The Missionary Review of the World — September 1890
THE MISSION IN BASUTO LAND
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XIII. No.9.-0Id Series·–SEPTEMBER.–voL. III. No. 9.-New Series.
I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS.
THE MISSION IN BASUTO LAND.
BY REV. ANDREW THOMSON, D.D., EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND.
The Christian Church owes this singularly interesting mission in South Africa to the Paris Missionary Society, which was founded in 1822 by some of the most prominent men in the French Reformed Church, whose names are yet fragrant in the memory of multitudes in other lands besides their own. Those men of God appear to have inherited much of the holy intrepidity and zeal of their Huguenot ancestors, for, in the midst of conscious weakness, one of their earliest acts after emerging from the fires of persecution and the tempests of revolution, was to unite in forming themselves into a missionary society and to claim an honorable share in that grandest of all enter- prises, the bringing about of the conquest of the world for Christ.
Basnto Land is a native territory lying between Cape Colony, the Orange Free State and Natal. The Orange river is the southern boundary, and the less important Caledon flows through its centre. It is a mountain land with deep valleys, many of which are gladdened and fertilized by refreshing streams which shed verdure and floml beauty upon their banks. In later times it has been placed under a British protectorate, which affords greater liberty and safety to the missionary, and gives to those mission churches which owe theil' birth and maintenance to French Protestants some claim upon British liberality. An eadier mission had already been established in another part of South Africa by the Paris Missionary Society, and had gatlwred its first fruits in converts and churches; but even this mission to Basnto Land dates back to a period many years before the names of Moffat and Livingstone had become household words in all the languages of Christendom and in all the churches of the saints.
The founder of the Basuto Mission was Eugene Casalis, who had associated with him from the beginning two fellow-workers of congenial spirit and of varied gifts, which greatly increased their usefulness. He who had been the honored founder of the mission has also lived to be its historian in a volume which has recently been translated into the English tongue, and which, in its picturesque descriptions, its narratives of thrilling adventures, and its style sparkling with vivacity, as well as in its more solid qualities of devout thought and burning zeal, and "common sense which is not common," tracin!; all the while the growth of one of the most successful Christian mis! sions in modern times, keeps the reader under a pleasing fascination to its close. ,,y e intend in this paper to present some notices of ):lis earlier years, prior as well as preparatory to his entering on his consecrated and greatly honored missionary life. Our facts shall, of course, be principally gathered from his own souvenirs.
Eugene Casalis was born November 21, 1812, at Orthes, a town in' the Department of the Lower Pyrenees, about thirty miles from Bayonne. His parents wet'e pious Protestants, of good social position, who could look back through generations of Huguenot ancestors, some of whom had bravely suffered for the faith. The boy thus received the priceless benefit of a godly upbringing, even those cherished ancestral traditions of faithful suffering for Christ mingling with and favorably influencing his thoughts. Weare led to conclude that there was something rather stiffened and stereotyped about the religions life of the worthy parents, and that it was in some measure deficient in warmth and joy. This made the youth welcome with keen relish the hymns of the saintly Cresar Malan, with their gladsome notes of faith and hope, which had begun to find their way from Geneva to those parts of France in which the faith of the Reformed Church prevailed. This good influence was increased by the appearance in that staid Protestant community of M. Pyt from Bayonne, a pastor and evangelist of much fervor and eloquence, who was received at the first with some suspicion by the sterner natures, but whose warmth and zeal in no long time overoome all opposition, while great numbers were attracted towards him who were passing from youth into early manhood. Eugene was among the first to sit at his feet and drink in his words of holy wisdom. It was natural that such an eager listener should soon attract the notice of the earnest evangelist, who was interested by his promising gifts and apparent buddings of grace, and at length, with the consent of his parents, he returned with the young pastor to Bayonne, where, under his daily supervisiOl" he was to receive a higher education in which the Christian element should be supreme. Gradually, under the evangelist's watchful eye, Eugene's hopeful symptoms ripened into decision; he not only embraced him. as a Christian brother, but discovered in his conversation and action qualities and desires which seemed to mark him as a missionary to the heathen. The finger of Providence had begun to point to the far off land.
This led to another important step, in the transference of Eugene to the Mission House of the Paris Missionary Society in Paris, where hopeful young men, while undergoing a period of probation, were meanwhile under systematic training for the work of a missionary to some dark region of heathendom. It was a wise and happy arrangement for youths, in whose hearts the Spirit of God had kindled a holy ·enthusiasm for the missionary enterprise, to be placed, for a series of years, under the direction and superintend~nce of such master spirits as Grandpierre and Audeber and Frederick Monod, of more than one .of whom we can write with the recollection of personal friendship, who combined, in a remarkable degree, the gift of eloquence with glowing zeal, geniality of spirit, and practical wisdom. There was labor in the mission house without weariness. Every hour had its a prescribed work. Exegetical theology held large place in the ·curriculum of study, for men such as Monod had sat at the feet of Robert Haldane at Geneva, and had learned from his instruction and example the divine art of bringing out the mind of God from a pas- sage of scripture, and to regard this as the highest function of a min- ister of Christ.
The young neophytes were also introduced to some knowledge of those sciences which might be turned to practical account on the mission field. Some of their hours were also spent outside the mis- 'sion house, in visiting the sick and the poor, in experiments in evangelism-as birds learning. the use of their wings-and in acting as hands and helps in the distribution of charity. As months and years rolled on in these congenial services, the thoughts of Eugene Casalis wandered more and more to Africa and its dark millions; he became impatient to go forth and share the toils and conflicts of the mission field. It is possible for the mower to spend too much time in sharp- ening his scythe. The unanimous voice of the directorate in the mission house at length said to him, "Go." It was a welcome sound,' as that of the trumpet to the war horse. On October 18, 1832, he was solemnly ordained by assembled presbyters to the office of a minister and missionary of Jesus Christ, his friend and pastor, M. Pyt, who had foreseen and foretold his destiny, and left on him the ·deep impress of his own noble character, fitly presiding at the laying ·on of hands.
A few weeks were spent by him in a visit to his parents in the old home at Orthes, there being a wise aITangement, however, that their intercourse should not be darkened by allusions to his departure till the hour for farewell was near at hand, for so strong was the impres- .sion in those earlier days that the separation would be for life, that the "A1( ;evoir" was usually pronounced with the finger pointed to heaven, as if there must be the next place of meeting. We give a few :sentences of the young missionary's own account of his parting, in which the self-denial and bravery of his venerable mother shines nobly out: "The horses were brought before the door of our house at four o'clock in the morning. After a prayer, mingled with sobs, there began a scene which I can only compare to that of the supreme separation at the moment of death. My father, my brother, my sisters were overwhelmed. My mother alone had power to speak. Seeing I was overcome, she cried, 'Courage, my son, it is for yonI' God. Go without regret; commit yourself to Him. I know that He will take care of you.' "
On November 11, 1832, Eugene Casalis sailed from London for South Africa, the appointed scene of his mission, having associated with him M. Arbousset, a young minister like-minded with himself in his French vivacity and spirit of perseveringendllrance, and Gosselin, a Christian artizan without culture, but to whom educated men delighted to listen because of his practical sagacity and openhearted piety, and who was to prove himself a priceless· acquisition. After a few days of sickness, these young heralds sought to increase thcir equipment for their sacred work by reading and study, mingled with much prayer and with hymn-singing, in which they remembered the example of Christian David and his two Moravian brethren, a. century before, sailing to Greenland and standing at nightfall on the stern of the vessel and singing those hymns which once had echoed on Moravian hills. But these congenial exercises were disturbed by more than rude adventure-a great deal more pleasa~t in the retro, spect than in the experience. For several days their too small and overladen schooner was visited by a tremendous storm, which swept the deck of its hencoops and bulwarks and every other movable thing, and drove thA vessel far out of its course. At a later period in their voyage, when they were away out of the usual sea-path and in unkuown waters, a pirate ship hovered near them and its ruffian crew were only at length scared away by the bustle of preparation and the signs of defiance which they saw in their coveted prize. And even when they were within sight of the harbor of Cape Town, and could hear the sonnd of the lowing of oxen and the crowing of cocks, and the vessel had begun to graze on some sunken rocks, it was only as if by a hair's-breadth they escaped shipwreck. It was with hearts overflowing with thankfulness that they trod at length on the soil of Africa, and saw the noble form and heard the cheering welcome of Dr. Philip, the superintendent of the missions of the London Missionary Society in the Cape Coiony, whose heart and home were open to missionaries of every name alld from every land, whether going forth to work or returning after years of earnest. toil to a season of wellmerited and needed r('~t.
But what was the astonishment of Casalis and his associates to be told, when the unwelcome news could no longer be withheld from them, that the misRion which they had come to reinforce and enlarge had, during the very time when they were at sea, been broken up and ruined! A period of despondency followed, in which everything seemed to be covered with mystery and gloom. Table Mountain, with its dark summit rising before them 5,000 feet high, appeared to represent the impassable barrier which rose between them and the enterprise about which they had been dreaming such fond dreams. They did not all at once see that God had another plan for them which was betttr than theirs, and that, instead of building on another man's foundation, they were destined to found a new mission in a region whose very name was yet unknown to them-where the foot of European had never trodden; and that within little more than one generation hundreds of thousands would be gathered by them and their fellow-workers into the fold of Christ. But their depression of SpIrIt was temporary. Even their youth and sanguine temperament, with the counsel and good cheer of the Christian circle which surrounded them, did much to lighten their burden, while believing prayer was the most powerful factor of all, and in no very long time they were able to say, "'Vho art thou, 0 great mountain? Before our Zerubbabel-a plain." Short visits to some of the mission stations which were within convenient reach of Cape Town strengthened their missionary impulses, and within a few weeks they were busy with preparations for a long journey into the interior, not doubting that an unseen heavenly guide would make their way plain before them, and in due time point out to them the chosen sphere of their life work. Large wagons were provided, especially one which for weeks to come was to be the habitation and conveyance of the missionaries. There were many teams of oxen which were to draw the lumbering vehicles along the desert path, with skilled teamsters and a band of Christian Hottentots for servants, and every necessary thing in the form of food and clothing, and guns and powder, and corn and flower seeds, and medicine and books, was stored in the wagons' capacious folds. We imagine them ploughing their way, sometimes through loose sand, and at other times over solid ground carpeted by the beautiful mimosa flower and heaths. The farmsteads of colonists, widely separated from each other, were at rare intervals seen in the distance; and startled flocks of antelopes and ostriches fled at their approach. There was a strong Christian element in this mingled company, so that the teamsters and Hottentot servants most willingly joined in the never-failing evening worship. M. Casalis mentions again and again the remarkable gift of singing possessed by the Hot… tentots: "The women have voices of an incomparable range of flexibility, and in the tenor or bass, which the men render in perfect harmony, there is an element of veiled emotion which profoundly moves the heart." This, no doubt, added to the attraction of the family worship in the desert with which the evenings were closed. Another custom of those dark-hued attendants greatly interested the good missionaTies: two hours before daybreak it was their uniform practice to rise and each one for himRelf to pray, and then to return to rest-all this for the purpose of securing themselves against hurry or disturbance in their simple devotions. 'Within twelve days they reached the Orange river, which at the place of crossing was a thous- and feet broad and at least five feet deep. It was with almost in- credible difficulty, and only after doubling the number of their teams of oxen, that they succeeded in crossing the great river. Here was another landmark which they had reached, for they were now outside the boundaries of civilized government, and had entered upon the region of heathenism, whose thick darkness was scarcely mitigated by one ray of Christian light.
A few hours' travel from the river's brink brought the missionar- ies and their company to Philippolis, a little embryo town which was to be prominent in their recollection ever afterwards, because it was the place where Providence would begin to unveil to them their future, and, as it were, lead them visibly by the hand to the seene of their life-ministry which he had chosen for them. The sealed letters were now to be opened. It happened in this wise. They had not been many hours in Philippolis when they were accosted by a mulatto, farmer, Adam Krotz, who eked out his regular income, and at the same time gratified his passion for adventure, by the hunting of antelopes, taking long detours over hundreds of miles. On learning who these strangers were, and what was their errand, his countenance brightened with a new interest. He told them of Basuto Land, of its king, whom he had met with not long before in one of his hunting excursions, who had a strong desire to have missionaries sent into his country, and had even drawn from Krotz a promise that if ever such men came in his way he would use all his influence and persuasion to induce them to choose his country as the scene of their sacred toils. Krotz added that he was truly glad to fulfil his engagement to the great Basuto chief, and promised that, on condition of their accompanying him on the hunting expedition on which he was about to enter, he would both be their guide and protector on the journey, and prepare their way by sending friendly messengers before them. The astonished missionaries distinctly read in all this the finger of God, and were ready to say with Eliezer of Damascus, "I being in the way,. the Lord led me," and though the time of their journeyings was ·likely to be lengthened by such an arrangement, they yielded to this. inconvenience for the sake of the greater benefit they would derive from this man's knowledge, friendship and guidance.
Certainly, if the patience of these devoted missionaries was sorely tried before their guide and counseller had secured his complement of meat, dried skins and horns, they had abundant opportunity of improving their knowledge of natural history; for, in additiop to the gentle antelope, the whole hunting ground which they were traversing abounded with baboons and panthers and lions and other beasts of prey. At length deliverance came, and at the end of four weeks of waiting they had crossed the boundaries of Basuto Land. The good men could not help smiling as they. remembered how, in the maps which they had bought in Paris, the whole of this region had been marked as sandy and level, for they had not travelled many miles inward when they found themselves standing at the foot of a moun- tain several thousand feet in height. As. they journeyed onward, a local chief having been apprised of their approach sent theIl down from his mountain fastness a present of milk and boiled maize, which they hailed as a token for good. Meanwhile, messengers were sent forward by the indefatigable Krotz, to inform the king of their movements and to bespeak his royal welcome. As they proceeded on their journey, they were struck with the unmistakable signs of recent battles which appeared in many places-in broken walls, and ruined villages, and desolated gardens, and battle-fields strewn with remnants of the dead. Already we may imagine the prayer to have ascended from their full hearts that their mission might be blessed as the messengers of the Prince of Peace.
On reaching the foot of the mountain on which stood the palace of King Moshesh,they scarcely had time to unyoke their wearied oxen and to pitch their tent, when the king's sons appeared scampering on horses at full speed to convey the salutations of their royal father. Early on the following day the missionaries ascended the mountain by a precipitous and winding path to return the monarch's s!1lutations. 'l'hey were received in a spacious court, enclosed by lofty palisades, into which Moshesh descended from his palace accompanied by his queen and their one little boy, whom they both fondly caressed. We give M. Casali's first impressions of the Basuto king in ~is own words: "The chief bent upon me a look at once majestic and benevolent. His profile, much more aquiline than that of the generality of his subjects, his well-developed forehead, the fulness and regularity of his features, his eyes a little weary, as it se~med, but full of intelligence and softness, made a deep impression on me. I felt at once that I had to do with a superior man, trained to think, to command others, and, above all, to 'command himself. After we had looked an instant at each other in sitence, he rose and said, 'Lumela, lilchoa' (Welcome, white man), and I replied by holding out my hand to him, which he took without hesitation." The king's looks expressed even more kindness than his words.
On the next day the king, attended by some of his chiefs, came down from his mountain to dine with the strangers. It must be acknowledged that the contents of their larder did not supply "a dainty dish to set before a king." But the time was 'urgent, and nothing could be done or even attempted until they knew more of the ruler's mind. With Krotz as his interpreter, the missionary explained to. the king the end of their mission, in promoting the religious as well as the material good of his people, and asked for his protection and help in
WOMAN'S WORK FOR WOMAN
their enterprise of love. The answer was, in some respects, wonderful, as coming from a heathen king who knew nothing of Christianity except what he had vaguely heard of its beneficent effects, and would have graced the lips even of a Christian monarch: "~ly heart is white with joy," replied the chief. "Your words are great ~nd good. It is enough for me to see your clothing, your arms, and the rolling houses in which you travel, to understand how much intelligence and strength you have. You see our desolation. The country was full of inhabitants. 'Val's have devastated it. Multitudes have perished; others are refugees in foreign lands. I remain almost alone on this rock. I have been told that you can help us. You promise to do it. That is enough. It is all I want to know. Remain with us. You will instruct us. 'Ve will do all you wish. The country is at your disposal. 'Ve can go through it together and you shall choose the place 'which will best suit you."
Here was the charter of their liberty and privilege given without parchment, or signature, or seal, but never violated in one iota by the king'..:; acts. A great and effectual door was opened before those men of God, and they were not slow to enter in. But we must reserve for another paper some notices of the first years of these devoted laborers, of their principles and methods of actions, and of the glorious and ever-increasing fruits which crowned their ministries of faith and love and patience during the next fifty years.
WOMAN'S 'YORK FOR WOMAN.
BY 1<'. I". ELI~I~WOOD, D.D., NE'V YORK.
The New Testament sounded the key-note of woman's emancipation from the tyranny of old custom!';, and welcomed her to a share in the active service of redemption. The old dispensation had given a promise which cheered evelT Hebrew mother's heart with hope, and llere and there, as in the sto~ies ~f Hannah and Ruth and Esther, appeared beautiful illustrations of what woman's influence might accomplish in the world. But outside of the Jewish Church, the worst elemcnt in the darkness of heathenism was the oppression of the female sex.
The very fact that woman was specially honored in the advent of the Messiah seemed to presage a new and more ample sphere for her influence. The two sisters at Bethany, instead of being hidden away like the inmates of a lHoslem harem and forbidden to share the blessings of the Saviour's visits, seem to havc had the same intimate acquaintan~e and friendship with their brother's guest that would be accorded to the wives or sisters of a modern Christian home. Dorcas was as free and as efficient iIi her Christian aetivities as any modern president of an orphan asylum or a woman's home. Priscilla taught theology when crude and uninstructed young missionaries needed further training; and of all the men and women in the church in Cenchrea, Phrebe alone was immortalized by her Chris- tian service.
It must have been a matter of disappointment to Paul, when he crossed the Hellespont and entered Philippi, that he did not receive a welcome from that "man of Macedonia" whom he had seen in his VISIOn. But the only welcome he found was in a woman's prayer- meeting by the river side, and Lydia, a woman of affairs and of ag- gressive Christian influence, became his hostess and his chief patron.
As for the men of Macedonia, his first encounter was with a sordid syndicate who were making merchandise of the wild vagaries of a de- mented girl. She had been restored ana cOllverted and their business was ruined, and in consequence Paul was mobbed. The last chapter ·of the Epistle to the Romans shows how extensive and how free was woman's work in the church at Rome.
In the days of martyrdom woman bore her part in heroic courage and in suffering unto death. In Carthage and in Rome, in far off France, and wherever the long struggle of Christianity with heathen- ism was waged, the delicate forms of women and of girls were tor- tured and mangled for their faith. In hundreds of instances also woman, who in the bloody invasions of savage tribes was spared from carnage only to be borne into slavery, became a herald of the Cross. Even in the courts of savage kings we find her the centre and source of gospel light. The conversion of Vladimir of Russia through his Byzantine wife was a case in point.
In no country has woman's early influence in the propagation of the faith been more remarkable than in France and Britain. Clovis on the eve of. battle vowed that if victory should be given him he would thereafter worship the God of his Christian wife, Clotilda. Tl~e victory was won and in pursuance of his vow he was baptized with three thousand of his court and his army. It has been truly said that not merely Clovis and his army were baptized, but a great empire and the whole civilization and destiny of Western Europe.
When the rude Saxons of Britain were to be reclaimed, and that Christianity which their savagery had well-nigh trodden out on the shores of Kent was to be restored, the way was opened by a Chris- tian princess of Burgundy, who in her marriage to the King of Kent had stipulated that she should be free to worship the true God and His Christ. Canterbury was really founded by Queen Bertha, who prepared the way for Augustine and his monks.
In the modern movement of Christian benevolence the women of the Roman Catholic Church were earlier in the field than those of the Protestant churches, but they worked under the rules and restrictions of conventual orders. It is quite to the credit of Rornanism that its ,sisterhoods have in modern times been mobilized for active service at home and abroad. Though the missionary idea in the Roman Catholic Church is that of a celibate priest, yet the Sisters of Charity go in groups to all lands, and their hospitals and orphanages rise up as- by magic wherever human suffering is found. Only praise and com- mendation can be given to the self.denying devotion with which this' noble work is done.
But a far better development of woman's work in missions and in all benevolence is that which has been shown in Protestant Christen- dom within the last quarter of a century-better, first, because it is freeer; second, because it aims at the subsidizing, not of a professional class, but of all Christian womanhood for the work of Christ; and third, because the example and influence of the married and unmar- ried women of Protestant missions are more positive than that of iso- lated sistel'hoods. 'fhey illustrate the home-of which China and India know nothing-instead of the convent, which Buddhism already has; and they give stronger emphasis to the freedom which all women should claim.
It may be said that on the home side the woman's work of Pro- testantism does not in fact subsidize all the talent and moral power of Christian womanhood in the Church. This is, indeed, too true, but its tendency is in that direction; that is its ideal and its aim, and in no other one enterprise has so large a portion of its membership, male or female, been enlisted as in woman's missionary work. We have observed the growth and operations of women's foreign missionary societies. for the last twenty years, and have been more and more impressed by their stability in organization and their advance in efficiency and power.
In all Protestant churches the impulse is one and universal. Sus- picions, doubts, and fears which conservative men entertained at the outset have disappeared. No denomination would think of dispensing with this potent auxiliary force. It were difficult ~o say whether its success abroad, great as it is, or its reflex power at home, has been the greater.
The late Dr. Mullens, of the I,ondon Missionary Society, main- tained that, as a uniform law, home charities of every kind had grown out of the broader and deeper movements that had been stirred by . the spectacle of woman's debasement in heathen lands. He traced nearly all the societies for evangelization in Great Britain to the antecedent impulse which arose about the beginning of the century to give the gospel to distant lands.
'Vhatever may have been the facts in England, it is certain that the great tide of sympathy which first sprang up in the hearts. of American women for their enslaved sisters in the zenanas of India has inured to the good of our own frontier settlements and of the freedmen in the South. The women of the churches never before so fully realized their power or were so disposed to use it in all earnest service for Christ and humanity.
The movement was timely for more reasons than one. (1.) It arose at a time when the zenana system had begun to be questioned, and teachers were demanded to instruct ignorant and neglected wives. The door opened just as the messengers arose-as in the case of Cornelius and Peter. (2.) The movement was called for at a time when the women of America had just learned something of their united strength in their efforts for the relief of our wounded soldiers. (3.) This work in foreign missions came forward at a time when there were many bereft and bleeding hearts which needed the care, and through care the solace, which the service of the Great Sympathizer so often presents. From its very beginning it has proved a resource to many a widowed soul who in deep sorrow was wondering for what object her life was still prolonged. (4.) The movement came at a time when, in the North at least, American womanhood was beginning to feel the influence of an unexampled reign of wealth and luxury. Steadily for the last twenty-five years money has been growing in social power, and more and more asserting itself as an aim in life. Old standards of estimate-knowledge, culture, characterhave lost ground before the influence of the" gold basis," and the temptation to worldliness and display has been greater than in any previous period of our history, or, perhaps, any history. The" social c,olumns" of the secular press have fed the flame of this craze for wealth, and certain classes of magftzines have made it a special aim to cater to the unwomanly ambition for money. Some months ago one of our popular montl)lies gave the public an article on "The Rich Women of America." Several portraits were given, with the names. Some were marriageable young heiresses! It is vulgar enough for men to parade their money-bags or have others do it for them, but to drag down woman from the purity and dignity of her true character and place her in the arena for such a show, and especially to advertise heiresses, is demoralizing alike to womanhood and to manhood, and seems to point already to social and national decay.
Fortunately the counter-movement in behalf of missions and other forms of Christian benevolence has in many cases interposed a wholesome check to this unhallowed ambition. Side by side with this rush of worldliness and display, and often across its current, there has gone forth an influence that was elevating and ennobling. There are multitudes, even among the wealthy, who have learned that there is something higher than empty display, and who have instilled into the minds 6f their daughters aspirations for practical sympathy with the wants and woes of the world. In many a family of wealth the counterbalancing influence of the missionary interest has been welcomed as a safeguard. With it has come a wide range of information concerning lands and peoples and institutions which would not otherwise have been gained. If nothing else had resulted from woman's work in missions, its educational influence in families, the better impulses with which it has enriched and ennobled womanhood, the widespread altru- istic spirit which now shows itself in Zenana bands, Christian Endeavor Societies, or among the Daughters of the King, would repay a hundred fold all that has been expended.
N or has its influence been confined to the female sex. The prayers which have been offered for nearly a generation in Christian homes, the increased intelligence, the glow of ennobling enthusiasm, have affected sons as well as daughters. What wonder that there are thousands of young men now rising up and offering themselves for the mission fields! Recently, when the brave and dauntless Mackay fell at his post in the Uganda lVIission, and the sudden call came to England for others to take his place, nine volunteers at once presented themselves.
On the foreign field t.he supplement of this home interest is found in hundreds and even thousands of women, married or unmarried, who in school or .zenana work, in the hospital and the dispensary, are exerting a quiet but N,tent influence which no computation can measure. It comes not" with observation." The change wrought in the surrounding community is one thing accomplished. It gradually refutes and destroys the Oriental theories of woman's sphere. The conscious dignity of woman appearing in utmost freedom in the home, in the school, or worshipping in the mixed assembly, breaks down old prejudice, and rebukes the blind cOllceit of men who, in enslaving woman, have blighted their own happiness and destroyed the welfare of their families.
But the most important factor in this regeneration is the training of thousands of the young to ideas and usages and degrees of inte1ligence which are at war with the' old customs and superstitions. The simple truth is that in countries like India and Japan the sentiment of the best classes is already revolutionized, the miraculous victory is already won. The only difficulty is that those who are convinced are loth to acknowledge the sources of the new influence. They are jealous of the foreigner and of his foreign creed. They are slow to acknowledge the defeat of their ancient faith and customs. They would like to adopt the new cult, but with their own ancient labels. But intelligence in woman they are beginning to prize.
Two or three years ago, when four Hindu girls graduated with full honors at Calcutta University, they were publicly applauded by high Goyernment officials, and the fact was pointed out that the upper strata of Hindu society were being transformed by the influence of just such events. This is precisely the meaning of the ready and eager patronage which is given by high Brahman families to the 8cho010f
1890.j THE SUPERNATURAL FACTOR IN MISSIONS
Ramabai in Bombay. And the same thing is illustrated in the female seminary with four hundred high caste girls, which is carried on under the patronage of the Maha Rani of Mysore. India, in her pride, is not yet ready to acknowledge that the new order of things has sprung from the influence of missionaries and of other Christian women, but God knoweth His own, and the benign influences which have been exerted quietly, as the falling of the raindrop and the snow-flake shall not return unto Him void, but shall accomplish' that whereunto He hath sent them.
'l'HE SUPERNATURAL FACTOR IN MISSIONS.
[EDITORIAL.-A. T. P.] Eliminate God from missions and yon have nothing left but a llUman enterprise; all the grandeur and glory are gone; for the one supreme charm and fascination of this work is that, in idea and plan, in origin and progress, it is divine.
Nothing is more noticeable than the peculiar emphasis laid upon the supernatural factor in worId-wide missions thi'oughout the scripture. We say throughout, for, in Old Testament and New 'l'estament alike, the conception of world-wide missions may be found. The idea was not novel, even at the outset of Christian history. In the prophe- Cies and prayers of holy men of old,whether in the.De Profundis and Miserere of pathetic lamentation and warning, or the In Excelsis of exultant praise and promise, like the deep undertone of mighty waters, we hear the wondrons intimation of a coming day when the kingdoms of the world shall become the one kingdom of the Messiah. As far back as the opening of Genesis, the first promise, that the seed of the woman should bruise the head of the serpent, is generic. It is a promise for the race of man as such. Satan had bruised the heel of the Adamic race and in the person of the second Adam that race was to bruise the serpent's head. Abraham was the great father of an elect family, yet, as the second great period of Messianic promise opens in his call and separation, we hear again the prophecy of a universal blessillg: "In Thee shall all the families ofthe earth be blessed." Further on, as we pass from one epoch to another, we never fail to find this world-wide blessing emphasized. The Psalmist, breathing a prayer of profounder meaning than he knew, pleads that the whole earth may be filled with God's glory, and predicts that all nations shall call Him blessed. Prophets tal{e up the strain, and foretell a day when "in every place incense shall be offered unto His name, and a pure offering;" when Messianic blessings shall be as widespread as the wings of the day, which touch, as those of the cherubim touched the walls of the Holy of Holies in the Temple, the remotest east and west, from the rising to the setting of the SUIl.
In that great Messianic and missionary Psalm (lxxii.), whose full radiance is only manifest, like a jeweled cavern, when the "Light of the World" is set in it to interpret its hidden beauties, there occurs a most significant doxology: "Blessed be Jehovah God, The God of Israel, WHO ONLY DOETH WONDROU,S TIDNGS!"
The connection associates .this doxology, by an obvious link, with the body of the Psalm, as though the inspired singer, who foretells this supernal glory of the Messiah's coming and world-wide reign, foresees that all this can be brought about only by the wonder-working God to whom nothing is impossible. The Holy Ghost, moving in the soul, inspires this outburst of adoring praise as a tribute to the grand truth and fact that no future historic development is to display God's power so unmistakably as the history of Christian missions. And so it is. Looking back now over a century of modern missions, the century of organized effort to spread the good tidings everywhere, we can only exclaim, "What hath GOD wrought !" Even sceptical disciples have been c9nstrained to say, like Pharaoh's magicians, "Truly this is the finger of God!"
It may be profitable to trace this supernaturalisn;t a little in detail. The thirteenth chapter of the Acts opens with a divine call to the laborers. As the prophets and teachers in the Antiochan Church were leading the church in holy ministrations and fasting, the Holy Ghost said, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." This is the first step in organized foreign missions. Let us remember that the initial foreign mission tour'was undertaken at the special command of the Holy Spirit. However the Church may have separated these two original foreign missionaries and sent them forth, they are expressly declared to have been separated and sent forth by the Holy Ghost. Here, then, is the supernatural factor as the basis of mission work. God, by the Holy Ghost, calls, appoints, anoints and thrusts forth into the harvest field His chosen workmen.
Now observe that, when from this tour which begins and ends at Antioch, they returned, they "gathered the church together," and "rehearsed all that GOD had done with them, and how He had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles" (xiv. 27). Subsequently, Paul and Barnabas go up to Jerusalem to the first Church council. Being brought on their way by the Church, they pass through Phenicia and Samaria, "declaring the conversion of the Gentiles," magnifying the divine power and grace. Then when they are at J erusalem they declare unto the Church with the apostles and elders "all that God had done with them." Peter, in his address, magnifies God. It is He who .made choice of Peter as the apostle of the keys to open -the doors of the Kingdom to Jew and Gentile. It is He who chose disciples from among the Gentiles, granted them repentance, and put no -difference between them and Jews, purifying their hearts by faith. And when Barnabas and Paul again address the people, a deep hush of silence shuts the multitude in like a canopy, as with awe they give audience, while these missionaries deelare "what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them."
How could there be any more express, explicit, emphatic recognition of the supernatural factor of missions? Here is no parading of .church life, of organization, method, human power, gifts, learning, tact, or even devotion and self-sacrifice. God alone is put before us. He fills the whole horizon. If, in the course of this mission tour, any man has been visible or prominent, now that they have "come down from the mountain," they see "no man save Jesus only." The Holy Spirit calls, separates, sends forth the workers; God opens the door of access to the nations, and then opens the door of their hearts to faith. He bears them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, and purifying their hearts; and, in a word, the whole story of this mission tour is one of miracles and wonders which God has wrought. "They _went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following."
That short history is the perpetual type and prophecy of worldwide missions. They are to be carried on solely in dependence on God. We are to depend on Him to select and separate unto the work His chosen servants. We are to depend on Him to open the doors of access and approach to the nations. Weare to rely on Him to attend the word spoken with the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. We must depend on Him to convert men. We may evangelize, but we cannot by all our ~fforts secure one convert. From fil:st to last the whole work must be of God, and only as He is in it and through it can it be saved from disastrous failure.
vVhen we open the New Testament, and read the last command of Christ, we find the commision of the Church prefaced and followed by a remarkable and significant declaration and an equally remarkable and significant promise: "All power is given unto Me In Heaven and in earth.
Go YE THEREFORE AND DISCIPLE ALL NATIONS.
And lof I am with you alway, Even unto the end of the world."
Is it any accident that this command is buttressed, front and rear, by such divine endouragements? First our Lord declares His own omnipotence; then His omnipresence; and between these He puts the great commission of the Church. What means this but that His righteousness shall go before us, and His glory shall be our rere-ward when we dare in His name to do our duty to a dying world, and march forth to subdue that world unto Him! 'fhe Acts of the Apostles is the historic illustration of the duty undertaken and of the promise enjoyed. Here the philosophy of missions teaches by examples. From first to last this book is the record of His working who only doeth wondrous things. Here is a period of history covering about thirty or forty yean;, the average lifetime of a generation, as if to show us what one generation of disciples can do toward a world's evangelization when the all-powerful captain oJ the Lord's host leads, and His "everywhere" and" alway" presence is their confidence and support.
The book opens with Pentecost-a miraculous outpouring of the Holy Spirit which in a moment removes the impassable barrier of unknown languages and enable!:! each man to hear in his own tongue the wonderful works of God. If Babel's confusion of tongues was a miracle, surely the reversal of Babel-the resolving of that confusion into order-is a counter miracle, and the record of that wonder working of God at the very beginning of that book is highly significant. The book of the Acts stands in the New Testament as the book of Joshua does in the Old. The latter is the account of the wars of Israel against the Canaanites; the former of the wars of the Church against the enemies of God; and in both the introduction is the record of a stupendous miracle. Jericho's walls fall without a blow struck or an engine of war employed; on the day of Pentecost the walls of strange speech instantaneously fall, and make representatives of the farthest cardinal points at once open to the message of the gospel. Can any thoughtful reader overlook the purport and purpose of that miracle? It stands at the very door of the history, like a sentinel at a gate, or a signal flag flying from a turret. It is the interpreter of the whole Book. The Acts of t,he Apostles are the acts of the Holy Ghost-of Jesus by the Holy Ghost. He is displaying that omnipotence and exhibiting that omnipresence, and the perpetuity of that power and presence is to be the warrant for the perpetuity of Christian missions and the inspiration and encouragement of them.
With profound and solemn conviction we record once more our testimony, after more than a quarter of a century of the study of missionary history and biography, that only from a divine point of view can the mystery of missions be interpreted 01' the significance of missions be appreciated. Higher up than the level of the most selfdenying heroism must we get to command this true horizon; and our constant effort with tongue and pen is to awaken and arouse sluggish believers to behold this march of God and fall into line under His leadership and take up the march with Him.
What He did in the times of the Acts He has been doing in later years. How did modern missions begin as a general movement in the Church? God separated and sent forth such men as Pluts,hau and John Eliot, Schwartz and Kiernander, Ziegenbalg and Zinzendorf~ William Carey and John Williams. Take William Carey as an example. That man can be accounted for only as a miracle of grace. No figure in missions more prominently stands out as the product of divine power. In the eighteenth century evangelical religion in America and in Europe lay dying, like a famished traveler. In France the Huguenots had been either massacred or driven out; in Germany and Holland the Reformed Church was already deformed by Rational- ism; in Britain Ritualism and Moderatism, Arianism and Socinianism, Antinomianism and hyper-Calvinism reduced religious life to a name. In some parts piety was an organized hypocrisy or an empty pretense. Just at this time, 1761, a humble weaver of Paulerspury, who with the loom united the offices of schoolmaster and parish clerk, had a son born to him. ;His boyhood was without special promise. At fourteen he was apprenticed to a Hackleton shoemaker, and entered upon the career of a simple tradesman. But God had chosen that "cobbler" to be the Paul of the new century of missions. He was converted and joined the Baptists at eighteen, and eight years later was ordained as a minister of the gospel.
There was nothing in the" environment" or " heredity" of that young shoemaker to hint his career as a missionary. That was not a mIsSIOnary age. He breathed no missionary atmosphere. The Church at that time denied her obligation to the lost race of man as well as neglected her duty. A distinguished clergyman of the Church of England chose the keenest darts in his quiver of sarcasm and wit to· shoot at the cobbler who proposed to convert the world. His own brethren treated his project with contemptuous indifference orpatronizing pity. And yet from the hour of his conversion there was lit in bis soul a strange flame of desire and purpose to preach the gospel in the regions beyond, for which we can account only by a coal from off a celestial altar.
Behold him, poor, obscure, unlearned, pegging away at a boot, while his eyes wander to an open book in which he is reading of faroff peoples, still farther off from God. See him making a rude m~p of brown paper or sole leather, drawing with cobbler's ink a rough outline of the world and filling it" in with such items of information as he can obtain about the populations and religions of the world, and, by shading the various countries, indicating the comparative degradation and destit.ution of their inhabitants. He was heaping fuel of facts on the flame of his zeal until the fire spread to a conflagration and consumed him as it consumed his Master before him. 1784 comes, and under his leadership the" monthly concert of prayer for the world's conversion" begins. Now, for the first time since the days of Pentecost, the Church organizes prayer to God for world-wide missions. From tile fires kindled in William Carey's soul God lights new flames on church altars until they spread over the whole of evangelical Christendom, and on the first Monday of the month there is a ring of prayer girdling the globe!
The next great step is the formation of a missionary society at Kettering in 1792. That same William Carey is again chosen to lead the way. It is this sanctified shoemaker who teaches a lethargic Church to "attempt great things for God and to expect great things from God." Twelve obscure Baptists withdraw to the parlor of the W allis house at Kettering on that 2d of October and draw up a com- pact to organize a society to send the gospel to the heathen. They erect a humble missionary treasury and put in it a trifling sum of thirteen pounds and a half crown sterling; and thus again William Carey is thrust forward by God to lead the Church to organize mis- sions. To-day R. M. Cust, Esq., tells us that there are approaching 250 missionary societies, belting the globe, with almost 7,000 mission- aries from Europe and America, and nearly five times as many who, from converted heathen, Moslem and pagan disciples, have joined them in the work of proclaiming a gORpel of salvation to the lost. To·day the missionary treasuries receive and disburse annually an aggregate sum of over two hundred thousand times the amount laid on the altar of missions on that day in 1792, and all this increase within less than a century!
In 1793 William Carey himself goes forth to India, leading now not in prayer and organization only, but in actual missionary activity -in self giving. He becomes England's first foreign missionary. The Lord of the harvest thrusts forth into His harvest the man of Paulerspury whom He has lleparated unto the work. For a hundred years his example has been the incentive and the inspiration to similar consecration. Thc aggregate number of foreign missionaries who have since 1792 gone into the field is known only to God. No one man has probably the data from which to give that sublime list of men and women who have fallen asleep, or are still living, and who belong to that sacred host; but we believe if that entire roll of living and of dead could be called it would be found to number not less than 25,000! Can any believer look at this missionary century and doubt that this whole work is God's work, who alone d()eth wondrous things?
We have no space, here and now, to carryon this presentation of the supernatural factor in missions. But, were there space and time at command, we should pursue the theme with enthusiasm through volumes.' For the encouragment of others who may be disposed to follow the subject into its fascinating ramifications it may be well to sketch a few of the directions into which the subject branches out, as we think of the divine presence and power in the missions of the Church.
There are two great branches of the theme. First of all, Christ's personal promise, "Lo, I am with you alway," and secondly, what He calls the" Promise of the Father," viz.: "Ye shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you." Between these we are manifestly to distinguish. His own promise is one of His personal, perpetual presence everywhere-at the head of His missionary host, as the general-in-chief at the head of his columns. The angel of the Lord's presence is again acting as Captain of the Lord's host. Such an omni- present, omnipotent chief will of course manifest his invisible pres- ence in three ways: g~tiding, guarding and governing. We are justi- fied in expecting, if the Lord Jesus is at the head of the army of mis- sionaries, that all the movements of the host will be directed by divine wisdom. We shall expect to see a divine strategy exhibited in the whole plan of the campaign; to see movements all along the lines- piercing the enemy's centre, turning his staggering wings-now a flank movement; again a surprise in some new quarter; here a fortress taken, and there a rapid advance made into the very heart of his terri- tory. If Christ be at the head of the host we shall not be suprised to see Him exercising His protecting power as well as His directing wisdom. Especially in the crises of His kingdom He will turn the tide of battle in the very gate. When kings conspire to overthrow His Church and to burst His bands of control asunder; when around His elect band that dare for His sake the fight of the few against the many, the powers of darkness gather, He will interpose to defeat their counsels and bring their devices to naught. Has it been so in the history of missions? Look at the little band who have gone to cannibal islands, into the midst of savages, into the heart of hostile kingdoms surrounded by malignant foes. How wonderfully have they been preserved! Many have fallen because their blood was to be the seed of new churches, and their martyr testimony was needful as a witness for Christ. But who is He that sends forth His great army of locusts, who despatches famine, pestilence, drought to act as His evangelists and prepare the way of the Lord? Who is He that, when Sultan Mahmud had ordered the expulsion of all missionaries from the Turkish empire in 1839, sent death to cut off the tyrant and annul his decree; and who, when the King of Siam, twelve years later, plotted to dislodge all the missionaries from his kingdom, again sent the angel of His wrath to break the conspiring monarch as with a rod of iron and dash him in pieces like a potter's vessel!
Has the Captain of the Lord's host manifested Himself as the governing, controlling power behind missions? To answer this question we must command a wide prospect. The whole century has been full of new developments, which have been so much beyond all human devising as to present a series of surprises to the Church herself. God saw that, in order to the success of missions, there must be an awakened Church, an organized plan, a consecrated band, systematic giving, women associated, children devoted, new enterprise. a return to apostolic faith, covenant prayer and world-wide effort. And right along these lines has the Captain of the Lord's host been exercising His providential oversight. As a new emergency has. arisen a new interposition has been evident. The Church has found in every crisis a higher hand controlling. From every period of despondency or discouragement the faithful few who enter into the secret place have risen to new endeavor and in!lpiration by " beholding the works of the Lord."
But what shall we say of the Promise of the Father'! That again manifestly involves three things, for the work of the Holy Ghost is. seen in salvation, sanctification and service. If the promise of the Father has been falfiUed we shall find throughout the history of mis– sions that God has been exhibiting His grace as He has also His. proviilence. He has separated' and sent forth servants, then He has. accompanied their work with saving power, and, from the converts gathered, again sanctified and separated new workmen for His king– dom.
How has it been? Marvellous as have been the interpositions of Providence, the signs of the Captain of the Lord's h<lst, guarding, guiding, governing-still more wonderful have been the interpositions of grace-appointing and anointing workmen, subduing and saving souls, and reforming and transforming entire communities. Here our pen halts-in the very perplexity of the exuberant abundance of matter that claims at least a passing reference. Again we say, the whole story of modern missions is a new book of the Acts of the Apostles; and there was not a sign, wonder, miracle of grace in the apostolic. age of missions which in its measure is not characteristic of the moile1'n missionary age! From the time that William Carey went to India, Adoniram Judson to Burmah, Robert Morrison to China, J ustin Perkins to Persia, Robert Moffatt to Africa, Nott to Tahiti, Dober' to the West Indies, Eliot to the North American Indians, there have been, in one grand series, miracles of grace among the highest and the lowest alike. Sometimes a thousand have been born in a day;_ sometimes whole communities and even nations transformed; sometimes Christianity has become the law of the land, and idols, once in every house, have not been found even as curios and relics! Theadamant wall of caste, the iron wheel of transmigration, the brazen fetters of Moslem bigotry, the hopeless thraldom of Fetichism, have alike proved powerless to oppose the simple gospel of Christ. The investigator may follow any devoted missionary of the century intoany field of labor, however unpromising, and he will find that instead of the thorn has come up the fir tree; and instead of the brier has. come up the myrtle-tree; and this displacement of noxious and vicious growths in the soil of society by beautiful and fragrant trees and plants which show the "planting of the Lord" becomes, when
1890.J MORMON PROSELYTISM
other signs fail that had a temporary.purpose, "ttOD'S ll:VERLASTING SIGN THAT SHALL NOT BE CUT OFF."
That sign has been found and will be found wherever the gospel is faithfully proclaimed 1;0 the lost. And ~n this day the wilderness and solitary place are to be made glad and blossom as the rose. The field is the world-the seed is the Word of God; the seed is also the children of the kingdom. The Church has only to go throughout the field and sow both the seed of the Word and the seed of holy lives, and we may calmly and confidently leave the result with Him, who, whatever agencies He may employ, is, after all, the Husbandman, and the harvest will never fail. Even the apparent scarcity of the seed and the vastness of the field need not discourage us. He knows how to make the seed bring forth thirty, sixty and even a hundred fold. Missionary histor¥ both demonstrates and illustrates how the most desperately hopeless fields, with the most inadequate force of workmen and supply of material, have yielded the most amazing harvest and- often with such rapidity that the plowman is overtaken by the reaper. Are we yearning for new signs of God's presence and power in human affairs? Here is the grand sphere for such manifestations. He is ready, willing, rich in grace. All we have to do is to go everywhere-break up the fallow ground, scatter the seed of the Kingdom, in faith, in prayer, in tears, in hope; and heavenly dews and showers, with the beams of the Sun of Right~ousness, will make sure the fruits of a divine husbandry!
MORMON PROSELYTISM. BY REV. D. L. LEONARD, BELLEVUE, OHIO. To some it may seem an unwarrantable proceeding, an act bordering upon the profane, to use the pages of 'l'HE MISSIONARY REVIEW to set forth the methods and the achievements of the Mormon propaganda. And, indeed, it is setting such matters in far better company than they deserve. But facts are stubborn things, and certain facts, though unpalatable, we are in duty bound to consider. Fas est ob hoste aoce'l'i. 'fhen no feature of Mormonism is more characteristic. Not to understand its aims and modes of working in this particular is to omit from the great tragedy the part of Hamlet. Besides, taking note of the aggressive campaigns of the elders-so many, so difficult, so full of hardship and peril, we shall be persuaded that thpy are not wholly false-hearted and deceivers, but possessed of large measures of sincerity and zeal, and we can also more readily understand how this sect, so mongrel and outlandish, so fraught with folly, and so stained with serious offences agaim;t the moral law, has so marvellously spread and endured. But more than this, we are to consider one of the most startling and most forbidding religious phenomena in the civilized world in the current centu~. Beyond question the Latter-day Church has sent out more missionaries and made more converts in proportion to the number of its adherents than any other, in this respect far surpassing even the Moravian Church, whose name is a synonym for evangelizing zeal. Nothing less than world-wide dominion was in the eye of Joseph Smith from the start.
The church was organized in April of 1830, and in October four of the neophytes were commissioned to carry the infant gospel from New York to the Indians upon the extreme Western frontier, while in June following thirty took their journey towards the same remote region. In 1831 about as many more were named "by revelation" to make a preaching tour from Ohio to the Eastern, Southern and Western "countries" in part, while the rest were to "ask the Comforter" whither they should bend their steps.
. In 1837 in all 139 took the field, of whom 109 starting together were divided into eight companies, and were ordered to travel towards as many principal points of the compass. In 1844 every ·Congressional district in the Union was visited and canvassed by its share of a troop numbering in all 334. In 1852 Salt Lake witnessed the departure at one time of 109 missionaries destined to seventeen countries, and most of them in the Old World. In 1857 no less than 350 left the Great Basin, while for two decades about 200 was the annual average. For years together upwards of 400 were kept constantly abroad, and in all from the beginning not far from 5,000 American elders have been chosen and sent forth, with enough of native auxiliaries to raise the average to 100 a year.
As to results, within a few weeks of the organization of the church in Seneca County, N. Y., a branch was formed in Broome County, 100 miles away, and before the end of the year another in Ohio, and by midsummer of the year after scores of saints ate found in Western Missouri, while at the end of the year converts were abundant in several counties of the Western Reserve, and Cincinnati was blessed with a flourishing branch. Within three years Canada had heard the message, and every State from Maine to Mississippi.
In 1837 emissaries of Smith crossed the Atlantic and opened a door great and effectual in England, and a little later they pushed on to Wales, Scotland, Ireland, to the East Indies, to Australia. In 1840 two doughty crusaders set their faces towards Palestine; while in 1844 the Society Islands, lying in the Central Pacific, were invaded. The year befote his death the "prophet" declared, "I go in for preparing for a mission through the United States, and from Maine to England and to all the countries we wish. If I live I'll take the elders through and make just as big a wake as God Almighty will let me. We must send kings and governors to Nauvoo, and we will do it !"
In 1848 the tide of conquest reached France; Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Switzerland and the Sandwich Islands in 1850; Germany, Norway, Iceland and Chili in 1851; the Crimea, Burmah and the Cape of Good Hope in 1853; the West Indies, Ceylon and China in 1853; and Turkey and Siam in 1.854, etc. Aggressive faith and zeal had now reached their climax, but all this had come to pass within twenty-five years from the first baptism.
At the close of the first twelvemonth the membership had risen from six to 1,000, eight years later 25,000 saints could be counted, and six years later still, Joseph claimed 150,000 adherents. In Britain for a season baptisms were by the wholesale-entire churches surrendered, preachers and all, and during a period of nearly ten years the annual average of conversions there was upwards of 7,000. After a large emigration to Utah the British church numbered 33,000 in 1852, and the sum of those led captive from first to last can hardly be placed at less than 150,000. In Scandinavian countries the baptisms rose at one time to 2,000 a year, and reach in all about 50,000. An enthusiastic Mormon historian makes the preposterous claim of a round million brought by the elders into the citizenship of Joseph's kingdom! But if his estimate is too large by one half, the results of their labor are sufficiently astounding.
And all the more when we remember that it is their business not only to capture but to deliver the prey at the church headquarters. The undertaking was a bold one when the transfer was but from the Atlantic seaboard to Ohio, Missouri, Illinois. It became tenfold greater when an ocean and a continent must needs be crossed, including the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains. Thousands reached ZiQll via New Orleans and the Mississippi and the Missouri to Council Bluffs, and from thence 1,000 miles by wagon or on foot. But such was the grip of religious fear and hope (coupled with the promise of land without cost, and other material benefits) that at least 90,000 have made the long journey from Europe. rrhe high-water mark of emigration was reached in 1856, when 5,000 or more in a single season ascended the Platte and found their way through South Pass into the valley.
A variety of other features characterizing Mormon missions may be summed up in t¥ statement that from the beginning these hierarchs have affected to follow to the very letter all manner of New Testament precept and precedent, and in particular such as are found in our Lord's instructions to the Twelve and the Seventy. It is in this spiritual obedience that the church has always maintained a "quorum" of the twelve apostles, and also an ever-increasing number of seventies, constituting an order in the priesthood, and from which missionaries are commonly s~lected. The idea was reached at an early day that no saint lived for himself, that "the kingdom" had the first and supreme claim, that salvation was largply for the !'lake of service, and that all personal or family considerations must be kept in strict subordination. Every adherent is to hold himself subject to call from the church authorities, and must go wherever sent. To re- fuse is to lose caste and to make one's self an object of suspicion. And thousands have held themselves as passive in the hands of their leaders as ever did any member of the Society of Jesus. The first fashion was to call for volunteers, but little by little a system of drafting was substituted. The number desired is apportioned out among the sev- eral communities, the selection is made by the local authorities, and the names are sent on to the chiefs. If satisfactory these are read off at general conference, and "sustained" by popular vote.
"Without purse or scrip" has ever been the great commandment.
Each one goes at his own charges, and .no matter how great the dam- age to business may be. To pay salaries would be to wickedly imi- tate the ways of the false churches with their "hireling clergy." Let the elder get to his field as best he can. The first seven that crossed the ocean landed at Liverpool without a farthing. Of course they depended wholly for food and shelter upon the people among whom they labored, and in early times great hardships were often endured.
Then, seldom does a saint take a mission alone, but at least two travel and toil together, Still further as of necessity, in strict duty bound, the sick are healed with prayer and oil, and the devils are cast out as an every-day performance, and occasionally the dead are raised.
"These signs shall follow them that believe," is a prophecy whose fulfilment no good Mormon will suffer to fail. Marvels in every way to match the best of monkish legends are on record, such as healing 406 Zunis sick with small-pox by the laying on of hands, and the cast- iug out of 319 devils in Wales, all in one day and by one elder, and in lots of from three to thirty-seven at a time! Also, if their message was not received, woe was duly pronounced. As far back as 1833, one ·Whitney hurled maledictions against guilty Albany, Boston and New York, which latter city was well-ni.gh destroyed by fire only two years after. Shaking off the dust from the feet as a testimony was for a time in vogue, or sometimes it was washing the feet, but soon it was found wise to do this in secret places lest wrath be stirred up.
Mindful of the same injunction nneovtertoknreosw•t inwgiltyh being merely "harmless as -doves," the elders have cast pearls be- fore swine, or offered the strong meat of the gospel to toothless babes.
On the contrary, they have always and most carefully suppressed un- palatable, though fundamental, matters of faith and practice.
Thus was it with polygamy for more than ten years after hundreds had accepted, in very deed. On one occasion the prophet sent out 380 elders to testify far and wide that such a thing had never been heard of in the church. No Jesuit in his best estate was ever ready to lie more shamelessly and withaut limit for the advantage of his order. As an alleged further following of the New Testament, learning has never been held in high esteem as a needed part of preparation for heralding the Mormon gospel. The great business was to "give testimony" to the truth. This in the form of bold, positive assertions was all-sufficient, though proof texts are handled in a fashion fearful .and wonderful. The elders are not chosen because of any intellectual gifts. Most are unlettered, and many are also youthful. But let it not therefore be imagined that they are suffered to depart unprovided with weapons, both defensive and offensive, or untrained in their use. Every boy is a potential missionary, and is regarded as such in the Sunday-school and in the various quorums of the priesthood through which he passes. Presently he has by heart the tenets of the church, the choice texts and arguments for and against, and he is called to use them frequently in public in the presence of his friends. His piece is :not lengthy, he learns it perfectly and can produce it with vigor on short notice.
Strangest feature of all, and certainly a wide departure from even the letter of the gospel, piety is not deemed essential, the moral cha1'- .acter of the messenger is not much taken into account. So there is no .sort of scruple about appointing those whose graces are far below the average. They are called and sent to give them a chance to see the world and to test their courage and skill facing the foe, to deliver them from evil associations and habits, and even to punish them for transgression against church rule. One saint, a saloon keeper, was "'sustained" to go forth and tell of Joseph and the Book, but before the police were advised of the fact he had been arrested for selling liquor on Sunday.
It was a favorite practice with Brigham Young to take revenge upon any who were proud or stubborn, or in any way troublesome, t to break their fortunes and place them where they could do no harm, by sending them to distant and de~olate regions. That is, to remain lllltil penitent, at least until called home; for the traveling elders never go forth for life, but only for a single campaign of a few months ~r years. At first, when the distance to be gone over was not great, there was a continual going and coming. Next the fashion was to make -a summer campaign and spend the winter months studying in the Kirtland "School of the Prophets." Later still, when Salt Lake had become Zion's seat, and a broad stretch of mountain and desert must be crossed, and foreign lands were to be possessed, the rule was fixed -of choosing at the great April Conference, and for a period varying .according to circumstances from one to three years.
And it is worth noting that if this system of limited terms of service, coupled with constant change of men, results in defective work, through the crudeness and inexperienc~ of the toilers, the great advantage ensues as an offset that the tug of spreading the kingdom is distributed to a much larger number, who receive the benefit of exercise and experience, and are commonly bound closer to their faith, while deep interest in missions is easily maintained at home. Every community contains several who have been abroad; one or more have recently taken their departure and presently will return to tell the thrilling story of their adventures.
We have seen that the Mormon elder is expected not only to baptize, but also to bring home his trophies. And a few words concerning the gathering should be added. It was found soon after the Great Basin was reached that Europe was so remote and the difflculties so appalling of a journey from thence, that something potent in the way of impulse must be supplied 01' else the" valleys of the mountains" would never become the abode of the saints. And so the Perpetual Emigration Fund Society was contrived, which ever since 1849 has loaned or given pecuniary assistance to tens of thousands of the indigent. Companies of emigrants have been organized and led through all the long and perilous journey by those who had influence and knew the way. Vessels were chartered, and in later years emigrant trains. upon the railroads, and so the cheapest possible rates were secured. Fifty dollars would pay the passage from Liverpool to Council Bluffs. And then both the spiritual and the carnal were appealed to stimulate the faithful to transfer themselves to Utah. They were to press on at once, not only for heaven, but also for Salt Lake as a· very important station on the road. And success for a season was well-nigh overwhelming. So many ·would flock to Zion that the utmost of available ways and means proved insufficient. And then it was that Brigham in the plentitude of his wisdom hit upon his famous" hand-cart scheme," and announced it as of origin celestial. The saints were to dispense with wagons and almost all worldly goods, and to trudge the entire 1,000 miles from the Missouri, male and female, old and young, and, moreover, each one push before him a cart loaded down with about eighty pounds of baggage, food, etc. The storms should not harm them, their garments should not wax old,. the feeblest should renew his strength, etc. But, alas, the outcome was different. Mishap followed blunder in long succession. Frost. and hunger together beset the poor wretches in the mountains, and scores perished and their bodies became food for wolves.
Even the failures met with by :Mormon missionaries, the limitations which. beset the progress of that church, barriers to its spread found to be impassable, are full of instruction to the student of missions. As the first suggestive fact of this kind, in every case the elders have made their achievements by working up a "boom." Or, the uniform course of things was as follows: Under their preaching a tide of interest would set in, would rise presently to a flood, and then was certain to subside never to lift its front again. Examples are abundant. In Ohio the craze lasted about eight years, reaching a culmination in 1836. Throughout New England and the Middle States conversions were multitudinous from 1830 to 1844, bVt then by the scandal concerning polygamy cea~ed at once and forev'r. In Britain 1840-55 was the period of growth, for the" sealing" prac- tice was long successfully concealed from the saints over the sea, but from the day when, in Brigham's happy phrase, "the cat was let out of the bag," baptism!'! began steadily to diminish. Scandinavian coun- tries were the fruitful field from 1850 to 1870, but since have fallen off at least three-fourths. During the entire period of the operation of the Edmunds law f~wer converts have found their way to Salt Lake than formerly crossed the plains in a single year. Only a few hard-earned gleanings are now gathered in Europe, the Maories of New Zealand have not yet made discovery of the imposture, nor the illiterate mountain whites of the Southern States.
Originally it was understood that the Indians (Lamanites) were to be gathered in by the wholesale. These were the degenerate descendants of certain ancient saints who apostatised, and as a punishment their skins were changed from white to copper color, but brought back to the faith by Joseph's elders, they were again to become "a fair and delightsome people." But, alas, only an inconsiderable number have become the" battle-axes of the Lord." The conversion of the Jews was also to be a leading specialty. The Book of Mormon told of two old-time migrations from Palestine to America. It was learned by revelation that the ten tribes were not lost, but only hidden behind huge ice barriers at the North and busy amassing riches. In due season, said barriers melting, they were to migrate to the Missouri Zion and share their wealth with their brethren. For also it had been ascertained that in the veins of wellnigh every elder of note flowed the pure blood of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, or other of- the sons of Jacob, while every bishop was" a literal descendant of Aaron!" Therefore several expectant delegations were sent to the Holy Land to reconsecrate it and to make ready fo.r the return. Proclamations were sent out to the Hebrews that the set time had come, but for some reason, to this day and to a man, they have remained unbelieving, stiff-necked and uncircumcised _in heart and ears.
The assault upon the ramparts of heathendom was withheld to a date unaccountably and culpably late. Not much was attempted until the fifties were well advanced. But then, as if expecting that polygamy would supply an excellent point d'appui, and to make up for lost time, a cloud of elders went abroad and great things were planned. It was expected that the gift of tongues would give immediate command of every language, and by the ten thousand pagans would bow the knee to Brigham. But not so; the French authorities soon drove his recruiting officers from the Society Islands. In China the Tai-Ping rebellion engrossed the entire attention of the Celes- tials. From Hindostan went home most lamentable accounts of the measureless and unutterable stupidity and depravity of the natives. No' 'honest in heart" could be found. Even the Turks could not be woed and won by the principle of "celestial marriage." And so it was everywhere. As for the 200,000,000 of Africa, and the represen- tatives of the same race in the United States, Mormonism has no mission to them. The negro may be baptized if he seeks such salva- tion, but may not under any considerations be admitted to the pri~st hood, or receive the "endowment." For it appears that all black bodies are inhabited by spirits who, in that great war in heaven, took sides neither for nor against Jehovah but were neutral in the strife. So the curse is on them, and the church is bound to see that it is not removed.
Attempts to make converts in Catholic countries have been uni- formly and everywhere as discouraging. In Ireland the preachers have never had more than their labor for their pains. A Latter-day son of St. Patrick is as rare as a white blackbird or a dodo.
Once upon a time a little company just from Salt Lake, and with an apostle at their head, climbed a high mountain in Italy, named it Mount Brigham, formed a branch and consecrated the land to the gospel, but nothing came of it. In France, a paper, "Etoile du IJe8~ eret," was started, the Book of Mormon was translated, and a great public discussion was held at Boulogne-Sur-Mer, and that was all. The elders were expelled from Austria, etc., etc., etc.
After years of assiduous angling it has been settled definitively that Utah has no bait with which Papists can be caught, and the the- ocracy aceept~ the situation and wisely transfers the fishers to other waters. It is only in Protestant lands that trophies can be won, where conscience is free and the Bible is held in honor. And there only from among certain classes. The ignorant are won, the credu- lous, those ravenous for marvels, and such as by some hocus-pocus would be saved. "The Lord's queer people" likewise, and his "silly people." Religious cranks of all kinds, the uneasy and the unstable. And worse, the self-seeking and crafty, who, to serve their own lusts and eager for the spoils, scruple not to deceive and then to fleece the multitude.
The final phenomenon, and as striking as any other, relates to the infinite ease with which the :Mormon faith may be put off, or to the frequent and wholesale apostasies with which the career of the church , has been attended. A large majority of those who have received the message and been baptized, after a season of great fervor and zeal, nave sooner or later lost their enthusiasm and gone back to their for- mer state, or too often to something far worse. An experienced
THE GENERAL MISSIONARY CONFERENCE HELD AT SHANGHAI, CHINA
elder of long standing declares that not one in twenty holds out to the end of life. Of the eleven witnesses to the divinity of the Book of Mormon nine denied the faith, and of the first twelve apostles all but two lifted up the heel against Joseph.
In 1838 in both Ohio and Missouri occurred a fearful sloughing- off, and another in Utah in 1869. In the Scandinavian mission 1850- 82 out of 35,489 baptized 11,620 were cut off before emigration. In Great Britain from June of 1849 to December of 1854 the baptisms were 34,592, and the excommunications were 15,587, and in the latter portion of the period the losses equaled two-thirds of the gains. Of the 150,000 claimed for the church at the date of the prophet's death less than 25,000 ever set foot in Salt Lake, while the residue, having had their fill of priesthood and revelation, and of wonders and glories in general, scattered and were heard of as saints no more..
; THE GENERAL MISSIONARY CONFERENCE HELD AT SHANGHAI, CHINA, MAY 7, 1890.
BY REV. FRED S. CURTIS, HIROSHIMA, JAPAN.
To sum up in a few pages the doings of this Conference would be no easy task. Its 430 members represented not only all parts of China, including distant points in the interior, which it requires over two and a half months of constant travel to reach, but also Siam, Burmah, Korea, and Japan. We present a summary of the more prominent practical results of the meeting: I. A more comprehensive view of the work as a whole,with a mutual appreciation of the various methods employed. The most important facts in regard to the various lines of .work pursued throughout the Empire were focalized. It was possible thus to get a better view of the work as a whole than by years of travel and residence by individual missionaries. The free and harmonious comparison of views on the part of one-third of the missionaries of China brought the entire work into one grand survey. A more thorough understanding and a deeper feeling of sympathy was the result.
The purely evangelistic work was emphasized throughout-the duty of giving the gospel to the present generation. That a sufficient number of ordained men cannot be obtained for this purpose, was made the reason for an appeal for lay workers.
Great stress was also laid upon the work of teaching, and it was urged that the educational work be pushed, especially the training of native helpers. The hospital and dispensary work made a fine showing. A single fact by way of illustration: Dr. Kerr, of Canton, in the past 36 years, has treated 521,000 patients, written 27 volumes on medicine and surgery, and trained 100 medical assistants. Woman's work was also given a prominent place, one day being set apart for the consideration of the subject. The following summary of statistics was presented: Foreign missionaries.-Men, 589; wives, 390; single women, 316. Total, 1,295. Native helpers.-Ordained ministers, 209; unordained,l,260; female helpers, 180. Medical work.-Hospitals, 61' dispensaries, 43; patients (during 1889), 348,439. Churches.-Organized Churches, 520; wholly self-supporting, 94; half self-supporting, 22; quarter self-supporting, 27. Bible distribution (1889).-Bibles, 1,454; New Testaments, 22,402; portions, 642,131. Total, 665,987. Communicants, 37,287. Pupils in schools, 16,816. Contributions by native Christians, $36,884.54.
II. A second result was a more thorough understanding of the obstacles to the spread of the gospel in China. Of these, two received the most attention: "The Opium Habit" and "Ancestral Worship."
1. The Opium Habit. Such facts as the following were presented: The introduction of the d~g preceded that of Christianity by a short time, and it has become not only China's greatest curse, but one of the most serious obstacles to the gospel. It is impossible to exaggerate the evils resnlting from the smoking of opium. It causes the rapid deterioration of health, especially the 10Sd of muscular power, shortens life and undermines the whole constitution. The ease with which opium is everywhere procurable, and the facility and certainty with which it may be used for self-destruction, have largely increased the number of suicides. The Chinese, with their revengeful spirit, often for a trival cause commit suicide, regarding this as the most awful re- venge they can take, believing that the spirit of the dead person may continu- ally injure the living.
Opium smoking is spreading more and more. It is no longer looked upon with shame. Legalization has increased its consumption. At first the Chinese made a tremendous effort to stamp out the vice, and refused revenue. Their want of success must be laid to the account of Great Britain. This gigantic €vil now pervades all classes; high and low, rich and poor-Chinese, Manchus, Mongols and Koreans. The estimate for the whole empire is said to be, of the coolie class, four-tenths; of the merchant class, six-tenths; of the official class, three-tenths. The father of the present emperor has contracted the habit within the past two years. During an illness he was advised to try smoking the drug. The result is that the vice has become rooted, and although he be- wails the bad example he is showing to tIie royal family, and especially to his son, the emperor, he thinks he cannot give it up.
This habit so blunts the moral sensibilitv that the Chinese themselves will not trust a smoker and will but rarely employ him. To satisfy his craving the habitue will steal,will sell his wife and children, and even starve himself. The will becomes weakened, if not paralyzed. The government and people, smokers and non-smokers alike, regard it as a vice and a curse, their greatest plague. Not a word is ever spoken in its defence. It would be next to impossible now for the Government to eradicate the evil even if England were to cease her own importation. The poppy is now extensively cultivated in China; the officials use it, and the smokers would get it in some way.
Of course such a habit is a stupendous obstacle to the spread of the gospel in China. The only way to reach the heart of an opium smoker is first to rid him of his pipe. Hence many opium refuges have been opened by mis- sionaries, many cases have been treated in the hospitals, and the .native Christ- ians have done what they could to help. Much good has thus been accom- plished. In connection with this subject, however, one serious fact was brought to light at the conference. Many physicians, missionaries and native Christians, have been unwittingly selling and distributing so-called anti-opium pills, con- taining morphia, which have often resulted in the substitution of one form of -opium for another. This was regarded with such seriousness by the Medical Missionary Association that the matter was, at the recommendation of this Association, especially mentioned in the report of the Committee on Opium.
The entire report is.as follows: .
" }Vhereas, this Conference regards the rapid extension of the growth of native opium in addition to the use of the imported drug with profund alarm; and whereas, the consequent vast increase of the opium habit demands our most serious and unremitting consideration, therefore we resolve: "1. That we, as a Conference, re-affirm and maintain ·our attitude of unflinching opposition to the opium traffic. .
"2. That we recommend all Christians in China to use every endeavor to arouse public opinion against the spread of this evil, and to devise means to secure, as far as may be, its final suppression.
"3. That we advise the formation of a Chinese Anti-Opium Society, with branches at all mission stations.
"4. That we find this increase is largely owing to the indiscriminate sale, and consequent abuse, of so-called anti-opium medicines, and that we now, on the suggestion of the Medical Missionary Association of China, urge all missionaries to discourage, and as far as possible to prevent, the sale of such anti-opium medicines as contain opium or any of its alkaloids. "5. That we earnestly impress upon all Ohristian churches throughout the world the duty of u"iting in fervent prayer to God that He will in His wise providence direct His people to such measures as will lead to the restriction and final abolition of tbis great evil.
,. 6. That we deeply sympathize with the efforts of the societies of Great Britain and else- where for the suppression of the opium trade, and recommend them to continue and increase the agitation for the suppression of the growth and saJe of opiilm."
2. As to the question of Ancestral Worship the facts were brought out that it is a colossal system, firmly rooted. Touching this system we touch the foun- dation-stones of the Chinese empire. It is evident that the worship of ances- tors was practiced at the dawn of Chinese history, and was even then a well- developed cult. Ancestors were believed to be in existence and able to hear. The 242 emperors have each been associated with Shang-ti, or heaven. The ancestral tablet was in use as early as 1766 B. C. Every Chinaman is supposed to have three souls. At his death one of these goes to heaven, one remains in his tomb and one enters the ancestral tablet.
The question was raised in the Conference, and discussed with much warmth, whether it would not be possibl/il to tolerate such rites connected with ancestral reverence as were not idolatrous or superstitious. A very small minority- "Some four or five per cent. of the members of the Conference-were inclined to emphasize strongly the good points of the system, urging that it had incul- cated the virtue of filial piety, had consolidated and perpetuated the empire, .and had tended to keep up the purit! and morality of the family and of the classics.
On the other hand it was clearly shown that it is nine-tenths idolatry; that divine attributes are ascribed to the dead, and that the element of filial piety is in a large measure a slavish fear of ghosts. There are temples where" those spirits of ancestors who have no descendants" are propitiated by the multitudes purely out of fear.
More than this, the universal testimony of the converts is that it is impossi- "ble to practice any of the forms connected with this system without committing the sin of idolatry.
The strong and almost unanimous feeling of the Conference seemed tg be that we have no right to permit any of these forms, but should advise the con- verts to show their filial devotion by more attention to the funeral services of the Christian Church, to the care of the graves and such matters. This advice is most needful since the native Christians are apt to go to the opposite extreme of neglect.
IlL-As a third result may be named: A closer union of the entire mis- 8ionary body in Ohina. Notwithstanding the large number of representatives of different nationalities, various denominations and diverse preferences as to methods of work, a remarkable spirit of unanimity and brotherly love pervaded the Conference. In order to maintain and perpetuate the benefits of the gathering, it was resolved: 1. That members of the Conference and all other missionaries in China set apart a portion of every Satnrday evening as a time of special prayer for each other's success in bringing souls to Christ and that they may be united still more closely in the unity of the Spirit and the bonds of love.
2. That a Committee of Correspondence, consisting of seven members residing in Shanghai, be ejected by the Conference, whose duty it shall be to communicate with the missionaries on all subjects of common interest, to collect and publi~h missionary information and statistics, and to seek the views of the missionaries in all parts of the common field on any subject where they may think united action desirable.
3. That the missionaries in the various missionary centres, who have not yet done so, unite in local conferences or associations, and that each of these bodies select one of their number to correspond with the Shanghai Committee and to act in conjunction with them in carrying out the work above assigned them. 4. That the Chinese Recorder and Missionary Journal and Tke Messenger be adopted as. the organs of this committee.
In regard to comity and division of the field the Conference advised: 1. The common occupation of large cities as bases of action. 2. That societies go into unoccupied districts with a view to the speedy occupation of the whole field. 3. In case of disagreement in regard to the occupation of the field that the matter be referred for arbitration to disinterested persons. A strong desire was apparent on the part of several denominations to unite their different branches organically in spite of the difficulties of distance and dialect. The various branches of the Methodist body, represented by 71 members, held a meeting and appointed a committee to consider plans for closer union. A Presbyterian gathering was also held; more than 100 were present. Seven branches of this church were represented. Of these, two, on account of the difficulties of language and travel, thought organic union impracticable; but the remaining five, which are located nearer each other, agreed to recommend steps looking to organic union between these bodies. It was agreed that a constitution be drafted, based upon the constitutions. of the Presbyterian churches of Europe and America, taking for doctrinal basis the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds and the Westminster Confession. Itwas also recommended that all Presbyteries should form one Synod, meeting, for the present, once in five years. There was also union along literary lines. In view of the lack of knowledge on the part of many missionaries of the existing Christian literature in Chinese, and the great waste of time and labor resulting from this ignorance. it was resolved to appoint a permanent committee to collect information and prepare a classified catalogue with a brief description of books and tracts, to gather and publish information in regard to books in preparation, and to secure writers who shall supply the more pressing wants in any department of Christian literature. Missionaries contemplating literary work were recommended to communicate with the committee before beginning such work. It was voted that a general depot for the storage and sale of all books in the classified catalogue be established at Shanghai, with book rooms at other important centres. IV. Perhaps the most important work of the Conference was union in regard to a new version of the JVord of God. There are in use at present some half-dozen different translations of the Bible, which causes much trouble. Before the meeting of Conference there was little hope of agreement on a standard text, owing to the preference of different missions for the texts of their own translations; alio to the difference of opinion in regard to the translation of such terms as God, spirit, and baptize. However,with the blessing of God, separate committees were able to present, reports which were unanimously adopted by the Conference. By their recommendation three committees were empowered to select three corps of revisers, one to prepare a new version of the higher classical, one of the simple classical, and one of the Mandarin.* In order to secure one B~Dle in three forms, all the revisers are to act in conjunction. That such a satisfactory plan could be agreed upon, was regarded by some who knew the difficulties in the way as a great triumph of the Spirit of God. When the united report was brought in, inspired gratitude to God for the immediate prospect of one Bible for all China, the entire Conference rose, and, led by the chairman, united in singing, "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow."
In its direct bearing upon the churches at home no greater work was done .. The Mandarin is the language of the officials throughout the empire, also that of the common people of uearlyall of North, West and Central China. by the Conference than the framing of the following four appeals for help: One for ordained men, one for unordained, one for womEn, and one summing up the other three in a call for ONE THOUSAND MEN WITHIN FIVE YEARS FROM THIS TIME! God grant that the call may be heard!
I.-AN APPEAL FOR ORDAINED MISSIONARIES, ETC.
TO ALL OUR HOME CHURCHES.
GREETING:-Realizing as never before the magnitude of China and the utter inadequacy of our present numbers for the speedy carrying into execution of our Lord's command, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature;" therefore, Resolved, that we, the four hundred and thirty members of the Missionary Conference now in session at Shanghai, earnestly and unanimously appeal to you to send out speedily as many hundreds as can possibly be secured oj wellqualified ordained men.
The whole of China is now open to missionary effort and needs a large number of men of prayer, of patience, endurance and of common sense-men full of the Holy Ghost and of faith in the gospel as "the power of God unto salvation."
The missionary here encounters hoary and subtle superstitions, a most difficult language, a people of vigorous intellect, with a vast literature and an elaborate educational system. There is need, therefore, of men of commanding practical and intellectual as well as spiritual endowments-men who shall be able to engage in and direct the work of evangelization, to educate, train and induct into their work a native pastorate, to fonnd and conduct educational institutions, and to provide a general theological, scientific and periodical literature.
Seeing, as we do, the utter destitution and helplessness of these millions still" having no hope and without God in the world," we appeal to young men to give themselves to t~ work. We believe that the great question with each of you should be, not" Why shouljl I go?" but" Why should I not go?"
We recommend that the men be sent under the regularly constituted missionary societies of the various denominations, and that these societies search out suitable men before they are committed to the home work.
With the highest appreciation of the claims of the home churches, we still urge young pastors to consider whether the places of some of them might not be filled by men who cannot come to the mission field, while they might bring their experience to spheres of work in China which must otherwise be left wholly unoccupied.
We call upon individual congregations to greatly increase their contributions for the support of one or more of these men.
We urge Christian men of wealth to prayerfully consider the duty and privilege of giving themselves personally to this work, or of supporting their representatives.
Finally, we shall not cease to pray the Lord of the harvest to move you mightily by His Holy Spirit in behalf of this vast and ripening field.
IT.-APPEAL FOR LAY MISSIONARIES.
This Conference, while strongly urging upon the home churches the susten- tation and continued increase of the staff of thoroughly trained and fully quali- fied ordained missionaries and the further development of native agenCIes in every branch of Christian work, is still so profoundly impressed with the mani- fold needs of this vast country, that it would present a direct appeal to the laity of the home churches for lay missionaries; and in doing so would place before them some of the departments of service in which their helpis more especially needed. .
Beginning with the highest service, and touching the deepest need of the country, they would point to the many millions of our fellow-men who have never heard the gospel of the grace of God; and to some millions more, who, though they have possessed themselves of some portion of His Word, still fail to comprehend its meaning for want of some one to guide them in their study of it; and they would urge the claimsof these unevangelized millions on the youth of the home churches, and would emphasize the nobility of the service which a Christian evangelist may thus render to the Lord in China.
The country long closed is open. The people, if not decidedly friendly, are not hostile. The work of the Bible colporteur has prepared the way. The promise of ingathering is yearly brightening, but the laborers are few; and with the abundance of Christian workers in the home lands, surely hundreds or even thousands might be found to hasten on the evangelization of this empire by their personal effort and consecration.
Passing now to the intellectual req,uirements of China, we rejoice to record the progress of missionary education LD the East during recent years; but are admonished by the fact that purely secular instruction so largely tinges the educational movements both of Christian and heathen governments; and in fact we hear a loud call to the Christian Church to supply in larger numbers Christian educationalists for China. The intellectual renaissance of the empire is just commencing, there is an incipient cry for western culture; and the re- sponse which the Christian Church may make to this cry will, to no inconsider- able extent, decide the course which the education of the country will take in the future. .
With Christian men in the chairs of the colleges of China, what may we not expect from so powerful an auxiliary in the evangelization of the empire?
University men may find here at no distant period some of the most influen- tial posts in the mission field; and we would earnestly invite all Buch Christian 'Co-workers to weigh over with all seriousness the question whether they may not more effectively serve their generation in China than in the home lands.
But besides the intellectual need of the country, there is also the chronic and otten dire necessity of phYBical distress. The masses of the people are poor. Physical Buffering meets us at every turn. Medical Bcience is almost unknown. Charitable institutions, though established both by the government and by private effort, fail to compass the need of the masses. Flood and famine slay their thousands; and yet the wealth of the world is in Christian hands, and might by judicious distribution both save the lives of thousands yearly and give completer expression to the Life we preach. On behalf of these destitute masses, therefore, we earnestly plead with the men of wealth in the home churches that they will consider the claims of these Buffering ones, and not only by their gifts and prayers will largely aid the reinforcement of the noble staff of medical missionaries already in the field, but will give them- selves in larger numbers to benevolent enterprises abroad. The blind, the aged, the orphan and the destitute mutely plead for Christian compassion, and the Lord Himelf has said, "Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me."
Weappeal,then, to our lay brethren in the home churches, to men of sterling piety, and of strong common sense, that they would lay to heart the needs of this vast empire-its spiritual destitution, its stunted education, its physical distress, and that they would.solemnly ask themselves whether for the greater glory of God they are not called to meet this pressing need, and to devote them- selves, their service and their wealth to this missionary enterprise in China.
We would offer to them a most hearty welcome to our ranks, and would as- sure them that, whether they come out as ordained 01' as lay workers, this welcome will be equally cordial; and in conclusion, we would earnestly pray that this appeal may be brought home to the hearts of many by the power of the Divine Spirit. (Signed) J. L. NEVIUS, } Ch . a~rmen. DAVID HILL, IlL-AN APPEAL FROM MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED LADIES, MEMBERS OF THE CONFERENCE.
To the Christian Women of the British Empire, the United States, Germany and all other Protestant Countries-Greeting: We, the women of the Missionary Conference now assembled in Shanghai, come to you, our sisters in Christ, with an urgent appeal in behalf of the one hundred millions of women and children of China who" sit in darkness and in the shadow of death."
The work of women in China has been prosecuted at the oldest stations for about fifty years, at first chiefly by the wives of missionaries, but in later years single ladies have largely augmented this working force. There are now ladies engaged in educational, medical and evangelistic work in China. Much has been done by them, many lives have been uplifted from the degradation of idolatry and sin, many sad hearts comforted, many darkened minds enlightened, and much solid good effected. But our hearts are burdened to-day with love and pity for the millions of women around us, our sisters for whom Christ died, still unreached by the sound of the gospel. Beloved sisters, if you could see j;heir sordid misery, their hopeless,.loveless lives, their ignorance and sinfulnesS, as we see them, mere human pity would move you to do something for their upliftin~. But there is a stronger motive that should impel you to stretch out a hel.{>mg hand, and that we plead-the .constraining love of Christ. We, who are m the midst of this darkness that -can be felt, send our voices across the ocean to you, our sisters, and beseech you by th~ grace of Christ our Saviour that you come at Olice to our help. .
Four kinds of work are open to us: 1. There is school work in connection with our various missions which in many cases the men have handed over to the women in order that they them- .selves may be free to engage more directly in evangelistic work. 2. There is a work to be done for the sick and suffering women of China, l.n hOspitals, dispensaries and homes, for which skillful physicians are needed. Most of this work can be better done by women than by men, and much of it can be done only by women. 3. There is work for us in the families of the Church. There are converted mothers and daughters who need to be taught the way of the Lord more perfectly, and to be trained in whatever is necessary for their fnIl development into lively members of the great household of faith. 4. There is a work of evangelization among women, similar to that being done by men among the people at large. It is not claimed that the evangelization of women cannot be done at all by men-but that there is more of it than men can do, there is much of it that will never be done unless women do it, and much that men cannot do as well as women can. There is nothing in this kind of work transcending the recognized scriptural sphere of women. Women received from the Lord Himself upon the very morniug of the resurrection their commission to tell the blessed story of a risen Saviour. What they did then we may continue to do now. But you will ask, " Who are needed for this work? " Knowing the conditions of life and work in China, we would answer that: 1. They should be women of sound health, of good ability and good common sense, also well educated-though not necessarily of the hignest education-apt to teach, kind and forbearing in disposition, so that they may live and work harmoniously with their associates, and win the hearts of the Chinese. Above' all, they should be women who have given themselves wholly to the 'Lord's work and are prepared to bear hardship and exercise constant self-denial for Christ's sake.
2. It is desirable that they should pursue a systematic course of Bible study before coming to China, and have some experience in Christian work at home.
Further, we would suggest that they should labor in connection with established missions in order that the good results of their work may be preserved, and that they may have, when needed, the assistance and. protection of their brother missionaries.
Open doors are all around us, and though idolatry lifts a hoary head, and ancestral worship binds the people as with chains of adamant, yet with God "all things are possible," and mountains of difficulty melt like snowflakes before the rising of the Sun of Righteousness, God is on the side of His own glorious, life-giving Word; we ask you to come in the power of consecration and faith, with sober expectations and readiness to endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus, and take your share in the most glorious war that was ever waged on earth-the war against the powers ·of darkness and sin, assured that God will accomplish His own purposes of love and grace to China, and will permit you, if you listen to this call, to be His fellow-workers in "binding up the broken-hearted, proclaiming liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound."
That the holy and loving Spirit of God may incline your hearts to respond to His call is our earnest prayer.
Signed on behalf of the two hundred and four ladies assembled in Confer- .ence at Shanghai.
Mrs. Mary Lees, London Mission SOciety. Mrs. A. Elwin, Church Mission Society. Miss C. M. Ricketts, English Presbyterian Mission. Mrs. J. R. Watson, English Baptist lIission. Miss L. S. Sugden, M.D., Wesleyan Mission. Miss I. Newcombe, Church of England Zenana Mission. Mrs. E. Tomalin, China Inland Mission.
Mrs. John Ross, U. P. Church of Scotland.
Mrs. W. E. Soothill, United Methodist Free Church. Mrs. T. C. Fulton, Irish Presbyterian Church.
DR. HA.PPER ON THE SHANGHAI CONFERENCE
Mrs. Arthur H. Smith, American Board. Mrs: J. M. Foster, Baptist Missionary Union. Mrs. C. W. Mateer, American Presbyterian Mission (North). Miss L. H. Hoag, M.D., Methodist Episcopal Mission (North). Miss E. ]'. Swinney, M.D., Seventh Day Baptist Mission. Mrs. Eliza M. Yates, Southern Baptist Mission. Miss Laura A. Haygood, Methodist Episcopal Mission (South). Miss K. M. Talmage, American Reformed Mission. Miss R. E. Reifsnyder, M.D., Woman's Union Mission. Mrs. J. L. Stuart, American Presbyterian Mission (South).
N.-AN APPEAL TO ALL PROTEST~'<'NT CHURCHES OF CHRISTIAN LANDS.
DEAR BRETHREN IN CHRIsT,-We, the General Conference of Protestant Missionaries in China, having just made a special appeal to you for a largel;}' increased force of ordained missionaries to preach the gospel throughout the length and breadth of this great land, to plant churches, to educate native ministers and helpers, to create a ChrisQan lIterature, and in general to engage in and direct the supreme work of Christian evangelization; and having also just made a special appeal to you for a largely increased force of unordained men, evangelists, teachers and physicians, to travel far and wide distributing books and preaching to the masses, to lend a strong helping hand in the great work of Christian education, and to exhibit to China the benevolent side of Christianity in the work of healing the sick: Therefore, we do' now appeal to you, the Protestant churches of Christi.an lands, to send to China in response to these calls ONE THOUSAND MEN WITHIN FIVE YEARS FROM THIS TmE.
We make this appeal in behalf of three hundred millions of unevangelized heathen; we make it with all the earnestness of our whole hearts, as men over- whelmed with the magnitude and responsibility of the work before us; we make it with unwavering faith in the power of a risen Saviour to call men into His vineyard, and to open the hearts of those who are His stewards to send out and support them, and we shall not cease to cry mightily to Him that He.
will do this thing, and that our eyes may see it. On behalf of the Conference, Chairmen J REV. J L. NEVIUS, D.D. 1REV. D. HILL. REV. J. HUDSON TAYLOR. l Permanent CommitteeREV. WM.AsHMORE, D.D. REY. H. CORBETT, D.D. REV. C. W. MATEER, D.D., LL. D. REV. C. F. REID.
DR. HAPPER ON THE SHANGHAI CONFERENCE.
[We regard this large and representative Conference of misssionaries of sufficient interest to our readers, in its character, in its harmonious action, and in its loud and thrilling appeals to the Church universal, to fully warrant us in gi~ing additional space to it. And who more worthy to fill that space than the beloved brother who w.ent to China in 1844, and is now the "oldest mis· sionary" resident in the empire, and who can appreciate the marvellous contrast then and now as we cannot, and who, from the high tower of the Presidency of the Christian College of China, is now permitted to survey the future in the light of the past? We introduce his "obser- vations and statements" respecting the Conferenct', with his private note, because of the facts stated in it, and the earnest words by which he seeks to emphasize the action and the appeals of this memorable body.-J. M. S.] Canton, China, June 2d, 1890.
My DEAR DR. SHERWOOWD,-I am fully aware that your columns will be greatly taxed with the details of the Shanghai Conference. I have thought, however, that some general remarks might find a place-some observations and statements of the "oldest missionary in China." There is not a single missionary resident in China that was here when I arrived in 1844. There are three still in China that arrived in 1847. You can easily understand what a contrast it is now to what it was when I arrived. These considerations may add some force to the call for more missionaries. The plea for the several classes of missionaries will stand on their several requirements, as the call for medical missionaries, for laymen, single ladies and ordained men. But let the bugle-call go forth for one thousand missionaries within five years. Let it ring in the ears of the Church. Help them to carry it to the throne of grace. Let them ponder it in their closets and around the family altar. Let the youth hear it in the schOOls, in the academies, in the colleges and in the universities, and in the theological seminaries: "One thousand missionaries for China in five years." Keep this line in your columns every month, till the Church is aroused with the trumpet-call, and arouses itself to good earnest work and consecration and giving; and above all, may God by His Spirit accompany this call to the hearts of those He would call to have a share in this blessed work for the Master. With much esteem and regard, A. P. HAPPER.
As you will receive the full report of the proceedings of the General Conference in Shanghai from others, I will only give some general impressions and statements in regard to it. 1 may say the Conference was a great and blessed success. It far exceeded in the number of members, in the spirit of harmony and co-operation, and in practical results arrived at, all that the most sanguine friends of holding it had hoped for. The very first meeting of the assembly left upon the minds of all in attendance the impression that the Spirit of God was in our midst. This sense of the presence and power of the Holy Ghost increased and deepened each successive day till the last.
We may remark that there has been only one conference on the foreign field where the attendance of missionaries was larger than it was in Shanghai. At the General Decennial Conference in India in 1882, there were 500 in attendence; at Shanghai there were 432 names enrolled. If we consider the fact that there was a greater number of missionaries then laboring in India than there are now in China, that the distances are not so great in India as in China, and that the facilities and cheapness of travel are greater in India than they are in China, it is a matter of special gratitude that the attendance at Shanghai was so large. It manifests that there was a very great interest felt in the Conference when, notwithstanding the distances and the expense of travel, so many assembled to spend a season in special conference and prayer for the conversion of China.
I feel that I express the feelings of all who had the privilege of attending these meetings that they consider it a matter of. very special gratitude and thanksgiving that they were privileged to attend these solemn and delightful conventions of God's people.
There are some things that may be specially considered. During the last forty years there has been a diversity of views among the missionaries, which has led to the use of different versions of the Bible. These versions have differed not only in style but to some extent in meaning. Plans were arranged and agreed upon to prepare a standard version of the Bible to be used by aU the missionaries. This version is to be prepared in three styles-the high classical style, the simple book style, and the Mandarin colloquial style-so as to be suited to all classes of the people; but the meaning is to be the same in all the styles. Thus the division of forty years is healed, to the praise of God's grace.
It has long been felt that something was needed to help the people generally to read the Christian Scriptures intelligibly. This they were not able to do because of their ignorance of the history, the manners and customs of the Jews, ·and of the geography and religion of Judea. The Conference was able, after much consulting and prayer, to adopt a plan for the preparation of an annotated Bible which will give an explanation of names of persons and places, of countries and manners and modes of worship, which are so often referred to in the sacred text. The new version will be used when these annotations are printed in a complete volume.
Thus one great work of the Conference was to arrange plans for giving the Word of God to this multitudinous people in the form which will help them to understand its precious doctrines and the way of salvation as made known in it.
It was most interesting to sit from day to day in this company of missionaries and hear their testimonies to the goodness of God and their experience in the work. There were present persons of every age and sex. The men of gray beards and the youth-men and maidens-just commencing their life- work were there. There were those who were engaged in every kind of mis- sionary work-the preachers, the teachers, the colporteurs, the students, the translators and writers of books, the medical missionaries and the visitors from house to house. They came from far in the interior and from the coast ports. They had every variety of experience-of disappointment and success, of sick- ness and health, of danger and safety, of opposition and of quiet, undisturbed work; and they all wore the same joyful and hopeful expression of counte- nance and joined in singing the same songs of thanksgiving and praise. They all said "The Lord is our helper," "The Lord is our shield and our buckler," "Rejoice and be glad in the Lord," "In the name of the Lord we lift our ban- ners." Not a despondent word or utterance was heard in all those days.
After these forty years of experience of missionary labors and trials, con- flicts and hindrances, hear them as they unite, as with one voice and·heart, in the appeal to Christendom to send forth one tlwusand missionaries in the next five years. Will the Israel of God hear this call from the men and women who. are in the forefront of the battle-who, with full knowledge of the sacrifices, labors and toils which the service demands, send forth this call to their fellow- Christians of all lands, saying, "This is a great warfare in which we are ~n gaged. Our numbers are utterly insufficient for the great work before us. Send us men; send us strong, able, mighty men. Send us medical men and women. Send us those who can 'endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christl' Send us those who will have the spirit of love and compassion to win souls for Christ. Send us men and women full of faith and the Holy Ghost."
Blood-bought followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, will you hear this call of 430 of your fellow-Christians, who represent the 1,285 Christian workers in China, saying, "Come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty!" All can have a part. All can do something. Some can furnish the means to send forth the laborers. All can pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers unto the great harvest in China, with its 350 millions of people. Parents can encourage their sons and daughters to give themselves to the blessed work of faith and toil. Young men and women in Christian homes, in our colleges and universities, will there not be one glorious response from many hearts under the constraining influence of the love of Jesus, saying, "Here are we; send us! We long to have a part in the laborsandpatienee of the kingdom of God."
As I sat in the midst of that assembly, which filled the whole house in which we assembled, and looked back over the forty-six years of my missionary experience, my heart was filled with joy and gratitude for what mine eyes have seen of God's wondrous work in this land. I had seen the day of small things. At the time of my arrival in China, in. 1844, there were some thirty missionaries rflsident at four cities and the British possession of Hong Kong. There were some six native converts and two native ·assistants. Now" the little one has become a thousand and the small one a strong nation. " Scattered abroad in all parts of this widely-extended land 1,285 missionaries are making known the glorious gospel of the blessed God. They are assisted by 209 ordained native ministers and 1,260 unordained native helpers. There are 520 organized churches, with 37,287 members gathered into them professing the gospel; 16,816 pupils are gathered into Christian schools, where they are instructed in the knowledge and love of God. How thankfully I exclaimed, "Behold what God hath wrought!"
As I cast my thoughts on the future I could only think, "What will be
TRANSLATIONS FROM .FOREIGN MISSIONARY PERIODICALS
seen by those who are privileged to see the results of another forty years of missionary work in China?" The workers continue the work with wonderful facilities and opportunities of. every kind. They may expect a yet more abundant outpouring of the Spirit of God. As I stood before that large company of brethren and sisters, and looked into their earnest faces, and saw their countenances beaming with joy and anticipated success, I could only say, "God bless you;" "The Lord be with you;" " The Lord give you to see the glorious triumphs of His grace." For" this handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon." The deep feeling of my heart was and is, " Oh, that I were young again to commence work in China with all these favoring circumstances and this strong band of workers and the mighty outpouring of God's Spirit."
In this review of the work and the results of labor in China, I could not but recall the scenes of labor and trial, the disappointed hopes and expectations, that have been met with by the many dear friends and fellow-laborers ;who have finished their toils and labors and gone to their glorious reward and to receive their crown of life and the welcome plaudit "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord." Some of them finished their course in early youth; some fell while still in the full strength of middle age: and some when they had filled up the measure of three-score years in labors for Christ. But they all have gone to their glorious reward and to unite with "that multitude which no man can number, gathered out of every nation and every people," to cast their crowns at the feet of their adorable Redeemer, and to cry" 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to be exalted thus!" While recalling those loved departed ones how blessed is the assurance that for such" to die is gain "-infinite gain-however great the loss may be to the Church on earth.
The Church may well count the cost of winning China for Christ. This populous empire will not be converted to Christ" except by much prayer and fasting." It will cost the sacrifice of many more lives and the expenditure of much labor and toil and sacrifice and money. It is a stronghold of the powers of darkness. But our encouragement is this: "Greater are they that are with us than they that are against us." " It is not by might, nor by power, but my Spirit, saith the Lord."
Let parents then rejoice to consecrate to this service the choicest of their sons and daughters. Count it all joy when you hear of conflict and trial on the high places of the field. Rejoice when any shall be honored to receive the martyr's crown. "Go forth in the strength of the Lord." "Trust in the mighty God of Jacob." Follow where the great Captain of our Salvation leads His people to the redemption of a lost world, and "Sure as God's truth shall last, To Zion shall be given The brightest glories earth can yield, And brighter bliss of heaven."
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY PERIODICALS.
BY REV. CHARLES C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, MASS.
[INTRoDUCTOY NOTE.-Dear Dr. Sherwood: One of the brethren connected with the Jout"nal des Missions Evangeliques, in a very courteous and brotherly letter, has taken exception to my comparison of French Protestants with German Protestants, as less courageous in criticism of the colouial acts of their Government. He points out that, so small a minority as they are against a hostile majority, a certain degree of circumspection may well be pardoned them, and that while Saxons may charge them with Gallic arrogance, Frenchmen charge them with being sold to the Protestant England and Germany. He assures me, moreover, that various Protestant publications of France which I do not see have expressed themselves energetically concerning French aggressions upon English missions in the South Seas. I am sorry if I have given any just occasion to my Reformed brethren ir: France to complain that I do not sufficiently distinguish them from their Ultramontane and atheistic countrymen, under whom the wise providence of God permits them at present to be constrained. May en- largement come to them soon, by such a blessing on the P.rotestants and Reformed Catholics of France as shall bring this great nation into line with our noblest e/l'orts.-CHARLES C. STARBUCK.] The Dansk Missionsblad for December, 1889, speaking of the first mission- ary account rendered by Paul and Barnabas to the Church of Antioch, "how God had opened to the Gentiles a door of faith," remarks: "When we also look out over the missionary field and observe what comes to pass in east and west and south, in China and India and Africa, we, too, may say the same as Paul and Barnabas, when they returned from the first mis- sionary journey: God hath opened to the Gentiles a door of faith. This is the great alteration, which has come to pass in the last generation, that where there previously were locked doors there are now opened doors for the mes- sengers of the gospel. And we know also that missions are God's work by the fact that God is now opening the door of the world so that missions may be carried on. The work can only be done bysuch men as the Lord calls and qualifies, and in those places where God opens the door for the Word. Weare absolutely not to decide where missions are to be carried on, but to observe where the Lord points out the way. And as there is a sinful indifference to the holy work of missions, so there is also a sinful impatience that will insist on going whither the Lord has not sent His messengers, and has n0t pointed out the way by opening the door. Many noble powers have been sacrificed, many a self-sacrificing effort has been wasted. because Christians would insist on in- truding where the Lord had not opened the door.
" . . . When the first missionary who brought the pure gospel to India, Bartholomew Ziezenbalg, was sent out from Denmark, the voyage from Copen- haben to Tranquebert took up forty weeks. Now it requires forty days. Letters now go from London to Calcutta in from twenty-one to twenty-eight days. Formerly they could be sent, by sailing ship, once in a summer; and if the summer passed without an opportunity, or the ship was wrecked, two or three years might pass before the missionaries had answers to their letters. And what such difficulty of communication signified Ziegenbalg experienced when he had incurred the Danish governor's enmity. All King Frederick the Fourth's personal regard and sincere assurances of protection did not secure him from lyinf half a year in prison in the distant dependency. Nor was he released unti he had signed an agreement that he would make no complaint to the King. And if we turn to the West, as late as 1841, a missionary went from England to Canada. in order from there to reach his station in the interior of British America. But he found no opportunity in Canada and was obliged to return to England, and from there, the next summer, to go around by the glacial waters of the North Atlantic and Hudson'" Bay to York, and from there by boat, to journey up the river 170 miles to Winnipeg. At present a railway journey of two or three days from Canada to Winnipeg accomplishes what then required that long and terrible circuit. And when, three years ago, this same missionary died at his station, his death was known the next day by telegraph in England."
-The BlarI's brief statement of the Lakes missions in Africa may serve afresh to remind us that, according to the law of missionary beginnings, these have not been working fruitlessly-44 stations, 121 missionaries, 1,800 baptisms.
-India has become almost wholly British, but the missionary interests of Denmark are still confined to it. Their two fields are: the Tamils in South India; the Santals in Northeast India. Danes were the first Protestant mis- sionaries in India, and Danes received, sheltered and befriended -the first Eng- lish missionaries in India against the persecutions of their own countrymen.
All, therefore, that has been done by Englishmen and Americans for the cause of Christ in India owes a tribute of acknowledgment to our Danish kindred.
And, so far as we can call to mind, the first Protestant king who was, dis- tinctly and definitely, a nursing father of Christian missions, was the King of Denmark.
-In reference to India, however, the Blad remarks,that although the coun- try (excepting here and there some native State) has been unlocked since 1813, the home has only been unlocked since the Zenana Mission was formed, above all, among the Hindus proper, the Aryans of the northern plains. The Tamils of the south, though Hinduized, are not Hindus in race, and do not seclude their women very jealously, nor do the aboriginal hill-tribe of the Santals.
M. Coillard, whom, with all the French missionaries on the Zambesi, the heathen king Lewanika, of the Barotsis, greatly reverences, writes: " While I intercede with God for this bloodthirsty people, it is also my duty to testify publicly against a warlike undertaking which Lewanika himself had called an expedition for plunder, and so I do. No one shall be allowed to mis- understand our position in this matter. Lewanika, full of attention to his mis- sionaries. had sent to our brethren and sisters at Sherheke six head of the cattle won by the foray, and had courteously designated two of them as being ex- pressly intended for' his daughter,' Madame Jeanmairet. M. Jeanmairet, how- ever, in a letter, in which he warmly expressed his gratitude, set forth to the king, with courteous dignity, the reasons why neither he nor his fellow-laborers could accept any part of this booty. Can it be that Lewanika had expected this refusal? At all events he contented himself with the answer, 'I under- stand. But then what have the Barotsis, anyhow, which they have not ac- quired by plunder?'"
-The atheism of nominal Christians and Christian governments in heathen <countries appears to have reached its extreme in the Dutch East Indies. What the Macedonier says, however, in the following extract, is sufficientlyapplicable to other nations: "The governor of the Island of Cyprus, Sergins Paulus, an intelligent and thoughtful man, was very desirous to hear the new message of the gospel from the apostles. But there was found at his court a Jew, Barjesus by name, who also flaunted the Arabian appellation of Elymas, i.e., the Wise, the Magus, and who sought to hold back the pro-consul from the faith. Him- self unwilling to enter, he wished also to bar the entrance against others. And when our ~'eaders consider that Elymas was not a heathen but a descendant of the chosen people, who, just like Barnabas and Saul themselves, had been circumcised the eighth day, it will then be superfluous to remark, that we must look for the sin of Elymas not only among heathens and Mohammedans, but also, and indeed chiefly, among such as with us bear the name of Christ, and just like ourselves have been baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. " And inasmuch as we meet with the sin of Elymas in a Jew in a heathen island, I venture to express it as my conviction, that the sin of Elymas finds a far more fruitful soil in our East In~ian colonies than in a Christian society. The opposition which we missionaries experience from our countrymen in our colonies may, in form and manifestation, be somewhat different from that which the apostle Paul experienced from Elymas in heathen Cyprus, but in essence it is one. It is.the sin of Elymas-personal unwillingness to enter in and solicitude to hold others back from entering in. And as with Paul, so with us; it meets each of us at the beginning of his missionary life, and in some form or other accompanies him to its close.
. "If European colonists or officials had been Christians in truth, and had let their light shine before men, they would then have been a bridge jor, whereas now they are too often a dam against, the diffusion of Christianity. They do this, it is true, more negatively than, like Elymas, positively, but with a like temper and a like result. They poison the whole atmosphere of influence by their indifferent, ungodly and immoral lives. It is no wonder, therefore, that we missionaries, even with the most strenuous exertion, do not succeed in establishing flourishing native churches in places where there are many Euro- peans."
-It appears that in the Dutch East Indies most of the whites have actually sunk to the level of heathen superstition, making offerings to propitiate evit spirits, and avoiding anxiously the spots which the natives declare to be haunted by them. Having no faith in Christ, they, like the same class among us, easily b~ome worshippers of ghosts. "ContelTIning the miracles of the gospel, as something too childish for the enlightenment of the nineteenth century, they have fallen back into the very darkness of heathenism. If a missionary talks with a Javanese or a Chinese about the Christian religion, he may expect to be asked, 'Have the Hollanders also a religion?' Verily, the Elymas of the nine– teenth century is no less a child of the devil than the Elymas of the apostolic age."
-The despotic prohibition, by the Russian Government, of every manner of- missionary activity, abroad or at home, of the Protestant churches of Russia, cuts off about $8,000 annually from the revenues of the Leipsic Society, an important amount for a continental society. The rising missions of the Finnish Church are not smitten by this blow, as Finland is not a part of Russia, but a grand duchy of which the Czar is grand duke. It has a constitutional govern- ment and a legislature; Swedish, not Russian, is the official language; the Lutheran is the established Church. This prohibition, therefore, does not apply to Finland, but applies to all the rest of the Czar's dominions, at least throughout the Russias. The Allgemeine Missivns-Zeitschrift well !lays: "But all un– righteousness cry to God, and at last comes His hour to set them home. Mean- while, may He grant to the oppressed the courage of confessors, faithfulness to· their faith, perseverance in prayer and patience." .
Persecution along the Baltic and fiendish cruelty in Siberia-the orthodox Czar seems to be doing his best to render antichristsuperfluous by anticipating- him.
-The German Government has given a singular statement, namely, that in its East African possessions it does not undertake to protect either whites or' natives against the attacks of natives, but merely against encroachments of other Colonial Powers! The German dominion in East Africa, according to the showing of the German missionaries, appears as yet to have wrought a great deal of harm and very little good to missions. The German missionaries who are within the English" sphere of influence" express a lively satisfaction in their good fortune.
-The Allgemeine Missions-Zeitschrift remarks that in the present inflamed condition of the native mind in East Africa it ought to be regarded as success enough that none of the stations have been destroyed except Pugu, German Catholic, and Dar es Salam, German Protestant. Besides the hatred borne to· these as being German, they had actually provoked q;estruction by consenting to receive great numbers of fugitive slaves without any adequate provision for their protection. "In the midst of all this tumult and battle-cry a work has been accomplished in stillness which is of the very greatest significance for the evangelization of East Africa: the translation of the whole Bible into Suahili;essentially the work of Bishop Steere and his Archdeacon Hodgson, of the Universities' Mission. "
-The BerlinSociety has in North Transvaal 11 stations, with 2,300 baptized Christians. There the recent discoveries of gold, with the rushing in of the whites~ are threatening a critical time. Pray that a new account of good destroyed may not be laid up against our race. In Transvaal the Berlin Society has in all 11,000,baptized Christians. The most important station is Botchabelo, with 2,310 baptized Christians. The law forbidding more than five native fam– ilies to reside on one estate has been suspended by the Transvaal go,ernment,. and it is to be hoped it will be repealed. It would be fatal to the missions in that Republic.
-The Hermannsburg Mission in Transvaal has in the last year baptized 1,390, raising the number of Bechuana converts to 13,969. In Zulu land the progress of the Hermannsburgers is much slower, the whole number of baptized con- verts here being now 1,618.
-The number of Basuto Christians in the French mission has lately risen from 6,000 to nearly 10,000. The station of Morija alone has received an ac- cession of 514 communicants. The scholars now number 5,314. The Industrial School has been so successful that at the Grahamstown Exposition the Basutos took the prize above all other South African tribes.
-Unhappily the Roman Catholic-we may here fairly say, the Romanist- counter-mission is more hostile than ever. "It patronizes all mannerof demor- alizing heathen customs, which the Protestant mission had 'proscribed' in its congregations, e. g., the purchase of wives. 'Weare, so to speak, assailed in our moral position.' … A continually recurring proof that Ultramontanism is ready to ally itself even with heathenism, if only it can harm the Evangelical Church. But it only harms itself and its own moral reputatiQn." This consideration makes it of vital significance whether here at home Romanism shall poison Catholicism, or Catholicism shall reduce Romanism to its lowest terms. The Baltimore archbishopric seems to stand for the latter effort; the New York archbishopric for the former.
-The Scandinavian Missionary Conference which was held in ChristiOOlia, Norway, last July, was largely attended, having 552 delegates in attendance- 105 Danish, 61 Swedish, and one Finnish, leaving, it appears, 386 for Norway. An animated description of it is given in the Dansk Missionsblad. The three Scandinavian kingdoms together send out over 100 missionaries, and contribute 1,000,000 crowns yearly, or about $250,000. The conflict of missionary effort is greatest in Sweden, where there are 9 societies, less in Denmark with 4, least in Norway with 2. As entire consolidation is not practicable, it was urged that. different Scandinavian societies, working in the same heathen country, shoul" at least strive after a common liturgy, Bible translation, etc. The next Scandinavian missionary conference is appointed to be in 1893 in Copenhagen.
-To us the name of "Hottentot" has by old habit come to signify the extreme of human degradation. But the Missions-Blatt of the Moravian Brethren for February gives a narrative which presents them, as Christians, in a very different light. It seems that in 1810, a. wealthy South African Boer, or farmer of Dutch descent, named Burgers, besides his extensive farms, bought at some distance frem them, in a mountain basin, a pasturing ground of a number of hundred acres which became his favorite resort, while his farms. were managed by his sons After nearly thirty years of pastoral contentment in this grassy and wellwatered valley, he found, in 1838, that he was likely soon to be left alone in it, as his slaves, whose hour of freedom dawned with the first of August in that year, had been so discouraged by him in their religious longings that they would be sure to leave him for some missionary station. He therefore took a great resolve. Surrendering his farms to his sons, he bequeathed his broad pasture-lands, or rather the usufruct of them, to six Hottentot slaves, on condition that they should care for him till his death. When the last of the six should be dead, the lands were to be divided among their children. They immediately established at Biirgerskloof a flourishing Moravian station named Goedvorwacht. But it was surrounded by wealthy Boers, worshippers of Mammon and enemies of Christ. These, conscious how plethoric their purses.
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
were and how lean those of the missionaries, waited grimly year after year, till the last of the six Hottentots, who had been so suddenly raised from the depths into the rank of landed proprietors, should have passed away, nothing doubting but that with their long purses they could then buy up Biirgerskloof from all competitors, and scatter all godliness to the winds. Year after year passed, and one after another of, the six dropped away, until the whole continuance of the station, as it appeared, hung on the life of one frail old Hottentot woman, fitly named Christiana. The hearts of the missionaries grew heavy. But for many years "many were engaged in building up an invisible wall of prayer around Biirgerskloof." At last, December 28, 1888, old Christiana fell asleep, 92 years old. There were now thirteen heirs, all poor Hottentots, some a good deal in debt, to whom the Boers around stood ready to pay twice, thrice, nay five times as much for the rich pasture land, with its plentiful springs, as the mission had any hope of raising. And the courts decided that if one of the thirteen insisted on it, the whole must be put up to auction, in which case the Boers were sure of the result. It must be remembered that the Moravians claim no authority over the property of their members. They can advise but they cannot control, either civilly or ecclesiastically. Not one of the thirteen, however, could be moved to sell the land to anyone ,except the mission, for the moderate sum of £750, which it could afford to give.
And thus Goedvorwacht,through Christ's providence and His humble people's faithfulness, fulfilled its name of Well-guarded, and Mammon retired discomfited. In the various transactions connected with the final settlement, involving the fate of two stations, the Brethren remark that the Hottentots have displayed a dignity, a self-restraint, a submission to Providence, a preference of spiritual to temporal interests, which places them not among the lowest but among the highest of their converts. They contrast their behavior, greatly to their advantage, with the noisy intractableness which the Eskimo Christians sometimes exhibit.
H.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions.
The following is an outline of the pledge. The pamphlet may be ob- Volunteer Pledge recently issued as tained of Walter J. Clarke, 50 East No.3 of Student Volunteer Series: 70th street, New York city, at three I.-The necessity for a pledge.-l. cents per copy; $1.50 per hundred, To secure decisions. 2. To secure de- prepaid. Mr. Robert P. Wilder has ,cisions early in the course of study. treated his subject in an exhaustive 3. To confirm those who have de- and masterful manner. His style is ·cided. 11.-What shall the pledge condensed,vigorous and pre-eminently be? IlL-The meaning of the pledge: clear. The little book is stamped by a " We are fully determined to become spirit of consecration and prayer. We foreign missionaries unless God block are reminded that "spiritual things the way." IV.-The use of the pledge. are spiritually discerned;" hence how V.-Who shall use the pledge? neccessary it is for one to be in prayer The necessity for understanding the to understand the messages which the pledge cannot be too strongly empha- Lord entrusts to some of His children.
sized. "It is the keystone to the arch The keynote of the Northfield Con- of the Student Volunteer Movement ference this year was struck early in for Foreign Missions." Volunteers the session. On Sunday, June 29, cannot be effective and successful Major Whittle preached on " Foreign .
workers, it may be fairly said, unless Missions." Scarcely a speaker during they understand an(~ hf'liE've in the the ten days which followed failed to recognize the fact that personal pernicious, and that those numbers responsibility in regard to the evan- already obtained (the 5,000) represent gelization of this blood-bought world only a small percentage of the men was the problem uppermost in the who intend actually to go into the minds of the majority of the men foreign work! Practical common present. Rev. George F. PenteCost, sense demands an estimate if our D.D., awakened interest in the pro- Lord's last command is to be obeyed posed" Siege of Bombay," an enter- in its entirety. Fellow-students, it is prise in which he will be assisted by our privilege to pray that men shall be men and women both from England faithful. We have a right, the conand America. Mr. D. L. Moody de- dition having been realized, to claim voted an hour one Sunday afternoon fulfillment of the promise:" Being to the subject of" Preparation," ad- confident of this very thing, that he dressed to missionary candidates. One which hath begun a good work in of the most vigorous and stirring ad- you will perform it until the day of dresses ever heard in Northfield was Jesus Christ." delivered on " Round Top" by Dr. A. T. Pierson. With great earnestness It is possible to evangelize the world and power he bore in upon the hearts in this generation. Let us work as of men his own deep conviction that though we believed it, absolutely sure the world can be evangelized in this that the endeavor is well pleasing to generation. our Lord and Master.
Alll)ther brief address is still ringing Foreign missionary meetings were in my ears, the substance of which held on Round Top Hill every other was as follows: "Fellows, we have no evening during the session. These record that a human being has ever meetings were conducted by Mr. Cosbeen converted save through the in- sam, who is successor to Mr. R. E. strumentality of some other individual. Speer, traveling secretary. On Wed- If this world is to have Christ preached nesday evening, July 9, a little meetto it missionaries must be, in a sense, ing of marked character was held on man-made missionaries. There are "Round Top." Mr. Dankowt was the about 85 volunteers here present and first speaker introduced-a gentleman 300 Christians on the grounds. Seize in charge of a medical school in New the opportunity! Strive by personal York city, established for the especial effort to persuade these 300 men to, benefit of men who intend to be forenter this missionary service. It is eign missionaries. He first called atnot hard to win men to this work. tention to the fact that many of the Let each volunteer' strive each day men and women who have gone into during this Conference to persuade a heathen lands have come back to study single man to enlist in foreign work." medicine. "It is barbarous," he went on to say, "that the Christian Church Has not this exhortation a possible should send out people to be removed wider application? Let us turn for a hundreds of miles, from medical assismoment from the Conference to a tance and without some knowledge of wider student body. On a conserva- surgery and medical practice." tive estimate there are 250 institutions, each one of which contains on an Mr. De Forrest, of Japan, underaverage 1() volunteers. Is it unreason- took to answer the question" What able to plead that each one of these 2,500 kind of men are wanted in Japan?" strived to secure each month (estimat- and said: "We don't want people ing nine college months in a year) a with quarrelsome dispositions; but we new volunteer: 10+250+9 recruits= do want men who can get along with 22,500 recruits. The objection is urged each other. We want men that can that this passion for mere numbers is love fellows with different color of skin. Furthermore, we want men with tact and discrimination; men held as he told about its geography who know when to talk about the and the people, "a little shorter in natural and when to talk about the stature than we are," those among .supernatural. " whom he intended to spend his life• He said: "Of the religion of these Mr. Laffin, who has already spent a people, Hinduism is like a glacier that little time in Africa, and who expects comes down the mountain and ab- to return, followed Mr. De Forrest. sorbs everything" in its way. Bud- His face was radiant and his manner dhism is beautiful externally. When touched by enthusiasm. "When men I contemplate this intricate and fasci- {)r women draw down their faces and nating system of religion I am retell me how sorry they are that I am minded of the appearance of the going to benighted Africa, I tell them beautiful wall about the city in which speedily, 'I don't want your sympa- I once lived-a wall pierced by winthy. Keep it.' No country in this dows and crowned by graceful minawide world is more receptive to the rets-and when the sunlight streamed gospel than Africa. I do not know a upon it it glowed and sparkled as village or a town where they won't re- though set with jewels; but underceive a missionary. One church of neath that wall, at its foundation, was 100 to 120 members supports six evan- rottenness, filth and decay." gelists. Can you equal that record in this country? With the native Afri- Spacewill not admitof telling about can God's Word settles any point of obstacles and triumphs of missionary dispute." life in India, nor of the crisis. No other man has been so thoroughly Mr. Griswold, who intends to go to identified with the missionary upris- Northern India, encouraged the men ing as Mr. Wilder-perhaps no other still remaining at home to shine as student in America is better known scholars, pointing to the great need, among Christians, and more deeply both in India and China, of men fitted loved. And so the personal farewell to train native teachers. words, simple and earnest, found a quick and glowing response in the When Mr. Griswold finished the hearts of men that night: "I want to twilight was deepening-it would soon see many here in India some day. be time for the eight o'clock bell to I want you to pray for me and my ring. Mr. Robert P. Wilder was an- dear India." The notes of the violin nounced"to say a few words in closing. could not have been sweeter or more " He expected to go out to India be- penetrating than these last words. fore another year had elapsed," he " Blest be the tie" . . . " Like to said. At his opening sentence every- that above." Never was the old body seemed to be listening expec- hymn sung with more spontaneity and tantly. It was very still: no sound spirit. was heard except the rising wind and the flap now and then in the breeze of MAX WOOD MOORHEAD. a map of Kolhapur which two friends Notes on India, by Rev. James Johnston, Bolton, England. -Indian Church Aid Association.- houses and engineering enterprises. This auxiliary, which aims at the The success of missionary work among Christianization of Englishmen resi- the natives depends largely on the lives dent in India, is growing in favor. It of Europeans living among them. is estimated that some 60,000 British Among the members of the Church of soldiers are stationed in different parts England in Great Britain the signifiof the empire, besictes large numbers cance of these claims is being reaof Englishmen engagep. in its civic ad- ized and enforced. One of the advoministration and in the commercial cates in Manchester Cathedral denied -that missionary propagation in India portance to the whole future of miswas a failure. It might be asserted sions." by travelers through districts where it was difficult to plant Christianity, – Female Education in India.-To -or where Englishmen congregated in read of an Indian princess enlarging large numbers, whose lives neutral- upon the advantages of education to. ,ized rather than sustained the mission- her less favored sex, is a notable sign ary's message. Upon Englishmen in of the times in Hindustan. Not long particular lay the solemn responsi- ago, in the ancient town of Gondal, in bilityof making reparation for the ne- the Bombay Presidency, at the Mongglect and failure of their fellow-coun- hiba School for Girls, her Highness trymen inpastyears to live and preach the Rani Nankooverba distributed the -Christ to India's idolatrous millions. prizes. The occasion was extra jubil- ant because an ex-student, Ladlubai, -DevelopmentofMedical Missions. a child of poverty-suffering parents, -Every year bears evidence to the ad- was first in the examination at the vance of medical missions among the Rajkote Female College, and had releading missionary societies which ceived an excellent appointment as supply an increasing number of nurses the head-mistress of the Porbandar and doctors. At the headquarters of Girls' School. This and similar matthe Zenana Medical College in London, ters gave the lady speakers some instudentsare trained, andsubsequently, spiring thoughts on the accompaniin connection with one or other of the ments and possibilities of education. great societies, proceed on service to "My sisters" were invited to let the the East. Two of the present students knowledge which they had obtained are Syrian girls, who, at the comple- teach them "how to win the husband's tion of their training, will return to heart, how to be always agreeable to their own land as the first Syrian his wishes, how to pa~ respects to the ladies to practice medicine. India, father-in-law and mother-in-law, as naturally, has most attention. The well as to the father and mother, how devoted Miss Hewlett, a fervent helper to behave towards juniors, elders, and on behalf of her Indian sisters at Am- equals, how to keep the house clean, ritsar, writes of its efficiency, and of how to acquire proficiency in cookery, Miss Bose, the first native Christian how to spend their leisure in reading, lady to be medically educated in Eng- sewing, 01' needlework." The Rani land, and now in charge of an exten- urged the benefits of higher education sive dispensary at Taran-Taran. From and the duty of parents teaching Mr. W. S. Caine, M.P., whose free their daughters, and finally closing criticism of mission work created a with the exhortation that girls should storm some mgnths ago, comes an elo- know something of the women who quent tribute. He says: "I believe in many lands were renowned "for for medical work among Indian wo- knowledge and learning and for varimen the three great essentials are a ous virtues. Some are celebrated for knowledge of nursing, of dispensing, their scholarship; some for their purand of maternity. The lady who has_ ity of conduct; some for courage, formastered these things is fit for service titude, enterprise; some, again, for in India. I may tell you that it is modesty or presence of mind; some officially stated that one of the best for devotion to their husbands; while dispensaries in the northwest provin- some have been remarkable for their ces is under the charge of one of your piety; and others for their excellence former students. In whatever aspect in household management." I view the work of the Zenana Medical College, I become the more convinced Generous sympathy is asked for that it is of the highest value and im- ~nss Cornelia Sorabji, the Indian young lady whose university career at the Deccan College, Poona, was so tion of a woman's self-denying love, distinguished. At Somerville Hall in taking the medical supervision of she is now reading literature to ob- the Ambala 1sylum, which shows. tain the place at Oxford equivalent, marked improvement in the condition in the case of a woman, to a degree. of the patients since she accepted the Unable to meet her expenses during charge. the next two years' study at Oxford, her special friend, Lady Hobhouse, -Zenana Missions-English Wes- has opened a fund on her behalf. It leyan Women's Auxiliary.-In speak- is felt that in extending support to ing of "the condition of women in Miss Sorabji a powerful impetus will India," Mrs. Sutcliffe, an earnest be given to the cause of Indian edu- lady missionary, alluded to the cation, to which this gifted scholar 120,000,000 women of the country, purposes devoting herself on return- 40,000,000 of whom were in zenanas ing to her native land. and 21,000,000 widows. Of these latter 80,000 were children between the ages -Lepers in India.-For 15 years the of six and sixteen years. Methodist Edinburgh Mission to Lepers has been Women's Mission Work in India had combating the evils which attend this achieved much success since its originterrible scourge. Along with its pri- ation in 1858, though even to-day there mary work to evangelize. the agents is only one missionary to about each of the society have alleviated the mis- million of the population. It is aperies of the lepers. A bill has been parent that the foundations of heathdrafted especially affecting the va- enism were planted in the zenanas. grant classes. "Retreats" are proposed in which the sexes will be separated. -Church of England Zenana So- The society's secretary goes to India ciety.-At the annual meeting held in to make arrangements for the erection May it was reported that at home there of asylums for adults. These are sore- has been healthy development in the ly needed for the lepers' comfort and number of workers, while in the field the protection of the natives from the there are 114 missionaries, with 62 aswandering lepers who spread the dis- sistants, and 577 native Bible-women ease. In considering the world of woe and teachers. The deathof Dr. Fanny represented by 500,000 lepers, the Butler was mourned over. It is noted most sorrowful problem is the case of that everywhere there has been dethe children. A leading authority on voted labor and a call for medical the question, Dr. Monro, states, "Lep- mission work, while in school work rosy has never been proved to be and zenana visitation there has been transmitted without contact, is not distinct encouragement. In funds constantly transmitted even when there is deficit of £1,743, although the both parents are diseased, and seldom income-£25,817-is £951, in advance affects more than one child in a fam- of the highest amount previously reily." Sir Morell Mackenzie says that ceived. The increased expenditure, hereditary contamination has scarcely it is gratifying to know, has not been any existence. Nevertheless, as early in the home but in the foreign departas possible it is important to remove ment, the fact being that, while in children from the risk of contagion, the ten years of the society's 'existence and in this direction the Edinburgh the income has barely doubled, stasociety is exerting itself. It has tions have trebled and workers have one home and branches for the lit- quadrupled. A worker of seventeen tle ones in connection with its three years' serv~ce, Mrs. Ellwood, spoke asylums. Let the name of Miss Carle- of the great subjection of the ton, M. B., an American lady doctor, Hindu women, and only could be universally honored as an illustra- their Christianization be effected by women. Latterly, zenana work has made rapid strides. Everywhere the This fam.ous field, scattered .over the Khassia Hills and s.ometimes spoken .of toilers were welc.omed with .open as the Assam missi.on, is the crown .of the society's harvest abr.oad. N.o doors. Net l.ong since the native written language existed in Assam at the- inaugurati.on .of the missi.on. w.omen shrank fr.om their missi.onary Meanwhile, the missi.onaries have translated the scriptures into the sisters. Mrs. MacDonald, fr.om South- tongue .of the people. A m.onthly periodical was issued in the native ern India, referred in gl.owing terms speech fer the services.of the churches and musical classes .opened .on the to zenana devel.opments. The sowers, tonic sol-fa system, which the natives much appreciated. The Khassian English ladies, last year increased Missi.on was being strengthened in the directi.on.of medical attendance and fr.om 100 to 117, mere than 20 .of schools fer higher educati.on. By the celebration.of the jubilee.of this miswh.om were h.on.orary missi.onaries si.on in 1889, the collecti.ons had been augmented. Preaching stati.ons numwh.o did net take a single penny fr.om bered 163, candidates fer membership, 934; day sch.olars, 4,134. Reinf.orcethe funds. In the same period the ments are wanted fer Khassia Hills, Jaintia, and als.o fer Brittany. The Bible w.omen's 1'.011 had risen fr.om 139 m.ovement to raise £20,000 in celebrat- ing the jubilee.of the Welsh Calvinto 141, the missi.on h.ouses fr.om 2,275 istic F.oreign Missi.ons, fer the mere ef- fective pursuit .of missi.on w.ork and to3,321, schools fr.om 177 t.o 183, and training .of native missi.onaries, has resulted in half the am.ount being the sch.olars fr.om 6,686 to 7,411. raised and its probable full realizati.on next year,.on behalf .of which wide- Truly the zeal.of the society's w.orkers spread interest exists.
indicated real, her.oic, c.onsecrated de- v.otion.
-Welsh Calvinistic Methodist For- eign Missions.-Meeting in Liverpool in May, this sturdy branch .of the Church .of Christ was largely c.on- cerned with its f.oreign w.ork. Pass- ing fr.om its evangelical labors in Brittany, special attenti.on was cen- tered in the Indian missi.ons. By com- paring the figures with th.ose.of 1861, the f.oll.owing results were tabulated: Churches. Communicants. Congregations.
1861, 6 158 500 lSi1, 16 514 900 1881, 36 2,600 3,326 1889, 78 6,054 8,424 Africa. between England and Germany, and we hope that when a like arrangement is concluded be- THE ANGLO-GERMAN AGREEMENT. tween England and Portugal we shall have- [This is an event of great importsnce in its matters as satisfactorily settled on the coast; bearings on the future of Africa, especially in of Lake Nyassa. the matter of missions. At ilrst English sen· tlment severely criticised some of its provis- The boundary between the English and Gerions, especially the ceding of Heligoland to man "spheres of influence" is to be what is: Germany. But reilections and a full under- known as ''the Stevenson Road," and may bestanding of the details has wrought a change, indicated by a line drawn from the mouth of and the feeling now is one of satisfaction. The the Bokura river on the western shore of Lakepoint of greatest importance is the acknowl- Nyassa, to the mouth of the Kilambo river 011 edgment of the English protectorate over the south shore of Lake Tanganyika. Ger- Zanzibar and Pemba. For Zanzibar is not many is to retain the country north of the line, only the largest city on the African shores and to the Congo Free State, and along theof the Indian Ocean, and the headquarters of ilrstdegree of south latitude, a divergence of commerce, government, and language, butthe the boundary being conceded around the west– base of extensive mission work. As England ern shore of Nyanza, so as to include Mt. has always been foremost in putting down the M'Fumbiro in the British "sphere," and makeslave trade, the practical control of the policy the frontier agree, as nearly as possible, with. of the Zanzibar Government will greatly facilitate this part of her work. Looking at it, Stanley's treaties. therefore, from the missionary and philan- The all-importsnt feature of the adjustment thropic point of view, we have every reason to feel satisfied with the settlement arrived at Is that it throws almost the entire responsi- bility of the continuance of the slave trade 011 England and Germany. Zamibar Is a great. slave mart; England will now control the being made for the suppression of the island. Droves of slaves are annually driven maritime slave trade as well as for the from the great lakes across the equatorial extirpation of slavery itself."
regions to Gondokoro and down the river to The Universities' Mission, which has Khartoum and across to the Red Sea. Eng- made Zanzibar its headquarters, has land virtually assumes the responsibility of thus a firm basis for those operations this country. The roads across from Tangan- to which Bishop Steere consecrated a yika, Nyassa and Victoria Nyanza are also life of so much learning and devoted- highways of slave trade. Forthese Germany ness, and which are still so earnestly must now be responsible. The whole area followed up by Bishop Smythies. The blighted by the slave trade is now open to an mission will now hold' in favorable exercise of authority and vigilance on the part circumstances thi& important centre of these two great Powers which ought soon for Christian education and for the to suppress the awful traffic. training of teachers, catechists and the We quote from the July Church Missionarv native clergy. It is true the great out- l'ntelligencera lucid statement of the "agree- field of their mission work will be now ment" and its relations to the work of tho chiefly in territories under German .great English and Scottish missionary societies rule, but already the report is favor- in Africa.-J. M. S.] able as "to the steady administration This agreement is an important p0- of affairs by the German Government," litical event, and will, no doubt, be much discussed in that aspect, but so that "the spiritual work of the sothere are indications already that a final settlement on the lines proposed ciety is no longer disturbed by wars will be accepted cordially by the German and British nations. Our interest and rumors of wars." Under the Brithere is non-political, although at the same time, looking at the settlement ish flag German missions have greatly in its broad aspect, apart from party, it cannot but be a source of thankful- flourished in India, and especially in ness that these two great nations, the pillars of European Protestantism, South Africa, and there is every reason have found a satisfactory S91ution of questions of territory which might to hope that when the German rule have given rise to dispute and alienation. If they proceed in friendly ac- is firmly established the mission will cord, we have one of the best guarantees that the inner African slave trade enjoy security and friendly support. is doomed, and that the time is hastening on when civilization and Christi- The Church Missionary Society and anity will win the day in the Dark Continent. the London Missionary Society have We look at the details of the agree- also their stations in German terriment, and we give the first place here to the protectorate of Zanzibar. From tories, and they may anticipate the the German Official Gazette we learn that Germany assents to the assump- same friendly support under the Gertion by England of the protectorate over the Sultanate of Zanzibar. This man protectorate. The Church Mismust be regarded as no small concession on their part. Of course France sionary Society has also its special or some other Power may still do what it can to hinder this assumption. But grounds of thankfulness as regards here it is satisfactory to find Lord Salisbury speaking out quite decidedly this settlement. Its work will be in his despatch, June 14th: "England will further assume, with the consent chiefly under the British flag, and of the Sultan of Zanzibar (which has been given), the exclusive protectorate what a wide door opens before it! But over the Sultanate, including the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba_" "The it scarcely belongs to us here to enter direct control and extensive influence,"LordSalisburyadds,"which this on so wide a field. We may only noarrangement will confer upon Great Britain, will furnish a powerful as· tice how much Lord Salisbury's words sistance to the efforts whi0h a1"(, nnw suggest. "Upon the east coast the Gerinan Government has agreed to surrender all the territory it occupies or claIms north of the British sphere of influence. The whole territory up to the Juba, with a coast line of more than 200 miles, is under the British protectorate. The elrect of this ar- rangement will be that, except so far as the Congo State is concernpd, there will be no European competitor to between the first degree of south lati- tude and the borders of Egypt, along the whole of the country which lies to the south and west of the Italian pro- tectorate in Abyssinia and Galla Land." .
Another part of this Anglo-German agreement relates to Lake ~yassa and Nyassa Land. In these regions the Scottish missions have been laboring for years, and with conspicllous suc- cess. The Church of Scot land has its mission to the south of La ~.(> Nyassa, close to the Shire. It is a country of religiously in the balance, our protecfertility and of much promise, but it torate of Zanzibar is of vastly more does not enter into the agreement, as consequence to the interests of huthe British Government has here to manity and the cause of religion. come to a settlement, not with Germany but with Portugal. The subject J. E. C. {)f keenest dispute here betwixt England and Germany has been as to what STANLEY AND THE BRUSSELS CONFERENCE. is called the Stevenson Road. As to Lake Nyassa itself there has been less [We are glad to see that this intrepid exdifficulty; the eastern shore where the Universities'Missions are established plorer, who doubtless understands the present has been assigned to Germany; the westernshores, where the Free Church condition and needs of Africa better than any Missions have been successfullyestablished, are to remain British. The other living man, is in full accord with the Stevenson Road joins Lake Nyassa at its northern end to Lake Tanganyika conclusions of this important Congress, which .at its southern extremity. As to its being a road, if Mr. Johnson, Her has just closed its sessions, as to the remedy Majesty Consul's authority is to be ac- ·cepted, there can be no question. for the wholesale slaughter and devastation Some 52 miles from the northern end of Lake Nyassa have been carefully which is going on in the Dark Continent.- engineered; in fact in the construction two able engineen; were employed, J.M.S.] Christian men, and they laid down their lives in the work. Along this "There is only one remedy for these road a steamer was carried in pieces to wholesale de,astations of African ab- Lake Tanganyika and launched there origines, and that is the solemn combion its waters for the London Mission- nation of England, Germany, France, .ary Society. The Germans here ha,e Portugal, South and East Africa, and done nothing; were they to be allowed Congo State against the introduction to enter into the labors of these ener- of gunpowder intoany part of the congetic Scotchmen? It has been ar- tinent except for the use of their own ranged that it is not to be so. agents, soldiers and employes; or seiz- ing upon every tusk of ivory brought There are other parts of the agree- out, as there is nota single piece now-ament on which we can but barely days which has been gained lawfully. touch. There is undoubtedly a break Every tusk, piece and scrap in the between the territories under British possession of an Arab trader has been influence north and south, extending steeped and dyed in blood. ~very from 1 degree south latitude to Lake pound weight has cost the life of a Tanganyika. On its western extrem- man, woman, or child; for every five ity, this is so far diminished, however, pounds a hut has been burned; for the British sphere of influence extend- every two tusks a whole village has ing so far south as to include the been destroyed; every twenty tusks mountain M'Fumbiro (10,000 feet high). have been obtained at the price of a This is to make the frontier "coincide district, with all its people, villages as nearly as possible with the region and plantations. Whom, after all, covered by Mr. Stanley's treaties." It does this bloody seizure of ivory enhas been agreed that the passage here rich? Only a few dozens of half-castes, for British goods and British subjects Arab and negro, who, if due justice will be perfectly free and exempt from were dealt to them, should be made to transit duties. sweat out the remainder of their pi- raticaI.lives in the severest penal ser- There are two other points of agree- vitude. ment in the CO?1pact; Germany is to be allowed to extend its influence in "On arriving in civilization after South Africa to the 21st' degree of these terrible discoveries, I was t')ld longitude, in place of the 20th degree. of a crusade that had been preached Lord Salisbury is of opinion that Lake by Cardinal Lavigerie, and of a rising Ngami will remain still under the desire in Europe to effect a reform by British protectorate, as its longitude force of arms, in the old Crusader style, is believed to be 22 degrees. and to attack the Arabs and their fol- lowers in their strongholds in central Heligoland forms a part of this Africa. It is just such a scheme as Ang'')-German settlement. What its might have been expected from men -valuels politically, it is not our part to who applauded Gordon when he set estimate. But weighed morally and out with a white wand and six follow- ers to rescue all the garrisons of the Soudan, a task which 14,000 of his countrymen, under one of the most skillful English generals, would have found impossible at that date. The last thing I heard in connection with this mad project is that a band of one hundred Swedes, who have subscribed £25 each, are about to sail to some part of the east coast of Africa, and the fine cloth and fine beads they exproceed to Tanganyika to commence pected to receive for the food furostensibly the extirpation of the Arab nished were not forthcoming, and it slave trader, but in reality to commit seemed for a time improbable that suicide."-Scribner's Magazine. enough food could be got to send any to Nelson. By the 26th, however, "NELSON'S STARVATION CAMP." matters were arranged, and on that day Mr. Jephson,with forty Zanzibaris [The following passage from Stanley's book and thirty Manyema, set out to rescue Nelson, whose camp was reached on givesone of many vivid and thrilling pictures of the 29th. Pitiable, indeed, was the condition of things there. Of the fiftysuffering endured during this ever memorable two men left with Nelson, five only remained, of whom two were in a dyexpedition for the relief of Emin Pasha.-EDs.] ing state; all the rest had either de- serted or were dead. Nelson himself, "On the morning of October 6,.1887, having hardly left his tent on account it was evident that Captain Nelson of his badly ulcered feet during the and fifty·two of the black men were absence of Stanley, had lived chiefly wholly unable to travel further. It on fruits and fungi his two boys had was decided, therefore, to leave these brought in from day to day. Jephson in camp, while Stanley and the other found Nelson sitting near his tent, white and black men-211 in a11- worn and haggard looking, with deep went forward to try to find some food. lines about his eyes and mouth, and Nelson and his fifty·two men were left the latter could do nothing but sob and with hardly any food in a camp on a turn away and mutter somethingabout sandy terrace, encompassed by rocks being very weak. But Nelson recovered and hemmed in narrowly by dark slowly and has lived to rllturn." woods which rose from the river's edge to the height of 600 feet, on the Japan.-American visitors at the bank of the Drumiwi, there a writhing and tortuous stream, making an recent Paris Exposition were astonish. unceasing uproar, and with two cata- I'acts not far away, each rivalling the ed at the educational exhiLit from J aother's thunder. A gloomier spot for a camp could hardly have been se- pan; an exhibit which showed greater lected. Stanley, with his 211 men, started on October 7th. They made intelligence, more thorough methods, their way as well as they could at a funeral pace, marching sometimes and more progressive educational deonly four and a half miles a day, through woods with dense under- velopment in Japan than exist in this growth, living on the fungi and berries they could find, glad even to get country. The recent report of the Japnux vomica, suffering the pangs of unappeasable hunger, all frightfully anese Minister of Education, summarthin, though the whites not so much reduced as the colored men. They had ized by "the nation," is exceedingly occasionally to climb hills, which, in their enfeebled condition, causeli their interesting and significant. There are hearts to palpitate violently. Hunger, followed by despair, killed many of in the empire 10,862 school districts; the colored men. The night of the 17th was ushered in by a tempest the total population being 39,701,594, which threatened to uproot the forest and bear it to the distant west, ac- andthe children of school age numbercompanied by floods of rain and a severe cold temperature. The next day, ing 6,740,929. The empire employs however (the 18th), relief came. They reached a community of Manyema, 62,372 teachers, and there are at pres- Arabian ivory hunters, who had arrived five months before. Here, at ent enrolled in its various schools last, they had food; but alas! they had lost the power to digest it. 'Nature about 2,800,000 children. When the either furnishes a stomach and no food, or else furnishes a feast and robs great reform of Japanese institutions us of all appetite.' The party began to suffer from many illnesses, the was undertaken twenty years ago, the result of the food it had so long been unused to. The Manyema on the first principle of education was accepted day were very gracious and friendly, on the next day were less so, becllillire as the basis of all progress, and noth- ing has shQwn the capacity, intelli- gence, and adaptibilityof the Japan- ese mind more strikingly than the thoroughness, progressiveness, and fruitfulness of the educational system they adopted, and which has now be- come thoroughly seated in the respect and affection of the Japanese people. In addition to common schools in all
1890.J MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS
parts of the country, a seaside labora- piling an encyclopedia. Among the tory has been established on Yeddo teachers in the Japanese schools are Bay for the study of marine life. Ad- nearly two hundred Europeans; while vanced courses in art and science are among the men who have furnished text-books or have otherwise contrito be found in the university. High- buted to this remarkable educational progress are found the names of many class commercial schools, schools of Japanese who havestudied inour own fine art, schools of music, schools for schools and colleges. This record is a the deaf, dumb and blind, law courses notable one, both on account of the in German, French and English, completeness with which a very sulibraries and museums, all form a perior educational system has been part of this admirable system. The built up in Japan, and on account of Imperial University at Tokio numbers the promise for the future which it 864 students, and there is also in the contains. The Japanese are blillding same city a kind of Japanese academy, on a strong foundation. made up of eminent native scholars, who publish a magazine and are com- I1I.-MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD-FIELD.
Ohina. be full members of these. In all cases it shall be left to each individual foreign missionary PLAN OF THE UNION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN or minister to choose for himself one or other of these two relations, but during a temporary CHURCHES. sojourn at home he may resume full connec- tion with his former church court. A Conference on Union, composed of the representatives of seven Presbyterian II. The doctrinal basisof organlo union shall churches laboring in China, was convened be: (a). The Apostles' Creed. (b). The Nicene in Shanghai, China, May 12, 1890. At this Creed. (c). The Westminster Confession and Conference it was found that on account of Catechisms. the diversity of language and the difficulties of travel, the representatives of two churches m. Presbyteries sha.lJ be oomposed of the believed organic union impracticable. After the adjournment of this Conference an iu- missionaries, the pastors and the churches formal meeting of delegates, representing five occupying the same territory. These Presbydifferent Presbyterian missions, was held, at teries shall, for the present, constitute one which were present: Rev. A. P. Happer, D.D., Synod, which shall meet once in five years. Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. (North); Rev. John Ross, United Presbyterian Church of At a meeting of the full delegations. held at Scotland; Rev. T. C. Fulton, Irish Presbyteri- Shanghai, May 14th, it was resolved: an Church; Rev. John L. Stuart, Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. (South); Rev. D. McGillivar- 1. "That Rev. Dr. Happer, Rev. J. Goforth, ay, Canadian Presbyterian Church (in Hon'an). Rev. J. Ross, Rev. John L. Stuart and Rev. T. C. Fulton be requested to present this basis of Dr. Rapper was called to the chair. It was union to their respective bodies for their aprecommended that steps be taken to form an proval, with a view to bringing the matter organic union between the churches here re- fully before the assemblies of 189~." presented and any others who may desire to join them. A plan of union, similar in some 2. "That these delegates intercommunicate respects to the one adopted by the Presbyteri- the action of the respective bodies as soon as an Churches in India, was proposed, and at a practicable. " subsequent meeting of the full delegations unanimously approved. Following is the plan: 3. "That these resolutions, with the whole action in the matter of organic union, be print- I. That a constitution be drafted for the ed for distribution among the delegates." Presbyterian Church in China, based upon the constitutions of the Presbyterian Churches in A. P. HAPPER, D.D., President. Europe and America. (a). That, if foreign S. I. WOODBRIDGE, Secretary. missionaries and ministers retain their connection with their home church courts, they shall Ohili, have no vote in the China church courts, but only the right to counsel and advise; but if [We give below a letter, addressed to Mrs. they sever their ecclesiastical connection with Dr. Asbury Lowrey, whose husband is one the home churchesand submit to the discipline of the vice·presidents of Bishop Taylor's Self· of the ecclesiastical courts in China, they shall Supporting Mission in South America, sent to us for publication.-Ens.] Santiago, May, 1890. Our Spanish work in Serena is progressing grandly under Dr. Canut; we have 40 probatloners and 300 In regular attendance at wor- Miss Rugg, late of the Ohio Wesleyan Uni- ship, patto (yard or court) crowded with versity, writes: "This is work to be enjoyed people anxious to hear the Word of Life. for its own sake, imparting knowledge to Plenty of persecution; but no matter, that others-a.nd this we do for His sake,Who gives don't harm. Bless God for the awakening us such blessed saving knowledge of Himself. shown amongst this people I Oh, do buy us a I constantly feelthat my stay inIquiqueis one of great pleasure and profit. Thongh never esoo, lot on which to bulld a church. There is one wishing myself back home, my thoughts are often in that direction." for saleat another at $1,000; either would suit us, and for either we would be thankful. Faithfully yours, The $1,000 lot Is much the better suited for our purpose. Surely we should have one of these MRS. A. W. LA. FETRA. at once. India. Our Spanish work in Valparaiso in- creases in interest with astonishing rapidity; YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN A.SSOCIATION WORK, its needs are very great. In Valparaiso es- pecially we need a church and one of the best While the first chapter of this history may men in the Methodist Episcopal Church to to some seem only a common place record, supply English work there. Give us the church those who understand the situation sufficient- and the pastor and Methodism will take root ly to read between the lines wili see In it a there at once and flourish. deeper significance and the earnest of untold possibilities. Because this new departure in Communion wasadministered at Concepcion Madras will no doubt be repeated In many last Sabbath;. the church was full and several other cities of the Orient, the record may well joined the society; the Spirit of God was pres- be given more in detail. ent. Thereare now 100girls in the school here. In March, 1888, the Madras Missionary Con- Rev. James Benge, pastor of the church ference listened to a statement by Rev. Jacob· at Iquique, writes May 10, 1890: ()hamberlain, D. D., telling of the magnificent movement he had recently seen in progress. "We have here a properly organized church, among the young men of the United States. consisting of a pastor, a local preacher, a class and Canada for the salvation of their fellows, leader, eight members and six probationers, and of the young men of other lands. He sugall working together in harmony. Our class gested that thoroughly trained and experimeetings, prayer and Bible readings, are true enced leaders might be sent out and supportmeans of grace. Most of our members and ed by the American associations, to organize probationers are present at every meeting." the Christian young men and set them at work to reach their tellows by means of Dr. Hoover is wonderfully quick at acquir- Young Men's Christian Associations, whereing language. He superintends the meetings upon the conference unanimously took the of the native church, which has a dozen or following action: more members and probationers, among them a lad of 17 who has been educated in the "Considering that this Conference has on school and is 1Illed with a desire to serve God. many occasions called the attention of the He gives short addresses to the people. Dr. churches to the existence of a well prepared Hoover preaches in English, and a little in field among the educated non-Christian yonng Castilian; both English and Spanish congre- men of Madras, and begged them to send a gations are good, much interest being shown special agency to work it, it regards this proin religion. posal as a Providential response to their ap- peals, and it will gratefully welcome such Every form of religious literature we offer well qualified, thoroughly trainedagents as the the people is received with avidity and care- American Yo.ung Men's Christian Associafully read. Bible agents sell their books In tions propose to send, and it will give them large numbers; the people seem to crave God's its cordial sympathy and co-operation." Word and buy liberally. This means eulightenment. Responding to that action, I reached Madras on the 9th of January last, and was A few days ago we laid in the grave the body met by Mr. L. D. Wishard, who is visiting the of a lad, of Scotch family, who had been one students of the East as a representative of the· of our pupils. Dr. Hoover, with some 50 of College Young Men's Christian Associations the school boys, went in procession to the of Europe and America. Predisposed as we cemetery, where, during service, the boys sang were to Madras, by the action of the Mission- "Beautiful Home" by the last resting-place ary Conference and other Provideutial indicaof their companion. It was an unprecedented tions, that this was the likeliest point for event in the history of Terapaca, the sweet beginuing this work, we had, nevertheless, left voices singing tremblingly, while tear drops it an open question whether or not the time coursed down the faces of many native born. was yet ripe to organize here. The very day Chillans singing in English a song of Heaven of my arrival, a conference was held with the in a Chilian grave-yard marked an epoch in missiouaries, and, notwithstanding the colher history fragrant with promise for the fu- leges were all closed for the holidays, it was ture. Soon these boys will be Chilian men, decided to take advantage of Mr. Wishard's and the lessous of the grave and the hope beyond will never depart from their memories. presence to hold a Union meeting of ChrIs- reading-room, and actually increased in the tian young men in Memorial Hall, Saturday social room_ evening, January 18th. We held four preliminary meetings, explaining our purpose The membership has grown graduallyand making acquaintances. There were 800 February, 85; March, 85; April, 110; May, 125 present at the Union meeting, and it was -until now, early in June, we number 131, evident that the time had come to fully Inau- who have paid the annual fee in adgurate our work by and for the young men of vance. This includes not more than 100 Madras. sustainiug members, who contribute not less than 10 rupees each. Of the member- A voluntary commitee of management was ship, 48 are I' active," i. e., communicant constituted, consisting of five native Chris- members of Protestant churches, having tians, four Europeans and one Eurasian, seven the right to vote and hold office in the of the ten being laymen_ 11k W. Rierson Arbuthnot was elected president and Mr. J. association; 83 are I' associate" members, so L. Duffield, of the Bank of lIIadras, treasurer. An assistant secretary being required, Mr. J. that it is evident non-Christian young men are Gnanamuthu, a native Christian of Tinnevelly, being brought within the influence of the assojust graduated from the Christian College, at ciation. 84 are natives, 29 Eurasians, and 18 once entered upon these duties. Europeans, proving that it is possible to work on SO broad a basis, ignoring race prejudices, We got immediate possession of the most despite predictions to the contrary. The fureligible building in the city, already furnished ther fact that, of the 84 native members, 34 in part for our purposes. This building, "two are Hindus (of whom 16 are Brahmins) and 2 stories high, eighty feet by sixteen, with a Mohammedans, shows that the association shaded yard in front, centrally situated on the will bear heavily against the' caste barrier. Esplanade, overlooking the sea alongside of The occupations of our members are: Stuthe Christian College, within two minutes' dents, 48; teachers, 23; in Government posiwalk of the Church of Scotland College, five tions, 19; mechants, 6; clerks,10; railway serminutes from the Hindu College, and ten vice, 3; clergymen, 7; bankers, 2; catechists, minutes from the Medical College, is within 2; secretaries, 2; barristers-at-law, 2; physieasy access of several thousand students, cian, 1; unemployed, 3; unknown, 2. many of whom daily pass our doors. Important improvements were begun, renovating The privileges offered are not great as yet. the place, and improving the' ventilation. The reading-room is well supplied with Indian Down stairs a reading room, bath-room and aud foreign publications. The social room is kitchen. Upstairs a room, seating seventy- furnished with games, such as chess and five, was devoted to meetings and social pur- draughts. We have about 100 volumes for a. poses, adorned with pictures, curtains, etc., library; a taste for healthy literature will be and furnished with chess tables and checkers. cultivated, and the reading of young men be On this fioor there is also an office, where directed, if the library is SO enlarged that it meetings of the board and of the committees can be made circulating. We expect soon to are held. secure athletic grounds and to have a compe- tent instructor in the physical department, a. The formal" opening" was on the evening class in vocal music, and probably also an of March 7. Between five and six o'clock orchestra; but for lack of room we cannot there was a musical reception; the rooms meet the demand for other classes, especially thronged with members and friends. The in technical branches. public exercises were held in the evangelistic hall near by, which was crowded with the Since the middle of March Friday evenings young men of Madras, Christian and non- have been devoted to literary and social fea- Christian, Brahmin and Sudra, native and tures alternately. The social hour is spent Eurasian. It was gratifying to find so large a informally with music, recitations, games, number of young men who, f.hough without etc. Our course of lectures on literary and the pale of the Church, had been led thither scientific 8ubjects has become so popular that by conscious or unconscious interest in on one occasion 177 crowded into a room large Christian work designed to further the true enough for only half that number. progress of India. The Lord Bishop of Madras presided, and addresses were delivered Since January Saturday evening has been deby Dr. Miller, principal of the Christian Col- voted to a Bible class, preceded by a short servlege, and others. ice of song. The average attendauce has been 48, Hindus as well as Christians attending, and The attendance in our rooms has increased most of them bringing their own Bibles and steadily from the first, the daily average note-books. During the college vacation the the first week being 15, and in successive class is converted into a young men'8 gospel weeks, 31, 47, 51, 68, 94, 106, 102, 141. Even meeting, in which the members take part. during the hottest weather, many members being absent during the college vacation, the A Bible training class, composed of six attendance has decreased but little in the young men, pledged to invariable attendance and at least three hours' study a week, is being conducted through a systematic course, to prepare workers. At the close of every evening the members ently refused to do. Alone, with no defense of the reception committee conduct a brief save the feeble protest of his brother, he finalinformal service of prayer, to which those in ly consented to have the marks put on for the roomS are invited. fear they would kill him. He is keenly consci- ous of the shame which he feels he bears, and At our first quarterly members' meeting, 71 is more pronounced than before in his purpose being present, the reports from the various to follow Christ. Indeed he assures me now committees would have done credit to any that he is quite ready to be baptized. He needs similar association in the West. Most of the instruction, however, and our hope is that active members are at work on the com- other members of his family may join him ndttees. a little later. To become a Christian here means literally the loss of all things. Those 3,000 rupees, it was estimated, would be re- words in Mark xi:29·30 never meant so much quired for the expenses of this year, inclnding to me before as when this young man and I furnishing. We have already secured 2,500 in read them together: "There is no man that membership fees and annual subscriptions of hath left house or brethren or sisters or father sustaining members. and it is believed that or mother or wife or children or lands, for My the work will become locally self-supporting, sake and the gospel's, but he shall receive an apart from the salary of the general sec- hundredfold-with persecutions-and in the retary. world to come eternal life." Food and water and fire are cut off from the man who dares to The building is already too small to accom- break caste. modate the growing membership,and the management feels the pressing need of another The young Brahmin convert who led our building adapted to the peculiar requirements Young Men's Meeting last week and made a of this four-fold work, and for the funds to ringing appealfor fearless confession of Christ build the association must look to generous at any cost, is regarded by his fl'iends as dead friends in America. and his funeral obsequies have actually been performed. When another of our active mem- The Young Men of India, our eight-page bers, one of my training class, was about to monthly paper, is bearing tidings of this work be baptized, poisoned food was sent him by through the land, and we are now in corres- his own mother. and the road near my bungapondence with twenty-two other associations low was thronged with a mob of 2,000 Hindus, in India. infuriated at the missionary who was to per- form the ceremony. What far-sighted wisdom Already "first fruits" are beginning to ap- Jesus displayed in appointing baptism as the pear; success is provoking opposition-a wel- sign and seal of complete separation from the come relief from death·like indifference. For dead past! example, a Hindu member who has attended evening prayers and my Bible-dass quite regu- Dr. Chamberlain did not exaggerate when larly has shown anxiety to know the truth, at Northfield, in the su=er of 1887, he deand seemS not far from the Kingdom. On a clared that this was "the opportunity of the Saturday evening, about two weeks ago, he ages" now presenting itself to the Young was waylaid and prevented from coming to our Men's Christian Association here in India. Young Men's Gospel Meeting. After being What is being done in Madras can be done struck he escaped, and went quietly home. A throughout India. Calls for experienced genfew days after he came to get an English Bible, eral secretaries have already come from Calsupplementing his Tamil New Testament cntta and Colombo and Allahabad, and other which he has been using for some time; he cities are making similar demands. But the also attended a native church with one of our pressing need of the hour is to establish per· active members. Then a rumor was started manently in a suitable building this growing at Ihis home that he was becoming a Chris· work that has begun so well in this strongtian, and persecution commenced. Last Sun- hold of Hinduism. We are praying for the day he went with his brother, according to needed funds. "The God of Heaven, He will custom, to his native village to attend a cere- prosper us; therefore we His servants will mony for a sister who had recently died. arise and build." Are ye who read this record Sixty or seventy relatives had gathered to to "have no portion nor right nor memoriar' perform Puja for the deceased, but when the among the fifty millions of young men of Intime came to eat they refused to take food dia-so many of whom have English education with our friend, because they said he was go- but are "without Christ, having no hope and ing to become a Christian. They insisted upon without God in the world 1" his shaving his head and putting on the castemark of his god which he had abandoned. He Yours in His name and theirs, was taken to the temple. Excitement ran high. They demanded that he take an oath DAVID MCCONAUGHY, Jr. not to become a Christian, which he persist-
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
IV.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
CONDUCTED BY REV. J. 'T. GRACEY, D.D.
Ohinese Education-Past and Present. China, when he stated that, as his victorious troops were returning to- BY REV. MARCUS L. TAFT, OF PEKING wards· the capital, they could fre- quently hear sounds from certain UNIVERSITY. buildings as of "the humming of bees." This poetical allusion would (Paper read before International Mis- be readily understood by any intelli- sionary Union, June, 1890.) gent Chinaman as meaning" students studying aloud "-a sure sign of peace " Formerly Confucius had young Hsiang Toh and prosperity. for his teacher; "Pai Chia Hsing," or "100 Sur- Even the sages of antiquity studied'with dili- names," is the title of the second book gence. which the youthful John Chinaman is required to memorize. This ex- ,Chao, a minister of State, read the Confncian plains why, although the popUlation Dialogues, of China amounts to hundreds of mil- lions, there are only 100 purely Chi- And he, too, though high in office, studied nese surnames, and, therefore, we in assiduously. this country so often see so many of the same name, as Chang, Lee and One copied lessons on reeds, another on slips Wang. of bamboo; Four other books, based upon the 'These, though without books, eagerly sought Confucian Classics, as well as the knowledge. famous " Four Books" and "Fine Classics," are, in due order, mastered (To vanquish sleep) one tied his head (by the by the patient, ambitious scholar. hair) to a beam, and another pierced his thigh with an awl; These Confucian Classics inculcate morality and teach jurisprudence. In 'Though destitute of instructors, these were comparison with the ancient writings laborious in study. of India, Greece and Rome they are remarkable in the absence of the One read by the glowworm's light, another by vulgar and obscene. Some of the reflection from snow; poetry is truly of a high order. Take an example of an ode, composed by 'These, though their families were poor, did Wan Wang, about 1,000 B. C" which not omit to study. may remind us of a more modern production on a smilar topic: .one carried faggots, and another tied his books to a cow's horn, "THE SWEET PE.AR TREE.
And, while thus engaged in labor, studied with (1.) " 0 I FeIl not that sweet pear tree I intensity. " See how its branches spread I Such are some of the inspiring senti- Spoil not its shade, ments in the" San Tzu Ching," the For Shao's chief laid universal primer, committed to memory by every Chinese lad who Beneath it his weary head, .enters upon the road of learning. Well do I remember the pardonable (2.) "0 I Clip not that sweet pear tree I pride of ;t certain Chinaman at Kiu Each twig and leaflet spare- Kiang, China, who brought his little brother before me to have me hear 'Tis sacred now him recite the" San Tzu Ching." Since the Lord of Shao, Being winter, the little urchin was clad in cumbrous, cotton-wadded When weary, rested him there.
clothing, and appeared hardly old (3.) " O! Touch not that sweet pear tree I ,enough to walk alone. Quickly facing Bend not a twig of it now; about, with his back towards me, and There, long ago, constantly swaying from side to side, As the stories show, this Chinese youngster glibly recited the entire" Trimetrical Classic." Oft haIted the Chief of Shao."
Another peculiarity in Chinese schools, besides" backing" and swaying during recitation, is stUdying aloud. It was to this universal practice that the late Viceroy, Tso, referred, a few years ago, in his report to the throne upon his repulse of the Russians from the northwest province of The familiar lines, " Woodman, These Governmental examinatione Spare that Tree," are thus, by this place a premium upon learning and Chinese poet, .anticipated by over furnish worthy incentives to every twenty-five centuries. aspiring youth to acquire an educa- Throughout China there is no sys- tion. Conceit, conservatism and cau- tem of public education. Many tion were legitimate results of this.
schools are started by wealthy parents contracted, antiquated curriculum of for their sons, and other pupils are stUdy. The ordinary Chinese scholar, allowed for a small sum to attend. with his enormous goggles and long Other schools are carried on by weH- finger-nails, indicative of leisure and to-do Chinese as meritorious deeds, for erudition, considers that he, like the which they will receive due credit in Pharisee of old, is the personification the world to come. of all wisdom. Their conceit is some- The attractive incentive.> to study thing prodigious. Nearly ten years.
are honor, office and immunity from ago, shortly after my arrival in China, corporal punishment,obtained through as I was studying with one of these> the civil servive examinations. DiS- literati as my teacher, we came to a.
trict, provincial and national exami- point where I could not comprehend nations, if successfully passed, open what he was trying to explain. Since the door to rank and office. Nearly he could speak no English and my all youths in the empire may compete knowledge of Chinese at that time> inthesepublicexaminations. Through- was very limited, he resorted to the out China there is no aristocracy of object method of instruction. He wealth, rank or caste. Only the aris- was endeavoring to explain the differ- tocracy of intellect prevails. The son ence between China and foreign coun- of a poor coolie as well as the son of tries. So he drew a large circle, and a rich mandarin may alike compete in inside wrote "Middle Kingdom"- this intellectual tournament. Who- one of the namE'S for China, and over'
ever succeeds, whether of a rich or the rim of this large circle he drew a poor lineage, may, provided he has very small circle, markingit " Outside the brains, attain a pqsition next to Countries;" His notion was that the emperor himself. This, in fact, is China, the;' Middle Kingdom," com- the ballot of the Chinese. This system prised all the best poI'tion of the· of competitiveexaminations, in opera- world, and over the bordt!r of this, tion during nearly thirteen centuries, where no one would live if he could has done more to maintain the integ- possibly help it-why, there were the rity of the ChinE'se empire than any United States, England, France, Ger- other factor, excepting, perhaps, filial many, Russia and all other foreign piety, to which God attached the first countries.
promise in the Decalouge. Conservatism is also a natural result.
Most remarkable has been the loyalty of their educational training. The of the Chinese literati. During that Chinese seem to think that whatever long and bloody Tai Ping Rebellion was good enough for their illus- " not one imperial official voluntarily trious sage, Confucius, who lived joined the Tai Pings, while hundreds about five centuries before Christ, is died resisting them" (v. Villiams' good enough for them to-day. To- "Middle Kingdom," Revised Edition, alter now what suited him then would Vol. I., p. 563). Compare such unani- be irreverence. As an instance of this.
mous loyalty of Chinese officials with look at the springless, seatless, rude some of the graduates of West Point cart of North China to-day. This and Annapolis during our late Civil conservatism especially manifests it- War, and the contrast will be more self against any innovation in morals evident. and religion. Hence the intense hostility towards the Christian religion on ous wealth, into the possession of a British Queen, who lives on a little the part of these same literati. island far away on the other side of the world. They do not at all desire Throughout the Chinese empire, these that a single square foot of Chinese soil shall be owned by any foreign literati, and not the Buddhist and Power. Therefore, eight years ago, on the introduction of the telegraph Taoist priests, have been the most via- into China, the Chinese would only em- ploy foreign experts from one of the lent opponents of Christianity. Ifany- smaller Powers of Europe, even Den- mark, so that every foreigner engaged one will take the trouble to investigate in the ereotion of the telegraph lines in China was a Dane. With reference the various riots in connection with to railroads a similar policy has been adopted. Syndicates in Great Britain, mission work which have occurred in France, Germany and the United States have sent their representatives widely separated sections of China, he to China in order obtain grantS for the construction of railroads. The will almost invariably find that these urbane Chinese mandarin received them very politely, but not the slight- Chinese literati have been the chief est concession would he grant any of them. After a brief interview, they instigators of these disturbances. They were ushered out of his presence and politely but plainly shown the way to· do not always show their hands. They their respective native lands.
usually stir up the lewd fellows of the China's enlightened statesmen want railroads, but only on the conbaser sort to perform this menial work dition that China shall control them. She may employ foreign engineers and for them, while they stand by and mechanics, but the railroad must be under her exclusive control. Such is. urge them on to their dastardly deeds.. their great caution, which, in some re- spects, rather deserves commendation Who, a few years ago, started the than condemnation.
riot in Chung-King, in West China, Notwithstanding this conceit, con- servatism, and caution, the shriek of when the Gamewells, Lewises and the locomotive and the glare of the electric light are causing these Chineseother missionaries with their families Rip Van Winkles to wake up from the slumber of centuries. Within three had their houses torn down by a mob, years modern science, mathematics, history and kindred studies have been and who, after an imprisonment of placed upon the list of examinatlOns. In the autumnal examinations of 1888 nearly two weeks, escaped at midnight in Peking, a further advance was· made. "For the first time in this exfrom the Ohinese yamen' Who, time amination a large premium was placed upon a knowledge of mathe– and again, have caused missionaries matics and Western sciences. Previ-· ous to the time for entering the lists, of the China Inland Mission to be proclamations were posted in the· driven by mobs out of their houses in Honan and Hunan? Who, in the lat- est instance of the kind, pulled that Baptist missionary out of his house in Shantung, "dragging him into the street by the hair of his head, tramp- ling him under their feet and leaving him there almost dead? Who were the instigators of all these and scores of similar riots in all parts of China?
No other auswer can be given than the Chinese literati. Such is their hostility developed out of their intense conservatism. • Again, excessive caution is another result of their educational system.
Since the influential officials have be- gun to investigate the history of for- eign nations, they are very cautious in making changes. Their leading statesmen are well posted concerning India. They know how India, after having been seized upon by Portugal and France, has at last come, with its enormous population and prodigigates, announcing that this much- ate at Edinburgh and ranked high sought-for honor would be bestowed as a physician at Canton; Hon. Yung upon five per cent. of those who Wing was the originator of the Chinshowed proficiency in these studies; ese Educational Commission to the whereas in the case of students from United States. Their headquarters the province at large, who, after the were at Hartford, Conn., but these order of the old regime, submitted to Chinese students, after a few years of examinations in the classics only, but study in New England, were sumone per cent. would receive the de- marily recalled to China. Now they gree." are filling influential positions in the Chinese army and navy, in the Since the iniquitious Opium War of telegraph offices, in the medical 1841-4.2, China, perceiving the superi- profession and in foreign consulates ority of Western science, has estab- and embassies. Tong King Sing is lished arsenals and technical schools president of the China Merchant for military and naval tactics, Steamship Company, and the leading medicine, telegraphy, and other director, withViceroy Li Hung Chang, Western sciences at Foochow, Shang- in the newly constructed railroad from hai, Nanking, and Tientsin, as well as the Kai-Ping coal mines to Tientsinthe Imperial College, Tung Wen about eighty miles in length. These Kuan, at Peking, where some 100 Chi- are some of the results of the "Morrinese students are prepared to act as son Educational Society," organized interpreters and consuls, under the before conservative China began to apefficient leadership of that eminent preciate and appropriate modern sci- American sinologue, Rev. W. A. P. ence from the West. Martin, D.D., LL.D. All of the Governmental institutions are secular, Since Morrison's day, Christian eduthe Bible and Christianity being rigor- cation in China, started by his wise ously excluded from the course of in- foresight, has made marvellous strides. .struction. Institutions, where only the vernacu- lar has been used in teaching West- Robert Morrison, the far-sighted ern learning, have been in successful and clear-headed pioneer of Protes- operation on many mission fields, tant missions in China, inaugurated notably atSwatow, Tungchowfu, and both educational and medical work, Tungcho in Chihli. Other Protestant as able auxiliaries in evangelizing that institutions oflearning have combined empire. In the light of recent events the study of English with Chinese, as the wisdom of his planning is most in the ChristianUniversity at Canton, manifest. For thorough mission-work, in the Foochow University, in the there should be an indissoluble union Shanghai College and in the Peking ·of body, mind and heart. Christianity University. must have possession of the whole man. In all these Christian schools, a great door and effectual is to- Dr. Morrison, clearly seeing this, day opportunely opened for the established both educational and medi- thinking classes of China. These cal auxiliaries for Chinese evangeliz- literati, recruited from all grades of ation many years before the Opium the Chinese population, have all along War. Also, antedating that epoch, been our most bitter opponents. Since there was organized in his honor' 'The the recent radical departure of the Morrison Educational Society," with Government in placing Western Dr. S. R. Brown as first instructor. If science upon the examination lists, Dr. Wang, Hon. Yung Wing and these ambitious scholars have ascer- Tong King Sing were the only pupils, tained that Christian Anglo-Chinese the work of that society was surely schools could provide them with the not in vain. Dr. Wang was agradueagerly desired Western science. They tainty the life beyond the grave. have loudly knocked at these Chris- Philosophers of all nations may surtian halls of learning, asking admis- mise and speculate, but, as Gibbon sion. All available room has been camlidly stated in his famous fifteenth quickly taken. At present, worthy chapter, "It was still necessary that applicants, willing to pay tuition and the doctrine of life and immortality, support themselves, especially at Pe- which had been dictated by nature, king, have had to be turned away, sim- approved by reason, and received by ply for lack of accommodation. superstition, should obtain the sanction of divine truth from the authority and Merely secular education will never example of Christ." rescue China from her heathenism and atheism. Allowing to Confucian- Clearly appreciating the present nism all the moral and political excel- educationalcrisis of missions in China, lence it deserves, there still remains contrasting the intense hostility to "an aching void." In it exists no Christian education in Turkey, and self-renunciating love, no forgive- remembering Christ's farewell comness of sin, and no hope of immor- mand, " Go, teach!" the faithful Protality. testant missionary in China to-day gladly employs Christian education as The negative maxim, "Whatsoever the right arm for evangelizing China's ye would not that men should do to millions. to you, do not do them," is sometimes called the Silver Rule of Confucius, in The Evolution of a Missionary Society. comparison with the positive law of love, the Golden Rule of Christ. One BY REV. JAMES MUDGE. is negative and passive; the other is positive and active. One is as the It has for some time seemed to me priest and Levite, who do no harm, that since the International Missionary but sympathetically pass by on the Union was also, in the most emphatic other side; the other is as the Good sense, interdenominational, it would Samaritan, who at the sight of the be highly fitting that there be presuffering traveler, at once dismounts, sented at its annual meetings a series binds up his wounds, places him upon of papers setting forth somewhat in his own beast of burden, and makes detail the internal organization of the arrangements for his comfort at the various societies, together with the inn. One is like the moonlight, sil- changes, if any, that have taken place very and clear, but cool and chilly; since their formation. Such a series The other is like the genial warm sun- would be especially timely just now shine, with its invigorating radiance in view of the fact that the oldest at noon-day. American society is casting about for the wisest method of so modifying her Once a disciple of Confucius came constitution as to bring herself more to this conservative sage and asked fully en rapport with her constituency. him concerning sin. The only conso- By way of a beginning in this direclation Confucius gave him was this: tion, and as affording in a compact " He who sins against heaven has no compass information not easily accesone to whom he can pray." At sible to all, I present the following another time a disciple of his inquired sketch of the manner in which the concerning the future life. Confu- missionary society of the Methodist cius replied, "If we know not the Episcopal Church has reached its present life how can we know the present position. future life?" Honest words, frankly spoken! No man, however wise in It has undergone what may not inthis world's wisdom, can, unaided by aptly, perhaps, be styled a process of divine revelation, describe with cer- evolution. Like Methodism itself it has gradually developed, adapting itself to circumstances and undergo- meeting. A committee from that ing a variety of changes, passing on meeting, composed of Nathan Bangs, from point to point as Providence ap- Freeborn Garrettson and Laban Clark, peared to direct and the wisdom of drew up its constitution, which was experience to dictate. It has not formally adopted at a large public probably yet attained in all respects gathering held in Forsyth street perfection's height, but in most par- church, April 5, 1819, and a full set of ticulars it affords an admirable ex- officers was elected. The ensuing ample of close approximation to the general conference sanctioned the ideal. scheme and recommended all other Previous to 1872 its membership, as Methodist missionary societies, nota- in so many other societies even at the bly the one at Philadelphia, which present day, rested on a purely finan- was of older date, to become auxiliary cial basis. The society up to that time to this at New York. But it was more consisted exclusively of life members, than twenty years before these two made such by the payment of twenty societies really united. Norw~ it till dollars. No others belonged. Twenty- 1836 that the missionary society be- five of these members constituted a came of sufficient,.importance to have quorum for the transaction of busi- a resident corresponding secretary ness. And at the annual meeting, of who should give his entire time to its such members as might choose to come service. Dr. Nathan Bangs was ap- together in the city of New York on pointed. He had from the beginning, the third Monday of November, there without salary orcompensation of any was chosen the full board of man- kind, conducted almost all its busi- agers in whom was vested the entire ness, writing every annual report but disposition of the affairs and property . one; and holding in himself the most of the society. Rather a loose arrange- of its life-blood. Dr. Bangs was ment it would seem. These managers chosen by the general conference, as consisted of thirty-two laymen, and, have been all subsequent correspond- after 1856, of no more than thirty-two ing secretaries, although, until the ministers, although before that all abolition of the old" society" in 1873, Qrdained ministers, both traveling and it went through the legal form of re- local, who were·members of the society electing them at its regular annual were also members of the board. This meeting. From 1836 to 1844 the cor- made it, by the necessities of the case, responding secretary had to be a mem- largely a local affair, and to some ex- ber of the New York Conference, tent, legally at least, independent of which was charged with his super- all church authority. Yet from the vision.
first its promoters earnestly endeavored In 1844 a very important step was to give it a connectional character, taken in the direction of generalizing and partly succeeded. They groped the management. It was in this year their way steadily toward the true that the church was divided into mis- theory and method, dropping off one sion districts, and there was formed erroneous feature after another, fol- from these the general missionary lowing the leadings of the Lord, and committee, appointed by the bishops, moving forward as fast, perhaps, as to whom was given a share in the the church in general was prepared to control, conjointly with the board.
accompany them, until they came at In 1856 the clerical managers were re- length to the fully developed system. stricted to thirty-two, and in 1872 was It is instructive and interesting to instituted the present arrangement, note the advances. whereby the general missionary com- This missionary society was clearly mittee is composed of one representa- the child of the New York preachers' tive from each of the mission districts, now fourteen, elected by the general States and foreign countries there conference, on nomination, by the shall be a missionary society, duly in- delegates of the annual conferences corporated according to law, and within each district respectively, alilo having its office in the city of New an equal number of persons selected York; said society being subject to by the board of managers from its such rules and regulations as the own sixty-four members, together general conference may from time to with the secretaries and treasurers of time prescribe." Singular as it may the society, and the whole Board of seem, this was the first issue of the Bishops. This action more than any Discipline, fifty-six years after the other gave the final death-blow to society had been endorsed by the the old society idea, and made the general conference, cOlltaining a direct missionary organization, as it ought authorization of its existence. No to be, an integral part of the work of previous Discipline has any mention the whole church. of the society, except two or three indirect references or allusions in Dr. Durbin, secretary from 1850 to paragraphs treating of other topics, 1872, had already seen the importance which shows emphatically in what a ,of emphasizing this side of the move- very miscellaneous manner the entire ment, and in the" Disciplinary Chap- legislation of the church on this ter on Missions," recast by him with a subject has been thrown together, large amount of new matter in 1852, and how fragmentarily it has arrived he had taken pains to place at the at its present excellent condition. head of all this highly significant sen- tence: "The support of missions is The most recent emendation of the committed to the churches, congrega- constitution, ordered by the General Conference of 1888, was in the same as tions and societies such." In other line with all the previous changes, and provides for the still further emwords, the cause was not to be re- phasizing of the connectional, as opgarded as the concern simply of such posed to the local, character of the separate members of the church as institution, by prescribing that the might choose to bind themselves annual meeting of the General Comtogether in local auxiliaries, which at mittee shall be hereafter no longer the first, and for a long while, were confined to New York but shall be regarded as the principal feeders held at least three times out of four in Df the society, nor of such as were other cities. able and willing to contribute twenty dollars at one time, but every church It would seem now that there is member throughout the nation or the nothing left of the society or local world was by the very fact of his idea beyond the mere name and the membership pledged to contribute restrictions imposed by the necessity and co-operate according to his ability, of having a charter from some specinor did he need to be further enrolled fic State Legislature in order to hold in any distinct way to make this property, as well as the necessity of having headquarters where certain pledge more binding. And all the matters of business can be attended pastors were, as such special agents of to. This missionary society, still so- .the cause, charged with collecting called for convenience sake, is now funds for its furtherance and in every simply and solely the whole church way advancing its interests. itself acting in its corporate capacity for the establishment and support of The missionary section of the Disci- missions. It is not an outside organizpline was again entirely recast in ation allied to the church, but distinct 1876, with a number of new para- from it. Rather is it tpe right arm of graphs, of which the following 'Stands first: "For the better prosecution of missionary work in the United
THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS
the body. holding most vital connec- and sovereignly regulates all its aftion with every other part, receiving fairs. The bishops appoint all the its full share of the life blood and con- missionaries. The general committee, tributing its full share to the welfare meeting annually, selects the mission of the whole. The missionary society fields and allots the money, and the is only one of the names of the church, board of managers, meeting monthly, and every member of the latter, from looks after the details, while the secthe senior bishop to the youngest pro- retaries conduct the correspondence bationer, is also a member of the and set in motion all possible agencies former, having some part to fill in its for filling the treasury. So there is at maintenance. The General Confer- last provided here an agency of marence, the highest authority, the one vellous completeness for the purpose body which speaks for the entire in hand-a system of wheels and pulchurch the world around, elects its lies and bands in which strength is secretaries and treasurers and presi- combined with elasticity, and which dents, appoints its managers and gen- moves with a smoothness and effieral committee, revises its constitution ciency leaving little to be desired.
V.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
BY SECRETARY F. F. ELLINWOOD, D.D.
The Situa.tion in Ja.pan and Korea. decades-the average force for that time having been small. But that I.-JAPAN.
The statistical report of Protestant which may be tabulated in figures is missions in Japan for the year 1889, but a small part of what has been ac- published by Rev. Henry Loomis, complished in Japan. The beginnings agent of the American Bible Society, which have been made point to is full of suggestions. Its general in- broader future results. Everything dications of success are remarkable. in such a work is of the nature of Only fifteen years ago the member- seeds. Forces are set in motion which ship of the churches were buta hand- will continue to act for generations.
ful. The missionary boards scarcely What if foreigners should now be took the pains to publish any statis- wholly excluded, as were the Portu- tics. It was the day of small things. guese missionaries two centuries ago? It is almost startling, therefore, to Is Christianity planted and rooted SO find now a total membership in the firmly that it would survive and Protestant mission churches of 31,181, prosper if the Japanese churches with 274 organized churches, 153 of were left to themselves? Judging which are wholly and 151 partially from the history of Protestant mis- self-supporting. Thereare 135 ordained . sions in Tahite and Madagascar, we native ministers and 409 unordained may safely conclude that the work preachers and helpers. There are 350 accomplished in Japan is a perma- Sabbath schools with 21,597 pupils, nent and enduring power in the land.
and 17 theological schools with 275 And it is from this point of view students. The contributions of the that we may perhapsgainthe strongest churches during the year 1889 amount- impression of the value of the work of ed to $53,503.13. The number of mis- twenty-five years. Over against the sionary organizations represented in work of less than a generation, there this work is 29, and the number of must be set down to the credit side foreign missionaries is—{)f men, 200; the endless development and the im- of unmarried female missionaries, 171; measurable fruitage of many genera- with a total, including wives, of 527. tions to come.
Such is the force now engaged and Of course missionary influence canthe result shown is the work of two not claim all that has been done in the transformation of Japan. Com- in place here as we contemplate the merce has done much, and "he general situation. It has been too government and people have until common, though on slight grounds, to now seemed almost eager to learn the consider Sintoism* as dead and out of ways of our Western civilization, in- the question. But intelligent Japcluding education. But the missionary anese, even some of those most work has contributed that best of all friendly to Christian progress, look elements, the ethical and the domestic. upon Sintoism as constituting a It has changed especially the whole greater obstacle to Christianity than status and outlook of Japanese woman- Buddhism, though its influence is less hood, and that includes also the out- conspicuous and obstructive. Sintolook of the future state. ism is the old national religion; it is a development of that nature worship But there is another lesson which which has been so common in the the statistics of Mr. Loomis present. early experience of many races. There has been evidently some reaction. There has not been as large a Sintoism recognizes one Supreme growth in 1889 as in other recent years. God, who is unknown to men, but We were prepared for this, for all from whom all things have sprung. sources of information have revealed From him eight subordinate divinities the fact of political jealousy connect- emanated, of whom the most impor_ ed with the question of the revision tant were Isename and Isenangi, male of treaties. There has sprung up a and female, the progenitors of manparty which is opposed to foreigners kind. and foreign influence. It embraces many of the young and vigorous ele- These related deities, standingon the mentsof Japanese society. There has ramparts of heaven, reached down to in consequence been less readiness to earth with a long spear and stirred listen to the gospel, and the religious the depths of the ocean, and as they movement generally has felt the in- withdrew the spear there dripped from fiuence. Missionaries are consequently its point a peculiar substance from filled with no little anxiety, though which grew the islands of Japan, and generally they are hoping that the re- which had in it "the prophecy and action is only temporary. potency of all life," animal and vege- table. It was Huxley's protoplasm It isa fitting opportunity, now that turned to' practical account. From the work has slackened speed, to re- the two deities sprang a beautiful view the whole situation. What is daughter, the goddess of the sun, and the religious condition of Japan to- she became the mother of the day? What remaining strength have Mikados. the old faiths? Are they likely to abide, or will the future conflict lie It is claimed tha~ there has never between Christianity and some new been a break in this royal and divine form of belief or unbelief? Really succession, and that for 2600 years it there are four religions still contend- can be clearly traced. Many imporing for supremacy – Sintoism, Bud- tant results have sprung from this dhism,Confucianism and Christiar:ity, sun myth. It has conduced greatly to say nothing of those new types of to the loyalty of the Japanese toward thought which are the result of their sovereign. Only in three unsucconflict or compromise, and which cessful instances have attempts ever generally savor of general dissent and been made to dethrone a Mikado, negation. though changes in the dynasties of the Shoguns, or temporal rulers, have SINTOISM. • Some writers use the simple term Sintoo, A moment's consideration of the bnt Sintoism is employed by some native old faiths and their present status is writers. been frequent enough. The myth of neighbor, considered the universe as the sun goddess has also had a general- eternal, subject only to development ly favorable influence on the con- by natural growth or by generation. dition of women. The chief deity Though the Japanese, unlike the Inof Sintoists is a female. The most dian faith, recognized the existence gorgeous temple in Japan is the Sin- of a supreme deity from whom the to temple, reared to the sun goddess two divine progenitors emanated, yet in the Province of Ise. She is regard- it made no practical account of him. ed as the giver of all life in nature, He was never worshipped. and therefore the goddess of spring and of harvests. In the springtime festi- The two systems appear to have exvals and processions are instituted in ercised a degree of mutual toleration, her honor. and both adm~tted the claims of Confu- cianism, which in Japan, as in China Of the long succession of sovereigns and Korea, became largely the faith nine have been women. Naturally, or cult of the intellectual classes. The therefore, the female sex escapes favorite illustration by which this the degrading estimate which obtains tolerantspirit was expressed ran thus: in most Asiatic countries. Women There are many paths which lead to are not secluded as in China or India, the top of Fusyama, each approaching and there is in Japan something from a different side, but when they which approximates to our ideas at reach the summit, they all alike home. command a view of the world.
A religion which is so strarigely In some respects Sintoism and naturalistic might be expected to be Buddhism rendered to each other a weak on its ethical side. It is not a mutual service. The former, like creed of strong moral power. There other systems of sun worship, develis less ~f "thou shalt" and "thou oped a great aversion to death and shalt not" than in most faiths. The corruption. As with the followers of sexual relations, especially among the Zoroaster, so with all Sintoists, the rural populations, are lax and the pro- contact of the dead was considered test of conscience is feeble. Yet in polluting. And there was but slight the common ethics of life in all that attention given to the hereafter. concerns mutual rights, Sintoism presents a better record than many Buddhism, on the other hand, magsystems of more rigid law. It is nified the issues of the future. It was always the sin that breaks over a more sombre in spirit and looked upon strong moral code that becomes the death as only a transition to oth&r most heinous. Sint6ism has no forms of life. But on the other hand positively corrupting doctrines or Buddhism held an awkward relation ceremonies like those of Hinduism or to marriage. Itwasessentiallyopposed the old Baal worship. It has no vile to the reproduction of life. Its celiand demoralizing promises like that bate priesthood were out of place at of the Mohammedan's heaven. It has the marriage feast, whileSinto priests, DO legends of vicious conduct in its themselves fathers of families, were in gods as have most heathen systems, full sympathy with it. ancient and modern. For a thousand years, therefore, BUDDHISM. marriages were under the direction of Sinto priests, while the Buddhist Buddhism entered Japan about 552 bonzes officiated at the funerals. The A. D., and from that time interesting arrangement was finally broken off changes occurred mutually between it through the jealousy of the Governand the Japanese faith. The two sys- ment. As with the Church of Rome, tems were alike in dispensing with a so with the· Buddhist Sangha: the Creator. Sintoism, as well as its new power over the dying and the dead and the issues of the world to come The Japanese Government from was found to be a formidable factor time to time canonizes the great men in the State. who in their lives have been public benefactors, and thenceforth they are It must be ,"mfessed that thE' line of enshrined. Every prefecture. in the cleavage between the two systems is empire has its Sinto temple. The still very difficult to trace, as the great system seems entrenched in the mass of the people are practically both national life however little of aggres- Sintoists and Buddhists. The latter siveness it may manifest as a religion. <:ult, by its stronger intellectual character, has accomplished more for Buddhism of the old stamp can education and for all the elements of scarcely retain its power, but it never an advancing civilization than the old cares to retain any particular type. faith. It has also introduced moral It has ul'l.dergone many changes in the precepts of a more positive character past centuries and is ready for many than the simpler nature worship had more. It is the most flexible and adever inculcated. Modern Japan as it justable of all systems. It is divided stood at the time of Commodore into twelve distinct sects as it nowex- Perry's expedition was greatly in- ists in Japan. What new attitude it debted to Buddhism, and it owed much will assume in the new ordeal to which also to the teachings of Confucius, the full blaze of Christian truth is which with the introduction of the subjecting it remains to be seen. Chinese language had gained a strong German philosophy, Indiantheosophy, foothold. Both of these systems are and American Unitarianism are doing :still active and aggressive in their what they can to keep it in good heart influence, though lacking the one ele- agaiust the incursion of the" Western ment of strength which Sintoism religion" which missionaries are strivenjoys in its alliance with the Govern- ing to introduce. ment. When the present Mikado assumed full power he proclaimed the What, then, is the outlook? The Sinto faith as the religion of the foes of Christianity love to dwell State. upon what they call the small and in- effectual efforts and smaller success of Well he might, for he had witnessed our Christian propagandism, and they a manifestation of its power as a sup- point in contrast to the widespread porter of his throne such as few conquests of Buddhism on the same sovereigns in the world's history have field fourteen hundred years ago. known. The voluntary surrender of But they forget that those conquests their power and their feudal estates by which we have se~n to have be~n only the daimios of all the provinces to one partial were the result of hundreds of ruler could only have been brought years of slow growth. We have been about by that reverence which the at work a quarter of a century, the sovereigns of Japan have so long re-' first decade of which showed little <:eived as the sons of the gods. fruit, and yet no other such trans- formation ever occurred even in a Moreover, the Sinto temples are century or in two centuries. The enshrined in the pride and reverence nation was never so awakened before, of the people as the resting-places of and it is not strange that some rethe national heroes. There are no action should have occurred and some idols there, but the images of the great real fear lest all trace of the past men of the past are legion. Bud- should be lost. dhism has adroitly followed this example, but the images are only bor- The fact that neither the Buddhist rowed and seem out of place. They nor the Confucian faith ever entirely properly belong to Sintoism and the won Japan after so many centuries of national system. experiment may properly raise the question whether even Christianity dynasty it has been under the ban of will take exclusive possession of the Governmental condemnation. It excountry. The idea that Japan or ists only by sufferance. Confucian- China or India will become exclusively ism has fared better among the lead- Christian in the near future seems ing classes, but its influence is greatly born rather of enthusiasm than of· a circumscribed. careful consideration of facts and indications. No _country is wholly Korea, as a country, has no religion Christian. The best are only prevail- except a crude mass of superstitionsingly Christian, and such Japan will spirit-worship or nature-worship, or be. But until the day comes in which the usual mixture of the two. Like infidel influences from so-called China and Japan, the country has had Christian countries shall cease to ob- an experience with Jesuit missions and struct the conversion of heathen races has driven them out with bloody perby positive efforts to corrupt and lead secutions-though a remnant of native astray we can only hope for a supreme Roman Catholic Christians has reand Qvermastering influence of the mained. The work of Protestant gospel. missions in Korea all lies within the last decade. It began on the North- The Government will perhaps cling west even before the seaports were to the alliance of the Sinto faith for opened by treaties with Western Powa time even after the light of civiliz- ers. Through the indefatigable labors ation has shown the absurdity of the of Rev. John Ross, a Scotch Presbyold myths. Buddhism will continue terian missionary at Moukden, North to find sympathy and support in the China, parts of the New Testament natural self-righteousness of many were translated into the Korean lanhuman hearts, and Confucianism, that guage and were borne over the borproverbially self – sufficient system der by his native helpers who pro– which has become so deeply rooted in ceeded southward even to Seoul, where all three of the great Mongolian races, they won a few converts. will perhaps be slow to yield its hold, but the sceptre of the cross will bear Then followed the medical work or supreme sway and will transform the Dr. H. W. Allen, of the American country more and more. Presbyterian Mission. He was soon followed by Dr. J. W. Heron*andRev. n.-KOREA. H. G. Underwood, of the same mis- sion, and by Messrs. Scranton, Appen- It seems natural to associate Japan zeller and others of the American with China and still more nearly with Methodist Episcopal Mission North. Korea. Both of these missions have been greatly strengthened and are realizing The Mongolian type of race renders an encouraging success. The Presthem essentially one. Between the byterian Church of Australia estabsprightliness and docility of the Japan- lished a mission a year and a half agoese and the extreme conservatism of under the direction of Mr. and Miss the Chinese the Koreans present a Davis. They gave great promise of medium character, as their country success, but the death of the brother holds a geographically intermediate and the consequent return home or position. the sister have left the mission in suspense. The Young Men's Christian Korea, in its existing religious posi- Association of Canada is about to send tion, is unlike either China or Japan. two missionaries to 'Korea during the Sintoism has never been introduced present season. there. The Taouism of China has made but a slight impression and that in a *Dr. Heron has recently died of dysentery. modified form. Buddhism was successfullyintroduced long ago, but during the whole period of the present
EDITORIAL NOTES ON CCRRENT TOPICS
VI.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
A general conference of all evangeli- of this REVIEW, who has been in Brit- ~al Christians is called to meet in Florence in 1891, immediately after ain for seven months on a tour of mis- Easter. The invitation is issued by the Italian Branch of the Evangelical sions among the churches, should un- Alliance, and is exceedingly tender in tone. One can realize how changed is dertake a similar campaign in this the aspect of affairs in Italy only by a tour in this wonderful land. The country. He has given his consent to people breathe freely now, with the Pope "a prisoner in the Vatican." How this arrangement and the details only vast the changes since Dr. Marsh was ~ompelled to leave his Bible outside remain to be settled. It is probable the walls before he could himself enter the Eternal City! We remember Sig. that he will accept the invitation of Arrighi's saying that he should not be surprised if he yet had the privilege the Presbyterian Board of Foreign of inviting the Evangelical Alliance to meet in Rome, and seeing the meet- Missions to give a series of addresses ings held in St. Peter's and the delegates lodged in the Vatican! Rome in the great centres East and West, was thought of for the coming meeting, but abandoned on purely pru- between October and meeting of the dential grounds. There are now about 30 places of Protestant worship next General Assembly. We beinside the city of the PopesI A. T. P. speak for Dr. Pierson in this expected The recent outrages at Zacatecas show that the Romish spirit of intoler- campaign the prayers of the readers ance is only slumbering, and that if the Papal Church dared all the hor- of the REVIEW. His aim will be to rors of the Inquisition would be revived. Father Hecker said in the put before the people the great facts Catholic World that heresy should be puuished, and that sins of heresy which are calculated to stimulate should be taken cognizance of in the department of thought. What does missionary zeal and awaken personal that mean but that to think differently from Rome is an offense that ought consecration of self, substance and to be dealt with by law and visited with penalty? Truly we are not so far children to the work of spreading the from the days of Cardinal Bellarmine who, on the basis of two texts, "Feed good news over the wide world. We My sheep," and "Rise, Peter, kill and eat," argued that these two texts prove know no one better fitted for such a the double duty of the Church to take care of disciples and burn heretics! mission. J. M. S. Why not carry such liberalism a step further, and prove that the Church It is another significant sign of the should eat the heretics she burns! times that in both China and Japan there should be the most prominent A.T.P. and promising movement toward the union of all evangelical Christians in It is proposed that one of the editors one body. The contrast is significant, that in Christendom there should be such a multiplication of sects, and on the field of missions such a drawing together and tendency to eliminate denominationalism altogether from the body of believers I -A trained teacher is wanted by the Reformed Church for Nagasaki, Japan, to take charge of the Steele Memorial School for Young Men. Here is an opportunity for some man of balanced judgment, learning, health, piety and a missionary spirit to impress himself upon a whole generation of Japanese youth. A similar man is needed in Amoy Mis- sion, China, and neither needs to be ordained. Where are our young men who, like Micawber, are waiting for something to turn up? Here are op- portunities for investment of mental and moral capital such as no previous hedge into the playground. This was generation ever presented. Think signal for a rude assault, in which what Paul would do if he had the stones and even knives came into play.
chance which this generation supplies But for the fact that it was discovered of expending his life for Christ and by the assailants that he WQ.S a teacher souls! Here are two nations, excelled in one of the schools his life might by none in the Orient for average have been sacrificed.
capacity and culture, waiting for the Meanwhile, in Utsunomiya, the right man to take the rudder and Buddhists had organized a society, guide the coming State. A. T. P. supported by the money of citizens -The outbreaks of personal violence not worthy of the highest esteem, in missionary fields of late are very hired a theatre and employed a lectur- significant. An attempt was made to er to abuse Christianity publicly.
murder Rev. D. W. Frazier, of the When a challenge to public discussion· Presbyterian Board, in Greenville, was wisely declined by the Christians West· Africa, but baffled by the fact about 300 men came from the theatI'e that he and his boys were armed. on Sunday evening, and not only in- Rev. Mr. Newby, in Monsterrade terrupted the service of worship but County, was shot and killed for the broke the windows and some of the sake of land he had bought and im- seats, and only the police prevented proved. At the same time Mr. Frazier further violence.
himself bears witness that the mission- All these are significant signs. We ary spirit has never risen to so high a read of the devil as coming down, Hood mark! "having great wrath because he At the same time the anti-foreign re- knoweth that he hath but a short action in Japan is creating alarm. On time." It would seem that Satan April 4th two armed, masked men begins to tremble for the stability of entered the house of Rev. T. A. Large, his kingdom in this world. Were of the Canada Methodist Mission in missions the failure some would make Tokio, and in attempting to drive out us think he would not trouble himself the intruders he received deadly much about them. Evidently Satan wounds and his wife was wounded in does not agree with some modern the face and had two fingers cut off. critics of missions.
011 the 14th of May Rev. J. Summers, But more than this, we think we of the Church of England, driving out see a decided sign of God's providence with his wife met the carriage of the in permitting these outrages. Mis- Empress Dowager of Japan. Because sions have been in danger of being he did not lift his hat in salute when Invested with a false" romance." On as yet the carriage was onlyapproach- one hand one would suppose from the ing. an advance guard struck off his halo with which heathenism is sur- hat with the butt of his lance. The rounded that the " Light of Asia" is "soshi," the "young America" of quite sufficient to illumine the world.
Japanese society, followed this assault And on the other, we fear that the by rude and irritating conduct in their necessity for the martyr spirit has in ~eal to defend the honor of the royal the eye of some disappeared in the family, and Mr. Summers has resolved rapid advances of modern civilization to return to England. The insult and culture. We have heard young seems purely gratuitous and inex- men exhorted to go· to these far-off cusable. Only three days later, at a lands on the ground that no such sel/- game of foot ball between the pupils denials are now required as once of two native schools, Dr. Imbrie, of were; 1;hat they would find all the the Presbyterian Mission, to avoid a comforts and luxuries of modern civili- roundabout walk stepped over a low zation surrounding them in these Oriental lands! We protest, that when is found in the dominions of the the martyr spirit is quenched the mis- greatest Protestant empire on the sionary spirit will be found to have globe! We record our solemn belief gone out in the same dying flame. Per- after much observation, that, notwith- haps the Lord sees that if missions are standing many precious Christian to have a new and great advance it truths held by the Papal Church, it must be over paths marked with harbors and fosters idolatrous worship blood. As persecutions have tested, of the Virgin and even of the sacra- sifted and purified the Church, so mental wafer. And where idolatry have the trials and risks of missionary prevails, under whatever guise, the life purged the missionary band of the Spirit of God has never yet been pres- chaff and dross of unconsecrated and ent to convert and sanctify. If idols unworthy workmen. Let us not be in are in the courts the Shekinah is not fear. It would not be surprising if in the temple. A. T. P.
the devil should be permitted to work -Recently we attended a simplecon- out his great wrath, and God should ference of believers at Niagara-on-the- make that wrath to praise Him in Lake, where for a week a few hun- raising the level of missionary devo- dred disciples who held the truth es- tion. The man or woman who is not pecially dear, and wished to study the ready to dare death for Jesus is not Bible in company, assembled. Never ready to use life for Him. The lions have we breathed an atmosphere so in the way that send Mr. Fainthearted full of God. In the closing three and Mr. Halfhearted back only em- hours, on Thursday, July 17, we heard bolden Faithful and Christian to brave three successive addresses from Dr.
danger for the Lord. A missionary W. G. Moorhead, on the" Millell'ial life that presents only worldly attrac- Age," from Dr. Nath. West, on tions and tempts worldly indulgences " Christ in the Apocalypse," and from produces a degenerate class of mis- Dr. Brookes, of St. Louis, on the sionaries. We shall have no more "Rewards of the Believer," which we Morrisons, Moifats, Livingstones, never heard surpassed or even Lindleys, Brainerds, Bushnells, Notts, equalled for scriptural quality and Hunts, Williams, Hanningtons, Jud- spiritual power. During seven days sons, McAlls, when there is no more we heard only the Word of God ex- need of self-denial for Christ, for self- panded, expounded and applied. No sacrifice is the mould of heroic souls. ad captandum speeches, no essays or The Lord has not left the work or the orations; no attempts at drawing a workmen yet, and if there be any new crowd; not a hint of the new theology trials and tests they will only make -the old-fashioned views of plenary the product purer and more perfect. inspiration, with every cardinal doc- A. T. P. trine as our fathers held them, with- Those who think that Roman Catho- out any attempt to accommodate lic communities need no Protestant them to the demands of modern cul- missionaries should read Rev. A. B. ture and science. It was refreshing Mackay's letter about the adoration of and invigorating; it was a tonic for " Corpus Christi" in Montreal! the soul. But the most noticeable Think of compelling people not only thing about it is that when the old- to halt while the procession was mov- fashioned Bible was so deeply rever- ing but to kneel in the presence of the enced and earnestly studied, the mis- "host!" What is this but the idolatry, sionary flame burned more brightly not of sun or moon-which are at least than we have ever seen it before in noble objects of admiration-but of a such a gathering. Such a spirit of mere piece of dough! And this forcible spontaneous giving was there ex- participationin iiolatrous ceremonials hibited that a few hundred people, mostly of very moderate means, vol- results, compare favorably with any untarily offered more than $4,000! other in the whole fil<ld. A. T. P.
Year before last that same little con- We desire to call attention to the ference gave $2,500 to Hudson Taylor National Missionary Conference to be for the China Inland Mission, and held at Indianapolis on September 3d furnished him some 13 missionaries and continue till the 9th. It is ex- besides! All from that small com- pected that there will be a large at- pany of disciples met for Bible study! tendance, particularly of the volun- Last year again about thesamesumwas teers for the work of foreign missions given, unsolicited, and now again this and of those who feel especially "in- year the voluntary offerings are nearly terested in giving the gospel to the double those of the previous years. whole world as speedily as possible."
Never have we seen in any similar There has been a marvellous quicken- assembly a like devotion to the old ing and extension of the missionary Bible, a like spirit of prayer, a like spirit in Kansas and other portions of spirit of missions, or a like spirit of the West during the past few months.
giving. And we asked ourselves as A great many missionaries have been we came away, whether a. revival of raised up already as the fruit of this the simple faith in the Word of God, revival. One company, as we have in place of modern "Progressive previously chronicled, has already Theology," "Second Probation," gone forth to plant a new mission in "Higher Criticism" and "Christian the Soudan, and another company, we Science" might not be the key to a understand, will join the pioneer band new zeal for missions, and a new the coming autumn. Doubtless this Pentecost of prayer, and a new spirit Conference will intensify this move- of large and abundant self-sacrifice? nlent. which has taken such powerful The more we see of Christian life the hol~ of the Young Men's Christian As- more do we feel confident that every sociations of several of the Western step away from a full faith in the States in particular, and will origin- plenary inspiration of the Word of ate and give shape to new and impor_ God is a step away from the Cross tant developments looking to the of Christ and from all which that speedy evangelization of the world.
Cross represents in the believer's life May the Holy Spirit of God baptize of devotion to the spread of the the Conference with a special effusion kingdom. A. T. P. and guide all its deliberations and doings! J.11. S.
-We note that Rev. Dr. Gulian The Shanghai Oonference. Lansing, of the United Presbyterian Church, after forty years of mission- "ONE THOllSAND MISSIONARIES FOR ary life in the Valley of the Nile, is now in this land for a rest. He is the CHINA IN FIVE YEARS!" father of Professor J. G. Lansing of the New Brunswick Theological Semi- This is a bugle-blast from tke nary. The fires that burn in the great Conference of Missionaries in father's heart have been kindled on the China which recently closed its sesson's altar, as is evident from the fact sions at Shanghai. We have elsewhere that he is at the bottom of a special given a pretty full account of its promission to the Arabs, and not only ceedings from the pens of two of its stimulates young men to devote them- members. It was, with one exception, selves to this work but,we understand, the largest gathering of missionaries proposes to lead the columns! The work that ever took place on the foreign of Dr. Lansing and his fellow-mission- field, numbering 432 members; and its aries in Egypt will, in character and whole proceedings were character- ized by a spirit of harmony, enlight- ened wisdom, a broad and compre- hensive policy, and bold and earnest aggressiveness never excelled by a in five years! It can be done-done similar assembly. It was a grand op- easily and without neglecting any portunity, and grandly did our mis- other field. Why, the China Inland sionary brethren improve it. The Mission alone-one of the new and Church may well be proud of such comparatively feeble organizations, representatives, and thank God for with no visible resources-resolved, in the harmony, the courage and the 1888, to send out to China, within one wisdom given them. year,100 missionai'ies, and then prayed the Lord for the men and the means, The Conference has now spoken to and both the men and the money came the Church at home-'-the Church forward. If that little band could universal-and spoken in no uncer- tain way. Its voice is like the voice send out and support 100 new mis- of many thunders. It met and calmly sionaries to China in one year, what and thoughtfully and solemnly dis- are 200 a year for the great British cussed, planned, prayed, resolved, and and American missionary societies made its four-fold appeal and ad- represented in the Shanghai Confer- journed. It did its duty in a great ence? If each would do its propor- emergency, at the flood-tide of vast op- tion, the work could be done with portunities-and did it nobly, grand- ly, in the fear of God and in faith in infinite ease. Note that "lay" as well the churches that sent them forth. as ordained missionaries are called Now the responsibility is laid upon the churches, whose servants and re- for. Surely our brethren in distant presentatives they are; will they respond as the occasion demands? Will China have not sent out their loud ap- they lay to heart these masterly and burdened "Appeals" which they have peals in vain. J. M. S. sent forth and give them practical effect? We repeat here the burning " What Ought we to do for Foreign .words of Dr. Happer, our editorial Missions?" is ably shown in a leaflet correspondent at Canton, and make we have received from thepen of Rev. them our own: T. G. Field, district secretary of the American Baptist Missionary Union "Let the bugle-call go forth for one at Minneapolis. It is a plea for rethousand missionaries within five organizing the home department of years. Let it ring in the ears of the the work carried on by the Union. Church. Help them to carry it to the He contends that there is a great lack throne of grace. Let them ponder it of wise and efficient organization on in their closets and around the family the part of Baptists, and he finds in altar. Let the youth hear it in the schools, in the academies, in the col- this fact occasion for the following leges and in the universities, and in statement: the theological seminaries: 'One thousand missionaries for China in " On every hand we have been, we five years.' Keep this line in your are, outdone by Christians of other columns every month till the Church names. To look no farther, with selfis aroused with the trumpet-call, and reproaching gratitude behold the arouses itself to good earnest work Moravians, and weep. Or consider the and consecration and giving; and, enterprise and liberality of the Church above all, may God, by His Spirit, ac- of England, or of Presbyterian or company this call to the hearts of Congregational mission work. In those He would call to have a share in one thing Baptist missions do proporthis blessed work for the Master." tionately greatly excel, viz., in fruit- fulness of conversions. But is this A thousand missionaries for China ours, or is it God's gift to the obedi- ence of the few? The four leasing foreign mission societies of America spent last year over $2,500,000. Less than one-sixth of this was Baptist money. To these societies was given a report of 17,336 converts, of whom 6,093, or over one-third, were gathered intothe mission churches of ourUnion. With what feelings must we own that
ORGANIZED MISSION ARY WORK AND STATISTICS
for such blessing on such service we pansive, inadequate, outgrown system have contributed this year but twenty- five cents a member; that in a year of of administering foreign interests." the largest receipts ever known, the highest average per member, in any An over-conservative policy is not State, for the general work of the Union, is only sixty-five cents, while restricted to anyone society or church. in the lowest it is but eight cents. Nay, there is one grand exception. We deeply regret the present ten- California breaks the record with the splendid average of almost $2.16 per dency to start independent missions, member; but this is due to a noble contribution from one individual. but is it not in part the outcome and Twenty-five cents apiece and one ordained missionary abroad to 6,356 protest against a too narrow or rigid members at home, 01', counting wives and single women, about one mission- iron-cast policy not in harmony with ary to every 2,800 Baptists does not overstate the present practical guage the spirit and changed conditions of of our obedience to the parting injunction of Jesus. The fact is that the times? Secretary Field's views for several years we have made no adequate progress. We seem to be are commanding attention in his 'own nearly at a dead-point. The most of our missions are sorely taxed' to hold church, and they may do good in their own. Speedy reinforcement, requiring large increase of men and other mission circles. J. M. S. money, alone can enable them to maintain efficiency with vigor. . . . As to the prize offers of premiums Practically, we now struggle simply for articles on Prayer in connection to hold what our fathers acquired, with missions, the editors would save the Congo Mission, and thIS, too, further say that they have not thought at an hour when we, in every way, in it necessary to say that they will not numbers, intelligence, wealth, pros- consider themselves obligated to award perity, are blessed as never heretofore; any premiums if there shall not be a at an hour when" to earth's remotest sufficient 'I1,umber of competing and bound" every nation thrown wide satisfactory articles to make such open to approach is threatened with award justifiable and practicable. In the vices and atheism of the West, to such case all that we engage to do is add death unto death, instead of re- to return all such essays as cannot be ceiving the Bread of Life, and while made of use. And, secondly, the we, with all the equipment of divine articles should cover ground not algrace and modern civilization, fully ready covered by articles which have know the awful need of heathenism appeared in these columns. One letter' and our ability, under God, to minis- which we have received from a proter to it." posing competitor asks one of the editors to furnish certain details of He argues that it is not" the fault fact, which have already been pub- lished in the REVIEW. Of course we' of the Missionary Union, but rather shall insist that the instances given shall be culled by the writers from the inevitable outcome of onr denomi- material found outside our own pages., national growth constricted by an inex- A.T.P. J.M.S.
VII.-ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK AND STATISTICS.
Reformed Presbyterian «Jovenanter) From Contributions to missions.•••• 3,400 00 Ohurch in the United States. Synod's trustees ………. . 1,320 84'
Secretary: REV. R. M. SOMMERVILLE, D.D.,l26 Total….. .. ….. … .. ……….. $18,462 89 West 45th Street, New York. Expenditures.
REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING APRIL 30, 1890. Balance from last account ………. $01,01485' For the missions…. • • …. …… . .. . 16,042 27 Receipt•. From congregations.. … ……….. $7,858 Zi' Total…………………….. $17,057 13 Balance to new account.. •.• • . . . . . . 1,405 76 .. Sabbath·scbools and mission- ary societies…………… . 2,804 07 Total.. ………………… ,_ •. $18,462 89 " Individuals and bequests .. , 4,07971 ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK AND STATISTICS.
There are no home expe~s, all the funds Amount In hand of being directly used on the field. Mission Treasurer STATISTICS. called In.. . . ….. .. 48,326 25 Deficit carried for- 3 missions (Latakiyeh, Larsees, Cyprus); missionaries, ordained, 4; lay, 1; missionaries' ward ………….. 60,2759.3 wives, 4; other ladies, 4; native ordained ministers, 4; other helpers, 34; stations and – – – – $158,602 18 out-stations, 8; organized churches, 3; total TotaL ………………….. $952,668 62 number of preaching-places, 11; communicants, 190; added during theyear, 12; schools, Expenditures. 25; pupils, 730. Amount cOl)tributed by na- Balance (Deficit) May 1, 1889 ….. $44,696 62 tive churches, $33.91. Appropriations for year ending May 1,1890: Board of Foreign Missions of the Africa…………. $31,155 02 811,245 69' Presbyterian Ohurch (North). China, Japan and 43,001 84 The Secretaries: 53 Fifth Avenue, New York, Korea ……… .. 248,57600 1,724 47 N.Y. India, Siam and. 52,000 00 REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING MAY 1, 1890. Laos ………. .. 181,723 26 Receipts. Persia . . . . . . . . . . .. 76,872 89 Syria …………. . 60,733 64 From Churches…….. $291,719 86 Guatemala and " Woman's Bo'rds 280,285 51 Mexico ……… . 92,314 00 Sunday-schools. 36,062 56 South America .. 117,180 88 Papal Europe .•… 2,690 00 Legacies…….. 112,877 68 Individuals and Chinese and Indians in United States …………………. .. miscellaneous sources … … 73,120 83 Special ………………….. . Home Department•..•••..•….. $794,066 44 Balance to New Account: TotaL …………………. $952,66862 Amount withheld on acc't of changes in !lscal y~rs in vanous miSSIOns.. . $50,000 00 STATtSTtes.
Missionar'es Na ive ~00 "r~n",S-'0~"o. ~~ o"""~~ OJ' ',"c",6"~ ——- ~~6 :~Cg.S.~- 5~~ ga ~ ~ .:;; g ~ g~.8 _:.:SI rtl 'm0 ~• ~ ~~ ~~c~6o~~ ~o ~0 ~~CD Q3 .u"; ~ ! j ~ .:;;w . .4 !":l ~~=::=:-::-:- 217 910'9 '9 24171.398156ls 57981l,3121$ 504 China………… … . …. … " 13 48 68 12 61 226 45 4,084 446/'124 2,687 6 2,969 2,809 Japan……. …. ………… 1 5 21 47 3 43… 34 4,977 672 15 1,409 17…… 6,750' Korea ………. ……….. 1 1 3 5 2 .. …… 104 39.. ……………….. .. India… ………………. 3 10 37 71 4 33 174 4(?) 1,093 81 14 8,016… 4,590 82 Siam and Laos …………. 2 5 13 21 4 6 33 12 1,114 1711 21 f541 14 fi76 804 Persia……. ……… …… 2 6 14 35 5 89 170 27 2,269 141 147 3,069 18 5,210 2,200 24 Syria………………….. 1 5 14 1 39162 20 1,619 98 142 5,853 7 4,966 7,767· 1 Guatemala…………….. 1 11 2 4 …. ••• 1 1 . 4….. 1 38 2 50 15 Mexico …… …………… 1 5 7 11 …. 50 53 90 5,165 388142 1,358 15 1,795 3,627 South America…….. " …. 3 15 2-J 25 1 15 69 46 2,993 324 22 1,263 5 947 13,602 _.2 .:.:.:.:. .:.:.:. _ 92: 24;820 24;913 92 22,~15 .Total ;Foreign Lands…. 21 $37,660 Indian Tribes…………… 3 ,03 2,986 61 190 321411345 912 297 2,516/546 320 9 5 8 … 114 21 20 1,630 198 10 Chinese & Japanese in U. S. 1 ~ _~ ~ ~ 344 _.~ _~ .2~:: ~ _~ 3,711 Total. ……………… 25 lOti 199 336 411359943 320 26,794 2,753 583 26,348106 23,935 1$44,357 Board of Foreign Missions of the Expenditures. Presbyterian Ohurch (South) in the United States. Three Brazil Missions•…•.••••••.. $ 37,433 01 SeQretary: Rev. M. H. HOUSTON, D.D., Nash- China Missions………………. .. 17,928 82 ville, Tenn. Japan 13,132 44 REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING APRIL 1, 1890. Receipts. Greek 2,722 65 Balance on Hand. . .. •• … ….. … $ 7,229 29 Italian 1,206 25· From Churches……………….. 47,459 63 Sabbath-schools.. . •. . . . . …. .. ….. 10,290 00 Indian 6,550 00- Missionary Societies.·……… ….. 25,422 03 Legacies……… …. ….. …….. 1,934 59 Mexican " 7,863 71 Individuals and Miscellaneous….. 10,948 89 Total for Missions………….. $ 86,836 92· General Expenses….. …….. ….. 7,989 42· Balance on Hand…. •.. . . . .. . . . . . . 8,457 59 Total……. .. ……. …. …… $103,283 93 Total. • .• …. ••. ………….. $103,283 93· STA.TISTICS. tions),8; other helpers-evangelists, 108; or- ganized churches, 43; other preaching places, o-g§ J 87; stations and ont-stations, 130; communi- 00 00 oll cants, 3,60'2; added during the year, 222; col- '0 leges and theological s"minaries, 4; pupils, § 41. Of other schools no accurate statistics are ~~, available.
i Sc:.e: ~ ~ o~" ~~o~j ~'"~~~~~f 'C 00 ~~ Reformed (Dutoh) Ohuroh in Amerioa. ] ,: 5 '8 -;;; iO' Secretary: REV. H. N. COBB, D.D., 26 Reade 5.; "~ ~>. •~::::s Street, New York.
'~~gOO.~~O~.O~ ~…S.. ~Iw~ ….. .~ r.tJ. w'O REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING APRIL 30, 1890. §.S .S .s A JJ Receipts.
~:-8:.-s~ I:'-~s~~1:~d § .S Balance from last account. . . . . $971 69 -~ ~ ~O~ From churches ………. $54,76228 · – – – § -8§-:~[- -0 – " Sundar-schools, etc. 12,385 10 -8 – LegacIes, ."…… 8,965 64 Brazil… 30 10 10 5 10 601 100 224 165 $3,040 " Individuals……… 25,995 28 ChiRa .' 71011 .. 110 82 4' 240248 92 " lHisceIIaneous …•..• 14,981 84 Japan.. 12 7 8 5 2 567206 200 100 600 Greece. 41111 28 11 15.. . 130 – – – 117,090 14 Italy … 1 .. 2…. Mexico. 44 2 4 8 3 400 43 40 …… —- 250 150 875 Total …………………….. $118,061 83 Expenditures.
India: .Arcot Mission..••• $30,01327 China: Amoy Mission ••••……..• 21,008 46 Total Japan: North and South Missions .. 49,209 74 929 ;'03 $4,737 I Foreign. 983036 19,26 1,678 364 300 60 1,200 General mission expenses, ……… $100,231 47 Arcot Seminary Fund"……….. 105 00 IinndiIannds. Home expenses……………….. 6,276 75 Terriey Interest and loans (balance)…….. 9,422 03 (U. S.). 37 3 3 5 6 625 27 Total. 13.3 33 39 24,32 2,303 391 1,229 763 ,6,437 Balance to new account………… 2,026 58 —— 1 Total….. .. .. …… ……. …. $118,061 83 1 The work among the Indians will probably ~IHfl >'31l;'g[! be handed over to the Home Missionary ~I ~~-oo-TI~St~a~ti~o-ns-.—– Society during the current year, the Foreign Missionary Committee continuing to con- e….1 tribute somewhat towards its support for a ·term of years.
lOut – Stations and !:5!il i§l Preaching Places Presbyterian Ohuroh of England. 1~ Secretary: JOHN BELL, 13 Fenchurch Avenue, !ill 1 Ordained. ~ c£:)OHX) I I I ~ ~ eo eo Female. London, E. C., England. ~.
REPORT FOR YEAR ENDiNG DEC. 31, 1889. ~.
Receipts. I ILay. Il Balance from last account, ..•••• £4981211 ~ l':I~-q…. Congregational contributions… . 6,497 2 6 Edinburgh Committee …….. . 2,740 0 0 ~ ! dj00 …. 1 Ordained. Legacies. .. -. _.. .. .. . . . … .. 1,454 15 3 i I I ~ ~!:5~ Other Helpers, ~. Juvenile fund………………. . 1,785 3 8 Students' Missionary Society ..•. g: I !:5 oo!ill Churches. Donations, etc….. .. ……… . 348 6 6 Balance overdrawn, .•. " •••••••• 1,710 2 6 2,086 4 0 Total. ………………….. £17,070 7 4 ~8l~ 0.' to ,,"",,"' Expenditures. §ll 1 Communicants.
General mission charges…….. £15,767 1 11 ~ 1~g;:s51 Added. Home charges .. ……………. 848 17 6 Interest and amounts drawn on ac- ~ I … '" '" ·1""'S;-em—C-in-a-rI~·e-s.— count …………….. …….. 454 7 11 8 ~ ~1£ 1 Students.
Total…………….. . ….. :£17,070 7 4 e ITheological Stu- The total missionary income should in- ~eo~ dents. ·clude £2,608 15s 6d from the Woman's .Associ- 00 ~ 1 Day Schools. ,ation making (exclusive of the balances) £17,13958 11d. i : i Ii§ Scholars. Adding also the expenditures of the Woman's Association, £2,700 3s 3d, the total '" : …….. I Hospitals. ,expenditure is £19,770 lOs 7d. • ~~ .W . ~! STATISTICS. '""'I: I ~,p..: Patients Treated.
Missions, 6; ordained missionaries, 20; lay, §~ ~ Contributi~ns 13 (of whom 10 medical); miSSIOnaries' wives, from NatIve :21; other ladies, 16; native ordained ministers Ooo.~ (elltirely supported by their own congrega· djg;~ Churches.
PROGRESS OF MISSIONS-MONTHLY BULLETIN
VIII.-PROGRESS OF MISSIONS MONTHLY BULLETIN.
Africa.-The Work in Abyssinia. The nouncing their allegiance to Portugal and are strong position Italy now occupies at Massaua joining Gungunyana. on the Red Sea, its military strength, its alliance with King Menelek, its rising colony at -The report of the Mackenzie Memorial Assab-alJ inspire the hope that Abyssinia and Mission to Zululand and the tribes towards the Zambesi river begins with mourning the the Galla country may be speedily opened up loss of its head, the late Dr. D. Mackenzie, to the gospel. The pastlabors of the C. M. S., Bishop of Zululand. The mission consists (in since 1830, in these regions are well known. addition to the Bishop) of 13 clergymen (two GoOOt, Krapf, Isenberg were among its faith- of them natives) and 22 lay helpers. The total ful agents; these were, however, gradually income from free contributions received during driven out through religious intrigue and the the year was a little over £1,200. violence of King Theodore. There remain, however, valuable translations, such as those -King Mwanga, of Uganda, Central in the Amharic, Tigre and Galla tongues; the Africa, who has heen twice dethroned and driven out of the country, has returned and is last the laborious work of Dr. Krapf. There again at the head of the kingdom. In a letter are still, also, fragments of missions among written to Cardinal Lavigerie he asks that the Falashas, in the Shoa country, and there is priests be sent to teach the religion of Christ the Swedish Mission at Massaua, etc., which in all the country of Uganda. General Gordon so generously supported. -The reports of the suffering from famine The Church of Rome is availing itself of the in the Soudan are appalling. The greatest opportunity. It is said that Russia also is to sufferers are the widows and children of the establish a consulate and to send a mission. men who have been killed during the many It is to be hoped that evangelical missions will conflicts which have raged in the interior. not be slow to avail themselves of this open Reports from Suakin are that not only all door. sorts of animals are eaten, but toot cannibal- ism has actually commenced. An appeal has -In response to a telegram from Mr. been made in England for these starving Douglas Hooper of Eastern Africa, received Soudanese. on a Monday in London and announced that evening in Exeter Hall, no less than nine vol- -The number of missionary stations in unteers presented themselves in thirty-six Africa now exceeds 500. There are 400,000 hours for work in that difficult field. Four converts and the number is increasing at the men were selected, and by the following rate of about 25,000 a year. Within five years Saturday evening actually started on their more than 200 natives have suffered martyrjourney via Marseilles. " This," says the dom for their faith. Indian Witness, "is a good answer to the charge that mission interest is dying out." -Rev. A. R. Tucker wits consecrated Bishop for Eastern Equatorial Africa on April -A Steamer for Victoria Nyanza. The 21, and left for Africa the same day. He has enthusiasm in England has led to the raising charge of the missions of the English Church of a .. Stanley Fund, " and Mr. Stanley himself Missionary Society in East Africa. A telehas made the suggestion as to its disposal- gram to the London Time" says that his party that it be devoted to the placing of a steamer are to start for the Nyanza the first week in on Victoria Nyanza. This lake is as large as July with Mr. Stokes' caravan. the whole of Scotland, and he states that a steamer upon it would be of immense service, China.-A Revival.-A great and mighty both for the use of the missionaries and as a door has been opened lately for the gospel in civilizing factor. He proposes that it should the Shantung Province, China. A revival be handed over either to the Church Mission- wave is passing over that section of the counary Society or to the Imperial British East try. The Rev. Robert M. Mateer, one of the African Company.-Missiona1'1/ Herald. laborers in that province, has been so dis- tressed by the great hunger of the people for -The Gaza Country. L'A/rique reports the gospel and the small number to feed them that a Portuguese expedition has been sent to that he has taken upon himself the support of the Gaza country, the region to which, as we ten native preachers ($50 a year each), three have recently reported, Gungunyana, the son girls' schools ($175 each), and one boys' of Umzila, has removed with all his people. school ($:lOO). He wrote to the pastor of This expedition is intended, by an effective Tabor Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, occupation, to enforce the claims of Portugal Rev. Willis B. Skillman, stating the above as the protectorate of Gazaland. A more re- facts and asking for a helping hand. The cent report by way of Lisbon, June 11, states pastor laid the matter before his Bi ble-class, that Gungunyana has joined the chief Bilene, composed of 35 young men, and the class made and, with a force of 50,000 men and women, the hearty response of $50, which means the has beaten Bifoana, the leading chieftain of support of a native pastor for a year. The in Portuguese territory. Other chiefs are re- same matter was brought to the attention of the Young Men's Prayer Meeting of the church, years and has come home to raise $15,000 for numbering 125 members. The boys' generous a printing plant in Calcutta. After describing response was over $60, which will support an- the country, with its population of 310,000,000, othernativepastor for a year andtheeducation he took up the culture and religion of the for one year of a boy in the loys' school. The people. Said he: "Calcutta has a student matter was also laid before the congregation. population of 15,000, and its college men are No collection was taken but simply the state- peers of their American brethren. From this ment made. The response was over $50. Can- cultivated class you can descend until you find not some other pastor be the means of bless· whole villages where no person can read a ing his people by asking them to help in this word of any language. To these degraded great work of Christ? classes the missionaries go or send native preachers who teach the alphabet by marking . -Shanghai Union Conference.-A Confer· in the sand with their fingers. With this beence on Union, composed of representatives ginning they teach them to read the Bible. " of seven Presbyterian churches laboring in Chica, met at Shanghai, May 15th. On ac- Cannibalsthe Bishop does not regard as the count of the diversity of language and the lowest class of men. He has seen men worse difficulties of travel the representatives of two than cannibals in New York and London. In of the churches deemed organic union impos- speaking of the work of the Young Men's sible. At a later meeting it was decided to Christian Association in Calcutta, he said take steps to form an organic union between that its representatives are undenominational the five other churches, and any others who and he wished them to remain so. When he may wish to join the union. A plan of union said that $30 would support one of the lowest similar to the one used by the churches in In- class of missions, for which he had men dia was adopted. A constitution is to be trained, Mr. Moody said that he wanted one of formed for the Presbyterian churches in China those missions and would contribute $30 for based upon those of the churches in Europe that purpose. About twenty minutes was and America. Its doctrinal basis is to be "The given up to receiving similar offers. College Apostles' Creed," the "Nicene Creed," and the after college responded. The Virginia delega- "Westminster Confession and Catechisms." tion and the University of Virginia each sub- The Presbyteries are to be composed of the scribed for a mission. "We think more of Virmissionaries, the pastors and the churches ginianow than we did in '61," said Mr. Moody, occupying the same territory. These Pres- and the applause stopped the contributions byteries are to constitute one Synod, meet- for a short time. Princet<>n, the University of ing once in five years. The uniting bodies are Pennsylvania, Harvard, Yale, and Johns-Hopthe Presbyterian Church (North), U. S. A.; kins were among the twenty or thirty instituthe Presbyterian Church (South), U. S. A.; tions which will share in this new phase of the United Presbyterian of Scotland, the Irish mission work in India. Presbyterian, and the Canadian Presbyterian churches. The two declining to unite are the -A meeting was held in Exeter Hall, on English Presbyterian and the Reformed Dntch May 2, to establish a London Auxiliary of the chnrches. The snmmary of statistics given Mission to Lepers in India. The secretary reat the Conference shows, Foreignmissionaries, ported that there are about 500,000 lepers in 1,295; native helpers, 1,&:19; churches, 520; India. The society utilizes existing agencies communicants, 37,287; pupils in schools, as much as possible. Addresses were given 16,916; contributions hy native Christians, by Mr. T. A. Denny and Rev. F. E. Wigram. $36,834. Italy.-The Waldensian Church of Italy, India.-"Our work in North India continues which has recently celebrated its two hnnto prosper. Brother Bare writes that no less dredth anniversary of the return of the exiled than 2,364 persons have been baptized in the Vaudois, gives evidence of continued life and Rohilkhund district since the annual statistici vigor. It reports 44 churches, 38 pastors, Z7 were made up at the close of last October. evangelists, including colporteurs, 6 Bible This covers a space of five months. Add to readers, 4,074 communicants and 469 catethese 400 baptisms in connection with Dr. chumens. Parker's evangelistic work, and 300 by Brother Osborne and others in the Rnski district, and Japan.-Murder of a Missionary. It was we have a total of more than 3,000. This sur· at first feared that the recent assassination of passes the sanguine expectations with which Rev. T. A. Large, of the Canadian Methodist we began the year, and our brethren are very Mission in Tokio, Japan, indicated a reaction naturally filled with joy and hope."-Bishop in the popular feeling about missionaries, and resulted from hatred to the foreign religious Thoburn. teacher. But the sad event proves to have -Bishop Thobnrn on India.–At Northfield, been the crime of robbers, who entered the missionary's bedroom to find the key of his Mass., in Mr. Moody's College Conference on safe, in which a considerable sum of money Missions, July 3d, Bishop Thoburn, of the happened to be deposited. Roused suddenly Methodist Episcopal Church, jnst returned from his sleep, and wholly unarmed, Mr. Large bravely expelled the masked intruders, from India spoke. He has been In India 31 but was meantime so cut and gashed by their from posts under the Government. The en- sharp Japanese swords that he fell dead at the forcement of the edicts will result in the ex- -feet of his wife, who had also been wounded pulsion of over one million Jews from the in the struggle. Earnest sympathy has been country." universally expressed with the widow by all the organ~ of the press, and universalindigna- Sweden.-The Annual Convention of the tion is felt against the cowardly criminals, Swedish Fatherland Missioi1 Society was re- who, if they can be captured, will be severely cently held in the Blasieholm Church, Stock- punished.-Misionary Herald. holm; 245 clerical and 216 lay delegates were present. The branch societies have, during -The native churches under the care of the the year, increased from 107 to 116; 18 travel- American Board's missionaries~in Japan, says ing missionaries and 187 colporteurs are em- the Congregationalist, organized half a dozen ployed. 762,000 copies of the Bible and other years ago a home missionary society. It devotional books were printed, and somewhat has flourished so well that the demands of the more than that number sold and distributed. work now justify the appointment of a paid Since its organization the society has pub- president, who will devote all his time to es- lished 22,700,280 copies of various religious tablishing new churches and strengthening books. The net profits of the pUblishing house those already existing. for the year are 11,890 crowns. 35 mission- aries are laboring in Eastern Africa, and 35 in Korea.-In regard to the progress in India. The expenditures for foreign missions missionary work, Dr. Underwood, of the were W3,525 crowns. The balance remaining Presbyterian Mission, writes to the Occident: in the foreign mission treasury is 105,282 "In the Presbyterian Church at the end of the crowns. The home mission fund shows a bal- first year our first convert had not been seen. ance of 36,666 crowns. We had come to sow seed,and had hardly dared expect to see fruits so soon. Japan hali to Miscellaneous.-A special committee of wait six or seven years for the flrst results. the English Wesleyan Missionary Society has In July of the second year, however, the Lord investigated and reported upon certain permitted us to see the flrst convert baptized. charges published in the Methodist Times re- At the end of the third year our numbers specting the alleged extravagance of Wes- were about twenty. Steadily they increased, leyan missionaries in India. The substance their interest grew, the members were zealous, of the report of the committee is that the and at the close of the next year there was a Wesleyan missionaries in India do not live in revival, and before the year ended the little luxury, that their stipends are not excessive bsnd was almost sixty. Another year of compared with those that are given to Wesleysteady progress was granted to us, and to-day an ministers in England, and that the attend- the company numbers over a hundred baptized ance of the missionaries at the levees of the Christians, besides over half as many more Viceroy does not involve pecuniary expense who have applied for baptism and profess nor hinder their work among the native poputhemselves Christians, but have been urged to lation. The committee find that the charges- acquaint themselves more fully with God's that the missionaries live in such a manner Word." and in such places as to alienate them from the natives-are not sustained. The result is a Palestine.-Bishop Blythe of Jerusalem complete exoneration of the missionaries. says there are now in Palestine double the number of Jews that returned from the Baby- -Up to July IS the number of appoint- 10nish captivity, and that the "latter rains" ment.s for missionary service in connection which had been withheld since the times of with the American Board, since the last annual _the exile, had been granted again during the meeting, was just sixty, 22 of them men and last two years,. 88 women.
Russia.-Persecution of the Jews.-Lon- -The statistics of the Christian Endeavor don, July 3O.-The Times says: "The Russian Societies, as presented at the international Government hasordered the application of the Convention at St. Louis, shows clearly the edicts of 1882 against the Jews. These edicts great advance this society has made. These have hitherto been held in abeyance. Accord- societies exist in every English-speaking land ing to these, Jews must henceforth reside in in the world, the total number being 11,013, certsin towns only. None will be permitted to with a membership of 66O,OOO-a gain of 3,341 own land or hire it for agricnltural purposes. societies and 185,000 members in eleven The order includes within its scope towns and months. hundreds of villages that have large Jewish -Arabic tracts for Mohammedan readers. At populations. No Jew will be allowed to hold the request of General Haig the Committee of shares in or work mines. The law limiting the Religions Tract Society (London) have the residence of Jews to sixteen provinces published a series of Arabic tracts, setting will be enforced. No Hebrew will be allowed forth, in progressive order, the main doctrines to enter the army, to practice medicine or of scripture, and leading up to that of the law, to be an engineer, or to enter any of the Atonement of the 'Lord Jesus Christ. other professiollll. They will also be debarred
INDEX OF CONTENTS OF THE SEPTEMBER NUMBER
INDEX OF CONTENTS SEPTEMBER NUMBE~.
PAGE PAGE. I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS…… 641-684 CHINA.-Proceedings of Shanghai Con- n.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLI- ference, 669; The Four Appeals of the GENCE~._ …. _._ … ___ …….. 684-693 Conference to the Churches, 673; Dr. Happer's Remarks on the Conference, m.-MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE._ 6934)96 676; Edit.orial Note on do., 712; Plan of Union of Presbyterian Churches, 693; IV.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT… 696-704 Editorial Note on,709; Chinese Educa- tion,697; A Great Revival,717; Shang- V.-MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS 704-708 hai Union Conference……………….. 712 English Wesleyan Missionary Society, VI.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT Report of Investigating Committee….. 719 Field, LeafietonBaptistMissions ………. 713 TOPICS __ ………….. 00. •• 709-713 "Hottentot," A Noble Example. ……. . 683· VII.-ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK INDIA.-Notes on various interests, AND STATISTICS.. . . . .•.• ••..•• 714-717 (translations), 680; Indian Church Aid Association, 686; Development of Medi- VIII.-PROGRESS OF MISSIONS: MONTH- cal Missions, 687; Female Education, LY BULLETIN ……………. 717-719 687; Lepers, 688; Zenana Missions, 688; Welsh Calvinistic Foreign Missions, 689; IX.-INDEX TO CONTENTS………… 720 Young Men's Christian Association Work, 694; Work Prospering, 718; Bishop Authors. Thoburnon India, 718; LondonAwdliary of the Mission to Lepers …………… 718' EDITORS. – A. T. Pierson. The Super- natural Factor in Missions, 653; Edi- ITALY.-Missionary Conference at Flor- torial Notes, 709; J. M. Sherwood, Edi- ence in 1891 ………………………… 718 torialNotes………………………… 712 JAPAN.-Educational Exhibit at Paris Curtis, Rev. Freq.. S., Account of the Exposition,692; The Situation in, by Dr. Shanghai Missionary Conference…..••• 669 Ellinwood, 704; Murder of Mr. Large, 718; Work of Home Missions…………. 719 Ellinwood, F. F., D.D., Woman's Work for Woman, 648; The Situation in Japan KOREA.-The Present Condition of and Korea ………………. _…….. 704 Things,708; Progress in Mission work .•• 717 Gracey, J. T., D.D., International Depart- Lansing, Dr. Gulian and hisSon…•……. 712 ment ……………………………. 697 Missionary Conferences-The Conference Happer, A. P., D.D., Comments on the of Believers at Niagara, 711; The Indian- Shanghai Conference .. …………… 676 apolis National Conference ………… 712 Mormon Proselytism.. .. …. • •…. .. …… 661 Johnston, Rev. James, Notes on India…. _ 686 Outbreaks of Personal Violence ..••……• 710 Pierson, Dr. A. T., A Proposed Campaign Leonard, Rev. D. L., Mormon Proselytism 661 in behalf of Presbyterian Board of For· eign Missions………………….. … 709 McConaughy, David, Jr., Y. M. C. A. Work Prize Offers …………………………. 714 in India…….. …. ……………….. 694 RUSSIA.-Persecution of the Jews …… 719 Moorhead, Max Wood, Student Volunteer Movement…………………………. 684 Mudge, Rev. James, The Evolution of a Missionary Society.. .. …. … .. …….. 701 Starbuck, Rev. Charles C., Translations from Foreign Missionary Periodicals…• 679 Taft, Rev. Marcus L., Chinese Education .. 697 SOUTH AMERICA.-Spanish Mission work in Chili, 693; Romish outbreaks in Thompson, Rev. Andrew, D.D., The Mis- Zacatecas…… ……………………. 709 sion in Basuto Land.. .. …. … .. ……. 641 SWEDEN.-.A.nnual Convention of the Countries and Subjects. Fatherland Missionary Society,719; Scan- dinavian Missionary Conference in AFRICA.-Dr. Thomson on the Mission Christiana…………………………. 683 in Basuto Land, 641; The Anglo-German Agreement 689; Stanley and the Brus- Statistics of Foreign Missions. sels Confererence, 691 ; Nelson's Starva- tion Camp, 692; The Work in Abyssinia. Reformed Presbyterian Church in the 717; Steamer on Victoria Nyanza, 717; United States. Report for 1889·90….. 714 TheGaza Country, 717; MacKenzie Me- morial Mission, 717; King Mwanga, 717; Presbyterian Church (North) Report for Soudan Famine, 717; Number of Stations 1889-90.. .. …. .. … ………………… 715 in Africa, 717; Bishop Tucker………. 717 Presbyterian Church (South) Report for Berlin Mission in Transvaal…… .. ……. 682 1889-90 …. …. . …………………… 715 Christian Endeavor Society, Statistics of. 719 Presbyterian Church of England. Report for 1889……………. ……… .. …. 716 COrpU8 Christi, Adoration of in Montreal. 711 Reformed (Dutch) Church in America. Report for 1889-90…. …….. …. ….. • 715
The Missionary Review of the World — October 1888
A. CRUSADE FOR MISSIONS. [OCT••
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XI. No. lO.-Old 8eries._ _OCTOBER, _ _VOL. 1. No. to.-New Berle8.
I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS.
A ORUSADE FOR MISSIONS. [EDITORIAL.-A. T. p.] [The following solemn and earnest appeal we are sure will be received in the spirit in which it Is made, and, we trust. will not have been made iu vaiu. We who have staid at home, and so have not felt the touch of those great movements and mighty throbings, of which 'London has been the center, are not prepared to appreciate the fnll force of the feeling which dictates this bugle-call from across the sea and the intensity of the conviction which thrills along every line of this stirring appeal.-J. M. S.] THE time seems to me to have fully come for some new movement, which I can call by no other name, and for that crusade I solemnly appeal to my brethren in the pastorate to set themselves apart.
The evangelization of the world is a problem so grave and so great that it demands men, in a peculiar, if not an exclusive sense, devoted to it. The church needs to be aroused, quickened, stimulated, to new endeavor, prayer, consecration, giving, if we are to overtake the present generation with the gospel. To do this work of arousing the church, information must be gathered, facts collated and marshaled in effective array, and then presented with readiness of memory and of utterance, with the unique power and force that come from a mind and heart on fire with intelligent zeal and holy enthusiasm. For this work who are naturally fitted as are the devoted pastors of the churches? They are the leaders of church life and church'work ; their contact with the people is constant, and their touch is sympathetic; they are in t4e very position to take up such work with every advantage and hope of success.
Of course such a work demands a special training. There are certain lines of study and research, personal acquaintance with missionaries and mission-fields, providential contact with the work at a hundred points of approach, and the habit of advocating missions, which are requisite for the fullest measure of preparation to carryon such a crusade; but no man has the chance of such university training in the school of missions so available to him as the pastor. He whose yearnings and leanings are in this direction will unconsciously develop power in the work.
Nothing is more imperatively needed at this precise emergency, the crisis of missions, than a generation of such pastoral crusaders. There is no need of abandoning the pulpit and parish to enter upon such a crusade. The churches need not even be neglected, left unshepherded, unsheltered, like a scattered flock, in order that a pastor may go about, like Peter the Hermit, on missionary tours. The pastor must care for the flock, of course. But there is a larger, broader work for Christ than any individual church presents, and every minister of Christ owes somewhat to the church at large. He ought to feel and recognize the call to ministerial service to the whole body of Christ, and seek training for that larger service.
I am persuaded that in most cases a man is more effective as a pleader for missions who is making such appeals to only one branch of a general work for Christ and His church. We need to remember that the pastoral office is the first and highest in the church. Its forms of activity are so manifold and multiform, that it cultivates every part of the man; every faculty finds employment. To do the work of preacher and pastor, instead of making a man narrow, broadens him. His very appeals for special causes, such as Home Missions, Foreign Missions, City Evangelization, are rendered only more effective by his not becoming a mere specialist, absorbed in one particular subject or object. The tendency of doing only one thing is to be short-sighted, and see only one interest, and so unduly magnify that one object. A. specialist in benevolence is apt to loose breadth of view. width of symmpathy, and he cannot make up for such lack by mere length of tongue. The two great qualities, "audibility and volubility," may be enough for some men, but they do not prove sufficient for holding and rousing the people.
I would not have pastors abandon their flocks and folds to enter the new crusade for missions. How often have we observed that a pastor who is a powerful advocate of some one or all of the benevoleri.t agencies of the church degenerates as soon as he becomes a secretary of a board or an agent. He gets formal, official, a mere functionary. A.nd because he is expected to magnify his office, and exaggerate the relative importance of the cause he represents, he loses power with the people.
Hence, in order to be more useful in pleading for missions, it may be well for a man to keep out of all official relations with a board or a society in all ordinary cases. It takes a really extraordinary man to keep out of the trammels of a perfunctory routine. For myself, I have sedulously avoided aU such complications, preferring to be first of all a preacher and pastor, and, as such, whenever God gives opportunity, and as He gives ability, lift up my voice for every true, noble and effective form of church beneficence, WIth no fetters on my tongue or my independence. '1'0 do the best work in missions, it is best for me, and probably for most men, to remain pastors; and their words will have all the more spontaneity, enthusiasm and real power when they speak not as agents or secretaries but as pastors.
THE GREAT MISSIONARY CONFERENCES•
.At the same time, I cordially recommend my fellow pastors to avail themselves, especially when they are abroad, of opportunities to gather information by personal visits and contact in the mission fields themselves. Nothing so vividly impresses the mind as the sight of the eyes, and nothing so fit for vivid, graphic, telling description and reproduction. If a pastor is going to take a vacation abroad, why not, for the sake of his own church and the church at large, take his vacation where recreation and investigation may be cQmbined? Dr. Gordon and myself went to Paris together to visit and investigate the McAn Missions. We spoke twice a day in the various salles, through an interpreter, and saw the work for ourselves. But the help of M. Saillens, Dr. McAn's main helper in his work, enabled us to see Paris in the meanwhile as we could not have done it alone. I had written much and spoken often on the McAn Mission work, but never had I such a conception of its simplicity and effectiveness. He who would be a powerful pleader for missions will do well to avail himself of every chance to come into personal, vital contact with mission fields and mission workers. In fact, many a church might well send a pastor abroad to carry cheer to missionaries on the field, and gather a store of facts, . and best of all a new enthusiasm. The time so spent would not be lost to the church at home. A true pastor may well desire to visit fi-elds and conduct a personal investigation of the work, in order to fit hjmself better to do the work of a home pastor. The more many-sided a man is, the better-informed he is, the more intelligent his zeal in the wider work of God, the more keenly alive to the wants of the worldfield, the better is he fitted to guide the flock at home, especially if his church chance to be a large and leading one among the churches.
Brethren of the ministry, much as we need missionaries on the foreign field, we need, even more, missionary pastors on the home field. We need menwho shall make a business to keep themselves thoroughly informed as to the progress of the Lord's work and the great missionary campaign. Such men inspire a whole church, lift it to a higher level, quicken intelligence, and arouse zeal. They are the true and poweJful pleaders for missions. Give us more of such men-men who can make a monthly concert an inspiring occasion, men who not only take an annual missionary collection or preach an annual missionary sermon, but whose every prayer and discourse and pastoral visit is fragrant with the spirit of missions. Then we shall have a true missionary revival, and the pulse of a sluggish church shall beat with new life, and a new missionary era shall ,dawn.
THE GREAT MISSIONARY CONFERENCES.
THIRD LETTER FROM: A. T. PIERSON, D. D.
. '. : EDUTBURGH, July 16.
THE grand World's Conference in London was but the beginnh~g of a series. The so-called Mildmay Conference, at Mildniay Park, almost immediately succeeded it-July 27-31-and the del6gates have found in their travels that at every new point gatherings awaited their com- ing, where the eager multitudes were waiting to gather at least some fragments of the feast. In this Athens of the British Isles, for in- stancH, the pulpits were filled all day yesterday by delegates, and at a monster-meeting in the Synod Hall last night, addresses were made on the subject of missions by Dr. A. J. Gordon and myself.
-I have thought that to many who may not see the reports of the Conference, now preparing in extenso, it might be well to present a . few choice bits of the feast. And so I have been at pains to gather up a basket of fragments, to let our readers see what was the character of the fare distributed at the banquet board. Those who wish to have the reports in full will do well at once to send orders, with two dollars and a half, for the two large volumes of verbatim reports, to Rev. James Johnston, Secretary, care of Y. M. C. A., Exeter Hall, Strand, London. The reports will be published about January 1, 1889.
1. Ohristianityand Oivilization.-Bishop Colenso attempted to civil- ize without Christianizing. He got twelve Zulu lads and took them for a limited time into his service, not making any attempt meanwhile to convert them. When the time expired, he reminded them how faithful he had been to them and to his promise not to seek to bias them at all as to their religious faith. The next day all were gone, leaving behind only their European clothes, as they went back to bar- barism. It is said that Colenso went over to the American mission, laid on the treasurer's table a fifty-pound note, and said: "You were right, and I was wrong."
Christian nations were defeated in the Crusades: they deserved to be, for the Bible was carried behind the sword.
ee Among the Zulus, the first sign of approach to Christ is a desire for clothes. A man comes one day and buys a calico shirt; the next, per- haps, and buys a pair of duck pants; then a three-legged stool, for he can no longer sit on the ground, and with shirt and pants on, and seated on that stool, he is a thousand miles above the level of the heathen round him."-Dr. Lindley.
2. The Power of Christian Schools.-We do not appreciate the value of the educational element in missions. The missiollary superin- tendent in Utah lately undertook to lecture on subjects such as would interest the Mormons, beginning with lectures on humor, in which lie had to explain his own jokes and stories to his stolid and stupid auditors. As soon as he had convinced them that he knew more than their own priests, of science, history, etc., he opened a school, and their children came to learn, then a Sunday-school, and so an evangelistic service. . In Beirut, the Christian church, the medical college and the girls' schools go side by side. The very Pashas confess the power of these schools, and the Arabs had to open girls' schools in self-defense, and having no fit teachers, sent to our schools for teachers for their own. Education acts asa prophylactic, upsetting the uIlscientific and absurd geography, cosmogony, etc., of paganism, and so the religion itself.
Education of a Christian sort tends to upset the heathen faiths, by first undermining the heathen systems of false science which are inseparably bound up with the religious system. For example, the absurd Hindoo cosmogony cannot stand before the revelations of modern astronomy, etc. The antagonism between the truth and error is irreconcilable. On the other hand, the more the Bible is studied, the more it is found to be in accord with all the great scientific facts not known when the Bible was written. The leading truths of geology, astronomy, comparative anatomy, physiology, etc., find in the Word of God no antagonism. In fact, we may almost say, they were anticipated in its wonderful phraseology.-A. T. P.
Medical Missions.-It is noticeable that Christ sent forth His apostles, not only to preach and teach and testify, but to heal the sick.
3. The Progress of Missions.-In the Fiji Islands one wretched cannibal gloried in his shame. He was wont to put down one stone for every human body of which he partook, and his horrid memorial reached the number of 872 stones! At the late jubilee of missions not one avowed heathen was left.-Rev. John Oalvert.
4. Preparation of Missionary Oandidates.-It is very desirable that while in the course of preparation they be kept as much as may be into contact with souls. Isolation and seclusion for study during a long period sometimes leaves a student with a chronic or at least intermittent chill. Intellectuality often developes brilliance, but the brilliance of an iceberg. It is well to keep up the warmth of love and passion for souls by evangelistic labor-and all the better if among the lowest classes; for he who is not ready to preach the gospel anywhere is fitted to preach it nowhere. He who can reach the lowest can commonlyreach the highest, but the reverse is not always true. We need men in earnest, not for salaries and positions and honors, but seekers after souls.-A. T. P.
5. The Rurn Traffic.-When Stanley came to Aganda, the king, Mtesa, asked after Victoria, the Emperor of Germany, etc. Then he said, '''' Have you any tidings from above!" Mr. Stanley was not quite so much at home on this subject, but he could at least give the king a New Testa:r;nent. But it was noticeable that when Stanley reached the mouth of the Congo, the one unfortunate question there was, "Have you any gin?" The very day that the American Baptists in Boston accepted the Livingstone Inland Mission, 200,000 gallons of rum sailed from Boston to the Congo, in a single ship.
6. The three eras of rnissions have been: 1. The apostolic: the result was the conversion, nominally, of the :Roman Empire. 2. The rnedi- OJval: the result was the nominal Christianization of Europe. 3. The modern: the result of which is to be the evangelization of the world.~ Dr. Philip Schaff.
7. The Opium Trade in Ohina.-The sum of all villainies is the opium traffic. It entails more and worse evils than drink, slavery and licensed vice put together !-J. Hudson Taylor. .
8. The Gospel in TaMtL-The London Missionary Society sent the first missionaries to Tahiti in 1797. They worked till 1813, sixteen years, and not one convert. Then a change came over the whole land. So rapid was the development that in 1821, eight years later, evangelists-natives-went out to the Hervey group. Eight years more passed, and, with John Williams, native evangelists pressed on to the Samoan group. Another nine years, and the New Hebrides were reached; and, in 1841 to 1843, the Loyalty Islands and New Guinea. What a remarkable proof and fruit of the power of the gospel!- Wardlato Thompson.
'l'he progress of God in the march of missions has been correspond- ingly rapid with the capacity of the church to keep up with the Great Leader.-A. T. P.
9. Buddhism and Other False Faitlts.-Buddhism has, in fact, no God. 2. No family life. Women he abhorred and would not speak to .them, and so Buddha taught his followers.
The goddess Kali is worshiped because believed to have control of .aches and pains. Of the Buddhists of Ceylon 90 per cent. are demon- worshippers. Much is said about the "Light of Asia." But the so- called light of Asia is the light of Oxford and Cambridge. Arnold reads his own conception into Buddhism, and then attributes it to Buddhism. He owes his own conception to Ohristianity. Buddhism is to be judged by its practical results and fruits in life and character. In comparison to the light of the world, the light of Asia is but darkness.-Prebendary Edmonds.
Buddhism accommodates the natural heart of man. It is all things to all men, without bringing to any man salvation. All the heathen faiths yield to the carnal element in humanity; they foster pride, lmt, selfishness, avarice, self-righteousness. There is no hatred of sin, love of holiness, or unselfish benevolence taught. Even benevolence is only another form of selfishness.
10. The Bible a Missionary Book.-If you cut out of the Bible whatever pertains directly or indirectly to missions-all precepts, promises, parables, discourses-all the drift and tendency of prophecy and history, and gospel, and epistle, in the direction of missions-and all dispensational dealing and leading having the same significanceyou will have nothing but the covers left.
11. Mistakes of Preachers.-One of the greatest is that we have too ·often preached on missions only when we wanted a collection. Allolll'
EARLY MISSION WORK AMONG THE INDIANS OF NEW ENGLAND. . 7~
preaching should have a missionary character and tone.-Rev. Geo. Wilson.
The preacher ordinarily determines the level of the missionary interest and intelligence of his congregation. What a mistake, then, 'for him to be uninformed and unenthusiastic in respect to the work of God. He ought to be at the very head, the leader and inspirer of missionary study and consecration.
12. MiscellaneOtls.-Such words as "conversion," etc., are God's edge-tools, and even the devil gets hurt if he fools with them.-Rev. Mr. McNiel.
"To-day, June 18, is Waterloo day. The Oongress of Vienna adjourned on that day to unite with other nations to drive back Napoleon as a common foe to the peace of Europe. Does it not behoove us to adjourn this Oonference to unite our forces against the common enemy of mankind?"-Sir John Kenna1lJay.
One hundred nations lie east of the Soudan, embracing 100,000,000 without a missionary.
In the importation of rum into Africa, the order for liquor was accompanied by an order: "Send llS. handc1I1fs."-Dr. W: M. Taylor.
We must discriminate between Romanism as a religious faith and Romanism as an ecclesiastical system, and between the abettors of this Papal despotism and its victims. Many mistakes have been made in approaching Romanists. Many so-caUed Oatholics are themselves conscious of the tyranny of Papal supremacy.
EARLY MISSION WORK AMONG 'fHE INDIANS OF NEW ENGLAND.
BY JULIA M. BLISS, LONGMEADOW, MASS.
THE "Indian Question" is not a .new subject. This generation is not the first to seek to have it righteously settled, to be baffled by its perplexities, or to be moved to.earnest work in behalf of an unfortunate race. If the matter so greatly in~erests Ohristian philanthropists to-day, much more was it a subject of solicitude to the fathers of New England, who planted their colonies in the midst of the natives. Th~y gained a foothold by the destruction of thousands of Indians by terrible diseases, but still, large and fierce tribes and numerous remnants of tribes surrounded them; their embarrassments and difficulties were manifold, and their endeavors to deal kindly and justly with their savage neighbors were scrupulous and unremitting.
The establishment of missions among the Indians was the carrying out of purposes formed by Pilgrims and Puritans before they caIl}e hither. One of the" reasons" given for the coming of the J?lymou th Oolony was "a great hope and inward zeal" for making Ohrist known "in those remote parts of the world." So with the BlJ.Y Oolony, that was one of the objects mentioned in their charter, and a among the "reasons" for their "undertaking," and on their first seal was an "Indian having label going from his mouth, 'Come over and help us.'" They surely needed help, for they were in a for- lorn and wretched condition, improvident, depraved, living more like animals than men, the "veriest ruins of mankind."
-Some efforts were early made in their behalf; Squanto, Sagamore John and a few others in each colony were, as the English rejoiced to believe, the "first~fruits." But the hardships were so great, especially in Plymouth, that it was some years before regular labors were begun among them.
In 1636 Plymouth passed laws to provide for the preaching of the gospel to the Indians, but in the larger colony, the work under Eliot, though later started, progressed more rapidly. Skillful in languages, compassionate, generous, uniting zeal with tact and discretion, truly apostolic in spirit, Eliot was admirably adapted to be the leader in this work. But he was not left to carry it on single-handed; he had the encouragement and co-operation of the General Court, of his church at Roxbury, and of the best men in and around Boston, especially the . ministers, those in the vicinity supplying his pulpit when he preached to the Indians. The General Court ordered, in 1644, that the county courts should attend to the civilizing and Christianizing the Indians in their shires; in 1646, that two ministers should be chosen annually to preach to them, and that something should be given by the court to those who were willing to be instructed; and in 1647, that quarterly and monthly courts should be held where Indians assembled, all fines to be used to build houses for worship or schools "or other publick use." So Eliot's work was begun with its aid and sanction.
Having made some progress in learning the language, without which he could not have gained even a h~aring, in 1646 he began his direct mission labors at Nomantum, a part of the present town of Newton, . preaching the first time so that the Indians" understood all." U n- wearied by toil, undaunted by hardship and danger~ he pressed the work forward and brought it to such a promising state that, in 1649, through the efforts of Mr. Winslow, a society was formed in England for propagating the gospel among the Indians. Its revenue in a few years amounted to £500 to £600 annually; the Commissioners of the United Colonies, while that body had an existence, were the almoners, and returned yearly an account of expenses to the society. The Gen· eral Court early contributed to it £500, and the towns £1,560.
It seemed to Eliot that no great progress could be made until the Indians could be brought into some civilized way of living. So the "praying Indians," who had "felt the impression of his ministry," and who were desirious of more settled homes, were gathered into towns, built and .go'l'erned by themselves, under English instruction. Natic, the chief of these, and covering six thousand acres, was settled in 1651, and into it were gathered the Indians near Dedham and some from Concord. It was laid out with three principal streets; and upon these, parcels of land were set apart for a dwelling, garden and orchard, . "one to be assigned to each native head of a family." The town contained a bridge 80×9 feet in length and height, with stone abutments, a palisaded fort, and a "common house" for worship, school and other purposes, all made by the In~lians. There was manifested a strong desire for improvement among the natives. They began to dress like the English, to give up their savage customs, to till the ground; the women learned to spin, so there was a great demand for farming implements and spinning-wheels. They began to put away their immoralities, to keep the Sabbath, to catechise their children, and to pray in their families. Schools were establiEhed, and the brightest pupils from them were put under competent masters ~nd instructed in Latin, Greek and English.
In 1654, at Natic, was formed the first Indian church of those who had been most carefully examined and re-examined by the ministers, and who gave good evidence by their" confessions" and lives of being true Ohristians.
That the "Scriptures might not in an unknown tongue be locked" , from the natives, Eliot, in 1649, began his translation, the first from the English into a heathen language. This work of vast labor, because of the strangeness of the language and the "interminable" words, was carried on at intervals, for beside the Indian work he had the care of an important church. In 1661 the New Testament was completed, printed at Cambridge, and a handsomely bound copy was sent to Charles II., to enlist his interest in the good work.. In 1664 the whole Bible was printed at Cambridge, and two hundred copies were at once put into circulation. If no living man can read that translation, who shall say it was made in vain?
Eliot was anxious to have a trained native ministry, and for this purpose provision was made at Cambridge. Not far from 1661, a brick building for about twenty students, and called Indian College, was built there. Two Indians completed the course, one was drowned just before taking his degree, and the other died soon after his graduation. Others died who had been instructed there, so "many friends began to doubt the success of the enterprise," and after a time the building was used for other purposes.
Meanwhile the work had been carried on in Plymouth by the "godly and gracious Richard Bourn," and in 1666 he was able to gather a church at Marshpee. John Eliot and his son, the governor, several magistrates and ministers of Plymouth helped in organizing it; and all the churches of the colony, having read the "confessions" of the Indians, gave their approval. One of the most hopeful' fields was Mltrtha's Vineyard and the adjacent islands. For forty-four years the Mahews-father, flon and grandson-labored for the good of the poor inhabitants. In 1641, the .worshipful Thomas Mahew had a grant for settlement of these islands and was made the Governor of the English. In 1644, his son Thomas Mahew, the pastor of the English on Martha's Vineyard, became greatly interested in the Indians and began to visit and instruct them in their homes. He often lodged with them, enduring cold and wet, thus bringing upon himself many" pains and distempers." At last he so won up0l1- them that they were willing to meet for preaching and instruction, and in' a few years his efforts were so much blessed that "many hundred men and women" in these islands gave evidence of being intelligent Ohristians. He continued his" painful labors" till 1657, when, intending a short trip to England, the ship in which he sailed was lost. His father took up the work wl1ich he had laid down; he visited and encouraged the Indians, and, with the aid of some native Ohristians, induced those of Gayhead to yield to the gospel. Mr. John Ootton of Plymouth preached to them two years, and in 1670, with the advice of the best men on the island, a church was formed at Martha's Vineyard, and Hiacooms, the first COnvert, was made pastor. After this John Mahewassisted his grandfather until the death of the latter, when for seven years the chief work devolved upon him, until he died. in 1688, leaving the Indians with well instructed native teachers, and pretty well established in ways of Ohristian living.
Before Philip's war, when the work was most prosperous, there were about four thousand praying Indians and six churches, two in Massachusetts, one in Plymouth, two in Martha's Vineyard, and one in Ohappequiddick, all adjacent island.
Some obstacles to the work were the various dialects in use,and frequent wars between tribes, especially in Oonnecticut, and the violent opposition of many sachems, who prevented any instruction of their people. It may be noted that generally only the broken remnants of tribes showed any inclination to lead better lives. The Narragansetts rejected all efforts in their behalf; and when Mr. Eliot visited Philip, hoping to induce him to hear his message, Philip, taking a button on ,Mr. Eliot's coat, said "that he cared for his gospel just as much as he cared for that button." If Mr. Eliot could not move him, who could have done it?
At the beginning of Philip's war, the condition of aU the Indians ,had been much improved by the coming of the English. The smaller tribes had been preserved from destruction by English protection; a portion had been greatly benefited by. these special efforts in their behalf, and all, in a measure, by the introduction of seeds, farming implements and domestic animals, and by the great increase in their trade.
FOURTH LETTER FROM A. T. PIERSON, D.D
This dreadful war, which for a time almostthr~atened to destr-OY the colonies, was unfavorable to the mission work. The Ohristian Indians were hated by the others and exposed to danger from them, and many of the English became suspicious of an Indians, which was not strange perhaps under the circumstances. Many of the Ohristian Indians were faithful and aided the English, but some, lured by the wiles of Philip, went over to the enemy. Many from Natic, Stoughton and other places were ta.ken to Deer Island for their safety, and on theiI: return after the war, their towns in the Massachusetts colony were· reduced from fourteen to seven. But the work revived under the labors of Mr. Rawson, Mr. Treat, Mr. Thatcher and others, and about the year 1700, there were altogether, thirty congregations of praying Indians, twenty-four native helpers, and" more than three thousand caning on God in Ohrist and hearing His holy Word."
FOURTH I~ETTEI~ FROM A. T. PIERSON, D.D.
[The following communication, althongh somewhat personal, we are sure will Intensely interest ou~ readers. We may here give expression toa fact-known to us from a hUlldred sonrCe8that our dear friend and editorial associate lIot only took a· very prominent part in the ConferenCe, and in various after-meetings, in London, but his addresses were received with very marked favor, and seemed to enthuse his audiences in an unwonted degree. Scarcely a day has passed since tlie great Council opened that he has not addressed vast assemblages, often more than once a day. And the following letter, and the docnment appended, which we give below, will show what h.e and his greatly beloved co-Iabore,', Dr. A. J. Gordon, of Boston, are dOing, and have been dOing, in Scotland, since the London Conference closed. God seems to be calling these devoted servants of His to do a great work for foreign missions in that grand ·old historic church-in the land of Knox, and Dntf and Chalmers-and giving up their long-cherished plans. of extended travel on tlie Continent, they have Iieeded the Providential call, and have begun a "Crusade for Missions" that may lead to far-reaching, glorious res nits. This work, to which two of the leaders of the Conferenc.e are so urgently called by the united voice of the Scottish Church, is part of the fruit of the recent World's Conference on Missions. Theprsyers of the American Church-honored by having two Qf its well-known and beloved pastors selected to carry the sacred fire from London and kindle a flame In Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, and other parts of Scotland-should go np in behalf of these, ortr representatives, not only that a tidal wave of missionary revival may follow them there, but that they may come back to us In due time, so endued with the spirit of zeal and of the Holy Ghost, as shall fit teem to be the leaders of a mighty" Crusade for Missions" throughout the great American Church, whose scores of delegates did such grand service at the great Conference.-J; M. S.] My DEAR YOKEFELLOW : SCOTLAND, July 28, 1888.
I send you a letter. and you may publish or not, as your judgment may indicate. The meetings in London were so enthusiastic and inspiring that a great desire was expressed to get a few of the delegates to go to a number of other points and in some measure carry the sacred fire. Fl'om time to time public meetings have been held in other places where delegates chance to have been temporarily sojourning, and the interest awakened in London" has been extending elsewhere, both through the pen and the tongue. During a tour on the Oontinent, in which Dr. Gordon and myself were companions in travel, and while we were at Paris visiting with great delight the various McAll Mission salles, we found that arrangements had been. perfected for a series of Ihissionary m~etings in Edinburgh for July 14-17. These dates were chosen in order to reach the University students before their dispersion for vacation. It implied.3o very decided alteration in all our plans, as we desired to go on to Rome while on the Continent; but a!' it seemed to be God's call, we yielded to the earnest and pressing invitation of brethren in Edinburgh, and abandoning, at least for the time, our Continental trip, went to Edinburgh. The series of meetings which had been planned began with lL garden. party on the grounds of Duncan McLaren, Esq., where, on the early evening of Saturday, July 14, about seventy-five of the leading people of Edinburgh were gathered. A few informal addresses were made by delegates who were present, including Mrs. G. Stott, of Wen Chou, China; Mrs. Armstrong, who has been identified both with Burmah and the Telugus in India, and by her husband, and a short address by myself. On Sunday Dr. Gordon, myself and Rev. .Mr. Armstrong were put in the pulpits of the leading churches, and in the evening an immense assemblage was convened in the Synod Hall ill Caiiltle Terrace. The meeting was much prolonged. Addresses were made by Dr. Gordon and myself, as also hy Dr. Simpson and several others, and five medical missionaries were set apart for the foreign work. On Monday evening a meeting was called at the Free Assembly Han, following an afternoon meeting, which was conducted by the ladies alone, and which was a meeting of singular power. At this afternoon meeting Mrs. A. J. Gordon spoke, followed by Mrs. Armstrong and Mrs.'Moses Smith, Miss Child, Mrs. Stott, etc., ttnd it could be easily seen that the tide of missionary interest was rising rapidly. The Scotch are not easily moved, but when they are moved, have corresponding momentum. Notwithstanding the afternoon meeting was continued so late, the evening audience filled the Assembly Hall. I~ord Polwarth presided. Dr. Gordon, as usual, made a most happy and powerful address, and it fell to me to make the closing speech. The sympathy of the audience was manifest and profound. The tide was still rising.. As I concluded, the solemnity and the silence impressed us all that God was there, and that He was using the facts and appeals presented to move the great audience as only He can do it. The brethren gathered around Dr. Gordon and myself, and suggested that we should visit other cities of Scotland and endeavor to arouse deeper and wider interest in missions. The next evening a sort of conversazione was held at the church offices on. Queen's street, on which occasion brethren from all parts of Scotland convened for a stated meeting, and we had the rare opportunity of reaching and touching many springs of church life. There the proposition was first made formally that we should spend some months in a mission tour of Scotland, and consent to fill appointments made for us by a central committee representing all various branches of the church. The proposition was startling and novel. It involved -an 'abandonment of all previous and personal plans. But such a deep spirit of prayer seemed to have been awakened, and so much unity and harmony between all the brethren that we could not abruptly dismiss the matter from our minds. We took it into prayerful consideration, and consented to spend one more Sabbath in Edinburgh. After occupying pulpits again on July 22d, another ahd a very large meeting was called for Sabbath evening in Synod Hall. Sir William Muir was in the chair, and Dr. John Lowe, who is connected with the medical mission, presented to usa very earnest letter on behalf of all the brethren, imploring us to ask a six months'
furlough of our congregations and take a wide tour of Scotland in the interests of missions. .
There were some very remarkable tokens of God's will that appeared to Dr. Gordon and me to mark this very unexpected appeal. The eff~ct of our addresses and those of others upon the popular mind, and particularly the minds of our brethren of the ministry, was such as could be traced to no human source. Some of the oldest ministers present remarked to us that they remembered no meeting so marked by the divine presence and power. Then the wonderful unity and unanimity of the movement. Brethren of all branches of the Ohurch, and from all lucalities, seemed impressed with the same idea that the thing to be done was to ask us to take this missionary campaign in hand,and that the leading of God was perfectly clear in the matter.· At each successive public meeting, and meeting of the ministers and the committee, the unanimity was more manifest, and the convICtIOn· grew in depth and power, that the hand of God was pointing in one direction. After Dr. Lowe had read his letter, the audience rose as one man to signify their cordial assent to the proposal, and it became clear to Dr•.Gordon and myself that we ought at least to go on a short, experimental tour, leaving the further steps to bo made apparent as the necessity for taking them was more apparent. We, therefore, undertook the work for a limited time, leaving to God to indicate whether He had any further work for us to do which was imperative enough to justify the prolonging of our stay in Scotland. Generous provision was made by the committee in Edinburgh for Our traveling expenses and our entertainment while engaged on this service, and the offer was made to send brethren to occupy our home pulpits should that provision render our way more clear.
Upon that mission tour we are now engaged. A meeting was held at Oban on Thursday, and the others are arranged for at Inverness, Nairn, Dundee, Aberdeen, Glasgow, etc. Should no very clear and emphatic leading of God indicate a further duty in the same direction, a few weeks will close our little campaign. But if it is manifest that a wider door opens before us, the way will no doubt be made clear and the obstacles will disappear as we proceed.
This is but one indication of the. far-reaching results of the World's Conference of Missions. The sound of it has already gQne out to the ends of the earth. An appetite for missionary meetings, a relish for missionary literature and information, a spirit of intelligent zeal and consecration, and many other results already hint at a very large har- vest of which these are first-fruits. Delegates have gone in every direc- tion, bearing coals from the same altar and fires, and kindling every- where. The printed reports have been widely scattered, and will be more widely. There will be, wedouot not, a new era of giving and self-giving.
In our addresses we have sought no mere ephemeral impression by an appeal to emotion. We have felt that a true interest in missions must be built upon the basis of an intelligent conviction-that disci- ples need to be informed-confronted with the great facts of missionary history. We have sought, therefore, simply to mass, or rather mar- shal, these facts before the mind-to show how plainly the work is God's work-to indicate providential and gracious signs of His going before and with the missionary band. And everywhere we find a most absorbed and attentive audience. The turn in the tide of missions has evidently come, but it is a turn toward, not the ebb, but the flood.
Both Dr. Gordon and myself regret that our great work at home does not seem to allow of an extended absence and work in this direction.
There is a wide door and an effectual opened before us, and there are not many adversaries who show open opposition. Now is the time for some one to enter this door. A crusade of missions is called for, and where is Peter the Hermit? A reform in missionary methods is called for, and where is the Luther, the Wesley, the Owen for t':J.e crisis? A reconstruction of our habits of giving is needful, and where is the Zin- zendorf to lead the way to a higher level of consecrated beneficence?
Let the whole Church pray for the present epoch and the «oming men for the crisis.
August 4, 1888.
DEAR BROTHER: I sent you a letter a few days ago, referring to the marvelous movement here for a missionary campaign. I now send you the letter of the Committee referred to, read and adopted in Synod Hall at the great meeting. I think this and the letter I sent you ought to be published as soon as possible, not because of personal references, of course, but as a signal token of the outcome of the W orId's Conference in London.
VISIT OF DELEGATES TO SCOTLAND.
CENTRAL COMMITTEE.
Rev. W. Adamson, D.D. Rev. G. D. Cullen, M.A.
" R. G. Balfonr. .. William Grant.
·h James Buchanan. " James Gregory.
" Principal Cairns, D.D. .. T. T. Lambert.
" Professor Calderwood, LL.D. .. W. Landels, D.D.
.. Professor Charteris, D.D. David Lewis, Esq.
•, Lewis Davidson. Robert Lockhart, Esq. .. E. C. Dawson, :M.A. Rev. John Lowe, F.R.C.S.E.
Sir,Thomas Clark, Bart., Lord Provost. R. A. lIaclle, Esq. J. S. :Mack, Esq. Bev. Robert Craig, M.A. J; T. Maclagan, Esq. George Smlth, Esq.; LL.D: Duncan M'Laren, Esq. Rev..Professor T. Smith, D.D. Rev. Norman M'Leod, D.D. Henry Soitan, Esq. Rev. W. Stevenson, M.A. " JohnM'Murtrie. Peter L. Stuart, Esq. W. White Millar, Esq. Rev. C. R. Teape, Ph.D. Andrew Mitchell, Esq. James Thin, Esq. Rev. Mnrray Mitchell, LL.D. Rev. Alexander Whythe, D.D. Sir William Muir, K.C.S.I., LL.D. Rev. Thomas Nicol, B.D. .. George Wilson. Sir Charles Pearson. Thomas J. Wilson, Esq. Rev. W. Robertson, M.A. Robert Wilson, Esq. Rev. John Young. " Archibald Scott, D.D. Colonel Young. " Principal Simon, Ph.D. Professor Simpson, M.D.
Mrs. Cleghorn. Mrs. M'Murtrie. " David Dickson. " Molfat. " Gordon, Sen., of Parkhill. Miss Paton.
'.' Lowe. U Reid. Miss Mackenzie. Mrs. Hugh Rose, Jun. Mrs. Miller. " Sandeman. " Duncan !'PLaren, Jun. " Soltau.
The REV. JOHN LOWE, F.R.C.S.E., 56 George Square, Edinburgh, CQllvener of Central Committee.
The foregoing Edinburgh ministers, laymen, and ladies, representative of all the Evangelical Churches, have formed themselves into a Central Committee to promote the unanimous desire of the great united Missionary meeting held in the U. P. Synod Hall on Sabbath Evening, the 22d of July, and presided over by Sir William Muir, K.C.S.I., LL.D., Priucipal of the University of Edinburgh, expressed in the following letter, which was read on that occasion: ".EDnmOBGH, 22d July, lSSS. "To the REv. A. T. PIERSON, D.D., and the REV. A. J. GORDON, D.D.
" BELOVED BRETHREN: With feelings of devout thankfulness to God we welcome you amongst us. Not a few present at this meeting enjoyed the privilege of forming your acquaintance in London, and of listening to your heart·stirring addresses at the great Missionary Conference recently held there, and they ventured to invite you to visit Edinburgh that their.fellow·Christians here might have the opportunity of participating in the privilege they themselves enjoyed, and in the blessing God so graciously bestowed upon that remarkable Missionary Convention.
"Without consulting your own convenience, and denying yourselves the pleasure of an extended tour on the Continent, which you had contemplated previous to your return to America, 'you responded most kindly to that request; and the • times of refreshing from the presence bf the Lord' which we have enjoyed-the inspiring missionary meetings that have been held-the quickening of missionary zeal which so many of us have experlenced-tbe blessed spirit of unity which prevails, and which so signally marks the movement-and. above all, tlie spirit of grace and suppli· cation which has been poured out-are all, we believe, indications that God has been leading us, that this movement is in His hands, and that, in answer to prayer, as the outcome of the great Centennial Conference, we may encourage ourselves with the thought that the desire of many hearts is about to be realized, that a new era in the history of the missionary enterprise is about to be inaugurated-an era which shall be signalized by a holy alliance for the world's evangelization, by more self-sacrificing consecration to the work, by greatly increased liberality for its support, and, above all, by more fervent, united, expectant prayer for a Pentecostal effusion of God's Holy Spirit the wide world oV,".
"We are longing and praying for such a new departure, for a revival of missionary zeal in the churches thronghout our land; and we gratefully acknowledge that yonr presence amongst us, and the solemn appeals you have made to us in your public addresses, have kindled our miSSionary enthusiasm and revived our drooping faith .
.. This great united missionary meeting, representative not only of the various' churches in our city, but of the friends of Missions thronghout our land, most earnestly and solemnly invite you, beloved brethren, to prolong for a season your visit to Scotland, and we ask that yon, along with other delegates to the great Missionary Conference, would kindly consent to place your senices at tbe disposal of a central committee, about to be formed, representative of all denominations, in order that missionary meetings, such as have been held in Edinburgh, may be arranged for in as many towns throughout the country as possible, the one object in view being the deepening and extension of the missionary spirit among the churches.
.. We are led to understand that you are both pastors of large and fiourishlng congregations in America, and your anxiety regarding YOur work there must be great; bnt we believe that whatever
THE INSTITUTA JUDAICA. [Ocr•• '
the friends to whom the arrangements will be committed can do to lessen your soUciitude, and to provide what may be needful for tbe etllcient carrying on of your respective congregational work In your absence, will gladly ,be done by them• .. Engaged, as yon will be, In snch blessed work for the Master, yon and we may rest assured that the great Head of the Church will not permit your self-denying service to go 1mrewarded, but that while we are enjoying yonr ministrations here, and the fire Is being kindled thronghont onr land, as we pray it may, your beloved people will receive a double portion of the blessing, and you, and we, and they will rejoice together."
At a meeting held on Monday, July 23d,1n 5 St. Andrew's Square, after prayerful consnltatlon, the Central Committee adopted the following resolution, which was communicated to the Rev. Dr. Pie1'!l0n and the Rev. Dr. Gordon: .. Impressed with the conviction that the blessing attending the United Missionary Meetings recently held In Edlnhurgh is a manifest indication that the Lord Is owning the abnndant labors of their beloved brethren, Drs. Pierson and Gordon, in promoting a deep and widespread interest In the cause of the world's evangellzatlon, and believing that the grea.t Head of the Church is calling them to engage In more extended service to the churches throughont our land, the Committee hereby solemnly Invite them to prolong their visit to Scotland, and to accept as many of the pressing requests, which are 1I0wing in for their services, as they possibly can before they return to America• .. The Committee further request Drs. Pierson and Gordon kindly to' Inform them how they can, financially and otherwise, lessen their anxiety regarding their congregational work In America dnr_ Ing their absence."
The following extract from a letter addressed to the Convener of the Central Committee will show the ~plrlt In whIch Drs. Pierson and Gordon have entertained our request, and the plan opou which they have determln~d at the ootset, at least, to carry it out: .. We have left home with great Interests Introsted to our leadel'Ehip, not only in oor own congre- gations, but In the community at large, and the denomination to which we belong, and to prevent any such interests from serious damage, we had both planned to be at home again by the time when our autumn work woold begin. Dr. Gordon had taken passage for August 9th, and I for Septem- ber 1st. To delay return longer wonld necessitate very great inconvenience to us, to our families left without a head, and to aU our church work and Christian work at large. Should It be plain to us that such a course was demanded of us by God, that woold decide the matter at once.
.. We thank God for oor courteous reception in Scotland, and are quite ready to make visits to a few of the centers of Church life and work, to arouse a more intelligent interest, if we may; but so far we see no reason why those visits should not be made at once, and In rapid succession.
.. This may not be the most favorable time in your judgment, but all things being considered, it seems to us the most favorable for the promotion of the Interests In view, without imperiling others, equally sacred to us, elsewhere. Moreover, He who has the times and seasons In IDs hands, has timed our visit, and we tbink He would not send us here when He saw it was not, on the whole, the best. • • • We go step by step, but cannot plan for a long way ahead. We are not free, but are under a sacred bond of obligation as pastors and workers at home. If, as we go forth In God's name, He makes clear that there is a special call to wider work In this land, we shall nl' doubt hear that call, but we cannot anticipate soch an exigency.
.. Our brethren must make all pla.ns for us with reference to Immediate service, and let the future be eared for as It is unfolded In God's Providence.
.. Yours, with many prayers for the coming of the Kingdom, , "(Signed)" ARTHUR T. PIERSON.
"A. J. GORDON."
THE INSTITUTA JUDAIOA.
BY PROFESSOR GEORGE H. SCHODDE, PH.D., COLU~fBUS, O.
AMONG the notable features that stamp the present as the greatest missionary century since the days of the Apostles is also the revival at the German universities of the famous Ins(itutum Judaicum of Halle. At nine of these high schools in the land of Luther, at several in the Scandinavian countries and in Switzerland these associations, of Israel~ loving students have been organized. The total membership is now between three hundred and four hundred; a general organization has been effected, which holds delegate meetings annually, somewhat after the manner of the Inter-Seminary Mission Alliance in America. Two pub~ lication concerns have been organized in the special interest of the, work, one at Leipzig, which has published about two dozen tracts and '
is beginning to issue larger works, and one in Berlin, which has sent out five or six excflllent tracts. At Leipzig a special seminary has been founded for the education of missionaries to work among the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and this city has also been made the center for operations in this field extending throughout the provinc{ls of Austro- Hungary and southeastern Russia. All this has been done within the last six or seven years, and proves beyond a doubt the existence of an ardent love for Israel and an anxiety for Israel's acceptance of the in- heritance which the fathers rejected. , These institutes do not aim primarily at direct work in Israel.
The programme is widely stated as the effort to spread "truthful knowledge of Christianity among the Jews and truthful knowledge of Judaism among the Christians." The hindrances to work amongthese people exist to a marked degree both among the Christians and among the Jews. The deep-seated antipathy toward the latter has exhibited itself in hideous forms in that crusade of hate, the anti-Semitic agita- tion, which has aroused a powerful popular sentiment against them'
throughout central and eastern Europe. So much has this been the case that they have been charged before the courts of justice of having'
murdered Christians to use their blood for ritual purposes, as was seen in the famous, or rather infamous, Tisza-Eszlar case in Hungary, where a young girl, Esther Solymossi, mysteriously disappeared on the 1st of April, 1882, and a witness, Moritz Scharf, swore that he had seen her murdered in a Jewish synagogue. The agitation was fed still more by the charge made by the Roman Catholic Professor Rohling, of Prague, claiming that such sacrificial use of Christian blood was sanc- tioned by the" Shulchan Aruch," the official ritual and ceremonial codex of the Jews.
On the other hand, the Jews have not forgotten the treatment they have received from pseudo-Christian hands during many centuries, and naturally question the virtue of the good news which the gospel of the Christians proposes to bring them. To this fact comes a further one, namely, that since the beginning of the present century the political and social disabilities of the Jews have been removed. For the fil'llt time they can engage in the struggle for existence 'and power on an equal footing with their Christian neighbors. Of this privilege they have taken such advantage that they are crowding into the positions of honor, influence, and power in every department of public life. It is this greed for station and for power, making modern Judaism so ambi- tious beyond all measure, that constitutes an important element in the anti-Semitic movement, and to some extent, at least, justifies the agitation, which is anything but 'a mere revival of- the blunt hatred of the Middle Ages. But upon the Jews the opportunities of the present' day have awakened a greed for power that banishes almost all love f@r spiritual thoughts and spiritual possessions. Psychologically, it can be readily understood how the very advantages which the 1iberal spirit of the times has bestowed upon this remarkable people has, through misuse and perversion, become a hindrance to their acceptance of the greatest gift which modern civilization can offer, namely, Christianity.
It is the recognition of these facts which make the peculiar work and programme of the institute of the German universities intelligible and correct. A German is nothing if not thorough, and the friends of the best interests of Israel are preparing the soil before they try to sow seed. Their work is directed both to themselves and to the Israelites. At their meetings they study the principal works of post-B'iblicalliterature, i. e., those that will throw the best light upon the character of the Judaism of our day, and thus give a clear view of the problem to be solved. ,The head and leader of the whole movement is Professor Franz Delitzsch, the Leipzig veteran of more than seventy-five years, whose love for the despised race has never faltered, and who in the interest of the work has for twenty-five years been publishing the quarterly entitled Saat auf HQffnung (Seed Sown in Hope). His zeal has enlisted the cooperation of such men as Kohler, in Erlanger; the late Schlottmann, in Halle; Caspari, in Ohristiania ; Strack, in Berlin; Zoekler ; Cremer, and Bredenkamp, in Greifswald. 'rhese men were or are at the head of these institutes in the'various universities, deliver lectures on' subjects of interest, teach po.%"Biblical Hebrew, and, in general,labor to advance the interests of the good cause. The publications of the 'book concerns in Leipzig and Berlin differ considerably from ordinary missionary literature. 'rhey are unique in kind, aiming primarily at instruction, and not merely at exhortation. The experience of men work- ing in this field with a view of gaining a clear con0eption of the prob- lem and the best methods, official docnments referring to the strange Jewish-Ohristian movement in southeastern Russia under Rabino- witz, the Messiah as depicted in the Old Testament and as fulfilled in the New, the meaning of Paul's statement that all Israel shall be saved, the question of the permissibility of killing unbelievers according to J~wish law-these and problems like these are discussed for the in- struction of both Jew and Ohristian, so that, through an elucidation of status controversim between them, the way for evangelistic work can be prepared. That such work is already being done is seen from the establishment of the seminary in Leipzig, at whose head stands the venerable Delitzsch himself, from the appointment of the energetic William Faber as the head of a band of workers.among the Jews, from the fact that, largely through the agency of these associations, no less than 80,000 copies of the classical Hebrew translation of the New Tes- tament has been distributed among the Jewish popUlation of eastern Europe, wher@ it is proving to be a missionary agency of phenomenal success. There are at the present day ministers of the gospel in America, preaching the blessed Word, who were convert.ed from Judaism in Russia through the influence of Delitzsch's translation.
In addition to the smaller books mentioned, the Leipzig Institute has published, also, the large work of the late Pastor Ferdinand Weber, entitled "Die Lebren des Talmuds," the only complete and satisfactory discussion of the teachings of the Jewish religion as developed in the Christian era. The Berlin Society has published two tractates of the" Mishna,"· with complete notes, by Strack, as also a learned discussion of the Jewish interpretations of that gospel chapter of the Old Testament, Isaiah liii. A quarterly, called Nathaniel, is also issued by them, edited by Strack.
The organization and flourishing condition of these Institutes are all the more encouraging evidences of genuine evangelical zeal, when we remember from what intellectual and not spiritual aspect Germans are apt to look upon the study of theology. Self-consecration and personal dedication to the Lord and His work are not considered essential to the same degree to this study in Germany as the case is in America. Accordingly, we find fewer practical evidences of positive Christian faith in German than in ~<merican theological students. Missionary associations have, indeed, existed all along in connection with nearly all the universities, but their membership and activity has never been great. None have ever displayed the zeal exhibited by the Instituta Judaica.
But then the Instituturn has a noble ancestry and pedigree. It is a . revival of a movement that began early last century at Halle. It grew out of the ferment of Christian zeal thrown into the somewhat formalistic church life produced by the rigid confessionalism of the preceding century. 'fhis ferment was the Pietistic movement, nnder the leadership of Spener and Franke. A pupil of the latter was Johann Heinrich Callenberg, who was won for the cause through the influence of his pastor and spiritual adviser. CaUenberg organized, in 1725, an Instituturn Judaicurn et Mohammedicum, with the special aim of publishing works that would~bring the gospel of Christ to the Jews and the Mohammedans. A printing concern was established, Hebrew and Arabic type secured, tracts published in German, in Hebrew, and in the Jewish jargon, and thousands of' these were eagerly read by the Jews of the day. Another object was to take care of those Jews who had been won for the gospel, and who were, for that reason, persecuted by their former co-religionists. A third object was to educate men to evangelize the Jews. All this work continued to be carried on with good success until Callenberg's death. He found no successor, and soon after that the period of rationalism began in Germany.; which blighted even fairer fruits of Christian activity than was the Institute. Now, after the sleep of a century, it has, phoonix-like, arisen again~
MISSIONARY HISTORY
with more vigor and vitality than it ever possessed. May it ever flourish and prosper!
MISSIONARY HISTORY.
BY A. J. GORDON, D.D., BOSTON, MASS.
[Address at Synod Hall, Edinbnrgh, Scotland, July 15.] GOD does not ask us to give men~' but to pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into His harvest. We cannot give men; they, having a will, must give themselves. But God does ask us to give money. He calls and qualifies the workmen; but as a gold sovereign or a silver dollar has no will of its own and can make no choice, we who have the money and have the will must give it. Man must not rob God; neither will God rob man, i. e., He will not take our money as by force, but only by our free consent. Robbery lies very near to charity. If I take another man's money, without his consent, even for a benevolent purpose, it becomes robbery; if with his consent, and by argument and persuasion, it becomes charity. It is stated by one who is a student of statistics, that not less than $8,000,000,000 are hoarded up and lying idle ill the hands of professed disciples in America, in money, stocks, lands, jewels, silver-plate, works of art, etc.
We hear of a "crisis of missions." But there is a crisis within a crISIS. We need a great revival of the giving spirit. A child was recently gilded over to represent a cherub, and died in three hours. Exhalation through the pores is as necessary to life as inhalation through the lungs. And the church would die were all channels of giving stopped.
This review of missionary history has demonstrated the certainty and celerity of God's blessing upon work doue for Him. Morrison in Ohina, Judson in Burmah, Oarey in India, Moffat in Africa, each waited seven years before the first sign of converting grace and gospel triumph greeted their eyes. Now God seems to be in haste to work wonders. When Darwin first went to Terra-deI-Fuego he found a type of humanity so degraded that he found it hard to say whether they belonged above or below the line that separates man and beast. But Allen Gardirier made three attempts to reach these half-animal tribes. He died without seeiug fruits; aud his body was found by a rock on which, in chalk, was written his dying testimony: "Wait, 0 my soul, upon God, for my expectation is from him."
Gardiner died, but his work went on ; and when again Darwin visited that southern cape, he found results of missions so amazing that he wrote a letter asking to become an annual subscriber to missions!
From Hernhutt, two men, David Nitschmann and Dober, went forth, marching 600 miles to reach the seaboard, then finding their way as best they could to the West Indies,· becoming as slaves to reach the slave population of St. Thomas. One hundred years after, it was estimated that 13,500 converts were gathered as the frnit of the work of thoSe two heroic sonls !
Livingstone was not the first that died on his knees praying for Africa. George Schmidt died also on his knees in prayer for the Da,rk Continent, and when the way opened to resume the mission, his successors began to preach, without design on their own part, under the very tree he planted.
God makes what seems to be a disaster to glorify Him. When Judson and his wife changed their conviction on their way to heathen lands and became Baptists, it seemed only a calamity to divide the small missionary force of the American Board. But tha~ event stimulated the Baptists of America to form a :Baptist Board of Missions, and round that society have since rallied 3,000,000 church members. At the Jubilee meeting of the American Board, Dr. Anderson, the venerable Secretary, referring to this early and apparently disastrous division in the missionary force, reached out his hand across the platform to the Secretary of the Baptist Board and said: "But now, my brother, it is all plain; we see why God decreed that division."
Men little know what use God will make of them. Claudius Buchanan wrote "The Star in the East," and that made Adoniram Judson the heroic missionary that he was, and the rallying center of a great denomination.
"Man's extremity is God's opportunity." :May we not reverently reverse the proverb, "God's extremity is man's opportunity"? Is not this an extremity in the kingdom of God? Does not God now need as never before a consecrated and energetic church to carryon the work and make it a short work in the earth? It seems to me as though in these last days God were in haste to accomplish prophecy and fulfil His promises to His Son. This Conference at London was a kind of Centennial Exhibition of Foreign Missions.
Let us inventory the goods: 1. We ltat'e a church united in spirit, divided in form. Where the church has had most rigid and frigid outward conformity, there has been the least missionary spirit. On the contrary, where nonconformists have multiplied missionary zeal has increased. It seems as though God were using the very divisions of the church to promote missionary activity. Would there be thirty-three societies in China and thirtyfive in Africa if there were not denominational divisions in the church? But, thanks be to God, every fragment of the shattered mirror of the church represents and reflects a full-orbed sun. Doubtless, not until He comes again will the church be perfectly one. "I beseech you, by the poming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together nnto Him." . 2. We have one Bible translated into about three hundred languages and diale~ts. A polyform Christianity and a polyglot Bible. What
~ TBE BASEL'
must have been the ecstasy of Moffat when he reached the last verse of the last chapter of his translation into the Bechuana tongue!
All great reformations have begun at some text. Luther started with this: "The just shall live by faith." The English Reformation began with, " This is a faithful saying, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners," etc. Augustine's new life began with, "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ."
3. We have a revived Ohristian conscience. Formerly even Christian nations were guilty of complicity with slavery and drink. Now the popular mind, which has been long roused to the guilt of slavery, is arousing to the crime of selling drink. It is remarkable that wherever the gospel goes, there Satan goes with rum to offset and upset gospel triumpbs. If the governments have no conscience, then this convention ought to become an external conscience to protest against, ana compel a reform in, these monstrous evils. A suspension bridge cannot easily be broken down by mere weight; but a battalion of soldiers marching across it, keeping time to music, might cause it to sway and break. Let us march to the music of one tune, and by our united motion set swaying this bridge of diabolical traffic in the bodies and souls of men. Let us have two things: godly aspiration and holy emulation in this great work.
'THE BASEL MISSION.
BY REV. HENRY W. HULBERT, A.M., BEIRUT, SYRIA.
[The writer of this interesting and highly valuable article was instructor till recently In the Presbyterian Theological Seminary at Beirut, under Dr. Dennis. This, we are confident, is the first thorough account of the Basel Mission that has appeared in English. Mr. Hulbert recently spent two weeks In the Mission House itself, at the invitation of its Superintendent, and the editor of the Basel Missionary Magazine looked over these notes and made suggestions. Be seemed anxious that the matter shonId appear before the American public in an exact form. So that this article is the result of personal inspection on the grouild aud conference with the highest officials, and hence Its statements may be relied upon as scrupulously accurate, and a~ presenting the latest facts and statistics of the Mission. The writer will follow It with a briefer paper on the actuallife in the Mission HOIlSe and the various peculiar enterprises of the mission.-EDs.l ONE of the most interesting missionary institutions in Europe' is found in the old medimval city of Basel, in Switzerland. This romantic old town is situated on the great bend of the Rhin.e as it turns toward the north and bids adieu to its Alpine birthplace. Its venerable University and cathedral church, associated with memories of great scholars and churchly councils, have given it a marked plaee in the intellectual and religious life of Europe. It is centrally located, and within a few miles from its ancient gates are found the territories of France and Germany.
A stranger landing at the Baden station makes his way through the amaner section of the town, on the right bank of the Rhine, crosses the ancient bridge under which rush the green waters of the river, threads his way past the market-place, turning ever toward the right, up the streets ascending the "berg," and comes at length upon the "Spalenthor," one of the three remaining gates of the Roman wall, and which is perhaps the chief relic of the olden city. Passing through the arch and proceeding a few moments to the north, along" Missionstrasse," he stands at length before the spacious and imposing group of buildings where the Basel Mission has its home.
The principal structure is a little retired from the street and is surrounded by umbrageous trees and and a beautiful garden. If consists of a main section running away from the street, having at either end large wings, all four stories high. It contains the main offices of the society, the museum, library, dormitories and refectories for students, and apartments for teachers," matrons and servants, This fine structure was the gift of Christof Merian, a wealthy citizen of Basel, and was presented to the society when the mission moved from the eastern part of the city. A few rods further along on Missionstrasse is a home for the daughters of missionaries. In front of it is a dwelling for one of the managers. Behind the main building before referred to, and facing another street, is the home for the sons of missionaries, I1nd across the street from this is the establishment where are located the commercial and industrial affairs of the society. Here, embowered in trees that are continually melodious with the song of birds, within hearing distance of the neighboring clock in Spalenthor, chiming at every quarter hour, with the hum of the busy city just near enough to recall the ract of a. toiling and needy world, the "brethren" of the Basel Mission House prepare themselves for a life of self-sacrifice and of earnest endeavor to carry the truth concerning the Master to the ends of theearth, The Basel Mission has, in its origin and management, unique features, which will, perhaps, make interesting a brief sketch of its career. In the latter part of the last century the original and central points of the newly awakened mission life in Germany and Switzerland were chiefly Berlin and Basel. As early as August 30, 1730, the German Christian Society (Der Deutchen Ohristentku1lZ8 Gesselsckaft) was founded at Basel, under the influence of Dr. Urlsperger, who had been in England. Thissocietyundertook, as a kind of a union, to collect and impart information far and near concerning the kingdom of God. It corresponded to the London. Misionary Society. In fact, there was a mutual correspondence hetween the two organizations. In 1801 Friedrich Steinkopf, who since 1798 had been secretary of the Basel Society, went to London as preacher to the German Savoy Church, and in 1802 became"a director of the London Missionary Society: In 1804 he took part in founding the British and Foreign Bible Society. He became the connecting link between England and Basel, and his influence was one of the principal causes which led to the founding of the Basel Mission.
In Berlin Joh. Janicke, pastor of the Bohemian Bethlehem congregation. (not Morl1vian) became acquainted with English missionary activitythrough his bro~her; Joseph'Daniel, and his friend, Herr Vcm ~hirnding, and was induced to found a mission school. That brother, in 1788, was, sent as a misssionary to India (where he died, May 10, , 1~00,) by the Society f~r the Propogation of Christian knowledge. He had been recommended to that society by Ludwig Schulze, who was then director of the celebrated Francke establishment, in Halle.
Inspired 'by th~ formation of the London Missionary Society, Herr Von Schirnding declared h~s readiness to pay 1,200 thalers ($900) for every youth who would offer himself to be educated for mission ser- vice. In 1788 he was intrusted by the London Missionary Society with the task.of uniting in one center the several missionary efforts of devout Christians in Basel, Elberfeld, and East Friesland. He was even made director of the society in Germany. It was he who encouraged Joh.
Janicke to open his mission school in Berlin, and he also supplied the first ,money.
This school was opened February 1, 1800, as the first real mission school of the evangelical church. The school at Gosport, England, was founded in 1801; that at Berkel, near Rotterdam, in 1810, and that at Basel in 1815. The BeJ,"lin school flourished until the death ot J oh.
Janicke in 1827, when it BOon went to pieces under unskillful manage- ment. It ha,s, sent out eighty missionaries, who entered the service of the English ' and, Dutch societies. Among them may be named Rhenius, Nylander, Albrecht, Schmelen, Riedel anll; Gutzlaff. The place of this school was then taken by the Berlin Missionary Society, founded in 1824, which in 1829 opened a missionary seminary of its own. I ,It has seemed important to give these items concerning the work in B:erlin, for Joh,Janicke Was directly connected with the organization of the Basel Missionary Society. O. F. Spittler, who had come to Basel as successor of Friedrich Steinkopf (Lay Secretary), had repeat- edly thought of entering the mission seminary at Berlin; and at the suggestion of the Committee of the German Christian Society, pro- posed to Janicke that, in view of the evil times in North Germany and the straightened condition of the school, it would be desirable to remove his institution from Berlin to Basel. Janicke, although he had repeatedly received money aud pupils from Basel, thankfully declined the I?ffer. In view of the considerable distance from Berlin, and the constant hindrances of war, and from the fact that in Basel itself mis- sionary zeal was increasing, and larger contributions were forthcoming, Spittler began to see clearly that Basel should begin a work of its own.
In May, 1815, Basel was about to be bombarded from Huningen, . alld the ,greatest excitement prevailed. The Rev. Nicolaus Von Brunn (who had come to Basel in 1810) held his usual monthly missionary meeting.; At its close a young man presented himself for missionary servioe. Von Brunn suggested to Spittler that in BOme way such young
THB BASEL
men should be educated at Basel itself, and then be recommended to the English societies. From that moment those two men conspired to carry ont that project. The Central Committee of the German Christian Society in Basel was invited to take np this work as a part of their activity, The committee thought such an establishment ought, as was the case in Berlin, to be carried on as a private school. After some delay Spittler received permission from the Basel government to open such a missionary institution. Thereupon he urgently requested his friend Blumhardt, who from 1803-1807 had been in Basel as theological secretary of the German Christian Society, to organize such a new establishment. But he did not see his way to take charge of such a private enterprise.
In September Steinkopf arrived in Basel and induced Spittler to form a special committee for the purpose of carrying out his project. The Rev. Von. Brunn (President), the Rev. Mr. Wenk (Secretary), the merchant, Mr. Marian-Kuder ('rreasurer), Prof. Lachenal and the Rev. Mr. La Roche were won ov~r to the plan. On September 25, 1815, they held, with Spittler, their first meeting as a mission" collegium" in the parsonage of St. Martin's Church. Blumhardt-was no~ called to take charge of the work. As a married Ulan he requested a salary of 1,000 florins. This the timid committee did not feel able to guarantee, and weJ,lt about to appoint an unmarried man who was a candidate for hoJy orders. At this juncture, at a session of the committee hflld October 3, Steinkopf came to the rescue by promising contributions from England ; and he pointed out that the city of Basel,' out of gratitude for its preservation during the recent war, should contribute toward the spread of the kingdom of God throughout the whole world. At any rate, he urged, economical considerations should not deter them from engaging the services of so efficient a man as Blu~ hardt. Thus Christian Gottlieb Blumhardt came to Basel as the "Inspector" or manager of the Basel Mission Society in the spring of 1816, and on August 26 of the same year opened a mission school with seven pupils.
The important thing to notice is that the Basel Mission was the product of the heads and hearts of a few earnest men, the whole tenor of whose lives was in utter contrast with the rationalistic and chilling atmosphere of the contemporary church in Germany and Switzerland. The society which was founded was not the outcome of a church movement. From this beginning it has been under the control of no organization outside of its committee of private Christian gentlemen, -which is self-perpetuating, and which has a large sprinkling of laymen. The society from the first has drawn its funds (voluntary subscriptions) from Switzerland and Southern Germany. Wiirtemberg has especially led the van as regards gifts of money, and supply of teachers and students. The' Basel Mission belongs in reality to the old Alemanic German race, and is returning through this organization the missionary favors which it received from Fridolin, Columban, St. Gall and other early Celtic apostles in medimval days. It is one of the outcomes of the Pietist movement in Germany, and to-day is upheld by that large number of devout Christians in Central Europe, who are in the world, yet not of the world; in the State church, and yet not of the State church, but whose quiet lives of Christian endeavor form the great undertone of the vital church life of modern Germany and Switzerland.
The Basel Mission School, under the efficient management of Blumhardt, slowly began to gather headway. For the first few years its students, when ready for active service, were ceded to foreign societies, especially to the Rotterdam and the Church Missionary Societies. But as early as 1821 it began to send out missionaries under its own direction. In that year Zeremba and Dittrich were ordained as the first Basel m~s sionaries for southern Russia. Thus the first independent German missionary society arose in Basel. From that time on the history of the society may conveniently be divided into four periods, corresponding to the work of the four successive inspectors. The first extended from 1816 to the death of Blumhardt, December 19, 1838; the second embraces the era of Hoffman, from' 1839 to 1850 ; the third that of J osenhaus, from 1850 to 1879 ; the fourth that of Otto SchoU, from 1879 to 1884. At that date the present efficient leader, the Rev. Th. Oehler, son of Prof. Oehler, famous for his Old Testament studies, took up the important task.
During the first period we note the careful hand of a diplomat. Blumhardt was a very cautious man, which characteristie brought him the reputation of being versed in the art of masterful inactivity. He was slowly forming ties at home and abroad. With the instinct of a statesman, he steered his craft through all sorts of difficulties, and quietly made all sorts of men and circumstances serve the cause of missions. In a truly evangelical spirit, and with the tact of a born teacher, he framed the first house regulations and made out the routine of study for the school: From 1816 he edited the Evangelical Missionary Magazine, and in 1828 started the Heidenbote. He wrote a history of missions in several volumes, and withal managed the finances of the society so frugally that at his death the mission-house was supported by the income of the magazine and the He-idenbote, and an available fund was raised to the amount of 100,000 florins, with a reserve fund of 20,000 florins. He was not an experimentalist, and never yielded to any call that did not seem directly from the Lord.
The following missions were started during the era of Blumhardt : (a) One in South Russia (1821). which on the 23d of August, 1835, with all other evangelical work in Russia, was suspended by an imperial ukase, an,d finally dissolved in 1839. Before the work was stopped, however, the Bible had been translated into Turkish-Tartaric and the modern Armenian languages; Armenia and the regions toward Bagdad and Tabreez had been visited, and an evangelical congregation had been established among the' Armenians at Schamachi.
(b) Eight men were sent to Liberia in 1827 and 1828, but four soon died, .and the remaining four settled in other regions.
(c) In 1828 the mission on the Gold coast was founded, but during the first twelve years as many missionaries died without having seen the fruit of their labors.
(d) In 1834 Hebich, Greiner and Lehner were sent to the west coast of India. They were welcomed with a Christian kindliness by Mr. F. Anderson, an English magistra,te in Mangalore. Mogling, Weigie and Gundert followed them. They began their work at once among peoples of three different languages. There was, however, a want of sufficient organization, and disintegration was threatening.
Under the second "inspector," William Hoffman (1839-1850), the command was, Forward! He piloted the missionary ship out upon the high seas. Under Blumhardt the practicability of establishing missions, and the Ohristian obligation to do what could be done for the heathen had been demonstrated. Hoffman sought to emphasize the fact that that obligation rested upon the whole Ohristian Ohurch. He placed the whole plan of his work more clearly before the public, Public and private assemblies were more and more convened in the churches. New auxiliary societies were founded, new men and new sections of the country were won over to the cause. He brought the work of the society into higher estimation by providing more efficient instruction in the mission seminary. He founded a preparatory school for the young meu, and the course of study was extended from four to six years. In ten years the income had almost doubled. The number of stations had increased fivefold. New life was thrown into the mission on the Gold Ooast by settling twenty-four colored Ohristians at Akropong from the West Indies in 1844. 'l'his step placed the work in Africa on an assured basis, chiefly by making it impossible for the society to withdraw. In India several new enterprises were undertaken. In 1846 mission work in Ohina was begun, at the suggestion of GiitzJaff, by Lechler and Hamberg. In 1846-50 attempts were made to establish the work in East Bengal and Assam, bnt later the field was relinquished to other societies. In 1847 Inspector Hoffman attained the maximum of missionary efficiency. Later he was incapacitated by illness; there was a pause, and in 1850 he resigned his position.
As Hoffman had conducted the fleet out into the wide sea, so Josenhaus, the third inspector, 1850-1879, guided its course more compactly. Blumhardt was the diplomat, Hoffman the conqueror, and Josenhaus proved to be. the lawmaker and the organizer. He commenced his work with a visit to India in 1851. He carefully regulated the various relations of the missionaries, stations and districts, both among themselves and toward the home committee. A liturgy and a discipline for the congregations were introduced. Schools were gradually organized. The tilling of land, shops and places of industry for the relief and
BASEL
occupation of natives who were willing to work, were set under way. The land previously owned by the society was more thoroughly cultivated. At home, the· affairs of the society were conceutrated and the mission made more independent, if possible, of the churches and the auxiliary societies. The houses for the education of the children of missionaries were erected in 1853. An invalid and widow's fund was established. Mite societies were organized; agents were assigned to various fields to solicit mOI).ey. The new mission house was erected chiefly through the munificence of Mr. Marian in 1860, and the churches in the various mission fields were called upon to contribute more liberally to the support of the society. This was an era of large expenses, and yearly deficits were heroically made up. The mission field was not extended, but eff.orts were concllntrated in every department, and the efficiency of the work of the society largely augmented.
The brief term of office of the fourth inspector, Ot.to Schott, (1879- 1884) did not allo~ of any particularly marked developments. But in some respects he added considerably to the efficiency of the society. In the home department he succeeded in avoiding the deficits of his predecessor's era. He won over to the missionary cause a number of outsiders. He went to India on a tour of inspection and ther~ emphasized the work among the heathen, rather than that among the native Ohristians. Female and medical mil.!sionaries were sent out for the first time. Finally he withdrew fro~ the inspectorship, largely because 4e was conscientiously opposed to what he considered to be the secular influence of the mercantile establishments connected with the mission.
In 1882 one of the secretaries, the Rev. H. Praetorius was made subq.irector and wassent out on a visitation tour to the Gold Ooast, accompanied by Dr. Maehly, who was charged with a medical visitation of all the stations and to report on the sanitary condition of the Gold Ooast. This tour proved a very costly one to the Basel mission, for Mr. Praet9dus was stricken down by the climate and died. He was their most promising man, and everyone had expected a new magnetic life would be given to the society when, in due course of time, the directorship should be placed upon his shoulders. Since 1884 Rev. Th. Oehler, a comparatively young, but a thoroughly equipped man, has held the _directorship of the Basel mission, January 1, 1887, a new field was taken over by this society from the London Baptist Missionary Society at Oameroons and Victoria when that colony was annexed to the German Empire.
To-day the Basel Society has four fields of labor, East India, China, Gold Coast, and Cameroons and Victoria in West Africa; 44 stations, 89 ordained,., male European laborers, 31 day European law workers, 85 female European laborers, 577 native workers; 1tl,988 adherents; 9,497 communi.cants, ,207 schools and 7,486 sceolal's, The annual income of this society is £86,000, of· which the native converts contribute £778.
CIVILIZATION AND
CHRISTIAN CIVILIZATION AND LANGUAGE.
BY CRAS. S. ROBINSON, D.D., NEW YORK.
IT is very curious, and very comforting, too, to observe that, although the realm of the ancient Pharaohs receives some of the severest threatenings to be found in all the Bible, very many of themn-re immediately followed with glowing promises. And m~st of these are couched in language suggested by the customs and natural phenomena there. Now, it must be noted, that everyone of these predictions is hopeful. Suffer me to relate just how we reached the interpretation of one verse.
The road to the Pyramids, after an abrupt but not unwelcome departure from the precincts of old Cairo, dusty and odorous, lies for a large part of the way through a pleasant series of cultivated gardens, briUiant with tulips, and then continues along the borders of. luxuriant fields until we reach the confines of t.he desert itself. But the verdnre gradually degenerates into mere stubble when the sand begins a desperate struggle for the .dominance. The track is slightly elevated, beaten down into a compact mass like mat.ted gravel, the ditches 'on either side of it being filled with aquatic reeds, bulrushes, indeed, resembling those from which Jochebed plaited the ark when she deCided to cast the nnprotected Moses out upon the charities of the world. These long withes of water vegetation are so thin and slender, tOwering tall and rank from the pools, that even a child could easily 8cratch across the outer skin of anyone of them and cut it through with his nail.
Yet they looked so strong that my c!d instinct returned, and for a moment I imagined they would make capital riding-whips with whioh mv donkey could be encouraged. So the dragoman plucked thre,e or four for the generous energy of our party lagging behind. But instead of gaining a whip, we got one of the finest illustrations of Scripture we met in the East. For, on handling the lithe little stalks, which seemed as tough as willows, we discovered they had positively no strength of fiber or substance within: they were hollow, and the moment the thin cuticle of silvery coating was in the least abraided, it appeared that an inexplicable demoralization was the result. All the stability and an the power of self-support was singularly gone from the whole plant. I could scarcely hold mine upright, for it would not bear its own weight on its stem. The slightest wind playing upon it in my hand bent it over in a dozen places, and drove the frail head drooping down into the swamp. Somebody said it was" bruised," and then each of us in turn alertly repeated the familiar text. Accurate and beautiful beyond conception seemed to us then the inspired symbol of divine gentleness employed by the prophet, "and the bruised reed he will not break."
Catching onr figure, therefore, from the land we are studying in prophecy, we feel ready to say that what the Lord offers everywhere is grace, mercy, and peace to Egypt. In the words of Isaiah, following a. series of heavy denunciations, will be given blessings: "In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the Lord of hosts; one shan be called, The city of destruction. "
Just now:t more cl1eedul turn of affairs is indicated in a range of glowing promises of resuscitation under providence which was before long to grow gracious. Some cities of Egypt were to begin to feel the impulse of a vast civilization; the inhabitants would learn to speak a new language, even the language of Canaan. Five of them in partic- ular should be converted unto the true God, and swear allegiance and loyalty of religious service; among which is given one that seems to have a fame of supreme wickedness in its name, the" City of Destruc- tion," the old name which John Bunyan chose as the designation of his allegorical town, from which the alarmed pilgrim fled with his fin- gers in his ears.
.Of course, the primary meaning of this declaration is that civiliza- tion from Canaan shall press across the borders of Egypt; the dull Orient shall feel the sprightliness and impulse of the Occident. From the North shall come cool bracing winds of enterprise which will awake the enervate South into activity. But this cannot be all that the inspiriting prediction means; the expression is not unusual in prophecy. Zephaniah says the same thing under a similar figure: "For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all can upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent."
Much learning has been exhausted in a vain attempt to fix localities and identify histories, so as to settle exactly what five cities are intended in this announcement. Heliopolis, Memphis, No-ammon, Alexandria, and Tahpanhes have been mentioned. But in despair of becoming clear, some commentators have apparently been ready to grow mystical, and"assert that five was only a round number derived from an Oriental custom of counting on one's fingers. The" City of Destruction," rendered immortal in literature at least by the allegory of "Pilgrim's Progress," is without doubt Heliopolis; but whether the name signifies that Heliopolis from which came most of the famous obelisks scattered over the world, was so very wicked as to be called Destruction itself, or the rather was so strong with its vast university and real learning as to destroy those other towns in their ignorance and vice, can never be decided-and really the question is not worth the discussion.
But this other question concerning the new tongue to be introduced into Egypt is very curious and interesting. Is the English language the" language of Canaan"? Some facts are of great importance concerning the growth in the use of a common method of speech throughout that vast region of the Orient. Letters can be sent, and telegrams can now be dispatched, with more chance of safety over all the Mohammedan precincts if they are written in the language of America and Great Britain. The foreign conversation in Cairo and Constantinople, when heard on the street or in the hotels, is not now in French, but in English.
But it is more likeiy that the prophecy means that there will be an influx of ideas and intelligence, and notions, and customs, and views, into Eg-ypt from Canaan and Palestine. This, indeed, has had many remarkable fulfilments. There were vast numbers of Jews that went over bodily into the Delta when Alexandria was founded. More lately than this in the history came Onias with his followers, who erected a temple at Heliopolis, ruins of which have just now been found at Tell el Yehudiyeh, near Kanatir, on the Nile. Then there were immigrations of Christians into Egypt only a little while after the crucifixion of our Lord and the dispersion of the disciples. Mark the Evangelist came over to establish a flourishing church in Alexandria, and died there as a martyr to the faith. 'l'hus this land has always been receiving since help and strength, religion and literature, from Palestine; and if it be the language of Canaan that is meant, the symbol becomes exquisite; for in these later years the mother-tongue of Christians is the language of a whole world of inte1ligence and spirituality. Only with the Christian faith arrives the civilization which can regenerate a great people.
It will be well now, if we desire to become acquainted with some of the peculiarities of the Orient produced by the direct attack of an Occidental civilization upon its old traditions and customs, to seek a line of illustrations the most conspicuous and commonplace, such as an ordinary tourist may meet. We must begin with a rapid and picturesque view of the land under this more favorable aspect. With all its desolation Egypt has this hope, although it is nowhere recognized in Egypt itself; namely, that the whole country will ere long be civilized from the European and Asiatic centers of life and light, and ultima.tely, in God's own good time, will be converted to Christianity and to God.
Modern conveniences of travel are the very consummation and even the incarnation of incongruity in the lands of the Bible. The whistle of a locomotive, while one is pensively looking at· the uncouth hieroglyphics on the shaft of Cleopatra's Needle, is simply an astonishment. It does not hurry you into the cars; it suggests nothing beyond a piteous bewilderment. You cannot get your mind back into its former grooves. Two worlds and two ages are trying to occupy the same intellectual space. And there are mOre than seven thousand miles, and more than four thousand years, between them. When one looks across the low Plain of Esdraelon, in order to trace the trILck over which Elijah must have run before Ahab's chariot from Mount Carmel to Jezreel, and finds his vision tangled and obstructed by the wires and poles of aU electric telegraph, he cannot clear his mind for ordinary consistent thought.
Especially in Egypt this thing looks like a caricature. Scenery there is not constructed for the play of a proper civilization as most of us have become accustomed to it. Hardly anywhere.is there a. slope violent enough to give water the force to turn a wheel. 'The ineffable quiet of the indolent palms is sadly disturbed by a screech of the engine from the railway train, dashing its relentless way into the midst of tlie tranquil plumes. It seems more than a. shame to fill our steamboat boilers from the steady Nile. You are provoked at a sarcastic or ribald suggestion to print way-bills on papyrus. It is as much as our veneration for Oriental scholarship can bear to find our railway passes worded in that beautiful Arabic type. We wonder whether the reason why the departing train is behind time in starting-as, of course, it is-must be found in the fact, which we impatientiyobserve, that the conductor over yonder is on the ground at the side of the road, saying his prayers. Thus the entire scene appears unreal. Civilization, Occidental and vigorous, is confronting barbarism, Oriental and effeminate. One finds himself constantly trying to smooth out the ruffle, to calm the conflict, to reconcile the incongruity, or to adjust the contradiction. When we are fairly seated in a car, labeled with the name of an English maker in Birmingham, and are asked for our tickets by an amiable guard dressed in bag-trousers, with a silk sash around his lithe waist, and are forced to meet his demand for our billets in French-it really makes us seem illusory; we think it doubtful what we shall come to be in the end; we grow dreamy, and feel like an imposition.
Add to this the fact that all our accustomed means of communication with the outer world fail; not a sound around us is intelligible. "Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth." When the Psalmist said that he had a very becoming appreciation of the value of his tongue-for that was what he was speaking about. Any man's tongue is his glory, if he can only use it; but jf fate shuts him off from first possibilities,_he sinks most ingloriously into a piece of ticketed experience going dumbly through enigmas. Of itself, the Arabic language as confronted in Egypt brings not one item of information even to educated American citizens. Previous learning along ordinary lines fails at every point. You cannot read the names of the stations, or the artistic signs above the doors. You cannot copy them in your note-book, even after you have been told. Such inpenetrable mysteries are around you at each moment that for once you grow humble. You hurry along on a dstinctly new plane, like a bride in a honeymoon, far above all of the usual sublunary ranges of things; yet with sometimes a quite human wonder, very modestly indulged, what some of the sublunary things are.
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY PERIODICALS
'l'RANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY PERIODICALS.
By REV. CHARLES C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, MASS.
THE Missions-tidning for Finland. published in Swedish and Finnish by the established Lutheran Church, the head of which is the Archbishop of Abo, quotes the following from the Swedish traveler, GeOl;ge Pagels: .. Cannibalism is more widely spread in the Congo Valley than a 'traveler would easily soppose. Those who are addicted to it keep it very secret; it seems as if, even among these creatures, standing at so Iowa poiut of moral development, there is some dim sense that, of all hideous things, this is the most hideous, the most monstrous. The tribes of the Batekas, the Bangaias, and the Arouhis, are especially notorious as men·eaters. The Batekas, however, who dwell in the wide districts arouud Stanley Pool, now begin, under the infloence of the missionaries, to lay aside the abominable practice. How it is farther inland, we do not know from personal observation, but reports from there warrant oor assoming that the habit is universal."
The Church of Finland has a mission in Owamboland, in South Africa. Last year 84 natives were baptized. The Lund Missions-tidning reclaims against the statement which puts Sweden almost at the bottom of the missionary scale as respects her gifts of men, and quite at the bottom as respects her gifts of money, making out that, while England sends out 4.8 persons for every 100,000 of her population, Protestant France, 4.2; Switzerland, 2.5; the Netherlands, '2.3; Germany, 1.8: Norway and America each, 1.4; Sweden only sends ont 0.8, being superior only to Denmark; with her 0.6. As to money gifts, the scale presented is as follows: England, 60 ore for each person; Protestant France, 39; Switzerland, 19; the Netherlands, 17.9: Amer-, ica, 15.3; Norway, 9.9; Germany, 9; Denmark, 4, and Sweden, 1.9. In fact, declares The Tidning, Sweden, in 1886, sent out one missionary to every 100,000 of het' population, and now somewhat more; and instead of contributing 1.9 ore per head, she contributed 6 ore. A gratifying rectification.
I observe that the Danish missionaries in the Madras Presidency think rather disparagingly of street-preaching, and of some forms of discussion. Herr Jensen writes: .. Last year I wrote a little about the opposition we began to meet with in oor street-preaching. Since then it has increased considerably, and it seems sometiJ,nes as if they were uppermost and we undermost, they exulting, and we groaning under defeat. In my last year's letter I referred to some encoonters with Hindos, which these had arranged, and which Lazarus and I attended. The Hindus had invited a catechist' of the Scottish mis~ion to dispote with them. And this catechist was so overjoyed at the opportunity, that nobody else conld put in a word. On the other hand. the Hindns would oniy coosent to discuss Christianity as a doctrine, something to which we never consent. The first two of these meetings were small, bot thp~ grew every time. There were five or six of them, and at the last there were some 2,000 present. Anythinl( more pitiable I have never heard or been present at. The Christian catechist came armed with his Bible and Con cordance; his heathen antagonists also with a Bible. A chairman was chosen, as I understand, a Brahmin. The discossion was throughout in Tamil. The sobjects of discossion were various theologjcal questions, among them the two natures of Christ. The Christian thonght surely, after every encoonter, that he had dealt a mighty blow for Christianity, and the heathen thought that he had taken its very life, whereas, the truth was, that Christianity, as such, had simply not come into discourse at all between the two. I attended the meetings because I held it to be my duty to be present, but I sat so bewildered over all this learned discussion over Christianity, thllt I had hard work to keep my thoughts to the matter in hand. It is sorrowfol to see Christianity dragged down to become a matter for learned or onlearned jangling; it can only lose thereby. Onr Lord Jesus' way of proceeding was qoite otherwise. He also sooght to take his antagonists in the.ir own, craftiness, but he never took the learned way. He threw his barbed shafts into their consciences."
Thus the gospel abroad, as at home, has to make its way slowly, by its own power, through all the imperfections of its professors and preachers. Mr. Jensen, bl'ing waited on by some heathen, with various questions, told them that if they were troubled about their personal relation ,to God in heaven, he was ready to help them, but that if they came as aliellS from Christianity, merely to ail' speculative doubts, he had nothing to say to them. They sat mute and confused, listened respectfully to what he had to say, and went quietly away. Bishop Caldwell, of Tinevelly, I believe it is, who answers the inquiry whether the native Christians of South India come over to Christianity from high motives, by the remark that it is absurd to ask if a class of people accept the gospel from lofty motives who never knew what a lofty motive was in their lives. The matter of lofty motives, for them, lies shut up in the gospel itself, to become effective in the future. Meanwhile, we must be content with a reasonable evidence of sincerity. In like manner, deep experimental piety among them will long be rare. 'The following remarks of Mr. Jensen bear in this direction. He says: . "There is scarcely anyone in India who forsakes heathenism and goes over to Christianity because he is roused from death to life, in the sense in which we at home understand the words•. As Ochs says: 'Awakenings, such as are found among Christians, are not to be expected among heathen, where there is not spiritual sleep, but spiritual death. They are not a wakened to the COnsclousuess of sin, which worketh repentance toward God, and therefore they do not staud in any living relation to Jesus. The way to Jesus goes inexorably through a consciousness orsin, which set. aside all the props wherewith we formerly believed we should be able to crawl to heaveu. Practical life has hitherto shown that heathenism is too deeply snnk in deathlike torpor to let itself be awakened as we at home are awakened. As rare as it is, that in Denmark a child passes throngh a conscious awakening, so as thereby consciously to lay hold of the Savionr, even so rare will it be to come upoucases ofconscious awakening among these children of heathenism. But, althongh we cannot be fully understood by our children, when we speak to them of the power of sin in our hearts and of grace in Jeau., who can heal all the wounds of sin, we do not, therefore, give up our little ones, but labor, each one of us, as well as we may, that they may abide in Him into whom they have been grafted. The day comes in time for them, when they are to choose God or the world. and well for us if we have done what we could to implant that in them which shall lay hold of the Lord and say nay to sin. The people we live among here are children in development, but deeply sunken in wickedness, so deeply that in various respects it cannot see evil as evil."
Mr. Jensen remarks on the far greater seemliness of behavior among the lower cla:sses in India than in Europe.
"The people here lie literally half-dead, and can, spiritually regarded. move neither hand nor foot. An elderly clergyman said to me at home, that I had surely seen the very essence of devilishness among the heathen•. I thought that devilishness in its foulest form must be looked for in Christendom and not among the heathen. Here the devil has enjoyed his possessions in peace; nO One has disturbed him, and why take any great pains to fortify his kingdom 1 Where his mortal enemy, Jesus, displays His power in His children, there the devil has to brace himself, to exert himself with all his force. and to lay all manner of fresh plans to strengthen his people, and If possible to win back what he has lost. Here all is death. In Europe all is in development; but is not the kingdom of sin in Europe also in development 1 Here all is petrified."
Mr. Jensen remarks further, that in the living multiplicity and distinctness of personal relations in which Christ is known to advanced Christians at home, He can scarcely be said to be known to·the native Christians of India. They have made, so to speak, a wholesale exchange of one creed for another. They are not troubled as to belief. As heathen they were accustomed to belieye (jverything, and as Christians they are ready also to take everything in a lump. The delicacy of spiritual discrimination which shall distinguish lesser and greater things, and apprehend Christ, not merely as the Helper in death, but as the Great Companion and Guide in every juncture and question of life, is rather of the future than of the present.
Mr. Jensen gives an account of the late National Congress held in Madras, and attended by 600 delegates (including various native princes) from all over India. Among them was the eminent native Christian, Banerjea, of whom he speaks as follows. If I remember right, an eminent native clergyman of the same name has lately died. Probably they were relatives.
"Banerjea is a converted Brahmin, a lawyer. At one of these meetings he gave a political discourse. which carried everything with it. His name, in these days, was upon the lips of every cul- tivated Irmdu. After the Congress was over he held two meetings in a very ample hall of the Bible Society Building. Although I was half an hour too early the first evening, the hall was almost full and was soon crammed. In the little interval of waiting 18at and listened to the lrmdus talk aoou Banerjea. Indeed, they talked of nothing else. One assured another that Banerjea was a mOB' convincing speaker; another declared that Banerjea was an honor to the Hindu people. Meanwhile our man came in; a small, unimposing person. He bowed his head and looked abashed. The whole Hindu assembly clapped their hands with as much enthusiasm and perseverance as If one of their great forefathers had come down to them. He then delivered a Christian dl!course of which, without odious comparisons, I may say, that it was the best I have ever heard in India. It wasgiven in English. I have never heard a man who led me 80 forcibly as Banerjea to declare Involuntarily: These are true and well-considered words. He spokesiowly and composedly; hisstyle'was equable and easily apprehensible; and there was a dignity in all the simplicity which was thoroughly faseinating, Nor had I ever previously heard a man who, through the whole speech, so steadily laid hold of both the thoughts and the feelings of his hearers. He,;1s a Brahmin, understood the philosophy orthe Hindus, and was not unacquainted with that of Europe, but even in that part of his discourse in which he pointed out the impoteuce of philosophy to bring tbe dead soul to life, he spoke so equably and straightforwardly that one wholly forgot that it was philosophy which was under consideration. In his two discourses he laid speclal stress on the truth, that Christianity is simpliCity itself, and therefore fully adapted to every·one's capacity, and to the universal longing of the soul. • • • He therefore did not conceal from the Hindus that Christianity is not a doctrine, but revolves wholly around a person, Jesus. A doctrine abstractly proposed is something which one can admire, but to love it, to surrender one's self to it, is an impossibility. Of such Ii self-surrender of affection only a personality can be the object. And Christianity has its central point in the personality ofJesus; in view of Him must the decision be made. • • • Notwithstanding this living testimony against sin, his clear childlike presentation of Cbristianity as having its center in Jesus, and notwithstanding the thoroughly disparaging manner in which he spoke of the philosophy of the Hindus, so great was the power of his presence over them, that when he concluded, they broke out again into the same unrestrained applause with which he had been received. Then one of the first princes of India the King of Vizanagaram, went up and thanked him. There was, in Banerjea's simple, equable manner of address, something before which everyone involuntarily bowed, and in his eloquence an absolutely irresistible power."
In the June Blad Herr Berg touches upon the way in which grace lays hold, for a particular work, upon a foundation of Nature.
"While it is an Irrefragable truth that living faith in Jesus Christ and abounding love, conjoined with the aspirations of hope, must possess and fill his heart, who, as messenger of the Lord aud the Church among the heathen, will work for their salvation, so it is equally certain, that besides these gifts of grace, there must be various natural gifts or conditions at command, which, united with the gifts of grace, are of peculiarly happy effect for carrying out the work of missions. Among these gifts of nature, next after the talent for lunguages, I would lay stress on the love of travel, the love of seeing, and of gaining information about what one sees. This lightens, indeed, removes, many of the di1ll.culties involved in an itinerant life. And as such a life falls more or less to the lot of most missionaries, it is a very fortunate thing when they are impelled to it, not by a bare sense of duty, but also by natural pleasure and interest."
The Danish Mission is seeking to extend its activity from the Tamils to the wild Malayalas of the hills. Mr. Berg describes his fit'st meeting with one: "We went about the marketplace to find some of these rude mountaineers, and coming to a tree where some Mohammedan merchants were sitting and measuring ont seed, I saw a man sitting In a slouching attitude on the ground, the sweat running off from his face; he was evidently very weary. Before him lay his heavy load of fruit. He wore no turban, but instead of it a sort of cloth cap, which in connection with the rest of his attire gave him a somewhat wild expression. Over one shoulder he had a strap, by which hung an earthen bottle. As soon as I saw this man, I said: This id no Tamil. He was, in each and every point, so different from the people I had hitherto seen, that I could only stare rather blankly at him for a while. But interest in him mounted to sympathy, for when he looked up to us with his shy and timid glance, there was something in his eye which was known to me, something which appealed to me and fettered me Immediately. I have often seen the same expression in the countenance of a frightened child. It is the expression of the suffering and longing of a soul, which can pray by a look without being itself aware of it."
The Neueste Nachrichten uus dem Morgenlande (latest reports from the Orient) for January has the following: "Whoever, eoming from the port of Jaffa, has ascended the last heights before the Holy City, and nOW-8 moment never to be forgotten for every one who has experienced it-approaches the towers of Jerusalem, remarks to the right of the road, on a little eminence, a stately house. On festal day! there waves from its pinnacle, together with the German flag, the blue ensign of Kaiserswerth, and the words of our text etand inscribed in large letters on its front: 'Talitha Kulni.' Thi! is
A WONDERFUL CITY
the training-school of our evangelical deaconesses for poor Syrian maidens, and derives its name from the Lord's Word oCLire. 'Among all the weight of wretchedness which rests npon the land and people of the Holy Places, not the least burden is the ignominious position of woman. In the land in which a woman became the mother of the Son of God, in which devont women composed his sacred body to rest in the rocky grave, in which a woman heard the lIrst announcement of the Resurrection, the lot of the Christian women has been depressed almost to a level with that oCtheir Mohammedan sisters. In that house, however, the Lord Jesus Christ, through the ministration oC his female disciples, grasps the hand of many a poor Syrian maiden and says to her, •TaUth kumi,' It, then, in those places of blesSing, our evangelical hosllitals and schools, you see the daughters o~ the Orient also mingling with the German women in these services of love, or if, on an excursion through the mountains, a young mother, holding her child on her arm before the door of her little house, in some remote village, returns your, salutation in the German tongue, and you, on entering mark something of the influence of a Christian matron and mother, you then recognize the blessing going forth from the house Talitha Kumi. "
.. What has become, in Jerusalem, of the blooming Christian Church of the early centul"ies' Is that it which you see in the clOister, whose gates open yonder before you on some spot of historic note in the lonesome rocky valley, or in that palatial building of· the city, in which a thriving trade is carried on with the piety of the pilgrims? Is this the ancient Martyr Church of the first love, . this communion, which in her wretched houses of worship mumbles nnintelligible prayers in a speech long extinct, or in her grand cathedrals kisses the images of her saints' What with us is accomplished by false enlightenment, which out of the gospel takes the life, by cutting out of it the heart, the love of a God manifest in the flesh, who was in Christ reconciling the world to HimseIC, the same thing is accomplished yonder in the Orient by the form under which everything becomes rigid. Everything has been turned into a form, the worship of the congregation, the creed of the church, the life of the Christians. We can scarcely wonder that from such a Christianity there was so extensive an apostasy to Islam, to that religion without saints, without images, with the simplest worship and the briefest creed."
The simplicity of Islam is here somewhat exaggerated. But Islam is certainly baldly simple compared with Oriental Christianity. "The Oriental church, among her festivals, celebrates also the feast of the Discovery of the Cross," which the Roman Catholics, with ominous appositeness, call the Invention of the Cross. "But even if she had rea.lly once found it, as the devout Empress Helena imagined she had, what would the splinters of that most holy Cross, on which the desire of all the world, on which our Saviour Christ has hung, have availed her chUl'Ch, since this soon forsook "-at least too largely-" the Crucified, her first love. The cross of Christ, and, indeed, the Lord himself, who has turned the accursed wood into the Tree of Life, have been dug out of the rubbish of human' traditions and formulas by that miner's son of Eisleben. The Feast of the Reformation is the true festival of the Finding of the Cross. And it is laid upon us to communicate to all that which the grace of God has bestowed upon us; but especially to those peoples of the East, who once heard and obeyed the call of pagan Europe, 'Come over and help us,' but now, in paralyzed helplessness, need the Prince of Life to come and lay his hand upon them and bring them to life."
A WONDERFUL CITY.
[The Rev. William Burgess, Wesleyan Missionary at Hyderabad, in his speech at tjJ.e Annual Meeting of the Wesleyan Missionary Society at Exeter Hall, gave the following particulars regarding the city in which he labors.-Ens.] "HYDERABAD, the capital of his Highness the Nizam, is the first city of the Deccan, and the fourth of the Indian Empire. It has a population of 400,000, and it is a veritable Indian Cairo. Its streets exhibit more varieties of Hindu raceffthan any city between the Himalayas and Cape Cormorin. Afghans, Arabians, Persians, Parsees, Telugus are among the nationalities that crowd its marts of commerce. It is the home of the India's greatest prince. One cannot attend a state banquet out yonder, served with silver and gold, and look upon the groups of brilliantly-attired officials, gold-belted and clad in lace and rich brocade, lounging on silken cushions or elaborately-carved alabaster seats, without being dazed with the splendor of Oriental pomp, and feeling that the sublime traditions of the Golconda kings and the strange wonders of the • Arabian Nights' find their countel"part in actual fact today in India. Often, when moving amid the blaze and glitter of Moslem pageantry, a solitary messenger of the Cross, I have mused and prayed and wondered when all tbis gold and frankincense and myrrh would be laid in willing tribute at the feet of Him whose star wise men in the East now see rising, and in some instances, too, are following, that secretly they may worship Him, the Bethlehem-born. But if Hyderabad is the metropolis of Moslem courtesy, of high-breeding, of luxury, and of polishedjinesse, it is also the center of seething political ferment and the wildest religiOUS fanaticism. Hyderabad is unquestionably one of the most peculiarly interesting cities of India. No Englishman is allowed to live within its walls, nor can he enter its gates without the written permission of the British ambassador resident at the Hyderabad Court, and then only on the back of an elephant, and under the escort of two men of the British cavalry, "A stra;nger on entering the city for the first time feels a sense of insecnrity, and experiences a peculiar sensation of disquietude, for every man he meets is armed to the teeth. The noble, ensconced in his cushioned howdah, has a crooked tulwar across his knees and a six-barreled revolver by his side, followed by Arab troopers and household retainers with guns ready primed. Even begging fakirs have a couple or three daggers hidden away in their belts. It is almost provocative of a smile, when custom has worn away the fear, to look upon a Rohillah fairly weighted with his murderous weapons. He carries a long straight sword, so made as to enable the wearer to use it double handed; shields of thick hide, with brass bosses, hang at his back, and villainous looking knives repose at his girdle. He calTies also a matchlock, powder-horns, and a !tinder-box, with a fuse always smouldering, tiny implements of hatred hidden in his turban, and deadly elegancies stowed away unseen in the different folds of his dress. Almost every third shop you come across in Hyderabad is an armory, where you might find weapons worth fabulous sums, and daggers so studded with jewels that one might almost fancy that the object is to render assassinatIOn resthetic.
.. The city gives one the idea of being on half-cock, as though a spark only were necessary to plunge the whole into turmoil and revolution. Theadvisability of disarming the people has formed the subject of dispatches from the government many times, but nobody has the courage to attempt it; no, not even the Nizam himself. Your missionaries are destined to playa more important part in that consummation than government order or royal prohibition. Christ's command to you to-day is 'Bring him to Me/ That, and that alone, will still the rage of passion. Christ's presence alone will beguile • misery of its woe, and charm hatred into mercy. If you want to save Hyderabad from future turmoil and revolution, if you want to free the oppressed form of lawless tyranny and an unjust tax-gatherer, if you want to tighten the bond ofloyaJty to the British crown, you cannot do it by the clash of swords or the rattle of military, and by no coercion bills. My remarks have no political tendency. No, you cannot do it in that way. Better throw around the city of Hyderabad the silken cords of love, and in obedience to Him under whose command we serve, 'bring him to Jesus.' This is the center of your new mission in the Nizam's dominions. It is the fierce tide of political unrest and religious fanaticism that your two or three agents are seeking to stein. They are there at your command, and they ask you to
THE NATIONAL PROSPECTS A.ND RESOURCES
stand by them. The difficulties that confront them are almost Herculean; but they are not downhearted, for in their hands they have a charm more potent than shrapnel shot or sharpened steel-the story of the Cross-a charm that for two thousand years has thrown its fascination into the world's heart and wrought its wonders. The wizardry of that spell Hyderabad cannot resist; it, and it alone, will break the strength of Moslem hate, tame the spirit of Moslem fanaticism, and bring them both in fetters to the feet of Salem's King. By the initial stages connected with the establishing of a new mission in a purely independent State, which is hardly touched even in its outer fringes by any form of Christian effort, I have sometimes been driven well-nigh to the verge of perplexity; and had it not been for the consciousness that there were true, loyal hearts in the homeland bearing me up in the arms of faith and prayer, and that the promise spoken centuries ago was mine, 'I will never leave thee,' I should have almost given up the thing in despair.
" Acquisition has folllowed acquisitioB, but it has always been won in the very teeth of the fiercest opposition. So in our school work our very success provoked the bitterest animosity, not in the parents of the children, but in breasts of sundry educated Baboos from the north who affect agnosticism and worship Bradlaugh. Schools were put down in the very shadow of our own. Now I have my mission-house, my school-chapel, my theological institution, and the general machinery of missions in that far-advanced station in Hyderabad. And so in other places outpost after outpost has been stormed and won. The standard of Christ has been planted firmly in places where your European influence was never felt nor the European voice ever heard. It is not eight years ago since our first entry was effected into the dominion of the Nizam. As I think over what you are doing this morning, 'My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit doth rejoice in God my Saviour.' You have five native ministers with the true Methodist ring in their preaching and in their experience-men whom it is an honor to be associated with, men who are able to stand shoulder to shoulder with any other ministry the wide world over. We have baptized 450 converts from Hinduism, and in Gur congregations we number more than 600. We have the nucleus of a native Christian church in five distinct centers. One of these has already reached that sublime state of excellence according to the mission-house-self-support -and two others are slowly but surely climbing up to the same pinnacle of ecclesiastical fame. Eight years ago you had no foot of ground, you had no brick even ill Hyderabad. Now you have property, exclusive of the value of the land, worth 20,000 rupees, not one-tenth of which has come from the Mission-house. We have Hyderabad ready to receive us; Hyderabad belongs to Christ."-lllustrated Missionary News.
THE NATIONAL PROSPECTS AND RESOURCES.
By D. D. P., OF THE U. S. N.
IT is a familiar assertion, but one to which each new step taken in the civiliza.tion of the globe adds fresh pungency and force, that the geographical position of the United States of America, both as regards interior development and foreig:l commerce, is superior to that of any other nation in the world. A country extending from latitude 25 deg. to 49 deg. north, and from longitude 75 deg. to 125 deg. west, not only contains climates to suit all temperaments, but comprises an area (including the lately acquired possessions in the far Northwest) of 2,208,900,000 acres. This vast territory is filling up with emigrants from all parts of the world, bringing their money and household effects, and their hardy fmmes and muscles wherewith to open up the wealth that lies buried in the mountains and valleys of the land. Germans, Irish, French, Scotch, Americans, vie with each other to see who shall push farthest the bound of civilization.
The enormous strides made by the United States-a nation not a century old-are, of course, due to the fact that it came into existence during an age of progress. "Brother Jonathan" has surely lived longer than old Noah, who, in his 950 years, saw only forty days and nights of events which caused him any excitement or promised the least progress. I think the chances are that the hundreds of years passed by those antediluvians upon earth were spent in a kind of lethargy, and that instead of advancing they were often set back.
Annual statistics almost bewilder the reader with their exhibit of material wealth that yearly flows into our possession; while cities are springing up as if by magic, where but yesterday the antelope and the buffalo divided with the savage the sovereignty of the wilderness. The general mineral resources of the United States are doubtless greater than those of any country on the globe; but its inexhaustible coal mines, with the measureless wealth they contain or represent, are worthy of special comment. The coal fields already discovered cover an area of 200,000 square miles-that is to say, twelve and a half times more than is to be found in the aggregate coal deposits of Great Britain, France, Belgium, Prussia, Bohemia, Saxony, Spain and Russia.
The possession of these immense deposits of coal at once betokens and assures future enterprise in America to an extent practically beyond limit. Such an agent at hand to produce power on land and sea, and applicable to all improved mechanism, becomes the symbol of the national strength of the Republic. Through it iron roads are belting the country in all directions, and the locomotive whistle is frightening the Indian's game from the prairies. It keeps in motion hundreds of thousands of spinning jennies, which turn raw material into articles of luxury and of necessity. To it is due the rapid transfer of merchandise in peace, 'and in war the transportation of armies and navies; changing the whole character of warfare, accelerating events, deciding the fate of battles, and the destiny of nations. The coal mines that abound throughout our domain will continue to build up great manufacturing establishments. It is not possible, in short, to over-estimate the national value of these resources.
Of the great gold belts stretching across the United States the chief are the Appalachian gold field, traversing a line parallel with the Atlantic coast; the Rocky Mountain gold field, traversing the newly organized territories; and the great Sierra Nevada gold field, traversing the country bordering on the Pacific.
The influence of the last-mentioned gold deposits on national development is seen in the rapid advance of California, which, in 1846, had a popUlation of a. few thousand Indians, lorded by a few rich land-owners and dissolute priests. The State now has a population of nearly half a million energetic people, who are sending a hundred millions yearly to our treasury to help pay the interest of the national debt. At this moment it is the wealth of California alone that keeps up the balance of trade, without which, in the present disorganized condition of American finances, the nation would be so deeply indebted to foreign countries a.s to collapse for want of means to go on with.
The iron wealth of America is also too enormous to be estimated; indeed, it is impossible to compute the vast amount of this useful and indispensable
ORGANIZED MISSlONARV WORK. [00'1'
metal which lies buried in the earth everywhere throughout the Union. Good authority has declared that the State of Missouri alone contains iron ore sufficient to supply a million tons per annum of the manufactured product Cor the next two hundred years. Extensive copper mines exist at various points from the valley of the Missisissipi to the Pacific; while lead, tin and zinc are found in large quantities in several States and Territories. In 1848 the country began to develop the mineral wealth of California. Since that year over one thousand millions of dollars have been produced from her soil. The younger States are making large additions to the Amel'ican yield of gold and silver.
These facts, hastily grouped together, relate to only one element of national wealth, namely, the mineral resources of the country. I could easily take up and display in like manner its agricult~ral, commercial, inventive and manufacturing powers and prospects, to make the story complete.
n.-ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK.
The General Baptist Missionary Society. American Baptist Missionary Union.
EXTRAOTS from annual report for SEVENTY-FOURTH anniversary at 1877-8 : Washington, ~. C.
Total expenditure for the year has £ 8. d. The total receipts of the Union for the year been………………………….8,994 12 2 ending March 31, 1888, were $411,38;.39, includ- ing a balance of $1,219.77 from the previous year, Total income…………………… 8,107 1 5 and $20,550 to be added to permanent funds. The receipts for current expenses were from the The balance due to bank, May 31, 1888, following sources: Donations, $174,662.93; leg. being…………………………£887 10 10 acies, $94,229.35; Womans' Society, East, $55,- 384.05; Woman's Society, West, $25,882.06; The balance now due to the bank Bible-day offerings, $4,779.12; Henry Reed (£887 lOs. lOd.) is less by £309 19s. Steamboat Oompauy, $1,127.99 ; interest, $3,1113.- than last year, but this is owing to 02; income of funds, $18,136.10; government the extra amount received in leg- grants in aid ofschools, $7,519.62; other sources, acies. Had these not come in, the $3,981.38. The appropriations for the work balance against the Society would amonnted to $390.586.48, and $20,550 was added have been £1,828 lOs. 10d., or an in- to permanent funds, leaving a balance of $248.91 crease during the year of £631 Is. carried to the next year.
The income is made up as follows: It is specially to be noted that the appropria- tions were $38,696.79 more than last year. and Contributions from £ I. d. the donations fell off $1,824.92. This would churches, etc………..3,111 3 4 have left the treasury largely in debt, had it not been that the committee were able to transfer Legacies.. . .. .. . . . .. . .. … 941 0 0 $58,000 from the Judson Memorial Fond, estab- Dividends and interest. … 191 9 2 lished by the legacy of Governor Ooburn, of Sacramental collections… 120 1 g Maine, to the general account. This is very ap- propriate, as the large increase of appropriations 4,363 14 a is chiefly due to the establishment of new sta- tions in Upper Burmah. This commg year, the· Grant of Bible Translstion Society… 150 0 0 Society has no such sum in reserve to make up From capital account…………… 212 7 0 defiCIencies. From Mrs. Buckley (ou interest)…. 000 0 0 Amount received (aud expeuded) iu President Pillsbury's address to the Union was a rousing plea for larger India…………………………3,020 "10 Amount received (and expended) in gifts and a higher consecration. Af- ter a rapid glance at the history of :Rome. …. . . . . . . .. .. . .. ••• •… •• .. 160 15 S the Union and of the church it repre- £8,107 1 4 sents, and an analysis of the Treas- The committee states that the ordi- urer's Report, he says: nary increase from the churches has been less by £219 9s. 2d. than it was .. Consider for a moment the example of brethlast year; £337 3s. 4d. less than in ren in other denominations. The.Almanac of the 1886, and £481 13s. lld. less than in American Board amrmed : • Were all the male 1885. and temale missionaries or the American Board .. A year ago we voted an advance trom Congregationalists (five-sixths are), there would $(00,000 to $500,000 in rate of expendibe one in 24 Cougregational ministers, and one ture. Bnt, were it not for a generous legacy, in 946 of the church members, laboring on for- we should not have provided the ,400,000. The eign missionary ground.' There are 20,477 or- $100,000 advance was not sustained financially dained ministers and 2,g17,315 members in our by a single dollar. Dr. Ashmore moves for the Baptist churches. Were we as fully engaged in modest enlargement this year of 39 new stations. foreign work as our Congregational brethren, We must not falter. They must be manned, there would be almost 3,100 Baptists at work in or where is the strength of our love and faith, or Asia and Africa, of whom 853 would be or- sincerity or obedience' Is it true that a sto1d dained ministers. As it is, we have not, all told, indift'erence is so thoroughly characteristic ofus North and South, 300 missionaries. Measured all to foredoom to failure any advance, and comby the Cambridge' Confession,' we Baptists are pel us to abandon the effort' The gospel age doing one-tenth of our duty under the •great has ripened to its culmination. All the forces of eighteen centuries of moral and historic energy commission.' now converge. The last hour, the grand, the .. Again: the total receipts of the American supreme, is ushered in, and will pass with this generation.. V{e have seen the last of stupid, Board last year were $679,573.79. Dividing this slumbering, age-abiding heathenism. God has amQng the 436,379 Congregationalists shows an given us the post ofhonor in the leadership of average of over $1.56 per member for foreign Carey, the conversion of Judsou, the glorious missions. But in the 31 States and Territories, gift of the Congo Mission. Shall we fail to hold' including Missouri, contributing to the Baptist it' Will the whole army ever move-this lfissionary Union, are 809,760 Baptists. Plainly, mighty Baptist army now so inert' • The chil- 8390,835.39 divided among us allows but little dren of Ephraim, being armed and carrying over 48 cents per member to feed the dying mil- bows, turned back on the day of battle. They lions without Christ. Herein our noble Congre- kept not the covenant of God, and refused to gational brethren outdo us three to one. Yet walk in His law, and forgot His works, and the torther, if we consider the actual donations, the wonders that He had shown them. Shall Bapamount actually given by living stewards of tists be the Ephraimites of Geutile Christianity' God's wealth and gospel, the average contribu- Can two-thirds or the denomination turn against tion making up the the $174,662.93 is less than 21% cents per member; or, leaving out the the line of our prayers aud firm intent of God '" 117,654 Missouri Baptists, and distributing the en- The annual report of the Home Missionary Sotire donations among strictly Nortbern Baptists, raises the average Baptist gift of the year to ciety of this denomination shows the totsl re- 25~ cents. Herein is reason for radical reform. ceipts (or the year aggregate were $551,595.92; expenses, $309,759.84; balance on hand, $241,- .. Suft'er me to glance at another denomina- 838.08. By his will, Governor Coburn, of Maine, tion's work. Let us compare the average giving left a legacy of $200,000 to the Society, of which of Presbyterians and Baptists In live great States, one-half waS designated by the teststor for free older and younger, viz. : New York, Pennsyl- schools for the negro, and $50,000 to Wayland vania, Ohio, Dlinois and Minnesota. New York Seminary, of Washington. The work extends Baptists average 31 1-10 cents per member; over 47 States and Territories or this country, Presbyterians average 86~, almost 2:IL to our and IHoreign countriea. one. In Pennsylvania, the Baptists· average 21 3-10, Presbyterians, 53 cents per member. Baptist Missionary Sooiety in Northern The Ohio Baptist averages 16 7-10 cents per . India. member, and the Presbyterian brother 34% THE report for 1887, a pamphlet of cents, to give the nations the bread of life. Dn- 126 pages is full of interest: nois Baptisbl average 139-10 cents per member Presbyterians average 46 4-5 cents (half as many The total membership reported is 4,232, of Presbyterians contributing twice as much), to carry out the last great command of Christ. whom 3,740 are natives; baptisms during the Minnesota Baptists average, including the 11'0- year, 198. There are 5,141 scholars in day men's societies and Snnday-schools, 53% cents per member; Presbyterian, 1.79 6-10 cents, a schools, and 2,558 in Sunday-school. There are glorious rate, enriched with the blessing of the world's Saviour. about 50 foreign missionaries in connection with .. The average eontribution for the States this Mission; the number of native ordained above-named is: Presbyterian, 79 6-10 cents, Baptists,22 6-10 cents per member, over three preachers is not given; 114" evangelists" are and a half to our one. Conceding the snperior wealth of the former denominations will not ex- returned. The native church at Backergunge plain this di1l'erence ; and may not Presbyterian superiority in wealth, if it exist, arise trom and Madaripur has 1,800 communicants, who habitual generosity of obedience in evangelizing the world' •Give, and it shall be civen to you,' represent a probable Christ!an community of is God'a mle. • • • 4.500 ; Serampore reports 32 members; Benares, 19 ; Poona, 19, and Bombay, 5. No financial statistics are ~yen. so that one is at a 108s to know to what extent the mission Is encourag- ing self-support. The number of native Christ- ians has increased trom 3,110 in 1881 to 3,740 in 1887.-Indian WitnM'. MissionB to Seamen (English). for religious ministrations at several ports. It appears that two-thirds of the English ships of THE Society's thirty-second annual war are without chaplains. With regard to report furnishes the following: temperance work, it was stated that whole crews of total abstainers are frequently to be The Society has 74 honorary chaplains, 23 chap- met with. lains, 44 Scriptnre-readers, an<J a number of other agents working afloat in flfty different sea- The United Presbyterian Ohurch. ports, at home and abroad, who are furnished with forty mission vessels and boats in road- THE twenty-ninth annual report steads, etc., and have 42 churches, institutes, shows that the Foreign Mission and mission-rooms in docks, etc. It further states work of this church during the past that last year witnessed considerable spiritual year "has been signally marked progress among seamen, fishermen, and barge- with the favor and blessing of God." men. Through lack of funds, the committee had been compelled to refuse urgent requests SUMMARY OJ!' WORK. E~ypt. India. Totals.
Centers or Districts………………………….. . 8 15 Stati!'ns .. '.' . : …. : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . …….. . 85 69 154 ForeIgn M,SsIOnar,es …………•……………… 11 Unmarried Women Missionaries ..•…………….. 10 8 19 11 Physicians …………………………………. .. 1 1 21 2 N~?ve ir~:~f;:;t~~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 10 12 22 7 7 Organized Congregations…………………….. . 24 4,m8 32 Communicants ….. ,…………………………. . 2,807 6,878 Schools ……………………………………. .. 216 82 4,341 9,942 Pnpils in Schools …………………………….. . 5,601 • .. Sabbath-schools…………………….. . 4,338 1,325 5,663 Contributions ……… , ………………………. . $5,90200 $435 40 $6,337 40 Tuition Fees ………………………………… . $10,44900 $10,44900 33,609 Books Distributed (Vols.) ……………………. . 33,609 Proceeds of Sales of Books. .. . . . . . . … ……. '" $7,815 00 $7,81500 Total paid by Natives for preaching, schools, books. $27,178 00 $27,178 00 Value of Missionary Property…………………. . $207,81000 829,922 00 $237,782 00 RECEIPTS AND EXl'ENDITURES. 1888. 1887. $56,263 13 $48,33956 DR. Received from Presbyteries …………………………. . 15,17600 8,73792 7,59559 1,62676 " "Bequests…………………………….. . 4,003 74 8,80348 " "Women'8 Auxilary Board………… ……. . 7,73985 5,002 07 6,120 94 8,536 89 Ladies' Missionary Societies……………. . 1,851 65 Individuals…………………………… . 90213 Sabbath-schools ……………………….. . – -1,5-727-1 1,99499 Gibson Trust Fund……………………. . Interest………………………………. . $100,323 11 $83,943 80 (Of which $10,415 80 was received for debt.) CR. $38,000 00 Remitted to Inaia, and Checks Paid………………….. . 38,000 00 13,523 34 To " ahndE 1:gi2~,tr"em"itted " 1,38784 Egypt on debtaccount:::::':::::::: 2,06152 .. Amounts paid for Children in this country …………. . 128 46 "" " " Travel out of this country .. ……… . 800 00 .. Expense, (Stationery, Rent of Safe, etc.)……………. . I,Oll 93 :: Sal~…y (Ofl!.ce.rs of.Bo~rd).: ………………………. .. 1,000 00 (MlsSlOnarIeS III thIS country)………………. . 750 00 (Dr. Gordon, additional) …………………… . 1,42454 .. Outfit …………………………………………. . 21848 .. Printing and Mailing Reports, Abstracts, etc……….. . 145 85 " Interest .. ……………………………………… . 1,851 65 .. Legal Expenses…………………………………. ..
.. Gibsou Trust Fund (Remitted).:,:.••.•………….
$100,323 11 United Brethren in Ohrist. The financial secretary states that in twent, years, in establishiug and sustaining Christian TOTAL receipts for year ending March schools in the South, the SOCiety has disbursed 81,1888 ………………………..$66,238 16 $1,921,585.81, and for the ten months of the pres- ent year $91,496.21 expended, aud the aggregate Total expenditures for same period… 65,904 43 expenditures of the Society since its organiza- tion are $2,013,082.61. To this add $180,000 in- Bal. in treasury, March 31, 1888. $333.73 crease of our Endowment Fund and we have a grand total of $2,201,082.61 thus far appropri- Freedmen's Aid Society. ated. The increase in income during the last quadrennium over the former one is $ITa,886.90. THE report of the Freedmen's Aid Society of The collections during ten years show that the Methodist Episcopal Church states that the during the last decade the total receipts of the church now has a memberahlp of 450,000 among the 13,000,000 whites and 7,000,000 negroes of the South, with more than a million adherents. Society annually were much more than doubled, cess has been remarkable. The inincreasingCrom $68,402 to $168,271. Tbe conCer- come, which for the first ten years avence collections in ten years have increased 145 eraged about £5,000, last year (1887) per cent. The number of charges not taking col- exceeded £32,000. The gifts have valections has decreased nearly one thousand, while ried in amount from three penny the total number of charges taking collections postage stamps to £3,000. The mishas increased two thonsand. Duriug the qnad- sion staff, which at the end of the rennium $679,362.25 have been disbursed by the first ten years numbered 36 mission- Society; $254,935.43 have been expended in aries and 16 wives of missionaries, lands aud buildings. which is $71,884.38 more now numbers 286, including 53 wives than during the preceding quadrennium. In each of missionaries, most of whom were succeeding year a larger amount has been paid missionaries before marriage. The to our teachers, and during these four years the catholicity of the mission has been payments amount to $340,464.72. This exceeds maintained, and the mission staff the sum paid to teachers the preceding four consists of members of the Church of years $127,234.26. If we add together the England, Presbyterians, Wesleyans, amounts paid for the salaries and traveling ex- Baptists, Congregationalists, and penses of corresponding secretary, assistant Brethren. corresponding secretary, agent, clerk hire, and amonnts paid for bookkeeping, olllce expenses, The China Inland Mission has 58 stations in printing, postage, etc., we have $45,506.81, the which there are resident missionaries. These total coot for administration for four years. are situated as below. In several provinces the Among the colored people 22 institutions have opening of a station was preceded by some years been sustained, 127 teachers have been employed, of itinerating work. and 4,682 pupils have been taught. Among the white people 16 institutions, 84 teachers, 2,097 pupils.
Ohina. Inland Mission. Year first Province. No. of Station Stations. Established in 1862. opened.
THIS prosperous mission owes its origin, and largely its succcess, to 1866 Cheh-kiang………… .. 13 the missionary zeal and enterprise of 1867 Kiang-su…………… . 3 Rev. J. Hudson Taylor, who first 1M69 Gan·hwuy …………. .. 4 went to China in 1853 as a medical 1869 Kiang-si …………… . 4 missi(;mary, and, on account of the 1874 Hu·peh …………… .. 4 failure of health, returned to Eng- 1876 Ho-nan…………….. . 2 land in 1860. Mr. Taylor's deep anxi- 1876 Si-chuen ………….. .. 4 ety for China led to the formation 1877 Kwei-chau …•………. 1 of the China Inland Mission, and in 1877 Shan-si ……………. . 11 1878 Kan·suh …………… . 4 1879 Shan·tung………….. . 3 1879 Shen-si. …………… .. 2 1881 Yun-nan …………… . 2 1875 Bhamo,in Upper Burmah 1 1886 he returned to China, taking There are also about as many more out-stawith him 15 missionaries. The suc- tions.
ANNUAL INCOME, 1887, £32,000.
I I Not.ioonfsS . t aF'o!re.Ign Workers. Native Workers.
I j OrdaLinaeyd. and mFaele-. £ I 132 782 58 101 The MeAll Mission. GENERAL TOTALS POR 1887.
THE following extracts from the Religious meetings for adults (12.599), sixteenth annual report of the "Evan- attendance …………. '" .. .. . . .. .. 889,696 gelistic Mission in France," better known as the "McAll Mission," fur- Sunday-schools, children'S services, nish valuable information as to the young women's classes, etc. (4,423), methods of work pursued and the attendance …. " …………… " .. 224,537 results attained: Total of religious meetings. ………. 17,022 Total attendance at meetings……… 1,114,233 Domiciliary visits ……………….. 21,567 73 Bibles, Testaments, portions, tracts and illustrated papers circulated…. 468.278 Increase of IIttelldlillce for the year. . . 43,224 To these must be added the total number ot «round : he stations his wagon there, opens It, atations, 118, an Increase of Ii for the year, and displays his books, and there he is qnIte at home. ofaittings, 17,029, an increase oC 1,557. The re- Some ot the passers-by begin to draw near In ceipts for the year were £15,746 17~. tid., which ordedo look at the books, and then the conmet the current obligations and left a balance in ductor reads to them, with accompan7ing exthe treasury of £185 10.. tid. planations, and replies to any objections raised by the hearers. It is no longer a mere sale of The Waldensian Ohurch. hooks, it is a true work ot evangelization, with which the law can lind no fault, becsuse it WE are indebted to the Ohurch at places what is said on the same level as other Home and A.broad for the following merchants' praises of their wares I How man7 statements. The annual report of thousands of persons have thus heard something the Waldensian Commission on Ital- ot the gospel who otherwise would never have ian Evangelization shows that the known of it I Were we to say that in one way historic church of the valleys is still or another we bring the good news of salvation an active witness to the truth. to 80,000 souls, we shonId be sure ot not exag- gerating. LABOBICBS. The Original Secession Synod, Ordained pastors………………….. 37 Evangelists.. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. •…. .. . .. .. . 6 DUllING the financial year just closed the re- Teacher-evangelists ……………. , .. . 10 ceipts for the three flUlds available for the mis- Colporteur-evangslists……………… 5 sion work abroad have been as follows: Hale and female teachers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 The Foreign Mission Fund ……. £422 " ~ Hale and Cemale Bible-readers…….. 6 The Orphanage Fund… ……… 128 5 S Colporteurs……….. …………….. 2 The Seonl School Fund………. 239 12 1 Bible-wagon conductor•……… , . . . . •. 1 Wal'6houseman… …………. ……… 1 Making a total ot………….. £790 1 11~ This shows a deficit of about £44. when wm- Total ………………………. 124 pared with the previous year's income, and ts or 85 men and 311 women. accounted for by the absence of numerous per- sonal donations which were sent in last year in The 124 workers are subdivided as follows: response to a special appeal made by the Finance Waldensinns by birth………………. 46 Committee In view of extra outlay. The expendi- Protestants not Waldensians. . . . . . . . . . . 5 ture for the year may be thus classified: Converts Crom Catholicism. . . . . . .. . . . . • 52 Salaries of agents and general dis- Children of converts….. …………… 21 bursements …………….. : …. £383 II .~ Upkeep of Orphanage………….. 139 18 9 12~ Salaries ot teachers and outlay for FIELD 011' LABOR. school………………………. 253 17 3 Take a map and glance over the Italian pen- The total expenditure for the 7ear Insula. Let yonr eyes pass Crom Mount Blanc being……………………….£776 18 ~ in the north to ReggiO in Calabria in the south, let them take in Sicily, the Island of Elba and a Darjeeling Mission Institute. part of Sardinia, and you will have before you the extent of the field where we believe it is Established 1870. God's will for us to seatter broadcast the good .eed. Therein are found- CHURCH CENSUS-17TH MAY, 1888.
Churches…………………………. olS lcom Non-Commu- Stations………………………….. 38 muni- nicants. Total. oj Localities visited………………….. 178 cants. The following statistical table will show at a ~ glance the work that is going on : Name Adult. Infants* .. Attendants at the services……….. 5,923 of Occasional hearers ……………… 47,191 1 Church. .; ~ ~—-.;- ~ 0 Members ot the church .. ' •. . . . •. . . . . 4,005 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – ~r!;.i:'iI1Gl.i.~.". ~;c;~iPI"~,";',;;i·I-&;sa:;ii.C I..&ds: Admitted during the year …… , . . . . . 558 Darjeeling 58 25 24 26 20 35 39 86 83 169 Catechumens.. ……….. ……….. 450 Kurseong. tu 15 17 II 9 15 12 39 38 77 Scholars at the day school. . . . . .. .. .. 2,206 Nagri.. … 14 H 10 5 5 12 10 25 25 50 Scholars at the Sunday-schools…… 2,482 Salom. .. . 11 5 8 6 3 8 3 19 14 33 Scholars at the evening school. .. .. .. 729 KainjiJia.. (3 2 2 2 2 2 7 6 13 To the number of occasional bearers add the Terai….. 4217 16 24 18 9 17 50 51 101 thousands who are evangelized in private wnversation, on the railway and elsewhere, either Totals… 153 73 77 72 57 81 83 226 217 40lS by evangelists or b~ Blble-readel'S and wlpor- .. Under 14 yeara of age. teurs, or in particnIar by the conductor of the Bible-wagon. By means of this last we reach a number of persons whom we could approach In no other way. The laws of Italy do not allow preaching in the streets and squares, as is done In England. By means of the Bible-wagon we get over the di1llcnIty as follows: the conductor of the wagon, on arriving at a town, goes to the munIcipality and hires for a day, or for several days. 811 the case may be, a staud on the public London Sooiety for Promoting Ohristi- praise GIld for these tokens of encouragement; but growing demand ever calls for redoubled anity Amongst the Jews. effort. Notwithstanding the temporary finan- cial depresBion, your committee appeal_nd EIGHTIETH report, adopted at Ex- appeal most earnestly-for snch support as shall not merely Bustain, but widely extend the eter Hall, May 4, 1888: blessed work of the Bociety. Emphatically is it God's work. He declares that as in times past Your committee report that financially th.. the Gentiles obtained mercy through Jewish past year has been one of considerable anxiety. unbelief, even so now the Jews remain in un- At its commencement, when framing their eBti- belief, that throngh Gentile mercy they may mateB., they had to face an expenditure which, obtain mercy. He aBsures those who are workbesideB making proviBion for the proposed miB- ing out thiB principle, that as in the days of sionary schoolB in Galilee, required an income Elijah, so now there are the Beven thouBand of £36,500, while their resources could only be elect in Israel. Of these your miBsionaries have safely eBtimated at £34,000. been, and still must be permitted, In God'B pur- pose, to gather "one of a city and two of a The committee regret that the aggregate for family." In faith, in prayer, and with unremitthe year has only reached £33,Q25 138. 6et. ting labor Bhall the Lord'B work be Bustained whilst the expenditure has amounted to £37,344 until that day when Israel's blindness Bhall be 118., so that the adverse balance of the general removed, and the veil shall fall from the fnnd from the preceding year has now been in- nation'B eyes; when" there Bhall come out of creased to £5,724 188. 9et., for which Bum pro- Zion the Deliverer, who shall turn away nnvision must now be made. godlinesB from Jacob," and the .. redeemed of the Lord," both Jew and Gentile, shall retnrn, The committee earnestly appeal to their and shall .. obtain joy and gladneBB, and sorrow friends and supporters, especially to !hOE.e who and Bighing shall fieeaway." have the conduct of auxiliary associationB, for renewed effort, BO that the income for the cur- British Sooiety for the Propagation of rent year may be raised beyond the experience the Gospel Among the Jews. of the past, and they may be enabled to carry forward their great work without let or hind- FORTY-FIFTH annual meeting, rance from lack of means. MayS.
Your committee cordially acknowledge the FINANCIAL REl'ORT. nnfailing devotion of their friendB in Ireland to the cause of larael, in spite of local and domeBtic The funds intruBted to our care last year anxieties. amounted to £8,182, that is upwards of £2,000 leBB than the Jubilee year. This is due to the They alBa thankfully appreciate the sympa-' difference in the amount of the legacies received. thetic support afforded by the Episcopal Church In the Jubilee year the sum received by legacies in Canada, whose recognition of the duty and waB £4,637 138.; last year, £2,391 78., being £2,- privilege of helping forward the society's work 246 68. le'B than the Jubilee year, showing that IB most encouraging. we must not depend upon that clasB of receipts as a permanent source of revenue. The expendi- The best thanks of your committee are due to ture in 1887, the Jnbilee year, was £8,547 ; last those friends who so readily responded to the year it was £9,175 108. This increase is partly appeal on behalf of the society'B temporal re- owing to the expenses incnrred by the removal lier fund, which Is entirely dependent npon of missionaries to new spheres, and partly to special contribntions for support. Those who the augmentation of onr missionary staff. Four are brought into close contact with the trials new agentB have been appointed, and have and dilliculties of baptized and inquiring Jews proved themBelveB to be .. workmen needing alone can realize the valne of this little resource not to be ashamed." The number on our stall' in times of ueed, which deserves more regular at present is 31, and theBe are assisted by more support. The contributionB received during the than 80 voluntary workerB, making upwards of year have amounted to £268 168., whilst the 110. We are sorry that the fund for the mainteexpenditure has been from necessity limited to nance of the" Home for Aged ChriBtian Israel- £188158. ites" is Btill at a low ebb, and that the" Tem- poral Relief Fund" is at present empty. The Five thousaud six hundred BibleB and 4,018 enlargement of that Fund 80 as to put it within New TeBtaments, whole or in part; 47,219·mis- our power to as&ist our missionaries, not only sionary books,and tracts; 119,784 periodicals; at home but abroad, would result in unspeakaand 59,301 home tracts and appealB, have been ble good to Israel. A thousand a year for tem_ iSBued from the Bociety's depot during the year. poral aid could be most profltably diBpensed. Will our friendB remember that the highest form The amount realized by the Bale of ScriptureB of ChriBtian Bympatby is practical, and deposit haB been £182 168. ld. with UB that Bum yearly for wise distribution!
The report testifieB to the still declining influ- The late Lord Shaftesbury took ence of rabbiniBm-to a diminiBhed prejudice against Christianity-to tbe readiness of Jews to listen to yonr miBsionaries, and willingness to study the Holy Scriptures-and, more particularly, the remarkable attendance, both at home and abroad, to hear special mlBsionary eermODB. Your committee would devoutly
'166 CORRESPONDENCE AND GENERAL INTELLIGENCE
great interest in this Society. At attributes which feed the imagination, and stir the annual" meeting in 1845, in the into life the warmest energies of the heart. We presence of a most remarkable audi- rejOice in the ends and hopes of this Soelety, 88' ence, being chairman, he uttered seeking the fulfillment of a long series of proph- ecies, and the institution of unspeakable blesBthese passionate words: ings, both in time and in eternity, for all the nations of the world. It is our duty, our most "Our church and our natioff have been called high and joyous duty. that every eft'ort be made, to the glorious serviee of making known the that no expense be spared, that all our toil be gospel of Christ to the mauy thousands of Israel. given, by day and by night, that into every Now, in whatever light I view this great ques- prayer, with all our souls, this special supplication-whether I regard it as purely secular, tion should enter, for the revival and exaltation, whether I regard it as purely religious, or be it figurative or be it literal, of repentant and whether I regard it as partaking of both charac- forgiven Israel." ters-I see no snbject which can surpass, or even approach it in magnitude and in all those III.-CORRESPONDENCEand GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.
Braail. earnest and sincere student of missious wants, however, are all the facts, whether encourag- [The editors have received the fol- ing or discouraging; the wlwle trutl/ in regard to every department of the work. regardless ot lowing suggestive and interesting the effect this may have upon the income of any society. An independent magazine like the communication. They al'e in hearty MISSIONARY REVIEW may well be made the channel of such information, and thus do much sympathy with its spirit and valu- toward disseminating correct views on mission policy, while at the same time inciting the differable hints, and will welcome from ent missionary societies to the adoption of more definite and consistent plans of operation than any source any fraternal helps to- at present obtain in most of them.
ward the wider usefulness and Another good work, which it seems to me the REVIEw might do, is to show by authorized greater efficiency of this REVIEw.l ststements, the comparative expe1Ul/JII of the different missionary agencies, and the proportion JAHti', BRAZIL, January 11,1888. of consecrated funds absorbed by each. One of To THE EDITORS OF THE MISSIONARY REVIEW: the first steps in this direction wonld be to bring -From this far corner of the foreign field allow public sentiment to bear upon the different some to extend a hand of welcome to the new cieties, to induce them to give publiCity to the champion of the mission cause. A magazine facts in regard to the distribution of the mission with so complete and well-matured a pro- funds. Our magazines record in detail the gramme, intrusted to editors who have given amounts contributed by the churches all over such uuequivocal proofs of their qualifications the land, but give us no information, except in a for the work, and their heart interest in it, is most general way as to how this money is emsure to be a snccess, will do much for the ad- ployed. It is impossible to tell from the reports vancement of the Lord's work in the world. how much is spent upon educational work, how WillI be considered presnmptuous if I express much upon publication, how much for the supthe hope that the MISSIONARY REVIEW, whUe port of native pastors and teachers, etc. The doing 811 In its power to enlist the sympathy aud contributor. have a right to this information, interest of contributors iu the foreign mission while at the same time it is only by a comparwork, and to stimnlate them to greater efforts ison of the comparative success of the dift'erent for its support, may give special prominence to agencies with their comparative expenses that the collection of material for the formation of auy rational plan of distribution can be deterthat" Science of Missions," which is so great mined. a desideratnm, and the data for which are at present so meager and unsatisfactory. It also seems to me that the REVIEW might do It seems to me that the REVIEW might do a much good by emphasizing the fact that the great good work in this direction by promoting accu- problem before us in the immediate future is racy and completeness of information in regard not so mnch how to increase the contributions to the comparative success of the different mis- of the home churches, as how to develop the reaionarv agencies " showing by facts and figures 8QUrces Qf the native churchea, and stimnlate which are the agencies that have been attended them to the performance of their duty In sup. with most decided and satisfactory results, or, in porting thtir own teachers and preachers. The other wordS, upon which has most evidently church at large wonld probably be astounded if been set the seal of the divine approval. The it knew how considerable a proportion of its denominational magazines limit themselves al- contributions were e~nded upon those who most exclusively to encouraging and stimulating facts, 8S their object is to maintain, and if pos- sible, increase the current of ~ontributions into their mission treasnry-any other class of facte does not come within their scope. What eve-q nre already Christianized. and capable of sup- of thought. as well as habitlr of life andexpendi- porting their own religious and educational in· ture based npon the long established custom of stitutions, and consequently diverted from the depending upon a foreign sonrce for their sup- direct work of evangelization. The stream of port. He should also be one who has had some contributions from the home churches has reo experience in working np the natives to self- mained so long stationary that there is little support, know something practically of the best hope of any decided increase in that direction, methods of presenting the subject, the most while on the other hand, an examination of the effective motives, the real capabilities of the na- statistics of our Presbyterian Church show that tive contributors, and where reductions conld the contributions of the native churches amount be made in expenditures, in order to bring the to only about 8 per cent. of the whole amount basis of renumeration of native laborers down expended upon the foreign field, and only about to the level of tlla probable native contributions, 8 per cent. of what is expended upon native etc. There are many returned missionaries in agencies, showing that there still is much to be the United States now occupying positions oC done in working up the native churches to the honor and trnst who doubtless combine all these performance of their duty in this respect. qualifications; why shonld not some of these It is also important to notice that if the home find a place in the Board and among the Secre- churches wel·e relieved of the support of the na· taries of our Foreign Board'
tive teachers and preachers, who should prop· Would it not be a good idea to open in the erly be maintained by their own people, an REVIEW a Symposium upon different points of amount of money would be released which missionary practlce and policy, giving the public would probably be sufficient to support all who the benefit of the matnred views and experience are likely to offer themselves as workers among of prominent men from all parts of the field, the unevangelized, but which cannot now be thus gathering together a mass of facts and sent for want of funds. principles, the study of which would be invaln- Would it not also be in place for the MISSION· able to those who propose entering upon the ARY RBVIlIW OF THE WORLD to suggest that su· foreign mission work. A useful and almost ne- perintending the distribution of the funds on the cessary adjnnct to this would be a section Cor foreign field and. development of the native reo Missionaries Exchanging Views.
sources equals if not surpasses in importance I take the liberty of including a list of subjects the raising of money from the home churches, that I would like to see discussed in such a sym- and can only be accomplished by confiding it to posium. I have thought a good deal on all these some properly qualified person as his special subjects, and in regard to some of them have ar_ work. The two branches of the work are as rived at conclnsions at variance with the pres- distinct and require qualifications as different as ent practice of our church, bnt as my experience the manufacturing and sales departments of any has been limited to a single field, ·wonld like a large business. No one would think of confid· basis for a wider generalization before coming ing the superintendence of the shops to a man, to a definite conclnsion.
all of whose training had been acqnired in the Yours respectfully, connting·room, no matter how great his abilities J. BEATTY HOWllLL.
in this line, much less of reqniring him to man- StJllJBCTS SUGGESTBD FOR SYMPOSIUM.
age the shops from the counting-room, determin- Boards 0/ Foretgn Missions and their Secre.
ing the location of the different workmen, the taries.-What are their functions and author- apportionment of the work among them, etc., ity' What are their proper relations to the without ever having entered the shops, or hav- home church and to the missionaries on the ing any practical knowledge of the work to be field'
done there. The Missionary.-What constitutes a call to the But this is exactly what our church is doing Foreign Mission work' What are the abso when in her choice of Foreign Secretaries she lutely necessary qualifications for this office 1 limits herself to men who, thongh abnndantly Should those who enter upon this work be ex- qualified for interesting the home churches in pected to consecrate themselves to it for life'
the Foreign Mission work, and raiSing money Should the missionary's salary be calcnlated for it, have no practical experience in work on upon the basis of a bare snpport, or of a com- the field, its special possibilities and difficul- fortable living' and what has been the practice ties. of the different societies in this respect'
A man to do efficient work in development of The MissWn.-What are its powers and Conc- the native resources, must have learned by per- tions, whence its anthority, and what its true sonal contact with the natives to love and sym- relations to the native Presbyteries'
pathize with them as brethren in the Lord, must Sclwoi& as an ]!}vangellzing Agency.-Their have had some practice in dealing with the sns- place in the scheme of missions, to what extent picion and jealousy which so frequently mani- authorized by the Scripture, and warranted by fest themselves when the money question comes results in conversion of souls and building up of up between the native and foreign laborer, mnst the church'
know how to make due allowance for national Sel/-Support.-Is the support of native evan- dilRlrences oftemperament,disposition and modes gelizing agencies exclusively by the contri. butions ot converted natives desirable. practica- is not so. In every part ofthe country you can find willing audience, givlllg ready assent to ~ ble. and actually realized; and what are the you may say. In this Siam is not specially ftted most approved methods Cor obtaining that re- for this kind of work.
sult, But when Christ sent forth the first mission- Native Candidate8 fO'l' the Minutrll.-How aries, commanding them to preach and to heal, rar should they be obliged to follow the curricu- who can say that one country may have the lum prescribed in our Confession of Faith' preacher and another the healer 7 Can the med- ical missionary win the hearts and confidence of How tar should they be aided financially in ob- China's millions, and thus secure an opportunity taining the necessary education' What has for presenting gospel truth! He can do the same here. If in India or Korea he can allevibeen the practice and what the results in the ate human suft'erings which, but for his presence, would be grossly maltreated by native ignorance different fields! and superstition, he can do the same here. Church BuildingsfO'l' Nativ88.-How far is It If the medical missionary Is needed in other advisable to aid in their construction, or rent fields as a matter of human wisdom and forewith mission funds' What has been the prac- thought, to guard the lives and health of his ortice and what the res nits in the different fields f dained brother and family and the lady teachers, he is as much needed here. Is there a call for Paid Native Lay Laborers.-To what extent the training of native .young men in Western medical science in China, Syria, India, or Japan' can they be profitably employed, and in what The same work is waiting to be done here.
ways' 2. The peculiarities of thejl.eld.. (a) C:imate. The temperature ranges from ~8Q to 98° F. Even MiBSion Compoond8 (buildings).-Where and the warmest days are made quite bearable by a sea breeze which blows in from the Gulf all the how Car are they necessary, and of what charac- afternoon. The wet season begins in April or ter should they be , May, and the dry season about November. The direct rays of the sun render it unsafe to ven- Oontributtona fO'l' Special Obiects.-How rar ture out unprotected, as the experience of many foreigners would show. The heat, moistnre and should they be encol/raged' To what extent is maiaria combined have a most depressing efit possible to incorporate them with the present fect upon the exhuberant spirits which every missionary shows at tlrst. system of distribution, according to appropria- (b) The attitude of the government is favorations asked for by the missions and approved by ble. The King has said on more than one occa- sion that he welcomed the American (meaning the Central Committee' the Protestant) missionaries to his country. He M"l8stonary Training Colleges.-How far is it and many of the princes and nobles have con- tributed to our work. In many provinces the practicable and advisable to give a preliminary governors invite the touring missionary to their houses and ask to hear the gospel preached. course of instruction in mission economics to The Prime Minister has offered houses and land those proposing to enter upon the foreign mis- in a large neighboring province if we will piace a medical missionary there. sion work' Would not greater uniformity of (c) The peeple. Physically they are far below policy and harmony of action be thus insured' their Chinese neighbors. Living in the shadow of tbe equator and taking little or no precaution Beside misRionarv bookkeeping and hygienics. to shield themselves ft'om the direct rays of the sun, coupled with a diet compared with which what else might be profitably included in the the cats and rats eaten by John Chinaman would be an Epicurean feast, it is not surprising that course' the vast majority of them are nothing more than physical wrecks. Mentally they are not capable Siam. of much exertion. Place a Siamese and aSia- mo-Chinese at the same study, and the one with LETTER from Rev. Jas. B. Thomp- Chinese blood will master it in much less time. For devising ways or for anything demanding son. forethought, a Siamese cannot be depended upon. Hence it is not difficult to understand [This letter is in reply to a Medical that morally they also rank very low. All their surroundings and habits of life are such as to Mission student, seeking information. beget the most Immoral of thoughts, feelings and We give it, as the information it fur- practices. or course, l refer here to the llverage nh5hes may be of service to many be- side the person to whom it was writ- ten.-EDs.) I'ETcHABUREE, SIAll, March 26, 1888. DEAR SIR.-Yours of January 20th has just reached me. I am not in the least 8urprisd to receive letters from persons altogether unknown to me. neither do I think strange of it, for I well remember how I once sought the very informa- tion you ask for, and obtained it in the same way that has suggested itself to you. I rejoice to bear from yoo. Now for the points on which you wish to be informed.
1. Is Siam specially fitted for medical mission work r .In Persia, Syria, Korea, China, and among certain classes in India, medical mis- sionary work is special/y.fitted to pioneer the cause of Christ, because in those places yon must. to II certain extent, touch the heart of the people before you can gain the ears. In Siam it CORRESPONDENCE AND GENERAL INTELLIGENCE. 769 Siamese, as you meet him iu missiouary work. domestic relations they will not hesitate to set Among the higher classes there are some bright you down as being as adept at deceit as they examples of what these people might be if suita- know themselves to be. Then, too, it is an ex- ble opportunities were before them and im- pensive matter for a single man to keep house proved. here alone, and he would most probably board (dl Work already done in this field. From with his married colleague. Now, it is a well- what we have seen as to the condition of the known fact that lite in the tropics tends to make people, do not feel that they are beyond hope. one irritable. and when this is added to the nat- For many years the missionaries labored here ural bearishness oC an old bachelor, it will without results, but since the first converts be- require a great deal of the grace of God to keep gan to come there has been a steady growth to him working in harmony with his fellow mis- the church until now we find seven churches sionaries. We might sum it up thus: A single with about 500 members. There are members man will be exposed to strong temptations, or inquirers in nearly every village fO,r many aspersions will be cast upon his character by the miles around our Petchaburee station, and iu natives. Others-not his kindred-will be com- two or three neighboring provinces 500 miles pelled to bear with his crankiness, and he him- down the west coast of the Gulf are several self will be unfitted for a large part of his work members and many inquirers, pleading for a by want of practical experience of married life missionary to teach and baptize. Many of the aud human nature as it develops in the native Christians have made such progress iu family.
the spiritual life as to shame the average church A course in arts is not necessary to one com- member at home. We frequently learn of ex- ing here, but it is a useful addition to his intel- periences here that compel us to say, .. Surely lectual qualifications. If a physician cannot be God is working among this people." too well educated bl and for his profession at We have a number of native colporteurs, home, he ought not to come to a heathen land or catechists, and five licentiates. The Bible with any less knowledge. Students are to be • and many tracts have been translated and taught. A medical record is to be made up, and printed, and thonsands of copies scattered over medical science advanced by such contributions the country. Tours have been made in all as a thoroughly competent, wide-awake medical directions, though by no means all the provinces missionary can give. All the mental training a have not yet been reached. Boarding and day man can have wUl not fit him any too well for schools for both sexes have been established. those terrible moments that will come, when, Medical missionary work has been carried far removed from consultation, he must decide on more or less since the first missionaries questions and prescribe treatments, the issjle of came here about the year 1835. Prejudice has which may be of far more importance to him been broken down, and the people now have a than life itself.
good degree of confidence in our medicines and Let your medical course be as complete as treatment. .possible, giving due attention to every specialty.
S. How about self-support 1 Is it possible or Ophthalmology, for cataracts await you. Rhin- practicable 1 Perfectly possible. A man desir- ology and laryngology, as throat and nose troU"
ous of doing so conld become wealthy in a few bles abound. A troublesome otitis will present years. But as to its being practicable, I think itself to you. Dermatology will claim much of the maJority of missionary societies would pro- your time. You will be culpable it you neglect hibit It, for the reason that we should show the gynrecology and obstetrics, for while you wUl heathen that our religion is a benevolent one, not have many cases in that line among the and that we as its representatives are working natives, the missionary ladies should not be from disinterested motives. There are those deprived oC competent medical care.
who question whether this is the wisest course. One really particular qualification would be 4. What qualifications are necessary in a med- that the intending medical missionary to Siam- ical missionary coming here 1 Aside from those as indeed to any tropical climate-should spiritual qualltlcations, which all recognize 8S acquaint himself as far as possible with tropical essential to missionary service, I would urge the diseases before leaving home. Nearly every advice given me: "An abundant supply of disorder is more or less modified by the tropical sanctified' common sense." If a man comes here malaria (U Diseases of Tropical Climates," by without it, he will likely find it necessary to McLean: Macmillan & Co., London, gives val- return home in a shorttime to procure a supplY uable hints on the subject). The male physi- or mourn over his deficiency. This sanctified cian can reach all classes of people in Siam, and common sense should be of such a nature that a there is no occasion for lady doctors here-more man would be capable of taking a hand at than can be said to exist in America. China and almost anything in an emergency, and such India require the lady physicians, and thither emergencies are frequent here. her forces should be turned.
To work to best advantage every man should In closing, let me urge upon you the claims of be married, and every woman have a husband. Siam. For two years we have been asking for The Siamese mind is suspicious of a person one more medical missionary, and no present claiming to be single. They may believe you, in prospect of his coming. There is room for eight every other matter, but with regard to your or ten, while even a dentist could find ,grand opportunity for Christian work here. though he whols the leader of so many, that God willmaite"
would have to come out at his own charge•. him a great power in building up IDs kingdOm This is, of course, a tropical conotry, and the here.
climate trying to a foreigner, especially until Let me say that I have taken THE MISSIONARY acclimated. The records show that many have REVIEW from the first issue, and that no one broken down on this field. In some cases these I copy has given me such hope and strength as No.
breakdowns are the direct result of the climate, 1, new series. I see, as I have never seen before, but in a large number they are more directly that anything less than a fnIl and complete con- chargeable to errors and indiscretions on the secration and perfect love is a hindrance to the part of the new arrival. If a man or woman is cause of Christ. I have been in the habit of asthmatic or rheumatic advise against coming thinking that in proportion as I was consecrated here. The Same also if suffering from functional I would be successful; that the noconsecrated heart trouble, phthisis, chronic diarrhrea or dys- part wQuld be simply a loss. But now I see it entery_ differently-that it is not only a loss, but a posi- Lastly, the time to arrive here is preferably tive hindrance. NothiD~ short of a p.rfect lmJe December or January. The most unfavorable and a complete consecration can ever make us season is from October 1st to D~cem ber 1st. powerful to the tearIng down of the strongholds Trusting that you will find this at least a par- of Satan.
tial answer to your questions, and a help to any Mexico. who may think of coming to this country, I remain, LETTER from Miss E. Le Huray, Sincerely yours in His service, Miraflores, Mexico: JAS. B. THOMPSON. Mirabores must, indeed, be a favored place, P. S.-If anyone decides to come to Siam, and for here we have no priest against whom to conwishes information of a more minute kind as to tend, and we have all the children in town who outfit, etc.,it would be a pleasure to either Mrs. do not work in the factory. As I often go with Thompson or myself to communicate with them. them to their homes, I thiuk we have more In dia.. than half tue pareuts iu the place. The girls and myself are frequently invited out to dine. LETTER from Rev. M. J. Coldren, These visits are a great pleasure, we are so of the Free Baptist Mission: gladly received.
CUANDBALLY, INDIA, Feb. 24, 1888. How I wish you could see me when school is My DEAR DB. PIEBSON.-We have a very en- dismissed 1 The children crowd aronod me, couraging work here among the Orgas. It would and want to know whom I am going to visit to- not be at all surprising to see a general break day. They follow me all over the village, telL any day, and hundreds and thousands come unto ing me their little confidences-what happened the Lord. Thcre are already about 5,000 who when this one died. or that one moved away, have broken caste and,joined themselves under etc. When we go in to read or pray with the a leader who has for eight years been preaching mother of one of them, they all sit qnietly in Christ as the only Saviour, and that all people in the doorway and take part in the little meet- are equal in caste. He dares not claim to be a ing. Whatever else they do, they grow up Christian, and has not been baptized. He was having a knowledge of the Bible, and accus- led to this belief by. a tract which he chanced to tomed to prayer; all else God will care for, and get hold of some years ago. He expresses the it is written (for my most blessed consolation), m<lRt implicit faith in God the Father, and Christ .. My word will not retnrn noto me void, but as His Son. As might be expected, he has some will accomplish that which I please. and pros heathenish ideas. But he gives many evidences per in the thing whereunto I sent it.n that he has really been converted, and by judi- Not only do the members of our church come cious management not only he, but all his follow- to us, but often, especially in caSes of sick– ers may be led publicly to profess Christ. I be- ness, others will send to the mission, asking lieve that God is in him, preaching to the people, for the minister. It is these features that make and, is no doubt accomplishing more through the work so enconraging, and could you, at hinr than He could by one openly professing home, see all we do, your hearts would be greatly Christianity, because many have learned to comforted.
think of Christians as their enemies, and so the This afteruoon, when your letter came, I was simple name is sufficient to close their ears doing work not properly mine-that is, conduct- against instruction, and hence God is using this ing a funeral. As the native minister has not man under another name to preach His gospel. yet come, I being the only missionary, the poor I examined the man very closely yesterday as people thluir I can help them, if no one else can, to what he preached, and I find him thoroughly So this morning, as two of our little school-chil- sound on' the fundamental principles of salva- dren had died in the night,. their parents, al- tion. He gives a most wonderful experience iu though nominally Catholics, asked if they coul~ his conversion. Let Orissa, and especially the bring the children to the church and have some villages round about Chandbally, be before you sort of a service OlVer them; If ouly a prayer. We n tlme'of prayer. Pray earnestly for this man, did the best we could, for it was too late to get help from Mexica-brought all the school·chll· form, while watching at his side were his wife dren together and read the burial service. sang and daughter, dressed in rags and pitiful to be- .and prayed. It was a touching sight to see the hold. The little money I had given them the day before had bought a candle which stood two small coffins side by side, and the little flock lighted at his head ; the poor old wife at his side was silently wiping her eyes with the soiled otchildren bearing flowers. and torn fragments of her dress. A little later GaIdino aud I went again to pray with them and I could hardly command my voice to make found the honse quite full of sympathizing friends, who listened gladly to all that was said the prayer, especially as the chnrch was filled to concerning the death of Lazarus and the hope of the very doors. Bnt it was a little thing to do the resurrection. after all, and if it brought consolation to any heart, we feel well repaid. It is things like this How I wished that those who speak lightly of we are doing all the time. We have conducted missions might have seen this pitiful death, the several chnrch services, also (for want of some solemn service for the body, and the mournful one to do it better), and have opened our house burial that took place upon the hill. His poor for prayer-meetings. So you see we are very old wife, half naked, followed the COffin,' carry- busy, very happy, and our hearts, in an especial ing on her shoulder the spade to fill in the grave manner, full of God's peace and His blessed and the ropes with which to lower the remains presence. in the ground. And all withont the blessed con- solation we Christians have in such an hour. If A poor old woman from the town came np to I conld only believe that the prayers at the dying the mission one day, saying that her hnsband hour were heard at last 1 would feel relieved of was dying, and asking with tears for some one a weight that has been pressing on me for days. to come speak a few words to him and make a If I could but have heard the assurauce, " This prayer before it was too late. day shalt thou be with me in Paradise" I It is They rarely send for a priest in the presence only because we believe God came into the world of death, but almost always call for ns. I told her we had no minister, but that I would gladly to save 8inners that we can go about our work 11:0 with her and do what I could. It was the as we do. old story; they were old and Gut of work, and so GENERAL INTELDIGENCE. poor, she said, for want of nourishing food, her husband was dying. She herself was barefoot, -Our Missionaries. During the last dressed in rags, and sO old ",nd thin and hundred years the convictions of wretched it made one's heart ache to see her, Chri!)tendom in regard to missionary without hearing her sad story. I followed her work have undergone a profound to her little hut, some distance down the road, change. When Carey, the father of a place often passed before, but which, it so Protestant missions in Bengal, pro- happened, I had never visited. pounded, at the meeting of Baptist ministers a century ago, the duty I"have seen a great many poor homes in Mira- of preaching the gospel to, "the flores, but never one quite so poor 8S that, heathen," the aged president is said Where, in the one room of the little hut, there to have sprung up in displeasme and was not one article of fnrniture. shouted: "Young man, sit down. When God pleases to convert the You cannot imagine what a terrible responsi- heathen H~ will do it. without your bility it is to feel that you mnst say some last aid or mine." A second Pentecost. words to one who in a few honrs will be in he thought, must precede such a eternity. At home it would be different, for work. To another pious Noncol).- there they would have heard it all before, but formist divine the proposal sug- here they are neither Catholics nor Protestants, gested the thought, "If the Lord and totally ignorant ot all that concerns their would make windows in heaven salvation. might this thing be?" Ministers of the Kirk of Scotland, which has since The dying man lay on some rags on the floor, labored so nobly for the education of which itself was of earth-cold and damp. They India, pronounced the idea to be were very anxious that we should pray with the "highly preposterous," and extolled poor man, but when I knelt beside him and took the simple virtues of the untutored his feverish band in mine, he was too far gone savag-e. A bishop of the Church (If to be able to hear the Scripture read or the England, the church whose mission- prayer made, 'and only wistfully turned his eyes upon me, as though trying to hear. I shall never forget how dreadfnl it made me feel to know that he was, perhaps, then dying. and we so helpless to say or do anything that might help to save his sonl. I went away thinking: "How can we take life so lightly f"
The next day it rained so hard I did not see hina. The following morning, as early as I conld, I went to the house. but on entering saw at once tluit he was dead. There, stretched on the cold earth, wrapped only in a sheet, lay his helpless aries now compass the earth, argued was impossible to resist, and to whose publicly and powerfully in opposition mercy it was useless to appeal. . •. , to such schemes.. The British nation, During the last twenty-five years tlie as represented in Parliament, de- study of the science of religion, or, clared against them. Its servants in speaking more accurately, of the his- the East regarded the missionaries as tories of religions, has profoundly dangerous breakers of the law. But modified missionary methods. That for the benevolence of a Hindu study has led the world, and is com- money-changer the first English mis- pelling the church to acknowledge sionary famify in Bengal would, at the good in other faiths. • . • Be- one time, have been without a roof. tween the missionary conceptions of But for the courage of a petty Danish the beginning of the century and of governor the next misslOnary party the present day there is all the di1fe~ would have been seized by our auth- ence between St. Peter at Joppa and orities in Calcutta and shipped back St. Paul on Mars' Hill. In the non- to Europe. A hundred years ago the Christian religions, the early Protest- sense of the churches, the policy of ant missionaries be held only unclean Parliament, the instinct of self-pres- things, four-footed beasts of th~ ervation among the Englishmen who earth, and wild beasts, and creeping were doing England's work in distant things, and fowls of the air. The lands, were all arrayed against the modern missionary to the Hindus missionary idea. The missionaries .takes the tone in which the great had to encounter not less hostile, and certainly better founded, prejudices he proselytizing apostle addressed the among the non-Christian peoples to whom they went. For, until a cen- Brahmins of Europe at Athens; , tury ago, the white man had brought quotes their literature, and starting no blessings to the darker nations of from their devotions at their own al- the earth. During three hundred tars, he labors to supplant an igno,- – years he had been the despoiler, the rant worship by an enlightened wor- enslaver,· the exterminator of the ship, by an enlightened faith. • • • simpler races. The bright and brief ~he science of religion, or more cor~ episode in Pennsylvania stands out rectly, the study of the development against a grim background of oppres- of religions, has armed the mission- sion and wrong. In America ancient ary with new weapons. In contro- kingdoms and civilizations had been versial combats it enables him to trodden out beneath the hoofs of the wield the sharp blade of historical Spanish horse. In Africa the white criticism with an effectiveness hither- man had organized a great export to unknown. In dealing with indi- trade in human flesh. In South Asia vidual inquirers· it qualifies him to cities had been sacked, districts dev- point out how the venerable struc- astated by the Portuguese. Through- ture of their ancestral belief was no out the Eastern Ocean the best of the supernatural edifice let down from nations of Europe appeared as rapa- heaven, but was distinctly and con- cious traders, the worst of them as sciously put together at ascertained pirates and buccaneers. In India, periods, by human hands.. In popu- which was destined to be the chief lar appeals, it gives him the means of field of missionary labor, the power accurately and powerfully pressing had passed to the English, without home the claims of the l'eligion which the sense of responsibility for using he advocates, as against those which their power aright. During a whole he would supersede. For the great generation the natives had learned religions of the world took their to regard us as a people whose arms it present form in ages when mankind was very unhappy. In the East, the logic of extremes accepted, once an~ for all, the conclusion that existence The cell of the prison will become the is in itself a long suffering, and ex- pulpit for a world-wide evangelism. tinction the sole deliverance. Hinduism and Buddhism embodied their The tongue will find utterance, Ifonly to the ears of a jailer and ftollow deep despondency in differenttermsliberation, absorption, or the blowing prisoners. The pen will become a tongue to tell the story of redempout of.one's being, as a woman blows tion, and the press will become the out a lamp. But underlying all their ally of the pen in making its voice euphemisms is the one conviction universally heard and immortally efthat life is not, and cannot be, worth fective. What a blessing was Bedliving.- Christianity avoided the dif- ford jail, that made John Bunyan the ficulty arising from the obvious mis- omnipresent and undying preacher eries of mankind by another answer. to the millions whom his voice could From the first it declared that life never have reached through the cenmight become worth living, if not turies during which his voice is here, yet elsewhere, and the later de- hushed in death! If our lives are velopments of Christianity have directed their energies to make life given to God, they may be safely left worth living here also. Apart from in His care. Not a hair of our head other aspects, Christianity, as a help will perish. Thelamp we have sought to humanity, is a religion of effort to light at His altars,and then to place a.n!! hope; Hinduism and Buddhism are religions of resigned acceptance, high up upon His lampstand, He will not put under a measure or quench in 61' of despair, They were true in- darkness. We may think our in- fluence circumscribed and even lost, terpl'eters of Asiatic man's despond- when He is but enlarging its circum- ency of the possibilities of existence ference and extending its dominion. in the age in which they arose. They How wide is the circle of true mis- are growing to be fundamentally at sionaries, and how enduring the period variance with the new life which we of their power! .Two hundred years are awakening in India. I believe have passed since the tinker of Elstow that Hinduism is still sufficiently breathed his last. But like tile fabled plastic to adapt itself to this new grave of another beloved John, at world; that it has in it enough of Ephesus, the very earth heaves the vis medicatrim naturw to cast with his breafhing. He is not disused doctrines and to develop new dead and can not die.-Dr. A. T. ones. But the process must be slow Pierson, in Aug. Miss. Review of the and difficult. Christianity comes to World. the Indian races in an age of new act- ivity and hopefulness as a fully -Elect Nations. I believe in the doc- equipped religion of effo~t and of trine of elect nations, as' for example, I hope. And it comes to them in a the Jews, the Gl'eeks, the Romans, spirit of conciliation which it did not ,England, Germany, America; that disclose before. It thus presents its these nations have a role given them two most practical claims on human by the God of Nations; that God af- acceptance. FOl', although to a for- fords them their opportunity to fulfill tunate minority Christianity may be this role, called them to the kingdom a religion of faith, yet I think that, to of their own peculiar period, gives most of us, it is rather a religion of them their day of visitation, when He hope and of charity.-Sir W. W. Hunter, in The Nineteenth Century. takes the field with them. We sit down coolly and calculate our popu- -John Bunyan Still Living. He lation in the year of our Lord 1900. who has the missionary spirit can- What do we care about population- not be shut out from a dying world. we who took the continent with 101 souls! Whether that population be Christian-that is the question for us, and that will depend upon whether Christ. Civilization I The rampart can only be we know the day of our visitation, whether we remember the pit from stormed by those who carry the CroSB." which, in the old world, God digged us, and dominion of the earth's forces -Progress of Missions, For 3,000' -does it not seem to tend to one thing, to give us the leverage by years there existed but three versions which to move the earth? If we stand in God, we can do it. Are not of the Holy Scriptures. To-day they our gold and silver God's? Are not our sons and daughters God's? By may be read in 350 of the 6,000 tongues the act of the Pilgrims, is not this continent God's? All that the na- that are spoken. In 1804 there were tions ask is to be fed from the crumbs that fall from the Master's tab1e here. in the world only 5,000,000 Bib'les, in We have only to eat and to distribute. 1880 there were in the hands of hu- And I say that, with all America's mankind 160,000,000 copies of the resources and America's possibilities sacred Word. At the beginning of our and America's temptations, she is century the way of life could be safe only as she takes the world, not studied by but one-fifth of the world's upon her shoulders, as Atlas did, but population, now it is tmnslated into upon her heart, as did her Master; languages that make it accessible to only as she loves it and as God loves nine-tenths of the inhabitants of the it. So that, to Americans, the home world. Protestants occupy over 500 missionary problem and the foreign separate fields. In them they ha.ve missionary problem are one and the more than 20,000 miSSIOn stations, same. The first and great command- supplied with no less than 40,000 ment is America; the second, and missionaries. Five hundred thouthat which is like unto 'it, the world, sand heathen children attend Chrisby America! God's few are mightier tian schools. One million communithan the world's many. Numbers cants are enrolled in congregations are often the source of weakness. gathered from among the heathen. They beget pride, and turn the Two million stat~d healers are nomiheart away from God. It is not salt naladherents of the evangelical alone that He wants; it is salt that faith. Of the 1,433,000,000 that has not lost its savor. It is not Gide- people the world, 135.000,000 are Proon alone that he wants; it is Gideon testant Christians. The area of the and the sword of the LOl'd.-Rev. J. habitable globe is computed at 52,- E.Rankin, D.D. 000,000 square miles; of these 18,000,- 000 square miles are under Greek and -Christianity and Civilization. Rev. Romish Church dominion; 20,000,000 square miles 'under Mohammedan James Chalmers, an experienced mis- and Pagan governments, and 14,000- 000 square miles under Protestant sionary in New Guinea: rule.-Christian at Work.
"I have had twenty-one years' experience Africa.-The Congo Free State. Col. Sir amongst natives. I have seen the semi·civilized Francis de Winton, Administrator·General of and the civilized; I have lived with the Chrlst· the Congo Free State, says that of the 475,roo square miles which compose the table-lands of ian native, and I have lived, dined and slept the Upper Congo Valley, there is hardly 100 with the ·cannibal. I have visited the islands of miles of area not approachable by a. waterthe New Hebrides, which I trust will not be way.-Three hnndred and eighty·slx tusks of handed over to the tender mercies of France; 1 ivory, averaging fifty pounds each, were offered have visited the Loyalty group; I have seen the for sale at Stanley Pool station in one day. When work of missions in the Samoan group; I have some method is devised for getting the ivory to lived for ten years in the Hervey gronp ; I know the coast without slaves, the slave·trade will be a few of the gronps close on the line, and for nine abolished. Both the ivory and the slaves who years I have lived with the savages of New carry it are now sold; but neither trade would Guinea; but I have never met with a single man be sufficiently profitable alone.-The extensive or woman, or with a single people, that yonr territories of the Niger Basin. left nnder English civilization without Christianity has civilized. control by the Berlin Conference, are to be gov- Gospel and commerce; but remember this. it erned by "The Royal Niger Company," organ- must be the gospel first. Wherever there has ized on the same plan as the East India Com- been the slightest spark of civilization in the pany. The company has adopted rules granting southern Seas, it has been where the gospel has freedom in religion and commerce, and discour- been preached: and wherever yon find in the aging slavery.-A contract has been signed by Island of New Guinea a friendly people, or a peo· an international syndicate, for a loan of $25,000" 000, to colonize the Congo Basin.-Preparations pIe that will welcome you there, it is where the are being made to build the railroad along the missionaries of the cross have been preaching sonthern bank of the Congo, past Livingstone Falls, to Stanley Pool; and the King of Belgium has. ordered the building of steamers on the of government. At the head of the company is Upper Congo out of native wood.-Lieut. Wiss- Mr. W. Mackinnon, one of the wealthiest ship.. mann states that the Lower Congo, which is the pers in England, and identified with the British best known, is the least favorable section of the India Company. For several years he has been country.-Lieut. Von Nimptsch regards the Kas- conspicuous for his faith in the wisdom of insai as "oC greatOl' importance to commerce than vesting capital in developiug trade and civilizathe Congo ItseIC."-Stanley took 999 days to cross tion in Mrica. He headed the British syndicate Africa. Lieut. Gleerup, the ninth man to cross, which offered to build the Congo railroad, a took but eight months. project which fell through because King Leopold would not give the concessions demanded. He -The Mohammedan Emir of Nupe, assumed the larger part of the heavy cost of the Emin Pasha relief expeditiou. Associated with West Africa, has sent the following him are a large number of prominent people, stirring message to Bishop Crowther among whom is the Baroness Burdett-Coutts, of the Niger Mission: and the co-operation of tbis lady was perhaps se- cured by the fact that the purposes of the com- "It Is not a long matter; it is about barasa pany arc partly philanthropic. (rum). Barasa, barasa, barasa t It has ruiued our country; it has rnined our people very Tbe company has already arranged to fortify much; it has made our people mad. I beg you, several points along the coast and some of the :Malam Kip, don't forget this writing; because adjacent islands for the purpose of hemming in we all beg that he (Crowther) should beg the the slave-traders. With the Congo State and great priests (Committee of the Church Mission- EminPasha on the west. the Germans on the ary Society) that they should beg the English south, and the British Company on the east and Queen to prevent bringing barasa into this land. north, the hunting-grounds of the Arab slavers will be pretty well surrounded, and Mr. Mac- .. For God and the Prophet's sake. For God kinnon believes that in this way it may be made and the Prophet, His messenger's sake, he must so difficult to follow tbe tra~e tbat it will practihelp us in this matter-that of barasa. We all cally be killed at its sources of supply. The have conlldence in bim. He must not leave our company has also acquired the large island of country to become spoiled bybarasa. Tell him, Pemba, on whose plantations are many of the may God bless bim in his work. This is the victims of the recent revival of the slave trade. moutb-word from :Malike, tbe Emir of Nupe." While putting an end to illegal traffiC, the com- pany hopes to open up safe trade routes, along -Says Canon Farrar, in the Oon- wbich cottons and hardware may be taken by temporary Revtew : white merchants to the millions of peogle living around Victoria Nyanza, all of whom are eager "The old rapacity of the slave-trade has been to get European goods, and who have ivory and followed by the greedier and more ruinous ra- other products to exchange. The Arab caravans pacity of tbe drink-seller. Our fathers tore from carrying European goods to this region somethe neck oC Africa a yoke of whips; we have times number a thousand persons. snbjected the native races to a yoke of scorpions. We have opened the rivers of Mrica to com- The region which has thus come nominally unmerce, only to pour down them the raging Phle- der the control of the British East African Comgethon oC alcohol, 'han which no river of the pany is about 600,000 square miles in extent. It Iuferno is more blood-red or mOre accursed. Is is to be governed by directors under the control the conscience of the nation dead? If not, wiII of a board of managers in London. Thomson, no Yoice be raised of sufficient power to awaken New, Johuston, and a half dozen other explorers It from a heavy sleep P" who have visited this region, tell us that it em- braces much of the finest land in equatorial -A New African State. AmongaU Africa, and that a part of it is ruled with rather industrious and teeming populations. It will be the remarkable enterprises of which interesting to watch the developing of this new Africa is now the scene, there is prob- attempt to extend civilization and to found a ably none which exceeds in interest new State in Africa.-New York Sun. that which is now unfolding in the Burmah. – A missionary of the vast regions northeast of Zanzibar. Society for the Propagation of the We have already told of the agreement between Germany and Great Britain, stipulating in Gospel Burmah says that the six that British Inlluences may operate without interference in the country between the east coast strong points in the ramparts of Budand Victoria Nyanza. uorth of a line drawn from Mombasa to the middle point of the east sbore dhism are these: oC the great lake. We have also described the British East African Company, organized to de- 1. It is the ancestral religion, and has all but velop this large region. The British Goveru- universal sway. No dissenters. ment has now granted a charter to this company, giving it Cnll powers to maintain an armed 2. All the boys and young men at some time Coree, erej:t forts, levy customs and taxes, open wear the robe and live in the monastery. trade routes, and to perform all other functions 3. The women are more devout Buddhists than the men. 4,. It is the one bond of national life. one-third of their pastor's salary. '5. Science. art, knowledge are all aaturated They demurred at the proposition, but the missionary was firm; and with Buddhism. rather than lose the man they 6. The coercive power given to the religion by wanted, they agreed. This was an epoch in the history of self-support iis union with court and crown. in the mission. News of what had beendonespread among the churches, These points, he thini{s, will be car- and soon SIX others had become self- , ried in the following order, the sixth issupporting on the same basis. This now the rule in the mission, and having already been overcome: works to the advantage of all con- cerned. Possibly there may be a 6. The crown and coercive power has gone, useful hint in this for other missions. and the monks will now Corm independent cor- Self-support cannot be secured with- porations. oauryt.setlf-direction.-Baptist Mission- 5. Western art, science, knowledge and trades -Rev. George Owen, missionary from Pe- will undermine and supplant the old system. king, said, in Exeter Hall: .. Itgives me very 4. The national life must separate from decay- great pleasure to support a resolution of Ing religion, and find newer and more vigorous thanks to Almighty God for increased life, with civil and religious freedom under the opportunities of usefulness. I think we fostering care of England. have great reason to thank God for what 3. Women will find brighter, nobler hopes and He has done in China. The doors of that long-closed land are now open to us; with work under the gospel; and their devotion be- few exceptions we can travel from end to come fixed on Christ, not Gau-da·ma. end of that mighty empire; we can sell books and preach the gospel in most of its 2. More active intellectual life will burst mo- nastic bonds,and the youth of the country become cities, towns and villages without let or no longer willing to submit to its irksome re- hindrance. We have great liberty of action straints. and splendid opportunities of preaching 1. The magnitude and extent of the old religion Christ to the Chinese. And that is a thing Wt11 hnrry it on to destruction when once decay for which we may well give thanks. Think rhas set in. ChinR.-J. Hudson Taylor says that China of it: eighteen magnificent provinces, each has coal deposits enough to provide the world with coal for 2,000 years. There is a tradition as large as Great Britain, 1,500walled cities, that St. Thomas went to China in the apostolic age, but as he gave them no Bible the work was some 7,000 towns,and over 100,000 villages not permanent. The Nestorians went there from are now open to the preaching of the glori- ous gospel. Fifty years ago, I believe, there the seventh to fifteenth c.enturies, but they again gave China no Bible. So also the Romanists in waS not a single Protestant con:vert in the the thirteenth century, but they made the same empire of China; thirty years ago there mistake. The Jesuits took SCience, but not Scripture. The first British ships took opium. were some 400 or 500. At the end of last But Robert Morrison went to China, and then year there were 32,000 men and women in the Bible began to he given to the Celestial Em- full church membership, there were 13,000 pire. There are now 150,000,000 of opium osers in China.· In 1856 Mr. Ta.lor went with Wm. children in our schools learning to know Burns to Swatow, headquarters of the distribu- tion of opium in that district. Children, and Christ, and besides these there are thou- even wives, were sold for the sake of procuring this deadly drug, and this represents the sum of sands-nay, tens of thousands-who have all villainies and miseries, working more ruin than drink, slavery and licensed vice combined. learned to honor Christ and respect the gos- Such is the testimony of Rev. J. Hudson Taylor, pel. That, I think, is something for us to the head of the China Inland Mission. rejoice over."
-The way to self-support in the China's .lwakening.-The Chinese King- missions of the London Society, in dom, whose extraordinary inhabitants a. thousand years ago had become proficient China, was found by letting the in many arts and technical discoveries, churches choose their own pastors. made use of the mariner's compass long be- fore the inventive Italians had discovered The method was discovered almost by accident. One of the mission their magnetic needle. They had employed churches was dissatisfied with the cannon before Berthold Schwarz, made gun- pastor which had been sent by the powder, established a paper cnrrency in the missionary in charge, and asked for another who was a favorite with thirteenth century as efficient as the Chase them. The missionary told them national banking system; eat their meals they could have him if they would pay the whole of his salary, whereas from the finest porcelain, while in the they were then paying only about castles of German barons only tin plates were in use and and wooden bowls in the huts of the German peasants. The extraor- dinary race which,long before Gutenburg, employed movable type in printing, and whose gold, sliver and bronze works of art of human activity Protestants have ac. were the admiration of the world from the earliest period of antiquity, has, at quired a distinguished place. len&,th, aroused itself from its long Rip Van • As to ecclesiastical organization, French Winkle sleep. Every mail from the Flowery Kingdom brings fresh evidence of the fact. Protestants are divided into three groups: It is wonderful, and not yet fully ascer- the Reformed Church, the Church of the tained, how a people that in the Middle Confession of Augsburg, and the various In. Ages, while there reigned in Europe the dependent churches. The Reformed Church most barbarous condition, stood upon an is the most considerable, comprehending elevation of cult:ure which has only been about 600.000 members. Its connection with attained by us in modern times, should the State deprives it of the free action that abruptly come to a standstill, as if a moral might render its decisions even more effecttetanus had fallen upon their social exist- ive than they now are. The Church of Augaence. The Chinese were engaged in mining burg Confession has lost three-fourths of its long before the Greeks or Phrenicia!ls;" but members by the annexation of Alsace to for three hundred years their metallurgical Germany. It counts about 80,000 adherents, industries had almost wholly ceased, mining with ninety pastors. becoming arrested, and their output of gold sinking to the lowest minimum. These mines .. The Independent churches number from are again about to be put in operation. 15,000 to 2O,OOU members; the most numerous Some few days since an enterprising Ameri- is the Union of the Free Evangelical can set out for France with inspectors, chnrches with about fifty pastors. These miners and machinery in order to re-open churches represent with courage a.nd firmthe mines in the province of Shan Tung. ness the principle of the independence of the These mines gave, in their day, an abundant church, but their direct in1iuence is reproduct; but in the fifteenth century, it is strained by their numerical weakness. The said, the discovery was made that metal- Methodist Church counts thirty regnlar 1url;"ical industry brought about a plague in pastors and about 100 local preachers. The the country; stormy weather was ascribed otper denominatiens, liaptists, etc., are of to the infiuence of evil spirits let loose by less importa.nce." it: and one day the emperor issued a decree wJtich Interdicted mining operations of Germany.-At one of the meetings every description. Since that time the of the recent London Conference Mr. Chinese have restricted themselves to gold Grattan Guinness, whopl'esided, read washing. Experts assert that the ore in Shan Tung will yield $20 to the ton. As the extracts fl'om a paper received from Chinese laborers work for very low wages, an enormous profit may be anticipated from Mr. Grundiman, who was not able to the output. Thus the powerful kingdom of 'be present, on German Protestant the far East is waking up in every field of useful occupation to a new existence, and Missions: with the adaptability of the Mongolian race it will not be long before 1hey will be able to In a very interesting manner he reviewed !lOntinue their mining operations without the missionary enterprise of Germany, point- the guidance of the Caucasian. There are ing out tho.t un to a recent period one of the already men-of-war, commanded and strongholds of opposition to missionary manned by Chinamen, an achievement that work was the University of Jens.; now a twenty-five years ago would have been COll- missionary society has been formed among sidered impracticable.-Public Opinion. the students there. The political press, which formerly was silent on the question, Franee. -" Numerically, Protest- nOw freely ventilates the cause of foreign antism in France is very weak," says missions. Dr. Grundiman showed that the the Journal Religeux. noble tree of the Moravian brethren, plant- ed through the instrumentality of Count "Those 'competent to estimate give the Zinzendorf, had for a considerable time number as from 700.000 to 800,000. This is few stood alone. Fourteen other societies '!ore for a coustry with 36,000,000 of inhabitants. growing un side bV side With it, and many How much more it might have been but for have already become strong. The Gossner the expUlsion of the Huguenots t There Is, Mission has in Ischutia, Nagpoor, among the however, progress. In 1809, Mr. Recolin says, Kolki tribes, more than 30,000 converts, and there were only 150 pastors in France; now, the Rhenish Mission has about the same even after the loss of Alsace, there are 870 number in South Africa and Dutch India. In pastors, of whom,85 belong to the Independ- Snmatra especia1y the mission among th8 ent churches. It is also trne that the Prot- cannibal Bataks has prospered in a marvel~ estant minority occupies an important po- ous manner. The Berlin South African Mis- sition in public life.' In every department sion has likewise experienced blesSed re~ suits. When the secretary visited the field twenty-one years ago there were something like 1,600 converts at the different stations, but when, three years ago, he went back he found the number had increased to 16,000, and the Ia.test report mentioned 19,000 con- gogne. At the beginning of the verts. The Ba.sel Mission, ma.inly supported present century this island, situated by Christians in South Germany, in West at the most southerly point of the Indo-British empire, was desolate Africa, India., and China, has something and a meeting-place for tigers from the neighboring country. Even now over 20,000 converts, The Leipsic Mission tigers sometimes swim through the narrow channel which separates the bas in India 14,000 converts, and the Her- island from the continent, and come to the gates of the city. At present mansburger Mission in South Africa, 12,000 the city is of great importance to the commerce of the world. All ships converts. from Europe and Asia to Si~m, Anan, China and Japan pass the Island and Hawaii.-The Hawaii Islands have stop there for coal and provisions. About forty Jewish families are resi- ~ population of .20,000 Chinese, who dents, mostly hailing from Bagdad. A few come from England, and one are engaged in all manner of pursuits firm, Katz8z;Brother, from Germany. They follow the Sephardic rite, no and show their native thrift and rabbi, but a shochet, who is at the same time Hebrew teacher. The capability for work in whatever busi- vernacular is English, but most of the Jews speak also Arabic. ness they engage. Many of them are -A Hindu woman said to a missionary: on the sugar plantations; at Spreck- " Surely your Bible was written by a woman." elville (named after the sugar king) ,i Why ?.. "Because it says so many kind things there are 1,100. Most of them are for women. Our pundits never refer to us but from the same district as the Chinese here, but many are of the Hakka in reproach. " class, of whom we do not see so many. For the past 25 year~ evan- -There is no doubt that caste must gelistic work has been carrIed on among them by the Hawaiian Board undergo great modifications in the of Missions. During the past few years Mr. F. W. Damond and his near future. The diffusion of knowlwife have had almost sole charge of this work, and report much encoUl'- edge exposes its hollowness and cruagement in it. There is a Chinese church in Honolulu and another in elty, although neutral text-books do Kohola, on the island of Hawaii, and missionary tours have been made to not give men the" courage of their the other islands, where the gospel convictions." Thatthe "mild Hindu" has been proclaimed. An interesting should become so hardened and unfeature of the work is the use of the natural as to refuse a dying man a magic lantern, oftentimes under the drinlc of water, as caste forbids him open sky. Sometimes the beautiful to do, is sufficient condemnation of view, representing the wise men .fol~ the inhuman system. The political lowing the star, shone out agamst aspirations of the Hindus are directly the starry background of the actual contrary to the spirit of caste. Na- heavens before an assembled audi- tionality demands intelligence and ence composed of Chinese, Japanese, conscience, and the legal equality Portugese, Gilbert Islanders and Ha- and responsibility of men. If a SudI'll, waiians, while at times the explana- may not become a ruler, then nation- tions were given in five different lan- ality is a myth; if he may, then caste guages, and much good has been done is dead. Patriots must be. sever~ly by this object teaching. In Honolulu tried to see the veneratlOnwlth a fine Young' Men's Christian Asso- which the grave-clothes and bands of ciation building has been erected by caste are cherished by some would-be the Chinese, and the Association has reformers.-Indian Witness. been doing good work. This work should be of especial interest to us, -Mohammedanism and Female Education. for we labor in much the same methods, under many of the same A printed circular has been widely distributed disadvantages, and among the same class of people. The report for 1887 iu the zeuanas of the Northern Punjab, in is intensely interesting, and will be sent to anyone on application, with India, adorned with the crescent aud star. in stamp, to Mr. F. W. Damon, Honolulu, Oahu, H. I. Mr. Damon is con- which Mohammedans are most earnestly ex- nected with the American Board. horted to organize girls' schools for the educa- India.-Singapore, a city on the tion of the female sex, .. according to the island of the same name, has a small Korsn," to prevent Christiau missionaries from Jewish congregation and a syna- extending their influence over MohammedaD women.
7'"Mohammedans. Ithas been often referred to that in India there are whether they would embrace the rellcion or.
over forty millions of Mohamme- the irreligion of Europe.
dans under British rule. The Queen- Persia.-~obert Bruce, D.D., of'
Empress rules over more Mohamme- Persia, said at a late meeting of the Church Missionary Society, that" so dans than the Sultan of Turkey. far ft'om mission work among Moham- TheseMohammedans of India are the medans being a forlorn hope, he was descendants of the great Mohamme- acquainted with thl'eeChurchof Engdan invaders of past days. Partly land clergymen who were once Mohammedans, and one of them has the;v are the descendants of Hindus (chIefly oeifthloewr tehrrcoausgtehsf)~rwcehoo~ as in baptized fifty converts. Beng:u, hopes South Sea.-The London Missionary Cbronof gam, exchanged their rude idolatry icle gives extracts from a letter of a. visitor among the missions in the South Seas, who for Islam. These Mohammedans of some time since had written a series of India con~in among them Plen of articles to one of the Sydney papers, speakc!>~mandmg ability and dignified po- ing very contemptuously of missiona.ries sItIon at the courts of Mohammedan and their "Cork. This man was at that time. as he now admits, .. a renegade, reprobate, princes, men of high standing in the and enemy of the gospel," and in the" bond- age of selfish obduracy and vice," but havcouncils of the several governments ing been converted to Ohrist, he makes a most humble confession, expressing the of India, men of learning and culture: deepest regret and shame for the slanders he had uttered, and acknowledging that he That all these millions of Moham- had written statements about matters of which he knew nothing. There is room for medans are fellow-subjects with us, more confessions of this kind from some who have disparaged missions when they under the rule of Queen Victoria, knew nothing about them, or who were so in the bondage of sin that they were wholly means that they are in India brought outof sympathy with any efforts to promote righteous living. We have in mind at this under specially favorable circum- moment an author whose recent cynical utterances about missions and missionaries stances for becoming acquainted with in .Japan would have little weight with the public if the full history of the man were the gospel. It means also that they known.
have the protection of a powerful Syria.-A letter received, very re- go~e~'nment. in the profession of that cently, from Dr. H. H. Jessup, of rehglOn WhICh their honest convic- Beirut, states that: 1. The gospel is now established in the Turkish em-, tion may lead them to adopt. Mr. pire as never hitherto. 2. The Sul- Wherry said, at the Decennial Mis- tan has made legal the circulation of sionary Conference in Calcutta, in 1882, "Th~ progress of learning, the the Scriptures in all parts of· his do- spread of Western science, the appli- minions. 3. The native churches are now coming into a self-supporting ances of travel, the increasing facili- condition. 4. The governmentlooks ties of intercommunication by post with special favor ppon native, and ~elegraph, the pUblication of a rather than upon foreign, evangelistic multItude of newspapers and periodi- agencies, and so encourages a native cals, and the very powerful influence ministry. of the English people resident in "Tahiti.-Lately Mr. Green landed India, combine to make the Moslems the:e with a supply Of Bibles. The of India, of all the followers of Mo- natIves wanted them all, but the hammed in the world, the most amen- missionary was not authorized able to the injluences of the gospel, "- to give away, and there was not Ohurch Miss, Intelligencer. $5 in money on the whole island. However, he sold them all on credit, Italy.-Politically, the Italians are trusting for remittance,from money Protestants, while religiously they are Roman Catholics. We must dis- tinguish between the few who are the abettors, and the many who are the victims of Romish despotism.
One of the daily papers of Italy is now publishing the Bible in its col- umns in 210 parts.
Japan.-Rev. John Gulick of .Japan said that a flood of atheistic literature was en- tering the country from abroad, and the few thousands of Ohristians in .Japan were not numerous enough to influence in the right direction the 35,000.000 of the .Japanese. What is to be done for .Japan should be done quickly, as the .Japanese were movin/:' for- ward, a.nd would have to decide soonas to
'180 INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT. rQcT.-
robe received from the ship's pur- ised dollar was paia to the mission- ary. And this among a population. chases of provisions on land. He of only 140 persons so poor that even thus disposed of $100 worth. Anxious to redeem their pledges, the na- the women were dressed in garments tives brought their fowls, pigs and of grass.
goats to the officer, and every prom- IV.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
. CONDUCTED BY REY. J. T. GRACEY, D.D., OF THE "INTERNATIONAL HIS- SIONARY UNION."
Five Hundred Years ofIslam inTurkey.* science and art. In all that oonsti- bItes civilization the East was far in BY REY. CYRUS HAMLIN, D.D., LEXING- advance of the West when this Osmanli dynasty arose. The Cru- TO~, HASS. saders, who treacherously took and sacked Constantinople in 1203, ex- ALTHOUGH Constantinople was not pressed their astonishrt:lent at the taken and the last remnant of the arts, the splendor, the luxuries of Greek empiI'e destroyed till 1403, yet the desolated city. practically Sultan Muhammed and Bajozet, in the victories of Kossovo, Islam had possession also of all 1389, and of Nicopolis, 1396, estab- the sources of wealth. It had every lished the Ottoman power over those variety of soil and climate, and proregions known as European Turkey. duce of the earth between the tem- The OsmanIi Turks, therefore, thQ perate and the tropic zones. Its minbravest, the most persistent, the most eral wealth was vast, and is still capable of instituting and maintain- undeveloped. In the shores and ing government, of all Moslem peo- harbors of the Mediterranean, the Sea ples, have had possession for five of Marmora, and the Black Sea, with hundt'ed years of the fairest, richest the great rivers Nile and Danube, portion of the old historic world. The commerce was offered advantages possession was complete when, in which no other power possessed. 1453, tHe capital fell i,nto their power, Europe stood in awe of this mighty and the crescent replaced the cross power, and was only anxious for on St. Sophia. defense. In all the science and arts . These five centuries present to us of war, as existing in the fourteenth the most favorable test of the faith and fifteenth centuries, Islam had of Islam which· history contains. the advantage. In 1326 the second The government has been adminis- Sultan of this dynasty organized a tered in the. interests of the faith. It standing army, with regular pay for has been a religious government. Its officers and men, with military uniinspiration has been the Koran and form and music of drum and fife; Koranic tradition. Its sovereign with infantry and cavalry, and an ruler claims to be the" Caliph," the order of battle conformed to the successor of Muhammed, the infalli- organization of the army. In a word, ble repository. of the faith, and his Islam had its own way, could choose claim is admitted by the Moslems of its own mode of action, and it must every land. Islam thus came into the now be judged by its results. Among possession of a wider territory than its subjects it had a Christian popu- Rome ever controlled. . lation on conditiOIlj> which, it im· posed. There was no superior powel Its domains in Europe, Asia and to fear. When the first Sultan or Africa secured. to it the accumulated this dynasty took Nice .and carved riches .of the world, not only in what over the gate, "There is but one God, i~usually termed wealth, but in * Rejld·beCore International Missionary Union, Bridgeton, N. J., fuly,lS88. and Muhammed is his prophet," Rus- clearly the great advantage that sia was a barbarous power under the domination of the Mongol Tartars. would aCcrue to the Christian popu- Germany, France, Italy and England, lation over the Moslem to be freed were in a much lower state of civili- from military service. He found the zation than the inhabitants of Syria remedy in the institution of the Janand Asia Minor. These now" Great izaries. He selected 1,000 of the fin- Po",ers" were slowly getting into est Christian youth, put them under shape. This history of modern civ- special and severe training, with a ilization dates from a later perlOd- simple nutritious diet, and developed the fall of Constantinople, 1453. them into the finest body of athletes Islam, then, has had its fairest trial ever known. There was nothing in Turkey, on three continents, with known in the art of war to which the choicest treasures of each at its they were not severely trained. For command. By their fruits ye shall three hundred years 1,000 Christian .know them applies to nations as youth every year (Von Hommel' well as individuals. thinks 51)0,000 in all) were thus taken to form that terrIble corps of Janiza- I shall bring Islam to trial on four ries which was the Ottoman reserve, points-population, wealth, arts of and _which decided many a hardpeace and war, and social life and fought field for the Ottomans. missions. All captives taken in war were I. Fit'st, then, we refer to the popu- held for ransom or held as slaves. lation. When the Osmanli Turks· The women were made the wives began to exhibit their ambition and or concubines of the captors. The capacity for rule, their growth in children were often adopted in the numbers was exceeding rapid. Seated harems, and became Moslems by eduon the banks of the Sangarius in cation. As the empire constantly Bythome, they had a fertile county enlarged its boundaries, mosques and around theirs, and two demoralized chapels, and meddress, or colleges, and crumbling empires to take pos- arose on every side, and the preach- session of. The Turkish Seljukl'on ing of the faith was supported by empire was in a state of disintegration the victorious power of war. by internal dissensions. The Greek empire has .been so shattel'ed by the After the fall of Constantinople, infamous cI'usade under Dandolo that 1453, and the submission of Greece, it had never recovered unity, and the extension of the empire by war was full of plots and counterplots. nearly ceased. The population, both The first Sultan Osman, from whom Christian and Moslem, had become the Turks call themselves Osmanlis, vast and was the greatest empire of -exhibited so much moderation as the age, and all Christendom prayed well as valor, so much justice toward in all public prayer to be delivered al1, in government, that many Christ- from Turks, infidels and the devil. ian villages submitted to him for the But the Christian population during security which his government all thesl' weary centuries endured offered them. According to the law the cruel oppressions and resisted the of the Koran, all believers in a reve- missionary efforts of the Moslems. lation from God and having a book- In population they held their own s. Bible-if they submit without fight- better than the Turks. mg, are to be secure in all the rights of property by. paying the haratch, The conscription of a thousand or ta.x of subjection. No military Christian youth every year was more service could be required of them. than counterbalanced by their uni- versal exemption from other military But the second Sultan, Orkton, saw service. Turkish fatalism exposed their armies to fearful losses by cholera, plague, and other epidemics. of the camps, the defiance of ordinary- Many thousands would be swept off rules of health, are a great drain in a. bad encampment before the upon the very muscle and sinew of· commander would remove to a the Turkish population. healthier place. So soon as the period of conquest ceased, the scale During this century the Christian of increase of population began to population of the empire has nearly turn against the Moslems. or quite doubled. The Moslem popu- lation has hardly held its own. The fact has now become notorious. Things are slowly moving towards a The Christia.n populations have been point when the Turk must retire from gaining upon the Muhammedan in all the supreme authority which he now this century, and probably in all the exercises. It must coIlie in time, last. even if foreign wars should not hasten it. On the point of popula- In Asia Minor, which is, par emi- tion Islam has lost the game. She nence, the home of the Turks, their has played it her own way. She has numbers are positively diminishing. chosen all the adjuncts and circum- Travel where you will in the interior, stances of the game on her own soil, you see signs of decay in all the and has suffered an ominous defeat. Turkish villages, and signs of g~owth in aU the Christian. Testimony is Look for a moment at some of the borne to this fact by many travelers, chief divisions of her empire: and I have repeatedly noticed it myself. At the beginning of this century Moldavia and Wallachia were trib- But the fact is placed beyond doubt utary provinces on the Danube, reby the official measures of the Turk- ceiving their governors from the ish Government. The same percent- Sultan, having a population rising age of the Moslem population in con- 3,000,000. They are now an indescription for the army does not give pendent kingdom, under protection of the same number of soldiers. The the Great Powers, with a population per cent. has been raised. About of 6.000,000. If we assign 10,000,000· fifteen years ago this matter was dis- to the rest of European Turkey, cussed in Turkish newspapers. Why hardly 4,000,000 can be allowed to the is .the Moslem population diminish- Muhammedans; probably 3,500,000 ing? It was said by some, absurdly, would include them all. Bulgaria, Serthat patent medicines a1;e so exten- via and Bosnia are practically lost sively imported and used that this in- to the empire. Asia Minor is the fidel medicine is destroying the faith- chosen home of the Turks. The estiful. mates of her numbers as a race vary from 11,000,000 to 13,000,000. I take The real reasons are not difficult to the lower number, and the Roumaniascertain. Female infanticide in ans, Bulgarians and Armenians outvarious artful forms is confessedly number them. The Turks are a brave prevalent. The midwife knows that and sturdy race, but Islam has taken the natural(?) death of a female in- them fmm the front into the rear of fant, the sooner the better after all the powers of Europe. birth, will procure her a backshesh from the father. If maternal in- II. As to the economy of wealth, stincts are strong, the mother has to what has this religion to show to the guard the life of her infant daughter world. It came forward to European with extreme jealousy and devotion. view with all the wealth of the East in its grasp. In soil, climate, natural But the military service, falling en- production, in rich mines and forests, tirely upon the Moslems, is a still in- its waterways and harbors, it had greater check upon population. The the most glorious opportunity the poor commissariat, the bad condition world could afford for developing cast as those used in the siege of Con. vast wealth and stretching the arms stantinople. But these arts were Rot of its commerce to India and China her inventions. For a time she knew in one direction, and to aU the how to use and to encourage the European nations upon the Mediter- skill of her Christian subjects. But ranean and the Danube. Africa, also, even this has gone down to :>blivion. was largely its own. But what a Her textile industries were beautiful, miserable and deplorable result of but have disappeared. Her dyes five centuries of trial! As a govern- were Uliequalled for brilliancy and ment the empire is absolutely bank- fastness, but they are now among rupt. Its foreign debt amounts to her lost arts. In foolish treaties she very nearly one thousand millions of has gi ven up her industries and her dollars. On a part of this debt it pays freedom of action into the hands of one per cent., and upon a large part foreigners. She pursues a system nothing. It pays the rank and file of which discourages enterprise, art and its own army nothing but rations and industry. Instead of being the first, clothing. It oppresse/il Christian and she is the last among the nations. Moslem alike with a destructive tax- Instead of being the head, she is the ation. As England has craftily bound tail. If she gains a victory, it is with it to free trade, and, notwithstanding arms of foreign make. Her great its cries of distress, will not let it go, victory at Plevna was gained with there is no hope for the future. The rifles made in Providence, R. I., and people have been growing poorer with ammunition from New Haven, and poorer for the last forty years, Conn. As to the fine arts, they have but notably since the war with Russia no place for even a mention. in 1877. If a drought falls upon any place famine follows, and thousands Now, as Islam claims the entire die every year from famine. This regulation of life, and -to include all empire inherited and has wasted all that is needed for human happiness the riches of the East. It has devel- and progress,we are entitled to charge oped nothing. It has blocked aU this faith with the ignorance and in. progress. It received ten talents, and capacity which have wrought out buried them all in the earth, and has these results. It has had a fail' allowed them to be stolen. And it is chance, and more than a fair chance, Islam that has done it. It is this in the presence of Christendom. This faith that has governed and con- faith has developed itself according trolled all things. It can never raise to its own essential nature. Its presa people to a true civilization. It has ent condition is a demonstration of been tried on the grandest scale and its fitness, or unfitness, to be a relig. along the- track of centuries, and in- ion for civilized man. stead of wealth, poverty; instead of comeliness, rags; instead of com- IV. We pass, fourthly, to its social merce, begging-a failure greater and life and missions. more absolute than history can else- where present. The missionary, wherever he goes ~'Hd whoever he is, repl'oduces the so· III. What has Islam accomplished dallife to which he belongs, and out in the arts of peace and war? Her of which he has come. He aims to artisans in the manufacture of arms do this. It is expected of him that, were not inferior to the European. both by precept and example, he will Her steel, her Damascene blades lead his proselytes into his own way have been celebrated for centuries. of living. She early introduced the use of fire- arms. No such cannon had ever been It is absolutely essential, then, to the right understanding of Moslem missions, that we should understand the social structure which is the product and the expression of that having twenty-three wives by succes-, faith. The following five things are sive divorces, and 'yet only one at & inherent in the' system, are sanc- time. The social life of a Moslem tioned by the Koran and by the great people can never rise to the dignity code of Muhammedan law. They of a true civilization. It is only in are distinctly treated of and consti- case the wife has become the mother tute the Moslem life. of sons that her place is at all se- cure. 1. First is polygamy. The prophet himself had nine wives and many 3. A third institution is concubiconcubines, but the law limits man nage. 'It was perhaps the design of' to four wives. Of his slaves he may the Prophet to limit the number of have as many concubines as he concubines to four, but as the slaves pleases, or as he can. Polygamy is taken in war were the property of chiefly the curse of the rich. The the captors, a Moslem, by the laws higher, the ruling classes, the mol- of war, could do what he pleased lahs, officers of the army, the navy with his slaves, the limitation inand civil government, are polyga- tended by the Prophet is of no avail. mists-are expected to be. It would The Moslem'S concubines are, forthe be considered mean and disgrace- most part, pur<:hased slaves. The ful to have wealth and station and Georgian and Circassian market is and only one wife and a concubine or very quiet and secret, and one cantwo. The peasantry, the laboring not tell to what extent it prevails. men, generally have but one wife. But the African market is always act- Could the African slave trade be ive and the supply is large. It is abolished the equality of numbers in this constant demand for household the sexes would still further limit servants and concubines that makes the supply. The highest grades of the overthrow of the Arab slave Mdslem life are essentially corrupted trade so difficult. So long as conand made effeminate, luxurious, in- cubinage exists, so long will the dolent, incompetent, by this curse of trade in female slaves continue. The its social life. slave trade furnishes nearly all the household servants of a Mussulman's 2. Divorce is a great institution. establishment, and is considered by It is made very easy. Every be- him his legitimate and rightful source liever is permitted to. divorce a of supply. wife twice and marry her again, but after the third divorce he must wait 4. We must therefore regard slavuntil she has married another man ery as a fourth and legitimate instiand become a widow or been divorced tution of Islam. Wherever it has by him, and then he may marry her. freedom of action it is established. There seems to be no limit to the Captives in war-men, women and number of times he may divorce and children-are slaves,unless redeemed. marry the same woman, if only a While Islam was a conquering faith marriage to another man and a its supply was abundant. When it divorce intel'vene. Divorce is so eas- ceased to make war with European ily effected and is so much a preva- powers, or was compelled to submit lent custom that it far outstrips any to European laws of war, the supply they yet know in New England or ceased, and the African slave trade other American States. It sometimes through Egypt opened. That slave occurs that a man has a dozen or trade continues to the present day, twenty wives in the course of as and neither the Sultan of Turkey or many years, and yet never trans- of Zjtnzibar, nor the Khedive of gresses the Muhammedan law of four Egypt, will make any honest effort at a time. I have heard of a Moslem to stop it.. It will exist so long as Islam'is a governing power. In its '!'he Importation of Opium Into the great code of laws it has twelve Port of San francil.!OO from Hong' chapters on slaves and slavery. Kong' and Maoao.* 5. There is the death penalty to BY J. G. KERR, M.D., CANTON, CHINA. any and every renegade from the faith. No law of the Koran has THE warfare against alcohol is been more rigidly adhered to than meeting with encouraging success, this. 'Every Moslem is taught that and ere long the shouts of victory the renegade, having three times will be heard from every hill-top in the call to repentance and rejecting our land. But while alcohol, the it, has forfeited his life. In lands great curse of the family and the where the faith cannot rule this pen- home, isbeingconquered and chained, alty is probably in all cases inflicted another enemy of the human race by secret means, by poison, assassin- is secretly invading our country and ation or false accusation of some fastening its grip on our vitals. crime. The convert's only safety re- As yet its presence is scarcely perquires him to leave his people and ceptible, but if our temperance organplace of residence at once. This has izations will appoint a suitable man been a very strong point in this faith. to investigate the matter, the threat::- This death penalty, so universally ening danger will be shown by facts taught and executed, is the reason which exhibit the prevalence of why this faith has lost so few by opium and morphia-eating and the conversion. increase of opium-smoking, as intro- duced by the Chinese. Now, this is the system which is to be reproduced by Mohammedan mis- The object of this paper is to call sions to the heathen. If we are to attention to the preparation of opium form any intelligent judgment of for smoking, and the importation of this recently much lauded work, we the extract for smoking into Califor- must keep in view the system of nia. Opium is produced in India, and which that work is the expression. its growth, preparation and sale is a It introduces the heathen to a social monopoly of the British government, life which always has wrought into the revenue in India amountiBg to it these flve elements-polygamy, many millions of dollars annually. divorce at pleasure, concubinage, This opium is imported into China slavery, and the death-penalty to through Hong-Kong, a British col- the faithless. It does bring to the ony, and herea large quantity under- heathen some great truths-one God, goes the process of " cooking," or the prayer, no cannibalism, no drunken- preparation of the smoking extract; ness, no idols, no idolatrous worship. and the sale of the monopoly brings It enforces so much of mental culti- a large revenue to the colony. The vation that the prayer is repeated smoking extract is also prepared in five times a day. All this is in ad" the Portuguese colony of Macao, vance of the African forms of hea- forty miles west of Hong-Kong. The thenism. But there is no renova- " cooking" of opium, or the prepara~ tion of character, and the paradise tion of the smoking extract, is a held up to view as the end of pharmaceutical process. which re: the race is so utterly and unutter- quires great skill and care, and only ably a sensual paradise that the hea- skilled workmen are employed. then, and they alone; are naturally Large copper pans and charcoal fur~ a.ttracted to it. naces are employed, and the utmost vigilance must be used' to prevent burning, which, even in one pan"
*Read before International Missionary Union, 1888. would involve the loss of many dol- total number of the boxes take:b.· at . lars. Macao on board the Oity of Peking to have been 250, the total value of The smoking extract prepared in the opium was $140,000. To this Hong-Kong and Macao, besides sup- must be added the freight, insurance, plying local consumption, is exported duty at San Francisco, to give the in large quantities to Australia and full value of this precious cargo Ualtfornia, for the use of Chinese when delivered on the shores of our emigrants in those countries. That happy country. prepared in Hong-Kong is quietly taken on board the steamers there, The average amount of opium and attracts no attention. But when smoked by one man in a day is three the Macao article is exported the drams. Each of the copper boxes steamers must call there. These contains fifty drams; at three drams lines were written on the local per day this would last sixteen days. steamer, leaving Macao for Canton, This cargo contained 25,000 copper and the chief officer remarked to me, boxes of fifty drams each, and at " There is an American mail steamer the rate of two boxes per month for over here for opium. Nothing ever one man would supply 1,041 men brings them here but opium." Ten one year, or 2,082 men six mouths. days ago a missionary friend was The custom-house records at San leaving for home on the Pacific mail Francisco will show how much of this steamer, Oity of Peking. He came opium for smoking is imported, and from Hong-Kong to Macao to say an approximate estimate can thus be made of the number of men who are good-bye to friends there, and as I slaves to this habit.
was there visiting a member of our Japan Notes ~nd lBcidents, mission who was ill, I was glad to meet our friend at this parting inter- BY REV. H. LOOMIS, YOKOHAMA, view. He returned to Hong-Kong, went on board the steamer, and found JAPAN. she was to call at Macao. He came A YOUNG man named Sakuma Kichitaro was ashore and spent the night, and we formerly a pupil in Mr. Fukuzawa's school lit made arrangements for him to return Tokyo, and while there was a zealous opponent to the Oity of Peking with the opium, of the Christian religion. With some of his which was to be part of the cargo. companions he succeeded in breaking up one of The agent and officers had kept very the religious meetings held in connection with quiet about the intended call of the the Third General Assembly, which met in steamer at Macao (the neV)'spapers Tokyo in November, 1885.' had no hint of it), thus showing that After completing his' studies he went to his they had a consciousness of the dis- home in Boshiu, and became an active member reputable character of the business of the Liberal party, and in his zeal for that they were engaged in. This opium, cause spent a considerable part of his fortune. which was taken to the Oity of Pe- He afterwards concealed one of his political king, was contained in abou£250 boxes friends and associates who had been guilty of (more or less), and each box held 100 crime, and for this offense was arrested and small copper boxes, hermetically confined in jail for some time awaiting his trial. sealed, in each of which were five Dnring his stay in the jail, a Christian oJlicial ,taels, equal to six ounces and two placed in his hands a copy of "Martin's Evi- drams of the smoking extract. The dences of Christianity," which he read with value of the opium in each one of much interest· and pleasure, and was thus con· these copper boxes at the manufac- vinced that the religion which he had hitherto tory was $5.60, and each wooden box denounced was true, and he now embraced (about one foot by one foot by twenty Christianity with the same zeal that he had inches) was $560. Supposing the hitherto opposed it. Wben he was afterwards sent to the prison he asked the privilege of taking Bibles with him that he might use them for the good of the in- mates, but his request was denied. Still he was not discouraged, and resolved to do what he could. His efforts to help others met with no favor, " She thought that her Bon being a Christian is but decided opposition. Not only did his com· a great shame to her and disgrace to her family.
panions refuse to hear his teachings, but they, She had lost her husband when Tomiyasu was even tried to prevent his own private worship. very young, and since that time slie cared for Yet he was not at all dismayed, or turned aside and educated him; hoping to see him useCol to from duty. Every morning and night he knelt tbe society, and also to make her happy in her in the midst of his ungodly and scoftlng com- old age. Thns she was greatly disappointed by panions ;and pou'red out his heart to God in ear- seeing her SOn believe Christianity, the foreign nest and audible prayer. and false religion, as she called it.
This conduct greatly annoyed the others, and " She sent a letter to him with anger and tears, they apparently resolved to put an end to his forbidding him to believe Christianity. When devotions. So when he was upon his knees in Tomiyasn had received this letter he was prayer they would catch hold of his feet and greatly troubled in his heart, yet his faith was pull him down, and thus, in various ways, as strong as before, and he continued to send annoyed him in order to compel him to cease. her letters persuading her to believe on Chrlst.
But, like Daniel in the heathen palace, he knelt He is very fond of his mother, and obedient to as before, and night and morning offered prayer her in every respect, so that she has not any to God. hesitation to write in her last letter, 'You have Since Sakuma has been released he has led been obedient to my words in every thing be- many others to the Lord, and among them nearly fore.'
all of his own family and immediate friends. "Troubles contiuued more than a year, and He is acting as an evangelist in the region where finally, in the middle of last month, he received he lives, and it has been the purpose of his heart a decisive letter from her, saying: 'If you won't to become a regular preacher of the gospel. His obey your mother's words you are not my son wife is a woman of superior education and any more; you cannot inherit yonr father's ablUties, and she is in full sympathy with him house; I will send you neither money nor In all his desires and efforts to teach his people. clothes hereafter.'
.A. NATIVE JAl'ANESE REQUESTS PRAYER. "At this troublesome moment he wrote me THE 'following request for prayer was pre- (when I was in my native province) that: 'My sented at tile union meetings in Tokyo: mother seut me a letter saying I am not her son .. DEAR BROTHERS AND SrsTERS IN CHRIST any more because I served Christ. My path is JESUS oUR LORD AND SAVIOUR : dark as pitch dark, and I cannot see one step .. Hearing that all the missionaries of Tokyo farther; but I remember the words of the have opened a daily prayer-meeting, I will ask Psalmist, ,. When my father and mother forsake you to pray to the Almighty God for a widow who has ·forsaken her son. I beg to ask your me, then the Lord will take me up." Please prayers for my dear friend Tomiyasu's mother. pray, my dear brother ; pray, pray, pray l' He came to onr school in the fall of 1880, and since that time was my Sunday-school pnpil. " His uncle wrote him a few days ago, urging Gradually his heart was brought to Christ, and him to write a note that he will not believe he united with the Shinsakai Church. Christianity, becanse if not his mother will com- "He was well taught in the Scriptures, and mit snicide, leaving his yonnger brother and before he was baptized knew he must bear the sister without a ~ardian. He is troubled of cross if he follow Christ. He was like a man who this greatly, yet he prays and trusts that God counted the cost before he built a tower, and will keep her from this dreadful deed. like a king who consulteth what to do before he goes to a war. He was from first quite different " I believe God will keep Tomiyasu, and watch from common believers in our school. He did over him, for he is a true disciple of God. I not hesitate in anything to do for his Lord. will not ask yon to pray for him, for he is at his " Once when the Christians of our school have Master's feet, and He will keep him always. decided to give our tracts as we go along on Bnt I will ask you to pray for his mother, for Satnrday or Sunday, he was one of those who Tomiyasu is greatly troubled on her acconnt, did it willingly, while others delayed to do it. but not for himself. He is always saying, His first work done for his master, SOon after , Though my mother forsake me, I will not forhis nnion to Him, was to send letters and por- sake her.' tions of the translation of the New Testament to his mother, with the earnest prayer that she " Dear brothers and sisters, please pray espeCimay know and believe in her Saviour. This ally for her to-day, believing that God will ronsed her anger, for she, being an earnest be- change her heart. Almighty God promised and liever of Buddhism, is a worshiper of her said: 'I will give them one heart, and I will put ancestors. a new spirit within them; and I will take the stony heart ont of their flesh, and I will give them a heart of flesh.'
"Your obedient servaut, "HATTORI AYAO."
THE MONTHLY CONCBRT OF
V.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
BY A. T. PIERSON, D.D.
TURKEY. powers. When the Armenians were TWENTY-FIVE years ago Dr. Kolb approached ea1'ly in this century by estimated the adherents of various re- missionary eftort, the Sultan Mah- ligious faiths in European and Asiatic moud II. encouraged outrages on the Turkey at :S1,500,OOO, about one-half native Protestants, and not until his bemg Moslem, one-third Greeks and army was defeated on the Plains of Armenians, one-fifth Roman Catho- Nezib, and his own death followed, lics, and the remainder Maronites, did the exiles dare to return. .
Nestorians, Jews, Syrians, etc. In no In 1843, an Armel1ian who had em- country, perhaps, beside, do we find so braced, and then renounced, Moham- great a variety of races and religions. medanism was executed at Constan- Mohammedan is the ruling faith tinople. This led theChristiangovern .
and the State religion. Previous to ments of Europe to demand a pledge 1856, a Moha.mmedan of Turkish that no such insult to the Christian birth becoming a Jew or a Christian religion should be repeated. Four was liable to the death penalty, as years later the English ambassador Islamism is universally intolerant. secured imperial action constituting But in that year, by a hatti-Bheri/, the native Protestants a community, or hatti-humayum, 'the Sultan abol- separate and independent; and in ished this penalty, and conceded to all 1856 the hatti-Bheri/, with the signa- the' rigp,t to embrace any religion. ture of the Sultan, formally an- To this result the British Empire in nounced the era of toleration.
India. contributed. Thisimperial decree may have been Turkey lay about midway en route regarded in those pashalics under the between London and Calcutta. Tur- Sultan's immediate sway, but it has key, taking the attitude of resistance, been a dead letter in more remote might block up England's highway districts, where bigoted Moslems have to her Indian Empire. The Sultan had control. Still it was the first could lock the gates of the Golden grand step toward the establish- Horn and blockade the Syrian ports, mentof religious freedom and the en- obstruct the passage across the Isth- couragement of Christian missions mus of Suez from the Mediterranean among thirty or forty millions 'Of to the Persian Gulf, and thus compel people.
British merchantmen to round the Turkey, although by the treaty of Cape of Good Hope to reach India. Berlin her territory in Asia and Eu- He must not be a foe but an ally. rope is reduced, still sways over one EnglaIid must have a casting vote in million square miles and over twenty the councils of the Sublime Porte. millions of people; and by six articles Hence Britain kept her ablest diplo- in that treaty the subjects of the matist there, and the wars with Egypt Turkish government are assured of in 184.0, with Russia in 1855 at the civil and religious liberty. In 1878 Crimea, and with Persia the year Asiatic Turkey came under a. British later, as well as many measures of Protectorate, and a" defensive alli- statecraft, were prompted by the ance " was formed between the two necessity of protecting those East In- nations, by which Britain pledged dian possessions, and keeping open her help" by force of a.rms" when the line of communication. necessary, and the Sultan pledged But the only perfect security must himself to certain reforms, mainly . be found in the abolition of the having in view the protection of na- persecuting policy of the Moslem tive Christians and Christian mission. aries. As a matter of fact; however, . recognized andallopted as the basis a follower of "the Prophet" espouses of government.
the Christian faith only at the peril Education is making rapid prog- of persecution, and practically those ress. There are graded schools, with "
reached by mission effort are for the improved text-books; even girls are most part adherents of the Greek, now finding an open door to the Armenian, and Nestorian churches. higher education. And the supply is Mohammedanism, however, though far from being equal to the demand.
most stubbornly opposed to all gos- The sluggish intellect of the Turks is pel advance, is not without hopeful awaking, and now is the time to take features; possession of its aroused faculties.
First, it is iconoclastic-from the For years the one chief source of beginning the foe of idolatry, it is in reading matter to that people was sympathy with our simple Protestant the Christian missionary press; by worship. that the Word of God has been Secondly, it is monotheistic, affirm- spread through the empire, beside ing one God, and drawing a large over a thousand different books, and part of its doctrine from the religion newspapers. There is a nominal of the Old Testament. censorship to which books and tracts Thirdly, God has made it, all un- are subject which lately ther.e was consciously and unwillingly, the an effort to render more strict, but handmaid of the gospel. The Arabic practically it has not hindered the is the sacred language of the Koran, publication and circulation of Protest- and curiously enough the Moslem ant literature.
faith enjoins upon all true followers For nearly flfty years the Ameri- that they be able to read that sacred can Board has been working to in- book, and yet forbids its translation fuse new spiritual life into the Orien- into any other tongue. Hence, what- tal churches. And now the hour ever be a Mohammedan's native lan- seems to have come when God opens guage, he aspires to read the Arabic, the door for direct labor among the because it is the only sacred dialect Moslem popUlation. Owing to the of his religion and of his Bible. Who abolition of the death penalty, perse- shall doubt a providential purpose in cution for religious opinion is now • all this? illegal. The law of the Koran pun- Notwithstanding all the hostility ishes apostacy with death, but treaty of the Mohammedan power to evan- obligations practically annul the gelical religion, and the antagonism Koran; and since the case of Selim of Oriental churches that have a name Effendi, in 1857, the government otli- to live, but are practically dead, the cials have, in numerous cases, been gradual transformation of the whole compelled to decide that converts to community justifies the concentra- Christianity were not to be molested, tion of larger missionary forces in the according to the provisions of the Ottoman Empire. Treaty of Paris, in 1856.
The influence ofenlightened Christ- Rev. J. K. Greene, D.D., of Con- ian governments is permeating this stantinople, says that the scandal of whole dominion over which is un- Oriental Christianity has largely furled the green flag of the Prophet. ceased to hinder the conversion of The Turkish courts have been a farce the Turks. The introduction of a scarcely equalled in history. The purer evangelical faith and life, con- "code Napoleon "displaces the Mos- trasting with the idolatrous worship lem code in moulding the adminis- and immoral practices Qf "these nom- tration of law. The principles of inal C,kristians, has enabled these political economy are coming to be Turks to see that these scandalous teachings and lives are not the fruit, Pennsylvania R.R., in the State of but the perversions, of the religion of New Jersey, the Women's Christian Jesus. Temperance Union posts up the fol- lowing telling facts and figures: Christian schools are not restricted, as the colleges at Constantinople, In one year, in New Jersey, there were- Beirut, Smyrna, Harpoot and Aintab 5,649 saloons. at a cost of, ……… $28,245.000 testify, with six female seminaries 1893 schools. at a cost of……… .. 2.982,250 at other places, established by the American Board. Excess in favor of saloons …. $25.262.750 In 1873. Vineland. N. J .• and New Britain, The Star in the Ea,st appeals for Ct.• had each a population of 11,000•. ample missionary forces immediately New Britain had eighty saloons. Vmeland to occupy Constantinople, as "the had none. capital of the Ottoman Empire and New Britain spent for paupers……… $8,500 the seat of governm£'nt; as the heart Vineland spent for paupers………….~ of the Moslem faith, whose pulsations are felt in the continents of Excess in favor of New Britain…. $8.276 Europe, Asia and Africa, and reach the distant Soudan and India; and as New Britain had to spend for police… $7.500 the metropolis which holds the key Vinel~nd had to spend for police …….~ of Palestine and affects the destinies of the. Jews. Its inhabitants repre- Excess in favor of New Britain….. $7,425 sent the various nationalities on whom the Holy Ghost was outpoured The Work of Missions is necessarily at Pentecost, and who anciently were slow, if it is not to be superfiCIal. comprised under the great Byzantine Over fifty years ago, Dr. Duff saga- Empire. It is now in a condition of ciously said:' "The time for the crisis: the tide of opportunities is education of women in pagan lands more favorable now than it ever has has not corne; one or two generabeen for evangelistic work. The tions of men must pass in the enjoyraces once enlightened by Chrysos- ment of educational privileges, and tom, Gregory and Athanasius re- then educated men will want eduquire again the living Word, and are cated wives as companions." So it anxious to raise their fallen candle- has proved. Two generations have stick. The Christian workers are passed, and now the women of pagan ready to help, and it is cons£'quently lands are beginning to enjoy instrucof thp. utmost importance as a rally- tion, and the men are proud of their ing center." wives and daughters.
SUGGESTIVE PARAGRAPHS. REV. J. S. WOODSIDE.
Th6 Principle of Vicarious Atone- "DR. DUFF, what is your theory ment is acknowledged among all na- of missions?" "I have no theory; tions. In the Fiji Islands a man anything and everything to advance who was sentenced to death would the cause. If I could advance misoften surrender his father to suffer sions by standing at 'a street corner in hIS stead. The obligation to honor and beating together two old shoes, the law by executing its penalty is I would not hesitate." We are of felt even by pagans, but the possi- Dr. Duff's opinion. There is an exbility of substitution, and the pos- cessive conservatism that attaches sibility of satisfaction by such sub- itself to methods after they have bestitution seem to be instir..ctively come stereotyped, or even fossilized. recognized. A good method may lose ·its vitality and inspiration. So a theory may An Appeal for Prohibition.-In cramp and cripple our effort. We one of the railroad depots on the .need to be on the alert to watch the hand of God, and the moving of the Providential Pillar. Let God's plans be ours, and let us 'Dot fail to find what those plans are, as revealed by the very signs of the times.
PROGRESS AND RESULTS OF MISSIONS-MONTHLY BULLETIN
TEXTS AND THEMES. preventing conversion of souls. Sec" ond, preventing evangelism. Nehe- Christ's Humiliation and Exalta- miah's story is one of building and tion, a Pattern for His Saints. manifold hindering_ The foe hin. Phil. ii : 5-9. dered by not co-operating, by "idi- culing, by actively opposing. We He emptied Himself. can see Satan hindering the work of Became a servant. God, constantly. Became a sufferer, even unto death. Then was highly exalted, crowned 1. By indifferentism. Whately and enthroned. So the true saint says that the depreciation of Christfollows Him in self-renunciation, ianity by indifferentism is a more service, obedience and suffering, that insidious and less curable evil than he may sit with Him in the heaven- infidelity itself. lies, exalted and crowned with Him. " Via crucis, via lucis." 2. Vis inertice. Conservatism and First Charge to a Foreign Mission- fear of innovation. Lord Eldon was ary. Gal. ii: 9, 10: "Remember the said to prevent more good than any poor." other man ever did. The Earl of Shaftesbury, whether at home, or on the street, or in Parlia- 3. Criticism and ridicule. A light ment, never forgot the poor. We word is the devil's keenest sword. should remember them because they are poor, because they form the bulk The Divine Law of Sacrifice in Givof the race, and because their pov- ing. 2 Sam. xxiv: 24. Offer to God erty is the desperate famine of the 'that which cost me nothing 1 bread of life. The Planting of the LQ1·d. Isaiah Shall I offer to God what was given xli: 10,20. to me, and cost nothing to get 'I The greatest argument for foreign What is useless to me, and costs missions is the result of the work in nothing to give up? what is not of bringing forth from most unprom- value to me, and costs nothing, to i:;;ing soil the trees of righteousness, surrender? No gifts count much proving the divine Husbandman t~ with Him that cost nothing with us. have been at work. We must le3.rn to .cut off indulgences Satan a Hinderer. 1 Thes. ii : 18. Satan is a person, and as such an till we touch the quick of our being. "obstructionist." A fourfold char- Compo Phil. iv: 17, which contains acter is ascribed to him: tempter, the divine philosophy of giving. accuser, hinderer and destroyer; or, seductive, accusative, obstructive and The Mystery of Christ and the destructive. When sin is not yet Church. Eph. v : 25-32. done, he suggests it; when done, he does all he can to prevent the undo- Dr. Geo. E. Post of Syria says that ing of it by repentance and restitu- this passage, written to those who tion. had been heathens in Ephesus, is the How he hinders missions! First, most wonderful eVer written. It puts woman in a place and on a plane which could not have been im- agined by an uninspil'ed man. Noth- ing suggestive of it ever entered an Oriental mind. Even Paul but partly understood what he wrote.
VI.-PROGRESS AND RESULTS OF MISSIONS: MONTHLY BULLETIN.
A.frlea.-The Livingstonia Mission, The and quietness reigned both at the north and long-delayed mails from Lake Nyassa and the west of the lake. Dr. Cross and Mr. Monteith, surrounding region arrived in Edinburgh on of the Lakes Company, had put a stockade JUlle 5th, with the reports for the year 1887 and around the school at Cherenji, on the plateau intelligence up to Marel). 30th. All were well, between Nyassa and Tanganyika, and mission work among young aud old was going on -Ina letter to the London Times,Rev. R.P. Ashe, late olthe C. M. S., writing from Usamhiro, bravely. Mr. Bain had remained at Bandawe, draws timely and forcihle attention to the daily determined not to come home unless his col- increasing scandal of the importation of arms into the interior of Africa. He states that an. league could spare him. Dr. Laws and Dr. English trader is sending to Uganda a hundred Elmslle had' met with him in Mission Council, rifles and twenty thousand rounds of ammuni- tion, and that Arab traders are also supplying and discussed many Important questions, being King Mwanga with hundreds of old English unanimous, especially as to the comparative rifles, and gunpowder ad lib. It is pointed out that apart from the disastrous effect of placing healthiness of Bandawe. Dr. Henry was at the snch means of destrnctlon iu the hands of a south of the lake developing the new mission in young barbarian king, such action is calculated to prejudice the position of Emin Pasha and Chikns('s country. He has sent a second ac- Stanley, and presents the deplorable spectacle of connt of the new mission there, which is, on the .. Englishmen relieving Emin Pasha from the whole, encouraging.-HissiOna1'1/ News. West, and an Englishman relieving King Mwanga from the East." -Progress on the Congo. In The -Bishop Crowther, the black bishop Missionary Herald there is a letter of the Niger, was as welcome a guest from Rev. Mr. Bentley, giving cheer- as any among the bishops who ating tidings or the progress of the tended the Lambeth Conference. At work on the Congo. In February he the house of the Bishop of Dover, at baptizedayoungmannamedNlemvo, Canterbury, he was entertained with and now he reports the baptism of honor, and there was no suggestion two young women, Aku Toniangi of incongruity in his bein~ there. Biseobodi and Kavazwila Kalombo, The form of addr,ess, "my lord," both of whom were formerly slave seemed just as appropriate to him as girls. Of these two Mr. Bentley to any of his brethren of the Episcowrites: "The change of heart and pate. At the lord mayor's banquet life is exceedingly well marked, and in London he was received without they rejoice in a very definite sense condescension. At the Missionary of pardon and peace with God." At Conference in Exeter Hall his venertheir baptism, at the Tombe riverside, able presence stirred the enthusiasm the two converts told the people as- of the audience, and his quaint and sembled how they had been taken telling illustration of woman's work from their countries by the Arabs, in his mission was greeted with the and how God had sent. them to the heartiest applause.-Spirit of Mis- missionaries; that they were at first sions. indifferent until they began to see how great and blessed was the salva- -In the five years ending with 1887, Boston tion which Jesus offered. A few sent to Africa 3,500,000 gallons of intoxicating days following, Nlemvo and Kalombo l!quors. America is also sending missionaries were united in marriage by Mr. Bentley, the first Christian marriage to Africa.- Western Christian Advocate. in the Congo country. -The power of the Arab slave-traders on -Dr. Smythies, Bishop of the Universities' Lake Nyassa has recently grown to such an ex- tent as to endanger the existence of the mission Mission to Central Africa, complains strongly, n that region. Dr. Cross of the Free Church was compelled to leave one of the stations at the In a letter to the London Times, of the way in north end, Marcil 30, and take refuge in the which German in:lluence has been allowed to settlement of Nkonde. An attack which was made soon after npon the Arab stockades failed spread in the country lying to the north of Zan- because the leader of the small force received a zibar. The Universities' Mission was founded severe wotind. It was hoped that the British Government would put an armed steamer on the on the faith that English Influence wonld con- lake to protect the work so nobly begun by Dr.
tinne paramount, but suddenly, not long ago, Livingstone. Unless some effective measures of this sort are adopted, the shores of Nyassa are the German Government began to exercise a pro- likely to become a regnlar slave-hunting ground, tectorate. The bishop says: .. We only ask to as it was before Livingstone's explorations. be left free to minister to the people whom we Asia Minor.-In Saionica, the city love and among whom our mission has worked which, in Paul's day, was called so long, and that that inflnence in restraining Thessalonica, a church of ten mem- violence which has hitherto been used for the bers was formed last June by the good of the people by the Sultan of Zanzibar, at missionaries of the Presbyterian $he snggestion of Her Majesty's consul, should still be used for that end. Faillng, we would ask why, when Germany claims a free hand in an enormous territory of thousands of square miles, It should not be granted that the line oC demarcation which delimits British influence be drawn some thirty or forty miles lower down, so as to include this country In which English mis- sionaries are the ouly European residents of any kind f" Church (South). From' this, as a new Protestant church is to be center, they go through Macedonia opened this summer in Eastern.Boand Epirus on evanselistic tours. It hemia, in a thoroughly Romish dismust be with peculiar feelings that trict. At Pisek, an important town, large meetings are being held, and these men travel the same roads over the settlement of an evangelist thet'e which the apostle Paul walked eigh- has become necessary. On the other teen hundred years ago, and speak hand, opposition is increasing. :A to the descendants of the people petition is being got up asking for the expUlsion of Mr. Clark from the whom he was wont to address. country, and the consequent suppres- Belgium.-The Evangelical Society sion of all his meetings. of Belgium pursues its work with much vigor, and with no small suc- Balgarla.-That Protestant Christianity Is cess. Many of the churches it has galalng a firm foothold in Bo1garia Is shown by the fact that 400 people, many of them from dis- tant towns, gathered at the annnal meeting of founded during its fifty years of ex- the Bn1garian Evangelical Society, at. Tatar- Pazarjik, :May 1()"14. One of the most carioas istence are centers of true spiritual and Interesting features of the session was the aaction sale of articles which had been given to life and activity. The evangelization the,society, generally by persons whose Income in Brussels, worked on the same lines was so small that they conld send no money. as those of the McAll Mission, is In this way even the poorest bad some share in yielding good fruit. In country dis- the work of the organization. tricts, too, new openings are continually occurring, especially in the China.-The tir.le has not yet come mining districts. One of the most recent is that at Monceau de Far- when a missonary's life is safe in all ciennes, near Charleroi, where on parts of Chjna. As Rev. A. Elwin of Thursday evenings three meetings the English Church Missionary So- ciety was walking along the streets are held in three successive hours, with ten minutes' interval between each. One at least of these is for of Chu-Chee, May 4, a mob raised the special benefit of the miners who the cry of "Foreign devil, foreign work at night. They are not large gatherings, being held in the house devil! beat him, beat him I" and im- of a young married couple. The mediately began to stone him. He husband began to attend the preach- owed his escape to a few men who ing of the gospel in November, tried to calm the populace; for while 1886, greatly to the disgust of his they were talking he passed on un- observed, and left the city. wife. But at length, observing the great change wrought in him, she also went, and then urged her hus- -Lay Workers.-A correspondent writesf'rom band's relatives, a large family of Chefoo, calling attention to the Central Cbina grown-up sons and daughters, also Wesleyan Lay Mission, formed a little time ago, to go. The result was that the evan- which is a most useful mission, and Is snpplying gelist was welcomed amongst them a great need In China. Hr. J. R. Hill, St.
and invited to hold meetings under Savionr Gate, York, will be happy to snpply their roof, and in the summer there details concerning this work. .. Yon will be is to be preaching in the ~and glad to hear," says onr correspondent, .. that father's garden, situated on the slope Rev. Thomas Cbampness is sending ont two of of a hill, so that the singing will be his JoyfuJ. News evangelists to this mission. and heard throughout the village, and a young man from New Zealand bas also offered.
will probably attract large audiences. I hear too that Rev. James Gilmonr, of the Bobemia.-The prospect here is London Mission in Mongolia, is most anxions to get ont some laymen to help him in his growing brightening. The Rev. Dr. Somer- work in tbat land. America also seems to be ville, after a long sojourn in that and waking np to the Idea of sending laymen abroad adjoining provinces of Austria, re- to preach the gqspel. Shall we see an American ports that spiritual life is beginning China Inland Mission t n again to manifest itself in the old Protestant churches. The Evangeli- -The China Inland Mission reports the in cal Continental Society and the Rev. gathering of first-CrnIts for Christ on the borden A. W. Clark, of the American Mis- of Thibet. The Rev. James Meadows contrasts sion, both report progress among the the state of China when he went out In 1862 with Roman Oatholics, in face of manifold its present position. Then few places were legal differences and hindl'ances. A open for work, 'houses conld be rented only with great dlftlcnlty, the peopljl were hostile, some of the missionaries looking coldly at efforts his l!)ins, and a ,Koran There has been a tento go inland. Now, the people ready to listen, dency of late, through recent discussions, to missionaries encouraging, and there are native disparage missionary zeal among Mohammedchurches with 100, 200, or 300 members. ans. But have welnot, as followers of our cru- cified Lord, something to learn from them f -The Synod of China, which holds Germany.- An Oriental seminary has been its sessions triennially, is to meet at established at Berlin for practical instruction Chefoo on September 1~. Two weeks in the languages of the far-off East. The following languages are taught: Chinese in advance of the convenmg of the Japanese, Hindustan, Arabic, Persisn, Turkish, and Suaheli. The system of instruction is synod a meeting of those interested new, as the study is not mainly directed to the scientific, but to the practical, acquisition of the in a union of the Presbyterian langnage; and the teachers are natives of the respective countries where the languages are churches in China is to be held for spoken.
comparison of views and the further- India.-Rev. Dr. Wilson, of Bu- ance of the object.. As there are daon, has baptized over 160 persons eight or nme different Presbyterian since February last; a few were bodies at work in China, the union children of Christian parents, five of their forces, provided it can be were :Mohammedans; the large ma- effected on a thoroughly satisfactory jority were low-caste people, farmers, chowkidars, etc. The work on the basis, would not only add to the Budaon circuit is expanding rapidly. efficiency of the missions, but would Dr. Wilson writes: do away with the necessity of t'X- .. It is no time to talk of retrenchment. We plaining to the heathen divisions must have money and men and women full of the Holy Ghost, who are not ashamed to be which they cannot understand. The counted as the filth and off-scouring of the world, if thereby they may but save and lift up the lowearnest prayers of God's people are est to whom God may send us."-Star 01 India.
invoked in behalf of this gathering, -In the northwest of India and of Oude missionary physicians are coming promiand also of the synod so soon to con- nently into notice. Nearly 72,000 cases were treated at eleven missionary dispensaries, and vene. 11,000 women sought relief at Mrs. Wilson's dis- pensary at Agra; 18,850 women and children England.-The report submitted to were treated at the Thomas dispensary at Agra. the last General Assembly in regard The woman doctors in charge successfully per- formed some very important surgical operato the Universities' :Mission was ex- tions.-Presbyterian Banner.
ceedingly gratifying. The four Uni- -The North Indian Methodist Conference met at Cawnpore ou the 4th of January., The versities' Associations had wrought reports presented were full of enconragement. The native Christian community now coimected together very heartily, and in addi- with the Conference numbers 9,226, of whom 5.675 are adnlts. There has been an accession tion to what had been otherwise con- during the year of 832 adults by baptism. Of tributed for buildings, the sum of these 27 were from Mohammedanism, the rest £646 had been raised for the main- from Hinduism. Inquirers are no~ reported, tenance of the various agencies sup- yet these are so numerous that if the missionported by their united mission. The aries desired only to swell their numbers 2,000 future teachers and catechists for the persons could be baptized at once. One native Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Inde- preacher, the Rev. Philemon, ordained by pendent Sikhim :Missions are prepared Bishop Ninde a year ago, has since baptized 211 for their work in the Institution at persons. The Conference greatly needs a staff Kalimpong carried on by Mr. Suther- of good colporteurs. There are 23,913 scholars land, the Universities' missionary. in the schools-Indian Witness. At the close of 1887, thirty-six young men were under training to qualify -Advance of Christianity. Says Sir Charles them for the different stations and Aitchison at a meeting of the C. M. S. at Simla: schools already established, or to be In the Madras Presidency the increase ofChristopened up as cinmmstances permit. ians in all denominations is vastly in advance of that of the population. In Bengal the In- Egypt.-In a book on the Jews, by Dr, Kel- ,crease o~ population during nine years has logg, it is stated that there is at Cairo the largest college in the world. There are 300 professorswho teach Mohammedanism,and 100,000 stu dents. At the head of this nniversity is a Jewish pervert to Islam. Surely this suggests the amazing energy of the Jewish nature, and that the recovering of Israel to Christ would be "'life from the dead." The Mohammedan propagandist goes out from this institution with this only as his .outftt-a turban, a cloth round been 10.89 per cent., of Christians more than which he received the sanction of,the 'Lleuten. ant·Governor. He possessed the entire cO'nfi- 40. In the N. W. Provinces the increase of dence of the government authOrities, alid was Christians has been exactly nine times as fast held by them in milch esteem, while natives as that of the total population. In the Puujab came from the villages far and near to him with their diJllculties and disputes. After upwards -the population has increased 7 per cent. The of nine years' absence, Mr. Stevenson came Hindoo and the Mohammedan religions are prac- home on furlough. He addressed meetings tically stationary, that of the Sikhs has declined, throughout Scotland, and made many friends. He only returned again to India last October. whereas the Christian religion has increased 88~ His loss will be severely felt by the Free Church, per cent. whose Foreign Missions Committee meet to-day -Progress in Madras; Bishop Sar- in connection with the sad event. Mr. Stevengent of Madras, who last year cele- brated the jubilee of his missionary son leaves a widow, for whom much sympathy career in India, has outlived- all the is felt. original missionaries of his society in that diocese. When he went to Tin- Japan.-We have just received the nevelly, in 1835, the Church Missionary Society had only three or four summary of the statistical J:eports of missionaries, one native preacher, and 114 communicants. There are the 'churches in Japan connected now 81 missionaries, of whom 64 are connected with his own society. In with the American Board, and the 1,618 villages there are -now 98,184 ChristiansandcatechumenR, of whom recOl'd is one which should confirm 18,460 are communicants. There are 22,170 pupils in schools, and the eon- our faith and stiIl1,ulate us to re- tributions last reported were 47,761 rupees, or about $22,000. doubled efforts. In January, 1887, -At the anniversary meeting of these churches reported 4,226 mem- the Church Missionary Society, Sir Rivers Thompson dwelt on the sin- bers. The report is now brought gular providence by which a handful down to April 1, 1888, covering a of Englishmen has held the whole period of fifteen months, and the of India. At the last census, in 1881, membership is 6,340, a net gain of the total return of the population of 2,114. This is an advance during the India, not counting Ceylon, was 254,- fifteen months, not counting losses 000,000. According to the normal by death or otherwise, of almost ex- rate of progress, this population is actly jifty per cent. Mention should now estimated to be 258,000,000. Yet be made, moreover, of the work of the total number of Englishmen and the native missionary society con- Englishwomen in India is some- nected with these churches, in thing under 150,000, including 65,000 . regions where no churches have yet troops. "It must often occur to been formed, for the reason, in most every thoughtful mind," says Sir cases, that the converts are not yet Rivers, "what a marvel it is that able to undertake the support of England with 150,000 men should be their own pastors. In these out-dis- dominating 258,000,000 people. If tricts there are reported 753 "believ- it had not been that the hand of our ers," a large proportion of whom good God had been upon us we could were baptized during the past year not do it." and are awaiting the organization of chUl'ches. Adding these converts -Severe Loss. The death of Rev. W. H. to the number of church members we have 7,093 believers, which is a Stevenson, of Bengal, is just announced by tele- gain within fifteen months of 2,801, or sixty-five per cent. This is the graph. Letters received recently intimated the most remarkable record made of any missionary field connected with the prevalence of sickness in the district, but no American Board since the great in- gathering at the Sandwich-Islands. one was prepared for the tidings that have -sad- Praise God from whom all blessings flow !-Missionary Herald. dened many hearts in Scotland. Mr. Stevenson Jews.-Mr. Strauss, the American was appointed by the Free Church Foreign Mis- minister to Constantinople, wasedu- sions Cominittee in 1876 to act as missionary cated in Princeton College, and took teacher and evangelist in India at the age of the prize in Christian evidences, yet twenty-three. Probably nowhere in India has remained a rigid Jew. It was owing a mission been more fully justified, judging by to his influence that the Christian a: visible results. Possessor of good physique, schools were reopened in Syria. administrative ability, untiring devotion, Mr. -At Vienna, last year, 363 Jews be- Stevenson brought them all to his work. Be- sides the schools in his own station, he con- trolled and directed upwards of thirty schools scattered over a large area under a scheme for came Christians, and another paper -The Earl of Harrowby, in an 'a.d~'
says that .. at no period since the dress at the anniversary of the Brit- first century have conversions from ish and Foreign Bible Society, said: Judaism to Christianity been so fre- .. There seems greater interestabout theBible' In Russia than malmost any othercountry. Our quent as they are at present." agent for North RusaIa tells us that a8 soon as the RU8sian learns to read, he becomes veJ'l' Jladagascar.-MissionSchools. The eager to possess the Holy Scripture.. We often find the Russian clergy co-operating in our work; Ohronicle of the London Missionary and when a deputation or great weight went from our committee to St. Petersburg not long Society for July has an intel'esting ago they were received by the clergy and bishops of the Russian Church in the most friendly and article on the elementary schools as courteous way. • • • Wherever you find a Muscovite soldier, you fiud a ready buyer of organized and carried on by the agents Holy Scriptures. The Russian olllears are press- Ing forward education in an their regiments, and of that society in Madagascar. The the soldiers are said by some of your colporteurs to be among their best customers. • • • A growth of these schools has been ex- quantity of gospels go to the exiles of Siberia; nearly 5,000 copies were distributed to them in traordinary. Twenty-five years ago the previous year, and all the Russian olllcials they numbered seven, with S65 schol- have shown the most friendly feeling toward ars; in 1886 they numbered 1,005; your employees in connection with this particular with 102,747 scholars. Some of these branch of the work. From every province of schools, however, are under the care that great empire the same story comes, that of the Friends' Foreign Mission, which there Is an increase In the circulation of the cooperates heartily with the London Scriptures. The total was angmented in the Society. The seYeral provinces are past year by twenty-two thousand copies."- divided into districts, and each dis- Bible Society Regl8ter. trict has a meeting-house, used both as a church and schoolhouse. Most Syrla.-Conversion of Mohammedans. Dr. of them are built of adobe, with Jessup, of Beirut, writes: "Every possible obthatched roof,and are very plain build- stacle la placed lu the way or a Moslem wishing ings with mud floors. The school to embraceCbristlanity. 1. Mohammedan childoutfit consists of a few lesson sheets ren are forbidden to attend Christian schools, and textbooks for the teachers' use. and in mILny places parents who allow their The pupils, however, provide them- children to attend them are treated with vioselves with the primer, a copy of the lence.' 2. No books Criticising the Moham- New Testament, the native Christian medan religlon are allowed to be printed In the newspaper, a catechism, grammar. empire. S. Moslem men embracing Chrlatlanity and geography. There are six stand- are either exiled or thrown into the army wlthards according to which these oat even the form of conscription, even if they schools are regularly examined by escape personal violence. 4. While the death their supprintendents. The teachers penalty lor apostasy from Islam Is nominally are supported in part by the natives. abolished, it is not regarded as a sin to Injure The object of these schools is to teach such an apostate or even take his life. 5. Every the children to read tile Bible, and in book, tract and pamphlet printed is closely this they succeed, and so these schools scrutinized by the press censorship, and any become the chief auxiliary to the press which sbould publish an argument against dh'pct preaching of the gospel. The Isillm would be at once suppressed. Were coming generatIon of the Mala.t;asy Christians allowed to print tracts and books will have as a foundation not only an against Islam, to receive Meslem pupils into ability to read the Scriptmes, but their schools, and to guarantee personal liberty also a fair knowledge of gospel truth. and equality before the law to converts from Islam, there would be constant conversions to Norway.-Nine young Norwegian Christianity. A Moslem turning Christian Is looked upon as an outlaw and a traitor. missionaries, who have had a medical -British Syrian Schools.-These schools, as well as a theological training, are which were onginally founded by Mrs. Bowen Thompson, have done a remarkable work about to for South Africa and Mada- in the Lebanon district since their Inaugu- ration in 1860. The number of schools is 29, gascar. with 3,.73 pupils, superinteuded by Eoglish ladies, most of whom do Sll free of charge. The. Rusls.-There is now iu Southern RUSSia, results In the trainlDg of young .~Is are most near the borders of the Black Sea, a large popu- latlou or several millions, who, whilst retaining their membership ID the Greek Church, belong to reHgious societiea of evangelical ChrIstians, which are designated Monokens or Stundlsts.
They retain their outward connection with the Greek Church as a matter of prudence or politi- cal necessity, their children being baptized and the, marriage ceremony being performed by Qriests of the State Church.
1888.1 STATISTICS OF THE W·OBLD'S JUSSIONS. '11'1
remarkable; 90 are now at work in the ~ehoolB, gium, Holla.nd, Germa.ny &nd Denand of those who have married, it is a most mark-have entered into &n &gree~ noteworthy fact that not one has been divorced, ment whereby the sale of spirituous nor has a second wife entered the harem. The liquors to Turkish fishermen a.nd schooiB are the center of an extensive network other persons on board fishing vessels of Christisn agencies-Bible-women workamolll:' is prohibited. When will these great the blind. the soldiers. and other classes. We nations be as merciful to their own regret to learn that this beneficent society is people as they are now to the Turk? much cramped for want of funds. and that some of the schools will have to be elosed uniess im- -The Newark (Methodist) Conference Commediate and eMcient help is given. mittee on MiSSions, Bev. L. C. Muller of Eliza- -A dispatch from Minister Strauss beth, N. J .• Chairman. has been at work for some time organizing a .. simnltaneous missionto the State Department, given in the ary meeting" campaign for the week October United States Consular Reports, gives 14-21. The" O. S. M." week of last year was information that twenty-one schools fonnd to be very fruitfnl in many ways: new friends were won for the caose, old ones were in Syria, which ha4!l been closed by confirmed and refreshed. and the contributions order of the Turkish officials, had of the chnrches for the year showed a handsome Increase. One of the districta of the Genesee been reopened. Conference observed a week of" simnitaneons" Rhenish Missionary Soclety.-Last year the meetings last spring. and the signs are that ere receipts of the l!Iociety were M7.344 marks. or 883.362 ; the ontlays. 345.773 marks. or $83.000. long thiB plan will be pursned very widely. The society desires to enter into the rapidly ex- There is great need of somellpecialliteratltre for tending work of medical niissions. by sending use in promoting tbese meetings. 81Ich 8S that one physician to China, and another to Sumatra. nsed by the English Church Missionary Society. But. as Dr. Christlieb has shown us. missioDal')' physicians are not so easUy found in Germany as -JoAn Crawfard, &cretary of frut year'. Committee. . in England Ilr America. The society has been Wales.-The Anglican Church of appUed to by the German agent in the Marshall New South Wales has resolved to Islands. to send out missionaries there. But it raise $1,000,000 in five years to comdeclares that it cannot do so without the free memora.te centennial year, and has consent of the American Board. made a start with $250,000. The Wesleyans in the same colonies pro- Turkey.-The Sultan has ordered pose to raise $250,000 in five years. the discontinuance of the ~iquor Other colonies and other sections of traffic in Constantinople, ancl the the church are similarly marking the six. powers contiguous to the North year, and jubilee funds are in high Sea-Great Britain, France, Bel- favor.
VII,-STATISTICS OF THE WORLD'S MISSIONS. Oompa.ni.tive Summary of the Presbyterian Ohurch in the United States of America for the Last Six Years.
. 1883. 1884. 1885. 1888 • .1837. 1868.
Synods…………… . 23 24 25 26 28 Presbyteries………. . 182 190 196 199 201 Candidates……….. .. 678 .733 839 906 986 Licentiates…… _•••••• 282 275 322 337 867 Ministers ………….. . 5.218 5.341 5,474 5.546 5,654 Licen.ures………… . 157 126 161 188 201 Ordinations………. .. 157 150 130 1M 188 Installations…. .. …. . 329 420 361 439 Pastoral dissolutions•.. 287 {()2 268 306 322 Ministers received…… 68 Ministers dismissed,.•. 64 295 51 69 88 Ministers deceased••.•. 22 8Ii 19 29 130 Elders……………. .. 89 29 104 101 21,881 Deacons…………… . 18,968 113' 120.602 :n,212 7.0Il5 Chur.ehes …………. .. 5.876 18,968 6.472 6.676 6.436 5.868 6.287 8,098 6,281 228 OrgaDlzed…. . 165 5.973 177 165 " Dissolved•.•.. 66 68 76 78 " Received••••.• 168 3 U Dismissed..•• 4. 68 8 II 2 Added: Examlnationa.. 3 8 1 1 58,888 " Certitl.cates…• 32.132 42,972 111,177 31.229 Commnnicants …….. . 24.67'7 .1 21.518 28,490 698.767 Baptisms: Adulta…. .. 600,695 M,938 644.025 666.9011 20,114 .. Infants…. .. 10,897 26.801 15.191 18,474 S.S. Members……… . 17.728 615.94.2 21,012 21.4116 28,.- 663.'165 11.942 720.0511 743,518 771.821 19.488 687,269 CONTRIBUTIONS.
1883. 1884. 1885. 1886. 1887. 1886.
Home Missions,…….. $582,360 $620,023 $632,906 $760,947 $785,070 $844,695 Foreign Missions……. 501,578 550,2'20 548,613 651.160 669,891 748,195 Education………….. 187,254 118,956 115,870 97;954 117,898 152,320 S. S. Work……. .•…. 39,178 35,907 34,218 34,739 39,487 78,182 Church Erection… . . . . . 150,391 193,047 152,050 243,016 28Q,687 228,364 Relief Fund………… 75,249 80,288 88,934 99,479 110,939 *525,555 Freedmen…….. .. …. 84,012 86,452 97,619 91,273 103,404 106,641 Aid for Colleges…….. — 76,415 85,471 I 119,730 127,627 215,009 Sustentation.. . …. ….. 21,275 24,845 21,410 26,419 37,026 General Assembly. ….. 46,847 51,037 55,200 21,750 62,324 68,125 lIO,312 Congregational……… 7,139,904 7,355,791 7,541,017 7,640,855 7,902,164 8,803,562 Miscellaneous ………. _833,444 __9'76,420 ___~3,755 _ _771,116 ~~1~4,803 Total,……….. $9,661,493 $10,169,401 $10,192,053 1$10,592,331 $11,098,622 $12,817,783 *Includes part of Centenary Fund. WILLIAM H. ROBERTS, Stated Clerk, Oompara.tive Summary of the Presbyterian Ohuroh (Southern) for the La.st Five Years.
~l~~~~ Synods………………………………… . 13 13 13 13 13 Preshyteries '" .. .. .. … .. ……………… .. 68 89 89 89 68 Candidates …………………………….. . 25344 24878 m 269' 26M7 28_5 Licentiates……………………………… . Ministers ………………………………. . 1,0'79 1,072 1,085 1,116 1,129 Chnrches……………………………….. . 2,093 2,159 2,199 2,236 2,280 Licensures . . .. . ………………………… . ~ •. 53 ~ ~ Ordinations.. .. . . . . . . .. .. .. . . .. .. .. … . …… . Installations ……………•……………….. 29 33 37 44 54 Ministers deceased ……………………….. . 99 81 134 78 107 Pastoral dissolutions…… . _…………….. . ~ ID 33 24 ft Ministers received from other denominations.. . Ministers dismissed from other denominations .. 74 96 79 122 SO Churches organized……………………… .. 76346 Churches dissolved … , ……………. ' .. _… ,. 4 4 5 10 4 mffi "• ~ Churches receiv* from other denominations .. . iHll •~ 9 Churches dismis ed from other denominations .. Number ofRuli g Elders………………. .. 2 3 1 1 1 Number of Deacons………………………. . Added on Examination …………………… . 6 7 Added on Certificate.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . ….. . 6,454 6,554 6,827 6,981 7,110 Total Communicants ………… , .. , …….. . 4.,352 4,5(15 4,814 5,070 5,220 Number of Adults Baptized………………. . 7,359 9,951 11,644 12,145 10,173 Number of Infants Baptized ……………… . 4,369 4,934 5,576 5,461 5,67U Number of Baptized Non-Communicants ….. . 131,258 135,201 148,748 150,398 156,24U Teachers in Sabbath-School and Bible Classes. 2,995 3,780 4,214 3,48~ Scholars in Sabbath-School and Bible Classes . 2,334 4,637 4,767 5,121 5,090 5,155 32,870 31,036 34,805 34,163 33,444 8,830 10,308 10,702 12,021 12,201 81,633 86,847 88,963 98,806 101,700 CONTRIBUTIONS.
Sustentation…………………………….. . $48,770 $47,457 $47,676 $42,944 $47,291 41,307 37,490 42,084 48,388 fnV:':;ft;!~d:::::::::::' :::::::::::::: ::::::::: 10,402 11,323 11,677 42,~4 12,687 _,553 60,482 67,685 72,389 Foreign Missions……………………… ,. 37,334 3&,485 38,704 11,921 35,226 Education ………………………………. . 8,426 8,372 8,347 67,204 9,092 Publication ……………………………… . 3,573 3,070 3,505 39,250 6,028 Tuskalo08a Institute……………………… . 13,006 13,649 9,084 18,581 Presbyterial. … ………………. . ……… . 557,731 . 13,258 591,896 4,152 625,312 Pastors' Salaries ………………………… . 562,l()'Z 563,526 13,754 495,653 Congregational………………………….. . 65,415 510,098 4~,097 616,583 97,826 Miscellaneous …………………………… . 54,202 41;8,977 81,104 114,015 Total. ……………………………… $1,398,629 $1,340,763 $1,324,374 $1,415,318 $1,463,478 JOSEPH R. WILSON, Stated Clerk.
-The grants of the Society for the Propaga- April 30, 1888, $14,900.41. The Board made the tion of the ~spel for foreign expenditure for the year 1389 exceed those for 1888 by 10,0001. assessments the coming year to aggregate $50,- Among them IS 5001. for fi"e years for commencing work in Korea by means of an English mis- 000. This was apportioned to the churches at sion;'ry and llome Chinese catechists. the rate of 33 1-3 cents per member. The ex' -The Board of Missions of the Methodist Protestant Church received for the year closing penditures for the past year were $12,158.22.
The Japan Mission was reported as being in a 1I0urishing condition. . The United Presbyterian Ohurch (Scotland).
GENERAL ABSTRACT OF MISSION STATISTICS.
MISSION FllllLD.
J amaica•………19 13 …. …. . … .1.6.. ..76 ………… 124 46 Trinidad ……… 2 1 …….. .2:i' 3 3 0 Id Calabar…… 6 "7' ..2.. 19 …. 38 6 K aft'raria ……. o •11..4…..1. ……1.. 38 36 74 11 Spain ………… 2 5 3 13 7 3 I ndia …………. 2 5 158 10 China …………12 ..2.. .iii' 4 5 ..2.. 2 4 ……. J apan …………3 ..1.. 3 2 28 8,814 1,343 73 6,213 5 23 374 3 16 .. .. Mi· 73 280 137 3 2,209 521 36 1,667 11 9 7 9 255 …….5. 365 82 308 5 473 ……6.5. ..7…0… 17 40 632 …4.,8.8..0. 1 14 460 — — — — — — — . ——– — 2'41S; Total……….. 60 21· 3 95 301 100 612 87 155 13,497 2,074 202 13,676 • Four of these are ordained medical missionaries.
Zenana Mission Fund. Number of Mission Bands …………. .. 124 H Members in Mission Bands .•..• 3,829 THE following is a statement of the Foreign' Auxiliary Societies ……….. .. .351 Members in Auxiliary Societies. 9,025 and Zeuana' Mission Funds as at 30th Jnue, 1887 Life Members …………….. . 251 Mem bers of both Local and and 1888, viz.: General Society……….. . 2,336 Presbyterial Societies……… . ·21 I. ORDINARY FUND. Total Membership ………………… .. 12,854 1887. 1888. Increase in Membership …… : ……… . 4,291 New Presbyterial Societies …………. . 3 Balance against Fund New Auxiliaries …………………… . 98 New Mission Bands………………… . 49 at lsi January …. £20,457 6 10 £1.972 8 11 New Life Members ……………….. .. 90 Payinents 1st Jan. to 30th June ……… 23,569 2 11 22,08~ 6 2 £44,026 9 9 £24,060 15 1 FINANCES.
* Receipts, do. do .. 15,966 9 0 10,732 11 9 Contribnted by Mission Bands….•… $ 5,273 25 Dr. £28,060 0 9 £13.328 3 4 " Auxiliaries ………… 19,856 19 from other sonrces. . . . 528 00 * Includes transfer from Reserve Legacies, £8,716, 128. 8d. Total amount contributed …… $25,657 54 The amonnt in all at the credit of the society II. ZENANA FUND. 1888. is $28,519.51, including: $3,500 specially desig- 1887. nated for boarding school at Indore, leaving at the disposal of the society $25,019.51. "Balance in favor of Fond at 1st Jan … £14,594 14 11 £14,179 2 4 Receipts, 1st Jan. to 30th June. . . . . . . . . 1,529 15 5 1,466 10 2 -The Report berore the late Geueral Synod shows that the Reformed Church is. comprised —– of four particular Synods, 34 classis, 546 churches, 555 ministers, 15 candidates for the ministry, £16,1~4 10 4 £15,645 12 6 89 churches without a pastor, many of them very small, 15 candidates for the ministry; Payments, do. do.. 3,029 2 11 2,814 8 3 4,991 persons were received into membership upon confessiou of their faith, 2,745 on certifi· Or. £13,095 7 5 £12,liIl1 4 3 cate, a total of 7,736 ; gain over all losses by death and remo.al, 3,918. The correction of Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of rolls reduces this nnmber to l,3E9. The amount contributed for benevolent purposes through the the Presbyterian Ohurch in Oanada. church is $284;902.31, an increase of more than $52,000 over last year. The contributions for WESTERN DIVISION. congregational purposes show an increase of $56,113.60, being $986.847.29-total amount for WE regret that in tbe brief statement of fig- benevolent and congregational purposes being ures given in our September number (p.715) re- $1,271,749.60 ; this exclusive of 44 churches that specting this societv, we were misled by an old make no report. The report on SuudaY-Jlchools report. We are happy to correct the figures gives 9,154 omcerS and teacbers, 88,709 s.cholars, from the twelth annual report (l888), kindly the average attendance being 60,537; and sent us by the fresident of the Society, Mrs. C. amounts contributed, $47,000. S. Ewart. This report shows a marvelous increase in the work and the re:ources of the society. As we purpose to give a fnIl resume of woman's work in the mission field before the close of the year, we present here, as in other instances, only a brief summary Southern Baptist Oonven~on. work was correct.' In the foreign field the number of missionaries (white) is as follows: WB correct the figures given In our 8eptem- China, 20; Africa, 8 ; Italy, 3; Braz1113; Mexber number, plIge 691, respecting th!s society. lco, 10. Total, 54.
The receipts of the Home Board were $62,930.- There are besides 10 native preachers In Italy, 37. And of the Foreign Board, $86,385.66. 2 In Brazil, 5 In MexiCO, 3 in Afrlca,.and about Leaving a balance In treasury of 13,609.63. 25 In China. Our lltatementof Home Missionaries and their ABSTRACT OF STATE MISSION WORK REPORTED, 1887. . -i–.-. – !. –~l..i~– BODIBS. ,,; ,,; t ,,; ~.",'.,,,; t2 …
STATE. ~os 1..1.2. ' ,a,; ~., III e'S ",,, .'0.w",£" ~., 0'5 0 as! ~ ,g&'. • 0 112 – – – – ~,t: ~ ~I> III 0 0 – — til 5,134 8 $ 7,38733 .Alabama …… State Convention ………….. 66 1l,595 8l!1 1.750 00 …… …. Arkansas •••••• State Convention ………….. l!1 985 8 No report 'i45 West ArkansBsGeneralAss'n .• 17 686 1,073 l!44 355 Plorlda …….. State Convention ………….. 26 789 1112 ll,186 ll,7l!2 14 3,546 48 Georgia …….. State Convention ………….. 45 1,304 912 8.533 6,381 14 15,O4.l 38 Kentucky •••••. General Association ••••••••••• 36 620 631i 2.145 6,990 6.185 61 …. Louisiana .••••• State Convention •• , •••••• , •••• 14 728 l!Ii6 1.131 2,502 6 4,~10 Maryland …… Union Association ••••••••••••• 21 848 818 ll,207 9.264 8,41688 Mississippi •.•. State Convention ………….. 66 673 753 1l.546 . ………… ……. 6,9208 8,002 87 General Association ••.•••••••• 8 70 186 301 5 1.162 00 833 646 KissOuri …••• General Association ••••••••••• 33 3.246 12.046 18 North Carolina. State Convention •••••••••••••. 64 'iili 'isi 9.33113 '''785 Western Convention ………. 11 1.192 1.636 61 ll,600 8,797 7 8.046 M South Carolina. State Convention …………. 68 635 285 6,846 48 iiJ:795 iO:755 Wi 23,71028 …… :i,42i :i,Oi5 Tennessee•••••. State Convention………….. 29 11,244 84 6,840 12 Texas ………. State Convention •••••.•••••••. 120 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Virginia ……. Genera! Association ……….. 60 2,186 861 685 9,010 9,93l! 44,716 54.657 1110 ll!7.m 46 i… . . ~ Sc GENERAL DENOMINATIONAL STATISTICS.
ADDITIONS. DlIllNUTIONB. a., COLOBBD BAl'TISTS • ::EI . :a ~ 8i .'~"s.2s1 j .sda d ~. i i J ~.. f ~ e .~ lH ., 0 ~ -:e Iii 0 :f:s ,.dg,I it ::s a., —– ———;—– — — ~ £"" .E i i -~'". -A – :-I S ":i:isi 0.0 -t-3 ::EI 0 III ~ "is ~ ~ -Eo<- – – – Ala.bama… 1,467,884 64 713 1,432 6,009 4,415 188 693 4,828 1,412 101 917 89.728 847 92.690 – 18l!,418 Arka.nsss .. 936,058 38 478 1.028 4,308 2.510 128 457 2.402 901 497 47.604 403 29,597 77,201 FIorlda….. 338,406 16 l!O3 36Il 1.489 902 42 136 812 333 18 137 14.816 219 15.497 30,813 Georgla.•.•. 1.00.,800 61 IIl() 1,577 9.460 7,078 45 1147 7.38l! 1.769 4 1,400 131,937 1.409 166,429 298,386 ….. ….. …….. Indian Ter- . r i t o r y . . . . 'i;80i:83i Kentucky . . 7 148 136 841 230 29 126 171 136 103 5.830 5,680 67 884 1.366 10,975 3,818 518 775 4,456 1,882 464 1,51;3 187.503 439 65.038 202.Ml ….. Louisia.nia.. 1,008.961 20 188 898 1,821 1,179 10 314 959 458 6 l!27 19,164 768 71.193 90,357 ~ryland •. 1,009,798 1 45 40 790 246 85 246 :.'99 84 6.717 17 6,400 18.117 issis8illpi. 1,237.468 40 481 1.106 5.963 3.513 2 757 4.078 875 16 788 74.068 1,l!24 108,133 182.201 )lissour•..• 2,438.747 70 896 1.526 8,178 3.605 572 632 .,185 2,061 544 1.044 103,357 213 15,10t 118.461 NorthCa1'()o lina …… 1.525,841 47 6l!7 1.307 7,649 8,306 8 819 3.748 1,828 84 1.282 124,725 1.015 105,603 2IlO,328 SouthOaro- 374 766 5,327 2.666 26 607 2.888 1,024 106 922 74,745 625 116.865 191,610 Jina …… 1,085.789 744 1,191 5,890 2,619 264 383 2,784 1,248 217 1.096 94.740 326 32,005 126,745 115 148 846 106,871 889 66,774 173.645 747 7,292 2.046 —- -=– – – — — — — — – – — — —– — Tennessee..1.723,996 Texas …… 2.0l!7.8Il5 78 1.070 1.889 7.820 7.1114 – – – – Vil'iinia…. 1.660,788 23 846 768 6,694 2,119 307 626 2.699 1.005 765 1.089 83,671 937 191,954 275,625 Tota.ls…. 19,951,241 584 8,057 14.874 82.714 46,019 2,24:1 7.904 48,~30 17.267 2,4l!2 12.1~1 1.115,276 9,331 1.083,282 2,198,668 Net increa.se of churches……………………. 628 Tota.IBaptistChurches in U. 8…… 81.891 _ Net increa.se of membership.. •• •• •• . . • •• • • . .•. . • • 50.100 Total membership in U. 8 …………2,917.316 Tota.l number of churches. white a.nd colored.. 24.205 Tota.J Baptist churches in the world. 37,354 Tota.l number of ba.ptisms. white a.nd colored .. 121.578 Tota.J membership in the world……3.600.719 -The Board of Missions of the )lethodlst The appropriation amounted to S208,819.8l! aud additional contingent appropriations of 125,610. lIplscopal Cbnrch, South, met In May a.nd made Dr. Kelley resigned as Missionary Treasurer. lUI assessment on the Conferences of 8300,000.