The Missionary Review of the World — January 1935
1935
Robert Laws of Livingstonia D. R. Mackenzie Problems and Encouragements Robert E. Speer John R. Mott Robert P. Wilder Robert H. Glover Stephen J. Corey C. Darby Fulton A. C. Snead The Present Situation in Missions Julius Richter New Cooperative Advance at Home Charles E. Schaeffer When a Kurd Becomes a Christian Delavan L. Pierson Mrs. E. E. Olcott-An Appreciation Samuel M. Zwemer
to Remember Obituary Notes widow,Mary Wentworth McConaughy
January 2-4-Annual Meeting, For- The Rev. Henry C. Velte, D.D., two brothers, one of whom is Dr. eign Missions Conference, Garden missionary in India for the past fifty4 David McConaughy, expert on stew- City, N. Y. two years, died at Saharanpur on N0- ardship; by a sister, a daughter and vember 19th. He was a highly hon- January 6-12-Universal Wee k of ored missionary of the Presbyterian two sons, one of whom is Dr. James Prayer. Church, U. S. A., and for 20 years was at the head of Saharanpur Theo- McConaughy, President of Wesleyan January 7-ll-Annual Me e tin g s, logical Seminary. Five years ago he Home Missions Council and Council was elected Moderator of the United University, Middletown, Connecticut. of Women for Home Missions, Phil- Church of Northern India. The situa- adelphia, Pa. tion changed greatly during his mis- The Rev. Al*ber*t * Fulton, D.D., sionary career and Dr. Velte was born January 22-February 16-C 0 r nell in Wertheim, Germany, in 1857, and A. School for Missionaries, Cornell, was educated in Hopkinton, Iowa, and N.Y. McCormick and Princeton Theological for 42 years an honored miSSionary of Seminaries. He is survived by his FLORIDA CHAIN OF MISSIONARY wife Charlotte Haduth Velte and a the Presbyterian Board of Foreign ASSEMBLIES son, the Rev. F. Mowbray Velte, who is a missionary in India. Missions, died on December 10th in For further information, write to Miss B. Louise Woodbud, 930 23d *** Pasadena, California. Dr. Fulton was Ave. N, St. Petersburg, Fla. Mrs. Wallace J. Anderson, a mis- born in Ashland, Ohio, in 1849 and January 26-30-0rlando. sionary of the Presbyterian Church, January 27-30-Deland. died in Seoul, Korea, of peritonitis, after being graduated from Princeton January 30-February I-Palm on November 30th. Mrs. Anderson College and Seminary, was appointed (nee Lillian E. Beede) was born in a missionary to Canton, China, in Beaches. Charleston, Nebraska, and was edu- February 2-7-Miami. cated at Occidental College and the 1879. He was preeminently a pioneer February 7-S-Bradenton. University of California. She went February 7-S-Fort Myers. to Korea as a missionary in 1917 and missionary, est a b lis h i n g many February 9-1S-St. Petersburg. was engaged in educational work in February 10-13-Clearwater. the Girls' Academy and Bible Insti- churches and preaching halls in South February 13-1S-Tampa. tute, Seoul. She is survived by her February 17-19-Lakeland. husband and two young daughters. China. When he went to China there February 17-19-Winter Haven. was strong opposition to Christianity February 19-21-Gainesville. *** and almost no railroads, electricity or February 23-26-Jacksonville. other modern improvements. The Dr. David S. Oyler, former mis- Presbyterian Church is almost the II If you use sionary of the United Presbyterian only agency to carry the Gospel to Church in the Egyptian Sudan, died 8,000,000 people of Kwangtung Prov- PRINTING in Monmouth, Illinois, November 19th. ince. Dr. Fulton was honorably re- Dr. Oyler was born in Nortonville, tired in 1922 and returned to America. Y OU will profit from an ac- Kentucky, January 11, 1881, and after quaintanceship with us. We graduation from Sterling College and Mary Halse* Gr*igg*, wife of Rev. do the job complete in our own Xenia Theological Seminary, Ohio, plant, whether it be large or went to the Sudan in 1910. After Ernest Grigg of Burma, died October small. seventeen years of service in Dolieb 15, 1934, after more than 40 years of Hill, he was obliged to return to service in that country under the Bap- While our specialty is Books, America for health reasons and be- tist Foreign Mission Society. Her Magazines and Pamphlets, yet came pastor of the United Presby- work was carried on among Chins, we have a variety of modern terian Church at Cutler, Ill. He is Chinese, Indians and Shans. equipment to meet all the re- survived by his wife, the former Lil- quirements of your particular lian Picken, and four children. *** job. You will find our service prompt, careful and courteous. *** The Rev. and Mrs. John C. Stam, Will you allow us to estimate Rev. James E. East, D.D., formerly American missionaries under the on your next printing? We be- a Negro missionary to Africa from lieve you will be delighted with the National Baptist Church of Amer- China Inland Mission, and their 10- our product, price and service. ica, died in Philadelphia last October. J ames East was born in Alabama, weeks-old daughter, were captured on The EVANGELICAL PRESS fifty-three years ago and in 1906 December 10th by Communist bandits went to South Africa, and was sta- in Southern Anhwei Province, China. Printers of tioned at Ganda, Middlerift, where he The Missionary Review of the World did notable work among the Bantu, Mr. and Mrs. Stam were murdered helping to found over forty native but the baby was allowed to live and PLANT AND MAIN OFFICE Farmer's Associations and coopera- was restored to her grandparents. Third and Reily Sireet. Hlrrlsburg, PI. tive banks. Then Dr. East was called back to America to become secretary Mr. Stam was 27 years old and was of the Foreign Mission Board of the National Baptist Convention, with the son of Rev. Peter Stam, pastor headquarters in Philadelphia. of Star of Hope Mission, Paterson, Dr. James M*cC*ona*ughy. of Phila- N. J. Mrs. Stam was a daughter of delphia, for some years secretary of the Rev. and Mrs. Charles E. Scott, the American Sunday School Union, American Presbyterian missionaries died in his home in Germantown, Pa., on December 6th at the age of seventy- at Tsinan, Shantung, China. seven. Dr. McConaughy was for- merly a teacher of Bible in Mount Her- Mr. Peter Stam and family, in a mon School for Boys and did a notable work as Bible teacher, author, editor telegram to the C. 1. M., give clear and executive. He is survived by his testimony to the victorious spirit in which they received the heart-rending news: "Sacrifice great but not too great for Him who gave Himself for us. Experiencing God's grace. Ro- mans 8: 28." (Concluded on 3d cover.) Sunday School Supplies J'ouoo:, spliiltml ~i1osofk WI'IlJ,JUI'-I"''' I-fIotirlIe/rInII6ktlHiM!tngifnIeflrIsiHMIss
MISSIONARY look well on any library table in the post-war experience. Recently
REVIEW OF THE WORLD country." WILLIS CHURCH LAMOTT. has been a good deal of building and I am not certain that 'eight in a room' DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor Tokyo, Japan. would still stand true."
VOL. LVIII JAN., 1935 No.1 *** "As to my own expense fund, I re- ceive $5.00 a month while I am at Publication and Business Office "Each issue of THE REVIEW brings K. H., and it should be added that my Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. a vast amount of very helpful infor- travel in England, postage, phone ma.tion, and I have been enjoying to calls and medical attention are pro- Editorial and Executive Office the fullest extent this splendid mag- vided free, so that I am well cared for. 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City azine." REV. MERLE ApPELGATE. My own annuity fund is operated Entered as second-class matter at solely by the working people of the Post Office, Harrisburg, Pa., under Act Christian Church, Los Angeles, locality and provides 'home helps" for of March 3, 1879. California. families where a crisis leaves the 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. mother in need of help." Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. "The October*RE*VIEW* , with its chal- Published monthly, except August. Personal Items All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1934. lenging and informing array of ar- British agents, Marshall, Morgan ticles on Japan, surely ought to be a The Rev. Alex. Harsanyi, Pastor of and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, valuable number for supplementary the Hungarian Presbyterian congrega- London, E. C. 1 shilling per copy, use in the foreign missions study pro- tion of Yonkers, N. Y., a descendant 10 shillings a year. jected for the current year." of a Hungarian Protestant martyr family, was honored and feted re- MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB· WILLIAM B. LIPPHARD, cently by his people and his American Editor of "Missions," New York. friends at the fortieth anniversary of LISHING CO., INC. his ordination to the ministry. As TWO CORRECTIONS organizer of a number of Hungarian BOARD OF DIRECTORS congregations, as author, editor, and RoBERT E. SPEE'R, President Dr. E. W. Koons, of Korea, calls at- pastor he has rendered great services WM. I. CHAMBERLAIN, Vloe-Presldent tention to an error in the September to the cause of Christ among his coun- WALTER MCDOUGALL, Treasurer REVIEW (page 395) where the title to trymen. Mr. Harsanyi is Nestor of DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Seoretary the picture of the "public notice the Hungarian Protestant ministers SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT against foreigners" should be cor- of this country. MRS. BO.RRLIlNPPHRA. RJUDDD rected to read: WM. *** "This tablet containing public no- ERIC M. NORTH tice warning Koreans against for- Martin L. Harvey, a young Negro MILTON T. STAUFFER eigners was made in 1866 and was set of Hempstead, L. I., has been elected up by the Tai-wun-Kun in the center president of the Christian Youth A. L. W ARNSHUIS of Seoul in 1871. The translation by Council of North America. He is the SAMUEL M. ZWEMER Dr. L. G. Paik, reads: When foreign first of his race to fill that position. barbarians invade the country we Editorial Chat neither wage war nor make peace *** with them. We warn our descendants Have you recommended THE REVIEW for 10,000 years." Dr. Frank C. Laubach expects to to your pastor and friends as an up- visit India some time after March, to-date and delightful way to keep in *. * * 1935, to demonstrate his method of touch with the progress of the work teaching which has been so successful of Christ throughout the world? Some Miss Muriel Lester, of London, in reducing illiteracy in the Philipof your friends would appreciate a writes that there are some slight in- pines. gift subscription and their interest in accuracies in the article on "Voluntary missions would be stimulated. Poverty in Action" which appeared in *** our November number. Miss Lester Here are the recent comments of says: "It was my grandfather, not Samuel Coles, agricultural missionsome of our readers: my father, who went to work as a ary at Galangue, West Africa, under bricklayer at the tender age of 8, the American Board for twelve years, "A friend of mine expressed the con- when his father had been press has been loaned for a period of three viction that if all the magazines in the ganged to fight in the Napoleonic years to the Booker T. Washington country would follow your step in de- wars. Again, overcrowding in the Institute of Katata, Liberia, to supervoting an issue to the cause of Chris- East End of London was much worse vise their building program. He is tian missions among other races, the than 'eight in a single room' in my very enthusiastic over the possibilities problem of racial understanding would in this new field. not be such a difficult one. I agree USED CUTS with him." – Jose G. Deseo, Pastor- *** Director, Filipino House of Friend- Plates and half tone illusship, Stockton, Calif. S. Franklin Mack, Publicity Direc- trations used in THE tor for the Presbyterian Board of * * *. Foreign Missions, is now engaged in MISSIONARY REVIEW making a three-months' tour of Latin "We appreciate the service rendered American countries to take motion through THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF during the past two years pictures and secure other publicity THE WORLD, and are trying to pro- material. The itinerary calls for a mote its circulation." for sale from 25 cents up, visit to Peru, Chile, Argentine, Brazil, Venezuela, Guatemala and Mexico. MRS. S. L. V. TIMMONS. plus postage. The material secured will be widely Director of Educational Dept., used in connection with the mission The Missionary Review study of Latin America, projected for Women's Work, Presbyterian 1935-36. Church, U. S. of the World *** *** THIRD AND REILY STREETS HARRISBURG, PA. Dr. Robert P. Wilder. formerly "The material in the June issue is General Secretary of the Student Volan excellent exposition of American [1 ] unteer Movement and later Secretary Oriental life and I hope the magazine of the Christian Council of Northern will receive wide circulation." Africa and Western Asia, is now in America but plans to go to England GRANT K. LEWIS; Secretary, United Christian Mis- (Concluded on 3d cover.) sionary Society.
*** "Let me congratulate you on the Japan number of THE REVIEW. It covers the field so thoroughly that I am wondering what else mission study classes will have to study! I like the make up of THE REVIEW. It would
FOR PRACTICAL INDUSTRIAL TRAINING IN LIVINGSTONIA
A GThOUP OF AFRICAN PASTORS PREPARElD TO EVANGELIZE THEIR OWN PEOPLE TRAINING CHRISTIANS IN LIVINGSTONIA, CENTRAL AFRICA REVIB ORLD VOLUME LVIII AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER ONE JANUARY, 1935 Topics of the Times BEGINNING THE NEW YEAR the direction and help of Almighty God and by A man's character is largely indicated by the men and women filled with the Spirit of Jesus Christ. way he closed the old and begins the New Year. It is fitting then that again, at the first of the While New Year's Eve an'd New Year's Day are year, Christians be called together to observe the "Universal Week of Prayer" (January 6 to 13). widely and variously observed all over the world, This custom was organized by the Evangelical Alli- ance nearly ninety years ago (in 1846) and has some observe them by hilarity, drinking intoxi- been observed annually ever since, not only in America and Europe but now all over the world. cants, by feasts and ente~tainments; others ex- Great things are accomplished through prayer, not only subjectively in those who pray but objectively change friendly greetings, or join in Christian by the working of the Spirit of God to bring har- mony to the "good and acceptable and perfect Will Watchnight services with prayer and song. It is of God."
a time to take account of stock; to settle old debts This year preachers everywhere are asked to co- operate by preaching and leading prayer groups on and complete unfinished tasks; to prepare for new the following topics so that a world-wide circle of joint thinking and prayer may unite Christians undertakings and seek fresh visions for larger everywhere. The world situation at home and abroad calls for this more than ever. There are service. To some the New Year season is one of grave dangers that face church and home and State, but there are also reasons for good cheer and waste and frivolity, while to others it is a time of encouragement. The following are the main topics suggested: sobering thought, prayer and preparation for a new advance.
The old year is gone-irrevocably-and we can- not undo the mistakes we have made or all the harm that has been done. There has been waste and folly; gossip and unfriendly criticisms' self- ishness and greed; thefts, murders, oatdhuerltsemriaes~ blasphemies and other sins. We and suffer because of the mistakes and follies of the past but we can learn valuable lessons from them if we will. With the New Year come new oppor- tunities to learn, to grow, and'to achieve what is Sunday, January 6, 1935. TOPICS FOR SERMONS: worth while. There are new opportunities to pro- Trust in God-John 14: 1; Mark 11: 22, 24; 1 Tim. m?te peace on earth in place of war; to do away WIth race and class prejudice; to develop and ap- 4: 1~ . ply the principles of economic and social justice in place of unfair rivalry and oppression; to estab- Fellowship with Christ and Other Disciples-1 John 1: 3, lish honest politics and the true and equal observance ?~ laws, in place of political chicancery and 7; John 17: 21.
Service of Man in the Name of Christ-Mat. 25: 40; Mat. 28: 19-20; Mat. 24: 14.
Hope and Its Basis-Acts 26: 6; Rom. 8: 18-25; 1 Thess. 1: 3, 9-10.
favorItIsm; to promote education that develops Monday, January 7. NEED FOR REPENTANCE.
character rather than a system of fads and un- Thanksgiving for God's loving provision for all human tried theories; to express religion in deeds not need; that Christ finished the work of man's redempmerely in· words; to furnish the money and life tion and committed to us its proclamation to all men. needed to give the Gospel of Christ to all men without rivalry or prejudice, rather than spend money Confession for our failure to respond to human need' a,nd effort on luxurious church equipment and for our selfishness, pride, indolence, and lack of faith, rItual at home. Here are achievements worthy of for our hardness of our heart that hinders true reour best effort-but they can only be attained by pentance.
Prayer that God may open men's eyes and soften their hearts, bringing repentance and forgiveness. That [8]
the burden of the need of others may be felt by His from the outcastes and primitive peoples of India, children everywhere. Africa and other lands; for a revived interest among Christian statesmen in the cause of minorities. Scripture Readings-Rom. 3: 1-26; Gal. 5: 1-26; Ps.51. Confession of the growth of anti-Semitism in many na- Tuesday, January 8. THE CHURCH AND NEED FOR FAITH. tions; of the slow response to the needs of oppressed and persecuted peoples. Thanksgiving for the Church which includes peoples of every nation; for increasing opportunity and power Prayer for a keener sensitiveness to the needs of the to witness; for evidence that the GQspel is the power oppressed and helpless; for a fresh vision of Christ, of God unto salvation. who, without respect of persons, welcomes men and women of every class and nation. Confession of lack of faith and enterprise in completing the world-wide work; for lack of humility and for Scripture Readings-Rom. 11; 1 Cor. 1: 18-31; Rev. 7: failure to interpret truly Christ's spirit and message. 9-17.
Prayer for a new vision of our spiritual resources in Sunday, January 13. SPECIAL SERMONS ON CHRISTIAN Christ; for a deeper faith in God's power to establish UNITY, WITH C,QMMUNION. "That they all may be one His Kingdom through faith and obedience; for a vital …… that the world may believe that Thou hast sent spiritual quickening of the Church today. Me." John 17: 21.
Scripture Readings-Acts 2: 1-21; Mat. 16: 13-28; Col. THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE SPIRIT* 1; John 17: 9. An interdenominational fellowship of Chris- Wednesday, January 9. THE NATION'S NEED FOR FELLOW- tians has been formed to unite those who seek a spiritual reinvigoration of the Church, with new SHIP. power and enthusiasm; along Apostolic lines. It is similar to the First Century Christian Fellow- Thanksgiving for forces which restrain men's selfish am- ship – or Oxford Group Movement -with em- bitions; for all that nations have to give one another. phasis on Gospel witness, soul-winning, regenera- tion and enduement with power of the Holy Spirit. Confession of national self-seeking, suspicion, and jeal- ousy; of intolerance and suppression of freedom of Dr. William Carter, the Chairman, issues a speech and conscience. challenge to the churches to awake in these days of adversity. He says in substance: Prayer for a new sense of the nature and possibilities of fellowship; for wise leaders in national and inter- Times of prosperity affect us adversely just as much as national affairs. That each nation may contribute its times of adversity. Speaking of the rich, Job says: "They peculiar gifts to build up the Kingdom of God. spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; Scripture Readings-Rom. 12; Isa. 2; Isa. 52; Micah for we desire not the knowledge of thy way. What is the 4; Rev. 21: 1-7, 23-27. Almighty that we should serve him?"
Thursday, January 10. WORLD EVANGELIZATION. Times of adversity come and wealth is swept away; affluence becomes indigence; assurance becomes despair. Thanksgiving for a world-wide awakening to the pri- Then it is that some "Job's Comforter" comes crying: mary need of evangelism in Christian service; for na- "Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God and tional leaders who are calling their fellow-countrymen die!" Many do both! The whole trouble with the Church to widespread evangelism; for the growth of self- is that we have joined altogether too much with the world support and of extension among native churches. instead of trying to win the world to Christ.
Confession of the narrow outlook of many Christians; Thank God, the material and physical crises cause some of the lack of sensitiveness to the need of the millions to turn to God, and these become the leaders not of a for- who have not yet heard the Gospel; of our reliance on lorn hope, but of a victorious advance. When Pentecost human resources rather than on the power of the had fully come, Peter turned from his cursing and denials Holy Spirit. of his Lord; James and John turned from their seeking for preferment; Thomas turned from his doubting to un- Prayer for a realization that every Christian is called alterable faith and love for his Lord and Master and all to be a missionary everywhere and at all times; for commenced, boldly, to preach the unsearchable riches of the realization that Christ and His Church can meet Jesus Christ their Lord. The cult of cowardice was the spiritual needs of this generation. changed into the cult of courage. These men crossed the seas, braved martyrdom and still preached, even to their Scripture Readings-Mark 16; Isa. 61; Acts 1: 1-11. jailors and persecutors, the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ, their crucified Redeemer. Friday, January 11. YOUTH MOVEMENTS. No class, no condition, no age is kept from the blessing Thanksgiving for Christian homes, Sunday Schools, and if they watch and pray earnestly for it. Every day may all movements for the spiritual welfare of youth; for be a Pentecost to those fulfilling the conditions. Are we the new earnestness among the youth. looking for Pentecost? Do we want the same blessing? The godly Joseph Neeshima, of Japan, in a time of great Confession of failure to give youth a larger place in Christian enterprise; of neglect of the family as the • The chairman Is Dr. William Carter, a Presbyterian clergyman, chief means of Christian training. formerly of Brooklyn, New York; the secretary Is the Rev. Frank E. Simmons, of Brooklyn, New York, and other members of the gen- Prayer that the youth of this generation may surrender eral committee Include William A. Harbison, Hugh R. Monro, Dr. to God in Christ; that teachers of youth may utilize Don O. Shelton, Dr. Will H. Houghton, President of Moody Bible their opportunities and realize their responsibilities; Institute, and Rev. Daniel A. Poling, President of the World's So- that the enthusiasms of youth may be directed into Ciety of Christian Endeavor. The headquarters are 1421 Madison right channels. Ave., New York.
SC'npture Readings-1 Sam 3; Joel 2: 18-32; 1 John 2: 1-17.
Saturday, January 12. RESPONSIBILITY TO THE JEWS AND TO OUTCASTE AND PRIMITIVE PEOPLES.
Thanksgiving for the increasing response to the call of Christ among Jews; for large accession to the Church
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
stress said to his Christian followers: "Brethren we must This evangelical movement among Italians was advance, but we must advance on our knees." This is a great need of the Church today-to pray. To be effective, not the product of the missionary societies, but prayer must be personal, importunate ….. . came rather from the faith and passion of two The Church is needing another Pentecost. The President, his helpers, governors, mayors, and leaders in gen- Italians converted through American friends. A eral, are urging people to strive to solve these present national and international difficulties by moral and spir- little more than fifty years ago Antonio Arrighi itual means. The phrase most upon their lips is: "The Life more abundant," which means, in ecclesiastical terms, began his work on the lower east side of New the life that is hid with Christ in God. Evangeline Booth in her farewell address urged the nations, that had tried York which has continued in the far reaching everything else in their depression and anxiety, to "Try religion!" The Presbyterians of New York have inaugu- ministry of the Broome Street Tabernacle. Later rated a "Spiritual Crusade" and a "Covenant of Reconsecration." All of these are signs of what is expected of Michele Nardi, a talented young Italian padrone the Church and that the Church is getting a larger view of its duty to the perishing souls of men. in a mining camp, was given a New Testament The Fellowship of the Spirit stands for: (1) A recog- which so gripped him that he gave up his mining nition of the Lordship of the Holy Spirit in lives and hearts of men; (2) A whole Bible as the Word of God; and began the life of a missionary lay preacher. (3) A place for prayer in daily life; (4) A witness for God to others who need Him; (5) Individual sacrificial Italian churches in Pittsburgh, Chicago, New service to save the individual, the nation and the world, from itself, to God. A practical experience of these things York and other important cities trace their origin will revitalize the Church, stabilize society and change the world. to Nardi's flaming evangel. A report made to the This movement is only one of many that reveal Presbytery of New York in 1907 shows his influa hunger in men's hearts today and a sense of need for God and what He alone can supply. It ence by the following report: "During the past is evident not only in America and England but on the continent of Europe and in many parts of year two new Italian missions have been estab- India, China, Africa and other lands. But it is still a very difficult thing for human nature to lished and have been blessed with almost phenommake full surrender and then to follow the Way as revealed by the Spirit of God. enal results. The one in East 106th Street in the EVANGELICAL MOVEMENT AMONG colony known as Little Italy, with the noted evan- ITALIANS gelist, Mr. Nardi, in charge. He labors without compensation. From the first the room which accommodates only 114 has been crowded to over- flowing." Later, the city mission and denomina- tional home missionary societies gave their sup- port to the movement. Christian mission work of a very distinctive sort will be required for many years in the more congested and poorer Italian colonies. The continued need of these people de- mand the continuing interest of the missionary societies, but the responsibility for the conduct of the churches and for the direction of the work must reside in the Italian language churches and their leadership. W. P. SHRIVER.
A national interdenominational conference, SHALL WE ABANDON MEXICO?* which may well mark a new epoch in the evan- gelical movement among Italians in America, was Recent events in Mexico have prompted some held in New York, the first and second days of to question the worthwhileness of carrying the November, at the suggestion of the Italian Evan- Gospel to a people who are promoting education gelical Ministers Association. The conference was along nationalistic lines and seem to want no reconvened under the auspices of the Home Mis- ligion at all. When the liberal Constitution of sions Council and Council of Women for Home 1857 was adopted by Mexico and the Reform Missions, and began with a fellowship dinner, Laws promulgated, a section of the Mexican peowith over four hundred present, to celebrate the ple availed themselves of the privilege of religious contribution of Italian life to America. The ad- liberty and formed an independent evangelical dress was given by the Hon. Eduard Corsi, Di- church. When the Constitution of 1917 was rector of the Department of Public Welfare of adopted, all the provisions of the Juarez Constitu- New York. A united service of the fifty Italian tion were embodied. Church property was nacongregations of greater New York later brought tionalized and religion became a matter of govtogether an audience of nearly two thousand ernmental regulation. Moreover in Article 130 which filled the auditorium of the Fifth Avenue of the Constitution each State was given the right Presbyterian Church-a most unusual gathering. to decide how many clergy are to officiate within A fine spirit of unity prevailed throughout the its borders. Very little effort was made to enconference and the Home Missions Council was force these severe provisions during the years of asked to create a permanent committee to foster continuing cooperation in evangelical work among • Extracts from a statement prepared by the Rt. Rev. Frank W. Creighton, who was Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Mexico from the four and a half million Italians in America. 1926 to 1933.
reconstruction following the active period of the King Dormitory and Gymnasium were destroyed; Revolution. In fact not until 1927 was there any Junka Hall and the Dining Hall were badly dam- enforcement act passed by Congress. aged and other buildings suffered severely. The In spite of difficulties, evangelical Christians in total damage is estimated at Yen 123,578 but for- Mexico are doing an effective and helpful piece of tunately there was no loss of life.
work and are growing stronger in numbers and The Doshisha was started in 1875 with eight in zeal. Two articles of the Constitution of Mex- students. Today it has a total enrollment of 4,456 ico, as well as parts of others, deal with the ques- students (1,184 girls and 3,272 boys), 302 protion of religion. One of those articles grants en- fessors and instructors, with 12,591 alumni. The tire religious freedom under the law and one sec- Doshisha now consists of a Girls' Academy, Boys' tion of the Department of Interior is charged with Middle School, Woman's College, Semmon Gakko the duty of religious administration. Mexico is (a professional school of junior college grade), still very much concerned about religion, but is College of Commerce, Preparatory College, and very insistent as to the kind of religion to be University. It has always maintained the Christaught and how it shall be practiced. Mexico's tian principles of its founder, "for the advanceis a one-party government and any opposition is ment of Christianity, and the furtherance of eduanti-government agitation. When the Roman cation, to train men of living power for the serv- Catholic Church finds itself opposed to practically ice of true freedom and their country." every ideal of the Revolution and says so, the issue becomes clear. Protestants are not antagonistic The typhoon is also said to have greatly affected to the Government but suffer because of the con- Japan's political currents so as to force their actinuous strife. But the followers of Christ can- tivities into new channels to repair the damages. not either run away from difficulties or abandon An extraordinary session of the Diet was called the field because difficulties are acute. Such a sit- to meet the demands of the situation. The rice uation tries our mettle and steels us to go on. crop has been very seriously damaged and imme- Mexican Christians need our prayers and our sup- diate relief was required. The silk industry, on port as they go forward to make the living Christ the other hand, has been suffering from over-proreign in Mexico. We must respond to the crying duction, due to lack of foreign demand. This sit- uation and the need for relief have called for a need for the Gospel. decrease, rather than an increase, in appropria- The editor of World Dominion says: tions for the army and navy.
Mexico is making gigantic efforts to build up an original, THE FEDERAL COUNCIL LOOKS AHEAD genuine and national culture embracing all aspects of human life, without trying to copy or to be dependent upon The annual meeting of the Federal Council of other cultures and countries. The Indians are sharing the Churches of Christ in America was held in Dayresponsibilities of government. ton, Ohio, December 2d to 7th. Dr. Ivan Lee Holt, pastor of St. John's Methodist Episcopal Mexico is emphasizing, more than any other country in Church, South, of St. Louis, was elected president Latin America, the need of a school which will be coherent to succeed Dr. Arthur W. Beaven of Rochester. from the very beginning with the whole life of the Mexican The new vice-president is Dr. George W. Richnation, basing it more on life than on theories, more on ards, President of the Theological Seminary of the doing than on learning, and adapting itself to the daily Reformed Church in the United States, at Lanlife of the average Mexican-particularly the Indianmaking the schools, the text and the teaching to promote more a better life than general knowledge.
EFFECTS OF THE TYPHOON IN JAPAN caster, Pa.
The most terrific typhoon ever experienced in As in many other groups, the need for evan- Japan in modern times swept over the Osaka- gelism-the personal salvation of men through Kyoto district last September and destroyed or the Gospel of Christ-was emphasized, rather damaged many mission schools and churches in than the need for new methods of social service Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto and elsewhere. Approxi- and more money for education. A national mismately 3,000 people were killed and 14,000 in- sion to reach the "unchurched" was proposed, with jured. Eighty thousand houses were demolished, daily open-air evangelistic meetings in as many 350,000 were flooded, and 300 primary and sec- cities of the United States as is possible. Plans are ondary schools collapsed. Of 60,000 factories in being made for a ten-weeks' tour of twenty-five the Osaka district, 22,000 are reported damaged metropolitan -centers, with a team of some ten or or destroyed, causing merchants, artisans and twelve speakers. peasants to call for relief. The Federal Council stood strongly against One of the Christian institutions which severely traffic in alcoholic drink and in favor of all efforts suffered is the Doshisha University, Kyoto, to promote social and economic justice and interfounded by Joseph Hardy Neesima in 1875. The national peace and goodwill.
A VILLAGE ON THE SHORE OF LAKE NYASA – MT. WALLER IN THE
Robert Laws of Livingstonia By the REV. D. R. MACKENZIE, Edinburgh, Scotland IF ONE had to put into a single word his im- years, it is justly regarded as an outstanding ex- pression of Dr. Robert Laws, the first impulse ample of Christian progress in a heathen land. would be to say "massive." He was like a great block of Aberdeen granite, firmly rooted in the Pioneering soil congenial to his soul-the soil of the Kingdom of God. But "massive" after all means little; and David Livingstone died at Ilala in 1873. While Laws meant much over a wide area of human life the great traveler was pursuin,i his epoch-making in Central Africa. He did more for that great discoveries, his almost equally great spiritual sucland than any other man, of whatever rank or cessor was preparing himself for the task soon to occupation. He was a man of wide vision and far be placed in his hands. This was the task of givseeing wisdom; of purposes firmly held in the ing continuity to the work and shape to the asface of difficulties and opposition; of unfailing pirations of the Blantyre lad who had become the skill in the use of whatever materials lay to his world's hero. hand; and of sagacious adaptability in entering doors which either stood open or which, more fre- Robert Laws was born in Aberdeen in 1851 and quently, he was the means of opening. Add to this began to work as an apprentice in his father's a staunch courage, often called upon in those days shop, learning cabinet-making; but he was nursof the beginnings of his work, and always equal ing in his soul higher ambitions. Through the to every emergency. Equally massive are his difficulties and hardships which many another achievements. The Livingstonia Mission, under Scottish lad has overcome, he finally emerged, a his wise guidance, moved from one great success fully qualified physician and minister, a carpenter, to another until today, after a history of sixty with some knowledge of building, and a general handiness that never lost its skill in all the half century he was to spend in Africa. When the [7]
news came that Livingstone had died, Laws was guage had to be learned, houses and other buildready; and prosperous Christian men in the great ings to be erected, communication with the outer cities of Scotland formed a committee and estab- world to be maintained, and the health of the staff lished the Livingstonia Mission, now famous all cared for. It was a task for strong men, and over the Christian world. strong men had it in hand.
One watches in imagination a band of young Lengthened Cords and Strengthened Stakes Scotsmen, with Laws as one of their leaders, start out on the twelfth of October, 1875, to make their The tribes around Lake Nyasa shared to the toilsome way into the heart of Africa. Up the full the superstitions and beliefs of the Bantu great Zambesi River, with its age-long romance, peoples to whom they belonged. Witchcraft spread its baneful influence. The poison ordeal weeded out the enemies of the witch-doctor and the chief. The, spirits of the dead, always of- fended, were believed to send disease and death. Dangers lurked everywhere; for lions and leop- ards, controlled by evil men whose power was never doubted, sought the enemies of those who hired them, and killed or mauled them. Hunters went to the forest, and fishers to the river, guarded and reinforced by charms and magic medicines. Sickness was rampant and knowledge small of how to deal with it. To all this add the horrors of the slave trade, "the open sore of Cen- tral Africa," and inter-tribal warfare with its WHERE MARRIED APPRRiNTICES LIVE IN LIVINGSTONIA INSTITUTE they traveled into the hitherto little known Shire, A PARTLY COMPLETED NATIVE-BUILT CHAPEL its huge tributary. At last, in their tiny steamer, the "Ilala," rebuilt after passing the Muchison terrible toll of human lives and you have the ma- Rapids, they sailed out into the mighty waters of terials for a picture of what Laws and his com- Lake Nyasa, Livingstone's proudest discovery. panions were facing. And one listens, still in imagination, as these young men fling their challenge to the winds of a They faced it with a message of the Love of continent: "All people that on earth do dwell, God, and with a Book in which that story was sing to the Lord, with cheerful voice." Was it a told; but it first had to be translated into the lanchallenge, or was it merely a glad recognition that guage of the people. at last the end of their long journey was in sight? The winds carried the words three hundred and The first five years at Cape Maclear were years sixty miles up the Lake; then over hill and plain of toil and death. It was evident that if real progto what is now Northern Rhodesia; far out east ress was to be made a change must come. In and west to Zanzibar and the mouth of the Con- 1881 the headquarters were moved up the Lake to go; and in all that vast region there was none to Bandawe, in the land of the Tonga people. From join in the song, and none to whom the words, that time the development was rapid. Schools even had they been understood, would have con- were opened and teachers trained; men were veyed any real meaning. taken into the carpenter's shop for instruction; At Cape Maclear, famous as the first station of the Mission, the party settled down to work. Slowly the years passed; men came and went; or they came and stayed until death claimed them, and there they lie, witnesses to the compelling power of Christ, and to the strange tenacity of His servants in every land and every age.
Laws made voyages of discovery in the little "Ilala"; he undertook long overland journeys, establishing contacts with leading chiefs up and down the lake shore. An utterly unfamiliar lan-
ROBERT LAWS OF LIVINGSTONIA
others were taught bricklaying, printing, book tions were formed, with Kirk sessions and minbinding, and agriculture. The whole region was isters and evangelists, and schools were spread explored, and Dr. Laws, in such intervals as he all over the land. The Livingstonia Mission could command, took up his great task of trans- reached out into Northern Rhodesia at Ilala, at lating the· New Testament, preparing school Lubwa, and at Mwenzo; the people thronged to books, a grammar of the language, and dictionary the schools, eager to seize every opportunity for the use of new members of the mission who placed before them. were now coming to his aid. Under the direction of the Rev. A. G. MacAlpine a great mother The mind of the African race was being slowly church was built up, slowly other congregations reformed by many methods. Into the now safe were formed and other stations were opened world they went far from their home to work in throughout the land. Teachers, doctors and nurses the gold mines of Rhodesia, the copper mines of were sent out from Scotland and the Mission The Belgian Congo, and to other enterprises as was fully established.
Reforming the Africans But trouble arose. The wild and warlike Angoni, an offshoot of the fierce Zulus of South Africa, swept down from their high- land plateau and harried the unhappy Tonga people, burning villages, killing the men, and carrying off the women and children. Robert Laws went up into their country where he met the great warrior chief, Mombera, and the two strong men formed a friendship which was never broken. As a result of this conference Dr. Elmslie went to Ngoniland, and, after adventures that would have satis- fied a Knight of the Round Table, he won over the people and Christian progress was assured.
Meanwhile other events were happening.
Laws had long foreseen that the British Gov- ernment must take control of the country and, after a preliminary blunt refusal by Lord Salisbury, this was done in 1889. A great impulse was thus given to the forces of progress; peace was assured; the postal service united the country from end to end; roads everywhere began to be made; magis- trates administered the law, and numerous ancient feuds died out. Other missions were coming in. The Church of Scotland had long had its headquarters at Blantyre; the Church of England Mission established itself on Likoma Island; while the Dutch Reformed Oopyright-MoUat, Edinburgh. ROBERT LAWS OF LIVINGSTONIA Church of South Africa was working in the southern parts of Nyasaland. The Roman Church far as Zanzibar, and Durban. The homecoming also took up work, as well as the Baptists, and of these far traveled individuals brought new others. ideas to the villages, with new clothes, new ameni- The transformation of Africa was proceeding ties of civilization, new sources of wealth.
apace; and Laws, now a recognized authority in All this brought fresh problems to the mission- all matters concerned with mission work, was the aries, but Laws and his colleagues were equal to guide and counsellor of all. His advice was sought the demands made upon them, though often at by government, as well as by the heads of the new great cost to themselves in loss of health, and industries with which the country was being de- occasionally in loss of life. The problems of suc- veloped. Most important of all, the native Church cess took the place of those of failure. The great was growing with amazing rapidity. Congrega- crowds attending church and school had to be or-
ganized and shepherded. In 1894 it was decided In 1908 the Scottish Presbyterian Church be- that a central institution for training and educa- stowed on Dr. Laws, now grown famous, the high- tion must be established, and as a result the Ov- est honor in its power: he was summoned home ertoun Institution was founded, with Dr. Laws as to fill the Moderator's chair of the General As- principal. The Home Committee responded with sembly of the United Free Church. Already uni- funds and men and, as the years passed, this great versities had conferred degrees upon him, D.D., institution came to be regarded as the most im- M.D., LL.D.; the Government bestowed upon him portant educational work between the Zambesi the C.M.G. (Companion of the Order of St.
and the Congo. Students flocked from far and Michael and St. George); The Africa Society near, all keen to seize the unique opportunity pre- gave him the African Medal, which so very few sented to them. The Overtoun Institution trains have received. In the United States, which he teachers, ministers, evangelists, doctors, as well visited more than once during his furloughs, he as carpenters, bricklayers, book printers and bind- made many friends and highly esteemed support- ers, agriculturists, engineers, tailors. Today one ers. There were few to dispute with him the title, can see there, as now elsewhere in Central Africa, from which he himself would have shrunk, of the the sons of men who knew of no implement but greatest living missionary; for the Livingstonia the hoe and the spear, controlling complicated Mission was now, under his inspiring leadership machinery at the mines, on the river steamers, one of the greatest epics of the Church of Christ.
and in motor cars; the fathers knew nothing but But the years took their toll. In 1927 he was war; the sons preach the Gospel. The fathers asked by the Mission Council to meet the Gover- heard the drums beat for vile dances, the sons nor of Nyasaland, along with other leaders, to hear them summoning the people to worship God. discuss the question of Government assistance to An Independent, United Church education which had become of first rate impor- tance. But his health suddenly failed and he The story now runs with great rapidity. The sailed for home where he underwent a severe operchurches of the Presbyterian Missions, Scottish ation. He lingered on, still vigorous, and taking and Dutch, combined their presbyteries to form an active share in the concerns so dear to him, one United Synod of the Church of Central Africa until August, 1934, when he passed to his reward. Presbyterian. The natives wholly supply the funds of this church and draw nothing from Great Brit- Mrs. Laws was the great wife of a great man. She was great in herself; a great linguist; a great hymn writer, whose hymns nourished for a generation the native Church which· her hus- band did so much to establish. Indeed her history is so much the history of her husband, that it is difficult to think of any activity of his in which she was not his efficient and loving helper. She was, too, a woman of wit and wisdom, ready at repartee, a famous housekeeper and hostess, and the willing friend of all her husband's colleagues.
Men are great, not merely in virtue of the great -deeds they did in their own proper persons, but they are great because others have contributed to that greatness. Livingstone had his Laws; and Laws had his great lieutenants: Elmslie and Stuart who brought in the wild Angoni; Mac- Alpine, who built up the great Mother Church at Bandawe; Fraser, beloved at home and abroad; MacMinn, whose linguistic work is bringing fame to .Livingstonia; Chisholm and Moffat, who A CiHll:Ral-IS~T-IA-lN-FA-M-I-L-Y-I;N;"-L.;:aIo"V".I:oN:;;G:;;.;s'-TO-N-I-A—…&. brought in the tribes of the north and west. The history of the Livingstonia Mission will never be ain. There is a native Central Fund Treasurer; fully told until the great deeds of these great men the Clerk of Presbytery is a native minister; and, have had their full count of credit. So long as so far as possible, they are encouraged to manage the Church can find such men, and send them out their own affairs, but always with the mission- and support them, the fame of Robert Laws will aries to guide them where that is necessary. The go on and that for which all great servants of Church in Central Africa is standing on its own Christ stand-the evangelization of the whole feet, subject only to its Divine Head. world-will suffer neither eclipse nor collapse.
Problems and ,Encouragements
As Seen by Some Foreign Mission Executives T HE difficulties of the present hour are so many and so obvious that we are sometimes prone to be discouraged and to overlook the encouragements. In the home and foreign mission work the prob- lems were never more numerous, and sometimes they seem baffling. They clearly call for earnest study as to their causes and solution and they require faith and greater dependence on God rather than on human wisdom and power.
In response to a letter sent to a number of missionary leaders in America replies have been received to the following two questions: 1. As you see it, what are some of the special present-day problems that we face in the foreign mission enterprise? Such problems may relate to finance, changes in policy, difficulties in the field or in the home church.
2. What are some of the encouragements that you note in the hQme church and in the field? Such encouragements may relate to improvement in finances, to increase in interest in the home church, to the attitude of the young people, or they may appear in reports from the field as to the progress and outlook.
The answers received-somewhat condensed-throw much on the present situation. An editorial presentation of the problems and encouragements will appear in the next number of the REVIEW.
EDITOR.
I. SOME PRESENT-DAY PROBLEMS 1. The need for taking the whole subject of cooperation far more seriously than at present is ROBERT E. SPEER being done, judged by the results. There is im- perative need of our Christian forces entering Secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions more promptly and thoroughly, having counted the full cost, upon what I call the third stage of Among the problems we face in the foreign mis- cooperation. By this stage I mean not only for sion enterprise today I would name the following: chiefly the pooling of knowledge and experience, but more specially pooling of plans (before they 1. Problems arising from false nationalism. A are made or entered into), personalities, money, true nationalism is inherent in Christianity and names, administration. in the missionary idea. Weare seeking to help each nation to achieve its own true personality 2. In almost every field and in almost every and accomplish its own mission of service in the board there is need of re-stating and revising proworld and we are doing our best to build up in- grams, looking ahead for a period of five years. digenous Christian churches to serve in the fullest I would find it difficult to name a half dozen agenway the true interest of the national life. The cies which have done this and have their program difficulties of the problem lie in the spread of a or plan in a form to be submitted, and have it false and unworthy nationalism. generally understood and accepted by their lead- ers near and far. This is very serious. 2. The problems which secularism and the naturalistic view of the world and of life present to 3. There is need for the creation of a deep and the Christian Gospel. We must have missionaries unshakable conviction on the part of the leaders eqUIpped to deal with these problems both by rea- and other discerning members of the churches son and by love. that the missionary enterprise has by no means attained. It is a shocking, tragic fact that with 3. The problems of devolution as it is called, reference to totally unoccupied mission fields (by meaning thereby the transfer both of control and which I mean those in which there are no misof responsibility from the foreign mission to the sionaries, or almost none), we stand just about national churches. where we did at the time of the Edinburgh Con- ference in 1910. In the partially and even largely 4. The problems arising from confusion and occupied fields we have, in most cases, only encontroversy among the Christian forces, absorbing in internecine conflict the energies which are needed for the work of aggressive evangelism of the New Testament type.
JOHN R. MOTT tered upon the period of high specialization, and, in my judgment, have still to render many of our Chairman of the International Missionary Council most distinctive and critically important services Among the most pressing major problems of in the work of evangelism and the training of the foreign missionary enterprise, as I see them, Christian leaders.
are the following: 4. The catching of the imagination of a new [11 ]
generation with such vividness, with such appeal keener sense of responsibility for the evangelizato the heroic, and with such compelling force as tion of the world in this generation. There is to ensure beyond peradventure a tremendous re- also the problem of finance, which must be solved sponse. In this respect the Church of Rome just if the work is to be carried on adequately.
now is putting us to shame.
Basically these and all other problems that are ROBERT HALL GLOVER pressing upon us will not be solved until we make much more ground than we have been making in Home Director of the China Inland Mission for North America recent years in solving our problem of leadership, 1. As related to the work of the mission in among missionaries, indigenous churches, and China there are the following problems: mission boards and their auxiliary agencies. a. The continued communist menace in several provjnces of Central China. The present situation ROBERT P. WILDER in Kweichow and Szechwan is particularly seri- ous. Two C. I. M. missionaries in Kweichow have Formerly Secretary of the Student Volunteer Movement,. been in the communists' hands since October 1, Recently Secretary of the Near East Christian Council and two others have recently been killed.
1. Some of the present day problems in the for- b. The difficulties confronting the Chinese churches in their efforts toward full self-support eign mission enterprise are the problems due to and taking a larger share in the work of carrying the Gospel further afield. I refer especially to the non-Christian religions, humanism, secular- exhorbitant taxation, burdens imposed by milita- rists, and heavy losses through communist banism, nationalism and the growing power of com- munism. / 2. Among indigenous Christians are the prob- lems due to persecution, especially on the part of ditry and calamities such as flood, famine, and fanatical Moslems and caste-ridden Hindus. pestilence.
There are also the problems of indifference. Often c. The cruel persecution of Christians among among indigenous Christians, the second and third several of the aboriginal tribes of Southwest generations have lost some of the glow and radi- China, notably the Lisu in west Yunnan. Bitter ance which the first generation possessed. This persecution is being meted out there by greedy is sometimes shown in diminished evangelistic and unscrupulous officials, because of the Chriszeal, in less of the prayer spirit, in doubt as to the tians' refusal to grow opium, and because of the full trustworthiness of God's Word, less reliance steady shrinkage of the whiskey trade due to the upon the power of the Holy Spirit, and less time rapid increase in the number of Christians. given to Bible study. 2. As related to the enterprise in general- 3. Among missionaries we find at times it is a problem to establish a firm conviction about the Undoubtedly the greatest problem, far more necessity of maintaining the devotional life serious than the financial depression, is the loss through giving an adequate time each day to Bible or weakening of conviction on the part of so many study for personal spiritual growth and private in the home churches, ministers in particular, reprayer. Work presses in, especially when the mis- garding the great essential truths of the Christian sionary staff is depleted owing to the financial faith. "Modernistic" teaching in seminaries and crisis. preaching in many pulpits are directly responsible for this. The inevitable and obvious results are 4. Some missionaries seem not to realize fully the waning of missionary interest and the dehow essential it is to know how to do personal crease of missionary giving among those thus work with individuals. Some are strong in pre- affected. senting the claims of Jesus Christ to an audience, but weak in helping an individual to take the de- If the missionary work of the Church is really cisive step in definitely accepting Christ as per- a divine enterprise, and not a merely humanistic sonal Saviour and Lord. project, then how can God's blessing be expected upon it, if ~ny are harbored in its ranks who are 5. It is not always easy to warn young mission- disloyal to His Word and reject the truths that aries against an assumed superiority as belonging lie at the very heart of the Gospel which we have to a better race than that to which the people been commanded to take to the whole world, and belong, among whom he labors. The Christian if "another gospel" is substituted? It is idle to a't- Gospel is one of love and should always produce tempt to make the economic depression wholly rein a missionary the right attitude toward other sponsible for the falling off of missionary support races and religions. when at least part of the cause clearly lies else- where. The ,cure cannot be effected until the 6. In the churches in America, we find the prob- cause is acknowledged and removed. lem of how to secure a deeper spirituality and a
PRESENT PROBLEMS AND ENCOURAGEMENTS
STEPHEN ]. COREY during the past three years that there is danger American Secretary of the United Christian Missionary Society lest we lose our capacity to be distressed at the injury to the work. The depression attitude has The problems, as I see them, include: already become a habit with some people, and 1. An exaggerated feeling that personal and lo- while many are in genuine want, others have been cal problems eclipse all else, although this is not too ready to avail themselves of the excuse af- as evident as a year ago. A sort of "pernicious forded by the psychology of the times.
localitis" effects both interest and giving. Anxious to prove to their constituencies that 2. The difficulty of maintaining interest when every economy was being practiced, boards have so many missionaries have returned from the vied with one another in making reductions in fields. We have been too slow in building interest their budgets and it has actually been true that a around Christian nationals and churches. We board which could show the most drastic cutting must press this point hard. They are our children has gained the highest approval of the Church- in the faith and greatly deserve and need our and this at a time when the need of the world for prayer, interest, and our support when necessary. Christ is so desperately apparent!
3. There has been too much dependence upon 3. In certain quarters there has been a relaxa- loyalty to organization and not enough on the tion of those basic Christian convictions that con- inherent necessity of the missionary enterprise stitute the very premises of the missionary enter- as an inevitable and inescapable part of an ade- prise. The nature of sin and its consequences, the quate Christian program. depth of man's need for Christ and the indispen- 4. The ideals of internationalism and world sability of Christ as the Saviour of the world, are brotherhood have received a severe blow. This elements in the missionary imperative that have has slowed down missionary interest in some either been challenged or rendered indistinct by quarters. the humanistic philosophy that has accompanied 5. The ideals of Christian stewardship have modern "liberalism." These basic Christian prem- slipped somewhat in recent years, due ises are essential to a vigorous missionary attitude a. To the excessive burdens taken by American and program.
churches in more prosperous days, with new build- 4. The spiritual condition that we confront in ings and equipment. The churches now find them- the world today is more difficult to reach than selves taxed to the utmost to amortize and stabi- were the simpler forms of paganism of the past.
lize their capital investments. While millions still cry vainly to gods of wood and b. To the tendency to be satisfied with paying stone, other millions have merely exchanged idol- taxes for relief in substitution for church and atry for godlessness. Surfeited with the super- individual efforts of love and mercy. The first stitions of the past from which they feel them- is necessary, but people forget the wider interest selves emancipated, they have turned violently of the church in a Christian program which state against all religions, and have become repudiators and municipal help can never reach. of faith, haters of God. Professing no God of their own, they deny freedom of worship to others, C. DARBY FULTON and are working to bring the world into one united Executive Secretary, Executive Committee of Foreign Missions, blasphemy. The difficulty of reaching these is immeasurably great. Presbyterian Church in the United States First of all, may I share with you some of our A. C. SNEAD problems: Foreign Secretary of the Christian and Missionary Alliance 1. The most obvious problem is due to the fifty per cent decline in financial support, from $1,248,- In the twenty mission fields of The Christian 000 in 1926 to $611,000 last year. Despite these and Missionary Alliance three problems stand out rather desperate figures, we have not had to recall as of major importance. any missionaries, though sickness, age, death and retirement have reduced our missionary personnel 1. In a number of the fields, particularly French from 516 seven years ago to 403 last year. Cuts West Africa, French Indo-China, Netherlands amounting to about thirty per cent in missionary East Indies, southern Philippines, and some provsalaries and stipends, and even heavier reductions inces of China, many' peoples and tribes give eviin appropriations for the work have had to be dence of being moved by the Holy Spirit to a made. Reserves possessed by institutions or by recognition of their need for Jesus Christ as Savmissionaries individually have been used up so iour and Lord when they first hear the Gospel. that we are now face to face with the time when This is so marked in some tribes that the number the work must depend only on its present support. of missionaries and native Christian workers is much too small to properly present the Word of 2. We have become so accustomed to reductions God to interested inquirers.
2. Another problem, met especially in Borneo 5. The widespread interest in evangelization and a French West Africa is that of shepherding and the breaking out of remarkable evangelistic the new converts who have been baptized. For movements in so many parts of the world, also in example, 628 were baptized by one missionary in the raising up of new and mighty evangelists, as one month recently in a district in Borneo, yet to well as apologetic writers and lecturers, within teach these converts and the more than 1500 other the past one or two decades, both among mission- Dyaks baptized during the last three years there aries and nationals. are available only one missionary and two or three native workers. ROBERT P. WILDER 3. A third problem has to do with government Some encouragements, as I see them, are: opposition in some areas, the imposing of an income tax and an increase in property taxes by 1. A growing desire for a religious awakening some governments, thus diverting funds from the missionary work. at home and abroad.
II. PRESENT-DAY ENCOURAGEMENTS 2. A greater spirit of cooperation among re- ROBERT E. SPEER ligious bodies, as seen in the work of the Christian Among the encouragements we see in mission and Missionary Councils and International Miswork today one would suggest: sionary Council; also in the movements which 1. The spirit of the young men and the young women who want to give their lives to foreign look toward church unity, as in Persia and South mISSIOns. A number of first-grade candidates have been earning their way by giving transfu- India and the recent conference of missionaries sions of their own blood. and indigenous Christians on evangelism, Chris- 2. The evidences of the working of God's spirit in individual and collective life, as, for example, tian education and on the production and circulain the baptism of Brahmans in India and the movement in the upper castes. tion of Christian literature. There are also signs 3. The increasing acceptance of the moral au- of closer cooperation between Oriental and Occithority of Christ in non-Christian lands. This is not enough but it is something and it represents dental Christians, as in the Fellowship of Unity a great advance. in Egypt, and in the work of the World's Sunday 4. The reality of the rootage which Christianity has taken all over the world and its indestructibil- School Association. ity by the most hostile forces, even in Russia. 3. The recent growth in the membership of in- 5. The steady growth of the churches on the mission field, in autonomy and self-dependence. digenous churches, as in India where there are 6. The increasing evidence that there is no hope now 6,296,763 Christians; in China' where the for man save in Christ; that the evil forces of the world cannot be conquered except by His Five Year Movement, from 1929 to 1934, has repower. sulted in stimulating the Christians to a deeper JOHN R. MOTT spiritual life and shows a willingness on the part Among the greatest encouragements in foreign missions today I would name: of the Chinese Christians not only to win others 1. The evident growth in conviction among dis- to Christ, but also to shoulder a larger proportion cerning Christian leaders as to our shortcomings and sins of omission. of the financial load carried by missionary soci- 2. The multiplication of fruitful and very re- eties. The Forward Movement in Japan has rewarding pieces of experimentation in missionary methods and practices, covering a wide range in sulted in 50,000 having signed cards, signifying the missionary program. their purpose to follow Jesus Christ. Though all 3. The growing interest in cooperation, notwithstanding failure to take the whole subject of these have not yet joined the Church there is more seriously. increasing evidence that Christians in Japan are 4. The fact that doors are open today, as at no time in the past, to the friendly and constructive recognizing their responsibility to evangelize their ministry of the Christian Gospel. fellow countrymen in Japan and overseas.
4. Another encouragement is found in the work of the Bible Societies. The Bible is still the best seller.
5. It is said that while Latin America has large- ly turned away from organized Christianity a speaker presenting the Christian message, as a new and vital challenge, can always get a sympa- thetic hearing. In Buenos Aires, Santiago and in student centers in Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela there have been eager audiences to hear the Gos- pel. – ROBERT HALL GLOVER 1. We of the C. I. M. are greatly encouraged by the sustained interest of our constituency of friends at home, as evidenced by their many let- ters, and also by our contacts in the autumn con-
ferences in the East and the West. Our Prayer Japan, China, India, and Africa all face great Union membership, composed of those who ex- issues and are in expectancy.
press the desire and purpose to pray regularly for 5. The penetration of Christ's influence, far China and the work of the Mission, is steadily beyond what we can count in statistics or mem- increasing. bership in the churches, is a matter for great 2. There has been a steady succession of appli- encouragement. The New Life Movement in cations for service in China; the number during China, based largely on Christian ideals, is an the past year has been particularly large. We illustration. It would be hard to find among edu- sent twenty-six new recruits to China in 1934, and cated and religious nationals anywhere in the non- we must have dealt with three or four times that Christian world, one who would not hail Jesus as number of applications. the ranking ethical teacher of the ages.
Eighteen new workers have also been sent from Great Britain and twelve from Australasia last C. DARBY FULTON year. Over against the problems and difficulties that 3. There has been a steady and substantial ad- face us today one could set a long list of encour- agements that far outweigh the difficulties. I vance of our Forward Movement on the field, with mention three that seem to stand out strikingly ever increasing visible results in conversions and in the missionary picture: baptisms. The opening of nineteen new main centers of work, and the baptism of 7,221 con- 1. The increasing open-heartedness of the peoverts, during 1933, made that a record year in ples of the world to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. the history of the Mission. This is not inconsistent with the fact that many governments seem to be slowly closing to religion. 4. There has been marked blessing attending In the time of Christ, just when the chief priests the special services on many of our stations for and the rulers of the Jews were seeking to destroy the deepening of the spiritual life of the Chris- Him, the common people were hearing Him gladly. tians, and the stirring of them to increased zeal A missionary writes: and effort in behalf of the salvation of souls here at home and the spreading of the Gospel farther "The doors for Gospel advance are flung wide as never afield. Chinese workers and foreign missionaries, before. The church in Brazil faces an unprecedented op- have conducted such services with blessed results. portunity. Crowds everywhere, as reports come in from Special encouragement has also attended the far and near, are willing to hear with attention and symholding of short-term Bible Schools throughout pathy the call of God to repentance and faith in Christ. our mission field, with the object of increasing The day of march has come!" the knowledge of the Word of God among the Writes another: "God evidently wants Africa, for never was the Holy Spirit more manifestly present there. At rank and file of our Christians, and fitting them Luebo Station alone we baptized this year 2,548 adults, and the church is aflame with zeal for Him." for more effective soul winning, and some among From another missionary comes this message: "There them for full-time preaching. During last year 329 such schools were held with a total of 11,500 is a mighty tide sweeping through China. It is the tide enrolled, in addition to our regular Bible Schools, of God's spirit moving upon the hearts of men." for the fuller training of Chinese pastors, evangelists, and Bible women. Dr. Stanley Jones declares that China presents the greatest evangelistic opportunity in the world. Dr. George Truett, returning from a South Amer- STEPHEN J. COREY ican tour, says the supreme challenge is there. Surely God is at work in all the world!
As to encouragements I see the following: 2. The new fervor for evangelism is one of the 1. An increased wistfulness on the part of min- most encouraging factors in the present mission- isters and others for the realities of religion. ary outlook. Despite the limitations that falling 2. Increased cooperative effort on the mission income have placed upon the work, our mission- fields. aries and their fellow workers are everywhere 3. Humility on the part of Christians in the manifesting an eager desire to extend the work recognition that as a church we have not come into unreached territories. In some fields this abreast of Christ's ideals in America and that centrifugal instinct of our missionaries is quite we must go to others depending upon Him and conspicuous. It is interesting to compare the lat- not on our own superiority. est reports of work in Brazil with those of fifteen 4. The great issues that face us abroad bring years ago and see how the names of stations and stirring challenges. The tides of secularism, na- outstations of former years are being replaced tionalism, and communism, call Christian people, from year to year by new towns and communities.
as never before, to take the message and life of The older ones are not abandoned but they are Christ to the whole world. The distress and dis- being brought to self-support as rapidly as pos- quietude of mankind summons us. Also lands like sible in order to release money and personnel for
the work of extension. It is gratifying to note that remains to be finished; there is even more that in several fields, despite every discourage- that yet remains to be begun. ment of the depression, new work has been opened and is being successfully sustained with most 4. The world has always needed Christ. Her gratifying results. need of Him today in the face of her complexity, bewilderment and sin is more apparent than ever. But it is the native leaders themselves that offer the most conspicuous examples of this evan- 5. In some lands, governments seem determined gelistic fervor. One needs only to mention the to close the doors against Christian missions. Kingdom of God Movement in Japan, the Five Year Plan in China, the evangelistic movement 6. The young life of the Church is ready to go that is sweeping certain sections of the Belgian forward. Applications from volunteers are pour- Congo under the leadership of Tshisungu Daniel ing in to our offices from some of the choicest and others, and the quiet revival of prayer and young men and women in the Church, who are personal work in Korea, as examples of such zeal. prepared to answer the need. The significant thing about these movements is that they have not been born in the initiative and 7. When in ~:very sphere of life the peoples of leadership of missionaries, but are the expression the world are being reminded of their mutual of the evangelistic fervor of native sons who have interdependence and responsibility, shall the set their hearts upon the winning of their own Christian Church forget her responsibility to people for Christ. every man or allow her sense of world mission to be dimmed? Dare we forget that our Lord's 3. Where two such movements as the foregoing, command has never been revoked and still conthe eagerness to hear on the one hand, and the stitutes the marching orders of the Church? eagerness to tell on the other, are found parallel, things are bound to happen. And things have A. C. SNEAD happened. The past year has been the most fruitful results in all the more than 70 years of our In presenting the problems I have already made foreign mission history. Outstanding among the results of the year is the record number of 8,383 mention of some encouragements in the fields. added to the church on profession of their faith 1. The Alliance is privileged to preach the Gosin Christ. It is granted that we cannot always measure spiritual results by statistical standards. pel and to have a share in building the Church However, it is a cause for great joy and thanks- of Christ in more language groups today than giving throughout our Church that last year in our foreign fields the number who stood before ever before in its history. The Church in the fields the world to acknowledge their sins and receive is taking over territory formerly under mission Christ as their Saviour exceeded by more than 2,000 those who took this stand in any previous responsibility and the Mission and the Church year. together are going forward into new tribes and To summarize, it is our feeling that the time new areas where the Gospel is thus being preached has come when a call to advance should be sounded for the first time. among the churches of America. Today the whole world situation is like one vast syllogism every 2. Despite government opposition in Cambodia, premise of which leads to but one inevitable con- the results during 1933 and 1934 are more encourclusion, namely, "Forward again in missions!" aging than at any time since the field was entered 1. The openness of the hearts of men and wom- in 1923. In a few fields the work of translating en around the world to the message of Christian the Bible into tribal languages is being steadily missionaries, attested by the letters that come carried forward and last year one of our mission from every field, constitutes a clear call to renew presses printed over 25,000,000 pages of Scripture our missionary advance. portions and Gospel literature.
2. The unparalleled productivity of mission 3. Both in the home church and on the fields work, yielding richer returns than ever before, there is evidence of the gracious working of the encourages us to move forward. Holy Spirit in causing believers to humble them- 3. Vast untouched areas await a new venture selves before God and definitely seek for a revival. of faith. With national churches gradually taking 4. Twenty-six new missionaries were appointed up the burden of the work we have been doing, it should become more and more our missionary for our Alliance fields in 1934 with the expectation aim and purpose to press out into territories where Christ is not known. There is much work of their sailing during the year or in the early months of 1935.
5. We praise God for increased missionary in- terest evident in many of the home churches and for the missionary zeal shown in the younger churches in -the mission fields. .
I believe that, despite every hindrance that Satan brings, we are facing a day of marvelous opportunity for evangelization in many parts of the world and we are encouraged to press forward in the name and by the enabling of Christ our Lord.
Situation in
As Seen by Dr. Julius Richter of Berlin I N THE Neue Allgemeine Missionszeitschrift, is the well organized propaganda such as that of Dr. Julius Richter of Berlin deals with a num- Agha Khan in the Tanganyika territory and oth- ber of present-day problems which are so im- ers. portant that they deserve close study. The first problem is that presented by the world- The fifth consideration is that to which we are forced by the world-wide propaganda of Bolshewide depression, which demands an adjustment vism. Its soil is amazingly well prepared by the to the shrinking incomes of all mission groups. unworthy and in many instances impossible con- This question in the background of all "recent dis- ditions of obtaining a livelihood among the procussions of missionary problems is "How can the letarians of the earth, as for example the 30,000,- important part of mission work be preserved even 000 unemployed and the abysmal poverty of though many related developments must be cut hundreds of millions of peasants in Imlia, China down ?" Can the present retrenchments of the and Japan. The great strength of this kind of sending bodies be made fruitful by granting the propaganda can hardly be over-estimated. new national churches in the mission field a greater measure of independence, and by urging great- Sixth, there looms the awakening, floodlike and er self-support in view of the diminished income powerful influence of an increasing nationalism. from the home boards?" These efforts of the Hand in hand with it, we observe the awakening younger churches on the mission fields are oc- of the national religions and sometimes the recurcurring at the time when they too are affected by rence, as in Germany, Turkey and Persia, of earlier and forgotten religions, which oppose the world depression. Christianity as being irreconcilable with the new Many factors have altered the position of Prot- ethic.
estant missions since the end of the World War. Changes Since the World War The first factor is the enormous loss of prestige Such conditions are entirely different from the which Christian nations suffered by the disillu- sionments which have befallen the non-Christians. views which prevailed before the war. It was These matters are too well known to need discus- then held that occidental civilization was either sion. identical with Christianity, or at least closely con- Second there is the growing gap between Chris- nected with it. This was the great time for such tianity and some views of modern science. All splendid movements as the Student Volunteers, nations want modern sciences and arts; but they the Missionary Education Movement, the Lay- are very reticent about any desire for Christianity men's Movement and for such slogans as "Evan- or the Christian Church. If we meet within the gelization of the World in this Generation." In body of Christendom such a thing as Bolshevism, Germany, in this period, the great colonial expan- with its radical hatred of all religion, and even in sion gave an impetus to missionary undertakings.
a country like Germany see a decided self-asser- Now, however, many churches are passing tion of a new German paganism on a nationalistic through an era of an ebbing of interest, a reac- basis, need we wonder at a holding back from tion! This reaction is to be deplored. During the Christianity on the part of non-Christian peoples? time referred to there were in most of the fields Third, we should earnestly consider the sur- efforts at work which were to crown the preceding prising progress made by the Roman Catholic efforts, by leading the young churches toward a Church in Africa and the Dutch East India, with complete self-support. But such aims demanded an expenditure of men and money such as the time for maturing. The highly developed conduct combined Protestant missions cannot equal. In of Protestant missions contained within itself an French, Belgian and Portuguese countries this inclination toward institutionalism, such as the Papal church may count on a far-reaching assist- founding of colleges, universities, hospitals, Y. M.
ance from the colonial authorities. C. A. buildings, publication houses. In the case Fourth, in the last few years before the World of even a great lessening of the supply of men War it seemed as if the progress of Islam had and means, there arises a danger of freezing up been retarded. Now we observe that in equatorial the assets of such enterprises. The men and Africa and in Further India, this religion is mak- monies necessary for the work of evangelization ing its power of assimilation felt among the prim- and the growth of the missionary enterprise leave itive peoples within its reach. A decisive factor too few means available for the magnificent enter- [17 ]
prises which have already been called into being. There is the hope that these young churches Dr. Richter thinks that there should be a new will develop a sufficiently large and strong initia- consideration of the work of missions but he de- tive that they will be able to take care of the non- clines such a study on the basis of some sugges- Christian masses surrounding them. We point tions in "Rethinking Missions." There should not with great hopes to the Five Year Plan of Cheng- be any reduction of the Biblical message of salva- chin-yi, the Kingdom-of-God Movement of Kaga- tion. Neither can there be any "moratorium" of wa and can well rejoice in what they have the missionary obligation on account of urgent attained. But as yet, the new churches, notwith- demands at home. The all-obliging missionary standing their excellencies, have not acquired the command, the royal authority and the divine missionary attack that is needed. Besides, we promise are sufficient for all believing Christians. can hardly compute the comparatively enormous What May We Expect? expenditures of effort and means required to carry on such work asthe occidental churches can carry, What may we expect as the fruit of our mission owing to the momentum acquired through the work? Dr. Richter enumerates answers to this centuries.
question, based upon experience gained in many 3. This places us before a great and difficult ages and many countries. task. At present many free missions are hunting 1. There are in Christian history three typical for unoccupied fields for their activity. Most of developments: First, the permeation of the Ro- them fail. The result is that Protestant missions man Empire by the Christian spirit and the Chris- tend to degenerate into aimless guerilla warfare.
tian Church in its competition with Oriental Besides, when we consider the many costly un- mystery cults, then the century of effort to realize dertakings carried by the sending churches, such "One Church-One Empire," and a failure of all as the establishment of such institutions as were these efforts since the rise in the fifth century of mentioned above, how can we expect these young- various separatistic churches. er churches to undertake work of such dimensions, Secondly, in the Germano-Slavic middle ages without abundant assistance from the sending the passing over of entire tribes and peoples under churches?
the leadership of their rulers and then a very slow 4. In the last century the missionary enterprise and very gradual penetration of these peoples with found open doors everywhere. Dr. Richter shows the Christian spirit and ethics. Thirdly, in the by the example of the missions in Africa that, Spanish-Portuguese national or state missions of while then one could be of the opinion that paganthe sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, with ism would soon collapse and what was most Church and State in close alliance, the setting-up needed was to gather the new Christians into of a hierarchy with state subvention. Modern churches, this is far from being true today. Modmissions offer few parallels to such work as the ern civilization is entering Africa by the three christianizing of the South Sea Islanders, largely channels of Protestantism, Catholicism and Islam under the influence of their rulers. and these forms are fighting each other tooth and 2. Nowadays the attention of Protestant mis- nail. However the Protestant churches today face sions is focused on the development of Christian the task of gathering the Negro peoples, so far as groups, with the aim of making them National possible, into Christian churches and train them Churches. It is generally thought that, when this into a real Christian life.
aim is attained, there will be no further need than 5. In Asia the strata first reached by the new to assist such churches in the case of emergencies. influences were the cultured circles. This may be Is such an expectation justified? First of all, in traced most easily in the case of three leading most mission countries the Protestants constitute countries. In Japan, the Samurai were the real only a small percentage of the total population. light bearers of culture. They have also given the For instance, in China two-thirds of a million church some outstanding leaders, such as Neeamong 500 millions, in Japan, 200,000 among 65,- sima, Ouchimura, Kagawa. In India, broader 500,000, in India five millions among 350 millions. areas were more quickly reached, but the caste In none of these countries is the Christian increase system stood in the way. In China the literati less than the increase in the number of births, so that the ratio is constantly shifted. Secondly, in were the on£s who hindered the spread of the all these countries we cannot fail to notice two incoming religious influence, but in more rece'nt peculiar characteristics, the one tending to isolate times there was being prepared a notable change the Christian bodies, the other to absorb them here too. However, since the war, the condition completely. We are not yet advanced to the point of things has changed surprisingly. The greatest where we may be sure that the present day Chris- difficulties today come from the growth of nation- tian groups will escape a similar fate. alism, which in most cases has become a violent
PRESENT SITUATION IN MISSIONS
passion and proves a considerable hindrance to 9. A noteworthy fact is seen in the circumstance the spread of Christian missions. that early Christianity faced a world in the proc- ess of dissolution, while the modern missionary 6. The question arises whether we might not finds that ancient systems are becoming more conhave some other means of reaching the great solidated. This is eminently the case with Hindumasses of Asia, aside from the natural work with ism and Confucianism and only in the case of individuals. In the world of Islam, most mission- Islam in Turkey is it possible to observe a general aries still feel that they must observe a waiting breaking down of the old. attitude before closed doors. But we still have the tried means of entering wedges, such as medical In early mission work in Europe, the bearers of work, schools and colportage. In Japan the work the Gospel found fresh youthful masses that were of Kagawa seems to find access to the masses. In not influenced by any great civilizing movements. India the efforts among those not in the castes We meet such a condition now only in Africa and seem to be gaining in influence. In China we face the South Seas; but in Asia the missionaries have a catastrophe in civilization, and that of colossal had to face ancient cultures, and their initial sucdimensions. Two overpowering influences are at cesses were gained mostly among the lower strata work through the collapse of the ancient Manchu of society. Today the problem is to reach those power. This involves not only the whole ruling who are the possessors of higher culture. In the system with its prestige and its cultural forms, attitude so far observed among such peoples, many but also the break-down of the old Confucian missionaries have had the feeling that all doors system of scholars and men of letters. Three were closed and all seats occupied. Now there are great forces are now entering the country: an indications that catastrophic changes are impendun-religious science, communism and Christianity. ing. Bolshevism is a new force which is present- China and Africa present the greatest missionary ing an aggressive front all over the world and problems in the Christian Church today. people are weighing the claims of Bolshevism against those of Christianity. Here the mission- 7. Christian leaders are sure that foundations ary faces not only a challenge, but an opportunity. have to be dug deeper along three important lines. The first field is the ethical, and spiritual. The 10. Since Lausanne, Christians have come to an problem shows itself most clearly in Africa. There understanding of the definite and essential conpaganism appeared under six forms, ancestor wor- tent of the Christian message. In this there has ship, magic, tyranny of chiefs, polygamy, slavery been a decided gain for the preaching of the and tribalism. Since missionaries were convinced Gospel. that these conditions were impossible among Christians they very properly proceeded to exter- 11. Dr. Richter says that great spiritual moveminate them. However it was frequently over- ments usually pass over peoples like great waves. looked that in the conditions that had matured for He thinks that all countries are at present not on centuries, there might prevail aspects that could the crest of any such waves, but in the depressions be used for the implanting of that which is truly between them. He refers once more to the great Christian. In many cases the African was con- losses which the world has incurred in recent sequently so denationalized that there remained years, such as the collapse of the church in Russia, nothing that could be done, except to ingraft a the liquidation of Panislamism and the Caliphate, life that was really foreign. Now the problem is and the breakdown of Confucianism in China. seen under the aspect of so anchoring the Chris- He mentions also the stop of great Christian movetian church in the native life, that the strength ments in the United States, and similar collapses that actually inheres in it may be used to make its in Germany. powers helpful to the Christian development. A careful study of present-day conditions and Three methods have been held proper in India. resources must give us the conviction for our faith The Roman Catholic Church acted as if paying no and a guidance for our conduct as follows: attention to caste. The Leipzig Mission regarded caste as a social and civil order, which merely That the living God is quietly building His Kingneeded to be purged of non-Christian extrava- dom through all the confusion of the peoples and gances. The Anglo-Saxon missions in the main that this is the end of the ways of God. regarded caste as a satanic perversion that must be utterly exterminated. That the person of Jesus Christ is central for all Christian proclamation and that all mission- 8. A similar problem arises from the conditions of language. At present it is being more fully ary preaching must have its start and goal in it. recognized that the language of a people contains peculiar elements of power that may be fully util- That Jesus Christ and His salvation is the final ized and thus become of great help in the develop- and deepest answer to all questions of human bement of a people. ings and that it is our task to hear the questions that arise from the depths of men and to give the true answer to them.
IF I WERE A MILLIONAIRE* By REV. W. H. Moss, M.A., B.D., HYTHE, ALBERTA, CANADA Do you sometimes plan what you would do if you suddenly became a millionaire? I am do- ing that today after spending two days of pastoral calling in a homesteading part of my parish. I parked my car near the highway and borrowed horse and buggy for the bush trails. Later I parked horse and buggy in the bush and walked more than two miles to visit a lonely bachelor on the far side of a muskeg over which horse and buggy could not travel. Incidentally I got my feet wet. My friend served dinner-fried potatoes, fried eggs, fried meat. (How do their stomachs stand it year after year?) As I was going from place to place, I was wishing I had money. If I were to become a millionaire, I think I should do some of the following things: 1. I should ask for Divine guidance in the discharge of such a responsible mission as the wise handling of so much money.
2. I should give at least one-half to the Missionary and Maintenance Fund.
3. I should continue to be a home missionary.
4. I should, as long as possible, let no one know that I had money, lest I become the prey of those who would besiege me with requests for help and so interfere with my regular work.
5. I should payoff the debt on the local church and relieve my people of the almost intol- erable burden of paying eight per cent interest and thus put new heart into them for complet- ing their place of worship.
6. I should send to Edmonton for a hundred-dollar violin that was sent in by a new settler for repairs two or three years ago and is being held there until the bill of thirteen dollars is settled. Thereby great joy would return to this music-loving homesteader who really needs his beloved instrument for the good of his soul.
7. I should take a pair of shoes to the cobbler and have patches put on the soles.
8. I should accede to the unusual request of one man for certain drugs for the treatment of bedbugs. He says he can't abide them.
9. I should buy school books for a girl. The grade desired is being taught in the local school and all she requires to continue her education is about eight dollars for books.
10. I should send a most promising young man to university in order that he prepare him- self for the Christian ministry.
11. I should buy organs for three log schools where I hold services.
12. I should provide a home in this village under the care of a Christian matron, so that several girls in the surrounding district might go on to school. Their people can supply meat and vegetables; what is needed is a place to stay and that place ought to be under reliable supervision.
13. I should build a hospital here, for the nearest at present is forty-five miles away and difficult to reach when roads are blocked in winter. I should have free medical service for the poor. Then there would need to be no babies born in crude shacks without a doctor in attend- ance.
14. I should give to every minister on a home mission field a year's leave of absence once in seven years and pay all expenses while he and his family visited their friends and he took a term at college.
*** But as I am not a millionaire, I pray that I be not like the Irishman who had a needy friend and said that if he had two cows he would give him one; and yet he did have two pigs and would not give one of those.
• Adapted from the United Ohurch Record and Mi88io,nary Review.
Cooperative Advance at
By the REV. CHARLES E. SCHAEFFER, D.D.
President of the Home Missions Council; Secretary of the Board of Home Missions, Reformed Church in the United States I T SEEMS anomalous under existing conditions These Christian leaders felt that a new social in the Church today to be speaking of an ad- order, new conditions territorially, religiously 1l.nd vance. The organized forces of Christianity ecclesiastically required a new strategy and a new are almost everywhere sounding the note of re- approach to the whole problem. Consequently treat. The slogan along the whole battle line is they launched "The New Cooperative Advance." that of retrenchment. Nearly all the home mis- If the advance of former days had spent its force, sion boards are either marking time or have re- a new advance would have to be made, so that called a large part ·of their forces from the field. home missions might always be true to its real Whole areas which were once missionary ground genius and spirit.
have been given up and the financial pressure has This new advance was to be along three distinct been such that curtailment of effort has become lines.
imperative and has caused grave concern among 1. The old home mission advance was on de- missionary leaders. nominational lines and the early religious history The heart and kernel of the work of home mis- of America was based largely upon denomination- sions has always been the pioneer spirit. The alism. This was practically inevitable when home mission forces have always constituted the America was new and young. Denominationalism advance guard of the Church. They have blazed had its rise in national, social, lingual, creedal, new trails, opened up new highways, discovered new areas and have always marched breast for- and racial peculiarities. I ward at the van of the procession. That is the very genius of this great movement in the bosom Some of these were an importation from the 'old or world, and some grew out of the religious soil ill America itself. But whatever their origin of the Church. A little more than a century ago historical basis, these denominations were per- the religious forces of North America were cen- petuated and extended into other sections of the tered in the eastern part of the continent. Then country. This has resulted in an oversupply of when the various denominations became auton- churches in many communities and has become the omous and indigenous, there followed a wave of chief target of the critics and of the cynics. It missionary expansion such as has never been wit- has resulted in the multiplication of churches of nessed in any age or in any land. Impelled by an many stripes and names, of sects, some of which onward urge the forces of Christianity pressed are so small as to be mere insects. This has been into the virgin lands and into the frontiers of our the scandal of Protestantism in America. Some country. The results were astounding. Churches churches are so small that they have no ability to and schools and colleges sprang up like Jonah's function effectively in Kingdom building. They gourd overnight and dotted the land with religious have a struggle for self-preservation. They be- a,nd educational institutions. All this was accom- come ends in themselves and thus they obscure plished practically within the space of a century the real mission of a church in a community.
and a half. Then suddenly, as though a hand had The new home mission advance now shifts the reached down, this expansive program of the emphasis from denominationalism to interdenom- Church was arrested. It halted along the whole inationalism. It does not advocate undenomina- front until today we are compelled to take an in- tionalism but it espouses interdenominationalism.
ventory of stock and make a fresh 'appraisal of It believes that there are foci points where denom- our task. Noone so keenly sensed this change of inations can join hands and where united effort conditions as did the home mission leaders. About becomes more effective, if not more economical, ten years ago they began to see which way the than single handed denominational activity.
wind was blowing and undertook to set their sails 2. The second new line of advance is that of in the right direction. They who walked late on cooperative effort. The old home mission enter- the deck saw strange lights rise and fall and they prise was inspired largely by the competitive prepared to meet the new situation when once it spirit. Each denomination tried to outrun, out- confronted them. strip, outdo the others. The law of the jungle [21 ]
prevailed. The Nietsche law of the superman in activity. Even this is better than unfriendly rivreligious circles dominated almost every situation. alry and un-Christian competition, but it by no Consequently there was a rivalry for place, pres- means exhausts the meaning of comity. There is tige, power. The rivalry was not always friendly. a positive aspect which involves not merely keep- The Kingdom of God suffered violence and the ing out of each others' way, but also means muviolent took it by force. There was a regular tual support and aid. Comity involves the idea stampede to occupy territory first, to erect the of the "big brother" on the part of denominations. most handsome, most costly edifice, and to secure Thus when a given field is allocated to a denomthe largest possible membership. Proselytism was ination the other denominations should say not practiced beyond measure and the church that had merely "Go to it-God bless you," but they should the pull and had the preacher and had the purse, come forward with their treasures, their money, got the lion's share and the others had to take the their members and pour the same into the allohindmost. Many a poor, discouraged minister had cated field so that the denomination that has asto be satisfied with the gleanings in the corners sumed responsibility for it can meet the situation of the field which had been neglected by the har- adequately. This can be done far more readily in vesters who reaped the full harvest. And all this new than in old communities. In new communitime the established Church in the East kept pour- ties local loyalties and traditions have not yet had ing money into these "mission fields" which were time to take root and develop as is the case in old largely competition centers. and well-established communities.
The wastefulness, the extravagance, the sinful- Certainly such principles of comity could be ness of this sort of ruthless rivalry in due time readily worked out among foreign-speaking comlaid hold upon the consciousness and conscience munities. Already much progress is being made of missionary leaders. They saw what a violation along many lines. I name only a few. There is this was of the spirit of the Christ whom they the matter of Religious Work Directors in Govprofessed to serve. And they said among them- ernment Indian schools. There is the work among selves, "This thing must stop!" There must be a the Mexicans, where nine denominations are cosubstitute for competition. There must be an end operating in work among Mexicans and Spanishto ecclesiastical rivalry. And happily they hit speaking Americans. There are the Summer upon the word cooperative, and declared that the Schools for rural ministers; there is the Chrishome mission advance must be along cooperative tian Approach to the Jews; there are definite lines. They set up committees on Comity; they local projects such as at Radburn, New Jersey; advocated the organization of State and City Boulder City, Nevada; the Tennessee Valley Councils, and projected programs of united action. Project; the work in the West Indies, in Puerto This involved a change of the whole psychology Rico and Santo Domingo. There have been set up of the churches but this cannot be effected over Denominational Community Churches, Federnight. Prejudices and policies are too deep seated ated Churches, Undenominational Community to be immediately supplanted by something else. Churches and Affiliated Churches. It is evident A long process of education is required to change that the home mission forces are on the advance people's mental and moral attitudes. Today no in Comity and Cooperation. one can question the rising tide of interest in comity and cooperation throughout the Protestant 3. The old home mission work centered its ef- Church. This growing interest proceeds in part forts almost exclusively upon individuals. The from practical considerations. Our Home Mis- work of making Americans Christians has been sion and Church extension agencies are financially only a partial success, as statistics sadly reveal. embarrassed and sheer necessity is compelling Out of 125,000,000 people, at least 70,000,000 rethem to pool their forces and resources with main outside of any organized institutions of reothers if the task is to be completed. This interest ligion. The National Home Missions Congress in springs also from spiritual considerations. Minor Washington, 1930, stated the task of home misissues which divide us are being put into the back- sions as involving "the winning of men and women ground and major issues which unite us are thrust to discipleship of Jesus Christ and to unite them into the foreground. The clearer vision of the with other disciples in the fellowship of the Chrismeaning, and the mission of the Church is serv- tian Church." ing as a great unifying and cooperative impetus among all right thinking people. This is only one phase of the task. The Con- gress went on to say that the task is also "to bring But comity has both a negative and a positive the Christian impulse to bear upon the broad, aspect. Negatively, it means not interfering with social and civic questions of our day." In other the plans of my Christian neighbor. It is the easy, words the new cooperative advance includes em- "let alone" policy in the field of denominational phasis on the social application of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the christianization of all of life as
NEW COOPERATIVE ADVANCE AT HOME
well as of every life. It insists that all relation- and unified promotion of all the interests of the ships of life must be brought under the dominant Church. control of Christ. Here we face a task of tremendous proportions. This is a real job and the 2. An Advance in Promotion. This involves: task remains unfinished until every area of life (1) The bringing to the Protestant Church of is thoroughly christianized. Horrie missions today America a new vision of its entire task. (2) A is as nect!ssary and its opportunity is as great as thorough coordination of all the agencies of the ever in the history of our nation. The enterprise Church in an inclusive program in order that their somehow must recover its ancient passion and essential unity may be adequately expressed. (3) power. To the Church there must be restored a Not only to express this essential unity but at the sense of urgency and obligation in christianizing same time to contribute to the efficiency, the econ- America. But this task must be done not in the omy and the goodwill of the total task. haphazard, helter skelter fashion of pioneer and frontier days, but along well planned and defi- In the language of Dr. Henry W. A. Hanson, nitely constructive ways. The program must be President of Gettysburg College and Chairman of along educational and inspirational lines, based the Special Committee on Review and Forecast: upon sound ethical principles involving construc- "If Christianity is to make an impress of any contive methods of comity and cooperation. sequence, it will be done by a cooperating Church. The time has come for suspicions and misunder- The Home Missions Council and the Council of standings, based largely on superficial differences, Women for Home Missions have planned this co- to be put into the background. The great task of operative advance along two fronts: putting Jesus Christ into the life of our age will be achieved only by a cooperating Christian 1. An Advance in Program. (1) This involves Church. Will the Church be equal to the opporan adequate occupancy of every community with tunity of the present hour? If we fail in this the Christian ministry. (2) The avoidance as far as possible of all duplication of effort and of com- hour, the opportunity will be gone and we shall petition. (3) The setting up over the whole field of interdenominational organizations, in regions, stand condemned as unprofitable servants who states and cities, for the purpose of church planning, comity adjustments, cooperative activities have failed in a great crisis."
In the language of Dr. E. Stanley Jones: "We cannot go further unless we go deeper."
Satisfied I do not ask that I may see all of the road But if my groping hand can find Thee close beside My feet must press from day to day. Me, when the darkness closes round; I do not pray that all the burden of my load, If o'er my heart Thy love flows like a tender tide From off my heart be dropped away. When heavy burdens press me down; I do not wish that all the stones that bruise my If I can feel Thine arm about me when I fall feet Because the path is rough and steep; Be flung from off the path I climb. If I can lift my tear-stained face at Thy sweet I do not want the sorrows that my soul must meet, call Changed to some ecstasy sublime. When torn by pain and sorrow deep.
Then will the wounds I bear more precious be than gold, Or any treasure I can gain.
Then sudden shock or conflict fierce will find me bold To stand for Thee, nor heed the pain.
Then with Thy tenderness my brother's head I'll raise, And walk his faltering steps beside; Rejoicing in Thy love and at Thy smile of praise. And .0-1 shall be satisfied. -Don C. Carver, in The Christian Intelligencer.
a Kurd Becomes a
The Remarkable Story of a Moslem Mullah of Kurdistan -~I J; ;I ;;;;;;PI;;;;;;E"""RS_O;;;;;;N=====!.III~ ====B"""Y"""D"""E"""L;;;;;;A;;;;;;V;;;;;;AN=;;;;;;L;;;;;;.
ISLAM is proverbially the impregnable rock or religious dignitaries, and his father, Mullah which defies the advance of Christian mis- Rassul, was a distinguished Moslem theologian. sions. Raymond Lull, the early apostle to Mos- The boy was brilliant in mind and devout in spirit. lems, declared that he would die content if he At six years of age he could read the Koran and could see one follower of Mohammed truly con- soon mastered the Persian classics and Moslem verted to the Christian faith. Of all Moslems theology. When he was thirteen his father died there are probably none more fanatical and bit- and Sa'eed, a student of Moslem law and theology, terly antagonistic to Christianity than the Kurds became a teacher in the mosque school. He ad- of Kurdistan. These people are hardy mountain- vanced rapidly in religious and literary circles, eers, living in the territory of western Asia, a was considered a brilliant theologian, a master of t~rtitory extending from Lake Van and Mount Persian literature and a pious worshipper in the Arttrat to Kermanshah in Persia. They are fierce mosque. He was initiated into the mystic and fighters and many are brigands. Dr. Isaac Yonan powerful Naksh-Bandi order of the Sunni sect of'/(jrumia calls them generally "illiterate, crafty, and was looked upon as the rising star of Senneh.
wild, fanatically religious, warlike, lazy, treacher- While he was still in his teens people came from ous, cruel, hospitable, independent and remorse- far and near to ask him to write prayers, to be less robbers ….. To a Kurd a rifle of any new sewn in their clothes or hung in their houses, to European model is worth more than a wife, and ward off sickness and misfortune.
a good horse is worth more than a wife and two While Sa'eed was still in his early teens, he first concubines!' These people are all blindly fanat- came into contact with Christianity. Two of his ical members of the Sunni sect-those who strict- private pupils were sons of a Roman Catholic ly follow Moslem tradition. merchant and in their family he saw the use of Can one of such a race, and with such inborn strong drink which is very obnoxious to orthodox prejudices and wild ways of life, be persuaded to Moslems. A copy of the New Testament in Per- forsake his people and religion and become a true sian came into his hands through a student but follower of Jesus Christ? It is certainly impos- he could not understand it and a Catholic priest sible through any message or philosophy'recom- whom he ·consulted could not explain passages mended in the Laymen's Missionary report. that puzzled him. So he cast the book away in But that such a transformation is possible disgust. Image and picture worship, both ana- through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is clearly thema to Moslems, which he saw in Catholic homes proved in the story of Sa'eed the Kurd, of SennElh' .a.nd.:cliurches, jed~himto believe that all Chris- who became Sa'eed, Khan, the Beloved Physician tians were idolaters and gewors (heathen). He of Teheran. His experience is one of the most gave thanks that he was a Moslem and determined remarkable and thrilling in the annals of mission- to do all in his power to bring infidel Christians ary history. The man is today an answerable to the true worship of.Allah as revealed in the argument for the power of Christ and the worth- Koran. .'~ whileness of Christian missions.* Thus he became~till more studious and devout Sa'eed was born seventy years ago in Sen- in his observance' of all the requirements of his neh, a city of some 60,000 inhabitants, with the Islamic faith. – reputation for being the most fanatical in Eastern At about this time an Assyrian Protestant Kurdistan. It has more mosques than any other Christian, Kasha Yohannan (Pastor John) of city of its size. Sa'eed came of a line of mullahs, Urumia came to Senneh, sent by the American –;-;rhls remarkable life-story is told In "The Belo·ved Physician of missionaries as an evangelist. He inquired for bTuerhyeraPnr,e"ssb, yNDasrh. vIisllaea,c TYenonneasnseoef. Pe$r1s.i0a0.. Published by the C<>kes- some one to teach him Persian and was referred [24 ] DR. SA'EED KHAN, THE CHRIST'I'&N KURD, AND HIS SONS to Mullah Mohammed Sa'eed as he was then called. controversy was an eye-opener for Sa'eed and Finally an agreement was reached whereby the created in him a genuine admiration for his mullah would teach the pastor Persian in ex- Christian teacher. change for lessons in Syriac. They used the Psalms and the Gospels in Persian and Syriac as At this time the elder brother, Kaka, the head a basis for their study. At first Sa'eed would not of the family, became disturbed over the growing give a "Salaam" (peace be on you) on entering friendship, and forbade Sa'eed to continue assothe house of this unbeliever so he deceived him by ciating with the gewor. But when the young man saying "Sahham" (may the sword come upon explained that his purpose was to expose the unyou). While the Prophet Mohammed indorsed tenable position of Christians and to lead them to both the Old and New Testament, Moslem tradi- the true faith, Kaka was persuaded to withdraw tion teaches that the Bible of the Christians is a his prohibition. The brilliant youth continued to hopelessly corrupted form of the original text. visit and argue with the older pastor who dis- Pastor John's prayers were not formal but sin- cussed with him patiently the relative merits of cere and included confession of sin and petitions Islam and Christianity, comparing the Bible and for friends and enemies alike-something abso- the Koran, Jesus and Mohammed. Sa'eed began lutely foreign to Islam. The pastor was a man to see that the Pastor understood the Bible and of tact and loving spirit. He did not criticize also the Koran. They read together the Sermon Mohammed or the Koran but lived a Christian on the Mount and the Gospel of John, one prelife before his pupil-teacher and so won his con- senting the social principles of Christianity and fidence and respect. the other presenting the evidence of the deity of Jesus. The Psalms and Isaiah brought to light Christian work among Moslems being pre- the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah-all scribed in Senneh, Pastor John started his mis- points of controversy between Moslems and Chrissionary work among the Jews. One day a group tians. Sa'eed's interest deepened from day to day. of young Jews challenged him to prove that Jesus He compared the prophecies, the birth and life was the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. and death of Jesus with the history of Moham- Sa'eed happened to be present and, as a neutral, med. The explanations of Sheik Imam J umeh was asked to act as judge. Later Sa'eed wrote: were not satisfactory, while those of Pastor John "Pastor John, throughout the discussion that last- showed knowledge and honest reasonableness. ed three hours, impressed me with his unpreju- Sa'eed had been taught that Old Testament prophdiced honesty and remarkable knowledge of the ecies referred to Mohammed not to Christ but Old Testament. I often had to rebuke the Jews as he read the forty-second chapter of Isaiah and for their stupidity and hardness of heart." This other passages he could not fit them into the his-
tory of the prophet of Mecca. The one was the Finally Christ conquered. Sa'eed says, "In the embodiment of love and purity and peace; the twinkling of an eye the raging sea was hushed, other was the prophet of the law, of compromise and peace flooded my soul. I could not have ex- with the flesh and an advocate of war. Sa'eed plained why I loved Jeesus but I was simply began to study Hebrew so that he might find out charmed." It had taken two years to reach this if the Old Testament had ,been accurately trans- decision and Sa'eed had counted the cost. He knew lated. Later he said: that apostasy was looked up'on among his people "The things that impressed me most and caused as a crime worthy of death.. ,' His bigoted brother the light to come into my soul were the beautiful and uncles and the whole clan would be enraged life of Pastor John, his truthfulness, his wisdom at the thought of one of their number-a mullah- and knowledge of the Scriptures. As I compared becoming a renegade. It was a gigantic battle this with my own life and the lives of great Mos- for a youth of eighteen, but he felt convinced that lem ecclesiastics I said: 'Surely there must be in God was with him. Soon after this Pastor John Christianity something more sweet and powerful was obliged to.1eave Sennah but before leaving he than there is in Islam.' ….. One day I asked the baptized Sa'eed behind closed doors.
pastor plainly: 'What do Christians think of Mo- For some time the young convert continued to hammed?' He hesitated and then said, 'Jesus said teach in the mosque and to perform his duties as that false prophets would come after Him. The a muezzin five times a day. Then one day, as he life and character of Mohammed are such that read the words of Christ, "Ye cannot serve two we do not think he is a worthy prophet to repre- masters," he seemed to hear a voice saying to sent the Holy God.''' him: "Sa'eed, you are trying to serve two mas- But Sa'eed was not ready to yield. He was ters. You do not believe in what you testify in angry and returned Pastor John's Bible, ceased the muezzin call that 'Mohammed is the apostle his visits for a time and devoted himself more of God.''' That evening he compromised and in than ever to the Koran, to his religious duties, to place of calling out, "ashad-inna" (I testify) he his religious teaching and to his work as a muez- used the words "astakh-/er-Allah" (God forbid) zin (giving the daily calls to prayer). But he that Mohammed is the apostle of God. But this could not escape from Christ. One day the thought did not long satisfy his sense of loyalty to his came to him: "What, after all, if Mohammed was Master. One day when he was sitting in a vine- an imposter?" The shock was so terrific that yard, reading the story of the crucifixion and men- Sa'eed began to buffet himself saying, "0, cursed tally picturing Christ's death on the cross for him, fellow. Satan has got hold of your heart." He he had a desire to celebrate the communion.
sought cleansing and peace by ablutions and Opening his handkerchief he took out the bread prayers, but in vain. He was in agony and con- for his luncheon squeezed grapes into the palm tinually sleepless. One night he jumped up de- of his hand and partook of them in memory of termined to atone for his blasphemy against his Christ. "The vineyard became a temple and the prophet. He branded his legs with live coals, common meal a sacrament." New strength came making two deep scars to remind him that he was into his soul and he decided that he must deny a Moslem and that he must never again converse himself, take up his cross and follow Christ. That on religion with a gewor. night there was no muezzin call from the minaret.
Still peace did not come to the soul of Sa'eed. His kinsfolk noted the silence of Sa'eed's voice As the scars on his legs healed the burning in his and feared that he might be ill. When the young heart grew more unbearable. The. more he studied and taught the Koran, the more he discovered its man came home he found members of the clan errors. One night, as he returned from the mosque gathered and he handed his brother a letter which he stumbled and fell. Lifting up his voice he read: cried out, "0 God, make plain to me the right way and I will follow it. Otherwise I will go insane." In the nu'/11./l of one only God My Brother: The dangers to my life grow greater day by day. I am a Christian and confess it to you openly. If you will murder your brother my life is in your hands. I cannot escape-yet death will be gain to me. If you In an instant he says, "I felt lifted up and made spare my life, I will be thankful and will serve you as up my mind as to what I should do." much as I can. My wish is to leave here so that you Again he began to visit Pastor John and spent may be in peace. Your brother, Sa'eed. hours each day in study of the Bible, memorizing the Sermon on the Mount. He was particularly A bomb exploded in the midst of the company impressed by the book of Isaiah, the Gospel of could not have created greater consternation.
John, some of the Psalms, and the narrative of Women pulled their hair, beat their breasts and the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ. the men shouted "Ka/ir" (blasphemy). Kaka, his At the same time he studied and compared the brother, laid his hand on his dagger with the im- Koran and the Moslem commentaries. . pulse to slay the renegade who had become an
WHEN A KURD BECOMES A CHRISTIAN
infidel. The uncles urged delay and suggested that was called to their homes all over the city, night Sa'eed was deranged and that he be given an op- and day. Later he visited England to perfect portunity to recant. That night while the family himself in surgery and in the treatment of eye, were asleep on the roof the young man left his nose and throat. When he returned to Hamadan home determined to flee to Hamadan and there he specialized in eye surgery and word of his won- take refuge with the missionaries. He was over- derful kindness and skill spread to every part of taken and beaten. When his brother threatened Persia.
to kill him Sa'eed calmly said, "My brother, do During an insurrection he was called upon to not kill me-not for my sake but for your own." accompany the army of Ain-Douleh, son-in-law The Moslem's rage subsided before the gentleness to the Shah, to minister to the soldiers. In this of the Christian; the spirit of Christ was vic- campaign his private tent was next to that of the torious over the sword of Mohammed. As the general on whom his humble Christian life and brothers returned home Sa'eed began to tell his unselfish service made a deep impression. In rec- brother why he had determined to follow Christ ognition of his services, Sa'eed was given a yearly but Kaka only cursed him for his blasphemy. allowance for life and the honorary title of Khan.
Murderous threats followed from the fanatical He became for a time private physician to Ain- uncles. Again at night Sa'eed fled and again he Douleh with whom he had many private conversa- was followed and brought back but the third time, tions on spiritual themes. When one of the favor- by avoiding the highways and traveling at night, ite wives of the Shah, Muzaffar-AI-Din, was taken he reached Hamadan weary and famished. Here ill Dr. Sa'eed Khan was chosen, instead of any of Dr. Alexander, the Presbyterian mission surgeon, the foreign doctors, to perform the operation. He gave him food and shelter and after hearing his prayed earnestly to God for strength and the oper- story put him to work at the menial task of ation was successful. Thus Dr. Sa'eed Khan, the stable boy. persecuted and despised apostate Moslem, one- Now began a new period of Sa'eed's life. As time stable-boy in the American Mission, became the young man thought of his Master born in a one of the high dignitaries of the Persian Capital, manger, the stable became a sanctuary where he in great favor at the Shah's court.
could read his Bible and worship God without At one time he was called to the bedside of an fear. His family gave him up for lost but as the influential Moslem ecclesiastic who had been bit- news of his apostasy spread, all Kurdestan was ter in his hatred for the apostate doctor. The case stirred with rage; bazaars hummed with gossip was discovered to be beyond the help of medicine and decrees were issued by leading sheikhs sanc- or surgery. This was explained to the patient and tioning his murder. Dr. Sa'eed asked his consent to carry the case in Another Assyrian Christian from Urumia, Pas- prayer to the Great Physician. Now Sa'eed the tor Simon, who was living in Hamadan, soon dis- doctor became Sa'eed the intercessor. Taking the covered in Sa'eed a true Christian and a scholar cold hand of the mullah he kneeled down by the whose talents and training were too valuable to bedside and prayed, be devoted to caring for horses. He engaged the "0, blessed Jesus, our only hope for the recov- young man as a teacher of Persian language and ery of this Thy sinful creature is in Thee alone.
literature, while in his spare time Sa'eed studied Thy power and mercy are without limit. If it be English and medicine under Dr. Alexander. Be- according to Thy Holy will, wilt thou restore him fore long Kaka came to visit Hamadan, in search to health again."
of his brother, and was so impressed by his joy As he prayed, the tears rolled slown his cheeks. and beauty of character that he too became a The effect was startling-his courage, his sym- Christian. pathy, his honesty and his sincerity made a deep The Christian Doc.tor impression. The patient recovered and became the After a period of preparation Sa'eed became an life-long friend of the doctor.
assistant in the mission hospital and seven years But while friends increased, his enemies were later began his own medical practice. He also still many and bitter. At one time he desired to gave public adresses in Christianity to patients visit Urumia to see his wife's relatives and to meet and students. On all his visits to patients, both again his old friend and spiritual father, Pastor rich and poor, he carried his Bible and never John. His road led through Kurdestan which was missed an opportunity to speak to them of sin, its in turmoil on account of an effort to rescue a girl consequences and its cure and of the Great Physi- who had been taken by force into the harem of a cian of souls. Thus, in a remarkable way, he ef- Kurdish chief. The roads were unsafe and Dr.
fectively combined ministry to the physical and Sa'eed was urged not to pass through Kurdestan, spiritual needs of his patients. His fame spread the stronghold of his enemies who had sworn to so that hundreds crowded his dispensary and he kill him. After prayer, however, he decided to
trust in God's protection and to take the journey. begged to be excused from this liberal hospitality He went through the hostile country, ministering and settled at the home of Shamasha Shumel everywhere to the sick and giving medicines to all (Deacon Samuel), who was the native missionary in need. His courage, courtesy, kindness and from V rumia. An hour later a secretary of the skill disarmed the hostile Kurds and they became Governor appeared with four or five servants his friends. bringing a few cones of sugar, a quantity of tea, But Dr. Sa'eed's heart still yearned to help his some candy, and two young lambs for our supper, own people in Senneh, who were still bitter in as well as a letter of invitation to dine with the their hatred of the apostate who had disgraced Governor the next day. Our visit with the Gov- the family name. Since he himself could not re- ernor was most pleasant. He embraced Dr. Sa'eed turn home, he finally persuaded Dr. Jesse Yonan, very cordially for the two had become acquainted an Assyrian physician who had studied in Amer- when Zafar VI Mulk was Governor-General in ica, to go to Senneh to serve his people as a Chris- Hamadan. After dinner we met several of the tian physician. Dr. Sa'eed accompanied his sub- high dignitaries who all knew Dr. Sa'eed by repu- stitute for some distance on the journey. On the tation, as an apostate from Islam.
way they met a noted brigand who came to consult Many of the mullahs were anxious to meet Dr.
the doctor on prevalent diseases and their treat- Sa'eed for a religious controversy, and they ment. Learning something of the doctor's fluency crowded into the large living room at Shamasha in speaking and writing in Turkish, Kurdish, Shumel's. The doctor met their questions with Arabic, Syriac, Persian, and English, the chieftain such clear, uncompromising statements that Jesus asked him to write something that he could keep. is the only Saviour and gave such evidence of his In response the doctor wrote John 3: 16 and superior knowledge of the Koran and his ac- signed his name. The brigand was astonished to quaintance with the Bible that the audience was find that the name was Kurdish and when the greatly impressed. Instead of challenging him, doctor confessed that he was a Christian a change as had been their intention, they were spellbound came over the visitor and he said: "It is a pity under his earnest exposition of the Bible. After I have accepted your hospitality so that I cannot listening for more than an hour these men were kill you." Without another word he withdrew. changed from enemies to friends. Two "men"
At another time the doctor was waylaid by from Senneh who had vowed to kill him, ap- brigands but when they found that he was a physi- proached Dr. Sa'eed. They had been boyhood cian they only asked about the treatment of cer- classmates in Senneh and everyone expected them tain diseases, received a supply of quinine and to attack him; but as soon as they neared the boric acid and then sent a guard to accompany the doctor they embraced him most affectionately. The "Honorable Doctor" to his next stopping place. occasion was very solemn and made a profound Dr. Yonan, his companion, writes: impression upon all those present and the would- "Monday morning, before starting out, we were be murderers departed with love in their hearts.
warned by the Rev. Benjamin Labaree, not to go When Dr. Sa'eed and Dr. Yonan left Souj- through Souj-Boologh, because he was informed Boologh more than one hundred and fifty people, that two men from Senneh had come to Souj- most of them Kurds, from all walks of life, came Boologh and were waiting there to meet and kill to see them off and the two men, who had come Dr. Sa'eed. We hesitated and then the doctor with murder in their hearts, wer·e the last to say said: 'All of yesterday and today we have been good bye. No miracle could have been greater preaching to the people about the presence of God than the change from assassins to kind, and brothand about His p~otecting power; now we are dis- erly friends.
playing our own lack of faith in that power.' We Some twenty years ago Dr. Sa'eed received a decided at once to take the route through Souj- very urgent appeal to come to the help of a Kurd- Boologh and started out much encouraged. The ish sultan (or great chief) who lived at Awraman, city of Souj-Boologh is the seat of the govern- eight days' journey on horseback from Hamadan.
ment and is situAted on a mountain slope. The The danger was great and the Doctor's friends Governor's palace was in a most commanding strongly opposed his· risking his life among wild position, from which the Governor could observe, and fanatic Kurds many of whom were brigands with his field glasses the movements of the travel- and one of wbose sheikhs had issued a "decree of ers on the main road leading to the city. He evi- sanction" to murder Sa'eed as an apostate from dently saw our caravan long before our arrival Islam. The Kurdish sultan sent an armed escort for we were met by a deputation sent to inform and promised to be responsible for the Doctor's us that the Governor was greatly pleased to know safe return home, so after laying the matter be- of the presence of Dr. Sa'eed, Khan, and desired fore God in prayer, Dr. Sa'eed felt it was his duty us to be his guests at the mansion. Politely we to go. He reached Awraman safely, performed
the operation that successfully restored the sul- Dr. Sa'eed was teaching his regular Bible in his tan's eyesight and ministered to many other pa- home in Teheran, a man entered with a few of tients. The hostile sheikh, realizing that he could his followers. It was Mahmood Khan Sanni, the not kill the doctor while he was under the sultan's notorious Kurdish brigand. He had been capprotection, endeavored to win him back to Islam tured by Government troops and brought to Teby sending a large delegation of the mystical heran as a hostage. Now, conscience-stricken, he Naksh-Bandi, the society to which Sa'eed had fell on his knees and kissed the hem of the docformerly belonged. The doctor describes the tor's robe. Then he sat down and heard the good scene as follows: physician expound the passage from Romans 5: 8-10, "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for The court was packed as I entered and the sheikh wel- us." "If, when we were yet enemies we were comed me in the name of all, and showed me a place to reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much sit by his side. After a~ exchange of formal greetings, more, being reconciled we shall be saved by His everything became very quiet. As I looked around the life." audience, what a sight! Every eye was fixed on me. I could see blood and hatred, violence and vengeance, in At the close of the Bible study, the former brigthose serious and gloomy faces. A feeling of anxiety for and made a humble confession, and received a a moment depressed me and I prayed in my heart, "0 Bible and religious tracts. Since then the peni- God, I am in a lions' den. Be as close to thy servant as tent sinner has been a frequent visitor in the home thou wast to thy servant Daniel." of the doctor and he and his men have received hundreds of dollars worth of medicines and treat- At a sign from the sheikh all the audience at ment free of charge from the one whom he once once began to sing and chant, at first in moderate tried to kill. Once more Christ-like love has and subdued tones, then slowly growing louder proved itself more than conqueror over hatred and wilder. When they were well warmed up, and murder. reason gave way to emotional excitement; they beat their uncovered breasts and faces, shouting The captain of the sultan's band that escorted and howling like madmen. Their mouths were Dr. Sa'eed on his perilous journey was a devout foaming, but they still repeated the word "Allah" Moslem and a descendant of the prophet. On the until they had lost their voices. When they had journey he saw Christ and the Christian religion reached a high pitch of excitement, slowly they so clearly exemplified in the Doctor's life and in began to lapse into a state of hypnotic insensibil- his testimony from the Word of God, that he too ity. Dr. Sa'eed wrote: later confessed Christ as his Saviour and Lord. He visited Hamadan to learn more of Christ and took The sheikh had arranged this performance with the back with him Bibles in Persian and Arabic and idea of warming my cold heart, and to make me return tracts to distribute among his people. to the true faith. But as I listened and observed, how my soul bowed before Him, the Son of God who had sev- Can Moslems be converted? Can a fanatical ered my chains and had set me free from this wild slavery. Kurd become a Christian? Is Christ greater than Tears came to my eyes and I had difficulty in keeping Mohammed? Is the Word of God more powerful them back lest they should fall at the wrong time and than the sword of Islam? Who can doubt it after carry a wrong impression. Did not my soul tell him, reading the history of Dr. Sa'eed, Khan, the Be- "I have more understanding than all my teachers: for loved Physician of Teheran? He is now over thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more seventy years of age and has been a Christian than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts?" (Psalm for over half a century. He has grown daily in 119: 99, 100.) Christian experience, has reflected Christ in his daily life and in his medical service. Without During the performance, which lasted over two slighting the requirements of his medical prohours, the doctor was a quiet listener and ob- fession he has been a true evangelist. He has server. When the meeting was over, he expressed been a constant student and teacher of the Bible, his thanks and returned to the sultan's house. and his faith and COlll"ag-e and love have never failed. Thousands of Kurds, Persians, Jews, The sheikh, seeing that his "spiritual perform- Turks, Assyrians, Armenians and others of all ance" had accomplished no result, wrote and stations and conditions-high and low, rich and asked for another private interview but the doc- poor, learned and ignorant-rise up to call him tor wrote him a letter, quoting verses from the blessed. Can anyone estimate the result at home Koran and traditions, and concluded by inviting and in the mission fields if ('very Christian would him to become a Christian. so reveal the spirit and power of Christ in char- acter and dailv jifp? What Jesus Christ can do The hostile sheikh, defeated in his purpose, for a converted Kurd, He can do for men and hired a notorious brigand, Khan Sanni, an enemy women of any other race or nation. of the sultan, to waylay the doctor and kill him on the road at night. This plot was discovered and the sultan sent the doctor and his escort by another road. After the brigands had waited in ambush for five days, they returned "like whipped dogs" to report their failure.
Fifteen years later one Sunday afternoon, when
Eben E
.If Devoted Friend of Missions and Missionaries _~I.L.._=R=E=V==.=AS_AnM_AU=EppL_rM_e._ZCiW_aEtM_iEoR_,n_D_b.yD=.t,hP_rei=n=c=et=o=n=,;N;;.!]J.il~~._ W HEN Kate Van Santvoord Olcott, of New ficial benevolence were all to one end, the advance- York City, fell asleep on Thanksgiving ment of the Kingdom of God. Day, November 29, in her eightieth year, Since 1901, Mrs. Olcott was a faithful member the missionary enterprise lost one of its most un- of the Woman's Board of Foreign Missions of the selfish, most loyal, most devoted friends. The Reformed Church in America. She became corworld's needs were always on her heart. Her responding secretary for Arabia the same year practical love and intelligent sympathy stretched and continued in that work until 1930. For all across all frontiers. An those years she carried on earnest Christian from her her heart the burdert of the earliest youth, she walked pioneer work in Arabia (at with God for eighty long that time a land of neglect years. To all who knew her, and darkness, of fanatic opher well-ordered life was a position and hope deferred) constant example of the with the intimacy and tender beauty of holiness and the solicitude of a mother. She calm of a life centered in was friend and counsellor, and source of spiritual en- God. couragement to each worker, U ntH the very day of her always eager to give prac- tical help where opportunity departure, Mrs. Olcott was arose. Every member of the about the King's business. Arabian Mission thinks of Like Moses, faithful in all her with deep affection and her house, she wist not that loyal devotion. To all memher face shone with a light bers of the Mission she was never seen on sea or land. an example of Christian self- At the funeral service held in the Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas no one in the lessness and faithful stew- great gat her i ng of her ardship.
friends needed a reminder When Mrs. Olcott retired that the two hymns rendered KATE VAN SANTVOORD OLCOTT from her secretaryship she by the soloist were an inter- wrote a tribute to the unflag- pretation of her life. Her "walk was close with ging zeal of the women of the Mission with whom God, calm and serene her frame." And Whittier's she had had "the high privilege of close associa- poem on the life "without strain or stress"-like tion for nearly thirty years."
that of the Master's by Lake Galilee-seemed a A nobler band of consecrated Christian women never full-length portrait of her who had fallen asleep. lived, and they have held on in the midst of great discour- Indeed her daughter found her early in the morn- agement-in "persecution often," in sickness, in separaing with the latest issue of the MISSIONARY RE- tion from loved ones and even unto death! VIEW OF THE WORLD turned open at Dr. Latourette's article, "The Evangelization of the World in Great will be their reward in heaven, and even now they are reaping a faint measure of it in the high esteem in which they are held by those among whom they are work- This Generation." It was the last thing she read. ing. Their homes have been veritable Light Houses amidst No student volunteer ever lived out the spirit of the gross darkness of Islam, and their family lives have the watchword more faithfully than Mrs. Olcott. shone out in contrast to those about them!
Her study of the Scriptures, her prayer-life, her "As his part is that goeth down to the battle, so reading, her talents of administration and counsel, shall his share be that tarryeth by the baggage; her indefatigable correspondence, and her sacri- they shall share alike." This is true of all who [SO]
MISSIONARY DOGS AND AIRPLANES
work at home for the foreign field. But great was always eager to send out all the money in the David's Greater Son has a far better promise, ful- treasury to meet urgent needs on the field. Her filled in her life: "Give and it shall be given unto thoughtfulness for others and her self-forgetfulyou; good measure, pressed down and shaken to- ness included long waiting at the steamship piers gether and running over, shall men pour into to welcome returning missionaries or to bid fareyour bosom." well to those who sailed. Her generous hospi- tality was proverbial and genuine. She had a In 1905, on the occasion of the Jubilee of the spirit like Nathaniel in whom there was no guile. Arcot Mission in India, Mrs. Olcott visited the for- Loyal to her own Puritan principles, she was eign field. Not only Arabia, but India, China, and tolerant of those who differed from her and had Japan shared her personal interest. For many a mind open to receive new truth. The center and years she supported her own missionaries, con- goal of her life was Jesus Christ her Lord and tributed to the regular work of her denomination, Saviour. The Bible and the place of prayer were cared for the Jacob Chamberlain Memorial Band the secret of her strength and beauty of character of Evangelists in India, had her share in the es- -a river of influence that made glad the city of tablishment of the Woman's Union Medical Col- God. lege at Vellore, as well as in many other union enterprises and efforts at home and abroad. In Mrs. Olcott's words were few in mission gath- 1911, Mrs. Olcott was one of the delegates to the erings for she was ever modest and retiring, but Edinburgh Missionary Conference and was an en- when she opened her mouth to speak it was with thusiastic supporter of its findings. She was one wisdom, and her tongue was ruled by the law of the charter members of the American Christian of love. All who knew her rise up to call her Literature Society for Moslems and its efficient blessed, and her own works praise her in the gates. Treasurer until the day of her death. No treas- May God raise up many others who will follow in urer was ever more faithful in securing and ad- her footsteps and emulate her character and ministering funds. A generous giver herself, she service.
Missionary Dogs and Airplanes By BISHOP P. T. ROWE, Seattle, Washington Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Alaska W HEN I went to Alaska, in the spring of dogs I pioneered the great interior of Alaska and 1896, the white population was estimated made a journey of 2,000 miles each winter. There to be 2,000. The conditions were much as were no road houses to spend the night in. You they had been under the Russian Government. simply camped for the night in the snow, what- There were no roads and no trails. Having in- ever the temperature, and the temperature went spected the southern coast, which meant Wrangell, as low as 78° below zero at times. Juneau and Sitka, I headed for the interior and crossed the mountains via the Chilkoot Pass. In For thirty-four years my winters were spent in doing so I hauled my own sled. Dogs were not traveling with the dogs. In doing so I not only obtainable. When I reached the interior and traversed the inland of Alaska but reached the winter approached, I got dogs from the Indians. Arctic coast and began work among the Eskimos. These dogs were maImutes and of wolfish descent. I had to train them and while doing so trained The use of dogs and travel, such as I have demyself so that I could meet the severe cold and scribed, is still a demand in Alaska, though not to travel on snowshoes without going lame. the same extent. Having grown old in the service requiring dogs and snowshoes, it is a happy I had also to cook beans, then freeze them, so change to use airplanes and to look down on places that I would have food for months of travel. For where you had terribly hard sledging, and fly in the dogs I had dried fish. The dogs drew the sleds comfort over the same. The airplane in Alaska loaded with my food, sleeping robes, and the dried is a commercial boon. It is also a boon for people fish. It was not possible to ride on the sled as the who are seriously ill or have met with an accident. snow was deep and you had to "break trail" for The airplane has come. I welcome it, and, though the dogs. Were you to ride you had to dress in I did much work by and through the dogs, I am furs, unsuitable for snowshoeing. So with the glad to take the airplane in their place. Effective Ways of Working I 'Tested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MRS. ESTELLA S. AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO ~'=I= = = = = = = = = = = =_________'I~ NEW WAYS FOR NINE- sionary activity and study, after meeting to which the missionary careful survey of Sunday school, .. committee, all officers and chair- TEEN THIRTY-FIVE young people's work, etc. Is the men of standing committees, A New Year's greeting to pas- work coordinated or haphazard, Sunday school teachers, etc., are tors and church leaders 1 What advance are you planning over each department on its own?) personally invited, and formuthe means and methods of last 3. Report from the Lookout at late a plan to gear every departyear? Is your church thoroughly aroused, informed and geared the Mast Head; or a Bird's-eye ment of church activity into a for missions? Don't rest back View of What Other Churches comprehensive missionary proupon an active group of women (bless them 1) plus two mission- Are Doing. (Cast your eye over gram. For such an endeavor, ary sermons a year to qualify you under the Great Commis- the Methods Department of THE read carefully the articles on sion and the Crying Need. Start the New Year right by a mission- REVIEW for-say two years past "Plans for Pastors and Church ary "arousement" which will stimulate the life currents in -and give a summary of what Leaders," February, 1933, page every department of church activity. How about devoting an impress you as the best plans 99 in THE REVIEW; also "Plans especially advertised mid-week meeting – or maybe an all- for mission study, children's, for Fresh Beginnings," Septemchurch evening dinner-to some such program as the following, young people's, women's, men's ber, 1933, page 452, these arusing either the plain or the fanciful titles according to con- and Sunday school work; for the ticles indicating the ideal comditions, but remembering that a touch of fancy in the presenta- field has been carefully covered position and functioning of the tion of a theme creates relish and so receptivity? and only such plans as have been basic church missionary commit- tested in reliable use appear. If tee. Abundant suggestions for you have not kept your files of implementing details are scat- THE REVIEW, let this be a lesson tered all through the year.
to you: and if you are not al- ready a subscriber, send in your STEWARDSHIP DECLAMATION subscription at once, as you can- CONTESTS not afford to limit yourself to Mrs. Carter Wright, South- brief surveys of the copy in the wide Stewardship chairman for public library. Articles through- the Woman's Mission Union of out the magazine afford ready- the Southern Baptist Conven- to-hand material for activating tion, and Miss Juliette Mather, many of the plans.) its Young People's Secretary, "Go YE-INTO ALL THE WORLD" 4. The Importance of the Log have brought out plans and ac- Book; or the Prime Place of a 1. Sailing Orders; or the Live Missionary Magazine that tivating material for a series of Place of Missions in the Church Records Daily Progress in the contests which should go far to- Program-Occasional or Perma- Kingdom of God. (Exploit your ward training a generation of nent? (Not as an adjunct to the systematic and proportional givwork but the Church's supreme own denominational organ or endeavor without which it has organs, and THE REVIEW which ers. no justification for considering "Few projects," they say, itself more than a club or fra- gives a world-wide view afforded ternal organization. Missionary by no other missionary publica- "have grown in favor and popuendeavor constitutes a test of the tion. Plan for follow-up work in larity as rapidly as the Stewardreality of our professed faith the way of solicitation of sub- ship Declamation Con t est s, and loyalty, for the very heart of scriptions w hi I e interest is delighting both the young parthe Gospel is missionary. Mis- warm. If you wait to draw the ticipants and the admiring audisions now have a strategic op- net, you may lose many possi- ences attending the contests. portunity, for they must save bilities.) Everywhere people speak of the the world from the tragedy of value of the contest in teaching human selfishness which has al- 5. Setting the Sails to Cateh the Wind; or Seeking the Dy- tithing and developing a real most wrecked it.) namic. (Season of earnest prayer sense of stewardship. The decla- 2. Taking the Reckoning; or mations present stewardship of for the Spirit's motive power What Our Own Church Is Doing. and guidance.) tithes and offerings, that the (Accurate statement of all mis- emphasis be clearly given this At the earliest possible oppor- difficult phase of stewardship.
tunity after this service, hold a The W. M. U. understands that [32 ]
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
stewardship includes more than American Life" appeared in part market or bake sale to which tithes and offerings, but in the in our September issue, sends each woman takes a basket of contest this is the theme." the following suggestions in the fruit, vegetables or other food capacity of her position as Mis- whose value equals her annual Sunbeam Band members (the sionary Education Secretary for dues and which, when sold, entiny tots) are asked to memorize Illinois under the Baptist wom- ables her to pay in full at the one of the two series' of Scrip- en's organizations. start. Call this a Dues sale. Use ture verses in a given leaflet, a Blessing Box, each person such as Gen. 1: 1; Psalm 24: 1; 1. Have each member of your young dropping in a penny whenever Job 41: 11; Psalm 50: 10; Hag- people's group read at least two books she has occasion to be thankful. gai 2: 8; Lev. 27: 30; Mal. 3: on the year's themes-Home and For- Or have roll call at each meet- 10, 11 and 2: 2; Lev. 26: 2, 12. eign. "Gold Mountain," by Payne; ing, members coming forward The second test is the Parable of "Lim Yik Choy," by Shepherd; "Ty- to pay, or answering to their the Rich Fool, as given in the phoon Days in Japan," by Spencer, names with "paid" or "unpaid"! twelfth chapter of Luke. and "Japan and Her People," by Hughes, are especially recommended. BUILDING THE NATION Junior organizations each se- BEAUTIFUL lect one of the talks furnished in 2. Present a play or pageant deala leaflet, memorizing and pre- ing with the themes, such as "The A Christian Americanization senting these at the contest, Color Line," "The Cross Triumphant," Pageant memory counting for 50%, enun- or original dramatizations from such ciation for 25%, posture for books as "A Daughter of the Samu- A summer survey of the new 10% and expression and inter- rai" and "A Daughter of the Narikin.' missionary literature revealed, pretation for 15%. among other things, that most 3. Present a debate on a topic ap- denominations are responding to Intermediate age groups select propriate to the year's themes, such the plea for more dramatizations and write upon a topic from a as: "Orientals in the United States as effective vehicles for both given list, some of which are: should have the same citizenship priv- information and inspiration. "Tithing Pays"; "Is the Money ileges as do other foreign-speaking Outstanding in artistry and im- Ours or God's?"; "Non-Tithers' residents"; "J a pan's geographical pressiveness is one arranged and Excuses Answered" ; "Obedi- limitations justify her expansion pol- directed by Mrs. T. J. Hopkins, ence the Master's Test." Essays icy." of Wayne, Pennsylvania, and as delivered are limited to five given at a Christian Americanminutes. 4. Have at least three meetings on ization meeting of the Woman's each of the themes, preferably basing American Baptist Home Mis- The Young Women's organi- them on current study books. Recom- sionary Society, at Washington, zations give original talks not mended for such use are "Out of the D. C. While couched in feminine. exceeding seven minutes in de- Far East" (Hunter) and "WorId terms in adaptation to its immelivery, based on such subjects Tides in the Far East" "Mathews). diate purpose, it is easily transas: "Owners-or Stewards"?; latable into the masculine or "My Partner's Portion"; "In Ac- 5. Have a creditable proportion of mixed terminology to be used in count with God" ; "Giving a Part your membership in a mission study a young people's group as well of Worship"; "The Tithe-God's class, in a school of missions if possi- as among their elders, and would Preventive of Covetousness." A ble. be very effective among pastors speaker exceeding the time lim- for· an evening service. The acit in delivery is penalized by a 6. Service activities: (a) A per- tion, costuming and staging are deduction of five from the sonal friendship with one or more so simple that groups of limited judges' final grade for each min- Oriental Americans; (b) A carefully resources would find it available ute's excess. All contestants are arranged visit to Chinatown; (c) A with a minimum of rehearsal. presented by number only until public program embracing all of your after the judges' decision is an- denominational agencies among Ori- The Master of Ceremonies nounced. entals in the U. S.; (d) A similar pro- states by way of introduction gram for Japan; (e) An international that Christian Americanization Awards (such as missionary forum with representatives or imper- work lends itself to the beautifybooks) are optional, but some sonations of Orientals, to discuss ing of the nation, for it is truly small token to each winner is "What are the next steps in interna- beautiful only as it is Christian. both stimulating and delightful. tional cooperation?" (f) A Japa- -A guest is expected. Here she The contests begin in the local nese festival; (g) Sending of desired comes now! church, progress through their supplies to a mission among Orientals. winners to the association, then Enter a woman called Mrs. the district and end in the state POLICY POINTERS FROM SUMMER Uncle Sam, or Mrs. U. S., competition. Is not this plan dressed in full red skirt with worth trying, either partially or CONFERENCES white stripes and close fitting in its entirety? waist of blue. Accompanying Programs are not the sole end her is a woman dressed as a PRACTICAL PROJECTS FOR and aim of our planning. The scribe and carrying a book made following excerpts from the of heavy 11×14 paper with the YOUNG PEOPLE Methodist women's meetings at Lakeside, Ohio, furnish policies Mrs. B. P. Heubner, whose in a nutshell: Begin the year outline study for "Orientals in with the sketch of a bare tree as a symbol of the local organiza- tion, and paste on a leaf for each new member. This year substi- tute cherry blossoms. Have a demonstration at the opening of the year to show what the mis- sionary dues and other contribu- tions do, using impersonations and dramatics. If commercial methods are unavoidable, hold a
American flag drawn on its cov- the Key Stones in the structure. next speaks to the Guest, hoping er. On the several pages are in- The Master Builder tells of the the purpose of Americanization work has been made clear and scribed in bold lettering the es- foundation in Jesus Christ (see mentioning the rare gifts of the sential points of the program, Isa. 28: 16 and Eph. 2: 20, 21) foreigners themselves: the Ital- and introduces several Ameri- ian love of music; the Armenian "Foundation," "Keystone," etc., canization workers to give brief with his steadfastness of purthese being displayed at the ap- pose; the Japanese-lover of propriate poi n t to reinforce talks on their work. children; the Chinese, devoted through eye-gate the coincident The Master of Ceremonies to the family; the Mexican with his gaiety; the Pole-strong of messages through ear-gate. The next describes the need for Mas- body and willing of spirit; the Master of Ceremonies introduces ter Craftsmen, and introduces Greek with his art, etc. A blend- Mrs. Uncle Sam saying she has one to speak on "Materials for ing of these gifts in the Chris- tianized foreigner will help crebeen invited to the gathering to the Superstructure" – stones ate the Nation Beautiful. record the essential points of the such as human life, men and work and then to carry back to women of varied gifts and a na- Mrs. United States then asks the women of the nation the idea tive love of the beautiful, "ma- permission to speak; and turn- terials of great price; folks with ing the pages of the great book of its worth and magnitude and one by one, she recapitulates the tell them the part it plays in souls as precious as our own, points made (which appear in building our "Nation Beautiful." bought with the blood of Christ." large lettering) and promises The guest responds suitably, She appeals to the Guest of the that this plea for Master Buildpromising to catch the spirit and evening to broadcast a plea for ers, Artisans, Master Craftsmen and Artists shall go from coast have the proceedings faithfully greater interest in the foreign to coast. She bids Godspeed to recorded in the book by her woman, a closer touch with her all the assembled group of mis- longings and needs with a view sionaries and volunteer workers scribe. The two latter are then to transforming her into choice and wishes them success. seated at a table on a platform slightly higher than that of the material for the Master Archi- Thanking the Honored Guest Master of Ceremonies. tect's use. for this promise, the Master of Ceremonies closes with the fol- Three stanzas of "America the The call for Craftsmen's Tools lowing poem and the singing of Beautiful" are then sung, after is next sounded by the Master of the last stanza of "America the which the Master of Ceremonies Beautiful" : makes the opening talk. She Ceremonies-the human materistates that the words just sung al (foreigners) becomes more To each one is given a marble to give inspiration to go out from carve for the wall: the meeting and engage in a beautiful after certain influences are brought to bear through the A stone that is needed to heighten Kingdom enterprise of nation- implements wielded by the Arti- the beauty of all: building; for making the nation sans, one of whom will now And only his soul has magic to give Christian is a vital part of the speak. it grace; 'missionary endeavor because it The Artisan tells of the use And only his hands have the cunning means Christ in the hearts of of the Book as the Rule, English to put it in place. men, women and children. Nehemiah of old, returning to re- lessons as the Mallet to drive Yes, the task that is given to each one build Jerusalem, set the people away ignorance and misunder- no other can do, at their tasks by groups made up standing, Friendliness as the of families, one building by the Level to straighten out the rough So the errand is waiting-it has wait- places for the foreign folk. ed through the ages for you. East Gate, another by the Fountain Gate and still another by One thing more is called for And now you appear: and the hushed the Sepulcher of David. We do by the Master of Ceremonies- ones are turning their gaze our missionary work by groups, Cement to hold all portions of the building together firmly- To see what you do with your chance one by the Good Citizenship and the speaker impersonating in the chamber of days. Gate, one by the White Cross Gate (hospital supplies, gar- this element makes a strong plea -Edwin MU1·khum. ments for the needy, etc.), an- for more Prayer to make the weak efforts of man into a USING SCREEN PICTURES other by the Literature Gate, mighty power and force. while Christian Americanization Harry S. Myers, of the Baptist workers build the portion by the "A building becomes beauti- Stereopticon Bureau, writes: Foreign Gate. The Master Architect-God Himself – supply- ful," says the Master of Cere- "The Religious Motion Picture monies, "through the skill of Foundation, 140 Nassau St., ing plans for the Nation Beauti- Artists who m a k e possible New York City, is an invaluable ful : under Him a Master aid in arousing interest in mis- Builder to carry out the plans. stained glass windows, frescoes, sions. The School of Missions in blended colors in tapestries and past years has been a consider- The first concern of the Master walls. Mrs. B-, who is one of able user of this material. The Builder, to have a secure founda- these Artists, will reveal the pos- missionary offering of 0 n e tion. Mrs. A- (Christian sibilities of music among our church was increased many Americanization superintend- times by its utilization." ent) will now give a glimpse of foreign friends." This Artist sings, "Come Ye Blessed of My Father." The Master of Ceremonies The Council of Women for Home Missions ANNE SEESHOLTZ, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 105 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK ~=~==~===============~ EPIPHANY OR "REVELATION Church, Honolulu, the editor guese Evangelica, Mr. Talmage FESTIVAL" learned that churches, once be- longing to the foreign mission writes: -Chinese Christian. enterprise, have under the direc- tion of the Board of the Hawaii- In 1891 it was felt necessary to or- "They offered him gifts" an Evangelical Association ad- ganize work among the Portuguese of vanced into the cooperating, Honolulu. The Portuguese group, at "Praise the Eternal, 0 families of the coordinating stage of Christian that time, as now, was largely Roman nations fellowship. Catholic, but there were many children who were being entirely neglected by praise the Eternal for his glory and After many years of leadership in any church. his might! the missionary work of the Hawaiian Islands, during which time the Board A young man, Mr. A. V. Soares, praise the Eternal for his open glory organized its work by committees, was called to the Islands from the enter into his courts with an offer- representatives of Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese colony in Illinois. After Portuguese, Hawaiian, Filipino, and some years of constructive work, Mr. ing." English-speaking races, the Board in Soares and his assistants built up a "Let the skies be glad, let earth re- 1933 made what was felt to be a for- substantial small church. ward step, by placing all of the work joice of these various committees under one In 1926, Mr. Soares became ill, and let the sea and all within it thunder interracial group. it seemed an opportunity to make some Let the land and all it holds exult, radical adjustments for the church. let all the trees of the forest sing Up to that date each one of these The older people, all of whom spoke committees had been composed of the their mother language, decided that for joy, Anglo-Saxons and representatives of it should be an English-speaking at the Eternal's presence-for he the particular language group. church as soon as possible. After some months of supply preachers comes, Beginning 1933 these various races from the Hawaiian Board, the present he comes to rule the earth, were combined with the Anglo-Saxons pastor was called. Since that time, to rule the world with justice for the conduct of the church work aside from one Sunday School class and the nations faithfully." of the Board. for elderly people, and the rare use From Psalm 96-Moffatt translation. of a Portuguese hymn, the work has Whereas, in the past, the individual been carried on almost entirely in MODERN MISSIONS IN committees meeting once a month, had English. HAWAII been tending toward isolation, now it is impossible for any race to consider The encouraging thing in the From Rev. T. Markham Tal- itself alone. change from a foreign – speaking mage, pastor of the Pilgrim church to English was the fact that Of necessity our agenda is appall- the old people, who dearly loved their ing in length and often concerns in- church in their mother-tongue, made tricate situations, but there is a very the decision for the change to English. great gain in having our various races sit as advisers to determine the poli- When it was realized that this cies of all. Further, authoritative ac- meant for many of them, giving up tion is cumulative, as the races are the services of worship that they forced to act upon each others' prob- could understand, and around which lems. had been built their whole life, it seems to be one of the most beautiful This committee has now been work- and sacrificial offerings growing out ing for a little over a year, with some of our mission in the islands. This definite gain. It is exceedingly diffi- change was made because of the real- cult, but those who worked with the ization on the part of the older people committees in their old form, know that the church worship could not be that that plan also had its difficulties. vital to the younger people if carried on in a language which they could not Under the old arrangement, the understand. The older people took present chairman of the Churches upon themselves the situation usually Committee was the chairman of the demanded of the younger. Japanese Committee, and a member of the Portuguese-English-speaking Com- A YOUTH COUNCIL AT THE mittee. He can see no lessening of friendly interest from the Japanese ANNUAL MEETING OF group, due to the change. THE HAWAIIAN EVAN- This committee has under its leader- ship 91 churches, of which there are GELICAL ASSOCIATION 62 Hawaiian, 16 Japanese, 6 Chinese, 6 Filinipo, 1 Portuguese. Our church gatherings in Ha- waii, like our political cam- Concerning the church for- paigns, are very colorful. The merly known as Egreja Portu- Annual Meeting of the Hawaiian [ 35 ] Evangelical Association is a big event in the lives of the delegates. It means travel between So we had a conference and we them, customs have grown up the Islands, a week of splendid called it a "youth council." When and have been unchallenged for meetings, excellent Hawaiian it was all over, we found that years, and here as elsewhere we food, meeting of friends and 204 persons had registered and must keep gilding the monu- relatives, flower leis, music and attended at least one of the three ments of the past. Something lots of aloha. morning sessions, and 42 church- happens to the religious interest This year the 112th Annual es had been represented by them. of young people when they enter Meeting of the Association was The choirs were from Hawaiian high school age. It does not held in Hilo, Hawaii, June 23-27, churches only. Hence the major- seem to be a loss of religion.
1934. Hilo is the home of the ity of the young people were of Rather is it a change of values.
boarding school founded by Gen- that race. Yet we had Japanese, The reevaluation process goes eral Armstrong, who 1ate r Portuguese, Chinese, and Fili- on in relation to all of youth's founded Hampton Institute. Ha- pino representatives also. beliefs at that time. He becomes waii is the "Big" Island with its The Association gave official an explorer, and sometimes he two mountains Mauna Kea and recognition to the council and al~ seems to explore too boldly in Mauna Loa, both over 13,000 feet lotted two and a half hours each the sacred areas of religion. He high. On this island is the vol- morning for a meeting. becomes critical of the church's cano which has been very active It was the first major attempt program, its preaching, its mem- recently, always in a friendly of the great gathering of dele- bership. But he still expects the manner. The churches on four gates to give a real place on the church to be an institution deal- of the five main islands of the program to young people and ing with religion. The Christian group sent delegates by steamer. their problems. The meetings be- way of life, the unselfish and One whole ship was devoted to gan with a worship planned and gracious Christ, the ideals of them and they overflowed into conducted by the young people. Christian living, all make their another one-a happy, singing, They found Augustine Smith's appeal to him. Unless the church friendly crowd, most of them "New Hymnal for American meets him at this age and goes wearing wreaths of flowers Youth" very helpful for this with him into adult life, he tends called "leis." purpose. to become material-minded.
Hilo provided a royal welcome. They were very much inter- So the practical question More than 500 delegates partook ested in the discussion groups, arises, how to bring the church of three meals a day, cooked and which had about one and a half nearer to this group and this served by the volunteer helpers hours each day, to consider the group nearer to the church? of the entertaining church. They needs of their own churches. Our council decided that the were provided with beds and They asked and answered the first thing is to create clear unblankets and linen. They were question, "What does the church derstanding in this area, and the entertained at evening parties expect of the young people ?" second thing is that th€y should attended by over 700 people. and summed it up in the word choose their own representatives to sit as full voting members on And a notable choir contest was "Loyalty."
held the first night. In this con- They tried to determine what the official board of the church. test seven choirs ranging in num- young people expect of the Upon the s e representatives ber of members between twenty church. It may surprise us that should rest the responsibility to and sixty competed before a they decided that the church explain the attitude of the young great audience, singing in Ha- should be primarily concerned people, to see that the young peowaiian words Mozart's "Twelfth with religion. There was clear ple and their organizations are Mass," arranged by the leader of thinking on this subject. They given adequate consideration and the Hilo church choir. There is knew the church felt called upon to carryover to the young people probably nothing like this choir to develop activities. But they the high and broad principles contest. Memorized music, with- felt that there were enough ac- upon which the church operates, out instrumental accompani- tivities in school and community to see that the church calendar ment, a little pitch pipe in the life. They expected the church of activities is free from conhands of the leader to start them to be "a flaming torch leading us flicts in dates and plans. In fact off, and yet – and yet – music on to greater and higher things, they are to be ambassadors of whose chords and timing, timbre but today the church is like an goodwill. and phrasing and balance are so ambulance travelling behind, perfect that listeners tingle with Some of us who were privileged to appreciation and excitement. picking up the wounded." work with this group throughout the Then they spent some time sessions, felt that a very important It was this choir contest which with both feet on the ground try- step has been taken. made the conference of young The Association has officially rec.ogpeople possible. Many of the ing to devise practical ways nized its obligation to its own children. whereby the church might serve It is not starting a new organization. choir members are under 30 the youth of these Islands. They It is welcoming them, and acknowledgyears of age. The contest was felt that there is too great a dis- ing them as sons and daughters in held at the very beginning of the tance between the young people the Christian Church.- NORMAN C. meeting. After that the choir SCHENCK, Associate Secretary of the members had very little to do. and the older people at present. Board of Hawaiian Evangelical Asso- Language barriers separate ciation.
NEWS William Martin, well known as student cannot busy
editor of the Journal de Geneva, with his books in the face of Future of Christianity says in a recent article: "Never present threats of war…. It is Dr. Cleland B. McAfee of New speak of the 'next war'-for in this world of mass influence York, secretary of the Presby- nothing is more dangerous. Wars terian Board of Foreign Mis- become fatal at the moment and mass movements that the sions, says that if Christianity when people believe in them; keeps on its present rate it will that is, when they begin to per- claims of Christ have to be become the world's majority re- suade themselves that war is in- -Far Horizons. ligion within fifty years. This evitable. There is no such thing made." opinion was expressed recently as an inevitable war! There will in an article in the Portland, be no next war if the people do Russian Asks Christian Unity Oregon, Journal. Dr. McAfee not want it." who has given 46 years of his A plea for united, universal life to active Christian service, If "the people" want peace Christianity was given by Serobserved that he had seen the enough to work for it, to take as gius Bulgakoff, dean of the facbottom fall out of things several their slogan, in place of "War is ulty of the Russian Orthodox times before in his long life, and atrocious and futile, but," "War Theological Academy, Paris, at finds nothing in the present is atrocious and futile and-it the New York Cathedral of St. world economic upheaval to wor- shall not be!"-then we may see John the Divine, Sunday, Octory him in so far as the Christian fulfilled the prophecy, "From ber 7. religion is concerned. He is now on, war by governments equally positive that the Church shall be changed to peace by "Both spirits, that of the Tower of must supply the leadership in peoples." -World Outlook. Babel and that of Pentecost, have this time of need. He is confi- influenced the life of the Church durdent that: "We have reached Handicaps to Study ing her history," Fr. Bulgakoff dethe day when we are going to clared, "but the prevailing spirit have to have a better spirit in Dr. Visser 't Hooft, Secretary until now has been the schismatic the world, because we are living of the World's Student Chris- one. Fortunately, we are now able closer together than ever before. tian Federation, in a recent to notice a remarkable change. A We must learn how to live to- speech in England mentioned an new message sounds through the gether and the Christian Church Indian professor who said that world, a new spirit is breathing, the is the one institution able to give twenty-five per cent of his stu- spirit of Pentecost, the message of this message and program to the dents were in prison, twenty-five universal Christianity. world." per cent were engaged in politi- cal propaganda, twenty-five per This ecumenic spirit is now awak- Promoting Peace cent were spying on the others, ened as a first realization of the and the rest were doing a little Church's catholicity in our days. In- studying. He referred also to a stead of mutual exclusiveness and thousand Shanghai students haughtiness there comes a desire for mutual acquaintance and understand- ing in the spirit of peace and love. This change has already begun, as the representatives of many different confessions meet now with one an- other without feeling their own orth- odoxy endangered.
Fr. Bulgakoff pointed to two Dr. Mary E. Woolley tells us who asked for a special train to causes of separation between what we can do to promote Nanking in order that they Christian bodies-differences in peace. 1. Assure the President might express to the President creed which should not be evaded that you will support in every their views on the Manchurian in the effort for reunion, and difpossible way a program for situation. Their request re- ferences caused by provincialism "practical pea c e, permanent fused, they sat down in a body and narrow-mindedness which peace, real peace throughout the on the tracks so that no train should easily be overcome. -The Living Church. world." 2. Do not hide your light was able to enter or leave the under a bushel as far as your station. They got their train! EfTective Preparation senators and representatives are In Nanking they stood in a concerned. Rather, set it upon a freezing temperature before the In Basil Matthew's biography hill-that they may not fail to palace for forty-eight hours of John R. Mott, he gives the see where their constituencies until a deputation was received notes made for Dr. Mott's per- stand on this momentous ques- and promises of action given sonal guidance in preparation tion of international cooperation, them. for conferences.
versus national isolation. 3. Do Dr. 't Hooft, continuing his Personal: not join the "defeatist group." address, said: "The European Keep the Morning Watch.
[37 ]
Spend eight hours in bed; also The Elyria League has already of New York City by the Times take nap in afternoon. undertaken a specific work-the Square Mission. The record for support of a native evangelist in September indicated that more Take drive each afternoon. India. The Women's Missionary than 23,000 attended the open- Take time for preparation before Society has also taken on new air meetings. This only included all public work. life as a result. persons who stayed as long as Plan each day. twenty minutes. Many raised Before each address and confer- A College Student Church their hands for prayer and many ence remind oneself of the need of remained for interviews. Forty the Holy Spirit and definitely claim Last October Dr. Hutchison, thousand tracts and Gospels His help for the work at hand. President of Washington and were distributed, and 95 hours Be mindful of the things of others Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, were filled during the month -especially associates. presented to presbytery the with these outdoor meetings on Avoid: church letters of 44 students, one of the busiest corners of Sins of the tongue. with a request that these men be Broadway. The mechanical versus sense of vo- made the nucleus of a fully accation. credited Presbyterian Church on The Cost of Crime Content with small results versus the college campus. Dr. Hutchivery great, i. e. real spiritual results. son explained that none of the Not every one knows that Expect large results: present methods of providing re- Remember that there has been an ligion for students has proved crime costs us 25 % of the naadequate cause from which great re- successful, because the students sults may be expected, namely, the have had no responsibility for tion's income. Here are some long preparation, the self-denial, the the form or expression of their figures that came recently from prayers of many all over the world, religion. Under this new plan a Senator Copeland: the working of the Living, Almighty church will be organized entirely God. of students. Not even professors Losses through frauds. $1,270,000,000 of the college may belong. Elders Property losses and eco- "Spirit of Missions" will be ordained, all other church offices will be filled by students. nomic value of 12,500 Centenary The pastor will be Rev. Cameron m u r d e r s (annual Ralston, director of religious ac- toll) ………….. $1,160,000,000 At the end of 1934 The Spirit tivities for the college. Law Enforcement …. $4,000,000,000 of Missions begins its one hun- Waste involved in dealdredth year of continuous serv- Signs of Church Life ing with crime …. $6,503,000,000 ice. One can read in almost any In the first three months of The Protestant Episcopal paper that the Church is about 1934, four-fifths of all those ar- Church's only official periodical to die, but Dr. Herman Weber, rested were under 30 years of is entering its second century editor of the Year Book of age and many were only 19. Of with confidence and enthusiasm. American Churches has a differ- 12,000 murders during the last It will continue to depict the ent opinion. He says: few years, 4,000 were caught mission fields in America and and sentenced; only 153 paid the her possessions, afar in the Ori- More than 30,000,000 Americans, extreme penalty. It seems that ent, in Africa, in India. More attend services in Protestant and one may murder with a 3 to 1 than 4,000 missionary workers Catholic churches, and Jewish syna- chance of not being punished at have spoken through its pages. gogues every week. The churches all, or a 1 to 80 chance of paying are gaining members at the rate of the death penalty-a little less -Circular. 750,000 a year. Church buildings risky than going swimming! have increased sevenfold in number NORTH AMERICA in the last 75 years. The last census Hartford Mission Fellowship showed 232,154 houses of worship in A Men's Missionary League the country, and the church debts What do the young people of amount to only 11 per cent of the this decade think of foreign mis- A "Men's Missionary League" value of church property." We are sions? Are they responsive to has come into being in the First also told by Dr. Kieffer, president of the world's need of Christ? A United Presbyterian Church of the Association of Statisticians of group representing six denomi- Elyria, Ohio. The League began American Religious Bodies, that ap- nations has been formed in the with 16 men, including the pas- proximately one half of the popula- Hartford Seminary Foundation. tor, Rev. George A. Brown, on tion of the United States is definitely Twelve mission boards were con- October 20, 1933. The present related to some church. While the sulted, and the outcome was the membership is 37. After a full population of the country increased appointment of a Committee of year of experience the men and 22 fold between 1800 and 1934, church Nine to guide the training and their pastor, have a deep con- membership in the same period -in- activities of the group. This viction that they should give creased 80 fold. Hartford Mission Fellowship their testimony to the Church. has presented its message at A leaflet entitled "An Adventure -Presbyterian Banner. twelve student conferences and in Masculine Missions" has been several churches, and it is hoped sent out to leading men through- Times Square Mission to continue to reach colleges and out the denomination. The leaf- preparatory schools as far as let contains the Constitution and A notable piece of evangelistic possible. By-Laws, and, condensed, a ser- work is being done in the heart mon preached by the pastor on Men and Missions Sunday, "Missions-A Man's Job."
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
The group is seeking to go as 3. To stimulate older Christians in courses offered are training prayer and service. graduates to meet these needs. a unit, without stated salaries, 4. To instruct Christian workers to A religious education club, orand take up work in some unoc- ganized by students, is studying cupied mission field like Tibet, make their ministry more effectual. 5. To combat the error and evil problems of rural churches, con- centrating on methods, materi- Mongolia, India, Africa, Japan and deliver those who are being en- als, organization and equipment or China. Recently the group snared. for all ages which can be used has decided to concentrate its study on China and surrounding 6. To provide worth-while employ- ment for those who wish to serve Christ. 7. To furnish Gospel sermons and successfully. territories. Bible teaching to those communities which do not have a resident minister. The Farm School, N. C., has a New England's Student Gospel Team, numbering 35, Movement Nearly 400 different titles, with a waiting list. The team covering a wide range of sub- visits mountain communities On October 19, 20 and 21 students from all over New Eng- jects, are published today, and within a radius of 125 miles but land gathered at Northfield to 57,692,350 books, booklets and has concentrated in four near-by form a new united Student tracts have been distributed. settlements as an entering wedge for an intensive study to see Christian Movement, made up of representatives from 41 colleges, A Notable Work whether Farm school can put on an all around extension program and including both adults and Many useful organizations are there. Agricultural aid, health students from Y. M. C. A., Y. almost unknown and receive lit- work and recreational leader- W. C. A., S. V. M., and church tle recognition. A century ago ship, in addition to religious acyoung peoples' societies. the "Female Moral Reform So- tivities are possibilities under The"Aim and Purpose" are as ciety"-later the "American Fe- consideration. follows: male Guardian Society" was -Presbyterian Banner.
The Student Christian Movement founded in New York by a group Methodists Celebrate is a fellowship of students, men and women, who are challenged by the of women, who after years of More than 1,200 delegates replife and teachings of Jesus to seek enduring ridicule, secured legis- resenting the various branches for themselves the sources of His lation to punish abduction, and of Methodism and coming from power and to manifest, in all the re- by other laws to protect young all parts of the United States, lationships of their lives, His rever- boys and girls. The society later ence for personality and truth. started nine industrial schools Canada England and Australia A committee of 22 adults and for poor children, and initiated gathered recently in Baltimore 30 students was appointed to fresh air work. It provided a for the principal celebration of carry out the purposes of the sewing machine fund, which admovement. One of the aims is vanced money to poor women so the sesquicentennial of Amerito merge activities of church that they might pay for them in can Methodism. Practically groups, the Y. M. C. A., the Y. installments, and pioneered oth- everyone of importance in Meth- W. C. A., and the Student Volun- er forms of relief. Its various odism was present, as well as teer Movement in New England. orphan homes are doing effective various leaders in other denom- A similar movement was organ- work and 37,000 children have inations. An oratorio, "The gone through its institutions. At Evangel of the New World," and ized in the Middle Atlantic re- a pageant, "The Spreading gion last summer, and a national least one well known Presbytericommittee is studying the possi- an minister and editor, John Flame," were presented. bilities of cooperation through- Bancroft Devins, was brought up in a home of the Society and An interesting historical sumout the nation. the manager of the Tribune mary of the beginnings of. Meth- odism in this country was Issued, Forty Years Colportage Work Fresh Air Fund. with a message especially pre- -So S. Times. pared for the book by E. Stanley The Bible Institute Colportage Studying Mountain Needs Jones. Society of Chicago, founded by -The Christian Century.
D. L. Moody, celebrated its 40th At the Asheville, N. C., Nor- Lutheran Anniversary anniversary on November 15. mal and Teachers' College the This agency was started for the junior class is studying a typical Observing the 200th anniverpurpose of publishing and dis- sary of the landing of the Luseminating, evangelical books mountain community, to discov- therans in America at Savannah, er the number of regular church Ga., and also the 400th anniverand booklets, Scripture portions, attendants, standards and re- sary of Martin Luther's tran!'la- sources of religious, sodal and tion of the Bible, the Umted and Gospel tracts. economic life, number and type Lutheran Church in America The Association has kept sev- of schools, distribution of wealth en objectives in mind: 1. The salvation of lost souls who as shown by types of homes, and held its biennial session in Saotherwise might never be reached vannah early in November. The with the Gospel. manner of living. The students convention moved to bring about then turn to the school's curric- a union of all Lutheran bodies in 2. To establish young Christians in ulum to see how concretely the the faith and to develop fruitful lives.
America and created a commit- ard of the Indian Bureau, fed- After Sixteen Years ~ee to work out a plan for mergmg. eral policy toward the aboriginal "Mission Folks and Facts," a leaflet on Baptist home mission There are seventeen branches Americans was such that more work, says: In 1918 the Baptist of Lutheranism in the United Home Mission Society sent out States and Canada. Replies to a than 50 per cent of them "ceased its first missionary to Nicaragua. questionnaire sen t to every Beginning with a small group of clergyman of all these branches to be Indians and failed to be- less than fifty believers, he built up a Sunday school, trained show that 89 % favor a merger come whites." The Indian's en- teachers, and opened out-sta- tions. At the same time the into one Lutheran Church. If tire life was organized on a woman's society sent out its first this union should take place, it missionary teacher and founded would form a church of 4,381,- group basis. He could not suc- a primary school. The primary 094 members, with 15,469 con- school has developed into an ingregations. The L u the ran cessfully compete in white soci- stitution embracing all grades Church is now the third largest through high school, and now en- Protestant communion in the ety which is based on the indi- rolls over 400 boys and girls. The country, following closely upon church of 400 members has the Methodists and Baptists. vidual. In half Shaepacredn,tutrhy~ grown to be one of the largest according to Mr. in all Latin America, with a Sun- American Lutherans, with day.school of 425 and an evening Lutherans and evangelicals Indians lost 91,000,000 of the audIence of 600. The pastor is a throughout the world, oppose the native Nicaraguan. A Christian efforts of the German reich- 138,000,000 acres of land in the community has grown up, and skirche to force pastors of Ger- ~rained .l~aders in the ministry, man Evangelical Churches to original allotments. A few, the m medicme and teaching have support a political program at been sent out. the expense of their fidelity to Pueblos among them, which conthe historic confessions of the Church. tinued their communal traditions Large Home Mission Field lost little or none. Under the old In a block comprising all of order, the majority of the red Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Arizona and New Mexico, and part men saw their own culture deof Colorado, Idaho and California, there is but one Protestant generate and were unable to ac- Christian colI e g e-Westminster, in Salt Lake City. quire that of the white man.
Westminister College has a Hence grew the unfair assumpthreefold task: to maintain a high standard of scholarship in tion that they are lazy and a Christian atmosphere; to provide college courses for Protes- worthless. tant young people in the Mormon are~;. and to offer this type of One of the Bureau's innovatrammg to young Mormons. Ten years of enlarging buildings tions is the training of Indian and equipment, followed by five years of depression, have left a teachers to work among their deficit of $75,000, which the management is now seeking to own tribesmen. secure in a three-year campaign. LATIN AMERICA EUROPE New Chance for the Indian Bitterness Toward Religion Salva..tion Army Work The Government is giving up the attempt to make the Indian A law was passed in Mexico On November 1st a great farea white man. Instead, he is be- two years ago forbidding the well was held in Royal Albert ing encouraged in self-govern- teaching of religion in all Hall, London, for General Edment, in his own native arts and schools, and since then there has ward J. and Mrs. Higgins. The is being provided with modern been a gradual increase in the sanitation and the comforts of rigor of enforcement. Control Duke of York, who acted as civilization. of education and the press is an- chairman, said: other government policy. Since 1887, says Ward Shep- The Salvation Army makes a great The present situation is one of bitterness, suspicion and confu- claim upon the regard not only of sion. An amendment to Article III of the Constitution, which members of the Royal Family but on has been passed by congress but not yet submitted to the states, all sincere and thoughtful people …. I requires that all education shall be socialistic, excluding all reli- believe there is today more mutual gious doctrines. Teachers in pri- vate schools must agree with sympathy and understanding, nation- these requirements. Religious all~ and internationally, and the Sal- corporations, ministers of reli- vatIOn Army, among other religious gion, and societies connected di- rectly or indirectly with the and philanthropic bodies, has had a propaganda of a religious creed, are forbidden to take part in pri- full share in bringing that about. mary, secondary or normal schools, or to give them economic Men of many faiths, some of them support. leading representatives of those faiths It is impossible to foresee the -Angli~an, non-conformist, Catholic, full effect of all this on Protes- tant mission work. Jew, Hmdu, Mohammedan-meet in glad accord to show their apprecia- tion of the retiring general, and thus pay ther tribute to the work of the Salvation Army. .
General Higgins reviewed the widespread activities of the a.rmy, which include the opera- tIon of 89 main hospitals, seven for lepers only; 18 separate col- onies for placing poor families on the land; 120 homes for de- tsheertperdovaisnidonoorfp3h4a,n0e0d0,0c0h0ilmderaeln~' in a year for the hungry poor;
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
139 labor bureaus, and 224 Russia; while the American under the Italian law and coop- workshops; work in 172 slum Christian Committee for Ger- erating with the Foreign Mis- areas in the large cities of the man Refugees, which is endeav- sion Board of the Southern world; the preaching of the Gos- oring under the chairmanship of Convention. The new president pel in nearly 17,000 mission Dr. Cadman to aid in caring for of this Italian Convention is Rev. halls, of which over 6,000 are in the non-Jewish refugees from Ignatius Rivera, pastor of the non-Christian countries; and Germany, is finding great diffi- church in Florence, who finished the direction and control of 45 culty in arousing any general his education in Glasgow, Scot- training colleges for officers. land, and is a well trained realization of the situation. It preacher. The Boys' Brigade is said that one in five of these refugees is a Christian. De- – Watchman-Examiner. In 1883, William A. Smith, a scendants of the Huguenots in Sunday-school superintendent of France have shown, perhaps, the Gipsies in Austria Glasgow, was faced with the problem of holding boys past 11 most concern. Jewish generosity There is still in Europe one years of age with two other men, toward Christian refugees has people who know almost nothing 'and 30 boys, he formed the been remarkable. -Advance. of God, and of His salvation "Boys' Brigade," a movement through Jesus Christ. This is which has spread throughout the Jews Turn to Christ the small nation of gipsies, rov- world. Within three years there ing, despised, often persecuted. were 61 companies in and The Maranos of Portugal are Many who formerly lived in the around Glasgow and later the Hungarian territory known as movement reached such propor- Jews who were forced into Ro- Biirgenland, have now* through tions that Mr. Smith gave up his the Treaty of Versailles, been business to devote all his time to man Catholicism by the Inquisi- transferred to Austria. Thou- the Boys' Brigade, until his sands of them are living in death in 1914. In 1909, King tion. They have retained Jewish closed settlements of miserable Edward made him a knight. mud houses. Isolated settle- customs and forms of prayer, ments are also found in Carin- There are now companies of thia and Upper Austria. To the Brigade in Canada, India, and have kept themselves from bring the Gospel to these gipsies Australia, New Zealand, Africa, is a task undertaken by a lay West Indies, Ceylon, Newfound- intermarriage with Catholics. worker, Walter Miiller, a former land, U. S. A., China, Latvia, student at the Bible School for Denmark, and now in Malaya. Orthodox Jews have been at- southeast Europe in St. Andrae, The object is, "The advancement near Villach. He reports: of Christ's Kingdom among boys tempting to win them back to and the promotion of habits of A gipsy invited me to come to his Obedience, Reverence, Disci- Judaism, but they are unwilling house, telling me that the thirty New pline, Self-Respect and all that Testaments I had forwarded to him tends towards a true Christian to return to a Christless syna- had arrived, and that they had been Manliness," and the motto "Sure reading them till 10 p. m. In that and Stedfast." gogue. So a Hebrew Christian room I found thirty gipsies assem- bled, and I was asked to speak of Relief for Evangelical Alliance of Portugal has been Christ. The gipsies sat with crossed legs on the floor listening devoutly Churches formed by a number of Portu- and eagerly, while the audience stead- ily increased. Thus I found that An important meeting of the guese Christians of Hebrew these despised people are open to the Central Bureau for Relief of the Gospel, and it has been. a joy to me Evangelical Churches of Europe, race,-teachers, ministers and to see their eager response to the now identified with the Ameri- message of Salvation. I am finding can Section of the Universal business men, to bring them into many open doors and many new coun- Christian Council, was held re- try places which up till now have cently under the chairmanship evangelical Christianity. On the been visited by no one with the pur- of Dr. William H. Foulkes. pose of circulating the Word of God. Plans were made for continuing badge of the new organization the important services which An Anti-Christmas Campaign this agency has been rendering are the letters XN. In the six- under the leadership of Dr. According to the New York Adolf Keller in Geneva. As teenth century Maranos, when Times, anti-religious efforts have fast as tthe situation improves so slackened and Christian or- in one European country, new signing official documents, were ganizations are so increasing problems arise in one or two their strength in Russia that the others. Many challenging situ- obliged to append these initial executive committee of the ations confront the churches of League of Militant Atheists have letters with their names. They issued a call for a "Christmas campaign" against religion, to stand for Christao Novo ("New begin November 25 and continue two months. The whole Soviet Christians"), in contradistinc- tion to Christao Vetno ("Old Christians," that is, Roman Catholics) . Mr. Pereira, the vice-president of the new Alli- ance says: "we are not ashamed to own that we are New Chris- tians of Jewish descent who have accepted Christ as Lord and Master." -So S. Times.
Italian Baptists There are in Italy about 3,000 Baptists organized into fifty-one churches and sixty out-stations, under the supervision of South- ern Baptists. Now the Italian National Baptist Convention has been organized with a board of directors legally incorporated
network-the Young Communist Mission, gave some pertinent sionary thinks he is sharpening organization, trade unions, agri- facts about that part of Africa his bush knife on the Lord's Day, cultural advisers, village teach- which are perhaps not generally but finds that the little hut is a ers and the movies, radio, press known. The Sudan is almost as Christian prayer house where and clubs is asked to mobilize to large as Europe, with an esti- the Ndali people hold evening push back the rising tide of wor- mated population of 32,000,000. services. Some people are passship. The northern portion is chiefly ing with hymn books and Testa- Mohammedan, the southern ments. Striking the stones was Reports to the central head- mainly pagan. There are over in imitation of church bells. quarters of the militant atheists 600 distinct tribes. For many indicate that there is some rea- hundred years it was closed to Inside the church were several son for the atheist league's dis- evangelism; now it is practical- little seats, consisting of forked quietude. In many villages not ly open throughout. limbs stuck in the ground and only are there no actively pro- supported in the fork a limb on fessing atheists but Communist Twenty-one missions are at which the people could sit. The party members are winking at work, with 180 stations and 672 speaker had a little stand conthe practice of religion or even missionaries, whereas thirty- sisting of a board resting on engaging in it. Most churches three years ago there was but three sticks of wood and behind that have not been turned into one station in occupation. Only it a firm, little bench. The movie theaters, warehouses, or about 50 per cent of the people church measured only six feet demolished, are f r e que n t I y have been reached so far. Some by twelve and the windows were crowded with worshipers. sixty-three languages have been mere openings in the walls. The reduced to writing sufficiently gardener made a short prayer, AFRICA for some portion of Scripture to the people then revently sang a be issued therein. There is no hymn; the gardener read Luke Covering Large Areas overlapping of missionary effort. 14, with much stuttering, giving his own original explanation. Nearly 30 years ago, Lord -The Life of Faith. He said: Cromer, then High Commissioner for Egypt, invited the C. M. S. Leper Work in Nigeria "The banquet which the King to enter the southern Sudan. In Himself cooked, and offers to us, 1905 the first party went in. The work of the Mission to that is the word which we hear Owing to climatic and other dif- Lepers at Garkida is beginning every day." ficulties all but one of that party to solve the tremendous leprosy had to retire, the present arch- problem in Northen Nigeria, Donald Fraser Hospital deacon who is still at work there. where there are at least 3,000 The C. M. S. has sole responsi- cases. There are 500 under August 16 the Donald Fraser bility for a vast area, compris- treatment at the Garkida colony. Hospital was opened at Sibasa. ing many tribes and tongues, Aid from the Nigerian govern- This event marks a further stage and it is in order to occupy the ment is promised in increasing in the development of the mediwhole territory that the eleven measure; gifts from the Ameri- cal mission established at Gooldstations are spaced about 100 can Mission to Lepers are ville in 1930 by the Church of miles apart. At each station ex- matched by the government. It Scotland. The hospital has been cept the newest, Ler, there is a is hoped that this whole area built and equipped from funds native church growing up. At may be rid of leprosy. raised in South Africa, and is Yei, the growth has attained the the first and only hospital in an proportions of a mass movement. -Without the Camp. area with a population of 150,- During the past year, between 000. At present, there are only 2,000 and 4,000 people have as- Small East Africa Church twelve beds, but it is hoped to sembled monthly for special add an additional ward very gatherings for the deepening of From time to time mention is soon. spiritual life. One of the leaders made of very small houses of here is a young chief from Yam- worship in which the spirit of The appreciation of the native bio, who secured leave of absence God is at work, and where men people was shown by the large frbm his small chieftainship for are led to Christ. European mis- numbers who gathered at Gooldtwo years and volunteered for sion journals give a description ville on the day of the official this service. This young church of a small church in East Africa opening. Early in the morning at Yambio contributes toward which shows under what varied the church was filled with those the work in other sections. circumstances the Spirit of God who had come to give thanks to is at work. Moravian Missions God, and to seek His blessing on -C. M. S. Gleaner. gives us the following account: the new hospital.
In the Sudan Missionary Gemuseus, comIng -South African Outlook.' to a congregation in the little vil- At the World's Evangelical Al- lage of Ndali, East Africa, hears Revival in South Africa liance reunion in London last a clear sound. On approaching, October, Mr. Gilbert Dawson, he finds a gardener crouching Under direction of the Move- Secretary of the Sudan United before a little hut, striking one ment for World Evangelization, stone upon another. The mis- Rev. Lionel B. Fletcher, who has
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
been conducting a six months' ing in some weeks more than understood by all he must exevangelistic campaign in South Africa, reports a spiritual awak- 2,000 people in Beirut and neigh- press himself in no less than ening which amounts to a sweeping revival. He was greatly boring parts of Syria. Last four or five languages – Arabic, pleased to find that converts won during his campaign twelve year's eleven graduates are scat- Turkish, Armenian, Kurdish and years ago have made marked progress in the Christian life. tered in Bulgaria, T u r key, Assyrian.
One man had deliberately com- Greece, Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus A pastor-at-Iarge is greatly pacted to sell himself to the devil, and had actually served the and Palestine. Students conduct needed to cover the entire field devil for sixteen years. By what some people would call coinci- a Sunday service each week at until organized churches can be dence, his saintly parents came from a distant part of Africa to Lebanon Hospital for Mental established. attend one of the evangelistic -Syria News Quarterly. meetings, not dreaming that Diseases, attended by all who are their wayward son, for whom they had prayed through the well enough to be there. It is one years, would be there. Their joy was unbounded as they saw this of the things to which patients New Ideas in Sidon son and his wife walk up and testify that God had saved them. look forward, and seems to bring Teaching in Sidon Girls' solace to their troubled minds. School is not in vain. One class -Life of Faith. studying "Home and Commu- -Syria News Quarterly. Opportunity in Near East American Press Centenary nity" was asked to write on the Dr. Charles R. Watson, Pres- topic: "What Have I the Right ident of the American University at Cairo, says that the Last year the American Press to Expect from My Commudegree to which old ideas in the in Beirut celebrated its hun- nity?" Here is a composite of Near East have yielded to sci- dredth anniversary of Arabic eight papers: ence is almost unbelievable. The changes have affected profound- publication in the city of Beirut. "I have a right to expect from my ly intellectual life, social life and The Press is actually 112 years community safety, clean streets, pure even political life. The auto, the movie, travel to Europe and the old, but the first twelve years water, good roads, electric lights, ice modern newspaper have been were spent in Malta and Smyrna. made from pure water, clean markets, factors in widening the horizon Several hundred million pages of of the rising generation. Educa- meat screened from flies, and the tion is advancing by leaps and religious literature have issued examination of milk and meat. bounds. Feminism is another movement of unusual signifi- "I expect the community to collect cance to lands that have hitherto kept women veiled and secluded. from it in half a dozen different garbage, care for sewage, isolate peo- In Egypt, unlike Turkey, the fez languages, and have been scat- ple who have infectious diseases, and is still worn by men and the veil tered all over the Near East and to punish dirty people; to pass laws by women, but many free social to keep the health of the people in relations between the sexes are even in China, India, South good condition, to open schools so that permitted. Africa and the Americas. the people may be educated, to use the Dr. Watson believes that with money I pay in taxes in the right way. this new day that has dawned To help defray expenses, all comes an opportunity for serv- sorts of commercial printing is "I expect the community to drive ing these people such as Chris- turned out. The present equip- out child labor. I also look for a good tianity has never had before. position and respect for women as WESTERN ASIA ment has been running contin- well as for men. These things will uously for 30 years. cost me a great deal, they will cost me Near East School of Theology courage and ability to work, for it is -Caravan Trails. not enough to see and say, and not to A glance at the field work program of the Near East School do anything. They also cost me time, of Theology indicates that its influence is very extensive, reach- Al Jazireh and this time, energy and money I should save by planning everything at Al J azireh is an island-like home. I should follow the laws of the community, pay my taxes on time and portion of Syria, lying between . be a good example." the two rivers of ancient history -the Euphrates and the Tigris. These ideas were put into Its missionary interest centers practice in a preliminary sani- in five villages, each having a tary survey of Sidon community. small, but earnest group of Under impressive police escort Christians. In Haseecha there groups 'of girls inspected the is a church building, and the men's p r is 0 n, the women's twelve Protestant families are prison, the public bath, the anxious for a school. Am- slaughter house, the meat, vege- moudah is a thriving wheat table and milk markets.
market, seemingly oblivious of When the girls were ready to the depression. The town's present their report they invited most distinguished citizen is a the honorary members of their Protestant. Kamishlie has 81 club, a group of Sidon women, Protestant Christians; they have and a representative of the purchased a site for church and Women's Club in Beirut. With- school. Aleppo station is help- in two weeks the Sidon Women's ing to supply a preacher-teacher. Club came into existence, stat- There are about fifty Protestants ing as its purpose: "The Im- in Ain Diwar, the most hetero- provement of Family and Com- geneous group to be encountered munity Life." Three committees anywhere. If one would be have been organized, the prison
committee, health committee and ing its influence felt in India suIts will be made, and plans outa committee to help the poor. also. Under the influence of lined for future work. INDIA some of the Roman Catholic pre- The initial expense is covered Evangelistic Week in Dornakal lates in India branches of this by a gift received through Dr. The Bishop of Dornakal believes that rural India is ready, league have been formed in cities E. Stanley Jones, whose work as never before, to receive the Gospel. Nearly 12,000 baptized like Calcutta, Madras and Bang- with the higher classes in India Christians were voluntary witness bearers during evangelistic alore. A public meeting was makes him appreciate the possiweek last May in Dornakal diocese. During the campaign held· in Madras under the aus- bilities of reaching in this way in the Kistna area nearly 5,000 people definitely decided to be- pices of the Catholic Social Guild large numbers of educated, but come Christians, and 21,000, of whom 12,000 were caste people, to protest against the unwhole- heart-hungry men who have stated that they wanted to know more about Christ. some cinema films shown in that little direct touch with Chris- -C. M. S. Outlook. city. Protestants and some non- tians.
What About Ceylon? Christians took a prominent A changed viewpoint has be- part in this meeting. In India, . Missionary Coordination come rather prevalent in Ceylon, expressed concretely in a book it is very rarely that Catholics Representatives of ten misby an English professor, "A and Protestants cooperate. sions met in Bombay September Buddhist Pilgrimage." The idea is that when a backward people -The Christian Century. 5 to discuss the question of eshave been lifted by a degree of western civilization they should tablishing a joint business office be left to work out their own des- Appeals for the Colleges in Bombay. The views expressed tiny. All religions are good, but for the Singhalese none is better Advisory committees on Chris- indicate that there will be many than Buddhism. tian higher education in India advantages arising from a joint office. The sale of American The C. M. S. has a large share have been set up in Great Britain in upholding a belief in Christ in and in North America, and in drafts will be facilitated and Ceylon, but there are only 30,000 India a Central Board of Chris- other items of business, par- Christians of the Anglican ticularly those that have to do Church in a population of over tian Higher Education has come with transit and shipping, will 5,000,000. The Anglican Church into existence. The object of has been renamed "The Church these bodies is to see that the be handled much easier from a of Ceylon"; it is the first fruits recommendations of the Lindsay central office. There will also be of 100 years' work. In nearly a a considerable saving in office hundred villages schools are Commission are carried out by staff· and equipment when the staffed with Christian teachers· the colleges, and to help the oran urgent need is that of,keeping ganizations connected with these work of ten or more societies can the faith of these teachers at a colleges to give effect to the be carried on through one office. high level, since even they are in It is recognized that at least two danger of succumbing to the recommendations. An appeal missionaries will be required, axiom "Buddhism for Ceylon." for £130,000 for Indian colleges and possibly a third to make At least a third of the 147 teachers are Christians of ten years' was launched last March; and provision for necessary furstanding, or less. However, in the colleges which are run by loughs. There would be one or many villages there is real prog- American missionary societies more permanent office assistants ress, and a steady flow of those have asked the American Ad- in addition. If this experiment who are "added to the faith." visory Committee to appeal for is made and proves successful, it -C. M. S. Outlook. Rs. 1,500,000 for helping the de- is quite possible that other mis- velopment of colleges like For- sions will wish to share in the Legion of Decency advantages of such a joint. office. man College, Lahore; the Chris- The Legion of Decency started tian College, Allahabad; the -The Indian Witness. in America on the initiative of Christian College, Lucknow; the Roman Catholic bishops is mak- American College, Madura; the CHINA Isabella Thoburn College for Women, Lucknow, and the Chris- New Broadcasting Station tian College, Indore. The largest broadcasting sta- Experiment in Press tion in Asia, and the third Evangelism largest in the world, has recently been opened by the Chinese Gov- Newspaper evangelism, al- ernment in Nanking. A circle ready a tested and successful with its wavelength as a radius means of Christian work in and Nanking as the center in- Japan, is being introduced in cludes Irkutsk, Chita, Delhi, Cal- India. Dr. James E. Manry, of cutta, Burma, Sumatra, New Allahabad, writes that during Guinea and the Caroline Islands. the coming winter it is planned Just what are we likely to hear? to insert articles on Christianity The program from 8: 00 a. m.
in a number of the best Indian till 9: 00 p. m. includes the news dailies, both English and ver- (broadcast in Mandarin spoken nacular. After a four-months' with a South China accent), lec- experiment, a check-up on re- tures and musical numbers.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Both Ginling College girls glee from the God of its fathers! It is the literature, and forming personal faith of the Pilgrim Fathers that club and the girls of Methodist made America great." contacts with men and women in Hui Wen High School have pro- the towns and villages in their -The. King's Business. districts. -Chinese Recorder. grams. A Professor of Nanking Theological Seminary has spoken A Model Parish Government Aid for Colleges on the topic "Educational Foun- dations of World Peace." At Pastor Tien Li Kung has made There are encouraging signs the invitation of the Chinese Government, messages from sev- his parish a model for the whole of cooperation between Chriseral Christian institutions are country. This out-of-the-way tian conferences and governbeing sent far and wide. church had been going down hill ment schools. A youth workers' -Woman's Missionary Friend. until only five members were conference, for instance, was held on the campus of the pro- Press Literature Prizes left, but Pastor Tien threw his whole energy into his task and vincial college at Wusih. A Two prizes were offered by the preached for 50 nights in the young people's conference in Presbyterian Chi n a Council, with a view to stimulating the street, organized two day schools Honan was held on the campus production of Chinese Christian and four night classes, all taught of a provincial rural normal literature. One prize of $300 by volunteers. In each of these school. Mutual understanding was awarded to the author of the centers he conducts a weekly best original production of preaching service. Difficulties and appreciation was one result. Christian literature in Chinese This is one aspect of the very published during the year 1934. which fill others with consterna- Another prize of $150 was tion only rouse him to action. cordial relations now existing awarded for the most effective between Christian and other intranslation of Christian litera- Pastor Tien's example has pro- stitutions in China. The Univerture into Chinese published dur- voked both the county normal sity of Nanking has during the ing the year 1934. The name school and the higher boarding "Press Literature Prizes" has last year received more than a been given in recognition of the school to zeal for the under- quarter of a million dollars service rendered by the Presby- privileged. For the first tim~ in (silver) from various public orterian Mission Press. their history they are conductmg ganizations, among them the na- tional government. Yenching -Chinese Recorder. classes for those who cannot read or write. Twice recently University, also, received about students from the latter institu- $60,000 (silver) from the minis- tion have paraded the city ex- try of education.
horting the illiterate to enroll in -The Christian Century. night classes. The results have Oriental Views America been commendable. New Mohammedan State -Christian Advocate. Chinese Turkestan is a poten- A distinguished Chi n e s e Friends' Work Strengthened tially rich land commanding the leader, Mr. Leland Wang, of Honkong, who paid a visit to A real strengthening of the trade routes that connect India, America recently, was educated Russia, Mongolia, Tibet and in three Chinese Naval colleges, Friends' forces in China has China. It has a large Chinese and at the time of his conversion Mohammedan population. Genin 1918 held a high position in been made by the return of five the Chinese Navy. Later, he re- eral Ma has now declared the signed his position to devote his missionaries from furlough, and state independent of China and time to evangelism. He has wit- given it the name of Islamistan nessed to his profession in al- the sending of two new ones. most every province of China, (the realm of Islam). Accordand in other lands as well. Re- Friends in England have made ing to reliable private informaturning from his visit to Amer- tion, "no Christian will be tolica, he has made various obser- this possible. In the two la~ge vations: erated in the State of Islamistan, cities of Szechwan, Chungkmg and Christian refugees are be- "We have traveled over eleven thou- ginning to trickle down through sand miles in three months, besides and Chengtu, each with over taking about one hundred meetings in the Northwest frontier into different places. One of my impres- 5s0ha0~0e00wiinthhaboitthaenrts,chFurrchi eesn ds India." There have been murder, sions of America is that there are too in imprisonment and torture in the many automobiles here. It is a nation on wheels." evangelistic and educational ef- small Christian community, and the reports declare that there With keen spiritual insight, forts. At the city of Chungking, will be exile for all survivors. Mr. Wang views America's real need as well as that of the whole Chinese Friends maintain the This son of an English manu- work unassisted. In Central facturer in London, a convert to Mohammedanism has assumed Szechwan, a large district with the title "King of Islamistan."
Tungchwan as its center, Friends are the only Christian represen- tatives. Further south, there has been a successful year in hospital work at Suining; while in the Tungchwan and Suining districts the workers have de- world, when he says: voted much time to what one of Inaccessible Turkestan them terms "old fashioned evan- "How sad it is to see this country, gelical work," h?ldin~ m~eti~gs, About the most inaccessible which puts the inscription 'In God preaching, teachmg, dlstrlbutmg spot in the world is that strip of We Trust' on its dollar, departing
territory stretching along the Pan-Pacific Buddhist has appointed pastor F. L. Ching northern side of Tibet through Conference and his wife to open work in which runs the age-long caravan A Pan-Pacific Buddhist Con- these islands. They are the first route from the Mediterranean ference was held in Kyoto last missionaries to enter this field. to the Pacific. Last year a com- July, attended by nearly 700 del- The prevailing religion among pany of six young men under the the island tribes is a mixture of egates representing Buddhism Mohammedanism and animism. direction of a veteran mission- all over the world. A message -The Evangelical Christian. ary entered the territory via the was sent to the Conference by Gobi Desert on two motor trucks. Mr. Gandhi, from which the fol- Jubilee in Malaysia One of the group writes of the lowing is taken: way this large, unevangelized It is impossible for Hindu India to- Malaya Methodists celebrate district is being reached. this month the fiftieth anniver- day to retrace her steps and go be- sary of the opening of the work On Sundays we hold services in our guest room, singing simple hymns and hind the great reformation that Gau- in Malaysia by William F. Oldgiving out gospel message to those tama effected in Hinduism. By his immense sacrifice, by his great re- who come. Quite a number of men nunciation and by the immaculate ham, now Bishop, who is planand school boys have come to listen, purity of his life he left an indelible ning to be present with Mrs. and a goodly number of people, both impress upon Hinduism, and Hinduold and young, just stroll in to see ism owes an eternal debt of gratitude Oldham. They will be guests of what is going on, attracted usually by to that great teacher. . . . .. Wherever the conference. Miss Sophie the sound of my little organ. We have the Budha went, he was followed by Blackmore, who opened the had many visitors from the various Woman's Foreign Missionary peoples that live here–dhinese, Tun- and surrounded not by non-Hindus gans, Turki, and others – and have but by Hindus who were saturated Society work in 1887, comes had opportunities to talk with them from Australia as guest of the about the things of God. . with the Hindu law. But the Bud- As there are many sick and suffer- dha's teaching, like his heart, was alling people here without proper medical aid, the traveling missionary expanding and all-embracing, and so Woman's Foreign Missionary always carries his medicine case, as it has survived his own body and Society. Bishop Badley will rep- swept across the face Qf the earth. resent the Board of Bishops. well as Bibles, gospels and tracts. Buddha never rejected Hinduism but Thus we have found it helpful to do he broadened its base. He gave it a A pageant entitled "The Morna little dispensary work for two hours new life and a new interpretation. every morning. During the last month Gautama was a Hindu of Hindus. ing Light," prepared by Mrs. E. or so we have seen some three hundred sick people, and have been able -The Christian Century. F. Lee, will be presented in Victo relieve much suffering. We hope toria Hall, Singapore. The hisin this way to show forth something ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC tory is given in a book entitled Religious Education Library Malaya Rejoices.
-The Christian Advocate.
of the love of God in Christ, and win In response to an appeal made Fijian Friends the confidence of the people. by Secretary Enrique C. Sob- repefia of the Philippine Com- It seems to be characteristic of -Moody Bible Institute the Fijians that when a new Monthly. mittee of Christian Education JAPAN -CHOSEN that the Philippine Islands be thing takes their fancy they put made one of the religious educa- amazing enthusiasm into it. The Professor Becomes Evangelist tion library centers, one hundred observance of Mothers' Day is choice books on religious educa- one instance; children do all the Here is a bit of early Chris- tion have been shipped to Manila work on that day to give their by the World's Sunday School mothers a rest. Sons send gifts, tianity in modern Japan. Mr. Association. These books will Suzuki, formerly teacher of form the nucleus of a circulating and students go home for the Physics in the Imperial Univer- library for use by religious edu- week end. Fijian women have cators in the Philippines and in linked up with the rest of the sity, has taken up a small farm Malaysia. in a mountainous region of world in the celebration of the northwest Japan, and built for Advance in Dutch East Indies Women's World Day of Prayer, himself a home from which, as a West Borneo, South Sumatra and attach tremendous imporbase, he engages in evangelism. and the 200 islands lying be- tance to it. They conduct their tween, a field comprising from He was once an agnostic, but his seven to eight million people, meetings in a fine, devotional contacts with the Omi Mission brought him to Christ. He fin- spirit. -The Missionary Review ished his scientific studies and (Australia). then mastered Greek and Hebrew in order to search the must be classed as unreached Scriptures in the original. Even- territory. These islands are in" WHY DO YOU GO?
tually, he felt called to give his habited by Chinese and Malay- Some go to church just for a walk, whole time to Christian work, speaking people in a proportion Some go there just to laugh and talk, and chose.this remote and unat- of about fifty-fifty. The Chinese Some go there the time to spend, Foreign Missionary U n ion, Some go there to meet a friend, tractive region. He has an as- Some go there for speculation, sembly hall in his own house which has seven Chinese mis- Some go there for observation, where he holds meetings and sionaries working in pioneer Some go there to doze and nod, Sunday school. -So S. Times. areas of the Dutch East Indies, Some–how few-to worship God.
'~I================I'~
1 Our Missionary Bookshelf j Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information ~,=====–==============~=,~ The Living Religions of the Indian carried on its great work result- able. The pages, too, show an ing from Stanley's call and the enthusiastic admiration for People. By Nicol Macnicol. Pp. beginnings by Hannington and China. The illustrations are Mackay. The book is a careful vivid and most attractively done. 323, 10 shillings, 6 pence. The study of the social and economic No child can read the book with- structure of the Baganda people out coming away with a warm Southern Christian Movement Press, as affected by European in- appreciation of the Chinese and fluences which have pressed in with something of a knowledge London, 1934. upon them. The writer is sym- of the sweep of Chinese history pathetic with the ethical prin- -and it is to be hoped with a The six chapters of this book ciples of Christianity and in the desire to know more. In what main with its social influence. appears to be its primary purwere presented in connection He thinks that missionary effort pose the book has been very suc- "would be infinitely more val- cessful. with the Wilde Lectureship in uable if its emphasis was trans- ferred from its present objects It is, however, easy for the Natural and Comparative Reli- to the advocacy of ethical ideals." To him it is conceivable that specialist to criticize a book of gions at the University of Ox- "ideals of altruism in which the this kind. Obviously it is writ- strength of Christianity has al- ten by one with no particularly ford (1932-34). They deal with ways lain might come to be re- garded as not necessarily insep- expert knowledge of China. The Hinduism, India Islam, J ainism, arable from a code of sexual morality which no European so- literature on which the book is the religions of the Sikhs and the ciety has in fact ever followed." based is good but does not in- clude enough modern works on Parsees, and with Indian Chris- In other words, he thinks that history to incorporate the re- Christian missions should lay sults of the best recent scholartianity. They are a temperate less emphasis on theology and be ship. The author apparently satisfied with their social and knows nothing of the fascinatand restrained study both of the moral influence, with an adapta- ing glimpses which within the tion of moral ideals to the old past two or three decades archrehistorical background and of the African social organization. The ology has given of the begin- evidence is complete that west- nings of Chinese culture, and present situation in the case of ern civilization is going to mod- still narrates simply the time- ify radically the life of the honored story of early monarchs each of the religions of India. African people whether for good who at best are probably only or for evil. The problem for myths. Lao Tzu is spoken of as They represent an attitude of Christian missions is as to how an historical personage, and no much they can contribute to the doubt seems to have troubled the great fairness, not to say of change for good and how little author's mind concerning his au- to the change for evil. thorship of the Tao Te Ching. tenderness, in dealing with the S 0 m e noteworthy characters ROBERT E. SPEER. who might well have been made non-Christian religions of India, very attractive, such as Wang The Pageant of Chine.s,e History. By Mang, Wang An-shih, and Chu but there is no question with Dr. Elizabeth Seeger. Illustrated by Hsi, are not even mentioned. Bernard Watkins. New York, Long- The romanization is frequently Macnicol as to the place of mans, Greene and Company, 1934. Pp. xvii, 386. $3.00. of the type which is not in ac- Christ and no equation of Him cord with the most generally ac- The author has avowedly writ- cepted usage. Moreover, the with any other. Dr. Macnicol is, ten for children, and most de- modern period is dealt with en- lightfully she has done it. The tirely too sketchily to introduce of course, thoroughly equipped style is vivid and eminently read- even children in any adequate fashion to the stirring events of with knowledge and understand- ing for his task and this is a good book like others which he has written. There is a slight slip in the footnote on page 160 in placing Kerbela in Persia in- stead of in Iraq. R. E. S.
An African People in the Twentieth Century. By L. P. Mair. Pp. 300, 12s., 6d. George Routledge & Sons, London. 1934.
This thesis, by a lecturer in Colonial Administration in the London School of Economics, is "A study of the influence of European civilization on the structure of African society and of the practical lessons to be learned in the shaping of colonial policy."
The people studied are the Baganda of East Central Africa -the people among whom the Church Missionary Society has Any of the books noted in these columns will be sent by the REVIEW publishers on receipt of price.
r 47]
the late decades or to an under- A History of Religion. By Herbert observe the distinction between standing of the China of to-day. H. Gowen. 8vo. 698 pp. $3.50. facts and the author's opinions. Nor does the author seem to Morehouse Publishing Co. Mil- Noone can prudently challenge know much about missions; the waukee. 1934. the authority of the professor of only mention of them in the nine- history in Harvard University teenth and twentieth centuries is Dr. Gowen, Professor of Ori- when he makes statements of by way of semi-disparagement. ental Studies in the University fact, but his opinions are in a of Washington, and the author more debatable category. For It is, therefore, a pity that a of several volumes on the sub- example, the fact that Mark bebook which in many ways is ex- ject, writes as an historian lieved that Jesus claimed to be cellent should not before going rather than as a theologian or the Son of Man is coupled with to press have been perused by missionary but his viewpoint is the opinion: "I do not think that experts and so have been able to avowedly Christian. His pur- Jesus can have meant Himself" avoid some of the defects which pose is to trace God's purpose (pp. 42-43). Anyone with the now are obvious. and method of leading men from New Testament in his hands can darkness to light and from judge of that. K. S. LATOURETTE. death to life. The untranslated quotations do not tend to make There is much in the book that A Bosporus Adventure. Istanbul the book suited to popular use. is fine but throughout the Bible (Constantinople) Woman's College, and Jesus (the term Christ is 1871-1924. By Mary Mills Patrick, Dr. Gowen begins with primi- avoided) are discussed from a Stanford University Press, 1934. tive religion, discusses ancient thoroughly rationalistic view- Pp. 284. Price, $2.25. and modern religions, and closes point. He frankly declares: "I with an attempt to look into the do not believe in the existence of Here is the story of a great future. He finds some difficulty any creator, and when I use the adventure in education for the in defining religion; "Man's word God, I mean the totality of womanhood of the Near East by faith in an ideal beyond him- values, not a person or a personal the president emeritus of Istan- self" is too broad a definition being" (p. 85). The reader is bul Woman's College. Dr. Pat- for it would include those who told that "Paul's teaching difrick went to Constantinople as a have no religion. The same ob- fered seriously from the teachteacher in 1875, four years after jection holds with regard to the ing of Jesus" (p. 75), and that the founding of the school. She author's treatment of Judaism the Christianity which will surretired in 1924. During this pe- and other religions, which he de- vive is neither St. Paul's teachriod the college grew from a scribes as "designed to prepare ing about Jesus, nor that of any girl's school of forty pupils to an men's minds for the dawning of one else, not even of Jesus himinstitution with several hundred a new spiritual day." If this self, but that which is freshly students, in modern buildings was the design, all except the evoked in each generation by the and on a campus of seventy Hebrew religion have failed to spirit which animated Jesus and acres. fulfil their purpose. He accepts Paul in theirs." We wonder the historicity of the Old and whether the students who heard The story is told in accordance New Testament but does not these lectures realized that what with the periods of Turkish rule, seem to recognize the Old Testa- they were getting as "modern before and after the Revolution. ment as a special divine revela- scholarship" was simply old in- Conditions under the reaction- tion to prepare the way for fidelity in a new dress. ary Sultan Abdul Hamid and un- Christ. He accepts Christ as dider the new republic are strong- vine Lord and Saviour but does ARTHUR J. BROWN. ly contrasted. The aut h 0 r not pronounce on such matters sketches the dark days of op- as virgin birth, the miracles and Ein Christ auf den Strasen der Welt. pression, the struggle for free- the resurrection. Das Leben des Dr. John R. Mott. dom, and the atmosphere of old By Basil Mathews. Herausgegeben Turkey as the background for The book has an immense von Professor Julius Richter (Berthe new day in modern Turkey, amount of information on the lin). Berlin: 1m Furche-Verlag. which she believes is one of the different r e Ii g ion s and is Price, R. M. 4,80. Pp. 347. most progressive of republics. adapted to discerning students She pays tribute to the noble rather than to the general read- Dr. Mott and his world-wide women who were her colleagues er. There are numerous refer- circle of friends are to be conon the field, and not less those ences to source material. gratulated on t his excellent who contributed of their substance so liberally for the build- translation of his life-story through the indefatigable pen of ing of the College and its endow- Paul, His Heritage and Legacy. By Prof. Julius Richter of Berlin. ment. We are surprised that Kirsopp Lake. The Mary Flexner there is almost no reference to Lectures on the Humanities at Bryn Islam, until recently the state Mawr College. 153 pp. $2.00. Ox- The original work by Ba'sil ford University Press, New York. Mathews was reviewed at length religion of Turkey.
An excellent bibliography, a This is not a biography of in this Magazine. It will suffice list of publications by the Amer- Paul but a general discussion of therefore to note that the trans- ican members of the faculty, and Jewish and Gentile Christianity, lation is unabridged, except for a good index add to the value of with Paul viewed as a "bridge" the omission of the maps and il- the book. S. M. ZWEMER. between them. Readers need to lustrations. S. M. ZWEMER.
and the Cosmos. By Theodore Missionary Facts from W orId Fields. Apolo, the Apostle to the
Graebner. pp. 352. $3.00. Wil- 18 pp. 15 cents. Baptist Board of Wm. J. W. Roome. 95 pp. 1s. liam B. Erdman Pub. Co., Grand Education. New York. Marshall, Morgan & Scott. London. Rapids, Michigan. 1934. The Omi Brotherhood in Japan. Wm. Church and State in Latin America: This author, a professor of Merrell Vories. Illus. 180 pp. A History of Politico-Ecclesiastical $1.00. Omi Brotherhood. Omi- Relations. J. Lloyd Mecham. 550 plIilosophy in the Concordia Hachiman, Japan. pp. $4.50. University Press. Chapel Hill, N. C. Theological Seminary in St. The Responsibility of Success. W. Wilson Cash. 92 pp. 1s. C. M. S. Shintoism: The Indigenous Religion Louis, calls his book "a critical London. of Japan. A. C. Underwood. 126 pp. 2s. 6d. Epworth Press. Lonanalysis of atheism." This is a The Re-Discovery of the Spirit. Wm. don. Owen Carver. 160 pp. $1.50. Retrue characterization. The vol- vell. New York. Zoroastrianism. J. W. Waterhouse. 134 pp. 28. 6d. Epworth Press. ume is a cogent and vigorous Something Happened. Mildred Cable London. and Francesca French. $2.00. 320 and, to the unprepossessed mind, pp. C. I. M. Philadelphia. Jesus Christ and Primitive Need: A Missionary Study in the Chrisa convincing statement of the in- Southern Baptists in the Great Ad- tian Message. C. P. Groves. 260 venture. T. B. Ray. $1.25. 201 pp. pp. 6s. Epworth Press. London. validity of any theory of life and Baptist Sunday School Board. Nashville. Problems of the Pacific, 1933. Prothe world based on materialism, ceedings of the 5th Conference of Stories of Hymns We Love. Cecilia the Institute of Pacific Relations. mechanism or atheism. There is M. Rudin. $1.00. 50 pp. John Edited by Bruno Lasker and W. L. Rudin & Co. Chicago. Holland. 490 pp. $5.00. Universa great wealth of quotation from ity Press. Chicago. Stories of Indian Saints. The Late an immense mass of reading and Justin E. Abbott. Rs. 3. 500 pp. Personal Items United Theological College of Westthe material is presented so ern India. Poona, India. (Concluded from page 1.) clearly and simply that any Peace by Revolution: An Interpreta- in January to conduct meetings under tion of Mexico. Frank Tannen- the auspices of the Inter-Varsity Stuthoughtful person can follow the baum. Illus. 317 pp. $3.50. Co- dent Christian Fellowship. lumbia University Press. New argument. There are some ty- York. *** pographical errors which should Sixty Years of Service on Behalf of Dr. Ju Sam Ryang, general super- Lepers and Their Children. 94 pp. intendent of the Korea Methodist be corrected in another edition. Mission to Lepers. London. Church since 1930, has been reelected for a second term of four years. Dr. It would be well if the authori- A History of the Church in Vene- Ryang is a graduate of Vanderbilt zuela-1810-1930. Mary Watters. and Yale Universities. ties quoted were more fully 260 pp. $3.00. University Press. Chapel Hill, N. C. *** dated as some of them also are Rebel Destiny: Among the Bush Ne- Rev. John W. Nichols, D.D., was perhaps outdistanced and sev- groes of Dutch Guiana. Melville J. consecrated Suffragan Bishop of and Frances S. Herskovitz. Illus. Shanghai, November 1st. eral authorities still living are 366 pp. $3.00. McGraw-Hill. New York and London. •*• quoted in terms to which they Malekula: A Vanishing People in Sir Wilfred Grenfell, who is nearmight justly take exception. But the New Hebrides. A. Bernard ing three score years and ten, plans to Deacon. Illus. 789. 42s. Rout- retire from active work in Labrador no such mass of material as this ledge. London. and Newfoundland but will continue to promote the work for people to could be assembled without some The World Wide Church-1934-5. whom he has devoted his life by help- 130 pp. 1s. Church House, Press ing promote the work of the Internaqualification, and the book can and Publications Boards. London. tional Grenfell Association. He has 1934. been for more than forty years a big be heartily recommended as a Christian brother to the people of The Case for Missions in Modern Labrador and the Newfoundland coast. straight out, plain spoken, well India. E. C. Dewick. 25 pp. 3 as. Palghat Mission. Palghat, South informed statement of a positive India.
Christian view of God and the Africa and the Making of Books: Being a Survey of Africa's Need of world. R. E. S. Literature. Margaret Wrong. 56 pp. 6d. International Committee New Books on Christian Literature for Africa. Obituary Notes Donald Fraser of Livingstonia. By China's First Preacher, Liang A-Fa, (Concluded from 2d cover.) Agnes R. Fraser. 7s. 6d. Hodder 1789-1855. G. H. McNeur. Illus. & Stoughton. London. 128 pp. Mex. $1.50. Kwang Hsueh The Archbishop of Rupert's Land, Pub. House. Shanghai. Jesus Christ and Primitive Need. By Rt. Rev. I. O. Stringer, D.D., died Charles Pelham Groves. 6s. Ep- Builders of the Indian Church. worth Press. London. Stephen Neill. 159 pp. 3s. 6d. suddenly in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Hodder & Stoughton. London. Das Buch Der Deutschen Weltmis- his way to take part in a parish meet- sionen. Julius Richter. Illus. 332 Sadhu Sundar Singh: A Personal Mem- pp. Leopold Klotz. Gotha. oir. C. F. Andrews. 256 pp. 3s. ing. Since 1892, Bishop Stringer had 6d. Hodder & Stoughton. London. China's Problems and Their Solution. ministered to dwellers in the Arctic Wang Ching Wei. $2.50. China Aggrey the African Teacher. Wm. J. United Press. Shanghai. W. Roome. 94 pp. 1s. Marshall, wastes. *• * Morgan & Scott. London. Christianity Tested. Oscar Macmil- Dr. Marcus C. Mason, a retired lan Buck. 255 pp. $2. Abingdon Press. New York. pioneer missionary to Assam, died in The Daughter of Abd Salam. Flor- East Aurora, N. Y., October 15, 1934. ence Mary Fitch. Reprint. Illus. For fifty years he worked among the 75 pp. $1.50. Bruce Humphries. Boston. savage tribes of the Garo Hills. His Ein Christ Auf Den Strassen Der first task was to reduce the Garo lan- Welt-Dr. John R. Mott. Basil Matthews. 348 pp. Rm. 4.80. guage to writing, and it is due to him Furche-Verlag. Berlin. and to Dr. E. G. Phillips that the The Faiths of Mankind. William Pa- Garos have the Bible in their own ton. Second Edition. 156 pp. 2s. 6d. S. C. M. P. London. vernacular. THE MOSLEM WORLD SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, Editor SOME ARTICLES IN THE JANUARY NUMBER: Unitarianism and the Gospel …………………………… Archbishop of York The Study of the Koran Text ……….•……………………… Arthur Jeffery Does the Bible Speak of Mohammed? ………………………. James Robson A Baha'i Pontiff in the Making ………………..•………… Albert E. Suthers AI Madina: Arabic or Aramaic ….•…….•…..•………….. Eric F. F. Bishop Moslems in the United States ……••.•….••..••…………•… G. H. Bousquet Christianity and Islam in Lanao ……..•..•.•.•…………….. Frank C. Laubach To Whom Will Ye Liken God? ……………………….. Laurence E. Browne A Moslem Shrine in Buda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " …….. Ladislaus Draskoay The Moslem Doctrine of Revelation ……………………………"Orientalist"
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The Missionary Review of the World — January 1933
1933
!.., An Appraisal of the Appraisal Robert E. Speer What Is Our Commission?
Henry W. Frost Elias Riggs-Pioneer in Turkey Charles Trowbridge Riggs The Berry Schools of Georgia Tracy Byers Missionaries to Convert the Church w. Wilson Cash A Woman's View of the Layme.n's Report'
Lucy W. Peabody
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Lord of the Mountain DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor Reared with the mountain, Young man, chieftain, VOL. LVI JANUARY, 1933 No.1 Hear a young man's prayer! Hear a prayer for cleanness. FRONTISPIECE PAGE 2 Keeper of the strong rain Drumming on the mountain; TOPICS OF THE TIMES …………………………… . Lord of the small rain That restores the earth in newness; The New Year Outlook HUllWll Slavery Keeper of the clean rain, Rethinking the Laymen's Appraisal TaskH f01' a l'uited ChUrch Hear a prayer for wholeness. The Need for a ChriRtinn Sor.ial Ord(,f ~orifLI IdpalR and PPfRonnl Heligion Young man, chieftain, AN APPRAISAL OF THE APPRAISAL ……………….. . 7 Hear a prayer for fleetness. Keeper of the deer's way, By Dr. Robert E. Speer. for forty years Secretary of thp Doard of Forpign Reared among the eagles, Missions of the Presbyterian Church, ('. S. A. Clear my feet of slothness. Keeper of the paths of men, WHAT IS OUR COMMISSION? ………………………. . 28 Hear a prayer for straightness. By Dr. Henry W. Frost, for nearly forty years Home Director of the China Hear a prayer for courage, Inland Mission. Lord of the thin peaks, Reared among the thunders; ELIAS RIGGS-PIONEER IN TURKEY ……………….. . 30 Keeper of the headlands Holding up the harvests; By Dr. Charles Trowbridge Riggs, for thirty-five years missionary of the Keeper of the strong rocks, American Board in Turkey. Hear a prayer for staunchness. THE BERRY SCHOOLS OF GEORGIA ……………….. . 33 Young man, chieftain, Spirit of the Mountain.. By Tracy Byers. author of ":Warth" Berry, the Sunday Lady of Possum Trot." Do. yQU like this CQPy Qf THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF MISSIONARIES TO CONVERT THE CHURCH 37 THE WORLD? By the Rev. W. Wilson Cash, former missionary and now Secretary of the If so., do. yQU knQw Qf any friends . Church Missionary Society. who. WQuld like it enQugh to. become subscribers? Kindly send us names. A WOMAN'S CRITICISM OF THE LAYMEN'S REPORT … 39 Name By Mrs. Henry W. Peabody, for forty years a leader in foreign missionary work among women. Address … THE GO-BETWEEN ………………………………… . 42 Name ……… A Poem by Miss Lereine Ballantine. Address ………………………. REACTIONS TO THE LAYMEN'S REPORT …………… . 43 Name EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING …………………… . 46 Address ….. Edited by Mrs. Estella S. Aitchison.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS ROBBRT E. SPEER, President SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT MILTON T. STAUFFER WM. I. CHAMBERLAI>l, Vice-President MRS. ORRIN R. JUDD A. L. WARNSHUIg WrALTER McDOUGALL, Treasurer WM. B. LIPPHARD SAMl'EL M. ZWEMER ERIC 11. NORTH DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Secretary cfrl.–_T..:…..;..H;;;…E~..;;,B.-.,;O=–.::.:A;.::R;;;…D~….:O:-:..F—-::.F….:O:….;R:.:..::E:…:I….:G:….;N:..:…-….:M=.;:I…:S:…:S:..:I:….;O=–=-N:….:S::…….–.~ DEPARTMENT OF ANNUITlES Name …….. . YOUR GIFT NOW Address ….. . WILL BRING TO YOU THE BLESSING OF GIVING WHILE LIVING AND THE Name GUARANTEE OF THE BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS THAT YOU WILL HAVE AN Address .. INCOME FOR LIFE THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD ERNEST F. HALL, Secretary 156 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK Third and Reily Streets Harrisburg, Pennsylvania PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE U. S. A.
Golden Channel of Service*
By S. D. GORDON Author ot "Quiet Talks on Power," etc.
MONEY supplies a golden channel of service through which one may reach most intimately to others, near by and around the world. If God be the dominating motive power in a man's life, then does gold come the nearest to omnipotence of any tangible thing. It takes on the quality of Him who breathes upon it.
The man who in his use of money thinks only or chiefly of the years making up his own present life is-a fool. The man who takes into his reckoning not only the present generation, but all coming generations, in disposing of his money is the shrewd financier.
Money is not riches. Perhaps we have not all quite escaped that delusion. And money is neither righteous nor unrighteous. It gets its moral quality from the man owning it for the time being. It takes on the color of its ownership.
Jesus Christ gives us the simple law for the right use of money. Make friends by means of the money that comes into your control that when it fails they may receive you. Exchange your money into the coin that is current in the Kingdom of God. Exchange your gold into lilies. This yellow stuff that we call riches they use for paving stones up in the Homeland. Would that we might put it under our feet down here, instead of being ruled by it.
The current coin of heaven is the lives of men. And these too will be reckoned the precious metal when the Kingdom of God comes to the earth. Exchange your money into men; purified, uplifted, redeemed men. Buy letters of credit that will be good in the Homeland, and in the coming Kingdom days on the earth, if you would be wealthy.
"That when it fails," Jesus says with fine discernment. Money will fail. There is an I I end to the power of gold in itself. Money will be bankrupt some day. It has enormous buying power now. Some day its power will all be gone. Then it will take the place of paving stones. Yet it would seem to be a failure even there unless some new hardening process had been found for it. Better use it while it has the power of purchase. Better not be caught with much of the yellow stuff sticking to you when the true values are being settled. It will all be dead loss then; dead stock, not worth the space it occupies.
Exchange your gold into men. Buy up some of the kind of coin that they use in the Homeland, so that you may have some wealth there . . . People who expect to go to a foreign country provide the recognized coinage of that country before going.
Here is a man who goes from life on the earth into the other life. He will attempt to take some of his belongings with him for they seem inseparable from him . . . But that sort of thing doe!i not pass current up in the Heavenly land . , . There will be a strange readjustment of values on the other side . . . Some who have been reckoned poor among men will be found to be the shrewdest investors. They will be the millionaires of the Kingdom time and in the Homeland-not dollar-millionaires, but life-millionaires. The standard of wealth in the Homeland is lives, not dollars.
The element of sacrifice must be in the giving if it is to be effective. Sacrifice was the dominant factor in God's giving of His Son, real sacrifice. It was dominant in Jesus' giving His own self and His life, keen cutting sacrifice. Who will follow in their train? All beyond one's need should be out in circulation for the Master in His campaign to save the world.
" Condensed from "Quiet Talks on Service," by S. D. Gordon, published by Fleming H. Revell Company, New York.
NARY
REVIB ORLD AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS —- .. ————~——— VOLUME LVI JANUARY, 1933 NUMBER ONE Topics of the Times THE NEW YEAR OUTLOOK may well accept the admonition and encourage- ment of Jesus, the Christ, given to His little band Never have men faced a New Year with more of disciples in the darkest hour of history, just perplexity and apprehension than we face the before His crucifixion. They were a small, weak year 1933. The whole world seems in a turmoil band of peasants; their little country was sub- -warfare and threatened upheavals mark politi- ject to an alien power; the political, social and cal life in Central America, in Ecuador and Co- religious leaders were against them; their aclombia, in Bolivia and Paraguay, in Chile and cepted Messiah was condemned to die a felon's Argentina; in Europe and in India, in China, death and their own little chosen band included Manchukuo and Japan. War debts and economic a traitor and timid and self-seeking disciples. In distress threaten to overturn the social and in- that hour Jesus Christ gave His disciples (in John dustrial institutions of Germany and Britain, of xiv) the remedy for discouragement: America, Australia and other countries. Soviet Russia is struggling to put through her economic 1. "Believe in God"-the creator and loving heaven- Five-Year Program but with small prospects of ly Father whom He had come to reveal. success; her leaders threaten to outlaw all religion in five years. Atheistic communism is also 2. "Believe in me"-the eternal Son of God, and Saviour who had come to redeem a lost and sinful carrying on a tireless and systematic missionary propaganda in other lands, taking advantage of WO:.ldB~~i~vt~ i~r!~! ~~~~a~~~/~~~:t~~;~r!Olil:!~~d folthe present world-wide unrest. In America and Great Britain-the foremost nations established low the Way of Life that He came to point out and to somewhat on Christian ideals-economic de- make possible. pression and unemployment threaten the very existence of many philanthropic, religious and 4. Believe in God's power and readiness to do missionary enterprises. Poverty stares former "greater things" for His people in the future than He liberal givers in the face; mission boards are cut- had ever done in the past. ting down appropriations and churches are fac- 5. Believe in God's abiding presence and continued ing deficits. revelation of Christ, and His carrying out of His lov- This is a time of crisis, but it is not unprece- ing purposes through His Holy Spirit-ever abiding with His true followers. dented. Many times in past years the world has been in a worse plight. Had we lived in the days These promises were all fulfilled in the days of the crucifixion of Christ or in the Dark Ages, following the resurrection; they are being realand had we known world conditions then as we ized today where the conditions are fulfilled. We know them now, we might well have been dis- do not always see the fulfillment and our miscouraged. Today we know and are affected by taken expectations and ambitions often mislead conditions in other lands; we are disturbed be- us as the early disciples were misled by false cause our desires for peace, prosperity and en- ideas. Today, as of old, only God can tell the lightenment are so far from realized. Conditions number of those who "have not bowed the knee may not be essentially worse but our ideals are to Baal"-but they include unnumbered multihigher and we have experienced great past pros- tudes in many lands. It is not possible to estiperity. mate the volume of prayer that is offered con- tinually that the rule of God may be established What then should be our New Year outlook as and recognized in all the earth. The New Year we face present distress and opportunity. We begins with a Universal Week of Prayer in which Christians of every race and tribe and nation unite to honor Almighty God, as revealed turough [3 ]
Jesus Christ, and to seek His guidance and power informed Christian what he writes will come with authority. for the work He has commissioned His Church Mrs. Henry W. Peabody also gives "A Woman's to do in the world. Appraisal" of the Laymen. She is held in high esteem for her wisdom and devotion and her Suffering may come to Christians today, as it views will carry weight because of her experience as a missionary in India, her forty years as a came to the early Church, but all the machina- missionary executive and her wide travel and extensive authorship in the interest of foreign tions of atheistic communism and of other forces missions. Her views are expressed frankly and clearly. of evil, and even death itself, cannot prevail Another paper in this number deserving attenagainst the Church of Christ-in Russia, or in tion deals with the fundamental question: "What Is Our Missionary Commission?" In it Dr. America or in any other land. We have His Henry W. Frost, for forty years Home Director of the China Inland Mission for North America, promise. The forces of evil have tried in vain to takes clear issue with the missionary aims and purpose expressed by the Appraisal Commission. overthrow the power of Christ through lies, cor- We quote elsewhere terse comments on the Reruption, persecution, and death but they have port and reactions expressed by various church boards, pastors, editors, missionaries, and laynever succeeded and never will. men. So many debatable questions are raised by the Appraisal Commission that we purpose to de~ The New Year outlook-with God-is one that vote some space each month to their considera- tion. Articles on the Christian missionary ideals, calls for a clearer understanding of His ideals, aims, message, personnel, methods and adminis- tration will be written by such leaders as Dr. a reconsecration to His service, readjustments to Julius Richter of Germany, Dr. W. Wilson Cash of London, Dr. John A. Mackay, Dr. Wm. B. His program, and deeper experience of His life. Anderson, Dr. Hugh R. Monro and others. The questions have to do with the whole basis and It is not a disheartening outlook but one full of purpose, the message and plan of Christian mis- sions; they relate to the best use of the large promise and of opportunity-wITH GOD. . sums of money expended; to the type of mission- aries that should be sent out; to the methods and RETHINKING THE LAYMEN'S APPRAISAL equipment most effective in educational and med- ical work; to the initiative, leadership and au- As might have been expected, the publication thority of the churches established in the mission of the Report of the Appraisal Commission of the fields; to the whole success or failure of the work; Laymen's Foreign Mission Inquiry has aroused and to the need for its continuance on the old or considerable interest and much criticism. Fol- on a new basis. lowing the twenty-two newspaper releases, the Report itself has been published in a volume Many experienced leaders at home and abroad under the title "Rethinking Missions." This ap- are preparing papers for the REVIEW on one or peared on November 18 simultaneously with an another of these topics. Their views and presoral interpretation and defense of the Report by entation of the facts will be interesting and the Appraisal Commissioners. Many boards have worthy of careful study. The whole future of issued official statements concerning the Report, missionary interest and cooperation at home and and pastors, missionaries, laymen and editors the success of work abroad depends on a right have expressed their opinions-pro and con. One attitude toward these questions now under disboard advises all the clergy to read the volume; cussion. This is a time of crisis not only in misbut the truth is that comparatively few clergy or sionary work but in Christian thinking. Shall chu:rch members are well enough acquainted with we go forward or retreat? Does this missionary real facts of missions to enable them to form a enterprise depend on human energy and sagacity, discriminating judgment on the subjects under or does it depend on divine leadership and power? discussion. Are we to attempt to blaze new trails under the leadership of men or are we to follow more fully In this number of the REVIEW we devote con- the divine Leader who has declared Himself to be siderable space to the Report and its recom- the Way, the Truth and the Life? mendations. This is not because of its peculiar originality, wisdom or authority but because the pUblicity given to the views of these fifteen men and women has aroused interest and even threaten to create a division in the Church. On another page Dr. Robert E. Speer writes a long, fairminded and careful review of the Report. He is undoubtedly the foremost authority in America on the subject of foreign missions. He has studied the subject for over forty years, has many times visited Asia and Latin America, has written a dozen or more books on missionary topics and for over forty years has been secretary of one of the largest Protestant foreign mission boards in America. As an open-minded and well-
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
THE NEED FOR A CHRISTIAN SOCIAL dous readjustment in the scale of living and of ORDER wages. The only solution of industrial and other problems is through the adoption of truly Chris- The Baptist Social Service Committee has re- tian ideals and methods in which cooperation will cently published a call for "A Christian Recon- replace competition; where brotherly love will struction of Society." There seems to be no take the place of self-aggrandizements; where ground for denial of the fact that in every land there will be a return to a simple mode of living; the present social order is based on selfishness- where many will serve without remuneration in which is far from Christian. The Baptist sum- political, social and religious spheres; where the marizes the committee findings as follows: number of wage earners in a family will be lim- ited to necessity; where wealth will not be ac- Our civilization is not condemned as wholly bad, cumulated but will be quickly distributed; and but it is in its policies, practises, and results, grossly where the principles and Spirit of Christ rather at variance with the principles of Christ. It is ma- than the rule of mammon, will prevail in State, terialistic and selfish, exalting personal possessions industry and society. Is there any ground for above public service. It condones injustice, exploiting hope that this time will come except with the comthe poor, crushing the rich under accumulations of un- ing of Jesus Christ to reign in all the world and earned income, distorting the social vision of the peo- in every sphere of life? ple, wasting the common wealth, reducing millions of citizens to privation and a humiliating dependence upon charity.
The solution, according to the report adopted HUMAN SLAVERY by the Northern Baptist Convention, lies in the "The abolition of slavery is an unfinished task courageous application of the teachings of Christ facing Christianity and modern civilization." as to all human relationships. These teachings This is a challenge issued by the Committee on include the conviction that African Welfare 0 f the Federal Council of The principles of the Gospel are socially valid; that Churches. It is true that human slavery is not goodwill, guided by intelligence, is a sound basis for a wholesome community life; that society can be made yet abolished from the earth. Hundreds of thou- Christian in spirit, structure, and function; that the sands of domestic slave girls are reported to be people are educable for social living; that higher in- still bought and sold in China; these servants centives than avarice, ambition, or any other motive are household drudges, often abused and without of predatory self-interest, can be invoked to bring out civil rights. It is estimated that half a million the best service of the individual to his fellows; that men and women are slaves in African and Arab the people can be entrusted with the power of demo- homes; many are kept in ignorance and servile cratic control over their economic life; that industry labor or form part of Moslem harems. But the can be organized on the principle of cooperation for evil is not confined to Asia or Africa.
the common good; that distribution can be so coordi- The Committee of the Federal Council is connated as to supply the needs of all; that there need cerned especially with the matter of enforced and be no dispossessed class sinking into servitude, pov- slave labor in Africa. Liberia is now under scruerty, ignorance, vice, and misery; that civil govern- tiny by the League of Nations because of unment can be made ~he democratic agent of the com- savory reports of slavery in that Black Republic. munity for the impartial promotion of the welfare of There is also contract labor in Portuguese Africa all the people; that disagreements among groups, and other parts of the continent; this is degradclasses, and nations can be adjusted peaceably; that the cooperative commonwealth is practicable on a ing and inhuman. To clear forests, build roads world-wide scale. and railways, to work in mines or till the soil, Such faith is inherent in the acceptance of Jesus thousands of men and women are taken from Christ as the exponent of the true way of life. It their homes and compelled to work for less than glows with the love of Christ for humanity. Its sym- it costs to live in decency. The inhuman exploitabol is the Cross. tion brings misery, disease and moral and physi- The findings of the new "technocracy" are be- cal disaster. Thus many tribes are ruined and ing studied by economic and social experts in an families are blotted out. In some districts forced attempt to solve unemployment, overproduction labor means practically slavery.
and faulty distribution problems in this machine The Committee on African Welfare plans to age. Some of the technocracy group go so far study the problems affecting native peoples of as to say that if we are to absorb the output of Africa from the standpoint of social and economic modern factories where the electric eye, the robot progress and human rights; they will advise with and other machines are taking the place of hu- other groups interested in promoting the welfare man labor, then the hours of employment may of primitive peoples and will make public the in- be reduced to one or four days a week or two to formation gathered on the subject.
four hourf'l a day. Thif'l would mean a tremen- But there are other human slaves-not all so
classed. These are the prostitutes of Japan and TASKS FOR A UNITED CHURCH other lands who are slaves of human lust. They have no liberty because they cannot buy their Organic union is less effective than spiritual freedom. There are economic slaves in Europe and America who are compelled by hunger to unity. There is room enough for individualism work for a pittance and have no freedom to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Among and varied activities in any church or group of these are multitudes of child workers whose impoverished or cruel parents compel them to labor churches. The unity required is that which cenand then absorb the meager fruits of their hard service. Even employed workers are fortunate if ters in loyalty to Christ and cooperation in His we do not all become slaves of economic conditions and of the machine age which keeps men service. At Indianapolis (December 6-9) the grinding away at materialistic tasks, with no spiritual eyesight, like Samson, following a tread- Federal Council of Churches held its Quadrenmill existence without making progress. But the worst evils come from the fact that everywhere nial Meeting and considered the tasks which conmen and women are still in the slavery of sinbound by chains of desire and of habit. Today front the united Protestant Church of America America is threatened by the domination of gangsters, of bootleggers, of unprincipled politicians today. Dr. Arthur W. Beaven, President of Coland plutocrats. Not ready to learn from past experience, the legislatures are preparing again to gate-Rochester Divinity School, was elected preslicense the manufacture and sale of soul and body destroying intoxicants which take away self-con- ident to succeed Bishop Francis J. McConnell. trol and bring inebriates under slavery to lust, dishonesty, insanity, and murderous passion. This Quadrennial Meeting was significant be- What is the way out of this human slavery? cause of the plans made for reorganization in the The condition was even more prevalent and more recognized in the days when Christ was on earth. interest of relating the Council more closely to He came "to proclaim liberty to the captive," and said clearly, "If the son shall make you free-ye the constituent denominations. These plans inshall be free indeed." If men are to be set free they must be liberated from the control of lust for clude the following: gold and power and slavery to personal appetite. Real slavery is spiritual rather than physical. 1. The Council is to meet every two years, instead Let Christ rule in Japan and there will be no li- of every four. This is to secure closer oversight and censed quarter and no vice in the home. Let larger exercise of responsibility by the official repre- Christ rule in China and domestic slavery will be no more. Let Christ rule among Arabs and the sentatives of the denominations. The size of the greed for gold and for enlarged harems will be Council is reduced, each denomination being entitled taken away; let Christ rule in Africa and men and women will work without compulsion to de- to three members with an additional member for every velop the earth and will receive a living wage. 100,000 of its communicants. Let Christ rule in Europe and America and truth, justice, purity and brotherly love will drive out 2. The Executive and Administrative Committees the desire to exploit humanity for the sake of are combined as the Executive Committee, to meet "filthy lucre." monthly. Each denomination is entitled to two mem- bers on this Committee with an additional member for "Whosover commits sin is the bondservant of every 500,000 communicants after the first 500,000. sin." Men are set free from the domination of sin and selfishness as they are drawn into the 3. All members, both of the Council and of the Exservice of Christ and stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free. It is not ecutive Committee, are to be named directly by the necessary again to be entangled by the yoke of bondage-to forms and ceremonies, to passions denominations. There are to be no coopted members. and love of gold and material things, to fear or favoritism. The freest people in the world are 4. The commissions and committees are reorganized the voluntary hond-Rlaves of Jesus Christ. into eight departments,-Field, Evangelism, Research and Education, Social Service, Race Relations, Inter- national Justice and Goodwill, Relations with Churches Abroad, Radio. There is to be also a Committee on W<lrl!.hill.
5. All departments and committees are to be ap- pointed by, and under the direcUon of, the Executive Committee. .
Social Ideals and Personal Religion Another center of interest was the stateme.nt of revised "Social Ideals." These ideals deal pri- marily with the meaning of the Christian Gospel for our economic and industrial life, but add sec- tions on problems of race, world peace, rural life, and the family. The section on Marriage and the Hom'e, particularly the part relating to informa- tion about birth control by physicians and other qualified persons was referred to the Executive Committee for further study and report.
There was also emphasis on the basic necessity of personal religion and Christian faith. No fewer than five speakers dealt trenchantly with this question. Larger Christian Unity was the subject of the farewell address of BiRhop McCon- nell as preRident of the Council.
Appraisal of the
An attempt at a lust Review of the Report of the Appraisal Commission of the Laymen's Foreign Mission Inquiry By ROBERT E. SPEER, New York Secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions; Author of "The Unfinished Task of Foreign Missions," etc., etc.
OUR first desire ought to be and is to ex- in which the Commission tried to consider the press hearty appreciation of the purpose work of foreign missions. The Commission and spirit of this Inquiry and Report and sought "to be thorough in its inquiry and objec- of the unselfish devotion of time and effort which tive in its attitude" and "to consider always the it represents. It was undertaken and has been greater interest rather than the lesser, the good carried through with the highest motives and of humanity rather than the growth of a special with the earnest intent of advancing the mission- movement." (Report, p. 3.) ary cause in its efficiency on the field, and of en- This was the right method for the Commission listing at home a far larger body of laymen in in its study of missions and it is the right method its adequate support. There ought to be no ques- for all of us in the study of the Commission's tion of motive or purpose raised with regard to Report. Our only question should be, Is this a this able and friendly criticism of the work of just and true Report? If not, wherein does it foreign missions. And likewise there should be err? If in other matters it does not err, what no such question raised in the case of criticism help can we derive from it? Missionaries and of this criticism. Missionaries and missionary missionary administrators are not holding jobs.
administrators ought to welcome this review of They are spending their lives and they want to them and their work with no reference to motive spend them in the wisest and most fruitful way.
or intentions, except gladly and unreservedly to The Criticisms of Missions acknowledge that both the Inquiry and the Re- port have been animated by the highest and the Let it be said at once that there ought to be no worthiest purpose. Likewise those who must sensitiveness at all on the part of Missions and now appraise this appraisal must not be charged Boards with regard to their being passed under with prejudice or obstinacy if they find things the severest criticism. The Report begins with from which they must dissent. They must be the recognition of the fact that this has been the credited with the same sincerity and open-mind- lot of Protestant missions since they began. In- edness and right purpose with which they gladly deed it was the lot of St. Paul at the outset. And credit others. modern missions were launched against an ocean Some of those engaged in this Inquiry and Re- of criticism both within and without the Church.
port are among one's best and dearest friends, Never during their history have foreign missions who have been known and loved for many years, been free from scrutiny and appraisal. They but the matter to be considered is not concerning have not asked to be. On the contrary, if I may the devoted persons engaged in the Report but repeat words written many months before the the Report itself. The Report is an objective Laymen's Foreign Missions Inquiry was first document, now printed and copyrighted in final suggested: form, and it is to be studied and judged for what "The foreign mission enterprise criticizes itself far it is and as it stands. Interpretations and quali- more within than it is criticized without. There could fications, such as were offered at the Conference be made with little difficulty a list of reports, books on November 18 and 19 (to which reference will and articles by missionaries and missionary adminis- be made), will not reach the tens of thousands trators which deal far more radically and intelligently of persons to whom the Report and the publicity with the problems of missions than the critics have done from without. Noone ever dealt more vigor- releases will have gone. It is these documents ously with the problem of the relation of missions and and the judgments contained in them that alone education than Rufus Anderson, or of missions and are to be considered and they ought to be con- subsidies that John L. Nevius, or of missions and sidered in the same unflinching and objective way economics than A. G. Jones, or of missions and gov- [7]
ernments than R. N. Cust, or of missions and society fact the financial response from the laymen was than J. C. Gibson, or of missions and national char- negligible and the Inquiry was carried through, acter than Guido Verbeck and Samuel A. Barnett, or not as a great and widespread movement of layof missionary administration than S. J. Clark. The men, but by a very small and devoted group. In foreign mission movement is full of shortcomings. It this it was in the true line of foreign missions must inevitably be. Its central idea becomes con- which has always been a small minority movefused. The great religious and theological convictions ment, a few individuals leading and seeking to back of it become relaxed or distorted. Its best agents inspire and carry the rest. realize most their inadequacy. And all of its agents are not the best. But so far as it is genuine and true And the Report itself is not really a laymen's it will go on, and criticism will help it and not hurt it. Report. A full third of it is a careful discussion It will winnow and clarify, and while it may cut down of the theological and religious and psychological the volume of support, especially the unjustified criti- basis of foreign missions, written by two of the cism that goes on within the Church and among the ablest and most justly respected philosophers of Christian people who ought to be supporting missions, our country. Three of the fifteen members of all this will be beneficial. Foreign missions have al- the Commission were ministers and three were ways been a small minority cause, and will continue ,so. women. Only three members would class with The worthwhile causes live by their worthwhileness, the type of business laymen to whom the newsnot by majority commendation. papers and the popular impression attribute the Report. Is It a Laymen's Report? All this does not discredit the Report or affect The special elements of significance in the criti- our judgments about it, which must be absolutely cisms of this Appraisal Commission's Report are objective. The Report is the Report and it is its friendly intent, its comprehensiveness, its with it alone that we have to deal. It is very deserious and persuasive presentation, the gravity sirable, however, that we should approach it and of the fundamental issues which it raises and the deal with it on a basis of absolute truth and realextraordinary publicity which has been organized ity as to how it originated and what it represents. for it. As a matter of fact, the "laymen" idea can be easily overdone. It is overdone in such state- Before we go on to study the Report there are ments as the one made on November 18, "It is two or three matters which deserve comment. we laymen who furnish the money." Most of First, in the interest of absolute truth and real- the money comes from women, and in many ity we should examine the impression that this is churches the largest individual donor is the pasa laymen's report and that it represents a great tor. Churches can be named where almost the body of lay concern which undertook the move- whole contribution is from the minister and his ment spontaneously because, as stated at the wife. There is no more infallability or authority meeting on November 18 and 19, "Things were in the views of laymen than in the views of any not right on the foreign field. There were omi- other class. And it does not matter whether the nous rumors. The Boards themselves did not Report was produced by laymen or by theologians seem to know how to direct the work under their or philosophers or women. It must be taken for care." It was stated also that as soon as the what it is and considered as a serious and honest idea of the Inquiry was broached by one denomi- appraisal by sincere and honest and capable men national group "the other denominations came and women. The only relevant question is, how and asked, why can't we join the enterprise?" far is it right and how far is it wrong? The Report itself states the matter more accurately. Members of the other denominations Why the Publicity Releases? were invited and urged to join, and in some cases were persuaded only with difficulty because of The other matter regarding which in all hontheir doubt as to the timeliness of the undertak- esty a word should be said is the "publicity reing, only two years after the Jerusalem Council, leases." When the first copies of the Report were and as to the character and value of the investi- placed in the hands of the Boards in September, gation proposed. Later when the Inquiry Com- after the meeting in Mohonk at which the Committee was constituted, consisting of seven groups mission presented its Report formally to those of five members each from seven denominations, members of the Inquiry who were present, they the real activity was undertaken by a small ex- contained the assurance and admonition that the ecutive committee of seven, and the actual burden Report was to be held confidential until Novemwas borne by a still smaller number. An earnest ber 18, when the Commission expected to present effort was made to enlist a large number of spon- the Report formally to members of the Missionsors, partly to help finance the Inquiry and partly ary Boards. The Mission Boards scrupulously in hope that when the Report was made it might observed this requirement. The Inquiry did not lead, with their support, to a great revival of the do so. It gave as its reason for the enormous Laymen's Missionary Movement. As a matter of
AN APPRAISAL OF THE APPRAISAL
publicity campaign which was launched, that it appointed by the Boards. This was the only was desired to awaken public interest and secure form in which the matter ever came before some the wide reading of the full Report when it should of the Boards. The few laymen who were guid- appear. It would seem that the only possible ing it, however, decided that it was better to ethical corollary should have been to release the carry it forward in complete independence of the Boards from the prohibition which the Inquiry Boards, and this was done. The confusion as to had ignored. This was not done and the Boards the scope of the Report is over the question as to were in consequence obliged to be silent when whether the representations and recommenda- their constituents were demanding why they tions of the Report relate only to the missions made no explanation of their position under the of the seven denominations to which the members flood of criticism, and demanded change in the of the Inquiry belong or if they apply to other releases. denominations and also to the missions of other These releases were limited to actual quota- nationalities. It was said by some of the Com- tions from the Report, but the publicity agent missioners at the meeting on November 18 and used the sections most likely to arouse public con- 19 that while the commissioners had viewed other cern, and the character of newspaper editorials work than that of the seven denominations, and headlines was not always unwarranted by nevertheless the Report confined itself to them.
his selections, especially as he set in heavy-faced The Report, however, does not support this view.
type any paragraphs that might be given a sensa- The Foreword makes no mention of any limita- tional construction. tion. It says the study "was to include an objec- The publicity releases have indeed aroused tive view of the presuppositions of the entire en- great interest and also great concern. They were terprise," and was to offer recommendations re- welcomed chiefly by those newspapers which have garding "missionary activities of every sort."
been hostile to missions and by those individuals And the proposals of the Report regarding the who were already antagonistic. They have so basis of missions, policies of work, cooperation aroused a great body of the Christian constitu- and unity, evangelism, personnel, organization encies that they have frustrated their own pur- and administration, are not limited at all to the pose and have made it difficult to secure a fair missions of the seven American denominations consideration of the good elements in the Report. but affect not one whit less all missions of all na- It is interesting to note that in Great Britain, tions. It is this that gives very grave concern after the first few releases, the whole publicity to our British and Canadian missionaries and effort was suppressed by the British Missionary Boards and the large number of groups in the Societies and the British newspapers. It is in- Foreign Missions Conference of North America, teresting also to note that the whole psychology which had no relationship to the Inquiry and Re- of this approach to the Church at home is dia- port. With no voice in the matter they are as metrically opposed to the advice of the Report as deeply affected as anyone else, and the publicity to the missionary approach abroad. The first act releases were poured upon their constituencies of the Inquiry was to do the very sort of thing as elsewhere.
the Report condemns, namely, to antagonize in- The Spirit and Extent of the Appraisal stead of conciliate, to magnify variance instead As we read the Report we cordially recognize of agreement. And does the Report itself always the high mindedness of it, the beautiful literary escape this danger? statement, especially of the first four chapters, Who Was Responsible? the conscientious effort to express accurate and This fact brings to light one more confused just judgments, the ability with which so many feature of the situation which in the interest of different minds and types as the Commission accuracy and truthfulness needs to be clarified, comprise were brought into effective accord, the namely, the responsibility of the Inquiry and the positive confidence and assuredness of opinion, scope of the Report. The Inquiry has been more the courageous destructiveness combined with than once spoken of as representing the seven the purpose of construction, the fearlessness of denominations and sometimes as representing the prediction, the rich humanism, the effort at in- Boards of the seven denominations from which clusion, the unhesitating counsels of perfection, there were members on the Inquiry (Baptist, the competence with which the materials have Congregational, Episcopal, Methodist, Presby- been admitted or discarded, the severity and the terian, Reformed Church in America, United urbanity. One must recognize also, however, the Presbyterian). The Report itself speaks twice of utter inadequacy of the time allowed for such a the "Boards cooperating in this Inquiry." colossal task as the appraisal of the most ex- Originally it was intended that an Inquiry tensive and intricate activity of the Christian should be conducted by a commission of laymen Church. The calendar indeed appears to have
been kind to the Commission, since the Report depth of background. It lacks the evidence of itself states that the Commission was able to the saturation of men's minds in the history and spend three weeks in Central China with head- life of the expansion of Christianity as a great quarters in Shanghai between March 11 and organic movement. It was stated on November March 25! If it means, however, that of three 18 that a chapter on the history of missions had weeks spent in Central China two were spent in been prepared for the Report but had been omit- Shanghai, that would signify that the Commis- ted for lack of room. It would be interesting to sion had one week for Central China and the see that chapter. The Report itself does not bear whole Yangtse Valley. the marks of sufficient first-hand knowledge of The time spent in India and Burma was three the missionary issues in the Apostolic, the medi- months. And why was Burma included and eval and the modern Church. Indeed St. Paul is Korea, racially, politically and religiously at least left out entirely of the first four chapters on the as close to Japan as Burma is to India, omitted? basis of missions except for one reference to his The whole time in China was two and a half tact at Athens (which passes over the sequel), months, at a time of great political disturbances and for the statement that he was not a "foreign limiting travel, and in Japan less than six weeks. missionary after our present pattern." But apart Only the bravest folk would venture on such a from the New Testament, there is no background responsible appraisal as this Report on the basis of appreciation of the evolution of missions or of of such an experience, unless they already had the true motives of the early missionaries, their formed convictions regarding many of the issues attitude to the non-Christian religions and their involved. Nine months would not warrant such interest in social and physical welfare as well as a Report as this unless it rests also, as it ob- in the salvation of souls. The Report defines the viously does, and as it was certain that it must, historical missionary motive as including "'a con- on broad postulates, such as the conceptions of cern for the spiritual welfare of the Orient," "a Christianity and the Church, which were carried fundamental groping toward the moral unity of to Asia and were not drawn from the observa- the world," "a regard for the inner health and tions of those nine months. truth of the existing Church" (p. 9).
Even the work of the three "Fact Finding This is not an authentic picture, especially Groups" which preceded by a year the visit of when we add to it the touches of the Report with the Commission, and whose work was submitted regard to the absorption of the early missionaries'
to the Commission for its use, could not have been thought in saving individuals souls (pp. 19, 61), so adequately exhaustive and accurate as to carry and their want of interest in economic and social the warrant of complete authority. These pre- issues. The most nearly adequate statement of liminary groups were made up of diligent and the early motive is given in the Report on careful workers and it is to be hoped that the page 35: results of their work will be made available. But The original objective of the mission might be stated a pamphlet distributed with the expressed ap- as the conquest of the world by Christianity; it was a proval of the Inquiry, at the meeting on Novem- world benevolence conceived in terms of a world cam- ber 18, stated that there were not a few men "of paign. There was one way of salvation and one only, rather small calibre" in the fact finding groups. one name, one atonement; this plan with its particular Perhaps one may say good-naturedly that this historic center in the career of Jesus must become the judgment may comfort the main body of mission- point of regard for every human soul. The universal aries of whom, as we shall see, the Report says, quality of Christianity lay not alone in its valid prin- "The greater number seem to us of limited out- ciples of truth and morals, but in an essential paradox, look and capacity" (p. 15). They and the "Fact the universal claim of one particular hi·storic fact: Finders" must console one another. the work of Christ. General principles may be rea- soned out, and perhaps proved, so that all men must As we come now to the substance of the Report accept them. But particular facts cannot be proved; there are many right and sound counsels in it they must be recognized. Hence, in respect to its and with some of these we shall deal later. And central fact Christianity was neces,sarily dogmatic- there are also some counsels, which are the major it could only say Ecce Homo, Behold the Man; and it issues of the Report, which seem to us so grave, was committed to a certain intolerance, beneficent in so unsound, so dangerous that one must speak purpose-in the interest of the soul it could allow no of them in the same straightforward and un- substitute for Christ. It came to proclaim truth, flinching manner which characterizes the Report. which is universal; but its truth was embodied in a particular person and his work.
A Lack of Missionary Background The implication is that the new objective and Before taking these matters up in detail there motive must be different. Even this, however, are three broad observations to be made. would need to be supplemented to give it full his- 1. The Report suffers from a lack of adequate toric validity, (a) by recognition of the place in
AN APPRAISAL OF THE APPRAISAL
the historic motive of the personal love for their program. And those who were the most Christ. Even with David Livingstone in his ex- intense in their conception of Christianity as sal- ploring days this was the motive: "Shall not the vation for the individual soul for eternity were love of Christ carry the missionary where the more zealous than others who were philanthro- love of gain carries the trader1" Whether it is pists only, in the wealth of their human service.
called delusion or reality, the fact is that this and I pick out only two illustrations. They are not nothing else has been the primary element in the exceptions. They are truly representative.
historic missionary motive. One was William Carey. The missionary meth- (b) By realizing the scope and depth of the ods which he advocated included agriculture, the introduction of good cattle, and promotion of the social ideals of the early missionaries. It has conscious interests of the people. The project come to be accepted as assured fact that the which he set about accomplishing at once upon founders of the modern foreign missionary enter- his arrival in India was a mission which would prise were destitute of the social ideal. Their maintain itself upon and for the industrial life motives and aims, it is supposed, were purely in- of the community. He engaged in the manufacdividualistic and other-worldly. They were seek- ture of indigo. He made the best type and the ing to save souls one by one from a futUre doom best paper in India. He devised new methods of and had no conception of the mission of Chris- paper manufacture. He introduced the first tianity to bind men together in a purified human steam engine erected in India. He began the first society. Therefore their one method was to pre. Indian newspaper. He studied the natural hissent the Gospel orally, to the neglect of those tory of the country and began great collections forms of social service and those conceptions of and laid out experimental gardens. "Spare no human ministry which to our modern view are an pains to get me seeds and roots," he wrote to his essential part of the Gospel and an indispensable son William and names several specimens he deagency in its propagation, because without them sires. His letters are full of these matters. On words alone can neither express nor convey it. August 5, 1794, he wrote to the Society at home, Almost all of our recent missionary literature ac- "I wish you also to send me a few instruments cepts without question this view of the motive of husbandry, viz., scythes, sickles, plough-wheels, and method of the early missionaries.
The Early Missionaries and Social Service and such things; and a yearly assortment of all garden and flowering seeds, and seeds of fruit In affirming the presence in the early mission- trees, that you can possibly procure; and let aries of an intensely rigorous and solemn spirit, them be packed in papers, or bottles well stopped, modern writers are wholly right. These mission- which is the best method. All these things at aries did believe that eternal issues hang upon whatever price you can procure them, and the the relation of men to Christ. They accepted seeds of all sorts of field and forest trees, etc., I without wavering the New Testament view of the will regularly remit you the money for every significance for the world to come of human faith year; and I hope that I may depend upon the and character in this world. They believed that exertions of my numerous fri~nds to procure all men needed to be saved, and that there was them. Apply to London seedsIl}en ,and others, as none other Name given under heaven among men it will be a lasting advantage to this country; by which they might be saved, except the name and I shall have it in my power to do this for of Christ. They did seek to reach men one by what I now call my own country. – Only take care one and to secure the conversion of individuals. that they are new and dry." He founded in 1820 They did believe that the things which are seen "The Agricultural and Horticultural Society in are temporal and that the things which are un- India" and prepared its inquiries which, as Dr. seen are eternal, and they did conceive separately George Smith said, "show a grasp of principles, of Christianity and of the physical and social a mastery of detail and a kindliness of spirit fruitage which it might bear. The earnestness which reveal the practical farmer, the accomof their convictions in these respects cannot be plished observer, and the thoughtful philanthrooverstated. Without it they would never have pist all in one." One only we may quote: faced the inertia and resistance of the Church and of society and succeeded in launching their In what manner do you think the comforts of the undertaking. It would be easy to put together a peasantry around you could be increased, their health mass of testimony illustrative of the strength of better secured, and their general happiness promoted?
their grasp of the individualistic elements in This Society' became a great influence for good Christianity and of their sense of its eternal sig- in India, and later grew into three and formed nificance. the model for the Royal Agricultural Society of But the early missionaries did not lack the so- England, founded in 1838. He justified his ac- cial idea. Many· of them, indeed, over-socialized tion in these matter, "by quoting his hero, David
Brainerd, who was constrained to assist his In- about, that is not traceable in its origin to the< Chrisdian converts with his counsels in sowing their tian missionaries. I have inquired among all kinds of maize and arranging their secular concerns. people from all parts of China for such an activity of 'Few,' he adds with the true breadth of genius non-Christian origin without finding one. which converted the Baptist shoemaker into the Christian statesman and scholar, 'who are ex- The other illustration is from a home administensively acquainted with human life, will esteem trator, Jeremiah Evarts, Secretary of the Amerthese cares either unworthy of religion or incon- ican Board. In his "Address to the Christian Pubgruous with its highest enjoyments.''' He pro- lic," issued in 1812 he declares: tested against the narrowness of supporters of the work in America who had given money for It is now generally seen and felt, by those who have theological teaching which was not to be used any claim to be considered as proper judges, that for teaching science. "I never heard anything Christianity is the only remedy for the disorders and more illiberal. Pray, can youth be trained up for miseries of this world, as well as the only foundation the Christian ministry without science? Do you of hope for the world to come. No other agent will in America train up youths for it without any ever control the violent passions of men, and without knowledge of science?" the true religion all attempts to meliorate the condi- tion of mankind will prove as illusory as a feverish Carey began the great movements for the care dream. The genuine patriot, therefore, and the genuof the leper, for the abolition of widow burning ine philanthropist must labor, so far as they value the and infanticide, and for the abatement of other prosperity of their country and the happiness of the moral evils which "he opposed all his life with human race, to diffuse the knowledge and the influence a practicable reasonableness till he saw the pub- of Christianity at home and abroad. Thus will they lic opinion he had done so much to create tri- labor most effectually to put a final period to oppresumph. He knew the people of India, their re- sion and slavery, to per1idy and war, and to all the ligious, social, and economic condition as no trains of evils which falsehood, ambition and cruelty Englishman before him had done. He stood be- have so profusely scattered through the world. tween them and their foreign Government at the beginning of our intimate contact with all classes Some of the contrasts and judgments of the as detailed administrators and rulers." Carey's Report would have been modified and given a difbiography is one long record of ceasless fidelity ferent tone and proportion if those who made to his central, individual, spiritual aim at the them had been thinking of the missionary entersame time that he served society with more power prise with the kind of saturation in its organic and vigor, pouring out of this one man, than can character and tradition without which they would be found in some whole present-day governments. hesitate to be so positive in the sphere of busi- And yet the Appraisal Report says, "earlier mis- ness or medicine or education or philosophy. The sionaries were quite ignorant of social programs," Report does not realize that the whole missionary etc. (p. 245), and "nowhere in these countries effort is human and natural and that a missionary have missions made any notable or significant lives as a neighbor and friend among the people contribution to the solution of social and eco- and brings his message through normal human nomic problems nor promoted a program for relationships. their amelioration except in local situations" (p. 250). A deeper background and a more organic feel- ing and a richer and more real human apprehen- Contrast this with F. W. Stevens' testimony sion would have resulted in a more evolutionary regarding China. Mr. Stevens was on the faculty approach to the problems of the Report. The Reof the law school of the University of Michigan. port has been called "revolutionary." That is He went to China as the American representative hardly.true except with regard to its great basic of the Banker's Consortium, with no knowledge proposal, which the Report itself declares· must of and no special sympathy with the missionary supplant the old basis. Apart from that, the movement. He said in a public address in Peking: recommendations are not so novel or radical, but they are presented with what the Report itself I have come to believe that America's greatest con- declares to be a wrong psychology. Instead of tribution to China, greater even than American politi- building them into, the Report would build them cal friendship is the work of the American Christian instead of, what is. It would get rid of the people missionaries in China. This statement may indicate who alone are doing the work and would replace the importance I attach to the need of moral regenera- them with others of a different type and motive, tion which must precede any great political and in- on the bold assumption (which is untested and, dustrial improvement. In all China there is not a we believe, unfounded) that the others will be single organization on a scale of importance that aims available, and that the present ones who are to be at moral improvement or that is calculated to bring it relieved as unsatisfactory will await their supe- rior successors and then retire. It handles a great organic movement as though it were a piece of
AN APPRAISAL OF THE APPRAISAL
administrative mechanism, with inadequate imag- anywhere. They have supported and served the inative realization of human reactions. A richer Red Cross. They have been cooperators and "feel" for life and reality would have given a dif- often the chief administrators in famine relief.
ferent cast and tone to the Report. But the Commission's Report insists that the only A Lack of Comprehensiveness kind of missionary work that is entitled to sup- port is work according to the Commission's "own 2. The Report, as so often happens, while dis- type of thought and practice" !
approving exclusivism and partisanship is itself, The seriousness of the counsel sent out in the re- it is to be feared, exclusive and partisan. At the leases, and not really modified in the final Report, outset it deprecates "promoting one's own type of cannot be exaggerated. The public has been ad- thought and practice," (p. 4) and later it speaks vised that mission work is not entitled to con- sharply of the "trail of self-interest within the tinued support in its present form and on its pres- organization" which "lies like a sinister shadow ent basis. Even if this work were to be discon- over many phases of mission work." "Sinister tinued and replaced by work on the basis and of shadow" was "serpent" in the original and in the the form advocated by the Commission, the change releases, but has been softened in the printed should be gradual and evolutionary. But the Re- Report. And yet the Report itself is not less port sweeps off the board all that now is, "these positive and self-assertive. missions as a whole." Of course, the Commission At the beginning it declares that while much intended nothing of the sort. It later names spe- mission work excites no feeling of approval, there cific enterprises deserving larger support. Its are still "beginnings of good work which it would members wish the work to accept the changes they be a pity not to continue and develop," "arousing propose, and then to go on. But they have used in the observer a perpetual wish for more funds language, printed in heavy type and underlined so that it might be done better." These are (the only passage so underlined) in the releases, cautious words, "beginnings of good work," "be which means nothing less than advising the dis- done better." The members of the Commission continuance of further support of the existing in reality feel a far warmer glow than this and foreign mission work. This is not breadth and when they speak, speak with an enthusiasm inclusion.
which is too much repressed in the Appraisal. Must the Whole Report Be Accepted? The Report goes on to say that of this good work which is beginning but might be done better, as 3. The text of the Report makes the grave is undoubtedly true of all the good work of the error, which we must all seek to correct, of requir- world, "there is enough to bankrupt Christen- ing that all shall be taken or none. This is unwise dom." Then the Report adds the significant tactics, and happily at the meeting on November words: 18 it was made clear by the Commission that it There is in this fact, however, no ground for a did not wish the Report to be considered as a renewed appeal for the support, much less for the en- closed unity which the Boards and Missions need largement, .of these missions as a whole in their pres- not consider at all unless they were prepared to ent form and on their present basis. This Commission accept it in its entirety. But if we were to be makes no such appeal. In our judgment, there is not bound by the character of the Report we could not alone room for change, there is necessity for change, deal with it thus. It declares that the work must in respects which our report will indicate; and the be changed in the respects which the Report indieffecting of such change should be the condition for cates and that "the effecting of such change should every further ,enlargement of the enterprise (p. 5). be the condition for any further enlargement of The words;"as a whole" have been added to the the enterprise." Repeatedly in the book the spe- original Report and to the releases, but they cific recomn;t€ndations made are bound to the pro- change nothing. The statement was plainly made 'i>osals for a' change in the theological basis and and is now made permanent, that there is no room the establishment of a centralized administration for any missionary work except that which will (pp. 5, 152, 163, 279, 310, 312, 315, 321, 329).
accept the basis and form recommended in the In commenting on the Educational Commission Report. There are also some severe references to China in 1915, of which Dr. Burton was chair- later to the independent and "faith missions" man, the Report states, in its insistence upon edu- which appear to imply that in the Commission's cational consolidation: "Here again the futility of judgment there is no room for them (p. 85 f.). recommending concentration, without conferring Is this the principle of tolerance and inclusion? upon some competent and disinterested person or The missionary agencies which rest on the evan- group of persons the actual authority to carry it gelical basis and hold the evangelistic aim have out, is painfully apparent" (p. 171). This state- never sought to exclude any forces which in hu- ment is not altogether clear. The Appraisal Re- man sympathy and good will would work for men port recommends concentration. But it says such
recommendation is futile unless the power to ef- involved and who will be stirred, as they have alfect it is actually conferred. Has the Commission ready been stirred, to know whether their Boards done this or can it do it? If not why is the recom- accept or reject the proposed basic philosophy of mendation of concentration made? It does not Missions and of Christianity. say that the recommendation of concentration should be accompanied by the recommendation of The Proposed New Basis of Missions the conferring of power, but that it must be accompanied by the actual conferring of power. What is this proposed basis? The Report itself indicates that is is fundamentally different from This is incidental, however. The essential point the old and that only work built on the new basis is that the Report is self-frustrating in its present can be approved. The Report names Jesus, with form. It ties all of its recommendations to two Buddha and Mohammed, as one of the great majer proposals, both of which, whatever we may founders of religion who have been teachers of think of them on their merits, and we shall come men; who have "spent themselves speaking to to that, are impossible. The Churches, with one their own people and have left behind them an imor two barely possible exceptions, will not accept pulse which has moved on steadily across boundthe proposed change in theological basis, and they ary after boundary" (pp. 6, 7). "Through Jesus, cannot accept the suggested overhead autonomous and through such wills as His, God works" (p. control, unless there should be some Boards which 58). It describes as the old view the idea that cannot go on and which might welcome such an "there was but one way, the way of Christ" (p. 8). opportunity to give up their work. It is unfortu- The business of missions is not to "transmit the nate that no one on the Commission brought it letter of doctrine" but to "fulfill the religious life into contact with these hard realities and coun- of the Orient" (p. 16). What Christians believe to selled it to say what it wished to say on these sub- be the authentic historic facts of the New Testajects in less imperative ways, and especially in ment appear to be regarded as the "symbolical ways that would make it easy and not difficult to and imaginative expression" of Christianity (pp. consider the recommendations, many of them 19, 52). We are to consider ourselves not as the sound, on other subjects. bearers of a definite message but as "brothers in a common quest" with the non-Christian religions The Theological Basis (p. 31). We are to find and "stand upon the com- mon ground of all religion" (p. 33), "to recognize It is time to turn to the two central issues of and associate" ourselves "with whatever kindred the Report, the recommendations regarding the elements there are in the non-Christian religions" basis and the administration of Missions. At first (p. 33). The new objective must take the place of sight it may seem incongruous that a Laymen's the old, which was "the conquest of the world by Missions Inquiry should deal first, and for nearly Christianity" (p. 35). The Christian Church must a third of its space, with the theological basis. not do what the early Church did, "aim at de- Indeed some of the laymen of the Inquiry have stroying or displacing the whole structure" of realized so little the importance and significance other religions (p. 40). The only mention of the of this section that they have been impatient to New Testament is in the strange sentence, "The hear it discussed and have not seen why it could final truth, whatever it may be, is the New Testanot be ignored, or accepted for what it is, and as ment of every existing faith" (p. 44). Christianfar as it goes, with the assurance that anyone can ity and the other religions must join in a common add as much more as ,he wants to at this point quest for truth and experience which are not offor himself. But on second thought any reflecting fered in any final and absolute way in Christianperson will understand that Dr. Hocking was en- ity. The missionary "will look forward not to the tirely right when h~ said that the religious and destruction of these religions but to their contheological basis is the primary and essential tinued co-existence with Christianity, each stimuthing. It is one of the great merits of the Report lating the other in growth toward the ultimate that it discerns and declares this, even though goal, unity in the completest truth" (p. 44). "It later chapters deprecate the very thing which would be difficult to point out anyone general these opening chapters enforce. And it is well principle (in Christianity) which could not surely that the new basis proposed should have been set be found nowhere else" (p. 49). "The relation beforth so clearly and competently by such high- tween religions must take increasingly hereafter minded and able scholars as Professor Hocking the form of a common search for truth" (p. 47). and Dr. Rufus Jones. The importance of the pro- And the aim of missions is defined thus, "To seek posals here made cannot be exaggerated and they with people of other lands a true knowledge and cannot be passed over. For anyone layman who love of God, expressing in life and word what we will not put his mind on them or who thinks them have learned through Jesus Christ and endeavorof minor importance, there will be ten laymen in ing to give effect to His spirit in the life of the our churches who will clearly understand what is
AN APPRAISAL OF THE APPRAISAL
world" (p. 59). Note here, "religion" is dropped reality some members of the Commission hold the and "people" substituted, which is a very differ- second or third who do not hold the first. And the ent idea. Report is written in terms of the second and the Some Serious Omissions third and not at all of the first. In later passages There is much noble statement of some of the it is made plain that while many Christians beintellectual ideas of Christianity and there are lieve in Jesus as in a unique sense the "Son of frequent references to rich and abundant life and God" or the "Incarnation of God," and hold faith to the spirit of Christ, but it is made clear that in His Miracles and Resurrection, and that "into what is original is not the ideas that are found in the Person of Jesus, as the central symbol as well Christianity but the way in which they are com- as the central historic reality of this faith, Chrisbined (p. 49), that life is construed in humanistic tians are prone to compress its entire meaning" this-world terms, and that the spirit of Christ is (pp. 51, 56, 58), the Report desires "to use the not the Holy Spirit of the New Testament, who is privilege of laymen in avoiding as far as possible nowhere mentioned. And in general the theologi- the language of the unexplained symbol," and to cal basis is the basis of the old Protestant liberal- separate Christianity from the terms of the hisism which has been already superseded in Eu- toric Christian doctrine (p. 52). All these matrope by a deep evangelical wave. It is a basis ters are regarded as simply differences of conwhich passes over the ideas which give power both ception. "Beneath them are underlying agreeto evangelicalism and to the Roman Catholic faith. ments, belonging to the essence of Christianity" Nowhere is there any mention of prayer or of the (p. 56). "We need look forward to no time when supernatural forces of the Gospel. the authentic spirit of Christ, if freed from ham- pering organizational purposes, will be an unde- Christianity is conceived as the life and teach- sired visitor in any land. It can be recognized by ing of Jesus and as our thoughts of God and life non-Christians as well as by Christians, which is based on this life and teaching. The Report not one reason for suggesting that such representaonly does not commit itself to the position of the tives should be selected in part by invitation" (p. New Testament and of the faith of the Church 26,cf.John1:1l; 18:40; 19:6; Acts 16:22-24). with regard to the Deity of Christ and the mean- ing of His death and the great facts of the Incar- Christ and the N o'n-Christian Religions nation and the Resurrection, but it makes it clear that the Report is not based on this position. In Now this construction of Christianity and of the Foreword occurs this statement: its relation to non-Christian religions and this conception of Christ and His person, place and To some of our members the enduring motive of nature as a teacher and example and spirit, with Christian missions can only be adequately expres-sed no avowed acceptance of Christ as God or as Reas loyalty to Jesus Christ regarded as the perfect deemer or Saviour, and with no witness to the revelation of God and the only Way by which men meaning of His Death and the significance of His can teach a satisfying experience of Him. To others, Resurrection, are not possible for the Churches this motive would best be called the spirit of altruistic which hold still the great creeds, or even the service, the desire to share with all mankind the bene- fits and the ideals of a Christian community. To still ,Apostles' Creed, or which base themselves on the others, it would best be named the de-sire for a deeper New Testament. The unique meaning of Christ knowledge and love of God, seeking with men every- as the Son of God and the Divine Saviour is to where a more adequate fulfilment of the divine possi- them the very essence of Christianity. That was bilities of personal and social life. what Christianity was. Its simple confession was "Jesus, the Son of God, is Lord." It is so still. These views are not mutually exclusive: no one Christianity is not for us the life and teaching of statement is likely to exhaust the aim of a great Jesus only, or man's thought of God, or man's enterprise. In so far as the differences are those of search for God. For us Christ is still the Way language, some prefer the words which unite the pres- not a way, and there is no goal beyond Him or ent with the earlier language of the Christian world. Others desire to avoid the language of tradition, not as untrue, but perhaps as obscurely figurative or sym- apart from Him, nor any search for truth that is bolical, and for this reason an obstacle to the spon- to be found outside of Him, nor any final truth to taneous recognition of the majesty of that Figure to be sought by a universal religious quest except it whom men's thoughts return as by a natural instinct be sought in Him who is the Way, the Truth and of the heart (p. 14). the Life.
This statement, it has been frankly said, was Moreover Christianity is not what Jesus taught included to satisfy the members of the first group alone, it is what He did as Saviour, by His Life referred to who were not satisfied to concur in and Death and Resurrection. All this is not to us the Report otherwise. But the statement is in- obscurely figurative (p. XV) or "unexplained correct that "these views are not mutually exclu- symbol" (p. 52). It cannot be left out because the sive." The truth is they are not inclusive. In words which alone can explain or communicate it
have been often used. It is not to us a set of Lord. Recent experiments which might easily archaic ideas remote from real life, phraseology be cited are sufficient demonstration that some- unrelated to vital present-day experience, "the thing more than and different from the view of stiff and hardened phrases in which the living Christ and of Christianity represented here is es- faith of the Founder seemed to be stifled" (p. 83). sential to call forth the sacrifice and steadfastness The only truly authentic Christianity there ever without which no great unselfish and continuing was or ever will be is the Christianity that is both missionary work will be done. And back of all Jesus, the historic Son of Man and Son of God, is the witness of nineteen centuries of Christian and the Eternal Christ, the risen and ever-living history.
Master and Lord. The question of the right relations of Christi- The view of Christianity which the Churches anity to the non-Christian religions is too great believe to be true is that it is not a religion in the to be treated here. But long, long ago the theory sense of the non-Christian religions. It is not a and practice of Christian missions settled upon search of man for God. It is God's offer of Him- principles not comprehended in the Report. It re- self to men in Christ, who was not a fellow seeker veals no adequate first-hand knowledge of the with us after God, or a founder of a religion like real corporate attitude of the missionary move- Buddha or Mohammed, but "the fulness of the ment to the ethnic faiths. These principles can Godhead bodily." Our churches believe in Christ be briefly stated: Christianity should be pro- as a wholly unique Person. They include in their claimed in a simple positive message by words and view of Him and of Christianity all that the Re- deeds transfused with love. It should recognize port includes but a great deal more and they be- joyfully all the good in the non-Christian reli- lieve that the essential and important part is in gions and build upon it. It should not attack or this "great deal more." They believe that the deride the non-Christian religions, nor should it motive and power are not in man but in Christ slur over or ignore their points of difference from and that the view of human nature implied in the Christianity. It should make no compromises, Report, namely that it is capable in itself of con- but anticipate the absolute triumph of Christ as stant progress and improvement and of advancing acknowledged Lord and Saviour. It should wel- to the goal, is not a true view of human nature or come all transformations of the thought of non- in accord with the reality of human experience Christian peoples which bring it nearer to Chris- and the chastened conviction of mankind. tianity. It should perceive and hold fast the truth The comedy and the tragedy of life are both of its own uniqueness. It should .welcome any deeper, it seems to us, than the philosophy of the contribution to a fuller understanding of its own Report. This view of the Christian Church seems character. Everyone of these principles is old to us no more symbolical or imaginative than the and familiar in missionary policy.
conception of the Report of "life," "richer life," The Report accepts without adequate critical etc. These cannot mean simply better crops for examination the view presented at Jerusalem in farmers and more decent homes. They mean in- 1928 and inadequately examined there, namely, visible and spiritual values. The Church holds, that Christianity should make common cause and regarding the facts of Christian history and the partnership with non-Christian religions against conceptions of its Christology, that they are the secularism. There is a great deal more involved springs of reality and life, of all true and funda- here than appears and than can be discussed now, mental good here and hereafter, that they produce and I must be content simply to quote a striking the philanthropy and human service, and that statement by an able Methodist missionary in without them the ideals and energies of rich and India, the Rev. J. W. Pickett, at the meeting of abundant living thin out and die away. the Foreign Missions Conference of North Amer- It is a profound mistake to think that the re- ica in 1930: placement of this conception of Christianity and Of all the fine things that we have heard from the of Christ by the proposed view will vivify the mis- two speakers this morning, I am, I am sure, most sionary enterprise and supply it with new motive grateful for the declaration of Dr. William Adams and power. This is not the view of Christianity Brown that we must meet the challenge of humanism which is to command the youth of the world. in the same spirit of sympathy in which the Jerusalem Conference viewed the great ethnic religions. Out of It has already turned from it. Such ideas have India I have been compelled to feel very keenly that prevailed once and again since the end of the first many of the declarations that are being made with recentury, but the proposed reconstruction of Chris- gard to humanism and the whole wide range of secutianity has never launched and maintained a sin- larism have hardly been fair. There have been suggesgle mission. Individual missionaries may have such tions that it isencumbent upon the Christian forces to views but they and their work are borne along on unite with the forces of other religions to crush secuthe momentum of an unique collective faith in larism. The fact is that secularist forces, as I meet Jesus Christ as the One and sufficient and Divine them in India, are more akin to us in spirit and in
AN APPRAISAL OF THE APPRAISAL
program than the forces of organized religion with of the Lord of utter Love and Truth. Is our which we are in contact there. Many of the very finest orthodox speech inseparably bound always to pure spirits of India have been driven into secularism by love and efficient help to human lives? Are our the abuses of religion, and I feel that it is wrong to words made flesh? Is our New Testament faith call the Christian forces to any alliance with those always transfused with the New Testament tenforces against which these fine spirits are in revolt, derness? Have we always before our eyes the in order to crush them. Lord of the smoking flax and the bruised reed? Can we who believe we hold the "sound doctrine" Call attention certainly to the dangers of that secu- in trust abide the test, "The tree shall be known laristic outlook, but let us not be unfair to those peo- by its fruits?" We must answer these question8 ple, as I feel and as I know that some others in India not to any critics or commissions but to our only are feeling, we have been unfair in some of our dec- Lord and Master. We should be thankful to this larations. Report or aught else that drives us back in hu- mility and trust to Him. More than that, let us not ally or seem to ally Christianity with the forces that have been guilty of oppres- An Impracticable Plan of Administration sion. I feel we can do nothing that will more definitely check Christian progress in India than to say to The other main proposal of the Report is that India or seem to say to India that Christianity is in the Mission Boards should continue as promoalliance with all religious forces, for India is awake tional agencies to gather funds but that the entire today to the evils that some of these religious forces administration of these funds should be in the have forced upon them. She is in revolt against them, hands of a centralized autonomous body on which and she will not think more highly of our Lord be~ there would be one or two representatives from cause we, His disciples, seek today, in our apprecia~ each assenting denomination, but which would be tion of the finer things of the ethnic religions, and in responsible to none of them nor to all of them. our repentance, shall I say, of the older attitudes that This is not a possible idea. we have taken towards those religions, to ally ourselves with them now." (1) It assumes that the donors would continue to give to such an agency operating on the motive In the matter of the truth which Christianity and methods of this Report. They would not do has to learn from the non-Christian religions, the so. Donors feel that they are the trustees of only specification given is "meditation" which their own money and they will only give it when should be learned from Buddhism where, how- it is spent as they approve and determine. One ever, it is recognized that it is overdone (p. 45). of the Commissioners on November 19 declared But while we Christians do need more practice that donors had no right to act thus, that they of meditation, it is not a new conception to Chris- should give their money and let the overhead body, tianity. The Bible and Christian biography and which knows better than they do, spend it. There devotion are full of it. As a matter of fact, as is truth in this, but only within limits. Founda- Professor Pratt has pointed out, there is nothing tions and rich individuals are adamant in deterof good in any non-Christian religion which we mining the use and conditions of their gifts. Why do not already have in Christ. "The best that the is this right for them and wrong for the individ- East has to give we might have gained from our ual of modest means who has only a little to give? own Great Teacher if we only would." Another of the Commissioners argued that the right and only possible way to accomplish some We must not leave our statement of inability changes in the national churches was to coerce to abandon the old basis of missions, however, them with money pressure. It would seem that without a recognition of the questions which the the principle differs according to the foot which opening chapters of the Report suggest to our own the shoe pinches. But in any case it is obvious consciences. to anyone who knows the great mass of the giving constituency that the present donors would The Failure of Christians not allow their funds to be passed on to the new agency. This would be not because of denomina- The report says truly, "Everywhere Christi- tional narrowness, so frequently deprecated in anity is suffering from the poverty, the rigidity, the Report (pp. 69, 72, 85, 100, "the trivialities of the inertness of the conception which Christians denominationalism," p. 208) but because of unhave of its significance; everywhere Christians certainty as to the evangelical basis and evanare called upon to search the sources of their own gelistic purpose of the new body. faith" (p. 45). These are faithful and right words. And they turn our mind not to the non- (2) It is a mistake to think that in Christian Christian religions but to Christ. Are we really missions or anywhere else centralized monopoly apprehending Him and His power? Are we will- is a good thing. All life is cellular and it is far ing to let God in Christ work supernaturally in better to have freedom and experimentation and us today? Or is our Christianity only an idealistic ethic, on the one hand, or a dead opinion on the other? These are cutting questions which we ought to be forever asking ourselves as disciples
often individual failures than to trust everything If one saw a single navvy trying to remove a moun- to a group of such super-men as really have no tain, the desolation of the situation would be suffi- ciently appalling. Most of us have seen a man or two, ('xistpncp. Only the same kind of people would he or a hundr"d or t.wo~minfsters, missionaries, Chrisavailahle for this central hody as those who oper- tian laymen—at work upon the higher evolution of the ate great trusts and foundations and they have world; but it is when one sees them by the thousand shown themselves as prone to error and not more in every land, and in every tongue, and the mountain efficient than smaller and freer and more respon- honey-combed, and slowly crumbling on each of its sible groups. frowning sides, that the majesty of the missionary work fills and inspires the mind. (Smith's Life of (3) This scheme contemplates larger and per- manent control of foreign missions from the home Drummond, pp. 430-438.) base. We would move in the opposite direction Why could not the Report have sounded some and have the Church in each nation develop ulti- such heartening and ennobling notes as this? mately, though far away, into the sole represen- Its criticisms would have been all the more effectative of Christianity there, any further activities tive if borne on a tide of warm and appreciative of ours to be not foreign mission activities but and veracious recognition of what the foreign misservices of cooperation between the great Church- sionary, with all his shortcomings, really is and es of the East and the great Churches of the what his work, with all its deficiencies, has West. What the Report has to say, wisely, re- wrought in changing the world. This is very garding devolution and, not so wisely, of having different from the view that, in its present form the national Churches, as they are now, deter- and on its present basis, the work of foreign mismine the whole form and personnel of missionary sions is not justified in a renewed appeal for supwork, does not comport with the proposal of au- port (p. 5). thoritative and permanent American control in a centralized and irresponsible body. The Commission cannot have met personally more than a very small fraction of the mission- Before we come to the many valuable proposals aries in the Far East. Their judgment must rest of the Report regarding the various forms of on this small number, and yet the Report conforeign missionary work there are three other im- demns the "greater number" of missionaries as portant matters requiring comment. "unduly weak," who "seemed to us of limited out- What Kind of Missionaries look and capacity" (pp. 15, 16). But the Com- 1. The matter of missionary personnel. This mission did not see that "greater number." The is dealt with in two different places (pp. 15-18, standard of judgment as described on November 289-302). Here as in many other matters the 18th and 19th, in answer to questions, was a very Report balances statements favorable and unfa- high ideal standard, embodied in the words, "the vorable in a way that makes it possible to quote best or none." But no men and women with a the Report on either side of contradictory inter- sense of humor and any Christian humility will pretations of it. The newspapers and the public offer themselves for appointment under such an have had no hesitation, however, in understanding ideal. Some of the best missionaries in the world the net judgment of the Commission to be very would never have been appointed under such severe and unfavorable. Recognizing that there standards. The poor Apostles would have been are many people of only moderate ability and the disqualified from the start. "The best or none"
natural proportion of failures, it is nevertheless is an impossible slogan anywhere in life. The the common judgment of those who know the whole work of the world would stop under it. missionary personnel far more extensively than The best that can be had-yes-but no rule of either the Commission or the "fact-finding "perfection or nothing."
groups" that the judgment of the Commission is It was this judgment of the Report on person- not just. nel, next to the theological basis, which has Henry Drummond's ideal of true missionaries aroused most distress in our Churches. Literally, and their work was as high as the Commission's of course, the majority of the missionaries are and he said in 1890 in principle all that the Com- of limited outlook and capacity. So are the mi- mission says about quality, about specialists, nority. So are all other human beings. Surely about evolution VS. evangelism, as he puts it, the Commissioners do not know any mortal of about relations to existing truths, about "waste unlimited outlook and capacity. But the thou- and confusion," but he makes no such generaliza- sands of homes which have sent out their own tions as the Commission about the majority of children, and the Churches and colleges and uni- the missionaries as of "limited outlook and capac- versities which have sent out their best young ity," and his estimate of the quality of the people, and who know them well, have been deeply Churches is not that of the Commission, and his aggrieved at the sum total of the Commission's final opinion of the mission field as he saw it was: judgment. The sixty-one foreign missionaries
AN APPRAISAL OF THE APPRAISAL
sent by the Presbyterian Board in 1932 were, with right fields than David Livingstone and Griffith three or four exceptions in the case of women who John? The former wanted to go to China and had specialized training, graduates of State Uni- the latter to Africa. The London Missionary So- versities and of recognized colleges, including ciety reversed their desires. Both they and the Yale, Princeton, Vassar, Columbia, Radcliffe, Bar- world have blessed God for that reversal. The nard and Johns Hopkins. Postgraduate work Report is far from saying the last word on the was taken in our best professional institutions, subject of specialists and the selection and loca- theological, medical and educational. We who tion of missionaries. Let us say again, however, know our missionaries one by one and over periods it is right in its emphasis on personnel. The real not of six weeks or three months, but ten, twenty, problem is here-at home and abroad, in the mis- forty years, are not willing to have them discred- sionary staff and in the officers and membership ited all over the world as they have been by the of missionary boards, and in Church and college releases and the Report. We know the hundreds and business, indeed, even in committees and com- whom the Commissioners and the fact finders missions. Where is the Apostle Paul among us, never saw, many of whom are lost in the life of or Patrick or Columba or Boniface, or Raymond the people whom they serve like that missionary Lull, or Francis of Assisi? Where is the "faith in Japan of whom a Japanese was asked as he that rebels"? Who will break through all our passed on the street, "Who is that foreigner?" present conventions of method and process? Who The Japanese replied that he did not see any will kindle again the ancient fires? Let these· foreigner. "Why, yes, there he is." "Oh," was burn again and consume what they will.
the answer, "that is not a foreigner, that's Dr. Criticism of the Churches of Asia Norman." We know the failures and the misfits too and our ever-present problem is how to deal 2. The place of the Church. The Report thinks with them in the wise and Christian way. Alas, a the missionaries of the past were wrong in their full proportion of these failures and misfits are conceptions both of the place of the Church and among those who pass the highest tests and most as to the method of establis.hing it. They should nearly conform to the standards of the Report. not have tried to detach people from the old re- The Report does not solve the problem of how to ligions or their old social and religious rootage get the best men and women, the really best, or and environment but should have lived among of how to find specialists who are true mission- them as community servants, waiting until the aries as well. These problems are beyond our people themselves asked about their religious con- human solving. ceptions and wished to constitute themselves into The charges of narrow denominational self-in- a church integrally related to their own religious terest are surely overdone. The almost unbe- and social past (pp. 83, 101).
lievable "trail of the serpent" expression may well This is an idyllic conception. It passes lightly be forgotten. But it is not true that the Boards as the whole Report does, over the moral and are ever demanding statistical demonstrations of spiritual inertia of mankind, the dead resistance success, that they stand in the way of cooperation which the early missionaries met, the actual, ter- and unity, that all of them expect denominational rible facts of religion in these lands a century and churches to be built (pp. 85, 109, 110), that the more ago, and even today, and the "sin and indif- whole work is darkened by the "sinister shadow" ference" which, as one of the leading educators of "self-interest within the organization," (p. 17). of India remarked, are the basic facts which have Some of our Boards and Missions at least cannot to be dealt with everywhere. But of sin or moral recognize themselves in this picture. They know resistance the Report says next to nothing. The that it is not a true picture. Report sees the problem too much in terms of a This emphasis of the Report on personnel is small section of the people of Asia, the upper right. This is the central thing and all that can crust already permeated with Christian thoughts be done to raise the level of efficiency and power as a result of the old type and basis of mission- ought to be done, including better training, wiser ary work, no longer worthy of support! And it selection, larger freedom. It is a mistake to sup- has drawn its judgments too much, one fears, pose, as the Report does, that Mission Boards from conferences with non-Christian or ex-Chris- are foes of freedom, and that they impose checks tian leaders in the Far East.
and thwarts. With the rarest exceptions mis- The national and local churches which have sionaries are sent to the field of their choice and been established, with all their deficiencies, de- never to any field without their happy assent. serve a warmer judgment than the Report pre- The Report cites Morrison and Grenfell as having sents. One's thought goes out to them and to the chosen their own fields and demonstrated thus the missions in their hard struggle against such ter- desirability of such unhindered chc;>ice. Well, rific odds, as they read the Commission's discour- were ever men more unmistakably Rent to the aging eRtirnate of th~rn. What would su~h n
Commission in Paul's day have said of his little "a sectarian view" or with "the inherited divisions churches? We know what it would have said of of the Church," which do not "express the living the churches at the end of the second century, for theological issues of the present" (p. 69). It it was said pretty effectually by Celsus, who also appeals for an "Eternal Gospel" emancipated thought that it did not matter by what name God from "unalterable dogmas" (p. 83). "The standwas called among the various nations, that the ard preaching is far too doctrinal and is a comissue between Judaism and Christianity was un- plicated system of ideas instead of being a important, and that we should seek a general thrilling way of life" (p. 89). "The message has human consensus of unity in truth, "the identi- been doctrine-centered" (p. 94), "built around ties among the religions" (pp. 32, 46). These theological conceptions," "with complicated abpoor little churches of Asia are nevertheless the stract doctrines," "stereotyped patterns of docreal cells of life, however feeble and faltering. trine and static phrases which have gone dead" It is not biologically possible to establish Chris- (p. 95). Theological differences ought to sink tianity in Asia by disembodied fellowships. It into insignificance (p. 105). They are not almust come in concrete personalities, who will lowed to do so however, if a definite theological come the whole way to Christ without apology or view is urged as the only proper basis of missions self-defense, and in small groups who will pay and a central administration proposed to apply the price of clear Christian discipleship. The "the new conception of this scope and aim" (p. idea of the Report that Christianity should enter 321). Asia only as an invited guest and in the ways prescribed by Asia (it is not clear always whether The references to oral evangelism are almost in this the Report means by the Church or by the without exception derogatory (pp. 64 f, 74, 99). non-Christian religions or by the people generally) is not historically valid. Were the martyrs all And it is repeatedly urged that human service foolish suicides, who ought to have stayed away without any words at all is better evangelism. or conformed? And if it is the Church that is to decide the matter it will have to be a maturer Medical missions are declared to "represent in church than the Commission has found. If it did themselves the essentials of the Christian enterfind a Church equal to these responsibilities then prise" and their use and the use of education for it does not describe it justly in the Report. "ulterior ends," i. e., the winning of men to Christ, is challenged, (p. 199). The five aims of medical The Report is right in its insistence that the Church is too often thought of as an end and that missions which are given make no mention either the Church too often thinks this of itself and of evangelism or of Christianity or of Christ claims as a matter of right the continued support (p. 200). The work cannot be done by "evanof the Church in America. The Church with its gelization which begins and ends with preaching" sacraments, which are never mentioned, and as (p. 74) . No such disqualification is proposed with the living body of Christ, not a mere voluntary regard to medical and educational work. It is human association, is not adequately conceived by not said that "the work cannot be done by medical the Report. It is more of an end than stated in work which begins and ends with healing." Just Chapter IV, but both missions and Churches will the opposite is said. And it is held that philando well to take to heart the admonition of the thropies, hospitals and schools, which are not Report and conceive the Church more fully as an burdened with evangelistic purpose but are left to instrument for evangelization and for human render service with no "ulterior end," are welservice. comed and will be welcomed even when evangelis- tic propaganda is not and will not be (pp. 26, 70). The Place of Evangelism in Missions The contrary fact is that in some countries mis- sionary doctors and schools are not allowed at all 3. The third matter is evangelism. There is or are allowed only with increasing limitations, one clear and satisfactory statement on evangel- no matter how secular they become, while the ism: "The main contribution of the Mission has evangelist whose "authentic spirit of Christ" is been not in devising· new social programs but in stilI tied to the "hampering organizational purforming the men who do the devising. Nothing pose" of establishing a church of confessed Christherefore can displace or minimize the influence tian believers is allowed to go on with his work. of a true and well-qualified evangelism" (p. 64). And it is clearly declared "that the time has come to set the educational and other philanthropic But the Report proceeds to disapprove the em- aspects of mission work free from organized rephasis on "giving messages in words," and on the sponsibility to the work of conscious and direct doctrinal formulation of the message (pp. 64, 65). evangelism" (p. 326). This is the very opposite It continually identifies the spoken message with of the view taken in practically all of our present missions. The Lakeville Conference of the Pres- byterian Board with representatives of all itR
AN APPRAISAL OF THE APPRAISAL
missions and national leaders in June, 1931, unan- the Report named a few of these recommenda- imously declared: tions "which taken apart from its (i. e., the Re- We believe that the Gospel is to be proclaimed and port's) theological basis, it believes to be sound, Jesus Christ to be made known, not by word or deed which represent policies and judgments which the but by word and deed; that preaching Christ and liv- Board believes to be right, and which it has sought ing Christ are not to be dissociated; that truth and and will continue to seek to carry out in the work life go together and that this union is to be effected under its care." Among these were mentioned: not by having some missionaries who only preach and other missionaries who only heal or teach but by hav- (1) The recognition in the Report of the large coning all missionaries communicate the Gospel by both tribution of foreign missions to goodwill and human deed and word. service and human unity.
(2) Its emphasis upon the need of the ablest and There is just warning here against both ex- most devoted men and women as missionaries, ·of the tremes, a merely verbal approach and presenta- intelligent understanding of the conditions of thought and life in each land and of the spirit of genuine tion which reduces the Gospel to dao-li, or mere friendship and community interest. doctrine, as has been done too often on the one hand, or mere physical or social activity, (3) Its discernment of the special importance and deeds divorced from,meaning and inward purpose beneficent influence of the work done by missionary on the other. "The Word made flesh" is the di- women. vine method, neither the Word unincarnated nor the flesh without the Word in it and through it. (4) Its insistence on the principle of self-support and genuine independence in the indigenous churches. The Report shares the view of Mr. Gandhi and (5) Its appeal for a higher type of representatives of American trade who will sympathize and cooperate Mr. C. F. Andrews against the use of philanthrop- with the missionary movement.
ic and educational and social agencies for evangel- (6) Its call for the largest possible measures of co- istic ends. But the problem will not be escaped operation and unity among all the Christian forces by emancipating these agencies from the evan- engaged in the work of foreign missions. gelistic purpose, if, as a matter of fact, they have the effect of interesting men in Christ and draw- (7) Its insistence on the desirability of reality in ing them to Him. At a recent meeting of Jewish the transfer of authority to the indigenous agencies rabbis and Christian leaders, the rabbis made it in plans of devolution. clear that they objected most to anything concealed and surreptitious. It would not to do euphe- (8) Its emphasis on the vast preponderance of rural population and the need of effort directed toward them.
(9) Its call for better religious teaching in all schools.
mize social activities under such phrases as "in (10) Its discernment of the duty of Christian mis- the spirit of Christ," or "in the name of a disciple" sions toward the great masses of men dissatisfied with (p. 214). Either they must be absolutely secu- their old religions. larly philanthropic or else openly and avowedly (11) Its insistence on the best quality of service evangelistic or else, the rabbis held, they are deceitful. It is certain that the non-Christian re- that is possible in every form of work which is done ligions will take the same view, as John Lawrence in the Christian name. and Herbert Edwardes pointed out long ago. And it is beyond doubt as to what the view of our (12) Its constant emphasis on the need of the ap- plication of Christianity to human life and relation- ships, etc., etc.
Christian Churches in America is. They are not It would be a great satisfaction to have space supporting schools and hospitals as philanthro- to go through the seven chapters on the different pies only. They are supporting them because they aspects of mission work and deal with their probelieve that when rightly conducted they make posals one by one. There are few of these that Jesus Christ, the living source of all philanthro- are new. Indeed the Commission stated on N0pies that abide, known not by deed only but also vember 18 and 19 that almost every recommenda- tion was based on some good piece of work which by word. they had seen. Some, it is true, are as idealistic Some Excellent Recommendations· as it would be to advise the consolidation of the It is a relief to turn from these somewhat crit- ten or a dozen theological seminaries in and be- ical comments, which the use of the Commission's tween New York and Boston; or to propose the own standards of objective scrutiny requires, to establishment of a single Board to coordinate and some of the many excellent recommendations of unify the thirty-eight colleges and universities the Report. I have read the Report three times of New England with their vast endowments and and marked scores of paragraphs With which one their immens~ duplication and overlapping; or to is in hearty accord. (The concrete recommenda- employ someone to prepare a completely satisfac- tions of the Report are found on pp. 114, 134, 143, tory and convincing-"the best or none"-apolo- 161 f, 177 ff, 192, 212, 249, 284, 313-321.) The getic for Christianity for use among our Amer- action of the Presbyterian Board with regard to ican students; or to require of the churches on
Fifth Avenue in New York City that they should the native ministry; in advising caution with rereform the city government. But idealistic pro- gard to the plans for a Christian University in posals are good things and it will be good for Japan and a new Christian Medical School of unimissions to be stung by the criticisms of the Re- versity grade in India; in urging the remolding port into asking whether old errors cannot be of school curricula and adapting mission schools, escaped and whether things that have seemed im- and especially theological seminaries, far more efpossible heretofore cannot be accomplished. fectively to actual social and economic conditions and to the direct service of the Church and the Self-support and Consolidation community. I think it is an error to set in opposi- tion here, things that ought to be combined. The We welcome the strong emphasis of the Report Report speaks of the danger "of subordinating on self-support in the native Churches. Its dec- the educational to the religious objective." There larations will help many missions to press this is such a danger. There is also the opposite danwith new earnestness and also to enforce the ger. No more schools should be conducted than right rule recommended and which the Lakeville the number in which both dangers are averted. Conference had already adopted, that men em- And life and words ought not to be set in conployed by Church and mission funds should not trast. Things are too often presented as conflictbe upon the boards which employ them and fix ing which should be combined as complementary. their own salaries. This will militate in some cases against other recommendations of the Re- Better Literature and Medical Work port such as native control of colleges, but it is a right rule. Missionary administrators have The Report is right in its emphasis on the need pressed this matter of self-support upon the of more effective and adequate Christian litera- Churches of India and China for years and have ture. But it is one thing to recognize the existmade themselves very unpopular with the na- ence of this problem and another thing to solve tionals in doing it. Both in China and in India it, or it would have been solved long ago, and it the idea has been maintained of the Church as a may be doubted whether it is to be solved by the "universal fellowship," not wholly unlike the idea assumption of responsibility by the Missions even urged in the Report, into whose treasury the acting through local or national boards with full richer Churches of the West would pay the funds authority committed to them. The matter is not to be drawn by the poorer Churches of the East. primarily one of organization or of finance. It is It will be a help to have the Commission's reen- one of indigenous Christian literary genius. One forcement of the sound policy of the Korean and Kagawa is worth an organization, and his output Karen Missions and of the late Dr. Nevius. There supports and distributes itself. In no count:r:y in are, moreover, valid outreachings of this policy the world can this need be met by ecclesiastical into other aspects of missionary work, which the or administrative machinery. The Churches in Commission has either not discerned or has America learned that lesson long ago. It must passed over. It is applicable also to some of the wait for the right persons and when they arrive very activities which the Report anticipates as a everything else will be easy. This is not to say permanent charge upon the West (p. 28). that a great deal more could not be done by the Christian Literature Societies than, with all their The section on education is right in urging the good work, they have yet done. It can, and they consolidation of schools and the maintenance of ought to be supported with the resources of men schools of a better quality; in supporting the and women and money they need, for the work principle of intension against extension, a prin- the field needs, which mayor may not be identical ciple for which some of us have pled for years always with what it wants. Did Italy express a and in vain, against the pressure of the men and desire for the Epistle to the Romans or Mohamwomen who were doing the actual work; in ad- medans for Pfander's "Balance of Truth" or vising either that grants-in-aid should be given India for Goreh's "Shaddarshana Darpana," or up or that the question should be held an open any of these lands for the Bible itself until it was question; in demanding a far better quality of offered to them? religious and Bible teaching in all schools, though the method proposed for achieving this is not The Commission contained two able doctors, practicable and experiments that have been made one of whom had himself been a medical missionand the better methods under way are not men- ary in China. Both are now deans of large state tioned; in urging the developing· of Christian medical schools in Iowa and Indiana. They testify teachers, although the Report does not tell how that, with all drawbacks, mission hospitals "hold it is to be done and makes no contribution to the a high place usually in the esteem of the people solution of the salary problem in the case of na- whom they serve and in spite of the overshadowtive teachers demanding so much more than the ing excellence of a very few private and governscale of support in the general community or in mental institutions, still represent in general the
AN APPRAISAL OF THE APPRAISAL
best demonstrations of professional skill and hu- one of the greatest life insurance societies 16 per man sympathy for the ailing poor of China" (p. cent, one of the greatest university faculties 10 198). The impressions of the "clinical work of per cent, an important steel industry 30 to 100 American missions" (no suggestion here of limi- per cent, and in the dry goods organizations gen- tation to the seven denominations with members erally 25 to 100 per cent. I submitted the facts on the Inquiry) "in the Orient was in general to one of the best actuaries in the country and he one of disappointment." On the principle of "the replied: best or none," most of it would have to cease. If, A leaving rate of less than 4% per annum is amazhowever, the beneficiaries were asked their view ingly good, standing by itself. When it is remembered and their desires were followed, in most cases that a very large proportion of your staff consists of what is offered would be pled for, as immeas- married ptrsons and that in the case of such you have urably better than what alone they would have two resignations where you would otherwise have only in its place. And as a matter of fact missionary one, it will be seen that the above figure, small as it is, medical work is very seldom duplicative. Native is really inflated. I have no doubt that a study of the cause of resignation would be reassuring. doctors, qualified according to modern standards, I find from the data which you sent me last Decemwill not go into the rural districts or small places, and the Missions in India, for example, must do ber that the average term of service of those who the best they can for the 85% of the population resigned was a little over 10 years for both men and in villages with only 15% of the available medi- women combined. For men alone it was a little over cal service of the land. The Report in this sec- 11 yeals, and for women alone it was a little under ten years. Without having any definite information, I tion sets forth the view that "medicine has a place have an idea that these figures will compare favorably of its own in the Christian program and that its with the average pastorate in this country, without worth and dignity are lowered by making it sub- making any allowance for the difficulty which churche·s serve directly ends of the Mission or Church" (p. sometimes experience in getting rid of the failures 206). that sometimes occur.
The Report proceeds to speak, as the later sec- I am afraid that the member of your board who extion on personnel does, of the "excessive turnover pressed amazement at your turnover is not cognizant of missionary physicians" (pp. 206, 207). This of what is occurring in business offices gtnerally. The and difficulties in recruiting are attributed to the facts are a wonderful tribute to your organization. alleged fact that most young candidates "are more interested in a broad social gospel than in Church It may be added that the turnover is greatest doctrines" (p. 206). This is familiar language among specialists, of whom the Report advises the Boards to appoint a larger number.
throughout the Report, although the "Church Importance of Rural and Industrial Work doctrines" referred to are nowhere mentioned.
Do they include the Deity of Christ, the life eter- The Report is right in its emphasis on the im- nal that is salvation in and through Him, the fact portance of the rural and vill;:tge areas, represent- and meaning of Christ's Death and Resurrec- ing so large a majority of the Oriental popula- tion? The nearest answer to this view is that tions. Christianity at the outset under Paul went many of our Boards have more candidates who straight for the cities and the large majority of believe in these "Church doctrines" than they can missionaries today are in the cities. It is desir- send or could send even before their funds were able that, in spite of the Commission's counsel reduced, and that the turnover is least among of concentration rather than diffusion, they those who believe these doctrines most firmly. should be more scattered. The national Churches Furthermore the representation of the Report think so too, preferring that the foreign mission- with regard to turnover is not well founded. It ary should do the lonely and pioneering work, is stated as a generalization without exception. and leave the cities and the established work to But in the Presbyterian Board the facts regarding nationals, which is right even though it is some- doctors are that this Board has 94 men medical times selfishly urged. In dealing with these as- missionaries, of whom 9 have served more than pects of the Report the Commission seems not to 30 years each; 38, more than 15 years; 50, more have recognized or used adequately the work done than 10. Of the 101 men medical missionaries by Dr. Kenyon L. Butterfield, Dr. Reisner, Mr.
sent out in the last 25 years, 73 are still on the William Wiser and Mr. Goheen of India, who is field. doing precisely what the Commission urges, with- Taking the entire staff of this one Board, out- out, however, abandoning his evangelistic aim, as side of deaths, the annual total losses from resig- the invited adviser of the chief of the native state nation and withdrawal, which are largely for of Ichalkaranji, and that English Socrates, Mr.
health reasons, are less than four per cent of the Brayne, and many others who are not "ama- missionary staff. By way of comparison, one of teurs." The Report has not used the recent Mass the greatest New York banks reports 17 per cent, Movement Survey almost completed. That Sur-
vey will represent, one judges, a far more in- the one place where the Commission allows itself formed and sympathetic view of the Mass Move- to speak with "enthusiasm" (p. 265). Missionment and of the village church. Indeed one can ary women know well the weaknesses and inaderecognize without difficulty some of the influences quacies of their work, but we dare to say, with which shaped the attitude of the Commission to care and deliberation, that it is the best work bethe Mass Movement. In addition to the real ing done in the world today. Even poor Bible gravity of the problems of this Movement on one women deserve something better than the charhand, there is not lacking a trace of hesitancy in acterizations of the Report, and Christianity and the Church in India, on the other, which shrinks Christian missions deserve a far larger measure from the low caste load. of credit than is given, even here, for the change in the life and thought of women in India, China The section on "Missions and Industry" has and Japan. essayed a very difficult task, and if present day progressive economists prove to be unsatisfied Cooperation and Unity with it, it is not to be wondered at. The writers have sought to take a generous and objective The Report is right in its repeated emphasis view, even though thinking, as most laymen natu- on cooperation and unity, though woefully defirally do, within the limits of our economic tradi- cient in its lack of recognition of what has been tion. One heartily welcomes the summons which accomplished and of the human realities of the the chapter (whether too radical or as many problem. It stops short of organized Church think far too tame) gives to Christians, East and unity because of reasons which one cannot but West, to face the new issues without fear, and think are equally valid against centralized adto go forward. There are two comments which ministration. To some of us, they are more valid suggest themselves. against the latter than against the former. But short of both of these, there are great pos- First that we must beware of the danger of sibilities of further and larger cooperation, coeasing our conscience here at home over our utter ordination and consolidation in theological failure to solve these economic and industrial is- schools, in local and provincial and national edusues by charging the foreign missionary and the cational projects, and in much more. There are national Churches abroad with the burden of some in the foreign missions ranks who have them. The report makes this mistake more than been making this appeal for a whole generation, once by demanding of foreign missions what and longer. They are ready for every further none of the institutions or agencies or individuals step that can be taken, and they are ready on of either the Inquiry or the Commission or the principle, not because dearth of funds admon- Church at home has been able to do in America, ishes economy and cooperation. This is no with vastly greater resources and against vastly ground on which to rest the plea for unity, and smaller difficulties. If the Report's recommenda- happily the Report does not rest it here. If we tions are valid for India, why not, as one of our are to unite only because we are too poor to comreligious papers states, for Indiana? And Dr. pete, then we ought not to be trusted with more William P. Merrill of the Commission has de- money, lest we misuse it. We ought to work toclared just this point with most positive em- gether because it is the only right and Christian phasis. The responsibility for all these matters, course. he says, rests in a thousandfold greater measure on the Church at home. Transfer of Authority Second, that this section of the Report is solici- The Report is right in its insistence on reality tous that there should be room in foreign mis- in all plans of devolution (pp. 24, 143, 304-306, sions for the Socialist and the Communist. Why 328). When we transfer authority and funds we not even for the Fundamentalist? (p. 299). Sure- ought to do so honestly, and not give nominally ly the principles of religious liberty urged by the with one hand, what we hold back in fact with Commission ought to cover him too. And, in the other. There have been many true instances passing, one may raise the question of the place of devolution but they have done the least adverof parental duty or of those in loco parentis in tising. Is there not, however, a fundamental dethe matter of required religious teaching. Surely fect here in the proposals of the Commission? the Commission does not mean to question in the They contemplate a permanent, authoritative, name of religious liberty this right and duty (pp. overhead organization at home, to enforce its 140, 155, 163). will by money control. A far tighter financial and statistical control than at present is pro- Women's Interests posed. The missions and national Churches (as indicated on pages 310, 311 and in the Perhaps the most satisfactory single chapter, addresses on November 18 and 19, and in spite though not without qualifications, is the chapter of the disclaimer on page 322) are to be required on "Women's Interests and Activities." This is
AN APPRAISAL OF THE APPRAISAL
to make financial and statistical reports, not as themselves. Will they put it into effect in the en- they determine, but as may be determined for terprises with which they are related? If the them. A meticulous and full accounting system General Electric Company, the Westinghouse is to be imposed such as the author of the paper Company, the Standard Oil Company, the United distributed with the Inquiry's endorsement on States Steel Company, the National City Bank, November 18 denounced as intolerable (pp. 310- the British-American Tobacco Company, and 312). The right policy is trust and freedom and others like them would do what the Commission true devolution, not the consolidation of all mis- recommends a new day for the Church and the sionary control in one great central foundation world would begin.
or administrative trust.
For Better Commercial Representatives The Peril of Divisiveness From among the many more sound and wise This review must be brought to an end alsuggestions, I will select but one, namely, the ap- though a score of additional reflections press on peal for a higher type of representatives of one. Of all these the central and gravest issue American trade, who will sympathize and cooper- must be faced. It is the dreadful peril of diviate with the missionary movement. The Report siveness with which this Report is charged. Into says: many missionary groups that had found without compromise a happy basis of cooperation, the Re- The Commission has observed with deep regret port has already driven a plowshare of division. that there -seems to be a great gulf fixed between most Its very principle of claim for the exclusive domi- European and American business men and the mis- nation of a changed basis and of a single centralsionaries, especially in the largest cities. Whatever ized administration is divisive (pp. 5, 318-324). may be the reasons, this is unfortunate for both. It would be a splendid thing for business men could they It has sown discontent among the denominations come to know better the missionaries and their fami- which were not involved in the Inquiry, but all lies and learn accurately about their problems and of whose work falls under the judgments of the their aims. It would also be a splendid thing for the Report. It has raised grave questions in the case missionaries if they could recruit business men not of the Canadian Churches and in the maintenance only as friends but also as trustees a-ssociated in the of the Committee of Reference and Counsel and control of hospitals and schools. The Commission saw of the Foreign Missions Conference of North many business men of high character in the Orient. America. It would be most helpful not only to the cause of reli- gion but to good relations generally with oriental peo- The Report, itself, moreover holds out the in- ple, if more American business firms would take pains timation that it may be necessary to launch some to send out as their representatives only men of the new agency: "We earnestly hope, however, that highest type. no measures will be adopted so timid and com- This statement is made only incidentally, but promising, so uncertain of meeting obvious needs, in reality there is not one recommendation in the as to necessitate the organization of new chan- Report that would work a vaster change for good nels outside of the established boards" (p. 323).
in the world if it were heeded. The greatest There are already rumors of such an organiza- single hindrance to missions has been the char- tion. What a tragedy it would be if a movement acter of part of the American non-missionary which earnestly and fervently seeks for larger representation on the foreign field. There have unity among the Churches should issue in a new been many noble exceptions, but the rule has been and rival organization either within or outside that too many non-missionary Americans not of the Churches! This would be a far worse de- only have not shared in the effort to make Christ velopment at home than the type of union of the known to the world, but have obstructed it by Churches on the field, which the Commission their example and their hostility. The right way visits with not altogether discerning criticism for a religion to spread is by the spontaneous (pp. 93, 318). If such a new agency is really efforts of its adherents. It was thus that Chris- contemplated, it is safe to predict (1) that it will tianity spread in the beginning, as Harnack has have to depend upon a few large givers who may pointed out, and not by professional missionaries. sympathize with its basis; (2) that it will not The whole missionary enterprise would be trans- command the support and gifts of the general formed in ten years if this recommendation were membership of the evangelical Churches; (3) heeded. And the great merit of this recommenda- that it will soon discover the inefficacy of the mo- tion is that the laymen can put it into effect at tives upon which it plans to rely for missionary once, without waiting for the delay of action on candidates; (4) that it will have a turnover far in the part of missionaries and missionary boards. excess of the turnover of the boards; (5) that it All the other recommendations are addressed to will have the weakness of the inadequate founda- others; this one recommendation is to the laymen tion upon which it would rest; (6) that it will
lack the sacrifice, the economy and the persistence possibility for missionaries grown up in the conditions of the evangelical dynamic. of Western civilization to act as wise advisers in these matters to nations whose history, conditions and men- Let one thing, however, be clear. The Churches tality are so radically different from ours. For, irreand their Boards would go on their way in fidelity spective of this, it may lead to fatal consequences for to the New Testament, the historic tradition of the preaching of the Gospel if it includes definite sothe Christian Church and their Divine Saviour, cial theories and forgets that these must necessarily but they would not say that any work done by vary from country to country and from generation to earnest men for the relief of human suffering and generation. The preaching of the Gospel must always the enlightenment of human minds and the en- center on the New Testament message of salvation for richment of human life was not justified in ap- sinners, and we must trust and believe that this mespealing for support from those who were satisfied sage will, among the various nations on the mission with the grounds of its appeal. fields, prove to be the salt that will gradually tMough the native chttrches purify and raise the social con- The Danger Field of International Relations ditions.
But the most serious divisive danger in the Again agreements were reached and assurances Report is in the field of international relation- were given by the American delegates at Herrn- ships. At the Jerusalem Council the Continental hut which satisfied the Scandinavian and other Churches expressed their fear of what seemed to European members. The Council adopted a state- them to be the domination of American missions ment containing these paragraphs: by a humanistic activism and an intellectual and We have considered afresh what is central in our religious syncretism. They made their own posi- missionary work and where the chief emphasis should tion unmistakably clear and in the end were sat- be laid. We are convinced that our missionary task isfied. Since then, various things have reawak- is to proclaim in word and life God's revelation and re- ened their alarm, one of them being the Survey demption in Jesus Christ.
Report of the foreign work of the Y. M. C. A. If we have anything to bring in the name of God to and the Y. W. C. A., and there was fear that at a world in need, it is certainly not our own piety, our the meeting of the International Missionary own way of life, our own modes of thought or our own human help. What the Church has to give in its world Council in Herrnhut in the summer· of 1932 the mission is the good news of a Divine act in history, European delegates would feel obliged to with- of the Word made flesh. Apart from this there is no draw from the Council. A Memorial was pre- Christian mission. In face of the powerful antisented from the Northern Europe Missionary Christian forces operating in the world today we Council which declared: reaffirm our faith that the revelation of God in Christ Faithful alike to the character of the Northern is the only way of deliverance for mankind, and that Churches in their development up till the present day it alone can provide the foundation for an order of and to the evolution which has taken place in theologi- society that will be according to the will of God.
cal thinking and practical church life on the Continent We need continually to ask ourselves whether every- during the last decade, we feel under obligation to thing contained in the present missionary activity declare that the views on foreign missions prevalent serves the one dominant purpose of making clear the in the Northern Countries are on several points at Message of Jesus Christ in all its fulness.
variance with the tendencies which seem to receive We have no other task; for while there is much that increasing support on the part of the International is useful and good, "one. thing is needful." Yet, while Missionary Council, and which have been especially the task is one, the forms in which it has to be ful- emphasized in the resolutions of the Williamstown filled are many. A living faith must show its effects meeting. and fruits in every department of human life. We Since we are firmly convinced that the preaching of must not shrink from an uncompromising protest the Gospel is the essential task of missions and must against all that is un-Christian in modern thought and always remain so, we cannot help feeling anxious at life.
the growing tendency of making programs for the For the tasks before us we are wholly insufficient. solution of rural, social and industrial problems in the We take again on our lips the ancient prayer of the various mission fields. Naturally we do not object to Church: discussing these important problems from the point of view of missions. But if this is done beyond a certain Come Holy Ghost our souls inspire measure there is a real danger of diverting the mis- And lighten with celestial fire.
sionary zeal from its central objective to ·such social problems as will naturally present themselves when The situation throughout the world which consti- Christianity has had a long period of development in tutes the background of all the deliberations of the a nation, but which in no wise need be put in the fore- Committee is an urgent call to a bolder and more con- ground at the time of laying the foundation of a Chris- vincing presentation of the Christian message. The tian Church in a nation. world is in desperate need of regeneration. Chris- We do not in this connection lay stress upon the tianity calls men to a complete conversion of the mind strong doubts which may be entertained a·s to the and a radically new life. Our evangelistic task is so
AN APPRAISAL OF THE APPRAISAL
to present Christ to men that they will be confronted site error of failing to discern and to declare its with the necessity of a real decision. We desire to definite intellectual content? Are we adequately call the churches and missions to immediate coopera- expressing the Christian Gospel in terms of hution in a more earnest evangelistic endeavor. man service, and ministering to conscious physi- cal and social need? Or are we thinning it out Our aim is the personal conversion of men to a new to be only a message of material interests amid life in Christ, to complete surrender to God, and to the transitoriness of visible things? Are we new relations of love with their fellowmen. From a fully, truly, persuasively making Christ known, true conversion of heart and mind there must follow both His name and His power? a new discernment .f ways of living that are in accordance with the mind of Christ, and a new determi- Fourth, the individual members of the Comnation to wage war on the evils of society and to mission, now dissolved, should review their judgredress the wrongs of the world. ments in the light of a longer perspective and against the ever pressing question: Are our What will the European Churches and their churches, schools and hospitals going to do in our missionary boards have to say now, when they own work here at home the things we have joined read this Report? Let them be assured that the in admonishing the missionaries to do? American Churches hold the same faith with them and let us pray that by the miracle of God Fifth, the laymen of the Inquiry should study the unity of our world-fellowship may not be the Report with thorough-going intellectual apbroken. plication, and determine what measure of re- sponsibility they bear for it and what their view Our Present Duty of Christ is; and the laymen of the country, in whose name a small company of their number Now, lastly, what is our present duty in this have unselfishly and devotedly projected and cargrave matter? ried through this Inquiry, should study this whole matter with penetrating care and ask themselves First, we must all work together in faith and what duty they have to perform which they have trust to get all the good and as little as possible not fulfilled to the missionary cause. of evil out of this situation. We must strive to keep unimpaired all that we have gained in the Lastly, every missionary board should settle cooperation and unity of the Church and the mis- itself anew on the Rock that is Christ, the one sionary enterprise. and only basis and foundation, never to be altered, the true motive and message and aim, Second, all missionaries should study this Re- and standing there, consider this criticism and port and ask themselves whether, apart from its appraisal honestly, fully and fearlessly, with comtheological basis, they cannot go a great deal fur- plete readiness for any and every wise change. ther in achieving some of the ideals which they It should do this, not under any passing, human have long held and which have been given such pressure, but under the unrelenting pressure of strong reenforcement. Let them not, however, its own conscience, and now and always under be alarmed or discouraged or think that any Re- the shadow of Christ's Cross, the unsparing scruport is the final and authoritative word. tiny of the Holy Spirit and the blessed presence of our Living Lord. Third, we should keep open, under constant critical review, such questions as these: Are we giving Christianity a too dominantly intellectual and doctrinal cast; or are we making the oppo- THE BEST INVESTMENT When James M. Thoburn was called to India in the early days, mission service there was very difficult and even dangerous. • When, after nearly half a century qf service, he came to the age of retirement, he said: "When I went to India I never expected to see my mother again. But I not only came back to. see my mother but, through the Providence of God, I have lived to have a home and a mother in every city of any size on the face of the globe, where the friends of the mission field open their homes to me."
Everywhere this servant of Christ found companionship in these faithful friends. I com- mend you that the best investment for life is to invest it in such a good cause. What puts the most joy in life is to expend one's life for Christ and His cause without thought of self. "Ex- cept a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die it abideth alone, but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit." Except our lives are invested in a great cause we will decline to make sacrifices and will live in selfish ease. If we put ourselves into the Cause we will grow and will find the meaning in the words of Jesus, our Lord; "I came that they may have life and that they might have it more abundantly." BISHOP NICHOLSON.
Is Our Commission?
The Primal Truths Contained in the Great Command of Christ J By the REV. HENRY W. FROST, D.D., i Princeton, New Jersey u'"_ f.l+ o, – Director-Emeritus of the China Inland Mission for North America THE natural religions of the world cannot be Christians, who are called to be witnesses, our compared with Christianity. Those religions whole relationship is with Christ. This brings us are the product of human thought, from man to several conclusions in reference to the great to God; Christianity is a divine revelation, from commission.
God to man. They, at best, are seeking after God; The One who commands. The position which Christianity, from first to last, is a finding of Christ occupies as related to His Church is that of God. They are mutually related; Christianity is Saviour and Lord. As Saviour, He is the possessor unique. They are systems; of those whom He has re- Christianity is a Person. deemed; as Lord, He is the di- This last fact is vastly im- The Report of the Appraisal rector of those whom He pos- portant, for we find in it the Commission of the Laymen's sesses. It is, therefore, His in- intimation and explanation of Foreign Mission Inquiry has herent and unlimited right to what our relationship to Chris- raised again the question of ask of His people what He tianity is. If Christianity were the real aim and basis of the pleases, to require what He the result of human thinking, Christian Missionary enter- asks and to command what He then we should have to think prise. Dr. Frost, who has requires. Moreover, He is not the more and at last propound given over forty years to the obligated to consult with those our thought as best we could. work as Home Director of whom He commands or to ex- If Christianity were a system, the China Inland Mission, plain the commandments which then we should be required to states here clearly the New He gives. He may be at any systematize our system the Testament basis on which time, by reason of His person- more perfectly, and then pro- the enterprise rests. ality and redemptive work, an claim and defend it to the ut- autocrat and dogmatist. His most of our ability. But, since words, therefore, are fiats, Christianity is a Person, our problem is simplified, which being uttered, call for immediate, full and for the only requisite is to know the Person, and continued obedience, until they are fulfilled. These then to witness concerning Him. This is what are first principles as related to Christ, in conse- Jesus meant when He said, "Ye shall be wit- quence of His individuality, official position and nesses," not unto human concepts however great atoning sacrifice.
and impressive these may be, but "unto me." Those who are commanded. The Christian lives This thought is fundamental because it is essen- in consequence of a sacrificial act which saved him tial. Expound religion without Christ, though the from death and brought to him the possibility and address may be superbly and passionately given, privilege of living. There is, therefore, not a and Christianity has not been preached. Pro- moment of time when he can consider himself in- pound religion with Christ, however humbly and dependent of that act or under little or no obliga- tranquilly it may be expressed, and Christianity tion to it. On one day or another, in things great has been preached. Christ is the centre, the cir- or small, in all the relationships which common or cumference, the all in all of Christianity; hence, uncommon existence brings to him, he must look He is the One whom we are to present and pro- upon himself as one who is required to learn his claim. The New Testament throbs with this Redeemer's wish and to do His will. To act thus thought, because its very heart is Christ. The is not to his credit, for it is his bounden duty.
Gospel, therefore, is the good-tidings of Jesus Not to act thus indicates that he has little appre- Christ, and it is this because it proclaims One hension of what has been done for him and what who is mighty to save and to keep. Hence, as he owes in return. Hence, if his Saviour-Lord [ 281 commands him to do this or that, be it easy or occupier of a sacred office. If he loses this balhard, he neglects to do it at his loss and refuses ance, he is a man of misapprehension, a waster of to do it at his peril. The soldier under the com- his own time, a spendthrift of other men's money, mand of his general is not so much under duty to an occupier of a position which a better man obey orders as is the Christian to obey his Com- might fill and he is the wearer of a dignified and mander. In the one case, to refuse is disloyalty; honored name of which he is not worthy. Let a in the other, it is treason. In other words, the man be narrow, if he is on1y true. If he can be whole Church is under sacred obligation to fulfil true and at the same time sympathetically and Christ's command to evangelize the world, and altruistically broad, let him be broad, only, let each Christian in his own appointed way is to be him always be true. Truth is the essential which at it and always at it. God requires and which the condition of the world demands. Our Commission, therefore, is this: to The thing which is commanded. Christ has preach the truth, that is, the Gospel. Anything given to His Church many commands. But one else than this, before the commandment of Christ command is primal and preeminent. It is to and the bitter need of the world, is secondary and preach the Gospel to every creature. This man- comparatively inconsequential. date is clear in its intention and expression, so that its meaning cannot be misunderstood. Also, it is It was largely the foregoing conception of things plain, both as to its content and extent. As to content, we are told to preach one thing, not less or which sent of old so many noble men and women more, namely, the Gospel; as to extent, the into the regions beyond. For the love they bore preaching is to be continued until every person has their Master they obeyed His Word, went to lonely heard. places, lived often in sordid surroundings and laid down their lives, slowly or suddenly, in willing Paul's conception of the Gospel was, "Christ sacrifice for the One whom they served and for and him crucified." This great missionary is our exemplar and we are to speak as he spoke. We those who needed the Gospel that they preached. may understand, as was true in the apostle's day, that the preaching of this Gospel will produce re- And they saw signs following their service. sults besides salvation and sanctification, for the Dark faces were brightened; malformed lives Gospel is a civilizer individually and collectively. But secondaries are not primaries; and by-prod- were transformed; and fearful souls were filled ucts are never to be put in the place of central with radiant peace and joy and hope. In other truths. After all, so-called "civilization" is not so important, as present-day developments in words, these men and women who were not "diswestern nations are proving; and, at its best, it obedient unto the heavenly vision" found that the never saves. The Gospel, on the other hand, is simple Gospel of Christ was a panacea, healing necessary and is the power of God unto salvation. the open sores of the world, even beyond anything It is, therefore, to be persistently held and de- which they had imagined. They thus became clared. A witness is a "martyr." And the kind enamored of Christ, discovering that His autocof martyr needed in these tragic days is one who racy was the most wise, loving, gentle and comwill put and hold himself in the place of self-denial passionate experience that this world knows. and then repeat after the great missioner of old, Those, therefore, who have been truest, served "Woe is unto me if I preach not the Gospel"; "I longest and suffered most have been the ones who am determined not to know anything among you wished that they had a thousand lives to give to save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." their Saviour-Lord. It was so with Brainerd, Carey, Morrison, Judson, Moffat, Duff, Paton, The way the command is to be fulfilled. The Chalmers, Taylor and others. These were great good, a.s w:e.c~ll know, is often the enemy of the men, with large minds and many interests. But best. Social reform is good, but it is not the Gos- also, they were consecrated and concentrated men, pel. Education is good, but it is not the Gospel. who could say, "This one thing I do"; they thus Medical work is good, but it is not the Gospel. focused thefr iives upon the life of Christ and mag- Indeed, these matters, good as they are,. may de- nified His Name above all other names. Hence, in stroy the Gospel; and without the Gospel Christ their places of service, they turned the world upis gone and all is gone. Missionary service, there- side down and innumerable lives were turned fore, is a matter of perspective and proportion, as right side up. It will be so with any man who to what shall be mostly in sight and chiefly empha- will follow in their steps. sized. If a missionary keeps the balance between the primary and the secondary, he has a true con- Let us to our tents, 0 Israel, and our knees. ception of the Great Commission and is a rightful There in the secret place of prayer and dedication let us hear what Christ would say to us. Then, let us rise and go forth, to do God's work, in God's place and in God's way.
ON THE BOSPHORUS-WHERE ELIAS HIGGS LABORED AS A
Elias Riggs – A Pioneer in Turkey Missionary of the American Board, from 1832 to 1901 By the REV. CHARLES TROWBRIDGE RIGGS, D.D., _.ootJif Istanbul, Turkey }i+o.- Missiollary of the Americall Board sillce 1898 T HE year 1932 marked the centennial of the of Hebrew. He was ready for college before he beginning of missionary work by one of the was fifteen, was graduated from Amherst at nine- outstanding representatives of Christ in for- teen and from Andover Theological Seminary at eign lands. As far as the writer knows, no mis- twenty-two. During his college course he acquired sionary has surpassed the record of sixty-eight a very good pronunciation of Greek by the help of years of active service given to the cause by Dr. two young Greeks studying there; and before his Elias Riggs. His graduation from theological graduation from the seminary had published a seminary, ordination, marriage, commissioning as Manual of the Chaldee Language which became a foreign missionary, sailing, and arrival on the the standard for all the theological seminaries of field, all fall within the year 1832, although he did the country for the next half-century. Among not actually reach his particular field until Jan- his classmates at Andover were Messrs. Lyman uary of 1833. He kept actively at work until a and Munson, the martyrs of Sumatra, and Sam- few weeks before he passed to his reward in Jan- uel Francis Smith, author of "My Country, 'tis of uary of 1901, sixty-eight years and three months Thee."
after he was commissioned as a missionary. Elias Riggs was ordained as a missionary evan- Elias Riggs, the son of a Presbyterian clergy- gelist by the Presbytery of Elizabeth, N. J., on man, was born in New Jersey, November 19, 1810, September 20, 1832. Soon after, with his young in the year that the American Board of Commis- bride, he crossed the ocean.in a brig of 180 tons.
sioners for Foreign Missions was organized. At As he took only one furlough in all his long career, an early age he showed the scholarly tendency he crossed the ocean only twice more, both times that was later such a help to him; he learned to by sailing vessel. In 1858 steamers were too ex- read at four, and at nine he had such facility in pensive for missionaries to use. We may add that Latin that he took up the study of Greek, using a although Dr. Riggs never saw his native land after Latin grammar; at thirteen he began the study 1858, and never knew it without slavery, he was [30 ]
ELIAS RIGGS-A PIONEER IN TURKEY
always keenly interested in every new develop- Armenian hymns, a large share of the most pop- ment in America, and was a most loyal citizen. ular today are those which he put into that lan- His breadth of Christian thought was character- guage. Besides this, he was for many years editor istic, and while he was loyal to his denomination, or associate editor of weekly and monthly peri- yet his life work was under another board. He odicals in both Bulgarian and Armenian – papers was loyal to his alma mater, but sent his three that, aside from the Bible, were the sole reading sons to another college. The one loyalty that would matter for thousands of homes. He also took his yield to no other was his loyalty to Christ and full share in the issuing of tracts, school books, His work. devotional and biblical literature, including a His first field of service was Greece, later Asia Bible Dictionary in Bulgarian, and several com- Minor, and then Constantinople; while his efforts mentaries.
for the Bulgarians took him often into Bulgaria. Dr. Riggs also had a free use of French for Twice calls of other fields were put before him. preaching, as well as conversation; he used Ger- Shortly after his arrival in Greece, an invitation man, Italian, Russian and Arabic easily for read- came to go to Persia for work among the Nes- torians; and again, in 1858, when he was on his one furlough in America, and had been teaching Hebrew in Union Theological Seminary (where, among others, the late Dr. Arthur T. Pierson was his pupil), the directors extended an urgent invi- tation to the chair of Hebrew Literature, backed up by an offer to endow the chair if he would ac- cept. In each case, after prayer and thought, the invitation was declined, since he believed that the field of service in Greece and Turkey was a call of God.
It was a noble group of missionary giants with whom Dr. Riggs was associated through his long life, especially at Constantinople. It would be diffi- cult to match the galaxy of Goodell, Dwight, Schauffler, Wood, Hamlin, Temple, and later H. O.
Dwight, Herrick, Greene and Peet. Among these were several with more spectacular careers than that of Elias Riggs; but in his own special line of literary effort, no one came near his record. He was also a fine teacher, whether in a girls' school THE BIBLE IN ARMENINN, TURKISH, GREEK AND or in a theological seminary; he was a most ac- BlTLGARIAN TRANSLATIONS, MADE BY DR. ceptable and helpful preacher in half a dozen dif- RIGGS AND HIS COLADORERS ferent languages; he served a term as treasurer ing and somewhat in speaking. He had a scholarly of the mission very competently. But his great use of Syriac, Coptic and Ethiopian as well as work was literary. To few men is it granted to Latin, Hebrew and Aramaic, as far as Oriental translate the entire Bible into three separate lan- studies and the purposes of translation were con- guages, each with its own distinct alphabet, be- cerned. He took great interest in delving into the sides assisting in a fourth. Practically the entire grammar and construction of many other tongues.
responsibility for the Armenian and Bulgarian His commonplace book contains copies which he versions was his; and he was a member of the made, with comments, of the Russian, Georgian, translation committee for Turkish, while he as- Chinese, and Sabean characters, showing the sisted in the translation of Prof. Bambas into breadth of his interests. But his scholarship was Greek, particularly of portions like Daniel and deep as well as broad. He was never satisfied with Ezra, translating from the Chaldee or Aramaic. surface work.
His knowledge of all these tongues was so idio- One secret of Dr. Riggs' remarkable ability to matic that he was able to put the sacred Word into help others was his humble and teachable spirit.
a form acceptable to the people. He was always eager to learn, no matter from how Next to Bible translation, his most valued and humble a source. Hearing that there were said permanent contribution was to the hymnology of to be valuable ancient Greek manuscripts in the these Near Eastern peoples. Over three hundred library of the Mosque of St. Sophia, he did not of the hymns in the Bulgarian book are his work; rest until by personal investigation he had ascer- while each edition of the Greek hymn book has tained that this was not true. At another time, he been dedicated to his memory; and among the questioned a young graduate of one of the Amer-
ican universities as to whether he had found any very young; and this gave Dr. Riggs a special insatisfactory explanation of the precession of the terest in the blind. It was through his personal equinoxes, saying that he had read many articles care and ingenuity that a system of characters about that phenomenon, but without finding an was brought out for the blind in Armenian, based explanation that satisfied him. The young grad- on the Moon system. Portions of the Bible printed uate was forced to confess that, with all his astro- in this way were a great boon to many blind pernomical training, he knew less about it than the sons throughout Turkey. missionary of sixty years standing! Dr. Riggs was never quite satisfied with what he had done, There was one handicap under which Dr. Riggs but was constantly revising, correcting, and bring- constantly worked, which is not usually expected ing up to date his books and other work. Neither in the case of one who lives as long. He never his universality of interests nor his profound was of robust health. Shortly after moving to Smyrna from Greece, in 1839 he was brought so ELIAS RIGGS (left), WILLIAM GOODELL AND WM. G. SCHAUFFLER, TRANSLATORS AT WORK IN CONSTANTINOl'LE scholarship along so many lines, led him to speak low by malarial fever that the family physician as an expert; he was never assertive, but modest did not think he would live two years, but a trip and retiring. Moreover, he was always willing to to Syria and Palestine set him up again. In 1856, give up one line of work when need was shown in 1862, twice in 1864, and again in 1872, he was for his aid along a different line. So he turned compelled to leave his beloved work in an effort from educational work to literary, and from that to recover his health. During all the years from to the work of a treasurer, just as he was willing the time of his golden wedding and the fiftieth anto leave Greece and begin again in Smyrna, or niversary of his entry on missionary life until his again in Constantinople; or to take up one new end, his associates were accustomed to look at the language after another, thinking nothing of the thin form of the white-haired old man as a frail labor and drudgery involved. thing which any wintry blast might destroy. Yet constant care, regular and abstemious living, and Three of his children and eleven of his grand- a sublime faith and trust in the heavenly Father, children followed him into the foreign field. His kept him at work till his ninety-first year. youngest son was stricken with blindness while
Berry Schools of
The Romance of a Sunday School that Became Famous By TRACY BYERS, Mount Berry, Georgia _,o~1 Author of the biography of "Martha Berry, the Sunday Lady of Possum Trot"; published by G. P. Putnam's Sons, I New York, $3.50 Miss Berry's Sunday school grew rapidly until it had passed all bounds. Children brought their ONE Sunday afternoon about thirty years ago parents and came flocking from miles around. On Martha Berry was sitting in a log cabin Sunday the grounds around the stately pillared playing on a little old-fashioned organ. Berry mansion became a shambles of ox carts, The cabin had been built as a playhouse for the mule wagons, horses and buggies. Her sisters Berry children and to it were attracted the chil- ana brothers looked on amused at first, then prodren of poor families living in the hills back of her tested wearily': father's plantation. One boy who came roaming through the woods, peered in at the cabin window "But, Martha, you can't educate all the hilland watched Miss Berry as if fascinated. Calling billies of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Even the him in, with three other children of the neighbor- state has not undertaken the job. You'll lose all hood, she told them Bible stories. They were so your beaux and never get married if you keep fascinated and astonished by these old stories that filling your buggy with dirty little brats off the she asked, "Haven't you ever read a Bible or heard mountains. Every time we go down the streets it read before?" with you all the worst-looking characters in town yell, 'How-dy, Miss Marthy.' Forget your Sun- "No'm. Pappy, he's goter Bible," said one, day school for a day and come on the picnic this "bu't he cain't read hit and we didn't know it had afternoon." stories in hit." But Martha did not go. Instead, she kept at "Will you come back next Sunday?" she asked work and opened new Sunday schools in four suras they left. "I'll tell you soma more Bible stories." rounding communities.
"Yes'm, weuns'll come back and bring some Driving around the country on Sundays, she more chillun, too." visited the Possum Trot and Mount Alto churches. Far down the Coosa River at Foster's Bend she The next Sunday afternoon the first four chil- opened another Sunday school, and in the meandren brought half a dozen more. They appeared time kept up the services in the log cabin on her in ragged and dirty clothes so that Miss Berry ran father's plantation. Soon she decided that Sunto the house to get soap and towels, which she in- days were not enough to teach the poor boys and vited the children to use. They washed in a large girls who came to her meetings. She opened a rain barrel standing beneath the eaves of the day school for them across the Summerville Pike cabin. Then with faces shining and eyes spar- on land given to her by her father, Captain kling, they gathered around their new-found Thomas Berry. friend and teacher. Once more her family protested, but the young Martha Berry told them of the beginning, of woman continued on her course, determined to do Adam and Eve, of Noah and the Ark; of Moses her bit to lift the pall of ignorance from the southand the Ten Commandments. They listened in ern highlands. rapt astonishment. Shadows were lengthening over the hil1,B and the sun near setting in the haze This was not an easy task-and it was not one over Laven'dar mountain, when the children re- for which she had been trained by the typical luctantly left for their shabby homes. schooling of a wealthy girl of the South of thirty years ago. She had been taught by a private gov- The next Sunday Miss Berry brought out an old erness at home until she was sent away for a year microscope which she had used in school. After in a fashionable "finishing school" in Baltimore. the children had washed she showed them the germs left in the water. As they looked through Somewhere out of this she developed strength the microscope, fascinated by the sight of the of character and wholesome trust. As a result the wriggling creatures, they said: "Heh! We'll sure-enough drown the bugs on us arter this !"
[33 ]
Sunday school grew into a boarding school for There has never been a letting down from that, boys. despite the difficulties.
"We just had to do something," she says, as she "After the boy's boarding school had been go- . smiles today at early memories. "There were ing on for ten years it became necessary to open times when all the children had nothing to eat in a girls' school-to train girls for better homes, to the School but corn bread and grits. Our old col- make them a match for the boys. The trustees ored mammy had taught me how to make delicious told me that we had extended ourselves as much biscuits and many nights when all our spirits were as was possible right then. Without telling them, I sent a group of boys a mile away to the farthest corner of the school's property, where they erected two log cabins. Here we put the first girls' school teacher and twelve girls.
"A year later, when the girls had beautified their cabins and had accomplished much work, I dared at last to show the trustees what I had done. Today the girls' school is as important and cer- tainly as lovely and practical a part of the indus- trial system as any other."
Later the grounds of the Schools were extended to include the Foundation School for Boys. By gifts of land the campus has grown until now it reaches more than ten miles from end to end and varies from two to five miles in width.
Great physical changes have come about at the Berry Schools during the thirty years that have passed since Martha Berry began to teach Bible stories in her log cabin.
Naturally far more important changes have been made in the lives of the ten thousand stu- dents who have attended Berry Schools. During these thirty years never a meal has been eaten without a prayer being asked and thanks returned to the Lord.
An endless stream of America's purest-blooded Anglo-Saxon boys and girls, the mountain whites, have attended these Schools.
MARTHA BERRY-TODAY Strangely enough, in this day of material things, the 'only requirement for admission is that low, I slipped into the kitchen of the first old dor- the prospective student be poor and unable to go mitory; made biscuits, 'borrowed' some jam from to school elsewhere. If he has no money he may home and we all feasted together." work for his clothes, his room and board and tui- tion. Between 600 and 700 yearly take advantage Early students, recalling those days, testify that of this opportunity and from 200 to 300 others when "Miss Martha" took charge of the kitchen pay the nominal charge of $150 a year. Altothe best food was forthcoming. gether there are about 1,000 students enrolled.
"Nowadays it has become stylish to be poor," The Schools are unlike any others in the world. says Miss Berry. "People talk of how much they On six mornings a week classes begin at seven can do without. For thirty years we have been o'clock, following breakfast at 6: 15. The classes that poor at the Berry Schools, doing without continue until five o'clock in the afternoon with many things that I always had thought were neces- some vacant periods during the day. Chapel servsities when I wa's a girl. ices are held at 11: 45 every day and attendance is compulsory. "The little motto on my desk, Prayer Changes Things, was put there by students long ago. I The students do all the work of the Schools, for walked out on a little plank of faith in God and there is not one hired man or woman on the 25,000 we built the Schools as best we could. By prayer acres. One third of the students are always enand work all things have been made possible. gaged in these tasks while the other two thirds From the early log cabins we walked along gravel are in classes. 'One third of the student body paths that somehow seemed hallowed by the work. works Monday and Tuesday; another third on
THE BERRY SCHOOLS OF GEORGIA
Wednesday and Thursday and the last third on One graduate of the Schoob has started a sim- Friday and Saturday. ilar institution in North Carolina and has a school The boys and girls clean the buildings, cook the with nearly 350 students. Another school, similar meals and serve them; bake the bread; milk the to Berry, is operated in northern Florida by two dairy herd of more than a hundred blooded J er- Berry graduates. Throughout the South are other seys; make the furniture and erect the buildings; schools patterned upon the Berry system of diver- bake the bricks in the brick plant owned by the sified industrial and vocational education.
Schools; cultivate the fields and care for orchards; It is encouraging to note that of the 10,000 tend the sheep and chickens. All in all they lead former students more than 3,000 are now teachers an extremely busy and useful life. and community leaders. Hundreds are farm ,:l'here is no time for football at Berry and no demonstrators and county teachers of home eco- interscholastic athletic life; but many games and nomics. Many become Christian ministers and sports are played between the different classes and doctors.. Many return to the farms, where they divisions of the Schools. improve the condition of the soil and the animals 'Boys and girls who have never had an oppor- tui:lity for an education plead to enter these Schools, so that, at the age of twenty, many young me.ll and young women are found here beginning t? learn their ABC's.
' Reclaiming human waste, making useful citi- zens from boys and girls that would otherwise have no chance in life, has been the aim of Martha Berry. There seems to be an endless influx of such boys and girls from these southern states, the most backward section educationally in Amer- ica. The mountain people of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and the Carolinas, from- whom most of the Berry boys and girls come, lead America in illiteracy and misery.
J One student enrolled recently from the hills of Tennessee who is a direct descendant of Daniel Boone; another is a great-grandniece of General Robert E. Lee. Some of the boys and girls trace their descent directly to the pure-blooded French Huguenots, who fled to South Carolina when THE MARTHA BERRY SCHOOL AT POSSUM TROT driven from their own land by persecution. on the land. This has been one of Miss Berry's The Anglo-Saxons of these mountains speak a great aims. dialect that is the lovely old-country English of With good sense and an unfaltering sense of two hundred years ago. Somehow these people humor, Martha Berry guides and advises these were left behind as modern civilization swept youngsters; encouraging them to grow into ideal across America. Today they are appealing for Christian citizens, into men and women who will an opportu~ity to step into something better than feel that character is the greatest need of life, and the one-room and lean-to cabin homes that cover 'commercial success of secondary importance. the hills of the s~uthland. Maw of the girl graduates become nurses. , These boys aDd girls, when educated, quickly Sever;il are now superintendents of nursing prove their worth. Today the professor of agron- homes. One of these girls nursed Miss Berry duromi at the Georgia State Unjversity is a Berry ing a severe illness, helping in real fashion to graduate. More than twenty years ago he came "pull through'; the founder of the Schools.
to the Schools driving a span of oxen, which .he The graduatef?,. have scattered into every state exchanged for his "larnin'." He is also secretary of America and into many foreign lands. One of the alumni association of the State TJi!Tiversity. former student, who now is a missionary in Brazil, Another boy who worked his way through the recently gave the address in chapel. One came Schools, and has since helped to educate his back from several years of teaching in a mission younger brothers, is today a vice-president of the school in India. Another is working in a school Chase National Bank in New York City. The in Persia. president of the Rotary Club of Asheville, North A girl, who was graduated about eight years Carolina last year and a trust officer in a large ago, has given addresses on temperance to the bank there, is a Berry graduate who is helping student bodies of almost every college east of the educate his younger brothers. Mississippi River.
STliDENTS AT THE MARTHA BERRY SCHOOLS. AND ONE OF THF] DORMITORTFJS The young men and women prove their intelli- picture which Miss Berry made during the years gence on every side. Psychological tests and mind as she walked about, saying in her charming measurement tests reveal great native intelligence southern accent, "Cut down that hill….. Fill which only needs training to develop them into that hollow ….. Move that tree nearer the road." useful citizens. She says with a smile, "It isn't much fun to stay A feature of the School life which for years in one place forever! I suspect even the trees like puzzled the South is the religious training and to move about a bit. Any way they grow better." compulsory chapel. The School is non-sectarian, with its chaplains recruited variously from Meth- "God has blessed us with friends," Miss Berry odist, Presbyterian, Baptist, Episcopalian, Con- says quietly, "without the help and prayers of gregational and other churches. In early days the our friends throughout the years, I should long mountaineers suspected that they would be evan- since have given up. To our beloved friends we gelized into some strange belief. The Hardshell are the most grateful for reclaiming the 10,000 Baptist ministers wrote letters to Miss Berry in~ lives to usefulness for our country and our God." quiring her "persuasion" and the strength of her shell. But Christianity is placed above sectarian ONE RACE-ONE SAVIOUR creeds. By FRANCIS SHUNK DOWNS, D.D. Through it all Miss Berry has fought and smiled. Buildings have burned down, but classes A Japanese evangelist said to a group of his counand meals have continued as before. Tornadoes trymen: have swept the campus, but no one was daunted. Teachers have attempted insurrections, but have "When I attended a surgical clinic, and saw the forfailed of their purpose. A railroad attempted to eign teacher preparing to remove a cataract from the bisect the campus with a spur line, but Miss Berry eye of an old woman, I wondered to myself: 'Suppose finally halted work by telling the foremen she that we Christians are mistaken, and that instead of would have the boys-tear up the rails every night one God there are many, and that the one that made if they went any further onto the grounds. She the American did not consult with the one that made hurried to the president of the road and persuaded the Japanese, and as a result there is a difference in him to run the track in a different section. the anatomy of the eye, and so this operation proves a failure.''' Visitors who see the miles of campus, the graceful lawns and beautiful trees, seldom vision the But the one God has "made Qf one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth."
Sin has infected the spiritual life of all races and nations and Christ is the only power that can cleanse this human race.
to Convert the
The Message from the Foreign Field to the Home Church By the REV. W. WILSON CASH, London, England General Secretary of the Church Missionary Society FIFTEEN centuries ago there came to the pret to the people of Great Britain the message Church one of the decisive hours in the ex- of Jesus Christ and His redemptive love and pansion of Christianity. In A. D. 432 St. power, in terms of what has been taking place Patrick landed in Ireland and the fruits of his on the mission field. We have sought to give the evangelization may be traced not qnly in the evangelistic message of our churches, explain- Western Island but also throughout the sixth and ing what God is doing in other lands. What He seventh centuries as the Gos- has don e in China, India, pel Message flowed back to aWryhawt iosrwk?ronWg hwaitthismiwssrioonng- Africa, and elsewhere He can England through Iona and with the Church at home? do for congregations to whom Lindisfarne and across the we preach at home. This has continent of Europe. The prin- Can we expect unconverted caused a heart-searching for ciple of the New Testament Christians to evangelize the some of us. We have realized surely is that what is given world? Feeling convinced that if we go out and explain in missionary service overseas that, if the Kingdom of God how Christ has transformed flows back again in increasing is to continue to spread, the the life of pagan Africans and blessing to the home Church, aCrhoruissetida,ntsheaCt hhuormceh Mmiussstiobne- Hindus and has given those and every age of the Church ary Society of England has people victory over sin, then we has proved it. brought home a missionary must face the same need and In this twentieth century we from Persia to conduct evan- possibility in our own lives. To are not simply in a world crisis gelistic missions in Anglican be honest in our evangelism we which affects foreign missions. churches. Would not this be must rediscover Christ as su- We are emerging into a new a good plan for some of our premely adequate for ourselves.
era when things will not be American churches? As i a We will not attempt here to ex- the same as before. The moral may evyaent gbeleizecaAllemderuicpao!n to plain this personal aspect of crisis of the western world is the campaign. Suffice it to say not whether missionary work that we have sought to sur- be maintained in the future at the same financial render our lives anew and wholly to God so that level and efficiency as before but whether the nothing in us would hinder His purpose either Church of God can stem the tide and in doing so for the work we represent or for the world. As can meet the crisis with a positive message of we have studied the situation we have become Christ for a broken and a disillusioned world. more and more convinced that the mission field Can Christianity survive the impact of secular- holds the evidence of the truth of Christ and the ism? This question is fundamental to the mission- Way of Life for which the Western world is ary situation, for a collapse of vital Christianity waiting. In England the question is constantly in the West would react at once throughout the being asked whether there is anything definite to world. show that Christ can me.et human needs. Be- It is because of the serious challenge thrown hind such a question there is a hunger for real- down to the Church by the materialism of the day ization of a God who can be discoverable in the that some of us are conviflced that only in a re- ordinary life of this modern age.
discovery of the Gospel as the power of God for How can we bring this evidence to the atten- this present age can we help the missionary cause. tion of the home Church?
In other words, we cannot advance in the mission The ordinary methods of missionary promo- field without a new spiritual revival in the home tion are inadequate. Study circles, missionary Church. We have therefore been seeking to inter- addresses, exhibitions and the many other forms [37 ]
of activity <ire not: converting people to God, and thank God that blessing is ilowing back to the unless we were winning people to God we were home Church from the mission fields but let us failing. It is one thing to convert people to for- make no mistake about the issue involved in it all. eign missions and, by a broad policy of social :>ervice, to secure from them a donation. It is a We have today largely an unconverted church very different proposition to make the mission- membership. We must either win Church and ary appeal so vital and personal as to challenge nation for God or we cannot carryon the misthe man in the pew to consider seriously the sionary work entrusted to us. In many ways claims of Jesus Christ for himself and to win him the spiritual level of the home Church determines to a full surrender to Christ as his personal the progress of the Kingdom of God overseas. Saviour and Lord. . Our policy in the campaign upon which we have embarked is definitely evan- Weare at the parting of the ways. It is time gelistic with the objective of changing lives to close our ranks, heal our divisions and with a through the power of Christ. united front go forward cooperatively with all who love our Lord in sincerity in a new effort to Some have said that it is not the work of a win the world for Jesus Christ. missionary society to do home evangelism. The days are too critical for us to consider whether In recent years evangelism has often been in this or that task is specifically ours as a mission- the background in missionary policy and we have ary board. We are convinced that every ounce given our congregations the pap they wanted in of spiritual energy in the Church should be mobi- a nebulous kind of religion based upon what we lized to this one end-the conversion of the peo- thought leading laymen would approve. Now we ple of our nation to God. As Christian workers are called to bring home to ourselves and to our we feel we have a distinctive contribution to laity the one great missionary objective given to make. It may. not be peculiarly our missionary us by Jesus Christ-to preach the Gospel by life task, but having seen God at work in other lands, and word in all the world, at home and abroad. we believe that He would have us summon the home Church to take up unitedly this great work. The young churches overseas are alive to the Our effort therefore is only a small contribution menace of this hour. With reduced grants from to the larger task of the whole Church. the sending churches and with fewer mission- aries they are themselves embarking upon ag- Last year Bishop J. H. Linton of Persia was gressive evangelism. The Kingdom of God Moveasked to come to England for a year to lead the ment in Japan and the Five-Year Movement in campaign which the Church Missionary Society China are two instances of this. planned to initiate. He began the work last autumn and has already held a number of evan- Many other efforts are being made by the gelistic missions so it is possible to gauge to some churches themselves to advance through personal extent the result of the campaign. evangelism. If these daughter churches of ours are feeling that the need today is a militant evan- The Bishop's messages have been simple evan- gelism, how much more should we at home stress gelical talks based upon his personal experience it also? The lesson for us to learn from the misof Jesus Christ. He has never been ashamed to sion field in this world crisis is undoubtedly a tell his audiences about his own life and how ringing call to join with them in a world-wide Christ has met his needs. Most of his missions evangelistic effort. Revival in many places has have been called "A Week of Witness." already begun. I believe it has begun in Eng- land. Are we going to stifle this movement of Anglican churches like to have things done the Spirit or will we clear the channels so that decently and in order, and yet as the tide has revival may be world-wide? risen we have seen young men and women mounting the pulpits of large Anglican churches and THE NEED OF TODAY witnessing to the saving power of Jesus Christ. We sorely need to recover a radiant passion for In one industrial center the Bishop of the the redemption of the lost. Sylvester Horne rediocese sat humbly in a pew and listened to the minds us that "A new note is required in much of messages thus given. Hundreds of men and our preaching if men and women are to be won to women, mainly young people, have found new Christ. Scholarly accuracy, literary finish and life in Christ and every series of mission meet- charm of style we will not despise, but these alone ings reveals a tremendous hunger for God. Thus cannot probe the sore of sin or lead men out of far those who have been won have been mainly bondage into spiritual liberty. The antagonism church people and in this the way is being pre- some would raise between evangelism and relipared for a much wider evangelism later on. If gious education is absurd. We must put more educhurch people show that they have a faith worth cation into our evangelism and more passionate passing on, the Church will soon discover that it evangelism into our education." is a faith worth exporting to other lands. We BISHOP ARTHUR J. MOORE.
A Woman's Criticism of the Laymen's
Report By Mrs. HENRY W. PEABODY, I Orlando, Florida I r~~'- ~~==========================~ T HE report of the Appraisers of Foreign best that modern liberals can present as a mo- Missions sent out by a committee of laymen tive. is perhaps the worst attack and the most We, therefore, must take exception to the dangerous ever made on this great enterprise. qualifications of men, with such standards and In the guise of friends backgrounds, to survey the fifteen appraisers and appraise the divinely have prepared and sent For a full half century foreign missionary inspired work of foreign through the secular press work has been the major interest of Mrs. Lucy missions. The charter for Waterbury Peabody. As a young woman she their statements, claim- spent nearly six years in Madras, studying the this work was given by ing the backing of seven the Risen Lord, who comgreat evangelical denomi- Telugu language, working in village schools for manded His followers to nations. low caste people; training Bible women and do- go into all the world and Glancing through the ing zenana work with high caste women, Hindu and Moslem. In 1887, she returned to America, preach the Gospel, baplist of Appraisers, we tI"ZIng I. n H' find lacking the names of and was for eighteen years Home Secretary of name and men and women who the Woman's Baptist Foreign Mission Society. IS Later she was Foreign Vice-President of the have been in close touch teaching what He taught. with the foreign mission Woman's Foreign Mission Board. Some of the men and Mrs. Peabody was for ten years editor of the women who meet the ap- woman's magazine and the children's paper of proval of the s e Ap- the Baptist Board; in 1900 she became a mem- ber of the United Study on Foreign Missions, work and workers on the and under her chairmanship four million mis- praisers h a v e reversed sion study books were printed and distributed fields of Asia. In this for women and children of all denominations. the order of Christ. Acgroup of eminent men we cording to the divine pro- She has been for thirty years a leader in the find the chairman, a Pro- formation of summer schools of missions, was gram, the Kingdom of fessor of Philosophy in chairman of the interdenominational Woman's God and His righteous- Har.vard University, the ness is followed by other Foreign Mission Jubilee in 1911-12; was invice-chairman a vic e- temporal and physical strumcntal in organizing the Federation of For- eign Mission Boards. She made an extensive visit to foreign mission fields with Helen Bar- president of the Univer- rett Montgomery in 1913-14, and was founder "things." These might sity of Chicago, the presi- and editor of Everyland, the children's world include education, medical friendship and foreign mission magazine.
dent of Brown University, Mrs. Peabody is a well-known writer and W 0 r k, social, economic formerly a Baptist insti- and physical aids. Such speaker and was chairman of the Building Fund tution but now separated Committee for seven Christian colleges for benefits are effects, not from religious affiliation. women in Japan, China, India, raising $2,000,_ causes. Here lies the Another represents the 000 to secure $1,000,000 from the Laura Spel- great difference between man Rockefeller Foundation. At present she is a member of the Board of Woman's Christian Friends College of Haver- Medical Collelol"e of Shanghai, and of the Madras this body of Appraisers ford. These institutions, Christian College for Women. Vellore Mission- and the truly great body presumably the model for ary Medical School and St. Christopher College of evangelical mission- for Teachers.
the new work in foreign What Mrs. Peabody writes in regard to the aries who are out on the mission fields, seem not layman's appraisal of foreign missions is worthy foreign fields, represent- of careful attention. .
to have made any vital re- ing millions of men and ligious impression on women of our American their own communities. Unfortunately, Chicago, churches, who stilI stand by the divine origin of New York, Boston, Providence and Philadelphia this movement as set forth by the Risen Christ.
do not show many marks of religious progress, Every missionary would probably agree that but rather we should say they show the influ- it should be the aim of those. who proclaim the ence of extreme humanitarianism, which is the Gospel of Christ to improve conditions of family [39 ]
life, especially where polygamy maintains, to is there offered for women of that faith as bring about better living for all, and tender care taught by Buddhist priests? Kagawa of Japan for those who suffer. But evangelical churches knows that there is no hope in the Shinto faith. and missionaries cannot accept the Appraisers' He preaches Jesus Christ and Him crucified and report as a basis for the change. These men and makes no compromise with idolatry. women have had opportunity for only a superficial and cursory glimpse of the work, and evi- Education and Healing Without God? dently have been greatly influenced by prejudice and hearsay and the wisdom of men who stand The Appraisal Commission makes another rectheologically where most of the missionaries on ommendation regarding missionary educational the field do not stand. institutions. It recommends that evangelistic work be discontinued in missionary institutions We can touch briefly on only a few points founded and financed through the prayers and where there are notable differences in conclu- gifts of Christians who supposed they were buildsions based on the difference in belief, precedent, ing schools and colleges where Christian teaching and preparation. and training would be predominant. Whatever has been done-and the Appraisers graciously No Compromise With Non-Christian Faiths admit that something has been accomplished by our backward methods-has been done directly Having lived with the women of India for through religious work. Recently some mission nearly six years, and having made a life-study of boards have been willing to yield, as in China, the conditions which have not changed material:" agreeing to registration under a secular governly in the mass, we cannot accept the recommenda- ment which demanded a cessation of religious tion that as Christians we should compromise teaching in schools and colleges. with the non-Christian faiths of India. Even Gandhi, the highest exponent of Hindu idealism, Surely we have not yet accepted the atheistic had done nothing to remedy the terrible physical, viewpoint of the Russians. Either the mission moral and mental conditions of women which are boards should continue, as under honor bound, due directly to the religious life and beliefs of religious education as an integral part of the cur- Hinduism. If the Appraisal Commission will riculum in every mission school, or they should read "Mother India," by Katherine Mayo, and its close these schools. Christian schools are not later confirmation by Indian authorities, they supposed to maintain purely secular education in will be more accurately informed concerning the East, nor would the denominations reprepresent-day conditions in India. Long ago Max sented on the Laymen's Committee lead us to feel Muller said: "The Hindu religion is perhaps the that such unreligious, irreligious, agnostic or only religion that is worse than no religion." atheistic leadership would be of sufficient value to the Orient to enlist our gifts and the lives of The story of Amy Carmichael's redemptive our young men and women. Christian schools, work with the little girls devoted to the vile serv- supported by Christian churches, should be alice of the priests of the temples of India shows lowed to teach the Bible as the inspired Word of clearly the utter impossibility of any sympa- God, the basis of our Christian faith. It should thetic alliance with this religion so-called. From be taught by men and women who believe that Hebrew history, as told in the Old Testament, we this, the only historic record of the Lord Jesus learn the results of the attitude of Israel toward Christ, holds the major place in any education the prophets of Baal, with their pernicious, im- supported by the Church of Christ. Rather than moral, idolatrous worship. The prophets of divorce educational work from evangelical Chris- Israel, thank God, stood against these priests of tian teaching, it would be infinitely better to close Baal whose extermination was apparently ap- the doors of these institutions and allow the proved by the Lord God, Ruler of Nations. Oriental leaders to '!Conduct education in their own way, at their own expense. Having been in- In China, where moral conditions are in many strumental in the building of seven Christian colrespects better than in the greater part of India, leges for women in India, China and Japan, and we still have a very dark picture in the present knowing the nature of the appeal which brought books by Pearl Buck, who knows China. No mis- the great response from the Christian women of sionary of Christ will favor an intimate and America, we believe that it would be dishonest friendly cooperation even with 'a religion like dealing and a misappropriation of funds to dis- Confucianism or Buddhism in China. continue Christian teaching and training in those colleges. Some colleges in America have been se- We cannot compromise Christianity with these verely criticized for a similar misuse of legacies human faiths which reach their lowest depths in and endowments. the lives of the people. The religion of Christ is the only religion that can save the souls and Medical missions should be conducted on the bodies and minds of men and women. Buddhism is an improvement on Hinduism-but what hope
A WOMAN'S CRITICISM OF THE LAYMEN'S REPORT
same principles. We do not appeal to Christian entals. The Orientals who urge this are often churches for funds to carryon a purely scientific least fitted to take places of leadership. Humilor humanistic effort through hospitals and medi- ity, gratitude and ability to work with others or cal schools in the Orient. We are there, not mere- under direction must be characteristics of men ly to introduce a new science of medicine, but to and women who are safe to be left in charge of show the love and pity and power of the Great the great work in foreign fields. The mission- Physician. If we depart from the divine Char- aries now carrying on the work are as a rule ter, and cease to make Christ known through better able to discern ability in leadership, wisevery missionary doctor, nurse and teacher, then dom, judgment, spiritual religious power than we are unfaithful to our Commission and may are travelers from the West who spend a few as well give the field over to humanistic efforts months covering India, China and Japan with of modernistic groups. If their program is their total population of three-fourths of a biladopted the funds already invested should be re- lion people. The records of missionaries, spirturned to mission boards that will continue their itual and eternal, are known only in Heaven. work of evangelism through other channels. Why Help the Younger Churches? Christ's Representatives at the Front The Appraisers assert that the great body of The criticism in the Appraisal report that native preachers and Bible women are lacking in seems most unjust and unfair is that which ability and should not receive "subsidies" from stamps 95% of the missionaries, who are giving the home church. This is not a New Testament their lives for Christ in these foreign lands, as term. The churches of Jerusalem, Antioch and unworthy representatives of the American Macedonia felt a close bond, a brotherhood, with churches. Fifty years of intimate acquaintance the needy Christians who received the Word of with thousands of missionaries, and constant God through His missionaries, apostles, ambasstudy of their fields and attainments, may per- sadors. These needy Christians were helpedhaps fit me to make an appraisal of their char- not "subsidized." It would be impossible for acter and work. Not every missionary meets the missionaries to do effective work among the great highest requirements, and not every minister in masses of foreign peoples without the assistance America meets the high standards of God and of trained, loyal, humble representatives of His service. My appraisal of foreign mission- Christ, in the lands to which the Gospel is cararies is that 95% of them are worthy representa- ried. These helpers are willing to work for the tives of the Church of Christ, while perhaps 5% barest living; a few dollars a month suffice for are unfit for the task committed to them. In this their physical needs. If I had a million dollars latter group I would include rationalists, modern- to give I would invest it directly, through the ists, agnostics and humanists, who have really no kind of missionary I could trust (and there are Christian message for the people of the Orient. many of them), for the training and sending out of native evangelists who would in time become Among the greatest missionaries beginning pastors of the little churches of Christ which are with those who went out from Jerusalem down springing up throughout the Orient as the result to the present day, not many wise, not many of the preaching of God's Word. We "subsidize" mighty, according to human standards, have been leading ministers of the great churches of New called, and yet we have had such men as Carey, York, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, and Provi- Morrison, Livingstone, Judson, Verbeck; and, dence. They do not always show the spiritual or thank God, we have today such women and social results we might expect, even though their men who are willing to count little in a worldly "subsidies," in the form of salaries, are large appraisal but who stand high in ability and schol- enough in some cases to maintain a whole flock arship. Some of these outstanding men and of evangelists in a foreign field. women would be quick to defend those who have laid down their lives for Christ, even as that We come back to our Charter. Most missionfirst group of humble, untrained fishermen gave aries who have gone out under evangelical themselves to carry the Gospel to the regions be- churches have gone at the call of God. They beyond. Most of the boards have rather high lieve in Christ, not merely as a way of life, but standards for health, moral character, education, they believe that, by the miracle of the new birth, and special training for their missionaries. We the "Way of Life" will be opened to people of should maintain these standards and we can tes- different races throughout the world. Most of tify to the ability of the great body of men and these missionaries accept the Gospel of the Lord women who are now on the mission fields. Jesus Christ, 'as recorded in the prophecies of the Old Testament and in the history of the New, as Another recommendation of the Appraisers is the only basis for their calling, their message, that missionaries in the main should be with- and their service. They have found no other drawn and should be replaced by trained Ori-
Saviour of men, 110 other redemption except that Foreign Bible Society (1902), we learn that to offered through the Cross of Christ and the res- date approximately five hundred million copies urrection of our Lord. of the Scripture and portions have been trans- Any true appraisal of mission work must be lated and distributed in six hundred languages, based on the truth represented in the great Com- largely the work of missionaries who were and mission of our Lord and in the Apostles Creed. are scholars.
Those messengers sent out by Christ had lived "The gift of tongues at Pentecost was a small and learned with him for three years. They often testimony compared with this Pentecostal gift failed and many made mistakes, but they were which enables all peoples of the earth to learn used to found the Church. They were not hu- in their own tongue the wonderful works of manists; they were not rationalists; they were God." Unless we recognize this record of the su- not philosophers; but they were born from pernatural as divine wisdom, rather than "super- above; they were called of God; they were sent stition," we shall fail. If the Holy Scriptures are out endued with the power of the Holy Spirit accepted as the rule of our faith and practice, without which they could not expect to accom- and are not set aside by those who seek to domiplish anything of permanent value. They were nate theological thinking today, we shall have promised the continued companionship of the the great spiritual miracle of foreign missions Lord Himself, and today wherever we find any- perpetuated among all peoples. There can be thing of value in foreign mission work, or in re- no foreign mission enterprise without adherence ligious work at home, it is based essentially on to the belief in the Bible as the Word of God and the truth of this divine Gospel proclaimed the divinely inspired Charter of the enterprise. through such missionaries by word and deed.
Many appraisers have gone out to investigate THE GO-BETWEEN and report, beginning with those who went out to investigate the Land of Canaan in the days of By LEREINE BALLANTYNE, Toronto, Canada Moses. In the first group of twelve only two seem to have brought back any hopeful report. SI'C1'ctary oj PHblication8~ H'omen's .J.~IissiollarY' Society, Presbyt(,Tiull Church in Canada; author of ({Spirit Fire/' uThe Seven Seas of Scrvicc/' HFi'f(;li[lht F'ancies/' etc.
Caleb and Joshua sensed what was the real se- The Easterner's Quest The Christian's Answer cret of victory. Centuries later other appraisers, Paul and Barnabas, Peter, Luke and John and White clouds ride high; Seek not beyond others, investigated and made their reports con- The sun is dim; The drifting clouds; cerning the field and the work. They were endowed with the Holy Spirit. The main quali- God lives beyond- Nor yet within fication for any group of appraisers is their I know not Him. Ancestral shrouds. enduement with the Holy Spirit and their ability to recognize His work. The spirit of modern The earth I see; God has sent down humanistic philosophy is not sufficient to make I feel its wealth; To Earth's slopes, green, Its food I eat; His own true Son, Absorb its health. As Go-Between.
their appraisal of value. We believe in a divinely Yet something strong He made the perfect inspired call and preparation for the messengers Within me cries; Sacrifice. of Christ and in a divine program. We shall I seek to know God needs no more continue to believe and to work according to the Some paradise. Burnt flesh, or rice.
program. Some truth secure, Something more sweet The work of foreign missions is not com- Some knowledge pure, And true He gives; pleted. But only as it is carried on in conformity That Life goes on A faith more deep with the Charter, the Commission and prepara- And shall endure. A hope that lives.
tion required in the Word of God, will it have God lives beyond Take it, and know any power to bring men to know Him and the The mountains lean. The life supreme. power of His resurrection. I need, Great One, Lord Jesus is In the Centenary Report of the British and A Go-Between. God's Go-Between.
A critic of mi~sions who says: "I am not willing to spend my money to try to impose my beliefs on others," represents those who seem to think that missionary activity is designed merely to change people's opinions. Could that man see what is going on in many communities where missionaries are laboring-in the cities, and mountains of America and in the neglected lands he would discover that lives are being changed and communities are being made over by Christian missionary activity, especially by the patient, "shining" of Christian lives, giving forth light in dark places. Missionaries go to take Christ who changes men's lives.
to the Laymen's
AMONG the many comments on the Laymen's not by having some missionaries who only preach and .r-. Commission Report the following show other missionaries who only heal or teach but by hav- ing all missionaries communicate the Gospel by both the preliminary reactions in some mission deed and word." fields, in American churches and mission boards. Occasional reviews and appraisals of missionary The Board adheres unqualifiedly to this purpose in methods and results are useful but these may be the prosecution of its commission…. overdone. They are valuable in proportion as the appraisers appreciate the true purpose, ideals The Board is prepared to make any changes in meth- and abiding fruits of the work. Goodwill, hon- ods and policies and administration which will advance esty and care are not enough to assure sound the cause of Christ throughout the world, and which judgment. Our methods of work should change will bring to all men those saving gifts of truth and but only God has the right to change the basic life which can come through Him alone. nature and purpose of His commission to evan- gelize the world. The AlIwrican Baptist Foreign Missionary So- ciety has issued a preliminary statement which is A general criticism has been against the to be followed by others. This statement says: method of advance releases of sections of the Re- port, not only in all parts of America, but in None of the mission boards is responsible for the Europe and in mission lands. The effect of this observations and conclusions of the Report. Many of the recommendations cover ground entirely familiar is shown in a letter from Dr. George S. McCune, to the missionary organizations…. The Report does our missionaries less than justice. . . . This service President of the Union Christian College of calls for a high degree of self-sacrifice and many are Korea, who writes as follows: bearing burdens far beyond their strength on account of our inability to send reinforcements…. Our boards We are greatly exercised over the report of the Lay- have expressed their own viewpoint (as to the basis men's Commission. We feel that a great injustice and and scope of the enterprise) that "The paramount aim harm is being done here by their publication. All the of the Christian missionary enterprise is to lead men vernacular papers are tarrying the findings (releases). everywhere to accept Jesus Christ as Saviour and At the time when we are trying hard to keep our Lord, through whom they may find the Father and to school work up to tone and evangelistic in effect, to establish among them New Testament churches. . . . have such suggestions made by a Commission from The specific recommendation of parts II and III (of our home churches certainly cramps the wheels of the Report) will be taken into serious consideration. progress. . . . Not all of the proposals are acceptable to our boards or to our constituency." Mission boards have received the Report with varied expressions. The official pronouncement The preliminary statement adopted by the Ex- of the General Council of the Presbyterian ecutive Committee of the Board of Foreign Mis- Church "emphatically dissents from the conclu- sions of the Reformed Church in America states: sions of the Commission as effecting the aim and message of the missionary enterprise. What is The Reformed Church in America is committed to proposed is virtually a denial of evangelical the purpose of making Jesus Christ known to all men Christianity." as Redeemer and Master, both for the saving of their souls and for the rectifying of their lives personally The Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions and socially. The Board of Foreign Missions has this has issued a statement which says in part: mandate from the great Head of the Church. No other basis can be considered. No less or other pur- The Board recognizes with appreciation the earnest- pose could command the support of the Reformed ness a,nd sincerity and devotion of the members of the Church for so weighty an enterprise as that of for- Commission and the Inquiry. . . . The Board affirms eign missions, nor call to its forces the young men its abiding loyalty to the evangelical basis of the mis- and women who are needed on the field…. sionary enterprise…. The Board will continue to give the most careful The Board regards the evangelistic purpose of mis- scrutiny to its work, both at the home base and on the sions, when truly conceived, to be paramount. As the field, to see where adjustment or revision may be Lakeville Conference of the Board and representatives needed at any time to make it more efficient, keeping . of all its missions with representatives of the national always in mind its primary purpose and its obligation churches in June, 1931, declared: to the Church for which it acts and which looks to it fOI" leadership in its foreign missionary work. "We believe that the Gospel is to be proclaimed and .J esus Christ to be made known, not by word or deed The American Boar'd of Commissioners for but by word lind deed; that pl'eaching Christ and liv- Poreign Missions (Congregational) has viewed iug Christ are not to be dissociated; that truth and the whole basil'! and recommendations of the Lay- life go togethel' and that this union is to he effected [ 43 ]
men's Commission in a much more favorable Christ and His Gospel as will inspire so vast an underlight. The Board says in a published letter: taking as that of winning the world to Him.
After adequate discussion and conference on the DR. SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, for over forty years three missionary fields surveyed, and after securing a pioneer missionary to Moslems, and now Prothe well-considered opinions of pastors and corporate fessor of History of Religion and Christian Mismembers, the Board stands ready to accept whatever sions in Princeton Theological Seminary, writes future changes in method and policy may -seem wise. as follows in The Presbyterian Banner: So important are the proposals of the Commission- The old Biblical Christo-centric basis for missions ers that the Board is issuing as an aid to its study, is discarded in the Report…. The message here is a sixty-four page booklet which will contain in eight humanistic idealism, not redemption. "An idealism chapters (1) a brief statement of the recommenda- solidly based upon the testimony of human experience tions of the Report on each aspect of missionary work, and upon the eternal nature of the universe"-what- (2) concrete examples of work in our own missions ever that may mean. "All fences and private properto which the propo-sals apply, (3) comment upon the ties in truth are futile," they -say; "the final truth, merit of the recommendations by our secretarial whatever it may be, is the New Testament of evenj staff. . . . existing faith."
At the Annual Meeting of the Board the fol- Such an appraisal of the basis and aim of missions lowing was adopted: is out .of focus. It resembles a passport photograph, sufficiently accurate for purposes of identification to We urge upon our churches that they study care- outsiders, but hardly suited for enlargement and adfully this masterly survey. Our very confidence in miration. The appraisal in our opinion will not prothe missionary cause and our faith in the integrity duce a new Laymen's Movement, nor greatly increase and permanence of the movement causes us to rejoice missionary gifts to the boards concerned, nor secure in every criticism which tends to break up compla- an array of qualified volunteers from the universities. cency and compels us to compare our actual perform- When Moses at the command of God -sent out his apance with the precise needs of the people with whom praisal committee and they brought in their report, it was not a victorious document: "We saw the giants, we work. the sons .of Anak, and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight." Joshua The Board of Foreign Missions of the Method- and Caleb tried to -save the situation, but mob psycholist Episcopal Church also views the Report more ogy took a hand at Kadesh Barnea, and unbelief trifavorably than many others. Bishop McConnell, umphed. Absit omen. the President of the Board, has already appointed a committee on "Inter-Church Cooperation." The Dr. Paul deSchweinitz, for some years the Secstatement issued by the Board does Dot comment retary-Treasurer of Moravian Missions in North on the doctrinal basis of the Report but deals America-that great pioneer missionary society with other features: now celebrating its two hundredth anniversary, says briefly: The Commissioners revealed breadth .of sympathy, keen insight and an earnest conviction that foreign The attitude of the Appraisal Commission runs dimissions, while needing constructive changes in the rectly counter to the underlying motives of all Moramethods of approach and policies and programs of vian missionary endeavor. work, must go on. As the Commission stated, "To any man or Church posse-ssed of religious certainty, From the United Lutheran Church comes a the mission in some form is a matter not of choice brief word from Dr. George Drach, Secretary of but of obligation…." the Board of Foreign Missions: The inescapable challenge .of this Report should ap- From the religious point of view, the Appraisal is peal to our laymen and should serve to turn apathy entirely unsatisfactory, but from the practical point and indifference into interest and support. Further, of view, as far as administration and -some adjustment the search for reality and courageous facing of the in foreign fields are concerned, the Report may be issues so characteristic of this Inquiry are in full ac- helpful. cord with the temper of youth today and will give new meaning and effect to the Christian message as it is The China Inland Mission, with over thirteen presented to this disturbed and di-stracted modern hundred missionaries in China and a long history world. of remarkable achivement, is one of the inde- pendent missions outside the purview of the Ap- Dr. James Endicott, Secretary of the Board of praisal Commission. The Home Director, Dr. Missions of the United Church of Canada, and Robert H. Glover, a former missionary in China, formerly a missionary in China, calls attention says in a personal letter: to the critical difference between the position taken by the Appraisal Commission and that My protest against the views and findings of this taken by the Jerusalem Conference (on nOD- Commission will be not so much in word as in action, Christian religions). for I shall be stimulated to more earnestness and de- votion than ever before to carry out the Saviour's true While the latter group stated in an unmistakable missionary commissi.on and to help complete the taRk way the supremacy of Christ and the infinite value of enjoined by Him. the Gospel message, the Appraisal Commission Report lacks any satisfactory indication of such a faith in
REACTIONS TO THE LAYMEN'S REPORT
In The Alliance Weekly, of the Christian and Foreign Missions of our Church, and to the whole mis- Missionary Alliance (another independent so- sionary enterprise of every church the world over. ciety), the Rev. David Mason, one of the Secretaries of the Alliance, voices the convictions of all DR. SHERWOOD EDDY, formerly a missionary "Faith Missions" on the great Christian motive and Y. M. C. A. worker, and now an author, a which the Appraisal Commission would discard: traveler and lecturer, says in The World To- morrow: We believe that millions of souls are in danger of eternal death and ought to have an opportunity of It is an able document, objective, scientific, fearless, life, and that that life is to be had only in Christ Jesus. soundly critical but also constructive and creative, and We believe also that the King's business requires will in time force the bulk of the foreign missionary haste, and the need is more urgent today than ever; enterprise to revise its methods and enter the modern world as the great history making dynamic which it is therefore "Go ye." capable of becoming.
Some pastors have voiced the views of churches Dr. Howard Agnew Johnston, pastor of the at home which are supporting the work carried Immanuel Presbyterian Church of Milwaukee, a on by the church boards. One of these, Dr. world traveler and long a student of missions, George W. Arms, pastor of the large Bedford writes: Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn, New York, The report is utterly unjust to the rank and file of writes in The Presbyterian: missionary workers. The failure to magnify the es- The Report of the Appraisal Commission . . . has sential place of Jesus Christ as the only hope and Savdenied the Scriptural ground of revealed, truth. . . . iour of the whole world is the most glaring fault in The position on which they build their criticisms is the report, and the ,suggestion about a super-board in purely "another Gospel." It means that either our the matter of administration is a startling presumpown church board must repUdiate this Report or else tion. It looks as if we had come to the point where the Church will repudiate the church board. the Church will be challenged to take its stand on one side or the other in connection with the place that our Another pastor, a former moderator of the Lord Jesus Christ is to have in the Church. I hope Presbyterian General Assembly who recently very much that the attitude taken by the Presbyterian visited the mission fields, Dr. Hugh T. Kerr of Board will be adopted by the Protestant churches Pittsburgh, says in The Presbyterian Banner: generally.
There is much in the Report that is of great value The China Critic, an English monthly puband interest. . . . But the Report fails to point out lished in Shanghai, favors the recommendations the progress that has already been made along the on missionary education and in relation to nonlines of Christian unity…. It seems to champion Christian religions. It says: the position that Christianity is not the one and only saving faith…. This position Christians cannot take. The report is both fair in its opinion and C'onstruc- . . . The idea of having a non-theological religion is tive in its recommendations.
nonsense. A non-theological religion is a non-intel- DR. CHARLES R. ERDMAN, professor and pastor lectual religion. at Princeton, New Jersey, an author and a trav- LAYMEN also comment on the Laymen's Re- eler in mission lands, a former moderator of the port. Dr. Hugh R. Munro, President of the Presbyterian General Assembly, and President of Montclair National Bank, says briefly: the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, ex- The fundamental defect, as I see it, is that these presses his views in The Presbyterian, from good men have lost sight of the true missionary mo- which we quote: tive. The Report is disappointing, not to say distressing.
A group of Congregational laymen, however, In contrast with the unifying and comprehensive dewarmly commend the Report and approve in prin- liverances of the Missionary Conference at Jerusalem, ciple its recommendations. They adopted resolu- this Report is divisive and defective. It does contain tions recommending to the American Board: commendable features. Some of its critici,sms are fair, but these are also familiar. Certain of its pro- (1) That it shape its policies along the lines recom- posals are wise, but for the most part these already mended in the Report, and (2) that it cooperate with have been acted upon in principle….
the Laymen's Committee and other denominations in The vital defect of the Report, however, is found in working out the measures to be taken toward united its doctrinal statements and implications. Christian- action in mission work. ity is not presented as a supernatural revelation of FRANK A. HORNE, a Methodist layman, and a the redemption wrought by Christ, but rather as "the member of the Laymen's Committee, writes in religion of the modern man, the religious aspect of the coming world culture." "The uniqueness of Chris- The Christian Advocate: tianity" consists in its selection and grouping of doc- Personally I am thrilled with the Report, and I know .trines which -it holds "in common with other reli- the other members of the Methodist Episcopal Com- gions," instead of its distinctive truths, such as mittee of laymen are equally enthusiastic over its incarnation, atonement, resurrection and the incom- value to the future plans and work of the Board of parable character and claims of Christ.
Ways of
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ "fested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home s. EDITED BY MRS. ESTELLA AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO '~II ~ ~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~ ~~~~~=~____________1~1i§i TIMELY SUGGESTIONS Missionary Society entertains Meeting" in place of fruit basket the juniors, Mrs. William H. when you want to change places.
TURNING OVER NEW LEAVES Veenboer says: Twist your pic- "The Treasure Train" is the This title heads the first pro- ture of the Pied Piper of Ham- name of the new gift container gram in the Yearbook of the lin to represent the Woman's for the children, as used by Bap- Woodruff Place Baptist Church, Home Missionary Society play- tists this year. "It pictures a Indianapolis. Its symposium on ing enticing tunes with all types railroad engine and two cars. Missionary Education features of children following after. The wheels are slots in which "World Friendship Cultivated Careful searching will produce when filled there will be two Through (1) Books, (2) Schools a trumpeter, and children may quarters and eight dimes. The be cut from many sources. If of Missions, (3) Study Classes, your meeting is in the after- train is loaded with mission- (4) Denominational Papers, (5) noon, your program will doubt- aries, churches, schools, hos- Stories, (6) Visualization, (7) less be well on its way before pitals, Bibles, medicine, etc., all Pageants." A meditation on the children arrive from school, ready to help tell the world "Information, Thought, Deci- about our Saviour as soon as we sion, Action," furnishes the de- and yet they may be there for a supply the wheels. These gift votional portion. By means of good portion of it…. Children containers may be used in Suna large book made of wrapping do not think in abstract terms. day schools or other children's Visualize so that they can folpaper, denominational papers low. Use plenty of posters to il- organizations if the money is to and magazines, missionary lustrate or work up interesting be given to the denominational exhibits. When talking about work and reported." books and leaflets were pro- migrants, a simple thing to do moted by another group. "Turn- OUR MISSIONARY HEROES ing the Leaves" as the program would be to have some cans of progressed brought to view tomatoes, shrimps, oysters and In a setting of pictures and copies of the magazines, book other fruits and vegetables with patriotic decorations relative to jackets and leaflets mounted on little dolls representing tired the birthdays of Washington the pages of the improvised vol- boys and girls grouped about. and Lincoln, introduce well told ume. Missionary magazine subscriptions were solicited at the Since we are entertaining the stories of Paton, Livingstone, close of the meeting and other juniors, we want to play at least Sheldon Jackson, Grenfell, and literature was sold. Leaflets one game with them. Animated others, whose patriotism exwere used as place cards at the alphabet is a lively one. Make pressed in world-service has two sets of the alphabet-one in done so much to extend brotherensuing luncheon. red, one in blue-or choose your hood and promote Kingdom-citi- CHILDREN'S WORK IN THE own color scheme. Divide the zenship. Give a similar turn to NEW YEAR group into reds and blues with luncheons and dinners during The missionary training of a cleared space for the contest- the month of February. the children is our only insur- ants to stand. Have ready a list ance policy for the perpetuation of words of missionary interest ApPLIED NEW YEAR'S RESOof our missionary interests, for the children to spell. The object is to see which side can LUTIONS form the word first. The junhence it is of paramount im- iors having the right letters Pass around slips of paper on portance. The beginning of the rush up to the front and form which each person at the meetcalendar year is an appropriate ing is asked to express (1) her time for any senior missionary organization to invite the jun- the word. A tally is kept so wish for the missionary society iors either to be entertained or that the winning side may be in the opening year, and (2) her to give an entire program of determined. resolve as to personal service in their own-and how enthusi- "Fruit Basket" can become a actuating the ideal. Let the astic the little folks are over the missionary game by giving the papers be exchanged without latter plan. Writing of devices names of institutions in place of signature and read by the reto he used when the Woman's fruit, and by calling "Annual cipients.
[ 46 ]
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
Majoring on the Devotional And again, there are the per- Last year circles died; hopes ennial hymns whose fitness for died, and many budgets died- Service the devotionals consists in their mention of desert sands or "the all owing to these wet blankets: The mainspring of a method heathen in his blindness"-fine "The depression is on and we must be its spiritual intent and hymns, but cheapened by their just can't meet our budget"; not its technique. While fresh- too frequent repetition and by "No use trying new plans in our ness, variety and adaptability to lack of specific adaptation to the modern thought and conditions subject in hand. With all the Conference-the girls won't atare striven for, it is the earnest choice religious music available, tend"; "You just cannot interintention of the editor of this hymns and special selections est girls in missions these days" ; department to put motive, pur- may fit the theme as an appeal "Girls can't afford to take the fits the need. Away with all missionary magazine"; "Girls pose and attitude of mind ahead such if we would give the devoof mere performance. A spir- tionals the place, preparation haven't sixty cents to pay dues," and emphasis due the power- and so on ad infinitum. Enough itual dynamic is an absolute generator in the meeting. prerequisite for the release of wet blankets were available last power on near and far fields of (This theme to be continued year to supply a whole army of missionary service. Nowhere is next month.) "It-can't-be-dones" !
this more imperative than in the Now wouldn't it be marvelous devotional service. On the ac- at the beginning of this year to cumulated evidence of a con- follow the Indian custom for all siderable lifetime of missionary Navajo Blankets versus Wet these deaths and have a huge meetings, the author feels quali- Blankets bonfire to burn up the wet blan- kets of discouragement? "With fied to say that in too many Hannah Pennock Miller, Na- God all things are possible." If cases, the devotionals are a tional Secretary of the Depart- only folks would keep affirming pious form to be gone through, ment of Young People under the and believing this, "miracles" Woman's Home Missionary So- would continue to happen. Even with perfectly good intentions ciety of the Methodist Episco- the New Psychology has proven but with precious little prepara- pal Church, sends THE REVIEW what such affirmations do in our tion, as an accredited clearance this inspiring article designed lives. for the program to follow. primarily for the younger work- In this Indian year, don't wait ers but equally applicable with- for others. Begin throwing A survey of ruts would in- out age limitations. It is a your own wet blankets on the evitably include "the usual mis- timely message in the midst of funeral pyre and using the Nasionary meeting," in which the our Great Depression. It is vaj 0 blanket instead. Now a devotional path is as hard-trod- Miss Miller's custom to cor- Navajo blanket is perfect in deden as any old buffalo trail and respond regularly with her sec- sign. (Here the writer urges a as deep as the sunken roads of retaries by personal letters and complete application of the de- China. What inherent merit is also with the girls' missionary nominational plans for the there in a long passage of Scrip- organizations through a month- year.) ture followed by a more or less ly letter in the missionary magunrelated prayer? or why must azine of her denomination, gen- A Navajo blanket is beauti- erally following a theme with . jul. (Application to a missionit last 15 minutes? Why are which is interwoven the specific women, not gifted for other pro- ary circle of girls working in gram appearance, tucked away things she desires the girls to order, harmony and unity toin the devotional period "to give do. The following is a sample, them something to do"? ward a goal they are determined . abridged from a letter at the to reach.) Then there are the late begin- opening of the new fiscal year: nings for the meetings, prefaced A Navajo blanket has warmth. with the remark: "We might Enthusiasm, ardor, hospitality, wait ten minutes for the others to come and meanwhile sing two DEAR GIRLS: good cheer, kindle love and stanzas of 'Rescue the Perish- As this is Indian year, and as neighborliness. Let every girl ing' as part of our devotionals." many of us stilI cannot think of put on her Navajo blanket and Perishing indeed, and some do the Indian without thinking of sit around a real fire of burning not realize the reason why! his blanket, I am prompted to desire to do her part this year Then there are the hit-or-miss write you this little disserta- to make her circle succeed. Scripture passages with the en- tion. There is a custom among A Navajo blanket is attrac- suing request for the minister's some Indians that when a death ave. In these days, girls' miswife to offer a short prayer; occurs in the family, everything sionary organizations must com- and the hasty selection of "a is burned and there is a com- pete with high school clubs and Psalm with 'heathen' in it for plete new beginning. While this all other organizations doing appropriateness-O, yes, here is wasteful custom tends to pro- girls' work. We just can't ex- 'Why do the heathen rage,' that Ion g poverty by destroying pect modern girls to come to will do nicely." Rage indeed; things that should be kept,' I dull meetings. We need to use they ought to, at our lack of would like to recommend a bon- all our ingenuity, originality, moral earnestness in seeking fire for the wet blankets all over ability, to prove that missionary their salvation! the land. meetings can be made attrac-
tive, if they are earnestly and promotes good will between the U. S. others; for a renewal of confidence painstakingly planned for in ad- and China: (3) endeavors to modern- in the sufficiency of Christ for every ize Chinese Life. crisis in the affairs of men: for the vance. people dedicated for missionary serv- A N a v a j 0 blanket costs Key to Right Answers Ice .at the Northern Baptist Con- ventIOn: for those now going into money, but everything in this 1. About 400,000,000. unknown territory with the first mesworld worth having has a price, 2. Republic. sage of the Gospel: for the native and why not a thing as worthful 3. Eighteen. churches that carry alone the task of as missionary endeavor? (Enu- 4. Native religion of China. winning their own communities' for meration of the several items of 5. Nanking. the Christians in China in this'time benevolence in the denomina- 6. Uprising against foreigners. of great political change and ecot ion a I organization.) Who 7. Last emperors of China. nomic distress; for the Kingdom of would begrudge the money it 8. Japanese. ~od Movement in Japan and for its costs to be missionary-spirited, 9. First president of Chinese Re- mfluence . here at home in deeper aft e r catching a vision of public. consecratIOn; for all missionaries Christ's objective in the com- 10. Endeavors to modernize Chi- eve~y,,:here ',¥ho are handicapped by mand, "Go ye into all the nese life. preJudIce, mIsunderstanding and opworld"? Just try putting Him position; that churches at home and -MRS. GRACE H. HONDELINK, first this year and see how all First Reformed Church, abrofd may. tes.t thefr belief that things necessary for your well- Rochester, N. Y. man s extre?mty 'IS God s opportunity; being will be added unto you. that all d~rectly related to mission He has promised and He never A Missionary Keynote in work may have courage and faith to fails. face seemingly impossible tasks. Depression Intelligence Test on China The whole thing is intended as a "Shall We Be Christian?" practical test of the reality of our The following introductory This startling but by no professed faith in the power of exercise was used as an ice- means redundant question was prayer, and a gauge of how much we breaker in my classes at the the theme for multi-discussion believe in it. "This," says Dr. How- La keG e n e v a (Wisconsin) at the annual meeting of the a!"d B. Grose: in Missions, "is begin- School of Missions last summer Northern Baptist Convention at nmg at the rIght place. In a revived and proved very effective in San Francisco; and the ans";er, spiritual life in the churches, the restirring up interest. After com- expressed in terms of missions sult of the communion with God pleting the test, the pupils and as well as church, social and which is involved in the pray-itteacher discussed the topics but civic endeavor, involved a right- through idea, lies the promise and papers were not handed in. about-face in many lines of en- possibility of the solution of the mis- deavor. The outgrowth of the sionary problems that make this a Multiple Choice-Check Right soul-searching discussions was peculiarly solemn and testing year." Answers the adoption of a slogan and a program, the former being an The overwhelming response 1. China's population is (1) about injunction pertinent to the to the plan up to date evithe same as that of the U. S.: (2) Great Depression-no less in dences the consciousness of need nearly 200,000,000: (3) about 400,- spiritual than in economic life: to which it appeals. Would that 000,000. "PRAY IT THROUGH." The pro- with disregard of denomina- 2. The government is a (1) mon- gram involved a definite, per- tional lines, Christians of every archy: (2) republic: (3) an empire. sonal pledge to follow daily a name might unite to "Pray It 3. China is made up of (1) three' schedule of prayer for which a Through"; for talk learnedly as ,(2) eighteen: (3) twenty-five prov: list of topics is provided each you will in terms of economics, Inces. month, the chairman of the sociology or psychology, about 4. Confucianism is a (1) Chinese planning committee, Dr. Ber- t~e roots of t?is greatest deprescas.te system: (2) religion brought to nard C. Clausen, of Syracuse SIOn of all tImes, the main tap Chma from Japan: (3) native reli- spending the entire month of root that refuses to budge for gion of China. October making addresses in mere erudition is the decline of 5. The capital of China is (1) Nan- prominent Baptist centers in spirituality and dependence king: (2) Pieping: (3) Shanghai. order to organize, energize and upon God. We shall never 6. The Boxer War was (1) an up- activate the movement. "snap out" of the depression, rising against foreigners: (2) a con- The trend of the intercession nor y;et find relief by pressing flict between professional wrestlers' will be seen from a few excerpts the rIght button for a shift in (3) an inter-provincial war. ' selected from the October sched- our individual or national psy- 7. Manchus were (1) rulers of ule, each request representing chology. The great Method of Manchuria: (2) the last emperors a day's assignment: Methods the editor of this deof China: (3) discharged soldiers partment would impress is, from Manchuria. Pray for honesty to examine your PRAY IT THROUGH, with sincere 8. The Sino-Japanese war was won life in God's presence and to follow repentance and bringing forth by (1) Japanese: (2) Chinese' (3) His guidance: for that consecration of the fruits thereof. ended in victory for neither. ' which lives in sacrifice as it ministers ~. Sun Yat.Sen was (1) an ancient to the world; for an intimate dis- They are not gone who pass Chmese warrIOr: (2) the first presi- cipleship with Christ and a loving Beyond the clasp of hand, dent of the Chinese Republic: (3) and understanding spirit towards They are not lost who find the last emperor of China. The sunset gate, the goal 10. The New Thought Movement is Of all their faithful years (1) a purely religious effort: (2) Who find the light of sun' And stars and God.
-Selected.
'~I==,",","",===============I~
BULLETIN OF The Council of Women for Home Missions ANNE SEESHOLTZ, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 105 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK ~'_ _ _ _ _ _———————_ _ _ _ _ _I~'
WORLD PEACE CHRISTIAN SERVICE AMONG MIGRANTS The eighth Conference on the of prayer and giving for others. From the Diary of a Migrant Center Cause and Cure of War, in From beans, to peas, to letwhich eleven national women's Six hundred Italian migrants are organizations are cooperating, tuce, to cantaloupe, to cotton, here for "beans" and "peas." Buildwill be held at Hotel Washing- to berries, these children have ings constructed for winter quarters ton, Washington, D. C., January come-a part of the great pro- for a circus have been remodeled and 17-20, 1933. The program pre- cession following the crops in now house these migrant families. sents unusual variety, providing response to the demand for sea- Three rooms in the heart of these challenging addresses and de- sonal labor in harvest and can- "migrant homes," quarters assigned bate upon every fundamental ning seasons, thus losing the sometimes to three families, are to be dispute involved in the discus- advantages of organized com- our center. They look out upon the sion upon peace and war. munity life. Here the Christian beautiful wooded hills which rise center is sheltering the little above the "shack village." Many missionary societies are children from weary days of including in their program of toil in the heat of the fields and The center opened today to the work the study of WorId Peace. danger of the cannery, and is bangs and knocks of a carpenter's There have been prepared five building in them spiritual and hammer plus the cries of a multitude oackets on Disarmament, The physical strength. In areas of children. The carpenter really World Court, Militarism in where the migrants are widely was building shelves for our three- Education, The League of Na- scattered, the Christian nurse room center and the children were tions, and The Cause and Cure travels from shack to shack as clamoring for the nice, new toys. of War, which may be secured friend and counselor. Their calls of "Teacher, gimme a from the office of the Council of ball"; "I want a doll"; "Can I have Women for Home Missions. In this Christian program what she's got?" are still ringing in They are loaned for the price of among the migrant people the our ears. postage or sold for one dollar churches are working unitedly each. through the Council of Women We finished straightening the for Home Missions in Califor- rooms–kitchen, nursery and play- WORLD DAY OF PRAYER nia, Oregon, Washington, Colo- room. Each has a congoleum rug, r ado, Arkansas, Connecticut, screen door, shelves and curtains. On March 3, 1933, groups New York, New Jersey, Dela~ The migrants visited and exclaimed throughout the world will be ware and Maryland, bringing to each other, "Nize, huh?" uniting in the observance of the together forces that can help to World Day of Prayer. This meet the needs of the migrant We followed our program todayyear, in addition to the adult child. clean-up, recording attendance, worprogram, there has been pre- ship, handwork, games, lunch, rest pared a children's program, [49 ] hour, stories, crackers and milk. printed attractively on paper of different colors ($.01 each; $.50 As these last were being served toa hundred). The four mission- day most of the children waited paary projects for which the offer- tiently to say grace but little Lewis ings are to be given-the two grew a bit impatient and asked, home projects, Indian Work and "Ain't we going to say, 'Thank you, Migrant Work, described on God'?-the first real interest shown these pages, and the two foreign in the blessing. projects, Union Christian Colleges and Christian Literature for Women and Children in Foreign Fields-may be presented through brief talks by women of the group, through impersonation or simple dramatization. The day is essentially one
Now the gang goes to the field so COOPERATION WITH INDIAN AMERICANS early in the morning the children are sleepy when they come to the center, Young Indian Americans in giously, they need more friends, so each morning at seven o'clock all their efforts to become useful and they need them now! the children rest. So far the great citizens in the U. S. A. and in majority sleep till eight-thirty or nine the Kingdom of God find in The Christian work carried o'clock and then, after lunch, they all their way mountains of mis- on by religious work directors understanding concerning their supported by fourteen denomisleep again. past history, barriers of racial nations jointly through the Such confusion today! A strike is discrimination on the part of Council of Women for Home some fellow citizens, and Missions and Home Missions on. The "gang" wants more pay. Of "hurts" from others through Council is helping young Incourse, the excitement reacts on the indifference and ignorance conchildren. cerning their present situation. dians to overcome obstacles and find the Way of Life. Because The older boys and girls were given They appreciate the friend- of lack of funds, this work is at the privilege of taking out books from ship of government officials and present limited to seven schools our small library today. At least teachers, of missionaries and of whereas there are about fifty twenty-five books were taken. And the Christian town-folk. Edu- United States Indian schools in the clinics-poor Miss Margaret had cationally, economically, rei i- which interdenominational reliher hands full. She worked from gious work directors could be nine till twelve treating wounds, and then finished the day by treating placed. more when the "gang" came back from the field this evening.
This morning Mr. B. came and took me to the cannery to see how beans were canned. It was most interesting. When we had gone through nearly the whole process we came to the place where beans were packed into the cans. The girls pressed them in firmly. They barely glanced at the can. In a flash it came to me that some of the children were being placed in life as the beans were placed in the cans. By a firm, powerful force beyond their control. Some were being packed in straight and fine, others crooked, bent and cracked, others were cut off by the sharp edge of the can as they were being placed in. It is a glorious privilege to help some of the children enter life a bit straighter and stronger.
Excerpts from Reports of Interde- Haskell Institute, Lawrence, Kansas ent time there is in the process of construction a new shop building. nominational Work of Directors "Our Sunday school is organized This will greatly increase the interest with student officers. Miss Scudder of Haskell students in vocational Among Indian Boys and is the sponsor and director of these work." officers. Each Sunday morning we Girls in Government have a general assembly for a thirty- Sherman Institute, Riverside, Cali- minute worship period. The different fornia Schools classes take turns in providing the program. The program is something "This year we had 840 Protestant Theodore Roosevelt Indian School, as follows: A song, Scripture read- students with 20 of our junior and Fort Apache, Arizona ing, prayer, talk by one of the stu- senior class members as leaders in dents, the offering, a song, reports of our Sunday school. We have a splen- "It is interesting to notice the dif- did choir as in past years. Miss ference in response that I get from class attendance of the previous Sun- Wight is in charge of the Junior the children this year in comparison day." Church, 125 smaller children, which with that of last year. It is really a meets in the basement of the chapel. crime to change workers with the In- "The second semester of this year Our Y. W. C. A. and Y. M. C. A. dian children every year. They are there were interdenominational classes organizations have been wonderful. just beginning to feel as if they knew taught in the high school department Christine Reuben and Patrick Honme now." of the school. These met five times owa were the presidents. We have a a week and were given the same large Christian Endeavor Society "My Monday group of Girl Re- amount of credit as any other elective Sunday afternoons. Our socials have serves are a picked group. I chose course in the high schooL" been on a high order throughout the 12 girls who seemed to have some entire year. All in all, we have been leadership qualities. I want to see "Our Student Council of Religious wonderfully blessed by our heavenly what I can do to develop them. They Education has been a great help in Father in all we have attempted to are the older girls of the school. I planning and carrying out our ac- do. Remember us in your prayers." asked them what they would like to do this year. I had various sugges- tivities." "Everywhere I went on my trip to tions but one of the girls said, 'Why "Our Young Men's Forum club has Arizona and New Mexico, I was corcan't we practice on a program and dially received by young and old as put it on in a school far away?' I started out better than ever before. soon as they were told I was a misliked the suggestion and I am quite We have had to move from our old sionary from Sherman. The returned sure it will do the girls good to have room, which holds about a hundred, students seemed to be taking a promthis experience. The principal says to a larger hall. The added emphasis inent place in the Indian life on the that we can arrange to have a gov- that is being placed on vocational reservation." ernment truck take us to some near- work at Haskell perhaps has someby Indian school for such a program." thing to do with the interest in our Forum club. Our programs are based on vocational subjects. At the pres-
~[~ OUf World~wide Outlook '1'1"
~~I ~~~~=A=M=iss=ion=ar=y ~New=sp=ap~er~of~Cu=rr=en=t E=ven~ts~~~~~I~' __ God in Human Lives Scripture supplied to the world Among the European countries the in the one year-and this in the following figures are given: The Evangelisches Missions- face of the depression of 1931. magazin of the Basel Mission Poland ………. 3,150,000 has been publishing a survey of AMERICA 1931 Soviet Russia …. 2,800,000 missionary effort during the last Rumania …….. 920,000 ten years. The close of this sur- Volumes Germany …….. 582,000 vey contains the following in- Hungary …….. 485,000 teresting paragraph: American Bible Society .. 9,745,356 Czecho-Slovakia .. 400,000 England …….. 300,000 In thus looking back upon the last GREAT BRITAIN Austria ……… 270,000 ten years of mission work in all fields France ………. 225,000 we note most clearly that wherever British and Foreign Bible Lithuania ……. 170,000 Christ has taken possession of human Society (1804) …… 10,552,284 Holland ……… 160,000 hearts there are creative forces at work that make weak men strong National Bible Society of The Jewish population of the and equip them for tasks which they Scotland (1861) .. , .. 4,615,109 United States is given at 4,400,000. could never carry out according to For the largest cities the following human estimates. We see the cour- Scripture Gift Mission .. 2,185,043 figures are given: age of the Japanese and Chinese Christians in beginning a magnificent GERMANY 20,500 New york …… . 1,800,000 evangelistic activity at a time when 10,951 Warsaw …….. . 360,000 all human reasoning would demand Baden Bib I e Society, 74,270 Chicago …….. . 325,000 a cautious holding back and conduct Karlsruhe ……….. 86,727 Philadelphia …. . 270,000 that is entirely passive. We note 23,291 Budapest ……. . 240,000 further the reaching over of the re- Bavarian (or Central) 606,100 Vienna …….. . 220,000 vival movement of the casteless peo- Bible Society (1823). Lodz ………. .. 180,000 ple of South India into the higher Moscow …….. . 140,000 castes. Finally there is everywhere Bergische Bible Society in the Near East a growing feeling (1814) ………….. Children's Project for China of responsibility for the winning of Mohammedans for Christ, among the Prussian Bible Society Following the friendship very ones who had to suffer the se- (1806) ………….. projects for Japan, Mexico and verest persecution. These and many the Philippines, the Committee other facts show us, with the clarity Saxony Bib I e Society on World Friendship Among that is evident only in concrete ex- (1814) ………….. Children (287 Fourth Avenue, amples, what the grace and power of New York) is promoting for God can effect in human hearts. They Wurttemberg Bible Insti- the coming year a fourth projare a renewed testimony for the word tution (1812) …….. ect for the children of China. of St. Paul, "God hath chosen the This will consist of portfolios foolish things of the world, that He FRANCE 3,313 prepared by children of Amermight put to shame them that are 7,016 ica in churches, schools and wise." Bible Society of France homes. Each portfolio is to (1864) ………….. contain a message of goodwill; Thirty Million Bibles a Year six attractive pictures to hang Bible Society of Paris on the wall; snapshots of Amer- An impression of the number (1818) ………….. ican children, homes, churches of volumes of Scripture being and schools,' and other pictures annually issued by the Protes- DENMARK 50,249 of American animals, sports tant Bible Societies of America and scenes. The China Departand Europe can be gathered Danish Bible Society .,. ment of Education will distribfrom the figures below. But ute the portfolios among the they do not represent a com- HOLLAND 190,000 public schools of China. plete statement for 1931. The The time for the project extends societies named are those which Netherlands Bible Society to August, 1933, and portfolios publish Christian scriptures and (1815) ………….. 148,691 may now be obtained from the represent, in some measure, a Committee at 60 cents each. national enterprise. Adding to NORWAY 76,071 the figures below to the vol- A fun d for starving and umes iss u e d by commercial Norwegian Bible Society undernourished Chinese chi 1firms and by Roman Catholics, (1816) ………… .. dren is being raised to send with one finds a tremendous total of the portfolios. Five dollars will o v e r 30,000,000 volumes of SWEDEN 25,098 provide 500 meals to be admin- Swedish Bible Society (1809) World's Jewish Population The Jewish Daily Bulletin of April, 1932, publishes statistics concerning the number and dis- tribution of Jews in the world for the year 1931. The 15,- 870,000 in the world are dis- tributed among the continents as follows: Europe …….. . 9,886,000 America ……. . 4,823,000 Asia ……….. . 612,000 Africa ……… . 552,000 Australia ……. . 27,000 [ 51 ]
istered by the China Famine This year they have been cele- spiritual force and helpfulness Relief, U. S. A., and its advisory brating the i r anniversary. of church music in the family committee in Shanghai. In American Reformed C h u r c h life of the nation. Fifty-five 1926-27 thousands of dolls were members early began their sup- cities in ten states were represent to Japan and two million port of foreign missionary work sented by the pastors who offici- Japanese children contributed by sending funds through the ated, and fifteen denominations to send back to America 58 American Board of Commis- of the Protestant faith.
beautiful "doll ambassadors of sioners for Foreign Missions. In – Watchman-Examine?'.
goodwill." In 1928-29 Ameri- 1832 they organized their own can children sent 30,000 Friend- board but continued for twenty- Missionary Talking Picture ship Bags to Mexico and hun- five years to cooperate with the The first missionary "talkie" dreds of thousands of Mexican American Board. Many famous has been produced in Canada. children united to send back 49 missionaries have been sent by It is called "Through China and large exhibits of their school this Church to India, China, Japan." The film affords valuart work. In 1929-30 American Japan and Arabia. Among the able testimony to the efficiency army transports were used to pioneers were the famous Scud- of the work carried on by mistake 28,000 Friendship Treas- der family and the Chamber- sionary societies in China and ure Chests to the Philippines lains of India; David Abeel of Japan. The cinematographer's and thousands of "Thank you" China; Guida F. Verbeck of account of his work at Mukden letters came. back from Filipino Japan; Samuel M. Zwemer and during the Japanese occupation, children. James Cantine of Arabia. The his journey to Peking and to the work of this Church has been Great Wall, his experience at NORTH AMERICA noteworthy for its strength and Hankow with flood refugees and stability rather than for its at Shanghai with refugees from The Florida Chain wide extent. Chapei, are all full of interest. To this film missionaries and Another chain of Missionary The Amoy Mission of China others have added a running Assemblies will be held this commentary with musical acwinter in nine cities under the was founded in 1842; the Arcot companiment. There will be a direction of Mrs. Henry W. Pea- Mission of India in 1853; the silent edition of "Through China body and Miss B. Louise W ood- Japan Mission in 1859; the and Japan" for showing in ford. These assemblies are Arabian Mission in 1889, and places where a talkie is impracscheduled as follows: the United Mission of Meso- ticable. potamia in 1924. The present January 14-18-3acksonville. secretary of the Board is Dr. Lutheran Woman's Society January 18-20-Winter Haven Wm. 1. Chamberlain, a son of January 21-26-Miami. the famous Jacob Chamberlain.
January 25-27-The Palm Beaches. Radio as a Force The Women's Missionary So- ciety of the United Lutheran January 28-February 1- St. Pe- tersburg.
January 29-February 1-Tampa. The religious radio programs, Church supports the mission sponsored by fifty-three city, program of t hat Church in February 1-3-Clearwater. county and state church federa- Africa, China, India, Japan, February 4-8-0rlando. South America, West Indies, February 4-9~Deland. United States and Canada. This organization held its eighth bi- Similar assemblies made a tions and the Federal Council of ennial convention in Baltimore deep impression last winter and Churches, had a weekly distri- last October, and reported a promise similar feasts this year. bution of 364 station periods total membership of 64,643 in Among the speakers announced 31 synodical organizations, with are Dr. Royal J. Dye, who estab- during the first nine months of total receipts for the biennium, lished a Christian home among 1932, an increase of 309 periods July 1, 1930, to June 30, ·1932, primitive Africans where there since 1928. Approximately 280 $888,578.71. There are 29,028 is now a self-governing church life members and 5,447 memowith 870 native missionaries; ministers officiated during the rials, making a total value of Dr. and Mrs. Sam Higginbot- twelve months ending Septem- $403,690 in the life and in metom of Allahabad, India; Dr. ber 1. More than 60,000 copies m 0 ria m memberships. The John McDowell of New York; of radio sermons were sent on thank-offering for the last bien- Dr. Jan e t Miller, author· of request of people in every walk nium amounted to $224,551.88. "Jungles Pre fer red"; and of life, and from all parts of Students Seek Faith others fro m China, Brazil, America. In addition, 50,000 Alaska and various foreign and commendatory letters were rehome mission fields. ceived, among them many seek- ing advice fro m officiating ministers to meet personal prob- lems. More than 1,000 musical Dutch Reformed Missions compositions w ere broadcast. The secretary of the Yale Requests for favorite hymns Christian Association, Fay The Board of Foreign Mis- were received from all parts of Campbell, .is certain that the resions of the Reformed Church the country. Letters have come ligious situation in the colleges in America has had a notable from thousands of shut-ins, and he knows is the most encouraghistory in its century of service. hundreds have testified to the ing since the war. He says:
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
There is a new' spirit abroad in stu- Lowe, Professor Brown of ing services·are held. There is dent circles. The liberalism which Princeton, and Dr. Sladen of the now a modern mission hospital has been fed to the campus gets no Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit. with seventy beds and a good response today. The man who wins On Sunday addresses on the clinic.-Mrs. Fred S. Bennett. the attention of our best minds is Movement were given in thirtyone who has a real creed and knows five churches and during the Pioneering Among Mexican what he believes-and that creed in- week meetings were held at the cludes some positive information Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Farmers about God and Christ, alongside of some clear convictions as to the rev- Members of the Group ex- From a Mexican evangelist olutionary nature of the ethics of plained why they had become comes this account of a visit to Jesus. Students no longer need to be connected with the Movement the village of Ahuacapan: "For told that capitalism and war are and the change that had taken light, we had an old lantern and wicked. They want to hear from a place in their own lives. Prof. an occasional firebrand. The man who can help them to pray and Marshall Brown of Princeton people sat or stood in groups. at the same time train themselves to asked, "Was Jesus C h l' is t Those who had heard the Gosbuild a new world. right?" If He was, then it is up pel before had expectant faces, to us to follow Him without any while others glowered defiantly. -Congregationalist. reservations and to see the thing All sorts of remarks were heard, through with Him. while knives, machetes, and Olmypiad of Religion even firearms were brandished The solution of international, about. At last we started our One of the most successful co- political, and business problems conferencia (lecture). I spoke operative movements ever car- is to be found in Christ, said of the richness which God had ried out in Los Angeles was the Vice-Admiral Sidney Drury- bestowed upon their region, and crusade known as the Olympiad Lowe. This cannot be done, reminded them of the signs of of Religion, promoted by the however, until the individual destruction which was everychurch federation of that city life was surrendered to Christ. where to be seen, due largely to during the Olympic Games, the hatred and envy which prewhen the city entertained over -The Living Church. vail between man and man. Due 400,000 visitors from 50 na- to unwholesome diet, many of tions. The first event was called LATIN AMERICA the people, especially the chilthe Church Roll Call, held dur- dren, were sick. I told them ing three weeks of February, Progress in Santo Domingo that the land which they had reduring which time more than ceived from the former owners 50,000 names of prospects for This Spanish-speaking black would do them no good if they church membership were se- Republic has had a checkered continued hating and stealing cured. This was followed im- career of 440 years. Foreign from one another with no faith mediately by the Personal Work misrule and local rebellions have in themselves or in God. I told Campaign, leading up to Easter prevented development of an them that in their case the only Sunday, during which time more island rich in various woods and remedy was to sow goodness, than 10,000 new members were in agricultural possibilities. and that this can only be done added to the churches. The next Ninety per cent of the native through faith in God. They emphasis was the Pentecost pe- population are illiterate. asked us not to leave them, but riod, during which time hun- to show them how to lead a dreds were add e d to the In 1915 the Rev. Philo W. Christian life." churches and scores of sermons Drury of Puerto Rico visited on "The Ministry of the Holy the Dominican Republic, and his -Congregationalist. Spirit" were preached by co- report of the physical, mental operating pastors. The greatest and spiritual needs of the peo- Outbreak in Costa Rica event was the series of union ple bore fruit. A more extenevangelistic meetings conducted sive survey was made in 1919, A little evangelical church in through the period of the Olym- and later an interdenomina- Santa Barbara, Costa Rica, has pic Games, and the final event tional body was formed, made been steadily gaining ground, was a great union vesper serv- up of representatives of the Na- a fact which disturbed an unice in the Hollywood Bowl, seat- tional Mission Boards of the usually intolerant Spa n ish ing 22,000, on Sunday night, Presbyterian, Methodist E:rris- priest; and last summer a con- August 21. copal and U nit e d Brethren certed attempt was made to de- Churches. stroy this work. A mob of some -Federal Council Bulletin. 300 came directly out of Mass, With the exception of two or battered down doors and win- Oxford Groups in Canada three Dominicans, the Church dows and fired several shots. A work has all been carried by detachment of police agents, A team of thirty-three men Puerto Ricans, men of pioneer looking for moonshiners, came and women representing the type; not one of them but has along at the critical moment and Oxford Group Movement has faced hostility and even danger prevented murder. Since the created a deep impression in as he has preached the Gospel authorities had intervened, an Montreal. The visitors included of Christ. Seven churches have investigation was instituted. Dr. Frank N. Buchman, the been organized, and there are Rev. S. M. Shoemaker, Jr., New many outstations where preach- Yo l' k, Vice-Admiral Drury-
The serious thing is that while "comeback" of the Church is sor of the Prague University the authorities protest their de- prayer and action-action in the adds that a further 800,000 have termination to maintain the lib- form of benevolence. No church separated fro m the Roman erty of worship which the Con- is without its soup-kitchen, Catholic Church and constituted stitution concedes, there are clothes exchange, relief commit- a Reformed National Catholic indications that they resent hav- tee. Christian benevolent agen- Church-a so r t of halfway ing to take sides against the cies have gone back to the old house to Protestantism. Old Catholic Church. The following monastic procedure of taking in prejudices against Protestant- Sunday President Jimenez sup- the poor and the wretched. No ism prevent large numbers of plied protection while services man is sent away hungry, and ex-Romanists from going the were h e I d in perfect quiet, no hostile propaganda has been whole way.-Alliance Weekly.
thereby furnishing a precedent able to get around this fact.
that resulted in a strengthening The answer to prayer finds its Armenians in Athens of the evangelical cause, not expression in the largely in- In fourteen different localities only in Santa Barbara but else- creased evangelistic w 0 r k of in and about Athens, five Bible where. women are at work among Ar- -Latin American Evangelist. German Protestant churches. menians, who come from widely There is now a discernible move- separated reg ion s of Asia For the Girls of Peru ment back to the churches, and a very considerable decrease in Minor. There is no church, and A new high schol in Lima, re- the number of withdrawals. no school for children, but the cently opened by the Methodist Bible woman advises the women, -Presbyterian Banner.
Woman's Foreign Mission So- Religious Liberty Under Il Duce comforts them, rejoices with ciety, is the only Protestant them, leading them out of their school for girls in Peru. Among The General Director of the distress into a spirit of overcomother courses offered is one in Spezia Mission for Italy, Rev. ing faith. The Greek neighbors domestic science, an innovation H. H. Pullen, has received from are often invited in, and three in Peru. A two-year commer- II Duce confirmation of the fact such h a ve learned to know cial course is offered; there are that, though the new laws of Christ. A busy dressmaker lays also physics and chemistry lab- Italy permit Roman Catholic aside her work for two hours oratories, a large gymnasium, priests to teach for one hour each Wednesday to attend the club room, library, and play- each week in the public elemen- meetings. This work was cut ground. The new building oc- tary and secondary schools in 50% last winter. cupies a site of 5,000 square Italy, this concession does not met e r s. Excellent relations hold in the universities: that -Congregationalist.
exist between the Peruvian edu- Protestants have the right to AFRICA cational authorities and the demand that where, for lack of Opportunity in Egypt management of the Lima High a Protestant school, their chil- School and favorable comment dren must attend the public, All around Shebeen, owing to has been made in the press on communal or national schools the work of the Christian hosthe fact that Bible study courses they may be completely ex- pital, doors are wide open and are offered. empted from the priest's hour there is a ready hearing for the -Christian Advocate. of teaching: and that no child Gospel message. Bilbeis is the is allowed to suffer in the ex- first town in Egypt proper on aminations, or to be held back the old caravan route fro m EUROPE in any way from promotion, be- Syria, and was the first to meet Action Against Atheism cause he or she has not been the Moslem hordes, who be- German churches wage con- receiving Roman Catholic reli- seiged and took it. The Crustant warfare against aggres- gious teaching. In the schools saders on two occasions massive atheism, sweeping across of the Spezia Mission fullest lib- sacred many of the villagers. from Moscow. Atheistic organ- erty is allowed for daily sys- These events produced bitter izations find that the sort of tematic Bible teaching. hatred of Christianity. Every -Beyond Alpine Snows. Thursday at the market meetpublicity popular in Russia is unsuited to the German temper- Gains in Czecho-Slovakia ing, we see an exhibition of it. ament. Caricatures of Biblical Thus it was twenty years ago, characters, of God, of Christ The secretary of the Evan- and still it is today. and of His Mother, burlesques gelical Continental Soc i e t y At Ismailia station the playof church services and assaults writes that "nowhere has Prot- ground of the boys' school was on sacred festivals not only estantism gained such ground crowded, so that it was hard to failed to win recruits from the as in Czecho-Slovakia, with the find seats for the four hundred German bourgeoisie, but even Protestant Dr. Masaryk as who were present. There were tend to defeat their own pur- President of the State. Since many Moslems among them, pose, with the result that such the Armistice 200,000 h a v e and we praised God. manifestations have noticeably joined the Hussite Church of -Egypt General Mission lessened. The most effective the Czech Brethren." A profes- News.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
The League and Liberia things have become new. Jesus, church service, including hymns, amen! To Thee be all the glory! I prayers and sermon. They are A plan recommended by a believe in the whole Bible, and I am eloquent, and when truly saved League of Nations committee ready to serve my Saviour anywhere. make ideal wayside preachers for the Republic of Liberia con- because of their cogent reasontains broad enough authority to Your young brother, ing. They are trustworthy, they permit the foreign adviser to are inexpensive, and often have eliminate alleged conditions of BALLA. a real longing for spreading the slavery in the Negro republic Gospel among those who have and otherwise put the country -Alliance Weekly. not heard it. on a stable basis. Reopening 0 f Spanish Guinea Student Evangelists in Rhodesia The Fin a n c e Corporation holds a contract undertaken in After a lapse of eight years, Seven students and one teach- 1926 to finance the government during which there was no mis- er of Mount SiIinda Institute of Liberia, presumably in re- sion activity in Spanish Guinea, spent some of their vacation in turn for the rubber concession. this region was reentered the evangelistic journeys. In Chief past summer by Rev. and Mrs. Ziiki's territory they found peo- The new plan provides that J oseph McNeill, Presbyterian ple begging that their schools the foreign adviser is to be ap- workers in the Cameroun. So might be opened again. They pointed by the Council of the far this new work has the full talked with about 2,000, and 149 League and will receive from approbation of the Spanish Re- professed conversion. S 0 m e the Liberian Government full pUblican Government, in which traveled in Portuguese terriauthority to administer the gov- a number of cabinet positions tory, and in Rhodesia talked ernment, and if a dispute should are occupied by men who recog- with 1,800; 83 professed conarise his judgment would pre- nize the value of a strong evan- version. Teacher Thompson vail pending an appeal to the gelical ferment in the Spanish and Nvowana had hard work League of Nations. world. finding the homes in the tall grass. They ran with their For purposes of administra- Under date of August 12, Mr. arms over their heads to protion Liberia is to be divided into McNeill writes: tect them from the grass, never three provinces, each to be ad- knowing when they would run ministered by a Provincial Com- The missionaries of two genera- into a buffalo or elephant, for missioner designated by the tions never saw the like of the day their district was full of these League Council and approved that is ours. They prayed for it and wild animals. by the President of the Repub- it has fully come. No obstacle is belic of Liberia. ing put in our way. Formerly hin- -Missionary Herald. tdhreancoenslyaplipmeiatraetdionfrsomarewistuhcohut·~snowwe From T oma Forest ourselves impose. Villages are wide open calling for catechists and teach- Balla Bea is a young man ers. For the time being we can send from Toma Forest, that south- volunteers from the Cameroun, but ern corner of French Guinea such an expedient must necessarily where darkness reigns supreme. After the missionary's arrival be temporary only. Being Cameroun Moslems in South Africa men they know no Spanish. We must last year, he attended every train the youth of Spanish Guinea The presence of 49,000 Mosservice, made diligent inquiry, itself. That is the immediate task of lems in the Union of South today. Africa, 25,000 of whom are gave his heart to the Master. concentrated in Cape Province Recently, a native evangelist Afrir:ans Organize Mission alone, justifies the description wrote a letter of encourage- of that Province as "the southment, asking him to meditate Negro Christians of the Cam- ern outpost of I s I a m," and upon 1 John 2: 3-6. In reply, eroun have organized a foreign makes it "an important strate- Balla Bea wrote the following mission society for the evangel- gic point in the conflict between ization of interior tribes. Most Mohammed and Christ for the testimony: of the Cameroun churches are soul of Africa." A Moslem self-supporting. In a country writer of Capetown declares where no one dared venture five that "the final struggle between miles from home at night before DEAR BROTHER: the Gospel came, representa- Christianity and Islam will take Here are a few words in reply to tives of eleven 0 n c e hostile place in Africa." your letter concerning 1 John 2: 3-6. I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ tribes met to organize this mis- Where ignorance is so dense, died for me, and that He saved me sionary society. the difference between the two by dying on the cross of Calvary. I religions is confusing, the more want to serve and obey Him. I be- Native African evangelists so because terms are strangely lieve with all my heart that I am are especially adapted to piosaved, and that He loves me, and I love Him also with all my heart. I neer work. They can travel up intermixed. The Moslems talk believe that He is soon coming to to forty-five miles a day with of "our Church" rather than take me with Him in the clouds. I ease-three times the limit of the mosque, a meeting of Malay the white missionary. They women in the mosque is called have believed in the Lord Jesus have wonderful memories and a "Bible class," and they give Christ, and I am saved. I believe that I was dead in my faults and sins, can recall family history thirty- each other "Christmas presbut now I am a new creature. Old ents." Only in Capetown is things have passed away, and all five generations back. They can Christian work among Moslems recite from memory the whole
attempted. There is the Mission mile. Their shacks are made INDIA of the Dutch Reformed, also the from old packing cases, the sides Anglican Mission, which has of Standard oil tins and pieces Student Greetings to China operated at intervals since 1848. of sacking. Many roofs are per- When Dr. E. Stanley Jones Greater results are anticipated forated and give glimpses of the left Lucknow for China, he bore from a recent conference of sky above. One is astonished to the following message from the workers among Moslems, called see how much they can do with students of Lucknow College: by the Archbishop of Capetown. next to nothing. Some make "To the students of China: This conference was mostly de- very usable combs out of old "On behalf of the students of fensive in its aim to see what camel bones. Lucknow Christian College we could be done to overcome the The children present one of send you greetings. We have lapsing of the poorer sort of the most acute problems of the watched with interest the strugcolored Christian to Islam. It camp. There are about 4,500 gle which you are making for was agreed that the essential children of school age in the the emancipation of your coundifferences between the two re- Beirut camp. Of these 3,000 are try and we wish to assure you ligions should be brought out in schools, there being accom- of our prayers and sympathy. for the use of teachers and that modation for only this number. It is a time when the youth of every opportunity should be The whole situation is unthink- the world should unite and take t a ken in adolescent Sunday able for a time of peace. a firm stand against the evils schools to set these differences which hinder the highest develclearly before the children. Students Work in Summer opment of personality. Let us -The Mission Field. The Junior College for Women unite in our opposition to war, at Beirut has felt for some time race prejudice, unjust distribu- WESTERN ASIA t hat a further contribution tion of wealth and other social could be made to the life of the inj ustices and try to make this IIDad Pays" in Turkey country by initiating some so- world a better place to live cial project in the villages to be where world brotherhood and Walking 15 to 20 miles, sleep- carried out during the summer Christian ideals will be pracing on hard beds, eating only by college students. The past ticed. bread for breakfast and lunch summer for the first time it was with perhaps s 0 m e soup at possible to accomplish such a "Kindly convey to the Chrisnight, earning 25 cents a day of project. During the year the tian Student Movement in China which 12 goes into food-that is students raised funds which, greetings of the Student Christhe way many of the boys in the with gifts, were used to finance tian Association of In d i a, American School at Talas, Tur- Burma and Ceylon." key, get an education. When a summer vacation school in the the father can find work he Metawali village of Bint Jubail -Christian Advocate. makes about 25 cents daily-a in the Sidon field. The school laborer's pay. This just about combined the features of a Changing India feeds the family. If the son's Daily Vacation Bible School and books cost 75 cents-well, it a health school. Several girls The unique, unparalleled opmeans the student is pretty con- volunteered their services as portunity that now confronts tinually on the edge of hunger. teachers. The village chosen for the Christian forces at work in Of course, there are some well India is the natural fruition of dressed boys in the school who the work has a primary school a century and a half of work. loaf through the summer. They of sorts for boys, but no educado not know what an education tional facilities for girls. Sani- In places where ten years ago costs, says the Rev. Paul E. Nil- tary conditions are unbelievably the mention of the name of son, any more than many lads Christ in a public gathering in America who go to school or bad. The life of the women is brought forth hisses, now men college-and "Dad pays." little better than that of the and women sit by the hour, rev- beasts of burden. erently listening to the frankest presentation of His message. The program of the school in- Jesus Christ has proven Him- Refugees in Syria cluded a Bible period, hygiene self to thousands who have and reading lessons, a song made the vital discovery of His Although it is fourteen years hour, supervised play and some power through self-surrender.
since the World War ended and handicraft. A I tho ugh four Men and women all over India great numbers of Armenians weeks was but a short time, the are, in these days of change and were driven into Syria, thou- mothers' pride in their clean agitation, faced with new spir- sands are still living in camps. and shining children was grati- itual needs and are realizing the About 30,000 depend on casual fying to see. The project served inadequacy of the old sources of labor; about 15,000 depend on two important ends. It brought power. For all classes Christ charity. In the Beirut area some of the Syrian girls into appears increasingly as the one alone are 25,000 refugees, the contact with the needs in their hopeful source of light and life.
cam p population being esti- country, and it began a worth Mass movements which sev- mated at 15,000, living upon an while work in Bint Jubail. enty-five years ago began among area of a fourth of one square -Syria News Quarterly. the depressed classes of central
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
southern India, in spite of the Prison-gate homes, women's homes, been reached that is acceptable resentment of high caste Brah- and beggars' homes are all meeting a to all parties. The British commins, have now stretched their need. Naval and military homes pro- munal reward gives the "Un~ power right up through to the vide a "home away from home" for touchables" separate electorates many men of the Empire on duty. top of the social structure. Within the last ten years, fully Scripture portions and sacred songs and representation. They are ten thousand high caste Brah- have been translated by Army officers given a voice in the Government mins have come into the Chris- who are excellent linguists. but not as a part of the general electorate. -Indian Witness.
tian Church and other thou- Mysore City Occupied SIAM sands press forward for teach- ing. An early missionary to The Ceylon and India General Siamese IIPoreign" Missionaries India said that he would as soon Mission has added Mr. and Mrs. expect to see the sun stand as to Neilson to the staff of Moslem An ordained Siamese evangelsee a Brahmin become a Chris- workers. They have spent al- ist has gone with his wife and tian. most a year studying Urdu and four young children to settle as otherwise seeking to fit them- foreign missionaries among a The Bible, and particularly selves for the work. They will group that had' sent a call to the New Testament, is being enter Mysore City in January, Pre s b y t e ria n missionaries. read in hundreds of thousands North S i a m Presbytery reof non-Christian Indian homes. where they will endeavor not sponded by ordaining two men There is a vastly larger reading only to catch up the threads of as evangelists. The one, who public in India today than there the abandoned w 0 r k among has gone with his family, will was ten years ago. women, but will begin work teach, preach and baptize while among Mohammedan men. My- his family will open a school for When the Gospel has changed sore City is a strategic center children. The second evangelist the character of their social life, has already completed a five millions of India's sons and for Moslem work. It has a Mos- months' tour of one district. daughters will turn to Christ. lem community of from forty to Already there is a Christian fifty thousand, and from it other Church 6,000,000 strong and larger Moslem communities can CHINA growing steadily. It has a be reached. South India has in standing and pervasive influence utterly disproportionate to all 4,000,000 Mohammedans. The Bible in the Revolution its relatively insignificant size. -Darkness and Light. Very largely because the Bible -GLENN B. OGDEN, of Kas- Moslems Reject New Accord was translated into the vernacu- ganj. The agreement on communal lar a revolution in the Chinese language has taken place. The representation in the proposed Salvation Army, 1882-1932 spread of Scripture teaching has All-India Federation, reached brought about a revolution in In 1882, a small party of by a number of Moslem, Hindu the ancient religions of the land. British Salvation Army work- and Sikh Nationalist leaders, Here is an instance of real revers were appointed to India. was unanimously repudiated by olution. Near the cradle of Aft e r persecution, imprison- the working committee of the China's civilization a group of ment and many discourage- All-India Moslem Conference, peasant Christians are challengments the fifty years just com- the council of the All-India Mos- ing red communism with a manpleted have yielded a victorious lem League and the working ner of life that resembles the harvest. committee of the J amiat-Ulema, early a p 0 s t 0 I i c experiment.
Hundreds of thousands of converts representing the orthodox Mo- They are seeking to be led by the have been led to abandon their super- Holy Spirit; each member of hammedans. A series of resolu- the group is to read, study and stitions and practices, and have be- tions reiterated the loyalty of come earnest Christians and efficient Salvation soldiers. Whole villages the Moslems to the British plan act on the teachings of the Bible. have been converted and heathen temples and household gods have been for the communal award. No vows are taken and no one destroyed. Pandit Malaviya, H i n d u, is asked to come unless he is led by the Spirit. The men work in Salvation has been brought to the champion of the Untouchables, criminal tribes, the most desperate has sought to settle the differ- the fields, tilling and irrigating and degraded criminals of India. ences between the Moslem, the land; the women carryon Farm colonies, land settlements and Hindu and Sikh political fac- domestic duties. The children village banks are helping the indus- tions. are all being educated together, trious to an improved social position. and all join in supporting the The Moslems seem prepared Hospitals and dispensaries are do- ing much for the diseased and dying. to accept the solution of the bright boy or girl for higher Boarding schools and day schools problem proposed by Prime education without questioning Minister MacDonald, "despite whose he may be. So cordial are fitting the young for futures of and so sincere is the atmosphere increased usefulness, both as citizens its defects, as no further prog- and Salvation Army soldiers.
Leper Settlements are prolonging ress toward responsible govern:" in these village communes that life, or alleviating suffering, and bringing hope into the lives of some ment appears possible except on everyone admires the simple that basis." This seems to in- practicability of 0 u r Lord's of the most needy of the world's sorrowing ones. dicate that no agreement has principles. The groups are mul-
tiplying. Their only rule is to Drug Evil Flourishes change i15 less than four thou- read and study the Bible under During recent years the opium sand dollars gold, but considerthe guidance of the Holy Spirit, situation has gone from bad to ing the grade of life in this land and to act according to His lead- worse, due to the disturbed state and comparative money values, ership. They are finding that of the country. War lords must it is worth more than fifteen for themselves the word of God have money to pay their troops, thousand dollars gold in Ameris sufficient to meet their prob- and opium is one of the most ica. This man is a well-to-do lems. They are practicing a profitable crops on earth. The merchant of Yaowan, an outcommunism not of taking but of Chinese doctor, Wu Rien Teh, station. giving, not of force but of love. an expert on this question, esti- mated the production of native He was baptized twelve years -Christian Advocate. opium in all China in 1930 to ago. For years he has had daily be 12,000 tons, an enormous family prayers. The employees New Chinese Hymnal quantity. Opium, morphia and in his shop are present at this heroin are mostly manufactured daily service and are taught the Six denominations are coop- in Europe, smuggled on board great truths of the Gospel. A erating to produce a hymnal to ship, and conveyed to the Far number of them have been won be used in common by the Chris- East. They are sold chiefly by to Christ and have been baptians of China. They are the unprincipled foreigners who are tized. His is the only large shop Methodist Episcopal Church, the protected by extraterritoriality. in Yaowan that is closed on Sun- Methodist Episcopal C h u r c h, In 1930 the Chinese Customs in days. It is largely through his South, the Protestant Episcopal Shanghai seized 10,000 ounces contributions that the Yaowan Church, the Baptist Church, the of morphia and 14,000 ounces church, with ninety-four mem- Congregational Church, and the of heroin, probably only a frac- bers, has been able to call a pas- Presbyterian Church. The ~ e tion of the amounts smuggled tor and assume his full support. churches include about 80 per through. In the autumn of that cent of the Christians in China. year on one steamer which ar- -Missionary Survey. At present, each group has its rived at Shanghai from Conown hymnal, comprising about Efforts in West China 2,000 hymns. The task of the stantinople there was discovered Hymnal Committee is to select by the customs officials nearly In addition to the steady adabout 500 suitable hymns for vance among Tibetan tribes in the new collection 200 pounds of heroin, while a West China and among Chi- few days later on another steam- nese and tribespeople in Sze- chwan and Kweichow, there has Cholera Kills 150,000 er they found 1,200 pounds of come to the Christian and Mis- morphia and heroin. It is the sionary Alliance an urgent call In the five months from May most profitable trade on earth, from South China for missionto September 150,000 Chinese and fabulous sums are made by ary reinforcements to aid in the died of cholera, the dread dis- international gangs who manu- evangelization of 3,000,000 ease that has scourged China in facture it secretly in various tribespeople in widely scattered the worst epidemic since 1919. parts of Europe and export it to areas in Kwangsi. Two mis- The epidemic this year was not the East. sionaries and a Chinese preach- unexpected. Dr. J. H. Jordan, The League of Nations Anti- er made an itinerating trip of British Commissioner of Public Narcotic Commission is doing nearly 2,000 Ii (665 miles) with- Health of the Shanghai Interna- its best to root out and destroy out seeing a Gospel chapel. tional Settlement, last winter, this awful trade. Among the Tung tribespeople predicted that the cholera toll in -Evangelical Christian. there is one missionary family for work in an area covering the summer would be heavy. Land Given for Church more than 20,000 square miles. According to Dr. Jordan the dis- In French Indo-China, in spite ease runs in cycles. Not long ago Mr. Liang Chin of shortage of funds, mission- Chen presented to Kiang-pei aries plan to go forward with The estimate of 150,000 deaths Presbytery a tract of goo d renewed effort. this year is considered conservative. It is believed that at least farm land worth fifteen thou- -Alliance Weekly. 500,000 Chinese throughout the sand dollars, Mexican, to be used country contracted the fever, for the Lord's work. He says Effective Testimony and that the mortality rate was that this land is given wholly to at least 30 per cent. In some the Lord Jesus Christ for use A deaf and dumb man who areas the mortality was reported by His Church, and stipulates can read and write a little wrote as virtually 100 per cent. It is that the presbytery shall see to five sentences in large characpossible that nearer 250,000 it that the whole income from ters, and by means of motions persons were swept away the gift shall always be used for and facial expressions explains through this cause, but statis- the glory of God and the salva- each sentence as he points to it: tics in China are nebulous. The tion of men through the redemp- I have no sin; Shanghai International Settle- tion of Jesus Christ. Fifteen I do not worship idols; Jesus is my Saviour; ment suffered a lighter toll than thousand dollars, Mexican, at On earth I am dumb; in past epidemics. In heaven I shall speak. the present abnormally high ex-
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
JAPAN-CHOSEN lem. What will be the future holing individuals, and "fishing"
Rural Work Among Farmers of Japan if this state of affairs for invitations to their villages. is allowed to continue for any This year for the last twelve Rev. S. M. Erickson, Presby- length of time? What it is to Sundays I have been out in the terian missionary in Kagawa go without a meal, every adult country among the churches Province, writes of his field knows. If proper food is neces- continuously. In a Ford car we which comprises 92 and the 182 sary for adults, it is more so for can go out 30 miles, baptize, districts in this province. Most children. Poor food will hamper preach, hold communions and of the people are farmers, and the growth, both physical and other meetings for four hours in according to an American news- spiritual, of children. For edu- one place; then we go on to anpaperman visiting Kagawa, are cation to be effective, school other church ten miles away fifty years behind Tokyo. There children should be in proper and do it all over again. It was is very little public opinion. The physical condition. Education not so thirty years ago.
local Buddhist and S h i n t 0 does nothing for underfed chil- -CHARLES ALLEN CLARK, priests are, as a rule, of course, dren. There is talk of improv- in Presbyterian Banner.
anti-Christian. Often the school ing educational methods. Imteachers are also opposed to proved methods will not help Developing Future Leaders Christianity. The young people while the children are suffering Union Christian Coli e g e, from undernourishment." Pyengyang, Korea, is under conhave very few places for clean amusement. 0 n e missionary Roman Catholic Statistics trol of the five Presbyterian misgives his time to work with sions at work in that country. school children. He has a motor According to the latest statis- Of the 171 students enrolled in car and takes his native helper tics there were in 1931 in all the Liberal Arts and Agriculwith him. They take their places Japan 96,323 Roman Catholics. tural departments, 140 are bapin the road near the school at More than half of this number is tized church members. They noon recess and give the chil- in the diocese of Nagasaki. come from 29 middle schools in dren tracts. Sometimes a large There are 198 missionaries and twelve of the thirteen provinces. number of children will linger; 63 native priests. There are Nine of this year's 22 graduates these are taught a Bible verse 224 students now in the semi- entered the theological semiand a Christian song which is naries. In the mission brother- nary; four entered universities; printed on the tracts. They are hoods there are 116 natives and five are teaching and the others told that if they are interested 230 native sisters. they may send a post card to the are in business. The graduates missionary's home, and that he -Die Katkolischen Mis- of the college total 251, of whom will send them more reading sionen. 35 are ministers of the Gospel matter. Over two thousand chil- and evangelists; 54 theological dren have forwarded cards. Thirty Years Growth in Korea and university students; 67 are principals, professors and teach- Good results have followed Thirty years ago, when we ers; 68 in other professions; village work and a few have landed in Korea, there were but nine are farmers and 18 are debeen baptized. Several groups 5,796 communicants in all of the ceased. have been formed for Bible Presbyterian churches of the reading.-Missionary Herald. country. Last year there were Daily contact in classroom 94,728. The infant church has and laboratory, in chapel and Starving Children grown to 20 times the size in extracurricular activities, and in personal interviews g i v e s one generation. The Ministry of Education There was not one elder in all great opportunities to missionfixes the number of underfed Korea when we landed. Today aries in multiplying their efforts Japanese children of school age there are 2,120. Only one short manyfold in the developing of as 200,000, but a Tokyo daily two months' session of the theo- strong Christian character. The thinks the number is far in ex- logical seminary had been held 18 city churches and the near-by cess of this. The Nicki-Nicki in 1902. Since then we have non-Christian villages furnish a cites a government report to the graduated about 600 men, and field in which most of these stueffect that the more fortunate 429 are still in active service as dents are working as Sundayof the school children in the pastors. school teachers, C. E. leaders, island eat dumplings and Indian When I first took charge of night school teachers and piocorn for lunch, and that many the territory east of Seoul, there neer group directors. children cannot attend school were only three Presbyterian -C. F. BERNHEISEL.
because their parents are too churches in my territory, which For Neglected Children poor to provide food for them. was 50 miles wide and went 200 The paper points out: miles to the sea. The only way For street waifs, and down "The poor physical condition to establish churches then was and outers unable to attend of school children is a serious to "walk the five-day markets'" school, Pioneer Clubs were orproblem. It is not one for the with the peddlers, spreading out ganized in Pyengyang a few Ministry of Education alone to our books along wit h their years ago, and have been maintackle. It is a national proh- wares, preaching and button- tained successfully. What they
have done for these children of ligion. In nature what is an- talks with staff members about disadvantage can never be esti- cient and decayed retreats be- personal matters; attending vol- mated. Revival meetings have fore pitiless youth. In spiritual untary classes to discuss the been held. An annual song and life the position is the same. To Bible, the church or Christian story contest was held for three isolate Bali from the cultural work. A Student Union church hours before an assembled mul- life outside is impossible." has grown up, with an average titude. The first class of six has -Dutch News Bureau. attendance of 150, and an out- been graduated and an alumni Quezon Makes Appeal reach program for the com- association organized. Its first munity.
move was to buy tracts and go The Hon. Manuel Quezon, po- -National Christian Counout preaching. Some parents of litical leader of the Philippines, cil Bulletin. poor children have tried to move and reared a Roman Catholic, their homes near enough for issued a ringing evangelistic ap- West Borneo Unreached their children to attend one of peal to his countrymen on his these clubs. fifty-fourth birthday. "It is British North Borneo and precisely in the spirit of Christ, Sarawak have for some years But the police department properly practiced," said he, had missionaries at work. Three thinking that they too closely re- "that humanity will find its sal- years ago Christian Alliance semble schools to be allowed to vation from the menace that missionaries and workers of the continue, the movement will t h rea ten s civilization. Give Chinese For e i g n Missionary have to go forward under an- bread to the hungry, clothe the Union opened several stations other name with an altered pro- naked, practice charity-these along the east coast and at three gram. Henceforth it will be the are simple doctrines, but, if fol- points have penetrated the in- Children's Bible S c h 001 of lowed, will give us the desired terior; but along the west coast Korea, and all teaching will be remedy. The Philippines is a the only agency, the Methodist centered upon the Bible itself. Christian nation and if our peo- Mission, had to retrench and a ple follow the path of the Man few years ago retired complete- -Korea Mission Field. of Galilee, they need feel no con- ly. Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Bren- cern for the future. Let him nan are carrying on the only ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC who has much give generously Protestant work in West Bor- to the needy. Let him who is neo. Since their arrival five In the Isle of Bali first be the last. This is the years ago they have led 800 spirit of Christianity and this Dyaks to Christ, and this in the The island of Bali, East In- spirit should be the corner stone face of government opposition, dian Archipegalo, and well of all institutions. Herein we which was eventually overcome. known to tourists, has a primi- shall find true democracy, real A large portion of this field is tive isolation which is fostered liberty, sincere brotherhood of still untouched. by its Dutch rulers, especially man. Here, too, is the solution in regard to cultural and reli- of labor problems, which are the -Alliance Weekly. gious influence. Recently this problems of our age." attitude has been condemned by New Zealand Methodists the Indian press. The Handels- -Christian Century. blad, of Soerabaja, devotes two Ten years ago the New Zealeading articles to this question, Cebu Christian Center land Methodist Church assumed in which it is argued that the responsibility for missionary gods of Bali are dying gods and Twelve years ago a young work in the Solomon Islands that Bali is waiting for what Filipino ret urn e d from the previously carried on by the Netherlands has to give in the United States full of good ideas Methodist Missionary Society of sphere of religion and culture. and a Christian spirit. He Australasia. Within this time The Nieuws van den Dag, of poured his energy and influence medical work has been devel- Netherlands, India, expresses into a new project, and the Cebu oped, the work of boats and itself still more strongly. A Student Christian Center is the launches has expanded. The leading article in its number of result. From 300 to 500 people number of workers, both native August 4 states that Hinduism utilize the Center, now housed and European, has more than in Bali has become quite petri- in a 50,000 pes 0 building. doubled. Comparative figures fied, that the dewas are dying Thirty-two societies hold regu- supply the story of progress: gods and that there is absolutely no reason why Christian mis- 1922 1932 18 sions should only be admitted to lar business meetings there. European workers … 8 While people wait for their 174 the island when the other reli- Catechists and native gion evidences dec a y. "It meeting to begin, the Director teachers ………. 74 StlBms to us," writes the news- and three church officers talk to Native local preachers 67 140 Native class leaders .. 58 112 paper, "a hyena conception to them about Christ. 142 place Christianity in the posi- On any day young people may Day schools ……… 65 169 tion of only feeling itself at Day school teachers.. 90 6,134 be see n meeting for daily Native members ….. 3,406 home in the churchyards of cul- prayers, or studying, reading Attendants at public ture. This is not the history of magazines, u sin g reference worship ………. 7,870 11,810 Christianity or of any other re- book:;, Bibleg; having intimate -Malaysia Messa.qe.
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Our Missionary Bookshelf Recent Books Reviewed for the Readers' Information : I ~, _ _ _ _ _ _—-,",~——~=,-"==-"""""'~======——————-,"–"-_ _'~'
A Century of Faith. By Rev. Charles the wide range of work and the the Christian ministry. There richness of material it contains. he went through a period of re- L. White, D.D., with an Introduc- tion by President Austen Kennedy They include: ligious doubt but finally entered de Blois. 8 vo. 320 pp. The Jud- the Church of England and be- The Spiritual Conquest of a Conti- gan to work among the poor of son Press. Philadelphia. 1932. London, taking for his motto the nent It is sometimes said that for- BiSrtohcieotfy a National Home Mission "Golden Rule." His health sufeign missions are more interest- The Wise Men of the West fered and he returned to Cam- bridge as a teacher, but in 1904, ing than home missions because The Receding Frontier at the age of thirty-three, felt of the element of romance in The Voices of Past Heroes them. Distance lends enchant- WIinnndiinagnsthe First Americans-the called to go as an Anglican misment to foreign missions,-fa- The Negro at the Door of Oppor- sionary to India to work in the Cambridge mission at Delhi. miliarity breeds contempt for tunity Here he formed an intimate home missions. Evangelism friendship with a Mohammedan If you mean by romance a tale and a Hindu. His sympathies of fiction that has no foundation TBheyeoNndewtheFrNonattiieornal Borders broadened his views, and love, Fraternal and Corporate Relationin fact, then there is no romance manifesting the Spirit of Christ, either in foreign or home mis- ships became the expression of his resions, for they both are founded ligion. He left the mission and A Master Builder of the Denominaon facts and have to do with tre- wit h Samuel Stokes, Brother mendous realities. But, if you In~i~rble Harvests Western and Sad h u Sundar mean by romance that element Singh formed a new order of Yesterday and Tomorrow St. Francis, called the "Brotherof unusual interest that gives hood of the Imitation of Jesus." scope to imagination, that dash Appendix and Index. They went about caring for the of chivalry that stirs admira- sick and poor until the shorttion, that spirit of adventure While Dr. White has written lived order was broken up. For that awakens the heroic within the history of the missionary a year Andrews went to South us, then there is all the romance enterprise of his own denomina- Africa to help the Indian comin home missions that one could tion, including the history of the munity, and there became a desire. American Baptist Home Mis- close friend of Mr. Gandhi. On sion Society, which is celebrat- his return to India he became To realize this, one has but to ing its 100th Anniversary this associated wit h Rabindranath read "A Century of Faith," by year, he has given us also a fund Tagore, the Indian poet and Dr. Charles L. White. This is of information that will be help- member of the Brahma Somaj. a cross section of one hundred ful to all students of home mis- While remaining an Anglican years of home missions as car- sions. In tracing the developried on by the Northern Baptist ments of home missions in one communicant, Andrews gave up Convention, and is a splendid il- g rea t denomination, he has his office as an Anglican priest lustration of the romantic and made a valuable contribution to feeling that he could no longer heroic in home missions. the literature of home missions subscribe to the Thirty-nine Ar- . Dr. White was for many years Ibnoogkenbeeralr.eaNd obtyonelvyesrhyouBldaptthiisst ticles and the Book of Common general secretary of the Board but it should be read by all stu- Prayer. He j 0 in e d Tagore's of Home Missions of the North- dents of home missions. Santiniketan Ashram in Bengal, ern Baptist Church, and for six years president of the Home WILLIAM R. KING. where he is now professor in the Missions Council of which he International University. Was a member for a score of What lOwe to Christ. By C. F. years. He has had unusual op- Here is only the bare skeleton portunity to know home mis- Andrews. 12 mo. 281 pp. $1.50. of Mr. Andrew's experience. sions, having been in the very Abingdon Press. New York. 1932. The flesh and blood and spirit heart of the enterprise for so make up the substance of his many years. Not only does Dr. Here is a notable spiritual life story. It is interesting, White write with wide informa- autobiography of Charles Freer stimulating reading and one tion of his subject, but he writes Andrews. He was born in Eng- cannot fail to admire the man's with a ready pen and beauty of land, the son of a fer v en t spirit even though not always diction. preacher of the "Catholic Apos- tolic Church," founded by Ed- The twenty chapters indicate ward Irving. The son was soundly converted as a lad and in 1890 went to Pembroke Col- lege Cambridge, to prepare for [61 J
convinced by his method of by philosophers and theologians, in is to go into all the world and reasoning. He claims to adhere its popular versions it denotes a fun- preach the Gospel to every creato the "Universal Religion" and damentally human aspiration; to go ture. Not only to the extent to desires to follow Christ wholly. back to the mystery of our origins in which the Church performs her The lack seems to be in his fail- order to discover their first cause, to evangelistic duty will the call ure to see the necessity for a surprise in His work Him who reach every individual of the spiritual rebirth for all, accom- creates, preserves, or destroys all life. race." "The fact that we are panied by a full surrender to All is in all. The source of life is favored with the Gospel should Christ and open confession of one; the multiple comes from the be an incentive to do our utmost Him as Saviour and Lord. sole. What in short characterizes to bring the call to men every- Hinduism is its definitely monothe- where." Asiatic Mythology: A Detailed De- istic tendency under the pantheism of scription and Explanation of the its conceptions. When the Lord's Supper is Mythologies of all the Great Na- presented the discussion is rig- tions of Asia. By J. Hackin, The book is a notable work of idly Lutheran. "No general in- Clement Huart, Raymonde Linos- art; the style is fascinating; vitation should be extended by sier, H. De Wilman-Grabowska, the illustrations superb, and the the pastor to all those who be- Charles Henri Marchal, Henri Mas- index exhaustive. One is be- lieve in the Lord to come to His pero, Serge Eliseev. Introduction wildered in turning the pages table. Only those who believe by Paul-Louis Couchoud. Trans- and studying these extravagant the Lutheran doctrine of the lated from the French by F. M. At- symbolisms, exuberant polythe- real presence should be admit- kinson. 460 pp. $10.00. Crowell. istic pantheons and weird con- ted, in view of Paul's words on New York. 1932. ceptions of the future life which not discerning the Lord's body have kept millions in bondage of (1 Cor. 11: 29). Furthermore, Those who have visited the fear and superstition. In the admission to the Lord's Supper Musee Guimet at Paris will presence of Western civilization is an acknowledgment of unity know that it is incomparable as and education, not to speak of in the faith; and this does not a museum of religions. The edi- Christian influence, man y of exist in the case of those who tor of this book is the keeper or these wild and weird supersti- reject the Lutheran doctrine." director of this Museum and the tions are becoming things of the fifteen plates in color, together past. We must not forget, as CLELAND B. McAFEE. with three hundred and fifty- this volume tells us, that "alfour illustrations, are evidence though Buddhism was born on Gospel Dawn in Africa. By H. Beiderof the wealth of material at his the banks of the Ganges, it was becke, formerly Missionary to the on the banks of the Ganges that Herero, Southwest Africa, 1871disposal. it was most rapidly forgotten." 1881. Translation from German by The book does not present a Dr. E. F. Bachmann. Illustrated. S. M. ZWEMER. 8 vo. 183 pp. $1.25. Book Constudy of religions from a Chris- cern. Columbus, Ohio. 1932. tian viewpoint. It has been pre- The Christian Faith-A System of pared from the standpoint of Christian Dogmatics. By Joseph This small volume is an atphilosophy and science and not Stump, D.D., President of North- tempt to give the reader a of evangelical Christianity. This western Lutheran Theological Sem- glimpse of the history of modhas advantages for the student inary. 8 vo. 463 pp. $4.00. ~ac ern missions in the Dark Contibut explains the omission of millan. New York. 1932. nent since, under Moravian injudgment on certain aspects of fluence, the first Church was mythology which are degrading. President Stump presents a founded in 1806. There are special chapters on system of Christian theology in the reI i g i 0 u s mythology of Lutheran terms, avoiding wher- The author, starting from a Persia, Kafiristan, Buddhism in ever possible technical language, point in West Africa on Mount India, China, and Japan, the using subheadings wisely and Atlas, reviews all the principal Mythology of Hinduism, Lama- thus producing a book suitable missions of the huge continent, ism, and the ancient cults of for textbook or cursory reading. till he stands again on Mount Indo-China and Java. One brief For the most part this volume Atlas. He can only sketch the section is devoted to the myth- would meet approval among work as it began its mighty ology of the Shiahs of Persia, Christians of all connections; struggle with animism (called but the longest chapters deal naturally in s 0 m e points it more com m 0 n I y fetishism), with Hinduism and Buddhism. would be chiefly acceptable to coupled with manism (the ven- The c hap t e r on Brahmanic Lutherans. There is abundant eration or worship of ancesmythology opens with an invo- Scriptural reference and his- tors), and ending with Mohamcation to the Hindu gods and torical data to help the reader medanism, that doughty enemy. the concluding paragraph brings trace the currents of thought The sketch is full of historical us back to the question of the which have produced the opin- value as a handbook to the stuorigin of Hinduism: ions expressed. At s eve r a I dent who wishes to refresh his points the discussion leads to an memory on the progress of In India, as everywhere else, what earnest plea that "it is God's Christian missions. legends and their clumsy fictions try will that the Gospel shall actuto discover and explain is the genesis ally reach every individual. He A leadership has been trained of our humanity, the knowledge of has laid upon the Church the up in South Africa and elsethe phenomena of the universe. If obligation to make the call uni- where to take up the Church or- Hindu mythology has a definitely cos- ganized by Western missionmic character when it is interpreted versal in the actual sense. She
OUR MISSIONARY BOOKSHELF
aries. The most remarkable Yellow Rivers. By Herbert Cressy. made in the direction of ridding Illustrated by drawings. 1 mo. 153 fact is that the Church has, in pp. $1.50. Harpers. New York. the world of leprosy through the 1932. all parts of the continent, had influence of the mission to These stories of "adventure~ little difficulty, except in the in a Chinese Parish" present a lepers setting an example to the fascinating revelation of Chimatter of c h u r c h discipline nese life and the Chinese mind. governments of all nations. The There are personal stories of where the members and some of soldiers and statesmen, of rob- reader of this book leaves it ber bands and rival clans, which the leaders are now working show in realistic pictures the with a clear understanding of conflict between the old and the under the "Ethiopian Church" new during this transition pe- the way in which the spirit of riod. slogan which demands a church the Christ, who said, "Cleanse Mr. Cressy is an American ruled entirely by the African. Baptist missionary who has the lepers," has been the main- lived in China for twenty years. The writer calls attention to He reveals a clear understand- spring of the movement which ing of the people and their proboutstanding successful missions, lems and a deep sympathy with has brought to pass these en- them in their struggles. His the rapid progress in We s t realistic stories are well told and couraging and desperately need- are adapted for reading circles Africa, in the Cameroons and and mission study groups. They ed changes. bring us into closer understandthe transformation of the Bel- ing of the Chinese mind and in- Miss Tin lin g graphically tracacies of missionary work. gian Congo and Angola; the Read about Sun Bei En and "An shows how the spirit of hope Inauspicious Beginning"; "The South Africa success, and rapid Barber and Forty Good-for- with which this seemingly hope- Nothings"; the Foreign Shepincrease in numbers of converts herd and "The Eye of the East" ; less problem has been shot Yin Fang and "A Question of in the Cape Provinces, among the Face"; Little Yang and "The through can become a realiza- Power of Darkness." Hottentots, Kaffirs, Hereroes, tion only as the work is multi- Hope for the Leper-A Present-day Zulus and others and in the East Solution ()f an Ancient Problem. plied a thousandfold and ex- By Christine I. Tinling. Foreword Africa zone, especially embrac- by Wm. M. Danner. 12 mo. 60 tended where the need is still cents. Revell. New York. 1932. ing large groups of Christians in appallingly great. The book is A good picture must present Nyasaland, Tanganyika, Kenya, contrasts of light and shade. a challenge for every follower With offsetting somber tones Uganda and Madagascar. highlights are seen at their best. of Christ. LOIS DANNER. For this reason the author of The North Africa work meets "Hope for the Leper" is justi- Sons. By Pearl Buck. 8 vo. 467 fied in presenting in her opening pp. $2.50. John Day Co. New the problem of African Moham- chapters a picture of leprosy York. 1932. conditions that are now fortumedanism. Here Christianity nately forever past. Her main This sequel to "Good Earth" theme is one of hope. She tells presents a realistic picture of meets the fast closed doors of of the thrilling pro g res s the development and activities achieved by medical science in of a Chinese bandit of the better fanaticism and religious tradi- checking and even apparently class. In this respect it is a dis- curing the disease. She tells of tinct help to our understanding tions of more than a thousand the victorious lives of lepers who have come into contact of China. The story is told in the years. with the Christian Gospel of same clear pure English and its love. She describes the work The s tat i s tic s scattered and the recreation, the surpris- characters are well drawn as in ingly cheerful and natural ex-" the previous story, but its movethroughout the book at the close istence which is made possible ment is slow and unnecessarily in the modern leper hospitaL prolonged. There is also an apof every mission story break in She sets forth the progress parent lack of knowledge and on the text so as to detract from appreciation of the higher type the continuity of interest. These of Chinese. One would never might have been assembled at guess from these two books that any noble characters exist in the close of the history, so that China-all presented in these books are sordid and low. Nor those interested in the numeri- is there the slightest hint that there are any Christ(ans in cal progress might study them China though so me 400,000 with care. L. B. WOLF. Protestants and twice as many Roman Catholics are scattered Seeing Ourselves Through Russia. through the eighteen provinces. Edited by Henry T. Hodgkin. 110 But to our mind the greatest pp. $1.25. Ray Long and Richard fault in the novel is the offense R. Smith. New York. to good taste in some of the scenes depicted. Not only are While giving important facts regarding Russia, the special these scenes sordid-which is to feature of this book is its dis- be expected-but the author's cussion of the problems of descriptions are unnecessarily America and Great Britain and detailed and show a lack of good what the Russian Soviet experi- taste which seems to us inexcusment offers toward their solution. The material is adapted able in any refined woman, and to private and group study, especially in a Christian.
with bibliographical references in connection with each chapter and, at the end of the book, an appendix with questions for review, and a good index. The discussion is thoughtful, judicious and suggestive, as is everything from the pen of this able missionary leader. A. J. B.
to Remember Woman's Board of Missions and the Southern Baptist Foreign
American Board, has resigned, and Board, and is now directing the January 1-7-Universal Wee k of plans to devote her time to the cause Every-Member Canvass. Prayer. of missions by personal service rather than in an official capacity. After January 5-February 16, 1933-Rural her graduation from Mt. Holyoke Christian Workers' Conference. College and some years as secretary Scarritt CoIl e g e for Christian of a Y. W. C. A., Miss Calder be- Obituary Notes Workers, Nashville, Tenn. came secretary of the Young Peo- January 9-11-Annual Home Missions ple's Department of the American Conference. Briarcliff Manor, New Board in 1905. Later she rendered Rai Bahadur ·M. L. Rallia Ram York. conspicuous service as Home Sec- died September 25 at Gurdaspnr, • retary. Punjab, India. He was the eldest son January 17-20-Cause and Cure of •• of Babu Rallia Ram, convert from War Conference. Washington, D. C. The Rev. Ernest W. Riggs, for ten . Hinduism in the early seventies. M. years one of the foreign secretaries L. Rallia Ram may be called the pio- January 23-February 18-C 0 r nell of the American Board, has resigned, neer Indian Christian nationalist. He School for Missionaries. Cornell but hopes to continue his missionary was closely identified with the Reli- University, Ithaca, N. Y. service either on the field or at home. gious Book Society, the National Mis- Mr. Riggs, the son of the late Dr. sionary Society and the Y. M. C. A. February 12-Race Relations Sunday. • • • Riggs of Turkey, was president: of March 3-World Day of Prayer. Euphrates College, Harpoot, from Florida Chain ot Mission"" 1910 to 1915, where he had been an. Assemblus The Rev. William A. Backenatoe, M.D., was born at Emaus, Pennsyl- January I4-18-Jacksonville: First vania, and died in South Africa on Presbyterian Church. instructor since 1904. By his unself- the 16th of October, aged sixty-one ish devotion and effective service Mr. years. Nearly thirty years were spent January 18-20-Winter Haven: First Riggs has ~eatly endeared himself in medical miSSionary work. UDder Presbyterian Church. to missionarIes and to workers at the the General Missionary Board of the • home base. Free Methodist Church of North January 21-26-Miami: First Baptist •• America. Ebenezer Rest Home, in Church. The Rev. William H. Matthews, D.D., has recently completed ten Natal, a nurses' training school for January 25-27-West Palm Beach: years of service as General Secretary African young women and a baby First Methodist at West Palm of the American Tract Society. Dur- welfare clinic were under the care of Beach. ing this period, a current indebted- this faithful missionary. Dr. Back- ness of $60,000 has been wiped out, enstoe was a licentiate of the Royal January 28-February 1-St. Peters- and the amount donated to the S0- College of Physicians and Surgeons burg: First Congregational Church. ciety has more than doubled; and the of Edinburgh and of the Royal Fac- output of Christian literature has ulty of Physicians and Surgeons of January Z9-February I-Tampa: First been increased from 2,170,925 pieces Glasgow and a fellow of the Ameri- Baptist Church. to 4,647,295. • • • can Medical Association.
February 1-3-Clearwater: Peace Me- Dr. Edward M. Haymaker, long as- PRAYER FOR PEACE morial Church. sociated with Presbyterian Missions in Guatemala, having reached the age February 4-8-0rlando: First Pres- of threescore years and ten, will be Eternal God, Father of all souls: brterian Church. DeLand: Meth- odist Episcopal Church. honorably retired on March 81. Grant unto us such clear vision of the ••• sin of war Mrs. May Leonard Woodruff, iden- That we may earnestly seek that c0- tified with Methodist Home Mission work for more than a quarter of a operation between nations century, has filled various executive Which alone can make war impos- positions and has visited almost every sible.
Personal Items institution maintained by the Wom- an's Home Missionary Society. Since Dr. L. B. Wolf, for fifty years as- her retirement from executive duties Arouse in the whole body of the pe0lOCiated with the foreign missionary Mrs. Woodrufl' continues her public ple an adventurous willingness, speaking on missions. As they sacrificed greatly for war, work of the American Lutheran ••• So, also, for international good will, Church and for twenty-four years Miss Irene Sheppard, a secretary To dare bravely, think wisely, decide General Secretary of the Foreign Board of the General Synod and of of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign resolutely Missions, has sailed for South Amerthe United Lutheran .Church in ica to visit Presbyterian mission sta- And to achieve triumphantly. Amen. America is retiring from that serv- tions in Colombia and Venezuela. -Harry Emerson Fosdick.
Ice on july 1, 1938. Dr. Wolf was Miss Sheppard corresponds with mis- !!fduated from. Gettysburg Theologiwu Seminary and went to Guntur, sionaries in 12 stations in West Indl!, as a missionary of the Luther- Africa and 25 stations in six coun- tries of Latin America. For ten years an ueneral Synod in 1888. After she was a Y. W. C. A. secretary in ~ty'flve years of service in India Buenos Aires, Argentina, and in Val- ~~ elected to the office of General ; – -.nIw&ry of the Foreign Board • • • paraiso, Chile. The Rev. Archie Lowell Ryan. for ~!.~) three years later being made =- – Treasurer for five years. After eighteen years a Methodist mission- ary in the Philippine Islands, has anotber visit to India, Dr. Wolf is been elected Business Secretary of ing to rewrite his book, «After the World's Sunday School Associa- tion, succeeding the late Dr. Samuel ~No~ narYYyeeaarrsws,,"o" rtkoenrtoieftclointrhgdethiteLuf"othAreefirtgaennr D. Price. His office will be at 1 Madi- ….urch. son Avenue, New York City. ••• "ia Helen B. Calder, for twenty- • •• Dr. Charles E. Maddrey has been ……. years an able executive of the elected Executive Secretary of the
THE MOSLEM
SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, Editor SOME ARTICLES IN THE JANUARY NUMBER: Whither 1.lam? ……..•.•…•.•….•….•.••••••••..•… Dunc:.nB. Macdonald •• 1.lam a Gristian Heresy? •……….••.••••••••••••••.••••.. D. S. Margoliouth AI·Ghiza'l on the Pre.ence of God ..•…..•••••••••••.•••••..•…Mergalet Smith Turlcey D'I.cover. the Koran …………..•.•••••.•.•••••••.. F. Lyman MacCallum 1.lam and Modern Educ:.tion …… ' …………………………. Annie E. Fox A Literacy Campaign Among. the Moro•…•.••••..••••••.•••••…. Franle Laubach The Creed of AI·Sanu.1. ……………………… , ………. Fredericle J. Barny. Mary Jane Lovell•••"Mother of the Blind" …..•••••••••… , .•••…'. Adele DJe.h The Law of Freedom (A Dialogue) …………•.••.•.•.•………Jen. Christensen From Marauder to Mystic ……. '…………………………… Pier,e C,abita Current Topics ..,…. Boole Review.,……Survey of Periodical. '
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