls in Cairo, The Coptic Church for years conducted its wor- where more than half of the students are Moham- ship in a dead language so that its people were medans. Among many other fine things, he said: not fed on the Word of God. Living in the midst "I consider that this college stands high of the overwhelming. Moslem population, they amongst all other schools by virtue of the char- were not far removed in life and practice from acteristic stamp which it imprints on all its stu- their neighbors. When the late Theodore Roose- dents."
velt was in Egypt twenty-five years ago, he was One of the graduates of the class of 1935 took entertained by a bishop who is now the Patriarch as a subject for her commencement essay, "The of the Coptic Church. When the bishop was prais- Cries of Egypt." She pointed out the evils and ing the Americans, Mr. Roosevelt asked: "What sorrows of her land and in a passionate appeal have they done?" summoned her hearers to help. "I have done "Many, many good things" was the reply. this," she concluded, "only with the hope of find- Mr. Roosevelt in his characteristic way, said, ing an immediate response, especially from both "Tell me one outstanding thing they have done." graduates and students of our College where we "They have given us the Bible," replied the learn the true meaning of help and self-sacrifice."
bishop. He did not mean that they had translated From among all these influences and achieve- it into the language of the people, for that had ments of the Christian Church, an increasing been done years before by Americans in Syria; number of Mohammedans are coming and saying, he meant that the Evangelical Church had proven "Sir, we would see Jesus."
that if Christianity is to have power in the lives Yes, Egypt is awake after a sleep of centuries.
of'men and women, they must be taught to read It is significant that an Egyptian artist should and understand the Bible. Today the Coptic have conceived the idea of a woman as the agency Church uses the Bible in the Arabic language and through whom this awakening should come. The in an increasing number of churches, the priests true spiritual awakening must come through the preach Gospel sermons. Sunday Schools have also woman who has been touched by the power of J e- been organized for children, and among the men sus Christ. Those who share their service, their have been organized "Friends of the Bible" gifts and their prayers with the Evangelical classes. The Coptic Church now joins the Evan- Church of Egypt will go forward with joy, believ- gelical Church in some centers in annual Sunday ing that they are helping to fulfill the prophecy School Conventions, where they confer together made centuries ago that "the Egyptians shall and plan for better methods of building up the know the Lord" and "the Lord of hosts shall bless Kingdom of God. her saying, Blessed be Egypt my people."
Progress in Mexico*
By GONZALO BAEZ CAMARGO Writer, Lecturer and Secretary of the National Coulzcil of Evangelical Churches of Mexico BECAUSE of the unreliable press reports up- assigned for public health is also gradually in- on which the mind of the average newspaper creasing every year. Within the next four years reader is being fed, Mexico is commonly as- a total of fifty million Mexican dollars will be sociated with strange and often ludicrous ideas of granted for agricultural credits and the same disturbance and backwardness. There is another amount for irrigation works. Physical culture side of the picture, however, of which the Ameri- and the campaign against alcoholism are being can people probably seldom hear and to which I strongly encouraged.
want to refer briefly. The truth is that Mexico is In the midst of the present profound changes steadily moving forward, carrying on its remark- that Mexico is undergoing, two facts belonging to able program of social reconstruction, which is the spiritual realm ought to be mentioned. In the being entrusted more and more to educational and first place, strange as it may seem, in view of the peaceful methods. press reports that reach the American public, The shifting of the political power from one there is an unprecedented interest in religion, not group to another had been hitherto practically only among the common people but also among always a bloody affair in Mexico. But the fact the educated classes. Contrary to the Latin Amerthat the country has been able, in the last few ican tradition, according to which truly educated weeks, to pass through a very serious political people are not supposed to take any real interest crisis of that type, without resorting to civil war in religious questions, apart from the routine comand bloodshed, is in itself a very hopeful and pliance with the established rites of the churches, encouraging sign. a new and deep concern for religious problems Among other signs of progress, the following may now be detected in these circles. Religion is should be especially mentioned: the effort to build becoming a burning question for everybody; up a strong national economy, opening new roads books which deal with it are increasingly in deand developing the material resources of the coun- mand, and the idea of free discussion of religious try; a new appreciation of the creative capacities subjects is spreading.
of the Indian, who for many centuries was held In the second place, from certain influential back as an inferior being, in a desperate condition quarters comes an open challenge as to the place of ignorance and poverty; and, what is best of and function of religion in the life of the indiall, an educational awakening which has no prec- vidual and of society. As a result, some of the edents in the whole history of Latin America. In fundamental truths of the Christian religion are referring to this educational movement, Frank being seriously questioned in the minds of many. Tannenbaum writes, "It is the most modern, yet The real truth and power of the Christian religion the most delicate and sensitive, large-scale move- has not been known to the great majority of the ment of cultural stimulus and social awakening Mexican people, and a good number of them feel that can be recorded in America, and perhaps in inclined, of course, to interpret Christianity in the world." terms of a very imperfect realization of its real content and meaning. Upon these unsound Special attention has been given, in this educa- grounds, there are many who feel justified in retional program, to the rural communities and par- jecting what they think is the Christian religion ticularly to the Indians. Thousands of rural because they find in it many elements wh,ich they schools are now functioning all over the country. believe to be opposed to the enlightenment and During 1935 over 2,400 new rural schools were social progress of the people. established. The educational program provides for 2,000 new schools each year. The budget for The Mexican nation is deciding, at this very the army has been reduced and the budget for hour, whether the religion of Jesus will become a education considerably increased. The amount fundamental and dynamic element in the remak- ing of the country, or whether it will have to be 193• 6A. n address given at the Florida Chain of Missionary Assemblies, [178 ] left out as a useless tradition of a dying past. It the home and a book on principles and methods is a most solemn hour of decision, not only for of Christian education. The Union Publishing Mexico but also for the rest of the Latin American House, an interdenominational concern, is devel- oping an intensive literature program. Books on world. Christianity and Communism, science and reli- Out of these two outstanding facts, there grows gion and other subjects have been published. One of them deserved three columns of editorial comthe pressing need of presenting to the Mexican ment in a leading daily of Mexico City. people an objective interpretation of true Christianity, in terms of individual and social behav- By means of prayer circles, organized in the ior. To demonstrate Christianity, factually and local churches, and by special emphasis on perdistinctly, as a supreme and incomparable force sonal evangelism, the work is being spiritually in regenerating the individual and shaping society nourished and strengthened. according to the principles of Love, Justice and Fraternity, is coming to be, therefore, the great- The training of workers for Christian service est task of all those who bear the name of Christ is entering into a new stage. The Union Theolog- ical Seminary, which had been concentrating its in Mexico. work upon the training of ministers, with head- Benito J wirez, the great Indian president of quarters in Mexico City, is now developing an intensive training program for lay workers all Mexico, once expressed his hope that Protestant- over the country, by means of a chain of sixism should become an active force in liberating weeks' training schools, with an itinerant faculty, the Mexican Indians from the state of ignorance, functioning in the denominational fields and rensuperstition and vice in which they lie. And more dering valuable services to the local churches. recently, ex-president Portes Gil, now the head of More than a dozen of these new training schools the National Revolutionary Party which controls were held during the last year. the Government of Mexico, said: "If our children are to become Christians, let that be by seeking There are many elements in the Mexican situathe original fountain, the words of the Master tion which have been an acid test of the steadiness which are in the gospels." Antonio Caso, the lead- and quality of the Protestant work. It has been ing Mexican philosopher, has sounded this ener- a time of trial. But it has finally turned out to be getic proclamation: "The arms of the Cross are a real time of splendid and unprecedented opporstill sufficiently strong to permit us to hang our tunity. As a whole, it may be said that the Protdestinies upon them." estant churches in Mexico are not so much con- cerned about a theoretical recognition of religious The Protestant forces in Mexico are ready to do liberties as to the much more practical issue of their part, in spite of their numerical inferiority, how to make the best use of the present opporin answering these ringing calls to Christian con- tunities, for the spiritual upbuilding of the nation, structive action. They are awakening to a new for the benefit of the people and for the extension sense of responsibility, out of which a creative of the true Kingdom of God in Mexico. and expanding program has gradually emerged. THE AWAKENING IN BRAZIL Six denominations have organized a National Council of Evangelical Churches, under which a In few mission fields of the world, perhaps in strong cooperative forward drive is being con- none, is Evangelical Christianity making such ducted. Its General Department of Christian Ed- rapid and amazing progress as in the great Braucation is very active, promoting the improve- zilian republic. The latest news refers to a great ment of the church agencies and mainly Christian evangelistic campaign in the City of Sao Paulo, education in the home. In 1933 Mexico occupied during December. This campaign was conceived the second place in Latin America in the work of and initiated entirely by Evangelical Christians in Daily Vacation Bible Schools. During the last Brazil and took the form of simultaneous meetyear seventeen different camps for young people ings held in forty centers in the great City of Sao were held. A committee appointed by the Evan- Paulo. Ninety Brazilian preachers, representing gelical National Convention has begun to organ- all the Evangelical denominations and including ize discussion groups among the students. A na- Southern Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians and tive evangelical scout program is being developed Episcopalians, cooperated in the effort, breaking and experimented in Mexico City. The circulation across the denominational lines. Three hundred of the Bible has had an increase of almost a hun- prayer groups met regularly in this one city bedred per cent since 1931. Special attention has fore and during the evangelistic campaign. The been given to the preparation and publication of effort originated in the Brazilian Committee of Christian literature. The Regional Committee on Evangelical YQuth of Sao Paulo. Curriculum has published a series of monographs on methods of religious education work, material fQr VacatiQn and Sunday schQols, literature fQr
Final Motive for Foreign
By the REV. S. H. GAPP, D.D., Bethlehem, Pa.
_•..g( President of the Society of the United Brethren for Propagating the Gospel Among the Heathen W HAT may there be in missions which moral and spiritual. The second motive is based makes their prosecution the duty of the on internal experience, springing from a consid- Church until their great purpose has been eration of Jesus Christ and our relation to Him, accomplished? What is their final objective? loyalty, gratitude and love. What the impelling motive? There are the minor motives. There is a final and compelling motive. Dr. Cleland B. McAfee notes five fundamental missionary motives, all historic. 1. The Commis- Warneck's definition of purpose is this: "Pfian- sion of Christ. 2. The need of the world for all zung und Organization der christlichen Kirche that Christ brings. 3. The nature of the Chrisunter nicht-Christen." Unless you read a great tian faith, its universal truth and its value for deal into the statement it makes the prime object all men. 4. The need of the home church to fulfil of missions to be the propagation and organization life by the evident expression of its spirit. 5. The of an institution-the Christian Church-among work already done and now in progress in all non-Christians. lands.
Dr. Robert H. Glover, in his "Progress of Permit me to treat the motives less technically, World-Wide Missions" says: "The aim of mis- more practically with illustrative material drawn sions is to make Jesus Christ known to all men as from the history of missions and from the mission the only Saviour from sin." field at the present time.
The Lutheran Pietists of Germany and Count The Boom of Christian Missions Zinzendorf, the Moravian, said the purpose of missions was "Seelen fur das Lamm zu werben"- Dr. Arthur J. Brown wrote his book "The Forto win souls for the Lamb. eign Missionary" in 1907, near the beginning of the century. He says: "The foreign missionary Dr. Arthur J. Brown says: "The aim is to pre- enterprise is the vastest enterprise of the Chrissent Christ so intelligently that they will accept tian Church. There are now 28,000 Protestant Him as their personal Saviour." foreign missionaries in non-Christian lands; 2,408,900 adult communicants are enrolled in a Take these and other definitions together and no one can raise serious objections. This is not only the purpose of foreign missions but of home Christian army of 5,145,236; 140,000 native minmissions also, it is the purpose of the Christian isters, evangelists and teachers, 36,616 Sunday Church. It is the purpose of the Incarnation. It schools with 2,000,000 pupils. Then he lists all the is the reason for the work of God among men. charitable, educational and Biblical institutions in Or as Glover puts it: "Christian missions is the the heathen world and ends with the sentence proclamation of the Gospel to the unconverted "The Christian people of Europe and America everywhere according to the command of Christ." gave last year for the maintenance of these varied activities $44,448,000." This purpose is so exalted, so extensive, so costly, so humanly impossible for Christians to ac- When E. W. Smith issued his "The Desire of complish (who after all are only a fractional mi- All Nations" he could honestly and enthusiastical- nority of the earth's population and few of them ly write: "It took a hundred years to win the first are spiritual giants) that we may well ask what million converts from heathenism, twelve years to motives inspire men to dedicate themselves to so win the second million, less than six years the heroic a task. Of course the power must be divine; third, and the number is mounting now with a there is no other sufficient motivation for the swift acceleration. In all but two or three of the Church's continuing self-dedication to this heroic, great strategic centers of the world, Gospel staworld engirdling task. tions are firmly planted."
Glover says that essentially there are only two Such optimism! Such enthusiasm! And surely motives, both biblical. The first is based on ex- all who know the marvellous expansion of misternal facts-springing from the consideration of sions in the last seventy-five years would justify the material condition of the heathen, temporal, the optimism. Japan opened to missionary in- [180 ] fluence in 1859, the larger efforts in China since is born irrevocably with his tiny personal life at 1860, Livingstone's travels in Africa till his death some definite point."
in 1873 and the enormous development of missions If all that is true, then missions never did and there since his death, the great work in Korea do not now have a worth-while raison d'etre. As since 1884, the wild colonization period which Karl Heim says, missions could then be considered gave unparalleled opportunity to missionary only as a means of culture, propaganda or "reliforces in England, France, Belgium, Italy and gious imperialism," as a part of the conflict of the Germany. whites with the colored races. "We could then This was paralleled in America and English- view missions from a strategic, political and na- speaking countries generally by the missionary tional viewpoint, and ponder the question whether excitement engendered by great movements and it would not be better for the present to give up slogans, "The Evangelization of the World in this all ecclesiastical propaganda in pagan countries, Generation." The generation that coined the especially as the success of missions is seriously phrase is dead-the world is not yet converted. threatened just now in China by Bolshevism, in Alexander McLeish last year wrote a book "Jesus India by religious and political nationalism and in Christ and World Evangelization" to prove that Africa by the ever-increasing secularization of the world can be evangelized in this generation, civilization."
that indeed any generation could have done it. Well, the missionary authorities do not at this Professor Kenneth S. Latourette of Yale recently point stop and hire a blackfaced "crooner" to sing called for a revival of this watchword. Other fa- "Is I Blue?" They are convinced that what is mous battle cries were: self-supporting, self-gov- wrong with the world and missions is not caused erning and self..,propagating churches, the church- by the relentless power of elemental forces. The council system of Anglican missions, (congrega- present mission situation has not always existed. It did not exist at the end of the last century. It tions taking care of their own needs while the is an emergency. The causes of that emergency episcopacy was responsible for leadership in mis- are well known; so are the details of the present sionary extension); indigenous churches-fos- crisis; almost anybody can guess what consetered by the World Dominion Movement; Volk- quences might result if the dangerous tendencies skirchen-the pet theory of the German churches, are not counteracted by definite, resolute, faith- (Gustav Warneck's five-volume "Theory of Mis- filled energy. Elemental forces are entirely irrevosions" is based on this idea); National Churches, cable. Pills for earthquakes are always fake. But the latest and at present the most ambitious human emergencies are not irrevocable. The best scheme-that of uniting all denominations at work definition of the word emergency is; "A sudden in each of the great pagan nations into one church condition calling for immediate action." truly national; Student Volunteer Movement and Missionary Education Movement, the Laymen's The missionary leaders consider the present Missionary Movement. mission situation "a sudden condition" and they loudly call for appropriate action. Dr. John R. None of these ambitious and enthusiastic move- Mott says: "It is my conviction that the past ments has been an unqualified success, but back of twenty years witnessed incomparably greater them all is this one great fact: the past history of changes in the world than any other period of like missions proves that God has manifested His extent." In 1931 he said: "Without doubt the power in the preaching of the Gospel. We are not Christian cause all over the world is either losing facing a foolish or impossible task. Christianity ground or failing to make triumphant advance, in is far from perfect, but the marvellous transfor- consequence of failure to press the present unprecmation of individuals and nations demonstrates edented advantage." In 1935, in his book "Cothat the power of God is in the Gospel. Past tri- operation and the World Mission," Dr. Mott umphs guarantee the final and complete triumph. writes: The Threatened Collapse Never was there a more critical moment. The ma- terialistic philosophy of the day, the violence of the de- The optimistic note was still dominant at the structive communistic activity, the power of paganism and Edinburgh Conference in 1910. Since then things of faiths and systems contrary to the teachings of Christ, have happened. At the Jerusalem Conference, the reactionary attitude of so many governments with 1928, there were dark clouds on the sky. Today reference to religious liberty, the perilous subordination Christianity is definitely on the defensive. Spen- of religion to serve the political ends of totalitarian congler says there is nothing in the world but "the ceptions of the State, and the necessity of recasting the inexorable course of events, senseless chance, the prevailing industrial and commercial system so that it will actuality of history with its unpitying march not negative the principles of Christian love and brotherthrough the centuries, into which the individual hood nor conduce to international war, all present a chal- lenge to Christ's followers which has never been surpassed
in gravity and urgency. In truth we are facing stupen- ignorant and idle talkers, not worth wasting time dous changes in the whole makeup of the world, changes over. Yet E. Stanley Jones, in the Foreign Mis- as revolutionary as any in the history of mankind. sions Conference Report, 1934, in connection with a tour of all America says he found very little hos- Dr. Charles R. Watson says "that the prevailing tility to missions. atmosphere is unfavorable to foreign missions goes without saying." But Dr. Mott in his book, "The Present Day Summons to the World Mission of Christianity," Before outlining the causes of the mission col- pleads earnestly for multiplying the number of lapse, it is best to let Dr. Julius Richter tell us apologetic voices and pens in the mission cause. "that our era is a period of low ebb in religion the Perhaps we need more witnessing than apologetic world over. The Russion Orthodox Church has voices. collapsed; Pan Islam also, and is disestablished in Turkey; so with Confucianism in China. The Many criticisms are mere shadow-boxing, animistic religion of primitive peoples the world smoke screens, behind which hide selfishness and over is disintegrating irresistibly. The spiritual sheer indifference. Such are the statements: wasting away of the churches of Christendom is an open fact-its forms changing into spiritualism "It takes a dollar to send a dollar." and superstition or into secularism, agnosticism "The mission secretaries line their pockets with or atheism." the money given for heathen." "British missionaries must put sound Manches- Dr. Richter in his last book lists the following ter pants on the heathen as a holy duty." causes of collapse, the first five of which are the "Whenever a German missionary sails for heath- most important: en countries you can always see some man near waving a roth, weiss and schwarz flag and yelling, (1) The financial stringency; (2) the wide recrudes- 'Hoch der Kaiser,' till his face is red." cence of nationalism; (3) alienation of the younger gen- "The American trader says that trade follows eration from the Christian background and missionary the flag-the flag he means is the church flag of impulse; (4) the new intimacies of the world-wide con- the missionary." tact; (5) transformation of the social structure of the We are advised in Proverbs 26: 4-"Answer nations; (6) fatal loss of presti2'e of Christianity due to not a fool according to his folly lest thou also be the brutality of the war psychosis; (7) the un-Christian like unto him." character of science and technology; (8) the effort of But there are honest critics. Give them an hon- pagan nations to obtain the valuable fruits of Western est answer. Almost all missionary books print civilization without the Christian background; (9) com- long lists of criticisms and refute the attack, as petitive friction between Protestantism and Roman Ca- Dr. McAfee's books; Dr. Brown's "The Foreign tholicism; (10) the renewed advance of Islam as a dan- Missionary," (chapter 16); E. W. Smith's "The gerous antagonist of Christian missions, especially in Desire of All Nations," (chapter 7); Henry A. Equatorial Africa and the Dutch East Indies; (11) the Perkins, "The Case for Foreign Missions"; "Are gigantic propaganda of Bolshevistic Communists; (12) Foreign Missions Done For?" by R. E. Speer; endeavors of one nation after another to restrict the scope "Meeting Current Objections to Missions," by E. of its missionary agencies, especially educational and med- Stanley Jones, (Foreign Missions Conference Re- ical; (13) the immoral life of many representatives of the port, 1929), and there is an almost endless list of white ruling class; (14) the tendency of our institutional- other books. Apologetic voices will not accom- ism, by which so many men and so much m~:mey are ab- plish much, unless the final motive is present. sorbed by colleges and hospitals, and active evangelistic advance is made more difficult. Missionary Strategy and Policy Every pastor might well speak of these great Some say that we are afflicted with too many world tendencies hostile to Christianity and mis- missionary statesmen: with too much policy and sions and appeal to the spirit of the heroic in them administration. The horde of executive secre- to come to the help of the Lord against the mighty. taries and specialists of all kinds and description It is nevertheless a fact that this motive lacks in the Church and in missions not only cost a great power-unless the final motive is present. deal of money; they keep the poor missionary's head awhirl with programs, reports, percentages, The Critic of Missions graphs, plans and what not; he cannot get down to the real work for which he was sent out.. The general atmosphere, miasmatic for mis- sions, undoubtedly is a very real thing. Dr. Mc- And yet-while first of all the Christian Church Afee asserts the interest in missions was steadily must be the bearer of the Evangel to the utmost declining for a decade before the great depres- parts of the earth, it is none the less a fact that sion, because the validity of missions was ques- the Church is also the best representative on earth tioned. It is a fact, nevertheless, that the atmos- -imperfect as she is-of the Kingdom of God on pheric conditions and the antagonistic forces can . accomplish their nefarious purpose on only one condition-they must become incarnate in the vo- cal critic. His name is legion. Most of them are
THE FINAL MOTIVE FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS
earth. Jesus spoke much of the Kingdom of God ary preaching – unless the impelling motive is and of heaven. Certainly the first purpose of mis- present. sions is to win souls to the Lord Jesus, but when large numbers are won the Church cannot hon- The Model of Missionary Method estly shun the task of organizing them into a Kingdom for the Lord Jesus. That duty creates great St. Paul has been the model for many generatasks in the mission fields. Great tasks require tions. He claims to have been commissioned to great leaders-missionary statesmen. Who better preach-to preach the Gospel. The best book on than these know the enormous difficulties created his method is "Missionary Methods, St. Paul's or in the mission fields by extreme nationalism, the Ours," by Roland Allen. Paul's methods agree totalitarian state, secularism, dictatorship, by in- with the commands of Jesus: "Ye shall be witternational misunderstandings, by business de- nesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, pression, unemployment and financial stringency, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of by feminism, education, secular, materialistic, the earth." The Great Commission says "teach scientific and technical, and the general religious all nations" and contains no reference to humandisintegration at home and in heathen lands? ism and charity.
In the International Review of Missions, July, "The foolishness of preaching," and the power 1934, Dr. Richter declares four gigantic problems of the Holy Ghost in "witnesses" (Acts 1: 8) has of mission strategy are: (1) Among primitive indeed been a supernatural force that produced people, especially Africa, the Indies and Oceanica, the missionary success of the past. What an alprimitive beliefs are disintegrating; (2) China- most magical power witnessing may exert! For the cultural structure of centuries is completely an artistic representation of it, study Schuesselle's broken down; (3) Russian Bolshevism-in Russia "Power of the Gospel" in the Archives Building and its world-wide propaganda; (4) Islam-dis- of Moravian Theological Seminary, but please do established in Turkey, its propaganda is on with not forget the equally magical power the same witzeal and success in Equatorial Africa and the nessing exerted in the social, economic and moral Dutch East Indies. life of converts. The material benefits of a spir- itual religion-what a wonderful thing that is. How maya pastor get the information to preach And how little the modern world thinks of it! with intelligence and convincingly on such mat- The fact is that all the enormous progress of the ters? Read the books of the missionary states- present civilized nations has been made under the men. It is a serious task. Get ,the reports of the preaching of the Gospel. Sociology, economics, missionary conferences. Many great sermons can charity as quasi-sciences are not old enough to be preached on such themes-sermons that will claim the credit. Admit all that is good in them make sleepy parishioners sit up and take notice. -the truth is they will have to travel an enormous distance before they will overtake the humanistic But missionary statesmanship deals not only effects of the preaching of the Gospel, probably with the adversaries. There are problems of de- never will overtake it. velopment and organization of great importance, even if of less preaching value. For instance: Dr. Albert Schweitzer is the ideal and model of the main objective of the World Conference of the many moderns and liberals. He is only a very International Missionary Conference to be held prominent representative of a widespread idea. at Kowloon, China, 1938, is to be "The upbuilding And then Albert Schweitzer himself refused to and maintenance of younger churches as a part preach; he said that he wished to practice. He of the historic world-wide communion." I do not is a liberal-the liberals sent him to Africa. He expect to preach a sermon on that theme. wished to give the world at least one instance of liberals doing what Evangelicals have been doing In the meantime the missionary statesmen have for centuries. He believed that humanism dea great task at home in the great idea of coopera- rives its sanction from our human nature, not tion in every phase of mission work-even in the from our connection with God. He says: "It was matter of administration. A plea for such uni- and still is my conviction, that the humanitarian fied control of the world's far-flung mission work work to be done in the world should for its acis a choice part of "Rethinking Missions." But complishment call upon us as men, not as memthere surely is nothing new in that idea. Dr. Mott bers of a particular nation or religious body. We has recently issued a book on "Cooperation and are not free to confer benefactions on the Negroes the World Mission"-but it is not the first time or not, as we please: it is our duty. Anything he has written on that theme. we give them is not benevolence, but atonement."
A pastor may well keep in touch with ,these "Pity the poor heathen" is a materialistic plea. great movements and preach about some of them, St. Paul says: "My heart's desire is that they but he will not accomplish much by such mission- might be saved." … "That I might by all means
save some." "I could wish that myself were a two hundred year record of encouraging agri- culture, industry and trade in its fields among accursed from Christ for my prethren." That primitive people. Undoubtedly much good has been done, but if you wish to run the risk of maknote has largely died out today. The Grenfell ing Dr. deSchweinitz weep, ask him about rein- deer in Alaska and rice culture in Nicaragua. Mission to the Labrador has captured the imagina- The story is making the rounds that the priest tion of the entire English-speaking world. Doc- and the Levite passed by on the other side because they were in a great hurry to get to Jericho to the tors and nurses by the score fight for the privilege convention which had for its major topic of dis- cussion: What can best be done for the world? of working a year or two with him. Whether im- There evidently are people who think it is time for humanitarians to do something besides talk. pelled by the love of adventure or the love of souls In Karl Mueller's "Gotteswirklichkeit und Re- -who can tell? Only one thing is certain: there ligion," he quotes this startling sentence from Zinzendorf: "The christianization of unconverted is not enough money in the possession of the heathen is a work of the devil and leaves them more unhappy and unholy." Christian world to carryon all foreign missions Humanism is a legitimate mission appeal-but in the world at the same rate of expense as it will largely fail of its purpose, unless the final motive is present. his Labrador mission which reaches only 12,000 The Reality of God people. Missionary zeal has in every case been the out- Certainly the humanitarian appeal for missions growth of and a result from the indwelling of God in human hearts by His Spirit. Cold hearts is legitimate. Humanism is always good. John have never responded to the Great Commission. Mere orthodoxy never started fires burning in for- Wesley said: "Do all the good you can, in all the eign parts. The intellectualism of culture has never set the world on fire. Scepticism, however ways you can and to all the people that you can." honest and genteel, has never carried the banner of the Cross into the far away and hard corners of Charity is always sweet. He who spoke the Par- the earth. The ancient Moravian Unity had no foreign missions. Bishop Comenius recognized able of the Good Samaritan always puts His bless- the duty, but the violent persecutions of the J es- uits made it impossible for them to undertake it. ing on it. Schiller once said: "Rousseau con- Dr. Glover, in the "Progress of World-wide Mis- sions," writes: "The Reformation was not misverted Christians into human beings." Nay, ver- sionary in character. Luther, Melanchthon, Cal- vin, Zwingli and Knox seemed to have had no ily, Christ did, long before Rousseau was born. serious sense of the responsibility for direct mis- sionary efforts in behalf of heathen or Moslem, But this is not the final motive for missions. though the Jesuits were carrying on extensive missions in the Orient." Humanism without evangelization has lost its For at least a century the Reformation Church proper motivation. Man needs God as much as he and its leaders were almost completely devoid of missionary spirit and effort-of course one might needs bread and more than clothes. And alone, ask what more one has a right to expect from those great men-giants indeed but yet human behumanism always fails as a missionary motive, ings, with human limitations.
for make your appeal solely on that and the next Julius Richter in his "Das Buch der Deutschen Weltm'ission" (pages 6 and 7) lists a number of thing you hear will be: "charity is mostly pallia- arguments against the legitimacy of foreign mis- sions dating from the period of the "benumbed"- tive, not curative. Sweet charity relieves the dis- he does not call it "dead"-orthodoxy, as: For missions, glossology and the power of miracles are tress of a few; it does not end the poverty and required; as long as God does not bestow these, missions are merely an impertinent interference misery of the many." You can answer: "But humanism is the expression of the inmost spirit of a real Christian and is also a means of exerting a good influence upon the recipient, possibly even of winning him for God." And then comes the reply: "Fine, but till you have exhausted your charity on the needy at home, you should not bother with the heathen." It is hard to answer this-so long as the discussion is based on human- ism only, exclusive of consideration of the spark of divinity in man.
The criticism of humanism for home lands and for missions is steadily gaining in volume. In "Thinking Missions with Christ," Dr. Zwemer says: "What we need today in missions is less comparative religion and more positive religion."
Toyohiko Kagawa of Japan opposes Lenin's fa- mous phrase, "Religion is the opiate of the people,"
by setting up the contrary standard: "Economics and religion are one. Without God there is no economics and no life." Kagawa is a Christian; he is also a leader of a social movement. He estab- lished a toothbrush factory, for instance, for the social welfare of his people. Yet he declares very positively that welfare work is not an effective remedy for pauperism. The Moravian Church has
with the plans of God. The Gospel was preached necessity is laid upon them-to give loyal, loving to the heathen by the Apostles; they refused it; obedience to the Saviour's last command – the hence neither God nor the Church need offer it the Great Commission. second time. The business of the Church is to preach the Word of God in the ordered congrega- If it will not be misinterpreted, I would like to tions; if the Bible is to be brought to the heathen, add a brief statement of the characteristically let that be the duty of the governments, etc. Moravian view of missionary zeal and power. As is well known, missionary zeal is Zinzendorf's con- There is a school of German Evangelical tribution to Moravianism. Credit must up to a thought about missions which explains the differ- certain point be given to the Lutheran Pietistic ence between the missionary and non-missionary influence upon him at Halle, where as a school boy Christians by one big word: Gotteswirklichkeit- he heard letters read from the Danish-Halle mis- "The reality of God." Persons who merely be- sionaries in India and met several of them perlieve in God may be good people, but only those sonally. But he owes them nothing with referwho have a sense of the reality of God are likely ence to the method and power of missions. Reto assume the responsibility and sacrifice for for- member that Zinzendorf, as a four-year-old boy, eign missions. Spinoza was not a Christian; the deeply loved the Saviour; he was then already Jews excommunicated him, but his amor intellec- overwhelmed with the reality of God in Christtualis Dei was so intense that he has been called that is only one part of the real Zinzendorf. For the God-intoxicated man. But he surely never the other part you must go to the famous picture dreamed of taking his kind of love of God to the gallery in Duesseldorf. See the rich, elegant, heathen. Most of us would probably join in the high-minded, marvelously gifted nobleman of prayer: "From philosophical love of God, deliver nineteen years stand before Domenico Feti's picus gracious Lord and God." The poet, the scien- ture of the thorn-crowned head of Christ. Beneath tist, the materialist and the humanist, all have is the text: "This have I suffered for thee; what their definition of God in his ineffable power and hast thou done for me?" glory – as "First Cause," "Bright Essence Incarnate," "Mobile Cosmic Ether," "Omnipotent In that dramatic moment, Zinzendorf fully real- Matter," "Man's Giant Shadow Skyward Thrown," ized the price paid by the Saviour for his salva- "Kindly Light," "the active relation between the tion; only by the Saviour's passion could Zinzenideal and the actual"-but no such faith in such a dorf be saved-or anybody else. From then on, God has ever been known to produce a loving sur- Jesus and His Cross were the only theme of Zinrender and dedication of life to Him. zendorf's thought and activity. The missionaries. however degraded the people to whom they went, All in all, while fully admitting the greatness were told to preach the passion of Christ for the and power of Gotteswirklichkeit, it seems that saving of souls. something more than this is necessary as the primal motive for foreign missions. Robert Speer, in his "The Finality of Christ" (page 148), says of the Moravians: "The doc- Wilhelm Bettermann finds the secret of Zinzen- trine of Christ's expiatory death and all-sufficient dorf's spiritual nature and his missionary enthu- merit has been, and must ever remain, the grand siasm at once in this: "He was simply over- means of conversion. The Moravian missionaries whelmed with the reality of God in Christ." "In at the present day make the atonement of Christ Christ" is his contribution to the search for the their continued theme. They attribute all their final missionary motive. But this is not Zinzen- success to their preaching of the death of our dorfianism or Moravianism only or primarily-it Saviour." Every word of that is true. Zinzenis the essence of all Christianity. Christ is Chris- dorf's personal experience of his personal salvatianity; "the Word was God"; the Word made tion in the passion of the Saviour (which for him flesh was Jesus Christ; Christ is God manifested was in entire agreement with Luther's and Paul's in human form; He came to reconcile the world justification by faith) so fired his heart with zeal unto Himself, to save the lost, to bring us unto for the conversion of souls that he risked his life God. The personal experience of this blessed truth to win souls for Jesus and inspired scores of -a profound conviction of its reality – that al- others to do the same. Listen to Zinzendorf draways was and ever will be the essence of Chris- matically cry out in the extreme of holy passion: tianity-it has always been the final motive for "More human beings must be saved. Bring missions. For such a salvation, in such a Saviour, heathen! Bring Christians! Bring men to the must be proclaimed at home and abroad. There is Saviour! If that is not possible in Christendom, a marvelous expansive power in such an experi- I will go to the heathen. We cannot help it, we ence. People with that experience have always cannot tie the Gospel to a chain." What a combeen missionaries and missionary supporters. For pelling force! Souls must be brought to the that experience produces a passion – an inward Saviour.
Fatimah Learned to Love'~
I I –eEf By MRS. PAUL W. HARRISON, Matrah, Arabia Jit– ~==========================~ C AN it be that I have learned to love this she poured her tale of bitterness and woe. The land? The dark mountains of Oman are doctor looked at her calmly and said, "Yes, you heartless and cruel. Death lurks in their have a heavy burden to carry; it is very heavy.
desolate valleys and rock strewn paths. The burn- And what you have said is true-your head is hot ing hills glare back at the everlasting sun and tell and you cannot bear this thing any longer. There man that he is futile and doomed. is only one thing I can tell you to do and that is to The days are busy ones. In the morning clinics give this all to Christ and let Him carry it for you. on the hospital veranda I meet many old friends. He will take out of your heart all this hate for One day Miriam slips in with the crowd and the other one and make you able to pity and love stands by my table. She is not carrying her babe, her." The doctor asked her to pray with him. So and my heart is seized with a sudden fear. I can- she repeated words after him and asked Christ not ask where is her little Zuwaan for I do not to take away her burden and give her love instead. want to hear the answer. The neighbor women "And from that moment the hate did leave me, volunteer the news. One day there had been a Khatune," said Fatimah. "Since then I have been quarrel among some women in the street near able to be patient and quiet, for my heart is light. Miriam's house, and Miriam was with her baby up I do not know how, but it is different now."
on the little roof. Wanting to see what the quarrel A few days later Fatimah's husband was taken was about, she left her little Zuwaan and went very ill. I went to call. At the door of the little down to look on. While she was gone the baby had room I stopped in surprise. For there, sitting gone too near the edge and had fallen to the against the pillows was Fatimah and with her ground. was the other wife. Little Moosa was toddling Miriam lifts her hands in a gesture of helpless- back and forth between them. I looked into Fatiness but says no word. "It was written over her," mah's eyes and she smiled back at me. She had kept her promise to God that she would show love comforts one woman. to the one she had always hated. How great was Fatimah comes for her lesson. Her face has a her victory only God can know. look of contentment it has never known before. And I am not surprised when she says she wants The winter months bring showers of life-giving to tell me of something that has made a change rain to Arabia. In Oman most of the water rushes in her. One day she heard that her husband's down the hard, dry hills and through the stony other wife was to come into her neighborhood to beds to the sea, but some of it sinks into the little call. In fact, some friend had been so thoughtless hollows and sloping ground. Then a miracle is as to invite them both at the same time. This was given to us that we may see and believe. Where more than Fatimah could stand. All her pent-up all was bare and brown there are now soft shades hatred burst its bounds. A terrible rage seized of green and tiny blossoms look up to the hills. her. Like one mad she screamed and cursed and Through all the months of heat and drought the threatened. Her husband beat her and then fled. seeds waited. Life was there though it could not Determined to make a complaint before someone develop and grow. It needed only the nourishment she strode out of her house. of heavenly rain to let that life become beautiful and strong. "No judge will hear me rightly," she thought. "Why do I try to get help in this place? I am a In all this barren land, strewn as it is with stranger and I have no friends." rocks of evil and unbelief, there are seeds of Life. We cannot see them and it would do no good to Without knowing why, she turned in to the search for them. But when the gentle rain of hospital gate. "I shall tell this to the Hakeem. God's knowledge and mercy is given them they He will hear me." spring up and blossom. God has created seed to grow and hearts to love and nothing can with- Coming from a sick call the doctor found Fati- stand the purposes of His grace. Even the desert mah sitting on the sand by the gate. Into his ears * Condensed from Neglected A.'abia. shall rej oice and blossom.
[186 ]
THE GOOD SHEPHERD GANESH, THE' HINDU GOD OF
Undergirding the Christian Home By MISS CLEMENTINA BUTLER, Boston, Massachusetts ~- Chairman of the Committee on Christian Literature for Womm and Children in Mission Fields, Inc.
THE Phylactery which the Orthodox Jew binds the sacred name of Jehovah appears under a glass upon his forehead and on his arm in Sabbath in a little case nailed on the door post. Orthodox worship contains a parchment on which is Jews touched their lips to this as they passed in the summary law of God as given in Deuteronomy. and out of the door. The divine command is that this law shall be upon their hearts; shall be bound as a sign upon their The child in an Orthodox Jewish home is still hands and for frontlets between their eyes. (Deu- taught the law of the Lord found in the Old Testateronomy 6: 4-9.) The third part of the command ment which is the law of the household. This is less familiar to us and yet to the Orthodox Jew foundation laying may have much to do with the it is just as binding: "And thou shalt write them persistence of the race in spite of the age-long upon the door posts of thine house and upon thy persecutions. What might be the result if in gates." The literal obedience to this command every Christian home there were a faithful teachmay be seen by anyone admitted to intimacy in ing of the law and the Gospel? There might be an Orthodox Jewish home. The parchment with less of modern self~expression and more respect for "Thus saith the Lord." Is there any doubt [187 ]
but that this would result in greater happiness the English edition which may later help to adorn for our children and for the higher development a vernacular edition. of their Christian characters? A new form of service came to the attention of The task of the parents to instill the right ideas this Literature Committee when one of its memof God and obedience to His law into the minds bers stood in a muhalla where ten or twelve famof children is,.a heroic endeavor anywhere. In a ilies live in one compound. The missionary non-Christian community, where false ideas are escorting the visitor said: "These are all Chriscommon, the task is doubly difficult. Public opin- tians and all the children attend Sunday school. ion outside must be combated by careful teaching These humble folk come from low castes but now at home, if the truths of the Christian faith which belong to the Christian fold which acknowledges the parents have accepted is to command the no caste." Later, going into the one-room hut loyalty of the children. When this is not done the which served as the home for one of these famresult is apt to be like that reported by a mission- ilies, we were surprised to see on the mud walls ary from CeYlon who found the grandchildren of pictures of the gods of Hinduism-Ganesh with Christian converts from Hinduism slipping back his elephant head, Kali with her necklace of skulls, to the harmful beliefs and practices of ancient the five-headed cobra god and the sacred monkeys. faiths by which they were surrounded. This was indeed a startling revelation-to find the gods of Hinduism in a Christian home! In an- The Committee on Christian literature for swer to our exclamation of surprise the father of Women and Children in Mission Fields, Inc. has the family replied that they did not believe in been studying this problem. How can a Christian those gods any longer, but that they were "pretty home be made so attractive that the children will decorations." Looking around on the mud walls, not be tempted to leave it to attend idolatrous thatched roofs, the bare compound, one realized Hindu festivals and processions? It seems to be that there was nowhere any spot of beauty to well authenticated that one-third of all the chil- meet the color-loving eye of the Oriental. What dren who learn to read in the primary schools of could two hours of training in Sunday school do India, lapse into illiteracy within five years after to overcome the effect of seeing for the whole leaving school. Here is a need to be met. Whole- week long cheap chromos of these idols in the some literature has been issued by Christian brilliant colors? On his wages of ten or fifteen agencies for adults, for stUdents, for educated cents a day the father could not afford much in folk and some excellent magazines have been pro- the way of gifts for his children. One of these vided for little children, but for the 'teen-age "pretty" idolatrous pictures could be bought for youngsters, in that most difficult period when one anna (about two and a half cents). No Christheir awakening minds need mental food, little tian pictures could be found at any such low price. had been attempted, until this Committee began the publication of a magazine for youth. It con- To overcome this difficulty, the Committee has tains simple scientific articles; histories of the solicited gifts in America to pay for lithograph great men of India and other lands; clean whole- stories of the lovely Christian pictures so familsome stories, puzzles and contests that help iar in our homes. The initial expense having mothers to keep their children contented in the been met, these Christian pictures can be sold Christian home. So great was the success in India at the one anna price, with something of the English edition that there was a demand left for a "turnover." for vernacular issues. A missionary is set apart for editing the English edition of the Treasure God clearly led our Committee in India to issue Chest. With comparatively small expenditure of for the first of the series the picture of Christ as time and effort busy missionaries in other lan- the Good Shepherd. This 'appears just when the guage areas, with a small grant of money from startling announcement is made that the reprethis Committee, are able to issue vernacular edi- sentatives of the sixty million Untouchables have tions, translating from the English Treasure openly declared their intention to abandon the Chest what is suitable for their people and adding Hinduism which so debased them, has denied them local color. The magazine is now published in entrance into their temples and has left them Urdu, Marathi, Tamil, Kanarese, Gujarathi, without hope. These Untouchables are now ad- Hindi, Bengali, and Telegu. It has even crossed vised to seek a new religion which will give them the Bay of Bengal where a Burmese edition is greater liberty and greater hope. Christian workissued from Rangoon. The economy of this plan ers who go to the seeking millions with their inby which suitable reading matter is provided for vitation to enter the Christian fold will find a these 'teen-aged children is not only in the stories strong appeal in this picture of Christ who, inand articles which may be adapted, but in the ex- stead of the terrifying form of an elephantchange of cuts and fancy covers which appear in headed god, is presented as the friend of little children and as the good Shepherd who goes out
INDIAN HILL STATES IN NEED
to look for His lost sheep. These people know and distribution of seven thousand free copies of that they are weak and this picture shows the the Good Shepherd picture to workers among tenderness of the Saviour as he carries the frail these, His other sheep, so helping them, through little lamb in his arms. Above all the children the eyegate as well as the eargate, to understand hear His loving recognition of their right to come His loving invitation to follow Him. to Him who says: "Other sheep have I which are not of this fold. Them also I must bring, and The need for such help for our Christian homes there shall be one fold and one shepherd." is proven already by the sales of this picture. Without much advertising or any agents to push There is today an unprecedented opportunity the sales, the number bought in the first five presented to missionaries of Christ in this start- .months since it was issued amounts to the astonling action of the leaders of the Untouchables. ishing figure of thirteen thousand copies. Two The Literature Committee therefore felt that in- other pictures are being prepared for the Easter stant action was necessary and has already sent season, one of the Crucifixion and the other of the word to India authorizing the immediate printing Resurrection.
Indian Hill States in Need* By GEORGE HART Home Secretary of India-Northwest Mission THERE are 500 Indian States (usually called a hearing. We saw two of the "almost persuaded" Native States) which are without the Gos- yesterday. One asked for prayer that Christ pel. Those which we shall mention are Hill might become as real to him as He is to us. This States in the Panjab. To show general conditions, individual work has great possibilities, and was let us say something first about a residential the chief method of the early Christians.
station around which evangelization is being car- And now a contrast. Last Sunday, as we started ried on. out, we saw some men making idols of clay. We Around this station little groups of houses are asked if these things were really for worship.
found here and there, something like a village. It While we were speaking, a voice hailed us from takes some tramping to visit thoroughly, but the the road above, for an Indian does not stand on people have to be reached. Every means is de- 'ceremony if he wants to know something.· The vised for convincing and converting. As we go man enquired why we should wish to keep anyone out in the morning we pass the local temple and from any object of worship, but, after being an- hear sounds like children rattling tin cans. "They swered, he scrambled down the bank, saying, "I are wakening their gods," says an evangelist. We should like to know anyone who can lead me to who know the living God whose ear is ever open God."
to our cry feel constrained anew to get the knowl- He was a Sikh who had newly come to the dis- edge of Him spread abroad. In an open space, trict. It was plain that what impressed him most amid some farm houses, after a few calls by the was our clear testimony that this Jesus, who is missionary, which carry far in the clear air, men called Christ, had brought peace to our souls, and begin to appear. The women come too, for these assurance which no "religion" brings. We insist hill women are not so retiring as those· of the that we are not merely bringing to them "another plains. As the message proceeds we notice a late- religion," but the one and only salvation. This comer hurrying to hear it. Sounds had reached cannot be too clearly stated,or too often, for the him, and he knew we had come again with the effect on them is noticed over and over again. We Word of Life. had some notable decisions' in this place.
Truly this is a religious people, but it will take "I would not like to climb that mountain to pour something very persistent to break them from milk on it," said a friend, as he walked with me.
their age-long superstitions. "Nothing shall be He had climbed it on a previous occasion to visit impossible"-it never has been impossible, any- Indians at one of their religious gatherings, doing where. And the people here listen. One wonders his best to bring them to Christ. But what was if our forefathers in pagan Britain gave so good on his mind when he remarked about going up to
"pour milk on it"? On a previous day we were came to the last State on our list and found our out among the villagers round the base of the busy evangelist, himself an ex-Mohammedan.
mountain, and heard that a trial was to be held The postmaster of a chief village, a few mile~ in the open before an idol. A man had lost three from our starting point, tells me he has "a great sons in one month, and the gathering was for the respect for Jesus Christ." He is typical of many purpose of finding out why the god was angry, of the better educated Indians, who, for one rea- and what was to be done. We shall never forget son or another, have dipped into the Bible and the scene. The bereaved man sat among the crowd seen a Person who strangely attracts them. It of leading men from the villages. The priest of may be that they have read to see why we wor- the little temple containing the idol worked him- ship Him. A Hindu Sadhu with plastered brow, self into the state of a spiritist medium, though "searching for salvation," has never heard of not losing consciousness. Shaking violently, he Christ. He cannot read but is hoping for some- began in a shrill voice to speak from the "god." thing in the next transmigration-that blight on (Very plainly it was from the devil.) First, the the mind of India. They believe that their souls bereaved man was told that he must bestow two must go through innumerable other bodies and goats and some money to ward off further evil. then go out they know not where, when they have (Eventually this was brought down to one goat thus purged their lives of sin. To shorten the proc- and a rupee-and-a-quarter. Perhaps the god knew ess, or to have better rebirths, is their one hope.
what he could pay!) Amid the babblings of the We do the best we can for the poor man.
medium-in which the chopping and changing of We enter one Native State, and find the offi- his commands made it plain that the "father of cials more than friendly. Not only is every fa- lies" was at work-one thing seemed clear and cility given for the preaching of the Gospel, the that was that the god was angry with the district head-men all attending, but the missionaries are because the people had departed from the custom made welcome to come and stay at any time, and of their forefathers who used to climb the moun- as long as possible, in free premises. The ripe- tain and pour milk on the top of it every time a ness of this place, from which many villages can calf was born. This would have to be resumed. be reached, is very striking, and we ask most The whole episode was a spur to us to do every- earnest prayer for it.
thing possible to rescue these benighted people, Trekking in India bears its own reward, taking though it is shameful that people in our own en- one to places where there are no roads, revealing lightened land have begun to consult mediums the need, and giving opportunities of witness too. which may reach far and wide. For instance, at The people were suspicious of us at first, and a village at the entrance to the State, where an wanted none of our Gospel. Now we can go any- audience of fifty quickly gathered, we found on where with acceptance, save among such a gath- enquiry that there were men present from places ering as we have described. When we were seen as far apart as Rampur and Baltistan (a distance approaching, men came and barred our way. One of nearly 500 miles) for the Indians are great said, "If this were a marriage, you might come trekkers too. Who can tell where the seed of the very happily and preach, but this is a special Gospels sold and the earnest preaching may take affair." root? The priest of the village took one of our Across the road from the mission hall sits a Gospels.
fakir under an arbor-a "holy man." Our evan- Another scene: two ash-smeared and almost gelist found him the other evening drunk and naked Sadhus (holy men) are lying by the road- cursing. This evangelist is the son of a Bible- side. What a sight they make! Our hearts are woman and is a tireless itinerator with the Gos- moved with pity at the delusion of these men, pel. He is now sought out by men, notably Sikhs, making for far away Hardwar, and hoping by in the mission hall. A gentle, quiet man in private, their very discomfort to please some kind of god.
his liberty of speech on the Great Theme is very Now comes a contrast. It is worth a few miles of fine. walking at the other side of the State to visit a A recent tour showed the needy condition in promising Sikh household. We are struck by its other parts of these Hill States. Two of our mis- cleanliness and by our kindly reception by its in- sionaries and the writer did a round of 150 miles mates. There is a reason, the man is regularly through various States. Our mode of travel was reading a Hindi Bible supplied by the workers, on foot, our baggage on mules. Nowhere did we and is not far from the Kingdom. The evangelist find any open enmity to the Message. Many a sells Gospel after Gospel on the way back. This time there was an intense hearing, everywhere sowing of the seed will not be in vain. God says need, but nowhere any settled witness until we it will not.
Experiences in
Extracts from Letters of Mr. and Mrs. Merle Anderson Missionaries of the Africa Inland Mission, Bulke, Gofa Ethiopia is so much in our minds and on our hearts sion chore boys, but all the neighbors come who are free at that hour. Then clinic patients arrive, these days that an intimate view of missionary life there ahead of office hours, and vendors of chickens, eggs and wood, drop in to hear God's Book read. as told in home letters of Rev. and Mrs. Merle Anderson, Among the greatest obstacles to the Gospel are a young couple at Bulke, the capital of Gofa Province, devil worship and belief in demon possession. One lad of about twenty, whom the natives called will be of interest. E. B. D. P. "possessed," came one day to the family prayer hour. He had been wandering about in a dazed ETHIOPIA is composed of a number of tribes condition, crawling in the tall grass like a hunted or "nations," each with its own native king animal, and slipping out at nights into the jungle or chief over whom reigns His Imperial Maj- where wild animals prowl. The missionaries esty, Hailie Selassie, King of Kings. The actual joined in the hunts for him, and finally a contact control in each of these provinces rests in the hands of a man appointed by the Emperor. He IF ETHIOPIA WERE PART OF THE UNITED STATES may be called a Governor, a Rass, a Dejaz Match or a Fiterarie as the Emperor may decree, titles representing different degrees of authority.
About half a century ago the independent tribe or nation of Gofa Province, with its boy king, by conquest became a part of the empire of Ethiopia.
The little king was educated at Addis Ababa, and now is as much of a world citizen as his surround- ings admit. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, of the Sudan Interior Mission, say that on their first visit the young king pumped them nearly dry, seeking in- formation regarding the outside world of politics.
When a second visit followed the missionaries had an opportunity to speak of spiritual matters of deepest interest to them, and presented the ruler with a copy of the Gospel of Mark in Gofa and a pamphlet of Scripture quotations called "God Hath Spoken." The king is a reader and grate- Ethiopia superimposed on a map of the United States; shaded fully accepted the gifts which the Andersons are portions represent early Italian inroads, showing the relation of praying may plant seeds of truth that will take occupied territory to whole of country, In size and terrain root quickly, for the king is in failing health. Ethiopia resembles the States of California, Nevada and Utah.
Summer in America comes at the winter or was made that resulted in the boy attending mornrainy season in Ethiopia. It is marked by no zero ing prayer gatherings regularly. He asked other weather or frozen lakes but by cold rains, when boys to call him if he was not present when the the sun fails to pierce the clouds and fog for days Bible reading began. Soon a noticeable change at a time. The thatched roof houses are seldom came over him. There were no more hideous and waterproof and unheated homes 8,600 feet up in terrifying facial expressions; even the usual listthe air stay chilly and damp for weeks. When the less and sullen looks disappeared. One morning dry season comes, the missionaries take the op- he testified that a great joy had come into his portunity to make sundried bricks to mend their heart and that he had been healed of his malady.
walls and enlarge their living quarters. The proc- With a beaming face he. said, using the native ess of brick-making is primitive. Barefooted na- form of speech, "I have taken hold of God's Book."
tives tramp around in wet holes ten foot square, He gave God all the glory. The kalecha or devil making mud puddles as smooth as custard. Then doctor who had been impoverishing the boy's fa- they work in chopped straw and set the mixture ther at last lost his power over him.
in molds to dry in the sun. The native religion is animistic, consisting of As soon as the new missionaries begin to learn sacrifices offered to certain trees, reading por- the language, family morning prayers on the hill- tents from the entrails of slaughtered animals and top become a community affair. Not only the mis- the contours of broken stones. Sickness is treated [191 ]
in Ethiopia by burning the body with hot coals or the stations located in the various provinces to irons, and the devilmen are the only doctors work first of all among the native provincials. called to cure disease and various perplexities. The Amharas are mostly Coptic Christians and as such are faithful in their various rituals, keep- The fondness of the Ethiopians for wild ani- ing of fast days, giving alms, etc., "a form of mals as pets and the custom of giving them the godliness but denying the power thereof." In the run of the house is not an exaggeration of sensa- various provinces among the pagans you find varitional writers. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson tell of a ous forms of devil worship, offering sacrifices to visit to the Governor of Gofa, in response to an sacred trees, killing of animals and reading their invitation to dinner. The parents rode horseback intestines, breaking of stones and reading them, and took along their year-old baby, carried by na- fearing and so worshiping various animals, feartive boys in his "perambulator" slung on bamboo ing the rain god or the sun god and so paying poles. The Governor's home seemed like a small money to have rain or sun; also devil men, bezoo, with lion cubs, a leopard, monkeys and witchers and such like. strange birds wandering at will. It "was almost too much to expect the missionaries to be atten- We find ourselves in the midst of altogether tive and responsive table conversationalists while about twenty native hunts, the people consisting lion cubs only two weeks out of the jungle were of a strange combination of native Gofas and showing interest in their excited little baby. When "would-be" Amharas. These people, while Gofas the meat course was brought on, the animals and descendants of true Gofas, have a desire to poked their noses into the ribs of those at table, be Amharas and so claim they are Amharas; in and growled! The baby was fascinated, and cried some cases they base their claims on an Amharic when the servant switched the cubs for getting mother, or perhaps father, and in other instances too friendly and drove them out. He would not just simply because they have learned to speak be comforted, so that the Governor ordered them Amharic and keep the fasts and feasts, which to be brought back. Later, when a large lion was every true Amhara must do. Of course this means brought in, two guards with clubs took their posi- that they have been baptized by the Coptic priest. tions by the baby's "pram." The beast sprawled So among these people we find the strange mixon the floor, while the cubs jumped and rolled on ture of observing fasts and feasts as well as folhim to the accompaniment of the baby's delighted lowing the ancient pagan forms of devil worship. gurgles. The parents thought that surely this lion had been brought up in the bosom of the Our larger work is all through this language family from cubhood; but no, it was a recent cap- speaking area. The people are scattered about in ture! The visit was not prolonged beyond the small villages, a village of one hundred houses requirements of courtesy, and they were relieved being rare, so that the bulk of the work must be to find when they left for home that the leopard done by itinerating. This is done by choosing a at the gate was tied. good settlement; then we pick up tent and pro- visions and settle in such places for a week or Emperor Hailie Selassie is doing everything ten days, visiting among the people and holding possible to put an end to slave trading. Punish- daily meetings. ment is swift for any slave raiders who are caught, but this type of banditry is difficult to We experienced a very happy occasion when eradicate in a mountainous country, sparsely set- the first Gofa converts made public confession of tled. The Emperor eagerly desires the best for his their faith in Christ and were baptized. Two people, and welcomes missionaries with their Gos- brothers, Sonkura and Sucka, sons of a slave, and pel and their medical help. the other, Simberu, himself a slave, were the first to seek baptism and after being thoroughly ex- On the day when Ethiopia's cry for help was amined by Mr. Ohman, were publicly baptized to be considered by the League of Nations, all the after the Sunday morning service with some thirmissionaries in Addis Ababa, and their groups of ty or more witnesses. Sucka and Simberu have Christians and adherents in their several stations, been active in going out to various places where were asked to join with the Emperor and his the true Light has never gone and telling God's household and loyal subjects in fasting and prayer. Word. One Sunday recently we were out in a new section, and having stopped at a house where *** a small crowd had gathereJ, we told some of the old, old story; we then asked if they had ever We are located in the midst of a small hilltop heard it before, wondering if perhaps the Ohmans settlement, the only suitable location available might have been there, when the man of the house at the time the mission came here. We were replied, "Yes, two black boys were here one Sunoffered a location in Bulke but this was very unde- day not long ago." sirable because the capitals are always filled with Amharas, the ruling class. It is the purpose of Remember this work in your prayers.
Ngombi-A Black Man With a White Soul*
–tEl I By CASA COLLIER, M.D., Nashville, Tennessee I)at- ~===!.I NGOMBI was my gun bearer on hunts in the them knew Jesus. There were thirteen boys in Cameroun. I walked beside him for nearly this group and twelve of them had never heard of two months in that grass country and even Christ. One boy thought he had heard of him, but now at times, in that dreamy state that comes be- did not know who he was nor from whom he had tween sleep and consciousness, it seems as if I heard of him. With the assistance of Ngombi, I can see 'mid the shimmering heat waves his round, told these boys the story of Christ. Some of them kinky head and broad black back, shining and wet scampered away for their parents or for other from the sweat of the terrible heat. boys, and before long we had most of the village At the end of my hunting trip I asked Ngombi attending this little service. if there was any message that I could take my One Sunday morning at the church in Bafia, the missionary in charge, Mr. Anderson, asked me to people. He lifted me in his great black arms and talk to these people about Palestine. I went into then as he stood me again upon my feet he gave the great thatched church and with his aid as me the message, which is the same that has rung interpreter told them of Bethlehem and Nazareth down through the ages, "Come over and help us." and Galilee which I had visited. Two years before Ngombi's message to you is this, "My people need this time these people of Bafia were almost unyour help very much-without i.t we sit in sin touched by Christianity-yet I saw more than a and darkness; with it we will be free." thousand of these "savages" gathered to worship on Sunday morning. I heard them as they sang: When we left the Bulu country and went into the grass country, this black man went along with a song and a shout, and a smile upon his broad A never-dying soul to save, and fit it for the sky.
black face. He was happy; I was happy too, A charge to keep I have, a God to glorify.
because I was realizing the dream of a lifetime- I turned to Mr. Anderson and said, "If I had hunting in Africa-and I thought that Ngombi not seen it, I could not have believed that these was happy for the same reason. I did not find people could so quickly have been brought under out until several weeks later that he was com- an influence that would make them know that they bining his hunting trip with a missionary trip. had a never-dying soul to save." His answer was, When we went into the little villages, after "Doctor, only one thing could do it, and that is Ngombi had seen to it that we were properly quar- Christ." This truth impressed me greatly on all tered, he would always be gone for a while. I sides while in that mission field. saw him with his little gatherings on the edge of I wish you could see the offering taken in an numerous villages and I thought that he was tell- African mission church. I have tried to be liberal ing stories or merely visiting sociably. When I in my financial support of the Church and for asked him why he was so happy, he told me of his years have been a tither, but I admit that I never long desire to bring this Christian message to saw the plate passed while in Africa that I did not these people and now he was realizing his long- blush for shame when I thought of how little I wished-for opportunity. He was not merely chat- and the average member of my church had conting with his friends as he sat with them at the tributed. In Cameroun everybody contributes. edge of the village, he was telling them the story Even if they have no money, what they have goes of Jesus. into the collection-peanuts, palm kernels, sugar One afternoon while I was sitting in a little cane, eggs, pineapples, bananas, occasionally a dusty village watching some boys scrape some chicken or a duck; an~ once in a while a goat is skins of animals just killed-Mbiam had brought tied to a tree near by waiting to be taken after me a cup of orange juice-Ngombi came and stood the service.
by, and with him as interpreter I talked with the One of the servants of a missionary had seen boys. After asking them numerous questions and the missionary wear some green-striped pajamas answering many of theirs, I asked how many of and had secretly longed for them. In the due course of time he fell heir to them and the follow- Mi•ssFiornosm, Ua. Sle.aAfl.et printed by the Presbyterian Board of Foreign ing Sunday he proudly marched down the center [193 ]
aisle of the church wearing them. After service used the adz, the lever and the saw, their artisans he carefully wrapped them in a banana leaf and were making jewelry and glassware, some of stored them away in the eaves of his little thatched which are marvels today, but Egypt is gone. Conhut. Every day he unwrapped them and sat in fucius could. not maintain a civilization, Mothe sun by his hut admiring them. The following hammed could not do it, but Christ can. Sunday the pajama pants were put in the collection plate. Upon being questioned as to why these These people in Africa are just as much entitled pants were so disposed of, his reply was, "I loved to Christianity as are our people. The fact that them so much that I knew it would be a sin for they are black did not in the least lessen the sufme to keep them, so I gave them to the Church." fering of Christ on the cross-his pain and agony I am quite sure that I have never made such a were as much for them as for us. I wish you coufd sacrificial gift, but when our giving begins to be see the difference that Christianity makes in these made upon such a basis the financial problems of people. I visited in towns that had been under our Church and mission field are solved. the influence of Christianity and then I visited in others where the Christian influence had not yet Ze Tonga, who works for the Beanlands, is one come. What would you mothers think of selling of the finest Christian characters I have ever met. your ten- or twelve-year-old daughters into a slave On one occasion, while the missionaries were on marriage? This is a common custom in Africa. furlough, he went back to his native town to What would you wives think of being sold if you preach. When the Beanlands returned, Ze Tonga did not altogether please your husband? For went back to Metet to resume his duties there. He twelve or fifteen dollars' worth of trade goods, one told Mr. Beanland of the need for a native can buy a girl in Africa and thirty dollars' worth preacher in his town, but no native preacher could of trade goods will buy a very good wife. Women be sent, as there was no money. Ze Tonga said, are bought and sold just as are dogs or goats. "How much are you paying me?" "Thirty-five Christ puts an end to this and to the unspeakable francs per month," was the answer. Ze Tonga's things that accompany such traffic. Other things reply was, "Pay me fifteen francs and we will get too numerous and too horrible to mention cannot a preacher to go for the balance." Now there is be abolished by anything except Christianity; just a preacher in that town and Ze Tonga has the joy as sin cannot be cured by legislation, but only by of knowing that his townspeople are Christians the Spirit of Christ. and are having the same joy in it that he has. One of the most pitiful things that I saw in Membership in the Church on the mission field Africa was a great strong man dying with fever, means a great deal more than in America. When clutching his spear in his hand, raving in his dea native becomes a candidate for membership, he lirium, fearful that the evil spirits would take must live on probation for a year or two and him before he was dead. His three wives were demonstrate his ability to be a Christian. At the disfiguring their bodies with clay and ashes, makend of the probationary period, if satisfactory, he ing all kinds of incantations to their gods, screamis admitted. If membership in my church was ing in the agony of fear at the approach of death gauged by the same requirements as exist there, -what a horrible, unspeakably sad thing for this the roll in my church would be nearer one hun- man to go out into the darkness with no hope dred than three thousand. other than his spear clutched frantically in his dying hand! How different was the death of Ngo I wonder how many of you have any idea of Ntoto! This man had been a native pastor for what a leper colony is like? his own people. His life was an inspiration to hundreds of others, both black and white, and Those who are a little cool in their belief re- when his time came to reap the reward of his garding foreign missions should visit a mission labors he gathered his family about him for field. After such a visit they would entirely change prayers, and then asked them to sing. His wife their views regarding the necessity of foreign stood holding one hand, and on the other side of missions. Many say, "This black man has his own his little bamboo bed stood his stalwart son holdform of worship-let him stick to it; it will suffice ing the other. They sang "Nearer My God to for him." I defy you to name a single country Thee" and as the song was nearing the end, he where Christianity is not known and generally ac- closed his eyes and was heard to say, "M'bolo cepted that has not already decayed or that is not Jesus, Zambe, M'bolo," which is the Bulu salutain the process of deterioration. While Abraham's tion saying, "Good morning, Jesus, Master, good forefathers were living in goatskin tents in the morning." desert, the Egyptians were living in palaces. They
Bedouin Women in North
-e( I By the late ARTHUR v. LILEY of Tunis I)a- ~==========================~ I N THE Mohammedan world none has a harder the work in the tent. They are sent to the wells for life of cruelty and drudgery than the Bedouin water and to the forest for wood, a small goat- woman, "the daughter of the tent." No cries skin bottle of water or a load of wood being placed of joy are heard, neither is a profusion of com- upon her back, according to her size and strength. pliments paid to the father when an unwelcome These are occasions of great joy for they mean little stranger, a girl, comes into the world. When getting away from the restraint of the tent and the little one is able to amuse her father with her the severity of the father. While the girls wander childish prattle, some notice may be taken of her, into the woods and fields, the old women sit tobut soon he becomes tired of his new toy and the gether and talk over the news and scandal of the child takes her despised place among the women. camp or tribe. The fathers of families are charged to teach Later the girls learn to weave the tent covering, their children the duty of the creature towards plait the palm leaf, or haIfa grass baskets, make God and the rules that they should follow in liv- the rough pottery, milk the cows and goats, saddle ing among their fellowmen. But being themselves the beasts of burden, and to put up and take too brutal and corrupt to worthily fulfil the diffi- down the tent. The tent is made up of a number cult part of examples to their children, the fathers of feloudj sown together. These consist of camel hasten to send the girl to the work of the tent, and goat's hair spun with the fiber that surrounds abandoning her at a tender age to her natural in- the palm root, and are woven into long strips stincts and the evil effects of bad influences. about two and a half feet wide and eight or ten Often the little girl is struck in a revolting and yards long. They are not unlike cocoa-nut matbrutal manner in order that the father may obtain ting of a dark color, without pattern or design. absolute silence, passive obedience and respect. A pole eight or nine feet long holds up the middle All through life she is exposed to all kinds of in- of the tent while a number of cords, attached to justice from her father, brother or husband. pegs, keep it fixed to the ground. Shorter sticks At a tender age children are left to themselves, are used to prop up the tent in order to give more half naked, spending whole days without any space and allow the inhabitants to move about guardian in the fields or woods to mind the flocks without continually bending. All the tents of the and herds. It is then that they learn those de- camp are the same and only vary in size and state plorable habits of lying, thieving, cruelty and the of preservation. disdain for all things respectable and refined. In the center of the tent and at the base of the Without religious or moral education and with supporting pole are placed two or three large nothing in their minds or hearts but vain forms sacks, called telles, which contain provisions of of prayer and empty politeness, they are aban- wheat, barley or dates for the family for a fortdoned to their natural instincts, and know no re- night or so. In the same place is a large trunk in straint or governing power. Conscience being al- which are kept the family clothing and jewelry. most dead, they have little idea of right and The furniture of the tent is very primitive, conwrong, good and evil. Lying is such a familiar sisting of a few haIfa grass mats spread on the habit among the Bedouin Arabs that everything ground, two or three woolen coverings, some becomes doubtful, even their duty. earthenware pots and pans, a few wooden spoons and the sieves for sifting the coarse wheat flour Most of these young people live far away from which forms their staple food. Everything in the all refining or Christian influences. In the cities tent must roll up or be such that it can easily be some of these young Arabs are being reached by means of mission classes and schools; and natives, packed and placed on the backs of the beasts of seeing the difference in the girls who have come burden to be carried to the new camping ground. under the influence of Christian teaching, have sought some of them for wives, rather than take When evening arrives, the children and old women lie down to sleep side by side. The master those who have been brought up in ignorance. of the tent lets down the feloudj which forms the From a very early age the girls among the coun- door of the tent; then he seeks his mat and try Arabs are accustomed to take their share of woolen covering on which to rest. For him the [195 ]
night is one long watch. With his head turned five times of prayer daily, the fast month of Ratowards the flocks, his pistol under his pillow and madian, the tithes and gifts demanded from his gun by his side, he is ready to rush out at the hardly earned harvest. After all this has been least noise-it may be a thief, a jackal or some faithfully observed he has no "sure and certain other enemy. The wolfish looking dogs with sharp hope" but looks forward with fear and trembling teeth help the Arab in his watch for by the man- to the day of judgment, faintly hoping "the merciner of their barking or the inflexion of their ful, the compassionate" will deal lightly with his voices, he is able to tell whether the intruder is many misdeeds and admit him into Paradise after an animal, a distant passing stranger or one or the intercession of Mohammed. more thieves. It is only when twilight begins to appear, that the master of the tent is able to fall To these people we gladly carry the message of asleep. blessed hope in Christ. It has not always been casting the seed by the wayside, and yet how sad It is a hard life, hard in every sense of the it is to hear some women say, "we have no minds, word. The Bedouin child is born on the hard we are no better than the cows." But we go on ground, in a tent exposed to all varieties of preaching the Gospel of Christ, for it is "the weather and lives on food often coarse and scanty. power of God unto salvation to everyone that be- The life is hard, for the Arab is in continual fear lieveth." Pray that God will thrust forth more from all kinds of enemies, difficulties and dangers. laborers into the harvest field and that all things Evan Islam, his religion, gives little or no consola- needful may be supplied "according to His riches tion, for it also deals hardly with him, with its in Glory by Christ Jesus."
A MOSLEM LEARNS THAT GOD IS LOVE I am a Mohammedan, as were my fathers before me. My cr~ed is: "There is no god but God, and Mohammed is the prophet of God." I scorn idolators, I pray five times a day, I fast one month in the year, I have made the pilgrimage to Mecca.
Further, I am an Arab; I fear nothing. I am ready to kill unbelievers, as my fathers did.
The other day I was sitting in a coffee shop when a foreigner passed by. I had never met him but people told me that he was a missionary. I cursed him under my breath. But he must have heard me for he turned around, stopped, came back, and sat down on the bench be- side me.
"Peace be upon you," he said, and I had to reply in kind.
"I have been looking for you," he said.
"Do you know me?" I replied.
"No," he said, "but my Master told me this morning to go and find some one who was cursing me."
"And what did He tell you to do then?" I said.
"Why," said he, "He told me to bless you. And so I want to assure you that I hope that Allah will give you all health and happiness."
"But who is this Master of yours?" I said. "Jesus Christ," he answered. "But are you a Christian?" I asked again.
"Well," he said, "my Master said that by this we are known as His disciples, if we have love one for another. . . . for God is Love."
He went away; but his words have been ringing in my ears. I am afraid of such a Christian.
Prayer: Oh, Allah, I have prayed to Thee thousands of timeS, but I have not heard Thy voice till this morning. Art Thou really Love? And -dost Thou l()ve me? Then I have. been all wrong in my thoughts of Thee. Teach me what Thou truly art.,' Amen. .
ABDULLAH BIN HUSSEIN.
Pioneering A
A Sketch of George Grenfell and Sir Wilfred Grenfell -~~I!~~_B_Y~L_._S_._H_O_G_E=N_B_O_O~M_,_p_r_in_ce_t_on_'_N~._J.~~~(I~- THE name Grenfell today, to ninety-nine mis- not swept away by the madness of these frantic sionary-minded people out of a hundred, years but who has carried on his work of healing means Sir Wilfred Grenfell of Labrador. His in an obscure field, unmoved by the materialism name calls up visions of a rocky, ice-bound coast, of our day~ of bleak, wind-swept wastes, and of a beloved physician ministering to poor, hard-working, fish- These two men differ widely in background. erfolk-such is the efficacy of the printed word! George's parents moved to Birmingham when he was three years of age and his youth was spent in But in England fifty years ago the name Gren- a dirty factory town in the midst of the abuses of fell would bring up far different visions. Instead the industrial system. Wilfred's father was a of the bitter cold of the Nor,th Atlantic the mind schoolmaster and his boyhood was spent in carewould have pictured the steaming jungle of the free sport on the "Sands of Dee." Congo valley. Instead of frost-bitten fishing villages the name would have suggested grass huts, The most significant event in George Grenfell's baked by an equatorial sun. Instead of a minis- early life was his transfer from the Church of tering doctor in fur coat driving a dog team, the England to the Baptist communion. The cause name Grenfell meant a stocky, bearded man at the was trivial- a bully who plagued him and his wheel of a small steamer pushing his way up un- brother-but the result was thirty years of work charted ,tropical rivers. Grenfell in those days under the Baptist Missionary Society. meant George Grenfell, pioneer missionary and explorer of the Congo River basin. The calls of these men to missionary service were far different. A.t the age of ten George de- Both of these men sprang from an old and illus- cided to be a missionary. He was active in the trious family of Cornwall. Both claimed affinity Young People's work of the church and at the age of blood with Sir Richard Grenville, that bold ad- of twenty-two became editor of Mission Work, a venturer of Elizabethan days. The trouble which Baptist young people's periodical. His close ache caused the Spanish navy was one of the family's quaintance with the missionary enterprise reproudest memories. sulted in his decision to enter Bristol College and prepare for active service in the foreign field. Something of the untamed spirit of their seagoing ancestor must have followed the blood line Wilfred Grenfell, on the other hand, was led into down through the successive generations. Neither his life work in Labrador through his medical and of these later Grenfells was so happy as when surgical practice. He had a vital religious exafloat; the deck of a rolling ship was always more perience during a Moody and Sankey revival in congenial than a lecture platform. Both were of London. For some years following the complethat hardy clan that listens with expectant ear to tion of his medical studies he served on a Deep an inward compelling voice: Sea Mission boat among the fishing fleets of the North Sea. Then he decided to accompany a ship Something hidden – Go and find it. sent out on similar service among the fishing boats Go and look behind the Ranges. of Newfoundland and the Labrador. Upon ar- Something lost behind the Ranges, rival he sought to meet the needs of the people Lost and waiting for you; Go! and remained to become world famous and to write "Forty Years for Labrador." His motives Though only sixteen years separated these men seem to have been largely humanitarian and his in age, they really belonged to two different gen- theory' of missionary calling is bound up in his erations. George Grenfell was born in 1849 and saw the zenith of his usefulness during a time of statement that he always believed that the Good tremendous British expansion in almost every line, Samaritan crossed the road and helped the colonial and industrial, as well as missionary. wounded man because he wanted to do SO.l Wilfred Grenfell's work has become famous in the present century, chiefly as an example of a man to~ tf&f~Jl6o~I}i~:~n, "r~~~ Years for Labrador," p. 71. Hough- [197 ]
The important thing is that they both entered pounds, the maximum pack load for a bearer. The the service of Christ without any reservations, vessel was taken apart, shipped to the foot of the ready to go wherever He should lead them. That cataracts and then carried two hundred miles their respective fields lay so far apart is another through the jungle to Stanley Pool. The engineer, proof of our Lord's interest in all parts of His sent to reassemble the ship, died on the way, but far-flung battle line. Grenfell, using native helpers, rebuilt and The Explorers launched "The Peace" in 1884. It was an almost incredible piece of work, but it was completed and When George Hawkes, a schoolmate of George the way opened for the exploration of a river sys- Grenfell, was asked by the Baptist Missionary tem which drains an area of over two million Society to write the story of his schoolmate's life square miles. The main stream and its tributaries he consented to do so on one condition-someone total a distance of eleven thousand miles.
qualified for the task should make a scientific ap- For twenty-two years George Grenfell sailed praisal of Grenfell's work as an explorer and that "The Peace" up and down those miles of treacher- report should be incorporated in the biography. ous waterways. He charted the channels, mapped Instead, a whole book on this subject was written the tributaries, and made the way comparatively by Sir Harry Johnston, entitled "George Grenfell safe for the advance of civilization. More steam- and the Congo." ers were brought in and a railroad was built We have seen how Wilfred Grenfell went around the cataracts. The territory thus opened through a "seasoning process" in his ministrations to trade is as large as Europe from the Black Sea to the fishermen of the North Sea in preparation to the English Channe}.2 for his life work on the Labrador Coast. Likewise For his part in the project Grenfell was hon- George Grenfell spent four years in Cameroon, ored by the Royal Geographical Society, receiving West Africa, as a "finishing school," under the its Founder's Gold Medal. He was also honored saintly Alfred Saker. Here he learned to make by the Belgian Government and represented King friends with natives, did some preliminary ex- Leopold on a commission to settle a boundary dis- ploring and experienced some of the hardships of pute with France.
missionary life. Here, too, he met his first great It was in his relation with King Leopold that sorrow, when his bride of less than a year died of George Grenfell made his greatest mistake. He puerperal fever. was a believer in the desirability of a strong Euro- In August, 1877, Henry M. Stanley completed a pean power taking over the country in order to three-year journey, crossing Africa from Zanzibar stop the petty intertribal wars and the horrors of on the east coast to Boma at the mouth of the the slave trade.3 He therefore looked upon King Congo River on the west. He had followed the Leopold as a great benefactor and in this opinion course of the Lualaba River which Livingstone he was seconded by his Society.4 But he had failed believed to be the headwaters of the Nile. Stanley to reckon on the greed of men who saw in this vast proved it to be the source of the Congo. This dis- territory a source of income from rubber. This covery challenged the Christian world to occupy greed led to almost unbelievable atrocities. The the vast region of central Africa. Other mission- oppression of the rubber trusts proved worse for ary societies followed the footsteps of Livingstone the black folk than the villainies of the Arab slave in East Central Africa, and a special gift from raiders. John H. Harris, in his book, "Slavery Robert Arthington enabled the Baptist Missionary or 'Sacred Trust'" estimates the deaths during a Society to assume responsibility for the evan- thirteen-year period at five million.
gelization of the Congo Basin. Grenfell and his When public indignation rose too high to be ig- friend, Thomas J. Comber, were invited to con- nored King Leopold appointed, as a blind, a com- duct a prospecting expedition. They soon learned mission for the protection of the natives and that the Congo was navigable for only a short dis- named Grenfell and Holman Bentley as members.
tance from the mouth and that two hundred miles Nothing was accomplished, and the horrible of rapids barred the way to the interior. Gren- abuses went on long after Grenfell's death.
fell's first journey therefore was overland to San One cannot refrain from placing the vast ex- Salvador, capital city of Dom Pedro, black King plorations of George Grenfell beside those of Sir of the Congo. Grenfell decided that the opening Wilfre.d. The latter did worthy service .to navi- up of the interior could best be made by boat gation by correcting charts and maps of that above the cataracts. . dangerous coastline which has been called the Thus came about the greatest exploit of his life. graveyard of the Atlantic. He was honored by Under his advice a seventy-foot steamer, named "The Peace," was built in England, so designed 2 Mathews, Basil-"The Book of Missionary Heroes," p. 150. that only three parts weighed more than sixty-five 3 Hemmens, H. L.-"George Grenfell Pioneer in Congo," p. 198. • Report of B. M. S. for 1885 quoted by Hemmens, p. 200.
TWO PIONEERING GRENFELLS
the Royal Geographical Society with the Murchi- in educational and industrial missions, and schools son Prize in 1911.5 Later, under the encourage- were among the most successful of his projects. ment of the British Admiralty, he further sur- He rightly believed that if the elimination of tribal veyed the coast. Much of this work was done by warfare was not to leave a dangerous vacuum aerial photography.6 Later he was knighted for some other occupation must be provided for the his services by King George V. people. Accordingly he taught them how to make bricks from clay and so to replace their miserable These efforts are valuable from a commercial huts with decent houses. Grenfell saw the necespoint of view. Dr. Grenfell tells of seeing five sity of isolating the children from .the associations steamers piled up on one reef at one time.7 And of heathen life and this was done by means of from a humanitarian point of view it was no less boarding schools. At first pupils were hard to get, so. It is better Christianity to make good charts but before his death he saw them coming in inthan to wait "to play the Good Samaritan to the creasing numbers. surviving families of those fishermen who had drowned because no reliable chart existed." 8 Yet Like many pioneer missionaries Grenfell was a fair comparison of this bleak coast with the rich criticized by the churches at home for the scarcity interior of Africa, leaves one with the impression of converts. Those in England who had visions that society is indeed whimsical in the disposition of teeming thousands of black men hungering for of its honors. the Gospel failed to appreciate the difficulties. The frightful loss of life due to inexperience in a The Missionaries new country also put a s.train upon his courage. His own daughter, newly sent out as a missionary, "The end of the geographical feat is the begin- died of blackwater fever. ning of the missionary enterprise." These words of Livingstone were likewise the motto of his ar- His most persistent enemy, however, was the dent admirer, George Grenfell. It was his ap- awful slave traffic. The Arab raiders had pushed pointed task to blaze trails or, more literally, to westward from Zanzibar and threatened to take chart channels, but always his objective was the over the whole Congo basin. Their inhuman spreading of the Gospel of Christ and the building treatment made the natives wary of strangers of an indigenous church. From that single aim with light skins and often flights of poison arrows nothing could move him. Even when requested by greeted the passengers on "The Peace." the King of Belgium to serve as Royal Commissioner on the boundary question between Belgium Complications with the Belgian Government and Portugal, he referred the letter to the Mis- also threatened to upset his plans. At one time the sionary Society and accepted the offer only after authorities seized "The Peace," hauled down her securing its consent. British flag and used her to transport munitions up the river. A protest from London to Brussels His aim throughout all his explorations was a brought restitution and an offer of indemnity. chain of ten mission stations from Stanley Pool to Stanley Falls, a distance of a thousand miles, George Grenfell closed his career at the age of and he complained bitterly to the British churches fifty-seven in a lonely outpost surrounded by black because the execution of this plan was so long de- men who loved him. They put him aboard "The layed for lack of reinforcements. "The Peace" Peace" and the famous old boat carried him to was brought out and operated to facilitate com- Basoko and a doctor. But on July 1, 1906, the munication between such stations. He lived to sturdy old missionary river pilot crossed the Bar see that hope realized. and sailed out into the great Beyond.
The population of George Grenfell's vast "par- The Grenfell "everybody knows" and the Grenish" varied from the tiny four-foot Batwa pig- fell "nobody knows" were both missionaries, mies, light red-skinned folk with huge bearded rather than theologians. Sir Wilfred, as a phyheads who lived par.t of the time in trees, to the sician and surgeon, has a rough and ready brand Banalyas, an advanced tribe which smelted iron of theology. He says: "Of one thing I am conand practiced carpentry. Naturally, Grenfell vinced. Religion is the reverse of anyone cubbynever had much time for the settled routine of a holed experience. If I am not Christian in the mission station. He continued to pilot "The Peace" way I eat and drink, and in the way I deal with and later the "Goodwill" up and down the river. my wife, or my crew, or my students, or my cus- tomers, as the case may be, the fact that I accept Yet he also managed to do some literary work. all the theology ever taught does not make me so. He translated the Gospel according to Mark and . . . How each individual keeps touch with God, .the Ten Commandments. He was a firm believer I consider it impertinent on the part of any other individual to criticize. Only Christ, so far, has 6 Grenfell, 'Vilfred-Ibid., p. 182. proved the right to say, 'Follow Me.' " 9 • Grenfell, Wilfred-Ibid., p. 242. • Grenfell, Wilfred-Ibid., p. 339. 7 Grenfell, Wilfred-Ibid., p. 169. 8 Grenfell, Wilfred-Ibid., p. 241.
Nor was George Grenfell a stickler for dog- Contrast this with George Grenfell's problem. matic theology. In a letter to Joseph Hawkes, No one has ever accurately counted its population, written in his last illness, he says: "I am less con- but it runs into the millions, and of these almost fident in trying to explain the Trinity, the Atone- every tribe speaks a different dialect. The climate ment and Justification than I used to be; but this is one in which no white man can live long with- I know, better than ever, that Salvation is by out seriously impairing his health. One begins to grace through Jesus Christ, by faith." 10 see that, judged by almost every objective cri- terion, George undertook a more difficult task. There is no notable difference in the sacrifices which these men made. Both lived strenuously. George Grenfell died at fifty-seven. Sir Wil- The great contrast lies in the people to whom they fred is now past seventy. World recognition has ministered. Sir Wilfred has for forty years come to him largely during the past twenty years. served a scattered population of fisherfolk of New- Had his lesser known kinsman rounded out his foundland and the Labrador, mostly Anglo-Saxon full three-score-and-ten he too might have reaped whites, comparable to the southern mountaineers more of the world's honors. of the United States.u There are only a few hundreds who live there all year around. Their Both men are specimens of that staunch clan of missionary has no new language to learn, and missionary heroes that every day brings a little with the aid of American university students and nearer the day when the kingdoms of this world others, is able to handle their needs in a fairly shall become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His adequate way. Christ.
10 Hemmens, H. L.-Ibld., p. 239. BIBLIOGRAPHY 11 Grenfell, Wilfred-Ibid., p. 90. 1. Hawker, George-The Life of George Grenfell, New York, 1909. 2. Hemmens, H. L.–George Grenfell, Pioneer in Congo, London, 1927. 3. Bently, Hoimen–George Grenfell and the Congo, London. 4. Grenfell, Wilfred-Forty Years for Labrador, Boston, 1933.
"Can't Afford to Give to Missions"
Many churches and individuals contend that the funds. Should this fact take precedence over the claims of home needs are so great that they can- needs of the local congregation? not afford to give to missions. Many churches in Christian lands are housed in expensive buildings, The same principle and problem applies to a and are heavily mortgaged, while the spiritual family. When should the desire for a new house house and work of Christ are handicapped by pov- or better furnishings be given the right of way erty. Recently a mortgage company refused to over the pressing needs of absent members of the modify its claims on church property or to reduce family? Obviously the answer is that vital needs the interest while that church was using part of -life, health, education for service-should take its income to support missions. If the church precedence over comforts, conveniences and selfcould afford to give away, surely it could afford to indulgence. Few find satisfaction in self-denial pay its debts. What is the answer? The time to for the sake of discipline but many find real joy in avoid this dilemma seems to be before the debt self-denial for the sake of loved ones or for the on the church property is incurred. Every con- promotion of some needy and worthy cause. gregation, like an individual or a family, has a twofold obligation – for its own maintenance in Experience proves that those who put "first the the interest of efficiency, and for sacrificial service Kingdom of God," have their own essential needs to others. On the one hand there is no reason for supplied, while those who put first their own coman individual or for a church to exist merely for fort lose satisfaction in material things and do self; on the other hand service cannot be ade- not experience the joy of fruitful service. Many quately rendered to others if personal effective- churches with large and elaborate buildings are ness is not maintained. spiritual paupers and show little or no fruit to justify their existence. Other individuals and Every Christian and every church is a steward, churches that live for Christ and His Kingdom commissioned to promote the work of Christ at have the joy of reaping rich spiritual harvests and home and abroad. Should the needs and oppor- at the same time find their own needs adequately tunities for work abroad hinder the work at home met. All admire heroic self-sacrifice but few of -or vice versa? A church desires to enlarge or us practice it. It is a satisfaction to give sacrimodernize its house of worship or its parish house. ficially to an enterprise doing a Christlike work Should this desire be gratified in such a way as to in a Christlike way. The true sign of life in a hinder the response to missionary appeals? The church or an individual is the stream of Living work abroad and in the home field greatly needs Water that flows out to vivify and beautify the lives of others.
A Fire–Walking Festival in India*
By MILLICENT MOODY, Chota Nagpur, India CHUTIYA is an ancient Hindu village which nut falls too. Immediately the priest gathers up consists of a narrow pavementless street the remaining rice and smooths the little pillar about a mile long with mud houses and clean. The drums and chanting cease; the women small shops on both sides. There is a very ancient talk and push and change places. Evidently some- temple at the beginning of the village and a new thing important has happened.
one, only half completed, at the end; both are We were told that the stone pillar represented dedicated to Shiva. Shiva, the creator. The rice and the nut had been Once a year a very interesting festival is held in placed on the god by the chief priest at the request this village. It goes back to ancient times when of a childless woman, who has paid a sum of the aborigines worshipped the sun. The festival money for the priest to tell her whether or not is called "Fire-walking" by foreigners, but the her longing for a son will be realized. The nut had Hindus call it Manda. One of my colleagues, who fallen, so Shiva would grant the woman's request.
works in Chutiya, invited me to join a small party Again and again other women came, but we to witness the festival under the care of her Hindu did not see the nut fall a second time. Alas! maybe pundit. the gift of money which accompanied the request We set out at 10 p. m. with our flashlights. The was too small to satisfy the greed which showed so narrow street near the first temple was thronged clearly in the priest's face.
with men and boys, all making for the other end The noise and heat on the veranda of the temof the village. As the street took a bend we saw a ple was so great that we were glad to put on our flare of lights in the distance and then saw that the shoes and sit once more in the open space near by. temple dedicated to Parvati, Shiva's wife, was It was now getting late, so we hoped the chief lined with tiny oil lamps. The crowd had become ceremony would not be long delayed. Soon the quite dense, for we had almost reached the spot pundit hurried back to say that we should come at where the chief ceremonies were to be performed. once. So we joined the crowd in front of the tem- The chief temple was on our left, and from it came ple and presently a passage was made from the drumming and chanting. Many hundreds of peo- temple steps to the trench of fire by men holding ple had collected and worship was going on in the primitive flares made of stout sticks with rags temple at full swing. soaked in oil on one end. Everyone was kind and gave us good places facing the passage. The chief We walked along the rough veranda of the priest appeared at the temple door and then the temple to a large iron-barred window which gave devotees streamed out and down the steps. The us a clear view of the inside. Both inside and out chief holy man (not the priest) came first and crowds of women and a few men were gazing in- stood at the bottom of the steps and after him the tently at the performance of the chief priest and others came out one at a time. They wore either his helpers. A circle of about eight devotees stood pure white turbans or wreaths of white scented round the priest. These were young men for the flowers on their heads; they had garlands of these most part, who had just been swung over fire and flowers, which are like tuber lilies, round their in a short while were to show their devotion to necks. their god, Shiva, by walking through a trough of fire in his honor. What was fixing the attention Then began the interesting ceremony of "the of the crowd? An evil-looking priest bearing kiss of peace." Each man embraced the others in Shiva's trident marked in lime on his forehead, turn by touching arms and kissing first one side, sat cross-legged, before a rounded stone pillar then the other, and finally saluting with a little which rose from the ground about two feet. Look! bow, with both hands raised to the face as if pray- He is putting a handful of boiled rice on top of ing. This was repeated three times, the devotees the pillar. He is moulding it as a child would make returning to the temple between each set of greeta sand castle. He is placing a nut, like an acorn, ings. Then they all ran down the passage between on the very top. The drums beat; the devotees the crowd and surrounded the trench of flaming chant; the priest mumbles and waves his hand- charcoal, while the chief devotee grasped a double the chanting and drumming continue for two or handful of glowing embers in his cupped hands three minutes, and the loose rice falls a little; the and rushed back and up the temple steps and bore • From The Mission Field, London. the fire to Shiva's shrine. We saw the man shortly [201 ]
afterwards and he did not appear to be burnt at tesque masks, and bells on their ankles. Most dances took the form of a mock fight between two all. hunters who carried huge flower-decked bows and The actual fire-walking was to come later, so arrows. The performers clicked their bows and arrows and went through curious antics, much to we went to see the dancing of various sets of vil- the enjoyment of the crowd, but as each item finlagers. We joined an enormous crowd, hundreds ished there was no attempt at applause. All the of men and boys, seated on the ground around an dances were accompanied by drums and weird hunting cries.
We were told to return at once to the trough of glowing charcoal, as the devotees were about to walk through the fire. The crowd was so dense that we could only make very slow progress so when we reached the spot the men were coming up from the fire and returning to the temple. They had encircled the fire, saluted it and then had walked through it. The trough was several feet wide and eight to ten feet long and was filled to the very top with red-hot charcoal. The men seemed to be quite unscathed from their ordeal.
We longed to be able to claim that huge crowd for Christ and to be able to change all the devo- tion to Shiva into devotion to our Lord. We know that many in that Manda crowd are Christians at heart as a result of years of faithful teaching from our Mission and the secret working of the Holy Spirit within them. We pray that the time will come when a large group of these people will be brave enough to free themselves from the fet- ters of caste, fear and public opinion and come out as Christians. If some will do this others will follow their example. Pray for Chutiya and re- member the educational and evangelistic work, especially the group of non-Christian boys under instruction.
FIREWALKING IN ENGLAND There are about one hundred million people in India living in areas that are not adequately Kuda Bux, Kashmir magician showed no sign of blistering after reached by the Christian message. To remedy, he had walked twice in a trench filled with glowing embers. the situation there should be a (1) better distri- bution of the Christian forces; (2) greater emopen-air stage. Every other person seemed to be phasis upon the ideal of a united church; (3) carrying a long bamboo stick-six to eight feet more emphasis placed upon evangelism. (4) The long. These were to protect them on their home- concentration of missionary institutions in the ward way, but now the poles gave the effect of a larger towns is a handicap. (5) The Indian forest, for everyone held them upright as they Church needs more ordained leaders. (6) Steps sat. should be taken to take the Christian message to the unoccupied areas. (7) The National Chris- The dancers were all men dressed in spangled tian Council should consider what can be done clothes with tall shimmering head-dresses, gro- about Christian work in the Native States. (8) The progress of the Church will largely depend upon the indigenous nature of its activity and growth. (9) Higher educational institutions should cultivate a more Christian atmosphere and a comprehensive effort should be made to stamp out illiteracy in the Christian Church. (10) Greater efforts should be made to produce and distribute Christian literature of a high character.
the Sat Tal Ashram*
Those who were fortunate enough to be a part sat at the foot of the cross. Communion in Sat of the fellowship will look back upon our experi- Tal is communion indeed. "Heaven comes down ence at the Sat Tal Ashram last summer with the the soul to meet and glory crowns the mercy seat." deepest gratitude. One new part of the landscape Every Sunday at least one person had a fresh was a cross on the opposite hillside from the victory to share, and we all rejoiced together. prayer nook. It was a rough hewn cross probably not unlike the first cross on another hill. This Every day just before the sunset meeting we cross, from the very first sunset meeting until the met to transact Kingdom business. There was last morning quiet time, branded our very souls. frank open sharing of spiritual needs and vic- The experiences revolved around the cross of tories. Noone was afraid to be perfectly honest which this one was but a symbol. as we tried to face ourselves. We got to really know each other as we met day by day and shared Sat Tal has a reputation for being a place where the deepest experiences of life. We shared our lives are changed. Each had various needs, but experiences in keeping quiet times, guidance, all wanted that "victorious vitality" that would sharing, surrender and life changing. The dismake us a part of the "cure instead of a part of cipline and fellowship helped to make us eager to the disease" of this sin-sick world. We not only get into the lives of others. needed to be changed but we wanted to get to the place where God could use us to change other The best that each had, we gave and from each other we took that which met our individual need. lives. The greatest contribution, however, came from Every day we were brought to face the needs God Himself. By the lakeside in numberless nooks, on special rocks, or by certain paths, we of our social order as Dr. Stanley Jones discussed met our Maker and He continued His new crea- "Christ and Communism." All through the cen- tion in our lives. turies man has been talking about the Kingdom of God as though it was meant for some future Intercession such as I never have experienced time and place. We have been in the habit of ton- was a part of our experience at Sat Tal. In this ing down Christ's teachings about the Kingdom we had an opportunity to feel a fractional part to fit the social order. During those periods of of the weight of some of the crosses that Christ discussions we realized, as never before, the sins is bearing all the time. We learned the power of of society the world around and that the only prayer. order that will stand the test is the Kingdom of God. It is impossible for one to set up the King- I am unable to describe the inner life of the Ashdom of God in his heart and fit into the present ram which I had the privilege to share for eightsocial order. If the Kingdom is within us the een days. The fellowship of work, whether it be social order around about must change. We be- cleaning the drawing room or cleaning lamps, was lieve the answer to the problems of the individual a rich experience. It helped to make the Ashram and the world is Christ, and with a real determi- a home, and knit us all together into a brothernation we returned to our stations to bring about hood. changes. "The plant that my Father hath not planted it shall be rooted up." We are awake to Thursday was the day of silence. On this day our responsibility in the rooting up process. The we did not have our work period. The value of cross Christ is carrying, because of poverty, in- this day lay in the silent fellowship that we had justice, and sin in the present social order, is so with God and with each other. One of our memgreat that we could not begin to comprehend its bers expressed it something like this, "We enjoyed weight. each other's fellowship without trying to get our ideas over to one another."
After all, the social reconstruction depends up- It was a great vacation. I felt, as I checked up on the individual and the "victorious vitality" will my life before and after, that before I went to the put dynamic in the social reconstruction. Christ's Ashram I had been standing beside an inlet of redemptive power was felt mightily as we sat the ocean and calling it the ocean. As I stood facing the cross and we realized that there was beside it, I seemed tall and important. After the grace and power enough not only to transform us experience at the Ashram I find myself standing but also to transform the world. beside the real ocean and am overwhelmed with its greatness and in comparison I have come to Communion and sharing bound us all together my proper stature. Christ has me, all of me and in a real fellowship. Barriers came down as we -. Condensed from an article by P. E. P. in The Indian Witness. the cross has been branded on my soul.
[203 ]
~'===="""""""'=–==~~~==~=-=='~
I Effective Ways of Working , i 'Tested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home l EDITED BY MRS. ESTELLA S. AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO ~'=I=============I~ The Kingdom of God education in 1931; Christian Leadership relating to the Movement economics in 1932. Both these modern apostles were deeply movement came through the fol- By ELIZABETH M. TURNBULL* lowing channels: The Mission- We were led most naturally to aware of the need of a new in- a'!y Monthly, the official maga- terpretation of the message of take as ours the ideas inherent ZIne of the society, in articles by Jesus Christ for the whole in the Kingdom of God Move- leading women in all the prov- world. More than once in the ment. The more immediate years following they spoke to inces and members of the Board' ~udiences in Canada and deeply years after the union of The Impressed us all. circular letters, a Prayer and Purpose card and little leaflets United Church of Canada of issued by the board for distribu- 1925 were necessarily concerned The Anniversary of Pentecost tion. Some of these last had to with organization but at the followed, with its summons to a deeper and fuller life. In April, do with our relationship in the third General Council in 1928 society itself; others had to do the Moderator of The United 1930, the Executive of the Wom- with aspects in the objective of Church, Dr. W. T. Gunn, called an's Missionary Society, stirred the movement such as: "The by the call of the Oriental lead- !he whole membership to a spir- ers, sent an open letter to the ~i~~dom. in Every Day Life," membership asking for more LIvmg In and for the King- Itual advance. His words cre- prayer and a thoughtful, rever- ent seeking in the Bible for ated a profound impression: Christ's way of life. It seemed dom." A lKatienrgdboomo,k"le~t "The !o us that God was making way Way of the series "We cannot organize a rweveivcaal~ In every land for a new revelabut by the grace of God tion of Himself. In his book of of fine Bible studies tracing the begin one." , that year, "The Christ of Every Road," Dr. Stanley Jones said: growth of the idea of the King- In the following year this ap- "The world ground is being pre- dom of God through Old Testapeal was strengthened by the ment times to the present and challenge of two remarkable challenging us to face that idea men-Dr. C. Y. Cheng of China in all its implications, was wide- and Kagawa of Japan. In the ly used in monthly executive and summer of 1929, Dr. Cheng, commi!tee meet}ngs, in group ~atherIngs and In private devo- Preside~t and later Secretary of pared for a spiritual awakening tIOns.
the National Christian Council on a wide-spread scale. We are on the verge of something big." of China and first Moderator of We were greatly enriched by We felt that we were part of the Church of Christ in China this great movement and we cooperation with our church's visited North America. He had Board of Evangelism and Social Service in the publication of a recently inaugurated the Five realized as never before that al- Year Movement in China with though the Kingdom of God was, lWittolreshbiopokinlettheenHtiotlme~d,""Aanidds to we its .searching prayer: "0 Lord, first, a personal experience of reVIve thy ACht uarbcoh~t beginning God as Father and a consecra- took advantage of the fine leafwith me!" the same tion of oneself to His purposes- lets released by this board on time Kagawa of Japan had be- we would miss the richness of the Kingdom of God Movement. gun his crusade, "A Million Marked interest was shown in that experience if we did not al- Souls for Christ," a "Schedule the reports presented to the Gen- so find the same marvellous felof social organization to estab- eral Council in 1932 on Chris- lowship in groups that marked lish the Kingdom of God on tian Marriage, on Evangelism the friendship of Jesus with His earth"-evangelization in 1930,' and on the Church and Industry. disciples and the united member- . • Mrs. Turnbull is the editor of The Mis- ship in the early church. SO' a Another manner in which 8wnarll Monthly in the United Church of Canada and Jives in Toronto. If a movement number of ignroauupxsilioafrywommeeetn~ guid.ance came was by the sugsuch as she herein describes might become sometimes gestion of certain devotional general a~ong. Christian people, the consequent spir,t';1al.,zatlon of the Church would ings, often in little groups in study books bMy eathneingexoefcuSteirvve~ solve the mIssIOnary problem in all Its as- such as "The pects-money, personnel, revamping of meth- homes, began to study the social ods and motivation. Nothing but a spiritual dynamic will ever bring it into its dominant implications of Christ's teaching ice" by Fosdick; "The New place in the Kingdom of God. regarding the Kingdom of God. Challenge of Faith" by Sher- [204 ]
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
wood Eddy; "Christ of the greater unity and power in the so-called Christian lands?" He Mount" by E. Stanley Jones. religious life of the organization. was impelled to answer that Young people were urgedto read Auxiliary women cooperated question. To that end he re- Stanley High's stimulating book, with the pastor in visiting those dedicated himself and we are "Today's Youth and Tomorrow's no longer associated with any glad to be coworkers with him in World." In 1933, "Personal Re- church. It was agreed that the that work. It has given our misligion and the Life of Fellow- most effective way in which the sionary program a scope and di- ship" by William Temple, Arch- Woman's Missionary Society rection we have never known bebishop of York, and the year could contribute to the Church's fore. We feel as Stanley Jones following "Jesus and Ourselves" work of Evangelism, was by says: "This age 'is on the verge by Leslie Weatherhead, brought "concentrating on cooperation of a discovery of the meaning of to us a deeper understanding of with the local minister in studied the Kingdom of God." God's will for us in relation to outreach for those not yet com- the needs of the hour. mitted to the Christian life." A HOMEMADE DOLL FESTIVAL In 1933 a Call to Prayer was We led our young women in issued by the Board and pub- discussion material regarding MRS. HELEN T. LEACH* lished iIi the Easter Missionary wide issues such as interracial Monthly. It closed with these and industrial problems, peace Our Sunday school juniors significant words: "0 God, my or war, economic questions, etc., and saw to it that their worship celebrated the Doll Festival last Father, I pray: That I may was linked with these. We in- spring as the culmination of a vited conferences where older happy season's study of Japan. make the doing of Thy will the and younger met together. We There are so many delightful realized that many of the young things one can do about Japan! supreme guide in all my rela- people of today were much more Of course there are pictures- socially minded and w 0 r I d- many and beautiful. Then there tionships, believing that Thou minded than the older women are scrolls to be made from and we welcomed their fresh ap- strips of unbleached muslin with hast called me into membership proach. We called them as we copies of Japanese scenes cray- called ourselves to take action oned on an oblong in the center. in Thy Kingdom that I may be as citizens when public issues On cheap trays one can form come before them relating to the landscapes fro m newspaper used of Thee to extend Thy rule happiness and well being of men squeezed out of water, dipped and women and particularly into a thin cement mixture and of truth and love in every area little children. then shaped into mountains, streams, bridges, gardens-the of human life. In my home, in But perhaps the greatest thing whole coated, when dried, with we have gained in this devotional bright lacquer paint, leaving the my church, in my community, in study has been the growing con- rim of the tray in black. (Yes, sciousness of the paramount it is messy, but pretty when finmo yL onradt i,oTn ,h yT hwyillKbine gddoonme. come, importance of the missionary ished.) Then the Japanese Thy task today. The new challenge houses from corrugated paper will, 0 Lord, victorious be, in of Dr. Stanley Jones, himself boxes, with thin paper windows one of the best-known mission- and doors, are easy to make. every land–alllands-in me." aries of the Christian Church, What has been the result of this intensive campaign? It is not easy to tabulate results in spiritual development and yet if no growth is evident the experi- ment has surely failed. Some very de fin i t e things have emerged in the past few years.
One is a reality in worship for many who had long been accus- tomed to stereotyped and formal prayers. And this experience in "Christ's Alternative to Com- Most of all, however, we enhinged upon the second thing: munism," has answered a ques- joyed our Doll Festival. Not beour study made us come to grips tion which perhaps has been in ing Japanese with a collection of with social problems confronting the minds of many during the dolls dating back to babyhood, our Church, community and na- last few years: "Why should we had much preparation to tional life, and that struggle missionary women con c ern make. First the doll shelves found expression in our prayer themselves with economic, social had to be built-a flight of five life. Many of us have become and political problems ?" He steps constructed from orange conscious of the tremendous wrote the book under an urge too crates by a good-natured boy need of a transformed society great to resist after a visit to scout. These were covered with . and of our responsibility for its Communistic Russia. "Shall we red crepe paper in lieu of red achievement. So, in addition to give ourselves to the inner life," silk and a rich blue canopy was study, we saw to it that our wor- he asked himself, "and let the arranged over the top step, while ship services for old and young, question of the new world order a gold screen stood behind this published from month to month alone?" He found it impossible step marking the honorable locain The Missionary Monthly, to do that. As a missionary, he tion of the emperor and empress were grouped around themes for had been asked, "Can Christ dolls. We dressed them in real a social awakening as well as save society as well as individ- oriental tapestry robes. On the personal consecration. As it uals? Has He a program-if so, • Mrs. Leach is a missionary from China, now resident In GranvUIe. Ohio. grew, the movement gave a why is it not more effective in
second step, just below the royal We made our room gay with featuring four fields, one brief pair, stood three ladies-in-wait- Japanese lanterns. The Doll episode from each of which was ing in red skirts and white Shelves had the place of. honor, introduced and a suitable hymn kimonos with a dignified guard and above and back of these the used to cover changes of stage on either side armed with bows, window space contained a big setting. Placards placed succesarrows and spears. A tiny water color scene of Japanese sively upon an easel announced orange tree (made of twigs and children at play under cherry the fields. The Spirit of Miscrepe paper) stood at one end of trees. On tables at one side and sions bowed her head at the close this step and a cherry tree on in the wall space we snuggled of each scene while someone in the other. The ·nextstep below our handwork of the year, for the audience rose and offered a held the five musicians dressed admiration of one year's work brief prayer for the field just in purple who with drum, cym- does spur us on to another year's considered. As a last feature, bals, flutes and violin enter- plans. To this doll tea party this Spirit made an earnest aptained the royalty. Next below our mothers and a few friends peal to the audience for the spe- were invited, but the real guests cific objective of the whole. came the ancient man and wom- were the 25 dolls who came with an dolls, bringers of good luck- them and were duly registered A Modern Grab Bag. Rev. he with a hoe to clean unkind in a little book with a big doll H. D. Davies, regional secretary gossip out of the town and she painted on the cover. of the Commission on Missions with a broom to sweep in the of the Congregational and Chrisgood. The lowest step had a tiny The dolls had reserved seats tian Churches, has sent copies of lacquered table set with rice at tables on either side of the The Pilgrim Herald, the official bowls and chopsticks (tooth- shelves. There were dolls from pUblication of the Congrega-' picks) . Purple cushions were India, China, France, the Philip- tional Conference of South Dalaid for the guests to sit on and pines, an American Indian, two kota, in which he edits a departgenuine little Japanese teacups dolls 80 years old and many ment called "A Grab Bag of and a teapot sat on the ends of others. B est of all were Standard Missionary Methods," the step. "Spring" and "Peace" from the the tiny prizes being tabloids of doll family of a resident Jap- workable plans. In two issues "Where did you get your little anese, Mrs. Chosaburo Kato, alone your Editor counted 19 Japanese dolls?" several people who in her dainty kimono added excerpts from THE REvIEW, duly asked me, and I had to admit the finishing touch to our party. accredited, and it was a satisthey came from the ten-cent How pleased we were, when we faction to realize that contribustore and that I had given them passed tea and cookies to her, to tors to this Department were the oriental touch by blacking see her eyes shine as she asked if thus broadcasting energizers for their hair with lacquer paint. we would mind if she took home the King's Business. And now, (Be sure to lay them face down some of the flower-shaped, pink- in this issue and the next, we to dry or an unexpected black frosted cookies and the little propose to dip into Mr. Davies' pig tail may ooze down the back favor (a pot of flowers made grab bag for our innings of exor the face may become African from a marshmallow, tiny gum change trinkets, as follows: in streaks.) Can you imagine drops, wire and crepe paper) the good time we had learning for Mr. Kato to see; "for," she Collect old Christmas greetings to the delightful doll customs of said, "that is just what little send abroad. About 25 pounds of Japan and planning for our fes- girls in Japan do at their doll these were sent from the Midwest tival, which you probably know parties." Regional office in JUly to Africa, comes on the third day of the China, India, etc. third month in Japan? Methods Seedlings Use the supper table worship period Dramatizing a mission study to tell something of interest, such as book, which has prime values in a missionary story. previewing, reviewing, s u m- marizing or popularizing its Talk casually of missionaries and subject matter, is not difficult. missions in a favorable way, so that A good example is that of the they will be taken for granted as sub- pageant founded upon the book, jects as normal as play, movies, "Between Two Centuries," men- school, church, etc. tioned last month in the review of the Santa Ana Baptist wom- Have a missionary in the home if en's year book. Its author, Mrs. possible. Impressions will be lasting. Ethel M. Harp, used the Spirit of Missions and the Spirit of Encourage the re'ading of books of Commerce, standing on opposite travel, etc., that depict needs, condi- sides of the platform, to supply tions and actual doings of teachers, background material and con- doctors, nurses and preachers in for- nective tissue for the narrative eign countries.
Have a 24-hour-a-day plan to raise money that keeps missionary work go- ing when we are at home asleep.
Sel!' Dr. J. L. Lobinger's pamphlet, "What Shall We Do about Missions -Plans and Methods for Young PeQ- pIe."
~==============~~=====-~~1~1
BULLETIN OF The Council of Women for Home Missions ANNE SEESHOLTZ, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 105 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK ~~~f~========================~ Discipline and Sacrifice referred to page 110 of the old stead and asking forgiveness of book. There is found under the the mother. Weare told that the A MEDITATION heading of "discipline," counsel child burst into tears, asked her to the teacher to visit the par- mother's forgiveness, "and from 1. To sit at the feet of a Mas- ents "for the particular purpose that hour conducted herself as ter-Teacher makes one a disci- of representing to them the con- an obedient and gentle child." ple, and to practice the way of duct of the child." . . . Graphdaily living taught and practiced ically the story is told of Mr. Gentle Reader, do not say by the Master Himself is disci- "stuff and nonsense." Please pline. Raikes whose custom it was "to forget the method for the mo- visit in person, the families of ment and see the teacher win- Paul in writing to the Chris- the poor, and to persuade the ning the child to better conduct! tian church at Philippi urged: parents to feel interested in the "Have this mind in you which well being of their children." On III. Kagawa, the Christian was also in Christ Jesus : who one such occasion, he visited "a gentleman, Christian economist, existing in the form of God, poor but respectable woman" and Christian missionary is at counted not the being on an who "lived in a very decent present traveling in our country equality with God a thing to be house, but her life was made un- with a message about the whole grasped, but emptied himself, happy by the behaviour of her of life and the Kingdom of God taking the form of a servant,. be- little girl, who had a very bad to include us all. His outlook ing made in the likeness of men; temper." At the time of the vis- and service are of universal valand being found in fashion as a it, the little girl happened to be ue. For Lenten reading espeman, he humbled himself, be- in a sulky mood. (See the pic- cially in Holy Week, use of his coming obedient even unto ture.) Even when Mr. Raikes book "Meditations on the Cross" death, yea, the death of the talked seriously to the girl, she and his "Songs from the Slums" cross." continued SUlky. And now for are recommended. You may al- the point of this meditation. Mr. so wish to read what he is say- II. On the editor's bookshelf Raikes is seen in the illustration ing about Christian Cooperais a book belonging to one of her humbling himself in the child's tives. Only three quotations forefathers – or mothers. The from "Meditations on the Cross" title is, "The Teacher Taught. [207 ] follow. From the first chapter, An Humble Attempt to Make the -"We must make the world's Path of the Sunday School sorrows our own. That is Chris- Teacher Straight and Plain." tianity . . . Christianity for It was "written for the Ameri- me means to dedicate myself to can Sunday School Union, and serve others even urito death." Revised by the Committee of Publication." It was "entered And,- according to Act of Congress, in the year 1839." In the preface "The third significance of the the psychological approach is in- Cross is the conquest of death dicated by, "It has been said that . . . When Jesus was on his teachers are of all men the most second journey he said, 'I will indocil. (Page the Town Crier!) die in a short time,' showing We trust that such a remark is inapplicable to Sunday School that he had included death in the teachers, inasmuch as they are program of his life. He also said presumed to be examples to their he would come to life again . . . pupils in all things." When we feel as though we would like to live here forever, The frontispiece, here repro- death becomes a sorrow, but duced, is the only illustration, when we put it in our program and is given with this Lenten right from the start, it becomes meditation for benefit of others a joy. Death becomes part of as well as clergy. The reader is one's mission, one's allotted task."
Kagawa closes the chapter on wide variety of vocations. Cloth, $1; minister from the Dakotas, re- "The Cross and Daily Life" with paper, 60 cents. vealed some of the difficulties in the prayer-"O God of heaven the lives of the younger Indians and earth: We thank Thee that FOR ELEMENTARY GRADES and gave striking testimony as nineteen hundred years ago to the change which Christian- Thou didst reveal the perfect Courses based on the various study ity has brought into his own life. figure for mankind in the person books are in preparation. Titles and of a carpenter. Through his prices to be announced. For fuller in- Dan Poling, Jr., now in his courage, through his pity, his formation see later announcements or first pastorate in an eastern rulove of his fellowmen and his apply to the literature headquarters ral community, spoke of his work victory over suffering, sorrow, of your own denomination. with glowing enthusiasm. "I am selfishness and sin, and death, in the greatest rural parish in Thou didst manifest to us the Christian Youth in Action in the world," he announced; "not perfect man. Teach us that our Rural America from point of perfection but own pathways of life must lead from point of opportunity. We on into the Way of Christ who The fact that Christian young rural pastors have a real responhung upon a cross. Wavering, people are in action was estab- sibility and we must meet it." unwilling to make the choice, we lished again at the youth Rally "Faith in Jesus Christ," he said, hesitate. We humbly confess it. held in Washington, D. C., on "is the need of the rural church." Cause the spirit of Christ to January 16, 1936, in connection The meeting was presided over dwell in us, that we may kill with the Annual Meeting of the by Miss Mary Lesta Wakeman, selfishness, and be children of Home Missions Councils. There a student at American Univer- God who love our fellowmen. in the large auditorium of Cal- sity who in her introductory re- This we pray in the name of vary Baptist church young peo- marks spoke of the inspiration Christ. Amen." ple gathered from many of the she had received at the Student Washington churches, from the Volunteer Convention in Indian- Advance Announcement Y. M. C. A., the Y. W•.'C. A., apolis from which she had just from near-by colleges and rural returned. The new study and reading books for Missionary Education, communities. B. Y. P. D., Ep- A delightful feature of the 1936-1937 are on Africa and The program was the processional Negro in America. worth League, Pilgrim Fellow- Youth March participated in by ship, Christian Endeavor, and fifty Girl Reserves and younger For the home mission study others,-all were united .under members of the Washington texts, there will be the banner, "Christian· Youth Young Women's Christian Asso- Building a New World." .This ciation, under the leadership of FOR ADULTS interdenominational rally was a Miss Mary Burnett. The music part of the National Conference of the march was contributed by A Study Book. By Charles S. on the Rural Church, and the a young composer, Mrs. Elea- Johnson. The director of the Depart- program featured young people nore Weddell-Roberts and the ment of Social Science, Fisk Univer- who are today, or have recently words, which follow, were writsity, writes on the present status of been, in action in rural fields in ten for the occasion by Miss his own people in American life, America. Marie Whiffen of the New York trends in Negro-white relationships, City Young Women's Christian and the task of the churches in inter- There were four youth speak- Association. racial affairs. Cloth $1; paper 60 ers and their vivid personalities cents. and live messages threw an YOUTH MARCH added note of hope and encour- Brown America: The Story of a agement into the conference. Youth! Bearing the torch of truth, New Race. By Edwin R. Embree. Mr. Warner Clark, who served Steps with firm and determined tread. Collateral reading on Negro life and last summer in a coal-mining history for study groups. Originally field under the Friends' Service Filled with united need, published at $2.50. Special edition, League spoke of his experience Willed both by word and deed. cloth binding only $1.25. as a rare opportunity to "put Daring the years which unfold ahead. your thinking into practice,"- FOR YOUNG PEOPLE to see life in all its reality and to Youth-Youth learn to "live more abundantly." Questing for truth-truth The Story of the American Negro. Testing the tools which have been By Ina Corinne Brown. A brief, pop- Mrs. Caryl Adams, until reularly written history, based on the cently engaged in caring for tried before. soundest scholarship, and an illumi- children in some of New York Spurred by the desire for universal nating interpretation of Negro life State's Migrant Centers deand of interracial movements in con- scribed her little migrant friends claims temporary America. Miss Brown is as being "dirty perhaps on the Led on to higher aims, an author and leader in young peo- outside but clean on the inside." Stirred by the fire and flames, ple's work, Methodist Episcopal She pled for more awareness on Sped by the flames of the torch to Church, South. Cloth $1; paper 60 the part of Christians everycents. where to the needs of these explore m~ny thousands of migratory Truth- FOR INTERMEDIATES laborers. Youth! Bearing the torch of truth, A Reading Book. By Mary Jen- Vine Deloria, a young Indian Steps with firm and determined tread. ness. A collection of life sketches of outstanding Negroes, mostly young Weighing the world's release, people, who are making distinguished Praying that wars· may cease, contributions to American life in a Daring the peace which unfolds ahead.
-Sue Weddell.
i~'===========~====~
OUJ M!~r~~:;!~feCuS~;~?Ok .;1t EDITED BY MRS. HENRIETTA H. FERGUSON, XENIA, OHIO 1.
~'=====-======-========='~ INDIA-BURMA-SIAM the family from many evils and mis- tively displayed behind glass on fortunes -leprosy, itch, ophthalmia, the side of the car. There is Child Wives and Widows the death of young children and the seating accommodation for four invasion of the house and garden by passengers, in addition to the The following figures show the harmful snakes. The lack of children driver, and a sleeping berth is need for the Indian Women's is another of the misfortunes entailed available when necessary. It Movement to combat some of the by any failure to perform regular carries also a gramophone with handicaps of women and chil- worship in honor of the family snakes. vernacular records and a magic dren in India. lantern for showing slides on the There is a "serpent grove," where Life of Christ, and on the work There were 9,066 wives under the worshipper may repair. Shrines of the Bible Society. the age of one in 1921, but in are in the form of a hooded cobra, 1931 there were 44,082-almost carved from granite. Sacrifices and Two and a half months were a fivefold increase" while the spent in the Tamil country last elaborate ceremonies attend its in- year, during which time over stallation upon a low platform. ten thousand Scripture portions were sold. population had increased only The Mangs Ask for Teachers one-tenth. There were also re- -The Indian Witness. ported 759 widows under one Miss Lillian Picken writes to year old in 1921, and 1,515 in the American Board that a Temperance Advance group of Man g s (outcastes, 1931. The Temperance Committee of The 1931 Census Report gives string workers by trade) de- the South India United Church sired regular Christian instruc- passed the following resolutions the following figures: last September at Madras: tion in the Mang Wada for two Child Wives Per Cent hours every night. After show- 1. In each Council there should be a Temperance Committee to study in Up to one year old …….. °.8 ing their leader that they would all its bearings the question of Tem- One to two years old . . . . . . . be laying themselves open to perance and its relation to the spir- Two to three years old ….. 1. 2 itual life of our congregations and 2. our members. Three to four years old …. 4.2 persecution and trouble of all Four to five years old …… 6.6 2. That wherever possible a survey Five to ten years old. . . . . . . 19.3 kinds, and explaining to him be made of the location of liquor shops Ten to fifteen years old …. 38. 1 that any desiring baptism must within the area covered by such con- submit themselves to Christian gregation, and that efforts be made Child Widows Actual Number instruction and Christian dis- through local channels to have such cipline for at least one year, shops closed. Up to one year old. . . . . . . . . 1,515 after which if they proved One to two years old. . . . . . . 1,785 3. That in town congregations, pas- Two to three years old ….. 3,485 tors and Church Committees make ef- Three to four years old …. 9,076 worthy they could be baptized, forts to foster a public opinion among Four to five years old .. . . . . 15,019 its members with a view to discour- Five to ten years old …… 105,482 Miss Picken agreed to go to aging the use of liquor and bringing Ten to fifteen years old …. 185,339 them. the Gospel to bear on those, whether within the Church or beyond its The yearly average of moth- On the fifth night a party of bounds, who are in danger of coming ers' deaths in childbirth is 200,- under the power of the drink habit. 000, or 24.5 per 1,000. In some Brahmin gentlemen came to proparts of India the average infant test in courteous fashion. On 4. That those having votes in elecmortality is 400 per 1,000. tion of members to the Legislative being told that one must teach Councilor Assembly should satisfy -Dnyanodaya. when asked to do so, they themselves that those for whom they aroused the whole city. Persecu- vote will use their influence and posi- tion began in earnest; Mangs tion for the furtherance of temper- ance. The "Family Snake" were threatened with loss of livelihood. Extravagant offers -International Christian Press. It is strange but true that mil- were made to Mangs who would lions of people in India worship abandon the meetings. But the Negro Delegation Heard group stands firm, and asks for snakes -live snakes of every continued teaching. Mention has been made of the variety. Not only are there Negro delegation visiting India snake groves in every little vil- Bible Caravan Experiment lage, but in some homes the fam- ily snake roves about the hearth The British and Foreign Bible unmolested. India's Millions Society is carrying on an experi- gives some authenticated facts: ment with a motor caravan for Here snakes are encouraged to carrying the Scriptures. It is so dwell, in order to ensure freedom for built that they can be attrac- [209 ]
under the auspices of the Stu- The Valley is 792 miles north of the whole Bible, in four octavo dent Christian Movement. This Rangoon, and six days' march volumes, was in the language of group has now visited all the im- from the nearest post office. the people.-AZliance Weekly. portant student centers in South The inhabitants are Jinghpaws India. Everywhere they have or Kachins and their religion is Pen Picture of Sritamarat Animism. A primitive race, been received with great cor- they appear to have neither The Presbyterian Board gives diality, not only by Christian medicines nor cures for diseases, a pen picture of Sritamarat, groups, but by the general pub- but rely entirely on sacrifices of Siam, as seen today. The city lic. Their story of 14,000,000 fowls, pigs, dogs and buffaloes has a surface sewer system of Negroes who were treated as ditches and one wide street, also slaves till some 75 years ago, ac- to the spirits for a cure. Med- a few side streets. There are no quiring for themselves an ac- ical aid is found to be a tre- street cars, gas or telephones. cepted position in the national mendous help in presenting the Electric lights have recently life of America challenged atten- been introduced, and now the tion, and set people to thinking Gospel. streets are lighted by electricity. seriously about the 50,000,000 The provincial government ofso-called depressed classes. One of the great problems of fices are in Sritamarat. Without the Valley is opium, for there the city walls there is a section Traveling Mission Dispensary are no restrictions, as in other occupied by the Malays and here parts of Burma, to poppy culti- they have their market. Fur- A nurse of the American vation nor to the consumption ther on is the business section, Board Hospital at Ahmednagar, of the drug. Most of the men including dry-goods stores owned now closed, has started a new take it, often commencing the enterprise, self-supporting from habit at the age of 15. About by Indian merchants, provision the beginning: a district travel- 200 addicts have been cured of and native drug stores belonging ing dispensary. In a summer the habit, but they are warned to the Chinese and little open trip of ten weeks, treatments of the danger of taking it again market stores kept by the were given to more than 730 pa- when they fall sick, and taught Siamese. tients. Experiences of the that only the power of God can nurses have not lacked in va- help them to resist the tempta- One of the problems of evanriety. A cloud of dust; a long tion. Some years ago a slave gelism is how to reach the Chitrail of humans coming, nearer escaped from the Valley and on nese who come to this section of and nearer they advance. Wom- conversion gave up opium and Siam to engage in business. As en with drawn, painful faces, drink by faith alone. Today, he they have their own dialects, it is carrying babies on their hips. is a living witness to the power difficult to find a man who knows Babies with marks of inherited of God. There is now a young several dialects and is thus able disease, big ulcerating sores, Jinghpaw Christian native of the to teach them. They are always eyes dulled by opium. Old men, Valley doing the work of an on the move; going where their bent from toil; furrowed faces evangelist, and also learning the business interests are. This fact tell the story of a lifelong fight use of simple drugs. He goes to seriously affects the c h u r c h for the scanty daily bread. Then the villages with a supply of membership. The church has a procession of young people, medicines and dressings, preach- tried to keep hold of them by each walking with a bamboo ing the Gospel and healing the giving each a letter of dismissal sick. to another church, when they stick. What is the matter? Oh, Burmese Bible Centenary leave this field. The work it is the curse of the dirty water, among the Siamese progresses the guinea worms, forming ter- Here is another centenary. slowly. Buddhism, like Mohamrible abscesses all over their legs. The issue of the Bible in the medanism, offers its difficulties Burmese language, the transla- "We noticed that you washed tor being the great missionary, to the Christian worker, yet a a lot, and used very clean things, Adoniram Judson, was on De- Buddhist makes a good Christian and you had God's medicine to cember 29, 1835. The first book when once converted. More inject into the body," said one translated, the Gospel of Matold woman. thew, was printed by George helpers are needed to go out into Hough, on a little hand press the surrounding districts where —AfissiotUlry llerald. that he had brought to Burma. the field is large and waiting for the message of Christianity. Pioneer Work in Burma The release of slaves in the No more printing was done until CHINA Hukwang Valley by the Govern- Cephas Bennett arrived in 183Q. The "League of Ten" ment of Burma in 1925-1928 Then Luke and Ephesians came drew attention to the spiritual out, and finally, on December 19, General Chang Chih Chiang, needs of this unadministered 1932, the whole New Testament the head of the Bureau of Phys- territory, and as a result of was off the press. The Old Tes- ical Culture of the Chinese Gov- prayer for five years, sanction tament was printed in detached ernment in Nanking, was con- was received in 1930 for a Med- parts, until the great day came, verted as the result of his ob- ical Mission to be established. just a hundred years ago, when servation of the changed conduct
OUR WORLD-WIDE OU'l'LOOK
of Christian Chinese comrades. than Christianity in China. She its last meeting noted that there He has maintained ever since a writes in The Life of Faith: had been a definite increase in very earnest and consistent the quality and amount of direct Christian testimony. He has Nanning is becoming a very up-to- evangelism during the past year. acted as the Chairman of the date city. Beautiful buildings are be- Attention was called to the Commission for the Suppression ing erected everywhere; wide motor dearth of new missionaries, and of Opium; has been an active roads are constructed in place of nar- the net loss of twenty-five misevangelist, and has purchased row cobbled streets, and motor cars sionaries from the mission staff and distributed thousands of are taking the place of sedan chairs, during the year. There are at copies of the Bible among his but in spite of all the outward signs present 380 workers, scattered Christian and non-Christian of improvement, the hearts of the peo- in many provinces. friends. ple are still dark with sin, and they seem more indifferent to the Gospel, The Project Plan, which seeks He is the founder and active harder to win for the Lord Jesus. to take away subsidies from the leader of an evangelistic move- Many of the deserted temples have local congregations and use the ment known as "League of Ten." been cleaned up, and new, gaily- funds in projects, is already Groups limited to ten members painted idols placed in them. functioning in four-fifths of the pledge themselves to daily Bible stations. The spiritual results study and prayer, to the reading At a woman's temple one sees a are already definite and wideof some classic literature in ad- constant stream of worshipers; at the spread. The churches have been dition to daily physical exercises. entrance they purchase quantities of stimulated. There has been a Each one promises to bear per- paper money which are immediately great increase in Bible study, sonal religious testimony to burnt in a charcoal fire. The smell of volunteer work, revival services somebody every week, and to incense fills the air, and the monoto- and efforts to reach the unevanseek to win at least one person to nous chanting of the women priests gelized as never before. Christ every year. As new makes one feel conscious of the members are won, new groups powers of darkness. -The Presbyterian Tribune. of ten are formed. Museum and Evangelism Finnish Missionaries -London Missionary Herald. Rev. D. C. Graham, Baptist The missionaries had been missionary in Chengtu, West driven from the field by bandit From Dark Occultism China, is in charge of the new Reds. For a while there was not University Museum. It contains even any knowledge of their The China Inland Mission re- more than 15,000 objects at the whereabouts. cords the conversion of an old present time. One of Mr. Gra- Chinese lady who had been a ham's objectives is to make the In the October number of the popular spirit medium. Her museum a means of evangelism, Missionstidning for Finland it home was full of paraphern,alia and moral and educational up- was stated that the missionaries used in demon worship. She lift. had contacted with Tsingshih heard the Gospel and very soon and the Home Board sent a after dreamed that she heard a "While traveling among the cablegram to this place. This voice saying, "If you have any- Chuan Miao," he says, "collect- supposition has proved to be cor'- thing to do with this Jesus I can- ing curios and studying their reet and a letter was received by not use you. He is true. Go to customs I have preached to the Board which describes the Him." The outcome was that them. I started the first evan- conditions in the field. This letshe turned to God, in spite of gelistic work and helped in the ter has now been published in bitter opposition on the part of opening of the first school among the November number of the her husband and relatives. them. Our mission was unable Missionstidning and also in the Eventually she was the means of to continue the work there and Suomen Ldhetyssanomia. ' leading her husband, her three I have helped connect it up with sons and her daughter-in-law to the United Methodist Church Missionary Koskinen, who the Lord. In the meantime, all working in that area. Today succeeded in assembling the mistraces of idol and demon wor- the believers number one thou- sionaries who had been in the ship had been swept clean from sand; there are 13 junior pri- field at Tsingshih, had gone with her home and burned. The mary schools and one senior pri- Pastor Meedar as far as Tayung. woman, her sons and her daugh- mary school. The first Chuan While the Reds have not been ter-in-law were all baptized, and Miao student has entered the cleared from the whole field, the now services are held every Sun- West China Union University government troops had the day in her home. here at Chengtu and is prepar- upper hand. The government ing for evangelistic work among plans to construct a new road for Deserted Temples Reopened his own people. The museum automobiles run n i n g from has been the entering wedge." Changteh to Tzeli and it is soon Miss Lilian Barrett, of the to be open to traffic. Bible Churchmen's Missionary -Watchman-Examiner. Society, thinks that Western Missionary Finck, of Tsingcivilization has more influence China Council Sees Progress shih, reports that in his locality mission work is again in full The China Council of the Pres- swing and the missionaries are byterian Church is the clearing house for all the work of that great church in China, with its seven missions. The Council at
thanking God for having again sion and thought, covering the tional Economic Council office. . . . opened the doors. best in many nations and in Seventeen couples were married at many ages. Cambodian Uses His this joint ceremony. The invitations Opportunity Fifty hymns are Chinese were for ten o'clock. We arrived at originals, both in words and in ten-thirty and the ceremony was ac- A ChrisUan Cambodian is music. Contests for the fifty tually begun at high noon and lasted pilot of a ferry on the great hymns and tunes were organ- one hour, during which time the Mekong River, French Indo- ized, with the result that 200 couples, their friends and relatives, China. He sits on his boat with hymns and 500 tunes were sub- and hundreds outside, stood paa small box close to his seat. mitted, thus demonstrating a tiently. . . . Everyone that crosses on his tremendous interest in the Chiferry is sure to have some por- nese Church in such a task. As we left the place we looked in tion of the Word when he leaves. Selections from the book are be- at the married couples and their rela- While the Cambodian portions ing sung in America. tives who were seated at square tables are forbidden in all of Cambodia, waiting for the feast provided for here is one place where a Chris- -Advance. them as part of the ceremony paid for tian does as he pleases. He gives by the two-dollar fee. They are under away portions every day in four To Improve Christian obligation not to have any private languages, and so far no one has Literature feasts at home to run up additional stopped him. Recently he gave expenses. out portions in French to four Fifteen Christian literature men that crossed with him. He agencies working in China were We were told by one of the leaders tried to tell of Christ, but does represented at a conference on in this rural reconstruction work that not speak French; they accepted Christian Literature held in the main object of these mass wedwith smiles and thanks. About Shanghai, November 12 – 13, dings is not to save expense, but to 50 miles from the ferry their under the auspices of the Na- break an established custom that is car skidded at a curve and all tional Christian Council. This crippling the people. If one can be were killed. He felt he had conference was unique in that it broken, others may be also. given them the last warning, brought practically all China's and perhaps the only one they literature agencies face to face "Brotherly Love" had ever had. God is using him for the first time. The first day mightily, and will have a harvest was spent in reviewing litera- A cloudburst wiped out sevof souls some day from this ture as existing and needed. eral Chinese villages. Rev. Edgreat province. No preacher This furnished the basis for a ward H. Smith, of Ingtai, China, has been able to get residence united program in which each was doing relief work. Finally in this section. The relief pilot society might share according to he started home with a group of has been taken off and he is its particular purpose. The boys from 7 to 10 years of age, obliged to stay on duty 24 hours principal fruit of the conference who would walk the entire 50 a day, sleeping when he can. was a decision to share coopera- miles. In the road stood another These conditions have almost tively information about books ragged, barefoot chap. His eyes driven him from the place, but needed and in preparation. The were full of tears and he said he has decided to stay on for the Association of Theological Sem- over and over again: "You must sake of the testimony he is able inaries, organized last summer, take my little brother. Here he to give. is to be approached for aid in is only six years old. I can find securing funds from Nanking something to eat watching goats, New Hymnal Ready Theological Seminary for sub- but I can't take care of my little sidizing theological literature. brother. You must help my In 1928 the Episcopalians be- Another conference is to be little brother. N eve r mind gan to prepare a hymnal which called in the near future. about me." "A Huo, I can't take should be a more indigenous ex- any more and your little brother pression of divine worship for -The Christian Century. is too small to walk these fifty Chinese than anything published miles," rep lie d Mr. Smith. up to that time. Three other Weddings En Masse Clutching Mr. Smith's coat the groups were planning to produce boy sobbed, "Oh, sir, yes, he can hymnals for their own commu- Miss Helen Calder, retired -he can walk, and I can't care nions. Someone proposed that secretary of the A mer i can for him. You must take my little a union hymnal be published Board, is spending a year in brother. I will get along somewhich s~ould include all groups, China, and sends this incident of how." Mr. Smith adds, "Who and the Idea caught the imagina- human interest: could resist that appeal? I said tion of church leaders. As a re- 'A Huo, I'll take you both. Get sult, after much prayer and Yesterday we were invited to one your little brother and bring labor, a hymnal has been pro- of the mass weddings which are being him down to Ingtai. Any boy duced with a unique inclusive- pushed all over China, to reduce the who can forget himself for his ness and catholicity of expres- heavy expenses usually incurred at little brother has the right atti- private weddings. Families borrow tude to make a good man.' " money at 24 to 36 per cent interest to pay the bills, and get saddled for JAPAN-CHOSEN life with debts. This wedding was the second to be held in a country New Religious Bill place and was arranged by the Na- A bill soon to be urged upon the Diet proposes officially to recognize three religions, Shinto,
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Buddhism and Christianity; and miliar treatment of the imperial tionalistic movement that has to place all branches and sects of family and tradition as the cen- swept the country. these faiths under government ter of Yamato-Damashii was resupervision according to specific sented in certain circles. Salvation Army in Chosen rules. This would throttle vital Christianity of power to effect Following the recall and sup- So eager are Korean children life in Japan. Some see even pression of the entire edition, the for mod ern education that greater significance in the vir- staff of the Graphic, both Jap- groups of school boys are sometual admission that Shinto is a anese and American, were sub- times seen on a train at a quarreligion, not a philosophy or pa- jected to thorough questionings ter to four in the morning, on. triotic observance, and that a as to the history, nature and their way to the nearest governbow before a Shinto shrine is a purposes of the magazine. It 1'S ment school. They return home religious act. now hoped to resume pUblication at 8 in the evening, do their in the near future, but it is safe homework, sleep on the floor of New Picture Method to prophesy that both Japanese their one-room home with the and English editions will be less rest of the family, and catch the A time-honored entertainment liberal and aggressive in the fu- early train next morning. Such for children in Japan is known ture.-The Christian Century. is the report of a Salvation as the paper theater. It consists Army major, after twenty-five of a box into which pictures are Kagawa Wants Rural years' service in Korea. In his slipped, and it is quite a com- Churches pioneer days, the usual method mon sight to see a bunch of chil- of travel was by pony or on foot. dren around a man who tells Dr. Kagawa, who has little Often the maj or had to walk 30 them old history and fairy use for imposing architecture, or 40 miles to his services. His stories with the aid of this con- laments that while Japan's cities wife was the only white woman trivance. The children each pay have many churches for the within many miles. Crowds about a farthing. This method well-to-do, the humble Japanese came just to see her, and were of showing pictures and telling farmers and fishermen, number- converted through her singing. stories has been copied in Sun- ing some 30,000,000 in 9,600 vilday school work, and a young lages, have almost no churches. Today, there are increasing Japanese clergyman uses it with There are only 170 chapels for numbers of Korean Salvation great effect to attract children religious exercises which, Dr. Army officers, and in some cases when he pays visits to near-by Kagawa thinks, should be held the second generation of Chriscountry towns. The stories he at least twice each week, prob- tians are taking their place in tells are from both the Old and ably on Sunday and Wednesday the Training Home of the Army. New Testaments, and it is quite nights. Besides, the chapels customary for him to get an should offer meeting places for -The Christian. audience of a hundred children, classes and discussion groups. who listen and watch with rapt Such church buildings could be ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC attention.-C. M. S. Gleaner. erected at a cost not to exceed $280 each, or $280,000 for the Fiji After Fifty Years Christian Monthly Suspended thousand that the Japanese leader hopes to build. A corps Joni was the first Fijian con- The Christian Graphic for De- of 5,000 trained laymen, most of vert to Christianity, and the first cember was confiscated by the them farmers who can earn their local preacher. The Jubilee cele- Japanese police and temporarily living in their trade and preach bration in 1885 marked the discontinued publication. The for nothing, have been enlisted turning of the whole people of Graphic has been well known in to furnish the leadership. Fiji from darkness to light, ele- Japan and in other lands as a mentary though their Christian nondenominational pic tor i a I Dr. Kagawa says that 150,000 knowledge was. At the cenmonthly with English and J ap- new members have been added tenary celebration in 1935, furanese magazine sections, and de- to the Christian churches of ther change was expressed in voted largely to the cause of Japan in the last ten years. The one phrase, Fiji is reb 0 r n. Christian evangelism, social jus- people are eager for the realities Heaviness and dullness have tice and world brotherhood. On of religion. In the high schools given place to an appearance of several occasions since the con- of Tokyo, for instance, a reli- intelligence and attractiveness. flict in Manchuria and Shanghai, gious week is observed each Incongruous attire is no longer the sheet has been in police toils year, and a day is given over to seen. The change in the chilover questionable material ap- each of the nation's faiths, in- dren was very noticeable. Inpearing in Japanese, but this cluding Christianity. In some stead of the ringworm, ugly time the trouble has arisen over of the schools it has been shown sores, eye diseases, so common an English article by Willis La- that as high as 60 per cent of years ago, one saw clear skin mott, prominent Presbyterian the students are Christians. and bright eyes; instead of furmissionary, on "Japanese Pa- Everywhere the students are tive, frightened looks, happy, triotism." Too frank and fa- getting Christian ideas and smiling faces. ideals, despite the strong na- Another development has been in the musical field. Half a cen-
tury ago, a missionary stated in Mosher, of the Philippines, with widely characterized as "the best a magazine article that the the disappearance of a feeble- yet." Among outstanding acmusical ability of the Fijian was minded Bontoc. One of the tivities of the Mission have been older women dreamed that the the establishment of more ex- "about equal to that of a cow." inhabitants of the near-by vil- tensive Christian Leadership At the Centenary a group of lage of Tukukan had done away Training Schools and Bib I e with him, and in revenge, after classes in three of the four dia- Fijians sang the Hallelujah an abortive attack upon Tuku- lect fields; the change of status kan, the Bontocs murdered the of Silliman Institute to univer- Chorus without conductor or ac- governor's secretaiI'Y. The y sity standing; and revivals and companist, in a manner that won stoned his children, threatened evangelistic efforts which have the highest appreciation, and to burn hi:-:. house, and then been a blessing. speared him in the back. The 'will live in the memories of all Philippine constabulary s u c- Because of the very abundant ceeded in averting pitched bat- opportunities for Christian servwho heard it. tles between the two villages, ice for lay workers, training -The Missionary Review but the trouble is far from set- schools have been established, (Australia) . tled. -The Living Church. varying in length from five days to four weeks, but in all of them Revival in West Borneo Evangelism in Bohol leaders of congregations gather at some central point for a pe- Two students from Makassar Between the large northern riod of Bible study and spiritual island of Luzon and the Moro- inspiration. In addition, man,: Training School, working among famed island of Mindanao is the three-day Bible classes have smaller island of Bohol. It is of been held in individual congrethe Dyaks of West Borneo, tell interest to travelers because of gations by itinerating mission- its corn crop; its smooth, daz- aries. Much faithful service for of "human skulls taken from the zling – white coral sur f ace d the Master is being done by roads; and its many beehive- young women who have been long-houses and buried, drunk- shaped hills. It is of interest to trained as deaconesses and the missionary because of the kindergarten – teachers. Bible enness ceasing, men returning 420,000 people who dwell there. reading has been g rea t I y stressed; millions of pages of to their deserted wives, men and A missionary at work there Christian literature have been decided that the best way to published in the various dialects, women healed of sickness, and bring a revival to the group was and in English by mission and to lead their old believers of commercial presses. some even raised from death's twenty years standing into ac- t;ive work for Christ. He there- -The Philippine door. Some two thousand have fore led a party of them to dif- Presbyterian. ferent small islands in the neighshown genuine interest in the borhood. There they witnessed NORTH AMERICA concerning Christ's s av in g teaching of the Gospel, and of power and finally found a village Religion and Unemployment ripe to the harvest. As a result, these 508 have been baptized." when the missionary vis i ted Roger W. Babson, statistician, there at the close of the vacation maintains that the United States In Sumatra the Christian Al- season, he baptized 28 persons. has never worked clear of unem- ployment cycles until there had liance has effected entrance More Daily Vacation Bible been a great wave of religious Schools were conducted this year revival; and that it is not likely among the Kooboos, an aborig- than ever before. The 77 volun- that the present unemployment teer teachers taught 46 schools problem will be solved without a inal race of low order. They during the vacation season, national spiritual awakening. reaching 1,450 children with "During our country's history have little clothing, live in dirt Bible teaching. Thirty thousand there have been many panics, Scripture booklets and tracts, but in 300 years there have been and squalor, the children are 24,000 pages of mimeographed only six great movements in em- material, and 500 Gospels were ployment," he said. The first covered with nasty sores, and distributed. -The Philippine- movement away from unemploy- ment in 1680 was accompanied are often deformed. The homes Presbyterian. by a wave of revivals; the preaching of Jonathan Edwards are rickety shacks overrun with A ,Banner Year and Whitfield marked the second in 1730; the movement between cockroaches. Yet these folk are Last year, the thirty-sixth of 1800 and 1810 was coincident the Presbyterian Mission in the with the preaching of Finney responsive to the Gospel. Philippine Islands, has been Mr." Jaffray, of the Celebes, tells of two Chinese defaulters, in p r i son, who were bbth brought to the Saviour and be- came witnesses among' fellow prisoners. They have become fast friends, and on their dis- missal from prison agretld to go into business together. They are now visiting China and Japan, making plans for an ex- tensive business, and have laid down as a foundation principle that one-tenth of their profits shall go to the furtherance of the Gospel. Thus the seed is being sown. -So S. Times.
Head Hunting Breaks Out In spite of 35 years of American and church influence in the Philippine Islands, head-hunting has begun again. The trouble started, according to Bishop
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
and other evangelists; in 1850 The Methodist Episcopal interchange of plays and programs, came D. L. Moody and in 1898 and other cooperative means. Billy Sunday and the evan- Church, which commonly is regelists of his day." garded as the "Northern" group, 4. We shall expressly set our faces like flint against mob violence for any – Watchman-Examiner. numbers 4,259,000 communi- cause whatsoever, and shall use our cants; the Methodist Episcopal utmost influence upon public officials Religion On the Air Church South has a membership and opinions for complete eradication of 2,243,000, and the Methodist of mob violence. The Living Church says that there are more than forty reli- Protestant Church about 200,- 5. We have been taught, "God hath gious programs broadcast every 000. These churches in foreign made of the same blood all men for to week through national or sec- dwell together on all the face of the tional hookups, and sponsored countries have about 600,000 earth." We believe that. by established religious groups. members. These regular programs are -The Christian Advocate. under Protestant, Catholic and Under the proposed plan the Jewish auspices, and do not in- "Unofficial Ambassadors" clude the scores of broadcasts church-to be called the Methmade periodically by single odist Church – will be divided The year 1936 marks the comgroups, such as local church fed- pletion of twenty-five years of erations and individual clergy- into six conferences in the service of The Friendly Relamen. United States, five for whites tions Committee, whose secre- and one for Negroes. Each taryis Charles D. Hurrey. Dur- There are at present 14 na- jurisdiction will elect its own ing the quarter century approxitional broadcasts under Protes- Bishops. mately one million dollars have tant auspices every week, 13 of been expended in a varied prowhich are supervised by the De- Presbyterian Diamond Jubilee gram of activities among stupartment of Religious Radio of dents from a hundred countries. the Federal Council of Churches. The Southern Presbyterian There are 16 regular broadcasts Church is observing its Diamond At least ten Foundations have of Jewish interest, according to Jubilee in a forward movement appropriated generous sums for information issued by the Union in which daily Bible reading is fellowships for foreign students. of American Hebrew Congrega- given a prominent place. Other Governments abroad are facilitions. Roman Catholics have 10 aims put forward, says the tating the exchange of students regular programs while, accord- Christian Observer, are: and professors between their ing to the National Council of countries and ours. Catholic Men, there are an addi- 1. To foster a more vital sense of tional 26 programs. Many of the fellowship of Christ, and a more Seen through the years, forthe latter, however, may have ardent desire to do His will. eign students have been a transbeen discontinued recently. forming factor in American life. 2. To develop in individuals and in Their frank criticism has in- Plans for Methodist Union the churches a more fervent and con- fluenced the revision of some stant spirit of evangelism, that the textbooks in our schools; teach- In Cincinnati,. on December Church may not lag in her supreme ers have become more friendly 5th, a joint committee of fifteen, business of winning men to Christ at toward the alien's problems. representing fifty commissioners home and abroad. From the American viewpoint, who in turn represent the Meth- gains from this inter-relation odist Episcopal Church, the 3. To lead people into a better have been many. Methodist Protestant Church understanding and more faithful and the Methodist Episcopal practice of Christian stewardship of LATIN AMERICA Church South, approved a plan life and possessions. for the union of the three great Religion in Mexico Methodist churches in the The Jubilee Theme is "Christ United States. and His Church First." A recent book, entitled "Reli- gion in Mexico," by G. Baez This unification plan must be Race Relations Camargo and Kenneth G. Grubb, ratified by the churches them- says that the Roman Catholic selves in their general and an- Young Southern Christians, Church in Mexico has collapsed. nual conferences, before it be- meeting in Memphis, December Where in 1926 there were 4,493 comes effective, and that is likely 27-30, had this to say regarding priests in active service in Mexto take at least six years. It is race relations: ico, today only ·197 are allowed hoped that by 1944, 100 years to minister to the people. Mexafter the church in the South 1. We recognize we cannot right- ico will never again be an exseparated on the question of clusively Roman Catholic nation. slavery, the union will become a fully call ourselves Christians until fact, uniting in one body more The Social Revolution has than 7,000,000 communicants. we face honorably our responsibilities paved the way for broader evan- gelistic work; it has opened the as members of the social order in door to the Indians of the coun- tryside. One of the opportuni- which prejudice, discrimination and ties is to interpret our religion to a people that every day is be- injustice are the daily portion of a coming more awake socially.
vast number of those of other races who rightfully call America the land of their birth. .
2. We must adopt an attitude lead- ing to the treatment of every other person with complete courtesy and respect regardless of race, color or nationality.
3. To inform ourselves and seek to enlist others in efforts to better under- stand other races through actual ob- servation, reading, study, discussion,
Prof. Camargo is writing for "They say that people make ated the largest English school the leading daily paper of Mex- long pilgrimages to burn candles in Poland, with 700 pupils. ico; he is meeting the intellec- before this shrine, many kneeltuals on their own ground; he ing a block away from the Objections of the Polish auis loyal to the Gospel in showing church and approaching the thorities were based on alleged them that in it we have a force image on their knees. In speak- failure of the organization to to lead Mexico out of its maze. ing to one of these people about conform to the Government's ad- "We are thankful for the situa- the Lord one finds it very diffi- ministrative requirements; there tion," says he, "for it is forcing cult to get his mind away from were no objections to religious us to change much of the tech- his 'Senor de Chajul' and cen- activities. It is questioned nique of our work in the tered upon the true and living whether the Southern Methodchurches of Mexico. We are Lord Jesus." ists will obtain compensation for shifting from the program and their investments in Poland. form taken to Mexico by the Witnessing in Brazil missionaries to a program de- Ukraine Reformation veloped in answer to the needs When Mr. and Mrs. O. M. and opportunities of our own Thompson, of the E. U. S. A., Protestants in Europe and people. We are now stressing went to J anuria, Brazil, as pio- America are watching with symcamps for evangelical teaching, neer missionaries two years ago pathy what is known as the evangelism among soldiers and they found that the "whole north Reformation in Ukrainia. There sailors, a program of Christian of the State of Minas Geraes had are between thirty and forty literature, and training schools been unaccountably neglected by millions of Ukrainians, of whom and institutes 'on wheels' for Evangelical forces." Confront- seven millions are in Galicia, training Christian workers." ing them was a wall of Roman where an evangelical revival was Catholic intolerance, furthered begun by returned prisoners – Watchman-Examiner. by the priests. However, several after the Great War. Dr. Adolf families have been won, and Keller, Secretary of the Central Only One Remedy there is now a Gospel Hall in European Bur e a u of Inter- J anuria. The outstations are Church Aid, declares that scenes In the Aztec town Cuautla, in the most fruitful fields. The of the early Christian Church the State of Morelos, Mexico, the country folk seem to have are being repeated. The revival Indian village chief was talking greater desire for spiritual veri- was led by laymen, as ministers with Mr. W. C. Townsend, a mis- ties; there are fewer worldly and teachers after the War were sionary who was learning the diversions in small villages and almost entirely lacking. Con- Indian language. The headman on farms. One village now has verts gathered in farm buildings complained about the awful vice a regular Sunday school. The or dwelling houses, or in the. and ignorance of his town and police authorities of this place open air. Eventually, a Euro- Mr. Townsend suggested some telegraphed to the capital, ask- pean Committee was constituted reforms. ing what action must be taken to assist in the organization of to silence a Protestant preacher. the Reformation. Plans are "No, professor," replied the The reply was on the side of the under way for translating both chief, "those won't w 0 r k. preacher. In the Fabiao Valley Old and New Testaments into There's' only one thing that will. several young men, brought up Ukrainian; also for a translation It's the Bible and it must be in in an atmosphere of bigoted be- of the Augsburg Confessional our own language." lief in saint worship, now carry Catechism. in their pockets copies of the -Pioneer Mission News. New Testament. Ukrainian Protestants are rich in faith, and generous to An Image That Runs Away -Life of Faith. the point of extreme self-sacri- fice, but they are very poor in A writer in the Central Amer- EUROPE worldly goods.-Life of Faith. ican Bulletin tells of a Catholic barn-like temple in a town of Poland Closes Methodist News from Greece Guatemala, which houses "EI Mission Senor de Chajul" (The Lord of The Orthodox Church in Chajul). "We were told that The Warsaw Government has Greece is today using with profit this image at least twice had left appointed a receiver for liquida- methods which have been assoits place in the church, and had tion of the properties in Poland ciated with Protestant work, been found by the roadside a of the Methodist Episcopa-l such as tract distribution, Sunshort distance out of town. In Church South, which are valued day schools and Bible classes,. order to keep it from running at $500,000. This outpost of the Greece is also the best purchaser away again it was put in a glass Southern Methodist Church of of Scriptures among the Balkan case, .two wooden soldiers were the United States, established in countries; 66,658 copies were placed, one on either side, to Warsaw in 1921, had become an sold last year as against 38,264 guard it, each soldier in uniform, important center for religious in Bulgaria, which is a country a wooden rifle in hand, and a jug and educational work. It oper- of about equal population. The of whiskey at his feet to give Union of Greek Evangelical him strength for his long vigil.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Churches has now 11 organized jam jai (a bad thing happened looked healthy, clean and well churches of which seven are in the village). When the peo- cared for. A lantern lecture self-supporting. There are 20 ple came running from all direc- with slides showing the connecpreaching stations where com- tions to learn who was dead, the tion between dirt and disease, municant members reside, and missionary told them it was his hospital work in other places, 30 towns and villages where the car. With much maneuvering, etc., was given during the week, Gospel is being proclaimed. The the car was finally dragged to as were also demonstrations of small Evangelical mission to shallow water where the men improved cooking methods, and Moslems in Greek Thrace gives could wade in and lift it to dry cleanliness in the home. cause for encouragement. land. It was then too late to reach Efulan that day, but be- -C. M. S. Outlook. Is the Church Extinct fore daylight the next morning in Russia? the missionary left the car to Example of Faith dry out, while he continued on A bulletin of the World Do- foot. -Presbyterian Banner. A gift of $5,000 has been reminion Movement reports that ceived at Bafia, Africa, for the the Reformed Church in Russia A Teaching Experiment erection of a brick church, comis wiped out completely. The ing as a direct answer to prayer. 200 Lutheran pastors are re- Teachers in Africa as well as The people at Bafia are too poor duced to 18, Orthodox priests in the United States must face to give enough money to build a are continually being shot and the problem of making Bible church large enough to house the the bishops sent to prison. Lay- study a subject of real, living in- big congregations, but they did men are taking the place of the terest to schoolgirls. Miss D. N. pray for help from America to priests. There is real hunger Summerhayes tried an experi- enable them to put up a building for the Word of God, which ment along this line which is de- for the worship of God. When many are studying eagerly. Bi- scribed in the C. M. S. Outlook: it seemed that all chances for bles are entering through Si- such an undertaking were imberia and the neighboring coun- I started a small study group for possible, in direct answer to tries. A representative of the African teachers themselves. It their prayers the money came Federal Council of the Churches proved to be well worth whi:e. Bar- from an individual who is also of Christ in America has re- riers began to go, and I hope the Bible drawing the plans for the cently visited some of the few became more alive to them. Then we church. The lack of wonderchurches still open. The wor- worked the Old Testament syllabus ment or surprise on the part of shippers were mainly old people. for the year into a pageant, "The the natives when they heard that No young men were being Captivity of the Jew." Each leader the money had been given was trained for the ministry. The worked at one episode with a group quite impressive. Hadn't they Church is already thought of as -of girls; all the words were learned prayed for help? Naturally, a remnant of the past. by heart from the Bible, several they would receive it. psalms were sung, and as the pageant AFRICA gradually began to take shape and -Presbyterian Banner. Jive, it became a reality among us, and Transportation and Missions the final performances an uplifting Dondi Medical School experience for the school. We per- Even when a missionary is formed it to an audience of African A Training School for African fortunate enough to have an au- neighbors and friends, and then were Medical Workers was opened in tomobile of sorts, he cannot be asked to do it again for the Christian Dondi, West Africa, October 1, sure of reaching his destination. Council which was meeting in Onitsha. under the auspices of the Amer- On a trip from Yaounde to Eful- ican Board. It provides a threean a Presbyterian missionary "Baby Week" in Tanganyika year course for eligible young started out by automobile and men and women. Students must made rather good time so long A "Baby Week" held at be recommended by both misas the road lasted. But it came Mvumi proved a great success. sionaries and the churches of to an end, and there was a river Fathers as well as mothers and which they are members. Food to be crossed on a pontoon raft, babies were invited; special lec- and lodging will be furnished by which took water so fast that tures were provided for them, the Mission Hospital, the Sara half way across it listed and the and on the day devoted to com- Hurd Memorial Hospital. A car slid off into the water, disap- petitions one of the prizes was small tuition is necessary to pearing entirely. There were for the father who made the best cover some of the heavier exonly a few people in the village cot for his child. More than 200 penses. on the bank, but these cut bush women attended on the first day, rope and diving down managed in response to an invitation to Pilgrimage in Madagascar to tie it to the rear of the car all mothers whose babies had and raise that end; but the front been born in the mission hospi- Malagasy Christians observe stuck fast. So they beat the call tal. Nearly 500 babies were an annual pilgrimage to the drum to say that there was Mbia present during the week,' and Rasalama Church at Tanana- from these it was easy to pick rive, Madagascar. Last year out those whose mothers had saw a record crowd, some ar- profited by the teaching given at the welfare clinic,. for they
riving in bullock carts, many on emphasis on those things which ties are participating in this foot. The Rasalama Church draw all Christians together project: translated by Germans, and the union of the body of printed in England, financed by commemorates the Christian Christ. Americans, distributed by J apmartyrs of that great island. anese and used by Ponapasians. This year's pilgrimage brought -Presbyterian Tribune. An analysis of the American together 215 pastors as well as Useful Arabic Literature Bible Society's records shows that of the grand total of 972 theological students to the "pas- A missionary lately returned languages in which Scripture tors' week" held in connection from Iraq states that he has for publication has occurred the with the pilgrimage. seven years toured extensively complete Bible has now been in that country and has widely published in 175 languages; the A native Sunday school mis- used the Arabic edition of New Testament in 208 addisionary writes that in districts "Selected Portions from the tional languages; portions of far from Tananarive, many of Word of God." He states that the Bible, or one complete book, it is one of the best booklets in in 514 more, and selections from the inhabitants are still heathen Arabic which he could obtain the Bible; that is, less than a and worship idols. In Anativalo and that it was very often ac- complete book, in 75 more lan- cepted with gratitude by Mo- guages. there are a few Sunday schools, hammedans, Jews and nominal but the great difficulty is that Christians. He gives as reasons Centenary of Spirit of Missions many of the heathen parents re- for its popularity and usefulness the following points: 1. It gives The official missionary perifuse to allow their children to go concisely the Scriptures which odical of the Protestant Episto these Sunday schools, but show man's condition by the copal Church, published its first fall and the doctrine of redemp- issue 100 years ago. Consesend them into the fields on Sun- tion through the Lord Jesus quently that journal celebrated days to attend to the cattle. Christ. 2. It begins with the its centenary by printing its J an- story of the fall and other Old uary issue as a centennial num- Nevertheless, the number of Testament passages which are ber. The cover is a reproduc- Sunday school scholars is in- attractive to Moslems. After in- tion of that which appeared one creasing. In Bezanuozano hea- terest is aroused the reader is hundred years ago and the issue often willing to go on to the abounds with arresting, historithenism is steadily decreasing, Scriptures which show Jesus cal material. That the first ediand there are churches in many Christ to be the Son of God and tor appreciated the value of the Saviour. printed word was made plain in of the villages, most of which his introductory announcement have their own Sunday school. In Egypt the old controversial in the new journal: type of book has been replaced WESTERN ASIA by a newer type, which seeks to It is an instructive lesson of God's meet the difficulties of the Mos- providence that when the fulness of Week of Prayer in Syria lem without arousing antago,,: time had come for the redemption of nism. Recently a new form of His Church from papal bondage, a The World's Week of Prayer apologetic has been introduced new art was prepared, by whose in the form of a Christian novel, strange agency the truth, which was was observed in Syria in the written by Mr. J. E. Kinnear. to make men free, should be borne The story presents a contrast be- forth, as "on the wings of mighty Arabic and Armenian Evangeli- tween the ideals and practices of winds," to all the nations. It was in a Christian and a Moslem young the promotion of this great cause that cal churches this year as in past man. Some of the claims of the wonderful influence of the press Christianity are introduced into was first made manifest. . . . It may years. A joint communion serv- the dialogue. be doubted whether we have paid suffi- cient heed to this instructive lesson ice was held in Beyrout on the -A. C. L. S. M. Newsletter. of the consecration of the press.
Sunday following, when the MISCELLANEOUS -The Churchman.
church was filled to capacity, as The Bible in New Tongues *** many as 600 being present. Six The American Bible Society "Give us strength to walk the announces that the number of rest of the road, looking unto ministers officiated, using six languages in which the Bible, or Jesus, the author and finisher of some part of it, has been pub- our faith. Restore us to oUI: different languages-A r a b i c, lished now totals 972. Recent rightful sonship, and keep us pUblications include a revised from leaving the path along Armenian, Eng lis h, French, New Testament and Psalms for which He went who, for the joy use in Ponape, largest of the that was set before Him, en- German and Turkish. Hymns Caroline Islands. Five nationali- dured the cross, despising the shame. Amen.-Robert W. Norwere sung in the six languages wood.
-probably other languages were used, for one noticed at the serv- ice people whose language was Danish, Swedish or G r e e k.
Hymns such as "Nearer My God to Thee," "How Firm a Founda- tion," "Just as I Am," and "My Faith Looks Up to Thee" are equally dear to all. The Lord's Prayer and the twenty-third Psalm also were repeated in uni- son. Prayer was offered in Turkish. _.
This service is coming to have a large place in the life of the Protestant movements in Bey- rout. The Week of Prayer pre- pared the way for it, with its
ORIGIN OF THE HOLI FESTIVAL IN INDIA
A CHRISTIAN STUDENT CONFERENCE, HELD AT AN OLD PALACE IN IRAN ORIGIN OF THE HOLI FESTIVAL IN INDIA "HoIi" is the name of an Indian woman. At first abuse was given only to her, but now, during her festival all are subject to the same treatment, so that it is not safe for respectable women to go abroad till this celebration is over. The following story about her is told in Hindu tradition.
Parlad, having heard that the god Vishnu was almighty and omnipresent, sought to put this to the test. When a potter was making a fire to bake his earthen pots, Parlad saw some live kittens in one of the pots and prayed that Vishnu would preserve them. His prayer was answered and as a result he became a firm believer in Vishnu, much to the disapproval of his father who worshiped Shiva. Failing to persuade his son to give up the worship of Vishnu, the father decided to kill Parlad. He threw him into the water, but Vishnu made him swim and so saved his life. Then the father commanded an elephant to trample the son to death, but the omnipresent Vishnu being in the elephant, the beast refused to touch him. At last Parlad's aunt, named Holi, said, "I will hold him while you heap faggots of fire around us. If I die with him it matters not." Again Vishnu being in the fire, saved Parlad while his aunt perished. As a result Holi is despised by worshipers of Vishnu and at her festival all women are subject to abuse so that it is not safe for them to appear in public during the celebration.
As a missionary in India, I found it useful to tell this story to show that the best way to celebrate the festival is to follow the example of Parlad in accepting truth, even at risk of his life. We should be ready to forsake the religion of our parents if in this way we follow the true God. There is a great contrast between the quiet, reverential worship of Indian Christians and the howling mobs who celebrate the Holi festival. Such were some of these Indian Christians before they were made clean by the blood of Christ.
THE REV. J. G. POTTER. Our Missionary Bookshelf Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information Duncan Main, of Hangchow. By his human contacts. "A really Gospel of the New Testament is Alexander Gammie. 38. 6d. 159 grand type of man, honest, pp. Pickering and Inglis, London, broad-minded and genuine," said being recovered. To Dr. Heim, Glasgow and Edinburgh. the North China Daily News of him when it heard of his death. Jesus Christ is the Saviour who Dr. Main was one of the most One could not find in missionary notable medical missionaries of history a more really model med- wrought salvation for us and the past generation. He was ical missionary. born in Scotland in 1856, went who is evermore the risen and to China under the Church Mis- The biographer preserves the sionary Society in 1881, worked flavor of Dr. Main's rich person- living Lord. Prayer is a reality. in Han g c how for forty-five ality, but has not dealt fully years, returned to Scotland in enough with the real missionary The Gospel is not sociology, be- 1926, and died on August 30, problems with which Dr. Main 1934. When he arrived in Hang- had to cope, especially in late cause it is so vastly more. The chow the medical equipment con- years as a result of the pressure sisted of a small house with four of Western influence and money depth and the heights of it which rooms and sixteen beds. When in shaping medical education in he returned to Scotland he left China. But he has preserved humanism has lost are profour hospitals with 500 beds, out- well the rich fidelity of Dr. patient's department, medical Main's medical work to its su- claimed here, and the length and and pharmacy training colleges, preme missionary purpose. nurses' training schools for men breadth of it make the dimenand women, radio and electrical R. E. S. equipment, homes for children, sions of humanism seem small. lepers, consumptives, incurables, The Church of Christ and the Prob- Chinese Christian workers and lems of the Day. By Karl Heim, The Gospel is greater than this convalescents, with fresh air D.D., Ph.D. $1.75. 172 pp. Charles homes, isolation hospitals, etc., Scribner's Sons, New York. 1935. and all other statements of it, one of the most extensive and complete medical plants in China This is a great little book. It but each such attempt to state it and entirely his own creation, comprises the Sprunt Lectures for which he raised hundreds of delivered at Union Theological carries us onward toward its inthousands of dollars. Seminary, Richmond, Va., in 1935 by Karl Heim, of Tubingen. finite fullness. R. E. S. Dr. Main was a unique per- The seven lectures deal with the sonality. His Chinese name was failure and decay of the idea of Pratt: The Red Man's Moses. By "Dr. Apricot of Heaven Below." the sufficiency of man's reason; Elaine Goodale Eastman. 8 vo. His motto was "Keep Smiling." the rise of the new faiths of na- $3.00. University of Oklahoma His humor was irrepressible and tionalism and communism; the Press, Norman. 1935. his energy absolutely indomit- fresh discovery of the Eternal able. He was one of the most and Transcendent God; the This is more than the life loving and lovable Christians in reality of sin and the reality of story of an army officer who dethe world. He was a remarkable the atonement; the substitution voted the most active years of horseman, a jack-of-all-trades, a of leaders for ideas in the life of his life to the education and skillful mechanic, a miracle- the modern world; the sole suffi- civilization of America's aborigiworking surgeon, a gentleman ciency of the divine leadership nes. It is in fact a careful and by Western standards and Chi- of Christ; the power of prayer conscientious review of the Red nese standards alike, the leading and the meaning of the resurreC"- Man's relation to Government citizen of Hangchow and a man tion. The book is an illuminat- administration covering 0 v e r of God who preached and also ing illustration of the new cur- half a century. It deals with the spoke of Christ in the most nat- rents of theological conceptions varying policies of Indian adural and persuasive ways in all w h i c h are dominant in the ministration, often contradicto- churches of Europe today. The ry, due to frequent changes in the political set-up of the Indian bureau, and traces the struggle of Col. Pratt who launched a far- reaching experiment in Indian education at the Carlisle School with the slogan: "To educate the Indian, get him away from the reservation into civilization, and when you get him there, keep him." Naturally this advanced idea for the ultimate assimilation of the American Indian into our body politic created intense op- position on the part of those who believed then, and still be- Any of the books noted in these columns will be sent by the Ih:vn~v puhlishers on receipt of price.
[ 220]
OUR MISSIONARY BOOKSHELF
lieve, that the Red Man belongs fully guarded and subsidized seg- bored for his brethren "in Engto the stone age civilization and regation." land, Scotland, Ireland and the that all efforts to give him a Mediterranean. I then passed," modern education are more or To all friends of the Indian he continues, "to Turkey, Persia, less futile. who envisage his future as that Turkestan, Afghanistan, Cash- of enjoying the privileges and mere, Hindustan and the Red P rat t in founding Carlisle sharing in the responsibilities of Sea." sounded the death-knell of trib- full citizenship, as well as realism, segregation and isolation. sponding by "outward and vis- His experiences were as va- Nevertheless, even today there ible signs" to the "inward and ried as his travels. He was are abortive attempts on the spiritual grace" bestowed upon sought as a lecturer at famous part of some who seem to prefer him through increasing knowl- universities, and he married the to have Indians isolated on west- edge of the word of the "Great daughter of an English earl. He ern reservations under their own Spirit," Mrs. Eastman's book is received the degree of Doctor of tribal set-up, where tourists may welcomed as particularly timely Laws from Trinity College, Dubview them as a sort of human and filling a long-felt need. lin. He was the friend of stateszoo. Needless to say the quick- men and scholars, entertained by est and surest way to exter- G. E. E. LINDQUIST. ambassadors, welcomed as a disminate the Indian is to isolate tinguished guest by princes and and segregate him from the rest Joseph Wolff, His Romantic Life and governors, and thousands hailed of humanity. Pratt was ahead Travels. By H. P. Palmer. 222 pp. him as a man of distinction. of his day in sensing this idea 78. 6d. Heath Cranton, London, But there were other experiin all its implications, and he 1935. ences. He contracted typhus proved to be a redoubtable cham- fever. Kurds inflicted 200 lashes pion of the idea of liberating the Probably few now living know on his bare feet, so crippling him Indian from bureaucratic dom- much if anything about Joseph for months. Arab tribesmen ination. Wolff. He was a famous man in robbed and scourged him. In his generation, a missionary Khorasan, he was stripped na- The fight thus launched by whose adventures were stranger ked, tied to a horse's tail, thrown Pratt in 1879 is by no means than fiction. Born in 1795 in into a foul dungeon and offered won. Today the forces of bu- Franconia, the son of a Jewish for sale as a slave. He was rereaucracy are still at work, and rabbi; he felt, before his youth peatedly threatened with death, while they use such high-sound- was passed, the need of some- and several times barely escaped. ing rubrics as "preservation of thing in religion that he did not Bandits seized his horses and native culture," "religious toler- find in the faith of his fathers supplies and clothing, and he ation," "home rule" and similar and entered the Roman Catholic was compelled to walk shivering shibboleths, their efforts point Church, some of whose priests with cold 600 miles in bitter unmistakably in the direction of had befriended him. He decided winter weather. But he endured turning the clock back for "Poor to be a missionary and became a everything undismayed. Lo," at least a half century. student in the College of Prop- aganda in Rome. He was wel- He was a man of exceptional Mrs. Eastman, herself a writ- comed as a young man of high ability and impressive personal- promise, Pope Pius VII and sev- ity-kind and generous; a briler and authority on Indians, was eral cardinals taking a personal liant conversationalist, a gifted for many years a teacher and interest in him. But his alert linguist who fluently preached in worker among them. She points and inquiring mind soon chal- half a dozen languages, and a out that Pratt was sometimes a lenged some of the Roman Cath- missionary whose zeal for the sharp critic of the missionary olic dogmas and he got into diffi- conversion of souls was flaming work on the reservations. He culties that led to his dismissal. fire. But he was a restless spirit, felt that the efforts of the Boards After various wanderings Henry seldom staying long in one place, and societies to build up na- Drummond, a wealthy English- proclaiming his message and tive churches, using their own man, persuaded him to go to making little or no effort to language and under native lead- London where he found in the establish churches. He was fond ership was tantamount to en- Church of England the spiritual of disputation with Jews, Moscouraging tribalism and pro- fellowship that he sought. He lems and any others whom he longing the evils of reservation studied at Cambridge, and at could induce to listen, and tenalife. While this criticism had a the age of twenty-six began his ciously held extreme opinions measure of justice in it at the mission to "the dispersed of my about the millenium and the restime of Pratt's activity it should people in Palestine, Egypt, Mes- toration of the Jews. His closbe noted that today the churches opotamia, Persia, the Crimea, ing years were spent in a quiet are practically a unit in oppos- Georgia and the Ottoman Em- parish in England, where he died ing further isolation and segre- pire." He was supported at first in 1862 at the age of sixty-seven. gation, as well as the revival of by his friend Drummond and tribalism. Mission Boards today later by the London Society for Archbishop Whatey charachold rather to the dictum that Promoting Christianity among terized him as "a missionary "the Indian must be saved by a the Jews. His travels were Shakespeare" ; the editor of process of Christian assimilation amazing. After preaching in the BlackwDod Magazine called him to American life, not by a care- countries named above, he la-
"the most notable of wandering John White of Mashonaland. By C. sible by His first coming 1900 Jews," and added: "We know F. Andrews. 8 vo. 205 pp. $1.50. years ago. neither priest nor travelers to Harper & Bros. New York. 1935. compare with this son of the Jesus Through Japanese Eyes. By desert, this wandering cross- Many missionaries, compar- Toyohiko Kagawa. Cloth, 160 pp. bearer, this Grand Dervish of atively unknown to men, are Price, 3 shillings-75 cents. The Christendom." heroes and heroines, who have Lutterworth Press. London. 1935. given their lives to carry the We may well be grateful to Gospel of Christ to dark and The present visit to America Mr. Palmer for the biography of difficult fields. The story of such of the distinguished Japanese this remarkable man. He has lives is illuminating, and Mr. author of this little book lends written sympathetically and yet Andrews has done well to rescue special interest to anything from with judgment, not hesitating to this one from oblivion. his pen. Written for the purmention the defects and limita- pose of informing the non-Christions of his tempestuous and John White was a British tian reading public of Japan resometimes erratic subject, but Wesleyan missionary to Mrica. garding Jesus' life among men, concluding that he was "an He was born in Cumberland Dr. Kagawa accomplishes his eccentric powerful figure, unlike seventy years ago, and went out purpose with a direct simplicity anyone who has ever appeared to Mashonaland in 1894, and that occasionally goes to the on the clerical horizon before or there had many experiences with heart of great moral issues. since his day," and that "it is wild beasts, snakes and savage impossible to read the story of men. He bravely opposed the Knowing the great sacrifices his life without admiring his tal- oppression of the blacks by that the author has made for his ents, his heroism and his affec- white men and helped the peo- ideals, one hesitates to say any tionate disposition." ple in times of war and mas- word of criticism regarding his sacre. teachings. Yet it must be con- ARTHUR J. BROWN. fessed that this little book gives Mr. Andrews has told the the impression of incompleteness China Christian Year Book. 1934-5. story of this sacrificial life with as regards the great redemptive Edited by Frank Rawlinson. 12 Mo. sympathy and simplicity. It is mission of Christ. Surely Dr. 458 pp. Christian Literature So- full of inspiration for life and of Kagawa believes earnestly in ciety, Shanghai. 1935. lessons on missionary service. the Evangelical faith. Therefore, without gainsaying the magni- For twenty-five years these Christ's Alternative to Communism. tude of his social influence and annuals have been enriching our By E. Stanley Jones. 8 vo. 302 pp. work, one would wish that, even minds on China, the Chinese and $2.00. Abingdon Press, New York. in this brief study, he were more Christian progress among them. 1935. definite respecting those facts of The forty-three contributors in- salvation that make all the difclude Chinese, business men, This is the best study of the ference between spiritual life teachers, editors, authors, exec- subject we have seen. Dr. Jones and death. F. E. GAEBELEIN. utives, Y. W. C. A. workers, and has studied communism at first missionaries of many societies. hand in Russia and China. These Our Korean Friends. By Frederick Part I relates to National Life studies of this social system, in S. Miller. 191 pp. $2.00. Flem- (92 pp.); Part II, Religious Life comparison with the example ing H. Revell. New York. 1935. (120 pp.); Part III, Missions and teachings of Christ, were and Missionaries (17 pp.); Part discussed in his Indian Ashram These delightful character IV, Education (108 pp.); Part at Sat Tal. The result shows sketches make the people of the V, Medical Work (13 pp.) ; Part how completely Christ would ful- one-time "Hermit Nation" seem VI, Literature (30 pp.); and fill the highest ideals of commu- very real. Dr. Miller, who is a appendices and index (58 pp.). nism by substituting love for Presbyterian missionary, knows There are articles on Relations selfishness and by providing the how to weave odd bits of humor with Japan; Modern Chinese pro g ram and dynamic with and quaint revelation of human Women; Communists; The Ro- which to set up an ideal society. nature into a story that proves man Catholic Church; Among The book is written in Dr. Jones' all the world akin. Here is this the Tribes People; Salvation usual style-with a careful and typical incident. "Someone Army; Union Movements; The discriminating use of facts, a knocked timidly at the mission- Missionary Situation; Educa- comparison with Bible teachings ary's door. Opening it, he saw tion; Flood, Drought and Re- and experiences. Christ alone is an old woman, a bag in one hand. lief; Bibliography, etc., but no able to establish and govern an 'Do you eat grasshoppers?' she missionary directory. Here is a ideal society-but there is, to asked, bringing out a string of storehouse of reliable, up-to-date our understanding, no promise them. 'I read that John the information in compact form- or prospect that He will make Baptist ate grasshoppers and especially valuable to editors, effective His earthly kingdom thought you might like some,' lib r a r i e s, missionaries and before His second advent. It is, she explained. It was her alaothers interested in China. It however, the Christians' re- baster box-the best she had to may be secured from the Inter- sponsibility to realize the sover- offer." national Missionary Council, 156 eignty of God in the human heart Fifth Avenue, New York. and to help carry out the pro- gram announced and made pos-
Or take the story of "Concord- ures from many mines-Amiel, and pardon in Hinduism, but ance Ko," who thought he could Rutherford, Guyon and poetsnot find time for Bible study. but chiefly from human experi- without success. Then he found "I'll tell you," said his wife, as ence and the inexhaustible treasthey started for their field work. ure house of the Bible. Mingled Christ and entered joyfully into "I'll tie an open Testament on with many Dohnavur songs and my back and go down the row in photographic gems, is a spirit- His service. The story is a testifront of you. As we squat on ual message to those· eager to the ground you can commit a know and do the Will of God in mony to the power of Christ to verse each time." This ani- the midst of storm and strife. mated bookstand, in time, en- save and suggests ways in which abled Ko to supply chapter and Eastern and Central Asia.. Pamphlet. verse when the Western mission- 33 pp. 6d. New Mildmay Press, to deal successfully with Hindu ary could not locate his text. London. 1935. And thus he became known as seekers. It is interestingly told "Concordance Ko." This is one ofTJte World To- day Series of booklets,· the pur- and is true to the Go.spel. The book is a collection of pose of which is to give infor- ,,~'" ;¥~i:,:. .' just such telling incidents. mation as to what has been done :,'. •.: J and what remains to be done in . t• H. H.F. world evangelization. They will prove of value to those who wish They That Sow: By'Mrrt-y Wat-bur- The Student Volunteer Movement to pray for the work and work- for Foreign Missions-Personal ers in these lands. In this book- ton Booth. 199pp.· ps•. 6d. Pick- Reminiscences of its Origin and let are given important facts as ering & Inglis. LondQrl. 1935. Early History. By Robert P. Wil- to Japan, Korea, Manchukuo, der. Foreword by Jesse R. Wilson. Mongolia, T i bet, Turkistan, This simple narrati~e' teiis of Pamphlet. 63 pp. 25 cents. S. V. China, Indo China and Formosa M., New York. 1935. -a large order for six tee n sowing and reaping among the pages! Naturally the informa- One of the most outstanding tion is meagre, but it serves as women of India. It is admirably movements, initiated and guided an introduction and stimulus to and empowered by the Spirit of prayer, and shows in what pro- illustrated and each chapter is God, is the Student Volunteer portion the fields are occupied by Movement. Like the foreign mis- Evangelical missionaries. prefaced by one of the author's sions movement in the days of the Apostles and as led later by The Serious Aspect of the Ethiopian poems on the same theme. William Carey and the Haystack Situation. World Today Series. By group, so the movement founded Joseph J. Cooksey. Pamphlet. Is. H. H.F. through Robert Wilder has had New Mildmay Press, London. 1935. a remarkable and inspiring his- New Books tory. Here Dr. Wilder gives his This timely booklet reviews own personal recollections. They briefly the Abyssinian situation By Ways Appointed. Briggs P. Dingought to be read and prayed over -the history of the land, the man. 128 pp. 75 cents. B. I. C. by all interested in world evan- people, the church and modern Assn. Chicago. gelization. They furnish much missions. The map is clear but food for thought and prayer and not full, and the statistics, while Christ in the Indian Chur~h-A inspiration for a new advance. not complete, are the most com- Primer of Christian Faith and The secret of the early success plete published. They include Practice. A. J. Appasamy. 170 pp. of the Movement was the prayer Roman Catholics who report 45 Christian Literature Society for Inand Bible study, the sacrifice and missionaries, 30 native priests, dia. Madras. devotion of its leaders and their 94 European workers, 63 native full surrender to the Will of God. workers and a total Christian Crossing Africa in a Missionary community of 16,000. Way. Stella C. Dunkelberger. 106 Gold by Moonlight. By Amy Car- pp. $1.00. S. C. Dunkelberger. michael. Illus. 8 vo. 182 pp. 5s. Here and Now. By A. C. Chakra- Germantown, Pa. Society for Promoting Christian verti. . Booklet. Illus. 80 pp. 8 Knowledge, London. 1935. Annas. Lucknow Publishing House, The Cross and the Reign of God. Hazratganj, Lucknow, India. 1935. Alec O. Hardy. 86 pp. Is. S. P. G. Another beautiful Dohnavur House. London. book-beautiful in conception In the form of a simple narraand executiori, in text, illustra- tive – possibly autobiographical From Fetish to Faith-Growth of the tions and printing. "Gold by in part-is this booklet by A. C. Church in West Africa. W. J. Moonlight" has come from the Chakraverti, a convert from Platt. 2s. Livingstone Press. Lonfurnace of suffering and a deep Hinduism and the founder of a don. sense of human need with a real- Christian ashram at Brindaban. ization and experience of the It is the story of a young Brah- Facing Facts-Year Book of the power to bring life and peace man, a sinner, who sought peace American Missionary Association. and joy out of the midst of trial. 120 pp. American Missionary Miss Carmichael digs her treas- Assn. New York.
A Grain of Wheat. Toyohiko Kaga- wa. 150 pp. $1.00. Harper & Bros. New York.
Gwyneth at Work. Margaret P. Neill. 320 pp. 2s. 6d. Pickering & Inglis. London.
Here and Now. A. C. Chakraverti. 80 pp. 8 Annas. Lucknow Pub. Co. Lucknow, India.
In Seven Nations-Twelve Mission Studies on India, Africa, Japan, China, South America. 50 pp. United Lutheran Church. Balti- more, Md.
The Kingdom of God in Japan. C" Burnell Olds. 69 pp. 25 cents. For 10 or more copies 10 cents each. C. N. Olds, Jr. Cleveland, Ohio.
The Land and Life of Africa. Mar- garet Wrong. 2s. 144 pp. Living- stone Press. London.
(COncluded on third cover.)
THE SCENE AT QUETTA , BELUCHISTAN, AFTER THE' EARTHQUAKE, ON MAY 3 1 , Ifl 3 ~ (Reco nstruction work is nOw going fo r wa rd) DO NOT MISS THE MOSLEM WORLD SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, Editor VALUABLE ARTICLES IN THE APRIL NUMBER Our Evangel and Islam ……………….. , ……….. Samuel M. Zwemer Guests of King Ibn Sa'ud ………………………. Gerrit D. Van Peursem Moslem Converts and the Church …….. .. ….. . ……… Harvey E. Phillips Islam in Tibet . …. ….. . ……………….. . . ….. . .. . M. G. Griebenow An Autobiography of Mohammed . … .. ……. . ….. The late Frank H. Foster A New Version of the Arabic New Testament .. .. . ……… . E. F. F. Bishop The Nile Mission Press . . . …….. . . …………….. .. ….. .J. R. Menzies Rue and the Evil Eye in Persia ……………………… Eda W. Lindquist Some Slave Girls of Morocco ……………. . ………… An Old Missionary The Turkish Transformation …………………………… Caleb F. Gates Freedom of Thought in Islam ………. ' .. . . . . … .. . . …. Sheikh Al Kiyaly Khadijah, Mohammed's First Wife ., ……. …. . . …………. Edward Jurji Current Topics-Book Reviews-Survey of Periodicals » » SUBSCRIBE NOW » « 50 Cents a Copy. $2.00 d Year (postpaid) In combination with THE MOSLEM WORLD THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD 156 Fifth Avenue . New York Citv $3.50 a Year. (Foreign Postage, 50 Cents) British Asenls: MARSHALL. MORGAN & SCOTT, 12 Palomosler Buildings. London. E. C. Price In GlI.t Brillin, Eigh! ShUlln,>. Y…. net
Note. THE IDEAL GIFT AT ALL
Dr. Charles E. Hurlburt, formerly GOD'S MINUTE • • • Here is a marvelous collection of 365 Daily Prayers, A Spiritual ,I missionary in Africa, died in Los .<.ngeles, January 28th, at the age of each 60 seconds long, written by 365 of the most emi. thoughtJor 76. In 1899, he became president of nent preachers and laymen in the world. Cloth, 60 ellery day he Africa Inland Mission, a work be- ;un i(lur years earlier in British East cents; Limp Leatherette. $1.00; Art Leather. $1.50. • <'frica (now Kenya), by Pet"r Cam- rOll Seott, a young Scotsman. GOD'S MESSAGE •• A daily remitlderoJ Under Dr. Hurlhurt's direetion the 365 prominent clergymen have chosen their favorite '. vork grew until it covered an area _'rom Kenya to Tanganyika, and to Scripture passage, and, with this as a text. have written the gitJer a Message that quickens faith. brings comfort. Cloth. he West Nile distl'iet of Uganda, to ;, he Belgian Congo and to French 60 cents; Limp Leatherette. $1.00; Art Leather. $1.50. ~quatorial Africa: Today there are : ~24 missionaries of the A. 1. M. work- 1iI_ _ _ _ _ THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO., Winston Bldg., Phila. ng among 25 tribes, with 1,600 native 'vangelists and teachers. Last year Home for Intemperate Men, died of Reminiscences of Its Origin and (.ver 7,000 baptisms were recorded. Early History. Robert P. Wilder. pneumonia on March 3d at the age of 25 cents. S. V. M. New York. * >I< >I< 81. The Chestercrest Home, as it was Sure Anchor Reciter. Henry Picker- Rev. Jay Thomas Stocking, D.D., ing. 96 pp. 1s. Pickering & Inglis. .:v1oderator of the National General known, was originally located in New London. ::';ouncil of Congregational and Chris- . ian Uhurehes, died of pneumonia on York City and later at Mt. Vernon, Stories from Brazil. William Anglin. •.'anuary 27 at the age of 65. Dr. 96 pp. 18. Pickering & Inglis. Lon· ;·;;toeking had long been an important N. Y.; recently it was moved to Ka- don. f,gure in Congregational C h u r c h ( ircles, and was widely known beyond tonah, N. Y. Dr, Avery was formerly Songs of the Saviour. Carey Bonner. , lis own communion through his many 64 pp. 28. paper; 2s. 6d. doth. ; 'eligious books. an evangelist and has been the means Piekering & Inglis. London.
Rev. W. W. Duff, Presbyterian mis- of the conversion and reformation of Billy Sunday-The Man and His ,.ionary to India since 1921, died at Message. William T. Ellis. 520 j,'erozepur, January 28. He had belm thousands of men addicted to strong pp. $1.50. John C. Winston. Phil- !.Jcated at Moga since 1929, and was adelphia. a member of the India Council of the drink and narcotics. He was highly three Presbyterian missions in India. The Silence of God. Sir Robert An- honored and greatly beloved by fellow derson. 212 pp. Is. Pickering & ** lng-Ii", London. workers and by manv who harl comp Dr. Charles B. Tenny. who for I If you use thirty years was a representative of under his care. . t he Baptist Foreign Mission Society PRINTING •. 1 .Japan, died ,January 12 in New Books r'ochester, New York. Dr. 'lmny YOU will profit from an ac- "a::- counte,l one of the great mission- (Co'l/cluded from poge 223.) quaintanceship with us. We . ry statesmen of his time. do the job complete in our own The Missionary Education of Young plant, whether it be large or ~ *" * People. .10hn Irwin, 1R2 pp. Mis- small. :;ieman' Education Movement. New Dr. George S. Avery, for 35 years York .. While our specialty is Books, resident manager of the Christian Magazines and Pamphlets, yet Nectar from Indian Saints. English we have a variety of modern The Gospel in Print Translation of Mahi,iati's Marathi equipment to meet all the re- Bhaktalilamrit, J. K Abbott, Pun- quirements of your particular Sound Evangelical Literature dit N. R. Godbole, J. F. Edwards . job. You will find our service for the Million 3 R. 498 pp. Aryabhushan Pre>'s. prompt, careful and courteous. Poona, India. Books, Pamphlets, Tracts and Wall Mottoes Will you allow us to estimate On Two Hemispheres-Bits from the on your next printing? We be- for a" ages, classes and needs; also Lifc Story of Lewis G, Jordan. lieve you will be delighted with Lewis G. Jordan. 80 pp. 35 cent" our product. price and service. Bibles, Testarnents, Gospel "portions" paper; 50 cents cloth. 1.. G. Jor- dan; Nashville, Tenn. The EVANGELICAL PRESS and Hymn Books. CI. Supplies for Chris- Oil Lamps Lifted. Pearl DOlT Long- Printers of tian Workers-col porters and evangelists ley. 86 pp. $1.00. Revell. New The Missionary Review of the World York. especially. CI. Book Missionaries wanted PLANT AND MAIN OFFICE OUf Korean Friends. Frederick S. Third and R.ily Str..ts Harrl,bur,. P•• in every community, for entire or part Miller. 191 pp. $2.00. Revell. New York. time; fair financial remuneration. CI. Work Pioneers of the Kingdom. Phyllis S. Ifounded by D. L. MOODY in 1894. Garlick. 158 pp. 2s. 6d. Highway I"The Messages of Good Book. Never Press. London.
! Die." Popular Hinduism. L. S. S. O'Malley. 2,16 pp. $2.50. Macmillan. N('w Write today York.
Bible Inst:~ Colportage Ass'n Religious Education as Character Training. Leonid V. Tulpa. 96 pp. ~……………. 843 N. Wells, Chicago~ $1.50. L. V. Tulpa. Pomfret, Conn.
The Serious Aspect of the Ethiopian Situation — World Today Series. Joseph J. Cooksey. ls. New Mild- way Prcs~. London, The Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions: Personal
THESE SPECIAL
The Missionary Review th~World You will learn in our October number about A/rica from an A/rican Viewpoint The African's View of Africa What Christ Means to Me·-·By Africans African Characteristics and Customs What Christian Missions Have Accomplished···By Africans What Africa Needs Most···By Africans The White Man's Views 0/ A/rica The Results of Fifty Years of Missions Present.Day Hindrances to Christianity What Missions Are Doing Today Heroes of the Cross in .Africa The Next Step in African Missions Best Books by Africans and About Africa Negroes Tell About the J.Ve,gro in America in our June number What American Negroes Are Thinking Negro Views of Negro Problems Some Achievements of American Negroes Ideals for Better Race Relations What Christ Has Done for Negroes Some Outstanding Negro Christians What Negroes Are Doing for Their Race White Contributors Will Write on Helps and Handicaps in Negro Progress Progress in the Past Half Century Some Lessons from Experience in Mission Work The Next Steps in Work for American Negroes Best Books by Negroes and About Negroes Order These Copies Now for Yourself and for Mission St:udy Classes 25 cents a copy $20 a hundred $2.50 a year The Missionary Review of t:he World Third and Reily Streets. Harrisburg, Pa.
ROBERT E. SPEER, President DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor
The Missionary Review of the World — June 1935
1935
Home Mission Number Restating the Home Mission Task Mark A. Dawber The Changing Frontier in America Hermann N. Morse Problem of Unassimilated Americans W. C. Schaeffer Christianity versus "Isms" Gaius Glenn Atkins The New Day and the Old Gospel Hugh T. Kerr Working Among Migrant Workers Adela 1. Ballard Cooperation and Union in Home Missions .. William R. King The Unchurched Children of America R. W. McGranahan A Re..emphasis of Spiritual Values Paul Dawson Eddy The Need for Christian Education 1. M. Walker The Church and the Unemployed Edgar M. Wahlberg Juvenile Criminals and the Church H. L. Dickerson 25 Cents a Copy $2.50 a Yea1'
to Remember Dallas, Texas. (Not the Negro School Christian Church, died early in
-Sept. 23-27.) M~s. George J. Fix, at the age of 48, in Dayton, Ohio. He June 9-1~Annual Conference, He- 7041 Tokalon Drive, Dallas, Texas. had been in executive missionary serv- brew Christian Alliance. Buffalo, ice since 1921, and from 1926 until N. Y. Eaglesmere, Pa. June 26-July 3. Cor. 1930 was executive secretary for home Sec.-Mrs. Edith C. Ashton, 1939 missions of the General Christian June 9-15-Church Conference of So- Grant Ave., Bustleton, Phile.delphia, cial Work, Montreal, Canada. Pa. Convention.
June 20-25 – Northern Baptist Con- Houston, Texas. October 28-Novem- Mrs. Elizab'"eth'" R'"ustin McCon- vention, Colorado Springs, Colorado. ber 1. Mrs. E. B. Mohle, 2309 Rob- inhood, Houston, Texas. aughey, the wife of Dr. David Mc- June 22-30 – Victorious Life Confer- Conaughey who was for some years ence. Keswick Grove, N. J. Lake Geneva, Wis. June 24-July 1. the Y. M. C. A. missionary in Madras, Mrs. Thomas A. Freeman, 5841 July 1-29-Institute of Race Rela- Kenmore Ave., Chicago, Ill. died at her home in Montclair, N. J., tions, Swarthmore College, Swarth- on May 18, at the age of seventy-two. more, Pa. Minnesota (Minneapolis – St. Paul). She was one of the founders of the September 16-23. Mrs. A. F. Au- Y. W. C. A. in India and was greatly July 2-7-International Christian En- guster, 1536 Van Buren St., St. beloved and honored by many mis- deavor Convention, Philadelphia, Paul, Minn. Pa. sionaries and Indian Christians who Mt. Hermon, California. June 29- enjoyed the hospitality of her home. July 4-7 – Conference on Christian July 6 (not definite). Mrs. W. F. Education and the 22d Annual Angwin, 1836 Clemens Road, Oak- Rev. Dr. Wm'". E'". S'"oothill, Profes- Meeting of the Presbyterian Edu- land, Calif. cational Association of the South. sor of Chinese at Oxford University, Montreat, N. C. Mountain Lake Park, Maryland. England, died on May 14 at the age July 31-August 6. Mrs. B. H. Sin- of 74. He went to China as a mission- July 6-14-Victorious Life Conference. cell, 103 2d St., Oakland, Md. Keswick Grove, N. J. ary of the United Methodist Church Northfield, Massachusetts. July 5-13. in 1882 and labored there for twenty- July 10 – 24 – Leadership Training Mrs. Virgil B. Sease, Parlin, N. J. five years, becoming one of the lead- School. Montreat, N. C. ing authorities of the world on Chi- Southern California (Los Angeles). nese life and language. He was born July 16-19-Annual Assembly, Amer- September 23-27. Mrs. Thomas M. in Halifax, the son of William and ican Association of Women Preach- Buley, 800 Rome Drive, Los An- ers. Aurora, Ill. geles, Calif. Margaret Soothill. He was stationed at Wenchow, China, from 1882 to July 20-28 – Victorious Life Confer- Warren, Ohio. September 17 and 24. 1907 and established there churches, ence. Keswick Grove, N. J. Mrs. Geo. Konold, 314 Scott St., schools, a hospital and a college. He N. E., Warren, Ohio. was for four years president of the July 24 – 31- Woman's Auxiliary Training School. Montreat, N. C. Winona, Indiana. June 26-July 2. Imperial University of Shensi Prov- Mrs. Lulu C. Hunter, 1021 S. Elm- ince. Among his best known books August 1-4-General Missions Confer- wood Ave., Oak Park, Ill. are "Three Religions of China"; "A ence. Montreat, N. C. Mission in China"; "Life of Timothy Obituary Notes Richard of China"; "A History of August 3-11-Victorious Life Confer- ence. Keswick Grove, N. J. Rev. T. Matsuyama, one of Japan's China," and "Anelects of Confucius." ~rea~est benefactors, died January 4 August 7-12 – World Convention of m hIS 90th year. In 1871, becoming *** the Disciples of Christ, Leicester, alarmed at the spread of Christianity, England. he began to study it secretly in order Miss Jane Addams, the world-fa- to know how to combat it. His antag- August 11-18-Foreign Missions Week onism changed to faith and with ten mous social welfare worker and peace of the Southern Baptist Convention others he was baptized. He became in the Blue Ridge Mountains on pastor of a church in Kobe which he advocate, died on May 21 aft~r a ma- the Southern Baptist Assembly helped to establish; in 1884 he assist- Grounds, Ridgcrest, North Carolina. ed in a translation of the Bible and jor operation for cancer. She would in 1911 was a member of the com- August 12-18-World Alliance for In- mittee to revise the translation of the have been 75 years of age on Septem- ternational Friendship Through the New Testament into Japanese. Churches. Geneva, Switzerland. ber 6. She was recently awarded a *** August 17-25-Vidorious Life Confer- Nobel prize in recognition of her ef- ence. Keswick Grove, N. J. Dr. David George Downey, mem- forts in behalf of world peace. She ber of the Methodist Board of Foreign August 18-22 – Universal Christian Missions, died March 7th in White was the founder of Hull House, Chi- Council for Life and Work. Geneva, Plains, N. Y., at the age of 76. Dr. Switzerland. Downey had helped to make the Meth- ~ago and had been for the past 46 odist Book Concern the largest organ- August 20-22 – Men's Conference. ization of its kind in the world. years greatly honored and beloved MontTf'at, N. C. *** because of her settlement work for August 22-Seut. I-Bible Conference. Montreat, N. C. Rev. William E. Boggs, Baptist the poor and underprivileged. She has missionary in South India for 42 August 30 – September 2 – Victorious years, died April 6, at Greenwich, been called a "priestess of under- Life Conference. Keswick Grove, Nova Scotia. N. J. standing" and kept open house for * '" '" Summer Conferences and prince and pauper alike. She has been Schools of Missions Dr. H. H. Tilbe, retired Baptist missionary to Burma, died March 4 honored with degrees by many uni- Affiliated with the Council of Women in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. and Mrs. for Home Missions and the Com- Tilbe had served under the Baptist versities. mittee on Women's Work of the Foreign Mission Society for 45 years. Most of their work was in Rangoon. Miss Addams was born in Cedar- Foreign Missions Conference '" '" '" ville, Illinois, of Quaker ancestors her DATl!:S AND CHAmMEN FOR 1935 The Rev. Abram W. Sparks, for- father having been a personal f;iend Bethesda, Ohio. July 29-August 2. mer executive secretary for home mis- Miss Mary 1. Scott, 310 Tomlinson sions of the General Convention of the of Abraham Lincoln. Among the Ave., Moundsville, W. Va. books of which she was the author Boulder, Colorado. June 23-29. Pro- gram Chairman-Mrs. Henry F. are: "Twenty Years at Hull House"; _ Hoffman, 741 Adams St., Denver, "Second Twenty Years at Hull Colo. House"; "Democracy and Social Eth- Chautauqua, New York. August 18- 24. Institute of World Missions, ics"; "Newer Ideals of Peace"; "The Mrs. F. C. Reynolds. 309 Woodlawn Road, Roland Park, Baltimore, Md., Spirit of Youth in the City SWtormeaetns''"~ Chairman. and "The Long Road of Memory."
HAYFEVER ASTHMA and SUMMER COLDS are nnne.essary. Complete relief only $1.00 pOltpaid. Nothing elle to buy. Over 40,000 HOLFORD'S WONDER INHALERS lold Idt year a10n.. Mail $1.00 today for full 1.8IOn'I reUef to THE DAN DEE CO., 252 HENNEPIN AVENUE, MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., or write for Fre. Booklet.
MISSIONARY The next issue of the REVIEW will ~enever
REVIEW OF THE WORLD be .a combined July-August number. If you are to be away from home for the Call comes from DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor the summer please send us your change of address now. EAST OF SUEZ VOL. LVIII JUNE, 1935 No.6 Personal Items sail by Publication and Business Office– Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. Dr. John R. Edwards, Secretary of p&O the Meth()dist Board of Foreign Mis- Editorial and Executive Office– sions; E. M. McBrier, lay member; To whatever part of the East the work 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. Dr. Morris W. Ehnes, treasurer, with of the Faith may take you •.• Cunard Entered as second-class matter at Miss Juliet H. Knox, representing the White Star and P & 0 comhine to Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, make the way easy. You cross to Post Office, Harrisburg, Pa., under sailed from New York, April 20, for England by the largest fleet on the Act of March 3, 1879. North Africa, to study problems con- Atlantic ••• then sail eastward on the nected with the readjustment of Meth- new s.s. Strathnaver or s. s. Strathaird 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. odist work in that fielc;l. or any other fast luxurious P&O liners. Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. . .Thus you use throughout the two Published monthly, except August. *** Lines preferred by travelers since All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1935. 1840 • •• on the Indian and Pacific British agents – Marshall, Morgan Dr. George B. Dean, for eighteen as well as the Atlantic oceans. Tra- and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, years connected with the Board of ditions of seamanship and service that London, E. C. 1 shilling per copy, Home Missions and Church Extension have endured for nearly a century, 10 shillings a year. of the Methodist Church, has retired are your assurance of a safe and because of a serious heart affection. supremely comfortahle voyage. MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB~ LISHING CO., INC. Dr. Albert *Sc*hw*eitzer, African PENI NSULAR AND ORIENTAL AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS medical missionary, was honored on BRITISH INDIA ROBERT E. SPEER, Pre8ident his sixtieth birthday in Strasbourg, W"M. 1. CHAMRERLAIN, Vice-President where he studied and taught, by hav- STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANIES WALTER MCDOUGALL, Treasurer ing a city park named for him. He DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary has just returned to his hospital at P & 0 liners sail regularly from London to Lambarene, Africa. Egypt, Sudan and the Persian Gulf, to India, SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT Burma and Ceylon, to the Straits Settle- MRS. ORRIN R. JUDD Dr. Homer D*. B*roo*kins has retired ments, China and Japan, to Australia and WM. B. LIPPHARD New Zealand, East and South Africa, ERIC M. NORTH from the editorial staff of the Watch- Mauritius, etc. Convenient through book- JESSE R. W'ILSON man-Examiner. He had served that ings at attractively low fares can be arranged paper and its predecessor, the Exam- by your local travel agent or any office of A. L. WARNSHUIS iner, for 47 years. Cunard White Star Line. Complete informationfrom Your Local Agentor SAMUEL M. ZWE'MER *** CUNARD WHITE STAR Editorial Chat Sir Harold Mackintosh, President of the World's Sunday School Asso- GENERAL AGENTS Here is our Home Mission number. ciation has received a baronetcy from The subject is so vast that only a few King George, who thus recognizes the 25 Broadway New York 638 Fifth Ave. phases of it could be treated in one greatness of this organization. issue. The Indians, Negroes, Mexicans, Orientals, lumbermen, miners, Rev. and Mrs*. G*eor*ge G. Mahy, of mountaineers, West. Indies, Alaska, city slums, prison work, industrial Buckhorn, Ky., have been assigned to centers, Sunday school evangelism and missionary work in China under the religious work in rural districts are Presbyterian Board of Foreign Misall omitted or slightly treated. Some sions. Mrs. Mahy is a sister of Mrs. promised articles were not received in John C. Stam, who, with her husband, time for publication – and one – on was murdered in China December 8. "Christian Youth and a New America," by Roy A. Burkhart, was *** crowded out and will appear in July. This series is, however, varied and Brayton C. Case, an agricultural timely and will well repay study. missionary of the American Baptist Read them and pass them on. Foreign Mission Society, has been presented .with the Kaisar-i-Hind Sil- *** ver Medal for services to practical agriculture in Burma. Mr. Case is A Correction principal of Pyinmana Agricultural Sch,ool. In the frontispiece for our May number (showing some Mohammedan Fifty years ago Dr. Roberts had mosques) there was a transposition crawled on his hands and knees up of titles. The left-hand pictures to that ·same throne to ask permission shows the mosque at Woking, Eng- of the Burmese king to start mission land; the upper right-hand mosque is work among the wild Kachins. Misthat at Mogok, Burma, and the other sion work has now changed this peois that at Srinagar, Kashmir. ple from bandits and robbers into pro- tectors of the peace. *** *** A Word to the W ise~ Dr. Dan B. Brummitt, editor of the "I wish I could afford to have THE Central Christian Advocate, Kansas REVIEW and Women and Missions in City, Mo., was elected chairman of every Presbyterian minister's home of the Editorial Council of the Religious this land. . . . I can't see how any Press, composed of editors of Protminister can keep up his intelligence estant denominational papers. Dr. and interest without these magazines. Guy E. Shipler, editor of the Church- Lack of interest is almost always due to ignorance." (Concluded on third cover.) From a letter to Women and Mis- [257 ] sions from Dr. Frederick G. Coan of MinneapoIis (former mission- ary to Persia).
"Happy Is the Nation Whose God Is the Lord"
UNITE TO WIN AMERICA for CHRIST THROUGH PRAYER WITNESS SERVICE LIFE Present Situation in the United States—The Challenge Total Population,: 134,000,000 Protestant Christian Communicants, 30,000,000 Total Protestant Community, 70,000,000 Roman and Greek Catholic Community, 20,000,000 Non-Church Members (Including Children), 75,000,000 Unconnected with Any Christian Organization, 44,000,000
NARY
REVIB ORLD VOLUME LVIII AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REvIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER SIX JUNE, 1935 Topics of the Times SAVING THE SOUL OF AMERICA 2. Progress. No land has offered· greater op- Every land has its special resources and culture portunities for progress than has North America. Territorially the United States has expanded from -its heritage and history. The United States of ocean to ocean. No old ironbound customs and traditions have prev·ented development; new ideas .America has been greatly blessed in its tlhoecacthioanr-' and plans have been tested by laboratory methods of its natural resources, in -in government, in education, in industry, in so- III the wealth cial customs and even in religion.
acter of its early settlers, and in its national his- But today the ambition for material progress threatens to cripple and destroy the nation. When tory. In spite of many dangers and difficulties- wealth becomes a great end in itself; when edu- cation leads to the deification of the intellect; or because of the battle against them-the coun- when industry develops into selfish warfare be- tween capital and labor; when statesmanship detry's development has been steady and remark- generates into petty party politics; and when social life takes on the characteristics and customs able, at least for the first century and a half of its of the jungle-then the soul of the nation is lost.
history. Wealth, education, culture, industry, in- 3. Service. Almost every nation seems to have been completely absorbed with its own national fluence, power have increased as long as national problems and with the struggle for existence. From its early years of independence America has ideals and Christian teachings have united to keep offered a haven for oppressed and underprivileged peoples. Not only the development of her own standards high and to develop strength. vast territory but international travel and com- merce and the sending abroad of money and mis- But in recent years the body and mind of Amer- sionaries, have enabled Americans to share their material and spiritual blessings with others. ica have been developed at the expense of its soul. Today many of these streams seem to be drying For America has a soul-a spiritual quality of life up. The desire to protect national industries and to avoid entangling alliances is keeping America that must be nurtured if the body is to be kept from adopting unselfish policies and from full co- operation in international courts. Our doors are healthy and is to function properly for the benefit now almost closed to immigrants and our mis- sionary activities are being curtailed. of mankind. The characteristics and vital reali- ties of the soul of America include: 1. Liberty. When the Western Hemisphere was discovered Europe was passing through the Dark Ages – politically, intellectually and religiously.
North America was settled by men and women who sought freedom to live and to work and to worship God in harmony with high intelligence, great industry and noble ideals. The liberty sought was in harmony with law-particularly the laws of God for the well-being of man.
When licence and lawlessness take the place of law and order-licence in dress, in behaviour, in amusements, in sex relations; lawlessness and laxity in regard to property rights and traffic- laws, in marriage and the sacredness of human 4. Spiritual. America was discovered about the life-then a land and its people lose the privileges time of the Protestant Reformation., The United of true liberty. Is it not time for America to re- States was settled from northern Europe by turn to the high ideals and the practice of liberty sturdy pioneers who brought with them their open in harmony with the laws which God has estab- Bibles and who sought to pattern their lives after lished for the physical, moral and spiritual good the revealed will of God rather than on the lines of all mankind? of humanistic or materialistic philosophies. Pure, [259 ]
monoganous family life in America has been held schools and colleges, irreligion in the homes, athesacred; character-making education has been of- istic propaganda, open immorality and obscenity fered to prepare all for unselfish service; Sunday, in published literature and public exhibitions. as the Lord's Day, has been respected as a day of Parents and teachers who have strict ideas of rest and worship; Church and State have been Christian standards of conduct are referred to by kept separate, not to exclude God and His laws modern youth as "belonging to the stone age," as from the State but to prevent the State from in- hopelessly puritanical or "old fogies." No doubt' terfering with religion. most of these youth do not intend any wrongdoing but they are reckless and like to throw off all When lawmakers lose their spiritual ideals and restraint… As a rule they are not to blame. They their sense of obligation to God; when the Lord's are following the trend of the times, are often Day is commercialized and secularized; when influenced by the teaching and example seen in moral standards in education are lowered, and their homes, their schools and colleges and in when a materialistic social order becomes men's public places. ideal, it means that the supremacy of God is overlooked or ignored. Government, education, in- The great problem of home missions today, is dustry and society, as well as religion, are then on not so much the problem of occupying new territhe toboggan. tory or establishing religious centers among neg- lected pioneers and primitive peoples, as it is the But America still has a soul-a spiritual life problem of manifesting a type of Christian faith and character-as well as a body-to be saved. and life that will be an evidence of its vitality Home Missions represent the effort of Christians and truth, and will attract others to Christ. It to extend and express that spiritual life and char- requires no argument to prove that a noble hisacter in service, according to the will of God as tory or good laws do not insure a strong nation. revealed in Jesus Christ. Until this soul of Amer- It requires also noble, high-minded citizens and ica finds expression in every nook and corner of loyalty to good laws and high ideals. the country, in every phase of American life, in all our laws and institutions and activities-until The great problem of home missions today, as then the Home Mission task of the Church of of every day and every land, is that of winning Christ will not be completed. Nationalism 'may individuals to high idealism, training young and be only a heathen ideal; patriotism may be igno- old to use their powers of body, mind and soul for rant and selfish; Christianity means not only character development and for the benefit of othloyalty to Christ and His program, but unselfish ers, revealing to them the Source of wisdom and devotion to one's country and to the welfare of power that will make their talents and resources humanity in every part of God's world. The effective. What other way is there of solving this home missionary ideal is to bring one's country problem than the Way of Christ. wholly under the control of God. But that ideal can only be realized by the surrender of every THE RECIPE FOR A HAPPY NATION individual and every institution and activity to Many ideals and programs are being tried out Christ. for making a strong, prosperous, happy nation- in Russia, communism and the success of the Five THE PROBLEM OF HOME MISSIONS Year Plan; in Germany, Nazism and the elimi- TODAY nation of all that is non-Teutonic; in Italy, Fas- cism and the development of a powerful central There is no greater problem today than that of government; in Japan, military power and exbringing American life into harmony with the pansion; in China, national unity and the realizaspirit and teachings of Jesus Christ. It is easy tion of Dr. Sun's principles; in India, self-govto recognize the great progress that has been ernment and the development of home industries; made by the United States in the past fifty years in European countries, national security and -territorial expansion and increase of popula- economic prosperity; in America', economic retion, in commerce and manufacture, in wealth and covery and no outside entanglements or interphilanthropies, in education and science–but ference. have we made similar progress in morals and social justice, in Christian character and life? Every intelligent and patriotic good citizen By these latter standards of measurement have wishes to see hi/} country strong and prosperous we gone backward or forward? Judged only by and at peace with the world. He wishes to see church attendance and church membership, sta- his fellow-countrymen free and happy and gaintistics show a numerical increase but proportion- fully employed-a blessing to themselves and. to ately we have been slipping. all mankind. But there are different views as to the guiding principles and the forces that produce More than this, anti-religious and unchristian such a nation and such a people. The all-wise influences are increasing-in the teaching in many
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
and all-loving Creator and Ruler of the universe This effort to persuade Germany to revert to has given clear directions, infallible rules for paganism may lead many astray through false attaining the desired result in personal and na- aims and a vain hope of unity and security. While tional life. Here are a few: all public Christian rallies, Protestant and Cath- olic, were forbidden, more than 15,000 anti-Chris- 1. Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord. Psalm tians recently (April 26th) gathered in the 33: 12. "Sportspalast" in Berlin to attack Christianity and in a less degree to express their sympathy 2. Happy is the man (or nation) whose iniquities are with the plan to organize a Nordic pagan moveforgiven. Psalm 32: 1. ment. Pagan symbols and swastika flags deco- rated the platform. 3. Happy is the man (or nation) whose strength is in God. Psalm 84: 5. While Hitler himself may not openly and direct- ly sponsor the anti-Christian movement, he and 4. Happy are they who do right at all times. Psalm the Nazis are seeking to establish a political, 106: 3. state-controlled Church-making God and His decrees of secondary authority to national laws, 5. Happy is he that has mercy on the poor. Proverbs some even declaring that "Reichsfuehrer" Adolph 14: 21. Hitler is God's spokesman and representative. The new religion seems to consist chiefly in in- 6. Happy is the man (or nation) who maketh the Lord tense German nationalism. Apparently the only his trust. Psalm 40: 4. rites of the Nordic pagan faith consist in a cere- mony for new-born children and a civil marriage 7. Happy are they who hear the Word of God and keep agreement. In the effort to establish a centralit. Luke 11: 28. ized, unified State Church, hundreds of Evangel- ical Christian pastors-700 in one week-have 8. Happy are they who hunger and thirst after right- been jailed or sent to concentration camps. Any eousness. Matt. 5: 6. public mention of these arrests is forbidden. There is also an attempt to bankrupt "confessional 9. Happy are the pure in heart . . . Happy are the churches and clergy" by taxes and withholding peacemakers. Matt. 5: 8, 9. stipends.
10. Happy is the man who keep~th the Sabbath. Isaiah But brute force cannot win over spiritual force. 56: 1. There are millions of Evangelical German Chris- tians who will withstand every effort to paganize 11. Happy are a people saved by the Lord. Deut. 33: 29. them and their children. They are strong, coura- 12. Happy is he who is not offended in me (Christ). geous men and women who know their Bibles and Matt. 11: 6. who have personal experience of the power of Christ. Danger of imprisonment and death can- Disregarding these clear directions and the not intimidate or silence them any more than it plain lessons of history, nations today seek secur- could silence or destroy the Apostolic Church. ity and prosperity through armaments, treaties, "Truth crushed to earth will rise again." Christ human laws and "recovery codes," through regu- is still the power of God and the wisdom of God. lation of crops and prices, by labor organizations and chambers of commerce, by social security acts EARTHQUAKES AND FAMINE-WHAT and increased taxation. At the same time they NEXT? neglect the cultivation of justice, righteousness, brotherly love and Christian education. Is it any Recently, on almost the same day, newspapers wonder that "Icabod" is so often written over were filled with reports of disaster in many parts legislative halls and business marts, over court- of the globe. Formosa, the large island about houses and educational institutions and even over 100 miles off the southeastern coast of China, churches? largely inhabited by Chinese but now ruled by Japan, reported (April 22) a severe earthquake in The Word of God comes to America, as to the which some 2,500 people were killed, nearly 7,000 people in the days of the prophet Isaiah: "Seek homes were wrecked, 250,000 people are reported ye the Lord, while he may be found; call ye upon homeless, and much other damage was done. This him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his is one of twenty-five great earthquakes of the way; and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and present century in which 290,000 people have lost let him return unto the Lord and he will have their lives. mercy upon him and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." Formosa is a mountainous island about 235 miles long and 50 to 100 miles wide, with a popu- GERMAN ANTI-CHRISTIAN ACTIVITY Recent reports from Germany announce that the seventy-year-old General, Erich Ludendorff, the eccentric military genius of the World War, has appealed to the Teutonic people to abandon all faith in Christ and the Bible and to return to the worship of the Teutonic god Odin-whom he calls the "holy wellspring of German power." General Ludendorff claims that the Hitler drive for German unity and power will not be effective without national unity and that this unity is attainable only by the adoption of a Teutonic god-a legendary being.
lation of some five million Chinese, Japanese and Council to the Belgian Minister of the Colonies aborigines. The principal cities and towns are says in part: on the west coast. This is the island where Dr. The Colony has some 250 doctors. About 165 (of whom George Leslie MacKay, of the Canadian Presby- more than half are foreigners) belong to the official service, terian Church, carried on a very remarkable mis- 15 are in the Catholic mission service, and 50 belong to sionary work a half century ago. His work was the Protestant missions. The medical budget amounts to located in the north at Tamsui (Taihoku), while the English Presbyterian Church occupies sta- 76,000,000 francs. Of this total, Protestant doctors receive tions in the southeastern part of the island. The between 600,000 and 700,000 francs, being about 1%. The 15 Catholic doctors receive all expenses, just as though they were Government doctors; and the 50 Protestant doctors recent earthquake was confined to the west central receive only . . . 1%! Protestant hospitals, dispensaries, residences for doctors and nurses, and their entire equiparea of the island where there are no foreign ment have been paid for by the funds of the Protestant missionaries. missions, whereas all this has been furnished by the Gov- ernment to the Catholic missions. . . . Certain facts On the same day reports came from China that 12,000,000 Chinese are suffering from famine due clearly distinguish our medical work from that of the to drought in eight provinces-Hainan, Anhwei, Catholics: Ours was not established at Government ex- pense; it was not established to compete in any way with and Hupeh suffering most. Many victims are the work of another confession; it has never established said to have been reduced to eating the bark of a medical service in a region already served by a doctor trees, roots and grass, having exhausted the sup- belonging to another confession. In short, it has only ply of dogs and other domestic animals. Women thought of offering to the greatest number of suffering and children are being sold to the highest bidders. humanity the medical care of which before they had been deprived. . . . We know that often the Catholic mis- The central areas in the United States have sions, even with their subsidies provided by the State, been suffering from prolonged drought, followed refuse to receive Protestant patients on account of their by great dust storms that have swept up thou- faith.
sands of acres of surface soil and have carried What, then, is it that we ask? Medicine being a public service, we ask that the Colonial Department follow a the dust as far west as Los Angeles and as far policy inspired by the benevolent impartiality which Beleast as New York. Discomfort and disease have gium has engaged itself to practice in virtue of the Coloresulted from inhaling the dust; traffic has been nial Charter and in adhering to the Treaty of St. Ger- temporarily blocked in some places and large main-en-Laye: that the Government shall "protect and farms have been stripped of fertile soil. favour, without distinction of nationality or religion, all In the midst of these and many other wide- religious, scientific or charitable institutions and enterspread distresses and disasters it would seem that prises.
men, who have prided themselves on their phys- Regarding education the report goes on to show ical conquests, and on their discoveries and inven- how the same discriminatory measures have been tions in the scientific and natural realm, would pursued despite the fact that the Protestant turn from war and destruction to give all their Church has been the pioneer in the field and has energies to constructive activity to establish har- brought great blessing to the Congo. The report monious relations with nature, with one another gives instances where special prestige is given to and with God. The world needs to submit to the Catholic prelates by government's ceremonials to rule of Jesus Christ. impress the natives. It also cites case after case of cruelty practised upon the natives by priests ROME'S GREAT MISSIONARY ACTIVITY in order to induce them to turn Catholics.
The present Pope of the Roman Catholic Church Other reports tell how Roman Catholic mission- is very active as missionary propagandist. No aries are establishing schools and- hospitals near one need to be surprised and none should criticize some of the best Protestant stations in an effort him or his Church for such activity, but there may to draw off the Protestant adherents. Instances be grounds for criticism of Roman Catholic are given where children are intimidated and methods. The Protestant Council of the Belgian even beaten to make them stop attending Protes- Congo recently prepared a protest against some tant schools. The missionary representations to of these methods and against the favoritism the Belgian Government are not complaints shown to Roman Catholic workers and because against legitimate Roman Catholic activity but of discrimination against the work of Protestant call attention to unfair government discrimina- missions shown by Belgian officials in the Congo. tion and to cases of intimidation and persecution. These discriminations have been extremely detri- The present King and Parliament in Belgium are mental to evangelical work-especially to the more inclined to give Protestants fair treatment Protestant mission schools and hospitals-some or and have promised to see that these abuses cease.
which have been established in the Belgian Congo There is a great reason for thankfulness that the for half a century. case of evangelical Christians is in the hands of The document forwarded by the Protestant God. .
the Home Mission
By REV. MARK A. DAWBER, D.D., Philadelphia, Pa.
Superintendent of the Department of Rural Work, Board of Home Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church T HE last five years have witnessed the round- church no less than government is called upon to ing out of the first century of organized home face the new demands of these changes. Our mission work in America. Several denomi- planned agriculture and industry to meet the new nations have been celebrating this century of ac- economic and social problems will require a new tivities and achievement. There is probably no home missions to bring to these new frontiers the chapter in American history more thrilling than dynamic of Christianity and unless this can be that which records the exploits of those early done and done quickly, there is grave danger that pioneers who blazed the trail into the American the mould of the new economic civilization will be wilderness, across the Rockies and penetrated into set without the safeguards and guiding principles of the Christian religion.* the far West, keeping pace with the population as it Are the days of pioneering in Home Missions Restated moved ever westward in search of new lands in which home missions past? Is there Home missions must now to settle. A few of these old more land to possess, a need for be restated in terms of presfrontier mission tasks re- more churches? There are re~ ent-day conditions. The primain but the work of estab- ported to be at least fifty mi1~ mary purpose is the same as lishing the Church in the lion people in America not con~ ever, that of making Jesus rapidly developing move- nected with any church-Cath~ Christ available, known and ments of the closing days of olic or Protestant. The task is accepted to underprivileged, the nineteenth century and still with us but it is different ignorant and indifferent peo- the beginning of the twen- from that which faced the early ple, and through Him to tieth, has never been com- bring people to a knowledge pleted. Many of the old fron- pioneers. Dr. Dawber points of God and His love for sintiers still remain, church- out ways in which we must fill ful man and to show the posless and godless, and are sibility of redemption and even now a challenge to the our church program with new salvation. From this point methods if we would win Amer~ ica for Christ.
Church. of view the problem is the But for the most part the same as in former days. But old frontier is gone. The old haphazard move- there is a difference in degree of need, and in the ment of peoples westward and the influx of multi- attitude of underprivileged people toward the tudes of foreign-speaking peoples from Europe to cause of their need. Home missions must do more take their pla'Ce in the rapidly-expanding indus- than meet these needs, it must address itself to tries, is gone-at least for the present-and there remove or overcome the causes. Too long have are those who predict that it is gone forever. The we been content to be the stretcher-bearer for an settling up process has given way to a settling economic system that was unj ust and therefore down process, that brings with it a new set of unchristian and that has cast its wreckage of life factors with which home missions must grapple. on the scrap-heap of humanity to be cared for by A planned economy to meet intensive living, as the Mission Boards and other benevolent institu- against the old easy-going policy of expansion, is tions. "Prevention is better than cure," but it is now the order of the day. New types of control less spectacular. It is much easier to arouse the are abroad in the land and many of them are here to stay. The old frontiers have gone but new • It was for this purpose that the Home Missions Council set frontiers, far more difficult and creating greater needs, have t aken the p1ace 0 f the oId. The forth to explore the situation and to record Its judgment and suggest nation, yes the whole world, is now in the throes a program and policy that would help the Home Mission Boards to of readjustment and reconstruction made neces- face up with the new task that lies before them. The results of sary becaus~ of these changing frontiers. The this study covering a period of five years were published a year ago in the book "Home Missions Today and Tomorrow." A casual glance at this volume will reveal the tremendous task that now confronts the Church If It is to occupy a place of respect and be ~~n~~:~t~~. in~.h~.n~~ economic, social and moral frontiers of our [263 ]
sympathy of people to give money to alleviate the administrative offices seeking employment. Othsuffering of people, than it is to get support to ers have gone directly to closed churches and prevent suffering. The Mission Boards must now offered their services at a mere pittance of a salmarch out on these new economic and social fron- ary, in order to get a shelter and enough to eat. tiers to wage war against any and every agency Mission Boards must be alert in protecting the and institution that in any way contributes to the use of funds for churches that will make an appeal poverty and destitution of the people. The decla- to supplement the salary of men who are serving ration of this new purpose will doubtless make under such conditions. In a word, the problem enemies of certain individuals and groups whose of competition is intensified as we pass from an consciences will prick them and who take refuge increasing population to a relative decrtasing one. in defensive mechanisms of traditional ways of expr,essing religion. On the other hand the ac- Institutional Changes ceptance of this new purpose will make a host of new friends and supporters who wish to help in Home missions must be restated in terms of constructive work for the rebuilding of society on certain institutional work. Schools, hospitals, a truly Christian basis. homes and certain social services have undergone a vast change. We are facing a very different set Among- Foreign Language Groups of factors that make unnecessary the develop- ment, and, in many instances, the continuance of Home missions must be restated at the point of this type of work. In the early days of pioneer the changes that have come to certain special life, it was right that the church should organize groups. The ministry to foreign-speaking peoples and promote such institutions. The state and the has received a considerable share of home mis- local communities were neither able or interested sion funds. During the expansion period of in- to do so and the church has rendered a muchdustry, people from other lands flocked to Amer- needed service in initiating and standing by such ica by the millions. To keep up with this invasion, institutions until the state and local communities and to meet the ever-moving stream of this migra- could care for this work. There are still certain tion, has been a most difficult task. No other situations where pioneer and underprivileged concountry has ever faced such a problem so that ditions obtain so that the church must continue there was no previous experience upon which to the work of education, hospital and relief service. develop the program. But this need is passing as a responsibility of the Mission Boards, and they must now frankly face We have now reached the end of this immigrant the task of readjustment that comes as the result movement, at least for the present. The tide has of the change. tu:vned and recent studies show that for every foreigner who came in under the quota in 1933, A National Responsibility thirty-five went out. From now on the task will be that of winning the second and third genera- Home missions must be restated as a national tion of the foreign groups. responsibility. Certain types of service are the primary responsibility, and the total church mem- This will require a program and a policy that bership must be made to feel the obligation. will be centered in the English-speaking churches Other lesser needs become the responsibility of that are in close proximity. There will be certain certain areas that have within them the resources exceptions, but for most situations it will require to care for them. Home missions must be claria readjustment of program to reach these people. fied at the point of this distinction.
Denominational Competition The intensive lifenow upon us will demand that mission funds be used for certain well-defined Home missions must be restated from the point types of service that will qualify as a national of view of comity and cooperation. The problem respon~ibility. In this class we include the work of competition was not a sensitive one in the days among Negroes, Southern Mountains, Alaska, of expansion for the denominations felt justified Puerto Rico, Hawaii, certain language groups, in locating new churches, since the future prom- needy industrial and rural areas and special projised rapid growth of population. This policy can ects that are rapidly developing under the reconno longer be defended and denominations are struction and rehabilitation program of the Govobligated to confer with one another as to the ernment. location of new churches to meet the changes that are necessary. The present situation and the immediate future require that the home mission task be more clearly Another element has now entered into the pic- defined, and restated and the projects selected on ture and that is making the task of comity and the basis of these new and more valid standards cooperation difficult. Hundreds of unemployed of missionary need and service. ministers are knocking at the doors of church
RESTATING THE HOME MISSION TASK
The Church Building Program phasized the primary work as related to present- ing Christ and His program to indifferent and un- The foregoing statement if true would suggest derprivileged people, there is also a responsibility a restatement of home missions in the field of that rests upon home missions in' its relation to church erection. If we have reached the end of the whole Church. Self-supporting churches form the expansion period, then it stands to reason the home base of giving for the work conducted there will be less demand for church expansion in by Mission Boards. If this spring of resources terms of building. That there will be many home dries up, there is little that the Boards can do. Remission needs in this field goes without saying. cent years have witnessed a terrific shrinking in Old frontier communities are still lacking in suit- the giving of the churches and this cannot all be able church buildings and equipment, but they charged to the "depression." The greatest loss will not be needed at every crossroads as in the took place in the so-called prosperity years, so past. Rather, they should be placed at strategic that we must look to some other cause than the centers of population development and changed depression upon which to hang the blame. . conditions of transportation. Many old churches are in need of remodeling and additions, and This loss in giving seems best explained by loss where this is necessary in missionary territory, of interest, not only in missions, but in Christithe home mission agencies will be faced with a anity itself. Jesus Christ is no longer an imperacontinuing responsibilty. tive fact in life. The majority of church members do not seem to have any deep concern about the A tremendous task also confronts the Church in redemption of the world. Jesus Christ is not a meeting the burden of indebtedness that rests significant factor in their own lives, therefore, upon hundreds of churches that have been erected they are not concerned about the significance of in recent years. The value of this service cannot Christ for others. This I believe to be the crux be overstated, but it must be segregated from of the present problem. People are not going to home missions except where the service is ren- strain themselves to make the Gospel available to dered in strictly home missio1;l projects. We do lesser privileged groups unless the Gospel is acnot desire to minimize the importance and the cepted as imperative for themselves. It is not place of church erection in the Christian enter- information about missions these people need, it prise, but rather to call attention to the changed is information about Jesus Christ and a vital relaemphasis that is necessary as the result of the tion to Him. change in the nature of the work as home missions passes from the expansion period to one of Home Mission Boards have a tremendous regeographical and population limitations. It is not sponsibility in the deepening of the spiritual life now a task of building more churches, but of pay- of the whole Church, to make Christ real and iming for those already built and developing and perative to the total membership and to quicken extending the ministry of the same. the sense of His abiding significance to all those who profess to be His followers. If this can be Home Missions and Christianity done, there will be new hope and larger resources with which to carryon the enlarging task of mak- Our task must also be restated in terms of the ing America Christian. total Christian enterprise. While we have em- FROZEN SPIRITUAL ASSETS and For years the world has staggered under haastrebmeeenndthoeusfrowzeeinghatssoeftse.coBnoumt iacllstthriengfreonzcey~ one of the major reasons for this situation assets are n~t ~aterial. There are the potential assets of faith, hope, and love frozen solid under ~h.e thIck Ice of prayerlessness, complacency, irritability, and insincerity. Frozen moral and spIrItual assets are, as a rule, exclusively individualistic in nature and self-inflicted.
Many of us have not been worthy stewards of God, wisely dispensing the spiritual wealth entrusted to our keeping. We have permitted ourselves to become pawns and slaves to fluc- tuating commercialism and have deteriorated vinaltuoesspiisriotufapladrwamaorfus~tbiymbpoowrtianngcae titnhtehaelbtaurilod-f materialism. The fair appraisal of intrinsic ing of a life. .
. A power greater than our own is needed to liquidate the frozen assets of the soul. Jesus Chrlst has that power.-Rev. Harry G. Earle, in "The Christian Advocate."
Changing Frontier in
By REV. HERMANN N. MORSE, New York Author of liToward a Christian America"
THE dominant force in the development of its, who always answer the call of adventure, rest- home missions from its beginnings until now less, reckless men for the most part; those who has been the frontier, in much the same way have encountered misfortune, or who have failed that childhood dominates the school, or that sick- to get ahead in the old and have turned to the new ness dominates the hospital. Without the one the for a fresh start, hard-working, substantial folk, other would never have been. ready to pull the wheelhorse's load; and those who just cannot abide the restrictions or accept The historian, Frederick J. Turner, was the the responsibilities of developed community life. first to elaborate the theory of the frontier as a controlling influence in our There are always two national history. Other his- sides of the frontier picture, torians, such as Charles A. What has become of the geo- what is left behind and what and Mary R. Beard and graphical frontier which has lies ahead of the moving pop- James Truslow Adams, have been pushed westward into the ulation line. For the commumade much of the signifi- Pacific Ocean? With churches nities out of which the micance of the frontier. Peter and Christian institutions scat- grants have come there is a G. Mode, in a suggestive lit- tered all over the land, why is greater or less degree of tIe book published a few not the task of home missions stagnation. Ahead of them years ago, emphasized the completed? Dr. Morse answers is the raw newness of the contribution of the frontier tIhnisonqeuesesntisoe nt-haet hleoamset imn ispsairotn. frontier. Thus there has al- task will never be completed unspirit to the development of til every man, woman and child ways been the contrast of American Christianity. In has at least a fair opportunity the old and the new, in some the thought of these writers, to know and accept Christ and sense a conflict between the most distinctive charac- to live a normal Christian life them, a conflict between the teristics of American life in a Christ-governed commu- rigidity of the old and the have been a direct result of nity. That will be only when plasticity of the new, bethe way in which this coun- Christ reigns supreme. tween the conservatism of try was settled and has the old and the adventure- grown to maturity. The ness of the new, between the frontier, or rather the suc- orderly organization of the cessive frontiers, furnished the keynote of the old and the militant individualism of the new. process. At no point in the story of the nation is this so evident as in the development of the home Always, too there has been the sense of change impending, and actually going on. Such change mission enterprise. has been thought of as toward something "bigger Even the more obvious aspects of our national and better," a slogan as typically American as "E Pluribus Unum." A steady and practically history reveal the effects of certain constant, or unlimited growth has been accepted as our na-' at least constantly recurring, influences. New ter- tional destiny. Every new village has dreamed ritories were opened to settlement. Populations metropolitan dreams. Every new business has were redistributed. Our history began on that thought in terms of empire. note and each decade adds illustrations. The process is not yet completed. Only yesterday we It is easy to see why the frontier idea domi- read of new projects in Alaska, in Arkansas, in nated home miss-ions. The man who isn't going Washington, in Tennessee-magnets for thou- anywhere needs no guide. If he is building nothsands of families. Each new advance from first ing, he needs no carpenter. If he is mature and to last had its scouts, pathfinders and surveyors. in good health, he needs neither nurse nor physi- Each drew people out of old settlements to estab- ciano But the frontier meant that many people lish new. Generally, the same three classes of were going places, were building things, were people have responded; the bold pioneering spir- growing up in new environments, were struggling [266 ] to overcome obstacles, were enduring hardships. The following decade saw work extending into Home missions was simply the way of the Church Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, Arizona, Utah and to serve such people. Frontier meant something among the Indians and the Spanish-speaking peo- primitive, unformed, lacking in the privileges and ple in the Southwest. This decade also confronted values which we associate with normal living. the churches with the tremendous problems inci- What the frontier meant concretely in the his- dent to the freeing of theNegro slaves.
tory of home missions is too long and too familiar The next two decades saw the extension of work a story for retelling here. The frontier and home into Alaska, the beginning of work among Hun- missions were children together and grew up to- garians and the definite crystallization of the gether. We may date the beginning of an organ- concern of the Church for its ministry among ized program for home missions on a national European immigrants and for the problems of its scale at around 1800. From that time until the growing cities. At this time, too, the Southern present practically every decade confronted home Mountains were rediscovered as a missionary missions with some strikingly new situation, problem. The same decades saw the initiation of either a new territory to enter, a new type of pop- the modern program of Sunday School Missions.
ulation to serve, or a new sort of problem to solve. In the last decade of the century occurred the Furthermore, in each decade the advance agents beginning of work in lumber camps and, as the of home missions were scouting out the tasks that century was drawing to a close, the entry by the would engage the Church in subsequent decades. Church of Cuba and Puerto Rico.
By 1800, mission work was under way in all The first decade of the new century saw the be- of the Atlantic seaboard and New England states ginnings of the modern programs of country and in Kentucky and Tennessee. Without attempt- church work and of city church extension and also ing too exact a chronology, it will be of interest to the organization of the great interdenominational recall some of the high points of the later progress bodies in tlie field of home missions.
by decades. This was followed by the launching of the The first decade saw work extending into Mich- cooperative program in Santo Domingo, the de- igan, Ohio, Indiana, Louisiana and among the velopment of a program of work among migrants, Cherokee Indians in the south and the Tuscarora the beginning of service to the Filipinos, and the Indians in the north. facing of the emergency situations created by the The second decade added Illinois, and Missouri conditions of the past few years.
when Salmon Giddings established in St. Louis Through all these years the program of home the first Protestant church west of the Mississippi. missions has had to make provision not only for In this decade occurred the great mission tours of carrying the old and continuing tasks, but for Mills and Schemmerhorn through the Mississippi constant extensions into new fields and the under- Valley as far south as New Orleans in which was taking of new tasks. It is natural enough to ask revealed the religious destitution of that great whether that is still true today and whether there era. is still a place for the frontier idea in home The third decade saw work extended into Ar- missions.
kansas and Wisconsin. In answering this question we will consider the The fourth decade was marked by expansion in frontier in four of its persistent aspects.
many directions. Work was initiated in Minne- People on the Move sota, Kansas, Oklahoma, Iowa and Texas. The Ponds began work among the Sioux Indians in The first of these concerns that hardy perennial Minnesota to be followed not long afterward by of all the days of home missions, the new settle- John P. Williamson and Stephen R. Riggs. Jason ment and the problem of 'people on the move.
Lee, Marcus Whitman and H. H. Spalding began People are still on the move in this country. A their epic-making labors in the far northwest. saying of James Truslow Adams that "America The fifth decade added Nebraska in the middle is settled up and Americans must settle down,"
west, New Mexico in the southwest and California is sometimes quoted as though the redistribution on the coast. In the latter state mission work was of American population had practically come to begun within a year after the discovery of gold an end. On the contrary, there is under way right and the start of the great overland trek. There- now a redistribution of population of considerable after population began to flow from both east and magnitude. Many forces are at work in this, in- west into the Rocky Mountain states. cluding drought, unemployment, emergency, pub- During the sixth decade work was begun in lic works, federal policies for the acql1isition of Colorado and South Dakota. The first church for marginal lands for park purposes or for reforest- Orientals, outside of Asia, was organized in San ation, and other forces too numerous to mention.
Francisco. ' So far as the numbers involved are concerned, it
is likely that the present decade will witness as in northern Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. great a dislodgment of people from their old A considerable number of such Homestead Projhomes as any decade in the history of the nation. ects are now under way or are planned.
Not all of such population movements, of course, During the past five years there has been more create new situations for home missions since individual homesteading in some parts of the west much of the movement of the population is into than in many years previous. A missionary in communities already provided with churches. New Mexico, for example, found in a certain area But constantly new situations are being created. several hundred newly arrived families among whom two promising churches have been organ- Some years ago when construction was begun ized. In Arkansas, an area of 20,000 acres of on Boulder Dam, seven denominations associated fine, fertile land has been reclaimed by drainage. with the Home Missions Council cooperated in Recently, families began to move in from different the establishment of a joint religious enterprise counties in the state. Here the missionary has for the 7,000 or more people who made up the organized a Sunday school which has from 150 inhabitants of Boulder City. A minister was to 200 attendance. Elsewhere in the west one established, a church organized, a building erect- missionary reports that he has had contact with ed, and a fruitful program of religious ministry sixty-eight different communities and another has been carried forward. Now this enterprise with fifty-one. In almost all of these settlements is nearing completion well ahead of schedule and no religious work was being maintained except people are beginning to move out. However, what the itinerant missionary could provide. there are still 1,400 children and young people in Boulder City, an amply worth-while field of min- All sections of the country have by now become istry. accustomed to the challenge and the opportunity represented by the CCC Camps. Recently the In Washington, work is under way on the announcement was made that during the present Grand Coulee Dam, which is a very much larger year the number of such camps would be increased project than the Boulder Dam. Here about 5,000 from 1,468 to 2,916, and that the number of young men are working and a cooperative religious pro- men in them would be increased from 303,000 to gram is already under way. This is an irrigation 600,000. project designed to impound the waters of the Columbia River in the Grand Coulee for the ulti- Many illustrations of this sort could be given. mate irrigation of 1,750,000 acres of the Columbia The problem of missionary extension which they basin. The soil is rich, only needing water, and create is no whit less important than the similar when irrigated the basin will furnish homes for problem in the days of the covered wagon. Here 40,000 families on small farms. are people in new surroundings. Some will re- main in a given location only for a short time. Forty-two miles up the Columbia River from Others are building their homes and establishing Portland, Oregon, is the Bonneville Dam now in permanent communities. Whether they are in the process of construction where 2,000 or more men one case or the other, they present a definite need are now being employed. Here, too, a cooperative for the ministry of the Church. religious program is under way. The Unserved Populations Considerable publicity has been given to the various homestead projects being developed by the Equally insistent is the problem presented by Federal Government as a part of its program of the unserved populations, who for one reason or relief and rehabilitation. another are not reached by the existing churches. This is a second aspect of the frontier which has At Crossville, Tennessee, for example, is located long engaged the attention of home mission agenthe Cumberland Homestead. This is designed for cies. Some of the most significant and stirring 350 families, each of whom will have a small farm episodes of home mission history have been conwith a fine modern house. These families are cerned with the efforts of the church to carry its being recruited from the ranks of unemployed ministry of service across the lines of race and . coal miners and others who in their former homes color and class. This phase of extension has been have had an insufficient measure of support, most a task as great in extent as the primary task of of them being on the relief rolls. Here will be geographical extension and has been more difficreated a new community of possibly 1,500 select- cult. This does not present many entirely new ed people. phases, now that immigration from foreign coun- tries has virtually ceased, but in even its oldest In the Matanuska Valley of Alaska, near An- aspects it is a task as yet largely uncompleted. chorage, a similar homestead project is under way which will provide homes for 200 families. These The most recent challenge has been that of the families, many of them of Swedish or Finnish considerable number of Filipinos on the Pacific extraction, with many young children, are being selected from among those who are now on relief
THE CHANGING FRONTIER IN AMERICA
Coast. Before the Filipino immigration was sus- dren in such migrant families hardly one in fifty pended last year the number of arrivals, coming is now being served through this program.
chiefly by way of Hawaii, had reached a total of Frontiers of Poverty 60,000, most of whom have settled in California.
A report' just received from an interdenomina- In the third place we are still confronted by the tional executive, who recently surveyed this situa- frontiers of poverty and need in all the distinctive tion, summarizes the problem in cryptic phrases: missionary areas in which work is being carried Sixty thousand-mostly young men. No legal protec- on. There is a disposition among some to assume tion. Migrant seasonable workers. Living conditions bad. that except for the emergency created by the pres- Gambling and shooting common. Little being done for ent depression, the need for missionary work in them. Not welcome as a rule 'in American churches. the fields of education, health and community The Christian work among them is largely car- service has been largely eliminated by the developried on through Filipino Christian Fellowships, ment of public agencies.
which are interdenominational in character, but A government bulletin has just been received in many cases sponsored and assisted financially reporting the results of a survey of social and by denominational groups. An annual conference, economic conditions in the Southern Appalachi- on a definite constitutional basis, of all of these ans. This document, replete with maps and charts Fellowships on the Pacific Coast is now in process and tables, bears sober testimony to the contin- of formation. There are in California seven dif- uance of those conditions which prompted the ferent centers having each from 3,000 to 10,000 development of the mission program in that area.
Filipinos, while others are scattered all along the A few facts, culled at random from the report, coast. The present program of service needs to show that there is still physical isolation in the be very greatly extended and greatly strength- mountains. In over sixty counties less than a ened. third of the farms are located on improved roads.
Of all the racial groups with which Protestant To anyone who has ever ridden over unimproved mission agencies have had contact through the roads in the mountains this speaks volumes. On years doubtless the least progress has been made 30% of the farms the total value of all farm with the Jews. Much has been written concern- products sold, traded, or used is less than $400 ing the importance of developing the Christian per year per farm. For sixteen townships, the approach to the Jewish people. They are an im- average per farm is $25'7. Let any housewife pressively influential element of our national life. figure how far $257 a year in cash or farm prod- They are widely scattered, being found in consid- ucts could be made to go for the support of a large erable numbers in almost every city and large family. Typical public school conditions are still town in the country. It is conceded that very below average in the mountains. In seven coun- many of them have no more than a nominal at- ties, over one-fifth of the children of public school tachment, if that, to the church of their fathers. age do not attend school. In twenty-three coun- Today, as always, the general attitude of the ties, three-fourths or more of those of high school Christian Church toward the Jews is as great an age are not in school. Eleven counties show an obstacle in the way of the Christian ministry to illiteracy rate of 7% or more among children 10 them as is their attitude toward the Christian to 20 years of age. In seventeen counties the Church. average school year covers less than 135 days. In Almost any of the other distinctive racial two whole states more than one-half of the teach- groups in America would serve as an illustration ers in public school have had no more than high of the need that still remains for the pioneer school education.
extension of missionary work. The national con- . In the West Indies ference, held last winter, on evangelical work among the Italians was an impressive demonstra- A recent volume of the Foreign Policy Associa- tion of the substantial progress which had been tion on "Problems of the New Cuba," gives a made and of the splendid leadership which had vivid picture of difficulties to be duplicated in been developed. But it equally demonstrated the other West Indian islands. This study, while size and importance of the work remaining to be showing the great progress that has been made done. The same could be said of the annual con- in many fields since the formation of the Republic, ·ferences of the Council of Spanish-speaking Work. piles up the evidence of pressing economic, educa- There is justifiable satisfaction in the program tional, health, and welfare needs. Half of the sponsored by the Council of Women for Home population are illiterate. The general standard Missions for service among migrant workers. of living is low and fluctuating. Economic prob- But the satisfaction must be tempered by the lems are complicated and difficult. A summary of realization that of the estimated number of chil- case studies of forty~one typical families showed
that only seven had a total annual income in cash A Frontier of Ideas and Ideals and in goods in excess of $500. Ten families showed annual incomes of less than $300. Finally, there is a frontier of ideas and ideals of which home missions must continue to take ac- Similar citations could be made with respect count. An eminent preacher said recently: to many other large groups within the home mission field. The plain fact is that millions of peo- Scientific knowledge has its limits, not temporarily but ple, quite aside from the emergency of unemploy- permanently. There are areas of our experience where ment, are living below a reasonable sustenance life essentially is and always must be an adventure into level, and that no possible extension of govern- the unknown. The chief value of knowledge is not that mental service can be expected wholly to meet it makes everything certain, but that it constitutes a their needs for the facilities of normal living. frontier backed by vast resources from which expeditions into the unknown may hopefully set out. These things have a bearing upon the service ministry of home missions. Even moreunmis- Home missions has had a value in the Church takable is the case for its evangelistic ministry. Every study of the church situation in America over and above the value of its specific accomhas indicated the uneven degree of success in winning to Christian fellowship the inhabitants of plishments in that it has kept alive the importance different sections and different types of communities. Even more significantly such studies have of' certain great human and religious questions. demonstrated the insecurity and the inadequacy of the churches upon'which many people depend. It has been a concrete demonstration of the The recent volume by Drs. Douglass and Brunner, "The Protestant Church as a Social Institution," Church's concern for human welfare in the broadreveals the fact that the average church both in city and country is below the point of effective- est and most fundamental sense of that term. ness in program, leadership, financial strength and membership. It is pointed out that between Really to apprehend and accept the full signifi- 1,000 and 1,500 rural churches are abandoned every year and that many of these are in commu~ cance of the missionary movement implies comnities which do not receive adequate service from any other existing churches. Thus the rural mitment to the principles of social justice and areas continguous to most cities and towns, the economically retarded areas, generally, and many universal brotherhood. It is still too true that thousands of scattered rural neighborhoods in all parts of the country, are deprived of effective many people are held back in their advancement Christian leadership and service. by handicaps for which they have not been respon- sible and which they cannot overcome unaided.
Many are the victims of arbitrary and unChris- tian discriminations. One Christian mission to America is not completed by preaching the Gospel and by the performance of kindly services for those who are in need-important as these are.
It would not be completed thus, even if all indi- vidual Americans were nominally won to an ac- ceptance of Christian discipleship. Implicit in the task is the making Christian of our collective life and beyond that the christianizing of our total influence as a nation in the world. This frontier of ideas and ideals lies all around us.
Here, then, are four Louisiana aspects of the frontier Purchase which still persist. They do not wear quite the same face as in genera- Ceded by in tions past. They have Mexico different symbols and 1848 must be met with differ- 1 7 8 g e n t measures, but to as great a degree as ever in the past they demand from the C h u r c h of.
Christ a pioneering en- LATER ADDITIONS thusiasm, an unquench- Alaska Territory able zeal and an uncon- Hawaii and Guam Puerto Rico quering faith. The Philippines Virgin Islands, W. I.
"CHARACTER MAKES CITIZENSHIP – RELIGION BUILDS CHARACTER"
was the slogan of the St. John's Lutheran Church School in the civic parade at Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Thirteen nationalities were represented in. national costumes.
The Problem of Unassimilated Americans By the REV. W. C. SCHAEFFER, Allentown, Pa.
Pastor of the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church T HE presence of the foreigner among us to agitation and incitement to violence that aim again raises an issue that is acute. Sentiment at the destruction of constitutional government and interest in this matter advance and re- and at the overthrow of our institutions. Sixteen cede in waves. For years the attitude is one of such agencies under long range direction by the apathy or aloofness and then suddenly some crisis Russian Soviet are said to be operating here and shocks us to awareness of.the number, vigor and a sharp curb should be put on radicalism foment- origins of our newer immigrants. In times of ed from alien sources. Confirmed terrorists also danger or distress unassimiIated groups are held offer a knotty problem that cannot be handled in suspicion as a menace or a burden and great softly.
need arises for the exercise of fairness and right Moreover the crisis created by non-employment judgment. seems greatly intensified by the unassimilated The many angles to this question defy identical mass of foreign population. Much capital has treatment. Some phases call for highly special- been made of the use of the uncanny coincidence ized skills of trained experts in government de- that the number of unnaturalized aliens plus the partments. None of us are for unbridled license illegal entrants, 5,748,760, equals roughly the [271 ]
total number of our unemployed workers.. These It was in answer to the world's great need that figures can be repeated carelessly enough to imply the Son of God came as the world's Saviour. that the sole responsibility for the present unem.- ployment situation rests with this group. Need offers the challenge to the Church to strengthen rather than reduce the ministering In any case certainly the cure does nQtlie in forces. Jesus' word is "the whole need not a precipitate action making for nominal citizenship. physician but they that are sick." Not survival This high privilege should be sought only on the basis of mature judgment and conviction, a mat- but conquest is the fit slogan of the Church. ter of character not of expediency. Pressure A first approach can be based on that which is directed from any other motive will work disastrously. Isaac F. Marcosson said recently, best in the background of the groups to be influ- enced. Many foreigners who do not impress us Although millions of aliens refrain from assuming the even as literate because of their struggle· with a strange language can order their thoughts coherobligations of citizenship because of indifference or lack ently, have a highly developed sense of apprecia- of conviction, which makes for divided loyalty, others are tion in music and art. Indeed a frequent obstacle is encountered in their loss of respect because glad to do so because of the ~irage of easy money. Since many customs current here run counter to supe- the agitation for the Townsend plan, naturalization of- ficers, particularly in California, have done a booming rior customs prevalent in the old world. In the mind of many aliens culture is more important business with sixty-year and older aliens eager to get under the Utopian umbrella. The prospect of $200 a month for the rest of their lives is obviously a far more than outward acctimmulation which is too gener- ally accepted as a symbol of success among us. potent lure to citizenship than safety and succor under Their filial obedience and'fiqelity in religious obthe American flag. . servance often rise. up ito shame us. In many centers Young Women's' GhristianAssociations have done a noble work. . Groups of fo;reigners are encouraged to give expression "in folk. f~sti vals and homeland exhibits to that whicp is p()te~…
and characteristic racially. Often these are liIiked with exhibits of production here that mak~ easy the transition in thought from their native home to the home of their adoption. .
But much more is needed to knit into our na- tional fabric the lives of our new Americans. This is a matter of character and character is the fruit of religion. This is the business of the Church. The point of contact here is in the ris- FOREIGN BORN PREPARING FOR NATURALIZATION ing generation. In the old world, because of the prevalence in most countries of the es,tablished Despite all these difficulties it is amazing how church, religious instruction is incorporated in the most of them dissolve under the application the scheme of general education. We do not have of faith. The problem is largely one of penetra- this in America and we do not want it. But in tion into the isolation of these people's separate our system of education we are under a queer existence and this is the purpose of Christianity. obsession in our interpretation of the principles The crux is not in the barriers raised by the of the founders. Their idea of religious freedom communities of foreigners as much as in the reluctance to function on the part of the people whose was a freedom to cultivate faith and piety. We very business is goodwill. In every community exercise our freedom to neglect faith and piety. where there are foreigners there are churches; As Dr. Butler said last December in his address these churches should constantly be exerting the to the trustees of Columbia University, "So far spirit of interest and helpfulness and serVice that as tax supported schools are concerned, an odd becomes a bond of union and leads to oneness of ideals, aspirations and desires. situation has arisen. The separation of Church and State is fundamental in our American politi- This calls for much reconstruction of thought on the part of the followers of Christ. It is the cal order, but so far as religious instruction is rep:r-oach of Protestant churches that they retreat concerned, this principle has been so far departed under the pressure of need in adversely-changing from as to put the whole force and influence of environments. This is reversing the Divine order. the tax-supported school on the side of one ele- ment of the population-namely that which is pagan and believes in no religion wha,tever . . . The school would. refrain from religious instruc- tion of any type, but it would also cease from a
THE PROBLEM OF UNASSIMILATED AMERICANS
policy which now makes it impossible for the song was arranged to which the children invited family or the church to put religious instruction their parents. A beginning was made with an upon its true basis." Then Dr. Butler declared old-fashioned magic lantern; then a balopticon that the allotment of a definite time for religious was secured; then a silent/ motion picture proteaching away from the school building would jector and now improved sound for a community lead parents and children "to look upon religious night that repeats its program three times and instruotion as vitally important and as constitut- attracts three thousand people. This community ing an essential part of the process of education." night has built up a Sunday church night which We record the solemn conviction that the real draws many of the same audience, and in which menace in America is not in the limited group of familiar visual projection aides are used for the agitators of violence but in the ever-growing hymns and even for portions of the liturgical number of the rising generation, estimated today service. In these ways a whole community of at about seventeen million, whose lives are un- divergent and often hostile elements has been reached by any positive religious influence whom brought together in the spirit of understanding we are yielding up as legitimate prey for exploita- and goodwill. tion. In their hands rests the destiny of our country. Incidentally the life of the church. becomes transformed. Instead of an ailing, anemic church Our foreign population need not be a liability there grows a vigorous, flourishing church. There but an asset. In one great industrial center this are the verve and zest of an enthusiasm that is has been demonstrated in an experiment running born only in engagement in a redemptive task over the past sixteen years. A congregation that and mission. Standards of sacrifice and generosfound itself in the midst of a rapidly-changing ity are set that deepen spirituality and widen the environment made a survey of the pupils in the sphere of influence. A church school whose spirit public school located in the same block with the ordinarily is as dryas dust rises on a tide of church and was amazed to learn that its enroll- youthful devotion. The very neglected groups set ment embraced twenty-two nationalities. Among a tempo for action and movement that changes a the elementary pupils 157 were found who never staid and discouraged congregation into a lifeattended any church school. A weekday school giving source of energy and power. of religion was organized for intensive training in Christian life and leadership on the basis of a This is the Church's contribution to the soluthorough-going study of God's Word. In the first tion of our country's greatest problem. Ours is year the roster of students embraced seventeen nationalities as follows: American, English, Ger- the unenviable reputation of being the most lawman, Italian, Hungarian, Slavish, Austrian, Jew- less nation on earth. Crime cost in excess of ish, Negro, Lithuanian, Russian, Czecho-Slovak- twelve billion dollars last year. Each year we ian, Polish, Hellenic, Irish, French and Swiss. have about twelve thousand homicides, a thousand This school has grown in influence until now there a month. In 1933 over 350,000 persons were comare some 869 pupils enrolled with a faculty staff of mitted to penal institutions, the majority of whom 46 members with daily operation on released time were young .men who never had any religious from the public school. There are approved chan- training. Perhaps some people come by crime nels for registering self-expression in behavior, stUdiousness, witnessing, stewardship and serv- honestly. Nearly all crime can be controlled at ice. Among the teachers each year are fourteen the source by a new conception and a new directo sixteen college students who have the ministry tion being given to growing life. This is the in view and who acquire an invaluable training essence of the mission of Christianity. that will enable them in the future to face with a sense of ease and mastery the grave problems Our day needs a new and vivid interpretation confronting the Church today. It has been proved of Pentecost. Before the Spirit descended on that the one unanswerable argument that can be Peter his speech lacked something. It was wholly put into the mouth of youth today with which provincial. He cowered with dread under the to meet the criticism aimed at the Church is a taunt of a maidservant who challenged him with, changed life, a rich, full life in Christ. "Surely thou art a Galilean for thy speech betray- eth thee." But after Pentecost Peter's language Early in this experience it was learned that it struck a universal note, "Behold, are not all these is not enough to lift children for an hour or two which speak Galileans? And how hear we every a week out of an environment into which they man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? sink back only to revert to type. This was like Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the bailing out a bucketful only for the flood of waters dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Capto pour in again. An evening of pictures and padocia, in Pontus, and Asia . . ." There is one universal language. It is the language of the heart, of love-God's love in Christ.
versus the "Isms"
By REV. GAlUS GLENN ATKINS, D.D., Auburn, New York Author of "Modern Religious Cults and MOtJements," etc.
"ISM" is no word at all, only three letters- It is easy to make all this too remote and the- neither verb, noun, adjective nor adverb- ological, but the practical bearing is plain. Un- just a suffix, and yet a good dictionary has less there is something detached from our con- trouble enough telling what it does to the words fusions, perplexities, even our most promising to which it is added. It changes an act to a programs, we are simply lost in our own fog.
process, a· condition to a theory, a quality to a There is all about us an entangling play of inter- peculiarity, the specific to the general and a prin- ests, each one of which wants to use everything ciple or a program to a state of mind. Finally we else for its own ends, no one of which is ample make a poor, indefinite kind of noun out of it and enough or final enough for the meanings and des- write or talk about "isms," usually to condemn tiny of life. The Church reflects this. It has them, unless they happen to be our favorite shaped so much of its life to fit the patterns of "isms." There can never have been more of this this or that order. An entangled Church cannot than just now. One has only to begin to make a speak to a world of hates and fears and hopes as list of the "ism" words in current use to find that it ought. But Jesus Christ can. For the sake of out. The list would include politics, economics, what is timeless and divine Christianity must not sociology, religion, the whole field of contempora- be captured by lesser interests, used for "ism"
neous thought and action, and before one finished ends.
it there would be a new one. The list itself would Its supreme service is to approach life from the represent the confusions and the quests of a con- outside and from above. And for the sake of our fused and questing time – our present general human interests, it must not permit itself to be state of mind. confined by any social, political or economic pat- Christianity is caught in it all, unescapably. tern. Its mission has always been to save them Christianity has always had enough "isms" of its from themselves. There are ways of living and own. It still has many of the old ones and many working together through which the essential disturbing new ones, or else the old have simply spirit of Christ can express itself better than changed their clothes. It is also involved in the others. No doubt of that. It cannot, we are be- social, political and economic confusions as never ginning to see, be true to itself in many aspects before. Some deny it (a stronger word is really of what we now call capitalism. Some would go needed), some use it, a few are trying to capture much farther. That soulless system, they say, is it. What can it do? What ought it to do? No alien and hostile to the corporate expression of the one can answer those questions finally at present, Christian spirit. Militant nationalism is even least of all in the limits of a brief article. more profoundly impossible for a real Christian- 1. Christianity must, I think, keep above and ity, militarism is utterly un-Christian. But apart from any of them. It is more than anyone Christianity is more than the putting an end to of them; it is more than all of them together- any or all of these.
even when they are friendly and offer themselves There are defensible ideals of a Christian social as fulfillments of the Christian way and spirit. order which have much in common with Socialism, It has a nature and authority above the changing even with the wide and fraternal sharing of re- tides. Any historian would say that Christianity source and production, which lies behind Com- has been an outstanding aspect of Western civ- munism-if the word could be disinfected. But ilization. The Christian historian maintains that for Christianity-to identify itself with these or it has been the pUlsing heart force of Western any form of them. is for it to surrender its mis- civilization. But Christianity is more than any sions and cease to be itself.
civilization. It is the judgment bar of civiliza- II. Christianity has the secret of the inner tions and their final control. It is not history unity which is the conditIon of escape from any speaking to God. It is God through His revelation confusion, deliverance from any "ism." Actually in Jesus Christ speaking to history. they are all marginal. Some of them in the gen- [274 ] eral field of Western religion are a ravelling out IV. Above all we need power, constant, sus- of Christianity itself. They take marginal aspects taining and enough. I would not thresh old straw; of it and make them central (plenty of illustra- but suppose we got what the most humanely gen- tions). They make a new patchwork fabric of its erous, wise and far-seeing of our social programs loose threads. Others are this or that half-truth. are after. What will sustain them beneath the So:rp.e of them oppose interest to interest, class to enormous weight of our sins and our stupidities, class, nation to nation. And most disastrously of the inertias of our habits and self-interests and, all they get into our own inside lives of faitp and above all, the resurgence of what in us is unsocial motivation and divide us ourselves into warring and hungry for power? Can we do it by the laws camps. we ourselves pass? Can we use our own au- Then in thought and deeds and words ~e pro- thority against ourselves? Well, maybe, to a de- ject this inner confusion into all our human order. gree, but there is no guarantee in that, nor in our Here more than anywhere else is the secret of all unregenerated human nature.
our confusion. The real point of departure for This is not begging a disputed question with an any deliverance must be from within the soul. evangelical phrase or offering one solution for all Here Christianity meets all the "isms." They are our problems. It goes deeper. When everything sectarian; it is catholic. They are divisive; it is said and 80 many futile things done, only should unite. They are marginal; it is central. changed men can change the world. They may They work in from the outside; Christianity works and do need to change the machinery through from the soul out. This involves far more than which they work. They need to find channels Christian unity. It involves unity in Christ, be- proper to the flow of their regenerate spirits. But ginning with the divided soul and ending with a they need power to go on, to bear, to believe, to world seamed and broken like a lava field after an hope. They need motivations which reach beyond earthquake. the present to deal with the present. They need something beyond themselves even to be them- III.. Christianity supplies the correction of the selves. partial; half-truths – or less; half-faiths – or worse; half-deliverances – or no deliverances at If there is any empowerment outside Christianall. That centrally is the weakness of every ity to do all this, those who know where and what "ism"; it is never enough. It makes one pro- it is must make their case. They have history gram, one understanding of life and God the whole against them. It may be said, must be said, that thing. And it asks us to take all our noble capac- Christianity has never found or even sought a ity for loyalty and devote it to-just itself. Na- full channel for its power, used it partially and tionalism does that everywhere. Communism through its partial use of its divine enduement does it in Russia, Socialism would like to do it. left a place for the "isms." But it has the Power Like Isaiah's image-maker, any "ism" boils the -and it is nowhere else. When we have seen the pot with one end of its idol-stuff and makes a god Cross for all it is and means and does, the Power of the other. There is no denying the intensity is there. of devotion which may thus be secured, but its very intensity burns it out and in the end defeats *** the very object of it. These points are general but they are capable One cannot even criticize justly, creatively, the of precise, definite application to every aspect of twisting, turning, questing movements of a time what the "isms"-any "ism"-of our over "ismlike ours unless he has a sovereign control from ed" world-stand for. Christianity has an office which and by which to criticize them. Some of above them, detached from them. It approaches the most brilliant of our critics are like people them with the authority of its revelations of God who would criticize a merry-go-round while rid- in Jesus Christ. And without that we are lost in ing its wooden horses. They do no more than our own confusions.
change their mount and criticize the horse they He and He alone can supply' the inner unity were just riding, from 'the next one in front of it which will save us from our divided selves and or behind it. No wonder we keep going round in their issue in a divided world order. Christianity a circle.. I know this is a loose statement but I opposes the complete to the partial, and alone has know equally that it has in it a fact which to our the authority of corre~tion. .
peril we neglect; that Christianity has in it the Christ can supply the power without which even whole truth and the whole authority without what is wisest and most promising cannot main- which we cannot see how partial everything else tain itself. In the Realm of God we find the Di- is and without which we have no place to stand if vine Order, transcending any human order, the we seek no more than to see our world steadily, only revelation which lends object and meaning to see it whole and to see it against the back- to the brief stages of our pilgrimages here-and- grounds of the will of God. now.
New Day and the Old
By REV. HUGH THOMSON KERR, D.D., Pittsburgh, Pa. )ne– Author of "Old Things New," etc.
CHRISTIANITY has had to fight for its life clean hands and sensible speech (is to draw near)"; or, in every age. It has never had an easy again, "He who is pure from all stain, conscious of no sin time. It has had to defend itself in every in his soul, and living an honorable and just life (may generation. After the early Christians had ac- approach)." Such is the cry of those who promise puricepted the call to die for Christ during the martyr fication from sins. But let us now hear what sort of centuries they were afterwards challenged to people these Christians invite. "Anyone who is a sinner," think for Christ in the creedal centuries. For they say, "or foolish, or simple-minded-in short, any un- Christianity is not only a way of life but a way of fortunate will be accepted by the Kingdom of God." By thought and it will not endure as a way of life if "sinner" is meant an unjust person, a thief, a burglar, a it fails to maintain its supremacy as a way of poisoner, a sacrilegious man, or a robber of corpses. Why, if you wanted an assembly of robbers, these are just the sort of people you would summon!
thought. Commenting on this statement, Harnack says: We are constantly speaking as if we lived in a "Here Celsus has stated, as lucidly as one could desire, the cardinal difference between Christiannew world. It is only superficially so. The real problems of life are the same today as in the day ity and ancient religion." Christianity met huof St. Paul and no one can face the conditions of manity where its needs were the greatest and, early Church history without feeling at home. where no other religion could succeed, the Gospel Indeed there is high encouragement when the his- wrought out its redemptive work. It asked for no privileges. It met humanity in whatever contory of the early Church is studied from the point dition it found it and brought to it salvation. It of view of our modern world. It was against had no special message for the rich or the culgreat odds that Christianity made its way. How tu}."ed; neither had it any special message for the it was able to win victories in circumstances and ignorant or the poor but to every man, as a man, conditions so adverse has always been a problem. Christ was offered as the one and only Saviour.
The 'secret of the triumphal march of Chris- There is hidden away in the record of the progtianity has eluded the best historians. In his ress of the Gospel the simple statement, "The dis- ciples were called 'Christians' first in Antioch." "History of the Rise and Fall of the Roman Em- That indeed was a victory! Antioch was the third pire," Gibbon set forth five reasons, namely: the city in the world, Rome and Alexandria alone surzeal of the Christians, their doctrine of immor- passing it. It held a population of half a million. tality, the working of miracles, the moral stand- Situated on the slope of Mount Silpius, with the ards of Christians, and the privilege of political broad navigable river Orontes at its feet, a bouleparticipation. Dr. T. R. Glover, with the insight vard five miles long, paved, not with asphalt or of a great Christian, says that Christianity out- cobble stones, but with the purest of white marble. lived, out-died, and out-thought the pagan world. Surrounded by a wall that clung like a natural It is open to anyone to discover the secret for barrier to the mountain eminence that overhimself. The facts are spread before us in the shadowed the city, it was a place of dreamy pages of the New Testament and it may be inter- beauty-with flowering trees, statues, colonnades, esting and helpful when there is bewilderment and bridges, baths, basilicas, villas, theatres and luxconfusion if the causes for the triumph of the ury, culture, beauty, pleasure, commerce, pagan- Gospel in the early Church be set down. ism, barbarism, superstition and heathen religion mingled there In all the rich luxuriance of the' First of all the early Church proclaimed a G()S- East. It was the melting pot of the nations. The pel. The leaders heralded a Gospel which in its immigration problem was at its crisis in Antioch, highest sense was redemptive. It dealt with sin; but it was there that Paul planted the Cross and personal sin, social sin, sin against God, and it made those laughter-loving people stand at attenpromised recovery. It made no concessions and entered into no compromises. No better statement can be found than that given in the attack upon Christianity by Celsus. This is what he said: Those who invite people to participate in other soIemni- tion. There were no Alps to Napoleon and there ties, make the following proclamation: "He who hath are and can be no obstacles to the Gospel of Jesus [276 ] Christ save in the faithless allegiance of His fol- even after the centuries have passed; the stand- lowers. ard of virtue for men and women. Writing be- Furthermore the early Church cultivated the fore 200 A. D., Clement of Alexandria made this spirit of aggressive evangelism. One hears the announcement: "Our judgment is that the virtue marching past of many feet as he opens the pages of man and woman is one and the same. For, if of the New Testament and follows the history of the. God of both is one, the instructor of both is the early Church. Start in anywhere and we hear also one; one Church, one temperate self-control, the marching of an unorganized multitude going one modesty, common food, marriage an equal forth to its work. Occasionally a sentence is yoke; breath, sight, hearing, knowledge, hope, dropped which reveals what is going on; a sen- obedience, love – all things are alike to them.
tence such as this: "The disciples were every- Those whose life is common have also a common where scattered abroad and went about preaching grace and a common salvation; their virtue and the Word." They had no set method, nor organ- their training are alike."
ized plan. They needed none, for a living faith Anyone who reads the Acts or the Epistles in requires no .fixed method. For centuries this pas- the New Testament will realize that faith was sion for evangelism burned like a flame in the never a substitute for good deeds and that the heart of the Christian Church. Everything was discipline of the Church in relation to moral be- informal, impersonal, and men and women spoke havior was rigorously severe. It has always been the message of Eternal Life to neighbors, ac- true of Christianity, where it has been proclaimed quaintances and friends. They were not content in its purity that personal and social morality, to abide at home but travelled far inland in order followed as a natural fruit of the Christian life.
that the message might have free course and be It was Catherine Booth of the Salvation Army glorified. Origen, writing shortly after 200 A. D., who said to her followers before her death: "We said: "Christians do all in their power to spread will go in more and more for righteousness." It the faith all over the world. Some of them ac- is this same demand which is disturbing the con- cordingly make it the business of their life to science of the world today. The Spirit of Christ wander not only from city to city but from town- is moving through the Church demanding a higher ship to township and village to village in order standard of moral living not only personal but as to gain fresh converts for the Lord." In his related to everything in life, industry, politics, "Church History" Eusebius announces the same education; we will not go successfully forward truth: "Very many of the disciples of that age until the Church challenges the world by a new (pupils of the apostles) whose heart had been standard of personal and social righteousness.
ravished by the divine Word with a burning love One thing more – early Christianity was unfor philosophy (i. e., asceticism), had first ful- compromising. While it had the power of adaptfilled the command of the Saviour and divided ability, nevertheless it was unwavering in its detheir goods among the needy. Then they set out mand that every knee should bow to Christ. Chrison long journeys, performing the office of evan- tianity received, as through tributaries from gelists, eagerly striving to preach Christ to those every direction, the currents that came flowing in who as yet had never heard the word of faith, and from many lands; but all down through the years to deliver to them the holy gospels." Every Chris- it kept its purity and its uniqueness. At the same tian was an evangelistic missionary. Everything time it assimilated to itself modes and customs was personal and life-giving and everywhere the and languages, transforming them, utilizing them, principle was verified that one loving heart sets baptizing them into the message and meaning of all the world on fire. There is no substitute for the Gospel. What it did with customs and lanevangelism even in our sophisticated modern world and again it will return in power. guages it did ,also with diverse nationalities. It A third quality which is discernible among the lifted up into its own unique fellowship men of all early Christians was their moral earnestness. On races and of all nationalities. Here at last, from every page it is recorded that the early Chris- out of racial hatred and national isolation of the tians demanded not ecstasy and enthusiasm, but ancient world, Parthians and Medes and Elamites honest-hearted virtue and supreme moral values. and the dwellers in Mesopotamia and in Judea, The fruit of the Spirit, said Paul, is not ecstasy Jews and Greeks, Cretans and Arabians, but "love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, heard in their own tongue the mighty works of goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." Every- God. It repudiated barriers of nationality; it where and always Christianity has stood for moral claimed humanity as its field and the communion regeneration, for a clean life, for the stricest sort table became the social center of a world-wide of honesty, purity and undefiled righteousness. fellowship.
Take, for example, one issue that is still debated We are being told today that if Christianity is
to endure it must pool its interests with other reli- That inference is not new. Modern perplexity gions; that in order to ward off the attack of god- repeats the age-old problem. The Church of the lessness we must make common cause with all Roman Empire faced it under vastly more allurother faiths. We are told that it is the whole ing circumstances but the Christians of that day line that is endangered and not only the Christian refused to compromise. Instead of lowering the salient. It is a massed attack upon the whole standard of the Cross they lifted it higher. In spiritual concept of life. It is proclaimed on every the words of Dr. William Kemp Lowther Clarke hand that the inherent goodness of man can work of Cambridge, a very competent historical scholar: out his own destiny; that we do not need to postulate God; He is a projection of our wish-think- Had the Church really conformed to Gentile patterns ing. Prayer is defined as emotional release; sin there would have been no persecutions. Paganism had no is called an inferiority complex. Conversion is objection to welcoming Jesus into the Pantheon. But just looked upon as infantile regression. Religion is because Christianity continued true to its Jewish origin, diagnosed as pathological. Walter Lippmann it was fanatically intolerant of rival creeds. For this readramatizes the letting down of the curtain upon son the early Church is an unattractive spectacle to many the great Scenario. He is not happy about the modern men, for whom there is no absolute truth, no final end but he wants to be honest. To many who religion; but because of this the Church survived the were in the audience, he writes: break-up of civilization whereas its mighty rivals have passed away from the memory of all but professional It is now evident that they have seen a play, a mag- scholars. nificent play, one of the most sublime ever created by the human imagination, but nevertheless a play, and not a It is not the modern world or the new age that literal account of human destiny. They know it was a challenges the old Gospel. It is the Gospel that play. They have lingered long enough to see the scene- challenges our age. And a deeper reading of hisshifters at work. The painted drop is half rolled up; tory will tell us that Christ is at work in our world some of the turrets of the celestial city can still be seen, and because His Spirit is at work the waters are and part of the choir of angels. But behind them, plainly troubled and many are afraid. There are things visible, are the struts and gears which held in place what we prize that our children may commit to the under a gentler light looked like the boundaries of the uni- wastebasket but the faith of the New Testament verse. They are only human fears and human hopes, and will not be among them. John Masefield gives an bits of antique science and half-forgotten history, and sym- interview between Longinus-the traditional name bols here and there of experiences through which some in each generation pass. of the Roman centurion who had charge of the crucifixion and whose words "truly this was a Because the foundations of all faith are being righteous man" are found in the Gospel-and Proundermined the inference drawn by some is that cula, the traditional name of Pilate's wife who there should be a consolidation of all spiritual sought to save Jesus from the Cross. At the close forces in order to maintain a religious interpreta- of the day when the crucifixion was at an end, tion of life. This is part of the appeal of "Re- Longinus came to give in his report to Pilate. thinking Missions." The argument runs: When it was ended Procula called the centurion aside and asked him to tell her how Jesus had It is no longer, Which prophet? or Which book? It is died. The centurion told the story calmly and whether any prophet, book, revelation, rite, church, is to then Procula said to him: be trusted. All the old oracles are seeing a new sign: the scorn on the faces of students who know the experiments "So you think He is dead?" in anti-religion in Russia and nonreligion in Turkey, and :the actual religionlessness of much western life. The chief "No, lady, I don't," Longinus replied. foe of these oracles is not Christianity, but the anti-religious element of the philosophies of Marx, Lenin, Russell. "Then where is He," said Procula. The case that must now be stated is the case for any religion at all…. Thus it is that Christianity finds itself "Let loose in the world, lady," Longinus replied, in point of fact aligned. in this world-wit.le issue with the "where neither Roman nor Jew can stop His non-Chrstian faiths of Asia. truth."
Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you. Luke 12: 31.
Such is the promise; how about the fact? Look back over your life. Have you sought first the extension of God's rule and the incorporation into your own life of His righteousness?
If so, have you in a life of consecrated service actually suffered from want?
"When I sent you forth without purse, or script, or shoes," says the Master, "lacked ye anything?" Like them we must answer, "Nothing." Has one promise of the Lord, in which you rested in faith, failed you? Imagination may picture to us possible want in the future; but when memory draws the scenes on the canvas of the past, she witnesses that, to all His Word, He is faithful that promised. ARTHUR T. PIERSON.
OLD MOUNTAIN HOME NEAR PITTMAN CENTER, TENNESSEE PITTMAN CENTER, WHERE MOUNTAINEERS ARE
Transforming a Gap in the Mountains By JAYS. STOWELL, Philadelphia, Pa. -.~ Director of the Bureau of Publicity, Board of Home Missions, }5t— Methodist Episcopal Church MORE than twenty years ago a home mis- the big world the story was told, friends became sionary wandered into a lonely mountain interested, and after some years things began region some miles from Sevierville, Ten- to happen. nessee. To reach his destination, he had been Human welfare is closely associated with buildobliged to cross and recross a turbulent mountain ings. The first building was erected in this gap.
stream and to pick his way over and around boul- Nothing like it had ever been seen in those Tenders, stumps, ruts, and other impediments which nessee mountains. It was tall, long, and broad; had accumulated over a long period of years, dur- in it were many rooms in which many sorts of ing which ·nature and a rather sluggish mountain helpful activities could be carried on. The build- folk had done little to change the tenor of a life ing was more than a school, for it was a place of which was already one hundred years behind that recreation, a church, and, in the best sense, a in the world outside. There was much of igno- community center. Many who had never before rance, a great deal of superstition, and a general seen so large a building came from the cracks and feeling that things were what they were and that crannies of the mountain to share in the pro- there was little that could be done about the mat- grams, the like of which they had never before ter. There was a type of religion, but of the experienced. Gradually there began to grow up crudest sort, and its leaders were uncouth and around this imposing building neat but smaller untutored. Moonshining prevailed and frequent structures where workers could live and where violence was expected. Many boys and girls were other programs could be carried on.
growing up with no education and even those who One of these new buildings was a medical cenattended the crude mountain schools got but a few ter, and, before long, a doctor was placed in weeks of indifferent attention each year from a charge of the medical program. From time al- relatively untrained teacher. most immemorial, the people. in these mountains Such a situation was enough to stir the hardest had been born, lived, and died without any proheart, but it did more than that in the. sympathetic fessional medical attention. A nurse was emmIssIOnary. It aroused his deepest sympathies ployed and traveled up the streams, carrying her and his most profound interest. Something had ministry of health to people who had never known to be done, but the resources of mountain cabins, what a nurse was intended to do. Boys and girls where regular cash incomes were almost un- and men and women were found to be suffering known, were not sufficient to meet the need. In from all sorts of unnecessary diseases; there was [279 ]
ignorance concerning the most rudimentary laws fruit, but the mountaineers did not know how of health; the death rate was amazingly high, to take advantage of their opportunities. Acand nothing but an equally amazing large birth cordingly, apple trees and other fruit trees, serate kept the population from extinction. Opera- cured for a few cents each, were made available tions needed to be performed and chronic phys- for planting. That was not many years ago and ical ailments were cured. In order that the moun- yet today thousands of bushels of apples are pro- duced in that territory where, a few years ago, DR. THOMAS INOCULATING SCHOOL CHILDREN AT there was almost no fruit. Similar improvements PITTMAN CIDNTER, TENNESSEE were carried on in the growing of tomatoes and various garden vegetables. This development may tain people might not feel that they were recip- be traced directly to the missionary who had. a ients of charity, a charge was made for this vision. medical service, although cash payments were often not possible, and the pay came in the form It was discovered that the mountain women had of the simple products which the mountaineer considerable skill in the weaving of rugs and the could raise on his own few acres, or could capture making of baskets and in other lines of handicraft. by use of his gun in the woods. A great new day These' home industries were developed and a began to dawn up and down the creeks along market was found for the products. As a result, which the mountain people usually live. The mis- thousands of dollars have come into the commusionary was not content with a well organized edu- nity from the outside world for these hand-made cational program and a medical ministry, added to products. the religious ministry which provided reverent worship, religious training for boys and girls and Community pride was stimulated in many ways, a continuous pastoral ministry in the mountain but perhaps in no way more effectively than by homes. the promotion of the annual fair for which people from the mountains worked for months. Home- It did not require a Solomon to arrive at the grown vegetables were exhibited and housewives conclusion that, to a considerable extent, the inadequate economic opportunities of the people ac- ENCOURAGING MOUNTAIN HANDICRAFT AT PITTMAN CENTER counted for the distressing conditions. It was not possible to move these mountain people from their homes and from the little mountain homesteac;ls which they had come to love. But there were things that could be done. Most of the mountain folk had one or more cows, but these were often of a low grade, so that the milk supply was poor. The missionary began to take steps toward the improvement of the cattle strain and very marked progress was made. A similar plan was followed with pigs and chickens, so that the old razorback hog, always an unprofitable creature, became well-nigh extinct. Broods of fine pullets were loaned and the pay taken in a part of the proceeds so that before long a better grade of poultry was found around mountain cabins. The mountainsides were well adapted to the raising of
ITINERANT MINISTRIES IN REMOTE PLACES
vied with each other in preparing the most beau- It might be possible to give figures concerning tiful displays of canned vegetables and fruits. the number of young people who have attended Pamphlets were obtained from the Government and graduated from this school; to point out the in order that the best methods of canning might number of home calls made by the visiting nurse; be used. Many of the products of mountain to list the number of babies ushered into the homes, such as rugs, coverlets, baskets, and the world by a trained doctor; to count the number like were also displayed at these fairs. of diseased tonsils removed; to estimate the tons of foodstuffs produced; to enumerate the number Next attention was given to roads and today, of persons who have joined the church or proinstead of wandering about through the bed of fessed conversion in the religious meetings held, the stream and crossing and recrossing through or to set down many other tables of facts which the water, as one approaches this gap in the could be assembled concerning this work. But mountain, we can drive over a good road ang none of them by themselves nor all of them toreach our destination in relative comfort. gether, can quite tell the story, for the life that this humble home missionary, with his assistants, The enterprise was given the name of Pittman has brought into the dark caverns of the moun- Center from one of its chief benefactors. To an tains, is something beyond ordinary tabulation. outsider there is nothing particularly romantic, It can only be written in the Book of Life itself, poetic or imposing about the name, but it means and when that is written, the -story of the Tennesmuch to those who have watched Pittman Center see mountains must have a very important chapgrow during the past fifteen years and to those ter devoted to Pittman Center and to the Rev. who have shared in its ministry. To thousands J. S. Burnett, a missionary of the Gospel of Jesus of boys and girls and young people in the moun- Christ, who, while laboring in a crack in the tains it has meant opportunity for education, for mountains, caught a vision which he has, to some religious training, and for a new outlook upon life extent at least, been able to transform into a which never would have been theirs had the home reality. mission forces of the country overlooked this gap in a rather rugged and forbidding country.
Itinerant Ministries in Remote Places By REV. COE HAYNE, New York Department of Publicity, Literature and Research, The American Baptist Home Mission Society THE historian's assertion that our geograph- flows continually. About this spring and the dam ical frontiers have vanished may lead us to that has been constructed below it is a cluster of forget that cities are still giving birth to oak trees beneath which in the old days the Indowntown tenements and uptown suburbs and that dians were accustomed to resort. Rev. C. F. homesteading still goes on. Great numbers of Brown, colporteur-missionary in a great section people in urban and rural sections of America of North Dakota, each year plans to hold an allhave no religious privileges afforded them except day service on the Diamond C Ranch especially by virtue of the activities of devoted home mis- for the Russian people who have settled upon sionaries. While there are no longer great areas homesteads in large numbers although widely sepnewly opened to settlement there are still vast arated. Many others attend. The last round-up spiritual areas unexplored. Thousands of homes of the kind was held Sunday, July 29,1934. Three are still far removed from organized churches and hundred people attended, some traveling over just around the corner in every settled com- twenty miles to do so. As usual seats were armunity are neighbors languishing spiritually for ranged under the trees. Three speakers, includwant of Christian sympathy and companionship. ing a Russian, gave four messages during the day. A Sunday school session was held in the forenoon. Gospel Round-up on the "Diamond 0" An hour was devoted to dinner. The dam below the spring provided deep, clean water for a bap- On the southern slope of the Killdeer Moun- tismal service. In 1934 two and in 1933 sixteen tains, North Dakota, sprawls the Diamond C were baptized here. Ranch. The property is blessed with a spring that
A Funeral in the Killdeer Oountry open and said, 'This is the only shirt I have. The last time my wife washed this for me, I had to go Early in October, following the service on the to bed until it was dry.' Diamond C Ranch, Missionary Brown went about fifty miles to begin services in a Russian Baptist "Well, what would you have done in this. case? Church. This is the only Russian Baptist Church I said to him, 'Come out to the car, I have some in the Killdeer Mountain territory. It has no pas- clothes you may be able to make use of. We went tor. The deacons carryon the preaching services. out to the car and I began to take the clothes out. Then I decided to take them into the house where As soon as Mr. Brown arrived in the community his wife and little girl were. I gave them two or he heard that a baby girl, six months old, had died three nice new Turkish towels, a second-hand coat that day in a Greek Catholic home. There are no for the oldest girl, a second-hand pair of stock- Greek Catholic priests for the Russians in that ings for the mother, a warm jacket for the smallarea and Mr. Brown's visit to this home was ac- est girl, hats for four of the family and a sack of ceptable to the family. marbles for the smallest girl. This is all I had. They thanked me over and over for the things, Mr. Brown continues the story: then after kneeling in prayer and praying for "I went over twice that day to the home and the them, and thanking God for the givers who made last time, after reading the Bible and praying, I this giving possible, I took my departure. Later was about to leave when the father of the little I took some second-hand shirts to the man." girl followed me to the door. I turned and asked him if he had engaged anyone to take charge of A Skeleton Key Admits Sixty the funeral. He said, 'No.' Then he asked me if I was going to be around there at the time of the "I had announced a preaching service at a coun· funeral, and I told him that I was and that I could try schoolhouse for October 14th in the evening," help if he wished me to. He said that would be continues Missionary Brown of North Dakota. all right. Evidently he had intended to have the "So far as I know no service has ever been held baby taken out and buried without any funeral as there before. When we got there all was dark. he could not afford to pay for a Greek Catholic 1 got out my skeleton key which I always carry service. in the car and unlocked the building. When we "The next day we deposited the casket into the lighted a light we saw that all the contents were rear end of a truck without an undertaker and piled up in the center of the room for they had started for the church near the cemetery. When been painting the inside. Well, we moved things we got there and took the casket out, two or three around and got things in shape for a service. asked me if they should take the body into the When it was time to begin there were fifteenpeochurch to which I answered 'Certainly.' You see pIe present, and by the time they stopped coming some of the people believed that as the baby had there must have been fifty-five or sixty present. not been baptized and therefore was unsaved its Half of them had to stand up. Everyone was body should not be taken into the church. We surprised to see the rest there, and it was certainly took the casket in and had a 'real' funeral service an agreeable surprise to me. Two weeks later we for the little one. This made a deep impression organized a Sunday school in that schoolhouse." on the parents. They invited me. home for supper and insisted on my staying there several nights Oonversion of An Aged Pioneer during the meetings that followed." The parish of Rev. J. S. Umberger of Okanogan, While the Turkeys Fed on Grasshoppers Washington, is said to be the largest county in the United States save one. Okanogan County ex- "On the 11th of October," wrote Missionary tends 88 miles east and west and 100 miles north Brown of North Dakota, "I stopped at a Russian and south, and contains 18,000 white and 2,500 farmhouse. The man was standing in the yard. Indians. Most of the members of the church, We spoke and I remarked that it was a nice day. which is the only Baptist church in the county, He said, 'It isn't very nice. The weather and live in rural communities, many miles from everything else is wrong. There is no money, no Okanogan. The nearest church of the same comfeed for the stock, nothing to eat, and no clothes.' munion is the First Baptist Church of Wenatchee, 93 miles away. Up Salmon Creek Valley twelve "While I was talking with him, his oldest daugh- miles reside several members of the church. Apple' ter came out and drove the turkeys out into the orchards, cattle raising and mining engage their sun-scorched fields to feed on grasshoppers as attention. During fall and winter the roads bethere was no feed for them at the house. The come impassable and church attendance from that coyotes had killed twenty-one of the turkeys section falls away. From Conconuly eighteen awhile before and now they had to herd them. miles north come a number of members; also from Malott, Omak, Orville, Riverside, Tanasket "I urged him to come out to our services, but he said he had no fit clothes. He pulled his jacket
WORKING FOR THE MIGRANT WORKERS
and Loomis. During the summer, on Communion minded him that she would not cease to pray for Sundays, people drive in from points as distant as him. Orville, 54 miles north, Peteros 34 miles south and various points between. The Methow Valley, 68 Two months later the worship service at Okanomiles away, contributes its quota of worshipers. gan was interrupted by a messenger from an- Out of the thirteen families on the Indian reserva- other old pioneer who lay dying at his home in tion eleven miles east of the Columbia River that Riverside, twenty-one miles away, asking if Mr. are engaged in grain and stock raising, nine are Umberger would come to his bedside. The pastor represented in the church membership. left his pulpit at once turning the service over to Mrs. Umberger. He reached the dying man in During a week in the Loomis neighborhood, time to hear his testimony of faith. "I knew that fifty-four miles northwest of Okanogan, Mr. Um- you would help me just as you did that old man at berger was heartened by the conversion of a Loomis," he told the missionary. Two days later pioneer eighty-four years of age who related that he passed away and a large number of people fifty-eight years before his mother in bidding him from the countryside gathered to honor his good-bye when he left his Indiana home had re- memory.
Working for the Migrant Workers By ADELA J. BALLARD, San Francisco, California Western Supervisor of Migrant Work; Council of Women ~- for Home Missions T HE family case worker of the local social of the families you are caring for work every agency receives the anxious-faced nurse re- possible hour. But if migratory Tommy Jones luctantly. Both know too well the result of needs a crutch or a pair of glasses or hospitalizathe forthcoming interview. Just inside the door tion both the counties in which the work has been of the office stands a migratory family-father done will repudiate responsibility for the needs and mother shabbily dressed with two small chil- of the migrant. Meanwhile the migratory worker dren clinging to the mother's skirts, a child of two who is giving honest service sees the transient, years or less in the father's arms shows decided who has refused to work, getting aid! He gets a signs of malnutrition. free ride and food allowance to take him back to his home. Show me how to cut the red tape Case worker (helplessly)-"I know all you say . . ." Her tone as she left the final sentence is true. The family has worked. They are will- unfinished was most expressive. ing to take any possible work. They came in response to agricultural need. The work has not The nurse nodded curtly. In her heart she paid a living wage, to say nothing of providing knew that the case worker was helpless and that for the period between the harvests. But you the case worker knew she was aware of the hopeknow how my hands are tied. These people are lessness of the situation. The nurse turned toneither residents nor are they citizens!" ward the door without attempt at argument. The migratory family followed disconsolately. Nurse (heatedly)-"No, but they are hungry and homeless. The work has been done within the "The only way we kin git to be resident," venstate. They are not cross:-state migrants. All tured the man timidly as he bundled his family of the year has been spent in two counties. They into the auto, "is to jus' quit tryin' to fin' work have served the community and the children are an' jus' hang on here! Cotton don't make a livin' citizens." all year no way. We might git on relief then, but once ye git on an' ye take a day's work ye git off! Case worker (sympathetically)-"Granted. But An' ye'll starve good'n dead afore ye git on agin! (frowning and speaking sarcastically) relief is Looks like they jus' use us and thin fergit us!" organized on the basis of citizenship and residence. We do not think it best to care for the "No!" corrected the nurse. "Isn't the grower transient. He has a residence somewhere and allowing you free housing while you wait for may be returned to his home at public expense another' harvest?" even though he is deliberately seeing the world on relief funds! I'm aware of the fact that most "Yep," agreed the man. "He's been right good I" And then. slowly, "But we want work!
We don't want charity. If we work fer what the ing with bitterness, a ready prey to the agitator grower kin pay, the 'pinkies' [communists] tell us advising strikes, hunger marches and violence.
they'll bust our heads, iffen e work fer less than This is particularly true in these days when many they say. We know the grower don' git nuff to of the workers of a higher type have been forced pay no such money an' though he sez he'll pertect out of steady employment and into the ranks of us, an' he duz while we'er workin', when we git the migrating throng. in town then hell ketches us. So what's a feller Lack of funds restrict home mission work for the migratory laborer, but in a few selected areas goin' ter do!" enough has been done to prove that the social and The nurse, serving under the Council of Women the religious agencies may lighten all of life for for Home Missions, felt herself unable to answer the wandering group. The results have convinced the question. The problem of the one worker was the community, the grower, the county, federal the problem of two million other workers in the and church agencies that earlier effort to lift , agricultural areas of the United States, and it is standards in the migrant camps failed because of not only the problem of the adult worker. These lack of cooperation between agencies and not attitudes on the part of the state and county because of the lack of response on the part of the migratory laborer.
In one state an officer in the Department of Immigration and Housing observed the work done by the Council of Women for Home Missions in an area where there was little local cooperation.
He invited the missionary nurse into an area where thousands of migratory workers were used and where he would be able to secure intelligent cooperation from various agencies. Four years ago the work began. This season the program as planned is a good example of what can be done in many other localities.
Instead of many scattering camps, difficult to supervise, there will be two large camps. Floors will be provided for the tent city. There will be a full time doctor for the period of the harvest.
Water has been piped into the camps and showers provided for the workers. There will be a camp supervisor for each camp and the missionary nurse to take full charge of the nursing service '
for the camps. The religious and character edu- cational programs are acknowledged to be an essential part of the work in the camps. The county provides the funds for the support of the A MIGRANT WORKER'S TYPICAL TENT HOME nurse and for the doctor. The local community pays for the lease of the camp site; the S. E. R. A.
relief agencies condition the lives of two hundred for the set-up and better sanitation and for the thousand children whose parents follow the crops. camp supervisors. Local club and church women The migratory wQrker has stated the problem will give volunteer aid of ·various types. A local justly. He recognized the helplessness of the church woman has foregone a month of rent for grower to overcome economic handicaps or to her flat in order that it may be reserved for the protect the migratory laborer from the threat of use of the missionary nurse.
the professional agitator. NOr can the grower help But it was the Church which began this pro- the migratory family to secure residence unless gram and the response is the influence which has he encourages them to become applicants for re- brought about an intelligent cooperation on the lief; few areas and no one crop can give contin- part of the migratory workers. It took not pro- uous employment. In order to obtain citizenship fessional nursing skill alone, but an understand-, there must be residence within a community for ing friendliness, to win the migratory family and a period of years! This is generally impossible introduce an educational program which will for the agricultural worker. The fact that the change habits of life and types of thought.
state and the county in which the work has been Out of the years of service in this one commu- done repudiates responsibility leaves hearts seeth- nity has grown a consciousness of the interrela-
tion of all of life. Religious education alone or stop violence and safeguard the migratory work- health service alone could not meet the need. The ers. The treatment of the Filipino in the agricul- Missionary Council had no right to lift from the tural camps, the attitude of the local communities, community the responsibility for the better hous- the prejudice against the East Indian, are other ing, sanitation, health and social relationships of instances where conditions in migratory groups this group serving in the state; but it could and threaten to disturb international relations.
did lead in creating attitudes which recognized A third thing is the relation of conditions in facts and ended in cooperatively meeting the need. the migratory camps to Christian service abroad.
Students from other countries, especially those coming from the Orient, very often serve in agri- cultural fields to finance work in school. Many times such students are the product of missions abroad. They come to America expeclting to find Christian fellowship, but, instead of this find racial prejudice, injustice, impossible living con- ditions, intolerance. As a result faith in Chris- tianity dies and word goes back home that Christianity does not function in America. The missionary in the Orient, and elsewhere, thus finds the work doubly hard. Unless we change our treatment of the agricultural worker from SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR MIGRANT WORKERS India, China, Japan, the Philippines we shall find the work abroad greatly hampered.
This one project is typical of the work of the Lastly, but not least, the young people of the Council in its efforts to meet the need-in the churches today are demanding a Christian ap- cotton fields, in the tobacco plantation, in fruit proach to the social and economic situation of orchards, in cannery areas, in berry patches.
Whether establishing a Christian center, a day nursery or recreational center, or the sending of a Christian nurse and a public health program, the effort is to enlist all agencies responsible for the welfare of the migratory workers. Last year fifty-seven projects were carried on by the Councn in eleven states and many thousands of lives were touched. Forty per cent of the cost of this service was paid by the growers' groups, cannery execu- tives and local communities.
The challenge to the Church is fourfold: This migratory procession numbers millions and is largely untouched by Christian influence. Its childhood is a huge segment of our future citizen- ship. If present conditions are unaltered, these children bid fair to become shifting vagabonds, illiterate and with little or no sense of community responsibility. In California figures show that .
27,000 children of school age are in the agricul- tural camps. In one town in Texas 1400 children ENJOYING A SUN BATH IN CAMP are out of the local school, working in the truck gardens for many months of the year. Thousands the age. They are seeking cooperative service of children are out of school from May to Novem- which enables all agencies, religious and social, ber following the crops in eastern areas. to work together. It has been amazing to note The influence of the general attitude toward the response when this mission work is presented migratory workers in areas where race riots take to young people's groups. One young man, hear- place is a menace to world peace. Last year the ing of it for the first time, said, "I'm sick and treatment of the Japanese going into the agricul- tired of all this fussing about things not being tural areas of the Salt River Valley, intensified evangelistic! As I read my Bible Jesus Christ Japan's resentment against America, in spite of said, 'Go out and do something.' Some of us the fact that Arizona did everything possible to have to preach by our acts, and I'll bet those
COOPERATION AND UNION IN HOME MISSIONS
people get more of a Christian message out of a makes the task more difficult. The camps that nurse rolling up her sleeves and helping them have been touched are pitifully few. when they have a sick baby or a burned kid, than from a preacher coming in once a month to The day has passed when the worker from the preach a sermon! When she goes to court with Council must beg to enter a camp in an agriculthem or puts up a good, clean recreational pro- tural area. The camps asking for a worker far gram and keeps them out of mischief-well, it's exceed the posibilities of the funds available for me for that kind of evangelism!" this cooperative service. County doctors write, "If you could come in for just one season I know And the migrant can be reached. The migra- our growers would finance the service, but they tory family does respond to friendliness. It is cannot believe the work can be done until they possible to inspire a real appreciation of better have actually seen the results." . housing; it is possible to secure better school attendance; it is possible to teach the parent the In the meantime, children are asking as did one reason for restricting his liberty in using the boy overheard after the story hour in "hops," child as a wage earner; it is possible to make of "Who's this guy, God, she's talking about!" the migratory worker a Christian American citizen-but each day of neglect of this challenge And we have not the funds with which to send workers to tell the story!
Cooperation and Union in Home Missions 4f{ I~v. WM. R. KING, D.D., New York ~- – ~ecretary of the Home Missions Council W HAT we see of cooperation and union "warring factions" and see nothing but confusion among the Protestant churches of America and unholy rivalry. Most critics lack historic per- today depends upon the extent of our ob- spective. They base their measurements of progservations and the spirit and method of our in- ress made upon the distance from the goal to be vestigations. As a rule we see in this world just reached rather than upon the distance already about what we look for. Some people do l10t find covered from the starting point.
any cooperation between churches because they It is true, however, that we have "not yet at- do not look for it, or do not look in the right places. tained" satisfactory cooperation and union, but They look for competition and rivalry and see we are "pressing on" with encouraging speed.
plenty. Some years ago I rode a little mountain Cooperation between denominations and among pony for eight days through the tiger and elephant the churches is still very young. The years of jungles of Laos-northern Siam. We were told maturity have not been reached by any means.
that it was a dangerous journey, that the jungles The movement is still in the tender and timid years were infested with tigers and wild elephants. We of childhood and early adolescence.
did not see a tiger or a wild elephant. We were If we go back only a quarter of a century we not hunting for them. We were looking for mis- find practically no interdenominational coopera- sionaries and native Christiansantl we found tion. The older societies, like the American Bible them. Sometimes we make unexpected discov- Society, the American Tract Society, and the eries, but, as a rule, we find what we seek. American Sunday School Union are not interde- It is so with interchurch cooperation. If peo- nominational but are associations of like-minded ple want to believe that the churches are given individuals interested in certain things with no over utterly to competition and divisiveness they denominational control or direction.
can find plenty of evidence to support their views. For three hundred years American Protestant- If they want to believe that the churches are learn- ism was almost wholly divisive. Denominations ing to cooperate and unite they can find abundant were all out for "a place in the sun." Forty or'
proof. The trouble with many who condemn the more divisions of European Protestantism were church for lack of cooperation is their point of transplanted to this country from the "father- view. They project themselves far ahead on some lands" during the first 200 years of our history.
high point of Utopia, where things are supposed Soon they began to spawn and new breeds came to be perfect and all people to be saints, and from into existence until today we have more than 200 that exalted position they look down upon the so-called denominations. About thirty years ago a few far-seeing leaders working upon such mergers and the likelihood is began to cry out against unwise and unholy di- that within the next few years most of the states visions. The first were our foreign missionaries. and many of their counties will have one inclusive They saw the sin of it and began to think and plan Council of Churches which will include in its set- and work together against their common foes and up and program all the interests of the church for the same great common ends. The China within the state.
Council was organized in the early part of this But this is not half the story of the development century. Intermissionary councils and commis- of cooperation and union within the last two sions and conferences were set up on other mis- decades. sion fields. Then the Foreign Mission Boards caught the vision and the spirit of cooperation and Comity and cooperation among local churches the Foreign Missionary Conference was organ- and on local fields have made commendable progized by Mission Board secretaries. The formation ress. More has been accomplished along these of other interdenominational, intermissionary lines in the last two decades than in all the preagencies followed. vious years of American church history. Today comity committees exist in nearly all the large Then the Home Mission Boards began to catch cities and in most of the states. There are perthe vision and were stirred by the same spirit of haps 2,000 Union churches of all types throughcooperation. The Home Missions Council, the out the country. Many cooperative projects are Council of Women for Home Missions, and the being carried on cooperatively by missionary Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America were all organized in 1908. This was the boards and local churches. Home mission fields real beginning of organized planned interdenom- have been allocated. A number of types of work inational cooperation in America. There had been have been merged into departments, bureaus and committees of the two Home Missions Councils, some worthy forerunners, some daring Johns the such as work among Migrants, Indian children in Baptists, preparing the way, but 1908 was the or- Government schools, work among Jews, bureaus ganic beginning of interdenominational, inter- of Church Architecture, Summer Schools for church cooperation for work in the ho.meland. Rural Pastors, Rural Life Sunday, World Day of The spirit deepened; the movement spread. Prayer, religious programs and community Other national organizations saw the need of coop- churches in connection with government public eration. The Christian colleges formed a council. works. An increasing number of service activi- The old Sunday School Association of individuals ties, that can be carried on together better than interested in the teaching of the Bible became by separate denominations, are being committed the International Council of Religious Educa- to the Councils.
tion of the Churches of North America, and No Subsidies for Competitive Projects within the last few months there has come another very significant development of interdenomina- The most recent step in comity has been taken tional cooperation in the new cooperative working by five of the constituent Home Mission Boards relationship of the International Council of Reli- Qf the Home Missions Council within this year.
gious Education, the Federal Council of the These Boards have worked out "master lists" of Churches of Christ in America, the Home Mis- all their home mission aid to churches, and have sions Council and the Council of Women for Home given notice to these aid-receiving churches that Missions. These Councils have set up a joint com- after December 31, 1935, these subsidies will be mittee of fifteen to coordinate the programs and withdrawn from all churches that are in competi- the activities of these four interdenominational tive situations. Questions of competition must be Councils. At last these great national coordi:. settled by the state or the national Home Mission nating agencies are beginning to practice their Councils or Comity Committees before that date.
own preachment. Now that they are beginning to There is no place here for details. We can speak take their own medicine it is to be hoped the de- only in general terms, but these things mentioned nominations will have more confidence in their are steps in the right direction. Some are more prescriptions. successful than others but all have helped to move This new spirit and practice of cooperation is the Church along toward the desired goal. No taking form in recent mergers of state councils one plan or method of cooperation will fit all places of churches. Already ten states have merged the or work everywhere one hundred per cent perfect.
Councils of Religious Education and the Councils Great care must be exercised in each case to find of Churches and the Home Missions Councils into the best plan. Sometimes the best plan is the one inclusive State Council of Churches, or as in allocation of fields and types of work and special some cases, Councils of Churches and Religious projects and churches to some one denomination.
Education. Seven or eight other states are now For example, Alaska, some of the states, and
some of the islands of the West Indies, and nearly authority on this subject, says "a large measure of readiness for union has come to prevail genall the foreign mission fields, have been allocated. erally in American Protestantism."
Other plans include the mutual exchange of I believe that we are working along the right line. Cooperation is the word upon which we churches and fields and projects between denom- must ring the changes at the present time. Union may come–in many cases will come. Weare inations; the federation of churches, and (in the ready now for cooperation. Ultimate union de- pends upon present cooperation. There is wisdom judgment of many, the least effective) the or- in not pressing organic union too hard or too fast, but surely the time is here for cooperation, espeganization of independent community churches. cially in the great missionary work of the churches, both at home and abroad. All of these methods have their advantages and There can be no further advance except as we disadvantages. But they are first steps that must go forward together. A few days ago I saw a truck in Chicago with these words in large letters be taken before the churches can run together in across its side – "Coordinated Transport." Can the Church be as wise as truckmen? perfect union. Sometimes these steps have been faltering, but they have marked a good deal of progress-"we are on our way." , The trend in cooperation has had its most marked demonstration in the organic union of denominations. Since 1900 there have been eleven organic unions of churches involving twenty-five denominations. Rev. H. Paul Douglass, our best The Unchurched Children of America I By the REV. R. W. McGRANAHAN, D.D., Pittsburgh, Pa. -<tSf Associate Secretary of the Board of American Missions, United Presbyterian Church of North America THE importance of bringing child life into 2. The neglected children of the slum areas in close contact with the vital spiritual forces large cities and those in crowded industrial sec- of the Church is self-evident. Here is the tions. clay, awaiting the skilful shaping of the Potter. Here are the lives, awaiting guidance, which will 3. The children of foreign descent, not Amereither make or unmake ,the next generation. The icanized, whose parents have a nominal relation Church will win or lose according as she succeeds to their ancestral church but are now indifferent or fails in reaching· the children. This responsi- to any religious influence. bility goes far beyond simply bringing in the children of families already within the fold. The 4. The children of the godless rich, who give great home mission task today in reaching the neither time nor place for religion. In fullyunchurched groups has no challenge comparable churched communities there are hosts of children to that of plans that give a larger place to reach- who have no contact with the Church of Christ. ing the children of all who are accessible to the Gospel. If the children are won the next genera- Freely speaking, it is estimated that half the tion is won. children of America are in these various groups, so that, of the 34,000,000 American boys and girls Who are these unchurched children? Many of school age only about 17,000,000 are receiving families have such slight touch with the vital, any definite Bible instruction or Christian guidspiritual forces that they could scarcely be classi- ance that will prepare them to solve their life fied as churched, and beyond this a vast number problems. If we exclude those of high school age, of children are destitute of any contact with this about 13,000,000 younger boys and girls are outinstitution founded by Christ to unite His people side such influence. Some of these are under ininto one body. They may be enumerated as fol- fluences antagonistic to the Church; others are lows: in an atmosphere of indifference to religion, while very many are_only awaiting an invitation to be- 1. Those unchurched geographically. They are come followers of Christ. found in isolated farming communities, mining sections, and areas from which the church has What other possible challenge to the Church moved .out, new communities opened by various can compare with this! industrial ventures. From the jungle of neglect of religious training for the young comes the monster of "crime men- ace" that terrifies America ,today. The "Red
THE UNCHURCHED CHILDREN OF AMERICA
menace" of revolution and atheism lurks in that day school period means the departure of children same jungle. If the Church and the nation are and youth in utter indifference to church worship to survive the youth must be saved. We must which usually follows. Here is a great challenge recognize our responsibility, not only for the chil- to lead into church life and activity those enrolled dren who belong to the Church by reason of the in the Sunday school. Every denomination should parents' affiliation, but the unchurched children use every means to prevent this loss to the Church. must be reached or the whole nation is threatened. 2. It should be our aim to reach all within the It is amazing how lightly the responsibility for bounds of the parish who may be willing to religious instruction and guidance rests upon our respond to a kindly approach. An offer to call shoulders as American citiz·ens. We insist that and accompany the children to the church service ample provision must be made for secular educa- might be one of the first steps taken. The varition and we pay billions in taxes for that purpose. ous communions might institute a program While we admit that training the mind and neg- through their Sunday school agencies so that lecting the moral and spiritual may simply make every congregation shall carryon an organized more cunning knaves, we fail to see cause for campaign to greatly increase the number of chilalarm in the growing demand to eliminate from dren under religious instruction. our schools all Bible reading and teaching of moral standards. The great Luther Burbank, who was a 3. There is the challenge to reach unchurched philosopher as well as wonderful plant wizard and communities, mining districts and industrial areas scientist, never lost an opportunity to remind us by some plan of interdenominational work, or that "if we took no· better care of our plants than assignment of such areas to various denominawe do of our childr·en we would be living in a tions. The fact' that most of such areas do not jungle of weeds." The Duke of Wellington used promise the establishment of a self-supporting even stronger terms when he said: "Educate chil- church makes it difficult to induce churches to dren without religion and you make a race of assume responsibility. But such mission work as clever devils." this must be done to save America.
One of the most sinister signs of our times is 4. The big task that will require constructive the deliberate effort to alienate the youth of to- planning and far-sighted statesmanship is to make day by atheistic teaching in high schools and col- effective religious contact with the millions of leges. It was the boast of a teacher in one of our children enrolled in our public schools who now universities, recently dismissed because of his receive no religious instruction. The public school flagrant offences in atheistic propaganda, "They is the only agency which reaches all the children. used to say, 'give me the child till he is 8 years of In most states religious and ethical instruction age and you can have him after that!' But give and even character building have now been elimme a boy or girl for two years in college in the inated from the public school. Dr. Paul D. Eddy teens and I can take his religion out of him." has presented the following plan of cooperation The Church is responsible for seeing that our that should enlist all churches and character-buildschool boards, our church college boards and our ing agencies in every community: state schools do not permit teaching destructive of the Christian faith and life. The principle of separation of Church and State will not necessarily mean the separation of public education Is it not high time that a definite program and religious education in the sense of eliminating moral should be formulated and put into effect to reach and spiritual values or the great basic elements in rethis unchurched half of America's children? It ligion. . . . The new advance of home missions and is truly gratifying that serious consideration is Christian education must be in the field of reaching this being given to it by church bodies, and Sunday unchurched group. New trails in the field cannot be school organizations. blazed by individual denominational effort or independent local church programs. . . . The solution of the problem The challenge to the Church to save her own of reaching the unchurched, providing adequate religious children and to reach the millions of the un- training for all children and youth is to be found in the churched children' in America presents many cooperative study and planning by the Church with all problems, some of which are difficult. the major character agencies in the community: the government, public schools, homes and other agencies. 1. Those enrolled in the Sunday school must be The building of an intelligently coordinated program for won to Christ. Surely the Church must concern character building in the community is the only effective herself deeply with this need. solution.
It is comparatively easy to enroll children in If such a cooperative movement be launched promptly the Sunday school and thus bring them under and enthusiasm created for it such as was realized in the religious influence, even when parents are wholly launching of the Student Volunteer Movement, and plans indifferent, but it is very disturbing to see the made for a sustained program through the future, this wholesale manner in which the close of the Sun- movement might well be hailed as the greatest achieve- ment of our century thus far. May the outcome match the need of these times and reach effectively some of the millions of unchurched children of America!
A Re–Emphasis of Spiritual
By REV. PAUL DAWSON EDDY, M.A., New York Director, Vacation and Week.Day Church Schools, ln~ernational Council of Religious Education "THE Church which for years has professed the economically, insecure, the emotionally un- its interest and concern over the weak and stable, or the mentally retarded child. It is in- helpless, almost turns its back upon these creasingly apparent that these agencies cannot unfortunate children. They ·are not invited. adequately meet the character needs of the total They are too dirty, uncouth and wild. Perhaps group of children and youth of the community they might also contaminate those within the fold. through their independent, unrelated and often At any rate few are called and few come." This competitive program. The State Superintendent is the conclusion of a study of fourteen thousand of Public Instruction in Nebraska states that the juvenile delinquents who appeared before the schools alone are impotent in the face of character courts of Los Angeles in three years. * education needs of the day. The Tenth Year Book "The position of the Church today is one of con- of the National Education Association also states, fusion and uncertainty. It has lost much of the "Our society today awaits a new integration of authority with which it at one time was clothed." t knowledge, aspiration and human purpose – it These are serious indictments from the courts would seem to be a task essentially religious in of a state and the leaders in public education. nature."
They challenge the Christian Church to a reeval- Through the segregation of religion and the uation of its program and work. Such a study secularization of education in the 19th century would lead to the conclusion that the Church has violence has been done to Church and State, and failed to provide adequate Christian character to individual and social character. The narrow training for the less privileged economically, so- sectarianism of our colonial church fathers was cially and culturally, as well as for those of the a contributing factor to the separation of religion more privileged classes. Of course there are in- and education. This isolation of religion from dividual exceptions of successful programs but in the daily educational experiences of the child has general the groups from which our largest num- led to cynicism, materialism and the disintegra- ber of juvenile delinquents come are not reached tion of personality.
by Protestant home missions, Christian educa- During the past decade or more one can discover tion or the Church. Possibly these organizations a distinct trend to reintegrate the basically reli- do not possess the understanding or technique gious or spiritual elements in the program of for attracting and training these children, youth public education and character building. "No and adults. greater task rests upon the secondary schools than In fairness it should be stated that the public to help its pupils find their God. . . . When this schools and the other community character build- orientation takes place life assumes poise, dig- ing agencies have also failed, side by side with the ni,ty, grandeur. Otherwise its strivings, its Church, to reach these groups. While the public struggles, its achievements seem trivial and in- schools may record the attendance of these chil- significant.:!: dren, few would claim that the average public This quiet return to fundamental spiritual school with its traditional regemented program values should be recognized and encouraged by all really meets the consummate needs of these religious faiths. It is a function of the Christian groups. Because compulsory education laws in- Church to permeate the life of the community sure attendance, it does not follow that the time agencies and to appreciate every contribution to of the pupil is spent in creative activities which character development as an aid to the "more are suited to his needs. abundant life." – Recent studies have revealed a School, church and the other community char- great storehouse of latent religious resources in acter-building agencies must admit the failure of public school curriculum and in the activities of their so-called regular programs vitally to reach many community character-building agencies.
• Bulletin, Who Is Delinquent? published by Rotary Club of Los The Church can assisUhese agencies to strengthen AntgeTlehse. Tenth Year Book of the Department of Superintendents of ~ Sixth Year Book, Department of Superintendents, N. E. A., the National Education Association, p 23. pp. 51-53.
[290 ] and enrich the spiritual basis of their program. sion, in cooperation with the major character- In addition to the permeating and indirect in- building agencies of Ohio, will establish demon- stration communities in rural and urban districts fluence, the Church has a unique and distinctive for the cooperative study of community needs and contribution to make to character development. the coordinated program building in which reli- It is a function of the Church to enrich, interpret gion will be an integral part. Duplication and and integrate experiences in terms of specifically competition in the programs of these agencies Christian ideals and purposes. This function must will be eliminated. be performed on the basis of the individual's experiences in his home, school and community, and The Commission will also study the relationship not by the isolated learning of unrelated dogma. of Church and State in education, and the func- tion of religion in character development. The We are lead to the conclusion that if the Church place of the Church in the community, and how continues to follow its traditional program of its contribution may best be made, will receive isolated religious teaching, it can never effectively careful consideration. Some form of weekday reach the unchurched millions of youth. But, if religious education will be developed which will the Church is really interested in the weak, the enrich, interpret and integrate the daily experihelpless and uncouth child, as well as in the more ences of the child in his home, school and comnormal and attractive youth, it must make its con- munity relationships. tribution in coordination with the other community character-building agencies. There is a di- The Commission is composed of national and rect and an indirect contribution which the Church state denominational leaders, leaders in public is designed to make. schools and other character-building agencies, professors of generttl education and religious edu- In Los Angeles the Juvenile Courts inaugurated cation, ministers and laymen. The Commission the plan of bringing the educational, social, civic will encourage the home, the school, the Church and religious agencies in the community into a and other agencies in their cooperative efforts to coordinating council for study and cooperative meet community needs. program building in more than seventy districts of the county. Community councils of character – building agencies are developing in a number of cities and Public school leaders in some states and com- rural areas. Research studies and the experimunities have taken the initiative in developing mental development of programs are planned. It cooperative study and community planning. Some is expected that a conference with the leaders of ministers and laymen have sensed the inadequacy the Jews, Roman Catholics and Prote&tants will of religion on Sundays only and the failure of the be held sometime in the future to consider the Church to reach the unchurched groups, so they common interest of all religious faiths in the eduhave invited leaders to study what can be done. cation and character developments of the child.
The first united Protestant program on a state- By some such united approach we may hope to wide basis to provide religious training in coopera- meet the challenge of sixteen million unchurched tion with the public schools and the other major children and youth, and may overcome the criticharacter-building agencies is developing in Ohio. cism of Juvenile Courts, public school educators, After a year of exploratory study by the Ohio and community leaders. The Church can thus re- Council and the International Council of Religious gain its lost leadership in the community and Education, a commission has been organized which make her contribution in coordination with the will officially represent the Council of Churches in other character-building agencies. Ohio, the Ohio Council of Religious Education, the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America, Let the Church go forward in a united demonthe Home Missions Councils and the International stration, in a national laboratory study and de- Council of Religious Education. This Commis- velopment for these neglected youth..
INTERRELATION OF FOREIGN AND HOME MISSIONS Home missions and foreign missions are the two ends of the same stream, its fountain and its sea. We cannot stop one without drying up the other also. Stop the fountains and the sea will ultimately become a dry bed; evaporate the sea and the fountains will run dry. Home missions are needed to keep the church at home alive and to help it grow. Cutting off foreign mission interest and activity is a sure way of killing home missions. Foreign missions bring returns a thousandfold at home by sending streams back upon the churches to revitalize them and fill them with life more abundant.
Need for Christian
By the REV. J. M. WALKER, D.D., Charlotte, N. C.
Pastor of Steele Creek Presbyterian Church T HE relation of education to Christian char- have lost faith – in God, in themselves, in their . acter is a most vital topic today. An amaz- fellowmen. ing number of new books deal with this Look at the young men who begin a task, but subject. Educational associations of various kinds cannot finish it.
are devoting their time and best thought to it; See how students, trained in institutions of magazines are lending their pages to its discus- learning, are swelling our criminal and delinquent sion; and there is no end to the conferences being lists. held with the idea of finding a solution to the Behold the multitudes without the slightest re- many problems involved. gard to the restraints of the Sabbath.
Out of all this thought and discussion, two Think of the widespread disregard for the things may be said to have become clear: one, Christian standards of sex and bodily purity.
that education must center it~ efforts upon char- Think of the gambling fever that is abroad in acter development. It will concern itself not so the land.
much with subject-matter as with life. Its goal Observe how many homes are broken up, and will be the achieving of a Christian character how the divorce courts are filled.
rather than the mastery of materials. Not that Think of the corruption in politics, and the it will lay less stress upon the acquisition of bribery of justice; the hatred between classes, knowledge per se, but it will d~mand that a great- and the rising war-like spirit between nations.
er emphasis be placed upon guiding youth into an Think of the filth in much of our modern literaunderstanding of that knowledge as it relates to ture and movies; of the unethical practices in his own development in right living. The other business and industries; of the faithlessness of thing is this, the great Christian principles and public servants; and of the wholesale repudiation ideals which were set forth by the Master Him- of sacred obligations. self must find a larger place in our educational processes. The times demand it. All this and much more of a similar kind is tak- ing place among our people, and often right before The Character Crisis in National Life our eyes. The picture is not overdrawn. We have no disposition to exaggerate. Certainly there Our age has made marvelous progress. The· is much in our civilization that is praiseworthy, new scientific knowledge is flying with lightning and for which we should be thankful, but the rapidity across the boundaries of nations, and no symptoms revealed are alarming to say the least.
man can tell what tomorrow holds in store. Yes- What we are chiefly concerned with is the source terday's marvels become today's commonplaces. or sources of this malady. What lies back of this Because the genius of man knows no limit we distress-disorder?
face the future with eager anticipation. How- It is evident that the breakdown is in the realm ever, it does not take a discerning spirit to see of character. Honor and integrity, reverence and that all is not well with us. As a student of our devotion to truth and duty, and the high regard day has well said: "We are like an army that for sacred ideals seem to be a thing of the past may be able to report gains on the right, but with a great body of our people. Principles which which has met with ignominious defeat on the guided our fathers in building this Christian civ- left." With all our furnishings through the ilization have been too frequently thrown over- knowledge of the new sciences; with all the board as something out of date and useless. With equipment that comes with the modern inventions, many, the true has become identified merely with the modern conveniences, and the new modes of the useful, and -the good with that which is pleas-.
communication; with all the vast outlay in edu- ing; there are no fixed standards of truth and cational facilities for the training of youth; still righteousness.
something tremendously important seems to be When we analyse the causes of this breakdown lacking in the lives of our people. Behold the in character and strive to get at the secret for this breakdowns occurring all along the line; men failure, we do not proceed with such assurance.
ffl92 ] In this complex civilization there are too many follow the lead of these antireligionists, and use educacross-currents playing upon the life of the average tioI?al procedures which are based on philosophical theories whIch are destructive to religion. This thing is happening individual, tending either to make or mar his both in public schools and in church schools.
character. It behooves us to tread with humility. 1. First of all, a large part of our educational This secularization of the public education has been going on for years. Perhaps we are just beprogram has been out of balance. We have been ginning to feel the full force of its effect. It was primarily concerned with ways and means rather but logical to expect that a system of public eduthan with objectives. We have said, let facts be cation from which religion had been carefully purveyed, character will take care of itself. We have been too busy mastering scientific methods eliminated would in time become essentially and to give much attention to mastering life. It has actively antireligious. A godless philosophy of been a materialistic age, and the spiritual has been life is bound, as the night follows the day, to propolitely bowed out. Students have been taught to duce a godless civilization. It has laid its blighting put their entire faith in the scientific method as hand upon nearly everything that we held as sacred-upon the home, the family, the church a cure-all for the numerous ills of society. the school, society, and even the business world: "This steady secularization of public education" says one of our Christian philosophers, "is per- We have sown the. wind, and now we are reaping haps the most potent factor in producing a dis- the whirlwind. torted sense of values in the mind of our young It was but inevitable that our nation should be people. While we have been introducing one sub- in for a cruel awakening. All this crass material- ism and antireligious teaching in schools and colject after another of a secular nature, we have leges was bound to bring about a reaction. Truth been steadily eliminating or restricting instruction of a moral and religious nature. Our children has a way of rising to the surface and coming out naturally put the emphasis on the things that are regardless. Then again, too many institutions of learning remained faithful to their trust; and given prominence in their experience." there were too many consecrated teachers of youth Dr. Walter A. Squires, oifn Thoidsaye,x"ceslhleonwt s bhoook~ to be completely swept off their feet by this surge "Educational Movements of antireligious propaganda. The teacher's task, as it has been truly said, is too sacred a thing for fifty years ago moral and religious truths were a vital part of the public curriculum. But since him to be long led astray. The dawn of the new day is here, and the question is being asked everythat time they have become so secularized that the spiritual has been largely eliminated. Culti- where, what can we do to make our nation Chris- tian? What has education to do with the formavation of the spiritual nature has been shunted tion of character? ~nto a corner. The inference drawn by our youth IS that the courses most worth while are those of a materialistic nature, which have immediate and How Is Christian Character Achieved?
tangible value. Consciously or unconsciously, our What is the Christian character we wish to boys and girls have 'imbibed the notion that mak- achieve? To begin with, Christian character is ing a good living is more important than living a not something that varies with the ethical culture good life. The ideal existence is conceived in the of the nation. It is not the product of the theory terms of material comfort rather than in terms of of relativity in matters of right and wrong. It personal honor, integrity, and truth. cannot be said to be one thing in Russia another thing in Germany or Italy, and still quite a dif- 2. A second important factor in the breakdown ferent thing in England or America. Christian of character is found in that smaIi group of anti- character is a product that is discernible wherreligious and atheistic teachers in universities ever it is found-in Christian or in non-Christian who have rejected religion and who are bent on lands. It has certain earmarks which are common bringing higher education in line with their own to all Christians. True, these appear in varying antireligious attitudes. Says Dr. Squires in the degrees of development in the individual as he book above quoted: These "intellectuals," these leaders of our American grows in grace, but the root of the matter is there "intelligentsia" have in some way gained a wide recogni- just the same. The Christian life is the Christtion as leaders in educational science. They seem to as- centered life; and it is the Christ-way of life. sume a sort of proprietorship over such terms as "scienti~c,:' "modern," and "progressive." Unfortunately public The Christian character is the product of the OpInIOn hardly seems to challenge the assumption. . • . Christ-centered life. Christ has been formed in The most serious element in the situation, however does the life through faith. This is the initial work in not lie with these out-and-out antireligiortists. It lies in Christian character formation. By it we mean the fact that a multitude of public educators are blindly something infinitely more than a mere assent to following the theories which this group have constructed a set of propositions about the Lord Jesus Christ. and which they are diligently promoting. It is really re- It may be described as securing the allegiance of markable how some people deeply loyal 'to religion will
one's inner life to the whole personality of the The life of Christ is more surely transmitted Christ. Such an allegiance brings about a change through the example of Christian men and women in personality, which may be gradual or sudden, than through any other source. Students have a depending largely upon his training in Christian decided tendency to become like those who teach experience. But this change is so radical that them. So the life of the teacher, more than any- Jesus called it the "new birth." The Christian thing that is taught, counts most in building up then, is one who has this inner life born of faith or tearing down Christian character. Too much in Jesus Christ. It is this new life that: gives emphasis cannot be placed upon the personality both motivation to his conduct, and power for the of the teacher. We soon forget what we are accomplishment of his God-given tasks. taught; the influence of the life of the teacher Christian character is not only the product of abides-a hallowed benediction or a painful mem- the Christ-centered life, but it is also the result ory of wasted opportunities. The wealth of our of the Christ-way of life. This new life is pat- Christian institutions of learning does not lie in terned after that of the Master. He bears in his brick and mortar, nor in stocks and bonds, but in body the marks of the Saviour. The norm of the the power of great personalities in the faculty.
Christian character is the character of Jesus Him- All that we have been saying but leads to the self. As we study the character of Jesus there truth: Christian character is as much caught as are at least five outstanding characteristics, five it is taught. It develops through the discipline features that were distinctive, which set Him off of life's experiences under the watchful eye of a from all other men. There was His purity or saintly ,soul.
holiness; His love; His forgiveness; His sacri- Second in importance is the influence of a fice; and His humility. These revealed the pas- Christian curriculum upon character formation.
sion of His heart, and they were exhibited in His Just as the Christian is a Christ-centered person- daily life. In this way He set going forces that ality, so the education that is to produce that have in them the making of a new world. It was character must be Christ-centered. That does not not an overstatement that the historian Lecky mean that the facts of science will receive any made in his "History of European Morals" when the less emphasis; rather the more. But it does he said: "The 'three short years' of the active life determine the approach to truth. To begin with, of Jesus have done more to regenerate and soften it recognizes Divinity in the life of things. It mankind than all the disquisition of philosophers says: "Man's chief end is to glorify God and to and all the exhortations of moralists of all time." enjoy Him forever." It further states: "The It is characters fashioned after this pattern that Word of God which is contained in the Scriptures the world needs today. Such characters our edu- of the Old and New Testament, is the only rule to cational institution should strive to turn out. How direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him."
can it be done? With these .fixed postulates it moves into every It will be readily admitted, that character build- realm of truth with the full assurance, "Ye shall ing is the most difficult task in our civilization. know the truth and the truth shall make you free."
While we recognize that Christian character is Best of all, it is assured that when young life has largely the product of training, still we are much been properly trained, there will come a time when at sea as to the way human personality develops. that life will long for the Perfect Life about which As we have said, there are so many influences it may be entwined and held, just as naturally as playing upon young life – and they are ever on the vine calls for the pole to be its stay and guide.
the increase – as to make our· efforts uncertain. When the main educational forces of the com- It is just possible there may be two forces for munity-,-the home, the church, the school-unite evil to everyone for good constantly working in this holy cooperative undertaking we may con- against our very best efforts. Both the power of fidently look for the issue-a Christian character, heredity and the influence of environment, over the supreme need of our day.
which we have but little control, may largely nul- lify all the nobler impulses that may be brought to bear on a life. Surely to guide one into the way Divine dynamic has its beginning when men of Christian living requires all the wisdom and have reached their end. Its majesty meets us only consecration one can command. at yonder borderline where in our willing and The most potent influence in the formative working we aremade to pant for breath. Where period of one's life comes through the contact my cunning and my fortunes can do nothing, can- with'Christian parents, teachers and professors. not help, comes my God. KARL BARTH.
Church Can Help' the
By EDGAR M. WAHLBERG, Denver, Colorado Pastor of Grace Community Church and President of the Denver Open Forum .
I N DENVER the now aged Father William H. relation of the Church and the unemployed. Un- O'Ryan is most highly revered for two things: fortunately the Church as a whole does not fea- his long and deep love for his church and his ture in the hardships of those who suffer most. determined struggle in behalf of social justice. Economic need is the major interest of most He did not hesitate to state bluntly the problem of people, and in times of stress economic security unemployment and poverty in relation to religion becomes a single issue. The church must be deep- in a meeting of the Catholic Industrial Confer- ly realistic about this question. At present people ence. He said, "Poverty to St. Francis may have are confused and harassed because they are in an been a holy thing, but to emotional stage and cannot John Smith, unemployed, in balance experience with my parish, with his wife and Continued unemployment, hard facts. The Church must five children it is a far dif- voluntary or involuntary, is a bear its responsibility for ferent thing. Poverty leads menace to the material, moral not having helped the people to the very gates of hell. "to discern this time."
Members are lost, not gained, and spiritual wellbeing of the Universal spiritual recovto the church because of iCnhduivrcidhu. al,Tthhee inSatabtielityandof thaet ery will follow universal eco- least. twelve million workers in pauperism. . . . Oligarchy nomic security based upon a in America shouts democ- America to find healthful em- Christian philosophy and racy to fool the people. This ployment constitutes a real cri- economy where earnings are is the meanest kind of oli- sis that threatens disaster. This for the benefit of many rathgarchy. . . . The Protestant paper, by a pastor who has done er than for the profit of the Church has lost the laboring much to help the unemployed in few. Any attempts at reliman because Protestant min- his own city, gives valuable sug- gious revival apart from this isters have not assisted the gestions that may be found use- position will prove to be unemployed or labor. We ful elsewhere. Some will not futile and eventually will de,. are also losing them because apgorienet, wbiutth atlhleaaguretehotrhaatt seovmerey- stroy Christian faith and thing must be done in harmony we have not been true to our add to the common despair. program. . . . The Catholic 7 Any church that shouts the Church is losing more mem- "Kingdom of God" to fool bers each year than it is tak- with the spirit and teachings of the people is a mean church Jesus Christ, to meet the needs of the hour.
ing in by conversion. . . . and it does not represent the To me, social service is re- Master, who was anointed to ligion." preach "good tidings to the The dilemma of the Church and the masses is poor," and who later proved the validity of His presented by H. Richard Niebuhr in his statement, mission to the imprisoned John the Baptist by re- "There is no effective religious movement among porting that the poor "had good tidings preached the disinherited in America. As a result they to them."
are simply outside the pale of organized Christi- Is the Church taking an active place in the hon- anity." est resentments of life? Are churchmen near Professor H. Paul Douglass says in the Spring- those who are clubbed to death in food riots? Is field Survey, "The churches have run away from the Church aware of the dangers of regimenta- the areas of desperate needs." The preacher who tion of millions to the lowest levels of life? Is was asked to speak before a mass meeting of re- the heart of the Church touched by the misery lief strikers was quite shocked when, as he was and tragedy of the victims of modern selfishness introduced as "Reverend," a worker yelled, "We and stupidity? Is the influence of the Church don't want any religion here." This experience feared by the privileged and selfish classes?
and these statements quite characterize the usual Should the Church be an open door for everyone?
[295 ]
As a rule the language of the Church is un- bodies gave leadership much good was accomfamiliar and means little to the unemployed. Its plished. In Grace Church a Self-Help Cooperaappeal often suggests an obscurantism in which tive in two years, with a small outlay of cash, there is no action. The unemployed recognize two did over $34,000 worth of business in furnishing or three significant needs and are waiting for a actual commodities to the poor. It is clear that revolutionary Christianity which deals with real- men who have no wealth and who do not control ity in accordance with those needs. Major moral the means of production struggle against almost insights are dependent upon human needs. A impossible odds, and as a result this first great middle class society with, fair prospects, from and fundamental urge of the unemployed has been which is drawn the major constituency of the largely dissolved. Church, turns its attention to moral questions of a different type than does a society of people out People turned increasingly to what is apparof work, whose future appears empty and hope- ently the only alternative-relief. Agencies were less. Where profit seeking capitalism increasingly inadequate and distributed relief in monthly sums fails to support the people, middle class people as low as $9.00 per month-$13.00 in Denver. will have to decide whether or not to join the The people could not live on this scale and a secdispossessed in a struggle for a truly Christian ond movement developed involving hundreds of social order; organizations and thousands of members. The main purpose was to demand more adequate relief. One fundamental contribution of any church to These organizations were quite resentful and met the solution of this problem is the maintenance considerable opposition but struck fear into sociof an atmosphere of fair play and a platform ety. Some churches accepted the opportunity to which asserts itself in a policy of true freedom work with them. Night after night hundreds of speech. Only in this way can the church be were turned away from packed meetings at Grace close to people and so come to know and follow Church. Gradually, the Government entered the the way of God. Grace Community Church, Den- field and relief was raised to an average of $30.00 ver, maintains a policy sensitive to people in which a month. every minority and oppressed group may find expression. . Twenty-six different unemployed Unemployed soon found that bombarding relief and workers' organizations count Grace Center as agencies was both unhappy and futile. After all, a regular meeting place. Among them are: relief workers or their organizations were not the Baker's Union, Sheet Metal Workers, Truck Driv- ones that put people out of work. Multitudes hurers and Teamsters, Tramway Employees, Tank ried to other extremes and joined visionary move- Builders, Retail Clerks, Auto Mechanics, A. F. of ments born out of hope. Millions joined the L. Rank and File, Unemployed Cooperatives, In- Townsend Clubs, the Utopian Societies, the Techternational Labor Defense, National Workers Al- nocrats, and other organizations. Much energy liance, Colorado Cooperative, Inc., Townsend was dissipated but may have saved the United Clubs, Utopians, Socialist Party, Technocrats, States from more serious disturbances. Ex-C. W. A. Workers, Poultry Cooperative, Farmers Union, Joint Council of Women's Auxiliaries, Another stage involves two directions—{)ne Good Government Club, Voters Clubs, Workers sound, in which people study their problems and Press Conference, League for Human Freedom, attempt to survey life. The Denver Labor College League Against War and Fascism, Labor College, had three terms this past year with courses in Homesteaders Club, Miner's Cooperative, F. E. Economics, Sociology, NRA, History of Labor, R. A. Workers, Relief Strikers, Consumers Coop- Social Insurance, Labor Law, Dramatics, Systems erative Study Club, Transient Boys Club, Workers of Social Change, Proposed Economic Programs, Boys' and Girls' Clubs, and Mooney-Billings Com- and other courses. The other direction represents mittee. another wild fling, this time behind the glittering generalities of such personalities as Huey Long Churches sensitive to what has happened these and Father Coughlin. This second direction replast five years will note the following develop- resents a grave danger in which America may ments. Immediately after the crash in 1929, un- unwittingly be Hitlerized. employed almost in mass resorted to self-help activities. Many organizations developed in The Constitution of the Workers and Farmers every community—{)ver thirty in the City of Alliance of EI Paso County, Colorado, strikingly Denver. This work proceeded largely without similar to others over the country, represents a public approval and was sometimes discouraged more earnest effort by the unemployed. Incidenby both business and organized labor. Social tally, one of the trusted officers of this Alliance is workers generally ignored this outpouring of co- Rev. John Jorden, of St. Paul's Church, Colorado operative initiative, but where churches and civic Springs. This relationship is typical of hundreds of situations and indicates a part that the church can play. This organization strives to be wholly
HOW THE CHURCH CAN HELP THE UNEMPLOYED
American. The Preamble to the Constitution is activities. In many instances all that is needed well worth reading. is encouragement to develop some significantly helpful and creative interests, including interest Because of the hopeless political situation now confront- in Consumers' Cooperatives. Education should ing the United States, and the fact that our Legislative, be dominant. Ministers should be especially Executive and Judiciary bodies are in constant disagree- aware of workers' education, and should promote ment regarding a workable program to stabalize industry related activities of forums, panels, dramatics, and fulfill the promises of a new deal for the masses: We, music, art, and other avocations. the producing citizens of the nation have found it neces- Excellent work is being done in the field of GRACE CHURCH COOPERATIVE POTATO CAMP workers' education. Preachers need to be in- formed. The purpose of this workers' education sary to organize in sundry groups for self-protection not is: "to foster among workers a better understandonly against entrenched predatory wealth as formerly, ing of economic and social problems, interpreting but also against gross injustice caused by political favor- them in the light of accurate information and of itism in the government agencies entrusted with the dole our own experience; to instruct workers in prinand work relief program for its millions of unemployed ciples of labor organization and in method of victims. . . . building an activ.ely intelligent Labor Movement; to encourage the building of a social order ade- Our meetings will be educational in nature and should quate for all the needs of all the people." follow the lines of economic class interest without advocating any special creed or politics and our aim should be the The pall of many churches in unemployed amalgamation of all useful workers of hand and brain, in neighborhoods is poor church attendance and order that a careful and intelligent mass action may be apparent indifference. Cooperation on the part applied in case of a crisis. of the church to meet the real needs of the people will make the minister a busy person with a hun- dred demands: as a speaker before unemployed groups, an advisor, and a leader in the effort to bring about better conditions.
The church should also strive to be a commu- nity center endeavoring to meet special needs- for recreation, nursery schools, activities to pre- A casual observer will note that the world will A GRACE COMMUNI'IW CHURCH BOYS' CLUB whirl for some time to come. This easily reveals the first opportunity of the Church to the unem- vent juvenile delinquency and help with family ployed. Churches need to open their doors and problems. Grace Church received the following allow space to be used by the people. Churches letter from the Crime Prevention Bureau of in the less fortunate neighborhoods should not be Denver: closed week days. More fortunate churches could well afford to help support strategically located DEAR REV. WAHLBERG: churches of the disinherited as centers for unemployed and workers' activities. Grace Church I wish to use this means of expressing to you my comhouses over 300 different meetings a month. The pliments of the effective work you are doing in your December report of the caretaker is interesting. district. "We have at this time meeting here nine labor unions, sixteen educational and workers' classes, four labor auxiliaries, and fifteen other groups. The chapel and rooms iIi the Community Building, including Children's Work and Boys' and Girls' Clubs, are used 365 times a month, not including the Sunday school where the rooms are used again. The Chapel frequently is used and cleaned as many as four times daily, especially on Saturdays -most of the others twice daily."
A second procedure is to cultivate self-help
From a spot map made in the Juvenile Court, I find It is the experience of the writer that the unemonly one boy's case filed in 1932 and one in 1933 in the' ployed, when confidence is established, turn eagerarea bounded by Broadway, West Colfax and Speer. This ly to the Christian minister for guidance. The is indeed a fact to be proud of. Grace Unemployed Cooperative Arbitration Com- mittee, of which the pastor is a member, has been The work of a community center with the necessary able to settle many disputes and has handed down equipment can never be estimated in dollars. Our delin- many interesting decisions. The Church can win quency problem would be practically wiped out if we had many of these people to Christ if, in addition to a sufficient number of such institutions as the Grace Com- shouting the Kingdom of God, it also uses its munity Church. influence to build up the Kingdom and to share its blessings with the workers. Trusting that your good work will continue, I am Respectfully, A labor union took over the job of decorating EDMUND C. YOUNG, Grace Church in which twenty-one unemployed painters donated most of their time until the job Bureau of Probation and Delinquency Prevention. was completed. Asked why union labor was will- ing to work without pay the union boss replied, The Church must give meaning to its social "We men like to help a good cause. A church GOSPel pronouncements if it hopes to win the that is doing the work of your church deserves unemployed to Christ. To announce that the the best. If we had left our job half done, we Church is committed to fair wages and better would always have felt guilty. We just have to working conditions and at the same time to ignore play fair with these boys and girls. And a fellow the plight of workers in any particular neighbor- is willing to do most anything when he is apprehood is a glaring contradiction which indicates ciated. Most folks, it seems, find it a lot easier insincerity. Church people as a rule have no true to damn us and misunderstand us. Here, we have idea of such things as socialism, corporations, seen with our own eyes a real service, and have labor unions, strikes, lockouts, and other social felt a real Christian appreciation of humanity. concepts that are constantly met in this world. You can't turn that down. It ain't profits. folks The unemployed are often more anxious about wants, it's life." finding something good in the Church· than is the Church itself. Religious interest is riot highly developed in the masses. Nevertheless, they are keenly sensitive to a common language that bespeaks fellowship in the struggle to iive.
Juvenile Criminals and the Church By HOMER L. DICKERSON, Nickerson, Nebraska j there is no such thing as "an average juvenile delinquent," we maintain that in the majority of THERE are few social problem~, today of more cases these characteristics are found. Just as we interest than that of crime. _any plans are have what we term the average American citizen offered for its solution. Some may work but so we note the characteristics of the average many are hopeless. There is one thing certain, juvenile delinquent. He may be described as folhowever, that if we can stop juvf!nge delinquency lows: the larger problem of crime is s~lved. How to do this has thus far batHed those'most interested. He is 18 years of age and unmarried. He is a Some believe criminals are born to be at odds nominal member of a church that he never atwith society. Others say that any child born into tends. (See table 2.) His mother and father the environment out of which delinquents come, are of foreign birth and do not speak the English is doomed to spend his life fleeing from the law. language well. (See table 1.) He has been raised in a home in which there has been serious trouble On the basis of an investigation of a modern due either to -divorce or death of his parents., reformatory, we make certain suggestions as to (Sixty-one of the boys did not live with both of what the Church can do about the solution of their parents.) This average delinquent has this problem. always lived in a poverty-stricken home situated in a tenement district of a large city. There are For convenience and clarity we include a chart seven in the family and some of his brothers have of two and have summed up the dominant char- been in trouble with the authorities. The boy did acteristics of the 100 boys and included them in what we call the average delinquent. While we readily admit the weakness of this method, since
JUVENILE CRIMINALS AND THE CHURCH
not like school and often played truant. He began ous to mention. Each situation has its own soluschool at the age of six and left at fourteen after tion; the main thing is that the minister take completing the seventh grade. His mental age an interest in such boys. is approximately ten years and eight months. This young man has repeated at least one grade The program of the Boy Scouts should also in school. Since then he has had two jobs and appeal to boys. Yet our survey shows that only worked on each on the average of nine months at three had membership in that organization. While $16.98 a week. He was unemployed at the time certain phases of the Boy Scout movenie]J.t may he committed the crime for which he was sent to not always appeal, yet the whole program is the Reformatory. His leisure time was spent in flexible enough to be adjusted to many needs. The loafing. Prior to his present committal he has great difficulty' is to get leaders. Here the minbeen convicted of four crimes. ister can be of great help, through appealing to his men to give their time in taking care of a What Can the Church Do? Scout patrol of potential delinquents.
In making recommendations as to what the The Prevention of Delinquency minister can do to aid in the rehabilitation of these boys, first let us consider the position of the Weare not concerned alone in rehabilitating minister in the community. boys but rather in preventing them from becom- ing delinquent. The natural question is what He is the man especially trained to guide those can the minister do about the boy whose parents forces which build character. While it is not cannot speak English freely? It seems only reanecessary or wise, that he be the head of such sonable that he use his influence to obtain social organizations as the Y. M. C. A., the Boy Scouts workers who speak both languages and know and other leisure-time agencies, he should be in both cultures, to act as foster parents to both the constant contact with them and should aid in young man and his parents. If this can not be making their influence felt in the community. Ac- done an effort can be made to obtain members of cording to this survey the Y. M. C. A. and the his church willing to "take" a foreign-speaking Boy Scouts have played little or no part in the family and help to orient them to their new envilives of these boys. Only two have attended the ronment. He can open his church to classes in "Y" and three the Boy Scouts. Such a situation adult education. should not exist. Certainly the recreational program of the "Y" should appeal to the thousands In facing the problem of the school we find it of potential delinquents. Despite the fact that particularly difficult. Our survey shows that 73 per cent of the boys came from cities where overwhelming numbers of the boys studied have the Y. M. C. A. is operating, only two per cent had difficulty in school, many at a very early age. were regular attendants. The ministers can aid in The survey also shows that the majority of the getting boys who need the "Y" into its recrea- boys were below the average mental level. Taking tional classes. It is probable that the apparent all these things into consideration it seems wise, failure of the "Y" is not due to any desire on its that when this situation is known to exist, we part to serve only those of the more favored should adapt our educational standards to meet classes, but rather due to a lack of financial and the needs of this group. They have proven their moral support from those whom the minister can mental handicap, and to continue trying to make reach. Putting it more plainly, the delinquent them measure up to the old recognized educational very often cannot pay for membership. Neither standards simply fosters truancy. Many people can the "Y." Some one else must do it. The today believe truancy to be the threshold of a minister, working in cooperation with the "Y" criminal career. The minister once convinced of secretary, could help in getting his church mem- the necessity of teaching the manual arts to those bers to subscribe toward free memberships for who have difficulty in mastering textbook knowlsuch boys as these. edge should use his influence with the school au- thorities to provide these children with opportuni- The minister should be one to greet the boy ties t(')· develop their talents along the lines of upon his return from the reform school. He their abilities. can act as the one to whom the boy can go for guidance. It would be worth while· for him to The writer is not qualified to offer a perfect see that the young man is immediately given a educational program. Modern educators are free membership in the "Y" and that he be per- working on this and in many cases are doing a mitted to join other clubs provided for him. He fine piece of work. Some examples are the project might prevail upon a member of his church to method, platoon or opportunity classes and trainact as a Big Brother to the boy. The avenues ing in the manual arts. These programs are built the minister can open to help him are too numer- to fit the needs of the pupils. The greatest ob- stacle to that kind of training comes from the
adults who have been through the old system, and ing minister. The laboring man should under- are convinced of its merits and resent any change. stand that the Christian religion functioning If they had the new system explained to them, properly will obtain for him the very thing he many would approve it. The Parent-Teacher As- wants most; that is, a chance to live life at its sociation is an excellent organization for foster- best.
ing understanding between the parent and the Having said all this, the natural question arises teacher. The minister can offer very practical how can a minister find time to do all these things ? help toward this understanding by becoming an One minister may not be able to do it alone but active supporter of this organization and advising groups of ministers, planning together can do the his church members to do the same. work effectively. It is admittedly a hard task. Reformatory officers believe their plan of keep- Some people may be poor and others rich, some live in tenements and others in mansions, some ing every waking moment of the boy's days full of are in conflict with the laws and others obey them, activity, is responsible for their comparatively but all must be served by the Christian minister. small number of disciplinary problems. The His task is to coordinate these diverse groups so Christian minister can learn much from their ex- that the fortunate and the unfortunate will live perience. Many modern communities have very together in harmony, and all will be given an opfew other than commercial amusements for youth. portunity to enjoy the abundant life found in Motion picture shows soon become tiresome, many Jesus Christ. are unwholesome and the boys do not have the money to pay for these amusements. They must TABLE 1 get their recreation some place. Why not in the church? Most of our churches are now used THE JUVENILE CRIMINAL AND THE CHURCH only one or two days a week. It is possible that a Place of Birth Fathers Mothers minister, working with his men could organize United States ……………….. . 44 41 clubs as leisure-time activities, varied enough to Italy ……………………….. . 22 18 appeal to the taste of most of the young people in Poland ……………………… . 8 10 the community. Each local situation should be Czecho-Slovakia ………………. . 3 3 Germany ……………………. . 3 3 planned in accordance with its own needs. Ireland ……………………… . 2 4 Such a program should interest these boys in Russia ……………………… . 2 4 the worship service of the church. There are England ……………………. . 1 1 some who doubt the efficiency of church attend- Australia ……………………. . 1 2 ance as a crime deterrent. A recent report from Lithuania …………………… . 1 1 Scotland ……………………. . 1 1 one reformatory reveals that there is a strong Wales ……………………… . 1 o correlation between church attendance before Haiti ………………………. . o 1 commitment and success on parole, and a still West Indies …………………. . 1 1 stronger link between church attendance while on Ukraine …………………….. . 1 o parole and success. 91 91 CHURCH ATTENDANCE PRIOR TO COMMITMENT Dead (Nationality not known) .. 9 9 Regular ………. 2 failing out of 26 ( 8 per cent) Total 100 100 Irregular ……… 35 failing out of 216 (16 per cent) None .; ……….. 15 failing out of 42 (36 per cent) TABLE 2 CHURCH ATTENDANCE ON PAROLE THE JUVENILE CRIMINAL AND THE CHURCH Regular ………. 2 failing out of 77 ( 3 per cent) Attendance Irregular ……… 29 failing out of 169 (17 per cent) None …………• 23 failing out of 41 (56 per cent) Church Reg- Fre- Sel- Never Membership ular quent dom Ministers cannot obtain work for all the unem- 45 ployed. They can do much, however, to improve Roman Catholic 63 8 1 9 7 the situation. Ample opportunities offer them- 1 4 selves to a minister for making employers more MPArfeertsihcboaydntiesrtBiaaEnpptiis.sct.o.p..a.l ….. 13 0 0 5 5 conscious of the needs of the employees. The 6 0 3 Christian social message from the pulpit should 6 0 1 1 1 be practical enough and so pointed that no em- 2 2 ployer can mistake the practical application. A 0 0 1 '0 modern minister should let the employees in his 0 1 parish know that he understands their· problems Hebrew ………….. 0. 3 0 0 0 and can offer practical advice and help. Labor organizations need the influence of an understand- African Methodist …. 3 0 0 Greek Catholic …….. 2 0 0 Baptist …….. ~ ………. 1 0 1 Dutch Reformed …… 0 .. 1 0 0 Totals ……………. 98 11 2 17 68 The 99th boy stated he was a Protestant but never at- tended. The 100th boy was not a member of any church and never goes. These figures were taken from the boys' own statements.
~'===~~~==~~~'~
II Effective Ways of Working 'rested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MRS. ESTELLA S. AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO IN THE PROGRAM BUILD- to be used in the year opening in is one of the slogans of the new September, the n thoroughly day. ER'S WORKSHOP study them with your local groupings in mind. If possible, 4. Try to give every person in The "convenient season" for attend a summer conference your organization or group building programs is now upon where the new material is ex- something to do in the line of his us and missionary planners ploited. aptitude. All should work, learn, should take advantage of the fa- pray, give; but why hamper the cilities which summer affords 2. Ca,ter to appetites in the expression of truth by asking for that important bit of church matter of variety and pleasing Moses to make a speech or construction. The plans, speci- flavor. Don't serve the new Aaron to lead a multitude? It fications and blueprints for the things in the same old ways of might well be the task of a definew Home Mission studies are last year. Cast the material in nite committee to find not a but not yet available for your De- the form of p I a y s, pageants, the job for every member. Repartment Editor inasmuch as original dramatizations of the member that aptitudes which naher "mansions" are, like those in study books and leaflets, cos- ture has dyed in the wool can't Dr. Gordon's famous dream, tumed impersonations, visualiza- be faded out in the wash. "strictly limited by the material tions, object lessons, debates, sent up from below," namely, discussions, book reviews, mov- 4. Direct all study or inforsupplied in summer conferences ing and stereopticon pictures, mation into the channel of some and schools of mission study. capitalization of special days and expressional projec.t which shall An abundance of detailed plans events, exhibitions, demonstra- conserve instead of evaporating will be ready for our readers a tions, expressional projects for emotional energy. We learn little later. Meanwhile founda- hand, mind and pocketbook-all about this or that people in order tions may be laid according to the kaleidoscopic colorings for to do for them. the fundamental principles enu- truth which this Department has merated in this issue, and some tried to pass on from its con- 5. Use new charts. Find new specific plans of value are given stituency from month to month. machinery. Steer new courses. herewith. Sharpen up your Write to The Religious Motion But never lose sight of or subortools! Picture Foundation, 140 Nassau dinate the unchanging goal of St., New York City, for its cata- salvation through Jesus Christ On the Ground Floor log covering the widest variety for the whole world. Social of moving pictures available at service is a good means to the 1. Adapt plans to age-require- an insignificant price, if you can end; but it must never be misment and type of mind. For- possibly arrange to buy or bor- taken for the end. A unique iltunately m 0 s t denominational row a projector (s eve r a I lustration of adaptation of old agencies for missionary educa- churches sharing the same in- means to new conditions is aftion bring out annually courses strument, as in some friendly forded by the project called and programs prepared by ex- communities) . Study variety perts familiar with pedagogy and utilize the imagination. Cooperation Between the and current needs. "What is sauce for the goose" is no longer 3. Make sure you serve up P. T. A. and Church Schools considered "sauce for the gan- worthful material, not froth and der," as was formerly the case flavor meant as appetizers. Use The following article is contribin making up missionary pro- materials provided in the United uted by Mrs. J. D. Burton, Disgrams . for men and women, Mission Study Courses, supple- trict President of the Tennessee adults and children. But even mented by your specific denom- Congress of Parents and Teachwell-graded material needs to be inational plans and amplified by ers in the Sixth District: adapted locally, and this requires at least one independent publicagenuine work on the part of tion such as THE REVIEW, which The early history of education leaders. First write your de- sees beyond the boundaries of in Tennessee is the story of the partment of missionary educa- the various communions into the. early academies, in the main tion or the literature secretary Land of Universal Brotherhood private schools taught usually by for all the plans and materials and Cooperation. "Togetherism" ministers who had come into the communities for purposes of [301 ] evangelization. At that time these church schools were looked
upon as "foreign enterprises" Is it not possible that Mrs. Similar themes but much and the teachers as having nothing in common with the com- Burton has, in the foregoing, simpler ones must be used munities in which the schools outlined one of the "next steps" among junior groups. Are the were located and no cooperation with the public schools. This is in Home Missions? foregoing too hard for the averno longer true, and the leaders Instead of a "Preachment" age minister or his membership? in the private church schools The study necessary for adeand in the public schools have by the pastor or a program by quate discussion will in itself be learned to work together. It is unifying education and public the laity, why not have an occa- one of the high values of the sentiment in the Cumberland sional forum? Due to changes project. Do we "tremble for Mountains. The church schools today are rendering a fine serv- in psychology as well as current the ark of the Lord," fearing to ice in Christian education and pedagogy, this method of releas- "unsettle" our church folk? are pursuing the method of cooperation with other groups in ing information is becoming in- Most of the m, particularly the region. The leadership of the two lines finds a common creasingly popular, particularly among the younger generation, m€eting ground in the Parent- Teacher Association Movement among the educated folk inclu- .have already raised the questions which serves the home, school sive of the younger people (but and guidance in their thinking and community. It is nonsectarian and nonpartisan. Much then don't we remember the ex- will tend to clarify rather than is being accomplished in the way of coordination of e f for t. citing debates in "the little old to unsettle. This guidance is one Through this method public and private educators meet in joint red schoolhouse" of our youth ?) . of the major tasks of wide-awake deliberation as to ways in which From Stanley Jones' round table pastors and leaders and will be their programs can be coor- discussions in India even to suc- a direct contribution toward the dinated for the good of all. This involves unification of effort, co- cessful American evangelism, missionary cause. ordination of endeavor and economy of expenditure. pro and con discussions under a The forum method is particu- larly adapted to the considera- The Sixth District of the Ten- leader who holds the reins firmly tion of subject matter in our nessee Congress of Parents and to direct and to prevent a run- new Home Mission study books, away seem to fit the mood of the outstanding among which for Teachers is composed of seven adults is "Toward a Christian counties in the heart of the Cum- present generation. Given a America: The Contribution of berland Mountains. There are live topic, a skilful leader, a Home Missions," by Hermann N. Morse. (Cloth, $1.00; paper, 406 public schools in the district. small group of round-table talk- 60 cents.) An idea of its con- The problem of isolation is a ers who know how to talk, and tents and of the debatable ma- permission for a later free-for- terial may be gained from the large one in a number of places. chapter headings: all from the floor, with a definite Church schools are maintained time limit, such discussions I. Home Missions and the Chrishere by the Congregational, the among persons of any age above tian Ideal for America. Methodist Episcopal, the Meth- the grammar grades may prove II. Home Missions Reach Out. odist Episcopal South and the most fertile. They may even III. Home Missions Come of Age. Presbyterian churches, all oper- furnish a good Sunday evening ating under the boards and agencies of these denominations. service for the harassed pastor who preaches himself hoarse to The method followed is to have the private 'schools as members a handful. IV. Home Missions Take Stock of of the P. T. A. Movement, and to have their leaders participate in In these days of doubt as to the Present. the need of Foreign Missions, V. Evangelization-the Need. the Sixth District Conference of VI. Evangelization-the Means. the State P. T. A. Leaders of why not arrange a forum to ex- VII. Home Missions and Social Wel- ploit such live topics as these: public schools meet and make fare. contact with leaders of church schools in this way, thus pro- Have Foreign Missions outlived VIII. The Ministry of Service. moting mutual understanding of their usefulness? Are we justified in IX. Can Christians Cooperate?
viewpoints and needs. The joint diverting funds so badly needed at X. The Promise and Its Fulfilefforts are eliminating many ob- home to present the Gospel to an un- ment. stacles to the educational development of the region through willing people filled with the national- This study is most timely. Its istic spirit? the P. T. A. program. Can western Christianity be grafted keynote was sounded at the In- on to Oriental civilizations? Or are not their own reformed and modern- ternational Missionary Council ized religions better suited to the back- in its meeting at Jerusalem, by grounds and needs of Orientals? R. H. Tawney, when he said: Will not Buddhism be adequate if "You cannot at once preach the revamped by Christianity? religion of Christianity and practice the religion of material Is any Oriental religion or philos- success, which is the creed of a ophy sufficient for personal salvation?
"By their fruits"-a comparison of twenty centuries under Christianit"y great part of the western world with a similar period under any non- Christian religion or philosophy. and is the true competitor of Christianity for the allegiance May the sacred writings of Bud- of mankind." The 1935-36 dhists or Confucianists be considered their Old Testament, on which to graft studies face up to this fact and the Christian New Testament? To what extent may we now with- study the remedy. After the program builder has read one or draw our support in money and mis- sionaries from mission churches? more of the books written for
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING'
our consideration, forum topics colors and consequent denial of equal- expressed in His commands to His ity in opportunity. followers? (The devotional service will suggest themselves, espe- may well feature these commands.) Disproportional spending upon ourcially when the study is linked selves in building churches and educa- PUTTING THE "I" INTO "FRONup with the book of two years tional plants to the neglect of the less ago, "Christianity and Industry privileged. TIERSMEN"
in America," by Alva W. Taylor. War the traditional method of set- This program may either be given tling disputes. illustrated with the blackboard or a (Price the same as for current chart on which the letter "i" has been books.) Some general discus- Food raised in abundance and de- placed, that letter being enclosed in a sion topics might well be: stroyed, while many are in bread lines. ring in each of the suggested words , Personal expenditure on trivialities and neglect of missionary benevo- Has social service a legitimate place lences. What can you find in the written by the speaker as her theme in Home Mission study and endeavor, spirit and daring of the Pioneer that develops – "p art i e s," "m 0 vie s," or should we confine ourselves exclu- can be used by us as we plan a Chris- "t h rill s," "selfishness," "laziness," sively to evangelistic effort? tian solution in crossing these "open "service," "faith," "industry," etc., frontiers"? treating the large capital "I" in the Can the needs of village or town be same way; or two cards about 8×10 better met by a community church List the qualities or characteristics may be prepared with lower case "i" than a variety of denominational or- of Jesus which you think would be on one and the capital on the other, ganizations? needed by the Christian youth of to- two speakers giving the talk so that day who would enlist in this crusade? one may handle the undesirable and A study of "cooperatives." the other the desirable qualities. In- (The word "pioneer" is used several stead of being written at the time, as American Christianity and a mech- times in Moffatt's translation of the meIttioned previously, the words might anized civilization. New Testament. See Acts 3: 14 and be prepared beforehand and circled Heb. 12: 2.) with red as discussed. Capitalism and Christianity.
Cooperation vs. competition.
The new Home Mission Frontiers.
WHAT ARE THE NEEDS OF HUMANITY? Speaker says the letter "i" repre- Sample Programs This study is to guide young people sents you and me-small and insig- nificant as we feel sometimes, so that The study of frontiers is a in discovering the common needs of we think it makes no difference what particularly helpful one among humanity around the wo~ld and help we do or say. So we put this "i" into the problems of the day. Where "movies," "thrills," etc., and get so are they? What type of leader- them become aware of the human engrossed in putting it into "good ship do they demand? What times" that we forget to use it anysupport can we render from the values to which Christianity has given where else. So long as we do that, it home base? Suggestive program will remain small "i," for it will find captions might be: Trails across emphasis in dealing with the problems its way into "selfishness," "indiffer- Frontiers; Trail Breakers; A ence," etc., and even, perhaps, into Christian Guide for the New of the world's needs. Ask the ques- "unbelief." As none of us wish to re- Frontiers; Scouting for the main "i" all our lives, we must study Kingdom in the Homeland; tion of the topic and list replies on the to put the "i" into "service," "faith," Christianity at the Crossroads in "trustworthiness," "generosity," "kind- 1935; Rediscovering America. blackboard. Leader of the discussion ness," "stewardship," "worship" and This Department is indebted to similar activities, in the course of the Disciples' publications for then directs the group thinking to the which it will grow and become large. packets of literature furnishing (Draw large "I," or second person studies on Frontiers, for young conclusion that we all need about the comes forward with card.) people. Programs might well be built on the topics and subtopics same things, regardless of geography, Many "I's" have become great by of which the following are ex- being put into "frontiersmen" who go amples: race or color; that some races in our forth with faith in God and man to some worthwhile task. There are GUIDEPOSTS THAT POINT THE WAY own land would have their needs met many worthy frontiers. Let us dis- cuss some sponsored by the Church- Jesus Christ the Supreme Pioneer. if we as Christians shared with them the field· of missions. Modern Guideposts Dis reg a r d more fairly; that the nations of the Boundary Lines of Tradition or Race. (The ensuing portion of the pro- To the Frontier of Life Work. world would enjoy a different standard gram includes short talks by several To That of Racial Understanding. members who give sketches of pioneers To World Peace. of living if Christians set out with a in various fields, either of their own To Law Enforcement. denomination or the world at large- To Foreign Lands. determination to share as they have Whitman, Grenfell, John Mason Peck, Call to a Crusade to Cross and Pos- been blessed. ' William Carey, Adoniram Judson, sess Open Frontiers. etc.) The common needs: A good Chris- Some of us would like to substitute tian home; a sound body; a chance the letter "u" for "i" in "frontiers," but it does not work. We cannot turn for, an education; an opportunity to over our responsibility to others with- out halting progress. work; wholesome recreation; friends *** and neighbors; worship and fellow- ship in church. God has a plan for each of us and Institutions through which our needs are met: Home, school, library, church, park, places of entertainment, hospital, stores, banks.
What is expected of each individual if these institutions are to function and meet the needs of the people?
Each person should contribute by (a) Living and sharing as a good cit- izen, regardless of race or color; (b) Working and sharing by giving of the particular ability that is his in con- tributing to his fellow man.
Do your fundamental needs differ from those of others in your commu- nity? Your nation? The world?
OPEN FRONTIERS Why? it is our duty to make the most of the "Frontiers are not East or West, Compare the community in which talents and opportunities He gives us, North or South, but wherever a man you live with. those of mission fields knowing well that the frontiers He fronts a fact." (home or foreign) of which you have appoints for us to develop will enable A Survey of the Facts: studied. Think of the different races us to render a worthwhile service and in the U. S.-Negroes, Orientals, Mex- to find genuine happiness. We know Freedom of youth to make its plans icans, etc., and say whether they have that He will not fail to put the "I" and choose its life work. the privileges which you have. that is Himself into the word: "Thou Common attitude of white people As Christian youth, in what ways hast been faithful in little things, that of superiority to other races or can you carry out Christ's ideals as enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." BULLETIN OF The Council of Women for Home Missions ANNE SEESHOLTZ, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 105 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK ~,===–===–=-======–=-===-===-====—====,~ WATCH AND PRAY before my mouth; Keep the door by Senorita Laura Jorquera of of my lips." Santiago, Chile. The theme is Recently, an exiled German "On Earth Peace, Goodwill To- Recently, Pope Pius XI led his ward Men." Senorita J orquera Christian leader answered the people in praying that the war writes: question, What can we do now makers in the world might be scattered. The implication of Close upon three thousand years for the German people? by say- such praying is that cooperation ago, a prophet of Israel laughed deing quietly – "Too late, too late, risively, saying: "They see visions of with God, our Heavenly Father, peace, and there is no peace" (Ezekiel for the practical help which in prayer and action would 13: 16). And his bitter words have hasten the day when, as Isaiah rung through the years, and are bewould have come if the allies of foretold-"justice shall dwell in ing constantly repeated in the same the last war had granted but a the wilderness; and righteous- derisive tones today. little armament and had pro- ness shall abide in the fruitful ceeded to disarm in their own field. And the work of righteous- All things to the contrary notwithcountries but a little. And now ness shall be peace; and the ef- standing, we believe in and we work fect of righteousness, quietness and we pray for the advent of peace I can only say 'w a t chand and confidence forever." And among the nations, for goodwill there shall be no more war! among men. Pray.''' The implications of his During Holy Week, the presi- "Watch and Pray" are that dents of the Federal Council of Does anyone ask if working friends will keep steadfast and the Churches of Christ in Amer- for peace is home missions? Annot curse another people; also, ica, the American Section of the swer: What price home missions that prayer may bring wisdom Universal Christian Council, the if the world goes to war? how best to help. Do we "watch World Alliance for Internaand pray" that our own national tional Friendship through the Study and Act Rightly leaders, especially in public affairs, be given wisdom? An Months and years have gone American Christian I e a d e r startled a group by praying for Churches, and the International into the study now offered in the Mr. Hitler that he should "look upon his own people with com- Missionary Council, sent out a new home mission study text passion, and thus find wisdom world-wide call to prayer for "Toward a Christian America," for the next steps." Have we peace "To All Who Love Our by Hermann N. Morse. A discusprayed for Hitler? "Lord we believe. Help thou our unbelief." Lord Jesus Christ." Written at sion outline to be used in con- A communication dated March a time when "the spectre of war nection with the study of "To- 28, 1935, from the Woman's Disarmament Committee of Inter- again haunts the world" and ward a Christian America" has llational Organizations wit h when "today the world for which been prepared by Kenneth Dexheadquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, sent an appeal to the Jesus Christ died seems ready to ter Miller, pastor of the Presbywomen of the entire world "to remain calm in the face of the crucify Him afresh," the appeal· terian Church, Madison, N. J. complications and anxieties of the present hour." It begs them urges upon all Christians to Determined effort to bridge any not to circulate alarming and unsubstantial reports, but on the pray for peace in every public chasms existing among the contrary, never forgetting the interdependence of nations, to service, and in their homes; also young, the somewhat older, and keep intact their faith in the ideal of international coopera- that "in our own lives we so older church members is back tion. Do we "circulate alarming and unsubstantial reports" and truly have the spirit of peace of the other texts – "Christian so add to the general disorder? With the Psalmist, may we pray that we can be co-workers with Youth in Action" by Frank W. now, "Set a watch, 0 Jehovah, God in building a peaceful Herriott, and "What Will You world." Do About It?" by Frank W. Her- The next World Day of riott and Sue Weddell.
Prayer for Missions sponsored Will you also seriously con- by the Committee on Women's sider if last year's study of "Th~ Work of the Foreign Missions Oriental in American Life" has Conference, and the Council of changed prevalent attitudes to- Women for Home Missions will ward Japanese, Filipinos, and be on the first Friday in Lent, Chinese? Are our hom e s, February 28, 1936. The pro- churches, and communities gram for 1936 has been prepared changed because we studied?
[304 ]
BULLETIN OF THE COUNCIL OF WOMEN FOR HOM;E MISSIONS
God forbid that it could have into Christian ways of life, and He applied to the agency for such a job. There were no jobs just then. been only a passing show! true American citizenship. He wanted to be kept busy, he would The Lost Generation of At a recent meeting of the In- do some painting anyway if the dian Committee of the Home agency would furnish the paint. The agency had no paint to furnish. Joe American Indian Youth Missions Councils this question hung around the reservation. Futility, was discussed. It was sug- boredom, the ridicule of the old people The lost generation of Indian gested that missionaries among -well, drinking helped to get through Americans is the present one. the Indians should be supplied the day. Joe started to drink, first Here and there are bright areas with good books on anthropol- once in a while, then whenever he where Indian boys and girls are could get some one to pay for it, or having the opportunities to "life, ogy, as for instance "The Amer- get an odd job for enough to buy a liberty, and the pursuit of hap- ican Indian" by Clark Wissler; drink. piness," but over and around the few bright areas are storm "The Indians of Today," by Schools and communities clouds of suspicion, animosities, George Bird Grinnell; "The where a staff of Religious Eduheated arguments, and the de- Story of the American Indian," cation Directors is now being struction of life processes by the maintained by the Indian Compersons and groups who should by Paul Radin. "Facing the Fu- mittee of the Home Missions ture in Indian Missions" by Mer- Councils: riam and Hinman, and the lat- ter's study, "Indian Americans instead give life energy to con- and Christian Missions" are still Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Number of students enrolled: structive measures. Even church available. "Indians at Work," Albuquerque, 690; Santa Fe, 487. groups during the storm have issued by the Office of Indian Flandreau, South Dakota. Students, given less and less Christian Affairs, is available on request 450. leadership and money for reli- from the Department of Interior, Haskell Institute, Lawrence, Kan- gious education work among In- Washington, D. C. Sas. Students, 675.
dian students. They have grown In the present liquor situation Lac du Flambeau, Wi s con sin. weary in well-doing or they too in the U. S. A., Christian citizens Largely community work where pupils are in public schools. argue about matters which living near Indian neighbors can Salem Indian School, Chemawa, should be secondary to the reli- be of service in preventing ex- Oregon. Students, 300. gious training of these potential Sherman Institute, Riverside, Calileaders of a minority group of ploitation of "the lost genera- fornia. Students, 658. tion." Merriam in "Facing the American citizens. Future in Indian Missions" The educational policy of the From the March number of p(}i,nts out that originally Indians Government is concerned with Indian Truth, published by the were not distillers of liquor. "An building up family-and-commu- Indian Rights Association, the Indian with a little money is a nity life for Indian people. The good customer for the illegal dis- seven schools in which the staff following is ~uoted : is at work will continue. Sev- eral other large high schools When the Wheeler-Howard bill be- penser.. . Prohibition has came a law June 18, 1934, it author- brought a new set of problems. have asked for religious educa- ized .appropriation of $12,500,000 al- Ever since 1802 the Federal Gov- tion directors. The opportunity though not one penny was actually ernment has attempted to con- for mission enterprises of a made available. community type, such as at Lac trol the sale of liquor to ward The Budget estimates as submitted Indians . . . the bootlegger du Flambeau, is increasing. to Congress carried the following items for operating the Wheeler- takes advantage of open coun- Howard Act: Revolving Credit Fund try." And the people are de- With more cooperation of church $5,000,000 or one-half the amount authorized; .for land acquisitions $1,000,~ stroyed! g r 0 ups and individuals, the OOO-<me-haif. of the aut h 0 r i zed One of the directors on the Home Missions Councils are amount; for student educational loans staff of the Home Missions Coun- ready to serve more adequately $175,000c-which is $75;000 below the cils wrote recently: the Indian youth of today. authorization; and for expenSe. of tribal organizations, $250,000 -the Joe comes from a reservation in Bright Areas original authorization. South Dakota. South Dakota is mostly As Congress specifically authorized farming country. In times of drouth Young Indian Wedding: "Not certain appropriations to carry out the there are no .crops. When there are no provisions of the act, it would seem to crops there are no fobs, and no money. long ago a couple of our fine be in duty bound to at least accept the From Joe's home to the nearest well young people expressed their de- budget estimates; otherwise any fail-' of water was a walk of over a mile. sire to be married. Both were ure to secure the results expected can-. :.Joe's father and mother did not care graduates from the Sherman Innot be charged against theadminis:,J' ·much any more. Joe went away to a dian Institute. The young man trative officers. ;' . . . r 'vocational school. Painting seemed to fit him best, and he was good at it. is employed at the Institute on One controversial mat t e r Not particularly gifted as a leader, the farm. As they wanted a Joe was. nevertheless cooperative and quiet wedding we were delighted which limits advance in religious community minded. The staff de- pended' on his support in student ac- to have them choose our home work is the advantages and dis- tivities. Then at his graduation, Joe for the occasion. advantages of recognizing the' went back to the reservation. If ever best in the old' Indian culture a place needed paint it was Joe's own "On the morning of the chosen and customs and using these best home. But the old people grinned. day the bride brought arm loads where was the money to buy paint? elements as bases for growth of wildflowers to decorate the
fireplace. Red candles- were College where they have been Hitherto the Commission on Interplaced on the mantle in accord- students for two years, living at ance with their wish. Lovely racial Cooperation has taken no posisprays of apricot blossoms com- Sherman Institute and earning tion relative to federal anti-lynching their board and room by render- legislation. We were agreed that the primary responsibility for the preven- pleted the decorations. ing twelve hours' work each tion and punishment of lynching rested upon state officials and courts, week. and that, in the last analysis, public Both girls are making very opinion was largely the determining good records in their studies be- factor. Consequently, the Commission from its inception has worked contin- ing on the honor roll. They are uously along these lines, seeking anti- planning to become teachers of lynching legislation in a number of states, urging vigorous preventive measures when lynchings were threat- ened, asking effective court action ,.Ilgainst the members of mobs, and at the same time seeking through all possible avenues of publicity and edu- cation to build up a public opinion that would no longer tolerate crimes of this character.
Lynching records of the last fifteen years indicate progress along the line of prevention. Officers generally are more vigilant than formerly in the protection of prisoners, thereby re- ducing the lynching toll. Meantime intelligent public opinion is practically unanimous in condemnation of mob "By eight o'clock in the eve- violence. On the contrary, with rare excep- ning a few close friends and be- tions, attempts at prosecution in lynch- ing cases continue to be futile. In loved teachers had arrived. The nearly every case the community hyssoft light of the candles and the teria which gives rise to a lynching open fire shed a mellow welcome. makes impossible any effective court "As the music began, the EUNICE LYNN action against the perpetrators of the bride, dressed in blue, and wear- crime. Consequently, in not one case ing a bouquet of violets, came in ten is an effective effort made by quietly in on the arm of the tall the authorities to identify and proseyoung groom. As the age-old cute the members of lynching mobs.
service proceeded the look of Home Economics. Both have Even in the rare cases in which such earnest reverence on their faces been active in the Christian efforts have been made indictments was indeed beautiful. And as work at Sherman, being Church have seldom been obtained, and conthey knelt in the firelight for the School teachers and leaders in victions have usually proved impos- various activities. closing blessing a prayer as- sible. ACT AGAINST LYNCHING Disappointed by this record of imcended from each of our hearts that they might be kept for many potence on the part of state and local officials, the Commission has reluchappy years of usefulness." tantly been forced to the conclusion that little is to be expected from this Eunice Lynn and Viola Meroney are both graduates with Of great interest not only to source, at least in the immediate fuhonor from Sherman Institute, those church groups and indi- ture, and that an appeal to the feda Government Indian Trade viduals who have endorsed a fed- eral courts in such cases is justified school. Both girls graduate this eral anti-lynching law but also and demanded by the conditions. spring from the Riverside Junior to those who have hesitated to do so is the following statement, The Commission favors, therefore, which comes from the Commis- the enactment of federal legislation sion on Interracial Cooperation, to this end, in the hope that federal agents and courts would be in better position to act fearlessly and effec- tively in the prosecution of partici- , Atlanta, Ga. This organization pants in the crime of lynching.
represents thoughtful and con- During the months since J an- scientious men and women, uarY,when the Costigan-Wagner white and Negro, from the four- Anti-Lynching Bill was intro- teen Southern states. Its mem- duced, multitudes of church peo- bership is composed largely of ple throughout the country have church leaders and educators gone on record in its favor. The whose wide knowledge of condi- Department of Race Relations of tions makes any statement is- the Federal Council of Churches sued by them of unusual signifi- has acted as a clearing house for cance. This statement which the denominations in respect to was given to the press and sent this measure, keeping church immediately to all the Southern leaders in touch with its prog- VIOLA MERONEY senators, is as follows: ress.
AMERICA Student Beliefs dispensaries, schools
community houses, Sunday A "City of God" Dr. William Lowe Bryan, schools, churches. President of Indiana University "St. Augustine was not the since 1900 and a consecrated Fifty-two colleges, twelve thelast to dream of a 'City of God,' " Christian leader, has had in- ological seminaries and fortysays a writer in the Presbyte- scribed in the lobby of the new eight universities are among the rian Tribune. The new mayor Union Building the following in- centers of work of the Board of of Vancouver, B. C., ran on a scription: Christian Education. It aids the platform of Christian reform educational work of 9,000 and during the campaign daily The University regards the Universe churches and Sunday schools, attended special prayer services Within whose infinity have emerged and maintains sixty-five Presbyconducted by the First Century terian ministers for work among Christian Fellowship. His first Order-Life-Mai, 50,000 Presbyterian students in public act as mayor was to pro- .Aristotle, Galileo, Shakespeare, universities. It gives financial claim a Day of Prayer, and help to students, recruits new closed the proclamation with the Lincoln, Jesus Christ. ministers and missionaries, eduprayer that He who had once cates the Church in money-raisgiven a vision of the Holy City A questionnaire has been cir- ing and in social progress, stim- "will grant us a vision of our culated at the University, the ulates and develops worship and city, fair as she might be; a city result of which is given in per- work in the local churches, and of justice, where none shall prey centages of students answering: every year publishes millions of on others; a city of plenty, copies of Sunday school lessons where vice and poverty shall Do you believe in God? 96 and illustrated weekly papers. cease to fester; a city of broth- per cent yes; 3 per cent no; 1 erhood and happy homes, where per cent doubtful. The proposed merger would all success shall be founded on bring the boards and agencies of service and honor given to noble- Do you believe in Jesus the Presbyterian Church down ness alone; a city of peace, Christ? 93 yes; 5 and 2. to three; twenty years ago there where order shall not rest on were seventeen. force, but on the love of all for Do you believe Jesus to be dithe city in which they dwell." vine? Answers, 80, 5 and 5. New Homestead Project Important Centenaries Do you attend church? An- Two hundred families on re- swers 89, 8 and 7. lief are to be transplanted to the Matanuska Valley in Alaska. Do you believe in prayer? An- swers 89, 9 and 2.
-Presbyterian Banner.
Consolidation Proposed A project for uniting two or- ganizations with assets of $47,- The present year marks the 000,000 and annual expenditures They have been tentatively secentenary of a number of im- lected from those who from exportant missionary develop- of more than $5,500,000 will be ments in the Protestant Episco- one of the questions to be perience and habits are best fitpal Church-among them: decided by the annual General ted to lead the rigorous life of pioneers in a northern climate. The reorganization of the Domestic Assembly of the Presbyterian They will live in tent cities durand Foreign Missionary Society and Church in the U. S. A., opening the formation of the Board of Mis- at Cincinnati May 23. The two ing the summer while the govsions, superseded in 1919 by the pres- ernment is building log houses ent National Council. bodies to be merged are the and clearing the woods. The Board of Christian Education, The departure of our first mission- and the Board of National Mis- settlers will take with them all aries for China. their household belongings; and sions. tractors and other essential The appointment of our first mis- More than 60 languages are farming equipment, together sionaries to Liberia. used by the 3,900 workers of the with live-stock, will be trans- The inauguration of the Spirit of Board of National Missions. ported to the site of the rehabili- Missions. They conduct 7,000 activities, The year 1935 also marks the trom Alaska to Cuba and Puer- tation project. Each family, un- 150th anniversary of the first to Rico; among mountaineers, migrants, Negroes, industrial der the FERA will be assigned a General Convention held in Phil- groups, Orientals, Indians, Eski- tract of 40 acres of improved adelphia September 27, to October 7, 1785. mo and Spanish-speaking Amer- land and a house. The site is icans. They operate hospitals, 125 miles north of the port of -The Living Church. Seward, on the Alaska railway.
[ 307]
It is estimated that this valley Only eleven groups contain more Mission Exhibit Dividends of 128,000 acres will accommo- than a thousand adherents, the remaining 383 having only a A recent mission exhibit in date 850 additional families on Ottawa disproves the idea that the basis of 40 acre tracts. dozen or two. These minor sects grow at the expense of the larger such methods have had their Since the Presbyterian Church ones, and multiply most rapidly day. The younger Episcopal in the U. S. A. has accepted re- when the parent group becomes sponsibility for this area, it is clergy of the diocese of Ottawa spiritually weak. sponsored this display. Work prepared to care for the reli- -Christian Advocate. gious welfare of these new com- among Canadian Indians, the munities. Rev. B. J. Bingle, Eskimo, and work in China, Jawho has carried on an itinerant extension work in the Matanus- New York's Indians pan, India and Palestine was . represented. Missionaries were ka Valley and is familiar with the conditions, has offered his The Cattaraugus Indian Res- present and gave frequent adservices to the Board for a min- dresses, telling about the work in ervation, some thirty miles from istry to the new families, and he Buffalo, is approximately twelve which they Were engaged. The will be on the ground ready to miles long and five miles wide. building was crowded every aftwelcome them. Arrangements ernoon and evening during the It has a population of 1,500 Senare being made to erect a house eca and Cayuga Indians. The week. After paying all expenses of worship as soon as a suitable Thomas Indian School at Irosite has been designated. a substantial balance was left quois, which is state supported, over to be devoted to the mis- has an enrollment of more than sionary work of the church. 225 orphan and needy children -The Living Church.
To Relieve Tension from the six reservations in the LATIN AMERICA state. A bus service takes 40 Senator Thomas, of Utah, has Indian boys and girls to the New Objectives in Mexico High School at Gowando. a plan, not yet proposed as a Baptist, Presbyterian and In March a conference of edu- definite measure, that there be Methodist Episcopal churches cational leaders and Board Sec- an interchange of American and have united in a program of retaries was convened in Coy- ministry to these Indians, in- oacan, Mexico, to study the Japanese students on a large scale. As Senator Thomas points cluding home visitation, daily whole educational problem in the vacation Bible schools, young light of shifting conditions. A out, students have been coming from the Far East for a number people's conferences, week-day new line of advance was suggest- religious training, social activi- ed and a new policy formulated, of years, but comparatively few Americans. have been studying ties, welfare work and related involving social centers and hos- in the Orient. He believes that enterprises. There are also a tels as substitutes for the tradi- the Japanese universities would Ladies' Aid, Red Cross Society tional evangelical. qay school, provide excellent opportunities and Girl Scout organizations. now made practically obsolete for graduate work. Ten thou- There is a fine relationship be- under the new legislation; in- sand exchange students could be tween the Indians and their tensive promotion of Christian financed for the price of a single education in the, home and the battleship. . white neighbors. -The Christian Advocate. church, and the preparation and -Presbyterian Tribune. pUblication of abundant and ade- The Multitude of Sects "The People's Friend" quate Christian literature. Lay leadership training, parent In a' recent newspaper an- For over twenty' years the training and more literature in nouncement of Sunday services above announcement has ap- the homes were recognized as in New York, Hindu cults out- peared on the bulletin board of foremost needs. numbered Methodist services ad- the San Antonio Mexican Chris- -World Sunday School News. vertised. It is believed that for tian Institute. There are now every religious group which advertises in the press, there are approximately forty' thousand Disaster Turned to Account ten which meet in private, in hotels, halls and apartments. Mexican people, either immi- This is the case not only in New grants or families of Mexican In Mazatlan, Mexico, the Mex- York, but in Chicago, San Fran- extraction, living in the Insti- ican Congregational pastor was cisco and London. All this is in- tute's area. Through its clinic denied the right to preach bedicative of the present confusion and health service, about 100,000 cause the quota of clergy alin religious thinking. The speed people have been helped in these lowed to the state was already with which these cults come and twenty years. Home life has full. His church had been satisgo is most significant. Since been improved, living condi- fied with the regular routine of 1925 no less than 214 new reli- tions have been transformed; public worship, with hardly any gious sects have arisen in Ham- every activity is impregnated interest in social service activiburg, Germany, and 123 of those with the Christian message and ties. This recent restriction sudthen existing have disappeared. ideal. The Institute has, indeed, denly waked up the congrega- tion, and in cooperation with the been "the people's friend." -World Call. pastor (acting as a layman) in
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
a program for social action, they when one considers the handicap children attracted many to are serving the community more which some are under in not being church. Through the children effectively than when their priv- able to read English. There are so adults were won, and a virile ileges were intact. For church few books in Hindustani. One of the work grew up. Young converts services they have joined with men bought a copy of Tarbell's Sun- became keen evangelists and visthe Baptists, whose pastor has a day School Lessons at the beginning ited neighboring villages, in permit to officiate. of the year. I knew he could nO't read many of which groups of Chris- a word O'f English and asked him tians formed. Opposition is not -Missionary Herald. what he would do with it. He replied so open as it was twenty-five that he would have his little boy read years ago, but petty persecution At Guatemala's National Fair it to him each day. During the year is persistent. Thousands of peo- ple are tired of Rome, and un- Guatemala's annual fair in some have come to us from Hinduism, fortunately many of them have November, 1934, gave a splendid turned to atheism, socialism or opportunity to present the Bible and are giving good account of them- spiritualism. to the people. This fair is at- selves. tended by open-minded people -The Christian. who accept everything that is -United Chur,ch Record. offered in a friendly spirit. A EUROPE booth was secured in a good loca- Brazil ForWard Movement tion, expenses were provided lo- Religious Film Society cally, missionaries cooperated A committee to carry out a with enthusiasm. There was also two-year program of spiritual A new organization in Great an Indian helper who had had development along the lines of Britain called "Guilds of Light" experience in bookstand work. the Forward Movement was ap- acts as advisory body to all He had his daughter with him, pointed at the 37th annual Coun- Christian agencies anxious to exin Indian costume. She had cil of Southern Brazil. Statis- periment in the use of the movbeen taught to play the organ. tical reports show gratifying in- ing picture for Christian ends. This in itself drew many people creases in the number of public It has founded the Religious to listen, as it is unusual that an services, in the total number of Film Society, whose work is Indian woman should do any- communicants, in the number of thing but grind corn, do the pupils in the day schools, and 1. The collection of all possible incooking and care for the chil- also a slight increase in total re- formation likely to be of value to anydren. ceipts in Brazilian currency. one desirO'us of experimenting with Many bought copies of the A committee appointed a year the film as a Christian implement. Bible or Testaments; portions ago to study the question of selfand hundreds of Gospel tracts support had reported the follow- 2. The stocking, exhibiting and hirwere given out to all classes of ing recommendations: ing of the types of projector and other people. Cultured business men apparatus most likely to be satisfacstood in astonishment, listening 1. That the self-supporting parish- tory in the hands of the amateur exto words of wisdom from the lips es maintain their contributiO'ns made hibitor. of the Indian brother, or from up to' the present time for the supa plain-looking student. The sale port of the clergy; 3. The production frO'm time to of Bibles was larger than for time as funds permitted, of specially many years. 2. That the congregations nO't yet written films which would be avail- self-supporting increase their contri- able on easy terms to all members of -Bible Society Record. butions toward the supPO'rt of the the Society. clergy accO'rding to a sliding scale. High Standards in Trinidad The scale includes every missiO'n in Two of the Society's films have the district; already been exhibited, "Master- Rev~ D. R. Macintosh, a work- ship" and Inasmuch" ; while er for the United Church in Can- 3. That each parish in additiO'n to' "David Livingstone" is being ada, writes from Princetown, these contributions pay the 7~ per prepared. Trinidad: cent due the Pension Fund; -Religious Tract Society. I was surprised to find the work of 4. That in every parish, cO'ngregathe church in Trinidad so well or- tion O'r missiO'n, there be created and Paris Three-Day "Mission" ganized, and am much impressed with intensified the spirit of general coopthe high standards of the schools. eratiO'n in the wO'rk O'f the Church, In the Latin Quarter of Paris Our mission schools stand high in and that the members be taught to' a three-day "mission" in Jangrading among the schools of the col- contribute liberally toward the sup- uary attracted large numbers of ony, in agricultural work they come PO'rt of the clergy as a means nO't listeners. The speakers-Charles first. One of the schools in this field only of hastening the independence of Westphal, W. A. Visser 't Hooft, holds the record, having taken first the Church but also of stabilizing its Pierre Maury-presented three place for the third year in succession establishment in Brazil. subjects: Existence de Jesusin 1933. Christ; Humanite de Jesus- -The Living Church. Christ; Devinite de Jesus-Christ. I never cease to wonder at the fit- Students in the Latin Quarter ness of 50' many O'f O'ur native preach- The Argentine Field have come to expect the missions ers for their work. They have surely of the French Student Christian made the most O'f the O'Pportunities Facts about the work in Ar- Movement which have been held gentina were brought out at the each winter for three years. The annual meeting of the Evangel- meetings were attended by in- ical Union of South America, held in London. An account was given of the establishment of a church in a small inland town, where first results were 'very meager, but the work of a Bible teacher at open-air services for
creasing numbers during the long history I know no single AFRICA three days – a heterogeneous moment that approaches the New Film Project group of foreign students, Stu- present in its terrible serious- dent Christian Movement mem- ness." What promises to be a valu- bers, communists and many Ro- He concludes his article with man Catholics. All participated able film project is to be under- in the discussions. Perhaps the the following words: "We dare greatest lesson which the organ- not expect too much from men. taken in Africa by the Depart- izers of the mission have learned There is only one thing that we is that students are eager to find can do and that is, to appeal to ment of Social and Industrial out about the central truths of all our friends in all the world the Christian faith, and that to pray to God with us. He can Research and Counsel of the In- therefore it is much less neces- help. He has proved this often. sary than generally is believed to He can turn his severest extrem- ternational Missionary Council. spend large amounts of time and ity of German missions into energy on the preliminary or in- blessing. Therefore let us pray. It IS proposed to establish an extroductory subjects, to which in The danger has reached its peak. previous missions a rather con- Let all help that can!" perimental film-producing studio siderable amount of attention had been given. The missionary societies of at Vuguri, Tanganyika Terri- Germany are joined in a general lntercollegian and association known as the Ger- tory, where both instructional Far Horizons. man Evangelical Missionary Diet. In 524 stations they have and recreational films, based on In Old Castile 1,586 European workers, and 10,951 paid helpers. They care African life, with African ac- Valladolid, at one time the for 1,225,792 native Christians capital of Spain and famous in and 67,000 inquirers. They con- tors, will be made. . These films history as the place where Fer- duct 3,982 grade schools and 109 dinand and Isabella were mar- higher schools with 250,000 pu- will then be exhibited to native ried, Columbus died in poverty, pils. They maintain 31 hospitals and Phillip II was born, is now with 37 physicians. audiences over a wide area in a city of about 100,000. Rev. F. H. Grey was given permission to Protestant Movement in Northern Rhodesia, Nyasaland, hold an eight-day mission in this center of Spain's Reformation, Austria Kenya and Tanganyika. The obwhere many perished in the Inquisition. He writes in the It is reported from the Bureau ject of the scheme is to find out Latin American Evangelist: of Interchurch Aid, Edinburgh, that about 80,000 Austrians are how the African can be helped We had sought to prepare the preparing to leave Catholicism, ground by special prayer and the dis- in addition to the 22,000 who by means of the film to adapt tribution of 4,000 invitations, this lat- have already joined Protestant ter being zealously taken up by the churches. This is in the face of himself to the new ideas, morals, young men of the congregation. From many handicaps. A Roman Caththe beginning we felt conscious of the olic has twice as much opportu- customs and laws, according to power and working of the Holy Spir- nity for employment as a Prot- which his life has more and more to be ordered; and to introduce him to the best of these before his morals and his tastes are corrupted by less desirable films.
The whole project will be worked with the close cooperation of missionary, anthropological and government specialists, and will, it is hoped, prove to be of great value to all who are working for the welfare of the native in Af- i rica.
The scheme, which will re': quire from 18 months to two years to complete, has been made possible by a grant from the Carnegie Foundation.
it in our midst. Notwithstanding the estant and has no church tax to Changes in Seventy Years political unrest and fear as to the pay. Protestant churches are future which followed in the wake of the Revolution, the attendance at the self-supporting. The movement, Seventy years ago in what is meetings was very good, and the results were a real spiritual uplift for which was at first from all class- now the Diocese of the Niger, es of urban population, is now where Bishop Crowther began the believers, quite a number of souls spreading out in the country work, there were no churches or brought under the sound of the Word, some for the first time, and deeply im- among the farmers. It was pe- schools. To become a Christian pressed, and, finally, some led to a nalized by Dollfus and still is. then was to face the risk of persaving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Those leaving the Church of secution, even martyrdom. To- Rome are ordered to be medi- day, as the result of C. M. S.
Present State of German cally examined as to their sanity. work in the diocese, there are Missions Ministers have been fined for 1,285 churches and 620 schools writing about Protestant opinion with an enrolment of 33,000 p.u- Prof. Martin Schlunk of Tii- of history or even for explaining pils. Scores of towns and vilbingen says in· an introductory Protestant doctrine. When giv- lages are still unevangelized, and article in the Neue Allg. Mis- ing religious instruction to con- wherever new openings are sionszeitschrift concerning the verts they are put under police made there is a ready response condition of the German mis- supervision. Yet the movement to the Gospel. In the Nsukka sions, "German missions are in mounts ever higher. district, where pioneer work be- the utmost peril and in their -Sunday-School Times. gan only some six years ago,
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
there are now forty-five church- stage of development, the prom- and the American Board. Aces with an average attendance cordingly, a joint visit was made on Sunday of 4,000 people, and inence is given to subjects con- in November by representatives the life of the district is being of the two societies, and of the changed. In the Nupe district nected with home building. At Syrian Church. The deputation of Northern Nigeria, which has was impressed with the urgent been a hard and somewhat bar- the L. M. S. School in Tiger need, but reported one encourren field, the past year has wit- aging piece of work. At Kamnessed a record number of bap- Kloof girls have the choice of ishli a church building has been tisms (fifty in all) and also the erected largely as a result of the ordination of Mr. D. T. Sheshi, a four distinct courses: teacher efforts of the local community. native of Bida. He was the first This church was dedicated while convert from Islam through the t r a i n i n g; secondary school; the deputation was present, in a work of the C. M. S. in this area. service conducted in four lan- spinning and weaving; indus- guages, Armenian, Turkish, Ar- -The Life of Faith. abic and Syriac. trial, comprising domestic sci- Chieftain Finds the Way Syrian is becoming more and ence and needlework. Each more conscious of the needs of Sekulu Malenga was a chief- the rural areas. Village welfare tain who had an important part course requires three years' projects were conducted during in the development of the Ga- the summer by the American langue Mission as teacher and study. Personal and community University of Beirut and the adviser of the missionaries in Junior College for Women; but things relating to the country, hygiene are emphasized through- as yet not much has been done language and tribal customs. to meet the religious and evan- He died not long ago at the age out the course. One of the chief gelistic needs of rural areas. of ninety-seven, and just before The Presbyterian Mission is his death he said to the mission- needs of the African girl is to studying the problem, with a ary, Mr. McDowell: view to making it one of its aims know how to use her leisure in the future. I am an old man. I have held my children's children's children. I am wisely. When she leaves school -Near East Christian now tired. In myoId age I have Council News. been blessed: with new friends and and goes back to her home there acquaintances, principally the Lord Palestine's Mission to Jews Jesus, the child of the Great Chief. are often hours a day when she I go to Him and to my fathers with The Church Mission to Jews ill-will toward no man. My going is is left to her own devices. "Way- in Palestine lays the chief emno mystery. Rid of this tired body phasis upon follow-up work with and face to face with my Saviour and faring" (Native Girl Guides) is the individuals who seem of in the presence of the great Elders of most promise. The work of one the people, from Sekulu, Moses and one of the ways that Tige:r: Kloof individual with those who are Joshua on down to the present time, really seeking the truth is held I hope to be able to think more clear- is trying to meet this need. The to be of more permanent value ly and help to a larger degree my than the crowded program of a friends and children. industrial girl with her knowl- large staff of workers. The hos- pital in Jerusalem attracts a Sekulu became a Christian edge of crafts is an invaluable large ilUmber of Jews, and there about seven years ago. At that are vast opportunities for reachtime he held a large audience help in "Wayfarer" work in dis- ing the whole Jewish population. spellbound with the story of his The mission center is on the outsearch for life. He ended with tant places. For eighteen years skirts of Tel-Aviv, with its purethis statement: ly Jewish population – about about six Christ – consecrated 85,000. There are many indi- Today I join the caravan of a vidual Jews and J ewesses living great Leader, and I trust Him to girls pass out of the school each in Tel-Aviv who are definitely lead me to a just settlement of all seekers after truth, and some problems. The little that I have al- year. -The Chronicle. who are very open to Christian ready heard and understood of His influence. The task of the misway of life gives me enough to make Afrikaans Bible Sales sionary is to find them out and a start, and no caravan leader ex- to keep in touch with them. plains the whole trip at its beginning. Although it is only a year For these many years I sought after since the Bible was translated A new development is recordsomething, I knew not what. Now into Afrikaans, over 250,000 ed among Jews in Bagdad. An I have found it. copies have been sold in South ordained Hebrew Christian has Africa. As many as 10,000 Bi- gone there in the dual capacity -Missionary Herald. bles were bought in a single week. About 2'50,000 other peo- Girls at Tiger Kloof ple of the erstwhile Dark Con- tinent will be benefited when the Higher education for African translation of the whole Bible girls is, as yet, the privilege of into Bavenda is completed. For the very few. In their present the last fourteen years the Ba- venda, a tribe of northern Trans- vaal, have had to be content with the Psalms and New Testament.
-The Christian Advocate.
WESTERN ASIA Syria's Needs In recent years, new commu- nities have sprung up rapidly in northeastern Syria. These are very inadequately occupied in the missionary sense. At a meet- ing of the United Missionary Council of Syria and Palestine in Beirut, it was urged that this territory be made a field for united effort, especially on the part of the Presbyterian Mission
of pastor to an Arabic-speaking said: "Perhaps you would like to expense until its industrial pro- Christian congregation, and mis- know why I am a Christian?" They duction justified it. Dakhina, sionary to the 80,000 Jews living signif}.ed yes, and I said: "First of quick to grasp this principle, in there. He has a difficult piece of all, of course, I was born into a Chris- spite of his priestly caste, depioneer work to tackle, which tian home. But while still a boy I cided to learn the dignity of will make a heavy demand on knew little about Christ until I start- manual work. He also learned his patience, pluck and tact. ed to read the Gospels myself. Then the wonders of God's grace, and I discovered that Jesus Himself said, now prays that in spite of Hindu -Near East Christian 'I am the Bread of Life: I am the wife and relatives he will be bold Council News. Living Water. I am the Light of the enough in his belief in the Lord world. I am the Way, the Truth and Jesus as his Saviour, to testify Persia Now "Iran" the Life. I am the Resurrection and to it through baptism. Other the Life.''' Certainly they would Hindus hav~ followed, some have Another change in geograph- agree that no man could live without been baptized. ical names went into effect these things. To this they nodded March 22d, when Persia became assent, and I said further that since From various missions and officially known as Iran – its I had found Jesus as Saviour and distant parts of India, many Inorginal name. It links its people Lord, there had been peace and joy dian Christian young men, of racially and historically with the and satisfaction in my life. There ages varying from 17 to 25, and ancient Aryans. This is merely followed long dissertations from va- often outcaste from industry or an instance of nationalistic sen- rious ones, some of which I did not dependent on missions, were setiment, as by no means all Per- fully understand. They were attempt- lected as students. Many have sians are Aryans. Out of 10,- ing to show that all the prophets be- learned not only to be self-sup- 000;000 people fully 3,000,000 came in reality all that Jesus claimed porting but, being grounded in are nomads of uncertain racial as to the way, the truth, water, life, the Word by means of the threeorIgm. Hundreds of thousands etc. They said that of course there year systematic Bible course, of Jews live here. Many other were some things that they did not and in prayerful dependence on people are of distant Mongolian believe about Jesus, for instance that God, have started out to become origin. Nobody knows definitely He died and was raised again from "Young Pauls." Some have whence came the nearly 1,000,- the dead. I replied: "Of course, saved their earnings and set up 000 wild mountain tribes known every book m.ust bear its own witness. small work shops in their own as Kurds. But by whatever We Christians believe Jesus did rise districts. -Life of Faith.· name it is called, its missionary from. the dead because of the witness needs remain unchanged. Of its of the Gospels and the Apostle Paul." Week of Evangelism 10,000,000 people less than 65,- I told them what the Apostle Paul 000 are Christians. The only wrote in 1 Corinthians 15. Then I Christian forces in Mid-India agencies at work are the Amer- said, "But not alone from this wit- united in a week of evangelism ican missionary societies of the ness do we believe Jesus arose and March 11-18. "Every member a Lutheran, Presbyterian and Sev- is living. We have the witness of our witness for the Lord Jesus" was enth Day Adventists, and the own hearts, and the experience of the the ideal kept in mind. English Church Missionary So- Holy Spirit, and His love and peace. ciety. The entire Protestant For these reasons we believe that He Methods suggested by the Rev. membership is less. than 4,000, arose from the dead and is living." G. H. Singh, Honorary Director with 2,000 of them Presbyteri- I had carried with me a copy of each of Church-Centered Evangelism ans. The ~omanCatholics have of the Gospels, one of Acts, and a for Mid-India, included the folmore than 60,000 communicants. copy of the Psalms. I said to them, lowing:- "I have some copies of the Engil with -Missions. me. Perhaps you would like to see 1. Christians testify, teach and them and have them." They signified work among their own relatives. With Afghan Mull~hs yes, and I drew them..from my pock- et. The musktihid raised them in both 2. Efforts be confined to a single Rev. J. Mark Irwin of Meshed hands to his forehead, and then sat group or caste. describes an opportunity which there holding them with a show of came to him on a recent visit to great reverence. Soon they were in 3. Use of newly-prepared drama on Afghanistan. He asked permis- the hands of the others and they were life of Venkaya, famous robber chief sion of the governor for a visit all looking at them, and reading them of South India, available from Miswith the leading Mohammedan as the conversation continued. sion Press, Jubbulpore, for 2 annas. ecclesiastics. The governor cordially arranged this. Mr. Irwin INDIA AND BURMA 4. Prayer, undergirding the work writes in the Presbyterian: every step of the way. Industry and Evangelism At ten o'clock we were taken to the 5. Thorough preparation prior to government headquarters, and there Ten years ago Edwin Law- March 11. seated around a great table were rence, a young engineer who some ten or more mullahs, with the 6. Work continued for 12 months chief of Foreign Affairs and several held an appointment in India, of the year, fostered by a special comother men. At first I drew a deep mittee appointed at next meeting of breath and thought, 'Now what shall was led to found a new type of the Church Council. I say?" After formal greetings, I service which he named the "In- -The Indian Witness.. dia Industrial Mission," and lo- cated in a vacant mission prop- Floating Hospitals for Bathers erty at Cossipore, Calcutta. The first to join the Mission was a Hindus of India every 27 Brahman, who came looking for years observe a religious festi- on office position, but learned val, of which one feature is a that India sorely needed produc- pilgrimage to the sacred Ganges tion workers, and that this Mis- sion had no funds for overhead
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
River for a ceremonial bath of crisis has brought it about, that and methods of thought. About much work has already had to a dozen native Christians joined puri'fication. The year 1935 be given up even in the Danish the missionary and rendered val- Mission, which has had less to uable service. brought a recurrence of the fes- suffer than others. The other festival was at tival, which took place on Feb- Sangli Ohurch Life Courtallam, where thousands of pilgrims gather to bathe in the ruary 3d. More than 750,000 Sangli, in the Krishna River large waterfall. The people, valley, is the center of many however, were very indifferent, pilgrims invaded Calcutta, tax- enterprises. Willingdon Col- and many said, "Your religion lege, with its 350 students, two is not for us." ing its over-night lodging facili- boys' high schools, a newly- founded girls' high school and -The Christian. ties to the utmost. All along the many primary schools make it an educational and cultural Outcaste Wins a Brahman 1,500 miles of river millions of center. Through the American Presbyterian Industrial and Mr. Pickett, author of Mass others gathered for the same Agricultural School which dates Movements in India, tells this from 1884, Sangli is a pioneer incident: purpose so that the British Gov- in village uplift and rural recon- struction. Within 20 years it . While touring in South India I ernment was gravely concerned has become a center of light for talked with an educated Christian depressed classes. To pursue all Telegu, formerly a Brahman, and over possible epidemics in Cal- these lines of service, the station asked him how he came to accept force last year numbered fifty; Christianity. He replied: "Because cutta from the influx of throngs one ordained and four unor- of a most marvelous personality dained viII age evangelists, whom I met." He went on to tell of pilgrims. Floating hospitals thirty-one teachers, five Bible- how he had been traveling with a women, two colporteurs and gentleman, an Indian, whose convercarrying large quantities of dis- seven missionaries. Within that sation and manner were so cultured year the Central Church has and interesting that he had spent infectants circulated among the been able not only to meet every with him three of the most deligl;ttful obligation, including the pastor's hours of his life. He asked this acbathers. -Missions. salary, but to open a free library quaintance on the train what caste on the Mission compound, to buy he came from. He could hardly cred- Tamil Missions instruments for the singing it his statement that he had been an band, and to supply fuel and oil outcaste. The first speaker said he The veteran missionary of to 30 students attending the five- could not get away from this fact, the Danish Missionary Society, day Bible Institute which was and in the end bought a New Testa- Knud Heiberg, reports in the sponsored and financed entirely ment and studied it. He said the Dansk Missionsblad that condi- by the Sangli Church, with some mystery was explained, "I understood tions in South India are becom- help from the village churches. the power that could transform a life, ing more and more difficult for The Mission had no responsi- and I too accepted Christ as my Savmany of the older missions. The bility except friendly coopera- iour. I hunted up my friend of the Americans have been compelled tion on the part of the mission- train and asked him to baptize me." to retrench increasingly and the aries in Sangli. The Women's German missions are in a pitiful Society is a going concern. It -World Call. state since the German Govern- maintains five Bible classes. ment is preventing the sending Mass Marriage of Infants out of monies. He says that -Western India Notes. what makes the matter all the Their childish eyes bewildered more difficult, is that those in PTeaching at Festivals and their bare feet chafing the India can not obtain clear an- grass, 374 infant couples were swers from their country or Two Brethren missionaries married March 31 in North their boards on the real condi- have recently preached the Gos- Bombay Presidency. It was the tions. pel at two large heathen festi- largest mass child marriage cer- vals. The first was held near emony held in India in many The Tamil Evangelical Luther- Christianpettah, where the god years. Some brides and bridean Church has given almost all worshiped is supposed to be an grooms were mere infants in its workers notice of dismissal incarnation of Krishna. Mostly arms; some were small children. by May 31, and the conditions low-caste people worship at this Many babies, too small to walk, will doubtless force the German temple. The evangelists had to slept in the arms of their elders. missionaries to give up their put up with plenty of noise and Others gurgled happily at the fields of work, unless a change smoke, but they learned a great booming of gun salutes which comes before that time. One deal more of the native customs were a part of the ceremony. German mission which he knows Young bridegrooms arrived in was in this predicament-in decorated bullock carts and were January it received an amount carried before the priests. Many of 80 rupees, while its budget were not old enough to have required more than 3,000 month- even an inkling of what was takly. ing place. All the tiny couples There are some who have great ideas of having the Indian Church continue the work without the help of the older churches. But the time has by no means arrived, and even if there are parts of the work which the Indian Church can undertake in places where the branches have taken deeper roots, the present
then united in a feast, in which Christianity. The prevailing at- tives and backers of one's own the parents joined. titude of the vast bulk of Chi- clique. nese is complete indifference. -New York Times. Among the more educated class- -China Weekly Review. es Christianity is viewed as a Meet the Missionary! foreign importation, an alien, Effective Bravery cultural invasion. There is the Rev. C. E. Chaney, field secre- Communistic attitude which de- Dangiong, Fukien, is in a distary for the Baptist Mission in clares Christianity to be a form trict much troubled by bandits, Burma, after a tour in the Chin of economic imperialism and who make frequent raids on any Hills district, writes in the which condemns it, as it does all unguarded place, burning, loot- Watchman-Examiner: religio"n, as a deadly drug. The ing and killing. As the bandits typical attitude of the young had shown a certain degree of On arrival at Haka various ones Chinese today is that of the ag- respect for the Christian church came to meet us and shake hands nostic or secularist. and its workers, Christians in with us. One was a blind Christian Dangiong sent their valuables to who had heard of the visiting mis- -The Churchman. the church for safety. The sionary and had walked 100 miles bandits heard of this, and choosjust to shake hands. Two preachers The Best Governed Province ing a time when they knew the walked 25 miles to meet the visitor Bible woman was alone at the from the south. One evening I saw In a recent survey of condi- church house, they planned a the shadow of a man on the veranda. tions in China, Dr. Sherwood raid. The Bible woman, suspect- He was slipping away. I called my Eddy reports that of all the ing their intentions, had already companion's attention to him and provinces he visited Szechuen is persuaded the Christians to rewent to speak to him. He had walked the richest but worst governed, move their belongings. Then over 30 miles, and had, unknown to while Kwangsi is the poorest but she put a notice on the church us, been waiting a long time to see the best governed. Here the door saying: "If you want to the visitors. He was too timid to work of Dr. James Yen and the come and search the church, intrude. During the past 35 years National Economic Council was knock and I will open the doors. great changes have taken place in almost complete operation. Don't break down the doors." among the Chins. Every school is in process of de- The second night that she was veloping into a community cen- alone the bandits came, shouting It was my privilege to meet the and battering the doors. She first Chin convert, baptized in 1905, ter, is designed to include the quickly opened them and asked who is now a pastor in the hills. whole community in a scheme of the men not to destroy the There are fully 3,000 baptized Chris- practical education, which aims church, for there was nothing of tians, and nearly 500 came into the material value there. Quietly church this past year. at the reconstruction of all life. talking, she made the bandits But while Dr. Yen's work is quiet. They searched the place, CHINA deeply important and hopeful, and finding nothing, withdrew without a single exception his quietly; the brave woman then Christianity in Last Decade projects are being opposed open- fastened the doors and praised ly or secretly by the beneficiaries the Lord. -C. M. S. Outlook. Prof. James T. Addison of the of the old order, especially the old officials, fighting to keep Gospel Bands in Fukien Episcopal Theological School, their own selfish profit, privilege and prestige. Special meetings in Fukien Cambridge, believes that while Province led to the formation of Dr. Eddy suggested to Gen- 120 gospel bands. These volun- Christianity in China suffered a eral Chiang Kai-shek that China teer teams have won large num- needed not only new men but a bers to the Kingdom. Rev. Leonsetback during the Nationalist new system beginning with a ard Christian tells the story of fivefold program. 1. To have two members of a team. They Movement of 1925-1928, it really only a few laws but enforce were working in a suburb and in them; to protect the peasants each of four instances when they benefited by the trials of those from extortionate taxation; and had brought persons to the point to adequately pay officials so of becoming learners, a man years. A winnowing of weaker they will have no excuse for with much influence there undid squeezing, as in the efficient cus- all their work and turned people and half-hearted members took toms service. 2. To budget, against them. Praying for guid- audit and publish all accounts. ance, they were led to go in perplace and the gl-eat majority who 3. To promptly and surely pun- son to this man and explain the ish. all offenders. 4. To reward Gospel. Taking literature and remained loyal were strength- the honest and efficient. 5. Equal hymns and all the courage they impartial justice to all, without possessed, they came away raened in their faith. The Nation- protecting or promoting unwor- diant, for the man, and his son thy officials or incompetent relaalist Movement served to accel- erate a movement towards fur- ther placing of responsibility for the Chinese Church upon native shoulders and towards develop- ing a trul.y indigenous Christianity. .
The other salient feature in history of Christianity in China during the last 10 years has been the efforts towards union among mission bodies. One-third of the Protestant communicants now belong to the Church of Christ in China.
Dr. Addison names four distinct attitudes apparent towards
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
also, enrolled themselves as Most of these have gone back to the past year Rev. Song Sang learners before the afternoon their villages and started some- Suk has been giving one half his was over. thing-a Sunday school, a Bible time to special temperance work.
-Missionary Herald. Class, a Reading Circle, a Rec- Last June he staged and man- reational Center or a Better- aged a great temperance parade JAPAN Farming Lecture Course. in Pyengyang City where 5,000 "Golden Castle" School These Peasant Gospel Schools, people marched with banners however, have only touched the and flags through the city and some tens of thousands of sheet This (Southern) Presbyterian fringe of the problem. tracts were given out. He has school opened in Nagoya with made a point of urging that oraonly three students. To the gen- -Intercollegian and torical contests and essay writeral public it was just an insig- Far Horizons. ing contests on temperance be nificant part of the Jesus reli- held in all schools of higher gion. Forty-six years have Kyoto Episcopal Mission grade; out of this an interest passed and today it stands with has developed among students. complete internal organization In a crowded section of Kyoto, and full external recognition, a Strenuous ProgTams Girls' Junior College. where most of the people are en- gaged in silk weaving, the Epis- With an expenditure of $30 At present there are about twelve students of Chosen Chris- 1500 graduates of the school. copal Church maintains a center tian College were sent out to six These are scattered as far as of work, both through the spok- of Korea's 13 provinces, two Korea and Manchuria, and even men to each, during the summer to America and England. Among en word and through practical of 1934. These men visited 17 them are wives helping their help given to the everyday life different places and did work in husbands, mothers bringing up 29 separate churches from 10 to their children, consecrated evan- of the people. Its small and in- 24 days at a place, a total of 105 gelists of the Gospel of Christ expensive building is wholly in- days, which made the work cost teachers in kindergartens and about 30 cents per day. In these girls schools, employees in banks sufficient for the need. The meetings they taught a total of and business houses. All of them church is always crowded. A 10,201 children in the day time; are adding to the school's repute. kindergarten, night school, boys' and preached to a total of 22,881 Of those originally connected persons in the evenings. The with the school, only an old fir and girls' clubs, a reading room program was intended to include tree remains. It was planted by the teaching of language, arith- Mrs. Randolph, the founder. and a summer camp for 50 chil- metic, geography, singing, story dren are some of the activities. telling and Bible, to boys and -Presbyterian Survey. girls in the day time, and a pop- Japanese doctors and nurses ular night meeting for adults. Rural Advances In most cases, the men, ashamed carryon a clinic, and if you to let down the reputation of the In spite of rapid industrializa- college or to admit their own intion, 47% of Japan's population should happen to be in the ability, worked in the wee hours is still rural. One of the most of the night and attempted to significant accomplishments of church when Dr. Fujino, a ves- oblige these eager, expectant the Kingdom of God Movement folk. The men of the village has been its pioneering in this tryman in Kyoto, arrives to be- gathered in their room after the field. It adopted the strategy of evening services to talk until trying to capture the nation's al- gin the clinic, you will see him midnight and the children were most 12,000 villages by evangel- knocking on their doors by dayizing and training potential vil- first of all kneel at the altar to light the next morning eager to lage lay leaders. One hundred begin the day's work. short – term Peasant G 0 s pel ask God's blessing on what he Schools have been held in twen- has come to do. . -Korean Mission Field. ty-five prefectures, either under the direct auspices of the move- Much of the cost of this work ment or with its assistance. Each is supplied by a group of fifty Japanese patrons, each of whom contributes the equivalent of $15 American currency a year.
-The Living Church.
Temperance Movement in Korea All Christian churches of Ko- rea are temperance organiza- tions. No one having anything to do with liquor as maker, sell- er, distributor' or user can be a member of any of cthheurcchhuwrcohreks~ but until recently of these schools has gathered ers have been so busy winning ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC some twenty or twenty-five believers and creating their young men and women from as churches that they have not felt Jubilee in Papua many villages and given them a that they had the time or energy Sixty years ago, on November week or ten days of intensive to give to temperance work for 21, 1875, William G. Lawes, with training for Christian leadership nonbelievers. The W. C. T. U. his wife and small son, landed in in their respective villages. Over has been at work for years, but Port Moresby, New Guinea, the 2,000 rural young people have it was felt there should be a man first Europeans to make a home been enrolled in these schools. to lead in this movement. For in that savage land. They came
in the John Williams as mission- over 300 is now over 3,000, with Common Faith, a religion with God aries of the London Missionary 900 adherents and more than left out, advocated in a college which Society. Now a strong Papuan 1,500 baptized children under was once a Puritan stronghold. church has been built up and twelve years of age. The school over 500 Papuan boys and girls of 33 boys has grown into 38 3. The resistance of seven thousand attend the Christian day school. schools with over 1,800 children, German evangelical pastors to Hitler's Today Port Moresby is the res- of whom about 1,600 are Chris- edicts. They declared: "Obedience to idence of the British Governor tians, and from a staff of two the present church government is dis- General and airplanes fly over teachers, there are now 91, all obedience to God." the land that was formerly only of whom are Christians. traversed on foot through dense 4. German Catholics making com- jungles while war canoes plied -Malaysia Message. mon cause with German Protestants the bays and rivers. in defense of their faith.
Early Days in Borneo 5. The activity of the National Con- ference of Jews and Christians in the Just after the B()xer uprising United States. when 16,000 Christians became Hurricane in Cook Islands 6. Declarations by thousands of martyrs, a Christian Methodist '. Protestant ministers against a cruel of Foochow, a man of wealth competitive economic 0 r d e rand and education, decided to do as Raratonga, Cook Is., is asso- against war. the Pilgrim Fathers and seek a land of religious freedom. He ciated with John Williams and 7. A r(!emphasis of the importance found many willing to go, but his feat of building the Messen- of personal religion. where was the land? Like Abra- ger of Peace with no previous 8. The religious literature of 1934 ham he set out, not across the plains, but into the South Seas, shipbuilding knowledge and no shows a tendency away from the de- not knowing where he went. structive criticism which has long When he arrived in Singapore, ordinary shipbuilding materials been prevalent and toward a spiritual he was directed to Sarawak as or tools. Just as the London harmony. the land best suited for such an undertaking, where Raja Brooke Missionary Society was rejoic- owned 36,000,000 acres of good land. Here he met the Rajah, ing in a report of encouraging World Convention of C. E. who not only liked the scheme, but willingly gave land and mon- work done there, and plans for The ninth quadrennial World ey to charter a boat to bring the further improvement, a hurri- Convention of Christian En- colonists over. Then he returned deavor will be held in Budapest to China to get his men, and out cane brought crushing disaster. in August – postponed for one of the crowd he picked about The full extent of the damage is year because of conditions in five hundred men and twenty not yet known. The Mission Europe. The program will give . women, mostly Methodists, and equal recognition to three lan- put them on his chartered boat, House is far enough from the guages – Hungarian, German but sailing away from friends and English-and the speakers and home filled many with fear, sea to have escaped complete de- and conference leaders will be and they put in at Hong Kong. struction. The New Zealand chosen from every part of the It happened that Bishop Warne Government, which has the man- world. Budapest has been a was there on his way to Manila. strong center of Christian En- When he heard of this boatload date, will do all it can in relief deavor for many years. of Methodists on their way to measures, but cannot be expect- Borneo, he went to visit them, and when he saw how fearful ed to rebuild churches and hous- they were, he said, "Don't be es. Friends of the L. M. S. have afraid; I will go with you." He stayed ten days with them, or- subscribed £150, but much more ganized a church, and from this will be 'needed. band has grown a Christian community of more than 10,000. -The Chronicle. BapustS.S.Growth The small clearing in the jungle is now more than 200,000 acres MISCELLANEOUS At the close of 1934 the num- of cultivated land; five little ber of Baptist Sunday school chapels have developed into 46 Epochal Religious Events appointments; a membership of scholars throughout the world The only secular newspaper was advanced by nearly 1,200,- summary of the events of 1934 000. This includes an increase which touched the field of reli- of over a million in the Negro gion appeared in the Boston Transcript. Other pap e r s National Baptist Convention. printed necrologies, chronicles Dr. J. H. Rushbrooke attributes of disaster and crime, but none this large increase in Negro attempted to evaluate the trends scholars to the adoption of in religion except Dr. Dieffen- b:'tch who, in the Transcript, stricter statistical methods, since smgled out several religious a round figure of 1,500,000 pre- events which in his opinion are viously reported is replaced by a as epochal as those which very precise 2,588,834. There is marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modern times. a decrease of approximately Briefly they are: 11,000 in Europe, and this is ex- plained by the fall in Britan. 1. The admission of Russia, an atheist state, to the League of Na- Other continents show little tions. change, with the exception of South America, where last year's 2. John Dewey's Yale lectures, A total of 40,213 has increased to 45,250.
-Watchman-Examiner.
~'=~_ _ _ _—-"""""""~~='"
1 OUf Missionary Bookshelf I Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information I i(i*,,======——-==-=—-==–=======–=-=====~~ , Good Books on Home Missions* tier in relation to its significance We Must March. Honore WiIlsie in church history and its influ- Morrow. William Morrow Co. $2.00. Prepared by the Office of Educa- ence in bringing into being the New York. tion and Publicity Board of distinctive characteristics of National Missions, Presby- American Christianity. Authentic narrative of Narcis- terian Church, U. S. A. sa Whitman, the first white Religious Backgrounds of American woman to cross the Rocky Moun- What do we ask of a reading Culture. Thomas C. Hale. 1930. tains, and the part she and her list? That it shall add to our Little, Brown & Co., Boston. $3.00. husband played in the early hisbody of information? That it tory of Oregon. shall illumine our study with the The author traces the course story of the lives of those whose of religious history from the How Marcus Whitman Saved Orecompulsion was and is: Woe is time of the English "dissenters," gon. Oliver W. Nixon. 1895. Star me, if I preach not the gospel? through the period of dissent in Publishing Co., Chicago. Out of That it shall provoke to a fur- New England and Virginia, print. ther study of the aspects of need, down to the present-day phases underlying problems, and recog- of religious interest. A biography of Marcus Whitnized trends to which a single man, with the interesting incivolume can serve only as an in- FRONTIERSMEN OF THE CHURCH dents of life among the Indians troduction? Brief as it is, it is and an account of Whitman's hoped that the following list The Life and Labors of Bishop Hare. part in the opening of the Northmeets these requirements. M. A. DeWolfe Howe. National west. Council of the Episcopal Church. THE CANVASS $1.00. Francis Asbury, the Prophet of the Long Road. Ezra Squier Tipple. The Epic of America. James Trus- Interesting account of one of 1916. Abingdon Press, Methodist low Adams. Little, Brown & Co., the foremost leaders and cham- Book Concern. $2.00. Boston. $2.50. Reprint 1934. p~ons of the Indians, the first Episcopal missionary bishop to Organizer, founder of schools, Narrative account of the go into South Dakota to labor and "faithful shepherd." growth of America, told through among the Dakotas. In his thirthe story of the most momen- ty-seven years of service he es- Vanguard of the Caravans. Coe tous episodes and the biogra- tablished church policies with Hayne. 1931. Judson Press, Philphies of outstanding leaders in relation to Indians which are adelphia. $1.00. their relation to the panorama still being carried out. of American life. Life story of John Mason Peter Cartwright: Pioneer. Helen Peck, Baptist missionary on the SPIRES AND STEEPLES Hardie Grant. 1931. Abingdon Illinois frontier who preceded Press, New York. $2.00. the covered wagon caravan The Religious Foundations of Amer- across the Mississippi River in ica. Charles L. Thompson. 1928. Life of a "great Methodist and 1817. Fleming H. Revell Co., New York. a great man," a pioneer prairie $1.50. preacher responsible for keeping Jason Lee: Prophet of the New Ore- slavery out of Illinois and "hero gon. Cornelius J. Brossman. 1932. Story of the religious elements of many a picturesque affair in Macmillan Co., New York. $3.00. which like the members of dif- the early days of the state." ferent races have entered into Romantic, authentic story of the making of America with an Sheldon Jackson. Robert Laird Ste- the work of the first missionary account of their influence on the wart. 1908. Fleming H. Revell to enter the Oregon country. He national life. Co., New York. founded the first permanent American settlement although CHURCH AND NATION Biography of an outstanding other attempts had been made pioneer worker, a "foreign mis- without satisfactory result. The Frontier Spirit in American sionary" to the Choctaws, a pio- Christianity. Peter A. Mode. 1923. neer in western frontier service, Mary and I: Forty Years with the Macmillan Co., New York. $1.75. best known for his sacrificial de- Sioux. Stephen R. Riggs. 1887. votion to missions in Alaska. Congregational Sunday School and Study of the American fron- Publishing Society. Out of print.
* Suggested Reading List in "Toward a Fascinating account of the toils and sacrifices, joys and re- Christian America," by Hermann N. Morse. wards of a pioneer missionary Any of the books noted in these columns. and now obtainable, will be sent by the REVIEW publishers on receipt of price.
[317 ]
family which began and carried of the working out of this prin- While our attitude toward the forward mission work among ciple. Oriental is still flexible he recthe Dakota Indians. ommends bending it toward hu- Roving with the Migrants. Adela J. man unity and Christlike under,. THE GEOGRAPHY OF HOME Ballard. 1931. Council of Women standing. for Home Missions and Missionary MISSIONS Education Movement, New York. EVANGELISM Paper,50c. Home Missions Today and Tomor- TUrn to your own denomina- row: A Review and Forecast. Ed- The challenge of the migrants tion for books and leaflets pre- ited by Hermann N. Morse. 1934. came to the author through senting the "pageant of the tri- Home Missions Council, New York. work with them. In this brief umph in Christ." Paper, 75c. book she points out the need of the migrants for love to God and SOCIAL RELATIONS This summation of an inten- the need of the church for love sive study made by the Home for man. .Religion Lends a Hand. James Missions Council is a valuable Myers. 1929. Harper Brothers, source and reference book on the The Machine Age in the Hills. Mal- New York. $1.50. definition, interpretation, analy- colm Ross. 1933. The Macmillan sis, outlook, and forecast of the Company, New York. $2.00. Religion as a helper in social home missions task. progress is the theme developed. This book sets forth the prob- Investigation of the institutions HOME MISSIONS, THE CHILD OF lems of the isolated mountaineer in the United States which apply who in recent years has been this ideal furnishes authorita- . THE TIMES drawn by the wheels of industry tive illustrations. into the hazards of mining life The Challenge of Change-What Is and communities. God and the Census. Robert N. Mc- Happening in Home Missions. John Lean. 1931. Council of Women Milton Moore. 1931. Council of International Relations for Home Missions and Missionary Women for Home Missions and Mis- Education Movement, New York. sionary Education Movement, New Why Wars Must Cease. A Sympo- Cloth, $1.00; paper, 60c. York. Paper, 25c. sium edited by Rose Young. 1935. The Macmillan Company, New Looking beyond the figures of The author presents a wider York. $1.00. the census, the author presents scope for home missions than is the forces which cannot be tabucommonly held and challenges Arguments against war are lated, the spiritual realities of the church to build according to forcefully set forth by ten writ- underprivileged groups. these specifications. ers nationally and international- ly prominent. These arguments In the Shadow of Liberty. By Ed- The Church in America. William batter down all defenses of war. ward Corsi. Macmillan Co., New Adams Brown. 1922. The Mac- York. $3.50. millan Company, New York. $3.00. Race Family and personal experi- From a wide experience and Brown America. Edwin R. Embree. ence appear to have shaped the varied contacts the author sum- 1932. The Viking Press, New York. heart and mind of Edward Corsi marizes the place and work of $2.50. -immigrant boy, settlement the church in our post-war na- worker, Commissioner of Immitional life. Here is a frank, unbiased gration, Director of the Home statement of the trials and tri- Relief of the City of New York CROSS CURRENTS umphs of the "new race," the in- -to a social outlook on life and termingling of black, white, and to a particularly human view- Industry yellow, which forms a tenth of point of Ellis Island. His career the population of the United has been profoundly influenced Christianity and Industry in America. States. by his father, Filippo Corsi of Alva W. Taylor. 1933. Friendship Abruzzi, Italy, who, because of Press, New York. Cloth, $1.00; The Jew and the World Ferment. his aggressive support of agra- paper, 60c. Basil Mathews. 1934. Friendship rian reform, was driven into ex- Press, New York. Cloth, $1.50; ile. Fortunately he was recalled Out of the conviction that our paper, 75c. by his election to the Italian pargreatest social and moral prob- liament-an office which he lems are industrial and that our The writer purposes to dis- never occupied for he was strickin d u s t ria I life has far out- cover how we should act toward en as he was about to give an stripped our moral and social the Jew whose prominence in impassioned response to the ovaadjustments is born this plea for the affairs of the nations as well tion of his fellow-townsmen. The practical Christianity. as in personal conflict is evidence young son was his father's com- that he is in the midst of the panion in exile, and was thrilled Protestant Churches and the Indus- world ferment. by his father's spectacular ca- trial Crisis. Edmund B. Chaffee. reer. 1933. The Macmillan Company, Orientals in American Life. Albeit New York. $2.00. W. Palmer. 1934. Friendship At ten years of age, with his Press, New York. Cloth, $1.00; mother, stepfather, brothers and Individual Christians and the paper, 60c. Church must face their relations to economic life, the writer con- The author shows his readers tends. Labor Temple in New what is behind the Oriental York City, which has been guid- mask-a likable, overwhelminged by Dr. Chaffee for twelve ly human Christian brother. years, serves as an illustration
OUR MISSION:ARY BOOKSHELF
sisters, Edward lalJded in New van through Ellis Island, until nomic conditions in America. work. Two emotions possessed arrested by the World War and By 1932 the outward movement him in turn. His wonder and finally brought to a standstill by of aliens exceeded the inflow. exhilaration prompted by his first view of the Statue of Lib- the Immigration Act of 1924, re- That America continued to be a erty and by the New York sky- flects the extraordinary opti- land of desire, however, is strik- line which, through the haze, he ingly and pathetically illustrated mistook for mountains, quickly mism of America. Mr. Corsi ana- gave way to fear when he over- lyzes the composition of the car- by the large numbers debarred heard his stepfather express avan-English, Dutch, French, because of quota restrictions or concern lest they be turned back Scotch-Irish and German-to because of surreptitious entry. at Ellis Island because of their Perhaps at no time in the his- limited cash. Fortunately for the middle of the nineteenth cen- tory of America has American Edward and for America this tury and then fresh accession to hysteria over immigration been fear was not well-founded for the number of Germans, Irish the Corsi family was included more unhappily illustrated than among the one and a quarter and British. But then the com- by the arrest, the examination million immigrants admitted to position of the caravan changed America in 1907. to Italians, Austrians, Hunga- and deportation of undesirable aliens. Speaking of this Amer- Referring to the next decisive riam'!, Jews, Slavs, Poles and ican mood after the World War Russians though the inflow of Mr. Corsi says "quickly the na- experience which came to him as Irish and Scandinavians contin- an immigrant lad, living in tional hatred turned from a de- wretched quarters on the lower ued in considerable numbers. feated Germany and lashed it- While opposition to immigra- east side of New York, Mr. Cor- self into a rage against all forms si says, tion sprang up from time to of radicalism and all sorts of radicals. Victor Berger, of Mil- Down the street on which I lived time, in the main Americans be- there was a little brownstone house, waukee, was a conservative so- which to many in the neighborhood lieved that America was the land cialist. Senator La Follette was seemed shrouded in mystery. It was of unlimited opportunity where a Republican Progressive. Fed- a settlement house, which some of our parents feared had been put there to any honest man could get a liv- eral Judge Landis of Chicago, in draw Italian children to the Protes- ing and where every clever man sentencing Berger to jail and tant faith . . . The day came, how- ever, when we decided to investigate could amass wealth. This confi- prison, said he regretted that he that house and find out for ourselves dence was not shaken until the what it was there for . . . I remem- world depression settled upon could not have him shot." It ber clearly the day I led my gang into was during these days that the that house of mystery . . . My admis- America like a blight. True cells at Ellis Island were packed. sion to the Home Garden, later Haar- America had imposed upon im- lem House, marked a decisive advance It was then that the "Soviet in my career . . . migrants restrictions designed Ark," the Steamship Buford, to safeguard public health, pub- was dispatched with 249 pris- My settlement contacts and expe- riences gave me a new understanding lic morals and to debar potential oners, all to be deposited in dead of American life and American ideals. paupers. Unfortunately these of winter at the Russian border. It was a new understanding, because regulations did not eliminate This was all a part of what Mr. until then such dreams as I had had "dumping" by foreign countries Louis F. Post, one-time Assistant of the land of promise were well-nigh shattered by the grim reality of what nor preclude the immigrants' use Secretary of Labor at Washing- I had been forced to undergo. Long ton, termed "The Deportations before my mother had gone back to of Canada as a half-way house. Italy both she and my stepfather had The first racial groups, as racial Delirium of Nineteen Hundred realized the futility of their adven- groups, to feel the restraining Twenty." Unfortunately as Mr. ture. America had failed to offer its Corsi came to know, the expres- pot of gold. It had offered instead of America were the Chinese suffering, privations, and defeat. and the Japanese. The Contract sion of this delirium did not end Labor Law became particularly in 1920 but found expression After graduation from Ford- difficult to enforce. Agitation during Mr. Corsi's term of serv-' ham College Mr. Corsi returned ice. Speaking of unknown de- to the Haarlem House as a full- over literacy tests, just before time social worker. While here, and after the World War, re- portees Mr. Corsi says, "I found one morning in 1931, Secretary that many of them were like men Doak of the Department of La- flected the new temper of Amer- condemned to die, praying and bor summoned him to Washing- ica towards immigration. But crying for last-minute reprieves . ton and President Hoover ap- this temper did not have full ex- -clinging to fraying threads of pointed him Commissioner of pression until 1921 when the Immigration at Ellis Island. first Quota Law, based upon the hope." The human interest in Mr. Edward Corsi presents Ellis census of 1910, was adopted. Island as a reflector of the ever- This was followed in 1924 with Corsi is dominant. He tells in changing American mood. The a more rigid Quota Law based considerable detail the' experien- steady march of the great cara- upon national origins with the ces of notable "guests" at Ellis census of 1890 as the base-line. Island both before and during This law clearly marks a change his official relationship with the in the American mind towards Island. He found some of these immigration. experiences humorous, others pathetic and others tragic. In From about 1928 the immigra- tion trend, or to keep to Mr. the first category is that of Migi Corsi's figure, the movement of the caravan, was checked by eco-
Cogic who was ordered deported Conformist. No Anglican needs The sociological expressions because of defective eyesight but a survey to define his parish. of religion are the goal of the the Government was compelled The pages devoted to "Minis- book which Mr. Fenner writes to hold Miji as its guest for the tering to Several Mission Sta- for the men of his own commun- full period of the war and during tions" should be read by all ion. There are excellent advices that time he plied a lucrative American rural Christians. His upon religious education, recre- discussion of lay readers might ation, and the rest of those distrade as tailor and barber.
Pathetic indeed is the story of well be translated into the Pres- ciplines upon which many men Paula Patton who was deemed byterian, Baptist, and Methodist have written well. There are to be mentally defective and languages. These denominations bibliographies for the socially therefore not admitted. Her indulge their members with minded to use in humanizing case shows political vacillation "once a month preaching." They their priestly manners. But to- of the authorities at Washington dilute the worship of God from day the rural saints are turning extending over a period from its Sunday holiness to a pale, to worship and to holiness, with 1914 to 1925 when she was lunar, shirt-sleeve langour. They order and maj esty as the goal of should learn of Mr. Fenner to their aspirations. The Anglican granted legal residence.
"Prince" Mike Romanoff was sanctify the Sabbath and to from whose Ember Days we a grotesque though not uninter- make the house of God holy- have rebuilt Rural Life Sunday esting figure. Repeatedly he ap- Sunday a day of worship. He can teach us about the social peared as an immigrant and re- would train a young man to read ministry of the priest in the day peatedly he was sent back. a sermon every Sunday and con- of joy, of fear, or of grief. A m 0 Ii g other distinguished duct a service of worship while The contribution of Mr. Fenguests were Mrs. Emmeline "the preacher is away at another Pankhurst, Emma Goldman and ner is the latest expression,· and charge." This abuse of little in many ways the best, of the Ignatius Timothy Trebitsch-Lin- churches, closed on a Sunday, denominational hand books for coIn "whom Scotland Yard re- the Church and Country Life when the minister is elsewhere, Movement. A generation ago ferred to as 'the most elusive constitutes one of the great abusman in the world' and whom es of American Christianity. men told me that the country church would be the clue to the United States Marshall James There used to be a Southern union of churches. On the con- M. Power characterized as 'just Methodist Bishop who shocked trary. Each denomination and each of the Christian associaan ordinary thief.' " his hearers with the statement Mr. Corsi's book is full of that "10,000 of our churches were closed last Sunday." He dramatic interest. It breathes with human sympathy and re- meant that their preachers were tions has had its own organiza- away. This "religion of the tions and its own handbooks in flects a fine social sense. CHARLES HATCH SEARS. moon" Mr. Fenner would con- the interest of its own rural units. They all do what Mr. vert by training lay readers. Fenner has done. They inter- The Episcopal Church in Town and The treatment of worship and pret the country church econom- Country. By Goodrich R. Fenner, of architecture are excellent, as ically and socially. I am amused of The National Council (Protes- to see the most conservative of tant Episcopal Church), New York one would expect, and the stand- City. 1935. ards of "church singing" are these churches advised to "make This excellent book begins un- properly high, for the Episcopal the farmer a better farmer." favorably for the non-Anglican, Church has regard "for the That was heresy, for which I as it makes so much of the priest beauty and majesty of the wor- was denounced twenty-two years and his "calling." Outside of ship that is ordered." the churches which have had The chief value of this book is ago. Now rural missions and governmental alliance, there is . in its presentation of the interest agricultural missions have gone small respect for the "divine of a church which sanctifies its all over the world and they have calling" of the pastor. Their re- houses of worship and keeps the highest approval, yet we stand today as denominational spect is for the calling of the them apart from secular use, as we were when Theodore sinner. But Mr: Fenner, subse- which sanctifies its ministers Roosevelt commanded us to proquently appeals to the pastor to and reminds them that they are mote better farming and better recognize his responsibility for priests of God. Mr. Fenner, living.
"making his people better farm- however, does not carry us as ers,"-"mental hygiene," "child far as he might, for he could The time seems to have come well have developed the Angli- for the different communions to training," "visiting the jail."
In his treatment of the "Par- can tradition in explaining the do what Mr. Fenner has in part ish Program" the author is holy offices of marriage and of done and for each to contribute· strong for surveys, organiza- the funeral service. In both of the great religious heritage it tions, publicity. He shows that these the rural pastors have has to the purely religious dehe is not only a priest but a man, much to learn from the Church velopment of the country church a brother, and an America,n; not which has a 'Prayer Book- in worship, in ceremonial, in merely an Anglican-he might great repository of religious sacrament, and in prayer.
even be accused of being a non- faith through the ages." WARREN H. WILSON.
Books Studies in the Gospel According
Matthew. E. Schuyler English. Daughter of Brahma. E. Elizabeth Once untl, ),011 would nt'lcr be ..,ilhout it. $1.75. 226 pp. Revell. New York. Vickland. 64 pp. Revell. New York. FEATURES: Introduction, by Professor George Shaw B.O South American Adventures. Alice Curtis Desmond. $2.50. 284 pp. Education in India in 1932-33. 118 The Lesson Vnu by Ynst, by Rev. David J. Fane, Jr Macmillan. New York. pp. British Library of Information. New York. Lmons from lilt WSD", by Rev Ira E. David, Ph.O Personal Items Siae Ligbls on the Leuo,,_ Selected from Many Authon The Flying Boat. Robert N. McLean. Tit, B~jnntrJ' C14n, by Eleanor M. Jonet and (Concluded from page 257.) 184 pp. $1.00. Friendship Press. New York. Martha L. Fesmire. man, New York City, was elected sec- retary. A Grand-Canyon of Resurrection Re- Tht Primllty Class. by Stella M. Rudy alities. Robert G. Lee. 172 pp. The Junior Clllff, by Addie Marie French. *** $1.00. Eerdmans. Grand Rapids, Mich. SuggeJlions for the Superintendent. by Rev. F L. Squires Dr. and Mrs. Jonathan Goforth, veteran missionaries of the Presby- The New Home. Capt. Reginald Send only 10e in . (or current issue. terian Church of Canada, have re- Wallis. 96 pp. 18. Pickering & turned home and were given a public Inglis. London. Modern Trends in World Religions. reception in Knox Presbyterian Edited by A. Eustace Haydon. 255 Church, Toronto. Dr. Goforth is now Report on the Bihar Earthquake and pp. $2.50. University of Chicago blind. on the Measures Taken in Conse- Press. London. quence Thereof up to Dec. 31, 1934. *** W. B. Brett. 100 pp. Government Race Relations: Adjustment of Printing Office. Bihar, India. Whites and Negroes in the United Dr. Frederick Douglass Patterson States. Willis D. Weatherhead and who was born in Washington, D. C., Statement Exhibiting the Moral and Charles S. Johnson. 590 pp. $3.20. thirty-four years ago, has been elected Material Progress and Condition Heath. London and New York. president of Tuskegee Institute, Ala- of India During 1932-33. S. F. bama, to succeed Dr. R. R. Moton, who Stewart. Map. 197 pp. 38. H. The Drama of the Eucharist. Stacy retired after twenty years of service. M. Stationery Office. London. Waddy. 107 pp. 28. 6d. cloth, 1>1 Dr. Patterson haSi been for seven paper. S. P. G. London. years head of the Agricultural De- Wisdom and Waste in the Punjab partment at Tuskegee. Village. M. L. Darling. 368 pp. A Desert Journal. Evangeline French, 128. 6d. Oxford University Press. Mildred Cable, Francesca French. *** London. 261 pp. $3. China Inland Mission. Germantown, Pa. Dr. J. H. Rushbrooke, General Sec- India Calling: The Memories of Cor- retary of the Baptist World Alliance nelia Sorabji. Cornelia Sorabji. Evolution Disproved. Wm. A. Wil- is spending two months in the United IlIus. 308 pp. 128. 6d. Nisbet. liams. 127 pp. $1.00. Wm. A. Wil- States, expecting to return to Eng- London. liams, Camden, N. J. land in July. His plans include ad- dresses at the Northern Baptist Con- Historical Lights of Liberia's Yester- Forerunners of a New Age. Basil vention in Colorado Springs. He is day and Today. Ernest J. Yancy. Mathews. 75 cents. 90 pp. I. M. C. making preliminary arrangements for $2.50. Aldine Pub. Co., Xenia, Ohio. New York. the Sixth Baptist World Congress which is to be held in Atlanta, Geor- Two Centuries of Student Christian Four Patterns of Revolution. Ethan gia in 1939. Movements. Clarence P. Shedd. Colton. 312 pp. $2.50. Associa- 466 pp. $3. Association Press. tion Press. New York. I If you use New York. In the Shadow of Liberty. Edward PRINTING The Modern Missionary. A study of Corsi. 321 pp. $3.50. Macmillan. the human factor in the missionary New York. YOU will profit from an ac- enterprise in the light of present- quaintanceship with us. We day conditions. C. Hoffman, A. G. The Jew and the World Ferment. do the job complete in our own Hogg, F. Mackenzie, S. Neill, R. Basil Mathews. $1.50. 186 pp. plant, whether it be large or Rees, M. Wrong, W. P. Young. Friendship Press. New York. small. Edited by J. H. Oldham. 128 pp. 18. 6d. Student Christian Move- Let Us Go Into the Next Town. While our specialty is Books, ment Press. London. George P. Pierson. $1. 93 pp. Magazines and Pamphlets, yet Revell. New York. we have a variety of modern The Japan Year Book, 1934. Map. equipment to meet all the re- 1,356 pp. $5. Foreign Affairs Men and Women of Far Horizons. quirements of your particular Assn., Tokyo. Jesse R. Wilson. $1. 214 pp. job. You will find our service Friendship Press. New York. prompt, careful and courteous. Hot-Hearted: Some Women Builders of the Chinese Church. F. I. Cod- The Niger Vision. R. S. Roseberry. Will you allow us to estimate rington. IlIus. 111 pp. 28. Church $1.50. 254 pp. Christian Pub., Inc. on your next printing? We be- of England Zenana Missionary So- Harrisburg, Pa. lieve you will be delighted with ciety. London. our product, price and service. Partners in the Expanding Church. Jesus Through Japanese Eyes: A A. L. Warnshuis and Esther Strong. The EVANGELICAL PRESS Study of the Daily Life of Jesus. 62 pp. 35 cents. International Mis- Toyohiko Kagawa. Trans. by H. F. sionary Council. New York. PrinteTS of Topping and M. Draper. 160 pp. The Missionary Review of tlu! WOTId 38. Lutterworth Press. London. Protestant Church as a Social Insti- tution. H. Paul Douglass and Ed- PLANT AND MAIN OFFICE Outline of Buddhism. C. H. S. mund de S. Bruner. 368 pp. $2.50. Third and Reily Streets HarrIsburg. Pa. Ward. 140 pp. 28. 6d. Epworth Harpers. New York. Press. London. Spirit of Modern France. Helen Hill. An Outline of Islam. C. R. North. 26 pp. 25 cents. Foreign Policy 127 pp. 28. 6d. Epworth Press. Assn. and World Peace Foundation. London. New York and Boston.
Toward the Sunrising. B. H. Bruner. A Student's Philosophy of Religion. $1.50. 280 pp. Cokesbury Press. Wm. Kelley Wright. $3. Macmil- Nashville, Tenn. lan. New York.
Illlportance of Latin
The Foreign Mission study topic for the coming year will be "Revealing Christ to Latin America." This will be the subject of a series of articles in our October number. These are being prepared by men and women of wide experience-Anglo-Saxons and Latin Americans.
A SPANISH AMERICAN FEAST Important Facts as to Twenty Republics ………………… .Mary W. Williams Unevangelized Areas of Latin America …….. " ……………… John Ritchie Religious Trends Among Spanish Americans ………………. .John A. Mackay The Indians of the South Lands ……………………….. .Joseph A. Davis The Conflict of Church and State ……………………… Chas. S. Detweiler Latin American Youth of Today ……………………….. G. Baez Camargo Educational Progress and Problems ……………………….. J. E. Moreland The Living Church of Latin America ……………………. Kenneth G. Grubb Union and Cooperation in Evangelical Work …………… Webster E. Browning The Next Steps in Mission Work …………………… . Ralph E. DitJendorfer Best Books on Latin America ………… '" ……………….. .S. G. Inman Order Your Copies NOW-For Study Circles and Conferences 25 Cents a Copy $2.50 a Year THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD ROBERT E. SPEER, President DELAVAN 1. PIERSON, Editor Send Your Order to MISSIONARY REVIEW PUBLISHING CO., INC., Third and Reily Streets, Harrisburg, Pa.
AGENTS WANTED H ERE are some titles of coming ar~ tides in THE REVIEW. Do not THE MISSIONARY REVIEW miss them: can be sold in quantities to every Missionary Society. It fur- Hitler and the Jews nishes information in brief, in- teresting form for leaders and Conrad Hoffmann, ]r. discussion groups. Why not act as our Agent in your church or On the Mosquito Coast community? You can advance Kenneth G. Grubb the cause of Foreign Missions, and at the same time can earn The Next Generation and Missions Robert E. Speer A Liberal Commission The Younger Men's Missionary Congress • Mills ]. Taylor Address-·-Circulation Manager Lost Condition of the Heathen The Missionary Review of the World Henry W. Frost Third and Reily Streets Harrisburg, Pa. A. A. Hyde•••A Good Steward Wm. M. Vories What Is a Faith Mission?
Robert Hall Glover 25 cents a copy $2.50 a year
The Missionary Review of the World — July 1934
JULY.AUGUST,1934
The Response of Youth Ezra P. Young A New Day in Giving Robert E. Speer A Challenge from the Near East w. Harold Storm New Lives for Old in Chinatown Donaldina Cameron What Christ Has Brought to China T. z. Koo When Home Mission Income Drops A Symposium
the Service Dates to Remember Church in East Africa since 1907
calls you East of Suez … sail July 5-Aug. 12-Winona School of been elected an honorary life member Theology, Winona Lake, Ind. of the American Bible Society, in July 20-25-World's Woman's Chris- recognition of comwicuous service in tian Temperance Union Convention, Stockholm. the revision of the translation of the New Testament into Tswa, spoken in July 30-Sept. 8-Summer Seminar on Education and Culture Contacts. Portuguese East Africa and in the Dept. of Education, Yale Univer- sity, New Haven, Conn. Transvaal. *** August 3-10 – United Presbyterian Dr. Francis Shunk Downs, pastor Missionary Conference. New Wil- of the First Presbyterian Church, mington, Penn. Write to W. D. Mc- Berkeley, California, has accepted the Clure, 707 Publication Building, Pittsburgh, Pa. invitation of the Chosen Mission to August 4-10-Baptist World Congress. participate in the Golden Jubilee of Berlin. the beginning of Presbyterian mis- August 5-12-Foreign Mission Week sionary work in Korea, to be held in of Southern Baptist Convention, Seoul, the first week of July. Dr. Ridgecrest, N. C. Downs will visit various mission sta- August 10-l7-Conference on Wor- tions in Korea, China and Japan, and ship. Silver Bay, Lake George, N. Y. will fill different preaching and con- ference appointments, meeting with August 21-24–Tenth National Con- groups of missionaries and national vention, Evangelical Brotherhood, church leaders in each one of the three Evangelical Synod of N. A. Mil- THE ROUTE PREFERRED waukee, Wis. countries.
SINCE 18401 August 21-26-General Conference, *** Seventh Day Baptist Churches. Cross Cunard to England. Salem, W. Va. The Rev. Z'enan M. Corbe, D.D., and embark at London in a great was recently elected Executive Secreship of this Line that tradition- September 4-9 – National Baptist tary of the Board of American Misally and for nearly a century has Convention. Oklahoma City, Okla. sions of the United Lutheran Church carried the vanguard of the Church eastward to all the lands September 12-21- United Church of in America, to fill the office made vabeyond Suez. P & 0 Liners, of Canada, General Conference, Kingstransatlantic size and comfort, ton, Ont., Canada. cant by the death of the Rev. Dr. F. stand for the Progress of the West F. Fry. When he was executive secin scores of tropic ports and teem- September 29-Fifth Young Women's ing harbours of the Indian Ocean Congress for United Lutheran retary of the West Indies Board he and the Pacific. Natives measure Church. Dayton, Ohio. established a congregation of West time by their swift and sure arrival. Low rates and new, fast, September 30-0ctober 3-Ninth Bi- Indian Negroes in the Harlem section luxurious ships make the voyage ennial Convention of The Women's an exceptional value. Missionary Society of the United of New York City and more than 650 Lutheran Church. Dayton, Ohio. members are now enrolled in this October 4-13 – General Conference church. *** Evangelical Church. Akron, O. Dr. O. R. Avison, having reached October 17-United Lutheran Church the age limit for missionary service, in America. Savannah, Ga. has resigned both as president of the Personal Items Severance Medical College and of the Dr. W. A. Visser 'T Hooft, a young Hollander, succeeds Dr. John R. Mott Chosen Christian College. As his suc- as head of the World's Student Chris- cessor to the office of president of the tian Federation. Medical College, Dr. K. S. Oh, Vice- *** President, has been elected, and Dr.
Rev. and Mrs. Charles E. Hurlburt D. B. Avison succeeds him as vice- have recently celebrated their golden wedding. Mr. Hurlburt, as Director president. of the African Inland Mission soon after the death of its founder, Peter *** Cameron Scott, was instrumental in establishing the work in Kenya Col- Dr. H. H. Underwood, has been ony, guiding its extension into Tang- anyika Territory in 1909, pioneering elected president of Chosen Christian further advance into the Belgian Con- College and Mr. Yu Uck Kyum suc- go in 1912, and in the development of the work in French Equatorial Africa ceeds him to the vice-presidency. Dr. and the West Nile District of Uganda. Underwood is now on furlough but *** expects to return to Seoul in Septem- The Rev. J. F. Persson, a mission- ber. ary of the Methodist Episcopal (Concluded on third cover.) Regular sailings from London, AGENTS W~TED Gibraltar and Marseilles to India, Ceylon, Burma, Straits Settle- THE MISSIONARY REVIEW can ments, China, Japan, Australia, be sold in quantities to every Mis- New Zealand, Egypt, Sudan, Persian Gulf, East and South sionary Society. It furnishes infor- Africa, etc. mation in brief. interesting form for leaders and discussion groups. Why Complete information from not act as our Agent in your church Your Local Agent or or community? You can advance the cause of Foreign Missions, and at the t;UNARD~LINE same time earn a liberal commission.
GENERAL AGENTS Address-Circulation Manager, 25 Broadway New York The Missionary Review ofthe World, Third and Reily Streets, Harrisburg, Pa.
MISSIONARY •
REVIEW OF THE WORLD with SPEED DELAVAN L. PmRBoN, Editor COMFORT ECONOMY VOL. LVII Nos. 7-8 Summon Empress ofJapan . .. queen of the Pacific JULy-AUGUST, 1934 CALVERT GO DIRECT … reach Yokohama in 10 days on the fast sister-ships, Publication and Business Omce SCHOOL Empress ofRussia and Empress ofAsia Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. ..• the Pacific's shortest, fastest to You r Children crossing. Editorial and Executive Omce OR VIA HONOLULU … the Empress of 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City The small children of scores of American Japan (fastest liner on the Pacific) Entered as second-class matter at parents in China, Japan, Africa, India and and Empress ofCanada reach Hono- Post Omce, Harrisburg, Pa., under Act many other countries are receiving their en- lulu in 5 days, Yokohama in just 8 of March 3, 1879. tire elementary education from Calvert days more. 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. School in Baltimore. REDUCED ROUND -TRIP FARES __ • Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. Orient fares include passage from Published monthly, except August. Thorough instruction Is given from first Seattle. Luxurious First, excellent All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1934. grade to high school by means of daily les- Tourist, low-priced Third Class. sons In all fundamental subjects. Also, an FREQUENT SAILINGS. _. from Van- MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- abundantly rich background is provided by couver (trains to ship-side) and the addition of subjects not taught in the Victoria. Orient ports-of-call: LISHING CO., INC. average school. Fascinating lessons in his- Yokohama, Kobe, Nagasaki, BOARD OF DIRECTORS tory of art, nature study, astronomy, geology Shanghai, Hong Kong, Manila. RoBERT E. SPEER, President and physics enliven the course. Booklets, information •.. from your WM. I. OHAMBERLAIN, Vice-President own travel agent or any Canadian WALTER McDOUGALL, Treasurer Later when Calvert pupils take their Pacific office in N ew York, Boston, DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary places with other Children, they usually take Chicago, St. Louis, San Francisco, SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT advanced standing. Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, MRS. ORRIN R. JUDD Winnipeg, and many other cities WM. B. LIPPHARD The school furnishes a year's lessons at in United States and Canada. ERIC M. NORTH once for only $40, including all books and MILTON T. STAUFFER complete equipment consisting of pencils, pa- A. L. W ARNBHUIB per, attractive maps, charts and the most SAMUEL M. ZWEMER modern of educational devices. If extra as- sistance is desired by parents the school Editorial Chat gives a monthly criticism service at a most reasonable cost. Heads of missionary boards Already there has been a large de- have commendad on the very moderate cost mand for our special "Orientals in of Calvert instruction. America" number. Send your order for extra copies now before the supply In many places groups have been organis exhausted. Other valuable articles ized and are successfully taught by mothers on Orientals appear in this number with no teaching experience. All the courses, and more will follow. including 'a splendid Kindergarten course (,$10.50), are suitable for either individual *** or group instruction. Special rates are of- fered for groups. The present issue of THE REVIEW is a double number–July-August, as Virgil M. Hillyer, originator of Calvert announced. There will be no sep- home instruction school courses wrote "A arate August issue but the special Child's History of the World" and "A Child's October number will be extra size, Geography," successful books filled with the with some unusually valuable articles life and interest that brighten all Calvert on Japan. Send in your orders early. home lessons. Mail coupon today. It will be published September 25th. (See back cover for partial list of CALVERT SCHOOL articles.) 187 E. Tuscany Road, Balti- more, Md. *** Please send me full informa- Here are a few of the comments of tion, including sample lessons. readers showing why they find it worth while to read and recommend Name ……..••……..•••.• THE REVIEW-will you help us to extend the usefulness of the magazine? Address ……••..•.••.•••.•• *** Child's Age •••••….•••.••••• "The June issue is an extremely in- "It would be impossible for me to teresting number and ought to do tell you what a help and inspiration much good." and blessing I find in THE REVIEW. I am president of our Missionary So- CHAS. D. HURREY, General Secre- ciety, and director of Missionary In- tary, Comwittee on Friendly struction in the Church School, and Relations Among Foreign Stu- feel that I could not satisfactorily fill dents, New York. either place, without your wonderful help." *** MRS. W. F. GARVIN, Tulsa, Okla. "THE REVIEW gets better all the time-the June issue is splendid." *** AMELIA D. KEMP, Women's Mis- "I wish to express appreciation for sionary Society, United Lu- the splendid department that Mrs. theran Church, Phila., Pa. Aitchison is editing in THE REVIEW. I wish that many more women were subscribing for this magazine."
MISS LILLIAN C. GRAEFF, Wom.- an's Missionary Society of the Evangelical Church.
[321 ]
YEElN JEONG-SAVED TO SERVE Donaldlna ClUIleron, Lo Mo, nemesis of Chinese slave
discusses with Immigration Inspector, J. R. McGra.th, the fate of little Chole Lee, just a.rrlved from China.. Carol Green Wilson , an Interested spectator, Is the author of " Chinatown Quest," the story of Miss Cameron's long fight against the traffic fn Chinese slav.e girls.
GROUP OF WOMEIN AND GIRLS AT CHINESE MISSION HOME, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA WORKING WITH GIRLS IN CHINATOWN (See page 327)
NARY
REVIB ORLD AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS VOLUME LVII JULY-AUGUST, 1934 NUMBERS SEVEN-EIGHT Topics of the Times AFTER COLLEGE-WHAT? Freshmen Seniors Percent Per cent It is reported that some one hundred and seventy thousand young men and young women were Attend church regularly ……….. 70 27 graduated in June from American colleges, uni- Belief in pacifism …………….. 11 58 versities and technical schools. What will they do Think all Christians must be church 35 members ……………………. 83 with the training they have received? How well While these answers may not be typical of all have the teachers, their courses of study and the colleges and universities, they show the general scholastic influences prepared them to take their trend of modern education. Is it strange that places in the world so as to render effective serv- only a small proportion of graduates seem to put i<;e for God and man? A college or university is God first and are ready to offer their lives for to be judged by its output-by the ideals, the sacrificial Christian service? Much of college life purpose, the preparedness and ability of the grad- is taken up with sports, with humanistic philosuates to meet life's problems and to make the ophy and materialistic views of the universe. most of their opportunities. While many students have ideals of service for humanity, a large proportion seem to have as Among the factors that greatly influence the their chief ambition money getting. Comparativeoutput are the home, the church, and the personal ly few have learned to look for God's plan in their character of the individual student. In the same lives or listen to hear His call to Christlike living soil and rain and sunshine grow both weeds and and service either at home or abroad. A very roses. The most important factors are the seed large proportion of the students for the ministry sown and the care in cultivation. and the missionary volunteers come from the smaller denominational colleges. A professor in a state college recently sent us the results of a questionnaire answered by the But there are many of these Christian colleges same group of students at the close of each of the and there are thousands of students who learn in four years of their course. This questionnaire re- them to see God at work in the universe and to veals some things about the influence of that col- seek His plan for their lives. Christian parents lege on the minds and characters of the students. will do well to enroll their sons and daughters in The following are some of the revelations shown the school of Christ which will prepare them for by the contrast at the end of the first and the His service. fourth years of their course.
Freshmen Seniors Percent Per cent THE NEW LIFE MOVEMENT IN CHINA Belief in a personal God ……….. 84 60 Belief in evolution …………….. 15 72 The Chinese acknowledge that present-day Belief in Bible inspiration ……… 75 35 China shows many signs of weakness and decay. Belief in Bible miracles ………… 88 46 Belief in answers to prayer …….. 85 65 Theoretically the principles and ideals set forth Use tobacco. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 80 by the late Dr. Sun Yat Sen offer a program Approve of women smoking ……… 17 54 promising to promote progress-if these princi- Disapprove of gambling ………… 62 26 Consider "petting" an evil ………. 73 70 ples can be carried out successfully. The chief Consider dancing harmful ………. 50 8 difficulty is that this program does not take suf- Against Sunday movies, etc. …….. 60 77 ficiently into account foreign influences-like J a- [323 ]
pan-that hinder its fulfilment, or the moral weak- Dr. Chu goes on to say that this Movement nesses of human nature as seen in Chinese leaders should begin with the daily life of the individual themselves-the selfishness, dishonesty and ambi- and culminate in the harmonious development of tion that lead to corruption in politics and busi- all his faculties, it should also, starting with the ness. Some Chinese statesmen have expressed the individual, eventually permeate the whole nation. conviction that China's greatest needs are the "If we cannot do things, we cannot acquire real moral strength and high standards found in knowledge. If we cannot regulate our own life, Christ alone. we cannot regulate our country. If we cannot regulate our daily life, we cannot regulate our Recently Gen. Chiang Kai-shek, the most prom- whole personality." The New Life Movement aims inent military and political leader in China—':and at the orderly development of the life of the naa professing Christian-has launched what is tion through spiritual influences and through called "The New Life Movement." This has readiness to make sacrifices. found many advocates and adherents among the Chinese who see in it a new ray of hope for Many movements have been started in China rejuvenation and moral progress. It is not with various objectives-the class-war movement, avowedly Christian, but advocates Christian ideals the proletarian literary movement, and others that of life. Dr. Chu Chia-Hua, Minister of Communi- are nothing more than depreciated theories cations, says in The People's Tribune: smuggled in from foreign countries. They do not improve the daily life of the individual, but make Our country is in a perilous condition. The economic victims of innocent youths. The New Life Movesituation in the rural districts has grown worse until the ment aims at the salvation of the individual and population is confronted with the spectre of bankruptcy. of the nation. Political inability and social unrest have sapped and lowered the vitality of the nation. Communists have Dr. Chu continues: played havoc with life and property as well as our cultural and spiritual inheritance in the regions which they infest. The problem of education is closely related to the pres- At the same time, the great forces moving the present-day ent Movement. Politeness and courtesy are gone, 'order world have caused us to lose our balance. What is worse, and discipline have disappeared, and the sense of responmany of our countrymen are trying to destroy the founda- sibility is a virtue conspicuous for its rarity. Flourishing tion upon which we had built the superstructure of our like noxious plants are corruption, confusion, and the sen~e civilization. of futility and world weariness.
The New Life Movement, therefore, answers the urgent During the National Education Conference of 1928 the demand of the whole nation. We are naturally most anx- Chung Shan University, together with the Departments ious to find a way out of the difficulties which beset our of Education of Kwangtung and Kwangsi Provinces, path. It is our duty to arouse our fellow-countrymen to brought up a proposal to base national education upon work together in starting a new life, at the same time the Three Peoples' Principles, so as to effect the renaisbringing about the renaissance of the Chinese nation. sance of the Chinese nation. With this end in view, for the last two or three years, the Ministry of Education has This Movement is based upon the spirit of the Chinese endeavored to reform public education in China. General people as revealed in its history, and its aim is to enrich Chiang's purpose in starting the New Life Movement is and deepen that spirit. Unfortunately, since the Sung to remould the whole social fabric so as to develop the Dynasty, the splendor of Chinese civilization has been Chinese people. dimmed, and the Chinese today have lost confidence in the historical mission of their race. It is true that with the Any other reform movement that is to be perintroduction of Western civilization many reform move- manent must include the education of the youth. ments have been started, but they have been launched But reform and education are not sufficient. New either with a veneer of slavish imitation of Western civili- life calls for a spiritual "new birth," and that zation, or with entire disregard of the historical back- comes only through the Spirit of God working in ground of China. human hearts.
Our late leader, Sun Yat Sen has shown that if we The elements of truth and strength in this "New want to renew the strength of our nation, we must revital- Life Movement" are not rooted in Chinese history ize the old moral values, which are wisdom, loving kind- and ethics, however good these may be. Many ness, and courage and which, stated in other terms, are would-be leaders in Germany are defying Teuloyalty, filial devotion, kindness, love, faithfulness, justice, tonic history and tradition and advocate discardpeace, and harmony. These constitute the essence of the ing all that is foreign-including the Biblespirit of the Chinese people as revealed in history which whether true or false. China, Japan, India, Geris ages old. The purpose of our late leader was to enrich many, Italy, Turkey, cannot reach their goal by and deepen that spirit through moral influence, and to making a god of nationalism. Truth must be acreplace the principle of might with the principle of right- cepted because it is true, and life is begotten of eousness. General Chiang Kai-shek in selecting propriety, life. Since there is one true God, He alone can give life. How can man-made standards, either justice, integrity and the sense of shame as the basis of ancient or modern, be substituted for the eternal the New Life Movement, is also prescribing the right God and His Way of Life as r~vealed in Christ? remedies for prevailing diseases, for to those who want to cure the ills of China, the spiritual heritage of our race is a perennial source of inspiration. All of us who are in this movement should observe courtesy and decency in our intercourse with other people, should have a sense of justice, a sense of shame, and scrupulously refrain from fraudulent practices.
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
The fruits of righteousness come from the roots as of our blessings, and is a concrete expression of true spiritual life. of thanks for daily mercies.
"We are finding that in this the second year THE CENT-A-MEAL PLAN many are adopting the Cent-a-Meal Plan who re- fused to take it a year ago. In other cases, how- "Many a mickle makes a muckle." The widow's ever, the interest is waning. We expect to receive mites have been more effective in the long run in considerably more this year than last, as many the work of the Kingdom of God than the millions churches started on the system towards the close of dives. Some missionary workers are not dis- of the year. We feel, as a United Church, that it couraged when streams of benevolence cease to has been a great blessing to us. Had it not been flow abundantly. They pray to God to touch the for the $100,000 received from this means we hidden springs that never dry up, knowing that would have been under compulsion to curtail our He is able to bring water even from the rock. work again in 1934. The Cent-a-Meal Box made When the large gifts ceased and deficits faced it possible for us to close our books with the very the missionary work of the United Church of small deficit of $32,000 on the budget of $2,615,- Canada, many small gifts were sought, backed by 000."
sacrifice and prayer and the Cent-a-Meal Box Plan *** was adopted for missionary offerings. What has been the result? In reply to our inquiry the Rev. This same plan has been promoted by the Stu- George A. Williams of Toronto, who promoted the dent Volunteer Movement and has been a real plan in the United Church of Canada, writes: blessing. Mr. Jesse R. Wilson, General Secretary, writes: "The Cent-a-Meal Box was originally devised, not to take the place of any system now being "The idea in the Cent-a-Meal Plan of contribuused, but rather as a simple means of making it tions for financial support was adapted to our possible for people in times of depression to sup- needs as an appeal primarily to students and plement their contributions, and more particularly friends whose help students might enlist. Plain, to reach people who do not contribute through the unvarnished, substantial wooden boxes were se- Duplex Envelope, and in many cases are not found cured large enough to hold 150 pennies. On the frequently in church. We discovered that less front of each was pasted a lable which reads: than 50% of our church membership contribute In Gratitude to the Giver of All Good Gifts regularly to missions, and it was to reach this un- productive field of noncontributors that we de- I (or we) dedicate vised the Cent-a-Meal Box. A – CENT – A – MEAL "The plan has been introduced in 1,930 parishes for and 125,000, or one-quarter of all our families in the United Church of Canada, are now using 1. The Current Budget of the S. V. M. them. We did not get started until late in the 2. The Movement's Twelfth Quadrennial Convention. year 1933 and have not a complete report as to the amounts received .from the boxes, but we dis- (December 28, 1935-January 1, 1936) covered that we have through this means raised 3. Christian Missions Abroad. at least $100,000. We have succeeded also in en- All gifts received will be apportioned equally among the causes listed.
listing the support of a great number of new con- On the bottom of the box is another label readtributors and in some cases, after using the box ing: for six months, these new contributors use the regular Duplex Envelope. In one church where A-Cent-A-Meal as a thank-offering to God for the joy 150 boxes were in use, 50 new contributors began a·nd strength and courage of every day. to use the envelope system at the beginning of When the box is filled, open by scraping off this label and cutting along edges of hinged wooden flap. Push in this year. end just to the left of the nail hinge. Remove contents and send by check or money order to THE STUDENT VOLUN- I'There are also many indications of the educational and spiritual value of the ,use of the boxes. TEER MOVEMENT. Thousands of children have learned to say "Grace" at the table, using the words on the box, "As we Seal box again (with extra seal provided inside) for partake of Thy bounties, 0 Lord, we would be further use. mindful of the needs of others." This method has "As the money reaches our office it will be ap- portioned as follows: offered an opportunity to teach Christian steward- "1. One-third to the current expenses of the ship in the homes and has made the missionary movement in support of its missionary, educa- work more real to the members of the family. It tional and recruitment work in the colleges and is a constant reminder of our obHgations as well universities of the United States and Canada.
"2. One-third to the building up of a Twelfth feature with the confident expectation that the attendance would greatly increase when people Quadrennial Convention Fund. This convention realized the value of the meetings. will be held December 28, 1935 through January 1, 1936. This will initiate the commemoration of The total attendance at conferences was 9,052; the Fiftieth Anniversary of the beginning of the at schools and service clubs 6,727; the grand total addressed was 21,852. The cities were much movement-1886-1936. smaller than those approached last year and the conference character of these meetings was in "3. One-third to some Christian missionary distinction from the mass meeting type. In the projects now being carried on by Student Volun- main the attendance comprised those who were teers, the project to be determined by the General already committed to Christian missions and their support. Council of the movement." There are four areas in which further study This plan appealed readily to many of the and planning are needed to make these conferstudent constituency as affording an interesting ences more effective: (1) In the educational technique which will make it possible to register and practicable method of contributing to the results in churches in each community. (2) A work. Some 1,400 boxes have been distributed. new study of ways in which the younger genera- Names and addresses for most of these are on file, tion can be inspired with the missionary passion and their enthusiasm enlisted. (3) More definite and statements about the movement have been plans for reaching members of the church who are sent to them at intervals of some six weeks. interested in the changes that are taking place which condition the effectiveness of missionary Recently a call has been made for funds col- work and which call for modifications in the pro- gram. These forward looking people need to be lected, but with the suggestion that such funds informed of the changing strategy in missions should be sent only when the box is "stuffed like and the support of the whole church enlisted for a Thanksgiving turkey." Some fifty-two have such changes as are inevitable. (4) The inclusion of features in the program of home base promosent in gifts. The general secretary says: tion as will reach the people not interested in missions at present but those potentialities ought "We believe the plan has had some real educa- to be enlisted. Many people should be able to give time to the promotion of additional interests. If tional value. It has deepened interest in the move- the missionary forces are sufficiently awake to the ment in a circle much larger than that represented possibilities in this field they can secure increasby actual participants in the plan. It has created ingly large amounts of time for the development of a program that will enlist them in definite acan expectancy with regard to the Twelfth Quad- tivities for the advancement of Christian missions. Christian missions should become a hobby in the rennial Convention. It has called forth prayer for best sense for many who in the years ahead will missions and has focussed peoples' minds on the have opportunities for devoting themselves to new necessity of giving to Christian causes in even interests which they have never had before. though only in small amounts. The gifts will enable us to bring encouragement and help to Stu- The campaign committee has begun to formudent Volunteers at work under various mission late plans for a continent-wide series of united missionary conferences for next fall and winter. boards throughout the world." , Tentative plans involve a team with Dr. T. Z. Koo as one of the speakers for cities on the Pacific MAKING MISSION CONFERENCES coast during October, for the mid-West in Novem- EFFECTIVE ber, for Canada in December, for New England and the Atlantic states in January and February, A series of foreign mission meetings were held and for the South in March. (April 10 to 25) in Hackensack, New Brunswick, Elizabeth, Plainfield and Bridgeton, New Jersey, There is a very favorable response to the united and Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, Pennsyl- approach exhibited in these missionary confervania, with as speakers Rev. Frank T. Cartwright, ences. It becomes increasingly apparent that these D.D., Miss Olive E. Jones, Hartman A. Licht- united missionary meetings are of great signifiwardt, M.D., Rev. Cleland B. McAfee, D.D., Rev. cance in the effort to portray the missionary enter- J. Roy Strock, D.D., and Miss Sue E. Weddell. prise in its true proportions.
The messages given were of very high character. The conferences with ministers on the conduct of missions and with mission study leaders and church officers were well attended and developed much interest.
One of the leading pastors at the close of a round table meeting remarked: "I have got more out of this morning's conference than from any similar meeting that I ever attended."
The hope was expressed in a number of centers that thp, conferences could be made an annual
Lives for Old in
By DONALDINA CAMERON, I San Francisco, California }9- Superintendent of the PresByterian Mission Home W HILE in early days Argonauts from the in the little Western China on the Pacific Coast, wide world over were following veins of passed the torch to other women and a group was glittering gold woven by old "Mother organized for service. Lode" through canyon and crest of California's Miss S. M. Cummings, appointed as missionary, lofty Sierras and fair valleys, another smaller was established in a wee three-room Mission group of pioneers, Home that became mostly women, actu- the nucleus for the ated by higher and g rea t e r spiritual nobler mot i v e s building that was to found and followed rise and through a richer v e i n of future years was to pur e r gold than become a power ever rewarded the house,. Its corner- weary labor of those stone was laid on who followed the the rock of faith far-famed Mother and prayer offered Lode. in an obscure Chi- Sixty years ago, nese Mission House t h r e e d e v 0 ted in old San Fran- American worn e n cisco.
met in a little "up- Deep shafts went per chamber" 0 n down year aft e r the edge of old year into the sub- Chi n a to w n, San soil of old China- Francisco. Tho s e town, reI e a sin g were the intensely wealth of precious materialistic early go I d for mintage days of which Bret that has borne the Harte wrote: King's Image and I know thy cunning and Superscription far thy greed, and wide for the re- lief of China's deep Thy hard high lust and Sp.Ul. t ua Ipovt er y. wilful deed, To other peoples And all thy glory loves and countries far to tell and near, the light, Of specious gifts ma- terial.
Mrs. John Gulick, the truth and the a missionary of the way of life have American Board re- AMERICAN AND CHINESE HELPERS IN THE MISSION HOME been made known turning from China bee a use a little to New England, group of women, was one of that early group. When parting from with deep love and high courage in their hearts, her two friends she confidently assured them, discovered, mined and minted our Western Chi- "God will honor your faith." Imbued with hope nese "Mother Lode." Redeemed and revivified and courage Mrs. Ira Condit and Mrs. C. H. Cole, lives are their enduring monument today on both both Eastern women whose missionary zeal sent sides of the world.
them forth to serve Chinese women and children The first small group, augmented by other [327 ]
dauntless spirits, were the vanguard of the great too must be fed. There were little sisters of no empire builders on this far-flung coast. They practical value, though they might be in later surely were envisioned in Isaiah's prophetic as- years; so the eldest girl was offered a ready sac- surance, "I will go before thee and make crooked rifice, but the cost of her own life was greater places straight, I will break in pieces the gates than Ah So dreamed.
of brass and cut in sunder the bars of iron." These God knew that strong unselfish soul and His words were spoken for King Cyrus, but are al- Spirit followed her. The Arm that is never short- ways and forever the heritage of all true servants ened in its saving outreach gathered Ah So from of the King Eternal. bondage of body and spirit, lifting her into liberty, and shedding into her soul a radiant light that has illumined many other lives.
In the deep of tragic surroundings, alone and friendless in a far country, bartered for gold by the one who brought her from her own home in China to America, Ah So poured out her heart to the woman whom she still honors with the sacred title of "mother." This letter, written in Chinese and found by those whom a Father's love sent in quest of lost Chinese girls, is an open window I into the soul of one of the finest ever discovered.
CHINESE MISSION HOME "920'" SACRAMENTO ST., Letter front Ah So to Her Mother Found in Suitcase SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA After Arrest in Fresno February 7, 1924 Those who serve God have infinite resources; To My Honorable Mother, Greetings: so His servants have always received from Him a golden goblet brimming over with Water of I have left you for several months. I hope you are well Life to share with a weary, thirsty world. In and so my heart will be at peace. I received your letter sharing, the marvel and glory of refilling is and heard about the children. I am very glad to receive wrought and refreshment for the great task given. this news.
*** Your daughter has come to America. I have been ill for several months and have not yet recovered. . . . The We invite you to meet the family of Mrs. L. Q. man, Huey Yow, who brought me to California, compelled whose life story proves this truth. What family me to pay him one thousand dollars. I have already done has no hidden skeleton in its attic or ghost that so. haunts its soul in quiet moments? We try to draw a curtain across dark moments in life and Mother, you must be sure to take good care of yourself firmly close doors to keep away shadows, but only and not worry. This illness of your daughter is not very the full light from the face of Jesus Christ, when serious. In a few days probably there will be two or all of life is turned over to Him, can fully dispel three hundred dollars sent you for New Years. these haunting shadows. So it has been with the life of this happy Chinese wife and mother. Your daughter's condition is very tragic, . . . Daugh- ter is not angry with you. It seems to be just my fate. The Story of Ah So In ancient times, the Chinese legends say, there was a man, Man Jung, who wept under a bamboo tree out of Ah So came to the United States ten years ago, filial reverence for his parents. Another man, Wong sent forth by her mother to find in Kum Shan Cheong, was going to Pekin to see the Emperor to ask (Gold Mountain) wealth for her family living in redress for wrongs done his parents, and it was so cold dire poverty in China. This daughter had little he must sleep on ice. These two great heroes left their value in the eyes of that pagan mother. There honorable names behind them as examples of filial piety. were brothers that must, of course, be taken care of. Then there was an old helpless father who After I have earned money by living this life . . . I will return to China and become a Buddhist nun. If, hav- ing earned money for my mother, I am able to expiate my sin also by becoming a nun, I shall be grateful to my mother. By accomplishing these two things I shall have attained all the requirements of complete filial piety.
If people treat me kindly, I shall be kind to them. Even if they treat me unkindly, I shall still be kind to them. Since I have not done evil to others, why should others do evil to me? At home, a daughter should be obedient to her parents; after marriage to her husband; after the death of her husband, to her son. These are the three great obediences.
Be sure not to have any trouble with Ah Ging and Meung Ping. As in the building of a house there are twelve beams and you do not know which is the strongest, so in a family you cannot judge which will be the most dependable one. A son is a human being, and so is a daughter. At home, everybody looks down upon a daugh- ter. How is it now? When I was at home, mother, you looked down upon me as a daughter. Since daughter
NEW LIVES FOR OLD IN CHINATOWN
came to California, by right she should forsake you. But, his father. Paul is growing to be a big boy. He has a in thinking it over, the greatest virtue in life is reverence cold now and does not feel so well. He is running around to parents, so I am keeping a filial heart. My present and is learning to talk. misfortune is due to the sins of a previous incarnation. Now I may be somebody's daughter, but some day I may I am taking care of my brother-in-Iaw's son. He is a be som,ebody's mother. little boy about ten years old. He minds very well and wishes to become a Christian and live a Christian life. Years have passed since that letter was written and discovered. Release of body, mind and spirit Mae (our daughter) will graduate from the University came to Ah So; after long seeking and much in- of Washington this coming June. She wishes to return to ward conflict with fear, depression and distrust, China to do work. She studies bacteriology at the unifaith and love triumphed. God spoke definitely versity. to Ah So through His own Word and a broken life was given over to be rebuilt, a new stone was Lo Mo, when I look at my three children, I always think laid in the "Temple not made with hands, eternal of you and your workers at the Mission Home. If it were in the heavens." not for your help, I would not have what I do. I am again very thankful to you. When these children grow up, I A life renewed and other lives renewed by it is hope they will do God's work and be His disciples. There revealed in the following letter written by Ah So is a lot of His work to be done in this world especially in ten years after her former letter was penned. China where so many are suffering both mentally and This letter came addressed to the foster-mother physically. Mary and Eva will return to this country next of her loved Mission Home family in San Fran- year and finish their work and then return to China. cisco. A TRAGEDY AVERTED-AH SO AND HER FAMILY *** (See page 328) DECEMBER 28, 1933. The girls and I are getting along fine. You need not be My Dear Lo Mo: worried of that. I am again grateful and thankful to God for His help. It has been a long while since I have written you, but there has not been a moment in which I have not thought I hope you will take good care of yourself and please of you and friends at the Mission Home. I hope this give my love to teachers. Christmas has been a joyous one. Lovingly yours, Lo Mo, I am so happy that you have found such a won- AB So. derful place for the fifty dollars. Your suggestions are always for the best and where it will receive the most The latest word comes, as a Sixtieth Annivergood. I am happy to have you carry out your plans. sary greeting to the Home through which her own life and the lives of others have been redeemed. We came back to America last year in May. We felt that a living was much easier to make in this country than Dearest Lo Mo, teachers and friends: China. With these small children, it will take a long while Congratulations on your sixtieth anniversary. Would before they are able to care for themselves. We stayed with friends while our home was being built. I have been like to come and celebrate with you but it is too far, canbusy, very busy since then. Mary and Eva are in Hongkong going to school. We felt it was an opportunity for will not come. I am wiring telegram for memory of the them to receive a Chinese education, something that they could not attain here. They are cared for by their Ki school, Lo Mo, teachers and friends. Hope God bless Neang and Ki Yea, who are both Christians. the school as long as the world lasts.
My sister is also staying with them. They are always MRS. L. Q. thoughtful of you too. They are all living in our home. My sister has become a Christian. She and my adopted Yeen Jeong girl were baptized this Christmas. I adopted this girl from my father-in-law who wished to take her as his sec- "Faith is the substance of thAngs hoped for, the eviond wife. Upon hearing this, I immediately took her to dence of things not seen." my home. She is now going to school with my two girls and sister. She is happy and I have named her Wai Goy. Contrast the childhood of a life without God, This is interpreted as God's love, and I love her. then follow its growth and maturity as it first touches through the faith of another, and then by My mother died before our return to China. Before her its own faith knows and walks with God in ever death she said she could not entrust the two smaller brothers and two sisters to anyone excepting myself. On my return I tried my best to fulfill her wish and care for them. One of the sisters is married and the other one staying with the three girls.
The two smaller brothers are in a Christian home for children. These two boys have not yet been baptized but want to become Christians after they grow older. My married sister is baptized and a Christian woman. I am very grateful and thankful to God that my husband is willing to care for these smaller brothers and sister and help them.
On November 3d this year we had another baby girl. Her name is Ruth. William is well and goes out with his father on the truck every day. He enjoys working with
deepening companionship to the place which it So the seeds dropped many, many years before now holds, giving the Water of Life to other in the heart of her sister began to yield flowers in thirsty souls. Yeen Jeong's life.
Yeen Jeong spent her childhood in northern Now she stands on a new threshold, no longer Siskayou the companion and sole comfort of an the fearful timid child in search of shelter from a older sister who was the unhappy victim of an ruthless fate that seemed to pursue her sister and old-time arranged marriage with a husband who herself; but a confident intelligent girl, knowing in age, habits of life and disposition was utterly the security of Him in whom she had come to beunfit and unworthy of the lovely child wife he had lieve and put her trust, asking guidance for "the purchased. With all the devotion of a tender lov- next step." Desiring to pass on her new-found ing heart Yeen Jeong's sister guarded the little blessings Yeen Jeong asks, "What shall I do next, child turned over to her when their mother re- to prepare for life?" What shall be her special turned to China. line of service? Constantly the cry from Oriental The Western lumber camp where these sisters countries for more medical missionaries stirs our lived offered no incentive for the finer things of hearts, and we hear again Peter's challenge, life, but there had been instilled in the heart of "Silver and gold have we none; but as I have give the elder Chinese girl during two short years I thee; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth when as a little child her life touched the life of rise up and walk." a noble American Episcopal Deaconess in old Teaching, journalism, other possibilities were Chinatown, a love and longing for the better things of life which prompted her to learn to read considered but medicine seemed the way that of- fered greatest opportunities for practical service and write, and later lead her to correspond with the Presbyterian Mission Home, groping for help along with spiritual opportunity. Through her and comfort in her own sad life. own steadfast efforts, working in an American home, making intelligent use of her technical Lux When at last the inevitable crisis came and her School training Yeen Jeong managed to finish loved little sister needed protection, Mrs. Wong Junior College. Stanford University accepted her had established friendly relations with those who though only a very limited number of women stu- could do for Yeen Jeong what she alone was un- dents are admitted to Stanford. Yeen Jeong able to do. She secretly sent her sister to the bravely began the impossible task of "working her Mission Home to ask protection and guidance. way" through college, but the heavy pre-medical It was well that she did thus safeguard the one course she had undertaken proved more than even she could carry, and just as the way to her goal she loved for not long after her own life was sud- seemed closed friends rallied to her help. denly transplanted beyond the withering influences of evil and sorrow, but she was spared to Mrs. H. B. Pinney, former president of that know the joy of having placed her dearest earthly noble group of Presbyterian women, "The Occicompanion on the way to that fuller life so much of which she herself had failed to attain in this dental Board of Foreign Missions," still carrying on the spirit of its early organizers, though now world. Yoke Yeen Jeong arrived at the threshold of merged in other Boards of the church, came to the the Presbyterian Mission Home at 920 Sacra- aid of this former protege of the Mission Home, mento Street a bewildered child of fifteen whose and another retired president of the same Mislife had been cramped and thwarted by untoward sion Board, Mrs. Cyrus Wright whose life had circumstances and darkened by the cruel perver- been poured forth from girlhood in the great sity of older people who hindered instead of cause of Missions, took up the task of helping helped an unusually bright and eager mind to un- Yeen Jeong help herself through college. It was fold; but so wonderful is the alchemy of love that a happy reward after two years to see their ward her sister's devotion kept Yeen Jeong's courage lead the long procession of black gowned graduand hope alive until she found sanctuary in the ates through the beautiful "Quad" of Stanford Home where gradually all the deep longings of her University on Commencement Day. Yeen Jeong was now ready for the last step in her long climb disappointed childhood came to fruition. upward. Con~ultation with a few friends and the Grammar school was quickly completed in the sympathetic Dean of Stanford Medical School led Yeen Jeong to decide upon the Women's Medical Home School; then came four practical helpful College of Pennsylvania, where so many medical years of high school work, at Lux Technical School, where valuable lessons in home economics prepared Yeen Jeong to help herself through serv- missionaries and Christian Chinese doctors have ice in domestic work, thus she managed to win received their training.
through' high school, gaining the love and con- First there came one quiet year of Bible study fidence of many friends, and finishing as presi- in Philadelphia. Then with the continued help of dent of her class. Mrs. C. S. Wright, and the Presbyterian Scholar-
UTE INDIANS PETITION FOR A CHURCH
ship Aid Fund, also some help from Mrs. Milton Could we have a happier, more satisfying seal Stewart of Pasadena and other friends Yeen placed on years of service for God and the world Jeong completed her medical course. than that of a life given freely, thoroughly trained, and with loyalty to God and His Great Longing to return to her own Chinese associates Commission, placed at His service largely through in the West, application was made for an intern- the generous help of the former president of the ship at the Los Angeles Hospital. No Oriental Occidental Board? The prayers of all friends of internes had been accepted at this hospital for missions are earnestly asked for this young Chiseven years; but Yeen Jeong's excellent creden- nese doctor, Yeen Jeong. tials and the solicitation of many friends won her a place which she has acceptably filled for the past To a friend she herself quoted Tagore's lines year. A position was offered our young doctor acknowledging the source from which her blessimmediately at the close of her hospital course ings have flowed: which she is now filling. Thou hast made me known to friends whom I knew not, At the Sixtieth Anniversary Celebration of her Thou hast given me seats in homes not my own, old Mission Home, Yeen Jeong drove from dawn Thou hast brought the distant near, till late afternoon over the wide reaches of the And made a brother of the stranger. San Joaquin Valley and the hills that divided her present place of service from San Francisco, that Dr. Jeong now lives a life in harmony with the she might meet·and greet the friends of her early lines written by one far greater than the Indian girlhood, and especially the faithful friends whose poet: "Thou lovest righteousness and hatest wickrepresentative she hopes to be before long among edness; therefore God, even thy God, hath her own great nation in China. anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows."-Psalm forty-five.
Ute Indians Petition for a Church O N NOVEMBER 1, 1933, a large company . of Utes and Navajos gathered in the assem- bly rooms of the Towaoc Indian School, Colorado, for the purpose of meeting a commis- In God the "'At.h'lr, J e3u.! J,r l ,,, "'1'it J.m, ~'r•..l. ill ih"' ibly ,!>lrlt"e l:I•.!ll ,l'I~; ~" … ,,,HI.I· t,,,; t) .'/Jl l;> tw tl'lune God anJ. sion from the Presbytery of Pueblo in response to vroClota 11:; .!auae , VIe hel:'~by petitt on t Il e .!'ruD1Lery oJ! Puebl,,) a petition by Utes for the organization of a church. NAMES AND FINGER-PRINTS OF INDIANS WHO SIGNED THE PETITION FOR… A PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH After a full discussion of the matter on the part of the Indians and the visitors, and after a con- fession of faith in Jesus Christ, made by those who were ready to unite with the church, and the baptism of those who had not already been bap- tized, the Towaoc Indian Presbyterian Church was formally organized with eighty charter mem- bers. Fourteen were baptized. The first name on the petition for organization was that of the Chief of the Tribe, John Miller. His name was followed by the names of all the other chief men who are members of the Tribal Council. Most of the signatures were made by thumb-print.
The missionary in charge of this field, Mr. Rus- sell, says that the eighty charter members do not by any means include all who would like to unite witli the church. He looks for a ve~y encouraging ingathering during the coming yellr. The new congregation is greatly in need of a" church build- ing which will contain accommodations also for recreational and other activities. The only build- ing available at the present time is the Govern- ment school. The Utes are very poor and unable to provide the funds and it would greatly encour- age this new Indian congregation if some friends of the Indian work would contribute money to establish a church building for them, making it the center of further evangelizing efforts.
Strengthening Ties Between
and Americans -af I By JAMES TOOKER FORD, Los Angeles, California JB- A "JAPANESE Christian Oorrespondence A member of the faculty of the Arthur T. Pier- Club" was formed in Los Angeles a few son Memorial Bible School of Seoul, Korea, years ago, composed of a few retired min- writes: "By interpreting Christ, as He is to be isters. Names of Japanese students were sent by lived in daily life, some may be able to give these missionaries and letters were exchanged between young people real living messages." them and members of the club in order to foster a friendly international spirit and to promote From Hangchow, China, a missionary writes as Christian life. Delightful letters from some of follows: "The plan is not only possible, but is also the Japanese young men show intelligence and re- desirable. Our boys have good English and our finement, excellent English, and fine penmanship. American friends who may not be acquainted with This plan helps to create a cordial feeling between the conventional Chinese politness, which has been the American and Japanese nations. It would developed for a thousand years, will always find seem to be advisable to broaden this work to in- that naturalness, simplicity, and good 'horseclude laymen and women of America and Orien- sense' will make them understood." tals of other nationalities. Missionaries in Japan, China, Korea, India and the Philippines would In carrying out this plan for creating a better gladly cooperate. The letters of those unacquaint- feeling of friendliness between Americans and ed with the English language might be translated foreign peoples, personal facts, interesting items but the work should generally be confined to those from our daily life, description of surroundings, who know English, as missionaries usually are too and views on national and international events busy to interpret and rewrite letters. There are and problems, should be followed by the deeper multitudes of young men and young women in matters of the religious life, and at the right time China, Japan, India, Korea and the Philippines the presentatioR of Jesus Christ as the Saviour of who have been trained in English schools, and man and the Revealer of God. This will be welwho understand the language, who might be comed by many. It is foreign missionary work greatly helped by kindly personal contacts. Amer- which can be done without leaving home. The icans and Orientals might thus be drawn closer writer can testify to the blessing that follows together by common interest and Christian love. thus coming into touch for the Lord's sake with A missionary of the American Presbyterian Mis- young people of a foreign land. It is a task to sion in China, writes: "I wish you every success. write a thoughtful, joyful Christian letter to a There should be care taken in the selection of the foreigner but as many as six letters a year is not correspondents: Men should correspond with an insuperable task, and it pays. Women cormen only, and women with women. There should respondents are more easy to get than men, but be no appeals for money. Both parties should be men are needed to correspond with men. Misable to use the same language." sionaries will gladly supply names for correspond. ence and a pastor can select two or three persons fitted for this work.
Every book in the New Testament was written by a missionary. The New Testament epistles were addressed to missionary churches. The Book of Revelation was a message to seven missionary churches in Asia. A map of the first century Christian world is a tracing of the missionary journeys of the Apostles. Of the twelve Apostles chosen by Jesus all except one became missionaries. The one who did not become a missionary became a traitor. The Bible is a foreign missionary book. The true Christian Church is a missionary Church. Those who love Jesus Christ and who long for the coming of His Kingdom have, even in times of depression, the missionary spirit.
[332 ]
Christ Has Brought to China*
11 By DR. T. Z. KOO, PciiKng, China III>- Dr. Koo has been for several years identified with the Christian Student MO'/Je- ment, not only in China, but throughout the world. He is widely known for his lucid and penetrating Christian thinking, whether ,before the League of Nations or in the conferences of groups of students both in the East and in the West.
I WOULD like to give some account of the con- is to take your time and learn how to live rightly tribution that the Christian religion has with your fellowmen. If you do that, you have brought into Chinese life, as seen through the done your duty. In another part of his book, he eyes of a Chinese Christian. I suppose, especially says something like this: Yes; these gods are as you attend missionary conferences here and there; honor them, but keep away from them.
there, you have been told of the excellent work Teachings like this have left an indelible effect that the Christian religion upon the development of has done in China through Chinese culture throughout its colleges. You have also What Christ means, or may these twenty or more cenheard of the good work done turies since his time. In through the mission hos- mean, to the Chinese is best il- other words, the effect was pitals, through the churches, lustrated by this story of what gradually to cause the quest He means to one Chinese-Dr. of the Chinese people for and through the other Chris- T. Z. Koo. Here is a man, edu- tian benevolent institutions. cated in Chinese history and God gradually to taper off, I am not going to repeat the ethics and in Christian philos- until, when we come to the good things that the Chris- ophy and science, who has been present time, we find it tian religion has already widely used not only as a mis- rather difficult to find the brought to China through sionary to his own people but words in our language to dethose agencies. It is rather as an emissary to the League of scribe the attributes of God. my wish to share with you Nations and to other races. He some of my own more per- has recently been touring the In other words, our culsonal readings of the mean- United States as a Christian ture has developed, not on missionary to American college the plane of life of man with ing of the Christian religion students. He is a co,nvincing God, but on the plane of life and its contribution to Chi- eV'idence of the value of Chris- of man with man. That is nese life. tian missions. Dr. Koo has been why people say Chinese cul- The first great contribu- invited to return to America ture is humanistic in its tion of the Christian religion this autumn to conduct a series main trends. to my country will be appre- of United Missionary Meetings. The trouble with that ciated, if I give you a little plane of life is that when touch of the background of you make a people live on our culture for many hundreds of years. Chinese their own level as man to man, you have taken culture you have heard described as being pre- away the power ever to rise above that level.
dominantly humanistic. Now, what do people You have condemlled the people gradually to lose mean by culture being humanistic? Very briefly vision in life, to lose the creative capacity in life.
put, if you go back to the books of Confucious and It may take centuries to find it out; but any peo- to the teachings of his particular school of ple who leave God out of their life will find it out thought, you come across something like this: Confucius did not deny that, in this universe, there is sooner or later. spirit or God, as we would say. But he did say that such a spirit is so far away from us, why It is into such a situation that you bring God waste time speculating about the nature of the in Christ; and, as the knowledge bursts over some spirit? You will never know very much about of us for the first time, we realize that God is not him. Therefore, the more reasonable thing to do distant but can come so close to us in Christ that we can say, with some of the prophets of old, that we can walk and talk with Him. We have a God hu*ndFrreodmth thanenBivibelresaSryoooieftythRe eBcoibrdle. SPocairettyofwoarnk aidndrCehsisnaa.t the one WI·th whose SpI'rI't our spI'rI't can come I'nto fellow- [333 ]
ship and communion. God who was distant has cerned. In that life you still have the rules and come near; God, whom we were told was un- regulations; but there also has come into that knowable, has become known to us in Christ. And life a personal influence. The rules and regula- when you call people, who have swung to the tions of the school are dry bones; they have no humanistic trend, to come into contact with the transforming power in the life of that boy; but living Spirit of the Lord of the universe, then you the influence of that great personality on the staff have given something back to that people that is of the school, once it touches that boy's life, un- bound to revolutionize life in that part of the consciously begins to work changes.
world. What Christianity has brought to China in the That is the first great contribution that Chris- person and Spirit of Christ we can think of as the tian missionaries and other agencies have brought personal influence in the life of that boy. We still into life in China. must know our rules and regulations as far as Chinese Life and Ethics ethics are concerned; although I have been a Christian many years, yet the whole background The second great contribution I would like to of ethics still is there. But, on top of that, I am mention is that Chinese life is one that is lived on not now merely adhering to a code; I have sur- a very high ethical plane. We have been taught rendered to a Personality. I have given myself to live rightly, man with man, and because we are not only to something that is dead, but to some taught to live rightly our culture has not pro- One who is living today.
duced much that could be described as theology, The third point I want to mention, is the fact that is, the science of God. But our culture has that, in the social background of China, for inproduced some very fine things in the way of stance, we as individuals receive very little considethics; and, I think, the Chinese people as a whole eration in the old social system, because we are owe to this fact its continuity. Our people have mere units of a family clan, sometimes composed lived through many invasions; we have weathered of many, many people. Our interests as individmany political storms; we have maintained our uals are not important. We must all serve the integrity as a living people down to the present interests of the clan. That is why sometimes you day. Why? Not because we had armies; not hear people say that life is cheap in the East. because we had great power in absorbing other Not that we think lightly of taking life. Killing people; but because essentially the whole back- a man is repugnant to us; life is not cheap in that ground of Chinese life is based on ethical concep- sense; but it is cheap in the sense that your intions. dividuallife counts for very little, except as a part But, unfortunately, living by ethical codes, high of a larger clan. In that kind of atmosphere we as it is, has its penalty also. It is a life that can grow up, and we do not have a very high, exalted get very, very dry. When you live merely by the idea of our own worth and value as individuals.
ethical code, you either become cynical or you be- That is a little of the background. Now think come a hypocrite. That is what happened to the of the Christian message coming into that back- Pharisees. They tried to live by rules and regu- ground. You begin to see another great contrilations, and you know how Christ described them. bution, because here comes Christ to give us the People whose life is pitched on that plane alone wonderful news we describe as the Glad Tidings. sooner or later find themselves in that condition. When Christianity comes into this picture of In what way is it glad tidings to us? He comes ethical rules and regulations, something new and tells us how we, insignificant cogs in this comes in. family system in China, are also the children of God-precious in the sight of God, our Father.
Perhaps, the easiest way to show the contrast God,-our Father? We,-precious in his sight?
is to give a little illustration. Our Eastern minds What an idea! What tidings! Indeed, when we prefer to think concretely, in pictures rather than realize the full significance of this "Good News,"
in abstract words. You can think of a little boy something comes into our life which has almost going to school. When that boy enters school, he an explosive force.
has to know the rules and regulations of the You have heard people criticize the mission- school, so that he can p¥'s through without in- aries; especiaily some of your business men say fringing on too many of them. Suppose, while that the missionaries you send out to my country he was learning these rules and regulations, at the are at the bottom of all the revolutions and trou- same time this schoolboy comes unconsciously un- bles of China. They mean, of course, that as an der the personal influence of one of the great unfavorable criticism, to discredit missions. I masters on the staff of that school. He is still the wonder if they realize that there is valuable truth same boy; it is the same school; but it is no in what they say. When you bring to China this longer the same life, so far as that boy is con- message of Christ as our Elder Brother standing
WHAT CHRIST HAS BROUGHT TO CHINA
before God, and tell us that we are as precious to North China last year. There is the enemy, right God as Christ is precious to Him, you have im- at my doors. The call of the nation is, "Kill them, planted in the heart of some of us a new sense of hate them, because they are your enemies." The dignity as individuals, and a fresh longing to do call of Christ is: "Love your enemy." There is something with ourselves. That is what I meant nothing theoretical about that situation. The when I said that it puts something into our life enemy is right at my doors to be loved and here is that has explosive force. It is not mere accident, the Master's command, "Love your enemy." How that so many new currents of life in the far East are you going to bring the two together? today can be traced directly to men and women who have come to know Christ; men and women That is just what Christianity bids us do, to whose idea of their own manhood has received a rise from this plane of mere justice, and move a fresh vision of its possibilities as we see it in step ahead and deal with each other also in love. Christ Himself. Tremendous are the implications of that for us in our life today. The Ohallenge of Ohrist Now, the glory of the Bible to me is that it con- My last point, when I think of the contributions tains the record of a life which has enabled me to of the Christian Church, is the fact that, in the see these things. I know that people hold many Christian religion seen from the Chinese angle, theories about the Bible, its origin, its inspiration, you see a distinct challenge and call to rise from verbal and otherwise. But all these questions pale our present plane of life to a higher plane of life. into significance when one realizes the preeminent What do I mean by that? Again let me give you wonder that here in the Bible is recorded the revein a word or two a little of our social background, lation of God Himself. A Biblical scholar is interwhich will explain the point I have in mind. ested as to how this record has come about, and rightly so. But to the man struggling with life, When you think of life in my country at the the fact that the record is there is enough. If present time, how is it expressed? Take the so- you go through our Chinese literature for the last cial and ethical systems of China. What is the two thousand years you will find in it here and prevailing tone of the ethical life in China today? there intimations of God, vague descriptions of One sentence uttered by Confucius many, many God, yearnings after God. We can almost paryears ago expresses it very well; and that sen- allel some of our literature with the Old Testatence is translated thus: "Return with justice ment literature included in the Bible, until the those who hate you." In other words, meet your time of Christ. We have nothing to parallel the enemy, or deal with your enemy, justly. Other- Gospels. In the Bible we have a revelation of wise, how are you going to deal with friends? It God Himself, and because the Bible is the record is a perfectly logical, reasonable attitude of mind, of that revelation of God in Christ it can never and you will see in it the old order described by be replaced by any other book. Jesus-"an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." Meet your enemy with justice. So today, wherever I go, I always have two very intimate companions with me. One is a little In that background again Christ comes with a pocket Testament, so worn now that it is falling message,-"If you love only those who love you, to pieces. While I do not know very much about what, after all, is that?" You must do more; you the world-wide work of Bible distribution, but as should love your enemY,-even your enemy! It to the value of the Bible to myself, I can speak isn't enough that we meet an enemy with justice, from personal knowledge. we must meet our enemy with love. What does that mean? Meet our enemy with love. Do you I hope you have caught something of the ensee what I mean when I say that, if we face these thralling attraction which Christ and God in Him things honestly and squarely, we feel in our heart have for some of us who see Him for the first that we are being pulled and pulled and pulled to time. In Christ, we see a bit of the glory of God rise from the mere plane of "an eye for an eye, a Himself which we find only vaguely intimated in tooth for a tooth," from the mere idea of dealing our own literature. In that sense the words of justly with each other, to the plane of dealing also Christ, "I come not to destroy but to fulfill," are lovingly with each other, even our enemies? What so true of what is happening in China. He has a tremendous implication there is in that chal- not destroyed any of the real values that we have lenge I have had reason to know these past known in the past, but He has lifted them up, months. I live in the City of Peiping, which was sanctified them, and made them mean more to us the objective of the Japanese armies invading than before we knew Him.
DAILY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL GROUP IN
Here is a significant venture in home missionary work. The intermingling of fifty different denominations, and twenty-five different nationalities, and aU degrees of social status, have done much to bring about a better feeling and spirit of friendship. In this group which includes three colors, and many nationalities, far-reaching consequences in the promotion of world friendship, religious tolerance, and sympathetic understanding is taking place.-HoMER H. ELLIOTT, Whittier, Cali!.
Twenty,Five Nationalities Enrolled By the REV. HOMER H. ELLIOTT, Whittier, California A SIGNIFICANT home missionary venture month. The curriculum puts special emphasis on in world friendship on the Pacific Coast is Bible study and missionary and evangelistic edu- the system of Daily Vacation Church cation. Other subjects include world friendship, Schools at Pasadena, California. Thirty-five de- music, dramatics, civic, and home education, and nominations are spon~oring a city-wide system of Christian patriotism.
schools ministering to over 2,400 pupils of twenty- The inter-racial and inter-social playtimes and five different nationalities and races. The twenty- fellowship activities are features of the work.
five or more schools are held in churches chosen As white, black, yellow and brown children from so as to contact as many different denominations many countries, rich and poor, strong and weak, and nationalities as possible. During the past mingle together, the seeds of world friendship and thirteen years 24,728 pupils have been enrolled peace, social and industrial democracy, for which with an average of twenty-five nationalities in at- the Christ stands, are sown in a remarkable way.
tendance. Special missionary schools have also This inter-mingling of many denominations and been set up for particular racial and institutional nationalities including all degrees of social status, groups of under-privileged children. produces many results in wholesome and more This enterprise, especially unique because of its sympathetic relationships. It will have far- missionary aspect, is under the Council of Reli- reaching consequences in the promotion of toler- gious Education, a city-wide enterprise sponsored ance, world friendship, peace, and interracial un- by many denominations. This Council conducts derstanding. Through it all Jesus of Nazareth, a cooperative all-year program, including Leader- the living Christ, who loves children, and invites ship Training, Elementary Division Council, Par- them to come to Him, is recognized as the Head ent Education, World Friendship Schools, a of every school, and in these schools many have Workers' Library, and the Vacation Church learned to love and follow Him.
Schools. Mrs. H. O. Clarke is the Executive Sec- Hundreds of homes have also been evangelized retary, and the teachers are all paid; having been through these contacts. Many children with no especially trained in a spring institute. church affiliation have made their first Christian These schools are graded to meet the needs of contact through the Vacation School and have the pupils from the kindergarten through the jun- later joined a Sunday school or church. In the ior high school. They open immediately after last eight years 1,254 such children are known to the close of public schools and continue for one have become affiliated with Pasadena churches.
[336 ]
A Challenge from the Near East*
By W. HAROLD STORM, M.D., Muscat, Arabia Missionary of the Reformed Church in America W E ALL love adventure. The thrill of ad- where they would come together because long be- venture fills us with enthusiasm. With- fore that they would engage in a battle royal. out this we are apt to grow unconcerned There are many adventures on the lonely and indifferent. stretches of desert hitherto unexplored-scarcity Over the radio recently I heard the siren from of water, sand storms, lost paths and revolts Admiral Byrd's ship far down in the Antarctic. among camelmen. Even Bedouin food involves There was an exchange of programs between the adventures for one never is, quite sure just what men on board the ship and the studio in New the next mouthful may contain.
York. Since I have often been in isolated places All cannot go to Arabia and all cannot be desert on the Arabian Desert I could understand the doctors but there comes to each of us the task thrill that must have come to those men isolated of living adventurous lives right where we are.
amidst the ice floes of the Antarctic as they once That depends much on how we respond to the again came into touch with home. challenges that face us. We cannot avoid these The life of a desert missionary doctor is full challenges nor would we want to escape them.
of adventure. Exploring new places, visiting Let us face them honestly and courageously.
Bedouin encampments for the first time, living In the Near East, in Turkey, Egypt and Persia, with the desert Arabs, these experiences leave no we are witnessing phenomenal changes. These dull moments. There is the thrill of meeting a countries are rife with nationalism. The wheels caravan in the southeastern desert of Arabia, of progress are grinding on and youth is at the where the law is that every man is your enemy helm. Nationalism demands our sympathy and until proven otherwise. No two caravans will respect, but if unbridled it involves much danger.
pass until they have become assured that they One can hardly keep pace with young Turkey as are friends. she moves forward under her spirited leader, A camel boy will run up beside my camel and Mustafa Kemal Pasha. From a defeated and say that he has seen someone approaching. I look, crushed people she has risen in a short space of but a quarter of an hour passes before I can see time to command the respect of the whole world.
anything and then it is only a speck on the hori- Practically the same can be said for Persia and zon. Later this speck turns out to be a lone camel- Egypt. Syria and Iraq are also finding and ex- rider. We make for one side of a sand dune on pressing themselves in many ways as their youth our right as he makes for the opposite side. We awakens to new hopes and aspirations.
find him kneeling down by his camel pointing In Arabia we find quite a different situation.
his gun towards us. My guide rushes out waving Here nationalism is not rife. Conditions are more his long sleeved gown in the air as a signal for fixed and primitive. In spite of this the youth are the other man to advance. He rises and leads his speaking and reaching out to find expression for camel forward a few paces, halts and shouts in their feelings. Many are out of sympathy with clear Arabic: "May I advance in your faces?" the old and are seeking something new. Not a This is the Arabic way of asking if it is safe few of the young men are giving up the binding for him to approach. If the guide answers in the religious customs of their elders, such as rigid affirmative, the stranger asks, "May my camel ad- fasting during Ramadan. They are awakening, vance in your faces?" If a second time the guide but the question now is: Whither bound? Some assures him that it is safe, then the man ad- cling to the old customs and remain under the old vances with his camel and our guide goes out to cloak; others keep to the old but try to change meet him. When they are assured that they are the cloak; a few throw off the old entirely and friends the two caravans come together. they know not where to go. It is the challenge of What would happen if they are not friends? this last group which is so important. Since they In that case they would never reach the point have given up the old beliefs they are in more or less of a receptive mood. Much hinges on what 19;1n address given at the Florida Chain of Missionary Assemblies, they learn and accept in the near future.
[337 ]
This change of attitude on the part of the youth convert in the whole province of Oman. I rushed is calling forth outspoken opposition on the part over to the men's hut and found it empty. During of their elders-a fact that makes it much harder the night a fanatical Mohammedan brother had for them to find adequate satisfaction in their come and stolen the body, carrying it to his own attempt at self-expression. In Muscat I was in- hut with the idea that if Mirash died in his house, vited to sponsor the first athletic club in that city. he could tell to the city that Mirash had died a The young men were delighted that some one Mohammedan. He could then claim the widow, would take an interest in them and help them. A would be in a position to dictate as to her future letter shows in what position they found them- and would gain money from her remarriage. selves because of the attitude of their elders. We went to the brother's house and found the This letter reads in part: door barred. Finally, through a friend we were admitted and spent the last few hours with Mirash It is with great regret to say that the club is looked before he was called home. The brother refused upon, unfortunately, by many respected fathers if not all, to allow him to have a Christian burial and tried with contempt and is regarded as a resort of idle talk and to get friends to help him bury Mirash. They all joke; hence it remains stagnant, being deprived of their refused, saying that since Mirash was a Christian stirring support. Many of these good elders, if not all, during life they would have nothing to do with consider and express that sports are under no circum- him now. The brother was about to tell us to stances becoming the dignity of anyone. They are, bury Mirash when the mother stepped to the doornamely the sports, in th.eir opinion but childish diversions way and with a face like stone and, pointing to the which any promising youth should eschew. We are, there- rocks back of Muscat, said, "I would rather have for,e, trying our best to extricate this thought and manifest my boy carried to those rocks and the birds eat to these good elders the noble effects the sports are pro- his body than to have the Christians bury him." ducing on us. The brother became more fanatical and finally got help to give Mirash a Moslem burial. The youth of America are living in momentous times. Weare face to face with living issues. All As my colleague and I came back from the is not as it ought to be within our churches, and cemetery we noticed a great commotion about the in many of them the missionary enthusiasm is courtyard. They were forcing the young widow waning. Some believe that the chief cause is through the Mohammedan ceremony of widowthe economic situation, but the great reason is hood. In our section of Arabia, as the men come a general spiritual apathy. Thus we are handed back from the cemetery they bring the widow out the task of entering the game when, in many to the threshold of the door and throwing over quarters, no gain is being made or ground is her a black cloth they ask her to repeat the first actually being lost. Great hope is expressed in chapter of the Koran, thus declaring her intention the youth and much is expected from them, as to follow the religion of her husband. Then she is evidenced by the increased emphasis on young is ushered back into a dark room where for four people's work. months and ten days she remains in utter seclu- sion. She sees no one and food is handed through The youth of the Near East are awakening the door. After that she is brought out and the and are challenging us to awaken and shoulder oldest male relative has the right to arrange a our responsibilities. We, who know Christ and wedding. have had the advantages of Christian homes, schools and friends, must hear the Macedonian We found the relatives forcing the young widow call of our fellows of the Near East. They are through this ceremony. In front of her were a building for tomorrow; quickly before the build- fanatical group of men and behind her an equally ing is completed they must learn that, "Other fanatical group of women. A religious judge was foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which trying to force her to repeat the required words. is Jesus Christ." My colleague stepped up to the old man and said in Arabic, "There is no compulsion in religion." We must also shoulder the more difficult task The judge looked around and said, "You are right, of helping to re-awaken a sleeping church in we will let her speak for herself." America. At these words Miriam stood up and faced the Into whichever field we enter there will be a crowd of men .who had been jeering at her and price to pay. Anything of value requires a price. said, "I am a Christian and am going to be a The extent to which we are willing to pay depends Christian." on the value we place upon it. The greater the value, the greater the price. That was over three years ago. I remained on in Muscat for two years and saw Miriam nearly An Arab Woman every day. She was ostracized by all her friends and relatives. Poisoned food was sent to her. A Let a young Arab woman speak. I had only fanatical brother threatened her life if he should been in Muscat a few days when a messenger came running over to the hospital saying that Mirash was dying. He was our only Christian
A CHALLENGE FROM THE NEAR EAST
ever see her on the street. But under conditions ingly impossible. Then we realize, as we go along, like these she remained true, never once denying that with God nothing is impossible. her Master. She willingly went through all this because Christ meant so much to her. She was As we accept the challenge and take our places willing to pay the price even if it should mean let us remember the words of our Captain. death. Today out there in Muscat she is the only baptized Christian in the whole province of Oman. "He that loveth father or mother more than me She sends a challenge to us. is not worthy of me."
Are we willing to pay such a price? If we are, "There is no man that hath left house, or brethit will mean changes for some of us. We will be ren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or asked to give up some things that we have long children, or lands, for my sake and the gospel's, cherished. It may mean doing some things of but shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, which our parents and friendS' will not approve. houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, We all seek adventure. Life itself is adventurous. and children. and lands, with persecutions; and The Christian life is one full of adventure. There in the world to come eternal life." is adventure in faith and in tackling the seem- "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
. Religion and Young People Today Youth has ceased to live the sheltered existence of former generations and is today exposed to the great currents of social and political life.
The main reason for the participation in politics on the part of youth is that its own future is threatened.
Youth passes and rejects the established (dis-) order. It believes in some sort of revolutionary change in the present structure of society.
Youth seeks a new sense of security and of self-confidence by entering into the modern mass-movements.
Youth has little use for "civilization," or ideals, and returns to more "primitive" realities.
The new primitiveness of youth implies that it is less inclined to reject religion in the name of "Progress" or "Philosophy" or "Science" and more inclined to judge it on its own merits.
The most formidable barrier between religion and youth has been the wide-spread notion that modern science and modern philosophies of life had knocked the bottom out of positive faith. Mystery seemed to belong increasingly to the past. But as the facts of life rather than the theories about life claim attention again, this superficial view breaks down and the forces over which man has no control are again recognized as dominant realities.
If youth seeks anything in Christianity, it seeks in it a message of authority and power. Christianity begins to be taken on its own merits again. The outstanding one is that it proclaims a God Who is the measure of all things, by Whom all things are measured and Who is Himself measured by none …… Youth asks rightly that the claim of truth shall be proved in life as well as in speech.
Youth seeks in Christianity power to give them victory over the experience of impotence, of fear and nothingness, which comes so naturally to them in their present perilous condition.
A Christianity which reduces itself to a way of life or to a "philosophy of life" is too pale, too spineless, to answer such searching questions. But the message of Jesus Christ, with its uncompromising demands and its offer of total renewal of life gives the answer which can meet their deep need.-Dr. Visser 't Hooft, in the C. S. S. Review.
Response of
I _•..g{ By EZRA P. YOUNG, St. Petersburg, Florida I}3t-.- ~==========================~ .nA..FTER hearing a youthful missionary talk engagements with which, to use her own words, recently a sub-deb tripped up to the speaker "I was fed up." and said, after the manner of seventeen: When some of the missionary speakers went to "That was a swell speech. Did you see our a reputedly sophisticated university recently for gang on the back seat? Well, we came prepared a two-day program for Christ there was some to be bored and ready to walk out in time for a doubt as to their being able to interest the stu- dance, but when you started telling stories we dents.
decided to move up front and hear you out. We "You cannot say anything that will thrill these didn't know a missionary talk youngsters. They simply will could be so interesting." not respond to your message,"
This took place at a young Are the young people of was the warning note sounded.
people's mass meeting, part of today susceptible to the mis- A young doctor, just re- this year's Florida Chain of sionary appeal? Read what turned from six years of serv- Missionary Assemblies pro- Mr. Young says and you will ice in Arabia where he was the gram. The speaker had carried have the answer. They are first American doctor to pene- his audience with him through eager for some worthy chal- trate into· Bedouin camps in the vivid missionary experi- lenge. Is not the reason why the remote parts of that counences of several years in a cthaeuyse hCavherisntotanredspHoinsdehderboeic- try, related his simple but fas- needy foreign field. and worthwhile appeal have cinating story of long caravan Two days later an attractive not been presented to them treks, camel trail clinics and girl appeared in the study of with sufficient sincerity and oasis operations performed on the pastor of the church and clearness? This is a challeng- the running board of his car.
said: "We have been thrilled ing and cheering report. A Filipino girl told what by these missionary speakers, Christ had meant to youth in and we want to do something the Philippines and of the hard- ourselves. But if we cannot go to the mission ships they were willing to undergo to be true to field, how can we serve?" their new and living faith.
The minister met the challenge of youth. A young man, who had spent three years as a "Right here in our own state," he said, "are leader of boys in Turkey, witnessed to the likable- men and women who know almost as little about ness of a much misunderstood people and told of Christ as the people in inner Africa and far-off their great desirefor enlightenmentand fellowship.
China. There are Negroes exploited and discrim- These stories were all vivid and concrete, and inated against; there are children in the interior when the speakers had finished they were sur- without benefit of education and recreation, for rounded by students-supposed not to be inter- whom the Government is trying to provide satis- ested in missions-who put intelligent questions factory leaders; in the swamps of Florida not far to them for a full hour before they let them go!
south of here are the Seminole Indians, living on Not satisfied with this, the speakers were invited the edge of civilization in a state almost as prim- to visit their fraternities for informal discussion, itive as the tribes of Mongolia. Right here at our in one of which the president of the house sug- back door are people who need strong and coura- gested that they would like to do something con- geous young hearts to help them !" crete to show their interest in the youth across The result of that conference between youth the sea. "Missions," he said,. "have always been and the clergy was a dedication of a good share to our minds something vague and far-away, to of that young woman's time and energy to volun- be carried on by a lot of dear old ladies who feel teer leadership in recreation and handwork among sorry for the 'heathen.' But now we realize that the poor children of a part of Florida seldom seen across the sea are people who need our help. We by the average tourist-the great interior country have caught a world vision these two days, and of flatwoods and turpentine camps. Life has now we want to do something about it."
taken on new meaning for that society girl whose In one city in the south a young woman wrote calendar had been filled with a mad whirl of social to a friend, who was a member of the visiting [340 J missionary team, and said: "Five of the girls in they are indifferent to the Church's world proour set have gotten together and decided to take gram. In a city of the south five hundred young a stand against drinking and smoking. The situa- people listened attentively to a symposium of tion is terrible here; it is getting so that girls home and foreign missions. Such an impression who do not do these things are simply not invited was made that there was a carry-over the next to parties, and some feel that unless they have day into the local high school where the teachers some sort of engagement every evening they are were requested by the students themselves to give in danger of being social failures. The coming the periods over to a discussion of what had been of these missionaries-many of them young them- said the day before. It was reported that no selves-and the things they stand for, have en- previous topic had created such a contagious and couraged us to champion these principles. We sustained enthusiasm. are praying that your messages may reach the hearts of our friends !" A young woman, who has been a teacher and a friend of youth in a Chinese University, speaking In Jacksonville, at a mass meeting of young in a wealthy community, told how she had eaten people, a high school boy bent forward eagerly to Chinese food in order to save enough money to catch every word of the address given by a cow- help provide a poor Chinese lad with an education. boy missionary from New Mexico. In imagina- The story was related with not the slightest trace tion he traveled with this new hero along dim of self-pity-it was all part of a radiant experitrails into mountain fastnesses where men waited ence-and it reached the heart of at least one girl in lonely cabins for the message of Christ. He who had been pampered and spoiled through every saw the missionary rope a steer and ride a buck- one of her seventeen years. The idea of giving up ing broncho, in order to melt the heart of a fast- something for somebody else had apparently never riding, hard-boiled son of the plains. Here was entered her little head. Here she saw, for the first a new thrill, and the boy decided to ask this man time, self-sacrifice presented as a glorious and whether he, too, could serve as a Christian leader rewarding adventure; it was a new kind of reliamong the cowboys. That same day a boy of gion to her and surprisingly attractive. She eighteen living in Jacksonville, leaped from a sought an interview with the missionary and later bridge to his death in the St. Johns River. His thought seriously whether there was something horrified companions, who stood helplessly by at she dearly loved that she might give up for this the time of the tragedy, explained that "Bill was great cause. She decided on her motor car-a crazed with drink; he had tried every thrill, and bright red roadster, fast as the wind, and she he was bored with life." Bored with life at eight- loved the thrill of power it gave her to sit behind een because he hadn't found any cause bigger than the wheel! The girl in her was wistful as she himself and his own pleasure! took her farewell ride in the big red car. Her friends were inclined to laugh at this dramatic A Japanese Christian young woman won the renunciation, but they changed their attitude heart of an American girl with her singing and when they realized that she was dead in earnest a beautiful friendship was begun, which opened and that she too had forsaken some of her old up a whole new world of interest and possibility gods. Her heart was deeply stirred and something for service to the American girl. A bundle of beautiful had come into her life. provincial prejudice against Orientals was thrown into the discard. This small Japanese young We make a grave mistake when we present woman, who had to stand on a chair to be seen by Christianity to youth as an easy-going religion. her audience, did more for Japanese-American We cannot blame the indifference of youth when friendship in a month's tour of Florida than the we fail to captivate them. How often do they average diplomat could do in a year. Her singing come to the church hungry for the Gospel and we of "Saviour Like a Shepherd Lead Us" at young give them current events? They are eager for a people's mass meetings not only convinced youth great cause to champion with all the eagerness of of the worthwhileness of an enterprise which their youthful vigor and we urge them to sell could nurture such a beautiful life, but it also tickets for church suppers! They come seeking won young people for Christ. answers to the frank and penetrating questions and we hide behind an ecclesiastical vocabulary, If the next Peace Conference could be delegated for many of us have never faced life courageously from among the intelligent youth of the world, ourselves. They come longing for Christian felwho still think in terms of the sacredness of per- lowship and we turn the church into a glorified sonality, we could all be beating our swords into amusement center and deceive ourselves into beplowshares. Talk with youth in any nation in the lieving that we are giving them the "abundant world today (including those dominated by dic- life." They long for a test of their courage that tators), and you will be impressed with one thing would make Christian discipleship difficult of -their passion for peace. attainment and we soft-pedal principles and go One of the criticisms of today's youth is that
around whispering about sin as if it were a word carefully by youth at the impressionable age gone out of style. We aim too low in our appeal might very easily change the whole character and to youth and they sense it. They dislike our moral aim of their lives. Some of the older missionary and spiritual timidity. books are especially thrilling because of their stories of heroism. The reason why the missionary program interests youth is because it involves risk and new There was a striking title in a recent religious experiences. Youthful hearts have a magnificent magazine: "Wanted-Courage to Grasp Thorns." latent courage that thrills to dangerous but worth- In America life, even in the church, is too easy while enterprise. Every library for growing boys for most of us. What we need once more is an and girls should contain such inspiring missionary inrush into Christian hearts of the "courage to biographies as "The Life of John G. Paton," "The grasp thorns." Youthful hearts have that cour- Splendor of God," "Shepherd of Aintab," "Life of age; they need only the magic of fearless and Livingstone," "Mary Slessor of Calibar," "The unselfish leadership to set that courage aflame. Moffats," Janet Miller's "Jungles Preferred," Al- But so long as the church makes the error of trybert Schweitzer's "Hospital at Lamberene," Stan- ing to remove the thorns it will not inspire the ley Jones' "Christ of the Indian Road," and other courageous way of life-the thorn and Cross way recognized works. They are not only thrilling but of life-which, when presented vividly, comes as they are also informing; and such a series read a vital and compelling challenge to youth.
CHRISTIAN STRATEGY IN A CHANGING WORLD By PROFESSOR BASIL MATHEWS, Boston Mass.
The Christian's duty in respect of nationalism is to transcend it; not ….. from out- side, but from within. Our task is to re-create our nation as it is into the nation that God wills it to be, so that it can offer its own special gift to the world of nations. This is the true foundation of internationalism, …..far greater than any supercilious cosmopolitanism that has no loyalty to mankind as a whole because it has none to home and nation. Our ultimate loyalty is a spiritual one, to the Kingdom of God; but that loyalty must begin to be incarnate and concrete and passionate in the home and the nation before it can be real in relation to mankind.
If the values that we see in Christ govern the use and the invention of the tools that science is ready to put into our hands, we shall not be making poison gas, tanks, bombing airplanes, submarines and machine guns. We shall concentrate on the perfection of medicine and surgery and their spread throughout the world; on the irrigation of deserts to grow crops for the famine-stricken in India and China; on the engineering of roads and bridges over which foods and medicines will be carried to multitudes dying of drought and disease; and on the control of rivers such as those that today sweep uncounted thousands of our Chinese fellowmen to death. We shall so mobilize the forces of goodwill and so relate the men of spiritual vision and of political and economic capacity to the affairs of mankind that the elementary material needs of all men will be met by a sharing of the gifts of God among all classes and nations in an interdependent world….. We shall enter on a new discovery of beauty, and make the loveliness of God's world in nature and in all the arts available to delight the soul of all peoples. We shall, above all, …. give our lives and use all the tools that are to our hand for spreading among all men the truth of this good news of the Kingdom of God……
Those tools of science lie ready to our hands. Just as the Roman roads, and that gift of the Pax Romana, the free passage of ships over the Mediterranean Sea, served Christ through Paul, so the ocean liner and the automobile, the new air routes across Africa and Asia, the cable and wireless, the printing press and the technique of medicine and surgery, can be made by us to serve Christ in the spread of His good news and in the practice of His spirit everywhere….. .
Communism challenges our accepted social and industrial traditions. So do trenchant, persuasive prophets of skepticism like Bertrand Russell. They declare for what they hold to be a higher social good, and are ready with a concrete program. The standards of Christ really challenge those traditions even more drastically, but the Christian community on the whole fails to give a strong fresh lead. As Nicholas Berdyaev says: "The only thing to pit against integral communism, materialistic communism, is integral Christianity."-World Tides in the Far East.
A New Day in Giving*
-~~II=-=-=-=-B_Y=-R_O_BE_R_T=-E._S_P_E_ER_'_D_._D_.=-=-=-~~ W E ARE facing a very grave, transitional entire population should be made a state concern. situation in the matter of the support of What national resource is there that is compa- educational, philanthropic and missionary rable with the physical and moral health of the agencies which are dependent upon private gifts. nation? If it is a proper function of the state to It is interesting to observe the divergent atti- husband its resources of lumber and mineral it tudes and judgments of those responsible for the is asked, how much more its resources of men and administration of these agencies. Some think women? One may approve or disapprove of the that the golden age of private benevolences has extent to which the state is taking over social, passed. They point out that the supposition that educational and philanthropic activities, but the the noble tide of private philanthropy which we principle, whether for good or for evil, is going have known in America for fifty years was a to affect radically the continuance of many of the natural and permanent phenomenon is fallacious. agencies which have grown up in these fields.
So far from being a natural, human development, And even where the government does not actually it was distinctly a phenomenon of American and take over a particular form of activity, the gen- British life. Most of the countries of the world eral development affects the popular mind, and have known nothing comparable to it. There has will increase the difficulty of raising funds for been no such development of humane and mis- work akin to, but beyond the bounds of, the func- sionary undertakings maintained by private be- tions which the government is assuming.
nevolence in other lands. It was inevitable, some In the second place, the increased tax burdens believe, that this movement should ebb, and they are diminishing the ability to give of the very are reconciled to what they think to be a new and people who have been the main supporters of the more permanent condition. They think that their philanthropic and missionary agencies. The in- agencies have crossed the top of the hill and creased income tax rates will more than offset the henceforth must adjust themselves to a reduced benefit of the exemptions allowed on account of and still further declining basis of support. contributions, and the increasing inheritance This is true probably with regard to some of taxes are already beginning to affect, in the most the activities that we have known, but there are serious way, the flow of legacies which has been others of which I do not believe it is true. Their one of the notable features of private giving in work is obviously still undone, and there will be America. The great bulk of American giving is sincere men and women who will recognize the that of a small minority of the population, and duty of carrying it forward and seeing that the it is this minority which is feeling most the di- necessary tasks are adequately maintained until minished ability to give, due to increased taxation.
they are accomplished. At the same time we In the third place, both the increased costs and must clearly recognize the elements in the present the rise of the standard of living affect the ability situation which are of the gravest concern to all and the willingness of people to give. The margin agencies dependent upon private, benevolent sup- between income and what are regarded as neces- port. sary living expenditures is steadily reduced. It First, it is to be noted that the enlargement of has been from this margin in the main that pri- government functions is absorbing tasks formerly vate gifts have come. Furthermore, the whole dependent upon voluntary service. Old age pen- level of living has risen, and those things are sions, widows' pensions, unemployment relief and deemed necessary today which were regarded as insurance, the care of dependent and delinquent dispensable luxuries in the past, and it is this children, education itself are a few of the forms very type of expenditure which represents the of humane relief and service which governments heaviest costs. The increase in the price of sports are increasingly taking over. And there are now and pleasures has been far greater than the in- serious proposals that the care of the health of the crease in the cost of food and clothing.
In the fourth place, a new psychology is cer- tain to arise from the substitution of the ideal of * 1A9n'34a.ddre ss given at the Lawyers' Club, New York, Friday, A,pril 13, [343 ]
leisure for the ideal of work, and of the ideal of be a clear observance and tenacious grasp of self-indulgence for the ideal of self-sacrifice. It sound, fundamental principles. is well that we have escaped from the terrible pressure of the days when labor worked twelve It would seem that the day of the large gifts hours and six days for a dollar a day. But the may be over. If income and inheritance taxes idea of a three or four hour day and a five day absorb the wealth which has been available for week, which many are advocating, is the product philanthropic causes in the past, then the loss of a point of view and will be itself the cause of a must be made up by the larger number of small point of view which would be sterile as regards givers. The new attitudes of mind which are benevolence and sacrificial giving. ahead of us may be inhospitable to such a scheme, but it is the reasonable and necessary method. In the fifth place, there is undoubtedly a hardheadedness as to the survival of the unfit which The Fundamental Principles supplements the increasing soft-heartedness as to the undesirability of discipline and control. It As to fundamental principles I name only four. has taken a long time for the biological ideas to The first would be principles of work and thrift. seep into social thought, but they have gone very It is these principles that have made our country deep as W. G. Sumner hoped that they might. He and have made the world. It was not leisure and opposed all forms of legislation that protected or luxury and indolence that cut down the forests preserved inferiority. If a man did not have will and broke the soil and trod the thoroughfares enough to save himself from drunkenness and through the wilderness and laid the foundations wreckage, according to Sumner's view, the sooner on which the nation and its life are built. Leisure he was allowed to get himself out of the way the is not a sound ideal of human life unless men better. We have today to deal with an attitude know how to use it creatively in a way that makes which feels no vivid personal responsibility for it the equivalent of work, yielding an enlargeothers. And we have to deal with another atti- ment of the spiritual wealth of the nation in mind tude which feels so responsible for others that it and character. Only from ideals of work and wants them to be let absolutely alone. Both these thrift will the streams of large public and private attitudes are fatal to the ideas and ideals which charity flow forth. have provided the wealth of benevolence which has been the glory of the last fifty years. The second principle is that of trusteeship. It has been spoken of as stewardship, and that is the There is a sixth influence, about which some right idea, but that word as well as the word may disagree. We have lost a great deal in recent trusteeship has been worn dull. The idea, howyears by the promiscuousness and the generality ever, is the central idea of friendship, of service, of some of our giving programs. Composite funds of patriotism, of humanity. Fritz Kreisler is a in which the separate causes are merged so that fine illustration of it in the use of talent and time the donor gives to the fund instead of to a con- and money for the enrichment of human life. crete cause have their advantages. Some donors can best be enlisted in such giving; but there are In the third place, the true motives of life are disadvantages in the loss of personal motivation personal: Love, kindness, brotherliness, pity, and knowledge of concrete necessities and the good-will-these are the motives without which sense of individual responsibility. giving will be thin and poor.
One other element in our present situation is Lastly, we need to work with the conception of the question as to whether genuine religious faith solidarity. It has been a shame that we have has waned or whether, even if it has not-as I 'do surrendered it as far as we have to negative and not believe it has-it may not have suffered from destructive movements. Christianity began with failure to relate itself definitely and directly to it, with the noble conception, thousands of years expression in adequate and sustained benevolence. ahead of human thought, of humanity as an or- ganic body, rejoicing, suffering, ennobled, shamed No doubt there are many other aspects of our together, every member bound to each other mempresent situation which might be mentioned. No ber. This is the true ideal of a true nationalism. doubt also there is much to be said in qualifica- And it is the ideal which rejects all false nationaltion of these things, but it is enough for our pur- ism and racial and party division as against the pose to realize that there is a problem here of unity and the solidarity of mankind. vital concern to all. The problem which we are facing is not to be dealt with by any tricks, good If we are going to try to perpetuate the good of or bad, nor by any devices learned from advertis- this great era of giving which lies behind us, and ing or the psychology of salesmanship. What we if we are going on to a better day, it can only be need is first to see clearly that there may need to on sound and right principles. If we stand on be a shift of method, and second, that there must these, we need not be afraid of the result because their guarantee and their adequate fruitage is assured by God in whom they have their home.
Home Mission Income
The giftj; to the work of many home miSsion enterprises have decreased from thirty to fifty per cent in the past five years. This has been understandable but it has been little less than a tragedy to those related to the work. Salaries have been slashed below the point of decent and efficient living; work has been closed and workers recalled; help has been withheld from struggling churches; communities have been deprived of Sunday schools and other religiouS privileges. These are disappointing, if not discouraging, results of the economic crisis through which we have been passing. But there are also beneficial results that come from necessary economies. These are worth considering, not to make us satisfied with decreased giving but to teach us certain lessonS in stewardship and to encourage us in the conviction that God is standing by His servants and that in the work of Christ true spiritual results are not dependent on the amount of money expended. The following contributions throw much light on the subject.
Needed Changes in Technique cut down. Churches have been, and are being abandoned; others have been yoked, with result- By ERNEST M. HALLIDAY, D.D., New York City ant inadequate service to all; still others have been left without pastors for longer or shorter General Secretary of the Church Extension Boards of the periods, with chief dependence upon student sum- Congregational and Christian Churches mer service. Despite all economies we have not PERIODS of financial distress multiply the dif- escaped a deficit. It has been necessary therefore ficulties of home missionary work but they to draw heavily upon reserves which may serve to also emphasize the necessity of continuing it. cushion the fall for a brief period but will soon The heavy hand of depression, keeping agricul- be exhausted. Then but two possibilities present tural products down to very low levels, and fac- themselves: further decrease in expenditures and tories closed or on part-time schedules, causing a crippling of the work, or increase in income. wide-spread unemployment, has resulted in star- In some respects the falling off of income has tling decreases in pastoral support for many home not been an unmixed evil for it has resulted in missionaries who in normal times look to the fields administrative economies, closer scrutiny of ap- they serve for a large percentage of their salaries. propriations, elimination of certain doubtful fields Many of these representatives of the churches, and a new stimulus to cooperation, both within whose pay is inadequate in the best of times, have and outside the denomination. But while some been brought to such straits that it has been neces- limitation of diet may not be fatal and, may even sary for Home Mission Boards, by small emer- prove salutary, too great limitation results in gency grants, to relieve them of their most press- emaciation and ultimate starvation. As a matter ing necessities. of fact the lessons we are learning under pressure Donors as well as mission workers have felt the ought to contribute to efficiency.
depression severely so that the contributions of What are some of the foreseeable changes in churches and individuals have fallen off at the home missionary technique? First of all, we must very time when increase was most needed. Re- look more and more to interdenominational coop- turns from legacies have also been seriously de- eration for the achievement of our task. At pres- pleted by shrinkage in estates, and income from ent we are hampered by a meager program, investments have suffered to a considerable ex- spread over too wide an area. We should seek to tent. For the Church Extension Boards of the restrict the work more geographically and to Congregational and Christian Churches the total make it richer in its elaboration; it should be income, including repayment of building loans, more intensive, less extensive.' There is no longer was 23.3 per cent lower last year than the year any justifiable place for competition between before and fell 53.5 per cent below receipts of evangelical home missionary churches. There 1928.· must be more withdrawals from overlapping In this emergency the budget has been cut again fields and more reciprocal exchanges. If local and again. Administration and promotion appro- groups insist on having their own special organi- priations have been drastically reduced. Salaries zations, they must finance the work out of their of secretaries, superintendents, and other general own pockets. Release of funds accomplished in workers, office staff, and of missionaries receiving this way should be used for the intensifying of their entire support from the Extension Boards, work at other points where it is sorely needed. have been lowered from 10 to 19 per cent. Field The second point in our future program is the supervision has been curtailed and aid to pastors combining of forces to carry out certain united [345 ]
enterprises. This may be done in such a geo- sible by a development of the sharing spirit that graphical unit as Alaska, or in an ethnic unit as the Spanish-speaking work in the Southwest, or is characteristic of those to whom the Gospel of in a logical unit as in the case of specialized city and rural service, or in service units as in the Christ has become a reality. Their heritage, locase of ministry to farm and cannery migrants. Such fields are not so organically bound up with cality, environment and relationships enable them, denominational machinery as to make cooperation impracticable. directly or indirectly, to engage in various types . A third field of readjustment lies in the adaptation for effective appeal of the newest develop- of missionary service. . ments in visual and oral presentation, such as the moving picture, the phonograph and the radio. The scope and significance of this task ought to Similarly, the possibility of procuring "electrical transcriptions" which will run for fifteen min- be considered in any attempt to appraise the utes without change opens a fascinating field for the development of preaching services in places economy and efficiency of home missions. Chriswhich cannot afford a settled minister. The use of this method also promises stimulation of lay tian agencies seek to portray the attractiveness leadership in the parts of public services other than the sermon. The use of the radio is also a of Christian ideals of life; to reveal the ethical possibility, although at present the expense and other problems raise difficulties. implications, economic obligations, personal and Cooperation with leaders in governmental and ~ocial significance of applied Christianity; in philanthropic enterprises may also be increasingly developed. County agricultural agents, su- short, to illustrate the meaning of a functioning perintendents of schools, librarians, health authorities and others make splendid allies for the faith, vitalized by an experimental knowledge of church in home mission fields. With the return in the last few years of between one and two mil- realities in the spiritual realm. The composite lions of people to the soil, rural church work assumes new significance. In many rural commu- character of such service, as well as the relative nities developments may well be in the direction of the so-called "Larger Parish" where the min- value of factors that determine the status of inistry of the church will be over an entire area and will be carried on through the activities of several dividual and collective life, must be appreciated in religious work specialists. order to justify the validity of the missionary's America can still be saved from the destruction which has overtaken other civilizations in other claim to moral and material support. Throughout ages if only we Christians do not fail to do our part to promote the Kingdom of God throughout the vast areas embraced by Continental United the land. States and her distant dependencies, home mis- Economy with Efficiency sions maintain territorial contacts and foster ac- By the REV. EDWARD DELOR KOHLSTEDT, D.D. tivities that are characterized by both home and Executive Secretary of the Board of Home Missions and Church Extension, Methodist Episcopal Church foreign field environments, problems and oppor- 1"'. A MERICAN Boards of Home Missions are en- tunities. gaged in a task, altruistic in character and unattempted by other agencies, that ought Christianizing the United States is a perennial to challenge the utmost endeavors and resources of organized Christianity. This task includes the problem to the Church of Christ: changing conunselfish purpose to ensure to those living in underprivileged rural and urban communities, the ditions, migrating multitudes, pagan philosophies manifold ministries of the Christian Church. This contribution toward the enrichment of human- of life, and crime cultures of appalling propority's heart, home and community life is made pos- tions, test the material, mental and spiritual re- sources of American missionary agencies. Preva- lent economic problems, however distressing, are less disturbing than America's character crisis.
This is evidenced by unsavory revelations of our United States Senate committee hearings, in the field of finance; exploitation of the masses for selfish surpluses and the gratification of corporate greed; subtle trickeries of dress suit racketeers and the brazen effrontery of machine gun gang- sters; perversion of public office to propaganda methods that clash with the fundamentals of de- mocracy; unwarranted racial discriminations, economic and social injustice; and other trends that threaten the stability of our social structure.
It calls for arousement and action by America's Christian constituency.
The summons of an unfinished task cannot be ignored with impunity. Unmet rural and urban missionary needs must be Christianity's constant concern. Dr. John McDowell, recently Moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly, reminds us that there are 10,000 American rural commu- nities without a Christian church, 30,000 with no resident pastor, and 13,400,000 American chil- dren under twelve years of age, receiving no reli- gious, instruction of any sort. Hundreds of rural communities and polyglot city centers throughout
WHEN HOME MISSION INCOME DROPS
this fair land are devoid of positive religious ac- Impoverished treasuries, starvation salaries, the tivities. Dr. E. R. Fulkerson, a careful inter- scarcity of facilities and supplies, the discontinupreter of social trends, sounds this note of warn- ance of justifiable projects that were nearing the ing: stage of self-support, the desertion of effective missionaries who had dedicated their lives to self- The theory of democracy is beautiful, but two funda- less service in the name of Christ, constitute a mental facts must obtain if any democracy is to stand: decidedly adverse influence upon the general work first, a working majority of the voting units must be kept of the Christian Church. In view of the fact that intelligent; second, that same working majority must be benevolence and missionary agencies are always kept moral or democracy is doomed. The danger spot in the first to suffer and the last to recover from the the United States is the city problem. Growing cities are blight of economic crises, plus the further fact holding the balance of political power. There is a studied that so large a proportion of our missionary conpurpose on the part of corrupt politics to defeat construc- tributions are appropriated toward the maintetive legislation touching moral issues. If we fail to keep nance of workers, most of whom have very our communities up to par, the very life of the nation is meager if any other sources of support, the disthreatened. advantages to be reckoned with ought to be ap- parent even to casual contributors to missions. Epworth Community Church, located in the old- The heroism of many missionaries, under these est section of Denver, Colorado, is a convincing circumstances, is illustrated by the following comexhibit of the possibilities of constructive home munication from a home missionary superintendmissionary service. Once a congested urban area ent, in response to the announcement of another of broken homes and socially destructive saloons, inevitable mid-year cut in current maintenance so lawless that twenty-nine churches closed their appropriations: doors and moved to better parts of the city, an amazing transformation of community life and I don't envy you your task of using the knife. I supspirit has been wrought by a strong Christian so- pose some of these men can walk a little farther in their cial service program, fostered by the Methodist pastoral calling. I suppose old clothes will wear a little Episcopal Board of Home Missions and Church lon~er. I have been able to help some of them by gifts Extension. This institutional church was enabled of clothing I happened upon. They will continue to borto remain in and adapt its ministries to changing row, greedily, any books that come within their reach. I community needs so that, instead of the worst, as have scattered my own library pretty widely. I suppose might be expected, this section of the city now the boys and girls can wait a year or two longer for an boasts one of the best juvenile delinquency rec- opportunity to go to college. There are some compensaords in Denver. This missionary project also tions in living among these marvelous mountains, when commands the sympathy and support of the City there are no funds for vacations. There's just no use Community Chest. going on like this, but I cannot help translating into terms of human living just what these maintenance cuts Interdenominational achievements in the field of mean. I know that, whatever happens, these men will home missions are more numerous and effective keep on. They will ride the lonesome trails. They will than the claims of partially informed critics indi- climb over the mountains and find their way out to the cate. Board secretaries are constantly checking lonely ranches. They will keep on preaching. Necessity the possibilities of closer Christian cooperation. is upon them. They will stay by the field. They will The development of joint enterprises, as well as the share with their people and keep strong in other human practice of church comity, is a continuous process. hearts the spirit of courage and hope, even when their However, not only theoretical ideals but practical own hearts are heavy. I know you will do the best you problems that require the exercise of faith and can for them. God bless you. patience, must be reckoned with: the unalterable objective of an adequate religious ministry to un- Depression values to home missions must also derprivileged communities involves much more be acknowledged, if we are ready to appraise our than a numerical reduction of denominational present missionary situation from both the negestablishments; credal convictions, denomina- ative and positive viewpoints. Certain worthtional backgrounds and loyalties cannot be while advantages have accrued that we will do changed over night; an exchange of properties is well to ponder with reference to future adminmore easily accomplished than the transfer of istrative policies and procedures. Among them, folks from one denomination to another. Never- the following may be mentioned: theless, despite delicate and difficult factors that thrust themselves into the foreground of the pic- (1) There is a greater discrimination on the ture, church comity and interdenominational home part of missionary contributors. Since more limmissionary exhibits are multiplying with remark- ited resources involve greater sacrifices, contribuable rapidity. tors are naturally more concerned about the justi- fication of such investments, hence likely to de- Depleted resources for home missions, during mand dependable data relative to the projects the past five years, have registered results that they are asked to support. While official surveys must be appraised both negatively and positively. reveal the fact that church members are the most generous givers to general philanthropies as well
as to denominational causes, current conditions essary to curtail the existing work. In the Nemake the exercise of painstaking discrimination gro and Mountaineer missions we were able to imperative and increase the likelihood of more transfer much of the educational work to the selective missionary investments. county and state. In this and other ways these expenditures were reduced from one-half to two- (2) A thorough scrutiny of projects and pro- thirds. We came to the conviction that the real posals, by missionary agencies, uninfluenced by work of a mission board is evangelistic and mismerely sentimental appeals, must be made for sionary and not secular education, to the extent similar reasons. When resources are abundant, attempted previously. there is a tendency to undertake more work than may be warranted, because of the urgency of the Work among foreigners was likewise curtailed appeals. Recent years, with their excessive exac- in extent and expense. The work among Ameritions and financial limitations, have witnessed the cans suffered severe reductions in the number of severest sifting process with reference to both stations, as well as in salaries. At first we were personnel and proj ects, within the memory of con- led to require the local fields to pay more toward temporary home mission administrators. There the missionaries' support, but we soon came to is a growing conviction that fewer but better realize that the local fields, like the Board, were projects, and not so many but adequately equipped not able to pay as before. We began to reduce our workers, will ensure more permanent missionary appropriations, at first ten per cent and then progress. another ten per cent in the presbyteries, and fif- teen per cent more in overhead and administra- (3) There is a greater determination to adapt tion. modern missionary programs to the current needs of our modern world, at home and abroad. There This experience has not been altogether a cais an evident purpose to break with purely tradi- lamity but has brought some helpful results. In tional but unfruitful types of missionary work, as church buildings, the idea has changed from putwell as with unjustifiable denominational empha- ting up a big stone church with a large appropriases; to accord a conscientious recognition of mis- tion from the central Board to the erection of a sionary responsibility in the realms of social serv- more modest edifice. Sometimes a portable chapel ice and Christian cooperation; to scan with has been the solution. In most cases the stone greater eagerness the possibilities of interdenomi- church, formerly demanded for a home mission national activity in hastening the process of local station, has disappeared at least for the immeand world wide evangelism. diate future. Some congregations, by the use of local free labor of church members, have put up Other values might be included in this sum- wonderfully fine and suitable buildings with little mary, but the matter of major moment to the cash outlay. Kingdom of God and to genuine Christian progress is the dominance of spiritual incentives in Perhaps the greatest benefit has come through the human heart, the actual enthronement of the turning of thoughts from the material equip- Jesus Christ. ment to the divine equipment required. The Cen- tenary, New Era and New World church equip- In the Present Emergency ment has been overshadowed in the thoughts of the people by the necessity of spiritual endue- By the REV. R. A. HUTCHISON, D.D. ment. "Not by might … but by my Spirit"- is becoming more and more the recognized key to Secretary of the Board of American Missions, home mission progress. United Presbyterian Church of North America Much of this change in sentiment is due to the T IKE other mission boards, we have felt what continued financial shortage during these recent L people generally call "the depression.:" In years. So long as money was plentiful there was a continued demand for larger church buildings, fact, we ha,ve detected here and there a de- thoroughly equippea with Sabbath school rooms, pression complex. In the past four years th,e in- ladies' parlors, session rooms, gymnasium, come of the Board has dropped off graduhlly 'to kitchen, Boy Scout room, and other facilities. We almost one-half what it was'before. This has,led still believe that such activities ought, if possible, to the adjustment of the work to our income. . to be provideafor in the building; we do not think of limiting the church work to the old-time one- About three years ago our Board, seeing the room building, although much of the present-day distressing situation ahead, resolved to buy no strength of the church has been developed in such more property and not to finance any new build- plain and inadequate buildings. ing involving heavy outlay until we had taken care of the salaries of missionaries. Very few Few new congregations have been organized in mission fields had any local money for such an the last three or four years but many home misundertaking. sionaries testify that the very lack of elaborate It was not long, however, before it become nec-
THE VITAL NEED OF HOME MISSIONS TODAY
equipment turns the thoughts of the pastor and All in all, the period of financial depression has, people to God as the real source of Power. Under in many cases, been marked by a wholesome, rethese conditions Sabbath schools grow in num- viving spirit. To be sure, the work has been bers, Young People's societies develop in vitality, greatly hampered. The cords have not been missionary enterprises are conducted with un- lengthened so much, even though the stakes have usual success, and enthusiasm increases for the been strengthened. In the period just before us, salvation of souls and the extension of the King- even though the Home Missions finances are not dom. Under these conditions there has also de- so large as formerly, there is ground for hope that veloped a deeper sympathy and closer cooperation the workers will press on to greater results. between the Home Mission congregations and what we usually designate as self-sustaining Our prayer is that the current of the enterprise churches. There was a period not long ago when will run even deeper than it did under former some home mission congregations were really bet- more advantageous material resources. There is ter housed and equipped and the minister more still much territory to be occupied and there is an liberally supported than a neighboring congrega- increasing desire on the part of many to enter tion which did not receive aid from Home Mission the new fields. As we face the many serious mofunds. ral and spiritual problems, we are facing a new frontier in Home Mission work.
The Vital Need of Home Missions 'Today By the REVE.asFtROArNanKgeK, INN.GJD. ON, D.D., ~ Pastor of the Calvary Methodist Church PROFESSORS Thomson and Geddes, in their In the midst of the swiftly moving vortex of our discussion of General Biology,* compare the contemporary events the Church has a tendency life of an individual organism to an arched to be rigid. This is not peculiar to it alone, but bridge, rising from a basic level to a short middle is characteristic of all institutions, for by their stretch and then descending again. There is in nature they have a tendency to inertia that reg- any living experience a continual see-saw between isters in the crystallizing of their original im- waste and repair, nutrition and reproduction, petuses into set forms. The Church exists to per- work and rest, the issue of which is that processes suade men of the supreme validity of a certain of senescence, slowly or quickly, gain on the proc- Way of Life, therefore it deals primarily with esses of rejuvenescence. These arcs of experi- ideas and methods. When ideas petrify they be- ence vary in their lengths with the many types of come dogmas and when methods set they become life, from the brief career of the summer bee to institutional machinery. A Church that worships the possible two centuries of an elephant. These certain ways of saying things and habitual meth- strangely diverse life-histories have to be inter- ods for doing its work becomes an ecclesiasticism, preted in terms of their envIronment, and Weis- i. e. a church existing as an end in itself, produc- mann has demonstrated that length of life is an ing men who are slaves of dogmas and disciplines, adaptive character, defined by the ability. of the . i. e. ecclesiastics. The Church can be saved .from or~anism to adjust itself to ~pe external condi- this harJdening of its arteries only by continually tions of its life. It is this idea upon which I would . renew~.~~.the vitality of its impulses through new lay emphasis as a source 61 illumination for any expreSSIOns .and approaches adapted to the imme- consideration of th~. yalidity of Home Missions. diate needs of its environment. It must talk the They will continue to live as they maintain abil- language of its day. It must be able to detect the ity to adapt themselves to those conditions in the vital spots of its generation's life and to minister midst of which the~ have to work. The need of to them.
Home Missions is flexibility enough to serve a We must remember, however, that the accent changing world always at the points of its great- of our speaking voices can only echo that of. our est need. inner thoughts. Unless a man's thinking of reli- • Life: Outlines of General Biology. p. 759. gion in the deep places of his own mind has the
breath of immediate reality upon it, his public for sacrificial endeavor that will produce results presentation will never be quite free from an evi- quickly seen and emotionally gratifying. dent mustiness, as of something remembered rather than presently felt. An apostle of home The eyes of a little girl in the Cumberland missions remarked in my hearing recently that Mountains look out at me from the paper as I we cannot have great missionary giving from peo- write. I saw them nearly a year ago. I have not ple whose faith means so little to them that they seen them since, nor any picture of them, but do not think it worth-while to spend money to get they never leave me. They are twisted from the message to other people. That is the heart of malnutrition and dull for lack of opportunity. She the matter. The Church will never die from the tells through their eloquent silence the whole circumference in, but its wider activities will im- heart-rending story of sections of our country mediately shrink when it begins to weaken at the swamped with poverty and gritty with disease. center. Something has died within us before our No one can love our Lord Christ and leave her to outer works reveal decline. The "dark places," her lot. Let us lay our plans for a new society, which are throwing all our missionary enterprises but not all their grandiloquence can rid us of the into the shadow, are in our own pews not in the immediate responsibility to carry food, clothing, fields themselves that call for the shedding abroad learning and inspiration to that dwarfed body and of the Light of the Gospel of Christ. The current starved heart. reticence of the Church is a startling symptom of its own poverty. This, however, may be just as That Submerged Tenth definitely the result of our failure to come to grips with the actual issues of our day as of a peculiar In these United States, one cannot recall those inability' to catch the inner imperative of a com- who are without the good opportunities for a full manding communion with Christ. To this aspect experience without remembering, with a kind of of the question, therefore, we will turn our minds, dull ache of the spirit that is never quite comseeking to find whether we are actually giving our forted, that submerged tenth of our population religion a virile work-out on the sinewy giants shut off from an equitable share in our opportunioppressing the spirits of men now or are only ties because of a skin black with the light of many shadow-boxing with the ghosts of yesterday's suns. If we come in the spirit of our Master we tyrants. come not to be ministered unto by these fellow- humans but to minister to them, and that means a What are we trying to do in home missions? filling up at once of the lack that is in their com- The answer is that we are trying to Christianize munities.
our own country. But just what does that mean? Similarly one might write of those centers of population where men are herded into incongru- Does it mean that we are working to produce a ous medleys of race and tongue without either hope or beauty. There is an urgency about the land of inhabitants who are so devoted to hymn- Spirit of God that cannot put off the pressing cry singing that they substitute by popular demand, for help. Here, again, we must come, and at once, "Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb 7" for or every vile trade that flourishes on human weak- "Who's afraid of the big, bad wolf?" Incidentally ness will hold undisputed sway. perhaps, but not as the full dispensation of the Day of the Lord. A Christian country, presum- Besides these are those places where something ably, means one in which all the agencies of so- other, and less, than the religion of Jesus Christ ciety are in a grand conspiracy to help every in- is taught as the most excellent of ways. We candividual in all his relationships to realize the most not sit idly by while fellow-citizens of ours hear glorious possibilities that are in him. only of some second-best. In His footsteps, Who came not to destroy but to fulfill, we try to walk Now, suppose we should ask ourselves, as if we out to every last home that has not been lighted were looking at our country for the first time from by the radiance of His presence. such a point of view, where the most unchristian areas in our experience are, what should we say? These are areas of need as plain to perceive as a field white unto harvest ready for the skill of Stop here and write your own answer to the ques- the reaper; and it is n~tural that, throughout a ' period that -took for granted the fundamental tion. It will probably be n~arer the truth than premises of our social philosophy, our home mismine. It is sure to be of more value to you per- sions program should be directed mainly to them. sonally for it will reveal those places at which you Yet we may develop expert techniques for dealing can probably s~rve men most effectively. with these specific groups and still leave our ma- jor objective unserved. The critical places are The answer that at once suggests itself is a those where the power of this country is actually geographic one. There are certain places that centered. can be located on a map where men have fewer chances for the best in life than they have elsewhere. Obviously, there are here fields that call
Unless we can put the Spirit of Jesus in com- A similar anaylsis of the race situation in mand of the enterprises that set the conditions of North America will bring us to the same sort of our lives, whether our state be controlled by pro- conclusion. The Negro problem is in the white letarian or plutocrat, we shall fall short of devel- man's heart. It is created, not by the physical oping a Christian country. Our warfare is against fact of the existence of groups of black men, but the world rulers of this darkness, the enthrone- by the attitude of the dominant group who main- ment of selfishness in high places. The extra re- tain such an organization of life as to precipitate sponsibility of our day arises from the fact that it. The Negroes seem exotic to us because we the conflicting interests inherent in the present have a view of life that allows some human beings organization of our social experience are so to seem to us to be other than we are.
plainly dramatized by the obvious inequalities Into every discussion of human affairs there they produce. The world in which we live is at comes sooner or later the spirit of nationalism enmity with the Christian ideal because those loaded with dynamite. In a recent discussion of ideas that control the citadels of effective power statesmanship, that takes full account in a rev- among us are essentially pagan. They are such erent spirit of religion as a factor in human af- as tyrannize over the minds of men instead of fairs, one Of our own most intelligent statesmen setting them free. has written almost incidentally, "Closing down The areas of life that are so finally unchristian some factories would be of grave national con- as to poison our whole experience are not geo- cern, not only because of the resulting unemploy- graphical but ideal. Home missions, therefore, ment, but also because some factories are needed without paralyzing their ministry to the obvious in time of war." * The interesting fact about that dire needs must recognize and come to grips with reference to war is that it is so casual. It takes these intangible but powerful forces of injustice, it for granted. That attitude is characteristic of or else abandon their main end and be satisfied the thinking of the world. At this moment it is with a secondary one. We must change the mind being emphasized by the growth of Fascism, tar- of our generation or pass on to the next a world iffs, international armaments and the discredit of essentially unchanged. This does not mean that the League of Nations. By any reckoning a nar- we shall cease to serve the outcast, but that we row patriotism is opposed to that human brother- frankly recognize that our chief, and much more hood which is a distinctive insight of the Chris- difficult, task is to persuade men that the Spirit of tian view. Yet here it is as a dominant psycho- Christ can be enthroned where the character of logical factor underlying our human affairs.
our life is really defined. The hurdle which stands Along with these influences in our life we must in the way of our having a Christian land is the put the growth of the idea of determinism in its tacit assumption of conventional points of view various interpretations. The economists of the that mould our destiny by unchristian motives extreme right expound theories of economic laws which work out to practices that divide rather which work impersonally and to which we must than unite men's interests. adjust ourselves if we are to succeed, while the We begin, for example, by accepting the idea Marxians to the left insist with equal fervor upon that the goods of life belong to those who have their own kind of materialistic determinism. Ours material wealth. The easy objection to this may is a world of law, we are told, and so the condi- spring from nothing more than envy, but the tions of life work themselves out regardless of our more searching argument is that such a state of control, free-will being a sort of major illusion.
affairs produces the dual effect of economic ex- That we can understand the forces that move us ploitation and a distribution of power -on the basis but cannot control them is the basic idea of secu- of other than socially useful considerations. Chilo larism in all its manifestations. It cuts the nerve- dren are born into communities where they. are centres of high enterprise and leaves men at the deprived of a chance to live a normal life be- mercy of their baser passions of greed and com- cause it is to the economic advantage of those bat.
controlling them that such a state of things shall When we think about home missions going up continue. Every fifth child in the United States against these ideas we are conscious of two points is undernourished, not because we are a nation of tension. One is institutional and the other so- without compassion, but because men seeking cial in the wider sense. Our traditional ways of profits are thereby inoculated against the consid- doing missionary work have made no place· f{)r eration of the social results of their policies. By such considerations as these, therefore all the every standard of the Gospel this is anti-Chris- forces of inertia will suspect us when we intro- tian, yet it will persist as long as we leave the fun- duce them. It will be hard to persuade supporting damental premise unquestioned. Poverty exists churches that these are legitimate areas for mis- because men work and profit by a philosophy that sionaryactivity. Even when we have swung them makes human welfare a secondary consideration. • "America Must Choose," by Secretary Henry A. Wallace. p. 18.
to our point of view we shall be facing a still more ing men acquainted with the long story of human potent difficulty for we shall find the churches at thought and able to bring the fundamental Chrisodds with the social complex in the midst of which tian point of view to expression without rancor or special pleading in such a way as to win the they must live and from which they must draw consent of minds that are being continually sub- jected to other ways of looking at the world and their support. Some men will say that we "are its problems of conduct. We are under obligasubversive and dangerous. Nevertheless, the tion to bring the profoundest thought of which simple fact remains that we cannot bring forth a we are capable to its most excellent expression as Christian nation without getting at these roots of a guide to the minds of men. our unchristian practices with their inhumane consequences. As is indicated by the above illustration of the Communists we need also evangelists of brother- What I am suggesting is that we must map our hood. The extraordinary complexity of our curhome missions programs in terms of the intellec- rent life is continually creating situations that tual climates in which men live as well as of the call for applications of the Christian ethic in pracphysical conditions of their experiences. Into the tical ways. The average Christian would apprechaos of contemporary thinking we must set our- ciate guidance in meeting his own adjustments selves the task of injecting a statesmanship of and, if given it, would thereby become a much the mind which can discern where the crucial more powerful factor for righteousness. We owe points of influence are and bring the resources of to ourselves, and to the society of which we are a our interpretation to bear upon them. Commu- part, the best collective expression we can give nism, for example, is not merely the philosophy of to what Christian brotherhood actually means. a limited but regimented minority party; it is also a moral and intellectual force, some phases of In the same field of action we are in need of which are distinctly on the side of our ideals, but evangelists of racial justice. When certain Neothers of which are in confiict with us. Take, as groes, charged with crime, were being tried rean instance, its treatment of the Negroes in the cently they were helped by various groups in our United States. When the Communists meet they American community, but no professedly Chrisinsist on the same treatment being given the col- tian agency was on hand to aid them in getting a ored members of their conventions in the hotels just trial. What a dramatization of the Chris- tian spirit it would have been if an able lawyer and elsewhere as is given the white members.* had been commissioned in the name of our Lord and by His people to secure an absolutely fair Let a group of church people meet, however, and hearing to these men whose condition was dithe whites use one set of hotels while the colored rectly chargeable to the inequities of our society delegates use another. In other words, the prac- itself! This same sort of practice could be aptice of those officially charged with the work of plied to many local events and to some that in- Christ's Church is less Christian at this point than volve the dealings of great nations with small. is that of those who disclaim all religious loyalties. Yet this kind of action is precisely the kind that There are subtle forces, deeply seated in acis most determinative in producing ultimate so- cepted practices and places of power, that must cial change. be overcome if we are to produce countries fit to be called Christian. A home mission program Such situations are many and seem to indicate that meets the immediate needs arising out of those areas in which our home mission leadership current social practices is useful and appealing must set itself the triple task of changing the but it stops with scratching the surfaces of our mind of the Church itself, of developing tech- paganisms. A program that is really to change our niques of social conduct conformable to the mind world must build itself in terms of changing funof Christ and of aggressively meeting situations damEmtal attitudes. In other words, we must reprecipitated by the applied vision of organized capture the stirring expectation of conversion in groups working to their own ends. human experience. Men must be regenerated in a way that will affe«t all the relationships of their To capture the imaginations of certain power- lives, both personal and social. It is a big demand. ful groups we need evangelists of the Christian But who would expect such a one as Jesus Christ philosophy. I mean by this men definitely set to ask us for little deeds? aside by the church to specialize in ideas, brood- • The Student Volunteers fOT Foreign Missions and many other Christian organizations Insist on the same equality of treatment.- EDITOR.
A Better Day Coming for China?
The Proposed New Chinese Constitution and Its Significance to Christian Progress By DR. COURTENAY H. FENN, New York Recording Secretary, Board of Foreign Missions, Presbyterian Church, U. S. A.
T HE latest of a long series of "drafts" of a of Evangelical Christianity, which they have permanent constitution for the Republic of adopted for themselves and would gladly see all China was made public on March 1, 1934. China adopt. Many other high officials in the The others have represented evolutionary stages Nanking Government also realize that all of in the development of one of the greatest political China's cultural inheritance together 'fill not experiments of the age, the attempt to create a serve to make her a stable republic or a great na- bona fide republic out of an aged and decrepit tion without the backbone of a true religious monarchy, absolute in name though rather an oli- faith. As providing the essential conditions for garchy in fact. Among the largest nations of the such a development in a constitutionally regulated world in area and far the largest in population, society and political system, this latest draft con- China's experiment seemed almost fantastically stitution should make a distinct contribution to futile in view of the fact that ninety-five per cent China's "Better Day."
of her four hundred million people could neither This new constitution for the Republic has been read nor write. Many confidently predicted, from in preparation by the Legislative Yuan, one of the the proclamation of the republic in 1911-12, that five departments of the existing government, for it would prove a dismal failure, a republic only about a year. Authorized by the Fourth National in name, establishing-if it really established any- Congress of the governing People's party, the thing-a tyranny of temporarily dominant mili- Kuomintang, it is now offered for general criti- tary leaders under a banner of license rather than cism before final revision and adoption by a Na- of liberty, with an exploiting and down-treading tional People's ConventiQll called for March, 1935.
of the common people even worse than that of the It follows the National Reconstruction Program Manchu Empire which had just been overthrown. of Dr. Sun Yat Sen, and is expected to bring to an According to unfriendly neighbors and even end the period of "political tutelage," and to es- some of her friends, this pessimistic prediction tablish a real democracy.
has been too sadly fulfilled in the twenty-two The constitution contains 160 articles in nine years of the Chinese Republic's history. Civil chapters. The Republic is to be based on Dr.
wars under many leaders, several attempts to re- Sun's "Three People's Principles" of National Sov- store the monarchy, both sporadic and organized ereignty, Popular Liberty, and People's Liveli- banditry, sectional jealousies, personal animosi- hood. The territory of China can only be changed ties, conflicting ideals, radical theories, selfish with the consent of the People's Congress. The gain-seekings, have combined to impede the prog- people's rights are limited by their duties, which ress and prevent the success of the new Republic are to meet the needs of the social order and the to a greater degree even than the unneighborly public welfare. The endeavor of the drafters has aggressions of other nations, which have pro- been to swing to no extremes, but to provide for fessed considerate friendliness but practiced popular self-government under a president and ruthless enmity. other officials with definitely limited powers.
This responsibility for failure has been frankly One of the editors of the "Bulletin of China's acknowledged by some of China's most thoughtful Foreign Relations," published by the Interna- and influential leaders, who have demonstrated tional Relations Club of Nanking, comments: their unselfish patriotism in their courageous ad- It is probably wise to adopt only moderate principles vocacy of thoroughgoing reforms. None of for the improvement of political, economic and social life China's leaders are more earnest or consistent re- of the country. China will have to overcome enormous formers than that prominent official and military difficulties before a permanent condition can be firmly commander-in-chief, General Chiang Kai-shek, established. The people must be thoroughly educated in the exercise of their constitutional rights and duties. and Madame Chiang, both of whom see China's Faithful and competent officials, particularly impartial one hope of salutary reform in the faith and life and authoritative judges, must be appointed to apply and [858 ]
interpret the various provisions of the new constitution. research and inventions and shall protect historic After all, the leaders of the Central Government must remains. fully realize the significance of a constitution and be rea?y to uphold it whenever there is an attempt to destroy Its Chapter V provides that each district or mu- authority. nicipality shall elect one delegate to the National Congress by "universal, equal, direct and un- The constitution establishes Nanking as the named suffrage" of all Chinese citizens over 20 national capital and the national flag is to be made years of age'; those over 25 years being also eligiup of a red background with a blue sky and white ble for election to office. Congress shall meet trisun in the upper left corner. It declares all per- ennially for one month, to elect or recall the presisons of Chinese nationality citizens and all citizens equal before the law, irrespective of sex, dent or vice-president and the members and of- ficers of the Executive, Legislative, Judicial, Exrace, religion, caste or vocation. It assures to all amination and Control Yuans (Departments), to liberty in accordance with the law, a prompt and initiate legislation, adopt or amend the constitujust trial when accused, freedom of association and assembly, of speech and publication, of pri- tion and consider problems submitted by the Navacy of correspondence and liberty in religious tional Government. The functions of the membelief. It guarantees the right of private prop- bers terminate with adjournment, before which they elect a People's Committee of 21 members, erty, of petition, of election, of competition for civil service. It requires of all the duties of pay- with ten alternates, all to be over 45 years of age ing taxes and of performing military service and and distinguished for service rendered the nation. They are to hold no concurrent posts, but act as public labor when necessary to preserve public in- the National Congress ad interim, or call a proterests or safety. visional Congress for special emergencies. Chapter III sets forth Dr. Sun Yat Sen's eco- Chapter VI defines the relations of the central nomic system, "to ameliorate the production, dis- and local governments. The Central Government, tribution and consumption of wealth so as to ef- among many other usual powers, is to have confect the sufficiency of the people's livelihood." trol of the naval, military and air forces, which The land is to belong to the people as a whole, are to be conscripted and trained in accordance and persons having the right to ownership of with law. It has the power to declare war, make lands shall bear the obligation of using such lands. peace and conclude treaties. Mines and natural forces are to belong to the na- According to Chapter VII, the president and tion, and increases of value not due to labor and the five Yuans shall be responsible to the Nacapital are to be publicly shared through the col- tional Congress. Any citizen over 45 years of age lection of a tax. There are to be income and in- may become president or vice-president for one heritance taxes, a rational system for the distri- or two terms of six years. The president is to bution of profits and the limitation of interest and represent the Republic in foreign relations. The rentals. Prices of necessities are to be regulated functions and interrelations of the five Yuans are and cooperative enterprises encouraged. The la- too intricate to be set forth here, except as indibor of women and children is to be limited and cated by their names. The function of the Exprotected. Reliefs and pensions are to be pro- amination Yuan corresponds somewhat to that of vided for those who have suffered in military or the Board of Censors under the Imperial Govcivil service. The State is to provide for land ernment. It is to determine by means of examireclamation, farm credits, grain conservation, ag- nation, (1) The qualification of public functionricultural education, improved living conditions aries for appointment; (2) Their qualification for and extensive road building. candidacy, (3) The qualification of professional In Chapter IV provision is made for an equal and technical experts. The functions of the Con- opportunity in education, the aims of which shall trol Yuan, whose fifty (or less) members are to be "the cultivation of higher personality, promo- be distributed on the basis of locality, character tion of living ability and nurture of healthy citi- and scholarship, are to conduct audits and serve zens." All children are to receive free education, as the highest supervisory organ of the National and special adult education is to be offered. All Government. Thus far these last two Yuans, pro- public and private schools shall be subject to the vided also in previous provisional constitutions, State and carryon its educational policies. The have been little in evidence. The Executive Yuan central government's expenditure on education has exercised most government functions.
shall not be less than 15% of its total budget and According to Chapter VIII, Provincial Coun- that of cities and districts not less than 3070 of cils, composed of a popularly elected member the local budget. The state shall encourage and from each district or municipality, serving for help with grants successful private schools. All three years, are to be convoked semiannually for schools shall offer scholarships and prizes to help one month, to elect a governor from among five the deserving needy. The state is to encourage nominees of the National Government, adopt a
BALUBA MEDICINE AND RELIGION
budget, propose provincial bills to the Legislative The intervening years have witnessed a great Yuan and pass provincial ordinances. No active advance in every aspect of religious liberty save military man may be a candidate for governor. one, in which such liberty has been more circum- scribed than before. In education "religious free- Chapter IX concerns itself with District and dom" has been interpreted as freedom from Municipal government. The local magistrates are religion, rather than freedom for religion. Chito be elected by the people and serve for three nese educationalists have undertaken to separate years, the passing of civil service examinations education completely from religion, especially in being requisite for candidacy. District Assem- the case of children under fifteen or sixteen years blies will number from 9 to 17 members, self- of age. There is nothing in the new draft congoverning Municipal Assemblies from 11 to 29 stitution which changes this interpretation so as members, the functions of both being defined in to give private schools full liberty to teach relithe draft. gion and maintain worship in all grades. The Christian Church asks no preferential treatment A tenth chapter deals with the process of but hopes that, in the course of time, the full reliamendment and related matters. gious liberty and universal education promised in the new constitution will be so liberally inter- Any "Better Day" for China should include the preted and administered as not only to promote establishment of true religious liberty. This seems national unity and stability, but also to further to be guaranteed by the proposed new constitu- the work of the missions and the Church in estabtion. Twenty years ago, when the Republic's first lishing China's "Better Day" on the only sure constitution was drafted, discussion waxed hot foundation of enlightened morality inspired by over a demand for such liberty. Christians, Bud- strong faith in the only living and true God. dhists, Taoists and Mohammedans joined together to defeat the Confucianists, who insisted that their system be adopted as the "national religion."
Baluba Medicine and Religion* By ONAR HARTZLER, Kabongo, Belgian Congo THE Baluba tribe situated on the sources of cost anywhere from a few cents to twelve or thir- the Katanga Province of the Belgian Congo, teen dollars. As the highest paid workers get has many kinds of bwanga or medicine. They little more than two dollars a month, a person also call the secret societies bwanga, but the real may easily pay half a year's wages on a little medicine is that made by the nanga or doctor. medicine which may be of some help psycho- logically but whose help physically is worse than One kind of medicine is called the lusengo nothing. They take some of this medicine in (loosayngo) . This is the horn of a small antelope sacks and bury it in front of their houses in a kite filled with dirt, sweat, fingernails, hair, skin and (keetay) to keep the spirits away from the house. other filth, said to be consecrated by the doctor. These are protection only to the person who made One kind of fetish is the small figure of a womor bought them. The large horns are kept in the an with the arms akimbo. If a man leaves his houses, and are licked before eating. This, they wife on a trip or vice versa, the one remaining believe, makes them immune to any poison that keeps this fetish. They believe that it tells them might have been put in the food by an enemy. whether the absent one is behaving himself or not. The small horns are put on strings about the neck Another kind is called the bwanga bwa ntambo, of the owners, or in their very curly hair. These or lion medicine, a concoction bound in the skin of are believed to be safeguards against bodily ill- a young lion or leopard in the shape of a horn. ness. In the large end is placed a piece of wood from which four or five horns are protruding. When Another kind is the kihudji (keehohdjee) which the people want protection they put one finger in is a small nut shell filled with the same general the open end of the horn, and then lick the finger. concoction as the horns. These are strung about the body and are also for the purpose of guarding Another medicine is called the bwanga bwa against illness. The many kinds of medicine mbo, buffalo medicine. This is made to the accalled bwanga are bought from the doctor and companiment of chanting, yelling, dancing and the beating of tom-toms. If a man has this medi- * From the South A/rica Missionary Advocate.
cine he believes that he and his gun are invisible. lewd performances, it is still harder. Many of To belie this, however, a few months ago, a man their customs are all right but many more of them who had a lot of this medicine was killed by a are wholly wrong. We teach them to regard those buffalo. that are good and replace the evil ones with Chris- The methods of curing are almost as primitive, tian customs. The difference between the face usually consisting of a string bound between the of a Christian and that of an ordinary man is very sick member and the heart as tight as possible. striking, for the face of the former is filled w~th They have some herbs, but they use these very joy and peace, while that of the latter is filled wIth rarely, and usually only for the trial by ordeal. fear, the fear of death.
The villagers believe there is no natural de.ath.
They say that if anyone dies, someone has kIlled CHRIST COMING TO THE CONGO him. As soon as someone dies, all his relatives Life is very full in Congo BeIge. The inter- come together and begin to yell and scream, thus change of ideas is batHing. All the books prepared supposedly expressing their grief for the~r be- for use at home are not at all suitable for Cong0 loved (?) relative. If anyone does not do thIS, the schools. Not only must everything be translated death of the deceased person is placed at his door. -that would be comparatively simple-but there If everyone cries, the nearest. relatives go to the is little that is useful when it is translated, be- witch-doctor and constrain him to receive their cause its whole background is incomprehensible present of a chicken and consult the forefathers. to a native reader. The witch-doctor then takes his bag of bones, and by throwing them makes them fall in conjunction Curiously enough, they have a compensating ad- to one another. Then he says that because they vantage over us in their understanding of the fell in a certain way, such and such a man has Bible-or parts of it. Life in ancient Judea was killed the relative. The man so pointed out has much more akin to their customs than to any- to pay a large fine, or be killed. Into this enters thing we can conceive of in comfortable modern the trial by ordeal. Of course, the witch-doctor America. The moral problems of the Old Testagets the lion's share of the price paid. This belief ment are their problems, and the religious back- of the blood revenge and blood price is almost the ground of Israel is only a step removed from their same as that of the desert Arabs. traditions. Proverbs are as significant to them as to the Hebrews, and the man who has one for At the crossroads, and at the boundaries of every occasion is the winner of every argument. the cheffries, is usually placed a pile of grass, upon New Testament life was more complicated than which each traveler drops his blade of grass, as that of their fathers, but its counterpart is taka wish for good luck along the road. ing form about them now, and Christ points the only road of hope for them today as He did to His The people have quite a few names for God. own generation. They have many stories of the creation. The m?st credited one is that Leza (layzah>. created all In- The teaching of the Gospels is the most fasanimate things, and then Shakapanga came along cinating and thrilling adventure of the day. Their and created all animals and men but he left them questions are eager and will not be denied. So to the mercy of the spirits of the dead. We Chris- we study together to reach the fullest understandtians show them that Leza and Shakapanga are ing, and new meanings come to us daily as we one person and that He has been with them all work. For example: here is the parable of the the time. Other titles are Budangulu, the gath- grain of mustard seed, that unknown species erer of the hills; Vidye Mukulu, the Original which grew so big that it overshadowed all the Lord; Nkungwabanze; Kapole Mwine Bantu, the plants in the garden. They told me of a kind of Holy Lord of Men, Kapinanmwanabo. Most of pepper plant which grows like that in their these names have no exact equivalent in English. gardens. But what is the meaning? I had always thought of that marvelous plant as signifying Many people h~ve a small hut about two feet how God's kingdom is to fill the whole world. But high in front or at the back of their houses. They they reminded me that those seeds in the parables say that the spirits of their fathers dwell there were planted in the heart, and so we came to' this and when they want to worship or pacify them, sense of the- parable, that as the plant overthey make some mush in the evening, and take it shadowed everything in the garden, so does the to the hut. There they build a small fire, chanting Kingdom, when it has taken root in the heart, all the while. Then they put the mush in front grow to be the biggest thing there, overshadowing of the hut, crying Tata! Tata! Father! Father! every thought and purpose, every seedling idea After chanting another song they go away.
It is these beliefs and superstitions that we and every nurtured plan. have to fight against. It is a very long work and slow, and with new secret societies coming in with GEORGE W. CARPENTER, Baptist Mission, Kimpese, via Matadi.
W. ABEL INTERVIEWING A PAPUAN CHRISTIAN HELPER. AT
From Darkness to Light in Papua A Review of the "Life of Charles W. Abel, of Kwato"*-Forty years in the South Seas -1~-=-=-=-=_BY-=D_EL_A_V_A_N=-L'_P_IE_R_S_O_N-=-=-=-=~Ir- M UCH has recently been written about New oneers as William G. Lawes, Samuel MacFarlane Guinea-or Papua as it is called to dis- and James Chalmers. With the last of these mis- tinguish it from the Dutch half of this sionaries Charles Abel was associated for eleven great, unexplored island. The savage life of the years before Chalmers was killed and eaten by the people of the interior furnishes an interesting and cannibals thirty years ago. Abel was himself picturesque theme for travelers and anthropolo- a unique character and had'an unusual career. He gists. The rich vari~ty of products, including gold, added an important chapter to missioriary history rare woods, and unusual fauna and flora, have and proved that by the power of Christ cannibals made it a fascinating field for the study of natural and children of cannibals can be transformed into history; and the social life, superstitions and cus- intelligent, friendly and useful men, and women.
toms of these isolated primitive people have been The dangers and difficulties thatAbel encountered a fruitful theme for such writers as Margaret and overcame show the heroic ' stuff of which he Mead, J. H. Holmes, W. J. V. Saville, Wm. E. was made. Moreover, he took with him a 'young Bromilow, A. R. Pratt and others. bride to this forbidding field where her courage The missionary history of New Guinea has been and practical common sense helped to make her enlivened by the thrilling experiences of such pi- husband's work more effective and saved many a Fle•m"iCnhgaHrl.esRWev,elAl bCeol. ofNKewwaYtoo,r"k.by1R93u4s.sellCoWpi.eAs boefl.thi8s svtor.on$g2a.0n0d. critical situation. sthtierroinffgicebioofgrtahpehMy ImSSaIOyNbAeRYorRdEeVreIEdWthOroFugTHh EanWyORbLoDo.kseller or from The famous Chalmers, ·the Great Heart of New GUl'nea, or "Tamate" as he was called by the na- [357 ]
tives, wrote to Mrs. Abel (referring to her hus- In this story we learn not only how a successful band): "I met him two years ago, and he sus- Christian mission was first started among untained all I had heard about him. I am astonished friendly savages, but we see how it developed and at your fearlessness in having him, only I fancy became a civilizing influence which reached far he is worth taming. I have always had a liking into the interior. The Papuans are divided into for wild savages myself! They are worth looking many languages and tribes; the chief occupation after, and then there is, as you will experience in of the men formerly was warfare, with the makyour undertaking hereafter, the joy of seeing ing of weapons and war canoes, while the women them tamed, meek and lowly, and in a proper state cultivated their gardens. They had little or no of mind!" religious belief but were, and still are, weighed down with fear and superstition. Sorcery is held A PAPUAN WAR CANOE responsible for many deaths. While their morals are low in their primitive state, their tribal laws It seems strange that, after forty years among and customs which guide conduct make an interthe primitive people of New Guinea (Papua), esting sociological study. The Christian Papuans with many thrilling experiences and dangers are a lovable people, have great mechanical abilamong cannibals and warring tribes, this noble ity, a remarkable ear for music and a deep sense missionary should finally meet his death by a blow of gratitude for kindness. from a speeding motor car in the outskirts of London. But Abel had lived his life and had done Abel sometimes questioned whether he was wela work such as few men can look back upon. His come among these people as a representative of wife, his two sons and two daughters are now Christ and was tempted to discouragement, but carrying on with remarkable success in the same he showed his true spirit when he wrote: field in the South Seas. "In those early days of my work I often had the This biography of Charles Abel, by his younger miserable feeling, which was more than a susson is a stirring story. It begins with the account picion, that I was forcing myself upon people of his boyhood in England; takes the youth where I was not wanted. However, there was no through some severely testing times among the doubt in my mind, as I looked about me upon that Maoris and "gum diggers" in New Zealand in the heathen community, that, little as I was wanted, pioneer days; carries him back, fully awakened, I was sorely needed; and I remembered how often to complete his studies in an English college and my Master must have been tolerated where He then describes his checkered, and often exciting, was not welcomed." career through forty years in Eastern Papua. A PAPUAN VILLAGE SCENE Abel himself had an ambition to go out to the mission field as a lay worker, rather than as an How Abel gained the friendship of these savordained missionary of the London Missionary ages is told in this biography: Society. As he says in one of his letters: There is no doubt that the missionary's fearless espousal "I did my best to join the society as a layman; of justice did much to establish Abel in the eyes of the and although I see now that, all things considered, natives. They could not doubt his disinterested friendit was best for me to come as a qualified "Rever- ship. They refused to think of him, as in one case it was end," I strongly protest, however, against my use- pointedly suggested concerning a venerable veteran misfulness and influence being limited in any degree sionary, that perhaps the reason he had come so far afield by that title. My ordination to the work of a mis- was that his own country would not have him! sionary to a savage people should bear with it no disqualification to engage in any necessary work "When I saw Taubada face revolvers pointed by his for Christ's sake. Nothing in His Name can sec- own angry countrymen, in order to speak out for some ularize me. If I am true to my great trust-the Papuans, I knew he was truly our friend," testified an conversion and uplifting of my people-whatever old native eye-witness of an incident at the mines. Walkwork I touch is spiritualized. I would gladly re- ing through the forest many years later in the same vinounce my ordination so that I might be free to cinity, Abel came suddenly upon a party of women at a put forth all my energies in Christ's service." bend in the track. The women immediately threw down their burdens and vanished into the surrounding scrub. One of the mission carriers cried out: "It is not a white man, it is only a missionary!" As he repeated this information the women began to reappear, shamefaced and embarrassed.
FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT IN PAPPA
"Oh, Taubada, we thought you were a white man!" they "It is the poverty of the material we have to work upon apologized. in a country like this which creates the need for an in- dustrial auxiliary to our mission …… We have robbed The character of Charles Abel stands out clear- the people of an incentive to much work. Are we going ly, not by laudatory adjectives which his son and to supply them with no other incentive, or are we to be others might have used to describe him, but by satisfied in letting Christianity take root in the inertia the story of deeds he performed and the letters he which it has created?" wrote revealing his innermost soul. He had rare and practical good sense, deep religious faith, a He had the conviction, which many are today definite vision for the Papuans, remarkable cour- voicing, that too much paraphernalia and too age, a wonderful capacity for friendship and an elaborate ideas are pressed upon such primitive irresistible sense of humor which enlivened even people so that Western standards are often conthe most gloomy and trying situations. This sense fused with Christian ideals. Referring to housing of humor often illuminates the pages of the biog- difficulties on the mission field, Abel wrote: raphy. "Let us remember that the Lord's work is in more than buildings; it is in the hearts of our people, and perhaps He sees that we had better do deeper work before we go so far ahead with the material things. There is so much emphasis put upon service, charities, and machinery in the Christian world today that you do fight a bit shy of too much paraphernalia."
A WATER VILLAGE AT PORT MORESBY He had no desire to foist on the Papuans a spu- rious civilization. One of his aims as a mission- He was a man who did not know how to ac- ary is revealed in another letter: knowledge defeat in any work that he believed was the work of God and that he was called upon "1 don't think God means me to leave these people to to do. He appealed to his own Papuan boys to flounder into a form of civilization which is grotesque and stand by him in a very difficult task of transform- spurious, but feeling as 1 do, and seeing as 1 do, 1 must ing a pestilential swamp into a wholesome athletic use my influence in directing them to a new condition of field. We read: life which is healthy and sound and progressive …… "
Loyally, and for his sake entirely, they went at their One of the difficulties in Papua is that many work with a will, though it seemed a hopeless proposition languages and dialects are spoken over a comwith the tiny handful of workers left to battle with it. paratively small area. Abel learned several of "We are laying the foundations of character," wrote their these languages but worked chiefly in Suau. He leader, while we lay the foundations of a large model translated much of the Bible for these people and village upon the swamp ……the work is moral as well the difficulties encountered are revealed in an as manual." early extract from his journal, at the time of his first attempts. He was first of all an ambassador of Christ but he realized the necessity for giving the primitive THE MEMORIAL HOUSE OF PRAYER AT KWATO people not only elementary education, but also for preparing the people for honest, useful lives "Translating all the evening. 1 approached the Sermon by teaching suitable industries to take the place on the Mount again with a feeling of great awe. 1 spent of their dances, heathen feasts and savage war- more than an hour over the phrase "poor in spirit" with fare. He wrote: McLaren's sermon in mind. There is no equivalent in Suau, of course, but a language formed, as this so often "We ought to be willing, if necessary, to strike out on is, of words made up of a sentence, gave Dageola and me altogether new lines. We should be prepared to abandon an answer to our special prayer in arriving at, 8e nuacherished ideas as to what constitute the duties of mis- tudobidobiuioidi' literally, "those who think themselves sionaries placed as we are …… Weare not here to make down." It impiies humility; it is an act of self-belittlesavages religious. Weare here to make these weak, ment. It will be easy to read poverty of spirit into this foolish, superstition-bound people, strong Christian men. term. 1 am delighted with the discovery." We shall have to come much more in touch with the life of these people, outside our strictly spiritual work, befor~ The results of these forty years of heroic servwe shall succeed in this. We shall have td come down ice were rewarding, for savages were transformed to that level in which we find them so full of sorcery and fighting and immoral dancing, and supplement our great message, and make our religious work a real thing by meeting them in the common affairs of their daily life."
At another time Abel wrote to his missionary colleagues, in defense of his views on industries:
into earnest, witnessing Christians. One incident WHEN FUNUSUI WAS SICK* is related as follows: We thank God for the high spiritual tone in the Abel had occasion to speak strongly to the Christian One Pusu school (Solomon Islands, South Sea Papuans and to chide theml for their failure to live up to Evangelical Mission). Christian ideals. His words bore traces of disappointment. The meeting was being held just before a communion The other night a big Kwara'ae man named service. When Abel had finished speaking Daniela, a one Funusui came to have a verse of Scripture ex- time war-like savage chief of Lilihoa, rose to his feet and plained to him. He told his life story, and I was said: amazed to find that he had been a Christian for only one year. His brother was the big /ata'abu "Your words are true, Taubada, and we hear them. (witch doctor) of his district, and he (Funusui) But remember that we are very weak. We do not forget what God has done for us. There are scars on my body that Paolo of Logea (and he pointed to another chief was to have become a witch doctor also. He bewho had turned to Christ) inflicted," yet now he is my came very sick, and his people offered sacrifices brother for we are one in Christ. A few years ago I of pigs to their akalos (evil spirits). The spirit sought for vengeance and yearned for Paolo's life. I had told the /ata'abu that Funusui would be betcaptured and ate his people as he did mine, and as he ter in six days, but he still continued very sick. did my wife. See the change today for we shall soon kneel together and remember how Christ died for us. Be- He said in his Pidgin English: cause He died, there is no malice in my heart. Weare brothers." "Me countim every day make six; now me no get better, and me say, which way devil gammon Russell Abel, the author of this stirring life long me all same?"
story, was born in New Guinea about thirty years During his illness he thought a great deal about ago. There he was educated by his mother in the the little he had heard of the Gospel, and decided midst of primitive surroundings, without schools that if he could get to a Christian village he might or contacts with the emoluments and advantages get well. Some heathen who lived near by, at that of so-called civilization. With only a year or two time made a big feast, to which he knew some of additional schooling in Australia, he prepared Christian men would go to preach, so he sent a for college and was graduated from Cambridge small boy there to ask a certain Christian relative University, England, in 1928, having specialized of his to come and see him. Under God's hand in science and anthropology. When a student in this relative was there doing the Lord's work, the university, his father, who was always a vital and, of course, came to visit Funusui. The Chrisforce in his children's lives, showed that he under- tian pleaded with him to come to "school," and stood the subtlety of intellectual pitfalls and was to accept Christ. not afraid to sound a warning note. He wrote to his son: "All right," replied Funusui, "you Christian men come tomorrow, and take me go."
"Most anthropologists seem to be men without any But his own brother, the witch doctor, had de- spiritual vision. I expect you will hear a lot of things on cided that as Funusui was going to die, he would this subject which would make our precious faith look like him to die in his house, so he sent men to get foolish. . . . .. "Hold fast to that which is good." If you him. Thus it happened that the two parties, the keep near to Christ you will see too plainly how charge- messengers of Life and the messengers of death, less a life is theirs who only see with their eyes, and only believe the things which they can handle." met at the sick man's house at the same time on Russell Abel, like his father, has visited Amer- their respective errands. "I have set before you ica several times on the way to Papua and has the way of life and the way of death…… Thereproved himself a most acceptable speaker, with fore choose life" (Deut. 30: 19). Praise God he the same sense of humor and gift for graphic de- chose life. The Christian men helped him down scription that his father possessed. Mrs. Abel, the mountains to their village, and that evening with her two sons and two daughters, is now en- the Christian teacher, Moses Lau-bi-na, gathered gaged in mission work in Eastern Papua under his people together to pray for Funusui's healing. the New Guinea Evangelization Society* of Amer- Later, at the side of the sick man, the teacher ica and the Kwato Extension Association of Eng- prayed for hours, and although he had been ill land. These are cooperating missions with an for six months, he began to recover that night, interdenominational and international board of and in six days was well. directors. It is a work, like the China Inland Mission and the Dohnavur Mission, conducted by It was not Jong before he came into definite faith and sacrifice, with full dependence on God, touch with the Master, and he has gone on with acceptance of the inspiration of the Bible, and Him ever since. At first his wife was unwilling surrender to the Lordship of Christ as the Son of to leave her heathen relatives, but later she came God and only Saviour of men. with her children, and accepted the Lord too.
D ltEAD. One Pasu, Solomon Islands.
• Gifts for this work may be sent to Mr. Walter McDougall, • Reprinted from Not In Vain. Treas., 156 Fifth Ave., New York.
A New Project for Christian
By the REV. J. ROBERT HARGREAVES St. Paul, Minnesota Field Representative of the Joint Committee of the National Church Councils THERE are signs of a moral and spiritual on spiritual values as expressed in every-day con- awakening in many parts of America, even duct. In very many centers, including some 10- though this is not particularly noticeable in calities with small church privileges, this emphathe churches. In the past, revivals of religion sis is teaching the art of living together in the were rather closely confined to limited circles spirit of 1 Corinthians 13.
while the present revival (believe it or not) is In one city district, where the little church had more widespread. The Church of Jesus Christ been closed, it was discovered that in the school of was never intended to be an end in itself. It is a about 700 pupils a very efficient moral and spiritmeans to an end, the establishment of the King- ual training was being carried on under a de- dom of God among men. The splendor of a great cidedly Christian principal. This was influencing stationary engine is not in the mechanism or in every class and was with full sanction of the dethe great fire under the boiler but its usefulness partment of education. An increasing number of is in proportion to the power which is distributed teachers try not only to adapt pupils to the school to all the machinery of the factory. Machinery and its curriculum, but exert an influence on the that requires less concentration of power in the pupils' home situations, yet cannot proclaim their boiler room is considered a greater triumph. The achievements in this direction. A short time ago factory does not exist for the sake of the engine. a principal explained a program she was trying The Church of Christ has a work to do but its to work out to assist a girl in meeting the needs methods are modified through the varied agencies of an over sensitive and exacting mother. In an- which it has inspired. This growing variety of other school, where there were many under- religious activity should be recognized by the pres- privileged children, the principal and teachers ent church leadership. All effective work that were endeavoring to provide proper emotional promotes moral and spiritual life is of religious guides which were lacking in the several homes.
value. In some instances we need to offer the The unselfish abandon with which some of the prayer of Elisha: "Lord I pray thee open his eyes teachers seek to adapt their program to unfor- that he may see. And the Lord opened his (the tunate and backward pupils is an encouragement servant's) eyes, and he saw and behold the moun- to Christian faith. In one school supervisor's tain was full of horses and chariots of fire round room the most prominent trophy was the letter of about EI.isha." a child written by hand on some scratch paper An increasing number of public schools are and fastened to the wall with a pin. A little girl had been declared incapable of making use of changing the emphasis from the academic instruc- school advantages but the supervisor had been tion to cultural education as a means to life de- unwilling to accept the verdict without further velopment, this is not simply a passing gesture; effort. After a careful study of the child's backit is a trend which is gaining momentum. Re- cently a city school system in Massachusetts dis- ground she was readmitted and the best modern carded its reports on curriculum subjects as not methods were used to awaken her dormant powproperly indicating the results of school training. ers. The letter was an indication of the teacher's A large elementary school in Minneapolis has for success and was the girl's expression of appresome time been reporting on character traits ciation.
rather than on efficiency in such subjects as arith- Such incidents are a type of many expressions metic, geography, and languages. In this rather of Christian ideals in an ever increasing variety courageous and significant venture, it is interest- of activities. We have no statistical blanks on ing to note that in the first year class of the asso- which to record such ventures and triumphs.
ciate Junior High there was not one failure Other extra ecclesiastical forces are also exert- among the pupils in this school. ing spiritual influences and are reaching many In the whole educational program, including whom the church does not touch directly. The some extra school activities, emphasis is being put Extension Department of the State College and [361 ]
the School of Religion of North Dakota recently of years are still in vogue. Veterinary science conducted a seminar to study the character build- has advanced and now humane consideration for ing objectives of such organizations as the Scouts, the suffering animals should spread throughout Camp-fire girls, Parent-Teacher Councils and the the farms. We have hope that through farm farm youth clubs. Those sessions revealed not youth clubs a sentiment may develop which will only the increasing variety of approach, but also result both in painless butchery and in painless increasing efficiency in furthering the interests of operations. Unnecessary pain in the case of a the Kingdom of God. In the country districts defenseless animal is as wrong as unnecessary some situations depend for correction on the work pain caused to man. This change in sentiment of 4-H clubs. During the long continued depres- has not been brought about by direct church efsion the disadvantages of the farm industry has fort but it may be furthered through specialized been somewhat over-emphasized, so that the draw- emphasis on the application of Christian prinbacks in the farm life have become, in many ciples to all phases of life. Never before have the homes, the main topic of conversation. Many of practical implications of Christianity been the youth have no consciousness of their advan- brought so near to realization. Talking about tages and opportunities. They are unhappy with behavior has seemed to have little influence on our their lot but see no way out of it. There is now behavior tendencies. We must integrate the presystematic effort on the part of club leaders to cepts of Christianity into the practices of everychange this unfortunate attitude. Local improve- day life. ments are being made; partnership activities are Where does the Christian Church come into the being worked out between parents and boys and picture? We should constructively recognize the girls; young people are being encouraged to make life and work of these specialized agencies. We the best of their situations and to help solve the must encourage and sustain their efforts to unproblems of others. Letters come showing the re- derstand the main objectives of these groups sults of this effort to reestablish hope and family studying the full program and possibilities inhappiness. Outstanding Christian people are now herent in these specialized activities. Wise parengaged in this leadership and are keeping in ents seek to adapt themselves understandingly to mind the spiritual value inherent in all their the ventures of their independent children and work. A new attitude towards animal life will look upon their success as the enlarging of the also develop. It seems strange that with the ad- family interests. Thus church leadership may vance of. science there has been no general at- further the Kingdom of God by a sympathetic and tempt to introduce anresthesia into animal hus- constructive interest in those projects which help bandry. The same cruelties practiced hundreds to carry out God's will for man.
The Influence of Filipino W omen* -'~II By ESPERANZA A. CUYUGAN 11j3E-..- THE movement in favor of woman suffrage distinct advantage over her eastern sisters; at the which started in North America during the same time this carries with it corresponding re- last century, has recently achieved a victory sponsibilities. in the Philippines. Last November the insular legislature finally granted to the Filipino women But though the vote has heretofore been denied the much-coveted franchise. By this law every the woman by her brothers, she considers herself woman in the archipelago, who is 21 years of age as on a plane of equality with him for that has or over, will have the right to vote and hold po- been her tt:.aditional role. Unlike her contemlitical office, beginning January 1, 1935. poraries in the East, she has always occupied an exalted position and in every activity, except in This is the first time that an oriental country politics, she has been on an equal footing with has so honored its women. Not even a nation as men. modern and westernized as Japan has been so progressive. The Filipino woman has gained a With the door of opportunity open, she has entered every field that man used to consider ex- • An address given at the Florida Chain of Missionary Assemblies. clusively his own. She can be found in practically
THE INFLUENCE OF FILIPINO WOMEN
every profession-in medicine, dentistry, nursing, religion. She holds far more than the "balance of law, and teaching. She is invading even such power" in this field, and is, in very truth, the na- "masculine" careers as engineering, surveying, tion's spiritual-as she is its moral-guardian. architecture, agriculture and stock-raising. Dur- This is true in all civilized countries, particularly ing the revolution she stood with men on the in those that have come under the sway of Christ. fields of battle. In teaching she occupies a very predominant position. History shows that woman, more than man, has kept burning the light of religion. Her devotion to its cause is boundless; her sacrifices for it are without number. She it is who constantly kneels at the family altar. Through her natural devotion to things of the spirit she has served as an ever- steadying influence of her mate. The Filipino woman, like her sister in every Christian land, has been the main standby of the Church. To a great extent, she has helped in spreading the Gos- pel throughout the Islands. She has helped to send messengers, and she herself has gone to dark corners of the archipelago bringing the message of salvation. Because of her unselfish, unceasing collaboration, her pagan brothers in many cities and villages, and in the remote mountain fast- nesses, are being won to Christ.
FILIPINO WOMEN AT WORK, HULLING RICE FILIPINO NURSES IN DUMAG'UETE HOSPITAL The home is, however, still the Filipino woman's chief concern. There she reigns supreme. As the holder of the family purse, she is also the budgeteer and business executive of the household. This privilege she jealously guards for herself.
Outside of the home and the professions, she engages in a multitude of other activities-in business, in industry, in the arts. As a civic-minded citizen, she interests herself in everything that contributes to social betterment-in health, sanitation, morals, government and religion.
She makes her influence felt in the community and the nation through such well-known movements as the Women's Clubs, of which there is a national federation, the Young Women's Christian Association, Camp Fire Girls, Girl Scouts, Girl Reserves, Women's Leagues, and various other social, civic and welfare societies.
Her intellectual and cultural contribution to the life of the nation through the schools is, of course, incalculable. No less significant is the part she plays in authorship and journalism. In Manila, the capital city, alone, several important, widelycirculated journals are run exclusively by women. She is an indispensable collaborator in all the outstanding organs of the Filipino press.
But, important as these roles are, more vital and far-reaching still is the function she exercises in
A Japanese Christian
_.1!if I By K. UNOURA, Los Angeles, California I ~.- EVERY achievement in the realm of human the burning desire to share their Christian life progress is the child of an adventure. Some- with these strangers. The truth of this is re- one had dreamed and left others sleeping to emphasized in the history of the Japanese Chrisfollow the gleam. They braved the dangers and tian Institute, in Los Angeles, which was estabprivations; they dared the impossible; and their lished and nurtured by the Disciples of Christ.
deeds are as beacon lights along the trail calling Perhaps the largest Japanese community on the others to follow. Who can read without thrill of Pacific Coast, in fact in the United States, is in the Pilgrim Fathers and their battles against the Los Angeles County, Southern California. It is open seas without the guide of the compass? estimated that there are at least 65,000 in this From that historic day to this busy, bustling, area and that fully 25,000 of this number reside present day of ease and comfort pilgrims have in the city of Los Angeles. In earlier days the been wending their way from every land under Japanese immigrants were almost entirely single the sun to this land of opportunity. Each has young men. They needed Christian home influ- come with his secret ambition, his dream of ence and friendship, as well as spiritual guidance achievement, for all come as adventurers. The and comfort.
Japanese joined the immigrant trail leading to In 1904 Mr. B. F. Coulter, minister of the the United States following 1880 when Chinese Broadway Christian Church of Los Angeles saw labor was restricted by law. a vision and fostered a project, in friendliness, When the first group of the Japanese came to for these homeless young men who were coming America in the year 1870 the Pacific Coast was in larger numbers in those days. Night school still· in its pioneer stage, for California was not classes were organized for the study of English admitted to the Union until 1850. Gold had been and the Bible under the leadership of a returned discovered during 1848 and the famous Gold Rush missionary from Japan. The group soon grew beof 1849 followed. A great westward migration cause of the evangelistic spirit within it and could had started. The gold seekers were not interested not be accommodated within the limited space pro- in the ordinary tasks. So someone must cultivate vided. In 1905 a new center was established, the fields. To meet this need the Japanese were which also served as a home for these young men.
invited to come. In 1907 the Christian Women's Board of Missions Being totally strangers in a strange land, they undertook the responsibility of this ever growing knew little or practically nothing of the language, and worthy enterprise.
customs, or the modes of living. These handicaps On the first Sunday of April, 1908, ten Japanese made them targets for unprincipled people who men organized themselves into a church. The would prey upon newcomers and take advantage need for a Christian home was becoming felt so of their lack of knowledge in things American. strongly that one was established at a new loca- Accordingly, many Japanese were embittered by tion. In the winter of 1909, work had progressed treatment received at the hand of some Americans to the extent that a call was extended to Mr. Teizo in those days. Nor has that method of treatment Kawai, to come from Japan and become the shep- entirely': ceased even to this day. herd of this little flock. Work grew more rapidly We are grateful, however, that all the Ameri- in the few years that followed and eventually the cans were not that way. For good Christian peo- needs also increased, so that in 1911 the property pIe' in many communities recognized in these on Wall Street near the City Produce Market was strangers an opportunity to render Christlike purchased.- service. They have heard Jesus saying, "I was a Three years later a three~story brick building, stranger, and you took me in. Inasmuch as you with a basement, was erected on the Wall Street did it unto one of the least of these . . . you did property by the Christian Women's Board of Mis- it unto me." sions. This building was the Centennial Memorial The story of the Japanese Christian churches of the Christian women of ,this state. In Novem- in America is generally woven around the lives of ber, 1914, hosts of friends gathered to dedicate some consecrated American Christians who had this new Japanese Christian Institute. Suitable [364 ] equipment and facilities were provided for the dergarten reached its peak of 65, clubs and rec- physical, social, educational, and spiritual growth. reational programs were organized for the grow- Many enterprising young men began to· establish ing boys and girls. Due to the rapid Americani- their homes in the immediate neighborhood of the zation of these children, it was often difficult for Institute. Soon it became advisable to organize parents to understand their children and to re- sewing and cooking classes for the newly arrived lieve this situation a Japanese Language School wives of these young men, and a kindergarten was was established in the summer of 1925, which was instituted for little children. Many other features supported by the parents. This is staffed by a of service were added to the program (e. g. dor- group of teachers whose Christian interest and mitory with 17 rooms and 23 beds, cafeteria, cooperation help develop Christian character in barber shop, bath rooms, employment office, li- the children, as well as furthering the graded club brary, game room, gymnasium, and a chapel) work.
which as we look back add a great deal of color These children grew into youth and as the years to the story. passed have accepted more and more of the duties Up to this time the Christian Women's Board and responsibilities of the church. A leader was of Missions had supported the work but in 1919 needed to give full time to the ministry with the this work became a part of the United Christian oncoming generation of young people, and so in Missionary Society as it brought all mission 1930 a graduate of California Christian College, boards under a united management in that year. Mr. Charles Severns, a well-trained young man No exclusion law was in effect and so a normal was employed for this much needed service. By flow of the Japanese immigration had continued his wise advice and direction, in January, 1933, which helped to add new members to the Church. these young people organized themselves into a During this period such noted evangelists as Rev. Young People's Church, with its own official S. Kimura and Paul Kanamori visited Los An- board, and assumed a considerable amount of geles, and stayed at the Institute for a number of financial obligations. It is interesting to note that days, and many men and women were received a graduate of the first kindergarten class who had into the Church. The evangelistic spirit was kept been active in club and church school and is now burning and the church life reached its peak. a promising young business man of the city was One time the membership was more than 300. In chosen as president of this Junior Board. Most 1923, Mr. Kawai was released from the pastorate of its members, church school teachers and club of Los Angeles Church to the rural districts of leaders, have come through the various depart- Southern California, and K. Unoura, the present ments of the church.
pastor, was called from Berkeley. The church and its many activities completely Constantly through the years the staff of work- outgrew its first home on Wall Street. Finally, ers has included "returned" missionaries who for in 1929, it was possible through the efforts of the health or other reasons had found it impossible to Mission Board and the generosity of California remain in Japan. Because of their experience in friends to build an educational building on a new the homeland of these people they have been bet- site at 822 East 20th Street and many aided with ter able to help in the problems of adjustment to its equipment. Plans were then begun for the American life. Mr. H. H. Guy was among the new church which was completed in May, 1931.
pioneers in this work and Mr. B. E. Watson came The women's missionary societies and councils of to work beside Mr. Unoura when he became pas- Missouri by $25,000 of their Golden Jubilee Fund tor. Miss Polly Dye, of missionary parentage, contributed the larger share to which was added who took charge of the kindergarten about this gifts of California friends which made possible a time has made an unusual contribution because of beautiful two-story stucco church building. The her close contract with the homes. The Kinder- Japanese members and friends contributed $2,500 garten Mother's Club has helped to bring many for furnishings. It has an attractive chapel with of the parents into church fellowship. Miss Dye a pipe organ, a social hall, a church parlor with a was also able because of her friends in other fireplace, parlors for mothers and girls, a game churches of the city to help bring about many room and a library, besides a playground in the friendly contacts. Soon after Mr. Unoura became rear, with four lots, extending 160 feet in front pastor the church became self-supporting while and 150 deep, full of light and fresh air.
the Missionary Society continued to support the Weare grateful to those Christian pioneers who educational workers. laid the foundation of this Christian enterprise, This period is characterized as a time of rapid and for the fellowship of many American friends development of the second generation, leading to with their prayers and financial support; we the establishment of the church of the future. covet the fellowship of American churches, so The Sunday school grew from a mere handful to that in the end we may together establish the enrolment of 250 and thoroughly graded, the kin- Kingdom of God on earth. Effective Ways of Working 'Tested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MRS. ESTELLA S. AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO PLANS AND POLICIES FOR About a Minute-A reminder of the a common purpose. There should lovely things in life that require result a diffused instead of a PROGRAM MAKERS only a minute to do and yet mean specialized interest confined to so much to those for whom they are well-defined groups. The Rev. Before shaping up your sched- done. ules or yearbooks for the au- Mr. Price writes in substance: tumn opening, glance over our Grandfather's Clock-Song. bargain counter and see if there Telling Time-Brief talk on how time A really active missionary commitis not something you may profitably use. All our offerings are has been told through the ages. tee is versatile and conversant with attested by practical trial in In a Clock Store-Phonograph record. the needs of each department of some department of church ac- Pastime-Charades of proverbs on tivity. church life. They should be capable Time. Once Upon a Time-Missionary story. of directing the educational policy of Spare Time-Impromptu three-minute the whole endeavor. They should rec- talks on "What I would do with 24 ommend books and helps, music, pic- hours of absolutely spare time over and above what other people had." tures, arrange for lectures, mission- For Such a Time as This-Inspira- The Year's Keynote tional address based on story of ary plays, concerts or any other kind Queen Esther, and emphasizing the missionary appeal and the responsi- of meeting for spreading real knowl- bility of Christians today. Is this the time, 0 Church of Christ, edge of the work and needs, inviting Each guest was given an at- the membership to contribute such to sound retreat? . tractive mimeographed program To arm with weapons cheap and blunt appropriately decorated wit h service as they are fitted for. Thus outline drawings of an hour The men and women who have borne glass and a clock tower. the choir might be advised of some good cantata or other special music; the brunt It is noteworthy that the pro- Of truth's fierce strife and nobly held gram on "June Brides" recently the Sunday school teachers have rec- exploited in this department their ground? won the second prize in the same ommended to them a series of lessons contest. Is this the time to halt when all suitable for the various ages and in- The Missionary Committee around and Its Work terests; a missionary library should Horizons lift, new destinies confront, It is surprising how many be formed and popularized; mission pastors are still leaving the mis- Stern duties wait our nation, never sionary plans and interests of study courses and schools of missions their churches to hit-or-miss may be promoted; members can be wont luck, with a "catch as catch can," To play the laggard when God's will hodge podge result without fo- asked to serve as collectors, distribu- cus or integration. Rev. Watcyn was found? M. Price, of Wrexham, Wales, tors of magazines or notices of meet- outlines the needs and duties of ings, actors in missionary pageants No! rather strengthen stakes and the church missionary commit- tee. He says that this commit- and dramas, visitors in homes of the lengthen cords. tee ought to represent every de- shut-ins, etc. Enlarge thy plans and gifts, 0 thou partment of the church's life and activities, inclusive of the Such a committee as this can help elect, Sunday school and the young to create a perfect harmony between people. It should not only coor- And to the kingdom come for such a dinate the several plans and have all the different sections of the church general supervision over them time! but radiate enthusiasm to them and that on behalf of World-Evangel- The earth with all its fulness is the all as they make a drive toward ization. Get the very best people to Lord's; [366 ] act on your committee. . Great things attempt for Him, great things expect. THAT ANNUAL BUSINESS Whose love imperial is, whose power MEETING! sublime. -Lutheran Woman's Work.' Under the title of "Fun and Fellowship Inject Life into the A Blue Ribbon Program Annual Meeting," Church Busi- ness describes the usual attitude In the annual program contest toward annual reports, election conducted by Miss Elizabeth I. of officers, etc., as "a bugbear to Fensom, of the Baptist Litera- be avoided." Even if the dinner ture Bureau, the first prize was device to bring out the people is awarded to the "Co-Workers" of a success, the business meetings the Fourth Church, Minneapolis, remain as dull as ever. The need who submitted "A Meeting on is for an injection of more life Time" that had been preceded into the session. Rev. C. Sumby a bon voyage dinner listed on ner Osgood, of White Plains, N. the program as "Dinner Time." Y., writes: The other items were: One year we had a "Campfire Meet- Keeping Time-Group singing. ing." A preliminary letter was sent Right Now-Business. Watchwords-Devotional.
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
to the officers and chairmen asking of forty-two churches (two of them an aid to missionary interest them to use the campfire idea in com- . Negro) representing eight denomipiling their reports. . . . For the natIOns, hold two union functions a among young folks. "Bob the meeting itself, a campfire was easily year, one of a general nature in the Stamper" – himself a "fan"- constructed in the center of the room fall and the other on the annual Day exploits the stamp album as a by concealing red lights under a pile of Prayer. It was decided last fall to key to history by way of memoof wood. We sat around this and have a "World's Fair of Missions" sang, talked and enjoyed the refresh- with booths displaying missionary ar- rial stamps, cancellations of vaments-and held a business meeting rious states and countries with ticles from many lands. Committees almost without knowing it. The main for the several booths were appointed changes in spelling of names as items of the program were: from the different denominatIOns, as- signing fields, as nearly as possible, a clew to the past; to biography Warming Up (songs led by chorister). according to the special denomina- and literature, art and science, The Spell of the Firelight (prayer by tional interests, realizing, of course, as great men in all lines are me- that some denominations are doing morialized; to current events, pastor). work among many peoples. like "A Century of Progress," Ashes from Last Year (minutes from but best of all to missions, as the The exhibits were remarkable for features of foreign nations be- last meeting). their variety and beauty, having been Cord Wood (clerk's report). assembled from the collections of mis- come a call to the heralds of the Back Log (treasurer's report). sionaries and world travelers as well. Great Commission. At the head Seasoned Fuel (the church board). Many articles were of such value that of Boy's department is a jolly Crackling of the Flames (choir re- the city gave special police protection. In addltion to the booths, large charts little cut showing the head of port) . were placed about the room giving Uncle Sam in the midst of faces, Live Coals (the Sunday school). missionary statistics of the various Mongolian, Turkish, Negroid, Smoke (men's club). groups represented. At irregular in- Flame (women's association). tervals throughout the afternoon and Latin-American, etc. An article Kindling (young women's organiza- evening of the exhibition, a musical supplementing this is written by program was presented suitable to Una Roberts Lawrence telling tion) . the different countries and missionary how a devout man of her ac- Fuel Hunter (church visitor). talks given by as many missionaries quaintance, wanting to link up Sparks (Christian Endeavor). as could be procured, refreshments his study of the Bible with the Snappy Little Spa r k I e r s (Boy being served from one special booth, family stamp album as a means these latter being characteristic of of inculcating love for the Book Scouts). the countries. Thus, there were tea of books in his grandchildren, Bundles of Good Wood (committee re- for China, coffee for South America, wrote on each left-hand page a candy stuffed with dates for India, ports) . bread and butter sandwiches for verse of Scripture to fit the Matches (pastor). North America, candied corn for In- Bringing in the New Fuel (election dians, peanuts for the Negroes, cocoa- of officers and new business). Passing Around the Smiles (every- body). Handing Out the Rations (refresh- ments) .
Next year the idea centered around nut for the islands, etc. Small por- stamps on the right, manifesting the U. S. Government. All formality tions only were served as this was a an ingenuity almost incredible. dropped away when we began to think Thus miniature stamp scenes of of ourselves as the U. S. Senate or special food display as part of the ex- hibit-tea in real Chinese canisters, perhaps as the President's Cabinet. whole coffee beans in a South Ameri- mountains are correlated with Our metaphors were a little mixed can bowl, Japanese lilies made from and often not entirely governmental, vari-colored paper napkins, decora- "I will lift up mine eyes unto the but the program was a great success. hills," etc. Numerous stamps The Department of the Treasury tions of artificial cherry blossoms, etc. with cuts of wild animals are Cu!todians of the booths and also never had a better hearing. The De- speakers were, in many cases, in the lined up with "For every beast partment of the Interior appropriately native costumes. ,An item of special interest from a of the field is mine," etc. The closed the meeting with refreshments. flower stamps and their verses Our program included an opening by near-by industrial center was the apa U. S. chaplain (pastor), Bureau of pearance of an Americanization group are almost too beautiful for Permanent Records (minutes), Bu- consisting of children of different nareau of the Census (clerk), Secretary tionalities dressed in the native cos- words, likewise the trees, the of the Treasury, the United Songsters tumes of their parents. birds, the eagles (of which lat- (choir) , Department of Education At nine o'clock all repaired to the ter there was a whole page) and (Sunday school), Secretary of State auditorium where a formal pageant even the automobiles and other (foreign affairs-missionary commit- closed the day. No charge had been tee), Youth Movement (Christian En- made for admission but an offering vehicles, whose balancing verse deavor), Department of Essential was received at the door. An audi- is, "The chariots shall race in the Industries (w 0 men's association), ence or more than 800 people was streets, they shall jostle against Commissioners of Good Works (men's present and at least 150 others had club), Department of Vis ita t ion helped in major or minor degree to one another in the broad ways: (church visitor), Distribution of Con- they shall seem like torches, they make the project a great success. The gressional Report No. 1929 (denomi- Negroes and the Negro music were shall run like lightning." (Nanational handbook), Electoral College taken care of by the colored folk them- hum 2: 4.) Equally ingenious o(eflethcteioInntoefrioofrf.ic*ers), and Department selves, the other musical numbers and is the page of airplanes, whose the parts in the pageant being as- signed among the several denomina- correlate is, "Thou liftest me up An International Missionary tions. to the wind: thou causest me to Project Stamp Collecting as a ride upon it." (Job 30: 22.) Method For a page of Zeppelins there is By MRS. MAUDE FAHS AURAND, this verse: "Who are these that Wheeling, West Virginia Miss Juliette Mather, editor fly as a cloud?" (Isa. 60: 8). Our Interdenominational Mission- of World Comrades, is featuring Ships, w ate r fall s, bridges, ary Federation in this city, consisting a department in her monthly churches, charity stamps, special Negro stamps – all have their • (J/1IU:rch, Business, The Duplex Envelope called "The Stamp Corner" as Co., Richmond, Va. Copyrighted.
counterparts from the Scrip- to each young woman. After a "Ah Fu-A Chinese River Boy" tures. hymn, "Lord Speak to Me," the (50c); "Ah Fu and Me Too" older members get candles and (25c); "The Pilgrim's Party" What a thrill this well-nigh form a circle into which the ($1.50) . universal hobby gives, and how membership chairman leads the fitting it is thus to capitalize a recruits. The president lights KEEPING OUR COLLEGE STUnatural instinct of early youth the candle of the member stand- DENTS MISSIONARY: A young and even mature life in the in- ing next to her and the light is missionary corresponding secreterests of Bible study and the passed on during the repetition tary tells in The Woman's Misspread of Christ's Kingdom of Scripture verses on Light. sionary Friend how her interest throughout the earth! The president next steps into the in her home church and its ob- inner circle, lights candles of jectives was kept alive while she Special Plans for the Young new members, those of the outer was in college. Now and then a Folks circle stepping apart and mak- friendly letter would come from ing room for each recruit as she some missionary-minded woman STEWARDSHIP DECLAMATIONS: receives her light (lights in at home telling the church news room all turned out during this and all about its local activities From W.orld Comrades comes ceremony) .. The president says but adding eye-opening facts that by the lighting of the candle about the Church-at-Iarge, espealso this device for inculcating as a symbol, each one may be- cially in its missionary enterthe principles of Christian stew- come a consecrated member of prises and new endeavors. Not ardship in the youth of various the circle, adding to its luster infrequently an apropos clipping ages. A Stewardship Declama- and receiving radiance in re- from a periodical was inserted. tion Contest, in the course of turn. A closing prayer and a Once the young woman was its pleasing, friendly rivalry, hymn, "Father of Lights," ends asked to be friendly with a for- "teaches tithing to the young this impressive ceremony. eign student on her campus people who study to participate, whom the lady back home knew and through them to the adults MISSIONARY SERVICE FLAGS to be lonely. Again she was told who listen to their practice and FOR YOUNG PEOPLE: This may of a noted missionary speaker presentation." Sunbeam Bands be used as handwork for juniors who was soon to address her stu- (small children) will memorize or even younger children. On a dent body and the hope was exone or the other of two series of special flag, silver and gold stars pressed that she would be sure Scripture verses given in the are pasted and upon these are to hear this speaker. This went magazine. Juniors will select superimposed, one by one, small on in an informal, friendly way one of the talks provided in a pictures of all missionaries all through college; and after leaflet of stewardship talks and whom the children have seen or her graduation the student said give it as a memorized declama- studied about or who have gone it seemed the most natural thing tion. Intermediates are required out from their state, silver be- in the world for her to fit into to select one or the other topic, ing used for those still living. As the missionary life, so that in a "The Lord's Tithe" or "What the a variant from this, children few years she had become the Tithe Can Do" and write a five- may mount and frame cut-out corresponding secretary for one minute essay on it. Young peo- pictures of missionaries and put of the large branches of the ple above that grade are re- them up around the room in work. There is a great art in quired to give an original seven- which meetings are held. keeping missions normal, not minute talk on the stewardship spectacular and occasional. of possessions, based on one of CHINESE RHYMES FOR CHILthe following topics: "The Chris- DREN: This little volume is a THE "COLLEGE ABROAD" MOVEtian's Money Matters" ; "The successor to "Chinese Mother MENT OF THE MET HOD 1ST Frankincense of Giving"; "The Goose Rhymes," by Isaac Taylor CHURCH. A program is being Power of the Tithe"; "Filling Headlam, and gives attractive the Lord's Treasury." Judges- rhymes translated from the Chi- carefully evolved to meet this wise folk not related to any of nese for children from four to need among young people. Youth the contestants-are to be se- twelve years old. Conundrums is in power in the Orient. The lected from outside the church, in rhyme, illustrations on every growing spirit of nationalism recommunity and denomination, page, a delightful oriental air quires native leadership. Young different sets to be provided for and a childish lure make this a college graduates are the only the several age groups. volume every child will enjoy. ones trained to meet the de- (Fleming H. Revell Co., $2.00.) mands of the new day dawning THE RECOGNITION OF NEW in the East. The question is not, MEMBERS IN A YOUNG WOMAN'S BOOKS OF INTEREST TO PRI- "Shall the young people lead?" MISSIONARY SOCIETY: This plan MARY AND KINDERGARTEN CHIL- They are leading. The vital quescomes from the United Lutheran DREN: "Children of the Great tions are, "Shall the young hand Church. The chairman of the Spirit" (Indian, price, $1.00); at the helm be Christian?" and, membership committee presents Chinese Children of Woodcut- "What is our responsibility for the new recruits to the president ter's Lane" (S5c); "The Trea- these struggling young patriots and the latter makes a suitable sure Ship Sails East" ($2.00); across the sea?" welcoming speech outlining the objectives and some of the details, then a flower is presented BULLETIN OF The Council of Women, for Home Missions ANNE SEESHOLTZ, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 105 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK ~~I==============================.~ FOR PEACE THE TRIUMPH OF War Will Disappear When the In the Order for Morning GOODWILL People Decide that the Prayer, Daily throughout the Time Has Come! Year there are three collects; The Church School Union of the first of the Day, specially ap- Queens Village, Bellaire, and The Marathon Round Tables pointed; the second, for Peace; Bellerose, New York, presented 1934 have for objective to dethe third, for Grace to live well. The Triumph of Goodwill, a velop and clarify public opinion, Pageant-Drama, by Jennie Cart- to make public opinion function, And the two last collects shall land Callister, in Hollis Masonic and to decide how organized never alter, but daily be said at Temple May 18, commemorating public opinion can protect the Morning Prayer throughout the Goodwill Day. The cooperating world against war. This can be year, as followeth; all kneeling. schools were from two Baptist achieved if men and women in The Second Collect, for Peace churches, one Evangelical Re- each community, large and small agree to try the conference o God, who art the author of formed, one Methodist Episco- method in which by logic and pal, one Congregational and two agreement the best ways to propeace and lover of concord, in Lutheran churches. The pageant ceed are· found. The general knowledge of whom standeth subject for 1934 is "The Evolv- shows by historical scenes the ing Foreign Policy of the United our eternal life, whose service is futility of armed force and preperfect freedom; defend us thy sents the claims of Goodwill as States." Such questions as, Is a method of maintaining peace isolation possible or desirable? humble servants in all assaults among the nations. The histori- Can we have permanent national of our enemies; that we, surely cal episodes are bound together recovery without international trusting in thy defence, may not by well selected music. The play cooperation? Granted that the closes with an effective appeal desire of the government and its fear the power of any adver- for the release of Goodwill, and saries ; through the might of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
"Whose Service Is Perfect the whole assembly "pledging people is for world peace and se- Freedom" prayers and consecrating our- curity, what policies have been selves" to fulfill the mission of in harmony with this objective? Truly, in every age and every securing the triumph of Good- What policies have delayed its clime' and among many peoples will. achievement? By what immesome men experience the truth diate steps could the government of "service that is perfect free- The various episodes were turn our policy toward this obdom" while the many seeking prepared by the church schools. jective? What can individuals freedom by violence against each The occasion was a community and local organizations do to upother find themselves desper- gathering of young and old in hold and strengthen the developately bound. And there is no full participation. The admis- ment of a constructive foreign hope in them! policy? What are you doing in sion fee of twenty-five cents Listen to Rabindranath Ta- your community? gore in "Fruit-Gathering" ex- doubtless covered the five-dollar The Peace Service, "On What press the same truth in other royalty and other expenses. language, yet the same experi- Mrs. Callister, who was present, Peace Depends," prepared by ence caught in poetry: spoke simply of the immediate Mrs. Pierson P. Harris, and need for practicing goodwill in published by the International "What is there but the sky, 0 Sun, our hearts, homes, communities, Relations Committee of the that can hold thine image?" and nation. One of the young Council of Women for Home Missions, Foreign Missions Con- "I dream of thee, but to serve thee, I members of the community had ference Committee on Women's can never hope." The dewdrop prepared a poster on The New Work, and the National Council wept and said, "I am too small to of Federated Church Women, is take thee unto me, great Lord, and Patriotism. Invitation was ex- ready for distribution and use at my life is all fears." a cost of 2c apiece or $1.50 per tended to all present to partici- hundred. They may be ordered "I illumine the limitless sky, yet I can pate in the NO MORE WAR yield myself up to a tiny drop of parade on the following day. from any denominational Head- dew," thus the Sun said, "I shall Further information concerning quarters. become but a sparkle of light and the pageant-play can be secured fill you, and your little life will be from the editor. a laughing orb."
[369 ] COMMUNITY WORLD Thus it is community spirit in- accompanied by the young peo- spired by the thought of actual ple of the church to a picnic site FRIENDSHIP WEEK goodwill that binds a people to- in the country. Games, stunts, Did you ever try a World gether. a steak fry help to get everyone Friendship week in your com- acquainted. Each student is a munity? In 1932, the Religious St. Matthew records t hat guest in a private home. Jesus said, "For where two or Education Committee of the three are gathered together in The Sunday school hears brief Council of Churches of Canan- my name, there am I in the messages from the students and daigua, New York, had such a midst of them." Jesus also said, week. Thus the program ap- "Arise, and be not afraid! If ye each attends one of the classes. know these things, happy are ye The guests participate in the peared as a normal part of the if ye do them." regular Sunday morning church task of religious education. Cooperation with Parent-Teachers' VITAL HOME CONTACTS service for which an internagroups added to the success of FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS tionally known speaker is sethe week. The week's plans in- cured. After Sunday dinner the cluded sermons in all the By far the most permanent students may take short motor churches the first Sunday morn- and transforming contribution rides or hikes. Motion pictures ing on the theme "Religious Edu- to the life of foreign students is are taken, and ten different forcation as a basis of World made in our homes. Formal tea ums are conducted, on as many Friendship." Union Young Peo- parties, luncheons and dinners different countries; these forums· ple's Service with lunch preced- are useful but not very effective are led by the foreign students, ing was held, at which time the in establishing real friendship. and some lively questions and possibility of world peace in the Guest students do appreciate an discussions result. A farewell present generation was dis- invitation to spend a week-end supper in the parish house, with cussed. Over seventy school pu- or a longer period with an brief messages by the foreign pils were in poster contests us- American family. students, closes the day's proing the theme "World Friend- gram. ship and World Peace." There In the suburban churches were special movies such as around New York, Philadelphia, The principal reasons for the "The Broken Lullaby," and for Boston, Chicago, and other met- success of this project are the the children "Around the World ropolitan centers, much enthusi- early and careful local planning in Eighty Minutes." In the his- asm for acquaintance with for- by the Educational Director; tory classes there was study of eign students is being mani- the budget appropriation, allow.- the growth of peace movements fested. A well organized annual ing a small grant to each foreign as in the Kellogg-Briand pact, week-end conference in May has student, covering expenses; and the League of Nations, World been promoted by the initiative careful selection of students by the Committee in New York.
Court. The grade school chil- of the Director of the Educa- Foreign students enjoy this dren dramatized "Good Will the tional Department of Prospect sort of a week-end because they Magician" and similar themes. Presbyterian Church in Maple- are not "being entertained," but Prominent citizens wrote on sub- wood, New Jersey. The Friendly are really contributing much to jects related to World Peace for Relations Committee Am 0 n g a better appreciation of their Foreign Students in New York countries and culture. . the newspapers. In addition, there was a World cooperates in discovering and Why not greatly multiply the Friendship Exhibit held in a va- enlisting ten foreign students, number of projects of this kind? cant store room in the busy part each representing a country. Let the Friendly Relations Comof town. Here a large map of They are welcomed in Maple- mittee, 347 Madison Avenue, the world indicated the peace wood Saturday afternoon and New York, help you.
movements at work (and not the dangerous war areas), flags of all nations, books for teachers on World Friendship, posters by children of other lands, posters on peace and goodwill made by Canandaigua boys and girls.
Transparencies of Dutch and Japanese life also made in the schools were hung in the win- dows.. One's imagination readily supplIes other details essential to the observance of such a week.
As far as is known, "no individ- ualand no organization refused to cooperate in this community project. The whole city was thinking and talking Peace." GUEiSTS ATTENDING O'ON'FEmENCE , MAPLEWOOD, 1933
OF THE PACIFIC confessed to the boy that it was established. With real
through lack of love she had corrected spirit this young man, while In the New Hebrides him so harshly. Needless to say he pursuing his studies, has been was touched by this humility and ac- instrumental in gathering a The Australian Presbyterian knowledged his fault. congregation which is now con- Mission in the New Hebrides re- sidered as an organized church. ports that the government is Important Church in Samoa making further efforts for the -Philippine Presbyterian. welfare of the native popula- For nearly ninety years there tion: has been a Protestant Church Philippine Council in Apia for Europeans. Last (a) In Malekula two British sub- year nine half-castes and one The first report of the Philipjects and a French citizen were fined New Zealander joined this pine Council (founded 1933), for supplying alcohol to natives. church. Rev. H. S. Perkins eleven denominational organiza- writes that in a year of political tions, has just been made public. (b) A British subject, John Steph- unrest, and the deepest depres- It was formed by mission ens, of South Santo, was sentenced by sion in trade, the churches in his boards, realizing the need of the British National Court at Vila to district have maintained their united and continuous study of a year's imprisonment with hard la- reputation for generous giving the needs, progress and opporbor for cruelly ill-treating a young by raising for church purposes tunities of this field. It intends girl worker on his plantation. £200 more than last year. The to review periodically all the total was equal to that of a good work of cooperating boards. (c) Quite recently the people who year in prosperous times. at South Santo the Christmas before The Philippine Council began last were driven from their village This church serves as a bridge functioning April 1, with E. W. and land by a young Frenchman, have between Samoans and Euro- Higdon of Manila as secretary. been authorized to re-occupy their peans. The Council advises the publicaholding without molestation till the tion of a single Christian evan- Land Court may deal with Santo -The Chronicle (L. M. S.) gelistic paper in English. It lands. recommends that lay leadership Largest Evangelical Church be prepared for communities Punishment of a minor nature has in Philippines that cannot support paid Chrisbeen inflicted by the Condominium tian leaders. The several de- Government Courts on some men who With a record of almost con- nominations at home are urged have supplied liquor to natives; but tinuous state of revival for over to see that Filipinos in the in some cases the illegal recruiting of thirty years, the church in United States receive more native women remains unchecked. Guijulngan remains the largest, friendly attention from the There seems to be no place where the and in point of organization, one churches, particularly in areas Government can be said to be fully of the most effective of Presby- on the Pacific coast, Chicago and effective in the control of abuses. terian churches in the Philip- other centers. pines. The two Malahay broth- Papuans Are Learning ers, Silliman students, organized The Council records its atti- meetings in their home in 1903, tude toward Philippine inde- Miss Mary Abel, of the New which, in 1909, resulted in the pendence: Guinea Evangelization Society, formation of a church with 448 writes that in the work among members. The brothers have In the establishment of a govern- 176 boys and girls at Kwato been the only pastors of this ment in which the Filipino people (one of the stations), eleven church, now numbering over should have both legislative and ad- Papuan monitors, all Christian, 2,000. Much of this achieve- ministrative responsibilities we believe are being given increasing re- ment is due to "Mother Mala- that before independence is effected the sponsibility, so that they may be hay," who learned to read her following provisions should be safeable to take charge of the work. Bible at the age of 70. All her guarded, namely, an international Miss Abel says: children are active in Christian agreement neutralizing the whole is- service, either as ministers or as land territory; a reciprocity agree- This is by no means easy. The officers in the church. A grand- ment relative to duties and quotas on Papuan hates to appear different from son, now in Silliman, asked for imports with equal economic advanhis neighbors, and has the natural dis- evangelistic work and was as- tages, thus avoiding an undue influence like of being unpopular. These moni- signed a field about one year ago by a few American producers; a retors have to report anything they fa.r to the south, where no per- ciprocal immigration agreement based think to be wrong, and may have to manent organization had been on quota policy now governing such punish those who do wrong, which relations with other peoples; a plan does not win popularity. One of the [371 ] for protecting the rights of minorities girl monitors who had shown little true in the Islands. love for those under her, one day corrected one of the older school boys for -Christian Advocate. breaking a law, and did it in a manner which caused a hasty retort. The next morning the monitor realized that she had failed her Master, and, though it cost her all her pride, she
NORTH AMERICA ground, among them the Presby- ference held last spring was the terians, with an apparent de- best in years. The North Caro- A Missionary Looks at U. S. crease of 42,456, and the Con- lina, Georgia, and Alabama Con- gregationalist-Christians, with a ferences were interracial in A missionary who returned to loss of 22,213. In some cases character, and the South Caro- America after six years in In- this decrease is due to a clarify- lina Union for the first time cardia, and visited the churches in ing of church rolls by a removal ried through a conference charhis own land writes: "Arriving of inactive names. The Roman acterized by Christian interrain this country two years ago, I Catholic Church is still the larg- cial fellowship. Students were soon became convinced that In- est single denomination in the present from some twenty coldia is in no greater need of country, with a total member- leges and as many as 175 people Christianization than America. ship of 20,324,144, including all were in some of the sessions. There seemed to be no place in baptized children. Among Protthe church where the Spirit of estant denominational groups No effort is made to conceal God could break out. A year in the Baptists lead, with a mem- from students the fact that Teachers' College, New York, bership of 9,866,209; and the boards are not sending out many only increased the sense of ur- Methodists next, with a mem- new missionaries. This situagency. There seemed need for bership of 8,766,017. tion is made a challenge to stua movement, like Indian Na- dents to assume an ever larger tionalism, which would cut deep The report shows a total of share of responsibility for seeinto the life of the church, be 299,518 ministers in the United ing that the Church goes forpurifying in power, and make States, while the number of ward with its God-given mis- Christianity frankly repudiate churches is 242,011. That is, sionary task. There is a steadily the guilt of our day; that would there are 2,493 more churches increasing number of students, bring conviction, repentance and than ministers but many of these with a deep Christian conviction conversion, with a new content. churches are small missions. and a sense of world-wide mis- It would be individual, as it only The report shows conclusively sion, who are determined that could be, but it must be as social that the Church is steadily pro- the future shall be different as redemption, as Christ's Cross. gressing, and is still the nation's from the present. Devoted ministers and laymen greatest going concern. are saying something must be Meeting on Religious Liberty done, but often there is a feeling "Egg-a-Meal" for the Minister of futility. More than ever New conditions in various there is need of Christian awak- Rev. George Dorey, D.D., of lands are restricting religious ening in America." Regina, Saskatchewan, recently freedom especially in regard to visited a church in the "dried teaching the Gospel, including -World Methodist Press. out area" of western Canada, where for four consecutive years preaching and religious educa- Membership Increasing the crops have failed, with every tion, missionary schools and indication for worse failure in property rights. According to The Christian 1934. Dr. Dorey found there is Herald annual report of church still interest in maintaining the Increasing restriction is due statistics, prepared by Dr. church and Sunday school. to nationalism, to a resentment George Linn Kieffer, president or fear of the liberalizing influof the Association of American "One man said they had got a ence of Protestantism, to the ef- Religious Statisticians in 1933, number of farmers to promise fect of a monopolistic religionreligious bodies showed a total an 'Egg-A-Meal' for the min- as Catholicism or Mohammenet gain of 655,482. The total ister's salary. This would mean danism – to active irreligion, of membership in all denomina- nearly two dozen eggs a week and to the monopolistic view of tions reached 60,812,874. The per family to be turned in at the the state and to other causes. proportion of church members store where the minister and his to the total population of the family buy their groceries. In- An advisory group of the In- United States showed a gain quiring about the price of eggs ternational Missionary Council from 46.60% in 1926, and I was told they were ten cents a was called to meet on May 10 48.19% in 1932, to 48.3770 in dozen, with every prospect of under the leadership of Dr. 1933. This seems to refute the being lower." Joseph P. Chamberlain, Profesmagazine articles which en- sor of Law Drafting at Columdeavor to prove that the Church The Volunteer Movement bia University, to discuss these is losing ground. questions and the following per- Interest in the Christian meS– sons reported. Dr. John A. The largest increase was by sage and task, and especially in Mackay on Mexico; Dr. Fred F. the Methodists with a total gain Christian missions, continues to Goodsell on Turkey; Dr. Robert of 213,662. The Baptists were grow in student circles, wher- S. McClenahan on Egypt; Dr. second, with a gain of 193,571. ever the staff of the Student Guy S. Inman on Peru; Dr. P. Other increases were shown by Volunteer Movement secretaries H. J. Lerrigo on Congo; Dr. A. the Lutherans, 65,782, and the have been able to help. Reports L. Warnshuis on China and Miss Roman Catholics, 53,426. Some indicate that the Connecticut Helen Clarkson Miller gave her denominations, apparently lost Valley Student Volunteer Con- observations in the Near East.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Christian-Jewish Seminar and 1,513 letters were for- mountains. He settled near what warded. Seventeen missing sea- is now Salem, Oregon, and be- Last April in Toronto the first men were located and brought gan his missionary work. His Canadian Seminar on Christian- in contact with their relatives. arrival antedated the coming of Jewish Relations was held. It Free instruction in English was any Protestant party by two was attended by leading Cana- given in classes meeting twice a years, and the planting of the dian laymen and clergymen, week for over five months of the first Catholic Mission by four both Jewish and Christian. The year, and thousands of dollars years.-Christian Advocate. speakers emphasized that only was handled for the sailors. by a genuine desire on the part About $92,000 was handled for LATIN AMERICA of both Jew and Gentile to un- seamen in one way or another. derstand and help each other can The attendance at some 250 serv- Anti-Religious Textbook anti-Semitism in Canada be ices totaled 15,600. checked. Pleas were made for ~he ~ederal. Ministry of Eduthe cessation of antipathy and In San Francisco, three hun- catIon III MexIco (according to the creation of tolerance, sym- dred and forty seamen received The New York Times) has inpathy and active cooperation. Christmas gifts from the mis- troduced a "Manual of Anti- sion. There were 6,652 meals Religious Education" for use as Three round table discussions served and 6,000 loaves of bread an official textbook in primary dealt with "Evidences of Anti- were distributed. At this sta- schools and night schools for Semitism in Canada," "The Edu- tion 6,085 letters and 3,582 par- workers. The book contains cational Problem of the Jews in cels and papers were handled for chapters with such headings as Canada with Emphasis upon sailors. The relatives of eight "Why We Combat Religion" Cultural and Vocation Train- sailors were reunited with their and "The School vs. Religion>' ing," and "Are There Funda- boys. Devotional services are The second portion of the book mental Differences in Moral held twice a week and on Sun- traces the history of religion Emphasis Between Jews and day. They were attended by from the beginnings of Chris: Christians ?" 9,634 persons. This home han- tianity to the present situation dled almost $30,000 for seamen. i~ Soviet Russia, explaining reli- Need for Negro Doctors Both these missions are main- gIOn on a materialistic basis. tained by Norwegian Lutherans. In an 80,000-word report, The book has been placed in made public by the National As- On the "Oregon Trail" all official schools, and an atsociation for the Advancement of tempt is being made to have it Colored People, the Harlem Hos- The "Jason Lee Special" is a required in private school curpital investigating committee as- covered motor wagon which riculums. Mexico City bookselserts that Negro physicians are started from Boston, April 16, to lers, however, refuse to handle ineligible to membership in the follow the trail of Jason Lee it, or even place it on display. American Medical Association in from Boston to Salem, Oregon. one-third of the States. The re- Lee was sent out in 1834 by the Progress Step by Step port stresses the "need for an in- Methodist Missionary Society as crease in the number of well- the first missionary of any In the face of difficulty and qualified Negro physicians," and church to the American Indians determined opposition, definite calls upon American universities in that territory, and remained progress is reported by the to "widen the existing oppor- to found a white civilization in Episcopal Suffragan of Mexico. tunity for ambitious and well- the Pacific Northwest. One hun- Here are a few instances: qualified Negro students to enter dred years ago he traveled with medical schools." The commit- the outfit of Captain N. J. A new and well furnished parish tee points out that there are only Wyeth, a fur trader from Bos- hall for the Church of San Pedro 0!l~-fourth as many Negro phy- ton. The "covered wagon" of Martir now serves as a social center . SICIans as there should be in the the emigrant had not then come in that village. G<lvernment decree country, and only two medical into use. Wyeth's company has allowed the Bishop the use of an schools for Negro students, traveled on horseback, carrying old church in San Sebastianito. which Howard and Meharry, both of little provision with them and is undergoing repairs and will be in which "fall behind other Grade depending for food upon their use soon. Use of an abandoned meet- A schools in equipment and per- rifles. Deer, prairie fowl and ing-house in the village of Ayapango sonnel." buffalo by the million then was secured from the Methodist au- abounded in the Indian country. thQ~ties, f?r a small group of COllb- -The World Tomorrow. Lee conducted in southern Idaho mumcants In need of a church; their the first formal Protestant reli- children were growing up with no re- Seamen's Missions gious service in the vast interior ligious training. Government permis- lying west of the Rocky Moun- sion for the repair and use of the The Seamen's Mission of tains. He also drove the first building was expected soon. The new Seattle reports some interesting cattle over the Rockies. Two Calvary Church in the village of Los facts: the reading room was years later Marcus Whitman Reyes-Golox was consecrated befQre a visited by 170,000 men. Letters took the first wagon over the gathering of four hundred people. and packages received reached The Church of the Incarnation, Amea total of 16,466 separate items cameca, which was in ruinous condi- tion, has been repaired. In Zoquipan the government has granted the use of a former Roman church. This was only a temporary building and was in deplorable condition but it responded
to careful treatment and is now a society. The working people are over to a large meeting-room, decent and dignified place of worship. insistent upon what they deem while in the bow are the living In each of these places church their rights, and their clamor is quarters of the evangelist and members have given material intensified by the extravagance his wife. Usually the boat ties and labor with enthusiastic sac- of the old aristocratic families. up at a riverside town for a rifice. Young people's interest in week or more at a time. Regu- Puerto Rico's Problems Christianity is awake, and con- lar meetings are held on the ferences are productive of lead- boat which draw many people ership among youth. A large The situation in Puerto Rico by their novelty. On a recent is made up of a variety of criti- conference for young people is Sunday 80 people attended the cal problems, such as poverty, planned for Santiago, Chile, this service on one boat, and of these year. At San Fernando in the about two-thirds were unconoverpopulation, disaster and dis- south, the Mission Gospel Bus verted seekers. Bible study ease following the hurricanes, meetings are held in the middle and a political crisis where all has had the voluntary assistance of the week, and Testaments are factions are at each others' of young people constantly at sold to new converts. throats. Protestant Christian- meetings in outlying districts. ity also faces a crisis. There This Gospel Bus traveled over A large part of the evangelseems no way of protecting the 5,000 miles through the country ist's work is done outside of reg- during the year. ular meetings. He has opportuisland from a whirlpool of con- tradictory creeds. New sects Through Bahia with the Bible nity each day of making new continue to arrive on every boat, contacts. Sailors and idlers of each teaching that all the rest Mr. F. C. Glass, with two Bra- every sort are encountered on are doomed. Black and white zilian companions, made a Bible the wharves, and even while the magic have also taken possession campaign trip a few months ago boat is under way, the evangelof some of the churches. One through Bahia, a central state of ist has a chance to distribute of the missionaries reports that Brazil as large as Spain and tracts to lock-keepers and to in a church he visited Voodoo- Portugal, and with a population sailors on other boats met in the ism had cast a black cloud over of 4,000,000, largely Catholic course of their travels. a group of women. In another but only so in name. Over difchurch an elderly woman teach- ficult roads and through many Religious Minorities er of a Bible class among the difficulties, such as being mis- In The Presbyterian Advance Jebaros uses a Bible by rubbing taken for bandits, league after Dr. J. Ross Stevenson, President league of this state was crossed of Princeton Theological Semiit over her body when she is sick. and recrossed, and everywhere nary, pictures the need of the The result of such conditions is the Bible was gladly received. several scores of religious mithat the intellectual class is not norities in Europe. The Magyar in the church, although many Without fear, the people read the Scriptures at street corners, Reformed congregations in Ruare disciples of Jesus Christ. or in their own doorways. Some mania, Jugoslavia and Czecho- -Christian Advocate.
The Gospel in Chile three thousand miles were trav- slovakia; the Lutheran and Re- ersed, and about six hundred formed villages in Austria, in The Presbyterian Board (U. Bibles and Testaments, and western Poland; the Protestants S. A.) reports that its southern- three thousand Gospels were .of Greece – both Presbyterian most work in South America is sold, and many given away. and Congregational – and a located in Chile on the Pacific One feature of the journey number of others have fre- side of the Andes. The work was the twenty lantern lectures, quently been in the direst straits .centers, as does the life of Chile, given often in the open-air, and during the past two decades.
in Santiago. Within its borders sometimes on the white walls of Many are living close to the sub- live nearly 700,000 people, one- Roman Catholic churches, with sistence level. It is difficult to seventh of the total population of the full approval of the inhabi- choose the strategic points to the country. The swarming tants. At other places the best which aid should be brought.
mass of the under privileged and halls of the town were freely Heart-rending cries for help come illiterate who migrate to the city placed at the disposal of the from Christians·in all parts of Soviet constitute one of Chile's major evangelists. Russia and, paradoxically enough, a sociological problems. EUROPE large part of these appeals come from McAll Mission Gospel Boats While there has been much un- the eastern Ukraine, one of the most rest, Chile has fared better than most of South America during fertile areas of the whole vast coun- try. The seizure of breadstuffs for feeding the urban populations has left the farmers with hardly enough to the troublous days of 1933. Per- An effective means of preach- keep body and soul together. Without haps the worst aftermath of the ing the Gospel is conducted in semblance of trial or any kind of leP.'al crisis of last year has been the France by the McAll Mission procedure, men and women are outbreak of hate and irreligion through its two canalboats, ply- snatched away from their families, to be held in prison, often for several in protest against the callous- ing the rivers that converge in ness of the professing Chris- the neighborhood of Paris. The days without food or blankets, sometians who constitute the bulk of interior of each boat is given times to be as suddenly released, but often to be deported to the penal
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
settlements, or simply to disappear Reichsbishop. The constitutions contributing to the support of without further news ever being re- of the various synods have been the work, and then .go out into ceived of or from them. When an abolished by decree of the the world to take up their work explanation is given at all, it is usu- Reichsbishop. The actions of in the designated mission field.
ally: "Guilty of religious propaganda." Yet religion is not stamped out. Every- the Pastors' Emergency Federa- Twenty-one sons and daughters thing that is done for these people is helping to sustain and further one of tion and the Pastors' Fraternity of Denmark are at work in the the most interesting post-Reforma- in the Rhineland having been foreign field today. tional religious movements in Europe. evidence of determined resist- -Moravian Missions.
Moreover, the location of these active ance to the racializing and coand fervent evangelical groups so near the frontier of atheist Russia may at ercing of the Church, means AFRICA some future time make them a factor were taken to break up these Changed Sentiment in Egypt to be reckoned with when the day of organizations. The secret police the "Glorious Return" dawns for Rus- provided the needed evidence of The v i 0 len t anti-Christian sian Christianity. "disloyalty" on the part of lead- disturbances by Egyptian Mos- lem leaders has not only sub- Oncken Centenary ers of these groups. sided, but the aftermath seems The selection of those students to be a more widespread and An important centenary of deepened interest in the Christhis year was on April 22 and who are to be permitted to study tian message. Mr. J. E. Kin- 23. One hundred years ago for the ministry is announced near, of the Nile Mission Press, Johann Oncken and six compan- to have been placed in the hands cites a case as evidence of a ions were baptized, and formed of the leaders of "Hitler Youth." marked change in attitude. the first Baptist church at Ham- If this is true, it represents the burg, Germany. This movement most sinister development yet in In October a Moslem parent brought extended its influence over most the tragic misfortunes of the his boy to a Christian mission in Cairo of Europe, and even to the other to have him enrolled. The principal German churches. -Federal Council Bulletin.
continents. Millions of converts, Denmark a Missionary Land of the school, interviewing him, carelives radically changed, the New fully pointed out that Christian wor- Testament message carried over- Denmark has less than fifteen ship and Christian instruction held a seas by thousands of emigrants, thousand square miles of terri- central place in the life of the school. foreign mission enterprises ini- tory, and about two and a half "Oh, yes, I am quite aware of that, millions in population. It has and I don't mind at all," was the surtiated and sustained in Asia, only one Moravian congregation, prising reply. "I want to enroll him Africa and South America are in this school of yours, and you can make a Christian of him if you like. among the fruits of the European Baptist movement, which namely, that of Christiansfeld in In fact, I don't mind if you use force may fairly be dated from the Nord Schleswig. This congrega- to do it!" baptism of Oncken. He, him- tion numbers about 215 commuself, is an important figure in nicants, and a total membership Another educated M 0 s I e m church history, and Hamburg of less than 300; a tiny church wrote a long letter for the Cairo press, from which are the folcounts him among its famous in a little land. In addition is lowing extracts: "We wonder citizens. Oncken, when asked the Diaspora center at Freder- why the missionaries are athow many missionaries he' had ica, in Denmark proper. But tacked now after they have been in Germany, replied, "Seven these two centers are dynamic in the country for about a cen- with missionary zeal. All over tury, since their motives, their thousand." "You misunderstood the question; that is the num- the land are organizations for work and message remain the the dissemination of missionary same. . . . We hold, with the ber of your members, but we knowledge and the gathering of missionaries, that conversion to want to know how many missionaries." "Seven thousand," funds. Nor does the work stop' Christianity is not a mere transhe rejoined. "Among us in Ger- here. The Societies seek re- fer of a person from one reli- cruits among the young people gious denomination to another; many every member is a missionary." for volunteer work. The little it is a complete spiritual change, Danish m 0 nth I y missionary including his feelings, deeds and German Protestants magazine consequently publishes sayings, and his mode of think- from time to time the names and ing, prompted by spiritual mo- News from Germany indicates pictures of these recruits, and, tives.
a considerable measure of defeat almost invariably, there is like- "Invaluable service has been of the forces in the Protestant wise a written word from the re- rendered to Egypt and the Near Church devoted to the historic, cruit, telling of his experience in East by missionaries; the first universal and evangelical Chris- spiritual things, his home life, voice raised against immorality tian faith. Propaganda, threats, his upbringing, his fin din g and prostitution and in favor of ruthless force and the breaking Christ, and his call to mission the liberation of slaves was the of promises have characterized service through the Lord's lead- voice of missionaries. Attention the battle against the brave pas- ing and under the direction of was first drawn by missionaries tors who have dared to put alle- the Church. These young re- to the danger of intoxication and giance to Christ ahead of obedi- cruits visit various sections of drug-taking. It was the missionence to Chancellor Hitler and the the country, meet those who are ary who first made a good and
exact translation of the Bible Rebuffs were few and large a fact that the English High into Arabic. It was they who congregations assembled, some Church society (S. P. G.) withestablished schools, institutions, even climbing trees in their ea- drew, the remaining six have hospitals, printing presses and gerness to hear. At the close of faithfully continued the work, service a printed summary of under the direction of a commitorphanages in our midst." -Moody Monthly. the sermon was given out. tee, which has a seat in the capi- In this area, lapsed Christians tal Tananarive, and in which all In Kano After Forty Years number in the tens of thousands, are represented. It was agreed at the outset that each mission Kano, walled capital of Hausa- with still other thousands of should have its well defined heathen at the very door of the sphere of work and should obliland, is a city where Orient and church. It is impossible to claim gate itself not to start congrega- Occident meet. Politically and much more than that a church tions outside of it. commercially important, it has has been planted, and the great grown from one city to seven, need is for just such follow-up The conference has since then work as these students are doing. met in 1920 (in connection with including the original Hausa the centennial celebration of the metropolis, the ghetto, the Syr- -C. M. S. Gleaner. beginning of Protestant misian quarter, the European trad- sions in Madagascar) in 1926 Model Village at Kikongo and again in August 1933. The ing area and various other sec- tions.
For the Sudan Interior Mis- A beginning has been made on head of the Paris Mission, Monsion the special interest in Kano a model village project at Ki- dain, was elected president of lies in the fact that it was the kongo. A village has been staked the conference and the head of prime objective of three pioneer out, and each family assigned a the Norwegian Mission as vice- missionaries in 1893, two of certain plot. A plan for the president. The reports made at whom laid down their lives in measurement and staking out of the conference gave a living im- the effort to reach it with the the houses has been furnished pression of the important posi- Gospel. To occupy it for Christ the village, and each house is tion held by the Protestant mishas been a hope of the Mission built after that plan. A broad ever since. After forty years of street lined with citronella grass sion and church in Madagascar; but it was also strongly emphawaiting, of prayer and effort, at runs through the center of this sized, that large areas of the last the mission is granted a site model village which has its own island are still without the inupon which it may establish it- school and church, temporarily self in this city which is the key meeting on the veranda of the fluence of the Gospel. Among the subjects discussed to the whole interior region. The chief's spacious house. The na- at the conference were; "Inwork is being initiated by Wil- tives are entering very enthusi- creased Cooperation," "T h e liam H. Hockman. astically into the plan. In addi- -Moody Monthly. tion, the agriculturist is now Protestant Faith," "The Duty of the Church Toward the Young," able to put his ideas into prac- "Protestant Literature." An im- Students Practice Evangelism tice, and each student spends a portant result of the meeting was part of the day in gardening. An evangelistic campaign un- a resolution that the two hymn Married students have their own books, one Reformed and one der the direction of students has plots to cultivate. Classes are Lutheran, should be merged into come to be recognized as a nor- held twice a week in practical a common hymn book for all the mal part of college training in agriculture. Protestant churches in Madagasmission schools. One such mis- -Congo Mission News. car. sion conducted by students of WE,STERN ASIA Bishop Tucker Memorial Col- Cooperation in Madagascar lege, at Mukono, is worthy of Commmunism and Veiled mention. Three groups worked The following interesting in- Women at three centers, five, eight and formation in Dansk Missions- Uzbekistan is an area of the sixteen miles from Mukono. The blad:- .
objective was to arouse Chris- In Madagascar, where the Soviet Union which was once tians to their responsibility as Norwegian Mission Society has Mohammedan. Since the Bolchurch members. On the Sun- a large mission field, with over shevist domination, women have day preceding the mission, the 100,000 Christians, there are also been emancipated from wearing leader of each party went to his six other Protestant mission so- a veil, but according to a report allotted village to be introduced. cieties at work, namely two Nor- from Moscow there has been a Wednesday, he conducted a spe- wegian-American m iss ion s, sharp clash over this time-honcial prayer meeting. Saturday three English, (L. M. S., S. P. ore d Mohammedan custom. was given up to visiting. Printed G., and F. F. M. A.), and the Eight members of the Communletters of welcome to the Sunday French Protestant Missionary ist party have been expelled for services were distributed from Society, (M. P. F.). compelling their wives to don house to house an evidence of In 1913 these seven societies veils, while a ninth escaped with the extent to which education held a conference which led to a reprimand when he allowed his fruitful cooperation. While it is wife to unveil her face. has become general.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
In the ten years since the rule safe to wander at will. Two of the today than it did in the Roman against veiling came into effect, Empire during the first three a large number of women who most Christian things I saw in the centuries." cast aside their heavy horsehair city are, first the work of Sister Nelly, veils have been murdered by The field of the Andhra Christheir husbands; but fully 175,- the Swiss nurse at the government tian Council covers the areas of 000 women in Uzbekistan have hospital, who goes about her work like South India, where Telugu is the discarded the veil. Thousands predominant language. Out of a cast their veils on bonfires at the a saint of God in the midst of tre- population of 25,089,775, the annual women's day celebration Christians now number 819,699. on March 8. -N. Y. Times. . mendous difficulties, and who shows Deducting 85,760 Roman Cath- Christ in her life and face; and olics, the Christian population, Ibn Saud a Shrewd King sec~md,. the little Legation dispensary with whose welfare the Council WhICh IS open to all comers and where is concerned, numbers 760,963, Mrs. Dame, a missionary of the patients are treated free by the scattered over 11,055 towns and the Reformed Church in Amer- villages. The Madras Presidency ica, visited Riadh, seat of the Legation doctor, for no apparent rea- census report for 1931 shows court of Ibn Saud, in Central that while the general popula- Arabia. In a recent issue of the son except that we are a Christian tion had increased by eleven per New York Times she gave im- nation, and cannot go anywhere with- cent during the preceding years, pressions of the Arab chieftain. the Christian population during out imitating the Good Physician. the same period had increased King Ibn Saud would command at- by fifty-two per cent, as far as tention in any company. He is simple, Wernet a very influential man, the Telugu language area is cond~rect, unaffected and undoubtedly whose son came to our hospital last cerned. SIncere. At the same time he is shrewd, diplomatic and opinionated. year and said that he had had a vision There are twenty-one mis- He seems to have a firm hold on the of Christ calling him to follow Him. sions, churches and institutions affections of his people. His diplo- in the Madras section and nine macy is well known. He told us that he could only do this in the Nizam's Dominions, rep- on condition we wrote a letter to the resented on the Council. To keep several wives and concubines, as well as a dozen or more of Governor of the North-West Frontier -Watchman-Examiner. sisters and daughters of various ages and dispositions all on good terms Province asking that he be given a Village Improvement with himself and with each other pre- gaoogdoohdo-ulosoekiinngPeEsuhraowpaerancawntiofen,mseonmts~ sents no mean problem in the diplo- money, a motor car, Eurpean clothes, A Marathi daily newspaper of matic line. I believe it is his boast and especially a solar topi. He was Poona has recently paid tribute that he has had 153 wives, and of the to the notable work being done 150 who have been divorced not one told the story ohfethweenritchawyaoyunsgormroawn~ for village uplift by an Indian went away angry at him. and, like him, Christian leader, Mr. D. S. Mo- ful. dak. The occasion of this press A Visit to Kabul notice was a Rural Uplift Show INDIA at Saswad, 19 miles Southeast Dr. R. J. H. Cox, of Peshawar of Poona, on March 27. Three was invited last year to accom- Infant Mortality miles from here is the village of pany the English chaplain on a Pimpla, where improvements visit to Kabul, and gives an ac- Infant mortality in India is have been made on such ideal count of the visit in The Church the highest in all the civilized lines that the village has become Missionary Gleaner. No Eng- countries of the world. In Euro- a model for all others. "If the lish chaplain had gone there pe~n countries out of every 1,000 example thus set were followed since the second Afghan war, chIldren born, 930 or 950 live to the reformation of India would and it was exactly 101 years reach the age of twelve months, be accomplished," commented since a Christian Jew had gone whereas in India the number of the Poona newspaper. as a traveler-missionary to Ka- deaths per 1,000 during the bul. But it was not as a mis- same period varies from 350 to The population of Pimpla is sionary that Dr. Cox was al- 600 … The present state of af- 913, out of which 57 boys are atlowed to go. Promises were ex- fairs is not a reproach to Indian tending the new school, built on acted that no preaching would mothers themselves, the cause spacious, well ventilated lines at take place, aside from Sunday being such as poverty, lack of a cost of Rs. 12,000. The streets services in the Legation, and proper care of the pregnant and of the village were in a terrible even then agents of the Afghan nursing mothers, lack of a first condition, but all have been Government were sent to the class midwifery service, un- thoroughly repaired, gutters be- Legation, to satisfy themselves skilled midwifery by country ing dug on each side. Dirt and that no propaganda was being Dais, venereal diseases, indus- dust have been removed, the vilcarried out. trial employment of women, lack lage has been cleared up, and a of pure milk supply, and insani- small dispensary has been pro- Dr. Cox writes: tary and overcrowded dwellings. vided for the supply of free medicine. The Committee has We spent a very interesting four -Dnyanodaya. days at the Legation. We visited the city, walking about freely with no Andhra Christian Council escort. Anywhere in the country it is "We are witnessing today a movement toward Christianity, greater in intensity and extent than the Church has known since the Gospel first reached the shores of India," says Rev. F. L. Marler, Literature Secretary of the Andhra Christian Council. "If numbers may be regarded as an indication of progress, Chris- tianity is advancing with greater strides in the Andhra country
opened a library where daily pa- Quarter Oentury of Progress which such child is on the throne pers, magazines and a ~ew books in Lhassa is always dangerous on agricultural and sa~Itary sub- Chiengmai Leper Asylum has because it leads to great controj ects are kept. The vIllagers of just passed its twenty-fifth year. versies as to who shall rule in its Pimpla are interested in phys- Anniversary celebrations ~ere place. There is also the danger ical development, and have built held in January, when foreIgn- of inroads from other powers, a gymnasiu~ where yo~mg men ers, officials, leading merchants, since Tibet has always been depractice dally athletIcs and church members, students, all sired as a sphere of influence, wrestling. Another feature very who could make the trip to the both by England and by Russia. creditable to the villagers is that island, were invited. The growth they have a scheme for procur- -Neue Allgemeine Missionsing drinkable water from the of the institution has been zeitschrift. springs close by. The most re- steady, although its early years markable thing about this rural OHINA uplift work is the spontaneous were full of discouragement. It and voluntary work done by the was five years before there were Protestant Missions in Ohina villagers themselves, without sufficient funds on hand for the much outside aid. erection of permanent bqildings, Among the 450 million Chi- and many more years passed be- nese there are only 450,000 -Dnyanodaya. fore adequate support was as- Protestant Christian Chinese, sured. Nothing had ever been conservatively estimated. Five Ingathering of Pwo Karens thousand seven hundred and fif- done for lepers in Siam prior to ty-three Protestant m iss ion Charles L. Conrad, of the the founding of the Chiengmai workers are scattered in 601 American Baptist Mission in institution, and public senti- mission stations in the whole Burma, in refuting the odium ment at times was openly hostile. country. In all China there are which some have attached to the only 6,000 church~s a~d chap~ls. "mass movement" of the past Local self-government was es- In the 1,608 distrIcts mto WhICh three years, describes it as .no tablished many years ago and the country is divided, there ftre more than a normal expanSIOn this basic principle has been ex- 293 with 146,500 villages entIreof the present seventy-four tended to practically every de- ly without any mission work; in churches. These converts are not partment of asylum life. Work 206 other districts with 103,000 "outcastes," but are the same is now accepted by every person villages there is very nearly no type as those already in the as a part of his requiremen~. mission work. churches. They are not ignorant, This was not true at first, and It was only after self-government -Neue Allegemeine Missions- had been in use many years that zeitschrift. it was finally accepted by all. At the present time the force of but are able to read Burmese or workers consist of three full Ohristian Witnessing Karen. Neither have they been time men and the part time servimmoral in their living. They ices of a medical man. All other A result of faithful Christian have clear, radiant faces; strong work is taken care of by pa- witnessing is given by the Chibodies and clean minds. They nese Recorder, in an account of are neither "rice Christians" nor tients. Christian growth in Shansi political followers,. but ~re the The spiritual growth is going Province.
forward. The asylum church fruits of years of mtensIve, co- pays the entire sal.ary .of .an A Christian girl was the sole witoperative effort. The Pwo Karen evangelist to an outSIde dIstrIct, Gospel Team, girls and boys, and makes frequent gifts to all ness in a government school. A have been actively engaged; and kinds of Christian work. teacher was interested and at~nded the large ingathering has been partly due to their interest and -Siam Outlook. meetings at the church. As m the effort. For several years past, house of Cornelius, while she listened the Pwos have been praying that The Dalai Lama ten thousand new memb~rs the Holy Ghost fell upon her and a On Dec. 7, 1933, the head of all Buddhists, the Dalai Lama miracle of transformation was ef- fsehcetewd~' ssotoenllionugt of awwhoant deChrirnig~the~aardt of come to mean to her. The PrI~cIp~1 of the school, said to be commum~t m should be added to their churches tendency, then attended the meetmgs, in ten years. A year ago 800 baptisms were reported; this year died in Lhassa, the capital of and within several weeks wrote a Tibet at the age of 57 years. letter full of praise to God for His there have been a thousand, wonderful salvation. Meanwhile, a The priest next in rank, the former student of the junior teacher while in one section there are Panchen Lama, fled from Tibet in quite a different district, also from five hundred more waiting for workers to come and baptize years ago and is now living in a heathen home, found the Way and them. Some Burmans are com- Mongolia. The successor of the is progressing in her knowledge ?f Dalai Lama is a child that was God. These are all burdened tor theIr born in the same hour in which former school fellows and frIends, as well as the scholars under their ing into the churches with the the Dalai Lama died, since it is charge. Pwos, because they feel that this believed that the latter's soul group will stand by them as they immediately enters another Result of Oharitable Effort take the ·step out from Buddhism. body, in order to be.among ~u The National Flood Relief -Burma News. man beings. The tIme durmg Commission has just issued a
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
voluminous report for the year Church of Canada, the Methodist anese end of the island, and are 1931-32. It administered nearly Episcopal Church and the Meth- employed in the lumber indus- $70,000,000 silver. Ten million odist Episcopal Church, South. tries in the rapidly growing people were relieved. Private cities on the east and west coasts. contributions totaled more than -Wesleyan Christian Advo- $7,500,000. A great variety of cate. Not far from the northern work was done. The total result boundary line the two Bible Sois larger than that attained by Peasant Gospel Schools ciety workers discovered a Koany other charitable effort in rean Christian who used to be a China's history. A recent experiment in Na- colporteur in the Korean work, gano City, partly a copy of what formerly carried on by the So- A Many-Sided Program Kagawa has been doing for sev- ciety. This old man, cut off from eral years, is called the "Peas- all church connections, had gath- Rev. John Hayes, of Peking, a ant's Gospel SchooL" Twenty- ered about him about a half dozmember of the Presbyterian five picked young men and wom- en believers, who were letting China Council, says that the en, from at least fifteen different their light shine in the darkness Kashing tent program conducted scattered villages, assembled for about them. is the most complete program he a course of ten days' intensive knows of in China. The tent is training. About one-third of The two representatives of the a rural center. Farmers who these young people, nearly all of Bible Society held meetings for come early to the market place whom had been reached by three days in their village, and hear the message; great num- means of newspaper evangelism, eighteen decisions for Christ bers also attend night services. were Christians. were made. It was afterwards Many have become inquirers, reported that this retired coland after instruction develop in- The purposes in holding such porteur now has a Sunday school to staunch Christians. The a school were: which has an attendance of Christian Chinese farmer is the thirty children. -Forward. salt of the Chinese earth, the (1) To strengthen the Christian bulwark of Chinese democracy, faith and practice of those already Opium Problem Grows and the chief hope of Chinese Christian, and to make them: realize society of the present day. more fully the implications of their For the Japanese in Man- religion in their everyday life. (2) To churia, opium is a vast business Again, the tent is a place bring before the non-Christian stu- enterprise. Mr. U. Kikuchi, secwhere womanhood is elevated. dents a vision of a dynamic Christian- retary of the Association for the One of the brightest hours of ity, which, unlike Buddhism, enters Prevention of Opium Evils jn the day is from two to three in into daily moral, social and economic Japan, says that "no less than 75 the afternoon, when missionary life. (3) To give all the students in- per cent of the Japanese nationladies with trained Chinese Bible tensive training along such lines as als residing in South Manchuria women meet the hundreds of would help them to lead in the recon- prior to the 1931 outbreak were women who come with their chil- struction of their own villages along directly or indirectly connected dren to hear about the Saviour. positive Christian lines. with drug traffic." The produc- It is also kindergarten, primary tion, manufacture and sale of school and Sunday school all As to results, many non-Chris- narcotic drugs has been incorcombined. One of the most valu- tians felt the challenge of Chris- porated into a gigantic national able fruits of the children's work tianity, which, unlike any re- industry, whose output rose is the organization of Sunday ligions they had known, had a from 2,498 kilograms in the year schools meeting in the church definite relation to daily farm 1911 to 35,530 kilograms in 1928 every Sabbath, where the chil- life. Two of the young men, on in Kwantung alone, though that dren are taught more regularly returning to their own village, province is but a fraction of and intensively. It is also a started a weekly Sunday school. Manchuria. The number of lihaven of peace for troubled Others, on returning home, ar- censed opium smokers increased hearts.-Presbyterian Survey. ranged for Christian specialists from 2,799 in 1919 to a total of on rural reconstruction to speak 30,858 in 1929; and the gross JAPAN -CHOSEN in their own villages. Others revenue which Japan reaped are trying in a small way to from her opium monopoly in this Laymen to the Rescue bring to pass in their villages one province leaped from 1,724,- some of the ideal presented at 844 yen in 1922 to 2,686,262 yen An encouraging feature of the the school. in 1929. A factory in Port Arpresent work in Japan is the fact thur is said to have an annual that laymen in the Japan Meth- -United Church Record. output of 70,000 lbs. odist Church are this year raising Yen 25,000.00 to meet the Letting Their Light Shine -The Christian Century. deficit caused by the reduction in appropriations, made by the Last July a worker of the Brit- 50 Years of Me.thodism three missions cooperating with ish and Foreign Bible Society the Japan church-the United and a native pastor in Hokkaido, Sunday, June 24, marked the Japan, visited Saghalin, the fiftieth anniversary of the arriv- southern half of which is the al of the first Methodist mis- farthest north territory of Ja- pan. The northern half belongs to Russia. They had heard that many Koreans live in the Jap-
sionaries in Korea. In March, It is too soon to have knowl- not give their moral support to 1884, Dr. and Mrs. Robert S. edge of later results, and much war as a method of settling in- Maclay, pioneer Methodist mis- further research is necessary. ternational disputes. . . . The sionaries in Japan, were request- vast majority of the people of ed by the Board of Foreign Mis- -Without the Camp. the world desire to live in peace sions to investigate the mission with one another. Let them say prospects in Korea. They landed Y. W. C. A. Membership so, and say so in such a way that at Chemulpo, June 24, and, their witnesses will be heard in through the good offices of the Personal allegiance to Christ the chancellories of the nations." Hon. Kim Ok Kyun, obtained is the keynote of the new alterpermission from the Emperor to nate basis of membership in the -The Pre s b y t e ria n Addo educational and medical work. National Young Women's Chris- vance. They selected a place near the tian Association, according to United States Legation for mis- formal action taken at its thir- Giving and Receiving sionary residences and Doctor teenth biennial convention, meet- Maclay was appointed first su- ing in Philadelphia in May. On In Home Missions Today and perintendent of the Korea Mis- the old. basis of membership a Tomorrow: A Review and Foresion, in March, 1885. The Rev. girl had to be a member of the cast, published by the Home Misand Mrs. Henry G. Appenzeller church beforel she could be a sions Council, is the following arrived on April 5th and a member of the Association; un- comment on mission churches: month later Dr. and Mrs. Wil- der this newly adopted alternate liam B. Scranton, and Dr. Scran- basis she can become a member In the past we have frequently ton's mother. of the Association first. Any erred in the direction of an ex- local Association that wishes to cessive paternalism in mission The celebration in Korea will remain on the Evangelical work. Too much has been dQne extend from June 24 to April church membership basis can do for people. Too little attention 5, 1935. On the same boat Dr. so. The proposed personal basis has been given to helping them Horace G. Underwood, of the is an alternative. to do for themselves. This is Presbyterian Church arrived in generally conceded today, and Chemulpo, so that both churches Buddhist Missionaries current policies look in the opwill celebrate the event in union posite direction. In a few fields services. A mass meeting in A United Press report states we have had conspicuous success Seoul on April 5, 1935, will be that a thousand Buddhist apos- in developing leadership and the climax of the celebration. tles, headed by twelve monks, capacity for self-direction. Cuba are planning a pilgrimage on and Puerto Rico are notable.in GENERAL foot from India to Rome and the this respect. So, too, is the Ne- United States to preach their gro field and some of the for- Dye Treatment religion. These apostles, or eign-language work. The Indian "lions" as they style themselves, field is an unfortunate example The treatment of leprosy by because they think it will take of relative failure in this regard, intravenous injection of syn- lion hearts to insure their safety in spite of individual exceptions. thetic dye-stuffs is arousing so on the journey, especially in Generally today there is a reamuch interest among superin- Moslem Mecca and Jewish-Mos- sonable insistence on proper lotendents of leper colonies that lem Jerusalem, come from Tibet, cal participation in financing the the Mission to Lepers deems it China, India, Burma, Siam and work. This is made difficult by wise to express a brief warning Ceylon. One of their leaders is the generally low economic levels against too much optimism. Dr. an Italian, who was educated in on mission fields. On the whole, Robert G. Cochrane, of the Brit- the United States, and in 1924 mission fields contribute fairly ish Empire Leprosy Relief As- went to Asia, and finally became according to their ability. sociation, recently wrote: "I do a Buddhist monk. not think the time has arrived Surveys vs. Activities for this treatment to be used in -Alliance Weekly. a general way, as it is still very "Today we' are much given to much in the experimental stage. Crusade Against War surveys of Foreign Missions. . . . While the results are cer- Personally I am fed up on surtainly encouraging, the number Christians throughout the veys. Twenty-five years ago we of cases was far too small to world are being urged to join in were in the midst of a great day draw any definite conclusion. a crusade against war, and for 'movements.' Everyone was Dr. Gordon A. Ryrie, who has preparation for war, through-a naIvely confident that by organhad charge of the experiments pastoral letter dealing with "the izing movements he could change with these dyes at the Sungei present international crisis," the world. There was a maxi- Buloh Colony, Kuala Lumpur, sent by officers of the Federal mum of activity then and a min- Federated Malay States, recog- Council of Churches. "The imum of thought. Today there nizes "the danger of arousing churches of Christ around the is just the opposite. We have a undue expectations." world," says the letter, "should maximum of critical thought say to their respective govern- with a minimum of activities." ments that they cannot and will HENRY SLOANE COFFIN.
Missionary
Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information W orId Tides in the Far East. By -as to the historical trust- of Foreign Missions, 156 Fifth Ave., Basil Mathews. 12 mo. 184 pp. New York, N. Y. Paper, 60 cents; cloth, $1.00. Friend- worthiness of the New Testa- ship Press. New York. 1934. This little book is in part a ment representation of Christ, biography compiled from family Virile and gripping as everything is that comes from Basil and the truth of His miracles, records, letters and reports from Mathews, this book ranges the the mission field, and in part an Far East and brings back arrest- His atoning death and His resur- autobiography dictated near the ing facts and inferences. If he close of his life. Dr. Theodore has his way the book will soon rection. The author was for Greene of Peiping, who secured be put out of date by the rapid the original dictation remarks, movement toward "the coopera- some years a missionary in Ja- "Outstanding impressions have tive rebuilding of life toward been the untiring energy of Dr. which its argument is directed." pan and is now Professor of Meanwhile the chapter-headings Lewis, his desire for the work are intriguing: The Rhythm of English Bible and Missions in to be as independent as possible, China, The Unfinished Quest of his lack of fear of any danger Japan, China's New Secular Re- the Western Theological Semiligions, The Secular Religions of connected with his work." All Japan, etc., until one comes to nary of the Reformed Church in these qualities, and more, shine the last, The Tides of God. Here from the portrait frontispiece of is no mere record of incidents or America. He has a singularly the book. movements but a proposal also of the forces that will master lucid mind and an assured and Born of sturdy Christian parand direct those tides of the Far ents and reared on a Western East until they become the tides positive faith. He deals with Pennsylvania farm, C h a r I e s of God. Lewis worked his way through the truth of the Gospels, the ra- college and m e d i c a I school, Christianity in its essential character is more national than national- tional ground for faith in the chiefly by an intense belief in his ism because it sees the higher goal of work and an irresistibly persuathe nation as integral to the Kingdom miracles of Christ, especially sive salesmanship in peddling of God; it is more human than hu- stereoscopes and views during manism because it feeds the essential His resurrection, and with the vacations. Offered $5,000 per core of man's being-his soul-which year to carry the business to humanism ignores; it is more com- mystery of the Christian life and munist than communism because it Australia, he preferred $1,000 shares both the material goods of the experience. The chapters are per year, after arduous training, visible world and the invisible and to carry the Gos.pel of physical eternal treasure of the spiritual brief, clear and direct. Any world. and spiritual healing to China. reader can follow their reason- Throughout the years of train- Incomparably the most important ing, he was consistently and efwork in the world is to share the gift ing. They "bear testimony," in fectively Christian, and his perof God in Christ with all mankind. Dr. Pieters' words, "to the Cath- sonal witness for Christ was the After all, missions in its larg- life-long expression of a radiant est and truest sense is the an- olic apostolic, historic Christian faith and a sacrificial devotion. swer to the needs of the Far East as of the rest of the world. faith. We do not look upon our- Going to China in 1896, he la- bored at Tengchow and Tsinan C. B. McAFEE. selves as giving utterance to in Shantung. Driven out by the "Boxers" in 1900, he took serv- The Facts and Mysteries of the 'opinions' on religion, whether ice with the U. S. Army of paci- Christian Faith. By A I b e r t u s fication; then began in 1902 Pieters. 215 pp. $1.25. Eerdmans our own or those of others. Our that life-labor of thirty years in Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Mich. Paotingfu which made Taylor 1934. effort will be constantly to state, Memorial Hospital one of the outstanding missionary institu- This book is as certain as Pro- as the Christian faith, only what fessQr p~nny's book is doubtful tions of China. There, on the the great mass of Christian be- foundation laid by the martyr lievers, of all communions, ac- cept, and always have accepted, whether they were able to for- mulate it in so many words or not. There is such a thing as the Christian religion, one in its essential essence, however mani- fold in its form." Dr. Pieters'
purpose is definite and construc- tive: "We believe the Christian religion, but we do not believe it ignorantly or thoughtlessly, and our earnest desire is, not only to lead men to faith, but to lead them to a well-grounded and in- R. E. s. telligent faith."
Lu Taifu (Charles Lewis, M.D.) A Pioneer Surgeon in China. Com- piled by Robert E. Speer. 216 pp.
Cloth, $1.00. Presbyterian Board Any of the books noted in these columns will be sent by the REVIEW publls}1erl> on re~"illt of price, [381 J
doctor, George Yardley Taylor, the material grew. In most cases lenge some passages. But the and with the help of his own the talker was allowed to wan- volume as a whole merits care- trained and inspired Chinese as- der at will and to provide uncon- ful perusal, for there are evi- sistants, his skill and tireless en- sciously a fresh base for in- dent a serious purpose to face ergy built up a beneficient min- quiry." the realities of the present situ- istry to a vast and populous Because the tale of birth, edu- ation and a courageous faith in area. The railroad entrusted all cation, marriage, divorce, death, the future of the Christian its work to him; provincial and feasts, fasts, the church and its movement. The volume closes military authorities committed customs are all told by illiterate with a copious bibliography of themselves and their families to provincials, it gains in vividness pertinent religious literature, his skill and paid for it with but loses in style. We have in but the lack of an index is a de- large gifts to the hospital. consequence a series of human fect. ARTHUR J. BROWN.
In times of epidemic and documents rather loosely put to- plagu€!, Dr. Lewis threw him- gether. I slam is used for M os- The Negro's Churclb. By Benjamin E. Mays and Joseph W. Nicholson, self fearlessly into individual lems, and there are other curious New York. Institute of Social and Religious Research. 1933. 292 pp., and group relief, however har- mistakes in regard to this reli- appendix, index. $2.00.
rowing, perilous and apparently gion. The book deals with Strange as it may seem, this is the first serious social study hopeless the situation, and his Abyssinian Christian home-life of the Negro's most character- courage and fine judgment won and the influence of Islam is evi- istic group expression – his church. Both quantitatively and out. He also lent himself to the dent in many customs and tradi- qualitatively it gives insight into the structure and activity of 609 saving of the Czechs in Siberia. tions, as it is among the Copts urban congregations in twelve A "mighty hunter" by way of of Egypt. There is an excellent cities, seven southern, three northern, and two border; 185 recreation, he was as untiring glossary of Amharic words and rural churches in four countries in his personal ministry to the a fair index. S. M. ZWEMER. scattered in Georgia, Alabama, hundreds of patients in his hos- South Carolina and Texas. Ori- gins of the Negro's churches are pital. Intensely practical, he yet The Church Looks Ahead. An Analy- traced from the first congrega- sis and a Forecast. Edited by tion in South Carolina in 1773dreamed of conquering other Charles E. Schofield. 400 pp. $3.00. 1775 and the beginning of the Macmillan, New York. 1934. African Methodist Episcopal worlds in a medical missionary What is the present state of Church in 1786 and disclose journey overland straight across Protestant Christianity in Amer- some of the "means of separat- ing an unwanted racial group Asia, carrying relief to the phys- ica and what is the prospect for from common public worship." its future? The editor has ically needy in the far interior sought answers to these ques- A chapter given to the Negro tions from twenty prominent ministry shows that 80 per cent and with it the word of Life in ministers and he gives them in this volume, adding his own. of the urban pastors were not Christ. The dream was not real- The symposium can hardly be college trained and 72.3 per cent deemed a cross section of Amer- have neither college nor semiized; but the practical dreamer, ican Protestantism, for of the nary degrees; that college men twenty-one writers sixteen are "get more than an even chance when called to his reward in the Methodists, three are Congre- to become pastors of large churches," that college men in summer of 1932, left behind him gationalists, and two are college Negro seminaries are increasing and university professors whose but the total number of students a tremendously active and fruit- denominational connection is not in Negro seminaries have de- i n d i cat e d. The symposium creased in eight years, and that ful work and memories of a would have a broader scope if it had included some representa- the number of college students skilful hand and a loving heart tive Baptists, Episcopalians, Lu- contemplating the ministry is therans and Presbyterians. Howof one who had sincerely be- ever, every writer is a Christian small in comparison with those entering other professions. lieved and proved that "it is leader and his viewpoint is catholic. The subjects cover a The Negro minister's mes- .Cmeolvree."blessedCOtUoRgTEivNAeYthHa. nF to re – wide range, theology, sacra- sages are analyzed from ver- batim reports of many sermons ENN. ments, evangelism, missions, education, Christian ethics, the heard. Excerpts show twenty- The Abyssinian at 'Home. By C. H. social gospel, personal religion, six out of one hundred sermons Walker. 213 pp. $3.00. Macmil- the Bible, the Church, religious "touched concrete life situa- lan, New York; Sheldon Press, journalism, city and country tions," fifty-four were predomi- London. churches, church union, preach- ing and worship, pastoral work, nantly "other worldly," and two As a result of twenty years in etc. As might be expected the contact with life in Abyssinia, chapters vary in interest and and the compilation of an Am- value and the reader, like this haric-English Dictionary, the author knows the people inti- reviewer, will probably chalmately and in this study of their life allows them to tell their own story of their home and environment. "As the real life of the Abyssinian is a closed book to the stranger, the difficulty lay in the making of conversation, nor is it easy to persuade a native to discourse at length on any given subject and to exhaust it in detail. Point after point, however, was gradually dealt with, and
OUR MISSIONARY BOOKSH:ElLF
were highly doctrinal or theo- minds." The ownership and con- the schools spend nothing on re- logical. In more than 65 per trol provide opportunity for ligious education; twenty per cent of the sermons dealing with initiative, self-direction, per- cent spend less than $1.00 per the present life and in many sonal recognition and for the member, and the average is other worldly sermons, one is common man "freedom to relax" only 52 cents per year. able "to glimpse the present so- as well as community and social The trends in American colcial and economic problems that center, stimulus to education leges are also considered toconfront the Negro." and business. The Negro's gether with the church colleges, As to membership, "there is Church has "potentialities to be- the university pastor, and types no u n i for mit y among the come possibly the g rea t est of instruction given. churches for determining the spiritual force in the United JAMES F. RIGGS.
basis of membership" but "hon- States." GEORGE EDMUND HAYNES. Japanese Festival and Calendar Lore. By William Hugh Erskine, M.A. est and courageous efforts" are Kyo Bun Kwan and Bethany Colbeing made to keep adequate ac- Angola-The Land of the Blacksmith Prince. By John T. Tucker, Maps, counts of members. In the ur- lege Book Store, Agent, Bethany, Illus. 8vo. 180 pp. 38. 6d. paper. West Virginia. pp. 208. $1.50. ban churches 35.6 per cent had less than 200 members, 48.7 per World Dominion Press. London. The author is a student of cent between 200 and 1,000 1933. Japanese customs and his little members, and 7.7 per cent had Angola, West Central Africa, book on that subject has reached 1,600 or more members. There is Portuguese territory. As a a fourth edition. Here is a supwere more members per church plement on all the complications in Northern than in Southern mission field it is occupied by of the lunar-solar calendar of cities, largely due to migration workers of the American Board, Japan with notes on the feast of recent years, but in both sec- the Angola Evangelical Mission, days, the astrological value of tions more than half of the re- the Baptist Missionary Society the days and seasons and the ported membership was "rela- poetry and superstitions contively idle, leaving the work to and nine other societies, in adbe carried by less than half." dition to Roman Catholics. This nected therewith. Japan in this survey, with its clear maps, gives respect owes much to the Taoist In their programs urban calendar of China with its sys- the human background and his- tem of lucky days, magic octachurches have "from the begin- tory, the product of mission ning followed in general the pat- work and the "Challenge of the gons, and zodiacal rubbish. The tern set up by the white Unreached." Great geographical third part of the book deals with churches . . . including those oracles. "Metal-positive-monkey things common to most churches areas are still untouched by any day" occurs six times in 1933 of the working classes and peo- missionary work. For example and is unlucky. "HIGAN are ple of ordinary means." The au- days of meditation, and come thors believe the Negro is over- in one district of North Angola twice a year at the Equinox. It churched both South and North are twenty-nine tribes with a is the time when the sun is because available church money population of nearly 1,000,000, straight east and west in the is too thinly spread for an effec- wit h missionaries working morning and evening, and so the tive church program. among only three of the tribes. common people say that it is the In dis c u s sin g the rural It is clear evidence that the mis- day on which the western gate is sionary task, far from being completed, is only fairly begun.
churches, the study shows that Standards and Trends in Religious opened and the souls of the dead rural membership per church is Education. Hortshorne, Stearns are approachable for service. An much smaller than urban, but and Uphaus. $2.00. 230 pp. Yale extra serving of the meals of the percentages of regular contribu- University Press. 1933. day should be set before the tors and average attendance are The Institute of Social and Family Altar or on the God higher. Rural pastors are more Religious Research is responsi- Shelf. It is a good day to serve poorly trained than urban and ble for this latest in a series of the dead and attend to their the turnover of ministers is four volumes, dealing with graves, as their rewards of sucgreater. The program of rural trends in Religious Education. cess and virtue are unlimited." churches is much like that of the It would be a tonic to pastors, One would imagine that in a urban churches some decades Religious Education directors land where illiteracy is the rare ago. Sunday services led by a and all interested in knowing the exception, such superstitions minister, midweek services and facts to read and study the book. would rapidly disappear. S. M. ZWEMER. Sunday schools in the hands of It uncovers facts by hunting laymen, and revivals comprise them out and bringing them to Church Union in Canada, Its Causes the main features. the attention of others, showing and Consequences. By Claris Ed- the type of work done, the need win Silcox. 8 vo. 493 pp. $3.00. Their church is the "most thoroughly owned and con- for better teaching, the relation Institute of Social and Religious trolled public institution of the of the minister to Religious Edu- Research. New York. 1933.
race" and hundreds of churches cation and the amount spent in This is the report of an in- "operate sufficiently well to war- education. It is surprising to quiry entered upon some two rant commendation of critical learn that sixty-one per cent of years ago.
The book is distinctive as the "In every city swept by non- luxuries and 14% to waste. Re- concurrence, a large number of first independent review of this Presbyterian churches w ere ligion is estimated to cost $964,- more or less permanently weak- 000,000 and other philanthropies event in Canadian Church life. ened….. Non-concurrent minor- $910,000,000 while tobacco uses ities have been established, and up $1,964,000,000 and intoxi- The late Dr. Ephraim Scott and with the exception of Halifax, cants and narcotics $2,325,000,- new and often expensive build- 000. Various luxuries, semi-lux- Prof. E. Lloyd Morrow wrote ings have been erected (304-5). uries and wasteful expenditures alone use up about six times as from the Presbyterian stand- "The net result therefore in much as is spent on religious and certain towns has been the estab- philanthropic service for :human point, and the United Church lishment of twenty-two minority welfare. congregations to offset seventeen case was presented by the late consolidations, a net aggregate Mr. Vickery then goes on to increase of five churches in the show the present human need in Dr. S. D. Chown. Now an out- 104 towns as a result of church America, the poverty stricken, union" (Page 323). the ignorant, the handicapped, sider appears and after diligent the orphaned, the sick, the aged, For this failure to make union the unemployed, the vicious. He research and examination re- complete and its ideals attain- pointed out the inadequacy of able through the United Church church and private charitiesports the fruit of his labors. The the author places a measure of numerous as they are. It is the blame upon the leaders in favor aim of the Golden Rule Founda- Director, Rev. C. E. Silcox, was of union, but assigns the larger tion to coordinate and to coop- share to the non-concurring erate with existing charities, both painstaking and assiduous Presbyterians. Opinions her e making known the needs, gath- must differ. One weakness of the ering and distributing funds as in this undertaking. Whatever inquiry to us is the seeming as- they are supplied. Golden Rule sumption that the virtue of or- Sunday, and Golden Rule Week the merit of his conclusions he ganic church union does not with self-denial dinners, form a admit of question and that this worthy and practical institution. has placed the churches under scheme in particular merited unanimous support. Many other valuable features great obligation for the valuable are included in the volume- W. M. ROCHESTER, poems, giving alphabet, quotainformation, ecclesiastical, so- Editor, The Presbyterian tions on giving, a dramatic sketch, suggestions for Christcial, and political he has gath- Record, Toronto. mas and anniversary gifts, for supplementing the family income ered, making this volume in The Golden Rule Book. Compiled and for budgeting. and Edited by Charles V. Vickery. many particulars a reliable work 12 mo. 194 pp. $1. The Golden In the S,ecret of His Presence. By G. Rule Foundation. New York. 1933. H. Knight. 8 vo. 230 pp. 3s 6d. of reference. , Pickering and Inglis. London. 1933. Here is an excellent compila- Certain important conclusions tion of suggestions for a "prac- Every Christian feels the need tical recovery program for every for a life of quiet communion of the author are plain: 1. The household and individual." It with God. The more busy the links "The Old Ideal and the New life the greater is the need for Union is not complete. This is Deal." After presenting some time to be alone with the Father, very definite lessons from the to hear Him speak and to speak known in Canada. Press refer- depression experiences, with to Him. This devotional volume many interesting illustrations will help make this spiritual exences to the United Church of from life, Mr. Vickery takes up perience real, fruitful, practical our national wealth. By figures – for ministers, missionaries, Canada declare it to be a merger and charts he shows that Amer- teachers or any earnest lay ica is far from poverty stricken Christians. The author, with of the three bodies, Presbyteri- since the United States, for simplicity and clearness, shows only seven per cent of the world's how quiet times may be made ans, Methodist, and Congrega- population posseses 74% of the times of vision and of strength; world's automobiles, 62% of t!te how courage and joy displace tionalist. In its reference to the fear, discouragement and disap- petroleum, 52 % of the corn, 62 '70 pointment. It is not a definitenon – concurring Presbyterians Bible study or a book of experi- of the cotton and a dispropor- ence, but contains truth that and in the complete statistical tionately large share of other will stimulate and nourish spir- natural resources and modern ituallife. report of The Presbyterian manufactured products. Only Church in Canada readers will %% of the national expendi- tures go to the church, 1112 % to learn that only a part of the schools, 81,4 % to crime, 22 % to original Presbyterian Church was merged in the new body.
2. Union in the measure at- tained was born of bitter and protracted strife. Union did not spring from unity. Division in the Presbyterian Church mani- fested itself early and the oppo- sition was strong and growing as seen in the second vote which in the interval of four years showed an increase for union of 600, and an increase of 23,000 against union (Page 173). This strife left, "a legacy of bitter- ness which separated friends, ~nd broke churches, communi- ties, and the nation at large into fighting factions" (Page 463).
3. Contention prevailed after union and is likely to prevail for some time in the form of litiga- tion, as a consequence of the in- corporating the United Church.
4. The ends sought by Union, prevention of overlapping and economy, have not been reached.
Books v "PROPHECY!!
Something Happened. Mildred Cable The Living Religions of the Indian Keith L. Brooks' monthly magazine is something and FraneeS<:.a French. 5;. RQdder People. Nicol Macnicol. 324 pp. & Stoughton. London. lOs. 6d. Student Christian Move- prophetic students never do without after seeing ment Press. London. Send 10 cents, year $1.00 The Eclipse of Christianity in Asia. one copy. L. E. Browne. 198 pp. lOs. 6d. Glimpses of Uganda. K. M. E. Lil- Cambridge University Press. Lon- lingston. 73 pp. Church Missionary BROOKS PUBLISHEIlS don. Society. London. 2003 Addison Way Los Anllele., Calif. Samuel Marsden. S. M. Johnstone. Christ and Japan. Toyohiko Kagawa. 256 pp. 7s. 6d. Australian Book 150 pp. $1.00 cloth, 50 cents paper. Obituary Notes Co. London. Friendship Press. 1934. Dr. H. T. McLaughlin, who went to Back of the Mountain. Mary Brew- The Eclipse of Christianity in Asia. Egypt under the United Presbyterian ster Hollister. 155 pp. $1.25. L. E. Browne. 200 pp. $3.50. Cttm,. Board in 1898, died recently. He was Revell. New York. bridge University Press. London. the last of this church's pioneers to Macmillan. New York. the Sudan. Come lIoly Spirit. Carl Barth and Eduard Thurneysen. 287 pp. $2. Fresh Sp!jngs-C. M. S. Story of the *** Round Table Press. New York. Year 1933. Phyllis L. Garlick. 127 pp. Is. Church Missionary Society. Rev. J. H. Holmes, an L. M. S. mis- The Di$Coverers of the Fiji Islands- London. sionary in Papua for 28 years, died Tasman, Cook, Bligh, Wilson, Bel- in London early in May. He had lings}lausen. G. C. Henderson. 342 Grace, Child of the Gobi. Mildred translated the New Testament into pp. 18s. Murray. London. Cable and Francesca French. 67 the language of the Naman tribes. pp. 35 cents. China Inland Mis- A Survey of Religion in South Africa, sions. Philadelphia. *** 1933. 86 pp. 2s. 9d. So. Mrican National S. S. Assn. Port Eliza- Gold Mountain. Philip F. Payne. Mrs. H. V. Noyes, missionary for beth. 150 pp. $1.00 cloth, 60 cents paper. 48 years, died in Toronto, Canada, Friendship Press. New York. February 1. She was the mother of New Learning in Old Egypt. Erd- Dr. W. D. Noyes of the Ea;:;tern Can- man Harris. 99 pp. Association A Japanese Grandmother. Emma G. ada Chinese Mission. Mrs. Noyes Press. New York. Lippard. 62 pp. 75 cents. Re;rell. went to Siam in 1872 with Mrs. Sam- New York. uel House to establish a girls' board- Hospitals Overseas. (Africa and the ing school at Bangkok. The work East Series) Illus. Map. 88 pp. The Rainbow Bridge-A Study of was successful and in 1876 she left Is. C. M. S. London. Paganism. John Strong Newberry. Siam to work among Chinese in Cali- 346 pp. $3.75. Houghton Mifflin. fornia, and then sailed for China with Myths and Legends of the Bantu. New York. her husband. Alice Werner. IIlus. 336 pp. 15s. Harrttp. London. Second Hand-A Story of Mission II If you use Work in Japan. Emma G. Lippllrd. A Short History of Religions. E. E. 158 pp. 75 cents. United Lutheran PRINTING Kellett. 607 pp. 5s. Gollancz. Pub. House. Philadelphia. London. Y OU will profit from an ac- The Second Coming of Christ. Henry quaintanceship with us. We Origins of Sacrifice-A Study in W. Frost. 251 pp. $1.50. Eerd- do the job complete in our own Comparative Religion. E. O. James. mans. Grand Rapids, Mich. plant, whether it be large or 314 pp. lOs. 6d. Murray. London. small. Suzuki Looks at Japan. Willis La- Charles W. Abel of Kwato. Russell mott. 227 pp. $1.00 cloth, 60 cents W. Abel. 255 pp. IIlus. $2.00. Re- paper. Friendship Press. New vell. New York. York.
Thinking Missions with Christ. Sam- Twice-Born Men. Hy Pickering. 144 uel M. Zwemer. 140 llll. $1.50. Zon.- pp. Is. Pickering & Inglis. Lon- dervan Pub. House. Grand Rapids, don. Mich. Whipping Post Theology or Did Je- The Romance of Labrador. Sir Wil- sus Atone for Disease. W. E. Bie- fred Grenfell. 328 pp. $4.00. Mac- derwolf. 305 pp. $1.50. Eerdmllns. millan. New York. Grand Rapids, Mich.
An African Prophet. W. J. Platt. 156 Personal Items While our specialty is Books, pp. 2s. 6d. Student Christian Maga<;ines and Pamphlets, yet Movement Press. London. (Concluded frlYm second cover.) we have a variety of IIlodern equipment to meet all the re- Sunday School Dr. Samuel A. Moffett, of the quirements of your particular Chosen Presbyterian Mission, has re- job. You will find our service Supplies ceived from the Imperial Educational prompt, careful and courteous. Association of Japan its gold medal Sound, splnluu/ for "distinguished service in the cause Will you allow us to estimate of education in Chosen." on your next printing? We be- ~ni1ns oT/1Ie lieve you will be delighted with JOlJn~I~ODlfS~KKiiefll~1 ·/IoArVoeilrDnl'IoIfnII1oInlimol/io~n~s ** * our product, price and service.
'Mile for Dr. A. E. Armstrong, Secretary of The EVANGELICAL PRESS the United Church of Canada, has left and to visit several mission fields of the Print.,., of church in Asia. The Missionary Review of the World *** PLANT AND MAIN OFFICE Third end Refly Streets Hlrrlsburg, PI. Dr. Robert M. Hopkins, Secretary of the World's Sunday School Associa- tion attended the meeting of Congo Missions, held in June with Dr. John R. Mott.
MOSLEM
SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, Editor SOME ARTICLES IN THE JULY, NUMBER: Religious Liberty ………… , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . …………. Robert E. Speer Toward Re-Thinking Missions ……………………………….. Julius Richter Th e M ecca P 'gIn' mage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1j CHl.auUd.eWL.eoSntanPtiocnkens I ''The Son of Mary" ……………………………………. Eric F. F. Bishop i Islam and the Soviets in Central Asia. . ………………………… Paul Catrice The Arabs of Oman …………………………………. ~~~W~~a~~~~~ Moslems in Capetown .,. . . . .. . …………………………. A. R. Hampson Head-Dress as Symbol ……………………….. "………… Pierre Crabites Current Topics …… Book Reviews ……Survey of Periodicals SUBSCRIBE TODAY « Address THE MOSLEM WORLD 156 FIlth Avenu. N.w Yorlc CIty Single copies, SOc.j Annual Subscription, $2.00 j in Combinlltion with the REVIEW, $3.S0 (Foreign postage for Review, SOc. extra) MARSHALL, MORGAN a SCOTT, 12 Pll….osler Bulldln••, LOIIdolt Prlc.ln Gr••1Brlleln, Eishl Shlllln••, net S:ook lOft OU-t ~peciul ?2umh~ ongupu", OCTOBER. 1934-Maps, Illustrations, Statistics Japan–·A Problem or a Challenge ……………………Charles W. Iglehart Present Day Religion in Japan …………………………A. K. Reischauer New Phases in Shinto ……………………………………A. A. Pieters The Youth of Japan-·-Whither? …………………………..Willis Lamott A Christian Rural Program ……………………………Edward M. Clark Newspaper Evangelism in Japan ………………………..Murray Walton The Influence of Christianity ………………………..S. H. Wainwright Christian Education in Japan ……………………………….. L. J. Shafer Japanese Views of Christian Missions …………………….E. C. Hennigar Overlapping in Japan " ……………….. , ……………..Wm. M. Vories ~~~~~~~ SEND YOUR ADVANCE ORDERS NOW TO ~~~~~~~ THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD Third and Reily Streets, HarrisbUIg. Pa.
25 Cents a Copy $2.50 a Year $20.00 a Hundred
The Missionary Review of the World — October 1933
OCTOBER,1933
What Can We Expect of Youth?
s. Franklin Mack Shall the Tent–Makers Preach?
Paul W. Harrison How the Revival Came to Persia William M. Miller Presenting Christ to the Foreign Born Edward Catlos Revealing Christ to Students in Asia v. W. Dyer When Missionary Incomes Decrease A Symposium
FREE! BOOKS and
With Subscriptions to "The Missionary Review"
W E WANT to enlist every subscriber to THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD in an effort to secure new subscribers. So we have selected from many publishers choice offerings of new and standard books. The plan is simple. For every new subscription sent us (U. S. and Canada. $2.50; Foreign. $3.00) we will allow a credit of 75 cents. toward the purchase of any book listed on this page. Begin on your list now. in your own church or community, and secure free one or more of these valuable books.
The Finality of Jesus Christ A Commentary Critical and By Robert E. Speer Explanatory on the Whole Bible A remarkable presentation of the rea- By Jamieson, Fausset and Brown sons for b~lief in the final authority of Long recognized as the standard evangelical Jesus Chnst. The author has spent work on the entire Bible. "J. F. !1 B:s Com- forty years in t~e s~udy of the subject mentary" provides within the compass of a and declares unflinchmgly for the abso- single volume a continuous stream of clear. lute suprema~y of Jesus ~s the Son of critical. and explanatory comments on every God all:d Saviour of mankmd. . verse of the whole Biblical text. 1347 pages.
PresIdent J. Ross Stevenson (Prlnce- Regular price $7.50. Special $3.50 D aVI"s B1'b'le Dl'cb,onary . ton Theological Seminary) says: "The greatest contribution Dr. Speer has made to religious literature. . .. It will have By J. D. DaIJis, Ph.D., D.D., LL.D.
a wide reading and a permanent influence This book aims to be a dictionary of the in strengthening the faith." $3.00 Bible. not of speculation about the Bible. It Chrl'St PP•O;W SS:hI'b·rtIw'ee.?II IS seeks to furnish a thorough acquaintance By with things Biblical. It is furnished with W 'rl s o n othnee calnaidmoonflythDeivRienleigRioenligoifonC. hrist as the authoritative illustrations. The interpre- Author of "The Christ We Forget," etc. Cloth. $1.50 tation of Scripture which is frequently in- Mr. Wilson takes up the challenge by volved in the statement of facts will be found to be sober. fair and scholarly. presenting to his readers a fascinating and George Muller of Bristol compelling picture of Jesus. as he has con- By Arthur T. Pierson Price. $3.00 ceil·ed of Him in his own experience. from The record of the faith of this nine- Christian Workers' the pages of history. and in the story of teenth century Christian. who received over Commentary our own times. "I came first to know $7.000.000 without asking man for a Him nearly fifty years ago." says this penny. is one of the most inspiring in By Dr. James M. Gray journalist of international reputation. Christian literature. Dr. Pierson has writ- A competent expository commentary on "and the friendship remains." A book of ten the authorized memoir of this remark- the whole Bible in one volume. and for a great charm, a plea of great power. $2.00 able man for both British and American price within the reach of all. This desir- T he Beauty 0 f Jesus readers. It presents not merely the ex- able combination has never been offered 80 By Gipsy Smith A new, intensely moving book of mem- ternal facts of Mr. Muller's labors. but the attractively. This is eminently the Comories and reflections qf Gipsy Smith. covering a period' of more than twenty-five secret springs of his accomplishments. mentary of the people. Preachers and Sun- yea"rAs fascinating story of the experiences The Progress Cloth. $2.50 day School tcachers will find it a rich mine.
and observations of one of the greatest of Wor1d~Wide Missions In any Christian home it will enrich the living evangelists:·-Watchman-Examiner. By Dr. Robert H. Glover family devotions. answer the children's $2.00 questions. and stimulate the study of the An accurate. up-to-date, exhaustive Why Believe It? survey of the mission fields of the world. Bible. Price. $3.00 The one complete and authoritative refer- Bible BtyeacDh~e~lasIJ'aanndL.GPosipe~rs1onministers. pInrtoesrenaantidoPnaoletEicnaclyQcluoopteadtiiaonosf however advanced in knowledge. will find ence and textbook for schools. colleges. and the atmosphere of these pages bracing and popular study groups. on By William S. Walsh sustaining to an intelligent and trium- the history of missions. This valuable book is not restricted to phant Christ.ian faith. Anyone who reads Cloth, $2.50 the religious field. but contains selections these chapters attentively will know what from the literature of the world. ancient Study Bible and modern. classic and popular. A mas- Schofield Reference sive volume arranged for quick reference. Edition Net. $3.00 Webster's Collegiate Dictionary the Christian faith is. and what the Chris- The type used in the New Fourth Edition. 1930 census fig- smaller edition Scofield is ures. An excellent abridged dictionary tian life based on New Testament teaching clear and black face. af- based upon Webster's New International fording a volume that Dictionary. 106.000 vocabulary terms. should be. Cloth, $1.50 may be read with comfort. including hundreds of new words. with InfaIh.b'l~ P. Many roofs yet compact in size. Con- definitions. spellings. pronunciations, and By ArthUr T. Pierson The teachings of the Bible are so im – tains full Scofield notes. use of words; a dictionary of biography: portant that it is one of our first duties to genuine leather binding. a gazetteer; Scottish glossary; ·vocabuattain a certainty of conviction as to the printed on Oxford India divine origin of the Holy Scriptures. and lary of rimes; rules of punctuation. use the divine character and mission of Jesus paper. size 7 x 4;2 x 1%6 Christ. This valuable study weighs the of capitals, foreign words and phrases. ab- Evidences of Christianity whi~h establish inches. No. 57X. Reg- ular price. $9.00. breviations. etc. Many other features of Special. $7.50 practical value. 1.268 pages, 1.700 ilIus- trations. Cloth, $5.00 OFFER GOOD ONLY UNTIL DECEMBER 2S, 1933 ACT NOW. BEGIN TO SECURE SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscription Department Harri.burg, ·Penna.
Third and ReilV Sts. THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD
MISSIONARY Our Free Catalog
REVIEW OF THE WORLD Money for Foreign Missionaries DELAVAN PIERSON, Editor FOREIGN MISSIONARIES every- where have confidence in our Mis- VOL. LVI OCT., 1933 No. 10 sionary Bureau as the most economical source for personal supplies and mis- publ1cation and Business Office sion equipment of high quality. Tbird and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. SECRETARIES and Purchasing Agents Editorial and Executive Office of Foreign Missions find that our 156 Fiftb Avenue, New York City free catalog and special discount list Entered as second-class matter at enables them to save money for their Post Office, Harrisburg, Pa., under stations. Act of March 3, 1879. MISSION Boards can economize by 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year selecting hardware, paints and other Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. building materials from our catalog, for publisued monthly-All rights re- shipment abroad. served. Copyrighted 1933 by the If you haven't a Montgomery Ward MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- catalog, write TODAY for a free copy. LHmING CO., INC. MONTGOMERY WARD & CO. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Export Department Chicago, U. S. A. "Empress" Luxury – with – Econ- ROBERT E. SPEER, President omy ••• The"Empress" fleetcomprise& WM. 1. CHAMBERLAIN, Vice-President them out for the REVIEW or tell us the largest, fastest ships on the Pacific. WALTER McDOUGALL, Treasurer from whom we can obtain them? Go Tourist for most comfortable low- DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary priced travel. Go First Class for luxmy SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT *** that rivals anything on the Seven Seas. MRS. OllRIN R. JUDD WM. B. LIPPHABD How much you would miss if YOu Choice of Two Fast Routes ••• ERIC M. NORTH could not read! Books offer educa- Direct Express Route ••• Empress of MILTON T. STAUFFER tion, amusement, inspiration, friend- Asia and Empress of Russia … Yoko- A. L. WARNSHUIS ship. They offer a substitute for col- hama in 10 days flat! Via Honolulu • •• SAMUEL M. ZWEMER lege, travel, conferences, personal con- Empress of Japan (largest, fastest liner tacts. Read our special book offer in on the Pacific) and Empress of Canada Editorial Chat this issue. If you will act on it, you .•• Honolulu in 5 days and Yokohama can obtain good books free. You will in just 8 days more! Opportunity's "back hair" is still also help the Cause of Christ and pro- mote the influence of the REVIEW. GO EMPRESS ••• to Honolulu, missing. Everyone within reach should Yokohama, Kobe, Nagasaki, attend the United Missionary Meet- Shanghai, Hong Kong, Manila ings to be held this autumn in Ameri- Sailings from Vancouver and Victoria. ca. Such inspiring speakers as Dr. Fast, convenient trains direct to ship- side at Vancouver. Ifyou sail from Los E. Stanley Jones, of India, Dr. Her- Angeles and San Francisco, you can con- nect with "Empresses" at Honolulu. man C. E. Liu, of Shanghai, Dr. Wu, Orient fares include passage from Seat- tle. Reduced round-trip fares. Informaof Nanking and Dr. Charles R. Wat- tion from any Canadian Pacific agent: New York, Chicago, San Francisco, osfotn~n.of Cairo, do not come our way Montreal, Vancouver, and 30 other There will be large audiences. cities in United States and Canada.
Make note of the dates and nearest meeting place in our "Dates to Re- member." We hope to publish a num- ber of these addresses in the REVIEW.
*** 7'wo liomes of 1Vorking~Clas8 Families If there is some topic which you HOW CHINESE FAMILIES would particularly like to have pre- LIVE IN PEIPING sented in the REVIEW, or some author whose views and experiences you By Sidney D. Gamble would like to share, just drop a line to the Editor. ReRearch Secretary, National Council, Young Men's Ohris- Nan Associations; AutllOr, UPeking: A Social. Surveil" *** Mr. Gamble and his Chinese associates If you know of any special and well persuaded 283 families with incomes attested answers to prayer that may ranging from $8 to $550 silver per month stimulate the faith of others, or any to keep itemized accounts of incomes and notable stories of conversion or effec- expenditures during an entire year. The tive Christian service, will you write result is an illuminating record of the city's household economics, of special in- Letters of terest to economists, sociologists, and social workers. Nettie Fowler McCormick, ~:I~t~Y1;oruthh!a'v;e:og~ivf3e~nitlo!;h;ia~tJo:rira~D~If!:a;.r~e~liaabb:l~ef~Aa~r~dh~:l:tPiWo~kH~b!y~~w;hti~c~b::toJ wife of Cyrus Hall McCormick, inventor of the reaper, are desired by her children. of the ChifUlJ6 Departnunt oj thB Library 0/ COt&gr6841.
For this purpose the Nettie Fowler Meeor.. With 31 Illustrations from the Author's Own Photomick Biographical Association requests that oraphl and 21 Diaoram.. $8.00; 011 Mail, $8.14. persons having any of h~t writings kindly send them to the addr••• below. The family All Booksellers, or from the Publishers of Nettie Fowler McCormick will be grateful for co…operation and glad to make appro.. FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY priate payments for such papers. Address 354-360 Fourth Avena., New York City Nettie Fowler McCormick Biographical Association, 664 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago [473 ]
Copyright-(J'h;icago AeriaJ Survey
THE PRE'SENT-AN AIRPLANE VIEW OF THE CENTURY OF PROGRESS EXPOSITION Service, N. Y. A CENTURY AGO-A REPLICA OF FORT DEARBORN AS IT WAS.
CHICAGO OF THE PAST AND THE PRESENT ORLD VOLUME LVI AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER TEN OCTOBER, 1933 Topies of the Times THE QUESTION OF LOYALTY Those who propose to form the new independ- Love separates as well as unites. The love of ent board plan to select their own missionaries, the world separates from God and love to God and to receive and transmit money for the support separates from the world. Love-which is not a of workers and work acceptable to them. Like selfish fancy but a sacrificial devotion-is insepa- most church splits this course seems unwise and rable from loyalty. For this reason love of the unnecessary. truth sometimes divides those who have differing views of what is truth. Human conceptions of It is true that accusations have come from the truth and loyalty cause wars, divide families, split mission fields and from members of the Church at home that some missionaries have departed churches. from the faith of the Church that supports them or are not living and teaching in full harmony Many divisions have come in mission work be- with New Testament standards. It is unforcause followers of Christ could not agree on defi- tunately true that some missionaries have proved nitions, conceptions, methods. Such disagree- unworthy representatives but such criticisms are ments began in the Apostolic Church and they not confined to denominational missionaries, they have continued to the present. In recent years also apply to some representatives of independent disaffected Baptists and Anglicans in England missions. The first question to be settled is as to have established new missionary societies because the truth of the accusations. If any mission of theological controversies. In Canada the Pres- workers, at home or abroad, are proved disloyal byterians have divided; in America an independ- to Christ and His standards, as revealed in the ent Baptist mission has been formed and ~t~er New Testament, or out of harmony with the misdenominational groups have threatened to dIvIde sionary purpose of the Church, their connection because of similar disagreements. Every church with the work shouId cease. This course has been has in it members who find it difficult to think and followed in some cases. We believe, however, that work in harmony. no body of Christian workers, as a rule, are more Recently a group of conservative Christians, loyal and worthy of support than are the miswith strong convictions, have announced their sionaries on the field. It is always difficult to purpose to form, not a new ecclesiastical body, ~)Ut overtake a rumor or to disprove a suspicion. a new mission board within the PresbyterIan Loyalty is founded on confidence in persons, and Church, U. S. A. This course is taken because of on devotion to Christ, rather than on agreement disagreement with the present Mission Board as with other Christians in all points of policy and to the type of missionaries to be sent to the field, emphasis. the form of work to be conducted and the doc- What are the definite principles which may trines to be emphasized. The present Board is, guide Christians in the home church in their suphowever, the authorized missionary agency of the port of mission work? Presbyterian Church and has been overwhelm- 1. Loyalty to Jesus Christ and His message, as revealed ingly endorsed by the General Assem~ly, the in the Scriptures, must .be supreme~ There may be dif- highest ecclesiastical tribunal. The doctrmes ac- ferenceS of gifts, interpretations, operations, ministries, cepted by the Board are those of the Presbyteri.an among His followers, but loyalty to Christ should pro- mote unity rather than divisions. Church. The ability, Christian character, faIth 2. Any church has a right to expect loyalty from its and unselfish devotion of the secretaries is unquestioried~ members. This includes moral and financial support for the work committed to its mission boards. If any mem- [475 ]
ber, out of loyalty to Christ, cannot conscientiously sup- of sympathy and cooperation thrown across naport the church and its work, the consistent step is to with- tional boundaries that we were told that war of draw, rather than to split the body or to disaffect other any size and duration had become impossible. members. Then came the Great War and these international bonds broke like gossamer threads. Alone the for- 3. We believe that the vast body of workers, especially eign missionary movement maintained its intermissionaries, are in harmony with the purposes and principles of the churches they represent. Personal contribu- tions may be designated so that they go to work and work- national ideals, continuing its organization in ers with which the givers are in full sympathy. quiescent form where it could not function ac- tively, never abandoning the ideal, and renewing 4. The Church of God and the work of God is larger these bonds in ever strengthened form at the close than anyone denominational group or any particular field. of the war in the organization of the International While a member's first obligation is to his own church, Missionary Council. it is his privilege to support other work also. "Tithes" may go to the board work and "free will offerings" to any independent enterprises that are promoting the cause of At present we are witnessing the lowest ebb of Christ. Their number, wide distribution and effectiveness the international spirit in political and economic are a cause for rejoicing-not of jealousy. circles. Edward A. Filene, a leading Boston mer- chant, returning recently from Europe, is reported 5. Every church and organization needs critics who are as declaring: "All European countries are headed loyal, intelligent and courageous in pointing out errors and improvements. They need not resign or create trouble and arouse suspicion because of disagreements, but they for a regime of autocracy – that is, of economic may so exalt Christ and His standards as to promote unity isolation and intense nationalism, and America and effectiveness in reaching His ideals. Life is con- can do no better than to do likewise. . . . .. This tagious. Prayer brings power. The Holy Spirit produces is no time to hope for internationalism in trade. results. . ….. I believe in intelligent selfishness," he added. In similar vein, Dr. Joseph Collins, author 6. If an established board of long experience is ineffective, what is the convincing evidence that a new board will be more wise, more conscientious, more self-sacrificing, and lecturer, returning a week later from Europe, more successful, more used of God? declared: "Today there is no such thing as the vaunted internationalism of the political idealists. 7. The true appraisal of missionary service must be …… What each nation thrusts down the throats from the evidence that God is working and has set His of her people is that 'this is your country and the seal of approval on the men and the methods. If He is best country in the world, so be ready to fight and using workers can we refuse to cooperate? die for it' . . . . .. The idea of loving your fellow man honestly means that you would love to Knowledge, honesty, loyalty, cooperation, self- strangle him if he gets in your way. It is the true sacrifice are prime requisites in any work for survival of the fittest." Christ. One benefit of the present financial difficulties of the boards, together with the criticisms Without venturing to pass judgment on the wisdirected against the work, may be to purge the dom or unwisdom of specific economic or political Church and the missionary force, to clarify the purpose and strengthen the evangelistic program. proposals which have been advanced in interna- An expression of confidence in leaders adds to tional circles, it is impossible to avoid the feeling their responsibility to prove worthy of leadership. that the ideal itself of internationalism and world brotherhood has undergone a serious setback MISSIONS AND INTERNATIONALISM from which it may take years to recover. That the prevailing atmosphere is unfavorable to for- It may be truthfully claimed that the foreign eign missions also goes without saying. But the missionary movement has been, throughout the really important question lies quite in another past hundred years, one of the vital factors in the direction. It is whether the foreign missionary development of a world view and in proclaiming enterprise will respond to the challenge of the the unity of the human race. Internationalism present situation and stand forth as an apostle in political and other circles is of much more re- of world brotherhood in Christ, preaching the cent birth, emerged much more slowly and has Gospel of a world-wide love and service, refusing often carried with it such a spirit of selfishness to yield to selfishness even though advocated by and such attitudes of distrust and suspicion, that nationalism. No corrective to the present spirit of it cannot be regarded as of a piece of the Chris- international ill-will would be so profound and eftian missionary movement to which it owed its fective as a forward movement in foreign mischief impulse. This spirit of internationalism had sions. Here is one field at least in which interna- made considerable progress before the Great War, tional proposals are not dangerous or doubtful.
when international organizations of every sort In the face of so-called international disillusion- came into being, representing scientists, musi- ment, let the Church move forward and outward cians, bankers, artists, literary men, labor groups in the service of Christ.
and peace advocates. So many were the strands CHARLES R. WATSON.
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
TESTING TIMES IN CUBA We must pray for normal times to come to Cuba soon. This is called the "second independencia," and it really is, The Evangelical Church in Cuba is being put to with the advantage that the Cuban people have learned the most severe test of its young life as the Re- a great lesson. There is much ground for the belief that public struggles to solve its political, industrial a new and better Cuba has been born. and economic problems. With scarcely thirty years' experience, and its organization almost en- The question for the moment and the one that aptirely in the hands of Cuban youth, it is inspiring parently has no answer is: How long will the day to learn of the tact, loyalty and courage with which of quiet and confidence be delayed? the work has been sustained in the midst of such trying circumstances. The Church is small nu- It has been twelve years since Cuban sugar remerically but it represents a fair cross section of turned any profit to the producers. The Island the community, and political leaders of every faith has depended upon this product for its very life. meet in the activities of church work. "We all Each succeeding year has added to the distress and need Christ and His Gospel," writes a young economic need. The Church is more perplexed Cuban pastor. There has fortunately not been the with the poverty and suffering of the population least tendency on the part of any political group surrounding it than it is with the problems of to attack religiori and it is the firm belief of church State, and yet it realizes that these questions are and educational leaders that the present upheaval closely interwoven. As long as the Government will bring with it sympathetic attention to the is unsettled, business falters and the poverty and message of hope, love, and peace that the Church dissatisfaction of the populace make difficult a has taught and preached. settled condition in the capital.
The Council of the Presbytery of Cuba, follow- The Heraldo Cristiano in Havana, in an ediing the establishment of the De Cespedes govern- torial printed a week before the fall of the Mament, prepared a statement of principles that rep- chado government, said: resents the attitude of all church members of that denomination and requested that other churches We should like to hear someone say that the proposed in the Island also subscribe to it. Among other changes in the government will feed the hungry, furnish recommendations it declares in favor of a posi- protection for the homeless, provide instruction for our tive recognition of the sovereign power of God, children, work for our unemployed and raise moral standthe brotherhood of man, equal rights for rich and ards. If this were a part of the new program we would poor, complete separation of Church and State. have great hopes for the future. Our Christian popula- They declare their belief that the only solution to tion, while it awaits a better day, must build for itself, the problems of Cuba, and the problems of the and if these problems must be discussed let us beg of world is found in Christ and His Word; that the those who discuss them that they put salt in their plans. faithful application of the Golden Rule will bring Yes, salt, "the salt of the earth." This is fundamental about a speedy solution. The paper closes with -even though men may not believe it. this very significant paragraph: E. A. ODELL. We believe that the problems of our country are not so much economic, or even social, as they are spiritual. RELIGION AT THE CHICAGO What man needs is a change of heart that can only be EXPOSITION brought about through an intimate knowledge of God and a sincere faith in Christ. This and this only will make The Century of Progress Exposition has our country a truly free nation. brought together a motley crowd from many lands. Between 100,000 and 500,000 have visited There can be no doubt that the present youth the grounds daily. In addition to the noteworthy movement of Cuba will eventually react favorably exhibits showing progress in science and art, on the program of the Church. Many of the very many with selfish purposes, or worse, have underfinest young people of the land have studied at the taken to exploit the visitors by offering trash for feet of Christ during the past three decades since sale, by the use of gambling devices, by tempting the last revolution. Many in the student group, to moral evil for profit or by the promotion of unwho have protested against political and industrial worthy causes. Some exhibits show degeneration abuses, have learned their democracy in the Sun- rather than progress. The "Midway" has offered day schools and day schools of the Evangelical vulgar dances and immoral exhibitions such as Church. They have also learned loyalty. During those in the "Streets of 1?aris," which represent the past three years these Christian students have not the best but the worst side of life. A number remained silent, but they cannot be fooled and of these exhibitions have been closed or modified eventually their ideals for Cuba will find expres- after protests. Investigators report that outside sion. A young Cuban woman writes of the situa- of the Fair grounds evil resorts have thrived on tion: weak and low-minded visitors. The Rev. Philip Yarrow of the Illinois Vigilance Association writes of the closing of more than twenty of these degrading shows and resorts. Anti-Christian and anti-religious literature has also been distributed free or offered for sale.
Among the religious, but non-Christian influ- ing development. During the years 1927-29 ences, are the beautiful Golden Temple, filled with mission enterprises were handicapped due to anti- idols, to represent Buddhism; a Moslem shrine; foreign feeling, inter-province warfare, the shift- a Malay temple and other exhibits picture certain ing of government and the writing of new phases of the ethnic religions. These are also governmental codes, particularly in the field of promoted by addresses given under the auspices education. During the last two years missionary of the "World Fellowship of Faiths." The Parlia- progress has advanced more on account of these ment of Religions, at the first World's Fair in and other difficulties than in spite of them.
Chicago in 1893, was a distinct hindrance to The Church of Christ in China is the Chinese Christian progress since it seemed to put anti- outgrowth of mission work by sixteen denomina- Christian religions on a par with Christianity and led non-Christians to believe that Americans tions from six countries. In 1932 this native are not satisfied with Christ. The present series evangelical church had 821 organized churches of addresses by Jews, Moslems, Hindus, J ains, and 1,204 other preaching places; 334 ordained Buddhists, Sikhs, Zoroastrians, Taoists, Con- native pastors, 1,088 evangelistic workers and fucianists and Shinto leaders can scarcely fail to 120,676 members. The Holy Catholic Church is have a similar compromising influence. Mormons another strong national body, sponsored more and Christian Scientists have special buildings to particularly by the Anglicans. represent their faiths, and the Jews have put on a great Christless historical pageant-"The Ro- Into the southwestern province of Yunnan and mance of a People"-with 3,500 actors and sing- into Manchuria, the Chinese Home Missionary Soers. There is also a reproduction of the Temple ciety, composed of 100 auxiliaries, sends Chinese of Solomon to show the glory that was Israel's. mIssIonaries. For this work, in 1932, ninety- eight per cent of all money came direct from the Among the constructive Christian influences at Chinese. work are such institutions as the Y. M. C. A. and Y. W. C. A., the International House, Hull House There is a decided trend toward unification and other settlements; the Hall of Religion, among foreign mission groups. The Christian visited by a thousand people an hour, has many Educational Association is composed of eleven fine exhibits of churches, missions, Sunday provincial education organizations, with educators schools, and the work of various religious so- from many denominations. The Christian Pubcieties. Its bas-relief of Christ, saying "Come lishers Association represents twenty separate Unto Me," and many other features are deeply publishing houses. Six of the largest missionary impressive. The Chalice of Antioch is a large societies working in China have united to form silver cup, beautifully wrolght, said to have been the Associated Mission Treasurers in order to proused by Christians of the first or second century mote economy in financial transactions. Twentyin celebrating the Lord's Supper. An exquisite four of the leading missionary organizations and carving of "The Last Supper" is made in mother their affiliates, both American and European, to- gether with representatives of the Chinese of pearl. Church, are united in the National Christian Definitely Christian activities are carried on by Council, whose purpose is to promote the growth of the Chinese Church. Other cooperating groups the Salvation Army, the Volunteers of America, are doing valuable work. The North China Inthe Moody Church, the Great Commission Prayer dustrial Service Union conducts a school where League, the Chicago Tract Society, the Gospel leaders are trained in spinning and weaving and Tents, and the Noonday Evangelistic Committee. has opened eight separate village industrial The Hymn Festival, conducted by Prof. H. Augus- centers. tine Smith, was an inspirational feature. The daily meetings of the Moody Church have drawn It is difficult to visualize this missionary cause many thousands of visitors who have heard the and effort numerically. But here are facts. There Gospel from such men as Gipsy Smith and Harry is one Christian Chinese to every 1,000 population. Ironsides. The Christian forces of America have, Of the outstanding leaders, to date, one is a Chrishowever, failed to unite in an aggressive Gospel tian to every six non-Christians. As we appraise campaign, to take advantage of the opportunity the missionary enterprise and its achievement in to present Christ to the millions of people drawn China, it is too easy to do it from a strictly Occito Chicago by this Century of Progress Ex- dental standard, making little allowance, if any, position. for the centuries' old customs and a placid, if not THE MISSIONARY TREND IN CHINA passive, temperament. This great missionary ef- fort expended by the Christian people of various The progress of Christian missions in China, nations is bearing fruit in transformed lives, im- says Dr. A. L. Warnshuis, secretary of the Inter- proved living and in the industrial pursuits of the national Missionary Council, is a most encourag- nation.
Can We Expect of Youth?
_.•4J{ By S. FRANKLIN MACK, New York I Young People's Secretary, Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, U. S. A.
MARGARET SLATTERY took as the sub- in moral and spiritual leadership…… We have little ject of an address recently delivered at to hope for from our laymen…… Their loftiest spir- Columbus the words of Chanticleer de- itual level is a cautious morality whose achievement is manding the right to be king of the feathered respectability; and their highest intellectual attainment is some outmoded conceit. In the debacle of their civilizaflock. "The rest of you sing when the sun is high tion they have shown neither imagination nor courage. . . . . . .but I demand the right to lead because I They have lost their heads; they are afraid and cowardly. greet the sun while it is yet dark; while it is yet It is the institutions they have erected which need a mctraF. dark I call the sun for I know that nothing can stop its aris- house-cleaning; all of them, with- out exception….. .
ing." What is the cause of the The shifting to the shoulders; "While it is yet dark," she present chaotic conditions in of youth of an increasing share said, "I have seen YOUTH greet- the world? Many say that of what has long been the re- ing the sun; while we…… the Church has failed. Others sponsibility of adults, and the wait for the dawn!" say that Christians h a v e fact that youth takes the reins My heart quickened as I failed to give youth true with confidence and assurance, heard those words. "While it leadership and to prepare does not mean necessarily that is yet dark," I too have seen them for taking their part in the "new deal" will be better youth "greeting the sun." the fight for truth and justice than the old. "We can hardly The voice of youth is being and clean living. Acknowl- do worse than you have done"
heard in the land, insistent, afeudntgduirnpegr?efsWaeinlhutar-etwsdhoaoetsf artebhboeeulltpiotahusest offers scant comfort to those often defiant, accusing, chal- who, however great may have lenging. It can no longer be youth of today de man d ? been their shortcomings, have silenced, and perhaps it is just What are they preparing to run the course and know the as well; it may do some of us do about it? pitfalls. They have a right to good to be listeners for a Read Mr. Mack's stimu- expect something better. So change. Many thoughtful mem- lating article and see how his they ask of twentieth century bers of the younger generation views fit in with your experi- youth, "What may we expect of feel strongly that those who are ence and convictions. you?"
older have forfeited the right Let us turn the tables for a to lead. In the words of one of moment and ask ourselves by them: "How dare your generation ask anything what we are to judge the adequacy of youth's lead- of us? Whatever we do we can hardly do worse ership. Of what, that their fathers had, will theY than you have done. . . . .. Look at the world you need a double portion; and what, if anything, have made!" will they need that their fathers did not have?
The fairness of such an accusation is conceded They will surely need wisdom, insight and vision, by an increasing number of adults, themselves in lest the future prove unworthy and the past to positions of leadership. Dr. George Lang has this have been in vain. They will need humility, love to say in his Moderator's message to the Synod of and courage-fundamental qualities of the heart.
Alahama (quoted in the World Tomorrow) : They will need, will they not, a high degree of de- In the midst of a society, shot through with racketeer- termination and of commitment to the task. But ing, and its "front" of hypocrisy and skepticism in poli- those of us who call ourselves "Christians" believe tics, business and industry, we have remained silent with that they will need supremely something else, and the silence of unfeeling moral indifference, with silences of doubt, and have no outraged consciences because we that in this they must excel their fathers, who had have stubbornly refused to have our consciences exposed all of these things in greater or lesser degree: to the evils which abound about us…… To look back on they must have an understanding of God's purour witness in this decadent society is to see ourselves in sorry cowardice, ineffective, and without real influence. It pose for the world which relates all that Jesus is not to be wondered at that we stand today discredited Christ was, did and said to every last situation [479 ]
and relationship of every day, here and now. They ground a picture with hope and promise in it, must have unshakable faith in a God who is faith- whose highlights are tinged with the colors of the ful even when we are faithless, and who alone can do what no one of us can ever do: actually change dawn. the hearts and lives of men, and thus bring in the If the Church of today, as they know it, awakens Kingdom. no enthusiasm in its youth, their response to the A survey of the human element in the present mission of the Church, interpreted as the intro- duction of Jesus Christ and his Gospel into all the world situation calls to mind Dr. Albert Schweit- areas, experiences and relationships of life, is zer's words: "To the question whether I am a pes- quite the opposite. In a day when much of the simist or an optimist, I answer that my knowledge world had still to be explored and missionary maps is pessimistic, but my willing and hoping are opti- could depict most of North America and a bit of mistic." There is little enough in the world scene Europe as white and all the rest of the continents to justify optimism. Viewed in the large the youth as black, the idea of missions as geographical exof America seem to be less awake, less at grips tension could evoke enthusiasm. But today we with reality, and therefore less of a vital factor know each other around the world too well. Even in the life of the day than are similar groups in the distinction between "national" and "foreign" many of the European and Asiatic countries. missions is losing the aspect of reality. As the Young people tend to be very much like their era of exploration draws to a close we discover, fathers and mothers and to reproduce the en- what we knew to be a fact all along, that distance vironment to which they have become accustomed. from God cannot be measured in miles. The black Certainly the economic and social insecurity of places of earth are those areas of life where Christ the average college student in America (if there is shut out, and their borders are becoming youth's is any such thing as an "average student") is not to be compared with that of the Chinese, to say new frontier. nothing of the Russian student, in his own country. Where security has been taken away from A World Vision some here in America there have been, as always in the face of tremendous odds, those who have It is not by mere chance that the mIssIOnary suffered defeat; but to others has come a new and study books for young people this year make no transforming appreciation of the significance of distinction between home and foreign missions life through the experience of struggle. Our but concentrate instead on the mission of the schools and colleges have long been, for many if Christian Church in all the world today. There not most of their student population, essentially has seldom if ever been more unanimity of con- 11 continuance of youth's playtime, eddies along- viction in the choice of both theme and approach. side the main current of life's stream; they have More significant still is the decision of national been operated on the theory that the preparation youth leaders, representing more than forty defor life must precede and can be divorced from the nominations and youth organizations, that the acliving of life; they have been protective nests tual present interest of youth justifies making from which the overgrown fledglings will not this same theme into a nation-wide, two-year emerge to tryout their wings until nearly a third youth emphasis. The eager enthusiasm with of life is gone. When vital problems and issues which both the theme and the study books have are discussed or debated it is often with heat, but been received in the young people's conferences all in good fun. Nothing hangs on the issue, not attests the wisdom of the choice. As a young man even bread and butter. put it at the close of one of these conferences, "We're going back home this year with more of a This seems to be changing, be it said for the definite idea of what has to be done and that it's sake of fairness. But the raw material for leader- up to us to actually do something about it." It ship now on hand in our communities and in our did one good to see the light in his eyes and to churches, out of school and ready to "take over," hear the ring of sincerity in his voice as he said it. is the product of a system in which there has been too much of mental and spiritual isolation, with a We still have our extensive world, but the old minimum of experience in "taking over." idea that there is one kind of Christianity, a sort of minimum, for the man in the pew, and an- If there is little in the foregoing that is en- other "full-time" variety for the minister or mis- Gouraging, let us remind ourselves that it is the sionary, is gone forever. The old habits will conbackground that we have been painting, and not tinue, and there will always be, no doubt, "good the picture. For when we look again at our world church members" who call themselves "Chrisof today and at its youth we cannot escape the tians" and are Christians in name only. But it fact that there are other aspects of which we have will be neither fashionable nor comfortable. For yet to take account. It is from these other aspects out of the very confusion of men and of nations that there may be drawn against our dark back- is growing the conviction that the only things worth living for are those that are worth dying
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT OF YOUTH?
for. Missionary zeal is no longer the prerogative not most of those who respond, have been pro- of the Church alone. Realistically-minded youth fessing Christians and members of Christian the world over are turning with eagerness and churches, humility and self-examination on the hope to Fascism in its various forms, to Com- part of dissenters would seem to be more in order munism and to Socialism, seeking through these than criticism.
movements to share in the actual building of a Fortunately no group has a monopoly of the ex- new world. It is inevitable that, in their eyes and perience of vital Christian fellowship. With such in the minds of those who are uncertain as to unmistakable evidence of a sense of unmet need which way to move, the Church and the individual on the part of youth it behooves the Church to re- Christian will be rated comparatively in terms of examine its whole youth program. Such a re- zeal and social outreach. Little respect will be examination is being undertaken in the Presby- wasted on individuals, institutions or movements terian Church, U. S. A., by a Youth Spiritual that lack the courage of their convictions. Western Emphasis Committee, which is prayerfully and Christianity is on trial for its very life: reason earnestly seeking to discover, by working through enough why there should be a restudy of the mis- a few representative churches, how the youth pro- sion of the Christian Church in the world of today. gram may be reshaped so as to make inescapable Here and there across the Church, groups of this experience of vital Christian fellowship. The Christian young people have set out to demon- Federal Council's Commission on Evangelism is strate that there is nothing of permanent value seeking through a series of youth meetings to in any of these world movements to which Jesus achieve the same end. Important as is the man- Christ has not already pointed the way and in the ner of approach, it should not be allowed to ob- achievement of which His Church may not lead. scure the fact that here is a trend of youth inter- A state-wide interchurch youth group in Penn- est that is sincere, earnest, and full of great prom- sylvania has been and is at work to provide for ise for the future because it has to do with the the constituent groups in scores of local COmmu- mainspring of life, the heart's devotion.
nities, resource and project materials on the mis- No doubt those about whom we have been writ- sion of the Christian Church in the fields of in- ing are a small minority among the youth of dustry, youth crime, race, agriculture, world America. There is gratifying evidence that among peace, politics, "missions." They have their five- them are to be found the fearless, far-visioned year plan-detailed, realistic, far-seeing. They leaders of tomorrow whom the others will follow.
mean business. So, too, New Jersey youth. In Pitted against them are the almost overwhelming other states many youth groups, large and small, odds of lethargy, institutionalism, compromise are building Christian programs of action that and factionalism in the Church; but they know it, seek to make of every Christian a missionary and with abundant faith and courage undaunted, Christian, beginning in his own community. while it is yet dark, they herald the coming of the The Fellowship Trend sun, for they know that nothing can stop its aris- ing.
Significant and hopeful as is this movement among Christian youth, for the building of a new social order in the name of Christ, there is another THE MEANING OF LIFE trend of the day that i~ even more so. Contrasting sharply with the popular humanism, it reveals (From Miss Quinn'S report of work among Chinese a deep current of desire for close personal fellow- in Korea) ship with Jesus Christ and a working fellowship with other Christians whose zeal for Christ has The Lord I love went home one day, no conscious limitations. The best known and Went home to God. He did not say most widely discussed expression of this desire is How long He would be gone, nor when to be found in the so-called "Oxford Groups" of He would be coming back again. the "First Century Christian Fellowship." It is I only know that He has gone To make a place for me. Some dawn, unfortunate that so much attention has centered Or evening light He'll come for me! on the techniques involved. It is of tremendous Till then there is a task that He significance that literally multitudes of people, Has set for me, His last command,- Christian and non-Christian, old and young, are To preach the Word! 0 heart and hand, responding with eagerness to the offer of a life Be consecrated to His Cause. full of joy and inner peace because lived every Spend strength and purse and store, nor pause hour of every day in conscious fellowship with Until that wondrous prize is wonand full commitment to Jesus Christ. Here is a His tender words-"Belov'd well done!"
great heart-hunger being met and since many, if -The Bible for China,
Christ to the Students of
By V. W. DYER, Rangoon, Burma Missionary of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Sodety "ONCE I said I would have my fling but now years before seventeen of them were finally ready I am going to have my fling for the Lord for baptism.
Jesus Christ," was the decision of a Bur- At another mission school the missionary said: mese student from the University of Rangoon "Never in the history of the school has any Bud- soon after our first Gospel Team campaign at dhist boy over twelve years of age taken a stand Bangkok Christian College, Siam. The need of for Christ until the Gospel Team came." Since the students of Asia for Christ and His Gospel, that time scores of older Buddhist boys have been and as well as His influence on them and some won nearly every year. This has been made pos- things they are accomplishing for Him can best sible by the preparation given through faithful be shown by telling something Bible teaching every day in the of the story of the Burma Stu- mission school classes. That dent Gospel Teams. high school has had for several A Vision at Amherst years its own Gospel Team which has won many villagers Twelve years ago at Am- to Christ. The Bassein Pwo herst by the sea, near the grave Karen and Shwegyin Mission of Ann H. Judson, some of us School Gospel Teams of volun- had such a wonderful vision of teers have brought in so many Christ and what He might do additions to the church that with students, if only they mission policy may be proreally walk with Him, that we foundly altered. * could get no peace until we had Thousands of decisions and tried to put into action the vis- baptisms all over Burma have ion we received. In October, resulted from this work car- 1923, at the Baptist Burmese ried on by various missionaries Mission Boys School at Da- and Burmese leaders. These nubyu, lower Burma, eight of SAW CHIT MAUNG additions were only possible us, mostly students from Jud- because of the previous good son College, put on our first A Karen leader of Burmese Student Gospel work and cooperation of many All-Round Program of "Expert Team. A native Karen of high accomplish- faithful missionaries. Between Friendship." After a two days' ments, who gave up an attractive career in 300 and 500 students and teach- the Government service to devote his life to the service of Christ.
retreat for ourselves, a time of prayer and facing ers from seminaries, colleges and schools have up to the Four Absolute Standards of Jesus- year after year participated in the work of the Purity, Honesty, Unselfishness and Love-we won Gospel Teams. Only God knows those who are the students with friendship choruses, group truly converted and are changed from being "di- games, football and concerts at night, closing with vided, wrong, inferior and unhappy into being Negro spirituals and a Christian appeal. unified, right, superior and happy Christians." I am inclined to agree with one of our critics that But winning the boys to ourselves is failure, the chief significance of the Gospel Team work unless we really win them to Christ. Twice a day has been the new and fine leaders developed, espewe gave evangelistic Bible studies on sin and sal- cially the college men and women who are seekvation and, most important of all, we witnessed ing to live consecrated lives and who are committo our actual experience of Christ. With feeble ted to winning men to Christ as the supreme busifaith and great hesitation, I gave the invitation to ness and joy of life. these non-Christian students to accept Christ, thinking that perhaps one Burman boy might re- Dr. E. Stanley Jones wrote, after the campaign spond. Imagine my surprise, and shame because of the Burma Team in nine of the colleges of of my little faith, when at the close of the three- day campaign, fifty took a stand. It was two • The Laymen's Report, pp. 63, 141-143, disapproves of this work.
[482 ] North India in 1930: "I do not know anything out the necessity for a change of heart. It is a that has done us more good in the same length of farce to take the easy-going attitude that it does time than this Gospel Team. One month they not matter much what religion a man has as long were with us and yet they set fires blazing in a as he is sincere, and that we have no right to at- number of places. What was the secret of it?" tempt to persuade men to leave the faith of their More than a year later he wrote during our third fathers. Von Hugel said that the greatest foe of campaign in India: "I am unhesitatingly recom- Christianity today is humanism – a humanism mending this team as exponents of a sane and which leaves out the Lord Jesus Christ.
radiant personal and group evangelism." During a campaign in one of the finest mission Obstacles to Student Evangelism colleges in India, before an eager audience of Hindu and Mohammedan students, one of our Nationalism, race-prejudice, humanism and he- Burmese students gave his testimony as to the donism are among the chief difficulties to be marvelous change which Christ had made in his faced in this student evangelism. "To be a Bur- life and as to the wonderful way in which Christ was continuing to purify and enrich his experi- ence. Those Indian students sat in silence, with wistful faces and hungry hearts, eagerly drank in the message and longing for the reality. Not one of the students cared to speak as they quietly filed out, but one of the missionary professors jauntily remarked: "Where did your student learn to speak such excellent English ?" We were so overcome with the sense of Christ's presence that we had no inclination to think of lesser things. A few months later this same professor BURMA GOSPEL TEAM BUS BOUGHT BY THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF BURMA FOR EVANGELISM man is to be a Buddhist," is the common slogan BURMA GOSPEL TEAM AT YALE MONUMENT, MADRAS, of the country. In Siam a strong feature of their NOVEMBER, 1931 nationalism is loyalty to the state religion. Dr. Stanley Jones says that he does not believe that Tour arranged by Dr. E. Stanley Jones and National Christian India can ever be won to Christ until they get Council of India to prepare vital groups preparatory for the Home Rule. The white man is not loved in the Kingdom of God Movement for India. Team for India Jed by East; so the white missionary works under an V. W. Dyer and Miss G. E. Teele. increasing handicap. When we helped form the first College Gospel Team in Madras, the Indian wrote an article in an important religious journal students said that they wanted a team but did not of India deploring the foreign missionary effort want any missionary on it! In most of the mis- to win men to Christ. He tried to show that all sion colleges and stu.dent groups all over India, we should do .is to teach some of Christ's ideals the dominant desire is for Home Rule rather than of service or to purify Hinduism and Mohamfor Christ's Rule. There is very little effort to medanism. Von Hugel is right (even on the miswin the non-Christians to Christ and a baptism sion field): humanism without Christ is deadly. in a mission college is a rare event. Students of the East are very much like their brothers of the West; they desire a good time and are fast deciding that they want no religion to spoil their fun. Probably love of pleasure is the greatest competitor against evangelical religion. Consequently any evangelism has little chance to succeed unless it can show that Christ's Way of Life is the happiest and best.
The non-Christian religions can never hurt the Christian cause so much as mission forces that become satisfied with a "social gospel" and leave
We are thankful to report that at that same pel Team leaders have continued to lead to greater mission college, after much agony in prayer, to- heights because they have entered into the "joy of gether with considerable personal work, one In- the Lord" here and now and have found that fuldian Christian professor and two nominal Chris- ness of life of Him who went to the cross, not tian students were led into a new and deeper ex- merely for duty's sake, but "for the joy that was perience of Christ so that they testified to victory set before Him." They are thrilled to walk with over the sins which were defeating them. They the Christ of the Burma Road who lived and died were able to form a Gospel Team which grew to for us, saying, on the night before He was cruciinclude fourteen members and had marked suc- fied: "That my joy might be in you." cess in winning converts in the Indian villages. It became the greatest Christian force in the Three Burmese and Karen college men entered college. our Theological Seminary, at Insein, in 1927. They were rather unhappy, non-integrated, puri- The Burman, calleq by the British officials "the tanic and legalists in religion. There was more Irishman of the East," is a happy-go-lucky, pleas- of the Old Testament than the New Testament in ure-loving, volatile and extremely sociable indi- their living. They were of excellent character but vidual. His pride and charm of manners make lacked radiance and power. After several months him feel inferior to none. With it all he is a most of success and failure in Gospel Team work they delightful and lovable person. In fact his love of had an experience of returning with joy like the fun has been the despair of the missionaries for seventy disciples of old. They had something of 120 years of noble and self-sacrificing missionary the experience of Chas. G. Finney who was so effort has resulted in winning only 7,000 Chris- filled with the love of Christ that he called out, tians out of 9 million Burmese. Some mission- "Oh Lord, stay Thy hand; Thy servant is only an aries have almost given up hope of seeing the earthen vessel, he can contain no more." These Burman take life or religion seriously. The ad- students became new men, full of exuberant, conventure of complete surrender to the will of God, tagious power of their Master. They did real the romance of trusting Him utterly, and the joy evangelistic work nearly every week-end and durof Christ made one Burmese college student for- ing all of their summer vacations, without any . sake the Imperial Police Service to become the pay, for four full years of their seminary course. first Burmese Y. M. C. A. secretary. When he They are leaders with initiative and consecration saw that the happiest life is really to be found in enough to create their own constituency. Christ, with Christ, for Christ, he followed with glad abandon, saying: "Now I am going to have Can Others Do Likewise'? my fling for the Lord Jesus Christ!" Is there "a secret" which all can learn so that The Average Church Member they will be enabled to go and do likewise, or far better? The average church member either in Burma or in America is often most wretched because he In an official Baptist missionary publication, experiences neither the pleasures which the devil Streets, is found this statement from a visitor offers, nor the joy of Christ. Specialists in nerv- from America who had been with the Burma Gosous and mental troubles are amazed at the large pel Teams: "If this thing keeps up and spreads, proportion of breakdowns found among church there'll be a Christian age yet!" members. A large contributing cause may be that they feel the repression of church morality This "thing" is the work of the Pentecostal without the joyous freedom of Christ. People Group, the Group Plus, and the Plus is Christ. crave excitement, or at least fr~edom from bore- (Mat. 18: 20.) It is a group controlled by the dom, routine, monotony. The Apostle Paul tells Risen Christ with something of the power of us that the best way to experience this liberation Pentecost together with the solid ethical teachof personality is not to be drunk with wine but to ings of the Sermon on the Mount. Back of this be filled with the Spirit of God. Dr. Earle Pierce, is what Henry Drummond called, "the authority of Minneapolis, said to his young people : "You of law, spiritual, moral, natural law, a structure have just enough religion to make you miserable." reared upon the eternal order of the world, and May not that be the chief trouble with the Church therefore self-evident, self-sustaining and invulboth at home and abroad? nerable." Those who fulfil these moral and spir- itual conditions may experience similar or greater Student evangelism, especially with the Bur- spiritual results. We have on record over 600 mans, must demonstrate that Christ's Way of Life group evangelism experiments of both failure and is actually the most satisfying life. Deep down success which convince us of this challenge: in our hearts, all long for a maximum of pleasure Wherever we fulfil the conditions of Pentecost, and a minimum of pain. This is the residuum of God will give Pentecost. Christ never failed us truth in hedonistic ps!'c}lOlogy. The student Gos· on~e, but we h~ve often f~i1ed Him!
H)33] REVEALING CHRIST TO THE STUDENTS OF ASIA
Our Gospel Teams always emphasize our Three Gospel Team when a crowd of outcaste town "riff- General Principles of Friendship: (1) Friend- raff" tried to break up a testimony meeting with ship with God, (2) Friendship with each other, disorderly conduct. When some Brahmin elders (3) Friendship with all others. Friendship with prevented the utter ruin of the meeting, the God involves at least three things: (1) Complete rowdies were so enraged that they rushed up to surrender to the will of God; a giving up of self- my two athletic companions and spat dirty betel assertion which the East despises so much in us nut juice aJI over their faces and clothes. For a Anglo-Saxons; becoming limp in the hands of the moment I trembled lest my brawny teammates Potter; (2) a faithful observance of the Morn- might give those poor despised outcastes the ing Watch or Quiet Time for prayer and Bible thrashing they so richly deserved. Then I saw study, when we make the necessary spiritual diag- them grit their teeth for self-control and smile! nosis to see ourselves as He sees us and thus But I knew they were thinking of Him upon whom keep on a surrendered basis; (3) Guidance of the His enemies "did spit" and who "when he was re- Holy Spirit which enables us (if we live in ac- viled, reviled not again." Afterwards they told cordance with the Four Absolute Standards of me that they too had learned to pray: "Father, Jesus Christ) to know and follow God's Will for forgive them, for they know not what they do." the day. (See Henry B. Wright's "The Will of God and a Man's Lifework.") There is also the The motto for our South India campaign was principle of restitution, going the second mile, that passage which describes Jesus' Gospel Team: loving our enemies, and other principles of Jesus "With Him the twelve and certain women ….. . that we must take seriously or we will find that preaching and bringing the good news of the we have no spiritual power from God to help Kingdom of God." (Luike 8: 1-3.) It is useless transform men into the image of Christ. Evan- to preach unless, with our very lives, we "bring" gelism succeeds only when it makes men Christ- the Gospel. like. The East is asking, says Prof. Wimam E. Three incidents will illustrate the spirit of Gos- Hocking, What difference does it make here and pel Team leadership. Methods and principles are now, if they accept Christ? "What criterion useless unless they are lived out so that men can have you for the truth of this religion which you see and feel them. God had to be made flesh in profess?" In other words, has Christ solved your order that men might know Him. life's problems so that your life and witness are convincing? Nine Burman college students walked two hundred miles with Dr. Marshall and myself in ten I AM CHRISTIAN YOUTH days from Burma to Siam with the temperature over 110 degrees in the" shade. We lived together, By J. T. MORROW, WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS eating burned rice, sleeping on the ground in the rain; getting on each other's nerves, and under- I am the vitality of the Church today and will going other trials that would have ruined our be its leadership· tomorrow. evangelistic campaign if the presence of Christ and the experience of His love had not enabled us as I have acc~pted Jesus Christ as my Lord and to take seriously our motto: "Invincible Good Will, Brother!" Saviour, and the pattern for my purposeful life. I possess the priceless heritage of Christian One of our finest Karen leaders, a noted football star, had been a church member from child- faith handed down to me by countless hosts of hood. Before Christ was given control of his life, devout believers and enriched by my own perhe was one day very angry at a big British soldier sonal devotion. who spiked him and tore his stocking in an important football match. At the next opportunity I am neither sanctimonious nor pious but am when the referee could not see, the Karen kicked striving to adapt the principles of Jesus to a modthe soldier in the stomach and laid him out. Later ern busy world. the soldier came to the Karen and said threateningly: "How is this?" For reply the Karen I am seeking means of furthering the realm of pointed to his torn stocking and said: "How is Christ in terms of social brotherhood and world that?" Five years later in one of the Gospel Team peace. football matches this Karen received kicks on the shins, as well as unfair criticisms of his character I am searching for Truth through the medium from mercenary relatives or jealous rivals, and he of accurate research. takes them all with a smile and a prayer. I defend my own generation from the pessi- A champion lightweight Burman boxer and a mistic judgments of our older colleagues. leading Karen athlete were with our South India I crave responsibilities and implore the sym- pathetic confidence of my predecessors.
I consecrate my virile body, my developing mind, and my adventurous spirit to the Master of men.
I am Christian Youth!
the Revivals Came in
Looking Backward; Preparing to Commemorate a Century of Protestant Missions in Persia By WILLIAM MeELWIE MILLER, Teheran, Persia Missionary of the Presbyteria1z Church, U. S. A.
T HE first American missionaries went to The first revival came in 1846, about ten years Persia in 1834, to open work among the Nes- after the arrival of the first missionaries in torians. These were Syriac-speaking Chris- Urumia. Earnestly had they prayed for its comtians who inhabited the mountains of Kurdistan ing. In April, 1845, the Rev. David Stoddard and the fertile plain of Urumia. The Nestorian wrote to friends in America, "Will not the friends Church had once spread over Asia from the Tigris of the mission beseech the Father of mercies to River to Peking, but during the grant us a powerful outpouring Middle Ages it lost its former of His Spirit; that here the greatness and glory, and the Persia, once a mighty em- Gospel may triumph over the poor remnant of Syrians whom pire under Cyrus the Great, pride, unbelief and deep dethe missionaries of the Amer- was for thousands of years lusions of the human heart, and ican Board found in Persia given over to Sun worship. Jesus Christ be welcomed as a were sunk in ignorance and Later Christianity flourished Saviour, friend, and partner." superstition. They were Chris- for a time and was bitterly tian in little more than name. persecuted. Th~n: came the Within nine months this The purpose of the mission was Mohammedans u n d e r the prayer was granted. The reto revive and enlighten this an- "Camel Driver of Mecca:' and vival appeared first in the two mission schools under the care cient people that they, in turn, today Persia is a Moslem of David Stoddard and Fidelia might once more become a stronghold. But Protestant Fiske. Like most of the remighty influence in the evan- Christian missions have been vivals which followed, this first gelization of Asia. carried on for over one hun- awakening began in connection dred years. There have been with the Day of Prayer in J an- Accordingly Justin Perkins remarkable awakenings in the uary, as both in Persia and with Ashabel Gant and their past and today there are new America earnest prayer was bewives undertook first of all the signs of spiritual power. ing poured out for the convertask of letting in the light of Read this story, take courage sion of souls. Students became divine truth to dispel the dark- and pray. deeply impressed with a sense ness of error. Very few of the men and only one of the women of their sin and need, and also of this people, who numbered began to pray for salvation.
100,000 souls, could read, nor had their spoken Truth which had long lain inactive in their minds language, the modern Syriac, been reduced to now sprang into life in their hearts and gave writing. Schools were started, the Scriptures promise of a harvest in changed character and were translated into the language of the people, a conduct. With joy the laborers welcomed this press was brought out from America and books spiritual springtime! In March, 1846, Perkins were printed, and soon a mighty reformation be- wrote: gan, which finally resulted in the building up of a The revival of which we wrote you last month still prostrong Protestant Church among these Assyrians gresses with increasing interest and power. We are filled and the partial revival of the old church. with wonder, as well as with joy unspeakable, in view of The story of the mission in Persia is full of this work of mercy and grace. In whatever aspect we conthrilling incidents, none of which are more inter- template it, it deeply impresses us as the Lord's doing…. esting than the remarkable revivals which again We expressed the hope that this revival would spread and again visited the mission schools and churches. among the villages; and such is becoming extensively the It is refreshing today to read of these outpourings fact. There are inquirers in several villages, and in one of the Spirit of God upon the dry soil of Urumia village in particular, Geog Tapa by name, a great work is years ago. in progress. Students from the two seminaries have re- turned to their homes in the villages and kindled the fires there by their testimony and their prayers, and frequently [486 ] parents and friends have come in to the seminaries to visit Geog Tapa a great work was in progress; meet- the students and, seeing what God was doing among the ings were held daily, and persons of the most young people, have been themselves converted. abandoned character were awakened and hope- A month later Perkins wrote that in Geog Tapa fully converted. Numerous crimes, some of which thirty-two people had been converted and many were committed twenty-five years before, were others in that place were seriously inquiring of confessed and restitution made. Nearly the whole the way of salvation. In passing along the streets population was affected in a very remarkable one might hear the voice of prayer in not a few of manner. One of the bishops of the old Nestorian the houses; and in the fields and vineyards in the Church confessed his sins and began to preach vicinity there were to be heard the same impres- with new power. Old people who had never prayed sive sounds. before began to pray in public with freedom and The next month Perkins again wrote of Geog eloquence. In many villages there was weeping Tapa that "a great general reformation has taken and mourning over sin, and a Moslem passing near place" there. Open vice, so common before, was a church where a service was in progress on hear- no longer tolerated in the village. Sixty people ing the lamentation within inquired who had died.
seemed to be truly converted and scores of others Many lives were permanently changed.
were awakened. There was great eagerness to In the following year another revival occurred,.
hear God's word, and sometimes on the same eve- beginning on the same day (January 13th) in ning ten or fifteen meetings were going on in the both the seminaries, though they were six miles; homes of the people. Men whose hear.ts had been apart and there was no communication between touched went out to the fields to speak to the la- them. Again there was weeping and confession borers. Christian hymns were sung by the chil- of sin. One of the chief characteristics of these dren in the streets and the priest of the village, revivals was the earnestness and intensity of the formerly "a passionate, violent and even intem- prayers of the awakened. On February 21, 1850, perate man," became "apparently as meek and Mr. Coan writes from Urumia: quiet as a lamb." From Geog Tapa a large num- These Nestorian Christians fully sustain their character ber of preachers went forth each Sunday to other as praying Christians. Many pass hours together on their knees in prayer; and often, in the stillness of the midnight villages, and thus the revival fires spread. hour, the voice of prayer breaks pleasantly upon the ear; Dearth in America-Harvests in Persia and sometimes their eyes not only "prevent the night The Missionary Herald of that day says of these watches" but the day dawn. On the Sabbath nearly the whole time, before and after services, is passed in their thrilling events: closets. Sometimes it would seem that they preferred pray- Amid a most painful dearth of revivals in our own land, ing, not only to sleeping but to eating also. A few Sabit is truly refreshing to contemplate a powerful work of baths since the pupils of the female seminary returned the Spirit in regions which have been for ages unblessed directly to their closets, after the afternoon service as with such showers of divine grace. Who would have chosen usual. But in this instance they remained there till the tea Geog Tapa as the place in Christendom likely to receive bell rang. They came in reluctantly, one after the other, the outpouring of the Spirit? and took their seats in silence at the table. The blessing was asked, and the steward began to dip out their soup, After three years the mission was blessed with the tears meanwhile streaming down his cheeks, and the a second revival which began in January, 1849, girls sobbing with their heads bowed upon the table. There seemed to be no disposition to eat; and it was not until just as Perkins was finishing his translation of the they were told that they must eat that they might have Bible into modern Syriac, and just before he strength to pray that they ate a little, and then flew to buried his fifth child in a Persian grave. In re- their closets again. porting the new revival he writes: The "closets" referred to were little rooms The members of the seminary who were hopefully con- where they prayed in secret. A number of villages verted three years ago were, for two or three days after were blessed by this same revival. the work commenced in its power, the subject in most cases of the most intense heart searchings, of piercing compunc- Did these revivals produce any vital change in tions for their previous coldness and backslidings, and of the conduct of the pupils? Let Mr. Stoddard, the subdued prostration before God. This was true of very devoted Christians as well as others. . .. The impenitent principal of the male seminary, reply. Writing of the early days of the seminary, he says (Demembers of the seminary were also powerfully wrought upon by the mighty energies of the same Spirit, some of cember, 1851) : them being under very deep conviction of sin, and nearly For a considerable period we had not one pious scholar. The principal native teacher, priest Eeschoo, was very all awakened to a sense of their dreadful depravity and imperfectly enlightened. . .. The noise and confusion and insubordination, the habits of lying and theft, the indiftheir utterly lost condition. It is now about a month since ference to religious truth, which were then almost univerthe commencement of this wonderful display of mercy in sal in the school, were a constant source of anxiety and at our male seminary; and there is as yet little diminution of the interest.
A similar awakening occurred in the female times of discouragement. I had many doubts whether the enterprise would be successful. seminary at the same time. At the present time, however, the school is the reverse This revival also spread to the villages. In of what it then was…. In addition to those who have
gone out into the villages to conduct schools and to preach, they talked and prayed together they agreed on a we have thirty with us, about three-fourths of the whole plan by which they would go out to the principal seminary, who are hopefully pious, and who comfort our villages with some of the native brethren, spend a hearts much by their consistent and prayerful deportment. week or ten days in each village-preaching, sing- No one could be present long at our daily recitations, or ing, praying, conversing with individuals, visiting visit the pupils in their rooms, and see the order, the so- from house to house, after the manner of the briety, the diligence and the thirst for learning which are Moody and Sankey meetings. The next Friday so strikingly manifest, without being deeply interested in was appointed as a day of fasting and prayer, them. especially for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
The spirit of prayer manifested by many of these young Some of the meetings lasted for two hours. On men is truly remarkable. It is a time of only ordinary one evening thirty-five people arose and confessed religious interest, and yet a stranger, coming into our their sinfulness and asked for prayer. Later one meetings, and listening to the fervent and unaffected en- hundred more expressed a desire to follow Christ. treaties of these youths would suppose us to be in the Mr. Whipple and his colleagues did not yet know midst of revival. This impression would be still further that 260 churches in America had been praying confirmed, were he to stand, as I often do, near our range for them. of prayer rooms, just as our pupils are about to retire to rest, and hear their mingled voices, as they are pouring On January 23, Dr. Holmes, the physician in out their souls to God in confession, supplication and Urumia, wrote that the work which Mr. Whipple praise. mentioned as in progress had greatly increased and there seemed to be a general revival spirit During the next twenty years the missionaries throughout a large portion of the field. . .. In the report at least ten seasons of revivals similar to city of Urumia the chapel had been crowded day those already described. Lack of space prevents and night for two weeks, and a large number of the telling of inspiring stories of these repeated inquirers had come forward. In the girls' semoutpourings of the Spirit. It is noteworthy that inary nearly all the students appeared to be under more than once the revival began on the very day conviction of sin. In a number of villages also that friends in America united to pray for the the revival was in progress. mission in Urumia. I shall close this article with an account of the revival of 1877 which was a most At the end of the year the mission reported that striking answer to prayer. In November, 1876, this revival had brought new life to the churches D. L. Moody was in Chicago at the Christian Con- and the membership had increased thirty per cent, vention when a prayer alliance was formed by 214 persons having been admitted to the Lord's which 260 churches were pledged to pray for one Supper. another till the longed-for revival came. Mrs. Sarah J. Rhea, a former member of the Persia Next year (1934) the Protestant missions at Mission, was present at this meeting, and in her work in Persia plan to celebrate the one hundredth passionate loyalty to the fifty churches in the anniversary of missionary work in that land. In Urumia field, asked that these might be added to what more fitting manner could the centennial be the list. She at once wn>te letters to Persia to observed than by a united effort on the part of all tell the churches that they were pledged to pray the Christians of Persia to reap the harvest that for a revival. Long before her letters arrived no- has been a century ripening? What greater blesstice what took place in Urumia! ing could the friends of Persia- everywhere desire than that the Lord would pour out His Spirit with- In December, 1876, Mr. Whipple wrote from out measure upon the churches of that land, that Urumia that as the missionaries noted the zeal in these latter days we may again experience a with which members of the political parties in revival mightier than any which Persia has yet America go out and try to win people to their side, seen? "Ask and it shall be given you!" they were impressed by the necessity of their showing more zeal in their spiritual work. As DO FOREIGN MISSIONS PAY?
One of the best answers ever given to this question was that of the converted Brahman, Dr. Narayan Sheshadri, before a large audience in Philadelphia some years ago. He said: "This cultured audience convinces me that missions pay. Long" after India had reached a high state of civilization, your ancestors were barbarous and degraded heathen. It was for- oeign missions in the early days of Christianity that lifted them out of this state and gave them and you, their descendants, the Christian civilization and enlightenment you now enjoy. You owe what you are to foreign missions." Letters from American Church Representatives in India, Japan, Korea and Guatemala THE DANGER OF RETREAT IN INDIA irrational? Or is it reasonable and practical? During the past few months, one of the mis- By THE REV. WILBUR S. DEMING, PH.D., sions in India spent two days in seeking to ap- AHMEDNAGAR, INDIA praise its work and to recommend constructive lines of retrenchment. Where to withdraw? Secreta1"y of the American Marathi Mission, A merican Board Dr. James L. Barton, writing of the work of Needs on all sides press in upon us. Most of our Christian missions, says: work is underfinanced. We sympathize with the verdict of the Allied commander who exclaimed: In spite of their deficiencies and incompetence, the "Our right is giving way; our left is in retreat; Christian missionares have been the greatest modernizing, civilizing and morally construc- we will attack in the centre."
tive force that has gone from the The whole philosophy of West into Asia and Africa. They What would have happened at Christian missions is to go have done more to win the coop- the front in the World War if the forward; it does not funceration of Asiatic and African reinforcements and supplies for tion well in retreat. peoples than any other Western the army had been withheld? agency. They have introduced Unfortunately a retreat, ideas and ideals which are re- Whatever sacrifices are made by due to retrenchment, is now shaping fundamentally the thinking of the leaders and the aspira- the folks at home, the sacrifices on being carried on all along tions of the peoples. They rep- the field of conflict are infinitely the line. Various projects resent, upon the highest level of greater. The same is true in the living and thinking, the best Christian missionary campaign. are being given up and the America has to offer. They are When the Church sends outrepre- situation has become critical. real ambassadors of Good Will. sentatives to be Ambassadors of The younger churches are They have laid the foundations Christ on the frontiers, with not yet in a position to asfor Christian education, have in- promises of adequate support, sume the responsibility for augurated new social orders, have shall we withhold reinforcements many of these Christian produced a new religious and and supplies? The campaign is enterprises. Will this reeducational literature and have won the confidence of the people still in the balance. treat become a wholesale among whom they live. In reply to some thirty letters withtlrawal? Will it become a rout? sent to various missionaries of dif- If ml'ssl'onary work has ferent socI'etl'es and in different Here is a hospital that has otnhea tm.tnf' bl uuetnecse t t h'at t thDern. fields we have received the follow- been doing age n e r 0 u s had amount of charity work be- Bart 0 1, ing illuminating and courageous replies. They show both the evil cause of the pathetic poverty the question of its relation- and the good coming from the ship to the present financial economic crisis, of so many who seek assist- depression becomes a vital ance. Diminishing fun d s issue for the churches in the compel the doctors to cater homeland. If it continues to be, in spite of all more to the wealthy patients in order to secure criticisms, the outstanding philanthropic connec- fees. Thus the free service must be sharply curtion between the East and the West, then all those tailed. interested in a more spiritual and cultural civilization will be anxious about the present trend. Here is a district that has maintained several qualified preachers who have carried the message The greatest danger facing Christian missions of God's redeeming love through Christ to the at present is spiritual rather than material. The non-Christians in that area. Through their perrepeated cutting down of our work during the sonal contacts they have been lifting the villages past few years has brought us face to face with a to a higher type of living, particularly the so- spiritual problem. We are in grave danger of los- called "untouchables." A cable from America ing our morale. Weare struggling against a announces a sharp drop in receipts and this distemptation to adopt a defeatist attitude, not trict enterprise must be shut down, or turned over merely about the future of the Christian faith but to a small group of Christians to be carried on about the future world order. Is the dream of a as a voluntary enterprise. Such a solution starts cooperating and brotherly world an idle one? Is with good motives but often has an ineffective the vision of a world dedicated to Christlike ideals result.
[489 ]
Here is a mIssIOnary family that has heavy They represent the view that political and com- financial obligations for the education of the chil- mercial contacts are not enough. They desire to dren. As a result of cuts in salary, the family share the Christ-life with others. Unless the slowly uses up scanty savings and perhaps falls churches in the homeland become thoroughly alive into debt. In the effort to make ends meet the to the need of maintaining this world-wide enter- missionary must cease to purchase books and prise of Christian missions, no matter how great periodicals. How long can he or she remain a the sacrifice; and unless they put forth their best useful and effective missionary? efforts to accomplish this end, we are in grave Here is a Christian school that has been spread- danger of continuing the retreat until we sur- ing a wholesome influence throughout the com- render values that can never be replaced.
munity. Word comes from home causing the school to close its doors. Some pupils find their WHAT REDUCED INCOME MEANS way into secular schools but many must leave By THE REV. A. A. SCOTT, B.S., INDORE, INDIA school because of the ever-present caste prejudice. But the picture is not all dark. The drop in Principal of Indore Christian College, United Church of Canada material resources has often led to a deepening of the spiritual life. We come to realize more fully Perhaps never since the commencement of the that spiritual resources are paramount. This modern Foreign Missionary Movement have misgrowing spirit of independence from material sions and missionaries been more definitely "up things has had a beneficial and far-reaching ef- against it" than at the present time. In many fect. There has also been an incentive to hasten cases the future of work, which has been carried the process of sharing our responsibilities with on effectively for generations, is trembling in the nationals. Missions have been forced to take this balance. whole problem more seriously and to make it a Missions do not depend upon money alone-or living issue rather than an academic discussion. chiefly. They are the outgrowth of faith and love. The curtailment in financial support has undoubt- Nevertheless, they must make use of money to acedly led to the removing of many non-essentials. complish their ends. When the money fails, as it Needed changes have been brought about and un- has failed in the last two or three years, the probfruitful work has been eliminated. All these lem becomes a wearing one. The writer represents a mission in which withthings are commendable. in the last year or two the total appropriation Can Values Be Replaced? (which was even then considerably below our Yet the question remains, will we, because of estimates) has been reduced by more than 33Ya%.
financial pressure, continue th~ policy of exten- Missionaries' salaries have been cut, first 10%, sive retrenchment? Will the building crumble to then 15%, and now 25%. Indian workers have such a degree that it cannot be repaired, when suffered in a similar way. We ask ourselves, "Is the wheels of industry start turning again? If this the end, or is the worst still to come?"
the present trend continues much longer, such What effect is this going to have upon the questions will require an urgent answer. work? We admit that there are features of the In the meantime the world continues like a box stringency which are not wholly depressing. In of dynamite with sparks flying around. Political so far as the shortage of funds has enabled us to questions are enshrouded in an atmosphere of get rid of unsatisfactory workers, to dispense fear, animosity and suspicion. The nations gaze with outgrown methods and cumbrous machinery, at each other across tariff and armament bar- it may have been a blessing in disguise. It may riers. The economic machine, having broken be a blessing also if it makes it necessary for the down, has yet to find those who can repair it with Indian Church to assume larger responsibility for any degree of confidence. Pessimism seems to carrying out the Master's Commission. The have ·much of the world in its grip. trouble is that the indigenous Church is also suf- Some favorable factors continue to encourage fering from the depression and is in no position us. In addition to various political and economic to assume larger burdens. It is having a hard -efforts to effect world settlement, there are at struggle to keep its own head above water.
work in various strategic spots Christian mission- What then are some of the effects of the cuts?
.aries whose desire is to spread a spirit of Chris- Mission buildings which are valuable and worth tian friendliness. In spite of defective qualifica- preserving are falling into disrepair because there tions, many of them are exerting an influence for is no money to keep them up. Mission equipment interracial and international cooperation. They which has been acquired at considerable cost is are the vanguard of a new day when we shall have being wasted because there are no funds to main- a brotherhood of nations united in a common plan tain it. The whole work, whether evangelistic, to share the good things of life with each other. educational or medical, is suffering from de-
WHEN MISSIONARY INCOME IS REDUCED
pressed vitality. It is steadily slipping farther are prepared to suffer with the rest of the world. and farther down hill. Openings which have been But if the Church has lost its enthusiasm for the gained only after years of effort are being closed proclamation of the Message of the Cross to all simply because we cannot, for financial reasons, men, that will do much to take the heart out of us in our work. enter into them. The report of the Lindsay Commission urges One point more-as the result of the falling off in giving, most missions are now assuming a de- that Christian colleges should enter more whole- pressingly middle-aged appearance. Few new heartedly into the life of the people. Very good. missionaries are being sent out, and, as a conse- But when one's whole energies are taken up in quence, the fresh new life which is the natural trying to keep oneself alive, one has not much vi- accompaniment of youth is being shut off from tality to share with others. For years we have our fields. The result will be that in the Young been trying to get Christian Teacher Training or- India, just stretching his sleepy limbs and real- ganized in such a way that the courses given izing his strength, many of our mission bodies would be recognized by the government and lead will find themselves hopelessly behind the times to some definite standing. Now, just when our unless there is in the near future a strong influx efforts appear to be about to be crowned with suc- of new life, full of spiritual enthusiasm for the cess, there come these appalling cuts which make work of Christ and His Kingdom; full also of the it impossible for us to take up the work which we natural vigor and energy of youth. had planned. That is but one instance of many. SHORTAGE IN JAPAN Naturally the Indian staff is becoming restless. They feel that their position is becoming more and By THE REV. S. H. WAINRIGHT, D.D. more uncertain, and they face the possibility of dismissal at any moment with no provision for Christian Literature Society of Japan any pension. Many have been trained from boy- hood or girlhood in mission service, and know no The effect of the world economic depression has other work. What will they do if they are flung been eased in Japan somewhat by two favorable out in the cold to fend for themselves? What circumstances: first, by the high exchange value will be the impression produced on non-Christians of the American dollar and, secondly, by the stim- if this happens? ulus given to export trade. The first has helped mission work, and the second has been an ad- The missionaries themselves, for the most part, vantage to general conditions. But these favor- are hopeful, though many are bearing almost in- able conditions are losing their advantage. The tolerable burdens. Trying to educate a family, high cost of raw materials imported for manufac- some in the mission field and some in the home- ture, is taking away the advantage from the new land is no joke in these days, when one has only rate of exchange. The mission boards are adjust- three quarters of a small salary with which to do ing themselves to this new rate and appropria- it. The constant anxiety about ways and means, tions are made in yen. Instead of sending one which is forced upon us at present, does not make dollar to provide for two yen in the budgets here, us more fit for our work, but definitely weakens mission boards now send forty cents. Local prices us. are also rising.
Just now a great question arises. Does the fail- Reduction all along the line has become neces- ure of the Church to give more adequate support sary. Every conceivable economy is adopted in to this work mean that its members have not order to keep existing work going, while new work money to give, or does it mean that the Church receives no serious consideration in present bud- has grown tired of its task? Is the Church los- get making. ing faith in the missionary enterprise? If we could have a definite negative answer to that ques- The missionaries have cheerfully accepted re- tion it would do much to settle many qualms. We ductions in their salaries, but they are greatly can stand sacrifice. We are not afraid of having hampered in not being able to respond to all kinds to bear heavy burdens. But is the Church going of appeals about them, the meeting of which to abandon us and the work? That is the ques- would increase usefulness. tion which "gives us pause." One denomination, after estimating for J apa- There has been much loose talk in America in nese pastors' salaries out of funds available, found recent years about the ability of the people of the that a deficit of 9,500 yen had yet to be covered. Orient to stand alone, and about the "impertinence The mission board made this a "special," and of foreign missions"; one wonders how far the asked the churches to contribute 6,500 yen and Church has been affected by such vapourings. the missionaries to give 3,500 yen to make up the (Did the Appraisal Commission entirely escape deficit! It is doubtful whether this response can . the influence of such suggestions?) Missionaries be made, yet it presents a phase of the foreign are not looking for easy jobs or soft berths, we missionary's opportunity. These trying times must not defeat the purpose which brought mis- penses of which were borne by the local Chris- sionaries to foreign service. One of the most tians. A four-days' series of meetings were held touching scenes I have witnessed since coming to in the large Nakashima auditorium, preceded by Japan was at an annual meeting last summer workers' meetings and by visiting homes through- when all present contributed to make up the re- out the city. Meetings in the churches followed.
turn fare to Japan of a fellow missionary and his One Christian training school sent out the stu- wife and it was a high point in experience felt by dents who visited 8,000 homes in the part of all when the cable message called them to return. Osaka in which the school is situated!
One happy circumstance is that while applica- The decline in the foreign missionary force, not tions for admission to mission schools are fewer, withstanding the call for new work, is very dis- attendance holds up so that income from fees is turbing. In 1927, the Protestant missionary staff maintained. Without the exchange balances this in Japan numbered 1,527, while last year it had year schools are meeting with far greater diffi- decreased to 1,176, involving a loss of one-third culties. the ordained missionaries, many of whom are in , Adjustment is not always possible. A step more evangelistic work. This touches a vital element serious is necessary. A Christian Literature So- in the foreign mission force.
ciety Weekly, called the Sunday Club, started last There has been an increase (from 1,055 to year at Dr. Kagawa's request, was so successful 1,552) of Japanse ordained men and a correspond- as to reach a total for the year of 125,000 copies. ing increase in women workers, but the decline in It could not pay for the editor's salary, so it had the missionary staff is a serious loss. The Chris- to be dropped in spite of the appeal made to a tian institutions founded by American missions committee at home. cannot as yet be maintained by the Japanese Many other enterprises are dropped off which churches, nor can these churches meet the ever are of a special nature. The full strength of the sounding call for new advance in the unoccupied Christian movement cannot be put forth. Even territory. The home churches must respond to regular work, like preaching places which have the appeal for new work in all great mission fields.
the promise of becoming churches, are discon- Two million new congregations are required to tinued owing to the drawing in of the lines. meet the needs of villages in Asia. The call from Hardships come to those who cannot be continued this Macedonia is not only for help in establishing in the work and to those on whom is laid double the church but it is the call to help the new tasks through the economy thus effected. younger churches reach out into the regions be- Unfortunately we do not see any very distinet yond. The Apostle Paul writes to the Christians spiritual effects from the depression in Japan. in Philippi: Christians nowadays seem to have lost the secret When I departed from Macedonia, no church had felwhich knows "how to be brought low" as well as lowship with me in the matter of giving and receiving "how to abound.') Our chief Christian virtue (for new work elsewhere) but ye only. seems·to be to know "how to abound" – how to confer earthly benefits upon others. Weare not In one large mission in Japan the only new work so gifted when it comes to making straightened undertaken has been made possible by a special circumstances vocal with the power of faith and contribution made for this purpose by a devout Christian woman on the Pacific Coast of America.
love. Man is too often looked upon as the source A TESTING TIME IN JAPAN .of welfare; so when things go wrong a certain ill humor is apt to find expression toward man By THE REV. D. B. SCHNEDER, D.D.
as responsible. If the spiritual benefit of the pres- P/'esident of North Japan College, Sendai, Japan ent depression is that we are led "to look not upon Due to the hopeful attitude of the Foreign Mis- the things that are seen but upon the things that sion Board of the Reformed Church in the United are unseen," then there is some evidence of that. State and the favorable exchange, we have not Many in Japan are truly "seeking first the King- thus far seriously suffered in our work in Japan.
dom of God and his righteousness." Unusual Both of our schools, North Japan College and hardships in church work are giving rise to un- Miyagi College, have entered upon a very hopeful usual efforts. year. The number and quality of our applicants A missionary living in the interior says that for admission have been better than for a num- outlying places are offering to provide the travel ber of years. Any drastic cut in our appropria- and entertainment and a meeting place (in one tions, therefore, will be very deplorable.
of the private homes) if an evangelist can be sent If any weakening of the work takes place now, to introduce the Gospel there. it will be practically impossible to recover from A most interesting instance of this local activ- the effects. Christianity faces a harder task in ity is the special evangelistic campaign conducted· Japan now than at any time during the past fifty recently in the great city of Osaka, the total ex- years.
WHEN MISSIONARY INCOME IS REDUCED
WHAT THE CUTS MEAN IN KOREA The Government requires certain standards of By THE REV. STACEY L. ROBERTS, D.D. equipment and scholastic work, and without money we cannot meet these requirements nor measure President of the Presbyterian Theological Seminary, up to the opportunities before us. Pyengyang, Korea In such a time we must reevaluate our work and With gifts to missions reduced, appropriations put the resources and strength that we have, not for the work must be reduced, and the Church of merely in work that is important, but in work that Christ both at home and abroad is being compelled is most important. The Lord can bless a very to retrench. In Korea, at a time like this, we ap- little so as to use it in a mighty way. Our prayer preciate as never before the wisdom that carried is that He may make us strong where we are weak through the plan to establish a self-supporting and bless the work, even though our equipment is Church, so that when funds from the homeland less than in the past. We pray that further "cuts" are reduced, the strong Korean Presbyterian may not be necessary for we need not only more churches are directly very little affected. It is money but more workers. different where the churches are under the care of the missionary. When itineration funds are REDUCTION IN GUATEMALA reduced, they must receive less attention, even By EDWARD M. HAYMAKER, D.D. though the missionary goes into his own reduced personal funds to pay the expenses of his itinera- Editor of "Guatemala News"
tion. This is most important work, but the trips In prosperous times both national workers and require money and retrenchment greatly affects missionaries in the Guatemala Mission had only the cause of Christ in Korea. just enough to live on-never too much. The cut A native church may be largely self-supporting in the budget, therefore, makes necessary for us and yet the mission may need a great deal of all very trying readjustments. Our plans were money to carryon the evangelistic, educational, made very carefully so that we cannot cut ex- medical, industrial and literary work. Reduced penses without making matters more difficult. We appropriations to Bible Institutes mean either less economize in food and clothing-often a doubt:ful time given to teaching the Word of God or fewer and desperate expediency. Some are forced to seek men and women taught. These Bible Institute outside sources of income such as teaching music students are the elders and deacons and Sunday or language, repairing cars, etc. The WIicy of School teachers and Bible women of the country the Church at home has been that the efficiency of and city churches. The opportunity to help fit the missionary is the prime consideration. Urider them for their work is one of the greatest we this reduction that policy is discarded. At first have in Korea. The work of the Theological Sem- the missionaries tried to help out nationals by inary must go on, if there is to be a trained min- sacrificing their own comforts, but now their ut- istry, but when all of the cooperating missions are most effort is required to keep going themselves, compelled to cut their budgets, and there is no and the nationals suffer, though the missionaries possibility of increasing tuition fees, we face a voted unanimously to make reductions pro rata very serious situation. with the work and national workers.
The cut in hospital appropriations means less A much discussed question is as to whether it free medical work. There is a wonderful oppor- is best for missionaries to adopt a different stand- tunity in the hospital to meet the needs of the ard of living from that of the native workers.
souls as well as the bodies of thousands of people! Should they "stoop to conquer" as Christ and the Some are able to pay their way, but if help cannot Apostles did ?Perhaps the question will be de- be given free to multitudes of other sick and suf- cided for us. At any rate the missionary is per- fering folk, their future means years of suffering force approaching the standard of living of the or an early death. It takes money to care for national, who, in the meantime, is being reduced these needy people. to greater poverty. This affects not only our faith- In Korea we have a large Christian constituency ful workers, but the work and the people as well.
and this offers a wonderful opportunity to give When their standards of living are lowered their the Christian youth a good education and to make ideals and their Christian optimism are apt to them useful members of the Church of Christ and wither. The death rate is reported as increasing of society. A cut in appropriations means that in a number of localities from a lack of ability to we are compelled to reduce the number of teach- purchase simple remedies. The tendency is to- ers, to overcrowd the class rooms, to use a poorer ward parsimony even in religion.
grade of teachers, and to refuse help to many In the different departments of mission work worthy students, many of whom are the children the results of the reduction are very serious. Mis- of pastors and other Christian workers, and are sionaries have given up their cars and thus their looking forward to lives of service for Christ. usefulness is curtailed. The hospital has given up the native driver, which means that the doctor undertaking more complete self-support, which is and nurse must do the work-at a great cost to our ideal.
efficiency. The cut also stops work on chapels, The drift of the Church talent toward govern- parsonages and schools, as the nationals alone are ment employment, because of the much larger pay not able to finish them. Outstation work is cur- than we can afford, is growing less because state tailed when there is no way to finance the trips. salaries are in arrears. Dr. Paul Burgess says, Next year the evangelistic work will suffer even in a recent letter: more seriously if the cut continues. The Church and missions have suffered less from the Our missionary institutions are sometimes hit depression than other institutions, especially the governthe hardest. They depend largely on funds from ment. In consequence talents, which would otherwise home. The field income is also decreasing because serve the government are available for mission service, of the depression. Repairs to buildings cannot be even at the beggarly salaries the Church is able to pay. So the depression has brought the Church at this time the made; teachers and other workers cannot be best leadership available from within its membership.
paid; tuitions and hospital expenses are not met; The government has been compelled to close so that the outlook is distressing. What are we many rural schools, so that in many of our fields to do if the cut continues? the Sunday schools have taken their place. These mission Sunday schools are now teaching both Thank God there is a brighter side, and we keep cultural and academic studies as well as the Gosstaring at that to keep up our courage. The pel. They are growing rapidly and are becoming Master knows full well what He is doing. When a powerful means of local evangelization, at the people had plenty of money and occupation, they same time doing the government a good turn. indulged to excess in questionable diversions and Poverty is providing good soil for the presentafrivolity often tending toward degeneration. The tion of Christ. It may even be a good thing for a drift of the public was away from serious think- missionary to stop and make tents now and then. ing and from God. When money and work are It gives him an opportunity to revalue his work, lacking they begin to reflect on the seriousness of to recast his plans, to relight his enthusiasm and life. Thinking seriously often means thinking to rededicate his life. evangelically, and our church attendance increases apace. Our Guatemala Christians give for the We are coming to believe that the providence of work of Christ to the point of sacrifice, and that God can be seen in all this necessary readjust- is good training for the present stage. They are ment. Some huge problems are being solved by learning not to rely much on foreign help, "and are it, whether we will or no.
Shall the Tent Makers Preach?
By PAUL W. HARRISON, M.D., Muscat, Arabia Missionary of the Reformed Church in America; Author of "The Arab At Home"
"THERE is nothing that we would not do for tion by means of making first-class tents, he should your tent factory if only you would get rid not devote his attention to preaching Christ. Most of the preaching in it." The Book of the missionaries live, as Paul usually did, supported by far-away churches, but a number of us-doc- Acts does not mention such an incident in Paul's tors, teachers, industrialists, and agriculturistslife, but it is a common experience in the lives of follow his tent-making program. his successors. The Apostle would have ignored such a remark. He would have been surprised to But we are here as missionaries, all of us. That be told that when he was supported by foreign means that we are "bond-slaves of Jesus Christ, funds and could give his whole time to preaching, set apart to proclaim God's Good News." The docthat then he was a legitimate evangelist, but when tor finds his opportunity in work with individuals he earned his living and made his social contribu- more often than in public addresses, though in
SHALL THE TENT MAKERS PREACH?
Muscat we have made it a practice to give the leave us with their arms aching and empty; to doctor one of the preaching services every month, fathers austere and erect, who go down the hos- simply to demonstrate publicly his active partner- pital steps broken and gray, with such silent grief ship in the station's evangelistic campaign. In in their eyes as only strong men know. No man the Hospital there is an opportunity to exercise ever came into a mission hospital who needed his gifts of a modest sort in proclaiming the Good hernia mended one-half so badly as he needed to News. Doctors are not highly trained theologi- learn about Jesus Christ. It is easy to operate on ans, but on the mission fields many of them make his hernia, and we are glad to help him by doing first rate preachers of the simple Gospel. it, but we pray and plan and hope for an oppor- The difference is only one of degree. The most tunity to bring him to Christ. Sometimes we suc- effective and most useful preachers we have, such ceed in giving him the greater gift along with the as Bishop Linton and William Miller, of Persia, lesser, and when we do we thank God and take insist that they do their most important work with courage. That is the real reason we are out here.
individuals. On the other hand, however full the It is a very gratuitous trouble which our friends time of the tent-making missionary may be, and are giving themselves over the acceptability of however much confined to individual contacts, evangelistic work in our hospitals. I have never there come many opportunities to present the Gos- met a patient who was troubled by it, nor his rela- pel message to larger or smaller groups. tives either. The Mohammedan who made to me The missionary must frequently pray to be de- the remark quoted (with modifications) at the livered from his well-meaning friends. For years beginning of this paper, was a merchant from out- he has been told by ship captains, by godless com- side, as much an alien in Bahrain, as 1. He was mercial representatives, and by the alien admin- not troubled about the fine sensibilities of the pa- istrators who rule most of the Near East, that the tients. What worried him was the possibility tent-making missionary should have no part nor that some of them might become Christians. We lot in evangelistic work. In these days that idea hope to give him still more reason to worry about has gained a wider vogue. The argument is this in the days to come.
simple enough. The medical missionary especially When men say that we will see better medical furnishes to the community such a valuable type work if evangelism is excluded from the doctor's of tent, that unless we are careful, people will be activities, they are simply mistaken. Dr. Howard found listening to the Gospel against their wills, Kelly and Dr. J. M. T. Finney, of Baltimore, are simply to secure a tent. Christian love should not reduced to sub-mediocre physicians and sur- lead us to furnish tents free to the community, geons by their Christian activities in America. A and not preach the Good News to them at all. Christian faith, deep enough to be happy and con- In an argument such as this, there is some fool- tagious, and vivid enough to focus our whole per- ishness and some pure fiction. We do furnish sonality, so that it becomes easy to talk to others tents free to the needy community, and no one is about the Christ who has done so much for us, compelled to listen to the Gospel in order to bene- such a faith does not make for slovenly, careless, fit by our services. The clinic door is wide open. or ineffective medical work. It makes for better Anyone who prefers not to listen has the whole work; is indeed a guarantee of the best that that outdoors to retreat into, and thus can save his particular doctor is capable of doing. Experience soul from enlightenment. In Bahrain and Mus- bears this out. Dr. Vail in Miraj, whose reputa- cat, we seek to do personal work with every pa- tion throughout India and the Near East com- tient every day, but always with the provision that pares with that of the Mayos in America, is one anyone preferring not to listen, is passed by. In of the most whole hearted evangelists that we twenty years I have never seen a patient who was have on the mission field. Others are Dr. Goheen not glad to have me sit and read and talk and and Dr. Evans in Vengurla, Dr. Hume arid the pray with him. Beals in Wai, Dr. Dame in Bahrain, Dr. Ida The idea that, by carrying on evangelistic work Scudder in Vellore, and Dr. Edith Brown in Lud- in our hospitals, we are in some way trampling hianna. The list could be lengthened almost in- under foot the finer sensibilities of our helpless definitely. The best medical work in India and patients, is grotesque. Talking about Jesus Christ Arabia is being done by these men and women.
with men who are in trouble is often the one The Church has no work anywhere of which she thing they want, introducing them to Him and to has a greater right to be proud.
the God of all comfort through Him. Up and down "Brethren pray for us," the tent makers, that the aisles of pain and trouble and broken hearts in an agressive. evangelism, mixed with sympathy Jesus, our Lord, walks day and night. If only and love and skill and hard work, "the word of we could make Him visible to them all! But He the Lord may have free course and be glorified does become visible to some; to mothers who even as it is with you."
Christ to the Foreign
By the REV. EDWARD CATLOS Pastor of the First Bobemian Baptist Church, Cbicago DECENTLY very little has been said regard- The immigrant has brought with him an affilia- ~ ing the foreign born in the United States. tion to the state church. In most cases he con- The outbreak of the World War marked the tinued to live loyally to that church. But the state beginning of the decline in immigration. Our church has been very slow in coming with any present laws keep the doors almost completely definite attempt to minister to the spiritual needs closed so that emigration actually exceeds our im- of the foreigner. And when finally it did come, migration. Notwithstanding this present condi- the number of the priests and the ministers was tion we still have, according to the census of 1930, so insufficient that all of the ministry was confined over fourteen million foreign born in the United for a long period to christenings, marriages, and States, and over twenty-two million native born burials. In some cases the earnest immigrant, of foreign or mixed parentage. This great multi- seeking to satisfy his religious needs discovered tude is unable to join fully with the older Ameri- a church kindred to his own, but the services were can stock in singing the great American hymn, conducted in a language unknown to him. He "Land where my fathers died," for their fathers was reluctant to send his children there for fear are buried in another land. Many an Ameri- that they would forget their native tongue. At can who has not come into contact with the for- present these churches are serving their com- eign born is astonished to learn that cities like municants in imposing buildings but thousands New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and of the children, now men and women, have grown Detroit are, in their mixed population, only cross- up without any religious training whatever.
sections of Europe or of the whole world. The It is evident that the evangelization of the for- largest Scandinavian university of the world is eign born and of many native born of foreign or located on the shore of the Mississippi River. mixed parentage as well, stands out as one of the These new-Americans, as they are often called, most challenging tasks facing the American did not scatter over the length and breadth of the Christians. The foreigner within our gates has land. Over eighty per cent dwell in larger cities. proven himself a very valuable asset in the fields Out of 1,790,424 Italians living in America, 1,046,- of human activity. He has effectively written 159 live in the states of New York, New Jersey, himself into the commercial and industrial his- and Pennsylvania. In New York City alone, the tory. He has made himself a valuable factor in Italians form a population larger than that of the field of invention, education and art. Shall Rome. In one Illinois town thirty per cent of the the potential power of the new-American be per- population are foreign born and fifty per cent are mitted to remain dormant in the great enterprise native born of foreign or mixed parentage. A boy of the Kingdom of our Lord? Should his soul be born and raised in such a community is an Amer- lost among the wheels of our industry or in the ican, but as a matter of fact he is born and raised coal dust of our mines?
in "little Italy," "little Poland," or "little Czecho- Two methods are being used by evangelical slovakla." Customs of the old world prevail in Christians to bring the knowledge of Jesus Christ such a community to a marked degree. Very often to the newcomer. The foreigner, in quest of better public opinion, public office and public education economic conditions for himself or in quest of are all largely influenced if not totally controlled. better living conditions for his family, has drifted Upon my arrival to this country I was told: "Re- away from the congested foreign community and member, Chicago is in America but America is has settled down next door to a Christian neigh- not in Chicago." Truly, only a limited part of the bor, or may work next to the bench of a Christian American industrial city is American. In more toolmaker; he may come into contact, while at- than one instance it is plainly seen that an immi- tending an evening school, with a Christian grant, making his home in such a community, teacher. The light shining from a transformed never comes into contact with the leavening in- Christian life brings forth its natural fruit. There fluence of the Christian life as the American are no records available, showing the extent of Christians understand it. He lives in the old this blessed work. The year books of churches, world transplanted and somewhat modified. especially from regions where there are no for- r 496] eign speaking churches, reveal, however, many home to which he could bring his wife and their names whose racial identity cannot be doubted. firstborn. But the home without companionship Recently a young woman graduate of a mission- with God through Jesus Christ was not complete.
ary training school testified of the effectiveness of One day he came into contact with people who had this method of Christian service. Her parents exactly that for which his heart was yearning.
experienced all of the blues and lonesomeness He was invited to church and with his wife sur- common to strangers in the strange land until a rendered to Jesus Christ. They joined the for- Christian neighbor crossed their path. This eign-language church, the only institution that young lady's contribution to the Kingdom will be spoke of their Saviour in the language they could an indirect fruit of Christian neighborliness understand. Years passed and he became a dea- shown to an immigrant and his family. con of that church. Four children were born to At a recent gathering of young people of Czech- him and his wife. Now he is an old man, but oslovak descent a young lady was announced as a is still a deacon of that same church. One of speaker. She came from the young people's de- his children is married to the pastor of the partment of the denominational headquarters and church to which they have dedicated their service.
announced both her parents were Czechs, her One son is a high school teacher; another is a father being an immigrant. Christian professional man. The younger daugh- Thousands of foreign born and their children, ter and her husband gave their lives to religious scattered over America, occupy not only humble, education in an underprivileged community. In unheralded places of service in the local Amer- the lives of such as these the foreign-speaking ican churches, but are filling positions of high re- church is making its supreme investment for sponsibility on home and foreign mission fields, Christ's sake.
because of the winsomeness of Christian people In many communities the foreign-language who have come in contact with them. Those that church is the only available spiritual home for have drifted away from the segregated foreign these people. Sunday schools are the only means communities have been especially blessed by this of organized religious instruction within reach.
type of ministry. The effectiveness of the Amer- Closed doors of these churches mean a neglected ican Christianity would be greatly reduced if it opportunity to many that depend entirely on them were not for this neighborly service in the Name for spiritual instruction. The so-called American of Jesus Christ. And now that the old-fashioned, church is often too distant, in more than one foreign-speaking community is fastly being disin- sense, from the children of the immigrant. There tegrated, even in the large cities, and since the are many obstacles but the contributions to the.
language barrier is also being removed, evan- spiritual wealth of America are real and lasting.
gelistic effort must depend more largely on this This effort is fruitful. On the occasion of the method of approach if the foreigner is ever to be One Hundredth Anniversary of the American reached for Jesus Christ. Baptist Home Mission Society an Interracial Bap- The other method of approach is through the tist Conference was held in Detroit. One hundred foreign-speaking church. Under the guidance and and fifty delegates representing twenty-two racial leadership of home mission boards, foreign-speak- groups were present. It was an unusual and de- ing churches have been founded. Some have lightful occasion. The meetings testified force~ grown into strong, spiritual and missionary units. fully of the power and the genius of Christianity.
Many have organized into independent confer- That twenty-two different nationalities could come ences and are now carrying extensive missionary together under one roof and enjoy fellowship one programs at home and abroad. For instance the with another concretely illustrated the value as German and the Swedish Baptists and Methodists well as fruitfulness of the foreign-language and the Norwegian and Swedish Lutherans have churches in America. At the closing session the grown into strong religious bodies, occupying whole congregation rose to unite in the Lord's very important places in the religious life of prayer and each delegate prayed in his own America. Their churches have given unsparingly tongue. Before the benediction was pronounced of their members to the wider service of our Lord. these from many lands joined in the famous hymn Not few have proven themselves able missionary of Christian fellowship: "Blest be the tie that statesmen and educators. History will no doubt binds, our hearts in Christian love." The pente- reveal that the spiritual standard was lifted and costal experience is reproducable even in this day the moral consciousness quickened in many a and even under different circumstances. Those community by the humble ministry of foreign- from far corners of the earth, each speaking his language churches. own tongue, understood the one universal lan~ Several years ago a young man came to a grow- guage of love and devotion to one Lord and ing city of the great Northwest to establish a Master.
Christ in
-..e{ By the REV. H. A. IRONSIDE, Chicago, Illinois Pastor of the Moody Memorial Church THE coming of millions of people to Chicago are larger than can be accommodated inside in the during the five months of the Century of huge tent which seats over 2,500 people. The Progress Exposition has afforded a marvelous messages have been in great power and hundreds opportunity for reaching vast multitudes with the have professed to receive Christ as their Saviour.
Gospel of Christ. The Church Federation has Other evangelists are to continue throughout the made no concerted effort in the way of union coming months.
meetings on a large scale to meet this need, but In another section of the city the young woman many churches are featuring special services in evangelist, Miss Uldine Utley, is preaching to their own buildings, and the various exhibits in multitudes in a large tent, seating four thousand, the Hall of Religion on the Fair Grounds are with Harry Clark, recently of the Billy Sunday used to carryon active propaganda. The Lu- party, leading the singing. Excellent reports are theran churches particularly deserve great credit given of these meetings and their results.
for their splendid exhibits and their testimony to The Moody Bible Institute has become the head- reformation truth. The Salvation Army has a quarters for large numbers of Christian people remarkably fine exhibit, and it is gratifying to visiting the city, and in addition to the regular note that the American Bible Society and the Chi- classes which have been in session through the cago Tract Society are daily distributing litera- major part of this period, special Bible teachers ture, thousands of tracts and portions of Scrip- have been engaged to conduct daily services for ture. Services held in the auditorium of the Hall the benefit of these guests and others who attend.
of Religion, which is not very large, have not At the Moody Memorial Church, situated in a thus far attracted very special attention. most strategic location, a nightly program has A large group of young people, numbering many been put on covering the entire five months. The thousands and sponsored by Mrs. Philip D. Ar- first two and a half months have brought results mour, has been districting the city and visitation that have been most encouraging. The audiences groups have gone from house to house giving have aggregated at least ten thousand people Scripture portions and invitations ·to special weekly and frequently double that number; of late Christian services. They secured the Eighth there have been a total of at least thirty thousand Street Theatre for a week's meetings under the each week. The annual conventions of the Scandi- direction of Roy L. Brown. navian Alliance, the Hebrew Christian Alliance, The Christian Business Men's Committee, which and the World's Fundamentals Association have has been carrying on noonday theatre meetings contributed their quota and special speakers have for the past two years in the Loop District, con- been brought in from various parts of America tinues these evangelistic meetings which have re- and from England. The veteran evangelist, Gipsy cently been transferred to the Illinois Theatre on Smith, has just closed a fifteen-day campaign and Jackson Boulevard, near the Fair Grounds, and the great auditorium, seating over four thousand, outstanding preachers are engaged to speak to the has been far too small to hold the crowds on many throngs who gather there. The same group is occasions. Loud speakers have been installed en- conducting four tent campaigns and a tabernacle abling those gathering in the lower auditorium meeting in different parts of the city. They have also to hear the speaker's message. There has also engaged Evangelist Rawlins and his wife who been a great harvest of souls confessing Christ have a splendidly equipped Gospel truck for open- and Christians have been stirred to deeper conse- air meetings, which are held in various sections cration and devotedness.
every week. On Sunday afternoons three large God is honoring His Word and is putting His open-air meetings are also being conducted in the seal upon the testimony going forth in these vari- Cook County Forest Preserves. ous Christian activities. There are other organ- The Swedish Mission Covenant Chprches have ized efforts which are not mentioned here because brought Evangelist Frank Mangs from Sweden of the writer's lack of familiarity with them. We and have opened a large tent which is crowded rejoice, however, in every evidence of the working nightly; here many are being brought to a sav- of the Spirit of God among every group of His ing knowledge of Christ. Oftentimes the audiences people.
[498 ]
Cross in Christian Missions*
= By DR. TOYOHIKO KAGAWA, Tokyo, Japan Author of "The Law of Love," etc.
CAN Christianity exist without the Cross? need for Christ to be crucified, merely to propa- "Re-Thinking Missions" tries to interpret gate humanism! ….. . to us Christ without the Cross as Chris- There are indeed many religions in the Orient: tianity. From its first page to the last I failed to but is there any that clearly teaches that God discover the word "cross" in this book. It is the loves humanity with the love of the Cross? Bud- lack of the Cross which constitutes its weakness. dhism propounds abstract principles, but it failed The book is not written from the motivation of to wipe away my tears.
the Cross, but from economic To this day Buddhism is motives. This is evident at the compromising with the system very beginning of the Introduc- What is the true heart of of public prostitution in Japan.
tion, where they speak of the Christianity and of the Chris- Shintoism and militarism, and desire for retrenchment be- tian missionary enterprise? Brahmanism and superstition cause of the economic depres- What driving force led the are closely associated. I do not sion. This lack of the Cross is Apostle Paul to change his wish to attack other religions, the greatest reason why I am mind about Christ and the but it is useless to be too lenient disappointed in this Report. Christians and to gladly suffer with them. Man will not be privation, persecution and "Thy Kingdom Come" is indeed death that he might win saved thus. The human race quoted frequently as the funda- others to Christ? The es- on most occasions is still asleep; mental purpose of foreign mis- sence and the motive power and whoever takes it upon himsions, but nothing is said about and the dynamic of Christian- self to waken a sleeper knows the inevitability of paying the ity has not changed, though that he may have to face unprice of the Cross in order to conditions are different from pleasant consequences! Chrisbring in the Kingdom of God. those of the first century. It tianity's history in Japan has is from a mission field in Asia, been a history of persecutions. When Paul, just before his and from a convert to Christ We Christians need not go out martyrdom, wrote: "Everyone from Buddhism, that this of our way to seek persecuin Asia has deserted me" (2 clarion call comes to sacri- tions; but this Report does not Tim. 1: 15) the writers of this ficial devotion to extend the book would have deemed him a sway of Christ over all the encourage us as it should to failure. world. evangelize w hen confronted There are altogether about with opposition and persecu- ten points under which I have tion. It is no reinforcement to listed my dissatisfactions regarding this Report: the Christian girls who, even today, in districts 1. In the first place, this Report has forgotten dominated by the Shin sect of Buddhism, remain that the starting point of foreign missions is a faithful to the Cross under severe persecution, commission from God. No evangelism is possible when tied naked to cryptomeria trees in the cold merely from the standpoint of comparative reli- snow, or imprisoned in their homes for five or ten gions or of the evolutionary theory of civilization. years because of their faith. It is because they It is not for "comparative religions" that Elijah are convinced that the Love flowing from the and Elisha suffered! For such it would not have Cross is the absolute Love that these young peo- been necessary for Elijah to struggle on Mount ple are fighting with their very life-blood.
Carmel, or to appeal to God on Horeb. Where can Loss of a Militant Spirit the motive for foreign missions be found, and how can energy be expected to well up and overflow 2. Again this book seems to have forgotten that except as proceeding from a sense of absolute com- the religion of Jesus was the religion that drove mission from God'/ There would have been no out the money-changers and the sellers of sheep • From a statement sent out from Japan giving Dr. Kagawa's re- and cows from the temple. If Jesus had followed action to "Re-thinking Missions." the methods taught in this book, He would not [499 ]
have been crucified, probably. This book leaves this fact, we are compelled to scatter over the the impression that Buddhism, Mohammedanism whole world with a revolutionary spirit. Weare and Brahmanism, equally with Christianity, are compelled to preach this Good News on all pos- at odds with their common foes in the material- sible occasions and in all possible places. But isms of Marx, Lenin and Bertrand Russell. It when this Cross-revolution spirit slackens, we for- teaches that all religions must unitedly fight get the many unoccupied fields, and lose zeal for against materialism. But why is materialism so evangelism. We must again awaken to Christian strong in the Orient? It is because Buddhism internationalism, forgetting skin-colors, nationali- itself was originally atheistic. Buddhism does not ties and language differentiation. Marx avers teach love, but individualistic contentment. If that to the proletarian there are no national bar- the religion of the Cross had been well rooted in riers; and certainly there should be no national Japan, there would have been no space left for boundaries to the Christianity of the Cross ….. .
materialism to come in. To the early Christians, there were no national Until they awaken to absolute Love, people may boundaries. Those who forget the Cross, lose the be contented with Buddhism, Mohammedanism or power to cross the Hellespont! ….. .
Brahmanism; but those who have grasped the Forsaking the Pioneering Spirit reality of the Love of God discover the necessity of redemption. Such of us as are awakened to 4. In the fourth place, this book seems to forget this religion feel the need of fighting against the the necessity of pioneering in unoccupied terri- world's evils. An atheism, like Buddhism, which tories. There is nothing more foolish than evan- rails at Christ and ridicules Christianity because gelism, if we begin to reckon it in money terms it stands for internationalism and loves the labor- (1 Cor. 1: 21), though even at that the "foolish- ing classes, cannot be considered to have the same ness of preaching" is more economical than the value as Christianity. folly of war! Because they were obsessed with This Report is shot through and through with this foolishness of preaching, Livingstone gave his "'liberalism." It attempts to deal with communism life to Africa, Hudson Taylor suffered in China, and capitalism, all in the same way, from the and Judson fell in Burma. Compared to the hard- "liberal" standpoint. Such a treatment may be ship of their days, we of the present times lack admissible if the "liberal" standpoint can solve the the spirit of adventure. That does not mean that world's problems; but while capitalism is chain- the Gospel has really been preached to the ends ing many thousands of young men in prison, and of the earth. Even in Japan few places are be- producing millions of unemployed, can we be con- ing reached as yet. Only five percent of the eleven tented with such lukewarm propositions? Ought thousand villages are even touched by Christian we to be so lenient with capitalism? Was it not evangelism; no one has yet reached the fishing Christ who said, clearly, "One thing thou lackest"? villages or most of the laboring class. In the face Having put our hands to the plough, we cannot of such conditions this book on "Re-Thinking Mis- turn back. We cannot regard capitalism, social- sions," with its call to retrenchment, may have ism and atheistic communism as all in the same some unexpected value as a negative stimulus, to category. . . . .. While atheistic Buddhism is com- arouse us again to evangelize even unto death!
promising with public prostitution, and poly- We must work harder to establish the Kingdom of theistic Shintoism with militarism, can Christ on God for which Christ died.
the Cross keep silent? "There are many good religions in other coun- No religion but the Cross-religion has the power tries, Christianity is also good; but let Christian to save the world. We must be more militant. missionaries return home as soon as possible"- (2 Tim. 2: 3-4.) when they say that, it tastes like salt that has lost 3. In the third place, since this Report has for- its savor. One wonders why the missionaries ever gotten the Cross, it still differentiates between came out in the first place! Mere survey-mission- "home" and "foreign" missions. But does not aries might be ready to return soon, but mission- Christ belong to all nations? And is not the Third aries who came to preach the Cross should endure Internationale of Moscow meanwhile engaged in unto death.
a great propaganda movement and promoting a The evangelization of unoccupied fields cannot new world revolution? . . . .. We who belong to be carried on merely from the point of view of Christ should possess a stronger international economics. When it forgets the Cross, the evan- spirit, and should give ourselves to the propaga- gelistic spirit shrivels, loses its militancy against tion of the Christ-spirit, forgetting the distinction evils, and its courage to go out to remote places between "home" and "foreign." ….. . searching for the one lost sheep. No matter how The only way to the happiness of the whole hu- high the waves nor how dangerous the storm, the man race, is for it to awaken to the complete con- life-ship is launched; nor can its efforts be eval- sciousness of the Love of the Cross. As we grasp uated in dollar terms.
THE CROSS IN CHRISTIAN MISSIONS
5. This Report has forgotten the Gospel of re- though there may well exist various brotherhoods pentance. within the one catholic organization.
One of the things that astonish me in this book It is true that there are many hidden followers is that the foreign missionary is urged to be con- of Christ at present, like Nicodemus and Joseph nected with the European and American business of Aramathea in His time, who do not yet come to men in the Orient (p. 251). There may be excep- Church. In Elijah's day there were seven thoutional cases, but in general, Western commercial sand such; but we must demand as a standard men in the Orient have been a great hindrance to such strength of conviction as will enable all to the Christian movement. William Carey could confess Christ clearly before God and men, even not enter India because the business men pre- in the face of persecution and the Cross. And no vented his doing so; and Christianity could not matter how faulty the Church may be today, we make headway in India at that time because the must ask God's forgiveness for that weakness, policy of the East India Trading Company had and endeavor ourselves to love this body of Christ, aroused the anger of the Indian peoples. Chris- the Church, which has been guarded and pretianity fails to spread in China today because the served by our predecessors for nineteen hundred Chinese cannot forget the British opium war and years. I do not think of the Church from a super- British opium traders. In general, the main rea- ficial point of view. I regard it as a brotherhood son why Christianity makes little progress in the based on the Cross. As such it has a history, and Orient is because the business men, and the gov- as such we must continue its existence in the fuernments of the countries from which the mission- ture. To be sure there may be the impotence of aries come, are acting in direct opposition to the the clergy to deal with, and the lack of economic teachings of Christ. organization to hinder it; but forgiving such shortcomings, we must endeavor to reconstruct The Asiatic races cannot forget the long his- the Church and make it a love-organization. tory of Oriental invasions on the part of the white races. No matter how lavishly schools may be Lack of Vision built and. philanthropies conducted, the Orientals cannot believe from the bottom of their hearts in 7. In the seventh place, this book lacks idealthe religion of those who carry the sword in one ism. It lacks the flaming enthusiasm to Chrishand and the Bible in the other. The great rea- tianize the whole world. The trend is towards reson why the development of Christianity in Japan trenchment, rather, except in the rural districts. was retarded was because Spain and Portugal in- But if motley is lacking now, there are many ways vaded the Orient; nor can the Japanese people to work without it. Russia carried out a Fiveeven yet forget the revolt against the Japanese Year Plan without money, and after that a second Government on the part of the Japanese Roman Five-Year Plan. The apostle Paul was restrained Catholics of three hundred years ago ….. . by the Holy Spirit from going to Ephesus, but he made a great detour and reached it by way of The book does not demand repentance. If Greece and the sea. A plan of world evangelism Christianity is the innocuous thing this book rep- must inevitably involve changes; but it is against resents it to be, perhaps there is no need for re- the purpose of Christ to retrench! If there is no pentance. But the fact is that both the Orient and money to support missionaries, let us get together the Occident do need to repent. Jonah fled from and start many Gospel schools and thus create lay the call to preach repentance to Ninevah. Shall leaders; and continue doing so for many scores we Christians of the twentieth century seek to of years. There is need now to set up such agescape the necessity of preaching repentance to gressive constructive planning. Why not start our materialistic civilization? occupational evangelism on a world-wide scale? When even the Rotary Club has an occupational 6. In the sixth place, I am dissatisfied with the fraternity as wide as the world, why cannot those place this book gives to the Church. The idea of who belong to Christ achieve such constructive "Christian fellowship" is good, but why not call planning? that "the Church"? I believe we must strive after the unity implied in Christ's command to Peter 8. In the eighth place, this book has unforin Matthew 16: 18. The weakness of the Chris- tunately no vision of the Christianizing of the tian movement today is because the liberalists are economics of the Oriental countries. Weare not unified among themselves. Although this re- aware, both in China and Japan, that there is no port teaches humanism, and humanitarianism, way to save the laboring classes except through and church unity, forgetting creeds and denom- the cooperatives. And we believe that the moveinations-why does it go on to say that it is all ment of Christian Love has the possibility of ecoright to have separate fellowship outside the nomic realization only through these cooperatives. Church? That is inconsistent. Those who have If the Christians of the world will engage in experienced the Christ-Love of the Cross ought to gather themselves together into one Church,
world-wide cooperative movements, and plan in- ceed in a wonderful, mysterious manner. The ternational trade through the cooperatives, and Holy Spirit makes them successful. No evanalso educational cooperatives and mutual aid co- gelism is possible without prayer. The prayeroperatives, war will cease to exist. . . . .. Even the answering God leads on through His Holy Spirit. communistic movement will be powerless in the face of such a cooperative Christian movement. I am grieved to find that this Report is written The strength of the Marxism, Leninism and Ber- economically rather than religiously. It does not trand Russellism of today is derived from the anti- inspire me. And evangelism is impossible withreligionism aroused by the economic struggle for out inspiration. Those who wish to retreat had existence. Therefore only through the economic better do so; but let others who have been led by readjustment afforded by the cooperatives shall the Holy Spirit continue to cross the Pacific Ocean, we be able successfully to combat and annul such bearing the Cross of Christ. The Kingdom of "isms." ……. God Movement in Japan is not yet completed. The harvest is plenteous but the laborers are few. 9. In the ninth place, this book is very indif- I am still rising for prayer at midnight. This ferent towards the evangelistic work with which present age is evil. The age of Nero was also the missionaries are so deeply concerned. Its evil. But Christ's teachings at length conquered writers paid much attention to academic educa- the Roman Empire. Machine civilization is detion, but seem to have forgotten that evangelism plorable. But I am convinced that the Good News is an important variety of social adult education of Love through the Cross of Jesus Christ will and religious education. Academic education lead the Orient and the whole world into the alone is not the whole of education. Tent meet- light ….. . ings, street preaching, etc., are also social education. Foolish as this sort of evangelism may ap- I deplore the impression left, after reading the pear, it has achieved wonderful results in the book, that it lacks a supernatural basis. Can those Orient (1 Cor. 1: 18-25). In India there may be who think of continuing the movement started in some who object to it, but it was the method of the Book of Acts attempt to do so without the help Jesus Christ, and one of the ways by which Chris- of the Holy Spirit? …. " I repeat. Let us again tianity spread into the whole world ….. . meditate on the Cross, forgetting the distinction between "home" and "foreign" and endeavor to We must return to our pristine enthusiasm for save the last soul in the whole world. evangelism (Luke 10: 20). Does not Acts begin with an enthusiastic account of how three thou- AN ADMIRAL'S TRIBUTE sand repented as a result of one sermon by St. Peter? We must have a child-like spirit and be The Fourth Sea Lord of the British Navy, happy over one soul that has found salvation. Rear-Admiral Geoffrey Blake, at a meeting of the L. M. S., speaking on "Peace-Time Where Is the Holy Spirit? Work of the Navy in the South Seas," said: 10. In the tenth place, this book does not advise "Before I went out to the South Seas I us to do mission work through the guidance and often heard people say that missionaries, genpower of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ sent out erally speaking, were a nuisance; that they His seventy disciples to evangelize without purse didn't do any good; and that they were very or scrip, without even extra sandals. They be- fond of poking their noses into other people's lieved in the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In their lives. I was particularly interested to go train followed the Moravian missionaries. The through these islands and make a study of John Williams missionary party, too, in the time the work these missionaries had actually of the Napoleonic wars, left London for the South done. Doubtless there has been one here and Seas on the same basis. If money is not forth- there who wanted to go too far or too fast, coming, then money is not needed! Have we not but I am convinced they have done an enordedicated our very lives to Christ? mous amount of good, and speaking by and large, I take off my hat to them." We do not want to make the business of rethinking missions a thinking in terms of retrench- Men like this, who know something of the ment; but rather a re-thinking of a new strategy magnificent work that has been done by misof attack, on the world-wide field. When there sionaries, might help to dispel some of the ceases to be money in America, then America may fog that beclouds the mind of so many people cease to send out its missionaries.· Nevertheless, regarding the work of these Gospel pioneers there must remain many young people who de- throughout the world. – The Evangelical sire to dedicate their lives to foreign missions Christian. without receiving such high salaries as are paid now. Those who are led by the Holy Spirit suc- Effective Ways of Working 'Tested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MRS. ESTELLA S. AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO ~,=,~==========================~,~~ GLEANINGS FROM THE SEASON'S CONFERENCES Summer is the harvest time then that we sense our supreme gives her talk on the goal asfor new plans, programs, ideas dependence upon God. signed to her month, then lights and inspiration. Despite the Visualization and demonstra- her taper at the Christ Candle sorrow at universal retrench- tion were prominent in all the and takes her place back of the ments in money and field forces, new plans. An excellent one altar. October stands first at the Department Editor was whose .details and goals are the right, November first at the heartened in the course of her easily adaptable to the varying left, December second at the personal surveys of missionary needs of denominational groups right, and so on, until the full conferences by noting the new is entitled glowing arc is formed.
rootage that the Christian faith Our Altar of Lights October enters to the singing of has taken in the soil of the economic depression. "Never has "Bringing in the Sheaves" and speaks The twelve candles, represent- on the first goal-securing the mis- there been a clearer call to ad- ing goals, are in the stewardship sionary magazine for reading during venture in faith," was the key- colors, and one candle is to be note of one conference the writer "lighted" (by pasting on an oval the autumn evenings, remembering attended. "A new world is in of flame – colored, iridescent the missionaries hungry for the in- spiration our books and magazines afford them, etc.
the making. A new Christian paper) each month as its goal November, advancing to the music is attained. Thus 0 c t 0 b e r of "Come, Ye Thankful People, social order is beginning. A majors on magazine subscrip- Come," represents the children of the new fellowship among the na- tions; November on the stew- Pilgrims in the spirit of Thanksgivtions is being born. Every of- ardship reading course or a mis- ing and lights her candle typifyin~ the consecration of prayer, personalficer, every member is called today to be a real adventurer in sion study class; December on ity and possessions. the cultivation of junior and December music is "Joy to the faith, to help in bringing these young people's work, etc. The World," its representative linking up changes to complete realization. display of the "Altar Lights …… With full reliance upon with the Christmas theme. She leads in the singing of "Holy Night" and God, confident in His leadership, Chart" (see illustration) at each lights her candle with the prayer that meeting is an inspiration to the we may pass its gleam on' undimmed looking beyond all immediate attainment of the successive to a little child who will prove a goals. light-bearer for the Saviour. hardships, trouble and pain, let us venture forth in 1933-34 with The following introductory January enters to "This Is My joy and hope, in faith, carrying Father's WorId" and speaks on the Service of Lights (summarized His Light to the world ….. . for brevity) was arranged by keynote of new resolves and fresh The return to fundamental prin- Mrs. Howard Le Sourd, Na- beginnings. ciples, and the facing of stark tional Secretary of Student realities, call for pioneer quali- February marches up to the strains ties-a courage undaunted and Work, for the first autumn meet- of "America," gives a patriotic-mis- sionary talk and lights her candle that the names of Washington and a spirit serene." Said the leader ing at which the plan was to be Lincoln may not perish from the of a meeting at which the plans initiated. Young w 0 men – earth, since their inspiration came were presented: "Let's just stop typifying pure, unsullied Iives- from the same Light. talking about our losses and the were the participants. March keeps step to "Faith of Our Fathers" and speaks of this being a depression and get energetically The service centers about an holy month in that we remember the altar, where a tall "Christ passion of our Lord and seek to catch to work this fall on the new Candle" stands with a copy of His spirit of self-sacrifice. the Bible lying on a rich cloth as year's plans." * The strands of April's hymn is "Rejoice, Ye Pure its foundation. Each imperson- in Heart." She pleads for the makthe great cable of faith, which ing of an offering in memory of the lifts humanity to each new level, are usually woven in seasons of ator, b ear i n g an unlighted greatest of all offerings which culloss and disaster; for it is only candle, enters from the rear of 'minated in the Resurrection. the congregation, passes slowly May, entering to "Shepherd of • From the methods manual and plans ex- up the aisle to music by a hid- Tender Youth," recalls the story of ploited at Lakeside, Ohio, at conference of den choir, then facing about, Creation so appropriate to springthe Cincinnati District of the Methodist time. She lights her candle in honor Episcopal Woman's Foreign Mission Society, [ 503] of mothers and daughters who have Christianity and Industry in Prayer that in this age of woman in a common purpose of making Christ industry she may still realize her live in the hearts of men. Americat ideals for home and family.
June, with "Following the Gleam," CHAPTER 4: WAGES, HOURS, AND THE Supplementary Suggestions: goes up to tell of the Light of the LIFE MORE ABUNDANT.
World on the altars of the homes in I. Early regulations of working I. Assignments for talks: this month of roses and weddings. II. conditions. (a) Our state's laws affecting July, to "0 Beautiful for Spacious III. Wages in the United States. Skies," advances to give her talk on IV. women and children in the larger patriotism. 1. Growth of a social con- industry. V. (b) Migrant women and child August brings "0 Day of Rest and science. Gladness" and explains how vacation VI. 2. Discriminations against workers. has also its opportunities for mis- VII. (c) The present status of the sionary service. VIII. immigrant workers. The Negro in American labor. Child Labor Amend- September keeps step to "Bringing ment. in the Sheaves" as appropriate to the Industrial trends in the South. (d) What do the women's annual mite box opening. She makes Labor's share in the national a pledge of service as she lights her and children's bureaus candle and closes the missionary cycle. income. of the Department of At this point the altar girls What Labor wants. Labor do for women Shorter work day and week. step down into the audience and Summary. and children in indus- try? Aitn: To discover adjustments neces- II. Compile a list of household sary to "the life more abundant" labor saving devices made each lights the initial candle for industrial groups. possible through industry.
held by the woman at the end of Devotional Theme: A Laborer and III. Write a biography of Grace Aba row (small tapers with card- His Hire. Deut. 24: 14-16; Lev. IV. bott.
board bases to catch the drip- 19: 33-35; Col. 4: 1. Arrange in parallel columns all the influences you can think pings being used for all guests) , Prayer for groups affected by condi- tions discussed; for those having of which dwarf child life in the end-woman lighting the next candle in her row and so on un- power to regulate working condi- America, and all which entil everyone holds a glowing rich it. tions; gratitude for progress to- ward justice. V. Readings from "Poems of Child Labor." (National Child La- light. Returning to the plat- Supplementary Suggestions: bor Committee, 215 Fourth Avenue, New York City.) form, the twelve girls lead the I. Make surveys of wages, hours VI. Play by ch.ildren, "Ruth's Doaudience in singing "The Light of work, racial groups, Negro nation Party." labor, etc., in your community. of the World Is Jesus," all CHAPTER 6: THE BETTER WAY. candles being elevated at each II. Report on recent and pending repetition of that phrase. legislation relative to the ses- I. The Awakening Public Con- sion's topics. science. At the conclusion of the last verse, the girls form a human III. Review of "To make my bread." II. Labor Unions. cross thus: The first sits cross- IV. Locate coal areas in your state III. Cooperation versus Conflict. legged on the floor, the second IV. The Church and Industrial kneels closely behind her, the and define the present relathird kneels on a stool and the tionships between owners and Questions. fourth stands, the chin of each workers. V. Experiments in Industrial Cocoming just above the head of V. Talks on "Provision for the Wise Use of Leisure," "From operation. the one in front. When com- Mountaineer to F act 0 r y Hand," etc. Aim: To face the problems and as- VI. Discussions: Should cap ita I sume the responsibilities involved in progressing td an industrial which employs labor and labor order based upon Jesus' principles which produces capital share pleted, Nos. 1-5 form the lower equally in the income? In a of service. portion of the cross, 10-12 the upper portion, 6 and 8 the left time of unemployment, is a Devotional Theme: Living the Abun- community justified in deport- dant Life. Luke 12: 15; John 10: arm, and 7 and 9 the right arm. ing unnaturalized Mexicans 10; Ephesians 3: 14-19; 1 Cor. 2: 9. Each girl holds under her chin to give employment to Amera small flashlight covered with ican citizens? In discrim- Prayer of thanksgiving for the thin white paper twisted to a church and the unchanging Christ. inating between naturalized point at the top. When all are and native citizens? Supplementary Suggestions: in place, No. 1 turns on her flashlight and repeats "I am the CHAPTER 5: WOMEN AND CHILDREN I. Make an investigation of Labor Light of the World"; No.2, Union strength and influence IN INDUSTRY. today. How account for the changes? I. From cottage industry to fac- tory. similarly, repeats "He that fol- II. The woman wage earner. III. The child wage earner. II. Before Chapter 6, formulate a IV. Legislation affecting women and loweth Me," etc., and so on with set of ideals or attitudes for verses about light until the children. a Christian society on induswhole cross is aglow. This hu- Aim: To get a true picture of women trial questions. Read the man cross stays perfectly mo- and child workers and of a Chris- chapter. Then compare your set of ideals with those of- tionless while the choir sings tian society's obligation toward fered by the Federal Council.
"The Way of the Cross Leads them. III. Secure from headquarters in- Home." The audience departs formation regarding your desilently without closing words Devotional Theme: Women and Chil- dren and the Abundant Life. Provo nomination's attitude toward or benediction. This may well 31: 10-31; Zach. 8: 5. social and industrial probbecome a service of deep consecration that will repay all the t From outline of study course as taught lems. effort of preparation. IV. Discussion Topics: by Mrs. B. P. Heubner at the Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, Interdenominational School of (a) What is the Christian's Missions. See September issue of THE RE· responsibility for so- VIEW for studies on Chapters 1-3, inclusive. cial legislation?
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
~up1lta1t of£t!]hts .
r, I (b) What is the spiritual re- over. This is as it should be differ from the needs of people living sponsibility 0 f th e in other countries? church in these times? among our "Builders of aNew What changes would you like to see World." Each denomination has (c) Would it be a step for- take place within the next ten years ward or backward for issued its own leader's manualfl that would contribute to the building the church to recom- mend specific mea s- for these books. The program of a Christian world? What will you ures and candidates? do about them? guide, Now East, Now West, How many kinds of imported goods (d) What hymns in you I' presented at the Disciples' con~ hymnal are out of date go to make up your attire? How socially? ferences for young people, be- many kinds of imported foods do you (e) Which, in your opinion, gan with the familiar poem, "In eat? List the countries that daily are modern in social provide you with food and clothing. thinking? Christ There Is No East Nor Do you think Christianity is of suffi- West," and included in its fea- V. List specific ways in which cient importance to make it worth your "abundant life" is af- tures two of especial interest. A sharing with others? Write two or fected favorably or adversely by industrial conditions. personal question or problem three reasons. appeared at the close of each Another outstanding feature VI. Conduct a "Friendship Tour." month's program page, with a of this program guide was its (Must be carefully prepared blank space in which the young "Book of the Month" page on for, conducted and followed person was asked to record pre- which was listed an outstanding up.) vious to the meeting his ideals, volume related, in most cases, to attitudes or ideas on the ques- the theme of each month. If the VII. Thought suggestion: What can tion. These questions were to member had already read a I do to help realize the Chris- form the basis of discussion in given book, he or she was in- tian goal in industry? (Put the meetings, after which fur- structed to check it and insert on paper.) ther notes might be written in the name of another in a space the space as an outgrowth of the provided, the goal being, "Every Conference Briefs service. Think that over and member reading at least one discover for yourself its sound book each month related to the It was cheering to note, in the mental and missionary psy- general theme." Think of the various study book presenta- chology. Some of the questions . effect of twelve constructive, intions, that the year's books for spirational books a year upon young people and seniors have were: no invidious "Home" and "For- What do you consider your funda- the missionary outlook of the eign" discriminations but dis- mental needs? In what ways do they future! cuss topics bearing upon the missionary enterprise the world
The United Lutheran helps plan was easily adj ustable to any to-the-minute information and for the younger children were material. It was intended as a news.
complete and impressive. The vehicle for introducing the new The leader closes by saying lessons for Beginners, called study books in so simple a dra- she hopes the books will be kept "Jesus' Friendly Helpers," were matic form that the smaller busy all the year, and that she based on the idea that little chil- churches and missionary or- proposes to put them into cir-· dren want to help because of ganizations would have no diffi- culation at once, all through the their desire to do, their love of culty in using it with limited audience. All volumes thus ex- companionship and their natural personal resources. The litera- ploited should actually be on tendency to imitate. The les- ture secretary might appro- hand to be loaned or sold at the sons were so prepared as to priately take charge and "show" end of the meeting.:j: guide and enlarge this desire the books. Mrs. E. C. Hayes, of Ottawa, until a really worldwide altruis- "Those representing the books Kansas, used a delightful plan tic motive should be developed, should file in and stand in a row called "The Northern Baptist the first training in missionary with their backs to the audience. Convention at Ottawa." At the service being to provide ways in Each one should wear a paper close of the Convention last which children can participate jacket made of plain wrapping June, she had the meeting place in doing good. "The first step paper, or colored paper if de- of the children's missionary orin missionary training," says sired. It can be very simply ganization in her church decothe manual, "is to cultivate a made-straight back and front, rated with pictures of people and habit of doing something for sleeveless and opening down the things that were features of others; and 'others' may be front. The name of the book that national meeting, and took plants, animals or persons. The should appear across the back the young audience on a tour of second step is to cultivate a in large colorful letters so that inspection, explaining as she habit of helping those smaller, it can be easily read. These went. Then the president of the weaker or poorer than ourselves. names may be printed in colored organization impersonated the The third step is to cultivate a crayons or cut-out letters of president of the Convention, habit of making everyone bright colored paper ….. When called the meeting to order, happy. Having accomplished the leader announces the name used the Scripture and songs of this, we shall have missionaries of a book, the person represent- the original program, etc. An- in embryo." This preparatory ing that book will turn and other member impersonated Dr. psychology for missions is worth speak, then turn again with her Abernathy, who had made the thinking about. back to the audience as soon as welcoming address, and gave his The next grade of lessons for she finishes. Thus the names of own version of the address, and young children had definite mis- the books will be constantly be- so on through leading features sionary themes but with an fore the audience. At the clos- of the great meeting. Needless abundance of handwork so used ing speech of the leader, the to say a considerable bit of the as not merely to amuse but to inspiration of the Northern Bapdeepen the impression of the 'books' will scatter through the tist Convention was thus car- audience and be seated. The ried over to the home comtheme. The third set developed names of the people participat- munity. in the children the sense of be- ing should not be announced." ing fellow workers with God, in ONE-MINUTE PROGRAM common with Christians all If desired, children dressed in TUCK-INS around the world; deepened costumes of the lands exploited their sense of stewardship by in beginners' and primary books What is the greatest obstacle making real their own definite may be included in the "book to missionary work in the Orishare and responsibility, and shelf." Each book, speaking for ent? America. suggested the fact that new itself, gives an attractive review of its contents. When but one When there are more nights friends of Jesus in distant lands book remains unintroduced, the of prayer there will be more often followed him more whole- leader says: "There is one days of power. heartedly than do Christians in other occupant of this shelf. our own land. This is a marked Down at the end of the row you Let us beware lest some of advance over former hop-skip- will see something done in black our sacrifices are like that of and-a-jump missionary meetings and white. What are you, any- the small boy who, when he was for the little folks. way?" Here a person in a asked what he would be willing newspaper or magazine jacket to give up during Lent, replied, The writer picked up a simple turns quickly and answers in "Watermelon." terms of whatever missionary dramatization called "The Book magazine is desired, saying that A lad, headed for a mission- ary meeting, was asked where Shelf" when browsing around at he was going. He replied: "I gave those folks a nickel last the Disciples' literature exhibit at the Lakeside Conference.
While incorporating the Amer- while the books are being read year and I wanted to find out ican Indian and Chinese themes and studied, she (the magazine) what they did with it." of last year's united study, the will be needed every month of :I The Book Shelf. Missions Building, Inmaterial was timeless and the the year to bring the most up- dianapolis, Indiana. Price, 10 cents. BULLETIN OF The Council of Women for Home Missions ANNE SEESHOLTZ, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 105 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK ~~~~I ===========================I~ A CALL TO PRAYER Mount the picture so that it Goes Out to All People may be stood on a table facing the audience. Arrange an ap- "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem propriate curtain in front of the They shall prosper that love Thee." picture so that it can easily be "If with all your hearts ye truly unveiled at the proper time. seek Me, ye shall ever truly find Me; Thus saith the Lord." Opening hymn: "Jesus the Very Thought of Thee" (Ber- You are invited to unite in a nard of Clairvaux). fellowship of prayer the world around on the Meditation: The leader may here direct the thought of the WORLD DAY OF PRAYER group to ideas centering around FEBRUARY 16, 1934 the appearance and character of Christ, or he may use the beau- "PRAY FOR THE PEACE tiful "Meditation Concerning the OF JERUSALEM" Nazarene" which can be secured by sending a three-cent stamp Pray-Prayer is consciously to to the Missionary Education enter God's presence; to speak Movement. to Him and to hear Him speak. After the leader closes the Pray for peace, peace in our meditation the pianist may play heart-Peace is the rich soil the music of "Majestic Sweet- in which all fair things grow. ness Sits Enthroned." After it "Whatever we think and feel will color what we say or do. has been played through once He who fears, even uncon- sciously, or who has his least "THE NAZARENE" the leader should say quietly little dream tainted with hate, "Let us all sing." While the first will inevitably, sooner or later, This remarkable new picture stanza is being sung draw back translate these two qualities of Christ by Colonel H. Stanley the curtain thus unveiling the into his action." "Blessed are Todd, distinguished American picture. If possible have an elec- the peace-makers": they are portrait painter, was dedicated tric light fixed so that its illumi- God's children. to the cause of missions at Chi- nation can be turned on the pic- Pray for the peace of Jeru- cago on July 16, 1933, while the ture as it is unveiled. salem- picture was on exhibition at the It is the hope of Col. Todd and Century of Progress Exposition. of the leaders of the missionary Our home town-The place Learning that the mission study enterprise that this modern con- we know best: the streets theme for the current year is ception of Christ may help us all that take us to our daily Christ and the Modern World, to take more seriously our rela- work: May peace dwell Col. Todd gave the reproduction tion to Christ and the modern there! rights of his picture to the Mis- world. In 2 Cor. 4: 6, St. Paul sionary Education Movement so writes, "Light shall shine out of The Holy Church through- that Nazarene, a great modern darkness" …… to give the light out the world. May the conception of Christ, might help of the knowledge of the glory of peace "That surpassed all rally the thought of the churches God in the face of Jesus Christ, our dreams" rest upon around this theme. the Church of God! shall we not today dedicate our- For a Worship Service it is selves anew to the glorious task The Program, "Pray for the suggested that you secure a large of making Christ live among Peace of Jerusalem," is 2 cents, reproduction of Nazarene (avail- men everywhere throughout this $2.00 per 100. This Call is free. able from Missionary Education modern world? The Poster (llxl7 inches) is 5 Movement, 150 Fifth Avenue, cents. Supplies should be or- New York, sepia 12×16 inches, . Strong Son of God immortal love, dered from headquarters of the fifty cents; 20×26 inches, one Whom we that have not seen Thy face, denominational mission boards. By Faith, and faith alone, embrace, dollar; 12×15 inches colored, Believing where we cannot prove.
$1.50) . -Tennyson.
[507 ] CHAUTAUQUA HOME MIS- tions in their separate mission Department 0 f International SIONS INSTITUTE enterprises. The Government is Justice and Goodwill of the Fed- ready to cooperate and the re- eral Council, gave a stirring ad- On Sunday afternoon, August sponsibility for the religious dress on "The Churches versus 13, the twenty-third Home Mis- education among the boys and the War System." sions Institute, directed by the girls is the responsibility of the Council of Women for Home Church. Another unique interdenom- Missions, opened at Chautauqua, inational adventure presented in N. Y. At the opening session in On the fourth day Mrs. Daniel the forum hours was the work Amphitheatre, Dr. F. Ernest A. Poling, President of the carried on in Santo Domingo. Johnson, Executive Secretary of Council, presented the national Mrs. Fred S. Bennett, President the Department of Research and scope of the migrant problem. of the Board for Christian Work Education of the Federal Coun- Mr. Thomas Chiavetta, Super- in Santo Domingo, related the cil of the Churches of Christ in visor of the town of Brant, N. Y., thrilling story of the develop- America, sounded the challenge where one of the migrant proj- ment of this work and showed that faces the Church today in ects is carried on by the Council, clearly the tremendous advanrelation to the great issues con- told concretely the problems of tages of its being carried on infronting the world. On the fol- the community and the problems terdenominationally. lowing days of the week various of the farmers in relation to the phases of the missionary enter- migrant families who are im- In the fourth forum hour misprise were presented and stud- ported for the harvest season. sionaries from the different deied. In the first hour each day Miss Edith E. Lowry, Secretary nominations brought the mem- Mrs. F. C. Reynolds, member of for the Migrant Work of the bers of the Institute into intithe Board of Trustees of the Council, described how a mi- mate touch with the mission task Woman's Home Missionary So- grant center is organized. With by telling the story of their ciety, Met hod i s t Episcopal this background in mind the pro- work in different areas. Church, led the mission study gram at a migrant center was class taking the book, "Christ demonstrated by a group of the In the last forum hour, Dr. and the Modern World," by Dr. migrant children who were Daniel A. Poling challenged the Hugh T. Kerr, as a basis for brought down from the migrant Institute with an address on study. The second period was center at Brant, N. Y., by Miss "Christian Citizenship." These the hour of worship. Dr. Miles Helen White and Miss Ruth Hall forum hours were outstanding. H. Krumbine was the Chaplain who were in charge of the center. for the week. Mrs. Orrin R. Judd, Chairman The following day the World of the Committee on Chautauqua Programs and Methods Day of Prayer was presented. of the Council, and formerly Mrs. J. H. Rush, of Canada, and President of the Council, reports The third hour each day was Mrs. Daniel A. Poling described that the Institute this year has devoted to programs and meth- this unique Day of Prayer as it proven exceptionally satisfacods for enlisting others in the is observed throughout the tory and profitable in every way, missionary task and was directed world in fifty-eight countries. with an attendance exceeding by Mrs. Mary D. White, Asso- The next observance falls on that of last year. ciate Secretary of the Congrega- February 16, 1934. tional Church Extension Boards. Prayer Seminar On the first two days the wide "Thou 0 Lord, pro v ide s t scope of the missionary task and A new feature of the Home enough 'tor all men with Thy the relation of young people to Missions Institute program was most liberal and bountiful hand; the task were under considera- the Seminar held in the early but whereas Thy gifts are, in re~ tion. afternoon. Dr. Carl August spect of Thy goodness and free Voss, pastor of the German favor, made common to all men, On the third day, Mrs. Fred Evangelical Protestant Church we (through our naughtiness, S. Bennett, Chairman of the of Pittsburgh, Pa., was the niggardship, and distrust) do Special Committee on Religious leader of this Seminar. It was make them private and peculiar. Work Directors in United States felt that this met a real need of Correct Thou the thing, which Indian Schools, presented the in- many who wanted a more con- our iniquity hath put out of terdenominational program car- centrated study of the mission order."-Meditation on Poverty ried on by the Council of Women task than is possible in the larger in "The Way of Light," by Howfor Home Missions and the group. ard Chandler Robbins. Home Missions Council. She called attention to the tremen- Forums WHAT WE NEED dous opportunity that was open to the Church for reaching thou- The forum hours held in the We do not need more intellectual sands of Indian boys and girls Hall of Philosophy were un- power; in the Government I n d ian usually stimulating. The first, schools in comparison with the on "The Church and the Eco- We need more spiritual power. relatively small number being nomic Crisis," was led by Dr. reached by the many denomina- F. Ernest Johnson. Dr. Walter We do not need more knowledge; W. Van Kirk, Secretary of the We need more character.
We do not need more law; We need more religion.
-Calvin Coolidge.
BULLETIN OF THE COUNCIL OF WOMEN FOR HOME MISSIONS
IX THE HALL OF RELIGIOl' AT THE CE:Tl'RY OF PROGRESS EXPOSITIOl'
The Home Missions Council the most interesting buildings on Presbyterian Church, U. S., Execuand the Council of Women for tive Committee. Home Missions have an exhibit the grounds and is drawing mul- Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., Board at the Century of Progress Ex- titudes of people. They swarm of National Missions. position in Chicago. into the building by the thou-· Reformed Church in America, Board While it is simple and inex- sands. Some glance for a mo- of Domestic Missions. pensive in set-up, it suggests the ment at its exhibits as they pass main lines of Home Missions through, but many hundreds Reformed Church in America, Womwork, and carries out the coop- each day stop to examine the ex- en's Board of Domestic Missions. erative idea. The pictures on the wall are illuminated. The Reformed Church, U. S., Woman's diorama of Migrant Work is dis- Missionary Society. played with lighting effects. Beautifully printed placards an- hibits and take such free litera- Church of United Brethren in Christ. nounce the names of the Councils and the thirteen cooperating ture as is provided. For Immediate Action boards and societies. The me- The following groups are cochanical model of one of the factories of the Goodwill Industries, operating in the exhibit: World Disarmament Campaign Ocwhich stands in front of the exhibit, serves to arrest the atten- American Baptist Home Mission So- tober 1-15. The organized peace forces tion of visitors. ciety. of the world are uniting in a cam- The Hall of Religion is one of Woman's American Baptist Home paign for disarmament which will Mission Society. culminate in a great World Disarm- Congreg-ational C h u r c h Extension ament Meeting at Geneva on October Boards. 15, the day before the opening of the American Missionary Association. World Disarmament Conference. This Evangelical Synod of North America. Geneva meeting will be preceded by a thousand disarmament meetings in Methodist Episcopal Church, Board Great Britain and France, and it is of Home Missions and Church Ex- planned to hold an equal number in tension. the United States. Participation in M~thodist Episcopal Church, Wom- this campaign is being urged by the an's Home Missionary Society. National Peace Conference. I Our World–wide Outlook ~I'='~====A=M=is=sion=ary~N~ew~spa=per=of~Cu=rre=nt ~Eve=nts=~==~~~ WESTERN ASIA There are approximately 8,000 "If there are disheartening Jews in Beirut, with little of the facts in the present situation, Working in Syria national and religious exclusive- there are also those which fill us ness which so often characterizes with joy and hope. Easter Day The Christian Alliance Mis- the Jews in other parts, and no in Bahrain was one of the hapsion has recently held a series of missionary is employed to work piest we have experienced. Four special evangelistic services in among them. The opportuni- converts from Islam were bap- Syria, an Egyptian evangelist, ties in this city are great. A tized ; one woman and three Mr. Barnaba, giving the mes- Call to Prayer was issued in young men." sages. Converts testified to 1932 by the Sub-Committee of their new faith in Christ in the the United Missionary Council. Dr. John Van Ess, of the same face of jeers and curses from "There are approximately 100,- mission, writes from Burah: opponents. The series closed 000 Jews in Iraq, 80,000 of with baptismal and communion whom are resident in Baghdad "It would have done you good service. alone, and no organized effort is to see in what a splendid spirit being made for their evangeliza- the native staff of our workers Among those converted at tion. There appears to be a took the omission of the April Ezra'a was a remarkable Mos- spirit of inquiry on the part of payment. There was not a murlem. The evangelist was obliged many of the Jews in this area." mur, but rather a sense of privito leave before this man was lege that they were called upon baptized. No one else was there No Depression in Turkey to share the burden. It is sigto perform the rite so he went nificant too, that in this month to the water, sang and baptized Paul E. Nilson, of Talas, Asia six Moslem converts have been himself. This man does not Minor, testifies to Turkey's baptized, and more are in prosknow how to read or write, but solidity. pect." others read to him, and the -The Christian Intelligencer. Lord gives him a remarkable In Turkey seventy-five per cent of memory in retaining important the people live in villages and farm. INDIA AND CEYLON passages. He has been arrested With the world suffering from the and taken to court three times, depression the rural population of Temples Opening to but he testifies in the court. Now Turkey is hardlly affected. True, "Untouchables" others are coming to him for in- there is no money, but there is food struction. -Alliance Weekly. for all, old clothes are patched again, A weekly paper, published in and everyone has a roof over his Poona to promote the abolition Jewish Missions in the Near head. For safety, sociability and wa- of untouchability, says that East ter the farmers live in villages of Hindu temples are being opened from 50 to 400 houses, from which to untouchables at the rate of 32 The Jewish Committee of the they go out daily to their fields, or- a month. Some of these have Near East Christian Council re- chards and vineyards. These produce been strongholds of opposition. ports that a group of those en- enough food so that a village can be During the five months ending gaged in or interested in Jewish shut off from the city without lacking June 17 about 160 temples were missionary work met in Jeru- for anything except luxuries. For- so thrown open and it is besalem to discuss questions con- merly each village produced its clothes lieved that this movement will nected with J"ewish evangelism. from cotton or wool. Almost every spread. A preliminary survey was made villager has a few sheep, goats and of all the types and groups of cows. Farm tools are very simple. Before and After Jews in Jerusalem and the vari- Since the farm produces little money ous attempts made to evangelize there is a yearly exodus during the Indian village surveys under them. There is a considerable four summer months of stone-masons, direction of the National Chrisamount of overlapping yet the plasterers and painters, who go to the tian Council reveal some intervarious agencies at work reach coast cities for work. Half of the esting facts. In one village a the majority of divisions of boys in our school come from such Hindu farmer, a Mohammedan Jewry-geographical, social, na- villages. They have no cash and poor schoolmaster, and six or eight tional and religious divisions. clothes, but good brains and bodies. important men were asked ques- The student class, however, was tions such as: "Do the Chrisfor the most part out of touch -Congregationalist. tians drink?" "Do they eat carwith any of the existing evan- rion ?" "Do they quarrel ?" Ingelistic agencies. Converts Take "Cuts" variably the a n s w e r came: Rev. B. D. Hakken, of the Arabian Mission of the Re- formed Church in America, sends encouraging news: [ 510 ]
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
"They used to, before the teacher Christians from all Protestant denom- Old Testament stories published in 1932, all of which fill a need came." The teacher is a trained inations in the Telugu area. It was in- in the spiritual life of the Semas. worker who costs the mission deed an inspiring sight to see some fifteen thousand Christians, all seated only $5 a year, the rest of his on the groqnd, under an immense pan- – Watchman-Examiner. da!, listening with eager attention to maintenance being provided by the inspirational messages which Walked Seventy Miles to a the villagers and a small govern- came from the speakers of the meet- Convention ment grant. ings. Some of these people had come Who would be willing to walk -Watchman-Examiner. from five hundred miles distance, and seventy miles to attend a conven- many had walked more than seventy- tion? It is sometimes done in Untouchability Campaign five miles in order to attend. The speakers, seven of whom were Indians In seeking to lift the great un- and seven foreign, represented five India. A Baptist missionary, touchability campaign abo v e different denominations and came E. C. Erickson, of Sattenpalle, from seven different missions. The writes that 12,000 people atmere technicalities, and in em- unanimity of thought expressed tended the great Andhra Chrisphasizing the importance of through the whole session, and the moral reformation among the fellowship exemplified by such a gath- tian Convention at Bezwada in ering, made a deep impression upon Telugu country. This great outcastes themselves, Mr. Gand- all who attended. It cannot be gathering, with representatives hi is rendering great service to doubted that the fruit of this great from fourteen Protestant denom- gathering will be felt in the days to inations, demonstrated t hat India. He says: "I wish that in- come throughout the Telugu area, es- stead of engaging in fruitless controversy about what is and pecially in the lives of many who re- Christians can work side by side. consecrated themselves to God's servwhat is not contained in the ice. ' The convention hall accommo- Shastras about untouchability, dated the vast crowds and in adwe would apply ourselves to An Indian Juvenile Mission dition to the main hall there was ameliorating the conditions of Zion Church, Madras, has an a smaller one for 1,000 women. so-called untouchables. There is active Juvenile Missionary As- – Watchman-Examiner.
work enough and to spare." Con- sociation, whose membership is Training Village Teachers cerning the need of stressing alive to the opportunities of the internal reform among the out- day, and is applying itself to The Chapra Training School castes themselves, he says: for Village Teachers, which was "Workers should devote all their meet them. Since 1917 the As- begun by the churches and misenergy to (1) the promotion of sociation has been responsible for evangelistic and educational sions in Bengal, has now comcleanliness and hygiene among the Harijans; (2) improved work in a village school. pleted five years of work, and has a clientele covering most of methods of carrying on scaveng- Another recent venture is ing and tanning; (3) giving up among the criminal tribes near the missions in Bengal. A better Pannal, where work was initi- type of student is attending, carrion and beef, if not meat altogether; (4) giving up intoxi- ated by the Salvation Army but many having been in high school. cating liquors; (5) inducing discontinued through lack of The government now gives the stipend grant on a three-year parents to send their children to funds. About 150 families 'live basis. In April the 18 students day schools, and parents them- in the criminal settlement, and selves to attend night schools; the J. M. A. is starting a day went out to the village schools (6) abolition of untouchability school and a night school. They in the neighborhood, where they among outcastes themselves." propose to open another, for which land was purchased two worked with the schoolmasters It is hoped that Mr. Gandhi's years ago. A Christian engineer, and were visited two or three influence shall not so mislead In- Mr. Kuriyan, gives his spare times by the staff of the training dia as to result in strengthening idolatry. What the untouchables time to the leadership of this school. The experience was not really need is not the opportu- band of young people. only helpful to the students but nity of bowing down to an idol, enabled the staff to see how its -C. M. S. Outlook. teaching is put into practice.
During a part of the year stubut water to drink from India's A Wonderful Work in Assam dents went to a Christian home wells, right of entry for their One of the miracles of modern in the village of Chapra and conchildren into schools, social priv- mISSIOns is the evangelistic ducted meetings, and formed ileges, and the power of divine movement a m 0 n g the Sema Nagas of Assam. Rev. B. I. singing bands. grace to save them from lifelong Anderson, Baptist missionary, -National Christian Council evil habits. -Dnyanodaya. Review.
Telugu Christian Gathering writes that there is now a Chris- Child Protection in Ceylon tian community of more than From Miss Helen Bailey, Bap- 4,000, and that it is increasing The Child Protection Society tist teacher at Ongole, South In- at the rate of 500 a year. In publishes a quarterly bulletin dia, comes an account of a fifteen of the fifty-five villages and pamphlets in three vernacu- remarkable interdenominational there are now Christian work- lars for wide distribution among gathering of Telugu Christians: ers. A translation of the Gos- teachers, social workers and This spring there was held in pel of Mark and a new songbook newspapers. The Society dealt Bezwada a gathering of Telugu were published in 1931; also with 91 cases of cruelty during
the past year. The Bulletin de- Tent Evangelism General Assembly in Amoy scribes one of the evils which the Mr. Su, seller of Chinese and Dr. A. J. Fisher, Acting Gen- Society combats: foreign medicine in Yanghsien, eral Secretary of the Church of is a church member, a scholar, Christ in China, writes of plans In European countries it is the ex- widely read, and an original for the third General Assembly, eeption to find people of humble rank employing servants. In Ceylon cases repeatedly come to light of people thinker. From him came the to meet in Amoy, October 20, and living in sordid and poverty-stricken suggestion to form an evangelis- continue for ten days. Among surroundings being served by several tic project for South Shensi, to the special topics for considerawretched little children, who are half itinerate with a Gospel tent. On tion are self-support; stewardfed and unpaid. The first thing is to create a public May 30, thirteen Chinese and ship; youth in the church; Qpinion by making vivid the dreadful picture; cases of appalling cruelty one foreigner, with a large tent Christianizing the home; relimust be seen to be believed. Some of and all the paraphernalia needed gious education program; social for a stay in the country, set out, us need a lot of arousing before we betterment, looking towards a sit up and take notice of what is go- singing as they went. Preach- practical application of Chrising on around us, but the awakening ing and personal work round out tianity to social conditions as has to be done. a full day, and the first fruits they exist in China today; the Juvenile courts have not yet hold promise of a valuable work Christian weekly newspaper; been instituted, though the ques- in that district. tion has been submitted to the book of worship, hymnal, etc., Home Minister. -China's Millions. and cooperation in the face of -Anti-Slavery Reporter. the present crisis.
CHINA Witch Testifies for Christ Doctor Does More Than Heal Missionaries Evacuate Rev. Hollis W. Smith, of Lang- Dr. Thornton Stearns, pro- zok, sends the following story: fessor of surgery at Shantung British missionaries of the "In a village which contained Christian University, Tsinan, China Inland Mission have been fourteen Christian families a China, and a member of the staff compelled to evacuate their sta- non-Christian home became, to of the university hospital, retions in five cities in the Prov- all appearances, possessed of a cently held a retreat with about ince of Szechwan, China. This demon. Unaccountable things one hundred university students. was due, no doubt, to a recrudes- happened in the house. All were Of this, a Presbyterian evancence of communist activities, very much upset and unhappy. gelist, says: "It is a challenge similar to those which caused an This went on for some days, in to us who are in the ministry to evacuation of missionaries from spite of all that could be done in see this medical man winning the same cities last spring. a heathen way for peace. Finally souls all the time. His work a witch was called in to find out grew from two boys, three years -Alliance Weekly. what was the matter and the ago, to over a hundred and fifty." remedy if any. The witch came How to Save China and did her stuff. When she had -Presbyterian Advance.
A young Chinese student in finished her seance she reported Gospel Boat in Cochin-China the Hsien Beh Middle School of that there was a demon, all right, the United Norwegian Lutheran and to the amazement of all said Christian Alliance mission- Church at Fancheng was told to that the only remedy was the aries opened work in Cochin- write an essay on "How to Save Christian God. Her reason for China in 1918, and in 1929 China." His effort was so re- this was that their house was launched a chapel house boat, markable that Missionary Lan- shut in by the houses of Chris- called Tin Lanh or "Good News." dahl had it translated and the tians, hence the only place a An Annamese pastor became Lutheran Herald published it. devil could work was in their the captain of the Tin Lanh; After a well condensed review started off with a colporteur and of the t r 0 ubi e s of China, house. We were sent for and two other men for his crew. Up "brought on by internal dissen- after careful questioning ap- and down the Mekong and the sion and foreign oppression," pointed a service for enrolling network of rivers and canals, the family as enquirers. At this this Gospel ship has been plying the young patriot concludes: service the whole Christian com- "We all know that the politics of munity turned out. An enor- for four years. They visited 871 China, the hearts of the people, mous amount of superstitious homes during 90 days, preachare full of cheating, dishonesty paraphernalia was rem 0 v e d ing to thousands of people at and selfishness. Hence you must from the house and burned; night. One hundred and fiftyhave your bad hearts changed to Christian pictures and texts eight Bibles, New Testaments good ones so that you will be were put up instead. Now one just, righteous and faithful. and Gospel portions were sold, and 251 booklets. One hundred Jesus alone can do that for you. more family is peaceful, and and forty-eight people accepted Come to Jesus, confess your sins, under regular instruction for Christ; a church has been orbelieve His Word. Then we can membership in the Christian ganized and other groups meet save China by using God's Church. regularly as a result of this boat force." -Southern Churchman. work. -Alliance Weekly.
1933J OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
JAPAN-CHOSEN Sunday schools, and there are I believe that unless we have a mu- "Widely Loving Society" about sixty children in the kin- When Jitsunosuke Kobashi, tual aid cooperative movemeN.t it will dergarten. Weekly preaching be difficult to secure world peace. services and Sunday schools are There are four kinds of pacifists: (1) held at Ishibashi and Mikuni, The sentimental pacifists. They are who died on June 19 at the age near-by towns, and there is an- emotional. They don't like to fight. of sixty, was baptized with his other Sunday school at Naka- I like that kind of sentiment. But elder brother by Bishop Williams machi. They also carryon work they are very individualistic and fail of Japan over forty years ago, at Juso, where there are thirty- to see through the social turmoil. (2) nine members and a Sunday The moral pacifists. Conscientious they used all of their property school of forty-six. objectors belong to this class. I like to start the "Widely Loving So- -World Outlook. them very much. They are couraciety" Orphanage for baby orphans and children thrown away geous. But their standpoint is in- dividualistic also. (3) Rational pac- ifists. Such are the promoters of the by their parents. Today there The Suicide Epidemic League of Nations, the World Court, are between one hundred and etc. These movements come from ra- The suicide epidemic has de- tional idealism, which unfortunately one hundred and fifty children veloped, according to Japanese in the Orphanage. They are kept lacks economic foundation. (4) Eco- nomic pacifists. Most of the wars of until old enough to work for police records. Since the first the nineteenth and twentieth centuries arose from economic causes. Unless their own living. Those who of this year 43 persons have thrown themselves into a vol- we attain to permanent peace in the have gone out have made a splen- cano's crater. The estimate vf realm of economics, it will be imposdid record, bearing testimony to sible to secure social welfare and the strong Christian influence of one Tokyo newspaper is that world peace. If we Christians do not the Home. more' than 200 have committed move toward the cooperative idea our suicide in 1933. The Japanese Some children of a mountain theory of life which sponsors position will remain very theoretical. district of northern Japan, or- Only through Christian idealism will the cooperative movement come to its phaned by a disastrous earth- these weird proceedings, as one own. quake, were brought to the newspaper puts it, is something Home, and when they grew up like this: "A trip to the far, far Comparative Religions went back to their homes. away land of eternal bliss, there To the question whether or not Bishop Tucker, at that time a to live in ceaseless ecstasy, un- all religions were impotent in missionary in Japan, took a long molested by petty jealousy and such a crisis as the Sino-Japajourney to that far-off district worldly cares, is, in its early, nese controversy a Chinese Y. M.
and there found a whole chain of crude and simple form the idea C. A. secretary in Tokyo replied: little churches started and reg- of suicide." This newspaper is "N0 group of Japanese Chrisularly served by these former endeavoring to prove that there tians has donated a 'patriotic inmates of the Widely Loving is nothing beautiful in plung- airplane' to its military leaders Society Orphanage. ing into the pit of a crater; that for the sake of bombing China, -Southern Churchman. death is gruesome, not beautiful, as the devotees of other religious Steady Growth and that there can be no eternal sects have been doing extensively peace in such a course of action. of late." This observation points to the need for strengthening In 1922 the nucleus of a prom- -The Christian Graphic. Christian missions in a militaryising work was found in Toyo- minded country not one per cent naka. In a rented room Sunday Baptist Work Consolidated of whose population is as yet school and preaching service's Christian. In his inauguration were held. Time went on and The Northern Baptist Mission address, Dr. Y. Abe, new presifirst a lot was purchased, then in Japan has practically lost its dent of Aoyama Gakuin Methplans drawn for a church. The identity as a mission, having odist College in Tokyo, saw fit to Southern Methodist Mission sold entered closer relationship with place loyalty to Christ before some property in Osaka and the Japanese organization. An loyalty to fatherland. granted Yen 1,500 from the pro- Executive Board has been orceeds, the congregation putting ganized on which there are nine -Christian Century. Japanese and three missionaries. into the building Yen 4,200 All general work is now their Good News from Korea (twice their promise). Later responsibility. Mr. and Mrs. H. they bought another piece of B. Benninghoff and Mr. and Mrs. Fruits of the Forward Moveland and erected a kindergarten J. F. Gressitt were among those ment are noticed in a deepened building without help from the honored for having completed interest in Bible study among twenty-five years of service. the students, in evidence that the mission. The next move was to Scripture is being discussed add more land and build a par- -The Christian Graphic.
sonage. Kagawa's Pacifism around family dinner tables, and They have today, after ten in the increased attendance at years, Yen 35,000 worth of prop- Writing in the United Church the Bible Institutes. One young erty, in a church, kindergarten Review for June, Toy 0 h i k 0 man, having read the booklet, and parsonage, with 338 tsubo Kagawa has this to say on "Co- "The Life of Christ," through so of valuable land. Church mem- ope rat ion, Christianity and many times that he could almost bership is 156, with 214 in the World Peace": recite it, sought the nearest
church and astonished everyone and articles embodying the pur- out these mountain tribes, and with his knowledge and zeal. In pose and desire of the Society carry the Gospel to them. distributing tracts along coun- have been written and adopted. R. A. JAFFRAY. try roads, one is surprised with Pledge cards have been distribthe eagerness with which they uted and a systematic monthly A Philippine Precedent are received and at the favor- income assured. The money is For the first time in history, a able attitude. One young man primarily for extending the Gos- set of official stamps for use on thanked the itinerator and asked pel. It is expected that the letters has been printed by a govif he would not come to his vil- membership will include outlying ernment department, the profit lage and preach to his father. branches – especially from the on which is to be paid over to a These experiences are frequent. other mission fields where Chris- religious organization in recog- Five colporteurs conducted a tian Alliance missionaries are nition of the help given by miswhirlwind campaign on the working. -The Pioneer. sionaries to the country. This island of Vllong Do and scat- is in the Dutch East Indies, tered the VVord throughout the Latest News from Bali where the government has island. A young man there, printed four sets of stamps visiting a friend, found a por- Since the report that 105 Bali- which are sold at a small addition of the Scriptures and after nese had been baptized, the Chi- tional fee, for the help of Salvareading it asked his friend where nese missionary, Rev. K. F. tion Army work among lepers he could find some one to teach Tsang, has baptized another 130. and beggar boys in Java and him more of the Jesus way. One Approximately 300 are ready Sumatra. The stamps have picof the missionaries happened to for baptism. This has aroused tures of the Army at work in difbe passing in company with the opposition, which takes various ferent ways, and are cancelled at helper and this friend called him forms. Christians are boy- the post offices with a stamp urgin where he found a heart pre- cotted, Hindu landlords refuse ing the public to buy "Salvation pared for the message of salva- to rent farms to converts, cut off Army stamps, and so help the tion. It reminds us of Philip their water supply and even re- work in our land." and the Ethiopian. In another fuse them burial for their dead. village on this island where the -Philippine Evangelist. -Alliance Weekly.
church was small, the non-Chris- Southern Suxnatra NORTH AMERICA tian men of the village asked that the evening meetings be held in In the whole of Southern Su- Hundred Thousand Dollar Club a large school building in order matra, south of the equator, that they also might attend. Palembang is the only city witl1 The Southern Baptist Conven- After the meeting they asked a resident missionary. A Dutch tion has launched the "Hundred permission to attend the morn- pastor works among his own Thousand Dollar Club," whose ing Bible study hour which was countrymen and there is a Meth- members pledge to contribute arranged especially for the odist mission with a thriving one dollar each month, in addi- Christians. Some twenty men English school. Mr. and Mrs. tion to their regular contribuand women gave in their names Griffin, under the auspices of the tions, until the debts are paid. as deciding to believe. There are "Couriers" of Chicago of which The money will be distributed to evidences everywhere that the Paul Rader is president, are the several institutions, boards seed is bearing fruit. Not only opening work in Lahat, of South and agencies in ratio to their are add i t ion s to existing Sumatra. This makes an ideal debt needs. If the plan is genchurches reported but old groups spot from which to cover this erally adopted and succeeds it are being revived and new whole untouched field. will bring in $1,200,000 in groups are being established. twelve months. The hospital reports eleven new Besides the regular Malay groups as being established dur- population, well intersprinkled -Christian Advocate. ing the year, eight of which have with Chinese, there are in some already built their church build- of the remote parts of the island, New Home Mission Technique ings. -Faiku Station Report. aboriginal tribes which have never been reached; wild un- In his report to the Church ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC civilized tribes, very shy of Extension Boards of the Congre- other races. They are animists gational Churches, General Sec- A Native Missionary Society and have not yet been affected retary Ernest M. Halliday fore- by the doctrines of Islam. The sees three changes in home mis- Indische Zending Bond is the Malay people are large, Moham- sion technique: medan in name, and the Chinese (1) More interdenominational coop- are plain heathen. Neither the eration for the achievement of our Malays nor the Chinese of these task. At present we are hampered by self-chosen name of a mission- parts of Sumatra have ever had ary society organized this year a meager program spread over too in Makassar, Dutch East Indies, wide an area. There is no justifica~ with about 60 active members. tion for competition between home missionary churches. (2) Combining the forces of dif- The officers are all mature men, a witness of the Gospel. Mr. and ferent denominations for carrying recognized as leaders among Mrs. Griffin (who was Miss out certain united enterprises. This their own people. A constitution Rader) are planning to search may be a geographic unit such as
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Alaska, or an ethnic unit such as the and Dorland-Bell School, Hot present. A Bible school was Spanish-speaking work in the South- Springs, N. C. west, or a logical unit such as special- -Presbyterian Banner. opened at Miraflores, suburb of ized city and rural activities, or a Lima. -Alliance Weekly.
service unit as in the case of the min- Is Union Assured? Neglected Lepers istry to the farm and cannery migrants. . The proposed organic union of Very little is being done by the Reformed Church in the missions, either Catholic or Prot- (3) Effective popular appeal by the United States and the Evan- estant, for the lepers of Latin adaptation of the newest developments gelical Synod of North America, America. In some towns and seems assured in view of the ac- villages almost the entire popin visual and oral presentation, such tion taken. Nineteen of the ulation is leprous. Brazil has twenty districts of the Evan- the largest number of lepers, as the moving picture, the phonograph gelical Synod of North America probably 75,000. Chile has no have approved the plan. Final lepers, due to its natural isolaand the radio. action on union will be taken at tion from tropical countries by -The Congregationalist. the meeting of the General Con- desert and mountain barriers, ference in Cincinnati, October 3 and to the rigid care of immigra- A "Code" for Churches td 10. In the Reformed Church, tion officials. the General Synod at its meeting Since codes are now the order in Akron, 0., in May, 1932, unan- Brazil has set an example in of the <il.ay, they may be expected imously approved the plan and "health consciousness" and other to appear in the Church. One referred it to the Classes. Dr. governments are gradually fallsuch was suggested at the Luth- J. C. Leonard, secretary of the ing in line, but the problem is eran Laymen's League in Chi- Reformed Com m iss ion on complicated by number of differcago. Professor Walter A. Maier Church Union, states that 49 of ent governments involved. of St. Louis Concordia Seminary, the 59 classes had approved the outlined a seven-point program plan of union, two had done so -Without the Camp. as follows: conditionally, two had rejected EUROPE 1. To renounce all interference and competition with the partisan, polit- Slavery Abolition Centenary ical polls of state and national legislatures.
2. To disavow all attempts of competing with the theatrical interests and refuse to compromise the spiritu- ality of the Church by bids for no- the plan, and six classes are yet In Hull, England, birthplace toriety. to be heard from. of William Wilberforce, was celebrated on July 23, the cen- 3. To repudiate all gambling, lot- LATIN AMERICA tenary of the abolition of slavery tery and other games of chance.
4. To abstain from misrepresenta- tion in statements affecting the Rapid Growth in Puerto Rico by the British Parliament, and Church. the liberating of 700,000 slaves, The Baptist church in Caguas, then held in British territory. 5. To stop the promotion of bigotry Puerto Rico, is rejoicing in a and intolerance. growing Sunday school. During A 'special service was held in the past few months the attend- St. Paul's Cathedral, attended 6. To disclaim all anti-American ance has increased from 450 to by representatives of the Antiand anti-social principles disintegrat- 623. At the Sunday night serv- Slavery and Aborigines Proing the home through easy divorce, ices the little church is more than tection Soc i e t y, the Church birth control and temporary marriage. filled, and every week several Missionary Society, the League people find Christ as their Sav- of Nations Union and members 7. To consider the needs of the man iour. The candidates' class has of the Wilberforce family. Inwhom the Church has forgotten-the an enrolment of more than 100. stances were given of rescued slave boys who had risen to imman troubled by the sin that modern – Watchman-Examiner. portant posts in the Church and churches have ruled out – in the world's era of greatest lawlessness, and to preach to him the message of salvation in heaven through Jesus Christ.
-Presbyterian Banner.
Volunteer Wtthout Salary Outstanding Gains government, in the administra- tion of agriculture, and in the The Presbyterian Board of The Christian and Missionary judicature. National Missions has been of- Alliance reports encouraging While slavery has been banfered the services, in their vari- gains for last year in various ished from Christendom, it is ous mission schools, of workers sections of South America. In said that there are still 5,000,000 who are willing to give their full Argentina there were 299 pro- slaves in the world. -Living Church. time in exchange for board and fessed conversions and churches room. These are young men and were strengthened. In Paraguay Religion in Switzerland women who were graduated this church membership was 108 at year from college and technical the end of 1932. Baptisms in Two Protestant churches in schools, and are prepared to take Chile were 143, an advance of western Switzerland have pub- up the work for which they have 46 over the previous year. In lished an autoist map of French volunteered. Some will be placed Peru's jungle hinterland per- . Switzerland and vicinity. These at Tucson Indian Training haps great blessing has resulted maps show 120 places where School, Escuela, Ariz.; Asheville from the daily noon-meetings worship may be attended, telling Normal School, Asheville, N. C.; where the Indians gather, some- the hours of service and whether Farm School, Swannanoa, N. C.; times as many as fifty being the service is in a State church
or free church. The free cir- 1. The Gospel of Jesus Christ con- the baptized Jews in relation to culation of these maps remind tains, for our country and for every the general discriminatory laws tourists of their responsibilities individual, the ultimate decision about against the Jews. Hitherto, conin attending divine service. life and death. The German S. C. M. version has not exempted Ger- is therefore determined to deliver the mans of Jewish descent from the The two Swiss church organi- message of God's claim on men. laws. zations have issued protests against the establishment of the 2. The German S. C. M. is based on Famine in Russia atheistic "Central" in Basel. the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as found The Roman Catholics have also in the Bible and witnessed to by the The Soviet Republics are not raised official protests against Church. finding their course smooth sailthis activity. All urge Chris- ing. Not only are their dissentian Swiss to organize a syste- 3. The German S. C. M. declares it- tions and rumblings of revoltmatic procedure against these ',If a member of the one Church of which led to the suicide of a forms of atheistic propaganda. Jesus Christ. It belleves its task to prominent Soviet official in the While the "Central" of the be that of educating its members for Ukraine – but the i r anti-God atheists has been tolerated, the service in the Church. It recognizes Five-Year Pro g ram cannot schools of Switzerland are not that it is called to share in the ecu- bring prosperity. In spite of allowed to offer prayer or sing menic task of the Church. censorship, reports of a terrible Christian hymns. famine are coming through press 4. Since the Church has to preach dispatches and from returning Italy's Postage Stamp the Gospel to all men, the German travelers. The Ukraine is one of S. C. M. addresses its message to all the most productive states and To celebrate the tenth anni- students, without distinction. yet it is one of the hardest hit. versary of the Fascist Govern- The grain crop is insufficient ment of Italy, Signor Mussolini 5. The German S. C. M. stands in and Russo-German fugitives rehas issued a series of new post- the midst of German national life in port that 4,000,000 deaths have age stamps, among them a de- a spirit of love and sacrifice. It is in been due to malnutrition in resign which has caused much whole-hearted agreement with all the cent months. Cases of cannicomment and opposition from healthy forces of our national life balism have even been brought the Vatican. and impresses on its members the duty up before Russian courts. The of preparing themselves for the serv- conditions in the remote interior The brown oblong 30 Centes- ice of their country. are said to be worse than in the imi stamp sets forth in the neighborhood of cities. Travcenter the open Bible standing The German S. C. M. is com- elers report that Russian guides on a pedestal, which rests on the posed of associations in the vari- are not permitted to take them wings of an eagle, symbol of in- ous German universities. In outside a definite route lest they spiration. On the open page of spreading the Christian message see and report the conditions of the Book is inscribed the word the movement takes its stand on unspeakable misery. Neverthe- "Evangelium." On the lower the Bible and forms a strong fel- less some photographs are shown part of the stamp is the word lowship. It is open to all stu- of starving children and adults "Credere"-Believe. In the rear dents who definitely express a who are too weak to work and of the open Bible is the Cross, sincere desire to hear the Word are therefore refused rations or not the crucifix. On the left, be- of God, to take part in the life food cards. In some villages it fore the Bible and the Cross, are of the Association, to follow its is reported that half the populathe flags of Italy and the em- leaders, and to collaborate in its tion has died. The Christians blems of the Fascist regime, tasks. naturally suffer even more than lowered in salute. the godless on account of Soviet We believe readers will be in- discrimination. All the facts The circulation of this stamp terested in the positive affirma- cannot be obtained as the Soviets in Italy will preach a great ser- tion of faith in the above con- publish no true reports and mon to the people, who have stitution particularly in the face newspaper correspondents are been taught that the Bible is a of the present church struggle greatly restricted in their freeclosed book to all but the priest- going on in Germany. dom. hood of the Roman Church. The plain cross sets forth the Christ Hebrew-Christians in Germany Baptists Executed By Soviets of the Cross, rather than the Cross of Christ. The Dictator According to a news item ap- La Renaissance has the folof Italy is granting entire free- pearing in the Jewish Daily Bul- lowing: "According to informadom for the wide circulation of letin there have been some 30,000 tion gleaned from the Rostov the Scriptures in Italy. intermarriages in Germany dur- Press, there were, at the begin- ing the past twenty-five years. ning of January, 24 Baptists -Evangelical Christian. During the same period some sentenced to death there. They 25,000 Jews came into the Prot- were accused of 'assisting par- The German Student Christian estant Christian faith in Prussia tisans who had revolted against Movement alone. This does not take ac- the Soviet Government, and of count of Jews who went over to At a recent national meeting Catholicism or of Jews who acof this Movement the following cepted the Christian faith in secconstitution was adopted: tions of Germany outside of Prussia.
The Jewish Daily Bulletin also says that the Protestant Church of Germany, under its new Nazi leadership, will study the ques- tion raised as to the position of
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
procuring prOVISIOns and am- sellite" propaganda, who call the lowing tbe dedication ceremony, munition for them.' The trial was conducted with numerous Christians to come out from the a memorial tablet to the late witnesses; all the Rostov workmen visited it. The sentence was churches, "because they are full Chief Khama was unveiled by carried out three days after it was pronounced. According to of error." Chief Tshekedi. information received from Mos- -South African Outlook. cow, another trial has been A third enemy in this part of started at Rostov against 53 Baptists belonging to villages in West Africa is the secessionist the Northern Caucasus. The sentence has been decreed be- "African Church" which was MISCELLANEOUS forehand by Moscow. The accused carry themselves with founded many years ago by peo- Some Leper Statistics great dignity. They do not give ple who were unwilling to give anybody away, do not answer the wrathful shouts of the Tche- up the practice of polygamy, and The following summary comkist judges; they only pray who yet chafed at the fact that piled from returns from fifty~ quietly and sing religious songs." accordingly they were not al- one different stations, in India, -London Baptist Times. lowed to bear office in the church. China, Korea and Africa, indi~ AFRICA In spite of all this the mass of cates some of the work done by New Field Open the Christian people are steady, the Mission to Lepers during John Hall, of the Sudan In- and adult baptisms into the the year, and the results. terior Mission, has labored seventeen years among the Tangale Church from Ekiti alone, though Patients under treatment for people of Nigeria, and has given them the New Testament in less than in 1931, were in 1932 not less than three months.. 7,742 their own language. He writes Number of above who much that the seemingly impenetrable nearly 1,200. improved …………….. 2,603 walls of Moslem opposition in Northern Nigeria to the Chris- Number slightly improved. . .. 2,472 tian Gospel have at last been broken down. "With the great An Indian Mission to Africa Cases arrested without deformneed here in Tangale, and our ity, i. e., symptom free. . . . . . 762 own personal interest in it, our wildest fancy could not have A project for sending a mis- Cases arrested with deformity. 366 foreshown a call from God to sion to East Africa is being conleave it and engage in the new, sidered by the National Mission- Of the remaining cases, some fear-inspiring task of Moslem ary Society, the aim being to evangelization. And yet the call send out Indian missionaries to became worse, or stationary, and has come." Five million Mos: build up that part of the Church a considerable number left or lems from which the mission- of Christ in East Africa which died. Five hundred and three of aries have hitherto been ex- is Indian. The General Secre- the cases arrested without de~ cluded constitute the new field to tary, Rai Bahadur A. C. Mu- formity were discharged and 62 which God is calling him and kerji, has prepared a draft plan of those arrested with deformity, into which the door is being In addition upwards of 3,650 opened. to send two evangelists to be sta- lepers were treated as out-pa.., tioned at Nairobi and Kampala, -Evangelical Christian. and working in surrounding tients. Where the attendances areas. It is proposed to open a were regular the results were Secessionists in Nigeria dispensary at Nairobi, in charge encouraging; 106 became ar.., The "Aladura Movement" in of a woman doctor and a health rested cases, and 1,517 more 01' Nigeria, which attracted to it so visitor. This work is to be in many people already Christian, less improved. and which baptized so many -Mission to Lepers. heathen whom existing Christian bodies would not baptize till cooperation with other Chris- World Control of Narcoticl:l they had been instructed, has tian projects in the area, and is been followed by the formation to be financed by the N. M. S. American people may not of a new sect, "The African It will be supervised by a local realize the stuggle under the Apostolic Church." Following committee of whom at least half League of Nations Opium Sec~ hard upon this has come "Rus- will be Christian Indians. tion to control the opium trade in all countries. While the -United Church Review. Opium Section of the League Red Let,ter Day at Tigerkloof has a budget of $48,000 a year, of which eighty per cent is al- June 9 was a red-letter day in lotted for salaries, the traffickers the history of the Tigerkloof Na- have large cash reserves and are tive Institute of the London Mis- sometimes able to corrupt of.., sionary Society, when a new ficials. The daily profits of the church was opened, the crowning illicit traders is estimated by the work of the Society at Tiger- League at nearly $2,000,000. kloof. The building, which The annual turnover is put at ranks as the finest of its kind in $690,000,000. Annual w 0 rid British Bechuanaland, is about consumption of narcotic drugs is 100 by 50 feet over all and 50 placed at forty-five tons, thirty feet high; it seats 600 persons, of which are used in China. The and was constructed entirely by United States comes second with native apprentices under the di-' seven tons, which equals 1,400,., rection of Mr. Ballantine, who 000,000 doses, and at twenty-five shortly completes thirty years' cents per dose totals $350,000,., service at the Institution. Fol- 000.
Missionary
Recent Books Reviewed for the Readers' Information I.~~,~tl~~==~~~~============~ Bishop Montgomery: a Memoir. By tion?" The reply came: "World- Church would be well worth- M. M. With a Preface by the Archbishop of Canterbury. 110 pp. 28 wide oversight surely episcopal, while-and it is. Dr. Kerr has 6d. Society for the Propagation of if Australia can rightly spare given here an excellent textbook the Gospel, London. 1933. for the mission classes of all you." Satisfied that his vows Here is a book that warms would be fulfilled in the new evangelical denominations. Yet the heart. Dr. Montgomery be- post, he came. The wisdom of it is more than that; it is filled came Bishop of Tasmania at 42 the call was evident when he got with a wealth of illustrations; years of age and eleven years under way. He came to the S. P. it shows a broad field of learnlater was called back to England G. (1902) under primitive con- ing, it is up to date even to the to become Secretary of the So- ditions. "There were no type- Oxford Group Movement. It is ciety for the Propagation of the writers or shorthand clerks. healthful, enjoyable reading and Gospel in Foreign Parts. While Letters were all copied. On the gives one a zeal for establishing in that office the King made him day after a meeting of the Stand- the faith of our fathers as the Prelate of the Order of St. Mi- ing Committee the Secretary hope of America today. chael and St. George, all of used to spend the whole day, The book is well indexed and whose members became at once from 9 a. m. to 5 p. m. writing has an excellent bibliography. A the Bishop's spiritual charge. letters for abroad." At first he few direct quotations best indi- This was characteristic of him- was able to interview personally cate the author's position. he had the habit of reckoning his all candidates. The revenue of This book is a humble attempt to obligations by their spiritual de- the Society was £88,000; when justify the Christian faith in the mod- he left it was £155,000. He ern world. It does not apologize for mand. As a young rector he was a member of three Lambeth Christianity. It is an effort to preframed the principle which gov- Conferences. He made two visits sent the claim that the Gospel is the to America and Canada where power of God in America in the twenerned himself and his whole tieth century, as it was in the Roman staff, that "once you got hold of he met an enthusiastic reception. The Archbishop says: "Bishop Empire in the first century . . . a person you never let go." The Christian mission in America Montgomery's greatest gift to As Bishop in Tasmania he was is the effort to share Christ with all indefatigable, spending large the Church in his generation was men, whatever their race or religion. It is not set for battle against any parts of the year in itinerating not only his work, valuable as it was, but chiefly his own person- man or against any man's faith; it alone or with his clergy, confirm- ality. Indeed, what gave value is consecrated to the task of giving ing believers by the roadside if to his work was the spirit he put him the best we have–Jesus Christ. they could not go to the Church. He introduced a system of "Qui- into it … He seemed always to The cross of Christ is the guar- p.nty that God is in Christ, suffering, bear about with him the spirit ,serving, saving-in America as in et Days" for his clergy, prepar- of the spring." ing for them most carefully, for Galilee-the same yesterday, today he "judged it wrong to call his and forever. GEORGE W. ARMS.
busy clergymen together unless The book is chatty and famil- The Shi'ite Religion. A History of you gave them of the very best," iar; it is to be hoped that some Islam in Persia and Irak. By -a principle which some con- deeper study of Bishop Mont- Dwight M. Donaldson, D.D., Ph.D.
ference managers do not observe. gomery's missionary and ad- 393 pp. 15s. Illus. Luzac & Com- Here also he framed the prin- ministrative methods may be is- pany..London. 1933.
ciple which governed him in his sued by the Society. This book, in terms found in CLELAND B. McAFEE. the preface, is a statement of -secretarial life: "To the laity Shi'a doctrine and a study of through the clergy." As work The Christian Mission in America. Shi'ite Islam in Persia and Irak. on the mission field is best done By Hugh Thompson Kerr. 184 pp. The critic would wish that these by contacts of individual mis- $1 cloth; 60 cents paper. Friend- terms had been used for the title sionaries with the people, so the ship Press. New York. 1933. -support of the work in the home One would naturally suppose and sub-title. Likewise the auchurch is to be secured by pas- that a book from the pen of the thor's method of transliterating tors, not by secretaries or agents pastor of the Shadyside Presby- Arabic letters is not an improve- terian Church, now for twenty ment upon that recognized as au- ·of missionary societies. He was called back to London years an author, and one-time thorative. by a cablegram, but replied with Moderator of the General As- These criticisms are trivial ;another: "Is it episcopal voca- sembly of the Presbyterian compared with the value of the [518 ] book as a much needed, concise and readable study of the origin of Shi'ism, its growth in Irak and Persia and its differentation from the orthodox faith of the followers of Islam.
As a resident for sixteen years in one of the great Shrine Cities of Persia, Dr. Donaldson has had exceptional opportunities for present-day observation and his studies have given him access to much historical material to which he refers in copious foot- notes. While the early struggle between the rival Caliphs is giv- en in detail, perhaps the most The ANNUITY important chapters are those AGREEMENT • the AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY giving the history of the Twelve Imams and their place in the PLAN of framework of Shi'ite faith and practice. The description of the great Shrine Cities and their im- will help you solve it portance as places of pilgrimage is embellished by several fine photographs. The chapters on AND it will help you in your desire to have a share in furthering a worthy and essential Christian enterprise. Shi'ite tradition and the sinless- ness of the prophets are especial- ly valuable. A detailed table of contents for each of the thirty- W:hat is an Annuity Agreement of the American Bible Society?
three chapters and the full index Are Annuity Agreements of the American Bible Society safe?
materially increase the value as What advantages do Annuity Agreements have?
a book of reference as does the Are holders of the Annuity Agreements of the American Bible Society satisfied with them? eIassified bibliography. The mis- Has any annuitant ever lost money through an Annuity Agreesion interested reader will regret ment of the American Bible Society?
that the plan of the volume Are Annuity Agreements recommended as a source of income for persons unfamiliar with financial matters? seemingly permitted no refer- Do men ofrecognized business abilence to the reaction of Shi'ite ity secure Annuity Agreements from the American Bible Society? Islam to the missionary enter- Whatwillmoney placed inAnnuprise. JAMES CANTINE. ity Agreements eventually ac- complish through theAmerican A Self-Made Bishop. By The Right Rev. G. L. King, D.D. The Society Bible Society? for the Propagation of the Gospel. London. 1933. THESE and other questions about the Annuity Agree- A wonderful story, by the for- ments of the American Bible mer Church of England bishop Society are answered in a new of Madagascar, about a man who booklet "A Gift That Lives." made himself bishop, although without orders of any kind, and MAIL THIS COUPON TODAY whose authority was not questioned by those to whom he min- rr;;;c~ ;;L;-;O~TY, ~ ~se, A:: ;;:e, Ne;;C:;City – .~J istered. The title page bears the I Please send me, without obligation, your booklet . I significant words by Bishop No. MRS, entitled "A Gift That Lives". . O'Ferral, "The Northern Church of Madagascar is quite inexpli- I I Name……………………………….__…………………………………. Denomination…………………….._·_'— cable except by belief in the I I Address ………….._……….._..__…._._….._………………………………………………………………-…….-.:….:…-.–.- Holy Spirit." I City……………….. ……………….. ……………….. I ……………… Stale……………………………….
John Tsizehena assumed two titles, as he records in his diary, viz. "Reverand John Tsizehena, Mission Lord Church" and "Lord Bishop of North, D.D." The story of this remarkable man is the story of the Anglican Church of the northern triangle of Madagascar. It bears witness to his zeal and earnestness and is unique in the fact that one who
Less Than are not outspoken in opposition world after the Spirit and pur- to Japan's policy in Manchuria. pose of our Lord Jesus Christ. $2.00 per day One hundred and sixteen CLELAND B. McAFEE. for: board, room, tuition, and a pages describe the Progress of the Kingdom of God Movement Young America Makes Friends. By- College Education in a in Japan. These chapters relate Mary Alice J ones and n.ebecca Christian School to the churches, rural evangel- Caudhill. 12mo. 122 pp. $1.00. ism, social reconstruction, tem- Friendship Press, New York. 1933. A.B., B.R.E. and Th.B perance and anti-vice campaigns, Degrees Christian cooperation, education, This pleasing volume, covers etc. Some sixty-five pages take well the activity areas of a (given under the laws of up critically the Appraisal Com- child's life-Going to School; Massachusetts) mission Report-six articles by Doing Home Chores; Keeping Japanese and missionaries. The Well and Happy; Being a Citi- No smoking or dancing allowed! Christian work of the Japanese zen; Earning and Using Money; High scholastic attainment re- Church "Overseas" shows some- and Going to Church. quired. thing of the vitality of Japanese Christianity. Each chapter, or unit as it is Premedical, Normal. Commercial, called, has good introductory Home Economics, Music, College One of the valuable reference discussion topics selected from Preparatory, Theological. features of this Year Book is the children's experiences. In para- section devoted to directories graphs called, "Suggested pro- Send for catalogue and statistics. The number of cedure" there are good guiding Christian social institutions in questions. The illustrative sto- Atlantic Union College Japan (in addition to education- ries vary much in value and the al work) indicate that this phase list of "Desired outcomes" which South Lancaster, Mass. of the task is not overlooked. show the goal each "unit" strives The statistics report 58 foreign for, are not always satisfying. Over SO years of service. societies working in Japan, with For example; the last unit which is the climax of the study, was a self-appointed apostle and ° 1130 foreign workers; there are is Young America Going to evangelist, became in the provi- Church. The prayer reads, dence of God the founder of a 2, 2 5 organized Protestant "Within this world, within our group of Anglican churches, that churches and over 232,000 bap- country, within our very city upon the arrival of a regularly tized Japanese Christians. there are many of thy children appointed bishop willingly sub- who worship Thee in ways difmitted to constituted authority Builders of a New World. By Robert ferent from our own. Be Thou and without demur accepted the Merrill Bartlett. 166 pp. Cloth $1; near to them as they seek Thee regular orders. paper, 60 cents. Friendship Press, in the way that seems to them New York. 1933. best; and show us the best The story is so unique in mis- way." No mention is made of sion history, that it constitutes This excellent book in the Mis- the thousands of boys and girls most interesting reading and is sion Study list is adapted to who never worship in any way. necessary for an understanding steady reading or to class use. It Earnest, well informed leaders of the mission history of the dis- deals in course of its discussion using the book will want to go tant part of the world in which with communism, the new patri- further than its author and lay its scenes are laid. C. T. B. otism, war, social and political deeper foundations for friend- responsibility and other social ship than merely the sharing of The Japan Christian Year Book. issues, yet it is about none of playgrounds and citizenship. Edited by E. C. Hennigar. 12mo. these particular subjects. It is 428 pp. Yen 2.50. Kyo Bun Kwan, a study of the way in which lives E. B. D. P. Tokyo; Foreign Missions Confer- can contribute, under the power ence, New York. 1933. of Christ, to the building of a New Books new world. The examples are Thirty-eight authors, includ- familiar to older readers but the America Revolucionaria. S. Guy Ining thirteen Japanese leaders, book is intended primarily for man. 340 pp. $1. Javier Morats, make up this remarkable com- young people: Grenfell, Ramsay Madrid; and Committee on Coopposite picture of Japan today, Macdonald, Kagawa, Jabavu of eration in Latin America. New from the Christian viewpoint. Africa, Schweitzer, Romain Rol- York. The geneyal articles relate to the land, James Yen of China (Jimchief events of the past year in my Yen), Martha Berry-but all Adventure in Ohurch Worship. Maunational life and in international center about Christ as the mir- rice Clarke. Teacher's book, 144 pp. relations. The many important acle of history. It is a "mission" $1. Student's book, 133 pages. 70 topics dealt with include the book only as "missions" is con- cents, cloth; 50 cents, paper. More- "Shrine Question," The League ceived in a wide sense, but it house Pub. Co. Milwaukee. of Nations, economic depression, will interest young people and tbe "Manchukuo" impasse, dis- will remind them that life is nev- Boys and Girls of .China and Japan. armament, China and Japan and er too insignificant to count in Illus. 48 pp. Is. C. M. S. London. various "Thougbt Movements." the large process of making a Naturally the Japanese writers Directory of Foreign Missions. Es- ther Boardman Strong and A. L. Warnshuis. 300 pp. $2, paper; $2.50, cloth. International Mission- ary Council. New York.
School a broken ankle and a resulting inlla- Dates to
mation, is reported to have been re- Supplies stored to a normal condition in an- October 3-10 – Quadrennial Confer- swer to prayer. ence. Evangelical Synod of North S~o~unqU{, s1P,In1Itme1 America. Cincinnati, Ohio. *** ~~'~'~"~'~ltJilIem·lAlliroIlmll/eHr.r~fN~IJ October ll-lS–International Conven- Dr. Henry W. Frost, for over 40 tion of the Disciples of Christ, tile for years director of the China Inland Pittsburgh, Pa. Mission, who recently passed the 70th and anniversary of his birth, celebrated October 19-Annual Meeting. Ameri- with Mrs. Frost, their golden wedding can Mission to Lepers. Fifth Ave- Personal Items anniversary on September 12th. At nue Presbyterian church, New York Princeton on September 16th they ob- City. Dr. Catherine Mabie, who has been served this 50 years of blessed life in the Congo since 1898, is the first and service, with seven children and October 31-Fall meeting. New York missionary of the American Baptist six in-law children. Many friends in Conference, Woman's 1<~oreign Mis- Woman's Foreign Mission Society in lands all over the world rejoice with sionary Society. Calvary Church, Africa to be decorated. She has re- them in these many years of joy and New York City. ceived La Croix de Chevalier de service in the power of Christ. l'Ordre Royal du Lion. November lO-ll-Annual Meeting. Dr. Herman *C. *E.* Liu, President World Alliance for International *** Friendship through the Churches of the University of Shanghai, has and the International GoodWill Con- Miss Clementina Butler, daughter been invited to join Dr. E. Stanley gress. Philadelphia, Pa. of Dr. William Butler, who founded J ones and others to conduct a series the Methodist Episcopal Church in of interdenominational conferences on United Missionary Meetings India, has offered her resignation as missions in the United States this secretary of the home base for the fall. He has also been acting as dele- September 28-29-Worcester, Mass. New England Branch of the Meth- gate of the China Committee at the October 1-2-Boston, Mass. odist Woman's Foreign Missionary conference of the Institute of Pacific October 3-4-Portland, Me. Society, having reached the age of re- Relations in Banff, Canada, August October 5-6–New Haven, Conn, tirement. She is preparing a book on 14-28. Later he will study vocational October 8-9-Rochester, N. Y. the work of Pandita Ramabai; also a and civic education in America and October lO-ll-Cleveland, O. biography of her father, to be trans- Europe. October l2-13-Pittsburgh, Pa. lated into the leading vernaculars. October 15-16–Detroit, Mich. During his absence from Shanghai October 17-l8-Toledo, O. Rt. Rev. Joh*n M* cK*im, D.D., pre- Dean T. K. Van will be the Acting October 19-20-Grand Rapids, Mich. President of the University. October 22-23-Cincinnati, O. siding bishop of Nippon Sei Kokwai, October 24-25-Louisville, Ky. has celebrated the 40th anniversary *** October 26-27-Columbus, O. of his consecration to the ministry of October 20-November 3 – G rea t e r the Protestant Episcopal Church. Charles Luther Fry, son of Rev. Charles L. Fry, of Philadelphia, has New York. *** accepted a call to the chair of Sociol- November 5-10-Chicago, Ill. ogy at Rochester University, New November 12-13-Milwaukee, Wis. Dr. Lucy Wang, president of Hwa York. He has been connected with November 14-l5-Des Moines, Iowa. Nan College, Foochow, an institution the Institute of Social and Religious November l6-17-Sioux City, Iowa. of the' Methodist Woman's Foreign Research, and is the author of "The November 19-20-0maha, Neb. Missionary Society, has succeeded in United States Looks At Its Churches." November 2l-22-Lincoln, Neb. having the college registered with the November 2S-24-Topeka, Kan. Chinese government as an approved Printin November 26-27-Kansas City, Mo. institution of college grade. November 28-29-Wichita, Kan. When You Require It November SO-December 1-0klahoma Dr. Henry E* ve*rtso*n Cobb, pres- We wish to extend to you an invi· City, Okla. ident of the Board of Foreign Mis- tation to become acquainted with December 3-4-St. Louis, Mo. sions of the Reformed Church in THE EVANGELICAL PRESS of December 5-6-Springfield, Ill. America, since 1917, has resigned, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. December 7-8-Indianapolis, Ind. has been succeeded by Dr. William December 10-12-Washington, D. C. Baricroft Hill, of Poughkeepsie. Thousands of institutions and individ- December l3-15-Philadelphia, Pa. uals have accepted a similar invitation, Rev. C. B. R*ape*, a*Methodist mis- and have enjoyed a profitable printing Obituary Notes association for years. sionary to West China, has returned Rev. James McElwane Mullan, D.D., to his field after an absence of some Our specialty is Books, Magazines and for 17 years superintendent of the years. Mrs. Rape is obliged to re- Booklets. We have modem equipment Board of Home Missions of the Remain in America on account of ill to meet all the requirements of your formed Church in the United States, health. particular job. Our service is quick, died August 21, in Philadelphia, at careful and courteous. the age of 64. Dr. Mullan was also *** executive secretary of the Commission Why not allow us to estimate on your on Social Service and served on the Marshall Feng Yu-hsiang, formerly next printing? You will be delighted commission on the church and social called the Chinese Christian General with our product, price, and service. service of the Federal Council of and whl' still professes to be a Chris- Churches of Christ in America. tian, is reported to have been offered The Evangelical Press and accepted the position of Inspector Mrs. William*W*alto*n Clark of New General of the Chinese Army under Printers of the Nanking Government. York, for many years the correspond- The Missionary Review of the World ' ing secretary of the Women's Board *** of Domestic Missions, of the Reformed PLANT AND MAIN OFFICE: Church in America, died July 31. Miss Amy Carmichael, of the Dohnavur Mission, South India, who has Thircl ancl Reily Str••t. Harrillhurg, Pa. *** been suffering for some months from John Allen Hofmann, M.D., Pro- vost of Hackett Medical College, Can- ton, China, died April 6th in Canton from spinal meningitis. He had been a Presbyterian missionary since 1921.
S;~a~~::Work The Finality of Jesus
By ROBERT E. SPEER Dr. Speer's eagerly awaited book is the result of a life time's thinking on a subject which is at the very heart of today's unrest. $3.00 PRESIDENT STEVENSON writes: PROF. A. T. ROBERTSON writes: (Princeton Theol. Sem.) (South. Bapt. Theol. Sem.) "The greatest contribution Dr. Speer has made to re- "I wish all ministers could read it, for its influence for ligious literature." good is immeasurable."
ROBERT E. SPEER i YOU N G F 0 L K S GEORGE W. HINMAN, D.D.
I "Re-Thinking I The American Indian and Christian Missions -Missions" Examined ISAAC TAYLOR HEADLAND (Translator) Entir~ly f~ee of ~'!tagonis.m. Chinese Rhymes for Children An informing work about concel'.e~. m a spmt o~ Sl?- A channing book for children presenting missions among American Incere cntlclsm and revealmg m .. '. . dians, the work undertaken by every paragraph a close, well- a genume Onental atmosphere m. Its e,,:ery missionaries and the results informed knowledge of For- phase. On every page a drawmg gIves which have accrued, by the eign Missions. Boards, SOc piquancy and undeniable interest to the secretary of the American CLELAND B. McAFEE whole. Profusely Illustrated, $2.00 Missionary Association. $1.50 The Uncut Nerve FRANCES JENKINS OLCOTT MARY BREWSk~~LISTER GO! of Missions Champions of Light MMoaui-nDteaeinosf the "The motives of missions, the present situation on the fieldsStories of heroic deeds of great mission- where Presbyterians are at aries and others by those whose chief pur- A marvelous, new tale of work, and the prospects for pose was the betterment of mankind. present-day China, recounted the near future are clearly With many Decorations by Dugald in a manner adaptable for and interestingly treated."- missionary reading courses, as Alumni Review. $1.50 Valker. $1.75 well as for general use. $1.50 II Fleming H. Revell Company …. 158 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK At All Booksellers Read THE MOSLEM WORLD SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, Editor SOME ARTICLES IN THE OCTOBER NUMBER: The Christian Message Is Peace . ………………………. Duncan B. Macdonald Mogul Paintings on Christian Subjects . …………………… Edward D. Mac/agan Early Efforts in Persia ……………………………….. William McE. Miller Temptations of Converts . …………………………….. A Persian Missionary Chinese-Moslem Literature. . ………………………….. Harold D. Hayward AI Gha:z:ali's Inner Secret . ……………………………… Frank Hugh Foster An Eighteenth Century liter~ry Missionary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . … Eric F. F. Bishop Current Topics . ….. Book Reviews . ….. Survey of Periodicals Index for the Year 1933 SUBSCRIBE TODAY « Address THE MOSLEM WORLD 156 Fifth Avenue New York City Single copies, SOc.; Annudl Subscription, $2.00 I in Combindtion with the REVIEW, $3.50 MARSHALL, MORGAN A seon, 12 P.ternoster Bulldln.., London Price In Great Britain. El,ht Shillin••, net
The Missionary Review of the World — April 1933
1933
What Is New in China? c. B. Rape Christ Liberating India's Outcastes JamesF. Edwards On the Edge of a Great Closed Land Arthur Ward Our Attitude Toward Non-Christian Religions Robert E. Speer A Message from the African Jungles Janet Miller The Situation in Latin America Samuel Guy Inman
MISSIONARY REVIEW 1,180,000 Bibles Placed by May 24-29-Northern Baptist Con-
OF THE WORLD vention, Annual Meeting. Wash- THE GIDEONS ington, D. C. DELAVAN PIERSON, Editor in Hotel Bedrooms for the VOL. LVI APRIL, 1933 No.4 Personal Items o Benefit of Those Who Travel PAGE You are invited ~~. have a part in this Dr. E. Stanley Jones of India has important work by sending a contribu" recently returned to America and is Frontispiece-Speakers at the tion to the Bible Fund. $1.00 will place to join in a series of interdenomina- a Bible. tional missionary rallies in important Florida Chain of Mission- centers in New Jersey, New York, ary Assemblies Eligibility for Membership Pennsylvania and Ohio. Later he will speak on the Pacific coast. Topics of the Times …….. 171 The field of the work having now sur· rounded the globe, has caused the open. China Grows by Tribulation ing of membership to "Strong Drink Is Raging" All Christian Business Men Florida Missionary Assemblies Interdenominational Missionary THE GIDEON MAGAZINE. $1.00 per year. Write for particulars to *** Meetings Harlan Page Beaoh THE GIDEONS Dr. Basil Mathews began his work as lecturer at Boston University The True Christian Attitude The Christian Commucial TTatleleTS~ School of Theology on February 1. Association of America, InteTnational He is delivering three lectures each Toward Non-Christian Re- week on "Christ and the World-Conligions ……………… 175 202 So. State Street Chicago, IlIinoi. flict of Values," dealing especially with By Dr. Robert E. Spoor Dates to Remember the Laymen's report.
On the Edge of a Great April 18-19-Editorial Council of the Religious Press. Washington, D. C. Closed Land …………. 185 April 19-21-Federal Council Confer- By the Right Rev. Arthur Ward ence on Evangelism, Pittsburgh, *** Pa. Christ Liberating India's Out- The Rev. E. M. Cable, D.D., procastes ………………. 189 April 19 to May 30-United Mission- ary Meetings in sixteen centers. By the Rev. James F. Edwards (See Topics of the Times.) fessor in Union Methodist Theological When the Teacher's House May 9-General Conference of the Seminary, Seoul, Korea, is the author United Brethren in Christ. Akron, Was :Burned …………. 191 Ohio. of a new history of the Christian By the Rev. Glenn B.. Ogden May 16-22-Southern Baptist Conven- Church in Korea. * tion in Washington, D. C. What Is New in China t …. 193 •* May 17-General Council of the Re- By the Rev. C. B. Rape, B.Sc. formed Episcopal Church, Triennial Bishop Paul B. Kern of the Meth- Meeting. Germantown, Philadel- A Message from African phia, Pa.
Jungles …………….. 198 May 23-Joint meeting of Southern odist Episcopal Church, South, has re- Baptist Convention and Northern By Janet Miller, M.D. Baptist Convention in Washington, turned from Eastern Asia, to direct The Story of Kondyabai 199 D. C. the Kingdom Extension Campaign, By Mrs. F. E. G. Cowhud which has been projected to replenish South America-An Analogy 200 the depleted treasuries of the denomi- By the Rev. Alexander M. Allan nation. ••• The Situation in Latin Ameri- ca …………………. 201 By Samuel Guy Inman Dr. George F. Sutherland, assistant treasurer of the Board of Foreign J'ohn R. Mott: Missionary Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church, has completed thirty years of to the World ………… 206 continuous service, which began when By Prof. Kenneth Scott Latou- he became a secretary of the Young People's Department. Dr. Sutherland rette, D.D. is president of the Board of Managers of the Missionary Education Move- Facing the Future in Home ment.
Missions ………… '… 209 *** By the Rev. William R. King, Rt. Rev. Robert Erskine Campbell, D.D., the Bishop of Liberia, is in D.D. America and reports that the Vice- President of Liberia, two members of Oasting Out a Demon in the Cabinet and two congressmen are native ministers of the Protestant Korea .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 211 Episcopal Church.
By Dr. George S. McCune A Continental View of the Laymen's Report …….. 213 By Dr. Julius Richter Effective Ways of Working. 215 Edited by Mrs. Estella S.
Aitchison. Granville. Ohio Women's Home Mission :Bul- letin ………………. 218 Edited by Miss Anne Seesholtz (Concluded on 3d cO'IJer.) World-Wide Outlook ……. 221 Our Missionary :Bookshelf .. 231 Publication and: Business Office ~ THE BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS ~ Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. DEPARTMENT OF ANNUITIES Editorial and Executive Office 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City YOUR GIFT NOW Entered as second-class matter at Post Office, Harrisburg, Pa., under WILL BRING TO YOU THE BLESSING Act of March 3, 1879. OF GIVING WHILE LIVING AND THE GUARANTEE OF THE BOARD OF FOREIGN 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year MISSIONS THAT YOU WILL HAVE AN Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. Published nwnthly-All rights re- INCOME FOR LIFE served. Copyrighted 1933 by the ERNEST F. HALL, Secretary IS6 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB· LISHING CO., INC. ~ PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE U. S.A. ~ BOARD OF DIRECTORS ReBERT E. SPEER, President WM. I. CHAMBERLAIN, Vice-President WALTER McDOUGALL, Treasurer DELAVAN L. PIEBSON, Secretary SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT MRS. ORRIN R. JUDD WM. B. LIPPHARD ERIC M. NORTH MILTON T. STAUFFER A. L. WARNBHUIS SAMUEL M. ZWEMER
Chat
Look out for the coming numbers of Don't the REVIEW. They will include some stirring articles on the great move- LET YOUR INCOME ments in the missionary world, the tour of Dr. John A. MacKay in Latin Shrink! America, the questions raised by the Laymen's Appraisal and the mission AMERICAN you can avoid a shrinking study topic, "Christ in the Modern BIBLE income, as many others have done, by placing your money in World." SOCIETY Annuity Agreements of the American Bible Society. *** ~"'~NVITY t'r""- AGREEMENT An Annuity Agreement The United Missionary Meetings Committee which is planning a series GUARANTEEING is a legal contract in which the of union meetings in eighteen or twen- American Bible Society in return ty cities this spring has adopted the [~"'~,~I.a…~.) for a gift of money ($100 or REVIEW as the best magazine for the over) binds itself to pay to the general promotion of missiot ary in- OF holder (the holder being called terest in the home church. an annuitant) a specified sum $———————- every year as long as the annui- *** tant lives.
The Home Missions Council ap- These Annuity Agreements are pointed the following members to safe, because they are backed by serve on the Editorial Council of the the sound financial resources REVIEW for the ensuing year-Dr. and business management of a John McDowell, the Rev. Jay S. trust-worthy institution whose Stowell, Dr. Charles H. Sears and Dr. work is indispensable to the Christian enterprise and whose Wm. R. King. annuity program has stood the test for over 80 years. *** An easy-to-read booklet tells you Great encouragement comes from all about it – the rates you rethe fact that, while many enterprises ceive-how you help in making have been decreasing and many pe- the Scriptures widely available riodicals have been obliged to suspend around the earth-how a relapublication, the REVIEW has been in- tive Of friend may be included. creasing in circulation and prestige. There are reasons!
*** Here is what some of our readers say: "Let me express great appreciation of the splendid work you are doing on the REVIEW. Never has it been better than in these recent numbers."-John R. Mott, Chairman of the International Missionary Council.
* "I am delighted with the REVIEW and feel the present series of articles as fine and helpful as any ever published."-Mrs. H. B. Ada'llts, Bluffton, Ohio, Editor of the Women's Department of the Lutheran Standard.
* "The REVIEW is splendid! Mrs. Pea- body and Robert Speer are simply wonderful in their articles on the 'Appraisal of Foreign Missions.' "-Rev. E. R. MacKinney, Dodgeville, Wis.
"May I tell * how deeply you again we appreciate the REVIEW and the wonderful influence it has been to have so scholarly a magazine take so conservative a stand in every way. I have been president of Albany Pres- byterial for several years and always MAIL THIS COUPON TODAY glad of an opportunity to say a word r ;m:ri:':-Bibl;-;ocie;,- – – – – – – – – – – for the REVIEW."-Amy Brain Taylor (Mrs. Wan'en C.) Schenectady, N. Y. I Bible House, Astor Place, New York * I Please send me, without obligation, your booklet MR4 entitled "A Gift That Lives." "You have done the cause of missions in particular and evangelical re- I ligion in general a great service in I ""ame_ Denomination_________________ _ publishing Dr. Speer's article on the II Address —- Laymen's Report and also the excerpts J City…._…………………….._._………….___________________ State____…………….__._ I from various boards and missionary leaders in another part of this issue.
I am glad to know there is such a demand for it."-Rev. Carroll Verner, Union Ave. Methodist Church, South, Memphis, Tenn.
[ 169 ]
C. B. RAPE JANET MILLER. M.D. DR. "SAM" HIGGINBOTTOM MRS. ETHEL CODY
CHINA AFRICA INDIA INDIA DEACONESS HARRIET BEDELL REV. JOHN McDOWELL, D.D. MRS. MINNIE K. L. KARNELL REV. WALTER L. LINGLE, D.D. NEW YORK ALASKA IMMIGRANTS EDUCATOR SOME OF THE SPEAKERS AT THE FLORIDA CHAIN OF MISSIONARY ASSEMBLIES REVIB ORLD AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS –~- .. –~~–~~– ~~~~~~~ VOLUME LVI APRIL, 1933 NUMBER FOUR Topics of the Times THE FLORIDA MISSIONARY ASSEMBLIES operation, headed by that effective missionary The missionary enterprise is not dying, and mis- le~der, Mrs..Henry W. Peabody, ably seconded by MISS B. LOUIse Woodford and local committees. sionary interest at home is not dead. '.l'here are A voluntary organization of women carried the many evidences of both these facts. Note the entire responsibility for the direction and there' are no paid executives or other large expenses. discussion aroused by the laymen's appraisal, the The small budget was entirely covered by the reg- istration fees. In every center the Protestant signs of awakening on the mission fields, the stir- churches, pastors, church members, organiza- tions, the press and the radio cooperated heartily. ring missionary assemblies held in Florida this The missionaries and leaders represented ten winter, and the plans for United Missionary Cam- denominations and ten different mission fields- Alaska, Africa, Brazil, Chile, India, Japan Perpaigns this spring and in the autumn. sia, Syria and the United States. A world view of missions and every type of missionary activity The Florida Chain of Missionary Assemblies was vividly and effectively pr~sented.* has recently completed a three weeks' program of As a method of spreading missionary informa- tion and quickening missionary interest, these very effective presentation in nine cities. The in- Assemblies take high rank for effectiveness and economy and the plan is worthy of study on the terest was genuine and widespread. part of agencies charged with promoting missions both at home and abroad. The opening meeting in each center was usually This Chain of Missionary Assemblies has been a banquet attended by leading representative resi- dents and visitors. The attendance in each place grew from the first and the daily press gave gen- erous space to the Assemblies. Local civic clubs and schools also cordially welcomed the mission- ary representatives.
It is noteworthy that in a year of financial de- pression the paid registrations numbered 4~o3u1n1~ fr?m thirty-eight states and eight foreign trIes. One third of those registering were non- successfully conducted, based on the following residents of Florida and the number was 356 more convictions: than in the preceding year. The reach of these First, that missions both at home and abroad Assemblies was thus interdenominational and al- can be carried only through actual evangelistic most national in its character. The widespread missionary service; activity is indicated by the fact that 616 addresses Second, that this missionary service can be car- ?n missions were delivered, ninety-nine of them ried only by men and women who incarnate the III churches, and ninety-one in schools, besides missionary spirit and who believe in the mission- ary message as given to us by Jesus Christ and many at luncheons, over the radio, at fothruemps~balnidc recorded in the New Testament; at civic clubs. The eagerness of schools and civic clubs to hear the missionaries Third, that the missionary spirit can be created was most encouraging so that thousands of boys and fostered only through the dissemination of and girls, as well as men and women, heard power- actual missionary information and experience. ful missionary messages who would not have Founded on such convictions we are not sur- heard them through ordinary channels. Without • and ADmr.onRgoythael Jfo. reDigyne mofisAsi:ofnriacray; sDpera. kLer. s Mw. erBeraDtcr.heJranoeft BMraizllielr doubt both missions and missionarI'es took on a ne.w .meaning for many I'n FlorI'da durI' ng these JR~ecvo.bCD. aBv. idRaopfe PoefrsCiahiannad; DMri.ssanBdlanMcrhse. WS':mPuHrivgigsinobf oCtthomile''OfRIenv~' mISsIonary assemblies. They were a splendid dm. Home missions were presented by Dr. John McDoweII of demonstratI'On of ChrI'stI'an unI'ty and effectI've CO- HNeawrri.eYtorBk,edDeIrI. oWf aAltelarskLa. LanindgleMrosf. DMaivnindiseonKaCronIeIlelg, e;repDreeasceonntiensgs work for Immigrants.
[171 ]
prised that these Assemblies have grown stronger crime. Then, after years of education and agita- tion, the saloon and traffic in alcoholic drink was each year and have made clear throughout the outlawed. The saloon disappeared, distilleries and breweries were abandoned or converted to whole State of Florida that the missionary enter- better uses; as a result rescue missions found little need for their services, the wives and chilprise is not the Church's afterthought, it is dren of former drunkards enj oyed the benefit of wages spent on the family in place of in the sa- Christ's forethought; it is not secondary and op- loon, and the beneficial effects were felt in busi- ness, in education, in health and in happiness. But tional, it is primary and vital. Christ put it into the greed of dealers in strong drink was not sat- isfied. Many of them joined hands with the lawthe very heart of His Gospel. We cannot really less elements to regain their lost wealth and power. The youth were tempted and misled on see Him or know Him or love Him unless we the plea of personal liberty and by a desire for self-indulgence; specious arguments were used in know His ideal for us; that ideal is embodied in the press and on the platform to repeal the laws against the evil. The spread of disregard for all true missionary service. law, and the increasing financial depression, have turned the tide so that both houses of Congress The success of the Florida Missionary Assem- have voted to repeal the Eighteenth Amendment if two thirds of the states approve. It may be done. blies is due to the fact they were based on nourish- The majoritiy of the present generation knows little or nothing of the old days of the saloon. ment and not stimulants, and that from the be- They are misled. This is in spite of the fact that, before 1918, in many lines of industry and among ginning they put the emphasis on loyalty to railway employees, even moderate drinkers could not obtain employment. Today the use of the Christ, His missionary purpose and His mission- high-powered automobile is so general that a single glass of intoxicatin~ liquor may endanger ary program. JOHN McDoWELL. hundreds of lives. It is said that the tax on beer will fill the government treasury-but no one tells "STRONG DRINK IS RAGING" us who is to pay for the rivers of beer that must flow down human throats to supply the tax. Is In every land where intoxicants are manufac- the money to come again from wages that should tured and used for a beverage, they are a curse. furnish homes and food, clothing and health for It has been so since the days of Noah. It was so women and children? Are we to support the saamong the Hebrews when they were warned loons in place of schools, and dance halls in place against wine and strong drink that "stingeth like of churches? Is the money used for drink to help an adder." Strong characters may avoid excess fill hospitals and graveyards in place of replenishbut to the young and the weak alcohol brings a ing bank accounts? loss of self-control-in body, mind and moralsand the use of it endangers others. This has been What has all this to do with missions? so clearly recognized that wise parents have First, anything that affects the morals and striven to keep their children from strong drink; judgment of people is of vital concern to 'the enlightened governments have endeavored to pro- Christian program. Strong drink, that takes tect their wards-as in the case of the American away self-control and clear vision, is antagonistic Indians, the South Sea Islanders, and the Afri- to all that the Christian Church is doing to build cans. This liquid fire and poison have been the up the Kingdom of God and to bring in the control cause of brawls and bloodshed, of disease and im- of Christ. moral revels, of accidents and death, of selfish Second, the spending of labor, materials and greed and inhuman cruelty wherever it has been money on a destructive, rather than a constructive used freely. Strong men and women have been enterprise, cannot fail to weaken the nation, the brought low by it; millions have been impover- Church, the school and the home. One cannot be ished and destroyed by this curse. It seems in- "drunk with wine, wherein is excess," and at the comprehensible that a nation like America, with same time "be filled with the Spirit" of God who its Christian heritage and culture, its prosperity in place of halucinations gives clear vision, for and ideals, should take a backward step by again false energy gives true strength, for abnormal acquiescing in the manufacture and general use animation offers true exhilaration. of this harmful beverage. For the sake of revenue Third, the manufacture and use of intoxicants and under the plea of personal liberty America seems about to sell her birthright for a mess of distilled or fermented drink.
Many governments have tried experiments in the suppression or control of the liquor traffic. Most of these measures have failed because of human greed for gold, because of individual desire for free indulgence of appetite, and because of faulty education and lack of Christian ideals. In the days before the Eighteenth Amendment was passed in the United States the saloon forces ruled politics and sapped the life of cities. Saloons flourished on the wages of the laborers and were closely linked with all forms of immortality and
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
has always been one of the greatest hindrances the rut of subsidization, though the kindness and to the spread of Christianity. Rum in the hold generosity of their fellow Christians abroad will and missionaries in the cabins of ships bound for always be remembered with gratitude. The Chi- Africa and the South Seas represented antagonis- nese Church must bear its own responsibility as tic forces. There is great need to spread tem- an expression of religious life.
perance and Christian ideals in all lands today The past year has witnessed many manifesta- rather than to give the forces of evil an opportu- tions of a strong evangelistic effort. Hundreds of nity to point to America as a land where the de- evangelistic bands have been formed by voluntary mon rum is again enthroned. workers as the result of a spiritual awakening Seven things are needed in the present crisis amongst Christians in many parts of China, to turn the tide: through the successful work of several Chinese evangelists. It is true that a great deal of this 1. A knowledge of facts. type of work was mixed with emotionalism, yet 2. No compromise with evil. one cannot deny that many who were cold are now 3. Repudiation of the lust of gold. on fire and those blind now see. The visit to China 4. Education and example to teach self-control of Dr. E. Stanley Jones was both timely and benand to show the evils of alcohol. eficial. He spent four months in China, from Au- 5. A greater respect for all laws that are in gust to December, conducting evangelistic meetharmony with the laws of God. ings in Mukden, Peiping, Tsinan, Nanking, Soo- 6. Acceptance of the Christian ideal of love chow, Shanghai, Ningpo, Hankow, Foochow, which works no ill to one's neighbor. Hongkong and Canton. Hundreds of Christian 7. The enthronement of Christ in all life. workers and nonChristian students listened to his CHINA GROWS BY TRIBULATIONS message with keen interest and many were spirit- ually helped. It is gratifying that the evangelistic Japanese aggression in Manchuria cuts deep in- consciousness is growing in the Chinese Church to the soul of the Chinese people. On the top of and we pray that this may spread.
this foreign invasion, flood and famine in Central For some time a rebellious and revolutionary and Northwest China, civil wars in Shantung and spirit was much in evidence among the youth of Szechwan Provinces, and warfare against com- China politically and socially, as well as reli- munism have greatly intensified national distress. giously. There was a tendency against the Chris- All this has its due effect upon religion. Doubts tian Church. Many rather prefer to form small of the reality of God and the practicability of the groups and fellowships for service than identify- Christian ideal of love have been freely expressed. ing themselves with the organized Church. This On the other hand, many are driven to religion for state of affairs, if unremedied, would neither be peace and comfort. A large prayermeeting held helpful to the Church nor healthful to youth. We in Peiping by the Panchan Lama of Tibet was at- are happy to note indications of a changing atti- tended by 100,000 people, including influential tude which shows that both are drawing nearer men of the government. While people attended together. We see possibilities for the future work the meeting with mixed motives the desire for na- when the ripened experience of age and the dar- tional deliverance was also evident. The Chinese ing spirit of youth will work hand in hand for the are determined not to be defeated by adverse cir- common objective we have in view, namely the cumstances. Signs of life and growth in ways extension of the Kingdom of God in China.
more than one are traceable. They believe and The Five Year Movement held the attention of are heartened by such an ancient maxim as To the Church in the past year and in the work of nan hsing pang, meaning, "a nation grows by evangelism, religious education, christianizing the many tribulations !" home, the literary campaign, christianizing eco- The economic depression of the Western world nomic relations, the rural Church, youth and has its effect upon the work in China. Mission- Church, and true Christian stewardship, many ary societies have to take drastic measures in cut- churches are more than willing to adopt these as ting down expenses and curtailing work in the part of their church program. A reenforced en- mission fields. This has come upon the work in ergy and consecration and a double portion of the China so suddenly and drastically that the depend- Spirit of God is needed to strengthen hands and ent mission-churches find it extremely difficult to hearts to make the Five Year Movement a great adjust themselves. Some fields are abandoned, success. The present favorable opportunity in workers dismissed and activities discontinued. China for Christian service is so great that one This has caused momentary dislocation and be- shudders to think of retrenchment and retreat at wilderment. At the same time, we cannot but be such a time. CHENG CHING-YI, hopeful that this may prove to be a blessing in dis- Secretary of the National guise. Local churches must learn to get out of Christia,n Council of China.
INTERDENOMINATIONAL MISSIONARY ent world situation for the continued development MEETINGS of foreign missions."* The supreme needs of the Church of Christ to- HARLAN PAGE BEACH day, and of the whole missionary enterprise, are (1) information as to the true nature of Chris- A beautiful, luminous soul, a devoted Christian, tianity and the work of Protestant missions, and a loyal friend, an untiring and effective servant of (2) more whole-hearted devotion to Christ and Christ in world-wide missionary work, departed His cause, regardless of cost. There are many to his Eternal Home when Harlan Page Beach earnest Christians who are still uninformed as to entered into rest from his Florida home on March the actual condition of men without Christ and 4. Professor Beach was in his seventy-ninth year, the true results of missionary work. Other nomi- having been born in South Orange, New Jersey, nal Christians are uninterested because they are on April 4, 1854. He was for fifteen years a faithunsympathetic with the sacrificial and world-wide ful and efficient member of the Board of Directors program given to the Church by Jesus Christ. of The Missionary Review Publishing Company The Laymen's Appraisal Report has been given and for some time edited the World-wide News such publicity that foreign missions have become section of the REVIEW.
"front page matter" and a general topic of con- Dr. Beach was graduated from Phillips Acad- versation. But many who discuss the subject are emy, Andover, in 1874, and from Yale College in uninformed as to what it is really about. The 1878. After teaching for two years at Phillips Florida Chain of Missionary Assemblies have Academy he was graduated from Andover Theo- demonstrated the fact that missions can be pre- logical Seminary and from 1883 to 1890 was a sented unitedly, without denominational prefer- missionary of the American Board in North ence, so as to educate and inspire all who come to China. He showed extraordinary ability in mas- the meetings. Now the Foreign Missions Confer- tering the Chinese language but was obliged to re- ence of North America is planning a series of in- turn to America on account of his wife's health terdenominational meetings, with outstanding and from 1892 to 1895 he taught at the School for missionary speakers, to bring this all important Christian Workers in Springfield, Massachusetts.
and inspiring subjeCt to the Christians of many Later he became educational secretary of the Stu- large centers. There has been great need for this dent Volunteer Movement and exerted a wide in- since the decease of the interdenominational Lay- fluence on missionary education as one of the men's Missionary Movement, the Men and Re- originators of the series of books on missionary ligions Movement and the Interchurch World countries. He was the author of many useful vol- Movement. umes, including "The Cross in the Land of the The first of these new promotional, united mis- Trident," "The Knights of the Labarum," "Dawn sionary gatherings, will be held between Easter on the Hills of Tang," "Princely Men of the Heavand June 1. (April 18 to May 30.) The leading enly Kingdom," "Renaissant Latin America," and speakers will be Dr. E. Stanley Jones, the well "The Geography and Atlas of Protestant Misknown Methodist missionary who has recently sions." He was the co-author of the "Encyclopeconducted a four months' campaign in China, dia of Missions," the "World Atlas of Christian and Dr. Sam Higginbottom, the Presbyterian mis- Missions," and "World Statistics of Christian Missionary whose work for poverty-stricken, sinning sions." and suffering India has made him famous, Dr. S. G. Inman of Latin America and others. These Prof. Beach was the first incumbent of the D. meetings will begin (for religious editors!) in Willis James Professorship of Christian Missions Washington, D. C., on April 18 and will then pass at Yale University in 1906 and initiated the first on to Brooklyn, Newark, Trenton, Philadelphia, department of Christian missions at any seat of Baltimore, Wilmington, Reading, Harrisburg, El- learning in the world. mira, Binghamton, Albany, Utica, Syracuse, Buffalo and Erie. Next autumn the plan is to use a Later, in 1920, he became lecturer on missions similar program in other cities in the middle at the Drew Theological Seminary, in Madison, West. Conferences will be held with pastors, lay- N. J., where he continued until 1928. men, women and young people. The purpose of this united effort is "To cooperate with the local Professor Beach, who was a Fellow of the Royal churches and all other Christian agencies in pre- Geographical Society, rendered a great service to senting anew our own and the world's need of the cause of Christian Missions by his sane, well- informed lectures and writings on many phases of the work. He was a wise counselor and a living thesaurus on Christian Missions.
Christ, the wealth of our resources for life in Him, * Further information as to dates, speakers, chairmen of local committees and other data can be obtained by writing to Dr. A. L. and the call of God and the challenge of the pres- Warnshljis, 419 Fourth Ave .. New York.
True Christian Attitude
Non..Christian Religions* By ROBERT E. SPEER, New York l!J..- -"~ Author of "The Finality of Jesus Christ",. Secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A.
T HIS is a living question for Christian mis- gion. It is often asserted that each religion has sions abroad and for the Christian Church something to contribute, to the common stock, but at home. If we hold the apostolic faith with when it is asked what the non-Christian religi()ns regard to Christ as Lord and Saviour and God, have to contribute the answer almost invariably our only -Mediator and Redeemer, what should is in terms not of some element of the religion but our attitude be today toward non-Christian reli- in some quality of the race. There is not in any gions? Between those who hold this primitive non-Christian religion a single truth or element Christian faith and those who do not, there will of truth that is not in Christ, but there are in inevitably be divergent answers to this question. each race qualities which other races lack, which But even among Christian believers who are it has to bring to Christ for His consecrating use.
united in their loyalty to Jesus Christ as Lord, The moral qualities which our Lord exalted in and in their faith in His sole supremacy there is the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount are great difficulty either in finding or in stating, or not monopolized by anyone race. When it is said in both finding and stating, a common view. accordingly that the West has a great deal to At the outset we should make some distinctions learn from the East, the statement is untrue with which are too often overlooked, with a good deal regard to the Christianity of the New Testament.
of resultant confusion. It has nothing to learn from any non-Christian First, between religion and race.-Too often religion. But it is profoundly true as regards the these are deliberately or thoughtlessly identified. West, and of each human race, with regard to Some hold a view of religion which regards it as every other human race and of the Christian only a racial product or expression. Each race, Church. We need the help of all. But it is the it is held, develops its own religion, the religion races that are to help us, not their religions, and best suited to its own character and needs. It is it is the races as influenced by Christ.
not religion that forms a race. It is the race that Religion and Culture forms its religion. A second distinction which must be made is be- Without stopping to examine this view, as to tween religion and culture or civilization. The how far it is true, or whether it is true at all, it mistake is often made of conceiving the missionis enough to say that it is obviously untrue and ary enterprise as an interchange of cultures, and impossible as regards primitive Christianity. The its problems as the problems of "contacts with Jewish race did not produce that. It rejected and non-Christian cultures." The assumption usually renounced it and does so to this day. Whatever is that Christianity is Christian culture and that influences shaped the Christianity of the third the non-Christian cultures are the non-Christian century and of Greek and Roman Catholicism did religions. Culture and religion are not identical not create the original faith in Jesus Christ, the terms. No careful and true definition of either God-man, our Lord and Saviour. That faith was will allow their identification unless "religion" is "to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks used to cover everything and so loses all definifoolishness." Still less is this Christianity the tion whatsoever. No warrant can be found in creation of the Anglo-Saxon race or of any Euro- literature for this confusing present-day usage. pean or Western race. To introduce into the problem of comparative Religion and race must be distinguished also in religion the whole vast field of civilization and our judgments in the field of comparative reli- culture is to create hopeless confusion. Weare — not comparing cultures, civilizations, sciences and maretnS.t We are comparI.ng re1I"glOns, the New Testa- * This article is a much abbreviated section of the last chapter concept·Ion f Chrl.st an d HI'S meanI.ng WI'th of a book entitled "The Finality of Jesus Christ," to be published 0 tShtiosnespLreinctgurebsy fothre 19FRl2e-m~i~ngat HP. rinReeevteolnl TChoemolpoagniyc,al eSmebmoidnyairnyg. the [ 175]
the actual religions of Buddhism, Hinduism or may misjudge a gentle spirit who loved the people Islam. Cultures and civilizations are indeed to and whom the people loved, by a severe record interchange and to enrich one another, and each and vice versa. And even if we judge a few inpeople has something to learn from others but no dividuals justly we cannot be sure whether they one has anything to give to Christ or any wealth were representative of the mass or exceptions to add to Him. to it.
Religions and Their Adherents And yet we are not left helpless. In each of the great mission fields there have been periodi- A third distinction must be drawn between re- cal conferences at which the collective mind found ligions and their adherents. The question of the expression and, preceded by the Liverpool and relations of Christianity to non-Christian systems Mildmay Conferences, there have been since 1900, is not the same as the question of the relations of international meetings at which the common drift Christian human beings to non-Christian human and the main variations from it were given utterbeings. One might think with disapproval and ance. I have made a careful study of the actual condemnation of some non-Christian system, or attitude of the missionary movement for the past of the untruths and evils sanctioned or sheltered hundred years as set forth in the discussions and in it, and yet think only with good will and kind- conclusions of the whole series of missionary conness and love of the men and women who adhere ferences at home and abroad from the first one to this system. There have been men who viewed in Calcutta in 1855 to the last one in Jerusalem the non-Christian religions with an intolerance in 1928. Such a study is an utter refutation of which was called bigotry who at the same time the view that foreign missions have been ignowon and held the hearts of the people of those re- rant of the non-Christian religions or harsh and ligions whom they loved with a passionate love. bigoted in attacking them. Most of what we have known about the non-Christian religions and their And let it be noted that the issue is not between sacred books in the past we have owed to missionforeign missions and the non-Christian religions. aries and in the main the missionary attitude to- The indigenous or national Christian Churches ward these religions has been in fact the attitude are even more intimately involved. It is a matter which will be set forth here. That attitude is of life and death to them, of the validity or in- briefly expressed in the statement which Princivalidity of their very existence. If the non-Chris- pal Cairns, made at Edinburgh in 1910 in pretian religions are adequate and entitled to possess senting the Report of the Commission on the the field then these Churches are illegitimate and Christian Message: represent a species of disloyalty and treason. The chief burden in this comparison falls on them, There are two very notable points in the evidence and on foreign missions with them, for two rea- which may be noticed in this place. The first of these sons-first because foreign missions are identi- is the practically universal testimony that the true atfied with them in spirit and purpose and second titude of the Christian missionary to the non-Chrisbecause foreign missions are the fruitage and the tian religions should be one 'of true understanding trustee of that view of Christ and the Gospel and, as far as possible, of sympathy. That there are which alone can produce the missionary enter- elements in all these religions which lie outside the prise and which alone can perpetuate Christian- possibility of .sympathy is, of course, recognized, and ity at home. The whole issue indeed is an issue that in some forms of religion the evil is appalling is for Christianity here. If Christianity is not such also clear. But nothing is more remarkable than the a religion that every man needs it, then no man agreement that the true method is that of knowledge needs to pay any attention to it. and charity, that the missionary should seek for the nobler elements in the non-Christian religions and use With these distinctions as far as possible in them as steps to higher things, that in fact all these mind, though it will be difficult not to forget religions without exception disclose elemental needs them, let us proceed with our inquiry. What is of the human soul which Christianity alone can satthe true Christian view of the non-Christian re- isfy, and that in their higher forms they plainly maniligions and of the right attitude to them? It is fest the working of the Spirit of God. On all hands often said that there has been a great change in the merely iconoclastic attitude is condemned as radithe Christian enterprise in this regard since the cally unwise and unjust. days of Carey and Duff at the beginning of the modern era, that the missionaries of those days But, along with this generous recognition of all that regarded the non-Christian religions as unquali- is true and good in these religions, there goes also fiedly evil and that their preaching was destruc- the universal and emphatic witness to the absolutetive and controversial. A just comparative judg- ness of the Christian faith. Superficial criticism ment is perhaps beyond our power. We know might say that these two attitudes are incompatible, something of the mind and method of outstand- that if Christianity alone is true and final, all other ing individuals but even this may mislead us. We religions must be false, and that as falsehoods they should be denounced as such.
Against that criticism we may, in the first place,
THE TRUE CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE TOWARD NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS
set the massive fact that the great weight of evi- have historical and academic interest, but it ha,s dence before us shows that these witnesses do not feel ceased to have the same practical importance in mis- this contradiction. sionary work as it used to have up to twenty or even Deeper consideration of the facts indeed leads us ten years ago. We must realize that the frontier of to the conviction that it is precisely because of the our missionary enterprise has changed, and with it strength of their conviction as to the absoluteness of we must also change the old tactics. Too much praise Christianity that our correspondents find it possible cannot be given to the growth in the study of com- to take this more generous view of the non-Christian parative religions in the missionary training centers religions. They know that in Christ they have what of the West. Thus prepared the missionary move- meets the whole range of human need, and therefore ment has been enabled to deal with the non-Christian they value all that reveals that need, however imper- more effectively. It is partly due to the educational fect the revelation may be. activities of the Christian movement that the other This very charity and tolerance, on the 'other hand, religions a"e losing the grip they had in non-Christian makes more impressive the agreement as to the abso- lands. While Christianity is making inroads into luteness and finality of Christ. Nowhere is the slight- these religions from one side, these religions are suf- est support found for the idea that Christianity is fering a great deal more in the rear from a group of only one religion among others, or that all religions new enemies, who have advanced so far into their ter- are simply different ways of seeking the one Father, ritory, that, for all practical purposes, Christianity and are therefore equally pleasing in His sight. One must ignore the incapacitated older religions and massive conviction animates the whole evidence, that think of its frontier work in terms of what it will Jesus Christ fulfills and supersedes all other religions, have to do with these same new forces: scientific and that the day is approaching when to Him every agnosticism, materialistic determinism, political fas- knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is cism, and moral iconoclasm.
Lord to the glory of God the Father. (Edinburgh There are others who believe that the non- Conference Report, Vol. IV, pp. 267, 268.) Christian religions are doomed who would, never- theless, not ignore them. Dr. Robert A. Hume of Instead, however, of falling back on this state- India took this view. "Hinduism is doomed," he ment, which did not prevent the Jerusalem Coun- says in "An Interpretation of India's Religious cil from making a fresh approach in the light of History" (p. 177). But he wisely urges that we new conditions, let us set ourselves to answer for should thoroughly understand even doomed reliour own minds today.
Shall We Ignore Non-Christian Religions? gions in order to help to disentangle the good from the evil and bring it to Christ for His conservancy 1. Shall we simply go on our own way and pro- and fulfillment. But the doom of great religions claim the Gospel, paying no attention to non- seems still to be some distance away. Great Christian religions-either to their evil or to their masses of their adherents, especially women, have good? This would seem to be Karl Barth's idea been but slightly affected by the mighty tides of of our right course. He contends that we must change on which these religions are borne. Connot throw out bridges toward ot}:ler religions. The fucianism, indeed, as a religion may now be igwhole future of Christianity is bound up with nored, as Professor Hung asserts, but Hinduism what some call narrowness. He says: and Buddhism and Islam are far from disintegra- tion. But whether far or near, the course which Let the Christian Church with its message of the Barth suggests is a simple impossibility. We are One and Only God and of His mercy toward lost man, not preaching Christ in vacuo or an impersonal go on its way and proclaim the Gospel amidst other system in the midst of similar systems. Weare religions, no matter what their name, regardless of preaching Him to men and women. The preachwhat may happen, without yielding to their demons ing is conditioned at both ends-by us who carry even so much as a little finger. Christianity is some- it and by those to whom it is to be borne. It thing totally different from all the philosophies and all the other isms. (Quoted in The Sunday School Times, July 9, 1932, p. 365.) must be preached to them and with reference to Some advocate this course because they believe them and it is not fully preached until it reaches that the non-Christian religions are doomed, if them and relates them to Christ for themselves not already moribund and that it is waste energy as we ought to be related to Him for ourselves. to give any heed to them. William Hung of Yen- It is not our Christ that we are to give them. It ching University set forth this view in a striking is Christ who is greater than ours or theirs beletter which was read at the meeting of the J e- cause He is ours and theirs and all men's. As rusalem Council: Paul grandly asserted, He is "the Head of every man" and the Saviour of all men. (1 Cor. 13: 3; It seems to me that we have arrived at a stage in 1 Tim. 2: 4.) the history of missions when it is no longer worth while for the missionary leaders to study the Chris- The attitude of Christianity cannot be an atti- tian approaches to Buddhism, Confucianism, etc. The tude of ignoring. It must be an attitude of in- scientific study of these non-Christian religions will telligent understanding and appreciative recogni-
tion of every possible point of human contact in as it stands it does not contemplate the making the realm of ideal and in the friendly and helpful of individual converts to Christianity even by relationships of common life and neighborliness. worthy motives.
(See Ellinwood, "Oriental Religions and Chris- Christians as Truth Seekers tianity," Ch. 1.) Shall We Perpetuate Them? As against these views surely the true view is that every man is bound to seek and follow truth 2. Shall we recognize the non-Christian reli- wherever it leads him, whatever it converts him gions as sister faiths, or if this relation is too from or converts him to; that if Christianity is close, then as kindred faiths only a little farther true it is true irrespective of the "Great Com- removed, and shall we seek to strengthen and per- mission" in any form, and must be offered in the petuate them, not seeking to detach or convert most persuasive way to every man, and that the their adherents but trying to make every Moslem duty of so offering it is created not by any com- whom we can influence a better Moslem and every mand but by the very nature of the Christian Buddhist a better Buddhist? The general princi- faith; that Christianity is itself one of the an- ple underlying the view involved in such a ques- cestral faiths of India, the third in the number tion we have already considered. The whole con- of its adherents and already long established in tention is that, in the light of these investigations India before ever Mohammed arose in Arabia which we have been pursuing in the preceding (Stewart, "Nestorian Missionary Enterprise,"
lectures, Christianity must unequivocally reject Ch. V), and older than most of the Hindu schools this principle. But three considerations are often of the present day; that truth is truth, whether urged today against conversions to Christianity it be religious or political or mathematical or or "proselytism" as it is opprobriously called, other, and has its own right as truth, and that which it will be well to examine. First, it is said there is no less warrant for trying to convert men to be morally wrong. Second, it _is pronounced to the truth of God in Christ than for trying to psychologically wrong. And third, it is deemed convert them to the political and social ideas of unwise even in the interest of the ultimate suc- which Mr. Gandhi is so devoted an evangelist; cess of Christianity. though oddly enough if it is wrong to convert peo- First, it is said to be morally wrong. For a ple, it must be wrong to try to convert to a conlong time Judaism has protested against it, some- trary view those who deeply believe in convertimes because of the methods used but often on sion; and lastly that this view would freeze all the basis of principle. And Mr. Gandhi has put human progress. None of the present religions the protest in the plainest form. Writing in his could ever have arisen, for each had a beginning paper, Young India, in April, 1931, he said: and could not have begun if it had not broken in a real sense with the past. There are methods Every nation considers its own faith to be as good and motives of conversion which may be wrong as that of any other. Certainly the great faiths held but conversion itself is not wrong. To change by the people of India are adequate for her people. from error to truth is the clear and obvious duty India stands in no need of conversion from one faith to another. . . . I do not seek to convert anybody to of every man and every society and every religion.
my faith…. Though my conviction is strong enough But, secondly, conversion from one religion to in me for me to die for that conviction, that force does not carry me to the goal of believing that the another is said to be psychologically wrong. same thing -should be believed by my fellow men. I There is, without doubt, a grave and difficult probknow what God wishes for me, but I am not so pre- lem involved in this matter of a transfer of resumptuous as to believe that I know what God wishes ligious faith and loyalty without loss of right for others. . . . I do not say "no religious teaching": reverence toward the past. Wise missionaries bring a man up to the highest light his own faith have always felt this. "When a young man stands has to give him. . . . I do not want you to get India forth to become a Christian," writes a discerning to change her faith…. The idea of converting peo- young missionary, "whether he will or no he ple to one's faith by speech and writings, by appeal usually finds himself separated from his own peo- to reason and emotion and by suggesting that the faith ple and hence from his own religious, moral and of his forefathers is a bad faith, in my opinion, limits cultural background. Of course this is neither the possibilities of serving humanity. (The Indian ideal nor best, except in part. For to isolate a Witness, Dec. 24, 1931.) man from his cultural background is to tear the Mr. C. F. Andrews states his sympathy with roots of his life from their old soil and to unduly Mr. Gandhi. He expresses "immense relief" that expose them. But the forces making for this re- criticism has exscinded the last verses of the Gos- sult are many. There is, however, this practical pel of Mark with their form of "The Great Com- thing that we can do, and that is to give to the mission," and believes that there are doubts also young Christian a consciousness of the great, as to the form given in Matthew, and that taken noble and enduring heritage of the Christian
1!l33] THE TRUE CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE TOWARD NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS 17!l
movement and to help him to make it his own." the spirit which lead to more distant, but to no less (Report letter, Rev. Paul J. Braisted, May 13, important results. I think more of Christ's own par- 1932, from Burma.) ables of the "leaven" penetrating the whole mass, and Professor Hocking had this in mind in saying "the seed growing secretly" as the symbols of the at Jerusalem that "no man's religion was sound spread of His Kingdom.
unless it was in some sense the religion of his This general leavening movement is truly tak- fathers." (Jerusalem Council Report, Vol. I, ing place all over the non-Christian world. And page 302.) And Dr. Willett has been so deeply it is thus, quite as much as through the winning influenced by it that he has gone so far as to say: of individuals into a separate Christian Church, "The best religious service which a Christian can that Sir Charles Trevelyan, who knew India well, render a Jew is to encourage him in loyalty to his thought its conversion would come. "Many per- ancestral faith. There is far greater value both sons," said he, "mistake the way in which the con- to the individual and to society [in this) … than version of India will be brought about. I believe in the transfer of men and women from the one it will take place at last wholesale, just as our confession to the other." (Art., "The Jews and own ancestors were converted. The country will Christians," in The Christian Union Quarterly, have Christian instruction diffused into it in Jan. 19, 1932.) every way by direct missionary education and in- This is not, of course, the New Testament posi- directly by books of various sorts, through the tion. Our Lord foresaw the breach between public papers, through conversation with Euro- Judaism and Christianity. "They shall put you peans, and in all the conceivable ways in which out of the synagogues," He told His disciples. knowledge is communicated. Then at last when "Yea, the hour cometh that whosoever killeth you society is completely saturated with Christian shall think that he offereth service unto God" knowledge and public opinion has taken a decided (John 16: 2). But He did not counsel them to turn that way, they will come over by thousands."
avoid this by any adjustment that would permit It may be so, but the enemy is at work also their remaining. The early Church sought a set- sowing tares; J aharwarlal Nehru and an increas- tlement with Judaism that would have avoided ing number like him believe neither in Hinduism, part at least of the rupture with the ancestral in- nor in Christianity; and many of the very men heritance. The Christian Church would do the in Japan, for example, who have left the old re- same today in Asia, but the same thing happens ligions and who declare that the nation must have now that happened at the beginning. The Chris- religion and that Christianity is the best for it, tian is cast out. And probably it is inevitable. are themselves stilI far away from its faith and Christ was not just another prophet. Christian- life.
ity was not a naturalistic development of Judaism. Greatly as Christianity rejoices in all this wide The Spread of Christianity and deep change, the duty of trying to win men and women to open and avowed faith in the Sav- Thirdly, the conversion and detachment of in- iour, and to membership in His visible Church is dividuals from other religions is disapproved in clear and undiminished. It is the right and duty the interest of the ultimate success of Christian- of Christianity to seek to convert individuals, by ity. It is argued that it should be allowed to work the Spirit of Christ.
as a leaven inside the old religions until the whole It is enough to reflect on what would have hap- mass is leavened. Mr. Bernard Lucas argued for pened to Christianity in the first or any subse- this view in "The Empire of Christ," and Mr. C. quent century if it had been content to lose itself F. Andrews set it forth with more recognition of as leaven in other religions and not sought at any the right and duty of individual conversion than cost to build Christ's Church.
in his latest statements in an article in The In- Shall We Amalgamate? terpreter, of October, 1909: I am led more and more, by my missionary experi- 3. If then, in the third place, we are not to ig- ence, to regard the conversion of India not as the nore the non-Christian religions, nor to protect aggregate of so many individual conversions but and perpetuate them, are we to effect some comrather as a gradual process of growth and change in bination or amalgamation between them and thought, idea, feeling, temperament, conduct-a proc- Christianity, or to provide a hospitable assimilaess which half creates and half reconstructs a truly tion or incorporation with Christianity? We be- Christian religious atmosphere, Indian at its best and lieve such a course is impossible. It would be an Christian at its best. In such an atmosphere once intolerable compromise of what must stand alone. formed, the spiritual growth of the countless millions There are vast human and ethical communities of India may go forward and fresh .fields of spiritual but there is no community and can be none invictory be won. This does not of course mean that I cease to believe in the conversion of the individual, volving Christ and God's deed for man in Christ.
but I seem to see other and more silent processes of "To many," as Professor James Pratt says, "the
exclusive attitude of the Christian missionary Shall We Attack Them?
may seem narrow," but it is the only possible 4. If we are not to ignore the non-Christian reattitude. ligions, nor to preserve and perpetuate them, nor If the missionaries -should agree to an amalgama- to merge with them, are we to attack and combat tion of Christianity with Hinduism, the Christian side them? Should we seek or seize opportunities to of the partnership would soon disappear in the ca- break them down? pacious maw of its ever hungry partner…. Christ In his "Life of Lord Lawrence," Bosworth would simply be added to the pantheon. . . . or He would be made an eleventh incarnation of Vishnu, and Smith relates that when the City of Delhi fell before many generations all that is distinctively Chris- during the Mutiny in 1858, some of Lord Lawtian would disappear from India as completely as Bud- rence's friends wrote to him, expressing the hope dhism did after Vishnu had swallowed Gautama…. that he would destroy the great mosque there. For most Indian theologians, whether Vaishnavite or In reply to this he wrote: "I will on no account any other school, there is little place for personal consent to it. We should carefully abstain from freedom, for genuine moral struggle and individual the destruction of religious edifices, either to fa- achievement, little place for virtue and sin as Chris- vor friends or to annoy foes." And when some tianity conceives them, little place in short for real in- of his intimate friends pointed out that to destroy dividuality and responsibility. And these are things the finest place of worship in the world would be which Christianity cannot give up without sacrificing felt as a blow to their religion by Mohammedans all that moral earnestness which is its life. everywhere, he jumped up from his seat, and slapping the foremost of them on his back, said, The Christian view of the Incarnation possesses "I'll tell you what it is: there are many things two inestimable advantages to which it must cling at you could persuade me to do, but you shall never any and every cost-the undoubted historicity of its persuade me to this." God-man, and the fact that in both His life and His teachings is to be found the supreme moral ideal.
("India and Its Faiths," p. 457f.) John Lawrence was a great Christian and And this supreme moral ideal is also the only surely he acted in this as a Christian should have Redeemer and Life-giver. Therefore Christian- acted in his place and office. The same principle ity cannot accept any view that equalizes or would deter any Christian from insulting or demerges religions. It is Christ the Light and Life. stroying a place or object of worship held dear It is here, as Forsyth says, not to improve men, or sacred. But there are practices and instituthough it alone can and will, but to pass them tions which must be combated-and often they from death to life. ("The Person and Place of are so related to religion that any attack on them Jesus Christ," p. 42.) is construed as an attack on religion. When it was proposed to abolish suttee in India, the cry But is there not a just and innocent assimila- was at once raised, "Our religion is in danger."
tion or transformation of other religions in their The movements against caste and child marriage relation to Christianity? Surely there is. All the and untouchability are regarded in the same way wholesome racial qualities which are involved, today by orthodox Hinduism.
sometimes impaired, often confused in the racial During Lord William Bentinck's Governor- religions are to be conserved, released, given a Generalship in India, by various enactments it new enfranchisement. All the truth is to be rec- became penal (1) for widows to be burnt alive ognized and secured in a richer and ampler home. on their husband's funeral pyres, (2) to murder Even old names may be carried on and old festi- parents by drowning, or exposure, or burial alive, vals, when they become nothing but names and (3) to murder children by leaving them on the forms and are filled only with the content of river bank to be the prey of crocodiles, (4) to en- Christ and His truth. We are not troubled in courage devotees to destroy themselves under the Christendom by the preservation of the names of wheels of idol-cars, (5) to promote voluntary tor- heathen gods in our names of the months of the ture by hook-swinging, or (6) to offer human sac- year and the days of the week or in Easter. Nor rifices, although all those crimes were done in the are some of the great festivals of the Christian name of religion (Stock, "History of the Church year less Christian because they once were not Missionary Society," Vol. I, p. 293).' And all of Christ's and are now His alone. these enactments were regarded as attacks on re- At the same time Christianity must be cease- ligion and were met by the cry, as Mr. Gandhi's lessly on its guard and it should refuse every efforts for the untouchables are met today, "Hincompromising adjustment. All that man can ever duism is in danger." Were Carey and Duff wrong find in Christ is there to be found. But it is there in advocating them? Assuredly not.
only. And it is there now. Christianity cannot But does the Christian attitude go beyond this?
merge with other religions and as a religion it Dr. Frere, the present Bishop of Truro, raised cannot go into partnership with other religions. seriously at the Edinburgh Conference in 1910
THE TRUE CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE TOWARD NON-CHRISTIAN ~ELIGIONS
the question whether at times it should not do so, reasoning with the thoughtful and intelligent, it whether in dealing with heathenism a policy of would seem the one plan of winning the way to aggressive affront to idolatry was not warranted, their conviction and acceptance of the Divine. although he recognized that while medieval mis- faith to appeal to these primal truths, and sionaries sometimes pursued this course, uni- through the expansion and full development of formly in his opinion, nevertheless "in Rome them, to dislodge and shake off the mass of error itself the heathen temples were preserved-cau- with which they are encrusted. It would seem tiously, carefully and decently preserved-nor the way to conciliate prejudice, and break down was it until the middle of the sixth century that that posture of antagonism which the mind natuthere was any conversion made of a heathen tem- rally assumes, when its faith is directly assailed." ple into a Christian church." (Edinburgh Con- But this is all to the supreme end of leading on ference Report, Vol. IX, p. 190.) from these points of contact to the one essential thing-Christ and the gift of God in Him to man. Perhaps our answer today is not so difficult because so many other forces are engaged in the Professor Oscar M. Buck of Drew University work of destruction. Professor Hung of Yen- made the matter very clear in his address at the ching referred to these, and Mr. Macmurray of North America Foreign Missions Conference in Baliol described them in striking words in his 1930: "You and I must show forth Christ where paper for Jerusalem. He is different from the non-Christian faiths, not merely where He is similar. I feel that we have These religions are going to be smashed anyhow, stopped too easily at the similarities and drawn perhaps not quickly, but surely, and what is going to up much of our technique from that point of view. do it-indeed is already doing it-is modern science, We have not remembered that similarities give us modern commerce, and modern political organization. only our contact; they do not furnish our impact. These are the things that the East wants from us; Similarities never convert, only contrasts do that. and on the whole it does not want our Christianity. Conversion for the sincere non-Christian is not a It will have them and they will destroy its religions, matching, but an exchange, not an easy transiits customs, and its social organizations. It doesn't tion, but a transformation." seem to me to be really worth while to attempt to save from the wreck what seems to us good and valuable Christianity does not go out into the world in the 'older non-Christian civilizations. Why all this merely to carry to men truth they already possess arch~ologism ? When the old systems of life have be- or to confirm that truth. It is true that that truth come a mere memory-as Rome and Greece have for requires Christianity to secure and complete it. us,-then all that is of permanent value in them will But in Jesus' bold language, He came not to call be ripe and available for educational purposes. At the the righteous but sinners to repentance (Mark moment the good and the bad are so thor{)ughly inter- 2: 17). There was perhaps an irony in His twined, so unified in a common concrete way of life, words. He did not say how many righteous there that the destruction of the system must precede the were. And thus He goes abroad today. The comrescue of its valuable elements. mon truth is only the starting point and it may be exaggerated and misused to frustrate the Chris- Christianity's mission may truthfully be de- tian mission. scribed in terms of salvation for individuals and salvage for whatever is good in their religions. There are three warning words which may well There are treasures of art and architecture and be cited. The first is Sir Henry Maine's, appliliterature associated with the non-Christian re- cable to the danger of coloring non-Christian ligions which belong to the wealth of mankind. ideas by interpretations which really misrepre- The forces which Hung and Macmurray describe sent them: "There is no greater delusion than are pitiless in their destruction of these treasures. to suppose that you weaken an error by giving it One reason why Christianity ought at once to pos- the color of truth. On the contrary you give it sess the earth is that these values may be saved pertinacity and vitality and greater power of where alone they can be preserved in safety,-in evil." Christ. Let me preface the two other words from Mr. The Recognition of Truth Edwyn F. Bevan and Mr. Macmurray. From his new Christian viewpoint Paul saw more clearly 5. It is pleasant to come to these more positive than the Jews the true spiritual values of their notes. It is part of the Christian attitude, the inheritance. Even so it is Christians who ought true attitude, to see and to stress all that it can to see and appreciate all true spiritual values find that is good and true. This is what we ought existing anywhere and glory in them. It is a hard to do because it is right. And we ought to do it question of fact, however, as to whether the exbecause the only wise beginning is to find com- altation of these values helps men and women to mon ground. Speaking of the primal truths which come to Christ. In many cases it has done so. are met, Anthony Grant in his Bampton Lectures They have been drawn to Christ by finding in long ago remarked with obvious sound sense: "In
Him the many things they prize most in their per- 17: 22-34; Mat. 13: 1-35; Cf. Heim, "The New fect fulness. But on the other hand there are men Divine Order," pp. 99f.) and women who come to Him for what they have Is There Fulfillment? never found or known even in part. For these Mr. Macmurray and Mr. Bevan in their papers 6. Once more, there are many who find in the for the Jerusalem Missionary Council set forth words "fulfill" and "complete" an expression of one aspect of missionary policy'. Mr. Bevan the true attitude of Christianity to the non-Chris- tian religions. The words appear again and again wrote: in our present-day discussions, and usually we let them pass without stopping to scrutinize them. One great question of principle is: How far should They rest back on our Lord's great saying in the we present to non-Christian peoples what in Christianity is like their own traditions; how far what is unlike? There is a tendency in some quarters to rec- Sermon on the Mount, "Think not that I came to ommend Christianity to the Indians by making it as destroy the law and the prophets: I came not to like Hinduism as possible. On the other hand, it is just the elements in Christianity which are unlike destroy but to fulfill" (Mat. 5: 7). anything else in Hinduism that Indians most need, as But have we adequately examined this idea of Tennyson said of his friend, fulfillment? Does it cover all the facts and the "He supplied my want the more necessities of them? Did Christ come to fulfill That his unlikeness fitted mine." what is evil or untrue? Must not any honest formula include destruction as well as fulfillment?
And Mr. Macmurray said: As Principal Hogg of Madras Christian College There is first a general danger in comparing Chris· says: "Let the missionary, it is said, present tianity with other religi'ons and picking out for em- Christianity as the fulfillment of Hinduism. This phasis what they have in comm'On. That is all right formula has the advantage of permitting Hindu in a university classro'Om, 'Or in merely historical.study. religion to be regarded not· as seeking only but As a basis of P'Olicy it seems t'O me t'O be gratuitously as partial finding: yet beyond this it has little weak. The essential questi'On is t'O disc'Over what practical helpfulness. To call the relation of Christianity has t'O give tD the world that nD other re- Christianity to Hinduism one of fulfillment may ligi'On can give-in any degree. The difference has tD be indeed permissible, but the description obbe 'One of kind. Unless Christianity is essentially and scures the fact that it fulfills by, at least parradically different frDm 'Other religi'Ons, unless there is tially, destroying." Archbishop Trench closed his some sense in which it is just right and they are just great lectures on "Christ, the Desire of the Nawr'Ong, then there isn't much tQ be said fQr the mis- si'Onary drive. tions," with a clear recognition of evil in the non- One 'Of the prQfQundest remarks which I have come Christian religions which has its terrible lesson across abQut religi'On is in CQllingwQQd's Speculum Mentis. He says that religiQn reached its climax in but which is not as evil to be fulfilled. It is to Christ; and in dQing S'O it ceased tQ be religi'On. Us- be wiped out, and to endure only as those exing religiQn in this sense-and it is the only sense in purgated sections of ancient books which reprewhich it can be used when 'One stUdies cQmparative re- sent Christ's destructive power and are "the ligiQn-he seems tQ me tQ be· just right. Much that trophies of the triumph of Christianity." Of the evil in the non-Christian religions it is absolutely belongs tD religion in this sense permeates what we right to use the words not "fulfill" and "leaven" call Christianity-b'Oth in dQctrine, in spiritual 'Outlook, and in 'Organization. And I have a convictiQn but conquer and destroy.
that the points which the various w'Orld religi'Ons have And our Lord's words are to be interpreted in in CQmmQn with Christianity are in large measure the the light of other similar words of His and of the P'Oints which are nQt specifically Christian, but merely facts of history. "I came not to judge the world, religiQus. but to save the world" (John 15: 47). And yet Here is the real lesson to be drawn from Paul's He said also, "For judgment came I into the sermon on Mars Hill. That sermon is made to world" (John 9: 39). "I judge no man, yea and bear too much when it is interpreted as a recog- if I judge, my judgment is true" (John 8: 15, nition of the equality of all religions or an ac- 16). "I have many things to speak and to judge knowledgment by Paul of the validity and ade- concerning you" (John 8: 26). He came indeed quacy of the Athenian acknowledgment of God. not to judge but to save. But His coming was a He begins, indeed, just as the wise preacher does judgment and by every contact and relationship today on common ground but he presses on at of His with men, men are judged. So also He once to the distinctive Christian message and the came to fulfill the law but He fulfilled the law by . e~plosion came with his first· reference to the superseding it. Where is it now? What disposed Resurrection, and the writer adds with a sorrow- of it? Christ destroyed it. And He is abroad to- ful touch, "Then Paul went out from among day to destroy as well as to fulfill,-to fulfill all them." It was not that the method failed. The goodness and righteousness and truth and to de- sower sowed wisely-but, alas! the soil! (Acts stroy, not to leaven or perfect, slavery, polygamy,
THE TRUE CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE TOWARD NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS
child marriage, caste, temple prostitution, injus- It is clear that the word "sharing" can be used tice, greed and all the works of "the man of sin in the true Christian sense of making Christ that opposeth and exalteth himself against all available to all the world, but it is to be feared that is called God or that is worshipped so that that the word is sometimes used today with du- he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself biety of meaning. If it means that Christians forth as God … him will God destroy" (2 Thes. are to go to all men with Christ and the New 2: 3-10; 1 Cor. 3: 17). Here there are no geo- Testament message of Christ and share this in- graphical or religious bounds. Jesus is abroad stead of monopolizing it or keeping it as their on this mission in East and West alike, in all re- own private possession, well and good. If it ligions and in all life. He came indeed to fulfill. means that the Christian Church in America, for But there was and is another side to His mission, example, is to share with the Christian Church equally true. The gentle John spoke of it with in China in the evangelization of China, in the unflinching words: "To this end was the son of common world task of Christianity, in the united God manifested, that he might destroy the works exploration of the riches of Christ and in the in- of the devil" (1 John 3: 8). terchange of what they have found in Him, also And even the very goods and truths of the non- well and good. But if it means that Christianity Christian religions which it may be said Christ and Hinduism, for example, are to share each is to fulfill must themselves be baptized and re- with the other what that other has not, then the deemed. Neither the good of any man nor the conception is contrary to the realities of truth.
good of any religion can stand in itself before the It is to be feared that many use the new phrase blazing light and holiness of Christ. The Conti- in the sense of the equalitarianism of religions.
nental delegates at the International Missionary In other cases it is used to offset or correct the Council in Jerusalem in their statement declared supposed claim of superiority involved in offering their "conviction that the most sublime and heart Christianity to the world as the absolute and final stirring elements in the non-Christian systems if or even as the best religion. Instead of giving they are to be ruled by Jesus Christ, have to be people the Gospel, we "share our experience."
converted and regenerated in order to come to But will not this be seen, as soon as the novelty their complete fulfillment." It is essential for us of the new word is worn off, to imply an even to see this. The non-Christian religions are not more objectionable superiority complex? The to develop naturally into Christianity. They are Gospel is something for which we claim no credit to humble themselves and to be regenerated as a at all. It came to us from Asia and we are only good deal of present-day Christianity must, and passing it on. But our own experience is a per- this is hard for the corporate pride of great sonal claim, and to make it our message o'pens systems. the way to a host of new dangers, and only in- Let there be no mistake. The values of the old creases the old ones from which we were seeking religions themselves and of modern Christianity, to escape. Furthermore is it psychologically pos- too, need conversion. They too must be washed sible to share experience? It can be reported in the blood of the Lamb, pass through the agony but it cannot be shared. To share means to part of the Cross and rise again in the Resurrection. among two, to divide, to possess in common. No But, it is said, this is the very imperialistic one else can possess my experience. He can have tone in Christianity which modern thought has one of his own but it cannot be mine. What each been doing its utmost to eliminate, in the attitude and both of us can do is to experience Christ.
of Christianity to the non-Christian religions. And Christ is what we have to share. He is only Well, there is a false imperialism which is ab- and all. There can be no counter or return from horrent to Christianity, and there is a true im- anyone else.
perialism which is inherent in it. Truth is abso- The Conquering Christ lutely imperialistic and despotic and it cannot be 8. So we come in the end to Christianity's beotherwise. And Jesus Christ is Master and Lord. gining. In the words of F. W. H. Myers' glorious Three times in the New Testament He is so called, poem on St. Paul: despotes or "Emperor" (2 Timothy 2: 21; 2 Peter 2: 1; Jude 4). And no disciple of His has Christ is the end as Christ was the beginning; any warrant to abate His imperial claim, the Christ the beginning, for the end is Christ.
claim of His grace and love, but also of His right And I do not see how we can answer our ques- tion, "What does Christianity propose with reand power. gard to the religions that exist in the world?" . Sharing Religion otherwise than Dr. William NeWton Clarke an- 7. Another word which has come into usage swered it.
with regard to the Christian attitude toward the The attitude of the religion that bears the name 'of non-Christian religions is "sharing." Jesus Christ is not one of compromise, but one of con-
flict and of conquest. It proposes to displace the Why is the word conquer not right and true?
other religions. The claim of Jeremiah is the claim Dr. John Henry Barrows did not hesitate to use of Christianity,-"The gods that have not made the it as the title of his Morse Lectures on returning heavens and the earth, they shall perish from the earth from India, "The Christian Conquest of Asia." and from under the heavens." The survival of the It is not the West conquering the East. It is not Creator, joyfully foreseen, is the ground of its con- even Christianity conquering Hinduism, Budfidence and its endeavor. Christianity thus under- dhism and Islam. It is Christ conquering human takes a long and laborious campaign, in which it must hearts. He has conquered our hearts, or to the experience various fortunes and learn patience from trials and delays; but the true state of the case must extent that He has not done so, they still need not be forgotten, namely, that Christianity sets out His conquest. We rejoice to be His disciples as for victory. The intention to conquer is characteristic our Master, and His subjects as our King. This of the Gospel. This was the aim of its youth when it is the true relationship of men to Him whether went forth among the religions that then surrounded it be men of Asia or men of Europe, men of Hinit, and with this aim it must enter any field in which duism or men of Christianity. old religions are encumbering the religious nature of man. It cannot conquer except in love, but in love it And this is our Christian message,-the suintends to conquer. It means to fill the world. ("A preme, solitary Saviour who has come forth by Study of Christian Missions," p. I07f.) conquering to save, and beside whom there is no Christianity rightly uses the word conquer. other. As Christina Rossetti wrote in her hymn Dr. Clarke Cuthbert Hall says the Christianiza- forty years ago: tion of the world "suggests the conservation of None other Lamb, none 'other Name, all there is in the non-Christian faiths and its None other Hope in heaven or earth or sea, purgation, reconstruction and consummation in the fullness that is Christ Jesus." ("The Uni- None other Hiding Place from guilt and shame, versal Elements of the Christian Religion," p. None beside Thee!
51.) But what is true does not need to be purged. My faith burns low, my hope burns low; It is what is false and evil. And what is false Only my heart's desire cries out in me, and evil needs to be more than purged. It needs to be conquered, driven out, destroyed. If the By the deep thunder of its want and woe, Cries out to Thee!
early missionary leaders spoke of the enterprise Lord, Thou art Life, though I be dead; as war it was, necessary and inevitable war, with Love's Fire Thou art, however cold I be: evil, with polytheism and idolatry. Nor heaven have I, nor place to lay my head, And Christians today who cannot be accused N or home, but Thee.
of bigotry or intolerance think and speak in- .
stinctively in the same terms. Albert Schweitzer It is Jesus Christ and Him only and Him alone, calls the encounter of the basic ideas of Brah- the Son of God and the Son of Man, the only Re- manism and Buddhism on the one side and of deemer, Saviour and Lord, to whom a crown was Christianity on the other a "battle." He and his given and who came forth conquering and to fellow missionaries fighting against darkness and conquer. On this rock the Christian Church stood death, disease and sin are the "advance guard of at the beginning. Here it has stood through all an army." Dr. J. H. Cotton comes home from the the ages. Here it must continue to stand. "Other Joseph Cook lectureship in India with the convic- foundation can no many lay than that is laid."
tion that "with the attitude of Hinduism, the Gos- From this foundation the Church of Christ, so pel of Christ with its urgent Gospel of redemption long as it is true to its message and its mission, can make no peace." whether at home or abroad, will never remove.
Amid the many things that have fallen apart in the secular world and in the world of religious thought, the Bible stands unshaken. That Word is still the "lamp unto our feet and the light unto our path." It is singular that, in a day of criticism against many expressions of religion, this Book of books is being read and studied with greater devotion by more people than ever before. Science, governments, and culture have not kept the world from chaos, but the Word of our God abides forever. More criticism has been directed toward it in the past generation than against all other books of religion, but not one shred. of truth has been found false. In this Book, God still speaks to man and man to God. Gilbraltar may go down before the waves of an angry sea, but the "Rock of Ages" has withstood every storm and stress. We may well still saturate our language with its vocabulary, our lives with its spirit, and our age with its teaching.-DR. JOSEPH R. SIZOO.
the Edge of a Great Closed Land*
By the RIGHT REV. ARTHUR WARD, London, England Bishop of tbe Moravian Church W EST of the Great Closed Land of Tibet bridge-builder came, a single tree, or, where lie several small territories, Tibetan in ponies had to pass, two or more trees side by side speech and in population, and Buddhist, across the chasm, formed a sufficient bridge. In or more correctly Lamaist, in religion. Part of the side valleys an enormous rope of twigs and these territories is under direct British rule, as grass is often the only means of crossing a river.
for instance La- :'~'~~~~'~"';JfQ~·~.q51l'f~~·UjQl ~·~·"tlI·~a·~~·nj'~~~·Q~-t' houl, in which lies the Moravian ~ Mission station ~~~'I:i~..q~'~1J} 1~~W~~~'~~~~ 1~~·~"'I·AI·ii~~i~SI'r,(·qr,~· of Kyelang. Part is under the Ma- ~~:c·~·~·~l;·.fInJ·U~J,;·~·~;r~~~~ '¥I'~~['a'!~~~'~~r:f34f(nrA1¥'~ I harajah of Kash- LlJh·~~·~~4I'~sr~~~·qa·~~~~ll!?~.,~J:r~Z:·~~~~~~~I¥~4J I mir, roughly the Indus Valley, in ~q~~~.tQ·~l~~·e'3~~~~~ilI(l';~~J ~~'~~~~;;rif~~1 11 which Leh and K hal a t s e are THE LORD'S PRAYER PRIXTED IX TlBETA:T found; part is The Iniss ion preHses in 'Vpst Himalaya are printing portions of the ScriptufPS under little ra- and the lll"issionaries distribute thenl, sending' thelll over tl1e border into Tibet.
jahs. Through a Where even that is lacking, he who would pass to the other side must trust himself to the inflated considerable hide of the yak and paddle across with hands and feet. There is no vehicle on wheels in the whole stretch nomads country except a hand-cart which a Christian ar- tisan made for himself in the town of Leh. wander with "Cloudless Ladak," of which Leh is the capital, their flocks and would be a desert, if man had not learned to use the streams to irrigate the sand and the silt that herds, who are Bl'nDHIST PRAYER-:flLL forms a delta at every place where a brook joins supposed to be its river. No rain can come from the north, and subject to some Inscribed with the nlost popular the monsoons that beat upon the southern face of ruler, but live prayer. Om…llani Pad1l1e hHH~, sup- the Himalayas, nourishing the marvelous vegetatheir own life in posed to mean "Oh, jewel in the lotus," tion of the lower levels, and covering the mounthe freedom of gvery turn of the "mill" is supposed tain-tops with snow, seldom send more than a to repeat the prayer; every repetition sprinkle of snow above that giant wall that of the prayer adds to the merit of the stretches more than a thousand miles across their one praying. path. The side valleys on the south are green to the edge of the snow, but the valleys between the mountain, valley, and plateau which nobody covets two mountain-chains are barren, except where man has made the desert fruitful by leading the and few ever see. water of the torrent along tiny channels to the places where he can make a field or a garden. A great part of this land of Western Tibet, or There he plants his apricot trees which supply him with fruit and oil, some willows and poplars Little Tibet, as it is sometimes called, lies be- for timber and fuel, and some barley for his chief food. His fires are mostly fed with dried dung, tween the two main ranges of the Himalayas and his cattle and ponies feed on chaff and such where the long sand valley, thousands of feet above sea-level, is guarded on either side by rocky mountains capped with eternal snows. The passes by which communication with the outside world is possible all lie more than 11,000 feet above the sea and are impassable in winter except along the Indus and the Sutlej Rivers. Through this route the dak-runners carry the mails at the risk of their lives through avalanche, torrent, and landslide.
The inland rivers have a regular tide; for, being fed by the mountain-snow, they rise with the ris- ing sun, and fall as it sets. Until the European . * Plates to illustra.te this article are loaned by The lIIoravian .Zf.'I-is- scant herbage as can be found on the mountain- /:l lO lwry, Bf'thlehem, Pa.
[ 185 ]
side. Where lowland animals would perish of the face of the demons which swarm everywhere hunger, they manage to pick up a livelihood. the sacred Buddhist formula: Om mani padme hum ("Oh Jewel in the lotus !"). Mani walls In such a country the population is necessarily are covered with the same words as a further sparse. It is further kept down by sending one safeguard. This spell is considered so powerful son from every home into a Lamaist monastery.
that it is printed millions of times on cotton or paper and wound round the spindles of barrels large and small, known as prayer-wheels, which whirl in the bed of a stream day and night, or are turned by the hand of priest or nun in the temple, or by the laity as they pass along the road, or sit by the wayside. As the prayer-wheel revolves, all the virtue of all the prayers it con- tains, is thought to add to the merit of him who turns it, or of the rich man who had it made.
Among these people the aim of life is to acquire merit; ,for by merit the position of every living thing is deter- mined in all the six spheres of exist- ence-among gods, titans, men, ani- mals, tortured souls, and denizens of BUDDHIST DEVIL DANCERS OF TIBET hell. By merit Buddha left the Wheel who assist in torturing souls of the departed. The Tibetan religion is one of fear of Life with its endless rebirths and from which missionaries al'~s t7e~~~I~~ If~dJ~~~SP~~;f8{.nto the light of God's love, entered Nirvana, and only by merit can his disciples follow him. This is gained Even so, the number of men exceeds that of the by the use of the rosary and prayer-wheel, by women, some of whom are nuns.. As a result the pilgrimages and prostrations, by reading holy custom of polyandry prevails, and the wife of the books and hearing them read, even when sixty eldest son is the wife of all the brothers who live monks seated in a circle read aloud at the same at home. These husbands are, in turn, often absent. time sixty different pages to get the merit of Their houses are built of stone and are roofed in with branches and twigs covered with earth stamped down till it is hard. Flat stones are also used where these are available. Such roofs would be useless in a country where rain falls often and heavily. The little snow in winter is allowed to lie until spring, and then is shoveled off the roof before it melts. Stairways are made either of rough stone, or of a notched tree. The cattle-shed is below, the hu- man dwelling above. The interior is dark and cheerless, so that the roof is, as it were, the best room. Since arable land is scarce, the village is built on the rock.
The approach to a village is marked by conical structures of solid masonry A CIImSTIA~ SEWING SCHOOL AT LEH called "chortens," intended to be relic- holders, and usually containing miniature images sixty pages simultaneously. Still more merit is made of clay and the ashes of a saint. Prayer- gained by living as a hermit a life of contempla- flags, large and small, are seen on the side of tion, or by being immured in a monastery to live the road, on the chortens, on the houses, and on and die in the dark without speech or sight of the cairn at the top of the pass. These flap into one's fellowmen.
19331 ON THE EDGE OF A GREAT CLOSED LAND
Merit may be lost by means as mechanical as shadowed by Padmasambhava, the queller of de- those by which it is gained, so that few can know mons, who was called into the country from India on which side the balance lies. To take the life of in 747 to conquer the demons who were the dread the meanest creature entails loss of merit; for of the people. He marched through the land vanwho knows what soul was incarnate in that crea- quishing his enemies by the power of his spells ture? The beggar does not thank his benefactor and of the dorje, the emblem of the thunderbolt, for alms, but regards himself as the benefactor which is stilI one of the symbols of the priestly who gave the other the opportunity of gaining power. Padmasambhava founded "The Religion,"
merit by his gift. The giver dare not refuse, for as Lamaism is called, and built the first monastery. to do so would entail loss of merit. Thus all moral Today there are monasteries which are said to standards are confused. The missionary may lay contain as many as 10,000 lamas, and from end to down his life in unselfish service, but the people end of the land the lama rules the lives of the among whom he lived never think of him as unself- people. No important event in the family, in soish, for he was "reaping merit," which is the ciety, or in religion can take place without his crown of life. Christ Himself, when He gave knowledge and his participation. He quells the Himself to suffering and death for the salvation demons, as the founder of his order did, or permits of the world, is considered to have been simply them to work their will on the disobedient. In gaining merit for Himself. They believe that all devil-dances, performed by priests in hideous His love, and all His life, suffer- ~~~s ~~~n~~at~~rcO~~r~el~sH~~t ,-'~'" _>.~O".. ~ .::.:.,:>:::~'~~:;:::-:~~X;'::::':-':~-':!··~::"·~·"'-'f'-~'':.
communicable. He could be an '11>– .. •….", ..,…. "- .(,i);· .•…. ~. '<..- ". "H I"~r.'o:"e…l…-..!.-·.".'.t·;·. ~1o~,tl..,".4,:.·l~' . I", .. "•… _…….. . I ('f !- t' ,…. "'J V ; ~,/ t •.(:5 S"".,..,,h.J,ti< example, as Buddha was, but ~.>,~. ;, ; . ", I •• , • 1. ••' '",: • '< • . '- •.••.
'nothIO ng more. ,,,,,ll…,._L '.,••-J ~ ('hutjtK-~i,.c1.f.#n.~,j~;';''='''·'-'9 ~".',_' ."'L, TL.b~t. o E ven hJeersuI.ns 'hteeaavcehnI',n. gIS 0u.fnlnGt0edI,- ,.'.~..'<,,-,-, J"o:Bt…ol aa.lC.D ….r… •: ur F at 0 ;j~b<£~< ,<I,,<iI, ~ , W..t" . – .s;m~ .,~'l.,. ligible to them at first; for the "-…?,l;1J r….I… 0 '?; ", ) 1. ",10<) V A.~~A=::::::;: Sc..}e.. '1"0"'''''''' I. , .Yt::J.~ , …… . . _~ Tibetan gods, the Lhas, are not · '.-".7"",/:"~~;~':''':'r, ./ r. good in a moral sense. All the g.j""" ". !tJ:…,.s", resources of spells and magic are …..—–, .9n.t;", '……'.l..c·~.:'/.··.~.:".",~..:,}:~i''-'r..1S~-;!;….:…~•..o./../…. '
needed to guard mankind against their spite when they are angry. ………._._J ……. — If a Lha (god) is to escape from T lI3E T AlD TH E WEST HIMALAY A M ISS JO:-< the Wheel of Life, he must be· Kyelang, found ed 185B; Chot, 1897; Leh , ] 885 ; Kh a a tse, 1899 ; a nd Poo, 1865 , come a man and live the life of a Buddha. Then masks, he sets forth the power of the demons to do he too may be saved. When the great mission- harm, if the strong lama, the Superior One, is not ary, Jaeschke, translated the New Testament into there; and proclaims their powerlessness in his Tibetan, he pondered long before he could decide presence. He controls the demons by assuming what word to use for God. At last he chose the aspect of princes of demons, and the saying: "Kon-chog" (dkon-mcog) , a word which really "He casteth out devils by Beelzebub, the prince of designated "The Most Precious Thing." This the devils," would seem to them to be a compliment comprises the triad of Buddhism-the Buddha, and not a reproach. giver of the law; the scriptures that contain his teaching; the priesthood that mediates on his Their power in the last resort is founded upon teaching. Jaeschke thus justifies his choice in their teaching of metempsychosis. The fear of all his dictionary: the possibilities of rebirth, backed by the fears of a demon-ridden land, keep the people in subjection As the original and etymological signification of the to those who claim to know the way of safety, and word is no longer current, so to every Tibetan dkon- have power to put fear into the rebellious. m.cog -suggests the idea of some supernatural power, the existence ·of which he feels in his heart, and the na. Against this ancient and mighty system are ture and properties of which he attributes more or less contending a handful of Moravian missionaries. to the three agents mentioned above, we are fully en- The pioneers, Heyde and Pagell, were sent to titled to assign to the word dkon-rneog also the signifi· Mongolia in 1853 to begin a mission that should cation of God, though the sublime conception which the work eastwards to meet the missionaries in China Bible connects with this word, viz, that -of a personal, who were moving westwards from the coast. Rusabsolute, omnipotent being, will only with the spread sia refused to let them pass through her territory, of Christianity be gradually introduced and e,stab· and after repeated efforts to get through from lished. India, they asked permission to stay in Western Tibet, where they found themselves held up once But in Tibetan Buddhism, the Master is over-
more. They founded Kyelang in Lahoul and Poo shut off from the rest of the world four or five in Kunawur, close to the frontier of the Closed months in the year, and in spite of the perplexing Land. The Church sent out J aeschke, its greatest variety of dialects in a mountainous region, the linguist, to master the language, produce a dic- sense of the message gets through by the aid of tionary, and translate the Bible. He died in 1883, pictures and lanterns. when he had completed all the New Testament, except Hebrews, having chosen as his vehicle from Sometimes the seeming impossibility of the among the many dialects the literary form of task of dealing with the power of Lamaism, not classical Tibetan. His work has been carried on to mention the Hinduism and Mohammedanism by his successors, until the completion of the Old that have followed the trader and the State official Testament is in sight, and thanks to the initial especially in Leh, almost sap one's courage. The fight between David and Goliath was on even terms in comparison with this. But in a service in one of these little congregations, and espe- cially at a celebration of the communion, faith returns; for these Ladakh Christians also were Buddhists; now there has been a new creation.
The oldest station of the Mo- ravians in Asia is Kyel.ang in La- hou!' This has served as the base for wide itineration and for visits to Triloknath, a sacred place of pilgrimage. Some who have heard Christ preached there have gone to Kyelang to be taught more fully. One of the Christians has taken charge of the work as an unpaid volunteer on two occasions when there was no missionary available.
Poo, the second station, had to be closed a few years ago, chiefly on account of the economic circum- THE VILLAGE OF poa, 0::1 THE BORDER OF TIBET Evangelists stances in the Sutley Valley; but there are still Christians there Founded in lRH5, the missionary work was abandoned tenlporarily ill j 92-1. who do not figure on the official in 1930 and 1931 founded a revival of interest.
list. The village is only eight miles work of Jaeschke and the help of three educated from Tibet, which has been entered more than once Tibetans, members of one family, the third of from there, especially on errands of mercy. Since 1904 the British Government has been pledged to prewhom is one of the first two ordained Tibetan vent all Europeans from crossing the border. Conpastors, there will be a translation of the Bible, sidering the disadvantages under which they labor, as Dr. Francke said, which can rank with the the Christians who have remained faithful without Tibetan classics, as the English, and German the support of a missionary must have learned well, Bibles rank foremost among the classics of their so that their faith in Christ has not failed. respective lands. The greatest success has been achieved in Leh, the Reckoned by numbers the Church of Western capital of Ladak. Two native ministers who were Tibet, the fruit of the work of nearly eighty years ordained in 1920 were members of this congregation.
is very small; but it is not the whole of the fruit. Most of the evangelists have sprung from there; so The mission schools have done their share, though have the dispenser at the hospital and the native they have now mostly passed into the hands of the nurse. The latter once said of one of the two native State, except as far as the girls are concerned. ministers: "He gives us soul-food." Every day an Some heathen customs and conceptions have van- address is given at the hospital to the patients who come for treatment. As manY as 600 (sometimes ished for very shame before the face of the Chris- more) come from Turkestan in the few months when tian missionary. Copies of tracts and of the Gos- the passes are open, and over 100 from India. Leh is pels have found their way into Tibet and Nepal a trading center visited from far and near. It is imand into the monasteries themselves. A Tibetan possible to track the results of this daily preaching of news-sheet has carried new facts and new the Gospel by EUropeans and Tibetans. The opposithoughts into Tibetan villages. Evangelizing tion of the lamas is strong, and the people take little tours have taken the Gospel into valleys that are interest in religion, whether th!)ir own or ours.
Liberating India's Outcastes*
By the REV. JAMES F. EDWARDS, Poona, India Editor 0/ the Dnyanodaya; Principal of United Theological College of Western India H UNDREDS of Hindu temples all over India touchability, and not on a comparatively small are at last being opened to India's untouch- issue." ables, in spite of orthodox opposition. Sol- The explanation of India's new attitude toemn resolutions are being passed by caste people wards the outcaste seems to include at least three of all grades that they will cease to reckon anyone factors in bringing about the revolution: the pa- as low merely because of birth. Weare in the tient work of the Indian social reformers; the midst of that social, moral and religious revolu- influence of the British Government and of other tion, the unmistakable signs of which. have been civilizing influences from the West; the work of long detected by discerning eyes. Christian missionaries and the Indian Church.
We see the birth of the new India of missionary The first two of these factors have been deeply dreams, just as the birth of modern Japan was influenced by the third.
heralded in the middle of the last century by the India's social reformers, with invincible opti- noble Samurai class relinquishing the rights they mism, have plodded on with their colossal task.
possessed by virtue of dignity and birth. The editor of the Indian Social Reformer, presid- For caste and all its evils, India has to thank ing at the fortieth National Social Conference, the Hindu faith. The roots of caste go deep down said that he could even then "hear almost every into the Hindu theory of karma which holds the day some part of this medireval system crashing outcaste status to be the punishment for evil deeds to the ground as if struck down by unseen hands."
done in a former existence. Hence, for two thou- On the historic 24th of September when India sand years Hinduism has been the negation of from end to end was trembling for fear lest nationality, split up into 2,300 separate castes. Gandhi should die of the fast he had begun four The denationalizing power of untouchability is days earlier, the Reformer came out with one of clear from the numbers of the outcastes-the lat- the greatest articles in the history of Indian jour- est estimate being 62,000,000. nalism, giving unanswerable facts to support its The Indian Christian Church itself has not es- contention against "Self-Immolation As a Method caped the blighting curse of caste. Sadhu Sundar of Social Reform." Mr. Gandhi himself has for Singh said that the spirit of caste in the Church years had the orthodox pundits fulminating was like elephantiasis in the Church's feet. The against him for his campaign against untouchconverted Brahmin, the late Rev. NiIkanth Nehe- ability, though his campaign has been weakened 'miah Goreh, said that "Christianity with caste by his repeated view that "the caste system is in- herent in human nature." would be no Christianity at all." . . .
Some people speak of the new revolution in Anti-untouchability also owes so much to the India regarding the untouchables as if the revo- influence of the British Government in India. A lution had been accomplished on September 24th well-known Indian writer belonging to the high by the Poona Pact and in virtue of Gandhi's vow caste wrote recently: "The depressed classes to "fast unto death" unless some of the disabili- would have lived in perpetual serfdom, or far ties of the outcastes were removed. The strain of worse than serfdom, if India had not been placed political untouchability still remains in the sepa- under British rule." A few years ago, Sir George rate register for untouchables. in the primary Curtis, then a member of the Bombay Governor's elections approved by Gandhi in the Poona Pact. Council, when a bill was before the House pro- Sir Chimanlal Setalvad, chairman of the Western posing to give to untouchables throughout the India Liberal Association says: "One wishes that Bombay presidency the common rights of using Mr. Gandhi had used the sledge-hammer method public wells and of their children attending public of his fast for the main issue, the removal of un- day schools,' narrated the following incident: Just after the World War it fell to him to nomi- . • Freely quoted from a recent editorial by Dr. James F. Edwards I!) the J]nyononaya, nate on behalf of the Government such members [ 189]
as were needed to ensure all classes of the popu- Every province in India supplies testimony to the lation being represented on the Local Municipal power of Jesus Christ -to uplift those depressed Council. As there had just returned from the war classes who constitute one fifth of the Hindu popuan outcaste who had done notable service for his lation. The Indian Bishop of Dornakal says that country, Sir George thought it fitting he should be among the Telugu-speaking outcastes of Andhra nominated and the Government confirmed the Desa there are no less than 800,000 followers of nomination. After the appointment all the other Jesus Christ, the fruit of at least six missionary members of the Council, being caste people, sent societies. The greatest triumph of the Indian in a representation, requesting that in future all outcaste is that with Christ in his heart and life the business of the Council be done by correspond- he is attracting to Christ the Sudra caste people ence, since they could not tolerate the idea of sit- so successfully that the latter are coming to Christ ting with an untouchable in the Council. Their :'in groups, families and villages," about 26,000 of request was not granted. such people having been attracted to Jesus during "the last five or ten years." First among "the rea- The Chris,tian Influence sons that have led these people Christward" Dr. Azariah places "the attractive power of the life The Christian influence in India's silent revo- of the Christians of outcaste origin." He sees lution reveals the truth that caste, untouchability "the marvelous operation of God the Holy Spirit" and communalism are all plain denials of Christ's in the change that leads those "only a few years principle of brotherhood. The late Maharajah of ago proud and haughty, insolent and insulting in Kolhapur, who by common consent was the leader their manner to Christians and Christian teachers, of India's untouchables, said that it was necessary now to sit in church and chapel and to receive the "to dethrone the Brahmins in order to enthrone holy sacrament without any thought of the caste the Indian nations." When asked why he was origin of the co-recipients or of the ministering." eliminating caste regulations from his State, he "This is the God I am going to worship and to replied that he got the idea in the Presbyterian serve henceforth," said an earnest seeker after Mission Hospital at Miraj. The present Mahara- God who had watched a congregation in prayer jah of Kolhapur has issued an order that un- and who then heard "the story of God suffering touchability is now no longer to be recognized in for men on the Cross." No wonder that the greatthe Kolhapur State. Many years ago Mr. B. G. est triumph of the Indian outcaste is the triumph Tilak, though no friend of Christians, said pub- in and through them of their redeeming Christ. licly in Bombay that Christian missionaries were the only people who had done what was right by Along with this outcaste movement to Christ, the outcastes. is the wonderful movement among the caste peo- ple that began in 1926 and shows no signs of abat- Thousands of facts show that Jesus Christ is the ing. In the past five years, no less than 7,234 liberator of India's outcastes. India's own re- caste Hindus have received Christian baptism. formers, Mr. Gandhi included, show that Jesus has been the chief inspiration of their beneficent The outcaste Christians of the village of Ancampaigns. As the vice-principal of the Rajaram naram have built with their own hands a church College said a few years ago, Jesus Christ is more to seat 250 people without a penny of cost to the and more regarded as "the greatest son of Asia." Missionary Society.
RIGHTS OF THE DEPRESSED CLASSES The untouchables in India equal in number about one half the population of the United States. They are kept in menial servitude and are deprived of many rights of human beings- material, social, political, educational and religious.
These "depressed classes" are now demanding complete adult suffrage, representation on all local legislative bodies on a population basis, special grants for education, and the right to appeal to the Government over any neglect of their interest in education, sanitation or public service. One great question still remains unsolved-the electorate in the Native States. They are still deprived of their rights in Government schools, the free use of village wells, admis- sion to temples, equality in trade and employment and in social fellowship. India has still a long road to travel before equality and justice are established and before the principles of Christ are accepted as the basis for human relationship-to say nothing of the relation of man to God as revealed in Jesus Christ.
the Teacher's House Was
By the REV. GLENN B. OGDEN, Kasganj, U. P., India Missiol1ary of the Presbyterial1 Church, U. S. A.
I N SAIDPUR village there is no high and low for their sick; to explore ways of getting out of caste problem for there are only Chamars the hands of the money lender, to do any such in- living there. They are all farmers though one dependent thing seems to them a very dangeror two of them work part time at making shoes. ous procedure. They are pigeon-hearted, fearful, They are a simple untutored folk with capacities trembling, but one can scarcely blame them. for loyalty, love and faith only partly developed. Their When Mrs. Ogden for the lives are dominated by feai., first time visited their women not so much the fear that and children, talked to them, spiritual darkness engenders gave simple medicines for the many minor illnesses which but fear of their landlord. she found, they took the medi- This landlord is the typical cines gladly, only to throw "big fat baniya" as they call them away a short time after him, who lives in the neigh- the "Memsahiba" had left the boring town of Soron. He village. Someone had frightdoes no work himself, but ened them by a ridiculous loans money to needy farm- rumor: "They have taken ers and is satisfied with your pictures and will send 37%;10 interest for a year! them to their own country. Always ready to loan five or You are now all made mem- ten or even fifty dollars to bers of the pakka (strong any ignorant farmer on these religion). Have nothing to terms; no receipts are given; do with this medicine or you all the papers rest in his will become socially unclean."
strong box. The villagers Out went all the medicines cannot read or write. They and even the salve.
give only thumb impressions Truly the Sahib had taken on stamped papers when a – — – their pictures. A little openm 0 n e y transaction takes air school had, at their own A FIRST VISIT TO A CHAMAR'S VILLAGE place. As long as they do the request, been started in very landlord's bidding and remain his willing slaves primitive conditions. A teacher who was going the Zamindar treats them with consideration; about the country as a Sadhu, doing free and inbut let them cross him in word or deed and there dependent work, was available so long as they is much to pay. One or two henchmen do some would feed him and give him a hut in which to sound beating of thinly clad backs, and he brings live. Progress was being made. Many boys were suit against them for collection of big and long- taught at noon when they came in for food and standing debts. Since all the papers have re- rest after a morning in the fields. Even some mained with him and they have trusted him to of the older youths were eager to do the same at write in the proper amounts, they may find them-· night when the day's work was done. All was selves hopelessly involved in a lawsuit that, if it moving along smoothly and everything looked goes against them, will cripple them for life. hopeful; but there was that landlord who had Any signs of interest in the good things of the been off to a mela, or fair, for ten days or more.
Christian fellowship is an unusual experience for Upon his return he was told that all his people them. To start a school with the help of a friend- in this village were in danger of becoming ly babu (teacher); to receive the missionary and bhangis (a term as hateful as nigger) Christians.
his wife in a friendly way, or receive medicines He immediately decided that the teacher must be [191 ]
driven out of that village at all costs. It was no flames shot up. Then off they went to be at home concern to him that boys from little Piyare up to and quietly asleep. Fifteen roofs burned; fifteen big Baldeo were having their first opportunity to families were left for the most part without learn to read and write. He did not like it that covering or protection against the biting chill of there was a possibility of several literates coming the winter nights. Fifteen families were cast' out of that village. Still less did he fancy the into distress of poverty with their houses ruined. possibility of their becoming Christians and cut Who will help? Will the landlord? No. The fox off from the Hindu political fold. As an ardent tried to make out that the people had fired their Nationalist of the civil disobedience type he has own roofs so as to be able to bring a case against been in jail for his Gandhi activities. Least of him and thus rebel against his authority. all did he like to think of a possible day when the people of his village would become independent But there was help forthcoming, though meaof him and his money bag and might get out from ger. There is a small Christian group in Soron under his heavy heel. and another in Kasganj. Offerings were taken to go with money that friends from America sent in little gifts. New blankets, very rough and coarse but nevertheless warm, were procured for those that could not possibly buy new ones for themselves; grain was bought for those whose pitifully small store- was burned and parched underneath falling grass roofs afire; a grind- stone or two was provided for those whose stones were cracked by the heat and so cut off their flour supply; new ridge poles were brought for those who had not had time to pull down their roofs and save the precious poles; new grass thatch was given those who could not make ar- rangements for themselves.
THE OPEN AIR SCHOOL AT SAIDPUR "Drive that man out of your village at once or MEM-SAHIB CONDUCTING AN OPEN AIR CLINIC it will be a sorry day for you," he ordered. "Beat him, kill him, if necessary, but don't you dare to A little help, but how welcome and timely; it let him stay. If he does not get out of here and made human hearts glad. Who can tell the rethat right soon his house will be burned over his suIts? A new spirit of courage and independence head. We don't want that young devil here." and integrity has already begun to appear as they This is a weak sample of the gali he gave them thought: Are we after all men and not someone's and the abuse he heaped upon the head of the abject slaves? Is it possible that the days of our teacher and those who had placed him there. affliction are nearing an end? What is there in this Christian religion that makes people help us? Midnight came and all was well. A half hour We would see more and learn more. Do not leave later great flames leapt up into the neem tree us now. We are still in danger of that landlord's that stands near the babu'8 house. machinations. Stand by us and stand with us.
"Wake up and get out of there in a hurry!" cried a friendly neighbor of Babu Lall. "Your roof is on fire. Will you stay in there and be burned up with all your bedding and books?" shouted the man.
The threat had been carried out. Late in the night two quiet-moving forms might have been seen carrying a smoldering piece of dried dung cake, placing it in quietly among the thatch straws on the rear side of the house, away from all observers. Then they quietly slipped away to a neighboring field to watch till the first vigorous
Is New in China?
By the REV. CHESTER B. RAPE, B.Sc.
For twenty-four years a Missionary in China mzder the Methodist Episcopal Church W HEN Mrs. Rape and I first went to China Shanghai has proved, they make excellent fight- in 1908 we were surprised that we were ers. not called upon to pass the usual quarantine or customs inspections, and that our pass- While no one can foretell what will be the outports were not called for. After a week in Shang- come of the present struggle between China and hai, outfitting ourselves for life in a semi-tropical Japan, I am sure that there will be at least two important results. In the first place, this strug- climate, we started on our long journey into the gle will unite the various factions in China as interior, a journey which was to take us more nothing else could do. That is already taking than fifty days. As we traveled westward up the place. In my own province of Szechuen for sevgreat Yangtze River, we stopped at many large eral years there have been more than three hun- cities and passed by hundreds of towns and vil- dred thousand soldiers. In order to support this lages. Only in one place, Ichang, one thousand vast standing army, when Mrs. Rape and I left miles inland from Shanghai, were any questions there about a year ago, land taxes had been colwhatsoever asked. Not once in a long journey lected in advance to the year 1952. These solof fifteen hundred miles did we see a soldier or diers are divided among three Chinese generals, the national flag which, at that time, was a black or military lords, as we call them. About a year dragon on a yellow background. ago one of our missionaries wrote that one of On my last journey up the Yangtze in March, these generals had become disgruntled because 1930, I took the steamer at Nanking, the capital he thought he was not getting his share of the of the new China. As I drove from the campus provincial revenues. Therefore he declared war of Nanking University down a broad boulevard, on the other two. Troops were everywhere on a memorial to Dr. Sun Yat Sen, the new national the move and it looked as if civil war could not emblem was everywhere in evidence. Smartly be averted. Suddenly a wireless message was dressed military officers dashed about in the latest received from Shanghai announcing that the models of American cars, with armed guards Japanese had invaded Manchuria. At once these clinging to the running-boards. Soldiers filled three military lords called a conference, settled the streets. As our boat, a British vessel, left their own differences and sent a joint telegram the port of Nanking she dipped her flag to three to the national government in Nanking offering modern, up-to-date Chinese warships in the har- their hearty and united support against Japan.
bor. As we journeyed westward, we saw thou- This struggle will probably confirm the Chinese sands upon thousands of soldiers everywhere; in the belief that the only way they can secure every city, town and village was decorated with justice from the rest of the world is "to arm to the new national flag. the teeth." This is fraught with the gravest of Recently, after a noted European diplomat had danger to the peace of the entire world. Latest visited China and had seen several of the prov- government statistics state that there are now inces, someone asked him what impressed him 474,000,000 people in China. That is one-fourth most. His immediate reply was, "Soldiers, sol- of the population of the entire globe. They candiers, soldiers." You cannot get out of sight of not "arm to the teeth" without having a very soldiers anywhere in China today. You hear the decided reaction upon the peace of the rest of eternal blowing of their bugles from early morn- the world. In his book, "The New Crisis in the ing until late at night. There are in China today Far East," Stanley High says: more than two and one-half million men under China had counted for her security upon the peace arms. To be sure, many of them are poorly machinery.of this post-war world. . . . If China is equipped and ill-trained, but as Chinese Gordon forced into militarism it will be either because the 80proved long ago, and as the recent fighting around called Christian nations of the West have not been [193 ]
Christian enough to secure fairness for her, or be- ping anchor in the harbor for thirty minutes, cause the Christians 'of China, weakened by the weak- and a tax of fifty cents on each parcel and case ening missionary activity, have not been able to stem of cargo carried. On nearing Chungking, my the rapidly mounting tide of nationalist extremism. destination, fifteen hundred miles inland, the first thing that greeted our eyes was an immense sign I pray God that America and Europe may show painted on the city wall, "Down with Imperial- China a better way than war. I have faith ism." Not even the fact that I had resided in enough in the reasonableness of the Chinese to that city for more than twenty years and was believe that if we will only show them that way, well known, saved my baggage from a final inthey will follow. The responsibility is ours. spection.
On arrival at Ichang in 1930, three different The Contrast-1908 and 1930 searching parties boarded our boat. My baggage A TYPICAL STRIDET Di OLD CHUNGKIKG-NARROW, How shall we account for the differences be- DARK, FILTHY tween the years 1908 and 1930? In 1908 China had been for more than two hundred and sixty was inspected not only when I left the first vessel years subject to an alien race, the Manchus. Conon which I had traveled, but again when I em- currently for decades she had been under the barked on a smaller boat which was to take us economic domination and exploitation of various through the famous gorges of the upper Yangtze, foreign powers. Consequently, there was no such the most beautiful scenery in all the world. thing as patriotism. Then, thanks to forty years Across the river from Ichang the whole side of of untiring efforts on the part of Dr. Sun Yat Sen, a mountain was covered with the words twenty- the father of the new China, the Manchu yoke five feet in height, worked in cement, announc- was thrown off in 1911. For fifteen years revoluing to all far and near, "Away with Unequal tion followed revolution until in 1926 that mili- Treaties," "Finish the Establishment of the Re- tary genius, General Chiang Kai-shek, won vicpublic," "Complete the Education of the People." tory after victory and the present Nationalist You will find slogans like these all over China Government was established. today, and they are having tremendous effect in arousing the millions of that land. There is much to be desired in China today, but conditions are not nearly so bad as the Amer- At Wanhsien, twelve hundred miles from ican newspapers would lead us to believe. The Shanghai, our vessel was subjected to a rigid wonder is that conditions have not been worse search by six different government bureaus. We during the last fifteen or twenty years. When a were forced to pay seventy-five dollars for drop- nation of more than four hundred and seventy million people are struggling to be reborn, can this be accomplished without pain and trouble? Think of the chaos that followed our own Amer- ican Revolution, or the French Revolution which was infinitely worse! China, during the last twenty years, has been in travail. After another decade or two, I am confident that China, if left alone by outside influences, will become a strong, vigorous nation that will benefit the whole world.
The present Nationalist Government really has the interests of the masses very much at heart. It has already accomplished phenomenal things and no wonder. Ex-President Chiang Kai-shek and his wife are both Christians. Recently, one of our missionaries who has been working in Nanking for more than forty years wrote that day after day she had been attending a prayer meeting in the home of President and Mrs. Chiang. And for what did they pray? That China might be able to overcome Japan in the present struggle? No; they had something more important than that. They prayed that the lead- ers of China might be given divine guidance; that the masses might be uplifted and brought to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
At the Eastern Asia Central Conference of the
WHA'l' IS NEW IN CHINA'?
Methodist Church in Nanl{ing in March, 1930, Three Principles of the People," namely, Na- General Chang Chih-chiang led our devotional tionalism, Democracy, and the People's Liveli- exercises one morning, and gave one of the most hood, and they must pass examinations set by inspiring addresses of that conference. On the government inspectors. This is one of the big- Sunday when Dr. John Goudy and Dr. Wang gest pieces of educational work that the world Chih-ping were consecrated as bishops, two of has ever known. With the young people thor- General Chang's children were baptized. Dur- oughly aroused and awake, it is no wonder that ing the last two years General Chang has given we have a new public consciousness, real patriot- over twenty-six thousand dollars for the distribu- ism, in China today. The Christian Church has tion of the Scriptures in the Chinese language. had a very great influence on the moral and in- Had I time I might mention several other men, tellectual life of the Chinese through its mission now prominent in the national or provincial gov- schools.
ernments, who are strong Christian men. Physical Changes in China China today is new politically. When we first In the third place, China is rapidly becoming went to China the Manchus were still in power new physically. There is a perfect mania for with the old Empress Dowager, Tzu Rsi, still on the building of motor roads, and for the rebuildthe throne. Today these Christian leaders are do- ing of entire cities. The province of Szechuen, ing the best they can to establish a real republican the largest and most westerly of all the provform of government. I am glad that Christianity is having a real part in the remaking of China.
Second.-In China today there is a new public consciousness and real patriotism. For more than twenty years I have been connected with our large school for boys in Chungking. During the first few years we never had one patriotic holi- day. There was nothing to be patriotic about.
But not so with the new China 1 In the fall and winter of 1928, we had thirty-nine such holidays in one term. They were coming three and four each week, but as soon as the new Nationalist Government became strong, the Ministry of Edu- cation took up the question of holidays and de- cided that there should be only eight holidays In A :-.1EW WiDE STREll.'T-SEUAN CHA i R A N D AuTOMOBILE a year. They established a penalty for any in- stitution that closed on any other day. Since inces of China, is five times as large as the State then we have had no further trouble with this of Ohio. It has a population of seventy million super-patriotism of our Chinese students. But I people. Eight years ago there was not a mile of do not blame those young people. China had been good roads in all that province, and wheeled ve- deprived of holidays for two hundred and sixty hicles were unknown among those seventy million years. Why not make up for a few they had lost? people. Our roads were mere stone-paved paths, Students in all schools are now required to and when you came to a hill or a mountain there gather once each week for a half hour's patriotic were stone steps up one side and down the other.
service. The program is very simple: In the You could not use even a wheelbarrow on such front of each auditorium are displayed the pic- roads.
ture of Dr. Sun Yat Sen and the national flag. For more than twenty years I have been living The student body arises, makes three elaborate in Chungking-a city of eight hundred thousand bows to the flag and picture, very much as we people, fifteen hundred miles up the Yangtze salute the flag in this country. This is followed River, and one thousand miles from the nearest by three minutes of silent prayer, after which accessible railroad. It is surrounded by a great they sing the national anthem, and repeat Dr. stone wall from thirty to forty feet thick and Sun's will. The meeting closes with a report by from fifty to sixty feet high. This wall is pierced a government representative on the progress of by nine massive gates that are closed at night and government policies throughout the land. Not in times of trouble. The city is built on a nar- only is a program like this followed in the row ridge between two rivers, the Yangtze and schools, but also in Chambers of Commerce, busi- Railing.
ness men's conventions, and in all public gather- Until the year 1928, the streets had been nar- ings. row, dark and filthy. There were thousands of Students from the elementary grades through stone steps up and down the hilly streets. In to the colleges are all required to study "The 1927 our military officials gave notice that they
were going to rebuild that great city. In Chinese roads in the province of Szechuen. Today there cities there are no lawns, no parkways. Houses are already completed three thousand miles of and places of business are built on the street line. well-surfaced roads, and twenty-five hundred The people were forced to tear down their houses more miles are now under construction. Several and stores, move back from five to thirty feet; American and European Gompanies have their give that land to the city; rebuild their houses foreign agents in Chungking, selling automobiles, and stores at their own expense and pay for the trucks and road building machinery. Of course, paving of the new wider streets. They never re- all the large oil companies have their agents ceived one cent of compensation or indemnity there. A tremendous new market has been from the government. A military government, opened up, for what I have said of Chungking at the point of a bayonet, can do most anything. and the province of Szechuen is typical of what is going on everywhere. During the last year I When we left Chungking in 1931, there were was in China we had to tear down the fronts of wide streets and avenues, rapidly being lined with eleven different churches in as many different four-story buildings. A new city ordinance re- cities, in order to make way for the widening of quires that every building erected must be at streets. least four stories in height. Where three years before wheeled vehicles had been unknown, there The struggle in China today is the most fasciwere five bus lines in operation, hundreds of cars nating in all human history. It is crowding into going everywhere, and the freight was beginning a single generation the political, economic, social and religious revolutions that took Europe and America several hundred years to complete. China is going to win, for there is in progress every kind of a revolution that the world has ever known-political, intellectual, economic, social and religious. The most insignificant are the petty political revolutions of which you read so much in American newspapers.
THE NEW EDLlCATION-ANATOMY CLASS IN WEST New China and the Church CHINA UNION UNIVERSITY Fourth.-There is a new attitude on the part of to be carried in trucks rather than on the backs the Chinese towards the Church. During the of human beings, as had been the custom for last few years the Christians in China have had centuries. to face difficulties greater than those ever faced by any church. During 1926 and 1927 especially, Remarkable as that development may seem, there was such intense anti-Christian feeling that something more remarkable has taken place out- in many places it was necessary to lock our side the city walls. For a radius of from two churches and hold meetings secretly in the homes and a half to three miles there had been one vast of the people. Incidents from the Olives of our cemetery, hundreds of thousands of graves, the workers during those years would read like cerburial place of the people of Chungking for cen- tain chapters from the Acts. But that antituries. In 1927 the military Government notified Christian storm seems to have passed and indicathe people that they were going to level these tions today are that China has never been so open graves and build a new city in order to relieve to the Gospel message. the congestion within the walls, an area of only a little over four square miles for eight hundred The physical changes are but an indication of thousand people. Three months were given in the changes going on in the hearts and minds of which to move graves of loved ones and at the the Chinese. City walls are coming down; streets expiration of that time the Government set thou- are being widened; and the light of the sun and sands of men to work levelling graves, laying out fresh air are dispelling darkness and disease. wide streets and dividing the area into city lots. But far more significant is the fact that the walls When we left this work was rapidly being com- of fear and ignorance and superstition and rigid pleted and there were wide streets lined with conservatism are coming down; today the Gostrees and lighted with electric lights at night. It pel of Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, is sounds like a story from "The Arabian Nights"! really having a chance at those millions. Thank God, thousands are being transformed by the Eight years ago there was not a mile of motor power of the Gospel.
Do you realize the full significance of the level- ling of all those graves around Chungking? For centuries ancestral worship had a very deep hold upon the Chinese. On Ching Ming, which comes
WHAT IS NEW IN CHINA?
about our Easter time, each family was required There is also a new attitude on the part of our to repair the graves of its ancestors. On two Chinese Christians in the support of the Church. different occasions each year it was necessary When I became principal of the Chungking High that certain religious rites be performed at the School in 1910, we had almost to pay the stugraves. The desecration of a grave was the most dents to attend school. We granted many of heinous crime. Only twelve years ago, one of our them free tuition and board, loaned them their missionaries caused a riot by cutting off the cor- books, and even bought clothes for some of them. ner of a grave mound when building a road to Today that institution is practically self-supporthis new residence. But during 1927 and 1928 ing. Neither has this advance interfered with our hundreds of thousands of graves were levelled Christian purpose, for the majority of the stuaround Chungking, and hardly a voice was raised dents are Christians, and there is a real Christian against it. How do you account for it? Simply atmosphere in the institution. Our hospitals have this, today the Chinese have broken with the past also made the same gain in self-support. and they are scrapping old superstitions; even ancestral worship is losing its hold on the people. The other day I received an air-mail letter which came from Chungking to Delaware, Ohio, VAST CE:VIETEf~Y orTSI DE WALLS OF CH 1;~GKI~G in twenty days. In 1908 it took us fifty-three days to make the· journey from Shanghai to This is very significant for the Christian Church, Chungking! Today we have a splendid airport for it means that they are more open to the Gos- at Chungking and regular passenger and mail pel message than ever before. But we must service between that city and the coast. But the realize, too, that China is open to all kinds of great surprise was not in this remarkable change propaganda and there never was such a need to in method of transportation, but in the message preach the Christ way of living and all that that that the letter brought. It came from our Chinese means. Christian leaders and was written in their lan- Fifth.-There is a new spirit in the Church in China. When we first went to the Chungking guage. It expressed deep sympathy with the Conference twenty-four years ago, every admin- Christian people of America during this time of istrative position in the Church was occupied by depression, and a prayer that conditions might foreign missionaries. Every district superintend- soon improve. Second: It recorded real appreciaent, every superintendent of a hospital, every tion for what the Church in America has done principal of a mission school, and many pastors for the Church in China. Third: They said that of Chinese churches were missionaries. Today they were determined to make the churches in there is not one administrative position in the the Chungking Conferences self-supporting by hands of our missionaries there. Splendidly the end of the year 1933. The letter closed with trained Chinese Christian leaders have gotten this challenge: "Our word in the face of the last under the burdens and are filling these positions cable from the Board saying there would be no with credit to themselves and to the Church. What a privilege it is for us, as missionaries, to ~EW ROAD THHOl'Gll aLl) CJC:IET~jHY Ol:TS']DE CHUNGKING cooperate with these leaders in the task of rebuilding the life of a people! What a vast differ- appropriation for our work in 1933, is, 'Go forence, too, this change has made in our lives and ward.' Weare planning to concentrate and move in our work! Never have we been on such inti- ahead." mate terms with the people. Never have we been admitted to so many homes. Never have we had Many casual observers, because of banditry, them seek our help and advice so much. And famine, civil war, and the threat of communism, never have we been so happy in our work. take a pessimistic view of the outlook in China, but I am more optimistic about China today than I have ever been during my twenty-four years of residence there. I have learned to allow a very
liberal discount for those things in present-day has been at the very center of the movement out conditions which alarm casual observers. I have of which the new China is slowly emerging." learned to place great confidence in the solid, abiding things in Chinese character and civiliza- Today China's needs are many, but her supreme tion which have endured through the centuries. need is Jesus Christ. Let Christians redouble their efforts in China. Let the many fine char- Today China is aroused as never before. The acteristics of the Chinese people be dominated by Christian Church there has an influence far be- the spirit of Jesus Christ, and there is no doubt yond the power of mere statistics to show. As as to the ultimate triumph of the cause of right- Stanley High says, "Christianity for a century eousness and peace.
A Message from African Jungles By JANET MILLER, M.D., Congo, Central Africa Author of "Jungles Preferred"; Missionary of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South I DO not bring a message from one of the great sidering the greatest good to the greatest number, metropolises of the world where life has be- consider that the richest boon of this wonderful come a chaos of specialized activities. My century is the progress made in the science of message comes from the heart of Central Africa medicine. The leaves of the tree of science have where primitive conditions prevail. been for the physical healing of the nations. This "But," perhaps you will say, "you are yourself is a fact of great personal import to each of us.
a specialist in medical science." During my last term of service in Africa a True, I am a medical missionary; but I am also strange and wonderful thing happened on the an agriculturalist. It is part of my task to teach earth-something which no prophet foretold, of the African Blackman to make a better garden which no seer dreamt. A Japanese scientist made and to improve his standard of living. a great discovery and a marvelous material gift I am also an engineer. We have built a sub- to suffering humanity on the African Gold Coast stantial reservoir in a near-by stream to conserve -a specific for yellow fever. We owe this boon drinking water. The Black people no longer drink to the hunting instinct and the sacrificiaJ labor the water in which they wash their clothes. of one man.
I am also a contractor and a carpenter. New We need to examine this primitive hunting inbuildings on our hospital reservation are con- stinct. It is a powerful driving force and an instructed under my supervision. dispensable part of our natural endowment. Let us lift it up and center it around the noble ambi- So I may claim to be in sympathy and under- tion for solving the problems not only of personal standing with men of many trades and profes- need but of international depression and despair sions. which are in the world today.
In an African jungle, where food is plentiful, Our civilization calls for courageous leadership many individual animals are seeking it. Here is which will set men at the central task of searcha huge jungle prowler who procures his food by ing for a cure for the distressing conditions which sheer strength. Another animal, a young antelope, prevail everywhere. We desperately need leaders lacking the strength of the leopard or the lion, escapes being devoured by his fleetness of foot; he lives by his wits, as verily as any human ad- who will search for life's holy places where guid- venturer. ance in this great task is to be had; leaders who Nature has implanted the hunting instinct in will call to a progressive crusade for righteousevery living creature. It is a valuable asset, for ness.
the hunting instinct is the foundation of all re- Beyond the scientific force discovered in the search work. To the hunting instinct in man we hidden resources of nature, we must find spiritual owe the best that has come to the human race power. Let us undertake the search for spiritual from the material world. resources which are seen on earth among men and Members of the medical profession, who deal women who live close to God. Let nations, as with the individual and measure progress by con- well as individuals, undergo a spiritual rebirth.
THE STORY OF KONDYABAI
To this we must look for the establishment of Some new and vitalizing principal must guide peace and prosperity upon earth. the nations through the perilous meshes of inter- national relationships. A world movement must There is a better way of dealing with interna- sensitize the hearts of men so that they will turn tional differences and depression than through to spiritual power to set things right over the courts of arbitration, valuable as they are; that habitable globe. better way is through a world-wide spiritual revival which will set to work in the hearts of men Let us search for young men in our universities a zeal which cannot rest until Jesus Christ is a who are magnificently endowed with this primiliving and life-giving reality to every man. The tive hunting instinct-this instinct for research. teachings of Christ are the only possible basis for They must be men of courageous and positive perthe era of reconstruction so desperately needed. sonalities, valiant moral warriors for the Cause of Christ, who will fight a great fight for the The realization of universal peace and prosper- Kingdom of God and His righteousness upon ity can only come as the fruit of patient devotion earth. to the propagation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A new dispensation in the history of the world A new era must come through the enlightened must come through men's awakening to the real- conscience of the civilized world, and through the ization that there is no remedy for the present heroic element in man, desiring the spiritual world sickness except by a great spiritual re- awakening of all peoples of whatever color or generation. Our times require the adoption of clime. Then a rational growth will begin which the Golden Rule, with a large outlook which in- will make more beautiful all human life. Let us cludes all nations of the earth. carry the Gospel of Christ to the ends of the earth, beginning with our own nation. Let Amer- During the present century the world has come ica undertake the culture of her own soul, at the to regard commercial rivalry as a necessity; a same time that she is sending her representatives domination in trade is considered a matter of to people of less fortunate lands. Every step that paramount importance. But today no such nar- leads toward that culture leads to the establishrow materialistic outlook will suffice. A more in- ment of prosperity•. telligent and more liberal policy is imperative.
The Story of Kondyabai By Mrs. F. E. G. COWHUD, Yeotmal, Berar, India Free Metbodist Mission of Nortb America T HE first stories we heard about Kondyabai Then the young and desolate mother came to were unsavory. "The Gi~ls' School" at Umbri to help with the She remembers her mother taking her to babies. She was afraid that it would break her the temple and teaching her to worship the hide- caste if she did the menial work for the children ous idols. When she was about ten years of age and it became necessary to send her away. she began to think that idols were of no value and told her mother what she thought. This After she left us she was again thrown with shocked her mother but indicated that Kondya- her own people. The contrast between the heabai's observations were keen, even in childhood. then life of the village and life of the mission compound impressed her very much, and she Kondyabai was married when a mere child, ac- came again and again begging to be taken back. cording to the customs of her caste. She was a She would say, "If you will take me back I will mother at thirteen and soon after was deserted do anything, even if it means to break caste comby her husband. She had to go to the cotton fields pletely and never to see my own people again." to earn enough to keep soul and body together, the prey to all the vileness of a very evil com- Finally we took her back and she became a very munity. She worked for a Mohammedan who useful woman with the babies. She was motherly became the father of several of her children. and seemed worth saving. When this man died his wife sent Kondyabai and her children away, so that she was again thrown A Bible woman was sent every day to teach her on evil times. the stories of the Bible. She used to come nearly every night to the bungalow and told me many things about her village. There is nothing more
shocking in "Mother India" than the things which decided that she was praying. For the first time she described in her village and which the people she had gotten a sense of the exceeding sinfulthought only the ordinary way to live. ness of sin and her life seemed a long vista of horror. Once her prayer ran like this, "As I take During these evening visits Kondyabai and I my soiled sari (garment) to the river and wash often prayed together and she professed to be it clean, so 0 Lord wash and make me clean." converted and was baptized. At last peace came to her troubled soul and she slept like a tired babe. Her face seemed to take Some time after this a spirit of prayer came on a new glow of purity. among the little girls in the school and they prayed every evening from five o'clock until their Today Kondyabai is a blessed woman; she tesevening meal. They prayed for everybody-the tifies at every opportunity, and has been an inpreachers, Bible women, teachers, scholars, mis- spiration to many missionaries. It is a beautiful sionaries on the field, missionaries in the home- sight to see her gather the little children about land, the girls, and especially for Kondyabai. her for evening prayers. She is full of love and When the big girls caught this spirit of prayer, draws the children like a magnet. they prayed so long that we could hardly get them to bed at night. Last year she visited her village and was able to bear testimony to her own people who listened One night we heard a loud screaming and with greatest interest to her story of the saving thought it was jackals. Then we recognized a grace of Christ. At the camp meeting recently woman's voice and thought the crazy son of our held in the district three of her caste people were old sweeper woman must be beating her. Later baptized. we discovered it was our own Kondyabai, who was crying out in great distress, like the wailing Pray that hundreds of heathen women like of a lost soul. At first we thought her insane Kondyabai may be saved, and lifted to lives of but as we listened to moanings and groanings we purity.
• South America-An Analogy* TWO children, anxious to decorate for Christ- gaily to the edge of the precipice, and, with the mas Eve, climbed the mountain of Montser- money in her hands, toppled over into the chasm rat, caroling as they went, searching for of insolvency. There should have been more suitable greenery. They came to a precipice hid- margin. den by gorgeous overhanging verdure. Thinking only of the magic of the Christmas celebration, II. It is so in politics. Latin America dreams they began to accumulate mosses and trailing of an ideal government which shall be a panacea vin,es. The enthusiasm of youth dulled all sense for all ills. She is convinced that when the right of danger. One held the other's hand while she officials get into power all will be well. Unavailreached for a lovely flower, but she .suddenly ingly has she clutched at the cactus of dictatorslipped and dragged her companion into a deep ships and the lush growth of socialistic democchasm. The papers told of a tragedy while in racy, only to find herself slipping, slipping. pursuit of a purpose; deceptive environment; confident but misguided youth. III. In matters of religion, Latin America is clinging to frail but alluring environment, and Graphically, pathetically, does not this illus- missing the Tree of Life, rooted in the Rock of trate what is happening on a large scale in Latin Ages. Processions and pictures, images and in- America; fine sentiments ending in catastrophe; cense attract her, but can never give a solid foungood intentions led astray by inexperience; un- dation for morals, education and the home. They justified optimism terminating in a crash; a ma- cannot bear the weight of a continent's need. terialistic search leading to death; a land of promise full of disillusion. Had we known it in time how gladly would we have snatched these children from the edge of the 1. This delusion has been, for example, in the abyss. What we would have done for them let matter of loans. Finding the United States able us do for the people of South America. We can and willing to lend money, Latin America walked only do it by giving them reality in place of a delusion; Jesus Christ and His Gospel in place • Adapted frolll a contribution to The Bible Today, New York. of false standards and hopes.
Situation in Latin America*
By SAMUEL GUY INMAN, New York I~ Author of "Trailing the Conquistodores," etc., etc. I I -~ I~==========================~ TATIN American countries are conscious that thing to carry out the spirit of this prayer?" The L they are adrift and they do not know where audience was tremendously affected. She slipped they are going. The leadership acknowl- away while the crowd was standing spellbound edged a few years ago is often displaced or re- with her eloquence. But her identity was learned, tains its position only through oppressive and and the socialist party decided to discipline her militaristic measures. The old assurances of the for speaking in an anti-democratic meeting and economic interpretation of history, the "out-of- without permission of the party.
dateness" of religion, the power of political de- The well-known Argentine writer, Dr. Ricardo mocracy, the struggle for industrialism, are wab- Rojas, author of "The Invisible Christ," says that bling, if not disappearing. Argentina has so many int~rnal problems that Take Argentina for example-until the revolu- she is overwhelmed with them.
tion of 1931 which unseated President Irigoyen Brazil has held together longer than any simi- she had not had a revolution for forty years. She larly extended tropical territory in all history.
had adopted the secret ballot, had committed- her- Many feel that the recent revolution of Sao Paulo self to the capitalistic order, with more foreign represents a deep division between the various commerce and more railroads than any other sections of Brazil and that with great difficulty Latin American country, with a continued flow will these sections be held together. The nation of European emigrants, with a standardized pro- is facing most critical conditions and must have, gram of public education, modernized indiffer- if it is not to go to pieces, not only wise political ence toward religion, with the politicians run- and economic guidance, but vital faith in funda- ning the government and the rest of the country mental, spiritual values. Dynamic religious faith indifferent so long as they were allowed to pur- is needed if Brazil is to move forward unitedly sue their own objects. into a new order. Her enormous territory, much Today all is different. The present govern- of which is uninhabited except by Indians, her ment of the conservative party is in an anomalous large percentage of illiterate people, her divisions position. The Uriburu dictatorship was so un- into northern, central and southern sections, all popular that he was compelled to call new elec- make her present problems tremendously appeal- tions. The radicals were not allowed to nominate ing to her friends. This is a time when the Chris- a candidate so that the conservative candidate, tian forces should exert themselves to help Brazil.
Senor Justo, became President without the other Chile presents likewise an intensely difficult party voting. Now he is turning iIi every direc- situation. A little oligarchy of some hundred tion to secure from the Church, various conserv- families ruled Chile during the first century of ative groups and certain foreign interests, the its independence and it was only in 1920 that the needed backing. Freedom of speech is severely lower classes and the few people who had begun limited. to form a middle class, were able to give expres- Recently a reactionary group was holding an sions to their demands for reform. They elected enormous meeting in front of the capitol to pro- a reform leader, President Arturo Alessandri.
test against "communism." A suggestion was Chile literally seethed with new social thoughts, made for a movement against the Jews and it but Alessandri's reforms were too rapid and he seemed that the mob would take it up. A mem- was sent into exile. General Ibanez as President ber of the socialist party, Madame Gucovsky, a combined with American capitalists to turn over prominent social worker, asked to speak but did the greatest riches of Chile, the nitrate beds, to not reveal her identity. She began to appeal to a semi-government corporation dominated by for- the crowd by quoting the Lord's Prayer and com- eigners. Radical and communistic forces, even menting on each one of its phrases. "You are among public school-teachers, had been growing Christians," she said, "You are proud of your rapidly. Ibanez was overthrown; chaotic condi- Church. Would it not be the most Christian tions followed' such as Chile has not witnessed • Abbreviated from the Secretary's annual report to the Commit- since the immediate days following her independtee on Cooperation in Latin America. ence from Spain. President Alessandri has again [201 ]
been called to govern. He faces the most difficult primary schools which might receive help from kind of task. It would seem that only by a rapid a religious organization.
socialization program can he stay in power and Some of the early revolutionary leaders have stave off the threatening period of bloodshed and themselves become immense landholders. The chaos. generals seem to have a new lease on life and Peru is an equally critical situation. Many power. Communism, without any fundamental thought that President Leguia, in spending vast understanding of its significance and scientific sums on modernization, was saving his country; planning for its acceptance, is threatening. The but now is a good time for the glorifiers of dic- future for Mexico is less clear, the road is more tatorships and loans to visit Peru. The splendid obscure, than it has been since Madero began his new system of pavements, waterworks and roads, uprisings against Diaz in 1910. Here again the the beautifying of the city, magnificent public Christian forces seem to be on the defensive. The and private buildings recently erected, all are in spiritual idealism resident in a fine group of process of decay. Another dictator has come. young men a decade ago has largely disappeared. The members of the radical party "Apra" are in No doubt much of the old ideology is still present prison or in exile and the government is pushing in the people but as far as the leadership is cona quarral with Colombia, hoping to find public cerned it is difficult to find.
support on this account. The reactionary ele- Disorganized Student Life ments, consisting of· the military, the Church and the landed interests, are endeavoring to hold Peru Higher education in many of these countries is in the old ways. almost as completely disorganized as is political life. In 1918 the students at the University of In Cuba the situation seems dark. Economical- Cordoba, Argentina, called a strike, a protest ly the country has given herself over completely against the old and reactionary methods in the to the capitalistic system with one crop her only university and their close dependence on political guarantee of prosperity, foreign bankers and in- life. Thus was initiated a movement known as vestments controlling her material life. Presi- the University Reform, which spread over Latin dent Machado and his enemies are engaged in a America. This reform, calling for the modernreign of terror. Political assassinations are fre- ization of the curriculum, the participation of quent; numerous scientific and literary organiza- students in the election of the faculty as well as tions are closely watched by spies. The university other fundamental changes, has thrown the stuand the secondary schools of the country are dents into leadership against reactionary governclosed. The whole of Cuban life, national and ments. These governments have in turn closed international, economic and educational, must be the universities time after time. reorganized. The Platt Amendment, granting the United States the right to intervene in Cuba when In Cuba the university has been closed almost conditions seem to demand it, makes it necessary continually from 1927 up to the present. The for the United States either to take cognizance students and progressive members of the faculty of the present reign of terror or to supplant the have banded together against President Machado; Platt Amendment with a treaty which will put many have been killed and press despatches tell the responsibility of government and develop- of new arrests both of students and professors. ment, economic as well as spiritual, on the Cuban Even the public high schools have been closed people themselves. because the government claims that they also are centers of revolt.
Mexico, in 1917, adopted a socialized constitu- In Peru, the ancient University of San Marcos, tion which has been largely copied by other coun- Lima, has hardly had a continuous session for the tries like that of Spain. But has the idealism last ten years. After the fall of President Leguia of ten years ago been able to survive? As far a new rector, Dr. Jose Encinas, was installed and as the government is concerned this is question- began to modernize the institution, but he found able, with the exception of the rural educational himself in opposition to President Sanchez Cerro program. Much has been done in giving the and today the university is completely disorgan- Mexican people a new social attitude toward life. ized.
Peonage has been eliminated. The program for In Chile during the last three years students the distribution of land, however, has practically have often abandoned the classroom to do battle ceased. It was thought that the bitter struggle in favor of what they considered a reform move- between the State and the Roman Catholic Church ment. In July, 1931, they organized a movement was settled in 1928 but it has recently been re- which resulted in the overthrow of Ibanez and opened. Radical laws have been passed limiting have had active participation in the various severely the number of clergy in various states changes of government. It was reported that the and the Federal District, as well as prohibiting university had ceased to be a center of culture
THE SITUATION IN LATIN AMERICA
and had become a center of radical agitators. money, munitions and military mISSIOns, these The teaching force in the primary schools of latter often explaining the confidence of an ex- Chile is honeycombed with communism. The alted nationalism and its refusal to accept peace- average salary of these teachers is three hundred ful means, such as were used formerly, to settle pesos (about ten dollars) per month. A few these questions.
weeks ago the press reported a strike of teachers. The boundary question between Bolivia and In Venezuela the dictatorial regime of General Paraguay has existed for a century but became Gomez is continually in conflict with the univer- acute when petroleum concessions and coloniza- sity students and faculty. tion privileges were granted by Bolivia to foreign In Mexico the students have held the university interests. Large sums were then spent in England buildings against the attacks of the police and and the United States for bombing planes and firemen on several occasions and during the last other war material and General Hans Kundt of three years, since the university has secured its the German army was engaged to modernize the independence from the National Government, war machine in Bolivia. The country rose up there has been almost continuous strife. against the dictator Siles in 1930 and he and Gen- In Colombia, hundreds of schools have been eral Kundt had to flee. But the military elements closed because of financial difficulties; the same were well intrenched, and were soon again in the thing is true of other lands. Everywhere through- saddle. An undeclared war was launched in the out Latin America the educational situation is Chaco in the summer of 1932 and at the close of critical and in some of the countries it is more the year the German general was recalled to head chaotic than it has been for a quarter of a a drive to the Paraguay River. The resolutions century. passed by small groups of missionaries and South This is not to say that there is not much good American Christians against the war seem piti- educational work going on in these lands. The ably ineffective in face of the munitions furnished rural schools of Mexico, the new organization of by America and Europe.
education in Rio de Janeiro under a group of de- In the same way in Peru and Colombia, two voted, modern-trained educators, the new Dalton other countries where American missions main- schools in Chile and Paraguay, the remarkable tain schools, hospitals and evangelical work, cer- development of the University of Concepcion tain American business interests are backing the (Chile), the new spirit shown in the universities winner, whichever it may be, in the war openly of Buenos Aires and of Montevideo, the "Gim- being prepared. Colombia has recently fitted up nasio Moderno" of Bogota, the "Children's Re- a merchant ship as a war vessel and has dis- publics" of Colombia, and many other educational patched it with 800 men to the Amazon River.
developments recently appearing show the vital- Peru is counting on her aviation force, organized ity of education in spite of difficult economic and by an American naval mission, augmented by as political conditions. much new air equipment and other war machin- The Clash of International Wars eryas she can buy. The ownership of Leticia was settled by arbi- The last international war in South America tration in a treaty signed by both Colombia and was the one between Chile, Peru and Bolivia in Peru in 1922. But on September 1, 1932, this 1879-81. The only one before that, barring those sleepy little tropical Colombian village, located in connected with the liquidation of the revolts a triangle made by the forks of the Putumayo against Spain, was the war against Paraguay and Marafion Rivers in the jungles where they waged by Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay from unite to form the Amazon, was attacked by a small 1865 to 1870. Today, the whole continent is group of Peruvians. The Peruvian government, threatened because of the undeclared war be- instead of apologizing and withdrawing these tween Paraguay and Bolivia over the Chaco, and self-appointed conquerors, begins to raise funds the mobilization of the forces of Peru and Colom- to purchase fifteen bombing planes-just as Co- bia over the Leticia incident. This is another lombia raises an internal loan of $10,000,000 to proof of the chaotic moral life which has over- purchase other planes and ships.
taken the continent. South America lacks the The Ibero American Federation of Students, in idealistic drive it had when Argentina and Chile condemning these war-like preparations, says: settled their boundary dispute in 1904 and erected the "Christ of the Andes" to commemorate it. Most of the Latin American countries, those with Since the beginning of this century practically vast territories and sparse populations, often unculeveryone of these countries has settled by arbi- tured, and of debatable social efficiency, are far from tration disputes with its neighbors. having the necessity of defending their soil because their principle problem is to conquer the physical en- From the very nations from which mission- vironment, make it habitable, and incorporate it in aries go to these countries, there have come also the economy ·of the civilized groups. A conflict of
boundaries for the possession of a small piece of equa- Many other examples might ue given to show torial forests between peoples like ours that have grave problems to solve in the organization of their that below the surface, too often controlled by recivic life, the education of the mestizos and Indians, actionary elements, are stirring strong thoughts the development of industry, etc., is a crime without and emotions, that must sooner or later emerge.
.i ustification. Here for example is a young Chilean, a gradu- ate of the Chilean National University and of the We should not forget, however, to study the University of Paris. His is one of the best known situations that lie behind such conflicts. A British families in this country. While a student in Paris engineer of long residence in South America has he was called upon to write a thesis on some asrecently declared: pect of religious psychology. He bought a Bible to get first-hand information about religion. The The greatest hindrance in the real advance of South Bible made a profound impression upon him. He America in public morality, lies in the facility with looked up some of the leaders of the French Protwhich a very flood of money has been thrown at the estant Church and later in Rome he sought out governments of these republics from London and New the Waldensians and regularly attended their York. Steady retrogression in public morality is church. He was converteed and is now back in at times in evidence. Men of the austere type of Chile and eager to interpret Christianity to his Sarmiento, Avellaneda, or Mitre no longer hold the people. He has translated Monod's book on Protreins of power. estantism into the Spanish and is having it pub- lished at his own expense. Here is a proof of the Fortunately there are indications of a growing reality of the change experienced by this choice revolt against the old order and a determination representative of the best of Chile's life. He has to sacrifice comforts and position for a new day. felt the impulse to serve, so he has gathered Men are hunting for a new basis of life. They around him a group of young men for the purpose are asking what is life, what is the patria, who is of visiting the charity hospitals to carry comfort God, what are one's relationships to the Infinite? and cheer to the lonely sick. He calls this group: The subjects of public lectures, the articles in the Los compaile1'os de Emaus-"The Comrades of press and the books all reveal this. Emmaus."
Senor Carlos Keller, in a most interesting book, Need for Evangelism "La Eterna Crisis Chilena," says: The present economic crisis and the commu- We have given absolute preponderance to the de- nism of Russia are affecting Latin America to a velopment of the intellectual faculties, depreciating considerable extent. We have seen communist disthe sentimental one. Practical religion has been ex- turbances in Mexico, Central America, Colombia, cluded from our government education, what have we Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Chile; and even Uruguay substituted for it-journalism, the literature of strug- and Argentina are not free from this great dangle, high-sounding phrases without sentiment. The ger. Let us not forget these two important absence of religious feeling in our middle and superior factors: classes is symptomatic of the artificiality of our development during the last century. The Roman Catholic Church seems to have lost its leadership in the Latin American countries. Brazil has had her problems mercilessly ana- Natives with Indian blood, either pure or mixed, lyzed by the recent appearance of a two-volume constitute the majority in Latin America. The work, "0 Brazil Nadio," by the distinguished stu- Inca empire was a communist regime, and the dent, M. Bomfin, which discussed the realities of Aztec and Mayan empires were semi-communist. Brazilian sovereignty. Scarcely has any nation The Jesuit empire of Paraguay was also based on had such a challenge presented to overcome the communistic ideals. And the Indians today are weaknesses that are eating at its vitals. more restless and more receptive than ever. The work of the governments of Mexico, Central The brilliant young student, Luis Enrique America, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru and Chile is Osorio, leader of the "Unionist Alliance" move- awakening them. ment in Colombia, has written in "Los Destinos del Tropico" a study of the future of the peoples To these two factors we ought to add the direct of tropical America, that faces squarely funda- influence of Russia, exerted by the sending of mental issues. emissaries or money to promote communism. The pure Iberian type, and even the Indian of the In Argentina Ricardo Roj as in "EI Radicalismo middle class, abhors communism; but these are de Manana," Arturo Capdevila in "America," the minority. Alfredo Colmo in a new study on revolutions about to appear, are facing their people with We may, however, feel encouraged because fundamental issues. Young Cubans, like Jorge the communism of Latin America, when native Manach in his "Indagaci6n del Choteo," are laying and not imported, is not antagonistic to religion. bare the reason why their country does not spiritually progress.
1!l33] THE SITUATION IN LATIN AMERICA
The Aztec communist, and the Inca communist, went to South America. He was born in Eng- and the Paraguayan Jesuit communist, were re- land in 1863 in a poor but Christian family. In ligious. Haya de la Torre, the radical leader in 1872 the family emigrated to South America, liv- Peru, was early won to Russian communism but ing first in Paraguay, and next in Argentina. At afterwards repudiated communism because of its sixteen years of age, William went to Buenos lack of idealism and religion. Jose Carlos Maria- Aires where he was employed by an importing tegui, who before his death was the greatest ex- firm. There he was impressed with the moral ponent of communism in Latin America, stated and material misery of hundreds of poor fami- very plainly that religion has a place in the hu- lies, which aroused his desire to serve them. He man life as ~Teat as that of truth or beauty. organized in 1898 the system of schools with Protestant Christians should take advantage which was connected a wide philanthropic agency of the present crisis by carrying out a great to help poor children. From an attendance of continental campaign of spiritual appeal, em- 126 the schools grew to number between six and bracing: First, the Protestant constituency, seven thousand. The Argentine government con- bringing it a greater vision of the present op- tributed directly to these schools and a large portunities; second, the common people; third, circle of distinguished Argentines and foreigners the cultured classes; fourth, the Indians. Devo- not only gave money but time to the development tion, vision and leadership for this are needed. of these remarkable institutions. More than four The services of Dr. George P. Howard are now million dollars was collected during Mr. Morris'
available to all evangelical denominations in life for the schools and charitable aid to the stu- South America. Last year most of his time has dents, that have totaled more than one hundred been given to Buenos Aires and Santiago de thousand.
Chile. In the early months of the year he held Such students of the situation as Dr. John A.
successful series of lectures in Buenos Aires and Mackay believe that good literature must occupy Montevideo; in the spring he transferred his a large, if not the largest, place in reaching the residence to Santiago and began efforts to open general public with the Christian message. Latin the way for his work in Chile. He attended the America needs men like Kagawa of Japan, whose World's Sunday School Convention at Rio de forty-five books explain much of his wide influ- Janeiro and en route held one of the most fruit- ence in his own land and in all parts of the world.
ful series of religious lectures ever presented in Any large Christian movement in Latin Amer- the city of Buenos Aires. One of the large down- ica must be accompanied by the right kind of town halls, with a seating capacity of 800, was books and magazines that will appeal to the mod- rented for a week's lectures. The results were ern youth and adults. Visiting the large well far beyond anyone's expectations. Beginning stocked book shops in Latin American cities, we with an audience of 500 people, the crowd in- find that the books there displayed are, for the creased each evening until on the last evening the most part, "communistic," philosophical and radi- doors had to be closed to prevent overcrowding, cal. This indicates the difference in the thinking over a thousand people being present. These and of the young Latin American today and the youth other experiences have enthused him more than in the United States. The temper of the modern ever for the task in which he is engaged. He world indicates that more than ever books and writes: periodicals cast in the right form offer the great- I am amazed at the rapidity with which events are est opportunity for reaching wide circles of people.
taking place here in South America. We must act The Committee on Cooperation in Latin Amerquickly. This is Latin America's day of white heat. ica is doing its utmost to help the Christian The firm impress of Christ must be laid now on the forces in those countries meet the present need. fluid material of these young commonwealths. The In my recent trip to South America I had opporfrightful chaos in social and political life, the misery tunities to address ministers' associations, coland suffering in economic affairs, are all creating a feeling of nostalgia for something imperishable and lege and seminary faculties, endeavoring to show a willingness to listen to any who claim to have the them the possibilities that lie before them in these way, the truth and the life. And we know that we troublous times. Stimulating Christian literature have them. is also sent to the field; summer conferences are The wide influence of the lives of Christian being held in some countries; regional gatherings workers, even though organization seems to slow were held following the World's Sunday School down, has been emphasized this year through the Convention at Rio de Janeiro; conferences, lec- death of Rev. William Morris, the founder of the tures and retreats are arranged to bring together series of schools known as the Argentine Philan- persons engaged in evangelical work; and local thropic Schools and Institutes. Many believe that evangelical workers are cooperating to extend Mr. Morris was the greatest missionary that ever the Kingdom of God in Latin America.
R. Matt: Missionary to the
By PROF. KENNETH SCOTT LATOURETTE, D.D., I New Haven, Connecticut I r=""- Professor of Missions and Oriental History, Yale University i FORTUNATELY Dr. Mott is still with us, as that have since passed he has sought great things, hard at work and as youthful in outlook as they have not been for himself. He has truly en- ever. We are not here primarily seeking to deavored to "seek first the Kingdom of God." express our appreciation of a great life. Dr. Mott would not wish for praise and the Christian world One of the secrets of Dr. Mott's immense useis so well aware of his usefulness that any verbal fulness has been that he has interpreted that tribute comes near to be- phrase, "the Kingdom of God," in large termsing superfluous. Rather we attempt briefly to out- that he has never been line what can be accom- willing to set any boundplished by one life, dedi- aries to the Kingdom. He cated in youth to the Will has always been eager to of God, daring to attempt have his conceptions of it great things for God, and broadened, desiring only having confidence to ex- that he should not miss pect great things of God. God's leading and that the Kingdom should always be At the urgent request of God's. To this may probthe program committee, at ably be ascribed two of his a quadrennial convention qualities which have been of the Student Volunteer a constant inspiration to Movement some years ago, his friends-his own con- Dr. Mott departed from tinued growth in outlook, his usual reticence about a characteristic w h i c h his own inner history and gives him a perennially gave a great student audi- youthful quality, and his ence the story of the de- unfailing capacity to lift cision which, in his early other men's horizons. student years, altered the current of his life and put Early in his Christian him in the path which has experience Dr. Mott was led step by step through led to give the central the many open doors of place in his life and large opportunity which thought to Jesus Christ. he has since entered. He Ever since then the living Christ has been to him a rea lit y. It is in the had transferred from a .TOH N R. M aTT strength of that convic- small Christian college to tion and that fellowship a large university, hoping in that way to remove that he has dreamed and labored. Many now in himself from strong Christian influences, and middle life can remember, as though it were yes- while a student in this latter institution he heard terday, how in their student days they heard him one of the Studds, that English family which had speak of the meaning of Christ to him and this been so profoundly stirred and changed through kindled in them the longing that the same experi- D. L. Moody, speak from the words "Seekest thou ence might become theirs. The manner in which great things for thyself? Seek them not. . . . .. his life has been lived is in itself an additional Seek ye first the Kingdom of God." The texts evidence-if one were necessary-of the reality struck home. Dr. Mott was led, after much wres- and the power of that Presence in whom Dr. Mott tling of spirit, to make the decisive dedication of so firmly believes. To that quiet confidence can be his life to the service of God. While in the years attributed, at least in part, the unhurried and al- [206 ] most serene manner which is one of his most the colleges and universities of the United States marked characteristics-even when, as so often, and Canada, organizing associations on campuses, he has seemed to be carrying a suffering world on enlisting leaders, and helping producce literature.
his heart, endeavoring to bring it, redeemed and He showed here, as elsewhere, a remarkable fac- purified, through a long night of agony. ulty for recognizing potential ability in youth, en- Dr. Mott came early to feel that among the listing it in the Christian enterprise, and making meanings of the Kingdom of God is the transfor- opportunity for it to develop to the full. For years mation of defeated lives into victorious lives. To he presided at the annual student conferences at the mission of dealing with individual men in pub- Northfield. He conducted many evangelistic cam- lic address, and in private interviews, he has given paigns in the colleges.
many years. He has by no means forgotten this As chairman for more than thirty years of the mission or felt it to be an outgrown phase of his executive committee of the Student Volunteer development, even though in later years he has Movement, he headed that organization and di- found it necessary to devote much of his time to rected and presided at most of its quadrennial organization. He would be the first to say that conventions. These gatherings alone have had an the machinery in which he has necessarily become outstanding effect in quickening interest and en- so much involved is useless unless it contributes listing life in the world-wide mission of the to this remaking, in Christ's image, of broken Church.
men and women. From 1898-when he was in his early thirties- In his undergraduate days, Mr. Mott·was led to to 1915 he was in charge of the foreign work of think in terms of the entire world. He was one the Young Men's Christian Association and has of that hundred who, in 1886, at that first student been largely responsible for the world outreach of conference at Mt. Hermon, dedicated themselves that organization. During these years he made to foreign missions and with whom the Student tours around the world and to many different Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions began. countries, chiefly for the purpose of reaching stu- He has told how his own vision was strengthened dent groups and enlisting them in the Christian and broadened in the early days of the Movement enterprise. To his vision-when he was barely as a group of which he was a member was led, thirty years of age-was largely due the bringing through study, discussion and prayer, to adopt the into existence of the World's Student Christian watchword "The Evangelization of the World in Federation. For a quarter of a century, from this Generation." Noone knowing him can doubt 1895 to 1920, he was its general secretary, and that through the years, whatever others may have from then to 1928 its chairman.
done, he has been true to that watchword. His As he grew older, Dr. Mott's outstanding abili- conception of what is implied by "evangelization" ties inevitably brought him into a still wider range has been enriched, as it must be for all who are of activities. He became chairman of the Con- open to God's guidance. He recently reminded a tinuation Committee of the Edinburgh Mission- student audience at how many more angles the ary Conference and when that was succeeded by missionary enterprise is now touching the world's the International Missionary Council he was life than was the case in his own undergraduate made chairman of the latter body. In the former days. His vision, therefore, has not only remained capacity he toured the world in 1912-1913, helping world-wide, but he has been led to see more and to set up national committees which should make more how many are the phases of the world's life effective the cooperation begun at Edinburgh.
which must be entered and claimed for Christ. These later grew into the National Christian He has a profound conviction, to which he has Councils. He was the organizing genius and the often given voice, that "Christ must be Lord of presiding officer of the Jerusalem meeting of the all or he is not Lord at all." Through it all, how- International Missionary Council. More than ever, it is evangelization-making open channels any other one man, he has been responsible for for the "good news" of Christ-which has been the coordination and cooperation of Protestant his dominant concern. missionary forces the world around.
The major tasks to which, in pursuance of the In 1915 he became the general secretary of the vision of his youth, Dr. Mott has set his hands and International Committee of the Young Men's heart are part of the history of Christianity of Christian Association and held that office past the the last half-century. He early associated him- usual retiring age. In 1926 he was made chair- self with the Young Men's Christian Association, man of the World's Committee of the Young then in the rising tide of its remarkable growth Men's Christian Association. During the World in this country. As head of its student work for War he carried the heavy load of the general sec- nearly a quarter of a century, he contributed more retaryship of the War Work Council of the Young than anyone can measure to the religious life of Men's Christian Association. He it was who was largely responsible for the magnificent service Dr. Mott has taken time to be a student. He is rendered by that body and upon him fell the a prodigious reader and is the author of a dozen major share of the burden of raising the enormous or more volumes. funds required. Now in his late sixties, although some of his The trusted friend of presidents of the United greatest years of achievement may well yet lie States and of statesmen the world around, more ahead, there is need for rising young leaders who than once he has had offers which might have will take up the work that he will lay down. The lured him into the field of politics and diplomacy. call is for men to do for the coming generation However, he has kept resolutely to his purpose something of what he has done and is doing for of working through organized Christianity. Only ours. Even more than ever, the need is for men on two major occasions, the Mexican Commission who will make a dedication of themselves to God of 1916 and the Special Diplomatic Mission to and his Kingdom in their youth, and who view Russia in 1917, has he been drawn even tempo- that Kingdom as one which is world-wide. The rarily into the field of international politics. power of God is not diminished. We hope and pray that in this new generation there will be Throughout his life, crowded as it has been with those who will allow it free course. travel and heavy administrative responsibilities, AMERICAN CHURCH EXPENDITURES FOR SELVES AND OTHERS Gathered from United Stewardship Council Statistics, 1932 A blank was sent to the officials of the communions beneficent work outside of the budget. The statistics are named below and the statistics are from their replies. for the denominational fiscal years. These statistics are from living donors. Interest and legacies are not included. Budget benevolences are those in The column headed "Total Gifts for All Purposes" in the denominational national budget. Denominational be- some cases contains gifts from living donors which were nevolences include budget benevolences and such other con- given either from nonbudget denominational benevolences tributions as are made 'for denominational missionary and or for non- and interdenominational benevolences, and there is no method of dividing them.
PER Ol~PIT'A GIFTS 'l'OTAL GIFTS – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – ——–c–.——————- Membership COllUlluniun I Congre- Budget Denomina- Cungre- in United Benevo· tional gational All Purposes States and gational All Purposes Oanada – ) – – – – Expenses lences Benevolences Expenses (18) $12.94 $'2,911 ,823.00 ! $12,20'3,275.00 : $15,115,0'98.0'0' 943,063 (:;) 5.87 (2) 21.04 1,22S,()~2.10 , 1,,,.57 .437 .51 56000 (17) (10) 16.81 24,313,7?4.oo : 28,360,4:18.00' ' (25) 2.BO (24) 6.80 26, 79R, 75,:~.(j:l 1,445:615 (]4) (25) 5.06 32,618,125.56 :;,044,566 1.47 (6) 18.31 855,543.()O i 1 ,:~56,477 .00' (~1l :1.13 (22) 7.1:; 19,195,468.00 I 22,652,901.00 143,425 2.51 11 ,217,168.9:1 14,134,186.16 , 1,0'48,205 U41 (5) 18.66 4,245,640'.00 5,129,171.00 1,572,732 (15 ) 1.1'5 227,472 :~.12 (10) 3.69 (13) ]5.8.'1 3.774,171.27 4,658,574.94 2:;9,611 (2~) 2.48 (D) 4,:381,634.78 5,090,461.84 259,896 16.~6 (23) 1.89 (21) 670',862.00' 837,148.00 87,52:3 7.66 (0) 3.87 (17) 18.42 12,207,358.00 i 15,728,268.00 !J09,307 (13) ~.28 (8) 17.8:; 67,863,940.00 , 82,758,490.00 , 31,616,016.00 :1,915'.755 (19) 2.71 (20) 9.23 24,028,455.00' 2,603,095 (7) 4.61 (14) . 15.55 353,739.22 445,369.83 (11) 16.70- I 18,378 (8) 4.46 3,020,939.00 , 3,909,209.00 180',956 (.5) 5.35, I (3) 20.45 50,426.861.00 1,957,999 39,95O',927.m : 11,063,584.00 468,532 (2) 6'.93 (12) 16.68 i 7,816,420'.00 ' 1,860,90;] (20) 2.68 32,520',350.00' 37,500,000.00 100,198 (6) 4.97 (23) 6.06 4,569,420.00 346 945 (12) ::L~9 3.613,083.00 , 396;687 (18) 2.i2 (1) 22.55 ! 4,812,035.00 , 6,0'41,700.00 615,751 (4) 5.42 4,883,171.00 : 5,525,530.00 1,001,520 (11) 3.:32 (16) 1:3.87 14,326,371.00 178,177 10,735,812.00 i 18,036,646.0'0' 0) 0.24 (19) 11.05 14,702,001.00 i 5,159,950.00 (7) 17.H 3,-«)8,516.00 , (15) 14.6R ;, (4) 19.13 $3.79 $14.56 – – – – – – – – – – – .. ——–.—–.——-'—~——————— Compiled for the United Stewardship CounCil, HARRY S. MYERS, Secretary, 152 Madison Avenue, New York City.
Above is a part of the annual statement pre- obtained from denominations claiming 23,729,604 pared by the United Stewardship Council, show- members within the United States. Probably ing the gifts toward congregational expenses and there are approximately seven million more membenevolences reported by twenty-five Protestant bers in the 190 other Protestant denominations denominations (twenty-two of them in the United listed in North America. States and three in Canada). Judging from the total of membership given in the table, 24,582,311, While the figures are impressive it can be seen and deducting 852,707 as the total of the three by a comparison with the reports for previous Canadian churches, the statement shows figures years that the present financial shortage is being reflected in the treasuries of the churches.
-Facing the Future in Home Missions*
By the REV. WILLIAM R. KING, D.D., New York Executive Secret4ry of the Home Missions Council I T IS much easier to look backward over the We have not yet fully realized the effect upon past, or to review the present than it is to pre- Home Missions, for example, of the passing of the dict the future. This is particularly true in frontier in the early nineties which marked the these changing and uncertain times. Noone can first great change of direction in the "march of see very far, or very clearly today in the thick democracy" in America. Neither have we in any weather through which we are sailing. Visibility adequate wa.y sensed the significance of the rise is exceedingly low. He would be rash, indeed, who and dominance of the great city in America, which would assume to speak with very much certainty is rapidly urbanizing our entire civilization, and about anything today, especially about Home Mis- producing a new type of humanity with which the sions. The old trails over which we have come Church must deal. Nor have we fully appreciated stand out in bold relief, but the highways of the the revolutionary influences of what Prof. Randall future are still largely uncharted. calls the reign of the twin gods of science and the As we lift our eyes to the future of Home Mis- machine, "which, though they have held sway over sions we are confronted with some sobering facts us barely fifty years, have destroyed more that and situations. Several disconcerting clouds hang was old and built up, more than is new, than any across the horizon of the new day-the cloud of invading army in the history of man." Nor have a national and world-wide depression that gives we recovered our equilibrium since the World no sign of lifting in the near future; the cloud of War, which so completely upset our civilization declining incomes and diminishing budgets that and disturbed our religious and ecclesiastical orthreatens to remain for a considerable time; the cloud of an amazing lack of interest on the part ganizations. of the rank and file of our church membership, We cannot wisely plan our Home Missionary which shows but few breaks of penetrating light; and the cloud of a rapidly changing America, program today unless we take into account the which is complicating the task and changing the effect of these great changes that have taken place entire character of the enterprise for all time to in America during the last forty years, and parcome. ticularly within the last twenty-five years. Since the Home Missions Council and the Council of No one can read the report of President Women for Home Missions were organized in Hoover's Commission on "Re,cent Social Trends" 1908 something unprecedented has happened to without being dazed by the kaleidoscopic changes America, and consequently something has haptaking place in America. No part of our national pened to Home Missions. Both the old America and the old Home Missions have gone.
life is being more affected by these "trends" than How Shall We Face the Future? our religious life-no institution is more affected by them than the Church-and no part of church First of all we must face the future; we cannot life is more influenced by them than Home Mis- escape it. We cannot live in the past. We cansions. The President's Commission says, "Of the not rest in the present. The future claims us. great social organizations, two, the economic and We must face it with a calm and resolute deterthe governmental, are growing at a rapid rate, mination to carryon. while two other historic organizations, the Church and the family, have declined in social signifi- The greatest peril to Home Missions today is cance, although not in human, values." It is un- the temptation to surrender to the "depression" doubtedly true that the Church has been the slow- -to withdraw within our tents and wait for the est of all our institutions to sense the changes of clouds to roll by. Our dangers are lack of courrecent years, and the tardiest to adjust itself to age, loss of morale, failure of faith and counseling the new situations. with fears. While the times are hard and distress very real, there is a good deal of scare about the whole situation. We need to read history and * An address at the Fe!Iowship Dinner on the occasion of the recall "the years of the right hand of the Most Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the Home Missions Council and the Council of Women for Home Missions. High."
[209 ]
This i:,; no time for letting up in our work. praisal conferences having for their purpose the This is the time for a real advance. When Gen- re-evaluation of Home Missions. Since the Wash- eral Joffre found the situation going against him ington Congress about fifty follow-up conferences at the Marne he said, "My left is shattered, my have been held in different parts of the country right is wavering-let the center advance." The to discuss the new day for Home Missions.
only way out of the present disturbing situation is Last year our study book, "The Challenge of ahead. We cannot afford to wait for the depres- Change," carried to thousands of mission groups sion to lift; it may remain for some time. We in the churches over the land the message of the cannot afford to wait for the income of boards to Washington Home Missions Congress.
increase, we may need to get accustomed to Through surveys and special studies made we smaller budgets. We cannot afford to wait for a have gathered more than one five-foot shelf of more convenient season, or a more advantageous valuable data on Home Missions, which has en- position, the center must advance without delay. abled us to determine our objectives and get our Theodore Roosevelt is quoted as saying, "Nine- new directions in Home Missions.
tenths of wisdom is being wise in time; and if a Lay Out Our Program of Advance country lets the time for wise action pass it may bitterly repent when, a generation later, it strives This program will be reported to the two Coununder disheartening difficulties to do what could cils in January, 1934, by the Five Year Program have been done easily if attempted at the right Committee. The advance recommended will be moment." neither to the right nor left, but straight ahead.
This is the time for a forward movement in It is not a new direction we need now in Home Missions, both home and foreign. We must ad- Missions, it is a new emphasis. We have already vance now, and from where we are. We are prone turned the corner. We need now to speed up the to be like the Kentucky mountaineer of whom processes already started. Weare headed right; President Hutchins of Berea College tells, who was let us quicken our pace.
asked by a traveler the way to Cincinnati. After Mission Boards have been in process of read- making several attempts to direct him how to get justment for some time. Our cooperative proc- out of the hills to the main highway the moun- esses began twenty-five years ago, when these two taineer said, "Well, str:anger to be squar' with Councils were organized. The leaders of that day you, if ye want to git to Cincinnati, ye'd better not "discerned the signs of the times" and began to start from here." work together.
Preliminary Steps for an Advance We are not now contemplating anything spec- tacular or extravagant. Any advance movement In any advance movement there are certain should be simple, practical, inexpensive and un- things to be done. ostentatious.
First, we must determine our objectives and get In conclusion, we ought to go into this uncer- our directions. This has largely been accom- tain, but intriguing future with new slogans, with plished. We have been "re-thinking" Home Mis- new appeals, and with a new unity. Let us say sions for five years. Three years before the Lay- less about budgets and quotas and reports, and men's Commission began its study of Foreign more about needs and service and Kingdom inter- Missions, the Five Year Program of Survey and ests. Let us say less about hardships and more Adjustment of the Home Missions Councils had about the claims of Christ and the opportunities.
been under way. Let us say less about denominations and more Surveys have been made of twenty-five states about our common responsibility for the saving in whole or in part. A number of special project of America. The great days of Home Missions surveys and intensive studies have been made. are not all in the past.
Four large national conferences have been held- There are great days for Home Missions pos- the Cleveland Comity Conference, 1928-the De- sible in the next twenty-five years. But we must troit City Conference, 1929 – the Washington make them. My one appeal is that in spite of Home Missions Congress, 1930-and the recent declining incomes and reduced budgets, in spite Chicago Conference on the City and the Church in of the clouds that hover over us, in the name of the Present Crisis, 1932. All of these were ap- Christ and America let us go forward.
To have courage without pugnacity; to have conviction without bigotry; to have charity without condescension; to have faith without credulity; to have love of humanity without mere sentimentality; to have meekness with power and emotion with sanity-that is Christianity.-Charles Evans Hughes.
Out a Demon in
The Story of Some Results of Student Evangelism* I Told by DR. GEORGE S. McCUNE _·otEf President of Union Christian College Pyengyang, Korea H ~, CAME in howling like a wild maniac. have thought that old sinner would repent and They say I'm crazy!" he cried. "Be still! live again with his wife?" Let me alone! I will tell you . . ." and a They never saw it on this fashion before, and volley of incoherent verbiage burst into the quiet the fame went abroad. Every night nine hun- dred gathered to hear the Word, and over three morning precincts of prayer. hundred became Christians.
A hundred faces in the dim light of dawn sud- If the Gospel word is sharp enough to cut asunder the base instincts of the soul from the denly turned toward the great door of the court- Godward yearnings of the spirit, as it had for Mr. Kim, can it not pierce to the hidden depths yard. of the human mind and relieve a demon pos- sessed man? Something like this must have been "The demon possessed man," they whispered the reasoning of these simple-hearted villagers. For the afflicted man's family hope burst as a and instinctively shrank away. ' springtime blade from the ashen years of help- less resignation. . Th~ unfortunate victim's family were leading And so on the calm of the morning air break hIm m for prayer, and the worshippers would the cries of this wild maniac: have fled had not this wretched figure become a' "Don't strike me! Keep away!" His relatives held him firmly and led him to the fampiar one to them through the years. student in charge. It was a prayer meeting, and here was a subject for prayer forcibly and bodily SIxteen years before this the village of Pyuk- presented, albeit an unusual one. Alone the stu- dent would never have included such a point in dong had heard a group of college boys from his outline notes. He inwardly trembled. But the Holy Spirit sometimes takes charge of church Pyenl?yang preach the Gospel, and then had sunk meetings, and God often thrusts strange words into yielded mouths. back mto the age-old darkness apparently to drag The boy preacher prayed simply, definitely, earnestly to the Lord Christ who is the same yeson the weary days as before. But now another terday, today, and forever-to the sympathizing Jesus, on whose lips it seems natural to hear the Gospel Team from Pyengyang Union Christian word of authority, "Be thou made whole." Again to the evening service came the pos- College had come; and the power of the Holy sessed man, and together the boys continued in prayer all through the night. Spirit was coming upon them. When it came time to close the meetings and go on to the next village, the afflicted man with For months, almost from the beginning of the his relatives followed after them. The disciples of old, in their annoyance, petulantly murmured, fall term, .thir~y or forty of the college boys had "Send her away"; but these students saw in the case the leadi~g of God. They asked the Chrisbe:n meetmg m fo~r groups, praying for special tians in the village to unite with them in interces- sion .and spent in turn a good part of the night gUIdance and blessmg. At the close of the spring praymg.
term eighteen of them were led to form three evangelistic teams, six students in each group.
~fter praying they decided they must go out dur- mg the summer vacation and preach nothing other than Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
One of these teams came to the village of Pyuk- dong, where they could not find a single Chris- tian, although some confessed to having heard the Jesus doctrine preached some sixteen years be- fore. A man of the village offered them a board- ing place and cleared an open space for their meetings. They preached in the power of the Holy Spirit and a well-to-do man, consorting with two concubines, was convicted of sin, gave the two "small wives" a .good.living, sent them away, and made a home wIth hIS own wife.
sai"dT. his"TJheseures'sdoMctrr.inKe iisma-wsthrayn,gewhtoheinv~gr" people would P('~~~2)Ol'tP(1 for The /Io,'ca, Mission Fidd, by ViC'tOJ' 'Vellington [ 211 ]
While they were praying an old woman was evening meetings at the Union Christian College convicted of sin. She had all her lifetime been Auditorium. The main floor is filled every morn- in bondage to the fear of evil spirits, but now she ing at five-thirty for prayer. Thirty millions souls met a Loving One who could break every fetter in Manchuria need to be saved for Christ and our and set the sinner free; she heard His word, boys are preparing for that conquest. Some Ko- "This is life eternal, that they should know thee, rean students already speak Chinese fluently and the only true God." She went home and gathered they will make excellent missionaries in the next all the family together, seventeen of them. Evi- few years. Some of the students of our College dently, as in the days of the apostles, she "and and Academy, 'of the Theological Seminary, the all her household" believed unto salvation, for Soong In and the Girls' Academy, gave their pen- they collected all their articles of sacrifice and the nies, dimes and dollars. Some are living on two objects connected with spirit worship and brought meals a day; others are wearing patched clothes; them out to burn. some saved money by not going home for vaca- Thus God manifested His favor in one village tion, and others earned money by hard labor, to by redeeming an old polygamist and in the next send a Korean missionary to Manchuria.
by revealing to a whole family that He alone is God. The man bound by Satan was not yet re- A LUCKNOW GOSPEL TEAM stored, though he seemed to be getting better.
Apparently God was drawing faith out to a great- This team grew out of the Student Christian er victory. Association Camp. Each year an initiation cere- mony takes place in which the pledge of member- The next place the evangelistic team entered ship is taken by new and renewed by old memwas a large market town. It was a strategic point bers. It is expected that they abide by certain for a Gospel victory, and the students were im- principles and put into practice the team's motto, pressed with the greatness of the opportunity. which is: To this place also followed the afflicted man. God seemed to be waiting for the best time to answer. Service on the basis of friendship with God, friend- God's silences are as purposeful as His clearest ship with Team members, and friendship with other words. people. The ideals are to keep clean and pure in word, action, thought, body and heart. Through the long night hours they pleaded that the power of Almighty God might be manifested The pledge of the membership runs as follows: and that He might receive all the glory. God answered, "I have both glorified my name and Trusting in God to help me, I promise to abide by will glorify it again"; for had He not saved a the principles ·of the Gospel Team, and sincerely enhopeless polygamist in the first village and in the deavor to put into practice its ideals throughout my second delivered a family from a host of demonic life. Nothing that I do will be done with a view spirits and gathered many people to His name? solely to please people. I will strive to the best of my ability to keep clean in thought, word and deed; About three in the morning they felt led to call to maintain brotherly love; to treat all women and to the demon possessed man: "In the name of girls with respect and honor; and to willingly accept Jesus of Nazareth we command you to leave this punishment for any breach 'of the Gospel Team rules.
man." This year the team has decided upon the follow- That Name has lost none of its ancient power ing forms of service: on prayerful lips; instantly the demon left and 1. Meditation and sharing of experience. the man was fully restored. The power of Jesus 2. Village uplift or rural reconstruction. Telling the was talked about through all that district and people the primary principles in sanitation, and first where only thirty or forty Christians had met be- aid in common accidents. Educating men and chilfore, now twelve hundred crowded in every night dren. to hear the new and living Way expounded. A 3. Social Service. Visiting the sick in hospitals, church of eight hundred is now worshipping in and wherever required. Helping in burials.
this market center every Sunday. 4. Neighborhood Service. Night school. House vis- Student Work for Manchuria itation. Holding Sunday schools and services for servants.
The Christian young men of Korea are inter- 5. Religious Service. Preaching the Gospel in moested in extending Christ's Kingdom and fifteen hallas, villages and slums among Christians and nonhundred men have come in from all parts of Christians. Bazaar and mela preaching. Giving full Pyengyang province to study the Bible. About assistance and cooperation with prayer and active two-thirds of those enrolled are under thirty service, and making definite contribution in all reliyears of age. It is proving to be a council of war gious and social camps, conferences, institutes, conto wrest from Satan's grip a million souls for ventions and evangelistic and revival meetings. Help- ing the various churches in the city and outside the God's Kingdom. Four to six thousand attend the city, whereVer help is necessary.-Indian. Witness.
A Continental View of the Laymen's
Report By the REV. JULIUS RICHTER, D.D., Berlin, Germany I N MY view, the second and third part of "Re- Church and mIssIOnaries are attempting to ac- Thinking Missions," with the review of the complish. We, in Europe, hoped that after Lau- situation and the problems of selected mis- sanne and Jerusalem and Herrnhut there was a sionary agencies, are by far most valuable but no common conviction on the content of the Chris- attempt is made to give a comprehensive view of tian message but the Report calls every such state- the missionary situation in any of the countries ment in doubt. If, in spite of the deficiencies of visited. It seems to me im- the dogmatical statement, at- possible to evaluate the rela- tention is concentrated on the tive importance of these agen- This paper by Dr. Julius Christian "way of life" that, cies in the different countries Richter, the well-known au- by the overwhelming majority without such a background. thority on continental missions of friends of missions will be The presentation lacks per- and the author of "Missions in regarded as misleading and spective. Any true appraisal India," "Protestant Missions in unsatisfactory. After reading of the mISSIOns and the the Near East," and other stand- the first and the fourth parts churches in India or China or anredntvaloluEmueros,peshanoswslohookw actontthie- of the Report and vividly pro- Laymen's Appraisal Report, and Japan should keep in mind how it presents itself to a man testing against many of their what has been attempted there who has devoted twenty-seven content, many will not have in former times, what meth- years to writing the history of the patience to peruse careods they have used, and what fully the second and third sec- have been the results. If such the Protestant missions in all tions which contain the most a general critical survey is at- foreign countries. He expresses valuable recommendations. tempted by a group which is great respect for the writers of Again, there is a veil of in- able to carry it through with "Re-Thinking Missions," and definiteness spread over the the broadest outline, the his- gratitude that these fifteen men Report. One almost never and women devoted a year to a tory of the past work should close study of the missionary knows it relates only to the not be left out. From this re- situation in Asia. At the same seven denominations or if the port it is impossible to obtain time he takes a very decided ex- mission boards have any di- a satisfactory view of the mis- ception to their basic ideas and rect relation to the sweeping sionary situation in any of many of their findings. proposals. In many cases it these countries as a whole. is apparent that the Apprais- Any critical remarks can be ers have in view the whole correctly weighed only from this background. Protestant missionary movement, and yet evi- It seems also a pity that the Commissioners dently their information is insufficient. No athave put the whole emphasis of their authority on tempt is made to differentiate American, British the first and the fourth part of the volume con- and Continental missions. As a whole, the Re- taining their philosophy of the missionary move- port seems to have in view the average type of ment from the standpoint of enlightened human- American missions, but what type that is in their ism. We appreciate with what candor and eyes one can only surmise. impressiveness Professor Hocking is arguing Many of the practical proposals of the Report against a shallow secul::trism; these chapters should be read not as an attack against a positive are in line with the plans of the International Mis- sion Council and of the commissions sent out in Biblical and historical conception of the Christian connection with the Council, as, for example, the faith, but as an attempt to render the foreign Burton CommIssion to China, the Lindsay Com- missionary movement acceptable to many Ameri- mission or Christian Higher Education in India, cans, who have lost any conception of what the the Commission on Christian Education in Japan.
[213 ]
In almost every case they go beyond what these Would a central recruiting office, perhaps in concommissions and the International Missionary nection with the American office of the Interna- Council think attainable under present circum- tional Missionary Council be commendable? stances. This surplus calls for comment. A council on rural community work, drawing Cooperation of the Protestant missionary forces upon the united strength both of the mission and is the watchword of all missionary conferences of the Church in each country, might become an since Edinburgh. But it is extremely doubtful if intelligent and far-seeing agency for planning acan all powerful ministry with autocratic authority tivities, for selecting and training the personnel to direct foreign missions, is possible either for and for making the necessary financial arrangethe whole Protestantism or separately for North ments, yet what unheard of unification and con- America, Great Britain, and Continental Europe. centration of foreign missions would be required It is hardly worth while to elaborate the merits of to make it really effective. so chimerical a proposal. It is also questionable whether more would be gained or lost by relegat- It is easy for an American to thunder against ing the functions of the denominational foreign the shortcomings of the denominationalism, but mission boards to higher authorities for the col- interdenominational unification in common work lection of money only. The Roman Catholic on a large scale is already in view. If the regions Church is attempting the experiment. Would it of denominational narrowness are toned down too be wise to follow its leadership in this field which far will there not be danger of indifference and of must be handled so discreetly? looseness in church adherence?
Much might be gained if it were possible so to Almost every proposal looks inviting at first, amalgamate and to concentrate educational ef- but in view of the rash enthusiasm of the Comforts, either for the colleges and universities or missioners, the wisdom of the International Misextending the cooperation downward to the high sionary Council is evident in making haste slowly. schools, the secondary schools or even the primary schools. The example of the Roman Catholic The Report puts its finger on many sore points strategy is alluring, but how far is it practicable? in the Protestant missionary movement, and it Will the academic institutions of British India, never shrinks from giving clear cut advice. In originating from Great Britain and from North this respect it may serve as a healthy stimulant. America, ever be amalgamated that way? Will We can wish that the eyes of the general missionthat ever be possible in China? Would it be pos- ary public should be turned from the much desible to pool the financial resources coming from a bated parts I and IV and concentrated on the numscore of denominations with different ideals, such berless practical questions of part II and III so as the Baptists and the high church Anglicans? that the situations described there might be care- fully studied, and the recommendations given more adequate consideration.
T. he Indian Mission of Fellowship The Rt. Rev. J. S. C. Bannerji, Assistant Bishop of La- fectively conveyed except in the spirit of true hore, who was the leader of the Mission of Fellowship friendship and real fellowship. This has given us from the Churches in India to the Churches in Great Brit- a new insight into the problems of missionary ain, thus describes the three months' tour of the principal work in India. centers in Great Britain and Ireland made by the four Indian Christians. The Mission of Fellowship has enabled us to see certain things with reference to the land to which THIS three months has been a new revelation we brought our message. Great Britain when seen to us and we thank God for the riches in in her true perspective, is truly great. She has Christ Jesus that are ours by virtue of the taught us many a truth which we shall carry with age long search of our forefathers for things spir- us back to our own land. itual and unseen in that land of India. We go back with renewed zeal to claim for ourselves and our We have also seen something of the heart of Church the fullness that is ours in Christ Jesus. Christian England. We have seen how much warm sympathy and goodwill and a sincere desire to do the very best for India there is deep down in We have come to consider afresh the question the heart of the Christian people of England. We why in spite of the openness of the heart of India know we can trust them. Enthusiasm for things to receive spiritual truths, there has been in re- spiritual and abiding is very great. When we saw cent years a spirit of resistance against Christ and thousands of men and women gathered to hear the His Gospel. We have seen, as never before, that simple word of God, we realized that deep down in no spiritual message to a foreign land can be ef- their hearts there is a hunger for God.
~~'~==..,….".,.–"""""===-~~~"""""""'~====~=——-""=~==I~
Effective Ways of Working I 'rested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MRS. ESTELLA S. AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO ~'=I=====================II~'
SPRINGTIME SUGGES- we bow in Japan," "In India we "Resurrection from the dead." TIONS will all salaam," "In China we A description of Easter customs shake our very own hands," etc. in other countries follows, the An Easter Program for children repeating after the Children The decorations suggested for leader well-known greetings- the Easter program are flowers the girls saying, "He is risen," "If children pray together -brought by the children them- and the boys replying, "He is and play together the world is selves if possible-canaries in r i sen indeed." In America saved." cages, artificial butterflies, green Easter cards take the place of and white hangings and Easter Easter calls, visiting and feast- This is the basic thesis of eggs 'providing that their sig- ing, and the church service is "Festive Programs," a series nificance is fully explained. The the great event. Special musical published by the Women's Mis- invitations consist of a card numbers complete this simple sionary Society of the United with a simple white flower but impressive service.* Lutheran Church in America, painted in the corner by the from which we take the follow- children, or represent a bell or April Showers ing suggestions. cluster of bells cut from white cardboard, with dignified in- In an article in The Mission- Based on the holidays or festi- scriptions. Instead of a real ary Link, describing a send-off vals of various countries, the ob- game is suggested a study of the service for a group of new misject is to show that the boys and sionaries, the presiding officer girls in all countries have happy countries in which Easter is remarked that without doubt times just as they do in Amer- celebrated because Christ is the new missionaries had each ica, and that they love their known. Maps are used if de- had many "showers," but she country and its festivities just sired. The children are asked proposed to the assembly that as American children 10 v e to name countries which keep one more be given them-a theirs. In this setting, "Reli- Easter and those which do not, "Shower of Promises" to cheer gious festivals are introduced to lining up as for a spelling match, them on their way. These prombring abo.ut the realization of the leader calling for the Chris- ises came rapidly and spontanethe need of a Saviour in all na- tian countries from one side and ously from the audience as each tions…. Emphasis is put upon one gave some Scriptural promthe similarities instead of the the non-Christian from the ise which had been his or her differences in the nations of the other, the sides vying as to which own stay in life: "Commit thy world. Where a difference is can hold its place longer. Lead- way unto the Lord"; "He shall noted it is explained that it is er explains that while Japan, give his angels charge over the lack of the knowledge of China, etc., do not keep Easter thee" ; "Be careful for noth- Jesus Christ that makes people as a nation, many of their peo- ing"; "My grace is sufficient for different. Racial and color char- ple who have attended our mis- thee"; "In quietness and in conacteristics are ignored. The sion schools and churches do. fidence shall be your strength," programs are simply a 'coming etc. The leader's own contributogether' of the boys and girls The program proper begins tion was most inspiring: "Courof our country and others." with the reading of the Easter age! it is I" (Revised Version). Memory work, handwork, deco- story, Luke 24: 1-10, by a child rations, invitations, music and or its repetition by a group of In a young woman's organizagames are outlined; the last- children, one or more appropri- tion, a shower of paper butternamed-excellent adaptations of ate hymns or carols, and sen- flies fluttered down from an umour familiar games to mission- tence prayers. The leader then brella opened above the group; ary words and actions-are op- explains the changes in spring- each butterfly was inscribed tional in the programs. For time and its consequent appro- with a number corresponding to instance, an adaptation of "Here priateness for the Easter season. that on a piece of missionary lit- We Go 'Round the Mulberry Seed or cocoon development may erature to be claimed by the Bush" begins, "Here we go furnish the visualization. The 'round the world together," and very word Easter comes from· * Booklet obtainable at the Literature in its several choruses the re- an old word meaning April; but frain repeats, "This is the way the meaning of the word which Headquarters, 723 Muhlenberg Building, we know best and celebrate is, 1228 Spruce St., Philadelphia, Pa. Price, 15 cents. [ 215]
recipient. A similar plan uses yond argument. Mrs. Claire part of September (sometimes small paper tags hanging by Goodsill Chandler writes us re- as picnic meetings with quilt threads from the edge of a sus- garding this feature in the piecing as an avocation), the pended umbrella. In May the Galesburg Baptist church. She groups read, discussed and disame purpose is served by a tells how the girls in her Sun- gested the subject matter. In- basket of crepe paper flowers, day-school class, after studying cidentally they rolled up a large each of which is attached to a "On Racial Understanding" number of points in the Baptist missionary leaflet. Half opened (Youth and Christian Life Se- Reading Contest. The demand rosebuds may be used in June. ries), decided to adopt Christian is for more porch parties next All such plans add zest which Americanization as their acti- season. Mrs. Chandler adds: tends to create an appetite for vating project. After inviting "It was a delightfully easy the inspirational reading matter. a successful leader in such work method for encouraging mis- to hold a conference with them, sionary reading; and 0 n c e AFTER THE SCHOOL OF they started out on a schedule started with a dependable lead- of weekly calls in the homes of er it took care of itself." MISSIONS-WHAT? local foreigners-mostly Mexi- N. B.-A cool drink served by Recent suggestions of this De- can, Hungarian, Greeks and the hostess was the limit of the partment have majored on spe- Italians. They give lessons in inevitable "refreshments," thus cial plans for mission study, as English and in many other ways minimizing preparatory work featured in the annual School of show themselves good friends and maximizing attention to the World Friendship. Shall it now and neighbors to the "New subjects in hand. be left with a sense of: There, Americans." The class prothat's over for another year!- an unrelated sidetrip in the grams for the year carry out IMPERSONATING MAGAyear's trek? Or shall it be so the same motive. Each month ZINES integrated with the year's en- is spent considering a different deavor as to be a fundamental country, with the committee in Eternal vigilance is the price and continuous factor? The charge planning decorations, of much besides "liberty." Plans prime essential for the latter programs, refreshments, enter- for stimulating the subscription plan is: tainment, etc., after the manner endeavor must be varied and of the country studied. Showers oft repeated. We are indebted A Missionary-Minded Pastor for Baptist stations, in the coun- to Viola Merritt Lyle, of Turtle tries considered during the Creek, Pennsylvania, for the fol- The Rev. W. N. Sager, of School of Missions, are held lowing excellent contribution: Bucyrus, Ohio, writing in the under the direction of a spe- Evangelical-Messenger, says: cially appointed "Shower Lady," At one of our meetings the litera- ture secretary used impersonations to make her subject matter more inter- The pastor is, or should be, the whose task is to plan appropri- esting. Securing magazine covers leader, director and example in mis- ately for the reception of small from local subscribers to the three sionary study, appeal and response in articles of ascertained need in publications to be considered, she so far as his congregation is unre- Indian stations in Arizona and basted these· decoratively on the white lated to the needs of the unevangel- Montana. These may be placed dresses of a corresponding number of ized. The business of missions is the on a dateless Christmas tree, or enthusiastic women who could be debusiness of the Church, the business in an Indian drum. Amounts of pended upon to give their subject of the Gospel. … This is the supreme money needed for specific ob- matter convincingly. The monologues purpose of the Church. For the nec- jects in stations in China are to ran something as follows: essary recruits we must look to the be dropped into a Chinese lanleaders of these flocks. The shep- tern to "send out the light." 1. I am the Year Book of Prayer. herds are responsible for their train- Come with me and I will show you ing. . . . The task is so important, so Another plan that has proved the fields where our missionaries far-reaching that the utmost loyalty of great value in this church is work. We will visit lonely places in to the Master's Plan and the most en- that of Porch Reading Groups. our land where probably you have during faithfulness must obtain, if Both the Home and the Foreign never gone, and then cross the ocean the work is to be well done. Not only study books seemed so readable to other countries. I will show you would indifference or neglect on the last summer that the local Mis- schools where· the thought of God has part of the pastor limit his useful- sionary Education Committee been so changed that instead of bowness and bring a smaller harvest, but suggested the formation of ing in terror before an idol, the chilthis would depreciate the activity of neighborhood reading groups dren love and worship the Father in the members of his church, and as a for the summer afternoons. heaven. We will see the Spirit of consequence, his church would not ac- Leaders were secured in differ- Christ at work in the colleges, on the complish its share of the work of the ent parts of town, and near-by campus and in the classrooms. Let Great Commission. . ',' Our church, women, girls and available men me take you to hospitals where suflocal and general, is dependent for were invited to become parts of fering people find healing for souls as her success on the mental training, their groups. The Woman's So- well as bodies. . . . Best of all, I will spiritual devotion and loyal obedience ciety bought the books-five of lead you to the Throne of God in earof her pastors to the program and nest prayer for the coming of His leadership of those in authority. the most colorful-each leader Kingdom. 0 come with me this year. making her own selection. Meet- Importance of Follow-Up ing weekly during August and I am the Year Book of Prayer. Projects (She remains standing as the next The paramount value of acti- impersonator enters eagerly and joins vating the study material is be- her.) 2. I am Women and Missions. My sister has offered to show you other people and lands. Now let me take you into the homes of the missionary
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
workers and their friends where you May wisdom, knowledge of the work, a five-pointed star with the re- may hear them telling why a mission- enthusiasm and the ability to inter- quest that she secure one recruit ary wants to go to China-or Arizona, est others be yours in good measure. for each point during the year, and what he does through the happy, The duties of your office require writing the names on the succes- crowded days. . . . In my pages you (enumerates duties). For you we sive points and publicly posting will hear girls and boys who have light this White Candle (suits action the stars at the final meeting. learned the joy of Christian living tell to word), as symbol of your office. how they have gone home to show White is made up of all the colors; -MRS. JOHN A. PRICE, Re/ormed their own people the way of life. And so the president must have the sup- Church, Toledo, Ohio. my pictures! What a host of scenes port of all her officers to make her they will show you! Come with me work complete." RECIPES FOR CHINESE through the year: meet my people: EDIBLES hear their stories: laugh with them: (President is then led back to her cry with them: love them. Come, chair and vice-president taken for- Candied Apples journey with me around the world. I ward to be similarly inducted.) am Wotnen and Missions. Small apples (like crab ap- "For you we light the Yellow ples) are cored and dipped in a No.3. I am THE MISSIONARY RE- Candle, as symbol, etc. YeJlow de- sugar sauce (syrup made of VIEW OF THE WORLD. My sister pub- notes life, strength, sunshine-all nec- brown sugar and water cooked lications have offered you many essary in assisting the president to do until brittle when tried in cold attractions, but you need me to com- her work." water). The Chinese have from plete your missionary library. My 5 to 10 apples on each stick. sisters are largely concerned with the A similar ritual is used for the rework of one denomination. But sure- cording secretary for whom a Blue The Chrysanthemum Bowl ly your sympathies are not confined to Candle is lighted as signifying truth, the fields of the Presbyterians alone. steadfastness, faithfulness. For the The Chrysanthemum Bowl is I bring you news of other groups. corresponding secretary, a Rose Can- a Chinese chafing dish in which The Church of England speaks dle, rose denoting the rosy hue which the flame from the alcohol rises through its missionary bishop; the must run through the correspondence, about the bowl of steaming food American Bible Society tours Brazil especially to the sick, shut-ins, be- likE;: the petals of a chrysanthewith you. Laymen and theologians reaved. For the treasurer, a Gold mum. Served with rice and folspeak to you about the things of the Candle is symbolical of money. For lowed by an orange or pumello world-wide Kingdom. The voice of the secretary of supplies, program, (the nearest to that in America "Effective Ways of Working" tells of Christian citizenship, membership, is the grapefruit) it makes a new ways to do the ever-recurring stewardship, literature, etc. (accord- very palatable meal. tasks that grow so stale if done in ing to local roster), as a group, a the same old way every year. Through Green Candle symbolizes growth- Tea Eggs me you may learn what is done in the new members, program, ideas, litera- Council of Women for Home Mis- ture, etc. 1 doz. eggs; 1/2 cup dark tea sions, and the· Federation of Women's Boards. My "World-wide Outlook" All newly installed officers are then leaves; 1 tbsp. salt; 1 stick cinwill keep you posted on current namon. events, and my "Missionary Book- asked to rise and face audience to be shelf" furnishes infinite variety. Boil eggs hard, then crack the Take me to your heart and home. I introduced individually. The install- shells thoroughly and put into a am THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE ing officer asks for support of entire pot with hot water to cover. WORLD. society and administers the following Sprinkle over the top with tea pledge: leaves, add salt and cinnamon, (SeclIre subscriptions at close.) and let simmer slowly long "Do vou, as members of this so- enough to become thoroughly INSTALLATION OF ciety, p'ledge your loyal support and brown inside. OFFICERS whole-hearted cooperation with these officers?" Fish Chinese Style By MRS. C. B. STAUFFER, Lakewood, Ohio Answer, "We do." 1 fish; 2 tbsp. flour; 1 cup All rise, form circle and sing, water; 2 tsp. soy s a u c e ; This service opens with a few "Blest Be the Tie that Binds." Clos- chopped ginger to taste; 1 tsp. remarks appropriate to the or- ing prayer. Chinese onion; 1 tsp. brown ganization, given by an install- supar; salt. ing officer, after which the METHODS BRIEFS chairman of the nominating Clean fish and fry in deep fat. committee comes forward and Accentuate interest and ac- Drain. When wanted for use, addresses the officer somewhat tivity in any missionary group reheat in the following sauce: as follows: by dividing its membership into Prepare thick sauce of flour, wa- two sections named after the ter and salt. Cook five minutes, We present to you these women fields or subjects for the cur- add soy sauce, chopped onion, who have been selected to carryon rent year's study-Chinese and ginger and sugar. the work of our Women's Home Mis- Indians this year-and have sion Society fQr the coming year. We them vie with each other for Sweet Potatoes, Roasted believe they possess the qualifications points such as attendance, dues Chestnuts necessary to do their work cheerfully, or offerings, new members obthoughtfully, prayerfully. Each has tained, etc. These are two popular foods been chosen for her special adapta- sold on the streets, baked in a tion to the work of her office and it is For reporting a convention or portable stove, often "called" in with pleasure that we present them. associationaI meeting: Have one the s t r e e t s .-From Chinese person-presumably an invalid Dishes for Occidentals. (Chairman of nominating commit- or stay-at-home-sewing in her tee then leads new president to plat- own living room when one or form and introduces her.) more callers come in and tell with animation, as news, the Installing Officer: "The honor that main points of the meeting to· is yours is not greater than the re- be reviewed. This takes away sponsibility which the office conveys. the formality of a report.
Give each member in the fall
'~I===============I'1
BULLETIN OF The Council of Women for Home Missions ANNE SEESHOLTZ, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 105 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK I ~,,~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONTINUING PRAYER could pray that "the Chinese difficulties of the migrant la- soldiers be victorious," her reply borers have been multiplied a On March 3, 1933, individu- was that as Christians they hundredfold. In times of plenty als and groups who are follow- would "ask God the Father of the migrant laborer is the last ers of Him, who came to give all to aid in the victory of the to share; in times of distress life and more life, to all men, country which had the greatest he is the first to be eliminated prayed to be faithful in walk- contribution to make to the hap- from the educational, health and ing the same Way of Life. Mrs. piness of the peoples of the recreational plans of the com- C. C. Chen of Shanghai, who world." munity. After years of neglect, prepared the program for medi- migrant schools were organized tation and prayer which was Therefore with all this host for the migrant children in Caliused all round the world, has of witnesses encircling us, we fornia. In 1932 everyone of growing children whom she must strip off every handicap these schools in one county was would guard from venom of the . . . run our appointed course closed; now hospitals have in hatred of Japanese children. 'So steadily with our eyes fixed upon some cases closed their doors to they are taught at this time of Jesus as the pioneer and the per- the "migrant." great tenseness between the na- fecter of faith.-{Hebrews 12: tions that in Japan are families 111o.ffat translation.} At this time of curtailment in with grandparents, fathers and all these programs, the life of mothers and children like them- THE CRISIS IN THE WORK the migrant laborer is further selves; and, that the suffering AMONG MIGRANT burdened by irregular employof the many people both Chinese CHILDREN and Japanese is caused by mili- ment and wage cuts from 25 % tarists rather than by followers In these days when the atten- to 50 %. They receive forty of the Prince of Peace. When tion of each is centered on the one of her sons asked if one needs in his own community the cents instead of one dollar and fifty cents as in 1928 for pick- ROSALJE READY FOR HER BATH ing one hundred pounds of cot- ton. In some crops children of [ 218 ] five and six years are found working in the fields to add even a few cents to the family earn- ings in spite of school attend- ance laws.
Word has come from a field in the West that the "starvation period" has arrived. In Janu- ary and February from the East, in New Jersey, comes the report of terrific floods. The shacks, already elevated on stilts to escape the incoming tide, are flooded. Eight hundred "mi- grants" are sleeping on army cots in available buildings in the town. One large oyster house is so damaged that business has ceased and many of these people have been thrown out of work with no money or food. From five to eight hundred are being fed daily by the churches in the neighborhood. The Red Cross has been enlisted. Never has the work of the Council in this field been so valued by the com-
1!l33] BULLETIN OF THE COUNCIL 011' WOMEN .FOR HOME MISSIONS
munity and the migrant families was demonstrated by the num- for strengthening it, but there as in these days of crisis. With ber who in this time of economic was also a strong conviction the added difficulties in the mi- stress were in attendance at the that in it, along with disarmagrant situation have come added Eighth Conference on the Cause responsibilities to the Council of and Cure of War held in Wash- ment, lay the only hope of the Women for Home Missions. As ington' D. C., January 17-20, of world for permanent peace. a result the year's work closed this year. The delegates from That public opinion, as repre- December 31 with a deficit of the eleven national women's or- sented in these women's organover seven hundred dollars. You ganizations which cooperate in izations, has progressed during may know of individuals or or- this annual conference came the eight years that these conganizations who could help. from all parts of the country, ferences have been held toward north, south, east and west, and a manifest desire for greater in- AGAIN WE SAY, represented groups of women in ternational cooperation is shown many varied activities, such as by the "Declarations of Princi- "Let No Man Despise Your Youth!" clubs, Leagues of Women Vot- ples" unanimously adopted by ers, Y. W. C. A., W. C. T. V., the conference, which is as fol- James Frederick Green, Yale missionary societies and church lows: 1932, representative of the Na- tional Student Disarmament groups of various kinds. The After eight years of exploration into the causes and cures of war by Council of V. S. A., in his ad- organized church women were means of a program based on condress to the World Disarma- delegates of the Council of ment Conference, Geneva, Feb- Women for Home Missions or sidered study and action, we, the ruary 2, 1932, said in part: the Federation of Woman's members of the Conference on the Cause and Cure of War, make the After contemplating the events pre- Boards of Foreign Missions following Declaration of Principles: ceding the catastrophe of 1914 we re- which are two of these eleven main unconvinced as to the wisdom of member organizations of the 1. We believe that international coour predecessors. . . . We respect the National Committee on the operation and international concilianoble war dead, but we question the Cause and Cure of War. tion must proceed on a wide front judgment of those responsible for and without further delay through their death. The theme for the conference governmental and through private was "War and Waste," and the and public agendes. Organized slaughter, we realize, program included some very does not settle a dispute; it merely realistic presentations of the 2. We believe in the political intersilences an argument. . . . situation in the world today in dependence of nations. its bearing upon international The other speakers have much at 3. We believe in the economic instake; we have even more, for we terdependence of nations. are literally fighting for our lives. I 4. We believe in the active promo- tion through governmental and other stand before you as an attorney for relations, and the machinery set channels of the cultural relations of the defense, pleading for a reprieve. up since the World War for the the nations. . . . It is the young men and women prevention of war. Among the 5. We believe in the creation and of my age who will be commanded mobilization of an informed public to commit suicide. It is my genera- speakers were Dr. Stephen P. opinion, in order to exert a continution which will be requested to de- ous pressure on the Executive and stroy the best of human culture, per- Duggan, who gave a most inter- the Congress of the United States of haps civilization itself, for causes esting account of conditions in which future historians will discover South America; Dr. Mary E. America so that the principles here- in enunciated may be translated into to be erroneous, if not utterly stupid Woolley, who spoke on "The or actually vicious. We have thus Status of Disarmament"; Mr. measures effective for world unity lost interest in being prepared for Ralph H. Stimson, who talked and world peace. cannon fodder. about the war provoking influ- ences of the manufacture of Among the resolutions passed In a sense, I am presenting an ulti- armament, and Mrs. Vera M. by the conference was one exmatum, rather than a petition. For Dean, who gave an address on pressing satisfaction with the behind your deliberations stands star- "Russia Plans a New Order." policy for implementing the ing down at us the specter of Death. In the program also, were Pact of Paris announced by the We desire to live and to live at peace. Round Table discussions on war Hoover administration and its We desire to construct a world so- debts, disarmament, and the Far appreciation of the stand taken ciety providing freedom, equal op- Eastern situation, all led by ex- by the incoming President in reportunity, and a sense of security. perts on these subjects. The affirming the necessity of strict We desire to make possible for every final session closed with an ad- maintenance of treaty obligahuman being full development of per- tions. Another resolution exsonality in terms of the highest human and spiritual values we know.
EIGHTH CONFERENCE ON dress by President Neilson of pressed approval of the Joint THE CAUSE AND CURE Smith College, who spoke of the Resolution b e for e Congress OF WAR "Chances for Peace in the World granting to the President the power to prohibit the exporta- Today."
By ELINOR K. PURVES As the discussions proceeded tion of arms to nations at war, That women are vitally inter- through the four days of the where in his opinion a sufficient ested in the movement for inter- conference it was made clear to number of nations are willing to national cooperation and world all that the peace machinery of cooperate in such actions, and peace and are willing to make the world had many weaknesses urged favorable action by Con- sacrifices in order to secure it and that there was great need gress.
One of the features of the Following Christ is no less the addresses, but broke up into conference was the jury of than living Christ. smaller group conferences for twelve which listened to the dis- the discussion of the many difficussions and at the final session Live Christ culties that are preventing the brought in as Findings the Dec- nations of the world from atlaration of Principles referred Live Christ! – and though the way taining permanent peace. Some to above, and the "Objectives for may be of the problems included "Four 1933" for the member organiza- Public Enemies – Armaments, tions, the main purpose of the In this world's sight adversity, Debts, Tariffs, and War Costs"; conference being to set up a He who doth heed thy every need "Has the United States a Peace program around which the De- Policy?"; "International Mapartments of International Re- Shall give thy soul prosperity. chinery to Bring Peace"; "The lations of these organizations Church and War"; "Christianmay build their respective pro- Live Christ! – and though the road ity and Coercion." gram for the year. may be A Peace Picture Exhibit was The "Objectives for Action" The narrow street of poverty shown in connection with the He had not where to lay His head, conference. Numbering 451 call upon the women of these or- cartoons, posters, photographs ganizations to arouse public Yet lived in largest liberty. and pictures on the war-peace opinion in favor of (1) the im- issue, this display showing the Live Christ! – and though the road horrors of war is considered one mediate ratification of the World may be of the finest collections of its Court Protocols; (2) the dec- kind. It was collected by Dr. The straight way of humility laration of an embargo on arms He who first trod that way of God Francis N. Onderdonk, head of to nations at war after the President has secured the coopera- Will clothe thee with his dignity. the Department of Architecture at the University of Michigan, tion of other nations; (3) the Live Christ! – and though thy life and an ardent pacifist. It is concontinual implementing of the may be sidered unusual from an artistic standpoint as well as for its con- Pact of Paris by nonrecognition In much a valedictory, tents. Pre-war painters as well of situation brought about con- The heavy cross brings seeming loss, as the most modern type of Ger- man and Dutch artists were reptrary to its obligations; (4) the But wins the crown of victory. resented, among them, Otto Dix, whose series of prints on the achievement of definite results Live Christ !-and all thy life shall be brutalities of war have labeled during the second stage of the A High Way of Delivery- him as "the Erich Remarque of etchers." Disarmament Conference along A royal road of goodly deeds, certain definite lines, and (5) Gold-paved with sweetest charity. CONTINUING PRAYER the entrance of the United Live Christ !-and all thy life shall be On the first Friday in Lent, A sweet uplifting ministry, February 16, 1934, Christian States into the World Economic women and men young and old Conference without reservations A sowing of the fair white seeds and the children, too, will gather That fruit through all eternity. again in the world fellowship of and with freedom to discuss the -John Oxenham. prayer and giving for others. problems relating to the present Mrs. Lewis Hofmeyer of Cape- YOUNG PEOPLE'S PEACE town, Africa, is preparing the economic crisis. CONFERENCE program on the theme "Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem." In the The Council of Women for The realization that the bur- November issue of the MISSION- dens of the next war will fall on ARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD will Home Missions and the Federa- the shoulders of the younger be found the report of the world generation and that a deep sense observance in 1932. tion of Woman's Boards of For- of responsibility rests with them in thwarting propaganda which Mrs. Poling chose as her eign Missions have accepted would precipitate another crisis theme for the March meeting of led the New York Quakers to the Administrative Committee these objectives as the basis for call a two-day Young People's of the Council the year's work, together with Peace Conference, which was held on February 12 and 13 at "According to your faith be it unto those parts of the Federal Coun- the Friends Meeting House, 221 you" and East 15th Street, New York cil's "Memorial on World Peace" City. "A new commandment I give unto you, which related to disarmament, that ye Four hundred and fifty deleinternational cooperation and gates between the ages of fifteen Love one another, as I have loved and thirty-five from churches, you." the World Court, all of which synagogues, schools and colleges are very similar to actions and in New York, New Jersey and recommendations of the Confer- surrounding communities heard ences on the Cause and Cure of Norman Thomas, Frederick J. War. The women of the Libby, Dr. Edmund B. Chaffee, churches, if they accept this pro- minister of Labor Temple, Program, will then be uniting with fessor Allen G. Alley of the other groups of women in nine League of Nations Association, national organizations, and with and Dr. Louis 1. Newman, New the churches represented in the York rabbi, discuss various as- Federal Council in a united ef- pects of the peace problem. The fort to further the cause of in- young people not only took part ternational cooperation for the in the general forums following prevention of war.
'~I~~–~—–""""""""""""'''"""==''"""===-====='''''''''''''''==-""'""'='''""'""—–'''-'=–====-''''–''''''''~
n Our W orld–wide Outlook lr it A Missionary Newspaper of Current Events ~'-I_~'"—–'~"'-"""""'-=–====—=~==-=—-==~==~–=I~~ INDIA-BURMA legislative councils as against 71 the average length of stay here was formerly. They will sit there, 2.03 years. In time the average length Waning Interes,t in Hinduism not as members of the "de- of stay will incline to be shorter. pressed classes," but of the These all go on six months' parole. Twelve years ago half a mil- Hindu community. While politi- The average number of those who relion pilgrims bathed in the God- cally Mr. Gandhi's fast has been turn after parole is 37.5 per cent. It aviri River at Nasik; last year a success there is still a grave may be assumed that most if not all a hundred thousand visited the problem presented by certain of those who do not return are conholy place. These were two orthodox groups who refuse to tinuing to keep well. Of those who Sinhasta Years when the planet give up their ancient customs of have returned the number of relapses Jupiter enters the sign of Leo caste. Unless this is done Mr. is 13 per cent, but none of these were and the water in Ram's Pool is Gandhi announces another fast serious; save in rare cases their nonbelieved to have unique purify- -this time unto death.-J. J. infectivity remained untouched, and ing power. Though ancient In- BANNINGA, Pasumalai, India. they all yielded to brief further treatdia continues to assure the world ment. We keep trace of the Christhat the life of renunciation is Do Not Close the Garo Schools tians who go from the hospital, the way to God, yet it seems evi- through their Christian pastors; with dent that this search is gripping Christian Garos support forty the others we have no such intermedithe Indian people less and less evangelists who work among ary. We should like to keep our "diseach year. Other interests are children in the Garo Hill vil- ease arrested" patients longer under surging forward and religion is lages where the American Bap- observation, but the daily pressure is dropping into the background tists have a mission. As soon as too heavy. particularly among the intelli- these children learn even a little gentsia. If this modern attitude they are never again contented -Without the Camp. is a protest against the sterile re- with all the silly, useless form of sults achieved by overemphasiz- eviil spirit worship. Knowing A United Work for Outcastes ing renunciation, it is a whole- this, many villages will not persome step in advance. If, on the mit a school to be opened, so if Alwaye, in north Travancore, other hand, it means that all re- any of the fifty-seven schools are has become a field of united ligion is to be tabooed, it spells closed it means the end of or- Christian effort on the part of danger for the future.-WILBUR ganized Christian work in that Jacobite and Mar Thoma Syrian S. DEMING in The Missionary village. Recently a conference churches, and the Anglican. The Herald. was held in the Garo Hills at settlement was begun by a group which forty Garo representa- of young Indian and English Legislation by Fasting tives and nine missionaries sat men to grapple in a Christian together for six hours a day for way with the problems of the de- Can you imagine Dr. Daniel four days, discussing many prob- pressed classes. The obj ectives Poling threatening to fast to lems of the work, especially in of the group might be summardeath if America does not posi- regard to retrenchment. The ized as follows: to spread the tively and definitely go "Dry"? Garos pleaded that these schools Gospel among outcastes and to If Dr. Poling did such a thing might somehow be kept open, for help in their uplift, so that real would he get more than condem- often the teacher is the only oneness in Christ might be realnation as a publicity stunt Christian village leader. ized, to train Christian leaders puller? No-not in the United from among the outcastes, to fo- States. But in India-there we – Watchman-Examiner. cus the attention of educated have a different psychology. people on the village problems Nothing strange about Mr. Leprosy Arrested of India, to draw together Chris- Gandhi's method there. Tele- tians of East and West, and grams flew about the country Rev. G. M. Kerr of DichpaIi lastly, to give to students of Unand officers of high rank got Leper H 0 s pit a I, Hyderabad, ion Christian College the chalbusy to see what could be done writes: lenge that higher education for when he began his fast. The de- the Christian should result in pressed classes, numbering about The last eight months have seen 184 higher service. There are still 65,000,000, really gain a great patients discharged as "disease ar- 300,000 non-Christian outcastes deal politically, for they will now rested"-our biggest number as yet in Travancore. occupy 148 seats in the various within such a period, but undoubtedly treatment is becoming more intensive -C. M. S. Outlook. and more speedy in result. Of the last 300 discharges in this category Dacca Mission to Students [221 ] For the last forty years a spe- cial feature of the Dacca Mission
has been the evangelistic work tracts for Moslems. Thus the Burma, non-Christian as well as among students, and some no- School has great potentialities Christian.
table Indian Christian leaders for reaching the whole of India's CHINA have been won as the result of 77,000,000 Mohammedans. -The Mission Field. this quiet, personal, persistent Multiplying Dollars work – through Bible classes, Origin of Gospel Teams Dr. Percy T. Watson writes lectures and social intercourse. The Burma Gospel Team work from Harwood Memorial Hos- This old Moslem capital of East- was started by Mr. Dyer about pital in Fenchow: ern Bengal is the center of a 1923 and the work grew steadily. populous area, and the seat of a In 1930 the Team met a man "For years this hospital has great university. A little group in India who had been changed had to economize on furniture. by his contacts with the Oxford Most of patients' beds had no of Christians was discovered Group and they found that they bedside chairs. The best rooms there in 1817. They were called had much in common. Many of had no dressers or chairs, and "Truth Teachers," and had in the methods, much of the ap- even bedside tables were at a their possession, carefully pre- proach, and all the desires for premium. From a small town of the ultimate goal were the same. less than a thousand people in a served in a wooden box, a much- The Kingdom of God Movement rural section of the United States worn volume from which they in Japan has the same motive a lady sat down and wrote a derived their spiritual guidance. as do the Gospel teams. One hu- check on the small local bank and Noone could say whence the man source common to all these enclosed it in an envelope ad- m 0 v e men t s was Henry B. dressed to the Fenchow Hospital. book had come, but they stated Wright of Yale, who taught suc- No letter accompanied it. That that they had possessed it for ceeding student groups from thin envelope brought many fat many years. It was a copy of 1900 to 1924, and Frank Buch- things-tables, chairs and Chi- Carey's first Bengali version of man, Samuel Shoemaker and V. nese dressers, which averaged the New Testament, printed at W. Dyer were among the num- together, made the cost of each Serampore in 1800. The book ber.-Watchman-Examiner. article only a little over $1.00 in had been Christ's messenger be- American money. This Amerifore any preacher had arrived. Student Questions can check on a small, out-of-the- way American bank was cashed Thirty years ago a hostel was The Rev. Paul J. Braisted of in Tientsin by the North China Judson College, Rangoon, Bur- Mission treasurer, changed into provided and accommodates !50 ma, writes that the modern Chinese money without discount university students. Its ChrIs- at the same rate as a New York tian influence upon the constantly changing groups is im- measurable. -Missionary Herald.
Lahore's School of Islamics Burmese students are keen and draft, and netted in fact $2.00 more in Chinese money than did The Henry Martyn School of earnest sewahrcehnerDs r.afJtoesreptrhutqh.. an international money order Islamics in Lahore was founded Recently for $10.00 American money a few years ago in recognition cashed at the local post office." of the need for better equipment Robbins, Secretary of the AmerIof missionaries in presenting -The Congregationalist. Christianity to India's Moslem can Baptist Foreign Mission Sopopulation. The School has set Schools for the Deaf itself to study Islam in all its ciety visited Rangoon the folbearings, to study Christianity The deaf are the only class of in its relationship with Islam, lowing questions were among people in the world who cannot thereby to help the Christians of be evangelized until they have India to understand Islam; and those propounded to him by the been taught in special schools. then to help missionaries and There are now ten such schools evangelists all over India to students in the Mission College: for the deaf in China, seven defiadopt such methods and litera- nitely under Christian manageture as will meet the problem. What are the marks which should ment. They are not reaching Besides this research, the School more than 400 deaf children out is teaching and writing. For separate a Christian from others? of at least 40,000 who cannot those who cannot make personal hear and should be in schools. contact with the School, "The Need a man who leads a pure and People of the Mosque" has been The forty-four pupils in the prepared. This is the first at~ true life believe in Jesus Christ to go Chefoo school have given a contempt to furnish in textbook tact with many homes and Chiform all the different things a to Heaven? nese people of all classes who What happens to people who follow know very little about the Chris- tian religion. other than Christian religious teach- ers?
Is it possible to live a completely un- selfish life? . .. Can a rich man live a ChrIstIan life? K. Is it possible to establish the mg- dom of God on earth?
Is there a God? How can I get a vital Christian ex- perience? . ?
Do animals have Immortal souls.
Further questions covered the missionary to Moslems needs to range of creation, revelation Evangelizing the Farmers know of Islam. An Urdu edition and denominations. The group is in preparation. The literary included representatives from A mixed Bible school for output also includes a series of all the major racial groups of farmers and students held at
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Mienchow in the summer of laymen, medical missionaries, level, approached through rob- 1931 proved so helpful that it and a number of foreign repre- ber-infested country, and the was decided to follow it up by sentatives of institutions and or- seat of an important lamasery, regular e van gel i s tic effort ganizations for the relief of has been occupied. Denja, whose among farmers. Under the lead- lepers, research, and treatment monastery has been visited at in- ership of the Rev. Wu Shuen-hsi for the disease. The attention tervals and is subject to Lhamo, some of the senior students at of the Conference was centered will also soon be occupied. This Mienchow Middle School formed chiefly on the leprosy situation marks real progress in the occu- themselves into an evangelistic in China, distribution of the dis- pation of Tibet. On the Indian- band, and various members, with ease, medical treatment and re- Tibetan border Moravian evan- a leader, went at week ends to search, and consideration of the gelists, who have returned from neighboring farmsteads. They future of leprosy work in China. a journey into Ladakh, report an conducted a lantern service on This Conference has furnished encouraging welcome by the peo- Saturday evening, and the next a stimulus to greater vigilance, ple and a thirst to hear and to day held services for men, and stronger effort in combating read the Gospel. women and children. At one the menace of leprosy. -World Evangelization.
farm, especially, these meetings -Without the Camp. Christian Leadership proved most fruitful. The head farmer burnt his idols publicly West China's Woman Pioneer The following statement was and instituted family worship made recently by Wong Kueiinstead. Since then the work Fourteen young women were Sheng of Nanking: "We Chinese has developed rapidly, and to- graduated last year from West day there are about twenty peo- Christians will not be always reple in that district who worship China Un ion University at peating the names of Jesus and Christ.-C. M. S. Outlook. Chengtu, Province of Szechuan. of God, or confining our energies As each received her diploma, to the preaching of creeds; but Prices for Hospital Care the largest ovation was given to we shall go out and actually save Helen Yoh, a graduate in medi- "If you came to our doors," and liberate and nourish and writes the Superintendent of the cine, the first woman to receive a build up the character and life Presbyterian Hospital at Weih- medical degree from any Szech- of every man who is enslaved by sien Station, "you could have a uan institution. Her father is the power of sin, and so demonnice ward bed, food, nurse's and strate our religious faith." doctor's care, all for 12 cents in almost a millionaire from the U. S. money per day; or you Chinese point of view, and is A similar note is sounded by could go second class with pri- tremendously pro u d of this ,Chao Tzu-Chien, of Yencheng vate room for 60 cts. If you daughter. He 'is a man of the Un i v e r sit y: "Gloriously the were very wealthy, you could go old school and has two wives first class with private nurse, living. The old father is very spirit of Jesus lives forever. If special heating and solitude for my fellow Christians and my $1.20 per day. If you are a third deaf, and uses an ear trumpet countrymen follow His holy exclass patient, your appendix with long rubber tube. Not long would be removed for $2.00, or ago one of the missionaries tried ample with all their hearts and if you want an amputation it is to persuade him to give up this with all their strength, what $2.00, or if you need an X-ray it fear is there for salvation, what is $1.75. If you have leprosy, old-fashioned contrivance, and buy a small electric affair. But fear for man's life?" he would not listen to any such A third statement comes from advice, and said, "I am known Wu Lei-Chuan, former Vice- all over this part of the country Minister of Education: "The de- as the man with the long ear." velopment of China's future is in the hands of the young men of plans are being made to take – Watchman-Examiner. today. Jesus alone is competent care of you. In any given to lead them and worthy of their month we can count upon at In Tibet worship."-Christian Observer.
least 25 who will come in to have The Chinese-Tibetan border JAPAN bullets extracted, after a visit no longer bars the missionary, from bandits. But we are not and Christian guests may take Peace Sentiment looking for patients, for seventy unhindered journeys. Missionare now filling our sixty-nine There is in Japan a liberal aries who have taken into Tibet group to whom war is becoming beds. their wives and children during National Leprosy Conference the summer season have thus abhorrent, however serious the secured firm friends. Chinese provocation. From onoe school The first National Conference control has been effectively ap- comes the news that in chapel on Leprosy to be held in China plied over some important Tibe- prayer had been offered daily met in Shanghai on October 5-6, tan centers and facilitates mis- "for the soldiers on both sides." 1932, under the auspices of the sionary occupation. Lhamo, a Another writes, "Weare holding Chinese Mission to Lepers. The nomad center three days' ride wee k I y interdenominational membership of the Conference beyond the Chinese border, prayer meetings to pray for included Chinese medicals and twelve thousand feet above sea peace."
The following stanza is from was organized in 1904 with 24 Evangelistically-Minded Korea the pen of Kagawa: members; today its membership is over 800. One hundred and Because both missionaries and "Again I have become the child of an thirty-six were baptized in the Korean Christian leaders have aching heart, new edifice and many were re- emphasized prayer, Bible study ceived into full church member- and witness bearing, the Korean Carrying the burden of Japan's ship. The new building is not Church has always been evan- crime, large enough to accommodate gelistically-minded. The largest the church school which meets recorded attendance in a Bible Begging pardon of China and of the in open sheds adjoining the class for women was 1,300, and world for men, 1,800. There have church building. Rev. Takie been several "Forward Move- With a shattered soul; Okumura has been the pastor Again I am a child of sadness." and inspiration of the church. ments." In the "Great Revival of 1907," prayer and confession -Christian Advocate. -The Christian Century. of sin were very prominent.
Three Days with Kagawa Rev. C. J. L. Bates, D.D., President of the Kwansei Ga- kuin in. west Japan, outlines Give Us Religion Only Three years later, in the "Mil- Kagawa's program of three day lion Souls Movement," there meetings for students, and char- A Buddhist priest asked Rev. were one hundred thousand Clarence F. McCall of Niigata, acterizes them as masterly dem- Japan, to come and pay his peo- days' preaching and 700,000 onstrations of rare intellectual ple a visit. "Bring your stere- copies of the Gospel of Mark power. His underlying purpose opticon slides," said he. "All were distributed. As a result, in these studies of the relation of right," replied Mr. McCall, "I will give you an evening of pic- the number of communicants in science and religion was to show tures showing American and the Korean Pre s b y t e ria n the inadequacy of the material- Japanese scenery, health hints, Church, U. S. A., increased in istic view. In the first address farm animals, and perhaps a bit four years from 12,500 to 32,- he traced modern scientific ideas, on morality or religion." An 500; and the total number of and showed the trend of thought astonishingly prompt reply came adherents from 44,000 to 110,- away from the materialistic to- -"I want pure religion, weav- 000. The gains of those revival wards a more spiritual interpre- ing in morality," announced the tation of reality. priest. So for a half hour Mr. years have never been lost. McCall spoke on the relation of There was also the "Kim Ik Tu His second "address discussed morality and religion and for the principles of Marxian eco- one hour and a half he showed Revival" in Seoul, in the fall of nomics, and challenged its claims his slides on "THE LIFE OF 1920, when 600 were present at to explain human interest and CHRIST." early morning prayer meetings, activity, affirming the conviction and 6,000 at evening meetings. In one offering, besides money, that it is only in the application of Christian love to the solution two hundred finger rings, two gold watches, twenty silver of social problems that these Baby Week in Seoul watches, clothes and bridal ornapressing problems can be solved. ments were received.
The third address examined The Child Welfare Union of Three times in connection the mechanistic view of life, and Seoul has an annual "Baby with government expositions in "Behaviorism," in a thorough Week." Dr. Y. S. Koo is its med- Seoul, evangelistic halls were set and convincing analysis; and ical director. Among the many made clear the impossibility of instructive booths was one for up near the entrance gate, and providing for choice and moral dental examination and advice; tens of thousands heard the Gosdistinction on the basis of such another to demonstrate baby pel preached. The present hypothesis. foods, where were shown many Forward Movement is a three- things the Korean women did year program, initiated in 1931 While speaking he uses a not know were allowable in a and is a j oint program of brush and India ink to draw baby's diet; one showed how to Methodist and Presbyterian graphs and diagrams. Each of bathe and dress an infant and Churches. The first year was his three addresses was two still another displayed 100 one of prayer, consecration, hours long. health posters loaned by the Bible reading and study. The Red Cross. There were also second is a year of evangelism -United Church Record. talks on the causes and preven- and the third is to be a year for tion of disease, and a model Ko- the widest possible distribution Makiki's New Church rean house was shown. At the and sale of Christian literature. end of two days some six hun- The Makiki Castle Congrega- -The Presbyterian. tional church is modeled after an old castle built at Yamato in dred people had come to see the "You Can't Preach There" 1560 by Lord Hisade, a Chris- exhibition. Large crowds came tian. It was the first Christian at night to see moving pictures Kimsi Tok Hung, unlike most place of worship in Japan, and on hygiene and health. One of our Korean friends, is not was called Tenshukaku – the hundred and eighty-five prizes poor. She had intended sending "Place to Worship the Lord of were awarded. Heaven." The Makiki Church a Bible woman to some needy -Korean Mission Field. village when someone said to
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
her, "But why don't you give Rural Life Institutes years of opportunity, but I am glad yourself as well as your money?" A distinct contribution to ru- that now I am not afraid to read and She decided to give her service, ral life in the Philippines when study the greatest book in the world. her time, and strength, and went the National Christian Council, out, voluntarily, to tell the Story. in cooperation with agricultural -Christian Advocate. Some time later it came to her heart to go to the village of high schools, insular, provincial NORTH AMERICA Song Gari, but the Sam Dung and municipal government offi- Century of Progress Crusade folk remonstrated, "Noone can cials and other agencies, con- Probably the most epochal preach there; they have beat up united church program ever ateveryone who has tried to." ducted six Rural Life Institutes Kimsi replied that it would be in the autumn of 1932. An im- tempted in the history of Chia new experience for her! She posing array of talent provided cago is the call to 1,000 churches is a good path breaker and im- information, entertainment and and 500,000 inactive church mediately got a hearing in this worship. Attendance at lectures members to participate in a vast proud village which had in past and demonstrations ran from world's fair religious movement. days been a well-to-do commu- thirty to 250, and audiences that Those expected to cooperate innity but through drink and vice gathered for evening programs clude 800 churches of 19 denomi- of addresses and music num- nations, representing the Chi- was in very poor circumstances bered from 500 to 2,000. These cago Church Federation. Inwith lands poorly farmed. Some institutes form the link between stead of having an evangelistic thirty, mostly men, accepted the national rural life meeting campaign with centrally located Christ and gave up drink and attended by 36 pastors, deacon- meetings, addressed by visiting tobacco. Later, the Pyengyang esses; farmers and missionaries evangelists, the program aims Men's Missionary Society sent from 18 provinces last March, to strengthen the morale of inout a man evangelist to follow and the short courses for farm- dividual churches, and to inspire up. In less than a year's time ers to be held .throughout the the membership to attend and the three saloons of the village archipelago as soon as possible. give financial support, and to have been obliged to close their lead better Christian lives. doors! The past summer's crop -Christian Council Bulletin. was better because of the new in- Already 20,000 workers, repdustry of the men. Three weeks "A Dangerous Book" resenting three major sections ago when Mr. Hill went there of the city, have been trained for the first time he found a Hon. Teodoro R. Yangco was and are ready to work when the congregation of eighty. resident commissioner in Wash- Century of Progress Exhibition ington for the Philippines some opens in June. -MARY HILL of Pyengyang. years ago. He is now past sixty-five, is one of the Island's -Presbyterian Advance.
distinguished citizens, known far In Hell's Kitchen ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC and wide for his Christian phi- Rev. E. G. W. Meury, D.D., of lanthropy. Speaking before a Challenge of the Celebes convention of pastors and Sun- the Dutch Reformed Church, has day school workers in Manila, he The sprawling, octopus-like is- said: finished thirty years as pastor of land of Celebes lies almost directly south of the Philippines, Before the United States came to Knox Memorial Coli e g i ate 150 miles east of Borneo. Within the Philippines, the Bible was a closed its 69,000 square miles are 53 book. But today, how different! The Chapel in "Hell's Kitchen," New distinct languages. Missionary Bible is open. Sunday schools and York City. During this pastorwork has gone on for a century, churches are free to think. The old practically all fostered by Dutch days of religious oppression are gone ate 807 church members have Protestant churches. To men- forever, thanks to the liberating power tion only the larger racial of Protestant Christianity. been received, of whom 709 were groups, there are 200,000 Menados; 100,000 Toradjas; 1,500,- When I was a small boy my mother on confession of faith. Thirty 000 Boegis; and 600,000 Makas- got hold of a Bible. Curious with in- years ago English, German and sar. A large number of the To- terest, she began to read it. She did Irish were the languages of the not know that the Spanish priest parish while today thirty-two would disapprove. One day the padre languages and dialects are in called at our home. Innocently my use. Nearly half the street signs mother brought out the Bible and said, are in Greek. There is no mo- "See, I have a Bible." notony in the work of this par- ish. Hit by the depression, all radjas have become Christian; "Ah," replied the priest, "that is a the members have taken the a part of their territory is occu- dangerous book for you to read. You blows with a smile, and the unpied by the Salvation Army. The must burn it." With fear and trembling my mother employed have been cared for burned the book then and there. That Menandos are nearly all nominal event made a great impression on my by the sharing of those more for- Christians, and are noticeably youthful mind. I grew up to believll tunate, as they did in the early "westernized." Boegis and Ma- Church. The benevolences of the kassar territories are still un- it was unsafe, and my dear mother congregation have not been re- died believing it was unsafe to read duced, but increased. occupied. Islam and paganism the Bible. I never read it until a few -Christian Intelligencer. holds them in bonds. years ago. I am sorry for those lost
Save Life League Colored Churchmen to Be The teaching of religion and all Twenty-six years ago Dr. Represented acts of devotion or worship are Harry M. Warren of New York forbidden. All but five of the City, founded the nat ion a I By a vote of three to one the native teachers will be dismissed "Save-a-Life League," which has diocesan convention of Upper and all but two of the Americans as its chief purpose the saving South Carolina, has opened the will leave the plant. One hunof persons who contemplate sui- way for representation of col- dred and fifty students must cide. Dr.' Warren recently re- ored churchmen in diocesan af- hereafter secure their education ported that he had in these years fairs. The resolution which re- in government schools. Since interviewed 2,900 people and sulted from much careful delib- business training and domestic eration and discussion is re- science do not come under the that most of them had been garded as a great forward step law, the Commercial Departsaved. The suicide rate of New in the work of the Church, and ment will continue. It is also York City alone is claimed to be reads as follows: hoped to use the school buildings four a day by George LeBrun, as a home for girls who will at- Resolved, That it is the sense of this tend other schools. secretary of the chief medical convention that the Negro clergy caexaminer. According to the New nonically resident in this diocese for -The Living Church. York Herald-Tribune about one at least six months, and working unthird of the cases are mental. der the Bishop of the diocese, and two Bibles for Mam Indians These Dr. Warren refers to psy- lay communicants elected by the con- vocation of colored Churchmen shall chiatrists, whereas the others be entitled to seats and votes in the Western Guatemala has 200,- treated by himself. His treat- diocesan convention. 000 Mam Indians. To make the ment consists in "human sym- Bible available for them, Rev. pathy and understanding" and -The Living Church. H. Dudley Peck has been at work the application of the Gospel with a group of eight translators message of Paul to the Philip- Ukrainians in Alberta and the cooperation of the Amerpian jailer, "Believe in the Lord ican Bible Society. The begin- Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be Around the indian Reserva- nings of an Institute for trainsaved." This message is as pow- tion at Good Fish Lake in north- ing Mam leaders has been erful to save the suicides of to- ern Alberta is growing up a set- mapped out. Evenings during day as it was to save the jailer tlement of Ukranians, a very reat Philippi. ligious people but suspicious of the translation sessions have organized Christianity, as they been employed for evangelistic Navajo Camp Meeting know it. Their number is in- trips, and for making Christ creasing year by year, both by known in their own tongue to immigration and birth rate. The A camp meeting at Chin Lee United Church of Canada is the the many Indian transients in Navajo Mission in Arizona, un- only Protestant Church doing public kitchens, lodges and der the Presbyterian Board, anything in a systematic way to plazas. Week ends have been brought the largest attendance help these people. There is one used to reach three near-by ever witnessed at any of the ordained missionary speaking towns and about fourteen vil- Navajo meetings, a daily attend- their language, but his work is lages. During the June session, ance of 100 being recorded. limited to a small area. The 423 unbelievers from 42 towns There were 15 accessions on con- Board of Home Missions is re- and hamlets heard the message fession of faith. The native sponsible for the hospital at of God's love through the Mam Navajo Christians furnished a Smoky Lake, while the Woman's translators. large part of the food for the Missionary Society has three camp meeting, which heretofore school homes; one at Smoky -Guatemala News.
has been furnished almost en- Lake, one at Wahstao, and one at Jungle Indians in Peru tirely by the missionary. Their Radway.
contribution was eight sheep. -United Church Record. The first twelve jungle In- -Presbyterian Advance. dians of Peru to be baptized Notable Negro Church LATIN AMERICA heard the Gospel for the first The Abyssinian Church of School Must Close time when they came to the Christian Alliance Mission at New York recently entered its The Hooker School in Mexico Cahuapanas. They have com- 125th year. It is the third old- City, under the Episcopal Board, pleted four months' attendance est Negro church in the United is unable to function under the at the Daily Bible School and States. With a membership of new law which makes it impos- have expressed the desire to more than 11,000 it is among sible to incorporate schools learn more in order to give the the largest Protestant churches· which had in the past received, Gospel to their families and in the world. Dr. A. Clayton were now receiving or expected friends. From 35 to 40 are at- Powell has been the pastor of to receive, support from reli- tending special noon meetings, this church for the past quarter gious organizations. The law and it has been in these meetcentury. also forbids any clergyman, or ings that most converts have – Watchman-Examiner. religious teacher in the schools. been won.-Alliance Weekly.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Oonverts in Uruguay never-ceasing persecution to articles against the Soviet re- Uruguay has long been known which they are exposed. Hitler gime, has published an open letas a refuge for oppressed peo- has made of anti-Semitism a re- ter in the Daily Express to Joples of other lands. In Monte- ligious dogma. goda, the vice-commissioner of video, the capital, are represen- the G. P. U. (Russian Secret tatives from every European -New York Times. Police) who is a member of the country. Among other nation- presidency of the Bolshevistic alities are about four thousand The President of Ozecho- party. Part of the letter fol- Armenians, who have an evan- slovakia lows: gelical religious background, and some are already Christians be- President Thomas G. Masaryk Can you deny that you have 200,000 fore coming. A few years ago of the new Czechoslovakian Re- prisoners, for the most part from public is a member of the Czech among engineers, attorneys, priests Brethren Church. In his first and other persons of the educated a young Armenian living in presidential message to the Na- class, who are compelled to do forced tional Assembly in Prague he Buenos Aires, Argentina, felt quoted the prophecy of the edu- labor on the canal to the White Sea the call to preach the Gospel to cator and reformer, Comenius: in Karelien? Can you deny that you his own people and decided to banished 35,000 kulak families (farm- ers) in the winter of 1929 from return to Europe for special "0 Bohel1,lian people, I trust in southern Ukraine to the polar re- God, that when the tempest of gions? Thousands of them died of study. He studied in Paris two His wrath brought upon our years and then in Glasgow, Scot- typhoid fever. Can you deny that all the towns in north Russia as Hibinaland, another three years and heads for our sins will have gorsk, Kondolatska, Neuastroy and passed away, the reign of thy Murmansk have been built through there he was ordained to the cause' will again be restored." ministry in 1932. After his or- Their long captivity has made forced labor? Can you deny that in the past mothers were deprived of dination he returned to Argen- their bread tickets by the G. P. U.? tina where he is doing evangel- multitudes ready for the Gospel. You seized old women in order to take In some communities the enter- their last diamonds or a golden braceistic work among his people of ing wedge may be a lecture on let because the Soviet government Argentina and Uruguay. In Huss, but after it the people call needed money. Can you deny that October, he baptized his first 26 every foreigner is watched in Russia; for Gospel sermons. Patriotism converts in Montevideo. is not enough; true freedom in- that our letters are read and our tele- -Home and Foreign Fields. deed can come only through the phone conversa~ions are overheard? Gospel of the Redeemer. Can you finally deny that during the EUROPE years 1930-31 you shed so much blood that your own friends were embit- tered because of it?
Scandinavian Missions To Establish Islam in Hungary AFRIOA A comparative study of the At the recent Pan-Islamic A Life Saver foreign mission activities of Congress held in Jerusalem, it Denmark, Norway and Sweden was decided to recognize Buda- A missionary and an Egyptian was recently given in Luthersk pest in Hungary as a holy city pastor were returning from a Ugeblad, as follows: for all Moslems, and build there long, hard day of visiting among a great mosque and university, various villages in the Delta. At DenJ"nark Norway Slceden that eventually might be to the the point where they separated, West what El Azhar of Cairo is each to return to his own home, Number of 2{0 400 700 to the East. This is considered the pastor hired two men to missionaries by Moslems themselves as the drive him the remaining dis- most important move ever made tance. Reaching a lonely bit of Benevolence for the western extension of Mo- road, the car stopped, the two (in Crowns) 1,750,000 3,000,000 4,250,000 hammedanism. Four centuries men got out, mumbling an ex- ago the Moslem Turks devas- cuse about the engine, whispered Gift per .59 1.1,1 .70 tated Hungary and for two hun- a moment together, then started capita …. dred and fifty years carried on a toward the pastor. Sensing rule of tyranny and cruel exac- trouble, he quickly drew out the Baptized in 1.900 11,000 a,oao tions, which lasted until the lat- only weapon he ever carries, held 1930 .. , ter part of the seventeenth cen- it in his hand, so that, in the tury, when the Hungarians moonlight, it gleamed in the eyes :"ative cou- 29,000 15G,OOO 84,000 drove their oppressors back of the advancing men, and said verts …. across the Danube, and the Turk- to them, "Be careful. I have ish dream of planting Islamic here the best weapon in the Anti-Semitism in Germany banners in Western Europe world, and I am trained in its faded.-Alliance Weekly. use~" Both men stopped and be- The prediction of the late Lord Melchet, a leader of the Jews in England, that one result of the war would be a complete dissociation of Jewish from German interests in Europe appears rapidly proving to be correct as a result of the campaign pursued with such vehemence by Adolf Hitler and his Nazis. Leaders of Jewish opinion in Great Brit- Oruelty in Russia gan to back off, protesting that ain have evidence of the terrible they meant no harm. The pastor situation of their coreligionists A Russian correspondent, could not refrain from laughing, in Germany. Life is being made Miss Clyman, who was asked to and said, "My friends, look here.
intolerable for them by the leave Russia on account of her I am a preacher. I have neither
money nor firearms. What I Apolo and the Pygmies Christians were few the boy who have is that sword which God The church of the Mboga en- beat the call drum for worship has given us to save life rather tirely due to the work of' one than to take it. I have a New went to Dr. Wilmer S. Lehman !,estament. ~he gleam you see, man, Canon Apolo, is already mstead .of bem?, from a pistol the center of a body of men and medical missionary aI nbdeastatihd~: barrel, IS the gllt edge shining women who are scattering the "This should finish.' in the moonlight, even as God's Gospel among thousands of healove shines on our hearts if we then. There is an African say- drum, and no one comes." Dr. will allow it. God's Word is ing "All food is God's," and they sharper than any two-edged never refuse food to a stranger. Lehman replied: "Keep on beatsword, and through it we who The Mboga apply this practice trust God fi~d all our needed help to the Gospel. Mr. Lloyd of the ing the drum, for the day will and protectIon for every time of C~urch. Missi.on Society talked need." wIth SIxty pIOneer evangelists come when this country will be who had come in to Apolo's Tl~e driver came up and begged headquarters. They had assem- full of Christians." The prophforglVeness, explaining, "We saw you come to the crossroad bled from all parts of. the great ecy has come true. On a recent with the foreigner, and sup- AruwImi forest. Ten of them posed you were his assistant in were spending their lives among Sunday morning at the chapel cotton buying in the villages. t~e dwarfs, living in their tiny When you asked to go to your VIllages, partaking the same where the old drum called in town, which is one of the large food, and moving about with cotton centers, we imagined that vain many years ago, 410 people you would be carrying money to them on their hunting expediclose cotton contracts with the tions. They are not a treacher- were present. Beyond, there farmers; and we thought this ous people, nor would they was our opportunity to take it were 52 chapels to which more from you. Will you forgive us dream of attacking others save this wrong?" in self-defense. Brave and clever than 6,000 go when they hear hunters they are, who do not -United Presbyterian. shrink from attacking even an the drum. elephant. At times one can see Sunday Schools Rally in a such game covered with arrows -Presbyterian Banner. Coptic Church as a gigantic pin-cushion with Bantu Essay Competition The World's Sunday School pins. When asked why they of- Association in Egypt held a fer to ~od pots of honey and The South African National Conference in Assiut. Sheikh WIld frUlts they answer: "White Sunday School Association re- Metry S. Dewairy, whose father ~an, we are afraid of Him. He cently arranged an essay compewas a Coptic priest writes of it: I~ cruel and hates Ufl, sending tition for non-Europeans. The sIckness and wild beasts and subject given was "The Impor- On Rally Day, because of limited death. If we put our offerings tance of the Early Years in space, we could only permit 4,000 stu- He may have pity." Christian Education." Altodents to .attend the rally-2,000 in the gether 106 papers were received -So S. Times. almost one third of them being in the vernacular. The papers were judged mainly by a three- fold standard-specific reference to the Bantu child; good reasons why Bible teaching and Chris- tia~ trai~ing should be given dUflp.g chIldhood; practical sug- gestIons as to how it should be done. A number of the papers were of considerable merit and showed knowledge of psychology and pe<,iagogy, as well as an ap- Evangehcal and 2,000 in the Coptic A Revival of Superstition preCIatIOn of the need for Chris- Orth~dox Church near by. The chair- tian religious education during man .Ill the Evangelical Church was a In the Cameroun territory of the early years. A cash prize of CoptIC lawyer, and the chairman in the Basel Mission, the number the Coptic Orthodox Church was an of Christians has been doubled two guineas was awarded the Evangelical elder! In the Evangeli- since 1927. Of late the mission best essay. cal Church there was a choir com- -South African Outlook. posed of t:nelve ~eacons of the Coptic is facing some severe ttrhiaels~'tLhoe Church wIth theIr ecclesiastical gar- worst being that of Money No Object ments of white· embroidered robes and velvet head-gears. of different colors. sango" agitation, a secret organ- Five miles from Mt. Silinda They stood before the pUlpit and chanted the Angels' Song in Coptic! ization. After fifteen years of South Africa, is a little bush My ey~s were filled with tears of joy, for thIS was the concrete expression progress the superstitious have school taught by a native Chrisof spiritual unity. We have been working ha!d in. El!;ynt for twelve again heard the voice of the tian, Norah Tamele. When lack years to. achIeve thIS fellowship among the AnCIent and Protestant Churches. mungi, a ravenous beast that of funds made it necessary for life Now. our efforts are being rewarded. demands human sacrifice. The the mission steonct lowsoerdsixthsacthohoerls~ Norah was It wIll mean much for the future fear of this animal is used by of our people. the Losango people in their agi- would be among the fatal num- In Assiut there are 4,500 tation against Christianity. ber. Her reply in Chindau was Drum Call Brings 6,000 as follows: "I want'to say that I wish to Street ~unday School pupils and Lolodorf ch urwcahsinfoCuanmdeerdouin~ continue to teach even if there is 3,000 m the Daily Vacation West Africa, no money at all. I will be very Bible Schools. 1905. In the early years when happy if you will allow me to
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
continue to teach my school. It otherwise, in competition everybody tions. Ever since the days of does not make me happy to work will open his shop. It must be com- Dr. Thom, Dr. Andrus and Mr. just for money; no, to teach the pulsory. Emrich, we have been wanting little children and to preach the to rehabilitate Mardin Station- Gospel to the older people is a -Turkish P1'ess Translation farthest American Board station reward greater than gold and Service. to the southeast, near Iraq. At silver. If the missionaries are last, in October, we were able to having difficulties, it is right Shall Turkey Accept place two families there-Dr. and that I should be troubled also Christianity? Mrs. W. L. Nute, and Rev. and and work with you; because Mrs. A. Carleton. They secured when I was poor and uneducated The following article by H. the usual travel permits from you did not turn me away, and Nihal in a Turkish periodical re- the regular Turkish officials at when I was sick you did not re- veals the Turk's attitude toward the points from which they fuse to help me. I am not able religion at the present time. started, but on arrival they were to express my thanks if I may told that a few days before, the remain in God's work." We have decided to follow the West- Angora Government had made ern civilization. But before every- that region again a closed zone The school was allowed to con- thing else we have to know the mean- for foreigners. Therefore they tinue with Nora receiving one ing of civilization. While adopting a could not be granted residence third her former pay. Students new civilization, have we to take over permits pending new instrucincreased in number from 23 to all its institutions and elements, or tions from Angora. They have 34.-Missionary Herald. may we leave out some parts? In en- been told that they must leave tering the Islamic civilization, the right off! After such long and WESTERN ASIA Turks accepted all the institutions of patient effort, our hopes seem that civilization, and naturally its re- likely to be frustrated, after we Friday or Sunday for Turks ligion also. Today while entering the have placed our worker:s there! Western civilization, shall we accept Weare making a final effort to Turkey is considering a change Christianity also which is the religion in the weekly rest day. A ques- of the West? have the decision reversed. tionnaire has been issued to sound out the feelings of the Today religion plays an important There are increasing evidences public regarding the adoption of role in life. With the exception of that many who are earnestly Sunday instead of Friday or the Russia, no nation has dared to declare seeking spiritual life are feeling abolition of a weekly rest day. irreligion. Since the Turkish nation the utter inadequacy of Islam, A large number sent replies ad- also needs a religion, what should it and are turning to Jesus Christ vocating the adoption of Sunday be? to satisfy their need. You may as rest day. Here are some of perhaps find it hard to realize them: Sheikh Bey, professor of psy- their aversion to the name Chris- chology said in a private conver- tian, which to them stands first The laborers have a right to a day sation: of all for a hostile nationalism of rest in the week. This right of the and secondly, for a form of worlaborers should be recognized. For "Since we desire to identify our- ship which they associate with instance, the cleaning of machines is selves with the West, it is necessary idolatry. But they see the winnot allowed on the rest day, and thus for us to make our religion also iden- someness of Christ, and are bea work day is used for cleaning and tical; seeing that it is impossible for ing led to be His followers. repairs. It is necessary that Sunday the West to accept Islam, we have to should be accepted. Even in Egypt accept Christianity." Today a good -C. T. R. they rest on Sunday, and not on Fri- many belonging to "the Enlightened day. The economic relationship of the Group" are of the same opinion. Ac- Effects of Christian Education nations has made Sunday common for cording to some of these, no greater all. . . . Far from abolishing the mistake can be committed than adher- The American School for rest day, half of the preceding day ing to the barbarous religion of Mo- Girls in Beirut had a student also must be set apart for rest. The hammed with its Feast of Sacrifice, body made up of twelve differreal question is not working six or while there is the humane religion of ent nationalities, ten different seven days, but working in a system- Jesus. What we mean is this; today sects of Christians, and five nonatic way. But it is essential that Sun- there is a group of enlightened Turks Christian religions. The nonday should take the place of Friday. who are inclined to Christianity. They Christians represented forty-six Especially in our commercial life we want Christianity not because it is a per cent of the student body. are losing much on account of the religion, but because it is a way lead- But figures are less vivid than present day of rest. . . . The adop- ing to civilization and humanity. individual testimony. Here is a tion of Sunday as a rest day is an ap- girl registered as a Moslem who propriate arrangement from the point On the other hand there is another has three times taken part in of view of our relations with Europe. movement which aims to Turkify Is- prayer before the whole school, It makes no difference whether a man lam. The Koran and the call to prayer and has once prayed publicly in rests on Fridav or Sunday. Only in began to be read in Turkish, but some- the name of Christ for a sick economic life, in bank transactions, it how this did not gain ground, whereas teacher. She expects to work is very important. . . . Sunday must the partisans of Christianity did not among women in Bagdad prison. be the· rest day. We mechants have stop. They continued their propa- A Syrian girl says: "Life," said two days' vacation in the week. We ganda. While the other movement is rest on Friday, and we can do no work passing away like a flame of chaff, on Sunday. Counting the feast days this movement moves on like water also, We! are idle almost half of the under a heap of chaff. Let us be careyear. But the rest day must not be ful, let us beware of doing the same left to the choice of the individual; mistake when we adopted a new civ- ilization. Our national culture is in danger.
-Translation Service.
Complications in Turkey The situation here is always liable to unexpected complica-
she, is full of glimpses of the exact figures are not available, Supervised by a Frenchman, world round about, happiness, as for example in Russia. Inspected by an American, mirth and joy. Friendship ex- Scoured by an Albanian, ists abundantly, not the cheap The Growth of Christianity in Dyed by a Turk, Examined by an Irishman, kind, but the rich, constructive the World friendship. In college I formu- G. L. Kieffer, in the Lutheran Pressed by a Pole. National Council Bulletin esti- -World Comrades. lated a serious idea of life and of mates the Christian population what it meant, of our capacities, of the world at the end of the A Christian Protest and of the many treasures it con- several centuries approximately tains." "Christomol" is the name of as follows: a Christian movement among -Syria News Quarterly. young people in Siberia, in op- A Christian Film in Meshed First Century ……… 500,000 position to the "Komsomol," or Second Century ……. 2,000,000 Godless movement. The Na- Dr. H. A. Lichtwardt of Third Century …….. 5,000,000 tional Bible Society of Scotland Meshed, Persia, sends this inter- Fourth Century ……. 10,000,000 reports that many groups of esting bit of news from that fa- Fifth Century …….. 15,000,000 Christians are being formed in natical holy city of the Moslems, Sixth Century …….. 20,000,000 Siberia. A strenuous attempt where until recently, everything Seventh Century …… 24,000,000 also has been made to transmit Christian was anathema: Eighth Century ……. 30,000,000 over the wireless radio at Har- Ninth Century ……. 40,000,000 bin, Manchuria, the Gospel mes- "During the month of Ramazan, the Tenth Century …….. 50,000,000 sage over the whole Far East time of fasting, in this 'holy' month, Eleventh Century ….. 70,000,000 and into Siberia. in this fanatical Shrine city, the Twelfth Century …… 80,000,000 American film, 'The King of Kings' Thirteenth Century …. 75,000,000 The Christian Protest Moveis being shown in the local cinema to ment, organized in England in huge crowds, which are at least 90% Fourteenth Century '" 80,000,000 1929, to combat the oppression Mohammedans. It is definitely Chris- Fifteenth Century …. 100,000,000 of religion in Russia, has been tian, sympathetically and earnestly Sixteenth Century …. 125,000,000 reorganized to include in its propresented, and has created a great im- Seventeenth Century .. 155,000,000 gram a campaign against the pression among the thinking people. Eighteenth Century … 200,000,000 Communist anti-religious propa- There were many army officers there, Nineteenth Century … 500,000,000 ganda in Great Britain. The and other officials and men of prom- Twentieth Century …. 737,280,000 work is educational in character inence. The Afghan Consul-General and will be carried out through sat directly behind me, and during the These estimates are compiled existing organizations. entire film asked me numerous ques- from Dorchester's "Problem of tions on details which he did not un- Religious Progress" and' from -Alliance Weekly. derstand. The audience was respect- "The World Almanac" and the ful and attentive. Such pictures will Lutheran Missions Prosper have definite evangelistic results, es- "Lutheran World Almanac." pecially as the sub-titles were direct The growth of Protestantism Not one mission under the scripture quotations, with book and verse stated." is estimated as follows since 1851: auspices of the United Lutheran Board of Missions was closed Per Cent during the past year, and the Increase 682 mission congregations and 78 preaching stations showed a MISCELLANEOUS NEWS Year Me1nbers Per new increase of 32,000 members. Increase Yelw Church Membership Gains 1851 82,000,000 106,000,000 ……… The Baptist World Alliance re- 1882 123,657,000 ports at the end of 1932 a sub- 1884 133,500,000 24,000,000 0.94 1888 136,036,600 stantial advance in church mem- 1889 17,657,000 8.32 9,843,000 1.99 2,536,600 1.90 bership, the increase amounting 1891 143,237,625 7,201,025 2.65 Thirty-eight of the missions be- 1900 150,000.000 6,762,375 0.52 came self-supporting. Forty-two to about 190,000. Especially in- 1906 166,066,500 16,066,500 1.78 new missions were started. The teresting are the statistics for 171,650,000 5,583,500 0.37 Lutheran Church spent more 1915 177,300,000 5,650,000 1.65 Asia. The steadiness of Chinese 1917 Christians under difficult condi- 1925 191,259.655 13,959,655 0.98 than a million dollars during the tions is gratifying; a net in- 1932 202,180,000 10,920,345 0.81 past year for home missions and crease of over 1,000 is recorded. The Indian growth is larger, The American Flag church extension work. especially that of South India, -The ChrisUan Century. A flag floats over the J ames- where there are now nearly 125,- town worsted mills. Here is its "There are treasures of love 000 members, forming the larg- history as told by the owner of and character which cannot be est body of communicants in that the mills: lost. For these treasures of the area. The Indian Baptist mem- The flag was made of wool from spirit we can well afford to exbership (apart from Ceylon) ex- American sheepceeds 200,000 ; India, Burma Sorted by an American, ch!mge aU else in order that we and Ceylon together report over Carded by an Italian, may possess them."
322,500. The largest advance Spun by a Swede, Our part is to cultivate and is in the United States, where Warped by a German, the membership of each of the Dressed by an Englishman, protect the garden of the inner Conventions has risen. These Drawn in by a Scotchman, life, but it is God who gives statistics omit all groups where Woven by a Belgian, strength to the stalk and beauty to the flower.
Missionary
Recent Books Reviewed for the Readers' Information ~,————~–~~========~==~~~==-=====~~.========~~~====—-~~~.~~ Handmaidens of the King to Fo-reign romance. Mrs. Moffat was a An Ambassador in Bonds. By Mary Lands. By W. Thoburn Clark. 12 daughter of David Livingstone; C. Purser. 8 vo. 83 pp. 28. 6d. mo. 179 pp. Southern Baptist Con- Robert Moffat was a true pio- S. P. G. London. 1933. vention. Richmond, Va. 1932. neer who died just fifty years ago. The story has often been The blind of the world have The s e brief biographical told but this will be found inter- been neglected in all lands where sketches of Southern Baptist esting to those who have not ac- ambassadors of Christ have not missionaries include Mrs. Min- cess to the more complete biog- led the way in caring for them. nie Bland David of Africa; Lula raphies. The Rev. Wm. Henry Jackson, a Whilden, missionary to the blind Church of England missionary, of China; Julia K. Mackenzie of Adventuring with God. By Esther a graduate of Oxford, inventor Chinkiang, China; Ida S. Hayes, E. Baird. 12 mo. 55 pp. Ohio of a simple Braille type in Bura teacher in Mexico and Mrs. Friends Foreign Missionary Society. mese, a poet and musician-and Susan Broxton Taylor, the wife 1932. withal blind-began his work of Dr. Geo. B. Taylor of Italy. for the 25,000 blind of Burma in Some of the photographic por- Miss Baird has for forty years 1917. Burmese, Chinese, Intraits should never have seen the been a missionary in Nowgong, dians, government officials, busilight of day but the women they Central India. As one of the ness men and missionaries so poorly represent are heroines founders of the mission she tells helped to support the work and who served their generation by in this booklet the story of the he was given the Kaiser-in-Hind the Will of God and whose work growth of the Friends' work at gold medal by the Government abides. Chatarpur and the blessing of of Burma. The story told by his God upon the medical and edu- sister is worth reading. School Pat'hs in Africa. By Phyllis cational work-both of which L. Garlick. 12 mo. 102 pp. High- are evangelistic. Miss Baird re- Tefaro, Tales from Africa. By W. J. way Press. London. 1933. cently received the Kaiser-in- W. Roome. 8 vo. 185 pp. 58. Mar- Hind medal for public service in shall, Morgan & Scott. London. The author of "Goodly Fellow- India. Through her clear eyes 1932. ship" and "Uganda Contrasts," and warm Christian heart we gives us in these sketches some see the spiritual darkness and Africa is still a land of rovery interesting glimpses of need of Bundelkund, a district mance and adventure; a land of present day life in Africa-Ni- then untouched by the Gospel. strange scenes and customs; a geria, Ken y a , Tanganyika, They entered the field in time of land of ignorance, cruelty and Uganda-especially the work of famine and gathered 500 chil- large possibilities. Mr. Roome the Church Missionary Society. dren under mission supervision. is a British traveler and Bible We see here the contrasts be- An orphanage was started at translator and reports in these tween heathen and Christian Nowgong and is still going fifty letters what he saw on joureducation; the way schools are strong. Then a dispensary, and neys with a lad, Tefaro, through conducted, and the children who later a hospital, was opened at the Belgium Congo, Uganda, and attend; the results in training Chatarpur, fourteen miles away. Tanganyika. The yare not A f ric a n citizens, industrial The story-too briefly told-de- studies but rather chatty, runworkers, home m a k e r s, and scribes how land was secured ning comments full of interest- Christian workers. This teach- for the hospital and gives clear ing information for young peoing ministry is of great impor- evidence of the intervention of ple and others to whom the tance in order that future lead- God working on the heart of the g r 0 u n d covered is new. We ers may be adequately trained. Maharaj ah. The missionaries catch intimate glimpses of home Here is a remarkable record of have won their way and have life and mission work and occaneed and of accomplishment. made a deep impression on the sionally read thrilling incidents people. This is one of the little connected with the past. The Robert Moffat of Kuruman. By David known pieces of work which, if book is an excellent introduction J. Deane. 12 mo. 191 pp. 28. multiplied a millionfold would to a study of Central African life Pickering & Inglis. Glasgow. 1932. transform the w 0 rId by the and shows how Christian mis- power of the Holy Spirit. sions are meeting the needs of The story of the Moffats in the people. Southern Africa is a missionary Any of the oo()ks not.~d in these columns will be sent by the RRvmw publishers on receipt of price.
[231 ]
The Japanese Invasion and China's Cameos of Our Lord. By Robert The Career and Significance of Jesus. Defiance. A Symposium, Edited WaltE'l' Bcll Denny. 466 pp. Nel- by Wong Chi-yuen, Director of Lee. 191 pp. 3/-net. Pickering & son & Son. NE'W York. Publicity of the 19th Route Army, Inglis. 14 Paternoster Row, Lon- and Tang Leang-Ii, Editor of the Christianity, Communism, Adventism. People's Tribnne. Paper. 80 pp. don. 1932. Alexander Stewart. 121 pp. Stock- $1.00. Shanghai. well. London. Thirty-eight picture studies of As might be expected from its The Christian Enterprise Among authorship, this is an ex parte our Lord are given under such Rural People. Kenyon L. Butter- statement. The wise reader will field. Cokesbury Press. Nashville. take into account statements by titles as "His Face," "His Head," Japanese, and particularly the Christian Unity in Practice and impartial report of the investi- "His Shoulders," "His Arms," Prophecy. Chas. S. Macfarland. gat i n g Commission of the $2.75. 396 pp. Macmillan. New League of Nations headed by "His Feet," with scripture ref- York. Lord Lytton. This is a vivid story of the remarkable achieve- erences containing pointed mes- Delivering Grace. J. T. Mawson. 222 ment of the Chinese 19th Route pp. 28. Pickering & Inglis. Lon- Army and the tragic fate of the sages of salvation. The author's don. Chinese civilian population in the zone of hostilities. style is terse and his theology is The Dark Continent. Africa: The Landscape and the People. H. A. A. J. B. delightfully refreshing in its un- Bernatzik. IlIus. 256 pp. B. West- termann Co. New York. Individual Work for Individuals. By wavering certainty. Each chap- Henry Clay Trumbull. 12 mo. 186 Infonnation and Opinion Concerning pp. $1.00. American Tract Soci- ter closes with an appropriate the Japanese Invasion of Man- ety. New York. 1932. churia and Shanghai from Sources bit of poetry or song. In the Other Than Chinese. Edited by K. More than one revival has N. Lei. 445 pp. Shanghai Bar been started through reading chapter entitled, "The Hands of Assn. 1933. these stories of personal work. The book was first published the Lord" he tells of Satan, Materialism. J. S. HaJdane. 221 pp. over thirty years ago. Dr. $2. Harpers. New York. Trumbull was a remarkable and clothed in princely garb, suddenpersistant personal worker, hav- Robert Moffat of Kuruman. D. J. ing made it a rule to speak each ly visiting a monk in his cell and Deane. 191 pp. 28. Pickering & day to someone on his or her re- Inglis. London. lation to Christ. The book will saying, "I am Jesus." Greatly be a spiritual stimulus to any Moral Man and Immoral Society. pastor, missionary or other perplexed and wondering if this Reinhold Neibuhr. 280 pp. $2. Christian. It is intensely inter- Scribners. New York. esting and suggests many prac- guest were genuine he asked to tical ways in which effective The New Life. Capt. Reginald Walwork may be done in the "one by see his hands. At this, of course, lace. 101 pp. Is. Pickering & one" method. Inglis. London. Satan fled. Then Mr. Lee fol- Elise's Sacrifice. By Norah C. Asher. Northern Baptists Re-Think Mis- 12 mo. 60 pp. 9d. lows with a pointed paragraph sions. Edited by P. H. J. Lerrigo. 128 pp. 25 cents. Baptist Board of Norman's Good Name. By M. S. on "Toil-worn hands," "Holy Education. New York. Comrie. 12 mo. 208 pp. 2s. hands," "Pierced hands," "Grav- Richmond Hill Sermons. J. D. Jones. His Mother's Book. By E. E. Green. 285 pp. $1.50. Harpers. New 12 mo. Pickering & Inglis. Lon- en hands," "Strong hands," etc., York. don. 1932. ending with the following quo- "Re-Thinking Missions" Examined. These stories are not in mod- Robert E. Speer. 64 pp. 50 cents. ern style but they have an in- tation: Revell. New York. terest for children. The first tells of a little girl and her sac- Lord, when I am weary with toiling, Three Kingdom's of Indo-China. rifice for those she loved. The And burdensome seem Thy com- Harold J. Coolidge, Jr., and Theosecond concerns a boy who dore Roosevelt. 330 pp. $3. fought to remove the cloud from mands, Crowell. New York. his good name when he was If my load should lead to complainfalsely accused of theft. The Worship in Other Lands. H. P. third relates the story of a small ing, Thompson. 167 pp. 28. 6d. S. P. G. boy who was adopted by an old Lord, show me Thy hands-Thy Westminster. animal fancier. All are easy reading, have some adventure nail-pierced hands, Lutheran Mission Yearbook-1933. and good moral teaching. Thy cross-torn hands; my Sav- 158 pp. M2. H. G. Wallman. Leipzig. iour show me Thy hands. Annual Report. American Board of These short chapters make fine Commissioners for Foreign Mis- sions. 166 pp. Boston. devotional reading for the fam- Perils of the Polar Pack. A. L. ily altar. Ministers will find it Fleming. S. P. C. K. London.
suggestive for series of studies Ramdas-Translations of Mahipati's Santavijaya. Justin E. Abbott. at the Mid-week Devotional 410 pp. Hs. 2 As. 8. Pandit God- bole, Poona, India. Service H. A. ADAIR. The Two Hundred. Frank Hough- New Books ton. Is. China Inland Mission. London. An African Pilgrimage. A. M. Chirg- win. 158 pp. ,28. 6d. Student World F.ellowslhip People. Grace Christian Movement Press. London. Darling Phillips. 105 pp. $1.00. Friendship Press. New York. An Ambassador in Bonds. The Story of William Henry Jackson. 2d Edi- The Beauty of Jesus. Gipsy Smith. tion. 83 pp. 28. 6d. S. P. G. House. 228 pp. $2. Revell. New York. Westminster.
Behind t'he Far Eastern Conflict. Joseph Barnes and Frederick V. Field. 45 pp. 25 cents. American Council, Institute of Pacific Rela- tions. New York.
Conflict in the Far East, 1931-1932. 47 pp. 25 cents. American Coun- cil, Institute of Pacific Relations. New York.
China's Foreign Relations, 1917-1931. Robert T. Pollard. 416 pp. $3.50. Macmillan. New York.
ITEMS The Indian Government honored
Wanless wit h the Kaiser-i-Hind (Concluded from 2d c01Jer.) (Empress of India) medal, in recog- nition of his public services; later Mrs. James Duguid, Jr., a field sec- King George made him a Knight Printin retary of the Presbyterian Board of Bachelor of the British Empire. Foreign Missions, has been appointed When You Require It vice-president of the Stewardship Sir William was born at Charles- Council of the Churches of Christ in ton, Ontario, on May 1, 1865, and rethe United States and Canada. ceived his early education in Canada. In 1889 was graduated from the Med- '" * ical College of New York University We wish to extend to you an invi· Dr. N. Gist Gee, the new vice-pres- and was appointed a medical mission- tation to become acquainted with ident of Yenching University, Peiping, ary by the Presbyterian Board. He THE EVANGELICAL PRESS of China, is a Methodist layman, who has will long be remembered, both in In- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. taught in Soochow University and has dia and in America, for his devout served on the China Medical Board. Christian character, his medical and Thousands of institutions and individ- surgical skill, his Christlike spirits uals have accepted a similar invitation, *** and his energetic, effective and sacri- and have enjoyed a profitable printing ficial service. An extended account of association for years. Dr. F. W. Norwood, Pastor of City · . Dr. Wanless's life and work may be Our specialty is Books, Magazines and Temple, London is to have a year's Booklets. We have modern equipment expected in a later number of the RE- to meet all the requirements of your vacation and will leave early in July particular job. Our service is quick. VIEW. careful and courteous. to make a world tour of the mission stations of the London Missionary So- Dr. Amos R. Wells,'"honorary editor Why not allow us to estimate on your next printing? You will be delighted ciety in Africa, India, China and of The Chrwtian Endeavor World and with our product, price, and service. a pioneer leader in the Christian En- Japan. ••• deavor movement, died on March 6, at his home in Auburndale, Massachu- Dr. J. Gordon Holdcroft, has re- setts, at seventy years of age. signed as secretary of the Korea Sun- Dr. 'Wells was born in Glen Falls, day School Association and is to take N. Y., the son of Major Amos P. W. and Mary Hannah Wells, was gradup the work of the Presbyterian Board uated from Antioch College in 1883 and served there as a Professor of of Christian training in Korea and Greek and Geology before becoming The Evangelical Press will be principal of the Arthur T. editorial secretary of the Christian Endeavor movement. Pierson Memorial Bible School of Printers of He was the author of more than a The Missionary Review of the World Seoul. In this postion Dr. Holdcroft hundred books besides the annual volsucceeds the Rev. Wallace J. Ander- ume of "Peloubet's Notes on the Sun- day School Lessons." Some well- PLANT AND MAIN OFFICE: son, who for some years has rendered known books were "The Missionary Manual," "The Living Bible," "A Suc- Third and Reily Streets Ha:rrisburg, Pa. most efficient service to the school. cessful Sunday School Superintend- ent," and "Think on These Things." Obituary Notes ecutive Committee of Foreign Mis~ Rev. E. H. '"Jon'"es,* for thirty-five sions of the Southern Presbyterian Sir William James Wanless, M.D., Church, died February 11, at Nashfor nearly forty years a Presbyterian years an American Baptist Mission- ville, Tenn. Dr. Williams was ormissionary in India died on March 3, ary in Japan, died in Los Angeles on dained in 1871 and thirty years later in Glendale, California. Dr. Wanless December 24, 1932. Mr. Jones is still he became Secretary of Foreign Miswent to India in 1889 and during the called by some Japanese "the St. Paul sions, and traveled extensively in the thirty-nine years that he was a medi- of Northern Japan." Since retiring Orient and in South America. He recal missionary there, he treated more he has worked among the Japanese in tired from active service several years than 1,000,000 patients and restored ago. Dr. Williams was for some years eyesight to 12,000. Young medical · Southern California. Editor of The MisHionary Survey and students from all over the country '" '" Dr. John A. Savage, who served the was the author of the book, "In Four went to receive instruction from the Continents," published in 1911. "Wizard of India," as he was called. cause of National Missions in the He had the satisfaction of seeing a Presbyterian Church for forty years, The Rev. Fr*ank* K*night Sanders, self-supporting hospital and Christian died January 1, in Franklinton, N. C. church established at Miraj, where Dr. Savage was an Afro-American, D.D., former dean of the Yale Divinthere had not been one Christian when born in Liberia 75 years ago. It was ity School and more recently the presthe medical work was started. Today his pride to build up the Church of ident of Washburn College, in Topeka, the hospital is the largest mission med- Christ among American Negroes. Kan., died at Rockport, Mass., on Febical hospital in India and includes ruary 20, at the age of seventy-one. more than fifty buildings, six branch Miss Annie H*; G'"ow'"ens, for twentyhospitals, a leper asylum, two con- Dr. Sanders after his graduation valescent homes, and the first medical five years a missionary of the Presby- from Ripon College, Wisconsin, remission school in India. terian Board in China, died in To- turned to Ceylon as an instructor at ronto, January 1. She was born and Jaffna College. He was once director Sunday School educated in Scotland. Much of her of missionary preparation for the service was given to rural itineration Foreign Missions Conference of North Supplies in China. America and a former president of the Religious Education Association. Sound. sp,n'/uu/ Miss Minnie '"Cla*rke'", who served in Virginia C. Y*oun'"g, '"formerly a mis- ~'hons of/lie East Africa since 1898 under the ~1'~!~lll'II~1 ·//onrtklllnlJm7o0mhin~lJl/iot~Jj A. B. C. F. M. died at Durban, South sionary of the Protestant Episcopal Africa, January 14. She was born at Church in the Philippines, died in Natal, South Africa, the daughter of Stamford, Connecticut, on March 14th English missionaries, and was edu~ at the age of sixty-six. Miss Young • • cated in England. was one of those who helped to per- suade the savage Moros of Jolo to sub- • mit to the American Government with- out fighting. Later she started a mis- The Rev. Henry Francis Williams, sionary agricultural sehool among the D.D., Secretary Emeritus of the Ex- Moros. After her return from the Philippines in 1916 she earried on deaconess work in New York, assist- ing girls who needed friendly advice or shelter.
ARTICLES IN THE APRIL NUMBER
The Palladium of Islam ……………………… , … , ……….. S. M. Zwemer The Origin of the ld al-Adha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richard Bell American Interests in the Near East . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James L. Barton Early North African Christianity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gaius J. Siosser A Turkish Interpretation of World History ……………………… Lee Vrooman The Y. M. C. A. in the Near East.. . ………………………. Wilbert B. Smith Spiritual Results Among Moslems in China …………………… George K. Harris From Bahrain to Taif …………………………………….. Louis P. Dame The Religious Background of the Moghuls ……………………. G. H. Schanzlin The Bulgarian Koran ……………………………………. Nalanail NaziforJ Current Topics …… Boole Reviews …… Survey of Periodicals » SUBSCRIBE TODAY Address THE MOSLEM WORLD 156 Filth A.enue New York City Single copies, SOc.; Annual Subscription, $2.00; in Combination with the REVIEW, $3.50 MARSHALL, MORGAN a SCOTT, 12 Pel_oster Bulldin,., London Price In Gr.el Brllein, Eishl Shlllinss, nal I THE KING'S BUSINESS Girdles the Globe . Subscribers and Contributors In Every Country In the World Stdrk pioneer Adds, isoldted misssion stdtions, crowded, disease· infected, superstition-steeped sections-to all of these THE KING'S BUSINESS ministers. It is quite naturdl thdt out from them there should come to the pdges of THE KING'S BUSINESS missiondry articles, Hdshing with power dnd luminous with dPpedl.
Around-the-World Testimonies •…Can never do without it….South Africa• ….Value it highly and keep every issue….Peru• ….Love it so much that I cannot do without it….India• ….A blessing lind an inspiration to higher service….British West Indies. ….Most helpful. I use it I srellt dell in SundlY School work in this district….Chinl.
The Bible Family Magazine for the World Family Something arresting, fdscindting, moving, in every issue for every member of the fdmily! Striking editoridls and drticles of vitdl interest, heart to heart talks with young readers, notes on Christidn Endedvor topics, International SunddY School Lesson Commentdry dnd other valued Fedtures dreoffered every month.
Special Combination OrJer: THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD $2.50} Both for $2 75 Add 25c. for each Canadian or foreign THE KING'S BUSINESS : 1.50 • dddress to which The King's Business $4.00 SAVE: $1.25 is sent.
Address your orders to either office: THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD » Third and Reily Streets, Harrisburg, Pa.
THE KING'S BUSINESS It It » » 558 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, California L
The Missionary Review of the World — September 1932
1932
A New Day in Old Persia Wm. N. Wysham Attempting the Impossible in Japan William Axling Leaves from an Oriental Diary Mary E. Moore Today in the New Hebrides Fred Bowie At Herrnhut–Two Centuries After Samuel M. Zwemer
time . .. to Dates to Remember been prominent in the section of poli-
tics relating to physical, moral and JAPAN • CHINA September 17-20-Bi-Annual Conven- mental development of women and tion, Evangelical B rot her h 0 0 d, children. and MANILA Evangelical Synod, St. Louis, Mo. *** Just 10 days to Yokohama! 4 September 28, 29-Committee of Refmore to Shanghai! If you take erence and Counsel, Foreign Mis- Gen. Chang Chin-Kiang has become Empress of Asia or Empress of sions Conference, New York, N. Y. a life member of the American Bible Russia, largest and fastest liners Society, the first Chinese to be placed on the Dire"t Express route ••• October I-Young People's Congress, on that roll. One of his chaplains straight across from Vancouver. Woman's Missionary Society, United gives this testimony: Lutheran Church, Baltimore, Md. If you want to go via Honolulu "In all these years I have never and still do it in record time ..• October 11-16-International Conven- known a single day when my chief then go on Empress ofJapan (the tion of the Disciples of Christ, In- did not find time for studying his Bi- Pacific's largest, fastest liner) or dianapolis, Ind. ble. Always, whether in camp or on on the huge, swift Empress of those long marches across Mongolia, Canada. Yokohama in only 13 October 12-22-Convention of the he gave his devotional life this daily days .•. including a Honolulu United L u the ran Church in food. Always there was pitched the visit! San Francisco and Los America, Philadelphia, Pa. prayer tent or, if we were housed in Angeles sailings connect with a temple, I have known him to lead these "Empresses" at Honolulu. October 18-24-Five Years Meeting his troops in worship in the courtyard of the Society of Friends, Richmond, before a gallery of idols. He believes On all "Empresses," a sumptu- Indiana. in searching the Scriptures." ous First Class … an unusually spacious, comfortable, well-ser- October 19 and 20-New York City. * ** viced Tourist Class. And the cost The annual meeting of The Ameris correspondingly lower! ican Mission to Lepers. Speakers Dr. iUOert Schweitzer of Africa, re- will include Dr. Sam Higginbottom, cently visited England and received All .. Empress" sailings from of India, and Dr. W. C. Terrill, of an honorary D. D. at Oxford. The Vancouver (trains direct to ship- Africa. A program of the meet- public orator of the university deside) and Victoria. Fares include ing can be 0 btained from The clared him to be eminent alike in passage from Seattle. American Mission to Lepers, 156 theology, philosophy, music and medi- Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y. cine. Dr. Schweitzer plans to return Fastest by Direc-t Express to Africa at the end of the year. October 23-25-Biennial Convention, Empress of Russia •.• Sept. 10, Nov.,S Woman's Mis s ion a r y Society, *** Empress of Asia ……. Oct. 8, Dec. 3 United Lutheran Church, Baltimore, Md. The Rev. and Mrs. E. E. Calverley Fastest via Honolulu of the Arabian Mission of the Re- November 10-12-World Alliance for formed Church in America, identified Empress ofJapan … Sept. 24, Nov. 19 International Friendship through with both medical and evangelistic Empress of Canada … Oct. 22, Dec. 17 the Churches, New York. work in Kuwait, have recently re- signed as missionaries and Dr. Cal- Information, reservations, from November 25-28-Africa Conference, verley has been made a professor in your own agent, or Canadian Pa- Hartford, Conn. the Hartford School of Missions. cific offices in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Montreal, and November 29-December 2-Interde- *** 31 other cities in U.S.and Canada. nominational Conference on the City and the Church in the Present Dr. O. R. Avison, President of Se- CANADIAN Crisis, Chicago, Ill. verance Union Medical School, Seoul, Korea; also President of Chosen PACIFIC Personal Items Christian College, has been decorated by the Emperor of Japan with "The • Dr. Sam Higginbottom, Principal of Order of the Sacred Treasure, Fourth Allahabad Agricultural Institute, is in Class." America on furlough. Recent action has consolidated the Institute 'with *** Ewing Christian College. Dr. Caleb Frank Gates, of Robert *** College, and Arabic scholar, and a leading member of the American com- The Rev. W. Reginald Wheeler, munity in Istanbul, left Turkey on from 1916 to 1921 a missionary in June 20th, after fifty-one years of China of the Presbyterian Church, U. arduous service. S. A., and for the past ten years an associate secretary of the Board in In 1881 he arrived at Mardin where charge of West Africa and Latin he spent thirteen years as a mission- American fields, has recently resigned ary of the American Board. He went this latter position to return to China to Harput College until 1902, going as a missionary, with his wife and through the Armenian massacre three sons. Mr. Wheeler was former- when he was compelled to abandon ly located in Hangchow, Chekiang, for his house. Dr. Gates became presi- three years and now is to join the dent of Robert College in 1903 and staff of Nanking University to teach made it the most important seat of English and to make evangelistic con- learning in Turkey. tacts with the students. Dr. John A. Mackay, formerly of South America, *** will take up Mr. Wheeler's work on the Board. Dr. Robert R. Moton has been awarded the 1931 Spingarn Medal. *** This is an annual award given by the National Association for the Ad'l1ance- Dr. Daw Saw Sa, of Rangoon, grad- ment of Colored People to the Negro uate of Judson College, has been made who makes the greatest contribution a member of the Rangoon Corpora- to the race during the year. tion, the first Burmese woman to sit on a legislative council. She has long *** The Rev. Arthur E. Harper of Moga, India, has received the degree of Doctor of Education from the Col- lege of Colorado. Dr. and Mrs.Harp- er are just completing their furlough year, during which they have visited many churches in the homeland.
"THE THE MISSIONARY REVIEW
GREATEST CHALLENGE TO NON-CHRISTIANS" THE WORLD IS WHAT GANDHI SAID DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor OF THE WORK OF THE MISSION TO LEPERS Vol. LV HEPT~;MBER, 1932 Xo. J Church groups and other organizations will ——-~——- find liThe New Day of Hope For Lepersll an FRONTISPIECE – THE OLD AND THE NEW IN attractive topic for discussion. THE NEW HEBRIDES September is the time for planning the season's program. Are TOPICS OF THE TIMES .. 467 you including the work for lepers in your meeting plans? Deductions from Deficits AMERICAN MISSION TO LEPERS Spiritual Awakenings in China A Forward Program in Korea 156 Fifth Avenue, Room 1118M, New York Communism in Chile Pledse send d sdmpie set of literdture, including Progrdm for Leper Mission- A Moral Revolt in Brazil dry Meeting, PldYs, Stories, Tdlks, etc. Siam Turns Over a New Leaf NAME ………………………..• ·············•·•···· …..•…..•…..•…… ADDRESS …………………………………………………………….. . A NEW DAY IN OLD CITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . STATE .•………….•.•…• PERSIA …………… 471 SOCIETY OR CHURCH ………………………………………………… .. Wm. N. Wysham of Teheran Editorial Chat Among the valuable articles prom- ATTEMPTING THE IM- ised for this number of the REVIEW POSSIBLE IN JAPAN .. 475 DO NOT MISS THIS ON ANY are the following: William Axling of Tokyo ACCOUNT! COME WITH ME TO CHINA LEAVES FROM AN ORI- THE OCTOBER NUMBER will be o. E. Goddard ENTAL DIARy …….. 477 largely devoted to China-a most im- Mary E. Moore of New York portant subject and the Foreign Mis- CHRISTIANS IN THE CHINESE sion study topic for the coming year. CRISIS A KOREAN AT PRAYER. 479 Walter C. Erdman of Pyengyang *** By Frank Rawlinson of Shangha! TODAY IN THE NEW WHAT OTHERS THINK SOME ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE HEBRIDES ………… 481 CHINESE Fred Bowie of Tangoa "The REVIEW is getting better all the time. The March and April num- Kenneth S. Latourette AT HERRNHUT-TWO bers are wonderful!" OVERCOMING DIFFICULTIES CENTURIES AFTER… 485 THOMAS WEIR, Salt Lake City, Utah. IN CHINA Samuel M. Zwemer of Princeton *** 'Vm. H. Gieysteen of Peiping HOW THE CHINESE WORSHIP ERASMO BRAGA OF "The REVIEW is more suggestive James L. Stewart of Chengtu BRAZIL …………… 491 and valuable than ever before. I prize WHAT CHINESE ARE DOING W. Reginald Wheeler of Nanking it for its information and helpfulness for myself and for missionary gather- FOR CHINA EFFECTIVE WAY S OF ings." Mary F. Parmenter of Shanghai WORKING ………… 495 ELIZABETH P. WHITING, Wilbraham, RECENT PROGRESS IN CHINA Edited by Mrs. Estella S. Aitchison Charles L. Boynton of Shanghai Mass. TESTIMONIES OF CHINESE WOMEN'S HOME MIS- SION BULLETIN…… 499 CHRISTIANS Edited by Miss Anne Seesholtz P. c. Hsu and others OUR WORLD OUTLOOK. 501 OUR MISSIONARY BOOK- SHELF …….•……. 511 Puhlication Office 40 S. Meridian St., Indianapolis, Indiana Editorial and Business Office 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City Entered as second-class matter at Post-Office, Indianapolis, Ind., under Act of March 3, 1879.
25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year Foreign Postage 50 cents a year Puhlished monthly-All rights reserved Copyrighted 1932 by the MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- LISHING CO., INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS ROBERT E. SPEER, President WM. r. CHAMBERLAIN, Vice-President WALTER McDOUGALL, Treasurer DELAVAN L. PrIfusON, Secretary SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT MRS. ORRIN R. JUDD WM. B. LIPPHARD ERIC M. NORTH MILTON J. STAUFFER A. L. WARNSHUlS SAlIUEL M. ZWEMER
HEATHEN WOMEN OF ESPIRITU SANTO. NEW HEBRIDES
A GROUP OF CHRISTIAN STUDENTS IN THE NEW HEBRIDES THE OLD AND THE NEW IN THE NEW HEBRIDES (See page 481) REVIE ORLD VOLUME LV AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER NINE SEPTEMBER, 1932 Topics of the Times DEDUCTIONS FROM DEFICITS the work. The crisis leads us to look to God more American, British and European missionary intently for wisdom and supplies: Larger insocieties are sharing in the experience of drastic comes have at times led to unnecessary and uncuts that have become necessary on account of wise expenditures for elaborate equipment and mounting deficits. The boards, as a rule, have la:ge executive salaries which are out of keeping faced the situation courageously. The Presbyte- WIth the spirit of sacrificial missionary work. rian Church of Scotland reported a deficit of $125,- The amount given by the churches to missions 000 on the Foreign Mission budget. Rather than has never been adequate to meet the requireundertake to abridge the work the missionaries ments of the work at home and abroad but there requested a salary cut, but effort will be made to has been wide difference of opinion as to how the avoid this by "Christianizing" congregations money may be expended most wisely. Now miswhich give little or nothing to evangelize the sion boards are obliged to retrench in one or more of the following ways: (1) to cut executive salworld. aries at home from 10% to 331/3%; (2) to re- In America the Presbyterian Board of National duce missionary salaries from 5% to 25%; (3) to Missions has cut executive salaries from 10% to reduce budgets for new buildings, native workers 25%, has reduced the staff and has reorganized institutions and advance work on the field; (4)' the five divisions and nine departments of the to cut budgets for promotion and other items at Board into two departments-one of "Missionary home; (5) to place larger responsibility for self- Operation" and the other "Missionary Support." support on the churches in the field; (6) to re- They have cut their total budget $466,000 below duce the number of missionaries and native worklast year. All but $80,000 of this cut will fall on ers; (7) to decrease or omit appropriations for the field. It will be difficult to prevent a great and union and cooperative work at home and abroad. vital loss to the spiritual side of the work under this new adjustment. Some of these retrenchments have been drastic and will bring real suffering to individuals and The Methodist Episcopal Christian Advocate loss to the work-at least temporarily. It will asks "Must we throw the missionaries to the be difficult, but it may be a blessing for high salwolves?" Their small salaries are being cut 25% aried executives to adjust their living more nearly for the next four months and 50 % for appropria- to a missionary basis. A part of the salary re- tions for their native workers. Salaries of execu- duction is met by reduced cost of living at home tives at home. are reduced from 10% to 30%, on and by favorable exchange abroad. Some mistop of a prevIOUS 10% cut. The Board's income sionary institutions have been conducted on a has fallen 37% ($341,288) for the first seven scale too much above the standards of the people months of the year and there is already a debt of that they serve, though far below the standards $630,000. Will the great Methodist Church rise at home. The reduction in home office expense to meet the need or will a further cut be neces- may arouse the Church to undertake larger volunsary? teer service. It would be a blessing if less execu- Most o~ the other denominational boards and tive effort were required to awaken sleeping passome independent missions face a similar situa- tors and congregations to respond to need. It will tion but are facing it courageously -not running be of great advantage if churches on the field are away from it. . led to self-support and self-government. Much In some respects this need to revise budgets will be learned if mission boards will deterrnine downward may not mean disaster or detriment to to avoid accumulating debts.
[467 ]
But the tragedy of the cuts is experienced 1arge number were saved, and many were revived where missionaries have children to educate, and empowered for service. The villagers came where trained native Christian workers are re- running to ask, 'What's the matter, is this a fuleased and have no other means of support, and neral ?' where greatly needed evangelistic and medical work must be closed, withdrawing the efforts to "'Yes,' said the leader, 'we are burying folks relieve a suffering and sin burdened people who who have been dead in sin for many years.' were just beginning to appreciate the offer of life from Christ. There is enough money, there are "What happened in this church is taking place enough workers, there are sufficient supplies in in other Pingtu churches too. God is pouring out the Church at home; there is abundant truth and His Spirit; souls are being born again and others life in Christ to supply every need. Will God's quickened. Yesterday an evangelist came from stewards who have been entrusted with material the East to tell us of a wonderful awakening in and spiritual wealth fail to share their blessings one of our struggling churches." with others in dire need? It would be well to establish an "In-as-much Fund" in the churches at M. Gardner Tewksbury, of the Presbyterian home and in other lands. Mission,. who does evangelistic work among stu- dents, conducted a very successful series of meet- SPIRITUAL AWAKENING IN CHINA ings in Weihsien. "Through personal interviews and two classes a day, all hearts were touched. Rays of light shine through the gloom in Asia The revival is spreading all over Shantung provto brighten the disturbing darkness and distress. ince, and has brought new life to the Christian There are many evidences of spiritual awakenings Church such as has never been before." The blessin the midst of economic and political depression. ing is not confined to the Chinese alone, but India, Burma, Siam, Korea, Japan, China and extends to missionaries. Persia all report new signs of spiritual life and keener interest in Christ and His Gospel. From The Rev. C. L. Culpepper, of Hwanghsien, Shantung, China, Dr. T. B. Ray, secretary of the Shantung, gives another picture of the revival Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Conven- now in progress in that section of the great Retion, reports that for months there has been going public. He says: forward a Christian awakening in which many have been genuinely converted. The movement is "Wonderful things have been happening during growing in power among American Baptists and these past few months. I have never heard such other denominations. earnest prayer for God to reveal to each and every one his sins from the President of China on down A Southern Baptist missionary, the Rev. W. B. to the very humblest beggar. Our people seem to Glass of Hwanghsien, writes as follows: have forgotten everything else but making things right with God. Literally hundreds of people had "There has never been so much deep, genuine been saved in the villages. Prayer meetings are spiritual interest in the churches as now. This held every morning and night and the church is not true of all the people in any of the churches, building will not hold them, so they meet both in but it is undoubtedly true of more than ever be- the church and school buildings. It would take fore. your breath to see how they are going everywhere preaching the Gospel. You keep thinking of the "I had a fear that it was going to develop into Acts of the Apostles. a 'wild fire' movement, accompanied by excesses, but it has been gratifying to note a deep spiritual "What has happened at Pingtu has happened yearning, and the willingness to go anywhere, or at- almost everyone of our stations. Tsining has pay any price to satisfy that longing. Rich bless- had a wonderful revival. Tsinan has had one ' ings have been received by churches on the Ping- continuous revival and fifty or more students tu field. have been saved in the Shantung Christian Uni- versity. Many have been baptized. "In Hwanghsien about ninety people are preparing for baptism and there is a class of instruc- "A great sweeping revival began in Laiyang tion at the city church for all outside the schools. and spread to Laichow. Early morning prayer The parents of some are so bitterly opposed- that meeting would run to nine or ten o'clock and then it is impossible for them to be baptized. The we would have a recess and the meeting would go spirit of revival continues and people everywhere until nine or ten at night, with an hour of rest iJ). seem anxious to hear. We have a new church, the afternoon. No one was preaching or leading, <: full of the Holy Spirit and are rejoicing in but the Holy Spirit. Heavenly fellowship." "It seems that the Lord is going to fill our Mrs. Grace Boyd Sears, Of Pingtu, writes: school full to over-flowing with God-called preach- "Last week God's Holy Spi~it came in power, a ers. Pray that God wiII keep us humble and usable. The field is so great and the multiplied
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
millions all around us do not know. Only the Lord COMMUNISM IN CHILE Himself can save China now." Argentine, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Bolivia, A FORWARD PROGRAM IN KOREA Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Cuba and Nicaragua The Methodist and Presbyterian Churches of have all been in political turmoil during the past Korea are not satisfied with having each individ- few months. The picture of Europe and Asia on ual congregation work only for the people of its the verge of disaster from war, war debts and own~district, but year by year plan a nation-wide economic and social unrest has apparently had campaign to make the whole nation Gospel little restraining influences on the Latin Ameri- can mind. Chile has had several almost bloodless conscio.us, even if not wholly Christian. Last year the Presbyterian movement began revolutions in quick succession. The government with th:ree days of consecration meetings in every has changed hands many times and is now in conone of the 22 presbyteries. All salaried workers trol of the socialists. The people are weary of the in the district, and as many others as could come, dominance of landed proprietors and of military gathered for daylight prayer meetings each day, dictatorship. and other meetings at 10 A. M., 3 P. M. and in the The most astonishing revolution occurred on evening. Missionaries write of wonderful bless- June 4th when a self-appointed "Messiah" seized ing. The leaders scattered to their churches and control of the government. While President Monrepeated the three days in everyone of the 2,600 tero and his cabinet were quietly working they churches of the country where they could arrange were surprised and overpowered by a detachment it. Revivals began all over the country and nearly of the garrison, headed by officers under Colonel every church has had at least one period a week Marmaduke Grove, Minister of War. He exwith grea~ numbers of. Christians revived and plained his revolt by declaring that the entire Renew converts brought in. Churches are now public considered its president wholly incompecrowded, and new ones are being built every- tent and that a Revolutionary committee would where.. In Pyengyang 1,500 women gathered in a take charge of the affairs of the nation in order great Bible class in March, and 1,000 men in J an- to make it a socialistic republic. A missionary writes: uary. This program has included an effort to get every "The Revolutionary committee outlined its 'prochurch attendant to read through the New Testa- gram of reform and published extensive maniment. A large calendar was printed bearing the festoes. Col. Grove gave an address in which the Scripture references for each day so that all might most arresting passage made his hearers gasp in read the same verses the same day. Fifty thou- astonishment. He said: sand of those calendars are in use this year and When we shall have realized the golden dream of Simon 50,000 families reading the New Testament Bolivar everyone will be compelled to admit that we were through. The Korea Mission Field reports: not actuated by motives of personal gain. Two thousand years before our time, Jesus Christ adopted our ideas, "This year the campaign begins with six promising better living conditions to those whom fortune Wednesday prayer meetings and a brief course in had disinherited. This better life was to be enjoyed in personal soul winning. Before Christmas a small another world. We, more humane and diligent than Jesus booklet of the Life of Christ will be distributed. Christ, offer to the proletariat a better life in this world.
Christians will be asked to take these and give "Within the succeeding four days another se- one each to every non-Christian friend in their cret conspiracy was framed among the regiments villages. The booklet gives in Bible language the in Santiago and on June 16th the presidential pal- essentials of Christ's activities and His Gospel. ace was surrounded by tanks and machine-gun Four hundred thousand are already provided for batteries and the messianic career of Col. Grove and it is hoped that there will be at least a million came to a dramatic end.
'published. Each presbytery is now raising money "Despite the fate of the bold atheist who spon- to supplement the fund. After Christmas, when sored the revolt, the socialist movement seems fatmers are more free, hundreds of preaching firmly embedded in public opinion. Chile is fol- bands of three or four each (men or women) will lowing the lead of Spain and Mexico into state will be organized and go from house to house to socialism. Unfortunately, she has not the pre- preach. A new feature of their work be an pared leadership but she is ready to take the risks effort to sell Gospels to all those who received the involved in the trial and error method."
little booklet free, but the effort for decisions for Between 1810 and 1925, Chile was governed by Christ will be the main thing, and the mission- an oligarchy of wealthy land-owners and distin- aries hope for a great ingathering. The plan is gUished lawyers. In 1925 President Alessandri to try to touch every house in the remotest village was elected' by the middle classes who had grad- with some of the million booklets." ually achieved political aggressiveness. The adop-
tion of a number of laws favored the working The American Methodist Church is also strong classes. He was followed by the military dictator, and growing.
General Ibanez who mortgaged the patrimony of But unfortunately some of the evil influences his people and left them in "misery, anarchy and that are undermining the nation come from North the shadow of death." Then followed the world America and Europe in the form of atheism, and crisis, the collapse of nitrate and copper as ex- immoral literature and films. The Brazilian Bap- ports, general bankruptcy and unemployment. tist Convention recently passed strong resolu- More than a hundred thousand bread-winners tions calling on President Hoover and the Ameri- were suddenly bereft of their means of livelihood. can Congress to take steps to stop the flow of de- Dr. J. H. McLean, a Presbyterian missionary grading motion pictures from North America.
in Santiago, writes: ,The resolution says in part: "The elemental hunger of mankind is two-fold. WHEREAS, criminal and immoral pictures give a dis- Men clamor for brotherhood quite as insistently torted conception of American life that result in prejuas they do for bread but they will never find it dice and anti-American sentiment, hurtful ~o this great until they turn Godward through Christ and His Republic, therefore be it resolved, that we petition the Gospel. The frenzied mobs have tried to burn Government of the United States to forbid the exportadown several metropolitan temples because they tion of such harmful pictures to this country. have imagined that the organized church was allied with their enemies. The best sentiment in Turkey, Japan, China and other non-Christian lands has shown the same "No violence has been offered to evangelical reaction toward these degrading films-many of Christian churches, schools or dispensaries. Every which are exhibited in America without arousing pastor and congregation is endeavoring to feed serious and widespread protest.
the hungry, clothe the naked, succour the unfMtu- SIAM TURNS OVER A NEW LEAF nate and care for the sick. Our work is conducted under distressing circumstances yet it has ac- Soon nothing of the old regime will be left in quired a new sanctity since it grapples with pain, Asia. Only a few years ago all who approached poverty and anguish of soul. The divine mission the King and Queen of Siam were obliged to do of our Messiah is that of binding up the broken- so on hands and knees or with the peculiar crouch- hearted and proclaiming the year of jubilee. ing stride that betokens inferiority. The monarch "A moderate socialist government would bring was reverenced almost as a god. On June 24 of relief to many victims of neglect but the present this year the only remaining absolute monarchy effort is false in motive and weak in moral pur- in Asia was suddenly overthrown, King Prajadhi- pose. The constraining love of Christ is not the pok and his queen were made prisoners and a con- popular urge in those who repudiate His claims stitutional monarchy was set up. The King, abso- and reject His aid. So the evangelical churches lute ruler over 11,500,000 people, who was edu- in Chile redouble their efforts. Multitudes who cated in England and had recently returned from ought to turn to Christ have gone off after com- America, accepted the new regime and was re- munism. Occasional volcanic eruptions remind tained as a constitutional monarch. The "rule of us that there is no absolute stability save in Him the princes" has been eliminated and there will who is the same yesterday, today and forever be an earnest effort to .lighten the tax burdens of more. We cannot do our full share of His com- the people, giving them a voice'in the government.
mission without the partnership of intercessors; King Prajadhipok, who is thirty-nine years of surely the Church at home will pray for Chile." age and came to the throne in 1926, is the seventh A,MORAL REVOLT IN BRAZIL ruler of the Chakri dynasty which has been in power for 150 years. He is a Buddhist and is Revolutions have also gripped the largest re- known as an enlightened scholar, interested in the public in Latin America, where the revolutionary welfare of his people and sympathetic with the and federal forces are still striving for mastery. philanthropic work of Christian missions. He or- There is more hope for progress from the moral ganized Siamese Boy Scouts and has promoted revolt led by evangeliealChristians against ig- public health, education and athletics.
norance, vice and other degrading influences that Evangelical missionary work in Siam is almost are sapping the life of the nation. Many of the wholly in the hands of the American Presbyterian best influences come from North America through Church which has thirty American missionaries, the missionaries, teachers and Bible distribution. located in 10 stations, and a church membership The Presbyterian Church is strong, independent of over 9,000. Many Siamese officials have testi- and self-supporting; the American Baptist work fied as to the influence of Christianity in advanc- has just celebrated its fiftieth anniversary and ing educatioJ). and in promoting the general en- has.n9w nearly 500 churches and 45,000 members. lightenment of the Siamese.
A NeV Day In Old
..:( By the Rev. WM. N. WYSHAM, Teheran, Persia Missionary of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A.
PERHAPS no country in the world has ing matter, and, with their natural courtesy and changed so much in the last decade as has quickness of intellect, marvelously receptive of Persia. She has exchanged a worn-out old moral and spiritual truth as well as the best of dynasty for a new one, a spineless absentee king western science and material achievement.
for an energetic giant who constantly visits the Persia holds out a hospitable hand to Christi- far corners of his kingdom, helpless subservience anity along with all the other influences which to Russia and England for a proud independence are molding her future. Christian thought, Chris- characterized by the most up-to-date nationalism. tion education and Christian literature have an Camel and donkey caravans open door in that land today.
have given way to American These changes have had an trucks and touring cars, two- Tcohme e movirearcolene ooff tchheamngoest haans- amazing effect on the power foot trails have been replaced cient civilizations in the world. and influence of Islam in Per- This was influence1 by the by a network of roads to every sia. The Persians have been corner of the land, not yet as nearly 100 % Moslem for cen- smooth as American highways fanatical Moslems who have turies but theirs has been the but passable for motor trans- long fought against Christian Shiah division of Islam, al- port at good speeds; wide ave- teaching. Mr. Wysham tells ways different from the "or- nues have been driven straight the fascinating story of this thodox" Sunni branch, and . through all important cities change of mind which is also abounding in mysticism and where formerly there was a bringing about a change of in heresies of every conceiv- maze of twisting alleyways; heart. The story can not yet able type. Withal, the Persian Teheran, the capital, has been be fully told, but while some genius and temperament have largely rebuilt; a new army, are losing all religious faith, produced a large proportion of well equipped, has been created other Persians are coming to the greatest names in Moslem by the soldier Shah; bandits see in Christ the satisfaction history, and the sheer fanati- have gone out of business; new of their greatest needs. cism manifested annually at industries have been encour- the time of the so-called pas- aged. sion play in Moharram, the By royal command the costume of men has been month of mourning for Shiah martyrs, has per- completely changed and women have been permit- haps surpassed anything in the Moslem world.
ted to abandon the veil, more of them every day Until the last decade this fanaticism seemed un- all blossoming out in western costume. A new sys- abated, and Shiah religious leaders commanded tem of schools emphasizing science has driven out the absolute and unquestioning obedience of the centuries old drill in Arabic and dead sys- Persian Moslems, former Shahs making it a rule tems of thought. Thousands of men and boys to defer to them and to pay their respects to the have learned to read and even girls are now hav- great rnujtaheeds at their headquarters at Qom.
ing opportunities of education. The percentage The inrush of new ideas and influences ·from of literacy has mounted rapidly; ther~ is a re- the west in the last ten years has completely un- markable new freedom of thought and speech and dermined the Moslem stronghold in Persia. The a new interest in Persia's glorious history, litera- government, nominally Moslem, has become secu…
ture and art. lar in policy and, though it has deferred to reli- These changes have brought about a rocking gious leaders in some minor points, has never to the very foundations of the moral and religious hesitated to oppose them decidedly when the attitudes of the people. Many moral safeguards, progress of the Persian people seemed to be at such as they were, have been swept away, age-old stake. Thus, in instituting dress reforms, the gov- superstitions have vanished, and educated people ernment compelled all except a specified number have no longer any Tespect for old religious au- of rnollahs and rnujtaheeds, who had to pass a thority. As a whole the Persian people are eager special examination in theology, to adopt western for new ideas, ravenous for any up-to-date read- dress. Many of the legal powers were taken [471 ]
from those who remained and were turned over docile and blind followers of the mollahs, because to the governmental Ministry of Justice. These of their ignorance and superstition, have caught changes alone have enormously reduced the power a new spirit as a result of recent changes. One of the Moslem leaders; their prestige also suf- Persian traveler who knows the myriad villages fered severely when, in spite of their vigorous of his country intimately has told me that the opposition and outraged protests, tacit permis- universal donning of the Pahlevi hat has brought sion was given by the government for Moslem about a remarkable open-mindedness and toler- women to remove their veils and when far-reach- ance among men in the most remote rural dis- ing reforms in the marriage and divorce laws tricts. Since he now wears the same type of hat were introduced. as anyone else, including the King himself, the The apparent inability of the mollahs to rally Persian peasant feels that he has become a man any public opinion in their favor or to set on foot and he is eager for new ideas. The new roads any reaction to these changes shows how rapidly and quicker transport have made the country and completely the decay of Islam in Persia has smaller and unified. Such changes weaken fanat- progressed. The mollahs have become a laughing- icism, and the mollahs have been unable to arouse stock among intelligent Persians, who seem gen- any excitement. over what a decade ago would, erally to have abandoned the study of the Koran, have been considered unpardonable insults to the the daily prayers, the fast of Ramazan and the old religion.
great pilgrimages to Kerbela and Meshed. The A personal experience should make this vividly opinion is freely expressed that the legalistic ob- clear. As I entered Persia in the spring of 1921, servances of Islam are hopelessly out of date for I remember passing caravans carrying empty the new Persia and, while many educated Per- wooden coffins back to Kurdish villages, where sians call themselves Moslems, their adherence is wood was scarce. These were used again and purely nominal, and they are usually ready to con- again to transport the bodies of faithful Moslems demn the religious leaders as entirely reactionary more than a thousand miles to be buried in the and a menace to Persia's progress. holy ground around the sacred shrine at Meshed.
The New Nationalism For centuries, at the cost of much sacrifice and hardship, thousands of such departed pilgrims This same effect on the attitude of thinking from every nook and corner of Persia have found Persians as to Islam is brought about by the new their resting-place in the venerated shrine ceme- nationalism. They are proud of their new Shah's tery. In 1929 I stood outside the great shrine and energy and leadership and of the great 'efforts for watched Persian Moslem workmen shovel thou- progress which the national leaders have made. sands of the bones of the faithful out of the. way They are quick to criticise if they feel that ad- as they dug foundations for a new boulevard bi- vance steps are made too slowly. Everyone talks secting the city and replacing the narrow, crooked of the need of Persia to renew her glorious alleys of the past. The ancient cemetery was achievements of the past, and the Arabs are completely wrecked and yet, not only was there blamed for many of the ills of the country because no riot in formerly fanatical Meshed, but I never of their conquest of Persia in the seventh century. heard of a serious protest anywhere at this dese- One hears repeatedly that the Arabs burned the cration of one of Persian Islam's historic sacred ancient libraries of Persia, destroyed her monu- places.
ments and ruined her irrigation systems. Efforts When such things are possible in Persia, one are being made to reduce the number of Arabic cannot get away from the feeling that one is wit- words in the Persian language and to substitute nessing the collapse of one of the greatest and Latin characters for the Arabic, as has been done proudest of the world's religions.
in Turkey. The Persian nationalists believe that The Religious Changes the Arabs tried to superimpose an inferior cul- ture of the desert upon Persia's superior one and This astounding change in the religious situa- that, in so far as they succeeded, their influence tion in Persia opens up a long prayed-for oppor- was entirely harmful. Of course, Islam was all tunity for the Gospel of Jesus Christ; it also the "Arab culture" there was and, while the Per- means an opportunity for communism and of sian nationalist may not as yet openly say so, in this it is well to speak briefly first. Russia is the his heart he doubtless feels that' the religion of most easily accessible neighbor to Persia and Mohammed was the most far-reaching of all the there is naturally much intercourse of a commer- Arab influences which he is today so eager to con- cial and other nature. Ever since the War a large demn. number of White Russians have made their homes Even the peasants and other members of the in Persia, but in the past five years an influx of lower classes, who have been for centuries the Bolshevists has also occurred. These communists'
A NEW DAY IN OLD PERSIA
have been very zealous in propagating their ideas hopeless fanaticism and intolerance into the conand have scattered their literature all over the fidence and cordiality with which the messenger country, especially in the northern provinces. It of Christ is received nearly everywhere in Peris hard to say how much real success they have sia today. "Love melts what the hammer cannot had in winning over individuals in Persia to com- break."* munism, because Persians naturally fear the political menace of the colossus to the north and The waning of fanaticism showed itself first their whole history and background seem entirely in the increase of Moslem patients in the hospiout of harmony with communism's basic ideas. tals and pupils in the schools, until for many In short, Persians do not desire to become com- years the large majority in most of our institumunists, but the Russian preaching of atheism tions have been Moslems. Then here and there and the doctrine that "religion is an opiate of the brave souls dared to accept openly the Gospel mespeople" are dreadful pitfalls spread in the way sage, but for years the tiny churches passed of Persians today who are giving up their historic through great tribulation, not only of persecution allegiance to Islam and, sadly disillusioned, feel but of heart-sickening experiences with renegade themselves swept into the full current of modern Moslems who sought baptism for ulterior motives. life without any of their former moral and reli- It is only in the most recent years that little gious safeguards. bands of tried men and women in various centers have by their transformed lives scotched forever The final answer as to what progress. commu- that age-old lie that "a Moslem can never become nism will make in Persia depends upon Christi- a sincere Christian." With the greater freedom anity. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is for every and tolerance of the last decade, the stream of nation, but it seems peculiarly suited to this an- sincere inquirers has rapidly grown larger until cient people who, with racial background so simi- in one city in.1931 more Moslems confessed Christ lar to our own, have all the keenness of intellect, than in all the sixty years of missionary endeavor strength of imagination and artistic temperament there. The hospitals, and especially the schools, needed to flower out into a wonderful new era have not only held their prestige but have proved of their history if they have full access to the most effective centers of evangelistic effort, and a truth and beauty of the Gospel. Truly the soul most promising amount of Christian leadership of the Persian seems to be naturally Christian. for the new church of Persia is developing all over This was amply demonstrated by the rapid prog- the land. In addition, open evangelistic work of ress and heroic deeds of the church in Persia dur- a non-controversial nature is now possible, and ing the first six centuries of our era, and that last year a series of evangelistic meetings were would surely have been an outstanding church held in several cities wit./,Lamazing interest and today, had it not become a martyr church when results. In these meetings it proved wisest to the blight of Islam struck Persia. Ours is the ignore Islam entirely and to appeal to Persians responsibility to see to it that in this new day of as hungry souls weary of sin and ready to know freedom Christ is fully known there again, lest and accept a divine Saviour. atheism and crass materialism bring a deadlier blight in their wake. New Literature for Persia Fortunately the forces of the Gospel have for A clear illustration of the new receptiveness of decades been building up a prestige which com- the Persian people and their interest in the Gosmunism can never hope to overtake. It has been pel is found in the enormous increase in the disalmost a century since the first modern mission- tribution of Christian literature, particularly in aries began their work in Urumia and, although the past five years. A committee representing for many decades they seemed to make no impres- the two great missions at work in Persia has presion whatever on the wall of Islam, they were pared, in an attractive form, nearly a hundred succeeding far better than they dreamed. It is new titles of books and tracts, and these have only now that those of us at work in Persia ap- gone out to every nook and corner of Persia. They preciate the great achievements of our predeces- have been written to meet the needs of old~fash sors from America and England of bygone dec- ioned Moslems, of wandering souls without any ades. At a time when it was dangerous to life faith, and of Christians new and old, and they to speak a good word openly for Jesus Christ, are finding an eager perusal in a land where thouit was their Christian character, shining like sands of men and women have but recently bebeacons amid the darkness of Moslem morality, come literate. In 1931 more than a million pages their homes of beauty and peace bearing silent testimony to the power of the Lord Jesus, their • As I write this in the homeland, the cablegram comes of the sacrificial service in hospital and school, which decease of Rev. J. W. Hawkes of Hamada-n, after nearly fifty-two year after year gradually changed an apparently years of missionary service in Persia. He had personal recollections of the first missionaries to Persia, and one could thus picture in him the whole century of nlissionary work. all but the last decade or two seemingly without fruit among Moslems.
of this Christian literature was distributed and along with former Jews, Zoroastrians and Bahais, it is not only proving potent in bringing about mingle in full fellowship with Armenian and a new understanding of the Gospel and a willing- Assyrian Christians. The Persian church is an ness to receive it, but it is a blessing to the new eloquent testimony to the power of Christ to cast church and an ideal antidote to communism and out age-long racial and religious animosities.
all thepoiso~ of secularism in Persia today. Moslem converts are rapidly growing to outnum- Now that the natural courtesy and hospitality ber all others in these churches, and more than of the Persian temperament have been freed from one church is entirely composed of former Mos- the bondage of fanaticism by the new influences, lems. Therefore the great problem of providing there are many examples of the increasing esteem a home for Moslem converts within the church, in which Christianity is being held. Here again so acute in other Moslem lands where sporadic the faithful work of the earlier missionaries is converts are often ill at ease among those who bearing fruit. Slowly our religion has lived down have a Christian ancestry, has already been solved the evil reputation which it had gained through in the Persian church by the nature of the church the twisted ideas of Christianity found in the itself. Much of the leadership is also already in Koran and in Moslem traditions, and through the the hands of former Moslems, and as one takes lack of contact which Persian Moslems have had stock of the quality of the average congregation with true Christianity in the past. The consist- and notes the high level of intelligence and lead- ent lives of an increasing number of Moslem con- ership ability, especially among the young men, verts has greatly strengthened the examples of one has little fear for the self-support and self- the missionaries themselves. One of the earliest government of the Persian church. This was converts of all, once a fanatical Kurd, has for a strikingly evident in the all-Persia church confer- generation been a respected physician in Teheran, ence at Teheran in the summer of 1931, at which known far and wide as a consecrated Christian more than 200 delegates from 19 churches, a ma- eager to win others to Christ. Moslem women jority of whom were former Moslems, met for a have long formed 'his largest group of patients. week of inspiration and of planning the church's In many Persian cities former Moslem men and future. The" addresses and resolutions of the con- women have openly confessed Christ for years ference were characterized by a,deep devotion to and have gained the full confidence of Moslem a full-rounded Christianity and an appreciation friends by their integrity and thoroughly Chris- of the church's duty to bring all Persia to Christ.
tian point of view. Among Moslems, generally in The church in Persia, so new and so free from the more progressive cities, it has already become historic impediments to churches in other lands, a matter of slight comment when Moslems are has a unique opportunity to profit from mistakes baptized, and this new tolerance will eventually elsewhere and to blaze fresh trails' of Christian spread over the whole country. progress. "The missionary situation is ideal, with Some months ago the son of one of the leading the American Presbyterians and the Church Mis- mujtaheeds of Persia was converted while a stu- sionary Society of Englanrl the only two large dent in a mission institution. When friends missions at work. They Qlvide the field and work rushed to the father with the news, he amazed with each other and with two or three small socie- them by replying: ties in the utmost harmony and cooperation. The "What of it? Isn't Christianity a good reli- Persian Christians themselves are determined gion? I chose my religion and shall always re- that there shall be but one church in Persia, and main a Moslem. But this is the twentieth century are completely one in spirit now though content and my son is free to make his own choice." to leave the exact form of the organization of the Such an attitude is of course as yet exceptional, church until its fuller development. In the mean- but the trend of opinion is plain and the new tol- time, missionaries are endeavoring to avoid creat- erance and spirit of fairness are certain to be of ing all possible future obstacles to this great aim.
incalculable benefit to the progress of the Gospel There is now interchange of membership among in Persia-and to Persia herself. all the churches and a federation of the churches The New Church in Persia in certain general standards and in the beginnings of "home mission" work. Plans are under way Under such favorable conditions in the new for a form of joint ordination of the young men Persia, missionaries have recently made great who will compose the future ministry of the strides toward reaching the ultimate goal of all church, and it is hoped that a theological depart- successful mission work-the estd>lishing of the ment to be connected with the American College Church of Christ in that land. In many of the of Teheran can train candidates for ordination important cities of the land Christian churches for all Persia. Constant efforts are being maCe now flourish and III them converted Moslems, to let Persian Christians themselves govern their
ATTEMPTING THE IMPOSSIBLE IN JAPAN
own congregations as rapidly as they can do so, land some day, and church history may well charand unceasing stress is being laid on the ultimate acterize the present movement in Persia as the responsibility of each Persian Christian to be an beginning of the final victory of Christianity over evangelist to his own people and to the whole Mos- the one rival which has seemed until now to be lem world. Since the history of the spread of in- as impervious to the loving service of missionanumerable heretical sects of Islam marks the Per- ries as to the battering-rams of crusaders. Howsians as born propagandists, there is real hope ever that may be, the present triumph of the that with the "Good News" at last available for Gospel in what has been one of the most difficult them to pass on, they will reach this great ideal of all mission fields should give encouragement of every truly successful Christian church. and new hope to many troubled souls who have felt that Christianity has been failing to gain in If the church in Persia continues to fulfill its recent years, and brings vivid testimony from present rich promise, its influence On the whole still another quarter of the world to the truth of Moslem world should be immense. Already the a recent statement by a Chinese Christian college great cracks in the apparently impregnable Mos- president that "there is for the modern world only lem wall which have appeared in Persia are an one religion-Christianity." earnest of what is sure to occur in every Moslem Att.empting the Impossible In Japan I By the REV. WILLIAM AXLING, D. D., I "~I I Tokyo, Japan The Tokyo Misaki Tabernacle and the Fukayawa Christian L Center; author of the "Life of Kagawa"
T HE Christian forces engaged in the King- worn itself down' into a groove. In the face of dom of God Campaign in Japan have at- all this, the Christian forces in ninety cities and tempted to rally every Christian and every prefectures united in organizing District Commit- Church behind a united nation-wide movement tees for the purpose of planning and conducting and to create a spiritual solidarity among the campaigns. These committees have formed a net- Christian forces of the Empire. This is some- work of evangelistic units across the empire and thing new, not only in this land but in any land. most of them have conducted advance movements in their own localities. This is an effort to give the Message of Christ to every group and every class-30,000,000 farm- Complete statistics are not available but reports ers; 5,278,000 induStl'I-!1 and factory workers; indicate that during twelve months 1,278 meet- 597,000 fishing folk; 459,000 miners; 1,033,000 ings were held in 248 cities and towns; 712 employees in transportation services and the 1,- churches participated in these meetings ; the total 158,000 toilers engaged on public works. These attendance was 262,344, and 13,837 signed cards classes and masses have been left practically un- as inquirers. touched during the past seventy years of mission work in Japan. This Movement has also set out The Kingdom of God Weekly has leaped from to humanize and christianize the social and indus- an ardent hope, born in the heart and brain of trial order and make the Christ's Way of Life the Dr. Kagawa, to a weekly circulation of 30,000 standard in every relationship. This has never copies. At the rate of 1,600,000 copies a year been done in any land and which a large section everywhere it is hailed as one of the most effecof the Church of the West has never recognized tive evangelistic forces that has ever been released as a vital part of its program. in this Empire. A cl~rk in a Yokohama firm, out of his meagre salary, ordered 200 copies every The hope is to raise the number of Christians in week and distributed them among his fellow- Japan from 250,000 to a million, not in order to clerks and friends. Judge Mitsui, of the Tokyo glory in numerical strength but that a creative Juvenile Court, uses 70 copies a week among the force may fix the ideals and set the pace in every juvenile delinquents whom he is trying to lead out phase of the nation's life. into a new lifE!: The Reinanzaka Church, Tokyo, sells 200 copies every week among its members Nothing runs its roots down so deep as religious in order to give them a full-orbed vision of the nrejudice; nothing is harder to overcome than de- Kingdom task.. Other churches are doing the nominational isolation, especially when it has
same. The story of the growth of this paper is a Christian, insisted that they wanted a religious one of the romances connected with this move- message and the more Christian the better. At ment. the close of the message the local pastor asked that decision cards be distributed, and while he The campaign is making large use of three of made a ringing plea for decisions a good number Dr. Kagawa's books which are aflame with the of the audience signed cards as inquirers. evangelistic message: "New Life Through God," "Meditations About God" and "God and the Gos- The holding of a Christian evangelistic meeting, pel of Divine Love." The country is being sown closing with an appeal for decisions, in a governwith these silent but potent messengers which find ment primary school is something which never an entrance where no evangelist's or Christian's could have happened anywhere in Japan a few voice could be raised. years ago. It shows the turn of the anti-religious tide which has been running with such tremen- Five small books have been especially prepared dous force during the past fifty years among the for use in follow-up work with inquirers. More intellectuals and educational leaders of the emand more we are coming to realize that it is not only inexcusable neglect but a crime before God pire. to lead a hungry heart to take an initial stand Later, the writer was asked to help in a camfor Christ and fail to feed the flame of faith that has been kindled. paign in two churches in an industrial centre. Never during almost thirty years in Japan have I This campaign has made its influence felt far seen so many laboring men in a Christian church, beyond Christian circles. After Kagawa spoke in wearing their working garb marked with the em- Osaka, the Osaka Mainichi, an influential daily, blem of their trade. At the close, one-fifth of invited him to hold a series of Christian meetings those present responded to the invitation and under its auspices, promising to put its circula- signed cards as inquirers. In the other church tion of a million copies back of the meetings for the building was packed with young people from publicity purposes. a neighboring factory.
Not long ago the Chugai Nippo, an outstanding Communism threatens to capture some of the Buddhist daily paper in Kyoto, related to the best minds and the finest spirits among the stu- Shinshu sect of Buddhism, came out in a ringing dents and to entrench itself in industrial centres editorial saying that the Kingdom of God Cam- and among the peasants, but it is doing so largely paign was one of the best movements ever because the Christian Chnrch has failed to think launched in Japan. and speak and work in terms of the problems of our day. If the Christian Church will arouse it- Of special significance is the fact that last Oc- self and face the challenge it still has a chance to tober, in one of Kagawa's meetings in Kyoto, win out in this fierce fight for the soul of Japan. Nishida Tenko, a well known Buddhist priest signed a card indicating his purpose to accept the The Kingdom of God Campaign is no one-man Christian faith. During the past ten years Mr. campaign, but is a movement of the Christian Nishida, as a Japanese St. Francis, has attracted forces of the nation. Kagawa is its outstanding the attention of the whole nation. He himself has figure. He conducted a special effort in three of lived a life of poverty and has espoused the cause Japan's northern cities in which 1,800 people of the poor. He has organized a Mutual Help signed inquirer'S cards. Order, the members of which live a communal life. The doors of this Order are open to any- A Mass Conference for Laymen and Laywomone who is in trouble or in need, either spiritual en, held under the auspices of the Kingdom of or physical. The members of the Order agree to God Campaign at Nara, was the second in the render any kind of service at any time and in series of conferences which the movement put on any place, even of the most menial type and with- in different parts of the empire in order to mobilout any stipUlated remuneration. ize the laity and train them for aggressive and effective participation in the campaign. Communism is making tremendous inroads in student centres, as well as in the industrial areas The first conference, held in Tokyo for Central and among the peasant class. The doors, however, and Eastern Japan, was attended by a total of are not closed to the Christian message. The over 1,000 delegates representing every city and writer participated in a campaign in a rural town province within the area which this gathering where the local committee arranged to hold the tried to serve. The interest manifested, the conmeetings in the auditorium of the public primary tagious spiritual atmosphere which characterized school. When I expressed concern as to whether every session, the fine fellowship which marked my message, in which I expected to major on the the meetings and the high purpose to' carryon, evangelistic note, would be welcomed in such a which was expressed in every period given to displace I was told that the principal, although not cussion and prayer, caused this conference to stand out as one of unusual significance.
from an Oriental
..:( By MARY E. MOORE, New York Secretary of Young People's Work. Board of Foreign Missions, Presbyterian Church. U. S. A.
Tokyo, August 25, 1931 were much impressed with the large Sunday T ODAY I had a long talk with Gladys Walser. school in the West Gate Church where they It is hot and not particularly comfortable, have over 2,000 … We revelled in the dazzling but Mrs. Walser is waiting for the arrival whiteness of the Korean garb-probably due of Lindbergh, so heat is forgotten. She was tell- to much beating from little wooden ironing clubs ing me of her particular hobbies which are "cook- … We heard rumors of war from Manchuria.
ing" and "peace." . Drove down town and saw war posters every- "The one thing my mother taught me to do was where.
cook," said Mrs. Walser. "When Later~n the China Sea my sister and I graduated from college we were given a cook We returned to Seoul and took book, the entire charge of the a boat from Chemulpo to Chefoo.
kitchen and told to proceed." It was a Chinese boat, the Litung, Down in the Terajima district, and had six hundred Chinese on a most needy section of Tokyo board, fleeing from Korea due to where 39,000 people gave their persecution resulting from land lives in a fire during the time of troubles between Chinese and the great earthquake, a House of Koreans in Manchuria.
Hope (Kobokan) has been start- Peiping, China, October 7, 1931 ed. The women make hooked rugs and do other work. Mrs. Mrs. Leynse took us for a visit Walser has cooking classes to to three Christian homes. It is teach the Japanese women to use part of the work she loves to do- cheaper cereal and spinach in- this visiting! We visited the stead of so much polished rice and home of a very wealthy Chinese pickle. lady. There were many court- Princess Shirakawa has become yards as a part of her six hun- interested in these classes and dred room house, and off of one asked to have one started for the of the most beautiful inner gar- women of noble rank. Such a dens we were shown into a re- class now meets in her own home. ception room w her e tea was The members give liberally to A MISSIONARY AND KOREAN HOSiJ'- served and we talked about her help raise the budget of 600 yen ESS BESIDE SOME PICKLE JARS family. I shall never forget the for the Social Center. little rock garden and the thou- The Women's Peace Society of Japan, under the sands of gold fish. As we took our leave, two presidency of Michi Kawai, is an active organiza- little round boys wrapped in many layers of tion. Formerly the work of good will cultivation jackets, for it was a cold day, came in from school consisted largely in caring for tourists, but at the with their amah. When they saw us they drew suggestion of Mrs. Walser, peace literature and back in dismay, but were finally prevailed upon pageants have been introduced in the schools, es- to come forward and greet us. With boys like pecially at Christmas time. that growing up under a wise Christian mother, Pyengyang, Korea, September 22, 1931 China has hopes. Our second horne was that of a Chinese bead Louise Hayes drove us around to visit most of merchant-simple but clean, with its reception the seventeen churches in this great city. We room, stiff chairs and table and tea equipment.
[477 ]
A refugee son from Manchuria had just arrived General Chang Tse Kiang, head of the Bandit and there was much excitement, but we were Suppression of Kiangsu Province, has been using greeted with all friendliness. his influence to urge Chinese Christians to pray that their own sins of selfishness, lack of conse- It was to the miserable abode of a riksha man cration in individual living, indifference to govwe went last. An untidy little girl with a bright ernmental matters, be removed. "When China smile, opened the gate and invited us to come in. prays to have her own sins removed there will Except for the courtyard there was only one in- be no need to fear Japan for the answer is with closure with a brick k'ang and some iron kettles, ourselves," says he. a few farm implements, a broken riksha-to make this "home." Some dried weeds and a few stray These are almost the exact words of the sticks of wood had been gathered thriftily and Manchurian banker who shared the second step were waiting the evening time when the family of the car with Sam Dean on one of his trips would assemble, warm their hands at the meager down from Mukden last· falL Both men were blaze while it also cooked the sweet potatoes or strapped on by leather belts to prevent their millet. Afterwards, all would retire to the brick falling off should sleep o'ertake them. Speaking k'ang and go to sleep in preparation for another of Mr. Dean-no mention of Peiping is complete weary day. A miserable dog emphasized anew without mentioning his unique service as OrIgI- nator of the School of Practical Engi- neering and Architecture. The evan- gelistic work carried on by his students in the villages near Peiping is worth a visit to China just to see and experience.
Shanghai, October 24, 1931 Mrs. Millican and I went to see Mrs.
Lee today. She is the wife of a wealthy Chinese broker. It was a bit awesome to pass the Sikh guards at the gate and enter the park-like inclosure. The house is set in a colorful background of green shrubs and gay flowers. For her hobby, Mrs. Lee conducts a kindergarten in her home. The children were practicing TECHNICAL CHRISTIAN TRAINING FOR CHINESE MEN-ENGINEERING for Christmas-rugs were up and on that highly polished floor activities for me the wretched existence of that animaL were taking place which would produce nervous (One does not talk of dogs and their habits in collapse in an American housewife. Mrs. Lee sees· polite society in the Orient.) For all the lack of her home only as a place for service. What if cheer in the home surroundings, there was no scratches do appear and furniture gets battered- warmth lacking in the hospitality of our little children are to be considered first. She loves Chinese hostess. every minute of the time the children are there!
Nanking, China, October 20,1931 We also met Miss Li Gwan Fang. Miss Fang is editor of The Woman's Messenger Three fascinating experiences today! A visit which has at present a circulation of 2,000 and to the tomb of Sun Yat Sen on Purple Mountain. sells for $1.20 (Mexican) a year. (Divide by four There were many steps but a perfect view of the to estimate price in American dollars at present awful flood area. rate of exchange.) The aim of the magazine is to At five o'clock we went off to be guests of give the Chinese mother in the home a broader Madame Kung, whose husband is Minister of In- outlook and a greater skill in performing home dustries. The occasion was a special prayer meet- duties. Some features have been series of aring, called at the request of General Chiang Kai ticles on "Women of the World" and their Shek and Madame Chiang. The latter was there place in international life; home problems; in person and looked every bit the First Lady of translated stories such as "Ramona," "Hans Brinker," and "The Secret Garden." Miss Fang the Land. is writing a book on "Famous Women of China" Throughout China the Christians are meeting to pray earnestly for the future of their country. I could not understand a word, but I never "felt" and has also published a pageant, "Mothers of such prayers in my life. the World."
A KOREAN AT PRAYER
Canton, China, November 1, 1931 That evening Miss Florence Lei told me of the Young People's Conference held in Soochow in Oc- Such a busy day! Here is a strong Christian tober. The young people had said that some of young people's organization. We had hardly made the present weaknesses of the church were exour first talks when we were asked how young and tremes in preaching, conservatism, too little worold can cooperate in the church. ship, too much preaching, lack of social life, no tOeal message in sermons and poor organization of "The older people think we don't know anything material; leaders were too self-important, not and can't take responsibility," said one young keeping up to modern times. (There-nothing man. "How can we prove that we do and can?" wrong-except- ?) The young people are chiefly interested in communism, science and material We discussed this same question later at an- things, but the solution as worked out at Soochow other conference. One older man pled with the was to be found in a paid Young People's Secreleaders to use the same skill and patience in inter- tary, a fund to use for work with youth, a retreat esting the young people in the church that they of leaders to plan an immediate, tentative pro-· do in fishing. "You don't throw stones into the gram to help take care of the most glaring laeks. water," said he, "when you want to catch fish." "Most of all," said Miss Lei, "we felt the need It sounded familiar to hear Mrs. Kwang talk of advisors with religious experiences to guide us, about raising money. "I don't ask for money. I not older people to scold." ask for a chair, a picture, or a brick, and I get them."
A Korean at Prayer By the REV. WALTER C. ERDMAN, Germantown, Pa.
Missionary of the Presbyterian Church to Korea A YOUNG man was sitting cross-legged on a glade, neither aroused his curiosity nor disturbed .I"l.. flat-topped boulder, his hands upon his his concentration. He made no movement to ob- serve us, though it must have been startling to knees, immovable in meditation. He have a group of foreigners, barbarians from bemight have been a "White Buddha" on its pedes- yond the Great Peace Ocean, in strange outlandtal. He did not glance at passers-by and his un- ish attire, suddenly break into the sunny silence seeing gaze was not disturbed by the brightness of that secluded hollow far up among the hills. of the noonday sun. The more ambitious of the climbers went on The ashes of a dying fire were just below his to the summit of the peak. Some remained to feet. On another boulder near at hand were a rest and eat a noon-day luncheon on the edge of brass bowl and spoon and in a bag a few handfuls the cliff beyond the spring and to await the of rice. A dozen yards away in a hollow place others'return. A deep valley wound away among at his right an ice-cold spring bubbled out among the mountain ridges below. Behind us rose steep the roots of a hazel clump and slipped away in the mountain slopes covered with thickets of scrub bamboo grass. On a slightly higher rock behind oaks and beeches with clumps of azalea and him was a small white china bowl filled with clear patches of bamboo grass between the copses. water from the spring and a few grains of cooked From time to time we glanced across at the asrice were scattered over the surface of the rock. cetic. An hour passed. He made no movement. He must have seen us but he made no sign. The The young man was worshipping an "unknown sun was hot but he sought no refreshing shade. god," the spirit of the mountain. The rock was He seemed far away in some other world of his altar. The limpid spring water and the rice thought. grains were his offerings. His ascetic fare and his self-discipline were. his devotions. He was Finally I went and sat beside him on the waiting. ~ .. boulder. He eyed me calmly and dispassionately but waited for me to speak. I confess to a curi- Our mountain climbing party of missionaries, suddenly emerging from the thicket across the
osity far greater than his own. With proper form of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came into and polite phrase I introduced myself, speaking the world that men might learn about God and go his language and following his country's custom. to Him in prayer 1 Gravely apd with no show of irritation he returned the salutation. His name was So-and-so Truly he had never been caused to hear such from Such a village. Was I honorably in peace? words as these. What was the meaning of them 1 I was at peace. Was he willing to be inter~ Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He came into rupted in his meditations and to talk to a man- the world to save men from their sins. He is our nerless foreigner'? go-between with God. The Orient's great teacher Confucius is reported to have said, "If a man sins Certainly; he had no other work in hand. before God there is no place in his life for Had he been sitting there long in this manner 1 prayer," but our sacred writings have a more Long? No, assuredly not. Only three days helpful word for sinners. In our Book it is hopeand nights. fully written, "If any man sin we have a go-be- tween in the presence of God the Father, even Nights? Surely he. does not pass the nights Jesus Christ the Sinless One." You can pray to there in the cold without shelter or covering? God even now if you will. Close your eyes to shut out the sight of the world around you and repeat Yes, it was cold but he did not mind it particu- this prayer after me …" larly. It is warm in the daytime.. o God who created all things, our Father, open my But what about the tigers? They prowled continually in these wild ravines. There were bears dark mind that I may understand thy truth. Help me to in the thickets and wild boars in abundance. The understand that Jesus Christ is my Saviour from the guilt signs were all about us. Was he not afraid? and power of sin. Help me to trust Him now and forever. Not particularly. The tigers did not seem to molest him. The wild boars grunted and passed Free me from all fear of evil spirits and save me for Thyby. self. I ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Was he fasting? ' Not entirely. Twice a day To our amazement, sentence by sentence, he rehe cooked a handful of rice from the bag and drank water from the spring. But the food sup- peated the prayer. ply was getting low. He could only remain another night and day and then go home, even so, "I ask in the name of Jesus Christ …" Cleartraveling hungry. ly and carefully the words fell from his lips. Might one gently enquire the meaning of this long vigil through freezing nights and burning Strange, was it not? A young man who, until noons? that moment, had never heard the name of Christ, He was praying. To wbat spirit? willing to repeat a form of prayer suggested by He did not know. The mountain spirit, perhaps. Tiger, or an unknown stranger of a different race? dragon or horse, he was not certain which. Certainly the spirit of the place. The water on the It was time to go down the trail again. We rock and the rice grains were for the spirit of the place. could not stay for a longer talk. One final ques- What earnest desire led him to this rigorous form of devotion'? tion and we would go. Would he like some leaflets No particular desire. He wished to please the spirits. which would tell him more about God? Were they good or evil? He would but he could not read. He did not know. They might give blessing. Certainly they could bring disaster if neglected. "Take them anyway," we said. "Ask someone How did he pray? in your village to read them aloud and then read- He had no method. He tried to keep his mind er and hearer both can learn the truth. Is it not as free from thought as possible. He had heard from Buddhist monks that this was true religion. a good plan ?"
Would he like to know how to pray, truly? "It is well." Surely he would. But where' could one find a teacher. "Do not forget your prayer. Perhaps God sent Had he ever heard of the great God who made the earth and the sky and the mountains, the clear us to meet you here to teach you how to ·pray. water for man's drink and rice for his food; or Remain in peace."
"Even so. Go in peace."
We turned and left him on the boulder, com- mending him in our heart, to the Greater Spirit of the place. He remained through that night, but two days later woodsmen who had passed that way said that the young man had gone. .
Millions in the world seem indifferent to God.
Amateur atheists in America and virulent Reds in other lands may bitterly oppose Him because His Word is a condemnation of the life they wish to lead, but here and there in the world are lonely, seeking hearts. Shall we carry to them the mes- sage of God through Jesus Christ?
In the New-
Hebrides By the REV. FRED BOWIE Tangoa, Santo, New Hebrides ):..
Missionary of the Australian Presbyterian Church T HESE islands are too isolated, and too far CONTRAST-HEATHEN CHIEF AND SON OF A CHRISTIAN separated, and each missionary is too con- PASTOR fined to his own particular field to make it possible to give any general or detailed view of his people nearer Tangoa to a more easily de- fended place, and built a new village. the situation in the group. If the field were a like area of continuous land, In the southern islands the pig was an impor- tant article of property and of food. In the north the difficulty would be much less. No doubt the it was much more than this; by killing pigs in missionaries would be in more intimate touch ceremonial a man determined his rank in this with each other, and at centres other than their world and also in the world to come. Only on speown they would have some personal acquaintance cial occasions like the killing of pigs did the peowith existing conditions of which they know only pIe of various districts come together. Every man possessed a rifle of some kind, but for the by hearsay. time no firearms were to be carried, and there Long stretches of sea separate most of the was general peace.
islands, and, for most part, differences of lan- Even then acts of treachery were sometimes guage separated even more effectively. This lat- perpetrated. In our earliest days in a mountain ter feature applied not only as between island and village there was to be a pig-killing. Crowds of island, but also as between district and district people came to take part in the feasting and of the same island, and in our early days meant dancing. Among them, relying upon the recoghostility between the tribes. With us in Santo- nized rule, was a man who, having killed one of Tierra del Espiritu Santo-the normal condition the people of the village, had been able to evade was one of war, and every man was on one side various attempts upon his life. At the "singof the fight. sing" none of the villagers took any notice of him.
As an example of the language barrier, here at Tangoa, South Santo, about the middle of the coast, and for several miles inland, for "good" we say "ruchu"; farther inland it is "nam"; three miles west and inland it is "otomi"; eight or ten miles west again it is ('meretach"; inland from that and farther west and north the word is "vure'a"; a dozen miles up the west coast it is "woto." This was all in our district. Beyond, and in the north, and in the east, are other words, at least four that I know.
Thirty-five years ago we never heard of a man of another part passing along our beach. A little before our arrival some who ventured were fired upon and one was killed. Immediately after, sure of reprisal, the man who shot the other took [481 ]
A man of another place struck up acquaintance miration for him. All were sure that they would ·with him, and by degrees spent a good deal of time see another order of things, and all three did. in his company. On the last night of the feast, while the beating of drums and dancing were pro- We had already seen something of what had ceeding, this man, Vokeipau, entered the house been done elsewhere. The day before we reached where the enemy, still somewhat suspicious and Tanna we had been at Futuna, and had seen some avoiding the dancing ground, was seated alone. of Dr. Gunn's Christian people. Two days earlier, With seeming carelessness carrying an axe, the on a Sunday afternoon, we had made our first handle in one hand and the head in the other, he landing in the New Hebrides at Aneityum, at Dr. approached, saying, "This is the axe which I told Geddie's old station. To all of us newcomers it you Kele brought from Noumea." With a sudden was a moving sight to see the people, clean and movement he swung the axe and sank it in the decently clad, coming to church, and to hear them man's shoulder. For his effort Vokeipau received sing their hymns to the familiar tunes in use in our own homes. In the prayers of the elders who a pig. took part in the service there was an earnestness There were only slight contacts and it was and a fervor that impressed us; it was something that we could all understand, although not even therefore difficult to carry the Gospel to t4e peo- Dr. Paton knew any of their language. Here was ple. On the main island no local man would go encouragement: what had been accomplished by with us beyond a very limited area. We overcame grace in the hearts and lives of the Aneityumese this by inducing inland men and boys to come to would yet be witnessed among the Tannese and work for us, and by using some of them as guides. among those to whom the others of us were to go. Most of us had to prepare our own translations of Scriptures and of hymns. Now anyone may After we left Tanna, our next stopping-place go anywhere in safety. was Dr. Paton's own island, Aniwa. When his conv.erts met us at the beach, welcoming Dr. More than thirty-five years ago seven young Paton back, and as he and they conducted us all missionaries went out to the new Hebrides to- to the old house, to the church, to the well, and gether, with Dr. John G. Paton as a fellow pas- as we considered what had been done there as at senger. He came especially to see his son Frank Aneityum, once more making the situation over settled as a missionary on the west side of Tanna. against Tanna as a bright light over against in- tense darkness, again we had fresh cheer, and fur- At that time only Aneityum and Aniwa were ther assurance that all things were possible. Witclaimed to be entirely Christian, but considerable ness to this was added at Efate, at Nguna, at advance had been made in Eromanga, also in Tangoa, and in less degree at Epi and beyond. Efate and in the islands of which Nguna and Mr. Smaill of Epi was visiting Paama, but there Tangoa were the centres; Epi too had bright only a beginning had been made. spots. Tanna was particularly difficult. Now after thirty-five years today all the islands On our fourth and fifth days in the islands we from the south northwards, including Paama, are visited the scenes of the heartbreaking experi- accounted Christian. The Condominium Governences of Turner and Nisbet, of Dr. Paton himself, ment recognizes this, for it has made provision in of Matheson, Johnston, Neilson, Watt, and Gray. these islands for the administration of a native We saw the Tannese as all had seen them from the code of laws by native courts; in the islands to time when Captain Cook visited Port Resolution. the north of Paama as yet there is no law-so Our guide was Mr. Watt, whose headquarters at that even an offense like the murder of :it native that time were at the Port, and who then was the by a native is not punishable by law. only missionary in Tanna. We had heard Dr. Paton talk of the Tannese as naked, painted In Tanna such progress has been made that savages. Some were painted, and they were all while thirty-one years ago Mr. Macmillan bapnearly naked, but none of us thought them at all tized his first eight converts, in his report last grim and repulsive. year he set out that at the last celebration of the Lord's Supper between six and seven hundred Fifty-four years had passed since Turner and members took part. For various reasons these Nisbet had lived on Tanna. For nearly thirty were ohly a part of the Christians. On the oppoyears Mr. Watt had been holding on. Although site side of the island there is now a new misin 1881 he had baptized fifteen converts, it was sionary doctor with his wife. said that at the time of our arrival, in 1896, there was not on the island one baptized Tannese. Yet The position at Vila, the capital of the group, is he did not talk like a man without hope, but rather also worthy of note. There are the greatest numas a live sane man of deep faith, sure of the power bers of whites, British and French. Before the of the Gospel, delighted and encouraged at the eyes of the natives there is endless drinking, gamadvent of Dr. Paton's son, and of Mr. Macmillan bling and other evils. Natives of many islands to take Mr. Gray's place. We were filled with ad-
TODAY IN THE NEW HEBRIDES
are taken there as crews for boats and ships, and ary had retired; another had to give up Ollac- as workers about houses and stores, wharves count of ill-health; a son of Dr. Paton, thirty-six and plantations. It is said that such as wish years in Malekula, for over a year has been out may get any amount of alcohol almost under the with a poisoned foot which has had to be ampu- very eyes of the authorities. Still, for the most tated. The one missionary left has been on fur- part, the local people seem to be uncontami- lough, and is returning. A young couple also is nated, and to some of us it never ceases to be coming. In the meantime several teacher-evan- ope of the wonders of the Gospel in the islands to gelists have been carrying on, and no one fears see them kept so unspotted in spite of the bound- that the work is going to pieces; all recognize that less temptations to which they are subjected. these workers, cast upon their own resources and In those days Ambrim had two established centres of work. It has had its special cross to bear. Besides other losses, in the twinkling of an eye at Christmas in 1913, its principal station with its splendidly equipped an d most useful general hospital was blown sky-high when the whole valley went up in a volcanic eruption. A lesser, but also a destructive, erup- tion has occurred since. The Gospel is manifesting its power in many places today.
In the large island of Malekula there were four mIsSIOnaries. Soon aft e r there was a fifth. All these extended their influence in all directions. As in all the A CHURCH IN TANGOA. NEW HEBRIDES ISLANDS northern islands, in Maleku- la much still remains of the old heathen life. On depending upon their Lord, will be all the strong- the first day of this year I went to Malekula with er for the experience, and many of their people some time-expired students. One of the teachers as well. .
told me about shooting that had occurred in the What is said of Malekula holds also of Santo north. A heathen chief had been planting and Malo. The three islands in the northeast, bananas. As he stood upright, holding a banana Pentecost, Oba, and Maewo, are outside our rec- stock with both hands, and with his feet pushed ognized field, and long ago were occupied by the the ground in around the base, two rifle shots rang Melanesian (Church of England) Mission, and out. A bullet went through both arms, and more recently by the Church of Christ as wen.
another through both thighs. His assailants fled. Thirty-five years ago in this the widest part of The wounded man's friends carried him home. Santo there was only one church and school, situ- Seemingly no attention was paid to the wounds, ated on a little island off the coast. About sev- so that they became a horrible mess, and the chief enty miles distant in the northwest there was begged his friends to strangle him. This two of another church. That year another central sta- them did with a vine. A grave was dug, and tion was opened in Big Bay in the north; the fol- when we (Were there his body had lain for three· lowing year another was established fifty-five weeks uncovered. It was not to be covered till his miles away on the east coast. Now there are death should be avenged. Christian communities all around the island.
At that time on Santo we had had a similar There have been several inland communities also, case, except that the unburied man was supposed but in most instances after a time they have de- to have been killed by witchcraft. To some extent liberately migrated shorewards. Where the peo- the strength of the present position in ·Malekuht, ple have been able to settle on heights inland they may be gauged by this that for several months re- have done well, but where, as at various places cently in the island there have been no Christian on the west coast, they have come down to the workers except people of their own. One mission- beaches, the result has been disastrous. No per- 484 THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD [September suasion could stop them. Blackwater fever is it curious that there should be those who cannot; common on all that coast. who fearlessly handle a lizard or even a snake; who, unafraid now of spirits finding means of ac- There are in the islands, or definitely assured cess to their houses, break out the extra windows and in sight, twelve or thirteen missionaries. At so as to have more fresh air; who without hesipne time we had twenty-six. The motor launch, tation burn the cutH,:..gs of their hair, and who replacing the old sailing boat, has played quite a do many other like things that their fathers or part in the change. In the early days nothing was tf~ 11' grandfathers would not have dared to do. certain in regard to a journey to a distance to Many are sterling fellows, earnest, dependable, leeward. With a good engine in a good hull one keen to acquire knowledge, particularly of the can now make definite plans, and can depend upon Bible, and in the days to come ought to do good overseeing a much wider field than with sails and work. oars. If there were more of Christ in the hearts of For the past thirty-six years the various mis- the whites in the islands, much more would have sionaries (Presbyterian) representing Canadian, been done, and much more might be done by the Scottish, Australian, Tasmanian, and New Zea- people themselves. Fortunately many of the Britland churches, and the J. G. Paton Fund, all work ish would not willingly do anything to create even together as if we were from one church. We a wrong impression, but there are islands and dishave been sending men, single or married, with tricts where the influence of outsiders is anything their wives to this place to be trained as teach- but helpful. Some have no shadow of regard for ers. Dr. Annand, of the Canadian Church, of morality. However, there is a likelihood that whose death we have just heard, established it. much that during the past years has been winked at by the administrators will be stopped. The There is no limit to the obligation under which government helps us to this extent, that it allows all of us have been to our native fellow-workers, us to import books free of duty. Nowadays the to scores who have had no special training. They islanders discriminate between outsider and outhave been alive and full of desire to see their fel- sider, and form definite opinions of each. More lows won for Christ. Others, during their four and more they· are ready to shoulder, and are years here, have been taught something of many shouldering, the burden of the work. They are things, but chiefly the great truths of the Gospel. our hope for the future. In spite of every oppo- The book VI hich we use for spelling, for reading, sition, perhaps in part on account of this, the for dictation, for transcription, for composition, Gospel has triumphed, and gradually is winning for practically everything, is the English Bible. its way through all the islands. This is necessary on account of the multiplicity of tongues. –,.:—- On our roll of Christians at present are fifty- A PRAYER FOR HELP':' one men and seven women, wives of seven of the men. The women have their own classes and in- Dear crucified Lord, in the shadow of Thy Cross struction in various kinds of work. These work- may we receive that moral strength, that divine ers come from as far south as both the east and courage which will enable us to combat the evils the west sides of Tanna, and from as far north of selfishness, greed, indulgence and all unworthias the north of Santo. ness that would prevent our deliberations leading us to decisions for the highest good of the little Several of them were reared in heathenism village as well as of the great city; for the poor and are acquainted with all its ways, including its and the nearly poor as well as for those who have fears. They know the pit out of which they have plenty; for the places of hard toil as well as the been brought. Last week I discovered that two places of affluence; for those who are weak in the of them still do not venture to speak of a father- face of temptation as well as for those who can in-law or a mother-in-law by name. One deals stand strong. Help us, dear Saviour, to rememgently with such, all the more because many of ber that in this great throng this morning we their prohibitions have been laid down for rea- appear before Thee as individuals, seperate and sons morally sound. We have now more of the alone. Be Thou the captain of our souls! Then if second generation of Christians, who know a good poverty comes we shall not be so poor and if sordeal about the former heathen life, but who have row comes we shall not be so sad, and if death been freed from many of the fears attached to it. comes we shall not be afraid. 0 Thou God of all A few days ago one of these, afrajd to touch a nations, Jesus Christ the world's Redeemer, hear lizard, was induced to approach and take one out us as we pray, and have mercy upon us, for Jesus' of my hand and handle it. There are still others sake, Amen. of the third generation who in their own islands have not seen any of the old way, who can name ,;. The prayer of Evangeline Booth was the most inspiring event in .a father-in-law or a mother-in-law, and who think fill the session of the Dem9cratic Convention meeting in Chicago.
OPENING OF THE I. M. C. COMMITTEE MEETING AT HERRNHUT
The delegates met in. the historic old Moravian Church. They were seated in the center section.
At Herrnhut -Tw-o Centuries After The Meeting of the International Missionary Council in Birthplace of Modern Missions By the REV. SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, D. D.
"~I Princeton, N. J. I~"
Professor of the History of Religion and Christian Missions T HERE is spiritual power in environment. ago the Moravian Brethren sent out their first "Vhere John first baptized," we read, "there missionaries from the very "upper room" where many believed on Jesus." (John 10 :40-42.) the Council met for its devotional meetings. Dr. Those who attended the International Missionary Julius Richter calls the place "the sanctuary and 'Council Meeting held on the Mount of Olives in shrine of the whole continental missionary enter- 1928 or in 1930 near the Haystack Monument, or prise." The very stones cry out, "Believe, endure this summer at historic Herrnhut, felt there the and dare." In his opening address of welcome unseen power of past history. Two hundred years Bishop Baudert, of the Unitas Fratrum, said: [485 ]
"What has given us the courage to invite you to Dr. Mott spoke, the great congregation-with the small Herrnhut? We remember how on August Sisters on the one side and the Brethren on the 21, 1732, the first missionaries set out from Herrn- other-included more than half of the population hut to carry the Gospel to the Negro slaves in St. .of the town! So they shared the worship and Thomas. Then a fire was lighted here at the foot vision of the International Missionary Council.
of the Hutberg which by the grace of God has not Under the chairmanship of Dr. John R. Mott, gone out and never will. With gratitude to God and with the secretarial leadership of Dr. J. H.
we remember how he has enabled our little Church Oldham, the Rev. William Paton and Dr. A. L.
to send out in unbroken succession more than Warnshuis, in fellowship with the lay and clerical three thousand Brethren and Sisters as mission- leadership of these widely scattered missionary aries to the heathen." forces, the Council has grown in strength. Its Indeed, the setting of the conference in this program is world-wide, its proposals are often Moravian community, with its marvelous history, startling, but the sober judgment and Christian enriched our inner spiritual life and our discus- boldness of this leadership has won the whole- sions. It was the great English historian, Lecky, hearted allegiance of most of the missionary who said that what happened to John Wesley in forces of Protestant Christendom.
the little Moravian meeting in Aldersgate'Street, The opening sessions of the Council were wisely London, meant more to England than all the victo- devoted to the unburdening of hearts on the great ries of Pitt by land or sea. The missionary move- issues of the day in which we live, the new oppor- ment sprang from the evangelical revival which tunities and the baffling difficulties in a score of came out of the Moravian movement. This revival countries across the world. There was out-spoken in turn expressed itself, not only in personal con- reality and no shrinking from the issues that are version, but in social action-the abolition of the at stake; no deferred hope made hearts weak but slave trade and legislation for industrial reform. courage rose with danger.
~ome of the letters written by John Wesley to Again and again, in single sentences, a window Count Zinzendorf are in the archives at Herrnhut was opened into dramatic new situations that and two of them were read at one of the sessions startle and challenge. What a world of suffering by Mr. Basil Matthews. and gallant courage is, for instance, revealed in Most of the delegates arrived by way of Dres- the simple statement that "forty-nine churches den in a great German omnibus which drew up in of Korean Christians have recently been closed in the beautiful little square called Zinzendorf-Platz, Siberia by the Soviet Government, many of the after a seventy mile drive southward through the Koreans taking refuge in .Manchuria, and that in rolling corn-fields and forests of Saxony. We were response the Korean Church itself is carrying out within sight of the mountains of Czecho-Slovakia, a special evangelistic forward movement among at the centre of a Europe that is passing through those people in Manchuria."
one of the major changes of history. As the men Similar heroic advances in face of humanly im- and women stepped out from the omnibus, the hos- possible conditions of chaos .and economic terror pitable and kindly eyes of our Moravian hosts and in China, in face of terrible distraction in Japan, hostesses looked into the faces of men and women, in the midst of national unrest in India were re- Indian, Chinese and Korean, Japanese, Belgian ported. A stirring picture of the apostolic travels and American, Filipino and Fr~nch, leaders of the of a pastor touring the villages of Siam, and the Christian forces of every country in Scandinavia wonderful work of a group largely of young folk from Finland to Denmark, Dutch and Scottish, bearing their witness, brought thrill and cheer Canadian and Afrikander, Mexican and English. from an unexpected quarter. From the Philippine They came also from the banks of the Nile, the Islands came a picture of a Youth Movement Congo and the Yangtse rivers. These men and based on the three principles of reaching youth women had come across oceans and continents, through youth, of moral and social as well as spir- drawn from absorbing tasks at great cost of time itual uplift, and of the union of all the churches, to this little tranquil town of sixteen hundred in- in face of the vast multitudes of youtlJ., detached habitants, hidden among quiet hills, remote from by modern secular materialism from all Christian the roar of cities and the turmoil of industries. loyalties, whether Roman Catholic or Protestant.
The Chairman of the Council, speaking from the The very radical proposals made by Commis- spot where Zinzendorf had stood, said that he, sions on Higher Education in India and in Japan by analysis, had found that on the· average one showed that a new day is bound to dawn in these in sixty of the Moravian Brethren and Sisters fields. The proposal was welcomed that in Japan have gone to the mission field, while the propor- some score of theological colleges which, striving tion in the Protestant Churches of the West is less with inadequate staffs to give denominational than one in five thousand. In that church, as training to pastors, should concentrate into two,
AT HERRNHUT-TWO CENTURIES AFTER
where the best teaching strength of all these col- opments in the restriction of religious thought and leges would be for the good of all. life were reported from Turkey, Egypt, Persia, Eritrea, the Congo, China and Russia, and they At one of the sessions Mr. J. Merle Davis of reveal that the battle for religious liberty needs Japan and America and Dr. Iserland of Germany to be fought again. The work of the Council's expounded their work as colleagues in the new officers and proposed further activity in relation- Department of Social and Industrial Research and ship with governments in face of some of these Couricil in Geneva under the International Mis- situations, were approved. The refusal by the Sosionary Council. Their research into social and viet authorities to allow any religious worker even industrial conditions created by Western capital to pass through Russia, is one among many exand civilization among the African and other amples of the obstacles placed by some governprimitive peoples is a handmaid to direct evange- ments in the path of Christian missions. Common lism. It is essential to Christian men to discover counsel revealed that different nations and misand display in practice how to make civilization sionary agencies in widely separated areas are congruous with the Gospel of Christ. The Geneva suffering restrictions that are largely common in Department is concentrating at present upon the character and can best be met by concerted action, unique situation created in the copper belt of the if action is necessary, through government chan- Belgian Congo and Northern Rhodesia by its in- nel!:.. tensive industrialization of the African. Their definite goal is to work out in concrete terms how THE MORAVIAN CHURCH AT HERRNHUT the mining organizations, the governments and the missionary organizations can cooperate and In view of these facts, however, what is the integrate their forces in order to create a new Christian attitude to be with regard to mission- Christian African community, in place of the ary and religious freedom? This problem faced present disastrous corrosion of the old tribal St. Paul and all the Christians in the days when system which leaves the individual African an they were commanded to worship the Roman isolated atom. Emperor. It faces us today, but in new and strangely difficult forms, all across the world. The This large social and industrial program, put days of imprisonment, of persecution and of forward at Williamstown in 1930, had, however, martyrdom for the truth are not altogether of the aroused misgivings on the part of the Missionary past. The Council declared therefore: Council of the Northern Countries before the meeting at Herrnhut. They sent a joint memorial We believe that much more may yet be done by wise, from Stockholm which received careful attention. sustained and progressive efforts to secure full religious One paragraph deserves record here: freedom in all mission fields, and we would count the con- tinuance of such efforts indispensable, since such a serv- Since we are firmly convinced that the preaching of the ice can only be rendered effectively under such cooperative Gospel is the essential task of missions, and must always auspices as the International Missionary Council, and is remain SQ, we cannot help feeling anxious at the growing directly related to the evangelistic program of the mistendency of making programs for the solution of rural, sionary movement. social and industrial problems in the various mission fields. Naturally we do not object to discussing these important But at the same time they challenged the courproblems from the point of view of missions. But if this is age and faith of disciples: done beyond a certain measure there is a real danger of diverting the missionary zeal from its central objectives In the presence of restraints and limitations upon the to such social problems as will naturally present them- free witnessing of Christians and Christian missionaries selves when Christianity has had a long period of devel- to the Gospel of 'Jesus Christ, which are increasingly evi-. opment in a nation, but which in no wise need be put in dent in certain lands, and which emanate from sectarian the foreground at the time of laying the foundation of a hostility, rival religious systems, new theories of the State, Christian Church in a nation. or the rising tide of nationalism, it is our opinion that In the findings of the Council meeting to which we refer later it will be seen that Herrnhut owed much to this Stockholm letter. The central message of Christianity, the cruciality of the Cross, the need of conversion and of a new life as prerequisites to successful evangelism-all these came to their own once more in the Herrnhut deliberations.
Next to this question of the essential task, was that of religious liberty. A number of documents were in the hands of the delegates and two or three interesting and weighty statements on the principles of religious freedom. Alarming devel-
when such prohibitions to Christian witnessing become the Gospel and transforming social conditions. fundamental and sweeping, in the judgment of the Church These great spiritual movements, the growing concerned, these prohibitions do not relieve the individual Christian and the Christian Chu'rch of their duty to con- self-consciousness of the indigenous churches and tinue their witness with love and patience, and yet also the present financial stringency at home, all unite with endurance, if need be unto suffering. to summon us to closer and wider cooperation.
Another question that called for earnest con- This was evident in all the discussions. Problems sideration was the future policy of missions in the that are common face every missionary society in present financial crisis. At the outset of the com- the world; no one society can possibly grapple mittee meetings Mr. Kenneth Maclennan, Secre- with them, for they need the mobilizing of the tary of the Conference of British Missionary So- wisdom, the experience, the leadership and in- cieties, very strikingly showed how during the fluence of all in the light of God's leading. The post-war years, when income has been on the whole problem of cooperation between different whole stationary, the work in the field has gone churches was carried dramatically to a deeper ahead in multiplying prosperity. "Has not God," and more searching level by the Rev. W. J. Noble, he asked, "called us to discover through the very of the Wesleyan Missionary Society of Britain, stringency of the present economic crisis that one who declared that ultimately we are bound in era of His missionary work has closed and practice in cooperation to find ourselves face to another opened? Are we not called to face the face with the tremendous questions of Faith and fact of the self-witnessing Church in all mission Order. Unless we are ready to go further, he de- lands ?"Our contribution in the fields of the world clared, we have already gone too far. Is it not today must be something different from that of time, representing the missionary forces facing organization and direction. What is it to be?" heathendom, to say to the churches in the home Our first task is to ask what is God's will for land: "It is your duty to come together, for the future of missionary work in the face of this divided you make. it more difficult to win the world present crisis. We must seek to get deeper still for Christ. Variety in unity is in accord with the into the fulness of the Christian message for the will of God. The real breach is made by ex- present age. We witness, in the troubled waters clusiveness !"
of the Far East, the wonderful sustained evange- There was no exclusiveness at Herrnhut. Cath- listic movements in Japan and in China which re- olicity came to its own without compromise: veal the steadfastness and courage and faith of Realizing the colossal power of the inertia caused largethe new Christian churches there in a time of ly by the divided state of Christendom, the delegates, chaos, amid the crushing forces of materialism moved by the tragic world situation of today, call missionand communism. We must share the agonizing ary workers throughout the world to enter boldly a new era of cooperation. In that new period the requirements, conflict of loyalties in the hearts of members of principles and spirit of such cooperation must be more the Indian Church under the stress of nationalis- thorough, serious and sacrificial than ever.
tic hopes and fears; and rejoice together in the The officers of the Council are to give a major news of the movement of high-caste Hindus into part of their effort to furthering in an advisory the Christian Church, influenced by the beautiful way constructive advances in cooperation such as witness of the purified lives of former outcasts; may turn the retreat threatened by economic a movement that presents to the world a new stringency into triumphant advance. miracle of the Eternal Gospel. Amid the multitude of "findings," the complexi- It was a memorable occasion, and we were ties of the daily program and the activities of greatly stirred on hearing from representative leaders from all lands of astonishing aggressive special committees there are two things that made Herrnhut distinctive to my mind: the clear and work that is, with increasing momentum and out-spoken utterance on the central task of mispower, being carried on by the Christian Church, sions and the consciousness that the only source whether in the Far East or in Africa. Under the terrible economic stress of today's world crisis, of power is God's Holy Spirit. The message is and in the face of self-confident materialism and the Word of God. The method is conversion. The positive atheistic communism, the Christian forces power is outside of ourselves, and the goal is not in Japan and Korea, in China and Siam, in India mere social progress, but the fulness of the Kingand in the Philippines, far from beating a retreat, dom of God. The committee on the message had are pressing forward in ways for which it is dif- referred to it the Stockholm correspondence, and ficult to find a parallel in the history of modern their report, unanimously adopted, will reassure missions. One of these adventures is the detailed those who may have had misgivings regarding the program and the specific activity of the Kingdom position of the International Missionary Council: If we have anything to bring in the name of God to a of God Movement in Japan, to carry Christ into slum, village and industrial city, both proclaiming world in need, it is certainly not o ughr toowrnopuiretoy~nouhrumowann way of life, our own modes of thou
HOW CHRIST IS AFFECTING INDIA
-i,' "
help. What the Church has to give in its world mis~ion is tions, races and communions, we were repeatedly recalled to the parallelism between the Internathe good news of a divine act in history, of the Word made tional Missionary Council opening its heart and flesh. Apart from a Word which is from God, and not soul to the working of the Spirit in face of the from man, there is 110 Christian mission. In face of the world task of Christianity and the Moravians powerful anti-Christian forces operating in the world today we reaffirm our faith that the revelation of God in Christ is the only way of deliverance for mankind and sending out the first missionaries from that very that it alone can provide the foundation for an order of room in 1732. Early in the morning, on more society that will be according to the will of God. than one occasion) the Holy Communion was celebrated by the Bishop of Salisbury, in which, And again they say: We have considered afresh what is central in our mis- at his invitation, the members of the committee sionary work and where the chief emphasis should be laid. from all over the world shared. At no time did Weare convinced that our missionary task is to proclaim the radiant community spirit of the unity of the in word and life God's revelation and redemption in Jesus Brethren sweep across the spirits of the delegates Christ. We have no other task; for while there is much that is useful and good, "one thing is needful." We need with greater force than at the united Love Feast to ask ourselves whether everything that forms part of on the first Sunday, at which,with the delegates, present missionary activity serves the one dominant pur- there was present the Moravian community, pose of making clear the message of Jesus Christ in all whose strong, sweet choral singing expressed the its fullness. enduring moral and spiritual fibre of a people who No stronger statement could be desired. Each have triumphed over persecution, and have even society and each missionary must striv~ to reach this ideal at any cost. Finally, the atmosphere of faced peace and relative prosperity without de- Herrnhut was not materialistic, but devout and generation. May we not hope and pray that from other-worldly. In the devotional meetings at nine the Herrnhut meeting spiritual forces will go o'clock each morning, led by men of different na- forth that shall be like Zinzendorf redivivus!
HoV Christ Is Affecting India* -"II By ROBERT WELLS VEACH, D. D. 111'· W HILE traveling from Singapore to Cal- Hindustani; but on about every fifth page there cutta I became acquainted with a young was a paragraph in English which contained a Indian merchant. Tall, erect, well poised distinctly Christian idea about love and the marand with a rich, brown complexion, he was about riage relation. as handsome a fellow as one would like to meet. Apparently he was wealthy, a camphor merchant Some paragraphs were direct quotations from with large interests in Sumatra and Java. His the New Testament and a few had been a bit muhair was closely cropped except a lock about two tilated by lopping off the context, as, for instance, inches long which protruded from the crown of Ephesians 5 :24. "As the church is subject to his head, the sign that he was an orthodox Hindu. Christ, so wives should be subject to their hus- He was always draped in an immaculate white bands in every respect." (Moffat's translation.) robe finely embroidered with black along the edge. In response to my question about these Christian When the evenings were cool, he would don a ideas being incorporated in a Hindu book, he said: three-quarter length white serge coat with deli·- "We Hindus always read the best European and cately traced gold buttons. Occasionally he wore American books, and when we come across a a rose-colored turban. really good idea we assimilate it into our Hindu thinking." Picture him reclining languidly on a steamer chair, speaking English fluently and rolling his This is a significant statement and reveals the large, dreamy eyes in whose depths one caught While admitting that Christianity is making glimpses of fathomless philosophies milleniums rapid strides in India, my friend insisted that old, nebulous ideas and wistful wishing. power of Hinduism to survive the centuries. Hinduism would win because it has this amazing One day he handed me a book he was reading, capacity to assimilate Christian ideas and ideals. entitled "Love and Marriage," with the request Because of its profound philosophic insight, he that I look through it. The book was printed in * Presbyterian Survey.
claimed that it is able to give to the world a more unadorned and impressive. There was no altar, spiritual understanding of Jesus. All this came no priest, no image. For ten minutes I listened from a young Indian camphor merchant. to several hundred Hindu students chant their prayer and praise to the God of their fathers. One Sunday evening I tramped with Dr. Sam Then this leader and teacher of men showed me Higginbottom across the acres of his Agricultural through his library of which he is justly proud. Institute of Allahabad. He described the unex- He had majored in English Literature at Oxford pected visit he had one day from some Indian and was familiar with our American poets, even princes. They had been attending a great re- down to Lindsay and Robinson. Emerson and ligious gathering at Benares and having heard of Whitman he was willing to concede a high place; Higginbottom's work ·decided to see for them- but of all the others he refused to group any of selves. One morning six of them arrived at the them with Wordsworth, Browning, and Shelley. station in a private train. They were deeply impressed with what they saw and with the Chris- This man had recently presided over a public tian motive back of it all. One of them was so meeting addressed by Dr. Stanley Jones. At the taken with a fine young Christian student that he conclusion of the address he arose and expressed offered him the position of agricultural manager his complete agreement with most of the speakand teacher on his own large estate. er's statements because he found the same ideas in Hinduism. "This is our classroom for the study of Industrial Chemistry," said the president of a large But there are many thoughtful, highly intelli- Christian college. The room with its apparatus gent men among the six million followers of and charts was neatly arranged. On one of the Christ in India. One evening I met a very promiwalls I noticed a picture of Christ and the Rich nent Judge, a man of great intellectual breadth Young Ruler, while back of the teacher's desk and spiritual insight. Both he and his wife are hung a fine copy of Hoffman's Christ Among the active members of a Christian church. On an- Doctors. other occasion I attended a social gathering in the home of an Indian Christian. He is the head of "This Indian teacher is evidently Christian," I a large Government High School, is mentally alert remarked. and enthusiastically devoted to Christian work.
"No," said the president, "at least not a pro- Riding from Calcutta to Benares I shared the fessing Christian; but it would appear as if he compartment with an elderly gentleman, whom I were almost persuaded. The character of Jesus found most companionable. He proved to be a makes a strong appeal to many men who are not high railroad official and an active Christian. interested in organized Christianity." One day I addressed seven hundred students in Perhaps the keenest man intellectually I met in the Assembly Hall of a Christian college, and to India was a distinguished college president, the the best of my ability I challenged this host of head of a large Hindu Graduate School. He was promising young men to take the ideals and teacha Hindu and believes that, freed from shallow tra- ings of Jesus Christ and incorporate them into dition and vitalized by close contact with the main the new social and political structure that is takcurrents of modern thinking, Hinduism possesses ing form in India. The response was trementhe dynamic to make India great and powerful. dous. Is India almost persuaded?
I attended the chapel exercise. It was simple, The Cure for Depression What would Christ do and say to help us out of our trouble if He were on earth now?
We can judge only by what He did and said in the first century, an age not so different from our own, an age of unsettlement, violence, drunkenness and license. Christ would tell us not to yield to panic, "be not anxious for the- morrow, and not to trust in riches; what shall it profit .a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" Christ would tell us to work and pray for our daily bread, to keep our hearts clean and steady and kind, to love God supremely and our neighbor as ourselves. He would tell us not to be selfish or afraid, but to trust our Heavenly Father and do our duty from day to day. He would tell us that the Holy Spirit will guide us to our duty, that the universe is in the hands of God and that the soul of man is the most precious thing in the world.
These are the fundamental principles and spirit that must underlie and cure our trou- bles. Everyone can begin at once to put them in practice. HENRY VAN DYKE. .'.
Braga of
II: J ··:ill w~ . ~~~ ~ a~:n J:.. By REGINALD WHEELER, Nanking, China Recently Secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church, V. S. A., in charge of Latin-American Fields — _. __ . ._. — — ONE of the essential aims and ends of foreign clerk in a country store which, due to the exig- missions is the establishment and develop- encies of the economic situation, used old news- ment of a native church. To fulfil its mis- papers for wrapping its packages and articles of sion this church must be in reality self-propa- sale. One day the newsboy who brought these gating, self-supporting, self-governing. In many papers to the young clerk gave him some leaves mission fields such indigenous churches are now torn from a book in which John Braga became developing. Leaders of those churches are intensely interested. These leaves had been appearing who are worthy of being in- torn from a Bible, a book with which cluded in the long line of the suc- Mr. Braga, like many other nominal cessors of the glorious company of Roman Catholics, was not familiar.
the apostles. In Brazil, after two He became interested, asked for generations of mission service, more of these papers, read and there is such an evangelical studied them, and resolved to church today, independent of give himself to this new way foreign subsidy, directed by of life and belief. Soon after its own leaders, expressive a Presbyterian missionary, of the genius and spirit of the Rev. F. P. Schneider, its own people. Foremost made his acquaintance; as a among the leaders of that result John Braga was bap- church was Erasmo Braga. tized and became a member On May 11, 1932, at only 55 of the recently formed Pres- years of age, Dr. Braga's byterian Church in Brazil.
rich service upon this earth He studied for the ministry, came to an end. It is a privi- and became one of its most ac- lege to attempt to review a few tive and able leaders. While of the achievements of this truly teaching in a mission school in great man and to summarize some Rio Claro, as a candidate for the of the characteristics t hat en- ministry, he met and married a dea·red him to so many friends and girl who was also teaching in that that won for him the well deserved con- school. In 1877 their first child was fidence of the Evangelical Church, not PROFESSOR born, and was named Erasmo after the only in Brazil but throughout the world. ERASMO BRAGA famous Dutch humanist. This boy was Erasmo Braga was first and foremost a man of baptized by a Presbyterian minister who had the church of which he was a servant and a leader. fled from the Island of Madeira after a terrible He was an ordained minister of the Presbyterian persecution and had been wounded in a similar Church in Brazil, which he had served as Mod- persecution in Brazil. Erasmo thus grew up in a erator and in whose councils he occupied an infht- Christian home; entered the second class at Mac- ential position. kenzie College, Sao Paulo; took work in the His ecclesiastical inheritance is of unusual in- preparatory course of a school of law; and terest. His f.amily was an influential one that later entered a theological seminary to pre- lived in Portugal in a town that bore the family pare for the ministi'Y. After he was ordained name of Braga. His grandfather was an army he taught for. many years on the seminary officer in Portugal and his father, John Braga, faculty without salary. He was one of the emigrated to the new world of the Americas, land- directors of the seminary in Rio de Janeiro, ing in Brazil in the early 1850s. At first he had and has taken a special interest in the Curso difficulty trying to make his living. He became a Jose Manoel da Conceicao, which provides a [491 ]
junior college course of preparation for can- ments between the two. He favored the plan by didates for the ministry. which financial assistance would come from the Dr. Braga was not only a minister of the Evan- mission on a diminishing scale for initial and pio- gelical church, but an educator whose advice was neer areas, with the missionary force acting as sought in this field both in the sphere of the mis- the spearhead of evangelistic service on the fron- sion and of the government. He taught for some tier, and the native church taking over as rapidly years on the faculty of Mackenzie College and of as possible the work in larger cities' and evan- Campinas Seminary; he was Chancellor of the gelized areas. Such a cooperative plan has been Federation of Evangelical Schools of Brazil; put to the practical test in Brazil and has stood served on the Executive Council of the National the test. The Brazilian Church stands on its own Educational Association; and was the editor and feet with self-respecting independence and re- author of a number of text books, both in the field sponsibility, and Dr. Braga has had a large part of religious and secular education. No one who saw in shaping this development. His clearness and him preside at the Montevideo Congress and heard incisiveness of thought on this subject of coopera- him swing with ease and fluency from his native tion between mission and church was especially Portuguese to Spanish, to French, to English, will evident at the Lakeville Conference of the Pres- ever forget his linguistic skill and ability. He had byterian Board of Missions, where this issue was also a reading and working knowledge of Greek, one of the chief topics of consideration.
Latin, Hebrew and Italian. In a memorial service In the wider groupings that include churches held by the Brazilian Association of Education and missionsjn other lands, Dr. Braga also made after Dr. Braga's death, Dr. Anisio Teixeira, his distinct and serviceable contribution. Not long Superintendent of Public Instruction, said: before his death he was appointed representative Erasmo Braga was an educator in the highest and rich- of the Latin American section of the World's Alliest sense of the word, a binder together of men among ance of the Reformed Churches. A government themselves. I render today, as a member of the Brazilian official in Brazil paid this tribute to the universal Educational Association, and personally, the profound and quality in Dr. Braga's leadership: sincere homage of my intelligence and my heart to this man who did good to all of us because in all of us he There are those ~vho say that the Protestants built a added a power of love not of ourselves. bridge for a great intellectual passage in modern times but they did not have the courage to pass over. Men like But Dr. Braga's influence went beyond the Erasmo Braga are conducive to such a passage. They usual bounds of church and school and was ex- use their influence for religious cooperation in Brazil and pressed in many channels of service which are in the whole world. They tend to suppress the divisions grouped under the head of union and cooperation. among men by a tacit or expressed accord in a group of common ideas…. He led us forward because of those For twelve years he was Secretary of the Commit- delicate and sensitive labors which arduously insisted on tee on Cooperation in Brazil, the consultative and the harmony between men seeking with tolerance and long correlating agent of various evangelical church suffering spirit that which was a common denominator. groups in that country. Dr. Braga took an active He led us forward because he broke down differences, he part in the Panama Congress held in 1916; was eliminated divisions, and created stronger and more ample bonds of unity for human cooperation…. Because of chairman .and presiding officer at the Congress on this all of us, believers and agnostics, are able to associ- Christian Work in South America, held in Monte- ate ourselves together in homage to such a remarkable video, Uruguay, in 1925; he was one of the three character, reflecting Brazilian and universal religious members of the International Missionary Council thought as was Erasmo Braga. . . . representing Latin America, and met with the A missionary wrote of him: Council at Jerusalem in 1928; he was Honorary He was the one internationally-minded Brazilian Protes- tant. He always had an aptitude for other people's points President of the Evangelical Congress of Havana of view, even as a student back in 1892 when I first came in 1929; he .attended the Lakeville Conference of to know him well. … He knew the whole "Who's Who the Presbyterian Foreign Board held in June, of Brazil," and was, as a Vice-president of the Republic 1931, and played an influential part in the discus- once said, "mais acatado" (accepted with friendliness and sions there on the relations of mission and church. respected for character and intelligence) more than any Dr. Braga saw clearly that the merging of mission other man of his acquaintance.
and church, as many native leaders advocate, with In the sphere of the church, of education, in the continuance of foreign subsidy to this merged or- world field of cooperative enterprise, Dr. Braga ganization, was not the right solution of the prob- made his contribution and served his generation lem, and tactfully but fearlessly advocated the de- wisely and well. "He was a man, take him all in velopment of mission and church on parallel and all. We shall not look upon his like again."
distinct lines, each to administer its own funds But many of us who knew him remember him given by its own constituency, with a cooperative not as a minister, or as an educator, or as a leader or liaison committee or group to work out adjust- in cooperation, but as a friend whom we trusted
ERASMO BRAGA OF BRAZIL
and loved. Strong, wise, full of grace, Erasmo some weeks before his death, both he and his wife Braga drew men to him in friendship that was were ill. Death took Mrs. Braga on April 19th, deep and true and lasting. He was .an ideal com- three weeks before his own death. In a letter, panion, ready to enjoy the simple felicities of the written April 29th, he wrote in answer to a mesday and to share in the experiences of the common sage of sympathy in the loss which he had sustask as a true comrade and friend. tained: "Our sufferings have given us an oppor- tunity to witness for the Eternal Hope to a large Through all his service, in church, in school, in circle of relatives and friends." his cooperative capacities, as a friend, Erasmo Braga was a true witness for Christ. Dr. Braga's earthly ministry has ended, but his spirit lives on in school and church in Brazil, and In the Covenant Compam'on, published in Brazil, in ute wider circle of those in many lands who in October, 1929, an article summed up this dis- came to know him, who gained through him a tinctive spirit of his service: truer and more vivid understanding of the beloved community of the Church Universal, and of the For Latin America as a whole, no man today means One who is its Lord and its Light, before Whom more in the interest of making Jesus Christ known, loved, one day, that Church, in the building of which Dr. believed or followed, than Professor Erasmo Braga, whose Braga has had such a vital part, will be presented father learned to know the way of Life Eternal from the faultless with exceeding joy. fragments of a Bible used for wrapping paper in the early days of the pioneers in Brazil.
He was a witness clear through to the end. For An Egyptian Convert from Islam A CHRISTIAN effendi and a sheikh from EI mud read the Sermon on the Mount. When he Azhar University in Cairo took shelter to- read it he found notes from the donor: "Pray for gether in a shop during a shower of rain. those who despitefully use you"-"I pray for you Before they parted the effendi gave the sheikh a daily." And so on. card inviting him to a lecture at the C. M. S. student center. Attracted by the idea of meeting the Six months after he had broken up the discuseffendi again, Sheikh Mahmud went to the lecture sion meeting Mahmud, now convinced of the truth and made his first contact with Douglas Thornton of Christianity, had to make his decision. It is and Temple Gairdner. almost impossible to conceive what that decision involved. On the one side was training in Con- As a boy, when Mahmud was attending the stantinople as a lawyer-an assured position, great Moslem school in the Temple area (in Jeru- property, honor; on the other-a loneliness we can salem) he discovered in his father's house a copy only imagine, outcasting from family and home of a book forbidden throughout the Turkish Empire-"Sweet Firstfruits." He read it from cover and country, dishonor, persecution, disinheritance to cover, again and again. This was his first -and Christ. Mahmud himself tells the story of touch with Christian truth. How his father, a that night of decision: bigoted and orthodox Moslem, a teacher in the Haram, had become possessed of this book is a Mr. Gairdner called Mr. Thornton, and we three prayed mystery. together. Perhaps only about three times in my life have I prayed with the certainty of faith, and that was one. After the first lecture in Cairo Mahmud went Mr. Gairdner said: "I will say the words, and you shall regularly to the meetings. On one occasion he say them after me. .. 0 Lord, what shall I do? Enbrought twenty Azhari students with him for the lighten my eyes that I may perceive the best course, the express purpose of breaking up the meeting. The best for soul, the best for conscience." Even while I subject was the Crucifixion, and when Mahmud was speaking my heart was filled with a great glow of leaped to his feet calling on all true Moslems to love and I saw shining on the wall the word Al Masih show their abhorrence of the teaching, the meet- (Christ) . ing was broken up as most of those present followed him out. Then Mr. Gairdner said: 'Now we won't talk to one another. You go away and get God's guidance without Imagine his astonishment when, after this rude talking to any human being, and I shall stay here and behavior, Douglas Thornton came and invited him pray for you.' to come every week! I went back to the Azhar (university mosque) and took Douglas Thornton and Temple Gairdner spent my daily ration of bread. Then I went to 'the lodgings, themselves for him during the months that fol- which I shared with several others. I took out my father's lowed. A typical touch was the gift of aNew letters and spread them before me. I took the Koran and Testament from Gairdner on condition that Mah- Injil (Gospel) and. I read them in turns. When the others came in, I was in a muse. They asked me to a party in another room. I said: "No! My thoughts are burdened tonight. Leave me." The two sides of the question kept surging in upon me. How could I face poverty, as I must, if I were a Christian? But how could I deny Christ?
Why not follow Christ secretly and outwardly comply? For a fully qualified sheikh of EI Azhar the But Thornton and Gairdner said that was only laughing at convert's usual problem of employment did not Christ. occur. Rather did it add lustre to the mission schools that their Arabic master was so qualified. At last I prayed exactly as a man does who is speaking For twenty-five years Sheikh Bulus has faithfully to his fellow. I said to Christ, as though He were at the taught both in the boys' and girls' schools in Cairo-a picturesque figure in his sheikh's robes other side of my bed: "Guide me Thou, 0 Christ, if Thou which he always wore. art Lord." It needed the endless patience and humility of It was night, and I slept after that. It seems to me as Gairdner to hold on to Sheikh Bulus during the if I saw in sleep the faces of Thornton and Gairdner and years of adjustment and struggle. The story is another that 1 knew was the face of Christ. one of ups and downs, of falls and conquests. It is, too, a record of faithful service and of loyalty Suddenly I awoke, hearing a voice say: "Mahmud, rise to Christ, a loyalty that never wavered. up, there is light for thee. Fear not." I thought my comrade, Sheikh Ahmad, had called to me, but he was sleep- His position in the Old Cairo Church strengthing. Then a man in white passed me and swished me ened, and perhaps it was the memory of the with his robe, saying again: 'Mahmud, rise up, there is "father" God gave him in Douglas Thornton that light for thee. Fear not.''' It happened a third time, and inspired his efforts to befriend converts. What- I was left trembling all over. At last 1 said: "0 Christ, ever the motive it is a fact that his was one of the Thou art my Lord." few Christian homes always open to converts, and there he and his wife (herself a convert) let it be My one thought was to meet Thornton and Gairdner. known that "our house is a home for converts." When I went to them, Gairdner said: "Now you who were Saul are Paul (Bulus)," and kissed my forehead. After- Always eager and impetuous he threw himself wards I learned they had taken no supper but had stayed heart and soul into the care and teaching of intill three o'clock praying for me-till about the time of quirers, especially when the student center was remy vision. opened in Cairo. No effort was too much-his heart and his home were always open to them. Loneliness came on me terribly on the night after my baptism. That is always a hard time, when all the calls of So well did Bulus like this work that he longed the old life sound in a man's ears and he has not yet rooted to give up teaching in school and to devote his himself in the new. I could not sleep that night. At whole time to evangelism. He was still a young eleven o'clock, Mr. Gairdner saw a light under my door man-only forty-six years of age-and had apparand called out: "Bulus!" "1 can't sleep," I said. He ently years of valuable service still to give when came in and saw me miserable and said: "I'll stay with he was taken ill and in five days (in June, 1931) you a little while." Then he began to read to me out of he had passed on to join those who had brought missionary papers about some boys in Uganda who had him into the fellowship of his Lord. suffered everything for Christ. He read in English and told me in Arabic what he read. I saw that others had -Church Missionary Outlook. left all for Christ. At twelve o'clock he said: "Now you had better sleep." The war was not over in my soul and I said: "1 can't." Then he said: "Very well, I have a proposal. You lie down on your bed and shut your eyes, and I will sit on this chair beside you and go on reading to you. 1 promise to stay with you till you sleep." At first 1 could not keep my eyes shut, but every time 1 opened them he put his hand gently over them until at last 1 slept.
Unexpected Testimony Professor Julian Huxley, describing a visit to East Africa, writes: Perhaps the most striking impression I take away from Kampala is of a service in the Church of Eng- land Cathedral. Five or six hundred natives; a choir of fifty who sang a Bach Chorale with great feeling; a sermon which I longed to understand by Ham Mukasa, one of the aristocracy of the native kingdom, a noble-faced old man who has twice been to England, and has written a book about his travels there.
One is reminded of Charles Darwin's visit to the Church Missionary Society station at Waimate. He wrote: The lesson of the missionary is the enchanter's wand. . . And to think that this was in the centre of cannibalism, murder and all atrocious crimes! . . . 1 took leave of the missionaries with thankfulness for their kind welcome, and with feeling of high respect for their gentlemanlike, useful and upright char- acters. It would be difficult to find a body of men better adapted for the high office which they fulfill.
It is a long stretch of time from 1835, when Charles Darwin wrote of the work of the Church Missionary Society in New Zealand, to 1930 when Professor Huxley writes of the work in Uganda. The work.in New Zealand is now in charge of a Maori Bishop. The work in Uganda is still the responsibility of the Church Missionary Society.
The Uganda story is one of heroic sacrifices and of wonderful results. When Bishop Chambers visited Uganda he was so impressed by what he saw there that he made it his prayer that Tanganyika would be transformed by the power of the Gospel as Uganda has been.
-Church Missionary Gleaner.
Ways of
Tested Methods for Incr~asing Interest at Home EDITED BY MRS. ESTELLA S. AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO THE AUTUMN KEYNOTE shade beneath, to guide the of white, green, yellow or red.
Whatever increases receptiv- April folk. June had orange At the sounding of the luncheon ity for our missionary message is ,veIl worth cultivating, blossoms, July its patriotic fea- call, guests found their way to though not to the extent of lowering the tone of the mes- tures, November its turkey and whatever table bore the same sage. In any department of church activity, you will find ingathered grain, December its color decoration as themselves. your audience rising to the keynote of seasonal appropriate- tiny tree and bells, and so on The winter table centered on a ness. Home-coming functions, receptions for newcomers in the around the year. Everyone was Christmas tree, with pure white missionary organization, harvest home festivals and out- well 'introduced by the time the candles, tiny sleds on cotton door gatherings turned to missionary uses, the stressing of groups were assembled; but to snow, etc.; the spring table was fresh beginnings and advanced plans-these all fit into Septem- make doubly sure, the persoll exquisite in green, with beds ber and October, the latter being the month in which the who first located her natal of artificial daffodils, tulips and average missionary organization musters its 'forces for a headguarters had to welcome narcissus; the summer table new year's work. In this connection, the outline for a recep- the next, these two the next, was stunning with yellow tion to newcomers given in the May number of THE REVIEW and so on until an atmosphere candles and a patriotic centeradapts itself to autumnal use. of cordiality and good cheer piece, and the autumn table was Welcome Home Parties had been created. Then the the beauty spot of the room, A resume of this plan, given in THE REVIEW several years hostess announced that as' this with its red candles, bright ago, may prove timely. The hostess announced that all guests was the cook's day off, guests leaves of many shades, and a born in January were to assemble in a spot in the room which must prepare the repast. .THnu- Jack-o-Iantern center. they must find by its appropriateness, and so on through the ary had to cut the bread, A hostess in corresponding rest of the calendar. Then ensued a lively search for birth- February to make one sort of attire was seated at each table, month headquarters. January proved easily recognizable from sandwiches and March another, a blushing bride and groom a sheet of new resolutions and other decorations, hung in one June must concoct the cocoa, honoring the spring group. corner of the large room. February had an abundance of etc. After all were seated, the The missionary organization snow and ice, pictures of Lincoln, Washington, etc. On hostess tapped a bell and said, personified was the general a chandelier hung an umbrella with both overshoes and sun- "The sandwiches, please, April" hostess, her table having a – at which the Aprilites birthday cake centrally placed.
trooped off to serve that item- One or more jingle-gifted per- and thus the merry meal pro- sons were seated at each table gressed. Each group was re- to reel out rhymes reminiscent quired to evolve a limerick or of the organization's past, or jingle on the subject of its fraught with optimistic feJicita- birth-month, the most popular .tions for its future. The table being given a blue ribbon. It groups broke out from time to was then announced that the time in appropriate music- divisions would stand for the "Jingle Bells" at the winter year, and that the programs table, "0 Promise Me" in the would be presented accordingly, spring gathering, etc. After the January group giving the the cutting of the cake with its program in that month and so good wishes specific to the or- on. ganization, a talented speaker The Hyde Park Baptist set forth the goals and ideals Church, in Chicago, also had of the denomination for the its autumnal rally in the form opening year, and another well- of a birthday party. At the informed speaker followed ex- entrance the mystified guests ploiting the program of study were compelled to yield the and service planned for the so- secret of their natal day (not ciety. Earnest prayer foc'
the year!), each then having guidance and power to actuate pinned upon her a dainty favor the plans closed a meeting [495 ]
begun in merriment but ended a good hunt, on trees, bushes, that time we will start on a fall and winter cruise, visiting many countries in information, inspiration and decorations, etc., or on their indeep seriousness of purpose. door counterparts if the out- en route. We will touch at a number door function is not practicable. of ports and explore the country round about. Be on hand on Rally Autumn Parties Have guests work singly or in Day to help launch the boat. En- twos, giving a year's subscrip- closed is a round-trip ticket. Please One such missionary gather- tion to THE REVIEW to the per- fill in with your name and address ing, held in October, had deco- son having the nearest complete and bring it with you on Rally Day rations of chrysanthemums and list of questions and answers so that you can start on the cruise gaily colored leaves, its title with us. Arrangements have been being, "Autumn Gleanings." Red cardboard apples made in a given time. Summer or made for picking up new passengers covers for booklets inside of autumn music, with suitable re- who may wish to come aboard after freshments, will make this a which were pasted pictures of very attractive social-mission- the cruise has started. some definite missionaries or Our offering on Rally Day will be fields, with corresponding information clipped from THE for – – . We have set as our goal REVIEW and denominational pUblications, placed alongside. ary event to rally the new or the sum of $—. Please bring the These apples were presently opened and served successively uninterested. enclosed envelope with your offering by different young people read- An autumn Christmas tree ing and displaying the contents. and help us reach our goal. Walnuts with questions inside for the purpose of assembling were at the places at the ensu- gifts for some worker on a dis- This boat trip will not interfere ing luncheon. These had to be tant foreign field is a further "cracked" and answered. rallying function for the first with the regular work of our school; autumn meeting. A harvest home rally in Octo- each class will continue to have its ber was gaily decorated with The calendar plan is often fruits, flowers and grain of the instituted in September or Oc- regular lesson period. Many of our season and had its music of old tober, one person being apfolk songs furnished by a quar- teachers took special courses during tet in costume. The program pointed to represent the miscentered on "The Christian sionary year, nine or ten o~ers the summer better to fit them for their Home," with devotionals on the the months of missionary-prohome of Mary and Martha, and gram observance, each month work, and we have reason to hope that brief talks on the missionary's having four personified weeks, each week seven human days, our school will grow in numbers and a penny a day being the toll from each person. (Otherwise enthusiasm and in knowledge of, the each member of this human calendar is asked to earn and great Guide Book which we all are turn in a dollar for missionary benevolences. ) studying. The motto selected for the coming year is: Only out· best is good enough for Christ.
Let each one memorize it and live it.
Then Sunday School will be what our Divine Pilot would have it.
The program for Rally Day was built around the idea of an ocean trip, and to give atmos- phere to the voyage, the plat- form had been decorated to resemble a ship. The songs used were: . "Jesus, Saviour, home on the various fields in Pilot Me," "Let the Lower which the organization was in- RALLY DAY IN THE SUNDAY Lights Be Burning," etc. Paul's SCHOOL* shipwreck and rescue was the terested, as an opportunity and Scripture story; "Our Chart an object lesson among the non- Many missionary programs and Compass in Life" the sub- Christian natives. The improve- ject of a brief address by the ment in native homes after nowadays are built around the pastor. their inmates became Christian figure of a world tour or ocean was another fertile topic. A cruise. Here is one which is Announcement was made home mission dramatization calculated to give the Church that the missionary cruise was and a luncheon inclusive of School a fine start at its first starting and that China would parched corn and other au- autumn meeting. It was used be the first port of call, and tummiJ Indian features closed in the Concord Presbyterian that other countries would be School at Carrick, Pennsyl- visited during the winter. the meeting. A missionary garden party vania. Two weeks later, in the clos- Five days before Rally Day, ing exercises of the school the furnishes a good opening in the daughter of a missionary in fall, and may be used to famili- a letter similar to the one be- China gave a fine talk, illusarize guests with newly elected low was mailed to every mem- trated with curios, on the part officers at annual gatherings ber of the Church School: falling during the summer, Dear Friend; of China in which she had lived N ow that summer is over and vacanew plans by the denomination for a number of years. Several for the opening year, names of tion a thing of the past, we are look- weeks later, a pretended land- ing .forward with enthusiasm to the the new study books, etc. Type fall and winter work. As a member ing in India was made and a a considerable list of the de- of – – Sunday School you will, of native Hindu in a near-by uni- course, be interested in its plans for sired questions on slips of the coming months. versity gave a talk with profuse paper, their answers being on illustrations of curios. A young separate slips. Pin these suf- September 25th is Rally Day. At Egyptian from a theological ficiently far apart to necessitate seminary not far away effected • Copyright, The Duplex Envelope Company, Richmond, Va, Abridged.
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
the fifteen-minute landing in Unrivaled in natural beauty 3. Public schools Egypt that had been previously Cosmopolitan Developing cooperation in Govannounced. And thus all dur- The Indian's place in it ing the winter the "landing fea- ernment schools tures" were used in the closing 2. The Indian's contribution to the 4. Religious education in Governassembly period. world ment schools OUTLINE STUDIES OF "IN- Trails along which the United 5. Mission schools and their influ- DIAN AMERICANS" States expanded ence By MRS. B. P. HEUENER Lure of the out-of-doors Aim-to make citizens "with the Foods Baptist,,,Missionary Education Heritage of beauty finger print of God" Se~etary for Illinois Devotionals: The Christian Student. Devotionals: Our Joint Heritage of These studies-greatly con- Religious Inspiration. Eph. 6: 8, 9; Provo 4:5; Romans 12:2; 2 Tim. densed on account of space limitations-were presented by Romans 8:14, 16, 17; 10:12. 2:15. Mrs. Heubner in the Normal Supplementary Suggestions: S1tpplementary Suggestions: Course on Home Missions, at Lake Geneva Interdenomina- Prepare list of Indian names in Name and locate Indian schools tional School of Missions last summer. Their aim was (1) your own or a neighboring of your denomination to provide a guide in the teach- state, with historical connec- Impersonations in dialog form er-training course of that tion where possible. school; (2) to furnish material One or more choice legends told. of students from government, for later mission study groups public and mission· schools, in local churches; (3) to serve Two menus incorporating as as the basis of programs in discussing relative advantages both senior and young people's many Indian foods as possible. groups. Room decorated with samples of and disadvantages of their re- Text: Indian Americans, by Indian art. spective schools Winifred Hulbert. Special assignments on such A day in a Government school- A uxiliary Helps: Meriam- themes as "The Place of Mu- may be impersonation of Hinman's "Facing the Future .sic in the Indians' Life"; in Indian Missions"; "The Moc- teacher casin Trail," by. Bruce Kin- phonograph records of such A day in a mission school ney; "Leaders' Manual," by music; readings of Indian Assigned talks on Bacone Col- Elizabeth Mann Clark; books of Indian legends, music and poems or translations; "Story lege or Santee Normal Trainpoetry; magazine articles as in- of Sacajawea," from "The dicated in the successive les- Bird Woman," by Schults. ing School, on education for sons. THE MISSIONARY REVIEW preservation of Indian culture OF THE WORLD, July-August, Topic for Discnssion: Should mission 1932. schools be continued?* Aim: (1) To secure a knowl- CH!PTER II-E PLURIBUS UNUM CHAPTER IV-FACING 14 COMPETITIVE edge of present conditions among American Indians; (2) A.im: To realize the adjustments to WORLD to recognize and assume the responsibility of every Christian American life necessary to be made Aim: To understand the Indian's individual toward these Indians. by Indians. problems of adjustment to the pre- Keynote: "In the America Topics: that was ours before it was vailing civilization; to recognize yours, we desire to take our 1. Changing attitudes place in the ranks of Christian and assume the Christian's opporcitizenship." (From address of 2. The Indian no relic of the past tunity to help in solving them. Indians to President Coolidge Growing race versus tribal con- Topics: at Pine Ridge Agency, August 17, 1927.) sciousness 1. Looking for a job CHAPTER I-A HOMELAND SHARED 3. Out of many tribes, one race In Indian service; in white Aim of Session: To recognize our cul- 4. Out of many races, one nation world; on reservation tural and spiritual as well as our material heritage from the Indians. 5. Old ways and new days 2. From Stone Age to Machine Age Aim of adjustments-to produce at a step Topics: 1. The land which the Indians highest type of citizen E con 0 m i c adjustments-ex- shared Means-Government, mlSSIOns, change, citizenship obliga- touch of average white life tions, occupations open Devotionals: International Citizen- Social adjustments – initiative ship. Book of Ruth. lacking; prejudice to be over- Supplementary Suggestions: come; problems in city life; Map drill locating tribes service of Y.M.C.A. and In- Spell-down on tribal names dian Office Game of jumbled tribal names 3. The Church's opportunity Story of "The Trail of Tears" Devo tionals: In the world but not of Study of distinctive and com- it. John 17:8-17. mon tribal customs Supplementa1'y Suggestions: Roll call of pioneer missionaries 1. Roll call of Indians known in to Indians '. history Question for Discussion: How far 2. Talk, "Citizenship privileges of will intermarriage with whites aid Indians" in adjustment to American civiliza- 3. "The White Man's Book of tion? Heaven" speech (in play, "Two Thousand Miles for a CHAPTER III-TOOLS FOR THE FUTURE Book" and in Indian Office Aim: To discover the strong features Bulletin for 1928; No.8) in every type of school. To face the 4. Survey of your city or locality problems involved in making citi- to discover number of In- zens "with the finger print of God." dians, their living accommoda- Topics: tions, social and recreational 1. Education and student problems advantages and church affilia- Learning a trade tions Financing a higher education Discussion Topic: If you lived in a Winning a place in the modern . section where there were Indians world and had positions to offer, to which 2. Government schools today would you give preference-Indians Aim-to educate to make a liv- * (See Indian Office Bulletins of Education ing and to become citizens Division; ah::,o Prof"feSsi'L'e Educatim, Feb, Recent improvements 1[132.)
or whites? How can we touch the Devotionals: God the Creator and The next meeting is desig- lives of some Indian young people? Guiding Spirit. Mal. 2: 10, Rev. nated "A Look Around"-' "Look not every man to his CHAPTER V-AT HOME IN THE INDIAN 4:11; Is. 58:11; Ps. 37:5. own things but also to the Supplementary Suggestions: things of others." Migrant COUNTRY work in the homeland is to be 1. Map locating the missions of considered. Aim: To see the Indian student in your denomination. his home environment; to discover "Look unto Him," with a means of making the home envir- 2. Roll call-name, location and home-coming address by the onment safe and progressive toward type of service of a mission- pastor, is the theme of the third "the abundant life." ary to Indians, in your de- nomination. mabneeidentgi,nwg"e,TreihtesyliSglcohrotiekpnetedudr.e'-~,k-.e, yT"n'hTo!etn.e. Topics: 1. The student back among his peo- 3. Comparison of health safeguards comes "A Look Across the Sea" ple in average American and av- -"Go ye therefore and teach 2. Home viewpoints erage Indian communities. all nations." This will give op- 3. Constructive plans for the fu- portunity for a review of the ture 4. Impersonation of Steve Quones- study book on China, which is Legal protection tiwa. (See "Moccasin Trail," to be studied in all the circles Improved reservation system Chapter 9.) of the organization. Removal of evil white influence (See Home Mission Congress state- "Look and Praise"-"Let us Devotionals: Newness of Life. Eph. ment, Congress Report.) offer the sacrifices of praise to 4:21-24. God continually," will be the GENERAL PROJECTS FOR THE COURSE theme for the November meet- Supple7nentary Suggestions: ing, which will feature a pag- 1. Discussion topics: That Indians 1. Comparison of Indian proverbs eant and praise gifts. . should be encouraged to per- form at rodeos, at fairs and and teachings with similar Scrip- "A Look Inward"-"Examine for tourists. How can the In- yourselves"-heralds a mission- dian's heritage of culture be tural references. ary magazine presentation. made significant to him? What contribution can Christian 2. Study of Indian legends for simi- "A Look Up," on the keynote missions make toward the of Luke 21 :28, is in celebra- wise use of enforced or nat- larity in Old Testament stories. tion of the World's Day of ural leisure? Prayer. 2. Debate: Resolved, That the Res- 3. Detailed sketch of work of one of ervation System Should Be "Look to Thy Neighbor," Abolished. your own missions. Matt. 19 :19, agam will afford 3. Assignments: The desirable and opportunity for a review on the undesirable aspects of tri- 4. Prepare a play for public presen- Indian study book. bal holidays or ceremonial trips. How be adapted to tation (see Elizabeth Mann Clark's "Look to the Harvest," Matt. good purposes? Class member 9 :37, with a survey of world investigate and report what Leaders' Manual and denomina- mission fields, will close this measures relative to the In- dians are before Congress. tional catalogues for names of unique series. Write your congressmen, in- plays). .• dividually or in a group. Where We Place the Emphasis Consult the Indian Rights As- 5. Secure local or missionary speaker sociation, 995 Drexel Build- of authority to address church. Each year $750,000,000 is ing, Philadelphia. spent for cosmetics, perfumes 6. Stereopticon lectures on Indian life (See "Literary Digest," Aug. 3, 1929 and creams. -"The Plight of the Educated In- and missions. $350,000,000 for soft drinks. dian." $300,000,000 for beautiful 7. Prepare an "Indian Night" for Also "Atlantic Monthly," Dec., 1929- furs. "Yours Lovingly" whole church at close of study. $500,000,000 for jewels. Nov., 1931-"Two Insurgents" See Clark's Manual for instruc- $800,000,000 for cigarettes. tions. Readings from "Kiowa," by $250,000,000 for ice cream CHAPTER VI-AN INDIAN ApPROACH Isabel Crawford. 8. Public Debates. and cakes. TO GOD $100,000,000 for candies. 9. Carryon correspondence with mis- $200,000,000 for chewing gum. A itn: To face the problems and as- And from each dollar people sume the responsibility involved sionary in your own denomination. in cooperating with the Indians in have, 75 per cent of a cent goes developing a truly Christian envir- Note: "Topics" in the foregoing for the Lord's work. onment. outlines may become the basis for talks, impersonations, dramatizations, "Less than a cent, 0 keepers of gold, Topics: With houses and lands and riches un- news items, "Living Magazines" or told; 1. Truths from Indians' past; sim- "Newspapers Come to Life" (cover- Less than a cent-it cannot be ilarities to Christians' truths. ing subject matter) or any other rep- That is the way you divided with me." 2. The Indian and the Christian '. utable means of popularizing the ma- Church. terial. Dominant problems-securing an education; deep, practical SOME POINTERS FOR PRO- religious belief; health stand- GRAM MAKERS ards; self-respecting economic standards; wholesome and The First Baptist Church of sufficient recreational activi- Wichita, Kansas, has worked ties; appreciation of citizen- out its year's programs from ship and opportunity to prac- the keyword "Look," using the tise it; training of Christian Scripture theme, "Eyes they leaders. have, but see not." (Query; 3. Through brotherhood to God- Should this not be balanced Indian contribution. with a positive passage instead of resting upon a negative?) The first meeting is entitled, "A Look Forward," this being an introduction to the new offi- cers and a preview of the year's endeavor. Its motif 'is, "No man, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of Heaven." The Council of Women for Home Missions ANNE SEES HOLTZ, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 105 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK WITH THE PEA PICKERS crop is one of the earliest crops Contract labor is used in By EVA BARNES, R. N. of the spring, many come from peas. A man, usually a Mexi- the cotton fields to pick and, as can or Porto Rican, will con- a result, there were about tract with the grower to pkk "Oh, I know her; she's our thirty families whom I knew in his peas. He brings in the peonurse we had while we were in the cotton and about fifteen pIe and pays them and he is cotton," and dark eyes sparkled others who had lived in cotton the "boss." Many contractors in friendly recognition as the camps in the San Joaquin Val- agree to pick peas for several well-known "Chevy" stopped ley, outside of the district in of the growers. This system before a row of twenty or which I had worked. The peo- makes it more difficult to bring twenty-five rather dilapidated pIe were surprised and very the work to the attention of the looking tents pitched on the much 'pleased to find that the grower. The growers with bank 6f a wide ravine down nurse had come to peas also. whom contact was made were which trickled a little stream This gave a certain continuity pleased with what was being of water. While the other chil- to the work started in the fall. done. Another disadvantage is dren looked at the stranger In visiting camps, it was most that the grower feels no rerather curiously and with not a interesting to find friends and sponsibility -for the people who little suspicion, Margarita, who to be welcomed by a friendly he feels belong entirely to the had migrated with her family smile and word of recognition. contractor. The latter feels that in a rickety Ford car some 175 In only one section of a camp he must make as much as posmiles from cotton to peas, were there no familiar faces sible from the people and he jumped upon the running board found. Here a large number of is not so interested in their of the car and exclaimed joy- gypsies of Roumanian-Serbian well-being. This is particularly fully, "We didn't think you'd descent had settled for the crop true this year when everyone come to peas, too, but we're season. To me they were very is trying to "get by" with the sure glad to see you .for my interesting as it was the first least possible expenditure. little brother, Juanito, the one time I had met them. They As the season lasts from four that had the awful burn and were quite distinct from their to six weeks, the camps are you took care of him 'til it was Mexican neighbors in the same only temporary, the people all well, he's got hiedra (poison camp; their brightly colored, bringing their own tents. The oak) and his face all swell up. usually of flowered material, camp site is selected in a level Look, Nurse, it all down by the full, long skirts and consider- space or along a ravine under creek where we go to get water able jewelry served to dif- the trees. The latter location and wood," and she pointed ferentiate thern at a, glance. is cooler and pleasanter, but down into the wide and shady They did not appear to be as poison oak is' found in abunravine where ten or twelve destitute as the Mexican mi- dance. Margarita's brother was other tents were pitched. grants. Their tents were larger not the only one whose "face Due to the fact that only two and made of more durable ma- was all swell up." Some had of the canneries of the Sacra- terial and they had beds and it more, some less. Many were mento Delta District opened the very elaborate bedspreads. The the calls for medicine to soothe early part of April, it was pos- gypsies also had better care. the itching and burning. _sible this spring to open a new They had come from various Many times an extra "room" work in Washington Township parts of California. Most of was built onto the tent from in Southern Alameda County, the adults were American-born. cartons, corrugated tin, old California. This region, which Their native language was pieces of lumber, etc. In some is but a short distance from the Roumanian although they did instances families lived in old San Francisco East Bay Dis- speak English fairly well. At barns which had been made trict, is becoming an increas- first they were inclined to look fairly habitable. It was rather ingly important center for the with a little suspicion on the interesting to find that the pea industry. Here many hun- nurse but when they found she better and more thrifty Mexidreds of acres of hills and low- was their friend and had come . can families who had come lands are planted with peas to help them, they were most from the cotton camps, where which are picked by means of cordial and always ready to they were accustomed to houses, migratory labor. As the pea welcome her. did manage to make enough or [499 ] had saved a little to enable time; my sister catch cold and ing in the peas is a real probthem to rent a house or build- she been very sick in the throat lem. ing which had formerly been since then," the older brother used for a barn or garage, but explained. They had been un- Wages for picking peas have which was better than a tent. able to take her to the doctor decreased greatly in the last For this they paid from five to as they had just arrived that few years .as in other seasonal ten dollars a month. Others paid day and had no money. crops. In some sections in 1930 one dollar a month for the the pickers received one dollar privilege of putting their tent Instructions were left to for a hamper which holds about in the back yard of some pri- make the little sufferer more thirty-two pounds. In 1931 they vate residence. In the regular comfortable and in a few days received thirty-five cents and camps no charge was made. All the swelling subsided and she this year only twenty cents, a camps were inspected by the was much better. few contractors paying only Housing and Immigration Com- eighteen cents. Even at that, mission and the contractors "You bring us more 'papeIi- a fairly good picker could make were forced to make the tos' (little papers) 7" a group from seventy-five cents to one camp conform with state of boys and girls asked conregulations. dollar a day and the com- "LITTLE MOTHERS" bined earnings of the fam- In the section there DOING THE I~AMILY WASHING ily were more than in cotwere about 1,200 people. The majority of these stantly. As some primary Sun- ton. As the work was were Mexicans, but there day school papers were given steady until just about the were a good many Porto out, they were seized eagerly close of the season when Ricans and a few white while one boy assured us they did not pick some American and R u s s ian proudly, "I can read; I in the days at all or for only a fa mil i e s. Eight large high fourth." The papers with few hours, there was not camps were visited regu- brightly colored pictures were the actual destitution and larly and five smaller ones carefully reserved for the sick privation there was in the occasionally, as well as children or for those who had cotton. This was due in many transient families to be "cured" in some way. great part to the weather. living in Decoto. Three Very few of the children went As long as there was hundred and one health and to school. As the season was steady work, they got forty-one other calls were made short, the schools did not want along fairly well and had throughout the season; one hun- them particularly for they dred and thirty-four patients hardly got started when they enough for necessities but little were treated and thirty-eight were gone. Most of the camps for extras. Several told me the were advised. Minor illnesses were about two and one-half children had no shoes and could such as sore throats, sore eyes, miles from the school and in not go to school. There were a colds, toothaches, swollen and in- this state no child can be forced few calls for clothes. flamed glands, intestinal dis- to go to school more than two orders, boils, poison oak and miles if transportation is not As the peas are early in this minor injuries such as cuts and provided. None of the schools section, many of the people miburns, were found and cared for. provided transportation. I fear grate from here to the coast in Skin diseases such as impetigo, that in some of the camps the the vicinity of Half Moon Bay scabies and ring worm, were contractor 'placed his 'camp just and also farther south where prevalent but cleared up under beyond the two-mile limit so he there are late peas. While only proper treatment. There were would not have to send the chil- a small beginning was made in a few cases of pneumonia. dren to school. The atten- this region this year, contact Mothers were advised as to diet dance officer said the children was made with several interfor babies, and pre-natal advice would not be allowed to pick ested groups in nearby cities and literature were given ex- during school hours, but this which will help put the work on pectant mothers. The work was rule was not adhered to. School- a more permanent footing in appreciated by the people and the future and will help to open in practically all cases they gave up new avenues of service in good cooperation. this community. Several friends from Oakland were taken to In one camp a girl was found the camps and their interest was greatly stimulated. There with a bath towel wrapped was fine cooperation between local health centers and local around her neck. She could doctors. Many new friends were scarcely speak due to a severe made and old friends found. and case of tonsilitis. "While we in practically every camp there were coming over the moun- were those whose faces lighted tains, our car break down; it up with pleasure when they was very cold in the night found "La Nurse" had followed them to peas.
W orld·'wide
~,,~~A ~ Miss~ iona~ ry N~ ewsp~ ape~ r of ~ Curr~ ent E~ ven~ ts ~~~ JAPAN-CHOSEN The steady spiritual progress Again have I become the child of an .aching heart Newspaper Evangelism among her people has not re- Four years ago there were six ceived so much attention. Dr. Carrying the burden of Japan's D. C. Holtom, a Baptist mis- crime, centers of newspaper evangel- sionary, reports from Tokyo: Begging pardon of China and of the world ism in Japan; at present there "In the presence of distress at With a shattered soul,- are thirty. Last year more than home, and abroad, the Christian Again am I .a child of sadness.
10,000 men and women, having Church has preserved a steady- Korea Keeps in Step seen the articles or advertise- ing and constructive attitude. There are some 2,600 Presbyments, wrote to inquire more In the face of the stimulation terian congregations in Korea, about Christianity. They came of the military ideal through with 160,000 or more believers. from every prefecture and col- the repercussion on the national ony in the Japanese Empire, mind -of events in Manchuria Since January reports tell of and also from China, Borneo, and Shanghai, the church has churches doubling their memand the South Seas. Many have found opportunity to uphold been baptized and are now as- with a new boldness the idea bership, new groups started, new buildings erected, an excel- lent spirit everywhere, all partsociated with a Christian con- of peace. It has been driven ly the result of the Forward gregation. There are 500 mem- by the financial urge to find Movement initiated last fall. bers of the New Life Society in new and greater resources of The Sunday School Associadirect touch by correspondence the Spirit. The 'Kingdom of with the Tokyo office. Many God Movement,' has brought tion of Korea conducts a Bible the forces of the Gospel aginteresting letters are continual- gressively into contact with Correspondence Course and ly received, telling of changed over 4,000 people have p.aid the equivalent of a day's wages for lives, and the joy of Christian hundreds of thousands of men the New Testament booklet and experience. and women throughout the questions, or two days' wages Helping Japan's Farmers land. It has undertaken a for the Old Testament. Two strong program of training lay hundred and sixty-nine men at- Five years ago Kagawa's first leaders; of re-directing the in- tended the six weeks' Bible In- "Japan Far mer's Gospel ner life through national evan- stitute in Pyengyang, all at gelistic campaigns; of bringing School" was opened. Two hun- both material and spiritual re- their own expense. Women who lief to the hard-pressed rural attend the ten-day Bible classes dred such schools are now be- communities through the pro- walk an average of ten to thirty ing held. The daily program motion of Peasant Gospel miles, some farther. They eat Schools; and of deepening the and sleep all those days in acute begins with flag-raising, to the spiritual life among the Chris- discomfort, but they take back strains of the Kimigayo, fol- into the life of their little counlowed by a hymn and prayer, breakfast dishes, a Bible lecture, and then the demonstra- tian groups themselves through try villages the thrill of the tions of agricultural experts. an intelligent program of Chris- great assembly. Heart to heart talks .on the tian education. In the total na- A magazine, Woman's Opin- tional life of Japan the leader- Christian life have resulted in ship of the Christian Church ion, proves that Korea is no some decisions. One of the stu- has never been more vigorous longer only a man's country. dents wrote: "I am joyfully re- than during the past year." membering and putting in prac- -The Presbyterian. tice what I learned at the – Watchman-Examiner. school. In the evening father, ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC mother, and I sit in the warmth Kagawa's Poem on Japan's of the quilts over the brazier, Attack on China Gains in Malaya The Malaya Annual Confer- and I retell to them what I Toyohiko Kagawa wrote a ence of the Methodist Episcopal heard at the school and wrote poem entitled, "Child of an Church reported last year a net down in my notebook." Aching Heart," at the time of gain of membership of 15.7 per -Congreg(ttionaHst. the Sino-Japanese incident in cent. In the Philippine Islands, Signs of Spiritual Progress Shanghai. The poem was in-' with a decreased missionary ap- cluded in a "Peace Bulletin of propriation and a very small Japan's military adventures the Friends of Jesus" and wide- missionary staff, the reports re- have had much recent publicity. ly distributed: veal a net gain of 5,270 mem- [501 ]
bers. This brings the total sembly room, which seats 600 crisis, to be held in the Chicago members for the Singapore people, is rearranged for Sun- Temple auditorium November Area to 86,000. All the eight day, and a dignified service is 29 to December 2, 1932. This Districts are now led by Fili- made possible. Students and conference will discuss such pino pastors who have rendered faculty have contributed over topics as, The Challenge of the twenty years of constructive $5,000 toward the church of City, The Church in a Democservice. their dreams. racy, The Fight for Righteous- ness and The Church and Co- A Pastor's Courage -Women and Missions. operative Life. Speakers will include Jane Addams, Prof. Ar- The pastor of a large Meth- On the Island of Bali thur E. Holt, Rev. H. P. Dougodist Church on Mindanao, self- lass and Rev. Douglas Thornsupporting for a year, reveals No Christian missions have ton. Each day sessions will be the difficulties and blessings of been permitted on Bali, but devoted to group discussions. the present situation. about a year ago the Dutch This will not solve the city's government granted permission problem. A campaign of pray- For the month of October we have for a resident Chinese mission- er and evangelism is needed received less than $5, although the ary to preach to his own people for the regeneration of the men, spirit of the members to give is still on the island. Some have now women and children of the city. the same, or in some cases still more accepted Christ, among them strong. The amount of their gifts is two young men whose fathers Church Growth gradually decreasing because of the were Chinese and whose mothfinancial crisis. I commit all to the ers were Balinese. These young Statistics for all Churches, mercy and goodness of a loving Fath- men have witnessed to their gathered and published by the er, who is ever present in time of Balinese friends and relatives Christian Herald, gives the totrouble. Personally, I can stand this and ,a considerable number of tal Church membership for adverse situation, but my wife and pure Balinese country folk be- every decade since 1800. This children cannot stand it. There are came deeply interested in the membership has grown more trying moments when the children are Gospel, turned their backs upon rapidly than the population. In sick and we have no money for medi- their age-long belief in Hindu- 1800 reported membership was cine. All we could do in such a time ism, threw down their idols, only 6.5 per cent of the popuwas to pray and our children got well. and declared themselves believ- lation; this ratio in 1860 had The saving grace of Jesus has become ers on Jesus Christ. Twenty- reached 16.6 per cent, and toa living reality to us in our sorest six men and women who have day it stands at 40.1 per cent. need. After all, there are spiritual thus taken their stand have This does not include children lessons to learn in a seemingly trying been baptized. They are among below the age of Church memtemporal situation-to develop one's probably the first of this race bership,. except in the case of faith in God and to teach one to de- to accept Jesus as their saviour. the Roman Catholics, who estipend on God only. Many more are earnest seekers mate the entire Catholic popu- after the truth, possibly one lation. Near half of the Amer- -Missionary Herald. hundred inquirers. The work ican people are professing is spreading from village to Christians. The total gain in Silliman Student Conversions village, and notwithstanding Church membership last year very considerable opposition on was 433,656, apportioned among More than 2,500 have found the part of local Balinese coun- the principal denominations as Christ in Silliman Institute and try officials, these Christians follows: Baptists, 139,526; Luhave dedicated their lives to are becoming more established therans, 49,931; Methodists, Him. They are scattered over and are witnessing wherever 46,225; Presbyterian, 16,676 ; the Islands and in other lands. they go. Roman· Catholics, 15,243. The Thirty-one are in the ministry; Disciples of Christ showed a twenty-three are preparing for -The Pioneer. loss of 4,477, ,and the Congreit. Besides the twenty teaching gationalists of 736. in Silliman, sixteen are teach- NORTH AMERICA ing in other schools where the A Call for Prayer Bible is taught. Two are phy- A City ~hurch Conference sicians and five are nurses in A seri.es of meetings held in mission hospitals; five are in The modern city is the center Philadelphia a few months ago the service of the Y. M. C. A. of vice and lawlessness; it is to consider the great need for Usually the year begins with a also the place of great need and a spiritual revival resulted in third of the 900 students al- of great religious activity. The the adoption of the following ready evangelical Christians committee on the City and New "Call to Prayer" : and ends with about half the Americans of the Home Misstudent body as church mem- sions Council and the Council Great evils have come upon us bebers. of Women for Home Missions cause we have forgotten God. . is arranging for an interdenom- For thirty years Silliman has inational conference on the city Evil times are upon us, but it may had no church building-a seri- and the church in the present please God to send revival, since He ous handicap, for it is difficult says, "If my people which are called to create a worshipful atmosphere on Sunday morning in a room where everything suggests the secular associations of the week. To offset this the as-
OUR WORLD-WIDE,9UTLOOK
by My name shall humble themselves, day school to set apart some Japanese Woman's Home and p,ray and seek My face, and turn of the farm land, or certain In and around Seattle there from their wicked way: then will I farm animals, and at the har- are about 8,000 Japanese, of hear from Heaven, and will forgive vest season sell the produce or whom more than 1,000 are their sin and heal their land" (2 the animals and give the pro- Christians, and 400 are mem- ceeds to the church. Those who bers of the Baptist Church. The Chron.7:14). have been in the plan state that Japanese Woman's Home, the There is a bankruptcy of hum,an it has three outstanding results: oldest Christian center in this first, that contributions have area, has three departments : leadership in all fields. The situation been increasing; second, that it church, kindergarten and womin the world is desperate and beyond provides training in stewardthe control of men. It may grow worse ship; third, that there are val- an's home. rapidly unless there is supernatural uable spiritual results – that Bible reading and hymn sing- people acquire new attitudes tointervention. ward. the earth and are striving ing is carried on in Japanese The supreme need of the hour is a more zealously to make it holy. homes, with Japanest men and women as co-workers, testifyg?-"eat spiritual awakening like the re- -Watchman-Examiner. ing, praying, and doing acts of vlVal under the Wesleys in the Eight- kindness for Christ's sake with McBeth Mission Closes the joy of service shining in eenth century which saved England from the horrors of the French Revo- their faces. lution. Such movements have ,always been prepared by a widespread force of prayer, as in the thousands of prayer groups that were formed in Wesley's time.
We therefore earnestly appeal to Christians everywhere to forsake their sins and to return to the sim- Mis,S Mary Margaret Craw- Western Canada's Children plicity of Bible faith. We appeal to Christians individually to pr,ay more ford, known to her friends as Over 8,000 children are enearnestly for revival within the rolled in the Bible Memory Con- Church, and to form prayer groups "Miss Maizie," after 33 years test operated in four provinces for united intercession. in rural Western Canada by the on the field in McBeth Mission Canadian Sunday School Mis- We suggest the following to meet for Nez Per~e Indians at Lap- sion of Winnipeg. In one place the nearest church is 135 miles the special needs of the various classes wai, Idaho, has retired. As the away. This mission has over a of each community: hundred Sunday schools in ru- whole faculty of a theological ral communities where a few 1. Groups of women, meeting in years ago there were none. Last one and another's homes, daily or seminary for Nez Per~es, summer they held 76 summer weekly, at some convenient hour dur- Makahs, and Spokanes, Miss schools of two-week periods where many children accepted ing the day. Crawford has borne the respon- Christ as their Saviour. Boys 2. Cottage prayer meetings in sibility of training Indian ap- and girls who have memorized homes in the evening to be held each Scripture in the contests for week. plicants for the ministry since two years are eligible for a 1915, when her aunt, Miss Kate Bible Correspondence Course of 3. Weekly prayer meetings for 52 lessons, with questions to be McBeth, died and left the answered and returned for coryoung people. rection. Radio evangelism each Sunday from November to 4. Daily or weekly pr,ayer meetings unique work in her niece's April is another ministry of for business men at the noon-hour in the center of the city. hands. In addition to this she the mission. Also, summer carried on a many-sided com- camps for children and ~or ru- 5. Prayer group,s of ministers and ral school teachers. A total of church officers on Saturday night; and munity program which included 80 workers were engaged last of ministers with each other. year, most of them volunteers. religious work in the govern- Christians are asked to pray ment tuberculosis sanitorium, and work for the formation of courses in domestic arts and thousands of small groups, not sciences and music, and instrucwaiting to be invited, but tak- tion of Indian communities in ing the initiative. When the , politics and citizenship. spiritual movement comes then McBeth mission, including the spiritual, social and finan- the seminary for the training cial distress of our day will be of Nez Per~e, Makah and Spokhealed. . ane Indians, will be closed this Send the name and address of one member summer. This action was takof a prayer group to the Great Commission en by the Board of National Prayer League, 808 North LaSalle Street, Chi- Missions of the Presbyterian cago.
Lord's Acre Movement Church in the belief that the LATIN AMERICA Nez Per<;e Indians have out- Seventy churches, represent- grown "the milk of the Gos- Cause for Optimism ing seven religious bodies in pel," as Paul puts it, and as western North Carolina, are co- Christians are ready for as- The Rev. G. A. Riggs writes operating this year in' the sum p t ion of .responsibilities in a recent Watchman-Exam- "Lord's Acre Movement." The that are at once the obligation iner: plan, originated several years and the privilege of maturity. Baptist work in Puerto Rico conago by the Baptists of Georgia, The six Nez Per~e churches" tinues to prosper. In spite of the crowded condition of our buildings, is being promoted by the Farm- under Board of National Mis- our Sunday schools not only hold their sions are pastored by six fine attendance, but increase. For more ers Federation. The churches Indian ministers, trained in the than a month the average attendance cooperating asked each member seminary. of the church and of the Sun- of the Rio Piedras Sunday school has
been well ahove 500; with about as Evangelical Influence is pioneering among Indians in many more in Barrio Sunday school, the Beni region and preaching for which this church is responsible. Of the twenty republics con- and distributing the Scriptures In most of our churches there is op- stituting what is known as Lat- throughout Bolivia. The Irish timism and enthusiasm in spite of the in America, not one is without Baptist Foreign Mission workpinch of poverty and reduced pay- evangelical schools. In most ing at Rosario, a city of half a ments on pastors' salaries. Enforced cases, their students have come million people in the Argentine, lowered appropriations fr.om the Home from social strata not reached has planted six vi go r 0 u s Mission Society has left six of our by the evangelistic arm of the churches. Fifty were recently smaller churches pastorless, but in all missions, but they have been a baptized. The mission is piobut one case the work goes forward. silent, persistent force for neering into Southern Peru, righteousness, the Bible and its where the scattered people can Progressive Women teachings have been exalted in only be reached by continual the lives of their Christian evangelism. The Inland South Puerto Rican women are im- teachers, and untold thousands America Missionary Union is porta}:,!. .factors in the religious of young men and women have reaching Indians and others by life of<t~ 1::. island. Although learned of Christ and have tried means of a launch in Iquitos they lead~ery busy lives they to follow him in their own lives. district, Peru, also the Bororo find time to visit the sick and Indians, Brazil, and those at needy, to carry to them spirit- A testimonial to Mackenzie San Roque, Argentine. The Salual comfort, cheer and practical College in Sao Paulo, Brazil, vation Army has decided to help, as funds permit. A proj- written by a Latin American, send a mission to work among ect now in process of develop- might well be said of other the ticket-of-leave men at the ment by the women is that of evangelical schools: French convict settlements in doing something to give to the French Guiana, Ile Royale, Ile needy aged in Puerto Rico their A great change has c.ome over us St. Joseph and Devil's Island. proper place and care. In some in Sao Paulo. We have found that 4,000 convicts are here engaged places school children are to be religious thought is perfectly com- in hard labor in lumber camps. asked to each give one penny patible with scientific thought. You The Union Seminanr at Buenos for starting a fund, which may people at Mackenzie do not parade Aires, the Training Center at lead to the establishment of a your religion, but you have it, .and Azul, Argentine-in the joint home for these unfortunates. make it felt, and stand for it on any interests of the Evangelical suitable occasion; and you are doing Union of South America, and Temperance programs have the best scientific training that is be- the Christian and Missionary formed another part of the ing done in Brazil today. Weare Alliance of America-and the women's responsibility, and a convinced that incompatibility of sci- Training College of the Latin civic organization known as entific thought is with a certain type American Evangelization Cam- Mujeres Votantes (V 0 tin g of religious thought, and not neces- paign in Costa Rica, are doing Women) is doing much to pre- sarily with Christianity. You can this work of training. pare women for their coming safely say to any intelligent audience responsibility of suffrage by in Sao Paulo today that God the Creholding night schools to reduce ator is the Governor from whom, by the illiteracy which debars whom and to whom all things pertain, Puerto Rican women from vot- without exciting a sneer on the part ing.-Women and Missions. of the thoughtful men.
Adverse Situation in Mexico -Presbyterian Banner.
Mexico's measures to curb re- Cooperation in Latin America EUROPE ligious bigotry are becoming more drastic. While not direct- Coordination of evangelical British Methodist Union ed against Protestant missions, these .are suffering the conse- forces in Latin America in or-. The Wesleyan Methodists, the quences of the struggle. No der to evangelize untouched re- Primitive Methodists and the Bible study may now be con- gions is being promoted by the United Methodists, the three ducted in school, no minister, Latin American Fellowship. A largest bodies of the Methodist either Mexican or American, conference representing work in name in Great Britain, have may teach any religious subject, Spain and Portugal, and its re- formed a plan of union to go and not even grace may be lated activities in Latin Amer- into effect on September 20. asked at meals. According to ica, will contribute to the gen- Representatives of the three the Mexican Constitution all er:al scheme of coordination. bodies will meet in Albert Hall real estate owned by any relig- The Evangelical Union of South and declare the three churches ious organization becomes at America is seeking to put all its to be one, the terms and condionce the property of the government. A new law in Mexico work on an indigenous basis, tions of the union having al- City and its vicinity prohibits anyone from preaching in and pioneer efforts in Argen- ready been approved by the remore than one locality. -Record of Christian Work. tine and in the Sao Francisco spective Conferences. The united Valley in Brazil will apply and church will be the largest Non- develop these principles. Re- conformist communion in Great markable meetings and many Britain.
conversions followed weeks of On doctrinal standards, no special prayer at Sao Paulo, change is admitted, but the Act Brazil. of Parliament under which the The Bolivian Indian Mission union is authorized empowers
OUR WORLD-WID~..oUTLOOK
the new church to change its A mer i can Congregational their pastors. Beggars are co.nstitution to meet changing churches and missio.n stations, tramping from village to vil- conditions, sho.uld that be neces- and in Bulgaria forty churches lage. Along the Volga the cases sary. There is every indication and mission stations with a to.- of death by starvation increase.
that the union will be affected tal membership of 5,000, and Men, who are compelled to de- witho.ut the loss o.f a single 3,000 children in the Sunday vour the carcasses of fallen ani- church or minister. schools. A revival of these mals, have nothing to offer pas- The German National Church churches would bless 650,000 tors. Moslems in Bulgaria. In Al- There is also a dearth of The German Evangelical Lu- bania, Kortcha is of prime imtheran Church, with its 40,000,- houses. Pastors are compelled 000 members, is the largest portance, where the American to ask for shelter of any colsingle Pro.testant church gro.up. onist who. will grant it. Most Thro.ugh -all the succeeding po.- Mission is at work. An evanlitical and so.cial upheavals it gelical revival here, in view of men are afraid of ' .lg exhas remained substantially in- the present impressionable con- cluded from the Cok. ~~IVe or o.f tact. Furthermo.re, by forming sharing the fate of the exiled an "Evangelical Church Feder- ditio.n of Albania, would reach kulaks. In many instances a ation" it is endowed with more than half a million Mos- pastor must leave in order to avoid bringing further persecu- lems-half the entire popula- tion. In northern Albania there tion upon those who have be- are 169,000 Greek Orthodox strengthened resistance to anti- Christians and in the south friended him. religio.us currents, of which 118,000 Roman Catholics, but there has been no. lack. Most they have no evangelizing initia- Evangelical Conference in Spain dangerous and comprehensive is tive. Friendly relations be- Convened by the Evangelical at present the mo.vement of the tween Turkey and Greece are Spanish Alliance, the Confer- Go.dless which hand in hand drawing together Serbs, Bul- ence of Evangelical Churches with socialistic communism is garians and Rumanians. being pro.mulgated by Russia in took place in Madrid from May every po.ssible way. In the face 3 to 4. This conference was of this, tbe Go.spel is making itself felt. Home Missions, with Church News from Russia composed of representatives of their hundreds of ho.spitals, the According to the Evangelical practically all the Protestant Pressedienst, the evangelical denominations in Spain. Matters under consideration tens of thousands of deacons churches are fighting for their referred to the project of the and deaco.nesses are carrying life in Russia. The Lutheran law governing confessions and on their services o.f mercy. Fo.r- Church has a seminary in Len- religious congregations that are eign Missio.ns have no.t o.nly re- ingrad from which twelve to to be presented to the Cortes sumed work since the War, they fifteen young men were to grad- Constituyentes. have continued without serio.us uate in June. This seems to Various propositions w ere curtailment. give promise for the future but, made to give unity to all the As to spiritual vitality, the under the pressure of the ter- forces of Evangelical Christiandisappearance o.f a number o.f rorism which has been going ity in Spain. There was manischo.ols of tho.ught, such as His- on for years, church life is fested a tendency to group not to.ricism, Biblicism, Psycho.log- threatened even more than merely under the name of a ism, has been fo.llo.wed by a under the violent measures in federation, but under that of a genuine Luther Renaissance. In force hereto.fore. church which shall be known as the front line, there stands the Death and banishment have "The Evangelical Church of Schoo.l o.f "Dialectic Theo.logy," reduced the number of Luthunder the leadership of Karl eran pastors to forty. These Spain." The Conference elected five Barth. Its aim is to. regain a are divided over the colonies persons to constitute a provicentral position for the great along the Volga, the Ukraine, sional executive committee of o.bjective facts o.f the salvation, Caucasia, and the congregations the above-named church. This the redemptio.n of the world in the cities-a terribly small committee has already begun wro.ught by the incarnation of number. Thirty pastors and the preliminary work on the the Godhead, as applied to theo- leaders of congregations are important task. logical and ecclesiastical work. pining away in prisons or are -Espana Evangelica.
JULIUS RICHTER, Berlin. worked to death in the lumber camps of Siberia – a living Strengthening Lines in Balkans death. AFRICA Anti-Missionary Agitation The strengthening of evan- It is very difficult to place gelical religion in the Balkans young graduates. Only two or _ A storm of fanatical opposi- at the present juncture of af- three of the congregations are tion to Christianity has swept fairs is extremely important as in a position to receive pasto.rs over E gyp t the past few a means of appro.ach to the because of poverty. Many vil- mo.nths. It centered abo.ut a numerous Moslem populations. lages are utterly unable to pro- young man who became inter- In Czechoslovakia there are 132 vide even a bit of bread for ested in Christianity while at
the American University, Cairo. Rebuilding An Important Post Men, women, and children shouting, scuffling, reeking with rancid palm oil Subsequently he attended a In Abyssinia, the present -this unsavory mass of misery kin g has returned to the thrusts knives, spe,ars, dead fish, an- Bible School, and being over Church Missions to the Jews cient meat, live chickens· or ducks as eighteen years of age, and le- the fine old mission station of presents to the medical boy assistants gally entitled to think for him- Kobela, which was devastated in the hope of immediate treatment. during the Abyssinian cam- After relative quiet and order was self, he became a convinced paign under King Theodore in attained by the huge, black engineer Christian. His father, a big- 1863. For many years it has Ekeba and his wood carriers, the served as a chief rallying post women were first examined, their oted Moslem sheikh, and, more- for brigands. Although the names and tribes being registered and over, a notable magician, whom walls of the huts have tumbled their fees taken. Then c.ame the men's down, and the place is over- turn. At one .0'c1ock the medical boys, even highly educated men fear, grown with shrubs and thorns, utterly weary, covered with dirt, palm immediately appealed to the po- the missionaries are planning to oil, and worse, returned to the Oregon lice, ·t,o arrested the boy. The rebuild slowly this important to snatch sleep until 5 a. m. when they case w< brought into court, center for work among the would go ashore to give the treatand the boy was eventually Falasha Jews. ments. The injections were made at handed back for "protection" to the rate of one every two minutes or, -Alliance Weekly. for both boys, sixty an hour. They his father. worked quietly, never slackening in This incident was immedi- spite of growing weariness.
ately taken up and enlarged This treatment is so effective upon by the Arabic press, and bitter attacks upon mission work in general ensued. Reso- New Openings in Nigeria that the infective stage has allutions were drawn requiring most entirely disappeared from active propaganda for the faith Nsukka in the Niger Diocese the radius of the Bolenge hos- (Islam), to launch a virulent was the last district of the Ibo pital. Cases which appear are Arabic press campaign, to stim- tribe to remain unevangelized. from a distance. It is interestulate the circulation of anti- Bishop Lasbrey, of the C. M. S., ing to learn that practically all missionary literature, and to went there for the first time in the work of this hospital, save stir the government against 1930 and found a large pagan where white people are under mission schools and missionary population and a sprinkling of treatment, is done by native as" activity in general. However, Moslems. Some of the older sistants, the doctor keeping in missionaries rep 0 r t a wide- Ibo congregations on hearing the background as instructor spread spirit of inquiry among of the need raised £150 for mis- and counselor. Some forty-four sionary effort, and teachers thousand treatments are given enlightened Moslems.
were sent to five or six towns. annually.
New Y. M. C. A. in Assiut In January, four new stations Dr. J. Quay, an American were opened in hitherto un- Forward in Central Africa Y. M. C. A. secretary in Egypt, touched villages. Some churches Vigorous for war d action writes of the new Assiut Y. M. have had to be enlarged and a marks the work of the Africa C. A. building and grounds: large number of inquirers have Inland Mission. New station sites now secured in the Bel- "Nine years ago thirteen been enrolled. Ibo Christians gian Congo permit an advance young Egyptians decided they have provided funds for two among 100,000 or even half a ought to found a modern Y. M. teachers in the Nsukka area, million Azande people and will C. A. Most of the thirteen are while the Awka church has pro-· facilitate the evangelization of still in Assiut and prominent in vided £20 for the present year 40,000 in the Ruwenzori area. business, official or professional and £20 for 1933, to support The Pygmies in the Belgian life. They form the backbone another teacher.
of the Committee of Manage- Medical Ministry on the Congo Equatorial forest are also being ment. There is an acre and a taught. Tanganyika Territory half of land in the very heart The Disciples Mission in the reports great encouragement of the growing residential sec- Congo has a steamer, the "Ore- from the stations at Mwanza tion of the city. The new build- gon," whose ministry is the in- and Buduke, which were opened ing has an auditorium, smaller jection of Neosalvarsan for last year. Tanganyika has prorooms for office, library, dis- yaws and syphilis at points all duced a gifted African transcussion rooms, billiards, ping along the river Ubangi, tribu~ lator who has already finished pong and cafe. It cost $22,500 tary of the Congo. The ap- Genesis and Exodus in the Kesiand every cent of it was raised pearance of the boat is the sig- kumu language which have in Assiut. Current operating nal for announcing by drum, to been printed at the mission expenses have come too from the people along the river and press. Tabora, largest town in Egyptian sources, and all in the in .the interior that an oppor- Tanganyika, is to have a Mo-: midst of terrible financial de- tunity is at hand for ridding ravian church, composed of conpression. The founders say they themselves of these terrible verted heathen. In Kenya, fol-: are now ready to do something scourges. The Congo Mission lowing a second survey of unconstructive. News pictures the scene: reached tribes, work is under
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
way, with native Nandi and ly to a positive Christian ap- Easter and Whitsunday and the Kamasia Christians assisting. A proach to Jews and Moham- days of St. Chrysostomus and bill to amend the native mar- medans. riage ordinance is before the Saint Barbara. Among their sacred books they enumerate Kenya Legislature. African United Jewish Missionary Con- the Torah, the Psalter, the Goswomen wedded according to na- pel of Christ and the Koran. tive custom may have Christian ference They have never been on good marriage, and thereby they ob- A United Jewish Missionary terms with the orthodox Mostain the status of legal majority Conference of Palestine, was lems and of late have shown' and cease to be chattels. A held on Mount Carmel, April much friendliness to the Chris- Christian widow, not her pagan 20-22, 1932, and the following tians living in their country.
relatives, will have custody of recommendations were made: Recently a deputation of Alaher children. The intention is Literature: That a Literature Com- uites appeared among the Cathto preserve the Christian moth- mittee be appointed to produce litera- olic Sisters of the Sacred Heart er's influence over her children. ture suitable for indifferent and The Depression in Africa agnostic Jews, and also for young peo- of Jesus and Mary at Safita and asked to join the Christian ple. The Chairman conveyed an of- faith. This visit resulted in a fer from the S. P. C. K. Council to The depression has reached consider any applications for help that movement toward the Catholic the heart of Africa. Unemploy- faith and a number of vilment is a great and bitter prob- might be submitted to them from the lages have already become Cathlem not only in this country, U.J. M. C. olic. but in the huts of Katanga -Die-Katholischen Missionen. Province, Belgian Congo. Dr. Methods of Approach: The question John M. Springer, writing un- as to whether evangelistic work is Missionary Cooperation more productive of spiritual results than institutional work was discussed and the Conference decided that each was obviously complementary to th~ der date of April 7, 1932, says other. American Board work in Turthat in that mining district The presentation of the simple Gos- key began in 1819, with the "the natives had become quite original purpose of helping all accustomed to the industrial pel message by lip and life was ad- races in that country. More and town life, to good wages, v,ocated as the most sure method of and more it has concentrated and, for them, high living, when approach to every class of Jew, al- upon the Armenians and Greeks, suddenly the tide turned and though it was pointed out that a resulting in a strong, evangeli:- the urban population of whites knowledge of Jewish literature, his- cal church. Oppressive politiand natives has been dimin- tory .and language was an invaluable cal conditions caused many of ished by more than half. Many equipment for the Jewish missionary. the leaders to migrate to Amerthousands of natives have been Tribute was paid to the work of J ew- ica, where they have formed sent back to their villages; the ish missionaries in the past and then, Armenian – speaking churches. wages for all remaining are as now, it was recognized that the Some twenty years ago the greatly reduced, and many only means of winning a Jew was Armenian Missionary Associaskilled and once highly-paid na- by the way of friendship and love, tion of America was formed, tives have no income what- and it w.as suggested that prayer, the its purpose being to further ever." Could anything show greatest of all methods, had not yet missionary activities among the more plainly that the world is been tried to the full. Armenians scattered in every one, and that we dwellers here, whatever our color, location, or Alauites Giving Up Islam land. job, live a common life? About six years ago leaders North of the Lebanon is the -Christian Advoc,ate. state of the Alauites, one of the in the Armenian Missionary four mandatory regions of Association of America sug- French sovereignty in Syria. In a r 0 ugh mountain district, reaching as far as the border of New Turkey, 200,000 people gested the p 0 s sib iIi t y of live under the rule of their strengthening the whole work WESTERN ASIA sheikhs and subsist by tending through closer cooperation with their flocks and farming their the American Board. This was Y. W. C. A. in Haifa A new branch of the Y. W. land. brought about by forming, in C. A. has just been opened in They are known as a Mo- 1927, the Executive Council of Haifa, Palestine. The branch hammedan sect, a branch of the Armenian Missions, made up of includes a hostel, club room fa- Shiites, the followers of Ali, the representatives of the Armecilities, offices and an employ- son-in-law of Mohammed. Their nian Missionary Association of ment bureau. This center in religion is a curious mixture of America and the American Haifa where there are so many pagan, Mohammedan and Chris- Board, thus creating a unique girls of Jewish, Mohammedan tian elements. They think they form of missionary cooperation. and Christian faiths can render are descendants of the Cru-' Armenian Protestant churches a unique service in revealing saders and celebrate mass at in America number only thirtythe true Christian spirit to all night, offering wine and incense five, of which only eight are girls served and, in so doing, and calling upon the name of self-supporting. will be able to contribute great- Jesus. They observe Christmas, -Congregationalist.
Youth Service in Isfahan ~ional ~sset of which they must take I went there twenty-five years ago. mcreasmg account in the building of A Youth Service was organ- the new India. Today there are over ten times that number, 83,000 Christians. When I ized last winter in Isfahan by young converts who invited Twenty-five years ago Dr. left the District thirteen years ago young people to come and hear Mott addressed the students at young speakers tell what Christ Allahabad for four days with- there was scarcely a caste Christian •had done for them. Persian out daring to mention the name in it. Now, the outstanding feature .. hymns were sung to Persian of Christ. On the last day at of our work there is this incoming of tunes and the four addresses the close of his address' he the caste people. were by Armenians and con- spoke of Christ; within five verts from Islam, all connected minutes the hall was empty. At I am fully persuaded, after seeing with Stuart Memorial College. Agra, Dr. Jones spoke in a The meeting was an effort to cro~de.d hal~, night after night, hundreds of these caste people and link the college more closely begmnmg WIth Christ and talk- baptizing many of them that two wit~ ~he church. A group of main m.otives explain the'movement. ChnstIan young women said ing of nothing else, yet the peo- The religion of their fathers no long- that they, too, would welcome ple crowded in, listened for er grips them; their gods are not an opportunity to witness for hours and seemed loathe to go. merely dead, they have become ri- Christ. Near the close of the meetings in every place it was asked diculous; no Indian can remain long Life Among the Loors that only those come who really without a God to worship. Here comes wanted to find God, and the in the second motive. As one man put it: "I have seen for years the children halls were filled, as before. of your outc.aste villages laughing and Dr. Jones· observes more happy. Because we have seen what skepticism than in all his pre- Christianity can do with the people vious 25 years in India-honest that Hinduism has no use for, we skepticism, which acts as a come to you. We want a religion purgative from superstition. In- that can make good people .out of bad dia is intent on the intense quest people." for some new power to remould -Dnyanodaya. Dr. Joseph W. Cook, Presby- character. Hindu Christians terian missionary at Htyapmhuasdain~ Persia, who died of An S. P. G. missionary writes of a sect called Hindu Chris- January, 1932, wrote for the tians, and a conversation he had held with one of their lead- Presbyterian Magazine an ac- ers. "I have never before had the opportunity for such a free count of a trip he made to Looristan, a place practically blank on even the best maps of Persia. Its people are earnest Mohammedans according to A Triumph of Christian Living discussion, and to know how their lights, living under most The 1931 census report of this sect has developed. They primitive conditions. Modern 12,000 new disciples of Christ accept the whole of our Bible every month for the past ten but keep their form of worship education and modern medicine years shows the triumph of to what it was in our Lord's Christ-like I i v i n g . In the time. Hence they keep the Passhave never touched them. One Andhra territory of the Telugu over, Feast of Tabernacles, the country there have been well Sabbath. They are building small grade school in a district over 22,000 caste people led to themselves a new place of wor- become disciples of Christ dur- ship, on the lines of the Temple of 75,000 people is the only ing the past five years, and an at Jerusalem. They have a very observer explains that the chief strict discipline among themeducational facility. TdhireecLtoodres~ factor in winning caste people selves, and open and individual like the Kurds, are is what Christianity has done confession is made in the pres- scendants of the ancient Medes.
Sheep, cattle and chickens share the tents with people. Women ma~ry at eight or ten, lose four babIes for everyone that lives.
INDIA AND BURMA for the outcasts. The Wesleyan ence of the congregation. They Mission in Hyderabad reports: tithe absolutely all their posses- "In spite of the bitterest per- sions and income, hence they India in Transition are very rich. Excommunica- secution there is no sign of the tion is practised, and it is a real After a series of evangelistic movement abating. . . We re- discipline. Baptism is adminis- joice to record 7,234 caste bap- tered after a person is eighteen meetings, Dr. E. Stanley Jones tisms since the first fourteen writes in The Indian Witness: This has been by far the best year were baptised. . . 1,400 in the years of age. They have twelve I have ever sp~nt in India, though past year… The bitter enmity elders, and by lot one is chosen by all outward SIgnS this should have to administer baptism, another been otherwise. F.or the first time I of many of the village headmen felt that I was dealing with real is- and wealthy landowners has the Last Supper, another to sues and that India was ready to face preach, and another to read the them with me. There has been that been a terrible test for many of Scripture. These hold the office sense of facing things together. The the new converts. . ." for lifetime, and are also excoming possibility of self-government The Rev. G. E. Hickman has sobered India. She is not now Johnson, after a few years' ab- pected to be teachers, for which merely taking the role of the critic they are paid. They do no she is beginning to take account of sence from Hyderabad, his for- evangelistic work. Their wom- mer field of labor, writes: en only marry one of themher resources with which she has to face the future. Men are now be- Eight thousand was the number of ginning to feel that Christ is a na- Christians in Hyderabad State when selves, but men marry outside,
and the woman is admitted to ment and exiled to Ratnagiri. for his circle of from fifteen to the community." Being a Chitpavan Brahman, twenty villages which he visits -The Mission Field. the highest of the high, he soon regularly from month to month. Hindu-Moslem Riots became the religious leader of The church membership list in Rioting between Hindus and Ratnagiri. About two years this field has now passed the Moslems is not an everyday oc- ago this man began a move- 5,000 mark with the addition of currence in India. In most places in India where the fol- ment to inaugurate intercaste the 422 reported this year. This lowers of the two religions live dining. He made a dinner and growth is gratifying to all. close together the happiest of invited members of the differ- friends of foreign missions in– relationships exist, and no riots are ever known to have oc- ent castes, outcastes, Moham- South India. curred. This fact is lost sight of by people in other lands medans and others to dine with – Watchman-Examiner. when the newspapers report on him. Many from the different the outbreak of a rioting in some one place, and they imag- castes accepted the invitation, Evangelism in South India ine that all over India there is some sort of civil war going on and Brahmans, outcastes and Evangelism has had a sucbetween the Hindus and Mos- others sat down and dined to- cessful year in South India lems. where with two exceptions the gether. It was decided to make largest ingathering in the his- Church Union Movement it a monthly affair, and for tory of the Baptist mission is some five months, the group recorded. Typical of many re- The Church Union Movement ports is that of the veteran has taken one step further by came together and dined, with- missionary, Rev. W. A. Stanton, the "general assent" given to of Kurnool, who writes: the South India Scheme of Un- out any caste restrictions. This ion, by the General Council of seemed to be a remarkable for- In November the people in one of the Church of India, Burma the largest Madira hamlets on this and Ceylon, formerly known as ward step. After five of these field with more than 100 houses sent the Church of England in In- dinners, a list giving the names word that they wanted to become dia. The scheme will now be of the Brahmans who had inforwarded to the Diocesan Councils (constituent bodies of terdined, was published in a lothe General Council) for dis- cal paper. Some months later cussion and report. If the scheme is not modified mate- we read in a local paper of the Christians. For more than thirty rially, this Church will be ready annual visit of the Chief Priest years we had preached the Gospel in to act in 1935, provided the of Hinduism for the territory, that village, but the hearts of the other two negotiating Churches who has to do especially with people were as hard as the stones of also make up their minds finally. The United Church will the purity of Hindui~m. He old Kurnool. We sent a preacher and accept the Episcopal form of called the interdining Brah- finally went and spent two days church government, without mans before him and notified among them, having the great joy of subscribing to any theory of them that they had been exepiscopacy. The conscience of baptizing thirty-two people. Further North India is also being report comes that the whole palem is stirred and conferences and now ready for baptism. There seems committees on church union are the order of the day, but the communicated and in order to to be a wide-spread awakening among movement there will mark time the outcastes on this field. In one viluntil the issue is settled in return to Hinduism they would lage twenty miles from Kurnool nine South India. be required to perform praya- converts had returned to their homes schit, atonement, or forever re- Intercaste Dining and had started a school, called a main outcastes. As no one was teacher from another village to show "About eight years ago," them what to do, and were rebuilding writes Rev. A. L. Wiley of the willing to remain outside of the ruined walls of an old house for Presbyterian Mission, "a man a church. When the missionaries arwho had been convicted of po- Hinduism, the s e Brahmans, rived they proudly showed what they litical murder and sentenced to among them lawyers, doctors, life imprisonment, was released after sixteen years imprison- business men, etc., came for- had done and reported thirteen of' ward and performed prayaschit, their neighbors ready for baptism.
which means that each, in turn, The Will to Do in Burma ate a mixture made up of the In spite of distressing eco- five products of the cow." nomic conditions the Karen peo- Preaching Band ple are supporting their work, though on a reduced scale, of Ninety-one villages were vis- course. We have fourteen acres ited by Dr. W. A. Stanton and of land for the school com- his band of faithful preachers pound, and we are getting it on tour early this year. The cleared of the jungle growth.
Kurnool field, South India, cov- The churches are apportioning ers a territory three times the the work bringing lime, sand, size of Rhode Island, and has pebbles for concrete, timber for a population of more than 400,- roofs, floors and interior walls.
000. The band traveled 500 These are all contributions miles and preached to thou- , from individuals and churches.
sands of Sudras, who gave Some will send men to give eager and attentive hearing. free labor. One or two men Every pastor in this area is an have promised to send ele- evangelist, and is responsible phants to help pull out the
stumps when they have been condemn the scourge of war but .ac- practice. In eight years not a undercut. How really happy the tively to support the movement for people are in this planning! the outlawry of war that the relations single doctor for the district of of men may be builded upon other and Shanghai. So much to do. So C. L. KLEIN, Schwegyin. more secure foundations. very few to do it. So very few – Watchman-Examiner. In the political world the founda- willing to make the venture for Baptist Assembly at Maymayo tions of security are the rule of law and the sanctity of covenants, of Christ's sake. Where is the an- The Burma Baptist Assem- which warlike acts are the negation. swer? (Rev.) HOLLIS S. SMITH, In the spiritual world the foundations Changshu, Kiangsu.
of peace are living stones, men of Many Opportunities bly at Maymayo this year was sincerity and good will who will make the machinery of law and treaties more completely in charge of work. We invite all who read these The suffering in China has Burman and Karen leaders than words to join us in turning to the influenced more people to atever before. One new feature cr,oss of Christ, that we may be for- given Jor all our pride and folly and tend Church and to turn to rewas the introduction of a course inspired to follow in His steps, and in ligion as a means of comdesigned to help teachers who llnceasing prayer and effort at what- fort. Though services are not are responsible for Bible teach- ever cost to maintain .and strengthen ing in the schools. About 60 the foundations of security and peace. crowded, there is a considerable received this special training. Other efforts are being made A Friendlier Spirit increase in attendance over last both at the college and at Ran- year. Anti-Christian feeling goon to raise the standard of "One of the most significant religious' education, to make the achievements of the past year does not seem to exist, or at experience of Christ by men of has been the bringing about of least it is entirely submerged twenty centuries real to the closer relationships and coop- for the present. younger Christians. About 200 eration between the Christian delegates were in attendance at Student Movement and our Truth Hall, a Presbyterian the Assembly. Church," writes Rev. A. R. Kep- ler, missionary at Shanghai, mission school which is regis- -Paul Braisted. China. Three years ago the tered with the Chinese govern- ment, has so many students that it is necessary to hold as- sembly out of doors. Large numbers of lay workers in the Siam Situation slogan of the Christian Student churches are spending a great Movement was "Exalt Christ! deal of time in voluntary evan- The Presbyterian Missiona- Down with the Church!" At a gelistic work. More than 5,000 ries have always enjoyed the recent national conference of people at a country fair, confriendly cooperation of the the Christian Student Move- ducted by Christian workers, royal house of Siam. The late ment at Peiping, the prevailing heard the Gospel message. king, in his earlier days, gave purpose was "Cooperation with his own title to the mission col- the Church!" An Active Christian Lawyer lege at Chiengmai, naming it Is the Church Short of Faith? ·Dr. Sherwood Eddy in em- ' the Prince Royal's College. The phasizing that Christianity is present king attended the exer- I am well aware that the China's only hope, tells in the cises celebrating the centennial Church is short of money. No Missionary Herald of a Chrisof Christian work in Siam in one knows that better than the tian lawyer, Mr. Gong, who 1928 and spoke appreciatively mISSIOnary. But is the Church has personally won forty-two and encouragingly of it. In ad- short of faith? In spite of our friends to accept Christ. Durdition, their majesties have troubles here in China, and ing a week of meetings in Foomade gifts of money to the they are many, there never was chow, attended by 4,000 stu- Presbyterian Mission in Siam, a greater opportunity to bring dents a day, Mr. Gong, with in recognition of what is being these people to Christ. Sick at the consent of judges and feldone for their subjects. he art, disillusioned, harried low lawyers, called off all his CHINA from pillar to post by famine, law cases for the week, giving floods, and war, with no hope or his entire time to the meetings. National Christian Council faith in anything, these peo- To one single meeting he ple are only waiting for the brought fifty lawyers. During Denounces War Great Deliverer. the week he brought three hun- Dr. C. Y. Cheng, General Our seminaries at home are dred different persons. He or- Secretary of the National Chris~ ganized a body of eight huntian Council of China has is- crowded with students for the sued a significant statement to ministry-yet no ministers for dred Christian personal workthe National Christian Councils the preaching of Christ's salva- ers to invite men to the meetin other lands concerning war. ings and to speak to them per- After describing the horrors of tion to the heathen. For ten sonally about Christianity. Of war, the statement concludes: years not a single minister for the 50 lawyers he brought to the meetings ten have made We, therefore, pledge ourselves the district of Shanghai. Our their decisions and are now anew, and urge all our fellow Chris- medical schools at home are preparing to enter the church. tions to do the same, not merely to turning out doctors faster than they can be absorbed in stable
Education in Japan – A New Life Through God. By Toyohik() ested in the true experiences
Study. 247 pp. International Mis- Kagawa. 210 pp. $1.50. Revell. these six school girls in China, sionary Council. New York. 1932. New York. 1932. as told by a missionary who loves the Chinese and under- This is a report of a Commis- There is something amazing stands them. We see here vivsion, and how many people read about the literary fecundity of idly their temptations and trials, reports? Few, it is to be feared. K a g a w a . A comparatively their failures and victories, their The very name "report" sug- young man, far from robust in need and response to the mesgests something dry and per- health, with impaired eyesight, sage of Christ. functory. But no student of preaching and lecturing every missions can afford to ignore day and often several times a Chefoo. By Stanley Houg-hton, Edith this report. It was prepared day, serving on many commit- Harman and Margaret Pyle. 12 mo. by a Commission on Christian tees, and the leader of various 82 pp. Paper. 28. China Inland Education in Japan, represent- religious and social organiza- Mission. London. 1931.
ing the National Christian tions, he yet finds time to write The educational center of Council of Japan, the National "books and articles. Dr. Ken- the China Inland Mission for neth Saunders, who writes an Christian Education Association Introduction, speaks of him as missionaries, children, a hospital of Japan, the Foreign Missions champion of the poor, expert and the health station for their adviser of government, mystic missionaries, is at Chefoo in Conference of North America North China. This pictorial and the International Mission- and social reformer, poet and story of the many-sided life at preacher, who is doing more Chefoo is another evidence of ary Council. It was headed by the Christian spirit and efficithat eminent Christian educa- than anyone else in Japan for ency of the Mission founded over sixty-five years ago by tor, Kajinosuke Ibuka, Presi- social reconstruction and who Hudson Taylor. dent Emeritus of the Meiji gathers great crowds whenever Gakuin of Tokyo, whose asso- Streams on the Desert. By Mrs. he speaks. This book is the Charles E. Cowman. 8 vo. 328 pp. ciates were eleven eminent Jap- $1.50. The author, 832 No. Hobart anese and missionary educators. substance of addresses that Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. It is the most thorough .and were delivered.at mass meetings comprehensive study of Chris- attended by thousands of J ap- anese. Its theme is "new life, tion education in Japan that has ever been made, and it presents new morale, a new society- The present hunger of people a literally immense amount of through God." It discusses God for spiritual help is shown by reliable information. Its pri- and the World of Suffering, the large number of daily BIble mary purpose is to bring to God and Christ, God and the readings published. Here is one light the present situation and Soul, God and Prayer, God and of the best-the fruit of study the future needs of Christian the Bible, God and the Con- and experience. Many of the education in Japan in the light science, God and Daily Living, greatest spiritual leaders are of the rapidly changing situa- and God and the New Social quoted in prose and verses, with tion in that country and to de- Order. It is pervaded through- Scriptural selections for every termine what changes should be out by a warmth of evangelical day in the year. To read it made in the policy and program feeling that deeply moves the prayerfully promotes spiritual reader. It is a spiritual tonic, of the schools in order that they a real contribution to devotional growth. may more actively serve the Christian literature. Written in The Interwoven Testaments. By H. Christian movement. Several Japanese, it has been translated C. Moore. Pocket volume. 50 cents. maps and charts helpfully con- Sou the r n Baptist Convention. tribute to the reader's under- into excellent English by Eliza- Nashville. 1931. standing of the situation. This beth Kilburn of Sendai, Japan. In the form of daily Scripture B. readings, the main teachings of is a volume of notable value and the Old and New Testaments are it should be carefully studied, Schoo] Gids Together. By Mrs. E. combined in brief quotations, not only by officers and mem- Weller. Illus. 12 mo. 128 pp. bers of missionary boards work- Paper. . Is. China Inland Mission. without exposition but with ing in Japan, but by the stu- London. 1931. short explanations. They will dents of Christian education in School girls in America and prove interesting and suggest other lands. A. J. BROWN. England cannot fail to be inter- further study.
[511 ]
Bible Verses to Memorize. Selected chapters make an excellent sub- standing, of righteousness, of by Helen Miller Gould Shepard. 16 faith and of love. mo. 96 pp. 50 cents. American ject for women's missionary Tract Society. New York. 1931. meetings. A good, but very lim- New Books The good seed is the Word of ited bibliography of British The Prophetic Lamp. Ernest Baker. God. Sown on good soil it bears books, suggests opportunity for 79 pp. 1s. Pickering & Inglis. good fruit. The Bible verses, further study. London. 1932.
carefully and prayerfully select- The Conquest of Gloom. By James Present-Day Problems. J. C. M. Daw- L. Gray. Introduction by E. son. 115 pp. 1s., 6d. Pickering & ed by Mrs. Shepard, have al- Stanley Jones. 12 mo. 158 pp. Inglis. London. 1932. ready been translated into over thirty languages and have been 38 6d. Marshall Morgan and Scott. The New Man. Capt. Reginald Wallis. widely scattered by faithful sow- London. 1931. 95 pp. 18. Pickering & Inglis. London. 1932. ers in many lands. These selec- The author has been aNew tions, in two series and topically Zealand Presbyterian mission- Individual Work for Individuals. arranged, relate to Sin and Sal- Henry Clay Trumbull. 186 pp. $1. ary in J agadhri, India, for ten American Tract Society. New vation, Law and Grace, Sorrow years and most of these ad- York. 1932. and Comfort, Death and Immor- dresses were given to audiences That Strange Little Brown Man tality, Confession and Service, of Christian missionaries and, as Gandhi. Frederick B. Fisher. 239 Wisdom and Folly, Faith and pp. $2.50. Long & Sniith. New Unbelief, Promises and Prophe- Dr. Stanley Jones says, they York. 1932. cies. Those who memorize them "touch on problems that press in I. LiIIias Trotter. Bla"nche A. F. Pig- on this Indian atmosphere; ott. 245 pp. 68. Marshall, Morwill store away spiritual riches problems of an awakened na- gan & Scott. London. 1932. and those who scatter them will As It Looks to Young China. Edited plant living Seed. tionalism and the clash between by William Hung. 181 pp. $1. East and West." They are spir- Cloth; 60c paper. Friendship Press. The Lutherisches Missionsjahrbuch for 1932. 160 pp. This time it itual Bible studies that exalt New York. covers 150 pages and has a separate supplement of ten pages. Christ, encourage faith, promote~ Community Organization in Religious " Education. Hugh Hartshorne and J. obedience, stimulate to prayer and exhort to sacrificial service. Quinter Miller. 250 pp. $2. Yale University Press. New Haven.
This Yearbook con t a ins a Challenged. By Caroline Atwater The Causes of War. Sir Arthur Salnumber of important articles- Mason. 12 mo. 100 pp. $1.00. ter and Others. 235 pp. 7s. 6d. Revell. New York. 1932. Macmillan. New York and London. the History of the Evangelization of Iceland, Theological Miss Mason is well known as The Good Shepherd and His Lambs. the author of "A Lily of H. Forbes Witherby.. 185 pp. 1s. France," "The Little Greek Work in India, by Dr. Sande- God," "The Highway," and Pickering & Inglis. London. gren, Problems that grow out of the increasing Industrialization John Thomas Gulick – Evolutionist of the World, and the Nature of and Missionary. Addian Gulick. 556 pp. $4. University of Chicago Press. Chicago. the People and the Work of Mis- other spirited stories with a pur- The Heritage of Asia. Kenneth Saund- pose. In this short novel she ers. 224 pp. $1.75. Macmillan. sions in New Guinea. There is pictures life in an American city New York. the usual amount of most impor- and the efforts of a newspaper The Indigenous Church in Perno John tant statistical material cover- Ritchie. 39 pp. 6d. World Domining the missions of Germany, man to promote total abstinence ion Press. London. and prohibition. The facts pre- Indigenous Ideals in Practice. W. F. those of the Scandinavian coun- sented give convincing reasons Rowlands. 43 pp. 1s. World Dotries and the present status of for abstinence from intoxicants minion Press. London. missions to the Jews. Indian Americans. Winifred Hulbert. C. T. BENZE. and show the benefits of prohibi- 161 pp. $1 cloth; 60c paper. Friend- tion laws, even when not ade- ship Press. New York. The Dawn Wind. By Olive Wyon. Kagawa. William Axling. 202 pp. 12 mo. 155 pp. 28 6d. Student quately observed. $2. Harpers. New York. 1932.
Christian Movement Press. London. The Life of Chas. Albert Blanchard.
1931. Bread to the Full. By ~ohn McNeill. Frances Carpthers Blanchard. 220 12 mo. 208 pp. 28 6d. Pickering pp. $2. Revell. New York. The Gospel of Christ has in- and Inglis. Glasgow. 1931. Lim Yik Choy-The Story of a Chitroduced a revolutionary prin- nese Orphan. Chas. R. Shepherd. ciple into society, but many For over forty-five years this 252 pp. $1.50. Revell. New York.
Christians have failed to recog- famous Scotch preacher has The Republic of Brazil-A Survey of Religious Conditions. Erasmo Braga nize its transforming influence been widely known for the and Kenneth S. Grubb. 184 pp; 58. on the womanhood of non- graphic pictures, hum 0 r 0 u s World Dominion Press. London.
Christian lands. The awaken- touches, evangelistic passion and Rural Education for the Regeneration ing of womanhood to the oppor- spiritual insight in his sermons. of Korea. Helen K. Kim. Published by the Methodist Board of Foreign tunities and responsibUities of a These sermons were delivered in Missions. New York. new era is the subject of these Dr. McNeill's early prime- Totem Tales. Warren E. Crane. 95 brief studies in which the author forty years ago, in the Regent pp. $1. Revell. New York.
pictures the change wrought on Square Presbyterian Church of Yellow Rivers. Earl Herbert Cressy. 153 pp. $1.50. Harpers. New the women of Africa, of India London-:-they combine human York. and China, of Korea and Japan interest and divine unction, and Annual Report, Home Missions Coun- and of Mohammedan lands. The breathe out the spirit of under- cil~1932. 85 pp. New York.
Missions LOS PACIFIC j III
ANGELES Are presented in novel and very I had a usable form, for Missionary Meet- COLLEGEi ings, as illustrotions for s<':rrnons Prodigy and talks, or for personal inspir- ! "Character Firstation, in for a the College that Cares" The Presbyterian Chi Id" 12 Acres-3 Buildings-28 Years BANNER of Success-Also Accredited "I thought I h.d • prodigy for. child," • mother Prep School- Coeducdtion – A wrote us. "But when I found th.t other children A Church weekly modern in Homelike School. studying .t home .ccomplished the s.me results .nd appearance, evangelical in creed, wlth e6se, I knew it WtIIS your Ctilivert course and progressive in contents, practical THI N K! Board, Room, Tuition- methods." in help to ministers, ministers' $40 month or work on campus wives and other active Church and pay $25 month. C.lv«t School tr.vels to children .11 over the workers; and prepared with world to give them, wherever they may Jive, as thorough special regard for the layman and Send Application and References an elementdry educcdion I!IS children ~ttending the the laywoman. to Registrar … C.lvert O.y School in B.ltimore, M.ryl.nd. It comes to your home, bringing with it interesting books, A Christian Companion 5832 Ebey Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. pictures, new reading devices and up~to-dtllte equip~ ment-everything the child needs for .ny ye.'s work. For the home, the study, mission- Obituary Notes The lessons .re cle.rly outlined step by step, .nd ary meeting, young people's interesting to both p.rent .nd child. meeting, Sunday school, and hour Dr. J. Kelly Giffen, of the Sudan of family and personal devotion, Mission of the United Presbyterian The knowledge of C.lvert tr.ined boys .nd girls its many pages of "News of the Church, died in Khartum on April 6th. impresses people-and impresses their teachers later Churches Everywhere/' and its His widow, Grace H. Giffen, died on when they fin.lly t.ke their pl.co In high or prep.r.tory pages of vital editorials, are July 27th in Assiut. Dr. and Mrs. school. There is the usual elementary education} prepared by numerous selected Giffen went to Egypt in 1881, and also rich trtlining in cultural .sod scientiAc subjects. Correspondents and entered the Sudan as pioneer mis- Scores of missioncuies, exchange doctors, p~rents in sionaries in 1900. They were effective the diplom.tic service h.ve enrolled their children, Editorial Staff forces in building the Church of Christ in that difficult field. .nd found them wei r equipped to enter hi~h or Including William H. Boddy, William E. Brooks, Paul Patton *** erep~rdtory school on their return to the United !:>tates. Faris, Ralph Cooper Hutchison, Ihere have been so many of these enrolments that noW Hugh Thomson Kerr, John A. Mrs. George J. Geis, of Myitkyina, there .re C.lvert School centers in foreign fields. Mackay, Donald Mackenzie, Burma, died April 28. She had been a Baptist missionary for forty years. The full course begins with the first gr.de .nd Joseph R. Sizoo and James H. c.rries through six ye." till high school. It m.y be *** tdken 4S 4 whoJe or in Pdrt-dt d complete cost of $40 Snowden. d year, the school furnishing all lessons dnd mote rid Is. Miss L. Couch of the Ramabai Person~1 criticism of pupil's work by Calvert teachers SUBSCRIPTION RATES Mukti, Mission, Kedgaon India, died $20 .dditionol. Kinderg.rten courses ore .voil.ble $2.50 a year; to ministers, $2. In on April 1st at seventy-nine years of for use by individu.ls .t $10.50, or in groups .t combindtion with The Missionary Re- age. Miss Couch was born in Eng- reduced cost. view of the World ($2.50 alone), land and went to India forty years only $4 for both-d saving of one ago. After spending ten years in V. M. Hillyer, founder of C.lvert Home Instruction dolldr. Sample copy of THE BANNER Calcutta she went to Mukti where School, wrote "A Child', History", "A Child's free on request. Pamlita Ramabai gave her work in Geosr.phy………uccessful books imbued with the ch.rm the Boys' School where she acted as .nd .ppe.1 th.t enliven .11 Calvert home lessons. Send your order to a real mother and won many boys to Use the coupon for full inform.tion. Christ. The Presbyterian Banner CALVERT SCHOOL, In recent years she has not been 189 E. Tuscanv ROld, Baltimore, Md. 2007 Commonwealth Building able to do much active work on ac- Pittsburgh, Pa. count of an automobile accident but Ple.se send me full inform.tion, including. s.mple Or to The she has gone twice daily to the sta- lesson. tion to distribute the Gospel portions Missionary Review of the World and tracts. Guards of every train NAME ………………………………… . looked for this messenger of God and 156 Fifth Avenue for her bundles of biblical literature, ADDRESS ……………………………… · . New York, N. Y. papers and magazines. Mukti is situated on the regular Indian pilgrim can Board of Commissioners for For- route and every day more than fifty eign Missions, in Japan, died on July of these pilgrims and sadhus pass 31, in his eighty-second year at the through. Miss Couch was interested home of his son, Rev. George E. Cary, in these wanderers, and would show Bradford, Mtlssachusetts. Dr. Cary them the One who is "The Way, the was born in Foxboro, April 20, 1851, Truth and the Life," and give each was graduated from Amherst in 1872 a Gospel portion or tract in the lan- and Andover Theological Seminary in guage they understood. 1877. He went to Japan that same year. *** Dr. Cary was the author of a very The Rev. Otis Cary, D. D., forty- complete and valuable history of two years a missionary of the Ameri- Christian Missions in Japan.
Retiring from the field in 1918 he served Japanese churches in Utah and California under the auspices of the American Missionary Association. In 1923 he established residence at the Walker Missionary H.ome, Auburn- dale, and assisted with the editorial work of the Board.
His wife and four children, Rev. G. E. Cary, Dr. Walter Cary of Dubuque, Iowa, Rev. Frank Cary of Otaru, Ja- pan, and Miss Alice E. Cary of Osaka, Japan, survive him. Our Special China Number OCTOBER, 1932 Illustrated Up-to-date Factual Partial Table of Contents What the Chinese Have Accomplished … . Kenneth S. Latourette of Yale University Come With Me to China ……………………………….. . 0. E. Goddard Overcoming Difficulties ………………… "….. Wm. H. Gleysteen of Peiping The True Soul of China …………………… .Francis C. M. Wei of Wuchang How the Chinese Worship …………………… .James L. Stewart of Chengtu Why Send Missionaries to China … , ……………… .P. O. Hanson of Taianfu What Have We Learned About Mission Methods …. .Frank Rawlinson of Shanghai What Kind of Medical Missions Are Needed ……………. .Dr. Elliot I. Osgood A Sample Mission Station ……………………… Charles E. Scott of Tsinan What Christ Has Done for China ………………… Carleton Lacy of Shanghai The Church of Christ in China ………………… . A. R. Kepler of Hangchow Woman's Place in Changing China …………………….. Katherine R. Green Whither-and What Progress ………………. Charles L. Boynton of Shanghai The Christian Task in China ……………………….. .P. C. Hsu of Peiping Testimonies of Twice Born Chinese ……………….. , ……. Various Authors What the Chinese are Doing for China ………. .Mary F. Parmenter of Shanghai Best Books on China « SEND YOUR ORDER NOW » 25 Cents a Copy $20.00 per Hundred THE MISSIONARY REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY, Inc.
156 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y.